Vote! Hammondsport: “Coolest Small Town in America”
Voting opened this week for the second and final round of Budget Travel’s “Coolest Small Town” contest, with Hammondsport among the top ten vying for the title. Although a record 647 small towns across the country were nominated in round one, Hammondsport pulled out on top, with two other Finger Lakes towns, Penn Yan and Naples, trailing closely behind.
Hammondsport is the only New York
town in the final top ten.
Voting is permitted every 24 hours, so remember to return and vote again! Voting ends January 31. http://www.budgettravel.com/contest/americas-coolest-small-towns-2012,11/
In order to be considered for “CoolestSmallTown,” there were a few requirements. Population had to be below 10,000, and the town had to have “that indescribable ‘something’,” according to the tourism-promoting site. “In other words, cool doesn’t necessarily mean quaint: We want towns with an edge and a heart.” Hammondsport received 8,036 votes in the initial round. The next highest contender was Weaverville with 999 votes, followed by Beaufort with 468.
“We are very happy here in Hammondsport to be one of the Top Ten for this honor and the only town inNew York!” said Marybeth Haar, manager of the Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce. “It’s very exciting to know that people from all over the world will see this on the Budget Travel website and the kind of exposure it can bring, not only to Hammondsport, but to the entire Finger Lakes region. The winner will also be featured in the 2012 September/October issue of Budget Travel – just the time of year that many people begin planning their next year’s vacations,” she added. “So this could influence travel plans well in to 2013! I encourage everyone who lives here, those who grew up here and anyone who has enjoyed their visit here, to cast their vote every day for Hammondsport!”
http://www.budgettravel.com/contest/americas-coolest-small-towns-2012,11/
2011 Christmas in the Park
35th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK
on the Village Square in Hammondsport
Saturday, December 10th from 4-8pm
4:00pm ~ Keuka Lake Players present Pearl S. Buck’s “Christmas Day in the Morning” ~ First Presbyterian Church
5:00pm ~ Lighting of the Christmas Tree
5:10pm ~ Members of the Penn Yan Community Choir~ Selections from Handel’s “Messiah”
5:30pm ~ Curtiss Elementary Symphonic Band ~ Under the direction of Gordon Vonderlin
5:45pm ~ Curtiss School Choir~ Under the direction of Tom Mitchell
6:00pm ~ Santa & Mrs. Claus Arrive!
6 – 8:00pm ~ Santa’s Second String Reindeer
6:30pm ~ St. Thomas Bell Ringers
7:00pm ~ Hammondsport Methodist Church Choir
5-8:00pm ~ Kid’s Ornament Making in the Visitor’s Center
4 -8:00pm ~ Food & Craft Vendors in the Park & Autumn Mist Alpaca Farm’s Live Alpaca Display & Booth
Upcoming Events…
Nov. 12-13and 19-20 Keuka Holidays I & II
A Keuka Lake Wine Trail event
Ph 800-444-4898 www.keukawinetrail.com
Nov. 18 – 30 Annual Doll House & Miniatures Exhibit
The Glenn H Curtiss Museum
Ph 607-569-2160 www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org
Dec. (all month) Doll House & Miniatures Exhibit
The Glenn H Curtiss Museum
607-569-2160 www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org
Dec. 10th 35th Annual Christmas in the Park
Sponsored by Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce
On the Village Square in Hammondsport
569-2989 / info@hammondsport.org
We know….. but do they?
As independent retailers, we know the impact that “buying local” has on us and our community, but the rest of the community members may not be as aware of this impact. Why should they be? Their livelihood isn’t dependent on it!
• Do they know that if ½ of the employed population spent $50 per month in locally owned independent businesses, $42.6 Billion would be generated nationally?
• Do they know that for every $100 spent in locally owned independent businesses, $68 returns to the community compared to $43 when we shop at a chain, and $0 when we shop online?
• Do they know of the donations that local independent businesses make to local causes?
The “Buying Local” focus simply asks our community to be aware of these facts, and to buy local when possible. Every product isn’t available locally, so there will always be a need for the national chains and online services. But when the products are available “Buying Local” is good for the whole community.
