Severe weather has been in the news lately, and June 1 marks the arrival of hurricane season.
Just in time, a sales tax holiday coming at the end of this month is intended to give you some relief when preparing for weather disasters.

It is Virginia’s first hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday. From May 25 to May 31, generators priced at $1,000 or less will be exempt from the 5 percent state and local retail sales tax. Also, 22 other items, including batteries, carbon monoxide detectors, first aid kits and two-way radios, priced at $60 or less won’t be slapped with sales tax.

For a list of all exempt items and other guidelines, click here.

Also, keep in mind that retailers can choose to eliminate the sales tax on any merchandise during this period. But they’re still responsible for paying that tax to the state.

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If you’ve gone by Towers Shopping Center lately, you may have noticed that there now is a pink sign up for Planet Fitness. It’s a new health club planned for the Roanoke shopping center, and work has begun to renovate its space in the former spot of Hancock Fabrics on Towers lower level.

I haven’t been to Planet Fitness clubs, but I’ve read articles that this health club has strict rules about grunting while working out. Check out this 2006 New York Times story about the club's policy.

I’m haven't yet found out the date that Planet Fitness is expected to open.

Also, Gold’s Gym has opened its Crossroads Mall location in Roanoke. It initially landed a temporary spot at Crossroads for several months, while crews renovated its new space. This is the second Gold’s in the Roanoke Valley.

If you’ve tried out Gold’s new gym or if you’ve been to a Planet Fitness elsewhere, share your thoughts on these health clubs.

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UPDATE: Look for Burger King to reopen by the end of July, according to franchise owner Mike Sloan. Sloan owns three other Burger Kings in the Roanoke Valley. The Vinton restaurant, which was built in 1972, needed a makeover, he said. It's been closed since mid-March.
Sloan called the new design a simpler look that is “less expensive to build.”
The new building will be longer and narrower, and it will be positioned differently on the lot so that drive-through traffic flows better. You’ll also find newly designed restrooms inside and flat-screen televisions.

Have a hankering for a Whopper? Burger King is Vinton is sending customers to its U.S. 460 store while it rebuilds. Crews have demolished this fast food eatery on Virginia 24. I’ll let you know once I find out it's reopening date.

Usually, when fast food restaurants are rebuilt, they emerge with a more contemporary design. Some local McDonalds changed their look several years ago by adding electric fireplaces and flat screen televisions.

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Mother’s Day is Sunday. Have you started thinking of what gift you'll buy for your mom?

The National Retail Federation says that you won’t be spending as much as last year. Though not a huge decrease, consumers will spend about $138.63 on average this year, compared with $139.14 last year, based on an NRF survey.

“Consumers will be very cautious with their wallets this Mother’s Day, heeding mom’s advice that she really doesn’t need much,” said Phil Rist with BIGresearch, which conducts the survey for NRF. “Gas prices and other economic issues will still be at the forefront of people’s minds as they shop around for the perfect gift for mom.”

Share your ideas for Mothers’ Day gifts if you’re already thinking of them. I would tell what I’ve bought for my mom, but she sometimes reads this blog, so I could ruin the surprise.

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Just in time for the Mexican holiday, Cinco de Mayo, a Roanoke Mexican restaurant has reopened after a fire in March. On Sunday, El Rodeo on Plantation Road opened its doors after closing for about two months to repair damage from fire and smoke. On March 6, a fire burned through its roof. The early morning blaze was caused by an electrical line from a neon light.

Since then, the restaurant has repainted walls, replaced decorations and made other repairs, said general manager, Nelson Flores.

Already, customers appear to be flocking to the reopened eatery.
“Yesterday, we had lines for almost two hours. Right now, it’s packed,” said Flores, who spoke with me at lunch time.

To celebrate Cindo de Mayo, El Rodeo is serving its lunch buffet all day. It also has a variety of drink specials. You’ll find discounts on food and drinks at Mexican restaurants locally and nationally in honor of this holiday that celebrates Mexico’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

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