Mountain bike race postponedPosted Sep05, 2008 at 11:59 AMRoanoke County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism has announced that it is postponing the MW Windows Mountain Bike Race that was planned for Saturday, Sept. 6. Here's a news release that Tourism/Event Coordinator Wendi Schultz sent this morning:
Due to the uncertainty of the weather related to Tropical Storm Hannah, we have decided to postpone the race until Sunday, September 14th. With the two major river crossings, four stream crossings, and the Still Hill obstacle, we are going to err on the side of caution to ensure public safety. We are making this call as early as possible to make certain that participants driving long distances know the race status in plenty of time. For more information call 540-483-9293 or visit www.vaderailerseries.com Fort Lewis Fire Department Chicken BBQ coming soon!Posted Sep02, 2008 at 09:04 AM
It's not too early to buy your ticket for the bi-annual chicken barbeque on September 13! Proceeds benefit the Fort Lewis Fire Department, and you get half a barbeque chicken, a drink, two veggies, bread, and a dessert -- not to mention that it's after Olde Salem Days, so you probably won't feel like cooking! Dinners can be picked up or eaten at the station between 4 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $8. Call the dept. at 387-6166 or call 798-7654. Do you have an event you'd like us to put up here on the blog and in the So Salem planner? Send it (and a picture, if you've got it) to us at news@sosalem.com! National College hosts fall festival October 4Posted Aug28, 2008 at 09:50 AMOn Saturday, October 4, National College hosts the Fall Festival from noon until 3 p.m. at 1813 East Main Street. The festival is for people of all ages. Some of the planned activities include pony rides, a magician, face painting, and a Pirate Ship - Climb, Slide, Bounce. There will be blood pressure/blood sugar checks, door prizes, and raffles. Tickets are available in advance at National College, as well as at the festival. Everyone is invited to attend. The festival is held every year as a fun way to bring the school and the community together. For more information, please contact Peggy Randall at 562-7186. More Salem After Five photosPosted Aug26, 2008 at 11:03 AMWould you like to see a few more photos of the last Salem After Five of the season? Mike Stevens took quite a few, and he posted them to the city of Salem's website here. Here's a link back to our previous Salem After Five blog, and the link for our photo gallery. Another season of Salem After Fives comes to an endPosted Aug25, 2008 at 04:32 PM
With the crunching together of football pads echoing off the mountains, the pass-by panting of conditioning cross country runners on city streets, and the thump of volleyballs in school gyms, fall is coming to a creeping start. But before the school buses started up, Salem After Five had one more chance. With "The Tams" playing and proceeds going to the Special Olympics, folks were out in large numbers. Click here for more photos of Salem After Fivers. Check the Notebook later on, and we'll have added some more pictures from Salem's communications director, Mike Stevens. Photo: Paul and Sara Helmandollar of Salem show off their new daughter, Chloe. She's just 7 weeks old. Blood bail on the mayor brings in donors for the American Red CrossPosted Aug22, 2008 at 04:44 PM
Salem’s recently elected mayor Randy Foley sat in a parlor room of the Salem Civic Center on Wednesday, August 21, bloodthirsty and under arrest. It would take six willing donors to bail him out. 19 people, including Salem residents and employees, stepped up to the task between 3 and 7 p.m. The annual drive usually coordinates with a local manufacturing plant’s union, but with the blood bank running low this summer (especially in O positive and O negative,) organizer Dalh Brown of the American Red Cross took a chance and called the mayor early in the week. Foley agreed, and two days later, he was sitting in a cardboard jail encouraging Salem to donate blood. “I probably have given maybe eight times in my life,” he said, and it was mostly sporadic, spur-of-the-moment donations. This time he donated double-reds. Most people just need a regular event to donate to, said Brown. She plans on continuing the drive with the city of Salem, and hopes to create similar “mayor’s drives” for the cities of Vinton, Roanoke, and others -- if she can convince