INDYCAR SERIES DRIVERS, DEPLOYED TROOPS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN REAL-TIME VIDEO GAME CHALLENGE

INDYCAR SERIES DRIVERS, DEPLOYED TROOPS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN REAL-TIME VIDEO GAME CHALLENGE

Racing stars to compete against America’s heroes in first ‘Pro vs. GI Joe’ Xbox live competition



In celebration of Independence Day and the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, America’s Heroes and IndyCar Series drivers will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a unique and exciting challenge as they go head-to-head in an interactive video game competition. A real-time Xbox Live video game match will be set up via the internet on Thursday, July 3rd at The Corning Museum of Glass in New York and at Camp Virginia in Kuwait.

IndyCar Series drivers Graham Rahal, Justin Wilson and Vitor Meira and Firestone Indy Lights drivers Jeff Simmons, Dillon Battistini and Brent Sherman will challenge military men and women stationed overseas in the first official “Halo 3” video game competition. The drivers will play in front of a live audience in Corning, New York and will be equipped with a large projector playing screen and several TV monitors to interact live with the troops playing at Camp Virginia. Prior to the video game competition, the drivers will create hand-crafted glass flowers at The Corning Museum of Glass “Your Own Glass” studio that will become “trophies” to be awarded to top competitors.

National Guard and 10th Mountain Division soldiers currently stationed in the Middle East will engage in the challenge from the USO Center at Camp Virginia, Kuwait. The 10th Mountain Division soldiers will have the unusual privilege of leaving their post in an Iraqi combat zone to take part in this event. The troops and drivers will communicate through a headset hooked up to the Xbox and webcam monitors as they compete in the popular Microsoft Game Studios video game.

Additionally, the troops’ families and friends stationed at Ft. Drum in upstate New York will be invited to attend this event with the drivers and speak to their loved ones via webcam once the contest is completed. Fans are also invited to join the drivers from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium for the video game challenge. Admission is free.



The IndyCar Series is proud to partner with Watkins Glen International, Pro vs. GI Joe and the USO to make this remarkable opportunity possible. National Guard soldiers and IndyCar Series driver Vitor Meira, who is sponsored by the National Guard, will take part in this patriotic occasion. Firestone Indy Lights driver, Brent Sherman, who spent six years in the United States Air force will also participate. Sherman served four years conducting combat, surveillance and instructional missions on an AWAC airplane.





WHAT: ‘Pro vs. GI Joe’ Xbox Live real-time video game competition via the internet

Creation of glass-blown trophies for top competitors

Live webcam chats with soldiers’ friends & families

Free admission for Fans



WHO: Graham Rahal, Justin Wilson, & Vitor Meira, IndyCar Series drivers

Jeff Simmons, Dillon Battistini and Brent Sherman, Firestone Indy Lights drivers

Troops stationed overseas including those from Ft. Drum in Upstate NY & members of the National Guard



WHEN: Thursday, July 3rd

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The Corning Museum of Glass “Your Own Glass” studio

12:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Auditorium: Media lunch and 1:1 interview opportunities with drivers

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Auditorium: Drivers to compete against soldiers via webcam



WHERE: The Corning Museum of Glass

One Museum Way, Corning, NY 14830

Short Film Competition Details





Overview

The New York State Department of Economic Development, Empire State Development Corporation and the Governor's Office for Motion Picture and Television Development, along with our sponsors IFC, IFP, Jet Blue, New York Post and Sony, invite filmmakers to create their take on the world-famous "I LOVE NY" motto, depicting what they love about New York in "A New York Minute" (a :60 second film).







We are looking for innovative and creative interpretations of the motto.





Categories

Filmmakers may compete in any and all of the prizing categories for which they are eligible to enter.

