San Mateo County Fair Wins Prestigious Merrill Award for Farmworker Heroes Appreciation Day

Farmworker

For more information:
Susan Senning
senning@smcec.co
650-574-3247

San Mateo County Fair Wins Prestigious Merrill Award for Farmworker Heroes Appreciation Day

Farmworker

SAN MATEO – The San Mateo County Event Center and Fair is proud to announce that it has won the prestigious Western Fairs Association Merrill Award for its 2022 Farmworker Heroes Appreciation Day at the Fair. The Merrill Award, named in honor of Western Fairs Association Founder Louis Merrill, and is awarded to Fair programs that clearly demonstrate innovation, vision, and excellence. It is the highest honor that a Fair can receive.

The San Mateo County Fair team is committed to inclusion and diversity Recognizing how hard Farmworkers in our community and throughout the U.S work to provide food, often during extreme conditions including severe weather, fires, and during the pandemic, and who too often go unrecognized. The Fair staff created an educational and recognition program celebrating their hard work, and the legacy of Cesar Chavez, Larry Itliong and Dolores Huerta. A curated exhibit in partnership with the National Chavez Center, Cesar Chavez Foundation and local non-profit association, ALAS (Ayundando Latinos A Soñar) was established with over 100 photographs.

Additional educational content was developed to share and celebrate the enormous contributions of Farmworkers, and Cesar Chavez.

An exciting aspect of this curated exhibit is that it will be shared with schools and other county fairs throughout California as a traveling educational exhibit; amplifying the messaging of what our Farmworkers do and how important they are.

The San Mateo County Fair is proud to have had the opportunity to recognize our Farmworkers and their essential contributions to our daily lives. “It has been a privilege to recognize the hard work and dedication of our Farmworkers,” said Dana Stoehr, CEO of the San Mateo County Event Center & Fair. “This award is a testament to our Farmworkers, the legacy of Cesar Chavez, our team and the San Mateo County community.”

The Farmworker Heroes Appreciation Day was a huge success, educating tens of thousands of visitors to the fair on how important our Farmworkers are and acknowledge and celebrate their hard work.

We are thrilled to have received this recognition and will continue to showcase and celebrate the contributions of Farmworkers in our community. We want to thank the Western Fairs Association for recognizing our efforts, and we look forward to continuing our work toward hosting a fair that is inclusive and celebrates the diversity of San Mateo County.

“Farmworker Heroes Day is more than just a one-time event,” added Justin Aquino, Fair Operations Manager at the San Mateo County Event Center & Fair. “It is an educational exhibit designed to educate our public and acknowledge and celebrate individuals who keep our food system running.”

We invite everyone to join us in celebrating Farmworker Heroes Day and recognizing the invaluable contributions of Farmworkers at the San Mateo County Fair, June 3-11, 2023. More information about the event, including a schedule of activities, will be available on our website closer to the event start date.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER 
During COVID, the San Mateo Event Center was unable to host most events but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub, and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR
The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.

San Mateo County Event Center Continues Partnership with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley to Feed San Mateo Families

second harvest

For more information:
Sanjida Nahar
snahar@actumllc.com
818.912.9055

San Mateo County Event Center Continues Partnership with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley to Feed San Mateo Families

second harvest

Second Harvest will once again operate a food distribution site at the San Mateo Event Center for families in need

SAN MATEO – The San Mateo Event Center & Fair is pleased to announce its continued sponsorship of this year’s Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Food Distribution to continue serving San Mateo County.

This year’s historic inflation has exacerbated preexisting economic hardship. More families today are struggling with food insecurity than in years past, and this has driven an urgent need for direct aid to combat hunger. This need has been met by the work of the Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, which has played a key role in accommodating this dramatic increase in families seeking food assistance.

“Here at the San Mateo Event Center, we exist first and foremost to serve San Mateo County. In looking around our community, we see our neighbors struggling to put food on the table every week,” said Dana Stoehr, CEO of the San Mateo County Fair and Event Center. “We’re blessed to have the resources to take action on this issue through our partnership with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, an organization that has been truly invaluable in fight against hunger right here in San Mateo.”

The Second Harvest Drive-Thru will be located in the East Parking lot of the San Mateo Event Center (1346 Saratoga Dr, San Mateo – Gate 9) every Thursday from 8:30am to 10:45am starting tomorrow morning, and anyone needing assistance is welcome.

