2008 Photo Contest!
Entries are being accepted now through 9/15/08 for our 2008 Photo Contest.
Find more and download official contest rules and an entry form online. |
Contact Info
Jean Mackay
Director of Communications and Outreach
(518) 237-7000
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 Beth Sciumeca Named Executive Director
National Park Service (NPS) Northeast Regional Director Dennis Reidenbach has selected Beth Sciumeca as the executive director of the 524 mile Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Sciumeca will work with the federally appointed Corridor Commission to enhance the sites along the most successful manmade waterway in North America. She follows Frank Dean, who was promoted to head the National Park Service Centennial Planning Office in Washington, D.C.
"Beth is already well known along the Canalway for her professionalism and track record of solid accomplishments. She has enthusiasm for the stories of the canal, an understanding of its value to the region, a vision to achieve its potential, and the skill to make good things happen," said Reidenbach.
Since 2005, Sciumeca has worked at the Erie Canalway where, as program manager, she served as liaison to the Corridor's congressional delegation, managed the communications program, formed a fundraising organization to support the Canalway, and oversaw a project to install 150 gateway signs along state roads to enhance visibility and recognition for the Canalway.
Prior to joining Erie Canalway, Sciumeca led the development of a community revitalization effort to preserve and enhance the Champlain Canal's "Old Saratoga" region's historic, natural, and recreational resources to spur the area's cultural and economic renewal.
"I'm fortunate to step into this role at an ideal time. Along with our partner organizations and canal communities, we are making great strides to enhance and celebrate the Erie Canalway for all to use and enjoy," said Sciumeca.
A native of Buffalo, Sciumeca returned to upstate New York in 2000 after spending fifteen years in Washington, D.C. where she worked for the Environmental Protection Agency on global climate change policies and programs. She holds a Masters degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland. Sciumeca lives in Saratoga Springs with her husband, Dale Willman, and their two children. They enjoy traveling, kayaking, hiking, and spending time at their camp in the Adirondacks. |
| New Officers Elected to Lead Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission elected Joseph Callahan as its new Commission Chair during its recent annual meeting. Callahan, a lawyer from Syracuse who was appointed to the Commission by Senator Charles Schumer in 2002, will serve as chair for a three year term. Other officers elected were: Vice Chair Russ Andrews of Syracuse, Secretary Alan Vincent of Little Falls, and Treasurer Peter Welsby of Lockport. During the meeting, Commission members also recognized Eric Mower for his years of service as Commission Chair, having served since 2002. |
Call for Nominations: Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence
Nominations are being accepted now through July 15, 2008 for a new award to honor and celebrate the significant places of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and recognize excellence in the implementation of the Erie Canalway Preservation and Management Plan. The Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence will call attention to those places where people have come together to contribute their time, talent, creativity, enthusiasm, and hard work to make their part of the Canalway Corridor a vibrant place to live, work, or play. Municipalities, community groups, private entities, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit an application. Multiple parties involved in a collaborative or regional project or event are especially encouraged to apply. Find out more and download an application from our website or contact Director of Communications and Outreach Jean Mackay at (518) 237-7000, ext. 222 or Jean_Mackay@partner.nps.gov. |
 New Interpretive Signs Being Installed This Summer
Interpretive signs being installed throughout the Corridor are helping to engage and inform residents and visitors about the canal system and its legacy. Unlike directional or highway signs, the interpretive panels are designed to tell local stories and connect communities and significant sites to a larger sense of shared history in the Canalway Corridor.
New signs being produced by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, in partnership with the National Park Service Harpers Ferry Center, organizations, and community groups, include:
- Buffalo: Three outdoor exhibit panels were installed at Buffalo's Erie Canal Harbor in April. The 184-year old rewatered Commercial Slip at the original terminus of the canal opened to the public on Memorial Day weekend and a grand opening took place July 2.
- Cohoes: At the eastern end of the Erie Canal, Cohoes Falls is the second largest waterfall in the state. Visitors will have a new opportunity to explore and learn about the 75-foot falls at Falls View Park, slated to open to the public on August 15. Brookfield Power, operator of a hydroelectric plant at the falls, is developing the park and has contracted with us to create and install ten interpretive panels on topics ranging from formation of the falls to wildlife to the historic significance of the area.
- Amsterdam: Three interpretive signs at Guy Park State Historic Site will be installed this summer to replace ones destroyed by the June 2006 flood.
Also in the works are outdoor exhibits and interpretive signs in Fairport, Ithaca, Jordan, and Phoenix, thanks to 2007 grant funding from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. |
Economic Survey to Begin
Volunteers, historic site representatives, planners, community leaders, and others attended three regional workshops in June to prepare for a Corridor-wide survey on the economic impact of heritage development and tourism, sponsored by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Participants were provided with information on the survey, as well as steps volunteers must follow to obtain quality results. We are encouraging a wide spectrum of participants in the process and welcome organizations and individuals to get involved. Please consider playing a role by volunteering, recruiting volunteers, educating residents and leaders about the economic impact of heritage tourism, or laying the groundwork for future data collection in this area. Check our website for background information, a volunteer manual, and updates as the process moves forward. Survey work is expected to commence in late July or early August. This is a great opportunity to be involved in the development of baseline economic impact work for the communities of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. We value and welcome your participation! Contact Hannah Blake at (518) 237-7000, ext. 202 or hannah_blake@npc.gov for more information or visit the "Get Involved" section of our website. |
Canal Splash! Set for August 8-10
More than 100 events are scheduled for this year's Canal Splash!, taking place Friday through Sunday, August 8, 9, and 10. Canal Splash! features locally organized events and activities that celebrate the history, culture, recreational appeal, and beauty of the NYS Canal System and Erie Canalway Trail. This year's events include nature and history walks, museum and gallery exhibits, kayak and canoe outings, musical performances, boat tours, and more. Canal Splash! is the New York State Canal Corporation's statewide signature event, presented in partnership with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Visit the official Canal Splash! website for event details and directions. |
 Community Showcase: Village of Palmyra
Investments in its canal heritage and tourism promotion have paid off for the Village of Palmyra, a small village in Wayne County located on the Erie Canal. In addition to increased tourism, the community recently got an economic boost from Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, which raised Palmyra's general obligation public improvement bonds to A from BBB. The rating is based on the village's stable tax base and sound financial position with strong reserve levels.
"The canal, the Erie Canalway Trail, and our nineteenth century commercial and residential architecture are the base on which we build our economy, as there is minimal industry," says Mayor Vicky Daly. "We are frugal, pursue grants aggressively, collaborate with other communities and relevant agencies, and count on our volunteers to help move us forward."
As inscribed on the village's 1892 flagpole "Palmyra is a community with pride in its past and faith in its future." It shows. | |
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