For Immediate Release

Contact: Joe Glick (518) 857-5186

NEW 3-LEVEL NIGHT CLUB OPENS IN DOWNTOWN TROY

Kokopellis Open House April 27 During Troy Night Out

TROY, NY (04/25/12) – This Friday during Troy Night Out, the city’s newest hotspot is hosting an Open House for guests to explore each of the three levels of Kokopellis nightclub at 124 Fourth St.

“My hope is to make this a destination nightclub,” said Joe Glick, 34, co-owner of Kokopellis, a the three-level club building near the corner of Congress and Fourth St. “Our goal at Kokopellis is to provide everything that the patrons want to keep them here: music, TV, food, drinks, sports, dancing and a high-end lounge.”

Glick and his father, Barry Glick, purchased the building in August for $325,000. After lawyer fees, taxes and renovations, Glick says they invested a total of $500,000 in the property, which was formerly known as the Troy City Tavern.

Each level of the building has a maximum capacity of 99 people. The first-level features a comfortable sports bar lounge with exposed brick and hardwood floors. Catering is supplied by I Love New York Pizza and The Brown Bag. The second-level dance club features a polished floor, a high-end sound system, a newly upgraded DJ booth and, according to Glick, the hottest intelligent laser light show in the Capital Region. The third level is a high-end lounge, with a granite bar and comfortable couches.

“All of the renovations we made were to make the space more inviting,” Glick said, joking that that the third-floor previously looked like a bad scene from a 1970′s disco before renovating.

A native of Niskayuna, Glick is also well-known as “DJ Joey G,” who began his career as an entertainer working at Starbursts roller skating rink in Clifton Park. He continued to DJ while studying at SUNY Oswego, working for a large entertainment business in Syracuse. Afterwards, he returned to the Capital Region to launch his own mobile DJ business, DJ Joey G Entertainment, which now manages the musical entertainment for Kokopellis nightclub.

Glick said he first became interested in Troy and its potential while DJ’ing for the popular but short-lived Meka’s lounge in the River Street Entertainment District.

“I never really paid too much attention to Troy before I started DJ’ing at Meka’s and I saw what potential the place has. We had 600 people show up there in the middle of a snow storm,” Glick said. “I’m hoping with the right marketing and word of mouth we can recapture that scene at Kokopellis.”

SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE

Kokopellis serves those who serve. All armed forces, police, fire, medical and emergency personnel receive an automatic 10 percent off their entire bar bill with a valid identification card. Hospitality employees receive $1.50 off drinks every night after 11 p.m.

THE NAME KOKOPELLIS

Kokopelli is a southwestern native American god of fertility, usually depicted playing a flute, who is known to bring joy through music and dance. The deity appears in murals and on embroidered stools throughout the club, which has a subtle southwestern flavor in its decor, color scheme and drink menu featuring spicy martinis.

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 27
Troy Night Out
Open House
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Age 21+

April 27
Lights Out After Troy Night Out
Dance Party Featuring DJ Demand
9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Ages 21+

May 8
Zero-Alcohol Dance Party
7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Age 18 +

May 9
End of Semester Dance Party
DJ Joey G Entertainment
9 p.m. till 2 a.m.
Age 21+

ONGOING EVENTS

Ladies Night & Kokopellis Karaoke
Every Wednesday Night
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Kokopellis Karaoke
Every Sunday Night
8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

FOR PUBLICITY IMAGES, visit: http://duncancrary.com/clients/kokopellis.html

For information, visit: http://www.kokopellisclub.com or call 518-326-3024

Contact: Joe Glick (518) 857-5186

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Joe Glick (518) 857-5186

Troy Nightclub Offers Alcohol-Free Fun for College Students – May 8, 2012

End of Semester Dance Party for Ages 18 and Over at Kokopellis

TROY, NY (04/20/12) – The owner of a Troy nightclub is working with local students to offer a no-alcohol dance party experience this Tuesday, May 8, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“There are just too many issues with over/under events where alcohol is served. So we are designing an 18 and over club night for the sole purpose of giving college students a safe place to go and dance where absolutely no alcohol is served,” said Joe Glick, owner of Kokopellis night club. “Our bouncers will not allow anyone in the club who is visibly under the influence.”

