Cedar Point Best Amusement Park for 13th Year; Millennium Force Best Steel Coaster

GOLDEN TICKET AWARD WINNERS
ANNOUNCED AT INDUSTRY EVENT HOSTED BY
BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG
ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL POLL REVEALS
THE “BEST OF THE BEST”
IN AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY

ARLINGTON, Texas, Sept. 11, 2010 – The envelope, please … and the Golden Ticket Award goes to … In an awards’ show hosted this evening by Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia, Amusement Today announced the winners of its prestigious 2010 Golden Ticket Awards, which are presented to the “Best of the Best” in the amusement industry.

Calculated from an international poll conducted by Amusement Today, the Golden Ticket Awards are the results of a detailed survey that is sent to a database of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around the world – in balanced geographical regions – asking them to rate the “bests” in 25 categories such as “amusement parks,” “roller coasters,” “shows,” “landscaping” and “water rides.” 

The 2010 winners are …

Best Amusement Park
Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

Best Waterpark
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, New Braunfels, Texas

Best Children’s Park
Idlewild and SoakZone, Ligonier, Pa.

Best Marine Life Park
SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Fla.

Best Seaside Park
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Best Wooden Coaster
The Voyage at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Ind.

Best Steel Coaster
Millennium Force at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

Best Kids’ Area
Kings Island, Kings Mills, Ohio

Friendliest Staff
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.

Cleanest Park
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.

Best Halloween Event
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, Orlando, Fla..

Best Landscaping
Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Va.

Best Christmas Event
Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood,
Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Best Food
Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pa.

Best Shows
Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Best Outdoor Night Show Production
IllumiNations: Reflections of the Earth
at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center, Orlando, Fla.

Best Water Ride
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.

Best Waterpark Ride
Wildebeest at Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.

Best Dark Ride
Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.

Best Indoor Waterpark
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island, Galveston, Texas

Best Funhouse/Walk-Through Attraction 
Noah’s Ark at Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pa.

Best Carousel
Grand Carousel at Knoebels Amusement Resort,
Elysburg, Pa.

Best Indoor Roller Coaster
Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Orlando,
Orlando, Fla.

Best New Ride of 2010 - Amusement Park
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Fla.

Best New Ride of 2010 - Waterpark
Wildebeest at Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.

This is the 13th annual year for Amusement Today’s coveted Golden Ticket Awards, which are the most sought-after awards in the business of amusements and attractions. This year’s host park, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, has won the Best Landscaping title since the poll has been in place.

“We are very proud of the men and women who maintain Busch Gardens’ landscaping. The park’s landscaping complements the park experience for our guests. It’s something we take great pride in, so this award is especially meaningful,” says John Reilly, president of Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. “We are thrilled to host this year’s Golden Ticket Awards and welcome the industry to our park.”

Personally chosen by Gary Slade, publisher and editor-in-chief of Amusement Today, the Publisher’s Pick Awards are presented in three categories: Park, Individual and Supplier. Respectively, the 2010 recipients are Beech Bend in Bowling Green, Ky., for its perseverance in overcoming unexpected health and flooding challenges; Jeff Novotny of Larson International in Plainview, Texas, for his donation of land and labor to make the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives a reality; and Environs in Jacksonville, Fla., for its generous $650,000 gift of a scenic ship to Give Kids The World Village in Kissimmee, Fla.

The honoree of this year’s Legends Series, which pays tribute to an amusement legend who has impacted the industry in a unique way, is the late Will Koch of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Ind. Koch was a true visionary, leader and dear friend to the industry. His genuine spirit, brilliance and laughter touched all who had the pleasure to know him. Will passed away at the young age of 48 in June, and Amusement Today honors his legacy with this special award.

For the sixth consecutive year, Amusement Today recognized college students who plan to pursue a career in the amusement industry and are employed by the ceremony’s host park of Busch Gardens Williamsburg and neighboring park, Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg as Ms. and Mr. Golden Tickets. These individuals exemplify the spirit and integrity of the amusement park industry by promoting the cornerstones of safety, service, courtesy and cleanliness at the highest level, while consistently exceeding job expectations. This is an annual designation byAmusement Today to promote education in the field of hospitality and amusement.

Amusement Today newspaper covers international amusement and waterpark news and trends and in its 14-year history is a five-time winner of various awards from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. For a detailed outline of the 2010 winners and survey results, please log on towww.goldenticketawards.com.

