College Teacher New Valley Fair President

A Glendale Community College history teacher has been named the new president of the San Fernando Valley Fair.

The group’s board of directors elected Marilyn Joyce Van Schaack after then-President Sal Buccieri--a realtor who lives in Northridge--decided not to run for election after four years in the post.

“I personally feel I had done the best I could and I felt it was time to move on,” said Buccieri, who suggested Van Schaack as a replacement. “I have no doubt she is going to do a great job.”

Buccieri formally handed over the gavel in February, and the change in leadership was announced Wednesday.

Buccieri, a member of the San Fernando Valley Board of Realtors for 37 years, is a former president of the Encino Chamber of Commerce and a Fernando Award winner. One of the key achievements he points to during his tenure as president is the reduction of the fair’s debt from nearly $300,000 to about $20,000.

“How the West Was Fun” will be the theme for this year’s fair, running from July 27 to 30 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. This is the 49th year of the fair, which used to be held at Devonshire Downs in Northridge, now part of the Cal State Northridge campus.

The fair was evicted from the Devonshire Downs site in 1988 to make way for new developments planned by the owner, Cal State Northridge. It was first moved to Hansen Dam Recreation Area in Lake View Terrace, where thousands of dollars were spent on tent and equipment rentals.

The fair was moved to the equestrian center three years ago, and organizers have been able to reduce the debt.

Buccieri, still a member of the board of directors, predicted that Van Schaack will see the elimination of that debt with this year’s fair.