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Spring 2010News from the Oswego County Tourism Office

of life and our tourism economy. Oswego County officials have re-quested budgetary documents and other information from State Parks to deter-mine the criteria they used in coming up with the list of services that they want to eliminate. Unfortunately, we are currently facing several other legislative issues that threaten our tourism industry: the continuation of the I Love NY tourism matching funds program, the Governor’s raid of the dedicated snowmobile trail maintenance fund, the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes system, and the New York State Power Authority’s plan to site a series of wind turbines along the Lake Ontario shoreline. All of these issues could have a devastating effect on tourism businesses and the quality of our natural resources. You can be assured that we will con-tinue to do everything we can to fight for our heritage, our natural resources, and the 2,400 jobs and 596 businesses that rely on tourism in Oswego County.

News from

Inside this issue:

Rally at Fort Ontario! On March 3 I joined with members of the Friends of Fort Ontario and trav-eled to Albany for a series of legislative visits organized by Parks and Trails NY. I hand-delivered two resolutions from our County Legislature’s Economic Develop-ment and Planning Committee, oppos-ing the closure of the fort and the public swimming beach at Selkirk Shores, along with a strongly-worded letter from Tourism Advisory Council Chairman Ed Lighthall. We met with Assemblyman Barclay, Senator Aubertine, Assemblyman Magee, and the staff of Assembly members Joan Christenson, Addie Russell, and Al Stirpe. We also attended the press conference conducted by Senator Serrano and Assemblyman Englebright. There was strong support from most of the people that we met with, and Parks and Trails of NY is optimistic that the NYS Legislature will find a way to come up with enough money to keep the sites open. This Thursday, March 11, our County Legislature will vote on the resolutions to support Fort Ontario and Selkirk Shores State Park. Copies will be sent on to members of the Senate and Assembly tourism committees, Governor Paterson, Parks Commissioner Ash, and others down the line. In addition to the county resolutions, Ed Lighthall wrote to more than 40 state legislators, local tourism leaders, and the news media, advocating for Fort Ontario, the swimming beach at Selkirk, and the tourism matching funds program. This summer marks the 40th year that the Lighthall family has owned and operated their campground on the Little Salmon River and Ed is well aware of the impor-tance of outdoor recreation to our quality ~ Jan

Page 1Rally at Fort Ontario

Page 2Proud of Our Local Heroes

Get Married in Oswego CountyOswego County Tourism on Facebook

Page 3Maple Syrup Farm Tours

Springtime Birding

Page 42010 Spring Events

Mark your calendar for Sunday after-noon, March 14, to rally at Fort Ontario and show your support for keeping the Fort open. The Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Fort Ontario and many concerned citizens have organized the rally in the fort park-ing lot from noon to 3 p.m. We need to let our voices be heard loud and clear in Albany that the Fort is a vital part of our national heritage and vital to Oswego County’s tourism industry. The mission of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preser-vation is to “provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportuni-ties for all New York State residents and visitors and to be responsible stewards of our valuable natural, historic and cultural resources.” It is a breach of public trust to walk away from that responsibility.

Members of Friends of Fort Ontario met with Assemblyman Will Barclay and several other legislators March 3 in Albany to advocate for keeping Fort Ontario and state parks open.

From left are Eli Rapaport, Chuck Harrington, Assemblyman Barclay, Bill McCarthy and Janet Clerkin.

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The Post-Standard of Syracuse recently an-nounced its 2009 “Heroes of Conservation” and we are delighted to report that two of our friends and neighbors were named as honorees.

Richard “Dick” Drosse is a retired deputy chief with the Oswego City Fire Department and a member of the Oswego County Tourism Advisory Council. He also volunteers his time with the Oswego County Environ-mental Council and Friends of Great Bear. His contributions include the 2007 Oswego County Big Tree Search, several Oswego County Earth Week projects and Canal Clean Sweep. Dick also spends countless hours in Great Bear Recreational Area, marking and maintaining trails, and building bridges and benches.

Proud of OurLocal Heroes

Oswego CountyTourism on Facebook!

Fred Kuepper talks to a group of vets on last year’s PHW trip to the Salmon River

If not already, become a fan of Oswego County Tourism on facebook! You can fi nd us by going to www.facebook.com/visitoswegocounty. We are constantly posting local events, fascinating links, photos, blog udpates and more! Fans

get to talk about their favorite Oswego County activities and memories, or

promote an event. You’ll always be up to date with what’s going on in Oswego

County if you become a fan!

