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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel January 20 - 26, 2012

NewsRoanoke.com

Community | News | Per spective

[Downtown Roanoke]

Elmwood Plans Revealed Keith McCurdy

Overcoming Obstacles P4– Keith McCurdy says life should be less about the struggles and more about what we bring to the table to deal with them.

Illustration by Andy Kalback

Patriots Prevail P7– The Patrick Henry boys basketball team uses defense to earn a hard fought win over tenacious William Fleming.

Playing Defense P7– Former NFL player, UVA standout and Patrick Henry star Shannon Taylor shares his story with the Roanoke Valley Sports Club.

Brick Legacy P9– The historical society of Western Virginia has released a new book detailing the unique history of brick architecture in the Roanoke Valley

An artist’s rendering shows Roanoke’s renovated downtown park from a vantage above Carilion Community Hospital looking across Elm Avenue. Roanoke’s Main Library is the brick building in the upper left of the depiction.

Elmwood Park Redesign Moves Ahead With A Few Tweaks The first conceptual designs were presented for public input in October 2011. The 1500 accumulated comments from those sessions, combined with online comments, were used to craft a final concept design that was available for public viewing at the main library last Thursday.

The wish list of amenities from stakeholders doubled the cost to over $8 million. That design was on display on a “far” wall for future consideration. The affordable Phase I was the real item on display and it met the budgeted $4 million mark.

Rena Cromer with Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates said that she was very upset about the late notice for the open house.

A notice went out the day before and she said no RNA members were informed. “They already made their decision and don’t want our input,” she said.

The four main entrances presented would serve the four most populated buildings – the Patrick Henry apartments, Meridium Inc., Jefferson College and the entrance from the Market Square.

Ron McCorkle, President of the RNA, said the design and entrances are for downtown residents and that other people are “left out” pointing to where the main entrances are positioned.

Tuesday at Roanoke City Council’s 2:00 p.m. meeting David Hill of Hill Studios gave the Elmwood Park presentation. Hill Studios is receiving $300,000 for the project design. Last minute comments were added including McCorkle’s concerns regarding neighborhood entrances.

Tech Unveils Powerful New Supercomputer for the Masses Virginia Tech crashed the supercomputing arena in 2003 with System X, a machine that placed the university among the world’s top computational research facilities. Now comes HokieSpeed, a new supercomputer that is up to 22 times faster and yet a quarter of the size of X, boasting a singleprecision peak of 455 teraflops, or 455 trillion operations per second, and a double-precision peak of 240 teraflops, or 240 trillion operations per second.

That’s enough computational capability to place HokieSpeed at No. 96 on the most recent Top500 List, the industry-standard ranking of the world’s 500 fastest supercomputers. More intriguing is HokieSpeed’s energy efficiency, which ranks it at No. 11 in the

world on the November 2011 Green500 List, a compilation of supercomputers that excel at using less energy to do more.

On the Green500 List, HokieSpeed is the highest-ranked commodity supercomputer in the United States.

Located at Virginia Tech’s Corporate Research Center, HokieSpeed - contains 209 nodes, or separate computers, connected to one another in and across large metal racks, each roughly 6.5 feet tall, to create a single supercomputer that occupies half a row of racks in a vast university computer machine room. X took three times the rack space.

Each HokieSpeed node contains two 2.40-gigahertz Intel Xeon E5645 6-core central processing units, commonly

> CONTINUED, P2: Supercomputer

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Rupert Cutler said to Council, “The park needs to serve those of us who live downtown, with our kids, our dogs, and our need to get out of our apartments and condos and grab some fresh air and exercise.”

The design turns Bullitt Avenue into an “Arts Walk”. Parking on Bullitt would be eliminated but vehicles for the Social Security building employees would be permitted to enter by possibly using a carded gate. The Arts Walk would be 20 feet wide and could accommodate cars and pedestrians. Bestpitch thought they “were missing an opportunity not to have regular traffic through Bullitt Avenue” - making the park more visible. City Manager Chris Morrill added that it could be made into a oneway through street.

The “Tailgate Walk” would be along Jefferson Street. The parallel parking would be changed to diagonal parking, adding 8 spaces. Motorists would be expected to “back into” the spaces and vendors could use them for “tailgating” during festivals; Jefferson would look more like a boulevard.

Councilman Bill Bestpitch was concerned about people parking while driving south on Jefferson. He feared “they would pull straight in.” It would create a hazard with some backed in and others pulled straight in, thought Bestpitch.

The “Saucer Magnolia Allee” would replace the walkway from Market Square; gone would be the lily ponds. There would

VCE and Roanoke City Offer Leadership Program Since the fall of 2003 the city, through Neighborhood Services, has offered its residents biannual Leadership College classes.

Leadership College is a free nine-week course for citizens to learn how their city works who does what and whom to call when something needs fixing.

It takes a lot of time Dr. Martha Walker and people to keep a city vibrant, clean and safe.

It teaches citizens “how to access city services and become a resource for others within their community circles,” said Bob Clement, the Neighborhood Services Coordinator.

Now the city, in partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, is taking it one step further with the Innovative Leadership Program. The $65 program is offered at no charge to Leadership College graduates.

It all started at the 2010 Statewide Neighborhood Conference held in Roanoke. Dr. Martha Walker, Community Viability Specialist with VCE, held a workshop that inspired Steven Niamke of the MelroseRugby neighborhood, to lobby for the program in Roanoke.

Clement was already looking for a way to take Leadership College to the next level.

Last Thursday was a “train the trainer” class for seven individuals. “The individuals se> CONTINUED P2: Leadership

> CONTINUED, P2: Elwood

Chilly Day With Warm Hearts Marks MLK Celebration

The chilly air and gray skies did not diminish the proud smiling faces of the young and the not so young as they celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s Annual Youth Day celebration Monday afternoon.

A crowd of over 200 gathered at the MLK memorial waiting for the signal to start the march to First Baptist Church.

The Patrick Henry and William Fleming High School bands led the way. Youth held colorful handmade signs declaring their understanding of the celebration, “Keep the King dream alive” read one, another sign proclaimed, “I pray for love, world peace and justice.”

Office holders and office hopefuls walked arm and arm.

Mayor David Bowers was the

Photo by Valerie Garner

The Annual Youth Day was enjoyed by bundled up youngsters displaying signs of love and peace. first to lead the marchers in membered when she stood song – “We shall overcome,” he beside Dr. King. Others rebellowed. member being refused service Dr. Perneller Chubb-Wilson, at lunch counters. In Roanoke SCLC President Emeritus, re> CONTINUEDP3: King

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Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/20/12 -1/26/12

Sun and clouds are expected Friday with a warmer 50 for a high. Showers are possible on Saturday drying out on Sunday.

Temperatures for the weekend will be in the low to mid 50s. Rain chances return again for Monday and Tuesday with highs in the upper 50s

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be water and electricity for tents and fog and light machines.

Jim Lee spoke for Liz Belcher of the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission, saying that they hadn’t “properly considered” how people would mix with Greenway bikers. “There needs to be improved signage and access,” he said.

The “Performance Venue” would be the realigned stage and would involve extensive grading. It would provide terraced bowl-like grassy seating for 1800 facing the stage. Seating expansion in other areas could increase attendance to 4300. In front of the stage would be an interactive water fountain where visitors could get their feet or anything else wet.

According to Steve Buschor, director of Parks and Recreation, only the black walnut trees would be removed. He said that 70 more trees would be added.

The rocks would remain for children to play on; there would be a concession area for 120 vendors and green space that would serve as areas for separate smaller events. Vegetation along Williamson Road would be removed for a clear and open view into the park.

Bestpitch wanted to know about the “tough turf” for vendor parking; he feared it would not be sustainable. Buschor said that if the tough turf failed they would look at using pavers.

Phil Shermer, city engineer,

NewsRoanoke.com

From page 1

said they would concentrate construction first on the Arts Walk (Bullitt Avenue) and the Saucer Magnolia Allee in hopes of getting that done this year. To avoid disrupting warm weather events, the performance area grading would take place during the off-season - late this fall and early winter.

The $4 million cost breaks down with the stage, grading, and water fountain area costing more than half the total budgeted – $2.2 million. The Arts Walk is about half a million and the Saucer Magnolia Allee another half million. The balance covers the Tailgate Walk, garden and green space plantings.

