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Community | News | Per spective

January 2, 2009

TheRoanokeStar.com

Uninsured pay highest price for health care Jon Kaufman

Tough Sale

P4– Renovation plans lead to all sorts of difficulties as Jon Kaufman attempts to have a winter yard sale.

Robot Wars

P6– A Virginia Tech Engineering team takes first place in an international robot design competition.

Hoopla Results P7– William Fleming dominates as expected and wins the 2008 Roanoke Holiday Hoopla tournament.

Current estimates put the number of uninsured Americans at 47 million.

These uninsured patients have reason to expect their cost of health care will be high. After all, they are paying out of pocket. What the uninsured may not realize is that the prices they are expected to pay are usually two to four times higher than charges billed to insured patients for the same procedures.

According to Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Price Point, Carilion charg-

County Supervisor’s first year eventful

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be easy to fall through the cracks of a charity care policy. For instance, patients qualify for Carilion charity care, for instance, based on federal poverty guidelines (FPG). and FPGs are based on annual income. Under these guidelines a family of four with an annual income $21,200 is classified as fully impoverished and should receive free care from Carilion. But, currently, a family of four may earn up to four

]

> CONTINUED P2: Uninsured

The very best moment of 2008

[Economic Development] Roanoke City Job Fair big success in tough times

From the publisher

Charlotte Moore has spent one year in office representing the citizens of Roanoke County as a Supervisor from the Cave Spring Magisterial District.

Her fouryear term did not get off to a very welcome start. When she attended the Board Charlotte Moore meeting in December 2007, her predecessor, Mike Wray, usurped what should have been Moore’s appointment to the Planning Commission.

He appointed Rodney McNeil, who had just run against her in the election for Supervisor. It is usually customary for the incoming Board member to make the appointment in that district.

(Moore ran as a Democrat in a Republican district and upset the GOP candidate, Roanoke Co. McNeil, by several dozen votes.)

According to Moore, “I went in with a fight, and some people went out of their way to cause that fight. I understand that I

[

es $4,822 for one of its most common Medicare or Medicaid will pay roughly procedures, an uncomplicated vaginal 35%, or $1,687. However, the 47 mildelivery. That $4,822 is the “list price� lion uninsured Americans, however, for a delivery at a Carilion facility, but do not have anyone negotiating the list no insurer, government or price down on their behalf. private, pays full list price.

Therefore, those healthcare Healthcare In fact the medical payment purchasers will most likesystem is built around insurers negoti- ly be left to pay the full list price, or ating massive discounts on list prices. $4,822, for the same delivery.

The average private insurer will usually Not for profit hospitals like Carilpay approximately 65% of list price in- ion often argue that charity care policluding patient copayment, or $3,134 cies already cover uninsured patients for the delivery, while those covered by deserving of financial aid. But it can

Photo by Pam Rickard

R

oanoke Economic Development Office representatives Lisa Soltis (left) and Melissa Murray help orient prospective job seekers as they enter the Roanoke Holiday Career and Lifestyle Fair on Tuesday at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall. Now in its fourth year the Job Fair grants free admission to both employers seeking qualified applicants to fill open positions and job seekers looking for new career opportunities.

Rol Waters, Director of the Career Service Office at Ferrum College who has been at-

]

> CONTINUED P3: Charlotte Moore

tending the Job Fair since its inception said that this year’s event attracted over double the number of normal participants. Stuart Meese, Special Project Coordinator for the Roanoke City Economic Development Office said that he believed the large numbers indicated two things, “that economic conditions are perhaps even worse than people realize and that we need to do far more of these types of events.� Lisa Soltis added that she believed the Economic Development Office would be discussing that possibility soon.

I know that in writing a column about the very best moment of 2008 you are probably expecting some sage-like reflection on recent efforts involving world peace, or Barack Obama’s election, or perhaps strides made in educating our youth. But my mind is on nothing of the sort.

Because the very best moment of 2008 was clearly when Stuart Revercomb hooked into an 170 pound plus tarpon on Thursday, June 26th, at 7:22 PM while sitting about a third of a mile off shore as the sun sank lazily in the Pawley’s Island, South Carolina sky.

Picture this: My friend Doug Ross and I are splayed-back in two kayaks equipped for just such an endeavor. Well sort of – we are set up to catch fish that are somewhere between 2 ounces and 35 pounds. We have taken two whiting (a small, somewhat trout-like fish) of about Our Take 8 inches and hooked them onto two home-made King Mackerel rigs that are equipped with K-Mart water bottles for bobbers. (We may not be proud but we are resourceful.) Our two fish (we have dubbed them “Merle� and

[

]

> CONTINUED P3: Best Moment

Acts 2 Ministry provides critical lifeline for Roanoke youth

Worldly Music P11– More than just a gallery, the Taubman Musuem of Art hosts “World Folk Songs in Music and Dance.�

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If someone told you that you could accomplish great things with very few resources, they may get your attention, especially in today’s economy.

Acts 2, an urban Christian teen ministry in downtown Roanoke, exists to prove that statement can be a fact.

Lee Pusha, Acts 2’s executive director, describes the ministry’s goal as “creating a community of believers that transcends all racial and socio-economic barriers. We seek to do this by providing hope for the lost and hurting through the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. By continuously being his [Christ’s] ‘hands and feet’. we pray that God will heal the deep wounds that lead to cycles of poverty, drugs, neglect and hate which are so prevalent in our neighborhoods.�

Photo by Pam Rickard Acts 2 strives to reach kids through Acts 2 Club in downtown Roanoke was filled to capacity during a recent its weeknight clubs for middle and high Wednesday evening with singing and laughter.

Roanoke area high school school students, after school programs, students gather at Acts 2 Club for music, teaching, fellowship, bible study, small group Bible studies, one-on-one tutoring and mentoring. and small group discipleship meetings, mentoring, camps and retreats. for Total Action Against Pov- they are worth,� he says. “I know that it’s Pusha, who has served as erty. one of the reasons it is hard to recruit Acts 2’s leader for just under a Community When asked about his greatstaff. Raising your own salary can be year, holds a Masters of Theolest concern for the ministry, very difficult. ogy degree from Jacksonville TheologiPusha doesn’t hesitate. “I also wish that more inner city cal Seminary and most recently served “I wish that I could pay my staff what churches would get on board with Acts as Workforce Development Manager

[

]

2,� he added.

Roanoke’s First Baptist Church is Acts 2’s main funding source, along with Cave Spring Baptist and individual donors who give monthly. But, as is the case with most non-profit community service organizations, donations have decreased lately, and Acts 2 is facing severe budget challenges.

Pusha is not one to complain, however. He beams when he talks about the kids that participate in the club’s activities, saying, “My greatest joy is knowing for certain that I am where God wants me to be. I am continually seeing the fruit from the work.�

Katrina, a high school senior and regular club member, said the only thing she doesn’t like about Acts 2 is that they “don’t meet often enough.� “I love it here, everybody connects with you. I just wish we met every week instead of every other week,� she said.

On a recent cold Wednesday evening, some 110 club members, guests, volunteers and leaders packed into the large meeting room in Acts 2’s building on > CONTINUED P2: Acts 2

Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/2/09

TheRoanokeStar.com

> Uninsured From page 1

times that amount and Carilion may still offer the family some charity care.

This is where it gets confusing. The system is graded. Families of four earning between $21,200 and $84,800 annually do not receive free, but rather reduced cost care. As income goes up, the discounts go down. At $63,600, a family of four qualifies for charity care from Carilion at 75% of list price. As noted, the average private insurer pays hospitals 65% of list price. So Carilion actually charges some of its charity care patients more than it charges insurers.

And none of this takes into account that having more than $30,000 in equity can fully disqualify a patient from any charity care, regardless of income. Ken King, president of the Coalition for Responsible Health Care, finds the equity qualification with charity care particularly frustrating.

King thinks that, among other concerns, the qualification discriminates against older citizens who have had more time to pay off a mortgage. “You have the same income, and you’re paying the same mortgage,” said King. “It doesn’t mean you’re any richer or poorer than you were to begin with.”

King also noted that the equity qualification ties charity care to a currently volatile housing market: “One of the ironies here is that if I got a judgment against me a year ago because I didn’t qualify for charity care because I had $30,000 dollars of equity in my house, if I had that same medical emergency today, my house having deflated in value by maybe 30 grand, I’m qualified for charity care today but I have a judgment against me from a year ago because I was unfortunate enough to have a medical need when my houses value was up.”

The practice of charging the uninsured full list price is often deemed “price gouging” and has been reported on sporadically since receiving heavy media attention in 2004. The limited press has not brought much government action. Some states have unsuccessfully floated legislation with the goal of setting price maximums on procedures for the uninsured. Illinois actually adopted a bill last September which capped billable charges to the uninsured at 35% above what Medicare pays. Even this legislation, however, only applies to families within set Federal Poverty Guidelines and has various restrictions based on equity. If the same bill were applied to Roanoke, uninsured citizens would arguably be better covered by Carilion’s charity policy.

Federal courts have been equally apprehensive when weighing in on the subject. In June a New Jersey Case, DiCarlo v. St. Mary’s Hospital, in which a patient sued a hospital for being charged full list price, made it all the way to federal appeals court. The court ruled against DiCarlo, pointing to a lower court decision which stated “What plaintiff is asking the court to do here is, put simply, to solve the problems of the American health care system, problems that the political branches of both the federal and state governments and the efforts of the private sector have, thus far, been unable to resolve.”

So if neither charity care or government programs are going to protect the uninsured, who or what will? Pat Palmer, CEO and founder of Medical Billing Advocates of America (based out of Salem, VA) has been considering that question for much of her career. Ten years ago, Palmer went to Washington with the aim of, among other things, stabilizing prices for the uninsured. “I went to Washington DC, being naïve.” Palmer said. “I took evidence and said here’s what’s happening.

After six months they still didn’t know what committee to approach. It’s like you’re beating your head against the wall when it comes to the government.”

Seeing no movement from Washington, Palmer decided if no one would negotiate with hospitals on behalf of the uninsured, someone would have to teach uninsured patients to negotiate for themselves. Many uninsured patients don’t realize they’re paying marked up prices, and even if

they do, most don’t have the knowledge needed to pick through medical billing and negotiate prices. A report by Gerard Anderson of John Hopkins University found that only 1 in 20 uninsured patients successfully negotiate lower rates. But uninsured patients can sometimes negotiate prices down if they have the right tools. Judges have reduced uninsured patients’ bills when patients are able to show major price discrepancies between what they are paying versus what hospitals regularly accept from insurers. Medicare and insurance rates for common procedures can be found at the Medical Billing Advocates website or the website of Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association PricePoint System.

Palmer says sometimes entire bills will be dropped when patients request detailed itemized bills and find erroneous, or “unbillable” charges. Palmer has seen a wide variety of claims cases dropped due to unbillable charges over the years, charges as extreme as duplicate or unperformed surgeries. In one bill referenced by Palmer, a $45,330 charge for a Laparoscopy Prostatectomy (Medicare would have paid $6,800 for the same procedure) included a $345 charge for 23 Tylenol pills. That is 15 dollars a pill. Palmer has also seen teddy bears labeled “cough support devices” billed for $80, and kleenex labeled as “mucus recovery systems” billed by the sheet.

None of this really answers the question, though, of why hospitals are allowed to demand the highest payments from the patients least likely to be able to pay medical bills at all. One could attempt to make a “volume” argument. If insurers bring in large numbers of patients, they should naturally be given a reduced, bulk rate. But that doesn’t really make sense in medicine. Insurers don’t bring in patients, illness does, and even if insurers could steer patients towards particular hospitals (as with HMOs or “preferred hospital” plans), receiving patients in bulk does not reduce cost. Procedures, man hours and supplies rack up cost for hospitals. The cost of care depends on what procedures the patient requires, not whether he’s covered by Anthem or Aetna.

A simpler answer for why hospitals price gouge the uninsured would be profit. If hospitals can wring more money out of people, even the uninsured, they apparently will. Hospitals, even not for profits, are businesses after all.

