NEWS IN BRIEF
Marylanders go to Capitol Hill
to advocate for Tubman national parks
 Two busloads of residents from Maryland's Eastern Shore traveled to Washington, D.C., Sept. 14, for "Harriet on the Hill," a day during which they showed their support for federal legislation that would create national parks — in both Maryland and Auburn, N.Y. — in honor of Harriet Tubman, prominent conductor of the Underground Railroad.
More than 100 proponents of the Senate bill — including descendants of Tubman — met with members of Congress to discuss Tubman's legacy and the economic benefits of establishing the two parks. A Maryland park would include land in Dorchester, Caroline and Talbot counties. Auburn, N.Y., is where Tubman spent the second half of her life as an activist for women's rights and African-American elderly.
Sen. Ben Cardin (Md.), a co-author of the bill, welcomed the Tubman supporters at a luncheon in the Capitol. "Harriet Tubman lived the principles of freedom and liberty and she shared that freedom with hundreds of others," he said. "These two parks will make it possible for Marylanders and the entire nation to trace her life's work and remember all that she was able to accomplish."
The pending legislation calls for the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park on Maryland's Eastern Shore, where Tubman was born, lived and traveled during her work to free enslaved people in the region. It designates Maryland's Harriet Tubman State Park, which opens in 2013 — 100 years after Tubman's passing — with the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor's Center, as a national park.
Federal support would supplement the cost of operation, management and interpretation of the visitor center and park. It also allows the Maryland Park Service, National Park Service and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to jointly manage and protect the natural landscapes of the Tubman park.
Once the visitor center opens, state officials expect visitation to the park to grow to more than 200,000 annually. They anticipate the park to have a long-term economic impact of $20 million each year.
Defenders Day brings UK film crew to Baltimore
 Travel Channel (International) came to Baltimore, Sept. 9-10, to film a War of 1812 re-enactment at Fort McHenry National Monument and Shrine, and other locations around Baltimore Harbor. The re-enactment was part of Fort McHenry's Defenders Day — The Star-Spangled Banner Weekend, an annual tribute to the successful defense of Baltimore against attacking British forces in 1814.
Footage will be used for a show about the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and another one about Star-Spangled Spectacular 2012 — an assembly of gray hulls and tall ships from around the world that kicks off a week-long maritime festival at Baltimore's Inner Harbor in June 2012. Both shows will air in spring 2012. Based in London, Travel Channel broadcasts 24 hours a day in 19 languages across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region.
Also during the celebratory Fort McHenry weekend, Raymond "Chip" Mason received the Francis Scott Key Award from the Friends of Fort McHenry for his leadership as chair of the War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. Mason is founder of Legg Mason, Inc.
And, Bill Pencek, executive director of the Maryland War of 1812 Commission, announced that Marylanders can now purchase 15-star, 15-stripe American flags — replicas of the Star-Spangled Banner that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem following the all-night British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814.
The flags — featuring the Star-Spangled 200 logo — are available through Maryland-based F. W. Haxel in two versions: a printed nylon flag ($20); and a limited-edition, sewn nylon flag ($73.50). Proceeds benefit three nonprofit organizations: The American Flag Foundation, Friends of Fort McHenry and The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House.
Above: Gov. Martin O'Malley poses with visitors at Fort McHenry's Defenders Day weekend for an impromptu photo.
Tourism office, CRUSA offer marketing to inbound travelers
Domestic and international advertising opportunities are available with the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and Capital Region USA (CRUSA).
Destination Maryland, the state's official travel guide, features travel articles, itineraries, and hundreds of listings of attractions, accommodations, restaurants, outdoor activities and shopping locations. Maryland Calendar of Events is a collection of event listings throughout the state for each month of the year. The tourism office is investing more than $1 million in marketing to encourage travelers to both request these magazine-style publications and view them online. Deadline for advertising submissions is Oct. 14. Call or e-mail Steve Lassiter at Media Two, 443-909-7828, for details. (Mention you saw this opportunity in Insights and receive a 5 percent discount.)
CRUSA, through a partnership with Miles Media, offers an integrated print and online marketing program that targets more than 485,000 potential overseas visitors. Advertising is available in the CRUSA Travel Guide, on the CRUSA web site and through an e-mail marketing program. Deadline for advertisers is Sept. 30. Call or e-mail Carly Norosky Stedman at Miles Media, 304-982-3298, for details. CRUSA is the official destination marketing organization that promotes Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland in the international marketplace.