Buford Overstreet strolled by the conceptual designs at the open house. He has consistently claimed that he could do the whole thing much cheaper. “I can do everything they are doing here and make it more accessible, adaptable and safer for $500,000.”

He attended Tuesday’s council meeting and said Bullitt should be an open street and that he could complete the project in 6 months. He asked Council to postpone their decision. “I don’t like waste when it comes to money.”

Once Council gives their approval it will take 3 to 4 months to complete the architectural plans for the bid process. Shermer was anxious to get started saying, “It is a good bid time.”

Illustration by Andy Kalback

An artists’ rendering of the new proposed “Arts Walk. “ City Council gave instructions to return to council in a few weeks for final approval.

This will give additional time for more citizen input, explained Mayor Bowers. Councilman Sherman Lea also recognized that not all the citizens of Roanoke visit the park and may not have input.

> Leadership lected represent a diverse group throughout the community,” said Dr. Walker. They will each lead the discussion of one of six modules over six-weeks starting February 9th.

A letter was sent out to all 469 Leadership College graduates on January 3rd and the 25 seats in the class filled up in a week. There are nine more on a waiting list as of Thursday. “I will have enough people waitlisted from this program to fill the next one; this shows how people in Roanoke want to be engaged,” said Clement.

The program “teaches the language and process of leadership,” explained Dr. Walker.

It teaches participants how to network with each other and discover new facts about their community. They then can identify ways to improve or fill the gaps.

“It prepares every community to be well positioned for economic development; it strengthens that community foundation,” said Dr. Walker.

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From Clement’s perspective, the Innovative Leadership Program coupled with the city’s Leadership College classes, “prepares an individual to become literally a leader in any endeavor they decide to go into – a neighborhood group, a nonprofit organization, a business or even as an elected official.”

“It’s more about the nuts and bolts of how a leader leads,” said Braxton Naff, a member of Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates.

Dr. Walker said, “There is no one option – there has to be multiple ways to develop individuals.”

The program includes a project participants will complete. It will start with a community assessment review that will identify a gap in the community.

They will then research ways to fill the gap by analyzing the accumulated data. Dr. Walker gave examples of past projects - one filled the need for a reading program for disadvantaged children; another was a search for retail outlets where none ex-

Photo by Valerie Garner

Attendees at this year’s Leadership Conference discuss ideas. isted before.

Guests from the city will be invited to hear their presentations. “All stakeholders are not going to be for you,” Dr. Walker will tell them, “they’ll learn how to work with those who oppose them.” One stakeholder may be entirely open to new ideas while another may be resistant to change. The latter may require the team to be more assertive.

The participants will know how to approach the stakeholder dif-

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JSS Remodeling From page 1

called CPUs, and two NVIDIA ity of funding for HokieSpeed M2050/C2050 448-core graph- came from a $2 million NaHouseFoundation CleaningMaics processor units, or Professional GPUs, tional Science ! General Home Repairs which reside on a Supermicro jor Research Instrumentation 2026GT0TRF motherboard.1618 grant.

With federal and state Complete Bathroom Remodeling • Tile Work Roanoke Blvd That gives HokieSpeed more budget crunches here to stay, Interior/exterior Carpentry • Plumbing A than 2,500 central process- FengSuite said HokieSpeed carries Window/door installation • Hardwood Flooring ing unit cores and more than another plus: It can attract more Salem, Virginia 24153 185,000 graphics processor unit 540-389-5252 international research projects For a Free Estimate Call or email James cores to compute with. to Virginia Tech, adding more 725-7343 jss25@cox.net Licensed/insured with 24 years experience HokieSpeed is a versatile het- •togift thecertificates College of Engineering’s www.dustbunniescorp.com available references available erogeneous supercomputing in- income. strument, where each compute Among the vendors worknode consists of energy-efficient ing with Feng on HokieSpeed “The tool I recommend most? central-processing units and are Seneca Data Inc. and Suhigh-end graphics-processing per Micro Computer Inc., who units, said Wu Feng, associ- were the driving force behind Wu Feng, associate professor of computer science and electriUse it to call Mr. Handyman. ate professor with the Virginia the project, as well as NVIDIA cal and computer engineering, at one of the dozens of nodes Tech of Engineering’s Corp., •for their technical sup- of "HokieSpeed,”,Virginia Tech's latest and fastest entry into TreeCollege Removal • Deadwooding Gutter Cleaning computer science andAeration electri- port.

Feng has worked with the supercomputing arena.

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Valley-based firm be made, said www.mrhandyman.com pass by before all The next frontier is to take highFree Estimates Fully Virginia InsuredTech as a re- weeks could This instrument will allow •naming 540-977-4444 in faculty, students and staff across search center and the NVIDIA the data from a computational performance computing, RICHARD KARN experiment was generated and particular supercomputers TV star and “home improvement guru.” such multiple disciplines to tackle Foundation’s first worldwide reproblems previously viewed as search award for computing the then rendered as a video for as HokieSpeed, and personalize it for the masses. intractable or that required he- cure for cancer being awarded viewing and analysis.

For now, high-tech universiSuch access to supercomputroic efforts and significant do- to Feng. main-specic expertise to solve.

In addition to HokieSpeed’s ties, government research labs, ers could help small businesses Still in the final stages of ac- compute nodes, a visualization and major corporations use that do not have multi-billionceptance testing, Feng envisions wall - eight 46-inch, 3-D Sam- supercomputers on a regular dollar budgets for cyberinfraHokieSpeed as Virginia Tech’s sung high-definition flat-screen basis, major organizations from structure, to better design their next war horse in research. As televisions - will provide a 14- the MIT to the Pentagon to products or the process in which researchers from around the foot wide by 4-foot tall display Hollywood movie companies. their products are produced on world have used X to crack for end-users to be immersed in As supercomputers such as the assembly line in the factory. riddles of the blood system and their data. Still under construc- HokieSpeed grow in brain size Scientists at smaller universities further DNA research, Feng tion, the visualization wall will and diversity, and yet shrink in could use supercomputers for said HokieSpeed will be a next- be hooked-up to special visu- space, they will become more their own research efforts. generation research tool for en- alization nodes built into Hok- readily available to the public at gineers, scientists, and others. ieSpeed and allow researchers large, said Feng. That is his ultiHokieSpeed was built for $1.4 to perform in-situ visualization. mate goal.

“Look at what Apple has million, a small fraction -- oneThis way, researchers can see tenth of a percent of the cost in real-time if their computa- done with the smartphone and

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Naff added that after completion of the program the teams could then identify on their own who in the community can implement it. The program’s methods will give them the knowledge, confidence and patience they will need as they present their ideas to diverse stakeholders.

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NewsRoanoke.com

> King

Republican Women Head to Richmond

From page 1

Photo by Valerie Garner

Mac McCadden shares a laugh with the crowd as the celebration gets under way at First Baptist. there were no demonstrations as in other cities. Roanoke saw that integration was inevitable and a biracial commission was formed that resulted in negotiations.

“Battles were fought in other places,” said the Rev. E. T. Burton at an event last year. He had called on today’s youth to understand how far they had come – “from the back of the bus to the steering wheel,” he said.

Once everyone settled in the church, Master of Ceremonies Mac McCadden introduced Ollie “Tiger” Howie, who without falter, read Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Dr. Nathaniel Bishop, President of Jefferson College and cousin of Dr. Wilson, gave that same message to youth gathered in the church. “We need our young people from this community to consider a health care profession … and encourage science.”

The secret to his achievements was in his upbringing, he said. He learned honesty, integrity and developed a strong

work ethic at an early age. The whole community expected the same from every youth. Joking, he wondered how his parents found out what he did wrong even before he got home - “did they have text messaging back then?” he asked.

Bishop announced that thanks to an etching of Dr. King by the late George Solonevich, the first scholarship would be awarded to a city high school student this year.

The late artist George Solonevich’s wife Inga gave Jefferson College a collection of prints of Martin Luther King Jr. titled “Freedom’s Price.” Proceeds from the sale of the prints go into a memorial scholarship fund. The endowment will award scholarships to minority graduates of Roanoke City public high schools who are accepted for admission into a Jefferson College EHS-Paramedic or the Fire and EMS Technology degree programs.

Solonevich had fled Stalinist Russia after being jailed several times. From Russia he went to

Germany, spending half a year in a concentration camp, before escaping to Finland. He spent much of his life looking for a place to call home before coming to America and settling in Roanoke.

