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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel Community | News | Per spective

July 23 - 29, 2010

Back Creek Meeting Addresses Windmills, Route 221

NewsRoanoke.com

Big Pitch for Roanoke Valley

Valley Bike Heroes

P5– Mark Jamison and James Taliafero have been honored for their contributions to biking in the Valley.

Med Cottage P10– A Salem minister kicks off a national campaign to offer an innovative new home health care solution.

VDOT Construction Engineer Robbie Williams goes over plans for widening 221.

Members of the community occupied almost every seat at the quarterly meeting of the Back Creek Civic League held on Monday at Back Creek Fire Station #11. The agenda included recognition of two long-time law enforcement officials, who were recently promoted, the long awaited road-widening project on Bent Mountain and the controversial plan to install wind turbines on Poor Mountain.

Widening a one-mile stretch of Route 221 (also known as Bent Mountain Road) from Crystal Creek Drive to Cotton Hill Road is no longer sitting on the shelf.

“We are getting ready to build a road,” confirmed VDOT Construction Engineer Robbie Williams. The project has been on and off the transportation’s six> CONTINUED P2: County Notes

Photo by Bill Turner

The 2010 Coventry Commonwealth Games came to Roanoke beginning with an opening ceremony last Friday night hosted by Olympic Medalist Speed Skater J.R. Celski. The majority of the games followed at venues throughout the Roanoke Valley over the course of the weekend.

With 60 sports and an estimated 10,000 athletes, the games bring an economic impact of several million dollars to the area.

Cat Hosfield, a starter for the University of Tennessee (above), pitches a strike as a member of the 23-Under, Virginia-based Renegades competitive fast-pitch softball team. The squad, coached by Botetourt’s Rick Anderson, also includes players from Va. Tech, Radford, Georgia Tech and Florida State. Eighty nine fast pitch teams competed in this year’s games throughout the Valley in numerous age classifications.

City Explains Trinkle Meals Tax Issue When Roanoke City’s Code of Ordinances says the meals tax citizens pay when dining out is to be “held in trust by the seller until remitted to the treasurer it means just that,” according to Tim Spencer in the city attorney’s office.

“It’s not a slush fund,” said Spencer. “It is not to be used for paying the light bill or making payroll. The meals tax citizens pay should be placed in an invisible cookie jar to be held by the seller until remittance to the treasurer by the 20th of every month.”

The comments were made in response to the revelation that Vice Mayor David Trinkle has been late on paying the meals tax owed to city coffers over the last several months - a story first reported in “investigative news” fashion by WDBJ Anchorman Keith Humphrey.

Trinkle’s two restaurants were treated no differently than any other delinquent restaurateur according to Ann Shawver, Director of Finance. “Everybody needs to tow the line and pay their share and hopefully that keeps the burden down for [everyone],” said Shawver.

The city code gives the direc> CONTINUED P2: Meal Tax

Virginia Tech and Carilion Show Relay For Life Meets And Exceeds Goals Off New Research Institute

Mandatory Drama P11– “Overnight Sensations” extols the joys of REAL live theatre on the Mill Mountain stage.

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New Medicine P5– Hayden Hollingsworth compares old and new ways of educating Doctors and says we’ll be the better for the changes.

Virginia Tech and Carilion showed off the impressive new VT Research Institute last week during a media tour, ahead of the building’s planned opening on September 1.

Dr. Michael Friedlander, founding Executive Director of the VT Carilion Research Institute, has a $50 million startup budget and expects to employ 50-100 people by year’s end. That number will jump to 400+ in the next five to seven years, as Friedlander recruits additional scientists, technical staff, and administrative personnel to the region.

That number doesn’t include 168 new medical school Dr Michael Friedander addresses media during a tour of the students expected at the new new VT / Carilion Research facility. campus in several weeks - all a $59 million capital projects 2-3 feet of soil, allowing for a of whom will work on a re- bond package, with construc- wider variety of plants that can search project while pursuing tion beginning in 2008. More help keep energy costs down. their medical degrees. As the than 500 workers helped erect Motion activated lighting founding director, the 207,000 square will keep rooms dark except Friedlander, who foot structure, over when necessary, saving on enCarilion Clinic laid out his vision 50,000 sq. ft of ergy costs as well. Hokie stone to the NewVa Corwhich is a parking from a quarry near Blacksburg, ridor Technology Council at a garage. concrete from the Boxley plant breakfast earlier this week, will There was also a green com- in Roanoke and bricks from be a catalyst for developing ponent to its construction: Martinsville were shots in the Roanoke’s biomedical research 78% of all trash that left the arm for the regional economy. and business economy. site was recycled – more than Research dollars are already Meanwhile, the School of two million pounds worth of pouring in: the new VT-CarMedicine and Research Insti- materials. Architect Daniel tute, built on South Jefferson DiMarco of AECOM in Roain what once was an indus- noke is a Virginia Tech gradu- > CONTINUED trial brown field, was aided by ate. The “green” roof features P3: Carilion

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Roanoke Relay for Life cochair Dana Reagan says the local American Cancer Society chapter has already netted more than the $360,000 it had set as a goal. “I think we’re going to hit $400,000,” Reagan said last week, when the total was at $372,000. Her husband Barry is the co-chair.

She puts her heart and soul into the Relay for Life every year. “It’s like a second full time job,” said Reagan, also a member of the Relay steering Luminaries light the way at committee and an employee a past Relay for Life event. at Elizabeth Arden. Reagan is a member of the Parrott serve Avenue field where VicHeads of the Blue Ridge (she’s tory Stadium once stood for “seen Jimmy Buffett close to 30 the first time since 2004. “I did times”) and a team the group not hear one single complaint,” put together for a Relay event said Reagan, “everyone seemed very excited about being back in 2005 piqued her interest.

“We just got involved be- in the city.” This was the 19th cause we thought it was a wor- Relay in Roanoke, the first thy cause,” said Reagan; her place it was staged in Virginia.

Even without immediate family, Victory Stadium, nor her husband’s Relay for Life those who had has been touched walked there previby cancer. “[But] ously told Reagan “it felt like it can strike at any time,” she adds, “You never know when home. People could not have been more responsive in a posit’s going to hit home.”

After a three year hiatus from itive way about coming back Roanoke City (at Green Hill to [Roanoke].” Reagan praised Park in West Roanoke County) Roanoke City Parks & Recreand two years in the Roanoke Civic Center parking lot, Re- > CONTINUED lay for Life returned to the Re- P2: Relay

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> Meal Tax From page 1

Hit or miss showers and storms continue for Thursday with highs in the low 90s. Storms chances remain small for Friday, but we will get warmer. Highs will top out in the mid 90s.

Small rain chances stick around for Saturday and Sunday with highs in the mid 90s on Saturday and low 90s on Sunday.

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tor of finance “powers and authorities of police officers” including issuing a summons and involvement of the commonwealth attorney’s office if necessary.

Trinkle was sent letters, phoned and notified personally in the months he was delinquent in paying the meals tax to the city. Trinkle “was working with us … we don’t use collection techniques unless we need to,” said Shawver.

Shawver was confident that the information reported by WDBJ that Trinkle owed $50,000 did not come from any city department.

She stressed that the delinquent dollar amount of a businesses’ meals tax, admission tax and/or lodging tax is confidential information.

Trinkle advised the Star-Sentinel that he never confirmed the $50K amount. “It is wrong and I have no idea where it came from,” said Trinkle. “The paper (Roanoke Times) has been asked where they got their information - I think from Keith Humphrey. The real numbers are much lower and perhaps even lower than that depending on how you define it . . . Suffice it to say several weeks before Keith’s story, I began putting money in to pay several bills. I had seen the writing on the wall that this time they (the restaurants) weren’t going to pull themselves out as they had before - that the spring just didn’t have the numbers from even a year ago.”

Trinkle added that, “I have found operating small businesses to be an incredible life experience and one where I have learned a great deal about customer satisfaction, marketing, budgeting, labor management and so on. I am never at a loss to share these experiences

with others.”

Out of 480 accounts that pay food and beverage tax, twenty-eight were delinquent as of July 14. Some of the accounts could be inactive and total delinquencies change from month to month.

For specific meals tax delinquencies there have been three general district court cases, and six ABC hearings, fifteen tax leans and two summons during Shawver’s tenure as finance director. The meals tax is handled by the finance department.

A growing balance and refusal to work with the finance department would trigger further action. For all the tax delinquencies in fiscal year 2010 sixteen summons have been issued. Shawver clarified that a summons is more of a letter “summoning the individual to the city attorney’s office to get their attention.”

If people respond explaining their situation and follow through with a plan of payment then more severe action is avoided. For all tax delinquencies in FY10 there were 335 tax leans that included wage garnishments. About 50 certified letters were sent out with some resulting in court cases. No one has ever been charged with a class one misdemeanor as city code permits.

The five-percent sales tax that is in addition to the meals tax goes directly to the state. Any discrepancies on the one-percent returned to localities is handled with the state and not with the retailer.

