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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel Community | News | Per spective

5/2/08

Contact us: (540) 400-0990 info@theroanokestar.com

TheRoanokeStar.com

Roanoke police use high tech weaponry

Which track will Roanoke take?

Roanoke rebuild

Photo by Lawson Koeppel

The Roanoke Police Department is phasing in use of this 40 millimeter less-thanlethal impact round.

P2– Community volunteers Saturday helped to rebuild veteran’s homes in the city for what was Christmas in April and is now National Rebuilding Day.

Photo by Stuart Revercomb

Dreamtime on stage P3– Playwright Maura Campbell tackles a real story in ‘Dreamtime’ which will be performed at The Festival of New Works.

R

oanokers head to the polls this Tuesday, May 6 and the choices for city council leadership are as varied as the number of tracks on this Norfolk Southern line in downtown Roanoke.

Do the three red lights mean the end of the line for the three incumbents – sending Roanoke in a new direction? Or will some or all make it through

for another four-year journey? Whatever your local politics, it’s important we all play our part in the political process and exercise our hard-earned right and privilege to vote. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 a.m. Put a reminder on your calendar today!

Not sure of where you vote? Call the Roanoke City Registrar (540) 853-2261.

It was just after noon on January 15 when Roanoke City Police officers responded to a call on Melrose Avenue. There they found a female mental patient trying to stab people around her with a knife.

The officers directed her to put the weapon down several times, but she refused. Instead of the situation escalating to further violence or a prolonged standoff, a sergeant on the scene utilized one of the department’s less-than-lethal weapons, a pepper ball gun, to hit the suspect in an attempt to end the situation.

The call exemplified the department’s attempts to implement technology aimed at resolving conflicts with minimal injury, but it also showed the weapons’ limitations.

Even after being exposed to the pepper balls the woman refused to let go of the knife, so one of the sergeants had to wrestle the weapon away from her. > CONTINUED P3: Less-than-lethal

Service provides sense of purpose New weekly paper

Project Faith P9– Faith Christian students, staff and parents gathered for their annual fundraiser and work project at the Rescue Mission’s Jubilee Acres Retreat Center.

Last Saturday hundreds of area youth gathered in Roanoke to participate in Global Youth Service Day, the largest service event in the world. The young people volunteered in 19 different service projects, ranging from painting to landscaping to spending time with senior citizens, with a happiness and joy in their hearts about helping out their community.

The volunteers kicked off the various projects at noon and worked diligently until 3 p.m.

And though a few showers rolled through the area, the kids were undeterred.

“I had a marvelous time getting together with other youth Photo by Matthew Reeves and volunteering in my commu- Family Services of Roanoke Valley led youth volunteers in their nity,” said Maryann Rogers, 15. clean up efforts on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

“Even though it rained, it was still noke Valley. them laugh, it helped take their a beautiful day.”

The kids share that opinion. minds off of their sickness and Afterwards, everyone gath- Nikole Kinney, 14, who attends put a little hope in their hearts. I ered together for a post-service William Fleming, said, “I like love to make people smile.” celebration at the Virginia Global Youth Service Day Family Services of Roanoke Museum of TransportaService because it is a chance to get Valley served as the lead agency tion, where the kids shared to know people and help for GYSD in Virginia. Global an abundance of pizza and out your community.”

Youth Service Day was sponsodas, a few laughs, and plenty of Steadman Soles, 13, agreed. “It sored by State Farm Companies, memories from their day. felt really good to help out.”

Oakey’s Funeral Service and The benefits of service projects Perhaps most important on the Crematory, Virginia Building such as the ones undertaken on afternoon was the opportunity Services of Roanoke, and the GYSD go far beyond helping the for some of the youth to spend Virginia Museum of Transportacommunity. time with those in need. tion. Family Services of Roanoke “Volunteering gives kids a feel“I got to help out in pediatrics Valley is a private, not-for profit ing of value within the commu- and I loved it,” said Jamelia Ford, organization that provides critinity, which is very empowering,” 16. “I like to help other people, cal human services to Roanoke said Stephanie Koehler, Director and I really liked this project Valley residents. of Development and Communi- because when we came in and

By Matthew Reeves cations at Family Service of Roa- played with those kids and made matt@theroanokestar.com

[

WahooWah P13– Virginia football coach Al Groh revs-up the Cavalier faithful at the UVA Athletics Association meeting Tuesday.

]

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off to a strong start We would like to thank all our readers, subscribers and advertisers for your support over the last six months. Your willingness to jump in and get behind this effort to create a new, unbiased and totally local news source for the Roanoke Valley has enabled us to reach this six month milestone in good health and growing weekly.

Perhaps the best news we can share is that the paper is a hit!

People all over the valley and from all walks of life continue to tell us how “happy / thrilled / excited” they are to have the StarSentinel in circulation and subscriptions continue to arrive with positive notes of support. On the advertising side, we have been extremely fortunate to have several key companies come on board and the power of advertising into the demographic we reach every week has been fantastic. Advertisers in the RSS have: • Canceled their ad because they couldn’t handle all the calls • “Purchased a new truck to handle additional deliveries” • “Had over 50 people come through an open house advertised only with us” • “Sold 2.5 times the average number of cars over a weekend.”

We knew our distribution / demographic matrix was going to work well, but even we have been surprised by the level of success our direct mail model has en-

joyed. The biggest challenge now is simply getting the word out that we are not only the most cost effective print media advertising vehicle in Roanoke, but the one that generates the best results as well!

To that end we need your help.

If you like what you’ve been seeing these past six months please encourage your neighbors and friends to pick up a copy (or give them yours!) and give us a read.

If you or someone you know is responsible for marketing a business or service please do the same and direct them to www. theroanokestar.com where they can download a rate card and get contact information. Strong subscription and advertising support are both essential to our success.

Our goal at the Roanoke StarSentinel is to become the very best positive and informative community newspaper we can be - but we can’t do it alone. If such a publication is, as it has been said, a “public trust,” then we need your’s as we seek to bring positive balanced reporting and equal editorial opportunity to your doorstep week after week.

We welcome your suggestions and feedback and offer our hearty thanks for your ongoing support!

Stuart Revercomb, Publisher Lawson Koeppel, Editor

Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/2/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

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Rebuilding Roanoke, a few houses at a time What used to be called Christmas in April is now ‘National Rebuilding Day,’ and last Saturday about 20 homes in the valley, mostly in Roanoke City, were selected from entries to be the focus of makeovers that included new paint, roofing, drywall and other carpentry. In Roanoke a joint effort between Sears and the Rebuilding Together organization, dubbed ‘Hometown Heroes,’ directed one of those makeovers at the home of David and Kassandra Styles. David Styles is a World War II veteran who saw action throughout the European theater.

On Saturday employees of the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, along with help from congregation members of Bonsack United Methodist Church, repainted the Styles’ home on Mercer Avenue in Northwest Roanoke, redid the ceilings and remod-

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Veteran David Styles (left) with team captain David Bowers. eled a circa-1920’s kitchen. The roof was patched in places as

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He’s worked with the Bonsack church for several years. “Usually we’ll wind up working for an elderly couple or a single parent who can’t [afford to] maintain their home. It’s a wonderful thing to do. Its immeasurable the amount of satisfaction you get at the end of the day.”

Former Roanoke Mayor David Bowers, now an independent candidate for his old seat, was a team captain for the project. He shook hands with David Styles as the WWII veteran sat outside in a minivan with other family members. “I appreciate all they are doing. I never thought [anyone] would do that work for me,” said Styles, who was surprised that the family’s application for the Rebuilding Together project was chosen.

“I never would have had that done.” His wife, Kassandra, said she was, “happy. It’s going to be beautiful. It shows love – deep serious love and I’m proud. It lets you know what America can do – for anybody, especially for the veterans. Its beautiful.” Sears, Lowe’s and K-Mart donated materials for the Styles home remodeling on Mercer Avenue.

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5/2/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3

TheRoanokeStar.com

‘Dreamtime’ at Mill Mountain tackles a tough subject - and a true story

Two plays will be presented during the Norfolk Southern Festival of New Works this year at Mill Mountain Theatre (May 7-17). The two productions will run in repertory on the smaller Waldron Stage, meaning they will alternate, changing sets and costumes every night. The same cast with several additions or subtractions will handle both ‘Splitting Heirs,’ a farce based on an 18th century French work, and ‘Dreamtime’ - a considerably different type of new play.

‘Dreamtime,’ by Vermont resident Maura Campbell, is based on a true story, the 2001 murder of Half and Susan Zantop, German-born Dartmouth professors killed by two teenage boys.

“It loomed large in my imagination [at the time],” says Campbell, “how could this happen? It was not only senseless but random.” The boys lived in Chelsea, Vermont and Campbell, now a student in the Masters of Fine Arts summer program for playwrights at Hollins University, encountered or knew of them because she was staging a play with students at the high school there.

“They were part of the community,” she recalls. Campbell said the two boys (Noah and Willy in her play) were well-liked, AllAmerican types, not the loners associated with the Columbine or Virginia Tech shootings. At a long glance there was nothing whatsoever that suggested that this could happen. If affected her profoundly as well.

“This was an event in my life that had more meaning than I could possibly have known,” Campbell said.

children and has written several dozen plays. She has also taught at various levels in the past and was excited to find out about the unique Hollins summer MFA program, which takes place over five consecutive summers. Despite the tragic overtones of the Zantop real-life murders or that of their fictional Adler counterparts, Campbell says there is plenty of humor in her play, “laughs and lightness,” she calls it, even on the day the characters are killed. She says in real life the small town where the Zantops were murdered “has never really recovered from it. It went in deep. [I felt] like it happened to me too.” Campbell calls it a sense of community and healing: “there is so much tragedy in our society. So much that is hurting Photo by Gene Marrano

psychological examination, not just the mind of the students involved in the killing, but the entire community and by extension the community of the nation. The audience themselves become part of the play.” He also feels a stage version of the Zantop murders is less prone to exploitation than would a movie or TV production. “An almost tribal notion of collective healing,” he calls it. Ristau says Mill Mountain is the only regional theater in the area that routinely stages new plays, not just the tried and true crowd pleasers. “I just can’t say enough about it.”

Campbell is no star-struck 22-year-old just out of fouryear school: she has four grown

> Less-than-lethal From page 1

Lt. Mac Babb, who has served in the department for 17 years, said it all comes down to a suspect’s will.

“There’s always been a problem in law enforcement of developing something that will end confrontational situations without anyone getting hurt,” Babb said. “The reality is that there is simply no silver bullet – often it comes down to the mental state of the suspect and the circumstances and environment in which officers find themselves.

And that’s really where a lot of less-than-lethal technology either succeeds or fails – on the basis of how bad a person wants to do what they’re trying to do.”

Roanoke officers have access to five different types of less-than lethal-technology: pepper spray, batons, bean bag rounds, pepper ball guns and 40 millimeter sponge rounds fired from a specialized gun.

Though the 40 millimeter rounds are the newest technology the department is implementing most of the technology that has been in use by the department for decades.

The oldest technology in use are the officers’ batons, though they’ve changed a lot since the keystone movies. Today’s are collapsable and easier to carry.

“It’s considered less lethal technology becuase you’re usually striking towards muscle mass areas,” Babb said. “There again, it’s going to depend on how bad the person is committed because there are people that are not affected by baton strikes, which is also kind of scary.”

A step above the brute force of a baton is the department’s use of pepper spray. Babb said that prior to 1992 officers were using chemical weapons like Mace but decontamination was usually difficult so officers were hesitant to use it.

“Once you contaminated somebody with it they were stuck with it, and if you got it in your car, it was in your car,” Babb said.

The department then moved to a pepper-based spray. The active ingredient in the spray is Oleoresin Capsicum, which is a kind of cyan pepper that’s processed several times until it reaches the base resin.

Babb said the department uses a pepper spray rated at 2 million Scoval Heat Units. To give you an idea of the heat packed into the spray, a jalepeno pepper is rated at between 2,500 and 8,000.

The pepper spray is an inflam-

matory that causes involuntary eye closure and mucus production.

Essentially it irritates the heck out of someone, but the effects wear off within about 45 minutes.

“There have been no documented deaths caused by it,” Babb said.

“About the only injury you get is if someone rubs into their eyes hard it can cause damage, but the product itself doesn’t.

The officers have different ways of delivering the spray. Each officer has a small canister of spray they carry as a part of their field equipment. Supervisors carry what the department calls a ‘command pack’ that contains crowd control canisters and other situation-specific ways of administering the spray.

The pepper ball gun, which was used in the Melrose incident, looks just like a typical paintball gun. The key difference being the contents of the rounds, which is a powder version of the pepper spray. What the gun does is increase the range of the irritant from four to six feet with the spray, to 30 to 60 feet with the pepper balls. The powder medium also means officers don’t have to hit the suspect directly, they can hit walls or areas around the suspect and the resulting dust cloud will leave more than enough material to irritate.

Babb said the gun isn’t standard issue to each officer in the field.

Supervisors carry the weapons, which means there are about four to six of them in the field at any one time.

Though the spray and powder are effective in the vast majority of cases, Babb said there are some people who are simply immune to the substance “We’ve had people that were sprayed and were like, ‘don’t do that anymore,’ which is not a good feeling,” Babb said, “especially when you’re by yourself.”

Babb said the tactical response team has two other less-than-lethal weapons at their disposal.

The oldest is a simple shotgun that fires beanbag rounds. The rounds are designed to stun the victim. The problem with that technology is the velocity involved.

“The closer you get to somebody with this particular round, there is a chance of penetration,” Babb said.

He said the shotgun has been used twice.

“One time the person was more committed than the round and

the second time the person simply gave up,” Babb said.

Because of the potential for penetration the department is transitioning to a 40 millimeter impact round. The round is a hard sponge material fired from a riot gun.

“It can be used at closer distances without concern for penetration, as [close] as five feet away... and out to about 80 feet away,” Babb said.

The distance is key because someone can close within the safe range of the shotgun making the round lethal.

Babb said the impact rounds haven’t been used yet.

Babb said that though the department is interested in resolving situations without serious harm, a lot of it is up to what suspects are wielding.

“These three [pepper ball gun, bean bag rounds and 40 millimeter rounds] typically come in to play when you’re dealing with someone who’s armed to start with, other than a handgun,” Babb said. “Once you go to a firearm, all of these pretty much get removed.

They could be put into play, but there’s obviously a lot more danger. The officers are only going to accept so much risk to put these into play.”

He said the best less-than-lethal technology is the officers themselves.

