Impressive, young ones.

I'd like to announce a new blog has joined the Roanoke scene - one that really does have the ability to change things.


NewVaConnects has started a blog, and is shooting out the gate with 2 provocative posts.

PARTNERS ON ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL

Anyone who pays attention to the Roanoke City Council, should have noticed that Councilman Lea and Councilman Wishneff often vote together. They also seem to be of like mind on various projects, for example, this week I received a newsletter style email from them discussing a proposed development of the former Grand Building on Campbell Avenue.

They wrote: "As you know by now, City Council voted 5-2 yesterday to give an $880,000 grant to the developer of the former Grand Building on Campbell Avenue. We were the two no votes and we wanted to give you our reasons for voting no."

The letter goes on state "City Council was not handed one piece of paper documenting the need. We saw no analysis (slight or vigorous) by staff verifying anything to do with the request. Nor did anyone on Council, except us, even ask to see the Developer’s numbers.
(read more)

and...

FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN ROANOKE

Every day we read about the future of downtown Roanoke. Where will a new music venue go? What about apartments? Lofts? Office space? The latest debate, is the future of the Jefferson Motor Lodge - you know, that great looking motel next to Elmwood Park and the library on the corner of Elm and Jefferson.
(read more)

Keep an eye on them, who knows - maybe they are the leaders of the new generation.

Curious, but good..

City rejects Countryside Golf Course plan

"Roanoke's government has rejected a development plan for Countryside
Golf Course because the latest version, submitted last week, was
"totally unacceptable," City Manager Darlene Burcham said today."

Ok - considering the interested developers had changed the plan the first time around to appease the community directly around the course, one has to wonder what changes were revealed that would have Ms. Burcham decrying them as 'totally unacceptable."

Did they give even more green space over to the community? Was the number of houses cut, or perhaps the targeted prices slashed?

Maybe we will eventually find out.

Keep your eyes over here for further developments.

Now, you too can have your own Nelson Harris sighting!

Roanoke, VA- Mayor Nelson Harris will give the annual State of the
City
address at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Roanoke Civic
Center's Special
Events Center. Citizens are invited to attend.

Should be interesting to see if he actually shows up. Been a while since anyone has seen him outside of council chambers.

Wonder if he regrew the goatee?

Also, why are there 6 (SIX!) closed door meetings today for the Council? We know one is for Countryside, but what of the rest of them?

RED ALERT! RED ALERT!

This is no joke folks, a rumor was reported on the Farmer's Market Blog, and I have independently verified this. The City is planning to take back the Farmer's Market from Downtown Roanoke, Inc.

Effectively canceling the contract between The City of Roanoke and Downtown Roanoke, Inc. within the next 6 months, with the Market falling under the auspices of the City.

This, in the wake of the City dumping Car Park as the management company for the parking garages (wonder if that has anything to do with the parking fee hike) - along with a few high profile departures in the city's contractors (DRI, EventZone) leaves more questions.

Will EventZone be booted out in favor of the city's new Arts Commissioner?

At this point, from the information I gathered - thats a 50/50.

What is the deal here? Does the city really just want to destroy everything it worked for for the last 25 years?

God help us all.

Sometimes you have to look elsewhere

Let's own up to a problem we know we have, but do not know what to do about.

Rental properties are abundant in the best and worst neighborhoods in Roanoke, and in various states of viability.

Take for example a story brought to our own Southeast Action Forum meeting last month - a young woman who lives on Elm Ave. SE (after the split) has had major problems with her neighbors across the way.

Aside from drinking and using drugs at all hours day and night, they keep the property in the traditional manner accustomed to those of that lifestyle. Trashed, badly.

But things did not get truly bad until the neighbors started calling the police on these fine, upstanding citizens - trying to get some peace on the street for the children and elderly who also live there.

From verbal harassment, to physical property damage - the surrounding neighbors tried as hard as they could - even to the point of calling the landlord themselves to explain the situation. And as one might suspect - he was moved. A half an inch.

In response to the complaints of the neighbors, he decided the only proper thing to do would be to move in a relative to the property - however the one he chose joined up with the thug life-no job wanna-be's.

Finally, after a true eviction was attempted (and thanks to the backwards laws, foiled by the tenants saying they had a lease agreement), and with the prodding of a certain local police officer - the landlord was... compelled to go to court and take every available legal measure to rid these people from the neighborhood.

Now, the question remains, why did it take such actions to get the landlord to "man up" and do something about the hoods in the hood?

Why? Because the landlord had nothing to worry about from them being there. Regardless of the numerous code violations on all 3 of the properties owned by this landlord, he is still making money off the deal.

But there is an answer, and it comes from a small suburb (or group thereof) of the city of Minneapolis. Parts of it we have in place, and parts we need to have in place. As follows:

"With a new ordinance that takes effect Aug. 10, St. Louis Park will require landlords to evict tenants who deal drugs, commit violent crime or repeatedly disturb neighbors. If they fail to evict tenants at the prompting of police, landlords face a $750 a month fine."
(read more here)

This is not a hard concept. Yes, there should be a blacklist of people who are known to be troublesome renters and everyone from the PD down to the landlords should get a copy. Yes, there is a fair housing law - but do you realize that applies both ways? To be fair to the renter, you need to have a fair community to rent in - and to have a fair community to rent in, you need to be fair to the community.

My personal favorite extension of this idea comes from another suburb of Minneapolis which already has a rental ordinance. From the article: "Brooklyn Park, which already has a rental ordinance, is considering going a step further by seizing rent at poorly maintained properties and holding it in escrow until repairs are made."

Could you imagine the outrage? The rats fleeing off the sinking ship that would be the rental property game in Roanoke? Certain landlords would claim to be "targeted" by this, others would cry racism - but honestly, we want the city to grow and prosper - and by allowing people to live in sub-standard conditions, yet pay prime rates - it's a barrier to that growth we all cheer about.

Even South Roanoke has multiple rental properties, some on streets you would least expect them.

The point of all this is to say that the city has done a decent job in attempting to correct the slumlord/landlord situation, but sometimes you cannot be nice... you have to play ugly.

But that means with the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority as well.

Otherwise, answer this question: How many times can you turn the other cheek?

Something (not so) new for you

Don't know if you have ever heard about it - but there is a website that aggregates the local news, and allows you to comment on it. It's called Topix.

I recently signed on to be an editor (simply adding news items into the feed), and would like you all to come over and take a look from time to time.

Topix: Roanoke, VA.

Kinda interesting really, once you sign up (free) you can add stories from various sources or even post your own to the feed.

Anyway, I'll be back with more later - I've got some work to do. The forgotten-lawn awaits.

The Bitch and Moan club

This.

Is it just me, or is the city getting a wee bit touchy lately about it's role in Roanoke?

"Near the end of Tuesday's meeting, there was heated discussion about
which organization should be in charge of making sure these proposed
changes occur.

Tom McKeon, chairman of Downtown Roanoke Inc.'s board of directors,
said that DRI, an advocacy organization, is capable of overseeing the
suggested changes to the market area. The ideas include improving trash
pickup, cleaning up sidewalks, closing Market Square and other market
areas to allow only pedestrian access, and hiring a nighttime manager
for the market.

But Brian Townsend, assistant city manager for community
development, said the city should take responsibility for doing the
jobs it already holds, such as trash pickup and other cleanup measures.

"I have some concerns about the structure and DRI's history of being an advocacy group, not a doing group," Townsend said." (JKB-RT)

Unlike the structure of the City Government, which is an anti-advocacy/pro-oligarchy group. Which is not to say they do not do things well. Garbage pickup is spot on, especially in the Business District - but as far as fully thinking out the needs of the area (any area for that matter) it serves, well.. I'd say the City Council gets a D+ overall.

Now this is not to say they are alone in this. I know people who complain about alleged "potholes" in the roads endlessly, and leaning phone poles. Taking things from a minor side-thought to a major Freakin' problem on the scale of a nuclear war - but more personal.

These people seem to think the City is personally targeting them for stuff like this.

Maybe there is something to the paranoid power-grab the City has been making, I'd be a bit worried myself about the nuts taking control... oh wait.. never mind.

And now it seems a good number of you out there have joined me in the "Single-Issue B&M Club" - as the Art Museum nears the halfway point.

