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Community | News | Per spective
February 13, 2009
Liza Field
City Council may choose Nash’s replacement by March 2
TheRoanokeStar.com
Even in times of peril, the great “American Idol” still rules
RCPS faces big decisions
From the publisher
Is it really possible that while our nation finds itself in the “worst economic crisis since the great depression” (I believe those are the president’s words) that we are spending untold millions to help people (lest they lose it, God forbid) receive television signals? Actually, it’s $1.34 billion as of December, and our elected leaders have just committed another couple hundred million so not a single citizen will miss an episode of “Desperate Housewives.” As our sons and daughters and future heirs to the world may say, “What in the name of George Washington were they thinking about?” There is perhaps no greater example of the dysfunction of Our Take America as a modern developing culture than this reality: while our ship seems to be sinking in a rather Titanic-like fashion, in lieu of doing everything possible to man the lifeboats most efficiently, we’re checking on our dinner reservation on the promenade deck. “Excuse me sir, but your house is on fire.” “Thanks – I appreciate that; I’ll check it out as soon as I’m finished making sure my TV will work next week . . .” It is a peculiar American madness. The basic horror of television
Valentine’s Origin P6– Liza Field says that the birds that first inspired St. Valentine’s as a time of romance need our help now. Embattled Alvin Nash steps down in two weeks.
Super Bowl Dreamin’ P9– Tom Rickard makes a simple suggestion and wakes up to find himself at the Super Bowl with the Boss.
Saying his heart really belonged to the Blue Ridge Housing Corporation, Alvin Nash announced his resignation from Roanoke City Council, effective February 28. Nash will return to the BRHC as executive director March 1, immediately working City Council to refute charges that the non-profit agency owes the city several hundred thousand dollars. “My decision to resign was influenced by … the suggestion from city staff that Blue Ridge may have violated city contracts or HUD rules. These allegations are untrue and I cannot ignore them. I want the truth to be told and I want Blue Ridge Housing to survive,” said Nash in his resignation letter. Nash was appointed last year to fill Alfred Dowe Jr.’s spot
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> CONTINUED P3: Nash
Cool Cafe
P11– The William Byrd Players present Smokey Joe’s Café at the William Byrd Playhouse Feb. 12 - 22.
Loving the Land
P14– David Hurt has turned a personal passion for conservation into a career helping Virginians save their land for development.
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With an over $15 million funding shortfall and proposals to close some of Roanoke’s oldest and most familiar neighborhood schools, concern and opinions were aplenty at the first of 3 public input meetings scheduled this week. A final public hearing will be held on Wednesday, February 18th at 6:30 PM at Lucy Addison Middle School. oanoke City Schools are not alone, “We are being asked to run, succeed, and nor being singled out in any way,” excel in a challenged school division with said School Board Chairman David less resources then we had three years ago,” Carson at Tuesday’s public meeting and bud- said Carson, who was quick to point out his get hearing, held in the William Fleming High priorities, claiming, “we must protect our School cafeteria. children first,” followed closely by teachers, Carson was speaking to a budget short- then facilities.” fall of $15 million (more than 10% of this School Superintendent Dr. Rita Bishop year’s budget), exacerbated by problems at the state level. > CONTINUED P2: School Board
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> CONTINUED P3: Our Take
Sisters keep city govt. on their toes “Renew-a-nation” Formed To Offer Free Christian Education
The day that Evelyn Davis Bethel, 75, was featured in her favorite yellow dress on the front page of The Roanoke Times & World News (August 1st 1992), she was speaking from the podium at a Roanoke City Council meeting with her sister, Helen E. Davis, 80, cheering her on. Bethel returned to the Star City from Washington D.C. two years earlier with the intent to retire peacefully after decades of working for the federal government. Davis, who had never left, enthusiastically welcomed her sister home. “My plan was to spend my retirement learning to play the guitar; maybe drink some fresh squeezed lemonade on the porch,” Bethel said. “Instead I was shocked to find a great deal of blight and destruction in the area where I grew up: Gainsboro.” So instead of sipping lemonade, the Davis/Bethel sisters have earned their reputation as two of Roanoke’s most outspoken and respected activists. Bethel is founder and president of Historic Gainsboro Preservation District (HGPD) and Helen is the “backbone” of the organization. “Our primary mission has been the revitalization of the Gainsboro community,” Davis said. “We are concerned because our neighborhoods are barren since urban renewal.” The 1992 newspaper headline read: “Black Movement Sparked.” The story portrayed Bethel as one of the key leaders
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Evelyn Bethel and sister, Helen Davis, regularly attend Roanoke City Council to offer “a full measure of truth.” in a local black pride movement determined to stop the fourlane roads that had been slated by city officials and the Virginia Department of Transportation to slice through the heart of Gainsboro. The Gainsboro district dates back to 1834 when Roanoke was little more than a salt lick, but eventually, a bustling community and a lively, black entertainment mecca emerged. “The Yard”, as the Henry Street area was affectionately called, was once frequented by performers Lois Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald at clubs such as the Morocco and the Ebony. Later, Fats Domino and James Brown would grace the stage at the Star City Auditorium. Joe Tex had his blue velvet suit cleaned at Prunty’s Cleaners and may have purchased a dark chocolate bar at Martha Jones’ Candy Com-
pany. Booker T. Washington studied his speech at the Gainsboro Library, established in 1921. However, by the 1960s, urban renewal had railroaded its way into town, destroying thousands of homes, hundreds of minority-owned businesses and a slew of churches. “Our first really focused mission was to prevent the destruction of the Wells Avenue alignment,” Bethel said. “We worked with others in the community to prevent that from happening, so instead of a 45 degree angle cut from Wells and Williamson to Gilmer, we were able to save property on the south side of Gilmer Avenue Northeast.” Thanks to Bethel and Davis, Gainsboro received both its state and national historic status > CONTINUED P2: Bethel Sisters
“The classroom has become the number one battlefield,” says Pastor Jeff Keaton. “The battle for the soul of America is being fought in the arena of worldviews.” Keaton, who pastors at Parkway House of Prayer, is CEO of “Renewanation”, a recently birthed nonprofit organization. Renewanation is a movement begun at Parkway Christian Academy (PCA), the Christian school affiliated with Parkway House of Prayer. Renewanation’s mission is “to provide a high quality, tuition Parkway Christian Academy free, Christian education to ev- students (and brothers), Eliery child whose parents choose jah Hughes and Isaiah Hughes. this alternative to secular, naturalistic education.” “We believe that if we can ofRenewanation leadership fer free, Christian education to contends that in America today, every child in America some50 million children are being day, we can see this nation comindoctrinated every day in gov- pletely turned around, and that’s ernment schools with a natural- what we intend to do,” Keaton istic philosophy. said. They believe that a Christian Free Christian school educaeducation, based on tion available to every a Biblical worldview, child in America. That’s Education must be available to the a tall order, and the masses. leadership of the Ren“Nearly 90% of the ewanation movement agrees. children in America are being “We know this is a huge untrained to think from the per- dertaking, said Melvin Adams, spective of a godless worldview,” Renewanation President. Renewanation contends on its Adams believes that if God is website. “Is it any wonder that America finds herself in such > CONTINUED a desperate moral condition?” P3: Renew-a-nation
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> School Board
Feed the Dogs @ The ! Dog
From page 1
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joined board members at the standing-room-only meeting, along with Roanoke Mayor David Bowers, and fellow city council members Court Rosen and Anita Price. Facilities that could be closed or “repurposed� as a result of the budget crunch, include Woodrow Wilson Middle School, William Ruffner Middle School, James Madison Middle School, Fishburn Park Elementary School, and/or Raleigh Court Elementary School. (Forest Park Elementary was repurposed as an over-age academy last fall.) Carson traveled to Richmond last week to lobby for House Bill 1826 - an effort to keep kids in school by using revocation of their driver’s license as a deterrent. The bill passed this week but was of little comfort as city public schools struggle with the 10% budget cut and expected loss of state funding. After meeting with Delegates William Fralin and Morgan Griffith, Carson said the proposed state funding cuts were “just awful.� With 80% of the current budget being personnel, layoffs are
possible. “I try to never get despondent - but I’m pretty close to it,� he said. Curt Baker, Deputy Superintendent of Operations for Roanoke City Schools, presented figures at Tuesday’s public meeting showing a $10.2 million decline in revenue, a $2.8 million increase in uncontrollable costs such as health care, and $2 million set aside for additional expected cuts. State revenue is expected to decline further and may cause the school system to make additional adjustments including layoffs. The final school budget is required to be in the city’s hands by March 15, but some hope that date can be extended, allowing time to explore options with the city. Roanoke Mayor David Bowers said, “there is no more money – I will not vote to raise taxes.� School bus drivers expressed concern over proposals to outsource the transportation system to save money, as has been done elsewhere. No one has made a proposal yet said Carson, although four compa-
nies have expressed interest. Requests for proposals are due February 20 and by March 3 the finalists selected will make presentations. Long-term potential cost savings would be in fleet maintenance, bus purchases and staffing. Replacement of the $75,000 buses would “be on their nickel,� said Carson. Every dollar saved can potentially go to students or to save a teacher, he added. Dian Bolling, a mother of three special needs children, praised bus drivers for their work as she spoke to the school board with emotion in her voice. “[They] care about our children’s feelings and needs,� said Bolling. Bus drivers worried about their one-year-old retirement plan. Driver Pat Wright asked what would happen to money now in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). “Will we get that back? Would we lose our sick leave?� Shelby Butler, a driver for 36 years for Fairview and William Fleming, said she understood their retirement system would not transfer to a private entity.
“We can’t take our benefits with us – we will lose it all [and] start from scratch,� added Pat Johns. David Howell, a Special Education driver for Hurt Park Elementary and Patrick Henry High School, said he meets teachers at bus stops and helps carry some students to the bus, like one with Muscular Dystrophy. Butler, Johns and Howell wondered aloud if privatized transportation workers would be permitted to provide such individual care. Carol Brash, past president of the central PTA in Roanoke City, praised the school board for its hard work and was sympathetic to “all the nights [they] are not sleeping.� Brash expressed appreciation for how open they were being and offered to be a sounding board. She asked members of the public in the audience to “keep it positive� and to offer suggestions - not just criticism. There will be another special public hearing on school budget issues at Lucy Addison School on February 18th at 6:30 PM.
would have been closed to thru traffic,� Bethel said. “At first the city tried to tell us that the Social Security building was going | to9 serve a dual-purpose as our community center with a daycare, a radio station, and other small business to be located on the first floor, but we knew that wouldn’t happen.� The sisters said that precious African-American history and culture is tied up intimately with the land in and around Gainsboro, but not just AfricanAmerican history, Roanoke history. Bethel recently won the YWCA’s Women of Achievement Award and was treated to an elegant lunch. Again, her
sister Helen E. Davis was by her side. “We hope to restore more housing in the area,� Davis said. “We were able to save and restore two houses on Gilmer.� “We also want to see more community-friendly development on Henry Street,� Bethel said. “It’s so important because, you see, they’re still ‘urban-renewing’ us.� Bethel suffered both a heart attack and a brain embolism a few years ago, but she still works out at the gym and looks half her age, as does her sister. “We still have a lot of work to do,� they say with broad smiles. By Mary Ellen Campagna info@theroanokestar.com
By Valerie Garner Valerie.Garner@cox.net
> Bethel Sisters From page 1
in 1997. to save Washington Park in “Our next goal was to save Northwest Roanoke when a the Gainsboro Library,� Davis powerful, local church wanted said. “The library (now under to purchase the land for its own ROANOKE renovation) was one ofTHE the first use. SUN | NOVEMBER 23-29 black libraries in Virginia.� “Our most recent cause was “The children of Roanoke making sure that the new Soactually helped us save the li- cial Security office was kept off brary,� Bethel said. “Students of Henry Street,� Bethel said. from Lincoln Terrace Saturn “That was the last plot of land Network, Hurt Park and Com- that was closely associated with 1BXT 3FMBY QSPWJEFT GVMM TFSWJDF EPH HSPPNJOH JO DPOKVODUJPO XJUI UIF munity School signed hundreds the African-American, historic FYDFMMFOU DBSF QSPWJEFE CZ $BSWJOT $PWF #FE #JTDVJU CPBSEJOH LFOOFM of petitions with their parents. neighborhood.� The protest line stemmed out Bethel and Davis said there the door of city council and were myriad reasons for their went almost around the block.� decision to fight the placement $BSWJOT $PWF 3E t 4BMFN 7" t 0OMZ NJMFT GSPN UIF * 4BMFN &YJU t Bethel and Davis also fought of the building. “One of the most pressing concerns was that if the building had been placed on Henry, portions of Henry and Loudon One inspired campus
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Deputy Frank Garrett announces run for Roanoke City Sheriff Democrat Frank Garrett will ophelp provide a large base of supportpose Republican incumbent Sheriff ers. Garrett spoke on Tuesday after Octavia Johnson in the November spending the entire day at Oakland election for Roanoke City Sheriff. Elementary, where he teaches classes Garrett, who announced his canand helps with discipline and comdidacy on Wednesday, is a 30-year munity problems. veteran law enforcement officer Garrett said he feels like another and a Roanoke City resident. He staff member at the school. He is served almost 25 years with the rarely in the jail, where 700 inmates City of Roanoke police department are housed. and has spent the last five years as a Frank Garrett The jail is like a “mini city …there Roanoke City Deputy Sheriff. He is a lot of waste,” said Garrett. sees his time spent as a police officer as a huge asHe would also like to see a recycling program set, when it comes to leadership skills. instituted, as well as more fuel-efficient vehicles “Kids are at the top of my list,” said Garrett. for the department. That may not be a normal role for a sheriff, but A “kid friendly, green earth kind of guy,” by his by working with elementary schools (as he does own admission, Garrett said, “[I’m] going to be a now) he hopes those students never see the inside little different.” of his jail. Garrett would like to expand that proBy Valerie Garner gram to other grades as resources permit and says Valerie.Garner@cox.net the six elementary schools he deals with now will
Section of Colonial Ave to get major overhaul and roundabout On Thursday, Feb. 5, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $3 million contract to reconstruct a well traveled section of Colonial Avenue in Roanoke County. The section of Colonial Avenue that will be improved starts just west of Penn Forest Boulevard and extends about 0.5 mile to Route 419. The contract was awarded to Sowers Construction Co. from Mount Airy, N.C. Improvements to Colonial Avenue will include widening the travel lanes, adjusting curves and paving shoulders. A new roundabout at the intersection of Colonial Avenue and Penn Forest Boulevard will be constructed, and the bridge over Mudlick Creek will be replaced with a pipe culvert.
