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Community | News | Per spective

August 7 - August 13, 2009

TheRoanokeStar.com

Amphitheater Back On … For Now Hayden Hollingsworth

Healthcare Fix?

P5– The good doctor adeptly points out that there is no quick fix for the healthcare system

War Memory

P6– John Jay recounts his experiences being held captive in German territory during World War II.

Apparently, the vote several weeks ago did not drive a stake through the heart of the Elmwood Park amphitheater project, the proposed 5,000-seat venue for major concert events. Roanoke City Council reversed itself yet again Monday, voting 4-3 to authorize $1.2 million in funds for an engineering study, with the money coming from a bond issue this fall, placing it back on the city’s capital projects to-do list.

Construction on the $13 million amphitheater itself was not authorized, but

County Receives Recognition for Use of Web Technologies

Rwandan Java P10– One congregation in Roanoke sells coffee to benefit post war-torn Rwanda.

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would be needed, outweighing any positive economic impact. Construction could be put off, said Waugh, “until the economy improves.”

Downtown Roanoke Inc. interim president Doug Waters supported Waugh and the Chamber, telling council, “the potential for the amphitheater is considerable.” Waters, also a downtown resident, said that analysis first done on a Victory Stadium site needs to be revised > CONTINUED P3: City Council

[High School Football]

A Block, a Tackle and a Prayer . . .

The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) has recognized the County of Roanoke as a recipient of a 2009 Achievement Award in the Information Technology category for its submittal “Innovation Without Funding.”

VACo – an organization that exists to support county officials and to effectively represent, promote, and protect the interests of counties to better serve the people of Virginia – received 72 entries from localities across the state. Roanoke County was one of 15 chosen to receive an award, which recognizes local government programs in awards criteria that include innovation, cooperation, and model practices.

As standard practice and when possible, Roanoke County News County incorporates technology to increase efficiency and improve services and communications with its citizens. During difficult economic times, however, innovation typically suffers as funds are diverted to cover essential technology investments. In the fall of 2008 – when it was obvious that Roanoke County would also suffer a budget shortfall – county staff

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with council member Anita Price revers- we go back and forth,” said Trinkle about ing her “no” vote, and David Trinkle, an Council’s recent votes on the project, avid supporter of the project back from which they originally approved. vacation, it will move ahead Roanoke Regional Chamfor now. ber of Commerce president City Council “Sometimes we as a group Joyce Waugh said the Chamcannot make decisions and ber was “caught off guard,” have conversations until we by the no vote the meeting are all here assembled,“ said Price. before; she urged that an economic fea“I think one of the bigger challenges sibility study be conducted “to deterfor the amphitheater is going to be com- mine its viability.” The engineering study ing up with better entertainment than us. could always be stopped at some point if I do think we look a little foolish when it looked like excessive operating funds

VDOT Addresses Projects in SW Roanoke County

Photo by Dot Overstreet

]

FCA Watermelon Ministry High Schools around the Valley kicked off the 2009 Football season this week with Two-A-Day practices and plenty of “shake the rust off” conditioning drills.

Everyone is undefeated at the moment but with starting positions, as well as team success in question, many a player’s thoughts and prayers are focused on the journey ahead. (See more opening High

> CONTINUED P3: VACo

Photo Submitted

School football coverage in Sports.) As part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Watermelon Ministry” Nehemiah Hanson, the Middle School Minister at First Baptist Church in Roanoke (above), concluded his talk with a prayer at the Northside practice field on Tuesday.

VDOT’s Caywood addresses Back Creek meeting.

Richard Caywood, District Administrator with the Virginia Department of Transportation, spoke at a recent meeting of the Back Creek Civic League. Other attendees included Delegate Morgan Griffith, County Board of Supervisors candidate Ed ElsVDOT wick, Roanoke County Sheriff Gerald Holt and Dan Collins, VDOT Resident Administrator.

The main issue concerning the Civic League is the status of the widening of Rt. 221, from two lanes to four, between Crystal Creek Road and Rt. 668 (Cotton Hill Rd). In July 2008, construc-

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> CONTINUED P3: VDOT

> CONTINUED P2: Watermelon

Blind Can Take Wheel with Vehicle Designed by Tech

Audio Assist P11– Voice of the Blue Ridge provides valuable assistance to the visually impaired.

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A student team in the Virginia Tech College of Engineering is providing the blind with an opportunity many never thought possible: The opportunity to drive. A retrofitted four-wheel dirt buggy developed by the Blind Driver Challenge team from Virginia Tech’s Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory uses laser range finders, an instant voice command interface and a host of other innovative, cutting-edge technology to guide blind drivers as they steer, brake, and accelerate. Although in the early testing stage, the National Federation of the Blind -- which spurred the project -- considers the vehicle a major breakthrough for independent living of the visually impaired.

Photo submitted “It was great!” said Wes Majerus, Mark Riccobono, executive director of the National Federation of the Blind’s of Baltimore, the first blind person to Jernigan Institute, drives the Virginia Tech Blind Driver Challenge vehicle drive the buggy on a closed course at through an obstacle course of traffic cones on a campus parking lot. the Virginia Tech campus earlier this summer. Majerus is an access technol- fore on Nebraska farm roads with his voice commands and a vibrating vest ogy specialist with the National Fed- father as a guide in the passenger seat. as guides. A member of the Virginia Sitting inside the vehicle, a blind Tech student team sat next to Majerus eration of the Blind’s Jernigan Institute in Baltimore, a research and training driver can turn the steering wheel, in the passenger seat to monitor the stop and accelerate, by fol- system’s software operations. institute dedicated to delowing data from a comput“It’s a great first step,” Majerus addveloping technologies and Virginia Tech ing unit that uses sensory ed. “As far as the differences between services to help the blind information from the laser human instructions and those given by achieve independence.

Majerus called his drive a liberating range finder serving as the ‘eyes’ of the the voice in the Blind Driver Challenge experience, adding that he drove be- driver, in addition to a combination of car, the car’s instructions are very pre-

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cise. You use the technology to act on the environment -- the driving course -- in a very orderly manner. In some cases, the human passenger will be vague, “turn left” -- does that mean just a small turn to the left, or are we going for large amounts of turn?”

Also driving the vehicle was Mark Riccobono, of Baltimore, the executive director of the Jernigan Institute, who is blind. He called his test drive historic. “This is sort of our going to the moon project,” he said.

In 2004 Jernigan Institute challenged university research teams to develop a vehicle that would one day allow the blind to drive. Virginia Tech was the only university in the nation to accept the nonprofit’s call two years later, said Dennis Hong, director of the Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory, part of the Virginia Tech mechanical engineering department. The National Federation of the Blind provided a $3,000 grant to launch the project.

“I thought it would be a very rewarding project, helping the blind,” said Hong, the current faculty adviser on the project. “We are not only ex> CONTINUED P2: Blind Take the Wheel

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Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 8/7/09 - 8/13/09

TheRoanokeStar.com

> Watermelon From page 1

Friday should have plenty of sun as temperatures return to normal with a high near 87.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Saturday looks to be hot with temperatures in the low 90s and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Sunday will be more of the same with partly sunny skies and a high near 94. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

This marks the 4th year the Fellowship of Christian Athletes have conducted a Watermelon Ministry with local High School Football Teams in the Roanoke Valley. As the teams come off the field during summer two-a-day practices, members of the FCA Board of Directors treat the players to some cold watermelon, and a short message, “designed to help them recognize that all the talents they have come from God, and that we need to glorify him in all we do - both on and off the field.”

The ministry has grown each year and in 2008 FCA met with 15 teams and over 1,200 athletes. Al Soltis has been Chairman of the FCA leadership Board in Roanoke for the last 5 years.

The board is composed of local business persons, educators, clergy, and volunteers. FCA has student led “Huddle Groups” which meet in all our area High Schools and most Middle Schools. If you would like more information on how you can be a part in helping the FCA ministry please contact Tim Hill at thill@fca.org or 434-455-1677.

Compiled from Staff Reports

County School Board Awards Contracts The Roanoke County School Board has awarded a $32,187,000 bid to Martin Bros. Contractors to renovate and expand Cave Spring, Green Valley and Mount Pleasant elementary schools and William Byrd High School. Eight different companies submitted bids for individual projects and/or a combination of projects. The school board voted to award a combination bid to Martin Bros. at an estimated savings of about $45,000 over accepting individual project bids.

“This is a great time for the

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William Byrd High School to add classrooms. citizens of Roanoke County,” said Roanoke County School Board Chairman Drew Barrineau, who helped institute a capital funding program for schools several years ago.

“After recently completing the renovation and addition of Northside High School, we look forward to partnering with Roanoke County again for four more successful projects,” said Jed Hammer, CEO

Green Valley Elementary will sport a new look. of Martin Bros.

Construction on the four renovation projects is expect-

ed to begin this fall, with estimated completion by winter 2011.

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cited about the vehicle itself, but more than that, we are excited about the potential of the many spin-off technologies from this project that can be used for helping the blind in so many ways.”

The team took the Blind Driver Challenge vehicle to the National Federation of the Blind’s Youth Slam summer camp last weekend in College Park, Md. There, the team allowed teenagers to drive the buggy who would normally be obtaining their driver’s licenses, but cannot because of their blindness. Youth participants also piloted remote control miniature cars as part of the camp’s activities. The car also rode in a National Federation of the Blind-sponsored parade in Washington D.C. “I most look forward to learning as much as I can from these bright young students,”

said Greg Jannaman, who led the Virginia Tech student team in his senior year and graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Jannaman is excited about the vehicle’s success. “There wasn’t a moment’s hesitation with any of our blind drivers, whereas blind-folded sighted drivers weren’t as quick to let go of their preconceptions,” said Jannaman of Hendersonville, Tenn. “The blind drivers actually performed better than their sighted counterparts. An overwhelming sense of accomplishment overcame me as I simply rode along while Wes and Mark successfully navigated the driving course without my assistance.”

