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Community | News | Per spective

October 3, 2008

Art show opens with awards Citizens Weigh In P3– Vendors and citizens let their voices be heard at a city market input session.

Brian Gottstein

Rail or No Rail

P4– Brian Gottstein says that the low cost of bringing rail service to Roanoke isn’t as simple as it sounds.

The 29th Annual Roanoke City Art Show announced its award winners at an opening reception last week, with well known artist Ann Glover the Best in Show winner.

The second floor galleries at Center in the Square – formerly the Art Museum of Western Virginia – are home to the exhibit again this year. The juror for the show was Helen Frederick, Professor and Director of Printmaking at George Mason University and Founder of Pyramid Atlantic Art Center. “This kind of juried show leaves such an important cultural impact on the community,� said Frederick.

There were 440 submissions, with 43 pieces from 32 artists making the final cut. The entry totals were more than double from 2007. “Its good to see the arts scene in Roanoke grow and Arts expand,� said Arts Council of the Blue Ridge board member Susan Copty from the podium before the awards ceremony.

Best in Show – Ann Glover for “Flesh and Blood Series #1 - #5, 2007

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> CONTINUED P2: Art Show

Mud and Rain

40 Days + 40 Nights gets under way

The Star-Sentinel?

Less than a week after a public input session held at Center in the Square, Roanoke City Council has veered toward designing the City Market building internally, instead of through issuance of another Request for Proposal, like the one rejected previously. That direction became apparent at a council retreat City News on Tuesday.

City Manager Darlene Burcham, also in attendance, said the next step was a survey of customers when the market building is reopened after being cleaned and made rodent proof.

Councilman Alvin Nash wanted “to consider a cease and desist on any repairs� and instead accelerate the renovation process. Court Rosen agreed with Nash, saying he would rather avoid “opening

[

Photo by Stuart Revercomb

In celebration of Roanoke City’s 125th anniversary and its theme “People, Pride, Promise� the City of Roanoke and the Roanoke Arts Commission unveiled a signature sculpture called “In My Hands,� designed by artist Rodney Carroll of Baltimore, Md., at the Roanoke Civic Center on Wednesday. Selected from a pool of 89 entries, the sculptured steel stands 30 feet tall and will incorporate seating and walkways for public access.

T

hey’re calling it an “arts and culture explosion,� 40 days of events that lead up to the opening of the new Taubman Museum of Art on November 8. “40 Days + 40 Nights� is the brainchild of the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, and is

also timed to end on the first day of the city’s second annual Roanoke Arts Festival. Many of the events listed at 4040fest. com or in the booklet being distributed at places around town were already sched> CONTINUED P3: 40 + 40

P7– Week 5 of the high school football season took place under sloppy conditions.

Shout Outs

City Market top issue at Council retreat

Roanoke’s Historic City Market Building

Stan Breakell takes his green campaign on the road

Stan Breakell is a mechanical engineer by trade and president of Roanoke-based Breakell Construction Inc., but it seems these days that his favorite topic is talking green. Breakell was the general contractor when owner Rob Glenn’s State & City Building in downtown Roanoke was LEED certified after being remodeled last year. Now the UVA graduate is really walking the walk: one of the six Toyota Prius hybrids Breakell purchased for his company’s fleet has been modified with the help of a Blacksburg company, VPT Energy Systems, allowing it to function purely as an electric car with a range of 12-18 miles. After several P12– Supporters of the hundred pounds of nickel Susan G. Komen for the metal hydride batteries run Cure foundation gathered down the experimental vehiat the Mill Mountain Star. cle switches to standard Prius technology, which alternates Only receiving using the gas engine promotional copies of between and electric power.

At a ceremony outside the State & City Building earlier week Breakell said it cost Get it delivered to this around $10,000 to modify the special Prius, which he your doorstep every night – afEVERY week for only recharges ter 8pm to take advantage of lower off-peak rates from Ap$44 a year! palachian Power. The Plug400-0990 subscribe@theroanokestar.com In Hybrid Electric Vehicle PO Box 8338 Roanoke,VA 24014 (PHEV), which Breakell la-

TheRoanokeStar.com

Photo by Gene Marrano

Breakell Construction’s Plugged-In Hybrid Vehicle is unveiled. beled as a “research platform,� ger, greener change in our allows electricity to be used as community,� wrote Breakea fuel, at the equivalent cost ll. Case in point: at Tuesof less than $2 per gallon of day’s event Breakell held up gas. “We’re having a an aluminum soda great time with the can and one energyGoing Green car,� said Breakell. “I saving 40 watt CFL happen to think it’s (fluorescent) bulb, the future.� which the company gives Breakell Construction even away at public events. The net has a director of sustainable energy saved by recycling a practices (Nell Boyle) and single can (rather than creatStan Breakell recently au- ing a new one from raw mathored a piece on going green terials) could power that CFL for the Regional Chamber bulb for one year, for four of Commerce’s Connections hours each night, according magazine. “Just remember that whether small or large, > CONTINUED your changes add up to a big- P2: Breakell

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> CONTINUED P3: Council Retreat

Virginia Prosthetics named Small Business Of The Year

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce has named Virginia Prosthetics the 2008 Small Business of the Year. The provider of state-of-the art prostheses and artificial limbs was recognized at the Chamber’s 22nd Annual Small Business Awards dinner, held September 30 at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center with an attendance of nearly 650.

The annual awards showcase the accomplishments of the Photo by Gene Marrano small business sector, which Karen Chase / 224 Design is composed of 99 percent of was named Micro-Business the area’s business commuof the Year. nity.

Virginia Prosthetics was percent. The company is very founded 43 years ago in Ro- involved in community outanoke to help amputees by reach and donates more than providing patient care and by $100,000 annually in prodcrafting prostheses that en- ucts and services to patients able them to return to the life whose treatment is not covthey once knew. Headquar- ered by insurance. “This year’s competitered in Roanoke and servtion was one of ing 12 additional the toughest,� said locations, Virginia Local Business Joyce Waugh, interProsthetics’ custom im president of the designed and fitted devices help provide their Roanoke Regional Chamber patients with superior com- of Commerce. “The selection fort and performance. In the committee agonized over past 16 years, the company has increased its revenue > CONTINUED growth by more than 400 P2: Business Awards

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Go to Channel 1 and press SELECT Available to residential customers in Cox Roanoke serviceable areas. Cox Digital Cable and digital receiver and remote rental required. Some On Demand programming is extra. Digital cable ready TV equipped with a CableCard may require a digital receiver in order to receive On Demand programming. Programming subject to change. Installations, taxes and fees additional. On Demand channels cannot be recorded. Other restrictions apply. Š2008 CoxCom, Inc., d/b/a Cox Communications Roanoke. All rights reserved.

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Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/3/08

> Breakell

TheRoanokeStar.com

> Art Show

From page 1

to Breakell.

City Council member Gwen Mason introduced Breakell, after reminding those gathered about the city’s “commitment to a green movement.” Mason was also encouraged that more than 170 people had showed up for Roanoke’s first public “Greening the City” summit the week before, when topics like better mass transit, the use of solar energy, mandatory recycling, tax credits for energy-efficient homes and more bikeways/ pedestrian paths came to the forefront.

Breakell Construction is a member of the business environmental leadership coalition that Mason has put together, hoping that a dozen companies including Carilion Clinic can lead the way on reducing carbon footprints. Breakell said his new Prius PHEV averages about 130 miles per gallon of gas.

“Just imagine that,” he said

From page 1

Photo by Gene Marrano

Stan Breakell gives his pitch to recycle cans. from the podium. “You’re saving money – and you’re doing the right thing.” With that Breakell asked that a tarp be removed from the PHEV, which allowed the curious to check out the modified battery system: “take a look at the future, ladies and gentlemen,” said Breakell.

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Second Place – Gerry Bannon – Thoth, 2008 Third Place – Kurt Ernest Steger - Potential, 2008 Emerging Artist – Christopher Jones – Between Innings ver. III, 2007 Award of Excellence - Brett LaGue - Ash, 2008 Award of Excellence - Christina Owens Knapp – When Fat Girls Dream, 2007 Commission’s Choice Award - Christopher Gryder – Centripetal Force, 2007 City of Roanoke Purchase Award – John Wilson – Mutated Snail, 2007 It is not clear where the Roanoke City Art Show will be held next year, since the second floor galleries at Center in the Square will soon be parceled out to a new tenant, the Harrison Museum of African American Art. “Who knows what comes next?” mused Copty about the City Art Show’s future, an event organized by the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. Executive Director Laura Rawlings called the annual event “an important part of the [cultural] programming,” since it focuses on local artists.

The exhibit runs through November 9 at Center in the Square, 2nd floor galleries (formerly the Art Museum of Western Virginia). Gallery

hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11am – 4pm and Sunday, 12 noon – 4pm. Hours are subject to change, call 3425790 for a weekly schedule.

Gallery openings: Ed Bolinger has opened a gallery at 18 Kirk Avenue called Dialog. The first exhibit features works (50 pieces, 30 artists) that didn’t quite make the final cut at this year’s City Art Show. Dialog hours are Sundays from 3-6pm, and Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday from 6-9pm. Bolinger is designing bus shelters for William Fleming and Patrick Henry High Schools. He also teaches art at Hollins University and has opened galleries elsewhere around the country. “There is a big gap between what will happen at the Taubman Museum and [most local galleries],” said Bolinger, who hopes to use some of his contacts to bring in works from nationally known artists for Dialog.

Wilson Hughes Gallery: the grand opening of the Wilson Hughes Gallery was held on Thursday in conjunction with the monthly Art by Night and Roanoke’s 40X40 Fest. Mayor David Bowers and City Manager Darleen Burcham performed the ribbon cutting.

The new, “West Campbell Arts District” storefront is the latest in the influx of renova-

Photo submitted

“Flesh and Blood” #5 from Ann Glover’s Best in Show series tions and galleries in downtown Roanoke.

John Wilson and Suzun Hughes, formerly of San Francisco, were looking for an urban feel as they explored Roanoke and liked the idea of the city’s commitment to the new Taubman Museum of Art. They spent just a few days in Roanoke and in April, 2007 purchased what many Roanokers referred to as the “Henri Kessler” building. (Wilson won this year’s Roanoke City Art Show purchase award for his Mutated Snail sculpture). The two-story brick building, built in 1908 and located at 117

Campbell was in need of an “extreme makeover.” It is now home for the couple as well.

Wilson Hughes Gallery hours are Wednesday & Friday & Saturday from noon until 5 pm, every first Thursday of the month for Art by Night from 5 to 9 pm and by appointment or chance. Call 540.529.8455 for more information or to make an appointment with the artists.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

> Business Awards From page 1

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many outstanding companies.”

Small Business Awards Award winners by category are: • Small Business Advocate: Jim Hale, partner with the law firm of LeClairRyan.

• Construction/Real Estate: American Door & Glass, S.W. VA, Inc., specializing in

Enjoy our Sunday Brunch!

the sale, service and installation of commercial glass, window and door products.

• Manufacturing: M&W Fire Apparatus, a licensed vehicle manufacturer of stock and custom-built fire apparatus and emergency vehicles for fire and rescue organizations.

• Micro-Business: 224 Design, a woman-owned and operated branding advertising and design studio.

• Technology: DaProSystems, a leader in technology solutions for the public safety sector.

• Business-to-Business Services: Executive Talent Search (ETS), a recruiting firm specializing in finding and placing dentists and

dental staff.

• Business-to-Consumer Services: Virginia Prosthetics.

• Wholesale/Retail: B&D Lock Co., a locksmith business that also repairs and installs locks, and sells a full line of safes.

• Legacy Award: Cook Siding & Window Co., a windows, sunrooms, decking, awnings, and siding installer for over 50 years.

• Not-For-Profit Arts & Culture: Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the largest professional orchestra in Virginia west or Richmond, RSO was founded in 1953.

• Not-For-Profit Health & Human Services: The Rescue Mission of Roanoke, of-

fering emergency shelter, case management, residential recovery programs, meals, an on-site free clinic, and educational assistance for those in crisis.