Notice how visibly invisible it is from various points? It takes about a good minute to spot it on Williamson and Elm. But wait - it gets better. This $66 million dollar beauty, befitting a small city such as ourselves and reflecting the beauty of the surrounding environs?

Aluminum siding.

"Made of pre-patinated zinc surfaces on aluminum panels, the unique color of the panels is created though a process in which the panels are bathed in an acid mixture and then rinsed with water until the desirable patina is achieved." (artdaily.com)

Acid-washed Aluminum siding.

I guess artist architect who designed it, Mr. Stout - looked towards the Blue Ridge and saw.. a trailer park? A subdivision?

Pay for what you get folks... Government or otherwise....

Just a man

Just a 109 year old man.

Last survivor of Passchendaele (don't worry - I cannot pronounce it either).

Ok - if that does not ring a bell - how about this?

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
—By John McCrae

Last survivor of a 3 month battle which saw over 500,000 lives lost. Between the start of the campaign on July 31 and its end on November 8, an average of 5,000 men were killed or wounded.

This one survived. He is the last known survivor of the battles on Flanders fields, and one of the last know survivors to see the front lines in World War 1.

You know, ancient history right?

"I fell in a trench. There was a fella there. He must have been about our age. He was ripped shoulder to waist with shrapnel. I held his hand for the last 60 seconds of his life. He only said one word: 'Mother'. I didn't see her, but she was there. No doubt about it. He passed from this life into the next, and it felt as if I was in God's presence. I've never got over it. You never forget it. Never." — Henry Patch, last living survivor of Passchendaele, 12/07/2007

Not for him.

Howz about them apples?

Well, it appears the City has decided on a "tentative" design and scope for the Market Garage project.

How about this? Adding another 6 floors. And only 70 parking spaces.

That's right - Fire Station #1 is about to be loomed over by commerce, housing, or some combination of the two.

So aside from the fact that once the addition goes on - you have now just plunged that intersection into perpetual twilight, explain to me how with either commerce or residential - it makes sense to do it on a tight street with bad access for emergency vehicles?

Well - it would not be so bad, but you removed the closest ones.

And speaking of Fire Station #1 - Kudos to Wishneff and Lea, for finally realizing they are done with the City Council, and taking it to the streets. They are absolutely right about the downtown Amphitheater, Elmwood park would require little modification beyond seating and sculpting.

Plus the benefits to the downtown businesses and residents would be numerous. But, and this is not my but, the "For the City" crew has shown themselves clearly for what they are.

From the Breaking News article the day of the press conference: "The press conference, held at Fire Station No. 1 and attended by about 20 downtown business owners, citizens and members of the media, was not without contention. Local musician Cyrus Pace and John Anderson, president of the Farm, an advertising agency, challenged Wishneff and Lea.

Pace argued that the vote has already been made, and Anderson said the three “For the City” council members who voted for the river location were carrying out a mandate delivered to them when they swept the 2006 council election.

“Why can’t you guys just accept the decision?” Anderson asked.
(emphasis added -ed.)

Lea and Wishneff said they were responding to citizens’ concerns and providing an alternate proposal.

Wishneff said after the press conference that he expects the amphitheater will continue to be an issue through next spring’s municipal elections, when voters will select a mayor and three council members. Wishneff's and Lea’s terms will each be up, along with those of Councilman Bev Fitzpatrick and Mayor Nelson Harris."

I'm sure a bit of digging would reveal some interesting connections between Mr.'s Pace and Anderson and "For the City."

And speaking of Tweedle Dee, Dum, and Doh! - they're reaction (next days article - no mention of the hecklers) - well Dowe says "it's an option" if they do not like what they receive from the Request for Proposals. But "once the council decides to make a decision and go forward, we're in a position where we have to see that through. We have to respect the integrity of that process."

Integrity.. right. Just like back when you were a... no - save that for later. But it is interesting to note that Alfred "Token Candidate" Dowe might actually have some sense about him - and be willing to voice it. He won't be around for long.

Gwen "I'm much funnier than Jackie" Mason had this to say: "The ayes and the nays have been counted, and I'm sure that Mr. Wishneff and Mr. Lea are prepared to put their good brains to work on other issues that are facing the city. But the decision on the amphitheater has been made," Mason said.

SO there. I bet she even pouted a bit after saying it. So what do you think was intended by the "good brains" comment? Is Ms. Mason a zombie? Well.. maybe...

And our sincere and wise Vice-Mayor.. what have you to say? "I think what's going on is to a degree they've learned that a decision is never a firm decision recently. That's really been holding Roanoke back," Trinkle said. "If you can constantly re-debate or make it an election-cycle issue, nothing gets done and the bigger issues like schools get muddied. It's not good leadership to constantly bring old issues up for debate instead of moving on."

Displaying a mastery of how to structure a sentence, Dr. Trinkle reminds us all of how He and his crew even got elected in the first place. Making a non-issue distraction into a political windfall using the shadiest of practices.

Well, I know I've been quiet lately - but it looks like that is all coming to an end. If these half-wits keep things up like this, I might have to make this a full time job.

Oh - and someone tell me why there is a 5 minute "Mill Mountain Incline Update" on the agenda for the next council meeting?

To wit's end and beyond!

After reading an op/ed piece by Mac Obenshain in today's Times (read it here), I am curious as to when Valley Forward will sponsor "Gallop 4 Literacy."

This letter takes spin far beyond the "O’Reilly Factor," far beyond the Hillary Clinton campaign.

This letter goes so far as to twist the words of the Oxford  some Dictionary, J.B. Fishburn, and the commonly understood meanings behind words... and not just words.

Words strung together into a phrase! Which, for the benefit of the woefully under-educated, he dissects into it's raw parts - and explains in brutal detail what you fail to comprehend!

Lucky us!

J.B.F. said that Mill Mountain should be"... developed and forever preserved, improved and maintained for the use and pleasure of the people of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, and vicinity as a public park."

Now "developed," his dictionary states, means "to bring a more advanced, effective, or usable state" AND "to cause to grow and expand." But.. but... that's just one definition of it, among at least 7 main, and upwards of 20 sub- definitions all dependent upon it's context.

Oh wait - context. Hmm... context. What possible context could J.B.F. have had in mind when writing these words?

Well, not being as apparently historically accurate as this individual (who, by the way, still thinks Rockledge is up on Mill Mountain - and crumbling as we speak. "The former Rockledge Inn should not be discarded to the side like some broken-down old thing.") I happen to know that at some point in his life, J.B.F. either witnessed or heard about the debacle of Woodland Park - or possibly the abandonment of Mountain Park & Casino.

Not wanting this gift to befall the same fate - he wisely included a blurb about the expected use and future of Mill Mountain.

I forgive the absolute ignorance in regards to the Hotel Roanoke, the H&C and Dr. Pepper signs, and the Star. I am guessing he is on the young side of "twenty-something" and does not know about the lights, stars, and hotel's checkered past. Well, all except the Star - which was a commercial venture graciously maintained by the Chamber of Commerce for many a year.

But this individual, with his twisted dictionary, does not receive pleasure from Mill Mountain. So let's all change it so he does.

That is basically the entirety of his argument, minus the spin.

So all you people who enjoy the mountain, the zoo, the activities at the Welcome Center (yes, the building which rests on the site of the former Rockledge) - tough kitties! He knows more than you do! He can selectively use a dictionary! Possibly multiple!

And am I mistaken or did he attempt to invoke the "Scooby-Doo" rule by stating we will continue to "defy Fishburn's request instead of granting it." Does this mean the ghost of J.B.F. will begin appearing atop the Star, until the Valley Forward Mystery Machine comes to investigate - and build an Inn to quell the evilness?


Ahh... perhaps Valley Forward needs a Propaganda Minister to better control the message and it's disbursement.

Oh - and as a point of clarification: The definition of "forever preserved."

1,001 - thanks Mac!

1000

Well, that's another milestone gone and buried.

Thank you to everyone (and everything) that makes all this possible on a daily basis. And you - the readers - a major thanks.

Enjoy the 4th folks - be safe, eat BBQ, have a beer on me.

Out of the box

From time to time I have to step outside of the Roanoke-area mindset, and look on a larger scale. Worldwide.

We occasionally need to be reminded that Amphitheaters, Stadiums, and parking issues are only a small trivial annoyance in life.

