Sign & Dine at Railsplitter

[September 13, 2011]  Sign & Dine, a deaf awareness group, will have an informational booth at the Railsplitter. Interpreters for the deaf will be available to sign for the hearing-impaired as they go through the festival activities. Hearing-impaired learn best with hands-on activities and visually, making the Railsplitter Festival a great opportunity for learning.

The Sunday morning worship service at the Railsplitter will be signed. Following the service, there will be a presentation by "Praise, Hand Made." This group is led by Angela Rogers, who puts much thought into interpretation and many long hours of practice with her students.

Around the grounds, you will also be able to meet up with many signers, such as Judy Ballinger, who will be at the apple butter kettle, and Gina Henderliter, one of the weavers. Brothers Devin Vannoy, the sound man of Devine Sound, and Johannes Vannoy, Uncle Sam on stilts, are both fluent in sign language.

The Sign & Dine group was started two years ago by two Railsplitter volunteers, John Sutton and Nancy Vannoy. So, whether you are just curious about sign language or have an interest in learning it, the Railsplitter Festival this weekend is the place to be.

[Text from Logan Railsplitting Association file received from Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County]