Sneak peek

This is a sneak peek at what's been going on behind the scenes here at Forgotten-Roanoke.com

Several times in my life I have started writing a story, only to lose interest midstream. Once or twice did I ever see it through to completion. This blog, and the website are the longest running active project I have ever taken part in.

But I have an idea thats been gnawing at me for over 2 years now. There's a play/screenplay roaming my head. Based here in Roanoke, the Roanoke of the recent past, and today. This is the first page.

Snowfall

A production from the minds of Forgotten-Roanoke.com

• Scene 1. Setting: Campbell and Market, Saturday December 28^th, 1985 7:45pm – still struggling to recover from the flood the previous month, downtown wears its stains with pride. Camera slowly pans the marketplace.

*Unseen male voice: “Nurse, why was I asked to leave the room, and whats going on in there?”

*Unseen female voice: “Sir, there were some serious complications with the delivery. Your wife lost a lot of blood. The child, pardon me – Your son, was trapped inside for a while.”

*man: “I.. I have a son? Is everything ok, is my wife alright?”

*nurse: “Yes, you have a son – and he seems to be alright. The doctor will be out in a little while to give you the full report.”

*man: “But... what about my wife, is she ok?”

*nurse: “The doctor will be able to answer that better than I can.”

*man: sharp exhalation

*Doctor: “Mr. Jahns, I'm sorry. Your wife did not survive the birth. Your son did. Although we need to run some tests. I can give you the full details in my office, or would you like to speak to the chaplain first?”

*man: “I want to know what happened.”

cut scene to vendor stalls down Market – man huddled on corner of Kirk and Market, sobbing quietly into his coat on the empty street. Flags rustle in the wind, as the man begins to walk to Williamson – stops to look up at the Star – aglow in white. For a moment, he hesitates, then begins his walk back to the hospital.

____________________________

Thats the first page.

Days off, days on, and days in between

Yeh - I got a day off today - so I've been working on a podcast for you all - and with any luck - I'll have it posted by tomorrow morning. I know its been a while.

Been a while for alot of things, but we are moving slowly back in that general direction.

Question, who did Bev Fitzpatrick piss off at the Times to garner this kind of "hard investigative reporting" from the newspaper with the unofficial motto of "offend no one"? And why Bev, when there are others in the Municipal Building with far far worse offenses?

Question, as noticed in the past few weeks with all these "Walks to cure ____" that have been happening around town, why is it you can walk to solve a problem - but not to the corner store for something? Maybe there would be more neighborhood grocers if you would.. just a thought. Not that I have any experience in micro-economy commernce. Nope.

Question, Paradox is now 202 Market, but not really. Paradox's main entrance is still on Campbell Ave. Is the 202 Market a ploy to "upscale" the place? And should we be worried about these secret new menus. Is Roanoke about to get priced out of the Market Area again?

Ok - enough questions. How about a little ol' "Behind the Scenes" moment here. I doubt very much any of you really paid attention when I talk about "secret projects" and such - but if you think back, I did mention one that would be up-coming this winter (with any luck). I will be releasing a sneak preview later today. It will be here, on the blog. Check back later this afternoon for more.

Just proof it COULD be worse

I might not like the design of the new Art Museum, but I am thankful I don't live in Denver (for many reasons).

This thing is downright dangerous.


In retrospect, I guess maybe our museum is not all that horrible. At least it's not as intrinsically dangerous.

Rails and Resources: Half dozen of the other...

Perhaps some of you read the story in today's business section of the Roanoke Times. An interesting look into some "behind the scenes" at the growth Norfolk Southern has made in the past few years, why and how.

The one resource missed by the article, one which can be easily shipped in double-stacked cars, the most obvious choice for rail transport.

Humans.

All through the Transportation Meeting at the Hotel Roanoke in the past few weeks, the Governor's speeches and all the rest - much has been made about intermodal rail transport in Virginia. But there was no reported mention of the TransDominion Express.

For those of you who did not hear, or have forgotten since the last time the major media players around here saw fit to mention the project, TransDominion Express started as the basic idea of brining high-speed commuter rail from Bristol to Washington, D.C. in the space of a day or less. And when the numbers were run, models showed the run could be made in 8 hours, provided rail traffic allowed.

This would require agreements from Norfolk Southern and CSX to get the slotted time on the rails. It would also require major funding from the state and federal levels - for the equipment and such. Most of all, it would require renovations to the rails themselves - an upgrade to be capable of handling high-speed commuter rail.

There is some momentum for this, but it is hidden behind the curtain of commercial rail. Not widely reported, other states are interested in moving ahead with the project and gaining rail service. Tennesse is very interested in having the TDX run through to Nashville - creating a regional rail service similar to Amtrak.


This is the projected, working model route map for the TDX.

Amtrak has not served Roanoke since the early 1980's. The Virginian was swallowed by Norfolk Western. For a town with not one, but TWO grand rail stations - it is a shame that there is no constant rail service. The TDX would give the entire region a boost. If you look at the map above - you'll see that Roanoke would be considered large enough a stop to be staffed full-time. Lynchburg also. Which means they consider Roanoke and Lynchburg to be major destinations along the line.

We all know the rebirth Lynchburg is undergoing, and we can see daily the changes here in Roanoke. We all want to succeed, and for the city to do well also. We have this new Art Museum going up right next to the tracks, we have a grand hotel right next to the tracks, we have a Visitor's Welcome Center/Dual Museum right ne.. no wait - that's the old station. Ok - well it's still right next to the tracks.

Communting from Roanoke to Lynchburg, or Lynchburg to Bedford, or a game-day trip to Charlottesville from Wytheville and back need not be a chore. Nor would it need to be a budget-buster. And for school field trips to the Nation's Capitol, what could be easier than a same day trip regardless of weather or traffic accidents.

Commerce between the cities would boom, people would have the option of going to see a play at the Mill Mountain Theatre, checking out a band at Cattle Annie's, or head to class at Radford - all by rail.

Building an ampitheatre in Roanoke would generate a ton more interest if college students could leave their cars (if they have one) at the campus and hitch a ride to the show. Plus, it would remove some of the concertgoers off the roads, easing congestion into and out of the parking lots.

Passenger rail would be a win-win for the entire service area. I have not even touched upon the gains both from and to the DC area, and Nashville. We are talking about a single act that would change the course of life here in the Commonwealth.

But it sits on the backburner till the next legislative session, or till the current "transportation crisis" is ended. Actually, short of public outcry - I don't forsee the TDX gaining any slice of the media pie for a long time. There is no drama in attemping to bring a service to people who actually want it. The drama is in making our roads look like deathtraps. Or our state legislators seem like corporate fatcats (which in some cases may be true) in the pocket of the rail shipping industry. But aside from "public opinion polls" and street interviews, where is the regular man being represented? The call for commuter rail has yet to reach the ears of the media, or the halls of the government.

Maybe it's time to make them hear it.

Use this simple form to find your state legislator, and hound them about the TDX. Ask the hard questions. Push for what you want. But think wisely, with the influx of people moving into the Southwestern Virginia area, how long will it be before traffic is a "New York Nightmare?"

And if you feel so inclined - give a few of the reporters over at the Times a buzz, and ask them why they are not asking the Government leaders about commuter rail in our area. Those numbers you can find easily - they are listed by each reporters name on every story they do.

Think about it, shouldn't a railtown like Roanoke have easily access to.. well, you know.. rail?

A mission

I haver a small mission for you all.

2 years ago there was a "Haunted Roanoke" tour being offered by Center in the Square. It was a bus ride around Roanoke on Halloween night, stopping at places like the City Cemetary.