Glick, 34, purchased the three-story club building with his father Barry Glick in August. While the first floor sports lounge and third floor VIP lounge have stocked bars on them, both will be closed and locked during the alcohol-free event. Instead, only the second-story dance floor will be open, and will be accessible only through its own separate street-level entrance. The dance club can accommodate 99 people at one time and features a high-end sound system and the hottest intelligent laser light show in the Capital Region. There will be no re-admittance for this event.

Graduating RPI senior Chris Low, 21, who first approached Glick with the idea of hosting a no-alcohol dance party at the club, considers the event his parting present to the younger students.

“When I was a freshman, the student policies weren’t as strict as now,” Low said, citing new college regulations and city laws regarding college parties and noise complaints. “Essentially the social scene at RPI has become non-existent unless you are over 21.”

Low does have an occasional drink now that he’s 21, but says he takes pride in being responsible and is usually the sober, designated driver for his friends.

“Although some students think otherwise, alcohol and fun are not necessarily intertwined,” said Low. “I want to show that you can have fun without alcohol.”

Low expects to draw most club goers to the event from the RPI student population, but students from any area college are invited to attend.

He is currently attempting to raise $3,600 to make the event entirely free for those who attend. His costs include a $2,500 rental fee for the club, $400 for the DJ, $400 for an RPI shuttle to bring students to and from the club, $250 for food, and $50 for incidental costs.

Donations by check should be made to Kokopellis Nightclub, with “Zero Alcohol Party” in the memo. Mail to: Kokopellis, 124 4th St. Troy, NY 12180. Online donations by PayPal or Credit Card can be made at:

http://www.kokopellisclub.com/zero-alcohol-dance-party.html

Low is also currently seeking event sponsorships from businesses and nonprofits. If he does not reach his fundraising goal, there may be an admission fee for the event.

For information and updates, visit:

http://www.kokopellisclub.com/zero-alcohol-dance-party.html

If there is interest from the college community, Glick says he would be willing to host similar alcohol-free events next year.

On the following night, Wednesday, May 9, all three levels of Kokopellis will be open for a 21 and over end of the school year party featuring entertainment by DJ Joey G Entertainment.

“We’re trying to provide something for the entire college community,” Glick said. “On Tuesday, we have the alcohol-free party for students under 21. On Wednesday, we’ll host a party for the 21 and over students who want to drink responsibly.”

UPCOMING EVENTS AT KOKOPELLIS

Kokopellis will host an Open House from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 27 during Troy Night Out. All three levels of the club, including the first floor sports bar, the second floor dance club, and the third floor high-end VIP lounge, will be open to the public so that visitors can fully explore Troy’s newest hot spot.

For information, visit: http://www.kokopellisclub.com or call 518-326-3024

Media Contacts:

Joe Glick (518) 857-5186 | Chris Low (310) 699-0149

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Mike Keller, 518-331-8827 (media only)

Bootlegger’s Pub Brings Live Comedy to Troy – Feb 11

“The Not Too Far From Home Comedy Tour” Serves Up Laughs, Locally

TROY, NY (Feb. 1, 2012) — On Saturday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m., Bootlegger’s On Broadway will host “The Not Too Far From Home Comedy Tour,” featuring comedians Aaron David Ward, Dave Cooperman and Deric Harrington.

“It’s easy to catch a live comedy act in Boston or New York, but there aren’t many places for comedy around here,” said Nate Rock, co-owner of Bootlegger’s. “Sometimes people want a little more than the usual bar scene — they want to be entertained.”

Headlined by Aaron David Ward, “The Not Too Far From Home Comedy Tour” has been making stops at bars, cafes, colleges, and other venues throughout upstate New York and New England.

