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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
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Community | News | Per spective
June 18 - 24, 2010
NewsRoanoke.com
Valley Graduates Move On Olympic Riders
Sad faces tell the story: Virginia Moser, Shea Hewitt (10) with mother Shuna Hewitt.
P3– The 39th Annual Roanoke Valley Horse Show returns to the Salem Civic Center with Gold Medal Caliber riders.
Hayden Hollingsworth
State Champs P9– The Hidden Valley Girls Tennis Team hangs tough in the semi-finals and goes on to knock off EC Glass for the AA State Championship.
Super Trio P13– Roanoke College’s ensemble in residence, The Kandinsky Trio, receives a $15,000 National Endowment for the Arts Grant.
School board members Jason Bingham and Todd Putney were absent from last Thursday night’s public input meeting on closing Huff Lane Intermediate School. Chairman David Carson, Lori Vaught, Suzanne Moore, Mae Huff and outgoing member Courtney Penn voted to close it. The public meeting was held in the James Breckinridge Middle school cafeteria. Council member Anita Price, a counselor at Round Hill (Montessori) School was visibly upset by the proceedings. Council Notes She said that Huff Lane teachers and personnel “must immediately start moving their material to Round Hill on unpaid time.” Price wondered where they were going to put their material. There is no room at Round Hill. Just as parents, students and teachers were getting used to the idea of Round Hill being the school to close, the tables turned to Huff Lane. Curt Baker, Dep-
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Thanks Dad P4–5 Hayden Hollingsworth looks into the joys and challenges of fatherhood in our special Father’s Day Section.
Emotions Run High With Vote to Close Huff Lane School
Photos by Jessica Dodds and Cheryl Hodges
T
ears, cheers and fears were aplenty last weekend as Roanoke Valley High Schools graduated over 2000 students and sent them onward into the world. Guest speakers plumbed the depths of past memories and gave inspirational messages for the future but the real emotions of pride, accomplishment and joy were most evident on the faces of students, parents, teachers and best friends who were all tracking new paths into life as the parking lots cleared.
The new graduates face a tough economy and all the uncertainties that go with it, but as Dr. Seuss so aptly put it: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go . . .” For more graduation pictures from Roanoke Valley High Schools, see Page 8. > COLLAGE CONTINUED ON: P8
“Blitz” Makeover Planned for Rescue Mission’s Thrift Shop These tough economic times mean belt-tightening for almost everyone, and for nonprofits like the Roanoke Rescue Mission, scrutinizing the budget is an ever-increasing challenge in the effort to maintain day to day operations. The Rescue Mission’s Thrift Shop, located directly across from the Mission itself, is due to undergo a much-needed upgrade which will take place this September in what is being planned as a “Blitz” overhaul. The Shop is in dire need Photo by Mike Hodges of repairs and updates, including new paint, new checkout The Rescue Mission Thrift Store with the donated coke truck. counters, and perhaps most of signed on to help; the Coke foot Thrift Shop that is durable, all, new flooring. In a plan reminiscent of a truck parked out front will long-lasting, easy to clean, at“While You Were Out” motif, hold all the merchandise being tractive, and most importantly, the entire process is slated to stocked for the Grand Open- affordable. The committee in take only three days … which ing. Employees from those charge of the project came up companies will with a product most Roanokhappens to include work shifts to help ers probably have not heard of, the nights as well. Non Profits with the makeover, but many are quickly coming to The huge effort as well as several appreciate. The floor is from a is being carefully planned and includes volun- church congregations, which company called “Sierra Stone” teers working round the clock. will help keep costs to a mini- located in Canada, and is quite literally tiny natural stone pebAccording to Joy Sylvester- mum. One of the biggest chalJohnson, Rescue Mission CEO, > CONTINUED two partnering companies, lenges was coming up with a P2: Blitz Coca Cola and Kroger have new floor for the 10,000 square
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> CONTINUED P2: Huff Lane
Bent Mt. Elementary Rings Final Bell It was a bittersweet day for some Roanoke County students, teachers and administrators last Thursday, as Bent Mountain Elementary School closed its doors and “graduated” its last 5th grade class. Less than 60 students were enrolled as the school year came to an end; next fall those not ready for middle Photo courtesy of Roanoke County school will go to Back Creek Elementary down the moun- Students and teachers gather tain. Dwindling enrollment on Bent Mountain’s last day. and the drive to lower school Outside, a playground renbudget costs led to the closure, ovated just a few years ago, which was originally planned and a community-maintained for 2009, but was delayed a butterfly garden are also on year by the School Board. Joan Carver, vice president school property. Carver is of the Bent Mountain Wom- hoping that Roanoke County en’s Club, is hopeful that the Parks & Recreation will overschool may be used as a com- see those assets, allowing them munity center in the future, to remain open to the public. but she’s not sure what will She’s fearful that any private happen to the school-owned company that might lease the property. The Bent Moun- building would bar the public tain Public Library, which from using the school’s ameniwill remain open, is located ties, including the playground, within the school building. tennis and basketball courts, The structure was originally picnic shelter, and walking constructed in the 1930s, trail behind the school. > CONTINUED with major renovations taking place around 1990. P2: Final Bell