Archive: Around Town

With a weekend still to go, Ithaca’s Winter Recess teachers week has set a new attendance record, attracting more than 5,000 educators and family members from 132 cities in 10 states.

As of Feb. 23, 4,907 teachers and family had checked in at the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau. An additional 300 to 600 are registered at local hotels and inns. The prior record, 4,162 attendees, was set in 2011.

A strong calendar of events, a record number of participating businesses, ideal weather and an improving economy all boosted attendance, said Fred Bonn, director of the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the event organizer. In addition, a major classroom supplies giveaway helped the event set opening-weekend attendance records. Upstate New York Staples stores donated 15,000 items that were distributed as welcome gifts to the first 1,000 teachers.

“The turnout has been incredible this year,” Bonn said. “It started big with the Staples giveaway and never slowed down. Teachers are telling us that they love this event and they love the Ithaca community for hosting it. We’re seeing a lot of smiling faces, both from repeat customers and first-time visitors. Winter Recess has become a tradition that keeps on building.”

Now in its sixth year, Winter Recess offers Pre-K-12 educators, district employees and school retirees a slate of special events along with discount deals at dozens of area businesses. The 2012 program includes 92 events with activities and deals at 217 Ithaca-area businesses. The festival runs through Feb 26.

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