Tug Urger Concludes Spring Educational Program for New York's Fourth-Graders

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Tug Urger

ALBANY, NY (06/26/2007)(readMedia)-- The New York State Canal Corporation today announced the conclusion of the successful Tug Urger Educational Program for the spring 2007 season. The Urger, which wrapped up its 13th season on Friday, June 15 in Whitehall, NY, hosted more than 2,500 schoolchildren aboard the vintage vessel during the spring. During the summer months, the Urger will attend numerous Canal festivals and events throughout the Canal Corridor before kicking off its fall educational program in September.

Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello said, “The Tug Urger educational program has once again been a huge hit for schoolchildren across New York State this spring. The historic Tug Urger engages audiences with hands on activities and informative talks by the crew about what life was like on Canal and the significant role New York's Canals have played in shaping our state and nation. I encourage educators to take advantage of this comprehensive free program, and invite the public to tour this historic vessel as the Urger visits numerous festivals and events throughout the Canal corridor this summer.”

The Tug Urger will kick off its summer schedule by attending the Annual Steamboat Rally in Waterford, Saratoga County, on Saturday, June 30, 2007. On July 14-15, the Urger will take part in the Lock 7-12 Canal Fest at Riverlink Park in Amsterdam, Montgomery County. The Urger also will participate in the Oswego Harbor Fest from July 26-29, 2007.

As part of the Second Annual Canal Splash! on August 11-12, the Urger will be participating in Sylvan Beach's Canalfest. The Urger will round out the summer festival season by attending the Tugboat Race and Festival in New York City during Labor Day weekend, before returning to Waterford to participate in the Annual Tugboat Round Up September 7-9, 2007.

Celebrating over 100 years of service, the Tug Urger, the Canal Corporation's flagship vessel, 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.

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

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 shore side “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.”

The Tug Urger Educational Program is available to all New York State schools at no cost; however, class size and presentations are limited and are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. To find out where the Urger is scheduled to be in the fall, visit the Canal Corporation's website at http://www.nyscanals.gov/cculture/tugboat-schedule.html.

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.”

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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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