Think bulging shopping bags, bunches of fragrant flowers and sweet-tasting organic produce. Des Moines' Saturday Farmers Market grand opening is June 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Artist Jenny Elliott, a Normandy Park resident, created this year's award-winning oil painting for the market's official poster.

Also known as Elizabeth Allene growing up in Seahurst, she holds master's degrees in art, drama and teaching.

Jenny is a delightful conservationist, enthusiastic fan of the market, likes drawing pictures of boats and loves life as it happens.

"The market has a lot of live action and I hope I captured that in this painting," she said.

Rikki Marohl, seasonal market manager, said almost all of last year's vendors are back and new lunch concessions offer sandwiches and salads. Miro's great cabbage rolls and Hess Pretzels return.

"Local sponsors are very supportive. QFC said their sales increased 30 percent last year and Des Moines Drug Store agreed foot traffic increased," Marohl noted.

Patrice Thorell, Des Moines Parks and Recreation director, said, "There is an exciting array of cultural, leisure and sporting events planned in the waterfront district this summer.

"I hope residents and visitors take advantage of these great opportunities to gather and build a vital, healthy and connected community."

Highlighting this summer's hometown events are:

June 2-Children's Art Festival at the Farmers Market.

Camp K.H.A.O.S. ("Kids having an outrageous summer.")

Des Moines Art Commission wall mural at Farmers Market.

Concerts on the second Saturday of the month.

Fourth of July Fireworks.

For information on the above activities, call 206-870-6527.

Other summer happenings include:

Senior Center June-September boat trips.

July 14-"Trash to Treasure Sale" (206-878-1642).

July 14-Classic Boat and Cars Show (206-824-5700).

July 22-Auto and Cycle Show at the Field House (206-795-6892).

Aug. 25-Waterland 5K Run (recreation@desmoineswa.gov).

Aug. 26-Pet Festival (www.destinationdesmoines.org).

Sept. 2-Italian Concours d'Elegance at the Marina (206-824-5700).

JUST AS sure as homemade bread needs yeast to rise, a community needs safety to attract people and activities.

Des Moines Police Chief Roger Baker recently updated the city council:

"The Year 2006 Preliminary Crime Statistics show a major reduction of 13.6 percent in our total Part I Crime Rate marking the first such total since 2002.

"Violent Part I Rate was reduced in 2006 by 16.4 percent. This achievement is even more significant considering the department operated with fewer staff than we had in 2002.

"We are filling vacant positions as quickly as possible and updating the strategic plan to reflect improvements of staffing and technology. It has taken three years to assemble the components necessary to restore Des Moines Police Department and impact crime in this city.

"We can at last, reach the goal of becoming the best trained, best equipped and most technologically advanced police department in King County."

DES MOINES development is all-inclusive: Single and multi-family homes, office and retail buildings, restaurants, schools, churches and never-ending road construction.

Progress occurs, still it's hard to smile at those nice traffic control folks holding dreaded "Stop" signs when you're hungry, tired, have to go to the bathroom and not feeling one-little-bit smiley. I digress.

What's new? Check out the fish ladder on Beach Park Trail. Access from park or South 200th Street.

The Flag Pole landscaping will be replanted soon. Construction of a condo and street level retail at South 226th Street and Marine View Drive should resume shortly.

Blueberry Lane's 67 lots at South 198th Street and Des Moines Memorial Drive will be single family and town-homes.

The Marina Master Plan financing is in place. Some work begins this summer. Clearing of the planned Industrial Park at South 216th Street could begin in early 2008.

City Manager Tony Piasecki said, "We are at an exciting time in our city. The rest of King County has discovered Des Moines."

While we can't control all things we can influence many. As General George Patton said, "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."

This writer hopes ingenuity in construction and growth helps keep this community's caring spirit alive. A spirit captured in Jenny Elliott's prize portrait of people treasuring simple pleasures of life - each other-and a Farmers Market.