Since its establishment in 1974, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley has led the charge against hunger in the local community through its work as one of America’s largest food banks. The organization seeks to provide nutritionally balanced meals free of charge to the entirety of its community, regardless of race, religion, citizenship or sexual orientation.

Their sponsorship of this food distribution event is one of many efforts the San Mateo Event Center has undertaken to serve the San Mateo community, in addition to its sponsorship of the Samaritan House Holiday Gift Drive, Seniors on the Move, and numerous other community events.

Never miss an event; follow @sanmateoevntctr on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER 
During COVID, the San Mateo Event Center was unable to host most events but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub, and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR
The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.

San Mateo County Event Center Sponsors LifeChanging Program for Young Adults Interested in the Trades

fortitude

For more information:
Sanjida Nahar
snahar@actumllc.com
818.912.9055

San Mateo County Event Center Sponsors LifeChanging Program for Young Adults Interested in the Trades

fortitude

SAN MATEO – The San Mateo County Event Center & Fair will host Fortitude Careers’ Summer Build Program this year. The 8-week program offers a curriculum for Life Skills, Careers Services, and Construction Job Readiness for young adults (18 to 24 years old) interested in a construction trade career.

Fortitude is a non-profit organization offering free training for young adults seeking a career in the trades. Its mission is to provide a life-changing opportunity as an alternative to college. Its multifaceted mission is to serve young adults in their ambition to build a successful career in the construction trades. By helping young adults to develop practical, technical, and life mastery skills, Fortitude supports the needs of the community, industry, and workforce.

“Patti Bentley and I have worked for two years to develop this program,” says Nicole Davis, CoFounder and CEO of Fortitude Careers. “It is truly a labor of love. For us to know that the effort that we have put into this provides hope and promise for the young adults in our program is a gift to us and hopefully to them.”

On July 11th, their Summer Build Program officially started at the San Mateo County Event Center & Fair. Those interested in joining a union can be fast-tracked into an apprenticeship by one of Fortitude’s sponsors as a carpenter, electrician, plumber, laborer, etc.

Others may go to college to pursue formal education required for upper-level management or roles in Construction Engineering, Architecture, Design, or Project Management. The professional spectrum for the trades is vast – participants may decide to work in support of the industry as product reps, administrative roles, inspectors, and many more.

“We are delighted and thankful to host Fortitude Careers,” says Dana Stoehr, CEO of the San Mateo County Event Center & Fair. “As a non profit organization we continually look for ways to support other non-profits serving our community. We are so happy these deserving young people are being trained at our Event Center.”

Participants have a lot to say about the program as well: “I have learned more about math through two months in Fortitude than in 4 years in high school,” says one, while another states, “My mom is so happy I’m in Fortitude – she says she can already see a difference in my maturity.”

Program participants are spending their summer to become job-ready by the end of the program. Eight weeks of 8 hours a day spent studying the necessary skills to bring value to the workforce. Meet those eager, intelligent, dedicated young adults at the Reverse Job Fair event on September 2nd at the San Mateo County Event Center, or contact Fortitude Careers at admin@fortitudecareers.org for more information about adding them to your team.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER 
During COVID, the San Mateo Event Center was unable to host most events but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub, and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR
The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.

San Mateo County Fair Celebrates Successful 2022 With Over 100,000 Visitors & Looks Forward to 2023’s Fair!

end of fair

For more information:
Sanjida Nahar
snahar@actumllc.com
818.912.9055

San Mateo County Fair Celebrates Successful 2022 With Over 100,000 Visitors & Looks Forward to 2023’s Fair!

end of fair

SAN MATEO – The 2022 San Mateo County Fair was a success based on any metric, including the number of corndogs eaten! With well over 100,000 fairgoers this year, the Fair was almost back to pre-pandemic numbers and proved once again that this yearly event is more than just carnival rides and fair foods – as fun and delicious as all of those things always are.

The Fair managed to capture the essence of California with special events and exhibits such as PRIDE, Pacific Islands Day, Día de la Feria, Farmworker Heroes Appreciation, and the Black History Museum. It was an event for all to feel welcome and represented.

