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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel Community | News | Per spective

6/27/08

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

TheRoanokeStar.com

Program paves way for new loans and grants

Local Colors bring a taste of culture

Bicycle Race P8– The ID3 Races return this July 4th, 5th and 6th in downtown Roanoke and Blacksburg.

Thanks to an initiative by Roanoke City, localities across the state now have the ability to administer loans and grants to middle-income families for home improvements and help with down payments on home purchases.

Municipalities previously had the ability to administer loans and grants to low-income families, but the new state law, passed this spring, opens up new programs for moderate incomes.

Tom Carr, Roanoke City’s director of Planning, Building and Neighborhood Services, said the city has allocated nearly LOANS $500,000 for two programs which will begin later this year.

He said the goal of both programs is to help revitalize the neighborhoods of downtown Roanoke listed as Conservation and Rehabilitation Districts.

The first is a market rate mortgage assistance program, for which the city has set aside $175,000. The program offers help to those looking to buy a home by covering half of the down payment up to $8,000 and all of the closing costs as long as the buyer puts a minimum of

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Photo by Gail Lambert

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ocal Colors presented a Taste of Culture, China on Friday, June 20 at downtown’s Century Plaza on Church Avenue across from the Old Fire Station. The elegant narrow tree-lined urban park is home to the Sister Cities Columns and was decked out with tables, chairs, booths and stage for the extended festival lunch hour offerings (11 a.m.

-2 p.m.).

Pearl Fu, cultural advisor and spokesperson for Roanoke’s ethnic communities, hosted the event and introduced the gathering to the spectacle of the riotous Dragon Dance, sword and fan dances, Tai Chi, and Chinese music. Art lovers gravitated to the calligraphy booth and many came away

Taking a Dive

P8– Olympic Park’s Cara Harman competes in Monday’s meet.

with their names rendered in artistic Chinese brushwork.

Admission to Taste of Culture was free.

A bit of shopping at the booth selling “Chinese minority clothing� and food for sale by Fiji Island Restaurant were part of the cultural experience as well for families downtown with children out of school and classes of preschool kids. Well-traveled retirees also showed up, joined by downtowners on lunch break.

Next up is Taste of Culture, Haiti on Friday, July 11. A different nation will hold sway each month through October.

Get more info on the web at: www.localcolors.org

> CONTINUED P2: Loans

Boys & Girls development director has a passion for kids Rotary Success P11– The Rotary Club of Roanoke-Downtown’s annual fundraiser earned more than $17,000. The proceeds went to local organizations.

Birdies and Bogeys

Christine Underwood, Director of Resource Development since last August for Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia, wears several hats. The Raleigh Court resident still practices law part time with Wood Rogers, handling pro bono work on many cases (no charge to client) while helping to raise funds for Boys & Girls, which operates after school programs at many Roanoke area schools and a center on 9th Street in southeast. A teen room is currently under construction there and should be ready for the new school year later this summer. Underwood was recently recognized by the Roanoke Bar Association Photo byGene Marrano for community service, includChristine Underwood works towards a brighter future for kids ing her pro bono work at Woods and the Roanoke Valley.

Rogers, where she also deals with a handful of clients on issues like a few years,� said Underwood. She their first child (a boy) in a few estate planning. She lauds both is still involved with Center in the months.

Woods Rogers and Boys & Girls Square as a board member.

Working in a smallish region for allowing her to bridge two The planned giving aspect of like the Roanoke Valley, Underworlds. fundraising, such as leaving mon- wood sees where an organization Underwood (34) attended Roa- ey in a will to a favorite nonprof- like Boys & Girls, headquartered noke College as an undergraduate, it, always involves legal aspects on Electric Road near Tanglewood majoring in English after consid- and helped whet her appetite for Mall, can have a major impact on ering marine biology. Following a law. “I sort of hit a crossroads‌ people’s lives. “There are a lot of six-year hiatus when she worked and went ahead and applied [for great nonprofits in this communiin the nonprofit world law school].â€? Under- ty.â€? The positive economic impact (Center in the Square, wood wanted to stay they make – including providing AFTER SCHOOL CHIP) it was on to the in Roanoke after her after school care like Boys & Girls University of Richschooling: “I wanted so that parents, many from lower mond for her law degree. “I actu- to be successful in this commually never considered law school nity.â€? She and husband Nate, a > CONTINUED until I had been out working for software developer, are expecting P3: Underwood

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P8– Jonathan Preeman gauges his putt as a member of the Average Golfer Club.

]

Government officials from Wonju tour their sister city

For several days last week a contingent from Roanoke’s original “Sister City� of Wonju, South Korea were kept very busy during a visit here. For the past several years Wonju and Roanoke area schools have been exchanging students during the school year or summer recess. This summer James Madison Middle School students will make the journey over to Wonju; earlier in the year a Korean group came here for three weeks. Wonju Mayor Photo by Gene Marrano Kim Gi-Yeol, his wife Yoo SeWonju government officials ung-Deuk and officials from tour Century Plaza and other several divisions of the Wonju Roanoke landmarks during city government also came for their visit to their sister city. the whirlwind three day visit last week. The tour included statues created by local artists. visits with Mayor Nelson Har- Three student groups have visris and lunch with the Roanoke ited from Wonju to date, spendCounty Board of Supervisors, a ing time in classrooms as well Salem Avalanche baseball game, as touring and two groups from perfume shopping at Elizabeth Roanoke have gone to the first Arden and a presenof Roanoke’s seven tation on Center in Sister Cities so far, SISTER CITIES the Square from exJames Madison ecutive director Jim Middle and North Sears.

Cross School. In January MadiDuring a brief stop at Century son families hosted the Korean Plaza on Church Avenue mem- students and welcomed them bers of the delegation posed in front of the column that depicts > CONTINUED Wonju, one of seven Sister City P3: Wonju

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Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 6/27/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

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District Boundaries Conservation Rehabilitation Neighborhood Boundaries

Conservation and Rehabilitation Districts eligible for the new loan programs. initiative headed by Councilwoman Gwen Mason. “That means the owners future energy bills will be lower,� Carr said, “in time that also reduces the city’s carbon footprint.�

He said an energy audit will have to be done prior to the construction which will identify cost effective steps that can be taken to make the home more energy efficient. The construction will then have to follow the sugges-

tions. “We have alot of older homes that are in need of repair and we essentiually want the homes back in working order and increase the property values in the neighborhood,� Williamson said.

Carr said that because both programs are paired with traditional bank loans it means people do have to meet credit standards in order to qualify. He said the city initially set the money aside

last year for the program but had to wait on the state legislature to give the municipalities permission to administer the loans. “We’re looking forward to doing this and seeing what kind of an impact we can have on the neighborhoods,� Carr said.

By Lawson Koeppel lkoeppel@theroanokestar.com

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the owner keeps the home as a primary residence.

Williams said they had 24 firsttime homebuyers participate in the low income down payment program this year, averaging about $6,000 for each family. She said they hope to have the same success with the new program.

The second program is an energy efficient housing rehabilitation loan which the city has set aside $300,000 for. Carr said the program is designed, “to encourage substantial rennovation of homes in some of the older neighborhoods.� He said those were typically the neighborhoods closer to downtown that were built before World War II. The rehabilitation loan uses the same income brackets as the down payment program but offers substantially more money.

The money can cover up to 40 percent of the improvement costs, with a limit of $40,000.

The rehabilitation loan is also forgivable, but the borrower has to keep the home as a primary residence for 20 years.

Carr said the unique part of this loan is that it requires the repairs to be done to energy efficient standards, and that all work has to be done by a licensed general contractor. The energy efficient standards are in keeping with the city’s Clean and Green

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tion or anyone who wants to move to the city,� Carr said.

Angie Williamson, a Housing Development Specialist for the city, said the city works with local banks to administer the loans. She said about 12 banks in the local market participate in the programs and that the banks and the city process the applications. “It is technically a loan that is forgiveable so they’re not making monthly payments on it,� said Williamson. She said the loan can be forgiven after 10 years if

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$1,000 towards the purchase. “That’s usually the biggest impediment in someone buying a house,� Carr said of down payments.

He said the program is open to families of two or fewer making between $63,000 and $73,600 and to families of three or more making between $73,000 and $89,000. He said this upper-income bracket more than doubles the levels they work with on the low-income grants and loans. “It opens it up to a much broader swatch of our popula-

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The cake mixes, baking tins, eggs and oil have been distributed.

Ovens are heating up and the batter is flying as Recovery Program participants at the Rescue Mission bake up cupcakes to benefit Roanoke City Police Officer Brian Lawrence.

Officer Lawrence helped the Rescue Mission distribute backpacks and school supplies to over 300 needy children at last year’s Back To School BLAST. To help Officer Lawrences family deal with their medical bills, Recovery Program Participants decided to use donated cake mixes to offer something back to a man who has given

so much for this community.

On Thursday, June 26, cupcakes will be on display in the Missions board room from 9am to noon. Bids will be accepted via silent auction from Mission Staff, Volunteers, Board Members and from anyone who wants to stop by to help a good cause. Winning bidders are welcome to enjoy their winning cupcake or donate their winnings to the Mission kitchen to feed the approximately 250 hungry people who will be eating lunch at the Mission that day.

All funds raised will go to Officer Lawrences family and the highest bidder at noon will be declared the

winner.

The Rescue Mission of Roanoke, a 370-bed facility located at 402 Fourth Street SE, Roanoke is a 501(C)(3) grassroots organization providing comprehensive crisis intervention for Southwestern Virginia. The Mission is open 24 hours a day--365 days a year. Since its origin in 1948, The Rescue Mission, a Christian Crisis Intervention Center, has consistently served all people in need, regardless of race, creed, gender, age or ethnicity.

Please join us to show our appreciation and support for Officer Lawrence and his family.

TheRoanokeStar.com

> Underwood From page 1

income homes, can work longer hours – is an aspect often overlooked notes Underwood. She hails a detailed report on that positive impact, issued recently by the Nonprofit Resource Center.

While working full time at Woods Rogers after graduation from Richmond, Underwood was asked to serve on the Boys & Girls Club board in late 2004. She then became friends with executive director Becci Emanuelson and an offer to join the organization full time was made last summer. Now Underwood is in charge of all fundraising on a regional basis, in the Roanoke, Martinsville, Henry County and New River Valley service areas. Raising money “is a

challenge anywhere…in the nonprofit world,” including Roanoke, where numerous agencies are looking to slice up a rather small pie.

“I’ve always been tremendously surprised at the generosity of this community, especially on an individual basis, and how much time people are willing to devote,” said Underwood, a Hagerstown, Maryland native. Matching up with the right contributor is the key for all nonprofits, she adds. She enjoys being with a donor when they are telling other prospective donors about the benefits to children of Boys & Girls.

“We want to bring on people that are passionate about the

cause,” said Emanuelson of why she offered Underwood a position. “We have someone who cares about not just our kids, but the future of the community. It’s a good fit.” The best part of Christine Underwood’s job now? “I like meeting people that like to support the Boys & Girls Club. It’s the most rewarding [aspect] to me.

Becci and I spend a lot of our time during the day talking to people about how great the Boys & Girls Club is. We certainly believe [and] communicate that whenever we have the opportunity.”

tween the people,” said Tompkins about the value of the Sister Cities program. Roanoke and Wonju are similar geographically he noted, with an economic base that is also compatible. Railroading is big in both cities. Those young South Koreans that have come here for visits during the exchange program have a strong desire to learn English as well.

“They’ve been studying English since the second grade.”

Virginia Western Community College teacher Jennifer Mulligan was among those from Roanoke Valley Sister Cities shepherding the Korean group through Century Plaza and the city market area last week, relying heavily on a translator to bridge the communication gap.

She will accompany the Madison

students to Wonju this summer and has been to South Korea a half dozen times. “One of the advantages we have is that they’ve already hosted Korean kids for three weeks,” said Mulligan of the Madison contingent, consisting of seven students. It is not unusual she added for South Korean parents to send their young children abroad to places like Canada for two years, to learn fluent English. “Kids may see their parents once a year. What we have [for Madison students] is a very toned down version of that.” Mulligan joked about the hectic itinerary last week: “I think we have 12 minutes open this afternoon.”

