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Community | News | Per spective

July 10 - July 16, 2009

TheRoanokeStar.com

[Commonwealth Games]

ID3 Tears Through Town Jeff Artis

Time to Go

Big Hearts Photography by Hany Hosny,

A racer from the “Fat Frogs” racing team out of Virginia Beach (in green) pushes hard through the turns in front of the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building in Downtown Roanoke last Friday. The ID3 races, in just their second year in the present format, drew more than 425 participants and substantial crowds as spectators lined the streets to watch some nationally recognized talent whiz down Roanoke avenues. See Stratton Delaney’s coverage in Sports and check out more photos of the ID3 bike races at www.hanyhosnyphotography.com

Bike Races Draw Big Crowds in Roanoke

Roanokers Win P8– “The Roanokers” won the 2009 Cave Spring National Little League Major League regular season title.

Creek Rises

P11– Several Roanoke area musicians have teamed up to form Sinking Creek, recently releasing their first CD.

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Roanoke City Council voted (7-0) Monday to move forward with the $6 million City Market Building renovations, targeting completion by City Council 2011. A $700,000 engineering study was approved to get the ball rolling.

“I don’t think there’s any question in the city or among this council that [it is] our number one priority,” said Mayor David Bowers.

Meanwhile, a 5,000-seat amphitheater in Elmwood Park inched closer to becoming a reality after $1.2 million was approved for engineering and architectural work. Anita Price was the lone “no” vote, saying the amphitheater is not a high priority for her at this time.

Almost $4 million in renovations at the city’s two public pools has been put on hold, in a plan voted down, 4-3. City officials will continue to meet with residents about possible upgrades in the future. One plan for Washington Park includes water play features akin to an amusement

[

P4– Jeff Artis gives his opinion on why two Roanoke area leaders deserve the criticism they’ve received.

P6– What do you get when you take 47 Roanoke teenagers to Lancaster, PA, for a week of hard labor?

Market Building Renovations Move Forward

Day two riders were Mill Mountain and greeted with warm, pleasDowntown Roanoke ant weather, making the played host to some of the SKY-PIX criterium perbest cycling the Commonfect for the crowds that wealth has seen this year. lined the streets in the Three events kicked off the heart of downtown Roa2009 edition of the Indenoke. Intersections on pendence Day Races, or Church Ave., Jefferson “ID3” as it’s known, that is St. and Franklin Rd. were part of the 2009 Coventry lined deep with spectaCommonwealth Games. tors who were treated to Friday evening, the Jeffast and furious cornerferson Surgical Clinic Hill ing and accelerations on Climb kicked off with 162 the straight-a-ways. Very participants trying their few crashes allowed racers best to be the fastest to dive hard into the corup Mill Mountain. All Photo by Bill Turner ners and fly out the other were rac- ing towards Junior girl riders Mallory McNelis (Left) and Kristin Schaefer side as they hit full sprints hopes of becoming the check their times after impressive performances. through the Texas Tavern O a k e y ’s Challenge winnoke for the ID3 races. The Virginia finishing area. King’s trener. The Oakey’s Challenge was an opportunity to break the native and former Virginia Tech student mendous abilities were on prominent course record of 8:29. A special partici- tried his best but couldn’t manage to display and he gave fans a great show by pant with ties to one of cycling’s greatest, break the record as he posted a time of lapping the field and winning big in the Lance Armstrong, was in attendance. 9:04. Local female rider Emily Painter “LiveStrong” style.

Ben King, who rides for Lance Arm- easily climbed past other competitors strong’s handpicked team of “under 23 and posted a 12:19 to lead the ladies > CONTINUED P3: ID3 years of age professionals,” was in Roa- competition.

Kaine Praises Roanoke’s Green Initiatives “It’s not an exaggeration to say that Roanoke and the Roanoke Valley are doing something that’s not being done anywhere else in Virginia,” said Governor Tim Kaine last Thursday, while addressing a crowd in front of the State and City Building on 1st Street.

The theme of Kaine’s Southwest Virginia tour was highlighting his “Renew Virginia” initiatives, and he made it clear that Roanoke’s Clean and Green Business Coalition is leading the way in the effort for sustainability.

“I’ve been doing Renew Virginia events of all kinds,” Kaine said, “but this is the first one

where I’ve come to a business community [that] has rallied together and said, ‘we want to be leaders on this.’ So, it was an easy sell to get me here today.”

Roanoke City Council member Gwen Mason spoke of the coalition’s success, where the goals are to decrease litter, increase recycling, create more code enforcement that curbs “urban blight” and reduce global warming. Since starting the Clean & Green Coalition in September 2006, 12 of Roanoke’s largest employers > CONTINUED P3: Kaine

Photo by Ashton Sullivan

Governor Tim Kaine addresses a business coalition last week.

> CONTINUED P3: Council Notes

Second Roanoke Tea Party Big Success

Photo by Carla Bream

Kennie Harris in period dress.

Democrats, Republicans, Independents and Libertarians all have one thing in common: all were equally represented at the second Roanoke Tea Tea Party Party held this year (the first was held on April 15). Elmwood Park served as the gathering spot for more than 1,000 people July 4, with many bearing signs stating opinions on various matters.

House of Representatives member Morgan Griffith said, “Today is not called dependence day. It is not about the money, it is about the right to tax with representation. Government spending is out of control and that brings about

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> CONTINUED P2: Tea Party

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Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 7/10/09 - 7/16/09

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New Flag Flies Over Roanoke Friday looks partly sunny with isolated t-showers still hanging around. Temperatures will top out in the middle 80s to close the work week as the humidity rises.

The humidity will stick around over the weekend as well. Saturday should have highs in the upper 80s, under a mix of clouds and sun. That said, there is a slight chance for rain on Saturday.

More of the same for Sunday with a high in the upper 80’s, but we’ll have a better chance for some scattered showers or storms on Sunday. Look for spotty t-showers to continue into Monday.

Last Friday was the perfect day for a Flag raising and dedication ceremony. The sun shone bright, the clouds were fluffy and a gentle breeze blew.

It was the ideal day to celebrate our freedom and honor those who have served our country.

The event was held at Beltone Audiology and Hearing Aid Center in Roanoke. Carl E. McCurdy, owner of Beltone and a former Marine, said he wanted to commemorate the 233rd anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America. McCurdy’s business, centrally located at the intersection of I-581 and Elm Avenue, proved to be an ideal spot for such a commemoration. An American made 35foot flagpole, designed to hold the 60-square-foot flag (also made in America) was erected as veterans of the VFW Post 4522 performed the official hoisting of the flag.

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military members past and present, law enforcement, fire departments, EMS personnel and the general public.

Featured attendees included Senator John Edwards (D), a former Marine, who gave guests a history lesson on the first American Flag and how it received the name “Old Glory.” Senator Ralph Smith (R), a former Navy man, read an abbreviated version of the Declaration of Independence, stating, “May it fly, both Beltone and the US Flag, for many years to come.”

Everyone was invited to join in the “Pledge of Allegiance,” and to sing along with vocalist Paul Huffman as he performed the “Star Spangled Banner.”

Dr. Bryan E. Smith of First Baptist Church provided the invocation.

McCurdy said, “What a great way to remember those who served for the freedom that we have today. A Flag

raising ceremony and dedication is the right thing to do in honor of our Veterans. I’m so glad so many VFW members could attend today.”

About 100 people watched the Flag being raised, which will be lit 24 hours a day and can be seen from all directions. The conclusion of the ceremony was a group singa-long to the Lee Greenwood song, “God Bless the USA.”

By Carla Bream info@theroanokestar.com

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Roanoke Library’s “Virginia Room” is a Treasure Trove

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and data-based formats. Archivist Alicia Sell calls the Sanborn maps, which go back to the 1880’s, a “wonderful resource. It shows …a footprint of every single house.”

Even the materials homes were built from are listed; maps marked with an “S,” for stable, evolved into an “A,” for automobile, as the 1800’s became the 1900’s.

Brochures, “used to show how wonderful Roanoke was,” said Sell, also provided photographic evidence of structures in Roanoke and are useful now for those restoring structures. Published family histories and “pedigree

charts,” filled out by patrons, are also on file. Professional genealogists have donated their resources on local families.

“Check [your facts] in at least three places,” Sell advises. “[It’s] the best research library west of Richmond for family history,” said Virginia Room librarian Laura Wickstead. “For the whole state of Virginia, we have an outstanding collection for looking up your ancestors.”

Wickstead said a growing resource collection allows more research into other states, as does a growing ar-

ray of online databases.

Concerning family research, Wickstead advises, “Start with the U.S. Census.”

The Virginia Room (at the main branch on Jefferson St.) has grown rapidly since its inception in the 1960’s, and now welcomes visitors from around the country.

“We are very proud of our collection,” said Sell.

All of the resources are available for free on site, except for photocopying, and the staff will do research for no charge.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

>3.99 Tea Party From page 1

Nestle dependence, not indepenPure Life dence for its citizens. How we water spend our24money pack is as valid today as it was on December 16, 1773.”

Jeff Bowles from the Libertarian party talked about Thomas Jefferson and how “the founders realized that government was necessary but dangerous so they contained it within the constitution.”

Jackie Bledsoe of fairtax. org explained exactly what the Fair Tax is and how it would work in today’s environment of excessive spending and taxes. “It is a revenue neutral plan with a retail sales tax on new goods and services only,”

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allowing the country to abolish the Internal Revenue Service altogether.

Bill Cleaveland, running for the 17th House of Delegates seat stated, “Your voices are the pulse of this country. If your voice is quiet, this country will die. I am angry like you and I hope you are angry about the tax situation as it is.

Make your voice heard in November.”

Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee for Attorney General, got the crowd fired up when he said; “Conservatives in Northern Virginia should be under the Endangered Species Act since there are so few of us left. We need to take back our constitution and make sure this Cap & Trade bill is not passed. Even Greenpeace is against Cap & Trade and you know how liberal they are.”

After the invited speakers, the microphone was opened up to the public. Speakers were given 5 minutes each and many in attendance took advantage of the opportunity to be heard. Topics included

Photo by Carla Bream

Folks from all walks of life – and time periods – joined together for Roanoke’s 2nd Tea Party of the year. abortion, freedom, limited government, Cap & Trade, free speech, liberalism, thanking veterans and prayer.

