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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel POSTMASTER: Dated material, please deliver by publication date
Community | News | Per spective
January 9, 2009
Keith McCurdy
Share the Love
P5– Keith McCurdy says that spreading a little love is one resolution we can all keep.
Guns ‘n’ Hoses
P7– Firefighters and police officers faced off in the fifth annual fundraiser that raised over $12,000 locally for MDA last year.
City schools consider attendance zone shifts During a joint meeting Roanoke City School board member Courtney Penn gave City Council an overview on Monday of what to expect in the coming months from the “facilities group� that was created to find more efficient ways to utilize public school buildings. Currently, many are only used at 60-67% of capacity. The school buildings are owned by the city so any planned development requires a joint effort. Councilwoman Gwen Mason has sent recommendations to the School Board. A Request For Proposal was developed to solicit outside assistance in evaluating the facilities, looking at capacity planning, enrollment proEducation jections and future trends. Penn said the facilities group quickly identified inefficient use of space, lack of design standards, aging facilities and significant transportation issues. Penn said consultants noticed that existing attendance zones had been in place for 30 years. (By contrast, Roanoke County has shuffled its attendance zones several times in recent years to accommodate
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You Say You Want a Resolution
Look out below!
From the news editor
(With apologies to John Lennon) A week late, here’s a few resolutions and actions I’d like to see take place in 2009. Let’s start with a complete makeover of the City Market building, turning it into a tourist attraction like public markets in Seattle, Philadelphia and elsewhere. (Remembering Tom Hanks at the Pike’s public market in Sleepless in Seattle, where they throw fish around. Been there myself; it’s a lot of fun.) That means a City Market building that has longer hours and offers more variety, maybe some retail and Farmer’s Market vendors in the winter - like a plan offered by Downtown Roanoke Inc. The food court should be open in the eveOur Take ning and on weekends when there are spring/summer events at nearby Elmwood Park, and it is ideally situated to take advantage of traffic at the adjacent Taubman Museum of Art. Where the money comes from for all of this is another story. Speaking of the Taubman, let’s hope for later hours on the weekend, like a closing time of 9 or 10pm on Fridays
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> CONTINUED P2: Attendance
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ew York’s Times Square has its expensive crystal ball to drop at midnight on December 31, but Roanoke had 11,000 balls on New Year’s Eve – as in small, multi-colored and very bouncy balls. They were dropped from atrium balconies and stairways at Center in the Square, shortly after local children counted down to the noontime event. The children on the floor were also told
Photo by Stuart Revercomb
to use their countdown placards to shield them from the hard rubber balls, dropped by others that crowded the stairs and overhead walkways. The first time event was cooked up by Roanokers Beth Deel and Wendy Schuyler of the myscoper.com events website and Up Periscope, their boutique advertising firm, to publicize a new exhibit about toys at the Science Museum.
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> CONTINUED P3: Our Take
Regional VP of First Transit Addresses Roanoke Teacher receives Market Mayhem Improper Procurement by Valley Metro 2008 Conservation Teacher of P10– Fear, uncertainty and doubt reign as opinions abound in what to do with Roanoke’s City Market Building.
Moonshine Mystique P11– “White Liquor, Blue Ridge Style,� is now on display at the History Museum of Western Virginia.
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The elephant was in the room as Dave Morgan, General Manager of the Greater Roanoke Transit Company – Valley Metro - led a presentation on the history of GRTC this past Monday. About a month ago the assistant general manager, William “Chip� Holdren and the Valley Metro procurement officer, Matt Wynn, were suspended for allegedly forging procurement documents. Bids had been solicited to redecorate Holdren’s Metro office. The amount came to over $223,000 and the contract was awarded to Holdren’s wife, Diane HolPhoto by Valerie Garner dren, the president and owner City Councilwoman Anita Price (L) and Mayor David Bowers of Holdren’s Interiors. First Transit is the Cincin- listen to Dave Morgan, General Manager of Valley Metro. nati Ohio based transit man- been added recently, at least on procurement officer, Williamagement service that manages a temporary basis. son said the company also reValley Metro. Roanoke City Mayor David Bowers com- viewed the procurement reguCouncil serves as Valley Met- mended Dave Morgan as a lations for GRTC, the City, the ro’s Board of Directors. good manager and asked for as- State, and the Federal Transit With an $8.1 million oper- surance that the alleged impro- Administration. Depending on ating budget, Morgan expects priety on the part of Holdren the dollar amount it will now ridership to break 2.5 million and Wynn would not reoccur. require a higher level of authorpassengers in fiscal year 2009. At City Manager Darlene Bur- ity for procurement approvals The Trolley between downtown cham’s request Bill Williamson, and Williamson himself would and South Jefferson the Regional Vice be involved in the approval (Carilion) in seven President of First process. He brought in one of Transportation weeks of operation Transit, addressed First Transit’s managers to act has carried 331 pasthe issue: “we took as Assistant Manager to Dave sengers per day, which far ex- immediate steps to try to bring Morgan and is also offering the ceeds the expected 80 to 100 the situation under control.� > CONTINUED daily passengers, said Morgan. Besides suspending the asSeveral additional stops have sistant general manager and P2: Valley Metro
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the Year Award
Daniel “Chip� Donahue was recently awarded the 2008 Conservation Teacher of the Year Award at the 70th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts. This Roanoke County resident not only teaches second grade at Glen Cove Elementary School but also has organized, with the help of his dedicated wife Ashley, an environmental educational outreach program known as Chip Donahue and his KIVA (Kids in the Valley Ad- youngest son Fennen explore venturing). There is a monthly “the real world.� event that showcases great opthe Woods.� This book reportunities available for parenforced the idea that educaents and kids in the Roanoke tors can make the most differValley. ence in the lives of children by Interested individuals and helping them reconnect with their families meet at varinature by using outdoor classous parks around town each rooms in elementary schools. month, and always focus on With the assistance of school “free family fun.� Now a ceadministrators the process lebrity in his own of creating a set of right, Donahue and “Buddy Buckets� Conservation KIVA were featured at Glen Cove Elearlier this year on ementary School Good Morning America. was undertaken. Donahue inquired about As this enthusiastic teacher the Blue Ridge Soil & Waand his students spent more ter Conservation’s “Buddy time outside, they discovered Bucket� Outdoor Classroom that there was once a trail in Program about the same time he was reading Richard > CONTINUED Louv’s book, “Last Child in P3: Conservationist
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Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/9/09
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City Council briefings to be televised “occasionally� For $55,181 Roanoke City’s EOC (Emergency Operations Center, Room 159 Municipal Building), where briefings and joint meetings are held, can be transformed to accommodate televised Council briefings. This option had little support at Monday’s Council meeting, especially when Councilman Dave Trinkle quoted production fees, also noting the poor acoustics and lighting that would require correction. Trinkle said if there was the occasional briefing “that [Council] thought was vitally important to have on TV� it could be done at the “closed captioning� cost of $420 for three hours. However, regularly scheduled televised briefings would cost over a thousand dollars a month. The briefings could be substituted for the monthly, televised Planning Commission meetings at only the cost of a computer if held in Council Chambers. This option would require a vote by the Cable Committee. Logitical problems are an issue: it was pointed out on Monday that if Council sat
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at the dais it would not be conducive to having relaxed joint meetings, as is often the case. If a table was used the podium would have to be moved - but it is hard-wired for microphones and computer hookup. In addition, there would be a substantial cost for microphones for the tables. Trinkle then brought up prioritizing time, which included the possibility that Roanoke County may want to televise their Planning Commission meetings on the same channel, RVTV-3. Trinkle said, “soon we would run out of time� and if we started the briefings and another locality wanted the time “our briefings would be the first to go.� Additionally, unscheduled “intermittent� briefings would require a two-week notice to RVTV. The definition of “intermittent� may come into question at some point. Councilman Court Rosen suggested streaming or taping the briefings for webcasts. However, the quality of video and especially sound as it relates to background noise may not be overcome easily. City Manager Darlene Burcham was unsure if RVTV would allow it on their broadcast but it might be possible to put it on the City’s website. “Someone on an hourly basis could come in to produce it,� said Burcham. Council will confer with the Planning Commission and Burcham will look into producing a webcast.
> Attendance From page 1
growth patterns.) The phase one study identified enrollment and safety issues, that initiated the move of Forest Park Elementary students to other schools due to low attendance figures. The study concluded with the decision to merge Oakland Elementary with Preston Park and the move of Noel C. Taylor students to Oakland. Consultants suggested that RCPS reduce the number of overly small elementary schools. Penn defined “overly small� as under 300 students. Making all elementary schools K-5 was also recommended. Phase two includes these recommendations along with geo-coding that uses GIS software to study changes in real time. Penn compared the software to “putting stickpins into a map� pinpointing where all the students live. This software would include information about a student’s gender, grade level, race, test scores, and whether or not they get free or reduced
lunch. The plan is to develop potential scenarios that would be “thoroughly, publicly and collaboratively critiqued,â€? said Penn. “We have to create a set of design standards ‌ what would we like our facilities to look like in a perfect world.â€? The plan would feature schools with 300 to 550 students. An example of the need to redraw attendance zones was a comparison between the Westside Elementary zone - with 900 students - and the Highland Park zone that features 85 students. Attendance zone shifts are usually controversial and encounter some resistance from parents. “The new policy will focus on what is in the best interest of the children first and foremost,â€? said Penn. As part of the second phase RCPS will anticipate and prepare for growth, maximize the proximity of students to schools and provide equitable means of transportation. Penn concluded by saying RCPS has
not made any decisions and “there are no holy cows.� The public will have “due notice� on any major changes. Scenarios are already being developed. Penn said the cost to implement the change in the attendance zones would be $12 million over a five to seven year period. Mason asked Penn how they would account for students living in attendance zones where they do not actually go to school. Penn said an evaluation in 2007 – 2008 indicated that roughly 25% of the student body does not attend their zone school. They could be in gifted programs he noted, in special education programs or they may be using the school choice option (if their zone school has not met Standards of Learning milestones) but Penn admitted the percentage was probably too high.