Early models of the Blind Driver Challenge vehicle relied more on technologies for fully autonomous vehicles, previously developed by Virginia

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  

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Tech mechanical engineering students as part of the DARPA Urban Challenge. The student team redesigned the vehicle so that the blind motorist has complete control of the driving process, as any sighted driver would.

This change in approach led to new challenges, including how to effectively convey the high bandwidth of information from the laser sensors scanning the vehicle’s surrounding environment to the driver fast enough and accurately enough to allow safe driving. As a result, the team developed nonvisual interface technologies, including a vibrating vest for feedback on speed, a click counter steering wheel with audio cues, spoken commands for directional feedback, and a unique tactile map interface that utilizes compressed air to provide information about the road and obstacles surrounding the vehicle.

Riccobono knows of mock ups and non-working “blind driver car” set-ups from the past, but says this is the first working vehicle to put the blind and visually impaired in control of the steering wheel.

“Blind people have brains, the capacity to make decisions,” he said. “Blind people want to live independent lives, why would they not want to drive?”

Even once the technology is perfected, laws now barring the blind from driving and public perception must be changed, Riccobono said.

“This is the piece that we know will be the most difficult,” said Riccobono, adding that the car must be near-perfect before the National Federation of the Blind can truly push the car to law-makers and the general public. He said this effort will take millions of dollars in development.

The 2009-10 student team already is planning major changes to the technology, including replacing the dirt buggy vehicle with a fully electric car commonly used by traffic officers in downtown city centers. The all-electric vehicle would reduce the vibration which can cause problems to the laser sensor, and it will provide clean electric power for the computing units and that is better for the environment.

8/7/09 - 8/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3

TheRoanokeStar.com

Carilion Section Chief Focuses on Study of Geriatrics

Aubrey Knight, MD, represents one of the benefits of having a medical school in Roanoke. He works as a section chief in geriatrics for Carilion Clinic and as an associate professor for the school. “We consider ourselves partners with primary care physicians,� said Knight.

Anyone with a family member that has a form of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, or suffers from the effects from stroke, can urge the patient’s regular doctor to call upon the expertise of Knight’s section.

Another benefit will take some years to come to fruition: an increase in the supply of geriatric physicians. “There are not enough geriatricians to take care of our aging population,� said Knight, “so the ones we do have need to take a role in education, [as well as] in care by consulting.�

Many medical schools and residency programs have been

preparing their students recently for an aging population. At the Virginia Tech Carilion medical school, “students will be exposed to cases from the beginning,� notes Knight. “There will be real cases and students will discuss them, asking questions such as how would you approach this and what could the diagnosis be and what would you do.�

The school, still under construction, can start admitting students and setting up classes because it has achieved preliminary accreditation, a necessary first step. A major fly in the geriatric ointment consists in the lack of treatments that work to stop dementia or reverse it. “There are some medicines that show mild improvement in cognitive ability,� said Knight, “but we’re more focused now on keeping people as independent and safe as possible, and supporting the care givers.�

Knight believes more treat-

ments will be available down the road: “there’s a lot of money being spent on research and lots of things on the horizon.� One example is an “exciting development� from a researcher who discovered how to detect Alzheimer’s in living patients. Before this work, only an autopsy could diagnose it.

The researcher is coming to the University of Virginia Medical School. Knight warned, however, that his diagnostic method requires a very costly cyclotron, so for now physicians must still rely on cognitive tests.

Knight’s own professional journey started at the University of Virginia Medical School, with a geriatric fellowship in Baltimore. “I got interested in geriatrics as a family doctor because that’s an important component of what we do. And part of it is from my own comfort in dealing with older people. I spent my summers with my grand-

parents on their farm,� he said.

Knight filled the geriatric void in the practices where he worked, when others weren’t interested in that population. “Each year I’ve decreased my general medical practice so that now I do nothing but geriatrics.�

Knight concurs with data that shows it pays to stay engaged: “folks who have a higher degree of education or have engaged in mentally stimulating activities may have the same number of brain plaques and tangles [as people with Alzheimer’s do] but show no effects of dementia.�

In short, mental stimulation won’t necessarily prevent the disease - but may stave off the effects.

Alzheimer’s and dementia are diseases of aging, so the longer one lives the more likely dementia in some form may occur.

The good news is that measures prudent people take to ward off heart disease can also help ward

off brain diseases.

Only cancer is more feared, said Knight. But temporary aphasia, such as occasionally forgetting a name, does not herald Alzheimer’s.

As Knight admitted, “I’ve

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LNMJTUDQB!DPNDBTU OFU t XXX LBSFONMJTUDQB DPN project at the previous meeting, isn’t a fan of the back and forth decision-making that some have likened to the Victory Stadium scenario. “While it’s not new to the city, it’s new to me,� he said to council members. (Sherman Lea, Rosen

and Gwen Mason voted against funding an economic feasibility study and the engineering work). “Elmwood Park, enhanced by a permanent, sheltered amphitheater would be an even greater attraction to people from the

city and around the region,� said Waters, before Council decided to vote yes.

Includes information from media partner WSLS-10.

about will be functional. Colonial Avenue will close again in the summer of 2010 for final construction.

The intersection is a particularly good application of the roundabout, said Caywood, because speed has been an issue there. “One thing that roundabouts are really good at is that people have to slow down even if no one else is there. It is impossible to negotiate one at a very high rate of speed,� he said.

Another roundabout in southwest Roanoke County is planned for Merriman Road, near Penn Forest Elementary School and the site for the new library.

Residents questioned Caywood Monday about why there was funding for the Colonial Avenue roundabout, when there is currently none for the long-proposed Rt. 221 project.

He said the construction for the roundabout came out of a pot of money that can only be spent in Roanoke County on the secondary road system, as prioritized by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.

He urged Back Creek Civic League members to stay active in their pursuit of the needed improvement and to petition the Salem District CTB representative, Dana Martin. VDOT is currently experiencing a $2.6 billion shortfall noted Caywood. “Our job on the local level is to do the best job that we can, with the resources we have.

We are doing less because our money is down. We are [also] seeing a gradual systemic dete-

rioration. It’s most alarming to me in terms of our bridges. The normal bridge in Virginia is designed to last 40 years, and we have hundreds of bridges that are 60-70 years old.� Rt. 419 has not been repaved in a significant way in almost 20 years and is really starting to show its age, said Caywood. There are fewer new construction projects being undertaken and most of those are federally eligible projects, which are funded with 80% federal dollars and 20% state dollars.

By law, the major priority for available funding is maintenance and operation of the existing highway system; however, there have been significant cuts in the maintenance arena as well. Mowing services have been reduced in an effort to save $20 million, but Caywood emphasized that VDOT wants to hear and respond to concerns about safety and sight-distance issues. Citizens should contact Dan Collins, the local resident administrator, at 540-387-5488.

A total of 19 rest areas in Virginia are also closing. Two Salem District rest areas in Botetourt County and Radford closed effective July 21st. Morgan Griffith spoke about the rest area closings as a battle between the legislature and the governor, emphasizing that it was not a partisan issue. “There isn’t enough money to do everything, but there is often disagreement about what is to be cut,� Griffith said, and in this case, he believes Governor Tim Kaine made a wrong choice. He hopes that next January, the legislature will allocate the money

to reopen rest areas.

Another sector slated for spending reductions include staffing levels. Starting next Monday, said Caywood, VDOT is going to issue layoff notices to about 600 people. Of those, almost 70 will be local. Effective July 1, the Salem District eliminated the contact-provided Safety Service Patrol, which assisted stranded motorists with disabled vehicles and provided traffic control for accidents and road work.

It’s easy to enjoy the benefits of conditioned water with

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

From page 1

tion plans for the project were removed from the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Six-year Improvement Plan (SYIP). According to Caywood, Civic League members see the 221 project as a safety issue. “The 221 widening project, since its inception in the mid90’s, has been funded and unfunded probably a half a dozen times at least,� said Caywood. “Right now it is fully funded for engineering and right of way, so basically it is a full ‘ready to go’ project - with no funds for construction.�

Caywood said, since the project was poised and ready, if the state receives more revenue, or if another funded project is delayed, priorities could shift and construction could begin.

The current cost estimate of the project is approximately $33 million.

According to Caywood, the Rt. 221 project is clearly a safety priority, especially at Cotton Hill Road and Ran Lynn Drive, where there is about a four or five fold increase over the accident rate from a typical primary road in Virginia that carries that similar traffic volume. Plans include the realignment of Cotton Hill and Ran Lynn, so they would meet at one intersection where a traffic light could be installed.

Caywood also spoke about the roundabout construction at Colonial Avenue and Penn Forest Blvd. Colonial Avenue is currently closed south of Rt. 419 and will reopen before school begins. At that time one lane in each direction of the round-

540-344-6744

540-815-2158

From page 1

> VDOT

By Priscilla Richardson info@theroanokestar.com

House for Rent

> City Council for Elmwood Park anyway. “To me, it’s a logical next step in a process that’s been underway for damn near a decade,� said fellow council member Rupert Cutler, also a supporter.

Court Rosen, who led the effort to turn away funds for the

never been good with names.�

For more information on Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases, and local resources, visit www.org/cwva.