But that answer is perhaps too simple. While there is a direct financial incentive behind collecting from the uninsured, a small fraction of uninsured patients actually do pay off the entire list charge, and in most hospitals uninsured patients make up only about three percent of hospital revenues. Arguably the much bigger financial incentive behind high list prices results from the way hospitals calculate bad debt and charity care totals. Both bad debt and charity care are usually calculated by hospitals using full list prices, and both are used to assess a hospital’s “community benefit.” Community benefit is the very measurement which qualifies hospitals for “not for profit” status. Maintaining not for profit status earns hospitals millions of dollars in tax exemptions. So high list prices, which only the uninsured pay, in turn allow hospitals to exaggerate the value of charity care for the uninsured.

Recent studies have found almost half of all personal bankruptcy filings are related to medical bills. Locally, the outcry over the 33,000 judgments obtained by Carilion over the last five years illustrates the strain medical bills can put on those least able to pay. Another unanswered question in all of this: would the outcome of those 33,000 cases have been the same if uninsured patients were not charged full list price?

By Case Blackwell info@theroanokestar.com

> Acts 2 From page 1

Luck Avenue.

Many of the middle and high school students are able to attend due to the transportation Acts 2 provides through three vans and volunteer drivers.

There were no game tables, videos or televisions in sight. The evening began with light-hearted banter and singing led by the club’s After School Program Director, Kristen (KB) Betts.

It was evident that Betts was gifted in her ability to engage the large, boisterous crowd while gaining their respect and attention.

After more singing and an icebreaker game involving Christmas wrapping, cookie icing, egg nog and lots of laughter, Betts introduced Matt Murphy, the evening’s main speaker.

Murphy, Pastor of All Nations METRO Church (currently meeting in the Jefferson Center), connected with the audience immediately by delivering the beginning of his message through rap: “The truth is I ain’t perfect but who is?

Not the preacher or the player just Christ the truth kid is He lives some “ride or die” but I die to ride Christ is the driver but he’s also inside so I strive to overcome most get overrun try to get this and have that and it weighs on them like a ton but freedom has been given even in death I’m livin’ cats is running the streets but spiritually they in prison from Orange Ave to Melrose, Marshall to Moorman I could die broke but never ever be a poor man ‘cause when I get to heaven I’ll be walking them gold streets so the ice in your grill really got dirt from off of my feet don’t trust the money it ain’t funny watch the honeys they walking like Playboy bunnies you get burned like a dummy now somethin’s off in her tummy- DFACS is in your check wit a baby she ain’t graduate- now three lives wrecked don’t get mad at the artist I just paint the picture you want the truth? I’ll get witcha’ - open up the scripture John 3:18 said folks already condemned so I picked up my pen and said, “repent from your sin!” turn it over to Jehovah- stop being a slave to the lies to the greed to the drank and get saved turn it over to Jehovah- stop being a slave to the sex, to the lies to the weed and get saved turn it over to Jehovah- stop being a slave stop being a slave, stop being a slave.”

After an enthusiastic round of applause, Murphy continued his message with his personal testimony and encouraged the kids to “take a stand for God.”

Photo by Pam Rickard

Teens listened intently to speaker Matt Murphy who connected with the kids through his personal experience and a “homemade” rap message.

“Don’t be surprised if the world hates you [for trying to live right], everybody wants it quick and easy,” he said, “I care enough to tell you the truth.”

After Murphy finished, the large group broke into six or seven smaller groups for Bible study and sharing.

For Pusha, Murphy’s heartfelt message is a powerful example of just one of the ways Acts 2 attempts to connect with the young people whose lives it strives to impact.

“I like to look at Acts 2 as more of a social work, case management type of inner city ministry. We have a full time staff who attend to kids not only on a group basis, but individually as well. We also recruit volunteers who disciple and mentor each teen,” Pusha said.

For more information on Acts 2 and to find out how to volunteer or donate resources to the ministry, visit www.acts2ministry.org.

By Pam Rickard pam@theroanokestar.com

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1/2/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3

TheRoanokeStar.com

> Best Moment From page 1

“Earl�) are swimming for their lives about three feet below the surface perhaps 20 yards from our two boats.

Doug and I are no longer chatting from boat to boat but have been lolled by the gentle early evening wave action into a sort of cathartic half-slumber as we dream of the fried shrimp and cheesy grits that are being prepared for us on yonder coast. My kayak is pointed south. Doug is off to my port (left) side. My “bobber� is slowly making its way towards his boat perhaps 15 yards away now. I utter something inane like, “looks like Earl is making a run at ya Doug . . .�

Doug lifts his straw hat slightly off his brow to gain a better vantage on Earl and begins an equally inane reply when suddenly the world stops spinning and life begins remarkably anew. With absolutely no warning the ocean literally explodes in a teeming, frothy tempest as a six-to seven-foot long tarpon comes up completely out of the water, does two full body wags and lands within ten feet of Doug’s kayak. I have never seen such a fish, up close or otherwise, in my life. I think it might be a dinosaur - or perhaps “Nelly� of Loch Ness fame. But whatever it is, it has just eaten, nay – inhaled, my pal Earl, and I am going to know in about 3

seconds whether my hook has set somewhere in his hellishly gaping mouth.

Doug for his part looks as though he has seen the beginning of the end - as in Armageddon. He is (and this doesn’t happen too often) momentarily speechless and his mouth is almost as wide as the fish’s. He points incredulously at where the “thing� just erupted and shouts so loud that people in France probably took notice, “THAT’S A 200 POUND FISH!!!�

He looks at me, his mouth still agape, and adds, “DID YOU SEE THAT?! DID YOU SEE . . .�

I am now at the moment of truth and yes, he is there. Whatever it was, I have him – or perhaps more appropriately, he has me. My rod lunches forward, and save the kayak’s ability to move on the water and break the impact of the jolt, the rod would have certainly been ripped from my hands. In fact, as I begin to go on what whalers once referred to as a “Nantucket sleigh ride,� I realize that the kayak is acting as its own active drag system, allowing me the chance to adjust the drag on the reel to what the mighty fish is doing -which is mostly running like a Mark IV torpedo at about 20 knots on a bee line to the Southeast. At this rate I might make

the Bahamas by nightfall.

As my line sings off my reel and I begin to pick up speed, I turn to Doug who is perhaps 50 yards away now. He is paddling like mad to keep up and just as I am about to yell to him, “Guess I’ll see you when I see you!� the fish stops and I am able to get back several yards of line. Suddenly everything goes silent. “Still got him?� Doug yells, closing in. “Not sure – I think he might have turned . . .�

The massive tarpon explodes once again from the sea as his body wags powerfully from side to side -his brilliant silver bluegreen scales shimmering in the fading sun. The great fish sends arching waves of water cascading forward as he plummets back into the sea - the mist of which is carried away on the gathering breeze.

Doug and I turn to each other and just smile – there are no words, we are simply taking in a great moment together and we know it. It is friendship at its best - caught in the middle of a magical scene as God puts His great creation so incredibly and beautifully on display. It is nature to be sure, but it is inspired nature and there is glory and grace in both its unexpectedness and its raw and pure beauty. To share such a moment is truly a gift and I won’t forget Doug’s

> Charlotte Moore From page 1

was new and had never been in the political sphere before and maybe there was concern that I did not have the experience to appoint someone. It made things uneasy and gave me a feeling of non-acceptance.� She is trying to pass a resolution to prevent this from happening again in the future.

Moore wasn’t entirely a public service neophyte: following high school at Cave Spring, she joined the Roanoke City Auxiliary Police Department and later worked for the Roanoke County Sheriff ’s Department. On the business side she has been a realtor for 22 years, and for 10 years has owned and operated Dream Scapes, a landscaping business. Moore has a Class A Contractors License and has built a number of homes, so she is no stranger to working with planning and zoning, surveyors, appraisers, fellow realtors, and attorneys - experience that she has put to good use serving the citizens of Roanoke County.

One accomplishment during the past year that Moore recalls was her dealings with AEP on the route proposal for the Sunscape Project, a new electric transmission line and substation to meet the growing demand for electricity in southwest Roanoke County. Moore worked to have the substation moved from an original proposal for placement behind houses on Woodland Drive, to another off Ogden Road, which will be more hidden and not directly behind residences. She also worked with AEP to change the route of the power lines from running along Ogden and Colonial Ave., to have them placed along Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.

Moore’s preference for the power lines has always been to have AEP put them underground. It would be a much greater expense, but she is not giving up on that fight. That proposal was presented to Virginia’s State Corporation Commission on December 10th and a decision has not yet been made public.

Moore also worked to initiate noise reduction efforts by the Mennel Milling Company of Virginia, which began operating a new plant in southwest Roanoke County in the summer of 2007. Residents on Meadowlark Road in the Penn Forest subdivision had been complaining about the mill noise for some time. “The people who own the mill have been wonderful to work with,� said Moore. “They have spent the whole summer designing and having decibel readings done.� Over the past month silencers for roof vents were scheduled to be installed and Moore is hoping that will make a difference for the people who live on nearby Meadowlark Road.

One major disappointment for Moore has been the revival of the plans for a Super WalMart in the Clearbrook area of Southwest County. She instead supports the Clearbrook Village Overlay District, hammered out with local residents, which al-

lows commercial development but excludes “big box� stores.

The overlay district was approved by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors in December 2000 and later tweaked with the help of residents. In October 2006 the Supervisors voted for a Special Use Permit for the Super Wal-Mart, which spurred a year and half of lawsuits from the group, “Citizens for Smart Growth.�

The suits all failed but in May 2008, Wal-Mart chose to pull out of their plans for the new store. Then in September the developer announced that they were back in business and had options to purchase 13 parcels of land needed to begin development. Moore has also been publicly hopeful that something good will come of the Slate Hill project at Franklin Rd. and U.S. 220 which is yet to be developed.

In general she has talked about smart growth and more careful development -- balanced with protecting the valley’s natural assets.

Moore is also concerned about another project that was approved by the Board before her term - the new recreation facility in North Roanoke County, near Valley Point Center. The ground-breaking was held in June and building construction is now well underway. The $30 million facility will provide recreational opportunities, programs and meeting space for the community.

Moore is very concerned with the current economic climate and wonders if it is the right time to build a recreational center. “I hope and pray that it does well, but I had a different opinion about building the rec center.� Moore opposed spending that much money on the socalled multi-generational center when there are so many other pressing capital needs for the county, including a number of schools in need of repair.

The new South County library is another project that was initiated before Moore’s term; however, she feels that the new library is greatly needed. The current headquarters on Rt. 419 is overcrowded and doesn’t have the amenities of many modern library centers. She is excited about the plans to protect the wetland areas around the library, with raised walking platforms and a nature trail on the site. Moore said that bids for construction came in higher than expected, causing a delay in groundbreaking. The target is 15 million dollars but early bids are reportedly in the $20 million range.

Never a dull moment: a new controversy sprung up around Thanksgiving for the Cave Spring supervisor when homeowner David Barudin, from semi-rural Crystal Creek Drive, met with Moore about his concern with Appalachian Power, which had sprayed herbicides under the power lines and near the creek. A distressed fawn found panting by a neighbor shortly after AEP had sprayed died a day later, leaving Barudin

and others to wonder if those herbicides were toxic – and if there were more natural alternatives.

Moore moderated a meeting at the County Administration Building in November, attended by about 50 people. Residents were concerned with the use of toxic chemicals near the waterway and around children, pets, livestock, and wildlife. Rupert Cutler of the Western Virginia Water Authority attended, as did EPA regional representative Myles Bartos. AEP spokesman Terry Hall said that they would work with homeowners and their concerns, although Barudin remains skeptical. Moore promised to stay on top of any investigation.

Early in Moore’s term a jogger died in a hit and run accident on Springlawn Avenue, prompting criticism that scheduled work to make that short residential roadway less of a cut-through had been delayed too long. VDOT moved up the timetable and the work has been completed.

