Keeping YOU in the flow with the best coverage around of the Wine and Walleye Festival.

                                                                                                          

SEE and HEAR the best coverage around of the 2013 Wine and Walleye Festival at the Historic Ashtabula Harbor.
http://ashtabulacurrent.com/2013-wine-and-walleye-festival-is-the-best-ever/

Have a great day!!!

Shirl

Today I’m going to keep YOU in the flow of the general structure of winning a sweepstakes prize.

Almost every sweepstakes in the U.S. that offers prizes valued at $600 or greater will typically follow the following structure outlining the lifetime of a sweepstakes:

SPONSOR PROMOTION

• Creating the sweepstakes promotion for a sponsor or sponsors
• Advertising the sweepstakes, prize structure, and the official rules
• Opening date for receiving entries
• Closing date for receiving entries
• Drawing date to judge winning entries

WINNER NOTIFICATION

• Sweepstakes promotion judges contacting prize winner
• Winner filing publicity release with sponsor's sweepstakes promotion agency
• Winner filing affidavit of eligibility (compliance with official rules) with sponsor's sweepstakes promotion agency
• Winner filling any required federal or state tax forms with sponsor's sweepstakes promotion agency

WINNER RECEIVES PRIZE

By law, the sponsors of sweepstakes must not require the prize winners to pay any shipping or handing charges in order to win or receive their prizes.

Sweepers frequently send out SASE (self addressed, stamped envelopes) to receive free game pieces, official entry forms, and copies of the official rules that are unique and pertaining to individual sweepstakes promotions.

What are the best sweepstakes to enter? There are so many sweepstakes out there, and you or I can't enter all of them every day. Of course, we'd prefer to spend our time entering the sweepstakes that we’re most likely to win. So how can you or I decide which are the best sweepstakes to enter, and which have the best odds of winning? In general, you can say that there are three aspects of any sweepstakes that can increase your chances of winning: 1) fewer competing entries 2) boost your number of entries 2) Better odds and 3) Prizes

FEWER COMPETING ENTRIES

Some sweepstakes have an astonishingly low number of entries. When you have a 1 in 50 chance of winning as opposed to a 1 in 50,000, your odds are obviously much better. So how can you tell if a sweepstake has a lower than average number of entries? While it's impossible to know for sure how many entries a sponsor has received, we can make a guess based on the sweepstakes rules. A sweepstake that is void in Florida automatically rules out the 18,089,888 residents of that state (based on the 2006 population estimate). The more states that are prohibited, the more your chances rise (assuming, of course, that you are not a resident of any of those states!) Sweepstakes that are only open to your local area have the best chances of winning. Similarly, a sweepstake that is only open to men rules out roughly 50% of your competition (or more, since a lot of women enter sweepstakes!)

In general, some signs that a sweepstake will have fewer entrants include:

• Entry is restricted on the basis of state of residence, age, gender, etc.
• The sweepstake is annoying to enter - it has a long survey, for example, or requires multi-page registration. Not everyone will bother with it.
• Some element of skill is required to enter. Fewer people even attempt to enter video, writing, photography, or poetry contests.
• The prizes are attractive only to a certain subset of people - for example, a gift certificate to a local restaurant, or a high-tech gadget that only engineers will understand or crave.

BETTER ODDS

The best sweepstakes odds come when you can get more entries than other people. For example, most people don't really enter daily sweepstakes every single day. If you are diligent about entering daily, your chances will rise. You can get the best odds of winning sweepstakes by:

• Entering the maximum number of times specified in the rules
• Using sweepstakes referrals when available.
• Keeping your eyes open for other chances to get extra entries that the sponsor may offer. Some will give extra chances to win for watching an advertisement or completing a survey.

BEST SWEEPSTAKES OFFER MORE PRIZES

The best sweepstakes to enter for really high chances are those that offer a lot of prizes. Sweepstakes that are giving away 100 prizes have 100 times the odds of winning compared to those giving away just one prize. Even if the prizes have a lower value, the motivation that comes with winning makes them worth entering. While I love to win high-value sweepstakes, it's those little prizes which arrive frequently that keep me energized to enter every day.

SWEEPSTAKES WITH POOR ODDS

Some sweepstakes generally have quite low odds of winning. If the prize is good enough it might be worth the long shot (for me personally, the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway is a good example!), but it's generally a better bet to focus your efforts elsewhere. Some of these types of sweepstakes include:

• Creative Presentations
• Sweepstakes that are advertised across the nation.
• Sweepstakes with few prizes awarded.
• Giveaways with a very long entry period.
• Contests with unlimited entries
• Prizes that are not guaranteed to be awarded

By comparing these three aspects of each giveaway, you can decide which are the best sweepstakes to enter, and focus your energy on winning more prizes.

