
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 2, 1990                   TAG: 9006290106
SECTION: SALEM FAIR                    PAGE: SF-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VARIETY OF EXHIBITS FEATURED

If you watch old reruns of Cheers, the barroom sitcom, you might recall that bar regular and postman Cliff Claven has a thing about vegetables with unusual shapes.

In their contortions, Cliff sees famous faces and figures. With his presentations, Cliff mostly registers loathing from other bar regulars, but if he walks into the Salem Fair with one of his prized rutabaga, for instance, Cliff might hear applause instead. In fact, he could walk out with WDBJ-7's "Best in Show" award.

"Most Unusual Vegetable" is just one of more than 300 categories of exhibits open to gardeners, homemakers and handicrafters at the Salem Fair.

Food exhibitors will display what's good for us - beets, carrots, squash - and what's good - brownies, cheese cake and fudge. From apples to rhubarb, there's something for every gardener.

Among the horticultural exhibits will be displays of African violets, cacti, as well as cut flowers and dried flowers.

Crocheters and knitters will show their quilts, afghans, socks and sweaters. Embroiderers will display their table linens, needlepoints and smocking. There will also be clothing designers and quilters.

Other handicrafters will display toys, dolls, jewelry, leather, macrame, silk flowers, puppets and wood carvings.

Artists from Virginia and surrounding states will show their talents in calligraphy, drawing, metal art, painting, printmaking and stained glass. There will also be 18 categories of photographs.

Among the 65 commercial exhibitors, there will be displays of everything from jewelry to a gravity machine. "It will be like a mini-mall," said John Saunders, assistant director of the fair.

by CNB