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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel

October 28 - November 3, 2011

Happy Halloween

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[Folk Life Festival]

Traditional Power Keith McCurdy

Perfectly Average P4– Keith McCurdy says that we’re undermining our children and our culture when we give them awards they haven’t earned.

A team of draft horses from the Healing Harvest Forest Foundation line up for the horse pull, with Jason Rutledge at the reins. Record crowds attended this year’s Folk Life Festival in Ferrum.

F

Top Scout P6– Emily Heymann educates users of the Roanoke River Greenway and earns the highest achievement given by the Girls Scouts USA.

errum College’s 38th annual Blue Ridge Folklife Festival presented a variety of new workshops as well as the Ferrum museum’s new operating moonshine still. The festival - a Crooked Road Music Trail “Major Venue” featured four stages of the region’s best fiddle-and-banjo, bluegrass, gospel and blues music, as well as storytelling. The festival also featured more than 50 old-time crafts, two dozen country foods, hundreds of show cars, horse pulling, mule jumping, coon dog racing, farm machinery demos, heirloom apples and vegetable judging in celebrating the rich heritage and traditions of the region.

“The Blue Ridge Folklife Festival is the largest event of its kind in Virginia, and there’s nothing like it in the Commonwealth,” said Roddy Moore, director of Ferrum College’s Blue Ridge Institute & Museum. “The festival features performers, artisans, foods and activities not found at typical craft shows, fairs and festivals. Our festival participants are the real thing, sharing folk traditions that have been a part of their families and communities for years. ”

3 and October 15, 2011. The poll has a margin of error of +4 percent. The survey asked residents of the Old Dominion about their beliefs, practices, and views of the afterlife.

Basic Religious Beliefs An overwhelming majority of Virginians (94%) believe in God, and 72% of the believers see God as a person with whom people can have a relationship. A large majority of respondents are Prot-

> CONTINUED P2: Elmwood

estant (68%) or Roman Catholic (13%).

More than 90 percent of the respondents identified themselves as Christian. The largest Protestant denominations are Baptist (42%) and Methodist (17%).

More than half (57%) of the Christians are “born again” or evangelical.

The percentages of the religions in which respondents were raised when they were children track very closely with their current faiths in overall numbers,

but there is some fluidity in affiliation as 24 percent report that they practiced another religion between childhood and the present day. More than two-thirds (69%) are official members of a church or house of worship.

Most respondents (58%) would like to see their religion preserve its traditional beliefs and practices while 22 percent > CONTINUED P2: Religion

Marching Virginians Remember One of Their Own

Long Journey P8– Thomas Becher made the rounds in the airline industry and newspaper business before taking off for the world of media and public relations.

Photo by Gene Marrano

Jeff Lenofsky showed off his trick bike skills at Roanoke’s Outdoor Circus.

A Circus Like No Other

P9– It’s never too late to fulfill a lifelong passion just ask the members of Roanoke’s Dave Porter Band.

What do Roanoke City residents want Elmwood Park to look like after its proposed multimillion dollar makeover? What should the redesigned amphitheater look like? Do they want more places to sit and reflect, or fountains to cool off in during the long hot summers? The city has held several public meetings at the downtown library to get feedback; over the next few months the landscape architect firm it hired (David Hill, Hill Studios) will put together a rendering of a plan to be delivered to City Council for consideration.

Hill, who calls himself the project manager for the Elmwood Park master plan, describes it as “a beautiful green square in the center of the city. But a lot of people don’t know it’s there, [or] they don’t go there often.” The city does host over 140 events a year in the park, Hill noted. He wants to make Elmwood Park, at one time a private estate, “more successful for everybody” on a daily basis.

While some parts of the park are overused – “trampled” is the word Hill chose – others see little use at all. “There are some places in the park that nobody ever goes. We want to make it more lively and available to Roanoke citizens.”

A relocated amphitheater that would include a terraced seating area for 1500, and room for more on a grassy hill above is part of the proposed master plan. Water fountains that people can play in have come up “over and over again” in discussions with the public. “They want a

Poll Reveals Religion is Integral Part of Virginians’ Lives

A Roanoke College Poll conducted

by The Institute for Policy and Opinion Research has found that religion is an integral part of the lives of most Virginians. Daily prayer, frequent attendance at services, and reading scripture or holy books is common for Virginia residents.

In addition, clergy are regarded highly in comparison to some other professions.

The poll includes interviews with 600 Virginia residents between October

For The Music

Elmwood Park Master Plan Starts to Take Shape

The first annual Roanoke Outdoor Circus last weekend demonstrated all things outdoors. “We pretty much planned this from start to finish,” said Joe Hanning, an Outdoor Event Specialist for Roanoke City. A few “short months ago,” sitting around a table, it was decided that the valley needed its first ever outdoor sports festival, said Hanning, who is a transplant from Ohio and new to the position.

The Roanoke Outdoor Circus featured bicycle shops, information on local trails, gear from outfitters, trick bike demonstrations by Jeff Lenofsky, plus live music, food and a traveling eco-tour, “The Sustainable Living Roadshow.” Hanning was pleased with the attendance figures at the three-day, free admission event, which was blessed by exceptionally good weather.

Expect more – and bigger – outdoor happenings in the future. “Our goal is to get people off the couch, get them out and recreating,” said Hanning, “having fun in the outdoors.” “There are a number of private organizations that can help a person > CONTINUED P2: Circus

Mary Osburn had ing band, and Virginia always sat in the stands Tech football. Chris with her husband as received his degree in the Hokies stormed the environmental science field at Lane Stadium. and engineering from At the Miami game on the College of EngiSaturday, Oct. 8, 2011, neering in 1998 and his however, she was on the MBA from the Pamplin field with the Marching College of Business in Virginians jumping fu2000. riously to the Hokies’ Chris caught a cold iconic entrance song, just after Christmas in Metallica’s “Enter Sand2010. It wouldn’t go man.” And she says she away, so he went to the knows that’s what Chris doctor and was diagwould have wanted. nosed with bronchitis.

“Being on that field, His symptoms worsI believe it was Chris’s ened into pneumonia, way of letting me be a "Christopher Neal Osburn so he went to the emerpart of Tech football the 1975-2011 - Leader to Many, gency room with his way he was. It was so Friend to All, Hokie in Every wife and was admitted much more than I ever Way." to the hospital. thought it would be.”

“I was sitting there Chris Osburn, a two-time Virginia with him,” Mary recalled. “He told me Tech alumnus, loved Virginia Tech and to go home and get some rest and that he loved the Marching Virginians, for he’d hopefully be able to come home the whom he played trumpet during his next day. His parents were with him, years in Blacksburg. And when he met so I left around 7 p.m. that night and his wife, Mary, a Longwood University told him, ‘I love > CONTINUED alumna, it was clear that to love Chris, you!’”

P3: Marching was to love his alma mater, its marchChris died un-

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> Elmwood

Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/28/11 -11/3/11

Cloudy conditions are expected on Thursday with showers possible.

Highs will top out near 70. Showers could linger into Friday with cold air moving in and highs only in the mid 50s.

Cloudy conditions will linger into Saturday with showers possible, especially east of the Blue Ridge.

Sunshine returns for Sunday through Tuesday with highs still in the upper 50s on Saturday then near 60 on Monday and Tuesday.

place to bring the kids, where they can get completely wet, during the summer,” said Hill.

In earlier discussions City Manager Chris Morrill has described a park in Savannah, Georgia, where he was the assistant city manager, that underwent such a transformation and became much more of a focal point and gathering spot for citizens there.

According to Hill, others say the trees lining the walk where the linear lily pond was “doesn’t work very well,” and is “not a pleasant place” to eat lunch for example. People want it to be livelier, “more 24-hour,” said Hill. The influx of downtown residents in recent years may have much to do with that sentiment.

The return of the pond in Elmwood Park may bring back “pleasant memories” for some, added Hill; fed by underground springs, the pond could take shape again in front of the amphitheater, which may be moved towards the Bullitt Avenue side of the park. Bullitt could be reopened as a through street under one design plan, as has been suggested in the past. Visitors during the two open houses posed questions to city staffers and to Hill Studios personnel,

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City residents take a look at proposed design ideas for Elmwood Park. then pasted sticky notes with suggestions on posters.

“We’re going to take all these notes and see where there is convergence … a consensus,” said Hill. Incorporating the public library next door into the park – with a deck, permanent bathrooms and entranceways – could be in the offing. “The library wants to be better integrated into the park,” said Hill, who hopes to present a master plan by the end of the year. “We’re on a pretty quick timetable. We’ll bring it to council in late November or December.”

Ron McCorkle, a Roanoke resident and

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find their outdoor passion,” said Hanning. He ticked off a list: Mountain Junkies for trail racing, Odyssey Adventures for the more extreme pursuits, the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, to name a few.

“There’s something for everyone,” noted Hanning, drawn to the area himself from Ohio in large part by the lure of outdoor recreation. People from outside of Roanoke and even from other states came to the “circus” last weekend, set up on the old Victory Stadium site. “We can leverage our outdoors,” said Hanning of the economic development impact of promoting the greenways, mountain trails, biking opportunities and other recreation attractions in the valley.

Bob Welsh was showing off his River Greenway Bicycle Rental Company. He’s rented

bikes in 90-minute stints at Wasena Park this summer. Welsh is about to shut down that portion of the business for the season, but will have bikes available through the winter at the Cambria Suites hotel, which sits a block off the Roanoke River Greenway. “People come regularly or bring their guests [to rent bicycles],” said Welsh. “I think the potential is unlimited.

The greenway has been proven to spur business, raise real estate values and promote the city.”

Welsh thought the Roanoke Outdoor Circus concept was “wonderful,” in large part because he saw people attend that are not necessarily the outdoorsy type. “[They’re] being exposed to all the potential of Roanoke,” said Welsh, an avid biker himself and a part time employee at East Coasters Bicycle.