> Renew-a-nation
of the
Jason McKnight was born in San Bernadino, Calif., grew up mostly in California, and graduated from high school in Shreveport, La., in 1988. He went to Steven F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he majored in business. Jason married his wife Sara right after college and lived in Dallas, Texas. He began his career with Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant in Arlington, Texas in 2002, moving to Roanoke to manage the Abuelo's restaurant in Valley Jason McKnight View Mall in 2007. He and Sara have one son, Trevor, and make their home in North County. Favorite places in the Roanoke Valley are the Taubman Art Museum, Mill Mountain Zoo, Downtown Roanoke, and Mill Mountain Theatre. When time permits, Jason enjoys playing golf and spending time with his family. By Jim Bullington Have someone in mind for “Roanoke Star of the Week?” E-mail Jim Bullington: JBullPhoto@gmail.com
From page 1
behind the vision, all things are possible. “We are working hard to promote the vision we believe God has given us. We are not trying to ‘sell our story’…we are committed to simply telling what we believe God is calling us to do, knowing that if it is of God, people will respond and the vision will become a reality. If it is not of God, we don’t want it to happen,” he said. Officially launched with a dinner at the Hotel Roanoke last November, the effort has raised more than $200,000 so far toward a goal of $3 million for 2009. As the support base builds, they plan to move forward with starting new schools and working with existing schools choosing to join them. “We know that the tuition free part will not come this year, or perhaps for a few years, but we also know that as people rally around this vision, it can and will happen,” Adams said. With an enrollment of almost 300 children, PCA recently broke ground for a new educational building. Dr. Steven Rideout, a Family Physician with Bonsack Medical Center, enrolled his son, Aaron, at PCA about a month ago. Aaron, a 6th grader who has been diagnosed with ADD, was becoming increasingly frustrated with school. “It was destroying our family,” Rideout
Roanoke Star Week
Kayla Lewis, Allyson Keaton, and Kelsea Bryan enjoy time between classes at PCA. said. “Bonsack is a great school with great teachers, but the system is broken…public schools are driven by the SOLs (Standards of Learning)….teachers aren’t allowed to teach.” Rideout says that since Aaron has been attending PCA, he has seen an “amazing transformation.” “He loves school more now than at any other time in his life,” he said. Rideout, who was recently asked to serve on the Renewanation board, is an enthusiastic supporter of the movement and Christian education. He makes the point that it’s not about teaching religion; it’s about teaching truth. “There is an amazing double standard in
the public schools,” he said. With a naturalistic philosophy, “you can teach anything as long as it’s not pro-Christ.” Renewanation’s goal is to be inclusive and non-denominational. Adams said that all children are welcome, “on condition that they (parents and children) understand that our affiliate schools will teach a Christian worldview and that they agree not to actively oppose those teachings.” In addition to fundraising to pay for free Christian education for every child, Renewanation supports tax vouchers, with caution. “We support vouchers for education as long as those vouchers are given to parents to spend at the school of their choice. We are and will be cautious about becoming dependent on government vouchers to support the school systems we envision. We are committed to private funding,” Adams said. Ultimately, Adams says, Renewanation will be considered a success when educational choice becomes a reality, and therefore, educational reform will be more likely. Renewanation hosts an open forum meeting on the first Tuesday of each month at Parkway House of Prayer. Visit www.renewanation.org for more information.
> Our Take
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From page 1
is clear enough. Once a nation of doers, dreamers and dancers who collectively knew how to make the most of the glorious creation given them, the US has become a culture of sedentary, couch sitting, screen watchers who’d rather sit silently in front of shows generated to appeal to our lowest instincts than share meaningful interaction with one another and /or the natural world around us. Of course like most anything that can kill you, television has its positive side – with an ability to inspire and educate that is remarkable. Just depends on how you use it, doesn’t it? But here’s the real threat of television: it starves the imagination, and in particular, the imagination that is able to contemplate the great mystery and wonder of life - of things genuinely real and eternal - that which inspires the most noble characteristics of our nature. Television is far and above the modern day “king of idols” and when we have our face turned so resolutely to it, we have absolutely no ability to sense and experience that which is not “of us ” - that is, the divine. We become deaf to the music we were born
to dance to, while the constant chatter and incessant flicker of blue light in a hundred million living rooms drowns out even the awareness that there was ever really any music at all. As Oswald Chambers once said, “Imagination is the power that God gives a person to pull himself out of himself and into a relationship he never was in . . .” That’s a bit of a paraphrase, but you get the idea. I recently read the book, “In the Heart of the Sea”- a remarkable telling of the real life tragedy that was the sinking of the Whaleship Essex in November of 1819. (The inspiration for Melville’s, “Moby Dick.”) One clear lesson from the book is that lacking a real awareness of the world around them, the officers of the Essex chose to attempt to sail three small boats 2000 miles back across the Pacific Ocean to South America in lieu of sailing less than half that distance on favorable winds, west towards the Philippines. They made this mistake because they were unaware of numerous accounts, that contrary to popular lore, there were no cannibals populating these Islands. The saddest of ironies, of course, is that their uniformed
decision led to their own acts of cannibalism to survive. The story also highlights the fact that while facing severe starvation, the human body undergoes mental and physical changes that make it all the more difficult to recover from the very peril it faces. Like drinking salt water to slake one’s thirst - those who are starving have little to no “imagination” for what might save them, and will in fact carry on mindlessly doing that which is killing them in the first place. Once blinded to truth and addicted to error, it would seem we humans have little capacity to right things ourselves. In almost every case a little divine intervention is needed. Which is exactly what the surviving sailors of the Essex attributed their own salvation. Will our imaginations ever awaken to the glory and wonder that is all around us? Or will we continue to spend billions of dollars and the very essence of our lives on the great “American Idol?” Time will tell us well enough. By Stuart Revercomb stuart@theroanokestar.com
> Nash
Everyday is a good day on a Harley.
2009 V- ROD MUSCLE
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From page 1
when Dowe, resigned after being accused of fudging travel expense reports. “Blue Ridge Housing will sit down with the city, request a HUD review, and work out a plan to ensure that both parties are paid whatever funds are owed,” added Nash. Nash said the BRHC board initially saw his appointment to city council as “a good opportunity for me to further serve the community,” even though it meant the low income housing developer had to forgo certain federal grants to avoid any conflicts of interest. In a letter sent this past Tuesday to fellow council members, Roanoke Mayor David Bowers said, “I know I speak for everyone in wishing [Nash] all the best.” While not mandatory, the mayor also suggested that prospective appointees for the vacated seat appear at the next city council meeting, Tuesday, February 17 at 7:00 pm. Bowers hopes he and his colleagues can come to “some type of consensus on the matter,” and be prepared to vote for a replacement at 9:00 am, March 2, just two days after Nash’s resigna-
Recession?
tion. The new council member could be seated that afternoon, after a process Bowers called “open, informal and immediate.” At least one other council member thinks Nash’s resignation was the proper move. “In my mind, Mr. Nash made the right decision for himself and for the city,” wrote Court Rosen on his blog. “We face an unprecedented fiscal crisis in Roanoke …and need to have all members focused on the budget, the impact it will have on our schools and city services, and be fully prepared for the difficult decisions ahead. Additionally, there has been lots of attention focused on the HUD repayment matter, and it had become a distraction to Alvin and his ability to focus on City Council decisions.” In the end, Nash said his desire to return to the BRHC outweighed the challenges facing council and the City of Roanoke. “I will leave my ‘bucket list’ of things to do. However, it is more important to me that I return to Blue Ridge HousBy Gene Marrano ing,” said Nash. gmarrano@cox.net
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Perspective
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New political talk radio show Learning each others language of love launches in Roanoke
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e are taking this column ful small government, pro-liberty to the airwaves! advocacy organization. Just like this That’s right, I am part column, the show will be loyal to the of a new talk radio show which hits founding principles of our republic, the airwaves this Sunday night at 8 rather than to party politics. p.m. on WFIR AM. It’s intended to Together, Tertium Quids’ and my be a fast-paced half hour of informagoal is to broadcast a pro-freedom, tive, controversial, and humorous talk free market, small government mesradio focused on Virginia politics. sage to people here in the Roanoke I’ll be hosting the show, which will Valley and across Virginia. I say be unique in area talk radio because across Virginia because the show we’ll look at politics at all levels of will also soon be distributed via the Brian Gottstein government from a Virginia perspecInternet and other radio stations tive. The team I’m working with has throughout the state. It’s all starting its collective finger on the pulse of what’s going right here in Roanoke, with WFIR 960 AM as on in regional, statewide, and national politics, our flagship station. so we’ll talk about the controversies, the pork, I believe this show can make a difference by the double-talk, and the behind-the-scenes po- presenting people with the facts and the other litical moves you don’t normally see reported. side of the story that they don’t often get from But we’ll also present positive, free market solu- other media. We want to influence with truth, tions for better schools, better roads, lower taxes, and there is no better organization I can think and smaller government – issues that are impor- of to do it than Tertium Quids. TQ’s legislative tant to all Virginians. victories have included the abolition of Virginia’s Our guests will include news-making politi- death tax, stopping unnecessary tax increases cians, victims of government gone bad, and na- until independent audits of current spending is tional experts who will give listeners insight they performed, and passing a law to reform eminent won’t hear anywhere else. In other (non-radio) domain and prevent Kelo-like government conshows we’ve done in the past, guests have in- fiscations of private property. cluded The Heritage Foundation’s nationally-reTo fit everything in a half hour, we’ll have limnowned transportation expert, economists from ited commercials and we won’t be preempted by the Cato Institute, Virginia’s lieutenant governor, the national news at the top of the hour. Wall Street Journal senior editorial writer SteThe show is called Freedom & Prosperity Raphen Moore, and many others. dio. I hope you tune in and give it a try Sunday We’ll also bring you breaking stories from our nights at 8 p.m. on WFIR. In the near future, own investigative reporter, as well as some hu- recordings of the show will also be available 24 mor with regular segments like “dumb political hours a day at FreedomAndProsperityRadio. moves,” “the angry citizen,” and “pork project of com (or just FandPRadio.com). the week.” Contact Brian at I am putting together the show with the peobgottstein1@yahoo.com ple at Tertium Quids, Virginia’s most success-
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ith Valentine’s Day just ing gift was not what he would have around the corner, I’m wanted. Really, a heart shaped pillow thinking about those for a man! The only good thing about special days, sanctioned and blessed it is the laughter we have sense experiby the Hallmark Industry to promote enced in remembering such a silly gift. cards and gifts, chocolates and dreamy I will never forget the heart-shaped piland sometimes unrealistic romanlow. tic expectations. Having experienced Valentine’s Day is really about living many of those days in my good long out the Golden Rule… do unto others life, I can only say, they aren’t usually as you would have them do unto you, Diane Kelly what they are cracked up to be. That’s or better yet, doing to others what not to say I don’t have a loving famthey want others to do unto them. It ily, devoted husband, and cherished friends. It is is not about us, but about them. Valentine’s Day just a reminder to be realistic in a time when most is a day when we can build relationships with lots would want us to be otherwise. It’s also a reminder of people… children, parents, friends, and neighto love others as they want to be loved. bors. We can go and see them. Take a plate of A year doesn’t go by without being reminded cookies to someone who needs a little love. Call a of a Valentine’s Day when we were newly weds. friend from long ago to share a memory together. We married young and were poor students trying What we need is to share a little love and laughto make it on little to nothing. Making and doing ter with someone nearby. It doesn’t have to be the things for one another was what we did. We lived holiday for those who are ‘in love’. It can be a day creatively and had lots of fun doing it, and there for deep friendships, lasting relationships of famwas one Valentine’s Day that has lived on to this ily friends, children and yes, lovers. Valentine’s day. It was the year of the heart-shaped pillow. Day is about learning to love another person and I wanted to make something special for my learning to love what they love: learning to speak sweetheart for Valentines Day. I should have spent love in their love language. the afternoon making a nice dinner, but instead I That very act of learning what others love and decided that I would make a heart-shaped pillow giving what they appreciate is a genuine and real for him. I found the right fabric and worked all way of loving others. If on this Valentines’ Day we afternoon to design and sew the Valentine pillow. would take time to do the loving thing, we would It was large and puffy, and around the entire pil- go the extra mile to make love a VERB rather than low was a trim of 2 inch lace, gathered like arms a commodity. Make time to give to others what around a neck. I put it on our bed, proud of the they need and want. The best part of it all is commasterpiece. It was just right, I thought. When I ing to know what makes them feel loved by you. gave it to him, he smiled in a kind way, as if to Go and love others. Live the Golden Rule. say, “Nice - That is just what you wanted.” He was a good enough man to keep his real thoughts to Contact Diane at himself, but later I realized my silly but well meandianekelly@gmail.com
From Abraham to Ehud Olmert
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similar position. But the Palestinians elected Hamas as their party and they still hold to here’s a Latin phrase, Qui Docet Discet, which translates He Who Teaches the concept of driving the Jews from Palestine, as does Iran. That will not happen, but Learns. As one who has a long history of leading classes, I can testify that’s the terrorist tactics continue as do the Israeli incursions into Gaza. Both sides blame true. There’s nothing that sharpens one’s wits quite so deftly as having to inthe other. struct a group of people smarter than you. The presence of the United States as a major broker of Middle Eastern peace is well I recently completed teaching a four-part series on the History of Israel from Abraknown. The Camp David Agreement, the Geneva Accords, The Dayton Conference, ham to Ehud Olmert. To cover four thousand years in four sessions requires great The Wye River Summit, The Oslo Road Map have all played a part. Five Nobel Peace compression as well as talking fast, but we got through it. I know I learned more than Prizes have been awarded to the participants. But the Palestinian rockets still fly into my listeners given the preparation required. Israel; the Israelis still press their attack on Gaza in response. As everyone knows, there has been fighting in The Middle East since recorded hisWhy will it be any different this time? Two people are involved who have great tory and although there have periods of relative quiet the wars never end. The amount of suffering in the tiny land mass of Palestine over these four millennia surpasses any Hayden Hollingsworth experience in foreign affairs and the Middle East in particular: Hilliary Clinton and George Mitchell. Secretary Clinton went to Israel as First Lady and created a firestorm comparable area. It is easy to think that it will endlessly continue. The current administration may have the best chance in recent memory to bring about peace. by saying there must be a two-state solution. Everyone today, except Hamas, believes that to be Ehud Olmert, the successor to Ariel Sharon, has tried to continue the policies of the Kadima party. true. Secretary Clinton’s expertise is well known. George Mitchell, on the other hand, is not quite Had Sharon not suffered his disastrous stoke, we might be further along since Olmert is leaving in a household name. He was Senate Majority Leader, then was mentioned as commissioner of the scandal. The next prime minister will probably be Benjamin Netanyahu or, less likely, Tzipi Livni. NFL. Someone warned him that he would have to deal with 29 owner/egomaniacs to which he The former is a Likud hawk and the latter a member of Kadima and current Foreign Minister; she, commented that would be a 71% improvement over his senate job. He led the investigation into if elected, may follow more closely the progressive policies of Sharon. the baseball steroid morass. More to the point, his greatest accomplishment is the brokered peace One of the failures in modern times to bring about reconciliation between the Palestinians and between the IRA and Northern Ireland, ending (at least for now) 800 years violence. the Israelis has been the animosity of most of the Arab world against the Jews. Add to that the feelThe combination of these talents and international factors makes one faintly optimistic that ing of the Palestinians that they are pawns in the hands of outside interests and it is little wonder peace may come. Since the United States has been so pivotal in the 60 year history of Israel, it’s there has been no permanent progress. important we all be well informed and that will require more than listening to the nightly news. Through the efforts of many, those problems have softened. Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon Sources abound: Newsweek, Jan 12, 2009 has an excellent series of articles. Jimmy Carter’s last as well as the remainder of the 22 Arab nations have now recognized the right of Israel to ex- two books Palestine Peace Not Apartheid, and We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That ist. The Palestinian Authority under the leadership of Mahoud Abbas and the Fatah party take a Will Work are balanced and well done. The National Public Radio series from 2002, “Á Century of Conflict,” can be accessed online in text and audio. That gives a broad understanding as to why there is so much hostility on both sides. Michael Beschloss’ Presidential Courage gives a detailed account of President Truman’s role in the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. Gregory Levy’s book, Shut Up! I’m Talking! (And other lessons of Israeli diplomacy) gives an amusing and 02/13/2009 alarming slant to the whole problem. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Like so many issues we face today, the more we know the less likely we are to continue the blun2 Promotion ders of the past. Even though we, as individuals, have no say in how this will play out, we need to 9 10 11 12 3 Nada understand the forces at work. Spend some study time even if you don’t have to teach a class. It’s 4 Cell stuff 13 14 15 16 17 vital to avoid polarization. The plight of the Palestinians and the cause of the Israelis both have 5 Goof 18 19 20 21 22 much to commend as well as condemn them. 6 Eternal soul in egyptian Contact Hayden at
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ACROSS 1 If they could get a washing machine to fly my Jimmy could ---- it. (from Apollo 13) 5 Tides 9 Salt addition 11 Plays 13 Explosive 14 Runged climbing devices 16 Delivery service 18 Offend 20 Vapor 21 Change 23 Utilize 24 Crazy, odd, unique, and interesting female. (us slang) 26 Chomps 27 French "yes" 28 Hiking equipment
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Find the answers online: TheRoanokeStar.com Have a clue and answer you’d like to see? email: puzzles@theroanokestar.com
By Don Waterfield
jhayden2003@cox.net
The Roanoke Star-Sentinel C o m mu n i t y | N ew s | Pe r s p e c t i ve Publisher | Stuart Revercomb | stuart@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Features Editor | Pam Rickard | pam@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 News Editor | Gene Marrano | gmarrano@cox.net | 400-0990 Production Editor | Stephen Nelson | stephen@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Technical Webmaster | Don Waterfield | webmaster@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Advertising Director | Vickie Henderson | advertising@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Star: to lift up that which is right, real and genuine about our community – the people and events that make us who we are – the real spirit of Roanoke that past residents and leaders have worked hard to create, that points us towards the bright and shining future that we all desire for our valley. Sentinel: to guard the truth, with consistent and complete coverage of key local issues that provides balanced reporting and equal editorial opportunity. To fully tell all sides of a story so that readers can make their own informed opinions, and express them to positively impact others and our community. The Roanoke Star-Sentinel is published weekly by Whisper One Media, Inc. in Roanoke, Va. Subscriptions are available for $44 per year. Send subscriptions to PO Box 8338, Roanoke,VA 24014. We encourage letters from our readers on topics of general interest to the community and responses to our articles and columns. Letters must be signed and have a telephone number for verification. All letters will be verified before publication.The Star-Sentinel reserves the right to deny publication of any letter and edit letters for length, content and style. All real estate advertised herein is subject to national and Virginia fair housing laws and readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.
