Canal Corporation’s Tug Urger Named Best Vintage Tug at the Fifteenth Annual Tug Boat Race Competition

ALBANY, NY (09/19/2007)(readMedia)-- Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, today announced that the Corporation’s flagship vessel - the historic Tug Urger - was awarded the Best Vintage Tug Cup at the Fifteenth Annual Tug Boat Race Competition held September 2, 2007 in New York City. The vintage vessel now heads west to begin the Fall Educational Program on Thursday, September 20, 2007 in Lockport, NY.

“The historic Tug Urger is a wonderful example of the rich maritime history of New York State and a great ambassador for education along the New York State Canal System,” Mantello said. “The Canal Corporation is thrilled that the Urger has been recognized with this distinguished award for the seventh consecutive year. I encourage educators to take advantage of this free and hands on program during the fall months.”

During the fall, the Urger is scheduled to travel east from Lockport through to Baldwinsville. Before wrapping up in Baldwinsville on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, the Urger will make stops in Medina, Spencerport, Fairport, Lyons and Seneca Falls. The schedule is as follows and is subject to change depending on conditions:

September 20-21, 2007 – Lockport September 25-26, 2007 – Medina September 28-October 2, 2007 – Spencerport October 4-5, 2007 – Fairport October 9, 2007 – Lyons October 11-12, 2007 – Seneca Falls October 16-17, 2007 - Baldwinsville

Celebrating more than 100 years of service, the Tug Urger was christened the Henry J. Dornbos in Michigan on June 13, 1901. Since the creation of the New York State Canal Corporation in 1992, the Tug Urger has served as the official ambassador for the New York State Canal System.

The Urger now serves as the focal point of a program to educate school children and adults about the importance of New York's historic Canal System and the role that inland waterways have played historically, and continue to play, in the lives of people who live along them.

In the spring and fall, the Urger visits communities along the Canal System where students in fourth-grade classes at local schools take field trips to the Tug and participate in shoreside "hands-on" educational sessions. There they learn about the history of the Canals and the role construction of the Erie Canal played in making New York the "Empire State."

During the summer months, the Urger participates in many canal community festivals and events.

In September 2001, the Urger was placed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

For more information on how to take advantage of this educational program or to schedule a visit to your community, please call 518-436-2799 or visit the Canal Corporation’s Website at www.nyscanals.gov and click on "Canal Culture."

The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture. For more information about news and attractions along the Canal System, visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

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The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign up for the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation’s website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign up for Thruway TRANSalerts, please visit the Authority’s website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.

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