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

> Wonju From page 1

into their homes.

Roanoke City resident Jack Tompkins is coordinator for Roanoke Valley Sister Cities: “they have been studying about Korea,” he said about the Madison middle schoolers. “They’ll stay in the homes of the people that stayed with them [in Wonju] and will get to go to all kinds of cultural activities.” An overnight visit to a monastery and a visit to Seoul are on the agenda.

Wonju Mayor Kim Gi-Yeol is a big sports and culture fan noted Tompkins, who was able to find a local company that donated their Avalanche skybox to the delegation for a game. Gi-Yeol even threw out the first pitch at the Salem game last Thursday.

“There’s not only differences, there’s so many similarities be-

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Vice-Mayor Trinkle announces Roanoke City Council blog

While Councilman Dave Trinkle says he has remained committed to open and accessible government since his arrival on Roanoke City Council two years ago and routinely attends meetings throughout the city and answers citizen emails daily, he feels he can still do more to increase communication on issues in a timely fashion with citizens and the media.

To that end Trinkle has started his own City Council blog— www.davetrinkle.com, which went live on June 19, 2008. The Vice-Mayor promises to post new content weekly and respond to blog comments at least every other day. His blog will allow open postings so that positive and negative comments and responses are there for all to see.

He has also encouraged the media to ask questions through the media blog so that his full answers are accessible for all.

According to Trinkle, his main goal for the blog is to, “be able to fully state an issue, state his viewpoint on that issue, receive feedback on the issue, and be able to change and adapt to this feedback as appears appropriate— ultimately leading him to be able to make the most informed decision on issues that he can.”

The Vice-Mayor also hopes to post issues as early as possible— “as soon as I am aware of them and well before coming to council, to allow healthy debate on these issues and to minimize opportunities for false perceptions to cloud the issues. “ In a press release dated June 19th Trinkle said, “It’s all about

Roanoke businessman awarded Virginia small business veteran of the year Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel J. Patrick Green, a Roanoke businessman, has been named the 2008 Virginia Small Business Veteran of the Year by the Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Green will be presented the award on July 10 at 2:30 PM

by Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine at the Governors Richmond office.

Pat Green is an individual who has made a difference in the Virginia economy as well as his local community, said Tom

Tanner, business counselor with the Roanoke Regional SBDC. Green previously owned and sold three successful companies and currently owns Integrity Burial Boxes, Ltd. He served in active and reserve duty in the U.S. Army from 1960-1993.

Green has been active with several veterans associations since his retirement. He has served on local boards and been appointed to serve on state boards by former Governor Mark Warner and Governor Kaine.

The Small Business Veteran of

the Year award was established in 2001 to recognize veterans who have made a significant contribution to the Virginia economy through involvement in small business and who have made a significant difference in the community by promoting a sense of duty and an appreciation of country, democracy, and freedom. Green competed at a local level, first winning Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Centers Veteran of the Year Award in 2007. He went on to compete at the state

level and was announced in early 2008 as the statewide Virginia Small Business Veteran of the Year.

The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center was established in 1990 to provide free business counseling, training, and to serve as a resource center to support growing small businesses. Over 17 years, it has served almost 4,000 clients and helped local small businesses access nearly $88 million in capital.

Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners approves sale of South Jefferson Redevelopment Area properties to Carilion Clinic

At its meeting on June 16, the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) Board of Commissioners approved contracts for the sale of two properties in the South Jefferson Redevelopment Area to Carilion Clinic. The sale and planned redevelopment of these properties- a portion of the former Roanoke City Mills property acquired by RRHA in 2004, and the former Virginia Scrap Iron and Metal Company, Incorporated property, the purchase of which the Board of Commissioners also approved will expand redevelopment activities of the South Jefferson Redevelopment project to the east side of Jefferson Street and will complement the planned medical school, a joint project of Carilion and Virginia Tech, that will also be located in the Redevelopment Area. The contracts must also be approved by the Boards of both Carilion and Virginia Scrap Iron.

The former Virginia Scrap Iron property presents significant environmental challenges.

The full scope of environmental contamination resulting from former business activity on the property will likely not be clear for some time, and the environmental remediation costs may

exceed current estimates. For that reason, the RRHA Board of Commissioners would agree to acquire the property only if, at the same time, it could approve a sale of the property, with a definite closing date, to a developer. Under the terms of the agreement, the Housing Authority will take title to the property on June 30, 2008; after completing $240,000 of environmental remediation work utilizing a $200,000 EPA Brownfields grant and $40,000 in matching funds from the City of Roanoke.

Carilion will then take title to the property and will assume responsibility for all costs of excavation, clearing, any additional environmental remediation, and redevelopment of the property.

Carilion Clinic is willing to purchase the former Roanoke City Mills property as well, with the intention of redeveloping both properties jointly.

Joseph Lee, Chairman of the RRHA Board of Commissioners, said “Carilion’s agreement to acquire and redevelop both of these properties jointly was important to the Housing Authority. We believe the properties can be developed more effectively, and in a manner more consistent with the goals of the

South Jefferson Redevelopment Plan, if new development can encompass both properties.”

The former Roanoke City Mills property presents significant demolition challenges.

Demolition and related costs are expected to exceed the appraised fair market value of the real estate, because of the substantial potential for unknown subsurface conditions (due to the nature of the buildings and the previous operation). Carilion has a Performance Agreement with the City of Roanoke by which the City is obligated to provide funds to the Housing Authority for demolition, excavation, clearing and environmental remediation on properties sold to Carilion in the Redevelopment Area, and to have RRHA deliver the properties to Carilion in “raw land” status. As a part of its agreement to purchase the Mill Property, however, Carilion has agreed to bear all of these costs initially, with RRHA then utilizing funds provided by the City to reimburse Carilion for expenditures above the appraised fair market value of the property over a 5-year period.

“We believe Carilion’s agreement to undertake these obligations that would otherwise fall

6/27/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3

to RRHA, at the City’s expense, provides a benefit by permitting these substantial costs to be spread over five years, rather than one,” Lee said.

Redevelopment is transforming a formerly blighted area, located in a strategic part of the City, into an attractive, thriving medical, technology and education center. As an added benefit, the properties will go back into the City’s tax base, and be taxed at a much higher level than in the past.

“Carilion, because of the proximity of these properties to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, the Biomedical Center, and the planned medical school, has a strategic interest in these properties” Lee said. “Carilion’s having both the motivation and the financial capability to bear the substantial costs of site preparation, environmental remediation, and redevelopment of these properties making it possible to move forward with redevelopment of these properties. With the first phase of the South Jefferson Redevelopment approaching completion, we look forward to moving to the next stage. We hope that other developers will partner with us as we work to complete this project.”

the flow of information in both directions.” He is hopeful that other Council members will also initiate similar blogs or use his to gain information. He is also planning to have guest hosts, including Council members and others, to help with the site.

If you have questions about the new blog, please post them under the individual blog posts or go to the media post and ask the question. Vice-Mayor Trinkle can be reached at 540-314-8875 or david.trinkle@roanokeva. gov or www.davetrinkle.com Some quotes from Vice-Mayor Trinkle’s blog: “Clearly, I have learned some lessons in my first couple of years in politics—I can absolutely do more for public input and can be more vocal during Council meetings as issues are developing. I also believe Council can get by with fewer closed meetings and I will only support those that relate to contract negotiations and personnel matters. In addition, closed meetings on the same issue should be limited and with deadlines.

For that matter, I believe lingering issues should generally be resolved by Council in a more timely matter—though, of course, the catch here is to have enough time for public input, which at times can be difficult to navigate. I plan to support more briefings in Council Chambers, not small meeting rooms, regarding sensitive issues so that more citizens can come and sit comfortably, and I would like to see more briefings and public

hearings on RVTV as we did recently with our Planning Commission meetings.”

“In an effort to combat perception while at the same time being more sensitive to public input on small and large issues, I have developed this blog. I plan to dedicate time as often as needed to discussions on particular issues as I post them and to use the information I learned from these discussions in my Council decision-making process. I also hope to use this Web page/blog to tell the great stories occurring daily in our city and the actions by many that are leading the city into an exciting and healthy future. Finally, I hope to use the interactive abilities of this blog for media interviews and to respond openly to both positive and negative comments from anyone so that my full view point will be readily available to those who wish to see it.”

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T

Childhood summers and Cousin Camp

he sweet recollections of childhood flood back to me during this time of year when summer is beckoning children to play with reckless abandon.

I think of the playfulness of endless hours of long summer nights, playing “pigs and wolves” in our front yard with all the neighborhood children.

I remember my mother ordering us to head outside to make our own fun, to be careful and be good to one another. I recall organizing a circus in our garage, dressing up my brother as Tarzan and making him swing on the trapeze hanging from a rafter. The neighborhood was invited to come, and we offered them cotton candy and hot dogs. My grandmother’s St. Bernard was the circus bear.

Then there were the weeks of going to the cousins. They had the best dress ups of all… elegant gowns and fancy clothes and horses to ride. What more could a little girl want?

When my own children were growing up, my sister and I organized “cousin camp” with the five girl cousins. I had two girls, she had three. I had the children for a week one summer; she took them the next summer. We planned fun days filled with crafts, afternoons at the pool, playing dolls, and just doing those girly things.

It worked well for us because they were all within five years of one another, and they loved being together. The other cous-

ins were boys; they Valley red clay and just didn’t fit the requires seemingly program and were endless quantities of never included. organic material to This past week; lighten it up, so he however, I had the went to a stable with great pleasure of a his Uncle Michael to summer visit from pick up some horse my youngest nephmanure for the garew, one of the boy den. They shoveled Diane Kelly cousins. His parthe manure into the ents were on a celtruck, and he helped ebration trip in Europe and the to tie the tarp and shovel into aunts were taking turns keep- place. On return, he learned to ing him busy until their return. use the shredder to mix the maI thought, “What will I do with nure with wood chips to make a boy?” Well, in the end, it was a compost pile. He took charge nothing especially exciting, ex- of letting the chickens out in cept for him learning to do a the morning, feeding them few new things. some tasty dandelion greens, On the first day, he learned and putting them up again in to split fresh cedar at the fire the evening. pit. He got pretty good at haulThe week ended with a fun ing the long-handled axe over day at the lake, so it wasn’t all his head and crashing it down. work and no play, yet, I hope Again and again I could hear that he does go home with the pounding wood and the a few new stories and some exclamations of joy when the confidence in knowing how wood split in two. I could hard- to do some new things. We ly get him to stop when it was fed him well, especially Oreos time to eat. “Just a few more, and chocolate milk, and yes, he Diney. Okay?” watched his movies and played Next he learned to start and his video games too. In the end, ride the John Deere riding I enjoyed him far more than I mower. He mowed the yard, ever imagined. When he looks learning to dodge the plants back, I hope he will rememand clear the clothes line poles. ber this summer in years to With the yard cart behind, he come as an awesome few days hauled a lot of mulch to the at Aunt Diney’s house in Roabushes and flower beds and noke. Cousin Camp is full of then picked up the sticks and summer time fun. It’s easy and brush. More than once I saw makes for lifelong memories him racing it around the yard of family loving one another. in fifth gear just whooping it Three cheers for cousin camp, up! He would say, “I just love the best deal in town! that lawn tractor!”

Contact Diane at Our garden has that Roanoke dianekelly@gmail.com

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etween our pew and the pulpit, two white ceiling fans above the center aisle stirred the humid June air. Beyond the walls the hymnal voices of a few dozen churchgoers lifted to God's ears and those of the few head of cattle grazing nearby in green pastures beyond the stained glass of Huffville Church. My gaze drifted past the minister's place at the podium to the picture behind him. In six months of Sundays since we starting attending, this was the first time I'd noticed it--a Protestant icon, invisible by being so familiar.

This same picture, called "Heart's Door, hung in a remarkably similar church of which we were once a part -more a part perhaps than any other church we've attended as our young children gave us a common bond with others then that we lack now in our emptynested years. In the tiny sanctuary of that country church whose property adjoined our little farm in Wythe County hung this portrait of a smoothbrowed Jesus in radiant robes, dark brown hair rippling over the right shoulder as the figure knocks hopefully at a substantial wooden door tightly shut.