The wife and I called to arrange a reservation on the tour, only to find out that it had been cancelled due to "lack of interest."

(540) 342-5700

Call them. This is exactly the kind of thing that makes a Halloween great (now that Im too old for Trick or Treating anyway.)

Coming next week, a post on Haunted Roanoke. A topic which I frequently mean to get back to, but rarely do.

Damn...

Allright folks, summer is officially dead and gone. When evening lows start hitting 35, and the words "wind chill" comes creeping back in the door - you know its over.

And of course, it also means the return of the "Ick."

The Ick was roaming around last year - making people ill, but not ill enough for weeks on end. Perhaps you had it? Perhaps you just knew people who did. Allready I am seeing signs of the Icks resurgence.

Possibly even in myself.

I was lucky - and generally am when it comes to viral illnesses, they rarely affect me. I had no Ick. I generally tend to be sick for 28 hours, not including 10 hours of sleep - then perfect again, back to my old perky self.

I'm not feeling so perky.... So keep me in your thoughts, pray I don't have the Ick - that it's just a regular bug. I can lose a day of work, but I cannot tolerate weeks of ill humor.

Besides - if Im off for a day (imagine that!) I just might be able to get something done around here.

Ladies and Gentlemen, there will be a slight delay...

Yep, but we are getting closer to being normal again. Hopefully by next week there will be a podcast once again. HOWEVER, the one problem that I am having as of late - being as busy as I am, I look to the newspaper to give me the day's local stories. And there have been none.

Suprisingly, this little note seems to go without much consideration:

ROANOKE, VA - Centex Construction will close Norfolk Avenue, SE
(between 3rd Street, SE and Market Street) at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 23,
until May 2008 to allow for the construction of the art museum.

I signed up for the MyRoanoke e-mail service, Im sure someone at the times did as well. I would like to know who did the studies, the surveys, and allowed a city-owned and maintained road to be closed for such a long time. Nevermind there is more than enough traffic on it as a one-lane road, closing it will reroute all that traffic to Salem Ave, which - Oh, also goes infront of the construction site - and has been closed a few times for the construction.

As I said, Im not calling shenanigans on this (not yet anyway), but I have a feeling most people would be curious to know HOW a street can be closed for such a long period - and who allows it. More importantly though, the big WHY.

Well - off once again to do my thing.. passing right by that construction site.

If you have not been down to see the site, you should - in a nutshell, it's not nearly as big as you thought it would be.

Promissory Note

I, the writer; owe you, the reader; the following:

1 - decent post on something interesting.
4- rambling posts about seemingly nothing.
1 - podcast (new sponsor has been signed, Pole Shoppe)
1 - perfectly viable and user friendly site design.

I cannot promise anything spectacular in the next few days. Maybe I'll have something decent for you on Sunday. In the meantime - everyone out for the Market Harvest Festival tomorrow.. and Sunday for the Latino festival.

What does this mean? Fall is here, and its time for some good warm filling food, cozy nights with the family - and warm jackets. Jackets? Oh yes folks - this means the reappearance of the Forgotten-Roanoke.com jacket! You Too can easily spot your humble webmaster/overlord in my travels all over this town as I will be wearing the Forgotten-Roanoke.com jacket once again.

Last time it was public was a limited engagement back when the Lonesome Dove was torn down. Yes, it's been that long.

So keep your eyes peeled for the Forgotten-Roanoke.com jacket - or the handy Forgotten-Roanoke.com Bag which the wife models attractively. We always like meeting the public, and I enjoy it twice as much when your not trying to attack me for something I've said.

So there you go - weekends here, enjoy the nice cool weather and watch the trees. It's time.

800*

On the 800th post, a reflection.

No matter how interesting or important I find what I and my fellow Roanoke-based bloggers may write, no matter how thought-provoking and earth shaking I think my writings are - there's always better out there.

This is the time that I can give a few rounds of applause for those who inspired me in my hobby/obsession.

Lilek's The Bleat. M-F observations on.. well, just about anything that flares up in the life of a sort-of middle-aged writer.

IMAO. Frank J originally was alone in this, but since has added some of the finest voices in comedo-political-sociopathic blogging.

Kevin Walsh's Forgotten-NY.com - the inspiration for the seemingly hiatused Forgotten-Roanoke.com.. which is not truly on hiatus, Im just unhappy with the site design and interactivity.

Rhett over at RoanokeFire.com - my co-conspirator on organizing the scene for blogging (and social revolution, regardless of what he says) here in the 'Noke.

But the real reason I post this list is to highlight one blogger in particular. One which came quite unexpectedly to my attention.

There are quite alot of avenues that blogging can take, from the personal to the professional - the political to the paid advertisements. Blogging is mostly about sharing, information and revelations, but sometimes - there's one that blows you away with it's depth.

This is it. It has not been around very long, and is limited in scope, but remains one of the best written blogs I have ever read. Few people can write about any topic with such depth and emotion, and I am humbled.

So this is the 800th post, with an *. The * is for the fact it is not a true Roanoke post, that will come later.

Thanks to all my readers, with any luck the site will be back to full strength in a matter of weeks, the blog will carry on it's mission, and the Star City will shine once again.

1 Post away from another milestone

Can you imagine, it's been over a year now (first post on this version of the blog was 3/16/05) and Im on the verge of writing my 800th post?

But all that aside, I was unable to get to the city council meeting at 2pm today to stand up and speak up for the Mill Mountain Zoo. If anyone reading was there, please let me know how it went. I'm sure there will be more opportunities for public discourse in the future. However, that does not take the impetus off the public, to band together and support the Zoo.

In other news, Chef K informes me there are some interesting rumblings downtown - what with all the closings of late. He will have more on that later in the week, when his (and my week) in hell quiets down a bit.

We are in the process of lining up a sponser for the Fall/Winter season of Podcasts, and gearing up for the top secret project slated for a December release.

Interesting news today about the regional study on an ampitheatre. So the area is capable of handling one with a capacity of 7,000. I think we are better than that. Sure, maybe 7,000 right now - but consider how many people the Greek festival attracted. How many does Floyd Fest attract yearly?

I think the area can easily handle a 20,000 capacity ampitheatre, provided Roanoke has the sense to use the ampitheatre in a responsible and viable way.

Thats right, the city would have the onus upon them to actually step up and find uses for the ampitheatre. Graduations, ceremonies, live stage productions (a la "in the round" style theatre), movies... multiple use facilities.

Any ideas? Comments? Hit me back with something..

Awaiting word of the Zoo's fate...

Is there another Regency Room in Roanoke?

Remember in the last post I told you how I would pass along some of the reports ONLY if they served the public interest, if there was something that I felt the public needed to know?

Well apparently, that sparked someone's interest. I received an e-mail which I understand has bounced and bounced around this fair city. In certain channels anyway.
It just reveals a darker side of City Ha.. Municipal Building politics, and that maybe those of you who voted for change, voted for the MTD ticket, might have been played for suckers.

I will not reprint the entire text here, just a few lines.

From the e-mail: "Mayor Nelson Harris informed Democratic City Chair C W**d that the group he leads who backed the successful "Independent Democrat" ticket in the recent City Council election is going to "take control of this Party." "We won, and we're going to run things," was his explicit message, angrily delivered. "

"State Party Chair Cranwell put the brakes on the "movement," making clear that the duly elected City Committee and local Party officers could not and would not be removed simply because some people, including many who didn't even attend the reorganizational meeting last December where there votes would have produced a different outcome, were unhappy with the results of the election. He told them basically that, if you want to have control, you have to participate."