After 9/11, the London Bombings, Madrid, and any number of smaller terrorist attacks and "near-misses," I found this article over at The Daily Mail out of London. It's one mans story of being your worst nightmare. A radical terrorist who believed in what he was doing.

It begins: "When I was still a member of what is probably best termed the British Jihadi Network - a series of British Muslim terrorist groups linked by a single ideology - I remember how we used to laugh in celebration whenever people on TV proclaimed that the sole cause for Islamic acts of terror like 9/11, the Madrid bombings and 7/7 was Western foreign policy.

By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair's bombs" line did our propaganda work for us."

You can read the rest here.

Eventually, and I'm sure if I was as widely read as some bloggers I'd get a ton of hate mail about this, you folks out there who try to blame Bush and try to infuse politics into the conversation might just realize that it's not politics. Not even close to being about politics.

It's about religion, theology and theocracy, and fear. And that's fear on both sides, thank you.

Anyway - it's a fascinating article - and much more important than a $2 parking fee, Darlene's latest hair cut, or playing "Where's Nelson?"

And lest you think we are sheltered from the rest of the world here in lil' ol' Noke..

A "Terrorism Expert" yesterday on Your World with Neil Cavuto was talking about how you expect attacks on the larger cities, the larger airports. But it's when you are not looking (and he said this specifically) that the smaller places like Roanoke, Virginia get hit - then we all have a problem.

Now why would he single us out like that? Makes you think.

First - 2 weathermen on drugs. Now this?

Pseudo-Gangs VS. The Real Deal, how many years?

The Northwest graffiti incident has brought forth the talk of "gangs" in Roanoke. Even though most who were affected, including the police, have said there is no way this was gang related; people still talk about gangs being here.

I myself have said on many an occasion that what we have here is bored youth, bent on imitating what they think is cool, and creating nothing but damage and irritation where ever they go.

It is not uncommon to hear stories of girls who started smoking weed at 11, guys who started at 9. They are your "gang members" here. But what separates them from real gangs?

This.

A series of gang assaults in a one-block area of the Kingsbridge Heights section of the Bronx claimed one life, and police are trying to determine if they are part of a pattern.
The beatings apparently intensified over the weekend, when police say four young men were attacked by a large group of suspects on Friday and Saturday nights.

Police say on Friday night, two young men in their 20s were surrounded and assaulted by a group of males, as many as 10, in separate but similar incidents.

The first victim was attacked at the intersection of East Kingsbridge Road and Morris Avenue at around 10:15 p.m. Friday night, according to reports. The next victim was reportedly attacked nearby, just a few minutes later.

Both men were treated at a hospital for their injuries and released.

Then on Saturday, within a block of those attacks, two more men were surrounded by a group of 10 men and beaten, investigators say. One of the victims sustained cuts on his hand and head from an unknown object. The other remains hospitalized with a serious eye injury.

Most recently on Sunday, detectives learned that a victim of a previous attack had died.
(WABC7-NY)

And where did these youths start? Smoking weed at 11? Some. Tagging graffiti at 13? A few.

But much like up there, most of the real gang members started at birth. The home life was no life, and they found their way on the streets.

And if you think that 11 year old girl smoking weed is not going to spawn a 9 year old boy smoking weed - your kidding yourself.

While we might not have real gangs now, in another generation or two - we will. Because of the home life.

The little things don't matter - church, school, work. It's all about the home. And if there's little to no control at home - then there will be none in the next generations home.

Sometimes the problem can be controlled outside the home. Neighbors showing kids the proper way to be adults, but in all reality - if they are not getting it inside the home - then they will most likely not get it at all.

I know this post is out of the blue - but when you hear talk of gangs around here, and people cannot seem to figure out why - well, sometimes you have to write the answer on a shovel and smack them with it before they understand.

If you Trinkle

My dear Aunt had a sign that hung in her bathroom. It read "If you sprinkle when you tinkle be a sweetie and wipe the seatie."

I'm thinking about getting a new version made.

"If you Trinkle..."

Today's Times Commentary Page features 2 side-by-side columns about the amphitheater drama.

One is by Our Own Vice-Mayor, the other by Tom McKeon, chairman elect of DRI's Board of Directors and Exec. Director of the Higher Ed Center.

Tom's argument that the amphitheater should be located downtown is clear, concise, and gives examples. It's not a great argument by any means - but a valid one, and understandable.

Trinkle however goes on the offensive from line 1: "Well here we go again: Council makes a decision; council members on the losing side endorse malfeasance, wrong process, no input, scandals; council reverses its decision; nothing gets done. Right? Wrong!"

He goes after the Times, the citizens, the downtown organizations and anyone with a thought in their head.

But remember, you are all stupid and wrong.

Well, maybe not so much stupid as uninformed on the issues. But that's ok - if you have a problem with it - he already knows it and has spoken with you. Right?

"I personally have met with every group and individual that I knew was opposed to the river site to better understand their viewpoints. I have never hidden my thoughts on this subject, and only with one e-mail two weeks ago did I encourage the rest of council to likewise weigh in on their thoughts. After all of this input over a long period of time, one differential came to my mind: Where should it be today or where should it be in the future?"

How about where should HE be today, or in the future? Another victim of the Peter Principle?

Then there's this gem: "Win or lose on votes, as I have, I will always lean more toward optimism and avoid the showmanship, negativity and misleading accusations that really have no place at this level of the political game. "

Followed a few paragraphs down by this curious line: "The bottom line was four council members who took the time to be fully informed voted for the river, and we are moving forward despite clear negativism aimed at derailing the project."

Is that to imply that 2 of them were not informed? We know Mr. Wishneff was not present, but Lea and Fitzpatrick were. I hesitate to think that either one of those two men would not be "fully informed", given that one of them was the Vice Mayor just prior to your little coup Mr. Trinkle.

But who am I kidding - the guy has it all, a job that gives him everything he wants - both with the city and with Carilion, a restaurant across the alley way with his picture painted on the backside across from his medical offices, a series of young, hip, Forward kind of people shining his shoes to get the next slot in the city council.

But he's right - I have to wonder how "fully informed" he was considering the city has previously cleared the area off Orange Ave. for an amphitheater.

Oh, wait. They did not have the money or support to build it then.. think they have the money now to start work on Reserve Ave.?

Want to bet?

While I'm thinking of it

This whole amphitheater issue, the speed and abandon with which the city council has rushed into it - it makes me wonder if they ever had any plan beyond soccer fields at "River's Edge?"



What better way to eliminate the appearance of "lack of foresight" than to make a decision, regardless of how feasible it may be?



Neither location considered by the firm hired to do the study has ample parking nearby, ease of access from the highway, or a real way to keep the surrounding area from being blasted by the noise of whatever is on stage.

 



So I guess what they have done here is a blatant attempt to keep the wool firmly over our eyes.



Make your own call, but I'm calling shenanigans.

Does Roanoke ignore it's young? YOU BETCHA!

Seriously now.. wtf?

Rumble

Amazement. Plain and simple. It's hard for me to believe the Roanoke Times finally said something I agree with in regards to the City Council.

"A council gang of four -- Mayor Nelson Harris, Vice Mayor David Trinkle, Alfred Dowe and Gwen Mason..." - editorial from the Roanoke Times

Now lest I be accused of clipping it to fit my bias, the rest of the line goes on to say that the Council failed basic civics by cutting residents out of the process in deciding the location of the new Amphitheater.

It's correct on both counts. Yes, Roanoke does have a gang - a Gang of Four. Those wacky independents, who answer to no one and were voted in by smoke and mirrors. Well, 3 of the 4 anyway. The Mayor outright suckered people. But one thing the Gang has probably thought of, and has plans for - is the upcoming elections. I'm sure in "virtual back-room" dealings the candidates have been pre-selected, and pre-screened for compliance.

This, coming from someone who was actually FOR the amphitheater being built on the Victory Stadium site. I still hold true to the belief that having it there, regardless of weather or not we can fill 7k seats (and I think we could do better, bigger), is a direct call to businesses which might very well see the benefit in having such a facility right near by.

But back to our story. The Gang of Four, these Four Horsepeople of the Ridiculous if you will, have set in stone their will for the future of the City Council. A big part of that is Darlene herself. She keeps the City workers, and some residents, in fear. As long as Darlene is there - the city will be kept in stasis. No problems from the pesky citizens, as it were.

