Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 20, 1995 TAG: 9509200026
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Kimberly Burnette, the park's make-believe 19th century homemaker and self-proclaimed park, calls herself the park's ``computer geek,'' is using her talents to help Explore find employees from around the country.
Visitors will find her in the Hofauger House, spinning wool and weaving bedcovers on a loom, re-creating life in 1837.
She keeps a computer with research data on historic matters in the basement, and uses a more advanced computer at home.
``It gets kind of mind-blowing sometimes,'' she said. ``I come here during the daytime, and I'm totally living in the 19th century. Then I hop in my car and go home and go online and go `net surfing.'''
It seems other history buffs are online, too.
Using her home computer, Burnette advertised an opening at Explore for the position of education director by posting it on electronic bulletin boards popular with living-history buffs.
Mark Shanks of San Bernardino, Calif., saw the ad and was hired for the job, Explore officials announced Monday.
Shanks, 34, and some partners have a company that designs history programs for schools and other audiences, said Rupert Cutler, the park's executive director. Shanks has degrees in theater and history and is a former employee of the Living History Center in San Rafael, Calif., a nonprofit educational organization.
Park officials chose Shanks in part for his theatrical bent. During a telephone job interview, he sang an early version of the ``Star-Spangled Banner'' in Elizabethan English.
``He's quite a ham,'' Cutler said. ``He's going to add some zip to our program out there.''
Shanks, who reports Oct. 16, will oversee 10 full- and part-time interpreters and a naturalist who leads hikes.
He replaces Ginny Laubinger, who resigned.
by CNB