A dedicated quiet zone will be located inside special rooms in the grandstand, where parents can bring their kids to get away from the crowd and noise at any point during the race. The quiet zone will have muted lighting in a calmer environment, while also featuring video screens to keep up with the action on the track. Volunteers from Autism Speaks will be on hand to assist families. Members of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority will serve as volunteers.

“Autism Speaks Day at the Races” is the latest chapter in the successful six-year partnership between Autism Speaks and the Monster Mile. Autism Speaks, Dover International Speedway, NASCAR and FedEx will work together to raise funds and awareness throughout race weekend.

“Dover, NASCAR and FedEx have been incredible partners and supporters, and we are extremely grateful for this exciting opportunity to not only raise awareness and critical funding, but to also involve families in an entirely new way,” said Mark Roithmayr, Autism Speaks president.

The day will begin with doors opening at 9:30 a.m., followed by brief presentations on “Living on the Spectrum” and “Autism Speaks in the Community,” as well as a briefing on the latest developments in autism research by a member of Autism Speaks’ science team and a presentation by Autism Delaware. In addition, appearances will be made by NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs and driver Jamie McMurray, who stars in Autism Speaks’ “Learn the Signs” PSA campaign, produced in partnership with the Ad Council.

Tickets for “Autism Speaks Day at the Races” cost $88 for adults and $20 for children ages 14 and younger. The $88 price point is symbolic, as recent studies have shown that one in 88 children is diagnosed with autism by age eight, according to the CDC. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Autism Speaks.

To purchase tickets to “Autism Speaks Day at the Races,” call 800-441-RACE or visit www.MonsterMileOffers.com/AutismSpeaks.

About Autism
Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders – autism spectrum disorders – caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. An estimated 1 in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum – a 1000 percent increase in the past 40 years that is only partly explained by improved diagnosis.

About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed over $180 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 95 cities across North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.

(Long Island, NY) A galaxy of luminaries from the worlds of philanthropy, corporate leadership, politics and environmental advocacy will shine on Monday, May 21st at the New York League of Conservation Voters’ “Celebrating a Greener New York” Spring Gala in New York City.

More than 600 guests are expected for the elegant event, which will honor Richard Gelfond, CEO of IMAX Corporation, as NYLCV’s 2012 Environmental Champion. Gelfond, who has been the driving force behind IMAX’s long-running series of award-winning nature documentaries including 2012’s Into the Arctic 3D and 2011’s Born to be Wild 3D, is being recognized for his commitment to a variety of environmental causes – most notably the study of mercury poisoning via the Gelfond Fund for Mercury Research and Outreach at Stony Brook University. Gelfond will be introduced at the event by eminent paleoanthropologist Dr. Richard Leakey, whose Turkana Basin Institute in Kenya is also supported by Gelfond.

Among the many VIPs expected to attend are: New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, New York City Comptroller John Liu, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Thomas E. L. Dewey, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt V and New York Republican Party Chairman Edward Cox.

Proceeds from the event will support the New York League of Conservation Voters’ efforts to elect pro-environment leaders and advocate for environmental legislation in Albany and in communities throughout New York State.

NYLCV’s “Celebrating a Greener New York” Spring Gala will take place on Monday, May 21, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers, New York City. Cocktail hour begins at 6:00 p.m. and dinner begins at 7:30 p.m.

For information and tickets, contact Hilary Wilkes at (212) 361-6350 ext. 204, or hwilkes@nylcv.org. For media inquiries, contact Dan Hendrick at (212) 361-6350 ext. 206/(917) 207-8715 or dhendrick@nylcv.org.

The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, policy-making and political action organization that works to make environmental protection a top priority with elected officials, decision makers, and voters by evaluating incumbent performance and endorsing and electing environmental leaders to office in New York State.

(New York, NY) The GEICO Skytypers are scheduled to perform Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-27 at the Bethpage Federal Credit Union New York Air Show at Jones Beach, New York.

The team “types” messages at 10,000 feet with puffs of smoke in dot matrix-style letters.

The GEICO Skytypers use six of the remaining 11 North American SNJ-2 planes left in the world to write messages at an altitude of 10,000 feet.  Each World War II-era plane has been restored and equipped and with a computer that coordinates the smoke puffs from the aircraft.

“The contrast between the advanced technology to produce the messages paired with a 1940s vintage aircraft is truly unique,” said Steve Kapur, GEICO Skytypers marketing officer and reserve pilot.  “We consider it a privilege to fly these warbirds on behalf of GEICO at air shows all across the U.S.” said Kapur, who has been flying with the team for more than a decade.

