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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel October 15 - 21, 2010

Community | News | Per spective

NewsRoanoke.com

[Virginia Travel]

The Perfect Fall Excursion Stephanie Koehler

Building Bridges P5– Stephanie Koehler looks backwards and forwards and finds herself burning less bridges and building more.

Photo by Kenneth L. Miller ©2009

T

he Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society will offer two round trip excursions by train between Roanoke and Danville (Nov. 6) and Roanoke and Bluefield (Nov. 7). These trips, using modern Amtrak locomotives and coaches plus vintage railroad cars, depart from the former N&W passenger station in downtown Roanoke and will have a layover of 3 hours in Danville and 2 ½ hours in Bluefield to participate in local activities. Coach seats are available for either trip and can be purchased at the O. Winston Link Museum (540-982-5465) or Virginia Museum of Transportation (540-342-5670) during business hours. Both Coach and First Class seats may be ordered from the Roanoke Chapter NRHS (540-774-0611) evenings, or online at www.RoanokeNRHS.org.

Hershey Kiss?

P6– Grandin Court Elementary finds a novel and inexpensive way to provide a new gym for its students.

Cave Spring

Comeback P7– The Lady Knights make a comeback for the ages in unseating arch-rival and unbeaten Hidden Valley in Volleyball.

Roanoke City Announces New Chief of Police Roanoke City Manager Chris Babb.

Morrill announced on WednesMorrill praised Perkins sayday that Christopher C. Pering, “we are so fortunate to kins has been selected as Police have someone who has come Chief for the City of Roanoke. up through the ranks and not This announcement culminates only knows the community a three-month national search but has taken every opporand recruitment process. Pertunity he can to improve his kins will begin serving as Police skills.”

Chief effective immediately.

He attended the FBI NationPerkins, who has 17 years of al Academy in 2010; Scenarioprogressive law enforcement Based Executive Level Trainexperience, has been serving as ing in 2009; National Criminal Acting Police Chief since July 1, Justice Command College in 2010 when Chief Joe Gaskins re2006; Political Leadership in tired. Positions he has held since 2006; Professional Executive joining the Roanoke police force Photo by Valerie Garner Leadership School in 2004; in 1992 include: Accreditation City Manager Chris Morrill welcomes Chistopher C. Perkins.

Supervisors in Community PoManager, Major Crimes Squad licing in 1999; IACP First-Line City Manager Chris Morrill met with Supervision in 1999; and Leadership in Sergeant, Investigations Bureau Lieutenant, Investigations Bureau Captain, and Opera- neighborhood organizations, the NAACP, Community Policing in 1998. and the SCLC for input to the selection of tions Deputy Chief.

Perkins, 40, is married with one daughThe Roanoke City Police veteran was the a new police chief. Morrill said, “at the end ter. He does not currently live in the city but unanimous pick of two panels according we were able to narrow 68 applicants down said he plans to move as soon as possible. to Vivian Sanchez-Jones, a member of the to three.”

Morrill said, “Chris Perkins already has Members of the community selection a track record of working closely with our community board that reviewed the qualifications for applicants for the position. panel included Mignon Chubb-Hale, Duke neighborhoods and businesses. He has Interviews took place over a three-month Curtis, Tammy Finley, Daniel Karnes, been one of the major catalysts in the Poperiod and included the community, city Brenda Hale, Laura Padgett, Vivian San- lice Department’s workers and the input of Blacksburg police chez-Jones and Clarice Walker. efforts to use tech- > CONTINUED Other local candidates for the top spot chief, Kimberly Crannis. nology and strate- P2: Police Chief included Capt. Greg Staples and Lt. Mac

Jefferson College Celebrates Past, Looks To The Future

Haunted House P12– Author Joe Tennis will discuss “Haunts of The Blue Ridge” in his upcoming book signings at Ram’s Head and Barnes and Noble.

Jefferson College of Health Sciences recently held a reunion for alumni that have graduated from the downtown school with degrees in nursing or allied fields. A lot has changed recently for Jefferson College, including a shift towards four-year bachelor’s degrees and away from two-year degrees, and a move to the Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital building from its former home just down the block on Jefferson.

“The only thing left there is our practical nursing program,” said President N.L. Bishop, himself another newcomer – he’s been in that position for about

six months. That program will soon move to another location across the street, and then Carilion, which operates the school, will decide what it wants to do with the former home of the college.

Carilion Community still operates a physical therapy inpatient wing and an acute care center at the former full service hospital location (all other departments have moved over to Carilion Roanoke Memorial), which means students at Jefferson College have more opportunities for hands on learning. > CONTINUED P3: Jefferson

Photo by Gene Marrano

N.L. Bishop is the president of Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

City Shores Up Reserve Funds

Thursday morning Roanoke City council heard recommendations for changes to Roanoke’s reserve and debt policy. The Director of Finance, Ann Shawver presented policy changes that would shore up lagging reserve funds. The policies are one measure that a bond-rating agency uses when sniffing out a municipality’s financial health.

Among the recommendations was one item that has been an elusive goal for many years - filling the Budget Stabilization Reserve (BSR) to “full pond.”

Shawver recommended changing the policy’s measure of “full pond” from 8% of revenue to 10% of revenue. She also recommended referring to this fund as the Undesignated Fund Reserve. “This fund would only be used if the absolute worst happens and cash was needed immediately,” said Shawver.

The city’s financial advisory firm, Public Financial Management Group in Arlington, calls the BSR the “Economic Downturn Reserve,” said Shawver. It would not be used unless revenues dropped at least 1 ½ percent below budget as the city moved through its fiscal year. The BSR or Economic Downturn Reserve would top out at 2% of revenue.

The balance in the BSR (Un> CONTINUED P2: Reserve

Mother Named “Angel In Adoption” Rep. Bob Goodlatte, a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, has named Zina Hardin of Roanoke to represent Virginia’s Sixth District at the 12th annual “Angels in Adoption” banquet, which will be held in Washington, D.C. The banquet honors one nominee from each congressional district who is making a difference in the lives of children through adoption.

“Zina Hardin is a person that people rely on,” said Congressman Goodlatte. “Some would even say she is a natural caretaker. Over the years her role as a caretaker has spanned from caring for sick relatives, tutoring struggling students, providing a safe house for battered women, and as a foster mother for children in need.

Today, Zina’s role as a caretaker continues as a mother of four children and particularly for her three children with special > CONTINUED P3:Angel

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Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/15/10 - 10/21/10

> Police Chief There is a chance of rain for Thursday and cooler temperatures, highs will likely top out in the low to mid 60s. The majority of the area is dry Friday with only an isolated shower possible before mainly sunny skies rush in for the weekend. Temperatures will be cooler than normal this weekend with the mid to upper 60s for daytime highs.

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gic deployment of officers and equipment to reduce the crime rate.”

He graduated from Marion High School in Marion, VA., and earned a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Hollins University. In addition, he holds a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia.

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Perkins will direct a staff of approximately 300 employees, of which 243 are sworn. He will also serve as the city’s representative and according to a city press release will be “working to build strong relationships with law enforcement agencies in the region and throughout the Commonwealth.”

Perkins, who faced a large phalanx of local media at the announcement, admitted to being “a little bit nervous” Wednesday - though he said he

was “normally used to being in front of large crowds.” He gave accolades to all members of the police department, saying “the city should be very proud of the service these professionals provide and I only hope that I exceed their expectations as well as those of the citizens of this community.”

He then added, “I’m eager to get started.”

By Valerie Garner info@newsroanoke.com Chief Christopher C. Perkins

From page 1

designated Fund Reserve) as of June 30, 2010 is $19,278,522 or 7.61 % of revenue.

To boost the reserve immediately, Shawver proposed combining fiscal year 2010’s Undesignated Fund balance of $4.9 million to the reserve. This would bring the Undesignated Fund balance to a healthy 9.5% of revenue. “This will be a little more consistent with how other local governments and rating agencies view it,” said Shawver.

The self-insured reserve is antiquated. It ran at a deficit for FY2010 to the tune of $1 million. Measures will be taken to better fund the reserve to reflect actual claims exposure.

The debt policy was also on the table for change. The policy for capping the city’s debt at five percent of assessed value of real estate was recommended to be further restricted to four percent. It would include personal property values as well. The debt policy will remain at 10% of the General and School Fund expenditures. It exceeded the policy for FY2010 at 10.2%.

In addition, Shawver recommended accelerating debt retirement from a 50% minimum reduction to a 60% reduction in the ten-year time frame.

Shawver stressed the importance of adhering to a municipality’s financial policy as a measure of a city’s commitment to financial soundness.

The three rating agencies are Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s. Moody’s noted earlier in the year that the city’s fund reserve

levels were below the national average.

Adding $250,000 to $500,000 per year, will fully fund all reserves within ten years with the possibility of adding year end surpluses for an added boost.

By Valerie Garner info@newsroanoke.com

City Won’t Be Asking Paper Or Plastic For Leaf Removal Lowe’s on Rutgers Street has plenty of paper bags, with more on the way. They were a little difficult to find tucked in the greenhouse in front of the Christmas trees - even the clerks had a hard time finding them.

The clerk did reassure that the paper bags had heavy bottoms and would stand on their own for filling. He also said they will withstand wet weather conditions - at least to some extent.

A five-pack of 30-gallon paper bags at Lowe’s sells for $1.88 a pack. With tax each bag amounts to less then the price of a first-class postage stamp.

A new Raonoke city policy means if residents use plastic bags it could cost $50.

Thursday Roanoke city council voted 5-0 to implement “paper bag only” leaf pickup this

fall. The morning briefing finalized a decision that only 30-gallon biodegradable paper leaf bags or larger will be picked up

by Solid Waste Management.

By turning to paper bags, the city will save $23,000. Rockydale Quarry charges a $38 per ton tipping fee for plastic bags.