> VACo

By Dot Overstreet info@theroanokestar.com

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From page 1

began exploring alternative technology methods that would allow citizen communication and collaboration to continue on a positive trajectory at little or no cost.

After extensive research and guidance from other local governments around the country, the answer seemed to lie in Web 2.0. According to Wikipedia, “Web 2.0 is a term describing the use of [Internet] technology and Web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, and most notably, collaboration among users.

These concepts have led to the development and evolution of Web-based communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies.�

In response, the county formed a Web 2.0 working group and several departments adopted and implemented a handful of Web 2.0 tools – most notably popular social media Facebook and Twitter. “The significance of using Facebook and Twitter in government cannot be understated. Both are free, so the only financial commitment is the small learning curve for the designated users,� says Elaine Carver, Roanoke County’s chief information officer. “We have been able to reach out and engage citizens who don’t rely on traditional media outlets for information, broadening our audience and making us a more inclusive government.�

Information Technology Director Bill Greeves adds, “We are delighted to engage and collaborate with our citizens using methods they are already

familiar with. We have had to learn to integrate our messages, our tools, and our services into the media and forums that people are already accustomed to and use by choice.�

Both added that the use of social media and other technologies is important to the long-term stability of county operations as baby boomers retire and millennials – the twenty-somethings who are entering the workforce who have already deeply integrated these technologies in to their lifestyles – move into the work force.

Receiving the VACo award is an honor. “We had a record number of entries this year,� said VACo executive director, James Campbell. “This shows that many counties are adapting to the economic environment by developing innovating programs to affect positive change in their community. I am thoroughly impressed by all the quality work that can be replicated throughout the state and country.�

Elaine Carver concludes, “Our Web site will remain our core tool for citizen communications, but we’re excited about using the ‘push’ technologies of Twitter and Facebook to get relevant information into people’s hands – whether it’s news of an unexpected roadblock, an important vote by the Board of Supervisors, or a Parks and Rechosted event. These are exciting times.�

N. Edward Link, Jr. Senior Vice President-Wealth Management Financial Advisor Michael B. Kemp Senior Vice President-Wealth Management Financial Advisor 213 South Jefferson Street, Suite 1600 Roanoke, VA 24011 540-345-1555 nelson.e.link.jr@smithbarney.com fa.smithbarney.com/meridiangroupsb

More information about VACo can be found at www.vaco.org.

Unless you are otherwise advised in writing, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney is acting as a broker-dealer and not as an investment advisor. Š2009 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

Perspective

Page 4 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 8/7/09 - 8/13/09

Health Care for Everyone: There Is No Quick Fix

M

ost believe that everythey rarely do) then they come unone should be covered der FTC scrutiny for suppressing by health insurance. competition.

From that point on, no one agrees As a physician, I know the tempabout anything. That there are tation of ordering extra tests to huge arguments about what form protect against malpractice; but I the plans should take is reassuring. also know that I got paid for doRather than getting some rushing it. In any given year, my large to-judgment, poorly- thought-out group practice supplied hundreds scheme, Congress has had the of thousands of dollars of free good sense (how often do you hear Hayden Hollingsworth care. It wasn’t free just because that phrase) to avoid presidential we doled it out gratis; it was givpressure to get it done by next week. It has en to people who couldn’t / wouldn’t pay or taken a half century to arrive at our current were uninsured. We never used a collection mess; it realistically may take decades to un- service . . . we just wrote it off the books. An ravel the Gordian knot in which we have tied amazingly simple way to get care for uninourselves. sured and indigent patients would be to give There is plenty of blame to go around: The the physicians a tax credit for all the patients private insurance industry, the medical pro- they see who meet criteria for a subsidized fession, the pharmaceutical companies, orga- system. Even a 5% tax credit for unreimnized labor, our national penchant for suing bursed care would be welcomed. For a hunwhen things turn out badly, product liability dred thousand dollars of care the IRS would lawyers, for-profit medical care, and a host of be out of only five thousand dollars of tax others. There is one participant that is rarely revenue. I mentioned this to a congressman mentioned when we talk about our health who instantly replied, “I don’t like tax credcare problems: You and me. Remember the its.” So much for that sensible idea. line from Walt Kelly’s comic strip, Pogo: “We The money for the system will have to come have met the enemy and they is us!” from somewhere and there will be sacrifices.

Our attitude has a lot to do with the morass This is the smoke and mirror phenomenon; we’re in, not just with health care, but with believe it is real at your own peril. Benefits the economy in general, and our national pri- will be reduced; larger deductibles are inorities. In the distant past we came to believe evitable as are larger co-pays and restriction some central things about what we want: We of covered services. Everyone knows that, want it when we want it and we want it now. but no politician talks about it. Is it time to Of course, I want the same for everyone . . . consult the Fairy Godperson? Every interright after I get mine. In addition to that, and est group, my subspecialty included, screams this is a most important part, we don’t want to bloody murder when our ox is set up for gorgive up anything (especially money) to get it. ing. Until we get over the national notion The history of our sense of entitlement would that we can have everything at someone else’s make an interesting dissertation topic. expense, we will continue down a road to diOnly those who believe in The Fairy God- saster person (let’s be politically correct here) think I suggested long before this became a crisis there is enough money to finance universal that the President should appoint a multihealth care without major sacrifices on ev- discipline blue-ribbon panel to study the ery front. Pundits speak about mega-savings problem for two years then come back with from preventive care; those would come in recommendations. We all remember how the about a half-century and probably not then Iraq Study Commission did not cause the since people would be living longer. Fraud administration to even blink, so why should and abuse in the private sector, to say noth- this work now? At least it would get it out of ing of the government, accounts for a trivial the political arena and keep us from stepping amount. Malpractice falls into the same cat- off the precipice without knowing where the egory. Rationing services and means testing? bottom lies.

Don’t even think about it.

Duplication of facilities and services has long been a problem and still we do it. There are more CT, MRI, and PET scanners in RoaContact Hayden at noke than found in most developing nations! jhayden2003@cox.net If hospitals agree to share facilities (which

Send your articles, story ideas and pictures to: info@theroanokestar.com

TheRoanokeStar.com

Dr. Dad’s Not Always Right, But He Usually Gets Close

T

he hallmark of a truly great newspaper column is the ability to weave the important national and international issues of our day into the day-to-day lives of one's readers, in order to present things in a manner that Mr. and Mrs. America can understand. So when my wife fell down the basement stairs about two weeks ago, I knew it was my journalistic duty to present this experience to folks here in the Roanoke Valley in the context of the current debate on health care reform.

Now, I say she “fell down the stairs,” but in truth that's just me exercising a little creative license to build suspense and create sympathy for the protagonist. What really happened is that she thought she had two stairs left to get to the bottom, when in reality she had at least three. Swinging her foot into space to turn the corner at the landing, she caught nothing but air and collapsed in a heap along with the assorted toys and piles of laundry in various states of completion that occupy our basement.

I was in the kitchen when I heard the screams and assumed she was yelling at the cats, so I did what any good husband would do and ignored her. When the screams didn't stop, I got up from my leftover pizza and went down to comfort the cats. My wife was lying in the floor holding her foot, a few tears in her eyes. “I think

I broke something,” “Your foot is broshe said. ken,” said the phy“Nonsense,” said sician's assistant I, veteran of numeras she called the ous sprained ankles, folks down in x-ray. kicked shins, knees “You've been walkto the groin and ing around on this other man injuries for ten days? You over my years. “You may need a pin in need to walk it off.” the bone.”

“Ooooohhhhh...I By that afterDavid Perry can't.” noon, my wife After several minutes of this had acquired crutches, a supunproductive chatter, during portive “boot” for the now which time any little league obviously mangled foot, and manager worth his salt would an appointment with the orhave ordered the body carted thopedist. The good news off the field, we managed to was that the orthopedist said get her to the bathroom for the bone in question, the fifth a potty break and then to the metatarsal, didn't require surliving room into our large, gery or crutches, just some rest padded easy chair. and relaxation. We were down “Do you think it's broken?” a whole day at the doctor, a she would ask. few copays, and an as-yet-to“I don't think so,” I would be-received bill from Carilion say with the full authority of for whatever Anthem refuses someone that had once learned to pay, all for what, we weren't Boy Scout first aid. “If it were sure. broken, you'd be in a lot more So, the morals of this story pain, and there'd be swelling are: one, even when the husand bruising and stuff. It's go- band is wrong, he may be sorta ing to hurt for a while. Just right in the end. Two, we have stay off of it.” pretty good health care here This went on a for a week, in America, if you can afford during which time I sacrificed it. And three, the old baseball an entire day and a half sitting mantra “just walk it off ” isn't in an air-conditioned office to bad advice. Just don't wait a be home and play Mr. Mom. week and a half to have the My wife regained some use of trainer check it out. the damaged appendage, and she decided to tough it out until she went for her annual Contact David at physical the following Mondave@davidperryonline.com day, girded by my many assurances that it was just a bruise.

