A New Fair Booth?

Presenting at our October 10 meeting, were our own Kim and Mark Clement.  They wanted to tell us about a new project getting underway for the fair.  For many years our fair booth has served as well, but it is showing its age.  Its roof leaks, it has been broken into and vandalized, and in many ways has become unsafe.  It does not currently meet health codes, but has been “grandfathered” in.

During this year’s fair Kim and Mark, members of the Lions club, and Mark Crane (owner of Mark’s Pizza) got together and discussed the dilapidated nature of their respective booths.  All agreed their booths were in desperate need of an upgrade.  Soon after they met with Dan Wooden, Palmyra Code Enforcement Officer, to discuss the options for upgrading the booths.  The best course of action, it was decided, would be to replace the current booths with one new building.  Mr. Crane has offered to fund the project substantially, in the spirit of helping the community.  His only stipulation is that the Lions and Rotary clubs, and the Fair Board, must contribute to the project.  This will be through fundraising, labor, and the solicitation of donations of materials and labor from county businesses.

The new building will be of pole barn construction and will have a profile similar to that of the neighboring grange booth.  (See image, below.)  Already, some of the project has been lined up.  Mark Crane will be providing a new hood system for our section, as well as a grease trap, and a 3-bay sink.  All are required under current fire, health, and building codes.  Al Plumb of Alpco has offered to do the demolition at no charge.  AEY Enterprises has put forth an offer to excavate the site and pour stone for the base.  The booth has been emptied to a storage area.  It is expected that the new building will be finished and open for the 2013 Fair in August.

Kim has found a ready volunteer to take charge as fundraising liaison from our club – herself.  The first fundraising events are the Fair’s annual spaghetti dinner, to be held November 3 at the Palmyra Fire Hall from 4 – 8 pm.  Tickets are $8 for adults (13+), $5 for kids 6-12, under 5 free.  Kim and Mark passed out several tickets to those in attendance for them to sell and will have tickets at the next meetings, in case you missed them.  Also at the dinner will be a raffle, similar to our own Canaltown Days raffle.  Prizes include a flat-screen TV, gas grill, wine baskets, and gift certificates, among others.  Tickets sell for $1 each or a book of 6 for $5.  Again, tickets are still available through Mark and Kim. 

The Spaghetti Dinner is an annual fundraiser for the Fair; Lions and Rotary are helping to promote and sell it.  We will also help at the actual dinner.  All proceeds from this year’s dinner will be directed to the new building.  This and any future fundraisers will be separate from our normal club fundraising activities.  None of our budgeted/scheduled donations will be impacted.  Kim and Mark would like to extend donation requests beyond Palmyra to include the County at large, as this is for the County Fair.  If you know of a person or business that could provide a service of benefit to this project, please contact Mark or Kim.

And just think of how much more fun we’ll have at the fair in a brand new booth, and there will be one less thing for the BB to B about!




Architectural rendering of the proposed new building for Mark's Pizza, Lions Club, and Pal-Mac Rotary.