The real State of the City (part 1)

Begin the drums.. sound the march - the City of Roanoke is at war.

Mayor Harris was right in stating that Roanoke is a changing city, but its the change itself that is causing the battles to be moved from the larger scale of politics, to the street to street - house to house battle more common of guerilla tactics.

We saw earlier this year wildfires on the ridgelines.. and we know how rapidly a fire can grow and spread from the news of California and the like. Roanoke has come to this; the wildfire-like spread of rumor and 'beliefs' can cripple a town. The alleged plot by Carilion to seek the land under Victory Stadium for it's own purposes, the deal for Countryside Golf, the delusion of prosperity just around the corner, the self-inflated real estate market (see the "desireable Garage on Campbell" for example), the lowering of property taxes while raising cigarette taxes.

All prime examples of the "feel good/do nothing" attitude of the city government. If it makes the citizens feel good, but accomplishes nothing for them - then so be it. As long as the citzenry 'feels' good. But the illusion has shattered, as the city itself has gone too far in its efforts to quell the battle.

There is no single stand-alone example of this. The city effectively washed its hands of the tainted Art Museum deal by selling them the property, it removed the ability of the citizens to question the design, or the motivation. Turning what is alleged to be a "public improvement" into a private venture for the public good. But leaving no chance for the citizens to have a say.

The Victory Stadium deal was a sealed fate years before this action was taken. The bricks and structure having suffered from floods, weathering, and a Dave Matthews concert, the stadium was beyond it's time. The citizens approval/disapproval meant little to the fate of the stadium. Had it served the city's purposes - the battle would be ongoing. Those 3 For the City canidates, now councilmembers - accomplished little. They were clever dupes, used to bring the "monied" citizenry on board. Who would not think that what a psychologist, a woman deep rooted in education, and a financial wizard/mentor and counselor have to say on the topic would be wrong?

Alot of people disagreed. The real problem was the fact of having too many choices. The combined votes against the trio gave indications that perhaps the popular vote was not as unanimous as was reported.

I still await a real challenge for these 2, as Mr. Dowe has been a member of the City Council since 2002. He has faced his share of victory and defeat, all while leaving a clearly unremarkable record.

I have yet to see one member of the council stand up for something, anything, that was not associated with Victory Stadium. And I actually like most of them. I just wish they were a bit more passionate.

But this is about the state of the city, and the current atomsphere of warfare.

To refer to the former Victory Stadium site as having "potential amenities the community may wish to include" is a slap in the face to anyone who loves this city. What the mayor, and by extension most of the city council are referring to is this: Prepare yourselves for another long, drawn out march of experts / pollsters / studies. In a war, this part is usually termed a "quagmire."

The mayor tells us how lucky we are to be hosting (as a region) the 2006 US Challenge. National exposure for the event, and footnote exposure for Roanoke. The lovely backdrop for for a new version of "battle of the network stars."

I want to thank the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau for the hard work they do, and the wonderful Welcome Center they have created at the Norfolk Western Station.

Yes, I do believe there are some highlights in this current adminstration, several programs you have never heard of come to mind. One of which I will be telling you about in late August. Very hush-hush.

(End of Part 1)

Weekends here!

And I have a few things in the works - including the new page I promised you (look for it Sunday evening), a podcast (monday morning), and a few choice posts I've been rolling around my brain.

First off - Im terribly sorry that the price of gas has not come down yet. Im sure theres a good reason for it. *shakes magic 8-ball* Remember you can track it on the right side of the screen.

2nd - Panera Bread (Tanglewood Mall) opens today. It's the Starbucks of the bread world - a spin off of a mall-based chain of bakeries. And sadly, it's the closest thing Roanoke has to a real bakery (exception being On the Rise, but they are a bread-only bakery). Hopefully this will spur competition, as the complaints about Kroger cakes and WalMart cakes are coming fast and furious these days. However, Food Lion carrys Carvel Ice Cream cakes. And you really can't get much better than that.

Thirdly - You remember how I told you all in the past that the city still retains its historic charm, regardless of what crud building they choose to put up? I'll have proof of that this weekend. I'll show you where you can look back nearly 100+ years in time, and see the past clearer than one would ever expect. And it's right beneath your noses.

Fourth, and finally - I would like to hear your suggestions for topics and places to explore. I'd like to know what the people are interested in, and as long as its not Victory Stadium (which I have explained time and time again), I'll do my best to deliver. Heck, if your looking to buy a home in the city - give me the address, or a rough approximation thereof and I can tell you the basic story behind the neighborhood. Sometimes I can get specific about the house itself.

Also, keep your eyes open for the Mill Mountain Zoo Barnes & Noble donation coupons we will be peppering downtown with. August 16th, any book purchased at Barnes and Noble at Tanglewood will have a portion of its purchase price donated to the Mill Mountain Zoo, provided you have the coupon. So we are printing up a bunch of them, in hopes that you will take one and do just that. Support the Zoo.

Well, enjoy this miserable weather. 6am and 75 degrees out.. Im ready for fall, or even winter for that matter. Not long now though anyway.

Ok Ok I know...

You are all waiting for my counter to the State of the City speech, and you will have it. In due time.

Theres alot to digest in this speech.. a whole lot.

But keep your eyes open - it will come.

(edited@10:15p - added link to speech )

Oh - about that...

That tag-team post I had planned with Chef K, well - our schedules never quite matched up, so instead he put up a post over on his blog. ChefKofRoanoke

Slightly toned down from what he was telling me earlier last week, but a hell of a good read none the less.

Op/Ed page - Todays Times

I am an area artist and crafter. I went to the Roanoke City Market
on a recent Sunday to sell some of my crafts. Being new, I was unaware
of the protocols, but was advised to just set up, and then someone
would come around and collect the table fee.

When the market manger came to collect my fee, she told me that
before anyone could sell on the market, they'd need to apply with the
city, and they'd need a business license. These two criteria are
completely acceptable. What is unacceptable, however, is that, to sell
crafts, a sample or picture of each item would have to be provided to a
review board for approval before it could be sold. And, she said, there
were items here she would not approve.

There is absolutely nothing offensive about my creations. I make
jewelry and crafts out of clam shells. When I asked which item she
specifically wouldn't approve, she pointed to a magnet in which I glued
a couple google eyes and added a tuft of hair on top. She told me that
she didn't know what that was, and didn't "get it," and would never
approve it. (read the rest here)

I, for one, welcome the googly-eyed refrigerator magnet makers of the world. As we pack up the HQ in prep for HQ2.0 - for the first time in a few years, we can see the fridge fully.

This is just another version of the current "class-ification" of Downtown Roanoke. Catering to a limited class of citizens, rather than serving the population as a whole. If the intent is to drive out the very people who are the lifeblood of the city market - then this is going well, I'd say.

Spotted today

A sign, very recognizeable. At Black Dog Salvage.

Yes, the same Black Dog that bought the items inside the Lonesome Dove.

Well, I guess the Lonesome Dove sign might be historic, but the Tony's Place sign is not.

Well, what ya gonna do.

I did not see a price tag on it, and was too irked to ask. Anyone feeling charitable, head on over to Black Dog - haggle a deal, and return the sign to Mrs. Tony, who was still driving by the old Lonesome Dove every Sunday on her way home - never stopping, just slowing down and looking.

Show a little respect.. unlike our lovely Art Museum folks. Selling everything to Black Dog, without reason.

I want you all to think of this

Next time the city council makes a decision, next time the police drop the ball on an investigation, next time the Roanoke Times takes damage during an obvious "right-wing attack storm".. think of this:

An old year, a new pod...

Screaming my way towards middle age (which with all the youth enhancing substances on the market today is beginning to seem even more elusive), we dive deep into the archives.. reaching back 31 years to bring you this weeks podcast. Enjoy!

Bet your all wondering why I havent said anything about the storm

It's because Im still hiding under my blankets.. in case it comes back.

A first!

Consider this an early gift from me to you, in preparation for the new page launching tomorrow - a little bit of fun. Although upon further listen, it's like the span of my youth in one song. Not a Mashup, not quite - not even a decent remix, but you tell me - what do you think?

I wanted to share this with you all..

Yes, its a 9/11 memorial coin. It's up for sale on Ebay - 36 bucks right now. But its a bit more than that.

This coin can save a life.

From the listing:


This
is a very unique coin struck only for fundraising purposes. Only 800
coins were struck to help a police officer In Roanoke,
VA., raise money for medical expenses not covered by his
insurance.  His son has a disease called Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy.

