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Success in Stone Harbor

By Jacob Schaad Jr. STONE HARBOR - After some difficulty, the artists and the craftspeople got their act together here this summer and it looks like they’re in for a long run. Two decades ago under the aegis of the Lions Club and the enthusiastic directorship of local artist Norma Betz, the art show came upon the scene as an annual event in Stone Harbor. Two years ago it was dicided to embellish the weekend with a craft show. Unfortunately, the director, Fifi Bowe/i, moved to Florida after the show and it looked like that activity would end abruptly, especially after there was no craft show in 1981. Enter the picture in 1982 Ruth and Ernie Blair who agreed to take over the craft event as chairpeople. WHAT EMERGED was a

smash success with an estimated 8.000 spectators in attendance, 4.000 for the art show and a like number for the Sunday craft show. As an indication of the progress in just two years, at the first craft show there were 37 inside tent exhibits and nine on the outside. This year, there were 64 inside exhibits and 112 outside. The Blairs were so- Successful that they have agreed to not only continue in their new roles, but to assume the chairmanship of the . art show, filling the differeni shoes of Mrs. Betz who is retiring after 20. years as director and two heart attacks. Mrs. Blair is not unfamiliar with the art show. She has worked on it for 18 years. Fittingly for Mrs. Betz, the 1982 art show, blessed with ideal seashore weather, cooled by the ocean breezes, had 196 entries, the largest in the show’s history and

surpassing last year’s total by 26. In the first show, she rec&lls, there were only 25 artists. THE ART show was under the sponsorship of the Lions Club for seven years until the borough's recreation department took over. For the past 13 years it has been at its present site at 80th Street and First Avenue and for the last eight years it has been under a tent, 50 by 200 feet. "We're not here to make a profit," explained Blair. "The events bring publicity to the city and Ibcy provide opportunities for artists and the craftspeople to sell their products.” The city figured to gross nearly 19,000 from the two weekend events, but most of that sum will be eaten up by costs. Rental of the tent for two days runs $3;0OO alone. For the craft show the city if'agezPleaM)

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