There is no limit on the number of paper bags that residents can set out for pickup. As added incentive to deter raking leaves to the curb or placing plastic bags in the city right-of-way the city will impose a fine. If plastic bags or loose leaves sit in front of a resident’s home for more than 72 hours they can expect to dole out $50 for the indiscretion.

Last year plastic bags were not allowed and though the fine was $100 if leaves were raked to

the curb, the city let residents slide while getting accustomed to the new code. Don’t count on that this year.

The bags will be collected on three different days. The dates are November 15 and 29 and December 13. On those days there will be no bulk or brush pickup. There will be no brush pickup during this whole period.

Residents will receive a mailer

by October 22 with a paper bag reminder and dates for pickup.

Even the Civic Center Marquee will post the phone number to Biodegradable Leaf Bags can call for leaf collection informa- be found at Lowe's and other local suppliers. tion – (853-2000).

Neighborhood organizations are asked to help their elderly

By Valerie Garner and disabled neighbors with info@newsroanoke.com raking and bagging.

City Meals Tax Continues to Decline

Janice Annis, DVM

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NewsRoanoke.com

From page 1

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A conservative estimate has turned out to be the prudent option taken by Roanoke City Director of Finance, Ann Shawver. In April Shawver anticipated a future decline in the meals tax because “that is one of the taxes that is contracting.”

Overall August 2010 meals tax revenue fell 1% compared to August 2009.

With July revenue flat it brings the meals tax .5% less then this time a year ago.

The likely culprit in the downturn is continued high unemployment and a stalled economy according to Shawver. The good news is that the $4.4 million goal for addi-

tional funding to Roanoke City Schools is still above target.

July was 4.3% above Shawver’s conservative estimate. August came in at 2% above the estimate. So far the trend is $22,659 above water with a total for the two months coming in at $742,582 towards the $4.4 million goal.

Shawver made it clear that “while the meals tax is performing better than estimated, it is performing worse than the prior year.”

Roanoke City Market Building: Vendors who return to the renovated Market building are receiving a boost in their incentive. The non-food vendors will be offered $15,000 for build out cost – an increase of $5000.

The food vendors will get a hefty increase to $35,000 from $20,000. Vendor lease rates have yet to be determined by the nonprofit Market Foundation.

The Roanoke City council meeting was moved to Thursday. Council members were attending the Virginia Municipal League conference in Hampton through October 5.

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10/15/10 - 10/21/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3

NewsRoanoke.com

> Jefferson

From page 1 Gale and Carilion were jointly involved with the school, but that hasn’t been the case for almost a decade now.

“There’s a need for having four year degrees,” said Bishop about the shift from a focus on two year programs; “nursing is continuing to grow and the expectations [for] registered nurses. It made sense to move in that direction.”

Students can perform clinicals at Carilion Roanoke Memorial and Jefferson College attendees will have the opportunity to work with fellow students at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, “rather than waiting [until] their professions to start dealing with each other,” said Bishop. “It’s all to improve the outcome for patients.”

Virginia Cooperative Extension > Angel Announces Plan To Restructure

needs that live at home and Alan Grant, dean of the College of Agriculture Grant stressed that the restructuring plan was that’s why I am honored to and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, announced a only a "blueprint" for future planning and analysis nominate her as the 6th Conplan to restructure the Virginia Cooperative Ex- of program implementation. gressional District’s ‘Angel in tension to better meet the needs of its clientele and "We have a lot more work ahead of us as we Adoption’.” address a cumulative reduction of $10.3 million move into the implementation phase of this reZina Hardin’s biological since 2007 for the Virginia Cooperative Extension structuring process," Grant said. "Over the next daughter has Down Syndrome and the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station. six months, we will be meeting with our local and she has two sons that she The plan was presented to Extension faculty and partners to discuss their programming needs and fostered prior to their adopstaff during a live Web conference today. develop a plan to transition to this new structure.

"This plan allows Virginia Cooperative Exten- We will also implement the program priorities tions. Her eldest son, Tomas is sion to reduce costs, maintain a local presence identified in the strategic plan." legally blind and suffers from across the commonwealth, and continue to proGrant, who assumed temporary leadership of brain-damage. He is almost vide high-quality, science-based educational pro- Extension in May, explained that the restructuring fully reliant on Zina. gramming for Virginia. This will allow us to shift plan is a culmination of a planning process that She sees successes in things resources to the highest-priority needs of the state also included the development of a five-year stra- most parents take for granted. and localities," Grant said. "In addition, the plan tegic plan that identifies the organization's proHe can walk and he eats more will provide local governments the opportunity gramming priorities. This comprehensive process to customize programming based on the needs of involved not only Extension faculty and staff, but than pureed food -- both things their community." also numerous internal and external stakeholders, he didn’t do before he came According to Grant, the restructuring plan pro- including government officials, Extension volun- to Zina’s home. Aisel, Zina’s youngest son, first arrived at vides an infrastructure that will enable Extension teers, and industry representatives. to fulfill its land-grant mission and preserve deliv"While we are restructuring our administrative her house nearly starved. Aiery of critical programs related to agriculture and functions and updating our programs, our focus sel has Attention Deficit Hynatural resources, youth development, and fami- continues to be on the delivery of high-quality, peractivity Disorder (ADHD) lies and communities. research-based educational programs designed and a history of anger issues; "The new structure improves Extension's pro- to serve Virginians," Grant said. "This plan builds however, in the Hardin house gram delivery model by establishing issue-based on the long tradition of Extension excellence and he is flourishing. program teams that will design educational pro- creates a modern organization that transfers and Zina feels blessed by her grams to be delivered to audiences by the locally applies the research at Virginia Tech and Virginia family.

She has stated, “some based field staff," Grant said. "These teams will be State University. This unique ability of Extension people feel children born with composed of Extension educators and specialists, to bring research developments to the benefit of disabilities are a burden; I feel other Virginia Tech and Virginia State University local communities has been, and now can conthey are a blessing.

If you have faculty, and other collaborators." tinue to be, a cornerstone for growth across the the heart to work with them To ensure effective implementation and deliv- commonwealth." ery of programming in the field, area program and appreciate them, then they leaders will train, supervise, and mentor the ExThe restructuring and strategic plans can be can enrich your lives because tension educators (formerly known as Extension viewed on the Extension website: www.ext.vt.edu they teach you about yourself agents). Area program leaders will have a high level of expertise in a particular subject matter.

The plan also consolidates Extension's administrative field staff into a regional structure that From a lender that can make it happen! includes locally based Extension educators clustered around We Finance: a "business center" in a three- to five-county region. The business u Small & large tracts of land center will house support staff as with no acreage limits well as one or more state-funded Extension educators who will u Homes and home construction serve the region. In addition, u Home and lot improvements each locality will be offered the u Mortgage refinancing option of housing one or more Extension educators, based on u Recreation property local needs. At least one educau Outbuildings and barns tor will be funded in partnership with Extension and the locality.

Localities may elect to fund additional Extension educators to work on specific programs.

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During the announcement,

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Under a tent at the reunion, former students swapped stories, ate food and listened to live music. Sue Campbell, a physician’s assistant who graduated in 2000, heads up the alumni program. “It was basically a new avenue in my life, my second career,” said Campbell, who now works for Carilion. “The program gave me a good academic base. It prepared me for a really demanding job - which I love.”

A Maryland native, Campbell liked Roanoke so much that she decided to stay here after graduation. “There’s a lot of different aspects of my life that [Jefferson College] affected, personally and professionally.”

By Gene Marrano - gmarrano@cox.net

From page 1 and the world.” Although Zina has transformed the lives of her children, she still wishes she had the resources to adopt more children.

“The ‘Angels in Adoption’ campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness about adoption and honor individuals like Zina Hardin for their dedication to the care of children,” Goodlatte said. “Ms. Hardin, through service in foster care and through adoption, has shown that ordinary people can do extraordinary things in the lives of others. She is certainly more than deserving of

recognition.”

The banquet is organized by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), and is held annually at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

This year, CCAI will honor actresses Kristin Chenoweth and Rhea Perlman and the producers of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” as their national “Angels in Adoption”.

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“We now occupy the vast majority of the Community [Hospital] building,” said Bishop, who was a vice president for Carilion Clinic before taking on his new role. There are dorms on the 8th floor, with laboratory and classrooms below that and faculty/ administration offices above that.

The move to Community has been in the works for about six years; space on the 5th and 6th floors was “totally demolished” and re-made into learning spaces, according to Bishop. About 1000 are enrolled this year at the school. At the last convocation, when 400 were awarded diplomas.

Several Master’s programs are now offered as well in what Bishop calls “the evolution in the life of the college.” At one point Lewis

Perspective

Page 4 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/15/10 - 10/21/10

Don’t Worry – It’s Childproof!

R

ushing across the kitchen floor, my twoyear-old granddaughter dropped her cup of milk.

“Don’t worry,” my daughter said.

“It’s a sippy cup. Kid-proof.”

With an angelic smile, little Erin stooped, grasped the pink plastic cup and held it upside down in her chubby hands. Not a drop escaped.

Any mother – or grandmother – who has cleaned up broken glass and milk splatters from the floor, the refrigerator, the cabinets and anything else within a four foot radius will appreciated the blessing of a spill proof cup.

But could such a blessing have a down side? As a former teacher of preschool children, I am concerned about the effect such modern conveniences may have on the child’s learning. As children move about, handle objects and experience the results, they learn to relate to their environment.

In the sensorimotor stage, from birth to age three, perceptions are refined and coordination is developed. For example, babies learn that when they relax their finger muscles, they lose their grasp and the object drops. They enjoy observing this phenomenon, dropping toys from the high chair and screaming for mom to pick them up. Over, and over and over again! Have you ever been tempted as I, to tie a string to a toy for easy retrieval? Learning to walk involves falls and bumps on the head, but the experience helps the child avoid those movements that cause pain.