Previous small business of the year winners include Luna Innovations (2007), Blue Ridge Medical Imaging (2006), Plastics One (2005), Virginia Furniture Market (2004), R & K Engineering (2003), Corned Beef & Company (2002), and Lanford Brothers Company (2001).

The Roanoke Regional Chamber and Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center present the annual Small Business Awards.

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Fork In The Alley to host bipartisan debate On Thursday, October 9 two teams will gather flanked by their loyal supporters and wage a proxy debate perched atop soapboxes (literally). A group of local Republican and Democratic hooligans has devised a bipartisan way to make some cross-partisan mischief. In the Star City’s first “Great Pub Debate,” Team McCain and Team Obama will enlighten spectators about their candidate of choice, beginning at 8:30pm. Topics to be covered include taxation and the economy, qualifications and leadership style, health care and the true meaning of change.

For more information contact: Jay Foster, member of the City Democratic Committee, or Chelsea Shinneman, an Obama Campaign volunteer, via email: chelseashinneman@hotmail.com or jay.foster@softsolutionsit.com.

For more information from Team McCain, contact: Adam Boitnott, Chair of the City GOP Committee, at 797-5010 or via email at aboitnott@cox.net. All are invited.

Managing your diabetes can be difficult. But it is important not to forget about protecting your vision. With virtually no symptoms in the early stages, diabetic eye disease is best controlled through preventative measures, before vision loss or blindness. Learn about these and other conditions as well as treatment options.

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10/3/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3

TheRoanokeStar.com

> Council Retreat

> 40 + 40

and closing to patch and unpatch...to repair and unrepair.” He also wanted to find a way to assist the vendors while they are displaced.

David Trinkle was the first to suggest internalizing the design process. Trinkle also wanted to consider management options with Downtown Roanoke Inc., which supported the rejected RFP. He also thought Council should be able to make a quick decision on the closure of streets on either side of the building, as proposed. Rosen suggested seating on the mezzanine level but Brian Townsend, Assistant City Manager for Community Development said the mezzanine is not structurally capable of supporting it as is.

Burcham said it would be in everyone‘s best interest if the vendors were allowed to reopen in the near future. By giving them notice “then we can pick a date for closure [for major renovations] so they can make plans. I think that if we don’t reward their hard work and not let them reopen the city would get a black eye.”

She suggested month to month leases, after the current vendor leases end by March, 2009.

No council member protested that suggestion.

She reminded Council that the tenants have significant control through “exclusivity rights” and they can veto any other vendor. The next time leases are renewed the City could gain more control.

Vice-Mayor Sherman Lea said he would “have to see the designs and how we’re going to pay for it. What I’ve heard through this whole process is [that] we haven’t maintained it. We can’t dismiss some of the criticism that we’ve gotten. We’ve done well since this incident occurred [but] we were caught flatfooted … we broke the public trust.”

Burcham had this advice for Council: “you need to come to grips with what you want the building to be - that’s where we’re hung up. “ She suggested more of a managed public input process. “The problem for me as your manager [is that] I am still not sure today even after this discussion what [you] want that building to

uled. Other artists came on board to join the 40 Days + 40 Nights bandwagon, which officially kicked off on Wednesday (October 1) with a public sculpture unveiling and ribbon cutting at the Roanoke Civic Center.

From artists demonstrations to gallery and open house tours, workshops, concerts – even hikes in the woods – 40 Days + 40 Nights covers a lot of ground. “There’s so many exciting events going on around the region... we wanted to find a way to highlight that,” said Krista Engl, member services and program director for Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. “We wanted to capitalize on that momentum that’s going on with the opening of the new art museum and the arts festival.” Most participants are already Arts Council members.

Engl said those wanting to come aboard can still do so and can have their event added to the 4040fest.com website even now. For the first time the Arts Council is also employing Facebook and MySpace pages to alert more people, especially the younger crowd. “A lot of organizations are really tapping into that [now].You really reach a lot of people.” New events can be added

From page 1

From page 1

be when it is renovated.” Burcham added that no money is available right now other than for completing the current renovations. Total cost of repairs and clean up to date is $49,000, according to Burcham, with vendors responsible in part per their leases.

Before a more permanent closure for major renovations Burcham said adequate notice would be given to vendors. She added that information would be given to the public so that “it is something understood and accepted by the community.”

Mayor David Bowers said he wanted there to be no mistake on where he stood: “I want to see that building opened; I want to see it sparkle; I want the public to be happy with what we’ve done, and I want those vendors to be successful.”

Anita Wilson of Burger in the Square said afterwards that City Council members had pledged to help vendors relocate elsewhere downtown during any renovation period.

Wilson’s view was that “[Council’s] reputation had been tarnished” with recent public events, making her less than amicable to the offer. Wilson said that the vendors were asked to sign an agreement under duress, one that stated that they would be responsible for repair costs in their stall. Wilson claimed it was presented to them only after substantial repairs had already been made.

Lea said later in an email that he wanted to “honor the vendors and let them open when they are ready.” He is ready to look at the bigger picture however – what does Council want the building to look like, whom do they want it to serve in the future? “I want more public input, more information on costs and I favor issuing a [new] RFP… but want to honor our commitment to the [current] vendors.”

that way as well to the 40+40 calendar, after first going through the 4040fest website.

Arts Services director Rhonda Hale said 40+40 will give Arts Council members (visual, literary and performing artists) an opportunity to be highlighted at a time when the buzz for the new museum opening and the arts festival should be growing. “They were all able to participate in this,” noted Hale, who doubles as arts education director.

In just the next week arts and culture patrons can view pottery from the Civil War era (Oct 2, 5-9pm, Earthworks, 1902 Main St.), head to Floyd for a weekend of fare at the Jacksonville Center for the Arts, take in the Salem Fine Arts show (Oct. 5, 1-6pm at the Farmer’s Market) or visit the studio open house of artist Katherine Devine on the Grandin Road Extension, when she will show off works from home-schooled children (Oct. 6, 10am-2pm). “There’s so much to do in Roanoke [concerning] arts and culture, and the outdoors. We all need to take part in that,” said Engl.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Roanoke Area Ministries Establishes Memorial Fund In Honor Of George Rogers

Roanoke Area Ministries (RAM) has established a memorial fund to honor their late friend and volunteer, George Rogers. Rogers was

By Valerie Garner discovered murdered in his info@theroanokestar.com Roanoke home on August 17, 2008. An investigation is ongoing, and at this time, no arrest(s) has been made in connection with his murder.

The George Rogers Fund for the Elderly will be used to assist senior citizens in the Roanoke Valley with utilities, rent, prescriptions and other necessities.

“George was such an advocate for the elderly in our community who struggled to make ends meet,” says Debbie Denison, Executive Director for RAM. Rogers had been an active and well-respected member of the Roanoke community his entire life. He served in the United States Army and was employed by Norfolk and Western Railroad. He retired

City Market building makeover “a real challenge” Following the public input session on the rehabilitation of the City Market building last Thursday, Brian Townsend surmised that, “I think there is not quite consensus on how you get there. I think that’s really where a lot of our work will be - how do you try to address everyone’s perspective?” Townsend is Assistant City Manager for Community Development.

The City Market building has been closed for cleaning and improvements for the past several weeks, after evidence of mice infestation was found during an inspection.

Center in the Square hosted the City Market public input session that solicited comments on the building’s future. That feedback will be shared with City Council before the drafting of new Request for Proposal. Council rejected the first RFP, submitted by a coalition of business leaders, several weeks ago.

Over 100 people attended and 28 spoke at the input session last week. Several members of City Council – Mayor David Bowers, David Trinkle and Court Rosen – were in attendance.

Robert Craig commanded those in the audience to, “standup if you wanted the market building to remain the same.” A majority of the audience did exactly that.

Downtown Roanoke Inc. Executive Director Bill Carder defended the coalition’s rejected proposal, which included more space for retail and produce vendors, saying, “[the market building] needs to be positioned for the next 40 years …it’s not just to serve lunch… it’s much more than that. It’s time for us to move forward boldly.”

Ed Hall of Hall & Associates said, “it is not about kicking out the local vendors. It’s about a 24-hour city …it’s got to be much more than a coat of paint. It doesn‘t mean that ten vendors or one real estate agent should rule the world.”

Dr. Tom McKeon, Director of the Higher Education Center, suggested that the Higher Ed. Center be used as a model of a successful public/private partnership. Bob

Photo by Valerie Garner

City Market vendor Laura Padgett airs her concerns.

Fetzer, past President of DRI, raised the specter of Victory Stadium and another prolonged debate.

Current vendors also spoke out: Laura Padgett of Nick's Pig-N-Chicken did not want to see national franchises move into the building.

(Several years ago Subway explored the possibility of leasing space there). Padgett called for larger booths so vendors could move equipment around, making it easier to clean. She suggested an onsite manager that could quickly address issues.

Several tenants wondered out loud about financial losses during the shutdown, which may end by this weekend. Anita Wilson, with Burger In The Square, said she did not see provisions for tenant compensation and asked, “who’s going to fund that, the city?” Wilson thanked the public for all their support and said, “we are not opposed to change.

We would just like to be included in the communication of what affects us.”

John Garland, President of Spectrum Design, made three points: 1) Renovate all at one time and not piecemeal, 2) ensure use of the building for more hours per day, and 3) make the upstairs ballroom a community space.

Spectrum has also designed renovations for Center in the Square.

David “Chico” Estrada of Chico and Billy’s pizza fame declared that, “the Market is in a shambles because it has been neglected both by

[vendor] and the landlords.”

Estrada said he would have been willing to renovate his space if offered more than a year lease by the city. “We’re putting chapstick on a pig,” he bemoaned.

When several speakers pointed out that the city has spent big money elsewhere on downtown construction projects - Jefferson Center, the Higher Education Center, Hotel Roanoke – Townsend remarked that they were empty at the time. “We didn’t have anyone there saying we have to be open by a certain date. No one in business has the luxury of staying home for a year.”

Court Rosen wrote later in an email that, “[Thursday’s meeting] was a good opportunity for the city to hear what the vendors, downtown business owners and residents want to see happen to the Market Building. I … am confident we can find a positive way to make the Market Building a facility we can be proud of.”

10-22-07 By Valerie Garner

info@theroanokestar.com

The late George Rogers from the U.S. Postal Service and remained an active part of his church and civic groups, including serving at RAM until his death. He volunteered weekly, processing applications for financial aid.

Rogers often commented on how dire so many people’s financial situation actually was and would often deliv-

er any excess produce and bread that RAM could not use to day-care centers and to neighbors he knew could use extra food. Tax-deductible donations to The George Rogers Fund for the Elderly can be sent to following address: RAM, 824 Campbell Ave., SW, Roanoke, VA 24016.

LOA announces Wellness Day For the 8th consecutive year, LOA (Local Office on Aging) offers an opportunity for area seniors to get free health screenings. LOA’s annual Wellness Day is scheduled for October 7, from 8:30 a.m. – noon at the Kazim Temple.

LOA has joined forces with local health professionals to provide “heads up” cursory health exams. Carilion Center For Healthy Aging, Vistar, Kroger pharmacy, Lewis Gale Senior Friends, Virginia Western Dental Hygiene Program, Carilion VIVA, CVS Pharmacy, Good Samaritan Hospice, Jefferson College of Health Science, Roanoke Valley Speech and Hearing and many others are donating their time and supplies to provide eye exams, blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, oral cancer checks, hearing screenings, hydration and depression screenings and much more.

Last year for the first time flu shots were offered at Wellness Day by CVS Pharmacy.

This year, they will also have pneumonia shots available for those who have not had one in the past five years.

Pre-registration is re-

health care professionals.

They are merely intended to give a “heads up” on potential health problems that may have been previously undetected.

For more information on either becoming a healthcare screener or a participant, contact Doris Hansel at the LOA office, 345-0451 or email dh@loaa.org.

quired. Results are shared only with the health professionals and appropriate LOA staff when follow up is indicated by the screening. Cases of glaucoma, high blood sugar and high blood pressure have been found when previously undetected, making this event well worth all the effort required to put it on.

Wellness day is not a fair.

