The Jamestown branch of the American Association of University Women's 56th annual What's New Fair will be held at the Student Union in the Hamilton Collegiate Center on the Jamestown Community College campus on Saturday and Sunday. More than 65 merchants will sell new items from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for JCC and JBC students and $1 for children ages 6-12. Children under 5 will not be charged.
Proceeds from the fair will benefit female JCC and JBC graduates who are pursuing four-year degrees. ''AAUW does a lot of educational work and advocacy work for women,'' explained Mary Lee Talbot, AAUW publicity co-chair. ''The fair supports the scholarship fund, and these scholarships go to women who are going on in college. It supports them and builds a stronger community.''
''It supports women, and that's what we do,'' added Kelly Powell, owner of Curves locations in Falconer and Lakewood. ''We've been involved in it for six or seven years.''
Article Photos
Area residents exercise in Curves’ new Chautauqua Mall location while owner Kelly Powell looks on. Ms. Powell will take part in the What’s New Fair at JCC this weekend.
P-J?photo by Scott Shelters
As its name implies, the fair gives area merchants an opportunity to show off new products. ''It's the What's New Fair, and we just opened up a new location on Fairmount Avenue,'' said Karen Swerdon, owner of Creative Imports. ''We're going this year to let everyone know that we've got a lot of new stuff and a new location.'' Ms. Swerdon will bring hand-crafted jewelry, art and clothing from all over the world to the fair.
''We're going to be featuring our $29 Curves Unlimited plan,'' said Ms. Powell, who will sell weighted hoops and deals for Curves memberships in hopes of promoting her new Chautauqua Mall location. ''We have a beautiful hardwood floor and lighting at the mall location.'' At 2 p.m. Saturday, the Curves booth will lead a breakout zumba class at the fair. All are welcome to join in.
Cheri Greenstein, owner of GG My Love on North Main Street in Jamestown, will return to What's New Fair after enjoyable experiences the past two years. ''The first two years were beyond my expectations. Business was fabulous, and the attendance was phenomenal,'' she said. ''The people really enjoyed being there. I love to shop there myself.''
Ms. Greenstein will feature a wide variety of her products this weekend. ''I have fabulous jewelry at incredible prices,'' she said. ''I have sweaters, jackets, scarves and stocking stuffers. I have a kids' corner. They loved it last year.''
As a result of her positive experiences at What's New Fair, Ms. Greenstein chose to join AAUW. ''I'm a university grad, but I wasn't even aware of AAUW until I moved to Jamestown. I just thought it was something I should do.''
To become an AAUW member, a minimum of a two-year degree from an accredited college is required.
The fair will offer entertainment options for children, including a visit from Santa, who will be present all day on both Saturday and Sunday. Food from Next Generation Vending and Food Service of JCC will be available, including various lunch and dessert items. Personalized gingerbread cookies will be at the AAUW Gingerbread House, and other goodies will be available from the fair's Sweet Shoppe.
Tickets for drawings can be purchased at $1 per ticket or $3 for five tickets. The prize drawings will be held Sunday at 3:30, and a door prize will be drawn from fair admission tickets every hour throughout the weekend. More than 30 local merchants, restaurants and cultural and educational organizations donated prizes.