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State Fair 2006

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San Mateo County at the State Fair 2006 San Mateo County’s Sesquicentennial has been an opportunity to revisit and focus on the qualities of dynamic, as well as everyday, people whose “larger than life” actions have made our county great. From R. O. Tripp, who built the Woodside Store in 1854, to Herb Boyer, co-founder of Genentech, a biotechnology industry pioneer; and, from “big” name personalities like Tom Brady, Junípero Serra High School, Class of 1995, to those with big hearts like Pansy Jewett Abbott, County Superintendent of Schools from 1925-1951, San Mateo County has a proud 150-year history of heroes that have made our community strong.   San Mateo County ’s 2006 State Fair exhibit is the culmination of months of collaboration among a diverse array of government, business and nonprofit partners.   The Heroes of San Mateo County Based on the San Mateo County Historical Associations sesquicentennial celebration activities (www.smc150.org), the County’s State Fair team looked to combine the County’s rich heritage with its modern innovation. The San Mateo County 2006 State Fair exhibit takes visitors on a tour of the County’s heroes from the lumber and rail days of the Woodside Store (built in 1854) to today’s biotechnology industry and to the fresh local produce grown in the County which are "As Fresh As It Gets!.     Heroes, from Noah Williams, African-American restaurateur, Pansy Jewett-Abott, County Superintendent of Schools, Farmers from San Mateo County, Barry Bonds at Junipero Serra High School, Jefferson Award Recipients, to our beloved Shrek, born at PDI Studios in Redwood City, are featured.   While San Mateo County’s exhibit highlights the heroes that have made our community great, the quiet team that has painted, hammered, scraped and pleaded the County’s exhibit into life are, in a small way, heroes too. A 100 percent homegrown effort, it has been built using only San Mateo County labor—from the early conceptual drawings to the mounting of exhibit items in Sacramento.   Using photographs of the historic Woodside Store, volunteers were able to develop the County’s exhibit from simple idea, to preliminary sketches, to the completed exhibit.   Preliminary sketches   Each partner brought their own expertise and network to make the various components of the exhibit into a whole. The County’s exhibit includes photos of only a few of San Mateo County’s heroes. Those included in the exhibit typify the diversity of our community.   After countless hours of organizing, collecting all of the materials, building, and hanging pictures, the booth came to life. It provides a small view of what San Mateo County holds and the beauty that surrounds it. Much of the material in the booth was loaned by participating organizations. The plant life was also homegrown from farms and nurseries throughout San Mateo County. While the “hardscape” components of the County’s exhibit were built specifically for the State Fair, expect to see the Woodside Store “on tour” throughout San Mateo County for years to come.   San Mateo County ’s State Fair planning team was composed of a diverse array of partners including:   Nonprofits (ArtShare, San Mateo County Historical Association, San Mateo County Arts   Commission)   Business groups (San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau, San Mateo County   Farm Bureau, Genentech),   Education ( Cañada Community College) and   Various County government departments   San Mateo County’s partnership to develop the County’s 2006 State Fair exhibit typifies the collaborative nature of San Mateo County’s government, business and nonprofit partners. The San Mateo County State Fair team is proud to bring our community’s sesquicentennial celebration to the 2006 State Fair for all Californians to enjoy.   A special thank you for those who participated: Anne LeClair, President and CEO San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau David Hook, Gary Ho and Dionne Miller San Mateo Medical Center Dildar Gil Pisani San Mateo County Arts Commission Don Katsanes and Ty Kang County of San Mateo, Parks and Recreation, Maintenance Unit Donna Vaillencourt, Deputy Director County of San Mateo, Public Works Janetta Nartey , Community & Patient Programs Genentech Jack Olsen, Executive Administrator San Mateo County Farm Bureau Jeff Kosmala, Construction Supervisor, & team County of San Mateo, Public Works, Construction Services Joanne Ward, Management Analyst County of San Mateo, County Manager’s Office Juda Tolmasoff, Legislative Aide Supervisor Jerry Hill County of San Mateo, Supervisor Jerry Hill Leigh Toldi, visual artist ArtShare, San Mateo County’s Arts Partner Mina Lim, graphic design County of San Mateo, County Manager’s Office Mitch Postel, Executive Director San Mateo County Historical Association Patti Bonifilo PDI Dreamworks Ross Nakasone County of San Mateo, County Manager’s Office Susan Traynor Cañada College Tiare Peña County of San Mateo, Planning and Building William Chiang, Legislative Aide Supervisor Adrienne Tissier County of San Mateo, Supervisor Adrienne Tissier Board Memo Powerpoint Presentation (presented to the Board of Supervisors August 15, 2006) Press Release     To view the fair: (to download larger pictures, click on the link)               Woodside Store (708kb)             Heroes Gallery (734kb)    DNA Way (599kb)                         "As Fresh As It Gets!" (806kb)   Overview (725kb)