May 31, 2021
News, Happenings & Collaborations
Included in this Issue ...
We are pleased to share the following news, happenings, and collaborations with you! The information contained in this week's newsletter was shared with the Chamber on or before noon on the Thursday before it was sent. To have your information considered for inclusion in future issues, please submit your information on or before noon on the Thursday before you'd like it published.
  • Head shot day
  • Ribbon cutting Save the Dates
  • Tourism-specific Job Board
  • Register for Partner with the Chamber & Media
  • Memorial Day events
  • After-Hours Mixer: June 9
  • Top Tier competition seeking locations
Visit Watkins Glen
& Schuyler County
Watkins Glen
Area Chamber
Pandemic Spotlights Updates
Scroll down for important updates on the pandemic protocols, restrictions, and revisions, including news this week for catering, restaurants, PPP, and more. We will do our best to keep you up-to-date, but it is likely that there will be new updates as soon as we send!
NY Forward & Other
Government News
  • Schuyler vaccine clinics & others
  • Tuition/room/board give-away
  • Employee Retention Credit
  • NY adopts CDC guidance
  • Join your neighbors and VaxUp
  • Beaches & pools open for season
  • Food with beverages requirement lifted
  • PPP information
  • Shuttered Venue Operators update
  • Small Business Loan Info
Chamber News
We're Live:
June After-Hours at Idlwilde

Our first live mixer of 2021 features multiple members. Finish your day with the ultimate treats: eye-candy and savory goodies. Register now so that you are assured a spot to unwind on Idlwilde Inn's wrap-around porch with stunning views of Seneca Lake, sample Sunset View Creamery's newest additions to their artisanal cheese line-up, and delight your palate with libations from Barnstormer Winery's cash bar. Come have a "gouda" time!
Head shot day

The Chamber of Commerce invites you to sit for a professional head shot on June 4, from 9:00 am to 1 pm. Your appointment will take 15 minutes. Cost will be $35 (cash/check only; the Chamber will not be able to make change). Photos will be provided by Immagine Photography, a Chamber member. To register, email abby@watkinsglenchamber.com or call 607-535-4300.
Mural progress

Filomena Jack, of Elmira, is adding color to the community. Watch for a full story in the Engager (mailed later this week). Give us a call to confirm what days Filomena will be painting in case you want to see the art in action. (607-535-4300)
Ribbon-cutting Save-the-Dates

Mark your calendar for 3 ribbon cuttings and head to the Facebook events to register!
Post jobs/review resumes

The I LOVE NY team has released a tourism-specific page on the NY Hire Now job portal, run by the New York State Department of Labor. View the portal and post jobs here. This job portal is part of a pilot program between the New York State Division of Tourism and the New York State Department of Labor to assist employers in the tourism industry to find employees from throughout New York State and beyond. 
 
Using the NY Hire Now job portal is free and allows businesses to search the resumes of thousands of job seekers. Businesses can post jobs manually, import job listings already posted on their company website, or send information to the Department of Labor who will post the listing on behalf of the business. Additional information and resources can be found here.
Marketing & networking
opps still available

Visitors are here. Summer is coming.
Share your message with several
great marketing opportunities
with the Chamber.

Questions? Contact Abby Lane at abby@watkinsglenchamber.com or (607) 535-4300.
Partnering with the
Chamber and media

Speaking the same language is important in any conversation, including when we're working with the media. The Chamber looks for opportunities to connect members with media who are writing stories about your services, products, and timely events relative to your industry. Join us for the June session, included in your membership, and let's talk about options to make sure everyone's points are heard. This session will be presented online (Zoom) by Stephanie Specchio, director of communications.

June 16 || 10 am to noon


Meeting ID: 843 4161 2118 || Passcode: 696929
Let the Chamber know about
your events and summer traditions 

Let us help you celebrate summer traditions, holidays, and festivities! We want to share your events on our social media platforms and newsletters. Like us on all our social channels (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), and we’ll return the favor! Using this form, please submit your public event to notify the Chamber and its staff. Pending membership the Chamber will assist in promoting the event to visitors and locals alike! 
Hints from Hardy

Business and hospitality hints
from Michael Hardy


Meeting expectations
 
Hint 1
Our visitors and guests arrive with expectations. Sometimes we can meet them, and sometimes we can't. Regardless of how close we can come to meeting (or exceeding) these expectations, treating our visitors respectfully is imperative. A recent article in Groups Today covers this topic. Enjoy!