The
coin's face displays the Statue of Liberty, The World Trade Center and
the Pentagon. Just below the casting is "9-11-01" It is Gold in color.
The perimeter has a black field That reads, "FIVE YEARS" on
top, with two white stars on either side and the bottom which reads,
"BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN".

The
coin's back is just as beautiful with the City of Roanoke's Police, and
Sherrif's Departments shields and the Maltese Fire/EMS Cross in the
center. The top also has a blue field that reads in gold lettering,
"ROANOKE VALLEY", then has two unfurled U.S. Flags. One on each side.
On the bottom, there is a gold field with black letters that reads,
"FIRST RESPONDERS". Great attention was paid to the minutest of
 details!

100
percent of all money collected will go to Aiden Galleo's medications!
They are experimental and are NOT covered by insurance! You
may email the seller to get verification!

And I personally have verification of this, so it's not a scam by any means.

Normally I only shill for my sponsers (Miller High Life, Studabaker, H&H Grocery...) but this time I ask you all to take a look, send it to friends..

Let's try and get the price pumped up higher than the $36 it sits at. Remember, and rescue.

And here I thought it was just me...

Nope. The City has now gotten in on the act of Podcasting.

Cool, but its competition I guess.

Update though - dentist was not what was expected - so you still have my golden tones for another 2 weeks. HA HA

A new podcast

Possibly the last one for a while, probably not though. You folks aint that lucky.

TIME.com Print Page: Science & Health -- Yes, It Really Is Brain Surgery

TIME.com Science & Health -- Yes, It Really Is Brain Surgery

Be nice to the man with holes in his head.

---
Boy, and I thought I was the only nutball to have brain surgery and write about it in a humorous way.

Suprise.

Coming in the next week

• The long promised site update.
• A new podcast or two.
• Some other stuff I have yet to determine.
• An interview with a very angry Chef K.

I've got some time off from work for some very painful matters, physically painful anyway - mentally, not so much.

I plan on getting some real work done this week, along with organizing and packing up here at Forgotten-HQ. I might come across a few things that you might find interesting. And as always, the rumor mill is buzzing with happenings.

Unfortunately, there is little I can do about the heat, so we will just have to bear it out till next week, when a little birdy told me it will cool down a bit.

I hate summer.. the first few weeks are ok, but after that - its over for me. Im thinking Halloween, Thanksgiving.. and yes - even Christmas allready.

Heat, Humidity.. blech.. Im going for a drive in my all new Studabaker Lark Convertable.. Im sure I will be sweating anyway.

Terribly so.

Sorry.

link here.

video here:

No podcast this week

My voice is tired from all the sales pitches I (your humble chef and businessman) have been tossing around this week, along with informing the population at large on the things they should know about, but don't seem to.

In other words - I've been a blabbermouth..

So I give you this song, which describes the whole Victory Stadium situation to a T.

Have fun.

Act NOW!

I mean.. really now.. like absolutely NOW!

Courtesy of Ebay, and yours for only $15.50 (plus $9.95 shipping and handling), but this is an auction, so the price may change!

Imagine the excitement of owning your own "bought and paid for" Victory Stadium brick - complete with dormant black mold from numerous floods! Perfect for your home or office.

100% Genuine! Made of real whatever bricks are made of!

(Also offering shipping insurance for an additional $1.50, because brick may be damaged during shipping)

Allright - Im not looking to single anyone out on this, but sheeeeeesh.. enough with the bricks allright?

Sometimes I love my inbox..

Aside from the helpful suggestions for the Victory Stadium bricks.. I also got this, direct from the city government..

ROANOKE, VA - As of Thursday, July 13, at 8 p.m., the City of Roanoke
has
given away all Victory Stadium bricks purchased from the
demolition
contractor for distribution to citizens.  No additional
bricks will be
available for distribution.

As requested by City Council, a number of
bricks have been set aside
from those purchased to be used in the
construction of a memorial to
Victory Stadium.  All remaining bricks on the
site belong to the
contractor.


Allright.. What the hell.. the city PAID for bricks from it's own building? Maybe we should have just let it fall down on its own, then the bricks would have been free.

I call for a full investigation into this "Water(logged)Brick-Gate"... no, seriously. PAYING for your own bricks from a building you PAID someone to demolish.

Oh, as if this weather wasn't headache inducing....

For now and the foreseeable future

I've decided to add a ticker from VirginiaGasPrices.com to the sidebar over there. Every time you load up the page, it will display the high and low for the entire state - clicking on it will take you to the full list.

We paid 40 bucks to fill the tank yesterday at Sheetz, at $2.68 a gal. I have a feeling we might not see gas that cheap for the rest of the summer. But at least we have the sidebar thingy to let us know.

Things one can do with your bricks:

I do not pretend to understand the need for a brick, much less 4 bricks. But in order to be helpful, heres a list of things you can do with your bricks.

• Donate them to the Homeless Shelter. If enough people do it, maybe they can build a new shelter out of the old bricks.
• Use them to elevate your hibachi.
• Personal Protection.
• Doorstop for really windy days.
• If you heat all 4 of them in the oven, wrapped in foil - they will keep you warm while you shovel in the winter.
• Create a very small patio.

Well, thats all I've got for now. Any suggestions - send em' in.. You just know in another 2 months people are going to be looking at these bricks trying to figure out why they have 4 of them.

A new banner to march under...

A new flag to fly.

Something to unite us all again, beyond petty squabblings and forced community spirit. More on the new flag to come..

Remember the hoopla?

The C2C competition, the different futuristic types of housing it would bring. Haven't heard much lately have you..

First Cradle-to-Cradle House Built in Roanoke

July 12, 2006 Courtesy Corinna Grogan at IDG Gainsboro, a Roanoke, Virginia, neighborhood pockmarked by failed urban-renewal exercises, may be an unlikely place to find America’s first cradle-to-cradle (C2C) home. But this month local architects Stephen Feather, AIA, and Richard Rife, AIA, will complete a 1,623-square-foot, two-bedroom house that meets those sustainability principles. Several other C2C submissions are now in various stages of development. Feather and Rife’s design was one of 625 entries in a 2004 international competition to apply William McDonough’s C2C protocol to new residential construction. Local firm SmithLewis Architecture arranged the competition when Roanoke officials hired the firm's principal, Gregg Lewis, AIA, as consultant to jumpstart the city's neighborhood revitalization initiative. “We feel that sustainability needs to be part of the discussion,” Lewis says of the decision to launch the competition as a way to solicit the best designs. This inaugural project features locally harvested wood, low-VOC interior finishes, a geothermal heat pump, and roof-mounted photovoltaics. It also was designed for modular production, although this example was stick-built. “We hope our C2C house will be an impetus to get the industry involved in green building, as we see this as a way to make green building more affordable and more mainstream,” Rife says.  Construction costs are estimated at $150,000 and were fronted by a local community development corporation. The actual sale price is $95,000 after mortgage incentives and product donations, to be commensurate with the market. When complete, the house will blend aesthetically with the modest Southern homes surrounding it. To Lewis, what began as “an incredibly rich design problem” now promises to be an engine for redevelopment. “All of a sudden you have this gem on the block,” he says. “People will be motivated to reinvest in the community.”  Violet Law

(Via Architectural Record News)

Incase you were wondering..

This is Roanoke

Allright.. quit hounding me for autographs

Actually, it would be nice if I could find one cohesive group of people who actually READS the paper, or watches the news.

I cannot begin to tell you how many people have no idea whats going on around them, how many had not heard of Oops or the closing of NokeTown, or the Record Exchange.


People, this is your life here - the news is the only thing thats going to keep you informed. Otherwise you become a victim of hear-say and rumor. Or worse than that - a victim of ignorance.

It's your choice.. but remember - to not know is to give power and control to those who do.

Hello America!

I just wanted to take a moment here and say Hello! to all you fine folk coming over from Wikipedia (see entry: Roanoke, VA). Just one question for you all, whats with all the sudden interest in Roanoke?

I have months logged where I recieved nary a single hit from the Wikipedia entry, and suddenly - I am now getting steady traffic over from there. Why is Roanoke so suddenly popular?

Anyway, a small task for you folks - find me. I'm in the newspaper (again!), but this time not for Forgotten-Roanoke.com. So go hunting through the paper and let me know if you can find me.

No prize, this time. Maybe next time.

As is being reported

Details are still sketchy, but it looks like NokeTown (2nd and Kirk) has closed it's doors.

I have no independant confirmation of this at this point, but I do expect it in the coming days. I wish Jason and the whole crew there the very best in life and their future plans. They are good people, but this business can kill you.

