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Press Room
Seaway Trail Blazer - October 2005
Newsletter of Seaway Trail, Inc. and Seaway Trail Foundation, Inc.
IN THIS ISSUE:
... Seaway Trail PA Named National Scenic Byway
... Seaway Trail, Inc. Hires New Project Manager
... Seaway Trail, Inc. Debuts Driving Financial Sustainability CD
... Seaway Trail on French & Indian War Commission
... Governor’s Conference Includes Themes & Corridors Panel
... International Travel Marketers Visit Discovery Center
... Irish Travel Packager Selling Seaway Trail in 2006
... Join Seaway Trail’s Military Families Discount Program
... Hot Topics for 2006 – Share Your News with Media
... Quick Notes
Seaway Trail PA Named National Scenic Byway
On September 22, 2005, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta,
announced forty-five new All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways
designations, including the extension of National Scenic Byway status to the
full 518-mile-long Seaway Trail. Seaway Trail Pennsylvania received National
Scenic Byway status for its 64 miles along Lake Erie at a ceremony at Union Station
in Washington, D.C.
Representatives of Seaway Trail, Inc. and Seaway Trail Pennsylvania attended
the event. In the photo above are (l to r) , New York State Scenic Byways Program
Coordinator Mark Woods; Ohio State University Professor and Extension Specialist
Frank Lichtkoppler with Ohio Sea Grant; Melinda Huntley, executive director,
Lake Erie Coastal Ohio, Inc.; Paul Staley, Section Chief, Ohio Department of
Transportation; Emily Beck, director of tourism development, Erie Area Convention
& Visitors Bureau; David Skellie, Pennsylvania Sea Grant; Jacqueline Koons-Felion,
a transportation planning specialist and Pennsylvania’s Byways Coordinator; and
Seaway Trail, Inc. Executive Director Teresa Mitchell.
The National Scenic Byway Program of the U.S. Department of Transportation,
Federal Highway Administration, began in 1991. Since 1992, the Program has
provided nearly $300 billion in funding for 1,665 byway projects. A new, five-year,
$286.4 billion edition of the Surface Transportation Bill that includes the scenic
byway program has recently received Congressional approval.
The national collection of America’s Byways recognizes routes for one or more
intrinsic qualities: archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic.
There are now 125 America’s Byways in forty-four states.
“We are thrilled to have the National Scenic Byway status extended to Seaway
Trail Pennsylvania,” said Teresa Mitchell, executive director of Seaway Trail, Inc,
“and we congratulate the Mohawk Towpath and the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail
on their designations as National Scenic Byways.”
The Seaway Trail was first signed as a scenic route in New York State in the late
1970s. The New York stretch of the byway became a National Recreation Trail in
the 1980s and was named one of the first 20 National Scenic Byways in 1996.
To learn more about New York’s Seaway Trail, go to www.seawaytrail.com; to learn more about Seaway Trail Pennsylvania, go to
www.visiteriepa.com .
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Seaway Trail, Inc. Hires New Project Manager
Seaway Trail, Inc. President Chuck Krupke and Personnel Director Robert Brown II have announced the hiring of Shelby Johnson of
Sackets Harbor, NY, as the corporation’s new Project Manager. Shelby brings to Seaway Trail, Inc. the skills needed to move our
Scenic Byway grant projects forward. She will coordinate projects, assist in identifying project partners and new projects, and will seek
out required corporate and grant match money. Shelby can be reached at shelby@seawaytrail.com.
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Seaway Trail, Inc. Debuts Driving Financial Sustainability forByway Organizations CD
How to secure sustainable sources of funding for the vital work of the non-profit organizations that are developing and promoting the national
collection of premier byways is the focus of a new CD resource produced by Seaway Trail, Inc. On October 16, Seaway Trail, Inc. Executive Director
Teresa Mitchell and CD project facilitator David White of New York Sea Grant
debuted the Driving Financial Sustainability for Byway Organizations CD at
a special focus session at the National Scenic Byway Conference in Cleveland.
The CD includes information, ideas and inspiration shared by more than three
dozen byway representatives gathered together by Seaway Trail, Inc. for roundtable meetings on the Seaway Trail in Buffalo, Rochester and
Alexandria Bay.
