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Vote Hammondsport for “Coolest Small Town”
The struggle for first place in Budget Travel’s “Coolest Small Town” contest is a heated one! When voting opened two weeks ago for the second and final round, Hammondsport became the forerunner among the top 10. For the majority of the time, Weaverville, California, has been trailing closely behind. However, in the last few days, Beaufort, North Carolina, has snagged the lead, and Hammondsport is working hard to reclaim it.
“We are very happy here in Hammondsport to be one of the top 10 for this honor and the only town in New York!” said Marybeth Haar, manager of the Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce. “We only have eight days left in the competition, so please make sure to go the website every day and cast your vote for Hammondsport, the Finger Lakes and New York State!”
Click here to vote.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Beaufort had 26.9 percent of the vote, followed by Hammondsport with 26.6 percent, and Weaverville with 21.3 percent. Of the more than 182,000 votes as of Tuesday, Hammondsport has earned more than 48,000. Voting is permitted every 24 hours, so remember to return and vote again! Voting ends January 31.
“Watching everyone rally behind Hammondsport has been very exciting,” said Peggy Coleman, President of the Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau. “It’s a close race, but Hammondsport supporters from across the country are continuing to cast their vote each day, and are making sure their friends are doing so, too. We just need to keep the momentum up during this final week of voting to ensure Hammondsport wins that ‘Coolest Small Town’ title it deserves.”
They say home is where the heart is – and Hammondsport certainly has ways of capturing the hearts of all who visit there. Located at the head of Keuka Lake in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country, Hammondsport possesses a certain old-world charm, wrapped in exquisite beauty. With deep roots in both wine and aviation, its history is unparalleled. Whether you’re a history buff, an adventure seeker, an art lover or a wine enthusiast, Hammondsport has something for you. So much beauty and adventure packed into a pulsating community of warm and friendly people makes Hammondsport one very cool place.
The town deemed the “coolest” will be featured in the 2012 September/October issue of Budget Travel magazine.
True Ice Wine Celebrated at February 18 Event
Nine wineries have announced their attendance of the 2012 New York Ice Wine Festival scheduled for February 18 from 12 to 6 p.m. at Casa Larga Vineyards in Fairport. These wineries are Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, Sheldrake Point Winery, Fulkerson Winery, Knapp Winery, Schulze Vineyards & Winery, Mazza Chatauqua Cellars, Hunt Country Vineyards, Brotherhood and Casa Larga Vineyards.
The wineries represent four of the five wine regions that produce true ice wine in New York State. True ice wine is made with grapes that are frozen on the vine, as opposed to artificial freezing. The frozen grapes are harvested after a sustained freeze in the early hours of the morning when the temperature has reached 17 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Many of the state’s ice wine producers harvested their ice wine grapes when temperatures across New York reached the optimal point for harvest.
Attendees will have the opportunity to sample and buy ice wines, try gourmet foods that pair beautifully with these wines, and sample dishes from top local chefs and restaurants created specifically for these wines. A host of indoor and outdoor activities round out the festival: ice sculpting, fire eating, food and wine seminars, winery tours, live music and even blackjack. Attendees will also receive a complimentary gift bag and commemorative glass with admission, and have a free package valet service available to help them with their purchases.
For a complete listing of the current wineries and the ice wines they will sample at the festival, visit the festival Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NYIceWines.
Designing with Native Plants Symposium to be Held in Ithaca
The 2012 Designing with Native Plants Symposium will be held on Friday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11 at Cinemapolis, Ithaca’s Downtown Art Theatre, located at 120 East Green Street adjacent to the Ithaca Commons. The conference will explore and promote the use of native plants in landscape design. This year, the conference theme focuses on the Upstate New York regional identity. In landscape design and horticulture, regional identity is reflected in, and shaped by, plans, designs and projects using native plants and inspired by native plant communities. The symposium was created to inform and inspire landscape architects, designers, educators, master gardeners, government employees, homeowners and anyone else eager to learn more about this growing movement.
Speakers include renowned landscape architects, landscape designers, professors, directors of conservation organizations, practitioners and horticulturists. Presentations cover a wide but focused range of topics related to the use of native plants in projects of all scales and sizes.
The conference is organized by Dan Segal of the Plantsmen Nursery and Rick Manning, Landscape Architect. Continuing education credits are available for registered landscape architects, nurserymen and landscape contractors.
For detailed conference information and to register, visit The Plantsmen Nursery web site at www.plantsmen.com.
Cayuga Tourism to Launch “Sweet Tooth Trail”
The Cayuga County Office of Tourism is in the process of collecting information from local producers and retailers of honey, jams, jellies, and syrups to be used for a new “Sweet Tooth Trail.” Sites that allow visitors to experience how or where the product is made are of particular interest, but shops that sell these products are also invited to participate. This fun new trail that will help promote our locally grown and made agricultural products, much like the popular wine and cheese trails.
To be included, the product must be grown and/or produced in Cayuga County. To participate, call the Cayuga County Office of Tourism and ask for the Sweet Tooth Trail information form to be e-mailed to you. There is no fee to participate.
For more information call 800-499-9615 or visit tourcayuga.com
New Art Festival Comes to Canandaigua
Canandaigua’s first annual Finger Lakes Plein Air Competition & Festival at will be held June 8, 9 and 10. The plein air painting competition is open to qualifying artists working in painting media including oil, transparent watercolor, soft pastel, acrylic and gouache. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. This event will be advertised in the next two issues of PleinAir Magazine. This juried and judged competition is held under the auspices of the Ontario County Arts Council.
