Community Notebook: WM Hosts Talks on 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' Bear Stearns

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, October 19, 2011

William and Mary will host two interesting discussions this week, one on “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and another on the collapse of Bear Stearns. On Friday, guests can go behind-the-scenes at the Colonial Williamsburg Costume Design Center. And next month, Avalon will highlight the plight of the homeless for its “One Night Without a Home” event. Read on for details.

Author to Discuss Impact of ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ Thursday

Author David S. Reynolds will discuss the enduring impact of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” at the College of William and Mary on Thursday.

He’ll speak about his new book, “Mightier than the Sword: Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the Battle for America” at 6 p.m. in Room 201 of Washington Hall. The event is free and open to the public, with parking available at Merchant’s Square.

Reynolds’s appearance coincides with the 200th anniversary of author Harriet Beecher Stowe’s birth, and the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Her book has been considered a contributing factor to the start of the conflict by influencing views of slavery in the North.

Business School Screens Bear Stearns Documentary

The William and Mary Business School is hosting a screening of “Confidence Game,” a documentary exploring the downfall of the Bear Stearns investment bank.

The screen, which is free, will begin at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Filmmaker Nick Verbitsky will be on hand for the screening. Afterward, he will join finance professor John Merrick, economics professor Till Schreiber and law professor Eric Kades for a question-and-answer session on the film and the impact of the Bear Stearns collapse in 2008.

The film will be shown in the Brinkley Commons Room at the Mason School of Business at 101 Ukrop Way.

CW Costume Design Center Opens Doors on Friday

The Colonial Williamsburg Costume Design Center will host its third annual open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.

Guests can get a behind-the-scenes look at the Costume Design Center, located at 250 First St. The open house is free with any Historic Area admission pass or Good Neighbor pass. Reservations are required, and can be made by calling (757) 229-2141.

Avalon Raises Awareness of Homelessness

Avalon, a nonprofit devoted to protecting women and children, will raise awareness of homelessness with “One Night Without a Home” on the night of Nov. 5.

The event is open to sixth to 12th grade students and their guardians or parents. Throughout the night, students get a sense of what life is like for those without homes.

“One Night Without a Home” will begin at 5 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center. The event will conclude the following morning at 7 a.m. For more information or to get involved, click here.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not Launches Food Drive

Williamsburg’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not will have its Gimme Five Food Drive from Nov. 6 to 10.

Guests who bring a donation of five nonperishable food items can get a ticket to Ripley’s Believe It or Not for $5 (a regular adult ticket costs $15.99). All of the food collected will go to “FISH” Historic Triangle Community Services Center, a volunteer agency that provides emergency help in the Williamsburg area.

One discount ticket will be available for every five nonperishable food items donated. The promotion may not be combined with any other offers.

Virginia Veteran’s Tribute planned for Veteran’s Day

Virginia Veteran’s Tribute is a series of events dedicated to honoring military veterans and help returning members of the Armed Forces transition back into civilian life.

On Nov. 11, the Veterans Coalition Inc. is planning to erect a Veterans Tribute Tower in New Town and organize a Veteran’s Day Parade. The 32-foot high tower will be built by the Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The weekend’s events include the dedication breakfast and ceremony, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 11, followed by special performances and a tribute parade at 10 a.m. on Nov. 12. Learn more about the weekend here.

Register Now for Sentara Sleighbell 5K

 

Register now for the third annual Sentara Sleighbell 5K, to be held Dec. 10 at the Geddy Outpatient Center at Sentara Hospital.

Proceeds from the 5K benefit area after-school activities provided by the WJCC School Health Initiative Program (SHIP) and R.F. Wilkinson YMCA. Last year’s event raised close to $10,000 and drew more than 600 participants.

Register online here. The cost is $25 for pre-registration postmarked by Dec. 3; $15 for students 18 and under who pre-register; $30 for all entrants on race day; $10 for a T-shirt and free for a one-mile fun run. Early packet pick-up will be Dec. 9 at the YMCA.

The winner of this year’s Sleighbell T-shirt design contest is Warhill student Lyndsey Dannon. For more information, contact Janice Kailos at (757) 603-6423.

Martin’s Donates Benches to Community

As part of the “Bags to Benches” program, Martin’s donated 25 park benches to be installed in the greater Richmond and Williamsburg communities. The benches are created from unused plastic grocery bags returned to the store by customers.

Martin’s also donated 10 benches to the State Fair of Virginia, and three to the York River State Park in Williamsburg.

Customers can recycled their plastic bags at any location. Trex, a Winchester-based company, then turns the bags into park benches. Since 1997, 1,500 benches have been donated to communities by Martin’s.