Fair regulars keep traditions alive
Danielle Murphy congratulates Felicia Jones on being named Miss Chenango County 2006.
NORWICH – For “Pepe,” also known as Steve Schaffer, working at the fair is a salvation. The owner of Pepe’s Restaurant on 141 Washington St. in Binghamton, Schaffer normally works inside, serving a largely college-aged clientele. A long-time face at the Chenango County Fair, Schaffer said he uses the summer to cook in a new environment.
“I like it because I’m outside. It’s a good change of pace,” he said. With an oversized sign that has his business name on it, Schaffer has set up a clam and potato tent behind the Norwich grandstands each year for nearly a decade and a half. He sells a lot of chicken and clam meals, and being within 50 feet of the beer tent doesn’t hurt, he said. “With any luck, I’ll sell about 300-400 pounds of spiedies.”
Pepe’s is not the only familiar face at the county fair this year. For many, the early August show is a mainstay of their yearly plans. They are the people making food, parking the cars and pushing the race horses onto the track.
William Hatton’s arms are already brown for the year, but if the Norwich man needed a tan, he could have gotten it this week at the fair. Hatton has been working on the infield parking area at the fair for three years. His station provides no shade, and he puts in long hours.
“You figure on 12 hours a day,” he said. Hatton is responsible for the safety of those walking from their car into the event. To enter, patrons must first pass the horse track where cars and animals are streaming by. They don’t go through if Hatton has his rope up. Despite the long days looking out for the safety of others, Like Pepe, Hatton uses the fair as a change in summer environment. He is able to help a local cause he believes in and socialize a little while doing it.
“I do it to help the farm association out. It is something besides regular work,” he said. “You get a chance to talk some, too.”
When a horse runs by and Hatton tells you to stop, know that the horse is there because of Eileen Peterson. The Whitney Point woman has been a harness racing secretary for 30 years.
In her role at the fair, Peterson is responsible for putting on the New York Sire Stakes races that have draw-in large crowds in Chenango County for many years. This August, she arranged races around the 48 available horses, made the racing programs, found judges, an announcer and set the purse. “It’s a job and a half getting them all into separate races,” she said.
Peterson must be sure all horses are sire stakes eligible, and adhere to the United States Trotting Association rules in dividing available purses and races. It’s not an easy thing.
“I love it, but every year I say, ‘I’ll never do that again.’ It’s a whole lot of work in a short period of time,” she said.
For the many who make the fair go, that’s exactly what it is.
“I like it because I’m outside. It’s a good change of pace,” he said. With an oversized sign that has his business name on it, Schaffer has set up a clam and potato tent behind the Norwich grandstands each year for nearly a decade and a half. He sells a lot of chicken and clam meals, and being within 50 feet of the beer tent doesn’t hurt, he said. “With any luck, I’ll sell about 300-400 pounds of spiedies.”
Pepe’s is not the only familiar face at the county fair this year. For many, the early August show is a mainstay of their yearly plans. They are the people making food, parking the cars and pushing the race horses onto the track.
William Hatton’s arms are already brown for the year, but if the Norwich man needed a tan, he could have gotten it this week at the fair. Hatton has been working on the infield parking area at the fair for three years. His station provides no shade, and he puts in long hours.
“You figure on 12 hours a day,” he said. Hatton is responsible for the safety of those walking from their car into the event. To enter, patrons must first pass the horse track where cars and animals are streaming by. They don’t go through if Hatton has his rope up. Despite the long days looking out for the safety of others, Like Pepe, Hatton uses the fair as a change in summer environment. He is able to help a local cause he believes in and socialize a little while doing it.
“I do it to help the farm association out. It is something besides regular work,” he said. “You get a chance to talk some, too.”
When a horse runs by and Hatton tells you to stop, know that the horse is there because of Eileen Peterson. The Whitney Point woman has been a harness racing secretary for 30 years.
In her role at the fair, Peterson is responsible for putting on the New York Sire Stakes races that have draw-in large crowds in Chenango County for many years. This August, she arranged races around the 48 available horses, made the racing programs, found judges, an announcer and set the purse. “It’s a job and a half getting them all into separate races,” she said.
Peterson must be sure all horses are sire stakes eligible, and adhere to the United States Trotting Association rules in dividing available purses and races. It’s not an easy thing.
“I love it, but every year I say, ‘I’ll never do that again.’ It’s a whole lot of work in a short period of time,” she said.
For the many who make the fair go, that’s exactly what it is.
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