Visit www.canandaiguaarts.com for more information.
Ganondagan’s G. Peter Jemison Honored with National Award
Ganondagan State Historic Site Manager and well-known visual artist G. Peter Jemison (Seneca) has just been named one of six winners of the prestigious 2012 Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award fellowship from the First Peoples Fund in Rapid City, South Dakota. Jemison received this national award for his accomplishments in fine art painting, mixed media.
Each year, the national organization honors and celebrates exceptional American Indian artists who embody Collective Spirit – “that which manifests self-awareness and a sense of responsibility to sustain the cultural fabric of a community.” Each honoree is recognized with a $5,000 no-strings-attached fellowship. Over the past 13 years, First Peoples Fund has recognized a total of 59 Community Spirit Award honorees representing 43 tribal nations.
I am honored to have been nominated and selected for a Community Spirit Award,” said Jemison. “Over the last 16 years, I have mounted the Iroquois Biennial at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, and it has been one of my proudest achievements. It has given me the opportunity to select Haudenosaunee artists who represent the best of our artistic tradition. This has been one way for me to give to our community and at same time, help our artists.”
For more than 30 years, Peter has explored a variety of topics, from creating political works that portray contemporary social commentary to works of art that reflect his relationship with the natural world. His works embody orenda, the traditional Haudenosaunee belief that every living thing and every part of creation contains a spiritual force. Educated in New York and Italy, Peter's work has been exhibited around the world and is highly sought after by museums and collectors. The subject of numerous articles and publications, Jemison often is called one of the most “eloquent Native American voices.”
First Peoples Fund’s President Lori Pourier (Oglala Lakota) explains that honorees are chosen not only for artistic excellence but for exemplifying indigenous values of generosity, wisdom, respect, integrity, strength, fortitude and humility. “Each artist exemplifies Collective Spirit® which moves each one of us to stand up and make a difference, to pass on the ancestral knowledge, or simply extend a hand of generosity,” she said.
New Map and Guide for Water Sports Enthusiasts
The Wayne County Office of Tourism, in partnership with the tourism offices in Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca and Cayuga Counties, has produced a new “On the Water” map and guide. This is an all-inclusive guide to boating services, dining, lodging and attractions near the waterways in central New York.
The easy-to-read foldout map covers Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes, Oneida Lake, the Erie Canal and many of the smaller lakes and waterways. Boating services and marinas are listed in grid format along with amenities such as restrooms, showers, onsite dining and overnight slips. In addition, accommodations, attractions, campgrounds, restaurants, parks and wineries within easy walking distance and/or views of the waterways are highlighted.
For a free guide call the Wayne County Office of Tourism at 800-527-6510 or e-mail tourism@co.wayne.ny.us. You can also contact the tourism offices of Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca and Cayuga Counties.
Travel Groups Applaud National Strategy to Boost Travel and Tourism
In a first for the U.S., President Barack Obama announced last Thursday a national strategy on travel and tourism to boost travel in the United States. The U.S. travel industry is a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, representing 1.8 trillion in economic output and supporting 14 million American jobs.
“President Obama’s recognition of travel’s impact on the economy is a powerful statement to our nation’s commitment to the tourism business,” said Valerie Knoblauch, President of Finger Lakes Visitors Connection. “Tourism has a large impact on the Finger Lakes economy, with visitors to the region spending $2,454,950,000 annually, and contributing to 56,652 tourism-related jobs.”
According to a White House statement, the announcement calls for a national strategy to make the United States the world's top travel and tourism destination, as part of a comprehensive effort to spur job creation. The number of travelers from emerging economies with growing middle classes - such as China, Brazil, and India - is projected to grow by 135%, 274% and 50% respectively by 2016 when compared to 2010.
President Obama will also sign an Executive Order and charge several government agencies to take part in efforts and new initiatives to significantly increase travel. Some of the initiatives include: a new pilot program and rule change for visa processing in China and Brazil, a final rule to expand and make the Global Entry program permanent, appoint new members to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, and the Nomination of Taiwan to the Visa Waiver Program.
“This is the first time our country has had a national strategy and set goals for the amount of visitors we want to welcome to our country. The timing of the President’s announcement could not be better. Travel is an essential industry for our nation and a bipartisan issue that can unite our country and rally us forward. Not only will this increase traffic to America’s wonderful destinations and attractions, but nearly half of the travelers will come to attend conferences and tradeshows,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO for the U.S. Travel Association. “The president has put forward his vision and the travel industry is ready to heed the call. U.S. Travel looks forward to working with the Administration to improve America’s economy and create more American jobs.”
Finger Lakes Visitors Connection has partnered with the U.S. Travel Association to increase travel to and within the United States. Among U.S. Travel’s objectives for 2012 will be for the U.S. government to pursue concrete actions to increase international travel, business travel, participation in meetings and conventions and leisure travel throughout America. Policies U.S. Travel will champion include expansion of the Visa Waiver Program to Brazil, Argentina and Chile; further improvements to our entry process for international guests; streamlining the TSA experience for trusted travelers; and building an aviation system that encourages greater air travel.
Click here for more travel industry facts.
Finger Lakes Visitors Connection is the official tourism promotion agency for Ontario County and is located at 25 Gorham Street in Canandaigua. For more information, please visit www.visitfingerlakes.com or call the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection at 585-394-3915 or e-mail info@visitfingerlakes.com.
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