Hint 2
Groups Today also published the top 4 expectations held by remote workers. Working off-site was forced upon us by the pandemic, but as this article notes, it may actually outlive the pandemic. Read the full article here.
Happenings
You! Named to the Top Tier

Seven Mountains Radio is sponsoring a contest through June 25 that is a marketing and promotions opportunity for area eateries. Nominate yourself or someone else to be considered for the "best of the best" ranking. The station's on-air personalities are encouraging the public to get out, dine, and vote for their favorites in 18 categories. To be among the contenders, email denne_johnson@7mountainsmedia.com.
Selfies & Give-away

Fairfield by Marriott invites you to take pictures with the Watkins Glen International Pace Care at the Fairfield by Marriott Geneva Finger Lakes. The car will be available July 23-25, 2021 at 383 Hamilton Street in Geneva. While you're there, enter to win 2 Go Bowling at the Glen NASCAR tickets for Sunday, August 8.
Join us June 8
for "Talking Tuesdays"

Chat with the Chamber about pressing issues for tourism-based businesses in the Finger Lakes. The next "Talking Tuesdays" will be June 8 from 10 am to 11 am. These sessions are comprised of brainstorming, planning, information from the Chamber, and from time to time a guest speaker. At most upcoming sessions, we will review Domo+rove mobile device data collected for 2019, 2020, and into 2021. All tourism-based members and partners are welcome. All sessions are held via Zoom, and advance RSVP is not required. Coffee break, snacking, and /or brown-bag lunches during zoom are encouraged.
 
Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 874 4108 3852 
Passcode: 896020
Summer reading

The Montour Falls Library is hosting a book sale on several days in June and July. Call 535-7489 for more details.
Member News & Collaborations
News about the
Watkins Glen State Park

As you're speaking with your visitors and guests, please feel free to share news about the Watkins Glen State Park. The main trail, the Gorge Trail, is one-way only. To access this trail, park at the main entrance in downtown Watkins Glen and plan to hike up the trail to the Milepoint Bridge. At that point, visitors can return to the entrance by hiking down one of the two rim trails (north and south). Both of these trails, which are open year-round, have scenic spots to see the waterfalls and opportunities to rest along the way. A small shuttle will be available on weekends until July 3. After July 3, the shuttle is expected to run daily. The cost is $6 per ride. We anticipate that guided tours will be offered on weekends (Friday through Sunday), with start times at 10 am and 1 pm. We expect this opportunity will be available later during the 2021 season. Parking is $10 per car. New York senior citizens (62+ and older) are free during the week. People will be asked to scan their license at the kiosk for parking. 
News from the
Seneca Lake Wine Trail

The Seneca Lake Wine Trail has a number of resources to make vacation planning easier. Please reference and share with your guests.
 
These tools were created to help simplify and streamline the trip-planning process, but if there are additional questions, the Wine Trail Office is available: 607-535-8080 or info@senecalakewine.com.
Farmers Market
opens for the season

Sunset View Farmers Market, located at 1618 County Rd 15, in Odessa, opens for the season on June 3 and every Thursday evening thereafter from 4 pm to 7 pm. A variety of vendors will be featured, including meats, vegetables, coffee, cheese, baked goods, maple syrup, honey, juices, eggs, microgreens, and herbals. We are now accepting SNAP and credit cards for purchases. The third Thursday of each month will be our "Super Market" that will include the regular vendors, as well as crafters.

Sunset View Creamery is now open with summer hours (through Columbus Day): Saturday-Wednesday 10-5 and Thursday and Friday 10-7.  
Make your own Havana Pottery

In conjunction with its current special exhibit “The Stoneware of Havana,” the Schuyler County Historical Society is offering a pottery class for beginners. The class will be appropriate for children and adults. Participation is limited to 10 people. The class sessions will be on June 5 and June 12, both from 1 to 2 pm, at the Brick Tavern Museum. Interested? Contact the Historical Society at director@schuylerhistory.org.