George Solonevich watched Dr. King being arrested and placed in handcuffs. “He (Solonevich) wrung his hands and was just so troubled by seeing that on television,” said Bishop.

It brought back memories of his time in the concentration camp and the oppression he himself had suffered.

Bishop said Solonevich thought of how they had made their way “to the land of the free” only to see a great man like Dr. King treated so disrespectfully.

It inspired him to create the 1963 print of Dr. King known as “Freedom’s Price.”

By Valerie Garner info@newsroanoke.com

Thursday was the annual Virginia Federation of Republican Women’s Legislative Day in Richmond. A delegation from the Roanoke Valley Republican Women traveled to the state capital to meet with legislators, old and new, as well as the Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General.

Lt. Governor Bill Bolling sponsored the continental breakfast for the 300 plus women in attendance. The chairwoman for the annual event was Jean Ann Bolling, wife of the Lt. Governor. The morning program featured Governor Bob McDonnell, who welcomed women from all over the state of Virginia. The morning’s keynote speaker was the First Lady of Virginia, Maureen McDonnell.

Mrs. McDonnell talked about the three months of filming that took place at the state capital for the new Steven Spielberg movie about Abraham Lincoln. She said they brought in literally tons of dirt to cover the streets.

Filming ran from 5:30 a.m. to past 10 p.m. every day, with horses and covered wagons all over the grounds and movie extras milling around in period clothing.

She also spoke about the Governor’s mansion, which opened in 1813 and has housed 52 first families. This fall starts the bicentennial celebration, “Two centuries with Virginia’s First Families.”

Mrs. McDonnell said that when their family first moved into the mansion she decided to snoop around when she was alone one day, opening all the drawers and cabinets, looking for a piece of history left behind.

Mrs. McDonnell has several special projects this year in honor of the bicentennial. She has commissioned five artists to create portraits of all of Virginia’s First Ladies, with the finished works to be hung in the mansion. She is also resurrecting

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Roanoke Valley Republican Women with Sen. Ralph Smith and Del. Chris Head in Richmond. the grapevines from England, the legislators know of the conthat were originally planted in cerns of women throughout the 1813. Her new plants should state. yield enough grapes to make an Ladies from the Roanoke estimated 1,800 bottles of wine Valley voiced their specific ideas with the proceeds going to sup- about transportation, education, port military families. She is jobs and views on how this part also a supporter of SOS (Serving of the state can prosper. JoinOur Service Members), whose ing the local women were Sen. volunteers help out military Ralph Smith, Del. Greg Habeeb, families left behind with yard Del. Chris Head, Del. Charles work, planting flowers, babysit- Poindexter, Sen. Steve Newman, ting and home upkeep.

Sen. Bill Stanley and Del. Joseph At noon the banquet room Yost. At age 25, Yost has the disquickly filled with a majority tinction of being the youngest of the state’s legislators walking State Delegate in history. over from the capital to join the women for a luncheon. The

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Perspective

Page 4 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/20/12 -1/26/12

An Old Perspective for New Year

R

ecently, while lis- they had to do to fix it, he just tening to a teenager remembered all of the banging complain about how and sparks flying. When all of unfair life was and how her the repairs were finished and entire day had been ruined with the plowshare loaded up, by losing her cellphone, I re- they headed for home, now membered a story about life much past midday. perspective.

Once home, horse fed and I was told this story several in the field, team hitched back years ago by a now deceased up to the plowshare, they befriend I will call Joe. In 1920 gan the work of tilling part of at ten years of age, the 80 acres. Well afJoe spent a lot of time ter dark, with much with his grandparents left to till, they went in the country. One in for the evening. morning he and his While sitting around grandfather were up the dinner table, before the sun to eat grandma asked “So breakfast and start boys, how was your plowing. They took day?” Joe remembers time to hitch up the his granddad looking team and prepare the at him and grinning Keith McCurdy plowshare for use. when he responded, Soon after they be“It was a pretty good gan, something broke loose on day wasn’t it boy?” the plowshare.

Today we have a flat tire or Now they took even more our computer locks up and the time to unhitch the team and whole day is a disaster. Wow, get them back in the pasture, has our perspective changed! get the horse hooked up to What Joe experienced was the buggy and load the plow- not novel, it was common. share for the hour trip to town. It used to be that our daily Once in town they went to experiences, struggles, and the blacksmith (modern day difficult times did not deterwelder) for the needed repairs. mine our view of life. The fact As Joe described it, he didn’t that at times we will struggle, remember what broke or what things will break or wear out,

not everyone is always happy with us and that some days are just difficult was accepted as a course of life. Not only were these experiences not worth getting that worked up about, our emotions really didn’t figure into the mix. We did not automatically connect a tough time with emotional turmoil.

We fully accepted that life itself is flawed.

How would life be if we took this perspective? What if we realized that our experience of life, as it is, should not determine our emotional state or overall perspective on life? Don’t you think we take too much too seriously? I sure do….

Wouldn’t it be refreshing if we had the perspective that life was less about what struggles occurred and more about what we bring to the table to deal with them? With the first view, we are prisoners to life circumstances; with the latter we are free. A great but terrible example of this is the Holocaust. Survival stories are filled with prisoners on the verge of death living free and not allowing their circumstances to dictate their life perspective.

As Joe put it; “Yes, it had been a great day!” All in all, their contribution was good.

The challenge is to have more “real” problems and fewer imaginary ones, to not take ourselves or our circumstances so seriously and to accept that how we play the hand we are dealt is much more important than the cards themselves.

When we demonstrate this life-perspective to our children, we are preparing them to not be thrown off by life, but to engage it in the right way.

We teach them that struggle is okay and even to be expected and that they can deal with it. This allows them to not be bound by their circumstances and to know that there is always a path through difficult times.

Ask yourself which perspective you have most often? Are you instilling confidence and hope in the way you respond to adversity?

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Local Crossword

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Grating sound Metric weight unit South southwest Winged Aura American Cancer Society (abbr.)

The yoga instructor on Grandin Road in Roanoke.

Discharge Young lady Beat it!

Machines that rotates on the ceiling Solace To make a bid.

Grows bigger Be in a __ Day of the wk.

Divided nation Gnawer Douse Ask; make a search of.

Food and Agriculture Organization (abbr.)

A belt worn around the waist.

Letup Vice __ Parody Manner What a leaf comes from Shy or to caress.

Thin Wading bird Compass point Downwind Nearly horizontal entrance

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s Longfellow translat- man failings (who doesn’t have ed from the German those?) I suspect his place in hispoem, “Though the tory will, as centuries pass, stand mills of God grind slowly, yet alongside the Founding Fathers. they grind exceedingly small.” While much has been achieved History would seem to endorse in our lifetime, there should be that. no cause for complacency. It has Looking at our country, when been too slow in coming and all great change needed to happen, should be concerned that progit rarely came about with rapid- ress continues to be made. ity. The founding fathers went In watching documentaries to extreme lengths to avoid ad- about the turbulent times of dressing slavery. To have done the civil rights struggle several so would have prevented the things strike me. We were all formation of the United States. aware monumental changes They knew it had to be done “. . were taking place. It amazes . that all men are created equal, me that they were initiated by that they are endowed Lyndon Johnson, a by their Creator with southerner. Had John certain unalienable Kennedy lived, would Rights, that among it have come about as these are Life, Liberty, quickly? Who knows, and the pursuit of but Johnson was corHappiness.” rect when he said he Even with those had lost the South to stirring words that evthe Republican Party ery school child learns, for the next century. it was three-quarters He did what was of a century before Hayden Hollingsworth right, not the politithe issue of slavery cally expedient thing in America was seriously ad- that marks much of governing dressed. Even after the bloodi- today. est war in our history, much was A second thing comes to left to be improved. It was an- mind: While we were aware other century before real prog- that segregation was rightfully ress was made. coming to an end and we apNot until the 1960s did the proved of the change, most government redress the wrongs were strangely silent about of segregation, almost two hun- it. The freedom riders, those dred years after Thomas Jeffer- who anonymously marched son. That may be an eye blink in in Selma, the thousands who the scale of history but for those courageously spoke out were in who suffered under Jim Crow, it the minority. I, for one, was too was many lifetimes. wrapped up in my own life to This week there has been be an active participant; I regret much written about Martin that now.

Luther King, Jr. Despite his huThird, looking back at the ri-

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Underdone Wing Unhappy Musical "fast" Mother Hike a mountain Obtained Soap Opera Read Channel 10 around here.