I wish all of you lots of Luck and I hope this information will help YOU to be a winner!

 

Shirl

SWEEPSTAKES

YOU WON!!!  Who doesn’t like to hear those words? I believe we all try at one time or another to win something. I’m one of those who is stuck on these online sweeps, after all it is FREE to enter so what do you have to lose? Time is one thing you lose a lot of and also the disappointment of not winning…AGAIN.

Keeping YOU in the flow with what are the best "sweepstakes" to enter is what this blog is all about.

What does the word "sweepstakes" mean? A form of gambling, in which all the stakes are divided among the winners. A  “sweepstakes ticket" is divided among the winners. A promotional  drawing in which prizes are given away at no charge to the participants.

In the U.S. a consumer sales promotion is known as a sweepstakes, it has become associated with marketing promotions targeted toward both generating enthusiasm and providing incentive reactions among customers by enticing consumers to submit free entries into drawings of chance (and not skill) that are tied to product or service awareness wherein the featured prizes are given away by sponsoring companies. Prizes can vary in value from less than one dollar to more than one million U.S. dollars and can be in the form of cash, cars, homes, electronics, etc., because of their potential for abuse, sweepstakes are heavily regulated.

Among the most popularly known sweepstakes in the U.S.  is “Publishers Clearing House” which strongly persuades entrants to purchase magazine subscriptions or buying articles without paying in advance with a choice of  making monthly payments by placing stickers on contest entry card stock or online while promising multi-million dollar winners who will be "announced on TV."

Sweepstakes are frequently used by fast-food restaurants to boost business. One of the most popular has been the McDonald's Monopoly "instant-win " game-piece promotion (free game pieces are made available by requests through the U.S. mail) although the odds of winning the McDonald's Monopoly jackpot prize are usually much greater than the odds of winning many U.S. state lotteries.

Sweepstakes must be carefully planned to not only comply with local laws but curtail forms of entrant fraud and abuse. Before home computers were popular, a common method of entry was a mailed, plain 3" × 5" index card with the entrant's name and address. In most sweepstakes, entrants and their relatives must not be related to the sponsor or promoter or work in any way with that company.

What are the best sweepstakes to enter? There are so many sweepstakes out there, and I can't enter all of them every day. Of course, I'd prefer to spend my time entering the sweepstakes that I'm most likely to win. So how can I decide which are the best sweepstakes to enter, and which have the best odds of winning? In general, you can say that there are three aspects of any sweepstakes that can increase your chances of winning: there are fewer competing entries, you can boost your number of entries, and more winners will be selected.

Some sweepstakes have an astonishingly low number of entries. When you have a 1 in 50 chance of winning as opposed to a 1 in 50,000, your odds are obviously much better. So how can you tell if a sweepstakes has a lower than average number of entries? It's impossible to know for sure how many entries a sponsor has received, we can make a guess based on the sweepstakes rules. For example, a sweepstakes that is void in Florida automatically rules out the 18,089,888 residents of that state. The more states that are prohibited, the more your chances rise (assuming, of course, that you are not a resident of any of those states!). Sweepstakes that are only open to your local area have the best chances of winning. Similarly, a sweepstakes that is only open to men rules out roughly 50% of your competition (or more, since a lot of women enter sweepstakes!) Also if the sweepstakes is annoying to enter - it has a long survey, for example, or requires multi-page registration. Not everyone will bother with it. If a skill is required to enter, such as video, writing, photography, or poetry contests. If the prizes are attractive only to a certain subset of people - for example, a gift certificate to a local restaurant, or a high-tech gadget that only engineers will understand or crave.

You Have Better Odds When You Can Enter More Often. The best sweepstakes odds come when you can get more entries than other people. For example, most people don't really enter daily sweepstakes every single day. If you are diligent about entering daily, your chances will rise. You can get the best odds of winning sweepstakes by entering the maximum number of times specified in the rules. Keeping your eyes open for other chances to get extra entries that the sponsor may offer. Some will give extra chances to win for watching an advertisement or completing a survey.