Regarding tax collection options, Shawver said, “we’ve got a lot of tools in our toolbox and we’re not afraid to use them.”

By Valerie Garner Info@NewsRoanoke.com

> County Notes From page 1

year plan. Funding has been the major issue.

A contract for more than $20 million has been awarded by VDOT to WC English, a construction company in Lynchburg. Funding came by the way of stimulus money.

VDOT hopes to have the Notice to Proceed with Construction by September 1. The road will be expanded from a twolane to a four-lane highway, up to Cotton Hill.

There is a landscaping plan in place and the footprint of the roadway has been kept narrow with a small median. According to VDOT, there will be an additional 14 feet on each side, which will not leave the scar that some wider roadways have left.

It is anticipated that the project will be completed in its entirety

by August 2013.

Poor Mountain Wind Turbines Several members of the community also voiced concerns about Invenergy Wind Development’s proposal to construct 18 wind turbines on 2000 acres it has leased on Poor Mountain from local property owners.

Invenergy plans to sell the electricity generated from the turbines to American Electric Power and tap into its transmission line to upload the power created. It has been estimated

that the 37.5 megawatts generated could power 8,000 homes in Roanoke County.

Ed Kinzer, a resident of Bent Mountain since the 1980’s and a retired science teacher from Glenvar High School, presented a slideshow on the potential adverse effects of wind turbines.

Kinzer stated that there could be far reaching damage in the community to the environment, health, public safety as well as an adverse economic impact. “Ultimately, we need to look at an ordinance to protect ridge tops in this area,” said Kinzer.

“I’m here as a pilot and as a citizen of Roanoke Valley. I have knowledge as to how our air space works,” said Matthew Broughton, an aviation attorney and President of the IFR Pilots’ Club. He voiced a concern that has been raised by pilots in recent weeks.

“We have high minimums in Roanoke and can only go so low. If we can’t see the airport, we have to land elsewhere. We don’t want minimums to go higher to make it harder to get into Roanoke,” said Broughton of flying higher to avoid towers that could be 400’ tall. “If we want jobs to come into Roanoke, don’t make it harder to get into Roanoke. Every time we go higher, ice is more of an issue.

No one wants to sit up there in the air in more ice.”

Bent Mountain Civic League President Eldon Karr, an architect, said he had installed four wind turbines in the past. He questioned the return on investment. “Every time on a residential installation, we go through the cost benefit analysis. With wind turbines, cost [to install] couldn’t be recouped any sooner than 10 years and then, the savings is minimal because wind comes and goes.”

Another community member said that the History Channel did a story on the issue, which indicated that people with wind turbines are very disappointed.

It will be necessary for The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors to review all relevant data and give permits before the wind turbines can be built.

Like their Back Creek neighbors down the hill, the Bent Mountain Civic League also has a meeting coming up “and will be doing fundraising to help with expenses we’ll incur in this fight [against turbines],” said Karr.

Holt / Winston Recognized In May the United States Senate confirmed retired Roanoke County Sheriff Gerald Holt to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Virginia.

Having worked in law enforcement for four decades, Marshal Holt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with him to his new position.

“I drove over 4,000 miles in the first month just getting to my offices,” said Holt. The seven court divisions within the Western District include Abingdon, Big Stone Gap, Charlottesville, Danville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg and Roanoke. The headquarters office is located in Roanoke and there are four manned sub-offices in Abingdon, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Lynchburg.

The functions of the U.S. Marshal’s Service include apprehending fugitives, protecting the federal judiciary, operating the witness security program, transporting federal prisoners and seizing property acquired through illegal activities.

Mike Winston has been serving as Sheriff since the departure of Holt and is the Democratic Party candidate for Sheriff for the upcoming November election. Winston previously served as Chief Deputy for the Roanoke County Sheriff ’s Office for 18 years and has worked in law enforcement for 40 years.

Winston and Holt worked together for several years. “I’ve had some “big shoes” to fill. It’s a good organization. We built it together and had some exciting times,” recalled Winston.

By Valerie Garner Info@NewsRoanoke.com

> Relay From page 1

ation for their help in making the field and makeshift track ready for the walkers.

Even a heavy rain in the middle of the night that turned the track to mud didn’t seem to dampen spirits too much. “I was very concerned that the people that were there would just pack up and leave... but that didn’t happen,” said Reagan. Others scheduled to show up on the morning of June 5th, “kept rolling in.” At night luminaries – special bags that held candles – were placed around the track and were lit to honor those that had battled cancer.

The new Carilion parking garage on Re-

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serve Avenue was also put to good use by walkers, many of whom stayed all night.

“Everything went so much better than we thought it would,” noted Reagan. Vinton and Salem hold their own Relay for Life events every year.

On June 4-5 at Reserve Ave. over 2500 people – and almost 200 teams - walked laps around a track all through the night, backed by sponsors and pledges that helped raise funds for cancer research. “That was up a lot from last year,” said Reagan of the numbers.

As always, a “survivors lap” kicked things off on June 4th.

The Roanoke chapter of the American Cancer Society will collect Relay for Life pledges through the end of August, following the second “Bark for Life” event on Aug. 21, where dog owners can walk with their pooches at the old Six Wags park in Salem to raise additional funds. (See Barkforlife. org). There are also games for the dogs at Bark for Life (6-8pm, August 21), which was held for the first time locally in 2009.

See roanokerelay.org for more on the local Relay for Life chapter.

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7/23/10 - 7/29/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3

Bestpitch Says a Thousand Times “No” On Consent Agenda At the first Roanoke City Council meeting on July 6 new council member Bill Bestpitch came onboard ready to take on the transparency challenge. To the surprise of his colleagues Bestpitch asked for the removal of a closed session on the consent agenda.

He then explained to his puzzled colleagues that he wanted to add transparency to the standard language.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), not only does a closed session require specific language – it also requires a subject. FOIA states that an approved motion for a closed session must “identify the subject matter” and that:

A general reference to the subject matter of the closed meeting shall not be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for holding a closed meeting.

Bestpitch says that he will not belabor every council meeting by asking that each closed session be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately. He will instead simply vote “no” on every consent agenda containing a closed session until his colleagues get the point.

In other business: Congressman Bob Goodlatte is pushing to have the $51 million renovation to the Poff building rescinded in an argument he is making to the Gen-

eral Services Administration and the General Accounting Office. He contends that the pricey renovation is a waste of money. The $51 million is part of federal stimulus funding.

Mayor David Bowers reminded everyone that there are 450 jobs at stake at the Veterans Administration located in the Poff building. “The policy of Roanoke City council is that

we do everything to make sure that government offices remain in the center of the city where they are most accessible,” said Bowers.

City Manager Chris Morrill added that during the threeyear renovation it would be necessary to temporarily relocate the VA in the central downtown district. “People should be able to access their government,” said Morrill. He said as far back as President Jimmy Carter and now President Barrack Obama executive orders mandate that government services remain centrally located in downtown areas.

John Marks, a 6th grade math teacher at James Madison Middle School with three years of service was recognized as 2010

By Valerie Garner Teacher of the Year at Monday’s Roanoke City council meeting.

Info@NewsRoanoke.com At a banquet on May 18 held at the Jefferson Center Marks received a $1000 check from Intelos. School Board Chairman David Carson said, “Marks is just the kind of youth we want to attract to Roanoke City.” Marks is from Durham, North Carolina and picked Roanoke as the kind of city where he wanted to live.

Roanoke City Attempts to Dodge Risk of Further Bond Downgrade There is a dark cloud of debt hanging over Roanoke City. In a communication from Roanoke City’s financial adviser, Public Financial Management, Inc. warned that another year exceeding Roanoke’s self-imposed debt limit is risky.

For fiscal year 2010 the 10% debt ceiling has been breached coming in at 10.2%. Another year over 10% risks another bond rating downgrade. The city has already lost its solid AA rating when Moody’s bond rating agency downgraded it earlier this year.

Each downgrade results in an increase in the interest rate for new debt. This can be compared to a private individual’s credit score. The better your credit score the less risk you are to a lender. The end reward for the individual can be a more favorable interest rate on a mortgage or other loan. The same goes for a municipality’s general obligation bonds.

At Monday’s council meeting Director of Finance, Ann Shawver was granted the authority to restructure $40 million of recallable bonds issued in fiscal year 2002 and forward.

By having this authority in FY11 Shawver would be able to “take advantage of any refunding that was in the money.” Market conditions can turn favorable in an instant and coupled with the cost of issuing the debt could alleviate the risk of a second year exceeding the 10% debt limit.

“The refunding could generate savings of at least 3% on the amount of debt to be refunded,” said Shawver. That was the good news – the not so good news was that we are not currently “in the money.”

The city’s debt sits precariously at 9.9% for FY11 and any further economic downturn could push the city’s ratio of debt service to total expenditures over the 10% threshold for another year.

> Carilion From page 1

ilion Research Institute was among 50 top research universities nationwide to receive a Pre-college and Undergraduate Science Education Program award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) that will be used to encourage university faculty to develop new ways to teach and inspire undergraduate students about science and research.