“These are nothing more than tools and the most important tool an officer has is his mind and being able to address the situation. they are all trained to be problem solvers and they’re all trained to try and resolve situations peacefully,” Babb said. “It’s never anyone’s goal for there to be any type of violence, but unfortunately sometimes people make poor decisions and sometimes poor decisions have consequences and we try to lessen those consequences.”

is at Mill Mountain Theatre from May 7-17. For more information. mi l lmounBy Gene Marrano tain.org gmarrano@cox.net

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Salem Civic Center 7-9 pm Call to learn more: 774-7601 or 877-774-7601 www.fsboroanoke.com

        

“Dreamtime” director Todd Ristau and playwright Maura Campbell.

‘Dreamtime’ is not the straight retelling of a tragic event however, as Campbell tries to get inside the head of the Zantops, portrayed as Jorg and Greta Adler in the play’s thinly disguised fiction. It was first made public via staged readings in Vermont several months ago but the Mill Mountain production is ‘Dreamtime’s’ official debut. “I was really inspired and gratified not only in people’s interest in seeing the play,” recalls Campbell of the Vermont readings, “but how they reacted to it.”

Todd Ristau, who runs the Hollins MFA program and founded ‘No Shame Theatre’ at Mill Mountain, is also directing ‘Dreamtime.’ “It’s a much more

and painful. I do want people to experience some kind of catharsis seeing this play.” The Norfolk Southern Festival of New Works

                                                                                                                                     

   

   

4-28-08

By Lawson Koeppel lkoeppel@theroanokestar.com

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Page 4 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/2/08

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Lost wallet is reminder that good deeds and bad deeds abound

A

friend of mine left her wallet on top of her car after talking to two other women in the car beside her as she filled her gas tank last week. One of the other women seemed not to feel well.

My friend consoled her and introduced her to her dog, then left, not realizing the situation with the wallet.

Ninety seconds later she was back at the store, looking for the wallet in the parking lot and on Virginia 419. There was no sign of it, or the women.

My friend’s apprehension over the loss of her driver’s license, credit cards, money and other possessions diminished

your fellow humans as she drove the two in a hurry, then go to hours to her home in www.baltimoresun. a nearby state. com and read about Surely, she thought, her. her new women Reporter Justin friends had noticed Fenton starts by deit and soon would scribing the suicide notify her that they McKay may or may had it. not have faked when I interrupt this Joe Kennedy she left her car and little tale to tell you a note by the water’s about an astonishing portrait on Sunday’s Balti- edge in Ocean City, Md., in more Sun Website, the first in 2003.

With the note were the packa three-part series about Cindy McKay, a one-woman crime aging to an inflatable raft and wave who wrecked and ruined the sales slip for a pair of oars lives and property all across purchased a day earlier from Wal-Mart, plus an empty botMaryland.

If you want to lose faith in tle of hydrocodone and other things. It appeared as if she

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planned to drown herself.

But, Fenton writes, “Soon enough … investigators were doubting that scenario. Was suicide really a conceivable ending for Cindy McKay, a woman who never backed into a corner she felt she couldn’t back right out of, a con she couldn’t play, a mark she couldn’t dupe?

“The mother of six, McKay was … a brazen, often-convicted thief who pilfered hundreds of thousands of dollars from small businesses, from a Catholic seminary, from a charity, from the aged, from lovers, from many who had trusted her. She outlasted two of the men in her life, both victims of unnatural deaths, and

was the instigator - at the least - in a homicide that eventually landed two of her sons as well as herself behind bars.

“Through it all, she demonstrated the nerves of a sapper coupled with an indifference to the harm she inflicted on others - employers, good Samaritans or her blood kin.

Once she even claimed that her father was dead so that she could swipe title to his home.

She was moxie married to malevolence.”

I don’t know how many Good Samaritans it takes to make up for every Bad Seed in the world, but I do know this: Too often, the kindnesses we encounter seem minimal compared to the

evil that we read about or, unluckily, bump into.

I have never run into a Cindy McKay. I don’t even want to think about her – and yet I can’t stop, and I certainly will read the rest of the series.

I also will try to remember the person or people who delivered my friend’s wallet, with its contents undisturbed, to the Salem Police Department, so she could return and fetch it.

We think the women at the gas station did it.

God bless ‘em, and everybody like ‘em, if they did

Contact Joe at pilarcik2@cox.net

Laughter in a family is an indispensable ingredient

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aughter is an ingredient in a family much like yeast is to bread: essential. Yeast is the key ingredient to make the bread rise after it has been punched and kneaded, and if you have ever made bread and forgotten the yeast, you know just what I mean. Without the yeast, the dough doesn’t have the energy to rise and become tasty bread. I will never forget the time when laughter was our saving grace!

One year when selling a home, my do-it-yourself husband decided that he would change the electrical outlets to update the old ones on the very day we listed the house. I was nervous about him doing this because I just wasn’t sure he was all together qualified. I had visions of wires being crossed and smoke pouring out of the electrical outlets.

I also didn’t want to get caught in the middle of the project if we got a call from the realtor.

Well, as you might imagine,

this was the reason for after a day full of projthe putrid odor. Hopects, one being the uping he had solved the grading of electrical problem, the electricioutlets, we received a ty was turned back on, call from the realtor but the odor became saying that she had even more pungent. a serious client and wanted to show the The clock was ticking house in thirty minso we opened winutes! Immediately dows and turned on we started tearing the whole house fan Diane Kelly to rid the house of through the house, cleaning up from the day’s work. the horrible odor. Believe me, we The electricity was turned back were not laughing! We couldn’t on, and we set the timer for a find the source of the smell, and “beat the clock” cleanup routine. our time was just about up.

As I sat on the edge of the It wasn’t long before we started smelling something funny. It bed, frustrated and exhausted, I smelled like something burning! looked up and something caught I knew it: the house was going to my eye. A dark blue singed sock burn down even before we sold was hanging on the bare light bulb of a wall sconce just over it!

We turned the electricity off the dirty clothes basket in the again, and immediately dropped corner of the room. The sock to the floor to sniff outlets. The had been tossed to the basket acrid odor was strongest in our like a ball in a hoop when we bedroom and subsided with the started cleaning up, but this one electricity turned off, so my hus- didn’t quite make it. We pried band rewired the outlet, thinking the blackened sock from the hot

bulb, threw it out the window, and had a really good laugh. In not too long, the doorbell rang and on opening the door we explained the curious smell and shared a few laughs. In the end, those folks purchased our house, but not without a few changes to the electrical outlets.

Don’t forget how very valuable laughter is when going through stressful times as a family. Laughter keeps us sane when times are difficult, and let’s face it; life is just hard at times. If we can enjoy a good story, even if we have to laugh at ourselves, we can rise above many a difficult situation. After that incident, I started a collection of funny stories and put it in a file marked, “the laughs on me.” Someday, I’ll write about the load of fresh chicken manure unloaded in my backyard to help the grass grow.

Contact Diane at dianekelley@gmail.com

Welcoming back the players of an Appalachian Spring

F

erns: Northern maidenhair ferns hold their most delicate and perfect symmetry in late April, gathering light in the glades before the overstory fills in completely. If God made ferns to show what he could do with a leaf as Thoreau suggested, He inspired their names as poetry. When I am alone, I may say them out loud seeing them for the first time each spring like greeting old friends. Interrupted fern; New York fern; cinnamon, Christmas, sensitive and hay-scented ferns.

Onoclea sensibilis. Thelypteris noveboracensis.

Dennstaedtia punctilobula. Osmunda cinnamomea. Welcome back!

Mayapple: I have my own personal yardstick for measuring the seasons. While the arrival of the spiders that spin their webs across our path marks mid-summer, to mark mid-spring, the blooming of mayapple is the key. Their wadded twists of leaves appear almost overnight in early May, and when it is officially mid-spring on Goose Creek, the mayapple will bear the single waxy white flower hidden underneath.

Morels: Found this morning: three morel mushrooms by accident - enough to provide the suggestion of earthiness to the stroganoff tonight. Three more would have been better. On the intentional foray this afternoon with bag in hand, I became con-

vinced that mushrooms Covering the old postcan disguise themselves al road up the valley, and beoame invisible. their white flower petHint for next year: Nevals lie scattered underer carry a collecting bag foot like confetti the where the morels can day after an outdoor see it. wedding. Well get Blackberries: It is none of the little red looking like a good berfruits. The turkeys and ry year ahead, up on the grouse, chipmunks logged land behind the and groundhogs and Fred First house. The ravaged forespecially the box turest is coming back now tles will gobble them in lithe, fast-growing white pines up even while the berries are still and many, many berries. We’ve green. Life is not always fair when already notified some friends that it comes to wild fruit. they are welcome to come pick as Hemlocks: Sadly, we’ve not yet much as they want later this sum- seen the first black throated blue mer. Bring your own buckets, we warblers this year, and I’m afraid told them. Well provide the ber- they will become more and more ries, the scratches and the ticks. uncommon as our once magnifiWild Strawberries: We’ve lived cent darkest green hemlock trees here long enough now that we succumb to the insect called the know not to expect to harvest wooly adelgid. Our hillsides were many of the wild strawberries. once covered with the black-green

fronds of hemlock, my favorite tree. Now they stand gaunt and gray, sad skeletons with boney arms uplifted, frozen in a final unanswered prayer.

Fireflies: Last night late, we saw the first flashes in ones and twos.

These are the earliest fireflies just practicing for the Hallelujah Chorus of Fireflies that will come in legions by late June. I close my eyes and see, in memory of summers past, a constellation of pulsing yellow-golden lights. They will come down to earth on a June night when we can smell the warm meadow in the dark, and we will see in the distance, at the edge of vision, silent flashes of summer lightning.

Contact Fred at fred1st@gmail.com

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel C o m mu n i t y | N ew s | Pe r s p e c t i ve Publisher | Stuart Revercomb | stuart@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Editor | Lawson Koeppel | lkoeppel@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Advertising Dir. | Vickie Henderson | advertising@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Technical Webmaster | Don Waterfield | anrpgpgmr@yahoo.com | 400-0990 Star: to lift up that which is right, real and genuine about our community – the people and events that make us who we are – the real spirit of Roanoke that past residents and leaders have worked hard to create, that points us towards the bright and shining future that we all desire for our valley.

Sentinel: to guard the truth, with consistent and complete coverage of key local issues that provides balanced reporting and equal editorial opportunity. To fully tell all sides of a story so that readers can make their own informed opinions, and express them to positively impact others and our community.

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5/2/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

Are local zoning laws simply Socialist-style central planning?

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hat if you had to go before a government committee to ask permission any time you wanted to make a modification to your home? What if that committee said you weren’t allowed to replace your windows with the $100 windows you were planning to buy, but instead, you’d have to replace them with $300 windows, because they “fit in� better with how the government wanted your neighborhood to look?

What if the government could tell you what color you could paint your home, what type of fence – if any – you were allowed to build in your backyard, and that you couldn’t plant your favorite trees and bushes because they weren’t on the government’s approved list? Is this a little reminiscent of the Soviet Union?

Actually, this is your community. The very restrictions I mention above happen right here in the Roanoke Valley, and

this is what zoning home more livable laws, zoning boards, for her handicapped and architectural remom. view boards do every Last week, Anselmo day. If you’ve made was found guilty and modifications to your fined $200, and could home or land and face additional CRIMhaven’t gotten perINAL charges and mission and haven’t fines until she takes gotten in trouble, the doors off and puts maybe it’s just behe window back. Yes, Brian Gottstein cause you haven’t she was found guilty been caught yet. of a CRIME for havTake the story of Paula Ansel- ing “unapproved� doors on her mo who lives in Roanoke’s Old home, comrade.

Southwest. She replaced her This isn’t an isolated incident. front window with French doors There are many such stories. to help her wheelchair-bound But most don’t make it to court mother have easier access to her or to the media because most porch. homeowners don’t have the The doors violated a historic time or money to fight the govzoning ordinance in that neigh- ernment’s virtually unlimited borhood. The Architectural Re- dollars. Homeowners generally view Board denied her petition give in, thinking they “can’t fight to keep the doors, and when she city hall.� appealed, Roanoke City Council Those who feel zoning laws upheld the board’s ruling. The are necessary are often neighbureaucrats and elected over- borhood busy bodies, centralseers on high gave thumbs down planning bureaucrats, and peoto a citizen wanting to make her ple who stand to profit from the

restrictions. When these laws are made over such subjective things as the color someone decides to paint his house or the kind of door he decides to put on his porch, it is out of hand.

Zoning proponents claim the laws keep people from making their homes less attractive and by osmosis, “devaluing� other houses in the neighborhood; or the laws force aesthetic conformity among homes, creating a neighborhood “identity.�

Using their logic, I could claim that we should have zoning laws prohibiting more than two children living in a house, because the noise they make and the toys they leave in the yard could lower the value of my house if I decide to sell it to people who don’t like children.

Their logic already has created “government-approved� tree and plant lists, roofing material lists, paint color lists, and more.

Where does it end?

People who want to live in “controlled� neighborhoods

have the freedom to buy homes in private developments with homeowners’ associations, where they voluntarily choose to live under restrictions that make their neighborhoods more homogeneous.

But allowing the central planners in government to exercise dominion over us and our pri-

vate property rights – some the most important freedom we have – means we really don have any property rights at a Just ask Paula Anselmo.

Contact Brian bgottstein1@yahoo.co

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City council distracted by less important issues

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oanoke City Council Candidates avoid the important issues The Roanoke City Council Mayoral Elections are May 6th. I know who I’m going to support. But, I have to admit that the candidates aren’t talking about the nuts and bolts issues that need to be tackled in Roanoke. These issues aren’t sexy, won’t make people go to the polls on Election Day and are controversial. As a city, we have more important issues to worry about than putting a restaurant on top of Mill Mountain (who cares, as long as it’s done without taxpayer’s money) or building an amphitheatre in a flood zone, which with the possible exception of spending $1 million on a downtown trolley line, is about as dumb an idea as I’ve heard in a long time, especially when City Council says it wants to revitalize downtown. These types of issues only keep our minds off of what really needs to be done in Roanoke.

R

Roanoke desperately in a recession? This is needs a new police just bad government. chief.

