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Niagara Footprint Festival organizers receive proclamation

Sat, Feb 9th 2019 07:00 am

Organizers of the Niagara Footprint Festival received a proclamation from the Grand Island Town Board praising their success in establishing the first-ever winter event.

At its monthly meeting Monday, the board recognized the partnership of organizations that collaborated on the festival, which was held Jan. 26 at Beaver Island State Park.

According to the proclamation, the Niagara Footprint Festival was established in 2018 as a partnership between the Town of Grand Island, Niagara River Greenway Commission, Grand Island Chamber of Commerce; New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; and supporting sponsors Niagara Frontier Publications, Solar by CIR and NYSERDA.

The purpose of the Footprint Festival “was to create a signature winter event for people to enjoy the beautiful natural environment that Grand Island and the Niagara region has to offer, promote eco-tourism and to encourage reducing our carbon footprint,” the proclamation said.

The festival included bird watching tours, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, sledding, dog sleds, ice sculpting, horse and carriage rides, a farmers market, local businesses and food vendors, a blacksmith, a bonfire, music, and closed with a step back in time event at River Lea.

In making the proclamation, the board “applauds the collaborative efforts of all involved for an event to bring the community together and showcase all Grand Island has to offer.”

Pictured are members of the Grand Island Town Board with the festival standing committee that coordinated all activities and events. From left: Jenn Pusatier, Chamber of Commerce director; Councilwoman Jennifer Baney, Roger Cook of the Sierra Club; Jennifer Peresie, chair of the Economic Development Advisory Board; Councilwoman Bev Kinney, Town Supervisor Nathan McMurray; Greg Brown, Beaver Island State Park manager; Councilman Mike Madigan, Joe Mentor of the Grand Island Recreation Department, and Councilman Pete Marston. Not pictured are standing committee members Diane Evans of the Conservation Advisory Board; Robin Shipman of the Grand Island Historical Society and River Lea; Judy Schmidt, chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; and Greg Stevens of the Niagara River Greenway Commission.

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