The entryway is symbolically overgrown with thorny, unpruned roses. The door conspicuously lacks an outside latch so only the soul within can open it. If whoever is inside

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will only answer... ductions, that same I closed my eyes Jesus image and its and let the picture spin-offs have become on the wall carry me an industry of sorts. even farther back as This face of a Eurothe Huffville minpean-looking sepiaister ministered on. toned Christ found And there it was in on everything from every detail--the calendars to tonguesame white robe depressor church pew and beatific defans has not been withFred First meanor more than out its detractors, seen a half-century ago. I by some as too effemiheard myself asking my mother nate. It was once displayed side "Is that really Jesus?" When she by side with a shampoo adverexplained that there were no tisement comparing the holy photographs from Christ's day, coif with that of the famous I remember wondering how “Breck girl.” The lighting and somebody could just make up backdrop does give the bust a the face of God. Until yesterday look as if it might have been at the computer after church, I taken in an Olin Mills studio in knew nothing more about this Anywhere, USA--a familiarity oh-so-common "portrait" of that puts us at once at ease. the faith, an image that for milHas the Good Shepherd thus lions has become the face of the been marketed and commodreal, historical Jesus. itized? Perhaps. But we will alIt is the work of a certain ways conjure images for those Warner E. Sallman. He created in our hearts and minds, and it a charcoal sketch in 1924 called seems likely that no single de"the Son of Man" and from that piction of God has unified the elaborated a color painting, imaginings of so many believ“The Head of Christ,” in 1940. ers in my lifetime on a single His Jesus was a kinder, gentler face. Believers who, when they Presence than the more austere have a friend in Jesus, walk and divine countenance imagined talk in their gardens alone with by his Victorian artist prede- the very same bronzed and cessors. Sallman's Christ was bearded person I saw today beimmediately popular, "acces- hind the pulpit once again, for sible and reassuring" in a very the first time. troubled time. Many a wallet Contact Fred at sized image went to war, and in fred1st@gmail.com peace and war since then with more than 500 million repro-

The Recipe of the Week from The Happy Chef

by Leigh Sackett

Pig Roast Coleslaw & Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade

I love Fourth of July celebrations. They are full of easy to prepare, yet wonderful foods - plus fun games, lazy recreation, friends, and family not to mention the glorious night time fireworks! It is a celebration that reflects and honors the freedom we have been given. I will be at the beach with my family on the 4th. My kids and I bought little American flags for each of us to have on that day. We plan on having a beach blast to celebrate what we all likely too often take for granted – our freedom!

But more importantly, I plan on sitting quietly on a dune at some point during the day and thanking the God who loves us so much that he gave us the will and the opportunity to be free - free to choose, free to love, free to find joy, and free to find Him. No matter what we face - war, illness, grief or any kind of big or small personal struggles - the freedom that God gives is always ours.

So have a fabulous Fourth of July! You can add these wonderful and EASY recipes to your celebration. I bought an awesome hand held lemon juicer from Food Lion last year. It makes fresh-squeezed lemonade a breeze to make. Oh, and one more thing to my friend Kelly who will be moving soon … Thank you Kelly for the coleslaw recipe and the years of pig roast parties and the beach memories to come and most of all your wonderful friendship!

Mix for slaw 2 packages of shredded cabbage 2 cups of frozen peas 2 cups of salted dry roasted peanuts Dressing 1 tbs. poppy seed ¼ tsp. dry mustard 1 tbs. minced onion

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The Parlor Fan Jesus: one man’s vision reaches generations

Pig Roast Coleslaw

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4

TheRoanokeStar.com

¼ tsp. salt ½ cup oil ¼ cup white vinegar ¼ cup sugar -Stir cabbage, peas and peanuts together in a bowl -Combine the ingredients for the dressing in a sealed container, shake well -Pour dressing over the slaw, mix together, chill and serve

Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade 1 ½ cups sugar ½ cup boiling water 1 tbs. grated lemon rind 1 ½ cups fresh lemon juice from 8 large lemons 5 cups of water -Stir together sugar and ½ cup of boiling water -Stir in lemon rind, lemon juice and 5 cups of water -Chill, serve over ice

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

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Publisher | Stuart Revercomb | stuart@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990

www.CrosswordWeaver.com

ACROSS

DOWN

1 Vinton's largest employer. (2-words) 8 Night before.

10 What local business slogan is 'America's authority in home fasions?'

12 Short story that teaches a lesson 14 The act of preventing.

15 Location of Professor Cline's Haunted Monster Museum & Dark Maze (2-words) 22 Small business incubator in Roanoke and Salem. (2-words) 24 Where is the Virginia Room in Roanoke? (3-words) 26 To scorch.

27 Fine-tune.

28 2008 Mayor of Roanoke 30 The first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) which just docked with the International Space Station. (2-words)

2 Red Day of the Week but a place to eat (2-words) 3 A well loved city matriarch.

4 'I guess sometime there just aren't enough -----.' (from Forrest Gump) 5 You da ---! (from Antz) 6 Ello in Philly.

7 then the Iroquois Club?

9 ------- wears many masks none of which are more dangerous than virtue (from Sleepy Hollow) 11 Photography museum downtown roanoke (letter and 2-words) 13 One's own specialty.

16 'Do or do not there is no ---.' (from Star Trek) 17 An all-night techno dance party.

18 Eng. channel.

19 The pleasure of eating. (US slang) 20 A precious stone.

21 What candy factory built in 1917 downtown Roanoke and later became The King's Inn 23 Thank God it's ------.

25 To embarass.

26 Colonel. (abbreviation) 27 The periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon.

29 A coloring material.

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

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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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6/27/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

Getting lost with dad was a Too much water in the wrong place great way to find each other W

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his is a bitter-sweet time of the year for me. Spending Father's Day with my son Will and wife Janet is an annual treat which I cherish dearly. Sharing that same day with Hank, the greatest father-in-law on earth, who treats me like a son and for whom I hold the utmost love and respect, propels that one Sunday in June to near perfect status. The missing ingredient is my Dad, who passed twenty-three years ago while napping.

(Note: Four generations of men in my family died in their sleep at age sixty-eight, including my father and grandfather, a harbinger that sort of stands-up and demands to be noticed. On December 12, 2026 when I turn sixty-eight, I have decided to forgo sleeping, napping and resting of any kind, determined to once and for all end this heritage of death.

You will find me in front of my TV at 2:30 am watching reruns of "Cheers" and guzzling a Red Bull or two, desperately trying to make it to dawn).

Charming, kind, and honest to a fault, my Pop was a simply lovely person. One of my favorite recollections of spending time with my Dad was the time the two of us decided to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

One of my Dad's boyhood friends owned a summer home in the small town of Walton, New York, just twenty or thirty miles from Cooperstown and had offered to board us for the weekend. It was an enormous old home that was rumored to have been a bordello of some note during the Civil War and would splendidly serve as headquarters for the adventure.

Every trip I accompanied my father on was an adventure, for, like me, Pops had no sense of direction. Dad could get lost in a oneway tunnel. Every time we went to Levittown, New York to visit Dad's

friend Nat we ended of the soil standing up at the beach miles before us. from out destination. I The farmer did started packing a swim provide us with desuit whenever Dad tailed directions and mentioned Nat's name. punctuated his disCome to think of it I am course by spraying not sure if I ever really my Dad's light green met Nat or visited his Ford Torino's door home. panel with tobacco Unlike his son who juice.

Jon Kaufman has managed to emConfident and well brace his own ineptiinformed, we left our tude, Dad took great exception to friend the farmer and within minthose who referred to him as "di- utes we were lost again. Explainrectionally challenged." He would ing driving directions to Kaufman carefully plot his course with a col- & Son was like describing nuclear lection of hand-made maps and fission to a pair of flip-flops. written directions, shunning the Things had gotten ridiculous to help of his co-pilot. I had flown the point of being funny. We were second seat enough times with laughing and enjoying each other's my Dad to know that we would be company, barely concerned that hopelessly astray within minutes the day was getting late. of leaving HQ. We spoke about life and about Plowing aimlessly through the dreams as we drove in circles. farmlands of rural New York, Dad was a simple person of simdad and I succeeded in turning ple means. He always considered an enchanting country ride into work as a "means to an end" and the Bataan Death March inside of believed that he started living ten minutes. We were so far off when he arrived home every night of the beaten path that our only to his family. Often I have to rehope would be to find a talking mind myself how fortunate I am cow who was both familiar with to have a family and how lucky area roads and was coincidently a I was to have Pops around for as baseball fan. long as I did.

While Dad pulled over to check We stumbled upon Cooperhis maps I noticed a small house in stown, purely by accident, somethe distance. We agreed to aban- time around 2 pm. We toured the don our present strategy (pointless exhibits, walked the grounds and wandering) and headed for the stayed until closing. It was a day farm house. When we arrived a that lives in my mind every time I thin old man appeared in the yard watch the Hall of Fame induction and made his way to our vehicle. ceremonies on television.

Dad, rolled down his window Pop and I ate dinner at a local and asked the gentleman "How café and loaded ourselves back into do you get to Cooperstown?" the tobacco stained Ford. Several Asked that same question in my minutes later we were back on the neighborhood that straight-line road without a notion as to where might prompted a wise guy retort we were or in which direction we like "Practice, Practice," however, were going. I wouldn't have wantHenny Youngman most likely had ed it any other way. not passed through this remote loContact Jon at cation during his Vaudeville days Jon.Kaufman@sprint.com and such frivolous patter would be foreign to the hardworking man

ill Rogers once said, “Everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it!” Relax. This is not another diatribe about global warming— does it exist or not. It is about the weather which has been much in the news of late.

Several weeks ago we had a hot spell, particularly for May, and everyone was complaining about it. Then it got cold so we talked about that. The truth of the matter is that neither extreme was of much importance.

The heat was not prolonged or severe enough to take the lives of the unprotected infirm and then it wasn’t cold enough to damage crops. Now we are in the midst of a dry spell and we’re worried about our lawns. While they are drying up and, more importantly, the local crops are being stunted, the Midwest is in the grips of the worst flooding since 1993. This is the second “500 year flood” in 15 years. The response to the last flood was to build more and higher levees which they now say has made the flooding worse.

Each night we see a television reporter from Iowa waist deep in muddy water, declaiming that last week this was a corn field. The camera pans to a house, the upper story windows peering above the water’s edge like half-opened eyes. The President does his flyover and announces, “This is real bad and we’re gonna do somethin’.” At least the tens of thousands who have been displaced by the flooding are finding FEMA a little more reactive than “Brownie, you doin’ a heckuva job!”

All this brings to mind a question that I haven’t heard addressed: Has the average annual snowfall/rainfall across North America increased, decreased, stayed the same, or followed a new distribution pattern in the past century? In the 1930s the plains states suffered mightily with the Dust Bowl. Where was the rain

that had for defor water-starved cades fed those areas. amber waves of The neolakes that grain? Now they now devastate the are drowning in Midwest will run mud and farm into the Mississippi families will be carrying with it bilyears recouping lions of tons of toptheir losses, if soil to the Gulf. If ever they do. history is a model, The up side there will be floodHayden Hollingsworth of the gasoline ing of a significant crisis (if there degree every year is one) belonged to the farmers somewhere in the plains states. growing corn for ethanol. Com- Why doesn’t someone build resmodity prices are at an all time ervoirs to trap the flood water and high, but crops are ruined by too then distribute it where the land much or not enough water. Bil- is parched? Why doesn’t every lions of dollars have been lost. I municipality with a sewage treathope they hadn’t counted their ment facility have a brown (nonprofits before they were realized potable) water system? I like the and borrowed too much money term “waste water” better, but you for next year’s work. get the idea. With countless thouIf you have ever flown into sands of miles of coastline, why Phoenix you can see how ingenu- can’t economical desalinization be ity solved the problem of an an- explored? nual rainfall less than 10 inches a The benefits of massive water year: Irrigation. From an altitude containment and conservation of 10,000 feet you can see hun- are obvious, certainly to those dreds of brilliant green circles in a flood plain. When you look covering thousands of acres. All at the deserts of Arizona you see computer automated and pro- what water distribution can acgrammed to put the water where complish. and when it’s needed. It is a stunWithout the proper managening sight. ment of water, life will change irreBut there’s a downside: Where vocably. If Will Rogers were alive did that water come from? From today he might have something rivers that have been dammed or else to say about the weather. Maydiverted. Lake Powell, at the head be our presidential candidates can of the Grand Canyon is at record stop repeating their endless manlow levels, as is Lake Meade at the tras that we have all memorized other end. The poor Colorado and address water management.