While some organizations are invited to be present that do not offer a health screening, these are other nonprofits with information of great interest to area seniors, such as AARP and LOA’s Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs. The screenings offered at Wellness Day are not intended to replace the annual physical exams by the participant’s

Roanoke Valley’s Most Beautiful Cemetery 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike Salem, VA 24153 Family Service : 540-389-1049 www.sherwoodmemorialpark.com

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Page 4 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/3/08

Unexpected dogs – unexpected joys

T

here are two things that were never supposed to happen at my house.

Number One: the 1979 very cool but non-running Camaro that now resides on some prime real estate (half the garage) will never be leaving. That’s another story. Number Two: We were never going to get a dog! They are too expensive, messy, annoying, and disruptive. They bother the neighbors. No dog.

One fine day there began some inroads on Number Two. I ran into my friend Debby in the grocery store and since we are both girls, we talked too much.

I had just seen an adorable litter of Beagle pups and was lamenting once again the fact that the house rule was unbending: no dog. She said that her husband really wanted a dog too but she did not. The kicker was her husband had been battling colon cancer and I of course melted: “You HAVE to let him get a dog!

What kind does he want?”

“A Brittany, have you ever heard of them?”

According to her husband Bruce, there is no finer dog than a Brittany, those cute orange and white bird dogs. Woo Hoo! Guess what? My Uncle Jack is a Brittany BREEDER and has

tons of Brittanys each time we visited in all the time!! He, early summer. Sometoo, thinks these times he’d have those dogs are in a class adorable 3-monthby themselves: Brilolds running around, liant dogs, Amazing being picked up every dogs! Look at that other minute by one gait, the alert exof my kids, who then pression! It’s really would start the begbest not to get him ging routine. We just started. told them absolutely Cheryl Hodges Debby begged NOT. Then they’d me NOT to tell threaten to stick one her husband because, well, she in a suitcase and not tell us until just didn’t want a dog, certainly we were 4 hours down the road. not a high-maintenance puppy. But they were never able to get So I tell her, Ok, but let me at by the fundamental rule: No least sort of, kind of, inquire as dogs. I chalked it off to a maturto whether Uncle Jack might ing experience for the kids as have a year-old Brittany, already material to learn that you simhouse-broken and trained. ply can’t have everything you So began a series of emails to want in life. But it was tough my Uncle. He was checking into those Brittanys really are pretty things on the dog roster. I de- great. cided to forward all these emails For some reason, I decided to the head of household here, to also check the ads locally and with pithy comments of my saw an ad for a ONE YEAR old own added like: “see, wouldn’t Brittany! I called their house to this be great?” alert them, all in fun, of course, Or:”are you sure you can re- and found they had also seen sist a puppy of your own?” To: the ad and had already called “It WILL NOT BE FAIR if Bruce “just to see” to inquire about gets a dog and we don’t!!” I was this dog! Great minds do think doing this all in fun of course. alike. It was a male.

I knew in my heart that none Bruce, meantime, had taken of this was working. After all, to calling the dog he would nevwe had been up to NJ to visit er get “Buster.” So Buster was not my Uncle on several occasions coming to his house and sadly and he always had a litter or two not ONE of my Uncle’s puppies

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don’t want to dampen anyone’s good intentions, but as we see more and more of a push for passenger rail in Virginia, it’s important to point out research that shows rail might not be the panacea for Vir-

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“field,” a word used by hunters which is basically the equivalent of “paradise.” Buster carried birds in perfect form. Buster spoke English. Well, almost. I have come to believe that some dogs are just 3 brain cells shy of the ability to speak. All you dog owners know what I mean.

Here is where things get hard.

Bruce’s cancer, which had been in remission, came back.

He fought so hard, all the while keeping that special glint in his eye, his sharp wit, the fun-loving spirit, and the genuine interest he always had for what was going on in YOUR life.

But he lost that battle last year, on Sept. 2nd at age 62.

Losing someone is never,

ever, easy, but the memories do eventually bring some comfort.

A big part of those memories for me is the fun we had joking about the dogs we were never supposed to have.

How amazing that two gals happened to bump into each other, never knowing that a random conversation would lead to so much joy in our lives, a joy that was especially meant for a wonderful man and his family as he went through the hardest time of his life.

Contact Cheryl at cvhodges@aol.com

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most transit systems, except in the largest cities, “cannot take people where they want to go, when they want to go there.” Even in Europe, where we think mass transit is used significantly more, Europeans drive for about 79% of their travel (compared to Americans 85%).

Doesn’t passenger rail promote economic development (more businesses moving to – or growing within –a city)?

Not according to a study commissioned by the Federal Transit Administration, which stated, “Urban rail transit investments rarely ‘create’ new growth, but more typically redistribute growth that would have taken place without the investment.”

So, if studies are showing that passenger rail isn’t more efficient, isn’t more earthfriendly, doesn’t really slow congestion, AND will cost you and me billions of dollars, why would we think that it’s a good investment?

Stick with your car…or buy a hybrid.

You can see the full report, “Rails Won’t Save America,” on the ADC website at www.

AmericanDreamCoalition. org.

Contact Brian at bgottstein1@yahoo.com

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Bruce Welch with his good friend Buster

ADC’s director and subways and and a former city intercity rail use councilman who slightly less than originally liked the cars. However, no idea of rail, “Buildmode is as efficient ing new rail transit as driving a hybrid lines and highcar. speed intercity rail Can passenger [in America] will rail cut greenhouse cost hundreds of gas emissions? I billions of doldon’t even like Brian Gottstein lars, yet won’t save this question, beenergy or reduce cause in my pregreenhouse gas emissions.” vious columns, I pointed to We are told that intercity research which shows that rail and urban transit are “greenhouse gases” emitted more affordable alternatives by human activity have a very to cars and airlines. But in small effect on the environfact, to make their ticket ment (remember that it’s the costs at all competitive with cycles of the sun which have flying and driving, we tax- the greatest effect on our payers must heavily subsi- global temperature changes). dize them. According to the But, I’ll answer the question study, in per passenger mile anyway. Most public tranDOWN DOWN comparisons, taking all costs sit emits as much carbon DOWN – including taxpayer subsi- dioxide per passenger mile groups 1 Parent groups 1 Parent dies for all forms of transpor- as driving, especially when 2 Parent groups 2 Irresponsible 1 Irresponsible tation – in to consideration including the gases emit3 Irresponsible 2 Margarine 3 Margarine (this lets us compare apples ted during the construction arches 4 Margarine 3 Felled arches 4 Felled to apples), airline service of the transit system. Some Be plentiful 5 4 Felled plentiful 5 Bearches costs about 13.1 cents per electric rail can be more effiReorient 6 5 Be6 plentiful Reorient metal 7 mile, auto travel is 23 cents, cient, IF the electricity is not Reorient 6 Unrefined 7 Unrefined metal 8 while Amtrak is 56 cents per generated from burning coal, Unrefined metal 7 Broadcasts 8 Broadcasts 9 Broadcasts 8 Mummer mile, and urban rail/bus is 85 oil, etc. However, again, no Mummer 9 here 109 Not Mummer cents – more than two and mode produces less CO2 here 10 Not to rest 11 Not here 10 Place three times the cost of driv- than hybrid cars.

11 Place to rest 12 Place to rest 11 Royalty ing, respectively!

Won’t rail cut traffic con12 Royalty 13 Royalty 12 Recess What about energy savgestion?

The latest data in Recess 13 gold coin 21 Recess 13 Old ings?

Per passenger mile, the report shows that people Old gold coin Loud advertising and 23 21 21 Old gold coin buses consume about as tend to choose cars over othpromotion (US slang) Loud advertising and 23 23 Loud advertising and disorder much energy as vans and er forms of transportation, 26 Sleep promotion (US slang) promotion (US slang) spaces 27 SUVs, light rail uses as much even with gas prices as high disorder 26 Sleep Sleep disorder 26 Empty 28 as the average passenger car, as they are. This is because Empty spaces spaces 27 Emblem 27 Empty

ginia's traffic congestion, high gas prices, and "greenhouse gas" emissions.

I recently saw a presentation by the American Dream Coalition which showed the picture isn't as rosy as we might think. Using data published by the U.S. departments of Transportation, Energy, and Commerce and various local transportation agencies, ADC is debunking many of the claims we are hearing about passenger rail. Passenger rail includes subways, intercity rail (like Amtrak), and light rail (street cars and trams).

According to Ed Braddy,

Star~Sentinel Crossword

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was coming to mine either.

But something changed.

Maybe a new weather front was blowing in, bringing with it that fresh feeling of new possibilities.

Something weird was going on, because Bruce and Debby went out and got good old Buster. It was a wonderful thing.

And that’s not all.

Somebody at my house was acting a little differently and actually joking about having to travel on business near my Uncle’s and who knew what might come back? That’s right, he brought back a 3-month-old Brittany puppy we named “Britt Haven’s Ultimate Maximilian,” or Max for short. It should be noted that this is the most popular and therefore most unoriginal dog name in the U.S. Now that I am a dog owner, I know people will go to battle over their dogs, but let me tell you, Bruce and my Uncle are right: Brittany’s are truly amazing. What is even more gratifying is all the fun these dogs brought into our collective lives.

Bruce absolutely loved Buster! Buster went around town with him in his green truck.

Buster came to visit Max. Buster got more dog beds and toys than any dog I have ever met.

Buster joined Bruce out in the

Passenger rail is no more efficient than cars – and costs more, too

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Fire tool Find the answers online: TheRoanokeStar.com days 6664365 Dorm dweller 65 and Have a clue answer you’d like to see? email: puzzles@theroanokestar.com

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel C o m mu n i t y | N ew s | Pe r s p e c t i ve Publisher | Stuart Revercomb | stuart@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Advertising Director | Pam Rickard | pam@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Production Editor | Stephen Nelson | stephen@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Technical Webmaster | Don Waterfield | webmaster@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 The Roanoke Star-Sentinel is published weekly by Whisper One Media, Inc. in Roanoke,Va. Subscriptions are available for $44 per year. Send subscriptions to PO Box 8338, Roanoke,VA 24014. We encourage letters from our readers on topics of general interest to the community and responses to our articles and columns. Letters must be signed and have a telephone number for verification. All letters will be verified before publication.The Star-Sentinel reserves the right to deny publication of any letter and edit letters for length, content and style.

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A Walk Across Aegina

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ll seven of us are packed in the old taxi, which “Can you imagine what it must have been like, living is big by Greek standards but not big enough. here 2500 years ago?” muses my Dad, at 77, the old man So we are glad when our driver pulls off the of the group. Old man, yes, but even his grand kids have gravel road and says, “This is it!” or the Greek version of trouble keeping up with him. I think it has to do with it anyway. We unfold our bodies and assume our norbeing fueled with a remarkable enthusiasm for life. Anymal shapes as we pop out of the car. We learned that way, we’re resting in an ancient grove of olive trees on a “Elio” is a part-time taxi driver and part-time pistachio terraced hillside, sitting on a stone wall. With my hand I farmer, and he drives off with a smile and a wave of his caress the meticulously laid stones, feeling a connection old hat which has the appearance of his having worn it with the hands that built this wall ages ago, a connection since birth. Stepping out of the smoke he left behind, with those early Greeks who were such thinkers; who we head up the path before us, through the pines and had the same questions about life as I do.

John W. Robinson up the hill.