them to go to jail for a good cause. Open your glove for free admission to the last 2008 home Avs gamePosted Aug21, 2008 at 09:29 AM Opportunity Through Baseball will be at the game collecting donations of new and used baseball equipment at the Avalanche's last home game on August 24 at 6:07 p.m. Any fan bringing a piece of equipment to the game will receive a FREE GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET into the game! Click here to see what items you can bring to get in. And, if you missed it, check out this article about Amy Webb and OTB from last month's So Salem. Photo: Owen Merritt hands off donated items to Amy Webb as they pack her car after a Richmond Braves game. Courtesy of Amy Webb. Photos from Salem Star-B-QPosted Aug20, 2008 at 07:02 PM Mike Stevens from the City of Salem has sent us eight photos from Saturday's sold-out Salem Bar-B-Q on the Farmer's Market. If you were there, you heard some great music by Acoustic Endeavors, Heartland and the headliner, Billy Currington. You also chowed down on some delicious 'cue. (Mike even provides a close-up of a sandwich.) If you weren't there, well, get your tickets early for next year. If you recognize yourself in any of these photos, let us know -- just click "comment" below. And if you have your own photos from the show, you can share them at news@sosalem.com. We had a previous post about the Star-B-Q on August 15 (which advised it was sold-out.) Donate your blood (at the Salem Civic Center today) and no one gets hurt!Posted Aug20, 2008 at 11:34 AM The Red Cross is set up at the Salem Civic Center today this morning until 1 p.m. (with no one in "custody") and will hold Salem Mayor Randy Foley "behind bars" during its second collection, starting at 3 p.m. No one will get hurt anyway, but you can save a life by donating blood. Six donors will need to step up and bail out the mayor. Chances to do so will end at 7 p.m. this evening. The donation center is in the Salem Civic Center's Parlor A from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and from 3 to 7 p.m. Bail out the mayor (or come by anyway to donate blood, and see him "locked up")! Hunters and fishermen, here it comes...Posted Aug19, 2008 at 12:29 PMThe Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen's Classic is coming to the Salem Civic Center this weekend: Friday 12 to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If the indoor bass fishing tank, outdoorsy paraphernalia, ultimate air dog qualifying matches, and wildlife calling competitions (the turkey competition is on Saturday) don't interest you, then the featured guests for the seminars should. A few include Max Rowe and Buck Buchanan from the Sportsmen Channel, Bobby Edwards with Capture Outdoors, Teddy Carr with Outdoor Action, and more. Click here for a complete list, and click here for the seminar schedule. Check out what the Roanoke Times' Outdoors columnist Mark Taylor has to say about the Expo. (And here's a link to his blog for more fishing, hunting, and outdoor adventures.) College Lutheran Church hosts a block partyPosted Aug18, 2008 at 10:48 AM
College Avenue in Salem was rocking on Sunday morning, and it wasn't from the wind-down of late night partygoers. Ice cream and sno-cones were all the rage during post service activities at College Lutheran Church. Their block party attracted a few people from the neighborhood, said Pastor Wynemah Hinlicky, but there will be more outreach for the church in the future. The service (which took place at the beginning of the party) was the first for Pastor William Wiecher since his and Pastor Wynemah Hinlicky's move to Salem. He was fulfilling duties with the Air Force National Guard until recently. Photo: The Garbers and the Frankes get ready to leave the fun event, with balloons in hand! In the background is a whale moon walk. Fall Classic Golf Tourney coming soonPosted Aug15, 2008 at 06:54 PM