Take, for example, the City Market debacle. Anyone have a clue as to why these "mediation" sessions are not being shown on TV? All we get are soundbytes - and sure, every citizen who has a stake in the Market (and I think that counts as all of us) is welcome to attend - but you know the hard truth is - some of us have other things to do than sit for hours in a meeting. Like work. Hours outside of the 9-5 grind. The hours that normal people work.

Like the current call for Valley Metro to extend operational hours, theres a good reason for that. People in the 21st century work 24 hours a day. Unlike the 1/10th of the population that is truly represented by the current City Council, who have nice day jobs.

So I like my coffee with non-dairy creamer, in vast quantities, and readily available when I like. Does this mean I expect every place I go to have this exact combination ready for me? Negative. I realize that I am not all, and all are not I. This is something the City Council fails to realize - they are acting as if they are all, and there must be something wrong with you if you are not as wise as they are.

So lets think about this for a minute.

How do we go about fixing the problem of a City Council gone awry? Simple - we rumble.

The City has long been divided into quadrants - as we are reminded by the news each time graffiti pops up pitting SE vs. SW (sprayed by the same hand it seems). So let's rumble - once and for all and for the good of the city.

Each area gathers up it's best and brightest - and puts them forth to serve the public interests OF THAT AREA.

If this sounds strange - allow me to remind you of this - there are 3 seats coming open in the next election - and the Mayor's chair.

1 seat per section of the city. And the 3 dwarfs left. The citizens of the City need to come together in their neighborhoods and commit to taking back the City.

Sure, it means there will be debate and disagreement, but that's life. And eventually, there will be compromise, and we can start back on the path of rebuilding the city.

I hate to keep harping on this, but it stands as the perfect example of the cities outright confusion and dereliction of duty.

Roanoke's 125th celebration has been forgotten. The fireworks on the Fourth of July will go off just as they always do, nothing terribly spectacular or different about it. An Art Festival has been announced for the first weekend in October. Anyone hear about it? Anyone care?

Nothing that celebrates the history of Roanoke, the where we have been and the where we are going, absolutely nothing.

Even with the wreck of the Hesperus going in downtown, even that smacks of beige. Whatever opportunity to truly set ourselves apart has been lost now - destined to be another city with an ultra-modern museum.

I have met, talked with, debated with, and conversed with many residents from many different parts of the city - and I can tell you this much. Roanoke is not bland, beige, or any of the above. It is a city whose residents care, have personality and life, and yet have been washed right out of the system.

Well - like I said, let's find our best and brightest, support them and may the battle rage on long and hard, and the victors be the citizens of Roanoke.

Southeast is in.. Northwest? Southwest? Northeast? Don't you think it's time we had a say?

Or are you content to let your city steamroll you?

Later on

I need to finalize some details for a post I will be putting up later on today. But at least now you have something to look forward to.



I know the world is not listening with baited breath to hear my every word, but some folks are... especially considering the topics in the news lately.



Oh yes, we will have some fun late tonight.

I have no explaination

The new deal

Of all the projects in the works, this one is the one I am most looking forward to.



First there was Forgotten-Roanoke, and along with that came Forgotten-Wife and Forgotten-Dogs, and to that list we can now add Forgotten-Baby.



I have 7 months to get the new site perfected, up and running smooth - along with all the other baby-related activities that will be going on.



Wish us luck, and remember - the Sentinel is always watching.



I'll be around as often as I can, but I cannot promise a full working site anytime soon - I will let you know when the rough copy is live though.



Once again, bear with me.. It just got even more interesting.

Sword

Gold

Omaha

JunoS. L. A. Marshall: "Already the sea runs red. Even among some of the lightly wounded who jumped into shallow water the hits prove fatal. Knocked down by a bullet in the arm or weakened by fear and shock, they are unable to rise again and are drowned by the onrushing tide. Other wounded men drag themselves ashore and, on finding the sands, lie quiet from total exhaustion, only to be overtaken and killed by the water. A few move safely through the bullet swarm to the beach, then find that they cannot hold there. They return to the water to use it for body cover. Faces turned upward, so that their nostrils are out of water, they creep toward the land at the same rate as the tide. That is how most of the survivors make it. The less rugged or less clever seek the cover of enemy obstacles moored along the upper half of the beach and are knocked off by machine-gun fire.

Within seven minutes after the ramps drop, Able Company is inert and leaderless. At Boat No. 2, Lieutenant Tidrick takes a bullet through the throat as he jumps from the ramp into the water. He staggers onto the sand and flops down ten feet from Private First Class Leo J. Nash. Nash sees the blood spurting and hears the strangled words gasped by Tidrick: “Advance with the wire cutters!” It’s futile; Nash has no cutters. To give the order, Tidrick has raised himself up on his hands and made himself a target for an instant. Nash, burrowing into the sand, sees machine gun bullets rip Tidrick from crown to pelvis. From the cliff above, the German gunners are shooting into the survivors as from a roof top.

Captain Taylor N. Fellers and Lieutenant Benjamin R. Kearfoot never make it. They had loaded with a section of thirty men in Boat No. 6 (Landing Craft, Assault, No. 1015). But exactly what happened to this boat and its human cargo was never to be known. No one saw the craft go down. How each man aboard it met death remains unreported. Half of the drowned bodies were later found along the beach. It is supposed that the others were claimed by the sea."

remember.

For those of you in Southeast

Tonight, 7pm at the Police Substation @ 1015 Jamison Ave. will be the monthly meeting of the Southeast Action Forum. Please join us tonight as we honor some of our long-time members.



see Southeast Roanoke Rising for more information.

It must be tough (breaking up is hard to do)

I can't imagine it is easy being the mayor of a city. Any city, for that matter. But Roanoke, with it's diverse (somewhat) population and wide-spread socio-economic base must be particularly tough.



It must be tough, having to decide between making major choices and public appearances.



In any other city, that might be true - but in Roanoke, we have a weak mayor system. Which means the Council and City Manager make the heady decisions, which makes the Mayor just another member of the council, with a title.



So why is the Mayor not making many public appearances? Aside from the business-related ones, Mr. Mayor has not been seen at a good number of functions a dignitary official should be at. I can think of a recent dinner for a number of people who are active within the city neighborhoods. Darlene was there, as was her Assistant City Manager Brian Townsend. But the Mayor declined due to schedule conflicts.



Well I would think if it were important enough for Darlene "CEO" Burcham to attend, it would behoove the Mayor to put in an appearance. But no. And this was the 2nd time the Mayor had declined to appear before this group. This is not to say ANY member of the current council attended, or was scheduled to attend - but someone (even Alfred Dowe) should have made some effort to be there. But again, as Mayor of a city which holds the position of Mayor of low importance in the grand scheme of the city, what else could be going on?



There's 2 ways to think about this. #1 - Mr. Harris is much like that freight train downtown; if the train ain't movin' it's useless. Or #2 - Mr. Harris is playing limited engagements before select audiences, and anyone else gets the short sheet.



Harris has had a good run, since 2004 he has been the Mayor, the pastor at Virginia Heights Bapitst, worked on completing his doctorate, and writing books. He has overseen the overthrow of the average citizen in favor of the SoRo crowd (For the City), demolished Victory Stadium (a smokescreen issue), and kept the City Market stagnant. But in the same breath one cannot help but mention the greening of the greenways, the flood reduction project along the river, and the revamp of the Civic Center for trade shows. All worthwhile projects, certainly.



I see what you did there.



So what's next for Mr. Mayor? Short of giving him the same "sacrificial lamb" treatment that Bev Fitzpatrick has received, I think it's time to return this shepherd to his flock.



Mr. Harris,



We thank you for your 4 years in office, it's been fun - really. But I think it's time we both admitted what the problem is. We've grown apart. There was a time when your smile and words brought a twinkle to our eye. But not every relationship is meant to last, and though parting be painful - I think it's time we went our own directions. There are a lot of fish in the sea, Mr. Harris - and I have a feeling you will find your very own soon enough. But we are not that fish. Not anymore. It's not you, it's us - we've just grown past what we had. And yes, in a way you helped us reach this point, but we don't feel you can go all the way with us.



