Canal Opening Early For Navigation

Notice to Mariners

2016 Navigation Season

Mariners are advised that the opening date for the NYS Canal System has been changed to 7 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27 - four days earlier than originally scheduled.  All other dates and hours for the 2016 navigation season remain the same.    

Erie Canal's 192nd Opening May 1st!

"The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and the New York State Canal Corporation have teamed up to sponsor 28 festivals and events to showcase the heritage of the Canalway Corridor and the recreational appeal of the waterway and trails today. Events include cycling and paddling tours, canal festivals and concerts at the waterfront. The canal system is scheduled to open May 1, weather permitting.

“We are proud to partner with communities and organizations to ensure a lively and fun season along the canal,” said Bob Radliff, executive director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “Starting in May and going right through the fall, these events offer great ways for people to explore and enjoy the canal.”

Events are a significant contributor to the $380 million in economic impact generated annually by canal-related tourism. Erie Canalway and NYS Canal Corporation’s investment in event sponsorships is expected to be matched nearly 10 to 1 by local sponsors and attract 64,000 people"

Read more at Erie Canalways...

Erie Canalway funding goes toward preservation projects

"The Erie Canal Corridor in upstate New York is getting a boost from some federal dollars.

Federal funds from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor will go to 10 education and preservation projects from the Albany area to Buffalo. The $44,000 in grants will leverage an additional $165,000 in private funds to create teachers guides, murals, and historical markers.

The town of DeWitt will use funds to promote a bike ride, but it all fits in with long term canal plans. Supervisor Ed Michalenko says ultimately the town wants to create a pond and park in an area that many people don’t even know has an Erie Canal connection, at a highly trafficked intersection along Erie Boulevard.

“It’s our hope to reemphasize that corridor, to restore what we can, and it’s certainly what we’re planning on doing is building a green space and park next to storm run off on Erie Boulevard and Bridge Street,” said Michalenko.

The village of Baldwinsville will use some of the funds for “memory markers.” Mayor Dick Clarke says it’s help like this that has made a big difference in his village."

Read more at WRVO...

Tappan Zee Tugboat Captain Dies on Hudson River

"The captain of a tugboat involved in the construction of the new span of the Tappan Zee Bridge has died after suffering a medical emergency aboard the vessel.

Rockland County Sheriff’s Marine Unit says it responded Monday night to a report of an emergency aboard the Tappan Zee Constructors tugboat Pilgrim on the Hudson River in the area of Tilcon quarry, located a few miles up river from the Tappan Zee Bridge. Once on board, officers found a crew member performing CPR on a 50-year-old male who was unresponsive. The man was removed from the vessel and transported to Nyack Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The victim has been identified as Edward T Smith, 50, of Norwalk, Connecticut.

The Rockland County Sheriff’s office says the cause of death is still unknown."

Read more at gCaptain.com...

Mural Mania in Lyons, New York

"Lyons, N.Y. — Local history is celebrated in a series of murals painted on buildings around Lyons.

It began a few years ago when a group of concerned citizens cleared away a trash heap along the Erie Canal to create a park. Volunteers created a large mural on the face of an old trolley bridge at the site and named it "Winston's Dream" after Winston Dobbins, who began the project. The mural depicts the old Erie Canal.

Mark De Cracker and Noel Dobbins created Mural Mania, and more murals followed. There are currently eight scenes around town which can be seen with a brief walk.

The Mural Mania project has expanded, and historical scenes of life on the Erie Canal are seen on 25 buildings from Syracuse to Palmyra. In addition to attracting visitors to the area and preserving history, the murals have encouraged residents to become involved in the revitalization of the community."

Read more at New York Upstate...

Canal Corporation director makes the case for an endangered Cuomo proposal

"ALBANY — More hydropower dams could be built along the state’s canals if the Cuomo administration's plan to transfer the Canal Corporation to the New York Power Authority goes through, according to Canal Corporation's director Brian Stratton.

In his January State of the State proposal, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed transferring the money-losing Canal Corporation — which doesn't generate significant income and generally loses tens of millions a year — away from the Thruway Authority.

It marks a reversal of a policy instituted by his father that has been unpopular ever since. But Cuomo's plan has scant support in the Legislature.

The New York Power Authority has significant revenues, largely from the sale of hydropower, which makes up the vast majority of the renewable energy that powers the state’s electrical grid. About 2.5 percent of that hydropower, or 154 megawatts, comes from 27 hydropower dams on the canal system, Stratton said.

He said there's room for more."

Read more at Politico New York...

Our Ability Journeys Along the Erie Canal in 2016

"In 2016, our 4th Journey Along the Erie Canal will highlight the importance of employment opportunities for all New Yorkers. In January 2016, Our Ability launched the New York Business Leadership Network. The NYBLN will bridge the gap between employment opportunities from New York businesses as well as the candidates with disabilities statewide.

Our 2016 ride will raise awareness of Our Ability, NYBLN and the benefits of employment for all New Yorkers. We will invite businesses across New York to provide jobs and internships. We invite New Yorkers to find the ability inside ourselves whether it be riding the Erie Canal or finding meaningful employment."

Read more here...

Canal Clean Sweep

The 11th annual Clean Sweep is scheduled for April 22-24, 2016.

Celebrate Earth Day and show some love for the Canal and Canalway Trail by volunteering!

No telling what you may find! 

Thirsty? Buffalo's Got You Covered

Well, that's the biggest six-pack of Labatt's I've ever seen. Joe Cascio took this picture of the Buffalo Waterfront for an article in the National Post:

Buffalo bringing new life to Canalside: Revitalization of Erie Canal launching tourism revolution 

Here's a brief excerpt:

"Buffalo’s waterfront is now a mixture of brand spanking new structures and looming icons of a long-gone transportation era. Billionaire Terry Pegula owns both the Sabres, and the Buffalo Bills of the NFL. He built the $200-million HarborCenter complex next door to First Niagara Center (new home of the Sabres).

HarborCenter has two NHL-size ice pads that seat up to 2,000 spectators, plus two destination restaurants. One of them — a sports bar named 716 (Buffalo’s area code) — has two-storey ceilings and one of its 70 TVs is almost the size of a drive-in theatre.

This past fall, a 205-room Marriott Hotel opened in HarborCenter. There is also a six-storey indoor parking garage.

On the corner of HarborCenter, facing the canal skating rink, is a Tim Hortons restaurant/museum. Patrons sit on replica seats from the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium and the walls are covered with Tim Horton memorabilia. He was playing for the Sabres when he died in a car crash on the Queen Elizabeth Way in 1974 while returning to Buffalo from Toronto."

Registration open for Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour

Parks & Trails New York each summer runs a 400-mile bike tour from Buffalo to Albany along the old Erie Canal.

This year's Cycle the Erie Canal tour along the historic corridor runs from July 10-17.

The $725 registration fee includes camping accommodations, breakfasts and dinners. Youth registration is $395.

Six hundred cyclists took part in the tour last summer. I can't see myself paying $725 to ride a bike down the canal when I've got a perfectly good boat, but then again, I'm pretty lazy. Anyways, I'll toast these crazy bikers as they ride by. I've got nothing but respect for them.

Register here.