Officials dub event as subdued but good

Kathy Bennett will become fair board president next year.
By KATIE LIBECCO
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CANFIELD -- Despite a 10-percent drop in Canfield Fair attendance this year, fair officials were still upbeat.
"This year's fair went very, very well. It went very smoothly," said Kathy Bennett, fair board's vice president.
"The weather is beautiful and everyone is relatively happy. This fair has been a good one," she said.
Bennett will become fair board president in 2006 as George Less' two-year term as president comes to an end. He will resume positions with various Canfield Fair departments he held before becoming the fair's president.
"Subdued has been the word I've heard to describe the general feeling of people here at the fair. I don't know if it's gas prices or things our nation is going through," Bennett said. "But fair attendance is down about 10 percent statewide. If it becomes a trend, it'll be something to address."
Nothing major
Police and first aid officials said they saw this year's fair as being very quiet.
"There have been no major incidents at the Canfield Fair this year and we thank God for that," said Terry Alexander, who's in charge of police operations at the fair. "Everyone has been very well-behaved. We attribute it to the weather being cool after the very hot summer. This is the last chance for everyone to relax."
On Sunday, an elderly woman found herself driving down the midway at about 3:45 p.m., looking for her exit on Fairground Boulevard. There were no injuries, and fair officials helped her find her way without further difficulty.
Alexander said there were a few animal kicks, bee stings and brush burns from slides.
"This has been a really quiet year at the fair, a lot of bee stings, some allergies, but nothing major," said Alan Scannell, American Red Cross Mahoning Chapter event coordinator.
"It's been a really good year from the first-aid perspective."
Weather a factor
Scannell attributed the peaceful fair atmosphere and decreased medical problems to cooler weather, which they said significantly reduced the number of heat-related sicknesses.
American Red Cross First Aid treated between 600 and 700 people this year, which Scannell said is slightly less than average.
"We have a wonderful group of volunteers who have put close to 700 hours into helping people here," Scannell said. "We've also had a lot of concern and support for our efforts to help victims of Hurricane Katrina."
Plans for next year's Canfield Fair, including entertainers, will not be available until spring 2006, Bennett said.
Roofing and blacktop projects will be carried out during the off-season, and other projects will be determined by the amount of revenue from this year's fair.
"Every year we do a lot of necessary maintenance work, many things you can't see," Bennett said. "It's a year-round improvement process."
She said that she did not foresee any major building projects within the next year after looking at the grounds extensively with other fair board members Sunday morning.
"It was an excellent fair, it went very smoothly," Bennett said. "We just wish there were more people to enjoy it, but I guess that's always something you want."