View the complete list of winners!
Click here to download 2010 Golden Ticket Awards Bonus Section PDF file (9.3 mb)

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Our panel of experts

Since Amusement Today introduced the Golden Ticket Awards in 1998, we continue to seek out the most experienced park enthusiasts to participate in our survey. AT follows a fair and balanced protocol of dividing our ballots between four geographical regions (see color map) of the United States. In addition to the hundres of surveys sent to American enthusiasts, international fans are also sought out and we invite such fans to contact us for participation in future years.Amusement Today thanks the hundreds of voters who helped form this year’s panel of experts and make the 2010 Golden Ticket Awards a reality.

Are you a qualified candidate? Contact Golden Ticket Awards Communications Coordinator Tim Baldwin at tbaldwin@amusementtoday.com and we’ll see if you would make a good representative for your region on next year’s new panel.

Of note, park employees, manufacturers, and Amusement Today staff are not eligible to be on the panel.

Cleveland Study Provides Roadmap for Other Cities Struggling with Foreclosure

New report from the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development

http://blog.case.edu//msass/center_spotlight/poverty_center/poverty_center_publications_and_research/

Nationally, foreclosures are up 8.3 percent compared to last year, and the country is on a pace to exceed 3 million foreclosed homes by the end of the year.  With unemployment projected to remain high for some time, the foreclosure problem isn’t likely to subside anytime soon, which means cities all across the country must decide what they’re going to do with a glut of vacant homes that often lower neighborhood property values and invite crime.

One city—Cleveland, Ohio—has been dealing with this problem for some time now.  Because the foreclosure crisis struck early and hard in Cleveland, the city already has a track record of dealing with the problem that other cities may find helpful.

Cleveland’s response is detailed in this report conducted by Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.  What’s working in Cleveland is a combination of local governments, non-profit organizations, and community groups who mobilized to educate prospective home buyers, prevent foreclosures, and rehabilitate vacant properties.

Please share this report with others working to alleviate the effects of the foreclosure crisis. 

More information available at:

http://blog.case.edu//msass/center_spotlight/poverty_center/poverty_center_publications_and_research/

Sherwin Williams Civic Art Proposed for Former "Witness" Site

From Cleveland.com:

Night image of Cleveland to grace wall where LeBron once reigned

 Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer 

Courtesy of the Sherwin-Williams Co.The Sherwin-Williams Co. wants to put this image on the side of its downtown Cleveland headquarters, where passersby long looked up at the iconic "Witness" image of LeBron James tossing chalk. The new banner would be the same size as that of James and would hang from the same mounts over Huron Road and Ontario Street.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The downtown Cleveland building that once featured a huge image of LeBron James could soon display a different civic image: A night view of the Cleveland skyline, courtesy of the Sherwin-Williams Co.

The paint and coatings company is asking city design and planning officials to approve plans for the huge banner, which would cover a wall left empty this summer after James announced his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat.

Instead of a basketball player tossing chalk, the banner would show illuminated skyscrapers as seen from the Cuyahoga River. Above them, the words "Our Home Since 1866. Our Pride Forever." In one lower corner is the Sherwin-Williams name and logo.

Sherwin-Williams owns the building, the Landmark Office Towers where the company keeps its headquarters and about 2,000 employees. Since crews tore down James's image in July, the company has been considering options for the blank space, a wall designed to abut another tower than was never built.

  
Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer

Hundreds of onlookers honked, hooted and photographed as the huge LeBron James banner was removed in July.

"As we talked about the opportunity to put something up there, we thought about celebrating Cleveland," said Ellen Moreau, the company's vice president of marketing communications. "There are so many great things about Cleveland, so many reasons to be here. We're just really proud to be in the city."

Moreau said the billboard is not meant to be a jab at James. During the past few months, various advertisements scattered across Cleveland have played on or poked fun at the James billboard and its "Witness" message, which was sponsored by Nike. Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., a mining company based in Cleveland, launched its own Witness ads showing a coal miner with his arms outstretched, under the tagline "A team that hasn't left in 163 years."

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

A city design review committee is scheduled to discuss the Sherwin-Williams image Thursday. Billboards generally are prohibited downtown, though several decades-old ones linger from before the city changed its zoning code. But the city does allow on-premises advertising by businesses that occupy the buildings or properties where they want to display an ad. And Robert Brown, Cleveland's planning director, said the skyline photograph with the small Sherwin-Williams tag is not necessarily advertising.

"It's really a civic image showing the city of Cleveland," he said. "It could be akin to Sherwin-Williams sponsoring a civic image."

Design and planning officials would need to make an exception for the size of the image, which would hang from the same mounts that held the iconic LeBron banner.