Organizers say they plan

to have another Tea Party in Roanoke this fall.

By Carla Bream info@theroanokestar.com

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KIVA Kick-nic Scheduled

A few rounds of kickball (with a ball donated by Roanoke’s Dick’s Sporting Goods) will be played from 9:30-11:00, then head along Lick Run Greenway for a picnic in the shade. Bring a picnic for your family, sunscreen, and plenty of water. Also, bring a plastic grocery bag for some quick park/ trail clean-up. KIVA will be taking part in President Obama's United We Serve initiative.

Historical Society of Western Virginia Elects new Board of Directors

The Historical Society of Western Virginia is pleased to announce the induction of our Board of Directors for the Fiscal Year 2009-2010.

New Directors elected to serve on the Board are Ms. Alison Blanton, Architectural Historian with Hill Studio in Roanoke and Mr. Kevin Sullivan, Legal Counsel for Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc., in Blacksburg.

New officers elected to serve on the Board are Mr. W. Tucker Lemon, President; Ms. Katherine Watts, Vice-President; Mr. Michael Bell, Treasurer; and Dr. Nancy Warren, Secretary.

Mr. Edgar V. Wheeler was elected to the Board as a Director Emeritus.

About the Historical Society of Western Virginia Founded in 1957, the Historical Society of Western Virginia is a private, not-for-profit corporation. The Historical Society exists to

promote an interest in the broad spectrum of history with emphasis on that of southwestern Virginia; to collect, preserve, interpret, and make available materials relating to that history; to sponsor research and publication in the field of regional history; and to provide educational services to people and institutions throughout western Virginia.

With its administrative offices housed in Center in the Square's cultural complex, Historical Society operations are implemented by staff, volunteers, and a 39-member board of directors, composed of local business and community leaders. The Historical Society has four operating divisions including the History Museum of Western Virginia, the O. Winston Link Museum, Crystal Spring Pump Station, and Kegley Publications.

Hollins to Participate in Virginia Private College Week Hollins University is among 25 institutions across the Commonwealth taking part in Virginia Private College Week, July 27 through August 1. The program includes campus tours and information sessions about admissions, financial aid, and academic programs.

Sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, the annual event gives rising high school juniors and seniors an alternative to squeezing in campus visits during the academic year. Students who visit three or more of the participating colleges during the week also receive application fee

waivers for three Virginia private colleges of their choice.

Hollins will host daily open house programs for prospective students and their families.

Sessions will be offered at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, July 27 – 31, and 9:00 a.m., Saturday, August 1. Registration is not required, but contacting the Hollins admissions office prior to visiting is encouraged.

For more information, call (540) 362-6401 or 1-800-456-9595, or visit www.privatecollegeweek.org, or www.hollins.edu.

> ID3 From page 1

Day three, riders braved the wet conditions for the East Coasters criterium. Excellent “kid races” were held and the young boys seemed to especially like the fun pace cars, such as the Hummer donated for the day by Crossroads Luxury Automotive. Over 125 prizes were offered by a variety of Roanoke area businesses and a special prize fund was set up to raise

money for the next days’ races.

Roanoke is one of the only locations within the state, and surrounding states, to host three consecutive days of road racing.

With 428 participants this year, organizers are confident they can grow the event even more.

As 2010 approaches, additional events will likely be added to the cycling calendar and connections with larger tours will

mean Roanoke will continue to become an even a bigger gear rather than a spoke in the wheel - of cycling events for Virginia.

For all final results and more details visit http://www.id3race. com.

By Bob Bowman info@theroanokestar.com

> Council Notes From page 1

park.

The National Guard Armory is now slated for demolition in December, and City Manager Darlene Burcham suggested that city council decide the future of the site along Reserve Avenue that adjoins what used to be Victory Stadium. Some would like to see permanent athletic fields there, to augment nearby River’s Edge fields and to add needed inventory to the city’s parks and recreation system.

Council is still mulling proposals from three companies that have bid to manage and operate Countryside Golf Course; meanwhile $2 million has been set aside for course upgrades.

On his blog, councilman Court Rosen said that for now, he would “not support construction of an amphitheater, municipal operation of a golf course … or a regional waterpark. I do not believe we can afford these items.” Rosen did approve the $1.2 million for

engineering and architectural work for the amphitheatre.

Rosen wrote that he is concerned about future subsidies that would be needed if those capital projects moved forward right now. “I cannot support building luxury items that will cause increased taxpayer subsidies when we already are forced to subsidize other facilities we run (Civic Center, Market Building).”

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Morocco, whom he met two months ago during a state trades mission. Both stated the need for America to “get it right on energy policy,” as Kaine described. The growing demand for Middle Eastern oil provides a bankroll for regimes that want to experiment with nuclear weapons or fund destabilizing terrorist activities.

Many Americans are beginning to understand the broader picture on energy, said Kaine. “If we become more self-reliant, it not only helps the environment, it not only helps the bottom-line pocket book, but it keeps our nation safer.”

Kaine tied his energy talk to the enthusiasm Virginians show for the environment.

“We’re passionate about the natural beauty that we have, and throughout Virginia there is no community that is more passionate about the environment than Roanoke,” Kaine said.

One of the governor’s main projects has been preserving open space, and he is on track toward achieving his 400,000acre goal by the end of his term. Several tracts around the Roanoke Valley (including

one on Read Mountain) can now be counted in that total.

Earlier that morning, Kaine experienced that enthusiasm for the environment firsthand as he led the “Governor’s Bike Ride” on the Roanoke River Greenway. Before that, Roanoke Mayor David Bowers announced that the missing link on the greenway by Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital should be completed

by Thanksgiving, garnering much applause from cyclists gathered for the ride.

Kaine called the bike ride “fantastic,” and praised the condition of the trail, as well as the beauty of the Roanoke River. He said greenways are important not only for exercise, but for creating enthusiasm about the environment.

Citing “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv, the governor stressed the importance of defeating “nature-deficit disorder” among children: “unless you get kids (outdoors) … they don’t grow up to be passionate about saving the environment.”

> Kaine From page 1

have combined to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 13 %.

Mason said those efforts create economic savings as well as environmental: “if there’s one thing we’ve learned in a tough economy, its [that] environmental stewardship is economic stewardship.”

Kaine echoed those sentiments, talking about a future with higher energy prices and scarcer resources.

“These problems can begin to be solved in many ways, from better sustainability practices to land conservation and finding alternative fuel sources.” Kaine stressed the importance of getting the private sector involved - not simply relying on the government.

“The great thing about these energy and sustainability issues is as an individual, as a family, as a local government, as a church, as a school, as a business, everybody can do things that will advance the goal,” said Kaine, who also highlighted the role that better energy policy plays in the nation’s security.

He supported this claim by repeating advice given by the prime ministers of Israel and

By Ashton Sullivan info@theroanokestar.com

7/10/09 - 7/16/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3

Smith Mountain Lake Swing-Fore-a-Cure earns $230,000 for American Cancer Society The second annual Swing fore a Cure golf tournament recently raised more than $230,000 to help fight cancer.

The event follows a highly successful inaugural event in 2008, which raised $198,000.

It goes to show the commitment of the people in Southwest and Central Virginia, who have proven that they are truly committed to helping find a cure for Cancer, says Mark Hurley, Community Organizer for the American Cancer Society. For two years in a row, we have had outstanding support both in terms of the quality of the event and money raised.

The tournament was held at The Water s Edge at Smith Mountain Lake. We need to send a big thank you to Ron Willard and his staff for hosting the event, said Hurley, who also recognized the nearly 100 volunteers who assisted throughout the day. So important were the volunteers that an anonymous donor contributed $2,500 in their honor.

ADMMicro and Advance Auto Parts were the title sponsors for the event along with a dual sponsorship provided by Bosch and Purolator.

Although the golfers enjoyed a beautiful day in Virginia, rain created a no-show for two players who were to have been a draw for this year s event. PGA Tour Pro Kenny Perry and Tiger Woods caddy Steve Williams had been slated to join the field, but were unavailable because of rain delays at the U.S. Open at on Long Island, NY. One guest who made the trip was Perry s instructor, Matt Killen of Franklin, KY, who has been named on of the top 20 under 40 golf instructors in the United States. Killen set up shop with video software on the 7th hole and gave instruction to many members of the field, who raved about the ad-

vice. Killen is a contributing writer to Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, and the founder of Putt.com.

A live auction prior to the evening s banquet netted tens of thousands of dollars including a $5,150 bid for a framed caddy bib worn by Williams as he caddied for Woods at the Buick Invitational. Both Woods and Williams signed the bib. A set of golf clubs

and golf bag signed by Perry brought $3,000.

The audience also heard an inspirational story from local resident Beckie Sherman who told the crowd how her daughter had survived brain cancer for more than 13 years thanks to research funding provided by the American Cancer Society. Sherman received a standing ovation at the conclusion of her remarks.

Roanoke Star of the Week Steve Black grew up and graduated from high school in the San Fransico Bay area. After high school he went into the United States Army and served in Vietnam. Upon discharge from the military he went to watch makers school at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Upon completing college Steve Black Steve returned to California and worked as a watchmaker for 3 years before coming to Roanoke, Va., to work for Finks Jewelers, where he was employed for 5 years as a watchmaker.

In 1984 he started his own jewelry business, Goldsmith Jewelers, which is now located on Crystal Spring Ave., in Roanoke.

Among his favorite things to do in the Roanoke area is study the architecture of private homes and businesses. Steve’s hobby is working with and driving antique cars.

Have someone in mind for “Roanoke Star of the Week?”

E-mail Jim Bullington: JBullPhoto@Hotmail.com

(540) 982-6983

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Perspective

Page 4 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 7/10/09 - 7/16/09

M

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I also know that it is rare when a school system’s I taught at William Fleming from 1985-1988. central administration and school board supports During those years, I was told in writing that I a teacher over a school’s principle. failed too many students, that if I did not find a way Still, someone has to look out for the children. to pass more students, my teaching contract would Career on the line or not, no one has the right to not be renewed. Rather than pass students who did violate state and federal law when it comes to edunot deserve to be passed and after being told by the cating our children. Also, no one has the right to Frank Tota administration to get with the program, violate the civil rights of our children to get a propI quit. er education, SOL test scores or not.