• Grand Prize - all films will compete for the grand prize



• Student Filmmaker Award - any student enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate institution in New York State



• Young Filmmaker of Distinction - any entrant aged 14 to 18 at the time of entry



• New York Wonders Regional Films - any film shot exclusively in one of the six regions of New York State



• Viewers’ Choice Award - selected by an online vote from the 15 finalists selected for the grand prize
  
  

Submission Criteria

• Films must be :60 seconds



• Films must be shot in New York State



• Files must be a maximum of 100 MB



• Files must be in one of the following file formats: MPEG, MPG, MPE, AVI, WMV, WMF, ASF, M1V, DIVX, MOV, MP4, FLV, 3GP, RM, RMVB, RV, RAM and MKV
  
  

Judging

Winners will be selected from a pool of pre-screened finalists by a celebrity panel of judges.

Judging panel includes:

• David Barger, CEO, JetBlue Airways Corporation
• Dr. Anthony Bannon, Director, George Eastman House
• Michelle Byrd, Executive Director, IFP
• Tina Fey, Writer/Producer/Actor Thirty Rock
• Milton Glaser, Designer
• Philip Seymour Hoffman, Actor/Director
• Doug Liman, Founding Partner, Dutch Oven
• V.A. Musetto, NY Post critic
• Raj Roy, MOMA film curator
• Evan Shapiro, VP/General Manager, IFC
  
  

Submissions will be considered for:

• Their ability to showcase the beauty, diversity, and/or geography of NY State
• How well they highlight unique features and off-the-beaten path places of NY State
• Their general originality, creativity, and overall impression
  
  

Films will be pre-screened and narrowed down to 30 finalists, divided amongst the following

categories:

• 15 grand prize finalists - including 1 film from each of the six regions
• 10 student films
• 5 young filmmaker films
  
  

A “Viewers Choice Award” will determined by an on-line public voting contest sponsored by

the New York Post.

Prizing

Grand Prize Winner

• Sony Professional HD Camcorder (HDR-FX1 HDV handycam) and carrying case
• Scholarship to filmmaking workshop
• One pair of round-trip tickets on JetBlue to attend workshop
  
  

Student Filmmaker Award

• Mentorship experience with Doug Liman, Executive Producer, “Bourne series”
• Sony HD Camcorder (HDR-SR12 handycam) with assorted accessories, including camcorder accessory kit and tripod
• Attend a film screening with a New York Post film critic
  
  

Young Filmmaker of Distinction

• Sony HD Camcorder (HDR-SR12 handycam) with assorted accessories, including camcorder accessory kit and tripod
  
  

Viewers’ Choice Winner

• Sony HD Camcorder (HDR-SR12 handycam) with assorted accessories, including camcorder accessory kit and tripod
• New York State Weekend Getaway, including two tickets to a 2009 New York State Film Festival, dinner and two night hotel stay
• One pair of round-trip tickets to the festival on JetBlue
  
  

New York Wonders Award aka Regional Films of Distinction

• New York State Weekend Getaway for each of the six regional winners, including two tickets to a 2009 New York State Film Festival, dinner and two night hotel stay
• Round-trip tickets to the festival on JetBlue
  
  

Timeline

• Submissions accepted between June 1, 2008 and July 15, 2008 11:59 p.m. (EST)
• Screened entries and finalist films will be posted on www.metacafe.com/iloveny on or after August 1
• Winners will be announced September 2008.
  
  

Eligibility

Open to those ages 14 and older. Minors are only eligible to enter upon receipt of a release form signed by a parent or guardian.

Employees, officers & directors of the New York State Department of Economic Development, Empire State Development Corporation and the Governor’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Development (“Sponsors”) and, as applicable, each of their affiliates, partners, dealers, advertising and promotion agencies, manufacturers or distributors of Contest materials, Contest judges and agencies or partners involved in the administration, development, fulfillment and execution of this Contest and each of their immediate families (parents, children, siblings, spouse) or members of the same household (whether related or not) are not eligible to enter. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

You must be a legal resident of the fifty United States or the District of Columbia to participate. Residents of Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, North Dakota, or Vermont are not eligible to participate.

