Promoting agriculture in the 21st century: “Promoting agriculture in the 21st century” is the theme of the first Shawville Fair of the new millennium.

“We thought that since this is the millennium fair, we should take it as a significant year and start planning for the next 100 years,“ said Mavis Hanna, president of the Pontiac Agricultural Society.

Hanna pointed out the importance of providing an agricultural education at the fair, as a lot of people in the crowds of about 35,000 come from the city.

Chapeau Fair hit by no-shows: The annual Chapeau Fair was held on the weekend, but unfortunately, many people missed it.

“The numbers didn’t come out. We’d like to know why the people didn’t attend the fair,” says director Gene O’Brien of the small crowds.

“On Friday night, just before the parade the sky turned black,” says O’Brien. “Maybe that’s why people stayed away.”

And, if the weather wasn’t enough cause for the dwindling crowd, the midway didn’t show up as planned.

O’Brien says the small crowds and lack of volunteer support may be an ominous sign.

Shawville Notes by Hermonie Sharpe: Can you believe the summer, if you could call it that, is coming to an end? I could hardly believe it when I checked on the speakers for the Cushman Memorial Church in Norway Bay (by the way, a very kind lady reminded me of the proper name for this church) this coming Sunday, Aug. 27 will be Rev. Laird Hamilton and then once again, the doors will be closed until the summer of 2001. Sad but true.

St. Edward’s Church had a fundraiser for a new roof on the church in the form of a golf tournament at Pine Lodge and a steak barbecue in St. Edward’s basement. This was a huge success because of the participation of the people as well as the prizes donated by the businesses in the area.