Just another day in Roanoke

Ignore that last post

2010-06-17T16:23:00.003-04:00

What a weak way for the "former" most powerful blog in Roanoke to go out..

Don't worry....

Used Car Salesmen.. unite!

2009-05-21T09:40:00.002-04:00

Let's talk for a moment about the lesser understood man - the Used Car Salesman. You think the Big 3 (Ford/Chrysler/GM) are going through some rough times, wait till you see this.

So GM and Chrylser are dumping dealerships left and right. These dealerships (Like Dominion Dodge) have already purchased the very cars you see on their lot. (You thought the Dealer Discount was just a marketing ploy?) Now they are stuck with them, and will have to sell them for whatever they can get basically. Profit or Loss - they need to get rid of those cars.

In the case of GM vehicles, apparently- the Fed is going to back the warranties (no word on recalls or that sort of thing). So what's the risk in buying one? You can get it cheaper than cheap, and you know it will be serviced. Let's look at the dealership across the street. They are not losing their contract - so they are still selling new cars. The same cars that are nearly half price across the street. So now Dealer B (the one no losing it's contract) has to cut it's prices, and compete against a dealership that just wants to get rid of the cars. This is an ugly situation. But it gets worse.

Down the street is a Used Car Dealer. Been there for years, since the time of the Hupmobile. Actually so has the Used Car Salesman. He has always prided himself on selling exactly the car the person needs. And at a great price. Sure, they are not new - but they are good affordable cars. And he is more than happy to send you to his favorite service center who might give you a discount. It's not quite a warranty, but it's close.

Dealership A (loss of contract) has cut it's prices so they are showing a $10 profit on every car on the lot. Some of the cars they are more than willing to take a loss on. They are using every last drop of advertising budget to get the word out - so they can clean up and get out quickly.

Dealership B (with contract) has cut their prices too, but they are still showing a profit - maybe $100 per vehicle. It's going to make things tight, but they can make it back with service plans and optional add-ons that Dealership A can't offer. And it says so right in their ad. They are even offering toasters and gas cards with the purchase of a new vehicle.

Used Car Dealership is sitting there - no one looking at it's cars. Most of the lot averages 5-15 years old, and anywhere between 40-120K miles. It has been days now since anyone has even stopped - except to get directions to A & B. They have nothing more to offer, other than quality used cars. No warranties, no gas cards, no toasters. They don't even have true "vinatage" cars - just some real good lookers.

For each customer they would normally see - 20 rush by to Dealerships A & B. Sure - there's no credit available at A, and B is restricted in it's lending - but at the prices they can afford to charge, what does it matter?

Used Car Dealership closes, and it's cars go to auction, where they bring a pittance.

Extrapolate that. GM is dumping 2,000 dealerships (roughly), and so is Chrysler. 4,000 dealerships + with unsold inventory, and even if each of them only has 50 cars on the lot - thats 200,000 cars (+) that need to go, immediately. That means 200,000 used cars (+) that will not be sold.

God only knows how many used car dealers will go out of business because of this.

This is not going to help the recovery, and what happens to the physical buildings these dalerships occupy? Sell to a competitor who did not lose the contract? Creating more Berglunds - only on a nationwide scale? And what about communities who rely upon car registration taxes for funding?

Nope - this is not a good situation, not at all.

If not now, when?

2009-05-20T22:39:00.002-04:00

Some of you might have noticed we had 2 water-main breaks this week in the same day, following the terrible trembler 'NokeQuake 09. One, in the area of 2nd and Franklin - was right down from an area where a good deal of utility work has been ongoing in the past few months. So there's a good chance the pipe has been shaken around prior. The other pipe, well - that's a whole 'nother story.

Remember our old friend - the unspoken blockade to downtown development - the Patrick Henry Hotel?

Well, yes - the pipe bust there. As it was reported, some water did penetrate the PH. Know what that means? More damage to the old lady.

I could post link after link after link to the court documents on this property, it's amazingly un-jailed owners, and how many pension plans were ripped off - intimidated - and outright lied to in regards to this building. It would mean nothing. However, there is hope...

Affirmative Management (aka. Affirmative Equities Company, Patrick Henry Hotel Associates, LP - oh here, read the details in this .pdf) has not paid, well... anything in a few years. Which means, and it has been mentioned in the past - the Patrick Henry Hotel is in arrears when it comes to property taxes. At last check, back in Dec. 2008 - the PH owed the city over 80,000 dollars in past due taxes at the time it's parent company filed for Chapter 11. Well, it's nearing the halfway mark of 2009, and so far - no word has leaked about the City's plans for the building.