Of course parents have a responsibility to protect children during this learning period. We close the door to the basement

stairs, keep sharp objects out years ago. Today neither parents of reach, cover electrical out- nor teachers stress handwriting lets and remove anything that because of access to computers. might be unintentionally deCalculators have become stroyed when exposed to curi- commonplace in math classes ous fingers. and permissible for use on exHowever, in our efforts to ams. A friend who teaches colmake life easier for care giv- lege math said one of his stuing adults, we may go too far dents panicked during an exam, in child proofing crying uncontrolour environment. lably. He discovered A child who holds the battery in her a full cup upside calculator had died. down without spillSpell check reing is not learning places learning the the law of gravity. A rules of spelling and child whose disposwriters can purchase able diapers do not software that will cause some discomensure correct gramfort when wet may mar and eliminate take longer to toilet clichés from their Mary Jo Shannon train. Plastic tablecompositions. cloths, cups and Those who differ plates make life easier for mom with me will say that all of this but fail to encourage careful is good. It frees the mind from handling of food. the mechanics of life and lets it Maria Montessori, one of the pursue loftier and nobler goals. first early childhood educators, Perhaps. But I wonder where we believed in providing many op- would be if suddenly we were portunities for young children left entirely on our own, without to develop sensorimotor skills. the gadgets we have learned to Children in Montessori pro- depend upon. grams carry materials for their I don’t advocate chucking activities on trays. They learn all our conveniences, but I do naturally to balance the tray and think we should develop ourhold it level to prevent spilling. selves to be fully independent If they do spill, they simply pick of their control. Use the laborup the objects and try again. saving devices most of the time, (Another useful lesson!) but plan times when you use One more aspect of our mod- real tablecloths and teach table ern approach to everyday skills manners. Use the calculator, concerns me. As a society we computer, and spell check, but seem to be depending more and teach basic math, handwriting more on inventions and mod- and. spelling. ern conveniences, losing conFor my part, I intend to give trol that used to rest with us as my grandchildren milk in real individuals. Years ago penman- glasses. And teach them to clean ship was an art. It had to be, for up the spills. records were kept by hand and legibility was essential. Just take Contact Mary Jo at a look at will from a hundred info@theroanokestar.com

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Local Crossword

Star-Sentinel Crossword for 10/15/2010

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www.CrosswordWeaver.com

ACROSS 1 Fast movers located in Vinton on Parker Lane.

4 Screamer's throat dangler 9 Before (prefix) 12 Voiced 14 Weary 15 Adam's son 16 Field game 17 Ballroom dance 18 One time 19 Harriet Beacher __ 21 3-room B & B in Salem adjacent to Roanoke College.

23 Artist Chagall 25 __ d'etat 26 Cola company 29 Roberto's yes 31 Whose treasure is supposed to be buried outside of Bedford?

Boxer Muhammad Employees Pod vegetable Play on words Hurled Old-fashioned Dads Flurry To beat severely Avenue Slow Sight organ Lubricated Ancient Indian Made thread Tough This Roanoker developed a move called the Gorilla Press Slam and is in the WWF Hall of Fame.

61 Mulchn---- is a plantation road business providing plants - shrubs -

35 36 39 40 41 42 43 44 46 47 49 50 52 54 56 58

By Don Waterfield

NewsRoanoke.com

Livin’ On Church Hill

t’s a warm fall day –Indian Summer- and the breeze follows me as I swing open the creaky door and ascend the staircase. I hear Billy Idol on the radio. “It’s a nice day for a white wedding…It’s a nice day to…start again…” As I pass through the oddly fragrant kitchen I pause to see just what exactly is in the bubbling pot on the stove. Lifting the hot lid reveals the skull of a small animal, soft bits of it dancing in the froth. “Hmmmm…,” I think as I peer through the steam, replace the lid, and continue on my way.

I could say that such situations are unusual here, but that’s not the case. It’s not at all strange –well yes it is- to find small game in various states of dress in our kitchen. Doug, our resident hunter, makes sure of that.

This is urban Richmond, in the Church Hill part of town, circa 1982. My two roommates and I are renting the upstairs of an old house on East Grace St. It’s not the swankiest neighborhood, that’s for sure, but it is close to the dental school –we can walk or ride our bikes- and the price is right. The skinny row house is on a corner, on the edge of Church Hill, and from the windows on the north side we have a pretty good view of downtown across Shockoe Bottom.

We moved in at the end of August, and we settled into the thick Richmond heat. Of course there is no air conditioning, but we have electric fans, and we’re fine.

This part of Church Hill is but a shadow of its former respectable self. There are boarded-up buildings in various stages of decay, and dilapidated houses which appear condemned but in reality are home to an undetermined number of residents.

Unsavory-looking characters ply the streets. Nights, especially hot summer ones, are colorful with the sounds of voices arguing or celebrating, gun shots, and the screeching of tires. “Wholesome and safe” is not how I’d describe the neighborhood.

We have grand dinner parties mate in our Church Hill abode. at the Church Hill place. Well, Tess will make a fine bird dog, not really, but one evening I do but for now she is in training, create a somewhat lavish feast and this consists, for one thing, for my future wife. This din- of chewing up everything into ner features the pairing of some which she can sink her teeth. kind of canned, off-brand chili During the day, Tess stays in with spinach egg noodles, along Doug’s room and we’re always with day-old chocolate cupcakes curious to see what she has “gotfrom the thrift store down Broad ten into” upon our return in the Street. Amazingly, 27 years later evening. One thing I particularmy first wife happens to be my ly remember is that all of Doug’s current one. shoes are modified into slip-ons, Getting to the dental school since Tess has a penchant for every morning is a high point of chewing off the heels. my day. We usually go on foot, The convent across the street and most of the mile-and-a- –that’s right, a nunnery- adds half-long walk follows another dimension Broad Street. That part to our life on Church of Broad is lined by Hill. Sometimes the businesses in various nuns get our mail or states of “going conpackages, and when I cern” and there are algo to retrieve them I ways interesting sights, get a glimpse into ansounds, and smells other world behind to experience. My fathe high walls and the vorite mode of transtiny barred windows portation to school, John W. Robinson in the double doors; however, is to ride our a glimpse beyond the junker bicycles through the back all-too-worldly Church Hill. The streets of Church Hill and then nuns always have a kind word across the majestic Lee bridge. and a smile for me, and for my Along the way we pass by sizable part I am compelled to stand up knots of kids as they wait for the straight and attempt to convey school bus. We exchange waves goodness. and they always yell “ice cream” Nowadays - 28 years later when we pass. We finally figure the Church Hill part of town out that this is because our white is a highly desirable residence lab coats –flowing in the breeze- in Richmond, and old houses suggest our roles as sellers of have been lovingly restored. The butter brickle and chocolate cobblestone streets make sense ripple. In reality we're going to again, matching the historical learn how to repair the damage elegance of the neighborhood. wrought by such things.

The gas streetlights have been Life is strange that way. returned to service, and tourWinter comes, and being ists tingle hearing about Patrick cheapskate college students we Henry’s speech in old St. John’s don’t turn on the heat; we pirate Church. it from the kind lady who lives I’ll never forget my taste of downstairs. Enough warmth life on Church Hill in its roughseeps through the floor that and-tumble nitty-gritty days. our level remains “tolerable”, The tone of the place matched and every morning we burn the my own work-in-progress lack previous day’s trash in the shal- of sophistication - a stage which, low fireplace in the kitchen. The I must point out, I have yet to short-lived blaze imparts cheeri- transcend. ness if not much real heat. We And I learned some great recwear rather thick sweaters. ipes while I was there too.

The hunter among us obtains a cute Brittany Spaniel puppy Contact John at halfway through the school year, jwr77@verizon.net so we have an additional room-

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

Halloween is pure excitement - an adrenaline rush, and then on top of that a sugar rush! So on Halloween night a good dinner is a must before you venture out walking miles filling your Trick or Treat bag with sweets.

I usually make pumpkin soup for dinner but my kids generally want no part of that. So this year I am doing things their way; I am going to make cheeseburger soup! It’s easy to make on such a busy night and no kid can refuse a soup full of Velveeta cheese!

So plan ahead and get your soup ready for Halloween. It is only TWO WEEKS AWAY!!!!

1/2 pound ground beef 3/4 c chopped onion 3/4 c shredded carrots 3/4 c diced celery 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 5 Tablespoons butter, divided 2 cans chicken broth 4 cups peeled, diced potatoes 1/4 cup flour 2 cups (8oz) Velveeta, cubed 1 1/2 cup milk 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/4 cup sour cream In saucepan, brown beef; drain and set aside. In the same saucepan, saute onion, car-

rots, celery, basil and parsley in 2 Tablespoons butter until vegetables are tender (about 10 minutes). Add broth, potatoes and beef; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Meanwhile, in a small pan, melt remaining 3 Tablespoons of butter. Add flour; cook and stir for 3 minutes or until bubbly. Whisk into soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add Velveeta, milk, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream.

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Perspective

NewsRoanoke.com

F

A Perspective on Bridges

or some reason bridg- reality it turned out to be one es keep finding their of the best places I could have way into my life lately been. The gentle sway of the – both the physical and meta- bridge suspension absorbed phorical kind. It has happened the movement and shock – like with such frequency – I had to a mother cradling her young stop and take note. Is there a child keeping her from harm. message I am not noticing? Is The path of my life has rethere a life lesson I should be sulted in a move to a new city learning? or state about every 2 or 3 Recently I have been work- years. Sometimes facilitated ing on a documentary film by an ending and sometimes a about an artist whose spectac- beginning – but always serving ular painting serves as a way to evaluate as a connector belife’s contents. Times tween two cultures: of such transition Nepal and America; are a prefect opportwo villages: Jomtunity to appreciate som, Nepal (in the the good, purge the Western Himalayas) old and embrace the and Blacksburg, Virnew. Generally, it’s ginia (in the Blue a way to deep clean Ridge Mountains); my life. This fall and two people: an marks two and a half American artist years since moving and teacher and Stephanie Koehler to Virginia – and a Tibetan amchilike an unconlama-doctor and mind-healer. scious clock – my need to deep The powerful message of hu- clean kicked in. Since I have man connectedness – against no plans for a moving truck – I all odds – is brilliantly summed channeled the energy into deep up in both the film’s narrative cleaning my house, purging and the painting’s simple title: closets, and organizing rooms.