"Chair C W**d asserted that the Wednesday meeting had been a "set up" for her, since she was the only person associated with the losing slate of Democratic Council nominees who was invited to the meeting, whereupon in the presence of several people L replied that no, the meeting was instead a set-up for Nelson Harris, who had made a fool of himself. Everyone knew that was very disingenuous, since L is the one who for weeks has been contacting leaders of the Independent movement one-by-one seeking to find out what it would take to get those folks active in regular Democratic Party affairs, and the answer he uniformly got was, "First, you'll have to get rid of your Chair, C W**d.""

Behind the scenes, and reported straight. Unlike some of the other individuals who have also received this e-mail.

Perhaps we should prepare a coronation ceremony for Mayor cum Emperor Harris, or perhaps we should just ignore it as more politics. Make up your own mind.

The OTHER Roanoke Rumor Mill

There's been some interesting rumblings coming across the desk here at the HQ. My little ears have been overhearing some interesting things lately.

Some information concerning current members of the city council and their "questionable ethics" far more concerning than the public currently knows about.

Information concerning the biggest newspaper in SW Virginia's unspoken policy, and why there is such a lack of local news in the paper itself.

Some information concerning the head of a certain bank here, and why he doesn't even bank on his bank.

Oh yes, the information keeps flowing in. And only those items of absolute public interest and need will be unleashed. Most of the information just makes the persons involved look slightly worse than they are. Or in certain cases, slightly more insane.

Suffice it to say this much: This town is not what you think it is, it is not corrupt - on a city level. That being said, many of our "leaders" are either corruptable or corrupted, some by their own hand. This is to be expected, it's politics - after all.

But there are some acts which border on illegal, and due to lack of viable evidence - well, some people are just lucky like that.

Putting it mildly, there is a whole lot of bad karma downtown - and thanks to some "blind eyes", true career suicide has been averted.

For now.

As I said though, unless it's some bit of information so vital - I will not be releasing anything, but realize - I hear almost everything.

Update: Signal the all clear

The foot is fine, thanks for asking. Thanks to the dilligent work of my wife, mother-in-law, and the fine folks over at Starkey Medical - life is peachy again. Although I have come to the hard realization that my size 10's aren't anymore. Thats right folks, one of fates crulest tricks is that there are certain things which keep growing as you get older: your nose, ears, and feet.

So it's time to shuck the soles of old and hunt down some size 11's.. I only had 4 pair to begin with..

Anyway, I bet alot of you are wondering whats been going on around here.. it's been quiet. Eerily quiet.

Well just because you don't see anything does not mean nothing is happening. I do apologize for the lack of updates to the main website, but understand this. The amount of information I have obtained recently, along with the move to a very historic area combine to present me with some challenges. Mostly putting together and accurate timeline and map of the person/place/things that history has forgotten.

Not to mention the side issue of making this information presentable and available, with a software program that is no longer supported (but is based on the same open-source model as firefox), the limitations of free hosting, the availability of offsite file hosting (a great help in keeping the MB useage down), and the day to day business of planning and conducting a coup of common-sense.

But there is a far more important issue right now. I would ask that everyone who can (and few of you cannot) to head to this link at the Mill Mountain Zoo website.

Breaking news on Roanoke.com: "The Mill Mountain Zoo was given a year-long extension on its accreditation request to fix a series of on-going problems involving its finances and exhibits, according to a panel from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums...

The three core issues are improving the zoo’s financial stability, making exhibit improvements and facility upgrades such as building a new quarantine and health center, and addressing low staffing levels."

This is important. We need the Zoo. And seriously, is $15 bucks too much? Too little I'd say. I'm a member, as is the entire organization here at the HQ. Its an investment Roanoke can not afford to make.

I'll have more to say.. I always do.

And on the right side of the aircraft..

Thats right, take a look over to your right. You'll see a new badge which links to the only live FREE chatroom for Roanoke.

In an effort to keep this as interactive as possible, and provide the readers with a novel experience - I launch the Roanoke, Va chatroom.

no registration, no fees.. just a freewheeling chatroom.. you might see me in there, you might not.

Worth a try no?

Killing them with kindness

This post relates directly to the Roanoke Times article which can be found here.

The homeless situation in downtown Roanoke is unique to this area. Many years ago, the city was faced with a serious problem. The homeless squatters in the derelict downtown area. They were harassing the public, urinating in the streets, loitering and littering. The usual problems, then things got bad. The Hotel Earle. 8/21/91 - a homeless man decided the front doors of the hotel would make a great place to set up a lean-to and took up residence there. In what he considered the kitchen (actually the portico between the front doors and inner doors), he caused a fire - which promptly shot through the then 82-year old structure. The hulk burned for hours, injured 3 firefighters, and wasted several thousand gallons of water.

The City has had numerous chances to act on the homeless issue, there was once a vote in the city council to decide to remove the homeless from the entire market area, or turn a blind eye and allow them to stay. The council voted to allow them the freedom to move about the market as they saw fit, provided they were not too aggressive in the panhandling. This was in the years before Downtown Roanoke, Inc. and at a time when downtown was dying a slow and painful death.

Of course, hindsight is always 20/20 - but consider that with the advent of DRI - the City has all but handed control of the Market area to them, and virtually walked away from any issues that arose.

And now, 15 years after the Hotel Earle fire, it is a shame that Downtown Roanoke, Inc. feels the need to hold a workshop on dealing with the homeless for local business owners - while the city removes some benches and calls it a day.

The burden of ownership of the entire city falls squarely on the shoulders of the City council, not on any single group. The City claims to have a vested interest in revitalizing the Downtown area, yet no thought appears to be given to the very laws which prevent panhandling and solicitation, loitering and littering - which could easily be altered and amended to place severe restrictions on those doing so in the Market area. Sometimes zone enforecement means zone restrictions - and downtown Roanoke should absolutely be an area in which the rules are a bit tighter, and a bit more enforced. Everything from litter to sidewalk access - which means No, Wertz cannot BLOCK the entire sidewalk on Sunday's for the limited tables they might serve outdoors.

I spend many a Sunday downtown, and given how Wertz is set on the vendor-side of the street - it is damn near impossible for anyone, handicapped or not to navigate the vendor area properly. It is a major violation of several federal rules, not to mention the very trust of the public in keeping it's sidewalks clear for pedestrian traffic.

Quality of life is one of the things that makes Roanoke great - and that includes the homeless. They have better access to services here than anyplace else I have been. A medical clinic is not uncommon in most cities, but a dental clinic is nearly unheard of. The homeless have access to 3 square meals a day, a bed and a shower moreso here than anyplace else they might land. They have groups which are willing to go to bat for them.

I have good, solid information that Wanda is homeless by choice. She has been offered something none of us would be - an apartment, with utilities paid for and food stamps - along with other attractive amenities - at no cost to her. She refused, preferring the freedom of her life on the streets. To which I say fine, that is her choice and we live in a country which allows such a choice - however, this is a big town - and she need not haunt the market area endlessly. Aside from the safety hazard she represents, with bags in tow blocking curb space or benches - a trip and fall lawsuit if I have ever heard of one; she also represents what downtown used to be. If she took up residence infront of Trio, Metro, or Wertz - how fast do you think she would be moved? Perhaps she can find a nice nook when the Art Museum opens on Salem, across from the former Hotel Earle.

I do not wish to excommunicate this woman from Roanoke totally, I just feel there is a better place for her - provided she is willing to give something in return.

