Things to do, places to eat, shows to see, places to stay in Madison County, NY      

If you have ever had the chance to visit the Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota during their annual induction weekend, chances are your path crossed with Angelo Dundee.  I know it has for us here at Madison County Tourism. 

Dundee died yesterday at the age of 90.  He was famous for training Muhammad Ali and other great fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard, Carmen Basilio and George Foreman. 
I had the chance to sit next to Dundee at a fight once, during the Hall of Fame induction weekend.  At the time I thought it to be the equivilant of sitting next to Casey Stengel while watching a baseball game.  He was very gracious and talked to me about the fight the whole time.  I'll never forget that.  Rest in Peace Angelo Dundee.

_ The single most important decision made by a bride and groom in regards to their wedding day is the location.  Without a location, it is difficult to make any of the other decisions they need to make.  Madison County Tourism today announced a great way to help brides and grooms make that decision with its inaugural bridal bus tour. 

_On Sunday April 29, 2012 Madison County Tourism will treat engaged couples to a day of fun, as they travel to eight unique wedding venues across Madison County in luxury limo transportation.  The day will allow the happy couples to compare and contrast the locations and help them choose the perfect location to hold their ceremony or reception.

The tour will start in two locations, Oneida and Cazenovia, and the limos will spread out across the county to show off the historic, picturesque venues that make Madison County weddings so special.  Engaged couples will have the chance to visit the Oneida Community Mansion House, the Greystone Castle, Brae Loch Inn, Lincklaen House, Colgate Inn, Hamilton Inn and White Eagle Conference Center among others.  Catering and banquet staffs will be on hand at every location to talk about set ups, food, music and pricing.  Brides and grooms will also be able to meet with photographers, florists, disc jockeys, cake bakers, favor makers and other essential vendors.

Weddings are an important part of the marketing strategy for tourism in Madison County.  Each year they partner on a bridal guide and attend wedding shows.  They also have a dedicated wedding micro-site to help promote wedding venues and vendors.

Madison County Tourism executive director Jim Walter says weddings are big business.  “When someone chooses our venues for their reception there is a compounding effect on local businesses.  They may also set up a rehearsal dinner; hire a florist, photographer and disc jockey that are local.  It extends beyond the reception site, families, and the wedding party and guests all book hotel rooms.  While they are in town they visit local shops, restaurants and attractions.  The more weddings we can book in Madison County, the stronger our economy will be.”

One of the most heard comments from brides at wedding shows was that they’d love to check out Madison County locations like the Mansion House or Colgate Inn, but they just didn’t know when they’d find the time.  This tour aims to remove that barrier.  Eight venues in one day, a fun tour of the county in a limo or limo bus and access to a wide variety of vendors will make this time well spent for brides and grooms.

Tickets for the tour are limited to the first 50 couples and can be purchased online at www.madisontourism.com/weddings.  Interested couples or vendors can also call 800-684-7320 for more information.

_ The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the newest class of inductees to enter the Hall. Living inductees include multi-division champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, two-division champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” ring announcer Michael Buffer, trainer Freddie Roach, broadcaster Al Bernstein and journalist Michael Katz. 

            “We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2012 and very much looking forward to honoring the 23rd class of inductees,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy.

            The 23rd Annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 7-10th in Canastota, NY. Over 20 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, parade and autograph card show, are planned. An impressive celebrity lineup of boxing greats of yesterday and today will attend this year’s Induction Weekend. The highlight of the weekend will be the Official Enshrinement Ceremony on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds in Canastota, New York on Sunday, June 10th to welcome the newest members. 

            The Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: Cocoa Kid in the Modern Category; Newsboy Brown, Leo Houck and Jake Kilrain in the Old-Timer Category; promoters Hugh D. McIntosh and Rip Valenti in the Non Participant Category; and James Wharton (Young Molineaux) in the Pioneer Category. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.

            For more information on the events planned for the 2012 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095, visit online at www.ibhof.com, on Facebook at www.ibhof.com/InternationalBoxingHallofFame and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoxingHall.

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COMMENTS UPON RECEIVING INDUCTION NEWS

“To me this is an amazing accomplishment. It makes me so happy to know that I made it after all these years and so many fights. I’m thrilled! Muhammad Ali is my idol. He’s the man that got me into the boxing business. It’s great that I will be on the Hall of Fame Wall with him.”

                    - Thomas Hearns

“This is wonderful! This is an awesome moment for me. The Hall of Fame is the biggest award that an athlete can receive. I strived my whole career to be in the Hall. I can’t say enough. This is a dream come true, just wonderful.”