Let's be honest, you haven't always been there for us. And you haven't always had our best interests at heart. Maybe it was the lure of the title, or the status - but we don't feel it anymore. But we are ok with that, and we will come through this intact. We feel it's better that you do not attempt to contact us in the future, and we will pass along anything you might have left behind.



Sorry for this,

Citizens of Roanoke City



~~~~~~~~~~~



Like I said, must be tough - breaking up is always hard to do.

The City Council Agenda for Monday, June 4th 2007

Yes - I'm reading it again. Someone has to go into geek-mode to keep you all informed.



So what I'm seeing so far is this: An update on the Mayor's Monument (aka The Curse of Roanoke) in Elmwood Park, as it is slated for revitalization this year. An update on the Amphitheater Study, which is nearly a moot point as the Lake will have it's own comparable up and running long before we do.



Unless the city really hangs itself on the line, and pushes for something more than what we have heard about before - it will be just another amphitheater - similar to the one at the lake. Woo.



Then there will be a quick update on the Aviation Drive - Thirlane Rd. project.



All of this at the 9am meeting.



At the 2pm meeting - well, not much really. Which makes it a great time for anyone with the time and availability to go before the City Council, and respectfully request they remove their collective head from that dark, stinky nether-region it seems to have embedded itself in.



Otherwise, not much to report - which is nothing uncommon with the Council.



Remember folks - the elections are coming up soon enough. Or not soon enough - depending on how you view things.



Oh - I need to revise my numbers from the parking issue the other day - Collectively taken, all the city parking garages on weekends contain less than 1000 cars overall. Taken to the 1k level, at 2 bucks a car - thats $2,000 a weekend. $2,000 a weekend to pay for a 7.2 million dollar parking garage being built for those buying into the Condo/apartments being build at places like the Campbell Garage Lofts, The Peerless Candy Co., and similar ventures down that end of town.



And if you think I'm kidding about that - check this from our City CEO.. uh.. Manager: "Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham said she has warned council members for three years that the rate increase would be needed to pay for a parking garage between Campbell and Salem avenues. The garage is needed to serve new living spaces under construction downtown, she said.



That influx of full-time residents, Burcham said, "is key to the long-term success of downtown."



Oh I could say soooo much more, but I will hold my tongue for the moment.



The lawn is calling me.. I must mow.

Hum Drum

With the rolling thunder in the distance, and an old favorite song playing in the background.. I want to write.



But not my usual output.. something more.



Exactly what, I'm not sure. But something will come of this. I have 48 hours of dead air to fill.



Maybe... a stroll to the edge of the world is in order. Maybe.

After much delay and consternation

Sorry for all the delays folks - but life does not stop here at F-R HQ, high on a hill overlooking the city (you know that ferris wheel at the civic center? I saw what you did there) and preparing for the launch of.. well, you'll find out.



Memorial Day has always been a day of remembrance for me, which despite the best efforts of those here in OhNoesaNoke, I was able to push aside all the silly news... until now.



So I open this with this warning: What follows is a weekends worth of held-back commentary, and it might get ugly.



Note to John Lugar, President of Valley Forward:



You have shown the world exactly how petty and childish you and your group really are. By your clear and delusional misunderstanding of the basic facts before you - your bitter statements regarding the people of the city (not that you actually hold them in any regard) and the MMAC show that you are not fit to lead. You, and your group, should be commended for the Gallop for the Greenways. But as for the rest of it, seriously - be still, and listen for a change. I know you folks are used to a certain level of treatment, but you are out in the world now - and things are different out here.



Your "broad public support" is easily dismissed, and you know that. A biased and misleading survey does not prove anything, except to you folks.



Learn from this, for your next public works project and stop assigning blame to everyone under the sun for your own bad idea.



Note to the Roanoke City Council:



There is not much more I can add to the public outcry on the $2 parking fee. It's a bad idea, and I have a feeling you folks know it - but decided to go the easy route and keep the idea.



If, and this is only an if, you get maybe 200 cars on a Saturday at the Market Garage, and another 100 (not seen that many, but what have you) on Sunday - thats $600 in fees collected.



I do understand the need for a new parking garage towards the west side of Downtown. If any area is ripe for growth, it's that area. What needs to be done, rather than raising the fee across the board, is raise it for those who are not city residents - and build into the decal fee a parking tax, and issue a small barcode sticker for city residents. They can then park free when they need it, while still generating revenue for the city to put towards the building of the new garage (and perhaps fixing up the old ones).



That's not the entire story, but it's enough of the story for now. There will be more later - thats for sure.

Difficult, in a word.

It's hard not to respond to a certain article in today's newspaper. But I will refrain until Tuesday, when Memorial Day is officially over.



Please, if you have not done so yet - watch the video below. And remember...

Remember...

D-Day



WWII



I single out the Soldiers who fought bravely for the freedom of the world from tyranny in World War 2.



What about the other soldiers? The Vietnam Vets, Korean War Vets, Gulfs 1&2? 



I honor them as well, but we are losing the World War 2 vets at a frightening rate. 1200 a day by some estimates. And very few of us know their stories - that side they rarely talk about.



I realize I am putting this up early, but when you come across a video (via YouTube) of this high caliber.. how can you ignore it's message.

How much?

I guess technically, I've been out of service since Thursday afternoon - so I have missed a whole bunch of news.



Let's start back in yesteryear (at this point) - A reader asked for my thoughts on the reports of David Diaz leaving DRI, Inc. for a position in Raleigh, NC.



Do I blame him? Or envy him. I look at it this way. He is going to be charged with doing the same basic thing he was doing here, although I can bet you (considering Raleigh is already one of the premier cities of the south) he will not find the same difficulties there as he did here. Let's see - more money, a bigger budget, and a city actually willing to work with you?



Heck - I'd be there in short order myself. However, according to the Roanoke Times article: "His departure may coincide with a new marketing strategy for Roanoke's urban core."



New marketing strategy? What strategy? You mean the whole "Roanoke is one of the top places in the country to retire" thing? In case the city has not noticed - the new retirees, the Baby Boom gang - they are not exactly shuffling off into the sunset. They tend to be quite active, and look for active things to do. Not just a place to sleep, eat, and read the paper. They also like things that they liked where they are moving from... Population of Roanoke right now - Im going to guess, informally and based on what I've seen - 30-35% out of town born, mostly from the North.



And growing rapidly.



Anyway, moving on.. The historically accurate Patrick Henry Hotel hit the newspapers with a Fire Marshall's report that either they install sprinkler systems soon, or they close. And for a place that cannot rent a room anymore, and has probably rented one a month since 2000 (and from what I hear, it's the same room each time - and it's barely cleaned), is operating at a "loss" and really keeps the power on for a few functions a month.. well, this just goes to show what kind of a state the city is in.



Even the ownership of the building is beyond troubled - near-foreclosures, legal troubles (before the first nail has been paid for at that), money troubles... the list just builds. And all for one of the most important locations in all of Roanoke. The only TRUE downtown Hotel.



Sorry folks, you can try to call the Hotel Roanoke downtown, but it's on the other side of the tracks. With nothing else around it. Not even a damn CVS. Some economic benefit to the community over there huh?



In other, more level-headed cities - when they say Hotel Downtown, they mean it. Among and between all the other downtown amenities and attractions - there's the hotel. Not over an enclosed; but unheated or air conditioned bridge where you get the thrill of the russian-roulette escalators, a 2 story walk, or the elevators. That's not downtown by anyones definition of the word.



The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center is a great concept, but the promised returns have yet to be realized. The city passed on the partnership to get the Patrick Henry back up and running.



Well, you make your choices. And now, sources reveal something not discussed in the Times article. Affirmative Equities Co. has a history that has not been talked about. They have a track record for buying properties, and flipping them.





So what's the real story of the Patrick Henry? The premier hotel downtown, the grandest lady of them all - is a tumbling wreck. In any other city, EVEN Lynchburg - this hotel would be restored and marketed properly. Here, we are content to wait and see if it ever becomes a retirement property.



