Archive for February, 2010

TRAVERSE CITY, MI — 02/25/10 — The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC) is sponsoring the 18th Annual Northwest Michigan Camper & RV Show, March 26-28, 2010, at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center in downtown Traverse City. Over 50 new recreation vehicles will be on display including folding campers, motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth wheel travel trailers. There’s something for everyone — prices start at just $5,000 to more than $75,000. Booths featuring a large selection of parts and accessories, campground information, on site RV financing and RV rentals make this the complete RV show experience.

A “select your discount” coupon is available on www.marvac.org, at area Big Boy restaurants, Members Credit Union locations and in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. With this special coupon, consumers can choose one of two discounts offered — $1 off adult admission any day or $1 off senior admission on Friday.

The new, 2010 RV & Campsite, a guide to camping in Michigan, will be available free to consumers.

The 18th Annual Northwest Michigan Camper & RV Show will be held at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center and is open Friday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The cost for adult admission (ages 13 and up) is $5; children ages 12 and under are admitted free! Parking is also free.

The show is sponsored by the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC), a member organization representing all aspects of the camping and RV industries.
Call 517.349.8881 or visit marvac.org for additional information on the RV show.

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SANTA CRUZ  CA — A massive volunteer-led signature drive is finding its way to street corners, grocery stores and weekend festivities along the California Central Coast.

The corps of name gatherers, who range from college students to retirees, has seen the gates come down across many of California’s 278 state parks this year, and the group thinks the cash-starved park system can be resurrected with a ballot measure.

“I don’t remember signature-gathering on this scale before,” said Bonny Hawley, executive director of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and one of the organizers of the statewide effort to qualify the State Parks measure for the November ballot. “People are really excited about this.”

The measure proposes an $18 hike in vehicle license fees to create a new, nearly $500 million pot of money for the park system to run on.

Proponents say the measure would give California state parks their own financial footing and protect the coveted beaches, forests and historic monuments from the whims of the Legislature, which has had to reduce money for parks to balance the state budget.

Under the proposed measure, entrance to state parks, now $10 a day in most of Santa Cruz County and $125 for an annual pass, would be free.

“It’s not just one of those ballot measures where we raise money and the benefits are intangible. Residents get free access to state parks,” said Garrison Frost, a spokesman for Audubon California, one of the measure’s chief proponents.

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Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – The long list of possible state park closures includes a dozen Central and Upstate New York campgrounds. Many of those parks don’t expect to open this summer due to budget cuts, so they are refunding money to people who already have reservations.

This is in addition to the 55 state parks throughout New York that could also be closed as the result of the $8 billion budget deficit. The governor expects the move to save about $6 million.

Dan Keefe, from State Parks, says there is still a chance those parks could be open this summer if lawmakers restore funding, but they wanted to get the word out now.

Campsites that will not be opening for the 2010 are:

Central Region:

• Hunt’s Pond State Park
• Oquaga Creek State Park
• Pixley Falls State Park

Finger Lakes Region:

• Newtown Battlefield State Park

Saratoga Region:

• Max V. Shaul State Park

Taconic Region:

• Taconic State Park – Rudd Pond Area

Thousand Islands Region:

• Canoe Point State Park
• Cedar Island State Park
• Eel Weir State Park
• Keewaydin State Park
• Macomb Reservation State Park
• Mary Island State Park

Emails sent to customers who had already made reservations said that reservations have been cancelled and refunds issued. Those who paid by check, will get their money in the form of a check. Those who paid by credit card, will see their refund as a credit on their next statement.