The SHOC (Strengthening the Heart of the Community) organization must be commended for the first Sip of the Slope wine festival last Saturday. It came off very well.

I was wondering when I arrived at 3:45 p.m. Other than the vendors and volunteers, there was no one there.

I went outside for a moment to look at the table decorations and the golf course. I went back inside at 4 p.m., and the visitors started arriving.

Slope folks are prompt.

By 4:30 there were enough to make the hall appear to be full. By 5 p.m. there were enough that mingling was like doing the bump. The final estimate of paid tickets was 90.

"We pulled it off," said event chairwoman Linda Murphy.

Yes you did, Linda. So did the other SHOC and non-SHOC volunteers, who, by the way, were nicely dressed.

"I was ecstatic," said SHOC member Sharon Chesterman. "It was exciting to see so many people having a good time."

Murphy added: "Many said they learned something new."

Murphy said the wineries and food vendors indicated they will return. She has a list of ideas already for improving next year's edition.

Also to be commended is the City of Royal City. It finished the concrete apron around the community center in time for Sip of Slope.

That apron turned the center into a first class indoor-outdoor event venue. You really should consider it for your weddings, anniversaries and other social gatherings.

Murphy didn't know Saturday if enough tickets were sold to cover the costs. It was close. She wasn't concerned though. The primary goal was to promote Grant County wines and wineries.

The secondary goal Saturday was to see if the folks would come. SHOC wanted to establish an event it could sustain into the future.

Mission accomplished.