Her first year has certainly been eventful, and tragic in at least one case. The single mother of two twenty-somethings takes it all in stride. “The part that I enjoy most [as supervisor] is working with people and being able to make a difference in what they are fighting for,� said Moore. “The part that I least enjoy is being upfront and in the limelight.�

She said that she feels for the people who come to the formal Board meetings to speak - and are only allowed to talk for three minutes. They have few other opportunities to interact with the Supervisors and ask questions, although Moore makes herself available at local civic league meetings and the like.

At board meetings, sitting up front on the dais, she is careful not to tip her hand and let people see her concern. That is why she is adamant about having those community meetings, where she can get more personal with people. She values the citizen’s input in each and every decision that she has to make.

Moore estimates that she spends from 30-40 hours a week on the “part time� job as a Supervisor. “I don’t want to get so comfortable with this job that it just becomes routine. I want to know enough about whatever I will be voting on to make the right decision. The more people that I talk to and the more research that I do on something, helps to give me the chance to make the right decision.�

A quite figure one year ago on the campaign trail, Moore has found her voice while growing in stature on the board. When asked about what it means to be a Democrat on the county level, Moore’s response was, “Nothing... I would like to see nonpartisanship everywhere on the local levels.�

By Dot Overstreet info@theroanokestar.com

big, happy mustached smile as long as I live. “Do you believe in miracles?�

I ask, laughing amidst the joy of the moment. “I think I’m living one right now . . .� comes Doug’s grinning reply.

The fish would rise another five times as we battled to get it closer to shore where a large group of people had gathered. “Oohs� and “ahhs� could be heard like a crowd reacting to fireworks on the fourth of July each time the magical fish breeched and came splashing back into the water. Twenty minutes later after the seventh such leap the glorious fish broke free and as I raised my rod parallel over my head to indicate that he was gone, there were several folks that clapped in appreciation of the show.

But it wasn’t really our show of course – and perhaps that’s what made it the very best moment of 2008.

Here’s to all of us catching many, many more in the New Year and beyond.

Contact Stuart at stuart@theroanokestar.com

Roanoke Star Week of the

Faye Williams is a native Roanoker who is married to Robert Williams. They have two sons, Jason and Robbie, and live in the Roanoke County area of Glenvar. They also have three grandchildren. Faye is employed as a receptionist and secretary at Lee Hartman and Sons. She has many activities that keep her busy including gardening, walking, and church work. She has Faye Williams also served as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Faye and her husband are avid motorcycle enthusiasts and ride at every opportunity. She is quick to say that “he drives, I ride.�

By Jim Bullington Have someone in mind for “Roanoke Star of the Week?�

E-mail Jim Bullington: JBullPhoto@hotmail.com

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

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CHILDREN’S TRUST—CASA PROGRAM ANNOUNCES SPRING TRAINING‌‌

Volunteers needed to advocate for children in court proceedings.

CLASSES BEGIN FEBRUARY 23 AND CONTINUE FOR SIX WEEKS MONDAY & THURSDAY EVENINGS 5:30—9:00 PM Applications may be obtained by calling 540-853-2407 or 540-344-3579 or emailing rv@roanokecasa.com Deadline—January 26, 2009

The Ro anoke S tar-Sent Legisl ative inel Progr am M eet

$44.00 local area $66.00 out of area

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Perspective

Page 4 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/2/09

A

First came the excavation stage. Will and Janet initiated a search and destroy mission, separating the good junk from the bad junk.

Limbless Power Ranger figures were cast in the pit of no return, and a Revolutionary War fort made out of Popsicle sticks became fireplace fodder. In a matter of days this archeological crew was able to unearth what looked like carpeting covering our lost basement floor. Who knew?

Stage two involved schlepping our quality junk to the front of the house, pricing each item and greeting the masses who were sure to come. Yours truly would be enjoying a busman's holiday, serving as the main sales point of contact. My son and his helpful friend Chris papered the neighborhood with home-made advertisements. Janet, who did the lion's share of the pre-sale work would function as inventory manager, re-stocking as goods as they flew off of the tables. We were ready for the onslaught!

As it turned out, our goods were flying off of the table all right, but not selling, the movement was due to a twenty mile per hour easterly gale and temperatures threatening the frost point. In all, our enterprise netted around $83.00, thanks to some hard-boiled, die-hard yard sale mavens who braved the elements in

No excuse for domestic violence no matter who you are

A

ny man who hits a woman is a coward. Any man that kills a woman should burn for eternity. People, especially friends and family members, who make excuses for those who commit acts of domestic violence, are not only fools, but perpetrators of domestic violence themselves.

I know there are men who are reading this column who strongly disagree with me.

Some will claim they love their woman - the same woman that they occasionally beat. Some will claim they never would have hit their woman if she had not have done something wrong. Some will claim they hit their woman because they snapped under stress. Some will claim they hit their woman because of drugs, alcohol or some mental defect. To all of those men, I have this to say.

Excuses are for children, liars and cowards. Real men do not hit women.

I do not blame women for staying in abusive relationships. In many, if not most of these relationships, some women feel it is better to be beaten

than for her chiltions continuing to dren to be homeless. commit acts of doSome women feel it mestic violence and is better to be beatgetting away with it, en than it is to be I do not see a change killed. Some women in domestic violence feel it is better to be laws in the near fubeaten than to have ture. their children killed.

In addition, there Other women feel it is a serious double is better to be beaten standard with this than to have their crime. If “Joe Thug” Jeff Artis family members beats up or kills his killed. To me, these wife or girlfriend, women are making a sacrifice. we want to throw Joe Thug in These women have traded their jail. If “Joe the Important Perwell being for the well being of son” beats up or kills his wife or others. girlfriend, we blame the victim I have often said laws pro- of Joe the Important Person for tecting victims from domestic making Joe do such a terrible violence are a joke. Let me be thing. Then we line up and tell honest. These laws will contin- the world what a wonderful ue to be a joke as long as there person Joe the Important Perare judges, policemen, lawyers, son is in spite of the fact that members of the General As- Joe the Important Person is no sembly and other government better than Joe Thug. Both are officials who commit and get want to-be men who are nothaway with acts of domestic ing more than thuggish control violence. These people are not freaks. going to pass laws that will put Real men do not hit woman. them or their buddies in jail. Why is this such a difficult Plus, with pastors, teachers, so- thing for many people to uncialites, businessmen and other derstand? so called “fine, upstanding Contact Jeff at citizens” with political conneccolumn@jeffartis.com

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TheRoanokeStar.com

Winter yard sale provides year’s best new oxymoron

tip from your good friend Jon, do not attempt to stage a yard sale in the dead of winter. While this might be obvious advice to most of you, first time front yard vendors like me and my family could have benefited from a recommendation of this kind prior to emptying the contents of our basement on our lawn.

Sincere in our efforts, we decided that the unholy clutter which had swallowed our bottom floor needed to be eradicated before our foundation began to sink. Once swept of unwanted items, the space could serve as a haven for the wayward teenagers who often descend on our den, banishing Janet and I to the chilly confines of the living room.

Whether they are channeling Stevie Ray Vaughn on Guitar Hero or mowing down an online group of foul mouthed hooligans on Halo 2, there is no shortage of noise, food consumption and food related debris left in their wake. Janet and I thought that if perhaps these shenanigans took place below ground we might salvage our sanity for our senior years and remain in the serenity of the den until Will goes off to college or when we deposit his hinny on the curb if he doesn't go to college, which ever comes first. Hence the basement conversion project was born.

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search of a bargain and our benevofrom storing any living being alive or lent neighbor who took pity upon us dead in the unit. Upon, hearing this and purchased some old toys for her rule my wife asked for a clarificayoung boys. tion, wondering aloud if a deceased Left were a large amount of remhusband cooling in a freezer might nants of my son's youth, a couple of qualify as a violation of that stipulapristine exercise bikes, an equally tion. The three women present were well preserved treadmill (my plans enjoying a good laugh as I surveyed of building a healthy body were lost the property for a friendly witness. sometime during the Reagan adWhen I returned home (in an unministration) and a few odds and frozen state) I checked the InterJon Kaufman ends. Returning these treasures to net for articles about bodies which the cellar was not an option due to had been recovered from storage the pending construction of Will's new play- spaces. There were 1,260,000 entries. Perhaps house, leaving us in a bit of a pickle. Following these provisions set forth in the rental contact a brief discussion (In such family discussions are merely suggestions to their clientele, rules my wife and son play the part of the hammer of thumb as it were, not as regularly policed as and I reprise my reoccurring role as the nail) it their other stead-fast requirements. was decided that we would rent a storage space If my byline should suddenly disappear from to house these unwanted, yet valuable items. these pages, you might find me in a small storFor those who haven't had the pleasure of age depot on Peters Creek Road developing renting a small metal room in Roanoke, let some frost on my salt and pepper beard. me tell you it is an experience. The amount of If you have easy access to a crow bar and a paperwork necessary to execute this transac- hairdryer please tote them along, there's a free tion rivals that of Donald Trump's standard like new treadmill in it for you if you arrive bepre-nuptial agreement. Included in the ser- fore I glaze over. vice pact is a laundry list of do's and don'ts for renters. There are a few do's and volumes of Contact Jon at don'ts, including a clause prohibiting the renter Jon.Kaufman@sprint.com

I

Christmas Reflections

t is the Monday after Christmas and I am ignoring the beautiful cool, sunny weather to sit at my kitchen table and send cards to five of the near and dear people who sent them to me.

Five at a time, I tell myself.

That way, I can finish these, go outside, take a walk and come inside and write five more.

I start on the first card. It’s from a neighbor back in Baltimore, where I grew up. Gosh, she has to be 90 by now, still living in the home she shared with her three children and husband, a super guy who died – why, it must be 50 years ago.

I sign my name and then begin a personal note. I’m not one to paint my previous year as uninterrupted happiness and glorious achievements for me or my kids. That’s not reality for anybody.

I start with good wishes for her and her family, tell her that things are quiet with us and begin to sketch out the year when I realize that the gel pen in my hand is producing a card like the ones that Charlie Brown writes to Santa Claus – blurred and splotchy, inevitably.

Growing up will help Charlie Brown with his problem, but I’m already grown up, mostly, and my left-handedness shows no signs of going away. That’s what’s messing up the handwriting – that and the gel pen and the fine, fine paper stock (036X/150, for anybody who may know what that means) on the high-toned Georgia

O’Keefe card, a lavChristmas takes so ish flowery display long to arrive. called “Oriental The presents were Poppies.” less numerous this I walk around the year. I took off work house looking for an last August and ordinary ball point haven’t looked for a pen, realize I own job, other than free none and chalk up lance writing jobs, one more chore that since. Maybe it’s Joe Kennedy won’t be done for at time to start. least another day.

Michael hit the Christmas, Christmas. It’s al- spot by signing me up for two ways something, isn’t it? I don’t months of premier, top-of-themean the spiritual part – I’m all line membership in Netflix. for that. But the shopping and I used to say I didn’t like the decorating and the cease- watching movies alone, but I’ve less pressure to participate are already watched two and have things I can do without. eight more in my queue.

My kids came home and toWhile roaming the house in gether, on Christmas Eve, we futile search of a ballpoint pen, erected our artificial tree with I step into Katherine’s room lights already in place and we and notice, on her bureau, a put our life’s collection of or- photograph of her with her naments all over it. Time was mother. when we had real trees and They are in the ocean at a farm in Catawba and a full Myrtle Beach, Katherine with family unit. Carols would play her boogie board and Sharon on public radio or the CD play- clinging to a raft. They are talker, songs I’d learned in choral ing and laughing with their and chamber groups, or that eyes closed, as if they’ve just great CD by the Chieftains or been clobbered by a breaker. the immortal Nat Cole.

In a child’s hand on the back This year on Christmas Eve, of the photo, Katherine has we outfitted our tree accom- written, in large black letters, panied by folk-rock music “My mama and me.” brought to us, via my daughNow 21, she looks about 10. ter’s laptop, from Pandora.com, Sharon is tanned and beautia free, online music service. ful.