The Bridge.

During this process, I came I lived in the San Francisco across old letters, notes and Bay area for several years dur- photos – items representing ing which time I experienced bridges I have forged, bridges I many earthquakes of varying have crossed and others I have magnitude. For the most part, burned. It got me thinking… the tremors become a strange For many reasons I have part of the everyday experience spent a lot of time trying to but the “bigger” ones always keep the “eras” and “phases” of leave you feeling rattled. Dur- my life separated – like an ising my tenure, I lived through land chain -- connected under four such “rattling” quakes. the ocean and disconnected on Each one stuck as I was driving the surface. Sometimes ignoron a bridge. While that might ing the opportunity to build a seem frightening – as the im- bridge and other times striking age of the tragic Bay Bridge col- a match behind me and watchlapse likely come to mind – in ing it go up in flames. But the

A

older I get, the more I find I am looking to build bridges. I seek out opportunities to foster connections between people, communities, ideas, and dreams. I am drawn to new friends who have shared experiences and others who have experiences to share. I cling strongly to the friends who have made it over the rickety, Indiana Jones-like bridges of my life – at times suffering burns from the flames. I am inspired by their perseverance and grateful for the safe passage.

In the coming days, I will be visiting yet another bridge near the University of Virginia to honor the memory of a young woman whose life was cut short as she made her way across.

While I am mindful of the raging “waters” below, I am deeply aware of – and impacted by -- the beautiful bridges her life built between people she loved and others she never met.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the word “bridge” as “a structure carrying a pathway or roadway over a depression or obstacle” or “ a time, place, or means of connection or transition.”

I’d say that just about sums it up.

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T

10/15/10 - 10/21/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

Only Three More Weeks!

hat’s how long before tors who will argue both sides of we can end The Blame that case, each with a certitude Game of Politics. Be- that defies credulity. fore dark has settled on the eveRecently, I gave a presentaning of November 2, the pundits tion to a dinner group on the will have told us how the elec- life of Winston Churchill. It tions turned out and what “les- would be a mistake to suggest sons” have been learned. Don’t that the United States political hold your breath on anything system mirrors the British in of substance having more than superfibeen changed. cial ways. Equally, it I suspect all of us would be incorrect to are exhausted by the assume that we can claims of both parlearn nothing from ties that they and them. they alone have the In the 1930s the solution to all the creed of the British problems. The other was one of pacifism party is to blame for and who can blame all the ills that bethem? The horrors of set us . . . that goes World War I were without saying . Hayden Hollingsworth still fresh in their . . although hunminds.

Prime dreds of millions Minister Stanley of dollars have been expended Baldwin and his successor, Nevon saying it, ad nauseam. I sup- ille Chamberlain, have taken pose one of the most discourag- more than their share of blame ing aspects is that many of us for being slow to recognize the don’t think beyond the most dangers of The Third Reich. superficial of responses, be they Churchill alone was the first to democrat or republican. Most sound the alarm and history of us hear what confirms our proved him right. The surprisown beliefs and unfortunately ing thing about his rise to Prime that is often not the important Minister is that he told the truth message. and it was a truth that no one There is one thing that no wanted to hear: There would be one is telling: The truth. There’s war, it would be long and horrigood reason for that. The truth ble, but the British would never will assure any candidate defeat. surrender, not as long as there It’s so much easier to blame the was a single man or woman left other side for the economic col- standing in England. lapse and the slow recovery, for One wonders, if the Prime the failures of wars in Iraq and Minister were elected by popular Afghanistan, high unemploy- vote rather than by the majorment, and everything else that ity party in the House of Comis wrong. The assumption (for mons, whether Churchill would which there is no proof) is that have ever led them through the had things been done another Battle of Britain and the Blitzway then all would be well. One krieg. The blunt truth . . . and can find plenty of commenta- it was very blunt . . . that he told

them would certainly give the average voter pause.

We face a similar situation today. Our nation is not about to be overrun by a foreign power.

The threat of nuclear war, so real a generation ago, has lessened considerably, but the way of life we have enjoyed for the last half century is unsustainable. We want goods and services to improve, we want full employment and reduced taxes, we want a stable government that doesn’t control our lives, we want no wars, and we want the national debt to go away.

To believe that any of those goals are achievable without huge sacrifice is to believe in a national tooth fairy. Whoever wins the election, it will not be because that truth has been told but because we have chosen someone who tells us what we want to hear. Sooner or later, the bitter truth will be applied and the longer it is put off, the more unpleasant it will be.

Churchill, along with a lot of help from the United States, saved Britain by telling them the truth in 1938. The thanks of the British people as soon as the war was over was to turn his party out of office. His replacement, Clement Atlee, told the people what they wanted to hear, and Britain has never been the same since their finest hour.

We should remember that on November 2 and look for those who tell the truth, unpleasant though it will be. So far, I haven’t heard any. The platitudes of politics may win the day, but change is coming and we’re not going to like it.

Contact Hayden at jhayden2003@cox.net

Used Cars and Teachable Moments

few months ago I purchased a used car. It wasn’t a par- on her paper during the test, should I copy this article from the ticularly life changing event and yet it brought back a internet, should I keep that wallet I found on the ground, etc? lesson I learned when I was 17 yrs. old. When I say a Unfortunately, we don’t always guide them through these diflesson, I don’t mean that it was in a formal teaching environment ficulties. or that there was a clear cause and effect event. It was more of Over the years, I have worked with many families that bea teachable moment between my father and me. When I was in lieved their job was done after formal teaching. They did not high school I purchased my first car. It was a 1965 Chevy Mal- understand the whole modeling and guiding aspect of parentibu. It was blue with a white top and already 20 years old when ing. Yet, it is during these times when our children most need I bought it. No, my parents were not into cruel and unusual guidance to know how to apply the formal teaching they have alpunishment, they just weren’t going to buy an expenready received. Knowledge without understanding of sive car for me, I was a kid. I remember clearly goapplication is useless. When we leave children to face ing to the DMV and filling out paperwork for the title moral dilemmas without guidance, their fallback is and asking my Dad about putting down the purchase often going on feeling rather than reason. Emotions price of the car, which of course the tax was based on. rarely drive moral decisions during adolescence.

To this day I remember every word of the conversaSo how do we maximize teachable moments? First, tion. His comment to me was this, “You can put down look for them, they are everywhere. Point out the whatever you want but you have a choice, you can save clear choices of right and wrong. Often children don’t a little money or you can do what is right.” That was ascertain in a situation that they either have a choice it, he was done. It was up to me. That was a teachable or what the choices are. I didn’t really think about moment. the option of putting down a lesser amount for my You can read on the internet, in articles or even in car, my father pointed that out. That acknowledgethe newspaper and get many different meanings of a ment set up the teachable moment. Second, attach Keith McCurdy teachable moment. Here is the definition that I use. A meaning to the choices. Address that one choice is teachable moment is something that occurs between moral and upholds what is right, is indicative or good a parent or adult and a pre-adolescent or older child (an event character, honors God, etc. and that the other is inconsistent that occurs with those capable of abstract thinking). It is not with these ideals. My father told me I had a choice and clearly connected to discipline or punishment (not a formal cause and attached value to the options. Third, encourage and praise good effect learning situation). It is the opportunity to point out a free choices. A little reinforcement goes a long way. My father, who choice that one has in the face of a moral or ethical dilemma (a is a man of little fanfare, just smiled. I knew I made the right choice between right and wrong or good and bad). The last part choice, the teachable moment was finished. is the most important; a moral or ethical dilemma. Whether Lastly, our ability to manage teachable moments is based on we realize it or not, our children are faced with these every day. our own credibility. Our chilShould I lie to my teacher about my homework, should I look dren know what type of indi-

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viduals we are, whether we realize it or not. My father has credibility with me. My mother does as well. I have no memory of them ever lying to me, being dishonest to others or even making immoral decisions. Now, I am not saying that parents have to be perfect, we can’t be. We do however have to live lives of good moral character to have any credibility when we attempt to help our children maneuver through moral dilemmas. When we have credibility, they pay attention. As with my father, because he is a moral man, teachable moments come easily and often… …I still get them today.

Contact Keith at psycyou@msn.com

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel C o m mu n i t y | N ew s | Pe r s p e c t i ve

540-400-0990 Publisher | Stuart Revercomb | stuart@newsroanoke.com Features Editor | Cheryl Hodges | cheryl@newsroanoke.com News Editor | Gene Marrano | gmarrano@cox.net Production Editor | Leigh Sackett | leigh@newsroanoke.com Technical Webmaster | Don Waterfield | webmaster@newsroanoke.com Advertising Director | Bill Bratton | advertising@newsroanoke.com The Roanoke Star-Sentinel is published weekly by Whisper One Media, Inc. in Roanoke, Va. Subscriptions are available for $44 per year. Send subscriptions to PO Box 8338, Roanoke,VA 24014. We encourage letters from our readers on topics of general interest to the community and responses to our articles and columns. Letters must be signed and have a telephone number for verification. All letters will be verified before publication.The Star-Sentinel reserves the right to deny publication of any letter and edit letters for length, content and style.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to national and Virginia fair housing laws and readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/15/10 - 10/21/10

NewsRoanoke.com

Grandin Court Gets a New Gym - In Less Who Will Replace Dickie Cranwell?

Time And For Half The Price After the announcement that country. His leadership helped

Grandin Court Elementary School needed a gym, especially after absorbing students from now-closed Raleigh Court Elementary School earlier this year. In the past the cafeteria has also doubled as the physical education venue.

