Contact: Jeannie M. Wolf, CMP
BoomDays Event Coordinator
Event Elements
(716) 636-5797
(716) 998-3921 (cell)

Notice of BoomDays Press Conference

Date: Friday, December 15, 2006
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Times Beach Public Access 175 Fuhrmann Blvd ­ Buffalo, NY ­ near Coast Guard Station

BUFFALO, NY ­ BoomDays 2007 is looking ahead to Spring and a unique event, by announcing the installation of the Lake Erie ­ Niagara River Ice Boom. BoomDays is a celebration of the removal of the Ice Boom and the beginning of Spring. The press conference will announce the dates of the 5th Anniversary of the BoomDays Celebration which will be held April 13-15, 2007 along the Buffalo/Niagara Waterfront.

What is the Ice Boom?
Each winter, the New York State Power Authority works with Ontario Power Generation, a neighboring utility, to prevent ice on the upper Niagara River. Ice buildup would impede power production. How do they prevent ice buildup? With an 8,800-foot-long ice boom consisting of steel pontoons linked together. The boom is anchored to the river bottom by divers at Lake Erie’s outlet to the Niagara River. The boom prevents the buildup of ice, yet allows water to continue flowing downstream. International Joint Commission guidelines permit the installation when the lake temperature reaches 39 degrees Fahrenheit or Dec. 16, whichever occurs first.

What is BoomDays?
BoomDays celebrates the lifting of the Lake Erie - Niagara River Ice Boom. It is a unique way to mark the coming of spring. BoomDays commemorates our bustling waterways of days gone by and glorifies our natural, artistic and cultural wealth. BoomDays is a moveable feast and festivities extend from the Buffalo River to Old Fort Niagara. Event participants (known as Boomers) journey throughout the Buffalo/Niagara waterfront areas experiencing all that the region has to offer.

BoomDays benefits Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper & Just Buffalo Literary Center & is sponsored by Rigidized Metals & Try-It Distributing.

For Additional Information Visit: www.BoomDays.com

The following are confirmed attending and available for interview:
Rick Smith, III ­ President, Rigidized Metals
Julie Barrett O’Neill ­ Executive Director, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
Michael Kelleher ­ Artistic Director, Just Buffalo Literary Center