The trappings were different, Nine years after her death, but the family feeling descend- she still seems closest to us at ed upon us, the one that comes Christmas. but once a year, similar to the Maybe everything is. one we get at Thanksgiving but somehow softer and mayContact Joe at be better. I think it’s because pilarcik2@cox.net

3 Company symbols 4 Waken 5 Build Company symbols 6 Manipulate Waken Build 7 Carrel 8 Hazard Manipulate Carrel 9 Nonmoral Hazard 10 Exclamation Nonmoral 11 Slaw Exclamation 13 Pistol Slaw 14 Compass point Pistol 16 Snooze Compass point 18 Cheat Snooze C o m mu n i t y | N ew s | Pe r s p e c t i ve 20 Stomachs Cheat 22 Suckers Stomachs Publisher | Stuart Revercomb | stuart@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 24 Leaks Suckers Leaks 26 Frizzy News Editor | Gene Marrano | gmarrano@cox.net | 400-0990 Frizzy 28 Foot extension Foot 30 extension French "yes" Features Editor | Pam Rickard | pam@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 French "yes" 33 Forest clearing Forest clearing 34 Narrated again Production Editor | Stephen Nelson | stephen@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Narrated again Stints35 Stints Checks 36 over Checks paperover paper Technical Webmaster | Don Waterfield | webmaster@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 37 Dozed Dozed Hot cereal 38 Hot cereal Advertising Director | Vickie Henderson | advertising@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Farm39 credit administration Farm credit administration Star: to lift up that which is right, real and genuine about our community – the people (abbr.) (abbr.) and events that make us who we are – the real spirit of Roanoke that past residents and Reduced (abbr.)

41 Reduced (abbr.) leaders have worked hard to create, that points us towards the bright and shining future Compass point that we all desire for our valley.

43 Compass point Feisty Feisty 45 Japanese city Sentinel: to guard the truth, with consistent and complete coverage of key local issues 46 Japanese To listen to (slang) city that provides balanced reporting and equal editorial opportunity. To fully tell all sides of a To listen Little49 Mermaid's loveto (slang) story so that readers can make their own informed opinions, and express them to positively Pluto50 Little Mermaid's love impact others and our community.

Hindu53god.

Pluto 55 Hindu god.

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel

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

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

1/2/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

TheRoanokeStar.com

One more date on the calendar

I

am surrounded by calendars for 2009. They all came as gifts for the coming year. The Nature Conservancy…Wheelers Cleaners…Calvin College… The important days and observations are printed in the little boxes. I am left to fill in the rest and plan for the year ahead. I can fill in the family birthdays, weddings, vacations, and other important dates. But most of the boxes are yet to be determined. There is a certain joy in that. The unknown is yet to come!

Most of us are more comfortable with the certainty of the expected, but sometimes letting the adventures of life move us is the most fun of all. It creates in us a sense of anticipation, adventure, and wonder about what will happen today. It takes a certain watchful eye for the unexpected, a sense of adventure, openness to people, and watching for great lessons in life.

I was reminded of this when at my brother’s house for the holidays, I caught sight of a small familiar snapshot on the refrigerator.

It was a six year old photo taken at the beach of our whole extended family outside a restaurant while waiting for a table. I have a different photo of the same event and was pleased to see it positioned for conversation. Just looking at the picture anyone would ask, “Who’s that?” While the rest of us are smiling with sun baked cheeks, there in the middle of the photo was the stranger who joined us in our family photo. There she was, a fifty year old wide-eyed woman, standing front and center with arms and legs outstretched.

The photo brings back familiar memories of the unforgettable

event. We were all gathered on the deck overlooking the Inland Waterway, waiting for a table large enough to seat us all, and someone thought to seize the opportunity to capture the whole family for memories to come. A photograph! We had three generations present, all five families with children, grand children; it was a glorious moment to save. But as anyone knows, the coaxing of that many people into an orderly position is like corralling cats and takes a little time. We must have been preoccupied while arranging ourselves, failing to notice the onlookers to this grand organization of people. When all were in place and photographer ready with camera, something unexpected happened.

All of a sudden a total stranger, a bit tipsy from a few too many

drinks, joined us for our family photo. Just as we were positioned and ready for the first photo, she ran right in front and held her place with arms and legs outstretched, smiling and satisfied to have joined us for the picture. Her boyfriend hollered to her from afar about us not wanting her in the family photo, embarrassed that she has made her self a nuisance, but she ignored him and continued to smile and show off her bravado. We, being the civilized family, didn’t know quite what to do. It happened so fast and totally unexpected. We all went silent for a minute and that was when the first picture was taken, capturing our own expressions of surprise, irritation, laughter, and total wonder at what to do!

It took one of us to make the initial move. It was my brother. He laughed with delight at this unexpected visitor. And then he invited her to join us for the rest of the family pictures. He said, “Come on back, Sister. Stand beside me.” The picture I have is one where she is standing in and among us, a part of our family, if only for a short while.

This picture reminded me of the many unexpected events that will take place in this next year of 2009. We will have many opportunities to welcome strangers, embrace the unexpected with hope and laughter, and enjoy the wonder of life. Let’s all step out and take hold of the unexpected with great gusto! Happy New Year in 2009.

Contact Diane at dianekelly@gmail.com

What Would You Change in The New Year?

I

would like to change my bedtime on New Year's Eve," says Tyler, 11. "I usually go to bed at 10 p.m., but I would like to stay up all night. I would have a great time because we would first party, second play video games and third eat a lot!"

Tyler, if you ever get your way, you may wish you had gone to bed at 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Sabrine, 10, has a better idea: "At midnight everyone would yell Happy New Year and then go to bed. In the morning, everyone would open a present, and have a slice of apple pie and hot cocoa."

The roads would be a lot safer with the apple pie and hot cocoa plan.

"I would change my room

and my hope in God to make it stronger, and my love for God to make it stronger," says Jenna, 11.

Jenna, I wonder whether changing your room is connected to your hope in and love for God. I've noticed that when my living area gets cluttered, it's harder to focus my mind on God. On the other hand, if your house looks like a museum, and that's all you ever think about, you may have organized God out of your life.

"I would like to change my attitude toward my parents," says Cassidy, 11.

Aside from driving under the influence of alcohol on New Year's Eve, few things in life can set one back as quickly as a bad attitude to-

ward parents. On the positive side, the Bible promises a long life to those who honor their parents (Deuteronomy 5:16).

I once attended a seminar taught by Dr. Neil T. Anderson, professor and author of "Victory Over the Darkness."

Anderson showed a video of a woman in a counseling session with a host of problems.

Her words, face and body language conveyed distress, anguish and suffering. When Anderson asked the woman about her mother, her stress level increased. He hit a nerve.

After the woman admitted she needed to forgive her mother, Anderson asked her to say it out loud. Watching her try to speak was like

going to the dentist to see a root canal. She struggled to get loose as if someone had bound her with rope and duct tape. Her appearance changed immediately after she spoke words of forgiveness.

"I would like to change my attitude toward chores and homework," says Emma, 11.

"I hope in the new year, my attitude will change."

Recently, I met Pastor Chuck Swindoll, one of the best-known radio Bible teachers and authors of this generation. After giving him my business card, he reached into his pocket and gave me a card entitled "Attitudes."

Here's how it reads: "Words can never adequately convey the incred-

ible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live, the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.

"I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my success or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position.

"Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there's no barrier too high, no valley

I

season: Bethlehem and Judea, Mary and Joseph, the manger; and the one I thought the most melodious of them all: good will towards men.

I loved the lyric beauty of those words but was ignorant of their meaning.

I had spent the day at my friend Carl’s house.

But it was now late afternoon and time for me to make my way home to family.

Carl’s mother, Edna was a wonderful, imaginative woman with a houseful of kids. She laughed a lot, but I wondered at her eyes. In unguarded moments, they were drawn to a middle distance as if seeking that place where dreams go, when they are no longer ours. She had not married wisely.

I was saying good-bye when Crazy Jenny came crunching through the snow, in serious need of tomato paste cans. “Na. Not tomato soup cans.

Nup. Not tomato sauce cans. Got t’be paste, tomato paste cans, y’see.”

Nothing else would do. Jenny’s pressing need for this particular container at this particular moment never fully explained, Edna nevertheless treated her with a calm and dignified regard which I never have forgotten.

I left them and crossed a snowy field. I re-

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“I am the slowest

membered Jenny. I thought of Edna’s eyes. `Good will towards men.’

I was halfway across the frozen creek, darkness coming fast, when I realized Edna had revealed for me the meaning of that phrase.

From the smiling windows of my home came a warm, yellow light of greeting across the snow; the holiday wreath on our front door was a beacon guiding me to a safe harbor where I was loved and where I belonged. There would be no such wreath on Jenny’s door this night.

Suddenly it came to me that Edna was spiritled, despite her own defeats. Spirit-led. Christmas spirit... Perhaps that’s why Christmas is such a magical time: because more than any other time of the year, this is when most of us are the most spirit-led, as Edna was all year round.

That was the moment - 40 years ago - when I began to hope that, when I was gone, the same might be said of me.

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The Recipe of the Week from The Happy Chef

by Leigh Sackett

Black Bean Soup Black bean soup to me is perfect when it is left alone – just black beans, sour cream, and salsa!

It’s just like tomato soup, you can’t beat plain ol’ Campbell’s tomato soup – so why add anything to it? But many people seem to like adding other ingredients to their black bean soup and I suppose that is tasty as well, so I’m giving you the option for both here. If you did not have your traditional beans on New Year’s Day be sure you make them soon so you will have good luck throughout 2009 - that is my hope for you! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2 cups dry black beans 12 cups of water 8 cups of chicken broth 1 tbs. sour cream 1 tbs. salsa Variety of other ingredients to add of your choosing- Add a cup of sautéed onion, celery and bell pepper. Add a few cloves of minced garlic. Add a pound of smoked turkey, ham or polish sausage. Try adding 3 tbs. of dry sherry.

-Soak beans in 12 cups of water overnight -Drain beans

-In a stock pot add beans and 8 cups of chicken broth -Simmer for 1-1 ½ hours until beans are tender -Mash beans with potato masher to your liking (I like mine really mashed, sometimes I put them in the food processor) -Stir in your choice of ingredients or keep plain -Garnish each serving with sour cream and salsa, for something different try a unique type of salsa like Mango!

”

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Crazy Jenny

t was on the evening of a Christmas long ago that I first met Crazy Jenny. Oh, I’d heard about her; who in the town had not?

Was there anyone who had not seen her pushing her old grocery cart, meandering all over the town and beyond? Droopy-lipped and wildeyed and mumbling to herself; many-sweatered, dirty-sweatered Crazy Jenny.

Was there anyone who had not laughed?

It was on a high-ridged mountain road set off to itself she lived, in the company of a rag-tag pack of half-wild cats. Those cats were more tolerant than we of her ravings. They rescued her - but just barely - from what would have been a suffocating loneliness.

Her house was dark. It was connected to the passing road by a path which threaded a solitary way through the forest. It was a faint path. One person’s passing makes not much effect upon the grass. For, other than her cats, you see, Jenny had no visitors. Not ever. Not once.

I was ten years old; and in the manner of children, I felt Christmas more than I understood it.

I loved the satin forms and flowing courtesies of Christmas.

And I loved the musical phrases of that rich

too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me."