                    - Mark Johnson

“Oh my God. I’m so overwhelmed. I can barely speak. I’m instantly overwhelmed. When I think of all the great inductees, from legends from 100 years ago to so many great fighters and non-participants that are now being inducted, to be thought of in such great company is the greatest compliment I can receive in my career in boxing."

                    - Michael Buffer

“I appreciate this very much. This the best day of my life! It’s a great honor to join trainers like Ray Arcel, Eddie Futch and Angelo Dundee in the Hall of Fame.”

                    - Freddie Roach

“I appreciate this very much. I’m actually kind of dumbstruck. Wow! I’m overwhelmed, really. (Hall of Fame broadcaster) Don Dunphy was a great mentor to me and a great idol. Just the thought of being in the same place as him is special. I’m very active in the sport of boxing and I have lots of things I’m looking forward to in the future and this is great because it validates the past, it validates being involved in the sport. I couldn’t be more excited. One of the unique qualities of the Boxing Hall of Fame is the fact that it places an importance on those of us who aren’t boxers but hopefully have added something to the sport.”

                    -  Al Bernstein

“I’m very, very excited! I’m more than honored. I’m shocked to be listed with guys like Jimmy Cannon, Dan Parker, Dave Anderson and one of my all-time idols Barney Nagler. This is incredible and one of the greatest all-time honors that I could ever imagine.”

                    - Michael Katz

The Great Swamp Conservancy, Inc. will host a non-scary day of fun for children and parents onSunday October 23, and again on October 30 from 11 AM to 4 PM. The Great Halloween Fun Days will feature Halloween displays, games, crafts and fun activities during daylight hours geared for children with accompanying adults. Each child in costume will receive a trick or treat prize. The Good Witch will escort visitors through her house where she will be brewing up some creepy surprises. Other displays include a “petting zoo” with spiders, rats, bats and other creatures of the night, a frog pond, a bird sanctuary, and an underwater scene with giant fish. In the pumpkin patch children can talk to the Great Pumpkin and vote for their favorite jack-o-lantern. At Old McDonald’s Farm there’s a “horse” to ride and a corn-filled “sandbox” to play in.  Children can go into the Bat Cave, and crawl through the Giant Caterpillar. Every hour there will be an interactive story-telling presentation, and the breaking of a Halloween piñata. There will be a coloring contest with prizes awarded in each age group, along with stamping and face painting. A variety of games will test the children’s skills with prizes awarded, while the make-n-take crafts will encourage their creativity. Everyone will be offered free popcorn by costumed waiters. Lunch and other refreshments can be purchased at the Lady Bug Café. Weather permitting; visitors can go on a tractor-drawn hayride.

The Great Swamp Conservancy is located on North Main Street, three miles north of the village of Canastota. Suggested donation for admission to the Great Halloween Fun Day is $3.00 per child, ages 12 and under. Anyone accompanied by a child is free. Kids always have fun at the Great Swamp Conservancy.

The annual Fall Migration Festival is right around the corner at the Great Swamp Conservancy in Canastota.  The festival is September 17 from 9-4.  Here are a few of the activities you can participate in.

Listen:  to live fiddle music played by Liz Simchik Friedel

Eat:  Delicious chicken BBQ        

Participate: 

          - “Find the Quail Medallion” hunt.  Win $25

          -Migration hayride to the overlook

          -Basket cornucopia raffle

Win a beautiful basket!  Categories include wine, nature, kitchen, children’s discovery, spa, Pride of NY- Nelson Farms Country Store, and more! 

Learn: 

          -“Woodcreek Reptiles”

          -“Friends with Feathers”

          -“Quail Watch” observation of 18 day- old quail

Visit: 

          -The Kids Konservation are- PONY RIDES!

          - Boy Scouts from Troop 43

          -Wild Bird Center of Manlius, NY

          -Many different crafters, artists, and vendors

-Prius electric car exhibit by NYE Toyota

Donation:  $3.00 adults, $2.00 GSC members, $1.00 children under 12

For more information call (315)697-2950

A Natural History of the Bats of New York program will be held at the Great Swamp Conservancy of Canastota August 14, 2011, Sunday at 7 pm.  Michael Fishman, bat expert & certified wildlife biologist and Julie Sherlock Fishman, environmental educator, naturalist, wildlife biologist will be giving the indoor power point presentation. This lecture will also include information about White-Nose Syndrome, building Bat houses,  Q & A session and hand-outs. 