Regions

Western Region (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chatauqua, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Niagara, Erie Counties)

Central Region (Schoharie, Montgomery, Otsego, Oneida, Madison, Chenango, Broome Counties, Onondaga, Cortland, Cayuga, Tompkins, Tioga, Wayne, Seneca, Schuyler, Chemung, Monroe, Ontario, Yates, Livingston, Steuben Counties)

Northeast Region (Albany, Rensseleaer, Schenectady, Saratoga, Washington, Warren, Fulton, Herkimer, Lewis, Hamilton, Essex, Franklin, Clinton, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oswego Counties)

Southeast Region (Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Columbia, Sullivan, Ulster, Greene, Delaware Counties)

Long Island Region (Suffolk, Nassau Counties) New York City (New York, Queens, Bronx, Kings, Richmond Counties)

Gaffer District - 2008 Parking Map with Zones and prices.

2008 Parking Map with Zones and prices jpeg copy
Originally uploaded by pawtrait04

Did you know that the Gaffer District has over 1,500 parking spaces, not including the Corning Museum of Glass lot? So there are plenty of spaces available, and it's often the case of just not knowing where they are.

So the Gaffer District has created a parking map of the district, showing the location and fees of all available public spaces.

http://www.gafferdistrict.com

or for events in the area http://www.escapetocorning.com/webcalendar

flsojourn

flsojourn
Originally uploaded by pawtrait04

The Finger Lakes Sojourn website is now live and ready to go. Come on over and find out about the latest geocache trail in our area.

The Amity Rose Bed & Breakfast in the news

The Amity Rose Bed Breakfast in Hammondsport, NY was featured in the Elmira Star-Gazette last weekend as an example of one of the high quality Bed and Breakfasts in the Corning Finger Lakes area.

WGI & WENY-TV PARTNER ON INDY-PENDENCE CELEBRATION

WGI & WENY-TV PARTNER ON INDY-PENDENCE CELEBRATION
Celebrate Family Fun during the Camping World Grand Prix Weekend

Watkins Glen, NY (June 12, 2008) – In celebration of Independence Day and the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, Watkins Glen International has teamed up with WENY-Newschannel 36 and the IndyCar Series to sponsor the Indy-Pendence Celebration at Clute Park in the village of Watkins Glen. The celebration will begin at 12:00 PM on Friday, July 4 and will last until the conclusion of the fireworks display that evening. Admission to the Indy-Pendence Celebration is FREE.

“This is the perfect way for us to kick-off our IndyCar Series event weekend and to showcase the wonderful fans that we have in the Southern Tier, to the IndyCar community,” stated Craig Rust, president of Watkins Glen International. “We appreciate WENY-Newschannel 36 for offering us the opportunity to partner with them and we are looking forward to making this event a big, must attend, annual festival for everyone to enjoy.”

The Indy-Pendence Celebration will be complete with kid’s games, live entertainment, wine tasting, food vendors, and a lighted boat parade. The Indy-Pendence Celebration will close with a traditional fireworks celebration over Seneca Lake. This huge fireworks display is scheduled to begin at 9:30 PM.

Before leaving the celebration, fans will want to be sure that they check out the IndyCar Fan Zone. In anticipation of the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, the fan zone will have inflatable rides for children, a duel simulator ride, and an area for fans to walk through an IndyCar Series trailer. Last, but not least, the IndyCar Fan Zone will have memorabilia and merchandise haulers where fans can purchase gear for their favorite driver in preparation of Sunday’s race.

The Indy-Pendence Celebration is just one of the family-friendly activities that can be found at Watkins Glen over the holiday weekend. Watkins Glen International will be hosting six races from four different series, as well as a myriad of other activities over the July 4-6 weekend. On Saturday, there will be four races, an autograph session with all IndyCar Series drivers, a concert by Gavin DeGraw, and a viewing party of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in Daytona. On Sunday, the racing will begin with the Penn Grade 1 Historic Grand Prix. Then, the stars of the IndyCar Series will take on the track in the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen. Adults can attend all of these events with the purchase of a single weekend ticket. To make it even better, kids 12 and under get in FREE with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Tickets for the historic 60th Anniversary of racing in Watkins Glen are on-sale
now! Open-wheel racing returns for the 4th of July weekend during the Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 4-6. General admission tickets for Kids 12 and under are FREE during the Camping World Grand Prix weekend when accompanied by an adult. The action continues with the Centurion Boats at The Glen NASCAR Sprint Cup and Zippo 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series weekend, August 7-10. For more tickets and more information, please contact the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE or log on to the official website http://www.theglen.com/.