To this document Buskin Those who make the food laws (abbr.)

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Iranian's neighbors __ Lanka Power system Duke Memory trace Ball holder Behind Venus Plant seed Hurry Economics abrv.

Eye infection Canal Sign language Kimono sash Does Eastern Standard Time

By Don Waterfield Find the answers online: NewsRoanoke.com Have a clue and answer you’d like to see? email: puzzles@newsroanoke.com

ots, the killings, the burning cities, the venomous speech from elected leaders in the South, I am appalled that the public sense of outrage, mine included, was muted. In retrospect, the horror of it all assumes a proportion that seems much worse now. Had I been a young African-American in those years, I wonder what my reaction would have been? Would I have been a follower of the Black Panthers or would I have passively stood by, as I did as a white, and let Stokely Carmichael and Rap Brown fight the battles?

It was in this context that Martin Luther King, Jr. made his greatest contribution. Rather than allow the militant forces to gain control of the nation, his message of non-violence, patience, and peacefulness changed the tide.

Much remains to be done.

There are other areas of equal injustice and African-Americans still are on the road to full enfranchisement. Discarding that hyphenated citizenship would be a start. It will, unfortunately, take decades to address and remediate some of these problems. The important message is that progress must not be impeded by an excess of patience. While the latter is important, as Dr. King demonstrated, it cannot be an excuse to avoid the former.

If it is true about the mills of God, then each of us must make sure the grinding continues.

Contact Hayden at jhayden2003@cox.net

The Preacher’s Corner - Seeking The Greater Things

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hen Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you come to know me?” and Jesus simply replies, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

And Nathanael replies, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Nathanael is amazed that Christ has seen him in what he thought was his totally secret place of private prayer and reflection. Christ goes on to tell him, "My dear Nathanael, you will see far greater things than this. The miracle of how God already knows us in this world is just the beginning - the rabbit hole runs much, much deeper than that . . . beyond your wildest imaginings really."

We are so amazed and impressed by man-made Contact Keith at things - and I suppose the technologies we have psycyou@msn.com cobbled together for ourselves from the materials we have been given are fascinating enough in their own right. But the reality, of course, is that we haven't even scratched the surface with our knowledge of the universe.

Just this past week scientists using new measuring techniques have confirmed what many long suspected but couldn't be sure of: In our own galaxy there is an average of two planets per every star.

There are somewhere around 300 billion stars in the Milky Way. If you do the math on that you get around 600 billion planets out there - an estimated 10 billion of which fall in what we call the "habitable zone." Think about that - 10 Billion!

10 This is our galaxy alone folks - and we have visual evidence that there are billions of them stretching out in every direction towards the edge of the universe . . . that is, if there is an edge of the uni-

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NewsRoanoke.com

Patience . . . and Progress

Star-Sentinel Crossword for 1/13/2012

verse. And we're ready to stand in our arrogance and question the existence of God? Or His Perfect Will?

"You will see greater things than these,” says Jesus referring to God's Spirit being poured out upon him from the very heavens of which we still know almost nothing.

Greater things indeed.

Accordingly our mission in life might be boiled down to the following: Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly and seek God's will and nothing else . . .

No-thing, no idea - no thought - no action - no deed- no belief - no right - no purpose - no direction - nothing - outside of His most perfect will.

It is arrogance, ignorance or both that searches or settles for anything else.

Yet that's what we all do isn't it? Even when we set out with the best of intentions on a new road seeking to trust Him with the details and expectations of our lives, we get out in all that worldly traffic and VROOM! Off we go taking some new shiny exit ramp of our own choosing, that leads in a direction that God has never intended.

But here's the good news - just like your trusty GPS, God "recalculates" our journeys and sets us back on a new route meant to lead us to our one and only true destination - a right relationship with Him. But we've got to trust the road he brings us down - with all the bumps and curves and potholes that come along the way.

Safe travels out there.

Stuart Revercomb is the Minister at Peace Presbyterian Church in Roanoke. Visit them on the web at peace-church.net

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Perspective

NewsRoanoke.com

W

alking out from our ER, a small, old lady lends an arm to her husband, a little aged man. I pause and watch them.

Perhaps all of our lives are a story quilt; we move from one frame to the next; and then we are done. Perhaps the art of getting old involves the ability to sew things up; to mend our circumstances so that although not like new - not quite what we’d hoped for - they’re mended; pretty good. Pretty good for what we’ve got. ...

A friend of ours lost her mother recently. Our friend had bought her son a balloon; they were walking along. The son lost grip on his balloon; mother and son watched it soar out of sight. He turned to his mom and asked, “How long before

J

1/20/12 -1/26/12 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

Mixed Tales From Hither and Yon

it gets to grand mommy?” A ceptionist listened, the husband asked the wife, “Tell me when child’s gift; a child’s question.

They came home and the lit- we met. I can‘t remember.” Dark, tle one noticed for the first time lonely bells began to toll.

Who reasons closely on such his grandmother’s car parked in the road where it had been matters? Well, I do for one. `Make a fool of yourfor several weeks. “I self: try to answer the thought you told me grand mommy was in unanswerable,’ my heaven; what’s her car mind says. Why should doing here? such things happen, I ... am drawn to wonder, One of my receptionat the same time overists told me this story. taken with the futility An elderly couple sat of trying.

Lucky Garvin near her desk waiting Durant cautions, to sign into the ER. “This feeble brain [of The wife’s face reflected a cloy- ours] that aches at a little calcuing sorrow; the type never far lus; see how it falters before the from the heart; a `thing is com- infinite.” ing, and I don’t want it to be, Then there’s me with this restbut it’s coming anyway’ kind of less inquiry of mine - this petty sorrow. conceit - needing to underHer husband’s face was ques- stand. Seeking final truths, we tioning, confused. As my re- know little and believe much;

we make the trip bare-foot; and most of the time, half-lost. Yet, there are those who need to try to put it all together. ...

“I believe in angels. It almost destroyed me when my dog died. I buried him just outside my kitchen window; just to keep him near me. I set up a small cross. That night, I went through the house to lock up. I walked into the dark kitchen to take a last look. A circle of soft moonlight cradled the grave of my old friend. And then, a butterfly lit on the little cross and just sat there.”

My friend paused in her story and asked me, “Lucky, when is the last time you saw a butterfly at midnight?” ...

"In every seed [and every person] lies the promise of a

flower."

This gives rise to the thought: Be careful whom you ignore or slight. It might be an angel come to help you...... or an angel in the making.

There is a story told of an ancient monastery reduced from glory by time and dissent to a total population of five friars.

The head of this monastery went into the woods to seek the advice of a wise old hermit as to how best to re-invigorate his beloved order.

The old hermit told him that he [the hermit] had had a vision about the five friars. In that vision he `saw' that one of the five remaining friars was the Messiah come back to earth.

The friar related the hermit's vision upon returning to the monastery whereupon a wondrous thing began to occur: the

friars started treating each other as very special people, any one of whom might be Jesus as yet unrevealed.

The dilapidated monastery took on such a congenial and loving atmosphere that visitors began to come - and many of them stayed on - and the order flourished once again.

The story might be fiction; its moral most surely is not.

Look for Lucky’s books locally and on-line: The Oath of Hippocrates; The Cotillian; A Journey Long Delayed.

Contact Lucky Garvin at info@theroanokestar.com

The Power Of The Written Word

past, biographers and histo- focus on organizing another anuary editions of from the past.

Progress in this project is rians have found old letters area of my cluttered life but women’s magazines Steven W. D urrance Flo ors feature diets, new ways slow – actually non-existent. to be invaluable in revealing for now my correspondence to save money, and sugges- Soon I realize that the time the personality of the writers. files are off limits. That’s the spent reading was Today, people rarely write power of the written word! tions for eliminatall labor and materials wasted. On the long letters. Most communiing clutter – GET Please present coupon after estimate. other hand, I feel cation is by cell phone, texORGANIZED! As Contact Mary Jo at 776-9591 | carpetroanoke.com rejuvenated, hav- ting or e-mail, and the mesthe world’s greatmaryjoshannon@ymail.com ing stepped back sages are not usually saved. est pack rat, I feel in time for visits What a shame! Maybe I’ll guilty and decide Computer Repair • Free Diagnosis • New & Used Computers & Laptops with loved ones to get rid of some from the past, of the “stuff ” that dead for over has accumulated twenty-five years, through the years.

