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Ithaca, NY - As PRI and the Museum of the Earth head into another summer of treasure hunting for fossils and exploring the beauty of upstate New York, they also remember the anniversary of the September 11th attacks with their interpretive gorge walk series this August, now in its third year.

The walks were officially renamed in 2004 to the "James Potorti Museum of the Earth/State Parks Gorge Walks" in memory of Ithaca native James E. Potorti, who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The renaming of the walks was a result of an endowment gift to the Museum from his widow, Nikki Stern, Executive Director of Families of September 11. Potorti, 52, was a vice president at Marsh & McLennan, a financial services company, and worked on the 94th floor of 1 World Trade Center. His first career, however, was as a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He grew up in Ithaca and attended SUNY Oswego.
 
The Museum of the Earth, and its parent organization, the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI), have been offering the free Friday-morning interpretive walks in collaboration with the local State Parks for the past seven years. PRI's Director of Education, Rob Ross, who started the program, says that Stern's gift will ensure that the walks will continue to be offered free of charge to Park visitors into the future.

 Summer 2006 Schedule:
James Potorti Gorge Walks (10am-11:30am)

Aug. 4 Treman State Park
Aug. 11 Taughannock State Park
Aug. 18 Watkins Glen State Park
Aug. 25 Buttermilk State Park


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