TOM CROUCH TO SPEAK AT JUNE BUG ANNIVERSARY DINNER

TOM CROUCH TO SPEAK AT JUNE BUG ANNIVERSARY DINNER

NASM Senior Curator, Tom Crouch, will be a special guest of the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, as part of the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the flight of Glenn Curtiss’s June Bug. Dr. Crouch will speak at the Anniversary Dinner on Friday evening, July 4, as the museum begins a weekend of activities commemorating the historic flight. On July 4, 1908, the June Bug made the first pre-announced public flight in America. For this flight of more than 1 kilometer, Curtiss won the Scientific American trophy and was ultimately awarded U. S. Pilot’s License No.1.

Tom Crouch is senior curator of the Division of Aeronautics at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum. Since 1974 he has served both the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American History in a variety of curatorial and administrative posts. He holds a BA (1962) from Ohio University, an MA (1968) from Miami University, a Ph.D. (1976) from the Ohio State University and an honorary degree in Doctor of Humane Letters from Wright State University. All of his degrees are in history. In the fall of 2000, President Clinton appointed him chairman of the First Flight Centennial Federal Advisory Board.

Crouch is the author or editor of more than a dozen books and many articles for both magazines and scholarly journals, most of which have been on aspects of the history of flight technology. His leading books include "The Bishop’s Boys: A Life of Wilbur and Orville Wright" (1989); "Dream of Wings: American and the Airplane, 1875-1905" (1981); "Eagle Aloft: Two Centuries of the Balloon in America" (1983); "Wings: A History of Aviation from Kites to the Space Age" (2003), "Rocketeers and Gentlemen Engineers: A History of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and What Came Before”; Lighter than Air: A Concise History of Balloons and Airships. His other works include Bleriot XI: The Story of a Classic Airplane; A Dream of Wings: Americans and the Airplane, 1875-1905 and several other notable publications.

Prior to coming to the Smithsonian he was employed by the Ohio Historical Society as director of education (1969-1973) and as Director, Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Commission. (1973-1974). Since 1974, Crouch has served both the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American History in a variety of curatorial and administrative posts. Throughout his career, has also played a major role in planning exhibitions and managing museum collections. President Clinton appointed Dr. Crouch to the Chairmanship of the First Flight Centennial Federal Advisory Board, an organization created to advise the Centennial of Flight Commission on activities planned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of powered flight.

Contact the Curtiss Museum to purchase tickets for the event ($60 for members, $75 for non-members) or for additional information: 607-569-2160 or info@glennhcurtissmuseum.org

"FOSTERING GREEN CREATIVITY" TO SUPPORTARTS IN EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM

Corning, New York was recently designated as the third best small city art community by American Style magazine. In support of this honor and to continue development of artists in our community, local retailer Beyond Baskets is sponsoring a fundraiser for The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes' (The ARTS) arts in education grant program.

The fundraiser is a contest, which will encourage youth from pre-school to 5th grade to create a piece of art from recycled materials. Materials will be provided in bags; bags can be picked up any time between June 9 and July 4 at Beyond Baskets, Imagine That!, Market Street Coffee & Tea, Pip's Creative Wear, Schoolhouse Country Store, or The ARTS, all located on Market Street in Corning. Artwork made from the recycled materials should be dropped off at Beyond Baskets no later than July 5.

Artwork will be exhibited at Beyond Baskets and voted on by the public throughout the month of July. There will be one winner in each of three categories: Pre-K - K, Grades 1 - 2, and Grades 3 - 5; voting will consist of the public dropping coins or bills into an assigned box. Winners will be announced on Monday, July 28.

Proceeds from the contest will benefit The ARTS' Local Capacity Building matching grant program, which grants funds to schools to integrate the arts into the academic curriculum. Since the program's inception in 2002, The ARTS has granted close to $130,000 to schools in Allegany, Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties. Please call Tom Oberg, The ARTS' arts in education coordinator, at 607.962.5871 x221, or visit www.eARTS.org for more information about the grant program.Please call Beyond Baskets at 607.936.1663 for more information about the contest.