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Mary Jo Shannon words. I put the stack of envelope Publisher | Stuart Revercomb | stuart@newsroanoke.com letters back into boxes in a corNews Editor | Gene Marrano | gmarrano@cox.net NoÊoneÊelseÊcanÊdoÊitÊforÊ ner of my office, filled with the box and return it to the Production Editor | Leigh Sackett | leigh@newsroanoke.com ourÊqualityÊandÊprice! personal correspondence stack.

Technical Webmaster | Don Waterfield | webmaster@newsroanoke.com Advertising Director | Vickie Henderson | vhenderson@rbnet.com 116Ê S.ÊPoplarÊStreet, Ê Vinton • 904-2070 • www.vintoncomputer.com It’s amazing, this power of – some of which dates back We can make your computer new again! Stop by atWoodland Square (behind Vinton Baptist). the written word. By reading about thirty years.

I can’t discard all those let- words written by our favorite ters without reading them, authors, we begin to know Looking for Solutions to help with your and soon I find myself ab- them more intimately than Resolutions. sorbed in this initial stage many of our acquaintances, Now is the time to schedule a One on One of the project. As I read, the although we’ve never had the Free 45 minute Consultation with a words portray the unique opportunity to meet them Certified Holistic Coach and or personality of each writer. face-to-face. We recognize Wellness Trainer.

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Set Your Own Hours www.holisticwellnessandmotivationalfitness.com The same is true when I lege or lived elsewhere after read a thank-you note from marriage. For each child’s I am the slowest Aunt Mary who invited us to 50th birthday I compiled invisit her beach home in At- formation from his/her birth carpet cleaner in Roanoke. lantic City for vacations. The until the present, and wrote a children were in elementary narrative to connect pictures school and old enough to en- and copies of early school joy the jitney rides and visits work. ( I confessed I am a “I will give your to Lambert’s for the world’s pack rat. This information is best ice cream. Despite her filed under each child’s name. carpet the time Send Resume to: difficulty walking with knees Maybe someday I’ll part with and attention info@newsroanoke.com that groaned as they sup- the crayon pictures and early or it deserves to ported her hefty frame, she compositions with unique P.O. Box 8338 produce the best went along and enjoyed the spelling, but not yet.)

Roanoke Va 24014 I presented their books of outings as much as the chilresults possible.” dren. Her words of thanks as memories as a 50th birthday she detailed each Christmas gift. This was only possible • 2 rooms and a hall for $75 • 5 rooms and a hall for $155 gift they made for her reveal because my children were • Furniture cleaning also available! her love. I feel as if I have had consistent letter writers -and I saved every one. In the Danny Williams • 989-1825 • Cell - 765-7144 a visit with her.

I find occasional notes from Harry when he was sent out of town by N&W, or when I took the children to visit my parents during the summer. These are the closest to “love letters” I have, since we were both in Roanoke during our dating years.

Letters from my mother are kept in a file folder and I would never consider disposing of them. When I re-read them, her words bring me Office Suites from comfort and I almost feel her touch on my shoulder. Her 250 Sq Feet to 3000 Sq Feet loneliness comes through as she says how she wishes I Sunday School Classes for All Ages could stay longer when I visNewly Renovated and it, and I experience feelings Begin at 10:00 AM Best Location Next to Green Way of regret that circumstances Morning Worship Every Sunday caused me to spend so little at 11:00 AM time with her during her latRestaurant/Lounge Space Over er years.

Relatives are not the only 3000 Sq Feet Plus Large Kitchen ones whose words are stored at Ramada Conference Center in these boxes. I read notes from friends at church, especially shut-ins expressing thanks for visits or small gifts Sunday School - 10:00 / Worship - 11:00 of jelly or bread. Letters from co-workers, no longer living, 5646 Cloverdale Road, Roanoke, VA 24019 (Just up from Wal-Mart next to Murray's Apple Cider!) awaken memories of events Any Questions? Call Stuart Revercomb: 330-7335

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"Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace."

-Frederick Buechner

Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/20/12 -1/26/12

A Life of Service and Love for Animals Remembered

Ann Marie Sweeney of Roanoke lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday, January 14th. Ann Marie was known to many as the Foster Coordinator for the RVSPCA, a position she held for nearly 5 years. She began her tenure at the RVSPCA as a volunteer and then as a member of the kennel staff.

Ann Marie will be remembered as the heart and soul behind the foster program.

She knew that the only chance many infant or orphaned animals had would be if they could be cared for temporarily by others in the community. Foster care was also the answer for adult animals needing time to recuperate from injuries or illnesses, or those needing extra social-

Ann Marie Sweeney ization and TLC before they could be ready to be members of a family. Because of her determination, development of the program became a priority for the RVSPCA. More than 5,000 animals received their second chance in foster care because of Ann Marie's dedication to the animals and the families opening their

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homes to help. She celebrated the successes and grieved for the little ones who didn't make it, but found comfort in the knowledge that they were loved and in a home, even for a short time.

Ann Marie's commitment to the welfare of animals was a personal as well as professional passion. Before coming to Roanoke, she had been involved with the Animal Refuge League in Maine, adopting four dogs from that organization. After moving to Roanoke, she sought out the RVSPCA, first as a volunteer and then as a key member of the staff. She and her husband, Chris, fostered more than 80 animals, often caring for those suffering from illness or injury. That number does not include the pups or kittens that she took home with her for a night or a weekend until a foster could be found. She was adept at bottle feeding, pushing medicines and fluids, and nursed many back to health. Out of all the animals cared for in her home, eight found their permanent home with her.

It would be impossible to calculate the number of lives that have been touched by Ann Marie's work with the RVSPCA. In honor of those lives, and in her memory, a fund has been established the Ann Marie Sweeney Memorial Foster Fund - to help further expand the foster care program. Funds will be used for supplies, veterinary care, and other expenses associated with the program. Any donations received in Ann Marie's memory will be designated for that purpose.

For more information on donating or adopting call 540339-WAGS (9247) or visit www.rvspca.org.

NewsRoanoke.com

Blue Ridge Marathon Ramps Up Activities for 2012 New Sponsors, Art Contest, Down By Downtown Music Festival, Pasta Dinner and more.

Organizers of the National College Blue Ridge Marathon and Half Marathon have announced that Foot Levelers, a Roanoke-based manufacturer of custom orthotics would be joining the race as a primary sponsor in 2012 along with Ferrum College and Scott Insurance.

“We are pleased to have Foot Levelers come on board as an Overlook sponsor for the event.

Not only are they a Roanokebased company, but also clearly there is a strong connection between marathon running and the benefits of orthotics. This is a natural partnership,” said Pete Eshelman, chairman of the Marathon.

“Foot Levelers is proud to be part of an event that engages the community in so many ways,” said Foot Levelers Vice President for Marketing Chuck Carver. “It’s also a wonderful way to show the rest of the world the Valley’s wonderful natural beauty and vibrant downtown,” he added. “We are anxious to show the running community the value of our products, which can improve running efficency.”

Foot Levelers will sponsor a pasta dinner for participants and their families to be held the evening before the run, and will also be the title sponsor for the race expo to be held at the Taubman Museum of Art. Dr. Tim Maggs, a chiropractor who specializes in running and has helped in the training of several NCAA Division I and professional runners, will be one of the speakers at the pasta dinner.

Ferrum College will be join-

Runners in last year’s marathon traverse a ridge. ing the event as this year’s marathon mile marker sponsor. “Ferrum College has long felt that we needed a stronger presence in the Roanoke Valley,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement Kim Blair. “This is an opportunity for Ferrum to show its support of the Valley and to play a role in a wonderful outdoor event that draws people from all over the country.”

Scott Insurance also joined as a sponsor. The Lynchburgbased insurance company will sponsor a water stop and several mile markers on the half marathon course.

Organizers also announced that they are partnering with the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge for an art contest. The winning entry will be used for the marathon and half marathon t-shirts, posters, and other print and promotional materials. Entries, due by January 30, should reflect the beauty and/ or difficulty of the race’s designation as America’s Toughest Road Marathon. Additional

details are available at www.blueridgemarathon.com.

Although it was partially rained out last year, the Marathon is looking forward to a continued partnership with the Down By Downtown music festival. The festival includes four days, over 50 bands, including live music Friday night and Saturday night in the race finish area. For more information please see the Down By Downtown Facebook page.