Another draw was the Sus-

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activist for sustainable lifestyles, liked a concept that included the original pond. “It’s also a natural flow for rainwater,” said McCorkle, who said a pond would help clean up water as part of the city’s new storm water management plan. “It’s serving a useful purpose and it’s attractive,” said McCorkle, also a co-owner for Sharebike. The plan in general “has many different aspects that are good.”

Like David Hill and city officials, McCorkle said he wants Elmwood “to be a more useful park.” He would like to see several “grand entranceways” that would invite people into the park. Others will have their chance to weigh in over the next several months, and at a public hearing once the plan reaches City Council.

“There may be better ways to spend the four million dollars set aside for Elmwood Park improvements in Roanoke,” said McCorkle, but since it’s approved and budgeted already, “I think this is a really good process.

Some of the ideas that have come out [at the public meetings] have been really great.”

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

(79%) believe in hell. Most say that these beliefs have a strong effect on how they live their life (67% regarding belief in heaven; 60% regarding belief in hell). Less than half (41%) think it is possible to have contact with others after they have died, and just less than half (48%) think there will be pets in heaven.

While most Virginians (79%) think it is possible to lead a good life even if you do not believe in God, only 29 percent think one can go to heaven if they do not believe in God. Among Christians, just one-third (32%) think a person can go to heaven if they do not believe that Jesus is the Savior. Respondents generally say that life is more difficult (39%), rather than easier (18%), for those who do not believe in God. Comparisons with National Data Several questions in the poll were asked in 2007 in a national survey conducted by The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life Religious Landscape Study. In general, the Virginia sample was more likely to be Christian and born again/evangelical (57% born again in the Virginia sample; 44% in the Pew sample). For many of the comparable questions, then, Virginians are about 15 percent higher on the “more religious” response. This is true both for beliefs and practices. For a few questions (read Scripture at least weekly, have prayers answered, and belief in hell) those differences were even greater.

Analysis “America’s version of Jeffersonian “Christendom” seems to be alive and well in Virginia,” said Dr. Paul Hinlicky, Tise Professor of Lutheran Studies at Roanoke College. “Official non-establishment has led to the flourishing of a version of Christianity which stresses inwardness and otherworldliness.”

“Non-Christian Americans behave in much the same ways that Christian Americans behave in terms of daily or weekly religious practices and in terms of foundational beliefs about God and about death, etc.,” Dr. Eric Rothgery, an assistant professor in the religion and philosophy department at Roanoke College. “Religious Americans have much more in common than most suspect, and there is tremendous room for common ground if members of religious communities would take the time to learn about one another’s traditions and get to know one another. As in other polls the representation of non-Christians, especially Muslims, is lower than expected. This is an artifact of polling that is common across many such surveys.”

A copy of the questionnaire and all frequencies may be found at: http://roanoke.edu/Documents/polls/FreqsOct2011.pdf.

For additional information, contact Dr. Wilson directly or contact the Public Relations Office at (540) 375-2282.

From page 1

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prefer that their religion adopt modern beliefs and practices.

Religious Practices A majority of Virginians (70%) believe that their holy book (Bible for Christians, Torah for Jews, Koran for Muslims, etc.) is the Word of God, and nearly half of those (48%) believe it should be taken literally word for word. More than half of the respondents attend services daily (6%) or weekly (49%), and even higher numbers pray daily (80%) or weekly (11%). More than half of those who pray believe they receive a definite answer to a specific prayer request regularly (37% daily; 20% weekly). More than half (57%) read Scripture or a holy book at least weekly, and a third (34%) have at least weekly religious discussions with non-believers or people from other religious backgrounds. Not surprisingly, then, 71 percent of respondents say that religion is very important in their life and half (50%) say that their faith provides meaning for their life all of the time (31% say most of the time).

With regard to guidance in life, 23 percent of respondents say their religious beliefs are most influential in matters of government and public affairs, and 41 percent say religion is the most important factor in determining questions of right and wrong. When asked to recall the most difficult time in their life, more than two-thirds of Virginians (70%) say that the experience strengthened their faith and 61 percent say their faith helped them a great deal during that time.

Clergy are very well-respected, with 55 percent of those interviewed rating their honesty and ethical standards as high, compared to military officers (54%), teachers (48%), doctors (46%), and elected officials (7%). Only 22 percent say that scandals involving clergy over the past several years have weakened their trust in organized religion; for most (66%) such scandals made no difference.

Most respondents think that miracles still occur (83%) and that angels and demons are active in the world (75%). Three-fourths (75%) think that there are clear and absolute standards for right and wrong. One-third (33%) thinks that natural disasters are a warning from God to repent and change practices; fewer (17%) view the attacks of September 11, 2001 in that way. Two-thirds (68%) disagree with the statement that religion causes more problems in the society than it solves.

Just less than half (42%) have experienced or witnessed divine healing. Two-thirds (66%) have experienced or witnessed religious intolerance. Believers tend to see a conflict between being a devout religious person and living in a modern society (52%), while 22% of non-believers see a conflict between themselves and living in a society in which most people are religious.

The Afterlife A strong majority of Virginia residents (80%) believe in life after death. Even more (87%) believe in heaven, and nearly as many

> Circus

From page 1

> Religion

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An out of the ordinary tea house drew plenty of customers. tainable Living Roadshow, a caravan of buses and trailers that set up at the Circus, bringing a bit of social eco-consciousness to the weekend. With the Solar Stage, the Solutionary Showcase, the Conscious Carnival, the green marketplace, Activation Village and the like, Ben Harper said the goal was to drive home a point or two while having some fun.

“We are a traveling ecocarnival made up of activists, educators and entertainers.”

The group travels in vehicles equipped with bio-fuels, noted Harper, who studied architecture in college and likes sustainable building practices.

“We’ve done a pretty epic tour,” said Harper, adding that part of the Roadshow’s goal this year was to warn people about the possible side effects of genetically modified food. “People don’t know about it,” said the Louisiana native, who has ven-

tured all the way to California over the seven months he’s been with the Roadshow. “We are the guinea pigs… for this food.”

Vince “Blaze” Mier just returned from a through hike of the Appalachian Trail – all 2000 miles plus – and was showing some of the photographs he snapped at the Appalachian Trail Club booth. Mier, who picked up the trail name “Blaze” as he hiked the AT from Georgia to Maine, sees growing interest from Roanokers in walking at least part of the famed trail. Events like the Outdoor Circus can only help.

“People are getting more and more interested,” said Mier.

“These events create an awareness, whether it’s [for] biking, hiking or running. There are so many different things to do.

Hopefully it just snowballs.”

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

10/28/11- 11/3/11 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3

NewsRoanoke.com

Roanokers Can Now Recycle and Win Gift Cards

Not recycling yet? There is still time to ask Waste Management for a recycle bin. Last Monday the program to increase recycling rates in Roanoke City, Salem City and the town of Vinton kicked off with a ceremonial recycle of “overgrown” soda bottles.

Roanoke Mayor David Bowers, Vinton Mayor Brad Gross and Salem Mayor Randy Foley took turns at the microphone.

Bowers slapped the first sticker on a monster Roanoke recycle bin.

Bowers compared selling unwanted items at yard sales to the recycling program. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” he said. “That’s the same thought with this recycling program … recycling could mean treasure for you perhaps,” referring to the $50 gift card prize.

Stickers for the citizens of all three localities were mailed Monday. The colorful prize patrol car will be cruising on regular weekly scheduled trash and recycling pickup days. If the participating bins contain accurate placement of recyclable material when the inspector takes a look, then a $50 gift card from Kroger’s is the prize.

Each city quadrant will be patrolled equally for the next six months. There are 260 Kroger gift cards to win during the program which begins the first week in November and runs through April 2012.

Bin contamination will result in disqualification. Roanoke is the first city in Virginia to enact the program, which has been successful in Raleigh and Char-

Photo by Valerie Garner

Roanoke dignitaries fill a promotional bin with oversized bottles. lotte, NC. Participation is not The plan is to entice more mandatory. people to recycle and recycle Kroger’s Division President correctly. “One day the city will Jay Cummins said, “taking care break even,” said Roanoke’s solid of our community extends be- waste manager, Skip Decker. yond selling groceries to our All plastic, with numbers customers. We recognize the one through seven can now be need for being a great company placed in bins. That means no and taking care of the environ- more eyestrain searching for a ment - encouraging recycling is number on the container. Even a big part of that.”

Styrofoam cups are recyclable – Brian Evans, Marketing De- be sure to check for the number velopment Manager with Coca- six on the cup.

Cola Refreshments, said that For those without curbside the program is the cornerstone pickup - “There will be a series of their 2020 corporate vision of eight special events in the next and it “challenges every single six months at drop off spots and one of us to go forth and exhibit people will be able to register positive things like recycling and be eligible for the $50 gift and doing significant things in card,” said Lauren Steele, Vice the community.”

President of Corporate Affairs Coca-Cola Bottling Consoli- for Coca-Cola. dated Operations LLC, in conFor dates and locations visit junction with Kroger and the www.cokeroanoke.com. three localities, hope to increase

By Valerie Garner the current 38 percent recycling info@newsroanoke.com rate and save on tipping fees.

> Marching expectedly around 2 a.m., on Jan. 21, 2011. He was only 35 years old.

His wife, his parents, and his friends celebrated Chris’s life the way they thought he would have wanted. At his memorial service, his friends played “Tech Triumph” and when it was over, his mother yelled, “Go Hokies!”

Chris’s family started a memorial fund through the university in his honor. They specifically wanted to do something with the Marching Virginians, so they contacted Dave McKee, senior instructor to the band since 1984, who suggested engraved trumpets.