I’ll give you the new Joe Gaskins doesn’t art museum and imhave it - never did, provements to the City never will. Low moMarket. I said ten years rale, high turnover, ago that Roanoke’s man power shortages, downtown should be scandals, manipulated patterned after Washpolice data, bad comington, D.C.’s Georgemunity relations and town if it is going to Jeff Artis survive. There’s a difquestionable police ference between a city tactics are just some of the problems facing the Roanoke government investing in public/ Police Department. Gaskins has private partnerships with obvihad plenty of time to correct these ous mutual benefits for everyone problems. But he hasn’t. Instead, involved and a city government these problems have gotten worse. supporting a private developer for It’s time to show Gaskins the door. the sole purpose of projected tax Why has Roanoke City Council revenue, which in the case of Roabecome the “sugar daddy� for pri- noke City Council, never seems to materialize. Private developvate development?

Private development should ers should go to banks for their be just that, private development. investment money, not Roanoke And why is Roanoke City Council City Council. investing in downtown housing There aren’t enough books projects when the housing mar- in our schools for our children, ket has gone belly up and we are haven’t been for years. Teachers,

police and firemen/EMS are underpaid. Roanoke’s infrastructure is old and badly needs repairs.

City sidewalks are needed so citizens, especially our children, don’t have to walk in the street in so many of our neighborhoods. We need a quality police sub-station in Northwest Roanoke with proper staffing. The fastest growing industry in Roanoke is the drug trade, with drug gangs bringing contraband into the Roanoke Valley from as far away as Florida, Texas and New York. The business of exploiting illegal aliens is alive and well throughout the Roanoke Valley.

No, these issues aren’t sexy.

However, these issues are more important than the issues that have been talked about in this election cycle.

Let’s hope Roanokers makes the best vote possible.

Contact Jeff at jeff@jeffartis.com

Before you move - beware the hounds

ecently, I learned that a young family had purchased my next door neighbor’s home. I will miss our former neighbors; they were a wonderfully patient couple, with an above average tolerance for noise. I am hoping the same holds true for the new brood.

Allow me to explain. My home is a ceaseless exporter of sounds.

Aside from the endless caravan of boisterous teenagers who frequent my home, there is also my musical son who has chosen the drums to express his appreciation of music. However, neither of the aforementioned disturbances of the peace can match the lilting tones produced by our other family members - four hound dogs named Belle, Shiloh, Roscoe and Mya. Hounds are an appealing blend of comedy, chaos and catastrophe. One has to truly love them to own them.

Let me run down the roster for you.

Belle, a black and tan coated Bassett Hound, is the senior dog of the group. Most of Belle’s day is spent sleeping or being adored by our two male dogs. Belle must be a pretty hot number in the hound world, as both males, Shiloh and Roscoe, constantly vie for her attention. Shiloh enjoys chewing on Belle’s ears as if they were a raw hide bone, and Belle loves it. I feel almost embarrassed to watch. Roscoe is far more overt in his approach, choosing to French kiss Belle to the point of gagging her. His clumsy romantic attempts are often spurned by Belle, preferring the delicate ear-work of her other admirer.

Stricken with diabetes when Franklin Road. This poor overhe was a pup and nearly blind, wrought pup clings to my wife Shiloh (a skinny beagle-mix) is a like a barnacle, wedging herself stealth-like creature who quietly into the smallest spaces just to be strolls around the house and yard next to “Mommy�. without bumping into a stick of Anyone passing within thirty furniture. His feet of my house bat like sonar is treated to a Jon Kaufman is remarkable! raucous chorus Shiloh could be of barking by our a seeing eye dog for a seeing eye seemingly vicious pack. Those dog. This is not to say that Shiloh who access the alley behind our is void of vision issues. Some- home get the full-on all dog times Shiloh’s failing vision will alert “manhunt� treatment, as place him in a difficult situation. the gang howls and stalks them Lately Shiloh has been mistaking along the fence-line.

Roscoe (our male Bassett) for Although each hound is Belle (our female Basset), much unique in its own very endearto Roscoe’s chagrin. These inap- ing way, they all share one compropriate “Brokeback Bassett� mon passion; they all love to moments normally result in a sing. When I say “sing� imagine furious dog-on-dog teeth gnash- a maddening conglomeration ing melee. of yips which could drown out In the Southern vernacular a hotel fire alarm system. Our Roscoe is “dumb as a bag of ham- canine quartet combines two mers�. He is an iron-stomached full-toned Bassett’s providing brute who has eaten everything the bass line, a vigorous Coonfrom a bowl full of potpourri hound baritone and the world’s to an entire box of Nyquil Gel- foremost blind beagle-mix tenor. tabs (some grogginess, slept ‘til Mix these elements together and Tuesday). When Roscoe charges neighbors have been known to through the house, the entire flee the vicinity faster than you edifice shakes like a 6.8 Frisco can say “for sale by owner.� quake. Some people think of This cold-nosed glee club perBassett Hounds as small dogs, forms at all hours of the day and but they are actually big dogs night. When my wife leaves the without the benefit of legs. They house, emotions run high. The are, essentially, a furry ottoman mournful wale of the hounds with floppy ears. creates a kind of bereaved blues Finally, there is Mya our pup- riff. They are sure that she has py Coonhound. Mya is the most abandoned them, never to renervous dog I have ever seen. turn. Seconds later she steps When startled by a loud noise back into the house holding the Mya races through the house, mail and joy is restored to their tail tucked, leaving a wet trail doggy world. in her wake. If my son grabs his To my newest neighbors, aldrumsticks, Mya becomes un- low me to apologize in advance. controllably hysterical, darting If it’s any consolation, I have enaround our living room like a dured this bedlam for years with hell-bent squirrel trying to cross only a slight percentage of hear-

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2 story log cabin w/ stone foundation Circa 1790, good condition. Situated on 15.73 acres of rolling land. Stream ď ?ď Żď Źď Šď ´ď Šď Łď Ąď Ź ď ď ¤ď śď Ľď ˛ď ´ď Šď łď Ľď ­ď Ľď Žď ´ ď ?ď Ąď Šď ¤ ď Śď Żď ˛ ď Ąď Žď ¤ ď ď ľď ´ď ¨ď Żď ˛ď Šď şď Ľď ¤ ď ˘ď š ď ƒď€Ž ď Žď Ľď Źď łď Żď Ž ď ˆď Ąď ˛ď ˛ď Šď ł meanders through land. Secluded, one of the kind. $579,950.

ď ď ƒď ¨ď Ąď Žď §ď Šď Žď § ď ’ď Żď Ąď Žď Żď Ťď Ľ ď‚“ď ?ď Żď łď Šď ´ď Šď śď Ľ ď Łď ¨ď Ąď Žď §ď Ľď ł ď Ąď ˛ď Ľ ď ´ď Ąď Ťď Šď Žď § ď °ď Źď Ąď Łď Ľ ď Šď Ž ď Ľď śď Ľď ˛ď š ď °ď Ąď ˛ď ´ ď Żď Ś ď ´ď ¨ď Ľ ď Łď Šď ´ď šď€Ž ď —ď Ľď‚’ď ˛ď Ľ ď §ď Ąď Šď Žď Šď Žď § ď Ą ď ­ď Żď ­ď Ľď Žď ´ď ľď ­ ď ´ď ¨ď Ąď ´ď‚’ď ł ď ¨ď Ľď Ąď Źď ´ď ¨ď š ď Śď Żď ˛ ď ´ď Żď ¤ď Ąď š ď Ąď Žď ¤ ď Śď Żď ˛ ď ´ď ¨ď Ľ ď Źď Żď Žď § ď ˛ď ľď Žď€Ž ď ‰ď ´ď‚’ď ł ď Ą ď ­ď Żď ­ď Ľď Žď ´ď ľď ­ ď ´ď ¨ď Ąď ´ ď łď ¨ď Żď ˇď ł ď ˇď Ľď‚’ď ˛ď Ľ ď Żď Ž ď ´ď ¨ď Ľ ď ˛ď Šď §ď ¨ď ´ ď ´ď ˛ď Ąď Łď Ťď€Ž ď‚“ď ‰ ď ˇď Ąď Žď ´ ď ´ď Ż ď ¨ď Ľď Źď ° ď Šď ­ď °ď ˛ď Żď śď Ľ ď ´ď ¨ď Ľ ď °ď Ľď ˛ď Śď Żď ˛ď ­ď Ąď Žď Łď Ľ ď Żď Ś ď Żď ľď ˛ ď łď Łď ¨ď Żď Żď Źď łď€Ź ď Źď ľď ˛ď Ľ ď ­ď Żď ˛ď Ľ ď §ď Żď Żď ¤ ď Şď Żď ˘ď łď€Ź ď Ąď Žď ¤ ď Łď Żď Žď ´ď Šď Žď ľď Ľ ď ´ď Ż ď ­ď Ąď Ťď Ľ ď Żď ľď ˛ ď ąď ľď Ąď Źď Šď ´ď š ď Żď Ś ď Źď Šď Śď Ľ ď ´ď ¨ď Ľ ď ˘ď Ľď łď ´ ď Šď Ž ď –ď Šď ˛ď §ď Šď Žď Šď Ąď€Ž ď‚“ď Œď Ľď ´ď‚’ď ł ď Ťď Ľď Ľď ° ď ’ď Żď Ąď Žď Żď Ťď Ľ ď ­ď Żď śď Šď Žď §ď€Žď‚” ď‚— ď ?ď Ąď šď Żď ˛ ď Žď Ľď Źď łď Żď Ž ď ˆď Ąď ˛ď ˛ď Šď ł

ď Žď Ľď Źď łď Żď Ž ď ˆď Ąď ˛ď ˛ď Šď ł ď Śď Żď ˛ ď ?ď Ąď šď Żď ˛

PersPeCtiVe

Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/2/08

N

TheRoanokeStar.com

A little bit of competition continues to go a long way

ot that it was one of our primary goals, but I have contended all along that having more than one newspaper in a community is a very healthy thing and that given time we would make The Roanoke Times a much better newspaper.

Well, it certainly didn’t take long. Within days of our first edition it was reported that Goliath was having “top level” meetings to discuss how to rid himself of the new upstart weekly. The first proclamation they made was that, “any reporters writing for the Star-Sentinel would never be allowed to write for the Times or any of their sister companies again” (The Blue Ridge Business Journal etc.). Ample pressure was put upon several independent writers with whom we had contracted including environmental writer extraordinaire Liza Field, who bravely resisted and said that she would honor her

commitment with the RSS regardless of what the Times did. (This, in spite of the fact that she might lose a substantial amount of readers in outlying counties that represent a large part of her topical audience.) But as we expected the Times backed down in the face of her refusal (what were they going to do – fire their best writer?) and Liza remained on board.

Meanwhile, a sudden flurry of cut rate advertising specials hit the Roanoke print media market. According to several potential clients, the Times dropped their rates precipitously in what could only be construed as an effort to keep us out of as many doors as possible.

It made opening up the market a bit more difficult but as the classic Food Lion commercial used to say, “We hope you won’t forget who lowered your food prices.”

In January it became evident to all who followed the Alfred Dowe

credit card scandal that but fairly called them the story would have on the carpet for it. never been reported Gottstein questioned had the Star-Sentinel the editorial bias with not been pursuing it as which Times writer well. (A Times employShanna Flowers had ee admitted as much.) defended the actions But it ultimately led reof Dowe and then (inporter Laurence Hamcredulously enough) mock to dig deeper her willingness to several days later dur- Stuart Revercomb attack Brian Wishing which he discovneff for not spending ered the smoking gun that was enough on his credit card. This led Dowe’s duplicitous spending. Was Roanoke Times Editor Carole Tarthat good journalism? You bet. rant to personally call Liza Field But would it have occurred before and threaten to finally terminate the arrival of the Star-Sentinel? her as a writer if she continued to Clearly not. (See “The anatomy write for the Star-Sentinel. Sadly, of a news story” in our Feb 29th Liza was faced with little choice but to comply given her need to edition.)

The fact that the Times would be in front of a greater audience in sit on information for over three more rural outlying areas. (Many weeks and then only move on of you have been wondering about it under competitive duress her departure and now you know was more than columnist Brian the reason.)

Shortly thereafter the Times Gottstein could take and he firmly

continued their aggression towards your friendly little weekly by hiring our top story writer, Cathy Benson, away from us. Cathy offered the Star-Sentinel a wonderful, relaxed voice and her skill at covering the small stories that make a big difference in a community was considerable. They simply offered her more than we could afford to pay. To hire away your competition’s employees away is “business” to be sure, but its not very nice business.

Lately the Times has honored us further by producing three separate direct mail weekly newspapers to compete with us in various parts of Roanoke city and Salem. This again is business and we welcome it – it’s likely to make us a better paper as well.

But there will always be one thing they can’t change and that is the simple fact that they will always be who they are – a large

conglomerate-owned daily whose profit requirements and culturedriven news gathering will be inherent in everything they do.

That’s not so much a criticism as it is an observation. One’s skin is ultimately attached to one’s bones.

And know that we will keep doing our best to be who we are – a diverse weekly paper devoted to bringing out the best in our community: positive but willing to offer criticism when warranted, thorough but forgiving of the human limitations that beset us all and persevering yet considerate of the fact that sometimes circumstances can conspire against even the most well meaning among us.

Hopefully, that’s something of who you expect us to be. Please let us know how we’re doing.

Contact RSS Publisher Stuart Revercomb at rev@cox.net

Where would my life have gone, where would I be on this night, if not for him

W

here did those fifty years go? That’s the question on my mind. Class reunions have a way of marking time that has slipped by almost unnoticed.

Soon, I will be off to Davidson College to celebrate (is that the right word?) the half-century

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since we graduated.

I recall my dad coming to pick me up at the end of my sophomore year; his class was marking their 30th reunion. Although I did not mention it, to me he seemed quite elderly. Then he introduced me to several of his professors who were attending

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their half-century mark. Not only were they conscious, they all were remarkably clear of mind.

That I would ever reach such a milestone was the furthest thing on my mind.

When I attended my 25th reunion, my daughter was graduating. Recently, I told her of my upcoming event and she confided that she had had the same thoughts I had years before: Never would she see her 25th. But here it is!

