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Orono Town Hall ■ BOWMANVILLE LIBRARY ^ ^ \ 62 Temperance St ■ Bowmanville, Ont. L1C «P I.UU GST Included Wednesday September 10, 2003 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since 1937 Fair sets new attendance record Attendance at the Orono Fair surpassed last year's record breaking year making it the biggest Durham Central Fair ever. A crowd of approximately approximately 19,500 paid entrance fees over the four day event which was again blessed with perfect fall fair weather. Last year's record breaking fair attendance was approximately 15,000. "When you add in the exhibitors and those who had gate passes, attendance figures are driven up to the 27,000 mark," stated Fair Board member member Bill Tomlinson. "There are somewhere between 400 to 450 volunteers running through the fair on a weekend," weekend," stated Tomlinson. There were 60 volunteers alone running running the gates this year in a major new undertaking by the Fair Board said Tomlinson. In an attempt to cut costs, the Fair Board elected to operate the gates themselves with volunteers, volunteers, the first time in 20 years, rather than contract the job out which last year cost the Fair Board approximately $6,000. "Volunteers personalize the fair," said Tomlinson to an Orono Times reporter on Monday afternoon. "If you don't have an investment in it, how can it be your fair?" said Tomlinson. While the increased revenue revenue from gate receipts was a nice surprise, the cost of running running the fair increases each year according to Tomlinson. , "Insurance, security and medical medical services are way up over what we've normally paid over past years," he stated. "The insurance costs are up to Kyle Petherick with the Blond Bull he showed in the Beef Cattle Show at the Orono Fair. $4,000 to $5,000 a year, security security costs is close to $7,000 and the ambulance close to $3,600. "Those costs are there, yet they don't bring anything anything to the fair," said Tomlinson. Yet he was amazed at the number of people who came out of the woodwork to help. After brief speeches were made by local politicians and the current Fair President - Charlie Harris, and Fair Manager - Gord Robinson, the 151st Durham Central Fair was officially opened by past Fair President Ron Locke and the singing of 'O Canada' by Mandy Dolley. Katie Colville was crowned Fair Ambassador by Rebecca Boyd in the arena while the Holstein farmers showed their Issues with road safety is the biggest reason Clarington farmers want to see the Highway 407 built to the 115/35 as soon as possible. Two farmers from Clarington's Agricultural Advisory Committee (CAAC) presented their arguments for completing the proposed 400 series highway to it's terminus at the 115/35. "Our roads are not built for the speeds they are travelled," stated Gerald Brown, vice chair of the CAAC. "Farmers are moving bigger machinery on those roads now, and there is a greater potential for accidents," accidents," he stated. But most of all, Brown says he feels sorry for the farmer who has been sitting in limbo for 25 years, not knowing knowing whether he should be making improvements to his farm like fencing or drainage wondering how the highway if it comes will affect their farm. "We need to know were it's going." he stated. A technically preferred route for the 407 highway was identified by the Ministry of Transport, through the north end of Clarington in the early 1990's. The Ministry is proposing to build the highway east from Brock Road in Pickering to the proposed East Durham link to the 401 at Courtice. The section east of the link to the 115/35 highway has become a separate study area, where the Ministry is looking at options besides completing the highway, such as, using and upgrading existing roads, do nothing, or a combination 407 continued page 3 best in the livestock barn Thursday night. Friday was devoted to kids with their 4-H shows and the school children in the afternoon afternoon with their games and talent talent contest. The cake auction in the arena Friday evening raised $2,450, up $700 from last year. Auctioneer Charles Reid purchased Donna Scott's prize winning blueberry pie for $160. Wendy Hollingsworth's champion Chiffon Coffee Cake was purchased by Bert Werry for $190. Becky Hale bought the most baked goods for which she paid $340. Out in the livestock area, Bill Robinson's 1,250 pound champion steer was purchased by Halenda Meats for. $1.50 a pound while Josh Bowman's champion lamb weighing in at 125 pounds was purchased by Knox Farms for $206.25. The fiddle contest was again well attended with participants participants from as far away as Bancroft. Outside on the track the horses were pulling with all their might in the Heavy and Light Horse Pull. Saturday morning began with the Hunter Show in the horse ring and the truck and tractor pull on the track in front of the grandstand. All track activities halted for the Fair Parade which arrived after noon. It was a long parade with a variety of family family floats, bands and vintage cars bearing waving politicians. politicians. [ Grand stands were filled to FAIR continued page 3 ilk /, iEPfl r/1* Mil Æn ■udsii ill L. t»r'Fiüiv« LWiriitih'i :.. alMMmiH, ■ i