The Recipe of the Week from The Happy Chef

by Leigh Sackett

Tomatoes Stuffed With Goat Cheese

Last weekend my children made my heart leap for joy and fear as I watched them traverse the rocky and steep trails of Grayson Highlands State Park as if they were a pair of mountain goats. In fact, my two young children ages 7 and 8 almost made the hike to the top of Mount Rogers; the tallest mountain in VA but the youngest finally gave out at 5,500 feet on the summit of Pine Mountain. I was so proud and impressed by their zeal over the challenge of hiking such large mountains but with the campgrounds where we started being at 4,000 feet we were way over half way there to begin with . . . But you have to start somewhere. Maybe that is God speaking to us through His immense mountains – “you have to start somewhere.” The spirit of such a uniquely breathtaking piece of earth makes it impossible not to wonder about the great God that has forged such a creation. Grayson has an incredible juxtaposition of awesome beauty revealed in a harsh environment. It is expressed all around, in all you see from the rapid changes in weather to the perfect pines and rhododendron growing in fields of sparse vegetation to the gentle wild ponies living amongst huge jagged rock outcroppings. It is God alive - gentle and powerful, harsh and beautiful, unexpected yet all-knowing, perfect and awe-inspiring; all these things all at once - SO GREAT, much greater than Mount Rogers. Yet I catch a glimpse of Him in that mountain as my son says, “mom, those clouds look like Jesus on the cross,” and they did. If God made all this…those mountains, my children and me and somehow He makes us all fit together and work - even gentle ponies on jagged rocks - then I should be able to trust Him fully. So if you need some answers, some peace, some therapy or just need to be filled with wonder and reminded that you are small and He is Great, visit Grayson County - God abides. This recipe is to honor my mountain goat children who teach me how to live.

6 medium tomatoes, ripe 4 teaspoons unsalted butter 1 1/2 tablespoons shallots, minced 2 teaspoons garlic, minced 1 1/2 tablespoons flour 1/3 cup half-and-half 1 tablespoon dry sherry 1/2 cup fresh, soft cream cheese, goat cheese or marscapone 2 eggs, separated 3 tbsp chives, minced 2 tsp fresh savory or tarragon, minced salt freshly ground white pepper 3 cups mixed baby greens 1/4 cup vinaigrette basil oil sea salt, to taste

-Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

-Slice tops off the tomatoes and remove seeds and pulp.

Sprinkle the insides with salt and drain tomatoes on paper towels upside-down.

-In a saucepan, melt the butter.

Saute shallots and garlic and until soft but do not brown.

-Stir in flour and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring continuously. Add the halfand-half and sherry, stirring for 3 minutes longer until the mixture is smooth.

-Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool 5-7 minutes. Whisk in goat cheese, egg yolks, and seasonings.

-In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until they hold stiff peaks. Temper the eggs by stirring 1/4 of the whites into the cheese mixture. Carefully fold in the remaining whites.

-Spoon the souffle mixture into the tomato shells, mounding slightly.

-Place the tomatoes, shoulder to shoulder, in a lightly oiled baking or casserole dish.

-Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the tops are lightly puffed and browned.

-Serve the hot tomatoes on a bed of greens. Top with 1/4 cup vinaigrette and a dash of white pepper and basil oil.

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Perspective

8/7/09 - 8/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

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S

There – That Was a Monster . . . Wasn’t it?

omewhere, in a forest near you, the MonsterQuest team is searching the underbrush for something abnormal, something monstrous.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of these folks finding anything interesting is slim to none.

In 2007 the History Channel launched Monsterquest, a favorite program of mine which broadcasts weekly safaris into the unknown. Whether it's Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster or the Louisiana Swamp Beast, MonsterQuest "scientists" span the globe searching for mysterious creatures.

To date none of these elusive brutes have been captured or even seen by the camera wielding monster unit, yet, in my heart there is always hope for a shocking zoological discovery.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show, a typical episode consists of….

A grainy photograph and or video tape of the alleged beast, many of which resemble a costumed high school mascot dancing at halftime.

Eyewitness accounts of human encounters detailed by the actual folks who ran afoul of the critter. As you watch the interview it becomes clear why the creature ran back into the woods rather than chat with some of these humans.

A team of researchers hiding cameras in the brush, hoping to capture the animal on film.

Often the cameras yield some nice shots of bunnies and deer, but little more.

An unwavering scientific conclusion stating that upon compiling the information gathered during the show, MonsterQuest is confident in saying that they have no earthly idea what that was skulking around an old lady's porch in Fresno last fall.

Frankly I was ready to give up on this program when I caught a promo during the

History Channel's ground. The previcavalcade of serial ous week the same killers hour which geniuses mounted briefly renewed my a camera on a wild hope. boar which disapBilled as "Super peared with the Rats" the Monstervideo unit and is Quest crew would probably taping his be venturing into family vacation as the wilds of Manwe speak. hattan in search of The next stop giant rats. Surely for the intrepid Jon Kaufman even these boneadventures was a heads could handle basement in the this gig? Finding a giant rat in Bronx where a building superNew York should be as simple intendent had perfected the as finding desperate gamblers art of rendering large rodents in Las Vegas, right? unconscious with the blade of My son ( a child born and a hockey stick. This stick-hanraised in Roanoke who had dling terror had racked connever witnessed a rat the size firmed kills in four of the five of a toaster oven before) joined boroughs and was determined me as the episode hit the air. to bag the big one for the folks The program began with a rat out there in TV land. Sadly, "expert" claiming that the big- the goal remained empty, not gest rat ever captured was a even the Gretsky of extermimere twelve inches long and nators would light the lamp that there was no such creature that evening. as a "Super Rat." RememberMonsterQuest then soing my childhood I could not journed into the bowels of the believe my ears! No huge rats city's subway system and met in New York! My near-sighted two hobos who claimed to grandmother once stopped to have seen rats the size of dogs pet a jumbo street rat mistak- trotting around their undering the behemoth for a cat. ground lair. The ambitious Horrified onlookers shrieked, team quickly organized an and startled the freakish ro- undercover stake-out hoping dent which hastily retreated to sneak-up on the Super Rats into a pot hole the size of a with their twelve person camgreenside golf bunker. era crew sporting two hundred Something seemed a bit pounds of fishy to me. Perhaps a union high-wattage lighting, howdelegate from the NYC Rats ever, curiously, the Super Rats and Rodents local 415 paid a failed to appear. visit on this expert just before Much to my dismay, the the taping, standing slightly off MonsterQuesters found no camera during the interview giant rats in New York. This while holding a gun on the rat week the crack team is in Venconnoisseurs' next of kin? ezuela hunting giant snakes.

Next a crack band of rodent You have to admire their pluck. lovers outfitted a normal sized Me? I might have opted for a rat with a tiny harness and less ambitious assignment, like camera, hoping that their fur- finding a marked-down tray of ry partner could provide them begonias at Walmart, but that's with candid shots of a Super just me.

Rat in his underground habitat. To the surprise of no one, the rat was able to wriggle off Contact Jon at the camera in a matter of secJon.Kaufman@sprint.com onds and disappear into the

You’ve Got a Friend: How to Help a Friend in Need

Y

ou have a friend in crisis. She has cancer and is going to the hospital weekly for chemotherapy treatments; or she has a 3-year-old daughter and has just delivered twin baby girls (and her father-in-law has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer); or she has just delivered a premature baby. Any number of scenarios fit the bill. They may not be life or death, but there are countless ways life gets disrupted.

The most common reaction to such situations is for you to call and express your feelings ­ “Congratulations on the babies! But twins! You poor thing…” or “I’m so sorry to hear about the illness…” Then you automatically say into the phone, “What can I do to help?” Your question is heartfelt and sincerely meant, but probably, ultimately, not going to be helpful to the person in crisis.

When was the last time someone actually called you back when you made such an offer, and asked you for a favor? In the long run, the most likely response you will get to “What can I do?” or “How can I help?” or “Call me for anything,” is an appreciative thank you at the time of the offer, and silence after that.

You will call again, and your friend will update you on her situation, but it is unlikely she will call back and ask you for anything.

She will feel like she is imposing on you, or may be too overwhelmed to know what kind of favor to ask for. Who really answers your question with the truth: “What I really need is for someone to come and clean the bathrooms in my house. They are disgusting and I just can’t get to them because I have so much else going on.” Your friend won’t be able to say, “I am barely putting one foot in front of the other,” because she is probably trying to be brave or appear competent as she attempts to cope with her situation.

If she doesn’t tell you what she needs, what can you do?

Sit quietly for a minute, put yourself in your friend’s running shoes, and think about what she might need. What would you want if you were in her situation? Then call her and make an offer. Better still, make two offers, giving her a choice.

1. To the mother of the twins: “I have Fridays off. I can watch the babies on Friday mornings while you go out and get your errands done.” Or, “If you make out your grocery list I can do your shopping every Friday morning.”

2. To the mother of the preemie: “I know I can’t help with the baby while he’s in the hos-

pital, but I love cleaning the kitchen. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to take a disaster zone and make it all shiny. When you go to visit the baby in the hospital I will come and clean your kitchen.”

3. To the friend with cancer: “I always make a big dinner on Sunday evenings. I’ll double the recipe each Sunday and bring dinner to you.”

4. Tell your friend she is lovely but could use a haircut, then ask her when you can schedule an appointment for her. Take her to the appointment and drag her to lunch while you are at it. She still needs to eat.

5. Offer to take care of your friend’s children so she and her husband can have a night out.

6. Tell her to do all the laundry on Friday evenings and you will be over to fold on Saturday morning.

Be specific. Make the task something you like to do so it isn’t onerous for you, but a labor of love. Perhaps you are a vacuuming addict and there is nothing that makes you happier than seeing the perfection of pile carpet with those nice wheel marks going back and forth over the pile. Tell your friend that. It will make her feel better and she might laugh and say, “All right already. Knock yourself out! Come and vacuum my floors.”

This helping can apply to your siblings, parents, neighbors, co-workers, or anyone in need. If you draw a blank when you are trying to think of how to help an acquaintance you may not know very well, call someone who was in a similar situation. Ask, “What was most helpful when you were sick?” Call hospice if you know someone who is dying or the senior center if your friend is elderly.

Such organizations will probably have a number of ideas and resources you wouldn’t have thought of. Then rework their ideas for your particular situation.

