From my Inbox to you. Virginia Museum of Transportation Director of Marketing informs me there are still a few Sunday slots left open.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation
to give rail fans a chance to operate a steam locomotive

At the Throttle
Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19

Train lovers will have the rare opportunity to operate the
New Hope Valley Railway #17 0-4-0 Tank Steam Locomotive.  

“At the Throttle” sessions will last 30 minutes. A qualified railroad engineer will
be in the cab with participants at all times.
Cost for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is $125.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) announces the “At the Throttle” program, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will put train lovers in the operator’s seat of a steam locomotive on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19.

Participants in the program will be in control of the New Hope Valley Railways #17 steam locomotive, a 0-4-0 tank engine, for 30 minutes. A qualified railroad engineer will be in the cab with participants at all times.

“Train lovers will experience what it was like to run a steam engine during the golden age of railroads,” said Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr., executive director of the Virginia Museum of Transportation. “They can reach up, open the throttle and feel the engine move at their command.”

Participants in “At the Throttle” must be at least 18-years-old and have a valid driver’s license. Clothing appropriate to a working railyard should be worn at all times. Long sleeves, long pants, work boots and gloves are recommended.

Those wishing to participate in the program can register online at vmt.org or in person at the Museum’s downtown Roanoke location. Read more »

Here are updates on two regional theaters, one of which shut down suddenly in July, the other of which is struggling to stay open.

Theater at Lime Kiln in Lexington launched a campaign in July to raise nearly $400,000 by the end of this year to keep from closing its doors. The theater’s effort to keep from going dark has taken some promising turns, but its most daunting goal remains unresolved.

Executive Director Tony Russell has said that in order for the beleaguered outdoor theater to finish its 2012 season in the black, its employees are all willing to forgo their salaries for September.

The season has two more shows to go this month, after which the staff will know whether they’ll need to give up their pay, Russell said.

Lime Kiln is holding a fund drive to raise $100,000 to cover next year’s operating costs, and asking for Lexington and Rockbridge County to join forces to give the struggling nonprofit $200,000 over the next three years to pay for renovations.

So far, the fund drive has raised about $50,000, and Russell believes an invitation-only fundraising “speakeasy” to be held Sept. 27 might put that part of the campaign over the top.

The theater has also secured a federal loan for more than $90,000, which will be used for facility upgrades.

Russell said that if the theater gets no indication that it will receive any help from local government, it may refund the fund drive money, as Lime Kiln won’t be able to continue.

Meanwhile, the building that housed Studio Roanoke is up for sale for $575,000. Owner and Studio Roanoke founder Kenley Smith said that though there’s been some interest, “Nobody’s seriously contacted me about maintaining it as a theater.”

Click here to read the rest of the column.

This just in: the Saturday, Sept. 15 fund raiser in Floyd headlined by actress Tippi Hedren has been cancelled.

Hedren had been scheduled to arrive in Floyd County prior to Saturday to film scenes in “House of Good and Evil,” an indie film shoot that’s under way this month.

Because of an unexpected schedule change, Hedren won’t be coming this week,  production spokeswoman Michele Morris said. The film crew is still hopefully they’ll be able to film her scenes later in the month.

Those seeking refunds for tickets should contact the Floyd County Chamber of Commerce at 745-4407.

 

Blogger’s note 8/30: I’ve updated this post to add our newest stories.

The violent crime drama set in Franklin County, based on Matt Bondurant’s novel of moonshine running, The Wettest County in the World, opens in theaters this week. Are you going to see it? What do you think?

Here’s some of our past coverage of this film as its wound its way through development in Hollywood.

• Film review: Movie ‘Lawless’ not flawless in showing its layers of fiction

• Bondurant kin leery of ‘Lawless’ portrayal

• Rocky Mount goes Hollywood with ‘Lawless’

• Cannes Film Festival abuzz over ‘Wettest County’ moonshine flick

• So, it’s not “The Wettest County in the World” anymore. It’s the most “Lawless” county in the world.

• ‘Wettest County’ — Franklin County — goes Hollywood

• Prospects for “The Wettest County in the World” appear to have dried up.

• Australian film director hints at ‘Wettest County’ casting

• Franklin County Gothic

NOTE: The final few words of the story were omitted from the print edition. The complete story appeared on our website (click here to read.) We regret the goof.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY OF THE CENTER IN THE SQUARE RENOVATION PROJECT.

