(Syracuse, NY – Sept. 28, 2011) The Central New York Region has everything a traveler could want out of a visit to New York State, from something old (historical landmarks, museums and rustic B&Bs) to something new (state-of-the-art science centers, modern theatrical performances and high-end spas). To emphasize the “something old,” the area is overflowing with quaint shops touting eclectic antiques and collectibles, offering a slice of the region’s rich past. It is truly a picker’s (and a historian’s) paradise.

For starters, the Madison-Bouckville area offers a year-round antique venue with over 30 shops featuring hundreds of dealers, plus the largest antique show in New York State every third week in August. This event, the Madison Bouckville Antique Week, draws more than 2,000 dealers for a weeklong show along one two-mile stretch of Route 20. Another superb find for antique hunters in Madison County is The Market at Oneida Commons, a neat little mall open year-round that’s packed with vintage items, crafts, jewelry, books, furniture, locally-produced Pride of NY foods and other odds and ends that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Cobbler & C. in Sharon Springs, Schoharie County, offers a treasure trove of antiques. Up on the second floor is a wide array of used, but “new to you” goods: a collection of old dishes, glassware, books, magazines and other collectibles.

In Oneida County, the Westmoreland Antique Center features 80 dealer spaces with a vast array of antiques and vintage collectibles like holiday merchandise, milk bottles, postcards and advertising collectibles, plus a vast selection of glassware, china and furniture.

Charlotte’s Antiques in Chenango County welcomes antique enthusiasts to pore over home décor, women’s clothing and jewelry, and rare collectibles, among other specialty items. For Iroquois artifacts, one-of-a-kind classics and various collectibles, Carriage Barn Antiques, Iroquois Antiques and Pheasant Farm Antiques are a few popular stops in the area.

The Little Falls Antique Center in Herkimer County showcases oldies but goodies from 18 dealers. Just a ways down the street, Stone Mill of Little Falls houses everything vintage from lighting, to clothing, to decorative arts and prints, plus local treasures like Oriental carpets from Erie Canal Carpets, sterling silver and cookbooks. The unexpected can be expected in the old factory atmosphere of this 1839 mill built on the banks of the Mohawk River, as the inventory is ever changing. Greater Binghamton’s Clinton Street, aptly named the “Antique Row,” is a hot spot for antiquing, hosting as many as 30 dealers at a given time. The locale makes perfect sense, as Clinton Street itself is an antique – it existed long before the city of Binghamton.

Cooperstown in Otsego County is saturated in antiquing opportunities. More than 50 shops line the area, from main streets to country roads, including NYS Route 7 corridor from Unadilla to Oneonta, the NYS Route 28 corridor from Oneonta to Cooperstown, and US Route 20, the road to the Madison-Bouckville Antique Show. For those seeking a myriad of vintage items, from china and glassware to historic textiles and furniture, shops like Barkley Barn Blue Ribbon Antiques, Lake Antiques and Antiques & Artifacts are must-sees. Even the antiquing venues themselves are fascinating and range from charming homes to old barns brimming with collectibles.

For some, a successful hunt for the perfect antique can take months or even years. The Central New York Region’s seemingly limitless supply of rare antiques and collectibles in dozens of shops across the area, however, can certainly help to shorten the duration of that hunt and make it quite enjoyable along the way.

For more antiquing opportunities and other information about the Central New York Region, check out:www.JustGoCNY.com.

(Sept. 20, 2011) As the Central New York Region touts a bit of everything New York State-esque, from live theatre, museums and halls of fame, to historical landmarks, country style B&Bs, and some of the best antiquing and golfing in the northeast, it is no wonder that it is also plays host to a variety of edu-vacation possibilities. An edu-vacation (literally, a vacation with an educational twist) is the perfect, affordable family outing or a great trip for homeschoolers.

Some exceptional edu-vacations can be built around visits to the following attractions.