I say, if the homeless wish to remain in the market area- offer them a simple job, sweeping the street - working in an information booth (for those so suited) - even washing windows for the local businesses. Let them earn their keep if they want to stay there, give them a wage so they need not beg and if any choose not to take part in the program, then they must leave the market area itself.

It's a choice we have to make at some point.

Drop it like a towel?

New podcast

Update: My Other Left Foot

Doc says "Should have gone to the ER"

Nurse rinses and cleans wounds.

Doc says "Oh, well those don't look so bad after all."

sad... just sad

mourn for my sock and shoe

Just a helpful hint, and some news.

Always make sure your mower blade stays safely within the deck itself.

I'm fine, all 5 toes still. Just some minor scrapes and nicks.. but it could have been worse.

Oh, and never accept a mower from a neighbor, no matter how well intentioned, that he has not personally used on his lawn.

And here I was going to podcast for you all today.

Ahh well, photos of the shoe will be forthcoming.

Re-awakened

Sorry for the unscheduled naptime folks, but there are things which take precedence over griping about politics. But now that I have the time again..

Our newly-selected Vice Mayor Mr. David "Fork in the Spoon" Trinkle has something to say. And I'm not sure how this is playing over at Cit.. sorry, Municipal Building.

But what bothers me the most about it is this. He is trying to set the record straight on progress in the city, but in doing so - makes the city look even more short-sighted and unsure of itself than ever.

There are an awful lot of "if"s and unspoken maybes. Sounds like Victory Stadium might be the only major public project to get accomplished this year or next.

School construction not withstanding, but realistically - the funds being used for the renovation of Patrick Henry and William Fleming could have gone to build a 3rd new highschool, and spruce up the 2 old ones.

I don't get it though - but I guess when you have a city council that is not on the clock for the city 24/7, it's hard to focus on priorities. Hard to know whats going on in every sector of the city, especially with the information being filtered through a middle-man (D. Burcham) it's all too easy to just wait for the next report...

This is not to say there is no value to Mr. Trinkle's words, some of his points are interesting - but there is still one major MAJOR issue not being discussed. The boosting of the local tax base..

That one I would like to hear. And all I get is silence.

Anyone feeling a little Nero?

Our own Roanoke City Council, represented at the press conference by Gwen and Nelson, have decided that the city should invest more in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Insert joke here.

Actually, this is not an idea that I am totally against. Back in NY, most of the public transit busses are now CNG powered. No real difference in ride or style - reliability runs about the same from what I could tell. I wonder if Valley Metro's next fleet upgrade might be to CNG power? Wouldn't be the worst idea.

That being said, this Greenhouse gas issue, as dubious as the science may be - is hardly important enough to make a huge difference in the lives of Roanoke's citizens.

But meanwhile, in another Roanoke....

Roanoke Rapids, NC - Six months before it is set to open, the Carolina Crossroads complex already is affecting the economy of Roanoke Rapids.

Construction on the nearly $22 million project is creating about 3,000 jobs. Once the complex is running, 3,100 jobs are expected.

Crews have completed the structure of the Randy Parton Theater, which will anchor the musical entertainment development, and are now working on exterior finishes and the interior.

The theater will reflect Parton's talent for design, from the layout of the 1,200-seat auditorium to lighting and sound to a mechanical stage, said Bill Corey, superintendent of the project for J.S. Clark Construction Co.

"Entertainers get on it, then come up to the stage level," he said.

Roanoke Rapids is financing construction of the Randy Parton Theater -- it's the first private project in North Carolina funded with taxpayer money. Parton will make lease payments to the city of about $500,000 a year until the theater is paid off.
_________________________________________________

THAT my friends is something to crow about in a press conference. And yes, it is just off I-95, the coastal version of I-81, only with more bad drivers (and yes, it is possible).

They have the drive, the vision, and the intellegence to build such a thing. The imagination to realize its value to the community, and the bravery to go ahead with a bold plan.

But hey, were going to fight greenhouse gasses!

Is that a fiddle I hear?

just found this - 30 min unreleased footage from 500 yards away

Watch it, volume up.

one last thing

the final post on 9/11

(there was an image here, but Tripod decided it was being seen to much. Full shot of lower manhattan, towers burning. firetruck on brooklyn bridge heading towards the towers.)

That small truck on the bridge there. Thats Ladder 118, rushing towards the Twin Towers on 9/11. This is the last photo of Ladder 118 in action.

Not one FireFighter on 118 made it home. All hands down. Joseph Agnello, Vernon Cherry, Scott Davidson, Robert Regan, Leon Smith Jr. and Peter Vega.

6 mortal men, determined to do what they can.

If you remember one thing, one single thing about 9/11 - let it be this. Those mortal men, heading for the mouth of hell, and ascending as angels.

Monday September 11th, 2006

We are awake. Alive. Eyes wide open.
We remember everything.
With pride, honor, dignity, respect
We thank the selfless



2,752 total. 1/2 of which there are no remains for, just the dust that these brave rescuers inhaled endlessly for weeks, which is now killing them - like a 2nd attack.

not much to say, but much to see.

unimportant

They are just civil servants right? They have to work just the same as everyone else right? Thats what the general feeling around Roanoke seems to be. Sure, you know they have to fight fires, but who are they to be more important than anyone else?

Well, imagine this was the Wachovia Tower:



On fire, after an attack. People, by the dozens, breaking windows and throwing themselves out to escape the flames. Everyone heading for the emergency exits. 21 floors tall, parking capability of over 700 - probably talking about over 600 employees in the tower.

Now imagine the ground floors look something like this:

Everyone's trying to get out, except this guy.
Cops, Firefighers, EMS... they were all in those two buildings, just as they would be here.

343 FDNY Firefighters
23 NYPD Officers
37 Port Authority PD Officers


Maybe it's time we showed our appreciation for the work the Roanoke Fire/EMS and Police Departments do for us?

They might not be perfect, but damned if you'll find one single department anywhere that is.

They need our support, they need higher pay for the dangerous work they do, and they need better support from City Hall, and much less politics so they can do the job they are supposed to do.

Maybe it's time to start asking where DO our tax dollars go, if not to retain Roanoke's Bravest and Roanoke's Finest?

Tonight, 7pm at the City Market building.
Come show your support for those who keep us alive.

Show them your grateful.

NY Daily News Editorial on 9/10/01

New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com September 10, 2001 - The world we lost forever

Sunday, September 10th, 2006

Five years ago today, Monday, Sept. 10, 2001, recorded by the chronicles as the final day in the life of a world that used to be and is no more:

On the eve of mayoral primaries, after eight years of Rudy Giuliani, a long-shot outsider named Michael Bloomberg appears to be picking up momentum with voters. The Yankees announce a new sports channel called YES. Israel is readying for another no doubt pointless round of truce talks with PLO chief Yasser Arafat. Education-minded President Bush is heading to Florida to read to schoolkids.

Five years ago today: We are not being searched in the subways. We are unalarmed by the sight of valises left on streetcorners. We are not asked to remove our shoes at airport security gates.

Our young men and women are not being blown up daily by roadside bombs in a land far away.

And 2,749 people who work at the World Trade Center or plan to be on airplanes in the morning go safely to their beds, for the last time.

Today, Sept. 10, 2006, these five years along, we remember that world that used to be as a dim and distant place. We were comfortable in that world, most of us; we were confident. "The morning coffee was still cooling," the Daily News wrote two days later, "when our grandest illusion was shattered."

