NEW YORK STATE FAIR

Latest news, schedules, concert lineups and more (Aug. 21 - Sept. 1, 2008)

Post-Standard: The New York State Fair will present seven grandstand concerts in 2009 - four fewer than normal - to cut its costs, state officials said late Monday.

They will offer four more free Chevy Court shows and four fewer paid grandstand concerts featuring national acts, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said.

» Talk about it in the state fair forum or leave a comment below...

By Mike McAndrew, The Post-Standard: Last month, New York officials boasted that the state fair netted a quarter-million more in profits from its 2008 grandstand concerts than it did in 2007 because of its new contract with Live Nation Worldwide.

Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said he was "thrilled" with the results of the no-bid deal the state gave to the world's largest concert producer.

But as New York prepares this week to hire a producer for its 2009 state fair shows, Hooker's department is acknowledging that the fair's profits under the Live Nation deal were less than half what the fair earned on its own in 2006.

» Read the full story: Fair aims for better contract deal for 2009

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A Syracuse peace activist who spent seven days in jail last month after a New York State Fair protest is vowing to refuse any plea bargain that requires him to plead guilty to an offense.

"I want to see this through trial," said Edward S. Kinane Monday night, after appearing in Geddes Town Court for a Sept. 1 criminal trespassing arrest. "I think the prosecution has almost no case whatsoever."

Kinane said he would refuse a deal even if it limited his jail sentence to the time he's already served.

Continue reading "State fair demonstrator demands trial" »

GEDDES, NY -- Two months after a truck slammed into a pedestrian bridge and triggered a near-fatal crash on Interstate 690, the truck's driver was ticketed Tuesday, state police said.

Shawn Sanford, 43, of 304 Court St., Apt. 108, Syracuse, was charged with driving a truck over height, a violation, in the Aug. 21 crash, troopers said. Sanford is due to appear Nov. 10 in Geddes town court. The truck was registered to Robinson Roll Off, of Auburn.

The state fair's opening day, Sanford was driving westbound about 11 a.m. when the hydraulic boom on his 1999 Mack truck struck Pedestrian Bridge #2 and fell off.

The Zimmer family, of Webster, Monroe County, was on their way to the state fair when chunks of concrete cascaded onto their sport utility vehicle, including one piece that landed between Alan and Jennifer Zimmer, troopers said. Three children and two grandparents were in the back.

Investigators do not know why the boom was fully extended. No mechanical malfunctions were found.

The former budget director says the numbers do not accurately reflect expenses.

The New York State Fair netted a $245,302 profit from its grandstand concerts this year despite spending about a half-million more to book the shows, state officials said Thursday.

State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker and fair Director Dan O'Hara said the fair netted a quarter-million more in 2008 than last year because promoter Live Nation Worldwide helped it sell a record number of tickets.

The fair "had a terrific lineup of artists and benefited greatly from the professional services of Live Nation in booking and promoting our entertainment," Hooker said, referring to a controversial no-bid contract his department awarded to the world's largest concert promoter.

Continue reading "State fair reports profit on concerts" »

At the 2008 New York State Fair, more people paid to get in and fairgoers spent more on carnival rides and purchased a record number of baked potatoes despite a challenging economic climate, Fair Director Dan O'Hara announced Monday. The overall attendance dropped by just under 1 percent compared to 2007's figures, but revenue from paid attendance at the gate jumped by nearly 5 percent to $1.56 million because fewer fairgoers purchased discounted advance sale tickets, according to O'Hara and his spokesman. A total of 927,871 people attended the 12-day event. Continue reading "State fair reports revenue increase" »

For about 30 minutes on Labor Day, Syracuse peace activist Edward F. Kinane walked around the New York State Fair in an orange jumpsuit with a hood over his head, legs shackled, wrists cuffed and a sign that said, "CLOSE GUANTANAMO." He never spoke. He just sort of loped around.

When Kinane took up a position near an Army recruiting table, somebody called the state police. Soon, troopers and state fair officials gave Kinane an option: Take off the suit or leave.

When he did neither, they arrested him for third-degree criminal trespassing. Kinane spent the next seven days in the Justice Center jail.

Continue reading "Demonstrator at state fair spends 7 days behind bars, but state officials can't find a law he broke" »

Here's an overview of what's in my Family Notebook in today's Post-Standard:

Pre-kindergarten: Success by 6, an initiative of United Way of Central New York, plans a gathering Monday at Dr. King Magnet School, 416 E. Raynor Ave., Syracuse, to attract support for UPK from the business community in hopes of stirring political will. UPK is a free state-funded early education program for 4-year-olds. I'll have an update on how it went Monday.

Reader questions: Kristy is looking for an infertility support group in the Syracuse area or advice on starting one. If you have a suggestion, e-mail me or call me at 470-2172. Last week, Dottie, sought a support group for families who have a member with obsessive-compulsive disorder or body dysmorphic disorder. Kara responded, noting an OCD support group meets 7:30 to 9 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at DeWitt Town Hall. Call the Mental Health Association of Onondaga County at 445-5606 for information.

State fair poll: Central New York parents, you sure love milk and sausage sandwiches at the state fair. Before the fair ended Monday, I unscientifically polled readers of the Family Life blog about their favorite part of the fair. Nearly 300 people responded, and the top answer was to get milk at the Dairy Building (22 percent) followed by eat a sausage sandwich (21 percent). View the full results here.