The Children’s Museum of History, Natural History, Science & Technology in Oneida County offers a hands-on, educationally enjoyable environment – including four floors of interactive exhibits – for kids from 1 to 101 to explore. The facility is the only children’s museum adopted by NASA and the Office of Science. From Red Tail Hawks, to American Alligators, to Golden Lion Tamarins, the collection of over 200 animals who call the Utica Zoo home is always a family favorite in Oneida, as well.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, Otsego County, known as the “Home of Baseball,” is where America has gathered to celebrate its great pastime since 1939. Today, it’s the ultimate place for baseball buffs to pore over three stories of frequently updated exhibits, 35,000 artifacts, 130,000+ baseball cards, an $8 million library and research center and the nearby Doubleday Field. For a lesson or two on the heritage of the Central New York Region circa 1845, the innovative “living history” museum, The Farmers’ Museum brings history to life with exhibits, craft demonstrations and hands-on activities in Cooperstown.

Edu-vacationers are invited to paddle back in time at the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum in Madison County and enter the canal era. This nineteenth century dry dock complex on the old Erie Canal tells stories of boat-building and repair of Erie Canal boats, plus the social history of the era. More of the region’s rich history can be found at the National Abolition Hall of Fame/Gerrit Smith National Historic Landmark. The National Historic Landmark, lifetime home and office of Gerrit Smith (1797-1874), is the site where numerous abolitionists received support and renewed commitment to the cause of freedom. Smith helped hundreds of African Americans by purchasing their freedom from slavery, arranging safe passage to Canada, helping families establish their lives locally, providing education and working for human rights.

Visitors to Schoharie County are transported through a portal of sorts into Native American life at the Iroquois Indian Museum shaped like a 400-year-old Iroquois longhouse. With authentic Iroquois art, crafts and artifacts, the Museum aims to foster understanding of the Iroquois culture. Another educational draw, this time plunging 156 feet below the Earth’s surface, is a prehistoric underground cavern six million years in the making, Howe Caverns. Some newer additions to the mysterious, magnificent limestone formations, the stalactites and the stalagmites are the Howe High Adventure Sky Trail Ropes Course – quite the aerial adventure; the Four Tower Zip Line – boasting beautiful, scenic views from up to 40 feet in the air; and the Howe Caverns Mining Company – a new 6,000-square-foot spot to sift through bags of rough for gemstones, fossils and arrowheads to take home.

The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier in Greater Binghamton is a hands-on type of museum for children where play and learning are combined with imagination in an engaging atmosphere. The Discovery Center encompasses over 22,500 square feet of family fun. An out-of-this-world experience in Greater Binghamton can be had at the Roberson Museum Science Center & Link Planetarium, a place full of exhibits ranging from art to history to science.

The Goodsell Museum in Old Forge, Herkimer County, offers insight into what life was like long ago in the Adirondacks with interesting exhibits and an extensive new research library overflowing with books, maps, genealogy, vintage photographs and postcards. Another educational stop in Herkimer County is the View Arts Center of Old Forge, a place dedicated to the visual and performing arts, inspired by and reflecting the beauty of the natural environment of the Adirondacks.

Chenango County’s Wolf Mountain Nature Center is a unique place where observation of natural wolf behavior is possible. Animal enthusiasts delight to see the Alaskan Timber Wolves and Arctic Foxes that call the nature center home. Edu-vacations take on an agricultural twist at the Norwich Pumpkin Festival where kids can compete in a variety of contests, including an annual pumpkin-carving contest.

An abundance of excellent edu-vacation hot spots exist throughout the Central New York Region. Plus, a wide range of accommodations can be found nearby – from cozy, country-style B&Bs and inns to hotels, motels and campgrounds. Any of these educational attractions can be paired with one of these accommodations (and a few stops at the gourmet eateries lining the region) to form the perfect edu-vacation itinerary. The Central New York Region really does have it all.

Plan your family’s next edu-vacation. For more attractions and information about accommodations, check out:www.JustGoCNY.com.

(Herkimer, NY – Sept. 16, 2011) Herkimer County municipalities can apply for Incentive Awards from Herkimer County HealthNet to support the efforts of the Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work, and Play grant initiative funded by the New York State Department of Health.

Herkimer County HealthNet is offering four-$5,000 awards to be used for municipal projects that promote physical activity, access to outdoor recreational facilities, areas that support bicycling and walking, and safety in areas where persons are or could be physically active.  Projects that qualify should take place between the dates of April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012.

