Farmers market and police bike auction bring patrons downtown

Despite hot temperatures, the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market drew a good crop of shoppers and music lovers downtown Saturday morning. 

Flowers, produce, baked goods, smoothies, dog treats and recycled birdfeeders were among the items for sale. Blues music was performed by “Barefoot Joe” Ingram, who played guitar and harmonica, as well as sang. Sponsored by the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce, the market takes place in the East Milwaukee Avenue municipal parking lot across from the U.S. Postal Service from 8 a.m. to noon all summer and through October.

The Fort Atkinson Police Department bicycle auction also was held Saturday morning.

Dozens of bicycles that had been lost and not claimed during the past two years were on the block, with bids starting at $1 to $5 (for a Trek).
Capt. Todd Schultz served as “auctioneer” for the lightly attended event.
 
The police department usually holds its auction annually, but did not do so last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
When the bidding was over, all of the leftover bicycles — about a couple dozen — were parked in the lot to be given away for free. Within an hour of the end of the auction, all but six had been taken.
 
All the bikes had been claimed by early afternoon. 
 
Following are photographs of Saturday’s activities. 

Lynn Sell, left, and Andrea Haffelder, both of Fort Atkinson, chat during the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market Saturday morning.

Colorful veggies and flowers bring shoppers to the market. 

Patrons stroll through the market. 

“Barefoot Bob” Ingram entertains folks at the farmer’s market by singing the blues. A link to his performance is here: https://youtu.be/inlJAtXvmmI

Emily Janes, 4, of Fort Atkinson displays her winning bid of $1 to buy a red X Factor bicycle for herself.

Capt. Todd Schultz selects the next bicycle to be sold at Saturday’s Fort Atkinson Police Department bicycle auction.

The mother of Mackenzie Walters, 8, of Cambridge, both pictured at center, places a bid on a bicycle for her daughter.

Dozens of bicycles were on sale at the Fort Atkinson Police Department bicycle auction Saturday.

Chris Spangler photos. 

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