Why? Andrew Jubelt has no real intent to develop the property, it's just a pawn for him to use against some pension funds he has tied up in it (see .pdf above). It is crumbling, as has been evidenced in photos taken from the inside recently (roanoke times 10/2/08), and sadly - it's nearing the point of condemnation.

The recent water main bust has surely left some damage, and will only aid in her demise.

How long before the city moves to take the Patrick Henry, and sell it to someone who can make it viable (or at worst case scenario, demolish it carefully - saving what can be saved), and a worthy match for the new Social Security building across the street.

Revitalize Jefferson? Perk up downtown's economy? Rid yourself of a nasty white elephant? Or maybe just extract the name of Roanoke from the business properties of a very dubious charicter.

Will we be lamenting the collapse of the PH in ten years? Or celebrating the smartest decision the city leaders have ever made?

How long?

2009-05-14T09:54:00.002-04:00

How long can I keep you waiting? I have not had much of a chance to post lately, and although I still have the same rambling posts in my head - I rarely have time to put them online. Long posts anyway - thats why I tried Twitter, but that became too easy for a one-off complaint. 140 charicters does not leave much for substance.

So you folks tell me, do I keep going - posting infrequently, but with some substance? Do I Twit, and try to be snarky and direct? Or is it time to give up, and leave this Roanoke Blogging stuff to the professionals that are now making up most people's daily reading lists?

I still get dirt from City Hall from time to time, and as you know - I have no problem posting rumors - but with the addition of certain bloggers now in Roanoke - some of my sources are more than worried about saying anything. Especially with the Roanokers article on Queen Darlene. It was a softball article, bringing up some good questions - but not nearly all the questions.

How many city vehicles has she wrecked during her time here? How much did she cost the city in Towing? And what happens to any other city employee who puts a dent in a city vehicle? And of course, there's a ton more they could have printed - but chose not to. They posted a bunch of facts and figures. What I just posted are facts in the form of questions.

They did say one thing in the article however that speaks directly to the problem of the City Council.

Not a single one of them has ever run a business of this magnitude, and most of them have never run a business. So, our City Council - which gets paid 12-15k a year for being on the Council, have no idea why they are being paid for being on the Council. That stipend is supposed to offset costs related to doing the business of the council; missed days of work, travel expenses - basically to replace income lost due to being a member of the council. I wonder if any of them actually NEED that money - or if they are the kind who make money weather at work or not?

2 options surface here: Either an all volunteer Council, no stipend - limited reimbursements OR a fully paid council, this way they would not be beholden to a dayjob - but rather to the dayjob that is the city.

The Govt. of Roanoke needs an overhaul, and I have been saying it for years.

But I haven't been saying much lately. So what say you - keep going? Or let it be.

Let me hear from you....

And so it begins....

2009-04-06T16:47:00.002-04:00

A tentative report on the progress of the 09-10 budget has reached the Roanoke Times. I would assume the Times will have more tomorrow, but I am not looking forward to it.

I have a feeling that while no taxes are raised - we might be thinking that's a mistake by the time this is done.

I have been waiting for the final version to come out before launching into a tirade, or not, as it needs be.

See you as details emerge.

St. Pats is not a day for drinking...

2009-03-16T16:51:00.002-04:00

No, it's a day of rememberance.

Remember, and then drink.

Addendum

2009-03-07T06:12:00.001-05:00

Just so you are all aware - over on the right there is a new box featuring my fresh Twitter updates. Yes, I twit. Sometimes numerous times a day.

And I can go mobile and twit - which is dangerous.

Career Criminals

2009-03-05T08:24:00.003-05:00

Highly educated. Knowledgeable. Sought after for opinion. Experts.

Or as I call them, Career Criminals. Folks for whom reality stopped a long time ago, when they started to believe they were as good as people told them they were. Some of them have rightly come by the accolades, but a good number believe their own hype.

Time will tell if our new president is one of those. But I'm looking more locally - specifically Rupert Cutler.

I had just moved here when he finished out his term on the City Council. I heard little about the man, other than his long resume... repeated endlessly.

