October 19, 2000
Spiedie Fest Balloon Rally Coming Home to Otsiningo Park
BINGHAMTON, N.Y - After 6 very successful years at the Tri-Cities Airport in Endicott, the Spiedie Fest Balloon Rally will return to Otsiningo Park for its 17th year next summer.
A beautiful Otsiningo Park autumn afternoon served as the perfect backdrop for Sam Lupo, President of the Board of Directors for Spiedie Fest/Balloon Rally Expo, Inc., Broome County Executive Jeffrey P. Kraham, Endicott Mayor Michael E. Colella, and David Pessagno, Event Coordinator, to make the exciting announcement.
"I have always wanted to bring the Speidie Fest back to Otsiningo Park," Mr. Kraham said. "I've heard from people over and over that the park's beauty, its conduciveness to ballooning, and its location make Otsiningo the logical place to have this great family event."
Sam Lupo, President of the Board of Directors for Spiedie Fest/Balloon Rally Expo, Inc. said, "I want to thank Mayor Colella and the people of Endicott for six wonderful years. We leave Endicott on the best of terms; we're just glad to be back home."
The Summer 2001 Spiedie Fest at Ostiningo Park will be a major part of the "I Love New York Summer Festival" to be held in Broome County. Governor George E. Pataki and Senator Thomas W. Libous announced that Broome County had received the prestigious summer festival designation in late September. The Convention and Visitors Bureau of the Broome Chamber will undertake an extensive marketing campaign to attract visitors from outside the area to attend events scheduled for each weekend.
The Spiedie Fest Balloon Rally was recognized nationally last summer as part of the Local Legacy Program sponsored by the Library of Congress in Washington.
During his remarks Mr. Kraham acknowledged Paul VanSavage and Ron Rogers, founders of the original Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally in the mid-1980s.
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