TRIPLE ATTACKS ROCK THE NATION

DEBRIS AND DEATH ENVELOP DOWNTOWN

U.S. SET TO STRIKE BACK

"One day," said The News, "we will think back on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, and remember in crystal detail what we were doing when the first plane crashed into the north tower at 8:45 a.m.

"And we will be amazed that we didn't think it possible before."

Now we are not so naive. Now the unthinkable is always with us, every moment of our lives. We have learned bitterly that pure malevolence roams much of the planet. And for that, we are a wiser and tougher people - and a people both unified and fractured.

Our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, they have gone to war now, to an epic clash of civilizations, to a battleground upon which is fought the future. Bravely they go, in the service of the higher ideal, volunteers all. We hail them. We mourn them.

But we have been humbled, and we know that. From an initially jubilant moment of payback in Afghanistan, we are increasingly grieved by one misstep and bumble and embarrassment after another. Our leaders too often frustrate us. Osama Bin Laden is still at large. There is no "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq, far from peacefully settled. The sacred Ground Zero remains a wretched hole, with signs of progress only beginning there. It cannot be said that these have always been the most chest-thumpingly proud five years America has ever known.

It is true that, five years on, there has not been another attack on U.S. soil, and this is not entirely blind luck. Official vigilance has kept the wolves away. The NYPD in particular has done a terrific job. Still, Congress serves up anti-terror funding like so much pork. Video cameras are few and far between in the subways. Our ports are dangerously unpoliced. Border security is a national joke.

And we squander our energies in noisy debates over civil liberties, both those of enemy combatants and those of Americans. Some recoil more at the very idea of offending a captive terrorist's dignity - how perfectly awful of us - than at the prospect of an American city in a heap of smoking cinders. And, minds buried in the olden times before there was popularly known to be such a thing as Islamofascism, before it was understood that medieval barbarians intend to remake all the world as their own golden caliphate, some refuse to recognize that intrusions upon their own personal rights have, in fact, been quite minimal - and that, if and when the gangsters do succeed in striking again, government intrusions will become all the sterner.

If and when. If and when. It was only a few weeks ago that a fleet of bomb-laden jets might well have flown in from Britain.

One day, perhaps, we will look back upon a second 9/11 and remember in crystal detail what we were doing.

And we will be amazed that we allowed it to happen - for we knew full well what kind of new world it was that we were living in, after the old world was stolen from us, the world that still existed five years ago today.

14 dirty words (or 1 word 14 times)

thats the offensive number of times the offensive word FUCK was used by FDNY and the NYPD during the REAL TIME events of 9/11.

Those who have a problem with seeing people in the face of extreme situations using harsh language like that have obviously nothing better to do than sit and bemoan the fact they had to hear something they did not want to hear.

Pardon me, I did not ask to SEE the attacks on 9/11. I did not ask to hear the dead silence of an entire city save only for the sounds of the sirens.

It offended me deeply that someone else decided that I must live through these events, by causing these events.

But the truth of the matter is - when faced with the vast destruction and endless roll of names - there really is only one word.

Fuck.

So to the American Family Association, and those quasi-religious nutballs who I hear talking about the coarse language and images from 9/11 - and how they don't feel the need to be exposed to such things.. Well - not like they are going to be reading my blog anyway..

Fuck off.

I know this might seem a touch long

But read this, if you please.

Just something to think about 5 years out...

You know I will have more to say about it as we approach the day itself, and do not forget that we will be at the memorial service downtown on 9/10.

And to the media:
You can show all the video you want, play 911 calls that have been released, drag up folks who were there when the attacks happened and rake them over the coals for ratings. But you will never come close to those few moments stored eternally in my head - the ones that bring home 9/11 for each of us. You didn't have to be there, or even know the area - It was that feeling of sitting watching the news, total disbelief and gut-churning horror.

5 years later it still lingers. Some of us wait for the other shoe to drop, others have moved on as best they could. But each and every day, there is something - always something that reminds us all. Weather or not we pick up on it is another matter.

But thats all for another post, this is just to show that life continues on.

Some things

First off - Chef K asks me to please point you all in the general direction of his new blog (which is not the one that I started, gave over, then somehow took back) which can be found here: chefkroa.blogspot.com

Something must be bothering him... he seems a bit.. touchy lately.

As for me, I've been busy attempting to find the damn microphone so I can pod again for you, the lucky listeners.

Something tells me one of my evil henchmen hid it on me.

Please bear with us, I promise that by next week we will be back to somewhat normal here.

Of course Forgotten-Roanoke will be out in force this Sunday evening, attending the Regional 9/11 memorial. If the weather co-operates well enough, It might even be the first time in months the Forgotten-Roanoke jacket will be worn out.

And a quick word to city leaders; You have every right to ask for removal of garbage cans from the street in a timely manner, and fine those who do not follow guidelines. That being said - imagine if the cans never wound up there in the first place? Perhaps it's just me - but I would be coming down hard like a biblical rain on the bosses over in the Dept of Sanitation who allow the workers to shove, toss, or outright dump the cans in the street. That is the extreme polar opposite of professional, courtious behavior, and quite frankly - a bad reflection upon the city as a whole.

You allow for citizen complaints of Weeds/Trash violations, but how does one go about changing a system?

Oh right.. thats why Im here..

Remember folks - let's make the Star City shine, again.

A New Hope (sorry Mr. Lucas...)

100 years ago, crossing Jefferson and Campbell was downright difficult - between the traffic, the muddy streets, and the neverending stream of people hustling about the city - the crossroads of Roanoke was a very hard place to cross.

Shops, stores, merchants, and hotels lined nearly every street in the downtown core. Life was a bustle into the wee hours of the evening, and you'd be hard pressed to find any time you'd not hear some sign of life somewhere.

But that was 100 years ago. Downtown Roanoke today is quiet, for the most part. One block off of Jefferson and Campbell and most days you can hardly find a soul. The city market is still doing strong business - but even that is calm and quiet.

Roanoke has gone from the powerhouse and machinery driving the economy of southwest Virginia to the headquarters for various offices and companies.

Clean, quiet headquarters.

Sure, it can still be tough to cross at Campbell and Jefferson, but usually only when Valley Metro is doing it's departures. And at night, it's nearly noiseless downtown.

Lifeless.

It is time.

In the coming weeks and months, you will be seeing a new Roanoke-Found blog, dedicated to a single thought - single concept;

Make the Star City shine, Again.

And just when you think you've finally got it...

Story here.

Roanoke Times covered it too..

No offense to Mr. Woody (who looks more than a bit like my grandfather)
but Im sure he has better things to do than spruce up a monument to failure and the
lasting legacy of the Curse of Woodland Park.

Although it does cause me to wonder, if they spruce up the monument - does that
mean the curse is renewed?

Help us all...

Try this

Pandora.com

Pick an artist or song you really like, and punch it in. Wait a minute - the system is trying to figure out why you like that song (or artist) and find others like it for you.

On days like today, I like to punch in some Miles Davis, John Coletrane, cool jazz-type stuff for all you hipsters out there.

Then just sit back and let it ride for a while..

I love days like this.

Coming next week (with any luck) the return of the podcast, a site update (now that all hardware is in place again), and some more "on-the-street" work like you have not seen in the past few weeks as we shifted HQ's.

Maybe back over the weekend, maybe not.. see you when I see you.

I have been trying to find a nice way to put this one

Money is never an easy subject to broach with people, especially people who know they are not making what they should be. All day long I am treated to a litany of "it's a shame they treat us the way they do."


So like I said, I've been searching for a good way to approach the subject, and thankfully.. Mr. Fleitz over at RoanokeFire.com in both the article and the comments finally gives voice to my thoughts.


