Granite State Fair off to sunny start, but are we leeward enough of Lee Saturday?

From left, Kailynne Gannon of Rochester, Adam Pellerin of Milton Mills and Zachary Smith and Mackenzie O'Connor of Rochster are among the first to enter the Fairgrounds on Thursday. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - The Granite State Fair kicked off its third season on Thursday, with longtime Granite State and Rochester Fair ambassador Joel Sherburne arriving in a Rochester Police cruiser to mark the opening of the venerable event beloved by so many Rochester area residents.
Sherburne declared the fair open outside the historic Exhibition Hall, then presented the Patrol Officer who delivered him, Officer Brian-Darrell Dale, with an Ambassdor's Ribbon as a thank you.

FLASHY ENTRANCE - Rochester Police Officer Brian-Darrell Dale admires an Ambassador's Ribbon gifted him by longtime fair Ambassador Joel Sherburne after he arrived to open the fair with cruiser lights flashing..

While fair organizers are keeping a close watch on Hurricane Lee as it churns up the East Coast toward the Gulf of Maine, fair manager Mark Perry did not seemed to concerned earlier this week.
"Whatever happens we'll deal with it," he said.
Winds from Lee are expected to ramp up tonight with gusts around 20-25 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, and peak Saturday around noon with gusts up to 45 mph.
But on Thursday with temps in the low 70s and low humidity fairgoers enjoyed some splendid weather as they strolled about the fairgrounds with surprising light crowds on this first day.
The Grandstand attraction tonight is Garden Tractor Pulling, which begins at 5 p.m. The Garden Tractor Pulling is free with fair admission ticket.