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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel Community | News | Per spective

5/23/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

Forest Park parents file federal complaints

PH marching To State P8– Both of Patrick Henry’s varsity lacrosse teams defeated E.C. Glass in Lynchburg to move on to the North Regional playoff where the women won their matchup 10-9 on Wed.

Cross Country P7– Devon Rood isn’t an expert biker, but she plans on spending a good deal of time on two wheels, crossing the country to raise awareness for affordable housing.

LeVita Washington said the Northwest community of Roanoke is going to continue to fight against the closing of Forest Park Elementary, despite the school board’s May 1 decision to move 265 students to Highland Park Elementary, Hurt Park Elementary and the Academy for Mathematics and Science. “Everybody’s trying to say it’s a done deal, but we’re going to prove that it’s not,” Washington said on the steps of city hall Monday. “I want the community to know, and the parents to know, that I am going to continuously fight to keep the school open and keep the heart of our

Brownlee to run for Attorney General Former United States Attorney John Brownlee announced his candidacy for Attorney General of Virginia at a press conference in front of the Roanoke County Administration building on Tuesday, May 20. “I am running for Attorney General John Brownlee because I believe that every citizen deserves to live in a safe, secure and prosperous community,” Brownlee said. “I will build better, safer neighborhoods for everyone in our state.” Brownlee has 20 years of experience in public service. A graduate of Washington and Lee in 1987, Brownlee has served in the U.S. Army, where he completed the Airborne, Ranger and Air Assault training programs. In 2001, President Bush appointed Brownlee as Unites States Attorney, where he developed a repu> CONTINUED P3: Brownlee

Park Here P2– The Campbell Garage was ofﬁcially opened this week with a ribbon cutting. The new garage offers 353 parking spots to a downtown in need of them.

Mud to Mobility P2– The Virginia Museum of Transportation unveils a new collection entitled “From Mud to Mobility: 100 years of the Virginia Department of Transportation.

community flowing.” “It is a legitimate concern and one that She said the decision to close the school I would hope would not become a probwould negatively affect parents’ ability to lem,” he said. He said he hopes the school be a part of their children’s education be- system will find a way to keep those parcause of the distances involved. ents involved and increase participation. “The majority of the parWashington said several ents whose children attend complaints were sent to the City Schools that school do not have propU.S. Department of Educaer transportation,” Washingtion about alleged violations ton said. of Title VI Civil Rights Act. “That’s absolutely a fair critique,” said “We believe that closing the Forest Park David Carson, the current chair of Roa- school is the first of many steps aimed at noke City School Board. Carson was ap- redrawing the attendance lines and ultipointed to a second term by city council mately resegregating this city,” said MarMonday. tin Jeffrey, chairman of Faith Works, who

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[Dog Day]

Roanoke dog park getting closer

> CONTINUED P3: Forest Park

License collection at 97 percent

Sherman Holland, Roanoke’s Commissioner of the Revenue, admits his office isn’t the most popular in city hall. Having to pay business licenses or taxes is an age-old gripe. “Nobody likes taxes,” Holland City Hall said, “but you have to pay taxes in order to get some of the services you just have to have. I don’t like paying it, just like everybody else, but I know I’m obligated to.” He said that despite the public’s distaste for paying fees and taxes, which his office assesses, he’s seeing better than a 97 percent renewal rate on business licenses. Holland claims that number disputes a WDBJ7 report that claimed hundreds of businesses were getting by without paying the fees and the city was missing as much as $500,000 of revenue because of the problem. The report focused on an Inactive Status Report which listed 514 businesses who had no activity in 2007. “That list are people that had a license in 2006 that never renewed for 2007,” said Greg Emerson, the department’s chief deputy. “Every business in the city is inactive Janu-

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ice Mayor Dave Trinkle’s dog Cassie gets the full attention of Roanoke Dog Park volunteers’ as her wash begins on the lawn of the South Roanoke Firehouse. Cassie was one of several dogs washed in a fundraiser last Saturday for “Buddy Wash and Walk” sponsored by the Roanoke Dog Park Steering Committee. The event raised over $1,100 for the park. The group is a sub committee of NewVaConnects that has raised over $10,000 towards the goal of $30,000 needed for the park. If you would like to help go to roanokedogpark.com Right, Councilman Trinkle and daughter Owen, make a donation prior to having Cassie washed.

Block party a neighborhood tradition An overcast sky and certainty of showers did not keep the people in the greater Raleigh Court area from attending the second annual Grandin block party on Sunday, May 18. Children played in a blow-up Sponge Bob House and enjoyed “street” miniature golf, a moon bounce, sidewalk chalk, temporary tattoos, tie-dying, a Viking long house, and the antics of a juggler. Nearly every business in Grandin Village and the surrounding area donated food, drink, volunteers, time, and fun; all of which were free to the neighborhood that day. New this year was, “A Taste of the Village,” where attendees could purchase samples from many of the fine Grandin Village restaurants. The event, co-sponsored by the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League and the Grandin Village Business Association, was held for years at the Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church on Grandin Road, but last May a decision to block off the roads through Grandin Village was made in order to commemorate the Civic League’s anniversary. According to volunteer Mary Kay Brown, special education teacher at Patrick Henry High School, it was so well-received they decided

is working with parents from the school to stop the school closure. “We’re not going to roll over, and we’re not going to stand by while they re-segregate this city,” Jeffrey said. He said the school administration and school board have deliberately misled council on why the school is going to be closed. He said the only SOL score the school was failing was reading, but said the school system had not done enough to empower the students.

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> CONTINUED P3: Licenses

PH students debate future of Mill Mt

Patrick Henry students representing the Mill Mountain Team gather during a one minute recess to forge a response to their Valley Forward counterparts. Photo by Deborah Wood

Patrick Henry High School students squared off Wednesday afterThe Grandin block party drew lots of people despite the rainy noon in a debate about the future of Mill Mountain Park and the resforecast. taurant development proposed by Valley Forward. Supporters from Foods’ director of marketing and both sides of the issue were present, including Mill Mountain Conto do it again this year. “I was amazed at the numbers of communications, it was the kind servancy spokesperson Gail Burress and Valley Forward Chairman people at this year’s party,” Brown of day that really bonds people, John Lugar. The Mill Mountain Team consisted of Margaret Anderson, Sonosaid, “it was a rain or shine event, one that’s good for both residents and the rain did not seem to hinder and merchants, making them feel ra Braun, Benjamin Mullet and Benjamin Ries. The Valley Forward attendance at all.” She and others that they belong to something spe- Team was represented by Grace Aheron, Katie Bryant, Taylor Dayton and Clair Hitchins. handed out slices of cake donated cial. Both sides argued their positions well - citing many of the now well Organizers are already looking by the Raleigh Court Health Care Center and Patrick Henry culi- at plans for next year’s party, as known positive and negative assertions debated before City Council nary students, as well as hotdogs this, according to Brown, is defi- and in the editorial pages over the last several months. As RSS press and lemonade. Veggie hotdogs nitely the start of a great neighbor- time grew nigh, the debate was still in progress and no victor had been declared. Our best guess is that it will depend entirely on which and organic buns, as well as juice hood tradition. side of the row you were / are sitting on. and bottled water, were donated By Deborah Wood The event was organized and moderated by Hank Bostwick a local by Roanoke Natural Foods. Acinfo@theroanokestar.com blogger and English teacher at Patrick Henry. cording to Karen Adams, Natural

Page 2 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/23/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

Transportation Museum rolls out “From Mud to Mobility”

The gallery has actually been open for a year but the first exhibit in the Virginia Museum of Transportation’s automotive hall was reason enough to celebrate with a reception several weeks ago. Sponsored in part by VDOT, “From Mud to Mobility: 100 Years of the Virginia Department of Transportation” includes nostalgic billboards, informational displays and vintage license plates that begin in 1917. There is also a collection of automobiles dating back to 1904, laid out chronologically as if on a highway. One of those cars is a Studebaker that was driven to work every day by the late Judge Bev-

erly T. Fitzpatrick. “He called it Precious,” said his son Bev Fitzpatrick, who also happens to be executive director of the downtown Transportation Museum. His grandfather was a Studebaker dealer. “We grew up in the car business,” recalls Fitzpatrick. A ’57 Desoto, a Corvair and a Packard limousine are other highlights of the collection on display. The VMT has been hampered in recent years by two things: a lack of funds and a lack of visitors. Once a major tourist attraction in Roanoke when it was located at Wasena Park – that was before the Flood of 1985 – attendance has dipped from over

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100,000 at one point, according to Fitzpatrick, to 15,000 last year. Attendees did come from 28 countries and 43 states in 2007, and that’s the rub said Fitzpatrick, a City Council member who will leave that panel in July. It’s hard to get Roanokers to visit, but the extensive railroad car and locomotive collection at the museum is known worldwide. There is currently no state funding for the facility and City Council support has dwindled in recent years as the budget got tighter. That means no education director, thus no large groups of school children coming through to boost the attendance numbers, much like Center in the Square does. Fitzpatrick, closing in on two years as executive director, can point to storerooms full of items awaiting repair and 10,000 additional feet that could be used as a gallery, but the money shortage is a barrier. Despite its title the Virginia Museum of Transportation is not a state-operated facility. That notion was considered in the early ‘90’s and Fitzpatrick said the previous administration that turned it down, fearing too much control by the Commonwealth, probably made a mistake. Fitzpatrick, whose brother Eric is a well known local artist (another, Broaddus, is an attorney-turned-environmentalist) said state control would have meant steady funding and most likely a hands off approach since the board appointed in that case by the Governor’s office would probably have known little about running a museum. State funding may have meant repairs also: the building that houses the VMT, an old Norfolk & Western freight hub, could use some work, including the shuttered aviation

Photo by Gene Marrano

Museum Director Bev Fitzpatrick stands with his father’s Studebaker. His grandfather was a Studebaker dealer in Roanoke. gallery, where high winds damaged the roof last year. Fitzpatrick suspects it will be six months or so before that area reopens. Norfolk Southern, which has supplied many of the locomotives and cars found in the outdoor area, is a big supporter of the museum and Fitzpatrick has been told by NS management they consider it one of the top five in the country in terms of railroad memorabilia and stock. A state-run train museum in California attracts 650,000 visitors a year notes Fitzpatrick. Despite its deserved reputation as being focused on the railroad legacy in Roanoke (photographs and oral histories from N&W African American workers reinforce that notion) the Virginia

Museum of Transportation is about more than that said Fitzpatrick. He would however like to create a “critical mass of railroad organizations” in the valley that would use the museum as a hub, groups like the Norfolk & Western Historical Society. Moving beyond that railroadonly perception is where From Mud to Mobility comes in. “We decided we needed to broaden the base. We’re not only a train museum.” The opportunity to work with VDOT was one way to demonstrate that. The agency also donated 25 vintage dioramas (circa the 1950’s) with moving parts, vignettes that depict some facet of transportation and were often taken by VDOT employees, to be displayed at pub-

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lic meetings. Many use pulleys, small motors and rubber belts to create movement. As time and money allows the dioramas will be repaired and displayed. “It’s a very broad based exhibit,” said Fitzpatrick. He harbors great hope for the VMT: “we feel real positive about the future. We think because people know us worldwide we’ll continue to be sought after. We can put Roanoke on the map. Roanoke just has to invest in us in order for that to happen.” (see VMT.org for more on the museum and the exhibit From Mud to Mobility)

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Councilwoman Gwen Mason, Mayor Nelson Harris, City Manager Darlene Burcham, Vice Mayor Dave Trinkle and Councilman Alvin Nash cut the ribbon opening the recently completed Campbell Garage. The facility is 118,289 square feet with five levels of parking for a total of 353 spaces. The city said most of the material used for the project was manufactured within 500 miles of Roanoke. Parking is free on weekends, but will set you back $1 per hour on weekdays.