With the help of Chris’s friends and fellow Hokies Chris Li, Mike Day, and Jason Mirick, the Osburn family agreed on the engraved trumpets, but with a little twist. To help them stand out from the rest, they had elements of the trumpets gold-plated.

At a ceremony before the Oct. 8, Miami game, current Marching Virginian trumpet section leaders Dakota Corbliss, a junior majoring in music within in the College of Lib-

Roanoker Heads To New York On A Whim For “Occupy Wall Street”

From page 1

eral Arts and Human Sciences and David Peterson, a senior majoring in civil engineering within the College of Engineering were presented with new Yamaha Xeno, gold-plated trumpets engraved with the words: Christopher Neal Osburn 1975 - 2011 Leader to Many Friend to All Hokie in Every Way “This band really is a family,” McKee told hundreds of Marching Virginians, their families, and the family of Chris Osburn at the dedication ceremony. “Today we celebrate the way Chris served this university and this band, and the way he lived his life, with joy and fun.”

The ceremony and the moment hit home for both Corbliss and Peterson.

“I’ll never forget it,” Corbliss said. “It puts a new perspective on taking advantage of the moment while you still have it.”

“I felt very honored to carry the trumpet in his honor,” Peterson added. “We are all connected through music and when something happens to

one of us, we need to respond.”

For Mary, it was her first trip back to campus since Chris died and she was admittedly nervous. But when she saw all the Marching Virginians and their families, all paying their respects to her late husband, she said she was glad she had come back.

“It was such a touching ceremony,” she said. “I didn’t know all the parents would be there. I didn’t know that those trumpets would be played in the [Marching Virginians] forever and that future [members] would know who Chris was. It was so much more than I ever thought it would be.”

By Gary Cope info@newsroanoke.com

Wholesale music distributor Bill Hunter was so moved by the events going on in Zuccotti Park in New York City – ground zero for the Occupy Wall Street movement in Lower Manhattan – that he grabbed a few hours of sleep after running a sales route in Northern Virginia, then drove to New York in the wee hours of the night. Hunter spoke at an Occupy Roanoke rally a week later at Elmwood Park, Hunter is a Vietnam veteran and Roanoke resident who also had experience as a stockbroker and commodities trader. He called the Roanoke rally “more of an intellectual showing of different forms of government, and ways to run [them].” Hunter gathered about 100 people before he spoke, telling of them of the trip to New York and his thoughts on how to right the country. He says “I think I sparked some conversation there.”

Some did not like what he had to say – Hunter thinks all young people should have two years of mandatory military service, similar to countries like Israel.

Some of his other thoughts, like limiting compensation for top executives (“how much money do you need?” he asks) and raising salaries for everyone that helps make a company profitable were more agreeable to a movement that’s still trying to come in to focus.

“There are some very conservative ideas that these people have; there are some very liberal ideas,” said Hunter, adding “nobody’s going to agree on all points. It’s a general outcry against the massing of wealth by a very low percentage of people.”

He also doesn’t think it’s a bad idea to sell some of the gold reserve at Fort Knox, in order to pay down the country’s debt, and believes that credit default swaps “which helped bring down the country,” may need to be outlawed or further regulated.

“It’s an outcry right now; it’s not an agenda,” said Hunter, who is also an entertainer on the side. “The time will soon come [for that].” There were 900 venues around the country that held events last weekend said Hunter, inspired by Occupy Wall Street, where thousands, including many young people, have railed against what they say is the domination of corporations in America, to the detriment of others. Hunter traveled to New York “just to see what it was all about.”

Hunter “took a little nap” after

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Roanoker Bill Hunter during a recent music performance. making sales calls in Northern main as long as they don’t break Virginia, then he headed to New the law, referring to the arrests York. After getting lost at 4 a.m., for blocking building entrances he arrived in Lower Manhat- and the like. tan, a speech in hand, but found “I was very much inspired,” out there was no real forum at said Hunter of the protest movewhich to deliver his viewpoints. ment. “Everybody sort of has [a He recalled a Bible verse from feeling] in their gut these days Ephesians: “’if you expose the that there’s something wrong darkness with your light, then with our country, when we see you yourself become the light.’ I no resolutions [in Congress] to thought those young people [in the problems that we have.

New York] had such good ideas.

These young people are the I told them they were the life of voice of that welling up.” Hunter our country. They felt so encour- expects his own baby boomer aged in hearing that.” generation to stay involved, helpHunter said he met many ing to lend a voice to those that college graduates, “good quality are now occupying Wall Street. young people,” at Occupy Wall “I’m not sure where this is going Street, which has been visited to go,” said Bill Hunter, “but I’m by a handful of celebrities over sure it has some legs to it.” the past few weeks. New York

By Gene Marrano mayor Michael Bloomberg said gmarrano@cox.net he would let the protesters re-

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P

Will Wars Ever End?

resident Obama an- think that. Charles Phillips and nounced last week that Alan Axelrod have put together the war in Iraq will The Encyclopedia of Wars. In end on December 31. That this the last 3000 years, there have came as a surprise to many is been 1763 wars. I am sure that odd since President Bush said would be disagreement among years ago that American forces scholars and participants as to would be gone as of what constitutes a war that date. Judging from but I was surprised to the apoplectic response, find of that number the republicans must only 123 have been have been nodding off fought for religious when W made that dereasons. In the United cision. Granted, much States they list 17 wars has changed since since the founding and then, but one question only one that has had has remained in place: a religious backdrop: How will the Iraqis Hayden Hollingsworth The current war on govern themselves? If terrorism. Without our experience in the putting too much past 9 years tells us anything, it emphasis on it, they cite 66 of might be that they will continue the 123 religious wars have inthe ethnic infighting that has volved Islamic societies. If relimarked their history for centu- gion were a major cause of war, ries. then one might think that the The argument about whether United States, one of the most we should have ever gone into a religious nations, would have military adventure in Iraq will been involved in many more. not be settled in our lifetime. It Looking back at our history seems obvious the reasons for of warfare, there are some that the intervention were manufac- seem justified; a consummate tured by faulty intelligence but evil was being imposed on a at least Saddam Hussein is gone. population and we came to the As one Iraqi said shortly after rescue. If there were ever such his deposal, “Under Hussein we a clear cut case, I would think it had security but no freedom. would be World War II. Things We now have freedom but no got a little murkier with the Kosecurity.” How the Shiite/Sun- rean War or “police action” as ni/Kurd animosities will evolve it was called. Then came the is far from certain. Anyone who Vietnam War with its trumped thinks a Jeffersonian democracy up Tonkin Gulf Resolution and is just over their sandy horizon the domino theory. Even the ignores thousands of years of architects of that terrible time conflict in the region. have come, for the most part, to With that in mind, I began denounce it as a mistake. to think about how wars start, Now we are looking at total how they are conducted, and instability throughout much how they end. My assumption of the Middle East. Wisely, we through the years has been that have taken a hands-off position if it were not for geography, rad- as far as troop commitments are ical political ideology, and reli- concerned, but what has hapgion, we might all live in peace. pened in Libya certainly would A little research revealed infor- not have taken place without a mation that caused me to re- huge amount of logistical sup-

port from the United States.

How much involvement we will have in Syria, in Yemen, in the Palestinian/Israeli problems is an open question.

One thing has become clear in the recent decisions about Iraq: They want to determine for themselves what their future will be. That holds true for Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and the rest of the region. What eventually settles into place may be vastly different from what we have envisioned, but it’s important to recognize that most of the world is quite different from us.

That does not give us the right to impose our systems on them nor does it release us from the responsibility of protecting our own interests.

That brings up another point: Where we have no strategic or vested interests, we pay little attention to genocide. Central Africa points that out with shocking starkness.

Our lust for war is far more complicated than geography, politics, and religion. Human nature dictates we do not want others to impose their will on us and that leads to conflict but the conduct of war is changing. We may have seen for the last time, as Robert Gates pointed out, the end of the deployment of large ground forces. War #1764 is likely to be carried out by drones and special operations. If nuclear weapons are involved, #1765 may be fought with rocks.

The saddest fact of all is the countless deaths in war may have solved an immediate issue, but our need to fight remains undiminished.

R

NewsRoanoke.com

Celebrating Mediocrity

ecently a friend told while instilling the importance me a story about his of values and a moral foundason’s football banquet. tion.

As my friend put it, they weren’t Yet, at our evening campfire even close to making another program, not every child reteam nervous; they lost almost ceived an award. We regularly every game of the season. The give out “Bulls-eye” awards for funny part of the story was his those kids that have hit the son’s reaction when he received target during the day with eia trophy. He turned to ther a BB gun or Bow his father and asked and Arrow. The kids very emphatically, that missed the tar“Why did I get this”? get don’t get one. In His son was not mad, many years of being he was not upset …. involved with scouthe was insulted. ing and campouts, I As his Dad attempthave yet to see a child ed to encourage him heartbroken or disthat it was for being on couraged from not the team, his son conreceiving one. I have, Keith McCurdy tinued to protest and however, seen each lament that they didn’t year the determinado anything to earn the trophy tion of these same kids to work so he was still unclear why they harder to master the skill to had all gotten trophies. Holding earn one. back a little laughter, his Dad Now, all of these kids are told him, "Well, I guess they continually encouraged and afknew everybody would want firmed for their efforts, but not one.” To this his son mumbled given cheap or hollow awards. … “That is just stupid.”

That is the way it should be.

I like this kid. He has an in- In scouting, you don’t get an stinctual awareness that life is achievement or merit badge not fair and that not everybody unless you earn them. Without should get a trophy and defi- that, they have no value. It is no nitely not for a subpar season. accident that employers love to My friend reports that to this see that a prospective employee day, the trophy is somewhere in is an Eagle Scout. They know it his son’s closet, not on the shelf has been earned. with the ones his son knows he When we celebrate mediocearned. rity, we motivate downward.