By Valerie Garner info@theroanokestar.com
Flood Reduction Project and Greenway Meets Endangered Species
In order to connect two halves of the Roanoke River Greenway near Carilion Roanoke Memorial a path will be cut along the river, under a pedestrian bridge, that will require moving Hamilton Terrace road slightly as it goes under a covered pedestrian bridge. That came to light at Monday’s City Council meeting. This portion of the trail will cost $500,000 and was not part of the original flood reduction project. There is a moratorium on disturbing the river from March to July as the presence of the Log Perch, an endangered species, prohibits any construction near the Roanoke River during those months. Carilion CEO and President Ed Murphy joked that a small bridge already constructed near the hospital is now a “bridge to nowhere,� waiting for the greenway connection to be made. Pathfinders For Greenways donated the survey work, along with $35,000 in cash. HSMM donated the design. Carilion verbally pledged $150,000 toward the Greenway and the City of Roanoke puts $200,000 yearly into the Greenway fund, in addition to grants. Novozymes Biologicals, under a court ordered plea agree- A rendering showing the proposed park and greenway where ment for violation of the Clean Water Act, will spend $250,000 on the Hannah Court Mobile Home park once stood. a parking lot for a proposed park where the Hannah Court mobile home park once stood. It was purchased by the city in 2006 for trail will eventually encircle the entire 15 acres, connecting to a pedestrian bridge that spans the river to Wasena Park. $1.8 million. The bridge should go out for bid in late spring or early summer. At Wasena Park an inactive covered sewer pipe acting as a dam Though the Army Corp of engineers would be responsible for this By Valerie Garner will be removed and the Hannah Court property will be raised, project, the City would share in some of the cost. All told the link info@theroanokestar.com with excess dirt equaling 10,000 dump truck loads creating a plaat Carilion and the segment near Wasena Park will help create a teau effect. A parking lot will be built with Novozymes funds at five mile uninterrupted portion of the Roanoke River Greenway the crest of the property and a 10-foot wide landscaped walking and Staff of that stretches to the 13th St. water treatment plant.
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From page 1
assistance of First Transit’s own auditors, saying they were “aghast at what happened and we feel terrible about that‌we are determined to get to the bottom of it.â€? Councilman Court Rosen asked if First Transit would reimburse the City if the allegations prove correct. “We are prepared to step forward and meet that commitment,â€? replied Williamson, if the facts support the allegations. By Valerie Garner info@theroanokestar.com
> Conservationist From page 1
the woods surrounding their school. According to Donahue, “In 1974, a true outdoor classroom was created in these woods, including wooden outdoor bleachers, a rock and nature observation station, and a section of a stream set aside for water inspection and habitat observation. Over time, the trail became overgrown. The Roanoke Flood of 1985 also washed away most of the trail. I was given permission to recreate the trail and my family spent many a
weekend chopping away at brush in an effort to return the trail to the community�. “Chip Donahue is a source of inspiration to his students as well as to other teachers and to those in the community in which he resides� said representatives of the VASWCD adding that, “they were very impressed with his accomplishments and grateful the Blue Ridge Soil & Water Conservation District submitted his name.�
Junior League of Roanoke Valley to host the 3rd Annual Bargain Bazaar
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Cave Spring area community meeting
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The Junior League of Roanoke Valley will host the 3rd Annual Bargain Bazaar & Bake Sale on January 31st to benefit the 7th Annual Pediatric Blood Drive held in March as well as other Roanoke Valley organizations focused on improving the lives of children. Held at Tanglewood Mall from 10am-9pm, the Bargain Bazaar will feature "like new" furniture, clothing, household items, toys, baby gear, electronics and more - “all at bargain prices.� Admission is free. The event will be held on the lower level of Tanglewood Mall. Visit www.jlrv.org for more information.
We’ve always been here for you.
Cave Spring supervisor Charlotte Moore will hold her quarterly community meeting at Angie Beckner's house in Hunting Hills on January 12th at 7:00 p.m. Topics will be taxes and services provided by Roanoke County. The address is 5335 Silverfox Rd. (off of Foxridge Rd., beside Hunting Hills Country Club). “Please come and invite your neighbors and friends,� said Moore, “this meeting is for everyone.�
1/9/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3
TheRoanokeStar.com
Diana Christopulos – one of the Valley’s “greenest” people Diana Christopulos wants to see her job become obsolete. As chairman of the board of the Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition, she would like to see everyone commit to a lifestyle that reduces carbon footprints— their annual contribution to global warming – which everyone can measure themselves. In the meantime Christopulos and Mark McClain— treasurer/webmaster - tell groups there are many things they can do to save energy. “Making changes as a lifestyle commitment may not take much time and will pay off spiritually because it is the right thing for the environment,” according to Christopulos - but it will also save money in the long run. For example: an incandescent 60-watt light bulb emits just 5% light and 95% heat, while a CFL 50 watt equivalent bulb (those swirling, compact fluorescents) will save $40 or more over the life of the bulb, despite the extra expense up front. She hopes that people will feel obligated to learn and can apply some basic principals to change the way they live. Christopulos wouldn’t feel right “not doing something about it [global warming], so we did.” The RVCCC adds people to their list of supporters every week after speaking to new groups. She is a volunteer who works out of her home in Salem, keeping administrative costs low. Teaching others about reducing the threat of global warming via lowered green-
house gas emissions comes naturally to Christopolus, who was a college history professor at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. That’s where she taught American and Latin American History in the 70’s. She holds a doctorate in history from Binghamton University in upstate New York. Christopolus said she and McCain wanted to settle in the southern Appalachian Mountains near colleges and universities, so they chose the Roanoke Valley. Investing wisely helped her retire early, leaving Christopolus free to pursue a passion for environmental causes. (McClain is also a canoeing enthusiast and an activist for clean waterways as a member and officer of the local Sierra Club.) She is an Air Force brat, born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and has lived in Germany, Colorado, Northern Virginia, Hawaii and Nebraska. Christopolus finished hiking her last section of the Appalachian Trail in October with a celebration party at Harpers Ferry, completing the hike nine years after she began. Progress is being made on the cooler cities front: area governments are already committed to reducing their carbon footprints at municipal facilities—Salem, Roanoke County, Roanoke City and Blacksburg have signed on. Roanoke City has been a leader, with council member Gwen Mason spearheading that effort, while Roanoke County is just starting to as-
Roanoke Star Week of the
Photo by Gene Marrano
Dr. Diana Christopulos (center) speaks with local high school students. semble its own public-private green coalition. Many of the changes work on the residential level — programmed thermostat settings for heat/cooling, using recycled paper wherever possible, reducing water usage, and buying green cleaning products for starters. Christopulos urges citizens to support their local government during these early efforts to reduce carbon footprints. “Americans are very smart. Once we set our minds to it we’re really very good at it,” she said about deciding to make a change. “You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to get better.” Christopolus can show you how to calculate a carbon footprint. It’s easy and a chart available on line can help with the figuring by establishing a baseline that can be used to measure improvements made. Just ask for a presentation —there are 13 to choose from.
Contact Mark McClain at (540) 387-0930, e-mail him at mcclainmark@comcast. net, or visit the RVCCC website (rvccc.org) for more information. By Joan Kastner info@theroanokestar.com
Gary Fowler grew up in the coalfields of West Virginia and graduated from Princeton High School in 1959. He then went to barber school in Richmond, Va, moving to Roanoke in 1963. He has owned and operated Garys Hair Styling since 1967. His was the first mens hair styling shop in the State of Virginia and operated in the Patrick Henry Hotel until 2003. His shop is now located on Hardy Road in Vinton, Va. Married to the former Becky Meador, they have two sons, one daughter, five grandchildren, and live in Vinton, Va. Gary has also served as pastor of the Flint Hill Baptist Church in Bedford County for 12 years. He has pastored several other churches in prior years. Gary's favorite places in the Roanoke Valley are Mill Mountain, downtown Roanoke, Coach and Four restaurant, and Logans Roadhouse. By Jim Bullington Have someone in mind for “Roanoke Star of the Week?” E-mail Jim Bullington: JBullPhoto@hotmail.com
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> Our Take From page 1
and/or Saturdays. Keep the café open also or set up an expresso bar in the lobby – would make for a great date night and downtown eateries should benefit once the Taubman did close for the night. Let’s also hope that the Center in the Square museums, the Taubman and the Virginia Museum of Transportation can all get together to offer one price discount tickets so that downtown visitors can take in all the cultural attractions with their families at an affordable price. (And why aren’t there signposts, brightly colored maps on billboards, etc. downtown pointing visitors to these museums?) Perhaps the new trolleys can be used on special weekends for these “museum crawls,” which could also include art gallery stops. Planning for new public parking garages downtown and at the Roanoke Civic Center would be nice – one at the corner of Campbell and Williamson downtown and another somewhere near the coliseum/performing arts theatre complex, where there seems to be some open spaces for one, even if it is purchased from private property owners. Hello?! People don’t like shuttles from remote lots and in the (mostly) blue-collar Star City they don’t want to pay for parking in downtown Roanoke. Businesses that leave for the ‘burbs often cite the perceived lack of parking as one reason they bail out. Assuming that Roanoke City Council finds the tree where money grows on it, movement
on the amphitheater issue would be nice – fix the Elmwood Park site for community concerts and festivals. Right now it’s almost impossible to sit comfortably in a chair there… feels like being on the deck of the Titanic, after it struck the iceberg. Speaking of ice, the kind under your feet, not floating in the North Atlantic – wouldn’t a new, dedicated ice skating rink be nice, perhaps equipped with 2500-3000 seats that could also accommodate a lower-level professional hockey league team? (Would be a nice addition downtown, or perhaps near Tanglewood Mall as a way to attract people to that underused property). And approve a larger amphitheater for the old Victory Stadium property – something low tech, where flood water damage from the nearby Roanoke River wouldn’t be fatal; maybe 5000-7000 seats and room behind them on the grass for thousands more. Otherwise those fields could still be used for recreation leagues in a city badly in need of athletic venues. Aren’t you tired of traveling to Charlottesville, Raleigh or Virginia Beach to see major acts under the stars? That’s it for now, I’m done spending other people’s money … personally, I hope to help turn out more interesting Star-Sentinel papers for our readers. As for the 20-30 pounds I want to lose – every year – that truly is another story. By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net