The $1.4 million award given to Virginia Tech — the university’s first education award from HHMI — was among $70 million in grants given by Howard Hughes Medical Institute this summer. HHMI invited 197 research-focused universities to apply for the science education grants.

The “scieneering” program is

Virginia Tech’s first step toward developing an interdisciplinary undergraduate biomedical engineering program, building on the biomedical engineering graduate program already on campus.

The new Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute in Roanoke will also conduct an extensive study of brains - the so-called “Roanoke 15,000” will track brain functions long term. The project is backed by a multimillion-dollar private foundation grant. Participants in the study will have their brains analyzed as they perform certain functions.

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Ann Shawver & David Bowers In addition the restructuring of the city’s debt would put $2.3 million of principle due in 2011 out to 2015. The effect according to Shawver would result in a FY11 debt ratio reduction to 9.3%. “It will give us a little bit more room in the event that we have another downturn,” said Shawver. This pushes up the ratio in 2015 from 7.6% to 8.2%.

Shawver estimated that in FY12 the ratio would be 9.6% and in FY13 it would be 9.7%.

Even with restructuring the

2010 Teacher of the Year Recognized

city’s debt there will be little breathing room until 2015.

Councilman Court Rosen thought the city could bite the bullet and not move principle payments out to effect a faster ratio reduction for 2015.

Shawver repeated that it would be a risky bet to be looking at 9.9% in the current local economy. “It would only take a $3.2 million change in our total general fund expenditures to edge over the 10% debt limit.” explained Shawver.

City Manager Chris Morrill added that moving the 2011 principle payment out to 2015 was the only option available for FY11. Morrill said, “after that we need to take a hard look at our capital projects.” Capital improvement project prioritization will begin in September.

By Valerie Garner Info@NewsRoanoke.com

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel C o m mu n i t y | N ew s | Pe r s p e c t i ve

540-400-0990 Publisher | Stuart Revercomb | stuart@newsroanoke.com Features Editor | Cheryl Hodges | cheryl@newsroanoke.com News Editor | Gene Marrano | gmarrano@cox.net Production Editor | Leigh Sackett | leigh@newsroanoke.com Technical Webmaster | Don Waterfield | webmaster@newsroanoke.com Advertising Director | Bill Bratton | advertising@newsroanoke.com The Roanoke Star-Sentinel is published weekly by Whisper One Media, Inc. in Roanoke, Va. Subscriptions are available for $44 per year. Send subscriptions to PO Box 8338, Roanoke,VA 24014. We encourage letters from our readers on topics of general interest to the community and responses to our articles and columns. Letters must be signed and have a telephone number for verification. All letters will be verified before publication.The Star-Sentinel reserves the right to deny publication of any letter and edit letters for length, content and style.

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Perspective

Page 4 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 7/23/10 - 7/29/10

S

Preacher’s Corner:

ometimes, we all find ourselves wondering: What kind of impact has my life had? Have I really made a difference in the lives of others?

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The Honey Whole Wheat Bread recipe calls for five cups of whole wheat flour and three cups of white flour, so eight children have the opportunity to measure flour, observing the differences in texture and smell. Salt and yeast require a measuring spoon and fine motor control,

Star~Sentinel Crossword Local Crossword for 07/09/2010

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really realized what a difference he was making in the lives of his students.

Time and time again I would hear him comparing his accomplishments to those of his brother. It always seemed to Rob that, in comparison with his brother, his own accomplishments seemed tame and modest. The circles that Rob traveled were different than the circles traveled by his brother—and Rob never felt that his own accomplishments had the seismic impact of those of his brother.

Tragically, far too young, Rob died last week following a heartbreaking accident.

I only wish that he could have been there to hear the moving things that were said about him at his funeral. Something of the impact of his live can be seen in touching things that were written about him on Facebook and in the funeral home’s guest

book.

“I will miss him so much. He was the world’s greatest teacher and friend.”

“I am crying while writing this because [he] was there for me when I had a really hard time in my life.”

“I have so many fond memories…I still remember things he taught me and stories he told over 30 years ago.” “…the lessons he taught will never be forgotten because they came from his heart.”

“He inspired us all with his palpable excitement for learning and his ever ready and consistent kindness. I feel so grateful to have known him…”

“Anyone can walk into a classroom and cover material…BUT it takes a very special person to positively impact students and their lives forever!”

These are only some of the more than 600 postings received by Rob’s family following

Rob’s death.

These are pretty powerful statements—and they are all about a gifted person who sometimes found himself wondering whether his life had made any real difference.

I know. All of us sometimes wonder if our lives are having an impact. But if we live our lives with warmth, with caring, with courage, and with compassion, we may well discover that our life, like Rob’s¸ has an impact far beyond anything that we imagined.

One of Rob’s former students said it well: “Someone who has touched the lives of so many never really dies. They live on. They live on in the hearts, minds, and actions of all those they inspired.”

Gary Robbins is the Senior Pastor at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church. Visit them on the web at: www.gmumc.org

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by his quick wit and wonderful stories. When he agreed years ago to be one of the sponsors for the Class of 1980, all of the other classes were jealous. He was so much fun that one student confessed that even her parents use to fight over which one would get to go on the class field trips with Rob because they so enjoyed his company.

Later, when Rob left his job at the high school and begin teaching in the middle high, I wondered whether he would be able to make the transition.

I was sure that he would regret exchanging lively discussions with gifted high school students for the more prosaic conversations with middle highs. But Rob seemed to blossom in both settings. Students of all ages loved him.

Maybe it was because he had so much fun teaching—or maybe because it all came so naturally and easy—that he never

“ I am the slowest

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Lake.

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so these tasks are more suitable for the hands of the older children. Oil, honey and milk provide a new word for their vocabulary – liquids.

The liquids are poured from a measuring cup into a large bowl and the dry ingredients are added gradually while the children take turns stirring with the big wooden spoon. They watch as the mixture changes from thin to thick. When the dough is very thick, and the spoon no longer does the job, the teacher takes her turn and kneads the dough until it is smooth and round and ready to rise. As you have probably guessed by now, it takes more time – and much more patience – to bake bread when you have so many helpers!

While the dough rises the children return to their usual activities. The next step is short but exciting. They express surprise to see how big the dough has become. It fills the bowl!

The teacher punches it and the air escapes. Then she divides it in half and shapes a loaf for each of the pans the children have “painted” with vegetable oil, and the loaves are covered with a tea towel and left to rise again.

Soon they are haps we can raise our ready for the hot own jack-o’lanterns!

Strips of old carpet oven, and before long are placed between the whole school is the rows so the chilfilled with a mouthdren can walk withwatering, never-toout tracking dirt be-forgotten aroma and mud into the of fresh bread bakschool when they ing – an experience pull weeds or harevery child should vest their vegetables. have. And who can Plastic dishpans resist tasting what Mary Jo Shannon filled with cold wasmells so delicious? ter allow them to Especially when it’s spread with wash the lettuce and spinach butter you helped make yester- leaves outdoors. The magic of day by shaking whipping cream watching plants grow fascinates in a Mason jar until the yellow every child Parents are surprised lumps announce that butter has to learn their children were eat“come.” ing radishes and onions which Gardening is an outdoor ac- they refuse to touch at home. tivity and is easily combined It makes a difference when you with outdoor play. In early grow it yourself! spring, a cooperative father Sensory experiences are funplowed our garden plot. Using damental for teaching young kid-sized rakes and hoes, the children. When children bake children enjoy preparing the bread and grow vegetables, all soil for the seeds. We plant only five senses are used. Language those vegetables that will ma- skills develop as they encounter ture early – peas, radishes, on- new words; math skill grow as ions, lettuce and spinach – since they measure and count; social summer vacation will prevent skills increase as they take turns harvesting later vegetables. Our and learn to use equipment one exception is a pumpkin safely; and most of all it’s a lot of fun! patch. Hopefully the pumpkins will be ripening in the fall when Contact Mary Jo at the next school year begins. Perinfo@newsroanoke.com

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Perspective

7/23/10 - 7/29/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

NewsRoanoke.com

O

Want to Be a Doctor?

n August 2, forty-two young women and men will set about of the next leg of that journey. It’s the inaugural day of The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.

Years ago, the late and beloved Roanoke dermatologist, Dr. James Lampros, commented to me that one day Roanoke would have a medical school. I made no reply, but thought to myself, not in my lifetime. Jim turned out, not surprisingly, to be prescient. If you have not driven on Riverside Circle lately, you will be close to speechless when you see the scope of what has taken place there in the last three years. The medical school is the latest addition.

The new students have already accomplished much. They have completed the undergraduate requirements for medical school at a college or university of good standing and with a GPA that puts them in the group of the highly talented. They have taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and achieved good scores. The test, given online, consists of four areas: Physical science, biological science, verbal reasoning, and writing. In 2009 more than 362,000 students applied for the test. There is no pass/fail and the 133 medical colleges in this country use their own criteria to winnow down the number applicants for the approximately 14,000 positions available nationwide. If you think those numbers daunting, figure out the odds of getting into Veterinary School—much harder!

