FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2007

 CONTACTS:
Dmitry Feld, ILBBQF Sponsorship/Marketing, dmitryf@ilbbqf.com, 518-523-2071, ext. 104
Jon Lundin, ILBBQF Media/Public Relations Coordinator, jonl@ilbbqf.com, 518-891-8193

ILBBQF Coordinators Looking for Volunteers

Lake Placid, N.Y. --- Coordinators of the second annual Lake Placid , NY —I Love Barbeque Festival (ILBBQF) are looking for volunteers for the three-day event, which will be held June 29-July 1 on the Olympic speedskating oval in Lake Placid .  Approximately 75 volunteers are needed to collect admission fees, distribute tickets, manage food, beverage, vendor, volunteer and VIP tents, control traffic, etc.  Volunteers will work in two shifts each day, Friday, June 29, from 6-9 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, June 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m., and on Sunday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 to 8 p.m.  Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact Carol Zeske, at 518-523-1816 or through e-mail at carolz@ILBBQF.com.  Each volunteer will be given an official ILBBQF t-shirt and voucher for meals.

The I Smell Smoke barbeque team from Fitzwilliam, N.H., will look to defend their ILBBQF grand championship crown against 35 barbeque teams from Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont and Vancouver, Canada. The 36-team field will be competing for $7,500.00 in four categories of beef brisket, chicken, pulled pork and ribs, plus the title of grand champion and New York State champion. As a New York State champion, that team will earn an automatic bid into the Oct. 4-7 28thAnnual American Royal Barbecue Festival in Kansas City , Mo. After winning last year’s ILBBQF grand championship and New York State title, I Smell Smoke went on to compete in last year’s American Royal where they finished fourth in the “Open,” competing against more than 550 other barbeque squads.

The teams will also compete for $1,000.00 in Friday’s High Peaks Ford Midnight Grillin’ Bash.

Proceeds from the ILBBQF will once again benefit the Shipman Youth Center of Lake Placid, a not-for-profit community organization, which provides support to area youth, ages 10-18.  Gates open on the Olympic Speedskating Oval Friday from 6 p.m. to midnight and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Sunday’s gates are slated to open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  General admission is just $5 and free for children under 12.  Last year’s ILBBQF raised in excess of $23,000.00 for the Shipman Youth Center .

The ILBBQF would like to extend its gratitude to its gold level sponsors including the Can-Am Hockey Group, Glazier Food Service Distributors, High Peaks Ford, Parties Unlimited and Jim Cushman Studio, the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and USA Luge. Official sponsors include A.G. Edwards, Comfort Inn, Court Yard Marriott, Golden Arrow Resort, Ironman USA, Kelly Kennedy Graphics, Kilcoyne Farms, Kiwanis Club, Lake Placid Central School District, Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau, Lake Placid Hilton Resort, Lake Placid News, Lions Club, NBT Bank, North Country Ministries, Northwood Inn, Placid Productions, Rock 105, the Summit Resort, Town of North Elba, Village of Lake Placid, Vulcan Lead and WSLP-FM 93.3. Friends of the ILBBQF include All Seasons Tents, Ben & Jerry’s, Bob Imbriani of Associated Global Systems, Desperados, Dr. Balestrini, Fruitful Seasons Custom Catering, Harlow Construction, Hirzel Caning, Lisa G’s, Lowe’s, Main St. Association, Bob and Laurie Pokelwaldt, Price Chopper Corp., Smokin’ Dog BBQ, Smokinlicious, John and Sandi Taylor, State Farm, U-Haul Corp., Upstate Auto, UPS Lake Placid and Woodlake Motor Inn, .

For more information on the Lake Placid, NY—I Love Barbeque Festival, visit their website, www.ILBBQF.com.

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Thomas Shipman, a Lake Placid police officer whose life was cut short in 1999, inspired the center, which the festival will benefit. For the past seven years, the Shipman Youth Center has provided a supervised safe and exciting environment and programs where local children can grow and develop as individuals.