Oh I know I've only touched a tenth of the stories I missed, but there will be more.



There will be more.. oh yes.

It lives!

Made it back.. are you people lucky?

Too much to do right now to put together a full post on all the news that fits the print, but it's coming up later today...

for now, enjoy a remix of the Disturbed cover of Land of Confusion. It's a bit more graphic in visuals, but that was the point of the song itself back when Genesis wrote it.

The guy who remixed it specifically chose certain images for the gut-punch reaction. See how many you remember personally witnessing on TV.

My final message.

I'll see you around. If I survive this weekend.

Go ahead, start asking. Will I be back? What is going on here? Everybody panic?

Not telling... nope.

Ever have one of those moments?

I've been having a lot of them lately, as I deal in various ways with the city.



I said a few months back to someone that this next election is going to change things - and that the current city council has absolutely no idea how badly it is shooting itself in the foot.



Between the budget, the sudden change of the Star back to RWB after allegedly it was turned white for Virginia Tech (not the 125th which would make sense.. leave it white all year for the entire celebration), the introduction of a fee for parking on the formerly free nights and weekends.



It's a train wreck of epic proportions, and it's on going.



The 125th Celebration, aside from being the least reported public screwing and betrayal going, is lackluster at best. The next event is in June, and has to do with emerging artists at the Main Library.



This is the best the city can do? Maybe they spent so much time on the logo for the 125th they ran out of ideas and capitol for the rest of the year.



I am at a loss folks.



And now, on top of all this - comes word that the big Roanoke sell-off might not be limited to Station 1 (in the future), but could encompass Buena Vista in Jackson Park, Old Fire station #6 in Southeast, and several other key structures the city wishes to divest itself from.



I think it's time to examine whats going on here, start asking the hard questions and looking deep for the answers.



Who is running our city, and how? And to what end?



Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, Voters of all ages- you thought Victory Stadium was bad? Wait till you see the next election cycle.



The Sentinel is watching, and waiting.

For Southeast Roanoke...

Today, between 1:30 and 3:30pm at the Police Substation (old firestation #6) at 1015 Jamison Ave SE.

The Southeast Action Forum will be holding a free Ice Cream Social..

Games for kids, Sno-Cones and Ice Cream for all, and a great way to come meet the New Forum.

Come on down, especially if you are a resident of Southeast. Come meet your neighbors.

The shortest one yet.. which makes it unnerving..

ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL

MAY 14, 2007

2:OO P.M.

COUNCIL CHAMBER

AGENDA

Call to Order - Roll Call.

The Invocation will be delivered by Council Member Alfred T. Dowe, Jr.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America will

be led by Mayor C. Nelson Harris.



NOTICE:

Meetings of Roanoke City Council are televised live on RVTV Channel 3.

Today’s Council meeting will be replayed on Channel 3 on Thursday,

May 17, 2007, at 7:OO p.m., and Saturday, May 19, 2007, at 4:OO p.m. Council

meetings are offered with closed captioning for the hearing impaired.



ANNOUNCEMENTS:

THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE NOW PROVIDES THE MqJORITY OF THE CITY

COUNCIL AGENDA ON THE INTERNET FOR VIEWING AND RESEARCH PURPOSES.

TO ACCESS AGENDA MATERIAL, GO TO THE CITY’S HOMEPAGE AT

WWW.ROANOKEGOV.COM, CLICK ON THE ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL ICON,

CLICK ON MEETINGS AND AGENDAS, AND DOWNLOAD THE ADOBE ACROBAT

SOFTWARE TO ACCESS THE AGENDA.



Statement of Purpose. Mayor Harris.



Introduction and Consideration of Ordinances and Resolutions:



A Certificate of the Director of Finance advising that funds required for the

2007-2008 General Fund, Civic Facilities Fund, Parking Fund, Market Building

Fund, Department of Technology Fund, Fleet Management Fund, Risk

Management Fund, School Fund, School Food Services Fund, and Grant Fund

budgets will be available for appropriation.

1. Amendment of the City’s Fee Schedule (Compendium) in connection with certain fees for training at the Police Academy, Fire/EMS inspections, parking rates, and Civic Center rental, effective July 1, 2007.

2. Amendment of the City Code to exclude complimentary tickets from the

assessment of the Admissions Tax, effective July 1, 2007.



3. Amendment of the City Code to eliminate the motor vehicle decals and

City’s motor vehicle license tax structure, effective January 1, 2008.



4. Amendments of the City Code to establish a program for special

taxation of certain energy-efficient buildings and to set a special tax

rate for such buildings, effective July 1, 2007.

5. Adoption of the Annual General, Civic Facilities, Parking, Market

Building, Department of Technology, Fleet Management, Risk

Management, School, School Food Services, and Grant Funds



6. Appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending

June 30, 2008.



7. Adoption and establishment of a Pay Plan for officers and employees of

the City, effective July 1, 2007, and providing for certain salary

adjustments and merit increases; authorizing annual salary increments

for certain officers and employees; continuation of various programs;

payment of a monthly stipend to certain board and commission

members; salary of the City’s General Registrar; salaries of the City’s

Constitutional Officers; and salaries of the Mayor, Vice-Mayor, and

Members of Council. Approval of certain supplemental benefits under the City of Roanoke Pension Plan, effective July 1 , 2007.



8. Endorsement of an update to the Capital Improvement Program for fiscal

year 2008-201 2; and appropriation of funds.



9. Appropriation of funds for the YMCA Aquatic Center, in the amount of

$200,000.00; and Greenway Development Projects, in the amount of

$200,000.00.



10. Appropriation of $335,000.00 in connection with local incentives for

Enterprise Zone Projects.



11. Approval of the 2007-2008 Annual Update to the 2005-2010

Consolidated Plan and authorization to submit the complete Annual

Update to the United States Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD) for review and approval.



12. Adjournment.



By the by - you can view the entire budget yourself, online here. (.pdf)



have fun with the "lack of information society."

New Roanoke 5 - Part 2

Somewhere in this 42 square mile city, someone sits.. gnashing teeth and grumbling about the City council, the "piss-poor" jobs in Roanoke, the general misery of being here - now.



That someone sits in an apartment, or a house left to them by a long dead relative. The lawn has not been mowed in months or years, the apartment not cleaned in ages.



Why bother? No one else cares. Not my problem, let the landlord deal with it.



And they leave to go to work - with the same miserable attitude, apathetic outlook, and free from responsibility - they amble through the work day, putting in a half-assed effort. Not stressing about work except to find a way to get out of it.



Where is the drive? The motivation? Is it any wonder why we are represented by who we are represented by? I'd be willing to peg it at 65% of Roanokers have absolutely no interest in anything the city does, with the exception of grumbling about it.



Wonder why a substantial majority of our City Council members come from certain sections of the city? Because they are the only ones who bother organizing.



If Roanoke were a nation, it would out-do France in "We Surrender" jokes..



For lack of a better concept - it's as if the city and it's citizens were neutered.



Well, somewhat anyway. More than happy to play Brutus, or even Bluto..



I know you cannot change society, but you can ask them a simple question..



Why the complete and utter lack of drive?



Where is the cities cohones?



Ambition? Anyone?



This is the only New Roanoke post that does not offer solutions, because that's not why I wrote this one. This is something to take back and think about, think about the kids who are born and raised to people like this, think about the loss of the "brains" of Roanoke and realize perhaps that this is why.



Is it a liability to have a sense of determination and drive in Roanoke?



Answer that.. thats the challenge of New Roanoke.



Sometimes the answers are fine, it's the questions that are ugly.

NewRoanoke #5 - Part 1

You all know the song.. this is just a newer version of it I happen to like.

I said the next NewRoanoke would be about class - and I meant it.

When you don't work to better yourself, show a little ambition, and make something of yourself - you lose. And in that regard, there's a good number of low-class citizens in this town. Symptomatic to the civic problem is the civil one. Even our leaders have shown a penchant for being guttersnipes and engaging in beyond-political back-stabbing.

It's easy to see too. Trinkle lost his Roanoke-Political virginity rather quickly - when he soon found that he was one man, standing alone.

But thats the easy side of the equation.. the much harder side will come tomorrow.

When we get down to street level.

And this is how it begins...

Back room dealings and shaded motions.



I clearly remember just months ago hearing that Station 1 (the historic one) was NOT going to close..



And of course, this act defies ALL logic considering the concentration of businesses (in high buildings) that are downtown. You have now removed the main ladder truck from the immediate area.



Yea, sure it's not that far out.. but hey - it's not where it was.



Anyway.. once again - this relates directly to that NewRoanoke post on class. Where it would be classy for the City Council to stand up and be honest, tell the FF's exactly what they were planning on doing - and the rest of the free world.



