welcome to chamber focus this program is produced by peters township chamber of commerce we're here to inform and educate the residents of peter's township about businesses and services available to them right here in our community i'm your host linda vera today we're going to talk about tourism opportunities right here at home stay tuned we'll be right back jr is the executive director of the washington county tourism and ocean mean agency ok i don't have my glasses on i know it's tourism and i couldn't member the promotion part and you have so much to tell us about j r and washington county is so active in promoting the wonderful things that we have right here in our own community your travel far to be entertained and not at all and not at all there are a multitude of things to do and see great things to do and see right here in southwestern pennsylvania as a whole and especially right here right now in washington and here are some events lined up some great events lined up for summer and fall so we can start chronologically and start talking about some of the things that are coming to washington county where people here and you know we have so many young families here in peter's township and there's so many things for families to take advantage of the are inexpensive and entertaining educational maybe you could start us off you know like spring absolutely summer rather well actually and you bring up a good point that i'd like to make mention of as well with all of the gas development here throughout southwestern pennsylvania as well there are so many folks in here from out of town from out of the state of pennsylvania and oklahoma and texas and louisiana that are here working and working hard to develop all this natural gas but they also want things to do they want to know where to go on the weekend they want to know where to bring their family they want to know where to eat they want to know what's fun to do here in washington county so we've been able to provide really vital information for them to sell them on the quality of life in washington and in the county of washington as well as hopefully provide a home for them some time down the road but you're exactly right it is going to be a fantastic summer here in washington county there are so many things to do and see and it's really kind of special there are some really special one of a kind of instant new events that will be promoting and talking about throughout the summer that are exceptional part of that is because we're celebrating the two hundredth anniversary of the founding of washington pennsylvania that's correct very the city of city of washington will back up for just one minute that will walk will walk folks through the county through the calendar real quick because before we talk about that i actually think i saw some chairs out on the street in pike street in canada burger already it is one of the largest fourth of july celebrations in the country as well as in the state of pennsylvania and actually strangely enough the fourth of july parade will be on july third this year but that's a special news for the city of cannes where it is that bob hometown hero and singer and legend bobby vinton will be grand marshal of the fourth of july parade in that city of canada burke so everybody's going to turn out to see their their homeboy yeah their home boy done good because bobby apparently doesn't come back that often so it's a really special treat to have him be the grand marshal for the fourth of july parade and then the next day he's going to be performing at a concert at the meadows racetrack and casino so that's going to be just a huge chance the legacy of great music out of canada so it's a chance to celebrate all of that so so that's going to happen very soon as soon as everybody gets out of school and things looking for things to do around here in the county that happens on the fourth of july week and that's going to be very very  special yes you mentioned the city of washington the city of washington is two hundred years old this year in two thousand and ten so where we're putting out the word that we want to party like it's eight hundred ten that's our big big celebration for the city of washington bicentennial throughout the year we are commemorating the founding of the city of washington eight hundred ten but we're really focusing on one special week of the vents and that's the last week of july july twenty eighth through august first so specifically and downtown washington will be special events geared towards celebrating the two hundredth anniversary of the city of washing the founding of the city of washington we're going to have commemorations and reenactments concerning the whiskey rebellion that will be part of our celebration we're going to certainly have a great main street farmer's market that week on on main street that thursday the health and wellness fair we're going to have a tribute luncheon to retiring state senator jay barry stout who has been such a great asset for all of us here in the county in washington we're not going to throw a party thank you very much part of retirement party for barry stout we also will have an oldies dance and oldies party which you know no celebration around here would be complete without an old we're going to have that weekend we're going to have a washington idol contest will be cellar celebrating the history of the heritage of the area but the big events on saturday will be some mainline national concerts headlined by ricky skaggs bluegrass and grammy award winning legend ricky skaggs will be playing saturday afternoon and then saturday evening big kenny also a big and rich will be our headliner that night and if you know contemporary country music and you know big and rich and you know save a horse ride a cowboy that is that was history heritage and he rose parade that saturday there will be an ecumenical church service that sunday so just great opportunities for everyone to celebrate the