Maneuvering the antique aircraft requires great skill and expertise. Most of the GEICO Skytypers pilots earned their wings in the military and several currently fly for commercial airlines.

During skytyping missions the pilots fly 250 feet apart in a wide “line-abreast” formation. When aligned, the smoke puffs form letters as tall as the Empire State Building.
Skytyping is 17 times faster than skywriting because each pilot can create a letter every four seconds. Entire messages can be as large as 6 to 8 miles wide. Messages are visible for 15 miles in each direction on a clear day.

In addition to skytyping, the team also performs a low-altitude, precision-formation flying routine combined with a thrilling aeronautical demonstration. The six aircraft fill the sky and come from all directions, providing spectators a unique viewing experience.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union Air Show Schedule

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, May 26, open to the public
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday May 27, open to the public
Free Admission to the Public

For more information, visit www.jonesbeachairshow.com

About the GEICO Skytypers
The GEICO Skytypers are the only flying unit in the world that performs at air shows typing their messages in the sky. For more information on the GEICO Skytypers, visit geicoskytypers.com. They can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. To request more information or a 2012 Electronic Press Kit, please write or call the contact listed below.

About GEICO
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. GEICO handles auto insurance coverage for over 11 million private passenger auto policies and insures more than 17 million vehicles.

In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), travel trailers and motorhomes (RVs). Coverage for life, boats, homes and apartments is available through the GEICO Insurance Agency. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection are also available.

As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial strength by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, go to http://www.geico.com.

(West Islip, NY) Johnny Kao, MD, has been appointed interim chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center.  He brings extensive expertise in intensity modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and brachytherapy to treat cancer patients more effectively with fewer complications than in the past.

After graduating from Dartmouth College with honors, he earned his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine.  Following a residency at University of Chicago in radiation oncology, he served as Assistant Professor and William Harris Research Fellow at Mount Sinai School of Medicine from 2005 to 2010 and was most recently an associate at Florida Radiation Oncology Group in Tampa.

Kao led several pioneering clinical trials combining high precision radiation therapy with novel chemotherapy regimens that successfully treated patients with advanced, recurrent or metastastic cancers.  He has published more than 60 journal articles and textbook chapters on breast, prostate, head and neck, lung and gynecologic cancers.  Kao has a significant record of research funding from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense and industry.

He is a member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology and is past president of the New York Roentgen Society, Section of Radiation Oncology.  Kao lives with his wife and two children in Jericho.

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip.  The medical center, which has more than 4,500 employees and almost 900 physicians on staff, had nearly 30,000 patient admissions and more than 95,000 emergency department visits in 2011.  Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit the website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

Good Samaritan provided more than $43 million in community service and charity care in 2011.  The medical center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health.  This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.

Following the screening of Diner, and a Q+A with the audience, Guttenberg will be signing copies of his new memoir, The Guttenberg Bible, which hilariously details the highs and lows of his career, from his early days sneaking onto Paramount’s back lot (he pretended to be Michael Eisner‘s son) to starring in films alongside Sir Laurence Olivier. Guttenberg’s honest and insightful tale is one of the most sympathetic and unguarded Hollywood stories to date. 
Steve continues to support the Plainedge High School and appears at events he sponsors, with a focus on helping for young people – especially as an “Ambassador for Children’s Issues” spearheading “Sight for Students,” a $7-million program in which he helps provide glasses for 50,000 underprivileged and visually challenged children throughout their school years.

“The Guttenberg Bible is better than the original! Steve’s story of his journey through Hollywood is for actors what Adventures in the Screen Trade is for writers. An honest, humorous and instructive account of how to navigate thru this crazy town we call Hollywood.” –WOODY HARRELSON
 
“It’s impossible to stop reading.” –Publishers Weekly

“Steve Guttenberg has written a wonderfully funny memoir of his coming-of-age in Hollywood. The Guttenberg Bible is an on-the-money account of what an actor’s life is really like.” –MARLO THOMAS, New York Times-bestselling author of Growing Up Laughing
 
“I first met Steve Guttenberg when he was an up-and-coming young actor on the set of Diner. Now, I’m glad to read his terrific memoir of his career’s early days, and the struggles and surprises that come with making your way in show business.”–JERRY WEINTRAUB, New York Times-bestselling author of When I Stop Talking, You’ll Know I’m Dead
 
“From his first scene on I knew Steve Guttenberg would be a winner. He’s proven it on the screen and now he’s doing it as an author.” –ROBERT EVANS, author of The Kid Stays in the Picture
 
About the Book  The Guttenberg Bible
The hilarious, insightful memoir of the highs and lows of Hollywood by the actor who starred in multiple iconic blockbusters: Diner, Police Academy and Three Men and a Baby

“Forget being an actor. You don’t have the look, you don’t have the talent, and your name is ridiculous. You are the last guy I would ever pick to be a movie star.” This was the first piece of advice Steve Guttenberg ever received from an agent. Like many other times in his life, he didn’t listen.
 