River has become a waterless That makes more sense than the gulch long before it reaches the tiresome talk about off-shore drillRio Grande, all gone for irriga- ing which will have no impact on tion, decreased rainfall, or both. our energy dependence.

Unless the total snowfall/rainMaybe we can (or can’t) do fall for North America has radi- something about the weather but cally decreased in the last cen- its results that wreak such havoc tury, what we have is a problem should be looked at prospectively of distribution. We do know how not reactively. Right now, I have to to transport liquids: by train, by go out and water my lawn so the road tanker, by pipeline. You can Home Owners Association won’t find a gas station within a few be embarrassed by my brown yard. hours drive in almost any spot Better do it while the water lasts. in the United States. Maybe we Contact Hayden at should have the same distribution jhayden2003@cox.net

Watch out! The children are mad!

W

hat kind of discipline do you use? This is one of the most frequently asked questions in my office when I meet families for the first time. This simple question elicits a myriad of responses from parents and children and often leads to early identification of both assets and roadblocks in the family system. While many different styles and approaches can and do work, there is one common difficulty that plagues many of our very own families: Emotion based discipline.

Let’s ask a simple question. Does the amount of trouble your child gets in when they have misbehaved depend on how angry you are? Put another way, does your child get in more trouble the angrier you are? If your answer is yes, then be careful.

If what drives your discipline is your emotion, then your child will get inconsistent and at times potentially abusive parenting.

When we are in a happy or fun mood we are more likely to let our children get away with behaviors that we would otherwise have a problem with. On the other hand,

With this in mind it is imporwhen we are in an angry mood we tant to be consistent with our often react vigorously to the least approach to our children. We little thing, even behaviors that will at times be angry and at have not previously been identhose moments we have to make tified as problems to the child. sure that what we are addressing This mood dependant vacillation is based on reason, not emotion. works not only to confuse our Give yourself a parent time-out, children but to undermine our take a minute or two to regain family structure. Children often your composure and ask yourcome away from these types of Keith McCurdy self, is this appropriate. When interactions doubting their abilities to operate in this system and you are calm, then readdress they begin to identify when to avoid Mom your child. or Dad. As one young girl put it, “If Mom By the same token we have to address all is mad, get out of the way; you never know inappropriate behavior, even when we are what you will get in trouble for.” in a good mood. Letting a child get away Another side effect of this is that our with things only serves to make our jobs children begin to identify which emotions more difficult down the road. By doing are “bad” and can grow up with a distorted this we also model for our children that all sense of reality. An example of this is the emotion is OK, it just needs to be managed child who believes that it is wrong to ever appropriately. Take the time to evaluate get angry. This develops due to an effort what role your emotions play in your dison the part of many children to avoid con- cipline. Your children will thank you.

Contact Keith at flict by always working to keep Mom and psycyou@msn.com Dad “happy.” That way they won’t get in trouble.

Providing for our men and women in uniform Last week, the House of Representatives passed, with my support, important legislation, the Supplemental Appropriations Bill, which continues to fund our military operations abroad and expands the education benefits for our returning service members, without raising taxes on the American people.

This legislation will better help to ensure that our troops have the tools they need to fight the war on terror. There is no doubt about it: the men and women of our armed forces have a tough job. Their job sometimes takes them far from home, separates them from loved ones, and puts them in dangerous situations. These brave men and women, through their service to our country, allow us to continue to enjoy the freedoms our nation was founded on and the Supple-

mental Appropriations Bill pro- including stipends for housing vides them with the funding they and books. The legislation also need for success – without any allows veterans up to fifteen years, politically-motivated restrictions compared to ten years under the included in previous legislation current G.I. Bill, after they leave active duty to use that hamstring their educational our commandRep. Bob Goodlatte assistance. ers in the field.

In addition to The Supplemental Appropriations Bill in- not including an over $50 billion cludes important legislation, ini- tax increase primarily on small tially offered by Senator Jim Webb, businesses like previous legislation which extends educational benefits I voted against, the legislation we to all members of the military who passed last week includes another have served on active duty since significant improvement. This September 11, 2001, including important legislation includes a activated reservists and National program which allows members Guard. The “Webb Bill”, which is of the military the ability to transsimilar to the benefits that were fer any unused education benefits extended to veterans returning to their spouse or children. This from World War II, ensures that vital program gives our service service members returning from members greater flexibility in the Iraq or Afghanistan receive up to use of the benefits they have so 36 months of education benefits, rightly earned. This landmark

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reform will be an important retention tool for the U.S. military.

Since it is costly to recruit and train new enlistments, the transferability provision will ultimately help strengthen our all-volunteer force.

Today our troops continue to battle the foes of democracy and freedom in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. I commend the valor and courage of our troops who bravely step into unfamiliar territory against sometimes unseen enemies to protect millions of Americans and others they may never meet. I was proud to vote for the Supplemental Appropriations Bill which provides the necessary resources to keep the U.S. military ready to overcome any challenge and provides them much deserved and expanded benefits upon their return home.

g w b 2415 Jefferson St, S.W. Roanoke,Virginia 24014

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More perspective on necessarily bring if they are to Best wishes for survive. The arrival and departure Wishneff Mill Mountain Dear editor, Valley Forward has claimed that its proposed Mill Mountain Park facility, housing two restaurants and a rental meeting room, will benefit the local economy and serve as a showpiece for our locality, attracting young educated professionals. However, because this proposal is environmentally regressive, it is more likely to repel than attract young professionals. Furthermore, there are no data to support the fanciful claims that the facility would be an economic boon to the area or even able to sustain itself. Because the proposed project would be held by a non-profit foundation, the individuals promoting it bear no risk and are free to make unfounded claims.

We of the Mill Mountain Conservancy, if I may simply generalize without being the spokesperson, have engaged in discussing Valley Forward’s business claims in the hope that officials and the public would realize the plan is not economically sound.

But our primary concern is not whether the proposed venture of two restaurants and a rental meeting room could survive economically on the mountaintop, but that the environmental, esthetic and monetary costs this project imposes on the park, the City and the Valley are unacceptably high, as the following explains.

In the summit area of the mountain lies a small flat and nearly flat grassy picnic and play area.That is the space most used by picnickers and those simply seeking the enjoyment of a pleasant open natural space in a peaceful park setting. It is the heart of the park.

Placing a building adjoining that small open natural space-even an unoccupied building-would rob it of its openness and natural ambience, the primary qualities of its attractiveness. The small space is scarcely larger than the footprint of the proposed building. See www.savemillmountain.com for views and diagrams.

But the building would not be left empty, of course. Besides the building’s intrusive impact by just being on the planned site, there would be the disturbance of the busy traffic the facilities would

of multiple delivery trucks and the many car trips to supply staff and the needed customers would make this a busy place.Visitors to the gassy picnic and play space would be within easy earshot of the building’s extended patio and its end porch.

The cost to the Valley of this project would be the loss of a unique and inviting natural feature.

The Valley would also bear the added pollution and the disgrace of being branded by young educated professionals as ecologically regressive and irresponsible.

For the city in particular, there would be additional costs, since city funds would be the source of the various ongoing services the facility would require, such as police, fire, waste removal and inspections. The business plan includes no payment of a land user fee, as is usually set when a non-profit organization operates a commercial venture. The tax-exempt facility would leave citizens to pay the services tab and, if parking proves inadequate as some knowledgeable persons have already indicated, the city would soon have to pay for building more parking spaces. Further problems would loom if the venture failed. Perhaps the non-profit foundation would attempt to maintain some operation in the building. But what might follow is unpredictable except that the park could not be restored.

We should note that a difficult dynamic exists in the process of public review and decision making regarding this VF proposal.

The difficulty is that the proposal is directed by a few offspring of well-placed local business leaders.

The consequence is that a number of qualified professionals who privately say that the proposal is not sound business, are not free to express such evaluations publicly because of social or business connections or dependencies.

For the sake of the future, let us all hope the Advisory Committee and City Council decisionmakers will courageously protect Mill Mountain as the unique and valuable natural resource it is for all Valley residents and visitors.

LEttErS

Dear editor, Who is this man Brian J. Wishneff we’ve heard so much about lately?

Brian J. Wishneff received his graduate (BA in Political Science, 1975) and post graduate (MA in Urban and Regional Planning, 1977) degrees from Virginia Tech University. He has been a part time professor at Tech since 1995 to the present in the field of Urban and Regional Planning.

Since its inception in 1995 Brian J. Wishneff and Associates has provided a variety of consulting services to clients throughout the United States. With Brian as president, his firm has successfully completed more historic tax credit projects for both nonprofit organizations and governmental entities than any other consulting firm in the country.

His years of experience working with projects totaling millions of dollars in rehabilitation gives him the expertise needed to guide projects smoothly and efficiently through the process of qualifying for and receiving historic tax credits.

His successful projects are too numerous to list. However, some successful historic tax credit projects in our area include Warehouse Row Business Center, Grandin Theatre, Shenandoah Hotel and Roanoke Higher Education Center.

Brian was elected in 2004 to serve on Roanoke City Council.

We think he was a diamond in the rough. We attended most of Roanoke City Council 9:00 am sessions (not televised and no citizen input allowed) and saw how he strove to encourage his fellow Council members to do the right thing by, for and in the best interest of citizens. Brian dearly loves Roanoke City, Roanoke Valley and its residents. All of us were fortunate to have had him as our councilman for four years. 98% of the time he stood alone for us! We lost an honest, hard working, intelligent man of character and integrity when he was not re-elected in 2008.What a pity. We thank his lovely wife and children for loaning him to us.

Thank you so very much Brian for what you tried to do--your presence will be greatly missed.

May God continue to watch over you and your family.

Helen E. Davis Evelyn D. Bethel Roanoke

Bob Crawford Roanoke

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Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.48)

RULES: Every row, column, and 3 x 3 mini-square must contain the numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 once and once only.

7

1 7

4

8 5

8

7 4

8

9

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2 8

8 6

6

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1

3

3

9

9 2

What’s wrong with Roanoke City Council Dear editor, On July 7, Roanoke begins a “new” political cycle with a recycled mayor, David Bowers, two new faces, Court Rosen and Anita Price, Sherman Lea returning for a second term, two holdovers David Trinkle who seems obsessed with an amphitheater on Reserve Ave and Gwen Mason who is a niche player and Alvin Nash who (justifiably) felt it necessary to write a Mea Culpa piece (published in the Roanoke Times) on why it is “OK” for him to be on the Council.

Various and sundry have tried to “game” the new council given the departure of C. Nelson Harris, Mr. Lea’s “flip” to the Harris Democrats just prior to the election, the departure of Bev Fitzpatrick who I will miss, because he reminded

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E-mail samples and interests to:

SU DO KU

Dear editor, Governor Kaine has taken the initiative and proposed a transportation funding package and now it is up to our legislators to work toward a solution during the current transportation special session. Even though our population, miles traveled on Virginia’s roadways and the cost of building transportation projects have all increased, there has not been a significant sustainable investment in transportation funding since 1986.

This has led to increased congestion, deteriorating bridges, a lack of multi-modal transportation options and ultimately increased deaths on Virginia’s roadways. Locally, we are losing much needed funding for not only our urban and secondary roads, but safety improvements for this regions two most traveled roads as I-81 and Rt. 460 are in danger of being removed from VDOTs Six-Year Plan. We will likely not even have enough funds to add simple projects like truck climbing lanes on I-81 that are desperately needed.

