Volume 29, Number 38
Friday, September 22, 2023
www.towntimes.com
Voters approve move to new health district By Michael Savino Special to the Times
Durham will enter a regional health district and offer tax breaks for two more volunteer positions after residents approved the changes this month.
One of the more popular displays at the annual Durham Fair is the Scarecrow Display, featured at the Youth Barn. The scarecrows are created by local youth. Photos courtesy of the Durham Fair, Facebook
The Durham Fair returns for its 103rd year, now through Sunday By Grace McFadden Special to the Times
The Durham Fair, one of the largest fairs in the state, is back for its 103rd year. Families from all across Connecticut will be arriving in town over the next several days. The festivities, which began on Thursday, Sept. 21, and will go through Sunday, Sept. 24, include rides, games, and entertainment, as well as exhibitions. Debbie Huscher is the volunteer marketing coordinator for the Fair – as a matter of fact, everyone who helps out with the event is a volunteer, Huscher explained. While the Durham Fair has a lot to offer – every-
thing from monster trucks to 406 cows – Huscher highlighted just a few events from this year. New this year is Pool Party Pooches, where dogs will perform tricks and jump into a pool. “I think that’s gonna be a fun one. We’ve had dogs in the past, everyone loves that,” Huscher said. Huscher is also excited that the fair’s Main Stage will be returning for the first time since 2019. This year, Rick Springfield – singer of popular songs such as “Jessie’s Girl” and “Don’t Talk to Strangers” – will be performing on Saturday night. Lee Greenwood, the performer behind “God Bless the USA”, will take to the stage on Sunday
for Military Appreciation Day. In the exhibition tent, attendees can see competitors in categories ranging from poultry to pottery to pumpkins – giant pumpkins, to be exact. In years past, winners of the giant pumpkin competition have weighed nearly a ton. Besides livestock, there are 300 rabbits which visitors can witness, which will be featured in the Bunny Hop through the Fair. “A couple of times throughout the Fair they actually, like, will have a little obstacle course,” Huscher said. Visitors can partake in demonstraSee Fair, A3
During a Sept. 12 town meeting, voters unanimous approved tax breaks for a volunteer chief medical officer and communications liaison after little conversation. They also overwhelmingly approved joining the Connecticut River Area Health District, although two attendees did oppose the agreement. The town already offers a $2,000 property tax abatement for emergency service volunteers, including firefighters and retired members of the ambulance corps who served at least 25 years. The functions covered under the medical officer and communications liaison have been completed by the fire department. First Selectman George Eames said that creates problems when those volunteers respond to fires or other calls, though. “They’re basically just deepening the bench, getting See Health, A8