(Front Row) Annie Bond, Delaney Eller, Henry Ellis, Gaven Conner, Meghan Thompson, Andrew Hartman, Berkeley Wall, Charles Baynum, Charlie Angleberger, Riley Geddes, Audrey Hayes and Zella Kathryn Poarch. (Second Row) Mia Franke, Tucker Franke, Kirbie Conner, Adalynn Eller, Carrington Gardner, Gabby Peppers, Isabel Baynum, Emma Bradley, Rose Ellis, Rebecca Erwin, Ashby Garst and Phoebe Stevens. (Third Row) Sidney Epperly, Hannah Welch, Alexander Baynum, Paris Eve Reinhard, Joseph Hart, Skyler Hayes, Ava Smith, Grace-Marie Mills, Hadley Chittum, Eve-lynn Deegan and Rebekah-Lynn Mills. (Fourth Row) Sarah-Dale Mills, Natalie DeForest, Jordan Hayes, Molly Deegan, Savannah Stevens, Alyssa Bradley, Tess Drzymala, Carrington Austin, Charlotte DeForest, Urmila Bharathan and Allison Yu.

“The Piano School’s Christmas and Winter Recital took place on December 18, 2010, at New Hope Presbyterian Church in Salem. The program featured forty-six young pianists, the largest number in the school’s history, from Salem, Roanoke, Fincastle and Christiansburg. All are students of Sarah Reaser O’Brien.

Twenty students received trophies for outstanding practicing during the fall term, and the youngest performer was five-year-old Zella Kathryn Poarch who has studied piano for one semester. Paris Eve Reinhard of Salem and Sarah-Dale Mills of Roanoke played harp duets before and after the program. O’Brien is a nationally certified teacher of music who founded The Piano School in 1998. The school’s upcoming events for 2011 include the third annual Masterclass for Middle and High School students with guest teacher Dr. Lise Keiter of Mary Baldwin College. The theme for this year’s class is “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.” The school’s spring recital will take place in June at Hollins University where O’Brien is an alumna.”

Submitted by Sarah Reaser O’Brien.

The Winter Health Fair is Saturday, January 8, at the Carter Athletic Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Demonstrations will be presented at the Winter Health Fair throughout the day, including Zumba at 10:30 a.m., Senior Tappers at 11 a.m., karate at 11:30 a.m., boot camp at 12 p.m., hip hop at 12:30 p.m. and more!

The Winter Health Fair will also feature free screenings for massage, reflexology, blood pressure testing, blood sugar, BMI, neck scans and antioxidant scans. See an oral surgery computer demonstration and learn more about refractive surgery, skin care, nutrition education and workout wear. There will also be drawings,  giveaways and much more!

Free prizes for the day include free teeth bleaching, a discount on refractive eye surgery, a cervical pillow, Go! Fizzing Beverage tablets, Figure 8 Daily Detox Tea, Seasource Seal Salt Scrub, two karate gift certificates for four sessions each, first aid kits, Baja Bistro gift certificates and Baja Bucks, free one-hour personal training session, and a gift certificate for Boot Camp Challenge!

The Carter Athletic Center is located at 4254 Colonial Avenue in Roanoke. For more information, contact the Carter Athletic Center at 989-7284.

Submitted by Melanie Slaughter, Assistant Director of The Carter Athletic Center.

“The Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority will hold its annual organizational meeting on Thursday, January 6, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. at the Western Virginia Regional Jail, 5885 West River Road, Salem, VA 24153. The organizational meeting will be immediately followed by the Authority’s regular business meeting. Topics on the agenda include financial and operational briefings, the adoption of a meeting schedule for 2011, acceptance of audit results for fiscal year 2010, and the appropriation of funds. A budget work session for fiscal year 2012 will held after new business is discussed. Questions concerning this meeting may be referred to Superintendent Bobby Russell at 540-378-3701 or Mary Brandt, Clerk to the Authority, at 540-378-3703.”

Submitted by Mary Brandt, Western Virginia Regional Jail.

Bill Philips, owner of Mr. Bill's Wine Cellar on Brambleton Avenue. Emily Flora SWoCo

Bill Philips, also known to many as ‘Tallwino’, isn’t originally from Roanoke. He grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C. And his 35 years of experience in the wine industry has given him a wealth of knowledge about the wine he sells, drinks, and recommends to Roanoke.

Philips lived in Columbia, S.C., for about 5 years and worked as a distribution sales manager. But in an effort to get away from the heat of South Carolina, Bill moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1981, where he now resides in Salem.

Philips took his knowledge of wine and opened Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar, on Brambleton Avenue on Sept. 11. But the work on the cellar began long before that. He knocked walls out and had the place completely remodeled. His friend, Todd Bandy, not only designed the layout of the cellar, but did a lot of artwork that is displayed around the business.

“We’re trying to do several things differently,” Philips said. “I carry many things you can find in big grocery stores, which many businesses would stay away from. And we try to give the shop a friendly feel.”

Philips said that not only can you find the same wines you can find in grocery stores, but he also carries higher end specialty wines with the same pricing structure, if not lower.

Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar has worked hard to carry the types of wine and beer that his customers want and he even offers tastings everyday.

“This was a chance for me to do something for myself, rather than working for someone else,” Philips said about opening Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar.

“The shop is fun and relaxed and we can sell our customers any kind of wine they like.”

Besides his career experience as a distributor, Philips has served as a lecturer on wine. He has experience in wine education as a professor at universities such as Virginia Tech, Radford University, and Roanoke College. He has also trained waitstaff. He also has experience in event and wedding planning.

“That’s one thing I enjoy most about this, is the wine education.”

So far, his business has been great, he said.

“I think every day I come in and I see new customers. I feel like I’ve met regulars who I consider friends. What I’ve prided myself on over the years is  being able to talk to anyone on their wine level.”

Philips lives in Salem with his wife, Betty. He also has a daughter and a son, Mandy and Jeff.

More Information:

Location: 2825-B Brambleton Avenue

Hours: Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Structured tastings every Friday and Saturday).

Contact: 400-7771

Website: www.mrbillswinecellar.com

Email: info@mrbillswinecellar.com

“What a cold few weeks we have had.  The snow and ice has closed the zoo for two weeks but warmer weather is ahead and we would like to invite you to visit the zoo this weekend to cure your cabin fever.

As you may know, most of our collection is from Southeast Asia and is more active in the cooler months.  Christmas trees (without the ornaments/lights) have been donated by Lowe’s for inside the animal exhibits.  Mill Mountain Zoo animals love Christmas trees and it is quite a sight to see.
We look forward to seeing you at the zoo!”
Submitted by Lisa Uhl, Mill Mountain Zoo.

Earlier we posted photos of the Cave Spring and Hidden Valley boys basketball teams playing on the last day of the tournament at the Salem Civic Center. Here are some more photos from the tournament by Miranda Beck — this time of fans and cheerleaders.

You can see her set of game photos here.

Hidden Valley came out three points ahead of Cave Spring in the K-Guard Holiday Classic finals for seventh and eighth place at the Salem Civic Center on Wednesday, December 29. After being tied at halftime 18-18, the score went up 44-41 in favor of the Titans.

We have a gallery of photos by Miranda Beck. You can view them in the slideshow above, or in a different view here.

Do you have photos from holiday sports tournaments? Send your shots to news@swo-co.com.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING GARBAGE COLLECTION FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY ROUTES

We are continuing to monitor road conditions for Monday and Tuesday routes that we have been unable to service. For Monday routes, we will be coming back on Wednesday, December 29, 2010. Most of the missed streets are concentrated off of South Route 220. For Tuesday routes, there are several scattered streets that we were not able to collect. The top of Bent Mountain presented some problems; however, we were only unable to get to the following streets: Willett Ln, Poor Mountain Rd – Route 221 side, Bottom Creek Rd., Bottom Creek Ln, Rocky Rd, Patterson Ln, County Line Rd, King Brothers Rd, Ivy Ridge Rd, Fortune Ridge Rd, Lancaster Rd, and Slings Gap Rd. All other streets for Bent Mountain were worked on Tuesday, December 28, 2010. For Tuesday routes that were missed, we will be coming back on Thursday, December 30, 2010. Residents are asked to please leave their cans out for collection, so we can service the containers as soon as possible. For questions, please call 387-6225.

Sincerely,

Melinda Rector

Business Coordinator Roanoke County General Services

(540) 387-6225

Annie Moore’s Irish Pub at West Village presented a great night with Project4, featuring Brian Wheeling, Bruce Wall, Tim Martin and Kent Martin, along with special guest Josh Shilling of Mountain Heart.

Submitted by Charlotte Hale.

January 2011 Winter Reading Program for ages 0-5 s sign ups begins January 10.

Headquarters/419 (540) 772-7507
3131 Electric Rd. Roanoke, VA 24018
Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday Closed

Find Your Answers: Monthly Forum

Are You Managing Your Pain or is it Managing You?
Dr. Garrett S. Thompson, BA, DC
Thursday, January 20 @ 10:00 am

Computer Classes

$10.00 charge per class. Registration deadline two days before class.

Email I: Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Email II: Wednesday, Jan. 26 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Google Your World: Thursday, Jan 27 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Book Clubs

First Tuesday: The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.

Fourth Thursday Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, Thursday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m.

Teens

TAB, Monday, Jan. 3 t 6 p.m.

Book to Film Club The Lightning Thief, Thursday, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m.

Writing Club: Thursday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m.

Teen Tailgating: Super Bowl Pre-Game, Thursday, Jan 20 at 7 p.m.

Family Movie: Legend of the Guardians: Owls of Ga’Hoole, Thursday, Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Pokemon Club, Thursday, Jan. 20 at 4 p.m.

Lego Club: Thursday, Jan. 27 at 4 p.m.

Family Story Night: Thursday, Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Story Time: 5 week session beings Jan. 10; Preschool-Food; K-3rd-Favorite Book Characters

Bent Mountain Branch

Book Club: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, Friday, Jan. 21 at 2:30 p.m.

Story Time: 5 week session beings Jan. 12, Preschool-Food