Perspective
2/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5
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Exploring the Imbros Gorge while on the loose in Crete
his is probably it. Yeah, this must be it!� I motion to the driver to let us off on this desolate and curvy stretch of mountainous road in southern Crete. “I hope so, anyway,� is the reassurance I give my companions as the old grey bus lumbers off. The scribbled notes and crude map which I hold flapping in the wind indicate, as best as I can figure, that we must backtrack a bit, to find the point at which our intended path diverges from the road. Ten minutes later we feel the first fat rain drops. I cast a backward glance at Kit and the girls. They’ve paused by the roadside to don their pathetic green garbage bag “rain coats�. Not another vehicle had passed since the bus left us, and I’m getting the feeling that this is going to be a long and interesting day. It’s another family adventure consisting of my brother and his two daughters, two of my sons, and their granddad. We are headed, in a rather free-spirited sort of way, to the south coast of Crete. On the way, we hope to explore the Imbros Gorge, a deep, seldom-visited canyon cut into the island, stretching from the mountains to the sea. Exploring the Imbros first off consists of getting there. We took the bus south from the town of Hania, on Crete’s north coast, through the mountains. Our loose plan, having gotten the driver to drop us off near the upper reaches of the gorge, is to hike the six or seven miles through it to the Adriatic Sea on the south coast of the island. From there the plan is to somehow make our way a few more miles to the town of Sfakia Ora, our destination for the night. Not that we have any lodging reservations there, however. “We have to go down that!?� OK, so this ravine is a little steeper-looking than we had imagined. At least the rain
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has abated, and. I can see our objec- place is enthralling and magical, and tive at the terminus of the slope. Barely we aren’t in any hurry anyway. visible is the faint trail in the upper At lunch time we pause in a pretty reaches of the gorge proper. Down we alcove, where a spring seeps from a go, slipping and sliding, checking our cleft in the rock. Thankful that the rain speed of descent by digging hands and is holding off, we sprawl on the rocks. feet into the rain-moistened Out of the packs comes vardust. All seven of us land ious Greek produce - dates, in a heap at the bottom, ala olives, something citrus, and Indiana Jones. Or perhaps my favorite local produce, more accurately - a deflaky pastries. Granddaddy ranged version of the Swiss produces from the depths of Family Robinson. his ancient pack something From our entry point which perhaps is a sardine the way forward is obviand peanut butter sandous if not the only option. wich. It’s hard to say. The The path leads down, ever kids are all scared to take a deeper, into the canyon. It bite when offered. John W. Robinson draws us in, between close We carry on. The Imand looming walls; the bros draws us along on its grey of the threatening sky in stunning circuitous way, the sublime scenery contrast to the earthy hues of the sedi- ever changing. The inescapably-steep, mentary rock. The description “path� vertical walls of the gorge commit us is somewhat generous, since the way to reaching its end, by the sea, where is actually a dry creek bed –let’s hope the sky will reveal itself once again. I’m it stays dry- which consists of rocky looking forward to it. The combination rubble interspersed with patches of of sand filling our boots and bowling deep, fine sand. It’s slow going, but this ball size rocks to wend our way over
Love is‌?
ver the years I have this every day when dealing been told this about with teenagers who use drugs. love or falling in The major rationalization is that love‌..â€?It is a feeling like no to them “it feels good.â€? Not only other.â€? “My heart would jump can relying on our feelings to and my hands would sweat make decisions lead to major when I saw him.â€? “When I was errors in judgment and wrong with her I just knew it.â€? “We had actions, it can also lead to a dea connection that I had never cision to abandon a relationship felt before.â€? “It is knowing that because you don’t feel the emoshe is the one.â€? “ We tions that you think just knew each other you should. right away, it was like However, when we were meant to be we view things from together.â€? “ It is a sigthe commitment or nificant attraction.â€? action end of things “I just knew when I we have more realfelt it.â€? “It felt like I istic expectations. was a kid again.â€? “It When this is our was something that process we don’t do I just couldn’t avoid things because we or stop thinking feel like it, we do Keith McCurdy about.‌.. “ them because they While sounding really sweet, are right, moral, legal, wise, etc. all of these statements and many We stay in a relationship when more like them were made to the emotions are positive and me by individuals who were un- negative because we are comfaithful in marriage. mitted, not just because it is Here are statements made convenient. to me by children, when asked This of course is easier to unhow they know they are loved derstand as we look at our chilby their parents‌..â€?My daddy dren. Rarely if ever would we plays checkers with me.â€? “My really think about abandoning mom shows me how to cook.â€? our children when we are not “They don’t yell at me, much.â€? happy with them. That would “My mom lets me read to her.â€? just be silly. We wouldn’t go “Even when I am in trouble, around looking at other chilthey are nice to me.â€? “They dren thinking, “You know if always make me do the right that was my kid my life would thing.â€? “They tell me the truth.â€? be so good.â€? What we do is “My dad lets me do stuff with his knuckle down when it is tough tools.â€? “We snuggle under the as parents. We work harder covers.â€? “My mom is my soccer at loving and raising our kids. coach.â€? “My dad taught me how The notion of trading them in to shoot a jump shot.â€? “They just doesn’t register. What if make me go to church and be we looked at our marriages this nice to my brother.â€? “I get hugs.â€? way? What if we viewed love “My mom kisses me right on as something not to be felt, but the face.â€? “They make me take something to be demonstrated showers so I smell good.â€? “They to another? tell me all the time.‌..â€? As Valentine’s Day approachDo you see the difference? To es, let’s consider love like chilthe kids, love is not a feeling; it dren do. is a commitment from which I think the Apostle Paul said come certain actions. it best‌. “Love is patient, love Both attraction and infatua- is kind. It does not envy, it does tion result in certain emotions. not boast, it is not proud. It is Many times these are the same not rude, it is not self-seeking, emotions that are a result of a it is not easily angered, it keeps committed loving relationship. no record of wrongs. Love The problem develops when we does not delight in evil but reonly look at the feeling end of joices with the truth. It always things to justify behavior. I hear protects, always trusts, always
hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.� On Valentines Day when you are professing your undying love for another, make sure it is backed up by committed action. Contact Keith at psycyou@msn.com
Roanoke has a Saltwater Fish Store!
makes for some sporting footwork, and decaying seaside inn in Sfakia Ora. I’ve there is some mild anguish expressed just peeled off my soaking wet clothes, by members of the party. In spite of including my boots full of wet sand. the tough and slow going, however, the The last leg of our hike consisted of a usual teasing banter flows between us 3-mile march through torrential rain, and we continue to be amazed at the across open country, with only a vague beauty of this place. sense of where we were headed. The During World War II, the Imbros was town was hidden in a cleft of headland, utilized by Greek resistance fighters to and couldn’t be seen until we were upon carry out their efforts against the Nazis. it. Just at that moment the rain stopped I run my hands along the textured rock and the clouds parted, and rays of the walls and imagine the young, passion- Adriatic sun bathed the village. It was a ate and daring Greeks fighting for their hopelessly romantic scene. homeland, tearing through the gorge The sun just set and I’m tired and with only the meager light of the moon happy. I can’t wait for tomorrow, not to to light the way, running to meet some mention dinner. waiting vessel anchored off a desolate pebble beach on the Adriatic. I get lost in thought until once again I am roused Contact John at to the present by remarks from the parjwr77@verizon.net ty about how the gorge seems to be opening up. Sure enough, I can see more sky, dark and I am the slowest threatening as it is, above our carpet cleaner in Roanoke. heads, and a short distance beyond we emerge completely from the Imbros, the greyazure Adriatic a stone’s throw away. There’s a scattering of buildings here - the suggestion of a village. It’s silent, save for a I will give your swarthy character getting into carpet the time his old station wagon. Before and attention he slams the obstinate door, it deserves to he offers us a ride to Sfakia Ora, gesturing with his pawproduce the best like hand. Feeling rejuvenated results possible. with our emergence from the gorge, we take a cavalier stance and politely decline his kind 2 rooms and a hall for $75 offer. No thanks, we will walk 5 rooms and a hall for $155 to the town. It can’t be far. As the puffing old car disappears around the bend, I feel a pang Furniture cleaning also available! of remorse as a drop of rain hits me square in the eye. Later, our little band is spread out among several rooms in a
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Perspective
Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 2/13/09
TheRoanokeStar.com
America needs to make Taking the Birds to Heart 2009 the Year of the Father
I
want to declare 2009 as The Year of the Father. Here is why. We are losing our children. The main reason we are losing our children is men have abdicated their role of being a father to these lost children. These men have decided that their lives are more important than the lives of their children. These men have decided that their wants and needs are more important then the wants and needs of their children. As a consequence, when we ask, “What is wrong with our children?” we already know the answer. Children are a gift from God. They should to be treated as such. I have three children, one deceased. There is nothing I would not do for my children. I get after them when they are wrong. I support them when they are right. I have done without so they can have. We have had our fights and arguments. I have been wrong a few times in how I have handled certain situations. But through it all, I love them and they love me. Most important, there is very little I would have done differently in
raising my children. better than what I have done nothing many children have special. As a father, I now. simply did my job. The primary goal In this age of Poof all fathers should litical Correctness, be to want their we have forgotten children to become about honesty, persuccessful adults, in sonal responsibility fact, more successand accountability. ful than themselves. Jeff Artis In this PC world we For this to happen, are supposed to unchildren need three derstand failure and accept in- things; love, structure and discompetence. Given the current cipline. Children must receive state of many of our children, love, structure and discipline we must change. There is noth- in equal measure. Giving a ing wrong with demanding child love, structure and disthat fathers be fathers. Some cipline must start from day men try to justify why they are one. Too much of one and not not the fathers they should be enough of the other is a recipe or need to be. There is no jus- for problems down the road. tification for not taking care The primary cause for gang of your children. There is no activity, teenage pregnancies, excuse for not taking care of America’s high incarceration your children. I will tell any rate, the drop-out rate, low man in a minute, "You made graduation rates and the other that child. Take care of that abysmal statistics affecting our child. That child did not ask society can be traced directly to come into this world." We to fathers not being fathers all should be saying the same to their children. This is an thing. Yes, it is hard to be a American disgrace. As long as good father. However, it is not we remain silent, the situation hard to be an average father. will only get worse. Sadly, in many cases, just raisContact Jeff at ing the bar to average is much column@jeffartis.com
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On every bough I heard the birds sing with the voice of angels in their melody.... For this was St. Valentine’s Day, When every bird of every kind that men can imagine comes to this place.... —Geoffrey Chaucer, 1380
Valentine’s Day is for the birds. I learned this cooped-up in a classroom with teenagers one February, reading Chaucer’s “A Parliament of Fowls” and struggling with vocabulary. It wasn't a problem of comprehending Middle English; we had a modern translation. And it wasn't that my students weren't fascinated by the topic—love! We'd learned that Chaucer's old “bird poem” had possibly inspired the celebration of St. Valentine's as a day of romance. Previously, the obscure martyr Valentine had rarely been associated with courtship. But in Chaucer's medieval poem, all bird species assemble each Valentine's Day in “the Garden of Love,” to pair up for spring breeding and discuss the nature of love. Now here was great timing, I thought. Each February, walking outdoors, I'd heard the early activity of wrens, titmice, even a few early migrants, already rustling in the bracken, seeking safe places
to nest and rear with shrinking vothe next generacabularies on one tion. It was an easy side of the wall; on sound to miss, as the other, biodiwe in our time live versity was shrinkmainly inside coning, as creatures we tainers—cars and no longer heard, buildings—unable thought about or to hear any birdprovided habitat song. for, vanished from This was true view. Liza Field of my students. In America's nafact, as we sat reading this tive bird population, we nature-filled poem, we en- now know, is plummetcountered a language bar- ing. Songbirds in particular rier. struggle. Warblers, peewees, The poem lists owls, ovenbirds, grosbeaks, wood hawks, falcons, larks, eagles, thrushes, redstarts, Baltimagpies, cranes, herons, more orioles, buntings, waxlapwings, cuckoos, storks, wings and whippoorwills are thrushes, and nightingales— showing declines of 50-80 some unfamiliar to my class. percent, from a mere three They are singing “on every decades past. bough” of trees my students The reasons are many— didn't know how to recog- pesticides, mercury and acid nize—poplar, ash, oak, elm, rain, stormier migration holly, fir, cypress, yew, aspen weather, collisions, habitat and laurel. loss and suburban predators. As we wallowed into this As we go obliviously about biodiversity, it struck me our indoor lives, these colthat our language barrier was lective threats have caused a partly related to the class- decline in songbirds so steep room walls. it seems like a bizarre dream. The walls between humanAfter all, we Americans kind and nature had grown love birds. An estimated 80 substantial, since Chaucer's million of us hope to glimpse day. They not only stopped them from birding trails or at our ears to any birdsong, but backyard feeders. left outside the wall landBut “to love is an active scapes—like our own school verb,” says conservationist campus—inhospitable to Laura Erickson. “Birds are birds, with few groves or in trouble, and we who love thickets for any kind of wild- them are obliged to do somelife. thing about it.” We humans were living Symbolically enough, our shut windows alone cause hundreds of millions of birds each year in the U.S. to collide fatally into plate glass. Many solutions to this problem exist. (See www.abcbirds.org). But outside the window, larger problems loom. Far south, in Neotropical regions, much of the songbirds' winter forest habitat has been razed to grow our morning coffee and grain for beef cattle. Individually, we may have little influence on the destruction of habitat thousands of miles away. Buying only shade-grown coffee helps minimally. But we have far more influence on our landscape here at home, where forest, wetlands and waysides are being converted to developments with few trees, no hedgerows or cover. Many Eastern bird species need woodlands, underbrush and bracken to evade the nest-invading cowbird and predators (house-cats, blue jays and raccoons). They also need insects and grubs (one reason they are vital to healthy forests), and thus benefit from pesticide-free landscapes of bio-diverse plants, rotting logs and humus. Such natural settings, of course, also benefit groundwater, pollinators, bats, soil health, climate, and native wildlife. But since we tend to design our landscapes for humans only, forgetting the other creatures who must live somewhere on Earth, saving our birds will require nothing short of a conversion—a human change of heart. It will require the kind of love that can hear what other creatures are saying and, desiring them to flourish, respond. Today, my students frequently go outdoors. We've planted a tree nursery and are converting the back half of campus to native habitat— with a birding trail. We still read Chaucer, but are now equipped with a broader vocabulary, including some wildflowers, trees and birds, and maybe a bigger definition of “love.”