Returning this year will be the 26.2 jpeg photo contest, the YMCA Kids Marathon, walking options for the half marathon and team options for the full event and the Roanoke Criterium Bike Race. Volunteer support will be coordinated and provided in part by the Rotary Clubs of the Roanoke Valley.

Though the course will not be altered significantly from the 2011 version, which featured 7,200 feet of elevation change, the starting line will be moved to Jefferson Avenue, to accommodate the large number of runners.

Salem Man To Run 100 Mile Ultra-Marathon for Asian Animals Joseph Teh of Salem will participate in the 100 mile ultramarathon, “Long Haul” January 21-January 22, 2012 in Wesley Chapel, FL to raise funding and awareness for an international non-profit animal welfare organization, Animals Asia (www. animalsasia.org).

In parts of Asia endangered moon bears are cruelly farmed for their bile. The sweet and sentient animals are kept in tiny “crush cages” without enough space to turn around, and are kept alive with catheters (or sometimes just an open hole) painfully implanted in their abdomens. The bears are subjected to this excruciating existence for as long as 30 years.

Through its End Bear Farming program, Animals Asia works with government and farmers to end this practice, and bring rescued bears to Moon Bear rescue centers in China and Vietnam where they can spend the rest of their lives in safety.

Born in Penang, Malaysia,

A Moon Bear enjoys lunch on a bamboo swing.

Joseph Teh chose Animals Asia as the organization he wants to support with his ultra-marathon run, “…because [Animals Asia] is working against some of the most cruel practices that I’ve ever seen in my life…. It is also creating an awareness of compassion towards all animals among the Asian public.”

He says that knowing his effort is going to help the animals helps him to complete the challenging task, “The pain I endure

is nothing compared to what the bears go through. Seeing free and happy rescued bears is priceless compared to any race prizes.”

Joseph Teh grew up in Malaysia before coming to the US in 1997 to study computer engineering. He currently resides in Salem with his wife and 4 rescued cats. .

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Sports

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Please send in your pictures and relevant subject / game info and we’ll feature the next week!

12/30/11 -1/5/11 |The RoanokeisStar-Sentinel |Page 7 info@newsroanoke.com - Deadline 5PM Tuesday.

Fourth Quarter Defense Leads Cave Spring Downs Blacksburg PH to 60-54 Win Over Fleming 59-53 In River Ridge Showdown Scoring droughts can be problematic in the early going. They can be decisive in the fourth quarter.

Such was the play Tuesday night as Patrick Henry held William Fleming scoreless in the first 5:10 of the final quarter to down the Colonels 60-54 in the cross-town rivalry at the packed Fleming gym.

Fleming gave the Patriots all they could handle in the first three quarters. The Colonels led 26-20 at the half, with PH never getting to a one-and-one situation in the opening 16 minutes.

Fleming was its own enemy,

Colonel leading scorer #30 Warren Craft sinks a free throw against PH Tuesday night. missing numerous chances at the free throw line that held their lead to six.

Fleming's Miles Henderson drives on a PH defender during the fourth quarter Tuesday night.

Patrick Henry finally got the lead late in the third quarter before Fleming would close with a run to take a two point advantage to the final frame.

"At GW last week we got outworked," Patriot Head Coach Jack Esworthy said after the game. "Tonight we were outworked in the first half. I begged our guys at the break to pick it up and at least go down fighting."

The Patriots responded in the fourth. Down 46-44 to open the final frame, PH picked up its defense and by the time Fleming got its first points with 2:50 remaining, the Patriots owned a double-digit lead. Fleming would get to within 3 points down the stretch before Patrick Henry was able to hold on and run out the clock.

"We needed a win badly," Esworthy added. "Marcus Banks took it over in the fourth quar-

ter. We took bad shots in the first half and good shots in the second half. This is a huge rivalry game. I'll take a 1-0 win."

"PH is a good ball club," Colonel Head Coach Mickey Hardy noted in the Fleming locker room. "It's a big rivalry and was very competitive. My guys played hard- that's what you want. This game was a 12-round fight, and we fought 11. I told our players PH would make a run at us; in the fourth quarter, they did."

Banks led the Patrick Henry scoring with 18 points, 15 coming in the second half. BJ Hamlett added 16 for the Patriots, with Nick Ollie chipping in 11.

Wliiam Fleming's attack was paced by Warren Craft's 17 points, with Miles Henderson adding 16 for the Colonels.

By Bill Turner info@newsroanoke.com

Taylor Brings Experience To The Table As Raider's Defensive Coordinator

Shannon Taylor obviously has a head for football, and the experience at various levels to back it up.

The former University of Virginia and NFL linebacker shared his background Monday night as the featured speaker at the Roanoke Valley Sports Club meeting at the Salem Civic Center.

The monthly gathering honored the state championship North Cross football team as well as the state championship Cave Spring volleyball team.

Taylor is the current defensive coordinator for North Cross head coach Stephen Alexander's squad that defeated Norfolk Christian Academy in November for the VIC Division-3 state title.

Taylor began his playing days locally at Patrick Henry High School where his primary position was quarterback for the Patriots in the early-90s. After a one-year stint at prep-school Fork Union Military, he signed with UVa to play under longtime Cavalier head coach George Welch.

Taylor said one his best influences at Patrick Henry came from PH basketball coach Woody Deans. "He taught me how to shake a man's hand and look him in the eye."

At UVa, Taylor noted Welch gave him the opportunity to choose from five positions. "In the end, I had playing time at linebacker and defensive end," Taylor said. "Those were some great days in UVA football-at one point we were ranked 6th in the nation and playing some of the best teams in the country.

I played with guys like Anthony Poindexter as well as Tiki and

(L-R) Shannon Taylor with North Cross head coach Stephen Alexander and Raider players Paul Ross, Chris Shelton and Thomas Weaver.

Ronde Barber.

Taylor was drafted in the 6th round of the NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers before setting out on a NFL career that spanned 2000-2003 with the Chargers, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Taylor noted his time with Baltimore was the highlight of his NFL career. "At Baltimore, it was an amazing experience. I had fun and played with some very talented guys." Taylor said he played primarily on special teams for the Ravens.

"The NFL is a tough business," Taylor points out. " It's all about what have you done for me lately."

In addition to being the Raider defensive coordinator, Taylor currently coaches basketball in various programs to contribute to the development of young athletes and their character.

"There's a ton of good athletes out there," Taylor notes. "For any school there's a constant- they want good people first."

The Roanoke Valley Sports Club meets monthly with distinguished speakers from all areas of the sports world. For information about attending or joining, contact Tom Marchi (588-2969) or Dave Ross (774-1080).

By Bill Turner info@newsroanoke.com

Cave Spring vaulted to a 31-24 halftime lead on the shoulders of Amin Abuhawwas' five three-pointers, and the Knights held on to defeat Blacksburg 59-53 in a key River Ridge matchup Friday night at the Cave Spring gym.

Blacksburg managed to close to within a single point in the fourth quarter, but Cave Spring secured the victory with strong free throw shooting down the stretch.

Abuhawwas led the Cave Spring scoring with 25 points.

Senior Aaron Cupp added 9 for the Knights, including 7-for-7 from the free throw line, to help anchor a balanced Cave Spring attack that saw nine players hit the scoring column.

Cave Spring #52 Jordan Bryant (center in white) battles for a rebound against Bruins #4 Dane Leehman and #3 Daniel Stinespring.

Knight senior Ryan Gladfelter connects on a key free throw in the decisive fourth quarter.

By Bill Turner info@newsroanoke.com

Wild Bill’s Weekly Sports Roundup

#5- Salem: The Spartans hold High school basketball hits the midway point of the rigor- the final spot at 9-5, with offous district schedules this week, court distractions potentially on and there’s been a shake-up in the horizon. Their River Ridge the Wild Bill ‘Big-11’ Top-5. showdown Tuesday night at District play separates the con- Hidden Valley was postponed tenders from the pretenders, so due to unspecified violations of let’s take a look at our top local team protocol.

The infamous mailbag has performers. #1- Patrick Henry: The Patri- been bulging at the seams after its break during the holots solidified its hold on idays, so let’s take a peek the top spot with their at what’s on our reader’s come-from-behind 60minds from Hokie foot54 win over William ball to the ever-popular Fleming Tuesday night. $50 rare Buffalo gold PH (11-3) looks precoin to problems in separed to make a strong curing the apparently run in the Western Valhigh-in-demand “reley District race. dem” gadget. #2- William FlemBill Turner Plus, we salute a ing: The young Colonel team gave PH fits before college coach who informed the falling at home. Still, Fleming Wild Bill column he’s an avid (10-7) proved it can play with reader in a descriptive manner.