But money is tight of course and the budgets have been shrinking in recent years.

So the Roanoke City School system came up with a novel approach: instead of building a typical bricks and mortar gym, a composite material skin that includes Teflon, stretched over a steel frame and set on a concrete slab, was erected instead.

Last week the ribbon was cut on the new $400,000 gym, which could be a prototype for other Roanoke elementary schools that also need a gymnasium. Grandin Court Elementary principal Terri Pritchard thanked all of those involved, who put their heads together to come up with a logical solution in tough economic times. “Together we … achieved our goal and fulfilled the need for having a gym,” said Pritchard.

“Finding the money to build a gym was no easy task,” added Pritchard, who praised assistant superintendent Curt Baker for looking “outside the box” in coming up with a solution. Before the ribbon was cut a steady stream of young students came to the podium to talk about the games they like to play in the cafeteria, including soccer and something called “shark,” evidently

Photo by Gene Marrano

Grandin Court Elementary School’s new gym didn’t break the bank. a form of tag. Now they can play those games in the new gym, which has an expected life span of 25 years minimum before the skin may have to be replaced.

The Roanoke office of ClarkNexsen (architecture & engineering) worked with supplier Strong Structures and the city to make the Grandin Court Elementary gym a reality. The mechanical-electrical system and a storage bathroom area were added to the prefab design by Clark-Nexsen, according to Director of Architecture Lora J. Katz. “This facility cost about half of what a bricks and mortar gym would be,” said Katz.

The firm has done other projects for the city, including the new Patrick Henry High School culinary facility and a makeover of the old William Ruffner Middle School building to accommodate office

space. After a month of site preparation and foundation work it took about a week to erect the structure. “It’s very quick to put up and inexpensive,” said Katz. Two layers of the composite skin surround a thick layer of insulation.

After the ribbon cutting, School Board chairman David Carson watched a video of the construction process put together by teachers. “[The school] needed a play area [and] with very light finances this is what they came up with, to allow us to build [for less money and in less time].”

Carson can see where other elementary schools like Round Hill might benefit from a similar structure. “We’ve got to be creative. As we move forward maybe this is something we want to do.”

C. Richard Dickie Cranwell is stepping down as Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia speculation on his replacement immediately began.

There was a rumor last year that the Vinton attorney would step down but he was asked to stay on for at least another year.

In a phone conversation at that time Cranwell said he would have been willing to step aside for someone else.

Brian Moran was being whispered then as Cranwell's replacement.

Delegate Brian Moran represented parts of Fairfax and Alexandria before stepping down to run as a candidate in the Democratic primary for governor. He came in third behind Creigh Deeds and Terry McAuliffe. Moran's older brother is Jim Moran, a U.S. Congressman from Virginia's 8th district.

It remains to be seen if Moran is still interested in the spot.

C. Richard "Dickie" Cranwell A lot can change in a year. An update from RSS News Partner WSLS10 confirms Moran as first choice.

Cranwell, the former House Leader became Virginia's Democratic chair June 18, 2005.

Terry McAuliffe's statement on the Resignation of DPVA Chairman Dick Cranwell "I would like to thank Dick Cranwell for his 39 years of public service to Virginia and the Democratic Party. For the past five years, Dick has succeeded in making the DPVA one of the top state parties in the

us elect Tim Kaine Governor in 2005, Jim Webb to the US Senate in 2006, take back the Virginia Senate in 2007, and elect Mark Warner to the US Senate in 2008. Additionally, Dick's leadership helped Virginia elect President Barack Obama in 2008 - the first time we elected a Democrat in 44 years.

During Dick's tenure he brought in a permanent professional staff that worked handin-hand with campaigns and purchased a facility to serve as the long term home for the state party operations.

As the former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, I can relate to the time such a position as state party chair can keep you from your family. I am sure that his wife Elizabeth and their two sons Joe and Jack are happy he'll be home more often, but Virginia Democrats will miss his strong leadership."

Birth Announcement Cheyanne Faye Wood

Michael and Molly Wood are proud to announce the arrival of their first born, Cheyanne Faye Wood, born September 16, 2010, at 6:13PM at Riverside Medical Center in Newport News.

Cheyanne weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and was 20.5 inches long at birth. Cheyanne joins a proud family to include maternal grandparents, Mike and Denise Bailey of Roanoke, maternal grandmother, Lois McConnell of Roanoke, maternal grandparents, Doug (Bill) and Ann Bailey, paternal grandparents, Rob and Ellen Wood of

By Gene Marrano Chesapeake and numerous excited uncles, aunts gmarrano@cox.net and cousins.

City Of Roanoke Receives Two Neighborhood Awards

The Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference has announced the winners receiving awards at the 11th annual Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference (VSNC) recently held at the Hotel Roanoke.

Neighborhood Project of the Year - The Roanoke Neighborhood Revitalization Partnership/Hurt Park was the recipient of the 2010 VSNC Neighborhood Project of the Year award. The Partnership - a unique consortium comprised of the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Total Action Against Poverty, Blue Ridge Housing Development Corporation, Rebuilding Together Roanoke, and Habitat for Humanity - was formed to improve housing and other conditions in the Hurt Park neighborhood. Working together with the City of Roanoke and the Hurt Park Neighborhood Alliance, the Partnership has constructed 40 new townhouses and 13 new singlefamily homes, provided owner-occupied rehabilitation for 56 hom-

eowners, and demolished eight derelict and blighted structures, in addition to enhancing opportunities for home ownership and improving the relationship between residents and local government, among other accomplishments.

Neighborhood Organization of the Year - Old Southwest Inc. (OSW) was the recipient of the 2010 VSNC Neighborhood Organization of the Year award. OSW was created by concerned residents to protect and maintain the historic integrity of Roanoke’s Old Southwest neighborhood. In 1979, the first annual Holiday Parlor Tour of Homes was created to help raise funds to save the historic Alexander-Gish House, which has become a focal point of the neighborhood. Today, funds raised from the annual Parlor Tour support OSW’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors initiative, National Night Out activities, the Preservation Award Program, and various other neighborhood enhancement projects.

Advocate of the Year - Connie Moses of Woodbridge was recognized for her leadership and growing commitment to her immediate neighborhood and community. She created the neighborhood Pride Week, has taken on the role of President of the Dale Civic Association; and maintains a comprehensive website for her community that directly informs her neighbors of crime activity, reports property code violations, and publishes a monthly newsletter Youth Individual Effort of the Year - 1 By Youth a program hosted in Manassas was recognized for their creative outreach in partnering with Colorado based company Group Cares. Selected as a National Pilot Program Site, 1 By Youth mobilized 1,000 local youth and adult volunteers which converged and reshaped a single neighborhood in a single day.

For additional information, visit the Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference website at www.vsnc.org.

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Cave Spring Rolls In 34-6 Blowout Over Salem

Cave Spring running back #28 Sam Wright dives toward the goal line as Salem's Chad Fisher (#3 in white) tries to make the stop.

Cave Spring ended several years of frustrating losses last Friday night as the Knights scored 21 first quarter points and never looked back in a dominating River Ridge opening win at Dwight Bogle Stadium. After last year's 42-0 loss, the Knight seniors were looking for revenge and Tim Fulton's talented squad made Salem pay.

Cave Spring's Ryan Gerhardt took the opening kickoff 49 yards and, two plays later, Cave Spring was on the board via a Josh Woodrum to Michael Cole 27-yard pass. Later in the first the two would again connect from 14 yards out to extend the lead to 14-0. After a Spartan fumble turned the ball over moments later, Woodrum went to the air on a 21-yard hookup with senior Austin Micklem as the Knight offense was clicking on all cylinders.

Woodrum kept Salem off-balance all evening.

When the Liberty University-bound quarterback wasn't throwing the ball all over the field to his multitude of receivers, tenacious running back Sam Wright was punishing the Spartans on his way to 95-yards on 21 carries.

Cave Spring extended its lead to 28-0 on an Adam Anderson 33-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter before Salem finally got on the scoreboard on an Adam McGarrell to Clint Peregoy 25yard toss. Any hopes of a Salem comeback were dashed when Wright plunged in from the one to put the game away. The swarming Cave Spring defense harassed Salem all night, forcing five Spartan turnovers.

Photos and recap by Bill Turner

Raiders Fall To Undefeated Liberty Christian Liberty Christian won the battle of special teams as the Bulldogs held on to defeat North Cross 24-14 last Friday at Thomas Field. Liberty Christian used a blocked punt for a safety and subsequent 62-yard punt return to help build a 15-0 first quarter lead they would never relinquish. The Bulldogs would increase the lead to 24-0 in the third quarter before North Cross closed the gap on a 81-yard touchdown pass from Thomas Weaver to Brandon Trent and a 6-yard strike to Fuller Clark. The Raider defense held tough against the bigger Liberty Christian squad, but the deficit proved too much to overcome in the VIC matchup. Liberty improved to 6-0 (1-0 VIC), North Cross fell to 5-2 (2-1 VIC).

10/15/10 - 10/21/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7

Wild Bill’s Fearless Football Forecast

Last week's picks went amazingly well as I down Rt. 220 and the Cavs. Alleghany-30 Lord improved to 7-2 for the week. The highlight Botetourt-10 Northside entertains William Byrd and unwas picking three previously unbeaten teams to fall and having all three (Salem, Alleghany and less the Vikings (6-1) have a hangover from Roanoke Catholic) comply in crash and burn their blowout win in Low Moor last Friday they fashion by a total margin of 96 points. After should easily dispatch the Terriers (3-3). Byrd last week's stellar performance the mail started had an open date last week which should rev up pouring in with questions about my selections. Jeff Highfill's trick plays. Northside-29 William I'll address a couple in view of space limita- Byrd-13 Blacksburg (3-3) comes to Salem Stadium tions: Dear Wild Bill: Since the RSS picks are the where the Spartans are still smarting from the Cave Spring smackdown. It's unthinkfirst to hit the newsstand each week, able to believe Salem (5-1) would do you solicit outside help on the open the River Ridge with two losses. choices? ( R.S. / Low Moor,Va) Even with injury problems, there's too Answer: Absolutely. I contact much talent roaming the Salem sideCousin Virgil, distant relative of the lines for the Bruins to handle. Salemlate Barney Fife. Virgil has possession 27 Blacksburg- 16 of the box to evoke the spirit of Count Cave Spring (4-2) comes off the big Isvondalecky. The 400-year-old Count win at home over Salem and travels to is awesome on high school games. postseason-ineligible Pulaski County.