Yeah - this is being passed around a bit

But thats ok.. call me a bandwagon..

Eddie Izzard presents Religion: Finally it makes sense!

From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli..

Word of Oops(!) has spread like wildfire, from "The Colorado Springs Gazette" to South Africa, and even Fox News just ran the story as part of Fox & Friends.

Nice of them to notice us, but I think the prize should go to the Salem Avalanche for "Most Creative PR use of a missing monkey":

07/09/06 "The Salem Avalanche will be holding Monkey Business
Monday at tomorrow's game against the Potomac Nationals. As with all
Monday home games, fans can receive $1 General Admission tickets with a
coupon from the Roanoke Times or roanoke.com. Tomorrow, however, the
Avalanche will extend the $1 General Admission tickets to all fans
presenting bananas at the ticket office, in hopes that Oops will seek out the tasty fruit."

Admission time: Your friends at Forgotten-Roanoke.com hit the mountain yesterday to "search" for Oops, and take care of some long outstanding business.

We walked the Loop from top to bottom and back again. First time too.. not a bad walk.. cannot imagine trying to jog or bike it though - not yet anyway.

However, it did firm up my commitment to one day gaining access from downtown Roanoke up the Mountain to the Zoo without a car. A shuttle bus, perhaps styled after a trolley, could easily run up and down the loop, or at the very least - up the Fishburn Parkway to the Zoo from downtown providing an opportunity for those who do not drive or folks too young to drive to get to the zoo on their own.

And your hosts here at Forgotten-Roanoke.com also joined the Zoo as members - so we witnessed firsthand the turnout the zoo had due to the publicity. We have been planning to become members for a while now, as we do hit the zoo perhaps 7 times a year or so.

Found out some interesting things about the zoo as well, in terms of public fundraising. Did you know they have a deal going with Sherwin-Williams Paint? 20% off regular prices, 5% off sale prices on nearly any paints. A percentage of the sale price goes to the Mill Mountain Zoo, similar to the Food Lion MVP card (which can also be linked to a charitable giving program).

There is no reason anyone can give to NOT support the Zoo.

What baffles me is the amount of people who seemed completely ignorant of the Oops(!) story. But I get baffled easily, we know this.

In the coming months and years, I'm hoping to build a relationship between Forgotten-Roanoke.com and the Mill Mountain Zoo to answer a question I've been curious about for a long time now. What happened to the stuff from the Children's Zoo?

Memories of the Central Park Children's Zoo (and another small zoo somewhere in NY) include some of the same items seen in photos of the old Childrens Zoo.

What can I say, I like the Zoo.. Im a Zoo guy.

Welcome to Sean Greene, the new Director - what a way to start your tenure.

Hi Ho Hi Ho

It's back to work I go.. boooo

next major update to the site will be Monday, July 10th.

Thought you'd like to know...

Heres a heart attack for you...

From the NY Daily News: "
Thanks to the purchasing power of the masters of the universe, the
average price per square foot also hit a record high at $1,083. The
median apartment price also hit a record at $880,000."

Due to the high cost of renting an apartment in Manhattan, the market for apartments is more geared to ownership - so you buy (with a mortgage) rather than rent (no mortgage).

Via Craigslist.org:  Bedrooms: n/a LARGE STUDIO
(490sq ft)

                            Bathrooms: 1


                            Special Note(s):Negotiable Broker fee!


                            Rent:$1628.00


                            Available: Immediately



Allright.. let that sink in. A 490sq. ft. loft, no walls - no rooms. Just a bathroom. Nearly $20,000 a year.

The payments on Forgotten-Roanoke.com HQ V2.0 will be less than half that payment a month.

And thanks to the wonderful power of the all incompassing Internets - I can do just as much business down here as I could up there.

Just something to consider..

VictoryPod

The last word on Victory Stadium. Never again will that name be spoken here at Forgotten-Roanoke.com

Forget the rain, lets tear the roof off.

Something to get us all through this gloom and rain..

Interstellar funkadelica fo yo brain.

Creeping Meatballism

Creeping Meatballism: (sl. adj.) Kreep-eng Meet-ball-izm Loosely defined,  Meatballism is the rejection of individuality. Creeping Meatballism is the adoption of (on a personal level) conformity. Ex: Commercial shows drinkers of Brand X drive nicer cars, look healthier, and generally have better lives than you. You being to drink Brand X, and acting (but not actually attaining) that better life. Deluding yourself to believe you are living the "Brand X Lifestyle."

Reminds me of the City sometimes.

Rather than take stock of ones person, and its supporting and surroundings - its easier to buy into the advertized "good life." The ease and "quality" of Kroger, the high life promised by an Art Museum, the attractiveness of a city with Stadii at the High Schools, the "Repo Sales" which give one the sense of getting one up on the other guy...

That's the insideous touch of Creeping Meatballism, the thought that you too can have a better life if only you had a car that was new. That you have no worries and nothing to fear by taking out a loan against the title of your car. The folks at the Payday Loan place really are only doing it because they want to help you. Just like they come across.

Not quite so, and there are many levels across which that is true. Just because "Brand X" is now suddenly "All natural" or has 23 flavors... that doesn't make it good. And it's not always about the product, as a matter of fact - its usually about life in general. Sure - I could get into specifics about what I feel the standout examples I see around here are, but that would be purely subjective.

But think about it - in everything from the way the news is delivered (both print and tv), the way the City itself works, Meatballism is everywhere.. creeping it's way ever firmer into our lives. If it's allowed.

Individuality is not something to be ashamed of, it's something to be celebrated and revered.

We just lost one such man.. Guilio Corsini - member of the Elks, the Italian American Heritage Club, Knights of Columbus... and yet was never defined by any one of these things - he was more than just a decent man, he was a skilled artisan - an upstanding member of the community, he was something no one else in Roanoke could ever be. He was Guilio Corsini.

Damned few like him around...

Although in a side note - who knew Roanoke had an Italian-American Heritage Club? Thats a positive sign, if I ever heard of one.

Archiving, the Google way

In order to make certain subjects easier to find, I am beginning to archive them on GooglePages. The first one I am using as the trial run for this is the BST Chronicles.

Find them here.. 5 days worth week by week will appear there. This week's 5 days is up allready..

The BST Chronicles

Let me know what you think, any subjects you would like to see archived in the future, any ideas..

Enjoy..

Metropolis

Filmed in 1926, Produced by Erich Pommer, writed by Thea von Harbou, and directed by Fritz Lang. In Public Domain. I realize you don't really have 2 hours to spend staring at my blog watching some grainy, black and white silent film - but give it a few minutes. And realize that even at 2 hours long, theres still nearly 40 minutes missing - possibly lost forever. There will never be an equal.

Grand Ol Podcast

Here it is. The Very Special 4th of July Podcast.. Monkies, Mountains, BBQ and a Stadium... Enjoy!

Important information (I suppose)

The City of Roanoke will make Victory Stadium bricks
available to city
residents in the stadium's parking lot on Saturday,
July 8, from 9 a.m. to
noon, and on Thursday, July 13, from 5 to 7
p.m., rain or shine. A limited
number of bricks have been cleaned and
prepared for distribution. Thus,
residents will be limited to four
bricks per car.

Cones will be set up
and signs will be posted in the parking lot to
direct cars to specific
entrance and exit paths. As cars enter the
parking lot, city staff will
verify residency for each car before
distributing bricks. If the supply of
bricks is exhausted on
Saturday, residents who come to the stadium but do not
receive bricks
will be given place card holders that entitle them to be one
of the
first to receive bricks on Thursday.

At the end of the 5 to 7
p.m. distribution time on Thursday,
non-residents will be permitted to
receive any remaining bricks from
7 to 9 p.m., at four bricks per
car.

I hope your all having a good weekend

I know I sure will be.. working. FEH!

Why haven't you folks sent me money allready so I can retire and work full time on this? You know you love me...

Anyway, I want everyone to pay attention to this article today. It welcomes our new Vice-Mayor (a postion of even less power than the mayor, but slightly more than your average Parks & Rec worker), and lays out the basic ideas the City Council has for the use of the Victory Stadium site. Everyone cut this one out, and keep it on the fridge, so we all have a guide as to what the city will screw up and when.

Sorry to see Bev step down like this, but maybe it will give him more time to work on the Buseum.

And again the specter of the silly Carilion conspiracy comes forth. Remember, nothing is more valueable to a company than easily-acessable public lands. Employees tend to like that sort of stuff.