The fact that I ever attended Davidson is a testament to the College’s admission policy in

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those halcyon days even three prisoners of the 1950s. If would not be in a cell you were the son so small. of an alumnus and As classes comhe was a Presbymenced I found terian minister, myself in a student they would accept body of 900 men (as you. The fact that we were euphemisI ranked 287th in tically called). Out a class of 325 at of that group would Jefferson Senior come governors, Hayden Hollingsworth High School did senators, congressnot, apparently, men, presidents factor into their decision. of Wachovia and First Union, When I arrived on campus in an editor of Time Magazine, the the fall of 1954, I was astounded CEO of Knight-Ridder Publishto find that many of my class- ing, multiple Fulbright winners mates had graduated from Epis- and two Rhodes Scholars. To say copal High, Woodberry Forest, that I was out of my depth is an Darlington, or Baylor—tony prep understatement of monumental schools all. They spoke with an proportions. urbanity and poise that left me One evening, while re-reading speechless. the admission requirements in Three days of orientation and the catalogue, I was shocked to scholastic testing introduced us to see the following statement: “All the rigors we were about to face. matriculations are conditional Our scores were not shared with for the first thirty days. You may us, at least not then. My dorm be asked to leave without cause.” room was on the fourth floor of I wondered each time there was a building in which my dad had a knock on the door if it were the been housed. It was tiny. A set Dean telling me to pack my bags. of bunk beds, a cot, three desks, Well, the knock did come but a sink, and a miniscule closet ac- not in the fashion I had feared. commodated two roommates, My history professor was the one of whom had enrolled under Dean of Students, Dr. Spencer, the same guidelines as I. Today himself a Davidson graduate.

Our first exam included such questions as, “Describe the unification of Brandenburg-Prussia.

Give dates and key participants.”

“Discuss (in detail) five areas of the Renaissance that changed Western thinking.” I wondered if Brandenburg-Prussia was near King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. In the lexicon of western history how had the thoughts of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry been influenced by the Renaissance?

Around such were built my answers.

When the test was returned there was not a mark on it, only a large letter R at the top with a note: Please make an appointment to see me. That, indeed, was the knock on the door. With my suitcase already out of the closet, I went to the Dean’s office in what turned out to be five minutes that changed my life.

“Hayden,” he said, “Your test grade was an R for re-exam, but

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I gave you that just because I didn’t have the heart to give you an F, which is more than your work deserved. So bad was your test that I went to the Psychology Department to look up your aptitude scores. I thought you might be . . . how can I put this kindly. . . over-challenged.” He paused and then continued, “I was surprised and pleased to see that your scores are exceptionally high. There is no question that you can succeed here but, obviously, you will need to learn how to study. Work hard, come to me for help, if you need it. When you have your final exam in January, I will substitute that grade for this awful one.”

I staggered out of the office, unpacked my bag, and got to work.

When my final exam in history was returned in January, there was no grade, just a note from Dean Spencer: See me. When I went to the office, he said, “Your paper was excellent. I’m so proud of you, but then, I knew you could do it. You will get a B for the semester.”

Had he not taken the time to help me, I am confident that I would have suffered the same fate as one of my erstwhile roommates: An F in all six subjects and a bus trip to his Kentucky home

by Thanksgiving.

So the fifty years have passed and I am still on the right side of the grass. Dr. Spencer went on to become the Presidents of Mary Baldwin College and Davidson (he awarded my daughter her cum laude diploma), and, after retirement, he became the Acting President of Hollins University where he handed my youngest daughter her honors degree.

This weekend, I will go back to Davidson, where we are still reeling from missing the Final Four by a single basket. On Friday night, I will drive to The Pines retirement home to pick up Dr. Spencer and his wife for our banquet. Where would my life have gone, where would I be on this night had it not been for him?

Contact Hayden at jhayden2003@cox.net

You can pick up a copy of the Roanoke Star Sentinel from the following locations: Natural Food Co-op | 1319 Grandin Rd Tinnels | 2205 Crystal Spring Ave Liberty Convenience | 813 W Main St Valero | 5611 Williamson Rd Clipper Mart | 5626 Williamson Rd One Stop | 2223 Williamson Rd Seven-Eleven | 1410 Grandin Rd Getty Mart | 2702 Colonial Ave Sky-Mart | 3902 Melrose Ave Wildflower Café | 1212 4th st Old Southwest

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5/2/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7

Who is Court Rosen?

At every City Council Candidate forum this year when Court Rosen was asked for his opinion on a significant issue facing Roanoke he gave the same answer:

“I do not know.”

How can a qualified candidate for Council answer, “I do not know” to the most significant issues facing our City?

Court Rosen has to answer “I do not know” because he has only lived in our community for 3 years.

During those 3 years in Roanoke Court Rosen has not served on a single non-profit board in the Roanoke Valley. Nor has he served on a single City appointed board.

In other words, during those 3 years Court Rosen has NO track record. Therefore, there is NO way for the voter to know anything about his positions or anything about his judgment under fire on difficult issues.

So how does an inexperienced 29 year old with zero community involvement and no track record who has only lived in Roanoke for 3 years get this far in our City Council election process?

The Answer is simple:

Court Rosen was hand picked by Nelson Harris.

Harris is hoping the voters will never know his hand-picked “yes man” has NO record of civic action or accomplishments.

Roanoke Voters need to know that a vote for Rosen is a vote for Harris and that’s a vote for the kind of closed door politics that have led to skyrocketing tax rates, a 57% graduation rate and decisions that are made for an elite few and not the hardworking citizens of Roanoke.

Paid for by Citizens for Sensible Decisions

letters

Page 8 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/2/08

pendent - their vote on Council leader from the younger generaChamber PAC mon- group really wants.

Further and strangely interestissues, should they be elected, is tion to Roanoke City Hall. ey attempts to buy ing, BLF only endorsed three (3) not for sale.

Tommy & Debbie Jordan Roanoke City Council men when they could have enSo, my fellow Roanoke voters: Roanoke again Dear editor, The recent Op Ed article (“Vote for business in Salem and Roanoke”, April 28) by the Chairman of the lucrative Business Leadership PAC Fund, (BLF), is too clever by half. You will remember this is the group which contributed $65,000 to three (3) “For the City” Council candidates in 2006 and look what that brought us!

The claim of “evaluation” of all interviewed candidates is at best misleading. Why? Because spending thousands of dollars, $21,666 each on three (3) people to place them on Council will be a powerful influence to obtain three (3) Council votes later on.

Any legitimate claims, by a political-money contribution PAC institution, regarding “evaluation” of honesty, integrity, training, experience and education to be valid, must be accompanied with a clear explanation of what this

dorsed four (4) persons, including one or two fine women who are running for Council. This is a “double shot” tactic designed to favor their selected candidates since BLF/Chamber of Commerce already has three (3) hand picked votes on Council now.

Could they really believe that the two (2) excellent female candidates, Valerie Gamer and Anita Price, both of whom live in the Northwest quadrant, which is an under represented area, are not worthy of their PAC money or their votes? Voters please take note.

The well qualified, non PACendorsed Mayor and Council candidates who are Independent, David Bowers and Brian Wishneff, are in favor of City-wide progress. They have over the years certainly demonstrated this quality. What the BLF PAC does not like is that they think for themselves. They do their homework and are truly inde-

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Granger Macfarlane Roanoke

Rosen committed to making entire valley a better place Dear editor, We are writing to lend our support to Court Rosen as he campaigns for Roanoke City Council.We have gotten to know him well over the last few years and have witnessed a young man committed to working to help make the entire Roanoke Valley a better place for all of our residents.

Court Rosen is a small business owner, which he started. Court understands the needs of small businesses. He speaks of hope for a prosperous future full of opportunity for the Roanoke Valley; a future where our schools receive the funding they so desperately need, where kids who leave the Roanoke Valley for school return to work and raise their own families, and a place where younger people want to come and live, work and make their home.

Court Rosen has a vision of what it takes to make all of Roanoke Valley a place where we can attract business for new jobs, strong fresh ideas about improving education at all levels, and a understanding of quality of life for all Roanoke Valley.

Court has campaigned positively, without attacking others, and with an eye towards a more civil Roanoke City Council. He has our personal and financial support. We hope citizens will join in sending a strong fresh

Rockledge Inn would dominate beautiful park space Dear editor, I notice in Valley Forward’s long Q&A document (Roanoke StarSentinel, 4/25), VF continues to beg the fundamental question of the impact of their Mill Mountain Park restaurant on what is the park’s only open space for visitors to picnic (and kids to play).

VF proposes to build the building right beside that small grassy plot, separated from it by the little walkway. None of that space would even be out of earshot of the building and its extended patio, since it is all within a distance of one-and-a-half times the building’s length. With apparent contempt for the intelligence of its readers, VF’s statement claims that the impact is tiny, since the building would occupy “less than 1% of Mill Mountain!

The Mill Mountain Conservancy website, www.savemillmountain.com, has some diagrams and photographs showing the park’s summit area and VF’s plans.

Bob E. Crawford Roanoke

My cat, Chester, would have as successful a tenure as Harris Dear editor, I keep seeing endorsements by various and sundry of the Reverend Dr. C. Nelson Harris for Mayor of Roanoke in the upcoming election. This morning there was a letter to the editor in the Roanoke Times by former Councilman Rupert Cutler as well as an entire opinion piece – both attesting to how Roanoke had “moved forward” during his tenure as Mayor.

I listened to the Reverend Dr. Mayor, at one meeting; list those things that had happened during his tenure. In summary, he did have the humility to say he was not arrogant enough to claim credit for everything that had happened. Funny thing though, he did not mention what it was that he could claim credit for as his accomplishments.

The Hancock building at the corner of First and Campbell comes to mind and is moving right along. The City has given an $880,000 grant to the redevelopment. Forced an $880,000 grant on is more accurate, since the City had to go through a convoluted process to give the money to the developer. You know, the developer who footed the tab for C. Nelson’s Mexican vacation back in 2005 so C. Nelson could study what the local artists were doing? Not that there was any quid pro quo involved of course.

That is why C. Nelson did not feel it was necessary to recuse himself from voting from what was a done deal, even for the sake of appearances. Nope, no arrogance there, just stupidity.

Then there was the sterling example of leadership when the miss-understanding about Center in the Square’s renovation plans were prematurely (and inaccurately) reported in the Roanoke Times. Seizing the moment C. Nelson urged us all ”to come reason together” – for the good of the city of course. Only later did we learn it was by invitation only and behind closed doors!

In order to sooth those trouble waters, caused by his blotched leadership attempt, the City had to bring in a facilitator from UVA (i.e. consultant). The cost was around $7,000 which if C. Nelson had any grace he would have paid from his Mayor’s $20,000 annual salary. He didn’t. He probably needed all his salary that year to pay for his vacation or mortgage on his new home.

To me the best representation of the Revened Dr. C. Nelson’s tenure as Mayor is the eyesore parking garage on Church Street between Williamson Rd and Jefferson Ave. You can’t miss it. The brick façade started to fall off two years ago. Sensing that falling bricks could be deleterious to the well being of the citizens passing by, the City, led by C. Nelson Harris stripped the façade off the entire building and erected a temporary and unsightly barrier.

And two years later there it sits, an ugly eyesore looking worse each day with the same unsightly junky barrier. I suppose if there is any good news it would be

TheRoanokeStar.com that C. Nelson is no longer going around telling citizens why parking fees have to be increased in order to protect the City’s bond rating.

Honesty compels me to admit many things, positive things, have happened during C. Nelson’s tenure as Mayor. None of them, however, would I attribute to C. Nelson’s efforts. They would have happened if my cat Chester had been Mayor. I put their occurrence in the category of “stuff happens” – like the sun rising in the East every morning.

I encourage all eligible voters to do so on May 6. I also urge you to return the Reverend Dr. C. Nelson Harris to his Church and his family. They need him more than the City does.

Robert Craig Roanoke

We all owe J.B Fishburn gratitude and commitment to protect the resource he gave Dear editor, As the Mill Mountain debate continues both sides should pause and give thanks to J.B. Fishburn for allowing us to have such a debate. Mr. Fishburn gave a rare and precious resource to the citizens of Roanoke. He could have developed it, given it to his heirs or even build his home on the mountaintop. But instead he chose to build with a view of Mill Mountain and hence the name of his home Mountain View which was later given to Roanoke.

We are blessed to have had a philanthropist like Fishburn who wanted us to enjoy and share Mill Mountain with other species. He must have envisioned a thriving downtown, decent jobs, good schools and a beautiful public park free of commercial development- our perfect escape from city life.

Unfortunately, we no longer have a Mr. Fishburn to insist that the mountaintop be protected by a conservation easement. But we can elect leaders who will work to protect this natural asset. If you want to uphold Mr. Fishburn’s vision and honor the wishes of his heirs then vote for Bowers, Wishneff, Garner, and Price on May 6th. To learn more visit www.savemillmountain.com Judy Hawks Roanoke

City harasses citizens in lieu of focusing on real problems Dear editor, About a month ago the Front Page feature story in the Roanoke Times was about Roanoke’s new dog license tags. Like the Treasurer’s office itself, the Times failed to inform the public that Animal Control Officers are going door to door to check on $5.00 dog licenses and that they are “NOT GOOD FOR A YEAR” as we were told when we bought them late last year. They are only good for the calendar year!

It took my being arrested, handcuffed, “FIVE” additional police cars at my house, being hauled off to jail and booked like a common criminal for refusal to sign the summons because of the failures within the treasurer office to correctly inform us “what a year is.”

I was subsequently charged with “Failure to assist a Police officer in an Investigation”, and had to go to court twice! Just imagine, hundreds, if not thousands of dollars wasted in this process as over callous cops going door to door to check on $5.00 dog tags.

All this, when it is exposed that 511 businesses in Roanoke have not renewed their Business License because the city “does not have the man power” to pursue that problem.

Where do you think the priorities should be over the use of our tax dollars?

This is a perfect example why we need serious change at city Hall, a new Mayor that will listen and not one who dictates. Please come out May 6th and vote and support for Bowers, Wishneff, Garner and Price.

E. Duane Howard Roanoke

‘Open’ season on Roanoke politics here again Dear editor, It’s that “open” strange season again in my dear city of Roanoke,

VA. when citizens are asked to vote for and ‘sign a contract’ with certain candidates to ‘direct’ our city.

Long before now part of the business community was searching and planning to support candidates mainly interested in the concerns of wealthy power brokers with little or no regard for the needs of average citizens.

They made the choice but you must ratify it.

Statements of little substance such as “keep “Roanoke moving”, “progressive”, “improve schools”, etc. have been thrown around with regularity. Lately it seems candidates have dropped party identification on signs and television advertising! Strange isn’t it?

Despite such inadequate ‘campaigning’ the business community as represented by the Chamber of Commerce has endorsed both Mayor C. Nelson Harris and Councilman Sherman Lea for re-election and Court Rosen for a seat on council. Strange isn’t it?