© 2010 cleveland.com. All rights reserved.

ODOT Releases Additional Renderings of Historic New Bridge

Cleveland’s New I-90 Innerbelt Bridge: 
ODOT Today Releases Additional Renderings of Historic New Bridge 
Walsh Construction & HNTB Ohio Inc. Awarded Historic Bridge Contract 

CLEVELAND (Tuesday, September 14, 2010) – With the contract now awarded, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is today releasing additional images of the historic new westbound Interstate 90 Innerbelt Bridge.   

The additional renderings – which show important details including scenic overlooks and proposals for a new bridge over Ontario Street – compliment the renderings provided by the design-build team which received widespread public support. 

“The Walsh proposal includes many unique elements,” said ODOT District 12 Deputy Director Bonita G. Teeuwen, P.E.  “The use of steel reflects the importance of the industry in the development of the city,” she continued. 

Last Thursday, ODOT officials in Columbus revealed the sealed price proposals from each team and combined the scores of the technical and price proposals to determine an apparent winning team. The project was awarded to Walsh Construction and designer HNTB Ohio Inc. for a total bid amount of $287.4 million. 

Walsh Construction – who was recently named the third leading transportation contractor by Engineering News-Record magazine and HNTB Corporation – named as the second leading bridge design firm in the August edition of Roads & Bridges magazine – scored high on a number of technical elements, including the look and aesthetics of the new bridge.   

The project team also proposed substantial completion of the project during the fall of 2013.  While minor operations would continue into the summer of 2014, the project would be completed nearly one full year earlier than anticipated. 

 

The Walsh-HNTB team pushed-back the pier closest to the Western Reserve Fire Museum and integrated it with the retaining wall structure along Canal Road – along with additional enhancements – opening views of the river valley (see image above).   

 

The team also took a unique approach which ends the main span just east of Ontario Street allowing for a smaller, “Gateway” bridge over Ontario Street (see image above).   

Additional images are available at www.Innerbelt.org. 

Engineers and experts from ODOT and the City teamed on a thorough process of evaluating three technical proposals for constructing the new westbound bridge.  In order to complete construction on this project faster, ODOT is using a unique design-build process in which the design and construction of the project are combined in a single contract. 

Three teams were chosen in March to compete for this historic project and each team submitted its proposals in August. Technical elements – such as schedule, safety, quality management, construction plans, community outreach and sustainability – were evaluated by the ODOT-Cleveland expert team. 

ODOT also listened to input from Cleveland-area residents on the proposed aesthetics of the new structure in each proposal.  More than 1350 people submitted comments to ODOT’s website. 

Before any major construction begins, the winning team will present Cleveland-area residents with another opportunity to provide input on the final aesthetic details through a series of public meetings. Construction is expected to begin in 2011. 

Winning Team for Historic Bridge Construction Revealed

Cleveland’s New I-90 Innerbelt Bridge: 
Apparent Winning Team for Historic Bridge Construction Revealed 
Winning proposal calls for completion of construction full year earlier than planned 

CLEVELAND (Thursday, September 9, 2010) - After nearly five weeks of expert technical evaluation - combined with a review of public input and a value-based cost comparison – the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and City of Cleveland are set to award design and construction of the historic Interstate 90 Innerbelt Bridge to Walsh Construction with designer HNTB Ohio Inc.  The total bid amount for the new bridge came in at only $287,400,000. 

Engineers and experts from ODOT and the City teamed on a thorough process of evaluating three technical proposals for constructing the new westbound bridge.  In order to complete construction on this project faster, ODOT is using a unique design-build process in which the design and construction of the project are combined in a single contract. 

Walsh Construction – who was recently named the third leading transportation contractor by Engineering News-Record magazine and HNTB Corporation – named as the second leading bridge design firm in the August edition of Roads & Bridges magazine – scored high on a number of technical elements, including the look and aesthetics of the new bridge.   

The project team also proposed substantial completion of the project during the fall of 2013.  While minor operations would continue into the summer of 2014, the project would be completed nearly one full year earlier than anticipated. 

The Walsh proposal also includes unique elements including the use of steel which reflects the importance of the industry in the development of the city.  The team will pursue “Greenroads” Certification and use LED lights for aesthetic, landscape and pedestrian lighting. 

The team took a unique approach which ends the main span just east of Ontario Street allowing for a smaller, “Gateway” bridge over Ontario Street and a landscaped embankment between the two bridges. Reducing the length of main viaduct in this way would reduce the amount of new materials required and increase the amount of reused materials. 