founding of the city and what i think that's going to be and you know i don't think the camera can i'm not even sure if this camera's working because  there's nothing on this count to put this up i don't now anyway this is real cute it's george was george was here where are we there we are george was here and there's a picture of george washington it is working o celebrating like it's eighteen tad's party like it's a party and i can say george is our spokes president we've been using him in our advertising campaigns for the last several years and it's been really really effective i mean we have sent all of our visitors got information all of our website information and graphics all of our advertising campaigns have been centered around george washington who better to be a spokesman for the county of washington than george than our founding father and you know this was the first county in the united states named after george washington and it was named after him even before he was president of the united states he was still he was a retired general even before he became president all right now there is a little bit of history there you go there you go i'm interested in the whiskey rebellion being kind of brought out because people lose track of how it was i mean exactly about kind of where i want to go there today but you know well it was in how there's a movement it was a very important part in the history of the early federal government in the united states it was a first test of the authority of the federal government it happened right here in southwestern pennsylvania mainly in washington county the nexus of it is the the home of david bradford who was the leader of the whiskey rebellion which sits on main street in downtown washington and each year they commemorate that so we're really that out this year and it is very unique it is a unique story that we can only tell here in washington county no other place in the world can actually claim that so we are trying to promote that and make that very aware to all of our visitors and our residents they  the golf tournament yeah that is this summer that is this summer ok that is the summer for the first time washington county will be hosting i will say the first time they're hosting professional golf but will be hosting a regular scheduled professional golf tournament tour it's owned by the p g a it's if you consider it these to be the proving ground for p g a golfers it's i don't want to say the minor leagues but it is it is the proving ground for the next step in a golfer's progression to play on the p g a tour so the stars of tomorrow yes will be here in washington county labor day weekend for this tournament and it's the first time it has been held here in washington we hope it to become a regular annual event we know it will be for the next several years but we really want to make a legacy and make this an appointment for everyone for their summer to be a part of the mylan classic and there are so many different avenues regarding the different ways you can participate with the mile in classic for local residents for instance one of the ways local charities can benefit from the mylan classic is selling tickets a local charity is able to go online and register their charity is a donation site for tickets and there's an arm of the mylan classic called tickets for charity every ticket that sold that is designated to be under the umbrella of this particular nonprofit organization that keeps all the proceeds from that ticket so when you sell it that ticket at twenty five dollars i believe the four day passes that charity gets twenty five dollars it's a great fundraiser for a local charity i hope there's some walking right now who is maybe it involved with a charity who was not aware of this absolutely and your church your nonprofit organization the fire the local fire department volunteer fire department different things like that can go online and register and i believe it's milan golf classic dot com if i remember correctly if you google mylan golf classic you'll get you'll get there ok and that's a mile in n y l a and that's the mile and pharmaceutical companies that take orders over in south point that is the naming sponsor for that and it's also being presented by consultant or g consulting g is also been a big sponsor for the wonder gee is really become a very good neighbor is very involved and now that they're in south point that their corporate headquarters located there i think we're seeing more and more of that because now they're part of washington county right where the corporate used to be part of allegheny county and you see them getting more and more active in washington county very much and i would be remiss if i didn't mention back to the to the city of washington bicentennial that consultant or g was one of the first sponsors that signed up to help us with that event and range resources as well another energy company that is making a presence known here in washington county has come in as a big sponsor for our of our saturday concert events so these these new folks to the to the area i mean consultancy is not new but some of these other companies have really come in and become good community partners i feel i think they've become good citizens they support our schools and our of all teams in our local events and or in all those type of organizations and they really are cognizant of being a part of the community we appreciate that yeah i don't know where else you want to go here as far as what's going on the covered bridge festival it it really gets a big turnout huge turnout we have ten festival sites throughout washington and green counties it's the washington and green covered bridge festival ten sites throughout both counties with activities at all sites over that we can that's the third weekend in september it's always the third week in so we can in september so it's it's like the nineteenth and twentieth or eighteenth or nineteenth i don't have