The best sweepstakes to enter for really high chances are those that offer a lot of prizes. Sweepstakes that are giving away 100 prizes have 100 times the odds of winning compared to those giving away

just one prize. Even if the prizes have a lower value, the motivation that comes with winning makes them worth entering. While I love to win high-value sweepstakes, it's those little prizes which arrive frequently that keep me energized to enter every day. Some sweepstakes generally have quite low odds of winning. If the prize is good enough it might be worth the long shot. However, sweepstakes that are advertised across the nation, with few prizes awarded, with a very long entry period, unlimited entries, prizes that are not guaranteed to be awarded all have low odds of winning.

By comparing these aspects of each giveaway, you can decide which are the best sweepstakes to enter, and focus your energy on winning more prizes.

Come back tomorrow and I will tell you about the odds of entering different sweepstakes and perhaps a few other statistics.

til’ then…GOOD LUCK!

 

Shirl

In the "flow" on Sunday

Wine and Walleye festivities continue Sunday, Aug. 25 on Bridge St., Ashtabula Harbor, celebrating the great treasures we have in northeast Ohio.

Schedule:

12:00 p.m. Rotary Beer Tent open until 6:00 p.m.

 1:00 p.m. Wine Tasting Area and vendors open until 6:00 p.m.

 1:00 p.m. Live music with Good Question.

 3:30 p.m. Lighted Boat Parade Awards Ceremony in Wine Area

 3:45 p.m. Live music with Ernest T. Band.

 5:15 p.m. Wine gate closes; last call 5:45 p.m. for wine.

 

This will end the festivities for the Wine and Walleye Festival for 2013. Look forward to your visit once again in 2014.

 
___________________________________________________________________________________

"MUSIC ALONG THE RIVER"

Come on out to “Music Along The River” 2013 at Harpersfield Covered Bridge, Harpersfield, Ohio. Experience some of the best of Northeastern Ohio's acoustic music. All Acoustic Music Festival that is free to the public. Bring your acoustic instruments, listening ears, dancing feet, lawn chairs and friends and family. Food and craft vendors will be on site.

Main Musical Performances
South Pavilion 

Sunday August 25th:
       9:00 a.m.  Stephen Kellat (Brother Steve’s Church Sermon)
     10:00 a.m.  Spruce and Me (Improv Music/Jam)
     11:00 a.m.
     12:00 p.m.  Howard Pfouts (Acoustic Rock)
       1:00 p.m.  Lads and Lasses (Irish and Celtic)
       2:00 p.m.  Frank Bishop and Friends (Guitar and Singing)
       3:00 p.m. Young and Blue (Bluegrass)
       4:00 p.m.  Breakneck All Stars (Folk, Tin Pan Alley, and other stuff)

 

Workshops and Presentations
North Pavilion

Sunday August 25th:
     10:00 a.m.  Laura Fidel’s O’Carolan’s Jam
     11:00 a.m. Jim Miller- Irish Slow Jam/Tune Learning Session
     12:00 p.m.
       1:00 p.m. Joel Specht- “Clawhammer Banjo according to Joel”
       2:00 p.m.
       3:00 p.m.  Jim Miller- Penny Whistle Workshop
       4:00 p.m.

Make your choice and enjoy!!!

 

Shirl

What is in the “flow” this weekend? The Wine and Walleye Festival on historical Bridge Street in Ashtabula Ohio. It promises to be a beautiful weekend weatherwise, so come join in the festivities for a fun-filled weekend.  Starting with Friday, August 23^rd.

     Schedule:

4:00 p.m. Ashtabula Rotary party at the beer tent with live music starting at 6:30 p.m. Located on the east side of the river, south of the Lift Bridge at Sutherland Marine.

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Wine Tasting Area is open and the Classic Car Show on Bridge Street. Last year we hosted over 250 amazing cars on Bridge Street.  Come and enjoy some music, wine, walleye and cars as we kick off the festival weekend!

7:00 p.m. Mandatory Captains Meeting for Walleye Tournament at “Walleye Headquarters” on the transient dock. (West side of the river, north of the Lift Bridge.)

12:30 a.m. Last call at Ashtabula Rotary Beer Tent.

 Ashtabula County is known for some of the best wineries in the country.  Come sample what we have to offer as well as taste the flavors of other grape growing regions.   Enjoy live music and great food while you sample your favorites by the shores of Lake Erie!

Ticket are $15.00 in advance and $20.00 at the gate. A weekend pass is  available for $35.00 in advance only. The weekend pass is not available at the festival. Your ticket includes twelve (12) wine tasting tickets, one Wine & Walleye wine glass and one promotional bag; while supplies last. Weekend passes will be given a total of 36 tasting tickets; twelve (12) wine tasting tickets each day.  You must keep your weekend pass wristband on in order to enter each day. Your ticket allows you to come and go as you please in the wine area after you are given your wristband. There will be live music and places to sit under tents for your comfort. Non-Drinkers access to Wine Area will be $5.00.