Contact Liza at fieldnotes@wiredog.com
Perspective
2/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7
TheRoanokeStar.com
I
Mountain Lions: Mystery, Myth and Matters of Fact
nside the rustic cabin a few easy miles from the heart of Camp Winnataska, a dozen ten year old campers scrambled to choose bunks, exhausted from the longest hike some of these Birmingham city boys had ever taken in their short lives. The chatter waned toward a whisper as night fell. "What if there are bears and stuff out there!" wondered one of our charges, a wonderfully terrible idea that quickly morphed into an hour of swapping lies, ghost stories and legends of woodland monsters. As the boys' finally began to wear down somewhat towards bedtime, another camp leader and I slipped away. We could still hear the buzz of conversation inside through the thin walls. In the near-dark we hauled a campfire stump over next to the cabin so I could reach the corrugated metal
roof with a claw-like told them. "Started branch. “Scratch, off hiking towards scratch,” went the this cabin with 13 branch on the metal; kids your age and we waited. when we got here, "Listen!" a highthere were only 12. pitched voice called Found most of little out above the backKenny back along ground chatter folthe trail we walked lowed by collectoday, draped across tive holding of the a fork of the tree breath. "Did you about ten feet upFred First hear that?” -where she pulled “Scratch.” Wait. him for dinner. Man!" And when the timing was just We half believed it ourselves, right, I let loose my "mountain so common were the tales we'd lion" scream through cupped heard from our seniors, obliged hands--a growling, throat- as each generation is to pass on rending scream modeled after to the next the fear and reverthe terrible howl of man-eating ence we owe to the legend of tigers chasing Tarzan. But for the Big Cats. our purposes that dark and I bring this up because twice, starry night, this was the ter- in totally independent party rible cry of a Mountain Lion. conversations over the recent We'd planted that seed earlier holidays, I heard grown men during the ghost stories. in tight little knots of con"Why yes, we lost a camper versation, perpetuating myth up here coupla years back" we'd and rumor, tales of sightings
and sworn testimony of reputable folk declaring the Certain Truth of these ultimate predators among us. The convinced swear that they (or more often someone they know who knows someone who) got a good look at the tail--almost as long as the body. "Now don't tell me that was a tabby or a bob cat, no sir. And I was (or the other guy was) sober as a judge" they swear. If a big cat was to want to be left to himself, he could hardly find a better place than our remote edge of Floyd County. Yes, I can imagine Mountain Lions out there, padding along in the moonlight silently up on our ridge tonight. Those majestic predators were once common across all of Virginia and North America. Their demise (until recently?) in the East was in part because of the dwindling of the deer population. Well that
particular item is prominently back on the menu, with only the local pack of Killer Subarus to keep deer numbers in check. Unless... Rumors abound. We want to believe. But I am, at times, a rational man, a science-oriented kind of guy not given to Elvis sightings. And so, in light of the recent party conversations and the pervasive hope and conviction there are "painters" in our woods, I did some studying on the matter of the Cougar of Floyd County and the East. Here are the facts in a nutshell: a couple of organizations (like easterncougar.org) exist with the chief purpose of investigating sightings of eastern cougars. I want to believe, but listen: "Since the ECF's inception in 1998, years of fielding, following up, and soliciting evidence from such reports have failed to produce a single cou-
gar confirmation." Oh ye of little faith. If they are in fact not here (and I know some folks, sober as judges, who swear they've seen them) they ought to be-on Wills Ridge, in Free State and along the Little River. We gain by that hope and belief that wildness lives immortal just beyond our door. And these magnificent reminders of life's fine balance do live as we sustain their existence in our imaginations--generation after generation of campers, hunters, tellers of tales-believing we might reach the crest one day and see a panther disappearing into the distance. We imagine them out there, watching, even as you read this final sentence, watching without a sound; waiting. “Scratch, scratch . . .”
Contact Fred at fred1st@gmail.com
On sitting with the dying
I
watched a little boy say, `Good-bye' the other day. The `little boy', Tommy, is a specialist in the hospital where I work. He is about fifty-five years old. But certainly it was little Tommy whose voice broke when he whispered, "Goodbye, Mommy." It was so hard for him. He left the room, came back, touched her shoulder awkwardly, cried, tried not to, cried again, left the room and came back as pain and tenderness struggled in a mindless dance. I think the child within him must have remembered that face when it was smooth and beautiful. From a time before knowing, in the waking of his infancy, her face was there; the first thing he ever saw as his senses came slowly to focus; and when his courage had come undone by some terror hiding beneath his bed, was it not her neck and the scent of her which had filled his desperate, outstretched arms? These were the arms which had cradled his slumber and calmed his fretfulness; and these the hands which, over his impatient protest, washed and wiped and brushed him. Her eyes; now dim; once so lustrous and radiant with love, had watched him through his fevered nights, denying their own repose until his was certain. Her mind was now fixed in a place beyond dreaming; shifting slowly and reluctantly to the inward gaze of her next be-
coming. bough breaks, the Leaving him. cradle will fall; and But, "To die is down will come Tommy...?” only not to be." That's all. But Layer by layer his disbelief fell that's not all. away, his shoulders There is the misssagged. It was done. ing her; the beWorking as one, ing without her. the physician in his Perhaps he hoped competence and that she would the little boy with stop somewhere Lucky Garvin his magic could not and wait for him. do what she had Her voice is stilled. Then how can it done for him: make her well be that he hears those soft again. Death is indifferent to the echoes yet again, "When the
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rituals by which we deal with it. It pays our petty constructions and remedies no mind. The `code' room rustled with the useless little chores we feel we owe the dying. Small things keep big things from the mind. Existence beyond the one we now know lies beyond our understanding; outside the furthest beam of our lamp; and this is as it should be; for it profits us nothing spiritual-
ly to know a thing by certain evidence. But the mystery of it all comes together just a bit for me to believe that our separateness is a temporal sketching; an illusion of our earthly experience; our essential connectedness in fact running far deeper than our superficial separateness. So I stay with her. When we sit with the dying, even though not related to them in any temporal
sense, it's not a down payment; not a binder to insure that someone will sit with us at our passing. It's not that. We do it because we should; because it’s the right thing to do. Its no more involved than that... By Lucky Garvin info@theroanokestar.com
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Sports
Page 8 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 2/13/09
Send sports pictures, announcements and story ideas to info@theroanokestar.com
Contact Tom Branch or Mike Branch 4552 Franklin Road, S.W., Roanoke, Virginia 24014 Phone: 540-774-1208 | Fax: 540-774-1359 | Email: bmc@branchmgt.com
Photos by Bill Turner
Cave Spring #40 Josh Henderson (Left) controls the opening tip Friday night. A Cave Spring cheerleader (Right) is all smiles as the Knights gain control in overtime
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After several years of taking a back seat to upstart rival Hidden Valley, this season has belonged to the Cave Spring High School boys basketball team. The Knights took their second game of the season from the Titans in overtime last Friday, running Cave Spring’s record to 16-4 with a 59-50 overtime win against Hidden Valley. The Knights remain tied with Pulaski in the River Ridge District (7-1) with the win. Post player Andrew Morris scored 11 of his 16 points in a third quarter 3:19 span for Hidden Valley, while his counterpart at center for Cave Spring, Josh Henderson, finished with 15. The Titans, who fell to 9-12 with the loss, played in their home gym before a capacity crowd.
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Ex-Titan basketball standout Hancock returns a different player Eighteen points, 7 rebounds, several dunks and plenty of smart, heads up play. Hidden Valley graduate Luke Hancock was back in town recently with his Hargrave Military Academy basketball team – but it wasn’t the same 6’5� guard/forward that had starred for the Titans just 11 months earlier. Hancock opted to attend the fifth year prep school (which also has a high school program)
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Roanoke’s “14 Maria’s� volleyball team pulled off an exciting tournament win in Buchanan on Jan. 31. The 14 year old girls, representing five different middle schools in Roanoke, entered the 15 year old’s tournament seeking some strong competition but never dreamed they would come home with the championship. The girls knocked off teams from Floyd, Fredericksburg, Botetourt and the Richmond National team. The team consists of: Caroline Brailsford – James Madison, Kallie Wilkes – Cave Spring, Sarah Smith – Cave Spring, Ava Perez- Roanoke Catholic, Gussie Revercomb – North Cross, Julia Lowen – Cave Spring, Bailey Click – Cave Spring, Caroline Boone – Hidden Valley, Sarah Gray – Hidden Valley, Lauren Thomas – Hidden Valley, Alyssa McKinley – Cave Spring Coaches Maria Rushbrooke and Gary Rushbrooke.
after graduating from Hidden Valley in hopes of raising his stock with college recruiters. It worked. In fact, George Mason, just several years removed from a Final Four appearance, offered him a scholarship before Hargrave had even played a game this season. Playing against Massanutten Military Academy, Hancock certainly looked like a college player – his game was quicker, he made better decisions and had more “hopsâ€? around the basket, with a handful of slam dunks or near dunks and five blocked shots. Head coach Kevin Keatts said after the blowout win over Massanutten that Hancock had benefited from playing on a team where most of the players will go on to NCAA Division One schools. “I’m happy for the kid,â€? said Keatts. Keatts said Hancock might have been a little “unsureâ€? of himself when he first came to the Chatham prep school, which won a national title just last year. “Probably that first week [in practice] he made some plays‌ and realized he belonged. From then on he’s made strides,â€? said Keatts. Hancock has made gains physically and basketball-wise, handling the ball better for starters, as was demonstrated during the Member One Valley Shootout at the Salem Civic Center. “You can classify him as a Division One player right now,â€? said Keatts, adding that George Mason “fell in love with him,â€?
when they spied Hancock at preseason workouts. Pronouncing himself “college readyâ€? 20 games into the Hargrave season, Hancock agrees that practicing against teammates bound for big time schools like Indiana, Florida and Massachusetts has made him better. “The experience has really helped me out,â€? said HanPhoto by Bill Turner cock, noting that the Hargrave's Luke Hancock bends the rim prep school level is as he throws down a reverse slam. a notch above high school athletically year,â€? he said. and speed-wise. He thinks being in the CoThe Valley Shootout was the lonial League with the Patrisecond time in about a week ots will be about right, saying, that family and friends had “I feel like I can play early [in] a chance to see Hancock in a system that is going to fit action again, after the Tigers me.â€? had routed Virginia Western Hancock ran into old high Community College earlier. school rival Matt Burnette “A lot of people came to during the game. The Massee me play. It was just great sanutten forward used to atto have a good game, to show tend Cave Spring. There was people that I have gotten bet- apparently no time for trash ter,â€? Hancock said. A 360- talking between the two dunk got the crowd going at swingmen from neighboring one point. southwest Roanoke County Getting a commitment high schools. from Mason early took a load “He’s a great guy‌I just said off his mind, “it kind of lets what’s up? And we played.,â€? you breathe a little bit. You’re Hancock said. not worried every day [but] By Gene Marrano it makes you work harder to gmarrano@cox.net get ready for your freshman
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Sports
2/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9
New Lacrosse Chapter Comes to Roanoke
US Lacrosse, the national governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse, announced the opening of a new chapter in the Roanoke Valley – the Southwest Virginia Lacrosse Association (SWVLA). The news comes as an important step for the expansion of a sport that has been in Roanoke for the better part of two decades, but has had difficulty growing despite increasing interest among area youth. In the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, such as Maryland, lacrosse is a major sport. Lacrosse began in Roanoke in the form of city recreation leagues in the early 1990’s. Since then, several area high schools have formed lacrosse programs. Patrick Henry and Salem High School, for example, started a varsity boys programs in the late 1990’s and a girls program several years later. However, some parents grew increasingly frustrated with the slow growth of the sport. Other high schools in the area, for instance, have not yet added lacrosse as a varsity activity, although Cave Spring and Hidden Valley have a combined club team. As a result, five people – Andy Blanton, Robin Allison, Grimes Creasy, Kathy Claytor and Mark Lucas – began to meet on a bi-weekly basis to discuss what could be done to fix the problem.