Its a few hours into our trek across the island, and We are the first visitors of the day to this ancient site, the Temple the way has been delightful; lanes and paths through arid fields and of Aphaia. It’s still early on this October morning, crisp, cool and pistachio groves. We see few people. It is quiet. “Hey, that’s Paleostill. The robin’s egg blue sky overhead is getting brighter by the hora!” shouts Taylor. The first ruins on the hillside come into view, minute. On top of the hill the pines become sparse and give way and as we follow the faint paths among them we find that they are to the mind-boggling view of the splendid ruins. Soon I’m gazing much more extensive than we had thought. Many of the buildings up at the remarkably well-preserved and massive structure, lost in still intact are churches - probably two dozen of them. As the kids thought, oblivious to the rest of my party. This beautiful Doric tem- and I marvel at remnants of frescoes in one of the ruins, my mind is ple was built in 480 BC, and recalls a very different time in this small again taken back across the ages, to the time when skilled and careGreek island’s history. Aegina was once prominent in the Hellenic ful hands meticulously created these works of art in these places of world, due to its strategic position in the Saronic Gulf. It became a worship. supreme maritime power by about 600 BC, and we were told that And it was fervent worship, no doubt. Ancient Greece may have the silver coins minted on the island at that time were the first coins been a beautiful time and place to live, but it was also a violent time produced in Europe. Athens grew in strength, and by the time of to live. I tell the kids what I have read about Paleohora. It was the Christ, Aegina had been defeated, never again to gain its former island’s capital for over 600 years. I remind them to think about this status. Today the island is off the beaten path, sleepy, and known in American history terms. Over 600 years. The capital had been mainly for this stunning temple ruin - that and its pistachio produc- on the coast, five miles away, for over 1000 years (!), but it had been tion. “Have some!” mumbles my niece Clare, as she holds out the moved here in the 9th century to flee the pirate attacks. The pirates brown paper bag of the native nuts, her mouth full of them. eventually invaded Paleohora anyway. In 1537 the notorious BarMy son Adam and his cousin Anna call the rest of us over to barossa and his band attacked the town, carrying the inhabitants their vantage point looking west towards Aegina Town where Elio off into slavery. had picked us up at sunrise. Our plan is to hike the ten miles back In the valley below the hills of Paleohora lies our next objective, to the town. I have pieced together what looks to be an interesting the monastery of Moni Agiou Nektariou. This remains an imporcross-country route that will take us by two other noteworthy sites, tant place of pilgrimage today, and approaching the place up the the ruins of Paleohora and the monastery, Nektariou. I have some dusty lane I resume my role as tour guide for the day. I tell my stuscribbled notes about our route and the island’s history, a crude dents that a hermit monk was buried here in 1920, and when his map, and a compass. This hill of where the temple sits will be our remains were exhumed in 1946 they were found to be mummified, best vantage point, so my motley crew and I memorize some land- a sure sign of sainthood in Greek Orthodoxy. He was canonized as marks ahead. My brother Kit claps his hands, nods to the temple at a saint a few decades ago, and I’m told that pilgrims come almost our backs and says, “We’ve seen it. Let’s go!” every day. A few pass us, in their little Italian cars, as we walk along

I

the paved road which passes the monastery. Our route is confined to this road for the few remaining miles to the village on the coast, there is less open land to traverse, too many walls to climb over.

The afternoon grows warmer, and our bodies collect more dust and more sweat, but we’re still having fun, and the pebble beach in town is right around the corner, already inviting us with its promise of a refreshing swim.

We’re almost finished our walk, and we duck into the shade of a small grocery store in Aegina Town. The Greeks are friendly, and they all seem to have relatives in America. “Next year, I go to Rochester!” the grinning, dark-eyed shop keeper tells us as he hands out frozen treats from the rusty freezer - a freezer which looks and sounds like it must have been in service when Barbarossa came through.

Ahhhh. Our little band of hiking tourists is lying on the seawall of Aegina Town, drying in the warm sun after our dip in the water.

I gaze out over the gentle ripples of the harbor and see reflected in the water the bright blue sky and billowy clouds. It’s the same sky, I muse, under which the ancient Greeks worked, played, and worshipped. I close my eyes and smile at the thought of it, this feeling I get regularly, of the universal connection all of us share, both in the present and across the ages as well.

Contact John at jwr77@verizon.net

Practicing basic sound principles would have averted economic debacle

hope we have finally learned our lessons. Supply-side/trickle down economics doesn’t work. Deregulation and Liaise Faire capitalism doesn’t work. The people on Wall Street are like teenagers who find themselves home alone after their parents go away for the weekend. Without proper supervision, they just may burn the house down.

Wall Street isn’t the only ones to blame for our current economic mess. The problems of greed, corruption, incompetence, a lack of institutional oversight, economic manipulation, snake-oil capitalism, fraud, let’s make a deal government, using credit to get credit, using credit to pay down debt, homeowners using their homes as ATMs, and a complete lack of basic common sense from the poor to the rich have put this country in an economic situation the likes of which we have never seen before.

My Grandfather was not an educated man. Yet,

he was the smartest economist I have economically responsible. ever known. Growing up, he stressed Still, I have to support the Wall several things to me. Stay away from Street bailout. Frankly, as a country, credit. If a deal sounds too good to be we have no other choice. If we don’t true, it probably is. If you can’t afford it, support the bailout, we may not have don’t buy it. Don’t try and live a chamjobs in 6 months. We may end up havpagne lifestyle on a moonshine buding the biggest economic disaster in get. There’s nothing wrong with saving our history. It’s that simple. to buy something you really want. If This economic mess we are in someone has something nice and you didn’t just happen overnight. It’s been don’t, get over it. I’ve never forgotten 30 years in the making, specifically his advice. since the election of Ronald Reagan Jeff Artis I do not want my tax dollars going in 1980. No, I’m not picking on Reto support a bunch of rich guys who, publicans. Clinton had his hand in the quite frankly, played fast and loose with the basic, making of this economic mess, also. fundamental rules of capitalism. America tells the I am a capitalist. However, I haven’t lost my poor to fend for themselves. We should tell rich mind when it comes to making money or acquirguys to do the same, especially since these same ing money. After Reagan was elected, I got into an rich guys are the very ones who have been telling argument with my economics professor. He was America’s poor they are poor because they aren’t lecturing me on the benefits of supply-side/trickle

Welcoming the new year 5769

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10/3/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

t month's end Jewish people waited outside of the back window. all over the world will celeEntering the building I double-timed brate the beginning of a new it to the coat room window where Pop year, the year 5769. A friend recently awaited. Checking over my shoulder asked me, "Why is the Jewish calendar for witnesses, I passed my ticket back so different from the regular calento Pop, then ran back to the entrance, dar?" At first I thought about offering greeted one of my sisters, grabbed her a "home-made" explanation equatticket and headed back to the window ing the Jewish calendar to that of the where Pop would, again, re-circuChinese, heralding 5769 as the "Year of late the entry pass to another family the Gefilte Fish", but it seemed like too member. Although I felt like I was much work. short-changing God in some way, I Jon Kaufman Surely a Hebrew School lifer (such understood that it was the only way as me) could provide a simple explawe could attend as a family. nation regarding the origins of the time measureLittle by little we inched into the synagogue, my ment as concocted by my ancestors? sisters and Mom unaware of the covert manner in Frankly, I have very little to show for my six which we entered. It wasn't until we all sat down grueling years of religious study. Mentally absent that I realized that I hadn't taken the last ticket during class, I could speak and read the chosen to the coat room and that my Dad was still waitlanguage with the proficiency of your average Es- ing outside. The service was about to begin as I kimo. After six years you would think that some- slipped through the congregation and headed for thing would soak in, yet, I remain hebreacally il- the coat room. Remembering that the coat room literate to this day. door was locked during the observance period, I Attending temple as a child was a yawn-induc- quickly returned to the sanctuary only to find the ing siege with no outlet to vent. Hours passed, fa- doors closed, barring me from entrance. thers dozed, and children, stricken down by boreSweating and gasping for air, I made my way to dom, would lay prostrate on the carpet, overcome the main entrance where I found my dad trying to by the monotony. To re-create this scene with negotiate his way into the edifice, even promising your own kids, simply drag your child to the wall- the unflappable doorman that he wouldn't pray if paper store for a few hours, then, whisk them off he gained entrance. Unable to reach a settlement to an opera and observe the desired effect some with the unyielding door-keep, Pop sat down on time between the first act and intermission. the temple stairs and waited. Closed out as well, I When the High Holidays neared, our temple joined my partner-in-crime on the stoop missing would mail out what amounted to a sales piece of- most of the holiday ceremonies. fering tickets for the big events. Funds were raised The following year we were able to purchase for building improvements and other synagogue tickets for everyone and my dad made sure to inmatters through the sale of these tickets. Dutiful- clude some extra funds in the envelope, an offerly, my parents supported the cause and purchased ing meant to square himself with God, I suspect. tickets for the entire family. During a particularly During my two hour wait with Pops on the stairs lean financial year for the Kaufman family, my of the synagogue I learned that skirting the system Dad had to scale back on the ticket order, cutting never seems to turn out like you planned and that our ticket inventory in half. Somewhat embar- temple can be quite exciting, (rarely, alright almost rassed by the situation, Pop enlisted my help in a never, but sometimes). To all I wish you a happy scheme he had devised so every family member and prosperous 5769 and serve this reminder that could attend. now is the perfect time to start planning your big When we arrived at the temple, Pop sent me 5770 "Year of the Matzo Ball" extravaganza! into the building first, pushing a ticket into my left hand. Once inside I would race immediately Contact Jon at to the coat room and rendezvous with him as he Jon.Kaufman@sprint.com

down economics and the value of deregulation.

When he finished I told him that was the dumbest thing I’d ever heard. The argument was on.

When we finished, he still hadn’t answered two simple questions. 1) If a capitalist can make money by any means necessary, without any control or oversight, why should that capitalist share the wealth, especially when that capitalist has stock holders and a board of directors to answer to who only care about profits, dividends and their stock price? 2) Without any control or oversight, what’s going to stop that capitalist from coming up with some wild-eyed scheme to defraud the public under the guise of some new and improved form capitalism that the public is going to go nuts over?

I guess I was right. My grandfather taught me well.

Contact Jim at column@jeffartis.com

THE ROA

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Undaunted by the rainy weather several dozen people turned out for the latest Kids in the Valley, Adventuring event on Saturday, Sept. 27. Parents and children toured outdoor gardens and greenhouses at the Virginia Western Community College arboretum.They also read “Leaf Man,� by Lois Ehlert and created nature-related artwork, using items collected from the garden area. Everyone left with a packet of sunflower seeds, encouraged to plant their own gardens next spring. “We are looking for a volunteers to help with our nature adventure set up during the Wasena Park for Fall Waterways Clean-Up on October 4th from 11:30 until 12 PM,� said Chip Donahue, the elementary school teacher who has organized KIVA with his wife Ashley. Designed to encourage more kids to play and explore the outdoors, KIVA will also be working with Team Starbucks during a clean up of the Roanoke River at Green Hill Park. Contact KIVA at 540-580-3015 for more information or visit kidsadventuring.org.

Photo by Jon Beard

“The Outline of Metal Against the Sky� is a new exhibit by Pittsburgh photographer Kevin Scanlon that will open at the Link Museum the evening of October 18. Scanlon’s thoughtful and technically masterful images of railroad culture will offer a new perspective while still lending themselves to O. Winston Link’s central notion that industry and culture do not exist independently. Kevin Scanlon will speak about his work during the opening reception on October 18 at 7p.m. at the Link Museum. Admission is $5. This exhibition will close January 26, 2009. Scanlon has spent the last 35 years documenting heavy industry and railroads across the country. His images have been displayed in several art museums and galleries as well as appearing in various railroad-themed books and magazines.

Conversations with Photographers: the O. Winston Link Museum is pleased to announce a new ongoing series of workshops for photography enthusiasts and professionals.

The inaugural Conversations with Photographers experience will be presented by Pittsburgh photographer Kevin Scanlon in conjunction with his upcoming photo exhibit “The Outline of Metal Against the Sky,� and will focus on “The Urban Landscape.� These programs will offer photographers a chance to connect, engage and exchange ideas in an informal and interactive environment.

The workshop is open to all levels of skill, from the beginner to the grizzled veteran of photography. It will be held on Saturday, October 18th from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and will include a discussion, review of prints and a photo-stroll through town.

Attendees are asked to bring a camera and to wear comfortable shoes. The fee for the workshop is $25. Members receive a 15% discount.

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Send sports pictures, announcements and story ideas to info@theroanokestar.com The Patrick Henry Patriots’ offense lines up against Christiansburg.

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10/3/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7

Raiders dominate vs. Hargrave A rainy day and muddy field shows its effect on NC running back #7 Sid Brown.