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PERSPECTIVE
Page 4 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/9/09
Why We Fight
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t’s happened again . . . for the ten thousandth time, if you’re counting: Fighting in Palestine/Israel/The Holy Land, whichever you prefer to call it. In addition to other things, the Old Testament gives a bloodthirsty account of what happened in 1220 BCE when Joshua decided to cross the Jordan into Jericho. As one might imagine, the Canaanites, who had been living there for 2000 years, were none too pleased with the pronouncement that a god of whom they had never heard, had given their land to the children of Abraham. So the fighting began and has continued pretty much uninterrupted since. Instead of spears, rocks, and arrows, this morning they are using the latest in sophisticated warfare, all supplied by the United States to Israel and by the French, Russians and others to the Palestinians. If they had to manufacture their own armaments, things would be a bit simpler. But there’s money to be made in arms shipments, and we’re certainly not above cutting ourselves a large piece of that pie. Humans, with the exception of one isolated group of chimpanzees, are the only mammals on the planet that regularly band together to kill each other. The reasons, other than the sport of differing politics, revolve around two simple issues: land and religion. Most highly developed animals have a sense of territoriality for an obvious purpose: They protect their water and food sources. They will fight to do it. Humans take it a step further. The winner may get the land they want, but the losers will, sooner or later, redress the damage dealt to them. After centuries of recycling conflict, hostility has a life of its own. What started
off as a fight about land now The Force or whatever apis a war about who did what pellation you apply gives a to whom. fig about religion. Religion Factor into this religion is what we tell each other and the problem begins to about what we believe. The approach the unsolvable. problems start when we try When one group tells anoth- to force others into our syser that God is on their side, tem. I once asked my father, it really doesn’t matter whose a well-known Christian minGod you’re talking about. ister, how he resolved all the World War II, a “just war” if religious differences in the there ever was one, had God world. He thought a minon our side. Milute then said, “The lions of Germans, verses in John 14 some of them faanswer it for me. mous theologians, ‘In my Father’s felt exactly the (Jesus did not say same thing. Karl “God’s”) house are Barth, Paul Tillich, many mansions.’” Reinhold Niehbuhr, Dad went on to Martin Niemöller, add, “If there are and Dietrich Bonmany mansions, hoeffer, all recthere must be ognized that God Hayden Hollingsworth many doors and was not a Nazi. we don’t all go in Today no one can recall the the same way.” names of the majority of If Moses, Christ, and MoGerman church leaders who hammed could not convince supported the Third Reich. even their contemporaries Religions - all of them that Yahweh, God, and Al- one can argue, have been lah all wanted humankind to the cause of more bloodshed live in harmony, what hope is than all the political and land there for ordinary mortals to acquisition wars in history. correct three thousand years If one is to believe the re- of hatred and war? cord, Jesus came to earth as A depressing thought and God Incarnate to change the until someone can figure it thinking about our enemies. out, I think we can count on Six centuries later, Moham- another three millennia of med got the same message conflict and the idea of livfrom Allah. ing in peace will never beIn the centuries following come more than just wishful that idea, both Christian- thinking. ity and Islam have been at Colette Livermore, a foreach other’s throat. Juda- mer and disillusioned sister ism, caught in the middle, in Mother Teresa’s Missionhas been amazing in its sur- aries of Charity, writes in her vival. With only 15 million recent memoir, “Hope EnJews in the world, they con- dures,” about the difficulty tinue to make astounding of dealing with the horrors contributions to civilization. of daily living in much of the The three billion Christians world. After all she has seen and Muslims have their own and all we have only heard agendas and neither seems about, that hope does remain interested in listening to the can give us cause to face toother. The other half of the morrow with expectation. world has its own set of religions. Contact Hayden at Personally, I don’t think jhayden203@cox.net Yahweh, God, Allah, the Buddha, the Hindu Gods,
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PREACHER’S CORNER
More than a gift – The twelve loaves of bread
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by Pastor Gary Robbins
or those of you who love stories, here is one that I first encountered in Nancy Larrick’s To Ride a Butterfly. It comes from the Jewish tradition and this retelling of the story is based on one told by Barbara Cohen. The story goes like this. Like hundreds of other aged towns, the buildings of S’fad seemed to huddle together with only the narrowest of streets to divide them. The streets were always filled with butchers, grocers, children, homemakers, rabbis and their students. One of the people who lived in S’fad was a man named Meir, a miller who faithfully went to synagogue each week. Every Sabbath he sat on a hard wooden bench trying to stay awake, but every Sabbath morning he would gently drift off to sleep. One Sabbath day, as the rabbi was chanting, Meir awoke just long enough to hear the rabbi say, “You shall take choice flour and bake of it twelve loaves…Place them on the pure table before the Lord in two rows, six to a row.” Meir heard the words but then, as you may have guessed, quietly returned to his Sabbath nap, dreams and reality softly blurring together. When Meir arrived home, he told his wife how God had spoken to him in a dream. God, he told her, had commanded him to bake twelve loaves of bread, carry them to the synagogue, and place them on the table that stood in front of the ark. The command, he confessed, did seem a little strange—Who would have thought that God ate bread!—but who was he to question the ways of God! Meir did as God commanded. He baked the challah, placed the loaves on the table, and covered them with the velvet cloth. Now there lived in S’fad a second man whose name was Yakov. Yakov had a large family—a wife and seven children—and he cleaned the synagogue to provide food for his family. But times were hard. Yakov’s youngest child had been sick and it took all of his money to pay for the doctor’s care.
When Yakov arrived in the synagogue to begin the weekly cleaning, his heart was heavy. “God,” he prayed, “my family is hungry and I have no money. Winter is coming and soon it will be cold. How can I keep my family from starving?” Yakov prayed as he swept and dusted and soon his cleaning brought him to the table that stood before the Holy Ark, a table covered with a velvet cloth. “Strange,” thought Yakov, “I wonder what is hiding under the cloth?” When he looked under the cloth, he saw the twelve loaves. “Thank you, God! Oh, thank you!,” said Yakov, overjoyed that God had answered his prayer so quickly. “Blessed are you, O God, for hearing my prayer and sending this wondrous miracle!” What joy there was in Yakov’s house when he arrived home with his arms full of bread! But soon Meir began to wonder whether he had heard God correctly. Had God really instructed him to bake the bread? So he returned to the synagogue to see if the bread was still there. You can imagine his surprise when he discovered that the bread was gone! God had accepted his gift! He was humbled and honored that God would accept the gift of a simple miller. The following Sabbath, Meir brought another twelve loaves to synagogue. After the service he quietly placed the loaves on the table, covered them with the velvet cloth and returned home. It was but a few minutes before Yakov arrived to complete his weekly cleaning of the synagogue. “God,” Yakov prayed, “you are so busy—and you have been so gracious—but once again my family is in great trouble. I used seven of the loaves to feed my family, sold four to help us make it through the week and gave one away, as you would have me do. Now there is nothing left. Please, God, I need another miracle.” Almost afraid to hope, Yakov went over to the table. There, to his great delight, were twelve loaves of bread!
Joy again filled his heart and he ran home praising God for yet another miracle. Week after week, Meir baked bread and left it on the table and, week after week, Yakov and his family rejoiced that God had provided a miracle. Months passed. One Sabbath a member of the synagogue asked the rabbi a particularly difficult question. Unsure of the answer, the rabbi stayed to research the answer. While there, the rabbi heard footsteps in the sanctuary and quietly went to see who it was. There was Meir dropping off his twelve loaves of bread. Meir was barely gone when the rabbi heard another set of footsteps. It was Yakov. The rabbi watched as Yakov uncovered the twelve loaves and, with deep joy and gratitude, scurried home to his eagerly awaiting family. Suddenly, everything made sense. The rabbi had long wondered what had placed the joy and satisfaction on Meir’s face—and long wondered how Yakov’s family had faired the winter so well. When the rabbi called the two together to explain what had been happening, Meir looked crestfallen. “I thought that I was giving the bread to God,” he said, stunned and saddened by the discovery. “And I thought that the bread was a gift from God,” sputtered Yakov, surprised by the disclosure. “Meir, Yakov, you are both right,” said the rabbi. “Meir, when we open our heart and give to those in need, we are giving a gift to God. Yakov, when we receive a gift from the kindness of another, we are receiving a gift from God. God may cherish our prayers and God may be honored by our study, but it is when we give with generosity and kindness—and when we receive with gratitude and thankfulness—that God is most truly with us.” May it ever be so in your life!
Gary Robbins is Pastor at Greene Memorial Church in Downtown Roanoke Visit them on the web at www.grumc.org
The Roanoke Star-Sentinel C o m mu n i t y | N ew s | Pe r s p e c t i ve Publisher | Stuart Revercomb | stuart@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Features Editor | Pam Rickard | pam@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 News Editor | Gene Marrano | gmarrano@cox.net | 400-0990 Production Editor | Stephen Nelson | stephen@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Technical Webmaster | Don Waterfield | webmaster@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Advertising Director | Vickie Henderson | advertising@theroanokestar.com | 400-0990 Star: to lift up that which is right, real and genuine about our community – the people and events that make us who we are – the real spirit of Roanoke that past residents and leaders have worked hard to create, that points us towards the bright and shining future that we all desire for our valley. Sentinel: to guard the truth, with consistent and complete coverage of key local issues that provides balanced reporting and equal editorial opportunity. To fully tell all sides of a story so that readers can make their own informed opinions, and express them to positively impact others and our community. The Roanoke Star-Sentinel is published weekly by Whisper One Media, Inc. in Roanoke, Va. Subscriptions are available for $44 per year. Send subscriptions to PO Box 8338, Roanoke,VA 24014. We encourage letters from our readers on topics of general interest to the community and responses to our articles and columns. Letters must be signed and have a telephone number for verification. All letters will be verified before publication.The Star-Sentinel reserves the right to deny publication of any letter and edit letters for length, content and style. All real estate advertised herein is subject to national and Virginia fair housing laws and readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.