The year’s fair included multiple education and interactive exhibits for the entire family. Expedition: Dinosaur (animatronic dinosaurs), SkyRiver Butterflies (fairgoers were able to interact with real butterflies), All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, Fair Farm (with baby barnyard), Robotic For more information: Sean Gallitz sgallitz@actumllc.com (414) 315-0436 For Immediate Release: June 30th, 2022 Zone, Department of INNOVATION (which had many activities and workshops for adults and kids to be creative and have fun), the SMC Libraries Bookmobile, Black History Museum and the newly created Farmworker Exhibit honoring the legacy of Cesar Chavez and local farmworkers made this year’s Fair as memorable as any other.

The Community Stage showcased local performers daily from our vibrant and creative community. Also participating were many roving acts around the fairgrounds such as our adorable and loving Fritters (big fluffy mascot…hard to miss!), Zoey the Butterfly, the Street Drum Corps, magician Louis Foxx, and the amazing balloon artist Dennis Forel. Other special events and performances included stand-up comedy with Jesús U Bettawork (a San Mateo native) and saw the incredibly gifted San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band march through the fairgrounds during our PRIDE celebration.

Amazing and legendary musical acts, including the Commodores and Gloria Gaynor, played for thousands on our free outdoor mainstage every night and really put the exclamation point on each day.

“I am so proud of our staff and all their hard work that goes into creating a successful Fair. Their passion for our community showed and attendees benefited from the many attractions and educational exhibits,” said Dana Stoehr, CEO of the San Mateo County Event Center & Fair. “This year surpassed all previous years, delivering so much quality content for our Fairgoers.”

“We were inspired by the support of our community when we reopened to a modified fair in 2021 but it felt much more different this year,” added Justin Aquino, the San Mateo County Fair Manager. “There is no place like a County Fair where guests can use all their five senses to experience the richness of diversity in San Mateo County. Our county fair is a safe place where all are welcome, and it is our entire staff having these values that make it possible.”

Overall, the 2022 San Mateo County Fair was a great success, and we can’t wait to see what 2023 brings! Stay tuned!

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER 
During COVID, the San Mateo Event Center was unable to host most events but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub, and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR
The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.

Friendship, friendly competition lead San Mateo County 4-H’ers to success

4h

For more information:
Sanjida Nahar
snahar@actumllc.com
818.912.9055

Friendship, friendly competition lead San Mateo County 4-H’ers to success

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/friendship-friendly-competition-lead-san-mateo-county-4-h-ers-to-success/article_6feda06e-e939-11ec-8364-43b4b8ea84a7.html

4h

SAN MATEO – Cows, hogs, lambs, goats and other smaller farm animals have found their way to the San Mateo County Fair but not without hard work from the young county residents who dedicate months to raising their show animals.

Since February, Alex Meyerhoff, Emily Jimenez and Isabelle Cialone from San Bruno 4-H have spent every day with their goats, feeding them, walking them and learning to pose them for show.

“It’s a very big time management thing, which is one of the biggest things I’ve learned raising large animals, how to manage my time,” said Meyerhoff who first got involved in 4-H in the third grade, first raising chickens, then turkeys and eventually goats. “I got into it pretty quickly and I haven’t stopped since.”

Like Meyerhoff, Jimenez also started out with chickens, partly inspired by Meyerhoff who introduced Jimenez to 4-H after the two met in Girl Scouts. From there, they befriended Cialone and the trio became close inside and out of the pin.

Their friendship has bolstered their showmanship in many ways. Meyerhoff said they take pride in seeing their friends succeed, especially knowing they’ve offered pointers from their years of experience raising six lambs to date.

Cialone’s first time raising a goat was for last year’s county fair and, despite being new to the ropes, she took Reserve Grand Champion. This year was Jimenez’s first time raising a goat thanks to the support of Cialone and Meyerhoff. She also earned herself a ribbon her first go around, this time as Reserve Champion for her class.

“I wasn’t expecting it. I knew he would do pretty well in market but it was an unexpected turn of events,” Jimenez said.

The camaraderie goes beyond their friendship too, they agreed. Before any competition or during down time, they said 4-H’ers from chapters all over the county will often share pointers and friendly chatter. And those who have aged out of the programs are known to return to the fair to also lend a helping hand.

“It’s really nice to see that sense of community. Even though it is a competition everyone just wants to help each other,” Cialone said.