So, if we (as local independent businesses) depend on our community to shop with us, are we doing our best to make shopping locally an awesome experience? Are we listening to their needs and solving their problems? Are we maintaining well kept attractive businesses (inside & out)? Are we price competitive? Are we providing “knock your socks off” customer service? Are we buying locally as much as we can? If we answer “no” to any of these then we need to take action to improve!
(Cynthia Wilson is a local retailer and Chamber Board Member. If you would like more information on the “buying local” program, email her c/o the Chamber at info@hammondsport.org )
Building Fund Drive
As you know, we’re renovating the 2nd floor of our building. This unused space will have a meeting room, coffee prep station, restrooms and storage rooms. The meeting space will be used for meetings. seminars, indoor events and other Chamber and Community uses.
While we were awarded a grant for our 2nd floor, the Chamber is required to contribute 25% or as much as $16,000! This is a lot of money but in turn we’ll achieve $66,000 worth of building improvements. The Board has authorized soliciting for help with this project and so we’ll be having a building fund drive. Donors will have various sponsorship opportunities. Watch your mail for more information on our building fund and how you can be a significant part of this community project.
Palettes of Keuka
The Grand Finale Auction was held in September. The auction raises funds for the arts and the artists. The cost of the palettes’ art tour is born by the sponsors and the auction sales are divided as follows: the Artists receive ½ of the price their art work receives and the rest is reserved in our ‘art fund’ which is used to support and promote area arts. This year, the average price per ‘palette’ increased over 10 %. This was great news for both the 2012 artists and for the good work that can be continued through the art fund projects. Contact the palettes committee, through the Chamber office, if you know of an area arts project that’s in need of some financial help. Some of the projects that have been supported include: art supplies for the summer program; the ‘arts connection’ on our website; local theater productions; , art supplies for HCS and for Pulteney library’s ‘art night’; funding is also used for events like “Once Upon a Lake Storytelling Festival”.
The work continues on our $400,000 grant. We have hired an architect to work on our 2nd floor meeting room project. All 9 building projects have been working on the permitting and we look forward to construction beginning very soon.
A very important component of the grant is $60,000 in streetscape improvements. We hope to upgrade the look of the district while maintaining its historic nature. We have developed a wish list which we’ve discussed with the Village Board and now we will begin to work on detailed plans with DPW Superintendant Randy Hoad. We have to submit all streetscape plans to NYS Historic Preservation for approval as they are within the Pulteney Square Historic District. We look forward to the work beginning soon. It is our hope that the Streetscape work can be completed in early spring before the busy summer season
Town Sign Program
The Urbana Town Board has adopted a law which allows off premise directional signs. Previously, businesses were not allowed signs that were not located at their place of business. Businesses may find out about the allowed signage and the permitting process by contacting Mary Farmer, Town Clerk (569-3743), or Bob Magee, Zoning Officer (569-3738).
“A Taste of France in the Finger Lakes “
Suzanne Fine Regional will be hosting a Winemakers Dinner on Saturday Nov. 19th with Ravines Wine Cellars.
“A Taste of France in the Finger Lakes ”
A five course wine dinner at Suzanne Fine Regional with Ravines Wine Cellars.
Enjoy a Five Course Dinner based upon the great classic wine regions of France with each course paired with a Ravines wine. An hors d’oeurves reception will start off the evening at 6pm followed by dinner. Morten and Lisa Hallgren, the owners and winemaker of Ravines, will be here to guide you through the evening. Ravines was recently lauded (and appropriately so) by both the Wine Spectator and Eric Asimov of the NY Times as one of the great wineries in the Finger Lakes . Suzanne is finalizing the menu and Ravines, as a special treat, is looking at bringing some of their older vintages. Enjoy this culinary adventure: wonderful wine and food in the warm comforts of this charming James Beard award winning restaurant. The cost is $95 per person excluding tax and gratuity. Call 607-582-7545 suzannefrc@empacc.net
2011 Grape Pumpkin Festival
The leaves are changing, the air is getting cooler & the frost is ALMOST on the pumpkins! It’s time for the Grape Pumpkin Festival & the 4th Annual Dog Costume Contest & Parade in Hammondsport! Come down to the Village Square this Saturday, October 15th, & watch our 4-legged friends strut their stuff to benefit the FL SPCA. Registration is @ 9am & the parade starts @ 10am followed by the famous “SquareCrow” Contest & lots of vendors & activities in the park! Don’t miss it.
For more info call 607-569-2989