By Carey Kinsolving

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Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/2/09

The New Year’s List

The beginning of need it more than a new year always you need that $4 cup seems to stop me in of coffee. my tracks. SomeHear unspoken times it’s because I messages and read am saddened by the between the lines. thought of “things Memorize the gone by� and somesound of your partimes it’s the overent’s voice. It will whelming nature matter some day. of what is com- Stephanie Koehler Never laugh at ing at me. Either anyone's dreams. way – I find myself organiz- Usually those are the next briling my life, cleaning my office, liant accomplishment. washing my dog, cleaning out Speak slowly, but think my closet, and remembering quickly. the kindness – and cruelty of Pick up garbage. people who have crossed my Read the poem “Casey path. This year – two very spe- at Bat� By Ernest Lawrence cific things have triggered my Thayer published in 1888 and thoughts: The Curious Case “Casey’s Revenge� By Grantof Benjamin Buttons (a movie land Rice published in 1907 I saw on Christmas Day) and –they both contain huge lesThe Pulitzer Prize Photo- sons for all of us. graphs: Capture the Moment Recognize change does not (a beautiful hard cover book I need to alter your values. received for Christmas). The Remember that silence is message I took from both of sometimes the best answer. these artful creations is simple You are going to get into – yet so profound. Celebrate fights – they are unavoidable. life – even if it isn’t wrapped in But fight fairly and no namethe cloak of “normal�. Honor calling. You’ll lose all credexperiences – good and bad – ibility. they make us who we are.

Remember that the greatest So, instead of encouraging view involves walking to the you to make resolutions (that edge. will likely make you feel horSay "bless you" when you rible when they are broken) I hear someone sneeze. Even encourage you to make a list if they are a stranger on the of things that matter to you. street. Everyone matters.

Hang it on the refrigerator or Spend time alone, time with place it on your desk. Read just your dog and time with it from time to time – just to just your spouse. remind you who you are and When you realize you've what mattered to you when made a mistake – own it. It’s the year began. Here is mine, likely everyone else figured it in no particular order: out already anyway.

Be authentic. Most likely When you say, "I'm sorry", you aren’t fooling anyone any- mean “I won’t do it again�. way.

Read your list.

Be respectful. Even if people Breathe. have not earned it.

Listen.

Don’t believe everything you Play. hear or read – perspective can Be. be very distorting.

Happy New Year.

Give money to something you care about. Even a small Contact Stephanie at amount. Chances are they stephaniekoehler@cox.net

TheRoanokeStar.com

Virginia Tech team wins international design competition The Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa) of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech won the grand prize at the 2008 International Capstone Design Fair with a trio of pole-climbing serpentine robots designed to take the place of construction workers tasked with dangerous jobs such as inspecting high-rises or underwater bridge piers.

Team RoMeLa scored the cash prize of 1 million won -the currency of South Korea -- with its robots, the HyDRASAscent (Hyper-redundant Discrete Robotic Articulated Serpentine for climbing), the HyDRAS-Ascent II, and CIRCA (Climbing Inspection Robot with Compressed Air), at the 2008 International Symposium on Educational Excellence 2008 competition.

The event took place at Seoul National University of Technology in South Korea.

The autonomous robots are designed to climb scaffolding and buildings by wrapping around a poll or beam and then rolling upward via an oscillating joint motion. Using built-in sensors and cameras, the robots would then inspect the structures or handle other dangerous tasks now done by humans, said Dennis Hong, director of Virginia Tech's Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory and the faculty adviser on the project.

The robots are each roughly three feet in length and use a movement unique even in nature. "These are really wicked cool robots," he added.

The need for autonomous tools in the construction field is great. Hong cites a 2006 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report that tracked the workplace deaths of 1,226 construction workers in 2006, an increase of

Happy New Year!!

From left to right, Gabriel Goldman, Virginia Tech College of Engineering graduate student and RoMeLa team member; Jun-Hyung Rho, president of Seoul National University of Technology; and Nick Thayer, Virginia Tech College of Engineering graduate student and RoMeLa team member. (Inset) The HyDRAS serpentine robot prototype climbs a pole by converting the oscillating motion of the joints to a whole body rolling motion to climb up pole-like structures.

3 percent from 2005. The same report listed 809 deaths as a result of falls from raised structures such as scaffolding, Hong said.

"Unlike inchworm type gaits often being developed for serpentine robot locomotion, this novel climbing gait requires the serpentine robot to wrap around the structure in a helical shape, and twist its whole body to climb or descend by rolling up or down the structure," Hong said.

The HyDRAS robots operate using electric motors, while the CIRCA robot uses a compressed air muscle. "The use of compressed air makes this approach feasible by enabling it to be light weight, providing compliant actuation force for generating the gripping force for traction, and allowing it to use a simple discrete control scheme to activate the muscles in a predetermined sequence," Hong said. For now, the robots operate by a tethered wire attached to a laptop, but Hong and his students are reconfiguring the devices to function independently using an onboard microprocessor and power source.

"This family of novel robots

will serve as a practical inspection tool for construction sites without putting workers in harm's way," he added.

The robots were developed by mechanical engineering students Gabriel Goldman of Richmond, Va., and Nick Thayer of Poquoson, Va., who are both currently pursuing mechanical engineering doctoral degrees at Virginia Tech. Goldman and Thayer traveled to Seoul with the robots to display and present the team's work at the international symposium.

Universities from more than 15 countries submitted 44 entries, according to Hong, who remained in Blacksburg during the event. The prize of 1 million won, the currency of South Korea, prize equals roughly $690 U.S. Korea currency rates have been hard hit by recent worldwide economic woes and are now at half their normal value, Hong said.

"There was a lot of great talent in that room and everybody brought back some good experiences," said Thayer.

"Being able to compete against so many other great projects from around the globe and be recognized like that is

truly an amazing feeling," said Goldman.

The robots debuted this past spring and already have won several awards, including CIRCA taking first place with a cash award of $10,500 for the 2008 CAGI Innovation Award conducted by the Compressed Air and Gas Institute, and HyDRAS winning second place with a cash award of $2,500 at the 2008 ASME Student Safety Engineering Design Competition. Additionally, a team of students won third place with a cash award of $500,000 for the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge, an autonomous vehicle race in the urban environment, where Hong served as the co-team leader.

Last year he received $20,000 to continue his work in humanoid robotics from the Virginia Tech Student Engineers' Council.

Hong is a National Science Foundation CAREER Award recipient. He received his bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994, and his master of science and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1999 and 2002, respectively.

Temporary Closure of Jackson Park Branch Library

Live Music

Roanoke Public Libraries announce that Jackson Park Branch Library will be closed Monday, January 5, 2009 through Thursday, January 22, 2009.

The Jackson Park Branch will reopen at 9 a.m. Friday, January 23, when renovations will be complete and "A Week of Events to Celebrate!" will commence (details to come).

We thank you for your patience as we continue to make Jackson Park Branch Library an even better library!

The bookdrop will remain open for use.

For more information please call 853-2785

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Knitting Workshop at Williamson Road Branch Library

Roanoke Public Libraries invite you to "Read One, Stitch Too!", a new workshop on knitting at Williamson Road Branch Library, 3837 Williamson Road, starting Thursday, Jan. 15 at 11:00 a.m.

Learn how to knit "in the round" with Laura Wickstead from the Virginia Room. No experience is necessary to participate - beginners, intermediates, and experienced knitters are all welcome. And do please bring your own creations to share and inspire!

Please call Williamson Road Branch Library at 853-2340 to register.

This workshop is free of charge.

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

Sports

1/2/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7

William Fleming Colonels are Hoopla kings William Fleming was the favorite going in and didn’t disappoint in capturing the Holiday Hoopla title 47-42 over Gar-Field on Monday night. The Colonels (8-0) were led by Troy Daniels with 21 points. Meanwhile Cave Spring beat Patrick Henry for third place in the tourney it has hosted in Salem for the past 11 years (they met in round one). Salem took fifth place and defending champ Hidden Valley, just 2-6 overall on the season, captured seventh place with a win over Osbourn.

Hidden Valley #24 Chad Earhart drives on Patrick Henry #3 Melvin Henderson in an opening round game.

William Fleming’s Jamelle Hagins (above) finishes off a slam dunk early in the Hoopla tourney.

Hidden Valley #10 Sam Yim (dark jersey) has a shot blocked by PH defender Darren Thomas #10 (white).

William Fleming Head Coach Mickey Hardy has some questions about a referee's call in the opening round.

Cave Spring's Mark Overstreet (above) fights off three Patriots as he attempts to secure the ball.

Adam Hager (Left) hits a clutch free throw down the stretch to secure the Knights win over Patrick Henry.

Cave Spring post man Josh Henderson (Right) scores in the paint against Patrick Henry.

Photos by Bill Turner

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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

Page 8 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/2/09

Local Hall of Fame set to open: inductees announced

The Salem-Roanoke baseball Hall of Fame will induct four new members at it’s January 29 Hot Stove league banquet, which will be held at the Salem Civic Center beginning at 7pm.

Proceeds from the dinner ($45 per person) will go towards the Hall of Fame building, set to open this spring adjacent to the Salem Red Sox offices near Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. For the first time, the Red Sox club (formerly the Avalanche) will help organize the annual dinner.

There are now about 80 members in the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame, which honors those that have played, coached, managed or were amateur baseball supporters in the Valley. The late Posey Oyler helped spearhead formation of the Hall of Fame almost twenty years ago and kicked off a $300,000 fundraising drive to erect the 2000 sq. ft. building, which will house memorabilia and plaques. It will be open for tours by appointment or on special occasions.

This year’s class includes: Jerry Ellis: Ellis has spent

most of the last three decades dedicated to youth baseball in southwest Roanoke County.

After relocating here, the Ohio State graduate and Cincinnati native was an assistant coach, then head coach with the Roanokers minor league team for eight years. For the past fourteen years Ellis has been head coach of the Roanokers Little League team. Ellis was recognized by his peers as the Cave Spring National Little League Volunteer of the Year in 1993, and as the District 12 Volunteer of the Year in 1994.

Carey Harveycutter: When someone thinks of sports in the City of Salem, Carey Harveycutter is often the first name that comes to mind. As Director of Civic Facilities for Salem, the lifelong resident of that city oversees the Civic Center, Salem’s football stadium and Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium, where he served on the initial design committee.

His connection to the game of baseball began at the age of 12 when he went to work at what is now Kiwanis Field, cleaning off seats, stuffing

Space Available

bingo cards in programs and rolling out the tarp for Salem’s minor league teams. Later on he operated the scoreboard for many years.

Harveycutter is now tournament director for NCAA Division III championship events that have become a signature for the city, with more than fifty tourneys hosted since 1993.

During that time Salem has hosted seven NCAA and ACC baseball championships. He also serves at various Division I baseball tournament sites around the country as a liaison between the host facility and the NCAA. Dee Dalton: Dee Dalton made his mark at Cave Spring High School as an outstanding baseball player before moving on to Virginia Tech and a minor league career. Dalton was selected three times for the Roanoke Valley All-District first team before he graduated from Cave Spring in 1991, and was a perennial pick for the AllNorthwestern Region squad.

He was voted the district’s most valuable player twice and was a Virginia High School League All-Star player in ’90 and ’91.

Dalton was an All-State Group AAA player for those same two years.

Drafted out of high school by the California Angels he chose instead to attend Virginia Tech on a baseball scholarship. Three years later, after being voted third team All-American for his play at shortstop, Dalton was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 15th round. He spent five years in the Cardinals farm system, advancing as high as Double-A ball with the Ar-

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Head coach Pat Wolfe wants to see more “D.�

Faith Lady Warriors Basketball update

After suffering defeats in two out of their first three contests, the Faith Christian Lady Warriors basketball team has rebounded nicely in recent weeks, stringing together four consecutive wins to push their record to an impressive 5-2, exactly onethird of the way through their season. “We’re starting to get better,� Coach Pat Wolfe said of his team, which is a defending state small school independent champion. “By the end of the season, we’ll be where I want us to be – competitive against everyone we play.�

Offense has been the name of the game during the Warriors’ winning streak. The team averaged nearly 60 points per game during that span, including scoring a school record 81 points in their most recent victory over New Covenant. In that contest, Faith Christian had five players score in double figures, and shot over 65% from the field. “It was one of those games where we couldn’t miss,� Wolfe said. “Those kind of games don’t happen that often, but it shows that the ability and confidence is there.�

Almost ready – the new Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame building. kansas Travelers.