From all outward appearances, it did not seem like his credentials benefitted the city much. During his term (2000 - 2006), the greenways got under way - we landed a few more businesses, but no great projects came out of it. And I know, that's as much the fault of the entire Council (and that erected - not elected monument known as Darlene) but beyond the cop-out of "one councilman cannot change anything on his own" a loud councilman certainly can. But we have another Council member who has not run a business, owned a business, or got down with the people in the streets.

Another Career (expert) Criminal, who will do nothing but keep the city in stasis for a while. Appearing to go everywhere, but standing still the whole time.

The other wannabe Career Criminal is Gwen Mason. Gwen, who adopted Nelson Harris' "Clean and Green" campaign as her own when it was apparent that Emperor Harris was not going to win re-election, has yet to shine as a councilwoman. A grantwriter and worker at the Dept. of the Interior, who focused her entire college years on being in the Government, she seems to be a natural for the post. But wait, what's her experience again? What has she done for the City?

Maybe I am asking too much from our Council members - maybe they are supposed to be a passive body rather than a proactive one.

Frankly, I think we have had enough of the whole elected officials who have worked towards becoming elected officials. They go from being people who want to be part of the dynamic system that is American Government, people with ideals, to people who take those same ideals for granted - and become so steeped in policy and procedure they lose focus of why they are doing it in the first place. They studied each inch of it, worked in the menial details of it - and now have become assimilated to it.

And to what end? Even the Roanoke Times admits Fralin was not like the rest. He worked for his constituents, his people - not just his party. He worked in his community to get things done. Anyone seen Mason out there cleaning up Bullit and Jamison when the Neighborhood Group that adopted the corridor is cleaning (and possibly greening) the area?

Has Cutler been down walking around downtown, talking to people and brainstorming ways to make the city better?

Career Criminals, stealing time from a city that needs progress.

Wait.. it gets better.

2009-02-12T21:11:00.002-05:00

Seriously.

So it seems that at the next Council meeting, when Nash tenders his resignation (effective Feb. 28th), the wisdom of the council will be honoring Nash for his service to the city.

Ok - to be honest - the actual phrase used is "paying tribute to"...

I understand it's customary and all that - but really now. Aren't we jumping the gun a bit? The guy has barely been on the council, not really done much, and might very well be embroiled (with butter and garlic) in a major war with the city over services rendered.

Like I said, I'm just a bit confused.

"I should have never left..."

2009-02-09T05:59:00.002-05:00

And with those words, Alvin Nash has submitted his resignation to the Roanoke City Council - effective at the close of February.

Nash (seen at left) has decided that his heart never really left Blue Ridge Housing, and he might have left his wallet there as well. Anyone remember the controversy on this guy back when he first was vetted?

There were questions even then, and now - with a legal see-saw over who owes who what, and a possible HUD investigation.. well, I wonder what he thinks he can accomplish (other than finding those damn recipts).

A good chunk of the money battle has to do with work rendered for the "Southeast By Design" project, which - as a resident of Southeast, I would say they defaulted. Actually, considering the City's remarkably invisible results - I would say the SEBD program was a wash.

But Nash's resignation reminds me of a certain felo... former councilman. Mr. Dowe - who was run off similarly. Now the question is, how long before Bowers is shuffled back to Buffalo? Of all the big-mouthed, over-billing, and least-effective members of council who have come and gone - we are graced with a stretch of 3 now, going back to May of last year.

I demand a do-over!

(Bowers, Dowe, and Nash are seen recently during a black tie event at the Hotel Roanoke - they were there to fix the plumbing.)

The problem with Roanoke

2009-02-05T13:36:00.002-05:00

More specifically, the problem with Blogging in Roanoke.

How many times can you bitch and moan, complain and point out, show proof of and categorically deny the same things over and over.

I could come on here every day and sing to the high heavens about the Roanoke Times and it's impending downfall, I could point out that the use of the internet at the Times for dissemination of news is lacking, but where would it get us?

Truth is, a good chunk of households here in Roanoke do not bother keeping up with the news. They are more than happy to get by on rumor, and the Sunday paper (it being the one with the coupons). There are also many households that do not have internet access. It's a double edged sword.

The Times could boost up it's internet presence, allow reporters to file via mobile methods, take and prominently display user-submitted news items, and possibly still see no gain from it.

And as for the Roanoke Prozac Sentinel, the "feel good" paper of the valley - well, it's an alternative - but still a weekly. That is it's biggest drawback.