Submit nominations for Maryland Tourism Awards
Nominations for the 2011 Maryland Tourism Awards — as selected by the Office of Tourism and the Maryland Tourism Development Board — will be accepted until Sept. 26. Award categories are: Green/Sustainable Tourism; Visit Maryland (promotion of the state as a travel destination); Cultural/Heritage Tourism; and Economic Engine. A program overview and nomination form can be found online.
The awards pay tribute to individuals, organizations, businesses or governmental agencies that have significantly contributed to the efforts of the tourism office and board to boost jobs and economic impact in Maryland's tourism industry, and enhance the state's image to travelers. Winners will be announced at the Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit, Nov. 2-4 in Prince George's County. For more information, call or e-mail Jennifer Jones, 410-767-6296.
Star-Spangled 200 fundraiser presents PBS film
See a sneak preview of the new PBS documentary, The War of 1812, at the Landmark Theatres Harbor East Cinema in Baltimore, Monday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. The film — which airs nationwide Oct. 10 — includes re-enactments, animation and commentary from 26 American, British, Canadian and Native American historians. Filmmaker Larry Hott, Florentine Films, will be present for a Q&A session. Advance tickets are available online for $15; tickets at the door, $20. The War of 1812 is a production of WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions, Inc., in association with WETA Washington, D.C. The National Endowment for the Humanities provided a major grant.
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Southern Maryland race next in Cycle Maryland series
 Three Cycle Maryland events are approaching. St. Mary's Century (formerly the Amish 100) is Sept. 17, starting at the College of Southern Maryland in Leonardtown. It features three options for riders: 35-, 62- and 100-mile routes. The opening of the Anacostia River Trail, Oct. 1 at Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Prince George's County, presents a ribbon-cutting and 12-mile ride. Also, the Tour du Port, Oct. 9, offers routes that vary in length from 13 miles to 65 miles. Starting point is at Baltimore's Canton Waterfront Park.
Appalachian Festival celebrates regional culture
Frostburg State University presents its annual Appalachian Festival, Sept. 16-17, which kicks off with a Friday symposium, followed by the Appalachian Film Festival. Irish band Buffalo in the Castle performs at the Saturday evening concert at Frostburg's Palace Theatre. The concert tops off a day of regional music, workshops and other activities that reflect the traditional arts, history, culture and environment of Mountain Maryland. Visit the festival's web site for more information, or call or e-mail Kara Rogers Thomas, 301-687-3124.
Yearly festival spotlights Maryland wineries
 The 28th annual Maryland Wine Festival runs Sept. 17-18 — rain or shine — at the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster. Event features tastings from 37 Maryland wineries, live music, food from local restaurants, arts and crafts, and wine seminars. Regular admission tickets and Premier Passes are available online (discounted from tickets at gate). Governor's Cup award announcements will be made each day of the festival.
Shakespeare comedy to play along Ocean City surf
A troop of actors and theater technicians from New York and Boston — under the auspices of Brown Box Theatre Project — comes to Ocean City for a series of free performances by the beach of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Sept. 18-25. Viola, the leading character who is shipwrecked on the shores of Illynia, actually emerges from the sea. The production will also tour local schools. View a list of performances and venues online.
NEA offers free tickets to heritage concert at Strathmore
Piedmont-style singer and guitarist Warner Williams, a Montgomery County native and resident, shares the stage with Mardi Gras Indians, taiko drummers, a slack-key guitarist and a saxophonist playing Bulgarian wedding music at the National Heritage Fellowships Concert, Friday, Sept. 23, 8 p.m., at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. The performers are 2011 recipients of lifetime achievement awards for folk and traditional arts from the National Endowment for the Arts. Free tickets to the concert are available online, or in-person at the Music Center at Strathmore ticket office. Tickets are also available at the House of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park. NEA will carry a live webcast of the concert.
DNR, state park offer nature bike tour in Western Maryland
A Fort Frederick State Park naturalist leads a free Western Maryland Rail Trail bike ride, Sept. 17. Participants will explore flora and fauna along the four-hour route, which offers frequent views of the Potomac River. Meet at C&O Bicycle, 9 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Hancock at 9 a.m. For bike rentals, call the shop at 301-678-6665. Hancock is a member of the Canal Towns Partnership.
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