The 2009 William Fleming SOL cheating scandal One thing for sure, given the state report on this pains me. Susan Willis, principle of Fleming at the controversy and the numerous complaints about time, is either the mastermind of the SOL cheating Jeff Artis Susan Willis’ management style, the discussion of scandal or she has shown a complete lack of institutional control at the school. Simply put, Willis merit pay for Roanoke, Va. school teachers should is either too corrupt or too incompetent to be in education. finally be put to rest. Susan Willis is the best argument against Either way, she should be fired. Her license to work in educa- merit pay for teachers there ever was. tion should also be revoked.

Now on a happier note . . . To my wife, Happy AnniversaAs for the other four people involved in the Fleming SOL ry. It’s been a wonderful 23 years. Thank you for everything. cheating scandal, I understand their situation. In education, there are instances when your principle says jump and you Contact Jeff at better ask how high. If you don’t start jumping right then and column@jeffartis.com there as high as you can, you put your career on the line.

Cap and Trade Legislation: Economic Suicide

ast week the House of Representatives and natural gas prices 55% which will cause narrowly passed a massive new energy the price of every good and service to signifitax that will have devastating conse- cantly increase. All while eliminating 1.8 to 7 quences for every single American. Congress- million jobs that our economy so desperately man Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House needs. These jobs will simply move overseas Energy and Commerce Committee and Speak- to countries where there are no cap and trade er Nancy Pelosi pushed through the so-called regulations.

“American Clean Energy and Security” legislaThe cap and tax legislation raises prices on tion, which implements a cap and trade system consumers by hindering the development of or more accurately: cap and tax. The simple traditional energy sources, while limiting the truth behind this legislation is that it raises tax- development of renewable energy. Coal proes, kills jobs and will lead to more government vides the majority of the electricity generation intrusion and I have been speaking out against in our country, and this bill will effectively stop this legislation for months. I have a number of coal-fired power plants from being built in the publications talking about the seriousness of U.S. The cleanest way for utilities to control this issue if you check my webCO2 emissions is to increase site there are far more details the supply of carbon-free nuRep. Bob Goodlatte available to you. clear energy although nuclear is The cap and tax proposal effectively ignored by the bill. is really an $846 billion national energy tax In effect this legislation turns off the ability that will be paid for by anyone who turns on a to produce energy from reliable sources in falight switch, plugs in an appliance, takes a hot vor of energy technologies that have not proven shower or drives a car. At a time when folks that they can meet the energy demands of our are struggling to pay the bills, we should not nation. While I believe it is important for our be adding additional costs to their utility bills. nation to reevaluate our energy policies, we canA national energy tax will do more harm than not ignore that America’s economy is intrinsigood. President Obama even said when refer- cally linked to the availability and affordability ring to Democrats’ cap and tax plan that utility of energy. During this economic slow-down we rates would ‘necessarily skyrocket.’ All for the should adopt policies that seek to rebuild our promise of slowing temperature increases by economy and create more jobs. Instead of govmerely hundredths of a single degree Fahren- ernment mandates and bureaucracy we should heit by the year 2050 and not more than two focus on policies that support technological adtenths of a degree by the end of the century. vances and consumer choices. The bottom line Additionally, moving into a cap and tax sys- is that we need energy policies which encourtem will place the United States economy at a age investment in environmentally sound, costdistinct competitive disadvantage because it effective practices without stifling innovation. would place significant additional costs on ev- Unfortunately, cap and trade legislation would ery American business, farmer, manufacturer, only further cripple our economy. and family. It is estimated that the proposal will raise electricity rates 90%, gas prices 74%,

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Short Roads Left for Burcham and Willis

uch has happened since my last column, so here goes. Through the years, I have been an outspoken critic of Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham. But, three things must be said about her time as city manager. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Bridge happened on her watch. Burcham opened up City Hall to the citizens of Northwest Roanoke. She has been a big supporter of the Roanoke SCLC Juneteenth Celebration. These things would not have happened under other Roanoke City Managers. I have a great deal of respect for Darlene Burcham. Our disagreements never became personal. To be honest, she only did what Roanoke City Government allowed her to do.

A mayor without a secretary? How silly. Maybe Roanoke could have used the $48,000 it spent on two electric vehicles to keep Joyce Johnson as the mayor’s secretary instead of wasting tax dollars buying two electric vehicles that really have no practical purpose. Getting rid of Johnson is nothing more than political payback for Mayor Bowers defeating Nelson Harris in the last mayoral election. This controversy shows just how petty Harris and his crew, some of whom are still on Roanoke City Council, really are.

L

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By Don Waterfield

DOWN

DOWN 1 Soap operas 2 Aleutian 3 Birds that make a gaggle operas 1 4 Soap House 2 5 Aleutian Athletic field 6 Birds 3 Free ofthat make a gaggle 7 Pull in a fish 4 8 House Ancient Indian Pack field 5 9 Athletic Fast movers located in Vinton on Parker 15 Free of 6 Lane. in a fish 719 Pull Galled Beginning 21 8 Ancient Indian 23 Pope's country 924 Pack Calf 1525 Fast Stuck movers up people located in Vinton on Charity 26 Lane.

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23 Calfthe answers online: TheRoanokeStar.com 24 Find Have a clue and answer you’d like to see? email:up puzzles@theroanokestar.com people 25 Stuck

Preacher’s Corner “One”

by George C. Anderson “One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do.” went online to read the rest of the lyrics of that classic song by Three Dog Night and was reminded that this song falls into the same genre as “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” and “Wild Thang, You Make my Heart Sang.”

There’s not much else to the song except what is said in the lead line: “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do.”

But what else is there to say? Let the thought stand alone. Lonely thought. Lonely singer. “She went away,” and that’s it. Alone. One. In the story the gospels tell, “One” is a number with which Jesus often has to come to terms. The story begins with his being whisked away to Egypt because his peers are being put to the sword, and ends with him dying abandoned on the cross. In between, though Jesus often is with disciples or a crowd, and is in and out of homes and synagogues, he often stands as One. He stands as one when he alienates and aligns himself.

He alienates himself from authorities and family by aligning himself with those with whom the authorities and family would like to avoid. Jesus mixes it up with demons by casting them out from the possessed. He exposes himself to impurity by healing the sick. He touches lepers, menstruating women and dead bodies; all forbidden in his day.

He sullies his reputation by associating with sinners. He not only addresses their sins but actually befriends them, eats with them, affirms their place at table, in the community and even in his company of follow-

I

ers. By “standing with” those who others “stand against;” Jesus isolates himself from those who say, “You’re known by the company you keep.”

What does this mean for those who would follow Jesus? To be at one with God’s will, and at one with those who are either about God’s work or who need God’s grace, is to sometimes to be in the company of “One.” Every Christian should come to terms with the reality that in red hot moments, she or he may be alone.

In fact, I pray that every child and young person will know what it is like to be derided because she or he stands against the crowd on behalf of a good or in solidarity with the ostracized. I pray for that pain, because I think it is a redemptive pain that is necessary for moral character to develop.

Of course, that means I pray the same for adults as well.

In praying for it, I know how much I don’t like being in those lonely moments. Social pressures; peers, ideologies, and agendas; they all can be almost demonic in their power. They want to make us their insiders, so that we become their ways and means of achieving their ends. But when either mercy or justice requires us to stand against those powers, some of whom have the faces and voices of friends, families and those who assume we can be counted upon to be on their side, then the pain of being in the company of One is to be embraced and not avoided.

I can think of many people in history and in recent news who are examples. I’ll be safe and choose just one who once

was rather controversial, but which time and history has rendered acceptable.

Will Campbell, is a Baptist preacher whose first time leading worship required him to read a Bible donated to the church by the Ku Klux Klan.

Yet, he evolved into a Civil Rights leader. He was the only white minister present at the creation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, escorted black students into Central High School in Little Rock, met with Martin Luther King Jr. and participated in Civil Rights demonstrations. In relation to people of his Tennessee home, he once knew what it meant to be in the company of “One,” but in taking a stand for Civil Rights, he is now at one with the Civil Rights community.

Wait a minute. Did I say Will Campbell was no longer controversial? In 2006, he intentionally received withering criticism and condemnation from the Civil Rights community because, without changing his views about racial justice, he reached out to members of the Ku Klux Klan in his Nashville community offering ministry and friendship. Campbell’s response to the critical firestorm of criticism coming now from the left: “Klan members are in no less need than Southern blacks.” If he’s going to keep identifying with those who need to know the grace of God, including obvious sinners, I guess he’ll never completely fit in with any group.

Should we?

George Anderson is the Senior Minister at Second Presbyterian Church. You may contact him at: pastor@spres.org or visit them on the web at www.spres.org

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Perspective

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7/10/09 - 7/16/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

Stopping America’s Destruction Requires Your Participation

(Following is an excerpt from the speech I gave at the July 4th Tea Party protest in Roanoke.) or my column and my radio show, I get to interview some of the best experts from around Virginia and the country on today’s political issues. If you want to know why America is broken and is only getting worse, some extremely knowledgeable people can give you a few of the reasons…

Scott Hodge of the Tax Foundation says that part of the reason government is growing so big is because 50 percent of American households don’t pay taxes. In fact, most of those households actually get checks and benefits from the government. So why would they ever vote to make government smaller?

Stephen Moore, senior economics writer with the Wall Street Journal, says that by the time we add up the money we’re borrowing to pay for the federal stimulus package, plus the interest on that money, we’ll be three to four trillion dollars in debt from that obligation alone. Even if the economy turns around, we’ll never have enough money to pay off that debt with just economic growth – it will require higher taxes for the next two to three generations. Yet knowing that, we are now talking about passing another stimulus

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package that could double that debt!

Chris Horner, an expert on environmental policy, says that the cap and trade bill that recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives has nothing to do with reducing “greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere. Since Europe instituted cap and trade, they have pumped more carbon dioxide into the air than before. Cap and trade is just a tax scheme. In fact, if it passes the Senate and becomes law, it will be the largest tax increase in American history.