The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce will host the 17th Annual Fall Classic Golf Tournament on September 4th and 5th at Hanging Rock Golf Club. Golfer registrations for this year’s tournament are due by August 31st. This Captain’s Choice tournament has three shotgun starts and tee times are Thursday, September 4 at 1:30 p.m. and Friday, September 5 at 8:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Registration fees for the tournament include green fees, cart, tournament souvenir, 2 meals, refreshments, and golfer “goodie bag” per player. Salem Star-B-Q is sold out Saturday nightPosted Aug15, 2008 at 04:46 PMMike Stevens from the City of Salem advises us that the Salem Star-B-Q Festival on the Farmers Market Saturday night is a complete sell-out. So if you don't have tickets yet . . . .well, sorry. If you do, and want to share some photos from the fun, you can send them to us at news@sosalem.com. Enjoy the 'cue. Run for the Fallen passes through SalemPosted Aug13, 2008 at 02:00 PM A nationwide run in memory of soldiers who have died in Iraq passed through Salem this morning. The group of about 10 runners started their cross-country journey in Fort Irwin, Calif., on Flag Day, June 14. They expect to finish at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug. 24 after having run roughly one mile for every fallen American serviceperson. We have a photo gallery from the run as it passed through Salem -- plus a story. At left: Salem runners Chris Tucker, Jake Hooker and Brian Hooker join the run for the Salem leg. Photos by Eric Brady If you have your own photos of the run, you can share them at news@sosalem.com Salem schools prepare for their 25th yearPosted Aug11, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Many of the City of Salem’s teachers and administrators spent the first week of August gearing up for the new school year with a three day Leadership Academy that focused on everything from SOL testing, to math scores, to how technology is rapidly changing the way students and teachers communicate and connect in the classroom. School Superintendent, Dr. Alan Seibert, spearheaded the “preseason” meeting of the minds that was held at Andrew Lewis Middle School. Principals and teachers from all six of the city’s schools took turns expressing their ideas for the upcoming school year, and also articulating some of the unique concepts that emerged from their small group interactions. “You find any good teacher and you will find a good leader,” says Seibert. “Teaching and leading are inextricably linked, and if we’re going to make things better in the classrooms for our students then we better include the teachers in the planning opportunities.” Submitted by Mike Stevens, City of Salem Communications Director Continue reading "Salem schools prepare for their 25th year" » Last free movie at Green Hill Park is August 30Posted Aug11, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism is hosting the Free Drive in Movie Series along The film will be shown on a giant 20’x 22’ inflatable screen with the sound coming through your To add to the festivities, the knights, ladies and other characters from Medieval Fantasies For more information, call the Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Live, Learn and Photos from 7th annual Summer BlastPosted Aug11, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Families from all over the Roanoke Valley came out to enjoy the fun at Green Hill Park on Saturday, August 9. With a huge bubble pit run by the Fort Lewis Fire Department, smoothies from the Hotel Roanoke, karate demonstrations, zoo creatures, mascots, bike races, and more, kids had a hard time getting bored at the Food Lion Summer Blast. Click here for more photos of the day. Do you have pictures of the Summer Blast or from other fun family activities that you'd like to share? Send them to news@sosalem.com and we'll put them up on the blog -- you might even see them in a future edition of So Salem! Iron Chef event postponed at Glenvar LibraryPosted Aug08, 2008 at 03:16 PMGlenvar teens will just have to watch the Food Network to get their dose of competitive cooking for now. Due to a scheduling conflict, the Iron Chef program at Glenvar Branch Public Library scheduled for Thursday, August 14, has been postponed. But don't forget about the first annual Glenvar Library End-of-Summer Picnic! This event is scheduled for Friday, August 22, 4 to 7 p.m. There will be a free moon bounce, obstacle course & slide, face painting, helium balloons, hot dogs, chips and more! Wii gaming in the library. Bring your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the food and fun – courtesy of the Roanoke County Public Library. Everyone is welcome! Oak Ridge Boys will play Salem Sept. 5Posted Aug05, 2008 at 12:25 PM The Oak Ridge Boys will play the Salem Civic Center on Sept. 5. Tickets are $32.50 for gold circle seats, all other reserved seats are $23.50. For tickets, see the Salem Civic Center box office, call Ticketmaster