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PERSPECTIVE
No camping in 2009, thank you very much
anuary, my not-so-favorite time of year, brings a familiar yearning for warmth and sun, and thoughts of family getaways—like a good old summer camping trip. Camping is one of those all-American pursuits that has its staunch followers and probably equally staunch detractors. Our family of six, now somewhat scattered, has very few shared camping memories, most of which took place in the back yard. I still occasionally wrestle with and mourn that fact. One of our sons heads out every year on a summer camping outing with buddies to an island somewhere in the twists and turns of Smith Mountain Lake. None of us parents know exactly where it is, and that is probably the point. We are forewarned of this excursion about 10 minutes before a jeep full of kids show up at our doorstep asking to borrow tents and some cooking gear. If I happen to be home when this happens, I locate the dusty box full of tents on our shelf in the garage and throw in a bottle of bug spray for good measure. Then, just as quickly as they appear, they are gone—off on their adventure once again. The excitement they feel as they depart leaves me a little melancholy in their wake. In spite of the head-of-household’s best efforts to inspire a desire to go camping, I have been an obstacle to this noble endeavor. I imagine an idyllic scene of kids roasting marshmallows around the campfire, giddy with excitement from the rawness of the experience. But thanks to me if the kids are going to have camping memories, it looks like they will have to be of their own making. Somehow I always have an excuse, but one summer some
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1/9/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5
years back, I bravely turned my back on all the exting some sleep. It wasn’t long before getting some cuses and put on a cheerful face as I agreed to take air was a much higher priority as the smoke from our four young kids for ONE overnight camping the campfire gathered and thickened, settling upon trip. the ground like a morning fog. As I lay there listenI don’t recall preparing for the trip at home but ing to the rest of the family sleep just fine, I finally I distinctly remember finally arriving at the park found myself drifting off‌until a low sound began and realizing that being in the great outdoors in from somewhere across the lake, quickly escalating the mountains did nothing to reduce the humidity into a very LOUD trumpeting call! I realized it was level. So the hair goes up, the kids get whiny, and a rare and awesome creature: a bull frog. When his the tent project begins. Putting up a tent is a great gigantic throat finally finished whatever he had to way to start things off— in theory to promote total say (estimated duration 55 seconds) I was totally Cheryl Hodges cooperation and congeniality among family memawake, heart pounding, and lungs full of lingering bers. Soon we are all reluctantly involved, but we smoke. are not exactly feeling congenial. Frustrations rise as differFeeling a little irritable, and quite helpless, I resumed with ent ideas on how things should be done are thrown together great effort the task of falling asleep. Exactly 45 minutes later like nitro and glycerin. But the tent does get put up and just by the trusty Indiglo Timex, it happened again. From the in time. When we started I was sure that the sky was blue and sound of this frog, he was probably about a foot and a half cloudless and I was expecting the quintessential night under wide with a throat capacity equal to that of a large birthday the stars, but this was not to be the case; we had about 8.6 balloon. I whispered, “does anybody hear that thing?â€? There seconds from the time we realized it might rain until we were is no response - he is apparently my personal Frog from Hell. in a full-blown thunderstorm. We dove for the tent and there He continued to go off every 45 minutes (obviously his air sac upon spent over an hour wondering if it would ever end. refill time) until dawn was reasonably near. Needless to say, Just about the time I thought I had grounds for a town meet- I was the only one who wasn’t up for a paddle boat ride the ing regarding GOING HOME, the rain stopped. We and oth- next day. Going frog hunting sounded pretty good! er nearby campers crawled back out and resumed important This year I have finally found a resolution I can keep. There camping activities, even though it was now dark and nearly will be no camping in 2009. bedtime. Our neighboring campers triumphantly started a campfire of all things! This would be a good thing unless Contact Cheryl at you happened to be in a tent 10 feet away thinking about getcvhodges@aol.com
Rocks and Recessions
here's a trend afoot, caused by the took the Perry Boys to Fishburn Park for a current recession, toward simplify- hike. We were doing fine as we walked down ing and slowing down our lives. See- the gravel path past the tennis courts and ing a lifetime of retirement savings go “poof � alongside the disc golf course, until we came in a matter of weeks has made us realize that to the footbridge over Murray Run, at which what's really important is not a new car every point all forward progress stopped. The Boys other year, an even wider-screen TV, or a big- grabbed rocks from the hillside and began to ger house than our parents. Folks are realiz- toss them into the swift-flowing water, Seth ing that free-range, grass-fed, and organic— choosing small, manageable pebbles, and the way our parents and grandparents did Kevin gathering armfuls of mini-boulders things back on the farm—make a lot of sense. and hefting them into the torrent with loud When it comes to prioritizing our lives, “back ker-plunks. to the basics� and “slow and steady wins the Our Alberta Ave. neighbors, Mike and race� are becoming the mottos for the times. Theresa, out for a mid-day walk, happened I can see parallels between the go-go upon us and we began to relate stories of years of the Bush presidency and throwing rocks as kids. Mike reour parenting styles. Many people called a time in his youth when the have parented like their kids were creeks in Fairfax County were clean a mutal fund, circa 2005. In other and full of critters, and smiled as words, lots of micro-management. he recounted finding a crawdad Buy, sell, short, long, in, out. But or nymph under every rock in a what kind of returns are these fund favorite childhood creek in West managers getting? Is their any longVirginia. I related putting creek term growth, or have we just crerocks around the campfire on Boy ated a generation of text-messaging Scouts camping trips, only to have video-gamers with no attention them explode into a thousand tiny David Perry spans, doomed to crash? projectiles as the water contained My wife and I are fans of what I within escaped violently as steam. would call the Warren Buffett school of par- Even as an adult, my good friend James and enting—invest in a good product and let it I whiled away a lunch break during a famgrow, organically and over time, the way God ily canoe trip on the James River by casually intended. This means that we make a point tossing river rocks at each other from oppoto let our kids entertain themselves, with site sides of a cobble bar. minimal adult guidance, and with as little Mike and Theresa moved on, and with help from cable television as possible. They the hillside freshly strip-mined, I ordered play with wooden toy trains on a table in the the Perry Boys to march. Their hands and basement, making elaborate track setups and knees were muddy, but the Boys were none commanding the transport of freight like the worse for wear—in fact, they were bet19th-century railroad tycoons. They enjoy ter for having discovered how much fun you playing in the mud, too—“dirt work,� as they can have with some rocks and a little trickle call it—and have built several quarries and of water. Yep, Warren Buffett has it right. Ingravel pits in the corner of our back yard. vest in something good—something you'd They recently discovered another form be willing to hang on to for the rest of your of entertainment, one that is absolutely life—and let it grow, naturally and organicalfree, gets them into the great outdoors, and ly, with minimal intervention. The way God is abundantly available in this part of the intended. world: throwing rocks into a creek. My wife requested a little time to put away the ChristContact David at mas decorations after New Year's Day, so I dave@davidperryonline.com
S
New Year’s Resolution‌ Let’s love some people
o what is the most popular New Year’s Resolution you have heard this year? The top three that I have heard are starting a diet, deciding to exercise and beginning a new hobby or activity. Is it me or does it seem the majority of the focus of “change� in the New Year is based on self? It is hard to turn on the radio today and not hear an ad for the local gym or diet plan and how these will help you become who you want to be in 2009. Here we are about to finish the first week in the New Year and I wonder how many of us have already stopped our new plan? We know that less than half of our New Year’s plans make it into longstanding habits and lifestyle change, so what is the point? Most New Year’s resolutions seem to focus on enriching our individual lives. In other words, they are self-focused or even selfish. When we are so self-focused the majority of our feedback comes from us. Yes, we may get the occasional comment about some lost pounds or leaner physique, but overall we are the ones who keep track of exactly what we have achieved and are the main source for our motivation. If we are the source of the motivation and haven’t done such a great job yet, what makes us think it will be any different now? I am really not trying to discourage anyone or be negative about this process; I am just suggesting that maybe it is
the focus of the resspend more time olution that we set with them? that is the problem. Parents, ask what Maybe it shouldn’t you can do to dembe so based on us. onstrate love to About two weeks your children. Are ago a little girl you giving loving shared with me her responses to them, goal for the New do they get undiYear. Her parents vided attention, are had been talking you consistent with Keith McCurdy about diets and exdiscipline as well as ercise and she started thinking compliments and praise? that she needed a New Year’s Kids, how are you treating resolution. She told me that your parents, friends, teamthis year she was going to “love mates, classmates? Practice more peopleâ€?. giving loving responses and Wow, talk about out of the demonstrating kindness. Demouths of babes. I think she is cide to work on being agreeright. Instead of enriching our able and thankful rather than own lives we should be focused complaining and discontent. on enriching the lives of those While these ideas may not around us. The impact and re- be the traditional fair of resosult would be very different. No lutions for this time of year, longer would our motivation they are the ones that can have come from within, it would be the most profound impact. I a direct result of how we treat would have to say that going others and how they respond on a diet, getting a work-out to this loving message. So, routine or learning how to knit here is the challenge. Instead has rarely solved issues in my of going on a diet, building a patients’ lives. Learning how to work-out routine, or learning love and be loved has! Happy to speak Spanish‌.let’s love New Year! some people. Here are three Contact Keith at suggestions. psycyou@msn.com Husbands and Wives, ask yourI am the slowest self what you carpet cleaner in Roanoke. could do to make a positive difference in the life of your spouse. Can you be more attentive, demonstrate more I will give your affection or just
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The Recipe of the Week from The Happy Chef by Leigh Sackett
Linguine with Asparagus and Goat Cheese I hope you have made your New Year’s resolutions. As I was looking in my freezer and refrigerator today I resolved to make healthier meals. I picked up some of my Cooking Light cookbooks today and looked through them. The recipes are as easy as any of the weekday meals I prepare. It just takes some extra planning to be sure I have the ingredients on hand. So really half the battle in eating healthier is just to be more organized! But things won’t just change if we don’t truly will them to - we must become intentional in what we have decided to do. This is how it happens - we resolve to change something in our life, but next comes the hardest part - we must act. We must have the will to go forward with the new idea and turn it into an action. That is where most of us get hung up – I know I do. The start of a new year is a wonderful time to evaluate what you have been doing, plan to change some things and be given a fresh start. With that idea in mind I think of God and how He always forgives us and allows us to start again. It’s a NEW YEAR! What a great word that is – NEW! So I may be throwing some healthy meals your way in the Happy Chef but don’t worry, I like food too much to get drastic, but lighter meals could certainly help us all. Good Luck to you with your New Year’s resolutions! 1/2 pound fresh asparagus 1/2 cup canned no-salt added chicken broth, undiluted 1/4 cup Chablis or other dry white wine 1/4 cup chopped shallots 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/2 (8-ounce) package Neufchatel cheese, softened 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled 2 tbs. fresh lemon juice 8 ounces linguine, uncooked 1/2 cup thinly sliced sweet red pepper
- Snap off tough ends of asparagus. Remove scales from stalks with a knife or vegetable peeler, if desired. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Set aside. - Combine chicken broth, white wine, chopped shallots, and pepper in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; add asparagus. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Add cheese and lemon juice; cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the cheese melts. Set aside and keep warm. - Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Place pasta in serving bowl. Add asparagus mixture and sweet red pepper; toss gently. Serve immediately.