The result was a petition to US Lacrosse for a new chapter in the Roanoke Valley. “Last year many of us grew frustrated from the standpoint that lacrosse in the valley hadn’t yet gotten to the next level,� SWLVA President Andy Blanton said. “There wasn’t enough opportunity for kids to play, and for talented kids to get recruited and play in college.� Roanoke College, which often has a nationally ranked men’s team, recruits most of its players from outside the region. The SWVLA covers a large geographic area, including Roanoke, Salem, Bedford, Lynchburg, Rocky Mount and the New River Valley. There are already 463 members in the service area – an indication as to the widespread interest in the sport. “The game is exploding at all levels,� Blanton said. The Southwest Virginia Lacrosse Association is being sponsored, initially, by Alleghany Construction, Boxley Materials, Catawba Capital, EC Pace, Integrated Imaging, Jimmy V's, Lucas Therapies, Mac n Bob's, Play It Again Sports, Virginia Orthopaedics and Vistar Eye Center. As a US Lacrosse chapter, the SWVLA has access to educational programs and training materials for officials and coaches, as well as funds for player clinics and equipment.
“Our mission is to grow the game of lacrosse – men’s and women’s, in the area,� Blanton said. In addition to their status as a new chapter, US Lacrosse recently chose the SWLVA as a 2009 Fast Break Initiative (FBI) award winner. As a result US Lacrosse will hold four events in the Roanoke Valley this year: an “Ambassador Program�, plus coaching, officiating and player clinics. The goal of the Ambassador Program is to promote the sport and its growth in the Valley through contact with area athletic directors and school administrators. The coach’s clinic is designed for new coaches interested in learning the intricate details of lacrosse. “One of the reasons the sport hasn’t grown around here is due to a lack of coaches,� Blanton said. “We’re hoping to get 30 or 40 new coaches out of this clinic.� Finally, the player’s clinic, to be held during the 2009 ACC Women’s Lacrosse Championship at Virginia Tech (April 23-26) is where girls of all ages and skill levels will receive instruction from Hokie players. (There are also several summer camps held every year in the valley for both boys and girls.) SWVLA also works in conjunction with Excalibur, a year-round training and developmental league formed last August. The league is designed
“Super Bowl / Boss� dream becomes reality
So, did you watch the Super Bowl last week? You know‌ Steelers and Cardinals, NFL championship, two weeks of hype and hyperbole beamed across the globe from sunny Tampa, Florida‌that Super Bowl? Yeah, I was there. Really. I know, I know. I wouldn’t believe me either. I mean, who goes to the Super Bowl? Aside from celebrities, movers and shakers, and about a gazillion members of the media, I mean. As it turns out, lots of folks – and I got to be one of them. Thanks to the generosity and kindness of my great friend and journalism hero Mitch Stacy, who happens to be the supervisory correspondent (read: boss) at the Associated Press bureau in Tampa, I landed a spot as a runner for an AP photographer for the big game. Actually, it was Bruce Springsteen who got the wheels turning on this gig. You see, when it was announced Springsteen and his legendary E Street Band would be playing the Super Bowl halftime show, I suggested to Mitch (jokingly, of course) that our shared history as diehard college Springsteen fans meant we needed to be there. Amazingly Mitch liked the idea and using his considerable influence, I found myself on Sunday, February 1 on a shuttle bus bound for Raymond James Stadium, media credentials dangling from my neck, seated next to former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro receiver and current NFL Director of Football Operations Gene Washington, headed for Super Bowl XLIII. Is this a great country, or what? After arriving at the stadium about 4 hours before kickoff I got connected to my photographer, John Raoux of the AP’s Orlando bureau, and found out we’d be shooting crowd shots in the seats. OK, he’d be doing the shooting; I’d be responsible for taking the discs from his camera to one of several drop-off points in the stadium so that his images could be downloaded as
he continued to shoot. Seemed simple enough. John and I moved from one side of the stadium to the other along the main concourse during the first half - John, coolly scanning the crowd and smoothly juggling the three cameras slung around his neck while I mostly stood around, watching the game and trying to look important and busy in my official media vest (number 219) and credentials. I also got to carry a walkie-talkie wired to a headset with a microphone (awesome), in case John and I got separated. I rarely needed it, but I wore the headset at random times anyway, because I fancied it made people think I was doing something important. And the NFL security guys always left me alone when I had it on. As the first half closed with James Harrison’s epic 100-yard interception return for a Steelers touchdown, I caught a break‌ the play was reviewed, so the halftime show was delayed. John gave me two more discs to run to the AP photo room, which was adjacent to one of the tunnels that led to the field. The monitor in the photo room showed Bruce and the band taking the stage as the download was complete, so I grabbed the discs and headed down the tunnel just as Springsteen counted off the start to “Tenth Avenue Freezeout.â€? I’m not ashamed to say I was almost overcome by the moment. The next 12 minutes went something like this: I’m on the field, but I’d love to get closer. But we’re supposed to stay back. Gotta try. The headset! That’ll fool them. Walk across field to the crowd surrounding the stage. It worked! It’s “Born to Runâ€?! I knew it! YEAAAAAHHH!! Careful, you’re not supposed to be here. Blend in (curse you, media vest #219), stay cool. But it’s Bruce, just 30 yards away! The crowd is having a blast, though it’s clear they are following a script. (I find out later they’ve rehearsed for
about 15 hours over the last two days‌the NFL leaves nothing to chance at the Super Bowl). No matter, the Boss is rockin’. Now it’s the new song, “Workin’ on a Dreamâ€?‌choir’s a nice touch, but song’s a little slow. Tiny flashlights click on all over the stadium‌wow, that’s cool. Wait, quick change‌â€?Glory Daysâ€?! I called that one, too! WOOOOOOOO!! It’s over way too soon but it is, clearly, the best Super Bowl halftime show EVER. (Sorry, artist formerly and apparently once again known as Prince). The game, as has been welldocumented, was a classic, possibly the best Super Bowl ever. After the Steelers accepted the Lombardi Trophy for their sixth Super Bowl win, we went down to get some shots outside the Steelers’ locker room. In the midst of the media, family and assorted hangers-on (ahem), Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Rothleisberger emerged, wearing a Steelers bathrobe over his clothes and still carrying the game ball. He headed for the team bus, and our night was finished. The Super Bowl is an event like no other. Some observations: Unless you’re friends with a really cool member of the media, you will spend a lot of money at the Super Bowl. Tickets range from $800 to several thousand dollars; parking near the stadium was going for $100; beer or soft drink in a commemorative cup - $10; hot dog - $12. I’d go on, but you get the picture. Chris “Boomerâ€? Berman of ESPN is really tall. A real Steeler or Cardinal helmet signed by all the team members would set you back $2,750. The guy in the shop where the helmets were being sold said he had sold eight, with one guy buying three. Recession? What recession? The Lombardi Trophy is, well, kind of unimpressive. A team staffer brought it out of the Steelers locker room and some fans had their pictures taken with it. Had lots of smudges
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and fingerprints on it. It’s OK, but it ain’t the Stanley Cup. God “rewarded� Mitch Stacy for his kindness to me. His assignment during the game? Write the story about the halftime show. Of course, deadline pressure dictated he crank it out in 15 minutes, which he did. The bonus: the story was linked to the official Springsteen website, Brucespringsteen.net. Well deserved. The very idea of me ever attending a Super Bowl was absurd up until a couple of months ago. Now, it seems almost anything’s possible. Maybe I’ll see a World Series game, or a Final Four, or a Browns appearance in the Super Bowl! A guy can dream, can’t he? By Tom Rickard Publishers Note: Tom Rickard normally hangs out as the Dudley Elementary School Librarian (Franklin County) when he’s not attending huge events with rich and famous people and / or writing great stories for the RSS.
Photo by Gene Marrano
Long time lacrosse youth league coach Mike Rowe (right) at a clinic with players last summer.
for both skilled and beginner athletes. “If you have a kid who is 10 and has never played before – that’s where he goes to learn,â€? Blanton said. For a sport that is expanding by leaps and bounds throughout the nation, Blanton sees a bright future for lacrosse in Roanoke. “We [the SWVLA] just want to help grow the game,â€? he said. “Lacrosse has been around in many shapes and forms for a long time. Hopefully now it can make it to the next level.â€? For more information about the SWVLA, visit www.swvla.com. By Matt Reeve • Matt@theroanokestar.com
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Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 2/13/09
Sports
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Historic Dodgertown closes with spirited dreams of youth For baseball fans, spring training is a time of hope. For teams that perennially dwell at the bottom of the standings spring training means a fresh start, and for those squads who fell just short of the mark during the previous season, a chance at redemption. However, for the people of Vero Beach, Florida there will be no hope this year. The former spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the past sixty years will have no baseball this year. Lured by a lucrative offer including a brand spanking new training facility, the Dodgers will report to their new venue in the city of Tucson, Arizona this spring, a short hop from their California home. Unable to entice another major league team to adopt their complex, the people of Vero have been left high and dry. Dodgertown, will fall silent this spring, a vacant memorial of baseball's past glory. The day after Christmas, my wife, son and I loaded up the car and made the long journey to Vero Beach for a baseball camp/tournament, sponsored by Under Armor and staged by The Baseball Factory, an organization which specializes in helping coach and train high school aged players who aspire to play college ball upon graduation. We were told that this four day event would be the last baseball contest held at Dodgertown. When our group left the grounds, the doors of Dodgertown would be closed, perhaps forever. The Dodgers moved to California from Brooklyn the year I was born and I never developed a love for the team that skipped town while I was developing my pitching delivery in my mother's womb. Yet my inner baseball historian was intrigued, shaken and awakened by the prospect of walking the same grounds once graced by Jackie
Robinson and Sandy Koufax. What I found at Dodgertown that week was both beautiful and sad. The fields are beyond the wildest dreams of anyone who has ever raked an infield. The father of one of the players remarked that if his lawn in Staten Island looked like any of the fields at the facility, he would "protect it with a shotgun." If there is baseball in heaven then the fields must be modeled after Dodgertown. My wife and I spoke to two of the groundskeepers who were still primping the turf as if the World Series were to be played at Dodgertown the following day. The older of the two gentlemen was finishing his forty-second year on the complex grounds crew, the younger man had grown up helping his dad build pitching mounds since he was nine years old. They spoke of the days when the players used to stay in an old army barracks, sans air conditioning, and rest beneath the palms between drills. We were treated to an hour-long history lesson covering the fields, the Dodgers, and the lives of the grounds crew. During this wonderful walk through the unwritten archives, I noticed an underlying sadness; it was hard to miss. Like so many of us lately, these great folks would be losing not only their jobs, but a cherished piece of their past as well. Cooks, wait-staff, administrative workers and housekeeping employees would all meet similar fates. Everyone went about their work as if it was business as usual, player rooms were spotless and meals of the highest caliber were served. Two hundred players from all over the country were treated like big leaguers by a staff that never failed to smile despite their impending unemployment Amidst the suppressed sorrow of the Dodgertown staff, sixteen compiled baseball teams
Photo by Jon Kaufman
A hitting shot. Will Kaufman readies himself in the batter’s box during a Dodgertown tournament game. Kaufman poses with a piece of baseball history - an iconic road mark soon to perish from the Florida landscape. were battling each moment on the field. The instruction was second to none and the seminars and guest speakers carried the spirit of the camp through the night once the stadium lights were dimmed. Will's teammates from New England, New York, Florida, Nebraska, Virginia, and California, were all focused to perform. Competition and emotions were high. I am not sure if any of the players were aware of what was happening around them, and maybe that was a good thing. A chapter in baseball history was coming to a close, a sixty-year love affair between a team and a town was now over, yet, through these kids, the joy of baseball continued as the tournament wound to its conclusion. Will's team had the honor of playing the final few outs of the event in a game that stretched into extra innings. Short of pitching, Will (a catcher by trade) volunteered to throw the final frame. The count was two balls and two strikes with two outs, when Will coaxed a soft pop-up to shortstop which was gloved by a lanky kid from Courtland,
New York for the final out. It would be the last out recorded at Dodgertown. The game ended in a 5-5 tie and players smiled as they shook hands. Teammates said their goodbyes, exchanged phone numbers and packed-up their gear. The few days spent in Dodgertown were special in many ways. I met a group of hard working people whose pride never faltered for a second despite their situation. Each element of this historic site remained perfect right up to the last moment and I felt privileged to share that moment with them. Leaving the grounds I thought of all of the great players who perfected their game on those very fields and the young players I had just seen working towards that same goal of perfection. This parallel seemed to be the perfect end for this small slice of baseball heaven. Certainly the ghosts of Dodgertown would have approved of By Jon Kaufman this spirited finale. Jon.Kaufman@sprint.com
Vinton Resident Featured on National Television Show Tom Stuckey of Vinton, Va., will be featured on “Get in the Game,” a National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) television show on the Outdoor Channel, on the following dates: Monday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. (EST) Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. (EST) Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2:30 a.m. (EST) On this episode of “Get in the Game,” champion callers Tom Stuckey, Steve Cobb and Billy Yargus give viewers turkey hunting tips on calling on wet mornings, early season hennedup toms and hunting on public land. Also on the show, “Get in the Game” takes viewers to Missouri where public and private lands are being improved through unique management techniques. Viewers learn how strip disking and cattle grazing can help remove unwanted
Big Day: during one of several college signing day ceremonies last week, two Hidden Valley High School athletes committed to Division One NCAA schools. Maddie Elder (left in picture) will play soccer at Clemson (SC), while Matt Aiken will play football for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Aiken played football for Cave Spring, North Cross and ultimately, Hidden Valley High School. His older brother Danny, a Cave Spring graduate, is the long snapper for the Virginia Cavaliers football team. Elder is a long time soccer standout in southwest Roanoke County and a prolific goal scorer.
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plant species from their properties. “Get in the Game” television takes viewers across the nation sharing wildlife and land management tips for attracting wildlife to their property. “The show will benefit all outdoor enthusiasts,” said James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D., the NWTF’s chief conservation officer. “This show is for the person who’s not a full-time farmer. It’s a hands-on land management show that is practical and useful for people who manage their property for wildlife.” “Get in the Game” compliments the NWTF’s other show on the Outdoor Channel, “Turkey Call,” by covering topics from hunting tips to land and wildlife management.
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Arts & Culture
TheRoanokeStar.com
2/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11
Smokey Joe’s Café at William Byrd Haunting images at Hollins in The Eclipse of Angkor exhibit
"Smokey Joe's Cafe", the longest-running musical review in the history of Broadway, features the songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and is directed by Carol Webster with musical direction by Katie Saunders, and choreography by Marqui Stone and Ryan Ramos. Smokey Joe's Cafe opened to standing ovations on Broadway in 1995, where it was nominated for seven Tony awards. Leiber and Stoller shared a love for blues in 1950. Together, they transformed pop music into rock 'n' roll. They wrote a number of groundbreaking hits: Hound Dog, Yakety Yak, Poison Ivy, Charlie Brown, On Broadway, Kansas City, Jailhouse Rock, Love Potion No. 9, Spanish Harlem, Fools Fall In Love, and Stand By Me. There are just a few of the songs that provide the basis for the musical powerhouse. Smokey Joe's Cafe brings together an ensemble cast, including guest performer Germaine Fletcher. In addition, national winning performers from the 2008 National Performing Arts Festival, (Byrd students) Meagan Puckett, Dorian Dozier, Jenny Swortzel, Noah Sterling, Shaun Reid, Christie Vernon, and Rachel Kidd, join the cast. Additional cast members include Mark McCadden, Ryan Gilley, Dianna Lackey, Meghan Upchurch, Mackenzie Brewer and dancers Ryan
The William Byrd High School cast of Smokey Joe’s Ramos, Stephanie Broyles, Sara Beth Landrum, Chelsey Greenway, Brooke Bradshaw, Holly Farris and Dani Robinson. “These kids [Byrd Players] will be taking 20 minutes of the show back to Nationals [in Orlando] as defending champions and performing at Disney World in one of the resorts, as well as Downtown Disney,” says Webster, head of the theater department at William Byrd.
