Presidential Inauguration

Local Cincinnati TV Stations Channels 5 and 19 did stories on our inauguration viewing parties. Here are their online versions:

Channel 19
http://www.fox19.com/global/story.asp?s=9706621

Tri-Staters gather to watch history

All over the Tri-state, people came together to witness history and share the excitement of President Barack Obama's inauguration.

It was a day, a moment, people want etched in their memory forever.
"I'm just so excited and hopeful for the country for Cincinnati for the world," said Susan Pace, who watched the inauguration.

They brought their children to tell them years from now, 'We were at the Museum Center watching when...'

"You were there you were alive for that we voted together on a day where I'm excited about these words of hope and change," said Alison Zlatic.

They came because they didn't want to watch alone. They wanted to witness history together. They braved the cold, not on The Mall, but on Fountain Square.
"A change of the guard hopeful we can change America for the better even though its freezing I just want to be a part of this history and watch Barack Obama take charge of the country," said William Adams.

They went to the art museum, following a message of unity to witness history together.

"I didn't want to stay home and cry by myself cause this is big, this is big," said Richard Hill.

So big in fact that President Obama has inspired a nation to dream and dream big.
"That shows you in America you can achieve anything you want if you put your heart and soul into it," said Hill.

The hearing, speech, and deaf center in Cincinnati hosted their own inauguration party with huge TVs and interpreters.

The center offers programs for those who face communication obstacles in their daily life, and held this event for people with hearing problems, to get the most out of the day.

And it was a close call for everybody wanting to watch the inauguration at the Freedom Center.

Their feed went down during the ceremony leaving the TV screens blank. Luckily, the feed went back up just a few minutes before President Obama took the oath of office.
After that, everything went according to plan.


Channel 5
http://www.wlwt.com/politics/18524291/detail.html

Hearing Impaired Take Part In Inaugural Events


CINCINNATI -- As people across the nation watched Tuesday’s historic events unfold, a group that’s often left out took part, as well.

The hearing impaired don’t always have a place to gather to witness events such as President Barack Obama’s inauguration, but a local organization reached out to help make them a part of the historic day.

Interpreters helped translate Obama and other speakers’ words for the hearing impaired at the Speech and Deaf Center, and their demographics matched those at the gatherings in Washington and elsewhere.

“There are people in the room today who are hard of hearing, people who are deaf, people who are black, people who are white (and) everybody wanted to come together and be part of this celebration and feel connected,” said Linda Berman, executive director.