Chris even went so far as to bring two European parliamentarians to meet with Congressman Rick Boucher, a chief sponsor of last year’s cap and trade bill. They told him from firsthand experience that cap and trade would not work.

It would not reduce greenhouse gases. It would only destroy jobs as companies left America to escape the confiscatory taxes it creates. It would also burden American households with new taxes averaging $3000 to $4500 annually.

When he was told this, Boucher raised his hand to stop the Europeans from speaking. He said he didn’t want to hear about their experience, because it was “too early to call cap and trade a failure in Europe,” and he thought it could work here in America.

The Great Big Blessing of Garden Beans

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othing signifies summer and gardening, for me, more than beans. Perhaps it is because my earliest memories of gardening are in a large garden meant to feed 14 and to can for our entire year’s needs. This garden lay in the sharp curve of a large river that flooded it most springs, when the ice went out, depositing rich nutrients.

We grew a lot of beans: bush beans, pole beans, green, yellow and purple beans, shellies, and beans to dry. I was of the toddling age and picked beans by pulling straight up, often falling on my behind in the dirt, unintentionally pulling the whole plant out. If you live with grandma, I can assure you this is NOT the way to pick beans. When she got done with her tongue lashing, Dad used to threaten to “tan my behind”. I guess one benefit was that it did remove some of the dirt on my britches.

For years after growing up, I hated picking beans and refused to grow them. For one thing, how do you know

when to pick beans? One day they are tiny thin things. It seems the next day they are too big. So start by knowing that once beans start coming in, you need to pick frequently.

The perfect green bean varies in length, depending upon the variety you grow, but should be thin and smooth.

Once you can start seeing the lumps of the individual beans in the pods they start getting too mealy for green beans, but, if left awhile longer, some varieties make good shellie beans, meaning you let the pods fill out until the individual beans are nice and plump, then you shell them out of the pod and cook them. Still other varieties of beans go even further and stay on the vine, usually until the vine dies, then they are shelled, laid in single layer sheets until very dry, and stored in canning jars.

I hated picking beans because it’s not easy. It’s hard to see all of them and you have to be careful since the vines are fragile. You need to pull the bean off cleanly while supporting the stem

or you will crimp the stem, preventing any further harvest. Bean leaves stick to your clothes, so pole bean picking can make you feel like someone threw a sheet over you and you are thrashing to get out!

Now, as an adult, I really enjoy beans.

I grew half-runners this year for the first time. I gave up on pole beans (remember the sheet nightmare). Also, the spider mites seemed to get them each year with the leaves turning pale, then flecked, and then browning at the edges, curling, and dying before I even got much of a crop. Pole beans need a very tall structure for support and a sky-hook to pick.

The catalog promised that half-runners only got half as high as pole beans.

Makes sense. Once my half-runners scrambled over 5’ (6’ poles with a foot in the ground and lateral supports), I got the tallest bamboo poles I could cut and drove them in at the ends of the wire I originally had stretched between 6’ poles. I simply strung twine

Bits and Pieces from Garvin Land

A

And finally, Pete Sepp from the National Tax- someone to take away my freedom is a lot less payers Union shared with me NTU’s ratings of polite). You have to make the effort to educate our Congressmen and Senators based on how and change the minds of your friends and relaoften they voted with the taxpayers tives by explaining to them the facts last year (ie. voted in favor of lower about the issues, to counter the protaxes, less spending, and smaller paganda they’re fed by power-hungry government). In Virginia, the BEST politicians and a go-along media. scoring politician we have is at 73 The only way we’re going to stop percent (he votes in favor of taxpayers America’s destruction is to recruit only 73 percent of the time – that’s a enough of your neighbors to our side “low C”). The worst is Senator Webb, to vote the bad guys out of office. A at 3 percent. lot of us have been waiting for some This information makes me angry. “white knight” politician to come Politicians are voting on an almost along and do the recruiting for us. daily basis to take away our money, That may never happen. So, in this our property, and our rights, and to month where we celebrate our inBrian Gottstein make us subjects rather than sovdependence, we must each dedicate ereigns. But we can’t just blame the ourselves to fighting for freedom politicians. We have to hold the people who once again. But it doesn’t require risking your vote for them accountable, too. When people life in battle, as it did for our founders. All it you know are voting for thieves and thugs as our takes is risking a little initial awkwardness to get leaders – whether it’s out of ignorance or they that conversation started with a friend. subscribe to the same destructive philosophy – you need to have a serious talk with them about Contact Brian at it. You can’t be shy anymore and follow the old bgottstein1@yahoo.com adage that politics is not polite conversation (Miss Manners would assure you that voting for

t Home . . .

My Sabrina cares for birds and animals more than she cares for most humans. She routinely visits animal stores and recently ran into a very personable red parrot. He would talk to her, stand on her shoulder, tuck his head coyly at her.

When she left the store, her heart remained behind But 1500.00 dollars? We both agreed this was – for the time being – beyond our means. She continued to go visit him. She’d come home and say wistfully, “I really want a red bird” meaning of course, the parrot.

Three days ago, driving in town, she noticed a small bird on the shoulder of the road not moving despite the traffic whizzing by. Sabrina pulled over and collected the little guy, tucked him under her coat for warmth and headed for home.

We fed it, warmed it, and that afternoon, he was ready to leave. We opened the cage, he flew off.

Funny thing: the next day he was perched in our tree right next to the front door. Sabrina walked out and stood under the tree watching him above her just out of reach, but he didn’t fly off. Everyday she would spot his distinctive markings in some tree close to the house, as if watching for her. So, in a way, Sabrina got her bird.

By the way, the little bird?

A Cardinal.

At Home at Night . . .

Sabrina is under the delusion that our pet Onyx is a guarddog. Onyx distinguishes himself in this regard by fainting at the sight of strangers.

The other night I’m in a deep

sleep when I catch of pain.” a sudden elbow in … the chest. “Gahv!

My patient was a Gahv!” came her fourteen-year-old intense whisper, “I girl hit in the head heard a noise. Somewith a softball. "Were one might be in the you knocked out?" I house!” asked.

I grab my pistol "Not unconsciousout of the drawer; ly." she hands me my … one bullet. I load. I His urine was Lucky Garvin sit up in bed. “You burning. coming?” I say to her.

“How long has it been burn“I’ll guard the bed.” [She ing?” always takes the risky assign“Ever since it started.” ments. You can’t buy help like At Home Again . . . that, you’ve got to marry it.]

We have a huge cat. He’s so I get out of the bed and nearly big, when you first look at him, kill myself tripping over Onyx - you think you’re seeing doumy strength and stay - sleeping ble. He’s ginger and white. His soundly through the crisis. The name’s `Red.’ Red Garvin to be only noise I know that will wake precise. that dog is food being poured I think Red may be a genius into his bowl. cat. He knows more about how I walk around the house; to enjoy life than I do: he’s alturn on all the lights. Between ways purring. Awake, asleep, Sabrina’s snores, I listen for the eating, playing, he purrs. It’s a noise. [I’m protecting the castle deep, contented hydraulic kind from rape and pillage, she’s in of a purr. He takes delight in REM sleep. She doesn’t have a his food and his naps; his play very high stress level. If we were and his sunlight. He loves to robbed she’s have to hear about love and be loved. I can’t think it on the news.] of anything he doesn’t care for.

No noise. I come back to the [Well, there was that day he tried bedroom. I hear the noise again to walk on the fish pond and fell . . . Onyx is the one! That dog is in. He learned that Gravity is snoring too! not merely an opinion, it’s the I get into bed. Sabrina mum- law. But such things set aside, he bles, “Did you find what was is well pleased.] making the noise?”

I suspect when it comes time “Yup.” for him to return Home, he, like “Did you shoot it?” we, will face the question: Look“I gave it considerable ing back over your life, what thought.” would you have done differentAt Work . . . ly? He is one of the few creatures The description of her pain I know who will be honestly able was critical. I suggested, “sharp? to answer: Absolutely Nothing.

Heavy? Dull? Achey?”

She thought a moment and Contact Lucky at announced, “It’s a hurtin’ kind info@theroanokestar.com

Barbara Leach, Horticulture Technician, VCE Roanoke

by Leigh Sackett

Island Fish Stew

The Happy Chef is on vacation this week but not so much so that she wasn't willing to phone in a great recipe she found while exploring the variety of environs on Cape Cod. That's one thing we all really like about the Chef - always doing her part to spread a little joy and some good eating here and there. This recipe comes from "The Black Dog Summer on the Vineyard" Cookbook and according to Leigh can be enjoyed on a northern or southern beach or a Tuesday night in Roanoke just the same. So head on out to Captain Pauls or your favorite local grocer and pick up some fresh seafood and put this northern twist on a low country boil together and enjoy. The Chef sends her best!

5 cloves garlic minced 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 white onion slice 2 carrots julienned 1 leek sliced 1/2 cup dry white wine One 28 ounce can Italian style crushed tomatoes 1 teaspoon of saffron 1 quart of fish stock 8 ounces of white fish (Halibut, Cod or other) cut into 1.5 inch pieces 1 pound of mussels 1 pound of clams 1/2 pound scallops 6 large shrimp peeled 1/4 pound clean squid - cut bodies into rings - Using a large heavy bottom pot - heat olive oil - add garlic and saute slowly - Add onions, carrots and leek and continue to saute for about two minutes - Pour in white wine - stir to blend and add tomatoes - Bring to a simmer and add saffron - Add fish stock and simmer 10-15 minutes

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gravates me less as the years go by. It is still hard to find the beans because they blend in with the vines, but if you are still, under the canopy of the leaves, and let your eyes adjust to the changes in light, they begin to come into focus.

The greens range from yellow to medium-green to very dark as the sun plays through the leaves. The motion and ever-changing colors make you want to stay, slow down, and breathe easier.

Life is not so bad in a bean patch, and even if your back gets sore from stooping to pick bush beans, the smells and look of the good earth and soil life are worth the effort. The crème de la crème is the pot on the stove, the fresh green smell, the “snap” of the snap bean and the tiny bursts of flavor… a little salt, some butter. Did I mention I really like growing beans?