Ward’s style has been described as self-deprecating, socio-political, and culturally critical comedy that is both auto-biographical and worldly. He has appeared in several movies, including “What I See In the Dark” and “Aftermath,” and in a pilot for MTV and VH1 titled “The List.” But people in this area may be more familiar with the political commentary he supplies for “The Glenn Slingerland Situation,” a locally produced program broadcast on MY TV 4.

“He’s kind of like Lewis Black’s little brother,” Rock said of Ward. “The last time he played Bootlegger’s, he killed it.”

Opening act Dave “Coop” Cooperman has been described as a hybrid of Ray Romano and Jim Carrey. His brand of physical yet thought-provoking comedy is tied to his interracial marriage because he likes to talk about what it’s like to marry and be in love with a CAP (Chinese-American Princess). Coop’s goofy and physical approach to social satire distinguish him from other acts.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Bootlegger’s co-owner Mike Keller thinks a comedy show might just be the place to meet other singles still in search of a date. “They do say laughter is one of the best aphrodisiacs,” Keller said. “And you don’t even have to be the one cracking the jokes this Saturday.”

TICKETS

Tickets for “The Not Too Far From Home Comedy Tour” at Bootlegger’s on Broadway will be available at the door and will cost $10. The pub is located at 200 Broadway, in downtown Troy. Parking is available on the street and in the city-owned parking lot, located one block away on First Street. For information call 518-874-4475

PUBLICITY IMAGES

To download high resolution publicity images of “The Not Too Far From Home Comedy Tour,” visit:

http://www.duncancrary.com/clients/Bootleggers

FOR MORE ON THE COMEDIANS

Aaron David Ward
http://www.aarondavidward.com

Dave Cooperman
http://www.davecooperman.com

Deric Harington
http://www.funnyderic.com

ABOUT BOOTLEGGER’S ON BROADWAY

Established June 2011, Bootlegger’s on Broadway is owned by longtime friends Nate Rock, 31, of Coxsakie, and Mike Keller, 36, of Watervliet. The bar, restaurant and accompanying ballroom occupy the first floor of the historic Hendrick Hudson building, a former hotel overlooking Monument Square. The sprawling but cozy space has a touch of elegance — Milan chandeliers, African mahogany and Brazilian cherry floors — that Keller describes as “gourmet leftovers” from the previous business, Chef Larry Schepici’s upscale Tosca Grille.

For information, call 518-331-8827 (media only), or visit http://bootleggersonbroadway.com.

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Gregg Stacy, 518-698-8330

Festival of Manliness Pours Pints for Prostates

Brewer uses beer, cigars, wild game and football to promote men’s health — Jan. 22, 2012

TROY, N.Y. (Dec. 8, 2011) — An Upstate N.Y. brewery is fighting prostate cancer this winter with a festival devoted to all things manly.

“Let’s face it, men visit their bartender more often than their doctor,” said Gregg Stacy, vice president of Brown’s Brewing Co. of Troy, N.Y. “So we figured we might as well bring health awareness to the place where men already congregate: the pub.”

On Sunday, Jan. 22. at 4 p.m., Brown’s Brewing Company of Troy, N.Y. will host “The Festival of Manliness,” in its Revolution Hall. A portion of the proceeds from this gentlemanly event will benefit the “Pints for Prostates” campaign, a 501(c)3 organization that encourages men to get screened regularly for prostate cancer.

“One in six men will face prostate cancer sometime during their lives,” said Rick Lyke, prostate cancer survivor and founder of Pints for Prostates. Lyke is a former Capital Region resident, having lived in Clifton Park for nearly 10 years before moving to Charlotte, N.C. in 2005. “Prostate cancer is one of those cancers that if you detect it early enough and have proper treatment, it’s nearly 100 percent survivable. That’s why our message about getting tested is so critical.”

The Festival of Manliness will feature a wild game beer supper and hand rolled cigars while the NFC Championship plays on the Hall’s 16′x10′ screen. The event will conclude with a raffle drawing of manly prizes, including: membership to the Brown’s Mug Club, a bottle of single malt scotch, a gas grill, a Carhartt gift card, and an expenses paid seven-day trip for two to three breweries in Belgium.