Passers-by on Campbell Avenue in Roanoke can’t help but notice the view through the temporary chain link fence into the cavernous depths of the Center in the Square atrium.

Though the building appears gutted, Center President and CEO Jim Sears said the $27 million renovation of the downtown institution remains on schedule and under budget.

“Since those areas are open to the weather they look probably more raw,” he explained.

With the outside walls on the ground floor removed, and no glass enclosing the atrium skylight or the hole in the roof where the new butterfly garden will go, the inside of the building is exposed to the elements. The cascade of ribbon-like Dorothy Gillespie sculptures mounted on the interior wall beneath the skylight can be seen from the street.

“We’re keeping them in place,” Sears said of the sculptures, adding that they’ll be “nicely cleaned” when the project is done.

Also visible from the street: a pit carved out of the first floor by the Campbell side of the building. This is where a 5,500-gallon salt-water aquarium will go. It’ll be recessed a couple feet into the floor, which needed to be reinforced to support it, Sears said.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Blair Peyton, the driving force behind the locally-produced comedy show “Tuned Out,” tells me that he intends to stick with its late night WSLS (Channel 10) time slot (12:30 a.m. Sunday nights (technically Monday mornings)) as the cast prepares for season four. If you missed the grand finale of season three, featuring Ross Laguzzi of the comedy troupe Big Lick Conspiracy, you can watch it by clicking here. In fact, you can watch all their episodes to date at the “Tuned Out” website.

From my Inbox to you:

Rescue Mission Holds Permanent Art Collection Reception to Announce Winners

The Rescue Mission will hold the Awards Reception for their 6^th Annual Permanent Art Collection Competition (PAC)  in the Men’s Shelter at the Rescue Mission  on Sunday, May 6 at 2pm at the Rescue Mission, located at 402 4^th Street SE Roanoke, 24013.

All entries will be on display throughout the men’s shelter beginning Sunday, May 6 through Thursday, May 31.  Winners will be announced on May 6^th, including a special category called The People’s Choice, which will be selected by overnight guests of the shelter.

The reception will offer the chance to meet the artists, tour the Rescue Mission, and enjoy refreshments and live music.

The Rescue Mission’s Permanent Art Collection Competition, sponsored by the League of Roanoke Artists and the Blacksburg Regional Art Association, provides a unique opportunity for regional artists’ work to be enjoyed and appreciated by families with almost no access to original art.

All entries to the Permanent Art Collection Competition 2012 were submitted anonymously to be independently judged by Amy Morefield, Co-Director and Chief Curator of the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University.  27 pieces from 15 artists have been selected as Finalists and are eligible to be chosen as 2012 Winners.  Read more »

Tuesday, I had an item in the Extra section about Mill Mountain Theatre’s “Greater Tuna.” (Click here to read.)

MMT Managing Director Ginger Poole provides this update:

• We have ONLY 175 tickets left for the run of GREATER TUNA!!! Please go to www.millmountain.org for your tickets…..they are going, going, and soon to be GONE!!!!! You do not want to miss this…RETURN TO YOUR SEATS!!!
•
Opening night is TONIGHT!!!

Available dates:
March 24 2PM
March 25 2PM
March 30 7:30PM
March 31 2PM
March 31 7:30PM
April 1 2PM
April 1 7:30PM

*** Some of these dates only have 10-15 tickets left***

From Sunday’s column:

Roanoke’s Star City Playhouse remains without a home after discovering Roanoke County zoning laws conflicted with their plans.

Theater director and owner Marlow Ferguson and his wife Karon held an open house Dec. 18 at 5571 Hollins Road in Roanoke County, a warehouse they hoped to convert to a theater.

Yet when Ferguson went to Roanoke County to secure a business license, county officials informed him the building was zoned industrial and couldn’t be used for the purpose he intended.

County Zoning Administrator John Murphy explained that someone who wanted to use the Hollins Road property for a theater would need to apply to have the zoning designation changed from industrial to commercial indoor entertainment. Then a building inspector would need to see if the building meets the safety codes required by the new zoning designation, and upgrades would need to be made if it didn’t meet code.

The cash-strapped theater company, which lost its first home on Williamson Road when it was auctioned to avoid foreclosure, had hoped to begin its new season last month. Ferguson has said he’s continuing to look for a place where performances can be held and where he can store his considerable collection of props and costumes.