Raising awareness of the plight of wild salmon, SalmonAID—a coalition of fishermen, conservation organizations, chefs and first nation tribes—presents Salmon Month at Aquarium of the Bay.  Salmon Month opens on September 1 and includes storytelling by Native Americans, film screenings, children's activities and a free outdoor festival.  The full Salmon Month schedule is available at www.salmonaid.org.

"Twenty-six populations of Pacific salmon are endangered across the west coast," states Jon Rosenfield, SalmonAID president and conservation biologist with The Bay Institute. "These fish are hardy and adaptable. If they cannot thrive in our rivers and estuaries, then we've done some serious damage, and that's bad news for people, too."

Wild salmon—Chinook, coho, sockeye, chum, pink salmon and steelhead trout—once populated nearly every coastal river or stream from southern California to Alaska, migrating out to the Pacific Ocean and back again. They have made headlines in recent years for staggering population declines, primarily due to large-scale water diversions and misguided dam operations. In the San Francisco Bay watershed alone, nine of 10 of the largest tributary rivers are blocked by large storage dams, limiting access for salmon to spawn.

Throughout September, SalmonAID partner organizations will be onsite at Aquarium of the Bay, providing information on wild salmon and what the public can do to protect them. One major recommendation is to avoid consuming farmed salmon, which have higher levels of dioxins and PCBs, and spread parasites to nearby wild salmon. Salmon Month exhibits will chronicle the integral role salmon play in tribal and fishing communities all along our coast. Maps showing where salmon migration and spawning can be seen throughout the Bay Area and central California will also be available, thanks to collaboration between The Bay Institute, SalmonAID and The Nature Conservancy.

"The Bay Institute has played a major role in securing endangered species protections for Chinook salmon, so we are pleased to host this event at our affiliate, Aquarium of the Bay," stated John Frawley, president and CEO of The Bay Institute. "The Aquarium is the perfect venue to inspire the public to take part in protecting wild salmon."

For additional information or to purchase tickets visit www.salmonaid.org or www.aquariumofthebay.org.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

John Frawley

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=76850

SOURCE SalmonAID

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.salmonaid.org
http://www.aquariumofthebay.org

Rolling Thunder®'s 2010 Ride Home, a multi-day annual activity held in conjunction with the Andersonville National Historic Site and the Friends of Andersonville to recognize and honor the nation's Prisoners of War (POW) and those still Missing in Action (MIA), will be held in Andersonville and Americus, GA, Sept. 16-18, 2010.

Hundreds of Rolling Thunder members are expected to gather to honor an estimated 200 former POWs/MIA family members from around the country who are scheduled to attend this year's program of events as guests of Rolling Thunder. A highlight of this year's activities is the presence of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, which will be escorted by Rolling Thunder to the Andersonville National Historic Site where it will remain on display for 10 days.  

This year's events will also include, for the first time, representatives of the American Gold Star Mothers, an organization founded in 1928 to remember and honor mothers who have lost sons or daughters in service to the United States. The organization was named after the Gold Star that families hung in their windows in honor of the deceased veteran.

Complete details on all events can be found on The Ride Home website. The national organization, Rolling Thunder®, Inc. was organized in 1987 to raise awareness of POW, MIA and Veterans rights issues. It is known for its annual demonstration "Ride For Freedom" in Washington, D.C. during Memorial Day weekend. For more information visit the National Rolling Thunder website.

Editor's Note:

Rolling Thunder contacts are Jim "Moe" Moyer, chair, (407) 448-1181, moehog@verizon.net, or Patty Christo, event coordinator, (239) 357-8592, info@theridehome.com.

The National Park Service, Brad Bennett, superintendent, Andersonville National Historic Site, (229) 924-0343 ext 105, brad_bennett@nps.gov. or Alan Marsh, Cultural Resource Specialist, NHS, (229) 924 0343 ext 115, michael_marsh@nps.gov.

SOURCE Rolling Thunder, Inc.

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://rollingthunder1.com

For 39 years adventure seekers have been flocking to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the world's largest hot air balloon festival. You can experience the adventure of a lifetime witnessing more than 500 hot air balloons in the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®, October 2-10, 2010.  

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100827/LA56078)

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100827/LA56078)

Wrap up your summer by planning a fall getaway to the amazing Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® in the hot air ballooning capital of the world. Better yet, enter to win a trip for two October 4-6, 2010. The getaway is valued at more than $1,500 including:

• Two nights at Nativo Lodge, a Heritage Hotels & Resorts property
• Two days admission to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® including VIP access to the Gondola Club Hospitality Suite
• A balloon ride for two with Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Company
• Admission to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
• A $200 Visa card to be used for airfare, gas or shopping

Visit www.ItsATrip.org/balloon-festival/ to enter the sweepstakes by September 6th.

For nine days every October, the New Mexico skies are filled with color as 500+ balloons float over Albuquerque's high desert landscape. There is excitement and adventure to be found both in the air and on the ground.  Hundreds of balloons launch at Balloon Fiesta Park each morning. Visitors walk amongst the balloons as they inflate and are welcome to ask questions and meet the pilots – you may even be asked to help out a crew member with the inflation process!

Besides enjoying the spectacle of Mass Ascensions, Balloon Glows, Special Shapes, and exciting hot air and gas balloon competitions, hundreds of booths offer a taste of local cuisine, arts and crafts from across the country.

Albuquerque offers many other affordable adventures from above including the world's longest aerial tramway, year-round ballooning, soaring in a glider, skiing and amazing views from the 10,000-foot Sandia Peak.

For more information on Balloon Fiesta, visit www.BalloonFiesta.com and for information on Albuquerque, visit www.ItsATrip.org.