Dear W.B.: Now that we've rolled It's tough enough to play at the over Central Michigan, do you see the Hokies running the table Cougar den in any circumstances, Bill Turner and making it to the BCS National but this year Pulaski (3-3) can only Championship game? ( F.B. / Blacksburg,Va) play the spoiler. Unless the Knight offense goes Answer: Well, F.B., this column is typically into high gear, this one may be close. Cave limited to high school football. But, I'll bend Spring - 26 Pulaski County -24 Christiansburg (6-0) hits the artificial turf at the rules this time to give you a detailed and Dwight Bogle Stadium to play Hidden Valley analytically-based answer: NO. Please Send your questions to: info@news- (0-6). Even if Christiansburg is looking ahead to their game next week at Salem, it may be askroanoke.com Here's a look at this week's high school ing too much for the Titans to prevail. Chrismatchups which include a couple of opponents tiansburg - 27 Hidden Valley - 7 Glenvar makes the trip to Riner to battle onefrom outside the area: In the Western Valley District, Franklin win Auburn in the Three Rivers. Glenvar (5-2) County (5-1) invades Gainer Field to take on breaks its two-game losing streak in this one the Patriots of Patrick Henry. PH (4-3) won with ease. Glenvar- 38 Auburn- 6 North Cross travels to Virginia Beach to take impressively last week on the road at GW Danville, a tall order for sure. Franklin County has on Atlantic Shores in a VIS contest. It's the first all the weapons. PH needs to keep it close into road game in seven weeks for North Cross (5-2) the fourth quarter to have a chance. Franklin and the first home game for the Seahawks (4-2).

The teams have played one common opponent, County-28 PH-17 William Fleming (0-6) goes out of state look- Liberty Christian, to whom the Raiders fell by ing to pick up its first win. This might not be 10 points and Atlantic Christian by 52. North the best place to look- Bluefield, WV (5-1) is Cross - 22 Atlantic Shores- 9 Roanoke Catholic (4-1) looks to get back in ranked fourth in the West Virginia AA polls and the Beavers have an explosive attack. Blue- the win column with a trip to Rappahannock County (1-5). Other than a win over a Pennfield-34 William Fleming-13 In the Blue Ridge, Alleghany pays a visit to sylvania boarding academy, Rappahannock Lord Botetourt (3-4). Both are 0-1 in the dis- has been outscored 210-14 in the five losses. trict, but Alleghany's (6-1) only loss was to Enough said. Roanoke Catholic - 41 Rappahpowerful Northside. Expect the Mountaineers annock- 7

By Bill Turner to get back on track this week when they roll info@newsroanoke.com

MODERN & ANTIQUE!

October 23-24

Photos and recap by Bill Turner

NRA Certi ed Concealed Carry Course

Raider running back Myles Poindexter (in red) battles for yardage against a host of Bulldog tacklers.

Cave Spring Comeback Shocks Hidden Valley

Present Administration will attempt to make changes to firearms regulations!

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Cave Spring, down 2-0 to previously unbeaten Hidden Valley, rallied for three straight games to knock off the Titans Tuesday night at the Hidden Valley gym, 17-25; 17-25; 25-21; 25-23; 15-12 The Knights had lost the first two games by identical 2517 scores, and trailed in the third before mounting a late comeback to prevail 25-21. Game four was tied 22-22 when Cave Spring got hot and outscored the Titans 3-1 to send the match into a fifth-game tiebreaker. The final 15-point game was last tied at 10 when Cave Spring found its mojo and reeled off a 5-2 run to complete the comeback.

Cave Spring reacts after they score the deciding point in the fifth-game tiebeaker.

Cave Spring defenders #1 Shannon Craighead and #11 Kelsey Sine try to block a kill attempt by Hidden Valley #5 Jenny Clark.

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North Cross' Brandon Trent battles for a reception against a Liberty Christian defender.

Sports

10/15/10 - 10/21/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 8

Bowie State Downs St. Paul's 16-10 In Western Virginia Education Classic

Bowie State (in white) battles St. Paul's (in orange) in the trenches.

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Catholic Defeats North Cross

Roanoke Catholic knocked off North Cross in volleyball 25-14, 20-25, 16-25, 25-22, 15-7.

Roanoke Catholic came out strong winning easily in the first game; North Cross made some adjustments and fought back winning the next two games. The fourth game was close but Roanoke Catholic came back to win it tying the competition and forcing a fifth tie breaker game to 15. The Celtics prevailed in the short game to win the match. As the regular seasons for both teams are wrapping up the two teams most likely will meet again in conference and state playoffs.

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10/15/10 - 10/21/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

NewsRoanoke.com

Letters - Thanks From PA

Dear Hayden / RSS Several weeks ago while passing through Roanoke on a drive to Pennsylvania from Texas, my wife and I picked up a copy of The Roanoke StarSentinel at the Roanoke Hampton Inn. After reading your Perspective column "Walter Cronkite...

Please Come Back" I had to drop you this email (the first time I have ever done this by the way).

My wife and I lived in San Antonio, Texas for the past two years, and have decided to return to our birth state of Pennsylvania for our retirement years. While in Texas, my son and daughter-inlaw took me to the LBJ library at the University of Texas to see the Walter Cronkite display for my

61st birthday. They knew that I idolized Walter.

My family has heard me constantly complain about today's TV "journalists" and their search for fame and stardom.

How refreshing it is to read that someone out their agrees with me and described it so articulately. Thank you. I have carried the Perspective page clear up to Pennsylvania with the intent on writing to you when things settled down. If you haven't already seen it, the Cronkite exhibit is worth a look.

"And that's the way it is!"

- Thanks again, Bob in PA.

Marcellus Shale: Riches Today, Regrets Tomorrow?

Almost all of us will use natural gas extracted from the Marcellus by a process called "fracking" (short for hydraulic fracturing). And so, like mountaintop removal, you and I figure into the story every time we benefit while others pay the true costs of our energy convenience.

The table for this energy feast is one we've dined at before--an ancient sea bed called the Appalachian Basin. Hundreds of millions of years even before coal, and even deeper in the earth, shallow seas accumulated deposits of silt consisting largely of microscopic sea organisms in a sediment which has since been compressed into a previously-ignored hydrocarbon-bearing rock known as the Marcellus shale.

The mining process for shale, perfected by Haliburton in the late 40s, has until recently been a very expensive form of mining, mostly restricted to vertical wells out west. The process was largely neglected until incentivized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which, under pressure from certain politicians of the times, infamously exempted "fracking" from the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Safe Drinking Water acts. (Read that sentence again and let it soak in.) Consequently, US shale gas has risen from 1% in 2000 to 20% of supply in 2009.

New technologies and higher gas prices as well as geo-politics have colluded to bring this controversial form of mining to a new prominence in recent years near eastern US population centers like Philadelphia and New York City. And Appalachia is being hailed as the "Saudi Arabia of natural gas."

Mining the Marcellus involves several essential tools and methods. Let's look at a typical well. Since 2003, drill bits at the end of a vertical shaft can be turned to cut a hole horizontally for thousands of feet —a technique we've seen employed in the Deepwater debacle in the Gulf recently. Once the

horizontal shaft is created, the shale will be explosively fractured by water pressure and chemicals to release the methane gas.

A single fracturing event requires (1) from one to seven million gallons of fresh water taken from surface or groundwater sources locally (a single well can be fracked up to 18 times); (2) sand or ceramic beads that will keep open the fissures created by the enormous pressure; and (3) some fifteen thousand gallons of a chemical soup called "fracking fluid.”

Until recent public pressure brought about a partial release of this information, the chemistry of fracking fluid--like oil dispersants in the Gulf--was a "trade secret" and beyond the light of healthscience scrutiny. Some of this fluid stays underground, its long-term future unknown; about 75% comes back up the drill casing to the surface, a total volume over a drilled community of hundreds of millions of gallons of possibly radioactive and consistently chemical-laden “produced water” or “flowback” that must be be dealt with.

Marcellus hydro-fracking is today's Gold Rush. It is a feeding frenzy in which many are getting very rich very fast. The industry is largely unregulated and often favors corporate benefits over community costs. Here’s a quick view of the face-off as of late 2010: * Like the Deepwater technology, hydrologic fracturing in the Marcellus has been

declared safe (cough!) by the industry. * Violations and mistakes have resulted in contamination of individual wells by methane and other hydrocarbons resulting in illness and numerous videos online of flammable tap water. * In New York state, no fracking will take place during an indefinite moratorium—at risk, the drinking water for 19 million citizens. * New rules went into effect in Wyoming on September 15, 2010, requiring natural gas drillers to disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing * The shale mining movie "Gasland" is gaining widespread attention. *Homeland Security is tracking individuals and groups known to oppose current methods of shale gas mining.

An enormous reservoir of fossil fuel energy is tied up in deep shales. Natural gas has a lower CO2 footprint than liquid petroleum or coal. It’s also sadly true that we do not have other transitional fuels in the wings to sustain us across the inevitable switch from carbon-based to noncarbon-based energy sources. But while considering the short-term advantage of extraction, we must take into account the full, long-term costs. This story is just now bubbling to the surface. I'd suggest you not light a match anywhere near it.

