Picture
Event season is in full  swing across Madison County and this weekend there are a ton of things for you and your family to do.  You will find farmer's markets in Cazenovia and Hamilton, and this Saturday the new summer flea and farmer's market in Oneida opens for the season.  You will find it in front of Oneida Commons in the parking lot behind the Kallet Theater.  Of course why not see what all the fuss is about at the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum.  They won an award from the National Parks System this week, so it only figures you need to get down there this weekend to congratulate them.  We will have more great ideas for your weekend after the jump.....
 
 
Picture
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission is pleased to announce Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum in Chittenango as the recipient of the 2010 Erie Canalway Heritage Award of Excellence. Honorable Mention was awarded to the Historical Murals of Lyons in Wayne County and the Mohawk Towpath Byway, which stretches from Waterford and Cohoes to Schenectady.

“We congratulate and thank this year’s recipients for doing so much to celebrate, preserve, and share the rich history of the Erie Canal,” said Joseph Callahan, Chair of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission. “These are not only great places to visit—each has a valuable story to tell about how preserving our heritage can go hand-in-hand with economic and community revitalization.”

The Heritage Award honors significant places of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and recognizes excellence in advancing the goals of the Erie Canalway Preservation and Management Plan. A five-person independent jury selected award recipients based on a written application and site visit, which included meetings with officials at each site, as well as community leaders, municipal representatives, and other stakeholders.

“Through the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor elements of the Grand Canal system, its past and present, have become united. The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum appreciates the honor of being publically recognized as one of the Corridor’s integral assets, thus defining the story of the historic dry dock and 19th century canal boat technology,” said Joan DiChristina, Executive Director at Chittenango Landing.

Heritage award recipients will be recognized at an award ceremony on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 9:30 am at Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum in Chittenango. The ceremony will precede the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission annual meeting at 10:30 am.

For more information about the award and photographs of this year’s recipients, visit www.eriecanalway.org.
 
 
Picture
It is commencement weekend here in Madison County, and that means all three of our institutions of higher learning are sending young minds off into the real world.  It also means a large number of people visiting our fine communities.  Let's welcome them with open arms and thank them for spending tens of thousands of dollars here over the last four or five years.  Beyond the graduations this weekend, there are several great events taking place.  Here is a sample of what you and your family can do this weekend.
1. Farmers Markets -- Both the markets in Cazenovia and Hamilton are in full swing for the season.  This weekend's weather will be perfect for working in the garden, so head on our to the markets and pick up some plants for vegetables, landscaping and more.  The Chittenango Garden Club will also be holding its spring plant sale too in Stickel's Park at the intersection of routes 5 & 13.
2. The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum is open for the season on weekends this month.  Head on over with the family and learn about how Chittenango was the center of the boat building universe along the Erie Canal.  It is the 25th anniversary of this great museum this year, and it is a gem in our own back yard.
3. The Madison County Historical Society will host its first ever donation auction.  They have a ton of great items that have been donated and they are yours for the bidding.  Head on over to the Historical Society on Sunday for bidding at 1pm.
4. OneSong will perform live on Sunday at historic Madison Hall in Morrisville.  Ron & Nancy OneSong specialize in traditional American Music including country, bluegrass, western and gospel. They have performed at Ryman Auditorium and internationally in Canada, France and England and opened for many country music legends like Tammy Cash, John Anderson and Mickey Gilley. The show begins at 2 PM Sunday afternoon... Madison Hall, Route 20 in Morrisville, NY. $15 admission.
For more great events in Madison County this weekend head on over to the events calendar and find out more.
 
 
Picture
Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum is hosting author Martha Kendall on Sunday, April 25 at the museum, 7010 Lakeport Road. Kendall will present a multi-media program “The Story of the Erie Canal: The Power of a Can-Do Attitude” at 2 p.m. with a 3 p.m. book signing and refreshments afterward.

Included in her presentation will be the story of the Erie Canal, anecdotes about the canal’s history, slides showing the canal today, and music of the era on fiddle, guitar, banjo and penny whistle. Admission is free, donations are appreciated. There will be a limited number of her books available for purchase. For more information please call 687-3801 or visit their website.
 
 
Picture
2010 marks the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum.  The museum, located on the Old Erie Canal, is where 90' long cargo boats were built and repaired during the late 19th and 20th centuries.
The all-volunteer museum will incorporate this momentous occasion into the 19th annual Canal Fest to be held on Sunday, June 20th.  Activities and entertainment are being planned around the celebration.
Throughout the six hour day, activities will be offered to children and adults alike.  Being planned are demonstrations on canal boat building, blacksmithing, many children's games, a magic show, wagon rides and a teen play performance.  A chicken barbeque will be served throughout the day.
Time has been set aside for a special ceremony paying tribute to those who had the foresight and fortitude to undertake the excavation, preservation and restoration of this unique historic site.
The museum is located at 7010 Lakeport Road in Chittenango. Visit our website: www.chittenangolandingcanalboatmuseum.com or call (315) 687-3801 for more information.