Things have changed in medical education. When I entered medical school a long time ago the curriculum was uniform throughout the country. In the

first year the stuoversight will be addent had more than ministered to make 900 hours of gross sure that all pertianatomy, 600 hours nent material is covof biochemistry, 500 ered by each group. hours of physiology, As they mature, 350 hours of histolmore responsibility ogy and embryology will be given them, and several hundred still with careful additional hours monitoring. This is of lesser subjects. called problemThere were 72 of Hayden Hollingsworth based learning us in the class (two and it has special women) and 72 of us graduated requirements. four years later, although it was The students must be highly not the same group that entered. motivated, self starters, share It was the beginning of the third the responsibility to cooperate year when we finally emerged in learning as well as teaching, from the labs and began to see take charge of their own skill patients. set, be willing to admit weakWhat the VTC students will ness and accept help from their encounter that first day will peers, use their own strengths to be vastly different and I think aid group members who need a huge improvement. Only a help, and foster a sense of comhandful of medical schools are monality of purpose in their conducting this new type of cur- learning. Excellent patient care riculum but preliminary data will be the goal for each day. indicate that it is a much better Research in how medical system than what we endured. students learn has shown the The 42 students will be divid- problem-based approach is ed into groups of six and will be effective and certainly less overseen by a variety of tutors stressful than the type of trainand mentors. From the outset, ing through which my peers they will have clinical exposure. and I traveled. In one study the For example, a patient with con- incidence of depression in the gestive heart failure might be students was less in this new the focus. Each of the students technique. You don’t have to be in the group will be assigned a a medical student to understand particular aspect of that dis- how the older system could fosease to research and prepare a ter exhaustion, both mental and presentation for his colleagues, physical. under the watchful eye of a carThis is an exciting time, not diologist and others. The group only for these new students, depends on the expertise of the but for our community and our presenter. The topics might be medical system. We should all the causes of the heart failure, be enthusiastic about the realthe altered physiology of the ization of this vision that has symptom complex, the pathol- been a long time in coming to ogy, the treatment, research into life. better therapy, and the prognosis. Many other aspects could Contact Hayden at be considered. jhayden2003@cox.net Throughout their four years,

Deprivation Builds Appreciation

H

ave you ever noticed how looking for the next best thing, they much you miss something pay more attention to what they have. once you have lost it? ReThen when they do get a “yes”, it is a cently, my eleven year old laptop bit big deal…it means something. the dust. Yes, I know, an eleven year The second element is that when old laptop is a dinosaur, but it was someone appreciates what they have, my dinosaur. The past two weeks they take better care of it. Two chilhave been interesting to say the least. dren that I have worked with come Whether I am trying to figure out a to mind clearly. The one has every way to save all of my documents or video game know to man and has seeing if there is yet another way to reno idea where they all are. He is vive this thing so I can use it for a few used to losing them or even breakKeith McCurdy more years, I realized just how much ing them through carelessness and I rely on my laptop. I missed the simple process having them replaced with regularity. The other of checking emails, sending information online, young boy has two video games. Not only does managing my bank accounts, and even check- he know where they are, he still has the boxes ing the weather. It really has been frustrating on they came in and whenever he is done playing the one hand and yet has helped me to appreci- with them, they go right back in their boxes and ate just how much I utilize it on the other. This on his bookshelf. They are so important to him mental process of appreciating something when he wants to take care of them. Because he only our access to it is denied is a very important tool has the two and no expectation of getting others in parenting. whenever he wants, He is more careful with what It is a simple connection between depriva- happens to them. tion and appreciation. Think of the thirsty man The third element is contentment. When we and just how wonderful a single sip of water is. constantly fill our children’s desires, they don’t Imagine the hungry woman who longs for the have the opportunity to learn being content with taste of something as simple as bread or fruit. that they have and where they are in life. Our In these circumstances, they don’t care if they children need to know that it is OK to not always have a soda or fancy meal, they are just thank- have the best and brightest, to not always have ful for what they have. So how does this relate every video game, to not always have the newest to parenting? It is our job to help to build our “stuff.” Without this ability to be content, it is children’s appreciation of the important things in difficult to ever be at peace in life. life which means it is our job to deprive them, at This does not mean that we are always to say times, from the very things they seek. We have “No.” But we should be able to say it when needto say “No”. ed. Sixteen year olds don’t need new BMW’s, ten The simple step of saying “no” to a child and year olds don’t need cell phones, my kids don’t not always giving in to what they want helps to need slurpees everyday, Johnny does not need to set the stage for three key elements of their char- play video games for hours, and I guess an eleven acter development. The first is learning to ap- year old laptop is just fine if I can get it to run. preciate what they have. Have you ever noticed This week, ask yourself if you give in to every that when a child continues to get the things they whim of your kids. Are you trying to keep them want whenever they want, they are never satis- happy? Remember, if they hear “No”, they will fied? Has your child ever said, “Oh no Daddy, not always be happy, but they will learn to apI don’t need that new remote controlled car or preciate and be content - and ultimately much video game, I have way too much as it is.” When "happier" over the long haul. a child does not have these desires continually Contact Keith at filled, what they do possess matters all that much psycyou@msn.com more to them. When they are not regularly

I

Leaving Our Sister Behind

t’s a stifling hot summer day and the ’63 Volkswagon Microbus rumbles and clatters through the hills of central Pennsylvania, the breeze blowing through its open windows. The 9-passenger bus is full, and since this is 1966 and few cars have seatbelts installed, there are some kids sitting on the floor or on someone’s lap.

A “child car seat” in those days was a wooden crate on which the kid would perch to better see out the roll-down windows of the typical big American sedan.

I remember kids stretching out in the back window –the rear deck- of such sedans while the car careened down the highway.

Ahh, those carefree, dangerous days.

But back to the story at hand.

The family, including assorted cousins and my Aunt Jay, is headed to some family engagement, the exact nature of which I’ve forgotten –and I hesitate to remind my mother of this story but I do recall that rolling along, we were a fun bunch. There is animated conversation, and various old-timey road trip games are being played, like “license plates” and "sign alphabet.” A few of the passengers even attempt to nap.

It’s lunch time and instead of the on-the-run sandwiches eaten in the car or at a dusty roadside picnic area, we actually stop at one of those classic ‘60’s highway diners –you know, the kind with the neon “Air Conditioned” sign. It must be because my sweet aunt is with us. We pile out of the bus, all 10 of us, or is it12, and swarm like bees into two booths that run down the side of the diner. The vinyl is cool to my skinny legs protruding from my khaki shorts. We order my favorite: grilled cheese sandwiches, with pickles and French fries. We may be lucky enough to have chocolate milk shakes too, and since Aunt Jay is with us, I think we have a good chance. This is big stuff.

Pleasantly victualled, we’re back on the road and rumbling on, with a few more of the passengers napping this go-round.

Others, like me, are looking out the window, contemplating Pennsylvania at 49 miles per

hour. into the gravel amid a “Where is Lynn?” cloud of dust, as does It’s Aunt Jay interthe police car, and we rupting my contemare soon reunited with plation. “Is Lynn up my sister, who starts there?” she repeats, crying like crazy now. with more than a The good-natured hint of concern in police officers deterher voice. Now evmine that their job eryone is involved is done and they are in searching for soon on their way.

John W. Robinson my 8-year-old sisIt’s an innocent time, ter. She’s not under you’ll remember. the seats, she’s not on anyone’s There were no reports to file lap, and she’s not back in the and sign, no suspicion of anycargo area. The fact is, she’s not thing foul. When Lynn calms on the bus. down she tells the tale.

My dad, the captain of this She had been in the rest room vessel, has pulled off the road. at the diner and when she came Now we’re doing a U-turn and out we were gone. She thought, headed back from whence we “They couldn't have just left me came. We determine that yes, could they?" After searching the she was there at the restaurant general area, she sat outside for eating grilled cheeses with us. a while waiting for our return.

Everybody is concerned now. I When she realized that she may remember thinking, wow, Lynn have to take matters in her own must be crying . . . To think we hands, she approached the two just left her there and drove off. I coffee-drinking police officers start crying a little myself. and told them of her plight. She Since leaving the diner we reports not crying at this point, had been under way for a half in fact she was surprised at her hour before recognizing our fel- own calm until the final reunion low trooper's absence. Now my with her wayward family. ”We’ll dad is coaxing the bus along at find them sweetheart. Let’s go” its highest speed. "Come on… the more talkative officer said Faster," he must be imploring. I reassuringly. think everybody is crying a little So they did find us, and it was now. a happy ending to our spooky A black and white Pennsyl- little episode. We all settle back vania State Police car suddenly into our seats in the bus with comes into view, coming our gratitude for grace and for the way. As it approaches we see the lesson in things so often taken unmistakable little face of Lynn for granted. in the front seat between two So count your blessings . . . big police officers. She’s point- And your children. ing at us, in earnest as they pass Contact John at us. My dad pulls off the road jwr77@gmail.com

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Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 7/23/10 - 7/29/10

NewsRoanoke.com

Scholarships Awarded to Local Students by Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association The Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association (RRHBA) has awarded the following scholarships: Martin Veldsman – Hidden Valley High School (Roanoke County) ($500). Eric Hotek – Virginia Tech Eric Hotek ($500) Martin Veldsman is a recent graduate of Hidden Valley High School. He plans to study Architecture at Virginia Tech.

