Buildings & Grounds Supt. David Andrews explains the new stage design. Below, fair President Roy Andrews, left, and Finance Committee member David Hastings III speak.

     Fryeburg Fair trustees have approved a $271,000 capital improvement budget at their annual meeting April 7.
     Topping the 14-item list approved by members of the West Oxford Agricultural Society is a new $125,000 mobile stage used for the night shows at the main grandstand. The 24- by 50-foot steel reinforced structure will be built by Rubb Building Systems, a worldwide company with a plant in Sanford.
     The stage will be the third in the fair's history. The previous stage has been used for the past 20 years but was beginning to show its age.
     The old stage was stored on the back side of the race track. The new one will be parked at the head of the stretch in special area created behind the first aid station.
     This year's Oct. 1-6 evening entertainment line-up features Haven Quint on Monday night, Miss Patti Page on Tuesday, Jenny Paquette on Wednesday, Denny Breau & Betty Cody on Thursday, Vince Vance & The Valiants on Friday and Farmer's Daughter on Saturday. All shows start at 8 p.m. and there is no additional charge for admittance once on the grounds.
     Additional projects approved for completion this year include a new park by the Fiber Center behind the Pulling Ring, an addition to the Poultry Barn to expand the chick hatching area and a small addition to the main camping office.
     Much of the money will be spent on improvements and upgrades including paving ($30,000), computer upgrades ($20,000), water and electrical upgrades ($15,000 each) and 25 new picnic tables. Additionally, $25,000 has been allocated to comply with requests from the state fire marshal's office.