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Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/9/09
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U.S. Congressman Bob Goodlatte (left) with aide Pete Larkin.
Goodlatte Meets with City Council Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte met with Roanoke City Council concerning a number of topics at a Monday noon luncheon. Goodlatte lamented over federal funding for the Roanoke River flood reduction project that now stands at slightly over $1 million; he’s attempting to get it increased to $1.5 million but was unsure what the outcome would be with the new Obama administration. Goodlatte said that the project would continue but would be delayed without additional funding. He is also monitoring the misappropriation of
funds in regard to the Valley Metro issue since it was mostly federal, calling it a “significant amount.� City Manager Darlene Burcham said if the Virginia Municipal League backed a resolution that stated the Federal government would back bond financing and “stand behind them,� that guarantee would allow municipalities to receive a more favorable interest rate – advancing projects that would then stimulate the economy. Goodlatte agreed: “that was a better approach in that it preserves the local decision making.�
Burcham also made Goodlatte aware of additional VDOT funding needed to complete the Valley View Mall interchange. Completion would open up a 100-acre tract of land for economic development. According to Burcham there are a number of retailers interested in coming to the area. She also stressed to Goodlatte the significant stimulus impact this would have on the landlocked City’s economy. Goodlatte said he would work on more funding in the next federal highway bill.
By Valerie Garner info@theroanokestar.com
Dowe files for Bankruptcy – Faces possible criminal charges www.ymcaroanoke.org
Ex Roanoke City Councilman Alfred Dowe filed for bankruptcy this week citing both liabilities and assets in the $100,000 to $500,000 range. Dowe resigned his council seat in disgrace amidst charges that he double billed both the City of Roanoke and the State of Virginia for the same travel charges while serving as a councilman. Vice Mayor Sherman Lea said on Wednesday that he was “sorry to see things come to this and that he wishes the best for Alfred, though he’s clearly made some mistakes.� Dowe is presently facing the possibility of criminal charges from a special prosecutor who is reviewing the case. A source familiar with the investigation indicated that the prosecutor’s decision could come as early as next week and that felony charges were a possibility.
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SPORTS
1/9/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7
Knights Basketball The Cave Spring Knights upped their record to 8-3 with a resounding 75-44 win over Northside last Friday. Josh Henderson led Cave Spring with 18 points while Mark Overstreet added 15. Trey Smith led the Vikings with 11. The Knights hope to have starting point guard Greg Mackey back from a leg injury soon as they head into the River Ridge District season. Meanwhile Northside (7-4) will do battle in the Blue Ridge District.
Photos by Bill Turner
Knights win River Ridge opener: Cave Spring continues to roll on, beating Pulaski County at home Tuesday night 69-63. Josh Henderson led the Knights (9-4 after the win) with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Blake Thornburg (Top) tries to stop a move to the basket by Cave Spring #5 Mark Overstreet. Cave Spring’s Adam Hager drives around a Northside defender Friday night.
“Guns and Hoses” hockey returns to Civic Center Roanoke County career firefighter Gary Hostetter swears its not fixed: everyone of the first five annual “Guns and Hoses” charity hockey matches played as a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association ended in a regulation tie, only to be decided in a shootout. That’s where skaters go one on one with the opposing goaltenders, hoping to slip the puck past them. Guns and Hoses (as in Guns and Roses, the rock group) matches local law enforcement agencies against area firefighters. This year’s game takes place at the Roanoke Civic Center on Saturday, January 10 at 6pm. Admission is $5. They’ll cut a break for families that arrive with several children, just ask about it. Commemorative T-shirts will also be sold to generate funds. Last year efforts across the country by members of the International Association of Fire Fighters raised over $25 million for MDA, with a Guns and Hoses type game selling out the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. That match charged $50 a ticket or more says Hostetter, netting $250,000-plus for MDA. The Roanoke game drew about three thousand and raised about $12,000 to fight muscular dystrophy last year. From 7-6 the first time out in February 2004 to 4-3 last Janu-
ary (all Guns wins) every match has been a squeaker. “Its not planned, no matter what people think,” says Hostetter, who like some of the others also plays in local adult leagues. “If you come to the games you can tell they’re not [a] set up.” Guns and Hoses starts out as a no-checking game “because we all have to work tomorrow,” but usually gets more physical by the time the third and final period rolls around. For others, however, Guns and Hoses in the only time all year they may lace up a pair of skates. “We have a wide variety of talent – or lack of,” chuckles Hostetter. A practice was scheduled earlier this week to help some “remember how to skate.” They can get competitive notes Hostetter but afterwards everyone meets at a downtown bistro to relive the game and needle each other. Among those participating on January 10: Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem and Vinton firefighters; Roanoke City and Roanoke County police, along with the local FBI, DEA and State Police offices. Photo by Richard Hankins “Its good for the family – the main thing is to have fun,” says Firefighters (left) and law enforcement officers face off last year Hostetter about a good-natured game By Gene Marrano that is also a good cause. gmarrano@cox.net
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SPORTS
Page 8 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/9/09
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Baseball clinic brings youngsters, role models together
Mikey O’Brien (Top) signs autographs. Hidden Valley alum Mikey O’Brien (Right) is now with the New York Yankees organization doing at the next level. They want [to] get to that level. Everyone can’t do it.� A total of 31 Knights went on to compete in college when Boone was the head coach at Cave Spring. Several, like Houston Astros minor league lefty pitcher Tyler Lumsden, are still in professional ball. “It was because the guys came back [for off-season clinics] and told them what it took.� Hearing O’Brien talk about his good fortune – selected by the Yankees in the 9th round last spring, he spurned college for the pros – “is good for the kids right behind him [in high school],� said Boone. “Its exciting too.� O’Brien still can’t quite believe his good fortune: signing for a sizable bonus with the Yankees, pitching well for New York’s Tampa team last summer, even taking a turn in the Dominican Republic last fall, where players – many American bonus babies like himself - were escorted to fields by the local police department. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem real. I don’t really think of myself out on my own, playing [professional] baseball,� said O’Brien, shortly after dozens of young clinic attendees lined up, hoping for an autograph from a local kid who may toe the rubber at Yankee Stadium one day. By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net
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A baseball clinic held for area youth recently not only raised money for Juvenile Diabetes research, it also brought Little Leaguers and scholastic players together, where they learned from local athletes now competing in college or the professional minor leagues. No doubt the star attraction of the clinic, held at Hidden Valley High School, was Mikey O’Brien, who used to pitch for the Titans and is now in the New York Yankees farm system. O’Brien, who has diabetes and wears an insulin pump, suggested the clinic both as a fundraiser and as a way to engage local kids in the baseball off-season. His brother Eric, a former infielder for Cave Spring and Lynchburg College, also helped develop the program. “Diabetes [doesn’t have to be] a big deal,� said Mikey O’Brien, a starting pitcher at this point. The right-hander, decked out in Yankees garb, signed autographs after two sessions for younger, then older youth players in the area, who took turns in Hidden Valley’s indoor batting cage, on a pitcher’s mound, or sitting in the bleachers while they heard about all the hard work needed to bring their game to the next level. This was the first time O’Brien had been so “hands on� at a skills clinic. Also taking part was Brandon Lower, former Hidden Valley first baseman, now playing for Virginia Tech; infielder Dale Mollenauer, a Chicago White Sox farmhand and older brother of Brett Mollenauer, who played for Hidden Valley and is now at Radford. Infielder Blake Klaiber (Concord University) who went to Cave Spring High School also participated. Several local coaches, including Larry Wood (Roanoke College) and Randy Boone (former Cave Spring head coach, now a Hidden Valley assistant) helped run the half-day program. “I love doing [clinics],� said Lower, whose younger brother Aaron also starred for Hidden Valley but opted to be a student in college and not a baseball player. “Dedication and hard work goes a long way,� added Lower, who relayed that same message to the young baseball players on hand. “Mikey was talking about when he was younger and the guys would come back,� said Boone, who also worked as a part time major league scout for many years. “They’d talk about the college they went to or when they went pro. The younger guys are always excited about that, to hear what they’re
Photo by Matt Reeve
Faith Christian Warriors (white Jerseys) line up as a Parkway Christian player shoots foul shots.
