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ROANOKE, Va. (November 5, 2009) – Area children are completing a massive quilt decorated with images of peace and tolerance as part of the Conflict Resolution Center’s Peace by Piece initiative.

Peace by Piece is an ongoing art project sponsored by the CRC to increase the community’s awareness of and interest in peace, tolerance and collaboration. The CRC is bringing together children from a variety of neighborhoods, communities and organizations so they can each create a quilt square to illustrate a story representing what peace means to them.

Reflecting the ties that bind individuals into healthy communities, each of the hundreds of squares will connect to one another and to a centerpiece containing an image of a dove, the universal symbol of peace.

“Once assembled, the quilt will embody the ideal that, when we work together, our diverse perspectives and world views are the pieces that strengthen the fabric of harmonious, sustainable communities,” said Alice Burlinson, chair of the CRC’s board of directors. “The quilt will serve to show that there is endless strength and opportunity within our communities because people see things differently.”

To complete the project, children were asked to convey their thoughts, ideas and dreams about what peace means to them on an 8-inch quilt square. With the help of Kim Weitkamp, a nationally recognized storyteller, the children were guided through the creative process using imagery techniques to write a story about peace.

Using these stories as a guide, the children created their quilt squares to reflect or illustrate the peaceful memory or vision described in their story.  Once the quilt has been assembled, the quilt and each of the stories will be on display in the Taubman Museum of Art.  The display will allow viewers to identify the corresponding stories and quilt squares.

Peace by Piece debuts at the CRC’s invitation-only annual meeting on Nov. 17 at the Taubman museum and will remain on display in the auditorium through January. On Dec. 3, children involved in creating the quilt will showcase their work to their families with an event at the museum.

To view photos of children creating the squares, please visit www.conflictresolutioncenter.us/peacebypiece.html.

ABOUT CONFLICT RESOLUTION CENTER

The non-profit Conflict Resolution Center offers innovative ways to resolve differences outside of the courtroom. The Center serves families, businesses, community organizations and governments throughout southwest Virginia through mediation, facilitation, training and restorative justice. To learn more, visit www.conflictresolutioncenter.us.

Submitted by Thomas Becher

Sarah Palin's book tour will bring her to Roanoke on Nov. 22 -- but her stop will be at the Valley View Barnes and Noble, not the one at Tanglewood.

We have details here.

The former Republican vice presidential candidate is on a nationwide book tour to promote her book, "Going Rogue." The Associated Press reports today that one of her confirmed stops in Roanoke -- and that many of her appearances are associated with the Barnes and Noble chain.

Barnes and Noble has two stores in Roanoke -- one at Tanglewood, one at Valley View.

So will we see the former Alaska governor at Tanglewood?

We're working on getting details about Palin's visit. When we find out more, we'll let you know.

Until then, here's what we know.

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and hospices across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about important care issues for people coping with life-limiting illness.

“Every year, more than 1.4 million people living with a life-limiting illness receive care from hospice and palliative care providers in this country,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “These highly-trained professionals don’t only provide quality medical care. They work to make sure patients and families find dignity, respect, and love during life’s most difficult journey.

Hospice is more than traditional healthcare. Hospice and palliative care programs provide pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible. Hospice and palliative care combines the highest level of quality medical care with the emotional and spiritual support that families need most when facing the end of life.

*** In recognition of National Hospice Month, Good Samaritan Hospice will host information tables at TanglewoodNew River Valley malls throughout the month of November (every Tuesday from 9 a.m. – noon) to help people learn more about hospice and palliative care.  Representatives will available to answer questions about advance directives and other end-of-life issues.  Good Samaritan Hospice is committed to bringing important information to this area and will join with organizations across the nation hosting activities that celebrate this unique system of support.

Additional information about hospice, palliative care and advance care planning is available from Good Samaritan Hospice by calling 776-0198 (Roanoke), 381-3171 (New River Valley) or by visiting www.goodsamhospice.org.

Submitted by: Cindy Hagerman, Director of Community Relations

Our paparazzi photo crew was at Tanglewood Mall for the mall's annual trick-or-treat event, and so were a lot of people from Southwest Roanoke County.

You can view all the photos in the slideshow above or in this gallery format.

Do you have photos from your Halloween trick-or-treating? If so, you can share at news@swto-co.com.

In today's print editon of SWoCo, we ran this photo by John Tyree from the Cave Spring Middle - Hidden Valley Middle volleyball game and asked: Who's the guy in the lobster hat?

Well, silly us!

Today, we get an email from Lauren Nepper who tells us: " I am here to tell you why that guy is wearing a lobster hat and zebra socks. He is wearing those things because he told us (the volleyball team) that if we won one of the games that he would wear the hat and soces for the rest of the game. Oh and by the way he was the volleyball coach for Cave Spring Middle School. Thanks for putting this picture in!"

And thanks, Lauren, for letting us know!