Dear Wild Bill: Any indicathe best. Mickey Hardy’s squad will have a lot to say on how tion that your offer of a Hokie teams finish in the ultra-com- seance, to rid the much-discussed Tech football curse, will petitive Western Valley. #3- Northside: The Vikings be accepted? (Golden Hokie/ have the football Vikings getting Botetourt) Answer: Not a word, so far, their basketball legs in order, and that only means trouble for GH. The offer stands, but I’m the Northside opponents. The not begging.

Dear Toro, Toro: If you Ouija Vikings (8-6) had won six in a row before Tuesday night’s loss us Tech fans a bowl win, can you on the road to 12-1 Blue Ridge throw in one for our basketball team?- we’re 0-3 in the ACC. leader, Rockbridge County.

(Mable/Rural Retreat) #4- Cave Spring: The 9-8 Answer: You bet, Mable. I’ll Knights may be the early-season hard-luck story. Cave Spring is give you Hokies a two-fer.

Dear Numismatic Bill: The 2-3 in River Ridge play with all three losses coming in overtime. price on those $50 Gold Buffalo That translates into an easy 12-5 coins you recently mentioned record if a shot or two had fall- have now dropped in price to en. Look for the Knights to be in $9.95 on the late-night TV ads. the mix in the second half of the Should I invest in a safe or vault?

(Art/Roanoke) district run.

Answer: You’re right, Artthey’re down to $9.95 plus S&H. I called the toll-free number and heard a recording that said the value of these coins has gone as high as $ 3900 each. Wonder why they sell ‘em so cheap? You don’t need a safe - more like a Brinks truck. I’m calling Shakespeare next. There’s something rotten in Denmark.

Dear Tidy-Bowl Bill: I can’t find the redem gadget that plucks out toilet paper rollers dropped in the commode. Any retail outlets you’re aware of?

(Violet/Bedford) Answer: I checked at the dollar store and they are temporarily out of stock. Should be in by mid-February.

Finally, a tip of the hat to VWCC Head Basketball Coach Ed Green, who stopped me to say he loved this column’s levity. Frankly, I don’t know what this column has to do with the Earth’s pull, but ...... oh, wait ... that’s gravity. I think levity has something to do with dough rising, so I’m still confused.

Anyway, I recommend checking out the Blue Stars next home game Sat. Feb. 4th at the Colonial Avenue campus. Tipoff is at 3:30 against the West Virginia University Club team.

There will be good basketball, and that’s a certainty.

See you next week. Send your questions to: info@newsroanoke. com

By Bill Turner info@newsroanoke.com

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Page 8 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/20/12 -1/26/12

Fixing Amazon Loophole Number One Issue For Retail Business Community The Virginia Retail Merchants Association (VRMA), a business organization representing more than 5400 retailers and other associated businesses in Virginia, called fixing the Amazon sales tax loophole the number one priority for the retail business community in Virginia.

“Retailers in Virginia need a level playing field to compete in a free market economy,” said Ken Vaughan, Chairman of the VRMA Board and District Vice President of Peebles in South Hill, Virginia. “Closing the Amazon loophole is the single most important legislative priority for the 2012 Virginia General Assembly. Small companies like mine are struggling to compete against online retailers like Amazon that don’t play by the same rules as others with a physical presence in the state.”

Under Virginia law, retail companies are required to collect and remit state sales and use taxes when they have a physical presence in the state. Amazon

has avoided collecting and remitting sales taxes in a number of states, including Virginia, by implementing a complex corporate structure with subsidiarylike companies. With revenues from internet sales rising rapidly, states are quickly acting to close the Amazon loophole. Eight states have passed legislation in the past two years and governors in four states have reached agreements with Amazon to have them begin remitting in the future.

Mitch Daniels of Indiana became the latest governor to enter into a voluntary agreement with Amazon to begin collecting the sales tax no later than January 1, 2014 in exchange for Amazon not being responsible for potentially uncollected past sales taxes.

Governor Daniels stated that the annual loss of revenue to Indiana from Amazon alone is between $20-25 million per year. Some analysts have suggested that Amazon’s tax structure may violate state tax collection laws. In 2010,

the Texas Comptroller assessed Amazon $269 million in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties. The conservative Texas legislature passed legislation last year closing the Amazon loophole.

“Fixing this sales tax loophole will mean more Virginia jobs over the long-term. Numerous studies have shown that bricks and mortar retail stores employ significantly more people than internet retailers on a per revenue basis. Local retail stores also give back to their communities by volunteering with local organizations and making charitable contributions,” said Laurie Aldrich, President of the VRMA. The Virginia Retail Merchants Association was established in 1905. VRMA is a not-for-profit trade association representing retailers to educate, inform, and serve as a resource. VRMA and its retail member associations represent more than 5,400 retailers and other associated businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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NewsRoanoke.com

There Is An App. For That

With over 14,000 smart phone/tablet applications and counting, it can be difficult to sort through them for the best ones to aide you in your fitness efforts. There are 1,046 just on Amazon.com alone under a Health & Fitness listing. Here are a few that I have found to be helpful. Some are free; some have a charge; and some are just for fun. I have no interest in the companies or the developers other than, like you, I want useful tools. Always consult your physician before beginning any diet or exercise plan. I am not endorsing any particular site or program. This is for informational purposes only.

My Fitness Pal- Available on the iPhone, Android and Blackberry this app is free and has several components. You can use it as a food journal or an exercise journal or both. There is an online community to share your story and learn from others. There is a purported database of 1million foods. You take it with you on your phone so there are no excuses for not being able to make an entry.

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Fitness Builder- Available for Android, web and IOS this is free for the first month then $10 thereafter depending on which program is chosen. You can make a customized workout for yourself based on your age, gender and fitness level. It’s like having a personal trainer with you any time day or night 7 days a week. You can choose workouts with or without equipment. It will track your progress for you.

There are versions available for the general public, athletes and fitness/health professionals.

Fat Secret- An online journal and community for all things diet related. There is a calorie counting app for Android and a web-based diet and food journal, weight history graph and community. It is free. You can use it anonymously or allow others to see your entries and journal for feedback and support. It doesn’t endorse any particular program or diet.

Candle Free- This is a virtual lit candle that will flicker when you move your device. I found it on the Amazon.com app store.

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will be held Feb. 18, 19, 25 and 26 at AMF Hilltop Lanes located at 5918 Williamson Road in Roanoke. Registration is $10 per bowler and covers shoes and three hours of bowling. Participants are also asked to raise at least $35 each to support JA and anyone raising $50 or more will receive a T-shirt.

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“Our largest fund-raiser of the year is a chance for businesses, organizations and individuals to step up and be superheroes for the day, teaming up to have a great time while raising money to support programs in schools that empower young people to own their economic success and foster work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy,” says Katherin Elam, president of JA of Southwest Virginia.

To help make a super day even better, JA is in need of prizes for bowlers – a great marketing opportunity at one of the largest bowling fund-raisers in Southwest Virginia.

To sign up your company to bowl, to donate prizes or for more information, please contact Melissa at 540-989-6392 or by email bowlathon@ja.roacoxmail.com.

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Studies consistently show that we forget 40% of what we eat in a day. Keeping a journal will help with the food “amnesia” and keep you on track. A food journal will also serve as a reminder of what you consume; if your diet is balanced; and where you need to make changes. An exercise journal will serve as a tool for you to track your progress and keep you motivated.

Be sure you are visiting reliable websites for answers to your medical and health questions. Don’t believe everything you see on the internet. There is a better chance of accurate information from the Mayo Clinic than anonymous168 on a community board. Many people will try to “sell” their particular diet or health theories so be careful and do your homework.

Dr. Kenneth Luckay DO is the Medical Director at the Center for Medical Weight Loss located at 4515 Brambleton Ave in Roanoke. He can be reached at 3981547 or Email: dr.luckay@cmwlroanoke.com.

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Arts & Culture

1/20/12 -1/26/12 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

NewsRoanoke.com

Ferrum College and Virginia Western The Reel Deal: “We Bought a Zoo” Sign Articulation Agreement Mostly Disappoints Agreement will ease transfer of Virginia Western A.A.S. Administration of Justice students to Ferrum College's Criminal Justice B.S./B.A. Degree Program.