The William Byrd Players present Smokey Joe’s Café at the William Byrd Playhouse (William Byrd High School) on Washington Avenue in Vinton. February 12, 13*, 14, 19, 20, 21 at 7:30pm; Feb. 15, 22 at 2:30pm. Doors open 30 minutes prior to show. Adults $7.00, Students and Senior Citizens $5.00. Dinner Theatre on February 13th—Additional dinner tickets are $7.00 adults/students, $5.00 for children.
Binh Dahn creates photoand mass gravesite during the graphs on leaves using the Vietnam War era. chlorophyll found within. “The Khmer Rouge startDahn’s work, included in an ed exterminating the [local] exhibition at Hollins Univerpopulation,” notes Dahn, who sity’s Eleanor D. Wilson Muis also working with Hollins seum, is the college’s Frances students as the spring semesNiederer Artist-in-Residence. ter’s artist in residence. “A lot An opening reception is of them were children and scheduled for Thursday, Febnormal citizens.” ruary 19, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Bringing Dahn’s work to “In the Eclipse of Angkor” the Wilson Museum fits with features Vietnam-inspired the mission of director Amy “chlorophyll prints” of solMoorefield, hired last fall. diers, prisoners of war and “I think Binh’s work is a other experiences, all reproperfect example of using the duced on plants and leaves. museum as a laboratory, really Some tend to be grim, stark focusing on new technologies reminders of a prison camp and artists that are …pushin Cambodia. The pictures ing the field of contemporary were taken of POW’s before art further along,” Moorefield they died, or were killed, have said. found their way into Danh’s A printed catalog of Danh’s hands. He’s a San Francisco work, which also features sevarea resident of Vietnamese eral essays, will be available descent. after the official February 19 “The image is transferred Images from the Binh Dahn launch. Two other exhibusing the natural properties exhibit at Hollins its at the Eleanor D. Wilson of leaves, which is photosynMuseum, one featuring Irish thesis,” said Dahn in explainstained glass, and the other ing his technique, which had been on exhibit called “Re-imagining the Distaff Tool Kit” locally several years ago at the Art Museum will also be shown until April. of Western Virginia. “We have something for everyone,” said Dahn also uses the old-fashioned Da- Moorefield, noting that the Distaff exhibit guerreotype method for some of his prints, will feature “domestic tools used by women.” saying as a photography student he was “al- The National Craft Council in Ireland helped ways fascinated,” by a technique that lasted bring over the contemporary stained glass art just about ten years after it was introduced in exhibit and the Wilson Museum has it first. 1839. “Mirrors with memory,” is how Danh As for Danh’s work, the artist thinks it rerefers to the first photographic method. lates to today’s world and current events. Danh has visited Cambodia several times “We hold people accountable. There is a while researching his work and has been to sense of justice to be found,” Dahn said. the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum – formerly a high school before it became a prison camp
VT’s Nikki Giovanni on Blue Ridge PBS
Virginia Tech’s award winning poet Nikki Giovanni will be a guest on Bill Moyers Journal, airing Feb. 13, at 9 p.m. on Blue Ridge PBS. Giovanni, a Distinguished Professor of English at Virginia Tech, is the author of 27 books, a Grammy nominee and an Oprah Living Legend. Once dubbed the priestess of black poetry, her work has spanned the themes of love and sex, anger and grief, race, politics, and violence. In this intimate conversation with Bill Moyers, Giovanni discusses her most recent book “Bicycles,” a collection of love poems. While many of her earlier works may have raised ire (and praise) for their revolutionary nature, she has always tackled the theme of love. Giovanni called love the antidote to public and private losses in recent years—a mother’s passing, a sister’s, too, and the massacre at Virginia Tech in 2007. “There are a lot of books of searching, somber books born of grief. But not many books I’ve seen that are about love born of grief. And, yet, that’s what this book is about,” said Giovanni. Giovanni has been on the Virginia Tech faculty since 1987. Following the Virginia Tech shootings, she delivered the poem “We Are Virginia Tech” to a mourning campus.
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Arts & Culture
Page 12 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/16/08
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Marginal Arts Festival returns to downtown Roanoke Downtown Roanoke’s second annual Marginal Arts Festival, running from Feb. 19-24, promises to be a much bigger event this year, catering to a wider and perhaps younger audience. The Roanoke Arts Festival, which will be held for a third time this fall is actually assisting the Marginal Arts Festival, helping to stage, of all things, a boxing exhibition at the Dumas Center. (Perhaps not that surprising – Roanoke Arts Festival manager Rick Salzberg was involved with the “Sweet Science” back in Norfolk as a gym owner). Additional offerings will include the opening of an art exhibit at Hollins University (one of the few events not downtown); the first annual Hoo-Rah Marginal Arts Festival parade; and an Emerging Artists event at the Roanoke City Library’s main branch to kick off the weekend. Most events are free, but those requiring admission include a night of Broadway rarities sung by Kristin Huffman on Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Dumas Center. A discount passport is available at several venues. Community High School teacher and artist Brian Counihan has organized the Marginal Arts Festival in its first two years. “It was basically my concept,” said Counihan, who wanted to “explore the other arts that aren’t really seen in this valley.”
In other words, another Emerging while there will be Artists event – the music and paintings, Hoo-Rah Arts Explothere will also be a sion – will take place Carnivale-inspired at 6pm. parade beginning The Hollins conear the Martin Lusponsored event ther King Jr. statue, should be “chaotic, an “aerial playfun, festive and enground”, amateur ergetic,” said River films (the Marginal Author Josip Laker, development Film Festival at Jeffer- Novakovich coordinator for Roason Center), poetry will hold a noke City libraries. and performance art. “Balkan Party” See roanokemarThe Arts Feast exhibit ginalartsfestival. of local artists at Center in the blogspot.com for a complete Square is also running at the schedule. same time. Ernie Zulia, theater deAlso planned are gallery partment chair at Hollins, openings, power tool drag directed Drummond in the racing on Kirk Avenue and a play Caroline, or Change and “Balkan Party” with author calls her “an extraordinary Josip Novakovich at the Du- person. She not only came mas Center. The Croatian- to Hollins with a self-taught American is “a highly ac- background in theatre, but complished writer,” according she has clearly defined goals to Counihan, one who often for herself to expand her howrites about displacement rizons, learn everything she and identity, “which fits right can to become a dynamic theinto that marginalization ex- atre professional, using her perience.” college education to open new “We wanted to [feature] doors and further develop her artists who work without any work as an artist, a writer, and opportunity to exhibit any- a theatre professional. She is where. I was interested in extremely talented and one of exploring what’s out there,” the most motivated students noted Counihan of an event at Hollins Theatre. She also that ends on the last night of presents a tremendous role Carnivale/Mardi Gras, before model for younger students the beginning of Lent. who don’t have to overcome “You can’t really have Car- so many obstacles to realnivale without a big parade,” ize their dreams. The world said Counihan of the Hoo- could use a few more Aprils!” Rah Marginal Arts Festival By Gene Marrano Parade. gmarrano@cox.net It ends at the library, where
Photo by Gene Marrano
The Patrick Henry players in Turning Point.
Patrick Henry players collaborate with Taubman for “Turning Point” Here’s one way to get teenagers into an art museum: have them memorize lines in a play about one of the painters featured there – then stage that work at the museum. The one-act play, “Turning Point”, debuted in Roanoke Saturday at the Taubman Museum’s black box theater space, which now features several hundred seats on a riser. The work is a true story detailing the plight of 19th century painter John Singer Sargent, whose Portrait of Mrs. George Gribble is among the most famous images at the museum. It is the long portrait of a woman wearing a feather boa. The museum’s café – Norah’s – is even named for her. The play will be presented again on February 14 (2:00 pm & 4:00 pm), and Feb. 21 (1:00 pm & 4:00 pm) at the Taubman. Turning Point, featuring seven Patrick Henry High School students from the theater arts program, explores an earlier phase of Sargent’s career, which was derailed for a time when another portrait he was com-
missioned to paint in France was severely criticized. After coming to America his reputation was restored; upon returning to Europe four years later he painted Mrs. George Gribble. PH student Devon Rosenblatt plays Sargent, a tormented soul, painting French socialite Amelie Gautreau (played by Michelle Lee) while her mother Marie (played by Maggie Pillis) drives him to distraction. “I’ve painted many portraits but have not yet come across the one that makes [my] heart beat,” said Sargent (Rosenblatt) during the 35 minute play. After the performace, Rosenblatt said, “[the artist] got everything torn away from him, basically by the Madame X scandal [the name given his oft-criticized painting]. You’re going to be twisted and disturbed. Opinions are everything when you’re an artist.” Former Patrick Henry and Hidden Valley teacher Tanya Gray, now the method educator at Taubman, wrote “Turning Point”. “My job is to help people un-
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derstand the artwork in the galleries,” said Gray, who hopes to see more mini-plays produced about artists exhibited there. “What’s so fascinating is that every single piece has a story.” Gray also wants other schools and playwrights to get involved in projects similar to “Turning Point”. She was pleased when some of the Patrick Henry students participating did Internet research on their own to find out more about John Singer Sargent. PH theater arts teacher Steve Rittenhouse directed the play, which students had performed a week earlier at the Virginia High School League competition (Patrick Henry placed third in the state overall). Rittenhouse said his students mastered “Turning Point” with just several weeks of rehearsal. “It’s been very intense and the students have been very dedicated. The audience seemed to like it.” Several years ago PH took a theater history play to the state competition, similar to what Rittenhouse did this year with “Turning Point”. The Patrick Henry players typically stage three works per year and the program attracts talented drama students “year after year,” according to Rittenhouse. Pillis, a senior and vice president of the Patrick Henry players, said she “loved coming to the Taubman, being able to see all the art, and learning the story behind it. It’s so interesting.”
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Valley Business
Page 13 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 2/13/09
TheRoanokeStar.com
Regional Partnership talks old school, new school
The Roanoke Regional Partnership (RRP) assessed market conditions and ways to move forward during its “Annual Report to Investors” held recently at the Taubman Museum of Art. Business growth and recruitment accounted for 40 percent of its activity during 2008, with 158 businesses seeking information on the region as a business location. “Even in tough economic times, interest in the region remained steady,” said Rob Ledger, director of business development. The Partnership reported millions of dollars in new investment by businesses and a number of activities designed to build awareness of the region as a preferred location was the result of an expanded program launched in 2008. Formerly the Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership, RRP was founded in 1983 as a regional economic development organization for the greater Roanoke area. The organization retooled in 2008, hiring Beth Doughty as executive director. Strategizing, planning, and implementing programs to strengthen and market the region’s assets was another mission in ’08, which also saw the retirement of former director Phil Sparks. “The Partnership is dedicated to the practice of 21st century economic development,” said Dr. Edward G. Murphy, president of the Board of Directors and CEO/President of Carilion Clinic. “Our work is broadly regional [with a] 360-degree approach that positions the region as so vibrant that it can’t help but be noticed.” The Partnership’s 2008 an-
nual report reveals that pages, viral marketing it was involved in the groups, and a Youcreation of more than Tube channel with the 330 jobs at McAirlaid’s, first four in a series of Westport Corporation, testimonials that will Maple Leaf Bakery, Arbe developed about kay Packaging, Tread the region. Corporation, and Development of TMEIC GE. outdoor recreation asA new focus on imsets also came under age building includes the Partnership’s doa reworked website Beth Doughty main in 2008. (Roanoke.org), which “We started by is intended to tell the making www.roanoke. complete story about living, org give a broad view of living working, playing, and investing here, including lots of informain the Roanoke region. tion on water sports, camping, “It speaks not only to the hiking, and more,” said Pete corporate site selectors but to Eshelman, the new director of people who can work from outdoor branding. anywhere and people looking “The Partnership demonfor a great place to live,” said strated its commitment to Doughty. leveraging the incredible outThe Partnership also invent- door amenities into economic ed a program of work focused growth by the creation of the on asset development. outdoor branding position,” “The potential and nature of said Doughty. “The kind of this retail market are misunder- natural amenities this region stood by retailers and develop- boasts have never been more ers outside this region,” said popular. There’s so much poDoughty. tential here for people, ideas, The website features a cost- and investment attracted by our of-living calculator, retail mar- outdoor amenities.” ket data and searches, plus links Doughty also said, “for too to job sites. The web presence long, you’ve needed the secret will be supported by a search- password to know where to find engine marketing campaign, the Appalachian Trail …[or] driving traffic to the site through where to get a hold of a canoe a keywords campaign and ban- or kayak. Outdoor recreation ner advertising in selected out- contributes $730 billion dollars of-state markets. a year to the national economy A comprehensive, long-term and our expanded program of public relations plan has also work includes developing it as been launched to bring national an economic sector for our remedia attention to the region, gion.” with the Taubman Museum of A Facebook page started by Art, the Virginia Tech-Carilion Eshelman promoting the reSchool of Medicine (slated to gion’s natural assets has already open by 2010), greenways and drawn hundreds of members. technology business growth the Doughty presented a slide major focuses. The Partner- show at the annual meeting ship has developed Facebook on February 5, talking about
Belk Foundation Announces $50,000 Grant to Roanoke Rescue Mission The Belk Foundation today announced a $50,000 grant to The Rescue Mission of Roanoke in Roanoke, Va. The grant will help fund the renovation of an existing Rescue Mission building to house its Free Clinic for the Homeless that provides medical, psychiatric and dental services to homeless people in the Roanoke area and others who can’t afford insurance coverage for basic healthcare services. “The Belk Foundation is pleased to be able to provide this grant to support The Rescue Mission’s expanded free clinic program,” said Katie Belk Morris, president of The Belk Foundation board of advisors. “Our hope is that these funds will enable The Rescue Mission to expand its capabilities for providing emergency dental care to the poor and homeless who otherwise could not receive this care.” The Rescue Mission plans to move all of its healthcare services (medical, psychiatric and dental clinics) to an existing 7,000-square-foot space on the Rescue Mission campus. The doubling of space will allow for four permanent dental operatories, two psychiatric counseling offices and six
exam rooms. Combining the clinics will increase their capacity and enable them to more efficiently serve the poor. The improvements will also provide easy access to the homeless population, greater visability, and an expanded parking area for volunteers. In addition to serving the homeless by providing a medical and psychiatric clinic at no charge, adult dental patients with Medicaid who currently have no other options would be served by this unique private/public collaborative effort. “Thanks to gifts like the one from The Belk Foundation, the growing number of homeless patients will now have a medical primary care home,” shared Joy Sylvester-Johnson, CEO of the Rescue Mission. “Guests of the Rescue Mission and six other local homeless shelters will be eligible for services at this free clinic for medical, psychiatric and dental services.” Since January 2008, there have been 2,367 unduplicated people seeking shelter at the Rescue Mission. All of these guests will be eligible to receive care in the new expanded clinic.