Even stranger when you realize Harris supported the independent “For the City” ticket which spearheaded the destruction of Victory Stadium. Years later there is still no replacement although it appears Council has (secretly?) decided to build a 7,000 seat amphitheatre in the stadiums identical flood plain. Strange isn’t it?

When vying for the mayoral position in 2004 Harris stated or very definitely implied he would keep the stadium. Yet one of the first actions he took when “For the City” candidates (his majority) were seated was to destroy the stadium. Strange isn’t it?

An $880,000.00 gift (your taxes and mine) was given to a developer for renovation of the Hancock building. It seems Harris was given a ‘thank you’ trip to Mexico in conjunction with the deal (conflict of interest or corruption?) Strange isn’t it?

There are many more bad financial decisions. Monies (your taxes and mine) were “poured down the drain” to prepare the Williamson Road site, still unused, for a proposed stadium.

Another major wasteful use of our taxes was the time, energy and plans made behind closed doors in a futile attempt to violate federal rules/regulations so the social security building could be constructed on historic Henry Street. The list of unwise fiscal foibles made by Harris’ administration goes on and on. Yet he was endorsed by an influential part of the business sector.

Strange isn’t it?

Harris also fails to treat all citizens and organizations fairly and equitably. He busies himself shuffling papers and looking down when certain people are addressing Council and fails to make eye contact with most citizens showing complete disdain and disregard for them and their comments. Harris then permits certain business representatives and citizens to exceed the council imposed time limit and allows ‘his’ people to return to the podium for discussion, yet denies other citizens opportunities to ask a single question. Strange isn’t it?

The business community, it should be noted, also endorsed a “Rosen come lately” who has lived here only 3 years without any known record of local involvement and nothing has been revealed about his community activities where he previously resided. Did he work to resolve planning, school or tax issues? Was he a spokesman for the people? Rosen states he is for fresh, progressive ideas and improving schools. No specifics are given. He has little knowledge, according to his own words, about local situations.

What factors did the business community use to endorse Rosen? Strange isn’t it?

Well, it’s near voting time so I ask you, the citizens, to determine if Harris is a mayor for the people or mayor only for an exclusive part of the business community and the wealthy?

What about the unknown recent resident Rosen? The business community endorsed both of them.Very Strange isn’t it?

Only you and I, the voters, will truly decide if the contract for Harris’ extension will be granted and if a contract will be awarded Rosen. Use your vote wisely.

Evelyn Bethel Roanoke VA

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TheRoanokeStar.com

5/2/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

Faith Christian students get dirty for a good cause The entire student body, faculty and parents (400-plus) chipped in last Friday during the annual Faith Christian School “Project Faith” outing, this time at the Jubilee Acres camp run by the Roanoke Rescue Mission in western Roanoke County. Trails were cleaned up and re-mulched and work around the lodge put the camp in tip-top shape before the summer season. “We had a great day, both in terms of the project itself and the money we raised,” said Susan Childs, a development officer for the school. We have exceeded our goal of $120,000, by raising [as of Monday] $122,228.00.”

The money raised is pledged from corporations, parents of Faith Christian students and others in return for the labor donated every year on Project Faith day. In the past students have worked on Roanoke City greenways and spruced up the Rescue Mission itself.

“The kids were all dog-tired and dirty by the time it was finished, but what fun we had, knowing those children at the Mission will have a great place to go this summer,” said Childs. As is customary, head of school Sam Cox will have his head shaved at a student assembly this Friday morning, because the $120,000 goal he set out for Project Faith ’08 was met by pledges.

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Blue Ridge PBS announces winners of the 2008 “Reading Rainbow” contest Twelve children from across the Blue Ridge PBS viewing area were recently selected as winners in the 2008 “Reading Rainbow” Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. Each of the four first place winners will now compete in the national level contest.

The annual “Reading Rainbow” Young Writers and Illustrators Contest, sponsored by Blue Ridge PBS, attracted nearly 300 entries this year.

It is designed to encourage, challenge and reward students from kindergarten through third grade to tell their own stories with their own illustrations.

Entries are judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling ability and integration of text and illustrations.

The awards ceremony will be held May 17, 2008 at 2:00 p.m., with a reception immediately following, at the Blue Ridge PBS studio.

First place winner in the kindergarten category is “My Trip to Mars” by Jarrett Tyree from Arrington, Va. The first grade category winner is “Dipper’s Adventure” by Mary Heffron from Roanoke, Va. Cecelia Delledera from Bedford, Va. won the second grade category with “The Magic Box,” and “An Unbreakable Frog” by Savannah Roberson from Castlewood, Va. was the third grade winner.

Second place winners are “The Little Ladybug”

by Skylar Roberson from Castlewood, Va., at the kindergarten level, “Fishing With Dad” by Kathryn Painchaud from Bedford, Va. at the first grade level, “Noise in the Wall” by Josiah Grow from Lexington, Va. for the second grade level, and “The

Dancing Pigs” by Zy’Asia Mays from Roanoke, Va. for the third grade level.

Winners of the special illustrator award are “Ants Under My Bed” by Cole Baker from Tazewell, Va. at the kindergarten level, “Anna and the Kitten” by Hannah Fleenor from Pulaski, Va. at the first grade level, “The Aliens From Outer Space” by Nicholas Weitzenfeld from Check, Va. at he second grade level, and “I’d Like to be a Whale” by Sarah Kern from Radford, Va. at the third grade level.

Winning students came from across the region, representing a number of schools: Bedford Elementary School, Bedford Primary School, Castlewood Elementary School, Check Elementary School, Copper Creek Elementary School, Forest Park New American School, McHarg Elementary School, St. John Neumann Academy, Tazewell Elementary School and Tye River Elementary School.

The 2008 “Reading Rainbow” Young Writers and Illustrators Contest was underwritten by Lanford Brothers, Hollins, Va. The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation is the national sponsor. A distinguished panel of judges from the field of education included: Amanda Cockrell, managing editor of Hollins University’s literary journal, The Hollins Critic, Nancy Myers, assistant principal of Oak Grove Elementary School in Roanoke County, Va., Kathy Carter, a professional storyteller and a founding member of Blue Ridge Storytelling, and Ashley Glaze, a kindergarten teacher in Roanoke County, Va.

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Thursday Morning Music Club extends $4,000 in scholarships and awards The Thursday Morning Music Club of Roanoke, a member of the National and State Federation of Music Clubs, has given a $1000.00 college scholarship to Jared Hall. Jared is the violinist with the Hall Trio that performs throughout the Roanoke Valley. The club also gave an additional $2,975.00 in cash awards to 19 other students of the Jr. Clubs. These awards are used to further music and dance education by these students. These students are: Emily Atkins, Daniel Bessette, Sarah Francisco, Bria Gepitulan, Shannon Haines, Justin Hall, Rachel Hall, Ryan Hunt, Tiffany Lawson, Hazel Lindahl, Ryan Messick, Jacob Otterman Mary Sochor, Rachel Sochor, Carina Stern, Annelise Straw, Dylan Summers, and Jessica Wang.

The Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s Melva P. Jones Fund for Music and Art contributed a $2000.00 grant for these scholarships and awards.

The Foundation of Roanoke Valley specifically requires that the above grant of $2000.00 that was given be published with news articles about these scholarships.

For information about joining the Jr. Music or Dance Clubs, please contact Judy Barger Edgell (540) 563-4782.

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Hotel Roanoke earns three Doubletree awards The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, a Doubletree hotel, was recognized with three national awards within the Doubletree brand in 2007. More than 185 hotels across the Doubletree brand were assessed and evaluated for each of these annual honors.

The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center was presented with their fifth consecutive Pride Award (awarded to only 10 hotels). The property also received a Crystal Cookie Award for com-

munity service efforts and Sandra Holt won the Director of Sales of the Year Award for Doubletree hotels under 500 rooms.

“Whether it is surprising a guest with a simple, helpful gesture or creating a wide-reaching program that brings together members of our community with team members at our hotels, we are truly proud of the multitude of resources and talents our Doubletree hotel team members provide each and every day,” said David Hor-

ton, senior vice president – brand management for Doubletree. “We are proud to present the Doubletree Hotel Performance Awards Program to acknowledge those hotels and individuals that have embraced a daily commitment to deliver an outstanding hotel experience as well as to help make a positive difference in the lives of others.”

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hoosing the physical therapist to complement the prowess of my surgeon was a vital decision. My experience was total satisfaction and respect for the knowledge, ability, and professional attitude of the entire team. My physical therapist, Bryon Batty, was encouraging and caring to my physical as well as psychological needs resulting from my injury. The Heartland Rehabilitation team accommodated my scheduling needs and took into consideration my profession and type of work. Without their help and know how, I wouldn’t be this close to 100% of my previous activity and motor skills.

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Award is determined by three key components: a Brand Consistency Index (a measurement of Physical Condition, Cleanliness, and compliance with Brand Standards), Guest Loyalty Scores (a combination of three scores from the Doubletree Satisfaction and Loyalty Tracking Report) and the Brand Promise Scorecard (a rating system of 12 key performance service indicators by the brand).

CRYSTAL COOKIE AWARD The Doubletree Crystal Cookie Award celebrates those hotels that demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to embracing the brand’s CARE culture and share that commitment with their local community, their guests and their fellow team members.

The Hotel was recognized for their contributions to the community in light of the shooting tragedy that swept the Virginia Tech University campus in April 2007.

Much of the hotel team came in during days off and volunteered extra hours for several days to work with their sister hotel—The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. Employees kept guests at both hotels regularly informed about the status of the university and ensured throngs of relief agencies, counseling groups and media could utilize both hotels’ conference facilities for recovery efforts.

The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center wore ribbons with the university’s colors for several weeks in honor and support of the university and even worked with a local elementary school to plant a tree on the hotel grounds dedicated in memory to those killed at Virginia Tech as part of the brand’s Teaching Kids to CARE community outreach program.

DIRECTOR OF SALES OF THE YEAR Sandra Holt was named the Director of Sales of the Year for all Doubletree Hotels under 500 rooms. This award is presented to the top directors based on annual achievement of individual revenue goals.

Holt has been with Doubletree hotels and The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center for more than 13 years. She was promoted to Director of Sales in 2007 after serving in several key sales roles. Previously she held positions in hotel sales with the Holiday Inn. As Director of Sales, Holt is responsible for top-line revenue generation as well as overseeing all aspects of room, catering, banquets and group sales for the hotel’s key business segments.

“These awards are through the hard work and dedication of our staff and are truly an honor,” said Gary Walton, general manager of the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. “It is especially gratifying to be the recipient of these customer awards from our national brand. I want to congratulate and thank our staff and team who earned these awards through their tireless efforts to serve our guests.”

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5/2/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11

Roanoke youth roll with the punches Gator Boxing has only been around for a handful of years, but it has helped countless teens and troubled youth to deal with life and the frustrations that so often come with it. Founder and Director Mark Harrison and former Roanoke City schools Principal and teacher George Miller are well known coaches at the club. Youth in attendance also find help in mentors and boxing coaches at the club, such as Maynard Quesenberry and Jimmy Tucker.

Jimmy Tucker has been coaching at the club for four years.

Coach Tucker has boxed and coached in the Army and has won two championships. He says that a military atmosphere has prepared him to coach and be a mentor to many stressed out and troubled kids. Tucker says “Some of these kids come in here so tight and wound up from the stresses of life. Our job here mainly at first is to teach kids how to behave. What they really need is to work off all of that stress. I know of kids that come in here wound up so tight at first and we work them out and talk to them and before you know it right before your eyes they change and start to smile. We try and teach kids how to deal with stress, work as a team, learn how to be good citizens, and even be Christ-like. We have a few coaches here, myself included, who just love the Lord and we try and mirror the example God has given us so that these kids can see what it’s like.�

When asked of his own life and experiences, Coach Tucker has gone from being a young troubled kid himself who eventually sought refuge in boxing and God to build himself into a champion in boxing and in life. He has won championships, owned a Christian bookstore, worked for the railroad, been a camp counselor to troubled teens, and now lives out his calling to be a coach and mentor to kids who come into the gym to not only box but learn to better their life.

Jimmy says, “when I was a kid and got in trouble the judge told me to go to the local boxing club and stay there until I tell you to. A few months later he said I could leave but I didn’t want to.

So I stuck with it and stayed out of trouble, and became a pretty good fighter. I retired around age 40 and thought that I was finished with boxing but God, like so many times, has different plans then what I have. And I love it.�

The club has about 36 fighters but desperately needs both funding and a larger coaching staff.

Northside’s Blake Thornburg beats a Patrick Henry tag at second base leading to an early Viking run.

Photo by Bill Turner

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The club has produced some very good fighters like Walter Craig (10-0) who won a Golden Glove title earlier in the year, but he injured his hand at a regional championship. They are also planning some local competitions and need sponsors for events. If you or a group you know would like to sponsor a kid/teen boxer for an entire year the cost is five hundred dollars. All donations are welcome and much needed for these kids to come in and find a new lease on life. Its therapeutic to come in and train, workout, become a boxer and to stay out of

trouble. All the while becoming a man, under the loving guidance from men, who have traveled some troubled roads themselves.

Tim and Chip Nininger who own and operate The Bug Man are currently their biggest sponsors. This is a brotherhood - a strong knit family for those who stick with it and all are welcome.

For operating hours and sponsor information please contact Mark Harrison at 540-309-3934.

We are a volunteer driven organization and welcome your involvement.

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Sunday Afternoons on the Deck Blues and Jazz Series:

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Page 12 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/2/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note:

North Crossâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Amy Putnam pressures a Virginia Episcopal ball handler in Tuesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game.

Due to illness our William Fleming and Patrick Henry High School Sports coverage this week has been postponed.

Photo by Bill Turner

Check back next week for our usual in depth coverage!

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel

Photo by Stuart Revercomb

Christopher Pollack splits the defense and ďŹ res a shot on goal against James River Day School. The Raiders went on to win the game 11-2 and ďŹ nished the season undefeated with a 9-0 record.

North Cross sports updates North Cross School

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Lacrosse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; On Tuesday The Raiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Varsity Lacrosse team lost a close game to Miller School 6-5.

Matt Turner had 3 goals and Patrick Delbuono added 2 goals and an assist. Landon Schaff was 9 of 12 on faceoffs and Stuart Hickey made 11 saves for North Cross. The Raiders now fall to 3-8 on the season and have a big home game with Roanoke Catholic on the 1st of May. Baseball - The Raiders have won their last four games and have improved to 9-6 on the season. A doubleheader sweep of Westover Christian 6-5 and 8-5 last week will help North Cross in their last 2 games against Carlisle and Hargrave before they start the VIC quarterfinals in May. Girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Soccer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Lady Raiders saw their 4 game winning streak come to an end with a 3-2 loss at home to Virginia Episcopal school. North Cross Freshman Hallie Martin has been on a goal scoring tear with goals against Roanoke Valley Christian, Faith Christian and Roanoke Catholic.