The mission of the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau is to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a visitor and convention destination. For more information, please call 505.842.9918 or visit our web site at www.itsatrip.org.

SOURCE Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.BalloonFiesta.com
http://www.itsatrip.org

David F. D'Alessandro, former chairman and chief executive of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., will join SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment as the company's chairman of the board.  SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment owns and operates 10 U.S. theme parks, including SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091201/FL19045LOGO )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091201/FL19045LOGO )

D'Alessandro, 59, retired from Hancock in 2006.  He led the financial services and insurance firm through a period of transformation from private mutual company to major publicly held corporation.  D'Alessandro guided Hancock through a 2005 merger with Manulife Financial that created North America's second largest insurance conglomerate and the fourth largest in the world.  The company achieved operating earnings growth under D'Alessandro's leadership that averaged 14 percent per year and average annual sales growth in excess of 15 percent. 

D'Alessandro has authored three national best-selling books, including Brand Warfare. He was named Adweek's Marketer of the Year and Hancock advertising campaigns won numerous awards during his tenure, including a CLIO and the Cannes Film Festival best commercial award.  A former Boston Red Sox partner, he was named to the Sporting News Most Powerful People in Sports list nine consecutive years, acknowledging Hancock's sponsorships of the Olympic Games, Major League Baseball and The Boston Marathon. 

A graduate of Syracuse University, he holds honorary doctorates from three colleges and serves as vice chairman of Boston University.

"We are delighted to have an executive of David's caliber join SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment," said Jim Atchison, the company's president and chief executive officer. "The growth and success achieved by John Hancock under David's leadership illustrates the remarkable business instinct and spirit of innovation that has marked his career and now will help take our company forward."

"SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is one of the nation's great family travel businesses," D'Alessandro said. "I am honored to be part of this organization and I hope my experience will bring value and help the company provide high quality entertainment experiences to its millions of guests."

D'Alessandro will serve as a non-executive chairman, providing strategic guidance and counsel via the company's board.  He will remain in Boston and work several days each month out of SeaWorld's corporate headquarters in Orlando, Fla.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment plays host to 23 million guests each year.  A portfolio company of The Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX), the company operates SeaWorld parks in Orlando, Fla., San Diego, Calif., and San Antonio, Texas; Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla., and Williamsburg, Va.; Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando; Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa. near Philadelphia; Water Country USA in Williamsburg and Adventure Island in Tampa.  SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment employs 20,000 people nationwide.

SOURCE SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

Back to top

Johnny Rockets, known worldwide for its authentic, all-American menu, announces the addition of 17 Deluxe Shakes to its Company-wide selection of classic Shakes and malts. In celebration of the national Deluxe Shake roll-out and September's National Shake Month status, Johnny Rockets today launched its "Snap and Shake" giveaway. Fans can post snapshots of themselves drinking a Johnny Rockets Shake on the Company's Facebook wall or Twitter page for a chance to win free Shakes and free passes to Six Flags theme parks.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100901/LA57825)

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100901/LA57825)

Throughout September, Johnny Rockets will award 100 Six Flags passes and 100 Johnny Rockets world-famous Shakes to guests who share a picture of themselves with a classic or Deluxe Shake, in any Johnny Rockets restaurant. Fans must upload their images to the official Johnny Rockets Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/johnnyrocketsus) or tweet the picture to @Johnny_Rockets. The first 50 fans who submit snapshots with a Shake will be awarded two free passes to any Six Flags theme park, nationwide.  The second 50 will each receive two vouchers for a free Johnny Rockets Shake.  One randomly drawn photo submission winner will be able to shake things up at their favorite concert with a $200 Ticketmaster gift certificate.

Made with premium ingredients, Johnny Rockets' Deluxe Shake varieties include Banana, Big Apple, Black Forest, Butterfinger®, Chocolate-Banana, Chocolate Madness, Chocolate-Peanut Butter, Chocolate-Strawberry Kiss, Chocolate Vanilla Twist, Coffee, Mocha Fudge, Orange Dreamsicle®, Oreo® Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter, Strawberry-Banana, Strawberry Oreo® Crumble and Very Cherry.

"Beyond our all-American classic fare, including everyone's favorite Original Hamburger, Johnny Rockets is renowned for our unbelievably creamy, hand-dipped Shakes...which start with our custom blend of premium vanilla ice cream," said Johnny Rockets Vice President of Brand Marketing and Communications, Cozette Koerber. "And now that all of our restaurants are promoting Deluxe Shakes, we want to show them off through our Guests' photos on Facebook and Twitter." 

Koerber adds, "We know our Facebook Fans and Twitter Followers are great ambassadors for our brand and we want to reward them with some of the things that we like best - milkshakes, amusement parks and music. In fact, we hope to create many more compelling reasons for our Guests to become and stay connected with us by implementing contests, 'secret' events, exclusive announcements and social network specials throughout the coming months."

For more information about Johnny Rockets or franchising partnership opportunities go to www.johnnyrockets.com.

About Johnny Rockets

Since 1986, Johnny Rockets has offered the timeless food, fun and friendliness of classic Americana. Every Johnny Rockets restaurant serves great-tasting food from a menu of all-American favorites, including juicy hamburgers, classic sandwiches and hand-dipped Shakes and malts. It's the place to go for friendly service, flavorful food, uplifting music and relaxed, casual fun. Headquartered in Lake Forest, Calif., Johnny Rockets has 295 corporate and franchise-owned restaurants in 32 states, including D.C. and Puerto Rico, and 15 countries, including those found in Six Flags amusement parks, FedEx Field and on board 10 Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

SOURCE Johnny Rockets

Back to top

RELATED LINKS
http://www.johnnyrockets.com