Squires Drum and Bugle Corps stories sought

The history of the Squires Drum and Bugle Corps, which earned national acclaim and prestige during its 17 years, is the focus of a Schuyler County Historical Society special project launching in June. Participation by Squires alumni will be the cornerstone of the project. The project is called “Echoes in the Valley,” borrowed from the title of the book “Echoes in the Valley, Watkins Glen’s Squires, Pages, Legion Cadets and the Watkins Montour Seneca Chiefs, a Half Century of Drum and Bugle Corps Activity in Schuyler County, New York” by Jud Spena. “Echoes in the Valley” will include an exhibit at the Brick Tavern Museum in Montour Falls and several online components, such as a photo slide show and oral histories. An online form is now available for Squires members to use. The form can be found at https://bit.ly/3fLrE0x. Forms should be submitted by June 30. The forms also are available at the Brick Tavern Museum in Montour Falls.
Community Nutrition Program

AIM Independent Living Center is offering a Community Nutrition Program, providing food and basic goods to people in need up to twice a month. The program is free. Consumers can order from a regularly updated menu of available items. Both pick-up and delivery are available. This program, a partnership with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, helps to ensure people with disabilities and seniors – who often face transportation barriers – have regular access to healthy food and other staples. Pick-up orders should be made at least one day in advance, although same day pick-up may be available. The distribution site is located at 254 E. First St. in Corning, at the former Southern Tier Pediatrics office on the same block as AIM’s headquarters. Pick-ups are to be made in the rear of the building. Delivery is available to eligible consumers in Steuben, Chemung, and Schuyler counties. More info.
Elmira College
Community Open House

The public is invited to an Elmira College Community Open House on Saturday, June 12, from 11 am to 2 pm. There is no formal program; the campus will be open to anyone who wants to take a tour, talk to faculty and staff, and get to know the College better. Staff will be available to answer questions and do on-the-spot admissions and transcript evaluations for those interested in becoming a Soaring Eagle. Start your visit at the Welcome Tent near the Campus Center, to sign up for a tour, enter the raffle drawings, and get your list for the EC scavenger hunt. Those participating in the scavenger hunt will be entered for a chance to win a variety of great prizes. 
GOT NEWS? THIS SPACE RESERVED FOR
LODGING MEMBER UPDATES
Any and all accommodation members are welcome to share their food, entertainment, and packages with the Chamber. We will help spread the word here in our e-news and on our social media platforms and website. Send us a note, please! Also, be sure to post your offers for public and members on the the WGACC Bulletin Board when you are checking out and/or updating your listing on the Simpleview Extranet.
Government News
Incentives to vax up

Win a full ride at a SUNY or CUNY school. Get a Shot to Make Your Future is a new incentive for 12- to 17-year-olds to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Read the details here:http://ow.ly/LZ4g50EW6AX.

The Vax and Scratch program - which provides free NYS lottery scratch-off tickets to individuals 18 and over with a grand prize of $5 million - will extend into next week at ten new state mass vaccination sites. The participating sites will be open from May 31 through June 4. All sites will be open from 8 am to 7 pm. The program will not impact education funding.
Employee Retention Credit

The American Rescue Plan extends the availability of the Employee Retention Credit for small businesses through December 2021 and allows businesses to offset their current payroll tax liabilities by up to $7,000 per employee per quarter. This credit of up to $28,000 per employee for 2021 is available to small businesses who have seen their revenues decline, or even been temporarily shuttered, due to COVID. More info.
NYS adopts CDC guidance

Governor Cuomo announced that beginning May 19, New York State will adopt the CDC's "Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People" for most business and public settings. Review the Reopening New York - Implementing CDC Guidance, released on May 19, here.

