Insurance could be costly hiccup for this year's Sterling Fair

STERLING - The fair is set to return for the first time since 2019, but they were served with a curve ball.

The town's insurance company, MIAA, notified the town that they could not continue to insure the fair the same way they have in the past.

At the meeting on July 20, MIAA Account Executive Joanne Stoll-Pizzano said, in the past, MIAA was "liberal in what it covers and what it has not."

But, the regulations were rewritten on July 1, 2021 "and a certification (of insurance) was issued last year that should not have been."

Last year, in August, Stoll-Pizzano said she met with town officials to go over additional insurance and got a $10,000 quote, before the fair was abruptly cancelled for 2021.

Since they have an additional month, Stoll-Pizzano said she will be shopping around the coverage to try to get the best cost.

Part of it stems from what the event is. Even though it is run as a town committee, a unique situation for area fairs, "The fair was never fully covered because it was considered a special event," she said.

At the meeting, both the Select Board and Fair Chairman Doug Downey answered questions about the event. Stoll-Pizzano said one of the problems was that, last year, she was "never given to the person who knows (the fair) the most."

This year, she set up a meeting with several people, including Downey, to go over every part of the fair to make sure the town, vendors and volunteers are accounted for.

Costs could be as high as $20,000, including the additional insurance quote from last year and the additional cost to put some groups on the insurance as part of the "hold harmless" agreements.

Stoll-Pizzano said she would work with the town to get the best deal and coverage, based on individual issues.

"We will try to work around this," she said. "I will go through every part.... Better to have it all documented."

Volunteers needed

While many people have called to volunteer, more people are needed not just for the fair days, Sept. 9 to 11, but throughout the year.

This year's event has the theme, Seeds of Hope, something Downey said everyone needs these days.

The fair started early in the 1800s and ran until the 1950s, before going on hiatus until the town's bicentennial in 1981. After being held in the center of town, it moved to the school for many years, before going to Sterling Airport in 1999.

"We pride ourselves on being free," with free admission and parking, Downey said.

The fair begins Friday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m., and runs until 11 p.m. with fireworks planned, weather permitting. There is a pancake breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. both Saturday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 11, with the fair running 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

People can get more information at sterlingfair.org.

One place people are needed is for a dunk tank, which will be set up to benefit the fair, which keeps growing, but also is seeing increased costs.

"We have almost outgrown the airport," Downey said.

There are some changes this year, including a van Saturday to help the elderly and those with dementia to get to the fair safely.