In this honest, charming memoir, Guttenberg tells a Horatio Alger story of how he became the star of some of the ’80s most successful blockbusters. He spent his early days sneaking onto the Paramount lot (he pretended to be Michael Eisner’s son) and meeting more celebrities and casting agents than most aspiring actors ever would. Even before the hit Police Academy (which his agent said would be a flop), he had already worked with everyone from Sir Laurence Olivier to Mickey Rourke. Perhaps it was his charisma or perhaps it was his dogged persistence, but his life was filled with unexpected run-ins and connections with dozens of Hollywood hit makers.
 
Guttenberg has lived through the addictive pull of show business and worldwide celebrity (You’re no one until you have a stalker, he learns). With a wide-eyed appreciation for the one-of-a-kind experiences that the high altitude celebrity lifestyle has to offer, he knew that his family would keep him grounded and never let him forget.
 
Since 1973, presenting the best U.S., International, Independent & Repertory films on 3 screens 365 days of the year, in a comfortable ambience including the sculpture garden & The Sky Room Café, the Cinema Arts Centre is located at 423 Park Ave (just south of 25a), Huntington, NY 11743 (25 miles east of New York City). Admission for regular programs: $11.00. Discounts for members, seniors, students & children. CAC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. For further information call 631-423-7611. To sign up for weekly email schedule: info@CinemaArtsCentre.org Membership and Schedule: www.cinemaartscentre.org/

The mission of the Cinema Arts Centre is to bring the best in cinematic artistry to Long Island, and use the power of film to expand the awareness and consciousness of our community

(West Islip, NY) Honored for excellence in advertising in the 2012 Aster Awards, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center received a Bronze award for its breast imaging marketing. The Aster Awards Program is an elite competition recognizing the nation’s most talented health care marketing professionals for outstanding excellence in advertising. The 30 second television spot featured testimonial from grateful breast cancer patient, Maria Metzger.

“If not for my doctor’s thoroughness, my condition might not have been detected,” stated Metzger.  “In addition, it was suggested I have genetic testing, resulting in the identification of a cancerous marker. As a result, other members of my family were tested and found to be positive for cancerous markers, prompting them to seek treatment sooner.”

For more information about mammography services, support groups and the cancer patient navigator program at Good Samaritan, please call (631) 376-4444.

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip.  The medical center, which has more than 4,500 employees and almost 900 physicians on staff, had nearly 30,000 patient admissions and more than 95,000 emergency department visits in 2011.  Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit the website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

Good Samaritan provided more than $43 million in community service and charity care in 2011.  The medical center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health.  This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.

(Times Square, NY) JP Teaches Photo and cityHUNT will join together to present The Big Picture, taking place in Times Square and seeking to make photography accessible to 10,000 people and fundraise for 100cameras.

100cameras gives cameras to marginalized children around the world and empowers them to tell their own stories through photography. 100cameras then shares their photos with a global audience, and 100% of the money from the children’s purchased prints is returned to meet physical needs in each child’s community. Using their own voices children everywhere can begin to raise awareness and create positive changes to brighten their own futures.
 
The Big Picture Photography Education Fair will consist of interactive booths where visitors may bring their own cameras to learn various concepts about photography, such as brightness, aperture and shutter speed. At each booth, attendees will capture beautiful images by learning how to use their cameras and apply these concepts. Each participant will leave the fair with stunning pictures and a newfound knowledge about how their cameras work. Upon exit, cityHUNT will host a photography scavenger hunt in Times Square to allow guests to apply their new skills in the field. Participants will be eligible to win raffle prizes.

There fair is completely free.

The Big Picture goal of the Photography Education Fair is to bridge worlds together by empowering creativity for both the attendees of the fair and underserved children across our globe. The Big Picture seeks to raise $250,000 to enable 100cameras to teach photography to more children who would otherwise not have access. Learn more and RSVP at www.thebigpic.eventbrite.com.

Established in 2009, 100cameras is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization. To date, 100cameras has completed three projects in South Sudan, New York City, and Cuba with plans to launch their fourth in India during fall 2012.