Williamsburg Area Learning Tree

Williamsburg Area Learning Tree (WALT) just posted their classes being offered in 2009 on their website today!

If you’ve never heard of WALT before, here’s a quote from their website:

The Williamsburg Area Learning Tree (WALT), a Public Service Project of the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists, is a not-for-profit education program that brings you and your neighbors together to share in the excitement and fun of learning. Individuals in our community have stepped forward to offer their knowledge of a subject that they love so that the rest of us can learn from them. With the help of these people and many businesses and service organizations, we present this catalog of classes.

Basically, they are classes offered in various topics by local specialists on those topics. Check them out to see if there’s anything you’d like to learn – you’d be surprised at all they have to offer!

Inauguration at WRL – update!

From the WRL email newsletter:

OVER 130 VIEW PRESIDENT OBAMA’S INAUGURATION AT WILLIAMSBURG LIBRARY THEATRE SCREENING

More than 130 people viewed the inauguration of President Barack Obama in a free screening in the Williamsburg Library Theatre.  While most of those attending were from the Williamsburg area – including 24 students from the nearby Williamsburg Montessori School – some came from as far away as Ohio to be part of this communal viewing on the library’s big screen.  Another 40 people viewed the ceremony’s broadcast at the James City County Library.

Michelle Green and Cynthia McGrath of Dayton, Ohio attended the screening in Williamsburg because they were told there were no hotels in the Washington area.  “We began planning to come the day after the election,” McGrath said.  “All the hotels online said they were sold out, so we decided to stay in Williamsburg.”  The duo drove to Washington on Martin Luther King Day to perform a day of service at Washington’s RFK Stadium where they saw Michelle Obama, and then returned to their hotel in Williamsburg.  “We didn’t care whether we were in D.C. on Inauguration Day,” Green said. “We just wanted to be part of a celebration like this one at the library.”

The audience at the library was actively engaged in the telecast, clapping for their favorite politicians as they entered, and standing for the swearing in of Vice President Biden and President Obama.  Smaller numbers of people continued to view the afternoon luncheon and parade.

Wow! How cool is that? I got to see the swearing in and speech at James City County Library, and the big screen combined with the audience of our local neighbors made it a really touching experience.

I am so proud to be an American on this day!

New addition to Presidents Park

If you’ve already been to Presidents Park, here’s your reason to return! I can’t wait to have a visit.

Obama bust planned at tourist attraction
Associated Press – January 19, 2009 10:25 AM ET

YORKTOWN, Va. (AP) – A York County tourist attraction that features giant busts of all U.S. presidents will begin a fundraising campaign this month to add a likeness of Barack Obama.

Everette H. Newman III, president of Presidents Park, says the concrete & steel sculpture will cost about $60,000. It will be 16 feet to 18 feet tall and weigh about 7,400 pounds.

Newman says he had hoped to have the bust in place before Tuesday’s inauguration. But the sculptor, David Adickes of Houston, didn’t like the original bust he designed for Obama.

Meanwhile, the park is creating an exhibit with newspaper clippings and magazine articles about Obama. Also, a life-size bust will go on display in a couple of weeks and remain until the big one arrives.

When I visited Presidents Park, I was really amazed at the sculptures. I went on a very hot, clear summer day, and had the sunburn afterwards to prove it. I suggest going on a beautiful day, or if going on a sunny day, wear sunscreen, bring an umbrella or a big hat, and a large water bottle!, since the sculptures are outdoors and there was only one gazebo in the middle of the park for shade and water. Otherwise, I’d say Presidents Park is a great place to visit – you can learn a lot of interesting facts about the presidents, have a leasurely walk through their large heads, and it’s really not that expensive and you can find discount coupons in regularly published tourist pamphlets. Check out the official website for more info!

Presidental Inauguration, January 20th

From the Williamsburg Regional Library mailing list:

VIEW THE INAUGURATION ON THE BIG SCREEN AT YOUR LIBRARY

Can’t get to Washington next Tuesday?  Mark this historic day in America by viewing the Inauguration of President Barack Obama on the big screen at both the Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland Street and the Kitzinger Community Room at the James City County Library, 7770 Croaker Road. The televised broadcast of the inauguration, speech and subsequent parade will be projected on the large screens in both libraries.  Bring your friends, spend your lunch hour, or just drop in and see this historic event with others.  The free showing begins on Tuesday, January 20 at 11 a.m. and will conclude at 3 p.m.  Call (757) 259-4070 for more information.

I’ve never heard of a library doing something like this, so I had to share! Very cool!

I’ve also read that hotels here in Williamsburg are being booked to the point of no vacancy for the inauguration! Wow! If you’re venturing out on the roads January 20th, be safe!!!