at 343-8100, or go online to For details on the band, the official release follows: Spa program at Glenvar Library shows teens a different side of the stacksPosted Aug04, 2008 at 01:04 PM The meeting room at the Glenvar Library lent itself to luxury on July 31 as Roanoke County librarians and a Wilhemina model showed teens how to apply makeup, do manicures, as well as how to make homemade beauty products. "Makeup is expensive," Hollins librarian Nancy Gattoni said. "They can make inexpensive things with oatmeal," she added. A Glenvar patron donated new makeup, and librarians dug up recipes for homemade pore strips, shaving lotion, and bath salts and let the teens mix the ingredients. They also made beeswax lipbalm (but it was too hot a process for "Spa on a Dime" night.) Some of the manicure techniques were learned by observant librarians at Divinity Lifestyle Spa in Botetourt County. Dawn Cheney, a librarian at Glenvar, invited her daughter, Whitney Spaulding out to apply (and explain) makeup to the girls that wanted it. Spaulding is a model with the Wilhemina Modeling Agency in New York and in Florida. Keep reading for the recipes if you'd like to make your own homemade comedics. Continue reading "Spa program at Glenvar Library shows teens a different side of the stacks" » Mountain Valley Cluster Dog Show is overPosted Aug04, 2008 at 11:00 AMThe showdogs aren't at the Salem Civic Center any more. I'm imagining that they're laid back at home with some puppy treats, resting up after a long weekend of primping, showing, and behaving themselves. In print, we listed that the show's continuing on through Monday and Tuesday! Sorry for the mishap. Next weekend at the Salem Civic Center, the Allstate Insurance County Flea Market to benefit juvenile diabetes on August 9 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the back parking lot. The rain date is August 16. To purchase spaces, call 540-776-6163. Also coming on August 9, Fight-Nite kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Reserved seating is $25, and general admission is $15. www.promotionsports.net Were you at the Summer Music Games?Posted Jul30, 2008 at 09:35 AMIf so, let us know what you thought by clicking "comments" below. Or, better yet, if you have photos -- feel free to share them at news@sosalem.com Twins of the twenties celebrate birthday in stylePosted Jul28, 2008 at 03:10 PM
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. Continue reading "Twins of the twenties celebrate birthday in style" » Food, fun and funky jazz at Longwood Park in SalemPosted Jul28, 2008 at 12:10 PM
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.” Continue reading "Food, fun and funky jazz at Longwood Park in Salem" » Photos from Salem After 5Posted Jul28, 2008 at 11:30 AM 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. Salem Girl Wins Two Gold Medals in the VA Commonwealth GamesPosted Jul24, 2008 at 08:07 AM
Savannah Dobb, of Salem, ran in her first race on July 19 in the Virginia Commonwealth Games at Lord Botetourt. She ran both the 800 meter and 1500 meter races in the 9-10 year old age division. She won the gold medal in both events. Photo courtesy of Tami Jennings Salem Farmers Market opening Sunday a successPosted Jul22, 2008 at 04:35 PM Since its official establishment in 1991, the Salem Farmers' Market has been open from April to December, Mondays through Saturdays. But with slow market days earlier in the week, the city began opening its stalls on Sundays on July 20 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. With four vendors and a little help from market manager Alice Austin and Judy Hough from Planning and Development, customers arrived steadily from around 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Local radio station Q99 provided music. The city is looking into providing some sort of entertainment to draw customers to the market on Sundays, maybe even a gospel choir. While city planner Melinda Payne emphasized that the extra day is still in the tentative and planning stages, it seems to be an instant success "just based on the feedback that we've had so far." The city is also looking into relaxing the rules a bit on Sundays for craft vendors, as long as stalls remain available for farmers. Bernese Mountain Dog Fun Match in SalemPosted Jul21, 2008 at 09:28 AM