Photos by David Grimes

Patriot Quarterback Darren Thomas carries the ball.

Photos by Bill Turner

PH struggles against Blue Demons Christiansburg scored on its first possession of the night and never looked backed in cruising to a 37-6 non-district win over Group AAA Patrick Henry in front of a soggy Homecoming crowd last weekend in the New River Valley. With rain falling on and off the entire evening, the Blue Demons (3-1) scored against the Patriots (1-4) on their first possession, via a 27-yard field goal with 7:12 left in the quarter. Steven Wills would score the first touchdown of the game from 1-yard out and Cox’s PAT would make it 10-0 with 9:00 showing in the second quarter. The Demons would once again find the zone, this time as Keith Johnson rambled in from 4-yards out for the score. Cox’s PAT failed, thus making the score

North Cross running back Tyler Caveness (above) breaks into the open with a 46-yard TD run for the Raiders.

Caveness rushed for almost 300 yards on a muddy field as the North Cross School Raiders pounded Hargrave Military, 5218, at home last Friday. The Raiders (4-1) racked up 485 yards in total offense, with Sidney Brown also catching four passes from Glenn Williams for 85 yards. North Cross is home again this Friday for a 4:30 game against Fuqua.

16-0 with 1:41 left before the half.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Blue Demons would light up the scoreboard again, with two Johnson touchdowns giving Christiansburg a 30-0 advantage with 5:39 left. The Patriots avoided a shutout when Melick Green romped 40-yards for a score (PAT failed) for the final margin of 37-6, with 1:47 remaining. For Patrick Henry, quarterback Darren Thomas led the Patriots rushing game QB Glenn Williams rolls out on a pass play for the Raiders. with 60 yards on 15 carries Williams completed 7 of 10 passes for 146 yards. and Melik Green carried the ball five times for 54 yards.

Thomas also completed 2-of-9 passes for 53 yards and was picked off twice.

North Cross wide receiver #2 Fuller Clark dives into the end zone for a Raider TD following a 23-yard reception from QB Glenn Williams.

Vikings top Titans

Northside evened its reBy David Grimes cord at 3-3 with a 22-15 vicinfo@theroanokestar.com tory over Hidden Valley (1-4) in a delayed home game that was moved to Monday night because of heavy rain last Friday. Sophomore Wardel PennTimity ran for 157 yards for the Vikings, while Matt Aiken supplied the Titans firepower by catching 7 passes from punt. Christiansburg scored quarterback Alan Castro for shortly thereafter, and the 128 yards. Castro totaled 150 yards in the game. Hidden Valrout was on. “They really ley drove for a potential gamecapitalized on the mistakes tying touchdown in the last we made,” Gray said. The minute of the game but was Patriot offense was stifled stopped on fourth down at the for most of the night, due in Vikings two-yard line. part to Christiansburg’s ability to take away the big play.

“They made us drive the length of the field and took Salem rushing attack is too away the home run from us,” much for William Fleming: Gray said. “We only had two Through the early portion of drives where we had a chance the season, the William Flemto score.” ing High School ighHColonels The Patriots are off this had yet to be truly challenged. week and open up Western The team’s high-powered ofValley District play on Oc- fense and opportunistic detober 10 when they travel to fense overwhelmed opponents play the Halifax Blue Com- early and often to the tune of ets. Despite the team’s rough four blowout wins. Now we’ll start, Gray remains optimis- find out how they will deal tic. “We have a clean slate with some adversity.

Last Friday night the Colonow – everyone is 0-0 going nels fell to the Salem Spartans into district-play. Every team 23-19 at Patrick Henry High has a loss, so I think this School. It was the first loss for thing is wide open.” the Colonels (4-1), who had their chances in a game that left the team disappointed in

By Matt Reeve their performance. “We just Matt@theroanokestar.com didn’t play up to our potential,” head Coach Rob Senseney

Northside kicker Sean Joyner (below) gets the ball past the outreached arms of a Titan rusher for a 39-yard Viking field goal.

Patriots look forward to clean slate

Patrick Henry heads into district play at 1-4: Last Friday, the Patrick Henry Patriots fell to the Christiansburg Blue Demons 37-6 in a game that their head coach said was more closely contested than the final score indicates. “As crazy as it sounds, I thought we played pretty well,” Bob Gray said.

“They’re a really good team, and we were competitive for most of the game.”

Trailing 16-0 near the end of the third quarter, the Patriots were driving deep in Blue Demon territory. After failing to convert a third-andeight, the Patriots decided to go for it on fourth down.

They were stopped, and the Blue Demon offense quickly tacked on a touchdown to take a 23-0 lead entering the fourth quarter. “That was a big swing in momentum right there,” Gray said of the sequence.

The Patriots made another costly mistake when they fumbled an ensuing

Photos by Bill Turner

Titans QB Alan Castro rolls out to pass.

Colonels hope to learn from mistakes

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said. “We made too many mistakes and had too many inopportune penalties.”

For much of the night, the Colonel defense was unable to contain the Spartan rushing attack. Salem amassed over 280 yards on the ground, controlling the clock and keeping the Colonel offense off the field.

“They did a real good job of running the ball and limiting our touches—that was a big factor in the game,” Senseney said.

William Fleming went ahead 7-0 early in the first quarter after senior running back Deonta Hardy ripped off a long touchdown run. After

a couple of scoring drives by the Spartans, the Colonels regained the lead when Shaquan Manning recovered a Salem fumble and returned it for a touchdown early in the third quarter.

The defense couldn’t make the lead stand up, however, allowing two more scoring drives by the Spartans, including one late in the fourth quarter that took more than six minutes off the clock. A meaningless touchdown pass from Derek Brown to A.J. Manning on the last play of the game ended the scoring for the Colonels. “We didn’t quit, we kept fighting,” Senseney said, noting the final

touchdown drive to end the game.

How Fleming bounces back from its first defeat of the season will be important, as Western Valley District play opens up in two weeks. “We told our kids that the sun will come up tomorrow,” Senseney said.

“This isn’t a five-game season, and this loss will only hurt us if we let it. We just have to learn from our mistakes and continue to get better.” The Colonels are off this week, and return to action on October 10 when they travel to Franklin County to take on the Eagles.

By Matt Reeve Matt@theroanokestar.com

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11-5 Monday-Saturday

Page 8 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/3/08

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Send sports pictures, announcements and story ideas to info@theroanokestar.com

National magazine recalls Roanoke football great George Preas, a 1950s AllState Jefferson High football player and All-Southern Conference first team player at Virginia Tech, went on to play pro football for the Baltimore Colts.

His 11-year pro football career included the historic championship game in 1958 between the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts.

In the October issue of Atlantic Monthly, Mark Bowden’s “Distant Replay” recounts sitting down with Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach Andy Reid to watch a film of the game. Reid’s take on the game played 50 years ago was to provide Bowden with inside knowledge for his book, The Best Game Ever. Reid, born the year the game was played, was quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers (think Brett Favre), helping take the Packers to the Super Bowl in 1997. Since 2001 he has led the Eagles to four consecutive National Football Conference championship games and a Super Bowl.

Having never seen the film himself, Reid explained the playby plays to Bowden with more than a little professional curiosity. The historic game “pitted the best defense in the NFL, the Giants, against the best offense, the Colts, playing for all the marbles.

It featured 17 future NFL Hall of Fame players, coaches and owners.” On the field were football greats Johnny Unitas and Frank Gifford. Coaching the Giants were Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry. Colts’ coach Weeb Ewbank is the only pro coach to take teams to both NFL and AFL championships.

Reid further explained that some things had changed since 1958: the game moved faster

then without video replays and television breaks for commercials. Quarterbacks called their own plays and defensive field captains were “on-field tacticians.” Most players in the 1950s had full time jobs off the field.

Today, players are heavier and faster; as for natural throwing ability, he picked Brett Favre and added Johnny Unitas.

As the game progressed, Bowden says Reid become “rapt.” The final plays are spelled out: “The Colt’s right tackle, George Preas, raced across the defensive backfield to flatten the middle linebacker and clear a path for the fullback, who sprinted 22 yards up the middle of the field to the Giant’s 20-yard line. It ended five plays later when Ameche plunged over the goal line for the winning touchdown….”

“Reid said simply, ‘Awesome.’”

Note: George Preas passed away in February of 2007 in Roanoke. His widow B.J. Preas plans to attend the 50th Reunion of the Championship Game in Baltimore this fall.

Photos by Bill Turner

North Cross #10 Kaki Comer serves one of her eight aces in the Raider victory vs. SWVA Home School on Monday night.

Raiders volleyball

#15 Emma Caveness (above, below) works hard against Grace Academy last week. The Cave Spring transfer is the younger sister of Raiders star fullback Tyler Caveness.

North Cross was 12-3, 5-1 in the Blue Ridge Conference after a three-game win over Southwest Virginia Home School on Sept.

29. Emma Caveness had six kills, Sarah Jessee 14 assists and Kaki Comer 8 aces in the victory. The Raiders play SWVHS again on Oct. 6 at Cave Spring Baptist Church.

PH grad named ODAC Runner of the Week

Sophomore runner Ian Robinson, a Patrick Henry High School graduate, was named ODAC Runner of the Week. This is the second athlete this season from the men’s team that has garnered this award.

Alex Knutsen shared the same honor on Sept. 8. This is the first time since 2004 that two male runners from Roanoke have earned POW honors in the same season.

The Roanoke College men’s and women’s cross country teams both finished sixth at the Salisbury Invitational this morning. The

By Gail Lambert men finished with 181 points while the women had 162 in the meet. info@theroanokestar.com Robinson paced the Maroons at the Don Cathcart Invitational, hosted by Salisbury University. Robinson was the top ODAC individual in the meet, finishing 18th overall with an eight-kilometer time of 27:15.00. The Maroons travel to North Carolina to compete Specializing in Floyd Co. Farms & Real Estate in the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational next weekend.

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U.S. Army fly-over hosted by the VT Tech Corps of Cadets Saturday The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and the Army ROTC Department will sponsor, barring weather or operational factors, a military aircraft flyover with two AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the Combat Aviation Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, N.C., during pre-game ceremonies of the Virginia Tech vs. Western Kentucky University football game to be held Saturday, Oct. 4.

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1999, will lead the flight. Anders is a former Virginia Tech football player, who played in the Sugar Bowl against Florida State University in 2000.

This weekend's game is part of Virginia Tech Homecoming weekend and the annual Highty-Tighty Reunion. The Highty-Tighty Alumni Band will perform during the pregame show along with the current cadet band.

The detachment from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade will arrive in our area on Friday, Oct. 3 and will conduct practice runs between 8:45 and 9:15 a.m.

Barton new Byrd softball coach

Greg Barton has been named the new William Byrd High School varsity softball coach. Barton, who was assistant varsity softball coach for four years, will replace Mike Mitchell, who took a coaching position at Roanoke College. Barton, a 1979 William Byrd graduate, has coached travel softball teams and been an assistant coach for the William Byrd junior varsity team. “We’re confident Greg will continue to provide outstanding coaching to our softball athletes,” said William Byrd Athletic Director Crystal Worley. “He was a great assistant coach and I’m pleased he now will lead the team,” Worley added.

Letters

TheRoanokeStar.com

Roanoke’s performance Dear editor, Yes, Roanoke, there is an encore performance for the Roanoke Arts Festival. As well as continuing its own evolution, this year’s Festival is playing a supportive role to the opening of the much celebrated Taubman Museum of Art. Prior to the weekend of November 8 and 9, Roanokers and visitors will be treated to the “40 Days/40 Nights” of cultural events stewarded by the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. This begins with the unveiling of In My Hands, the magnificent piece of public art at the Roanoke Civic Center plaza (sponsored by the Roanoke Arts Commission), and culminates in a performance by the legendary Crystal Gayle, the signature guest artist for the 2008 Roanoke Arts Festival.

