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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel December 30 - January 5, 2012
Happy New Year!
NewsRoanoke.com
City Council Weighs In On Parkway
[Virginia Tech]
Hanging in There
A General Management Plan is being finalized that will preserve resources and manage access routes to the 76 year-old Blue Ridge Parkway. The National Park Service held a public forum on the Plan on November 10 in Roanoke County. The National Park Service will use the input from stakeholders on how best to protect the Parkway, manage visitor’s use and better analyze the costs and alternatives. Roanoke City Council had until Tuesday to submit a resolution on one of three options. Option “A” was to leave the current outdated plan as is. Option “B” was the National Park City Gov’t Service’s preferred alternative. It would establish a partnership agreement with the city to manage the Mill Mountain spur road area and convert the campground to day use. The city balked at that idea since it required a sizable financial commitment. Council consensus was for Option “C” which was considered to be the most beneficial to the city. This option includes the potential for a parkway information desk and programs at off-site locations and management of the Roanoke Mountain and Mill Mountain spur road areas. Option C would increase the operating budget from $23 million to $226.5 million. Each option had elements that the city previously opposed. All of the options included a recommendation to > CONTINUED close “social trails.” P2: Council
Strange Party P3– Gene Marrano has the scoop on a “Festivus for the Rest of Us” that took place last week at the Kirk Avenue Music Hall.
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The Red-eyed treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas) is one of the species a Virginia Tech-led team will be examining in Panama in2012. Photo by Brian Gratwicke, Smithsonian Institution.
Joe Kennedy
Spreading Joy P4– Joe Kennedy reminds us that thinking positive can create wonderful memories for us and those whom we love.
2011 was a tough year economically for the nation and Roanoke Valley residents weren’t able to dodge the worst of it relative to declining property values and a rising unemployment rate. But like the remarkable little Tree Frog pictured above, Roanokers have hung in there and seem to be enduring the worst that the “Great Recession” has had to offer. One positive that our Valley has going for it is its proximity to Virginia Tech - the largest university in Virginia - which is one of the reasons we try to feature regular coverage on the work and life of the university. (And not just sports!) A short 35 minute drive away (an across town commute in larger cities), VA Tech has the ability to be a tremendous economic boon to Roanoke and the research conducted there (and now at the Carilion / VT Medical School and Research Institute) will go a long way in bringing recognition and investment to our area. One of the University’s recent studies highlights how microbial diversity defends against disease - the implications of which, of course, reach far beyond our little neck of the woods . . . and even a Publisher who happens to be a UVA alumni can appreciate that. Here’s to a great many successes for both Hokies and Hoos in 2012! > See Full Story on Page 2
Western District U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $15.5 Million U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy’s office has reported that the Western District of Virginia collected $15.5 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 related to criminal and civil actions. Of this amount, $11,530,676 was collected in criminal actions and $2,234,102 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, the office collected $2,784,034 in criminal and civil forfeitures. Nationwide, the U.S. Attorneys’ of-
fices collected $6.5 billion in criminal of the combined 94 offices for FY and civil actions during FY 2011, sur- 2011. passing $6 billion for the second con“During this time of economic resecutive year. A portion of covery, these collections are this amount, $1.3 billion, more important than ever,” State Gov’t was collected in shared said U.S. Attorney Timothy cases in which one or more J. Heaphy. “The U.S. AttorU.S. Attorneys’ offices or department ney’s Office is dedicated to protecting litigating divisions were also involved. the public and recovering funds for The $6.5 billion represents more than the federal treasury and for victims three times the appropriated budget of federal crime. We will continue to
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P8– David Tenzer of GFD&G says that any business that has more than one owner should have a well prepared Buy-Sell Agreement.
Photo by Gene Marrano
The new South County Library begins to takes shape as the long awaited opening day, Tuesday January 3, 2012, approaches.
Innovative New Library Arrives This Week
P9– Seth Childers offers reviews of the most recent movie releases, including War Horse, Mission Impossible and Sherlock Holmes.
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hold accountable those who seek to profit from their illegal activities.” The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. Statistics indicate that the total amount > CONTINUED collected in P3: District
Family Service Celebrates 110 Years Of Healing
Buy Sell
Reel Deal!
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A day that has long been on many people’s wish list, let alone long on the drawing board, finally arrives on January 3 with the opening of the South County library on Merriman Road. The new main library for Roanoke County, located across from Penn Forest Elementary School, replaces the outdated and overcrowded main library on 419, which closed several weeks ago. During that time the books located there have been migrating over to the new location. That new space, which opens with an 11am ribbon cutting and other activities throughout the week, is a 54,000 square foot building that includes a large children’s section, a coffee shop (operated by Mill Mountain Coffee), views of Mason’s Knob from a reading nook located at the top of an impressive staircase and a large, curved circulation desk - very unlike the smaller space located at the old library. An expanded number of computers (around 80) will be available to the public on the second floor. The ceilings are wood, giving the place the feel of a ski lodge and > CONTINUED P2: Library
In 1967 a young my side.” couple was struggling After some iniwith money issues as tial discussions the well as a six-month counselor told the old child and their couple that he wantrelationship was falled to meet with them ing apart. every other day for a “He yelled at me week. “It cost us $2.50 all the time. Nothing for each session. I was right. The baby A volunteer serves at FSRV. remember that even cried all the time. that seemed like a The doctor bills were going through lot of money.” the roof. John worked hard but he Jean and her husband, John have couldn’t make enough to cover every- been married “mostly happily,” for thing. He was always worried about nearly 45 years and have two sons money, money, money. Nothing else and five grandchildren. seemed to matter to him,” said Jean. Providing affordable services to Jean said her sister-in-law sug- individuals and families in crisis for gested Family Service and said that it more than 110 years, Family Service might not cost a lot. of Roanoke Valley has kept up with “At our first appointment John the needs of the community by exand I bickered while we got panding services when ready to go, while we drove needed, including Adult Community there, while we waited in the Survivor, Anger Managereception and by the time ment / Group Therapy, we saw the counselor, we were both Couple / Marriage / Family, Dialectiangry and belligerent. The counselor cal Behavior Therapy, Domestic Viosimply asked: ‘What’s going on with lence, Drug Court, Employee Assisyou?’ We both started talking at once tance, Faith Integrated Counseling, and an argument started in seconds.” Individual Therapy, Play Therapy, “This wonderful man looked at TransParenting > CONTINUED us and smiled. I’ll never forget that and VASAP. beautiful smile. I felt like he was on Local attorP2: Family
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