With all of the talk and written comments pro and con regarding the berry festival, I felt it time to put forth some comments and insight.

The Santa Cruz County Fair is happy to offer our venue for this festival. We did not pursue this relocation, but were contacted by promoter Les Peterson with the idea. Our first issue was to be sure issues were dealt with between Peterson and the City of Watsonville. It is not about the money, we are making very little, but about offering a safe and proper size area for this large event.

Ramsay Park was outgrown for the 2008 festival. People were in the street waiting to gain entry, and the parking was very inadequate. I am sure the businesses in the Target/Ross/Staples shopping center and the neighboring businesses and residences are ecstatic with the move and their ability to accommodate their shoppers and personal vehicles for the whole weekend.

It seems that some at the City of Watsonville either forget or are unaware that when the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds hosts an event, there are many ways the city and its businesses benefit. Fuel, food, supplies and lodging are a few of the ripple effects of an event held at the fairgrounds.

Our annual September fair; large, four-day horse shows in July, and all of the other public (livestock/horse shows, dances, American Cancer Society Relay For Life, Lucha Libre, Christmas Craft Fair, spa sales) and private events (weddings, quinceañeras, company parties and retreats, community events) bring thousands of participants and members of the public into Watsonville throughout the year. We book rooms in city-located hotels for our fair entertainment, judges and support staff.

The fairgrounds will use Pajaro Valley High athletes to monitor recycling, garbage and restrooms, and Peterson will use Watsonville High athletes to monitor parking during the Monterey Bay Berry Fest.

The 2008 Santa Cruz County Fair used Pajaro Valley High and Watsonville High athletic department athletes for parking, recycling, garbage and restroom support, which was a big financial boost to their budgets and a big help to our fair. The city should be proud that the festival has outgrown the Ramsay Park facility.

The event growth shows that Santa Cruz County and surrounding counties are participating and that the event is a success. The growth of the event will bring increased monies to those nonprofit, private and public participants of the festival when there are more paying guests able to participate.

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John Scurfield is the deputy manager of the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. The opinions of columnists are not necessarily those of the Register-Pajaronian.





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