This year the Roanoke Arts Festival will provide a smorgasbord of performing and visual arts. On Saturday, November 8, such outstanding regional performers artists as Thistledown Puppets; the William Penn Quartet; UNA Dance Theatre; members of the Theatre Departments of Hollins University and Virginia Tech (in their production of the awardwinning Doubt); the returning James Piano Quartet; and venerable Blues king “Guitar Shorty” performing at Blue 5 Restaurant will perform, along with a free Rock ‘n’ Roll concert in Elmwood Park featuring the mighty bands of the Magic Twig Community.

Sunday, November 9, continues with a fabulous lineup that includes: the Bluegrass of “FiddleFest Lite” at the Taubman Museum of Art; staged readings and liter-

ary tributes to Nelson Bond and Jack Kestner; another performance of Doubt at the Waldron Stage at Mill Mountain Theatre; the Roanoke Symphony presenting Spirit Over Oppression/ Triumphant Expression at Shaftman Hall; Southern Stories: Two Films by Sundance Award-Winner Paul Harrill at the Grandin Theatre all leading up to Crystal Gayle, and the exciting opening act of Nashville’s “Sam & Ruby.”

As with last year’s Festival, the visual arts and museum exhibitions are prominent (for details please visit roanokeartsfest.org). The culinary artists of Virginia Western Community College’s new Culinary Arts Institute will share their creations on both days at no charge.

Citizens should take advantage of this opportunity to support local, regional and national artist. Not only will attendees be treated to some of the highest quality entertainment in the region they will also be supporting an important economic development initiative. History shows that art festivals support economic development and arts in general are a high priority for CEO's looking to locate or relocate their organizations.

Jim Grigsby Asst. City Manager Roanoke

Ripping off the elderly Dear editor, This letter is to alert readers to a scam presently being perpetrated in the Roanoke area. My parents were victims of this money scam called “Grandparents Scam.”

(I found it on the internet under this title.) My parents received a call last Tuesday 9/23, from someone stating he was their grandson. He

stated that he was in Canada with some of his friends and had been out partying and was involved in a car accident. Said he was in trouble, bad trouble and needed their help. No one was injured but there was some damage to the cars. He had rented a car and had insurance on it, but needed some money for repairs to the other car and they (the police) had picked him up for DUI. He was not drunk, but over the limit for Canada and needed $3,100.

Before they would let him go. So my parents went to the Wal-Mart on 460 and had a money gram sent. (This is where he instructed them to go - Wal-Mart and to send funds by Money gram.)

This is, of course, all a scam for money. We found out all too late for my parents, but hope we can stop other elderly people from becoming victims of this. We have since found out that another gentleman sent out $1,000 on Saturday at the same WalMart with the money going to Canada and another woman had called the Wal-Mart asking how much a money gram to Canada for $750 would be. Please let others know not to fall for this scam. To ask for a phone number to call them back or something to verify that this is truly a relative needing help. I had called the Canadian police and they had no report of a car accident involving the grandson. This is how we became suspicious and contacted the grandson. He, of course, has never been to Canada and was very upset and concerned this has happened. Please let the elderly know.

> Help Wanted After School Program Coordinator Part time elementary coordinator for Presbyterian Community Center after school program. Requirements: combination of education, experience equivalent to bachelor degree in counseling, education, childhood development or related field. Experience working with atrisk children preferred. Resume to: PCC, 1228 Jamison Avenue, Roanoke, 24013 and/or call 540982-2911 for Tom MacMichael pathways@pccse.org Part-time Dining Room Assistant Are you looking for a part-time position with great hours in a professional work environment? Shenandoah Life has an opportunity for you. We are seeking a high-energy, customer focused, individual to join our Corporate Services staff.

This individual will assist the dining room staff with the preparation of food services.

Qualified candidates must have a desire to provide quality customer service and have good communications skills. Candidate must be able to lift up to 25+ lbs and stand for long periods of time. Previous experience with or knowledge of food service is preferred.

Part-time hours: 20-25 hours a week between hours 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. with regular hours of 8:00-1:00 p.m. Starting salary $10 + 401K benefits.

If customer service is your priority and have a strong work ethic, submit your resume today to: Shenandoah Life Insurance Company, Attn: HR Job # 1030-07, PO Box 12847, Roanoke,VA 24029, Fax: (540) 857-5915 or Email: human.resources@shenlife.com. or visit our website at www.shenlife. com.We are pleased to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Dear editor, U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte is not currently a supporter of the FairTax, the proposal in Congress to replace the federal income tax with a consumption tax.

Also replaced are payroll, corporate, self-employment, capital gains, gift, and estate taxes. What he does support is his bill to abolish the income tax code by the end of 2010 and to determine what will replace it by mid2010.

I have taken him to task in the pages of the Star-Sentinel for not listing and supporting the FairTax as the preferred replacement. In his written responses to constituents who criticize his stand, he acknowledges some of the advantages of the FairTax but devotes most of his comments to six or seven “concerns.” It is these concerns, of course, that prevent him from committing his influence and energy to full advocacy of the FairTax, a result that Roanoke Area FairTax has been working to achieve for several years.

Rep. Goodlatte is aware of our activities and has accepted RAFT’s invitation to discuss his position on the proposal on Wednesday, October 8th. FairTax supporters are welcome to attend the 6:30 pm meeting at WDBJ-7 Studios Community Room, 2807 Hershberger Rd. NW Roanoke VA 24017.

A large turnout will show him the level of support in the Roanoke area. If you wish to ask a question or make a comment, first-come numbers will be distributed beginning at 6:00. Be sure to reserve the date and come to the meeting! Details are at www.RoanokeAreaFairTax.com Donald Koop Roanoke

Time for a Change Dear editor, It seems like even when times get tough, we tend to go with what we know. Like a baseball game, or apple pie.

Or voting for our old standby Bob Goodlatte. Except then you realize the

baseball players were on steroids, apple pie is fattening, and Bob, well Bob just isn\’t what he seemed to be. You see, Bob ran on term limits in Congress - then he reached his 11th year. He was for the middle class, until he let credit card company lobbyists help write his bankruptcy bill. He was for fiscal responsibility before presiding over the largest increase in debt in our history. And I\’m just getting started!It seems like the trusty standby has broken down on us a lot.

Maybe it is time for a change.

Fortunately, this time we have a choice. I\’m looking for a moderate whose record reflects my values, not the lobbyists in Washington.

A fiscal conservative for tax reform. And for me, that choice is Sam. Ron Sokol Roanoke Send your letters (and confirmation contact information) to info@theroanokestar. com.

250 words or less please; subject to editing

Commentary: Wal-Mart’s return raises concerns

The recent headlines that Wal-Mart may be back in southwest Roanoke County’s Clearbrook area have caught my eye. My activist inclinations have begun to stir.

I’m a newcomer to Roanoke. I came here four years ago from Santa Fe. In the 20 years I was in Santa Fe, I watched it move from a unique small town Leslie F. to a suburban sprawl, albeit Roanoke covered in brown stucco, that boasted the same chains found everywhere across the US. It sold out to developers. Where all those tracts are going to find drinking water and where all the wannabes who moved into them are going to find jobs, I don’t know. I skipped out on the problem.

I came to Roanoke because With retired artist it was beautiful, because I Call Janet Wimmer, 977-1681 don’t know what it was like or e-mail janet.wimmer@gmail. com 20 years ago so I can’t mourn for the good old days, because Strumming a six string it is a nicely balanced town, want to improve but need help politically, socially, economiLessons are your hope Call Greg @ 540-354-2049 cally. I chose SW Roanoke County because it is the pretSummer-Fall tutor tiest part of town, semi-rural, Enriches and reviews skills to keep learning fresh. yet convenient. I expected Call Emily 725-1464, emilym@ some development. This is, cox.net after all, the USA, where more and bigger are the name of the Art Lessons private art lessons game, whether it makes sense drawing ,painting and sculpture or not. So I’ve been saddened ages 6 and up but not surprised to watch the call Katherine Devine 427-5919 greenery along Electric Road devinestudios@yahoo.com hacked into cute commercial Want to learn Chinese? blights for which someone, Learn it from a Taiwanese. presumably, has conducted Call us right away! needs assessments.

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FairTax not so fair

10/3/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

be able to afford more than the previous generation, that there is an inexhaustible supply of land and resources the purpose of which is to serve human interests, and, finally, that trickledown economics really does trickle down.

All of these assumptions are now in question. We are, as a global community, as a nation, and as individual communities, on the brink of major lifestyle changes. Our assumptions about growth, development, building codes and community needs must be revised. It is a wonderful opportunity for a caring, conscious community to help build a new kind of world. Rather than plow ahead with the same old concepts and standards, it seems wise to me to call a moratorium on all development, to bring in the new generation of architects and city planners, to reassess our needs in view of what will be and not the patterns of the past.

The new school planned on Bent Mountain may be completely irrelevant if, as I suspect, demographics are about to undergo major revisions. Ditto widening 221 and new housing developments. A

new library may also be irrelevant, or its services and thus its design, may have to be revised in the face of changing technology. Who needs a 100-room hotel if no one is taking road trips? Money may be better spent on public transportation, bike lanes, recycling and burying power lines. Parking lots may fill up with mopeds instead of cars, especially in high schools and community colleges, and the McMansion may become a thing of the past. As fuel continues to redefine lifestyle, zoning may have to be revised; the corner grocery may make a comeback. People will save fuel shopping online; specialty retail stores will take a dive.

There is no reason with SW Roanoke cannot become a model for the future. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see ourselves in the news as a model community, to have international visitors who’ve come to learn from us? Isn’t that better than chopping up our hills to build a ghost town?

Schafer Shoe Repair NEW LOCATION! Same great service!

Call us for locations of drop off sites 342-2155 M, T, Th, & F - 9 am-6pm W & S - 9am-2pm 3310-B Brandon Ave. Roanoke, 24018 (Between Brewster’s & Dairy Queen)

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I repair the tabs or whole shingles.

You provide material and ladder.

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Robspad@hotmail.com spinet Piano in excellent condition Would you like to play?

Call Peggy@342-2183 or pae-onia@juno.com Real good condition Dot Matrix printer for sale No longer needed Call Crystal @ 989-6138 Self-defense lessons Free for women and children Fun and practical Call 345-7365 For teens and adults, Fun Summer Painting Classes, With retired artist Call Janet Wimmer, 977-1681 or e-mail janet.wimmer@gmail. com FREE!!!!

We’ll run any ad from a private party written in traditional Haiku form (5,7,5 syllabic format).

Telephone number at the end of the listing is excluded from the format requirements. Email info@ theroanokestar.com

Candra Bryson Roanoke County

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Homestead Creamery (540) 721-2045 Burnt Chimney, VA • Home Delivery • Local Production • No Artificial Hormones Free ice cream for trying our home delivery service!

Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/3/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

Community Calendar > Oct. 2

Thursday Morning Music Club The first program in the Thursday Morning Music Club 2008 – 2009 year will be Thursday, October 2.

When - 10:30 a.m.

Where - Calvary Baptist Church in Roanoke,Virginia.

Celebrating the Arts Tour the Rescue Mission and enjoy art the area’s best artists. Mission tours and hard hat tours of newly renovated chapel and offices.

Music and refreshments When - 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Where - Rescue Mission, 402 4th St.

> Oct. 4

Annual Fall Waterways Clean-up Save the date for the annual Fall Waterways Cleanup and Celebration to be held valley-wide is scheduled October 4th.

When- 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.; celebration to follow at 11:45 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Where- Wasena Park For more- register to participate, please visit the Clean Valley Council’s website link at: http://www.cleanvalley.org/fallwaterway.htmlgepbs.org Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs Yard Sale Roanoke Council of Garden Clubs will have a Yard Sale on Saturday October 4, 2008 When - 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM Where - 3640 Colonial Avenue SW

> Oct. 4-5

Barbara Norman-Lashley Open Studio Barbara and Guest artists Ann E. Hale, Rayma Lacks, Martha Brown Mayo and Roberta McGuire will host a two-day Open Studio of small gifts, framed and unframed art.

When - 10am-5pm. Refreshments.

Where - 2460 Twin Mountain Rd in Vinton (Rt. 24 through Vinton to Rt. 641, follow signs) For more - 540-890-3889.

