Many of my fellow columnists have done a great job of sharing their sense of wonder and awe of the eclipse experience — and something so glorious, even without a fully visible starry sky, is something for which I have no useful words to add.
But the path of totality as a draw for tourists to the region, as a way of showcasing the Finger Lakes, as a boost to local businesses, is something about which I do have some things to say.
Several years ago I worked on an economic impact study for the Musselman Triathlon (back when it was an independently operated event and not part of the Ironman conglomerate owned by a private equity firm). The event focused on connecting athletes to this place, encouraging them to visit, shop, and dine in Geneva. That spirit continues with events like the Geneva Half Marathon, Thrive to Survive’s Middle Finger 5K, the It’s a Wonderful Run in Seneca Falls, and the recent Run the Eclipse 5K on the lakefront, all of which are locally produced and support a range of local charities. (The Seneca7 continues this commitment under the ownership of Ian Golden, but since I’m still involved in putting it on, talking about it in this context kind........