“We realize guys and beer go together and we decided to use the universal language of beer to reach men,” said Lyke. “But we’re all about moderation when it concerns consumption, and actually there are a lot of studies out there that show that moderate consumption of beer is good for your health.”

ABOUT

Brown’s Brewing Co. handcrafts more than 22 different styles of ales and lagers including an award winning Oatmeal Stout and Whiskey Porter. Brown’s is located at 417 River Street in Troy, N.Y. For more information, visit http://brownsbrewing.com or call 518-273-BEER.

Pints for Prostates is a grassroots campaign that uses the universal language of beer to reach men with an important health message. Founded by prostate cancer survivor Rick Lyke in 2008, the campaign raises awareness among men about the need for regular health screenings. Pints for Prostates has registered as a 501(c)3 charity and 100 percent of all funds raised by the group go to fighting prostate cancer and assisting men with the disease. For information, visit: http://pintsforprostates.org

PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH RICK LYKE

To listen to a podcast interview between Gregg Stacy and Rick Lyke, about Pints for Prostates and The Festival of Manliness, click here:

PUBLICITY IMAGES

For high resolution publicity images for The Festival of Manliness, Brown’s Brewing Co., visit: http://www.duncancrary.com/clients/browns.html

For information or to schedule an interview, contact: Gregg Stacy at 518-698-8330

###

Media coverage resulting from this press release:

Bite-Sized: Brown’s throwing ‘manly’ fest in January, Times Union, Dec. 14, 2011.

The Festival of Manliness, All Over Albany, Dec. 12, 2011.

Brown’s throwing ‘manly’ fest in January, Times Union -Table Hopping blogDec. 12, 2011.

For Immediate Release

Contact Duncan Crary, 518-274-2723

Chris Ryan ’86 Plays Bootlegger in PBS Prohibition Film

Lessons Learned at Wagner Translate to Successful Community Business

TROY, NY (Oct. 7, 2011) — Chris Ryan ’86 made his acting debut on the small screen this October when his Troy, New York establishment, Ryan’s Wake Public House, served as a filming location for a PBS special.

Ryan plays a mouthy bootlegger in “William Kennedy’s Prohibition Story,” a 30-minute documentary about the life and times of infamous East Coast gangster Jack “Legs” Diamond. The movie is airing statewide and beyond on PBS affiliate stations this winter.

Though it’s not every day that film crews set up shop there, Ryan’s riverfront bar in Troy’s entertainment district is a popular hangout where politicians, business leaders and artists mingle and make things happen in their community. Ryan’s Wake and its authentic turn-of-the century decor is a frequent winner in the “Best Bar” category, selected annually by Capital Region media.

“A true pub is more than a bar,” Ryan said. “It’s a community space, a ‘Third Place,’ where people of all walks of life relax and congregate after work. It’s often the first setting for important civic conversations that lead to real change in a small community like ours.”

As a business major at Wagner, Ryan supported himself by working as the Student Union Operations Manager and as manger/bartender at The Hawk’s Nest, a student pub. After college he worked for two years as a staff member, with a focus on economic development, for former Staten Island Borough President Ralph J. Lamberti.

“Working for Ralph gave me a great opportunity to participate in city government and appreciate how it affects the business community and most aspects of our lives.”

But as a native of Utica, Ryan was eager to return upstate to put his experience in business, economic development and hospitality to use.

In the early 1990s, Ryan accepted a management position at Brown’s Brewing Co., a locally owned upstart brewery and restaurant that has since become an anchor in Troy’s bustling waterfront entertainment district. While at Brown’s, Ryan helped establish Revolution Hall, a state-of-the-art performance space adjacent to and owned by the brewery. In 2005, the Wagner graduate opened Ryan’s Wake Public House on the same block.

These initiatives were major steps toward the urban revitalization of this small but up-and-coming Hudson River city, which is quickly becoming an attractive place for young professionals, artists and entrepreneurs to live, work and play.