"Apparently you do not find that odd. Maybe that is the problem with trying to get more money. We have too many people who are perfectly fine making inadequate wages. " (emphasis added)


Exactly. Roanoke is bereft with individuals who are some of the most talented and hard working available anywhere - yet they have had one point pounded into their brains since birth. You are only worth what someone will pay you.


But what someone will pay you is hardly what you are worth to them, but what you accept as pay is hardly half of what you gain for them. And thats where the cycle of worker abuse begins.


When a company keeps payscales low, or inconsistent - the only one who is truly hurt is the company itself. Worker turnover, disloyalty, and unsettled workers (no matter how much you attempt to enforce a "teammate" attitude) lead to loss of goods, services, and time.


Make your choice, accept the crap wages - or make a stand and find someone who is willing to pay, or at least recognize the hard work you do for them.


I could single out businesses that are guilty in this - but it would not matter. Until someone takes a stand, nothing will change.


Nothing.

wow. just wow.

an actual rendering of the new art museum.

I give up, seriously. No more griping about the waste of space, the loss of revenue, or anything else like that.

No more complaining about the strange mannerisims of the build, or the inherent problems stemming from it (with no regard for surrounding businesses).

Nope - if you can't figure out thats one ugly building, than brother - you deserve it.

Pardon me, whilst I go bleach my eyes.

Observations

Warm, welcoming, and friendly. Not a single neighbor who would not stop to say Hi on the whole street.

They know all about each other (and not just the gossip either), and the story of nearly every house on the block.

They have no intention of leaving this neighborhood, but wish it was more like it used to be. Corner stores, community restaurants, and all the rest.

To talk to them, sometimes turning back the clock is not a bad thing.

According to the wife, we are most likely the 'yuppies' on the block.

At least on this section of it anyway.

She has a way of making me forget the real purpose of moving to this hilltop high above the city, within spitting distance of the Star.

But to me, and rest assured.. this is the perfect opportunity to keep an eye on the city itself.

Still unpacking and assembling devices here at F-R HQ, but interesting things abound. Im hoping to be fully back on daily blogging duty by next week, and start working on the site again by next month.

When the site starts up again, there will be some industrial-sized updates coming down all at once. All of the stuff that has been trapped on the computer for the past 2 months while we secured new HQ will be unleashed. And a good deal of history will come to light.

Look for the post later this week explaining how the City of Roanoke, and the State of Virginia could help YOU find your own HQ.

Please, pardon our dust.

Please excuse the mess, as the newly-hired evil henchmen get to work on the new HQ, currently being outfitted with all the latest in user-friendly technology.

We will be using this technology to hone in on the City Council, City Of..., County Of.., and certain citizens of...

In other words it will be business as usual here.

History? Oh yes, we will still have history - accurate demonstrations of the city as it was, things uncovered, and all the rest.. just like before. Only now - with 10X the access, 10X the accuracy, and 10X the immersion.

Big things are happening. But please - pardon the dust.

Attention Citizens:

We're back.

There have been some minor glitches along the way - like the power outage last night in SE (had I known the HQ Aquarium was going to be that big a strain... sorry about all that).

And if you will notice, the website itself is down. This is a glitch I am attempting to clear up with Cox, as in the transfer from one HQ to another - somehow all the e-mail addresses were wiped. So, if you have been trying to send me e-mail, roanokeDOTfound@gmailDOTcom is the best way to do it right now.

I'll keep you posted on doings at the new ol' HQ, high on a hill.

Right where I can keep an eye on 'City Hall'.

A word about things to come...

The next few days will be full of intrigue and mystery for you.. the reader.

The blog is going dark for the next 5 days (unless something really interesting happens) as Forgotten-Roanoke gathers up its henchmen and invades the new HQ.

Once the initial set-up has been done, checklists gone over - then you will see a ressurected Roanoke-Found AND Forgotten-Roanoke.

In the short term, we would like to invite all our readers downtown on 9/10 for the regional 9/11 memorial.

We will be there, and hope to see you there as well.

In the really short term...






















Special screenings Friday night at 10pm. And you KNOW, I will be there.

See you all in about a week.

All you need to know......

Hooray!

Forgive the lack of posting...

But we are all a little on edge here at Forgotten-HQ, as we ready ourselves for the big jump to the new F-HQ.

It's just a waiting game now, to make sure all i's are dotted and all T's are crossed, and all paint is remediated.

But more on that later.

I don't usually ask much from you good readers out there, but Im going to ask you to spend today with something crossed for us.. wishing us good luck.

I swear, once this is all over - you will get a blow by blow account as to how this was pulled off. And you will be amazed. And perhaps you can profit from it as well.

Again, thats for later though.

roanoke.found - The BST Chronicles.

roanoke.found - The BST Chronicles.

1 year ago, I started something.. and for 24 days I laid forth the story of a lifetime. Or at least the most interesting thing to happen till that point.

Read them as you see fit, you can always come back to them..

comment as you wish, or not.

As promised

A podcast. For you to enjoy, and think about.. CAUTION! Contains a song which will, upon repeated listening, dig itself deep in your head. Also contains talk of todays breaking news from London. Which should, by all rights, dig itself in your head as well. I've heard tell of Roanoke being on Hitler's hit list back during WW2, for its strategic railroad and proximity to fuel supplies. True? I cannot validate it, but it sounds reasonable, had Hitler ever made it to the US shores. Just something to consider.. Eyes open folks.. both domestically, and internationally. Eyes Wide Open.

Aww Geez Edith!

Wake up.. get coffee.. stumble over dogs to computer.. hit news sites, click on TV..

Terrorists.. planes.. again?

Aww come on.. this is not how I wanted to start today.

Well, hopefully all you folks out there had no plans for major travel..

You know I'll be monitoring the situation for you folks.. Of course, theres one story thats being reported, but overshadowed by the larger story.

"2 held on terror charges in Ohio"

And they had a map of WalMarts across the Ohio to South Carolina area (including Kentucky, Tenn., and N. Carolina). Wanna bet that Roanoke was on that map?

Eyes open people.. eyes wide open.

Breaking news from Mill Mountain

ROANOKE, VA --  In order to conduct much needed repairs, the Roanoke
Star
will be out of service from Saturday, Aug. 12, until Sunday,
Aug. 20. For one
or two days during this period of time, the entire
star site will be closed
down and no visitors will be allowed near
the star. These dates are not yet
known, but will be decided once
repairs are underway. The city has awarded
the contract for repairs
to Virginia Electrical Services, Inc. in
Daleville.

Many of the transformers, junction boxes, and conduits are
the
original mechanical parts installed in 1949. Some of the
transformers,
which control the flow of electricity to the tubes, are
rusting. Other parts,
such as the conduits, are beginning to
deteriorate. "The conduit located
behind the star's mainframe is
cracking," explains Gareth McAllister the
city's Facilities Manager.
"That conduit was designed to shield the star's
wiring from bad
weather. If something were to happen-an electrical storm,
lightning,
very bad weather-we could lose the star."

The city
appreciates area residents' patience as Roanoke's most
visible icon is
restored to good working condition to keep it shining
for many years to come.

(via myroanoke)

A true peice of Forgotten-alia

If you can find this, and tell me where it is - you might just win something.

Might. 

Let's get political! *yawn*

Perhaps some of you missed this. It was linked in this article on roanoke.com this past Sunday.

Very interesting information contained in the report, although a touch hard to navigate. But once you get the hang of it.. it becomes a keystone to understanding this past election.