> Oct. 5

9th Annual Poor Mountain HillClimb Mountain Bike Race

The annual Poor Mountain and DeRailer Series’ awards ceremony will take place at Camp Roanoke. A total of $2,000 in cash prizes for the DeRailer Series will be awarded. The Poor Mountain HillClimb will award $2200 in cash prizes which includes $250 each for the male and female record breakers.

Online registration is available until October 3 When - Check-in begins at 8:00AM and will close promptly at 10:00AM. Where - Camp Roanoke For more or to register (540) 387-6078 ext. 251 or visit www.

RoanokeCountyParks.com.

Downtown Living Open Houses The Nehi Bottling Lofts (302 5th St. SW) Sunday, October 5 (Also Sunday, October 12) 1-3 p.m. http://www.waldvogelcommercial.com/urban_nehi.htm The Candy Factory (324 Salem Ave.) Sunday, October 5 1-3 p.m. http://www.waldvogelcommercial.com/urban_ candyfactory_302.htm

> Oct. 6

Biblical Blueprints for Business The trainer is Mike Garrison and he will help you learn how to build your business based on biblical principals and how to align your faith with your life in the business community.

When - 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Cost- is $49.00/person.

Where - Roanoke Higher Education Center in Room 403.

For more or to register - call The Garrison Group at 4007471 or Jocelyn@thegarrisongroup.biz. Advanced registration is not required.

> Oct. 9

Roanoke College Center for Religion and Society Father Richard John Neuhaus, Editor of First Things, author of The Naked Public Square and many other books, including the forthcoming American Babylon: Notes of a Christian Exile, will speak on “Moral Issues and Political Choices: A Christian

Response.”

When- 7:30 p.m.

Where- Wortmann Ballroom in the Roanoke College Colket Student Center St. Francis Blessing of the Animals St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church will hold its 9th Annual Blessing of the Animals service Saturday, October 4, 2008. St. Francis is well known for his love of nature and we mark the anniversary of his feast day with a blessing of the animals special to you. All animals, on leashes or in carriers and their owners are welcome. You will receive a personal blessing and photo of you and your pet. Please bring a can or two of food to be shared with the St. Francis House Food Pantry.

When - 9 a.m.

Where - The setting is outside under the church’s beautiful oak tree at 2339 Grandin Road, SW. For more information you may call the church, 540.774.8652 or visit our web site, www.stelizabethsroanoke.org

> Oct. 11

Gardening Workshop Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Community Arboretum at Virginia Western team up to host a fall gardening workshop, “Liven Up Your Dormant Garden,” Saturday, October 11, 2008. Those attending are promised many ideas for plants to enliven the winter landscape and will take home a beautiful container garden planted during the workshop.

The three-part workshop will include a slide presentation packed with ideas for blooming bulbs and cold tolerant annuals, a guided tour of plants with winter interest at the Community Arboretum, and a handson session making a container garden to take home that will be beautiful through fall, winter, and early spring.

The cost of the workshop is $25 per person to cover container garden supplies. Registration is limited to the first 30 paid applicants by September 12, 2008.

Registrants will receive return confirmation by email (postal mail if no email address is provided), containing directions and

Now available at the following locations: The Roanoker 2522 Colonial Ave Roanoke VA 24015

IGA / Super Fresh 1314 Riverland Rd Roanoke VA 24014

Mill Mountain Coffee Tinnels Finer Foods 2205 Crystal Spring Ave 112 Campbell Ave Roanoke VA 24011 Roanoke VA 24014

YMCA – (Jefferson Center) 520 Church Street Roanoke VA 24016

Vinton Post Office 119 South Pollard St Vinton VA 24179

Wildflower Hollins 7770 Williamson Rd Roanoke VA 24020

Public Library – Cave Spring 3131 Electric Rd Roanoke VA 24018 Public Library – Salem 28 E. Main St Salem VA 24153

Ukrops Grocery 2331 Franklin Rd Roanoke VA 24014

New Yorker Deli 2802 Williamson Rd Roanoke VA 24012

The Cave Spring Post Office 4069 Postal Drive Roanoke VA 24018

Natural Food Co-op 1319 Grandin Rd Roanoke VA 24015

Towers Mall 1103 23rd St Roanoke VA 24015

The Raleigh Court Post Office Country Cookin 4325 Brambleton Ave 1733 Grandin Rd Roanoke VA 24015 Roanoke VA 24015

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rain date instructions. Please help us manage postal costs by accepting email from Virginia Cooperative Extension.

When- 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Where- Natural Science Center on the Virginia Western Community College campus.

> Oct. 12

Latino Festival Traditional Food, Music & Art When - Noon - 6 p.m.

Where - Elmwood Park

> Oct. 14

Come meet Gov. Warner NewVaConnects is holding a meet and greet where residents of the Valley can meet and question Governor Warner, about his plans and opinions. Location likely to be Higher Ed Center.

> Oct. 15

Love Lived on Death Row discussion Please join us for a film screening and discussion on the death penalty. Film running time: 84 minutes. Discussion with Director/Producer Linda Booker to follow film. Love Lived on Death Row tells the story of the four Syriani siblings whose father was sentenced to die for the 1990 murder of their mother. Orphaned and estranged, they lived with hate, anger and confusion as their father lived on North Carolina’s death row.

But in 2004 they collectively decided to visit him in prison.

What transpired that day was a miracle of forgiveness followed by a journey of healing and then a battle for his clemency.

When - 7:15pm-9:30pm Where - The Grandin Theater For more - www.lovelivedondeathrow.com.

> Oct. 17

Rotary Club of Roanoke Valley Benefit The Rotary Club of Roanoke Valley will sponsor a benefit dinner, dance with games and live and silent auctions, to benefit three local charities Friday, October 17. The Rotary Club, which is part of Rotary District 7570 of Rotary International, is expected to raise more than $20,000 for the Roanoke Valley charities.

The evenings activities include a buffet dinner and a dance with music provided by Timeless, the souths premier band, featuring selections from big band to beach music, the 50s, 60s and 70s, and top 40. Various area businesses have donated to the charity affair and attendees will have an opportunity to participate in silent and live auctions.

Various other games will be played throughout the evening.

Tickets may be purchased from any member of the sponsoring club or by contacting Ev Werness at (540) 556-4389 or Pete File at (540) 293-9105.

When- 6:30 p.m.

Where - Salem Civic Center For more- www.RotaryDance. com

> Oct. 18

Saddles & Bluegrass Hoedown Healing Strides Equine Assisted Therapies Program (formerly Roanoke Valley Therapeutic Riding Program) will hold its 2nd annual Saddles and Bluegrass Hoedown fall fundraiser on Saturday, October 18th, 12-

4pm, featuring: Riding Demonstrations, Live Bluegrass Music

by Harwell Grice Band, a Kids’ Corner full of games and activities, delicious Henry’s Memphis BBQ, silent auction and raffles, emceed by Brett Sharp of 94.9 Star Country. This is an event the whole family will enjoy!

When- Noon - 4 p.m.

For more- www.healingstridesofva.org 334-5825.

21st Annual Crafts Fair And Bake Sale The 21st annual crafts fair and bake sale will be held on Saturday, October 18th, 2008. Items for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas; holiday wreaths; pillows; gifts; aprons; floral arrangements; hand made doll clothes; Christmas ornaments and many other hand crafted items will be available. We will have hundreds of home baked goodies for sale. Lunch may be purchased and there will be a room full of “white elephants.”

Proceeds benefit church outreach programs When- 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Where - Lady Of Nazareth Catholic Church 2505 Electric Road,Roanoke,Va

> Oct. 21

National Friends of Libraries Week Celebration Look beyond the stacks on our BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR! Roanoke Public Libraries and Friends of the Library of Roanoke City invite you to help us celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week. Enjoy light refreshments prior to the tour to see what makes the “pages” turn!

When- 6 p.m.

Where- Roanoke Public Library, 706 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke Cost - Free

> Oct. 23

Penn Forest Elementary Annual Pumpkin Sale Lots of fun games and crafts planned for the kids, a hayride, inflatables and in the past we’ve had a petting”zoo.” A preorder BBQ dinner sponsored by Pitt Boss BBQ on Brambleton Ave. will be offered and we also offer preorder pumpkins for sale and set up our “pumpkin patch” in front of our school.

When- 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Where- Penn Forest Elementary

> Oct. 25

Family Gaming Day Roanoke Public Libraries now invite not just the teens to enjoy gaming at the library! A new program, Family Gaming Day, starts Saturday, October 25.Try your hand at the Wii, Guitar Hero, and any of the other hit games that the library offers.

And if you don’t like computer games, don’t feel confined, we also have board games and other timeless family games.

When - 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Where - Roanoke Main Library For more - 853-2955

> Oct. 31 - Nov. 2

Dollywood Harvest Celebration - Bus Trip The Singles Travel Club (couples welcome too!), is sponsoring a bus trip to Dollywood, Country Tonite and The Smokey Moun-

tains on Friday, October 31 Sunday, November 2, 2008.

Where- Passengers can board the bus at the Bonsack Walmart, Route 460, Troutville; and at Hardee’s, 2038 W. Main Street, Salem (Exit 137).

Cost- The price per person of: $295 double occupancy; $275 triple occupancy; $265 quad occupancy; or $365 single occupany includes: Roundtrip motorcoach transportation, 2 nights lodging, 2 breakfasts, admission to Dollywood, ticket to Country Tonite Theatre, a riding tour of Smokey Mountain National Park and a tour host.

For more- call (540) 366-2888.

> Nov.

Extras Needed for Cycling Film There is a need for riders and extras.

Film Website: http://www.redcloudproductions.net/ People who are interested in being a part of the movie may confirm with the casting department at casting@maxvo2themovie.com.

Road race scene at the Blue Ridge Parkway November 15th and 16th (spectators/fans)

> Fall

Master Garden Training Roanoke VCE will offer MG training this fall. It is a daytime class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM starting September 4, 2008.

Further details and official recruitment materials will be available 7/16/08. If you know of someone interested in the fall training class, please have them call the Roanoke VCE office (540-772-7524) and place their name on the waiting list.

You can get the latest information on our activities by visiting us on the web at http://offices. ext.vt.edu/view.cfm?webname= roanoke&section=calendar When- Fall 2008 Where- Roanoke VCE For more- (540)-772-7524 or http://offices.ext.vt.edu

> Nov. 17

RAM Fundraiser Roanoke Area Ministries (RAM) staff and volunteers are working with the P. Buckley Moss Society, selling raffle tickets to win a framed, remarqued P. Buckley Moss print. The print is valued at $1,076. The drawing will be held November 17, 2008. A Raffle can be purchased for $1 each, or 6 for $5. All proceeds go to RAM. For more- to purchase tickets, please call 777-3681

> Nov. 21 & 22

Northside Middle School PTA Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Craft Show Friday, Novemebr 21, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., Craft Show. Spaghetti Dinner, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Saturday 22, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Craft Show, light refreshments, door prizes & silent auction.

More crafters welcome, call NMS at 561-8145.

For more- call Sheree Anderson at 366-7048.

Have an item for the calendar? email it to submissions@theroanokestar. com

October is Money Smart Month at Roanoke Public Libraries Financial education fosters financial stability for individuals, families, and entire communities.

The more people know about credit and banking services, the more likely they are to increase savings, buy homes, and improve their financial health and well being.

The Money Smart classes help individuals build financial knowledge, develop financial confidence, and use banking services effectively. Everyone is invited/No charge for anyone For more information phone 540-853-2785

Thursday, October 30 • 10:00 AM Trucks & truck cranes, trailers, sign-making & metal fabricating equipment, power tools, sign materials and office furnishings. Sale includes hundreds of items. Previews & auction held on site at 1601 Siebel Drive, Roanoke, VA 24012 (Statesman Industrial Park). Contact Auction Company for sale brochure or visit www.woltz.com for inventory, terms of sale, photographs and other information. 10% buyer’s premium added to high bid.

For information, contact Jonna McGraw (VA#2434) or Boyd Temple (VA#1850) VA #321

540-342-3560 800-551-3588 www.woltz.com

Preview Dates: 3:00 to 5:00 PM on Thursdays, October 16 and October 23; 3:00 to 5:00 PM on Wednesday, October 29; and 8:00 to 10:00 AM on Sale Day

October 6 “Retirement Income Planning” 4:30 p.m.