I could come on here and lambast the City Council for multiple violations of civic good, failure to market Roanoke City appropriately, and keeping the harpie Darlene (who did not look so hot when last spotted in public - maybe the transfusions and elixers are wearing off). But honestly - the City itself (citizens) bear more responsability in this situation than the Council does.

When the electorate cannot be bothered to get the facts straight about a situation like Ivy Market (I have overheard many people stating they will not shop at Ukrop's because the City gave them money to open. wrong.) how can we expect them to reasonably understand rising taxes?

It's hard knowing I have something to say, but dropping it so as not to repeat myself. Other than the strange weather, what is there really new to gripe about? I have spoken with many new residents of Roanoke, of varying ages. They tell me about the problems they have, the concepts they cannot fathom, the ass-backwards way of doing business - all I can do is nod my head in agreement.

But the citizens have let it get this way. We have a wonderful FREE trolley system, that runs one route, linking downtown with the secondary downtown (well come on, that's how SoRo thinks of themselves) yet there still have been no moves by the city (publicly, and I think everyone would like to know frankly) to take control of the Patrick Henry Hotel. If you'll recall - the hotel was deep in debt to the City for past taxes and such - and the City was able to take the building as of last month. You want to aid the recovery of the Jefferson Corridor? Get the PHH back up and running, give people a place to stay downtown other than the old, leaky Hotel Roanoke.

You want to talk about a struggling economy, commercial building being down and whatnot as reasons these large projects are not complete - well what about the old Woolworths on Campbell? Thats been boarded up for well over a year now, there's nothing the city can do about that? Seems to me like if you slap a "stop work" order on a building, there should be some fine associated with it. Not to mention constant checks to see if the building is being worked on, and if not - inspections to check the safety of the building. For one that sits mid-block downtown, I would hate to see a fire start in it - we could lose a good chunk of Campbell that way.

But we seem to focus only on the dreams of tomorrow - the Art Museum (a solidly meh enterprise, all the way around, at least to anyone who has been to a major gallery), plans for the Market Building, rooftop patio and dining at Center in the Square... All nice things, once we fix the real problems.

You know, the real problems - parking downtown, the failed Vision 2010 plan, revitalization of key industrial areas in Roanoke (incubator out on 460 is nice, but why not more centrally located?), abundant dead space at key entry points into the city, a bus service that is still inconveinient for most commuters, not to mention the host of other social problems that people expect a city to solve for them.

Laugh at Alfred Dowe - 11 counts of being a dope. Chuckle at Cruella De Mason, the "Clean Green Queen", or Bowers with the whole market debacle - this is all the new material I have. Nothing of substance.

I plan on laying out some primary concerns soon, with possible solutions - but honestly, does anyone care anymore? Or would you rather hear me gossip and make fun of the council?

I can do both, but only one will have any impact on the city.

Lifting the veil, 5 years on.

2009-01-10T22:29:00.003-05:00

This is for those of you who are avid readers, and those who are finding this for the first time.

You can call me K. I am a married, 34 year old resident of Southeast Roanoke who has one child (a boy,1), a wife (30), 3 dogs (5,5, & 3), and several fish (age unknown).

I plan on starting a serious business within the confines of Roanoke, and with any luck - Southeast Roanoke, in the next year or so. When I say serious, I mean something that does not involve house-flipping or lawn care. Not to say the lawn care is not serious - but I have enough troubles with my own to worry about others.

My business will be retail, in it's purest form. I will be interacting with, hopefully, hundreds if not thousands of customers a week - most of them residents of the city as well. I will be fulfilling needs, meeting expectations, and (hopefully) creating a climate conducive to expansion of other related businesses in my direct area.

Sounds kinda like the way the City should run, no?

When I first moved here, I was taken by the city - it's history that lay just beneath the surface. Hence the start of Forgotten-Roanoke.com (a project I have put on the backburner while I move towards Day 1 as a business owner). I have found out, and charted more history of this city than most of it's native residents remember. In some cases, this is a good thing.

I have lived, previously, within the confines of New York City - one of the 5 Boros. Prior to that, a smaller village just on the border, more like New York City than it should have been. Most of my family is involved in civil service of some kind, although I have had some in politics and administration.

I have a keener understanding of how a government serves it's people - having lived through some of the best, and worst, times imagineable in New York. I also know that in the 21st Century - there are many ways a government can better serve it's people.

I know, deep down, that Roanoke is a powerhouse city. Despite all that is said to the contrary - there is a way to make it show. To fire the engines of commerce, and provide a city that is, once again - the shining star on the hill, just as it was many years ago.