The Recipe of the Week from The Happy Chef

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at 6” intervals in rows above the wire as far as I could go. I think that must be more than 8’ above the soil. Now the lines are sagging with the weight of the beans and 2’-3’ arms are waving above the top twine and flopping back down to tickle you as you pick. I must have gotten the bigger half on these runners.

I’ve come to terms with growing and picking beans. Beans have taught me lessons about nature, sharing, how things work, geometry, color, art, and good nutrition. I enjoy the quiet time in the garden with the song birds, which are in abundance because I use few chemicals. I enjoy the help birds give me in exchange for a few pecks, and I see few beetles. Birds like life in three dimensions so they thrive in and are attracted to a garden with varying heights instead of just low crops. I like the temporary truce you have with the bees as they forage along side of you. I like the white and yellow blooms, even though they stick to you too, but it ag-

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- Add mussels, clams, whitefish and scallops and bring to boil - Lower to a simmer - add shrimp and squid, cover and let stand for 5 minutes -Ladle into deep bowls and serve with toasted, crusty bread, drizzled with Olive Oil.

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BUY, SELL & TRADE

Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 7/10/09 - 7/16/09

TheRoanokeStar.com

Bird Talks Energy

Photo by Wade Thompson

Heart Work Camp participants gather at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Salem and begin to load the trailer for their journey to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Teenagers Have Heart What do get when you take 47 Roanoke teenagers to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for a week of hard labor?

According to Beth Derringer, an adult leader with Catholic Heart Work Camp (CHWC), “a very positive experience.”

The week-long work camp event is held every summer in select cities across the nation. Catholic teenagers from the Roanoke Valley are given a chance to put their hands and hearts to work by volunteering for projects to help people in another part of the country.

Volunteers work daily from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm, completing projects such as house painting and mulching, as

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well as more complex work, like repairing porches, fixing fences, building wheel chair ramps or cutting down and removing thick bush.

The real mission, along with 320 other teenagers and adults from across the country, is to devote their time and energy to serve other people in need.

After each group arrived, the members were split up into work teams comprised of kids from different states.

In addition to work detail at an assigned location, each teen member was given a leadership role to fill in their own group during the week.

These roles included preparation of lunches, work leader, prayer leader, discussion leader, and tool and supply coordinator.

Derringer said, “it was nice to see young people on the team experience and see things in a completely new way and learn to work in steps as a team.”

Elizabeth Thompson, a parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Salem, said that it was a joy to get to know the residents they worked for.

“A very nice woman who was confined to a wheel chair at the second house

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Working from ladders in the summer heat, Heart Work Camp youths paint the exterior of a community center. we worked on started crying when she came out to see us again one day. She said it was nice to still see good young people around and that she could never repay us for our work… but that we would always be in her heart,” Thompson said.

Evenings were filled with programs and activities to refuel camper spirits and rekindle their faith, including skits, music, worship, testimonials and an exercise called “Four Corners,” where campers were led outdoors with candles and left to pray with each other.

However, the focus came back each morning to the work at hand for that day.

Dan Lieber, adult cocoordinator said, “My wife Nikki’s team was at a day camp called United Support Group, where for six weeks they teach young autistic and Down’s Syndrome children to do basic things like wash their hands by themselves.

We’re here to help programs like that.”

As the week ended and all the projects were completed, campers were rewarded with a free day. Their destination: Hershey Park, a theme park where they had a chance to relax, ride roller coasters, have fun and act like teenagers…before heading back to Roanoke.

Before 10, or so, supporters in the parking lot at Oakey’s funeral parlor in Vinton, the Republican candidate in the 11th House of Delegates district made his case earlier this week for a sensible approach to energy policy. Troy Bird said there was nothing wrong with going green, but he added it’s way too soon to write off coal, since it supplies the bulk of electricity generation for Virginia.

“The big buzz now is to go green [but] it’s not a quick fix – its unfeasible,” said the 27 year old, who will face off against incumbent Democrat Onzlee Ware this November. Coal powered plants help “make Virginia the place to do business,” said Bird, who called himself “pro energy.” He also wants to see incentives for smaller businesses that might seek to develop new energy technologies in the Commonwealth.

Cutting consumption significantly or ramping up the amount of wind, solar or other alternative energy sources is “a slow process,” said Bird, who picked the Oakey’s parking lot for an event because a nearby gas station provided a backdrop. Much of Vinton is also in the 11th District.

Bird said the “extreme left wing” of the Democrat Party wants to go green at the expense of the American life style, claiming, “the jury is still out,” on global warming.

Bird is not a fan of cap and trade for carbon credits, claiming, as do many Republicans, that it will force energy prices to rise. As a delegate, he would seek a balance between a green approach and using what is available now.

“We are so rich in natural resources. You can’t be too extreme.” He said emissions nationwide went down 1% last year, an encouraging sign.

“Use what we have,” he said, referring to coal, “and [also] invest in the future.”

Bird is knocking on doors up to six days a week now in his uphill quest to unseat Ware.

“I’ve had a really good response.” One man that was ready to close the door on him spent half an hour listening, then wrote a check and

Virginians will have a unique opportunity to pitch their solutions for reducing poverty in their localities and statewide, Saturday, July 18, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Whitman Auditorium at Virginia Western Community College.

In one of the largest-ever, simultaneous conversations devoted to the issue of poverty reduction, attendees are encouraged to recommend specific strategies for the Commonwealth’s Poverty Re-

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took a bumper sticker. “Even a lot of the hardcore Democrats around here are still conservative Democrats – that’s what I stand for. I’m a conservative, Christian guy.” He’ll need some crossover votes to win in the fall.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Roanoke Community Encouraged to Act on Poverty

By Wade Thompson info@theroanokestar.com

s Grief support groups for adults and children

Photo by Gene Marrano

Troy Bird addresses supporters in Vinton.

duction Taskforce.

Virginia Cooperative Extension agents and program assistants will facilitate the Act on Poverty (www.hhr.virginia.gov/povertysummit/) conversations in Roanoke.

Conversations will also be held at local Virginia Community College System campuses through the state.

The Virginia Department of Social Services has been actively involved in the “Act on Poverty” initiative. The event is free, and open to the

public. No advance registration is required.

The Southwest Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank will also have collection boxes, for donated canned and packaged items.

For more information, visit: http://www.hhr.virginia. gov/povertysummit/ or contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office at www.offices.ext.vt.edu.

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

Sports

Roanoke Country Club, Castle Rock and the Elks Club met in a three-way match at the Elks pool Monday night. RCC came in first, with Castle Rock second and Elks third.

Elks Club swimmer Claire Snyder (red cap) waits for the starter’s horn.

Rachael Murray of the Elks Club (multi-colored cap) checks her time after an impressive swim.

Showdown at the Elks Club

7/10/09 - 7/16/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7

Trek-Livestrong Team Member Dominates Roanoke’s ID3 Races

Ben King of the Trek-Livestrong professional cycling team took top overall honors along with two stages in Roanoke’s ID3 weekend of bicycle races over the July 4th weekend. The race series consisted of three stages from Friday-Sunday.

Friday’s stage was a hill climb time trial, where riders raced the clock up Mill Mountain.

Saturday’s and Sunday’s races were both criteriums, where riders race a large number of laps over a short closed circuit in a tight pack. Both of the two criterium courses took place in downtown Roanoke. Over 200 riders participated each day in different races.

King, a former Virginia Tech student and Charlottesvillearea native, races full-time with the team that was started as a pro-development program by Lance Armstrong. This year he has raced in Europe, South America, and all over the US. He took the race lead on the first night by winning the Mill Mountain Time Trial in convincing fashion. In Saturday’s criterium King won the race by a lap despite crashing at the very end. After hearing of the crash, King’s Trek-Livestrong team manager Axel Merckx informed him via text message

that he had to sit out Sunday’s rainy criterium to avoid injury ahead of next month’s US National Championship road race.

This left an opening for current second place rider Jeff Buckles of Richmond Pro Cycling. As the rain poured down on Sunday’s technical six-corner course, Buckles and teammate Craig Dodson soloed away from the field to take first and second. Buckles had to win Sunday to take the overall title but instead gave the stage win to his teammate and settled for second place overall. Phillip Robb of Lynchburg held strong for third place.

The women’s race was a battle between a solo rider, Lenore Pipes of Philadelphia’s Zaveta team, versus the Richmondbased River City Women’s Cycling team. Pipes scored most consistently in all three events to take home the overall prize.

In the men’s category 3-4 amateur race Stu Louder of the Roanoke-based Kazane Racing team took home the overall prize by placing second Saturday and first Sunday. The field included race promoter Ron Glowzinski of the Roanoke Cycling Organization, taking a little time out each day to enjoy

Photo by Bill Turner

Junior riders Kristian Rebeck (red helmet) and Kyle O'Brien are wheel-to-wheel as they head into the final lap of Saturday's ID3 criterium. O'Brien made a late move to capture the win.

the fruits of his labor.

All three days brought out spectators along the roads. The race, in its present form, is only in its second year but carries on a long tradition of professional cycling events in the Roanoke area, from the legendary Tour DuPont to the Festival Cup of the late 90’s.

By Stratton Delaney info@theroanokestar.com

Rec League Baseball No contest: the Cave Spring National All-Stars (9-10) defeated Pembroke 26-0 in a game played last weekend.

Canon

Photo by Bill Turner

Nationals baserunner #10 Holden Hurt tries to beat the throw to third.

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Sports

Page 8 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 7/10/09 - 7/16/09

The Roanokers Win Title and Tournament

The Roanokers won the 2009 Cave Spring National Little League (CSNLL ) Major League regular season title, also winning two games to sweep the 2009 CSNLL Major League Tournament. The team's 16-1 finish ties a record for fewest losses in a season held by only one other Roanokers squad in the team's 42 year history. The Roanokers are managed by Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of

Fame member Jerry Ellis and by fellow Roanoke-Salem Hall of Fame member Bob Guthrie. The team is coached by Jay Kirby.