Besides - arent they getting tired of being constantly under construction?

Coming back down

The busy week has left me drained, and I still have 2 days to go before its really over...

But I have a nice chunk of time to devote to the site, the blog, and the world at large next week.

So - Starting Sunday night, RoanokeFound/Forgotten-Roanoke resumes its regular broadcast schedule.

For those of you needing something to read - might I suggest the BST archives, of which we are now nearing the 4 year mark. I will not be revisiting the story this year, but will attempt to centralize all the BST posts onto one page for future reference.

It's not so light reading, but an interesting tale none the less.

Bubbling and churning

Revolution Calling

So subtle, yet so eloquent

Says alot.

or perhaps too much.

Sorry for the light posting

Business is busy, life just as much so

And how about this weather folks.. Boy, instead of building an Art Museum, maybe they should think Ark instead... *scattered laughter*

I guess the sky is shedding a tear over Victory Stadium... I sure know Im not!

*silence*

Hello... Hello?

Is this thing on?

LaserFiche!

Sounds dangerous, no?

While poking around the Roanokegov.com site, you might see a small link to City Clerk Online.. takes you here. Ze deadly LaserFiche!

Allright, it might not seem interesting at first glance, but keep poking around.
This is the actual, scanned minutes from a City Council meeting from December 8th, 1874. Mayor, John Trout. It includes information on the formation of a committe for creating public sidewalks and curbs. Taxes (natch.) are also created during this meeting.

From 1784 straight on through to this past Monday's meetings.. all information is available.

I bet there are few who realize (or remember) that we are now paying LESS in real estate taxes than we were back in the early 80's. The rate then was $1.35 per $100, and thanks to the Mayor at the time - reduced to $1.25 per $100, and now it is down to $1.21 and falling to $1.19.

And the best part, it's all right there in black and white.

Although, in looking over the details of the meetings myself, I do wish for a bit more detail, more accurtate reporting of discussions and conversations held on matters.

And all these closed meetings to discuss appointments to certain vacancies on various boards - well, I'd like to know who is being considered for appointment to what BEFORE they are appointed.

Certain conflicts of interest might not seem important at the time, but upon further digging, could be potentially problematic in the future.

I make no claims of impropriety here, but a certain high-profile architecture firm located downtown is working on a large scale project - and one of the members of this firm recently ran for city council. Again, not that there is anything wrong with that - but it certainly COULD be viewed as improper should any actions come before the council that deal with the site, or even topics similar.

Think of the city market building, and the "no competition" clause they seem to live under. Imagine if that were taken to the City Council.

By the way, is $3000 a month for 450 sq. ft. in the City Market building a bit high? Or is it just me?

There are times the City (and State I might add) hover on the border of certain federal laws regarding business and such things. In a sense, what the ABC is doing with Mango's down at the lake could fall under the RICO act, especially when you read the comments of the "investigator." As such an individual working for a state comission, you are charged with upholding the law, not telling a business that the particular type of band they wish to host is one that attracts those who wish to drink heavily and be obnoxious. Thats not your place, not your role. And that IS legally actionable. It might not be as clear as some might like it - but to exert undue influence upon a (legal)business as to sufficiently reduce it's ability to engage in its business, or to cause a business to suffer due to remarks made by an agent of the government outside it's legal bounds.. well, it's not good.

Not good at all.

But regardless, theres much to be learned about how the City operates, or doesn't - and much that we can discover to set the course for proper representation and accessability for all citizens of the city, create the business climate which is so frequently touted yet rarely seen, and develop the "young adult" lure that is a favorite topic of conversation, and in short - get this City back on track and rolling full steam again..

Did you know.. In 1899, the city was accepting bids for medicine for the Public Doctor, and the contract went to one Chas. D. Fox. There were 3 bids that came in for this contract. One of the other 2 bids was Johnson & Johnson.

Could this be why, all these years later J&J does not have a presence in Roanoke, other than a sign on a building? Perhaps Roanoke is located in the Karma Valley, and what goes around comes around.

I'll be back later - I have to go out and see if Chas. D. Fox makes cotton ear swabs, as obviously the J&J products are not nearly the quality of the Fox stuff.

Less than, Greater than (<,>)

Since the inception of Big Lick - the changing of the name to Roanoke, and on through 2002 - the Charter of the City of Roanoke has been changed, amended, added to, and subtracted from no less than 50 (fifty) times.

The greatest and most substantive changes to the Charter(.pdf) came in 2002.

2002, c. 685 (§§ 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3, 4 through 18, 20 through 24, 25.1,
25.2, 26, 27.1 [repealed], 29 [repealed], 31, 32, 33, 35, 36,
37 through 42, 44, 45, 47, 48 [repealed], 49 [repealed], 51,
52, 53, 54, 55 [repealed], 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62, 62.01
[added], 62.02 [added], 62.1, 63, 65, 66, 67, 72).

It's hard to know exactly what was changed, although some things can be assumed when reading through the Charter.

What cannot be assumed, or understood, is the ability of the city council to find the worst possible way to carry out the charges of the Charter.

Example: (7.1) To own, manage and operate a city auditorium, civic center, coliseum, convention hall, stadium, theater, exhibition hall, or combination thereof, or other place of public assembly, and to permit the use of the same by others upon such terms and for such charges as the council may prescribe; and in order to further the best interests of the
public and lead to greater use of any such facilities, to do all things necessary and proper to encourage the use thereof by arranging or engaging shows, plays, exhibitions, performances and all other entertainments of whatsoever nature.(emphasis mine)

Best interests of the public? That statement alone could cause decades of debate. "But that costs money.." some might cry.

"The council may appropriate funds to a special or revolving account in order to engage, advertise and promote any such entertainment and to operate any of the foregoing facilities,"and of course, then appoint someone to oversee this blah blah red tape red tape.

Oh - and it might interest you to know, this City originally had a Mayor.. not a mayor. There was a time when there was no City Manager, the Mayor worked with the council to set policy, and life actually still went on. Thats called Leadership.

Was the City in better shape under the guidance of a strong Mayor? Given the projects that were undertaken during the years before a City Manager - and those after: It could be so. Perspective, thats where it lies.

Theres more today, as we delve into the facts the City itself publishes online... and how many of you knew they were online?

Anger. Hostility. Bad Blood.

June 22, 2006
State reduces Mill Mountain Zoo funding

"Nina" is one of the zoo's newest attractions.

Mill Mountain Zoo did not receive quite as much
money as it hoped in the latest state budget. The zoo requested
$200,000 but found out this week it's being allotted $40,000 in the
two-year budget, less than it received in recent years.

Zoo
Director Sean Greene says, "Well it wasn't what we expected,
hoping for a little bit more, then again, when you get $40,000,
you can't be sad about that. It's better than nothing."

In past
years, the zoo has received more than $80,000 in the state budget.
Greene says the zoo is paying down debt from the winter when the zoo is
staffed, but visitors don't come out.

The zoo does have a new
cougar, Nina, new paint, and some other improvements. Greene says
that's helped bring more people out. (via. WDBJ7.com)

$20k a year to run a zoo. Thats the equivalent of giving $200 bucks per school kid per year to educate them. What kind of outcome are you expecting when you decide to be that pig-headed and ignorant. That's not funding, thats an outright insult.

All local communties, governments, and businesses must dig deep now and make this a record breaking year for donations to the Zoo. People need to go, and break all attendance records, show some love for the Zoo. Perhaps the Zoo could be named a "possible terrorist target" and get some federal funding, I mean - if New York is no longer a target - then something else must be.

This is a disgrace, at which we can only lay the blame on the ignorant jackasses in the State legislature.

Funny that...

Im off tomorrow, which means I can do quite a bit of catch up on the blog and site..

Save your strength.. I've been waiting for a day like tomorrow.. Clear your schedules, lock the doors and windows, and put the phone on silent...

Tomorrow seems the spark that starts the firestorm....

No great revelations, no scathing discoveries - just plain facts.


"When you kill a king, you don't stab him in the dark. You kill him where the entire court can watch him die.
"

Uh-Oh

Someones at it again..

Roanoke's Revolution

Whose Vision?

We all know the Vision 2020 plan the City has, the first part of which being the recently passed new zoning laws, but how far has the City actually come?

All we have is an old report to go by, as the City as not issued a new scorecard for those playing along at home.