Not one new industry today comes to an area like Southwest Virginia without some kind of analysis of our transportation system because their success depends on it. By any measure we fail the test until the Commonwealth invests more immediately in highways and multi-modal transportation in this part of Virginia.

Bev Fitzpatrick, Jr. Roanoke

me of Senator Claghorn in the old Pogo comic strip Mr. Nash’s “controversial” appointment, Mr. Rosen’s narrow victory, yadda, yadda, yadda. All of which is an interesting and pointless exercise in futility.

During my miss-spent youth, as I was wrapping up one assignment prior to transferring to another, in my friendly and helpful way I told a (civilian) employee he was one of the most incompetent people I’d ever met. His response, which was my wake up call, was: “That may be so Major, but you’re leaving and I’m still here”. He was still there ten years later, had been promoted and was still incompetent.

Council members come and go but (many) City employees remain, remain, remain. The word entrenched comes to mind.

Anyone who thinks long-term employees don’t acquire influence and yes, powers are naive.

Since none of the council members know diddly about finance if the amount is larger than the size of their mortgage, imagine how soothing it is for the long term Director of Finance to say, “there there, everything is all right”. Or perhaps the City Manger scares them witless with “we have problems right here in Roanoke City” and then provides a magic solution such as developing Countryside Golf Course with affordable housing (starting at $150,000) which will “enhance” the city’s tax base.

In theory the City Council is the policy making body for Roanoke. The City Manager takes care of day-to-day operations and executes policy. The problem with that theory is when the City Council consists of seven ignorant (i.e. uninformed) members on what it takes to run a city, maintain a city, make a city grow and prosper they can easily be lead astray. Particularly when their “professional staff” speaks with one voice and consultant’s reports tell them what they want to hear or someone thinks they should be told.

Council members come and go. City employees remain entrenched.

For example, I’m curious why Roanoke has gotten as far along in the process for an amphitheater on Reserve Ave. as it has.

There hasn’t been any public input, although the project will require taxpayer money. How was the Request for Proposal (RFP) generated? If I understand it correctly, the terms of the RFP were not met the process should have ended, yet we are blundering on and have a contractral relationship that could go from here to eternity despite what David Trinkle says.

“Why hasn’t some City employee said to the Council “you

can’t afford an amphitheater unless you give up something else – like a high school stadium at William Fleming? I know that, why doesn’t the Council? The whole process strikes me as Ready – Fire - Aim planning!

At least two, if not three Council members want to move on to higher elected office. That is fine as long as they can demonstrate they can solve problems at this level. So far, none of them have. Doing that involves getting their hands dirty and actually doing something. Sorry folks that may involve controversy. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, you don’t belong on the council.

So far, one Council member has sat on the sidelines for the past two years playing with green paint. Another Council member wants to be Mayor but doesn’t have a program, just wants the position. Another Council member has publicly admitted he can’t manage growth in his organization so he might as well be on the council.

Well why not. He (probably) isn’t any more incompetent than the other members. I think David Trinkle wants to do the right thing but is naive or has been led astray. Mrs. Price is a gracious lady. How she is going to translate her listening skills into constructive action remains to be seen.

The new council is faced immediately with three serious problems. They are: financial,, financial and the city manager..

Great inroads on the first two can be made with a rigorous application of zero based budgeting and reordering of priorities.

The third will be an interesting management challenge.

For starters I recommend the Council immediately restore the Assessor to a direct report status. As a subordinate to the Director of Finance, there is the appearance of a conflict of interest if not an actual one.

One can’t help noticing that the amount of increased revenue each year from higher property assessments is always just about the amount of increase in the budget year plus one submissions. Despite what the Roanoke Valley Realtors Association may say, I think increased property assessments based on fair market value are going to be very difficult to justify this year.

Of course, all of this is just one man’s opinion.

I wish the new Council well.

It’s work is cut out for them. I enjoin them to remember they are employees of the citizens of Roanoke, whose taxes pay their salaries. If they can’t remember that, then get off the council.

Robert Craig Roanoke

prEACHEr’S CorNEr

wants YOU!

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Working through transportation troubles

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Four ideas for restful spiritual growth this summer

ome of us are enjoying the easy livin’ of summer.

School is out. Daylight is significantly longer. We can get by with wearing fewer clothes and shorter hair. And if we’re lucky, vacation may be on the horizon.

Summer is “down time”. Our days are less hectic; our schedules have a little more breathing room in them. And for this reason, it may be the best time of year for tending to our spiritual selves. I’d like to suggest four ways we might do just that this summer.

Use this time to take a personal inventory of your spiritual growth. This can be done while walking the beach or while hiking the trails or as we’re watering or weeding the garden or while floating in Smith Mountain lake or holding a rod on the side of a river. How have I grown in wisdom since last summer or in the awareness of God’s faithfulness or in the understanding of the will of God for my life? Am I a willing and ready instrument of peace? Do I enjoy our valley’s diversity and promote unity within it?

“The unexamined life is not worth living” (Socrates).

Practice real resting…the art of wasting time grace-full-y. (Recall

that prayer and meditation is actually “wasting time” with God).

Leave work at work and resist carrying the cell phone and blackberry with us everywhere. Our work is not more important than we are or those who we love and live with. We might also give ourselves permission to “stop and smell” the gardenias and magnolias, the fresh cut grass, the salt of the ocean’s air, the smell of sun screen and tanning lotion. Pick berries or peaches with family or friends. These seasonal treats are actually little retreats and we don’t have to go off to a monastery or campground to enjoy a little “time away”.

Summer also offers us an opportunity to learn/relearn some of faith’s greatest lessons. While floating on a raft at the beach or in a canoe on the river, we can better understand what it means to go with the flow and how much easier it is to swim with the current than again it. So too when we do what God is asking of us and in the way God asks. From gardening, we see how more lush plants are when we prune, pinch, weed, harvest and share their fruits. So too in our faith lives (hence, the importance of activity number one.) In the longer lines

of traffic and at stores - particularly in popular vacation spots we should come to see that we’re not more important than others who are also taking some much deserved time away or those who are working while we are not.

And as we fish, we can work on patience and our waiting on God. Finally, fight the urge to absent yourself (take a “vacation”) from church, synagogue or mosque.

(I’m a pastor….what do you expect me to say?) Expressing faith communally and growing together in our understanding of God’s ways are not just school-time things we do. Reading the scriptures, a commentary, or a good spiritual book are refreshing “desserts” than can be enjoyed on the deck or porch after a good meal.

And of course, we can’t forget that hunger and homelessness and the agencies that help alleviate them never take time off or get away. I know they can also use our help.

A most blessed and restful and restorative summer to all!

Joe Lehman is Pastor of Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church located at 2505 Electric Rd (Rte 419).

You can learn more about OLN’s Ministry at www.oln-parish.org

SCHooLS

TheRoanokeStar.com

6/27/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7

Army Sgt. Cecil Graham competes Virginia Western announces new hires in U.S. Army culinary competition Army Sgt. Cecil J. Graham participated in the 33rd U.S. Army Annual Culinary Arts Competition at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Va. Graham, a food service shift leader, is assigned to the 1st Corps, Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. He is the son of Deborah Graham of Kentucky Ave., Roanoke, Va. In 1998, the sergeant graduated from William Fleming High School, Roanoke.

This year’s competition featured more than 160 military chefs from around the globe battling in more than 40 culinary categories. The competition is rated the largest culinary competition in America, which includes ice carving and showcase centerpieces.

The two-week competition involved Army soldier-chefs, both active duty and reserve components, as well as members from other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The competitions allows servicemembers to sharpen and broaden their cooking, baking, roasting, and pouching skills to stay on the cutting edge of culinary techniques. Their culinary skills ultimately benefit military servicemembers eating in dining and mess hall facilities and battlefield kitchens serving soldiers in combat zones.

The goals of the competition are to continually raise the standards of culinary excellence and professionalism in the Army’s food service training to the soldier and promote growth in the culinary profession with attention to modern culinary development. The competition also promotes camaraderie, motivation, and esprit de corps among the soldiers and other servicemembers, and provides educational opportunities in the culinary arts.

Competitors are awarded certificates, medallions, engraved plaques, and trophies for their mastery of culinary art in their particular category. The winners received recognition for their efforts in culinary aspects of ability, practicality, nutrition, workmanship, economy, presentation, creativity, concept, skills, style, and techniques in food preparation and management.

Local students named to dean’s list at Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA – Five local students at Hampden-Sydney College were named to the Dean’s List for the second semester of the 2007-2008 academic year. To earn this distinction, students must achieve at least a 3.3 semester grade point average out of a possible 4.0.

• Stephen Donald Berry, a rising senior, is a graduate of Hidden Valley High School and is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Gene P. Berry of Roanoke.

• Matthew Ryan Hubbard, a rising senior, is a graduate of Hidden Valley High School and is the son of Johnnie & Pamela Hubbard of Roanoke.

• James Chase Hyatt, a rising senior, is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School and is the son of Wayne & Diane Hyatt of Roanoke.

• Justin Dillon Key, a recent graduate, is the son of Dillon & Nora Key of Roanoke and is a graduate of Cave Spring High School.

• Matthew William Partsch, a rising sophomore, is a graduate of Hidden Valley High School and is the son of Bill & Sue Partsch of Roanoke.

School board selects Cummings as Social Studies Coordinator Amy Cummings, Ed.S. has been selected by the Roanoke County School Board as the county’s new Coordinator of Social Studies, beginning July 1. Cummings, who joined Roanoke County Public Schools in 2005 at Hidden Valley Middle School has been teaching since 1997. Before coming to Roanoke County, Cummings taught social studies at Dan River High School in Ringgold and Franklin County High School in Rocky Mount. Cummings taught government, world history I and II, U.S. history, geography and civics.

As coordinator of social studies, Cummings will oversee social studies instruction at each of Roanoke County’s ten secondary schools. She will work with social studies teachers to implement strategies aimed at providing the most effective social studies instruction for students and to ensure instruction is aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL’s).

Cummings holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Averett University and a Master of Science degree from Radford University. She earned an Education Specialist certification from the University of Virginia. She holds endorsements in History and Social Science, Library Media and preK-12 Administration and Supervision.

“Amy brings an extensive background to this position,” said Deputy Superintendent Tom Hall. “She has supervised remediation programs in reading and math for rising 7th and 8th graders, is currently a Master Teacher for Blue Ridge Public Television and the 2005 recipient of the Governor’s Innovative Technology in Education Award for Region 6. Amy’s combination of classroom experience and technology training make her a perfect fit for this position,’ Hall added.

Cummings will replace Beth Mast who was earlier named assistant principal at Hidden Valley Middle School.

Virginia Western students place well in SAE Baja challenge

Accepting the challenge again, Virginia Western placed 52nd out of 122 teams and 1st among community colleges in the SAE Baja competition.

Eight engineering and technology students from Virginia Western Community College along with Dr. Rick Clark, assistant dean of engineering and a faculty advisor, plus Gary Young, assistant professor, traveled to Montreal, Canada the second week of June to compete in the 2008 SAE Mini-Baja championship. The competition consisted of teams from other colleges throughout North America and around the world to build an off-road vehicle called a Baja that would survive the severe punishment of rough terrain and water. “The best part about placing like we did in the competition is that these are freshman and sophomore students who are competing mainly against junior and senior students,” said Young.

“By completely redesigning the car and making it significantly smaller by using different material, we were able to reduce the weight by half compared to last year’s car,” said Clark.

The goal of the SAE Mini-Baja competition is to provide students with a challenging project that involves the planning and manufacturing tasks for creating a new product in the consumer industrial market. Teams compete against one another to have their design accepted by a fictitious manufacturing firm.

The only requirement for the design of each Baja vehicle was to include a ten-horsepower Intek Model 20 engine donated by Briggs & Stratton Corporation. The rest of the design was up to the creative students of each individual team. This year Virginia Western’s team made alterations from their previous car including, installing a straight drive transmission, eliminating the Baja’s ability to reverse, and installing a different suspension on the back tires. “We installed an independent rear suspension which allowed the back tires more room to move up and down and gave the car more travel ability over the rocks and other tough terrain,” said Clark.

