Weather not fair

August 25, 2006

By MARY AMES

Frontiersman

PALMER - For sailors, shepherds and fair goers, the red sky Thursday morning was a warning, and, as the gates to the Alaska State Fair opened at noon, the rains began.

Most people came prepared, with rain coats and umbrellas, but for those who didn't, venders offered festive protective gear and plenty to do and see under cover.

Denise Statz, owner of Nonessentials in Palmer, opens a booth at the fair every year, with a covered porch.

&#8220The is the best time of year,” Statz said. &#8220It's a gathering of people from all over the state. You see all your friends. It's an ebullient time.”

Statz had Ray Troll prints for sale on the porch, and assorted goods created by many of her friends inside her store.

&#8220This is a gathering of my friends' work,” she said. &#8220These are some of my favorite products.”

In spite of the steady drenching, about five groups of people succumbed to the lure of Mini Golf within the first two hours of the noon opening. Taz Wintch called players in, telling them it was the best fun for the money - no mud because of the raised courses, and something for all ages and all stages.

&#8220I have a naturally loud voice,” Wintch said. &#8220This allows me to express myself. They let me make up all my own sayings, as long as I'm respectful.”

Wintch, 18, will start her senior year at Mid Valley High School after the fair, she said, so she didn't have to skip school to work.

Edverret Hamilton graduated already, but he did skip work Thursday. And he skipped with a definite purpose: to look for work at the fair.

&#8220I work at Carrs,” Hamilton said. &#8220I can make more money working here for two weeks than I can a month there.”

Nicole Byars already had a job at the fair, working for Bushes and Bunches, she said. Byars' job didn't start until today, though, and she enjoyed down time at the fair Thursday with Hamilton.

Rian Fletcher, a senior at Colony High School, stopped by the Valley Center for Recycling Solutions to see her grandmother, Elaine Albertson.

When asked why she wasn't in school, Fletcher thought for a moment.

&#8220Um, my sixth-period counselor said,” Fletcher said, then stopped. &#8220I brought you these.”

Fletcher handed Albertson a basket of scrumptious fried fair food, smiled sweetly and disappeared into the rain.

Fletcher was there to scout college opportunities, Albertson said, and then she talked about the school field trips that would be taking place at the fair from Aug. 28 to Sept. 21.

Classes of fifth- and sixth-graders will come for agriculture lessons, to visit the recycling booth and the sorting area, and then go to an booth sponsored by the Imaginarium, she said.

&#8220They will spend 40 minutes at each place and have lunch, too,” Albertson said. &#8220They are coming from as far away as Willow and Talkeetna.”

The rain didn't deter the enthusiasm within the Valley Center for Recycling Solutions booth.

&#8220It's liquid sunshine that adds to the water table,” said Wendy Anderson. &#8220Nothing stops recycling from happening, neither rain nor sleet nor hail.”

There were other school-aged children at the fair on opening day. Michaelyn Scott brought her daughter, Sara, who is in private school in Anchorage. Louise Paisley took Miao Miao Yuan, her granddaughter, out of public school for a day. Both women said they thought starting school two weeks early was a step backwards.

Doris Nichols brought her three children from Knik, where she home schools.

&#8220It's a field trip,” Nichols said.

Channel 13 meteorologist Elizabeth Hill will do her job at the fair for the next two weeks, and brought her three home-schooled children.

&#8220It's a working trip,” Hill said, before predicting that, &#8220We may get some sun tomorrow.”

Contact Mary Ames at

352-2284 or mary.ames@

frontiersman.com.