The girls finish the season with a game at Eastern Mennonite before they start the VIC playoffs.

North Cross Middle School Lacrosse team ends the season undefeated The boys finished the season

with a 9-0 record. The team was led by a core group of 8th graders that started with Paul McNeil in the goal. The Raiderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense only let in 14 goals for the year and recorded 4 shutouts. The offense scored 89 goals for the year and the top three scorers were 8th grader George Revercomb with 18 goals and 16 assists and was more than 60% on face-offs, 7th grader Zach Hollander with a team lead of 20 goals and 6th grader Christopher Pollock with a team lead in points with 18 goals and 18 assists.

North Cross Middle school student â&#x20AC;&#x201C; athlete to play in the Scott Robertson Memorial golf tournament

Eighth grade athlete Connor Walters won the final spot for the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 14 and under in the upcoming 25th Scott Robertson Memorial golf tournament. The tournament will be May 16-18 at Roanoke Country Club. Connor advanced by beating Williamsburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trevor Times by one stroke in a one hole playoff. The top four players from each age group advance to the tournament. Connor is a member of the North Cross golf team and this will be his first Scott Robertson Memorial appearance.

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5/2/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 13

Northside Vikings beat Lord Botetourt 7-1 After battling William Byrd to a 0-0 scoreless tie last Friday night, Northside traveled to Daleville to take on Lord Botetourt High School. Coach Lynn Richmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vikings came away with a 7-1 victory on the Cavaliers home field, on a less than normal spring day. With temperatures in the 40â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and a brisk wind, the Cavalier bats were equally cold against Viking pitching. After a scoreless first inning, Northside struck in the top of the second, pounding out five hits while scoring five runs. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases with no outs.

Cavalier pitcher Sara Phelps was able to induce a force out at the plate and struck out the next batter needing only to retire Tamara Smith to get out of the jam.

However, Northsideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s starting pitcher had other ideas working the count full before lining a double into left field clearing the bases. Another double by Veronica Blankenship rounded

Photo by David Abraham

Northside beat Lord Botetourt 7-1. Above, a Viking slides under a tag. out the scoring giving the Vikings an early 5-0 lead.

Cleanup hitter Sarah Maupin put the Cavaliers on the board

in the bottom of the second with a leadoff homerun. Unfortunately, for Lord Botetourt, they could only scratch out two hits over the remaining five innings.

Northside plated two additional unearned runs in the top of the 7th inning, to round out all of the scoring for a 7-1 victory.

While Smith, Blankenship and Caitlyn Sigmon had two hits apiece, it was the combined pitching by Smith and Vanissa Chapman that lead the Vikings to the victory. Smith allowed only three hits and one run over five innings. However, it was Chapman who shut down the Cavaliers. She worked the last three innings and set down Cavalier batters with ease, allowing only one walk and striking out three.

The Northside girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s softball team is back in action on Friday May 2nd at Allegheny.

By David Abraham infol@theroanokestar.com

UVAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Al Groh Headlines Virginia Athletic Social

UVA football Coach Al Groh came to Roanoke Tuesday night to enlighten and encourage the Cavalier faithful. Groh held court for the UVA Athletics Association at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center discussing strengths and weaknesses and what it will take this year to be successful in the ACC. Groh said that he was pleased with the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to play one game at a time last year and the ability it had to put struggles behind them and move on confidently to the next match-up.

This year heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s looking forward to a team that brings a new set of skills to the gridiron and is confident that in spite of losing key

Photo by George Revercomb

Al Groh addressed the crowd at the Hotel Roanoke Tuesday night. players like Chris Long and Brandon Albert, the team is capable of improving upon last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s record. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will depend on leadership by

some key players and reaching the best possible level of conditioning, to reach the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high goals,â&#x20AC;? said Groh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we can play with the same poise, alertness, confidence and execution . . . we can get more wins.â&#x20AC;?

The Cavaliers will be tested early when they meet USC in their home opener at Scott Stadium on Saturday August 30th - a team that Groh described as, â&#x20AC;&#x153;being in a league of their own . . . and most likely the best team in the country.â&#x20AC;? Groh conceded that the team isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ready for such a match-up at present, but that their only a third of the way through preparations for the season and that the coaching staff is extremely encouraged

with what they have seen this spring.

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5/2/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 14

TheRoanokeStar.com

224 Design moves to new digs 224 Design is moving up. The small branding-advertising-design shop owned by Roanoker Karen Chase has moved out of her residence and into an office space of its own at 305 1st St., in suite 5. That’s the down-

town Shenandoah Building owned by David Trinkle, also Roanoke’s Vice-Mayor. Chase, a one-woman shop some times, also employs part timer Brenda Goad when things get busy. She’s 345-7821 overhauled the images of some local companies and given them a new way to approach their clients. Chase does it in part by listening intently early on, trying to determine where a firm is, whom the players are and where they might want to wind up. “I get very passionate about what my clients do,” says Chase.

A Canadian by birth, Chase went to college in San Antonio, worked for several agencies in Texas, before coming to the Roanoke Valley, where she was emPlease join The American Israel Public Affairs Committee for ployed first by Rowe Furniture, in the manufacturer’s in-house creative department. “It was a great experience,” she recalls.

Nevertheless when the CEO fell asleep during a presentation and with featured speaker someone questioned the need for advertising at all Chase knew it was time to go. After working for The O-Connor Group and The Packett Company she struck out on her own.

“I knew I’d wind up working for myself,” says Chase (37), who MONDAY, MAY 5, 2008 is also a poet and author.

She is shopping a children’s book based on her family’s trav7:30PM els as a child. Chase read “MadJesse Ball duPont Chapel ison’s Magical Motor Home,” to students at Crystal Spring ElHollins University, Roanoke, VA ementary School last year and is now looking for a publishAbout our speaker… er. “They gave me great feedback,” she recalls of those young Mr. Horovitz, a leading expert on the Middle East, writes from Israel fortest marketers. newspapers around the world including the New York Times, Los Angeles Chase is proud that 224 DeTimes, and The Irish Times. He is a frequent guest on CNN, the BBC, sign – she’s partial to pink by the way and “224” is a trade desNPR, and other TV and radio stations. ignation for that color – has its own group of clients that aren’t just overflow work from larger agencies in the area. “I’m winning the accounts.” Follow up is a key she says. Château Morrissette, the Roanoke Valley SPCA, financial planning firms, computer gurus Two Robs and a window company demonstrates that her client base is “kind of all over the place.” With Two Robs she turned a pair of computer repair and custom system geeks (Rob Underwood, Rob Miles) into a hipper duo, with a new

"ISRAEL @ 60 and Beyond" DAVID HOROVITZ Editor-in-Chief The Jerusalem Post

Photo by Gene Marrano

Karen Chase likes to think pink. She says it’s a healthy color. company name, logo and look.

“Its almost like they’re becoming the brand,” she notes.

Rob Underwood says Chase watched the interaction between the two partners and talked to their customers before suggesting changes. Some couldn’t recall their former name, Custom Tech Solutions, but they knew them as the two Robs informally.

The pair often bickers good-naturedly about issues, including politics. The name stuck. “Trying to figure out where we wanted to draw the line between casual and professional. She was very good at doing that,” says Underwood.

The new logo “just looks like fun,” he adds. TwoRobs.com also demonstrates their new image on line.

Chase still sketches logos and other ideas first freehand, calling herself old school in that respect.

“There is a craft to it.” She is helping to brand four western Virginia counties as one entity and did a makeover as well for a local doctor’s group, Consultants in

Cardiology. “We went through the entire branding process,” says Tom Miller, the administrator. Many of the marketing materials in print or on line were inconsistent. Chase worked with some ideas voted on by Consultants in Cardiology employees and took it several steps further.

“A lot of it has to do with our image,” says Miller. “She did a great job and provided a lot of insight into things. Karen does a lot of research.”

Clients help her brainstorm new ideas. “I really like the people I work with,” says the personable Chase. Now her own office space at 305 1st Street signals the next step in the evolution of 224 Design (819-4008 or 224design.com), a place where she can “work things out,” with clients.

Just remember to think pink.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

First annual Duck Derby May 3 The Junior League of Roanoke Valley (JLRV) will hold its first annual Duck Derby Race on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Smith Park from 11 am to 2 pm. The first annual event will attempt to raise money for area organizations supported by the JLRV. Ducks are currently available for “adoption” by the public, including race day, and will race to the finish line in the Roanoke River.

The Duck Derby Race proceeds will benefit the 2008-2009 JLRV Project Development Grants such as Southwest Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank, Re-Building Together, Junior Achievement, and Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital.

“Our goal is to have 100 percent adoption of the ducks – the more

ducks people adopt, the more money we raise for Roanoke’s neediest organizations,” said Margaret Ann Ayers, President of JLRV. A total of 10,000 ducks will be dumped into the Roanoke River at Smith Park at 12:15pm and the ducks will race each other to the finishing trap. The race will be approximately a 15 minutes and a half mile long. Winning ducks will be pulled out of the trap, audited, and winning names called out. A short parade will begin the event and will include a 20-foot balloon duck, an ambulance, fire truck, and dump truck holding the ducks. A City of Roanoke utility truck will begin the event. The JLRV has also worked with Great American Merchan-

dise Events (GAME), a nationally-known Duck/Turtle Derby Race event company, to make this event possible. Local major sponsors include The Roanoke Times, Carilion Clinic and Kroger.

Ducks are available for adoption at $5 each, 6 for $25, and 25 for $100. Adoptions will be available through any JLRV member, JLRV.org website (print and mail in), JRLV office in the Jefferson Center, Roanoke.com (The Roanoke Times website), Hometown Bank at all locations, Designs on Grandin, CiCi’s Pizza, and Cheeburger Cheeburger. A rain date has been scheduled for May 10, 2008 only if Smith Park is closed due to weather.

Hurt Park Neighborhood May Day

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The City of Roanoke, in conjunction with the Hurt Park Neighborhood Alliance and Hurt Park Elementary School, will hold a Hurt Park May Day & Revitalization Kickoff on Saturday, May 3, at Hurt Park Elementary School, 1525 Salem Ave. The event starts with a 2- and 4-mile Walk/Run beginning at 8:30 a.m., and a 1-K for kids starting at 9:45. The May Day festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Children will enjoy activities such as the bicycle rodeo and helmet giveaway, sack races, face painting, moon bounce, fire trucks, and more. The event includes food, music, and dance performances. This official kickoff for the comprehensive revitalization initiative currently under way for Hurt Park will also give participants a chance to learn more about job training, healthy lifestyle choices, the city library’s Oral History Project, economic

development, and other plans for improving this historic neighborhood.

The development of the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area plan (NRSA) for the Hurt Park community provides a unique opportunity to promote the long-term strength and stability of an older Roanoke neighborhood with residential, commercial, industrial and historical uses. This plan identifies strategies to revitalize Hurt Park which include increasing homeownership rates through rehabilitation and new construction, rehabilitating owner-occupied housing, enhancing neighborhood business opportunities, and promoting employment opportunities.

In coordination with the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA), the City of Roanoke continues to forge a partnership with businesses, community groups, and residents

to address community revitalization through a comprehensive strategy. The NRSA-related activities in Hurt Park are expected to extend through 2009-2010.

Organizers of the Hurt Park May Day & Revitalization Kickoff wish to thank the following sponsors of this event: Ferris, Eakin & Thomas P.C.; RJK Services Inc.; BB&T; the Bingham Family; Boxy Swedish Auto Care; Breakell Inc. General Contractors; First Citizens Bank; Kroger; Member One Federal Credit Union; Park Place Realtors; Perna’s Entertainment; Roanoke City Public Schools; and Virginia Department= of Health.

For more information, please contact Jimmy Cook, president of Hurt Park Neighborhood Alliance, at 344-5619; or Angie Williamson, Department of Neighborhood Services, at 853-5647.

TheRoanokeStar.com

5/2/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 15

Page 16 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/2/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

Scratching the surface when it comes to young artists in the area

Do you have a plan for your land?

If you’re a landowner with 100 acres of land or more, join the Western Virginia Land Trust and Roanoke County to learn how you can: UÊ ii«Ê > `Ê Ì>VÌÊ> `Ê ÊÞ ÕÀÊv> Þ UÊ iÌÊ iÞÊvÀ ÊÞ ÕÀÊ > `ÊÜ Ì ÕÌÊÃi }Ê Ì UÊ ÃÕÀiÊÌ >ÌÊÞ ÕÀÊ > `ÊÜ ÊÀi > Ê>ÃÊ you want it to be—forever.

There are many good young painters, sculptors, photographers, even graffiti artists in the valley, that’s what people keep saying, Now some of them can be seen at a temporary gallery space until June 13, in an exhibition called Graffito: Scratching the Surface. Local (and legal) graffiti artists Leo Straub and Evan Niemann – a.k.a. Dickie – have works on display, as do others who practice “urban art,” as advertised by The Young Curators of the Art Museum of Western Virginia. That’s a group of high school students, including two this year from Patrick Henry and the Governor’s School, who worked on the Graffito show and selected the art to be shown.

Erin Wommick, assistant curator at the Art Museum of Western Virginia, said this year’s batch of Young Curators, mostly artists themselves, were chosen by peers at their respective schools. “They actually go out into the [Art Museum] gallery and

Meeting dates: Thursday, May 15, 7-8:30 pm, Catawba Center Thursday, May 22, 7-8:30 pm, Mt. Pleasant Fire Station Thursday, May 29, 7-8:30 pm, Back Creek Elem. School

There is no charge or obligation. Everyone will receive a free copy of the Western Virginia Land Trust’s Conservation Easement Guide and FREE DVD. Refreshments will be served. For more info and additional dates, contact the Western Virginia Land Trust at (540) 985-0000 or visit www.westernvirginialandtrust.org

R A D F O R D ,

LOA Honors corporate sponsors

V I R G I N I A

Real Estate Auction Friday, May 16 at 12:00 Noon

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78± Acres & Class A Building Property features a 106,800± sq. ft. Class A office building completed in 1980 as a psychiatric hospital, as well as an historic building and long river frontage on the New River offering excellent tax benefits from historic renovation and conservation easements. The sale, which is being conducted on behalf of Radford University Real Estate Foundation, also includes 58± acres of prime undeveloped commercial/residential land. Property will be offered in 7 parcels. Property Address & Sale Site: 6226 University Park Dr., Radford, VA 24141. Visit www.woltz.com for information. 5% buyer’s premium added to high bid.

