To: The people running Explore Park
Re: This debacle with Larry Vander Maten
When you committed to this prenuptial agreement with developer Larry Vander Maten, I never publicly said, "It'll never work."
But darn, if the thought didn't cross my mind. Read more »
Is Roanoke becoming the most scandal-plagued city in Virginia?
Sure, we're not Chicago or even Detroit, where the former mayor is behind bars.
But six scandals in six years that touch on sex, politics, procurement and conflicts of interest make you wonder: Is there any other municipality in Virginia that's worse? Read more »
Every now and then, I get a hankering to give out an award for acts that strike me as just plain silly, insanely dangerous or downright senseless.
Last week, the folks behind a money-grabbing, promotional stunt in Blacksburg hit the trifecta.
The winner of the Shanna Flowers "What Were They Thinking?" award is ... drumroll, please ... the publicity feat dreamed up by an Ohio advertising firm promoting the opening of the new First & Main shopping center on Main Street. Read more »
Here we are on Day Nine of Mousegate, and still there are more questions than answers.
When does all the Roanoke City Market Building drama end?
When do vendors realize the issue is bigger than them?
When does the city fully grasp that it owns the prime piece of real estate in a downtown that is the center of this region, and yet the building looks like it belongs to a slumlord who does just enough to get by?
When does city council summon the guts to scrap the idea of an amphitheater that is nothing more than a campaign promise and focus on the renovation of a building that has the potential to become the gem of the region?
A "fall cleanup" at the market building?
Do City Manager Darlene Burcham and her communications crew at Roanoke city hall think we have "stupid" plastered on our foreheads?
I'm sensing a greater -- and overdue -- urgency among Roanokers to reach young people in the community.
Total Action Against Poverty is working on ways to delve into the difficulties confronting boys and teens.
FEDUP -- Families Expecting Deliverance Using Prayer -- held its annual candlelight vigil Saturday to keep the spotlight on alleviating youth violence.
The Rev. Bill Lee of Loudon Avenue Christian Church recently challenged men in his church to become mentors.
"Taking Back the City," a multichurch revival, got under way Monday night in Melrose Park in an effort to help young people avoid the pitfalls of violence, drugs, teen sex and other social ills.
The encouraging effort continues later this week with a youth conference for seventh- through 12th-graders. Several community agencies planned the three-day conference under the auspices of the city of Roanoke.
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers is rethinking some of his proposed changes for the way City Council treats visitors.
After his election, Bowers recommended some changes to give Council a more "friendly face to our citizens." But now he's stepping back, saying he realizes some of the current procedures do work.
In his comments, Bowers wasn't specific which of his proposals he's backing away from. But I suspect it probably has something to do with increasing the length of time for speakers.
After sitting in on a recent meeting, we can only hope.
After decades of problems at Salem Ridge Apartments, a 13-member task force dipped its toes in the current of complaints from residents at the complex.
Let's hope the panel actually dives in. A lot of people will be eager to see what happens.
Late last week, the task force took a cursory survey of the trouble-plagued units formerly known as Willow River after residents complained about mold, general neglect, smell and health worries.
Joe Smith?
If anything, Brian Wishneff should be investigated for lack of originality -- but nothing else.
You may recall the eleventh hour, full-page smear job in The Roanoke Times against political newcomer Court Rosen just before the May 6 Roanoke City Council election. The ad claimed it was paid for by "Joe Smith, Citizens for Sensible Decisions."
A few days later, Wishneff 'fessed up to his involvement in the ad.
For pete's sakes, let the kids skateboard!
In typical fashion, the adults on the Vinton Town Council overreacted because a few bad apples have defaced a Gearhart Park skating area that, shamefully, town officials weren't taking care of anyway.
So what did the town leaders do? Voted to close the skate park by the end of this month.
There, that'll show those troublemaking kids.
Problem is, the council's shortsighted decision hurts the good kids, too.
In her signature plainspoken style, Michigan native Shanna Flowers peels away the layers and gets to the heart of the issues. No pretense. Just straightforward perspective. Shanna writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Read Shanna's column three days a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at roanoke.com