Recently, the City sat down with 3 different groups: Realtors, Home owners, and City Officials and Organizations to find out what they thought about the fate of the City. Interesting list from the Realtors:

What threatens the future of the City?
• The loss of neighborhood schools as schools are consolidated
• A loss of jobs in traditional industries
• Periodic flooding
• The spectre of increased interest rates
• The Dillon Rule that limits what the City can do
• There is a growing “no growth” mentality
• Many residents want the City to stay the way that it is
• The City’s housing court is viewed as a threat by landlords
• The perception that the City is overrun with crime and violence
• City participation with non-profits is considered a drawback for private investment
• The population is aging and fewer people will be available for the work force.

And those are just the Realtors, the citizens were far less reserved.

What has the City done that has not enhanced its livability?

• Widening of major streets, such as Gainsboro Road, has had a negative effect on pedestrians
• Transportation engineering has tended to disregard neighborhoods in favor of moving vehicular
traffic
• Poor code enforcement
• Allowing boarded/condemned/vacant structures and lots to accumulate
• Insufficient penalties for owners of derelict properties
• Insufficient regard for alleys
• Inability to reduce crime
• Inadequate enforcement on building maintenance
• Limited success in encouraging home ownership
• Disposal of open space and parks to the detriment of certain neighborhoods
• Parks that do not encourage users
• An overall sense of apathy
• There is a need for increased design standards
• Commercial and industrial development has encroached on traditional residential neighborhoods
• A need for more village centers
• There is no policy establishing equity in housing
• Vacant land is poorly used

What are some of the needs that the City could address?

• More design district overlays
• Enhanced rental inspection program that would assure better maintenance
• Development of jobs to attract people
• Move back to alley collection of solid waste wherever possible
• Provide more streetscaping

What does the City need in order to attract those who are choosing to live in the suburbs?

• The city needs more entertainment opportunities
• There needs to be more housing choice
• The perception is that the City schools are not as good as the suburban schools
• Too many social services serving low-income persons are located in the City
• The City is perceived as being neither responsible nor responsive to issues
• The City needs to acquire and develop more open space, greenways and parks

Then, the City Officials (I'd like to know who, personally) and Housing Organizations gave input.. (mind you Im not cutting and pasting the entire text of each group report - just the common parts, so you can see the similarities)

What are the weaknesses of the City?

• The infrastructure is old and decaying
• The housing stock is older
• The City is landlocked and cannot annex additional property without concurrence from the Counties
• Short commuting times encourage people to live in the suburbs
• Regional attitudes cause fragmentation of services
• There is a high demand for social services
• There is a general perception that the schools are bad
• Resident above the LMI are left out of the redevelopment efforts
• Redevelopment costs are high
• The housing stock is obsolete
• The region has a relatively high real property tax structure
• The airport is not a hub
• There is a lack of imagination and vision
• There is a high percentage of rental units
• Peoples lifestyles have changed in ways that it is difficult for the City to effect, i.e. a desire for one-story living
• There is a resistance to change in the community
• The population is aging
• Diversity is undervalued

What opportunities exist for the City?

• The tax abatement program is good and could be used more
• The City should look at the New Jersey Rehabilitation Code
• The City has been proactive in housing development but could increase its efforts
• The City should market itself more
• There are opportunities for regional conversations on housing issues
• There exists a need for more elderly housing
• The City needs to continue to market its lively downtown
• Public housing is geared toward self-sufficiency
• The City needs to continue to prioritize the use of its federal funds
• There are many areas where street improvements would enhance the neighborhood
• There is a need for partnerships with housing lender
• Commercial centers could be developed in many neighborhoods
• The zoning ordinance revisions could incorporate changes to improve housing development

What are the perceived threats to the City?

• There is a perception that Roanoke is a place for poor people
• There is a difference between the cost of improvements and the cost that is realized at time of
sale
• There are reduced funding resources from both the state and federal government
• VDOT supports sprawl with its road policies
• The population is aging

________________________________________________________________________

Now if you read through all 3 of those lists, and think about it - we are at a stalemate of inane proportions and assumptions. It goes back to what I always say about asking more of your elected officials. They figure you dont care - you figure they dont care, and guess what - no one cares!

Amazing how that works, ain't it?

For every civic minded person in the city, there are at least 20 who can't be bothered with anything more than complaining. At least.

But these lists were conducted as part of the Housing Strategic Plan, which is part and parcel of the Vision 2020 plan. Again, something which the average citizen has no way of marking the progress on.

I think maybe its time the City Council left its hallowed halls, and went out into the streets - public Town Hall-style forums, in each and every neighborhood. Maybe a few big ones at the Civic Center.. Time to really embrace each and every citizen and engage them in the business that is Roanoke.

Might just be my idea though...

A Lil Somethin Somethin

A freebie for you all, just click and enjoy

EXTRY EXTRY HEAR ALL ABOUT IT

Da Forgotten-Roanoke podcast is here!

Or here.. actually.

The Podcast emergent.

Brought to you by Studebaker! Makers of the finest in American automobiles.

And... We welcome our newest sponsor,
 
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The Pod will be available later this evening, as the engineers work out some technical glitches in the transmission.

Allow for some obfuscation

Hey! Look over there! He's making a point, and has pictures to show it!
(as usual, link good every day - todays message only lasts till 12:30am)

Good - that should buy me enough time to finish todays page for Forgotten-Roanoke.com, the 2nd part in the continuing "Remember, Roanoke" series.

A Mea Culpa of sorts...

I know you folks haven't heard much from me lately, but I assure you it is with good reason.

We over here at Forgotten-Roanoke.com HQ and Global Domination Warehouse Emporium are finalizing plans for our new, larger and more centralized location for our HQ.

From this new location, we will be able to monitor the activities of the city 24/7 - to peer down into the heart of the city and observe.

And yes, it is located within city bounds. So you too city leaders have something to worry about.

High upon a hill, with an eternal view of the Star - Forgotten-Roanoke.com will be coming to you live.

More letters from the wave-front

Such 'planning' endangers the city's heritage

Is it true that those brilliant Roanoke planners, who tell us it is
not economically feasible to renovate Victory Stadium, are the same
bunch that allowed a $6 million overrun on the construction of a local
high school and, in doing so, forgot to budget for a phone system?

We sure are lucky to have this level of expertise making financial
decisions on matters that go to the heart of our city's heritage.

Byron Dickson

Roanoke

City lacks sound economic plans

Rarely do I agree with editorials in The Roanoke Times, but I have
to give you kudos on the editorial advocating the city council move
"slowly" on use of the Victory Stadium land after demolition (June 7,
"Don't rush into fields at Victory Stadium site").

Most citizens don't realize the money, often described as being "in
the budget," for school stadiums came from a bond issue that was to be
used for an amphitheater or renovation of Victory Stadium.

To build an amphitheater on the Victory Stadium site and/or playing
fields isn't going to be free. The city will have to float another bond
issue to pay for them.

That means more debt and probably a lower bond rating, with no
assurance that council won't go off half-cocked (again) and spend the
money on some other ill-conceived project.

Fiscal responsibility is a joke to city council, and rational action based on cost-benefit analysis seems to be unknown.

A real economic planner, as opposed to a self-described one, would
know such things. Just think of the $3 million fiasco on Orange Avenue.

Robert Craig

_________________________________________________________

Can you hear the roar of the ocean? Tide rolling in?

Or perhaps.. Tsunami?

2 very interesting Letters to the Editor

Once again, Roanoke caters to affluent families

Wow, soccer fields. The soccer fields are only for the privileged youth, and the city "improvements" are aimed at the affluent families.

There is a large population of citizens that doesn't care about soccer fields and "family activities."

The kids who do not have affluent parents have nowhere to go. The single adults have no community activities aimed at them that don't revolve around alcohol.

The questions keep being asked over and over as to why Roanoke can't attract businesses and why we have "gangs."

The answers are simple. The U.S. is built on a multitude of lifestyles, backgrounds, social classes and colors.

Too bad Roanoke has listened only to the affluent parents of the "I need a soccer field or stadium for my kids" or our prejudiced Baptist mayor who can't keep the religion and state apart.

Put your ear to the ground, citizens. The nonaffluent youth are asking for help; the single adult would like his or her tax dollars spent on something to improve his or her life in Roanoke; and the minorities of the Roanoke Valley don't want to be singled out, but included.

Todd Nash

ROANOKE

____and_____

Lopsided representation of Roanoke's citizens

Over the past decade, Roanoke has become more Southwest leaning in its elections. Most of Roanoke City Council and the mayor live in this well-to-do section of the city.

This leads to more being done for the richer section and less for the poorer sections.

The solution for this is to go to the ward system. Roanoke County has districts. It works for them.