A local angler and part-time guide, Fred Kuepper is very familiar with the waters of Oswego County. As the Oswego County coordinator for Project Healing Waters, Fred organizes fi shing trips on the Salmon River for wounded military veterans. He is also a member of the Tug Hill/Black River chap-ter of Trout Unlimited and the Fish Creek Atlantic Salmon Club where he participates in stream cleanups and tree plantings, fl y-fi shing seminars for adults and kids and re-stocking Atlan-tic salmon in local fi sheries.

With thousands of acres of forests and hundreds of ponds, rivers and streams, Oswego County is well-known for its “great outdoors.” We would like to give special thanks to Dick and Fred for all of their hard work and dedication toward preserving this resource.

Dick Drosse sits by a canoe he uses to regularly paddle the Oswego River.

FACEBOOK STATISTICS:Total Fans: 1,012Avg. page views per day: 29Avg. photo views per day: 14*When we posted the photo contest there were 171 views on one day!

DEMOGRAPHICS:Female Fans: 647Male Fans: 365Ages 13-17: 24Ages 18-24: 134Ages 25-34: 265Ages 35-44: 258Ages 45-54: 227Ages 55+: 36

TOP CITIES:Oswego: 179Syracuse: 122Fulton: 118Cleveland, OH: 22NYC: 14Tampa, FL: 14Watertown: 13*We also have fans from Canada, Germa-ny, France, Indonesia, Israel, South Korea, New Zealand, Romania and Slovenia.

Coming this spring, our web site will have a brand new wedding and special events section! Plan your entire wedding or special event with one click!

Our staff has been researching venues for all types of events, whether you’re looking for something on the water, outside or inside, rustic or traditional, big or small, - you’ll fi nd it on our site!

We’ve also compiled a list of local photogra-phers , fl orists, DJs, jewelers, bridal shops, and more! Not to mention we already have an ex-tensive list of attractions and accommodations!

Plan your perfect event on www.visitoswego-county.com!

Get Married in Oswego County!

A wedding at Mexico Point State Park.

Photographed by Vansuydam

Photographers.

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Diverse woodland habitats, pristine wetlands, and expansive shoreline make Oswego County an excellent birding area 12 months of the year. The county is best-known for Derby Hill Bird Observatory, where for thousands of years, migrat-ing raptors, waterfowl and songbirds have soared above the bluff overlooking the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario.

Oswego RiverMany species of birds can be found along the Oswego River Canal, including the elusive osprey and bald eagle. Migratory waterfowl and gulls congregate in the har-bor in Oswego and near the dams in Oswego, Minetto, Fulton and Phoenix. Osprey and bald eagles are frequently seen cruising over the river, while wading birds such as herons are common during the warmer seasons. Parks include the Curtiss-Gale Wildlife Management Area, Great Bear Farm, Minetto Town Park, Indian Point Landing, and Henley Park in Phoenix. Rice Creek Field Station in the Town of Os-wego provides opportunities for waterfowl and woodland breeding birds.

Lake Ontario ShorelineSeveral sanctuaries and parks along the southeastern corner of Lake Ontario offer unique spots for spotting migratory raptors as well as songbirds, waterfowl and woodland birds, including many rare or at-risk species.

They include Richard A. Noyes Sanctuary, Mexico Point State Park, Derby Hill Bird Observatory, Selkirk Shores State Park, and the eastern Lake Ontario marsh areas of Deer Creek Wildlife Management Area, and Sandy Island Beach State Park.

Derby Hill Bird Observatory: Designated a New York State “Important Bird Area,” watchers at Derby Hill counted a world-record 19,531 red-tailed hawks in the spring of 1995. Thousands of hawks and hundreds of bald eagles soar over this bluff each spring on their way northward. In the fall, look for geese, ducks, terns, and other migrating waterfowl.

Oneida LakeWetland areas along the north shore of Oneida Lake include the Toad Harbor Swamp and Three Mile Bay Bird Conservation Area where warblers, heron, water-fowl and threatened species may be found.

Tug HillLook for waterfowl and songbirds along the numerous lakes and ponds and miles of trails on the edge of the Tug Hill Plateau. Birders enjoy exploring remote areas of Littlejohn and Happy Valley Wildlife Management Areas and Winona Forest Recreation Area in eastern Oswego County.

Heritage Hill Farm135 Nemier Rd., Lacona, NYPhone: 315-387-5213Maple Syrup, open March and April (except Sundays); phone fi rst; syrup available year-round. Tours by appointment.

