By Rob Potter
WURTSBORO — July 17, 2001 – Another year, another successful Founders’ Day Street Fair in Wurtsboro.
Thousands of people strolled along Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro during Saturday’s fair, which was sponsored by the Wurtsboro Board of Trade. Visitors of all ages enjoyed the sounds produced by a variety of musical acts as well as the tasty treats and quality goods offered by numerous food and craft vendors.
“It might sound like a broken record, but honestly, every year is better than the last,” said Board of Trade member and Street Fair Chairperson Dali Roosa.
She added that a record 140 vendors participated in the 2001 street fair.
Board of Trade President Matthew Brewi wholeheartedly agreed with Roosa’s comments.
“We have an unbelievably beautiful day – you couldn’t have asked for better weather,” Brewi said. “And you couldn’t have asked for a better crowd.”
While organizers did not have an official attendance figure for Saturday’s successful event, Roosa noted that the 2000 Founders’ Day Street Fair attracted just over 15,000 visitors.
“We absolutely had more people than we have ever had before,” Roosa said of the 2001 fair. “It was more crowded than ever.”
As they watched the thousands of people enjoying themselves, Brewi and Roosa noted the positive effects the fair has on the village. Among those are giving local residents and visitors alike the opportunity to see what the village’s businesses have to offer and allowing local organizations like American Legion Post #1266 and Boy Scout Troop 92 the chance to remind fairgoers of their presence in the community.
Brewi noted that the increased business the local stores and shops saw during the street fair should “carry on for the rest of the summer.”
Many vendors at the fair offered traditional summertime treats like hamburgers, hot dogs and Italian ice. Others offered items like t-shirts and baseball cards.
Visitors also had a chance to visit booths to have their palm read or face painted. Many kids enjoyed a small midway of carnival games and a rock climbing structure.
As she watched her granddaughters have colorful butterflies painted on their faces, Avelina Teric of Sackett Lake noted how much the fair has to offer.
“It’s good for the kids to be busy like this,” said Teric, who was making her first visit to the street fair. “It’s a lot of fun for them.”
Many people pointed out that the day’s weather – warm and sunny but not extremely hot and humid – helped make the fair even better.
“This is a great day for the Town of Mamakating,” said Sullivan County Legislator Kathleen LaBuda, whose district covers the Village of Wurtsboro and a portion of the Town of Mamakating. “It gives people in all of the other towns in the county a chance to come down and visit us and see what we have to offer.”