Also on May 19, Governor Cuomo released updated guidance for health and safety measures at child care, day camp, and overnight camp programs, effective May 19. The measures include protocols for COVID testing, physical distancing and sanitation, among other requirements to help prevent COVID-19 cases. The Department of Health will continue to monitor and evaluate health metrics for child care facilities and camp programs and, if necessary, will issue further guidance.
COVID Community Update

Mark your calendar for the next community update presented by SCOPED.
June 3, 2021 @ 3 pm
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 811 9632 6743; Passcode: 931473
Get your swimsuits ready

The Governor announced on May 12 that pools and beaches will be open with 6' social distancing in anticipation of Memorial Day with the goal of reaching 100% capacity by July 4.
Restaurant restrictions lifted

Governor Cuomo announced on 4/28 the following:  
  • The 12 a.m. food and beverage service curfew will be lifted for outdoor dining areas beginning May 17 and for indoor dining areas beginning May 31
  • The 1 a.m. curfew for catered events where attendees have provided proof of vaccination status or a recent negative COVID-19 test result will be lifted beginning May 17
  • The curfew for all catered events is set to be lifted May 31 
Additionally, the Governor announced, also on 4/28, that catered events can resume at residences beginning May 3 above the State's residential gathering limit of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, as long as the events are staffed by a professional, licensed caterer, permitted by the respective locality or municipality, and strictly adhere to health and safety guidance, including social and event gathering limits, masks, and social distancing. Also on May 3, the guidance for dancing among attendees at catered events will be aligned with neighboring states, replacing fixed dance zones for each table with social distancing and masks.
Food with beverages
requirement lifted

We've confirmed that it is no longer required to purchase food with alcohol. Great news, though most wineries will continue offering food, snacks, and/or charcuterie as additional offerings.
Vaccine clinic info
In Schuyler County?
Anyone who works or lives in New York State and is 16 years old or older can now get the COVID vaccine. NOTE: Only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for those 16 and 17 years old.
Interested in tracking vaccine results? Bookmark this page: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.
For the latest updates on news and regulations, bookmark the New York Forward webpages.
New York Forward Loan Fund

When the NYFLF launched in May, the federal Small Business Administration had just issued rules regarding companies' eligibility for federal assistance. The goal of the NYFLF was to help New York-based small businesses that did not receive PPP or EIDL funding with flexible working capital to reopen and adapt to post-COVID needs. Effective immediately, small businesses and non-profits that received a PPP loan of $500,000 or less or EIDL loans of $150,000 or less can be eligible for a NYFLF loan.
Learner permits available online

Governor Cuomo announced on 4/26 that the online learner permit test for Class D (passenger vehicles) and Class M (motorcycles) is now available to New Yorkers statewide. The announcement comes after the launch of an online permit application pilot program last year. This new service allows New Yorkers to begin the permit application process and take the test from the comfort of their home, saving the customer significant time in the DMV office.
It's open: Shuttered Venue Operators grant application

The Small Business Administration's Shuttered Venue Operators Grants for Applications opened at noon on April 8. $16.2 billion is available for venues, theatres, and more. Get the details.
PPP small-business loan
program deadline
extended to May 31 with Senate vote

Senate passed a bill Thursday extending until May 31 the deadline for Paycheck Protection Program applications. The PPP Extension Act of 2021 also gives the SBA an additional 30 days beyond May 31 to process those loans. The House-passed measure now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. Click here to learn more
Small business guidance and
loan resources during COVID-19
SBA offers several different relief options to help businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
PROMOTE YOUR NEWS AND EVENTS
Add your happenings to the Public Events Calendar on our website!
Add your event quickly, easily, and at no cost. Click here for the submission page.

SHARE YOUR NEWS — VIA CHAMBER SOCIAL MEDIA & ENEWS
We will gladly feature your upcoming events and news on our social media channels and in our newsletter.
Contact Michael at (585) 721-6032 or send him your news
at Michael@WatkinsGlenChamber.com by noon on Thursdays.

CONNECT WITH THE CHAMBER TEAM
Office Phone: (607) 535-4300
Katherine Jack, Visitor Center and Office Administrator email
Abby Lane, Events and Membership-Engagement Manager email
Stephanie Specchio, Director of Communications and Marketing email
Karen Dodson, Membership (Part-Time/Contract) email
Michael Hardy, Executive Director email and (585) 721-6032 (cell)