Bruce Spencer: Spencer lettered in three sports at William Byrd High School in Roanoke County – and none of them was baseball. It was only when he started coaching 11 and 12 year olds after high school that his passion for the game developed. Now a long time Dixie League coach with almost three decades under his belt, Spencer is known for teaching fundamentals, discipline and sportsmanship.

His sandlot teams have won a Dixie League World Series sportsmanship award and several at the state level.

An East Tennessee State University graduate and a teacher at Northside High

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School as well, Spencer has coached baseball and football at the high school level. His Vinton-based Dixie League teams won three state championships between 1992 and 1996, and have been runnerups four times.

E.C. Warren: (The 2008 Wayne LaPierre Community Service Award winner) “Roanoker� is not only the name of a famous restaurant here in the valley; for many it means youth baseball. The late E.C. Warren, long time owner of the Roanoker Restaurant, also sponsored the Roanokers team in the Cave Spring National Little League. Earl Crafton “E.C� Warren was heavily involved as well with Boy Scouts

of America over the years and was a life member of the Cave Spring Rescue squad.

At a young age E.C. Warren developed a love for baseball, playing on the Woodrow Wilson Middle School team. An injury forced him to the sidelines but after graduating from college and taking over the family business he sponsored the Roanokers Little League team as a way to stay in the game.

See Salemredsox.com for more information on the January 29 event, where former Boston Red Sox outfielder Fred Lynn will be the keynote speaker.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Hey Coach!

Leading the way for the Lady Warriors are their three leading scorers, who all average in double figures: point guard Morgan Oliver, forward Faith Gardner and Rachel Nymeyer.

Coach Houser: Because she isn't athletic enough to hardly ever make the play Wolfe was particularly proI was wondering what most volleyball coaches are looking that her teammates can often make? fuse in his praise for Gardner. for in a player during tryouts. Do coaches look at the size of Because she isn't focused? She's being silly? She isn't paying at“Faith is having a sensational the player? Their love for the game? How many mistakes they tention? year,� he said. “And it’s not just make? Coachability? Or do most coaches just look at who the Because she hasn't learned a correct spike approach? Or beher scoring, it’s her defense and most skilled players are? cause she just made a tiny error while hitting a good set? intensity as well.�

YES!!! My advice? Don’t worry about mistakes & just GO FOR IT and Despite the winning streak, Yes, to every one of your questions! it’ll all work out!!

Wolfe sees areas of improveI) Height is something that coaches notice immediately.  Girls IV) Coachability is important at all levels: middle, jv, high, ment needed for his team. “Our who are tall will get a few more chances (notice that I said a few).  college. I coached the conference player of the year one season. transition defense, as well as our But coaches notice height like girls notice hunky boys: after a Two years later she was history. Attitude, attitude, attitude. At my transition from defense to offew hours or a day, there better be more to him than just hunki- camps, I now tell the story of "Attitude Setter." 95% of coaches are fense has not been where I want ness. Girls who can pass, serve and set are more valuable (espe- willing to lose more games in order to protect their team from the it to be,� Wolfe said. “We are a cially at the younger ages!!), than girl who can only block and hit. un-coachable brats. very fast team, and we’re more II) Love for the game is something coaches would like to see, V) Skilled Players are nice to have!! haha In fact, skill is the athletic than a lot of teams we but for middle school teams (and many JV teams), this quality most important factor in winning volleyball games! It's more imare going to play, so we need to hasn't developed in the kids yet.  If an experienced player is try- portant than height, strength, athleticism, etc. A team of 5'6" 180 utilize our quickness. Once we ing out and she exudes "I LOVE THIS GAME, and I'll do any- pound greatly skilled volleyball players will have winning seasons get that down, we’ll be very hard thing for the team," then is more likely to make the team than the in most high school conferences. And they will routinely beat the to play against.� girl who thinks "Yeah, I like volleyball, but I'm not really excited taller, stronger, more athletic teams solely because of the level of The Lady Warriors are back in by it." The 2nd girl is more likely to quit, have a bad attiitude, want their volleyball skills. action at home this Saturday afto miss practices, etc. and coaches KNOW that!

Now, let’s talk about a few things you didn’t mention. ternoon (Jan 3) when they take III) Mistakes are, of course, noticed by coaches. But all players VI) Playing Experience! If a coach knows that a girl has played on Parkway Christian BOL 08 Academy, make mistakes. I don't make a big deal out of one or two or three a number of years, especially if she’s played travel, then she stands BOL whom they defeated 55-14 in a 08 mistakes. But I can say with confidence, coaches observe and re- out like a shining star. Not only is this girl usually highly skilled previous match-up last month. member the nature of the mistakes.   Let me tell you more. For for her age, but she has taken the extra time (and a PILE of money) Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30pm. example, was that mistake made: to improve her game. Kids who have a lot of playing experience

By Matt Reeve Because she didn't try hard enough? Or because she gave create championship teams, and those kids are extremely hard to Matt@theroanokestar.com her best effort and just couldn't make the play? cut.

When she was passing a free ball? That's not good! or when the VII) Athleticism! On our junior team last year, we kept a girl Contact Tom Branch or Mike Branch other girl hammered 4552 a spike at her? who wasn’t overly skilled, tall or experienced. But we thought she Contact Tom Branch or Mike Branch Franklin Road, S.W., Roanoke, Virginia 24014 The Residents and Staff of BOL 08 BOL 08 was freakishly athletic.

So weVirginia took a chance on her. I know that it 4552 Franklin Road, S.W., Roanoke, 24014 Phone: 540-774-1208 | Fax: 540-774-1359 | Email: bmc@branchmgt.com BOL 08 Phone: 540-774-1208 | Fax: 540-774-1359 Email:a player bmc@branchmg doesn’t seem fair, but when a coach|figures can do something better after one month than another can after 3 years, the Contact Tom Branch or Mike Branch coach may keep the new girl. Gosh, if she stays with the program 4552 Franklin Road, S.W., Roanoke, Virginia 24014 Phone: 540-774-1208 | Fax: 540-774-1359 | Email: bmc@branchmgt.com just 2 or 3 years, what incredible plays will be seen?!

Contact Tom Branch or Mike Branch 4552 Franklin Road, S.W., Roanoke, Virginia 24014 VIII) Loyalty and “Teamness!� This is a hard one for the coach Contact Tom Branch or Mike Branch Available Branch Management Corp.Space specializes in unique solutions to| Fax: meet your needs.

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1/2/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

TheRoanokeStar.com

Letters To Improve Education, Let Parents Choose Schools Dear editor, The school year is in full swing and a lot less learning is taking place than one might anticipate.

However, it’s not just the kids.

Virginia’s politicians still haven’t learned a thing about education reform.

According to the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the nation’s report card, two out of three Virginia 8th graders in public schools are not proficient in reading. Twenty percent of Virginia 8th graders score so poorly that they are basically “off the chart” because their level of literacy is so low.

We all want high standards and achievement, but students in Virginia are still struggling despite large increases in education spending and new public school reform gimmicks that fail every year.

Virginia’s parents and taxpayers want to know two things about any possible education reform: (1) Will it work? and (2) Can we afford it?

The only fundamental, broadbased, cost-effective reform proven to raise scores across the board is school choice paid for with education tax credits.

Tax credits will spur efficient private investment in education, let poor children escape failing schools, and save Virginia taxpayers huge amounts of money.

Education tax credits are private money. However, because the state and local governments would let you subtract dollarfor-dollar the amount you spend on education from your tax liability, you wouldn’t spend any more at the end of the year.

You can either pay the money to the government as taxes or use it for the kind of education you want to support. Tax credits for donations to scholarship organizations help support school choice for lower-income families, and personal-use credits help middle-class families pay for the cost of their own child’s education.

These education tax credits can do what all the money and other reforms haven’t: improve education. There’s a solid consensus that school choice improves the academic performance of children based on the results of more than a half dozen gold-standard scientific studies. For instance, a recent study by the Friedman Foundation on Florida’s A+ program showed that once choice became fully available in 2002-03,

public schools whose students were offered educational options outperformed other Florida public school by 69 points on the state’s developmental scale score.

In fact, within the most rigorous studies, there is little disagreement: school choice increases parental satisfaction, lowers education costs and raises student achievement.

Whereas Virginia’s NAEP reading scores are dismal, Virginia’s math scores are worse.

Seventy percent of public school eighth graders are not proficient at math. More than 40 percent of those who aren’t proficient are below basic (i.e., off the chart).

If an eighth grader lacks a grasp of reading, writing, and basic math, he is unlikely to catch up and more likely to fall further behind or drop out. Low performance too often translates into failure in high school—and failure is expensive.

According to Education Week’s “Diplomas Count” report, fully 25 percent of all Virginia students fail to graduate from high school. It’s even gloomier for minorities: over one-third of all African-American students never graduate.

Worst of all, over 40 percent of African-American males are slipping through the cracks of our public education system.

The stakes are high: dropping out means a child is at a higher risk for death, jail, unemployment, illness and low wages.

Correspondingly, state costs in areas including Medicaid, prisons, and unemployment insurance explode with the ongoing dropout tragedy. And that’s not even accounting for the loss in economic competitiveness—for the state as well as the individual.

Princeton economist Cecilia Rouse has estimated that each dropout costs the nation $260,000 over the cost of his/ her lifetime. The Alliance for Excellent Education estimates that the Commonwealth of Virginia would have gained $7.5 billion if the dropouts from just the 2006-07 school year alone had graduated. For the entire U.S., solving the dropout problem would have saved $329 billion in just one year.

School choice helps increase student achievement and graduation rates. Just look at the dramatic evidence from Milwaukee, home of one of the nation’s older school choice programs, where choice students are 45 percent more likely to graduate than their government school peers. With an increasingly competitive global economy, and taxpayers and the poor suffering by paying more to get less, Virginia and the nation can ill-afford to delay school choice. Virginia needs education

The Digital Television Transition

tax credits now.

Adam B.. Schaeffer, Ph.D., is a senior fellow with the Education Reform Initiative at the Virginia Institute for Public Policy, and a policy analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom

Ukrop’s support raises good questions Dear editor, I read with some interest the front page editorial feature regarding Ukrop’s and the apparently rocky time the store is having getting a foothold in the local economy. Let me preface by saying that I have no beef (ha!) with Ukrop’s - I’ve shopped there several times, and the store is bright, clean and appealing. I’d say the same about the merchandise and staff. The Ukrops are no doubt solid citizens and their mission statement worthy of emulation (I bet Wal-Mart has a mission statement somewhere too, but that’s another letter entirely).

The intellectual dissonance of this paean to Ukrop’s, vis a vis the rest of the newspaper, made itself heard when I briefly scanned the advertisers.Those that stick in my head are Annie Moore’s Pub, Pink, and, more relevant to this letter, Tinnell’s, a locally owned grocer of several generations standing.

Local establishments all. I saw no ad for Ukrop’s but it’s possible I missed it.

Individually and as a nation, we are confronting a period in which ever diminishing pools of resources must be made to stretch and cover our seemingly ever increasing needs (and wants).Where we choose to leave our dollars is, as the editors correctly point out, a judgment loaded with nuance both political and personal. Our spending patterns reflect our values. Whom do we support? Do we look to our neighbors first?

If we choose not to, what kind of engagement can we expect from them? When we circle the wagons as a community, whom are we putting inside the circle?

There is no single answer to these questions, and this writer is not the first to pose them. I do think they merit discussion, maybe now in difficult times more so than in easier ones. If anyone reads this and has a response, positive or negative, I’d welcome the debate.

Kristen Spurlock Roanoke VA Send your letters (and confirmation contact information) to info@theroanokestar. com.