Throughout the four-day competition, teams were judged in two events, static and dynamic. The

static event consists of the portfolio work each team put together that included a detailed design report of the internal and external structural makeup of the Baja. Other portions of the static event included cost reports of designing and making the vehicle, plus team presentations to mock manufacturer companies.

The dynamic event tested the Baja itself in five events, both on and off the road. Acceleration was judged on the time it took the vehicle to accelerate along a 100 foot flat course. Traction judged the vehicle’s ability to climb an incline from a standing start. Maneuverability tested the suspension, steering, and handling of the vehicle, while specialty events tested the vehicles ability to perform on offroad conditions such as a rock crawl and a mud bog.

The last section and most heavily weighted in points was the endurance event which tested the vehicles ability to perform continuously and speed over rough terrain over a four hour period. Each section is scored accordingly and points awarded were added to compile the overall score for each team.

“My favorite moment from the competition came during the four hour endurance race. Our car had just been hit from the back by another vehicle and messed up one of the back wheels causing the car to be brought in for repair. Seeing everyone work together in a timely manner to fix the problem and get the car back on the track was fantastic! Together our students solved a problem and got the Baja back to racing in less than 30 minutes. To me, my ultimate goal of allowing my students to take what they learned in the classroom and make a reality was achieved,” said Clark.

The Baja team received majority of their funding from the Virginia Western Educational Foundation.

The team also received donations from outside sponsors which include O’NEAL Steel, B&B Fastener, SW Auto Collision, and Flatrock Grill.

For more information on the Baja competition, visitwww.sae.org. For more information regarding the Virginia Western’s Baja vehicle, team, or their College of Engineering, contact Clark at (540) 8576262, or visit the college’s website at www.virginiawestern.edu

Virginia Western Community College announced the following new staff to its campus located on Colonial Avenue: Fredona Aaron of Franklin County has been hired as the General Admission Manager I for the Business Office. She is responsible for providing accounting, procurement, payroll, fund receipts and disbursement, reporting and bookstore services.

She will direct and manage the staff of the Business Office and Bookstore. Areas that Aaron will specifically be working with include: purchasing, general accounting and financial reporting, payroll, budget execution and management, working with federal grants and financial aid.

Hillary Holland of Roanoke City has recently been hired as the Education Support Specialist III for the REACH Program in the Student Support Services department. She will interpret psychological and psychoeducational tests to determine appropriate disability accommodations as needed along with working as an advocate for disadvantaged students and students with disabilities. Holland will be responsible for recruiting, training, and su-

pervising mentors to students as well as tutoring students. Other duties will include advising students, assisting with job search skills, interview techniques, resume preparation, and getting students on the road to further education.

Debra Thomas of Botetourt County has been hired as the Financial Services Specialist I in the Payroll Office. She is responsible for computing and expending payroll for part-time adjunct faculty, wage, and student payrolls. Thomas will manage the coordination of all payroll related material such as records, reports and forms.

Virginia Western Community College is a two year public institution of higher education located in Southwest Roanoke. The College operates under a statewide system of community colleges and policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and Virginia Western Community College Board. It offers day, evening, weekend and distance learning classes. Since being established in 1966 the College has grown from its initial enrollment of 1,352 to over 12,000 students.

Fredona Aaron

Hillary Holland

Debra Thomas

Urquhart makes President’s List at Campbell University Campbell University is please to announce that Christine Urquhart has earned the distinction of having her name place on the President’s List for the 2008 spring semester. The President’s List is the highest academic recognition the university bestows.

Urquhart is a 2006 graduate of Hidden Valley.

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Sports

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TheRoanokeStar.com

Golfing fore all in Roanoke

Inexperienced golfers find competition, fun in Average Golfer Club For the many people throughout the Roanoke Valley who love all things golf, but can’t seem to hit it straight off the tee, here is a bit of good news: the Average Golfer Club might be the perfect place for you to improve your game.

In its third year of existence, the Average Golfer Club has but one goal for its members: have fun, and hopefully get better. You don’t have to mash 300-yard drives or be a clutch putter to join. In fact, it’s encouraged even if you have never played a round in your life.

Steve Devlin, the founder of the club, hatched his idea after noticing how many of his friends, including himself, were never invited to play golf with better skilled players. The concept was simple: to make golf fun for the inexperienced golfer, or for the golfer whose average score was, for lack of a better word, average.

“I saw a lot of guys who watched golf and talked about golf but never actually went out to play,” Devlin said. “We try to create Photo by Matt Reeve an atmosphere where Jonathan Preedom eyes the ball before making his putt.

guys who wouldn’t normally play will come out and have a good time.”

The club has several innovative rules. For example, no one with a handicap lower than 19 is allowed to join the club. During play, swinging and missing does not count as a stroke. Players are also allowed two mulligans if needed on the 1st and 10th hole of each round.

The club organizes seven tournaments each year from April to October. The tournaments’ formats vary from Captain’s Choice to Skin’s Challenge to Match Play. There are cash prizes for the winners, and everyone has a chance to win. “Guys who tend to fluctuate with their scores actually have a better chance to win because of their handicap,” Devlin said. Courses where tournaments have been held include Ashley Plantation, Hanging Rock, Monterey, Blue Hills, and Vista Links.

In addition to having fun, the Average Golfer Club also places a big emphasis on the improvement of its members, simply by playing the game more often. The club records stats for all players, including average greens in regulation (GIR), average score, fairways hit, and putts per round. In 2007, the members of the club improved by an average of 4.2 strokes per round.

In 2006, there was an average improvement of 3.8 strokes per round.

For information regarding the Average Golfer Club, contact Steve Devlin at average.golfer. league@gmail.com.

By Matt Reeve Matt@theroanokestar.com

Swimming at Olympic Park

Olympic Park Head Swimming Coach Carter Mundy, above.

Photos by Bill Turner

Olympic Park swimmer Nate Goad, left, cuts through the water on his way to a win in the 100-meter competition. Olympic Park’s Cara Harman, center, competes in Monday’s meet.

ID3 bike races return to Roanoke

We are not alone.

There’s a wonderful world around us. Full of fascinating places. Interesting people. Amazing cultures. Important challenges. But sadly, our kids are not getting the chance to learn about their world. When surveys show that half of America’s youth cannot locate India or Iraq on a map, then we have to wonder what they do know about their world. That’s why we created MyWonderfulWorld.org. It’s part of a free National Geographic-led campaign to give your kids the power of global knowledge. Go there today and help them succeed tomorrow. Start with our free parent and teacher action kits. And let your kids begin the adventure of a lifetime.

It’s a wonderful world. Explore!

A National Geographic-led campaign

Photo by Michael Glowczynski

This July 4th weekend Roanoke will be the site of the “ID3” races – three races held on July 4th, 5th and 6th in Roanoke and Blacksburg. The Barkett Allen Capital Criterium is the first of three races and carries a $3,000 purse + Prizes and Medals. Located in the heart of downtown Roanoke this five corner, 3/4-mile course offers fast, long straight-aways and classic brick sections. The race starts and ends on Salem Ave. while circling the Wachovia tower with fantastic locations for spectators along the Transportation Walkway. A kid’s race sponsored by Texas Tavern will kick things off at 11:30 AM with a variety of events taking place afterwards until the Women’s and Men’s Pros hit the street at 5:15 PM and 6:15 PM respectively.

The Carilion Clinic Mill Mountain Time Trials begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday the 5th with a $1500.00 purse to be divided between the top 25 riders. This classic uphill time trial is 1.87 miles with a gain of almost 900 feet.

The third race will find Blacksburg hosting its first race in years with a fast .8 mile loop through the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. Two wide roads, a big ring hill, and a handful of technical corners make for a challenging but fair course.

More info, official race flyers and registration link are available at www.id3races.com.

6/27/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

TheRoanokeStar.com

Here are a few ideas to help you relax this summer and spend time with your family Keep them learning!

Some ideas for helping your children’s education during the summer Ah…summertime. It can be fun and relaxing, but also stressful: what will I do with these kids all summer?! Balancing the demands of work and family can be tough, so here are a few suggestions for you to ponder. Pick and choose.

See what fits your family’s needs.

Many cost only a little money, and some are free! Hey, if it can help reduce the “Mom, I’m bored!” crying, it is worth it. Remember: you, the parent, are your child’s primary teacher and role-model, so be empowered and make the most of this summer! Here are a few ideas to consider as you plan your family’s summer.

Read The longer I teach, the more I see the difference between those students who have a reading habit and those who do not. Also, reading is the foundation for almost all further learning. Help your child develop a love of reading, and it

will give your child the competitive edge.

1. Take your child to the library weekly or so. Let her sign up for the library’s summer reading program and earn cool prizes. Many libraries have summer “story time hours” or neat performances, that are usually free. Ask the librarians and check out the bulletin boards.

And just as you want your child to have a balanced food diet, help him get a “balanced diet” of books. For instance, at the library I encourage my children to get ten books, two from each category: biography, history/geography, science/nature, art/crafts, and two entirely of the child’s choice.

2. Barnes and Noble has a summer reading program; your child can earn a free book.

3. Set aside a certain amount of reading time each day. One family I know has their children read an hour in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Write Closely related to reading, this skill is also crucial to your child’s

future academic success. Your child’s writing and vocabulary skills will naturally grow the more he reads. Have your child write a daily journal, and make time to read your child’s writing. Comment on it and encourage your child. Point out areas of strength (Good word choice!) and areas to improve (“A lot” is two words, not one.). Have your child add items to the grocery list (“Mom, how do you spell “bananas?”). Sometimes we have our children take sermon notes on the Sunday message and look over it afterward, checking for comprehension, spelling, etc.

Boost Basic Skills Does your child need any extra help with, say, spelling or math?You can get fine workbooks, arranged by grade level, in the six- to eightdollar range at local bookstores.

Also, you can find tons of free educational sites for kids online.

Spend Time Outside Kids need free, unscheduled time to be, well, kids! Time outside lets children develop their imagination and appreciation of

Girl Scout Summer Fun for the Whole Family Family Fun Camp Weekend, July 25-27, 2008 A unique opportunity in the Roanoke Valley. Families and children age four and older can enjoy Family Fun Camp, July 25-27, 2008, for a family retreat and that hard-to come-by quality family time. Everything has been planned out, to make it so easy … families can show up, and enjoy games, hiking, singing, crafts and even a Saturday night campfire. They’ll need to bring their own sleeping gear; if they don’t have a tent, however, we can provide one. The cost for the weekend is just $25 per adult and $10 per child, plus a $10 registration fee for daughters who are not yet a Girl Scout. The fee includes tent camping, all program materials, the Saturday evening meal and a Girl Scout patch. The camp weekend runs from 7 p.m. Friday until 10 a.m. Sunday.

Just the Two of Us Camp, July 19-20, 2008 Another unique experience right here in Roanoke is for the ladies in the valley. Just the Two of Us Camp is a taste of camp for girls and their moms, sisters, aunts, grandmothers or other significant females age 18 or older. The camp runs from 10 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday, July 19-20, 2008. They’ll sleep inside Icimani’s multipurpose building (with ready access to flush toilets and hot showers). During the camp, they will make gorp, hike, sing, do crafts and top off Saturday evening around a roaring campfire.

The cost is $25 per person, which covers program supplies, a Girl Scout patch and the Saturday eve-

ning meal. As with the family camp, we’ve made it very easy … they can arrive at the camp and not have to plan a thing. We’ve done it all for them.

For girls, there’s an entire summer of special-interest camps at Icimani: Vet Science Day Camp The girls can find out what it takes to care for animals and become a vet. Area professionals will showcase the world of animals — from pets to wildlife — and conduct hands-on activities. This is no sitand-listen kind of camp … the girls will actively participate in every part of it.

Date & Time: Tuesday-Friday, July 29-August 1, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Camper Ages: Grades 4-6 Performing Arts Camp with the June Bug Center The girls have a chance to be a star and be on stage. They’ll spend a week learning parts, songs, and dances to perform for a public audience at the end of the week.

Date & Time: Monday-Friday, July 21-25, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Camper Ages: All Ages Inside Sherwood Forest Girls can become more confident in their archery skills and enjoy other activities to broaden their knowledge of and expertise in archery.