Faith Christian boys: still learning The youth and inexperience of the Faith Christian School varsity boys basketball team has shown in recent weeks, as the Warriors have lost four games in a row to fall to 2-5 for the season. During the streak, the squad has been competitive but unable to pull off victories in close losses to Temple Christian, New Covenant, and Parkway Christian Academy. “We have lost a lot of close games,� first year Coach Jacob Parr said. “It’s good that a young team like ours can compete like that, and we’re still in the process of learning how to win.� Parr attributes mental mistakes as the main culprit for his team’s recent struggles. “We’ve just got to work on the little things, like free-throw shooting, communication on defense, and the mental stuff that it takes to win. For some reason, we don’t start off well in games, so we need to be better prepared mentally.� The Warriors also had to
cope with the loss of junior guard Rhett Adams to an ankle injury early in the season. Adams, a co-captain, missed four games before returning in the team’s most recent 6056 loss to Parkway Christian. “Rhett is a leader on so many levels, so in the short term it obviously hurt us when he went down,� Parr said. “But in the long run I think it’s something we can build on, because the other guys had to figure out how to play without him.� Against Parkway Christian, the Warriors trailed 4938 with 7 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter before going on a 14-1 run to take a 52-50 lead on a reverse layup by Jared Adams with just over 2 minutes to play. Parkway Christian would answer, however, and took the lead for good on a basket by Keith Bryan, who scored a game-high 31 points. Adams made an apparent game-tying 3-point basket with 3.3 seconds remaining,
but the officials called a foul on Parkway Christian in the backcourt before Adams was able to get the shot off. Adams missed both free throws (the second intentionally) but Parkway Christian rebounded and secured the victory. “We thought we could wear them down and make a run on them in the fourth quarter,� Parr said after the loss. “The guys have a fighting spirit, and it was encouraging to see them come back that way.� Rhett Adams led the Warriors with 13 points. Jared Adams, Rhett’s younger brother, chipped in with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Faith Christian had 20 offensive rebounds for the game. The Warriors are back in action on January 10, when they play Dayspring Christian Academy at home. Tipoff is set for 7pm.
By Matt Reeve Matt@theroanokestar.com
VAS Initiates “Get Healthy Virginia� Program
Virginia Amateur Sports, the organizers of the Coventry Commonwealth Games of Virginia is introducing a new state-wide program, “Get Healthy Virginia� - a 100-day fitness challenge that will run between January 21 and April 30. Pete Lampman, president of the Roanoke based Virginia Amateur Sports, said the challenge “encourages Virginians to develop a healthy active lifestyle and better eating habits. Virginians are encouraged to form teams of two to ten members and then ‘go the distance.� Team competition will recognize achievement in two areas: weight loss, due to healthy appropriate diet and physical activity; and accumulated activity in the form of miles. Medals and certificates will be awarded for levels of achievement with the top teams officially recognized at the 2009 Coventry Commonwealth Games of Virginia. Participation fee is $15 per individual and includes a training t-shirt and entry into a track and field event in the 2009 Coventry Commonwealth Games. To register go to www.gethealthyvirginia.org or call Virginia Amateur Sports at 540-3430987.
Four Maroons make all-state soccer team
Roanoke College has four players represented on the 2009 VaSID All-State Team. Michael Stark made the first-team while seniors Shaman Douglass, Michael Rouhana and Nate Wilson all garnered second-team honors. Stark, an NSCAA All-American in his first-year with the Maroons, was a staple in the backfield for the Maroons all season. His production led to ten defensive shutouts, tied for third most in school-history. The First-Team All-ODAC and NSCAA All-South Region selection started in all 20 games this season. Rouhana, an NSCAA All-South Region selection, was named all-state for the first time in his career. The Second-Team All-ODAC selection finished the year with three goals and four assists for 10 points. He led the team in shots (49) and tied for second in shots on goal (19) with all three of his goals as game-winners. One of those came on his final goal of the season with four-seconds left to defeat Hampden-Sydney, 2-1 in the ODAC Semifinals. Douglass, a First-Team All-ODAC Selection, earns second-team all-state honors for the first time in his career. Douglass led the team most of the season offensively and finished second in goals (6), assists (7) and points (19 Wilson, an All-ODAC selection for the second-straight season, is now a two-time all-state selection. He finished with six shots, one on goal against Randolph. Wilson started 52 of 55 games in his three-year career at Roanoke. The Maroons fell, 1-0 to Virginia Wesleyan in the ODAC Championship to finish 14-4-2 on the season. The Maroons avenged their only conference loss to the Yellow Jackets, 4-0 in the ODAC Quarterfinals. They were nationally-ranked all season in shutout percentage and goals against average.
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1/9/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9
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LETTERS
"Star Question of the Week." "Should Roanoke City spend an additional $160,000 for another consultants report for the Market Building or use ideas from the original $100,000 report as favored by Downtown Roanoke Inc.?" Have some thoughts you’d like to share about local issues / events? Send them to info@theroanokestar.com
Good Samaritan Hospice Doubles Space
Good Samaritan Hospice has moved into a larger headquarters, providing more space for a growing mission to provide compassionate care to patients facing the end of life and families coming to terms with losing a loved one. At 10,000 square feet, the new office at 2408 Electric Road in Roanoke County is double the size of the previous location a few miles away and features more training rooms, additional meeting and office space and plenty of natural light. “It’s our mission that defines us, not our office,” says Sue Ranson, Good Samaritan’s executive director. “Yet, our new space makes our mission easier, with more room for family and group meetings, a comfortable environment for our staff, and a place where hospice care will be more visible and accessible to the community.” An open house for the community will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Among the benefits of the new location -- a more inviting place for groups to gather, including “Compassionate Friends,” a semi-monthly support group for bereaved parents, and educational programs about hospice and end-of-life care. During Good Samaritan’s 15 years at its previous location, staffing increased from 28 employees to 63, serving more than 2,050 patients and families through hospice and bereavement programs. The new location is headquarters for Good Samaritan’s outreach in the Roanoke and New River valleys.
Link Museum Celebrates Five Years and Running On Saturday, January 10, the O. Winston Link Museum (downtown Roanoke) will celebrate a milestone. Recognizing five years in operation, the day will be marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11a.m. Free admission will be available for the general public throughout the day. In honor of this occasion, ten new Link images will be unveiled at a special event that evening for members and donors. Visitors are encouraged to tour the museum and ask questions about the galleries, exhibits, projects and future plans. The Link Museum plans to celebrate its five-year milestone throughout the coming year with new programming that includes photography classes incorporating photo journalism, pinhole photography, family workshops and “Get to Know Your Camera” group forums. Additionally, the museum plans to launch an audio tour of the museum to be available for download from the website. Please check www. linkmuseum.org for updates on these new programs.
Preserving Employees’ Rights to Secret Ballots
It has been widely reported that one of the top priorities of the tions designating the union and there is no other union currently incoming Obama Administration is the enactment of the Employee recognized as the exclusive representative of any of the employFree Choice Act, legislation which strikes a huge blow to the privacy ees. These card checks are not private and can be made known to rights of workers throughout the country. With a title like the “Em- unions, employers, or others. When choosing whether or not to ployee Free Choice Act” you would expect this legislation to protect join a union, employees must have the right to cast a private balthe American worker. Unfortunately, it does the exact opposite and lot. They should not face fear of intimidation by union bosses and its title is deliberately misleading. organizers or by employers. This legislation, which I voted against in 2007, allows the It is especially ironic that Democrats in Congress who are National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to certify a union without so eager to get rid of the secret ballot for American workers used conducting a requested secret ballot election. The National Labor a secret ballot process for their own leadership elections just a few Relations Act (NLRA) gives private-sector workers the right to join weeks ago. Despite the efforts of Big Labor and the Democratic maor form a labor union and to bargain collectively jority in Congress, American workers continue to over wages, hours, and other working conditions. value their privacy and largely oppose the changes Rep. Bob Goodlatte The Employee Free Choice Act would change the that would result from the passage of the Employee procedures under which workers choose to join, or Free Choice Act. In fact, recent polls indicate that not to join, a union by eliminating the secret ballot system and re- 89 percent of Americans believe that a worker’s vote should remain quiring employees to make their decisions public. private and not be public information. Under current law, employees can petition or sign union I support the right of workers to organize unions when authorization cards, commonly referred to as “card checks”, request- they choose, but while the name of this bill implies a promise of ing union representation. If at least 30 percent of employees have choice for employees, the intent of the bill strips employees’ freesigned the petition or cards, the NLRB conducts a private-ballot dom of privacy by eliminating the secret ballot system. Secret balelection to determine if union representation is desired by the ma- lots are a hallmark of a free and democratic society and are strongly jority of the employees. The Employee Free Choice Act would give supported by the overwhelming majority of our citizens including the NLRB the authority to forgo the secret ballot election when a union members. I will continue working to protect this most basic majority of the bargaining unit employees have signed authoriza- of freedoms for all American workers.