But no.. sadly you need to read it here.



Station #1, the longest-active fire house in Virginia, will eventually be sold. It's part of the City's effort to divest itself of properties, a kick certain contract employees seem to be on as of late.



Anyway - everyone check out RoanokeFire.com as I am sure there will be much to say about these things.



I've got a very long day today - so I make no promises.

I know I've been quiet

There is due reason behind it though. Things going on behind the scenes, a project long due coming soon (but only for residents of SE - HA!), and other general depravity.



As I said, the Sentinel is watching. Roanoke is turning.



The stalled New Roanoke post has direct bearing on the latest news.



It's about class, outside of school that is. Self-respect and the flailing municipal self-esteem.



But that's coming soon. I promise it.



And for those of you who were able to read the psychic post, thanks for your comments. Glad to see I'm not alone in this world.

This post is only for psychics

The future is now

I'm putting off the New Roanoke post another 24 hours as I want to give you all the chance to check out this new website.



OurValley.org



This is the future of news folks, the community-driven media you have heard so much about.



The site is in it's infancy, so give it time. But register now, and start sending in those news tips.



Well - I should say this is one of the futures.



The other one I will not go into much detail about, except to say that yours truly will be very much involved.



The Sentinel is watching already.



The first stab at the heart will strike harder than expected, and will come faster than you realize.



And before you know it, the great all-destroying whale will be humbled. And unable to react.



Did you feel that? The wind just shifted directions...

Careful now

listen

These words may mean something...

"I just hung up the phone and cried, nothings ever going to change down there"...

How many times has this been said?

New Roanoke #5 is on the way. 48 hours, as usual.

New Roanoke 4

Did you see the Star?



White again. Brilliant white.



The star lit in red, white, and blue was nice - but white is defining.



White Stars can have bad reputations, however. The White Star Line was mother to some of the grandest, and yet most ill-fated ships in history. Roanoke's own White Star has always been a beacon, of sorts - and yet now - there is question as to weather it is a beacon lamp, or warning lamp of an iceberg ahead.



As Roanoke, and the rest of the nation, struggles with misplaced identities from the past - we wrap ourselves in retail - franchise, the safe route.



Roanoke has been bubble-wrapped and sanitized for your protection, but the system is falling apart.



In years past - Roanoke has had the opportunity on numerous occasions to set itself apart from the pack of cities it is normally held to as comparison.



Still to this day, it misses those opportunities.



Now the Lake will have an amphitheater, while Roanoke - which has had a location for one for years now, does not. And yet still Roanoke investigates the option of an amphitheater.



Unless ours will be larger than the one at the Lake - there is no reason for building one. We missed that boat. Perhaps we should look into building something larger - maybe a stadium - football style, which could house both concerts AND sporting events.



And yes, I know we had Victory - but in all fairness, for what Roanoke really needs Victory Stadium could not provide.



Right now, on Reserve Avenue - there is a hotel being built. A $10 Million dollar hotel, complete with meeting space, restaurants, and the like. It will exist, in part, for Carilion's new Biomedical Park. But what of the people who come to stay there. Will they stay local to the hotel and Carilion? Or will they wish to venture out and discover Roanoke?



And if they should, travel Jefferson rather than Franklin into Downtown - what will they see?



Where will they go, aside from the single destination of "Downtown" or the Star. Shopping is decidedly not a destination, so that rules out Valley View and Tanglewood. Explore Park would be great if they could find it. And really, other than a nice stroll - whats to do there? (this from an avowed fan of historical recreations)



Tourist dollar plays directly with the non-tourist dollar. If the locals can't find something to do, the tourists will have a hard time finding it. And I'm thinking the average Roanoker would more appreciate a lazy river and a fishing hole rather than a kayak park...



But we paid good money to a specialist to tell us we need these things. I guess it's easier to dismiss something you pay for as opposed to ignoring the will of the people. Maybe it's just me.



If we expect to advance, to grow and prosper as a city - we need to realize that the population is in decline. At the rate of 200 per year, we are losing people. Even the city schools are losing, as enrollment rates are dropping.



We need to drop the safety net, and get dangerous. Engage in some deep thought, activate the communities and get into some serious change. And no paid study is going to do that.



It comes down to two things, the city council and the citizens. Both need to demand more of each other, and work together more.



The White Star shines again, but does it shine for the bright promise of tomorrow, or the warning of whats ahead?

Hey ya!

It's been a rough few days, and today should be no different - but I had to share this with you all.



WARNING: Its a German forklift training video, so be warned. They are Germans after all.

New Roanoke post comin' at ya in the next 48 hours.. sorry for the delays.

we will return with a New Roanoke post over the weekend, but for now - peace to the hokie nation.

Never.

The first thing to realize, in all this calling for security and laws and accountability - is there is no way to stop this.



You will never stop something like this. And you will never understand the root causes.



At best, all you can do is stay ever vigilant and hopeful.



This can happen in any school, anywhere, at any time. Sometimes, if you are really unlucky, lightening can strike twice. But that is also when you realize how lucky you truly are.





"It's just a farm school... community college... elementary school... It's Princeton.."



Does not matter. It can happen.



But what made this time so different was the use of "teh internetz" to communicate during and after-wards. Apparently Mr. Cho-nutz even harassed a woman using Facebook.com. It will be interesting to see when that shows up on the radar fully.



He was most likely severely dissociated from the world that surrounded him. Uncomfortable in his own skin. Over time, this developed itself into an entirely new persona - one public, one private.



So far, I am leaning towards the "Call me Ishmael" angle.



But thats neither here nor there. The United States, Virginia, and people in general received 2 wake-up calls on Monday.



The first was: It can happen anywhere, at any time. Regardless of how small and safe you like to think you are.



But the second, and more important lesson: People want to communicate, the networks (facebook, myspace, ...) would not exist if they did not. The people were just as informed as the news networks.



The Roanoke Times has succeeded in its coverage by emulating the style of blogs.



But I digress..



Remember that "whole new world" everyone talked about after 9/11?



Welcome to it.

One last post

A good deal of the news coming out now is rehashed and speculative. Sure I have information on the meatball who did this, but it's nothing that has not streamed around the internet a million times already.



Speculative myspace pages, livejournal (people still use that??) pages, theories and more crap than you can poke with a stick.



But I want to give special thanks to one person who has kept a clear line with all this going on, Rob - of Rob's Window.



I had the chance to meet Rob at the WDBJ/Roanoke Biz2Biz blogging conference - and he is a good guy. Nice to see someone rise above the hype and drama and just keep it simple and to the point.



Oh, and Rob - I was that guy you saw. You just happened to have bad timing as I was getting off my shift. Stop by some evening for a cup o joe and say hi.



I will say this much about the whole shooting thing.



After the blackout in 02, 9/11, tornadoes where they should not be, and so much more - I learned one thing. It doesn't matter where you are, it can happen.



Life is funny that way. You just have to learn from every experience, and move on.

Sorry for the delay

Well, I guess between the wind, the shootings, and the fire at 3rd and Highland.. It's just another boring news day.



I had to change a lightbulb. That took an hour. Do not ask.



I have independent confirmation on certain aspects of the tech shooting, which I am waiting for "official" confirmation on. However, the "broken heart" angle, as stupid and juvenile as it may seem - is correct.



To all those who have been affected by this, I am sorry.



Love is love is love, except when it's murder. But you have to be some sort of special knucklehead to make it mass-murder.



/not sure if I'm happy he's dead, or angry.

//ps- dawn jeffries - a little helpful note. When 30+ people die, you do not have 2 shootings. Unless you subscribe to the "magic bullet theory." You're a professional, act like it.

Dan Bern - Kid's Prayer

So sad, so sad the news

Come our way this morning

Like a bad bad dream

A dream that you’d never even talk about

In a school, a school

A place where we send our precious children

The only place of innocence the world might ever let them know



And barely aware of the odds against existence in the first place

Of love and fertility and risk of a baby being born

And of clothes and food and fear and maybe relocation

Of sickness, recovery, of music lessons, painting the bedroom



And lingering over eggs and thoughts and sleepy conversations