Does Ryan plan to launch a new career as an actor? Probably not. But Troy has been the setting for several major motion pictures in recent years, including “Ironweed,”"The Age of Innocence” and “The Time Machine.”

“That’s why they call this place ‘Hollywood on the Hudson,’” Ryan said of his adopted city.

To catch Ryan’s performance in “William Kennedy’s Prohibition Story,” check the schedule of your local PBS station or purchase a DVD at wmht.org/prohibition. For information about Ryan’s Wake Public House, visit: ryanswake.com.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

The name “Ryan’s Wake” is a nod to the Ryan family funeral business and to the tradition of celebrating life at an Irish wake. It is also a playful reference to the wakes created by passing boats on the nearby Hudson River.

PUBLICITY PHOTOS

For high resolution movie stills and a clip from William Kennedy’s Prohibition Story,” filmed at Ryan’s Wake Public House, visit: http://duncancrary.com/clients/ProhibitionStory.html

###

Media coverage resulting from this press release:

This pitch was picked up by the Wagner College Magazine.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Duncan Crary, 518-274-2723

Utica Brothers Appear in Prohibition Film Tonight on PBS Affiliate

“William Kennedy’s Prohibition Story” recounts exploits of upstate NY gangster

TROY, NY (Oct. 2, 2011) — Two Utica natives will appear in a documentary film about the Prohibition broadcast tonight on the Central NY PBS affiliate.

“William Kennedy’s Prohibition Story” is a 30-minute documentary film that airs tonight Sunday, Oct. 2 at 10 pm on PBS affiliate WCNY/Channel 24 – Syracuse, NY (and tonight on WHMT/Channel 17 – Troy at 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.).

The film stars Pulitzer Prize winning author and Albany native William Kennedy (“Ironweed,”"Legs”), who recounts the fascinating and violent exploits of gangster-bootlegger Jack “Legs” Diamond during the Prohibition era.

One of the most famous East Coast gangsters, Diamond built criminal empires in New York City and the Catskills during the 1920s and 30s.

The Kennedy film, which airs in conjunction with Ken Burn’s latest documentary “Prohibition,” includes archival footage and re-enactments.

In one re-enactment scene, native Utica brothers Chris Ryan, 47, and Matt Ryan, 46, play bootlegger brothers William “Red” Cassidy and Pete Cassidy who were murdered in 1929 by Legs Diamond in the gangster’s Hotsy Totsy Club on Manhattan’s West Side.

That scene and one other were filmed in Chris Ryan’s Troy, N.Y. bar, Ryan’s Wake Pub.

FUN FACT:

The beer served in the film is Utica Club!

For those who miss tonight’s broadcast, Central New York residents should check the WCNY/Channel 24 schedule for future broadcasts of “William Kennedy’s Prohibition Story.” The documentary film will also be available on DVD. It is also airing on other PBS stations across the state and beyond this October.

UTICA CONNECTION ALIVE AT RYAN’S WAKE

When Chris Ryan established Ryan’s Wake pub in 2005, in the waterfront entertainment district of Troy, N.Y., he kept his hometown connection alive by making sure Utica Club beer is always on tap. The bar owner says he serves about two kegs of UC per week, in addition to other popular Matt Brewing Company products.

Schultz & Dooley, the famous “spokesmugs” for the West End Brewing Company (later purchased by Matt Brewing Co.), also keep watch over the crowds at Ryan’s Wake, where many former Utica residents congregate.

For information about William Kennedy’s Prohibition Story, visit: http://www.wmht.org/prohibition

PUBLICITY PHOTOS

For high resolution movie stills and a clip from William Kennedy’s Prohibition Story,” filmed at Ryan’s Wake Public House, visit: http://duncancrary.com/clients/ProhibitionStory.html.

For information, call Duncan Crary at 518-274-2723

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Media coverage resulting from this press release:

This pitch resulted in a television news story which aired on WKTV Ch. 2 in Utica.

Advisory: Tonight – Breathtaking Japanese Flowers & Floral Design at FlowerSchool NY

Spectacular Photo and Video Opportunity

For Immediate Release

MANHATTAN (Jan. 17, 2011) — Tonight only, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., FlowerSchool New York will offer flower enthusiasts and the media a special opportunity to view and learn about breathtaking, unique Japanese flowers.