Correction

Two photos in our May 9 edition ran with incorrect attributions. The first was a photo on page one of Anita Price and Court Rosen which was taken by Gene Marrano. The second was a photo on page six taken by Nathan Parris of the Patrick Henry Young Democrats. The photo on page one of Gallop 4 the Greenways in our May 16 edition was incorrectly attributed to Bill Turner. David Abraham took the photograph. We strive for accuracy in all that we do and publish corrections when errors come to light.

listed as endangered

The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) has recently released what they consider the most endangered historic sites in Virginia. In a press release issued last week, the APVA said that releasing a list of endangered sites annually would “raise awareness of the threatened historic, archaeological and cultural resources throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.” The APVA is hopeful then that communities will then pool together resources and develop support in efforts to save Virginia’s landmarks. Roanoke’s own Mill Mountain is considered to be among the endangered historic sites the APVA lists in its program. Mill Mountain is one of the only mountains within city limits in the entire nation. The endangered site includes the 639-acre Mill Mountain Park on the mountain. George Kegley, of the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, said that for a site to be considered endangered its, “natural setting must be threatened.” Mill Mountain’s threat is the proposal of Valley Forward’s Rockledge Center, which consists of a restaurant, coffee shop and meeting rooms. Kegley said, “We’re not opposing Valley Forward, we commend their enterprise, we just wish there was another site.” Among other endangered sites were Arcola School in Loudoun County, The Lee Shopping Center in Arlington County, Jolly Pond Dam in James City County, Elliston in Montgomery County due to the proposed construction of an intermodal facility, Southside Virginia, including Surry, Southampton, Sussex, and Prince George counties, for the Navy’s Proposed Outlying Landing Field and archaeological resources in developing areas. A PDF file of the program issued by the APVA can be found at www. apva.org By Stephen Nelson Stephen@theroanokestar.com

5/23/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 3

TheRoanokeStar.com

sCoUtinG

Johnson earns Eagle badge Lelyn Johnson a senior at Northside High School had his Eagle Court of Honor on May 10, 2008. His Eagle project was a small amphitheater, large enough for twenty people, which he built for the Roanoke Therapeutic Riding Society. Lelyn is a member of Boy Scout Troop 410, chartered to the Peters Creek Church of the Brethren. The Eagle Ceremony was held at Williams Memorial Baptist Church, where he is a member. Lelyn is the son of Lesley and Lynn Johnson, grandson of Rev. Paul and Roberta Johnson of Roanoke and Sherman and Audrey Lee of New River. Lelyn is also a Brotherhood member in the Order of the Arrow - a national honor society. Lelyn has also achieved many academic achievements he is currently a member of the Northside High School chapter of the National Honor Society. He was also honored by the Woodmen of the World as 2007 “Outstanding American History Student of the Roanoke Valley.” Lelyn is also known by his friends as, “the kid who never misses school” due to his perfect attendance since kindergarten. Lelyn will be attending Radford University in the fall where he will enter the Honors Academy. While in Radford he plans to major in History and earn a master’s degree in education so he may one day share what he has learned with future generations

City tenants, landlords learn about their rights and responsibilities

Landlords in the City of Roanoke, where the ratio of renters vs. homeowners is higher than in neighboring localities, have been known to be at odds with tenants from time to time. Often the landlord is at fault for not maintaining a property; in other circumstances the tenant may be at fault for not paying rent, not maintaining a dwelling or damaging it, etc. It’s important for both parties to know their rights and there are state laws that spell out many of the duties for all concerned. A loosely associated group called the Roanoke Regional Housing Network met last week with Legal Aid Attorney David Beidler to discuss landlord tenant rights, which constitutes a large part of his workload. The Council of Community Services helped stage the forum. Representatives of local public housing and federally-assisted apartment complexes attended the session at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, although Beidler was clearly disappointed that some of the private landlords who had been invited did not. Many property owners in Roanoke mean well and take care of their tenants said Beidler, who noted however that others “quite frankly are slum lords.” He also said realtors that rent properties on behalf of a landlord should have also showed up. Members of the Joint Residence Council, representing various public housing complexes, were among those who did attend. Beidler, who has been practicing with Legal Aid for more than 20 years, went over facets of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act, which will be tweaked on July 1. He also teaches landlord-tenant law to other attorneys. Changes coming include the necessity to disclose, “known mold,” in a rental unit,

> Licenses From page 1

ary 1.” Emerson said there are typically 7,500 inactive businesses every time the calendar rolls over. A business is considered inactive if the commissioner of the revenue’s office has assessed the fees but no payment is received by the treasurer. Holland said that of those 514 businesses only 202 were able to be assessed in 2007. The remainder were: 121 out of town contractors, 62 closed businesses, 59 temporary vendors, four personal service businesses that were not in the city, two seasonal retail businesses and one towing company. Holland said that of the 202 businesses still inactive, the majority of those only pay the minimum license fee of $50 because they are in-home businesses. That would amount to around $10,000 in missing revenue and not the $50,000 to $500,000 claimed by

the WDBJ7 report. Holland said that amounted to a better than 97 percent renewal rate. “That’s outstanding,” Holland said. “We’ve checked with other localities and they laugh when we say 200 [inactives]. One locality said they have 700.” As for the the claim of limited follow up, Holland said the office has averaged two telephone calls and renewal notices per business and sent out summons letters to all 202 businesses. He said the office has also done 59 field inspections. “The collection rate on everything that they have done, by December 31, 2007, was 99.2 percent,” said Evelyn Powers Roanoke’s treasure. She said that percentage was based on active accounts. She said as of May 16, the 2008 collections were already at 98 percent, and that comapares high-

er to other taxes such as personal property and real estate which hovers around 97 percent. “You won’t find a treasurer in the state of Virginia that collects at 100 percent,” Powers said. Holland said that though the list of business and the revenue lost was blown out of proportion, mistakes are still made. “We make mistakes sometimes,” Holland said, “but if there’s a mistake made we work just as hard to correct it, whether it’s a positive or a negative. We’ll work just as hard to give you a refund- just as well to bill you. If you’re entitled to a refund we’ll make sure you get that refund.” “A lot of people don’t have a healthy respect for what Sherman and I do,” Powers said. “It’s a difficult job.”

according to Beidler. Landlords cannot stipulate that tenants cannot sue them noted Beidler, who also called leases a binding contract. There are exemptions to the state’s residential Landlord Tenant Act; in Roanoke City, if a landlord owns less than five units the stipulations do not apply, although Beidler said the better property owners would use the act as a guideline. “It gives tenants rights they would otherwise not have – it gives landlord rights too.” Tenants with concerns can always call Roanoke City’s Building Inspection Office and ask them to visit. “They try to work with the landlords,” said Beidler of the government office. One warning for tenants, even for those with legitimate concerns about a dwelling’s livability or safety: keep paying the rent while asking for improvements. In some cases the rent can be paid to the courts and placed in escrow while disputes are resolved. “It’s a big mistake [to not pay],” warned Beidler. “The tenant has to not be in default… in order to seek the help of the court.” There is a also a “21/30” clause that tenants can legally invoke, giving a landlord 21 days to fix serious problems, otherwise the lease is broken in 30. Landlords who try to evict tenants are faced with the burden of proof said Beidler: “[they] had better prove whatever breach there is,” he warned. A landlord cannot shut off utilities without first going to court, added Beidler, and property owners or managers cannot show up in someone’s home without reasonable advance warning. In too many cases Beidler has seen Roanoke City tenants shown the door, even forced out via eviction, with their possessions placed curbside. It is often fair

game there for others. “All of the tenants I see are poor. It’s always a struggle financially for our clients,” said Beidler. Making sure tenants know their rights and responsibilities as spelled out by the Commonwealth of Virginia may at least keep them under roof. Knowing your rights “is a matter of empowerment,” said Beidler. By Gene Marrano gmarrano@cox.net

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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel

Ratatouille

By Lawson Koeppel lkoeppel@theroanokestar.com

> Brownlee From page 1

tation as a prosecutor tough on crime. At the press conference, Brownlee spoke about his vision for Virginia law enforcement, which he called “Justice for All.” Brownlee spoke at length about his plan to protect all Virginia residents, including unborn children. “This plan begins at the beginning,” Brownlee said. “I am a pro-life candidate, and I believe that life begins at conception.” Brownlee also pledged to im-

prove school safety, citing the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. “We need to do a better job of improving school safety in all of our schools,” said Brownlee. In addition, Brownlee promised to concentrate on the issue of drugs within the middle and high schools of Virginia. “We must re-double our efforts against drug abuse and drug dealers,” said Brownlee. Lastly, Brownlee pledged to work to make Virginia commu-

nities safe. “I am committed to make Virginia a safer and better place to live,” Brownlee said. John Brownlee, a conservative Republican, attends Grandin Court Baptist Church with his wife, Lee Ann and their daughters Thompson Ann and Catherine Harris. His faith, he said, “is what drives me to public service.” By Matt Reeve Matt@theroanokestar.com

