Jamestown. Fall Virginia s State Map to Feature 2007 Communities. Route 199 Corridor to Jamestown Sites Expanded to Four Lanes

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1 Jamestown 2007 Fall 2005 Virginia s State Map to Feature 2007 Communities Virginia s official state map is getting a facelift in time for America s 400 th Anniversary. Starting next spring, Virginia travelers who pick up an official edition of the state map issued by the Virginia Department of Transportation will see a special cover and inset commemorating Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the new world. The map will highlight communities throughout Virginia that are honoring their particular heritage during the 18-month commemoration. It will serve as a guide for visitors who want to see commemoration projects being planned by communities around the state, ranging from cultural festivals and new museum exhibits to new scenic trails and byways built to commemorate their role in the anniversary. Jamestown 2007, the agency responsible for planning the commemoration and organizing community involvement through the Virginia 2007 Community Program, is working with VDOT on the map s special community listings. The commemoration will be an exciting time to be in Virginia, with so many events, programs and activities planned across the commonwealth, said Lynda J. South, VDOT s chief of communications whose office produces the state map. VDOT is pleased to help consumers make the most of their travels in Virginia and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime American milestone. As of November, more than 135 communities in Virginia have signed on to participate in the commemoration, and more are being added every day. Our goal is to have every community in Virginia involved in some fashion, said Amy Ritchie, manager of statewide programs for Jamestown That way, as visitors travel through the commonwealth during the commemoration, they can see the important role Virginia has played in our nation s 400-year history. The new state map will be available in early 2006 at official welcome centers along Virginia s borders, U.S. Route 13 on the Eastern Shore and at many other sites throughout the commonwealth. It also will be distributed next spring and summer at ports along the East Coast during the Godspeed sail, and online at For a complete list of communities participating in the Virginia 2007 Community Program and a look at what they are planning for the commemoration, or for more information about America s 400 th Anniversary, visit Route 199 Corridor to Jamestown Sites Expanded to Four Lanes Lawmakers, contractors and supporters gathered at Jamestown Settlement on Oct. 21 to celebrate the completion of critical transportation improvements in the Historic Triangle well in advance of America s 400 th Anniversary. Nearly five miles of road improvements expands the Route 199 corridor to four lanes, improves traffic flow at the intersection of Route 31 and relocates Route 359 access to the Colonial Parkway, Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement is going to be an extraordinary year in the history of the commonwealth, that makes these transportation improvements on Route 199 absolutely critical to the success of the 2007 commemoration, said state Sen. Thomas K. Norment, keynote speaker at the road project s ribbon cutting ceremony. Contractors began working on the $32 million improvement project in 2002, beating VDOT s deadline for completion by more than a year and well in advance of the activities being planned for the commemoration. The improvements will make it easier for visitors attending the anniversary s signature events, while easing congestion for more than 25,000 motorists who use the roads every day.

2 National Update Committee Makes Recommendations on Coin Designs Finding nine finalists among nearly 100 commemorative coin designs can be as daunting as mining for gold, especially when planners of America s 400 th Anniversary expect the highest quality coin designs to commemorate the founding of our nation. Vetting by the Jamestown Commemorative Coin Design Committee, a subcommittee of the Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee, began in August. The U.S. Mint commissioned artists to produce designs focusing on Jamestown s legacies and the commemoration s cultural themes. A total of 98 designs were produced. It has been a challenge to find the few coin designs that stand out among the many submissions we received from talented artists throughout the United States, said Sandy Rives, Virginia director for the National Park Service and a member of the Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee. The coin design committee s choices will be considered along with designs favored by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee. Each body is making separate recommendations. Organizers expect the final four designs one for each side of the two coins will be chosen by early spring and communicated to the 2007 steering committee. Upon approval, the steering committee will forward them to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury for a final design decision. The final designs, which will be stamped onto each side of the gold and silver coins by the U.S. Mint, will create heirloom quality pieces of history commemorating America s 400 th Anniversary, said Ben Dendy, chairman of the coin design committee. The U.S. Mint plans to strike 500,000 silver dollars and 100,000 gold $5 pieces, which will be sold throughout No coins will be produced after Dec. 31, Revenue from coin sales will benefit Jamestown 2007 and the educational programs of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, National Park Service and APVA Preservation Virginia. Prosody Creative Services begins Open Auditions for Anniversary Voices The talent search has started for 30 top-level performers who will travel along with Jamestown Settlement s Godspeed as the replica 17 th -century ship makes its three-month journey up the East Coast next spring and summer. Prosody Creative Services, an award-winning event production firm hired to produce four America s 400 th Anniversary events, held auditions at Williamsburg s Bruton Heights Education Center Auditorium during October and November. Prosody held auditions for singers, dancers and musicians to perform multiple daily shows of Anniversary Voices, a production of original and traditional songs, while a smaller 10-member performance troupe is being sought to don custom-made costumes for the original children s play Ba-Baah and the Windigo. We are looking for outgoing personalities with sizzle to represent the state as goodwill ambassadors during the Godspeed sail, said Cabot Wade, musical director of Anniversary Voices and company manager of the children s production. The performers will entertain visitors as the Godspeed docks in the port cities of Alexandria, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Newport. The productions will be used throughout the 18-month commemoration. 2