Lending a helping hand benefits both the helper ­ you ­ and the recipient. It is amazing how much better you feel when you know you have done a favor for someone. You can’t remove the burden of your friend’s illness or crisis, but you certainly can put a check in the plus column for that friend on that particular day. Your efforts will be much appreciated.

Susan LaScala, RN, MS is a Family Nurse Practitioner and the author of “Small Wonder, the story of a child born too soon” (Barton Cove Publishing 2009). You can visit her website at www.susanjlascala.com/

Groundhog Update: Captivity Going Almost Famously for “Big Boy” and “Baby”

W

hat if you were a rehabber of everything feathered and furred? What if you received two groundhogs who preferred inside to outside, and deplored getting dirty? What if G-hogs could talk?

This is how it has worked for hundreds of thousands of years – well, at least for the seven years Sabrina and I have been rehabbing - you take in the injured, ill or abandoned critters, you keep them in a special inside cage in a designated in-house room, feed them and watch for the time they can be released to an enclosure in the back yard.

In the case of g-hogs, this cage is even screened-in below ground so they can’t dig their way to freedom before they’re ready. This cage is spacious, has 18-24” of dirt with buried PVC pipe so they can learn to tunnel, and finally be released with all the skills they need to survive.

We take them morning and evening to the cage, pulling them in at noon to avoid the mid-day heat.

Enter our two latest g-hogs.

For ease of narrative, let’s call them ‘Big-Boy’ and ‘Baby.’

Here’s the case in a nutshell: They hate dirt; want nothing to do with it. This appears to be non-negotiable.

Obviously, I don’t speak ‘G-hog’ and they return the favor by refusing to learn English. But the expressions on their faces are such as to make speech superfluous and their message quite clear.

Example: Early this morning I went to collect them for their trip to the cage. I found them in their hidey-hole [inside the ‘animal room’], deep in REM-sleep, exhausted from a long night of sleeping. Now, at dawn they had managed to drag their sleepdeprived selves down to the food bowl and consume 4-5 pounds of vegetables. A piece.

Now they were on their backs, snoring in an attempt to stave off exhaustion. They were an easy catch. I put them in the transporter and

stepped outside the “Oh my Heavens! door. They peered This is a cool spot. through the grid.

Such a fuss! You ‘O’boy!, said Baby, could hang meat ‘Fresh air! Sunout here.” shine! Vitamin D!’ “That’s just what He looked around. you did about two ‘Yo! Large clohours ago.” ver patch at nine I picked them out o’clock! Yum! Hey, and while trying to wait! You’re walkput them back in Lucky Garvin ing right passed the transporter, it! Platoon, halt! About face!’ they crawled hurriedly under Then they realized where my shirt for protection. we were heading. Oh no!

“What…?”

THE CAGE! ‘We heard a noise. It was I try to set them in the cage, scary! THERE IT IS AGAIN! but like velcro on a knapsack, WHAT IS THAT!?’ they cling to the sides. I said, “A Bluebird.”

“You guys will soon get tired ‘Are they big?! Do they have and drop to the ground and giant, meat-tearing teeth?!’ play in the dirt.”

“I think you’re safe.” I head‘Will not.’ ed back to the house. On the I responded firmly [I am way Baby said, “How about the superior species after you bring us a bunch of that all] “You must learn to be clover in a little bit? We preG-hogs. Get down there and fer room temperature.’ burrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

‘And chip a nail!? Tell you This is not going at all well. what, you like the cage so But all is not lost. There is much, you get in here; we’ll the spare bedroom. I’ll talk trot on inside.’ to Sabrina about it.

“Well, I would get in the cage with you but it’s kinda Contact Lucky at short and with my back coninfo@theroanokestar.com dition…”

‘The real reason is you’re afraid if you got in here, Sabrina wouldn’t let you out.’

He’s got a point.

Big Boy snapped, ‘I’m hanging two inches off the Roanoke has a ground here! I nearly got my Saltwater Fish Store! paw dirty!’

• Large selection • Live corals Reluctantly I left them and • Aquariums & equipment • Delivery & set-up came back two hours later • Maintenance for home or business to find them in precisely the 540-580-7755 1428 Roanoke Road (Across from Lord Botetourt High School) same position. They hadn’t moved – or dropped - an inch. Baby was hollering, ‘Oh look who’s finally back! Mr. High and Dry!” Big Boy kept repeating, “Air conditioning! Air condiT-F 3-7 pm, Sat 12-6 pm, Sun 1-5 tioning!’

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Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 8/7/09 - 8/13/09

TheRoanokeStar.com

Local Polish Immigrant Recalls Experiences During World War II John W. Jay, Sr. and his French born wife, Jeanne, reside in their Botetourt County home, surrounded by books and photographs of their two grown sons and their grandchildren. Before coming to Virginia, the now retired Jay worked in the banking business, where he specialized in mutual funds. Jeanne Jay worked in the insurance field.

Sounds like the typical American family in many ways, but 70 years ago Jay was a student in his native Poland under his real name, Jon Wladyslaw Jaskolski, when World War II began with the German invasion of Poland. As such, he personally witnessed the war’s events.

“When the war broke out, the schools were closed and all the boys were Boy Scouts.

We were outside of the town when the Germans took over the town and the Polish Army took us to Warsaw,” recalls Jay, who lives in the Blue Ridge section of Botetourt County.

Once there, Jay and his fellow Boy Scouts delivered ammunition and food to the Polish forces defending the city from German capture.

“Finally, when the Germans circled Warsaw, we had to move back to the city.”

When Warsaw fell into German hands, “they took all of the Boy Scouts in uniform.

Those that were from the city of Warsaw were told to go home,” he said.

A different fate awaited Jay. “All the Boy Scouts from Western Poland were taken by the Germans to East Prussia,” he said, where they were handed over to German farmers.

Jay was one of these laborers. In his case, he toiled for a

Photo submitted by John Jay

John Jay in 1945, when he was 20 years old. farmer who owned a farm on the Baltic Sea. Jay was then followed into captivity by Polish prisoners-of-war, one of whom, a corporal, took him under his wing. The corporal told him, “Look, you have to learn German. It’s important.”

Once he had mastered the German language, Jay, a German boy, and the boy’s mother visited the German town of Konigsberg.

“Once there, I met some Polish guys [who] worked underground in East Prussia. After a while, I escaped from the farmer and went to Konigsberg.”

Jay’s freedom proved shortlived. Apprehended, he spent three months in jail. It would be the first of many periods of captivity for him.

“After that, they agreed that I [would] work in Konigsberg.”

During his time there, Jay led a double life, working in

a big business, as well as for the Polish underground. In the latter capacity, he carried guns to Poland. After he made several trips, the Polish Army advised Jay to return to Poland and become involved with the underground there - as the Germans would kill him should they lay hands on him.

Jay had other ideas: “I said, ‘Why shouldn’t I go to England and join the Polish Army there? I would like to be a flyer.’”

He got as far as the Swiss border before he was arrested by the German police and imprisoned. This time he was sent to Austria.

“When the Germans took over Austria, all the Austrians became Nazis - like everybody else. What we were doing [was] cleaning German Army uniforms in a basement,” Jay continued. “Seven of us [escaped]. When we got out into the city, I told them, ‘Everybody goes on his own direction.’ I made it from there to Innsbruck. From Innsbruck, I made it very close to the Italian border [before] I was caught there by the Germans.”

Returned to prison, Jay was then sent to a concentration camp, where he remained for the duration of the war. (While there, he was shot on a “death march,” and remained in the hospital for several months.) After the war’s conclusion, his odyssey would continue. Jay hopes to publish a book about his life some day. (Next week: John Jay, post WWII)

The "Hands Off My Healthcare" rally was held in downtown Roanoke July 30, with Dr. Larry Hunter (speaking), State Senator Ralph Smith (left), and Virginia State Director of Americans For Prosperity Ben Marchi (right).

"Patients First" Protest Bus Tour in Downtown Roanoke

The "Hands Off My Healthcare" rally dominated the scene on Church Avenue July 30 with flags, placards and shouts and cheers for former City of Roanoke Mayor Ralph Smith - now State Senator Smith from Botetourt County - who introduced Ben Marchi, Virginia State Director of Americans for Prosperity.

Marchi asked the crowd to phone their Washington, D.C. representatives from the rally, calling out the phone numbers of area congressmen and the two Virginia senators.

One man shouted out that the

By Melvin E. Matthews, Jr. number he called had, "reinfo@theroanokestar.com

Didgeridoo Revolution!

A Didgeridoo Revolution is coming to your local library! Didgeridoos are amazing instruments from Australia with a very distinctive sound!

Each library will feature a performance by these amazing musicians as well as a workshop!.The workshop is for anyone in first grade and up and registration is requried. Please call or visit your favorite library to sign up!

Gainsboro Library Monday, August 10 10:00 a.m. - Performance 11:15 a.m. - Workshop

Melrose Library Tuesday, August 11 3:00 p.m. - Performance 4:15 p.m. - Workshop

Main Library Monday, August 10 3:00 p.m. - Performance 4:15 p.m. - Workshop

Williamson Road Library Wednesday, August 12 10:00 a.m. - Performance 11:15 a.m. - Workshop

Jackson Park Library Tuesday, August 11 10:00 a.m. - Performance 11:15 a.m. - Workshop

Raleigh Court Library Wednesday, August 12 3:00 p.m. - Performance 4:15 p.m. - Workshop

We’re There When You Need Us Most.