Gainsboro Library Mutual of Omaha October 7 “Mortgage Requirements” 6 p.m. Jackson Park Library Valley Team Mortgage

October 8 “Home Buying” 6 p.m. Melrose Library Coldwell Banker October 9 “Investment Strategies vs.

Investment Illusions” 5:30 p.m. Raleigh Court Library Davenport & Co

October 9 “Credit” 3:30 p.m.

Williamson Road Library Roanoke Valley Credit Union October 10 “Personal Finance for Teens” 3:45 p.m. Raleigh Court Library Valley Team Mortgage

10/3/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11

TheRoanokeStar.com

Looking for adults with asthma Dr. Stuart Tousman pulls no punches: air quality in the Roanoke Valley is “miserable,� to use the asthma-sufferer’s own word. In fact there is a group, the Greater Roanoke Valley Asthma and Air Quality Coalition, which lobbies the state for money to fight problems associated with the condition. Tousman says those with asthma tend to stay in the hospital longer and have higher morbidity rates. A psychologist by training, Tousman, who teaches at Jefferson College of Health Sciences, is ramping up an adult research study project that will work with asthma sufferers for eight weeks. It begins on September 30 and Tousman is still looking for more qualified adults that suffer from the disease.

Participants in the free study would have to give up two hours every week from 6-8 pm on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday for a total of eight weeks, at Carilion Community Hospital. In return Tousman says he can show them how to better manage their condition. He’s done it before with a group in Illinois, (he relocated to Roanoke about a year ago) and has spoken about adult asthma self management at national conferences.

Tousman, looking for new recruits during the “Help is Here Express� bus tour last week in southeast Roanoke, said that “learner-centered interactive discussions� form the core of his study group. Guest speakers will come in to teach participants more about their asthma. Because the Roanoke Valley sits in a bowl, surrounded by hills and mountains, some who have had little trouble

Healthy beliefs and clear stan- October 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th 6:30pm – 8:30pm. To register A group of area artists have dards in the family parenting for classes contact: Brooks organized a two-part event Strengthening Michael, Roanoke County to promote environmental skills Strengthening family com- Prevention Council, Smiawareness in the chael@carilion.com or 540Roanoke Valley. The event, munication skills 314-5030. called Art For The Earth, will Dealing with peer pressure take place two separate days Challenges of adolescence Building protective factors in October.

A special feature of the Sunday, October 12, all area artists (18 and older) are Guiding Good ChoicesÂŽ proinvited to participate in the gram is peer refusal skills.

Roanoke has a Refusal skills focus on ways Saltwater Fish Store!

Roanoke Valley's first • Large selection En Plein Air Painting Day. to avoid high-risk activities • Live corals • Aquariums & equipment It is being held from 8 a.m. under peer pressure and still • Delivery & set-up maintain important friendto 3 p.m. in Green • Maintenance for home or business BOL 08 Hill Park ships. Workshops are availBOL 08 in Roanoke County. The pic540-580-7755 1428 Roanoke Road (Across from Lord Botetourt High School) nic pavilion across from the able for: Parents, Schools, caboose will be the artists' Faith Based Groups, Commubase and there are numerous nity Coalitions , Civic Orgavistas and river views to paint nizations and Health/Human throughout the park. There is Service Organizations. Cost workno entry fee, and all mediums to parents attending Contact Tom Branch or Mike Branch Contact To shops is $40.00 paid the Road, 4552by Franklin Virginia are welcome. Artists are asked BOL T-FS.W., 3-7 Roanoke, pm, Sat 12-6 pm, 24014 Sun 1-5 08 BOL 08 Phone: 540-774-1208 | Fax: 540-774-13594552 | Email:Frank bmc@ to pre-register by calling GalBOL 08 Phone: 540 lery 108 at (540 )982-4278.

The artists' work will be Contact Tom Branch or Mike Branch 4552 Franklin Road, S.W., Roanoke, Virginia 24014 showcased at a public show Phone: 540-774-1208 | Fax: 540-774-1359 | Email: bmc@branchmgt.com Contact Tom Branch or Mike Branch and reception on October Contact Tom Branch or4552 Mike Franklin Branch Road, S.W., Roanoke, Virg Space Available 25th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Branch Management Corp. specializes in unique solutions to| Fax: meet your Phone: 540-774-1208 540-774-135 4552 Franklin Road, S.W., Roanoke, Virginia 24014 Branch Management Corp. specializes in unique to meet your needs.

Phone: 540-774-1208 | Fax:solutions 540-774-1359 | Email: bmc@branchmgt.co Branch Management Corp. specializ the Claude Moore EducationExpanding | Downsizing Ownership | Leasing | Selling | Selling Expanding | Downsizing | |Ownership | Leasing al Complex, 108 Henry Street For more information on these and other properties that we have available, please visit Expanding www.branchmgt.com today!| Downsizing | information on these and other properties that we have available in Roanoke. 50% of the art- For more Branch Management Corp.

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Dr. Stuart Tousman with asthma or allergies elsewhere find their condition much worse here. “When we did this study in Illinois we found at the end that their quality of life was better [and] they were making behavior changes,� said Tousman. That also meant asthma sufferers understood more about the medications they were taking and were further involved in managing their condition. “People really have a lack of knowledge about what to do [with] their asthma,� said Tousman.

He needs enough volunteers for the research study program to make it statistically valid and as of last week required about a dozen more volunteers. Adult asthma sufferers who are interested can call Dr. Stuart Tousman at 767-6096, or log on to jchs.edu. Tousman can be reached via e-mail at stousman@jchs.edu.

Rasoul, Allen ask: What about Bob? It was a serious discussion about healthcare, the war in Iraq, the bailout and other topics that are on voter’s minds these days, as two candidates for the 6th Congressional District met on Tuesday night at a public forum sponsored by the Roanoke Area Campaign for Liberty. That group was formed by supporters of Ron Paul, the former Republican fringe challenger for the presidential nomination and a Constitutionalist who believes in limited powers for the federal government. Democrat Sam Rasoul and independent contender Janice Lee Allen discussed the issues in front of about 30 people at the Clearbrook Civic League building in southwest Roanoke County. WSLS anchor Jay Warren moderated.

Missing was the eight-term incumbent, Republican Bob Goodlatte, bogged down in Washington these days with the bailout bill. Rasoul’s campaign had been critical of Goodlatte in the past, accusing him of ducking debates, although the issue did not come up until the very end on Tuesday, when Allen joked, “I guess we can say – what about Bob? ‌ I’ll be your Bob.â€? The Goodlatte campaign has said in the past they would consider debates once Congress has let out for the year.

Rasoul, a 26 year old local businessman, and Allen, who runs a real estate company and sports a PhD, seemed to agree on many issues, while gently disagreeing on others. Allen, who lives in Harrisonburg, said she was “fed up, angry and upset,� with an indecisive Congress these days, while Rasoul railed about the influence of lobbyists. He seemed to be a lot more likely to vote for the Wall

2173 Bennington Street Good ChoicesÂŽ Workshops Artists Promote Guiding Road Environmental at RiThverlande RoadRoanoke / Rt. 1 6 County Pre- first session by cashBuck Mountoraincertivention Council is offering fied check payable to Family workshops of Roanoke4.45Valley.

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Street bailout plan then would Allen, when pressed on the issue by Warren. Rasoul touted his plan for healthcare – public subsidies but private delivery of health care services – while Allen doesn’t want to see much involvement from the federal government. A national health care system “is not in the cards,� she insisted.

Allen wants to see more emphasis on science and math in schools, hoping that leads to a new wave of creativity and ultimately new jobs. Rasoul sees alternative energy as an economic engine – a “national energy revolution,� as he put it. Rasoul claims the “money is there,� to provide start up funds for green companies, but much of it now goes to special interests in D.C. and the war in Iraq.

Allen, who worked for local governments at one time in Northern Virginia, said she was never in favor of going to war in Iraq. She has even written a book called Peace and War. Both Allen and Rasoul favor a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops at this point. Neither thinks the Patriot Act has helped keep the country safe and Rasoul called for its repeal, citing civil liberty abuses. The Homeland Security Department he added “is just a joke.�

Both claimed they would be independent and vote their conscience if elected. “I know there’s people out there suffering,� Allen concluded. “The current congressman has not [realized that].�

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

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Page 12 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/3/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

Shouting out their message about early detection

38 percent of women over the age of 40 in this area do not get the annual mammograms they should. The rates of breast cancer in an immediate 19-county area is higher than it is statewide – or nationally. Just a few of the sobering statistics that accompanied words of hope, as members and supporters of the Greater Roanoke Valley chapter of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation met below the Mill Mountain Star on Wednesday. The observation deck was awash in pink as many took turns behind a microphone - shouting out words of encouragement, expressing gratitude for surviving bouts with breast cancer or issuing warnings about the need for regular screenings.

Cheerleaders from William Byrd High School kicked off the “shout out” with cheers designed just for the event, which

was designed to raise awareness for the issue of breast cancer – how to detect it early, and the need to find a cure.

Communications co-chair and survivor Sharon Rappopport introduced Roanoke Valley chapter chair Dr. Bob Williams as a surgeon who approached healing “spiritually and emotionally.”

For his part Williams said, “we really are about wiping out breast cancer.” He sees a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient almost every day.

“There are women out there that don’t know they need [annual] mammograms,” added Williams, “we need to educate them.” 40,000 women die every year nationally of the disease, and 85 percent of women with breast cancer do not come from a family where it has been prevalent.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation, founded by a sister after

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her sibling died of breast cancer, has raised almost a billion dollars for research over the past decade, according to Williams.

Susan Young is a supporter of the Roanoke chapter and the webmaster (see KomenRoanoke.org) She called all the shouting – participants were asked to raise their voices intentionally – “an act of enthusiasm, of passion for the cause.” Young said there was plenty of misinformation out there concerning breast cancer, something the website addresses, and women who “want to stick their head in the sand [believing] it won’t happen to me.”

Among those who took turns shouting at the microphone was a group of students from Crystal Spring Elementary School, in support of 4th grade teacher Susan Jordan, who is now recovering from the disease. “She beat breast cancer like a champ!” exclaimed some of her students.

They came to the mountain-

top with teacher Keri Jackson, who called Jordan her best friend and said early detection helped save her life. Jordan has taken as little time away from school as possible and would have been there on Wednesday except for another medical procedure she had to take care of. “She didn’t want to leave her kids,” said Jackson on a day that was all about hope, healing and early detection.

Photos by Gene Marrano

Chapter chair Dr. Bob Williams (right) and kids from Crystal Spring Elementary School (with teacher Keri Jackson), who were there to support 4th grade teacher Susan Jordan.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Hearing on Forest Park closure Oct. 10 On October 10 in Roanoke City Circuit Court (3:30pm), the Forest Park Parent -Teacher Association and parents of Forest Park Elementary School students have their first hearing in the matter of the Forest Park Parent Teacher Association versus Roanoke City Public School Superintendent Dr. Rita Bishop. Forest Park parents and PTA contend the federally-directed No Child Left Behind mandates that failing schools offer children at those schools the opportunity to attend a non-failing, high performing school of their choosing. They claim that right was denied to the children of Forest Park Elementary School, which was closed last spring, with children sent to other schools. Forest Park, which was ranked as an underperforming elementary school in terms of SOL scores, is now an academy for overage middle and high school students.

Levita Washington, president of the Forest Park Elementary School Parent Teacher Association, states: “first they closed our schools. Then they took away our right to choose a better school. All we want is choice. Assignment is not a choice. Assignment is the

Mayor David Bowers listens while Forest Park PTA president Levita Washington speaks at a protest rally earlier this year

opposite of choice.” David Beidler of the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley, which represents the Forest Park Elementary School Parent Teacher Association and the parents of Forest Park students, issued this statement: “Roanoke City Schools cannot avoid its responsibilities under federal law simply by closing a school that has long failed its students.”

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