Here is another perspective When everybody gets a trophy… on the same topic. I spent this who needs to try? This truly is a past weekend with 500+ Cub new phenomenon in our counScout folks. We were in the try. Most folks over the age of woods for the weekend doing 50 would agree that they never fun Cub Scout things. Now received trophies and awards there are multiple things that I that they did not earn. Today, if love about scouting. For one, it everybody doesn’t get a trophy, is the only organization, outside it is as if we have done someof the church, that I am aware thing terribly wrong and we Contact Hayden at of that supports the develop- are damaging their self-esteem. jhayden2003@cox.net ment of our sons in a construc- That is complete hogwash. tive and character based fashion When we celebrate mediocfrom first grade until they are rity, we accomplish three very eighteen years of age. Another problematic things in our chilis that scouting targets the cor- dren’s lives. First, we discourrect goal; the development of age work ethic. Work ethic is young men into quality citizens developed in response to adwith an awareness of caring for versity in a process. Another and being of service to others word for this is perseverance. and the world around them As we know from the book of

Community | News | Perspective 540-400-0990

Build

&Grow

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Star-Sentinel Crossword for 10/28/2011

ACROSS

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Build Smart. Grow Strong.

22 24 25 29 33 34 36 37 39 41 43 44 48

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Contact Keith at psycyou@msn.com

Local Crossword

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James, this is the engine for the development of maturity. The second thing we accomplish is promoting the wrong notion that everything must be “fair.”

This illusion that we often support throughout childhood will come crashing down when our children get into the real world.

Fairness is neither a healthy ideal to pursue, nor a state that can ever be achieved. The third thing is a sense of entitlement or the notion that everyone should have whatever they want. For years the term I have used with parents is “economic justice.”

Economic justice is described in two ways. First, “Because I want something, I should have the right to have it.” Secondly,” If you have it, I should also have it.” “Even if you worked for it and I didn’t, I should have it.”

This idea has eroded parenting and the healthy upbringing of our children for more than 50 years.

Warning! Warning! We are about to flirt with politics … maybe. As the family goes, so goes the country. We are seeing these issues played out in a small way with the “Occupy whatever” crowd. In my opinion, and if you listen to them and read their website, we are witnessing a cultural “temper tantrum” made up of folks that have just come to realize that the world isn’t fair and they don’t like it. Their cries for “fairness” and “economic justice” are loud and clear, yet woefully off the mark. The average age and upbringing of the majority of the supporters demonstrates that we have motivated downward and are now reaping the results.

Many of us, who are just a few years older, are going through the same economic hardships and financial struggles, with less time to recover. Yet our response has been to work harder and smarter.

I would bet that many of those folks got a lot of trophies for just showing up when they were younger and I doubt there are many Eagle Scouts among them. As parents we need to encourage work ethic and reward excellence. Only then will things begin to move upward once again.

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Football assoc.

Capital of Ghana Limited (abbr.)

French "yes" Punctuation mark Expression of surprise Freudian term Nip Unrefined Moses' mountain Which local theater features 1st run documentary, foreign, independent, and children's films?

Central nervous system __ Lanka Iodine Graceful Absent without leave Mutt Slugs Architect Frank __ Wright British break Beverage Last day of the wk.

Prolongs Who provides last years prices at this years savings in fine furnishings?

Attempt Gem State Seed bread Sleep Quench Also known as (abbr.)

Positive vote Unhand (2 wds.)

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www.CrosswordWeaver.com

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 19 21 23 25 26 27 28 30 31 32 35

Opp. of yeses Apple type MGM's leo Temporary Milk maker Horsefly Thunderous sounds National capital Animal oil Siamese Daybreak Eucharist Lingerie Part of a min.

Movie 2001's talking computer Hole punching tool Water closet Walnut Caesar's three Long-term memory Compass point Official

38 Rejection of a request 40 Gully 42 Confuse 44 Volcano 45 Doctor's picture 46 Use a keyboard 47 'my name is evelyn ----.' (from salt) 49 Persia 50 Dam 51 Lounge 54 Old, ugly woman

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

Perspective

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10/28/11 -11/3/11 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

A Great Line Can Always Be Improved Wilson Memorial – A Unique High School

T

ake, for example, the Battle of Trafalgar, By slicing through the enemy line perpendicufought 206 years ago this week. Hora- larly, Nelson was able to fire point-blank into their tio Nelson had been ordered to find and bows and sterns, with cannonballs and grapeshot destroy a combined fleet of Spanish and French ripping through the length of their ships. This creships, to prevent Napoleon from invading Eng- ated profound devastation and loss of life. Both land. On October 21, 1805, Nelson encountered the French and Spanish flagships were utterly ruthe enemy as they sailed from the port ined, and half their fleet was destroyed. of Cadiz in southwestern Spain into In a matter of minutes, over 16,000 of Cape Trafalgar. He ordered his 27 masNapoleon's sailors lost their lives. sive ships into two parallel columns, It was, perhaps, the greatest moment and sailed them straight at the center in English military history. Most of of the enemy's line of 33 ships. It was Nelson's ships survived and only 1,587 an unorthodox and risky perpendicuEnglish sailors were lost. Because of lar attack plan, completely at odds with this victory, England would rule the standard naval warfare. Succeed or seas for the next century. fail, it was going to result in massive But Nelson would never see it; he had destruction and carnage. And everybeen killed in the opening minutes body knew it. by a French sniper. He was brought Mike Keeler So what does one say to frightened back to England and laid in state for sailors at a time like this? Nelson hastily scribbled three days. 10,000 soldiers then escorted him to a message, "England confides that every man will St. Paul's Cathedral, where he was laid to rest. In do his duty," and handed it to his signal man, John later years, King George IV's Square would be rePasco. But there was a problem. England's sig- named Trafalgar Square, and at its center a 170naling system of the day used just 10 flags, num- foot tall monument would be raised. bered 0 through 9, and assigned a 3-flag code to Today, if you go there, you can see the great any word. In this way, signalers had a basic "sig- hero standing atop Nelson's Column, looking out nal vocabulary" of several dozen common words, at the nation he defended. On the four sides of his which they would run up one 3-flag word at a column are scenes from his career. And inscribed time. Unfortunately, the word "confide" was not on the base is his defining legacy. It's the phrase in that vocabulary, which meant that Pasco would taught to every English child. It's beautiful, memhave to spell that word out letter by letter. Pasco orable, and alliterative. It's the last, haunting messuggested an alternative, and Nelson, pressed for sage of British Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson (as time, agreed. Pasco then took about 4 minutes to copy-edited by Lieutenant John Pasco). run the message up the mizzen mast.

"England expects that every man will do his Just moments later, Nelson's flagship HMS duty."

Contact Mike at Victory slammed across the middle of the Francoinfo@theroanokestar.com Spanish line, starting what would be the world's greatest naval battle until the Battle of Midway.

The Preacher’s Corner - Fed by Ravens

W

hen I was a youngster, I would sometimes find myself outside in late April or early May when it began to rain.

These were not the cold, dismal rains of late winter or the ferocious thunderstorms of midsummer, but the soft, gentle showers of spring. I would look up into the sky and feel the rain splash against my cheeks and I would take off running out of sheer delight. Somehow, even as a youngster, I sensed that the rain was responsible for flowers and new life all around me— and running through these warm April showers was a way of celebrating the energy and vitality of new life.

All of us cherish the “April shower moments” in life—those moments when life seems joyous and fresh and exciting.

But we also know that, as wondrous as those moments may be, there are other times as well. There are times that are dry and barren, times that seem to parch our very souls.

None of us need help in learning how to live in during those spring-time moments.

The challenge is learning how to live in the times of drought.

In the 17th chapter of 1 Kings, Elijah, one of the great prophets of Israel, is called to confront King Ahab and tell him that because of the nation’s sinfulness, God will shut up the heavens and it will not rain again until God gives the command. No more refreshing showers. No more life-giving rains. Only the parched and barren earth.

How will Elijah survive?

Elijah is commanded to travel to the east—and there he will have to learn how to be fed by ravens.

Fed by ravens! What an extraordinary image. When our lives are dry and parched, can we learn to be “fed by ravens?”

Not too long ago, I received a phone call from a man that I have known for a long time.

He was married for many years but then, suddenly, lost his wife.

Any sense of springtime seemed to have left his heart. He felt sad and lonely and hurt.

On the day that he called, he told me about his great-granddaughter. He talked with me about sitting down with this lively, smiling two-and-a-halfyear-old. He listened to her giggle. He watched her put on a show for her delighted audience. And I could hear a new joy in his voice. I could sense that he was learning to be “fed by ravens.”

by Gary Robbins More than two decades ago, I had a friend who had always worked a meaningful, but demanding job. He woke up knowing that his days would be filled with plenty of things to keep him engaged and busy.

Then he retired and the prefabricated structure of his day disappeared.

Ever-resourceful, he found plenty of chores to keep him busy.

But on this particular day, the day that he visited us, he sat in front of our dining room window—a window that opened up onto the woods behind us.

Looking out the window, he was mesmerized, by the squirrels. He watched as they barked at one another, chased each other around the trees, and leapt from branch to branch. He must have sat enthralled for an hour or more. As I watched the sparkle in his eye and heard the lilt in his voice, I knew that he was learning how to be “fed by ravens.”

I have to confess that the other day I was feeling a little dry and barren. And so I walked over to Uptown Joe’s, bought a cup of coffee, sat down by the window, and watched as the sunlight danced upon the bright yellow leaves on the trees across the street. I must have spent twenty to thirty minutes nursing the cup of coffee and watching the reflection of the sunlight on the leaves. Sitting there that afternoon, I too was being “fed by ravens.”

My guess is that all of us have had moments when we have found ourselves “fed by ravens.”

Maybe it was the quick glimpse of a sunset or the unexpected phone call from an old friend.