Letters - A Fall Saturday in the Life of a Roanoke City Resident

Wake up early after an exciting Friday Night High School Football Game at Victory Stadium.

Morning: Rake loose leaves in yard to the edge of my street for City to Pick-Up. Lunch: Go to the Market Building and eat at one of many local food vendors and pay the highest meals tax in the nation.

Afternoon: Get in a relaxing 18 holes of golf at Countryside.

Unfortunately, the only thing we can actually do on this list is pay the excessive meals tax.

The tax increase was based on an projected RCPS estimate and when the final numbers came

down from the State, the deficit was much less than predicted. Where will all that extra money go?

Add to this the agreement City Council so quickly broke with the Raleigh Court Neighbors over PH stadium usage and lighting. Do these guys realize who they are working for? Their salaries may not be as out of control as their Council counterparts in Bell, CA, but their attitudes certainly are.

- Gayle Hutchman, Roanoke City

Lobbying Law Firms Must be Limited Dear Editor, The big lobbyists-for-hire now all share identical characteristics and interests. They have truly become one-stop shopping for all political influence needs.

There is no bigger testament to this than environmentalist lobbyists.

One way Americans foot the bill is at the pump. For decades, the US has been prohibited from drilling for oil containing billions of barrels of oil.

Yet China, Cuba, Canada, and others continue to drill from those same places, such as oil fields fifty miles from Key West, Florida. ANWR, in Alaska, has estimated capacity of a million barrels a day.

However, it is barred from development.

According to Minerals Management Service and Bureau Of Land Management has 139 billion barrels of recoverable oil. Of the 279 million acres of federal land with "potential oil and natural gas resources",60 percent is off limits. 23 percent is open to restrictive leases. The remainder is open to oil drilling on the same terms as private land.

The EPA's convoluted rules, such as mandating the pro-

duction and sale of fifteen unique "boutique" fuel blends throughout the nation, has stretched U.S. refinery capacity too thin. The slightest refinery issues cause severe supply difficulties and price hikes.

Not one refinery has been built since 1976. Not one nuclear plant has been built in a decade. All development

is frozen due to higher taxes and to interpretive regulations. As world oil demand grows exponentially, Americans should rely much less on foreign oil sources.

Lobbying law firms must be limited. Ban all judicial, legislative, and executive lobbyists from office.

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Valley Business

Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/15/10 - 10/21/10

Field To Fork Announces Premier Event

Field to Fork, a regional food network- dience on best practices for successfully buying ing event for local food producers and retail, and selling locally grown food. The panel feacommercial and institutional buyers will be tures individuals who have successfully bought, held Monday, November 1, 2010 at the Claude produced and/or distributed local food within Moore Education Complex and Dumas Center the commonwealth and include Christopher in downtown Roanoke.

Carpenter from Washington and Lee UniverThe purpose of the event is to facilitate con- sity, Craig Rogers of Border Springs Farm, Minections between local food producers and chael Martin with Ferrum College, Chef Jeff commercial buyers in the Roanoke region. Farmer of Lucky, and others.

While many private buyers already frequent the Following the panel discussion, guests will region’s extensive farmers’ markets to buy local have the opportunity to network with one anfood for their families, many retail, commercial, other. Farmers are asked to bring information and institutional buyers have yet to fully experi- about the products they offer, while buyers ence the region’s available food resources. This are asked to bring a product wish list includevent is for local farmers, restaurants, grocers, ing information about quantity and price point bed and breakfasts, schools, retirement com- needs. munities, and other local businesses interested The event will culminate with a dinner prein sourcing new product and learning what the pared by the Culinary Institute at Virginia region’s producers have to offer.

Western Community College featuring local The purchase and consumption of locally foods purchased from or donated by event atgrown foods contributes to the environmen- tendees. Dinner will be served at 7 pm under a tal, economic, and good health of our region. tent located in the center of Henry Street, N. W. By providing a space where local growers and The cost of the entire event is $20 per person. buyers can meet and network, organizers hope Organizers expect Field to Fork to be a fun to help cultivate relationships to ultimately ig- and informative event to make new connecnite and sustain a local foods movement in the tions for both farmers and purchasers, and to greater Roanoke Valley region. enhance the economic, environmental, and Christy Gabbard, director of VT EarthWorks public health of our region. “We have pulled stated, “By bringing together producers and together a creative planning team and have debuyers in the same room, we will increase the signed Field to Fork to be fun and informative, availability of fresh, local food while support- while creating space for business relations to be ing our hard working producers, and keeping born,” says Gabbard. money circulating in our community.”

Prior to the event, new farmers are invited at For more information, please visit www.roa2pm to an hour-long overview of available re- nokefieldtofork.com or contact Christy Gabbard, sources and services available to support their Director of VT EarthWorks at 540.767.6114.

You’re Invited … efforts. The event begins formally at 3 pm with To register online for this event, visit www.cpe.

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NewsRoanoke.com

The Federal Estate Tax: What Does It Mean For You?

When Congress took no action regarding estate taxes in 2009 -- 2010 ushered in an automatic end to estate and generation-skipping taxes for a period of one year. Although, many thought Congress would enact a replacement system starting January 1, 2010 -- to date no action has been taken.

It is now looking less likely that any change will occur in the tax year -- meaning 2010 will serve as a hiatus from the estate tax.

This year has seen the deaths of several public figures whose estates would be severely affected by the retroactive imposition of an estate tax.

They range from entertainers (the venerable Art Linkletter and the quirky Dennis Hopper) and literary lions (the aristocratic Louis Auchincloss and the reclusive J. D. Salinger) to lesser known but fabulously wealthy persons such as Taco Bell founder Glen Bell.

Former New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner recently died and his wealth was estimated at $1.5 billion. Even at the prior 45% top tax rate, a savings of $675 million would provide a substantial budget for tax lawyers. Given the current political climate for the upcoming election cycle, a retroactive imposition of any such estate taxes now seems even more unlikely.

An unfortunate consequence of this uncertainty is the affect on wealthy people of advanced years or poor health. As 2011 approaches, what decisions might be made under advance medical directives and “do not resuscitate” orders? Aside from selfish motives, decision makers are bound to be swayed by their honest opinion of what a dying relative would want when the stakes for the family are so high. Good tax planning used to be geared to life’s inception—a child born in December had the same dependency exemption as one born in January. Tax issues this year actually cloud the end of life too.

Should Congress continue to wait, the estate tax will return with a vengeance on January 1, 2011 with an exemption of $1 million (as opposed to the prior $3.5 million) and a top tax rate of 55% (as opposed to 45% in 2009). The $1 million generation-skipping exemption would gradually become somewhat greater (it is adjusted for inflation), but the sole tax rate would be 55%, with no graduation.

Some lawmakers are proposing a permanent abolition of the estate tax. Another proposed bill would install a $5 million per person exemption.

The vagaries of election year politics make even informed speculation questionable. The unintended consequences of the Federal Tax proposals are far reaching and Virginia is no exception.

Action by Virginia General Assembly. Virginia law now takes into account the possibility that the temporary elimination of the estate tax might produce results that would be contrary to a decedent’s wishes.

Many wills have formulas that allocate to a “family,” “bypass,” or “credit shelter” trust an amount equal to the largest amount that would escape estate taxation by virtue of the individual’s exemption. The rest is allocated to a spouse or to a trust for the spouse. In the event that no estate tax is imposed in 2010, the allocation to the credit shelter would be zero and everything would pass to the marital share. Because presumably wills and trusts were drafted with the idea that there would be allocations other than to the spouse’s share, the Virginia legislature decided that it was more likely than not that a will containing this formula would produce a skewed result for a person dying in 2010.

Example. A 2005 will allocated the applicable exemption to a trust for children with the remainder to a second husband, not the children’s father.

The testator was satisfied with the 2009 allocation of $3.5 million to the children’s trust. She died in 2010, when there is no estate tax and thus no exemption. This would mean the children get nothing and the husband everything. The Virginia legislation returns things to the initial intention.

Planning. Note the figure from the example: $3.5 million. Many tax oriented wills and trusts were drafted when the exemption was $600,000, and the existing allocation may mean that a spouse’s share may be far less than anticipated, perhaps zero. If, as expected, the estate tax returns in some form, a review of your estate plan is more critical than ever.

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Arts & Culture

10/15/10 - 10/21/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11

NewsRoanoke.com

Blue Ridge Potters Guild Show & Sale Yoga Teacher Presents the Body as Art The word was out about one of the area’s largest all-pottery shows featuring works by more than fifty area potters. There were yard signs, save-the-date picture post cards, an ad in the Star-Sentinel and word-ofmouth buzz to entice the congenial crowd that showed up Friday night, October 9 at stillnew-to-many Patrick Henry High School.

Knowledgeable pottery lovers quickly filled up shopping baskets lent by local businesses for the weekend event, understanding that each piece, even though desired for its functional or decorative value, is a one-ofa-kind work of art. In short, if you hesitate, that perfect indigo blue and cream sauce bowl by Martha Legg of Mud Puddle Pottery may not be there five minutes later. Potters browsed, admiring each other’s offerings as well as explaining their own techniques and inspirations to friends and to people there just to see what all the excitement was about. Prices ranged from $5 to more than $100 per piece.

The purpose of the Blue Ridge Potters Guild is to promote the craft of pottery to their members and the public through programs, exhibits, educational outreach and shows such as this one. Nan Fooks, Guild membership chairman, takes classes at the Brambleton Center in Roanoke County, the largest public

Photo by Gail Tansill Lambert

Blue Ridge Potters Guild member Mary Tousman with her display of clay sculpture. pottery studio in the area, she was enthusiastically sharing her love for the potter’s craft with people of all ages and interests that were drawn to her booth stocked with her lovely signature moss green pieces.

