06/13/02 in The Hook

BY REBECCA BEIRNE

Parents, parents-to-be, and wanna-be parents took advantage of a perfect day Saturday to attend this year's Babyfest, sponsored by the UVA Health System. Held annually in downtown's Lee Park, Babyfest is intended to promote UVA's maternity services.

Plying festival-goers with pertinent parent-related information, assorted medical staff from UVA, vendors of baby-type items, and members of community agencies that serve families and youth shared space under the big tent.

Josh Stewart-Silver of Boot Camp for Fathers was on hand to induct people into the fascinating and complicated world of fatherdom. A father of five, Stewart-Silver is uniquely poised to answer the most sensitive questions of not only fathers, but mothers, too. He seems particularly passionate about his work.

With raffles of exciting baby-type items being called every few minutes, the air had a certain electricity to it, as if the prospect of having a baby wasn't exciting enough. The last raffle was called, but our names weren't, so we headed off in search of more excitement in downtown Charlottesville.

1. Amy Nash and Matt Hartung (parents)

Ethan (infant)

Libbey (little girl)

2. Josh Stewart-Silvers

3. Mike Murray and Stephanie Dougherty

4. Noelle Chasse

5. Sascha K. Wallace, Crystal Trent (baby Trequan Trent-Michie) and Ruth Cowan

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