an exact date right now but it's always the third week in september and that's pray for you know the last leg the last two years we have had as they what they call chamber of commerce days we have had the most gorgeous weather over the last two years and we really hope that we can get that any well yeah but it continues washington county tourism organizes and promotes  particular site at the ebeneezer bridge in mango creek county park and i can just tell you that we have an arts and crafts festival there and the crowds have been huge the last two years we've made some improvements to the festival and last year with the whether it was just through the roof  food are you seeing more and more people as food vendors there and i don't know i haven't gone to that for a couple of years used to go regularly but i mean at food vendors you saying that start starting to perk up we turn away more than we actually end up booking for the festival to be honest with you that we try and keep for our festival at least oh yes and there's always you know the best funnel cakes in the world and sausage in the world and crab cakes and ice cream and on saturdays and sundays and we even put in shuttle buses some shuttle bus transportation at ebenezer perfect to help folks get from some of the farther out lots back of our shuttle over to the festival so we're getting like thirty seconds ago so why don't we go to break and we'll be right back to finish talking about the west and counting what's going on sounds great thank you at play golf america dot com you'll find affordable starter program tips to get you up to speed on the game and links to a friendly course they can get you into the swing and out of the course in no time playing recent increases in smuggling are putting american food sources at risk people and businesses are smuggling live birds and poultry products to sell online in specialty groceries or outdoor markets they may think they are simply catering to their customer's tastes what they are really importing is trouble importing outside u s d a safeguards is not only illegal it threatens american food production smuggled poultry products or smuggled birds can bring in diseases such as exotic new castle disease or avian influenza bird flu into the u s we need your help to make sure that what is grown and raised two years stays safe from foreign pest and disease if you suspect a business is importing or selling illegal birds or poultry products call the agriculture hotline at one eight hundred eight seven seven three eight three five you can make an anonymous report or find out exactly which products are prohibited america's food supply is too important to let smugglers put it at risk reports smuggled birds and p a bargain oh yes that's a bargain and as we're talking about you know we start talking about things to do and see in washington county through the summer and the early fall and it's hard to get them all in and you don't want to forget any of them because the washington county agricultural fair an institution it's tremendous it's huge there are so many things to see and do there's the you know the bus relays and the crashes and and all the rides and the concerts i know the parks are going to be playing the opening opening night of the for the opening weekend of the fair again this year and that is always tremendous and draws people from all over the place but you have to go to the fair and if you go to the fair here's my advice park over to pennsylvania trolling museum and ride the trolley to the fair that really is good advice because those people work so hard at that museum take the trolley over and back enjoy that ride and then go take in the trolling museum it's a one of a kind here in western pennsylvania that is a must stop yeah attraction where everyone and i want to add to about the county fair and we have grandchildren of course we take the grandchildren the county fair and dollar for dollar those kids have more fun on the rides oh yeah don't tell me what you know because they can run a little for a year there's the lines are shorter i mean you still have to wait a little bit but it's just they just get the biggest kick out of it and the and the baby bunnies and the baby cows and it's just it's a it's just a wonderful afternoon and evening to spend with your chip sure sure and i'll take a different approach to this is well first in support of the fair and in support of tourism the number one industry in the commonwealth of pennsylvania is agriculture it still remains agriculture and it's a great way to support that and to be knowledgeable about agriculture is go to the fair see what these suit these kids in these families do for their animals and to promote agriculture and sustainable agriculture throughout the state the number two industry in the commonwealth of pennsylvania is tourism well congratulations jay i realize it's so it's so that put those two together you need go to the county fair is a lot of fun and you know what it's wonderful for the kids too because you meet the nicest young people there who are responsible for raising their own little animals and those kids are so eager to share their little animals and let you haul them and whatnot and just really good clean fun and support our farmers support our agricultural people and support those young people you know meadowcroft is another jewel i mean truly a jewel in washington county and you want to talk about one of a kind unique attractions destinations in washington county in pennsylvania in north america sixteen thousand years of history lives in metal croft out near avella in western washington county and if you haven't been out there recently two years ago they dedicated a new overhang over the rock shelter a new a new facility over the rock shelter that really enhances the experience of seeing this archaeological dig where they have documented sixteen thousand years of human existence right here in western pennsylvania older than the digs that