Guild member Mary Tousman, a talented artist and writer as well as a potter, invited visitors to express their own artistic response to her imaginative works of clay sculpture, including decorative clay masks, handpainted herb bowls and candle holders in the form of bee hives with bee-body handles.

The sale of pottery continued on Saturday and Sunday and featured demos that let the

Beginning Oct. 27, a piece of your the beauty, strength own art. Each pose and balance of the is an individual exhuman body will pression that will be revealed twice a change every time week at the Art Beyou do it." yond Center GalConnolly said lery at Center in the she is hoping to Square. register between Certified yoga eight and ten stuteacher Caryl Condents for each of nolly, of Roanoke, her classes, with explained that she is all experience levcollaborating with els welcome."The Deborah Goglia, great thing about of the Art Beyond Caryl Connolly demonstrates a “Warrior II” pose. yoga is you can Center, to create a always take each series of yoga classes in the gallery space in a pro- pose, even an elementary pose suitable for begingram called The Art of Yoga. ners, and extend it further for advanced students," "I just thought, how cool would it be to practice Connolly said. and teach yoga surrounded by the energy of the Connolly said the classes are great for people artists and all of their work," Connolly said of the who live and/or work in the downtown area opportunity to hold class in the gallery space. who want to do something good for their body Although the yoga classes are not an actual ex- in a beautiful surrounding after work or on their hibit, there is an artistic parallel between art and lunch break. yoga, Connolly said.

"There's a correlation between art and yoga.

For more information on The Art of Yoga visit: With yoga you're sculpting the human body into yogawithcaryl.com or call 540-588-0548.

public see pottery techniques including hand-thrown, handbuilt, sculpted clay art. For children there were many more “hands-on” activities.

The smiling new owners of Guild member pottery items showcase the success of the Blue Ridge Potters Guild motto: “To Share Knowledge and Appreciation of Ceramics.” To be sure, October is National Breast pottery is a craft that is gaining attention and a devoted follow- Cancer Awareness Month: ing among the arts in the Roa- Glazed Bisque-It in downnoke area. town Roanoke supports the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. For OcBy Gail Tansill Lambert tober's Ladies Night, we will info@newsroanoke.com be donating $5 for every lady painting pottery to the Vera Bradley Foundation. Ladies Night is Friday October 15th, from 6 to 9 p.m.

In addition 10% of the cost of certain pieces of pottery in the studio will go to the FounCenter) a collection of operas dation for the rest of the year. about the Faust legend, absorbs At the recent Contemporary him.

Ceramics Studio Association Tickets are free for all full time convention in September, students. For more information about Opera Roanoke and the the member studios raised upcoming Met broadcasts at $42,000 for the Vera Bradley Virginia Western (the next is Foundation. Glazed Bisque“Boris Gudonov on Oct. 30), go It is proud to continue raising money for breast cancer reto operaroanoke.org.

By Priscilla Richardson search as a member studio.

Studio Supports Cancer Foundation

WDBJ7 Executive Has Many Interests - Including Opera “I’m overextended,” said Jeffrey A. Marks, president and general manager of WDBJ 7.

You would expect that from the man who has just taken on the presidency of the Opera Roanoke board. Marks is also the current campaign chair for United Way of Roanoke. But no sooner did he say that but added, “not really overextended. I’m having a lot of fun. And I couldn’t do it if not for a great team at WDBJ. A television station has a responsibility to be a great force in the community.

I’m not the only one at WDBJ who volunteers for United Way and at member organizations.”

Marks, a Minnesota native, worked as a radio reporter, TV news producer, news director, and now general manager, at various stations. “I never tried to come to Roanoke. I was already with the company that owns the station, so when Bob Lee opted to retire, they asked me to come here and fill his shoes, on July 1, 2007. I love it here.”

When discovering that Roanoke has a thriving opera company, he rejoiced. “My father didn’t get me interested, but it was a way we could communicate. On Saturday afternoons, for more than 70 years, my father listened [to the Metropolitan Opera on the radio].”

Marks followed each opera with a telephone call, asking, “well Dad, did I enjoy that opera?” Because his father knew so much about music, and knew the scores so well, the younger Marks learned a lot about opera.

Soon after he arrived here, he called the Opera Roanoke office. He met Steven White, the conductor, at a rehearsal.

“It was the children’s sleep scene of Hansel and Gretel, and it was wonderful to see the way he conducted. I asked how I could help.” Marks soon accepted an invitation to join the Opera Roanoke board. In June

Scott Williamson became the company’s general and artistic director. White, who has served as artistic director for the last several years, will remain as artistic advisor and principal guest conductor.

With the advent of live televised high-definition broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera from New York, he has jumped in this fall to help Virginia Western host them at the Whitman Auditorium.

He ushered for the first opera broadcast last weekend and the entire opera board will take turns ushering at others. He wants to do “anything we can to keep this art form alive and vibrant here.”

Along with that, as campaign chair of Roanoke’s United Way, he has responsibility for all of the volunteers who do workplace campaigns, and for planning events that draw attention to United Way. He noted that the office staff at United Way contributes as well, even as they work with area companies on their campaigns.

A special challenge this year comes from maintaining the annual contribution amount, normally about six million dollars a year. Per capita giving has been going up but overall participation is going down. “Some of this is due to the economy,” said Marks, “but we have to make sure the message reaches as many people as possible, [so we can] work on poverty and the high school drop out rate.”

“We need to create the best possible system of family support and instill in youngsters the value of education. We support all sorts of education programs, working in the schools.”

Marks and his wife love to travel, especially to see their grandchildren. As relative newcomers they’re trying to take in more of this area as well. Right now, the October 16 Opera Roanoke production of “Faust and Furious,” (8 p.m., Jefferson

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Page 12 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/15/10 - 10/21/10

NewsRoanoke.com

Writer To Discuss “Haunts” Of The Blue Ridge Fish Fry A Chance To Bring

Photos by Joe Tennis

The historic "Figgat House" of Fincastle in Botetourt County is not only believed to be haunted, it's also a regular stop on the town's annual Halloween tour. The story "Figgats of Fincastle" is featured in Joe Tennis's new "Haunts of Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands."

Author and newspaper journalist Joe Tennis admits that he’s a bit less of a skeptic about ghosts and apparitions since an incident in Patrick County that left him unnerved. (See review that follows). That experience did not stop Tennis (Bristol Herald Courier, Kingsport Times-News, etc.) from turning out several books on other worldly phenomena.

“I had a feeling … something else was there,” said Tennis of his own possible encounter with the other side. “I was completely paralyzed by this fear I had of something else being in the home. There was a

complete heaviness inside that house.”

His newest, “Haunts of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Highlands” (History Press) will be the subject when Tennis appears at two local book signings next week: Barnes & Noble, Tanglewood, on Oct. 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. and at Ram’s Head Book Shop, Oct. 23, 1-3 p.m.

Several of the incidents that were relayed to him for the book take place in the Roanoke area, from the wispy woman of Roanoke College (who haunted a long gone building once used by the school) to the ghost of Mrs. Figgat, who haunted her old

home in Fincastle.

In his slim book, Tennis relays ghost stories at venues that roughly follow the path of the Crooked Road music trail, from Rocky Mount to the Cumberland Gap and Critz.

“I took a very detached view throughout the book,” said Tennis, acknowledging that some of the stories are old folk tales.

Tennis wants readers to make up their own minds about what they might believe regarding ghosts and apparitions. “I want people to say hey, there just may be some things we can’t explain ... that there are some mysteries in this world … that science can’t explain.”

"Haunts" marks Tennis's first new book in two years. His others include "Beach to Bluegrass," and a small volume called "The Marble and Other Ghost Tales of Tennessee and Virginia" (Backyard Books). - By Gene Marrano Review: Joe Tennis has produced an interesting collection of Southwest Virginia ghost stories, Haunts of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Highlands, just in time for Halloween.

Tennis, scouring back-roads, the accounts of storytellers and old histories, has collected a bunch of legends, first-person accounts and newspaper stories from county seats, old houses and any place he could find a ghost tale. One of the best is the “apparition in white,” captured in a photograph at Avenel in Bedford. There was also a salesman said to be lost in “Murder Hole” in Craig County.

The writer had his own scary experience while stopping for the night at the Reynolds Homestead in Patrick County. He was convinced that “some presence” was behind his bedroom door but he found nothing. Tennis lays out the stories and lets readers draw their own conclusions about the reality of these accounts. He packs 36 ghost stories in this 109-page book. - By George Kegley

Community Closer

Photo by Gene Marrano

(L-R) Elta Mae Wilson, Estelle McCadden, Margaret Barbour and Virgie Craighead prepare fish dinners.

The Melrose/Rugby Neighborhood Forum in Northwest Roanoke bills itself as “The Community That Cares.” Every year the association, established in 1989, hosts a number of events at the building it owns at 1730 Orange Avenue NW, and at other locations throughout the community.

One of those events took place last Friday, with the annual Fish Fry, a fundraiser for the Forum.

It’s been taking place for about a decade; president Estelle McCadden said that in addition to local residents, Roanoke politicians, public safety officers and other public officials usually stop by to pick up $5 fish dinners to support the group’s efforts.

“It’s really city-supported,” said McCadden, a retired educator and a former Roanoke City Citizen of the Year. “They come and they mingle with the neighbors.” Most eat their fish fry, available with cole slaw or

chips, at the Forum headquarters. “It makes for good relationships [with] the neighborhood folk,” McCadden noted. Her son Mac is a former City Council member. In most years the City Manager, and the Mayor, etc. are in attendance.

About 70 people are on the Melrose/Rugby Neighborhood Forum roster; around 30 are active. The group meets monthly, tackling issues like neighborhood beautification, local crime, the renovation of historic landmarks and they publish a periodic newsletter.

The annual fish fry was just another chance to spread the word about the Forum’s good work, and to raise a little cash.

After all, said McCadden, “we’ve got to keep it going. You’ve got to have money.”

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

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