Currently, I am working at a higher-end retail location which shall remain anonymous - mainly because it's barely a higher-end retail location. If you only knew. I have previously been a Chef here in town, and I still do some catering on the side.

In previous incarnations I have been involved in media, radio, and communications in general - I have nurtured and taken part in a developing art scene, and laid down some funky bass lines in a band or two.

I use this medium, this endless blog (now entering it's 5th year), to move us forward. Sometimes I get a little frustrated, and unhinged with certain peoples actions. It will show. I leave it to you, the reader, to decide if my opinions are well thought out and valid, or mere cotton-candy fluff from a transplant who knows nothing of the way things are.

I don't accept the way things are. No system, no process, no government, and no people are infalliable and never subject to change. That is flawed thinking.

With so much going for it, Roanoke is upon the knife's edge. A step in the right direction can lead to a fruitful century, or one of decline and diminishment.

Youngstown, Ohio. Detroit, Michigan. Buffalo, New York. In countless cities, and countless states the struggle is on for survival into the 21st Century. Former staid and true businesses are folding like a house of cards, along with a severely crippled housing market, and an aging population - times are demanding that things be done differently.

And that's what I intend to do. Do things differently.

From time to time you might see a post slamming the City Council, the City Harpie or her cronies - there is justification for this. It will be evident. I am not one for baseless attacks, nor have I ever been one for "shining the apple." If the apple is dirty on one side, I am not going to show you the pretty side only. Informed decisions - that's what I am after.

From time to time I might wax nostalgic, like Tom Angleberger - talking about things past, and where they are now.

And occasionally, I might let slip a bit of information - things that everyone should know - but aren't being told by the common sources.

I welcome all comments, criticisms, and questions. So long as you don't ask me to "meet you in an alley in Old Southwest" as a certain federally-charged Neo-FakeNazi one asked me.

At times my posts might seem infrequent, and sometimes there will be multiple per day - one of the pitfalls of not having a laptop or fancy phone but having a family life. I hope to get back to doing podcasts one day, but without the phone-casts that blogger used to have back when (if you can find the posts relating to the Lonesome Doves demolition, good example there) - it's not easy.

Anyway - the little one has awaken, therefore I must go.

Later.

Baby come back.....

2008-12-04T08:40:00.002-05:00

Sorry I have been on an unanounced hiatus for a while now, but it's hard to stay angry and topical when you have an 11 month old around the house. But that Ol' man Venom won't stay quiet forever.

Case in point, today's article in the RT re: Ukrop's not seeing the growth they expected here.

Well, to be honest, no duh. When you have citizens walking around saying that "they would not shop there because they got OUR tax money." Or the ever present "they built it atop the stream, that can't be safe - so I'm not going to shop there."

Well Roanoke, it's your chance on the world stage - many retailers are watching what happens with Ukrop's to see if they would stand a chance at doing decent business here.

As I recently told a Corporate visitor to Roanoke, never expect that anything that you do elsewhere will work here in Roanoke. Roanoke is it's own world - business wise. Which is not to say that you cannot do business in Roanoke. I explained the difference to him.

Ukrop's offers great deals on Local produce, great meat (which is raised for them alone, along with their chickens which are also sold to another local "fresh" supermarket, who charges you much more for the same product) and excellent product selection. I will tell you quite honestly, I split my shopping between Ukrops (for my produce and baked goods, baby food, chicken and occasional meat), Sam's Club (for things related to the baby, dry goods in bulk, cheapest milk, and other fun things, and Walmart for all the little items (stuff we need to get us from week to week without our monthly trip to Sam's).

Ukrop's is taking it's time to get it's feet off the ground - but it's going, I am seeing more of my customers shopping over there lately. I feel the real blame lies on Painter Properties for not having an actual development plan, just speculative building. Much like Keagy Village, Ivy Market suffered from a group that knew enough to build in a location, but not enough to know that you have to have interest (in writing, legal yet non-binding and great for showing off who might be looking at your location to prospective parties) before you can build.

But that's typical of Roanoke. Look at the Colonial Green subdivision. Or Towers Mall itself. The stories I could tell you...

Walgreens will open, the people will come. Ukrop's will gain business because customers only have to walk across a short parking lot to buy beer and wine - since that is one of the many excuses I hear NOT to shop there.