You are not alone in hospice and our experienced and loving staff will care for you as family. Our comprehensive care provides a full range of services including: s Long term employees with experience in palliative pain & symptom management, emotional support and grief counseling s Spiritual care from a Christian perspective that brings encouragement and inspires hope s Grief support groups for adults and children 24/7 Referrals... Same Day Admissions

ceived a high volume of calls," which pleased the crowd.

Dr. Larry Hunter, Washington D.C. health care insurer consultant, spoke about seniors having the highest stake in the proposed healthcare bill. He found rationed health care for seniors in the 1,018 page bill "disturbing."

The speakers urged the crowd to contact their representatives in Washington and share their concerns with the proposed bill, and were urged to say, "Stop! Fix the economy first! No healthcare negotiations!"

"We have five weeks. Let's

get it done," exclaimed Dr. Hunter.

"No Obama Care…Read the bill," chanted the flagwaving crowd.

The "Patients First" Bus Tour began in Richmond July 25, stopping in towns from Amelia Court House and Farmville to the far southwest, the Shenandoah Valley, Leesburg, Culpepper and Charlottesville, ending August 1.

By Gail Lambert info@theroanokestar.com

Car Less Brit Heads up “Big” Bike Demonstration A bicycle taking up a lot of space is kind of silly if you think about it. That is precisely the point: why take up so much space to move one person around?

So said River Laker, the Car Less Brit, who will take part in this Friday’s exercise. The “manif spaciale” begins from his Car Less Brit Museum on 2nd St. in the old Angler’s Café spot (310 2nd St. SW, corner of Kirk and 2nd St, opposite City Municipal Building).

The infamous “manif spaciale,” developed by the Montreal group Le Monde a Bicyclette (the world by bicycle), is simply a group of cyclists riding around downtown with giant “space frames” attached to their bikes, making them take up the same amount of space as a car.

“You’re demonstrating in a real graphic manner how much space someone takes up when they drive a car with just one person in it. It’s so ridiculous – and so big,” he said.

A staggered departure from the Car Less Brit Museum will take place from 4:30 until 5pm, so that the event can be part of

Friday's major traffic flow, and bikers will ride in small groups of 2 to 3. That should also lessen the need for a permit said Laker, who expects some motorists to be miffed that they have to share the road with bicycles that have been “expanded” to the size of a car, taking up space they might have otherwise occupied.

Laker, who works for the Roanoke Public Library system, hopes the demonstration doesn’t damage “the relationship they’ve been working on between car drivers and bikers – [by] causing a lot of antagonism.” He doesn’t expect more than a handful of people to strap lightweight aluminum frames to their bikes for the event. Cyclists will decorate their rides as well. In some ways, said Laker, drivers may even come to appreciate how little space bikers take up – leaving more room for them on the roads.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Send sports pictures, announcements and story ideas to info@theroanokestar.com

Sports

8/7/09 - 8/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7

Groh, Beamer Speak at Sports Club

The Roanoke Valley Sports Club held their annual preseason football banquets at Hidden Valley Country Club as members and guests were entertained by the states two most prominent college coaches.

Last Thursday, UVA Head Coach Al Groh was the guest speaker, giving a preview of the upcoming Cavalier season. Groh also talked about the ACC media tour, then turned the tables on the audience by being the one asking the questions and going into the crowd to solicit answers and opinions. Groh has appeared as a guest speaker of the club more than anyone else with ten engagements.

Photo by Bill Turner

Hidden Valley Titan linemen work on blocking skills during opening day of summer training camp on Monday. Scott Weaver is the new head coach at the Roanoke County high school, replacing J.R. Edwards.

Al Groh answers questions at Hidden Valley Country Club last Thursday.

On Monday night, the Hokies got their turn with the appearance of Head Coach Frank Beamer. Beamer clearly has high expectations for the upcoming team and talked about new recruits and the

No pain, no gain--A North Cross player grinds out sprints during opening day.

Photo by Bill Turner

Story and photos by Bill Turner info@theroanokestar.com

EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF LIVING AT THE PARK-OAK GROVE Independent Carefree Lifestyle

Training camps open: The first week in August means high school training camps are open for two-a-days.

The state champion North Cross School Raiders, who captured a title in their Virginia Independent School division, opened their camp under head coach Lee Johnson earlier this week.

daunting task of opening the season in Atlanta against Alabama. He laughingly skirted a question posed about when he might retire.

The Roanoke Valley Sports Club typically meets the third Monday of each month at the Salem Civic Center, with an assortment of speakers from various sports.

Those interested in attending and becoming members can contact John Montgomery at 761-6751 or Tom Marchi at 772-7787.

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Sports

Page 8 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 8/7/09 - 8/13/09

Send sports pictures, announcements and story ideas to info@theroanokestar.com

World Series Time in Salem

Roanoke City Patriots Reach the NABF Wood Bat World Series Brent Sowers, center fielder for the Roanoke/ Salem Virginians, catches a potential runscoring fly ball for an out against the opposing Ohio Capitals team out of Columbus, Ohio. The Roanoke/Salem based Virginians were among the 19 teams competing in the NSA World Series fast pitch softball tournament last weekend at the Moyer Sports Complex in Salem. The Roanoke Valley was once home to many men’s fastball teams, which has given way in recent years to slow pitch softball.

A team comprised of mostly Patrick Henry Varsity and Junior Varsity baseball players competed with teams from all over the country in the NABF Wood Bat World Series in Lynchburg, Virginia last week. Sixty teams, including clubs from New York, Missouri, Illinois and Ontario, Canada descended upon the Hill City to battle for the Series title.

A group of intrepid and loyal Roanoke City parents caravanned eastward to support the team which would play four games in twentyeight hours.

The Roanoke City Patriots took their openPhotos by Bill Turner ing match-up against Mount Airy, Maryland, Emiliano Argulo, pitcher for the Virginians, behind the combined pitching of Chad Osterwinds up to throw a strike against the Capihaus, Cameron King and closer Zach Whitaker. tals.

Whitaker, Brad Sowers, and catcher Will Kaufman provided most of the offensive firepower

in the 6-2 victory.

Saturday's nightcap pitted the Patriots versus a gritty team from Queens, New York. Despite a fine pitching performance by Aaron Burton, the Patriots fell to the New Yorkers 3-1 to even their tournament record at 1-1.

The Patriots stumbled out of the gate on Sunday losing to an experienced group of players from North Chatham, North Carolina, yet finished the day strongly with a 9-5 victory, nipping a strong Blacksburg, Virginia team in the late innings. King picked up the win and William Byrd's Evan Otey slammed the door in the final two innings on the mound. Otey also drove in the games winning run with a sixth inning double, and along with Kaufman batted .500 for the Series.

Beamer Has High Hopes for Hokies

On Monday evening at Hidden Valley Country Club in Salem, Virginia Tech Head Football Coach Frank Beamer talked all things Hokies at a meeting of the Roanoke Valley Sports Club.

Virginia Tech, which has won three of the past five ACC championships, is coming off of a 10-4 campaign capped by a 20-7 win over Cincinnati in the FedEx Orange Bowl. Last week, the Hokies were selected as the overwhelming favorite to capture the conference title again in the preseason media poll, and many believe that Tech has an outside chance to compete for a national championship. “I like our kids and I like our team,� Beamer said. “I think we have some legit players and have a chance to be a very good team.�

However, Beamer’s crew will face a stern test on September 5, when they travel to Atlanta to face Nick Saban and the University of Alabama in the Georgia Dome for the 2009 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game. “I won’t even talk about the guy who opened the season there last year and was gone like three weeks later,� Beamer joked, in reference to former Clemson

Virginia Tech Head Coach Frank Beamer fields a question about the upcoming season. coach Tommy Bowden, who was fired five weeks after an embarrassing 34-10 loss to the Crimson Tide.

Speaking on a variety of topics, Beamer touched on the BCS, retirement, and a celebrity golf match.

When asked about the keys to success this season, Beamer gave a familiar answer -- defense and special teams. “Look at all the great teams last year. They all had a good, solid defense,� he said. “And the kicking game is going to be a big thing, too. With all of the close games we play, it’s gonna be huge. I know a lot of you probably don’t know who [sophomore kicker] Matt Waldron is, but he might be the most important player on our

By Jon Kaufman Jon.Kaufman@sprint.com

team.�

On the BCS, Beamer appeared less than optimistic that any changes will be made to the oft-criticized ranking system. “I think it’s gonna stay the way it is for a while,� he said. “When the presidents rejected the ‘plusone’ format, my thought was it isn’t going to change for a long time.�

On retirement, Beamer was coy, joking, “The thing about this gig is that when you win, it’s great, but when you lose, it isn’t much,â€? he said, laughing. “But in all honesty, as long as the health is good‌I think I’ll know when it’s time. When you don’t get excited about this time of year, then it’s time to go.â€?

The majority of questions, however, focused primarily on the Hokies blockbuster matchup against the Crimson Tide to open the season. Asked for Red Sox’s Kris Negron lays a prediction, Beamer declined, down a bunt against the instead saying, “In the spring Frederick Keys.

Dell Curry and I were paired against Nick in the Chick-fil-A Challenge, and I’ll just say this: Virginia Tech is already 1-0 Daniel Nava bats. He had a against Alabama this year.� hot hand at the plate in July and early August.

By Matt Reeve Photos by Bill Turner Matt@theroanokestar.com

Red Sox Look For August Playoff Push

Aftercare.

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Red Sox update: after struggling in the first half of the season the Salem Red Sox came out strong after the break and led the Carolina League’s Southern Division at one point. A recent slump took care of that, at least for now, but the Sox still have a decent shot at a playoff spot. The Boston farm team is currently battling Myrtle Beach for a wild card berth in the September post season.