250 words or less please; subject to editing

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Beautiful Cemetery In less than two months, tionally, some of the analog 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike television broadcasters across spectrum will be auctioned Salem, VA 24153 the country will stop broad- off for more exciting uses like Family Service : 540-389-1049 casting their signal in analog wireless high speed Internet www.sherwoodmemorialpark.com format and will broadcast services, which will provide (540) 375-2990 for Free Estate Planning Guide only in digital format. This more options for consumers transition from analog to in rural areas. In addition, a digital, known as the Digital portion of the revenue raised TV (DTV) transition, will in the spectrum auction will take place on February 17, be returned to the U.S. Trea2009 and will bring new op- sury, thereby contributing to s $IVORCE s 4RAFl C portunities and innovative federal deficit reduction. services to all consumers.

The digital television tran- s 3OCIAL 3ECURITY $ISABILITY The potential for more chan- sition is exciting news for nels, clearer consumers but 30 9EARS pictures, better we don’t want %XPERIENCE Rep. Bob Goodlatte sound qualit to be con ity and greater fusing. I am consumer choice is what pleased that over the course makes digital television such of the next 2 months, televi335 W. Church an exciting technology. sion stations all across the Ave., Roanoke Digital television repre- country will be working hard (Next to City sents the most significant to increase awareness of this Courthouse) development in television upcoming transition. Spetechnology since the advent cifically, they will begin conof color television. In order ducting analog shut-off tests Garden City to receive and view this new to help viewers determine Baptist television service, consumers whether their current TV sets must have a digital television are digital-ready. These tests Church set equipped with a digital will help consumers prepare tuner capable of receiving the for the transition.

A Church with a Loving, digital signal that is provided Additionally, please don’t Caring and Healing Heart either over-the-air or via hesitate to contact my ofcable or satellite television fice if you need more infor(540) 427-0131 systems. Analog-only televi- mation about the upcoming 3536 Garden City Blvd Roanoke, VA 24014 sions will no longer be able digital television transition to receive the new broadcast and how it might affect you Sunday School.......9:45 am signals. Those televisions or visit the Federal CommuWorship Service.....11 am must be connected to cable nications Commission’s webYouth Ministry.........6 pm or satellite systems or be site at http://www.dtv.gov.

Weds. Bible Study..6:45 pm equipped with a digital-toChoir Practice.........7:45 pm analog converter box.

While I believe that the digital transition must occur, it is also important to help ease the burden on those American households that do not already have digital television sets. For that reason, Congress established a digital-to-analog converter box program that will partially subsidize consumer purchases of converter boxes.

Consumers can apply for up to two forty-dollar coupons per household to offset the cost of a digital-to-analog converter box. These converter boxes will not only enable all analog televisions to function, they should also provide better reception and additional features such as closed captioning and parental controls. To learn more about the TV Converter Box program and apply for the coupons, consumers should visit the program’s website at www.dtv2009.gov.

An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will and a Chance to Win an free up parts of the valuable Autographed Football! analog spectrum for public safety communications, such Help Support the Cub Scouts! as police, fire departments Here is your chance to own a piece of Va. Tech history! and rescue squads. AddiThis is an official Va. Tech game ball signed by the current

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Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/2/09

In Krisha Chachra's "Homecoming Journals: ers to connect. (One job seeker obtained a human Dreaming Big in a Small Town", the southwest Virresource job the first year of the fair and in the secginia native and young adult chronicles her story of ond year, he was recruiting for his employer.) leaving our region and returning to a wide array of It's important to note all efforts have been decenprofessional and personal opportunities. tralized. No one organization or group is more im"That kind of fame and attention is short lived portant than another. The responsibility, commit(in larger cities) and requires more work than we're ment and any successes are shared equally among probably willing to give. But we don't necessarall involved. However, there is still more progress ily need the bright lights and big city to make big to be made. dreams come true. We can live them here in our As mass communication becomes more chalsmall town…" lenging, it is becoming more difficult to successStuart Mease So, after three years of creating programs and fully promote events and programs to targeted events to attract and retain people like Krisha how audiences. Increased content outlets, new techsuccessful have we been? It's a question asked often, but hard nology devices, marketing clutter, information overload, and to measure. Other communities nationwide are investing decreased time to manage it all affects our efforts. similar time and resources. However, our efforts have been Instead of letting the economic downturn and communicadifferent because we have focused on grass-roots, bottom-up tions challenges overcome us, we want to foreshadow a couple approaches to solving the equation. of new and exciting programs that will be unveiled in 2009.

Strategies to reduce brain drain involve two complementary One is targeted toward individuals between the ages of 20-25 tactics – "things to do" and "professional opportunities". The to assist them in making the transition to independence, and "things to do" part of the equation has advanced the most. the other involves creating a 30-person team with an internaWith the emergence of the city's downtown, tireless work by tional economic development icon to reinforce existing stratyoung professional organizations, user-generated event cal- egies and create depth in community leadership. endars such as MyScoper.com and RoanokeNights.com, the Additionally to measure the impact this column has on the myth there is nothing to do in Roanoke has been debunked. process and to identify new people to help with the Roanoke On the job front, the Roanoke Connect database has pro- YP movement, Krisha has volunteered to give a limited numduced nearly 100 success stories of helping people directly ber of copies of her book to people who respond to this color indirectly with their job searches in the region. (One lo- umn by emailing me at stuartmease@gmail.com. Your supcal employer recently used the system to make five new hires port and participation is needed to continue the momentum in two weeks.) Events like the Holiday Career and Lifestyle that's been created. Let's keep it moving!

Fair has been a successful outlet for employers and job seek-

Stocks Tumble In 2008 - Many analysts wary of forecasting improvement for 2009

area layoffs have not been calculated into this percent. Analysts predict US unemployment in 2009 will reach 9% or higher without the collapse of the automakers. All bets are off if GM, Chrysler, and/or Ford slip into bankruptcy.

The Federal Reserve reduced the benchmark rate to near 0% and said they would keep it there for the foreseeable future. The hope is that this may spur mortgage refinancing that will put spending money in some homeowner’s pockets – that is if they don’t owe more than their home is currently worth.

Banks that had been so free with their lending practices are presently very tight-fisted with their cash.

Oil that had once reached $140 a barrel is now on track to sink below $30 a barrel as some analysts have predicted.

This week oil moved above $40 a barrel in response to the outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip. Though oil speculating has waned with the weak economy there is now fear that upheaval in the Middle East could spread. Analysts worry that the oil supply could be interrupted and make a sagging economy even worse.

As usually occurs when turmoil erupts in the Middle East a flight to Treasury bonds increases prices and reduces already depressed bond yields.

The 10-year Treasury bond yield of 2.08

TheRoanokeStar.com

Oakey’s names new manager

Learning to dream big in Roanoke

While the clock counts down the final hours of 2008, stock market investors count big losses in their portfolios. The financial advisor’s slogan of “buy and hold” is of small comfort to those who have watched their retirement savings take a 40% hit.

Year 2008 saw the DOW Jones Industrial Average drop 36%, the S&P (Standard and Poor’s Index) relinquish 40.8%, and the NASDAQ Composite sink 43.1% in value.

In the 4th quarter of 2008 alone the S&P made up of mostly financial stocks has lost 26%. The DOW comprised of stocks like General Electric, American Express, IBM, Caterpillar, and Boeing lost 22%, and the NASD comprised of primarily Technology stocks lost 28%.

The DOW had its worst 4th quarter since 1987 and the NASDAQ had its worst quarter since the 3rd quarter of 2001.

An expected 2009 federal government stimulus package is creating uncertainty in the stock market. The indices have been in a very tight trading range all month. Traders and analysts favor stimulus that includes an income tax rate cut believing that this will produce immediate results for the economy and the stock market.

However, stock redemptions pegged to the $50 billion Madoff scandal are expected to effect the stock market in the first quarter of 2009. Bernard Madoff is the 70-year-old former chairman of the NASDAQ Stock Market who masterminded the $50 billion Ponzi scheme through a hedge fund he ran.

In a Ponzi scheme, money is used from new investors to pay unrealized returns for the earlier investors.

US unemployment claims are at a 26year high. As of November, Virginia was ranked 11th with an unemployment rate of 4.8% with the Roanoke Metropolitan area unemployment rate being 4.1% as of the 3rd quarter. Recently disclosed

percent now approaches the 50-year low of 2.04 percent.

With the FED pumping greenbacks into the economy like there is no tomorrow some analyst’s fear “inflation” is inevitable. Other analysts and economists fear that “deflation” is the more likely scenario. The flight to Treasury bonds seems to bare the “deflation” scenario out at least in the short term. A Goldman Sachs’ analyst predicted that growth in the second half of 2009 would “uptick” to 1%. While another analyst with Moody’s Investor Services hoped that the new administration would do whatever it takes to prevent collapse of another financial institution like Lehman Brothers.

The good news, of course, is that in all likelihood there will be a tomorrow and Americans, including Virginians and Roanokers, have weathered many a severe economic downturn in the past.

Many businesses will emerge stronger if not leaner and well prepared for the natural post recession economic growth that is sure to eventually come. In the meantime investors should pay close attention and consider their options carefully. Here’s to brighter economic days ahead.

Oakey’s Funeral Nicole.”

Service & Crematory Drew is a resident has appointed Nicole of Salem, Virginia.

R. Drew as manager She is married to of Oakey’s AfterCare Rich Drew and is Services. Drew is the mother of four a native of Harrichildren. She is an sonburg, Virginia active member of her and has lived in the church, the PTA and Roanoke area since the Salem Sabres Fu1993. “We are very Nicole R. Drew tbol Club. pleased that Nicole Oakey’s Funeral has accepted this role,” said Service & Crematory is a Sammy Oakey, III, President full service funeral home and Chairman of the Board and crematory, offering traof Oakey’s. “She brings a ditional, graveside, and melevel of passion and expertise morial services, along with to this position, and we are pre-planning services, with confident that our families five chapels located in the will be pleased with the high Roanoke Valley. level of service provided by

E-Waste Recycling Event Offers Responsible Recycling to Roanoke Region

As part of its green initiative, "Cox Conserves," Cox Communications has partnered with local businesses and agencies to help the region with proper, responsible disposal and recycling of electronic waste. On January 9 and 10, Cox Roanoke will be hosting a two-day recycling event at the Roanoke Civic Center. The event is free to the public, run by local volunteers and supported by local businesses. Cox’s primary recycling business partner, Synergy Recycling of Mayodan, North Carolina is an environmentally responsible organization that is ISO 14001 certified.

A recent 60 Minutes story uncovered some unethical electronic recycling practices in the U.S., but the story did not tell concerned Americans where to safely recycle their unwanted electronics. This recycling event is the answer for our region.

Businesses seeking to recycle electronic waste are asked to come to the Roanoke Civic Center on January 9, leaving the following day for residents only. Businesses and residents with loads of electronic waste greater than a pickup truck’s capacity are requested to fill out a “large load form” located on the event website. For more information about the e-waste recycling event, please visit www.CelebrateRoanoke.com

Chamber Introduces 2009 Board of Directors The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce recently announced its 2009 Board of Directors.

Officers: Bill Jones, President, HomeTown Bank Carol Chappell, 1st Vice President, Lewis-Gale Medical Center Compton Biddle, 2nd Vice President, Osterhoudt Prillaman Natt Helscher Yost Maxwell & Ferguson Dave Prosser, Treasurer, Freedom First Federal Credit Union Debbie Kavitz, Secretary and Executive Director, SalemRoanoke County Chamber of Commerce Dennis Hudson, Past President, Timber Truss Housing Systems

Directors: Teri Atkins, Salem Parks & Recreation Lew Bishop, National College Anne Booze, WFIR, WSLC, WXLK, WVBE Matthew Churchill, BB&T John Dudley, Residence Inn by Marriott Stephanie Garst, Roanoke College Carey Harveycutter, Salem Civic Center Penny Hodge, Roanoke County Schools Diane Hyatt, Roanoke County John Katz, Salem Red Sox Denise King, Lawyers Title Sean Pressman, Medical Facilities of America Wayne Strickland, Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission Donna Tatum, Express Employment Professionals

By Valerie Garner Mava Wingate, OneBeacon Insurance info@theroanokestar.com Carl York, Kroger

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Arts & Culture

TheRoanokeStar.com

1/2/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11

RSO to premiere Billy Joel’s “Elegy” The uniquely collaborative spirit at the RSO was recently given another opportunity to shine through Conductor David Stewart Wiley’s ongoing professional relationship with superstar international recording artist and composer Billy Joel.