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Local Crossword Puzzle!

Wytheville, Charlottesville, Richmond 4.4 x 5

Across

1

3To sing very well (US slang) (4)

3

6Famous local black educator we named a school after. (2words) (11)

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9Salem group who fired the last shot at Appomattox prior to surrender. (2-words) (15)

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12Any mollusk with two shells. (7)

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13Not here (5)

do an exercise where they talk about artwork,” said Wommick of the application process. Those students who have been in the Young Curators program for several years also help choose new members for the program.

“A lot of them are very curious about artists in the community,” said Wommick. “It gives them a chance to work with [local] artists.” The annual Young Curators show means plenty of work for this handful of high school students, including the call for artists sent out: “they come up with the topic [and] every aspect of the show,” said Wommick, “all of the legwork that it takes to get the artwork chosen. Its their choice and their decision.” Graffito: Scratching the Surface. 309 Campbell Avenue, in the upstairs gallery. Monday and Fridays 4-5:30pm, Saturdays 12-5pm, through

By Gene Marrano June 13. gmarrano@cox.net

25

At its Annual Meeting in March, the LOA Area Agency on Aging presented the Babe and Sidney Louis Memorial Award to an outstanding philanthropy organization in Roanoke.

Each year the LOA recognizes an individual, corporation or group who makes significant contributions in the community which enhance the lives of older persons. The Babe and Sidney Louis Memorial Award, established in 1994, honors two gentlemen from Botetourt County who left $50,000 to LOA’s Meals-on-Wheels program to begin an endowment fund. These quiet gentlemen were successful farmers known statewide for their business sense and farming techniques. They believed strongly in philanthropy, contributing to many local charities during their lives. After their deaths, they continued the tradition by donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to local organizations which provided support and assistance to the families of our community. Mr. Max Leach was responsible for designating the LOA as recipients of these funds.

This year the prestigious award was presented to Clear Channel Communications. Clear Channel was instrumental in raising over 9,000 cans of soup during the LOA’s Soup for Seniors drive in October. The Bull held an all day soup drive and brought awareness to the issue of hunger in our seniors right here in the Roanoke Valley. Because of its experiences with the soup drive, Clear Channel later signed on to be Meals on Wheels volunteers delivering meals to homebound seniors five days a week in three different areas. This covered five open

routes and assisted that program tremendously as the need for volunteers continues to increase.

Other awards presented include: Exemplary Interagency Cooperation, presented to the Roanoke Valley SPCA for outstanding support of LOA’s Meals on Wheels program by providing donated pet food to homebound seniors with pets; PublicPrivate Partnership, presented to APB Whiting for providing outstanding support to LOA’s Heating Assistance program by providing discounts when filling tanks as well as other support; and the Staff Award was presented to Paul Paradzinski, retired Board member former President of the Board of Directors. This year special recognition was given to LOA’s Director of Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs, Barbara James, for going “Above and Beyond” the call of duty in planning and administering the first ever Soup for Seniors drive which went above and beyond all expectations under her leadership.

The Local Office on Aging is a local, non-profit organization serving Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig and Roanoke counties and the cities of Covington, Roanoke and Salem. Our mission is to help older persons remain independent for as long as possible in their chosen environment. Through 25 community based services the LOA is able to effectively carry out its mission by providing nutrition, education, advocacy and socialization. The LOA is a 501(c)(3) agency.

Women building houses for habitat initiative It won’t be men laying bricks, pounding nails, and raising walls at the construction site for a local family’s new Habitat for Humanity house. On Saturday, May 10, women volunteers will be manning tools and building materials, working on the Thomas family’s new home in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 4 – 10, sponsored

by Lowe’s.

Developed through the partnership between Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity, National Women Build Week celebrates the compassion, dedication, talents and abilities of women from all walks of life. The goal is to both showcase the accomplishments of Habitat’s women volunteers and invite new women volunteers to join the effort to provide decent, safe, affordable housing.

The week leading up to Mother’s Day was selected for its significance to many volunteers, as families with children make up a staggering number of those in need of adequate housing: more than 12 million children - one in six – live in poverty hous-

ing in the United States alone.

Lowe’s underwrites the Habitat for Humanity Women Build program, bringing women from all walks of life together to learn construction skills and then use those skills to be part of the solution to poverty housing. Lowe’s is providing Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley a $5,000 grant in support of this one-day Women Build.

“More than 12 million US children live in poverty,” said Larry D. Stone, Lowe’s president and chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “We believe the week leading up to Mother’s Day provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of Lowe’s and Habitat’s women volunteers, as well as invite new volunteers to help those families and transform communities. Supporting Women Build and other Habitat projects gives us all a chance to provide people with the resources they need to improve their homes and lives.”

26

16Shovel (3) 17Loud advertising and promotion (US slang) (4)

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19Oblivion or a dance type. (5) 23They sell all types of string instruments downtown Roanoke.

(2-words) (8) 24Puts into piles. (5) 27Formerly Shenandoah Homes. (2-words) (15) 28Who was Fort Lewis named for? (2-words) (11) 30Extremely funny (10) 31You can buy cut fresh flowers there 24 hours a day! (2-words) (16) 35To draw slowly or heavily (4) 36Roanoke's only nonprofit school of dance.

(2-words) (13) 38Vice President of the United States (6) 39A drum (4) 40Brush wolf (6) Down 1'The Principle of -------' Art structure by Brower Hatcher inside the Roanoke Municipal Courthouse. (7)

Operation Enduring Families program

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By Don Waterfield 2Music Director and Conductor of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (5) 3Vinton tower (5) 4Where is Jubal A. Early buried around here?

(9) 5One of the many greyhound destinations out of roanoke (9) 7An ancient city in southeastern Greece (5) 8Artist who painted the mural across from Roanoke city hall. (2words) (16) 10I'm not a smart man but I know what ---- is. (from Forrest Gump) (4)

11The castle in chess (4) 14They produce 'bilevel security' in Salem. (6)

retreating federal forces in the Civil War? (2-words) (11)

15Famous inventor who visited Hotel Roanoke in 1906 (2-words) (12)

27Newest restaurant in downtown roanoke (7)

18A state of being essentially equal (3)

31'This is where I start to have ---. (from Laura Croft (3)

20Independent grocer in southwest roanoke close to memorial avenue. (3-words) (10) 21Formerly Gish's Mill (6) 22Elegant (7) 23The greenroom (5) 25Our Museum of African American Culture (8)

29Stir (4)

32The largest continent with 60% of the earth''s population (4) 33To sicken (6) 34'Every man dies but not every man really -----.' (from Braveheart) (5) 37A plot of ground in which plants are growing (3)

26What local area did confederate forces catch and defeat

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

In collaboration with the Military Family Support Center, the Salem VAMC is hosting a new program for returning OEF/OIF veterans and their families.

Adjusting to life after deployment and creating new family routines can be challenging. Operation Enduring Families is a family education group to assist military families with that transition. Topics include general information about post-deployment adjustment, improving family relationships, supporting children, communication, dealing with anger, managing depression, coping with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other reactions to trauma. The overall goal of this program is to normalize the common issues associated with readjustment, strengthen family relationships, and link veterans and their families with other opportunities for support at the Salem VA Medical Center and other community resources.

Beginning in May, meetings will be held on the first and third Thursday of each month, from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm, at the Military Family Support Center, located at the American Legion Post 3 building at 710 Apperson Drive, Salem, VA. Veterans can attend with or without their family members.

Family members of currently deployed personnel may also attend.

This program is FREE OF CHARGE but pre-registration is required. The Military Support Center volunteers will also assist with childcare during the meeting and we will need to know your need at the time of pre-registration. Please contact Katie Braekkan at 540-982-2463, Ext. 1-2398 or Shelby Assad at Ext. 1-1765 to pre-register or if you have any questions about the program.

Goodlatte wins “Spirit of Enterprise” The United States Chamber of Commerce recently presented Congressman Goodlatte with the “Spirit of Enterprise” award for his strong support for a pro-business legislative agenda in the first session of the 110th Congress.

“Bob has proved to be an effective ally to the business community, supporting legislation that helps grow the economy and creates new jobs for hardworking Americans,” said Thomas J. Donohue, Chamber President and CEO. “The Chamber is

grateful for Bob’s commitment to these important issues and is proud to present him with this award.”

The Chamber awards the “Spirit of Enterprise” based on rankings it gives members of Congress for key votes outlined in its annual publication, How They Voted. Congressman Goodlatte has compiled a 94 percent cumulative ranking during his tenure in Congress.

TheRoanokeStar.com

5/2/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 17

Roanoke Citizens have a clear choice th on Tuesday May 6 Mayor Nelson Harris, Darlene Burcham and their supporting Council majority have: v Allowed the Roanoke school system to become one of the worst in the state with a graduation rate of 57%. v Allowed Roanoke’s City borrowing to reach dangerous per capita debt levels. Because of this debt, police and fire positions are now being proposed for elimination. v Continually made decisions behind closed doors and out of the public’s view until projects were too far along for public evaluation and input. v Wantonly maintained improper relationships and ignored conflict of interests while supporting initiatives that have lined supporter’s pockets. ($880,000.00 to one developer.) v Completely failed to oversee and control fraudulent credit card expenditures by their fellow council allies. v Fully supported the commercial development of highly valued public park greenspace ignoring the wishes of the family that donated it. v Failed to land a single economic development deal that has benefited Roanoke since the arrival of Johnson & Johnson in 1999 which has since closed its doors. v Allowed the city’s Civic Center annual subsidy to grow by over 300% to a whopping $3 million - a sum Roanokers must pay each and every year. v Demolished the valuable civic asset that was Roanoke’s beloved Victory Stadium after promising to renovate it while seeking re-election. v Ignored the clear needs of downtown Roanoke and the City Market Building.

One incumbent has steadfastly been the voice of opposition to these and a litany of other failed policies. While the elitists group in power has sought to follow only the closed and self serving agenda of a select few, Brian Wishneff has struggled to bring a common sense, business oriented approach to our local government. Now we finally have an opportunity to unshackle Roanoke’s future from the hands of those whose misguided decisions have kept our city from reaching its true potential.

But Roanoke citizens must come out and vote!

On Tuesday May 6th take back YOUR city by voting for Brian Wishneff and give him a working majority by supporting David Bowers for Mayor (Authorized and paid for by Brian Wishneff For City Council)

Page 18 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/2/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

Community Calendar > April 26 - May 3

Blue Ridge Wildflower Society Events Saturday, April 26 - Buffalo Creek Field Trip - This registry site has blue bells, dwarf ginseng, walking fern, dwarf iris, etc. Easy walking along a flood plain and a wooded hillside. Meet at 1:00 pm. Take US 460 east to Rt 811 at New London. Turn right onto Rt 811 (Look for Sheetz service station at the intersection). Follow Rt 811 to Rt 711 and go about 2 miles. Turn left onto Rt 24. In about 1 mile you cross Buffalo Creek. The parking lot is on the right. Leader Sandra Elder, 434-525-8433.

Monday, April 28 - Membership Meeting. 7:00 pm at Roanoke Church of Christ, 2606 Brandon Avenue. Jim Helvey of the Virginia Dept of Transportation will present a program on Virginia’s median and roadside flower plantings. Jim Bush - 929-4775 Saturday, May 3 - Paul James Garden Field Trip followed by a visit to Cahas Knob Registry Site. Meet at 9:00 am in parking lot of Lowe’s on US 220 South of Tanglewood Mall behind Play it Again Sports.

Bring Lunch. Leader Jim Bush, 929-4775.

> May 1-2 The Sound of Music Roanoke Valley Christian Schools presents Rodgers and Hammersteins The Sound of Music When- 7 p.m.

Where- Performed at Shenandoah Baptist Auditorium 6520 Williamson Rd NW Cost- $10 Adults $5 Students

> May 1 Thursday Morning Music Club The Thursday Morning Music Club Chorus Spring Concert will be the program for the Thursday, May 1 meeting of the Thursday Morning Music Club celebrating National Music Week and NFMC Founders Day.There is no charge for the concert and non-members are welcomed to attend.

Following the concert there is a

> Real Estate Myrtle Beach Condo for Sale Beautiful 2 bedroom/2 bath condo in Kingston Plantation. Lake front and ocean view. Great for family and golfing vacations.Tremendous rental opportunities. $350,000. Call 989-9168 after 6pm. > Church Yard Sale Fourth Annual Christ Episcopal Church Yard Sale. 110 Franklin RD SW (Old Southwest). Saturday May 10, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm (no early birds, please).Toys, clothes, home furnishings, and more. Proceeds benefit church youth activities.

343-0159. > Wanted Baseball and other sports cards and items from 1870 to 1975. Tobacco, Candy and early gum cards especially wanted. (540) 977-5222 4/25-5/23

> Businesses Opportunities Convenience Stores. Two to choose from; locations Salem & Alleghany Highlands. Call 540-992-4156 RESTAURANT, Salem location, profitable, excellent equipment and clientele, good lease. Call 540-992-4156 > Autos 1997 Lexus ES300 $4,950. Call for details 537-6166. > Misc Portable Air Conditioner Royal Soverign Portable Air Conditioner for sale, $100.00. No venting necessary, 1 yr old. Call 1.540.808.2206.

NordicTrack Nordic Track “900” commercial grade ski machine (foot cups slide over stationary slats). Lightly used. Asking $600, vs. original cost of $1,900. Call Guy at 989-1990. > Cool Cheap Stuff Cool Cheap Stuff Place your ad in Cool Cheap Stuff, for items costing $150 or less, free!

Ads are published for 1 week. If item doesn’t sell feel free to run it again!

Cool Cheap Stuff is available to private individuals who advertise one item costing $150 or less. Cost of

$12.00 luncheon. Please call 5634782 for required reservations.

When-10:30 a.m.

Where- Thrasher United Methodist Church in Vinton,VA National Day of Prayer Invocation by Rev. Edward Burton, Sweet Union Baptist Church An optional lunch will be held at 12:30 in the Social Hall of Greene Memorial Church. Suggested lunch donation is $3.00.

When- Noon - 1 p.m.

Where- The event will be held at Lee Plaza, across from the Roanoke City Municipal Building.