Seven berners, a Great Pyranees, and an Irish Setter showed up on Saturday, July 19, at Star City Canine Club, for a conformation match and Rally Obedience Course by the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Central Virginia. Members from as far away as Richmond and Danville came to show their support for the growing club, established last year and working to gain accreditation from the AKC and the Bernese Mountain Club Dog of America. In the conformation match, Laura Gilliam of Danville and her dog, Melody, won best in match. Andrea Stefanac of Richmond and her dog, Chance, won best of opposite sex (second place.) The Bernese Mountain Dogs were the only participants in the conformation (it measures breed characteristics up to AKC standards), but the dogs, and their owners, too, relished in the challenge of the Rally Obedience Course (novice). Do you like dog shows? From July 30 to August 3, the Mountain Valley Cluster Dog Show comes to the Salem Civic Center. For more pictures of the rally and conformation, click here. Our last entry about four-legged friends in Salem is here. Photo: Carolyn Smith of Salem, leads her half-lab, half-berner through the Rally Obedience Course. He placed third. Summer Blast 2008 will be at Green Hill Park on August 9Posted Jul18, 2008 at 02:16 PMDenise Pully sent us this note about the Summer Blast 2008 with Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. Food Lion’s Summer Blast returns to Green Hill Park for its 7th year. It’s that time of year for children and their families to gather at Green Hill Park for Food Lion’s Summer Blast 2008 – Music, Magic & Make Believe. Summer Blast is the largest free event of its kind for children and families in our area. On Saturday, August 9th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Green Hill Park in Roanoke County will be filled with hands-on activities, entertainment and much much more. Bring the kids and you are guaranteed to have a “fun-tastic” day! Continue reading "Summer Blast 2008 will be at Green Hill Park on August 9" » C. Shells music hits their last stop in town at Glenvar LibraryPosted Jul17, 2008 at 05:51 PM After two days of fun in the Roanoke Valley, with stops at all four Roanoke County Libraries, Cindy Kays and Shelly Potter are moving on to Grundy and then to Baltimore, Md. Their last stop at the Glenvar branch drew about 25 kids and their parents. The two started their children-oriented band 15 years ago, "just as long as I've been with my husband," Kays joked. The name C. Shells not only sounds like "seashells" but it represents each of the group members' first names. Check out their band at www.cshellsmusic.com, and click here to listen to their latest album, "Cool Cats." The Roanoke County and Salem City library's summer reading program is called "Catch the Reading Bug," and 145 children in the under-11 group are registered at the Glenvar Branch, along with 40 kids over the age of 12. Your photos from the Salem FairPosted Jul14, 2008 at 06:03 PM Christine Eaton has sent us a photo gallery of 10 photos from this year's just-concluded Salem Fair, including this delightful photo of 9-year-old Caroline Eaton at the petting zoo. So do you have photos to share? You can send them to news@sosalem.com just like Christine did. For previous photos from the Salem Fair, including video of the elephants, click here. Master Gardeners available for much more than Farmer's Market talksPosted Jul14, 2008 at 01:59 PM What is a master gardener? And, better yet, what do they do? A master gardener is a volunteer that works with the community, its leaders, industries, and individuals after receiving specialized training in environmental horticulture, i.e. gardening. From conducting workshops, to leading specialized clinics, to finding answers for the average gardener's worst nightmare, they're there to help. The Southwestern Virginia chapter of the MGs are based out of Virginia Tech and Virginia Western Community College (they maintain the arboretum there.) Each Saturday in July, the MGs set up shop in a stall at the Salem Farmer's Market. This year, the talks begin at 10 a.m., and the program is as interactive as it is informative. One major service that the MGs offer the public is the Roanoke Extension Master Gardener Help Desk. It's always staffed by an MG, Any farming or gardening problem is fair game, and it's available Monday through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The number is 540-776-7178. Click here to see our previous blog entry about the MGs, and to find the topic for this and next weeks' presentations.