Why can't Roanoke go to a ward system? Maybe a little more will be done for all parts of the city and not just Raleigh Court, Grandin Road and richer areas near Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

The way it is now is not working. So, maybe a change would help. It could not hurt.

Wayne Harrison

Roanoke

________________________________________

You have been notified that the revolution is coming, these are merely the first waves lapping at the rocky shores. It's a metaphor.. think about it.

I started out today with vim, vigor, and venom..

All prepared to make the case (once again) for Roanoke. To point out the mistakes made in the past, and offer solutions for the future.

Then I got derailed.

I have, in my posession, a 10-pack of Reese's Peanutbutter Cups.

So after popping one open, and stuffing it into my mouth, something dawns on me. Usually, I cannot stuff one in my mouth that easily.

Well, it seems that the fine folks at Reese's have mysteriously, quietly downsized the peanutbutter cup.

Which now makes for 4 sizes of peanutbutter cup. The Big Cup (which is over a full ounce I believe), the standard 2-pack, the new smaller 10-pack size (.55 oz. and noticeably smaller), and the Mini or Fun Pack size.

Whatever happened to the old 10 packs, which were exactly like the 2-packs? Or the old familiar hard-peanutbutter flavor of the old school peanutbutter cups. Im talking 15 years ago now, and the flavor was totally different.

Why do they have to mess with a good thing?

It's going to take some time to recover from this.. hopefully I'll have a decent post up later.

Perhaps someone could explain this to me

I'm finding a good number of homes with central air, and oil heat.

If your home allready uses electricity in the summer to cool it, why would you pay to heat it with oil? Especially considering you are allready using electric power to run the fuel pump to the boiler.

Just a question, as the Forgotten-Roanoke.com street team makes ready to invade downtown Roanoke. Be down there by 1pm.. see you around.

New! For Summer 2006!

The summer series of Forgotten-Roanoke.com will be brought to you courtesy of Studebaker. Yes, Studebaker - makers of fine cars and trucks. Over 75 million miles of happy customers can't be wrong. See for yourself, test drive a Studebaker today.

And here's the podcast for today (wow - 2 in one week!)

What Duck?

What in the name of Bob?

Shocked! Shocked I tell you..

All this time, hiding in plain sight for those who would seek it. The Hollywood Video located on the upper level at Towers Mall contains, well, the Holy Grail of Life, the Universe... and Everything.

The original BBC-produced "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" on DVD.

All episodes, 2 discs. And no, you cannot have it. I am watching it right now.

The only thing more froovy than this would be the original radio show, also BBC produced.

Ahh the memories this brings back..

And those it scurrilously hides away, as it pushes out useful information (ie: the rare Jelly donut Munchkin at Dunkin Donuts is best enjoyed all at once, and possibly in pairs.) for such trivial things such as the word froovy.

(6x7)

I know you havent heard from me in a while

And theres good reason, I assure you. But way before I get back to normal mode, I want to share something with you I never knew about..

I was digging through the Mill Mountain Theatre's website (millmountain.org), just poking around - looking at the schedule and such.

A link attracted my eye - Free CenterPieces.. and I was thinking "Well, maybe they give away unused props, or even floral arrangements from time to time." Being the cheap kinda guy I am, I had to click.

"Every month, on a Wednesday, Mill Mountain Theatre presents a 45 minute one-act play on the Trinkle Main Stage.
CenterPieces are always FREE,
and they begin at 12:15, so you have time to bring your lunch, bring a
friend, and we will have you back at the office by one o'clock. "

Well now how damn cool is that?

Plus, its a nice break from the "long block" programming they run. I mean, sure - I'm no Beauty and the Beast hater, but its not high on my list of things to see. So to run it for nearly a month straight.. well.

Maybe 2 different plays a month. Or even one main one, and one only done on weekends for one showing. I don't know - Im not the guy with all the theatre answers.. I'd just like a little more variety..

What am I thinking?

Some of you wonder why I bother taking photos of a granite ediface downtown, which clearly has no historic value - or railing against the building of yet another "downtown condo loft" thing..

Well, for once - Im going to let someone else do the explaining.

"Burly men with anchor tattoos worked here once,
moving things from one place to another. They ate their lunch from
buckets, hit the bars on Washington Avenue for a beer and a shot after
work, then took the clattering trolley cars home. Soon soft-handed
number wizards will sleep among the pillars.

The
views of downtown will be nice, but given the number of empty lots
around, it’s likely someone will build structures around it." Read more, at Lileks.com (today only, tomorrow this link will go to a different story)

Early morning head-scratching...

"I can and I will have you shot."- R. Gravely to the Roanoke City Council.

    Wow, seems now the City Council is finally attracting more nuts than just it's members. *rimshot*


On the future re-purposing of the Victory Stadium site:
"The council will use the study to help develop a long-term master plan
for the land the city owns on the south side of Reserve Avenue between
Jefferson Street and Franklin Road, he said. In coming years, the city
plans to demolish an existing parks and recreation building and a
school operations office, along with the National Guard Armory, once
the guard relocates its offices."
    Well thank goodness, I cannot tell you what an eyesore that Armory is, and certainly I have never heard of anyone using a former Armory for anything. Well, actually there is that one in New York which is used for antiques shows, trade shows, and other things. And the one in Providence, RI which was turned into upscale apartments.. but no, no uses at all for a massive building with tons of storage space.

On the City Market plan, in which it was considered to move the vendors into the street:
"I think we have a pretty unanimous decision that we want to improve
the area that the vendors are in," said Vice Mayor Bev Fitzpatrick,
"making it a little wider and also considering whether or not there's a
permanent structure that both would give it a signature look but also
would protect the interests of the farmers and vendors while enhancing
the looks of the buildings."
    There is one simple, easy solution to this problem: shut down Market Street to motor traffic between Church and Campbell. Make it only accessable by vendors, city services and utilities, and important deliveries.  Oh, and move the Wertz outdoor dining area to Kirk, the Trio area to Church (they own those storefronts too, let them use those and stop taking space from the vendors). And as for a permanent structure, well - thats a tough one. How do you make awnings and beams look better? Perhaps asking the business owners if they would allow for installation of permanent roll-away awnings on the buildings, ones that would roll out to cover both the sidewalk and the vendors - I could see that being a big plus.

Maybe it's just too early and Im not thinking clearly. Must be, if I can figure this stuff out for less than it takes the city to do surveys and studies...

And here it is, as promised.. (finally!)

The Pod #12

a nice re-introduction, or introduction for all you first-timers out there, into the weekly (when possible) podcast.

Have fun

A precursor to the podcast

Originally I intended to include this in the podcast, but time ran out - so here it is.

Think this is why the bear was loose in Old SW last week? Listen now

Mark this moment in history

14000

Sat Jun 3 23:25:55 2006 DST

68.69.123.145

68-69-123-145.chvlva.adelphia.net

Thank you, good sir or madam. Now begins the drive for 20k!

First one to 20K gets a free Forgotten-Roanoke.com T-shirt!

Pics coming soon.. of the t-shirt..

sheesh

3 hits away

This blog, yes - this very blog you are reading right now is 3 hits away from 14k hits since inception.

Personally, I'm very excited about this.

It's the weekend!

No matter how grumbly the newspaper makes me today, no matter how much I might want to bitch, moan, complain about something - I won't.

It's the weekend.

But, Oh, I could have a list a mile long right now I tell you.

Nah - weekend.

Podcast up on Monday, "Remember, Roanoke" will continue as well. I'll let you know when.

But seriously.. is the media that blind that they still focus on the word gang, rather than the actual crimes committed. Which is probably symptomatic of the reason the very gangs are allowed to exist in the first place. Much like thousands of other issues lately I've noticed.

No, Weekend!

Possible?

Seriously now, would it be possible to refocus on the fact that the shooting on Melrose was NOT gang related, and infact the claim of being gang related was leveled by someone who did not want the true nature of the "nip joint" being revealed?

Or is that fact lost on deaf ears?


Seriously now, your talking about a shooting which involved an illegal operation, involving alcohol, gambling, and several other illicit activities I've been told.

Wouldn't it be nice to have something else to blame it on? Maybe even distract the police from the real facts?

Well, it did not work on the police, but it did work on the media.

What a wonderful distraction to keep us from ignoring the fact that the whole house was involved in illegal activites.

One thing comes to an end, another begins.

Remember Roanoke has launched.

Bet you didn't know the valley had it's first "snowbird" type community back in 1671? A seasonal thing, just like some of the snowbirds do now.

It's true.