"I'm not shopping where I can't buy beer."

"The store is too big."

"I cannot find anything."

Close-minded thinking, making excuses NOT to try something new, or even find the good in it.

13 years to tear down a stadium, you are not going to show growth as quickly as you might think.

Well, thats over.

2008-11-05T05:26:00.003-05:00

And before some of you get over-happy about percieved mandates, and all that nonsense - all me to remind you:

Just like Christmas - the next election is only so far away. And I'm not even talking 2012 presidential, I'm talking the 2010 Congressional.

That nice little margin the Dems enjoy in congress? Watch it vanish.

That's just the way it works, always has.

24 months is all the Obama folks have to get done what they promised, before the balance of power shifts yet again.

We need: Better candidates on both sides.

A nationalized ballot for presidential elections.

More (yes, MORE) high tech voting - With Virginia and Maryland going back to paper ballots, it sets us back to the 19th century - and thats not going to help us one bit.

Actually, we need a whole lot of things - far too many for my little local blog to list. Far too many for me to delve into.

The Republicans would not have had a brown paper bag elected to lunch this time around, regardless of what the Democrats want to claim. But at this point, that's neither here nor there.

Start saving that money for a while folks - the recovery of the economy is going to take a bit longer than expected.

The ony thing I will say going into this

2008-11-02T19:55:00.002-05:00

Voting is your duty. Do it, and do it wise.

I will not tell you who you should vote for, but remember one thing.

This is the nastiest, least factual, worst choice election I have ever had the unfortunate luck to witness.

And no matter who wins, we all lose. Congress will find a way to screw things up, as they always do. The question that you have to answer is, which candidate is better suited to keep you working and in a job?

Forget the rest, forget Iraq - Iraq does not put food on your table each night. Education is only a topic to fool you, everyone needs to rely upon themselves for proper education. The government is not your mother.

No, the only issue there really is - and it encompasses health care and all the rest - is the economy. Is it better for you to get a tax break at the expense of your boss?

Remember who pays your bills. In reality - it's not you, it's your boss. Sure, a 3k tax break would be great for me - my customers would spend a bit more. But my bosses, the owners of the company - they would be left out - and possibly hit with more taxes. That's not good for me. The offset does not quite work out.

Vote with your brain, not your heart. But I suppose that is the overwhelming debate between Repub and Democrat.

Anyway - good luck. And may we all not suffer too much after this.

Well, since no one else has posted it..

2008-10-18T09:15:00.002-04:00

Of course, I do not have any official police statements like certain news organizations would have, but I can tell you this much:

Roanoke's Resident Racist (and fake) William "Call me Billy-Boy" White has been arested on FEDERAL charges.

He has to wait until Monday to find out what his bond will be, but he's spending the weekend amongst friends I'm sure.

I'll let you know when I have more.

Graduation Rates, and the Big City.

2008-10-10T05:22:00.004-04:00

Well - now everyone is in an uproar over graduation rates. Shock and awe.

Those of us who have lived elsewhere are unsuprised by this news, to be honest.

From USA Today:

Lowest to highest graduation rates in the nation's 50 largest school districts

Rate	District	Size rank	Rate	District	Size rank	Rate	District	Size rank

21.7	Detroit	11	53.7	New Orleans	48	68.4	Gwinnett County, Ga.	20

38.5	Baltimore City, Md.	30	53.8	Duval County, Fla.	19	68.6	Brevard County, Fla.	42

38.9	New York City	1	54.6	Clark County, Nev.	6	69.3	Fulton County, Ga.	45

43.1	Milwaukee	28	54.8	DeKalb County, Ga.	27	70.0	Hillsborough County, Fla.	10

43.8	Cleveland	44	55.1	Austin	37	70.2	Anne Arundel County, Md.	40

44.2	Los Angeles	2	55.2	Palm Beach County, Fla.	12	70.4	Cobb County, Ga.	26

45.3	Miami-Dade County, Fla.	4	55.5	Philadelphia	8	72.2	Granite, Utah	46

46.3	Dallas	13	56.0	Charlotte	23	75.3	Mesa, Ariz.	39

46.5	Pinellas County, Fla.	22	56.2	Orange County, Fla.	15	75.8	Northside, Tex.	49

46.8	Denver	43	60.1	Polk County, Fla.	34	77.0	Jefferson County, Colo.	33

48.5	Memphis	21	62.2	Jefferson County, Ky.	31	80.2	Jordan, Utah	41

48.7	Broward County, Fla.	5	63.0	San Diego	16	81.3	Cypress-Fairbanks, Tex.	47

48.9	Fort Worth	36	63.1	Fresno	35	81.5	Montgomery County, Md.	17

48.9	Houston	7	63.7	Hawaii (statewide)	9	81.9	Baltimore County, Md.	24

50.4	Nashville	50	66.5	Virginia Beach	38	82.2	Wake County, N.C.	25

52.0	Albuquerque	32	67.3	Prince George's County, Md.	18	82.5	Fairfax County, Va.	14

52.2	Chicago	3	68.1	Long Beach	29		Gee - guess we are not alone. Counties quite often do better than cities. So get over it. The only way to change it is with more parental involvement.

Stealing Thunder

2008-10-06T19:45:00.003-04:00

Well the City Market building went off without a hitch, for now. I wonder if the Health Dept. cited anyone for carpet in the food prep area this time...

Doubtful though.

Bowers, our overly intellegent and highly unintelligible mayor, has been stricken with "Soundbite"-itis. From the "Whatever makes Chico happy..." to the 9/11 - City Market comparison, it looks like having Bowers as mayor will be amusing, if not exactly groundbreaking.

But the big news, at least as I see it - all those biatching and moaning about nothing to do here might finally have something to keep them placated.

A major amusement/restaurant chain might/should/is coming to the Roanoke area.

How soon? I cannot say. Where? I do not know. Why? Thats obvious.

Anyone have any stories for Haunted Roanoke? This year, I'm not forgetting to tell the tales. Starting on the 21st, 10 days straight of stories from Roanoke's past. Not all of them scary, but certainly all of them as real as they can be.

Talk to you soon, oh - and 1 month, 20 days till Black Friday.

To Market, To Market..

2008-09-22T05:50:00.002-04:00

Here - the most recent inspection reports for each of the 10 vendors in the Market Building.

Nick's Pig-N-Chicken - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:	Fast Food Restaurant
Inspection type:	Routine
Inspection date:	April 01, 2008
Number of critical violations:	0
Number of non-critical violations:	0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
No violations were found during the inspection

Comments:
One proposed food supplier has not submitted documentation it is an "approved source." Person in Charge (PIC) has been instructed and has agreed not to purchase any potentially hazardous food from this particular company until or unless documentation has been provided to both the PIC and the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS). Issue foodservice permit. Contact the EHS with any questions or concerns: 540-857-7807.

Zorba Restaurant - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:	Fast Food Restaurant
Inspection type:	Follow-up
Inspection date:	August 18, 2008
Number of critical violations:	10
Number of non-critical violations:	7