Eric Hotek is currently attending Virginia Tech majoring in Building Con- Martin Veldsman

struction.

RRHBA’s annual scholarship program was established in 1990 in order to provide assistance to qualified area high school seniors and Virginia Tech students who are furthering their education in a building related curriculum.

The RRHBA is a non-profit trade organization with over 370 member firms dedicated to being the respected voice of the residential and commercial building industry.

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Horseless Carriage Club of America Tour Visits Roanoke

Between fifty and sixty vehicles manufactured in the earliest days of the automobile industry arrived at the Virginia Museum of Transportation last week. Owners of the antique cars took part in a Horseless Carriage Club of America (HCCA) Tour, driving their vehicles around Roanoke to enjoy the Valley’s scenery, history, and many attractions. “Because of the age and rarity of these vehicles, the tour is a unique opportunity to see so many of these cars on the open road,” said Tom Cox, past president of the Virginia Museum of Transportation.

The unique period of automotive history represented by these cars covers the turn of the century to the end of carriage coachwork, gas lights, hand cranking and the profuse use of brass. For the most part, only the wealthy owned automobiles during this pre-1916 era, and ownership required a pioneering spirit, inventiveness and superior mechanical ability to keep these early automobiles functioning.

Participating in the tour were a Stanley Steamer (an early steam-powered car), a Cadillac from the 1910s, Auburns, Model Ts, and many others. Cars built in the 1920s were also eligible to participate in the tour. "The majority of the owners are from out of state, who have traveled here to enjoy Roanoke’s scenic byways,” said Cox. “This is the public’s only chance to get to see them.”

For more information about the Horseless Carriage Club of America, visit http://www.hcca.org/hcca.html

2010 Bike Hero and Extraordinary Bike Professional Award Winners Announced

The Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee, organized by the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, has announced the winners of its 2nd Annual Bike Hero and Extraordinary Bike Professional awards. The awards honor individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to improving bicycle accommodations, education, access, and safety in the region. Individuals were nominated throughout Bike Month, and winners were selected by the Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee.

The awards and winners are as follows: Jamie Taliaferro, Bicycle Hero: The Bike Hero Award is awarded to an individual who has shown dedication to the use and advocacy of the

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bicycle as a transportation alternative in their day-to-day activities, their work in the community to improve bicycle accommodations, and their encouragement through advocacy or by example for others to replace vehicle trips with bicycle trips.

Sixth-grader Jamie Taliaferro has been recognized for his daily dedication to riding his bike to school, a habit he brought with him from his previous home in Colorado. Given that his suburban neighborhood is not entirely bicycle friendly, the undertaking required some planning and cooperation by his school, which created safe parking for his bicycle and installed signage making drivers aware of bicyclists on the campus.

The Valley's notoriously hilly topography contributes to an up-hill ride home, but the presence of a nearby greenway makes it easier for Jamie to make his trip with minimal conflict with motor vehicles.

Among the benefits cited by both Jamie and his mother, Patty, are improved health, increased concentration both at school and doing homework in the evenings, and the sense of independence Jamie gets from being in charge of his own transportation. A video interview with Jamie can be seen on the RIDE Solutions YouTube channel at tinyurl. com/jamiehero.

Mike Jamison, Extraordinary Bike Professional.

Jamie Taliaferro, Bicycle Hero Mark Jamison, Extraordinary Bike Professional: The Extraordinary Bicycle Professional Award is given to an employee in the public or private sector who has shown remarkable leadership in encouraging the use of bicycling as a transportation alternative.

Through Mark's guidance

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and leadership, and more importantly, his direct participation in the planning and provision of bicycle accommodations, the City of Roanoke has made great strides in its efforts to facilitate and promote bicycling, locally and regionally.

Beyond his general duties as the City of Roanoke Transportation Division's Manager of Transportation, Mark's dedication and commitment is exemplified through his service on the City of Roanoke Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Ciclovía planning committee, as well as his participation in various bicycle, pedestrian, and greenwayrelated meetings and activities too numerous to mention.

Additionally, Mark has been integral in developing the city's Complete Streets Policy, Street Design Guidelines, Safe Routes to School Programs, and the Regional Bikeway Plan. Mark has also made consideration of bicycle accommodations an integral component of the Transportation Division's annual paving program. Mark's leadership and ongoing commitment to promoting and facilitating cycling were instrumental in the City of Roanoke's recent designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Cyclists in May 2010.

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Sports

Commonwealth Games Take Over Roanoke Valley

7/23/10 - 7/29/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7

Photo by Bill Turner

Olympic Medalist Speed Skater and guest speaker J.R. Celski (L) with Seppi Kober at the Commonwealth Games opening reception at Hotel Roanoke.

Mill Mountain Time Trial

Mountain bikers head up Mill Mountain towards the trails that begin at the top.

2-On-2 Volleyball

Photos by Bill Turner

Jenny Young (far left) and Rachel Turk prepare to serve it up in the hot summer sun during last weeks volleyball competition.

Photos by Bill Turner

Commonwealth Games Minigolf Tournament

Roanoke player George Cartledge competes in youth tennis at the River’s Edge courts.

Photo by Bill Turner

Roanoke Valley Match Play Championship Miller Baber put on a virtual clinic Saturday afternoon to capture the Roanoke Valley Match Play Championship held at the prestigious Ballyhack Golf Club.

Baber,who will be inducted into the Roanoke Valley Golf Hall of Fame later this year, dispatched 2010 Cave Spring graduate and University of Richmond golf signee, Jack Wilkes, 6-and-5 in the final.

In a small but skilled field, the first annual Coventry Commonwealth Games Minigolf Tournament proved to be all that it was hyped to be. Jumping out to a one stroke lead Roanoke Putting Club (RPC) member Geoff Boyer skillfully negotiated the damp morning carpets to a seven under par 29. Following his first round success Boyer again bested the greens with an eight under par 28 to post a thirty six hole lead of 57.

The medal round however proved to be quite different with medal positions changing faster than horses on derby day. Thirty six hole leader Boyer went cold early leaving the door open for several contenders. Capitalizing upon the opening, RPC member and reigning US Open Amateur Champion Clayton Craft fired a ten under par 26 to take gold. Battling hard to the end Boyer held off the charging field to force a playoff for the sil-

For Sale

Miller Baber putts during the Roanoke Valley Match Play at the challenging Ballyhack Golf Club.

At Your

Pictured left to right Geoff Boyer (Silver) Clayton Craft (Gold), Wade Driskill (Bronze). ver and bronze medals. In the exciting playoff, Boyer returned to his previous form to capture

the silver leaving Lynchburg native Wade Driskill with the bronze.

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Uncommon Concert series With artists organized by Wes Powell Come to our hour long concerts and listen to several independent hip-hop artists perform. Pizza will be provided with the music.

For more information call (540)853-2955.

Melrose July 26, 2:00 p.m.

Raleigh Court July 27, 2:00 p.m.

Williamson Road July 28, 2:00 p.m.

Jackson Park July 29, 2:00 p.m.

Gainsboro July 30, 2:00 p.m.

Main Library July 31, 2:00 p.m.

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When it comes to the number of retirement accounts you have, the saying “more is better” is not necessarily true. In fact, if you hold multiple accounts with various brokers, it can be difficult to keep track of your investments and to see if you’re properly diversified.* At the very least, multiple accounts usually mean multiple fees.

Bringing your accounts to Edward Jones could help solve all that. Plus, one statement can make it easier to see if you’re moving toward your goals. * Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss.

To learn why consolidating your retirement accounts to Edward Jones makes sense, call your local financial advisor today.

Carl M Grove, AAMS® Financial Advisor .

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Page 8 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 7/23/10 - 7/29/10

Free Football Camp at Patrick Henry High School

Sports

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

The first annual Future Stars Football Camp will be held July 26 through 28 at Patrick Henry High School from 6 to 8 p.m. The camp is for young people ages 6 to 12 and is offered free of charge to city residents. Participants can register on-site for one evening of camp or all three.

Anyone who is interested in playing football is encouraged to attend, regardless of skill level. The head football coaches for Patrick Henry High School and William Fleming High School will be facilitating the camp.

For more information, contact Nat Franklin at 853-1110.

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Softball - Girls Fast Pitch

The Virginia Madness - a 14 and under team from the Roanoke Valley - included an unidentified pitcher sporting some very cool shades and second baseman Mary Walter who attends Hidden Valley Middle School.

Red Sox Take Three of Four from Winston-Salem There’s a unique rivalry brewing between Salem and Winston-Salem. Not only do the two teams own the top two records in the league, but it seems like something unique happens whenever they match up.