The Creating Healthy Places grant’s purpose is to assist communities with infrastructure improvements that will decrease rates of childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes by increasing opportunities for physical activity for Herkimer County residents.

Recommended municipal improvement strategies and measures to help communities tackle the problem of obesity through environmental change and policies that promote physical activity include but are not limited to:

* Sidewalks and Sidewalk Improvements

*Lighting (promoting safety for pedestrians/cyclists)

*Signage (promoting pedestrian/bicycle safety)

*Crosswalks and Crosswalk Devices

*Bridge Construction (friendly for pedestrians/cyclists)

*Highway Improvements (friendly for pedestrians/cyclists)

*Parking Areas and Parking Area Improvements to promote pedestrian safety (adjacent to sidewalks, bicycle routes, trails and trail heads)

The deadline for submitting the grant applications is Friday, Sept. 30, 2011.

Applications are available by e-mailing Alison J. Swartz at aswartz@herkimercounty.org or calling (315) 866-1499.

For more information about Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play in Herkimer County, visit www.facebook.com/CreatingHealthyPlacesInHerkimerCounty.

(Sackets Harbor, NY – Sept. 2011) American Volkssport Association (AVA) Northeast Regional Director Doug Reynolds will help inaugurate the first-ever non-competitive Great Lakes Seaway Trail VolksWalk Saturday, Sept. 24 in Sackets Harbor.

Reynolds will be at the registration and welcome booth at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center, 401 W. Main Street, from 8:30am-1:30pm.

Walkers for the Sept. 24 Great Lakes Seaway Trail VolksWalk are expected from Albany, Buffalo, the Finger Lakes and Canada. Great Lakes Seaway Trail VolksWalkers in 1812 period costume will also be on hand.

This first of different theme walks honors the New York-Pennsylvania National Scenic Byway region’s War of 1812 history.

For more information, contact Great Lakes Seaway Trail Volkssport Association Trailmaster Daryl Giles at 315-646-1000 x200, daryl@seawaytrail.com or  www.seawaytrail.com/volkssport.

(Great Lakes Seaway Trail, NY and PA – Sept. 1, 2011) The Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail has completed its first full year of providing a healthy outdoor activity for GPS-guided explorers with a $150,000 impact for the byway’s local economies in New York and Pennsylvania.

Organizers with the nonprofit tourism organization Seaway Trail, Inc., Sackets Harbor say they expect the total economic impact for the current supply of GeoCoins – tokens available once a certain number of caches are found – will be approximately $400,000.

Geocaching enthusiasts who use hand-held global positioning systems have embraced the fun and challenge of finding as many as 75 caches hidden in the landscape along the 518-mile length of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway. The byway parallels the freshwater shoreline of 11 counties: St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oswego, Cayuga, Wayne, Monroe, Orleans, Niagara, Erie, and Chautauqua, NY; and Erie, PA.

A total of 1,481 Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoCoins were claimed by those finding at least ten of 15 hidden caches in any of the byway’s five regions: Lake Erie, Buffalo/Niagara Falls, Rochester/Central Lake Ontario, Eastern Lake Ontario, and the 1000 Islands/St. Lawrence River.

Cachers typically spent two or three days geocaching in each region, spending an average of $80 to $150 in each region.

“Nearly all the participants surveyed indicated they are caching along the entire Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail, spending nearly two weeks on the byway to do so,” said Seaway Trail, Inc. Director of Business Relations Kurt Schumacher.

“People have come from 26 US states, five Canadian provinces, and as far away as Australia to complete the GeoTrail. As we’re seeing more people from outside the byway region, we’re also seeing longer stays and higher average expenditures,” Schumacher added.

Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said their GeoTrail adventure was highly likely to influence their decision to travel on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail in the future.

Seaway Trail, Inc. President and CEO Teresa Mitchell said, “This ‘get outdoors on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail’ initiative is an accessible and affordable opportunity to enjoy healthy fresh air travel along the entire Great Lakes shoreline of New York and Pennsylvania.”