Maple Help Stock Farms207 Hurlbut Rd., Mexico, NYPhone: 315-963-7558Tours by appointment.

*Maple Hollow Farm1309 County Rte. 85, Hannibal, NYPhone: 315-564-7133Tours during Maple Weekends (3/20, 3/21, 3/27. 3/28)

*Red Schoolhouse Maple2437 County Route 4, Fulton, NYPhone: 315-243-1024www.redschoolhousemaple.comTours during Maple Weekends (3/20, 3/21, 3/27, 3/28), other tours by appointment. Brand new state-of-the-art facility. Maple syrup and maple cream.

Sticky Situations2523 Co. Rte. 176, Fulton, NY Phone: 315-592-7981E-mail: ghayden2@twcny.rr.comCome watch maple syrup being made, call ahead for boiling times. Maple syrup for sale, also available at Mimi’s and Ives Market in Fulton. Will ship syrup.

Sugar Shack Jack’s765 Co. Rte. 22, Parish, NYPhone: 315-298-3731Maple syrup, candy and cream. Tours byappointment. Open House March 27.

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the family this spring, take

them to tour a maple syrup farm! Learn how the syrup is collected and

then processed! *New York’s Maple Week-ends are March 20-21 and March 27-28.Visit www.mapleweekend.com for more

details.

Maple SyrupFarm Tours Springtime Birding

L-R: Bald Eagle spotted overlooking the Oswego Harbor; A peaceful day at the Derby Hill Bird Observatory in Mexico; An osprey fl oating to its nest along the Oswego River

Gary Hurlbut demonstrates

how Maple Syrup is made at his Sugar Shack.

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Oswego County Tourism Office46 E. Bridge StreetOswego, NY 13126

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDOSWEGO, NYPERMIT #477

3/14 Sun: Save the Fort Rally, Begins at noon in main parking lot of Fort Ontario

3/26 Fri: Not-So-Silent Auction, 5:30-8:30 pm. Benefi t for the Richardson-Bates House Museum Held at The American Foundry

4/10 Sat: Village of Hannibal’s Sesqui-centennial Celebration Kick off & Book signing, 2pm.

4/10 Sat: History Lecture Series, 1:30-3pm. H.Lee White Marine Museum in Oswego

4/10 Sat: April Showers Pet Adoption Extravaganza & Fair, 9am-4pm. Oswego County Humane Society on 265 West First St. in Oswego

4/11 Sun: OperaTUNESities, 2pm. The Oswego Opera Theatre presents The Three Little Pigs told to music by Mozart and Never Tickle a Mule, a musical story of the Erie Canal. Ralph M. Faust Theatre, Oswego High School, 2 Buccaneer Blvd

2010 Spring Events:

For a complete list of events, visit our Web site at: http://www.visitoswegocounty.com/ln/Festivals.aspx

4/23 Fri: LVOC 4th Diane Falise Me-morial Scrabble fest, 6:30-9pm. Elk’s Lodge in Oswego

4/24 Sat: Earth Day Village Clean-up in Cleveland, 9am-noon.

4/24-4/25 Sat-Sun: Salmon River Alpacas-Shearing Days Open House, 10am-3pm.

5/1 Sat: Free Comic Book Day, 11am-6pm. The Comic Shop, 112 East Bridge St., Oswego

5/8 Sat: History Lecture Series, 1:30-3pm. H.Lee White Marine Museum in Oswego

5/8-5/9 Sat-Sun: War of 1812, “Battle of Oswego,” Fort Ontario

5/15-5/16 Sat-Sun: Season Opening Weekend, 1-5pm. H. Lee White Marine Museum

5/28-5/29 Fri-Sat: 29th Annual Fulton Memorial Day Salute, 5-11pm/Fri, 9-11am/Sat.

5/29-5/30 Sat-Sun: 3rd Annual Native Circle-Touch the Earth Day, noon-5pm. Mexico Point Park.

5/29-5/31 Sat-Mon: PhoenixMemorial Weekend,Parade noon on Monday.

5/30 Sun: Memorial DayService, 1pm. RuralCemetery, Cemetery Rdin Oswego.

5/31 Mon: ParishMemorial DayParade 10am

5/31 Mon: CentralSquare MemorialDay Parade, time TBA

A volunteer at Fort Ontario poses in uniform for the

War of 1812 battle in May.

If you would prefer to receive this newsletter by e-mail, please send an e-mail to tourism@oswegocounty.com, with the subject line:“Newsletter Request” and include your name so we can remove you from our hard copy mailing list.