Last week at Lewis-Gale Field, the Red Sox managed to take three out of four from their Southern Division rivals, with each game being stranger than the one before. After splitting the first two (a 4-0 Salem victory on Wednesday and a 9-6 Dash win on Thursday), Friday and Saturday proved to be two of the wackiest games of the season.

Friday’s action was a lesson of perseverance, as the Sox overcame a pair of three-run deficits before winning 7-6 in ten innings. The ballgame was knotted at three after eight innings before a marathon ninth saw both teams score three times with two outs. In addition, both teams missed opportunities to score even more as the bases were left loaded in both halves of the frame. In the tenth, Red Sox reliever Kyle Fernandes tossed a 1-2-3 top of the inning, then Salem scored the winning run in a Will Middlebrooks RBI single in the home half, propelling the Sox to victory in front of a packed house of 4,509, all of whom stuck around to enjoy a super fireworks display post-

Photo by Bill Turner

Salem slugger Will Middlebrooks unloads a bomb over the left field wall for a first-inning homer on Saturday. game.

With a series split already assured, the Sox went for the series triumph on Saturday night.

The first 1,000 fans received Daisuke Matsuzaka bobbleheads, an exciting precursor to one of the wildest games of the year. Once again, Salem found itself down three runs early, but overcame the first-inning deficit and scored 10 of the next 11 runs, leading 10-4 after six innings. What appeared like a rout quickly became a barnburner, as the Dash went on a

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hit parade in the late innings.

Winston finished the night with a preposterous total of 23 hits, yet still fell short in its comeback bid, as Salem prevailed 10-9.

How does a team win while giving up 23 hits? Well, the Red Sox pitching staff stranded 13 Dash runners on the bases, including the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth innings.

Winston also hit into four separate double-plays, including a 1-6-3 game-ending twin-killer in the ninth when the Dash had the tying run at third base with

one out.

After starting the second half with just two wins in its first nine games, the Red Sox had won nine of its past 13 through Sunday to bring their secondhalf mark back to .500 at 11-11.

On the full-season, Salem owns a 53-39 record (heading into Monday’s action).

The Salem Sox return home on Monday, July 26 through Saturday, July 31. For a complete list of promotions for the upcoming homestand, head over to www.salemsox.com.

The addition of Paul W. Lenkowski, Jr, MD, PhD, to our practice.

Dr. Lenkowski specializes in Ear, Nose and Throat medicine and surgery, and he has recently completed his residency at the University of Iowa. He earned his MD and PhD at the University of Virginia. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology.

Dr. Lenkowski will begin seeing patients on Monday, August 2, 2010. He will be available at our Franklin Road, as well as our Braeburn Circle office. Please call for an appointment. n

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7/23/10 - 7/29/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

NewsRoanoke.com

Goodlatte Calls For Investigation Congressman Bob Goodlatte has called on the Inspector General of the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Comptroller General of the United States, who is the head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), to investigate the $50.9 million planned renovation of the Richard H. Poff Federal Building in downtown Roanoke.

Funds for the renovation were designated from appropriations made in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, “the stimulus bill,” which was enacted in February 2009.

Congressman Goodlatte sent letters to GSA and GAO requesting the investigations into the renovation of the Poff Federal Building after being informed by GSA that they “have awarded a $39.9 million contract for Construction Phase Services.” The contract, which was not awarded to a local business, comes without full disclosure of the supposed benefits of the planned renovation or the projected costs according to Goodlatte.

Three weeks ago Goodlatte wrote to GSA strongly urging that the Poff Federal Building renovation be halted in order to, "avoid taxpayer funds from being wasted and suggesting that more cost-effective alter-

natives be pursued." The only response from GSA has been to local media inquiries regarding Congressman Goodlatte’s letter.

GSA’s response to these media reports was called "wholly insufficient" by Goodlatte's office and brought a strong rebuff from Goodlatte: “Recently I called for the Poff Federal Building project to be halted due to what I believe to be a tremendous waste of taxpayer funds. My reasons for calling for the project to be suspended are multifaceted – lack of thorough proof of a cost-benefit analysis, the significant disruption to the processing of veterans’ claims and benefits which will result from haphazardly moving the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Roanoke Regional Office out of the Poff Building to four different locations during the renovations, plans by the Department of Veterans Affairs (the building’s largest tenant) to relocate offices after the renovation is complete, and failure to include security improvements to the building in the project’s plans. While Poff Federal Building tenants move out and construction nears, it is reprehensible for GSA to essentially dismiss these issues.”

Goodlatte points out that not only will it be difficult for the employees of the VA Roa-

noke Regional Office but, "it will cause an increase in already lengthy delays in processing veterans’ claims and place an unnecessary burden on area veterans who seek assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs."

Since the announcement, over a year ago, that the Poff Building would undergo $50.9 million worth of renovations, Goodlatte says that he has received numerous inquiries from constituents concerned about the excessive price tag for the project, the cost effectiveness of this project relative to alternative construction, and the inability of local businesses to bid on the initial stages of the project.

Since that time Goodlatte has been aggressively seeking answers from the GSA regarding the cost and scope of the project.

Goodlatte concluded his response by saying, “The GSA’s handling of this project is irresponsible. The seeming lack of transparency surrounding the planned renovation of the Poff Federal Building does not lead me to have any confidence whatsoever that it is proceeding in a manner that will be beneficial to the taxpayers, the federal government, or the Poff Building tenants.”

County Receives Top Digital Award Roanoke County has again been ranked among the top digital counties in the nation for its use of information and communication technology to support and provide public service, placing fifth in its population category in the annual Digital Counties Survey.

The survey, administered by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo), identifies best practices and recognizes those counties that provide exemplary electronic service to their public. “Roanoke County places an emphasis on Information Technology, and we are pleased to be recognized for our efforts,” said County Administrator Clay Goodman.

This is the seventh year that Roanoke County has been named among the top ten digital counties in the nation. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, Roanoke County placed first in the Digital Counties

Survey. In 2007 and 2008, the County earned second place in its population category. In 2009, the County regained its top spot for a community its size. Competition within Digital Counties is based upon population categories derived from metropolitan statistical area (MSA) data and is based on a number of criteria. Roanoke County’s award is particularly significant because the locality competed against counties with populations between 150,000 and 249,000. The population of Roanoke County is roughly 90,000.

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. The Center is a division of e.Republic, Inc., a national publishing, event, and research company focused on information technology in the public sector. For more information, visit http://www.erepublic.com.

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Virginia Pilots Organization Registers Concerns over Poor Mountain Wind Farm The largest pilots organization in Western Virginia, the IFR Pilots' Club, has registered concerns with the FAA over the proposal to place windmills on Poor Mountain.

"As a result of our review, we believe the proposed windmills present a potentially deadly hazard for pilots and passengers trying to land in the Roanoke Valley," says Matthew Broughton, airline transport rated pilot and IFR president. Broughton also is a Roanoke aviation lawyer who holds a commercial transport pilot s license.

Broughton says that the primary approach corridor to the Roanoke Regional Airport extends a few miles north and west of Poor Mountaina and that the placement of 15 or more windmills on the mountain would likely force the FAA to raise the minimum vectoring altitude of all aircraft, commercial or private, trying to land in Roanoke through this approach corridor.

"We believe that the windmills would create additional delays of aircraft trying to get into the Roanoke Valley during adverse weather," says Broughton. "This is both a safety issue and travel inconvenience for those flying in and out of the Roanoke airport."

According to Broughton, the Poor Mountain approach corridor leads to runway 6.

It is the longest runway in Roanoke and it also has the lowest minimums, making it

the runway controllers and pilots use most often in poor weather conditions.

"Unfortunately, Roanoke already has much higher minimums than our competing airports, such as Lynchburg and Greensboro," says Gordon Ewald, a master flight instructor and member of the IFR Pilots Club. "The potential adverse affects of raising these minimums would hurt both pilots and passengers alike because it would reduce the days when aircraft could successfully and safely get below the clouds to land in Roanoke and force more deviations to other locations, such as Lynchburg and Greensboro."

Broughton says that the

IFR Pilots' Club is strongly opposed to any additional interference with the flyable airspace in or near the approach corridors, since the placement of these extremely tall structures could lead to aircraft accidents and endanger the lives of pilots, passengers and individuals on the ground.

The IFR Pilots Club was founded 1990 as a non-profit voluntary organization of both instrument rated and visual rated pilots. Its purpose is to promote safety in aviation through pilot education and review of accidents and safety violations in western Virginia.

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Valley Business

Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 7/23/10 - 7/29/10

Roanoke United Methodist Home Names Medical Director Aubrey Knight, M.D., F.A.A.F.P., is the new Medical Director for the Roanoke United Methodist Home. As Medical Director, Dr. Knight will bring his geriatric expertise to the health and wellness of the residents of RUMH. According to Elaine Lavinder, Executive Director, “The Roanoke United Methodist Home is very fortunate to have Dr. Knight join the staff.”