3 Statewide Update Anniversary Web Site Piques National, International Interest More visitors than ever are coming to Jamestown 2007 s Web site, just as planners of America s 400 th Anniversary are gearing up for18 months of events commemorating the nation s quadricentennial. Site visits have grown from about 1,500 per month five years ago to more than 29,000 this past November. Since July, site traffic increased by nearly 10,000 visits per month. Visitors from England and as far away as the Netherlands, China and Romania have started checking out the site, too, demonstrating the anniversary s international appeal. Gloria Jackson-Warren, manager of media arts for Jamestown 2007, credits the site s popularity to its new interactive design along with expanded media coverage of milestone events associated with the commemoration. Site traffic got a boost in July when news coverage focused on Chief Steve Adkins of the Chickahominy Tribe and Chief Ken Adams of the Upper Mattoponi Tribe and their historic trip to England as part of a U.S. delegation to discuss the Virginia Indian community s involvement with the commemoration s British counterparts. The site received another boost when archeologists at Historic Jamestowne announced the results of DNA testing perfomed on the remains of a high ranking member of the original fort. Archelogists believe the remains to be that of Captain Bartholomew Gosnold. Whenever there is a major media event in relation to the commemoration, we see a boost to site activity, Jackson-Warren said. The anniversary site now boasts a more consumer friendly format. Visitors can browse the anniversary s online store to shop or for gift ideas. Kids of all ages can play interactive games, enter contests and learn about growing up in Colonial America. Information also is available about the 10 signature events being planned for the commemoration, along with partner events, community projects and major programs that coincide with America s 400 th Anniversary. People planning a trip to the Historic Triangle can take advantage of Web-only specials and can learn about room availability for the anniversary through Colonial Williamsburg, the commemoration s official hotel and reservations agent. Future site improvements will include a full media room with downloadable pictures along with video and audio clips to keep visitors apprised of the commemoration s progress. We re giving consumers a reason to visit the site by providing them with up-to-date information about America s anniversary events and programs, Jackson-Warren said. Bring Home a Piece of History During the Holidays Bring Home a Piece of History during the Holidays... Shop at America s Anniversary Store! Shop at America s Anniversary Store! 3

4 Statewide Update 2007 Director Created Foundation for 400th Anniversary Norman G. Beatty, considered the face of America s 400 th Anniversary by many, died Sept. 29 after a battle with cancer. The 64-year-old retired Colonial Williamsburg vice president of media and government relations was Jamestown 2007 s first executive director. He came on board as its only staff person in During those first years Norm became the face of Jamestown 2007, as he traveled across the state to roundtable sessions gathering suggestions that helped shape the nature and scope of the commemoration. Norm was the creator, implementer, organizer and facilitator of much that the current Jamestown 2007 staff has come to know. The boards, committees, subcommittees and many of the partners that have signed on over the past several years came as a result of his efforts to make the anniversary a world class event. Over the many years that I have been privileged to know Norm, I have always admired his tireless work for the community especially on behalf of education, he tackled every challenge with enthusiasm and his generous personality earned him many friends in our community and our organization and beyond. His contributions and personality will be sorely missed, said Jeanne Zeidler, executive director of Jamestown Norm s legacy will carry us through 2007 and beyond. To you, Norm, we say thank you. 4

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6 New Staff Comes On Board as America s 400 th Anniversary Approaches Five new employees have joined the Jamestown 2007 team as the launch of the commemoration approaches. They round out the field of professionals hired to ensure the success of America s 400 th Anniversary. The Jamestown 2007 organization already has some of the best minds in the country working on details of the commemoration. With the team now in place, I m confident that America s 400 th Anniversary will be an international success, said Jeanne Zeidler, Jamestown 2007 s executive director. New staff members include: Howard L. Gevertz is director of operations, and will be responsible for sponsor relations, contracts and other general functions. Gevertz previously served as manager of group interpretation for Colonial Williamsburg. (l. to r.) Howard Gevertz, Gina McShane, Lisa Powell, Kevin Crossett. (Alta Cassady, not shown.) Alta E. Cassady has become manager of partnership relations. Cassady will be responsible for working with more than four dozen education, cultural and business associations throughout Virginia helping implement programs to support the commemoration. Ms. Cassady previously coordinated the Main Street Program for the Alabama Historical Commission. J. Kevin Crossett is manager of public relations and promotions, and will work primarily with Virginia media and selected promotional programs. Crossett joins Jamestown 2007 from The News & Advance in Lynchburg, where he worked as a reporter. He also served as interim editor of two weekly newspapers in Amherst and Nelson counties. Lisa R. Powell is now Jamestown 2007 s fiscal analyst. She is responsible for financial services and compliance issues. Powell previously served for more than 10 years as a data systems consultant at the City of Hampton treasurer s office. Gina H. McShane is an administrative assistant. McShane will be working with Jamestown 2007 s marketing team. Previously, she held a similar position at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station, N.J. JAMESTOWN 2007 TEAM Jeanne Zeidler Executive Director Anne Doyle Dale Director of Partnerships Howard L. Gevertz Director of Operations Ross O. Richardson Director of Marketing Communications Alta E. Cassady Manager of Partnership Relations J. Kevin Crossett Manager of Promotions & Public Relations Gloria L. Jackson-Warren Manager of Media Arts Amy A. Ritchie Manager of Statewide Programs Linda L. Stanier Manager of Special Events and Promotions Lisa R. Powell Fiscal Analyst Judy P. Leonard Executive Assistant Stacey J. Hood Administrative Assistant Gina H. McShane Administrative Assistant Avis J. Tucker Administrative Assistant W. Francis Street Williamsburg, Virginia jamestown2007@jyf.virginia.com