When not caring directly for their animals, the trio said they enjoy talking with the younger children who stroll through. It’s clear, they agreed, that many have never had the opportunity to see farm animals up close.

Cialone said she often sees herself in the younger children who wander in. She first became aware of livestock programs when visiting a fair in Iowa with her grandparents. Eventually she found her way to San Bruno 4-H, a program she had no idea existed in her community.

“It reminds me of myself and it’s really rewarding to hear all their questions. It’s a very unique experience and not something they’ll see everyday,” Cialone said.

 

That distance means many in the county are also unfamiliar with how to interact with undomesticated animals, giving 4-H participants the opportunity to teach onlookers about animal body language, Meyerhoff said, noting “each animal is different and you have to be very gentle with them.”

Makayla Arvin, the fair’s assistant livestock coordinator, said livestock programs offered through groups like 4-H teach young people important lessons about responsibility by empowering them to take care of another living creature other than themselves.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for them to deal with animals, get hands-on with animals that are not exactly like a dog or a cat, they’re livestock,” Arvin said. “We have great kids here that are all super responsible and are going to be great leaders once they grow up and go into what I call the real world.”

Arvin grew up going through the programming herself, spending most of her time with larger livestock like cows and hogs. But unlike more rural parts of California, Arvin said that experience is especially rare across San Mateo County and the greater Bay Area resulting in kids coming to livestock programming through word of mouth.

Those who do find their way to raising livestock often end up hooked, she said. Recognizing how much the kids care, Arvin said she and the rest of the livestock team were eager for a full return where kids get to show off their animals, receive feedback from longtime professionals and sell their animals at auction.

Two years of COVID-19 restrictions forced the fair barn to alter the way animals were shown and auctioned off. The 2020 fair was canceled due to safety concerns, resulting in a virtual and drive-thru show and auction. Then in 2021, only large animals were welcomed back.

“Getting them the opportunity to come back here and have the ability to show their animals was our main focus so we did everything we could to get them back here to have the ability to show what they learned,” Arvin said. “[It’s about] getting the kids in here and working with them and showing them how great this program is and giving them the opportunity to just shine. Most get addicted and come back year over year.”

Like Arvin hoped and worked toward, this year, the barn was in full swing with livestock of all sizes from cattle to little chicks welcomed back. After months of work and a week of showmanship competitions, the 4-H’ers will be saying goodbye to their livestock and the barn is about to close its doors again.

“It will definitely be a little sad but I think it’s really worth it,” Cialone said. “I know that my hard work paid off.”

sierra@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 106

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER 
During COVID, the San Mateo Event Center was unable to host most events but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub, and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR
The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.

Camel Rides A Hit At The San Mateo County Fair

camel

For more information:
Sanjida Nahar
snahar@actumllc.com
818.912.9055

Camel Rides A Hit At The San Mateo County Fair

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/camel-rides-a-hit-at-the-san-mateo-county-fair/article_c8114358-e935-11ec-8261-432db24b354b.html

camel

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER 
During COVID, the San Mateo Event Center was unable to host most events but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub, and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR
The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.

Take me to San Mateo County Fair by Guest Contributor Elizabeth Nisperos

PR

For more information:
Sanjida Nahar
snahar@actumllc.com
818.912.9055

Take me to San Mateo County Fair by Guest Contributor Elizabeth Nisperos

https://everythingsouthcity.com/2022/06/take-me-to-san-mateo-county-fair-by-guest-contributor-elizabeth-nisperos/

PR

SAN MATEO – In Camelot, Queen Guinevere sings ‘Take me to the Fair ‘ where she recruits henchmen to whack and crack the undefeated Frenchman Sir Lancelot Dulac. The source of such power that was so tremendous and stupendous in battles came from Lancelot’s purity of heart and undefiled spirit until his downfall. (Men take note. ) The winner earned the right to escort and sit beside the Queen at the fair.

You don’t need to be an unquestioned champion or the strongest knight to go to the fair. Just buy a ticket.

Date: June 4-5, June 8-12 , San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo. 650-574-3247.

