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The Virginia Department of Transportation issues the following release:

STUDY TEAM PRESENTS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ROUTE 419 CORRIDOR
Citizens encouraged to attend meeting December 3
SALEM – The Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a citizen information meeting to
present recommendations to address transportation needs along the Route 419 corridor from
Route 311 to Route 220 in the Roanoke area.
The meeting will be held Thursday, December 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the gymnasium of the
Brambleton Recreation Center located at 3738 Brambleton Avenue in Roanoke.
Representatives from the MPO, VDOT and the study team will be available to answer questions
and receive comments regarding this study to determine how to make travel along the Route 419
corridor safer and more efficient.
The recommendations presented at this meeting were developed as a result of public input
gathered in the spring 2009. Input from the community, especially those who travel or live and
work within the corridor, is extremely important to the success of the study. To review materials
prior to the meeting, a draft of the study can be found at http://www.rvarc.org/419/419plan.htm.
Written comments about the study may be submitted at the meeting or by December 18 to
Michael Gray, Virginia Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 3071, Salem, VA 24153. E-mail
comments can be sent to saleminfo@VDOT.virginia.gov. Please reference “Route 419 Study
Comments” in the subject heading.
Anyone requiring special assistance to attend and participate in this meeting may contact
VDOT’s Civil Rights Division at 540-387-5320, 800-611-5812 or TTY/TDD 711.

So, what do you think needs to be done? You can share your comments below.

These photos of North Cross winning the VISAA State Championship in volleyball Saturday were sent to us by Chris Caveness and Heather Donaho.

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

To celebrate 15 successful years in business, The Gem Gallery is changing it’s name to Frantz Diamonds & Jewelry.  Sherry Frantz, owner, is expanding the diamond jewelry she offers, including Infinity Diamonds from Belgium.  In an economy where most small businesses are suffering, Sherry is thriving!
To start things off, November 22nd ,  Frantz Diamonds & Jewelry will be featured in a “sticky” on the front page of the Roanoke Times. One lucky person will win 75% off any item they purchase at the store! Hundreds more will receive 20% off.
December 3rd will be an all day event on location, 3540 Electric Road. Door Prizes of diamonds, pearls, coupons, & more will be handed out throughout the day.  50% off hundreds of items! Frantz Diamonds & Jewelry will continue to offer: Gold Buying, Watch Repair, a Full Service Jeweler.
Sherry is making a new name for herself in the Diamond industry and is bringing her expertise into her store in Roanoke.  Frantz Diamonds & Jewelry is going to reflect that change to the Roanoke Valley. The steadfast reputation Sherry has earned as the premier, local jewelry store in Roanoke is now going to improve.

Frantz Diamonds & Jewelry, known as The Gem Gallery
Est. 1994 by Sherry Badii Frantz
Promenade Park. 3540 Electric Road. Roanoke, VA
www.FrantzDiamonds.com (under construction)
please contact Anita Fullmer- Savoirfairewedding@gmail.com
cell-540-797-9540 to schedule interviews, articles, advertising.

Submitted by Anita Fullmer, Director of Marketing.

The jolly old elf from points north made his annual breakfast appearance at Tanglewood Mall on Saturday and, befitting a celebrity, our paparazzi photo crew was there.

So were lots of people from Southwest Roanoke County.

You can find the paparazzi photos in the slideshow above or in this gallery format.

So do you have holiday photos involving people or events from Southwest Roanoke County? Or even the North Pole? If so, you can share at news@swo-co.com.

WHAT: Roanoke County will present the 2009 State of the County Address at the site of its largest capital project – the state-of-the-art Green Ridge Recreation Center. The facility is not yet open, so the speech will provide a sneak peek for the hundreds who will be in attendance. Following Chairman Mike Altizer’s comments, the audience will be invited to tour the facility. The building will officially open to the public on January 1.

WHO: Chairman and Members of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors
Members of the Business Community

WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
7:30 a.m. (The speech will begin at 8:00 a.m., but we recommend that you arrive early to get set up.)

WHERE: Green Ridge Recreation Center – 7415 Wood Haven Road
From Interstate 581, take Exit 2 North onto Peters Creek Road
At the first stoplight, turn left onto Valleypointe Parkway
Travel 0.7 miles to the intersection with Wood

Hidden Valley's cheerleaders advanced to the state competition in Richmond on Saturday -- and we have photos by J.J. Wimmer.

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

OTHER RECENT COVERAGE OF HIDDEN VALLEY:
* Nov. 16: Photos of Hidden Valley vs. Cave Spring volleyball in regional championship
* Nov. 13: Photos of Hidden Valley volleyball in regional semi-finals
* Nov. 11: Photos of Hidden Valley band at Salem game
* Nov. 10: Photo of Hidden Valley's David Williams running for a touchdown
* Nov. 9: Paparazzi photos from the Hidden Valley - Cave Spring football game
* Nov. 9: Even more photos of Cave Spring - Hidden Valley football
* Nov. 9: More photos of Cave Spring - Hidden Valley football
* Nov. 8: Photos of Cave Spring - Hidden Valley football

A Roanoke County car wash is looking into installing new and stronger barriers after one of its employees crashed a Ford Expedition into a next-door beauty business on Saturday morning.

Just before 10 a.m., employee Stephanie Austin was driving a 2008 Ford Expedition out of the car wash headed toward another cleaning area at the Tanglewood Auto Wash on Electric Road. But the vehicle got away from her, said Officer Natalie Maxey of the Roanoke County police.

It drove straight forward, knocking down several barriers and crashing into the side of the Beauty Bar, a business next door.

“It went completely into the place of business,” Maxey said.

Some customers and employees were inside the Beauty Bar, but no one was injured, Maxey said.

She could not estimate the total damage to the building or to the vehicle.

The Ford Expedition is owned by Elizabeth Johnson of Roanoke, who was waiting for her vehicle to be cleaned, Maxey said.

Austin, 39, of Roanoke County, has been charged with reckless driving on private property, Maxey said.

Mike Bell, manager of the Tanglewood Auto Wash, said today that he does not know exactly what happened to make the Ford crash into the building. He considers the situation an accident. Austin, who has worked at the auto wash for more than a year, will remain employed, Bell said.

“Thank God nobody was hurt,” he said.

The auto wash’s insurance likely will cover damages to Johnson’s vehicle, he said.

“We are responsible for the vehicle,” Bell said.

Meanwhile, his business is evaluating what other kinds of barriers could be added between the auto wash and the Beauty Bar to prevent this kind of accident from happening again.

-- Jenny Boone

Business writer Jenny Boone has an update on Madison's restaurant -- why it abruptly closed at its previous location and how and why it's reopening in a few weeks at the site of the former Buck Mountain Grill.

Also: There's a Kroger fuel center proposed for the former Madison's site on Brambleton Avenue.

Find all the details on Jenny's retail blog, The Storefront.

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.