they've had in new mexico older than the digs that they've had in western canada a lot of folks don't realize that sitting right out there that in itself is fascinating and noteworthy enough but then when you tour there there are historic village out there as well and they've had a little bit of a name change and well the name they felt the name might have been a little cumbersome in the past so they're calling themselves  metal croft rock shelter and historic village very simple thought but that explains why it really captures the essence of what they've done out there because they've tried to recreate what it would have been like to live on the frontier which western pennsylvania was the frontier of the united states in the late seventy's hundreds going into the early and mid eighty's hundreds so there's a farmhouse an old log cabin that you can tour while you're out there an old school house a church learn how life was way back when out of metal croft and talk about an activity for you and the kids yeah what a great drive what a great day beautiful country and western washington county and then spend some time out of metal croft on a nice summer afternoon and i get a whole lot better than that you know we were talking about the  and you know the i think still mainly craft is it mainly it runs the gamut throughout the different sites and that's what's nice about having ten different bridge sites some of them are more of a historical and heritage celebration that include more reactors and  more historical and heritage celebration the route about that area about the bridge not all of them are craft or arch and crafts focused all of them celebrate history in western pennsylvania in some way shape or form and celebrate are covered bridges but each one has a little something different and a little unique offer if somebody wants to know about the different is that on the website on the website is going to be on the you know on the on the screen here so that the else can go and find out so and i understand even from the studio here that your website is actually if you go under special events or go to our events calendar and search by the month you can find that information there is actually a button on there for covered bridge information that not only has we'll have our new brochure our cover festal boat festival brochure and a weight or a way to request it from our office but also has a covered bridge driving guide that you can also download or request a copy of that can show you all the different cover bridges and way around the covered bridges throughout washington in green counties yeah but what a great day and other we get people from multi states away that come in that want to know about our covered bridges so we know it's another way we celebrate our history a good for you in that area and you're a good spokesperson for that same weekend of october fast can spark has there and i didn't know about this you surprised me with this they have an october fast correct harrodsburg i know about the pumpkin festival in houston and then why don't i know about the october fest can you tell us a little bit about that i'm not sure why you don't know i don't know if i understand either it is i'm told the sixth largest october fest in the united states it happens in downtown kansas burg a couple of different sites and it's not only heritage music and herit german music but they have some modern music as well but it's just a big great party for october fest and then i would like to close down main street down part of streets and they put up a couple stages and they have some beer gardens throughout the area and and crafts and rides and all kind of different activities and it's the same weekend is the covered bridge festival but the nice thing is it doesn't start until i believe five o'clock in the evening it's mainly an evening event so come to the coverage festivals attend all the covered bridge festival see everything and do that night and have a great time and i'm thinking of more things that we haven't even mentioned throughout the summer here we talked about a few of the special concerts that are coming up the meadows race track and casino has three big concert that they're promoting this summer in june i believe it's i think it's june fourteenth i have to check the date on that they're hosting yes and peter frampton concert at the on the track it's going to be on the track at the meadows there also be a series of concerts going on out there so you go to whilst it while things website you can check out not only the schedule for the baseball team but also the special events that will be happening there then we've got ricky skaggs and big candy that are going to be at the city of washington bicentennial celebration that will be on july thirty first so you've got entertainment like we've never seen throughout this county coming up this summer you have activities and events that are special either one of a kind celebrations or the first of their kind celebrations which would be referring to off classic the fortieth anniversary of the covered bridge festival then of course we get into the fall with the apple festival and the pumpkin festival and really festival season well it's beautiful it's a beautiful day the food is really outstanding and it's just it's that pony rides for the kids it's just it really is a country event is just really a nice simple little event very much so i would everyone to get out and celebrate life here in washington county throughout the summertime celebrate our history celebrate our heritage and just have a great time throughout the day i thank you you're a wonderful guest talking to you and we're going to close now i guess this camera is working now i just want to remind people in peter's township and washington county shop locally spend your money locally keep it in our township it's good for all of us it's good for our businesses it keeps our community strong chair again thank you very much for