“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”> 

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Astoria

is in the running for Budget Travels Coolest Small Town

competition, which ends Feb. 11. 

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>After

getting as close as about 200 votes behind top contender Lewisburg,

W.Va., Astoria has fallen behind by several thousand votes but

still has a firm grip on second place. In part, this may be because

of a vote-getting rally in Lewisburg Friday.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>As of

this morning, more than 67,500 votes had been cast for Lewisburg

(population about 3,400) as opposed to around 60,600 for Astoria

(population about 10,000). 

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>How is

this possible?

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Technically, the Budget Travel site only allows one vote per five

hours. But there have been rampant rumors of people voting more

often, using multiple browsers and devices (desktop computers,

laptops, web-enabled phones, etc.) and refreshing the web page

every few minutes. Apparently, this tactic only works for those who

have a dynamic IP address. 

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Some, in

the comments section of Budget Travels contest page, have even

accused Lewisburg of robo-voting to push their total so high,

which is unlikely. What is likely is that the areas surrounding

Lewisburg are rallying to the cause and voting relentlessly.

Lewisburgs proximity to Washington, D.C., has probably helped, as

well.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>The

competition has really brought our town, county and state

together, said Rachael Stebbins, director of Marketing &

Communications at the Greenbrier County (W.Va.) Convention &

Visitors Bureau in Lewisburg.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Its

reached well beyond Lewisburg’s residents. Astoria has definitely

been keeping us on our toes. The townwide rally that we had on

Friday injected more momentum into the contest, and I think that,

along with increased awareness, has helped our lead stretch over

the last few days.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Winning

the designation of Americas Coolest Small Town is a very big

deal, said Mayor Willis Van Dusen, not only for Astoria, but for

our whole area on both sides of the Columbia. The mayor of

Lewisburg will learn the true meaning of cool when we invite his

honor to visit Astoria to pick up their consolation prize for

second place.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Van

Dusen was scheduled to make a proclamation of support today.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>If

Astoria wins, the Lewisburg mayor will be flown to Astoria; one

local wag has suggested that if Astoria loses, the competitions

mayor should be sent 50 pounds of lutefisk. 

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>We know

we are the coolest town, but if we win this, then everyone will

know, said Cyndi Mudge, director of the Astoria Sunday Market.

Were trying to have some fun with this and generate some

Northwest pride.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Steve

Nurding thinks Astoria is already the coolest town. He did an

analysis of the average temperature for each month, comparing

Astoria to Lewisburg on www.weather.com, in an effort to determine

which town was in fact the coolest small town. Lewisburg is one

degree cooler on average over the entire year, Nurding said, but

Astoria is way cooler during the summer months by a whopping eight

degrees. And summer is when its best to be a cooler town.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Its a

fun rivalry going on, said Regina Willkie, marketing manager of

the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce. There is a mole in

Lewisburg who called the chamber to say she wants Astoria to win,

and is rallying her friends to vote for Astoria.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”> In the

last month we climbed from the bottom of the Top 10 into second

place and have been nipping at the heels of Lewisburg for first

place, said Wilkie. Every time we pick up the voting pace, it

seems they match us and retain their lead.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>On

Facebook, fans of The Goonies and the Commercial Fishermens

Festival from all over the world are voting in droves for Astoria,

Willkie added, but Astoria needs help from cities like Portland and

Seattle to publicize the contest and encourage people to really get

out the Northwest vote. 

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Winning

would be absolutely huge, as the public relations value would be

priceless, said Skip Hauke, executive director of the Chamber. A

win for Astoria is a win for all of Clatsop and Pacific counties,

and for the bottom lines of many of our businesses.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>As part

of this strategy, the Seaside Downtown Development Association has

been alerted and members have shown support.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Winners

will be featured in the September issue of Budget Travel magazine,

a publicity coup for any town, especially those pursuing the

tourist trade. For Astoria, winning would be a great drawing card

and added publicity for the bicentennial celebration.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Since

it is our Bicentennial year   Astoria is the oldest U.S.

settlement west of the Rocky Mountains it would be cool to

win, said Eric Paulson of Lektro, one of the leaders of the

Astoria Regatta.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>He was

not alone in urging neighbors to become involved.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>We all

need to vote to get us to No. 1, said Janet Niemi, executive

director of the Columbia Memorial Hospital Foundation.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Judith

Niland, managing director of the Astor Street Opry Company,

encouraged support for morale and economic reasons. She said

Astoria is the coolest small town.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Not

only is it true, but we as a community, at this point in time, need

a vital boost to keep thriving in our daily living, she said.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>

Reminders to vote are all around town. Please do your part, Van

Dusen said. Vote early and vote often.

“margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;”>Lets

win this thing! added Willkie.