A group of developers planning to bring a big-box retailer to a rundown Salem shopping center will collect an anticipated $3 million in tax incentives for the project.

The Salem City Council approved the incentive deal with BET Wilkinson Salem Venture LLC by a 4-0 vote Monday evening. However, the name of the new store slated to replace the West Salem Plaza has not been officially released.

Reporter Pete Dybdahl has the latest here. So what do you think of the development? Feel free to click “comment” below.

The “roaring twenties” were exciting years marked by prohibition and the fight for women’s suffrage. Jazz music was taking center stage and flappers were the women of the day.

1920 was also the year that twins Sybil James and Sylvia Jamison were born. To celebrate their recent eighty-eighth birthday, it seemed only right to throw a party fit for the era.

Almost 50 residents of the Summerville Assisted Living Community came to the July 26 party organized by Kay Martin, daughter of Sybil James. Guests ate cake, drank punch— prohibition-friendly alcohol-free punch, of course— and played 1920s casino games like roulette for prizes. They also played “88” in lieu of the popular card game “21.”

“They did a nice thing I think,” said Sylvia, who worked in Florida for a number of years as a bookkeeper for the space program.

Her sister Sybil worked for The Roanoke Times and World News as a secretary in the late ‘50s. Sybil’s husband, Frank James also worked with the Times in the circulation department for nearly 30 years.

“I enjoyed it [the party] very much,” added Sylvia as the jazz music died down and the guests made their way to the door.

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Last Saturday, Longwood Park in Salem was the place to be for food, fun and funky jazz thanks to the Salem Parks and Recreation Department’s tenth annual “Jazz in July” festival.

This year the family-friendly event, which was also sponsored by Q-99 FM, Four Seasons Sunrooms and the Salem Merchants Association, brought about 300 people to the park with lawn chairs and blankets in tow.

Though festival-goers were allowed to bring a picnic lunch, the Salem Kiwanis Club was on hand to sell hamburgers, hotdogs and Sno-Cones. The festival’s attendees also had the chance to win a number of raffles from the various sponsors—including a top-of-the-line grill from Q-99 FM.

Five bands played almost nonstop from 3 – 9:30 p.m. and, with the park’s the hilly landscape creating natural stadium-seating, most spectators were able to find a perfect view of the stage. Young and old alike enjoyed the full evening of classic jazz hits like Bill Withers’ “Aint No Sunshine” and Miles Davis’ “Solar.”

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Check out photos from the most recent Salem After 5 here! Burning Bridges rocked the house with recent and classic rock hits–call it what you want, but “beach boy” music was nowhere within hearing range.

Photo: from left: Janice Adams, Gwen George, and Matthew George, all of Salem, usually come to every After 5. Aaron Lovern and Brittany Dowdy came all the way out from Radford.

Will Hicks, Walker Peterson and Emma Brownmiller of Salem enjoy taking a break from the heat!

Do you have any fun in the sun photos? Send them to us at <a href=”http://news@sosalem.com“>news@sosalem.com!

Well, we don’t know, either. But sports writer Robert Anderson lists that question as one of his top 10 things to watch during this fall’s football season. For more on Robert’s questions — Salem or otherwise, click here.

If you have thoughts to share about Salem football, you can click “comments” below.