Unearthing the Secrets of Jamestown (April 2-8, 2005) 
The three tiny ships that set sail for Virginia in December 1606 had orders to find gold, a route to the South Seas and the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Forty-five died on the voyage, but 105 men and boys finally landed in May 1607 and built James Fort on the banks of a river the Indians knew as "Powhatan's River." Archeologist Bill Kelso (W&M) heads a team that discovered the site of the original fort.
Also featured: A new play portrays the life of the 16 th century privateer Christopher Newport, who was captain of that first Jamestown expedition. Steven Breese, (CNU), is the playwright. (Support for this program comes from the National Endowment for the Humanities under the “We the People ”initiative.)
Quilting the Black-eyed Pea (April 9-15)
Poet Nikki Giovanni (VT) is a big, big fan of space. She is urging NASA to adopt a provocative new approach to recruit black Americans on a mission to Mars…and she would like to go there herself. “Quilting the Black-eyed Pea” is her ode to space travel.
Also featured: novelist, poet Lucinda Roy (VT) has added “painter” to her resume. She is illustrating her new children’s book “Sailing Home on an Elephant,” a story that she hopes will help children deal with loss.
I Left My Heart in… Emporia (April 16-22)
The Greensville Training School in Emporia, VA has seen better days. However, this important landmark of the African-American community is getting a second lease on life. Architect Craig Barton (UVA) and his students want to restore and revitalize the school to make it an integral part of city life once again. In fact, the architects are seeking guidance from Greensville alumni, many of whom are now in their sixties.
Also featured: Suzanne Houff (UMW) tells aspiring teachers how to effectively maintain classroom discipline by employing techniques that would even “tame” Bart Simpson.
The Other Side of Hollywood (April 23-29)
Many authors who've written books that were turned into movies usually say they didn't recognize much from their original work in the film. But it's a lot easier for novelists to stomach the changes if they're adequately compensated. Robert Bausch (Northern Virginia Community College) is the author of the novel "Almighty Me" that he says is the basis of the movie "Bruce Almighty" starring Jim Carrey.
Also featured: We’ve all heard about nursing and teacher shortages, but a shortage of morticians and embalmers? Frank Walton, who heads up the Funeral Service Program at NSU, says this is a distinct possibility as fewer students enroll in mortuary schools.
Don’t Call it Kiddie Lit (April 30-May 6)
Since the 1960s, young adult fiction has gravitated towards more realistic characters and situations, oftentimes reflecting the darker side of teen life. While some critics wonder just how much reality a teen needs to read about, English professor
Rhonda Brock-Servais (LU) says most adults are sadly out of touch with what their children already know.
Also featured: a November 2003 “With Good Reason” program about people with disabilities inspires a moving, real-life experience for students.