> Forest Park From page 1

“In all of the Southwest city schools there is a part-time or a full-time reading specialist,” Jeffery said. “Forest Park has been deliberately denied that resource. I defy [Rita Bishop] to say that they have done absolutely everything to ensure the success of the school.” Jeffrey said the complaints and the school’s failure had to do with the resources the school system denied Forest Park. He said the parents were also going to ask the U.S. Inspector General’s office to investigate Title I expenditures for disadvantaged children. “Forest Park is in the condition it’s in because of neglect,”

Jeffrey said. He said that if the city doesn’t deal with the underlying problems of unfair resource allocation, the same fight will continue with other Northwest schools. “[Forest Park] would be the sixth elementary school they’ve closed on the African American community in the last 40 years,” Jeffrey said. “Comparatively speaking you’re not going to find that... in predominately white areas of the community.” Carson said the school system is currently too large for the student body it serves and is looking to reallocate resources where they will be most effective. He said it’s an

effort to, “focus our dollars on children and instruction and not on facilities.” “By any stretch, we are too big for our populace,” Carson said of a school system that has lost around 1,000 students over the past decade. “This was and is a difficult decision,” Carson said, “but I am at peace that this is the best decision for everyone.” The school system plans to use Forest Park’s facilities for an over age academy to help students who are older than the rest of the student population. By Lawson Koeppel lkoeppel@theroanokestar.com

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Page 4 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/23/08

PersPeCtive

TheRoanokeStar.com

Gainful employment hard to predict! New career brings a new perspective

ecently, while paging through a magazine in my doctor’s waiting room, I came upon a quote which gave me pause to think. The words came from none other than television diva Oprah Winfrey who stated the following; “You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it.” While I admire Oprah as an astute business-person and a charitable soul, I think that she’s missed her mark here. I, for one, have had many jobs, yet none that I would have performed on a pro bono basis. In fact, one year I was employed by twenty-one different companies. Yes, you heard that right, twenty one jobs in a year. Some of the positions lasted a few months, some a few hours. The following March I spent a week collecting my W-2’s and completing the proper tax forms for my friends at the IRS. Among my chosen fields of endeavor that year were waiter (nine different restaurants of varying cuisine), road repair, bowling alley shoe clerk, bagel maker, bartender, janitor, roofer, theatre usher, day camp counselor, chauffer/bodyguard, product demonstrator and false teeth delivery man. In total I made just over nine thousand dollars that year. The teeth delivery gig was my most prolific venture, supporting me for nearly 4 months. Toiling for a local dental lab, I transported teeth from the dentist to the lab and back to the dentist. Prior to the job I didn’t realize that toothless people actually sent their dentures away to be fixed. Who knew? Every day I would load up my vehicle

with small bags of false I was back on the choppers and drive job and my first stop throughout the area was you know where. making deliveries and When I entered Dr. pick-ups. I was the Newman’s office I “False-Tooth Fairy” of immediately noticed Long Island, minus the that there were no tutu and wand. people in the waitMost of the dentists ing area and no one were kind, inviting at the reception desk. folks, except for one. Where they closed Doctor Newman was and forgot to lock Jon Kauffman my most high maintethe door? Slowly I nance jawbreaker and crept through the the only office I was required to darkened office calling out for visit twice per day. Each time I Dr. Newman. Suddenly, I heard crossed his path Dr. Newman a rustling in the doctor’s work would register some kind of area. Sliding down the hallway snide complaint ranging from I reached the examination room the shoddy workmanship of our only to find Dr. Newman and technicians to my less than pal- Donna in what I can only deatable appearance (at the time I scribe as a “somewhat less than was often mistaken for Shaggy not very compromising posiof Scoobee Doo fame). I hated tion.” Horrified glances were going to that office, although exchanged by all and I literally Newman did employ a rather dropped my teeth (or someone’s attractive receptionist named teeth) and dashed for the door. I Donna who worked on Monday, did not return for my afternoon Wednesdays and Fridays. Dr. visit. Newman’s ultra-shrewish wife When I entered Dr. Newman’s manned the reception desk on office the next day his wife was Tuesdays and Thursdays. sitting at the reception desk. I Several attempts were made could barely look at her. Head to woo Donna with my boy- bowed, I made my delivery and ish charm (I once delivered her hurried to my car. Before I a rose clinched between the could reach my getaway vehicle, bagged and repaired dentures I was stopped by a hand on my of Mrs. Edith Goldblum, a gift shoulder. It was Dr. Newman. which was received coldly by Addressing me by my first name Donna and inspired a complaint (he must have called the lab and call from the good doctor), yet asked them what my name was), like most women at the time, she Newman smiled and apologized appeared to be immune to my for forgetting my Christmas tip. advances. He then dug his shaking hand During the Christmas holiday into his pocket and produced a all of the dentists threw a little crisp new $100.00 bill. tip my way in appreciation for I would be lying if I didn’t my efforts, all but Dr. Newman. say that thoughts of extortion I saw this guy twice a day and he danced through my head. Maystiffs me! be a trip to the Cayman Islands The Monday after Christmas with Donna and free dental work for life? No, I was a job-hopping bum, but not a criminal. I did ask the doctor if he thought that a hundred was enough to pay me off just to see the pale look of terror on his face, but that was the extent of my blackmail plans. I did end up accepting the tip. Maybe Oprah was right, I think I would have worked that day for nothing. Contact John at John.Kaufman@sprint.com 345-7821

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have officially Raising money for medcompleted six ical, dental and other months in my care for needy children new career. This brings is, at this stage of my a bromide to mind: life, preferable to raising that which doesn’t kill money for people who us makes us stronger. already have it. Writing a column Best of all, I am learnfor The Roanoke ing new things – how Times didn’t kill me, a public service anbut the pressure of nouncement or proJoe Kennedy coming up with three motional video is put columns per week together, how special greatly altered my ability to enjoy events like our Tug for Tots belife. come realities and how hard our I never knew when a newswor- staff works. thy tidbit might emerge from the Every day, I stop and give thanks mouth of a soccer mom, conve- for the luxurious freedom that nience store clerk or local politi- newspaper work allowed me. cian. Like the Strategic Air ComAnd every day, I thank God for mand, I was on 24-hour alert. my material possessions, because In my current job of raising now I know that many people awareness and, ultimately, money have many needs more basic and for an important non-profit agen- numerous than I’ve ever had. cy, the pressures are different. The CHIP turns 20 this year. Our anbiggest one might surprise you. niversary celebration will be June At the Child Health Investment 27 at Hotel Roanoke. Our founder, Partnership of Roanoke Valley, Dr. Doug Pierce, will receive our people report to work at 8 in the first Bridge Builder Award. morning. He is the man who saw that At The Roanoke Times, most of needy children lacked regular the daytime newsroom staff rolls healthcare and, with the help of in between 9 and 10 a.m. many others, organized the docNowadays, I have to go to bed tors, dentists and social service by about 10 each night, and that agencies that indisputably have means no more midweek movies strengthened families, prevented at the Grandin Theatre, fewer din- illness, saved money for you and ners at the Rockfish and Surf and me and, most important, saved Turf restaurants, and no Baltimore lives. Oriole telecasts watched until their Contrary to the belief of too completion. many people, most low-income It’s a fair trade. Sleep is good. families are not lazy, not freeload-

ers, not devoid of dreams or pride, not without ambition – though they may be discouraged by their inability to get ahead as others have been able to. The work of CHIP is to see that they acquire the tools they need to move up, be it an education for parents, a treatment regimen for a child with chronic asthma, or a lift to the doctor’s office for a family without a car. These are advantages that many of us grew up with and still take for granted. Not I. Now, when I wander into Too Many Books in Grandin Village and spend $20 as if it were 20 cents, I silently give thanks. When I step into Rockfish Food and Wine and cart off a couple of Chocolate Truﬄe Tortes, the Dessert that Changed My Life, I’m grateful to have the $9 or so they cost me. When I see a child, I think of Doug Pierce, and the service he and so many pediatricians and other professionals have provided to our most innocent and helpless citizens. And I think of everyone who has made it possible with their time, their talent and their treasure. Anybody can see that the Roanoke Valley is a beautiful place to live, but the real beauty lies within us, when we lend a hand to those who need it, and within those who grasp that hand, and rise. Contact Joe at pilarcik2@cox.net

Pork-barrell: Your tax dollars at work

his year, $846,000 in federal funds that could have bought body armor for soldiers in Afghanistan was instead diverted by Congress for a Father’s Day rally committee in Philadelphia. In addition, Congress approved spending $211,509 of your hardearned tax dollars on fruit fly research in France and another $188,000 for the Lobster Institute in Maine. “The Lobster Institute is the source of information about all things lobster,” according to its website. There, you can view a “lobstering video to see what it’s like to be out on a lobster boat, …take our lobster quiz, …and learn about lobster biology.” … OR I could just pick up a book about lobsters for free at my local library. Citizens Against Government Waste (www.cagw.org), an organization that tracks government spending, recently came out with its “2008 Congressional Pig Book,” listing some of the most egregious pork-barrel spending by Congress. Pork is spending which is not necessary to run the country, but rather is a gift from Congressmen to pay back donors, to “buy” favor with voters, or to satisfy other selfish interests. In fiscal year 2008, Congress created 11,610 pork-barrel projects worth $17.2 billion. These wasteful projects often are not specifically authorized by an act of Congress, are not competitively

awarded, are not the fice in Pennsylvania). subject of congressioThis is despite the fact nal hearings, or serve that the Department only a local or special of Justice, which adinterest. Here is just a ministers the NDIC, sampling of the worst has asked Congress for offenses this year: years to shut down the • $3 million for a program because its facility to train young operations duplicate people to play golf (this existing programs and was included in a dewaste money. Yet, $23 fense appropriations million was approved Brian Gottstein bill) to keep it going. • $344,540 for ChiAlso included in cago’s tree planting program the defense bill: $1 million for • $7.9 million to build or reno- the Puget Sound Navy Museum, vate 36 theaters $4.8 million for the Jamaica Bay • $98,000 to develop a walking (NY) recreation area, and $588 tour of Boydton, Virginia (popula- million to build a submarine the tion: 454) Navy says it doesn’t want because • and Congressman Charlie it would divert money from more Rangel (NY) wrote himself a grant important naval projects (the confor $1,950,000 for an institution he gressman who appropriated the named after himself – the Charles money and the company building B. Rangel Center for Public Ser- the submarine are both located in vice Connecticut). Pork often takes away fundPork is a misuse of taxpaying from other important proj- ers’ dollars. It takes money away ects. Look at the defense appro- from more vital priorities such as priations bill, for example, which national defense, national infrafunds our troops and their equip- structure, or just letting families ment. While every penny in a de- keep their income instead of sendfense bill should be used for our ing more of it to Washington to military, pork projects are often pay for these schemes. Pork has tacked on because congressmen gone on for years, and efforts by know their colleagues won’t vote Congress to limit itself always fail. down a bill providing money for The only way we might stop it is the troops. through the loud cries of millions In the last defense bill, a Penn- of voters telling Congress to buy sylvania congressman appropri- votes with their own money – not ated $23 million for the National ours. Drug Intelligence Center (which, coincidentally, has its main of-

