Planning praised
Fairgrounds rock, village quiet



ALTAMONT — Preparation paid off. Although there were over 25,000 people in Altamont on Saturday, villagers couldn’t tell.

This pleased many residents who were upset with rowdiness and congestion at last year’s Countryfest, but riled store owners whose businesses suffered.

Proper planning is being credited for alleviating traffic congestion and other problems like public urination and brawling, but the same plans which prevented the irritation of residents also prevented the profits of local businesses.

Fair officials were pleased with the event — such money-makers keep the fairgrounds viable, they said, adding that sponsor WGNA seemed pleased as well. Most police felt the event was well controlled, too.

Some store owners tell a different story.

Both the Altamont Sunoco in the village and the Stewart’s Shop on the corner of routes 20 and 146 said they did not benefit from the large crowds on Saturday.

Sunoco owner Mike Dingman said he actually lost money on the event.
"Oh, I did terrible; it wasn’t good," Dingman said of Saturday. "Last year they were sold out here, but this year they wouldn’t let anyone pass through. I thought the purpose of bringing these events into town was to help local business."

Police blockades on side roads and specific traffic flow plans were put in place after villagers complained of cars parked in residential areas and long traffic backups at last year’s Countryfest.

Dingman said he lost about $6,000 on Saturday. About half of it was because of overstocking, but, the other half he said, was because many local residents left for the weekend fearing a re-run of last year. His sales were $3,000 less than a typical Saturday.

Although village residents seemed pleased with the WGNA-sponsored event this year, Altamont Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Salerno said a meeting has been scheduled with the radio station concerning alcohol abuse and violence.

Altamont Police say that alcohol consumption is to blame for the more than dozen arrests and numerous fights inside of the fairgrounds.
"We’re in the process of assessing it because of some events that happened inside," Salerno said Tuesday about Countryfest. "People complained who attended the event about the amount of fighting."

The radio station WGNA did not return calls for comment to The Enterprise, and the station’s marketing director is on vacation this week. But fair officials said the radio station "seemed pleased" with the event.

Residents have written letters to The Enterprise editor this week, praising the event over last year’s. The Village of Altamont Neighborhood Association last month raised several concerns about Countryfest to the Guilderland Town Board, which granted a mass-gathering permit for the event.

The association’s vice president said this week he is pleased with the outcome.
"I really think the neighborhood association made an impact"I think we got the attention of some board members," Vice President Steve Reinmann said. "I realize the crowds were down"but I think they did a great job. I didn’t see any major backups."

The concerns were raised primarily over traffic backup, which in some cases last year lasted over an hour and caused emergency vehicles to be immobile, as well as a lack of portable toilets, garbage, and numerous accounts of public drunkenness around the village. There were over 250 portable toilets this year compared to last year’s 50.
The neighborhood association provided cold drinks to police officers stationed around the village, Reinmann said, adding that his association is new, but that "it’s only trying to do some good in the community."

The associations president, Norman Bauman, was originally vocal in his concerns over Countryfest, but declined comment to The Enterprise on Saturday’s event.
Another Altamont resident, Stephanie Carter, said that, even though she didn’t go to the event, it "was much better this year."
"I think the Altamont and Guilderland Police were right on top of it and patrolled the area very well," she said.

Police patrols

The Altamont Police Department patrolled the fairgrounds during Countryfest with the help of New York State Police, the Albany County Sheriff’s Department, and the Guilderland Police.
Lieutenant Curtis Cox of the Guilderland Police coordinated among the various agencies and said everyone involved worked hard and maintained a controlled environment throughout the event. Cox said he was "very pleased" with traffic control to and from the event.
"The traffic scenario played out very well"We did not have any traffic backups at all," Cox said. "Prior planning proved to be very effective. We are very satisfied with the results."

Salerno said that nine Altamont Police officers worked all day on Saturday.
Altamont Police made 12 arrests, which included disorderly conduct, underage drinking, resisting arrest, and assault, according to Salerno. Police arrested one drunk driver in Lot 6, Salerno said, after a man was found "doing doughnuts" in the parking lot.

Cox said State Police made three more arrests and that the Albany County Sheriff’s also made an arrest. Full arrest information on the event is not yet available, Cox said, but that it will be within the week.
"We didn’t have as many people in attendance this year, but we had more arrests," Salerno told The Enterprise. The crowd last year, which was the first time it was held in Altamont, was estimated at 30,000 to 35,000.
"Last year we only had two arrests," Salerno said.
Cox said he didn’t think it was "out of the ordinary" for such a large crowd to have arrests.

Fewer police last year may have resulted in fewer arrests.
"There were some people who were disorderly, but not everyone was arrested. Some people were simply asked to leave or escorted out," Cox said. "The private security hired did their jobs and the police only intervened a few times when needed."

No fire, few medical needs

No official estimates have been given on the size of the crowd, but the Altamont Fair’s manager, Marie McMillen, said estimates are around 25,000 people.

Donald Albright, Guilderland’s chief fire inspector, acted as the fire coordinator for Countryfest and had firefighters ready, Cox said. There were no fire emergencies during the event.

Cox told The Enterprise that between 10 and 12 people were transported to area hospitals for treatments, including sutures, fractures, concussions, and one heart attack. There were six different emergency medical service agencies; four medical doctors from Albany Medical Center Hospital; two registered nurses; four paramedics; and 25 emergency medical service workers on hand at Countryfest, according to Cox.
There were also nine ambulances, two "field hospitals," and a helicopter available, he added.

Salerno said parking lots were patrolled by WGNA’s private security staff, but that by mid-afternoon police had taken over the task because of reports of excess drinking there.
McMillen thought the event was a success but also said that "tailgating" was a problem at the event.
"Next year, we’re going to address the tailgating. I think that’s going to come to a halt," McMillen said. "I thought it went well"We had great weather and everyone did their jobs. There’s always room for improvement, we keep learning and will just get better for next year."

McMillen said she expects Countryfest to become a regular summer staple at the Altamont fairgrounds.