Photo L-R: Back row - left to right; Bob Guthrie, Jay Kirby and Jerry Ellis Middle row - left to right; Justin Larkin, Luke Marston, Cody Amos, Robert Milby, Zach Howard and Tom Milby Front row - left to right; Jon Alouf, Hayden Hovis, Dallas Killingsworth, Will Marston, Ryan Iler and Conner McKeown Submitted by Susan Larkin

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

Commonwealth Games Baseball Preview

The Coventry Commonwealth Games of Virginia kicks off this weekend at Salem Kiwanis Field with one of the most prestigious baseball showcase events in the nation.

For the 19th year, the best high school players in Virginia will compete on the diamond in an 8-game playoff on Saturday and Sunday. On hand will be numerous college coaches and Major League scouts from throughout the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This event has been really well-received by coaches and pro scouts,â&#x20AC;? Tournament Coordinator Wally Beagle said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re really fortunate to have so many talented baseball players in Virginia.â&#x20AC;?

Many current Major League stars have participated in the event over the years, including Washington Nationals thirdbaseman Ryan Zimmerman, Brandon Inge and Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets third baseman David Wright, and the Upton brothers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; B.J. (Tampa Bay Rays), and Justin (Arizona Diamondbacks).

The tournament is comprised of four teams based on region â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the North Region (northern Virginia, including Loudon and Fairfax Counties), East Region (Tidewater area including Hampton and Virginia Beach),

Baseball Tournament Coordinator Wally Beagle Central Region (greater Richmond area), and the West Region, which ranges from Harrisonburg all the way down to Bristol, including Roanoke, Danville, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg. Only 16 players are allowed per squad.

Friday afternoon, the players will participate in a workout for scouts and coaches. The roundrobin games begin Saturday morning, with the Gold Medalist crowned on Sunday afternoon.

The West Region has won the gold medal only once; however, that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean the area is devoid of talent. Several area players who have participated in the showcase have gone on to the bigger things. Recently, Hidden

Valley pitcher Mikey Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien was selected in the 9th round of the 2008 amateur draft by the New York Yankees. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say that about 90% of the kids who come here have the ability to go play ball in college or beyond,â&#x20AC;? Beagle said, noting that as many as 75-80 coaches and scouts could be on hand for the tournament.

There are several local prospects in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tournament -- William Byrd first baseman Jacob Clifton, Lord Botetourt OF / P Patrick Arnold and Northside P / 1B Trent Cundiff.

For more information on the baseball tournament, visit www. commonwealthgames.org.

By Matt Reeve Matt@theroanokestar.com

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ary Wayne Fitzgerald, a senior second baseman for the Patrick Henry High School baseball team recently completed a record setting season. While fellow infielder Yates Sayers posted an amazing .515 season's average for the Patriots, his teammate Fitzgerald attacked his job one bruise at a time, gaining his fame the hard way.

In forty-seven plate appearances this season Gary Wayne Fitzgerald was hit by a pitch an amazing fourteen times.

Struck with the second pitch he saw this year in a scrimmage verses William Byrd High School, Fitzgerald managed to survive only two games this season without getting plunked, carding two multiple contusion contests during his unpleasant streak.

The modern day Major League record for H.B.P. (hit by pitch) belongs to former Red Sox outfielder Don Baylor, who was drilled thirty-five times during the 1986 season.

Baylor set his mark while appearing in 154 games. Keeping that in mind, if Fitzgerald were to play 154 games (rather than the fourteen contests he hobbled through this season) he would have obliterated Baylor's record with an agonizing 153 body indentations! Fitzgerald would more than triple the

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all-time record registered by Hughie Jennings of the Baltimore Orioles in 1896, and that's back when they played the game with what amounted to a ball of yarn, an object far gentler than the hardened projectile used in today's game.

A frequent witness to this bludgeoning, I began to ask myself, "What makes Gary such a desirable target for every pitcher in the Valley?"

Does he stand too close to home plate? Not really. Does he lean towards the ball when he swings? He does, but no more than anyone else. Was Gary the first guy out in elementary school gym class when dodge ball was contested? Unlikely, Gary sports a quick arm and the soft hands of an experienced second-sacker.

Do opposing pitchers have some kind of personal vendetta against Gary? Most of them don't even know Fitzgerald and, if they did, they would no doubt find him to be the very genial, intelligent fellow whose teammates and coaches hold in high regard. Then what is it that makes Gary's beaten body a home for errant pitches?

To find my answer, I sought those closest to this phenomenon.

Coach Aaron Haigler cannot understand why stray pitches continue their assault on his second baseman. "It's really crazy, chuckles Haigler "My brother-in-law, Todd Hudson, holds the career HBP at Franklin County High School with about eight or ten and that's over four years. Gary is on a whole other level."

Pitching Coach Ryan Loose describes Fitzgerald as "a ball magnet." Parents of PH play-

ers slump in their Gary graduated a folding chairs and few weeks ago and cringe every time the Patrick Henry the ball collides coaches need not with the indomiscout the Valley's table Gary, yet the emergency rooms one least concerned for a possible sucabout these frequent cessor to Fitzgerpulverizations is the ald's battered crown. man his teammates Austin "Goose" Dilcall "G-Dub," Gary lard, the heir apWayne himself. parent and future Jon Kaufman When asked first baseman for about what kind of the Patriots, brings thoughts go through his head quite an impressive resume when a pitch is headed directly as a pitcher's piĂąata. During for him, Gary's answer might the improbable 2006 Roanoke shock many of us.

City Dixie Boys All-Star team "I think don't move" said run to the state championFitzgerald, "I think, get on base ships, Dillard was pelted by six and help the team." pitches during a twelve game When most people (includ- stretch, earning him the suming myself) would run, dive mer moniker "Bull's-eye." Imor close their eyes and wince, pressive numbers certainly, but Gary makes a conscious deci- far from the type of consistent sion as if it were a reflex. When anguish on which given the choice between himFitzgerald hangs his crutchself and the team, Fitzgerald es. chooses the team, every time.

"Sure it would be cool to own Please understand that I a school record", offered Dilam not suggesting that Little lard when asked about chasing Leaguers should serve them- Fitzgerald's mark in 2010, "But selves up as human sacrifices I would much rather break a refor the love of the game or the cord that doesn't break me first, benefit of their team. What if you know what I mean."

Gary brings to his teammates Another player will man secis his own courageous sense ond base next year for the Paof community, an inspiring, triots, but Gary Wayne Fitzgerblack and blue reminder that ald will not be forgotten. Each one selfless act breeds another time ball meets batter at Patrick and that fourteen such acts can Henry's Edwards Field and the bond a team. cry of "WE'VE GOT ICE" will Unable to participate in the be heard from the home team's district semi-final or district bench, thoughts of G-Dub championship game due to the Ball Magnet will resonate another wild pitch which pro- throughout the dugout, and duced a bump on his shin the somewhere Gary will be rubsize of a canned ham, Gary bing his shoulder and smiling. remained a vital cog of the Patriots late season run, which Contact Jon at eventually ended in a 5-1 deJon.Kaufman@sprint.com feat at GW-Danville.

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7/10/09 - 7/16/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

TheRoanokeStar.com

Missile Defense: The Stakes Couldn't be Higher

A young girl picking daisies opens one of the most infamous political ads ever devised. It is suggested her life is about to end violently and quickly as a nuclear mushroom cloud appears.

President Lyndon Johnson intones, These are the stakes! To make a world in which all of Gods children can live, or go into the dark. We must either love each other, or we must die.

While no one in Washington has the power to mandate love, our leaders can protect us by adequately funding and deploying a national missile defense. Mocked by critics in the 1980s as a Star Wars fantasy, nobody seems to be laughing as North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il has been test-firing missiles like a kid launching fireworks on the fourth of July. Defense Secretary Robert Gates takes the threat seriously enough to have positioned a military groundbased missile defense system to protect Hawaii from missile attack. While The American Legion applauds this decision, the nations largest veterans service organization is concerned that the United States is not doing enough to protect us from, well, nuclear annihilation.

In 2008 delegates at The American Legion National Convention in Phoenix unanimously passed Resolution 94. It urges the U.S. government to develop and continue to deploy a national missile defense system which is in the national interest of the United States and the American people and an essential ingredient of our homeland security.

In recent months, North Korea has repeatedly tested its nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missile capabilities. Moreover, the Iranian President Ahmadinejad has given no indication that he plans to retract his public promises to make his country a nuclear power. While some may naively believe that these leaders are of stable mind and would be deterred by Americas

Dear Editor, My wife Lori read with interest the story of the closing of the Hatton Ferry. Then, looking a bit closer at the picture, she realized the Ford Windstar on the raft was ours! And, the GMC pickup truck was my brotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. For the past 9 years or so, my brother Andrew Heymann, his 2 children Amelia and Matthew, plus my family (Lori, Emily and Caroline), have gotten together every Memorial Day weekend at one of Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s State Parks. Past years have included Douthat, Hungry Mother, Fairy Stone, Twin Lakes, Westmoreland, James River, and this year, Bear Creek.

After canoeing and kayaking on the James River on Saturday May 23, we all took the Hatton Ferry across the James on the way back to our rented lodge at Bear Creek. The water levels were fairly high. Due to the ingenious design of the cable and crank system, the ferry raft actually crossed the river without any poling at all. Similar to how sailors use the wind to tack a sailboat, the cables held the ferry at the proper angle against the current, propelling it sideway across the James. After the ride, Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pickup truck made it off the raft with ease. There was some anxiety about the ground clearance of our Windstar, but the weight of the vehicle pushed the end of the ferry down into the water, making the ferry ramp level where it merged onto the concrete landing.

We feel fortunate to have taken the Hatton David K. Rehbein, is President of the 2.6 mil- Ferry. While crossing, the ferryman told how lion-member American Legion, the nations larg- the river flooded during Hurricane Agnes in est wartime veterans organization. military might and nuclear capabilities, often overlooked is the history these rogue regimes have of proliferating weapons to terrorists.

Referring to the possibility of capturing Pakistans nuclear weapons, a top al Qaeda commander said, God willing, the nuclear weapons will not fall into the hands of the Americans and the Mujahideen would take them and use them against the Americans.