Dr. Knight is Section Chief, Geriatrics for the Carilion Clinic Center for Healthy Aging, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Professor, Geriatric Medicine at the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The Roanoke United Methodist Home is a continuing care community for people 62 years of age and older. RUMH offers independent living, assisted living and health care. Residents enter the continuum of care at any level. For more information go to www.roanokeunitedmethodisthome.com.

Aubrey Knight

Contracts Awarded for Route 221 Widening and I-81 Truck Climbing Lane The Commonwealth Transportation Board at its July 14 meeting in Richmond awarded a contract to widen a section of Route 221 in Roanoke County. The section of Route 221 (Bent Mountain Road) starts at Route 897 (Crystal Creek Drive) and extends south approximately one mile to Route 688 (Cotton Hill Road). The contract worth approximately $20.1 million was awarded to W.C. English, Inc. from Lynchburg.

The purpose of the project is to improve safety by eliminating curves in this section of Route 221. The project will also increase capacity by widening the current two-lane section of Route 221 to a four-lane divided highway with a six-foot grass median and turn lanes.

Route 745 (Ran Lynn Road) and Route 688 (Cotton Hill Road) will be realigned with Route 221. Two new bridges will be built to carry the new relocated Route 221 (Bent Mountain Road) over Back Creek. The Route 688 (Cotton Hill Road) bridge over Back Creek will be replaced.

Work on the project should be underway this fall and is expected to be completed in summer of 2013. The majority of the construction work, including the construction of two new bridges, will take place outside of the existing roadway.

The board also awarded a contract to add a truck climbing lane to five miles of south-

bound Interstate 81 between mile marker 120 and 125. The contract worth approximately $75.4 million was awarded to CH2M HILL Constructors, Inc. of Chantilly.

The design-build contract will include completing design, acquisition of right of way and easements, utility relocations and construction.

The purpose of the project is to improve safety and operation on the interstate. The project will add a 12-foot continuous truck climbing lane to southbound I-81. Work will also be done to upgrade the median and outside shoulder of I-81 to meet current interstate standards.

Most widening will occur on the outside shoulder, but some widening may be required in the median. The I-81 southbound bridge over Route 641 (Den Hill Road) and the Norfolk Southern railroad will be upgraded to incorporate one additional lane. The bridge is located south of mile marker 121.

In addition, Route 636 (Seneca Hollow Road) and (Friendship Road) are two-lane roadways that cross over I-81 twice, once at mile marker 123 and once at mile marker 124.9. These two bridges will be reconstructed to allow for the widening of the interstate.

Construction work on the project is expected to begin in Spring 2011 and should be completed in fall of 2013.

N2Care, a local startup in Salem, aims to provide a "homespun" alternative to longterm care provided in nursing homes and hospitals by producing modular medical homes called "MedCottages" to families.

They debuted their prototype to a crowd of over 150 people at the Roanoke Civic Center Coliseum earlier this week.

Founder and CEO Rev. Kenneth Dupin started off the ceremony by relating his desire for homecare during his own childhood and early adulthood medical issues. Whether it was tubes in his ears, tonsil removal or open-heart surgery, he stated that his thoughts were "I want someone to take me home and take care of me." This constant refrain, along with his Ph. D studies in management that took him to Japan and Central America, where he saw more hands-on home care from families, was the genesis of the MedCottage idea. "[The aged] were almost always revered," he said on Monday in regard to elderly and ill family members he observed. Dupin noted a disparity between this attitude and the long-term care prevalent in the U.S. - and how he thinks that needs to change: "We have 78,000,000 Baby Boomers. This is going to force us to deal with this as a culture."

The 12-by-24-foot MEDCottage, which could be leased for $2,000 a month, is equipped with vital signs monitors, video links and air filters/pressurizers to keep out contaminants. Remote control of doors and cameras would be available to caregivers, while a computer could notify the occupant to take their medicine. Sensors and a "foot sweep" camera would indicate if an occupant falls, while allowing them privacy.

When the concept of the MEDCottage began to take shape 5 to 6 years ago Virginia law did not allow for a second structure of this nature on a family's property. Del. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), after being approached by Dupin, sponsored Bill HB 1307, which "provides that zoning ordinances for all purposes shall consider temporary family healthcare structures...permitted accessory use in any single-family residential zoning district" only if occupied by a relative that is physically or mentally impaired.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Bob McDonnell on April 14. Cutting the ribbon on a prototype at the Civic Center, Griffith said that he supported the MedCottage product because it

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"does two things: gives us better health care and creates jobs."

The jobs, when planned production begins in early 2011, would mainly go to Virginia companies.

Manufacturing of the homes will take place in Charlotte County; Richmond-based Tridium and Sleepsafe Beds in Rocky Mount are also part of the venture.

MEDCottage Director of Development Michelle Elegy estimates that 100 new jobs would be created directly in manafacturing during the first year of production. COO Susan Conn pointed out that related jobs in shipping and materials could follow. Before this can be done, though, 3 to 5 million dollars in investment is needed to bring the MEDCottage to full production.

Hospitals and assisted-living facilities may need extra room and the modular nature of the MedCottage, Conn says, could serve as a "solution to an overstressed system" while generating health care jobs. Representatives from Richfield Retirement Community and Good Samaritan Hospice were in attendance at the unveiling ceremony, indicating an interest from local care providers.

Development has also been a regional effort, with backing coming from the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center and input from Professor Janis Terpenny, from the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, who consulted on the plans for the prototype using experience on previous projects in assistive technology.

Noting that part of her position at Tech is to "make the human connection for engineering students," Terpenny's drive to assist N2Care in the MedCottage project partially stems from her own experience as she cared for her son Jason, who succumbed to leukemia at age 11. They spent many hours separated from the rest of the family as he recovered from chemotherapy in the hospital and Terpenny believes that a home-care structure such as the MedCottage would have, "made life much easier." The more sterile environment could have prevented more infections as well, she believes.

Above all, Dupin says the MedCottage venture is based on easing the burden that families have to bear to take care of their loved ones: "It's our job . . . sacrifice isn't afraid of a billion dollar deficit or co-pay. This isn't about legislators or manafacturers . . . it's about sacrifice."

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Arts & Culture

NewsRoanoke.com

7/23/10 - 7/29/10 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11

FloydFest Returns Bigger and Better Fast And Fun: Overnight Sensations

Several Roanoke bands are on the undercard at this weekend’s FloydFest 9; the four day music happening at milepost 170.5 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The headliners include legendary drummer/singer Levon Helm, formerly of The Band, the group that backed Bob Dylan for a time.

The Levon Helm Band is the main feature this Saturday night (July 24), when festival co-founder Kris Hodges expects as many as 14,000 to show up to listen to music that will be offered this year on ten stages. Helm was the lead singer for The Band on tunes like The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.

“We went for a lot of new folks [this year],” said Hodges earlier this week as he put the finishing touches on the festival he created with partner Erika Johnson. In all 110 musical acts will take part this weekend. A performance arts stage will include aerial dancers, fire dancing and workshops. One troupe will perform while suspended 100 feet in the air by helium balloons.

Hodges mixed old and new this year, bringing back favorites like Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Railroad Earth and Kat Mills. Old Crow Medicine Show, Soulive, Tift Merritt, Mountain Heart and the Pimps of Joytime are among the newcomers.

The Roanoke bands are MyRadio, which saw their single “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” used on the soundtrack for the recent movie The Joneses, and Nancy & Two Meteors, featuring multi-talented, multi-genre artist Dickie Eickid.

There’s plenty of Americanastyle music at FloydFest 9, but Hodges also infused “a lot of

Extols The Joys Of Live Theater

A large crowd enjoys FloydFest last year. jazz and funk” into the event this year, with groups like Tiny Universe and Eric Krasno, scheduled to play for three days (Thursday-Saturday.) “That’s the classier side of the whole jam scene,” said Hodges, looking to appeal to “a more cultured audience.”

In fact FloydFest has always appealed to a wide audience of all ages and tastes; many stay all weekend and camp out. There are plenty of young children and a play area with a music venue of its own has proven very popular in the past. There are also a large number of crafts vendors and a variety of culinary treats for those that haven’t brought their own food.

After nine festivals Hodges finds he is compelled to “creatively outdo myself from the previous year, to keep the audiences coming back. As we grow … it becomes more demanding.

You can’t escape that.”

Helm and Old Crow Medicine Show “have been requested for years,” said Hodges, who booked and scheduled both groups for Saturday night. Helm is bringing a 14-piece band with him. “It should be quite the set,”

said Hodges, a musician himself who has traveled the world looking for interesting acts.

Hodges has an ear for discovering talented musicians that may not be well known to the general public – at least not yet.

A series called Under the Radar that Hodges introduced last year returns with lesser-known acts having the chance to perform in front of thousands. In fact Music Today magazine in Charlottesville has called FloydFest “the best under the radar music festival,” a handle that Hodges doesn’t mind at all.

Ticket sales were up 31% from last year as of Monday.