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail will continue in 2012. Logbooks are available at locations along the byway, including:
St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, Canton, NY

1000 Islands International Tourism Council, Alexandria Bay, NY

Seaway Trail Discovery Center, Sackets Harbor, NY
Oswego County Tourism, Oswego, NY
Cayuga County Tourism, Auburn, NY
Wayne County Tourism, Lyons, NY
VisitRochester, Rochester, NY
Niagara USA Official Visitor Center, Niagara Falls, NY
Visit Buffalo Niagara, Buffalo, NY
Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, Chautauqua, NY, and
Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie, PA.

This geocaching travel initiative debuted in August 2010 with 75 caches – used military ammo boxes emblazoned with the Great Lakes Seaway Trail logo — hidden by a cadre of local volunteers working in collaboration with Seaway Trail, Inc. and GeoTrail coordinator Jim “Boots” Hooper.

Each cache includes a unique punch tool for marking logbooks. Sponsor sites validate the logbooks to issue the collectible GeoCoins. The colorful antique metal-finish square coins feature iconic byway landmarks: the St. Lawrence Seaway, historic Fort Ontario, Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse, Niagara Falls and the Maid of the Mist tour boat, and the Flagship Niagara.

Cachers can learn more about the Great Lakes Seaway Trail GeoTrail and where to pick up a logbook by visiting www.seawaytrail.com/geotrail.

(Brewerton, NY – Aug. 2011) Boater Ken Golub of Pittsford caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce Aug. 20 to win $3,386 plus a $2,000 Ranger Cup bonus and a $1,000 Evinrude bonus in the Walmart BFL Northeast Division tournament on Oneida Lake in Brewerton.  Golub was flipping a half ounce green pumpkin jig around the entire lake.

The remaining top 10 anglers:

2nd:    Ian Renfrew, Phoenix, N.Y., five bass, 16-14, $1,693

3rd:     Jason Putman, Cicero, N.Y., five bass, 15-9, $1,129

4th:     Keith Barlow, Mount Laurel, N.J., five bass, 15-7, $790

5th:     Michael Morrin, Waterloo, N.Y., five bass, 15-6, $677

6th:     Jamie Hartman, Newport, N.Y., five bass, 14-9, $621

7th:     Jason Crawford, Bloomsburg, Pa., five bass, 14-7, $564

8th:     Tom Tarasoff, Kingston, Ontario, five bass, 14-6, $508

9th:     Mike Shumanis, Bethlehem, Pa., five bass, 14-3, $451

10th:   Joe A. Zombek II, Scranton, Pa., five bass, 14-0, $395

Eric Ashley of Utica caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 7 ounces Aug. 20 to win $1,693 in the Co-angler Division.  Ashley was using crankbaits in water approximately 4 to 6 feet deep.

The remaining top 10 co-anglers:

2nd:    Chris Siclare, Geneva, N.Y., four bass, 12-14, $846

3rd:     Bill Klaips, Shavertown, Pa., four bass, 12-4, $564

4th:     Thomas Monica, Bridgeport, N.Y., five bass, 12-1, $395

5th:     Brian Kelly, Liverpool, N.Y., five bass, 11-1, $324

5th:     Bruce Stovall, Mount Holly, N.J., five bass, 11-1, $324

7th:     Brian Dauberman, Mifflinburg, Pa., five bass, 10-15, $282

8th:     Vince Lawyer, Webster, N.Y., five bass, 10-12, $254

9th:     Alex Antipe, Brooklyn, N.Y., four bass, 9-14, $226

10th:   Rich Harris, Monroe Township, Pa., five bass, 9-7, $188

10th:   Charles Stewart, New Berlin, Pa., five bass, 9-7, $188

The next BFL Northeast Division tournament is scheduled for Sept. 10-11 at 1,000 Islands in Clayton.

After the fifth Northeast Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 13-15 Regional Championship on Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston, Va. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger 198VX with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy pick-up, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger 198VX.

(Herkimer, NY- Aug. 2011) A Family Fun Day will be held at Myers Park on North Bellinger Street (behind Herb Philipson’s) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring music, games, Utica Zoombile, bounce house, snacks and prizes.

Free to the public.

(Albany, NY – Aug. 10, 2011) Canal Splash! kicks off Friday, Aug. 12, with a weekend-long celebration of attractions, events and activities available along the 524-mile-long New York State Canal system.

The 6th Annual Canal Splash! Aug. 12-13-14 at multiple locations will include nature walks, bike rides, educational exhibits, boating events, musical performances and tours.