But despite all of this, the Obama administration has called for a $1.62 billion reduction in missile defense for 2010, nearly a 15 percent decline from the 2009 appropriation. The 2010 Defense Authorization Bill includes a provision to reduce the number of Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Interceptors from 44 to 30.

These cuts are hardly signs that Washington is committed to providing an impenetrable national missile defense.

The Heritage Foundation has produced a chilling documentary titled 33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age. A trailer of the film can be viewed at www.legion. org. It makes the sobering point that a ballistic missile fired at the United States could reach its target in 33 minutes or less. It is a moral imperative that our leaders in Washington protect America from this catastrophic possibility.

As Gates recently said about protecting Hawaii with a ground-based system, We are in a good position, should it become necessary, to protect Americans and American territory.But is goodreally good enough? As LBJ said of the poor daisy-picking girl, These are the stakes!

Let The Commonwealth Games Begin

The Coventry Commonwealth Games of Virginia are rapidly approaching. The Games are an Olympic-style amateur sports festival for both male and female athletes of all ages and ability levels. The premise of the celebration is to provide an avenue for positive personal development through sports, recognize dedication and achievement, and promote healthful living while nurturing the camaraderie of competition.

Virginia Amateur Sports, Inc., a non-profit corporation located in Roanoke, produces the Games. Virginia's Games have grown from 4,465 participants in 29 sports in 1990, to nearly 9,000 athletes engaging in 52 sports in 2007.

There are 58 events represented in this year's games offering every make and manner of sport, from autocross to wake boarding. True to form, top quality â&#x20AC;&#x153;gold,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;silver,â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;bronzeâ&#x20AC;?

medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each event. In team competition, a medal will be awarded to each member of the official roster.

Following the Olympic tradition, the events commence with Opening Ceremonies in Roanoke Friday night, July 18, at the Roanoke Civic Center. This year, ceremonies will feature the Parade of Athletes, fireworks, and, to celebrate its 20th anniversary, a concert featuring American Idol finalist, Elliott Yamin. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s featured speaker is Olympic Gold Medalist Soccer Player, Tiffany Robertsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a member of America's firstever gold medal winning team from the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Visit www.commonwealthgames.org for more information.

By Clarence Shelton info@theroanokestar.com

Meeting the Education Challenge In his first Presidential speech broaching the topic of education, President Obama said, "Despite resources that are unmatched anywhere in the world, we've let our grades slip, our schools crumble, our teacher quality fall short, and other nations outpace us&What's at stake is nothing less than the American dream.

He wasnt exaggeratingin 2006, the Program for International Student Assessment found that 15-year-old American students place 25th out 30 developed nations in mathematics, literacy, and problemsolving.

Many find comfort in the knowledge that $1 billion from the economic stimulus package has been allocated to education, and that even in the midst of the economic downturn education is not being overlooked. Indeed, lack of funding and resources has long been used as an excuse for failing school systems. But more dollars cant buy the reform our schools need.

In the 1990s, the struggling Kansas City school district was given an additional $2 billion to build the ideal school system. The resulting Olympic-sized swimming pool, new computer labs, taxis for students, and even a zoo, didnt improve educational outcomes. Instead Kansas City schools worsened to the point they eventually lost their accreditation.

If money were the solution, then the Washington D.C. school system should far surpass most other public school systems in the nation.

During this past year, DC schools spent $13,848 per student, the third highest in the United States and more than $4,000 above the national average. The result was that only 14 percent of fourth graders scored at or above proficiency

Letters to the Editor

in mathematics and reading according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

In contrast, Minnesota spends $9,180 per pupil, slightly less than the national average, but produced the best results of any state. In fact, 50 percent of Minnesota fourth graders scored at or above proficiency in math, and 37 percent scored at or above proficiency in reading, according to the NAEP. This was the best in the nation and it is still far from acceptable.

The results for all 50 states were analyzed in the American Legislative Exchange Councils (ALEC) publication, Report Card on American Education, which for fifteen years has ranked states based on test results, financial inputs, and other factors. This report also considers the correlations between student performance and such factors as teacherpupil ratio and teacher salary.

The result is that there is no consistent relationship between per-pupil expenditure, class size, or teacher salary and students actually being able to read or do math at grade level.

What does appear to produce results is parent involvement, teacher dedication, and school-by-school autonomy in setting curricula. Consider the American Indian Public Charter School (AIPCS).

Once among the worst schools in Oakland, CA, it is now the highest-scoring middle school in the city under the leadership of Ben Chavis. The transformation occurred despite spending $2,000 less per pupil than the district (and no computers for the students). Charter schools, such as AIPCS, are free to select their own staff and are given more autonomy to tailor their style and curriculum to meet the needs of their students.

Subscribing to what has been coined the money myth,the belief that more money will lead to better education, is a costly mistake. Taxpayers are forced to pay for something with little to no results. What is worse is that other solutions are avoided despite their promising potential. We cannot afford to keep overlooking these options while dumping more and more money into the current education system.

President Obama has clearly stated his support for greater accountability and flexibility, and called on states to open new, innovative charter schools. There is hope that our schools will take up this challenge. After all, it is the American dream that is at stake.

Rebecca Hurley is a Research Associate at the American Legislative Exchange Council in Washington, D.C.

The Heymann families crossing the James River at Hatton Ferry, Memorial Day 2009 1972. The water covered the cable 27 feet above us, which was then broken by floating trees. The ferry was later repaired and returned to service. While the ferry was recently grounded once again, this time by funding cuts, perhaps it can be returned to service in the future.

Donations can be sent to: The Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society Hatton Ferry Fund P.O. Box 321 Scottsville Virginia 24590 Your contribution is tax-deductible; is a 501 ( c )(3) organization.

Paul Heymann Roanoke

Save the D-Day Memorial Dear Editor Now read this from a navy Veteran of World War II. We all know the D-Day Memorial represents us all. If all the citizens in Roanoke and the State of Virginia would just send $1.00 for each month of the year it would keep the D-Day Memorial floating.

These great men and woman should never be forgotten for the great freedom we have.

On your next visit look at the expressions on the vets faces there - it shows what they are going through. Lets get the ball rolling today. If you wish please send $1.00 for each month of the year.

Suttie Economy

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Valley Business

Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 7/10/09 - 7/16/09

Clean Valley Council Award Winners Announced

The Clean Valley Council (CVC) celebrated 31 years of service to the greater Roanoke area with the announcement of its 2009 award winners.

“It is the pleasure of Clean Valley to celebrate the excellence in habits, practice and environmental stewardship of businesses, organizations, governments and individuals,” said CVC Executive Director Ann Masters.

The CVC provides environmental educational outreach to schools in the valley (K-12), both public and private – by promoting recycling, litter prevention, green building practices and storm water runoff stewardship. Two area-wide clean-ups are also sponsored by the CVC each year, including a fall waterway clean up.

Kroger Award of Excellence: The highest award given by the Council, the recipient is chosen from all nominees as a model for the community in the area of litter control, recycling, waste management and reduction, etc.

Winner: Breakell, Inc. First Citizens Bank Award for Education: Open to any academic, civic, environmental

or commercial institution that promotes or provides waste management educational programs. Winner: WDBJ Television Inc. Mzee’s Lodge Clean Up Award: Open to any group showing significant contribution toward the prevention of litter and/or enforcement of anti-litter laws or policies.

Winner: Koppers.

Advance Auto Parts Recycling & Environmental Stewardship Award: Open to any individual, group, business, organization presently involved in a successful recycling program, particularly those promoting reduction, reuse or recycling. Winner: Roanoke Cement/Titan America.

Clean Valley Council Government Award: Open to any department or division within the 5 local governments serviced by the Clean Valley Council (counties of Botetourt and Roanoke, cities of Roanoke and Salem and the town of Vinton) which has developed innovative, environmentally sound waste management practices. Winner: Northside High School – Addition & Renovation.

Stan Breakell of Breakell Construction, who won the Clean Valley Council’s Award of Excellence.

Valley Beautiful Beautification Award: Open to projects by any institution, corporation, municipality, business or industry where thoughtful planting, planning, design, conservation and preservation is a consideration to responsible use of the land and ground water, demonstrating a beautiful and environmentally sound site. Winner: Yokohama Tire of Salem’s “Forever Forest Project.”

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Wilson Trucking Celebrates 50 Years The employees of Wilson Trucking like to say they are “Pulling With Pride,” and look forward to serving the Roanoke business community for generations to come. Staff members and guests celebrated the company’s 50th year in Roanoke Tuesday at their Plantation Road terminal. C.L. “Chuck” Wilson, President and T.G. “Guy” Wilson, Executive Vice-President, currently serve as the third generation of leadership. Wilson Trucking's mission is to “set the standard of excellence in the trucking industry by providing exceptional customer service to all of our internal and external customers”.

Sam Snow, Terminal Manager, said, “Wilson Trucking has been in business in Roanoke under the same ownership and name longer than any other trucking company. This speaks volumes about our customer loyalty and employee dedication.”

TheRoanokeStar.com

Apple Ridge Farm Receives $20,000 USTA Grant

The philanthropic and charitable entity of the United States Tennis Association, USTA Serves, announced the award of 13 grants in its 2009 spring “Aces for Kids” funding cycle, totaling $252,000. Apple Ridge Farm, headquartered in Roanoke and located in Floyd, will receive a $20,000 grant.

USTA Serves awards grants to programs that successfully combine tennis and education and help children pursue their goals and highest dreams by succeeding in school and becoming responsible citizens.

“Aces for Kids,” a national initiative of USTA Serves, strives to promote healthy lifestyles by combating childhood/adult obesity by providing disadvantaged, at-risk children the opportunity to learn to play tennis and improve their academic skills in a structured format.

At Aces for Kids program sites, children between the ages of 5 to 18 learn about healthy nutrition and lifestyles, responsible citizenship, study skills, and computer literacy. They are often afforded the opportunity to interact with a mentor and other students, attend college preparatory sessions, and learn to play tennis in a team format.