Of the 3 alleged Indie canidates, you remember them.. DMT - the D raised the least cash of them.

It is interesting to see who raised what, and who dontated what. I did not realize a garage cum restaurant could donate money, but somehow Fork in the Alley managed just that. A physical structure.. amazing.

One guy put his money on nearly every horse in the race, every horse he thought could win anyway. But nothing for Mr. Bowers. Think Mr. Dalhouse holds a grudge against Bowers for some odd reason?

Of course, he was not the only one to give conspicously to multiple canidates, but he is probably the biggest name to do so.

Makes one wonder if a truly independant canidate can succeed against the mega-money of PACs and 'finger in your pocket' friends like Dalhouse. Who has absolutely no interest what-so-ever in politics, he's just being friendly.

Anyway, it seems as though theres alot of money that has its fingers around the neck of the city council. Each $1,000 donation, or $21,666 donation means someone *thinks* they have influence... and of course, the average man means nothing. But remember, they are acting in our interests (allegedly, although if Fork in the Alley was acting my best interests, there would be an endless stream of pizzas heading towards my door at all times.)

Just something to think about, the interests of the City Council are steered by the most vocal supporters, and $21,666 is quite vocal.

But maybe next time...

Not what I was hoping for.. but

But not a bad weekend, all in all. I swear, promise, and verily confirm the launch of a new page this week.

Alert the media, call out the guard if I do not post this page (finally) this week.

Also on the things to look forward to list:

• Summation of the State of the City Rebuttal
• a new Podcast
• an actual post or two about the history of the city
• no comment on the sudden work stoppage at the site of the new Art Museum
• a possible 2nd new page
• I said possible.. relax
• MORE of the Roanoke Found you've come to know and love.

So thats the week in a nutshell. Excited? Well, try to be..

The Real State of the City (Part III)

When we last left the State of the City address, we had covered the ongoing (yes, I said it - we have another 10-20 years at least of this nonsense) Victory Stadium debacle, and the repairs and refurbishment of the Market Area.

Today we come to the meat of the battle, the city's (mostly) pitiful attempt at attracting and retaining younger people. The Mayor leads off with the forceful statement we have all heard from everyone in the city for the past few years. "Roanoke must retain and attract young people." If the city council could only be this obvious when it comes to making decisions, we might still have some young people.

I am 31, and Roanoke attracted me because of it's quality of life, outdoors, downtown area, housing stock, and the Star. The rest is all happenstance, but thats the freedom you have when your a cook - you can go anywhere and find people who need to eat. I like the ease of commute, regardless of who thinks 581 "traffic is a New York nightmare..." I can assure you, at 3am in the middle of a snowstorm, the Belt Parkway is and always will be worse than 581 2 weeks before Christmas with Valley View having major sales. After work.

Ok, that being said - Im going to clue the city council in on a little fact. This might be a mobile culture, and a global economy - but I don't want to move. I happen to like the idea of being invested in the well being of an area (hence the blog, and the site), and perhaps setting roots. The conventional thinking looks at modern culture and says "mobile", but ask those living in this mobile world what they would love to have, and the response would usually be "roots."

Why is it hard to retain them? Well, for one thing - they are constantly having to compete with the Boomer generation (the members of the City Council will not get this, as they are the Boomer generation) for jobs, homes, and just about everything else. Back in the 1940's, a man worked as long as the man had to - and when it was possible, he moved on to retirement - spent time with the family and enjoyed the rest of his life. Now, man works till man gets pension, then moves onto 2nd career, and possibly 3rd. Companies complain about not being able to find young adults with sufficient experience, yet do nothing about getting the youth that experience. And the individuals whose jobs ARE that experience are not leaving them anytime soon.

Face facts; Party in the Park is not for the young. Neither are First Fridays. Most restaurants downtown cater to an older clientele with more available cash. Perfectly good buildings are being converted into condo and loft space outside the affordability of most hard-working young adults. The most prime piece of real estate downtown (Heironimous Building) sits empty. The other most important building downtown (Patrick Henry Hotel) is slated to become senior housing. We hear endlessly about how this development is going to sell for $300k and up, and those condo's are selling for 400k. Yet the market has yet to bring wages up to the levels where that would be even remotely accessable.

Partly, the blame for the low wages lies in those who accept them. And in those who offer them. But the solution to the problem does not lie in models, programs, or events.. it lies within the city itself.

I understand why the city wants the retirement money. It's nearly free cash, and a good portion of the retirement population will sell a home someplace else and move here, spending only 1/3rd of what they made on the sale of the old home. Services and support for an older population are fairly easy. Keep the roads clear, the sidewalks passable, the EMS fully staffed, and a great selection of doctors on hand. Whereas the younger people require a bit more.

As it stands, the city is generally not bothered by any clubs. With the exception of CB&Co., the city has very few nightspots for young adults. It also does not attract the attention of national acts, which keeps it from having to spend money to upgrade the Civic Center, or similar things. With national, larger and more popular acts - parking, roads surrounding, services, and the physical structure of the CC would need to be upgraded.

What the city fails to realize is that the influx of people for such concerts (and other things) would pay for all the upgrades. If you provide it, they will come - and spend. The tax revenue on hotel rooms alone would make it worthwhile.

Beyond that, the Roanoke Connect Job Database is something that we here at Forgotten-Roanoke.com have personally signed on for. It's a good idea that could yield good results. The "Roanoke Wants U." program is cute, however I would feel better about it if the city did not go out and recruit these students, rather the students wanted to come here, signed up and were given a tour of Roanoke. If the city attracts 2 of the 50 students as residents, then I guess it's not the worst idea.

And as always Job Fairs are a good idea, and why not market the city during one. But actively calling it a Quality of Life Fair sounds rather desperate. And no one wants to live in a city thats is needy.

Why is the city needy? Well, someone has to fill the service jobs it will take to keep the city moving with all these retirees here. Performing service-oriented jobs, basically taking care of everyone and everything - with no qualms about being stepped on and passed over in favor of the "Disposeable Income" crowd. Which will continue to happen as long as the young people allow it.

I have alot to say about the way the city treats the younger population here in Roanoke, but that is going to have to wait... I have to go to work.. from which I will gladly retire.

Out with the bad air, in with the good..

Very sorry to all I told yesterday that today was going to be much cooler. It seems like a cap has slid over the valley causing the heat to be trapped a little longer. Although that was one of the more interesting rainstorms I've seen yesterday downtown. There was thunder in SE, but not a sign of rain. No rain or thunder in South Roanoke, and reports from the airport indicate 2-3 storms rolled through.

I wish I had my camera moment: Driving up Franklin Rd. the other evening, rounding the bend by Kabuki heading towards downtown, that nice cool shady bend. Wet. Completely and utterly wet.

Everything all the way to the river (and possibly beyond, I don't quite recall) was wet. A mini-storm apparently. But so mini that I never even saw a hint of it from just across 220.

Fear not folks - the rain is on its way, and barring another last minute revision - tomorrow promises to be nearly 10 degrees cooler than today.

Perhaps the subtle hostility that is residing in the valley will vanish as well.

I've heard more car horns beeping in these past 3 days than I have in my whole time down here.

It's almost like New York again... now cut it out!

6:01am 8/3/06

Hear ye! Hear ye!

Let it be known to all and sundry that at 6:01am today, the temperature was 78 degrees.

Also let it be known that I was not happy about that, and generally wanted nothing to do with it.

That is all..

