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COMPLETE INAUGURATION COVERAGE
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One word
Tim Bradley, a Californian whose family is staying in Frederick for a year while his wife takes a sabbatical, watched the inauguration at Caf? 611 on Tuesday. He said Obama's election "speaks volumes about us as a people."
"It's something I really didn't expect to see in my lifetime," he said.
He called Obama a "real statesman," comparable to John F. Kennedy, and said Obama is prepared to take on the challenges of the nation's highest office.
"Today is just all about hope -- hope for our country, for all over the world É and to hopefully start mending ties with other countries and spreading peace to other nations," said Stacy Reno, who stopped in to the cafe for a midday break and to catch some inauguration coverage.
Amber Chapman, who also watched the swearing-in at Caf? 611, said she is most looking forward to economic improvements with Obama as president.
She summed up her feelings in one word: "Hope."
-- Ashley Andyshak
In their lifetime
Debbie Peeks was celebrating with her sister Kim Ambush and her sister-in-law, Ginger Palm, as President Barack Obama was sworn in Tuesday.
The three Frederick women considered going to the National Mall to be part of the crowd, but they decided they could see more on television. They went to a local restaurant, where they watched on a bank of television sets.
"I feel excitement, thrills, hope," said Peeks, who is African-American. "Having experienced racism right here in Frederick , I thought this would happen, but not in my lifetime."
Peeks, 58, said as a child and young teenager, she could not sit in the main section of local movie theaters. Attending the Great Frederick Fair when she was a little girl, she could not drink from the whites-only drinking fountain or use the whites-only bathroom. She also faced racial discrimination in five-and-dime stores.
"He's going to bring this country and this world together," she said of Obama. "His message of hope and bringing people together, it took everyone to get him where he is today. It's phenomenal."
Her older sister, who has since died, took part in the integration of Frederick 's schools, she said.
Ambush is also African-American. "Words can't express how truly excited and happy I am that I am able to see this day," she said
The trio tried to get inaugural tickets but, like many others, were unsuccessful.
Palm, who is white, said she had heard a quotation during the campaign that she liked. "'There can be no hope for the future if there is no power in the present,'" she said. "I just remembered that, and I hope the power in our present takes us to our future."
-- Karen Gardner
As predicted
In 2004, John Hofstetter watched a young senator from Illinois address the Democratic National Convention.
"In the back of my mind, something told me he would become the first Afro-American president," he said.
At Frederick 's Moveon.org Inauguration Bash, Hofstetter watched his prediction come to fruition when Barack Obama took his oath of office.
The roomful of spectators cheered for Obama like a rock star when he appeared on the television screen.
Party hosts Scott and Paris Zlotak opened their West Patrick Street home to members and friends of Moveon.org. The party was one of 3,000 nationwide.
"It's just a phenomenal day," said Scott Zlotak, who was confident the new president will be able to take on the challenges that await him.
"His intelligence and leadership skills and the people around him are going to help him get through it," he said.
The couple supported Obama since he announced he would run for office.
Susan Gordon, a Moveon.org member, had been so impressed by Obama's campaign message of optimism she used it in her work as an addictions counselor.
"Yes I can" became a mantra for her clients.
She was equally impressed by Obama's inaugural speech.
"I think he was very strong in saying how we're going to treat each other and interact with the rest of the world," she said.
-- Adam Behsudi
Lauding change
Judy Russell, who was putting down salt in front of her store in downtown Frederick on Tuesday, said Obama's inauguration was a great day for the country.
"I think it's an era of change as well as an era of common sense," she said.
Russell said she hadn't made an attempt to attend the inauguration, but planned to go to a friend's store down the street to watch it on TV for a few minutes.
"I think it's absolutely fantastic," Frederick businessman Jon Thames said of the event. "Obama's what the country needs, and let's get some change going."
Thames said he has never been to an inauguration, but had been tuned in on television since the morning, and planned to keep it on all day.
George Wunderlich, executive director of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, said he was struck by the day's historic significance.
"We've taken men from chattel, from property, to leader of the free world, finally," Wunderlich said.
This also shows how the United States has been able to consistently have a peaceful transfer of power between administrations, political parties and now races for more than 200 years.
He was content to watch the day's events from a distance.
"I figure I'm going to watch this one on television and let the people who've come a long way to watch this É enjoy this time in the nation's capital," he said.
"I hate crowds."
-- Justin Palk
Have patience
All television sets at the Double T Diner on Spectrum Drive were tuned in to inauguration coverage at midday Tuesday.
Minutes before President Barack Obama took the oath of office, waitress Janet Chrisopoulous expressed her excitement over the new president and a "new start" for the U.S. However, she said she believes it is important to have patience when it comes to change in the country.
"Nothing is going to change overnight since the last eight years were all damage and there was no control," she said. "And people are happy to see new faces and new promises, but we cannot expect change for the next four to five years."
Barbara Johnson, of Walkersville , was watching the inauguration from a booth at the diner.
"I'm excited about the new president," she said. "I hope that if he does a quarter of what he says he is going to do, then it's going to be a good thing."
-- Kristina Negas
Looking forward
Some New Market residents wished Barack Obama well the morning of his inauguration, and expressed hope he will move the nation in a positive direction.
"I wish I could be there, and we're looking forward to many changes," Susan Errickson said.
"It's a wonderful thing for the country to come together," William Barge said. "A sense of hope, a sense of unity; I'm just really pleased, I'm glad to see all of the support."
"Looking forward to going on from here," he said
Will Rosenauer said he believed Obama's election and inauguration were among the greatest things to happen to the nation in a long time.
"We've had a long, miserable last four years, and I think we need a big change," he said.
Rosenauer said he would have liked to attend the event in Washington, but decided not to because of the crowds.
"I can't wait, and I (wish) him all the courage and all the help he can get," he said.
Donna Wisniewski said she was excited about Obama's inauguration and the possibilities of his presidency.
"I'm looking forward to help pitching in and helping get the country back on the right road," she said.
-- Nicholas C. Stern
One word
Tim Bradley, a Californian whose family is staying in Frederick for a year while his wife takes a sabbatical, watched the inauguration at Cafe 611 on Tuesday. He said Obama's election "speaks volumes about us as a people."
"It's something I really didn't expect to see in my lifetime," he said.
He called Obama a "real statesman," comparable to John F. Kennedy, and said Obama is prepared to take on the challenges of the nation's highest office.
"Today is just all about hope -- hope for our country, for all over the world É and to hopefully start mending ties with other countries and spreading peace to other nations," said Stacy Reno, who stopped in to the cafe for a midday break and to catch some inauguration coverage.
Amber Chapman, who also watched the swearing-in at Cafe 611, said she is most looking forward to economic improvements with Obama as president.
She summed up her feelings in one word: "hope."
-- Ashley Andyshak
Court break
About 15 people, including three Frederick County Circuit Court judges, gathered in the jury assembly room of the county courthouse about 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, to watch Barack Obama be sworn in as president.
Judges do not have televisions in chambers, and the jury assembly room, which has a TV, is on the second floor in a central location.
Lawyers, judges and administrative staff gathered briefly to watch the events and the new president's speech.
"There was applause," said Kelly Whitter, assistant jury clerk.
The group quickly dispersed as legal proceedings continued as scheduled.
"Life goes on," Whitter said.
-- Kate Leckie