PreACHer’s Corner

You are worth far more than you know

ow much is your stuff worth? We all have items that have some degree of monetary value. Some things that we consider to be worthless may sell for a surprisingly high price at a flea market or garage sale. As the old saying goes, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” No matter what the item— whether a stamp or coin collection, an antique piece of furniture, a favorite painting, or the family car—its monetary value is whatever someone else is willing to pay. While we might haggle over the price of an incomplete set of water glasses at a garage sale, there is one thing that has a value that is non-negotiable: you. Unlike what you own, your true value isn’t based on what I, you, or someone else might determine; your value is determined by God Himself. The Bible says that people aren’t a product of an evolutionary process but that God designed us and created us in His very own image. Our unique status as divine image bearers gives us an intrinsic value that transcends any other apprais-

al of our worth. On the other hand, if we reject biblical teaching on this matter and instead reason that we are something other than God’s creation, then we are left with a bleak assessment of human value; we are forced to conclude that we are merely a cosmic accident, the result of an impersonal evolutionary process and have no lasting purpose or ultimate reason for existence. Thankfully, we do not have to come to this conclusion. God made you, God planned you, and God declared your ultimate worth when He sent His only begotten Son to die for you on the cross. Therefore, if God thinks you are worth dying for, then are you not of great worth in the eyes of God? What an amazing thought: the Creator of the universe would love us whom He created in His own image enough to become a man and die on our behalf so that we could be forgiven of our sins and be reconciled with God. Whenever you and I see a cross, we should remember that Christ’s sacrificial death has proven once

and for all God great love for us and our great value to Him. One of the results of having a God-given view of just how valuable you are in God’s eyes ought to be the recognition of the value of others. The same God who created you also created others. The same God who died for your sins died for the sins of the whole world. Aren’t you glad that our God doesn’t treat us like we treat our old lawnmowers? Through redemption by His grace He rescues people from the junkyards of life and offers them a future and a hope that is far beyond anything that they ever could have imagined. The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone and the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Because God did the unthinkable for us who are undeserving, the question of our own worth will always be answered: “More than you’ll ever know!”

Bryan E. Smith is Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church in Roanoke

Perspective

TheRoanokeStar.com

Business is booming for Roanoke area gangs

rug dealing. Auto theft. Identity theft. Extortion. Prostitution. Credit card fraud. Immigration fraud. Social security fraud. Home invasions. Shop lifting. Theft. Vandalism. Beatings. School violence. Shootings. Robbery. Murder. Arson. Tax fraud. Witness intimidation. Rental property fraud. Rape. Recruiting elementary school children for gang membership. And now, assault on a police officer. These are just some of the activities that Roanoke Va.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home grown and national gangs participate in. Business is not just good for Roanokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gangs. Business is booming. Roanokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gang problem affects all of us. There is a direct correlation between Roanokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gangs and crime in our neighborhoods, the prison rate, depressed property values in certain sections of the city, the ever growing demand for resources concerning public safety, the teenage crime rate, the teenage

pregnancy rate, the Roanoke City Pounwed mother rate lice Chief Joe Gaskins and the spread of refuses to clearly say sexually transmitted gangs exist in Roanoke, diseases as girls are preferring to call them â&#x20AC;&#x153;sexed intoâ&#x20AC;? gangs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;organized groups.â&#x20AC;? Being â&#x20AC;&#x153;sexedâ&#x20AC;? into a As a consequence, the gang means to join a Roanoke City Police gang, a girl must have Department can ignore unprotected sex with Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outstanding several male gang legislative package that Jeff Artis members at the same specifically deals with time as other gang all types of gang activmembers watch and videotape ity. this act. This is tough informaSince Roanokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gangs are not tion to read â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but it is the stark being recognized and gang memreality we must contend with. bers are not being arrested (speThere is also a direct correla- cifically for their gang crimes), tion between Roanokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gangs gang members are not being and the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abysmal gradu- prosecuted for these crimes by ation rate. Gang members ask Don Caldwellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Commonwealth why they should go to school Attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. This probwhen they can make hundreds lem is made worse by Roanoke of dollars a day working for their House of Delegate member gang? In all of these circum- Onzlee Ware, whose legislative stances, our tax dollars are being district is ground zero for gang used to fight community prob- activity in the Roanoke Valley. lems heavily influenced by the Ware is soft on crime. Outside proliferation of gang activity in of participating in political fluff, the Roanoke Valley. Ware has done little to address

Roanoke Revisited Sponsored by

The story of Sam Hill

oanoke, Virginia has always been associated with railroad history. And over the years, many language expressions have made their way into our vocabulary--such as backtrack, just the ticket, one track mind, and staying on track. However, the Bud most unusual phrase that seemingly has no connection with railroading is â&#x20AC;&#x153;What the Sam Hill.â&#x20AC;? Many origins for this saying have appeared in dictionaries and lexicons. According to the journal of the Western Front Association, the expression â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sam Hillâ&#x20AC;? refers to Samuel Douthit Hill of Kentucky. He was an American soldier serving with a New Zealand Rifle brigade in WWI who was killed in France in 1918. He was buried in a British cemetery. But, a few years later, his mother requested that her sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body be moved to an American cemetery in France. Confusion resulted when, upon exhumation, the body was dressed in a British uniform. It was reburied in the American cemetery at Bony, France. But there was always serious doubt as to whether this was the Sam Hill from Kentucky. According to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Facts on File,â&#x20AC;? the phrase refers to Colonel Samuel Hill of Guilford, Connecticut. It seems that Colonel Hill was continually running for a political office, but no record of his actual existence can be found. Hence the expression, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who in the Sam Hill is he?â&#x20AC;? But the most famous Sam Hill was a wood-burning locomotive

built in 1860, and a counterpart of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Generalâ&#x20AC;?, the well known Civil War train engine. The Sam Hill was originally named the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Satillaâ&#x20AC;? and was used to haul timber. Like other locomotives of the era, the Satilla was finished in hardwood Feuer and heavily guilded. The engineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four driving wheels were painted turkeyred, with thin yellow stripes on the spokes. Two cords of wood, and enough water to run 30 miles, were carried in the tender. In the early 1920s, Henry Ford refurbished the locomotive and renamed it the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sam Hillâ&#x20AC;?--after an engineer on the Michigan Central Railroad, whom Ford remembered from his boyhood. The Hill had a reputation for loafing between stations. And, to make up time, would race past the non-stop towns, giving rise to the expression, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going like Sam Hill!â&#x20AC;? In October 1929, the locomotive, and three reconstructed coaches, carried President Herbert Hoover, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and guests from Detroit, Michigan to the Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Station in Greenfield Village for the dedication of the Thomas Edison Institute. In honor of the occasion, the Sam Hill was renamed â&#x20AC;&#x153;The President.â&#x20AC;? It was at this same station, years earlier, that Edison was once thrown off the train, with his chemicals, for setting fire to the baggage car. Now thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little unknown history for you.

The Recipe of the Week from the Happy Chef by Leigh Sackett

Valerieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing potato salad Our editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife Valerie is a fabulous cook. Valerie and Lawson live out in the country on a beautiful and peaceful piece of land surrounded by woods and a glorious babbling creek. Just recently at a Star-Sentinel cookout (we do have fun in this business!) I was fortunate enough to sample Valerieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potato salad. I knew I had to have the recipe as soon as it hit my lips! When Valerie sent it to me, she wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not a recipe kind of gal, so I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t note quantities, please let me know if you would like an estimate.â&#x20AC;? I immediately knew that this particular recipe didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need it. Everyone should put as much feta cheese in this salad as they think it might need and remember to live a little more simply and carefree - even if the woods donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t reach up to their back porch and the creek doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t provide a lullaby every night! Thanks Valerie, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to have fun with this recipe! -Boil whole red skin potatoes -Emulsify one cup olive oil with one cup cider vinegar with a Rotoblender (add Â˝ tsp dry mustard to bind and gradually add 2 tablespoons salt as blending) -Dice potatoes into one inch cubes -Add feta cheese. (I like a lot!) -Add approximately Â˝ cup chopped fresh dill -Add black pepper to taste -Add approximately 5 diced scallions - Stir all ingredients together and let sit for one hour.

the gang problem in his district. In addition, some of the people Ware has represented in his law practice have questionable backgrounds at best, a clear conflict of interest. Community hypocrisy cannot be ignored when discussing Roanokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gang problem. If White gangs did their business in Roanokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Black and Hispanic community instead of their own, and vice-versa, there would be a public outcry the angels in heaven could hear. Instead, excuses are made by these three communities for their communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gang activities. Plus, there has been no public outcry over the actions, or lack of action by Gaskins, Caldwell and Ware concerning Roanokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gang problem. Yes, business is booming for Roanokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gangs. Until Roanoke attacks its gang problem head on, business will continue to boom for years to come.