It took the Red Sox nine tries, but they finally earned their 50th win of the season on Monday (Aug. 3), when they were 50-54 for the year and 18-18 in the second half.

Call ups, injuries and trades of players to other organizations have left the Red Sox with a different look than they debuted with in April at Lewis

Gale Field, but manager Chad Epperson says the goal remains the same: “Everybody in this locker room wants to win a pennant.�

Outfielder Daniel Nava led the team in batting (28 games) at .352 as of Tuesday, with the revitalized Che-Hsuan Lin (CF) and catcher Luis Exposito bashing six home-runs apiece to lead the club. After returning from a long stint on the disabled list shortstop Yamaico Navarro clubbed five round trippers of his own – and was promptly promoted from Single-A Salem to AA Portland. Pitchers Seth Garrison (7) and Eamon Portice (6) led the starting rotation in wins.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

8/7/09 - 8/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

TheRoanokeStar.com

Community Calendar > August 7

Manif Spaciale The famed Montreal originating space-framed bike event, is happening in downtown Roanoke, Friday, August 7,4:30 - 6 pm.

Any questions? do feel free to ask: http://carlessbrit.tumblr.com/

August 15-16,The Bedford County Parks & Recreation is sponsoring a bus trip to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory,The American MountainTheatre and a train ride on the NewTygart Flyer in Elkins,WV,on Saturday-Sunday, August 15-16,2009.

> August 14

> August 17

VCE Food Expo The Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, and Roanoke offices ofVirginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) have teamed up with many sponsors to host the first “Taste of the Roanoke Valley Food Expo,” Friday,August 14, 2009, from 2 – 8 pm,at the Greenfield Recreational Park just north of Daleville.

Tickets are $2 each (children 12 and under free with paying adult) and can be purchased by calling Botetourt (540-473-8260), Craig (540-8645812), or Roanoke (540-772-7524) VCE offices. Tickets are limited and should be purchased prior to the Food Expo.

> August 14

Join us forATaste of Culture -Vietnam FridayAugust 14, at Century Plaza in downtown Roanoke.Enjoy the dance and costume ofVietnam - free cooking and dance lessons,authentic Vietnamese food and more.

And come back for two more international celebrations -Taste of Culture events are planned for September 11,China;October 9, Scandinavia.For more information, contact Pearl Fu at Local Colors, pearlfu@aol.com or localcolors.org.

> August 15

NewTygart FlerTrain Ride Bus

Creating a Digital Memory Scrapbook Part 2 Compiling Your Digital Memory Scrapbook Monday,Aug. 17, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, or Monday, Aug. 24, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm.Computer Lab,Main Library In this session, you will learn how to scan your photographs, choose digital images, sound and video clips, and create a presentation.

> August 28

Annual Big Picnic Mark your Calendars for the“Annual Big Picnic” which will be hosted by the RoanokeValley DemocraticWomen.

It will be held at the upper pavillion # 5 in Longwood Park on Main St. Salem,Va. on Friday,August 28, 2009 from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. All Democrats and their families are invited. Chicken, drinks,and paper goods will be provided. You may choose to bring a covered dish or dessert or make a $5.00 donation at the picnic. Elected officials and canditates in the November election have been invited. For additional information call Mary Bowers @343-1186.

Time Again to Pack the Bus

to learn the game.Ages 8 to 108 welcome.Please call if you have any questions! Family Friendly:YesVenue: Williamson Road LibraryAddress: 3837Williamson Rd NW,Roanoke VA Time:Every 3rd Saturday of the month,from 1pm to 4:45pm Free:Yes Contact Name:Brent Paschall Contact Email:redadmin@ redemptionva.com Contact Phone: (540) 354-5376Website:http:// www.redemptionva.com

> October 3

Mountain Lake & Covered Bridges - BusTour The SinglesTravel Club (couples welcome too!),is sponsoring a bus trip to Mountain Lake and four covered bridges on Saturday, October 3,2009.

Passengers can board the bus at the BonsackWalmart,Route 460, Roanoke.

The cost of $69 per person includes:Roundtrip motorcoach transportation,buffet lunch at Mountain Lake Hotel’s Dining Room,Tour of four covered bridges and a tour host.

For further information,call (540) 366-2888.

3-23-09

Students across Roanoke County will be returning to school August 24. Roanoke County Public Schools and Q-99 will hold another “Pack the Bus” event August 12 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Bonsack Wal-Mart, or from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. at the Hunting Hills (Route 220) Wal-Mart. Theywill be accepting donations of back to school supplies and/or monetary donations for stu-

I am very pleased with the manner in which G & H Contracting approaches a building project with professionalism, care and personal interest in the product. Bottom line, so far, I am quite impressed and I know the staff in Engineering for the City feels the same.

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Valley Business

Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 8/7/09 - 8/13/09

TheRoanokeStar.com

Passively Efficient Heating and Cooling

There are two examples of voluntary design guidelines for more sustainable commercial and residential projects, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council, and Earth Craft. Now comes Passivhaus (passive house), a European concept centered on reduction in energy consumption.

It’s not new – Passivhaus was developed two decades ago – but in this neck of the woods there hasn’t been much talk about it.

Enter Adam Cohen, co-owner of Structures Design Build, a design and construction firm based in Roanoke. Cohen recently went through a Passivhaus training certification process in Boston and is now ready to employ those concepts locally. A 3,600square-foot teaching center being designed with the Franklin County School Board (at the Gereau Center for Applied Technology) will employ Passivhaus standards. Heating and cooling load reductions of up to 90% have piqued Cohen’s interest in the concept, in addition to the accompanying electricity consumption drop of up to 70%.

Cohen isn’t sure that Passivhaus will become all the rage in America any time soon, but it may be one more component in the drive to go greener. Its early roots go back to the 1970’s and super-insulated structures being built in this country but Cohen says, “there were issues. We didn’t fully understand the building physics and as a result… they didn’t perform like we thought.”

A progression in the green movement led to Passivhaus in Germany, with designs em-

Adam Cohen of Structures Design Build. ployed to reduce energy consumption. In 1990, the first test project was built. Schools, factories, office buildings and homes have now been constructed under the Passivhaus banner. Cohen said the European Union will adopt it as a standard in 2012.

“The concept is very easy to get your mind around the big picture but it’s very difficult technically,” says Cohen of Passivhaus.

Upgrading the thermal envelope – more efficient, better-insulated windows and walls for starters – helps create an airtight building that is used to reduce “thermal bridges,” where heat and cold is conducted through materials. Those bridges increase the load on a cooling and heating system, thus leading to inefficiencies and higher energy costs.

Passivhaus helps “balance heat loss with heat gains from the sun and people,” says Cohen. “Basically you can heat and cool the [structure] with the equivalent of a blow dryer.” Some houses in Germany, notes Cohen, use “100% fresh air” from inside and

outside, passed through a heat exchanger, to heat and cool. Combined with Hepa filtration it also produces improved air quality.

“You eliminate all of the recirculated air,” adds Cohen, “and your HVAC system totally.” That doesn’t happen, however, in all Passivhaus designs.

Cohen, who calls himself “an early adopter of alternative technologies,” says the rigorous, voluntary standards for Passivhaus is not a competitor to LEED, but plays a more complementary role in providing energy reduction guidelines not spelled out by that standard. LEED has been used more widely in the Roanoke area.

About 20,000 passive structures have been built around the world to date, mostly in German speaking countries and Scandinavia, according to the Passive House (Passivhaus) Institute.

It’s just a design standard says Cohen, one that is harder to achieve in certain climes.

He’s now one of about 50 trained in the United States and estimates that perhaps 8-10 Passivhaus projects are in the pipeline nationwide. Still, Cohen believes “it’s doable.”

The Franklin County School teaching center will be his first attempt at using Passivhaus.

“We’re very early in the process here [but] it works great,” he said.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Coca-Cola Consolidated Announces Major Investment in Roanoke Valley

The Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated has announced the opening of its new warehouse and logistics center at a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Valley Gateway Industrial Park in Roanoke County. The expansion represents a major investment of more than $9 million in the Roanoke Valley.

“We are excited to expand our operations in the Roanoke Valley,” said Bill Elmore, Coca-Cola Consolidated President and Chief Operating Officer. “This investment of more than $9 million includes a new bottling line at our downtown Roanoke manufacturing plant on Shenandoah Avenue and the opening of our new warehouse and logistics center at Valley Gateway.”

“The Roanoke Valley is a great place to do business and we are pleased to be a part of this vibrant community,” he added. In addition to expanding our facilities, we were also able to create 10 new jobs for citizens in the Roanoke Valley.”

"Coca-Cola is a well-known brand name and we are thrilled to have them expand their operations in Roanoke County. CocaCola Consolidated's location in the Valley Gateway shell building is ideal for their business operations and will allow them to establish a stronger corporate presence in the Roanoke Valley. We are pleased to welcome such an outstanding company to Roanoke County," said Jill Loope, Assistant Director of Economic Development.

In addition, Coca-Cola Consolidated announced a partnership with the Western Virginia Land Trust to sponsor the Conservation Celebration in September, where the Land Trust will be honoring the conservation achievements of Virginia Governor

L-R: WVLT Board of Trustees President Janet Scheid, CCBCC Corporate Affairs Director Alison Patient, WVLT Executive Director Roger Holnback stand beside the new Toyota Prius donated by Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated.

Tim Kaine. The Western Virginia Land Trust promotes the conservation of western Virginia’s natural resources –farms, forests, waterways and rural landscapes. Since its founding in 1996, the Land Trust has helped to conserve more than 71,000 acres of land in the Commonwealth..