Bats are an essential, beneficial part of our ecosystem.  The death of our crucial bat populations will cause a considerable ecological effect, with potentiall far-reaching consequences.  Bats play critical roles in insect control, plant pollination, seed dissemination, and cave ecosystems.  They are also food for other animals, including hawks, raccoons, skunks, and owls.  They consume over half their body weight in insects each night and are the major preditors of night-flying insects.  The loss of bats could lead to an increase in insect pests, damage to crops, forests, and an increase use of pesticides.  You are invited to this educational program for a donation of $3 per adult, $2 for GSC members and $1 per child. White-Nose Syndrome not only affects bats but it impacts the entire ecosystem. For more info call 697-2950.

This It was a great weekend in Madison County, we hope you enjoyed the weather.  It was a little on the hot side, but the humidity broke leaving nice dry air in its place.  Here is a recap of some news stories of interest from the past weekend.
Arise and Ride at the Farm (Madison County Courier) This is a benefit for the ARISE Farm in North Chittenango.

Smoking Loons performing at International Boxing Hall of Fame Amphitheater July 28 (Oneida Daily Dispatch) The summer concert series continues.

Open Farm Day Proves Popular and Productive (Oneida Daily Dispatch) Caitlin Traynor's write up complete with videos.

Greyrock Farm CSA in Cazenovia (Syracuse.com) Maria Salatino of the Post Standard gives us a short slideshow of the happenings at one of the Open Farm Day stops.

Library to feature Abstract Expressionism Exhibit (Madison County Courier) Another fantastic exhibit by the Cazenovia Public Library.  With the internet, Kindles, and more Libraries have to keep putting on good programming and Cazenovia excells at it.

Cuomo Signs Legislation Boosting New York's Wine Industry (WBNG TV) This new law could lead to the opening of satellite tasting rooms, expanding the wine and tourism industries.  Can you see a Finger Lake's Winery taking advantage of a downtown Cazenovia store front?  We sure hope so.

The Great Swamp Conservancy is Madison County's only nature center featuring miles of hiking trails and a large number of conservation programs.  The file below is their summer newsletter.  Enjoy!

It's a day late because of the 4th of July holiday yesterday, so we will combine the Monday Morning recap with the Tuesday Things column.  It was a fantastic 4th of July here in Madison County with weather that was picture perfect.  Thousands enjoyed parades and fireworks in both Hamilton and Cazenovia yesterday.  Boaters were out on the lakes, grills were running all burners go and it just felt good to be an American.  Here is a trip around the internet and some of the fine things we found over the weekend.

Hundreds Celebrate America's Independence in Hamilton (Oneida Daily Dispatch) I'll argue with their numbers and say there were over 1,000 people lining the streets in perfect weather for the parade.

The Onion Satires the Boxing Hall of Fame (The Onion) You know you've made the mainstream when The Onion chooses to make fun of you!  Congratulations to the Boxing Hal of Fame.

Best Fishing Spots in Chittenango Creek (Guide to Fishing) A couple of SUNY ESF students talk about fishing Chittenango Creek.

Buy Local Week Begins July 17th (Oneida Dispatch) A week full of activities is planned.

Delectable Dairy at Red Gate (Oneida Dispatch) Part of their Buy Local Week series on local farms.

Fruit of the Fungi Grows Mushrooms (Oneida Dispatch) Another in their series on local farms.
Maple Avenue Farmers Farm Fundamentally (Oneida Dispatch) Caitlin Traynor profiles another local beef farm.
Cazenovia Fourth of July Races (9wsyr.com) 1100 runners participated in this year's races.

We really are blessed in Central New York to have great farmers and innovative entrepreneurs.  A lot of the time they are the same people. The incredible growth of what I like to call the "niche" farm here in Madison County over the past 5 years has been exciting.  Today I'll share some links from around the internet to stories about some of those farms and the unique things they do.  It's our way to salute the farmers, since we understand without farmers, there would be no food.

Our Farm to Offer Rhubarb Year Round (Cazenovia Republican) Jimmy and Janine Golub have long been some of our best innovators in agri-tourism.  Here they tell the story of their new Rhubarb product.

Drover Hill Farm Produces Natural Beef (Syracuse.com) It is an article from 2009, but William and Stephanie can be found all over CNY selling their beef to restaurants and at farmer's markets.

Brookfield Farmers Offer Some Off the Beaten Trail Comfort (Syracuse.com) Endless Trail Farms hosted last year's Fresh! Gala.  The Post Standard did a story about their farm and B&B.
Dairy Farmers Team up to Add Value with Butter (Lancaster Farming) Four Madison County Dairy Farms, including the host for the 2011 Fresh! Gala have teamed together to offer grass fed butter.

Cornell Hops Specialist on Tap to Promote New York Beer Production (Ithaca Journal) We've covered this before, but not from the Ithaca Journal.