Do you have photos from around Southwest Roanoke County? If so, you can share at news@swo-co.com.

Construction is underway. Business writer Jenny Boone has an update on the new Bojangle's in this post on her retail blog, The Storefront.

Well, actually we have a lot of photos from Tuesday's JV volleyball match between Hidden Valley and Salem -- but they came from a Salem parent, so most of the photos focus on the Salem side of the net.

Still, in some you can see some Titans in action, such as this photo at left.

Those are Hidden Valley players going high over the net.

You can see all of Kim Smith's photos in this gallery.

Do you have photos from the game? Or anything else, for that matter, involving people from Southwest Roanoke County? If so, you can share at news@swo-co.com.

OTHER RECENT COVERAGE OF HIDDEN VALLEY:
* Oct. 27: Photos of Hidden Valley band at state competition
* Oct. 26: Hidden Valley participates in Passionately Pink Day
* Oct. 26: More photos of Hidden Valley - Pulaski football
* Oct. 24: Photos from Hidden Valley - Pulaski football
* Oct. 17: Video highlights of Hidden Valley vs. Christiansburg football
* Oct. 16: Hidden Valley Art Club holds haunted house fundraiser
* Oct. 15: Hidden Valley library holds book fair at Barnes and Noble Nov. 7-12
* Oct. 14: VHSL rating points for Hidden Valley football
* Oct. 12: Photos of Hidden Valley band vs. Blacksburg
* Oct. 10: Video highlights from Hidden Valley - Blacksburg game
* Oct. 8: Hidden Valley student named National Merit semi-finalist
* Oct. 8: Terri Hurt shares photo from Hidden Valley homecoming
* Oct. 7: Brooke Odenwelder shares photo from Hidden Valley homecoming
* Oct. 6: Photo from Hidden Valley powder puff game
* Oct. 5: Paparazzi photos from Hidden Valley homecoming dance
* Oct. 5: Photos of Hidden Valley's band in the homecoming parade
* Oct. 5: Photos from Hidden Valley's homecoming game
* Oct. 3: Photos from Hidden Valley's homecoming parade

More construction is underway at West Village, but no new leases have been signed. Business writer Jenny Boone has an update on what's happening there in this post on her retail blog, The Storefront.

Lewis-Gale sends the following release:

HCA Virginia Takes Extra Measures to Lessen the Spread of H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Virus

Salem, Va. (Oct. 22, 2009) -- In order to combat what may be one of the worst flu seasons in recent history, HCA Virginia Health System announced today extra measures that will be taken to lessen the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu virus.

Temporary visitation policies at all HCA Southwest Virginia Hospitals – Lewis-Gale Medical Center, Alleghany Regional, Montgomery Regional, and Pulaski Community -- will go into effect Monday, October 26, and remain effective throughout the flu season:

• Individuals under the age of 18 will be restricted from all areas of the hospital unless being treated as a patient.
• In all inpatient units, adult visitors are limited to two people at a time.
• Visitors may be required to wear masks or other protective clothing when visiting.
• On the Maternity Unit, visitors are limited to the parents, significant other of the mother, and the grandparents of the newborn.
• All maternity tours will be canceled through the duration of the flu season.
• While individuals are discouraged from visiting patients with flu-like symptoms, if visitation is necessary, only one visitor at a time will be allowed and a mask and other protective gear will be required.
• If the influenza pandemic warrants further limitations, visiting hours may be restricted at the discretion of the hospitals.

"We are taking these extra measures to make certain we have the safest possible environment for our patients who are much more vulnerable to the effects of the flu,” said Victor E. Giovanetti, President, HCA Southwest Virginia. “We also need to keep our employees healthy, as well as anyone who comes through the doors of all our hospitals.”

-more-
Previous measures implemented by the four hospitals in early October included the requirement of all its employees being vaccinated against the seasonal flu or wearing a mask when entering patient-care areas.

“With our integrated healthcare system, many patients receive care from the HCA hospital in their local community, as well as Lewis-Gale, so we are implementing a consistent policy throughout the region at all four hospitals,” added Giovanetti. “We know these restrictions will be an inconvenience for some patients and their families, but these steps are in the best interest of our patients and the entire community as we work to limit the spread of flu.”
With widespread H1N1 flu, the decision to prohibit those under 18 is based on the fact that children, in particular, are more likely to get H1N1 flu and they can be infectious for longer periods of time, putting them at greater risk of carrying the virus into health care settings. Limited exceptions for special circumstance visitations will be made, for example, involving patients at the end of life or expectant and new fathers under the age of 18. These exceptions will be evaluated and determined at the discretion of the health care providers.

Each year in the United States more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and 36,000 people die from the flu. This year the H1N1 flu may cause a more dangerous flu season, with many more people getting sick and hospitalized and higher mortality rates. Flu symptoms include fever, coughing, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, headaches, body aches, chills, and fatigue, with the additional symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea associated with the H1N1 flu. For more information go to hcavirginia.com