In honor of Veterans Day (a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good) the American Legion Post 248 will conduct their Veterans Day Poppy Drive, Friday, November 13, 2009, and Saturday, November 14, 2009, at the Kroger stores located on Brambleton Avenue and at Cave Spring Corners.
All funds collected will be used locally at the Salem VA Medical Center, the Virginia Veterans Care Center, and for Veterans in need.
Thank you for your support of our local Veterans, they were there for you, now you can be there for them.
For More Information Contact:
Robert Delano, Commander American Legion Post 248
The American Legion … Still Serving America
Phone: 540-389-9520
Also refer to The White House Proclamation for additional information regarding Veterans Day by logging on to http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/docs/proclamation_2009.pdf
Submitted by Commander Robert Delano of American Legion Post 248.
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.
Tuesday morning, Oct 27 marked a pivotal time for the new South County Library, which was scheduled to be built over a year ago in July 2008. The building of the 55,000 square-foot library was delayed when the plans came up over budget last year. Now the county has come one step closer to a new full-service library branch- the first in over 30 years.
Community members, Roanoke County Officials, and Roanoke County Library Officials gathered at10:30 a.m. for a ceremony prior to the breaking of ground. Speakers included Diane D. Hyatt, Assistant County Administrator, Charlotte A. Moore, Supervisor, Cave Spring District, Diana L. Rosapepe, Director of Library Services, Michael W. Altizer, Chairman, Board of Supervisors, James O. Nelson, Chair of the Library Board of Trustees, John L. Nettles, President of Friends of the Library, and B. Clayton Goodman III, Roanoke County's Administrator. Several children also participated in the groundbreaking event, Ella Lawrence, Jackson Lawrence, Adrianna Hall, T. K. Washington, Brennan Washington, and Xavier Mills Also present was former County Administrator John Chambliss and Board of Supervisors, Joseph B. "Butch" Church and Joseph P. McNamara.
Moore said that this will be the first library built in the Cave Spring District.
"The walking trails will provide hands-on education near schools and the wetlands," Moore said.
Rosapepe humored the crowd with descriptions of what patrons can expect not to have to do once the new library opens. These included darting across 410, waiting for use of computers, books stuff on the shelves on their sides, and being too close to strangers.
Altizer said, "I want to thank my board- everybody for being so proactive."
According to Nelson the last constructed library was the Glenvar Library 30 years ago. He also said that it has long been recognized the need for a new library.
"This is an exciting time to see the construction of this new library," Nelson said.
County Administrator Goodman said, "This library will be different. It will be a living library. It's going to become a community center. I've only been here six months, so I do not take credit for it, but I'd like to thank the board and those those around us like John Chambliss and Elmer Hodge."
The plan for the library, which will be built on Merriman Road across from Penn Forest Elementary, will provide modern features and a community meeting space, and even walking trails along the site's natural wetlands. This new library will replace the current, outdated and crowded 419/HQ Library built 40 years ago. It is currently the busiest library out of six branches in the county. 400,000 people visit the 419/HQ Library.
Plans for the new library began in 2005 after a comprehensive assessment of future needs. The library will cost $9 million and will be 54,000 square feet, including 5,000 square feet for an auditorium or community meeting space. The library is expected to be open on or before June 2011.
Upon entering the South County Library, patrons will find a roundabout at the intersection of Meadowlark Road and Merriman Road. Completion of the roundabout is tentatively on or before September 2010 and is hoped to minimize traffic disruptions on those roads.
The South County Library will have books, DVDS, and other materials, a copy center and self-checkout station on the first level. It will also include a children's area and story-time room, computer stations, meeting rooms, and seating options. There will also be a bookstore and coffee shop operated by Friends of the Library. A drive-through lane will also be provided where patrons can pick up or return materials.
On the second floor patrons can expect an adult collection of books, another copy center, reference materials, research desk, computer instructional lab, seating areas and views of the wetlands, study rooms, Young Adult room with teen reading materials, projection screen, computers, two diner-style booths for group study and a board and conference room.
Another feature will include a raised walking trails through the wetlands that will link to nearby parks and athletic fields. Informational signs will also be placed throughout the trails.
According to a recent press release, the South County Library is:
-designed specifically for the site, reducing impact on the wetland area and optimizing building orientation for day lighting and views
-incorporates many sustainable features, including an open space design, energy efficient heating and air conditioning systems, solar glazed windows, recycled materials and building components
-has created an opportunity to create an educational partnership between the schools, wetlands, walking trails and the library.
-will be a warm and welcoming community center
-a modern building designed to meet the needs of all citizens for many years to come.
View the slideshow above for photos, or click here for a more traditional view.
The Blue Ridge Potters Guild Show is coming up Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 at Cave Spring High School -- and here's a video from the group about what the potters are all about. You can find it on arts writer Mike Allen's Arts & Extras blog.
Southwest Roanoke County is split between two districts in the House of Delegates. Most voters will be casting their votes in race between Morgan Griffith and Carter Turner.
However, voters in the Clearbrook, Hunting Hills and Ogden precincts are in a district that stretches to Botetourt County. There, Del. William Fralin, R-Roanoke, is retiring and Republican Bill Cleaveland and Democrat Gwen Mason are running to succeed him.
1. What is the most important issue facing Virginia during the next four years?
The budget. Its tentacles extend into all facets of state government.
