If there's anything that draws local folks together, it's a common meeting place with good stuff to eat and good stuff to talk about.

The Waterland Festival and Beer Garden used to offer that. Now, watch for organic doughnut peaches, environmentally friendly fresh vegetables and fragrant flowers at Saturday's Des Moines Farmer's Waterfront Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the marina parking lot.

The Mayor's Leadership Summit of community representatives promoting Des Moines' economic and social goals worked with non-profit Farming and the Environment (F&E) market organizer Wendie Dyson and Executive Director Jeff Voltz and, with city support, teamwork developed this Farmer's Market-a whopping success.

Meet the farmers who planted, cultivated and harvested this food for your family. Produce is "farm fresh," grown under the auspices of Farming and the Environment's Mission Statement: "By bringing together those who farm the land with those who care about protecting its natural resources, we're changing the agricultural landscape of Washington State."

Founding F&E board of directors Chairman Peter Goldmark wrote, "We all want healthy farms, ranches and ecosystems. F&E is working to make this ambitious goal a reality."

Farmers say they appreciate seeing faces of families who enjoy the fruit of their labors rather than loading it on a truck for unknown consumption. And should you later tell them you liked their product, that's a "feel good about hard work" reward.

Those juicy doughnut peaches are so sweet even the drips are good to the last lick and the fresh lettuce reminds us why salads are favorites.

MIRO's Catering features Kristyna's homemade Polish cabbage rolls. The BBQ beef sandwich and soups make a tasty lunch.

Check out local Zenith-Holland Nursery for plants and nearby farmers creating beautiful flower bouquets.

Homemade jams, crafts, paintings and vegetables are popular items. Next year sponsors hope to add fresh eggs, cheese, bread and meat products.

When F&E farmers, sponsors and customers are successful, our environment will be greener and we'll be healthier eaters who just may live longer and most of all enjoy life more.

Celebrate Back-to-School Days Sept. 9 when local teen entertainers, including Cody Green, 14, a guitar player and winner of the DeVry University Electric Guitar Solo Competition, play rock and blues.

Federal Way's Down The Avenue band members, Connor Lamouteux, 15, Jamison Mills, 14, and Micah Niederkrone, 15, will present rock. Max Gymnastics talented girl athletes are a returning favorite.

Local Kiwanis/Key Club volunteers will paint faces for charitable causes. South King Fire and Rescue will offer safety demonstrations and inspection of a fire engine and aid cars.

Meantime, don't miss the Des Moines Historical Society program Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. in the IOOF Hall, 728 S. 225th St.

Bill Shuler, the man who oversaw construction of the marina, will share his in-person experience in "Building the Marina."

Tom Mannard, a former city councilmember, will also speak. A video and slides of the 1965 project will be shown. Ice cream is free - Donations appreciated.

Imagine what this city would be like without the marina. Isn't it ironic that the Farmer's Market promoting a better environment for tomorrow occupies space in the marina made possible due to forethought of folks in the past?

"The marina is the ideal and beautiful place to showcase our Farmer's Market," Wendie Dyson of F&E said.

Go to www.FarmingandtheEnvironment.org/DMFM or call 206-622-1340 for market information.

Last but not least, the annual Des Moines Booster's-sponsored Pet Festival Aug. 27 was great.

Four-legged friends showed off their agility, obedience smarts and tricks running obstacle courses on a very hot day and competing in fancy/funny costumes to please their masters and folks cheering them on.

Overall winners in five fun categories were: Best Costume, Heather Young's German Shepard, Lucie, dressed like a horse; Best Trick, Michelle Powers, black and white Maggie, who sat up and gave Michelle a high five; Ugliest Dog, Dean Mitchell's "Wheezer" a perfect English Bulldog, snorting and trying to be as gentlemanly as possible doing funny-people-things.

The King, and Queen were Nancy Taylor's "Reagan," a male Weimeraner, and Joanne Craig's teeny, tiny "Chia," a miniature Chihuahua chosen Queen.

And a good time was had by all. Good stuff!