Real-world funding sources case profiles are categorized by corporations and
businesses, events, foundations, government and academic, individuals, and
products and services. The CD also includes measurement and tracking program
ideas, a project advisors list, and a resources list with more than 2,200 links.
“The resources profiled on the CD are not only valuable to the nonprofit
organizations promoting America’s Byways, but can be used by any type of nonprofit organization,” said Teresa Mitchell, executive director of
Seaway Trail, Inc.
Seaway Trail, Inc. received a Federal Highway Administration grant for this
project.
Joining Teresa Mitchell (far left in the photo above) and David White
(seated) for the special focus session at the National Scenic Byway Conference in Cleveland were
(standing l to r) Bob Haynes, Old Canada Road, Maine; Charlotte
Bumgarner, Gold Belt Scenic and Historic Byway, Colorado; Dick Haskett, executive director,
National Scenic Byway Foundation; Tim Alling, Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway,
Washington; and Janet Kennedy, Lakes to Locks Passage Scenic Byway, New York.
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Seaway Trail on French & Indian War Commission
Seaway Trail, Inc. Executive Director Teresa Mitchell has been appointed to a seat
on New York State’s French & Indian War Commission. The Commission’s purpose
is to coordinate the 2005-2010 commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the
French & Indian War. A series of French & Indian War reenactment tourism events
and themed educational programs for K-12 students will be part of the celebration.
The Commission will encourage heritage tourism development and outreach to
travelers in neighboring states and Canada. Seaway Trail communities planning
French & Indian War commemorative event include Youngstown, Oswego and
Ogdensburg.
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Governor’s Conference Includes Themes & Corridors Panel
A Themes & Corridors interpretive panel highlighting links to market New
York state’s byways, trails, heritage corridors and recreation ways was on
display at the 2005 I Love New York Governor’s Tourism Conference held
in Alexandria Bay in September. Seaway Trail, Inc. Executive Director Teresa Mitchell moderated a
panel discussion on the programs that invite travelers to explore the geography
and experience the culture of the state’s unique designations.
The panelists were (in photo above l to r) Heritage NY Executive Director
Richard White Smith; Nancy Alexander, senior landscape architect, New York State Department of Transportation; Heritage Area Program Coordinator Marcia
Kees, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; and
Deputy Commissioner Rick Zimmerman of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
“It is important to get the word out about the many regional thematic programs
that motivate travel and Seaway Trail, Inc. is developing a Power Point presentation
and communications to showcase regional efforts to the traveling public in cooperation
with such partners as the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway,” says Seaway Trail, Inc.
Executive Director Teresa Mitchell. For more information, contact Teresa
at teresa@seawaytrail.com .
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International Travel Marketers Visit Discovery Center
A familiarization tour offered during the September 2005 I Love New York’s
Governor’s Tourism Conference brought international marketers to the Seaway Trail Discovery Center. Seen above (l to r back row) Chris
Guidone, a NYS/RSAA Partnership consultant to the I Love New York marketing program;
Rick Guzman, East Coast product manager with FTI, North America; and Robert
Keysselitz, New York State Division of Tourism European Office, London; with Seaway Trail, Inc. Executive Director Teresa
Mitchell and Tillie Youngs, sales & services coordinator, the Thousand
Islands International Tourism Council.
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Irish Travel Packager Selling Seaway Trail in 2006
In preparation to expand his New York State-Seaway Trail tours, Irish travel seller Frank Kelly, owner of CanAmerica Travel, Dublin,
visited the Seaway Trail with his family this summer. He stopped at attractions,
accommodations and services on most of the Trail and has packaged new tours for the 2006 travel season. Frank is seen
far left in the photo above, taken at the Harbor Inn, Clayton.
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Join Seaway Trail’s Military Families Discount Program
This fall, Teresa Mitchell of Seaway Trail, Inc. and Carlos Mercado of the Greece (NY) Chamber of Commerce joined together to offer travel
information to military families stationed at Fort Drum. Seaway Trail, Inc.
is now developing a special Military Family Discount Program as a regional
marketing opportunity.