Date & Time: Session 1: 7 a.m.

Thursday- 7 p.m. Friday,August 7-8; Session 2: 9 a.m. Saturday-11 a.m.

Sunday,August 9-10 Camper Ages: Session 1: Girls entering grades 4-6 in the fall; Ses-

sues. The recent tornadoes through out the mid west and even in the Virginia area Amateur Radio was there doing a special job. If there is a need for communication, Ham Radio will be there!

On June 28 and 29, 2008, local radio operators from the Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club will gather in Botetourt County, just off Catawba Road (1670 Catawba Road) to test their skills during a 24 hour event. The event begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday and ends at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The public is welcome and demonstrations of the many types of radio communications will be featured for viewing. Local citizens and members of local governments are also invited to learn more about the Amateur Radio Service and will be allowed to make a contact with other emergency stations located within in the United States. The exercise is referred to as “Field Day” and takes place annually in June. Sponsorship of the local event is by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club.

In addition to the above activi-

is dangerous and harmful. But even too much “good” programming can be harmful, because viewing screens is a passive activity that takes away time from other pursuits. Keeping your TV and Internet connection in a hightraffic part of the house lets you monitor more easily. By the same token, I think putting a TV or the Internet in your child’s room is just a plain bad idea.

Join Summer Programs Many Roanoke institutions have fine summer programs at reasonable costs. For instance, Parks and Rec., the YMCA or YWCA, Mill Mountain Zoo, the Art Museum, and the Science Museum offer a wide array of summer day camps.

Many places offer sports or music camps as well. Most churches offer summer children’s programs, including Vacation Bible Schools, which are usually free. Swimming lessons could be a literal life-saver if your child cannot swim yet.Visit local museums with your child.

(Penny-Pincher: consider buying a year-long family pass. It gives you unlimited visits, but may also get you in for free or half-price at other museums or zoos around the country, via reciprocal agreements.)

By Scott Dreyer

2003 BMW 530I................................................only $19,900 Blue Water/Gray Leather, still under factory warranty, low miles stock# 97105A

2004 BMW X3...................................................only $19,900 Silver/Gray int., All wheel drive, panorama sunroof, stock# 38039X

2004 BMW 325I................................................only $21,490

sion 2: Girls entering grades 6-12 in the fall.

Red/Beige int., BMW Certified, automatic, great on gas, stock# 97100

Masters of Disasters After this camp, the girls will be able to look an emergency square in the face and know what to do.

They’ll even participate in a mock disaster and practice their new skills.

Date & Time: 9 a.m. Saturday-3 p.m.

Sunday, July 12-13 Camper Ages: Grades 7-12

2002 BMW X5...................................................only $22,900

Coming Round the Mountain This is an excellent way for girls to explore the sounds and ways of the Appalachian culture by enjoying hands-on activities and taking home plenty of homemade items.

They will try doll-making, quilting, canning, singing, making mountaininspired musical instruments, and learning traditional dances. There will also be a dulcimer workshop.

Date & Time: 9 a.m.Wednesday-7 p.m. Friday, July 9-11 Camper Ages: Grades 5-10 Owls, Moths, and Bats, Oh My! Twilight Camp The girls can discover creatures of the night and how they live among us. They’ll attract moths, observe bats, light up the night with lightning bugs, and more.

Date & Time: Monday-Friday, July 14-18, 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Camper Ages: Grades 4-12 For more information about affordable staycations in the RoanokeValley with Girl Scouts, please contact Jen Ward,Director of Marketing & Communications, Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council, at 540-777-5113.

Local Ham radio operators test for emergency skill sets June 28 and 29

The fourth full weekend in June yearly brings local and United States wide Ham Radio operators together to test communication skills and use their training to contact, pass messages and information under simulated emergency conditions. Beginning back in the 1930’s as an event to test field preparedness it has become an annual operation each year. The purpose remains the same, “To demonstrate the communications ability of the amateur radio community in simulated emergency situations.”

Emergency communication is part of the Licensed Amateur Radio Service that keeps the hobby alive and well. Where it be major hurricanes, tornadoes in eastern Virginia, earthquakes in China or tsunami, the Ham Radio community worldwide gets information out of remote isolated areas. In some cases these areas can be New York City, where cell phones fail because of overload. The example of Hams in Action was during the recent hurricane season 2005, where major damage to property and loss of lives, caused local, State and Federal communication is-

nature. In addition to free playtime, have some picnics in a park or on your deck.Walk or bike on Roanoke’s growing Greenways network. Plant some flowers to beautify your yard or plant a small garden.Tomato plants fit in almost anywhere—even in containers— as long as they get enough sun.

Letting your child grow some of your own food may give her more appreciation for America’s hardworking farmers. Let your kids sleep outside: Saturday June 28 is the Great American Backyard Campout.

Waste Less Time Try to reasonably manage your child’s TV or Internet time. We all know much TV and Net content

ties the RVARC holds classes at the American Red Cross yearly for those interested to taking Federal Communication Commission (FCC) licensing exams.

There is also a large event held each year referred to as a “Hamfest”, held this year at William Byrd High School, on August 2, 2008. This event allows hams to buy, sell and trade equipment.

The RVARC also provides communications for local events such as Walk-America, Salem Christmas Parade, and local Bike races up Mill Mountain.

The Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club meets twice monthly, on the second and fourth Fridays, at the American Red Cross Building on Church Avenue, at 8 p.m. Anyone interested is invited to attend and become a member of the RVARC, a non-profit public service organization.

For more information about the RVARC contact the club website www.w4ca.com or write the RVARC @ PO Box 2002, Roanoke, Virginia 24009 or call the President of the Roanoke Valley ARC, Ron Ramsey 540-7749474.

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Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 6/27/08

> June 27 Lendy’s Again Senator Ralph Smith (R-Botetourt) is bringing back Lendy’s, the classic Roanoke drive-in, on June 27 to coincide with the Star City Motor Madness Cruise-In. Ralph Smith’s annual “Lendy’s Again” will be serving up original menu items from a miniature replica Lendy’s at an original Lendy’s site.

Buddyboys, longfellas, onion rings, and strawberry pie will all be available on Friday The food’s authenticity is ensured by the presence of Chick Rakes who managed the location at the Williamson Road drive-in location back in the 1960s. Chick Rakes will be joined by other volunteers who have participated in the event every year since 2003.

The first Lendy’s Again was held during Ralph Smith’s tenure as mayor of the City of Roanoke and has continued to expand every year since. This year, guests will be invited to view photos and ‘50s movie clips as they enjoy their food and the classic cars..

When- 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Where- On the 5500 block of Williamson Road.

> June 28 Screen on the Green An event of Roanoke County Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and begins with “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. The movie begins at dusk and is free to the public.

Affordable concessions will be available, the movies begin at dusk, so arrive early to get a great spot. Enjoy the show!

When- 8 p.m.

Where- Green Hill Park, 2501 Parkside Rd., Salem, VA 24153 Cost- Free Bird Fair The Southwest Va. Bird Club will hold it’s 14th annual Bird Fair/Seminars on Sat. June 28, 2008. There will be educational exhibits, including the largest parrot in the world, a hyacinth macaw. Vendors will be selling birds, cages, bird food, toys and gifts for parrots. Speakers will be Karen Justice (Parrot University), Robin Shewoski (The Leather Elves) and representatives from Phoenix Landing. All proceeds will go to Parrot rehab, re-home and conservation agencies.

When- 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with seminars hourly starting at 9 a.m.

Where- St. Elias Catholic Church, 4730 Cove Road.

Cost- Admission is $4 for adults and children 12 or under free.

For more- go to www.SWVBC. org RVSPCA to Sponsor Microchip Clinic One in three animals will be lost at some time during their

> Help Wanted Office Support ADMINISTRATION Full time position opening at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Cemetery assisting the Administrator and Sales Staff. Requirements must include 2 years of Administrative Experience, Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, multiline phone experience, Customer Service and able to perform tasks with minimum supervision. Apply in person at 5737 Airport Rd., Roanoke, Virginia

> 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.

> Estate Sales

Cleaning out? Settling an estate?

We buy old books, postcards, photos, mags, estate items, etc. Paper Memories 774-1881.

> Wanted

Baseball and other sports cards and items from 1870 to 1975. Tobacco, Candy and early

TheRoanokeStar.com

CoMMUNItY CALENDAr

lives. Of the 6-8 million animals who end up in pounds each year throughout this country, only 30% of dogs and 2-5% of cats are ever reunited with their owners. This leads to overflowing conditions and an unacceptable rate of euthanasia of loving companion animals.

On June 28, 2008, a microchip clinic will be held at the RVSPCA to anyone in the area wishing to have their pet microchipped.

Cost of the procedure will be $15 for any animal previously adopted from the RVSPCA (with proof of adoption) or $25 for non-RVSPCA adoptees.

Proceeds from the clinic will be applied to the Robin Smith Noah’s Ark Memorial Fund to offset the cost of microchips and registration.

When- 10 a.m. - Noon Where- RVSPCA Adoption & Education Center, located at 1340 Baldwin Avenue

> June 29 Organic and All-Natural Cooking Class Award-winning Chef Billie Raper will instruct budding culinary experts on the secrets of preparing delicious organic and all natural food on June 29th.

“These items are all the buzz right now and getting hotter.

Organic and all-natural foods are not a trend. This class will cut through the clutter to find the best products in the market,” said Chef Raper. “We will work with some organic produce, organic and all-natural meats and maybe even some ways to green up your kitchen.”

A minimum of eight people will be required to hold each class.

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

Where- Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center Cost- $85 For more- www.hotelroanoke. com or to register, call the Regency Room at 540-985590083 “An Honor to Serve” Cave Spring Baptist Church will host its annual Patriotic Celebration “An Honor to Serve” this year on June 29, 2008 .This year, the celebration will be an even broader community outreach as the event has been moved to the Dwight Bogle Stadium located across the street at Cave Spring Middle School. Local School Board officials and the school have long worked hand in hand with the church during football season and this year the church is happy to be allowed to offer this “celebration” in the larger venue provided by the stadium.

Following the program guests are invited to join us for “Dinner on the Grounds”. Hotdogs, Hamburgers, Chips, Ice Cream and Drinks are all available for just 25 cents each.

When- 10 a.m.

Where- Cave Spring

Baptist Church For more- or special press passes, please contact Katie Varney at 989-6136.

Crystal Spring Pump House The History Museum of Western Virginia is pleased to announce that the Crystal Spring Pump Station is once again open to the public. Now on Sundays through September 28, 2008, visitors can experience the spectacle of the great fly-wheel rotating, the pistons pumping, and the sound of steam escaping with a hiss.

When- 1-4 p.m., every Sunday until Sept. 28 Where- Cornoer of Jefferson Ave. and McClanahan.

For more- Carolyn Payne, Operations Manager, 540.342.572l

> July Salem Farmers Market Events

By Roanoke County Master Gardeners Please join us, it’s all free!!!

July 5th – Speaker Donna Haley – “ The Good, The Bad And The Ugly”. Good and bad bugs and the use of pesticides.

July 12th – Speaker Suzan Anderson- ‘No Rain No Problem’.

Learn about native plants who adopt to drought conditions.

July 19th – Speaker Nancy Goodman,- “Floral Arrangements With Weeds, Yes Weeds!

Really”. Make a floral arrangement with flowers and weeds from your yard.

July 26th – Speaker Trina Nicholson.-” Got Butterflies?” We’ll show you plants that attract them.

> July 1 Roanoke Aglow Community Lighthouse Meeting This month’s Speaker is Dr. Alice Inouye. Alice is a practicing physician in Jubilee House calls ,which is a Christ centered medical ministry practice. She also works part time at Primary Care Associates in West Salem Urgent Care Center. She has been a bible teacher and student of the Lord for many years. We look forward to what the Lord would have her share with us this month. Be prepared to eat some good spiritual food.

All are welcome to attend.

When- Dinner is on your own at p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m.

Where- The Roanoker Restaurant For more- call 774-2229 or 362-3170.

> July 4-6 ID3 Bike Races July 4th weekend Roanoke, Virginia will be the site of the ID3

races.

