Mary Dempsey is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media that Columbia County Fair Manager Angelo Nero will step down from his role as manager of the Columbia County Fairgrounds. “I figured, at age 91, it was time,” Nero said. “... I’m going to miss it a lot, but I’ll probably volunteer and help out there.” Nero was named the organization’s first fair manager in 1988 and has served in that capacity for 34 years. Nero's successor will be Mike Mickle. Mickle’s grandfather and great-grandfather were both involved with the fair, dating back to the late 1800s, he said. “The fair is part of my family heritage,” Mickle said. “My grandfather, Philip Mickle, was past president and treasurer for years on the fair’s board. He also was the president of the [Columbia County] Agricultural Society in the 1960s and served as the president of the New York State Fair Association, too.” Mickle’s father William Mickle, who passed away last year, was a lifetime member of the fair as well, he added. Mickle, 60, holds a degree in advertising from The College of St. Rose and spent 30 years of his career working in advertising and marketing. He now runs a landscaping business and will take over from Nero in January. During his tenure, Nero helped expand use of the fairgrounds. “Over the years, we have built up the use of the fairgrounds,” he said. “We started using the fairgrounds for other things. We are now generating money.” When the fair isn’t being held, the grounds are open for private and public events. During the winter months, the property serves as rental storage space for recreational vehicles, boats, cars and trucks. Nero is currently serving as a trustee on the village of Valatie Board of Trustees and the treasurer of the Valatie Fire Department. He also serves on the fair’s board. Nero is a former Columbia County coroner, the former county EMS coordinator, and was mayor of Valatie for ten years. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.