Friendship translated on stage in Moldova

eah, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve felt and wave. this way I guess this is my before. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cue. The Dean gives the feeling that goes, me a bear hug of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;What am I doing hand shake, and leaves here, anyway?â&#x20AC;? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the stage, as I continstanding on a stage in ue to wonder exactly a dimly-lit auditorihow this lecturingum, before 150 dental through-a-translator students and faculty thing is going to work at the Testamitanu out. I launch into my John W. Robinson Dental Institute in introduction, then Chisinau, Moldova. I pause after a few lines, am a so-called Visiting Lecturer, allowing Vitali to translate for the here to share stories of dentistry audience. Soon we reach a cerin the United States. The facili- tain rhythm. Natalia is switching ties here are meager, the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the slides when I point, and we budget thinly stretched, but the are well into a lecture on dental students are eager to learn. enamel histology as it relates to The Republic of Moldova, a bonded composite restorations. former Soviet state, is a small The crowd is at rapt attention. I country wedged between Roma- get the feeling that they are a great nia to the west and Ukraine to the unified sponge taking in all of the east. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primarily agricultural, information I have for them. The with crops such as apples, grapes, material I have prepared for these and tomatoes being mainstays. lectures is in twenty-minute secThe capital is a fairly compact tions. As I finish a section I ask, city with the usual combination â&#x20AC;&#x153;more?â&#x20AC;?, and the answer from of government buildings, parks, the audience is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Da!â&#x20AC;? so off we schools, apartment buildings, and go again. I try to throw some hua few museums, In this case itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all morous lines into the talk now packaged in that unmistakable and then, with mixed results. stark and dilapidated Soviet style. Sometimes they laugh at what I know only a few basic words Vitali conveys to them at times in Romanian and the citizens when humor was not my intent. have ditched Russian along with Hmmmâ&#x20AC;ŚHe could be telling their ties to the former Soviet them dirty jokes for all I know. Union- so I am essentially adrift Three and a half hours later, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here linguistically. Luckily, I am running out of material and my teamed with my new friend and voice is weak. I attempt to wrap translator, Vitori, but this young it up but the crowd doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem and energetic student does not ready to leave. A small group of know my language as well as I faculty members whom I had just would like. In speaking with him I met approach the stage and speak frequently encounter a blank look imploringly to me, asking me, in followed by a flash of a grin. I like broken English, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do you have to think that his smile indicates any more material to show us?â&#x20AC;? understanding, but I wonder. The audience was still quiet and On the creaking wooden stage not dispersing. Not to disappoint, Vitori stands beside me at podi- I scanned the files in the laptop um number two. My laptop com- and came up with something else. puter is connected to a recently- Five minutes later, smoke and an donated LCD projector. Both acrid smell and a loud pop emamachines are plugged into Radio nate from the vicinity of the transShack euro transformers and formers and extension cord. A then into a highly suspect exten- small knot of students surrounds sion cord. Natalia will operate the the area as I look on. One of the machines from an uneven table students holds up a toasted transten feet away, and will change the former and all present know that slide when I tell her. The projec- the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lectures are over. Still on tion screen consists of two white the stage, I shrug and bow. sheets pinned together and hung The silence is broken by apon the concrete wall with pieces plause swelling up to me and Viof wire. There is no PA system. tali from the gracious audience As we get ready to start I notice a who rises to their feet. Now Dr. kind of a party atmosphere in the Elana, a periodontist, is making hall, and I wonder if they will lis- her way to the stage, clutching a ten to a word I say. bouquet of flowers that she hands Professor Stanislas, the Dean me. I feel like I have just won a of the dental school makes his Nobel Prize. But more than that, I way through the chatting, laugh- feel like Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve really connected with ing crowd to the stage. He says a these fine people; that we share few words and the hall goes si- something truly great: It could lent. I am amazed. He continues be the love of our common prohis monologue, but. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get fession and our love of learning. the luxury of a translation. Per- Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably more basic than that, haps he is talking about the new however; perhaps about forging relationship between our dental friendships and mutual respect schools. Or maybe he is talking and understanding. All I know about my visit and my credentials. is that I will miss my Moldovan He laughs, the audience laughs. friends when I go back to my Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gesturing at me. I smile, nod, world in a few weeks.

5/23/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 5

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Perspective

Page 6 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/23/08

City needs to reconsider school closings

Dear editor, Roanoke City and its appointed Roanoke City Public School Board skillfully use invisible ink as an incentive for some citizens to cooperate with the continued and deliberative elimination of inner city schools and neighborhoods. When a neighborhood elementary school is up rooted the whole community suffers because the vibrancy of the area is sucked out of it. The recent public disclosure, of long ago plans, to “re-purpose” Forest Park Elementary School was rapidly approved along sracial lines by School Board members. What a pity and a shame! Why should children of preK to fifth grade who normally WALK TO SCHOOL suddenly be forced to ride buses hither and yon for the sake of older children who probably can drive themselves to any area of the City? Just last year the City of Roanoke and Roanoke City Public Schools received a grant totaling $544,653 for the Safe Routes to school program from the Virginia Department of Transportation for both Forest Park ($219,000) and Addison Middle($326,000) to promote safe walking and bicycling to and from school. (City of Roanoke news release 6/14/07). Safely walking and riding a bike to/ from school encourages healthy attitudes, decreases obesity, increases pride in community, etc. These factors should not be over looked. The stark reality of disruption/displacement of a young child away from “home” at life’s most impressionable time must be given very serious consideration. During this period of fiscal drought should the City be increasing operating cost for additional school buses, personnel and gasoline prices? It has been stated that maintenance of buses is already less than desirable. Not to be overlooked is the very distinct possibility that these very young children would be exposed to darkness since their starting time is scheduled to start earlier than usual. School Board members should review, or educate themselves

Letters

on, Roanoke’s shameful history of closing black schools with resultant destruction of the surrounding communities.The decision to lock our young, defenseless citizens out of their home base (Forest Park Elementary School) for an Overage Academy; separate them from siblings, friends and teachers, and bus them to other schools should be reversed. Our elementary age Forest Park children cannot speak for themselves! We must protect our children and our future! Helen E. Davis

Why is Alvin Nash on the City Council? Dear editor, Mr. Nash said he knew he had a conflict of interest when he applied for the council seat vacancy. I would think after Mr. Fitzpatrick’s problems with a conflict of interest and Nelson Harris’ vacation in Mexico compliments of Ed Walker any applicant would think three times before applying if s/he had a conflict of interest. Not Mr. Nash. His organization, Blue Ridge Housing, receives Housing and Urban Development (HUD) money. HUD thinks being a city-governing official while working for an activity receiving HUD money as Blue Ridge Housing does, is a no-no. Mr. Nash knowingly threw his hat in the ring anyway. I assume Mr. Nash threw his hat in the ring after being “assured” by someone an “exception” could/would be obtained. Were I selecting the best qualified from the list applicants who applied for the vacant city council seat, Mr. Nash would not have made the final four. I don’t find his qualifications particularly impressive. But I wasn’t culling the list. The Council was. Allegedly, council members, except Mayor Harris, were not made aware of Mr. Nash’s “baggage” before their final vote. Only after appointing Mr. Nash to the council did council members, less Harris, (allegedly) lear that as Executive Director of Blue Ridge House which receives HUD money through the city for affordable housing, Mr. Nash has a conflict of interest. Not to worry for the City

quickly, too quickly in my opinion, asked HUD for an “exception”. Qually as quickly HUD said NO. Not surprising since Roanoke’s Redevelopment Agency has yet to fully recover from a BIG conflict of interest problem uncovered two years ago. HUD may think Roanoke is a slow learner! Rather than cause the city the trauma of having to go through a second council appointment process, Mr. Nash and Blue Ridge Housing’s Board of Director’s have bitten the bullet and will fore-go approximately $1.5 million in HUD funding for affordable housing over the next three years. And, YES friends and neighbors, Alvin Nash will stay on the council! He will continue to get his salary as Executive Director of Blue Ridge Housing PLUS. In addition he now gets $15,000 a year for being a council member. Alvin Plus – Blue Ridge/Affordable Housing Minus. What is wrong with that picture? The spin meisters said this is a wonderful thing because there are too many projects on the table at Blue Ridge so Blue Ridge doesn’t “need” the money. I translate that as: Blue Ridge Housing can’t keep up with what they has which is a poor commentary on Mr. Nash’s management ability. Mr. Nash said Blue Ridge Housing was looking to expand in other areas and mentioned Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Why? I doubt if the affordable housing market is tapped out in Roanoke, despite all the projects Blue Ridge has on the table. I will politely call that obfuscation instead of something else. I’ve seen a lot of brazen acts during forty some years in the workplace. Nash’s appointment to the council and subsequent action resulting in personal gain at the expense of affordable housing, ranks as first class. However, this is Roanoke where “things are different” to quote Bev Fitzpatrick. For the good of the City, Mr. Nash should resign from the Council, apologize to the citizens, return to Blue Ridge Housing FULL time, pay attention to his day time job, and increase the stock of affordable housing in Roanoke. Of course, that is just one

man’s opinion. Obviously, those on the council who voted to appoint Alvin Nash don’t agree with me. Also, since 80 percent of the registered voters didn’t vote in the last election I’d guess there are a lot who just don’t care. Robert Craig

Why are politicians still behind development? Dear editor, I have been so surprised that there are some agencies and politicians that have endorsed Valley Forwards proposal for a restaurant building on Mill Mountain. Apparently they don’t understand what they have endorsed, or just don’t care about how it will impact Mill Mountain and the Roanoke Valley. If you look at the layout of the proposed changes at www.savemillmountain.com, you can actually see the impact rather than just hearing about it on the news. There will be no “view” from the proposed building! The building and two parking lots will occupy almost half of the current usable green space. The proposed plan doesn’t include a ramp or access area for service trucks. (What else will be cut down to provide that?) The proposed decks and porches will further diminish the green space that people now enjoy when they visit. The building will be located beside the grassy picnic and children’s area, and those visitors who are there to picnic and enjoy the view will be listening to noise from air conditioners, deck parties, delivery trucks, and additional car traffic. Less green space will be available for families, children and musicians to play, or for people to just sit on a blanket and enjoy the peace and quiet that nature currently offers there. Do we really want to cut down trees, bulldoze, and drastically change the mountaintop, or do we want to preserve our areas signature park for future generations? Remember; after the bulldozing is complete the green space, and the peace and quiet it allows will never return. Christie Wray

TheRoanokeStar.com

Scents of a Spring garden

his has been an especially wonderful spring for plants and for gardeners! We’ve had adequate moisture and moderate temperatures. We have not seen the temperature and moisture extremes that the last gardening season experienced. With such reasonable conditions, flowers and trees have leafed and bloomed contentedly. I have noticed my fragranced plant selections more this season, especially on cool mornings with a slight breeze. A few of my favorite “spring scents” are included below. Narcissus ‘Baby Moon’ (Daffodil) is a miniature daffodil that blooms later than most. Its fragrance is sweet, and draws attention to the multiple petite blooms on its 6” stems. This is a great little flower to clip and bring inside. All Hyacinths perfume the garden, but I especially notice Hyacinthus ‘Blue Jacket’ (Hyacinth) that is planted with Veronica ‘Georgia Blue.’ The fragrance at the end of my walk combined with the blue color of both flowers catches my senses every time I walk by. Viburnum x carlcephalum (fragrant viburnum) appears a little out-of-season with its large snowball-like blossoms, but the flowers smell so good that you do not mind! These viburnums bloom in mid- to late-April, as opposed to their cousin, Viburnum opulus (snowball viburnum) that blooms a little later. Daphne ‘Carol Mackie’ (Daphne) will not grow just anywhere. It prefers a little protection from extreme cold and desiccating winter winds. If you have the right niche in your garden for this shrub that can be hard to find and a little pricey, you will wonder why you did not plant it sooner! Its fragrance will waft up to 50 feet. Ilex x attenuata ‘Fosteri’ (Foster’s Holly), a wonderful upright, pyramidal evergreen, is blooming now. Its sweet smell, evergreen foliage, and bright red winter berries make it great plant to extend your garden’s seasonal interest. Syringa ‘Sensation’ (Lilac) is the only picoteed lilac, sporting dark purple blossoms with a white edge. It is the classic lilac scent combined with exceptional beauty that makes you really notice this lilac. If fragrance is a goal of your garden, give these plants a try. They are easy to grow, and you will certainly enjoy their fragrance for a period of several weeks from early- to mid-spring. Consider increasing the appeal of your spring garden with the sweet scent of spring! Sheri Dorn, Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Roanoke

