CITY STREETS CLOSING
Logistics set for Palin rally
BY ELLEN BILTZ
Date published: 10/25/2008
BY ELLEN BILTZ
City streets surrounding Hurkamp Park will be closed early Monday because of the noon rally for Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
The closings will begin at 7 a.m., when most streets within about two blocks of Hurkamp Park will be closed, Fredericksburg City Manager Phillip Rodenberg said.
Part of Charles Street will be blocked starting at 11 a.m.
Amelia and Hanover streets will be open to through traffic.
Those attending the rally can enter Hurkamp Park at 10 a.m., and Rodenberg said city officials are anticipating that others will fill the streets and sidewalks around the park.
Secret Service and state and local police will be monitoring the crowd.
Fredericksburg Public Works Director Doug Fawcett said downtown visitors and rally-goers will be allowed into the closed street areas on foot, but cars will not be permitted after 7 a.m.
FREDericksburg Regional Transit will be providing additional service Monday because of the rally. The routes and times will remain the same, but the number of buses will be increased.
Campaign officials for the Alaska governor have not said how many they expect to attend the rally, but Rodenberg said the park's capacity is about 6,000. That's more, he said, than other venues such as the Fredericksburg Expo Center, which holds 2,400.
Rodenberg added that the city had received multiple questions as to why the rally isn't being held at Maury Stadium. He said school policy prohibits political events, so it made more sense to host the rally in a public park.
There's no chance of the rally moving to another venue, Rodenberg said.
Fredericksburg residents can expect to see campaign officials setting up in Hurkamp Park starting today, but most of the work will be done tomorrow, Rodenberg said.
Fawcett said shoppers at the Fredericksburg Farmers Market will still be able to visit Saturday, but the market will be closed Monday for the rally. Rescue calls are run from city fire stations during the day, so the rescue squad stationed next to the park will not be inconvenienced.
Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424 Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com
City officials say parking for the rally will be available in the parking deck at Sophia and Wolfe streets or in the public parking lots along Sophia Street.
Parking also is available on streets that are not closed.
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Tickets can be obtained by going to the Web site Virginia.JohnMcCain.com or by visiting one of the Virginia Victory offices listed below between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Fredericksburg Regional Victory Headquarters
150 Riverside Parkway
Suite 213
Stafford
540/479-1888
Richmond Regional Victory Headquarters 2819 N. Parham Road Suite 210
Richmond
804/248-6981
Hanover County Victory Headquarters
9502 Chamberlayne Road
Suite 12
Mechanicsville
202/641-6753
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Read more stories about Fredericksburg
Date published: 10/25/2008
Most recent reader comments:
My goodness....
(posted by
fredcitizen
, Oct. 27, 2008 9:08 pm)  
we have become an incredibly ignorant and mean-spirited people. We have lost our ability to express ourselves without resorting to personal attacks, mean slams, and even cursing. We cannot reason out our thoughts or respect that someone might not agree with us. It is no wonder our kids don't know how to talk to one another, work out their differences, or speak without using profanity or violence. I fear for all of us, regardless of who wins the presidency; we're all losers.
I don't recall
(posted by
BLK
, Oct. 26, 2008 7:34 pm)  
Any street closings when Obama came to town, and palin is only running for VP. I don't get it. do you really think all the big WhooHaa is even warrented . I don't.
Seems like an awful lot of bother
(posted by
Einstein
, Oct. 26, 2008 4:39 pm)  
simply to accommodate a future trivia question.
Policy Change?
(posted by
thatguyb
, Oct. 26, 2008 3:18 pm)  
So Maury Stadium can't host political events, but it's ok to have a political debate (the recent races for mayor and city council at James Monroe auditorium)? FLS should get the policy and publish for us all to see.
I find it totally incredible....
(posted by
MySoldiersMom
, Oct. 26, 2008 1:04 am)  
how a newspaper could put an article informing us about street closures because of a VP candidate coming to town and ignorant people find the need to comment with their nasty replies about Sarah Palin. If you Democrats are so damn sure your candidate is going to win and you feel he is so great, then why the hell are you always so defensive and why do you have to keep badmouthing the Repbulican candidates? No one here really asked your opinion!! lol You people are really funny!!
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