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Thursday, June 8, 1995.

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Harvey Weinberg making Sullivan Fair a reality

By TOM RUE


MONTICELLO - Harvey J. Weinberg is a man whose dream of a county fair in Monticello keeps him awake nights, he said. Only after July 9, when the first venture is history, he to get a good night's sleep again.
For over a year, the 44 year-old has single-handedly made the rounds to public groups pushing the idea of a Sullivan County business fair. Currently, Sullivan has no official "county fair," such as those held annually in Orange, Duchess and elsewhere.
The exposition will be for local businesses only, Weinberg stressed. "If I can only get 10 Sullivan County businesses, and 50 from Orange County want to come and show, I'll only have 10."
The event is slated for Thursday to Monday, July 6 to 9 -- closing off North St. to traffic in front of the County Government Center, he stated.
Weinberg said he wants the world to know about the project now because he needs others to join with him -- volunteers to help set up and take down, as well as businesses and nonprofit organizations to rent space.
Last year a similar, perhaps smaller event was held in the same spot to benefit the Monticello Crossroads Coalition, a drug abuse prevention group sponsored by the village. St. Peter's Church also holds an annual fair in the same vicinity, but without shutting off traffic. Weinberg's project is not connected to either of these.
Weinberg said he is seeking nonprofit and civic group interested in vend food or engage in other fund-raising activities. Selling ice cream, funnel cakes, kabobs, fried dough, gyros, pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs were a few of his suggestions. Someone may sponsor a dunking booth, or an egg-toss, with local officials as targets, as is done at other local fairs, Weinberg suggested, adding he is open to creative ideas.
B&B Rides of upstate NY, which operates rides at the annual Little World's Fair in Grahamsville, has been contracted by Weinberg contracted to provide entertainment. Weinberg said he received no government backing for the project, and signed the contract with B&B at his own risk. "I'm holding myself personally liable for everything," said Weinberg, adding he hopes to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses and to be paid for some of his time.
Weinberg said his goal is to include 50 exhibiters at this year's fair, charging $100 to $200 each. He said he would like to gross $10,000, to cover projected expenses of the big-top rental, utilities, insurance and other costs. Four portable toilets will be on site, he promised, and admission and parking free.

Working toward annual 'community chest' fundraiser

If Weinberg's goal is realized, he said, Monticello's county fair will develop a character and flavor of its own and will not be competition for the Grahamsville fair, which is hosted each August by the Neversink Agricultural Society. But he wants his event to be "more business-minded."
Goals of the event include providing a day of family-oriented entertainment for children, Weinberg said, as well as a forum where local merchants and food vendors can gain exposure for their products. Placement of the fair in the county seat is no accident, Weinberg said, calling Monticello "the natural site" for a county fair.
"Sullivan County Fair Productions is me," said Weinberg, noting if it succeeds he intends to follow his accountant's advice to set up a nonprofit corporation to run future events.

Monticello gives friendly reception

Weinberg stressed his aim is to limit the fair, as much as possible, to local businesses and charities. Any proceeds generated by the event -- after expenses -- "will be doled out to civic organizations and possibly needy individuals," he said.
Comparing the idea to the People for People Fund, a Middletown based charity sponsored by a daily newspaper, Weinberg said his goal is to create a "community chest," with "local money going to local people."
Weinberg credited the last two village managers for supporting his dream of bringing a county fair to Monticello. Former manager James Malloy urged the village board to create a quasi-governmental agency to run the fair, but officials balked when it was unclear where the capital would come from, Weinberg said. "Finally, I got to the point that I just said, `Screw it, I'll do it myself,'" he recalled.
Former manager William Cummings presented the idea again to the board, as a private proposal to be sponsored by Weinberg.
At an April 10 village board meeting, trustee Gloria Cahalan made a motion, seconded by deputy mayor Michael Levinson, that the village "...supports Harvey Weinberg holding a Sullivan County festival (fair) on North St., in front of the Government Center, and [to] utilize municipal parking areas and the properties in the vicinity, with Mr. Weinberg providing the village necessary insurance, payment for police protection, sanitation, etc."
"It's one of the few times I've seen everybody on that board agree on something!" Weinberg exclaimed.
The effort has received the support of the Monticello Action Committee (MAC) and Police Benevolent Association, according to Weinberg. "That means they know about it and they give me their blessing," he explained.

Asked what it was about a fair that fired his imagination, Weinberg contrasted a fair to a circus, which he said has different qualities. "A circus is a very controlled show under a tent. You sit and watch. A fair is a show under the sky where you interact," he said. "There's always action. There's always something happening! It's an intangible."

Weinberg invited anyone interested in working at the fair in any capacity to call his Monticello home at 914/794-3455, or write to PO Box 238, Kiamesha Lake, NY 12751.