What’s so great about Vinton? People ask me quite a bit “Why Vinton?” I talk about the great things about Vinton to just about anyone who will listen and I do it as often as anyone will listen. Sometimes, they just don’t get it. They don’t get the people, the history, the athletics, the schools (I’ve even shown them the 9/9/09 issue with the “Nine Favorite things”) but they just don’t seem to understand. Heck, some of them don’t even know where exactly Vinton is (I always remind them that you have to actually pass Fallon Park before you actually get into Vinton.) This week I’m going to continue to state my case of the greatness of our area with some examples of the great things that take place here in Vinton. They show the selflessness of our friends and neighbors, the pride in our schools and children and are just the things that make Vinton, Vinton. This past Saturday, William “Chad” Whitworth, a Byrd grad, along with a portion of the neighborhood of Dillon Woods, ran their first ever “neighborhood yard sale.” According to Whitworth, it was a great success. Whitworth is a local realtor and this yard sale wasn’t your typical yard sale with folks looking to bring in a few dollars to go towards next year’s vacation, in this yard sale, all the money went to charity… every single dime. The charities that are the recipeients of Whitworth and everyone else’s kindness are; The Rescue Mission www.rescuemission.net Phone# 343-7227 Mailing Address P.O. Box 11525 ROANOKE,VA 24022 (Tap) Total Action Against Poverty www.tapintohope.com Phone# 345-6781 P.O.Box 2868 Roanoke,VA24001 (USO) United Service Organizations www.uso.org 1-800-876-7469 USO Headquarters Department US P.O.Box 96860 Washington DC 20090
W.E. Cundiff Elementary School is having their annual “Fall Festival” taking place this Saturday to benefit the Cundiff PTA. According to Laurie Mullins, the VP of the PTA, the festival will include “games, food (hot dogs, BBQ, snow cones, cotton candy), a silent auction, did I mention games, fun, performances by Floyd Ward School of Dance and Star City Twirlers, and games!” The festival takes place at the school at 1200 Hardy Rd. from 11am to 3pm.
Vendors, including the Vinton Voice, will be in the gym so stop on by and see us, as well as everyone else. Speaking of Fall Festivals, I don’t know if there is a much better event in our area than the Vinton Fall Festival, put on by the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce. The events start Saturday October 10th at 7am with the pancake breakfast at the VFW building and the 5k run/walk at 8. Then, literally all day long, from 9-4 there are things happening. There is so much more than the space Dan (the editor) allows me to mention, so head on over to www.vintonchamber.com and click on the Fall Festival brochure link, you’re bound to find something you’ll like. It’s not too late to sign up, and yes, the Voice will be there too! Finally, this Saturday, either before or after you make it to the Cundiff Fall Festival, head on over to the 1st ever “Running with the Terriers” Motorcycle Rally and Poker run. This is a really great idea thought up by Coach Eric Royal and John Mooney, Sr. They wanted something different to be able to do as a fundraiser and I personally think they nailed this one on the head, as it certainly is “different” but is also appealing. I asked Trudy Boyd, who is in charge of sponsorships for the event, to explain this event for me and here’s what she had to say “On the day of the event, motorcycle riders can register from 9 AM - 11 AM and will be starting and ending their run from the school. At registration, they will receive a tally sheet and draw for their first card of the Poker hand. Along the course, riders will draw 3 more cards at designated stops. The last poker hand card will be drawn when they return. This process assures that riders have safely completed the course and have a valid tally sheet. To avoid traffic jams, bikes will be spaced out in small groups when leaving. As an added bonus, this is also a Texas Hold’em for the riders. We have placed 2 more cards in designated sponsor establishments for the participants to try to make a poker hand. If the cards in that business make the hand, the participant wins that sponsor’s prize.” They will also have live bands from 12-4 and there will be a bike and car show in the show area as well as food available. This is another event where sponsorship opportunities are still available as well as spaces for vendors. They currently have an impressive number of sponsors that include;
Liberty Lake Diner, Bedford McDonald’s, Vinton Motorcycles & More, Vinton Old Town Jewelers, Vinton Outside the Box Tatoos and Body Piercing, Moneta P.T.’s Tavern, Roanoke Peaks of Otter Winery, Bedford Star City Power Sports, Roanoke The Dogwood, Vinton Gift for Drawings 460 Roadhouse, Roanoke Big Bad Wolf BBQ, Roanoke Famous Anthony’s, Roanoke Grand Rental Station, Vinton Mango’s Bar and Grill, Moneta Donations Advantage Realty Audio Sound Berglund Outdoors Branch and Associates, Inc Cundiff’s Drug Store Dr. Timothy Janowicz, DDS Kroger Up-N-Running Virginia Printwear Woods Towing …but they could always use some more.
Now, if you’re like me and you’ve got friends who just don’t “get” Vinton and our area, pick ‘em up on Saturday and take them to Cundiff’s festival or the Poker run…or heck, take ‘em to both. Bring them to the Fall Festival in October. These are just a few of the many, many things we are proud of. Even if they don’t “get” it, we sure as heck do.
Texas Hold’em Allsport Cycles, Roanoke Brookside Par 3 Golf Course, Roanoke Bud’s Motocycle R & R, Inc., Roanoke Hooters of Roanoke
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