Announcing the contest that spotlights your creativity where reading can make your writing a star. Despite proposed budget cuts in excess of 37 million to the NYPL system, the New York Public Library Inwood branch takes on the challenge of launching their own Summer Reading NYC program with a contest and campaign called LightsCameraRead.com made possible through the sponsorship of local Washington Heights businesses as well as community volunteers and donations. The LightsCameraRead.com campaign is a contest in which a child (ages 0-teen) writes a short story inspired by his or her favorite Summer Reading NYC book. Next he or she enters the story to maybe be made into a short film that premieres at Tribeca Cinema at the Platinum Pias Awards as well as appears in the DVD release “The Best of Manhattan Kids Guide” coming in January 2011. “Lights, Camera – Read!” is available for submissions online at www.SummerReadingNYC.org  or at your local library branch.

Danita Nichols and the Stamas family will be hosting the Summer Reading NYC launch on Saturday, June 5^th from 1PM-3PM at the Inwood library branch which is located at 4790 Broadway near Dyckman. This will include a live LightsCameraRead.com magic show performed by Yianni Stamas and Bernie Bunny plus the Magic Neighbors puppets including Greenie the Green Monster, Flowerina, Buzz the Bee, Heart NYC and Sammy Snowflake (Snow Person Pet Saver).  They will use video and mystification to explain to the audience of parents plus ages 0-teens how the Lights, Camera, Read contest works.  This includes details on how to submit your reading-inspired short story for consideration to be made into a film dramatized by the Magic Neighbors puppets. Alison Stamas and 21 month year old daughter Lily will be premiering NYC Toddler Theater with audience participation. The event is free and includes raffle prizes, refreshments, arts and crafts and a talking heart.

For more information on how you can get involved or to acquire information on coming to the next “Manhattan Kids Guide” events including LightsCameraRead go to www.ManhattanKidsGuide.com or call the Manhattan Kids Guide Hotline at 212-252-3636. The “Best of Manhattan Kids Guide” DVD and instant download will be released on BroadwayBlast.com Amazon. And who knows, you may even end up on the DVD if you enter LightsCameraRead.com – the contest that spotlights your creativity where reading can make your
writing a star!

Inwood Manhattan Northern NYC—the tip top region of the Big Apple bordering the Bronx—is the location of the New York Public Library Inwood Branch.  This is an area with demographics that includes a large Spanish speaking population. The children’s librarian at the Inwood branch, Danita Nichols, is always on the lookout for new and exciting creative experiences for the local children. So when she represented the NYPL by telling a story on stage at the YM&YWHA as a part of Yianni, Alison and Lily Stamas’ “Manhattan Kids Guide” Winter Festival NYC, she recognized an opportunity for a partnership.

For the Stamas clan (dad Yianni, mom Alison and toddler daughter Lily) presenting annual events as a part of their ManhattanKidsGuide.com website is a family affair.  They now have a chronology of four happenings they donate their time and resources to yearly, the most recent addition to their lineup being the partnership and collaboration with Danita called LightsCameraRead.com.  Lights, Camera, Read is now also officially a part of the Summer Reading NYC June kickoff campaign that encourages kids to read and be creative.

MKG’s annual sequence and sites now include SummerReadingNYC.org in June, HarvestFestivalNYC.com in October (involving the trick or treat tour of TrickOrTreatNYC.com fame), WinterFestivalNYC.com in December and the wrap-up awards of the PlatinumPias.com in the following year’s January to recognize the good community work of kids as well as businesses, services and celebrities. PlatinumPias.com is produced by the internet publicity, digital education and entertainment creation company called VideoFilmWeb.com.

For kids interested in entering the contest, one way to develop your tale is through workshops that the Inwood branch is offering with
Summer Reading NYC Wednesday Workshops lead by Ricka Gaus. When the stories are completed they can be submitted directly to the Inwood Manhattan Library Branch or online at www.LightsCameraRead.com. The online submission process involves signing up for the PlatinumPias.com free newsletter that updates subscribers regarding “Manhattan Kids Guide” and other nominations in a variety of industries including businesses, services and celebrities. One such category is the nine location Dramatics NYC stylist of the year award which is the Platinum Pia that goes to the outstanding hairdresser from a collection of hair trend videos found at www.PickYourStylist.com.

And even with the obstacles of the current financial climate including the presently proposed NYPL budget cuts, Inwood Manhattan and Washington Heights businesses are helping to make a difference.  These businesses are regular supporters of “Manhattan Kids Guide” and its mission to provide fun and free family events and are generously donating free raffle prize giveaways for the kids. These local businesses will also be in attendance at the SummerReadingNYC.org event where they will participate in the performances, workshops, arts and crafts and prize giveaways. Free raffle prizes are being supplied by Northern NYC businesses including Grandpas Brick Oven Pizza, Inwood Pharmacy , Wiggles Giggles Playhouse Incorporated and children’s dentist Evy Migadaki, DMD, FICOI  who participated in “Manhattan’s Kid Guide’s” prior events of Harvest Festival NYC and Winter Festival NYC and will be reprising her role at the library of “The Tooth Fairy”.