“Surveys show that military families are very interested in traveling when
they are stationed in a new area and Seaway Trail travel packages would be of interest,” says Teresa Mitchell. Anyone interested in working on the
project is encouraged to contact Teresa at teresa@seawaytrail.com.
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Hot Topics for 2006 – Share Your News with Media
Seaway Trail, Inc. constantly receives inquiries from freelance and staff
writers and editors interested in specific travel topics. We invite Seaway
Trail, Inc. members and tourism promotion agencies to share your information on the
following topics to help us fulfill media inquiries.
Please send your information – the who, what, when, where, why, how and
how much it costs details – to Seaway Trail Publicist Kara Dunn at karalynn@gisco.net.
Topic Areas:
Will you or an attraction in your area celebrate an anniversary in 2006?
What exciting new features/services have you added for 2006?
Hotels: do you offer any bargain, family-rate, or seasonal packages?
What do kids like most about your site? Do you offer family packages?
Is a famous American associated with your site?
What French & Indian War-theme activities have you planned for 2006?
Tell us any ghost stories associated with your site…
Tell us about any recent awards you have won…
What is a truly regionally or locally unique gift or food item someone can buy
at your site/in your area?
Where would you send someone to see a unique local sculpture – indoor or outdoor?
What are your favorite outdoor seasonal adventure activities on the Seaway Trail?
What are the business advantages of being located on/near the Seaway Trail
as a nationally-recognized scenic byway and National Recreation Trail?
Quick Notes
Thank you, Seaway Trail Walks Guides
The series of guided Seaway Trail-wide Walks provided a great “Seaway Trail
Community Experience” for visitors. Without the dedicated volunteers in Erie, PA;
and Westfield, North Tonawanda, Lewiston, Oswego, Sackets Harbor, Clayton,
Alexandria Bay, and Waddington, NY, these 16-week-long tours would not have
been possible. Thank you, all.
Thank you, David
David Lacki of the Buffalo-Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau developed
a list of 57 motorcycle retail businesses along the Seaway Trail. Seaway
Trail, Inc. has provided county tourism promotion agents with David’s list,
a cover letter inviting the travel interest of motorcyclists, RV travelers and car
touring buffs, and the free Seaway Trail map that lists 222 “don’t miss”
sites Trailwide.
Thank you, Ellen
Seaway Trail, Inc. would like to thank Ellen Nesbitt for her service to the
Seaway Trail, Inc. Board of Directors.
Nominating Committee Seeks Leaders
Seaway Trail, Inc. President Chuck Krupke appointed a nominations committee
at the September Seaway Trail, Inc. meeting at Chautauqua Institution. Anyone
interested in providing leadership from a director’s position is invited to contact
a committee member: Chair Pam Frank, Westfield Development Corporation, 716-326-2200; David White, New York
Sea Grant, 315-312-3042; Greg Marshall, Greater Rochester Visitors Association, 585-279-8300; or
Cathy Blood, New York Power Authority, 716-286-6661 before March 1, 2006.
Order Guidebooks Now for Holiday Sales
Seaway Trail, Inc. offers 40%-off retail pricing on its ”Best of the Byways”
guidebooks, note cards, lighthouse quilt patterns and posters to qualified
retail dealers. Contact nancy@seawaytrail.com
to place your orders for shipment in time for Christmas season sales.
Help Design New Discovery Center Exhibits
Seaway Trail, Inc. invites members to stop by the Seaway Trail Discovery
Center in Sackets Harbor to offer ideas for new exhibits of mutual benefit
to your site and to travel along the byway. Norman Mayes, director of tourism
and media relations for the Hill Cumorah Historic Sites, has been working with
Seaway Trail, Inc. to develop an exhibit to promote travel to the Mormon sites
in the Seaway Trail region, the Northeast and elsewhere in the U.S.
The opportunity also exists to develop new retail products with Seaway Trail Gift Shop Manager Peggy Morgia. For more details,
contact Peggy at peggy@seawaytrail.com
.
Seaway Trail, Inc.
Seaway Trail Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 660 ~ Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
315-646-1000, 800-SEAWAY-T
This newsletter is provided to you as part of your Seaway Trail, Inc. membership.