Oh, and I promise you, as we move on in time - there will be more photos. You'd be suprised at how few images of the valley in the early, early 18th Century there are.

Anyway - enjoy. Comments? Thats what the messageboard is for.

Final Report

All in one night. Over 100 years of history fell.

The building that housed Tony's Place/Lonesome Dove was built in 1918, but prior to that, there was also a building there. Which also housed a restaurant. Roughly 120 years of restaurant history fell tonight. (I might be quoted as saying 140, I was in error, thinking of a different building.)

Even at that rate, the bricks witnessed more history than most realize. And in a matter of hours (and yes, contrary to Jeremy Crider's SLS report - it was not 14 minutes, thats just how long he was there) it was no more.

There were a few moments of trepidation, when the building seemed to twist in the wind. A time when it seemed as if the entire front of the building would fall straight down, before the machines even moved in.

First to go was the chicken coop. The rear machine moved into position, then appeared dormant. Then suddenly, it sprang to life, wrenching the coop off the building and tossing it to the ground. It dug further in, hollowing out the building, the machine in the front carefully lining itself up the entire time.

Out front, surgical precision - in the back, brutal force.

The windows, which I thought initially would go at any moment, held till the last. Even under the one-foot flex the building shuddered through, the windows held. The last blow was the endgame. And everything fell.

As the machines moved in, and full demolition began - lightening flared up in the skies beyond.

Several times prior - a single pidgeon flew to perch on a newly exposed beam, or board on the building. And moments before the final blow, a single pidgeon flew into the crawlspace between the ceiling and the roof. And then the building was gone, leaving only a massive cloud of dust in its wake.


















And a flight of pidgeons in the sky.

Check out Roanoke Photos for more photos of last nights demo of the Lonesome Dove.

Live scene report from Lonesome Dove Demolition #2

Live scene report from Lonesome Dove #1

As I speak

Roanoke.com reports it's coming down tonight, and tomorrow night. Start time of 6pm.

Folks - get your cameras ready.

Or if you cannot be there in person, watch it online here.

Getting closer

As I curse myself for not having my camera with me, I send out a news tip, which Im sure someone will grab and run with - get some photos of.

The Lonesome Dove/Tony's Place is falling down.

I'm guessing that all the shaking of the ground has compromised the structure.
Which leads me to question something I saw today down there.

Why would you fill in a hole you just dug?


Wayy in the back there, behind Billy's Ritz. That last yellow machine on the left.. filling in a hole that it had dug just the past week.

Strange. But not nearly as strange as the two large oil tanks which were exhumed and removed in the same day - and hidden from public view (on Salem Ave.) behind a pile of dirt.

HeatSink

"Were just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year..."
-pink floyd

It has begun. Where last week we were all sniffling, sneezing, and wheezing from allergies - these past days we have been trapped.

Stuck down deep in the bowl of the Roanoke Valley, the collect for all the heat and humidity. Closer to the Sun than say.. New York City. But not so high the atmosphere thins and cools. The pressure cap is on, and we simmer.

I find myself fighting an urge lately to walk into the Municipal Building, grab the first politico I see, and ask them what they did to this city so many years ago. Maybe shake them up, apply some pressure till I get an answer.

It seems as if the city was asked to choose at gunpoint, Your money or your life.

I'm pretty sure at this point there was a 3rd option, but what it was - its hard to tell. Muddled by the years, apparently thats the one the city chose.

A weak form of government, usually found in cities with smaller populations. A citizenry that is trampled in the name of progress. As evidenced by the current Sundays on the Market - where just 3 weeks ago vendors lined the tables along Market St., now it is slowly being overtaken by the restaurants outdoor seating - to the point where the street is now the public sidewalk, according to some.

A City which has shoved its best and brightest out the door, off to other places rather than engage in the futility of change, but will more than welcome them back when they retire - and are quiet and not likely to demand more.

Submission is a desireable trait.

A City where fear is the ultimate motivator. Ranging from fear of reprisal by the City itself, to fear of contact from your fellow citizen - worry they will personally attack you, take your job or somthing similar.

Baseless fears work, for reasons no one can understand. The City banks on the ignorance of the citizens to not fully understand all it says and does. It only works based on innunendo and rumor, no full divulgence of information. The less you know, and the more you think you know - the better.

A City which has layered itself in protective shields against all community involvement. Be it EventZone, or Downtown Roanoke, Inc. Even the Libraries lost in a cloud of disinformation.

Did you know the City Library system allready has a working agreement with Roanoke County Public Libraries? The nonsense of merging the two into one unit is just that, nonsense. It's a deflection tactic. They are, for all intents and purposes - merged. You can get any book, any media from any library in the area - and have it dropped right at your local library. You can also return that book to any other library, and it will find its way home.

Did you know that?

Regardless. A long time ago, this City banked on the lack of interest from its citizens - the continued alienation of the citizenry from those in power. Give them an issue or two to keep them occupied for 20 years or so, like Victory Stadium.

No longer can the City bank on such notions - there is a rising tide of younger adults who are not willing to stand by, oblivious to the actions of the City. These are Adults who are now willing to stand their ground, and not be chased from the City they love.

For those of you who had given up hope for Roanoke in the past, I have a song for you... a hot, hazy, humid version - perfect for Roanoke.

"Wish you were here..."

Memorial Day

Every war has it's moments - when the bullets are still, the battlefield quiet.


The soldier's remember for a moment.

Stop. and remember today.

And every day.

Coming Soon

Coming soon to Forgotten-Roanoke.com

"Remember Roanoke"

After much debate (both internal and external) it has been decided that the Orphans page, as cute as it is - was never really going to answer the questions it laid forth. As part of the ongoing and continuing story that is Roanoke, and Forgotten-Roanoke, Remember Roanoke will illuminate things we all know, but vaguely remember.

Hoping to shed light on the stories that lurk at the fringes of our collective memory..

The next page will be up before the week is out. Software problems solved.

Gangs: Final Word.

Gang (defined): An identifiable group of people (highly organized or loosely structured) who form an alliance for a common purpose which identifies with or claims territory in the community. Members engage either individually or collectively in antisocial or unlawful activity/activities and frequently create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.

So there is your full definition of criminal gangs. Hell's Angels, Bloods, Crips, La Cosa Nostra, the LA Riots, Crown Heights, Latin Kings, Westies.. those are gangs, under this definition.

What does Roanoke have? According to the Chief Gaskins, we do not have gangs. And I am inclined to agree.

I can tell you why Gaskins refuses to call them gangs. It's simple really. When you have criminals who affiliate themselves with other criminals, call themselves by a name, but do not create an overall atmosphere such as described above, you deal with them as individual lawbreakers. Only when they become organized enough to be a threat to the public at large (drive-by shootings, orchestrated territory warfare, full-on gang initiations) do you then deal with them as gangs.

The FBI deals with gangs that engage in drug running, gun running, and other aspects of organized crime. Very little that happens here in Roanoke can be considered organized crime.

This is not to say that in the past, there has not been trouble with such groups - but currently, there is not. I ask those of you out there with friends and co-workers who live in the affected areas (Lincoln Terrace, Chapman and Patterson Ave., Melrose-area) if they live in constant fear, and under threat of violence. I have co-workers and friends who do, and they tell me quite the opposite.

You can either judge by what the newspaper and media say, or ask someone directly affected.

A word on the comments I have received on this. There is discussion, there is debate, and then there is futility. Some of the comments raised valid points, but for the most part - it was on the level of national political campaigns. Lots of finger-pointing and name calling, which adds nothing to the conversation. I have, and will continue, to resist moderating comments, or banning them for certain posts alltogether. I do ask that comments be constructive. We are here to create solutions, not complain. At least thats my purpose for being here.

And as always, if you don't like what you read - feel free to let me know. But be prepared to offer your own ideas as well. This is a 2 way street.

And rather than worry about a single word, why not ask Chief Gaskins what is being done to improve the quality of life in these "gang areas."

In the interests of time

I will not go into my reasons for deleting the Gangs post. Honestly, it was really sad. Certain people will see this and think they got the better of me, and for what its work - thats fine. They have delusional issues anyway.

Fight your wars in your own way. Do what you will, but don't attempt to claim victory. Remember, the alleged gangs were in both the city AND county.

Have fun, I'll be working on building communities (which then eliminates the lure of the gang) - you can.. I don't know - lodge complaints against noisy mailmen?

Whatever.. your issue, not mine.

Mythbusting Roanoke

As some of you might know, I am originally from one of the 5 Boroughs of New York City. The one commonly referred to as the "most ethnically diverse county in the United States".