Coca-Cola Consolidated is donating a Toyota Prius to the Land Trust to assist in its mission. Bill Elmore noted that “The CocaCola system has set a goal to return 100% of the water we use back to nature. We are pleased to be able to promote this goal by supporting the Land Trust in the creation and maintenance of healthy watersheds throughout western Virginia.”

“The Prius is a perfect fit with our mission

of conserving our farms, forests, waterways and rural landscapes,” said Western Virginia Land Trust Executive Director Roger Holnback. “We’re proud to have Coca-Cola Consolidated on board as a lead sponsor, joining other regional businesses in honoring Gov. Kaine’s efforts to protect our rural lands and improve water quality across the Commonwealth.”

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated is the second largest Coca-Cola Bottler in the United States. The Company is a leader in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of soft drinks. With Corporate offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Company does business in eleven states, primarily in the Southeast.

Selena Rowe and Jonna McGraw (L-R) sell Rwandan coffee at Church of the Holy Spirit to benefit that war-torn country.

“Drink Coffee, Do Good” Avid coffee drinkers have always said the beverage they crave is a good thing, and now they have a chance to make that ring true.

Church of the Holy Spirit (CHS), in southwest Roanoke County, is selling Rwandan coffee after services on Sunday mornings, with proceeds going back to that war-torn African country.

Currently recovering from a civil war that involved the Hutu and Tutsi tribes, profits from the coffee sold ($11 per bag, in several different blends, including decaf) has been turned into micro loans, mostly for widows of men who lost their lives in a conflict that once claimed about a million victims in 100 days. Other coffee-raised funds have helped sustain Rwandan family farms.

CHS member Jonna McGraw can be found manning the “Drink Coffee Do Good” booth most Sundays after services, which sells The Land of a Thousand Hills brand. The auctioneer and non-practicing attorney recruits young people in the church to help, telling them about the Rwandan conflict and its aftermath. Not only that, “it’s an excellent coffee,” said McGraw after a recent Sunday service.

Teenager Selena Rowe, a recent Faith Christian School graduate, said she “really didn’t know what it was about,” until McGraw related the story to her. Explaining what the Drink Coffee, Do Good drive was all about to booth visitors, Rowe said helping out “makes me feel great.”

A brochure available at the CHS table describes a $90 loan that has helped a

Rwandan woman expand her phone business, which offers service for a fee to those who can’t afford their own phones.

With a current yearly income of $85, the coffee-generated loan represents a windfall for recipient Mukamugema Consolee.

Just 10 bags of coffee sold a month (they do better than that at CHS, however) can help pay for two micro loans, or sustain a farm for one month, according to McGraw.

The church makes no profit from the coffee they sell. The business end of picking coffee beans in Rwanda at a better-than-fair-trade price, said McGraw, also means that former enemies (the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa tribes) are working side by side. “Coffee is bringing them together.”

The program’s “Four Pillars” are justice, redemption/ reconciliation, excellence and entrepreneurship. The Anglican Mission in America, which sponsors the program here, has a sister church in Rwanda.

McGraw has traveled to the Roswell, Georgia processing center for the handpicked Rwandan coffee beans – rated she said among the top five coffees in the world – and hopes to make it to Rwanda by next summer to see what a simple cup of “Joe” can become. “[It’s] more than a cup of coffee,” notes McGraw.

For more information, visit DrinkCoffeeDoGood.com.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

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TheRoanokeStar.com

8/7/09 - 8/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11

VOBR Provides Valuable Service to Visually Impaired

One of the entries in this year’s juried art show - the second one held by the public radio station.

WVTF to Host Juried Art Show and Reception A Juried Art Show and special reception will be held at the WVTF Public Radio Broadcast Center in Roanoke, Friday, August 14th from 5 pm - 9 pm. Included will be music by Sage Wright, Lydia Bassett, Mike Mitchell, Benedict Goodfriend and Cara Modisett playing classical, followed by The Wright Kids playing bluegrass. The Wright Kids, from Rocky Mount, were recently seen on “America’s Got Talent.” WVTF is located at 3520 Kingsbury Lane in Roanoke, off Franklin Road near K-Mart/Red Lobster. Entries in this year’s Art Show can be viewed throughout the month of August during regular business hours, 9 am - 5 pm, weekdays.

The 5th annual fundraiser for Voice of the Blue Ridge (VOBR) was held recently at Blue 5 Restaurant in downtown Roanoke. A silent auction and music provided by The Elderly Brothers kicked off the event.

The 164 people in attendance enjoyed hot hors d’oeuvres and appetizers, along with the opportunity to participate in a live auction.

The funds raised help VOBR in achieving its stated mission, “to provide various services to meet the needs of the blind, visually impaired, and others with print handicaps, especially in Central and Southwest Virginia, with programs centered on accessibility to the printed word, audio aids, and technical communication aspects, to enhance communication and life opportunities for those who might not otherwise have this enrichment.”

Other funding received by the non-profit comes from United Way donations and bingo games held at the All-Star Center on Melrose Avenue.

Despite the economic downturn, businesses and individuals donated an array of items for the auction, including artwork, a Greek writing table, fine jewelry with diamonds and/or precious stones, gift certificates, trips, electronics, designer purses, designer sunglasses and a football signed by Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech’s head football coach.

Patty Alls, Executive Director of VOBR, said that Blue 5 Restaurant was a new venue for them. The previous four fundraisers were held in conjunction with a production at Mill Mountain Theatre, which is now closed. Alls went on to say that VOBR “plans to hold two fundraisers next year.”

Chartered in 1981, the VOBR, through the assistance

of a volunteer board and a staff of three, offers numerous services primarily to those with vision and print impairments who are located in Southwest and Central Virginia. Over the years, VOBR has helped thousands of people, utilizing various creative means.

Services offered by VOBR include dial-in services, a news service, lending library, adaptive technology center, large print calendars that are sold and shipped throughout the United States, a radio reading service and a volunteer reading corps.

Dial-In News is a completely independent project of VOBR providing newspaper content in an automated format, available 24 hours daily. Through the combination of electronics, volunteerism, and special needs, newspapers are now available to a growing audience with widely varied schedules and interests. Volunteers read the news each day into the telephone, with their voices captured by a computer software program.

Listeners can call at any time during the day to access the readings. This service currently provides literary freedom to the 360 people signed up for this service, said Sherrie Oliver, Coordinator of Volunteers at VOBR. When people can no longer read newspapers and magazines because of vision or other physical problems, those people can often use radio reading services, a network of radio stations that broadcast printed materials through closed circuit radio stations throughout the United States. In the Roanoke area, including Southwest and Central Virginia, VOBR has helped produce WVTF Public Radio’s reading service since 1981.

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VOBR volunteers read and record news and other items for the visually impaired.

Hundreds of radios have been given over the years by VOBR to people who use the WVTF Radio Reading Service to hear newspapers read to them. To participate in this service, the participants must follow a broadcast schedule.

VOBR also has a lending library of more than 400 books in a variety of formats including cassette, CD, and Braille.

The Assistive Technology Center at VOBR headquarters is equipped with five workstations. Using special assistive technologies, people who are visually/print impaired can gain or regain access to benefits offered by computer. Irene Peterson, Licensed Trainer, teaches six classes weekly [five classes in Roanoke and one class in the New River Valley] for those who have the desire to learn how to use special adaptive technologies.

VOBR’s system includes a scanner, printer, Braille embosser, Internet access, and various programs that enable those who are sight/print

impaired to gain access to a new level of information and independence. Center users are able to surf the web, read magazines, books, letters, and other printed items that can be scanned, use online banking, order products and send and receive email. For those who can read Braille, they can change printed material into Braille for their use.

More than 8,000 large-print calendars have been sent out by VOBR this year. While most of the calendars have been sent out to those who are sight/print impaired in Virginia, some of the calendars have been sent as far away as Hawaii.

Reading volunteers play a significant role in the mission of VOBR, which currently has 80 volunteers and substitutes.

For information on volunteering, donating books on tape or CD to the lending library, or for other information about VOBR, visit vobr.org, or call (540) 985-8900.

By Susan Ayers info@theroanokestar.com

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An example of George Warner’s work exhibited through October 22 at the O. Winston Link Museum.

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A new exhibit featuring the works of Roanoke photographer, George Warner, “A Few Things I’ve Seen: a photographic exhibit

by George Warner,” will show through October 22 at the O. Winston Link Museum’s Robert Kulp Trackside Gallery. The exhibit promises to bring the visitor close to the eye of Warner, for color and detail, giving insight into one man's exploration in aesthetic value. Included in the exhibit will be the brightly colored lights and tones of this local photographer's vision, including portraits, botanical macro images, and night landscapes.

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Page 12 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 8/7/09 - 8/13/09

TheRoanokeStar.com

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07 Nissan Sentra #PA3806

$12,495

05 Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 #PA3897

$14,995

05 Toyota Camry #P3870

$12,995

05 Mini Cooper #PA3811

$14,995

08 Mazda 6 #PA3808

$13,495

06 Jeep Grand Cherokee

$14,995

#PA3820A

Used Car Financing As Low As

4.99

08 Ford Mustang GT

#PA3791A

#290572A

$23,495

08 VW Eos #290641A

08 Dodge Avenger R/T AWD

$16,495

#290572A

WITH APPROVE CREDIT THRU B.O.A

07 Toyota Tacoma

$19,495

%

$26,995

08 BMW 328I #P3861

$29,495

Visit us online at www.rickwoodsonhonda.com. All prices plus taxes, title, tags, $199and Processing Fee. All vehicles preowned unless stated as New. Photos for illustration purposes only. Offer Ends 08/08/09.