By KATHIE HEMPEL

Niles Daily Star

BUCHANAN — The First Annual Blessing of the Animals Festival Sunday had a fair turnout in spite of rain and wind.
Organizers were disappointed that the weather did not cooperate, however, participants remained in good spirits

and those who did brave the elements had a good time. The Buchanan event ran from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and featured booths with everything from dog tags and goodies to dogs themselves up for adoption.
Dogs were not the only animal featured at the festival. Other booths told visitors of the plight of the honey bee, informed of the local Rainbow Tracks 4-H group’s activities, sold doggie T-shirts for humans and human sweaters for pets. Groomers were on hand to demonstrate their skills and the Art Center featured the work of a number of their members.
At the newly acquired Buchanan City Center (formerly the home of the Buchanan Senior Center) there were refreshments and a display promoting the proposed dog park for the city.
Many of the pets in attendance walked at 2 p.m. from the Commons to Buchanan’s First Presbyterian Church for the annual blessing by the Rev. Pat Ramsden.