To see a detailed schedule, CLICK HERE

I received an email from Fair’s management who deserved a big Congratulations. See a quote:

“The San Mateo County Fair received the most awards given to a single fair by WFA (Western Fair Association) in 2021, receiving 20 First Place and 12 Second Place awards! The Fair was also recognized by IAFE(International Association of Fairs and Exposition) and took home 5 prestigious awards.

“This is such a thrill for us,” said Dana Stoehr, CEO of the San Mateo Event Center & Fair. “Many of the awards centered on our focus around fighting COVID. We had events to Get Vaccinated at the fair and this clearly impressed the judges.” The San Mateo County Event Center & Fair is one of 77 fairgrounds in California, but the only one to be part of the Office of Emergency Services.” The Event Center administered over 250,000 COVID tests and over 100,000 vaccinations over the preceding 12 months, much of which happened at the fair this past year.”

I’m glad I was a participant in 2021. CLICK HERE FOR 2021 ARTICLE

 

Fair includes concerts with live performances from the 

Commodores, Gloria Gaynor and the Sugar Hill Gang, Uptown Funk(Bruno Mars tribute); Dia del Feria, Pacific Islands day, Family Pride; carnival rides, pig races, robotics, creative kids activities; creative arts(Home, Florals, Culinary, Fine Arts Gallery, Garden); Livestock, STEAM inventions; San Francisco Bazaar with curated crafts; Food Courts with corn dogs, barbecue, burgers, funnel cakes, pineapple chicken teriyaki; Expedition Dinosaur, an interactive experience and educational journey with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs.

San Mateo County Libraries have a BOOKMOBILE  to showcase their current programs, books, videos, language offers, and adult and kids activities.

This part is a creativity enhancer for artists. The only area in the entire Fair where you cannot take photos or videos is the Fine Arts Gallery. I think this is to prevent copyright infringement litigation which can be expensive. The last year 2021 only winners were on display but in 2022 there is no preselection; everybody who submits an art piece is included in the exhibition. Winners will be known during the fair or end of the fair.

News state that San Mateo County is sometimes listed as either 2nd or 3rd wealthiest county in the US. Really??? I thought only the areas of Atherton, Hillsborough, Woodside, Los Altos where there are mansions. For me, the real wealth is the good, friendly, kindhearted, fun residents.

 

For example when I was submitting my two pieces to intake volunteers.

I asked, “Do you have a trolley so I can get my heavy frame art?”

Peggy said jokingly, “We don’t have a trolley. We can do better. We can give you a man.”

I said, “Where can I get this man?”

Peggy said, “First you have to remove your glasses and mask,” and she added to make a flirty and coquettish gesture.

I laughed and said, “That’s good, as in the Proverbs ‘A cheerful heart does good like a medicine.’ San Mateo County residents are helpful and funny. Indeed, Roger helped me pick my heavy art and then showed me his seven submission pieces. He said he makes art to release and express creativity not to win awards. I totally agree, “When I finish my art I’m already a winner because I pulled out something invisible to make it visible. Ribbons or prizes are external opinions.”

 

I’ve two submissions—

a) Watercolor titled Wildflowers Becoming Wings which arose from a poem I’d written for April National Poetry Month. The lonely wildflowers when they heard a whimsical sound spotted an angel and they latched themselves to the wings so they can fly and listen to heavenly music. The inspirational technique in this piece was Gustav Klimt who painted flowers around women’s bodies. I saw his exhibit Rodin & Klimt in San Francisco Legion of Honor with sculptor Rodin.  I thought Klimt was German or Russian but when I was in Vienna, I saw a big billboard about his exhibition. He was Austrian Viennese.

Poem: Wildflowers becoming Wings

overlooked , lonely wildflowers in a meadow ;

heard a musical riff arising;

a gavotte, a pavana, a tremolo for a flamenco;

spotted an angel, multicolored petals jumping, attaching onto wings flying to listen heaven’s symphony.

 

 

  1. b) Lettering–Love Stops Wars is the solution for ending wars. Hearts of nations gather together as a fence to block wars from entering into daily lives existence. I used sunflowers instead of O to symbolize the sunflowers seeds given by a Ukrainian woman to Russian soldiers when they first invaded her country.

 

  1. c) My 2021 lettering piece is still relevant to current pandemic, inflation, and war; it stuck in a server error and was not judged but got displayed in the fair online gallery.