Maybe you turn on the radio just in time for the final minutes of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony or you sit down to savor a cup of coffee and a fresh chocolate croissant. In those bits and pieces of grace—moments of grace that come unexpected and unbidden—you find yourself “fed by ravens.”

Why is it that we aren’t fed by ravens more often? Maybe we are too busy. Maybe we’ve allowed our hearts to become too dry and hardened. Maybe we resent being fed on bits and scraps of grace.

Sometime during his sojourn at the Cherith Brook, Elijah could have turned to God and said, “All of these bits and scraps are for the birds! I want to be ‘fed by lions.’ I want a big, brawny lion to come by and drop off a gazelle or an ibex,

something I can really sink my teeth into, something that I can feast on for days!”

There is always a part of us that thinks that we require big, multi-course experiences.

I remember doing a wedding one time where there were a total twenty-one attendants, where the music for the service included a string quarter, a soloist, and a grand pipe organ, where there was a full-stage big band for the reception, and where a rockand-roll band filled in during the breaks. Everything was big.

Everything was grand. But in the couple’s compulsive need for dinner at the Ritz, I wondered, would they ever learn how to be fed by ravens?

I have learned to be exceedingly grateful for the beak-sized bits of grace that come my way. I celebrate those scraps of grace whether they come from chickadees, from cardinals, from ravens—or even from old crows! They are often the very things that sustain me when the spring-time showers are gone, when the ground gets dry and cracked, and when my soul begins to feel a little parched.

Like Elijah, I have begun to understand that when the droughts come, we have to learn how to be fed by ravens.

Gary Robbins is the Senior Minister at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church, visit them at gmumc.org.

I

n September 1948, stu- priated funds to remodel the dents from four Augusta wards and create classrooms.

County high schools The wards were strung along were joined together in one three lengthy corridors, A, B, huge consolidated high school. and C. Each ward was divided That was my junior year. I re- into three classrooms, creating member the shock of moving traffic patterns through classfrom a small school, with only rooms in the middle. Students about fifty in my class needed to remember to a large sprawling the “addresses” of school where my class their classes (A-20, consisted of almost B-17, etc.) and they 200 – of which 150 joked about needing were strangers! And roller skates to navia long ride to school gate those long cor– about ten miles to ridors. The Officers’ Beverly Manor, where Club was converted elementary students to a Social Hall, where were unloaded, then club meeting and Mary Jo Shannon another ten or more parties were held octo Fishersville, where casionally and where we disembarked at Wilson Me- we learned ballroom dancing. morial High School.

You might expect such change During World War II, the to bring chaos; and perhaps there government built Woodrow was at the very beginning, but Wilson General Hospital in a young people adapt easily, new rural area near Fishersville to friendships form, and soon we care for wounded soldiers.. After were united. The student body the war ended, the 223-acre site melded around football and and 58 buildings were declared basketball, cheering the Green surplus property by the U.S. and Hornets on to victory. Now, 62 the site was transferred to the years after graduation, the Class Commonwealth of Virginia. of 1949 still meets to rememThe state kept half and gave the ber old times, show our colors, other half to Augusta County. (green and white), and look up The county’s big question – how our pictures in our yearbook, to use it? The supervisors de- The Hornets’ Nest. cided to create a consolidated We had “regular” reunions high school. Four rural schools with special events at five-year within a ten mile radius were intervals until that magic numselected: Beverly Manor, Stuarts ber 50. Then we decided to Draft, New Hope and Fishers- simplify the get-together and ville. They immediately appro- just meet annually for lunch

and conversation – find out how many of us survived the year, how many grandchildren and great-grandchildren we bestowed to society, and what new hobbies –or ailments—we’ve acquired. This year thirty-nine of us gathered at Mrs. Rowe’s Restaurant near Fishersville.

I was shocked when I signed in to learn I was expected to provide entertainment after lunch! I learned my classmate, Bonnie Craft Cale, who was assigned entertainment, wanted me to read my column about my first day of school in 1939.

(Her husband attended Mt. Sidney, the school where I began my education.) Fortunately, she had a copy and I agreed to share it after lunch. Most of the group identified with my experience, although they had started first grade in other schools. One thing I noticed that I think is significant, considering the way our class melded, is that most of us did not remember which parent schools our friends attended.

We were all Wilson alumnae/i.

The old school no longer exists. A new Wilson Memorial High School has been built on the site — modern, without the long corridors and jammed together classrooms. But its students will never have greater memories than the graduates of that unique high school, our alma mater.

Contact Mary Jo at maryjoshannon@ymail.com

My kids think I’m Having a Sponge Bath!

SM

Independent & Assisted Living

Don’t worry... we won’t tell your kids how much you love living here!SM

4920 Woodmar Dr. SW Roanoke, VA 24018

540-989-9501

www.parkoakgrove.com • mbelfiore@parkoakgrove.com

Roanoke Chapter • National Railway Historical Society

Fall 2011 Rail Excursions Nov. 5 • Roanoke to Abingdon, VA • Round Trip Nov. 6 • Roanoke to Bluefield, WV • Round Trip

W

e have two different day long train trips with some of the finest scenery on the rare chance to ride a train out of Roanoke. These are trips you will not want to

miss!

Avoid the interstate highway and travel In a leisurely manner through scenic countryside on board our special excursion trains. Traveling first to Abingdon, VA, from Roanoke. on Saturday. Then an always popular trip from Roanoke to Bluefield on Sunday with mountain vistas, travel along the New River, cross bridges and tunnels.

While in Bluefield, the “heart of the million dollar coalfields“ eat at one of the nearby restaurants before returning to Roanoke.

Both trips offer spectacular scenery and a great train ride. Abingdon is a new destination for us in 2011, passengers have a 3 and 1/2 hour layover in this historic and fascinating area with a number of activities before returning to Roanoke. Tickets for each trip are $150 adult coach, $95 child coach (12 and under), dome class $275, lounge class $215. All prices are per person.

For tickets, a brochure and order form or a link to order online: www.RoanokeNRHS.org or:

For Tickets call

540-774-0611

Fall 2011 Excursions, Department RS Roanoke Chapter NRHS • P.O. Box 13222 Roanoke, VA • 24032-3222 For coach tickets ONLY you may also call O. Winston Link Museum at 540-982-5465 or Va. Museum of Transportation at 540-342-5670; or order online from N&W Historical Society at www.nwhs.org.

Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 10/28/11 -11/3/11

NewsRoanoke.com

Your Health is Your Best Investment Girl Scout Earns Highest Award

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. - World Health Organization Being healthy is much more than just not being sick. It involves all aspects of one’s life and environment. Life is an intricate network and if one part fails other parts will eventually fail as well.

Proper health in all things requires a balance in what we do. It is an active pursuit rather than a passive wish to not be ill. Make plans to be healthy instead of excuses to fail. Be a good example to your children; your spouse; your co-workers; your neighbors and by doing so you will encourage others to follow your example. Most of the activities you can do to be healthy are simple, low tech, and low cost. In the long run, your health is the best investment you can make and it has the highest returns!

Maintain a balance between rest and work- Go to bed and awaken at the same time every day.

Take the television and computer out of the bedroom. It should only be for sleep not paying bills or watching the news. Leave work at work. Schedule playtime for yourself. Find a hobby you enjoy.

Fresh air and sunshine- Even house plants need sun so why shouldn’t you? Get outside every day, no matter what. Recent studies highlight the importance of Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin in everything from cancer to mood disorders. Reconnect with nature. We are fortunate to live in an area with so many breathtaking vistas and so many outdoor activities for any age or physical ability.

Get up and move- Park furthest from the door.

Take the stairs. Get out of your chair and walk around every hour. Take hourly stretch breaks.

Take advantage of your cordless phone and cell

phone and walk while you talk. Stand instead of sit and walk instead of standing whenever possible.

Rediscover food- if it didn’t grow that way don’t eat it. If your grandparents wouldn’t recognize it as food then don’t eat it. Whole foods are more nutritionally dense so you get more bang for your buck. Half your plate should be vegetables and the other half protein and whole grains. Downsize your plate. What most people are served in restaurants these days as one meal an entire family used to share. Cut your meals in half. You will save money, lose weight and feel better. If you can’t cook every day then take one weekend afternoon and cook for the week then just reheat. Experiment and try something new.

Be with others- Humans are social creatures.

We cannot live and thrive without contact. Social media and email are fine but there is no substitute for face to face interaction. Talk to your neighbors or your mail delivery person. Go to a worship service or attend a library lecture. Volunteer your time. The best way to help yourself is to help others.

STOP SMOKING- You have heard it all already.

When you are ready to quit ask for get help. It’s never too late to quit. One cigarette is too many Small changes can add up to big rewards to your health. Make one small change at a time not a massive overhaul. Just keep adding one small thing and before you know it you will be a healthier and happier person. It is never too late for health.

Dr. Kenneth Luckay DO is the Medical Director at the Center for Medical Weight Loss located at 4515 Brambleton Ave in Roanoke. He can be reached at 398-1547 or Email: dr.luckay@cmwlroanoke.com.

2011 Stagg Bowl Goes Primetime

Salem’s annual “Stagg Party” will be held under the Friday night lights this year as the Division III National Championship game moves to primetime on the ESPN family of networks.

“We are thrilled with news that the Stagg Bowl will move under the lights this year,” says Greg Shaheen, NCAA Interim Executive Vice President of Championships and Alliances.

“Our long-standing relationship

with our hosts in Salem and the tradition-rich opportunity to have the Stagg Bowl on a new day and time make for a great event experience for everyone to enjoy.”

Since the Stagg Bowl set up shop in Salem in December 1993, the game has been played exclusively on Saturdays and it has only kicked-off in primetime on one other occasion. In 2001, Mt. Union and Bridgewa-

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ter played in front a sold-out stadium and a national television audience and produced one of the most exciting games in the history of the championship as the Purple Raiders topped the Eagles 30 to 27 as 7,992 fans looked on.