 
 
Picture
Don't forget Dad this weekend as father's day weekend is upon us.  We have a ton of great events this weekend highlighted by a pair of events celebrating transportation history.  Here are your best bets for father's day weekend in Madison County:
1. Canal Fest 2009--The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum hosts its annual Canal Fest this Sunday.  The event runs from noon until 5. 
Canal Fest offers fun for the whole family. This year's theme is a Tribute to Canallers: Yesterday and Today. Tribute includes a photo gallery and text of canal workers, families, and famous canal travelers followed by canallers of today.
On-going events include costumed boat builders at work, blacksmithing demonstrations, wagon rides, strolling fiddler, magic shows (1:30, 2:30), kids games, scavenger hunt, inflatible climbing wall with slide, sheep display, spinning demonstration, bocce ball, original play written and performed by teen volunteers "Orphan Hoggee Finds a Home" (1:00, 3:00)
Available food includes the annual Chicken Barbeque (dinners for $8, take-outs available), homemade pies, and ice cream. We'll also be drawing the winners for our raffle, a Tubful of Treasures.
2. The Hamilton Business Association hosts "Wings over Hamilton" also on Father's Day.  This fly-in breakfast runs from 7:30-2 and features an all you can eat pancake breakfast, and lots of aircraft from all over the region flying in.  There will also be a car show and lots of fun for the entire family.
3. The Central New York Dairy Goat Show will be held at Heritage Farms on Saturday and Sunday.  The members of the CNYDGS have decided to support Heritage Farm in its goal in becoming a goat dairy by holding its show at this unique farm in hopes of showing others within the Caprine community the truly special spirit of this farm. The club will be hosting an American Dairy Goat Association Sanctioned two ring goat show with a Nubian Specialty. The farm will also be offering “The Spring Goat Fling” to the public with hopes of educating their community about the greatness of goats. Friday night there will be a Showmanship Clinic for anyone interested, followed by a bon fire. Camping is allowed at the farm (no electrical hookups!) On Saturday during the show, families will be able to walk a goat through a straw maze and take a goat powered cart ride as well as learn about goats and products that can be made from them. A Build it with Dad workshop will consist of a precut kit that can be purchased and put together onsite.  Heritage Farm, Inc is located at 3599 State Route 46, Bouckville, NY.
4. Eurocar 2009 -- The grounds of the Lorenzo State Historic Site in Cazenovia will be a great place to spend Father’s Day weekend this year. The MG Car Club has teamed up with the Jaguar Association of Central New York to present an unprecedented weekend of entertainment and activities for all car enthusiasts. Saturday June 20th starts with the Jaguar Association of Central New York’s “Slalom” Time Trial Competition. There will be 2 time trails for the slalom - one from 9:00 - 12:00, the other from 12:30 - 3:00.
Sunday, June 21st The MG Car Club of Central NY will sponsor Eurocar 2009 on the lawn at Lorenzo. The show runs from 9am-3pm, and is open to all cars and motorcycles of European make. There will be vendors, food, trophies and door prizes and car judging. Goody bags and plaques to 1st 150 entrants. A major portion of our proceeds will go to a local charity, which will be in attendance. Walking trails and a historic house are available for touring.
5. Bass season opens -- Madison County is full of lakes full of Bass.  What better way to spend the weekend then by taking dad fishing!
Happy Father's Day and visit here for a complete calendar of events in Madison County.
 
 
 
 
Picture
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor announced today 16 cultural heritage sites selected to participate in the Passport to Your National Parks © program. The sites will join five existing National Park sites in the National Heritage Corridor where visitors can collect free cancellation stamps in a special spiral-bound National Park Service Passport.  The Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum on Lakeport Road in Chittenango was named as one of the sites.

Millions of people participate each year in visiting hundreds of national parks and NPS-affliated areas nationwide and recording their experiences with the free cancellation stamps. Passport to Your National Parks © is coordinated by Eastern National, a National Park Service partner, in cooperation with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

"Collecting passport stamps will encourage people to visit multiple sites, each one telling a different part of the canal story," explained Lori Solomon-Duell, Erie Canalway Director of Heritage Tourism. "By linking sites along the Erie Canalway, the passport program offers visitors a more complete experience and memories to last a lifetime."

Passport Stamps will be available starting June 18, 2009. Additional details about Passport sites are available at: www.eriecanalway.org. National Park Service Passports are available online at www.eparks.com/store/ and at National Park Service visitor centers. A Kids' Passport ® To Your National Parks Companion is also available.

 
 

The third annual series of Canalside Talks for 2009 has been set according to Joe DiGiorgio, president of Canal Town Corporation, sponsors of the popular historical talks.
Leading off the monthly wintertime series will be "Railroad Days in Canastota" by longtime Canastota newspaper editor and publisher Mike Milmoe on Monday, January 12, at 7 p.m.  The talk and slide presentation will be held at the Canal Museum Education on North Canal Street, three doors east of the Canal Museum. The talk is free and refreshments will be served.

 
 

We are already half way through the month of June and while the start of catch and keep Bass season on the lakes and rivers of Madison County is still a week away you can catch and release fish with your dad and have just as much fun.  Fishing is just one of the great things you can do with dad this weekend.  Here are a few of the best bets for a fun time:
1. Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Muesum Canal Fest:  This annual father's day event features a chicken BBQ, canal exhibits, activities for the kids and so much more.  Here is a complete list of their event this Sunday.
2. 16th Annual Peterboro Civil War Weekend:  This annual event celebrates the abolitionist history of the hamlet of Peterboro and is a great educational event on the Civil War and life in general during the mid 1800's.  Peterboro is home to the Abolitionist Hall of Fame and was the home of famed abolitionist Gerrit Smith.  Activities are scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday.
3. Farmer's Markets in Cazenovia and Hamilton will be open.  Head on out and purchase some nice steaks from a local farmer and take them home to grill up for father's day.  The farmer's markets are on Saturday.
4. The 7th annual DeRuyter Auto and Engine Show and Flea Market.  This show will be held at the fairgrounds on Mechanic Street, rain or shine, 9am - 5pm.
5. Limestone Creek Hunt Trail Ride: Starts 10am-noon at Crosswinds Farm, Peth Road, Cazenovia---riders grouped according to ability/speed they wish to go. $20 per rider. All breeds/tack welcome, approved helmets for riders, coggins/rabies for horses.
Find out more about great events this weekend and make a day of it with dinner at one of the county's outstanding restaurants.  Happy Father's Day everyone.