Just like in our families, Virginia is not immune to the impact of the worst financial climate in many generations. I will focus on working with valid numbers both on the income and spending sides of that equation. I believe the state’s income shortfall is likely to be between 4 to 5 billion dollars. With that level of deficit, serious cuts will have to be made and I do not see tax increases as an option.
Tax increases will break the backs of Virginia’s families and will also cost us even more through additional lost jobs. Even with this seemingly bleak scenario, I see an opportunity here for the state to “reset” its priorities back to core functions of government-education, economic development/jobs, transportation and public safety. This realignment will cause us to have to prioritize spending, again just as we have to do in our own homes. While these are tough times, we WILL get through them and I believe we will come out on the other side strengthened by a commitment to begin living within our means.
2. How do you propose to deal with this issue?
I will seek to reverse excessive and wasteful state spending and I will work to ensure that we also develop realistic revenue projections for the income side of the budget. Unrealistic projections on both income and expenditures have gotten us into this mess, and I believe we must do a more accurate job in this area. These are tough times and they will require tough decisions to be made, but just like we must do at home, Virginia must learn to live within its means, too.
3. What is the best decision that the General Assembly has made in recent years, and why do you think this was the best?
I believe that the General Assembly’s dealing with the state’s mental health issues (post VA Tech) marked one of its best decisions in recent years. First, it brought to the forefront a serious problem that had been neglected for far too long. Secondly, it provided a positive initiative to provide help for those suffering from mental illness and put in place procedures to help protect the public from becoming victims of violent patients.
4. What is the worst decision that the General Assembly has made in recent years, and why do you think this was the worst?
Among the worst decisions made by the General Assembly in recent years was their attempt to fund transportation infrastructure by using exorbitant “Abuser Fees.” This has got to be one of the worst ideas ever conceived. Instead of freeing up funds from waste and duplication of services, they sought to fund what are certainly much needed transportation improvements by imposing huge fines of citizens.
5. What else should voters know about you before casting their vote?
Having lived in the Roanoke Valley for more than thirty years, I love this Valley and its people. That love and respect for our people, coupled with my strong commitment to the SERVANT part of public service, makes me a person who will work WITH citizens to get their issues solved. As an attorney and as a substitute judge serving two different judicial districts, that is what I have done for my clients and for the people who appeared before me as a judge, and that is the same commitment I make to the citizens of the 17th district. I hope I can earn your vote on November 3.
John Gallagher sent us photos from Southwest County Cub Scout Pack 224 who recently spent some time at Camp Bethel in Fincastle and camped out at Spookoree 2009. Spookoree was held on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday Oct. 19.
Do you have photos involving people or events around Southwest Roanoke County? If so, you can share at news@swo-co.com.
Red Ribbon Week activities from last year at Hidden Valley Middle School. Courtesy photo
The Red Ribbon Campaign will begin for Roanoke County on Monday October 26 through the 30th and is the nation's oldest and largest drug prevention program held at the end of October every year. The purpose of the event is for young people to pledge to live drug-free and remember DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena who was killed on February 7, 1985 by Mexican drug traffickers.
Red ribbons have been used to remember Camarena and symbolize intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment toward the creation of a DRUG-FREE AMERICA.
"It's about drug abuse and alcohol prevention," Fran Kiker, Coordinator of Guidance for Roanoke County Public Schools said.
Red Ribbon week is sponsored by RAYSAC (Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition) and Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare. Read more »
All but three precincts in Southwest Roanoke County are in the 8th District, now represented by Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem. He's running for re-election against Democrat Carter Turner. We put the same five questions to both candidates, and here's what they had to say.
1. What is the most important issue facing Virginia during the next four years?
The overall economy and its effect on the state’s budget, as well as the resulting challenges directly related to the current revenue shortfall, is the most important issue facing Virginia now. Moreover, it is likely to remain an issue into the immediate future.
2. How do you propose to deal with this issue?
The right course is the one taken in the early 1990s. By avoiding raising taxes in the challenged economy, Virginia was well-positioned to lead the way to recovery. As a result, our economy grew faster than our neighbors, in part making us America’s best state for business.
3. What is the best decision that the General Assembly has made in recent years, and why do you think this was the best?
By enacting some of the nation’s toughest and most innovative laws to combat sexually violent predators, Virginia has taken a lead in dealing with a major public safety threat to our citizens. Providing for public safety is one of the core functions of government, and by enacting tough measures against these criminals, we have enhanced the safety of all Virginians.
4. What is the worst decision that the General Assembly has made in recent years, and why do you think this was the worst?
Measures that limit or restrict the freedom and liberties of law-abiding citizens take us in the wrong direction, such as “photo-red” traffic cameras. There is a presumption of guilt when you receive a ticket from this camera, and you must prove your innocence: this is unjust and erroneous.
5. What else should voters know about you before casting their vote?
Even though my responsibilities as Majority Leader give me an important statewide leadership role, my focus as Delegate continues to be improving the quality of life for the people of the Roanoke Valley.
Note: The precincts of Clearbrook, Hunting Hills and Ogden are in the 17th District, where Del. William Fralin is retiring and Republican Bill Cleaveland and Democrat Gwen Mason are running to succeed him. We're working on getting a Q&A with both of those candidates.
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About this blog
Welcome to The Notebook, the community gathering place for news and tidbits from SWoCo, by community journalist Emily Flora. You can share your comments, stories, links and ideas here, too. This is your community conversation.
For more news and information from Southwest County -- and to see the photo galleries, stories and letters from the SWoCo print edition, check out www.swo-co.com.