“This is a great move for the championship,” says Brad Bankston, Commissioner of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

“Playing at night will provide the city and NCAA the opportunity to spotlight Division III football in primetime, which is something we have wanted since that 2001 game.”

ESPN will televise the game at 7pm on December 16 on ESPN-U. “This is a great opportunity to highlight NCAA Division III Football, as well as Salem and the entire Roanoke Valley in a primetime national broadcast on the ESPN family of networks,” says Carey Harveycutter, Salem’s Game Manager for NCAA Championships. “It should be a great atmosphere under the lights for this year’s game.”

As you wander along the Roanoke River Greenway in Salem, you can read interpretive signs about geology, storm-water runoff, plastics, Totera Town and Paleo-Indians. The signs are compliments of 18-yearold Emily Heymann, who worked with Salem’s Planning and Development department and the Greenway Commission to design and install five such signs. In doing so, Emily has earned the Gold Award, the highest achievement given by Girl Scouts of the USA. Emily received her award through Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council.

Achieving the Gold Award takes true commitment and dedication. After completing a series of required awards, Emily had to spend a minimum of 65 hours on a service project that benefits her community.

When Emily learned the Greenway needed to install some signs along the river and in Rotary Park, she thought it would be wonderful to tell people about the natural and human history of their surroundings, their impact on history, and facts about plastics.

Emily Heymann with one of her informative greenway signs.

She went to the Salem Museum to learn about the Totera Indians and the 10,000 years of area history. She also went to the Virginia Room of the Roanoke main library to find geological maps and history about Salem.

The Clean Valley Council and the Environmental Protection Agency provided the data about storm-water runoff. The book Plastic: A Toxic Love Story provided the necessary information

Fall Fest at Penn Forest

Penn Forest Elementary was just one of many schools in the valley to stage a fall festival as the leaves started to turn and temperatures dipped. The annual "Pumpkins on the Playground" held last week meant free games and food, performances by the Cave Spring High School band, hay rides and, of course, lots of pumpkins.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

People Choosing Roanoke Region, Helping to Increase Population

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about plastic.

Three of the signs went into existing kiosks. Emily and her dad built the frames and mounts for the remaining two.

Emily, the daughter of Lori and Paul Heymann, graduated from Patrick Henry High School and is attending the University of Virginia. Her troop leader was her mother. Her project advisor was Nell Boyle.

averaged a mere 0.3 percent between 2000 and 2003, its growth rate more than doubled by the end of the decade. Annualized growth rates for the region averaged 0.8 percent between 2007 and 2010, according to Weldon Cooper Center data.

Compared with the rest of Virginia, the Roanoke Region’s growth rate was a full percentage point below the state between 2000-2003 but now trails the Commonwealth’s rate by only fourtenths of a percentage point in the last three years, signaling improvement.

According to Internal Revenue Service data, the Roanoke Region has attracted roughly 2,800 households each year from out of state. Nearly 55 percent of these households come from the South, 18.5 percent of these households from the Northeast, 15.7 percent from the Midwest, and 10.9 percent from the West Coast. IRS figures also reveal a healthy amount of migration from surrounding counties in Virginia as well as from traffic-choked Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.

“With growth at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute under way, it’s possible that future migration statistics will show an increased level of migration to the region,” Doughty added.

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5K Race & Family Walk Thanksgiving Day Historic Downtown Roanoke Route Music to Enjoy Along the Way

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Sports

Patriot Defense Shuts Down Halifax In 41-0 Western Valley Win Grandin Road was shut down Friday evening for the Patrick Henry homecoming parade. The Patriot band, homecoming court and cheerleaders marched into Gainer Field to start the festivities. The PH football team followed suit, marching over Halifax County to remain perfect in the Western Valley District football race.

The 41-0 blowout sets the stage for this Friday night's showdown with Franklin County, set for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff at PH. Patrick Henry wasted little time getting things going in their direction. Xavier Whorley's 17-yard run and a 2-yard plunge by Nicholas Ollie staked the Patriots to a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter.

Quarterback David Prince scored on a 14-yard

Is your team not getting enough coverage?

Please send in your pictures and relevant subject / game info and we’ll feature the next week! info@newsroanoke.com - Deadline is 5PM Tuesday.

Hidden Valley Defeats Pulaski County 13-10 With Late Score

Hidden Valley used a Michael Simonic 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dee Fletcher with just over two minutes remaining as the Titans defeated Pulaski County 13-10 last Friday night at Dwight Bogle Stadium.

The game had settled into a

Hidden Valley head coach Scott Weaver gathers his troops before their come-from-behind winning drive in Friday's 13-10 win. defensive battle before the final Titan drive secured the comefrom-behind win that saw Hidden Valley improve to 5-3 (2-1 River Ridge).

The Titans led 7-3 at the half after a Fletcher touchdown catch and Pulaski County field goal accounted for the second quarter scoring. Pulaski took their first lead of the game midway through the fourth quarter on a

PH linebacker #30 Shaquille Stanley closes from the back side to stop Halifax QB Ford Bradshaw.

Patriot linebackers #30 Shaquille Stanley and #37 Trey Mauck lead a surge that stops a Blue Comet ball carrier. run in the second quarter before placekicker Jacob Otterman added a 22-yard field goal that sent Patrick Henry to the locker room up 24-0.

Ollie would go in from 10 yards out and Otterman would connect from 28 yards for his second field goal to extend the PH lead to 34-0 after three quarters. Benjamin Mesadieu closed out the Patriot scoring with a 34-yard run early in the fourth.

Hidden Valley quarterback #11 Michael Simonic breaks The Patrick Henry defense held Halifax County around the left end to pick to 203 total yards, and intercepted Blue Comet up big yardage for the Titans quarterback Ford Bradshaw three times. Patrick in Friday night's win over Henry played a penalty-free game.

Pulaski.

Prince led the Patriot offense with 111 rushing yards, while Whorley picked up 75 yards on the ground and Antwaun Harried added 60.

Friday night's game against the Eagles will have significant playoff implications as both teams are High school football reaches they joined the Blue Ridge. Both undefeated in the Western Valley District. A PH its final two weeks of the regu- are undefeated in the district and win assures the Patriots of the regular season dis- lar season, with key matchups Rockbridge has the only overtrict title before heading into their November 4th set for this Friday night across all loss. Horns blow on the way matchup at cross-town rival William Fleming the area. Some teams are set to back down I-81 Friday night.

Northside- 35 RockBy Bill Turner position themselves for bridge County- 24 info@newsroanoke.com district championships and others look to simStaunton River at ply get in the mix when William Byrd: Byrd has first-round play opens shed most of its earlythe second weekend of season injuries and gave November.

Northside a fit last week Last week resulted in before losing by one.

Cave Spring's Katie Fortner wins a 8-1 record in the preStaunton River still Bill Turner the Girls race, with rival Hidden diction ledger, making is without a district Valley's Carolyn Bethel taking it 19-1 (.950) for the win, Byrd should keep past two weeks. There’s plenty of it that way. William Byrd- 27 second.

Friday night lights left, and the Staunton River- 13 games keep getting tougher, so Hidden Valley at Salem: This let’s tackle this week’s slate. Most one could be a barnburner. This importantly, head out to support is a much-improved Titan team your favorite team this Friday that only mustered a field goal night. in last year’s game. Can Salem Franklin County at Patrick rebound from its loss to ChrisHenry: This one is for all the tiansburg? The Spartans rarely marbles in the Western Valley lose two in a row. Salem- 24 District. Both teams are unde- Hidden Valley- 19 feated in the district and both Christiansburg at Cave have two losses overall. PH head Spring: The number-one AA coach Alan Fiddler has plenty team in the state comes to Bogle of experience getting ready for a Field to tackle the 6-2 Knights. game of this magnatude. Patrick Remember the Salem visit to Henry- 27 Franklin County-20 Bogle last year when Cave Spring William Fleming at Halifax didn’t have a chance? I’m stickCounty: This was Fleming’s only ing my neck out, hoping for the The Boys race saw Cody Seymour and Nick Link running side by side on-field win last season, but it Wright results. Cave Spring- 30 in the beginning but Seymour even- eventually turned into a forfeit to Christiansburg- 28 the Blue Comets. Halifax must Auburn at Glenvar: The tually pulled ahead with a decisive regroup from its blowout loss Highlanders get back on track win over Link. in Roanoke last week. Halifax in a hurry with this one. A tough

Cody Long 2-yard touchdown plunge, setting up the final Hidden Valley heroics.

Walker Brand led the Hidden Valley rushing attack with 118 yards on 26 carries. Simonic added 83 yards on the ground for the Titans on 18 quarterback keepers.

By Bill Turner info@newsroanoke.com

Wild Bill’s Weekly Sports Roundup

XC River Ridge District Meet

County- 21 William Fleming12 Alleghany at Lord Botetourt: Botetourt needs to strengthen its playoff position in Division 4.

Alleghany has yet to win a Blue Ridge matchup. Tater Benson’s win last Friday on a late field goal should work wonders with momentum. Lord Botetourt- 20 Alleghany-16 Northside at Rockbridge County: The Vikings keep escaping like Houdini. Rockbridge has been pointing to this game since

First place runner Cody Seymour (center) shakes hands with 2nd place Nick Link.

By Cheryl Hodges cheryl@newsroanoke.com A group of Blacksburg runners were on the heels of the top 3 finishers. Blacksburg's Noah Combs, Kenny Poole, and Luke Phillips placed 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.

friday night football schedule

loss to Radford makes this timing even worse for 0-8 Auburn.

