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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel December 23 - 29, 2011
NewsRoanoke.com
Merry Christmas!
[Holiday Cheer]
Rasoul Sought Advice in Decision to Run for Mayor
A Very Merry Library
“No one sought me out to run,” said Sam Rasoul. Those he spoke to “outline the pros and cons” of his decision to run for Mayor, he said. Some were worried about it upsetting the Democratic council’s status quo. “I really had Local Politics to think long and hard about that … This is not an anti-David Bowers campaign.” Mayor David Bowers’ reaction to Rasoul’s announcement last week was one of acceptance. He said, “I get challenges every day and this is just another interesting challenge I’ve got to deal with.” It is up to the public on who they want as Mayor and “I’ve always found Roanokers to take that very genuinely.” Some have questioned Rasoul’s recent move from Botetourt County to Roanoke City. Rasoul confirmed his move from a Botetourt County rental to a Glade Creek apartment in the city’s Wildwood community. He lives there with his wife Layaly and two young daughters, Jennah and Amirah. He has lived in the Roanoke Valley since age three when he attended Greenvale School, a non-profit childcare center in Northwest Roanoke. After graduating from Roanoke College
Mary Jo Shannon
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Christmas Past
P4– Mary Jo Shannon takes us back to a less distracted time when simple things meant so much more.
L
enny Marcus (right, on piano) and his band have plenty to be merry about and it’s not just the usual standing room only crowd that attended his annual holiday concert at Roanoke’s Main Library on Tuesday night. A Roanoke Physician by trade, Marcus has kept his considerable jazz skills alive by continuing to play regionally and releasing 18 CD’s to date. His latest release “The Jazz of Beethoven” is receiving strong reviews nationally and even stirring up a buzz in the New York City jazz scene. The accolades are well earned as Marcus has received recognition in two international song writing competitions and had his music featured on NPR’s “All that Jazz” and CNN’s “Heros” series. If you watch the Weather Channel you’ve also likely heard some of his work as you’ve taken in the forecast. If you’re looking for that perfect last minute gift or just some great tunes for the New Year you can pick up a copy of his new CD locally at Barnes and Noble or online at Amazon, CD Baby or iTunes.
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> CONTINUED P2: Rasoul
Smoking Hot Pats Buying New Electronics This Season? Don’t Trash the Old Ones! P7– The Patrick Henry boys basketball team continues to dominate as it heads into the K-Guard Holiday Classic undefeated.
Electronics are once again dominating holiday shopping lists this season. In fact, analysts with the Consumer Electronics Association predict shoppers will spend six percent more on electronics this year compared to last – or about $250 per consumer. And for every new laptop, tablet, phone, TV, gaming system and scores of other gadgets, an outdated device likely will be replaced. For those old electronics, the question is, “Now what?” First off, do not throw replaced electronics in the trash. Electronic devices are comprised of a range of toxic components that can be harmful to human
health and the environment if discarded funds for a local organization. With the in the same waste stream as the rest of current economic climate most nonyour household garbage. Trashed elec- profits, schools and other organizations tronics, or “e-waste,” contain heavy met- are experiencing harder times. Not only als such as lead, mercury and cadmium, will recycling benefit an organization which can leach out of landfills and into in need, but the environment as well groundwater or nearby waterways. The by diverting the e-waste from the landfill. Contact your favorite good news is that there are nonprofit or other charitable several alternatives for disRecycling posing of your e-waste, inorganization to find an event cluding reuse and recycling. near you. One ideal method that is in keeping Another option is to look into elecwith the holiday spirit is to find a local tronics take-back programs. Many eleccommunity electronics recycling fund- tronics retailers, like Best Buy or Staples, raiser to properly dispose of your out- will accept your e-waste for free or a dated electronics while helping to raise small handling fee, regardless of brand
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P8– The Roanoke Valley housing market is heading in the right direction for sellers with sales / prices going up and inventory going down.
A newly renovated labor and delivery room at LewisGale Maternity Center.
State-Of-The-Art Technology And Quality Care Make Birthing Easier
P9– Legendary Jazz musician Don Pullen is finally honored in his hometown as The Jeff Center and the Harrison Museum team up for an exhibit and concert.
> CONTINUED P2: Electronics
Community Garden Program Expands
Upward Trend
Honoring Pullen
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or condition. Several manufacturers, too, will take back retired products, although these take-back programs vary in terms of fees and conditions. A quick internet search of your local electronics retailer or manufacturers’ recycling policy will provide instructions for their take-back process. Many cities’ waste management divisions also have electronics recycling programs, though opportunities differ in size and scope. Some municipalities have designated e-waste collection sites,
Having a baby has gotten just a little easier for women in the Roanoke region thanks to a $2.5 million renovation to the Maternity Care Center at LewisGale. The 521-bed hospital in Salem, now boasts a state-of-the-art maternity care unit on the hospital’s second floor. The unit includes nine Labor-Delivery-Recovery-Postpartum suites that are 50 percent larger than they previously were, as well as eight postpartum suites and a physician sleeping suite. “We’ve put mom, baby and the whole family into the design of this unit. We’re not just focused on the patient. We’re focused on the whole family,” said Karen Henson, director of the Maternity Care Center. “This is family-centered care.” The rooms, which overlook Electric and Keagy roads in Salem, look more like a master bedroom than a hospital room. From the cherry colored hardwood floors and 37” flat screen televisions to the high-tech fetal monitoring systems, many postpartum > CONTINUED P2: Birthing
With the help of a five thousand dollar grant from Freedom First Credit Union, the Roanoke Community Garden Association plans to open its third plot to the public next spring. The 30 x 170 patch of land on 4th Avenue SE is being leased by local landlord Frank Roupas for one dollar per year. The RCGA had previously opened plots on 14th Street SE and in the northwest Roanoke City neighborhood of Hurt Park. Local residents apply for space in the community garden plots, which are (L-R) Joy Sylvester Johnson, Rod designed for those who do not have an Nunez Thomas Chapman, Mark Powopportunity to garden where they live – ell and Frank Roupas. they may reside in an apartment, have is a way of life. More than 1000 pounds rocky soil unsuitable for planning, etc. of fruits and vegetables grown at the Community Garden Association Di- larger 14th Street community garden rector Mark Powell, who got were given to several local started when he and wife Sylfood pantries last year. Beautification vja were just thinking about “It’s a great communitydoing their own gardening, building park,” said Powell, said the new plot in Southeast will also who has been involved with the Occupy be available to residents of the adjacent Roanoke movement and dabbled in Roanoke Rescue Mission who are in re- campaign management (Martin Jeffrey) covery programs. in the past. Some apply for and use gardens “for Some federal funding via HUD, the pleasure of joining others,” said grants and private donations have Powell, but most have no access to till- helped fund the RCGA, which must run able soil. A number are refugees and water supplies to > CONTINUED immigrants from other countries where the garden plots, P2: Garden growing your own food for sustenance
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