For those that haven’t been to FloydFest, even with ticket prices that range from $45-$65, Hodges says “you basically get nine festivals for the price of one, with the amount of entertainment we have, the arts and crafts, the food and the workshops. You can’t beat it.” (Tickets can still be purchased on site at Floydfest this weekend; see floydfest.com for more information and pricing)

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

Taubman To Celebrate Posing Beauty In African American Culture

The Taubman Museum of Art will celebrate the exhibition Posing Beauty in African American Culture with a free Family Day on Saturday, July 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Posing Beauty in African American Culture explores the contested ways in which African American beauty has been represented in historical and contemporary contexts through photography. The 84 images in the exhibition challenge idealized forms of beauty in art by examining their portrayal and exploring a variety of attitudes about race, class, gender, popular culture, and politics as seen through the aesthetics of representation.

The first of three thematic sections, Constructing a Pose, considers the interplay between the historical and the contemporary and between self-representation and imposed representation, as well as the relationship between subject and photographer. The

second thematic section, Body and Image, questions the ways in which our contemporary understanding of beauty has been constructed and framed through the body. The last section, Modeling Beauty and Beauty Contests, invites us to reflect upon the ambiguities of beauty, its impact on mass culture and individuals, and how the display of beauty affects the ways in which we see and interpret the world and ourselves.

With images dating from the 1890s to the present, Posing Beauty in African American

Culture promises to transform the way we think about the history of African American visual culture. From posed studio portraits to dandies on parade to elegant debutantes, the exhibition constructs a bold narrative of the ever-changing idea of beauty, both female and male. Each photograph opens a window into an entire world of African American life. While celebrating ordinary people, the exhibition also is filled with photographs of the famous, from Josephine Baker to Lil’ Kim to James Brown and Serena Williams.

Artists in the exhibition include, among others, Carrie Mae Weems, Eve Arnold, Sheila Pree Bright, Renee Cox, Anthony Barboza, Bruce Davidson, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Builder Levy, and Garry Winogrand.

For more information, visit www.taubmanmuseum.org or call 540.342.5760.

Take six teams of playwrights, directors and actors – some with scant experience in the limelight – with story lines, genres, mandatory props, etc. drawn from a hat. Give playwrights one night to create a 10-minute play and actors/directors about six hours to learn their lines and refine stage moves. Then call it Overnight Sensations, and produce it at Mill Mountain Theatre.

That’s what happened last Friday/Saturday, when for the third time live theatre was celebrated at a venue that has been largely dark for the past year plus due to funding issues. Hollins University creative writing program director Todd Ristau (who originated Overnight Sensations) called it more “friend raising” then fundraising for Mill Mountain, a chance to show live theatre patrons that supporting the art form in Roanoke has its benefits.

On Friday night playwrights were matched with directors after drawing names from a hat, as were play themes, genres (comedy, drama, farce, melodrama, soap opera, crime/noir) and other conditions. Then teams of actors were assigned and before the playwrights headed off to Hollins to write until midnight they met the acting troupe for the first time, “so they can get a good look at you,” as Ristau put it.

Brandon DuMonde, a student in Ristau’s summer Masters of Fine Arts program for creative writing, is actually a teacher from Maryland.

She worked on her play, set at a pawnshop, until 7:30am Saturday – the last few hours on a laptop at the campground where she is staying for six weeks. DuMonde eschewed Hollins dormitories or an apartment for the great outdoors she loves.

Beginning at noon on Saturday, DuMonde, director Kate Bredeson (a Portland, OR-based professor teaching at Hollins this summer) and six actors met at the Mill Mountain atelier (a dorm for visiting actors/directors) to learn their lines and rehearse “Pawn Quixote,” which combined elements of tragedy, drama and even some light comedy to tell the story of a business on its last legs.

“Fast, fierce, totally great,” said Bredeson in an e-mail to cast members afterwards. “Thanks for your great work and for going on such a delightful whirlwind journey with me.”

Other mini-plays presented Saturday night to an almost-packed house at Mill Mountain had titles like “Dick Piston, Hotel Detective in Prosthesis: Murder; The Old and Restful: A Soap Opera; and Little Debbie & Coke. Ristau told playwrights on Friday that there wasn’t to be any “nudity [or] gratuitous profanity. Don’t push the boundaries.”

DuMonde, a second year MFA student at Hollins, had never done “a 24-hour kind of play thing before.” It took DuMonde about an hour and a half before she turned on her computer to begin

Director Kate Bredeson (lower right) at a rehearsal with the cast and director of “Pawn Quixote.” writing. “[At first] I thought no way, especially when we got the list of all of the props we had to [use].” Those props included a fake severed leg.

“Somehow in the wee hours of the morning I found a way.”

DuMonde took several naps on Saturday to catch up on the sleep she missed Friday night. As for Overnight Sensations: “I thought it was very exciting. It was great to see the community get excited about it.”

Before the six plays were presented on Saturday, Mill Mountain Theatre’s lone paid employee, Ginger Poole, came on stage to talk about the acting classes and other events going on there, even as the board of directors looks for funding and a vision for the future.

Actor Sarah Elizabeth Timmons, a Smith Mountain Lake resident, is more focused these days on the film “Lake Effects” that she is in the process of producing, but she found time to be the gum-chewing, very sassy character "Sally" in Pawn Quixote. Veteran Roanoke actor Ross Laguzza was her wise-guy boyfriend Rusty.

“It was an amazing experience for me, an opportunity to get back to what I love to do,” said Timmons at the cast party afterwards, “my first love [acting] without making a major time commitment.” Timmons heads to Los Angeles next month to do principal casting for her movie; she hopes to shoot some scenes in Roanoke.

Ristau came on stage at the end of the exhausting and exhilarating 24 hour period, urging people to support live theater at venues like Studio Roanoke, Hollins, Mill Mountain, etc. He also asked for financial support when possible. “Adrenaline always helps,” said Timmons of the process and fast pace behind Overnight Sensations.

(Note: Roanoke Star-Sentinel news editor Gene Marrano portrayed “Papa” in Pawn Quixote, his first acting gig since about the 8th grade.)

By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

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Page 12 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 7/23/10 - 7/29/10

NewsRoanoke.com

All New 2011 V8-Powered Porsche Cayennes Arrive in Roanoke Porsche of Roanoke has announced that the highly anticipated, all-new 2011 Porsche Cayenne is arriving and will go on sale officially this month. The 2011=- Cayenne is all-new from the inside out and offers more power and room combined with even more fuel efficiency.

The Cayenne SUV model line, which was originally launched in the U.S. in 2003, has enjoyed phenomenal popular success, becoming the German sports car maker’s number-one selling vehicle. Since its initial debut, Porsche has sold more than 280,000 Cayennes worldwide, with more than 88,000 being delivered in the United States through May 2010.

The 2011 Cayenne is truly a completely redesigned model sporting a new exterior design that appears sleeker and smaller when in fact the car is larger than the previous model. Most importantly, the new Cayenne is instantly recognizable as a Porsche.

Inside the Cayenne, the new spacious interior raises the luxury bar and puts it on par with the award-winning interior found in the highly-acclaimed Panamera Gran Turismo. For example in the back there is considerably more interior space for the rear passengers thanks to a longer wheelbase; the seats themselves even adjust fore and aft with seat-back incline positions “The new Cayenne is truly remarkable. Not only is it bigger and faster it also more fuel efficient, primarily due to the car’s significant

weight savings of some 400 pounds,” said Tim May. “The fact that Porsche was able to accomplish this feat is a testament to Porsche’s engineering excellence.”

Other significant upgrades include: A new active all-wheel drive system that can be paired with Porsche’s new Porsche Torque

Vectoring (PTV) Plus option to provide agile on-road driving dynamics, yet it’s still extremely capable when the pavement ends; New high-end audio systems from Bose® and Burmester® and new safety systems like the Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS), Lane Change Assistant (LCA), and Adaptive Cruise

Control.

The North American Cayenne model range will ultimately include four models: the 2011 Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne S Hybrid and Cayenne Turbo. The S and Turbo models are available beginning now, with the Cayenne and Cayenne S Hybrid in dealer showrooms later this fall. The Cayenne model lineup MSRPs (excluding destination charges) are as follows: Cayenne, $46,700; Cayenne S, $63,700; Cayenne S Hybrid, $67,700; and Cayenne Turbo, $104,800.

Engines include a 3.6-liter, 300-horsepower V6 with Direct Fuel Injection, a 4.8 liter 400horsepower with Direct Fuel Injection, and a 500-horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 in the Cayenne Turbo. Significantly, for the first time ever, the Cayenne will also offer a hybrid. As you would expect from a Porsche, with the Cayenne’s combined power output of 380 horsepower from a supercharged V6 combustion engine and an electric motor, Porsche’s first production hybrid combines the sporty performance of a V8 with the economy of a V6.

The official Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbo EPA fuel economy figures are 16 mpg city/22 highway and 15 city/22 highway, respectively.

Cayenne and Cayenne S Hybrid fuel economy ratings will be announced shortly before they come to market in the fall. None are subject to a gas-guzzler tax.

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