News photographers and videographers are especially urged to come capture vivid images of these stunning flowers.

Tonight’s free event at FlowerSchool New York is open to the public and is held in conjunction with Bloom Japan’s second annual flower show at the Japan Society in NYC.

While the flower show is limited to wholesalers and florists, tonight’s event at FlowerSchool New York is a chance for the general public to see Bloom Japan’s amazingly high quality flower varieties with colors, sizes, and characteristics rarely seen in the U.S.

About 1,000 stems will be on view at FlowerSchool New York, including: gorgeous, tall Gloriosa Lilies; large and fluffy Lisianthus; and spectacular Sweet Pea that changes from lavender to green all in one blossom!

The Bloom Japan Network is an alliance of Japan’s key flower auctions.

FlowerSchool New York offers floral design classes for flower enthusiasts taught by New York City master florists, including Michael George, Cas Trap and Meredith Waga.

Event:

JAPANESE FLOWERS & HOT SAKE

FlowerSchool New York
5 Tudor City Place
New York, New York 10017

Monday, January, 17, 2011
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Free Admission

212.661.8074

http://www.flowerschoolny.com

Media Only:

For information, call 212.661.8074 or email: flowerschool@flowerschoolny.com

###

Media coverage resulting from this press release:

Note: This event was attended by Bruce Golding of the New York Post. Later the following article by Reuven Blau appeared in print:

Valentine’s love in $500 bloom
New York Post, Feb. 6, 2011

For Immediate Release

Contact Jeff Gaines, 518-237-7353

TEDx Comes to Albany: Call For Speakers, Sponsors, Volunteers

Nov. 4 Event to Offer Mind-blowing Discussion

ALBANY (6/29/10)– TEDxAlbany, where x=independently organized TED event, will present a day of information, inspiration and entertainment in the Lewis A. Swyer Theatre of The Egg on Nov. 4, 2010.

The organizers of TEDxAlbany are currently seeking speakers, sponsors and volunteers. The theme is “Human Change.”

“TEDxAlbany is bringing the excitement of TED to New York’s Capital Region,” said Jeff Gaines, TEDxAlbany organizer. “If you still haven’t heard of TED, check out a few videos on the website and you’ll be hooked. There’s nothing more inspiring than experiencing the reckless sharing of good ideas by intelligent people.”

(more…)

Contact: Andre Angelantoni, 415.754.3294

Classes Cope With Anxiety About Life After Oil

Global Energy Crisis Brings New Opportunities To Connect With Community

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — A psychologist is teaching students to prepare emotionally and spiritually for life after the collapse of fossil fuel-based civilization.

“I think everybody knows deep down in their bones that changes are ahead, and that we are at the end of the world as we have known it,” said Carolyn Baker, Ph.D. “There’s going to be tremendous emotional turbulence as things unravel. People are going to have to cope with their feelings and be anchored to some kind of sense of principle or meaningfulness.”

Starting April 24, Baker will lead a four-week distance-learning course titled “Navigating the Coming Chaos of Unprecedented Transitions.” The Boulder, Colo.-based psychotherapist is the author of “Sacred Demise: Walking The Spiritual Path of Industrial Civilization’s Collapse” (2009), which is the textbook for this course offered by PostPeakLiving.com.

The premise of Baker’s book and online course is that a global energy crisis is very near. The world’s oil supply is already at peak production now. As we pass the “peak oil” point, soaring energy costs will disrupt everything from the economy to the food supply, and will make paying down the world’s debt impossible.

“We need to prepare for the daunting changes ahead in our future,” Baker said. “This course and my book are about preparing for the inner transition for life after the peak.”

Books like James Howard Kunstler’s “The Long Emergency” (2005) and television shows like National Geographic’s “Aftermath: World Without Oil” (airing March 8 & 11) are introducing the concept of peak oil to large audiences. The new Transition Town social movement is supporting communities throughout the country to re-make their local economies as they prepare for a world of expensive and likely scarce oil.