Ferrum College President Jennifer Braaten and Virginnia Western Community College President Robert Sandel signed an Agreement of Articulation this week to facilitate the transfer of students from Virginia Western's Administration of Justice Associate of Applied Science degree program to Ferrum College's Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts degree program. The agreement, signed during a ceremony at Ferrum College, guarantees that Ferrum will accept Virginia Western students who successfully earn their AAS Administration of Justice degree and meet outlined criteria.

"As educators we all need to make student success and employment readiness a high priority and that can mean removing barriers to higher aspirations," says Braaten. "Two-year colleges are doing a tremendous job in encouraging so many of their students to seek higher goals.

Our objective at Ferrum is to smooth the transition for these transfer students. This collaboration with Virginia Western will help achieve that aim."

The articulation agreement ensures that Ferrum College will transfer credit for all Virginia Western Administration of Justice courses completed successfully with a grade of C or above

(Seated left to right) Virginia Western Community College President Robert Sandel; Ferrum College President Jennifer Braaten (Standing left to right) Virginia Western Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Tresia Samani; Ferrum College Provost and Executive Vice President Leslie Lambert; Virginia Western Dean of Humanities Elizabeth Wilmer; Ferrum College Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice William "Dub" Osborne, Jr.; Virginia Western Criminal Justice Program Head Jeri Barnett; and Ferrum College Registrar Yvonne Walker at the 100-200 level, excluding SDV College Skills Courses, even when the student has not completed the Associate Degree. Virginia Western students who successfully complete 56 hours with a grade of C or above will be admitted to Ferrum College with junior status.

"This agreement provides our students with a seamless route to continue their higher education and gain the knowledge

and skills that they will need in the workforce," said Sandel.

"Virginia Western is appreciative that it has such an outstanding partner in Ferrum College so we can continue to deliver opportunities like this to our students."

Interested Virginia Western students should contact Ferrum College's office of Admissions for more information.

2011 had a rather interesting year for the movies that came out during Christmas.

While there are usually plenty of light-hearted Christmas movies every year, this year featured a variety of more mature movies like "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and "War Horse." Unfortunately, there weren’t many good films for kids to see with the exception of one movie: "We Bought a Zoo." Directed by Oscar-winner Cameron Crowe after a sixyear hiatus, "We Bought a Zoo" does make for entertainment that will please kids and some parents, but ultimately fails to come up with anything new to please moviegoers looking for deeper material.

The film focuses on the true story of Benjamin Mee, a struggling father of two kids whose wife recently died. Deciding to start a new life with his children, he ends up moving them to a struggling zoo, where Benjamin works with the zookeepers to try and turn things around. If you’ve seen the trailers for "We Bought a Zoo," you’ll notice that is treads on very familiar territory when it comes to characters and plot points. From the romances to the financial situation of the

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The book is available for purchase at the History Museum of Western Virginia and the O’ Winston Link Museum. It can also be purchased online at www.vahistorymuseum.org For a limited time Kegley Publications is offering a special discount when you purchase three of our books NineteenthCentury Brick Architecture in the Roanoke Valley and Beyond: Discovering the True Legacies of the Deyerle Builders ($35), Edward Beyers Travels Through America ($35), and Architectural History of the Roanoke Valley ($20) at a 15% discount.

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simple film about a father raising his children in a zoo, issues like these stand out in a bad way.

While the storytelling is flawed, the performances in the movie are fairly good. Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson both give good leading performances and share a decent amount of chemistry. Thomas Haden Church is enjoyable with the screen time he has, and obviously Benjamin’s daughter is going to get a lot of “awww’s” and laughs from people.

There is some decent execution here, but overall the film is just forgettable. It borrows many elements from other dramas that were done better in those films, and you’ll likely leave the theater with a “been there, done that” feeling. The beating heart in other films like this just isn’t here, and though this film does make for harmless entertainment for kids, there won’t be much worth remembering when the adventure is over.

Rating: 5/10 (Very Average)

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Historical Society Of Western Virginia Release New Publication

The Historical Socifrom anecdote and many ety of Western Virginia original sources. has released its latest In addition to telling regional history offerthe story of this remarking: Nineteenth-Century able family of builders Brick Architecture in and architects, Pulice also the Roanoke Valley and provides a lesson in maBeyond: Discovering the sonry and brick-making True Legacies of the Deythat is a valuable resource erle Builders by Michael for researchers, educators, J. Pulice, Kegley Publicaarchitects and history tions of the Historical Soenthusiasts. Again from ciety of Western Virginia, Gray, in his quest for the 188 pages, $35.

Deyerles True Legacies, The Deyerle BuildPulice explores the arers is the culmination of cane, finer points of 19thten years of research and century antebellum conwriting by architectural struction in brick. A slim historian, Michael Puchapter, Brick Masonry, lice. Mr. Pulice currently covers all aspects of how works for the Virginia bricks were produced Department of Historic before mechanization, The Deyerle Builders by Michael J. Pullice Resources, Western and relates that technolthe stage for his analysis of their Regional Office and is ogy to early construction a renowned brick expert. Not work in bricks and mortar, the techniques. This section is "the only does Pulice identify build- author sketches the cast of charings and houses that were built acters, with emphasis on the by the Deyerles, he finally lays to Deyerle builders, in neat monorest which generation should be graphs, fleshing out each of these credited with specific structures. craftsmen and their families According to Gray, In setting with obvious affection, drawing

zoo that is miraculously solved, this film is extremely predictable from beginning to end.

I don’t mean to be harsh on a movie that is targeted for kids and is meant to be a feel-good movie, but the movie has very little creativity or anything interesting to offer. This is a rather by-the-numbers film that borrows every plot point and every bittersweet/uplifting moment that is in every drama nowadays. There is nothing original here.

Another glaring issue with the movie is how strangely uneven it is at times. There are some characters that are very out-of-place in this movie, particularly a goofy realtor that somehow makes Eddie Murphy look subtle in comparison.

The score of the movie, while admittedly the most creative aspect of this film, is rather over-the-top at times. It sounds less like music from a drama and more like something from “The Lion King.” There are also a few moments where Benjamin imagines seeing his wife that seem like they were taken out of a fantasy film, and the way the movie presents it is even more jarring than the music in the background. For a

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Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/20/12 -1/26/12

American Life in Poetry

BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE

Poet Marianne Boruch of Indiana finds a bird’s nest near her door. It is the simplest of discoveries, yet she uses it to remind us that what at first seems ordinary, even “made a mess of,” can be miraculously transformed upon careful reflection.

Nest

I walked out, and the nest was already there by the step. Woven basket of a saint sent back to life as a bird who proceeded to make a mess of things. Wind right through it, and any eggs long vanished. But in my hand it was intricate pleasure, even the thorny reeds

softened in the weave. And the fading leaf mold, hardly itself anymore, merely a trick of light, if light can be tricked. Deep in a life is another life. I walked out, the nest already by the step.

NewsRoanoke.com

Roanoke Places Second on List of Cities With “Most Sensitive Men”

For all the women who decided to seek only "sensitive men" as part of their 2012 resolutions, Chemistry.com has revealed the Top 10 Cities to Find a Sensitive Man to help ladies everywhere find a keeper this year- and Roanoke nabbed the #2 spot.

The list, which is based on Chemistry.com user data, revealed that the most sensitive men in America can be found in cities that are also popular vacation destinations with hot spots in Florida and California making the list. Top 10 cities include: 1. Pompano Beach, Florida 2. Roanoke, Virginia 3. West Hollywood, California 4. Nashville, Tennessee 5. Buffalo, New York 6. Sarasota, Florida 7. Greenville, South Carolina 8. Wilmington, North Carolina 9. Indianapolis, Indiana Midwest 10. Staten Island, New York

In contrast, those who are looking for less sensitivity can go to Ann Arbor, Michigan which was ranked the least likely city to find a sensitive man.

According to Dr. Helen Fisher, Chief Scientific Advisor to Chemistry.com, these 10 cities are packed with "a certain kind of man, what I call Builders . . . .They deeply value loyalty, duty, respectability and proper moral conduct and go way out of their way to keep their social relationships running smoothly. So they watch, listen, and gauge what they need to do to help others and they do it naturally. It's these chivalrous qualities that make a sensitive man."

Additional data on this ranking can be found on Chemistry.com's official blog.

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