The USTA Serves grant will

Apple Ridge Farm camp counselor and tennis instructor, Jefferson Jones, begins tennis time at Academic Summer Camp. be used to support the Apple “The goal of these incredible Ridge Farm Academic Summer programs is to help children Camp, which offers Roanoke's learn to make healthy lifestyle inner-city youth, ages six to choices, teach life skills and sup16, an opportunity they would port and encourage academic not otherwise have - to enjoy success,” said Karen Martina mountain camp experience Eliezer, Chief Executive, USTA and gain life skills that will serve Serves. “The collaborative efthem in their home environ- forts and financial assistance ments. of the USTA and numerous Peter Lewis, Executive Direc- corporations and individual dotor for Apple Ridge Farm said, nors has allowed us to allocate “We are so pleased to receive funds to these worthwhile, lifethis wonderful support from changing organizations.”

USTA for our Academic SumBy Pam Rickard mer Camp program.” pam@theroanokestar.com

Downtown Rotary Club Makes Donation The Rotary Club of Roanoke-Downtown celebrated its fund-raising efforts at their regular lunch in June, presenting checks to 14 local non-profit organizations whose work with youth make a positive difference in the valley.

The club raised more than $14,000 during their 11th annual auction, held April 18 at Roanoke Country Club. Recipients include: American Red Cross, Apple Ridge Farms, Community Youth Program, Family Service, Greenvale School, Helping Hands, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Saint Francis Service Dogs, Suzuki Instruction Program, The Jason Project, West End Center, YMCA of Roanoke Valley and YWCA of Roanoke Valley.

Carilion Clinic Named a “100 Most Wired” Hospital System Carilion Clinic has been selected as a 2009 “100 Most Wired” hospital system according to the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study. This is the third time in three months Carilion Clinic has received national recognition for IT achievement.

"I think recognition as ‘100 Most Wired’ is a testament both to Carilion Clinic's commitment to technology as a key tool for patient care, and to the skill of our Technology Services Group,” says Daniel Barchi, chief information officer at Carilion Clinic. “Our talented Technology Services Group has been able to deliver an integrated electronic medical record (EMR) and other technology to seven hospitals and 110 physician practices that truly is as wired as a patient could expect anywhere."

Hospitals are named to the list based on a detailed scoring process. The survey asks hospitals to report on how they use information technology in regard to safety and quality, customer

service, business processes, workforce, and public health and safety.

Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association, has published this list annually since 1998. Previously, Carilion Clinic has been named on the “100 Most Wired” list six times. In 2008, Carilion began rolling out a fully integrated electronic medical record (EMR), and is currently moving toward paperless patient records.

Earlier this year, Carilion Clinic was included in CIO magazine’s “CIO 100” list, recognized among the top organizations in the country using IT to enable growth. Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics recognized Carilion as one of only 42 hospitals nation-wide to achieve “Stage 6” implementation of its electronic medical record.

For more information about Hospitals & Health Networks “100 Most Wired”, visit www.hhnmostwired.com.

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7/10/09 - 7/16/09 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11

TheRoanokeStar.com

Barcelona Institute of Gospel to Perform at Virginia Tech's Kentland Farm The Barcelona Institute of Gospel will perform at Virginia Tech's Kentland Farm on Wednesday, July 15 from 4 to 8 p.m.This is the first of many concerts that the Spanish gospel choir will perform in Virginia and New York throughout the month of July.

The Spanish choral group utilized a wide variety of music types and presents it with a "gospelized" panache. Selections will include traditional gospel hymns, as well as uniquely adapted versions of Beatles' songs, or the theme song from The Lion King, or Tennessee's "Rocky Top." All songs are performed in English.

Their tour was arranged by 2009 Virginia Tech graduate Morgan Cain-Grim of Floyd, Va., who completed her undergraduate degree in just three years in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Science's Appalachian Studies Program. She studied abroad last summer where she met the Barcelona group's director, Oscar Alberdi, at a host family's dinner gathering. According to Cain Grim, the two talked about African American history, the focus of her undergraduate research project the previous two years when she collected oral testimonies from the local Wake Forest community that had formed adjacent to the Kentland plantation.

After watching the Barcelona Institute of Gospel perform, Cain Grim says she had additional discussions with Alberdi, who asked her to share her undergraduate research with the entire gospel group so they could learn about the religious history and culture of Wake Forest, Va. At the end of a four-week visit that included three invited lectures, Cain Grim agreed to help the choir come to the United States so that they could learn more about the culture, history, and life of some of the communities where gospel music was born. When Cain Grim returned to Blacksburg, she elicited

sponsorship from diverse groups at Virginia Tech and the local community to compile a two-week agenda for the 20-member touring group.

Cain-Grim has arranged for the 20 founding members of the institute to visit Harriet Tubman's residence in Auburn, N.Y. While at Tubman's home, the choir members will meet descendants of the famous abolitionist and humanitarian. They will also perform a "gospel opera" of her life that they composed and created just for this trip.

"It is a powerful gift to see cultural boundaries transcended right before your eyes," said Cain-Grim, who also won the Steger prize for poetry this spring. "Before I studied abroad in the summer of 2008, I would have never imagined that my local Appalachian-focused undergraduate research would inspire such remarkable cross-cultural interaction between two distinct cultures."

Oscar Alberdi founded the choir for youth and young adults 12 years ago after being Inspired by how gospel music motivated oppressed African Africans to mobilize and challenge controlling forces during times of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. According to Alberdi, the group formed around the idea that gospel music can offer hope in desperate times. Today the Barcelona Institute of Gospel uses the history, energy, and soul of gospel to inspire

Roanoke College Alumni Release Books Two Roanoke College alumni have recently released books while another Roanoke alumni is in the process of publishing a memoir.

Corbin M. Wright, a 1954 Roanoke College alumnus and now a Stephen Minister at an English-speaking church in Argentina, recently released “The Church Library on Christian Concerns and Solutions.”

Published by Authorhouse, the book sets out to address many of the concerns facing Christians today.

Wright addresses issues including communicating the Christian faith, careers, divorce, euthanasia and sexuality. He combines his own experiences with those of others to answer the most frustrating questions facing Christians today. The book is billed as a

guide for Christians to learn how to live more fully.

Dr. T. David Gordon, ‘77, professor of religion at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, released “Why Johnny Cant Preach: The Media Have Shaped the Messengers,” published by P & R Publishing.

Gordon analyzes the shifts in media forms and the profound, often unfortunate effects on preaching.

Gordon alleges that when a typographic/reading culture becomes an image-based and electronic culture, significant consequences occur, including composition and the competent use of spoken English.

Gordon’s “Why Johnny Cant Sing Hymns: How Pop Culture Re-wrote the Hymnal,” is scheduled for release at the end of the year.

Allen Jones ‘76, a manager for foreign currency exchange at Dexia Banque Internationale of Luxembourg, along with Mark Naison, wrote the “The Rat That Got Away: A Bronx Memoir.” The book is a look at the history of the Bronx and story of the rise of Jones’s life, from the heroin trade in the Bronx, to basketball stardom and banking in Europe.

The book includes notes about his former Roanoke basketball coach, Charlie Moir, who Jones describes as a class guy who treated his players well. The book also mentions former teammates Hal Johnston, ’72, and Jay Piccola, ’74.

The book is set to publish in September 2009 by Fordham University Press.

hope, unity, and charity among the underprivileged citizens of Barcelona - particularly children.

The Barcelona Institute of Gospel's visit to the United States is being sponsored by Virginia Tech's Appalachian Student Organization, Appalachian Studies Program, Interdisciplinary Studies Student Organization, Spanish Club at Virginia Tech, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Black Student Alliance, Virginia Tech Humanities Program, and the Coal Mining Heritage Association of the New River Valley.

This event is free and open to the public and will be held on the lawn just outside of the main estate building. In addition to the concert, there will be a potluck, local crafts, and exhibitions. Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish for the potluck, which will take place at 6 p.m. followed by the concert. In case of rain, the festivities will be held in the Grange Hall in Prices Fork. For more info go to: http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/

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Sinking Creek Releases First CD Several Roanoke area musicians have teamed up to form Sinking Creek, recently releasing their first CD, “Fast Asleep.” Songwriter-acoustic guitarist Lance Smith, bassist Jake Dempsey and keyboardist James Pace – who often tours with nationally recognized artists – form the heart of Sinking Creek. Other players are added for live gigs, like the listening party for the release of “Fast Asleep” last month at Kirk Avenue Music Hall.

It’s not surprising that later-era Pink Floyd comes to mind on many of the tunes, said Smith, since Pace plays the Hammond B3 organ something that is prevalent on many of that group’s songs.

Dempsey said he’s been playing in the area, primarily as a bass player “in various bands,” for the past 15 years.

That’s included time with the popular Sol Creech band.

Three years ago he opened his own recording studio, the Red Room, which recently closed.

That’s also where Fast Asleep was recorded; something Dempsey calls “a collaborative effort,” with Smith and Pace, whose brother Cyrus is another well-known area musician and the director of arts programming for Roanoke City Schools. Pace, who has played with Smith and Dempsey for more than

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10 years, has toured with Los Lonely Boys and the late jazz vocalist Koko Taylor.

Smith said he brought the “skeleton,” for each song to the table as songwriter.

“Then all the fun stuff happened.”

His folk songs evolved from there, often into “spacey” tunes with “Floydish” vocals that “made it weird.”

Smith has recorded music in the past and likes the whole process. He and Dempsey started recording together, first using karaoke machines, in the early 90’s.

Dempsey took the lead on producing the Sinking Creek CD. “It was really an experimental process, Dempsey said.”

It took more than two years to put Fast Asleep together. “It was definitely a Democracy …we took a vote on stuff,” added Smith.

Cathedral of the Fallen Angels (“it sounds so full”) and Down by the Water are two of his favorites from the CD. The overall result is skilled, very listenable pop music.

Smith said he is a huge fan of The Final Cut, Roger Water’s last Pink Floyd album before he split from the group.

“I just love the vulnerability in his voice,” said Smith, who works a day job to support his music habit. “I was just a huge fan.” REM and the Violent Femmes were other influences growing up.

Smith is modest about his impressive songwriting ability on Fast Asleep. “I just start banging away on the guitar, then add a few mumbles here and there. Then just kind of faked the rest.”

Visit sinkingcreekmusic. com for more information.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

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