The most emphatic among the peak oil proponents are often called “doomers” by their critics and fans alike.

But getting ready for a post-peak oil world isn’t all doom-and-gloom, said André Angelantoni, founder of PostPeakLiving.com. Baker’s upcoming course is just one of many offered by the California-based online, distance-learning school. Other courses include: “Sustainable Post-Peak Livelihoods,” “Introduction to Sustainable Gardening,” “Chickens 101″ and the “UnCrash Course,” the company’s six-week intensive preparation course.

“Our course instructors dedicate a lot of time to showing people the opportunities they have to redesign their lives after oil,” Angelantoni said. “The sooner we acknowledge that the days of cheap oil are numbered, the sooner we can start making realistic plans for the next phase in human history.”

All PostPeakLiving.com courses are available to anyone with access to the Internet. Baker’s course will begin on April 24 and consists of four three-hour sessions on consecutive Saturdays. Students call into a central phone line where they can hear the instructor and each other. They follow along with an online PowerPoint presentation and complete homework between sessions.

“When most people first learn about peak oil, they get depressed,” Baker said. “But it’s worse when they are so terrified of this impending change that they don’t even want to hear about it.”

For information, visit http://www.PostPeakLiving.com.

Contact: André Angelantoni, 415.754.3294

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Media coverage resulting from this press release:

Imagining Life Without Oil, and Being Ready*
The New York Times, June 5, 2010

Oil is front and center in doomsday scenarios
MSNBC, June 6, 2010 (syndicated)

[*Note: The online version of this article links to three clients of Duncan Crary Communications: Post Peak Living, James Howard Kunstler and the KrisCan show.]

Contact: Susanne Friend, contact@friendlyaquaponics.com

Aquaponics is Revolutionizing Sustainable Home Farming

HONOKA’A, Hawaii (02/17/2010) — The creators of a new home-farming system say their “Aquaponics” technique is the world’s most sustainable and affordable food production method.

The new Do-it-yourself “MicroSystem” by Friendly Aquaponics costs less than $500 to build and can grow between 20-40 pounds of fruits and vegetables per month, while using a fraction of the time, space, energy and water of in-the-ground gardening. The system comes with detailed instructions and plans. Training courses are available.

“Our MicroSystem helps anyone step onto the path of food freedom,” said Tim Mann, co-founder of Friendly Aquaponics. “It will pay for itself in just three months with the money saved in store-bought groceries. You could even make money by selling your extra produce!”

Aquaponics is the combination of Aquaculture (growing aquatic life like fish and prawns) and hydroponics (growing plants in water). By combining these technologies the Friendly Aquaponics way, users create a vibrant natural ecosystem that will easily grow an abundance of food.

Friendly Aquaponics is the world’s first certified organic aquaponics farm, located on the Island of Hawaii. The group has created dozens of innovations to simplify and refine aquaponics so that just about anyone can grow safe, nutritious, and delicious food just about anywhere in the world.

Friendly Aquaponics is also a functioning family-run farm with a long-term contract delivering hundreds of pounds of organic lettuce to their local Costco every week, and it all sells out within hours.

“We want to feed our neighbors and teach folks everywhere how they can do the same thing, too,” said Susanne Friend, owner.

The Friendly Aquaponics team developed their MicroSystem and instructional courses after their farm became overwhelmed by visitors seeking tours of the facilities and asking for more information.

Already, hundreds of students from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin American, Japan and China have studied auquaponic farming techniques at the Hawaii headquarters of Friendly Aquaponics. The group also offers private consultations and training materials by postal mail or Internet download.

The next commercial training will be offered in April 19-22, and is expected to sell out well in advance.

For information about Friendly Aquaponics, to purchase the MicroSystem, or to inquire about training sessions, visit: http://friendlyaquaponics.com

To contact Susanne Friend directly, email: contact@friendlyaquaponics.com

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Do-It-Yourself Sustainability
Hawaii Business magazine, May 2010