The real State of the City (Part 2)

Picking up the drumbeat where we left off last time, the Mayor is now shifting his focus from extolling the virtues of a Victory Stadium-Free Roanoke and telling us how lucky we all are to be hosting (as a region) the US Challenge. And as wonderful and lucky as we all are to be gifted with such things, there are still a few key matters which hover above us.

The Market District plan, part 18a.

For the first time since Design '79, the public was directly involved in the process of brainstorming ideas for perking up the Downtown Market District. We were made aware of some immediate changes, the most important of them being the replacement of the vendor canopies.

Another "coming soon" item - a set of stairs leading from near the DogMouth Fountain on Salem and Market up to the Summertime Blast Furnace that is the pedestrian bridge. At least thats the best interpretation I can come up with. The way it actually reads is "Creation of a stepped plaza to draw people from the pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks into the city market."

I guess the escalators are too vague for the average visitor. Of course, I am not totally against this. I actually rather like the idea of having sweeping, dramatic steps against which the local youth (disenfranchised and bored) can sit, skateboard, and generally hang out. The panhandlers downtown would be given immediate access to those travellers who come across from the Hotel Roanoke.

No, but seriously - I think its cool. If done right, that is. My only question would be, where will the Wintery, Non-Denominational - yet Festive Tree go? Near as I can figure, the stairs will have to eliminate a good portion of the grass there.

Improving the City Market building can be done simply. Stop attempting to charge $2,000 a month in rent for 400 sq. feet of space, and end the current policy of "non-competition." Allow any non-franchise business access, offer the current and future businesses the option of being a "daytime only" establishment and taking a space inside the building, or operating days/nights/weekends on the outside rim of the building.

Yes, Williamson Rd. should be developed. Controlled, but developed. Once the new Art Museum and Floating Battleship (you didn't think it had a foundation did you?) is finished, I say the City should ask the Art Museum to vacate the warehouse at Norfolk and 3rd. That would free up a nice sized chunk of retail space, along with parking. And considering how nice a deal the AMWV got from the City, I'd say it would only be fair.

The Market Garage as a residence or hotel? You have got to be kidding me. With the quantifiable properties in direct access to the Market, and you want to offer a garage? Why not the parking lot behind WSLS while your at it? And those abandoned buildings on Salem down past.. no, scratch that last one. It's being done as we speak.

If this is indicitave of the business sense of the City, then it is a wonder we managed to come this far.

The first thing that should be done is a full and total inventory of every building within 8 blocks of the Market. Recording address, physical proximities (market.library.hospital), and condition. From that inventory, a database of the Marketable Market district, and the Unmarketable Market. Then the work begins.. how to make the Unmarketable, marketable. THAT is thinking strategically.

Without question, basic repairs AND upgrades should be made to the market stalls - and should have been made before.

I do wonder how the City Council and Mayor define the Market Area. It would seem a limited slice of the whole, from 2nd to 581, Shenandoah to Elm. Live, work, and play - in an area smaller than New York's Central Park. Unless you are looking to build more high rises, it's unlikely.

And stop pointing to the Art Museum as a "sign of great things to come." There are still no assurances that the construction will be completed, and with the sudden "no comment" policy to local businesses directly impacted by the construction - the plot seems deeper than the gravel and reinforced concrete piers it will be built upon.

Full disclosure - I happen by the construction site twice a day in my travels, and see many things - and hear even more. Insect infestations, water damage, and more - all a result of the construction.

I congradulate VACO on the expansion of it's business, and welcome the new retail space which will be added to Market St. Replacing a poorly-placed parking lot (with one interesting painted advertisement) with more jobs, more opportunities, and more commerce.

I have a choice here, stop now - and deal with the Drive for Youth movement the city is proposing, or try and jam it into this post.

Reading over the Mayor's comments - I feel this part needs it's own chapter. This is where the battles must be fought.

Refresh yourself with the subject matter here. And prepare to see the battlefield.

Roanoke firefighter files grievance against city over job transfer

(article here)

Remember what I said months ago about the employees of the city working in a state of fear of retailiation from the Head of Human Resources (aka the city manager)? This proves my point exactly.

To some it may look like errant whining, but think about this - when you single out the head of a group (and it was easy to do, it's as simple as running a whois search on the domain name) and take action against them, your attempting to send a message.

I have a feeling this time, it might just backfire in the city's face.

Hi there.

I run a website, and a blog.

I have said unkind things about the city government in the course of the blog.

It's called "an opinion."

And should you attempt to retailiate, you better do it honestly. Come to me with facts, and let's debate. Take action, and face the darker side of the internet.

It's every man, woman, and childs god given right to bitch and moan about things they don't like. And nobody can take that away.

Nobody.

Launch the Pod!

Ed Hall, City Council, heat.. Boy, this weather sure has me in a mood.

Someone is out to get me...

And I think they work for the Roanoke Times.

See, this weekend they went right for the throat. Printed things they KNEW would get my blood boiling, and would raise the level on my blog here.

Well no such luck.

Sure I read the Ed Hall peice (Take a chance, make Roanoke cool.)and I too sat bewildered as one of the top Commercial Real Estate leaders in Roanoke spells out his dream of peace, love, and puppies in the Art Museum (all visible from the invisible Mill Mountain Inn (which cannot be built the way Ed lays out - due to a large LANDMARK star, 2 overlooks, and a zoo being in the way, not to mention the personal property of a taxpaying homeowner)).

But no, thats a softball for me. I like a challenge.

Then todays business section, "'Retirement jobs' are in demand by boomers". Oh the fun I could have with that one. You know, like perhaps the problem with the lack of "workers with experience" is that the Boomers will not step aside (as was done for them by the preceeding generations) and retire giving them the opportunity for advancement and learning those skills? It smacks of systematic lazyness, and a soft comfort knowing you have employees you have counted on for years still on the payroll. Rather than take the risk and allow some new brains on the floor to do the job, they would rather keep what they know.

Employer loyalty has been a subject hotly discussed among my co-workers and I lately. All of us have varying experience in the food industry, some have worked in it longer than others and some have worked other fields (as I did with my time in retail) - but the one common thread is the lack of loyalty in the workplace. There is no consideration to retaining the best and brightest, no willingness to compete to keep the competent ones. If I were to recieve an offer tomorrow for a job that pays more doing the same thing I am doing now (with the competition, for arguements sake) - I know with 100% faith that my current employer would wish me good luck, so long...

There is no reward for hard work, no reason to strive to keep yourself and the company doing the best it can. Everyone is expendable, whereas in the past it was 'Everyone is expendable, some at a higher cost.'

So lets see, pension - social security - possibly investments, and you still want to work? Then where is my opportunity? If you suck up 5% of the entire payroll budget for the department, and the other 95% is taken up (in varying chunks) by the rest of the staff - where is my opportunity?

And a 2% a year raise on a minimal hourly salary (we will say $9) is hardly worth the effort. At that rate, it would take me 5 years to go up a full dollar in pay. I've heard it said that the 2% raise is there to encourage people to move up, to advance. I've personally been told that, only to find out that the 2% is across the board, for everyone short of the manager. Who has been there 10 years, and shows no sign - nor has any plans, of going anywhere.

Truth of it is, there seems to be very little reward for experience and effort these days. And with the Boomers sticking around the workforce even longer, the situation will not improve unless the younger crowd strikes out on it's own and goes into head to head competition with the existing businesses.

But thats a topic for another time. The focus now is on getting the page ready for tomorrow nights roll out, the podcast seamless as a vintage radio show, and the HQ packed up and ready to roll.

Oh, and in my spare time - continuing the deconstruction of Mr. Mayor's State of the City Speech.

I hope your all taking notes, you will be tested.

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.