“old school” technology – with images of cassette tapes, televisions, camera film and old computer terminals as a background – while flat screens, digital cameras and data discs represented what’s happening now. “We want to practice 21st century economic development, and I don’t use that phrase lightly because a lot is different,” said Doughty, “thanks to a changing global economy.” Old school partnership was all about recruiting businesses, noted Doughty recalling the Partnership’s 26-year his-
tory, with 13,000 new jobs and $1.3 billion in investment created over that period. Attracting people is more new school she added, selling them on the region’s assets. Few use the phone for a first contact either – if a website presentation doesn’t interest them they may not inquire. The old days of “corporate site selectors” calling in response to print magazine ads is just that – old. One hundred thousand dollars worth of advertising on the Partnership’s revised website is designed
to build an awareness for the region. USAirways in-flight magazine will feature a piece on the region in May, a story initiated by Partnership marketing efforts. The Partnership believes the Roanoke region is still a story worth telling, and has focused many of its efforts in that direction. “Remember that building and promoting assets also builds wealth,” Doughty told Partnership members at the annual meeting.
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Making a difference in “Every Woman’s Life” at Panera
Panera Bread presented Carilion Clinic with a check for $4,720 last week. As indicated in the memo line, the money was a “dough-nation”. The funds were given on behalf of the “Every Woman’s Life” (EWL) program, which works to provide breast and cervical cancer screenings for uninsured and low-income women. The program helped more than 500 women last year, according to Kathleen Womack, R.N. and EWL coordinator. “Our mission is to improve the health of our community,” Womack said. “This year, we will be able to increase that number, thanks to this kind of community support.” She estimates that the Panera Bread donation will fund 15 to 20 women’s screenings. As the economic landscape becomes increasingly difficult, more individuals may be unable to afford even the most basic healthcare procedures. Many women have lost jobs and insurance, and the demand for programs like EWL is beginning to surpass its federal funding. “With our current difficult economic situation, more and more women are in need of the services EWL provides,” Wom-
Lauren Perpetua with Panera; Jenny McCombs with Panera; Kathy Bulaski with EWL; Kathy Womack with EWL; Charlene Broyles, EWL participant; Norma Aliff, EWL participant; and Hayden Barnes, Carilion Clinic Women's Services. ack said. “In order to continue providing these valuable services, additional money is needed.” Lauren Perpetua, marketing manager of Blue Ridge Bread, a franchise that owns the local Panera Bread cafés, presented Carilion representatives with the check. “We wanted to give back locally,” she said. Last fall, Panera Bread and Carilion Clinic launched a partnership with the “Positively Pink Parade” on September 27, featuring cancer survivors and other supporters. Twenty five cents from each
Pink Ribbon bagel sold at Panera (during a promotion period) went to EWL, as well as proceeds from “fight like a girl” awareness rings. They were hugely popular, according to Perpetua. All personal donations where matched 100% by Panera Bread. The money raised will help women like Charlene Broyles, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2002. “Every Women’s Life has been a godsend to me,” she said after the ceremony.
TheRoanokeStar.com
David Hurt: helping protect open space is his job – and his passion
David Hurt has turned a personal passion for conservation into a career helping Virginians save their land for development. A Roanoke College alum, Hurt is currently an easement director with Conservation Partners, LLC. He has helped dozens of Virginia landowners protect their land with conservation easements since he joined the Lexington-based company in 2006, including a number of transactions in the Roanoke area. Hurt says the beauty surrounding the Roanoke Valley and its stunning backdrop should not be taken for granted. He has helped protect many of the Valley’s most valuable natural resources, such as local farms, agricultural soils, scenic view-sheds, river and lake frontage, and other vanishing treasures. Notable examples include two of the region's few remaining dairy operations, the GaleRu Dairy in Franklin County and the Cave Hill Dairy in Botetourt County, and the historic McDonald's Mill property on the North Fork of the Roanoke River in Montgomery County. Another significant easement includes the ridgelines of Lynville Mountain. Lynville Mountain is a 2001 Scenic America “Last Chance Landscape” and one of the most visible mountains from many points in and around Roanoke, including the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hurt says his favorite part of the job is meeting people who want to protect their property for future generations. “People who own land and people who are interested in land conservation are usually fun people to get to know,” said Hurt. He says his most memorable experience was working with a landowner who was ill and who used the proceeds from his tax credits to pay medical bills. Conservation Partners— true to their name—frequently partners with Roanoke's local non-profit land conservancy, the Western Virginia Land Trust, on easement projects, informational meetings, and other activities. The Western Virginia Land Trust
Photo by Dave Perry
Roanoke College graduate David Hurt helps protect open space.
holds the conservation ease- land preservation tax credit, ments on the GaleRu, Tru- which represents more than man, and McDonald's Mill $100 million in potential lost properties, agreeing to moni- revenue for the state every tor the properties annually year. Hurt cites the credit as an and ensure that the terms of the easement are not being important, but not the most important, reason conservaviolated. Conservation Partners was tion-minded landowners do also a sponsor of the Western easements. Still, Hurt says, “If Virginia Land Trust's Conser- the credit goes away, the numvation Celebration last fall, ber of people doing easements when the land trust honored is going to decrease.” Humble beginnings: A the City of Roanoke for its track record of environmen- Franklin County native and 1991 Roanoke College gradutal stewardship. ate, Hurt first took his EngThe business of conservaBy Caitlyn Coakley lish degree to Fret Mill Music tion: Conservation Partners info@theroanokestar.com helps landowners through Co. on Salem Ave., where he the conservation easement sold bluegrass instruments for process from start to finish, about seven years before comincluding selling their highly pleting additional coursework lucrative state income tax and becoming a teacher at credits for them. Landown- James Madison Middle School ers who complete qualify- in southeast Roanoke City. In 1998, he and his faming conservation easements The Village on Pheasant Ridge Indepen- is a Diplomate of the American Board of Physcan receive state tax credits ily placed land they owned on worth hundreds of thousands Truman Hill Rd. in Hardy in dent Living Retirement Community has an- ical Medicine & Rehabilitation, a Diplomate of dollars, and more in some to a conservation easement nounced the appointment of Murray Evans of the American Board of Interventional Pain cases. These credits can then with the Western Virginia Joiner, Jr., M.D., as the new Director of Health Physicians, and a Fellow of the Interventional be sold to other taxpayers for Land Trust and the Virginia and Wellness. Pain Physicians. Dr. Joiner has been a resident Outdoors Foundation. Hurt a profit. Under the leadership of Dr. Joiner, The of the Roanoke Valley since 1991, and is the Hurt says most of Conserva- began volunteering at the Village on Pheasant Ridge will be launching founder of the HomeTown Health Clinic to tion Partners' business comes Land Trust, and in 2001 was Pathways, a new health and wellness program serve the uninsured and under insured. from word of mouth. “Once offered a full-time position as that will provide health screenings and moniDr. Joiner said that he was inspired to volsomebody buys credits from project manager. He enjoyed toring; personalized wellness plans; and life unteer his services to The Village on Pheasant us, the vast majority of them five years there before joining enrichment programs for its residents. Path- Ridge community because he believes strongly just keep coming back every Conservation Partners. ways also will offer free lectures on health and in promoting health and wellness to seniors. Today, Hurt and his wife year,” said Hurt. “They're saving on their taxes and they're Katrina, a Roanoke native and wellness that are open to the Roanoke Valley He talked about the importance of community helping support conservation. Hollins University graduate, community. and relationships to health and longevity. “At live with their three children, It just becomes a no-brainer.” Dr. Joiner is board certified in Physical Med- The Village on Pheasant Ridge we are building Commercial banker Taylor Henry, 11, Phoebe, soon to icine and Rehabilitation. He graduated from a community centered around the interests, Cole of Augusta County, and be 8, and Leo, 3, in a restored Meharry Medical College School of Medicine activities and needs of the active seniors of the Salt Lake City, Utah attorney farmhouse on the Truman Hill in Nashville, TN in 1987, and completed his Roanoke Valley.” He added that at Pheasant Jim McLaughlin, founded Rd. property. Somehow, Hurt residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabili- Ridge, residents “come home to a beautiful Conservation Partners, LLC, even finds time to serve on the tation at the National Rehabilitation Hospital place” where healthy meals, exercise classes in 2002. Since that time, the Franklin County Board of Suin Washington, D.C. in 1991. Locally, he is af- and services are provided, which makes staycompany has assisted with pervisors. filiated with Lewis-Gale Medical Center and ing healthy and independent longer easier and Hurt feels bringing up a more than 300 conservation Lynchburg General Hospital, and he maintains more fun. easements, including over 60 family on a conserved farm is in 2008. The company now a blessing and a great environoffices in Roanoke and Lynchburg. Dr. Joiner has 12 full-time employees ment for his children. “Henry's a little conservaand provides a unique service tionist already,” said Hurt. “He for Virginia landowners. “There's nobody else in the helps us take care of the anistate that will work with a mals, he loves the forest, and landowner and provide a turn- playing in the creek is his fakey service, and then move the vorite activity. “I feel fortunate that I have a place like this to credits,” said Hurt. With the General Assembly raise my family.” THE TRAVEL AGENCY LISTED IN THE AD BELOW MUST AUTHORIZE THE INSERTION FOR THE facing a multi-billion dollar deficit this spring, he is conU.S. Kids Care (a youth leadership organization founded in Roanoke) is teaming up with the Contact David at cerned about the future of the dave@davidperryonline.com U S O of Hampton Roads and The Ladies of St. Rose to provide our troops overseas an opportunity to stay united with their families back home Kids Care would like Use thisin2The col.States. x 2” ad U.S. at the right to provide service members a Build-A-Bear in military uniform that holds a heart for insertion exclusively in thein his hands. Inside that heart is a sound device. The service member will be able to record a message to February 22, 2009 his/her child, allowing the child to press the heart and hear his/her father or mother’s voice Travel Section/Page of the every night. This bear will be the deployed parent’s parting gift.
The Village on Pheasant Ridge Announces Murray Evans Joiner, Jr., M.D. as Director of Health and Wellness
U.S. Kids Care’s Operation Bear Hug!
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2/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 15
Commentary: City needs to be more proactive in managing existing resources during difficult times I think it admirable that cultural organizations are stepping up to fill the MMT void as indicated in Gene Marrano’s article. However, I find the closing of MMT to be troubling. MMT was a major Roanoke landmark and it had served Roanoke well for approximately 40 years and originated almost 400 productions. The loss of MMT leaves a huge cultural void in the Historical Market area. I cannot fathom why Roanoke City did not funnel some monies to keep MMT afloat. There evidently were monies available for Roanoke City to spend. City Council voted on January 22, 2009 to sign a contract for $120,000.00 with a consulting firm to come up with conceptual plans for the Market Building. Previously, Roanoke has had at least three plans developed for downtown. More recent studies appear to be focused on making major changes to the Market Building and the outside vendors in the market area. Ironically, these two areas are what the Roanoke City Market for many years have been known and recognized for. I
can understand the need for expending monies for repairs and maintenance, but why try to fix something that isn’t broken? Last year, Roanoke City matched government grants to help raise the $1 million required to buy the four red and beige trolleys and the city taxpayer portion was approximately $200,000. I like the trolley concept, but what about all the vacant storefronts on Jefferson Street that people riding on the trolley see as they ride by? Also, what will be done with the vacated space in the Center in the Square Building that was previously occupied by MMT and also, by the Art Museum of Western Virginia, which moved into the new Taubman Museum of Art in November 2008? With the arrival of Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute, Roanoke City needs to focus on maintaining the landmarks that are in existence and also, get its downtown and market area in order by utilizing the most economic means. Otherwise, how can Roanoke attract the professionals from other areas for the institute? Within Roanoke City’s focus, it needs to
Community Calendar
> February
02/13/2009 Darwin Day Roanoke College’s biology department will host a celebration of Darwin’s 200th birthday and the 150th year of the Origins of the Species. 02/13/2009 to 02/15/2009 Star City Canine Agility Trials & Obedience At Salem Civic Center. Friday, February 13, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; Saturday, February 14, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; Sunday, February 15, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm; Admission Free 02/13/2009 to 02/14/2009 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam At Roanoke Civic Center Coliseum Reserved seats for Adults $28.00, $19.00; children 12 & under $7.00. Friday, February 13, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. 02/15/2009 3:00 PM Roanoke College Senior Music Project In Roanoke College’s Olin Recital Hall. Reception immediately following. 02/15/2009 3:00 PM Music of Argentina Mezzo soprano Ada Lis Lara. Talmadge Recital Hall, Bradley, Hollins University. For more information, visit www.hollins. edu/calendar. 02/19/2009 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Opening Reception for “Reimagining the Distaff Toolkit” Art Exhibit and Reception 02/19/2009 6:00 PM at 8:00 PM Art Exhibition Opening Reception at The Eleanor D.Wilson Museum at Hollins University Free and open to the public The Light Fantastic: Irish Stained Glass Art
> Feb. 14
Give Your Valentine an Arts Experience From the Taubman Museum of Art’s Tattoo Fashion Show, a special free film screening of Casablanca (1942) at The Grandin Theatre or a serenade by a quartet from the Virginia Gentlemen’s Barbershop Chorus, your Valentine will shower you with love and appreciation. And so will Mother Earth! For a complete listing of experiential gifts and art inspired offerings, visit The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge’s Virginia GEMS (Give Experiences. Minimize Stuff.) www.myvirginiagems.com and select Valentine’s Day GEMS. Virginia GEMS is sponsored by AEP, Cox Communications, the Roanoke Times, and WDBJ. For more - contact Krista Engl 540-224-1203 or kengl@ theartscouncil.org
> Feb. 18
Power to the People a ONE-NIGHT-ONLY event in celebration of Black History Month a creative exploration of your rights --especially your housing rights, with... hip hop emcee Poe Mack; hip hop emcee Shayna; fair housing expert Mally; roots music Marcus; spoken word Roma; law library roadshow Joey; visual artist DickiE; FREE REFRESHMENTS,including Maggie Moo’s ice cream, mmmm SUITABLE for all ages and types!
> Feb. 23
The Blue Ridge Wildflower Society Meeting at Monday, Feb 23, 7:00 pm at the Roanoke Church of Christ, 2606 Brandon Avenue.
The speaker will be Larry Wilcox of Chesapeake who will speak on Wildflowers of the Kansas Prairie. Visitors are welcome. For further information, call Rich Crites at 774-4518.
> Feb. 27
Roanoke Valley Democratic Women Meeting Meeting at the Roanoker Restaurant, 2522 Colonial Ave, Craig Kirby, Deputy Manager for Senator Mark Warner”s successful campaign will be the guest speaker. Visitors and prospective members are welcome. Call Mary A. Bowers for additional information - 343-1186 When - 11 a.m.