The Rain location is Greene Memorial UMC across the street.

FairTax Educational Meeting Roanoke Area FairTax will show a 30-minute slide presentation, “The FairTax: Life after it’s passed,” about the many ways everyday lives will be different and better than under the current income tax. The talk will be followed by 30 minutes of questions, answers, and discussion. Come learn the principles of the FairTax and understand how it would be good for America. Bring a friend or relative When- 6:45 p.m. - 7;45 p.m.

Where- Edinburgh Square’s Community Room, 129 Hershberger Road NW, near Plantation Road, directly across from Star City Skating Center For more- www.

RoanokeAreaFairTax.com

> May 4 Destroyer Escort Sailors Reunion The annual reunion of Virginia shipmates that served at any time aboard a DE, DER,APD or FF type ship will be held in Virginia Beach, VA on May 4 - 7, 2008. Family and friends of these shipmates are encouraged to attend When- May 4-7 Where- Virginia Beach For more- Walter Alexander, 2311 Idavere RD SW, Roanoke, VA 24015-3903, (540) 345 - 5826, DE585@cox.net.

Northwest Jazz Band Swing into Spring with the big band sounds of the Northwest Jazz Band under the direction of Eddie Wiggins.To benefit the Military Family Support Center. Tickets available at Ram’s Head in Towers Mall; Merle Norman in Tanglewood Mall;Too Many Books, Grandin Village; Wheeler’s Laundry/Cleaning, Brandon Ave.; Ridenhour Music, Main St. Salem When- 3 p.m.

Where- American Legion Post No. 3, 710 Apperson Dr., Salem,VA Cost- $10 Spring Fever Jazz Featuring the Northwest Jazz Band and the Dumas Drama Guild Singers.

When- 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Where- Dumas Center for Artistic and Cultural Development 108 Henry St., Roanoke Cost- $10 Concert tickets $60 Sponsor tickets For more- 540-265-8115

> May 5

Israel @ 60 and Beyond Please join The American Israel Public Affairs Committee for featured speaker, David Horovitz, Editor-in-Chief of the Jerusalem Post. He is a leading expert on the Middle Eats and writes from Israel for many publications across the globe.

When- 7:30 p.m.

Where- Jesse Ball duPont Chapel, Hollins University

> May 6

Roanoke Aglow Community Lighthouse This month’s speaker is Linda Roach.This will be a very informative meeting- Come and bring a friend.

When- dinner at 6p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m.

Where- Roanoker Restaurant Cost- Dinner is “on your own” with 18% gratuity For more- 540-774-2229 or 540362-3170 for more information Arthur Live!

The Award-Winning PBS Series Arthur Is Coming To Life on Stage

in Salem.

When- 6:30 p.m.

Where- Salem Civic Center Cost- Tickets prices are $19.50 for Reserved Seating and $22.50 for Premium Seating For more- 540-375-3004

> May 8

Lunch ‘N’ Learn: E-Marketing Want to learn some E-Marketing strategies? Join the Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center to learn how to get results using online surveys and email.When- Noon -1p.m.

Where-Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom.

Cost- FREE. For more- to register, contact Taryn at 983.0717 ext. 239

> May 10

Wildflower Sale Among the many species offered will be trillium, trailing arbutus, birdfoot violets, cardinal flower and dwarf crested iris.

When- 9 a.m. - Noon.

Where- VWCC, It will be held in the parking lot behind the greenhouse above the Arboretum.

Music for Mental Health Fund Raising Event The Heart of Virginia is holding another Music For Mental Health Fund Raising Event on May 10thPerformances by The Ben Hurt Band, Jordan Rivers and the Rotgut Revival, The Andy Hollander Band, and The Tommy Edwards Band.

When- 9 p.m.

Where- the Coffee Pot Cost- $5

> May 13

Roanoke Jaycees Meeting The Roanoke Jaycees will hold a monthly membership meeting on Tuesday, May 13th. The meeting is open to all people age 21 to 40.

Members and those with an interest in the Chapter are encouraged to attend.

Membership meetings are used for announcements and discussion of Chapter events, as well as committee planning sessions. Committees include Community Service, Professional Development, Special Events and Social.

When-6pm Where-Jefferson Center, Suite 300 For more- www.roanokejaycees. com

> May 15

Women & Veterans Small Business Conference Get On Target: Learn Steps to Grow Your Business On Any Budget. Discover marketing techniques used by industry experts to be successful in today’s competitive market.

When- 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where- Virginia Western Community College.

Cost- $20 includes breakfast and lunch. Pre-registration required.

Open to public.

For more- information or to register, contact Taryn at 983.0717 ext.

239

> May 17 Local Colors Take a trip around the world without ever leaving Roanoke! Local Colors, Roanoke’s annual multicultural festival, takes place Saturday, May 17 with food, vendors, music, dance and costumes from more than 70 countries. This year’s featured country is the Philippines.

New countries this year: Burma, Slovakia, Palestine, Ukraine - and Canada and Japan are back!

When- The event starts at 11 a.m. with the Parade of Nations.

Where- in Elmwood Park, downtown, For more- www.localcolors.org, 540-904-2234.

Rescue Squad Open House Roanoke Emergency Medical Services Inc.Volunteer Open House.

Did you know Roanoke is home to the 1st all volunteer Rescue Squad in the world? Ever wonder what a Rescue Squad does?

Come see for yourself and help us celebrate 80 years of Emergency Medical Service to the citizens and visitors of Roanoke City. Ambulances, CPR Demo, Health Safety Demo, Blood Pressure Check, Children Activities, Fire Safety House, Rain or Shine

Classifieds & JobzCafe.com

item and telephone number must appear in ad copy. First 10 words are free. Additional 10 words are $5.00.

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information, Please send your resumes to jrussell1003@gmail.com

Call Deborah, 776-3087

Windsheild Honda windshield $150 for sale342-2083

Does your grade school child Need a teacher-tutor to Help them stay on track?

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Call Emily 725-1464 emilym@cox.net

Senior Engineer - Electrical Designs building power, lighting, communication, fire alarm, telecommunications and security systems.

Performs specific project design and development tasks, including drawings, calculations, cost estimates, and specifications. HSMM 540-857-3133

Schwinn Matching His and Hers BikesSporters Model $80 - 540-977-5222

Homemade crafts and such, Children’s aprons, quillows, gifts.

Shop “Buy the Season”.

Go-Cart Frame - Very Large - $50 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m.

Christmas House Collection - New in Box - $150.00 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m.

Fishing Equipment - Bamboo Poles and Old Reels $125 - 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m.

Firewood For Sale - $100 Pickup Load - 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m.

Trailer for Sale - Needs Hitch - $150 - 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m.

Camaro Hood - $50 540-977-5222 Japanese Animation VHS - Large Assortment - $3.00 Each - 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m.

Pokemon Collectibles in Containers - $5.00 Each - 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m.

Knitting Machines,Thread, Instruction Booklets and Much More in Box - All For $20.00 - 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m.

Water Cooler For Shop or Office $75 - 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m.

Emily,Vendor 1806, 725-1464, emilym@cox.net Belize vacation deliver school supplies do a good deed cheap contact Gary at 342-2083 turtle-guy@att.net FREE!!!!

We’ll run any ad from a private party written in traditional Haiku form (5,7,5 syllabic format).

Telephone number at the end of the listing is excluded from the format requirements. Email info@ theroanokestar.com

> JobzCafe.com

Jobzcafe is a progressive career destination connecting local companies with a dynamic talent pool. We serve Southwest and Central Virginia including Roanoke, Lynchburg, New River Valley, Martinsville, Danville and Smith Mountain Lake.

For Information Contact: 540-563-2249

call Katherine Devine 427-5919 devinestudios@yahoo.com

Account managers As part of our expansion programmer’s, Russell Thomas Associates,LLC is looking for part time Work from home account managers, accountants and sales representatives are needed to work on their own flexible schedule time. It pays $3000-$4000 a month plus benefits and takes only little of your time. Please contact us for more details .

Requirements • Should be a computer Literate.

• 2-3 hours access to the internet weekly.

• Must be 20 yrs and above of age • Must be Efficient and Dedicated

Want to learn Chinese?

If you are interested and need more

Antique Window Frames From Old Home - $20 Each - 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m.

Bows For Sale - Call For Information $50 Each - 540-977-5222 after 3 p.m. > Haiku ads Art Lessons private art lessons drawing ,painting and sculpture ages 6 and up

Architect II Architect II performs specific project building design and development tasks, including programming, reports, drawings, calculations, cost estimates, and specifications; responds to client questions and comments; reviews contractor submittals, provides clarifications during instruction. HSMM Fax: 540-857-3133 Pool Assistant Manager Performs responsible, professional specialized work as it pertains to public safety and recreational work in pool operations, supervision of aquatic staff, administrative paperwork, preventing injuries, enforcing rules, and effectively communicating with the general public. City of Roanoke hr@roanokegov.com Fax: 540-853-1218 Maintenance Worker I Performs unskilled manual work in the completion of maintenance and construction projects. Loads and unloads gravel, dirt, timber, chemicals, and other materials, tools and equipment. Performs general laboring and custodial tasks such as cutting grass, raking leaves and cleaning buildings.

City of Roanoke hr@roanokegov. com Fax: 540-853-1218 Registered Nurse I Provides nursing support for ongoing laboratory studies. Duties include placement, monitoring and removal of venous catheters; drawing blood; monitoring and withdrawal of arterial catheters; preparation and administration of medications; assessing vital signs of subjects undergoing study.

Virginia Tech Fax: 540-231-3830 Account Services Specialist Account Services Specialists. Duties include: Reviews monthly A/R list of accounts to determine accounts requiring attention. Assesses and works problem accounts to determine appropriate course of action.

Express Employment Professionals 540-389-8979 Electronics Technician Electronics Technician: Second shift

openings available. Must be able to understand AC/DC controls, instrumentation, read schematics, control panel. Express Employment Professionals 540-389-8979 HVAC Installation & Repair Senior Technician Under minimal supervision, performs installation, maintenance, inspection, troubleshooting, and repair of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment (both electronic and mechanical). Performs start-up on new equipment; assists in supervising and planning, maintains related records. Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Fax: 540-231-3830 UNIX System Administrator Reports to the Director of Technology. Maintains Oracle and UNIX/ Linux systems and is responsible for designing, installing, implementing, and maintaining UNIX Servers and workstations.Verify integrity of Oracle and UNIX/Linux systems. Troubleshoot performance and configuration issues. Delta Dental jobs@deltadentalva.com Fax: 540-725-3890 Underwriting Business Analyst Perform analysis of dental claims, enrollment, and benefit information to determine costs factors for use in underwriting process. Assist in retrieval and compilation of group specific data to support department’s customer reporting requirements.

Delta Dental jobs@deltadentalva. com Fax: 540-725-3890 Technical Writer / Software Trainer Qualtrax, Inc. (subsidiary of CCSInc.) is looking for a Technical Writer/ Software Trainer for its compliance management software product. The position will design and develop user manuals, training programs, and assist with customer implementations. CCS-Inc hr@ccs-inc.com Fax: 540-382-1801 Computer Technicians CCS-Inc. is looking for Full-time and Part-time Computer Technicians.

These positions will be responsible for the integration and manufacturing of industrial computer systems.

The ideal candidates will have a strong background in troubleshooting computer hardware and software issues. CCS-Inc hr@ccs-inc.com Fax: 540-382-1801 News Photographer/Editor Entry-level position for News Photographer to shoot and edit videotape news stories. Experience with broadcast video cameras and edi-

When- 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Where-At the corner of 4th street and Day Avenue in Southwest Roanoke, 374 Day Ave Roanoke,Va. For more- Call 540-344-6256

cj> June 7 Square Dance Club Indoor Yard Sale Fundraiser Coffee and donuts for sale too.

When- 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Where- Lions Club Building in Cave Spring. From 419 go west on Brambleton Ave. Watch for signs.

For more- call 540-776-6326 for donations to be picked up.

> Aug. 8-9

Jefferson High School 60th Reunion Jefferson High School Class of 1948 is planning its 60th year reunion When- August 8-9 Where- Hotel Roanoke For moreKathleen Ratliff, 342-5279

> Sept. 17

Destroyer Leaders Association Former shipmates from USS NORFOLK DL1, USS MITSCHER DL2 / DDG-35, USS JOHN S MCCAIN DL3 / DDG36, USS WILLIS A LEE DL4, and USS WILKINSON DL5 will meet in St. Louis, Missouri, September 17 - 21, 2008 for their 12th annual combined reunion.

Family and friends are welcome to attend.

When- Sept. 17-21 Where- St. Louis, Mo. For more- Destroyer Leader Association, 2311 Idavere Road SW, Roanoke, VA 24015-3903, email: DestroyerLeader1@cox.net

Have an item for the calendar? email it to submissions@ theroanokestar.com

tors desired. Must have valid driver’s license with a good driving record.

Two-year technical degree preferred.

Background and pre-employment drug screen required. WDBJ7 Fax: 540-344-5097

Sales Associate New and Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales.

High income potential with established dealership with a great reputation in the Roanoke - Salem area.

Income ranges with current sales staff from $45000 to over $100000.

Pinkerton Chevrolet smcdaniel@ pinkertonchevy.com 540) 491-0116

In-Home Therapist Provide intensive in-home, crisisoriented counseling and case management to youths and their families.

Work with clients to foster the development of new improved coping, problem solving, and communication skills Madeline Centre jberkley@madelinecentre.com Fax: 434 239-0181

Sales Assistant WDBJ Television is currently accepting applications for a Sales Assistant.

Responsibilities include providing support for sales managers and account executives, creating sales proposals and presentations, tracking sales progress and other general office duties. WDBJ7 Fax: 540-344-5097

Application Project Manager Performs work involving the analysis of business systems, design, and documentation of system solution and serves as project manager of a wide variety of information system projects. Supervises a project development team. Prepares project plans and schedules, task lists, work assignments, etc City of Roanoke hr@roanokegov.com Fax: 540-853-1218

Medical Director Acts on behalf of the Director and provides supervision to all staff levels for administrative matters in the Director’s absence. Collaborates with the university and community to enhance relationships with Schiffert Health Center, students, faculty and staff.

Virginia Tech Fax: 540-231-3830

Page 19 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/2/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

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(540) 400-0990 TheRoanokeStar.com

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel

Page 20 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/2/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

How will you cool off this summer?

The DYNA Series

! SPECIAL SERVICE TO HONOR OUR BELOVED MOTHERS

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