My mantra ‘ Simple is the new happiness and plenty’ is a cornucopia of several lettering scripts.  Henry Thoreau states it differently ‘That person is the richest whose needs are the simplest.’ 

 

Addendum: Studies have shown that joyful, cheerful, optimistic people live longer. Listen to joyful music.

Someone asked me what kind of music did the wildflowers hear? I was listening to Fascination, from the movie  Love in the Afternoon while I was painting. Listed below are links to three interpretations of Fascination.

In spite of his millions of fans, Andre bothered to say to me ‘Hello my dear, nice to meet you.’ What a friendly warm-hearted human.

Fascination by Andre Rieu(violin and conductor)  CLICK HERE

https://youtu.be/PCCADNZLbGM

Fascination, piano solo José M. Armenta CLICK HERE

https://youtu.be/FelaJogCaHU

Fascination guitar arrangement by Nemanja Bogunovic  CLICK HERE

https://youtu.be/w3NfmgNaofo

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER 
During COVID, the San Mateo Event Center was unable to host most events but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub, and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR
The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.

San Mateo County Fair Honors Farmworkers

farmworkers

For more information:
Sanjida Nahar
snahar@actumllc.com
818.912.9055

San Mateo County Fair Honors Farmworkers

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/san-mateo-county-fair-honors-farmworkers/article_80201f16-e876-11ec-8f6a-7b7b727055da.html

farmworkers

SAN MATEO – The San Mateo County Fair is honoring the past and current legacy of California farmworkers this year with a mural of Mexican and Filipino labor leaders and an exhibit highlighting current farmworker conditions.

Muralist Carlos Gonzalez has spent several days creating a mural dedicated to Filipino farmworkers like Larry Itliong, an early labor leader who helped organize Filipino grape workers in Delano. Itliong worked with César Chávez to unite Filipino and Mexican farmworkers for the Delano Grape Strike and Boycott in 1965. The Delano strike lasted for five years and resulted in a win for the rights of farm laborers. Itliong was instrumental in combining the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee with the National Farm Workers Association led by Chávez into the United Farm Workers. Itliong later served as assistant director in the United Farm Workers, with Chávez as director. Larry Itliong Day is recognized in California annually on Oct. 25. Gonzalez said Itliong remains an essential figure in the movement for farmworker labor rights.

“Many of them are unsung heroes, the Asian and Filipino farmworkers that were working side by side with the Mexican American and Latino laborers,” Gonzalez said.

The mural also features Chávez and Dolores Huerta looking toward him, with the Asian farmworkers picketing out in the fields. Gonzalez will complete the mural background during the week and give kids attending the fair a chance to paint parts of the mural. During the weekend, kids 8 and up can participate and paint several mural figures. Once completed, the mural will hang at the ArtZone collective at The Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno, where Gonzalez teaches mural workshops. It will also be available for community agencies who want to hang it for events. Gonzalez, 63, grew up in the Mission District of San Francisco and has been a muralist since he was a teenager in the 1970s. After his retirement as a probation officer, he focused on his art full time. Fair officials commissioned him to make the mural.

“Workers’ rights continue to this day, and so unions are what the people need to continue thriving to get decent pay and medical benefits,” Gonzalez said.

San Mateo County Fair organizers have also put together a Farmworker Hero Exhibit to educate and honor current farmworkers, who still face challenging conditions in their jobs. The gallery offers portraits and stories of current farmworkers in California, including Half Moon Bay, working in the fields. It also provides a photo history of previous efforts by labor leaders like Chavez and Huerta to fight for better working conditions. Farmworkers and those featured in the gallery are also being invited to see the exhibit on Sunday as part of Farmworker Hero Appreciation Day. Michele Titus, an anthropology professor at the College of San Mateo, helped curate the exhibit. She noted many farmworkers have to deal with union-busting, poor pay, terrible working conditions and increased risk of health defects while working in the fields. Despite the injustices they face, farmworkers continue to provide food to millions of people across the country and picked crops during the pandemic.

“There are no more essential workers than these people,” Titus said.

While many people have stopped by this week, Titus wants more people to visit. She said anyone who feels the exhibit doesn’t concern them should reflect on the humanity and importance of farmworkers to society and the economy. Titus is working on having information graphics to help fairgoers understand why they should care.