Home to over 2 million people, 2 of the busiest airports in the world, the 1939 and 1964 World's Fair, the 1969, 1973, 1986, and 2000 World Series.

Lots of restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, and plenty of hungry people to feed. Plus, the added attraction of mass transit that could get you just about anywhere in the 5 Boroughs quickly. Everywhere but Staten Island, which was just fine by 99% of the population of NYC.

As a cook in NY, I had opportunity to work in several different styles of kitchen. Starting in an American Bistro, and working around different spots until I left NY for warmer (much warmer today) climes. Somewhere in all that mess, I found time for proper schooling and training in the culinary arts, engaged in a multitude of varying work experiences (including a stint at Home Depot, which is fodder for another day). I consider myself to be a fairly well educated individual, with an eclectic work-style, fairly strong work ethic, and a arsenal of skills I can bring to any kind of employment I choose to take.

I've addressed this before, but Im going to go into detail here. Many times have I recieved the question "Why would you move to Roanoke?" and in my present job, its usually followed by "But don't you make more money in New York City?"

This is not about why I moved here. This will focus on the myth of making more money by living in a larger city.

Opportunities present themselves when they see fit. Regardless of where you are, what you might be doing, or what you want to do - opportunities have no consideration. Which is why we have built-in guidance, also known as our ability to reason.

Some cold, hard numbers:
Average salary of a cook in Roanoke (oddly enough listings for Chef are limited to Casinos in both NY and RKE) via salary.com: Median yearly salary for a cook in Roanoke is $30,552, a figure which I question highly, but will work with as the actual amount means little.

Average salary of a cook in New York City: Median yearly salary is $36,790.

A difference of $6,238 per year.

Allright - everyone on board? Good. Here is the chilling facts about that $36k a year.

You have to live somewhere: Similar sized apartment (comparable to what I have now, in sq. ft. alone.) 1 bed, 1 bath.. heat and water included. $1400 a month, with 1 months rent deposit and 1 month security. So your first month winds up costing you $2800-4200 depending on how you view it. No outdoor area, no pets. Thats apartments. Oh, and you need to find your own parking, or pay for it monthly.

Homes? 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath $365,000
The mortgage (assuming 20% down payment and 6.5% APR) would be $1,762 a month. Yes, a month.

And mind you, none of this is including your standards of phone, internet, cable.. Utilities combined can be close to $500 a month.

Or food for that matter. Or gas ($3.11 is the cheapest I can find in Queens)
And don't even ask about taxes. Sales Tax rate of 8.62%. 6.85% income tax on that $36k salary (statewide) in addition to the NYC income tax rate of (hold on with this one) $628 plus 3.534% of excess over $21k. I'm not even about to do the math on that one, Im not nearly that bored. And for the Head of Household, it becomes $970 plus 3.591% over $30k.

So based on the numbers for owning a house, plus additional utils - you come out owing roughly $2500 a month in basic bills. Again, not including food, medicine, transportation or the rest. And your gross income monthly on that $36k is $3065.83 which leaves you with a gross grand total of $565 a month to pay everything else with. And a montly metrocard for 30 day use on the subway or bus is $76. So you have 30 days in which to live on $489 bucks (again, without taxes being taken out). Can it be done? Of course it can, but will you get ahead? Never.

And lets remember that as a cook, there is always someone who can do it cheaper than you can.

So lets consider the myth of "You make more in larger cities" largely busted. And how can I say that with such certainty? Hell, I'm living here - doing ok.. putting some money aside in the bank each month.. not struggling..

And I have more than I would up there.. larger apartment, which allows pets by the way. More land around the building to walk the pets on.. a wall on which to sit, fresh produce mere minutes away..

Forget the crime, the smog, the stress.. when you come down to the basic numbers of it.. You make more in Roanoke, quality wise, and more in New York quantity wise. You just don't see it in NYC..

Do we rate?

Does Roanoke rate high enough to have gangs?

Nope..

Do dopes in Roanoke think we rate high enough to have gangs? According to the news, yep.

Guess what: I could drop the local thug life in my old hood in NY, and they would be back here - happy to mow the lawn, in moments.

But, you have to remember the "cool" factor - its cooler to tell people you are in a gang. Guess what? Im a Ghostbuster! Ain't I cool?

Roanoke has nothing so organized, nothing so encompassing as organized crime. Well, I shouldn't say that. Roanoke does have a history with organized crime (the local former moonshine operations are not the only reason the FBI is HQ here), just not of the kind that would create gangs.

Local gangs, sure. We probably have tons of them. Probably even some in the County high schools, they just don't seem like gangs.. but they are. Gangs as a defineable term exist everywhere, Gangs as an organized "terrorist" group (lets not mince words, thats pretty much the only thing they are good for) exist rarely. But, the threat of a organized gang is visceral enough to bring the city's population to trembles.

Honest to god truth, word from the street. Not gangs. Trust the street on this one folks - don't get hoodwinked by the media's portrayal of the hype. Yes, Gaskins did say it could have been gang-related. But I assure you, he was not talking about organized national gangs. He was talking about bored hoodlums with nothing better to do than commit crime, flagrantly break laws, and not work.

You want a gang worth fearing, try the Irish Mafia, MS-13, and the like.

You wont see any of them wasting time on Roanoke.

UPDATE***(10:22pm) If you wish to discuss further, head over to the messageboard. Free flowing conversation without having to post comment after comment...

Sundays on the Market

Actually, lately it's more like Sunday's on the street.

I love the market, and I think the idea of it being open on Sunday is one of the best I've heard in a long time. Even the vendors I've spoken with are amazed at the amount of customers on Sundays.

But now theres a problem, a big problem.

I thought the primary focus of the City Farmes Market was for local merchants to sell things, and local customers to buy.

Hard to do when you cannot get to the merchants. Or even worse, when your a merchant who finds that the available booth space is limited by diners.

Yep, diners.

2 major guilty parties here. Wertz, who has apparently been give the greenlight to dominate the corner of Kirk and Market so they can bar-b-que. Allright - was nice to smell a bbq while walking among the vendors, but no longer. Now - they have chained off the vendor space directly before the restaurant, for their own private use. I'd like to know what, when, and who authorized such a thing. The blocking of a sidewalk (forcing pedestrians into the roadway which bears traffic), the removal of prime vendor space, and the usurping of city property for private gain. How much they paying?

Well, that was bad, but limited bad. Now they have allies. My "Bad Karma" canidate, Trio. For those of you who have not experienced Trio yet, it's name also describes how many storefronts the operation controls. Walking towards Church on Market - theres a dining room, a wine store, and the bar/restaurant area. Now, they too have taken control of ALL 3 storefront sidewalks for use as their own private dining area.

Pardon me? One of those storefronts is not even restaurant related. They must have paid well for such a prize. Now there are those who will say there are rarely vendors down that far on Market. I beg to differ, I have purchased some of the finest produce there from a vendor who tends to show once the produce season is in full swing. Will Trio give back the space when that vendor shows?

With Trio inserting their dining area into the sidewalk, there is barely enough room for a person to walk and browse, much less stop and NOT have a massive backup of pedestrians behind them.

Although Im sure that with the limited space, and impassible sidewalks, the vendors are thrilled as punch over this new development. I know I would be if someone else was cutting into my profits simply because they had more money and could pay for the right to limit my visiblity to the public.

Fair? Oh yeah, totally.

Now then, this could be easily made acceptable in one easy step. Close down Market St. on Sundays. No traffic, no cars.. just an open walkway for shoppers and diners alike. More room would be opened up for vendors, more money would flow...

Imagine that.. more money downtown. On a Sunday of all things! Heavens to betsy...

What will they think of next....

Just a note

Figured I'd let you all know that as of 3:45pm today, the front of the Lonesome Dove still stood in its place.

It did not appear that any work was done on site today.

I'll keep you abreast of details tomorrow.

Almost have the kinks worked out of the software that powers Forgotten-Roanoke.com, which means we are mere moments away from a new page.

Don't worry, I'll let you know when.

LotzOthoughtz: Roanoke's Revolution :: Downtown

LotzOthoughtz: Roanoke's Revolution :: Downtown

Big props to Lotz (aka ATL) for keeping an eye on the storefront while I've been out carousing the night away.

It takes guts to point out the painful truth, not to mention a somewhat suicidal outlook, especially when you realise the task at hand... calling a populous to arms over the drastic and necesscary changes needed to keep a city alive.

It's a long fight, and a hard battle to win.. good to have a comrade in arms.