It's Rhythm and Roots Time, News, & GED

It's time to celebrate Bristol's musical heritage with the annual Rhythm and Roots Reunion! 

As everyone should be aware, the Main library will be closed to the public from Friday through Sunday.  We will have a presence on the plaza with items to sell.  Some folks will be working inside and some outside all through the weekend.  Parking is going to be tight, especially as streets will be closed, but folks who arrive early should be okay. For latecomers, we will have four spaces blocked off.

 And speaking of streets closing, here is the official word:

Street closures

Vehicle access to downtown will be limited, beginning Thursday afternoon

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“Piedmont Avenue from Goode to Cumberland will close at 2 p.m. Thursday for stage construction and we’ll start setting out cones to block on-street parking before that,” said David Metzger, traffic engineer for Bristol, Tennessee. “We’ll close off half of the downtown center on the State Street side so stage construction can begin there about 4 p.m.”

The majority of street closures will occur at 5:30 a.m. Friday and remain in place until about midnight Sunday, Metzger said.

“We will close State Street/Commonwealth Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard and all of the side streets a half-block to a full block,” he said.

On the Virginia side, Cumberland Street from Moore Street to near MLK will also remain closed, as will portions of Lee Street and Winston’s Alley.

Downtown banks, including First Tennessee, Wells Fargo and Regions will be accessible Friday on a limited basis.

Because many streets will be closed throughout the weekend, downtown parking is even more limited than normal. For that reason, shuttle buses will again run, stopping at hotels along Volunteer Parkway, Interstate 81, Bristol Mall, Sugar Hollow Park, Linden Drive and Lee Highway, plus the Earhart Campground next to Bristol Motor Speedway.

Buses are slated to run continuously from 4:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. Friday, from 9:30 a.m. until 1 a.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday. A one-time charge of $10 covers the entire weekend or patrons can pay $5 per trip each way. Children 12 and under ride for free.

 

Note that Piedmont is going to close at 2 pm on Thursday.This is something you may wish to mention to patrons who call and plan to come to the library.

R & R Wristbands

Wristbands have been distributed.  To register your band, go to: http://bristolrhythm.siteops.vendini.com/registration.php

Warning:  do not try on your wristband prior to the event unless you intend to leave it on.  They are not designed for removal. For more information about wristbands (and yes, they have to be worn on the wrist) check here.

News Alert

WJHL's Facebook page includes a clip from an upcoming story about the Foundation.  Pictures of BPL are featured in the clip, so I think we can expect some more questions from the public.  The story is supposed to begin on Thursday night on the 6 pm news.  We just want everyone to to prepared.

WJHL

Adult Learning Lab

The mission of the Adult Learning Lab is evolving, due in part to changes to the GED test.  They will no longer be offering GED classes, but there are still several options in the area.  One is the Mount Rogers GED program which does meet here in the library on Monday and Wednesday evenings in the ALL classroom.  Karen has made a list of local Virginia contacts; there are copies at both Circ and Reference at Main, and a copy has been sent to Avoca. The general contact number for Mount Rogers GED is 1-800-322-7748 or 276-739-2547.