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Laury Ward is the President of Finger Lakes Wine Country - a job title that most of us wish we had. In her role, she leads this region in tourism marketing by being an ambassador, a contributor, an advocate, and a passionate resident. Over the past couple years, Finger Lakes Wine Country has conducted research to find out how and why people come to the region - and what keeps them coming back. Laury shares the findings of this research and how it's been applied already to help shape conversations and marketing tactics. In addition, Laury talks about why this is the perfect place to visit during a global pandemic and how everyone's experience may be unique. For more, be sure to check out the Finger Lakes Wine Country website and follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

This week, museums in the Southern Finger Lakes are reopening! We talked with Brian Less Whisenhunt, Executive Director of the Rockwell Museum, to learn about the Rockwell's newest exhibitions. We discuss the importance of art as a healing experience and its role in society, especially during such a difficult stretch of time.

Last year was the first Pride event in Corning, and this weekend should have been the second. However, with the increased risk of public gatherings, "Pride" went virtual this year. In this episode, we hear from Pride organizers and members of the LGBTQ+ community in Corning.

Sorges has been on Market Street in Corning for nearly 70 years and The Cellar has become known for high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. These Gaffer District staples are now working to rebuild after the devastating effects of the Coronavirus shutdown.

Sometimes Corning and the Southern Finger Lakes are isolated from the world's headlines, but that's not the case this time thanks to Domari Greene. Protests have been happening every day in front of Corning's City Hall and Police Department, and Domari hopes even more people will continue to show up. In the Village of Painted Post, a police officer (former CPD) posted a callous and inflammatory statement on Facebook leading to his resignation from the Village Police Department and statements from Painted Post, Corning, and the PBA. In Elmira, the Captain and Police Chief each sent a personal message to Domari to encourage peaceful protests, rebuke police brutality, and offer collaboration and protection. As marches and additional events are planned throughout the region, listen to this week's podcast to understand the goals and perspectives of protestors. Follow the "Elmira: Black Lives Matter Movement" on Facebook and support the movement by donating through their GoFundMe page.

We're taking a short break, but there's still so much happening in the Southern Finger Lakes right now! Here's a quick update from Urban Corning. Be sure to check out FLXCalendar.com, CorningNY.com, and any of our local businesses and nonprofits to find out what's happening near you.

Chris Mitchell has visited 80 countries, but he's found a real appreciation for the place he calls home in Toronto, Ontario. He's also had a few opportunities to visit Corning and the Finger Lakes and he shares some thoughts on why this place is so special to him. You can hear all of Chris' travel stories at www.travelingmitch.com and on his newest site UltimateOntario.com. You can also hear him on his own podcast, "Rick Steves Over Brunch." Carol Cain is a relatively new resident of Finger Lakes Wine Country, but she originally came here for the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) as a consultant. Her award-winning blog, GirlGoneTravel, started by featuring life in New York City and has expanded over more than a decade to include a wide variety of travel content. Carol is also the founder of Brave World Media and she's been featured as a keynote speaker and guest in countless events around the world. She shares some thoughts about why the Finger Lakes are special to her and her family, and what we can learn by staying in one place for a while - even when we're dreaming of faraway lands. Music provided by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com. Music provided by Audio Library Plus Watch: https://youtu.be/vSoQgxDwxYMFree Download / Stream: http://alplus.io/PerpetualTickingOfTime

As I take a hike of my own, we hear two interviews with nature experts from the Southern Finger Lakes. Kris West is the Senior Field Representative for the Finger Lakes Land Trust and a self-prescribed "real estate agent for nature," helping landowners achieve their conservation goals through conservation easements, land donations, or land sales. She has an affinity for birding and hiking, and even shares a special view from her window while we talk. Elaine Spacher is the Executive Director at Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira and has a passion for birds, animals, and utilizing nature for education. We talk about her background and why she feels the natural world can be healing, especially during the time of Covid-19. 

Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced schools will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Just like that, seniors found out that their high school careers would be strangely and abruptly cut short, and districts across the State began preparing for end-of-year grades and graduation.  In this episode, we talk with Corning-Painted Post High School Senior Todd Lu. He was looking forward to celebrating the end of the year with classmates and international students before Covid-19 interrupted all that. He shares his perspectives and goals as he looks forward to future college and career plans.  We also had a conversation with Superintendent Mike Ginalski who, like the class of 2020, is leaving at the end of this school year. Mr. Ginalski started his career during a time of crisis within the district, so he's no stranger to adversity. He shares his own plans for the future, how the district plans to wrap up this school year, and thoughts on the district's incoming Superintendent Michelle Caulfield. 

Randi Hewit is President at the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes. She's also a community volunteer, board member, mother, and Hallmark Movie enthusiast. This week, Randi and I cover a number of topics including why we feel so fatigued during this pandemic, what our community needs most, Top Gun, and the 2020 census. This is an interview you won't want to miss. To kick things off, I'm happy to share a message from Garret Callahan, Store Manager at Corning Wegmans. Although he was unable to join me in conversation, he wanted to take the time to share what life is like these days for a Wegmans employee.  Thank you for listening to the Urban Corning Podcast! If you have a moment to share this link, we'd really appreciate it. And if you are subscribed in Apple Podcasts, please give us a quick review!

As we (very slowly) approach nicer weather, people would normally be spending more time on the Finger Lakes. However, Coronavirus has changed all that. In this episode, we hear from business owners on Seneca Lake about how they - and the entire industry - are changing course and pushing forward. In response to Covid-19, the folks at Finger Lakes Distilling started using their specialized equipment to make hand sanitizer. Learn how Brian McKenzie and his staff are balancing this new process with their typical line of products. And further north on Seneca Lake, we hear from Nova Cadamatre, Master of Wine, who is the owner of Trestle 31 Winery. Nova is also the head winemaker for Robert Mondavi in Napa Valley, and she provides her perspective on the wine industry as a whole. She also shares some pairing tips for those cooking at home.

The Corning community is resilient and innovative, and in this episode we hear from three entrepreneurs that have figured out how to provide helpful services at an unprecedented time. Amelia Harnas was well on her way toward launching an events calendar for the Southern Finger Lakes when suddenly "events" became a thing of the past. Learn why she launched FLXCalendar.com anyways, quickly pivoting to provide virtual event listings and Covid-19 resources. In the second part of this episode, hear from 2 graduates of the Corning Area Chamber of Commerce's Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). Angelea Collins and Jaden Burchard, both Corning Painted Post High School seniors, talk about their current projects and why they've been inspired to help the community.

In the first part of this episode, we're joined by Corning's Mayor Bill Boland. Mayor Boland talked about the daily changes in city government and how he is personally dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak. The second part features a 2014 interview with Amo and Jamie Houghton. The brothers talked about Market Street restoration and the role of Corning Glass Works after the flood of 1972. 

In the middle of this coronavirus pandemic, live music is non-existant. The Town Pants would normally be performing in the Finger Lakes this time of year, but had to cancel several shows and have moved to internet-streamed concerts. Duane Keogh, co-founder of the band, shares how he's motivated to write music and share it. Locally in the Corning Painted Post school district, several teachers got together to inspire their students at this difficult time. Their video project went viral on Facebook and achieved an emotional response from students and parents alike. We talk with Mike Simons, who worked with his colleagues to craft and edit the video.