PAGE 2 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Whisper One Media
WEEKEND
The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
POSTMASTER: Dated material, please deliver by publication date
Community | News | Per spective
May 21 - 27, 2010
NewsRoanoke.com
City Council Mulls Sale of Properties Sweet Keister’s P6– Roanoker Melissa Keister finds her calling in the specialty sweets and cheesecake business.
State Champs P7– The North Cross Varsity Lacrosse team runs the table and comes home as the 2010 VISAA Div III. Champions.
The sale of Fire Station #9 to Mahlon P. Maxey, Vice President of Maxey Seat Cover Center Inc., went smoothly at Monday’s 7:00 p.m. Council meeting. With council member Anita Price absent, the Mayor and five council members voted unanimously to approve the sale. Fire station #9 is located at 514 24th St. NW, adjacent to Maxey’s business, and was assessed at $308,900 with its use as a fire station. Maxey’s offer of $100,000 was accepted. The recommendation by City Manager Chris Morrill was to sell fire station
SW County Schools Will Do the Shuffle
P11– An original Gospel musical being performed in Roanoke will benefit the family of JoAnthony Page.
[
]
Mayor Bowers recused himself, which led to the lack of six council members to affirm the successful offerer. The award was set aside until the June 21 council meeting when all council members will be present. In response to a question posed by Councilman Dave Trinkle, City Attorney Bill Hackworth explained that award of the fire station was a policy decision by council, and not a bidding process. They > CONTINUED P3: Fire Sale
[Perspective]
Option for Market Vendors Emerges
Robin’s Eggs and Graduation
District Lines Redrawn to Alleviate Crowding
The Roanoke County School Board approved a plan recently that will shuffle students around over the next few years in southwest Roanoke County at all levels: elementary, middle and high schools. With two schools currently exceeding capacity (Oak Grove Elementary, Hidden Valley High School) and some students having to share lockers at Cave Spring Middle School and at Hidden Valley High, the School Board was aiming for better balance. Part of the problem stems from the fact that Education Cave Spring M i d d l e School is in dire need of expansion. That would siphon students away from Hidden Valley Middle School and ultimately the high school of the same name, which was at or above capacity shortly after it opened eight years ago. The School Board held several public input sessions months ago, gauging how
[
The Mary Project
#5, located at 215 12th Street NW, to Re- his certified fire gear repair and cleaning building Together-Roanoke, Inc., (RTR) service to the proposal. He upped his offor $12,768. RTR assists elderly and dis- fer to $25,000. “I saw no better place to abled homeowners in maintaining their do it than an old fire station and continue residences. to serve the men that served [fire station There were two other potential buyers #5] for so long,” concluded Brads. who pleaded their case for Speaking for the Omega the building Monday. Psi Phi Fraternity was Coach City Council Roanoke county resident George “Killa” Miller. “For Jamey Brads, a 1st lieutenant more than 75 years the frafor fire station #5, asked council to con- ternity has assisted Roanoke citizens,” sider his offer for the property. In addition explained Miller. The fraternity plans to to using the fire station for fire depart- initiate a ten block drug educational proment memorabilia, Brads wants to add gram using fire station #5.
John Venable addresses market vendors earlier this week.
]
The doors will slam shut to the public on September 6, and it won’t be for “fall cleaning.” It’s the last day Roanokers can get a meal from Burger in the Square, New York Subs or a greeting from Zorba’s Adel Eltawansy. According to Rob Ledger, Director of Economic Development for Roanoke City, contractors will begin r e n o v at i n g Market September 13. By mid-May 2011, the old and / or new tenants can start their build-out for either an eatery or retail space in the renovated building. There will be less parking with the sidewalk expansion on Market and Wall streets – only parallel parking will remain on one side. When the current tenants move out, they may be gone for good. There seems to be no
[
Photo by Stephanie Koehler
Robin’s eggs and roses are a sure sign of Spring and maybe something more . . . For weeks I have been watching a mamma Robin diligently tend her nest in the climbing rose bush outside my back door. While she kept a watchful eye as we came and went – her determination never wavered. Her job was to protect the four brilliant blue eggs – and she was succeeding.
> CONTINUED P2 County Schools
Saturday morning was the big event. I suddenly saw a tiny yellow beak pop up over the edge of the nest. Momma Robin was now tirelessly flying from the grass to the nest with little bits of food. While I didn’t want to upset her task – I couldn’t contain Continued on Page 2
]
> CONTINUED P3: Market Vendors
Local Colors Participants Collecting Supplies for Haiti Mike Keeler
Saving History P4– Mike Keeler says hard economic times are no excuse for not protecting our irreplaceable heritage.
Get the
Roanoke Star - Sentinel delivered to your doorstep every week for only $44 per year! 400-0990
subscribe@theroanokestar.com PO Box 8338 Roanoke,VA 24014
big response,” he noted. Meanwhile, Local Colors visitors could view dozens of booths, each centered on a different nationality; they could also sample food from around the world or watch music and dance performances on the Elmwood Park amphitheater stage. “People seem to really enjoy it,” said organizer Pearl Fu, who called the crowd “the largest we ever had.” The crowds enjoyed everything from classical music to Hip Hop in Creole, and a host of dance performances. Surveying the bustling area on a perfect day, Fu deemed the 20th anniversary edition of Local Colors “a success.”
This Year’s Event Gets Record Turnout Every summer Gary Hunt talks 2025 people into taking a trip to Belize, asking them to carry on a plane the maximum amount permitted in school supplies – 100 pounds each – bound for impoverished students on that island nation. They then stay for a Good Works vacation, often taking advantage of special rates that Hunt has negotiated over the past 20 years. He calls himself the “Bookbag Santa,” and this year he’s taken on a second mission. Hunt is looking to collect a second ton of school supplies, then ship them off to Haiti, which was ravaged by an earthquake several months ago. “We always end up with [more] perfectly good stuff [than goes to Belize],” Hunt noted as people strolled by his Belize table at last Saturday’s Local Colors cel-
[
]
Photo by Jessica Dodds
Four Burundi choir singers pray while chanting “Hallelujah.” ebration. Instead of offering it to local churches he’s looking for someone that can ship it all to Haiti – from pencils and staplers, to backpacks and threering binders.
Last year 26 people took the trip to Belize; more than 20 people wrote their names down on Hunt’s legal pad Saturday, expressing an interest in the Belize trip at the end of July. “This has been a
See bookbagsanta.com or call 3422083 for information on donating school supplies for Haiti and Belize – or to learn more about the group traveling to Belize. By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net