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5/23/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 7

Online testing reaches all-time high at Patrick Henry High School

Elementary classes dress up as famous American icons

More than 3,000 online SOL (Standards of Learning) tests are being administered to students this spring all over the brand new PH building, using 3 PC computer labs, all 36 library computers, 150 laptops from IMac carts, and 40 PC laptops. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is quite a jump from any other year,â&#x20AC;? said PHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT), Sharon Conner. Conner said online testing began in the spring of 2003, when only the English 11 test was taken and submitted on the computer, but by the following year, Guidance Coordinator Kristy White was given the responsibility to administer every

test available online. White said she and Conner began planning around the first of April, choosing what groups could go where and when, according to the test windows given by the state. They were assisted by Special Education Chair Elizabeth Williams, who ensured that all test modifications were met for special needs students, and TamPhoto by Deborah Wood mie Stanley, who is Whiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SOL assistant. The faculty is trained Sophomore Devin Taylor pracand is responsible for proctor- tices testing navigational skills ing most of the tests, which run for biology. from May 13 to June 4. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think anyone real- White said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to the izes the volume of planning and students how they perform.â&#x20AC;? work that it takes to get ready for By Deborah Wood da y one of this testing period,â&#x20AC;? info@theroanokestar.com

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Westside students show patriotism On May 16th, students at Westside Elementary showed their patriotism by dressing up as famous people and symbols from Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. Starting around 9 am, the event included having their picture taken, a parade through the school as well as a gathering around the flag pole where the National Anthem was sung. The lead teacher in the project was Mrs. Schilling, who explained that the event started out as a grant around six years ago. The purpose of the program is to promote the theme of patriotism, so the students study famous Americans as well as patriotic symbols of the United States. Part of the

program involves the students choosing what person or symbol they would like to represent. The children draw pictures to represent that symbol or historic figure and then wear a costume for the day of the parade. The costumes ranged from Christopher Columbus and Betsy Ross to the Statue of Liberty and the Bald Eagle. The group included ninety-seven kindergarteners and around thirty preschoolers. Many of the older students were overheard reminiscing about their experiences of taking part in the patriotic celebraBy Joshua Beazley tion. info@theroanokestar.com

PH grad prepares to bike across the U.S. to promote affordable housing Devon Rood figures she has been on a bicycle for 35-40 miles - in her whole life. Now the Grandin Court resident, a year removed from the University of Virginia and in the middle of studying law at George Mason, will get to bike a whole lot further: beginning this weekend the 2003 Patrick Henry High School graduate, who swam competitively for the school, will embark upon a 3600 mile trek from Nags Head, North Carolina to San Diego, California. She did play rugby for a while in college but this bike trip will be a whole new experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought maybe this would float my boat,â&#x20AC;? said Rood, well aware of the endurance wall athletes must overcome. Along the way Rood and 29 other bikers will stop to help assist with affordable housing projects. Habitat for Humanity, a group Rood volunteered with while an undergrad at UVA, will be involved in some of the projects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying to get young people involved [with] being a part of their community.â&#x20AC;? The trip is the brainchild of Bike & Build, an organization that puts the spotlight on affordable housing needs. Rood has a new touring bike, complete with pink flowers on the seat, and plans to average about 70 miles a day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some days weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be putting on a roof, other days weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be doing plantings. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll use us wherever they can,â&#x20AC;? said Rood. Stops are scheduled in Little Rock, Memphis and Colorado Springs, among other places, and that trip to Colorado means Rood will have to bike over several mountain passes. She plans to write about the nine-week trip on her blog, Devonridesabike. blogspot.com. Writing is a natural for Rood, who reported for and edited The Cavalier Daily while in college. In several places the Bike & Build group will stage presentations on the need for affordable housing, as well as swing a hammer or pick up a paintbrush. Her boyfriend (John Slovenski) will meet her at tripâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end for a vacation and they plan to motor up the coast. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will be pretty amazing to see the beaches of California for the first time,â&#x20AC;? said Rood. Rood, 23, has raised about $4,000 for the journey. That money in part will help pay for a support vehicle that will trail the bikers with replacement

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Devon Rood is no pro on two wheels, but she plans to bike across country to bring attention to affordable housing. equipment, personal items and other supplies. Any funds left over will go to a Habitat for Humanity chapter now building homes in North Carolina. A former House and U.S. Senate page, Rood will graduate from law school in 2011. Her father Jim runs a hairdressing salon at Towers Shopping Center and her mother Linda works at Faith Christian School. See bikeandbuild.org for more on that organization. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really excited,â&#x20AC;? said Rood. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be the last time I can By Gene Marrano do something like this. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m gmarrano@cox.net ready to go.â&#x20AC;?

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County schools receive honor Four Roanoke County elementary schools have been recognized by the Virginia Board of Education as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Title I Distinguished Schoolsâ&#x20AC;? for maintaining full state accreditation under the commonwealthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Standards of Learning program for two consecutive years, meeting federal benchmarks in reading and mathematics and having average test scores in both subjects at the 60th percentile or higher. 118 schools across the Commonwealth received this distinction. The schools receiving this recognition are: â&#x20AC;˘ Clearbrook Elementary â&#x20AC;˘ Glen Cove Elementary

â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

Green Valley Elementary Mount Pleasant Elementary

Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) provides funding to school divisions and schools for programs to raise the achievement of students identified as being at risk. The federal education law requires schools and school divisions to meet annual objectives for increasing student achievement on statewide assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics. During 2006-2007, 544, or 75 percent, of Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 723 Title I schools met all NCLB objectives.

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TheRoanokeStar.com

2008 a struggle for Colonel baseball PH wins district in boys and girls LAX The William Fleming baseball team endured an agonizing season which saw them go winless in 20 games. But according to head coach Al Holland Jr., the losses were nothing compared to the obstacles his team faced this season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were a lot of things we had up against us,â&#x20AC;? said Holland. Due to the renovations which began at William Fleming this year, the baseball team had to practice and play their home games off site, at Maher Field downtown. And because of the lack of suitable practice facilities (Maher Field is usually used for adult league softball), including indoor batting cages, the team struggled to keep up with oppo-

nents who had such equipment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has been hard to keep up with everyone else,â&#x20AC;? admitted Holland. Holland feels that the city could have helped out more with this problem. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel the city needs to step it up in terms of having a place that is more attractive and appealing for kids to come out and want to play the game of baseball.â&#x20AC;? Regardless of equipment and site challenges, the inexperience of the Colonelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roster certainly didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help matters. The team had nine freshman this season, and only four seniors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had a JV team [in terms of experience] that had to play a Varsity schedule,â&#x20AC;? said Holland.

The team did have some talented players, however. Senior centerfielder Patrick Curtis, who will be attending VCU in the fall, could have a bright future in the game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think his potential in baseball hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even been tapped,â&#x20AC;? said Holland. In spite of the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s struggles this season, Holland remains optimistic for next year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will be a lot more competitive,â&#x20AC;? Holland. said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a building process.â&#x20AC;? Rising junior third-baseman Krys Beane and sophomore centerfielder Kevin Wade are players to watch, according to Holland. By Matt Reeve Matt@theroanokestar.com

PH soccer is downright offensive Prior to the season, Patrick Henry boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; soccer coach Chris Dowdy was cautiously optimistic about his teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chances of success. The Patriotsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roster contained eight seniors, including two transfer students. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thought this year was going to be something special,â&#x20AC;? Dowdy said. Has it ever. The Patriots recently finished the regular season with a stellar 12-3-1 record, including a 9-0-1 record in the Western Valley District, where they claimed their first championship since 2002. They have broken every scoring record in school history. What might be scary to their opponents is the fact that the

Patriots donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any obvious weaknesses. They have experience, with the senior-laden roster providing tremendous leadership. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good situation,â&#x20AC;? said Dowdy. They have an explosive offense, led by Fayanga Keita, a junior captain from Liberia, who leads the team with 28 goals to go along with nine assists. Not far behind Keita is sophomore Cameron Chavira, who has tallied 19 goals and 11 assists during the season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We knew we had a chance to score a lot of goals on people,â&#x20AC;? said Dowdy. Not to be outdone is the Patriotsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defense, which has allowed only 15 goals in 16 games this season, also a school record. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of our leadership comes from the

defense,â&#x20AC;? said Dowdy. As the postseason begins, the Patriots will try to build on their success in the regular season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make any major changes or adjustments,â&#x20AC;? said Dowdy. The team began the Western Valley District Tournament on Wednesday in a semi-final match against Franklin County. Regardless of how they fare in the District tournament, the Patriots will host a Regional Quarterfinal game on Monday, May 26. If they continue to win, the Patriots will not have to hit the road until the State semifinals.