National College sponsors planning, training for weapons of mass destructionPosted Jul11, 2008 at 10:45 AM
In recent years, public awareness and concern about the possibility of terrorist attacks has been on the rise. For emergency medical personnel, that possibility comes with the added pressure of having to respond quickly and effectively in any situation. National College in Salem partnered with the Near Southwest Preparedness Alliance (NSPA) to address that concern. They sponsored a three day planning and training seminar by the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NEERTC) that prepared medical teams for situations involving weapons of mass destruction, bioterrorism, radiation exposure and even chemical warfare. “It’s all the things they might not think about, but need to think about,” said Bobby Baker, project coordinator for NSPA. A grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security allows the NEERTC to travel the country and provide this training using state-of-the-art equipment. About 20 representatives from hospitals, fire departments and EMS used the realistic computer-simulated scenarios to practice the response procedures they discussed. “Sitting and talking is one thing, but hands-on experience cements the information you just talked about in class,” said Baker. “It’s very different than the typical type of training where you’re forced to just talk through everything because of finances.” Continue reading "National College sponsors planning, training for weapons of mass destruction" » Motorcycle fundraiser brings the Christian Motorcycle Association to SalemPosted Jul09, 2008 at 02:58 PM Faith Wesleyan Church on Alleghany Drive held a biker (and antique car and street rod) breakfast and service on June 29 to raise money for the church's youth group. They invited the Christian Motorcycle Association and other motor hobbyists over for breakfast and worship, as well as a ride later in the day. Bikers, including Faith Wesleyan's senior pastor the Rev. Roy Rogers, also had the chance to get their motorcycles blessed. Photos courtesy of J.R. Shelor. Continue reading "Motorcycle fundraiser brings the Christian Motorcycle Association to Salem" » Is your green thumb fading to brown?Posted Jul09, 2008 at 02:19 PM Collect gardening knowledge, tips, and get tough questions answered by Roanoke County Master Gardeners every Saturday during July at 10 a.m. (for free!) at the Salem Farmer's Market. Here's the list for the remainder of July: July 12: "No rain, no problem" by Suzan Anderson. Learn about native plants who adopt to drought conditions. July 19: "Floral arrangements with weeds, yes weeds! Really!" by Nancy Goodman. Make a floral arrangement with flowers and weeds from your yard. July 26: "Got butterflies?" by Trina Nicholson. We'll show you plants that attract them. And how does your garden grow? Let us know! Here's a link to a previous blog entry that explains how to send pictures to us! Interested in gardening? Chickens? Here's a link back to a story about a Salem woman who loves growing her own produce and much more. The Salem Fair began "on a wing and a prayer"Posted Jul08, 2008 at 05:07 PM John Saunders and Carey Harveycutter went to the International Association of Fairs and Expositions conference in Las Vegas 22 years ago, hoping to start a fair and carnival at the Salem Civic Center with free parking and free gate admission. The Lakeside Amusement Park had recently closed, and the two consulted ranks of experienced carnies. "They basically, they said, ‘you’re nice young fellows, but we’re not gonna see you guys again," Harveycutter recalled. Despite the fair managers' response, they still asked for advice. "We don't have the luxury of starting out shoveling manure with the mules at the barns and then working up to stage manager--we've got to start at the top." After a stackful of notes and loads of help from the Salem Civic Center staff, Salem City, and the Salem community, the fair is on par with the Virginia State Fair as far as vendors and safety goes. Vendors won't come to events unless they know they'll turn a profit, according to Harveycutter. The Salem Civic Center provides a 24-7 safety advisor to inspect and maintain the rides during the whole event. According to Don Degler of Degler Attractions, Virginia state laws only require one inspection prior to the event. The fair expects 250,000 to 350,000 total attendance for 2008. After Sunday, July 6, the fair grossed $346,000--up almost 17% from last year, according to Degler. He speculates that higher prices all-around are keeping families closer to home for vacation. Continue reading "The Salem Fair began "on a wing and a prayer"" » |