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Clay Goodman Appointment Dear editor, I note with interest the VT News Service article in your December 19th edition concerning the selection of Clay Goodman to be the next Roanoke County Administrator. As a lifelong Roanoke resident and Virginia Tech graduate I am pleased that someone with Mr. Goodman's background and local ties will be returning to Roanoke. I do have a concern.What was Mr. Goodman's role as County Administrator for Montgomery County in the efforts by Montgomery County to block the Norfolk Southern intermodal terminal in Elliston? Since the article quotes Mr. Goodman as saying "I'd rather build bridges than tear them down," I wonder how that squares with his role in Montgomery County's actions. They have not only cost the taxpayers of the rest of the Commonwealth by their NIMBY tactics but also potentially blocked the creation of numerous jobs and increased tax revenues. K.Warren Ferguson Roanoke
Press Statement from John P. Fishwick, Jr. Dear editor, It has been a tremendous opportunity to explore the chance to run for Attorney General of Virginia. I have been encouraged by the significant support for my belief that Virginia needs an Attorney General who will fight for the people. Many have urged me to run and have contributed to this effort and for that I am very grateful. I have raised over $160,000.00 from over 80 donors in two and a half months, and my supporters have made it clear to me that I would be able to raise the nec-
essary resources for this race. For me, the process of exploring a race for Attorney General has first considered what contribution I can make to the people of Virginia through this office; and then, how does that potential contribution compare to the important work I believe I accomplish through my law practice where every day it is my privilege to fight for those who often have no way to help themselves. And while this has been an extremely difficult decision, I have concluded that for now my role should remain in the aggressive private practice of law, fighting against injustice and for people whose lives and livelihood depend on that representation. Accordingly, I will not run for Attorney General. I make this decision only after the most difficult deliberation. And I make it with the most sincere appreciation for those who have pledged their incredible support and who continue to urge me to run. I look forward to continuing my active involvement within the Democratic Party and to the future consideration of elective office. John P. Fishwick, Jr. Send your letters (and confirmation contact information) to info@theroanokestar.com. 250 words or less please; subject to editing
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Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/9/09
VALLEY BUSINESS
Job “hikers” have a cushion from pounding the pavement Jobseekers facing stiff competition these days may discover that finding a new gig is not quite as easy as it was a few years ago, and that can lead to depression. Maintaining a positive outlook in a dismal situation can seem downright unattainable, which is why “Back on the Path”, a Roanoke-based job search group, exists. Back on the Path was launched as a church ministry nine years ago at Cave Spring United Methodist Church and has grown into a community outreach program that helps “hikers” (AKA the unemployed) get back on the path to success. “We are not a job service, nor do we have a data bank of job openings,” said Al Colgrove, the group’s cofounder. Instead, hikers and moderators share tips on how to find a good job, vent frustrations, stay focused and remain optimistic in the process. Some have been known to cry about their situations at these meetings - which is perfectly acceptable. Others play "Monday Morning Quarterback" after job interviews to find out what they could have done better. April Crawford is a certified teacher and has been attend-
ing the meetings since May: “I’m looking for a teaching job. Currently I’m substitute teaching, but its on call,” she said. Another hiker, John Lass, was let go from his company right before the holidays. He worked in distribution and was surprised at the timing of the layoffs. During one December meeting four hikers and four helpers exchanged tips. The topic turned to those pesky online job applications, and why the résumé, which was painstakingly crafted to look perfect, became rife with symbols and question marks when it was cut and pasted into the application. One hiker, who requested anonymity, complained about the process, “When they ask you to download the file, it’s fine. But when I copied and pasted it, it was a mess! You want to talk about first impressions?” Some of the hikers want to remain in their chosen field, while there are some who will be forced to change careers. Back on the Path provides referrals on career assessment testing, to steer job seekers into new occupations where past skills can be transferred. Rose Marie Dudley, a former
hiker, is now sharing with others what helped her land a good job. When the subject of how to write a good cover letter came up, she reminded the group to look closely at the vacancy announcement and explain in the cover letter why they match the desired qualifications. Most of the all, the moderators encourage hikers to persevere and to stay optimistic. Colgrove reminds hikers that even though the unemployment rate hovers at nearly 7%, that means 93% have jobs and companies are still hiring. Back on the Path meets Tuesday evenings in Southwest Roanoke County at Cave Spring United Methodist Church, at 7:30. The meetings are free and open to the public; participants can sign up to receive emails about upcoming job related events, and to receive an extra dose of oftenneeded encouragement. For more information, visit backonthepath.org or call (540) 989-3673. By Susan Geary info@theroanokestar.com
Better Business Bureau elects 2009 Board of Directors Chair
Janet L. Riddlebarger has been Real Estate Management. Ms. elected chair of the Board of DirecRiddlebarger has served on the tors of the Better Business Bureau National Apartment Association's Serving Western Virginia. Ms. Education Committee and has Riddlebarger has served on the BBB served as President of the Virginia Board of Directors since 2006. Ms. Apartment Management AssociaRiddlebarger is Vice President of tion. In addition to leading trainProperty Management, HHHUNT ing initiatives for HHHUNT, Ms. Property Management, Inc. Riddlebarger also has taught the Ms. Riddlebarger has been inNational Apartment Leasing Provolved in the property managefessional and the Certified Apartment industry since 1983. She ment Manager's courses through holds a Bachelor's Degree from NAA and its local affiliates. She Janet. L Virginia Tech. She is a member of serves as a guest lecturer for the Riddlebarger the Virginia Tech Residential PropVirginia Tech Residential Property Management Advisory Board, National erty Management Programs. Apartment Association and the Institute of
Advance Auto Raises $2.2 Million For Diabetes Research
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has announced that Roanoke-based Advance Auto Parts, Inc. has raised over $2.2 million in support of diabetes research in 2008. This year marks Advance’s 15th consecutive year of support for JDRF in the search to find a cure for type-1 (juvenile) diabetes. In the past 15 years, Advance has raised more than $16.5 million for JDRF. “The Advance Auto Parts Team is proud to be a national partner of JDRF in its race to cure diabetes,” said Darren
Jackson, President and CEO of Advance Auto Parts. “Supporting JDRF is an important part of our company culture and the national campaign is an opportunity for our Team Members to give back to the communities in which they live and work. Every September, the company holds an annual JDRF “sneaker” sales program in more than 3,300 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Customers purchase paper “sneakers” for $1. Through the generosity of Advance Auto Parts customers, the sneaker cam-
paign alone raised more than $1.75 million in support of JDRF. In addition, Advance raised more than $450,000 through its Store Support Center in Roanoke and in distribution centers across the country by participating in local Walk to Cure Diabetes events, hosting golf tournaments, silent auctions, and other fundraisers. The total campaign fundraising of $2.2 million sets a new record, making Advance the JDRF’s number one retail fundraising partner in 2008.
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Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt over the City Market Building
If anything was clear at Monday’s Roanoke City Council meeting, it was fear of spending $160,000 for another City Market building design study, as was proposed. Uncertainty that the three new concepts sought would produce nothing more than what had been conceived by a coalition of businesses headed by Downtown Roanoke, Inc. - and the $100,000 downtown design concept of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, completed in 2006. There is doubt as to whether the City could afford this additional capital improvement project at all. (The DRI proposal is now $7 million-plus.) Ann Shawver, Director of Finance for Roanoke City, had said in December when presenting the preliminary 2009 budget that “there is no room for any additional projects … if the Market building [becomes] a priority then something else has to come off [the list].” Brian Townsend, Assistant City Manager for Community Development, said “the more choices Council had in terms of designs [that included] budget considerations would make for a better decision.” Townsend noted that costs only escalate as they transition from the concept stage to the reality stage. If hired the new consultants would hold a public meeting where they could hear input without the filter of city administration officials. The public input meeting held when the Market building was “closed for cleaning” last September fielded comments that varied from keeping it the same to totally redesigning the building. That input can be found on the city’s website, along with the results of an October customer survey that revealed a majority of customers wanted it to remain “as is” with minimal improvements. Cal Johnson, Chairman of DRI, and Bill Carder, DRI President, both made their case for “tweaking” their $7.5 million original design, rejected earlier by City Council. Said Townsend concerning Carder’s comment on tweaking: “what does tweaking mean if you don’t have multiple concepts for the community and Council to look at, as we emerge out of this process?” Anita Wilson, co-owner of Burger in the Square, listened as the discussion went on for over an hour. Caught in the middle of the wrangling, she expressed exhaustion after years of “FUD,” as in Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. Wilson said Council and city administrators
Photo by Valerie Garner
An animated Bill Carder makes his case to City Council.
could show concern by having the consultants first meet with the tenants separately. “After all it was their livelihood that was at stake,” said Wilson, who revealed that David Estrada, AKA “Chico”, would not be renewing his lease to sell pizza by the end of February. The vote to move forward with a new consulting contract, taken after a procedural snafu was 4-3, with Nash, Price, and Rosen voting “no.” By leaving off certain verbiage however it will now require City Council to have a second reading at the next public meeting on Thursday, January 22nd. (The wording left out states that, “pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of the City Charter, the second reading of this ordinance by title is hereby dispensed with.”) The Council meeting was changed to that Thursday because of the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday on Monday, the 19th and the presidential inauguration on the 20th. John Fishwick, the attorney for nine Market tenants in a suit filed against the city, said later that he would be meeting with Anita Wilson and the other vendors to discuss their options. That includes proceeding with the lawsuit against the city, for allegedly neglecting the building, which they claim caused tenants to lose business and revenue. Assuming that the second reading yields the same vote for approval, the firm of Cunningham and Quill Architects, PLLC of Washington, DC would begin public meetings in February, with an expected final report on three renovation options in June.
By Valerie Garner info@theroanokestar.com
Goodlatte Reintroduces Balanced Budget Amendment In the opening hours of the 111th Congress on Tuesday Jan 6th, Congressman Bob Goodlatte reintroduced a balanced budget Constitutional amendment, which will force Congress to enact fiscally responsible spending measures, reduce the deficit, and ensure that the money our citizens work so hard to earn is not squandered on wasteful spending and programs. Thus far, 114 bipartisan Members of Congress have signed on to Congressman Goodlatte’s legislation as cosponsors. Congressman Goodlatte previously introduced this legislation in the 110th Congress. “As we face significant federal expenditures we have a responsibility to ensure that American tax dollars are being spent responsibly and do not get lost in wasteful spending,” said Rep. Goodlatte. “Families all across our nation understand what it means to make tough decisions each day about what they can and cannot afford, and elected officials should not be allowed to ignore these tough decisions in the name of political expediency when creating spending policies for the federal government.” The balanced budget amendment is a commonsense measure that is long overdue. It requires that Congress not spend more than
it receives in revenues, requires the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress, and requires a 3/5 majority vote to increase the debt limit, while also providing an exception in times of national emergencies. A Constitutional amendment will force Congress to eliminate unnecessary and wasteful spending and make the decisions necessary to balance the budget and eliminate the federal deficit. Currently, forty-nine out of fifty state governments, including Virginia, have a balanced budget requirement. Goodlatte continued, “We must continue to control spending, paving the way for a return to surpluses and ultimately paying down the national debt, rather than allow big spenders to lead us further down the road of chronic deficits and in doing so leave our children and grandchildren saddled with debt that is not their own, and I believe that a Constitutional amendment to balance the budget is a critical first step. In these challenging times it is even more important for government to be fiscally responsible.” This legislation will be referred to the House Judiciary Committee on which Congressmen Goodlatte serves as Vice Ranking Member.