Joel, the multi-platinum writer of hits like “Piano Man” and the smash Broadway musical “Movin’ Out” has been composing orchestral music in recent years, and Joel has invited Wiley and the RSO to perform the Virginia Premiere of one of his pieces, entitled “Elegy.”

At Billy Joel’s invitation, Wiley recently arrived at Joel’s gated Oyster Bay estate on a beautiful fall morning. They spent the day in his private performance hall overlooking the Long Island Sound, trading places on the bench of his Bösendorfer piano, discussing the music. Joel conveyed to Wiley that he will be turning 60 in the summer of 2009.

“With that, he is feeling an increased desire to collaborate more with orchestral musicians and to return to his classical roots -- his early love as he was growing up on Long Island,” Wiley commented. “It is no surprise that Billy is a well known celebrity on Long Island, disarmingly humble and quietly generous to many arts organizations, including the Long Island Philharmonic (LIP),” where Wiley also serves as music director. “He knew of my work as conductor and composer, and wanted to work with me on revising one of his pieces for performance.”

“Elegy,” the focus of Billy Joel’s collaboration with maestro Wiley and the RSO, is but one of an ongoing series of works by Joel called the “Scrimshaw Pieces,” and serve as individual portraits and/or stories written for piano. It is a six-minute work orchestrated for full symphony orchestra and it describes the plight of the Long Island fishing industry.

Joel heard his “Elegy” first performed by the London Philharmonic and felt compelled to make revisions to the score. The collaborative task together on that particular day with Wiley at Joel’s estate was to make the revisions for the premiere performance in Virginia by the RSO and in New York by the LIP. In their recent meeting, Wiley

and Joel decided to re-score the piece for a brass chorale instead of strings, to achieve a more noble color.

Wiley described some of the changes: “The transition to the third and final section had been a challenge to make work in the original version, so we explored other musical options. While he played, I took notes in the score -- adding an “Irish Jig” in the piccolo and violin, creating a low rumble in the bass drum and a dissonant chorale in the winds that gradually dissipates during this section. The final part of the third section returns to the opening music, now in the strings, ending softly. These changes that I noted were given to our librarian, who has re-worked the orchestral parts for our performances. I recently did a reading of the revised “Elegy,” and Billy has approved these changes for our performances in NY and for our Virginia Premiere with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.”

The premiere of the revised “Elegy” takes place January 19th at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre on the “Sea to Shining Sea” program -part of the RSO’s Masterworks Series. The “Elegy,” with its focus on the fishing industry, fits perfectly with this program’s theme. Other works on the program include Debussy’s “La Mer” -- the great French composer’s exciting impressionistic description of the ocean and its inhabitants -- Benjamin Britten’s “Sea Interludes” telling the story of the often hard life of an English seaman, and “The Moldau” by Czech composer Smetana, describing the titled majestic European river.

Concert time is 8 p.m. with a half-hour preconcert Illuminations feature by maestro David Stewart Wiley beginning at 7 p.m. (The RSO’s Illuminations feature precedes each Masterworks program and offers a chance to meet Wiley and guest artists while learning about the program’s music in an informal and fun setting.)

Tickets for “Sea to Shining Sea” on January 19th (range from $20 to $48 each, students $8) are available from the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra box office at (540) 343-9127 and online at www. rso.com.

Music from around the world Making good once again on its promise to be more than just a gallery, the Taubman Museum of Art hosted “World Folk Songs in Music and Dance” recently. The free Sunday afternoon program, under the supervision of music director Cheryl Lunsford, featured Korean, South African, French and German folk songs, not to mention Chinese music, Irish lullabies, African-American spirituals, ethnic dances and traditional holiday tunes. The International Choir, which has performed for Roanoke City’s Christmas tree lighting, features “real folks from around the world,” according to Pearl Fu, founder of Local Colors and the organization behind the choir. Fu said they would perform again soon.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Scholarships available Foundation for Roanoke Valley is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2009 academic year. By completing one scholarship application, applicants can be considered for multiple scholarships.

Students about to complete their senior year of high school, students already enrolled in a trade school, college or university, and nontraditional students who have waited a number of years before starting their post-secondary education are eligible to apply.

To access the scholarship guidelines and application now available, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.foundationforroanokevalley.org.

Guidelines and applications will be available through the guidance offices of local high schools and some college financial aid offices.

Completed applications should be mailed to Foundation for Roanoke Valley, Attention: Carly Oliver, P.O. Box 1159, Roanoke, VA 24006.

All completed applications are due no later

than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2009, at the Foundation’s office.

This is not a postmarked deadline. Applications with all necessary attachments received after the submission deadline will not be considered, and incomplete applications will not be accepted. Some scholarships require applicants to complete the FAFSA (Federal Application for Free Student Aid) and submit a Student Aid Report (SAR). For more information about the FAFSA, please visit www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley administers over 200 endowment funds totaling $43 million and works diligently to help local individuals and families establish permanent charitable legacies which will touch the community now and for generations to come. Foundation for Roanoke Valley is one of the largest providers of educational scholarships in this region, annually awarding hundreds of thousands to hundreds of deserving students.

Roanoke Arts Commission now accepting funding applications

Branch opening night reception Roanoke sculptor Betty Branch recently held her annual open house and reception at a Warehouse Row studio on Norfolk Avenue downtown. Branch, a southwest Roanoke County resident, has been located at the 100-year old-plus warehouse for more than twenty years. Every December she also invites her talented offspring to exhibit during the open house, which ran for several days in December.

Son Patrick Branch showed his paintings; daughters Sally Grace (oil paintings), Polly (acrylic on linen) and Bonny (photographs) were also represented. Bonny wasn’t there – the former North Cross and Mill Mountain School for Girls teacher is in California, learning how to become a ballroom dance instructor. Betty Branch’s sculpture studio/gallery (123 Norfolk Ave.) is otherwise open by appointment, call 344-4994.

Wilson Hughes Gallery showcases west coast flair The Wilson Hughes Gallery represents another new piece of the downtown visual art renaissance.

To our good fortune, San Francisco artists John Wilson and Suzun Hughes relocated their gallery to downtown Roanoke. In their work, the functional decorative arts and fine arts overlap.

Suzun Hughes imposes printed photos on large canvasses. The images of poppies in one case and of shipping containers in another create bold, balanced, repetitive patterns. Large, abstract canvasses, forming a triptych, make a bold, decorative statement when installed on a large wall in a home or office.

Art hanging in a museum is a wonderful way to expose many to art; however, most pieces created through the ages have been made for homes, whether palaces or humble merchant middle class abodes, or small “pads” in industrial cities. We “decorate” with art, and Suzun Hughes’ work allows us to have fun doing it.

The other half of the Wilson Hughes Gallery is John Wilson, sculptor, furniture maker, welder, and carpenter. For anyone who has a sense of adventure, Wilson’s work elevates interesting design to another level. A piece of his “functional sculpture,” which incorporates “re-used” material, would bring “zip” to almost any interior or exterior area. Wouldn’t it be exciting to have a coffee table or pedestal inspired by Picasso, Serra, and Andy Warhol? Remember: the whole concept of “serious” room design changed in the 20th century. And, thanks to our San Francisco friends, design in Virginia has a new inspiration. Pop art is alive and well in downtown Roanoke. *Note: This article is not a “critical” review; it is meant to be fun and informative for the average reader.

By Carol Fralin info@theroanokestar.com

The City of Roanoke and the Roanoke Arts Commission have announced that the application for funding requests for area arts and cultural organizations is now available on the city's Web site: www.roanokeva.gov/econdevl Only organizations that have been established for a minimum of three years and which serve City of Roanoke residents may apply for funds from the city. These funds are intended to support specific program activities and expenses, not general operating expenses, and certain guidelines and restrictions apply.

"Last year city funds assisted 15 arts and cultural organizations," says Susan Jennings, Public Art Coordinator, and staff for the Arts Commission. "The funds helped provide programs for children and adults, in many cases reaching audiences that would otherwise go unserved."

The deadline for submitting funding requests is Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, by 5 p.m. Applications should be mailed or delivered to Melissa Murray in the Office of Economic Development at 117 Church Ave., Roanoke, VA 24011. In addition, all applicants must attend a pre-funding workshop on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, at 10 a.m. in Room 159 of the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Ave., in downtown Roanoke. For more information about the program, contact Susan Jennings at 853-5652.

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Page 12 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/2/09

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Marti Spanish Academy Opens Enrollment Statewide An advanced summer academy for high school students studying Spanish announced today that it is expanding and opening its doors for the first time to students from across Virginia. The Martí Spanish Academy previously recruited students from only the western part of Virginia, but it will now begin serving students statewide.

Martí is a unique domestic immersion experience that helps students improve their Spanish fluency through full, 24-hour-a-day immersion in the language, as well as through the history, food, dance, sports, and films of Spanish-speaking countries. The academy is one of only a handful of immersion programs where students remain in the United States, rather than travel abroad, and it may be the only one that offers high school students the opportunity to earn a full semester of transferable college credit for each 10-day session they attend. Full immersion means that English is never spoken during the residential experience.

"Students from the previous academy gave very positive reviews about how much they learned and what fun they had, so in our second year, we expanded our facility size so we could open the experience to more high school students throughout Virginia," said the academy's director, Jacqueline Gottstein.

Gottstein is also an adjunct Spanish professor, a former high school Spanish teacher, and has studied and taught in Spain and Bolivia.

Students can attend either a 10- or 20-day summer session at Martí's secluded retreat center in Lynchburg, Virginia. Daily activities include numerous interactive discussions in history, culture, and current events; hands-on art projects; learning traditional

Latin dances; and writing and acting in skits.

Students also learn as a group to cook their own authentic Hispanic dinners each evening. Leisure-time activities include hiking and traditional Hispanic games and sports.

Virginia high school teachers have even expressed support for this new opportunity available to their students. "I think an immersion academy is the best way a student could become fluent quickly and effectively.

It is a wonderful gift to have one right here in our area. And it's a great bargain, considering students can earn college credit," said Leslie Cleveland, chair of world language department at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke.

Studying abroad can add thousands of dollars to the cost, and many parents today are reluctant to send their minor children so far from home. "I used to lead student trips abroad," noted Gottstein. "The cultural experience was great, but students' fluency rarely improved because tour guides and local people would often speak in English to us. We do not allow English at the academy, and the students' progress is amazing because of it."

Interested students can find more information by visiting the website at www.MartiSpanishAcademy.com or by calling the academy at 540-761-4756. The regular application deadline is February 1, but applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis because space is limited to 45 students.

The sessions are July 6 - 15 and July 16 - 25.

Students may attend one or both sessions.

For each 10-day session they attend, students can earn one semester of transferable, sophomore-level college credit in Spanish, giving them a jump start by saving them time and money in college.

High School Students Receive GE Star Award

Three more 2008 Roanoke County graduates were recipients of the GE STAR Award from the GE Foundation and the Institute of International Education. Each student received funds for education-related expenses during their first year of college.

Julie Myers, a graduate of Hidden Valley High School, currently is attending William and Mary.

Erica Troia, also a graduate of Hidden Valley High School, attends the University of Virginia.

Myers and Troia selected Hidden Valley High School to receive $1000 ($500 on behalf of each student) from the GE Foundation to use for educational purposes.

Jessica Wolter, a graduate of Northside High School, currently is attending the University of Virginia. Wolter selected Northside High School to receive $500 from the GE Foundation to use for educational purposes. This is in addition to $500 the school on behalf of graduate Karen Harshfield, who attend William and Mary.

The GE STAR Awards are highly competitive one-time Awards for high-achieving children of General Electric employees and retirees worldwide. Each award recipient can select a high school teacher for an award for use in his or her school.

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