And plans for the weekend

One last pause to say goodbye

And a glance at the clock

And the grabbing of the sandwich and the notebook

Confident of nothing but the unbroken days that they've been granted



But comes a child

A child so full of anger and hatred

Barely aware of the genesis coursing through his veins

With a gun, a gun

Deaf and blind deliverer of madness

Skilled beyond his own unformulated brain



And with his hand in a fist

And his soul in a knot

And his heart racing

And his mind sick with images

His slim shoulders finally feeling tall



And his fellow creatures

Students and their crushes and their daydreams

Struggling to unwrap the ancient secrets of geometry

He pulls from his coat the instrument to shatter all forevers

In a random blaze of insides and blood and endless now



And noise and flash and more and not even when it's over

Can any so much as summon up the sanity to scream

Then on the floor his classmates blown down and choking

As he lays his weapon on his desk, hardly sure he isn't dreaming



And all the world descends and offers up their condolence

And offers up their theories what went wrong

And who and why and when and how



It's all the killing day and night on television

It's all the movies where violence is as natural as breathing

It's guns and bullets as easily obtainable as candy

It's video games where you kill and begin to think it's real

It's people not having God in their lives anymore

Or it's all of it, or none of it, or some of it, or various combinations



And all those theories sound pretty reasonable, I guess

Though I ain't no scientist

I ain't no figurer of statistics

I ain't no theologist

Or psychologist or biologist

All I can do is offer up a prayer of my own



Talk to your kids

Play with your kids

Tell them your dreams

And your disappointments

Listen with your kids

Listen to your kids

Watch your kids

Let your kids watch you

Tell your kids the truth

Best as you can tell it

No use telling lies

Your kids can always smell it

Cook for your kids

Let your kids cook for you

Sing with your kids

Teach your kids the blues

Learn their games

Teach them yours

Touch your kids

Find out what they know

Be sad with your kids

Be stupid with your kids

Learn with your kids

Cry with you kids

Be yourself with your kids

Be real with your kids

Embarrass your kids

Let them embarrass you

Be strong with your kids

Be tough with your kids

Be firm with your kids

Say "No" to your kids

Say "Yes" to your kids

Take it easy on your kids

You were a kid

Not so long ago

There are things you know

Your kids will never know

There’s places they live

Where you will never go

So dance with your kids

Paint with your kids

Walk with your kids

Tell stories to your kids

Watch movies with your kids

Eat popcorn with your kids

Tell secrets to your kids

Stop for rainbows with your kids

One day your kids

Won't be kids

And maybe they'll have kids of their own

Let’s hope they talk to their kids

Play with their kids

Tell them their dreams

And their disappointments

Update:

Looks like Roanoke.com is dead again



latest numbers 22 dead, 21 injured, 4 critical, 7 stable.



bad day...



prayers and peace..



you'll be happy to know that the suspect is no longer "with us" from what I'm hearing

For those of you who need the info

VT is evacuating the entire campus as of noon.



I realize Roanoke.com and VT.edu are both in deep server issues - so I figured I would get that out there.





All staff and students from VT are being tossed off campus, and will not be allowed back at this point.



anything else major comes down, I'll let you know.

Who knew?

Talk about your visionary thinking...



I never thought much about it when they said your average food item travels over 2,000 miles before you get it. I just did not think it was this quick.



Gives me some ideas though..



Cannoli cream pipelines, Maple syrup de-cline railways (ask if your interested, and have funding), and I will not so easily abandon the concept of the BagelRail.

Tragedy strikes to the south of us

Apparently those in Greensboro did not get the memo that retired people are to be courted, as Roanoke does...



Check out this article: Not Greensboring Anymore



Greensboro ranked #40 out of America's cities for singles.



And yes, Roanoke even gets a mention in the article.



I'm very sorry Greensboro, your going to have to deal with a bunch of fun-loving people now.. rather than the retired and in bed by 8 like we get.

Just trying this out..

but I figured why not give you all something to listen to while I play around.



06 djbc-lovelynyc.mp3

Makes sense to me...

"Take this, for example. Oy. The base is an old 1930s building - a rather ridiculous structure that resembles a fascist movie set, but a rare example of its breed. Let us be charitable and note that the tower does not take its foundation into account as much as one might like. It looks like a chrysalis that will produce a robot Mothra.



If such a thing is proposed here, and the architects have sufficient pedigree, I imagine it would be celebrated as proof we’re a “world class” city, complete with the inhuman, arrogant, flavor-of-the-month architecture that title has come to suggest." Lileks



I can't help but draw comparisons between Minneapolis and our own fair city from time to time, mostly when I see things like this.



Don't get me wrong, I certainly do not expect to see any 80-story glass pickles being built atop the former "Day and Night Bank" building. But there is an arrogance to the forces-that-be telling us the Art Museum will represent the mountains - as if the common man is far too common to be able to see the vision, to see the greatness.



Those who mock it as the "wreck of the flying nun" and other things are, in a sense, undesirable - they do not have the intellect to see the beauty in the building, and by consequence - the art contained within.



And of course, this thought is not limited to worldly-art types either. Locally, it's easy enough to find. From the foothills of Mill Mountain, to the lowlands of downtown - the idea has taken hold that the "common man" (which is anyone other than the ones talking) is too blind?/ignorant?/uneducated? to grasp the simple concepts.



And sadly, our elected leaders are neither smart enough, nor bold enough, nor savvy enough to aid the citizens in any meaningful way.



Even those who consider themselves closely allied with them, oft times find nothing but disappointment.



In a nutshell, you have a city divided by it's own citizens, a fully independent city council that feels it answers to no-one. Vote them out you say? Like they are worried about that. They have no fear for their part-time jobs of representing the people. They make far more money, and have far more influence outside of the Municipal Building than they do within it.



So it's up to the citizens at large to stand up for themselves. Organize and revive the city.



I mean we are already getting one giant solar reflector, do we need a matching glass pickle?

New Roanoke 3

I have a feeling I am about to become very unpopular.



I stumbled upon a new phrase this weekend, which really caused me to think hard about Roanoke.



Cultural Sclerosis.



Now there are varying ideas as to what that exactly means, but at it's essence - it's a societal process - as sclerosis is "a hardening of tissue", the culture itself has solidified.



Now let's think about a different, yet related, concept.



Rampant Loser-ism.



How can we expect to attract the best and the brightest when we are constantly bombarded (at home and at work) with tales of young girls whose make it a point to get pregnant before graduation, young men who find it amusing and acceptable to sleep on the median of Crystal Spring Ave. because they spent all their "ride money" on beer, and are too drunk to get anywhere.



And this particular young lad lives in South Roanoke, up towards Boxley Hills.



Or how about the tale of a young girl, 17 - who engaged in adult activities with her mother's boyfriend. In public. And is proud of it.



We hear questions on why our schools have such a high drop out rate, and other asides.



Simple. Education is not valued. Cultural Sclerosis says these things are acceptable.



For the past x-amount of years, the city (and county, which has the same problems - just more spread out) - the losers have won. What good is hard work and an education, when you see so many people living life as they want, "making do with what they have."



Obsolete is accountability, replaced instead by acceptance.



"Well, thats just the way we do things."

"That's just the way he is."



Are standards that low?



Or let us not forget the old hymn: "This is the South."



Well I say hogwash.. balderdash and hogwash.



Accountability is not something that can be introduced like a virus, but it can be grown like a crop. And it is up to the community to show that there is a value to education, but not tolerating ignorance - and not giving it jobs, not allowing it to propagate in the workplace and holding employees to a higher standard.



Yes.. I said it - Standards.



If we, as a city, begin to work on the issue of raising standards for ALL people, not through legislation but through daily interaction, then perhaps.. just maybe - all the efforts at attracting and retaining will pay off. Until then, Roanoke is bereft with a low-powered work force.



Not to say there are not some smart folks and such around - but when visitors come from out of town - they see the mountains, the star, downtown and shuttle them out quickly before they have to stand in line at the bank while the teller reveals all the details about her hysterectomy to a poor businessman who just wants to deposit his check.



But I guess the crutch rears it's ugly head again, but that's a post for another day.



The real theme of this post -the message for a New Roanoke... stop accepting, and start raising.



"We've raised our standards, now up yours."