Glenvar- 48 Auburn- 6 Blessed Sacrament at Roanoke Catholic: The Celtics have been road warriors in running their record to 7-2. This one plays out in Vinton, and Blessed Sacrament may have the better weapons. Blessed Sacrament- 29 Roanoke Catholic-17 Now, off to grab a couple of inquiries out of the always-auspicious mailbag.

Dear Wild Man: This seance business you’ve been pushing sounds fishy to me. Who in the world do you conjure up from the other side that knows anything about football? (Bob/ Troutville) Answer: Knute Rockne Dear Wildo: How does a seance denote which team will win a football game? (Cecil/Roanoke County) Answer: It’s sorta like Paul Revere’s ride, Cecil. One rap means the visitors will win; two raps, the home team.

Dear Prediction Guru: My Ouija board won’t answer the first question. Any tips? (Doris/ Floyd) Answer: Your planchette probably needs a tuneup or alignment. And, if you don’t know what a planchette is, Doris, I’d suggest ditching your Ouija altogether.

Send your inquiries to: info@ newsroanoke.com

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a pretty quick paced environment, who is going to be flexible, who is going to want to work as a team, who presents well to clients, very professional of course. We’ve got a nice mix of all of that here.”

Though he describes social media as “a great tool” for his business, Becher believes it has been over-emphasized elsewhere in the business world— “unless you’ve got measurement in place, you’ve got a strategy in place to use it, and you know how it drives traffic.”

While saying that social media can be a boon to a retail shop or a restaurant, Becher adds that for businesses such as a financial services firm or a law office (both of which are governed by regulatory restrictions), social media isn’t as effective.

Still, when it comes to informing people, relaying a message, and getting them in touch with what companies have to offer, Becher feels that social media has been of great assistance and “has helped to what I sort of call ‘democratize’ the business of communications. It’s been a good listening tool for companies.”

Becher feels digital communications will be a major factor in the agency’s future.

Senior care is another; “We’ve got some great experience with Friendship Retirement Community in the senior care market that we can apply elsewhere.

With the boomers and many people retiring, they want to look for options for their future care, whether they’re healthy and can live independently or they’re getting assisted living.

From that perspective, it’s just simple demographics tell us that that industry is going to grow and we’d like to certainly be part of that.”

Becher also cites high-tech as another growth industry.

“We’ve got several clients down in the New River Valley, particularly around the Corporate Research Center at Tech, who are doing some tremendous work. And one day they’re going to be big companies, and we want to certainly be in on the ground floor with them, [and] “there are lots of opportunities outside the market as well,”

Governor Bob McDonnell discussed the impact of tourism in Virginia and the Roanoke Valley with Trixie Averill, Roanoke Valley Convention & Visitor Bureau’s (RVCVB) Tourism Marketing Advisory Chair, and Landon Howard, RVCVB Executive Director, while visiting the Bureau’s office last week. The Governor was presented with a copy of “Lake Effects,” the movie recently filmed on location at Smith Mountain Lake.

The Roanoke Valley CVB recognizes the potential economic impact films bring to an area.

“Tourism and films are uniquely linked to economic development,” stated Landon Howard. In 2009 the film industry had an economic impact of more than $346 million, contributing $33 million in tax revenue and provided work for 2700 Virginians. “Together we celebrate who we are and the place that we live,” said Howard.

The Roanoke Valley experienced a 6% increase in tourism related expenditures in 2010 which generated 7,000 jobs and over $134 million in local employee earnings.

Congressman Bob Goodlatte has confirmed that direct air service between Roanoke and New York will continue. The Department of Transportation (DOT) previously announced their approval of a “slot-swap” agreement that includes US Air and Delta. This agreement allows carriers to exchange slots they currently control at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) which affects flight service from Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA) to New York.

Currently, U.S. Airways provides non-stop service between Roanoke and New York.

New direct jet service by Delta Air Lines is contingent upon the completion of the Department of Justice’s investigation of the “slot-swap” agreement between Delta Air Lines and US Airways.

“I am extremely pleased that Delta has told me that they intend to provide direct jet service between Roanoke and New York,” said Rep. Goodlatte. “Access to the preeminent financial center of the country has proven vital to the employment base of the Roanoke Valley, the business community and economic development efforts. Delta’s intention to maintain a direct flight between Roanoke and New York will ensure that this beneficial relationship continues.”

“We appreciate all of Congressman Goodlatte’s efforts in maintaining non-stop service between Roanoke Regional Airport and New York LaGuardia,” said Jacqueline Shuck, Executive Director of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission. “Delta’s signal that they intend to provide that service is great news for our entire region.”

Goodlatte has long advocated for maintaining air service between Roanoke and New York. He has met with representatives of Delta Airlines several times over the last year and he, along with other members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation, has written to Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood about the “slot-swap” agreement and its potential affect on smaller communities like Roanoke.

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Landon Howard and Trixie Averill present “Lake Effects” movie to Governor Bob McDonnell.

Goodlatte Confirms Air Service Between Roanoke and NY To Continue

The Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley has received a $50,000 capital campaign grant from the Friendship Retirement Community's charitable community fund. The check was presented

by Ted Feinour, Chairman of Friendship Retirement Community's Board of Directors, to Frank Pittard, II, Chairman of the Adult Care Center's Board of Directors. The grant will be used to assist the center in paying for their new building in Salem Sue Nutter, Executive Director of the ACCRV, noted that this is our largest capital campaign contribution to date. "The center is very appreciative of Friendship's gift and their involvement with dependent adults in the community," said Nutter.

The Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley is

By Melvin E. Matthews, Jr. the only licensed provider of adult day health serinfo@newsroanoke.com vices in the valley. They provide daytime care for dependent adults, mostly elderly, and respite for

"Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important . . ."

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Governor McDonnell Talks Tourism at Roanoke Valley CVB

Becher Agency Head Brings Journalism and Aviation Background to tba The walls lining Thomas Becher’s office at The Becher Agency (tba), in Suite 100 along Warehouse Row on downtown Roanoke’s Norfolk Avenue, are adorned with tiny models of airplanes—a reflection of his background in aviation before he came to Roanoke about six years ago. “I was in the corporate world,” he explains, “working at Northwest Airlines before their merger with Delta. I was with a cargo airline called Atlas Air and then at Pratt & Whitney, which makes jet engines.”

Becher, a native of Canada Thomas Becher is president who holds two degrees in jour- of tba. nalism from Illinois’ North- them to market and sell their western University, also worked products and services.” as an AP reporter for six years Crisis management is anbefore moving on to a career in other Becher Agency mission. public relations at the Univer- While that doesn’t necessarily sity of Connecticut. Relocating signify a major catastrophe— to Roanoke, he joined the John what Becher calls a “fire truck Lambert Associates organiza- kind of crisis”—“it means that, tion and, when Lambert de- for a business, there’s significant cided to move on, bought the change that has to be managed. company, rechristening it The The best way to do that is to Becher Agency, or tba. use a public relations expert to “I call myself kind of an ‘ac- manage them through this cricidental entrepreneur,’” says sis, and how to communicate Becher. “I did not intend to, that to our audiences.” While or plan on, owning an agency.” working for Northwest, Becher Since he took the helm, the had to help manage the comcompany has grown steadily. pany’s image during an airliner Utilizing what he calls a small crash. and smart business model, emBecher has no desire for his ploying both core agency em- agency to become involved in ployees and free-lancers when political work; “I think it only necessary, The Becher Agency serves to maybe alienate some has been able “to tap into a lot people—particularly clients. of resources in this community Our focus remains on busiand beyond.” nesses, nonprofit organizaA full service advertising-PR tions, that sort of thing - and firm, the agency’s essential pur- not [political] campaigns.” pose is to generate ideas that The staff at the Becher help businesses better connect Agency comes from numerous with their audiences. “From fields: graphic designing, puba more strategic sense, we are lic relations practioners, aca marketing partner for many count service people, finances, companies, “says Becher. “They etc. Becher describes the kind may not have the in-house re- of person the agency employes sources or they may want to as “someone with a lot of cresupplement those resources. ativity, no matter what field We come in, and we can craft they’re in. It’s all about creativa plan that is in line with their ity and ideas these days. We business plan [and] enables want someone used to sort of

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Arts & Culture

NewsRoanoke.com

10/28/11 -11/3/11 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

Flute Soloists Sir James Galway, Lady A Life Long Commitment to Music Jeanne Galway Offer Masterclass Sir James Galway, one of the world's preeminent flute soloists and a skilled interpreter of the classical flute repertoire, will share his wisdom and experience as he leads group exercises with masterclass participants on Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the Old Dominion Ballroom in Virginia Tech's Squires Student Center. The event is open to both participants and general audience members.

Lady Galway will work with younger flutists (ages 10 to 17) in a separate class held at the same time. Lady Galway is one of the world's leading flute soloists and an accomplished chamber musician, touring regularly with her trio, Zephyr.

Sir Galway studied in London and Paris before embarking on an orchestral career and serving as solo flutist with the Berlin Philharmonic. He launched a solo career in 1975 and has since sold more than 30 million albums from a discography of more than 65 CDs, including a performance on the soundtrack to "Lord of the Rings." He has performed with leading orchestras and conductors across the globe and has played for dignitaries, such as Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, President Bill Clinton, President George W. Bush,

Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway, President George H. W. Bush, and the Empress of Japan. Sir Galway has shared the stage with an array of entertainers, including Stevie Wonder, Henry Mancini, John Denver, Elton John, Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Pink Floyd, and Andrea Bocelli. He has been awarded numerous gold and platinum CDs and was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2008. He has been honored twice by Queen Elizabeth II, and was knighted in 2001 for his services to music.

Solo performers at the event will include Azusa Inaba of Winchester who received a bachelor's degree in music performance and music education

from Virginia Tech's Department of Music in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in 2009 and is currently pursuing a master's degree in flute performance at Northwestern University; and Calen Gayle of Falls Church who holds a bachelor's degree in religion and flute performance from Belmont University and is completing a master's degree in music performance at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Auditions will be held to choose a third student performer from Virginia Tech's Department of Music. The soloists will be accompanied by pianist Erica Ann Sipes, adjunct faculty member in Radford University's Department of Music.

