Tim Thornhill shares photos from a recent hike on the Hanging Rock Tower Trail. You can view them in slideshow above, or in a gallery view here. Here’s more on the hike:

“Before Roanoke’s first snow we went an hour west in search of a snowy hike. We found it at the Hanging Rock Tower trail near Paint Bank on Rt. 311. The area often gets the upslope snow that we miss here in Roanoke. The snow hike was great and the view was made better by the snow in the valleys below. Lunch at the nearby Swinging Bridge Restaurant by the fireplace was the perfect ending.”

Submitted by Tim Thornhill

Green Ridge Recreation Center will be open on New Year’s Day from 10am to 5pm. See facility schedules for modified class times. All other recreation centers and administrative offices are closed Dec 31 & Jan 1.

Submitted by Roanoke County

Who: MMTC- Roanoke VA Campus

What: Winter Wake Up

Friday January 4, 2012 MMTC-Roanoke will host an event known as the Winter Wake Up. All of our programs will be show cased as well as tours by admissions personnel.

RSVP to 540-986-2322

When: Friday, January 4, 2013. 9:00 A.M.- 4:00 P.M.

Where: MMTC-Roanoke is located at 4444 Electric Road Roanoke, VA 24018. The campus is located inside of TangleWood Mall on the Applebee’s side of the mall. The campus occupies two levels of the mall next to JcPenny’s.

About MMTC-Roanoke 

Miller-Motte Technical College is a reputable leader in private career education. The mission of Miller-Motte Technical College is to help students acquire the essential knowledge, career, and interpersonal skills necessary to secure employment in their chosen fields. Miller-Motte Technical College offers Associate Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates in fields including: Medical Assisting, Healthcare Technology, Medical Laboratory Technician, Massage Therapy, and Cosmetology. Please visit us online at www.miller-motte.edu for more information.

Submitted by Michael Stone, MMTC

Inspired by the dances of the Pacific Islands, Hula and Tahitian fitness class breaks down the elements of the various movements and then combines them into a routine. Participants learn a complete dance over a period of weeks, then a new one is introduced. Appropriate dances are taught to strengthen basics and hand movements. It provides a total body workout in 60 minutes. This class isolates your larger muscle groups, increasing strength and definition to your core with specific emphasis on the abs, glutes, quads and arms. All ages and fitness levels will enjoy this workout. No hoops or exercise gear are required, not even shoes. Bare feet are preferred for the workout. Six/five week program. Fees are based on course length. Classes meet Thursday evenings at Brambleton Center beginning January 3rd.

Click here to register.

Submitted by Roanoke County

The Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority will hold its annual organizational meeting on Thursday, January 3, 2013, 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.

Items on the agenda include the swearing in of Board members for their 2013 terms of office, the election of officers, an operational briefing, financial reports, and the adoption of a meeting schedule for 2013.

Questions concerning this meeting may be referred to Superintendent Bobby Russell at 378-3701 or Jodi Bishop, Clerk to the Authority, at 378-3703.

Submitted by Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority

North Cross School will be presented with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy as part of the inaugural MaxPreps Tour of Champions for Boys’ Soccer. North Cross finished No. 13 in the final MaxPreps Freeman rankings and is one of only ten schools being honored in the inaugural Boys’ Soccer tour. The presentation will be made during a pep rally at 8am on Thursday, January 3.

North Cross School defeated Carlisle 1-0 in the Virginia Independent Conference Division II state championship game to win the state title. This is the second state title for the Raiders who also won the state crown in 2007. They finished the 2012 season undefeated with a record of 24-0. North Cross is one of just ten high schools nationwide being honored in the inaugural boys’ soccer MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard. MaxPreps ranks more than 14,000 varsity high school boys’ soccer teams.

The MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard recognizes the finest high school football, girls’ volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, and boys’ and girls’ basketball teams in the country through various celebrations and formal ceremonies. The Tour was inaugurated in 2005 and honored 10 premier football programs. In 2007 boys’ basketball was added and in 2008 the Tour of Champions was expanded to honor both boys and girls. In 2010, the Tour added girls’ volleyball and in 2011 girls’ soccer. Now in 2012, the Tour will honor boys’ soccer and continue to bring together athletes, coaches, students, parents, and fans across the country. Since 2005, the Tour has honored over 380 teams nationwide. Representatives from the Army National Guard will present ten boys’ soccer team with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy in recognition of their outstanding national accomplishments throughout the 2012-13 boys’ soccer season.

MaxPreps.com is the leading online high school sports destination, offering the most comprehensive high school sports coverage, with the latest news, analysis, rankings, and streaming content. A CBSSports.com site, MaxPreps.com aspires to cover every high school team, game, and player by partnering with nearly 35,000 varsity coaches throughout the country. Founded in August 2002, MaxPreps.com is headquartered in Cameron Park, California and is a unit of CBS Interactive. For more information about MaxPreps.com and for the latest high school sports news, scores, and expert analysis, please visit www.maxpreps.com. Follow MaxPreps.com on Twitter: twitter.com/maxpreps and on Facebook: facebook.com/maxpreps. More information about CBS and its businesses is available at www.cbscorporation.com.

With more than 375 years of service, the Army National Guard is the largest reserve component, as well as the oldest branch of the U.S. military. In the National Guard, you get the training from us, serve in your own community, and enhance your marketability for the higher paying jobs. We provide our members with money for college and offer attractive benefits on top of paid career training in one of 200 fields. The National Guard has career opportunities in every State, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, more than 3,600 training locations, and more than 350,000 members. Visit the National Guard Web site at www.NATIONALGUARD.com.

Submitted by Sally Mazzocchi

The Roanoke, VA Day Women’s Class of Bible Study Fellowship will welcome new participants in this year’s study of Genesis on Wednesday, January 9, from 9:30-11:20 a.m. at Bonsack Baptist Church.  A program for preschool children is offered, but please make arrangements for childcare for this first class.   Feel free to go to bsfinternational.org for more information.

Submitted by Lisa Bond

Based on the success of our popular Lose Big program at Green Ridge Recreation Center, we’ve added a special 6-week version of our weight loss program just for the new year. Participants will work in teams to take off the pounds, with help from a personal trainer. Be prepared to work hard and eat right, while getting your body in shape. For more information, call Chelsea Arner at (540) 777-6310. You don’t have to be a Green Ridge member to participate.

You can register online here or go to http://www.roanokecountyva.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1012 for more information.

Submitted by Roanoke County

The garbage collection schedule for New Year’s week is as follows:
Monday routes will be collected on Wednesday, January 3, 2013.
Tuesday routes will be collected on Wednesday, January 2, 2013.
Wednesday routes will be collected on Thursday, January 3, 2013.
Thursday routes will be collected on Friday, January 4, 2013.

All offices will be closed on Monday, December 31, 2012, and Tuesday, January 1, 2013 for the New Year Day’s holiday. For more information, please call 387-6225.

Submitted by Roanoke County

Monday, December 31
Bulk and brush will be picked up for streets designated for A Week pick-up. Bulk and brush is collected every other week on your regular garbage collection day.

For more information, email mrector@roanokecountyva.gov.

Click here to find your collection day.

Submitted by Roanoke County