You can purchase your tickets online. Tickets are also available locally at the following participating merchants: Ashtabula County Chamber of Commerce, 4536 Main Avenue, Ashtabula, OH 44004. Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cash or Credit Card Payments Accepted. Also at Carlisle’s Home in The Harbor, 1005 Bridge Street, Ashtabula, OH 44004. Cash Payments Only.

 

Follow my blog tomorrow to keep YOU in the “flow”  for more information on Saturdays events.

 

Have a great time at the festival tomorrow on Bridge Street!

 

 

Shirl

Keeping YOU in the flow with the events for Saturday, Aug. 24. There is “The Wine & Walleye Festival” and "Music on the River 2013".

 

The weatherman predicts a beautiful day, so get out and enjoy the events. Enjoy  good food, great wine, music and more!

 

The event schedule for Saturday, August 24^th:

6:15 a.m.  Walleye Fishing Tournament begins at Walleye Headquarters located on the west side of the river, north of the Bascule Lift Bridge. Finish time2:30 p.m. sharp. Over $10,000.00 worth of cash and prizes will be given out. Please contact Tom Hogan (440- 645-7656) for more details.

8:30 a.m.  Wine & Walleye Guppy Run on Walnut Blvd.

9:00 a.m.  Wine & Walleye 5K Run – Winds through the Ashtabula Harbor with the finish line in the sand at Walnut Beach.

10:00 a.m.  Mandatory Captain’s meeting for participants in the Lighted Boat Parade at Walleye Headquarters on the transient dock.

11:30 a.m.  Guinness World Record Event Kick-Off Celebration!  Located on the Transient Dock by the Ashtabula River.

12:00 p.m.  GUINNESS WORLD RECORD TIME! The current record is 12,105 and we plan on selling over 15,000 portions of Lake Erie's Finest Perch & Walleye!  Make sure to buy your fish dinner before 8:00 p.m. to be a part of the amazing record!

12:00 p.m.  Wine Tasting Area and vendors open until dusk. Located in the lower Bridge Street area. Rotary Beer Tent open until 1:00 a.m.

12:00 p.m  Live music with The Four Kings.

3:00 p.m.  Live music with Jam Sammich

4:00 p.m.  Walleye Tournament awards held at “Walleye Headquarters.”

6:00 p.m.  Live music with Dashboard Jesus

8:15 p.m.  Wine Tasting area gate closes; last call at 8:45 p.m. for wine.

9:00 p.m.  Rotary Beer tent live music by Second String.

9:15 p.m  Lighted Boat Parade on the Ashtabula River. All boaters are welcome, you need not dock in the Ashtabula River to participate. This years theme is “AMERICANA” Get your boat signed up today! First 30 boat registrations will receive a Thank You Basket from the Ashtabula Foundation and the Ashtabula County Chamber Foundation. Each basket includes 2 tickets to Sunday’s Wine and Walleye Event ($40 Value), wine and other wonderful gifts! $200.00 Grand Prize! Contact the Ashtabula County Chamber Foundation at (440) 998-6998 for more information. Spectators can watch from the Transient/Public dock. Rotary Beer Tent will remain open with food.

12:30 p.m.  Last call in Rotary BeerTent  for beer and food.

 

Have a great day at the Festival!

 If you're looking for something a little more laid back, less people, less noise, there is "MUSIC ALONG THE RIVER 2013"  at the Harpersfield Covered Bridge in Harpersfield, Ohio starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24th. It's an all Acoustic Music Festival that is free to the public. Bring your acoustic instruments, listening ears, dancing feet, lawn chairs and friends and family for a great weekend event. Food and craft vendors will be on site.

Come back to “Keeping YOU in the flow” tomorrow for a schedule of events for Sunday.

 

 

Shirl

 

When this website, http://ashtabulacurrent.com was started last year it was our goal to keep the Ashtabula county residents "in the flow" or up to date with what was happening in their county. It has proven to be a challenge. We have added the website http://exploreac.com to increase our presence in Northeast Ohio and beyond. 

Getting our website up and running has not been an easy task but, we forge ahead. In time more residents and visitors will be looking to us for quality coverage of news events, arts and entertainment, feature stories accompanied with award winning photography and video clips.

See you "in the flow"!

Shirl