The Barkett Allen Capital Criterium is the first of three races for the ID3 weekend. This race carries a $3,000 purse + Primes and Medals. Located in the heart of downtown Roanoke, Virginia.

This five corner, 3/4-mile course offers fast, long straight-aways and classic brick sections. Starts and ends on Salem Ave. while circling the Wachovia tower.

Where- Downtown Roanoke, Blacksburg.

For more- For cost and registration info visit www.id3races. com

> July 10, 11, 12 7thAnnual Virginia Southern Gospel Jubilee The Pentecostal Outreach Church in Buena Vista will sponsor its 7th Annual Virginia Southern Gospel Jubilee on July 10, 11, and 12. On Thurs.- special guest singers: Kevin Spencer and Friends; The Browders; and Mike Upright, Friday -Restoration; The Singing Cookes; and The Cooke Brothers will perform. Then on Saturday the event will conclude with The Bowlings; The Oxendines; and Carla and Redemption. Food concessions and camping will be available. The event will be held rain or shine. Everyone is advised to bring a lawn chair.

When- Thurs. & Fri. - 6 p.m., Sat.- 5 p.m.

Where- Our event will be held in Glen Maury Park; 10th Street; Buena Vista under the multipurpose shelter.

For more- call Pastor Larry Clark 540-261-2556 or go to the event’s web-site: www.VaSouthernGospelJubilee.com

> July 11 Earth-Friendly Friday Polls show that, in addition to high gasoline prices, Americans hate two things: sprawl and congestion. Dom Nozzi, this month’s Earth-Friendly Friday speaker, will show how communities built for cars rather than people create both sprawl and congestion, dramatically reducing quality of life. Car-based design creates barriers for travel by transit, bicycling, or walking.

When- 6:30 p.m.

Where- Unitarian Universalist Church, Grandin Road, SW For more- contact Bob Egbert (384-7448)

> July 14 First Steps to Starting a Business Learn the basics on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur at this introductory seminar for prospective business owners. Monday, July 14.

When- 5:30 - 9:00 PM,

CLASSIFIEDS gum cards especially wanted. (540) 977-5222 4/25-5/23

> 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 item and telephone number must appear in ad copy.

First 10 words are free. Additional 10 words are $5.00. Some restrictions apply. Limit 8 Cool, Cheap Stuff ads per month!

Honda Lawnmower HR173 $100.00 540-342-2183

Canon StarWriter Word processor, good condition $25.

(540) 725-1329 > Haiku ads For teens and adults, Fun Summer Painting Classes, With retired artist Call Janet Wimmer, 977-1681 or e-mail janet.wimmer@gmail. com Strumming a six string want to improve but need help Lessons are your hope Call Greg @ 540-354-2049 Beautiful kittens Gift from a neighborhood stray Seeking loving homes contact Debra @400-8555 dscarey@cox.net

Double Mattress, Boxsprings and Frame Serta Perfect Sleeper $40.00 540-342-2183

Summer-Fall tutor Enriches and reviews skills to keep learning fresh.

World Book Encyclopedias 60’s and 70’s Yearbooks $10.00 540-342-2183

Art Lessons private art lessons drawing ,painting and sculpture ages 6 and up

Call Emily 725-1464, emilym@ cox.net

Where- Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom.

Cost- $25/person. Prepayment and pre-registration required

by Friday, July 11.

For more- contact Taryn at 983.0717 ext. 239, e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org or visit www.rrsbdc.org..

> July 23 Comedy Hypnosis Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia presents Comedy Hypnosis, featuring James Kellogg, Jr. - “the Amazing Hypnotist.”

When- 7 p.m, Where- Whitman Auditorium, VWCC Cost- Adults- $12, Children & Students- $8 For more- (540)-989-6392

> Aug. 2 Rock Churches of Blueridge Parkway - Bus Tour The Salem Parks & Recreation is sponsoring a bus trip to tour the Rock Churches of the Blue Ridge Parkway, built by Rev. Bob Childress, on Saturday, August 2, 2008.

The group will travel to Fancy Gap, VA, for a brief orientation tour at the historical Carroll County Courthouse.

They will pick up a step-on guide and begin the tour up the Blue Ridge Parkway. The focus will be on the six historical rock churches built by the Rev. Bob Childress. These churches are on Buffalo Mountain, Slate Mountain and the counties of Carroll, Patrick and Floyd. In a biography entitled “The Man Who Moved A Mountain,” it is told how Rev. Childress braved the wilderness and brought the light of the gospel to wild and brutal areas. The Hillsville Massacre in 1912 helped Bob Childress to realize that the drinking, fighting and killings so much a part of the mountain peoples lives were not normal. Come and learn how one man made such an impact on these mountain people.

Where- Passengers can board the bus at the Bonsack Walmart, Rt. 460, Roanoke; and at the Salem Senior Center, 110 Union Street, Salem, VA. Cost- The price of $59 per person includes: Roundtrip motorcoach transportation, a step-on guide, fudge sampling at Nancy’s Candy Company, an all inclusive lunch and a tour host.

For more- call (540) 375-3054.

> 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 more- Lorena Terry (540)774-0283

> Aug. 11

Business Basics Discover business planning, forms of organizations, marketing strategies, and the realities of being a business owner at this quick introduction to owning your own business. Monday, August 11.

When- 4:00 - 5:30 PM, where- Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce Boardroom.

Cost- $10/person. Prepayment and pre-registration required

by Friday, August 8.

For more- contact Taryn at 983.0717 ext. 239, e-mail sbdc@roanokechamber.org or visit www.rrsbdc.org.3

> Sept. 6, 20 & Oct. 5

Virginia DeRailers Series The series continues with the final three races in the fall with the MW Windows Mountain Bike Race in Franklin County on September 6th ,Assault on Liberty Mountain in Lynchburg on September 20th and the final race the Poor Mountain HillClimb in Roanoke County on October 5th . Camp Roanoke will once again host the championship award ceremony for the entire series. Racers will have plenty of time to train throughout the summer months and come back strong for the finish this fall. There are presently 156 competitors able to qualify for the series if they continue to race this fall. Cash awards totaling $2000 will be awarded to winners at the conclusion of the DeRailer series.

Due to course difficulty no one under 14 years of age can participate in the Poor Mountain HillClimb. For information on how to join the series visit the DeRailer website at www.vaderailerseries.com

> 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

Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.48)

call Katherine Devine 427-5919 devinestudios@yahoo.com Want to learn Chinese?

Learn it from a Taiwanese.

Call us right away!

Call Deborah, 776-3087 Children’s filled aprons, Krayon keepers, crafts, quillows...

And ‘has beens’ galore.

Emily, Vendor 1806, 725-1464, emilym@cox.net I repair the tabs or whole shingles. You provide material and ladder.

7 dollars per tab.

Robspad@hotmail.com spinet Piano in excellent condition Would you like to play?

Call Peggy@342-2183 or pae-onia@juno.com 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

Sudoku answers from puzzle on page 6

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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 Kroger | Rutgers/Hershberger Rd.

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel Would you like earn 50¢ per copy selling the Star~Sentinel? Call (540) 400-0990

6/27/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11

TheRoanokeStar.com

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Photo by Gail Lambert

Send us your best shots of the Roanoke Valley

This summer view looks like it could be from far into the Virginia countryside save for the telltale old viscose plant smokestack on the left and the only slightly observable side view of the Mill Mountain star just to the right of the radio tower atop the mountain. The shot was taken from the far eastern end of Roanoke’s new river greenway by Gail Lambert of Roanoke. Do you have any unusually interesting or beautiful pictures of Roanoke life? Send them to submissions@theroanokestar.com and you may find your work in our pages as well!

“THE FIFTH ‘C’ - CONFIDENCE�

Roanoke Co. parks and trails receive $84,000 grant Congressman Bob Goodlatte announced that Roanoke County was awarded a $84,250 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund which is administered by the National Park Service (NPS).

This important funding will be used for the construction of the Taylor Tract Park & Trail System, situated off of Merriman Road in Roanoke County.

The park and trail system will be located on a 28-acre parcel

of land that will also include the county’s new South County Library. The project calls for a system of walking and hiking trails that will link the new library with Penn Forest Elementary School, Darrell Shell Memorial Park, Starkey Park and the Merriman Soccer Complex. The project also includes a family picnic area, picnic shelter and wetland-enhancement program. “I am pleased to announce

that Roanoke County has been awarded this vital funding,�

Goodlatte said. “This grant will ensure that the natural beauty surrounding the new South County Library and Penn Forest Elementary School is protected for future generations to enjoy.�

Roanoke County Administrator Elmer Hodge says construction on the library, park and trail system is expected to begin later this summer. “Roanoke County

Campbell Avenue to close June 29 SPI will close Campbell Avenue between Jefferson Street and Wall Street on Sunday, June 29, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the purpose of installing window replacements on the Campbell Avenue side of the Colonial Arms building, 204 S. Jefferson St. Center in the Square Parking

Garage advisory: Traffic will be able to enter this garage by traveling westbound on Campbell Avenue from Williamson Road and from Market Street.

Traffic will be able to exit this garage to the east toward Williamson Road.

SPI will furnish, place, maintain, and remove all signs,

is excited by this outstanding opportunity to combine a park and trail system with our new library. With this funding, we will also be able to preserve and protect the wetlands that are a natural part of this area.�

The Land and Water Conservation Fund requires that all areas which have received grant funding be maintained in perpetuity as public outdoor recreation areas.

Dear Geoff, I wanted to thank you for all of your help in ďŹ nding me the perfect engagement ring. Laura and I got engaged last weekend and she absolutely adores the ring. It looks beautiful. As for most people, it is pretty stressful looking for a ring and you helped to alleviate all of my concerns by exceeding all expectations. You were a pleasure to work with throughout the process. Thanks again for all of your help and I will always consider Frank L. Moose for all my future jewelry needs.

Sincerely, Nelson Bolling

Ivy Market

barricades, etc. related to this closure. A detour will not be established.

For more information, contact Jack Woodson, Traffic Engineer I, at 540-853-2625; or Ted Bratton, SPI, at 265-6625.

Citizen of the year to be re-broadcast Monday WDRL-24, headquartered in Roanoke has announced that it will broadcast the 10th Annual NAACP Citizen of the Year Awards Banquet. Broadcast date and time are scheduled for Monday, June 30, at 10:00 PM. Area subscribers of Cox Cable – Roanoke receive WDRL broadcasts on Channel 22. Non-subscribers receive the broadcasts on Channel 24.

[Volunteers]

Come to our Birthday Party!

Saturday, June 28, 11am-6pm • FREE FOOD! Lots of Great Sampling! • Performance by William Fleming High School Marching Band Drum Line • Birthday Cake Cutting at Noon • Kid’s Composting Event–All Day! • Appearance by Center in the Square! • Snow Cones for Second Harvest Photo by Stuart Revercomb

Miss Virginia volunteers at the Roanoke Rescue Mission

On Tuesday, June 24 Miss Virginia 2007 Hannah Kiefer volunteered in the serving line at the Roanoke Rescue Mission. It was Hannah’s last public appearance as Miss Virginia before she crowns the new Miss Virginia later this week Miss America 1987 Kellye Cash was also present and sang to entertain the guests enjoying lunch at the Mission. Kellye will also be emceeing the Miss Virginia Pageant and performing live on Saturday night during the finals.

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Ukrop’s at Ivy Market &RANKLIN 2OAD s Open Monday through Saturday A M P M ukrops.com

581

Page 12 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 6/27/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

Downtown Rotary fundraiser a success The Rotary Club of RoanokeDowntown held it’s 10th Annual Fundraiser in May 2008. Over $17,000 from the proceeds of the Rotary’s live and silent auction and rae was presented to sixteen area organizations on June 18, 2008 at our regular meeting to the following organizations: American Red Cross (Roanoke Valley Chapter), Apple Ridge Farm, Inc., Art Museum of Western Virginia, Bethany Hall, Community Youth Program, Family Service of Roanoke Valley, Greenvale School, Inc., Helping Hands, Junior Achievement, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Rescue Mission, Roanoke Sym-

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