The team also pushed-back the pier closest to the Western Reserve Fire Museum and integrated it with the retaining wall structure along Canal Road opening views of the river valley. The design also includes additional art panels along Ontario and E. 9^th Streets. 

Three teams were chosen in March to compete for this historic project, with each team submitted its proposals in August. Technical elements – such as schedule, safety, quality management, construction plans, community outreach and sustainability – were evaluated by the ODOT-Cleveland expert team. 

ODOT also listened to input from Cleveland-area residents on the proposed aesthetics of the new structure in each proposal.  More than 1350 people submitted comments to ODOT’s website. 

On Thursday, ODOT officials in Columbus revealed the sealed price proposals from each team – and combined the scores of the technical and price proposals to determine an apparent winning team. ODOT then has up to ten days to review the “best value” proposal before awarding the contract. 

Before any major construction begins, the winning team will present Cleveland-area residents with another opportunity to provide input on the final aesthetic details through a series of public meetings. Construction is expected to begin in 2011. 

For more information, log-on to www.Innerbelt.org. 

Legislative Action: 10th District and State - 080910

August 9, 2010 In this MegaVote for Ohio's 10th Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes Senate: Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act Senate: Nomination of Elena Kagan, of Massachusetts, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Upcoming Congressional Bills House: Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act Editor's Note: The Senate is in recess and is scheduled to reconvene on Monday, September 13. The House is briefly in session this week, before it returns to recess again.

Recent Senate Votes

Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act - Vote Agreed to (61-39) The Senate passed this bill to provide $16.1 billion to extend increased Medicaid assistance to states and $10 billion in funding for states to create or retain teachers’ jobs. The House must vote on the bill next. Sen. George Voinovich voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Nomination of Elena Kagan, of Massachusetts, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States - Vote Confirmed (63-37) The Senate confirmed Elena Kagan to be a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. She was sworn in on Saturday. Sen. George Voinovich voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Sherrod Brown voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act - H.R.1586 The House is scheduled to vote on this bill to provide funding for education and Medicaid.

Cincinnati to Receive Funds as Part of New Transit Solutions Fund

FTA 20-10
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Contact: Paul Griffo
Tel: 202-366-4064

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $293 Million for New Transit Solutions, Economic Development Nationwide

Project Selections Will Expand Obama Administration’s Livability Initiative Agenda, Fuel Economic Recovery for Local Communities

A $293 million investment announced today by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood means that residents in dozens of communities nationwide will soon enjoy major transit improvements, including new streetcars, buses, and transit facilities. 

The nearly $300 million investment is part of the Obama Administration’s livability initiative to better coordinate transportation, housing and commercial development investments to serve the people living in those communities. It is being made through two competitive grant programs, the Urban Circulator Grant Program and the Bus and Bus Livability Grant Program.

“This investment by the Obama Administration in our nation's communities will create jobs, boost economic development and recovery, and further reduce our dependence on oil,” Secretary LaHood said. “Our goals are to provide cleaner, safer, and more efficient ways to get around.”

Secretary LaHood, along with Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff, announced the winners of the two competitive grant programs during a press conference call in Washington. Six new streetcar and bus rapid transit projects will be funded with $130 million from the Federal Transit Administration's Urban Circulator Program, and 47 additional projects aimed at upgrading bus services and facilities are slated to receive more than $163 million from the FTA's Bus and Bus Livability Program.

“Streetcars are making a comeback because cities across America are recognizing that they can restore economic development downtown – giving citizens the choice to move between home, shopping and entertainment without ever looking for a parking space,”  said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff.  “These streetcar and bus livability projects will not only create construction jobs now, they will aid our recovery by creating communities that are more prosperous and less congested.” 

The six cities that submitted successful Urban Circulator proposals include Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; Chicago, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Cincinnati, Ohio. The six projects were selected from 65 applications totaling more than $1 billion in requests. Construction of bus facilities and new bus and bus-related purchases will move forward in the 31 states where 47 Bus and Bus Livability projects are located. These projects were selected from 281 applications totaling over $2 billion in funding requests.

Inaugurated in December 2009, the two programs are a continuation of the FTA's effort dedicated to carrying out the Obama Administration’s Livability Initiative, a joint venture of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Projects were eligible to receive up to 80 percent in federal funding, with a maximum of $25 million for Urban Circulator projects.

A complete list of projects can be found at

http://www.fta.dot.gov/news/news_events_11820.html