The cost for masterclass participants is $20 and $10 for general audience members.

Payment will be accepted at the door beginning one hour prior to the class and only cash and personal checks will be accepted.

Those interested in participating should contact Elizabeth Crone( mailto:ecrone@vt.edu) to reserve a space.

For parking information go to www.parking.vt.edu/ or call 540-231-3200.

SustainFloyd Says “Get Dirty!”

SustainFloyd will everyone enjoys present the awardthese community winning documenscreenings.” tary, “Dirt! The This is the secMovie,” at 7 p.m. ond documenThursday, Novemtary to be shown ber 3rd at the Floyd in SustainFloyd’s Country Store. Ad2011 Fall Film mission is $5. The Series. The first doors will open at movie, screened 6:30 p.m. and everySeptember 22nd one is encouraged to was “The Elecarrive early to enjoy An enthusiastic crowd enjoys the first showing. tricity Fairy.” home-baked goods, The final film of “Whether you farm, garRed Rooster Coffee, fresh this year’s series will be “The den, or are just curious about popcorn and soft drinks, Economics of Happiness” on nature and the environment, available for donations. The Thursday evening, Decemthis film is mesmerizing,” said event will serve as a fundber 8th at 7 p.m. at the Floyd SustainFloyd Director Mike raiser for SustainFloyd. A Country Store.

Burton. “Viewers will have a panel discussion will follow fun, relaxed time, while gainthe movie for those who want To learn more about Susing a unique perspective on to ask questions. tainFloyd and its mission, go the earth beneath our feet. We “Dirt! The Movie” is an to www.sustainfloyd.org. know that Thursday evenings astonishing, humorous and are work/school nights, but informative look at the unapthis is NOT a late night. We preciated ground beneath our wrap things up by 9 p.m. and feet. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis narrates the film. It was directed and produced by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow.

This beautiful documentary, which won the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize Nomination, tells the story of Earth's most valuable and under appreciated source of fertility – from its miraculous beginning to its crippling SERVING THE ROANOKE VALLEY degradation.

The guys who were the “original Milli Vanilli” perform right here in Roanoke – or so jokes guitarist Jeff Todd one member of the newly formed “Dave Porter Trio.” Todd and fellow musician Craig Howland have been playing on and off together for about 40 years—and they are both around 50. When Todd and Howland, who plays drums, were neighbors living in Maryland back in the 60s, they put together a band when they were 7 years old. At least it looked like they did; they would put on records and pretend to be playing and singing—the youngsters thought if they “hid the record player behind a box,” no one would know they weren’t really the ones behind the sound (a la Milli Vanilli), according to Todd.

The boys must have pulled off the show fairly well; they have been playing in bands ever since; their latest venture is the “Dave Porter Trio.” The Trio had their debut performance last month at Annie Moore’s, where they were well received by a crowd that was stocked with longtime fans as well as many friends who were on hand to support their efforts. Summing up the music the band is including in its repertoire, Howland said, “I love the diverse styles we play, from straight-ahead jazz, to blues, to R&B, to rock and rockabilly.”

The name behind the band, Dave Porter, is an accomplished musician who has spent many years playing professionally.

He, too, began very young, as his website explains, “At the age of ten, Dave could be found on the floor of his bedroom, strumming an acoustic guitar to his brothers’ hand-me-down Beatles albums. He drummed in the school band, and by high school he’d discovered jazz and adopted the upright bass.”

Porter was a member of an “80’s southern rock/hair band

L-R Jeff Todd, Craig Howland, and Dave Porter. called “Rajun” (their lead singer was Eddie Stone from A&M recording group Doc Holliday) that played up and down the east coast. After a few years on the road, he “returned home to settle down and began to write and record” his own songs. He has stayed busy playing in weekend warrior/cover bands since the 90s, but “this [the Trio] is the only project I have on my plate at this time.”

Porter and Todd met at Carilion hospital where they both work--Todd is a cardiologist and Porter is a graphic designer.

They started playing together last year at Church of the Holy Spirit; later Porter says Todd “asked if I’d like to sit in with his jazz combo and things progressed from there into the Dave Porter Trio.”

Howland and Todd most recently played in the Jeff Todd band, which leaned heavily towards jazz—this time around as Porter says, “the trio is more focused on pop, blues, and R&B than jazz; we felt like we could offer more of an eclectic mix of music and reach a larger audience than just performing as a jazz trio.”

The Trio is encouraged; Porter says, “we are already booked at Annie Moore’s through the end of the year and have several

other venues interested.” He sees the band “evolving to include some of my originals as well as more of our own interpretations of classic songs from the 80s and 90s –like our jazz version of “Roxanne.”

One of the “original” band members from their childhood band days, Craig Howland’s younger brother, Keith headed to LA to pursue a career in music, a move which paid off; he is now in his 17th year as the guitarist for “Chicago.” Todd smiles as he says “we sort of live vicariously through Keith, but I’m glad I did it this way,” referring to pursuing his career and the ability to be home with his family.

Besides, who needs Chicago?

The Dave Porter Trio already has a loyal following—one of whom is Audrey Wiley, who was at Annie Moore’s to take photos of the band. She said “I’m taking pictures for my daughter. This is my cardiologist,” she said, nodding in Dr. Todd’s direction. Apparently she had to prove to her daughter that her longtime doctor really does play in a band.

The band will be at Annie Moore’s on Fri, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m.

For more info visit daveporterband.com

By Cheryl Hodges cheryl@newsroanoke.com

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“Wrecked” Dramatizes Why Getting Wrecked is Not the Answer A play staged by the Roanoke Children’s Theatre at the Taubman Museum of Art, and sponsored by the Roanoke County Prevention Council, is being presented through this weekend to high school audiences from all over the valley. “Wrecked,” a play originally created in Canada, highlights what happens to a family when alcoholism threatens to tear it apart. There are also shows this weekend (Oct. 29-30, at 2 p.m. each day) open to the public; tickets are $15.

Each performance of “Wrecked, which is about an hour long, is followed by a panel discussion and feedback from the audience on the subject. The federally funded Roanoke County Prevention Council works to curb abusive behaviors in teens, whether it is drug or alcohol abuse, or bullying. A grant from

the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, administered through the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, is funding the production of “Wrecked.”

The 9th graders from all seven high schools in the valley will be taken to see Wrecked at the Taubman. Last year the Prevention Council took part when the Roanoke Children’s Theatre mounted another production geared towards sixth graders, “The Secret Lives of Girls,” which focused on cyber-bullying and technology. “[That’s] when we got to know [Children’s Theatre director] Pat Wilhelms and she asked about other risk behaviors,” said Prevention Council coordinator Nancy Hans, “and we talked about underage alcohol use.”

Wilhelms found a script in

Canada, authored

by Chris Craddock, which “deals with many, many facets of the use of alcohol,” according to Hans, who has one child at Hidden Valley High School. That includes underage use, and a mother who is an alcoholic.

The older siblings try to hide that problem from the younger child, referring to it as mom’s “secret potion.” “Wrecked” is fairly comprehensive, touching on issues such as drinking and driving, how children feel when their parents drink, alcohol poisoning and drinking as a teen due to peer pressure.

Ninth graders were targeted,

explained Hans, because at that stage of high school life “true prevention” might still be possible. “The peer pressure hasn’t gotten so great [yet],” said Hans, who helped write an $8000 grant proposal to assist in funding the play.

The cast includes high school students, home schooled children and even college graduates.

Students watch the show and then participate with the cast and community members, which includes school officials, law enforcement, and medical representatives. Cast members engage the student audience by asking them questions. Each

school population has had “different reactions” to the play.

“You can see this range,” notes Hans. “Every school group has been a little different.” One thing stressed to students—brains are not fully developed until age 25, meaning alcohol and drug abuse can threaten that development.

As they leave, students receive a card instructing them what to do if they suspect a family member or a friend has suffered alcohol poisoning, and is unresponsive. Just sleeping it off isn’t the answer, and it can be fatal. “They need to get them to the hospital,” said Hans, who is hoping to schedule town hall meetings at each school soon so students can reflect on what they felt while watching “Wrecked.” They were also asked to fill out a survey about the play.

This was the first major col-

laboration between the Roanoke County Prevention Council and Roanoke Children’s Theatre; Hans said it wouldn’t be the last.

“It’s a very unique way of getting community involved [on] a very difficult subject.”

Hans believes underage drinking should not be a rite of passage, with parents looking the other way because they drank as teens. “[It’s] not inevitable,” said Hans, who encourages parents to come see “Wrecked” this weekend so they can discuss it with their high school student.

“It’s preventable - it truly is.”

See roanokechildrenstheatre. org for more on “Wrecked,” which features two matinees open to the public this weekend.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

All Saints’ Sunday Celebration, November 6 St. John’s Episcopal Church Please join us at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Downtown Roanoke on Sunday, November 6 for our annual All Saints’ Day celebration. The music will feel and sound like Easter day for our All Saints Festival.

8:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

10:15 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

5:50 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Holy Eucharist, Rite I Family Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with Children’s Church Sunday School (for all ages) Holy Eucharist, Rite II The Gathering Acoustic Eucharist Fellowship Meal The Gathering Program Hour: Youth Groups for 4th Grade High School, Children’s Sunday School, Children’s Choir, and Adult Formation * The nursery is available during all services except 8 a.m.

All Saints Sunday is a special time of remembrance for all those saints and loved ones who have graced our lives. Come give thanks at St. John’s.

St. John’s Episcopal Church

Downtown Roanoke at Jefferson and Elm Call : (540) 343-9341 Surf: www.stjohnsroanoke.org