The three-day event is co-sponsored by the Canal Corporation, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, and Parks & Trails New York.

Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “The Erie Canal is a not only a historic site that should be maintained for commerce and economic development, but also a source of pride for New Yorkers who enjoy its miles of parks, trails and boating.”

“Canal Splash! offers activities for New Yorkers of all ages including numerous fun and educational opportunities while also encouraging physical activity,” Stratton said. “The Canal Corporation is pleased to continue its partnership with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and Parks and Trails New York to build upon the success of this annual event.”

Beth Sciumeca, executive director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, said, “We invite New Yorkers to come out and enjoy our world renown canal system and hometown hospitality during Canal Splash! After nearly two centuries, the canal is still a magnet for travelers and summer activity and our canal towns are still welcoming visitors whether they come by boat, bicycle or car.”

Robin Dropkin, executive director of Parks and Trails New York, said, “Canal Splash! highlights all the interesting and fun things there are to do along the Canal System, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Between the museums, historic sites, cultural activities, and the Canalway Trail, there is something for all ages and interests.”

A complete program of events is available on-line at www.canals.ny.gov/specialevents. An informational brochure is also available at various locations along the canal, including many visitor centers, canal locks and harbors.

Highlights of Canal Splash! events taking place statewide throughout the state this weekend include:

Champlain Canal

7th Annual Cardboard Boat Race – Schuylerville

Join the fun as a spectator or enter the race. Build a human-powered boat made of corrugated cardboard or 100 percent recycled materials that will hold one crewmember and is seaworthy on the Hudson River in Schuylerville.

The Hyde Collection — Glens Falls

“New York, New York! The 20th Century Exhibition.” More than 60 paintings, photographs, sculptures, and works on paper that capture New York City, centered on some of the most notable and beloved features of the city and date from 1889 to 2009.

Erie Canal

Canal Heritage Day – Medina

This annual event will feature live music, demonstrations, games, local booths and art. New this year will be the Taste of Medina. Using a popular ingredient common in canal travel, local restaurants will create a dish showcasing their talents.

Erie Canal and Genesee Riverway Trails Ride – Brighton, Rochester

A 16-mile guided cycling tour on the paved Erie Canal and Genesee Riverway Trails with a rest stop in Downtown Rochester.

An Evening on the Canal – Greece

Enjoy a guided 90-minute tour of the historic Erie Canal from Henpeck Park to Junction Lock, followed by a buffet dinner.

Grand Opening of Erie Canal Museum — Palmyra

Located in the old tenant house on Market Street steps away from the Erie Canal, the museum is filled with original Palmyra items that were used to ship on the Erie Canal. Original ramps for the mules (which were housed in the basement), hand hewn beams, an old train ticket counter from the Ontario Railroad, benches, maps, a barge whistle, and artwork.

Towpath Day – Camillus

“Step Back” into the canal era, celebrating canal circus boats and more. A 5K Mule Skinner walk/ run will open the festivities followed by a day of demonstrations, crafts, music, kids stuff, steam engine exhibit, boat and wagon rides. Activities for all ages.

Futile Thunder at Fort Stanwix National Monument – Rome

The siege continues, because of the miscalculation of the Americans’ abilities and their determination to defend the fort, the British besieged it with undersized artillery. Discover how the British adapted to this problem and still attempted to conduct a successful siege during this one-hour demonstration led by the Oneida Indian Nation First Allies group and park staff. Cannon firings occur throughout this demonstration.

Erie Canal cruise through a 100-year-old lock — Herkimer

Ninety-minute narrated lock-through cruise on the Historic Erie Canal aboard Lil’ Diamond II. Specialty shopping and waterfront dining are also available at the Gems Along the Mohawk Complex.

Bike & Kayak Tours at Schoharie Crossing Site – Fort Hunter

See the remains of the old Erie Canal, the Schoharie Aqueduct, Empire Lock, Yankee Hill, and Port Jackson by bike. Learn about the history of the Mohawk River by kayak.

Exploring the Canals of Cohoes

Travel old canal towpaths where mules pulling barges once trod; see 170-year-old limestone locks built by hand; learn about this 19th century technological marvel; discover the different routes the canal took through Cohoes over time, and hear stories of life in a lively canal town.