> March 4
Career and Lifestyle Fair he City of Roanoke will host another job fair on Wednesday, March 4, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall. For more information on being an exhibitor, contact Stuart Mease at stuart.mease@roanokeva.gov or visit www.roanokeva.gov/fairs.
> March 14
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Parade Starts at 11:00 a.m. Downtown Roanoke,VA (Jefferson Street, Campbell Ave. and Williamson Road) HomeTown Bank Celtic Festival: New Festival location! Parking lot at corner of Williamson Road & Church Avenue 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
carefully consider the downtown and market situation as a whole in conjunction with our current economy and it needs to spend any available dollars wisely and make the most with whatever monies it has available for special projects. Many if not all of the projects in process count on funding from any combination of Private, City, State, and Federal Grants and taxpayer dollars. State legislators have indicated that Virginia’s budget shortfall may reach $3.5 billion or $4 billion. It has been projected by Roanoke City that with the reductions in state aid, there would be a potential $3 million shortfall for fiscal 2009-2010 and that fiscal year 2010-2011 looked even worse. Wouldn’t it have made more sense for Roanoke City to utilize its available dollars toward holding onto and maintaining the jewels of Roanoke that it already had inclusive of keeping MMT afloat?
Susan Ayers suziscorner@cox.net
Commentary: Lincoln: celebrating the Man and His Party February 12th, is President Lincoln’s birthday - a day we should all celebrate. It is a day of celebration because of the great impact this man has had on our nation. Parke Godwin, editor of the Evening Post, in April 1865, said, "Through all his public function, there shone the fact that he was a wise and good man.... [He was] our most supreme leader—our safest counselor—our wisest friend—our dear father." It was his beliefs that transformed our nation to greatness. It was Abraham Lincoln who oversaw the nation being torn in two over the issue of slavery and reunified the nation with his commitment to reconstruction without penalty by the North after its victory over the South. Let me also point out that these beliefs were the beliefs of his party, the Republican Party. From the Republican Party, Senator Lyman Trumbull (R- IL), was the person who wrote the 13th Amendment. Passage of this amendment to abolish slavery had been part of the Republicans' 1864 national platform. In 1865, the 13th Amendment was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and had unanimous support from the Republican Senate. It was Lincoln’s Republican Party that began to rally behind attempts to extend the right to vote for women. This movement started under Re-
publican President Grant. Finally, lead by the Republican Senators, on August 18, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment of the Constitution was ratified, guaranteeing all American women the right to vote. Now, it is the Republican Congress that is pressing for balanced budgets. It is the Republican Congress that wants lower taxes for everyone. Our very own, U.S. Congressman, Bob Goodlatte has introduced a bill at the beginning of each year’s House calling for a new tax code to replace the mess that we now have under which so many presidential appointees are having trouble understanding what to report as income. In Virginia, it is a Republican State Senator Ralph Smith, that has introduced legislation that would prohibit votes like last year’s approval of a $77 billion State Budget until it’s been on the General Assembly’s Web site for at least 72 hours to allow the legislation and citizens time to review. (Compared to the 34 minutes recently given before the Democrats tried to call for the vote.) In 2008, the Republican majority of the Virginia House of Delegates, passed legislation to record votes within subcommittees. It is this call for transparency that the Republican Party is fighting for at every level of government, including President Obama’s bail out plan presently under
consideration in Congress. Republican Delegate Saxman is leading the fight to protect and guarantee Virginia’s status as a "right-to-work" state with legislation to safeguard employees from being forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment. A study of political history will show that the Republican Party is more in line with American thinking than they are given credit for. Public relations are critically important in this day and time and the news media isn’t helping get the real facts out. We should all be thankful for President Lincoln and all those who he has inspired. Their ideas and struggles should be dear to every citizen. Mike Bailey Roanoke, Va.
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Mass Meeting Of Roanoke City Republican Committee As Chairman of the Roanoke City Republican Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia, and pursuant to the Plan of Organization and as recommended and directed by the Committee, I, Adam W. Boitnott, do hereby issue this call for a MASS MEETING to be held at Roanoke City Council Chambers, 215 Church Ave., S.W., City of Roanoke, at 7:00 p.m. on February 24, 2009, for the following purposes: 1. Electing up to 475 Delegates and 475 Alternates to the State Convention of the Republican Party, to be held on May 29 and 30 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 North Third Street, Richmond City, starting at 2:00 p.m. 2. The transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. The purposes of the State Convention are to nominate a Candidate for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. Roanoke City is entitled to 95 Delegate Votes at the State Convention based on the Republican votes for president and governor at their last election. Qualifications for Participation All legal and qualified voters of Roanoke City under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, regardless of race, religion, national origin or sex, who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party and who, if requested, express in open meeting, either orally or in writing as may be required, their intent to support all of its nominees for public office in the ensuing election, may participate as members of the Republican Party of Virginia in its mass meetings, party canvasses, conventions or primaries encompassing their respective election districts. All individuals desiring to participate in the Mass Meeting may be required to present some form of identification such as a voting card, drivers’ license or other positive identification. In addition to the foregoing, to be in accord with the principles of the Republican Party, unless otherwise stipulated by the appropriate Official Committee, a person otherwise qualified hereunder shall not have participated in Virginia in the nomination process of a party other than the Republican Party after March 1, 2004, or in the last five years, whichever is more recent. A single exception to this shall be approved for a voter that renounces affiliation with any other party in writing, and who expresses in writing that he/she is in accord with the principles of the Republican Party and intends, at the time of the writing, to support the nominees of the Republican Party in the future. Any voter that utilizes the foregoing exception, and thereafter participates in the nomination process of a party other than the Republican Party, shall not have the benefit of the exception thereafter. Candidate Pre-Filing Requirements Delegates may pre-file up to the meeting time of 7:00pm on February 24, 2009. To pre-file prior to February 15, 2009 you can either send the pre-file form to Adam Boitnott 3929 Three Chop Lane Roanoke, VA 24014 or via e-mail at aboitnott@cox.net. After February 15, 2009 please e-mail the form to aboitnott@cox.net or bring the form to the meeting. You do not need to be present to be voted on as a delegate. Pre-file forms can be found on www.roanokerepublicans.org or obtained during the registration period prior to the meeting from 6pm-7pm on February 24, 2009. Mass Meeting Registration Registration for the Mass Meeting will begin at 6:00 a.m. and end at 7:00 p.m. All persons in line by 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to register for the Mass Meeting.
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Registration Fee There will be a voluntary registration fee of $5.00 requested of each voter at the mass meeting. There is a voluntary registration fee of $35 for the State Convention. Voluntary fees are requested to be paid at the time of filing for election as a Delegate for each respective convention, payable to the Roanoke City Republican Committee.
Paid for and authorized by the Roanoke City Republican Committee, Adam W. Boitnott, Chairman.
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Page 16 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 2/13/09
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Shorter response times possible with new firehouse Shorter response times to calls and Roanoke City’s first completed LEED-certified building are highlights of the new fire and rescue Station Number 3 at the corner of Williamson and Birchlawn. By relocating some equipment from the station at the Roanoke Regional Airport, Chief David Hoback said at a recent ribbon cutting that response times to calls could also be reduced by a precious minute or more. “This station needs to be in the community,” said Hoback, adding that a study of where demand for service in that corridor was coming from made the new station a necessity. The 2.3 million dollar structure was built with energy conservation and recycling in mind, and will qualify for some level of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the time all the paperwork is done. The new fire and rescue station on Melrose, where a groundbreaking was held two weeks ago, will also meet LEED standards set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council. City Manager Darlene Burcham called it a “bold step,” to spend more initially on a building, but the energy savings later on will make up for that she noted. Architect Steve Sunderman (RRMM Architects) called Station 3 “a true milestone [for] our community,” then ticked off a list of LEED-inspired attributes that include enhanced
insulation, water conservation measures, hightech windows, LED lighting to save money and a super-efficient HVAC system. “We can build better, healthier buildings,” insisted Sunderman, who termed the City’s push for LEED construction “a strategy of change.” Several City Council members, former ViceMayor Bev Fitzpatrick and a host of retired firefighters were on hand for the festivities at #3, which went into operation on January 16. “The idea for it really goes back many years,” noted Bowers during his brief remarks. The Mayor, who said initial plans for the station date back about eight years, cited local residents and groups like the Williamson Road Area Business Association for helping locate a firehouse nearer to homes and businesses. A community room at the station will be available to local groups and civic associations. Towing company owner Mike Conner, representing Williamson Road business owners, said, “it is very comforting to me to know that our emergency services are …closer. It makes an enormous difPhoto by David Perry ference. This is something that has certainly gone David Perry, Caroline Walz, Meagan Cupka, and Roger Holnback of the Western Virginia Land right.” Trust along Roaring Run in Franklin County. By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net
Roanoke’s “U.S. Kids Care” launches newest project, “Operation Bear Hug” U.S. Kids Care’s newest undertaking is sure to bring a lot of greatly needed smiles to children across the commonwealth. Katie Levy, President of U.S. Kids Care, heard about a project that the Ladies of St. Rose were working on in Hampton Roads, Virginia with the USO to help get “Build A Bears” to children whose parents are being deployed from Virginia. “I could not sit back without trying to do something with U.S. Kids Care to help with this amazing project,” says Katie. So she contacted Liz Williams, from The Ladies of St. Rose, and asked her if she could start the project in Roanoke. A few days later “Operation Bear Hug” began. The purpose of “Operation Bear Hug” is to help children, whose parents are being deployed in the military, have something to hold onto while their parents are away. The children will be given bears, created by “Build A Bear,” which are dressed in military fatigues and hold a heart in their hand. Inside that heart is a sound device. The service member will be able to record a message to his/her child, allowing the child to press the heart and hear his/her father or mother’s voice every night. This bear will be the deployed parent’s parting gift. The bears cost $28.50 each to adopt and truly help the children get through the long and lonely periods of time without their parents being by their side to give them a hug themselves. “I know this is a lot of money in today’s economy, but I challenge families to make it a project the whole family can get involved in. Children can do chores to help pay for the bear or maybe an allowance can be offered up as a special gift to help with the adoption. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, or friends can also be part of the adoption,” says Levy. With a U.S. Kids Care collection day at Kroger Tanglewood and with the help of some friends, enough money has already been raised to adopt 30 bears. “But I would like to add a zero or two to that number . . . I know the people of Virginia are full of generosity and can help bring a smile to these children. Thousands of men and women are being deployed from Virginia to serve our country.” If you would like to help make a difference for a child whose parent is being deployed, then adopt a bear from “Operation Bear Hug”. You can contact Katie Levy at uskidscare@cox.net to receive an adoption form or just clip out the “Operation Bear Hug” ad in a copy of this week’s Roanoke Star- Sentinel (Page 14) and mail it into: U.S. Kids Care, P O Box 8235, Roanoke, VA 24014. Don’t forget to add a personal message to the soldier you are adopting for!
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Trout Stream Along Blue Ridge Parkway Protected by Western Virginia Land Trust
Jack Norton and his family have placed a riparian conservation easement on a mile and a half of Roaring Run, a good trout stream below Smart View on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Franklin County. The easement on 19.5 acres of stream frontage is co-held by the Western Virginia Land Trust and the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District. Hank Norton, his father, bought the wooded hillside tract of 212 acres while he was football coach and athletic director at Ferrum College for 34 years. The older Norton retired to Deltaville in eastern Virginia and the property is now held by Jack Norton, his brother Frank, and two cous-
ins, Carter and Will. The easement prevents most timbering along the creek bottom, but allows the Nortons to fish, hunt, maintain trails and do all the things they love. Roaring Run flows down from Walnut Knob and Brushy Knob into Runnet Bag Creek and on into Philpott Lake. Norton, who works with auto dealers to place their car inventories online for prospective buyers, loves to throw in a line for native trout, mostly rainbow, but he always puts them back. If he wants to take fish back to his home at Ferrum, he goes after the larger brook trout. Jack Norton, his wife, Krista, son Jackson and daugh-
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ter Summer, enjoy fishing and camping on the family woodland. Jackson loves the outdoors and he’s learning to catch trout. Summer is a camper. Hopefully, the children will enjoy the protected stream on into the future, Norton said. The Western Virginia Land Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is promoting the conservation of western Virginia’s natural resources farms, forests, waterways, and rural landscapes. Since 1996, the Western Virginia Land Trust has helped to conserve more than 56,000 acres of land. For more information, call 985-0000 or visit www.westernvirginialandtrust.org.
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2/13/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 17
TheRoanokeStar.com
Kirk Family YMCA Campaign Nears Finish Line
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“The Roanoke Valley’s Most Beautiful Cemetery”
Roanoke’s Kirk Family YMCA is entering what Y officials describe as a “last lap” in its current “Grow The Y” capital campaign. Even in the midst of an economic downturn, the Y has raised almost $1.2 million toward a goal of $1.25 million to begin expansion and renovation work on the downtown Y. Actual construction will not begin until the fundraising goal is completely achieved. “It’s important that we make wise and prudent financial decisions and be good stewards of the resources our donors have provided,” said Cal Johnson, YMCA of Roanoke Valley’s executive director. “Hopefully, we will cross our financial finish line in the very near future.” Facility improvement plans include doubling the size of the Wellness Center, as well as renovating and expanding the Teen Center, group exercise areas, youth activity rooms and adding a fourth handball/racquetball court. Several years ago, the Y’s corporate board of directors unanimously voted to keep the original Y downtown, ultimately resulting in the construc-
tion of the Kirk Family YMCA. With the current redevelopment efforts stretching as far west as 6th street, the Y’s presence downtown is seen as an asset to developers. As far as future growth, Johnson sees the current capital projects as the building blocks to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead, such as serving even more families and addressing the growing need to help people live healthier lives.
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Founded in 1928, Sherwood combines serene elements of nature with exquisite and carefully planned architecture on an expanse of more than 100 acres nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Veterans Garden to Open Memorial Legacy Stones Now Available
As a non-profit cemetery we are always looking for ways to enhance our beauty, and contribute to the community. That is why we are pleased to announce our beautiful new Veterans Garden to pay tribute to those who serve. You can be among the first to honor your Veteran in our Memorial Walkway by purchasing a Legacy Stone. (Ten percent of the proceeds of each sale will benefit the American Legion Legacy Scholarship for the children of US military personnel who pass away while on active duty.) For over the past 70 years Lee Hartman & Sons has provided the Roanoke Valley with quality Audio and Visual products and service. If your House of Worship is planning or has questions regarding an up to date Audio Visual System, please contact Mike for information that best suits your organization.
Examples of legacy stones that will be inlaid into the Veterans Memorial at Sherwood
We have classes for up to date Audio Visual products and maintenance. These popular and in depth classes fill up fast and prior registration is required, please contact Charlotte Krantz at 540-366-
1250 E. Main Street Salem, Virginia 24153 www.sherwoodmemorialpark.com
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Page 18 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 2/13/09
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This year go ahead and love your lawn.
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