Caroga Craft Fair
Crowds soak up sun at annual Caroga eventBy KAYLEIGH KARUTIS, The Leader-Herald
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CAROGA - A few rumbles of thunder didn't keep dozens of people from attending the 31st Caroga Lake Craft Fair Saturday afternoon.
Entertained by music and their hunger kept at bay by hamburgers, sausage and bake sale items, shoppers from all over gathered at the Caroga Historical Museum. They shopped for everything from jewelry to handmade pillows to ceramic wares. And when they finished shopping, many stopped by the new historical exhibit created by the museum detailing the adventures of Nick Stoner.
"Business has been fantastic," said Joan Yuenger, a year-round Caroga resident. "I've been going to this fair almost since the beginning so everyone knows I'll be here. I have a lot of return customers."
Yuenger had earrings, pendants, watches and other jewelry on display. She said he has been selling her items at the Caroga Craft Fair for years, and also sells jewelry at Robin Dee's Hair Design in Gloversville.
"I've been doing this for 18 years," she said. "I always do well here."
Several other vendors and volunteers agreed with Yuenger.
"Business is going really well," said Conway, Mass. resident Erin Beaudet. "There are always a lot of people here."
Beaudet was visiting her parents, who have a camp in the area, and decided to display her hand sewn bags at the craft fair. She's been attending the fair and selling her bags under the name Oui Bags for three years, she said.
"Doing this lets me stay home, it's my stay at home mom job," she said. "I have two children. This is good for a bit of extra money."
Ron Soviero, who has been summering in Caroga Lake for over 30 years, said the raffle was doing good business as well. The museum had over 40 businesses and 20 vendors donate an item to the raffle.
"I volunteer because I just wanted to support the historical museum," he said. "I enjoy what they do for the area."
He said he has been a historical museum member for over 20 years.
"I get back even more than what I put in," he said.
Bob and Adele Schnell browsed the Nick Stoner exhibit after looking at the different vendors' wares.
"The exhibit is really, really good," Adele said. "Basically [Nick Stoner] was a hero. It's very interesting."
She added she just finished a book about the history of Nick Stoner and hadn't realized what an integral part Stoner was in the area.
"It's just amazing," she said. "The history has always been there, I just didn't know."
Museum President Shirley Holliday said many people have seen the exhibit and have been impressed by it.
"We had a very good turnout when it opened," she said.
She added many of the artifacts were donated by nearby residents, including a large bear trap and other items. The craft fair, she said, was also a success.
"We have a pretty good crowd," she said. "There's a nice breeze, too."
In addition the craft fair and other events the museum is putting on, vice president Judy Smith said the museum will host an evening concert on July 26 at 7 p.m. at the Wheelerville Union Free School. Featured will be the Swing Docs, a group of 20 Albany Medical Center doctors who will play everything from swing to rock.
"It's something new," Smith said. "We're branching out. This is a much bigger event. We're trying to provide a different kind of entertainment for everyone."
For more information on events going on at the Caroga Historical Museum, including a variety of workshops the museum is hosting, visit www. carogamuseum.com.
Kayleigh Karutis covers rural Fulton County. She can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com.
