The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Durham Fair is an important economic driver for the region
MIDDLETOWN — Welcome to Durham Fair week!
The much-anticipated 101st fair has finally arrived, and will be held on the famous Durham Fairgrounds from Sept. 23 through 26. We are so fortunate to have this large-scale, all-volunteer-run agricultural event right here in Middlesex County.
The Durham Fair, which remains the largest in the state of Connecticut, continues to provide four terrific days of good, clean wholesome fun. It kicks off Thursday with a wide range of events and activities, including an antique farm equipment demo, demolition derby, outstanding entertainment from a number of country musicians, and a fireworks display to close out the evening.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday are packed with live entertainment on their many stages, monster truck rallies, vehicle pulls, livestock barns featuring prize-winning animals, the educational discovery tent, arts and crafts, rides and games on the midway, scavenger hunt, and number of outstanding shopping and culinary options.
This year, the Durham Agricultural Fair Association is taking extra precautions to ensure the health and safety of volunteers and fairgoers. The Durham Fair intends to follow all recommended local and state department of public health guidelines. Visit DurhamFair.com for details on events, activities, COVID precautions and more.
The Durham Fair is so important to our region. It is one of the largest fairs in North America managed entirely by unpaid volunteers, and it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to our region every September. In recent years, the fair has received the Connecticut Governor’s Tourism Volunteer of the Year Award for being a 100-percent volunteer-led event, and the “Best Country Fair” by Connecticut Magazine, something we have all known for many years.
I am very proud of Durham Fair Association President Dan Miramant, Marketing Director Debbie Huscher, and the entire committed team of volunteers who have been hard at work preparing for this year’s fair. I am also proud that Sunday has once again been designated as military appreciation day, and all active duty U.S. military personnel and veterans will receive free admission.
The chamber will be right there with Dan and his team as they continue to move the fair forward, and I congratulate them on over a century of success. See you on the fairgrounds!
This week’s chamber calendar features meetings of our Human Resource Council Steering Committee, East Haddam and Haddam Division, and Recovery Employment Program Steering Committee. Our team continues to plan for the October meetings, which will feature candidates for first selectman from throughout Middlesex County.
We look forward to productive discussions, and I thank these local citizens for their willingness to run and serve.
Looking ahead to later in the year, the chamber’s annual awards dinner is rescheduled for Nov. 3 at the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam. We look forward to honoring past chamber chairmen Don DeVivo (2019-20) and Tom Byrne (2020-21) for their great work during these difficult and unprecedented times. These two gentlemen stepped up, during challenging periods for their respective businesses, and led the chamber with professionalism and dedication.
Our current Chairwoman Maureen Westbrook has followed in their footsteps and kept the ship moving forward despite the ongoing pandemic.
We will also honor our 2021 Distinguished Citizens Honorees: William Corvo, Jacqueline Hubbard and Kelly Smith. These three outstanding Middlesex County citizens are very deserving of this special recognition.
Finally, a special presentation of the Chief Michael L. Green Award to a member of the police or fire community for his or her outstanding service to the community and the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce will take place Nov. 3.
I am afraid I must close this week’s column on a sad note after the recent passing of George Hamrah and John J. Ziomek Sr.
George Hamrah was a wonderful man who lifted the spirits of all he came in contact with. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army with service in Asia during World War II. After his military service was completed, he went on to have a great career in business and was a strong supporter of a host of community organizations.
He was also a supporter of mine, and attended many chamber events over the years for which I will always be grateful. Our thoughts are with George’s family, especially his brother and my close friend, Albert, and his vast network of friends at this difficult time. George Hamrah made quite an impact, and he will be missed.
John Ziomek was a true gentleman who was held in high regard in Middletown and throughout our region. He was also a veteran of the Army, with service in Korea, who went on to have a very successful career at Jacobs Manufacturing, Pratt & Whitney, and eventually as tax assessor in Middletown.
On the personal side, John was a strong supporter of mine going back to my coaching days at Xavier High School, and then eventually during my early years here at the chamber.
Our thoughts and prayers are with John’s devoted wife, Diane, his daughter and sonin-law, brother, grandkids, and entire network of family and friends. John J. Ziomek Sr. will be missed by many.