People can find the Farmworker Hero Exhibit inside the Expo Center. The fair is open until Sunday, June 12. People can go to sanmateocountyfair.com to learn more about events and activities.

curtis@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 102

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER 
During COVID, the San Mateo Event Center was unable to host most events but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub, and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR
The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.

Flavorful Finds — San Mateo County Fair food takeover

Flavorful Finds

For more information:
Sanjida Nahar
snahar@actumllc.com
818.912.9055

Flavorful Finds — San Mateo County Fair food takeover

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/lifestyle/food/flavorful-finds-san-mateo-county-fair-food-takeover/article_041f4f4c-e6e4-11ec-b876-97b88756b42a.html

flavorful

SAN MATEO – The San Mateo County Fair is back in action and so is the food. Until June 12, visitors will be able to find all their fair favorites from a variety of more than 15 food concessions.

Flavorful Finds took a trip to the fair to help you navigate what foods are a must on your visit. With everything from pickle lemonade, a brick of fries, corn dogs, churros, to deep fried Oreos, it will be hard to choose just one, so it’s recommended you don’t. The diverse selection of vendors at this year’s fair ensures there is something for everyone.

Nothing represents a fair better than the classic funnel cake. As you walk around and enjoy your favorite rides and attractions it’s almost impossible to dodge the sweet doughy whiffs of Fanny’s Fabulous Funnel Cakes. Fanny’s has been a staple at the fair for many years and never disappoints. Funnel cake masters, Cristian and Carlos, can top off your cake with strawberries and powdered sugar, caramel apples, peanut butter and chocolate, ice cream and more. Additionally, you can also find deep-fried Snickers, Oreos, Twinkies, and a chocolate-dipped treat here.

Next stop, and back by popular demand, Pacific Crest Hawaiian Teriyaki. This concession is a great option if you are looking for something on the healthier side of delicious. They serve teriyaki rice bowls, bento boxes, saucy noodles and combination plates. One secret menu item to keep in mind is trading in your bowl for a pineapple with the teriyaki chicken pineapple boat. This beautifully hollowed-out pineapple filled with sweet teriyaki chicken and rice is not only delicious but will also look great in your photos.

On a hot day (or not) a must try is the newest concession, Poppy’s Sno Biz. At Poppy’s you will find real shaved ice with various flavors and some of the tastiest mini mochi doughnuts smothered in cinnamon sugar. This concession is also a great option for those seeking gluten-free items. The fair can be a hard place for people with food allergies, so this unique spin on tasty treats changes the game for fairgoers.

Next, the turkey leg. You can’t miss Chillin & Grillin BBQ as you walk through the fair. Its smoky meat clouds will draw you in and bring you right up to the charcoal grills where you’ll find the good ol’ turkey legs calling your name. Without a doubt, you can expect a whole lot of juiciness wrapped up in each smoky flavorful bite. After eating one of these you’ll find yourself with a handful of napkins and at one of the handwashing stations. Though delicious, this wouldn’t be Flavorful Find’s first choice for a first date.

Other notable features include Jeanne’s Artichokes, Noels Mexican Food, PHD & Me Pretzels, Pizza & Poutine, The Sleek Greek, A Pop Above and New York Style Italian Sausage.

To take your indulgence to the next level, go check out all the yummy concessions at this year’s San Mateo County Fair and tag @smdailyjournal on your favorites.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER 
During COVID, the San Mateo Event Center was unable to host most events but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub, and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR
The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.

“And They’re Off”

theyre off

For more information:
Sanjida Nahar
snahar@actumllc.com
818.912.9055

“And They’re Off”

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/and-they-re-off/image_ed37a272-e56f-11ec-afdc-07c651e2688b.html

theyre off

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER 
During COVID, the San Mateo Event Center was unable to host most events but instead played a vital role in protecting our health care workers and most vulnerable populations by serving as a COVID-19 testing site, operations hub, and supply center, 250-bed temporary overflow hospital, and vaccine distribution center for the San Francisco Bay Area. To date, the Event Center has administered 250,000 COVID-19 tests and vaccinated more than 90,000 individuals.

ABOUT THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR
The award-winning San Mateo County Fair is the Peninsula’s premier community event for family fun and entertainment. The San Mateo County Fair strives to provide a diverse experience through education, inspiration, and entertainment. The annual Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage.