|
|
|
"Canal Stories" Offer Glimpse
of Life Along the Waterway
Nine online videos available on www.eriecanalway.org 
Nine short videos featuring people who lived or work on the Erie and Champlain Canals from 1900 to the present are now available on our website! From hiding bootleg liquor in the 1920s to learning from old time canal workers, each story offers a glimpse into life on the canal.
Canal Stories was produced by City Lore and the Erie Canal Museum, in collaboration with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission and the New York State Museum, with additional funding provided by the New York Council on the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
"When the canal opened in 1825, the Erie opened the way west, helped to create the cities of Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo, and Rochester, and made New York a world city," said Steve Zeitlin, Director of City Lore. "But even in the 20th and 21st centuries, the canal continues to shape the lives of men and women who live and work on and around it and contribute to the American experience."
View Now! The videos run from one to three minutes each. |
A Visit to Washington
Congressional briefings provide opportunity for dialog
Commission Chair Judy Schmidt Dean and Executive Director Beth Sciumeca traveled to Washington DC earlier this month to brief the Corridor's Congressional Delegation about accomplishments of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and about the National Heritage Area program.
The meetings gave us an opportunity to emphasize how public-private partnerships are helping to preserve the Corridor's extraordinary heritage, while stimulating community revitalization. The message resonated with staff, who were genuinely interested in our work and eager to learn more. We extended an invitation for staff and Congressional Representatives to tour the canal corridor when the snow finally melts. |
|
Apply Now for Event Sponsorships
Application deadline: March 8, 2011
Are you planning an event that could use a boost of financial support? We are once again offering a limited number of $500 sponsorships for events or festivals taking place from May through October 2011. Qualifying events must showcase the canal corridor's historic, cultural, scenic, or recreational resources. Events for New York Heritage Weekend and Canal Splash are especially encouraged to apply. For details and an application, visit www.eriecanalway.org. |
Mark Your Calendars for 2011 Events
 Get ready now to participate! Dates for this year's Corridor-wide events are set! Find out more or register online at the links below: Canal Clean Sweep Weekend, April 15-17Volunteers are always welcome to help with canal-wide cleanup and beautification projects. More > NEW! New York Heritage Weekend, May 14-15This statewide celebration of New York's history and culture will showcase the Empire State to residents and visitors alike and help kick off the summer tourism season. Historic sites, museums, architecturally significant buildings, historical societies, battlefields, historic districts, and any resources that connect directly with New York State heritage are invited to participate. Heritage Weekend events can include special programs, tours, open houses, free admission, discounts, or any event that celebrates our heritage. Please contact Lori Solomon-Duell at the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor at lori_duell@partner.nps.gov or 518-237-7000 ext. 220 for more information. Cycling the Erie Canal, July 10-17Join 500 riders of all ages and from all over the country for this 8-day, 400-mile bike tour across New York State, organized by Parks and Trails New York. Registration now open. More > Canal Splash, August 12-14 Guided walks, bikes and cruises, museum and gallery exhibits, canoe and kayak paddles, canalside festivals, performances and more are offered throughout the Corridor to celebrate the history, culture, and recreational appeal of the NYS Canal System. Download Canal Splash! event planning tips >Visit the New York State Canal Corporation for a full calendar of local events. |
|
2011 Erie Canalway
Heritage Award of Excellence
Call for Applications: 2/25/11
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission is accepting nominations for the 2011 Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence through February 25, 2011.The award honors and celebrates significant places in the Corridor where people have come together to contribute their time and talents to make their part of the Canalway Corridor a vibrant place to live, work, or play.
Download details and an application online at http://www.eriecanalway.org/get-involved_awards.htm or contact Jean Mackay for additional information at 518-237-7000, ext. 222. |
|
Tourism Excellence Awards
Call for Applications: 2/10/11
The New York State Travel & Vacation Association will recognize leaders in New York State's travel and tourism industry during the upcoming Empire State Tourism Conference on March 2 in Albany. Winning individuals or organizations are selected on the basis of demonstrated commitment, leadership, and accomplishment in the travel and tourism sector. Download an application at: www.empirestatetourism.com |
|
Grants & Funding
Preserve America Grants
Applications are now available to eligible municipalities and not-for-profit organizations to compete for funds through Preserve New York, a grant program of the Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). A total of $90,444 is available for historic structure reports, historic landscape reports and cultural resource surveys. Grants are likely to range between $3,000 and $10,000 each. Applications due May 2, 2011. Details are available at www.preservenys.org
Trail Projects Benefit from National Park Service Assistance
Two trail projects in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor were recently selected to receive technical assistance in 2011 from the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program.
Champlain Canalway Trail
Location: Saratoga, Washington, and Warren Counties
Project Goal: Completion of the 60-mile Champlain Canalway Trail between Waterford and Whitehall, NY.
RTCA will continue working with Lakes to Locks Passage and numerous community and organizational partners to complete trail planning and begin to move forward with trail extension projects.
Montezuma Heritage Park
Location: Town of Montezuma in Cayuga County
Project Goal: Establish a 140-acre park thematically linked to the Erie Canal, including towpath trails, canal structures, and interpretation of historic and natural resources within the park and nearby. RTCA will help find ways to communicate and begin implementing the vision for this new park.
RTCA staff provides technical assistance to community groups and local, state, and federal government agencies working to protect natural areas and water resources and enhance close-to-home outdoor recreation opportunities. More > |
|
Wayside Exhibit Guide Available
 If you are planning to develop outdoor interpretive signs or exhibit panels for your site or community, check out this excellent resource from the National Park Service's Harpers Ferry Center: Wayside Exhibits: A Guide to Developing Outdoor Interpretive Exhibits.
The guide draws on the expertise of writers and designers who develop exhibits for our national parks to take you step by step from concept to completion. It's easy to read, full of great graphics, and will help you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls. Download a copy at: www.nps.gov/hfc/products/waysides/way-guide.htm |
Pass it on...
Share this newsletter with family, friends, and colleagues...
or pass along a link to our website so they can sign up online to receive it.
Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor P.O. Box 219
Waterford, New York 12188
(518) 237-7000 |
|
