Workshop and Activities
Lakes to Locks Passage holds 2009 Annual Meeting
Lakes to Locks Passage, Inc. held its 2009 Annual Meeting on Monday, September 21, 2009 at the Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls NY. Mark Galough from Kingsbury, Robert Bullock from Saratoga Springs, and Beverly Wittner Traa of Troy NY were elected to serve as Directors. Officers for the upcoming year include George Hodgson, President; Mayor Robert Blais, 1st Vice-President; Peter Repas, 2nd Vice-President; Laura Moore, Secretary; and Lou Bresee, Treasurer.
The Annual Meeting serves as a showcase of Lakes to Locks Passage's current projects. Mountain Lake PBS provided a preview of their television production for the French and Indian War, and an overview of the treatment for the production that will feature the life and explorations of Samuel de Champlain. These projects have received funding from the National Scenic Byways Program through Lakes to Locks Passage. MLPBS also presented several of the latest video shorts highlighting the events, history, and landscapes of Lakes to Locks Passage that have been produced with support from Stewarts Shops.
Nelson Ronsvalle, Town of Half Moon Grant Coordinator and Laura Moore, Warren County Planning Department, provided an overview of the Champlain Canalway Trail Planning Project that has received assistance from the NPS River, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. Sylvia Boyce, President, Virginia Westbrook, Interpretive Planner and Ileana Truneanu, Onoma LLC, Exhibit Designer, described the work the Ticonderoga Heritage Museum has done to improve their museum facilities and exhibits, allowing them to serve as a Lakes to Locks Passage Heritage Center.
The Lakes to Locks Passage Annual Partnership Award for fostering outstanding inter-municipal cooperation and stewardship of natural and historic resources was presented to the Ticonderoga Heritage Museum. George Hodgson commented "Over the past eight years we have seen the THM transform into a strong organization and a tremendous community museum. They are currently completing an outstanding exhibit on waterpower and are prepared to serve as a LTLP Heritage Center, greeting visitors to Ticonderoga. The Ticonderoga Heritage Museum is an important component of Ticonderoga revitalization effort. This award is our recognition of their tremendous effort." Paul Maroun presented a letter from Senator Betty Little commending the Ticonderoga Heritage Museum for their outstanding work.
Click to download a copy of the 2009 Lakes to Locks Passage Annual Report.
FY09 Byway grants were just announced
Lakes to Locks Passage projects received over $500K of funding for two projects:
NYS National Marketing Campaign
Federal funds $250,400 Local match $139,600 Total Project budget $390,000
This project will promote New York State Byways to national and international audiences through a partnership with American Heritage magazine:
1. In six issues of American Heritage, NYS Byways and Americas Byways will be promoted in a special advertorial section, featuring essays by the nation's top historians.
2. The advertorial sections will be compiled with a special Byways cover as a lure piece with brand recognition, and the quality to serve as a travel souvenir.
3. Sixty engaging digital audio/video programs will be developed for broadcast, website, and mobile platforms.
4. Multi-media itineraries will be developed for GPS devices, the 21st century wayfinding to the byway resources.
Heritage Center at Hudson Crossing Park
Federal funds $250,320 Local match $122,580 Total Project budget $372,900
This project will develop the facilities of Hudson Crossing Park, a Lakes to Locks Passage Heritage Center. Project elements include the replication, renovation and interpretation of several unique 19th century canal structures located on the island, including an Old Champlain Canal Lock tender's shanty; a rare example of a canal junction lock; the restoration of a one mile segment of the Old Champlain Canal Towpath that will provide a multi-modal connection for the Byway traveler between the Park, Schuylerville and the General Phillip Schuyler House (a NPS site); and ten interpreted sites with GPS based mapping and multi-media interpretation for use on iPhones and other mobile devices.
Start planning now for FY10 Scenic Byway Grant Proposals
It is anticipated that Congress will extend funding for the Scenic Byways Program and its operating appropriation for a FY10 grant program.In FY 2009, FHWA decided to be more strategic in its grant awards process by targeting its resources toward projects that provide the greatest benefits. We recommend that you contact Janet Kennedy, Lakes to Locks Passage Executive Director, to evaluate possible proposals that provide strategic benefits to the byway and the byway traveler. Keep an eye on www.bywaysonline.org/grants for updates on the grant program.
For both seasoned and first time applicants, please remember that submitting an application is a two-step process, and includes registering your organization with Grants.gov. The details of this registration process can be found on the Grants.gov website (see http://grants.gov/applicants/organization_registration.jsp). Because there are a number of steps involved, we encourage you to begin now!
