By Lisa Carolin
Eileen Katakowski has been involved with the Chelsea Community Fair for 10 years, including her role as a fair superintendent. Now she is retiring to babysit her granddaughters, who live in California.
But she promises that she will return to the fair.
“We have had a great bunch of people to work with,” said Katakowski.”Being a superintendent is a lot of work. You must carefully catalog all entries and accurately record prizes won.”
“That is a big job and then we must set up the display so everything looks great when the fair opens on Tuesday, the big plus is that you really get to see all the entries and you can get ideas for new projects.”
Katakoski won homemaker of the year in 2003 and decided to become a superintendent to give back.
“The fair is vibrant because the community cares and so many are willing to volunteer their time,” she said. “Without help, the fair would not exist. I have only benefitted from the experience!”
She says that getting new people involved in the fair means new ideas and a fresh perspective.
If Katakowski is out of town during the fair next summer, she will miss it but needs to enjoy the time with her granddaughters while they are young.
“Once they are older or if I’m not needed there, I’ll be back to help,” she said.