Photos by Philip Potter

The Patriots defeated the Hilltoppers Monday night at Lynchburg College to claim the District Championship in both menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lacrosse. The Lady Patriots came out strong and jumped to an early five goal lead. Monica Scott led the team in scoring with three goals as the ladies held on to defeat Glass 11 to 8. The menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team then took the field and gave Glass little hope as the Patriots led the entire game. Drew Anderson and Kyle Smith both scored four goals as the Patriots defeated Glass 14 to 7. Both Patriot teams clinched the Western Valley District Championship and will move on to host Northwest Region playoff games on Wednesday May 21st. The Girls beat Hylton Wednesday night, 10-9. The boys were playing Woodbridge and were ahead 11-3 as of press time

By Matt Reeve Matt@theroanokestar.com

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Sparky Woods, who was hired in February as the new head football coach at VMI, spoke to members of the Roanoke Valley Sports Club about the upcoming season last Tuesday. Woods has been a coach at both the collegiate and professional level for 31 years. He was a 3-time Coach of the Year in the Southern Conference while coaching at Appalachian State University, and was the head coach at South Carolina from 1989-93. He also has served as an assistant coach at Alabama, Virginia and for the New York Jets. During his speech, Woods was very optimistic about the upcoming season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like to tell people that I have the best job in the world from Sunday to Friday,â&#x20AC;? said Woods. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just got to find a way to win on Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.â&#x20AC;? He retained the majority of his staff, and was able to hire his brother, Don as an assistant. Woodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; coaching philosophy is based on five things, in this order: faith, family, future, football, and fun. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And the best way to have fun is to win football games,â&#x20AC;? said Woods.

Photo by Matt Reeve

Former South Carolina head coach, Alabama assistant and new VMI head coach Sparky Woods spoke to the Roanoke Valley Sports Club. VMI begins its season at home against St. Francis (PA.) on September 6 at 1:00 pm.

By Matt Reeve Matt@theroanokestar.com

HV, CS baseball faceoff before district play

We are a volunteer driven organization and welcome your involvement.

Travel Try-Outs 2008/2009 May 11th - May 18th

The Hidden Valley Titans went to Cave Springâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home field last Thursday and ruined Senior Day for the Knights. The Titans, in a walk away, humbled Cave Spring 16-5. It was the Knights, however, that struck first scoring one in the first inning and three in the third to build a 4-0 lead. That lead quickly vanished in the top of the fourth, however, as Hidden Valley plated eight runs, highlighted by senior Zack Helgesonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two run blast to left center to begin the barrage. In the inning, Titan coach Jason Taylor sent four straight pinch hitters to the plate, all reaching base. Brett Mollenhauer sliced a two run double and later scored the

last run of the inning, which saw Hidden Valley send 12 batters to the plate. The last three innings saw the Titans tack on eight additional runs using a combination of six hits, four walks, and some Knight errors. Senior Mike Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien turned out to be the biggest thorn in the side of Cave Spring. On a day that was overcast and at times raining lightly, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien reached base four times including two doubles and four runs batted in. For good measure, he pitched the 7th inning for Hidden Valley, striking out two of the hitters he faced. Knight coach David Dunstan tried using pitchers Kris Di-

onnes and Chris Boylan over the last three innings in an effort to slow the Titan hitters, but to no avail. Seniors Daniel Downing and Knight hurler Kevin Banks each had two hits to pace the Cave Spring attack. Hidden Valley continued to be patient at the plate and managed to get most of their players in the game. Hidden Valley sits atop River Ridge standings with a 17-3 record and is 9-1 in league play. Cave Spring ends the regular season at 7-10, 4-5 in the league. Both schools head into District play this week By David Abraham info@theroanokestar.com

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The artificial links are a serious draw

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5/23/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 9

Raiders reach tournament finals

The North Cross middle school lacrosse team made a strong run in last weeks valley wide tournament held at Salem High School. The Raiders notched four more wins to add to their undefeated record, including a sudden death victory over RVLA-County that landed them in the final against Salem. But the Spartan’s deeper roster proved to be too much in the end and North Cross fell in the final by a score of 4-2. Above: North Cross defensemen Kyle Fraser attempts to chase down a Salem Mid Fielder.

Do you have a plan for your land?

Submitted photo

Roanoke Star Sentinel writer and all around great putter David Abraham takes aim at splitting the letters in Putt Putt.

For some “Putt Putt” is more than just a yearly game at the beach I’m sure that on more than Let me explain that I started one occasion you have traveled playing this game as a pre-teen to the beach with your family or in Charleston, West Virginia on friends. While at the beach, there a course just a couple of blocks was at least one day when you from home. I quickly became went to the local miniature golf enamored with the challenge this course and paid one game afforded. Miniaprice and played all day. ture golf many times 1st Person Roanoke has it’s own consists of hitting your golf course called Putt brightly colored golf Putt. You notice that I did not ball hoping that lady luck will put refer to this course as miniature it in the hole, preferably on your golf as the two are significantly first attempt. Putt Putt holes prodifferent. There are no clown’s vide an opportunity to achieve a mouth or windmills to hit your hole-in-one on each hole, often ball through. There are orange using a series of bank shots, proboards marking the different viding the best opportunity for holes making this course differ- an ace. The par is two on each ent from the ones you’ve played hole and the participants comon at the beach. pete to see how much under par While you certainly can have they can shoot. Let me tell you, fun at this course, there is a side unless you are under par for the to Putt Putt that many people three rounds of the tournament, don’t know or understand, and you stand almost no chance of that includes my editor. On ending up as high as third place, Tuesday nights, owner David thus eliminating you from any Mitchell has tournaments for monetary awards. those that take this part of Putt On this night there were eight Putt very seriously. The tourna- participants vying for the $16.00 ments usually attract from six to first prize. The tournament was 10 participants who use a series won by James LeBrun, who some of banks on those orange boards may call the resident pro. LeBin order to see just how much run shot a 28 under par 80 beatunder par they can achieve on ing out Clayton Craft by three the 18 hole course. strokes. Third place was taken by

[

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Mark Smith with an 83. Tournaments start at 7:00pm on Tuesdays and it cost $7.00 to enter. Practice begins one hour prior to the start of the tournament. Don’t be surprised if you see LeBrun, during practice, providing tips to those wanting to learn the nuisances of competitive Putt Putt. LeBrun will point out that hitting a mark on the board or on the carpet is imperative to improve your chances of obtaining that ace. The putters in this tournament can easily be noticed on Tuesdays. They bring their own putters and white balls, choosing not to use the rubber putters and those brightly colored balls provided by course. If you care to see how the pros play, come to the Roanoke course on June 28th and 29th where the Virginia State Tour will make a stop. In September, Mitchell will host the 2008 Virginia State Championship. For more information on the Roanoke Putt Putt call 366-3660 and for the Virginia Tour information, visit www. proputters.com. By David Abraham info@theroanokestar.com

Lady Warriors have surprising success The Faith Christian School girls’ soccer team recently concluded a season full of twists and turns. But it won’t be the wins and losses that the girls remember; rather it will be all the adversity they overcame. After a 7-1 loss to Roanoke Catholic to begin the season, first-year coach Megan Wenz was unsure of what the future held for the Lady Warriors. What she discovered was a team full of a character and determination that would define their season. “This team has a lot of heart,” Wenz said. The Lady Warriors began the season with 15 players on their roster, but due to injuries and other players leaving the team, they began their first game with only 12 – giving them only one sub. Of those that did make the team, several had limited experience. “We were a very young team,” said Wenz. “Three of our girls

had never played before, yet they were willing to step up and play 80 minutes and learn as they went. They ended up being integral to our success.” Despite their rough start, the Lady Warriors ripped off a 4-game winning streak in the middle of the season and finished 5-3 in the Virginia Association of Christian Athletics, good enough for the second seed and a berth in the semi-finals of the conference tournament. Wenz said the girls showed up for games tired and sore. Injuries mounted. When asked what kept her team going, Wenz said, “Our leadership was key.”. Jane Brandon, the team’s lone senior and co-captain, took steps off the field to unify the players and keep them upbeat. And junior sweeper Sarah Graninger, “had a passion and desire that rubbed off on her teammates,” Wenz said. After the Lady Warriors’ sea-

son ending 2-0 loss to Christian Heritage Academy in the VACA tournament, the team’s efforts did not go unnoticed. “Almost every coach approached me and shared how impressed they were at our continued perseverance despite the challenges the girls faced,” Wenz said. “Wins are great, but what was more important were the life lessons the players learned. Things like enduring through trials and difficulties, being accountable. Those are the things that really matter.” The Lady Warriors finished the season with a record of 6-7. The team returns all but one of their starters from this season, and has a very positive outlook as they look forward to next year —no matter what challenges it may hold. By Matt Reeve Matt@theroanokestar.com

The Roanoke Star-Sentinel

If you’re a landowner with 100 acres of land or more, join the Western Virginia Land Trust and Roanoke County to learn how you can: UÊ ii«Ê > `Ê Ì>VÌÊ> `Ê ÊÞ ÕÀÊv> Þ UÊ iÌÊ iÞÊvÀ ÊÞ ÕÀÊ > `ÊÜ Ì ÕÌÊÃi }Ê Ì UÊ ÃÕÀiÊÌ >ÌÊÞ ÕÀÊ > `ÊÜ ÊÀi > Ê>ÃÊ you want it to be—forever. Meeting dates: Thursday, May 15, 7-8:30 pm, Catawba Center Thursday, May 22, 7-8:30 pm, Mt. Pleasant Fire Station Thursday, May 29, 7-8:30 pm, Back Creek Elem. School

There is no charge or obligation. Everyone will receive a free copy of the Western Virginia Land Trust’s Conservation Easement Guide and FREE DVD. Refreshments will be served. For more info and additional dates, contact the Western Virginia Land Trust at (540) 985-0000 or visit www.westernvirginialandtrust.org

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Page 10 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/23/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

CoMMUnitY CALenDAr > May 22

Pilgrimage Documentary Film Screening Series to celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Two young Japanese Americans set out to find an obscure place called Manzanar in the California desert, in 1969.This was one of ten sites where over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated during World War II.This rediscovery then became a pilgrimage” and the first public event in the U.S. that called attention to the reality of these camps. With a hip music track, never-before-seen archival footage and a story-telling style that features both old and new pilgrims, PILGRIMAGE is the first film to show how the WWII camps were reclaimed by the children

Garden City Baptist Church Come Worship With Us (540) 437-0131 3536 Garden City Blvd Roanoke, VA 24014 Sunday School.......9:45 am Worship Service.....11 am Youth Ministry.........6 pm Weds. Bible Study..6:45 pm Choir Practice.........7:45 pm

of its victims. When- 7 - 7:30 p.m. Where- Gainsboro Library For more- 540-853-1057

> May 23-26

Roanoke Library Book Sale Thousands of titles not previously available will be on sale, including books, videos, children’s titles, fiction, non-fiction, and cookbooks. WhenFriday May 23 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday May 24 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday May 25 Noon - 4 p.m. Monday May 26 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Where- Hospitality Room at the Main Library, located at 706 S. Jefferson St. For more- contact Laura Wickstead,Virginia Room Librarian, at 853-2073

> May 29

Wolf Creek Fountain Dedication BRBCVA is proud to announce the donation of a frost free water fountain for users of Wolf Creek Greenway. The pet fountain attachment was donated by Vinton Veterinary Hospital. Cyclists can locate the fountain behind the Best Little Hair House in Vinton on Hardy Road. Ride the Greenway after the dedication. Additional Wolf Creek Greenway parking is at Lynn Haven Baptist Church on Rt #24. When- 6:30 p.m.