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ARTS & CULTURE
1/9/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11
Dinosaurs to roam halls at Virginia Museum of Natural History
Visitors to the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville will take a giant leap back in time to millions of years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth during the 3rd annual Dino Day festival on Saturday, January 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors of all ages can marvel over life-sized skeleton casts of prehistoric creatures, watch real scientists unlock the mysteries of the past, and take part in a variety of exciting games and activities, including becoming a scientist for a day. Visitors will also get to witness the unveiling of the museum’s newest exhibit featuring a 500 million-year-old stromatolite specimen that garnered national attention when it was discovered in southwest Virginia last year. The Dino Day festival is the first event of the museum's yearlong 25th anniversary celebration in 2009. The museum was founded on August 28, 1984 as a private, non-profit institution, and became an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1988. Many of last year’s crowd favorite activities return this year, including the “Dino Dig Pit” where visitors can use paleontology tools to uncover fossil casts, and a special dinosaur-themed play presented by local students. The play is titled "Dr. Belinda Brilliant and Her Amazing Learn More Machine: Dinosaurs", and is presented by the Carlisle School Players. The play was cowritten by Mary Catherine Santoro, librarian at VMNH. “Over 2,000 visitors have taken part in our first two Dino Day festivals and have left very happy,” said Carolyn Seay, special events manager at VMNH. “Dinosaurs always pique children’s interest and getting to see museum specimens that normally aren’t available to the public makes for a special visit to the mu-
seum.” Other activities and attractions include the museum’s costume mascot “Cera” and her other dino friends, fossil identification, dinosaur-themed crafts for children, and special dino films in the museum’s Hooker Furniture Theater. In addition, VMNH staff and volunteers will be on hand to explain the work being conducted in the Museum's Elster Foundation Vertebrate Paleontology Lab. Visitors can get first-hand details about the widerange of specimens currently being studied by museum scientists and visiting researchers. Visitors can also get details on how to participate in future expeditions led by VMNH scientists in Virginia, Wyoming and other possible locations world-wide. Specimens on display at the festival include an Allosaurus skeleton, a skeleton of a 14 million year old baleen whale, Eobalaenoptera, suspended from a towering 40-foot ceiling, an animatronic model of a Triceratops, a display of a Syntarsus dinosaur with its prey, a Tyrannosaurus Rex skull, and a recreated Phytosaurus. Dinosaurs bones and other fossils collected at actual VMNH research sites around the world will also be on display. Visitors also get to witness one of the museum’s most spectacular additions, the skeleton of a Pteranodon suspended from the towering 40-foot ceiling of the museum’s Harvest Foundation Great Hall. This bird-like reptile has a 20-foot wing-span and is angled to appear as though it is diving toward visitors standing on the bridge overlooking both the museum's lobby and The Harvest Foundation Great Hall. A unique addition to this year’s festival will be the unveiling of an exhibit featuring a 500 million-year-old stromatolite that
Moonshine still fascinates locally says new History Museum director
On the job for several months, Historical Society of Western Virginia executive director Jeanne Bollendorf moved over from the Chrysler Museum of Art to downtown Roanoke, where she now oversees the History Museum of Western Virginia, the O. Winston Link Museum, the Crystal Springs pumping station and the Historical Society itself. The Charlottesville native, who said Roanoke “feels more like home,” came in as the organization completes a capital campaign drive, looking to raise 1.3 million dollars to renovate galleries at Center in the Square. A new research center/library/ media room has already been built, in part with the $900,000 or so already raised as of late last year. “We think we’re in need of a facelift,” said Bollendorf, noting that little had changed at the museum since it opened at Center in the Square 25 years ago. “Its actually been going very well [considering] the current economic climate,” said Bollendorf, who said renovations would be “pay as go.” Eventually the entire collection will be digitized and available for viewing on line as part of the capital campaign. Bollendorf received a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology and archeology from James Madison University, then studied for her master’s in landscape archaeology at the University of Bristol in England. She believes history and the study of it is a
living, topical thing: “we need to remind people that history is now, history is very fresh. We [also] need to be a little more innovative to keep up with today’s audiences.” History is an ongoing concern said Bollendorf, who had her appetite whetted for that subject Jeanne Bollendorf at a History and for archaeology by the Indi- Museum news conference. ana Jones movies as a youngster. adds Bollendorf with a chuckle, “We associate history with a lot noting that most were destroyed of old, dead white guys. Quite by federal agents when they frankly that’s just not always the came across them in places like case.” Bollendorf pointed to the Franklin County – often called “major historical moment,” that the “Moonshine Capital of the is imminent – the first African- World.” More rotating exhibits American president, Barack will be installed in the coming Obama. “We won’t realize that months. until we’re several years down “I literally jumped at the the road.” History happens all chance to come this way,” said the time said Bollendorf, and its Bollendorf about her move to all happened before in some way the Historical Society of West– witness the current economic ern Virginia from the Chrysler recession and the Depression Museum, where she was histormany decades earlier. ic houses manager. (see historyThe first major rotating ex- museum.org for more informahibit Bollendorf is presiding tion). over, “White Liquor, Blue Ridge Style,” is on display now through By Gene Marrano September 20. The photogmarrano@cox.net graphs, reconstructed stills and recorded interviews (with former moonshiners and federal agents) was originated by the Blue Ridge Institute at Ferrum College. “A wonderful exhibition… we’re really excited to have it,” said Bollendorf. “This is history we can relate to … a way to connect.” The moonshine exhibit collection is formidable: “we seem to have a remarkable number [of stills] that are fully intact,”
Call for Artists and Votive Art Show/Sale
The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge will present a special Votive Art Show & Sale February 12 & 13 from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the second floor galleries of Center in the Square. The show is free and open to the public. Votives offerings have been around for centuries and can be given as expressions of congratulations, thanks, or as symbols of love. Each votive is hand crafted by local artists using wooden panels faced with tin. Artists interested in creating (and selling) their votive during the art show may pick-up their panels by contacting Rhonda Hale 540-224-1205 or rhale@theartscouncil.org There is a $15 registration fee. No additional framing is necessary. The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge was launched in 1976 with the mission of advancing arts and culture throughout western Virginia by providing leadership in community cultural planning, educational programming, services for cultural organizations and artists, and arts and cultural advocacy. The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge is funded, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Roanoke. www.theartscouncil.org
garnered national attention after its discovery in May 2008 at THE ROA the Boxley Blue Ridge Quarry in Roanoke. A stromatolite is a mound produced in shallow water by mats of algae that trap mud and sand particles. Another mat grows on the trapped sediment layer and this traps another layer of sediment, growing gradually over time. Stromatolites can grow to heights of a meter or more. They are uncommon today but their fossils are among the earliest evidence for living things. The stromatolite, which measures over 6 feet in diameter, is one of the most complete in the world and will be permanently on exhibit at VMNH. To learn more about the Dino Day festival and other VMNH events, festivals, and exhibits, visit the museum’s Web site at www.vmnh.net.
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Page 12 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 1/9/09
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Roanoke Valley parishes to hold annual mission “The Roanoke Valley’s Most Beautiful Cemetery”
Founded in 1928, Sherwood combines serene elements of nature with exquisite and carefully planned architecture on an expanse of more than 100 acres nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Veterans Garden to Open Memorial Legacy Stones Now Available
Father Richard N. Fragomeni, a priest of the Diocese of Albany, NY, considered to be a widely known authority on liturgy and parish renewal, will lead the Roanoke Valley Catholic Parishes Mission Jan. 17–21. With the theme “Step up to the Plate,” he plans to emphasize the importance for the faithful to prioritize their busy lives to take the lead in church ministry. The mission will open with Father Fragomeni preaching at weekend! Masses at each of the valley parishes. Then on Monday-Wednesday, Jan. 19–21, he will lead a morning session at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Salem from 10 a.m. to noon and a different session in the evening at Our Lady of Nazareth in Roanoke from 7 to 8:30 pm. The morning sessions will begin with Mass. The Tuesday evening session will include the sacrament of reconciliation. Members of all parishes in the valley are encouraged to participate. Currently chairman of the Department of
Word and Worship and associate professor of liturgy and preaching at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Father Fragomeni will concentrate on the teachings of St. Paul to discuss new and active roles for the laity and how to carry them out through reflection, prayer, formation and conversion. Ordained in 1975 in the Diocese of Albany, he also served as director of the Office of Liturgy and Music. Father Fragomeni has been active in the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. He served as coordinator of liturgy and music for the North American Forum on the Catechumenate and also was a member of that organization’s founding board of directors. He was appointed to the faculty at Catholic Theological Union in 1990 and currently serves as rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, an Italian-American spiritual center in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood.
Tanglewood Mall to lose tenant: Goody’s goes under
(Ten percent of the proceeds of each sale will benefit the American Legion Legacy Scholarship for the children of US military personnel who pass away while on active duty.)
Hard on the heels of the closing of the Steve & Barry’s store, which is being shuttered nationally, Tanglewood Mall will also lose Goody's Family Clothing, a privately held apparel retail chain which emerged from bankruptcy in October. According to Reuters, Goody’s plans to liquidate its remaining stores as the U.S. economic recession has undermined its ability to continue operating. "The company is in the processes of obtaining bids to liquidate substantially all collateral and inventory," said Cathy Hershcopf, a bankruptcy partner at law firm Cooley Godward Kronish LLP. "The retail environment is very difficult and they did not have sufficient capital to weather the bad times." Going-out-of-business sales will begin as early as Friday. When the company emerged from bankruptcy, it operated 287 stores in 20 states. The Knoxville, Tennessee-based retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 9, hurt by high gasoline and food prices that have forced consumers to cut back on nonessential purchases. It emerged from bankruptcy protection in October after cutting operating costs and closing at least 69 under-performing stores.
Examples of legacy stones that will be inlaid into the Veterans Memorial at Sherwood
Drilling Will Cause Lane Closures On Route 221 In Roanoke County
As a non-profit cemetery we are always looking for ways to enhance our beauty, and contribute to the community. That is why we are pleased to announce our beautiful new Veterans Garden to pay tribute to those who serve. You can be among the first to honor your Veteran in our Memorial Walkway by purchasing a Legacy Stone.
1250 E. Main Street Salem, Virginia 24153 www.sherwoodmemorialpark.com
540-389-1677
Beginning Sunday, Jan. 11, the northbound lane of Route 221 (Bent Mountain Road) will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. near Cotton Hill Road in Roanoke County. Weather permitting, the lane closure will be in place during nighttime hours Sunday through Thursday. Work is expected to be completed by Friday, Jan. 30. Crews will be taking rock and soil samples for the development of plans for the proposed widening of Route 221. Motorists should expect delays in this area and watch for signs and flaggers directing traffic during nighttime hours. For the latest traffic information, dial 511 or visit www.511Virginia.org.
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