Oswego Canal

Magic In Minetto

Live music, children’s crafts and face painting, ice cream social, antique cars, family canoe/kayak race, fire trucks, craft vendors, commemorative stamp cancellation and great food.

Cayuga-Seneca Canal

Wesleyan Chapel Ranger Program – Seneca Falls

A National Park Service Ranger will present a program on the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention in the Wesleyan Chapel, site of the convention.

The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York state, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.

For more information regarding events, recreation and vacation opportunities along the Canal system, please visit www.canals.ny.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

(July 2011) Boater Bill Chapman of Salt Rock, W. Va., caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds July 23 to win $3,205 plus a $1,000 Evinrude bonus in the Walmart BFL Northeast Division tournament at 1000 Islands.  Chapman was drop-shotting tubes in deep water.

The remaining top 10 anglers:

2nd:    Merle Wells Jr., Hammond, N.Y., five bass, 20-3, $1,603

3rd:     Dean Meckes, Clayton, N.Y., five bass, 19-1, $1,068

4th:     Mark Banks, East Aurora, N.Y., five bass, 18-9, $748

5th:     Michael, Czaplinski, Hopatcong, N.J., five bass, 18-4, $641

6th:     Mike Neilson, Markham, Ontario, five bass, 18-0, $588

7th:     Adam Singer, Brookfield, Conn., five bass, 17-15, $534

8th:     Justin White, Slippery Rock, Pa., five bass, 17-11, $481

9th:     Brian Sanson, Chittenango, N.Y., five bass, 17-4, $427

10th:   Mike Hart, Stanhope, N.J., five bass, 17-2, $355

10th:   Bud Schosger, Painted Post, N.Y., five bass, 17-2, $355

Vince Lawyer of Webster, N.Y., caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 7 ounces July 23 to win $1,603 in the Co-angler Division.  Lawyer was also drop-shotting tubes in deep water.

The remaining top 10 co-anglers:

2nd:    Jeff White, Rhoadesville, Va., five bass, 19-3, $801

3rd:     Joseph, Zapf, Whippany, N.J., five bass, 17-9, $533

4th:     William Green, Auburn, N.Y., five bass, 16-15, $374

5th:     Chris Murdoch, Hilton, N.Y., five bass, 16-9, $307

5th:     Bill Spindler, Turnersville, N.J., five bass, 16-9, $307

7th:     Robert Sweeney, Baltimore, Md., five bass, 14-12, $267

8th:     Joe Horton, Horseheads, N.Y., five bass, 14-6, $240

9th:     Kevin Mothersell, Henrietta, N.Y., five bass, 14-5, $214

10th:   Brian Carroll, Smyrna, Ga., five bass, 14-2, $187

The next BFL Northeast Division tournament is scheduled for Aug. 20 on Oneida Lake in Brewerton, NY.

After the fifth Northeast Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 13-15 Regional Championship on Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston, Va.

Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger 198VX with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy pick-up, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger 198VX.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/BassFishingLeague. For news surrounding FLW Outdoors on Facebook, follow Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWOutdoors.

ALBANY, NY (07/27/2011)(readMedia) The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has certified Dan Germain from Forestport is the new holder of the state record for brook trout.

Germain reeled in the record-breaking fish on June 15 while fishing at South Lake in Herkimer County in the southwest corner of the Adirondack Park. The new record brook trout, caught on a Lake Clear Wabbler and worm, measured 22 inches and weighed in at 5 pounds, 8 ounces, surpassing the previous state record set in 2009 by 3.5 ounces.

Germain submitted details of his winning fish as part of DEC’s Angler Achievement Awards Program. Through this program, anglers enter freshwater fish that meet specific qualifying criteria and receive official recognition of their catch and a distinctive lapel pin commemorating their achievement. The three categories that make up the program are: Catch & Release, Annual Award and State Record.

Information about the Angler Achievement Awards Program, including past winners and a downloadable application form, can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7727.html.

Program details and an official entry form can also be found in DEC’s current Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide.

For additional information on the Angler Achievement Awards Program contact (518) 402-8891 or email fwfish@gw.dec.state.ny.us