Open 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mon. - Sat. Closed Sundays

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Where- Wolf Creek Greenway off of Hardy Road For more- Barbara Duerk at (540) 343-1616; 540-580-1621, barbgary@cox.net

> May 30- June 1

St. Elias Lebanese Festival A popular event drawing visitors from all over the valley, the festival will continue its successful formula of delicious Lebanese food, toe-tapping Lebanese music and Lebanese dances, while adding some new features. There will be new costumes for the youth of the parish who perform the traditional dances and perhaps new dances as well. New games have been added for children of all ages. During church tours visitors will hear traditional liturgical music in Syriac, something totally different from the live music offered by a Lebanese band. On May 30 there will be a special “Kids’ Day” acquainting area school children aged 5-12 with Lebanese culture, including a special Lebanese meal, Lebanese music and dancing. Admission is free, with a moderate charge for food and games. The festival features Lebanese delicacies like tabbouli and spinach pies, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, various wraps, meats cooked on the grill and wonderful Lebanese pastries. Takeout orders will be available by phone or fax; call 562-0012 for details. A Lebanese band from Ohio, “Al Layali,” will provide live music all three days. Special treats for children include a visit from the Cat in the Hat and rides on a special 4-car train, courtesy of the Knights of Columbus. A Silent Auction will feature baskets of goods from many of the valley’s most popular firms. For the first time, outside vendors will be on hand, one offering Lebanese food and goods and the other a nonprofit organization raising funds for severely disabled Lebanese children.ek Greenway parking is at Lynn Haven Baptist

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Church on Rt #24. When- The festival will be held rain or shine on Friday from noon-8 p.m., Saturday noon-10 p.m and Sunday noon-8 p.m. Where- St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church at 4370 Cove Rd., Roanoke For more- Call St. Elias at 562-0012 or www.lebanesefestival.info Roanoke Aglow Community Lighhouse Picnic Bring a covered dish and come for fellowship, praise music and prayer in the Pavilion at Garst Mill Park. Come bring a friend and enjoy a fun time together. Plates, napkins, flat-ware, cups and drinks will be provided. As our outreach to the city, we ask you to bring donations of toothpaste for the City Rescue Mission.What is Aglow International? It is a powerful, spiritfilled ministry that has members throughout the world. All are welcome to attend. When- 5 p.m. Where- Garst Mill Park For more- call 774-2229 or 362-3170

noke June 22 Oliver Wolcott, Charlottesville,VA 16 year old award winning organist First United Methodist Church, Salem June 29 Richard Cummins Celebrating the 4th of July Greene Memorial United Methodist Church, Roanoke July 6 Music by Children. Music for Everyone! Demonstration of the varied sounds of the organ. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Salem July 13 John T. Lowe,Jr. Organist from Gainesville, Florida Calvary Baptist Church, Roanoke July 20 Kelly Wheelbarger Symphony No. 5 C. M.Widor First United Methodist Church, Salem July 27 Karen Harwood Dean, Roanoke Chapter AGO Windsor Hills United Methodist Church. Roanoke

> June 7

> June 9

> June 3

Square Dance Club Indoor Yard Sale Fundraiser Coffee and donuts for sale too. When- 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. Where- Lions Club Building in Cave Spring. From 419 go west on Brambleton Ave. Watch for signs. For more- call 540-776-6326 for donations to be picked up.

> June 8 - July 27

American Guild of Organists Summer Concerts The Roanoke Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will be in its 27th year presenting the Summer Organ Concerts. This summer programing ranges from traditional organ repertoire, theatre organ, patriotic music, demonstration of the varied sounds of the organ, children playing, and the extraordinary skills os a sixteen year old organist. The public is invited. There is no charge for the programs, but donations are accepted to insure the continuation of the series. June 8 Mitchell Garcia student of Richard Cummins Greene Memorial United Methodist Church, Roanoke June 15 Robert Chapman and Susan Braden The Theatre Organ and Broadway Show Tunes First Presbyterian Church, Roa-

The Virginia Gentlemen the Virginia Gentlemen will be hosting a GUEST Night. If you like to sing, we invite you to come and learn about Barbershop Harmony singing, enjoy meeting new people, and partake of some great food. If you can carry a tune and have a desire to become a better singer, then The Virginia Gentlemen Chorus is for you!! When- 7:15 p.m. Where: Health Focus of SW Virginia, 3807 Brandon Ave, Across from Brandon Oaks retirement facility. For more- Call Ed Burke- 977-0472 or go to: www.vagents.org

> June 10

Roanoke Valley Community Band Spring Concert The Roanoke Valley Community Band will present it’s annual Spring Concert on June 10. The concert will feature a variety of music including marches, Chicago Medley and selections by Hoagy Carmichael. When- 7:30 p.m. Where- Cave Spring High School. For more- (540) 774-8885

“Blue Ridge Blooms” and the garden will be specially decorated for the gala, further enhancing what is already a beautiful location. Guests are asked to come in elegant casual attire for a festive evening. Attendees will enjoy gourmet hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and live music by the Celtibillies.The Roanokebased ensemble, with Celtic and Appalachian influences, was selected to represent the best of music from Appalachia at the 37th Smithsonian Folklife Festival.The evening will also feature the dedication of the Hahn Meadow Garden, which includes Peggy’s Meadow and the new amphitheater. In addition to ticket sales, the fundraising effort includes silent and live auctions, featuring an array of unusual plants, art, and gardening goodies. When- from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Where- the garden onWashington Street on the Virginia Tech campus. Cost- $50 For more- to request tickets or for more information visit the garden online (http://www.hort. vt.edu/hhg/), call (540) 231-5970, or contact garden staff via e-mail (mailto:vtgarden@vt.edu).

> Aug. 8-9

Jefferson High School 60th Reunion Jefferson High School Class of 1948 is planning its 60th year reunion When- August 8-9 Where- Hotel Roanoke For moreLorena Terry (540)-774-0283

> Sept. 17

Destroyer Leaders Association Former shipmates from USS NORFOLK DL1, USS MITSCHER DL2 / DDG-35, USS JOHN S MCCAIN DL3 / DDG36, USS WILLIS A LEE DL4, and USS WILKINSON DL5 will meet in St. Louis, Missouri, September 17 - 21, 2008 for their 12th annual combined reunion. Family and friends are welcome to attend. When- Sept. 17-21 Where- St. Louis, Mo. For more- Destroyer Leader Association, 2311 Idavere Road SW, Roanoke, VA 24015-3903, email: DestroyerLeader1@cox.net

Have an item for the calendar? email it to submissions@ theroanokestar.com

> June 14

Garden Gala The fourth annual Hahn Horticulture Garden Gala - “Blue Ridge Blooms” - will be held on Saturday, June 14,The theme this year is

Local Crossword Puzzle!

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“Overcoming Challenges & Building Brighter Futures”

Foster Parents are Special People! ● Foster parents give hope ● Foster parents provide a safe haven ● Foster parents nurture growth and self-esteem ● Foster parents teach children that they are worthy to be loved DePaul recognizes the contribution foster parents make to the next generation of adults and DePaul supports foster parents with: ● Friendly and thorough training ● 24 hours a day / 7 days a week assistance and guidance ● Experienced social workers with small case loads ● Recreational activities ● Financial support

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Call us in Roanoke at 540.265.8923 or in Christiansburg at 540.381.1848

Across 2Adjacent to (4) 4The oldest motel in Salem. (7) 10A fantastic but vain hope (5) 11Formerly Gish's Mill (6) 12Local filming location for the 2006 movie 'Borat' (3-words) (16) 15They can see in the dark and help you too as well (3words) (14) 17Hypertext Transfer Protocol (abbrev.) (3) 19Director of Harrison Museum of African American Culture in Roanoke. (2words) (12) 21A hawk's nest (5) 22Name of a famous 8ft. fiberglass Chicken near Smith Mountain Lake (7) 24Roanoke's Kenyan sister city (6) 26ex-husband. (US slang) (7) 27What nearby Virginia town has a market with a giant red apple on it? (7) 29To spin around (5) 31I'm not a smart man but I know what --- is. (from Forrest Gump) (4) 32Small flat computer type? (8) Down 1a drawing tool used to draw circles at different radii. (7) 2Which local business slogan is 'Keep the

7 8 9 10

21 22

23 24

28 29

31 32

By Don Waterfield wheels turning'? (2words) (11) 3'Do or do not there is no ---.' (from Star Trek) (3) 5What street in Salem has a documented haunted house on it? (7) 6Magic city? (7) 7'Fallen Fire -------' A bronze by Betty Branch outside the Roanoke Transportation museum. (7) 8Total feet in height of the Mill Mountain Star. (11) 9Hit the bricks? (5) 11They have erected a flag pole made

from a 911 tower beam as a memorial in Salem (2-words) (13) 13Time stands still for no ---. (from Antz) (3) 14Downtown tobacconist since 1912 (5) 16Nearby town containing a university with the same name. (7) 17Return punch (5) 18The part of Hotel Roanoke which served as an officer's club during WWII. (2words) (8) 20It was re-planted in

the middle of McClannahan Street where it didn’t belong in the first place (4) 21Account (abbreviation) (4) 23They produce 'bilevel security' in Salem. (6) 25Uniform Resource Locator (abbrev.) (3) 27River tower (3) 28---- dokey (4) 30An intrecate network. (3)

Find the answers online: TheRoanokeStar.com Have a clue and answer you’d like to see? email: puzzles@theroanokestar.com

5/23/08 |The Roanoke Star-Sentinel |Page 11

TheRoanokeStar.com

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Sherwood Memorial Park Will Host a Presentation of The Colors By The U.S. Naval Ceremonial Guard May 26 at 3 P.M.

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Those present will receive a Sherwood Memorial Veterans Flag. Ask about our New Premier Veterans Garden and our Veterans Discounts. (540 ) 389-1049 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike Salem, Va 24153

The softail Series Come to Roanoke Valley Harley-Davidson and let us help you find out!

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Page 12 | The Roanoke Star-Sentinel | 5/23/08

TheRoanokeStar.com

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