What’s Up with That? Masons’ farmers market won’t return to Hazel Dell

It broke my heart to hear that the Masons in Hazel Dell lost so much money because of embezzlement. But I was glad to see they started a farmers market last year to help pay the bills on their property. Will the market have another season this year?

— Farmers Market Fan

There are still farmers markets to come all over the county, Fan. But the Masons’ market won’t be one of them.

Which is doubly disappointing to organizer and dedicated Mason Jimmy Johnson, who said he started trying to get a farmers market going in the Masons’ parking lot on 78th Street a decade ago. That was long before the organization’s back was up against the wall due to the theft of nearly $800,000 by its longtime board treasurer over the course of six years. The theft was discovered last spring and Jesten Jay Galland III, 47, was sentenced to three years in prison in September.

Meanwhile, the group hustled to launch a farmers market that could capitalize on the summer season to start rebuilding its empty bank account. It was a moderate success, according to Johnson.

But the Vancouver Masonic Temple at 2500 N.E. 78th St. has been up for sale since fall — the asking price is $1.9 million — and you just can’t host a farmers market on a property with an uncertain future, Johnson said. For one thing, the vendors themselves need to be able to make plans and commitments and count on some revenues.

“I could no longer guarantee that to the really neat people” who participated last year, Johnson said. There won’t be a farmers market here “until the future of the building is settled,” he said.

Johnson added that the group continues to hunt for a smaller, more affordable building. Downtown Vancouver would be ideal, he added.

Until then, Vancouver Masonic Temple on 78th still hosts two different Lodge meetings every month: Washington Masonic Lodge No. 4 meets at 6 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month and Mount Hood Lodge No. 32 meets at the same time on the second Thursday.

Learn more at http://vancouvermasoniccenter.org.