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code	Observation / Corrective Action
0080	Critical Owner, when asked about which employee illnesses must be reported to the owner and to the health department, stated flu and hepatitis C. Previously, on multiple occasions, the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) discussed employee health policy requirements with the owner and provided several hand-outs. Owner could not recall the required information and stated the hand-outs were not stored in the restaurant. Employees or applicants are not aware of the reporting procedures concerning information about their health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food, including the date of onset of jaundice or of an illness due to Salmonella Typhi, Shigella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Hepatitis A virus. Have the license holder require employees or applicants report to the person in charge any information about their health and activities if they are diagnosed with or had a past illness from Salmonella Typhi, Shigella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Hepatitis A virus. EHS provided the owner with additional hand-outs. Owner agreed to implement the employee health policy.
0160	Critical Repeat Observed the owner handling money while wearing single-use gloves. Owner did not wash hands or change gloves before resuming food handling / preparation. Observed owner change soiled single-use gloves during the inspection. Owner did not wash hands before donning a new pair of single-use gloves. Instruct food employees to clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms immediately before engaging in food preparation including working with exposed food, clean equipment and utensils, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles and during food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross contamination when changing task.
0220	Critical In use open drinking containers stored in a manner that may contaminate food, food contact surfaces or utensils. Observed a styrafoam cup filled with a liquid (coffee) stored on top of one of the reach in refrigerator units. Observed the core of a piece of fruit (appeared to be a pear) with visible teeth marks stored directly on top of a food preparation counter (next to the prep unit). Employees may drink from a closed beverage container if the container is handled to prevent contamination of (1) The employee's hands (2) The container and (3) Exposed food clean equipment, utensils, and linens and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles. Employees shall not in the food preparation areas.
0450	Critical Repeat Observed an employee wearing one single-use glove while slicing pita bread. Employee held the knife in the gloved hand and held the pita bread in the ungloved hand. Later observed the employee prepare a pita sandwich with both the gloved and ungloved hand. Provide suitable utensils such as deli tissue, spatulas, tongs, single-use gloves, or dispensing equipment to handle RTE food to prevent contamination from hands.
0470	Critical Repeat Observed an uncovered plastic container of raw chicken stored above a container of feta cheese in water in the reach in cooler next to the prep unit. The uncovered container of chicken was observed partially covered with a plastic grocery bag which was visibly soiled with raw chicken juices / liquids on the exterior of the bag. Separate raw foods during storage, preparation, holding, and display from raw RTE food including other foods such as fish for sushi or molluscan shellfish, or other raw RTE food such as vegetables, and cooked RTE food.
0550	Dispensing utensils improperly stored between uses. Observed a metal dispensing spoon stored in room temperature water with grease / food matter. Store in-use utensils or dispensing utensils in one of the following manners: 1) In the food with their handles above the top of the food and the container. 2) In food that is not potentially hazardous with their handles above the top of the food within containers or equipment that can be closed. 3) On a clean portion of the food preparation table or cooking equipment only if the in-use utensil and the food-contact surface of the food preparation table or cooking equipment are cleaned and sanitized every 4 hours. 4) In running water of sufficient velocity to flush particulates to the drain. 5) In a clean, protected location if the utensils are used only with a food that is not potentially hazardous. 6) In a container of water if the water is maintained at a temperature of at least 135°F.
0570	Wiping cloths improperly used. Dry towels used to clear food spills / wipe food trays also observed used to clean the food preparation counters. Towels were observed extremely soiled with food matter. Ensure cloths used for wiping food spills are not used for any other purpose.
0790	Improper methods used to thaw raw tuna steaks and raw hamburger. Observed two rolls of frozen raw hamburger stored at room temperature in a plastic bucket to thaw. Observed a plastic bucket full of raw tuna steaks thawing in room temperature water. Observed the tuna steaks at the following temperatures: 57.6 F, 52.2 F. Tuna steaks were later placed in a refrigeration unit (inside the container filled with water). Thaw potentially hazardous foods by either of the following methods: 1. Under refrigeration that maintains food temperature at 41°F 2. Completely submerged under running water at a temperature of 70°F or below with sufficient water velocity to agitate and float off loose particles in an overflow. Ready-to-eat food shall not exceed 41°F and raw animal foods shall not exceed 41°F for more than four hours 3. As part of the cooking process
0800	Critical Diced Tomatoes and Prepared Salsa noted not being adequately cooled to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Observed the following food temperatures: Diced Tomatoes (57.0 F) (45.5 F); Prepared Salsa (45.2 F); (55.1 F). Food employee stated the tomatoes and salsa were prepared at approximately 10:30 AM -- 4.5 hours before the time of inspection. Cool potentially hazardous foods prepared from ingredients at ambient temperature to 41°F or below within 4 hours. A longer time for cooling allows an ideal situation for bacterial growth. This has been shown to be the major contributing factor in many foodborne illnesses.
0820 A 2	Critical Repeat Potentially hazardous food items observed cold holding at improper temperatures in the metal reach in cooler by the prep unit. Observed the following food items cold holding improperly: Feta Cheese in Water (47.4 F); Raw Chicken (43.8 F). Cold hold potentially hazardous food at 41°F or below to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
0830	Critical Repeat Observed no prepared ready-to-eat foods in any refrigeration unit not properly dated for disposition. Mark the name and "consume by" date on the container of RTE foods at the time of preparation if the food is to be held for more than 24 hours. If the food is held at 41°F or below the food shall be served or sold within 7 calendar days. Some harmful bacteria continue to grow even at refrigeration temperatures so limiting the amount of time in storage limits the amount of growth allowed for these bacteria.
0850	Critical Repeat Gyros roll, sliced gyros (stored at room temperature), prepared tomato sauce (stored at room temperature), and prepared fava beans (stored at room temperature) for which time rather than temperature is being used as a control was not labeled or otherwise marked with a 4 hour cook, serve or discard by time. Discard food that is not cooked and served or served if ready-to-eat within 4 hours from the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control. Clearly label or otherwise mark the food with a 4-hour cook-serve or serve by time. Owner was able to produce some sheets with times noted. However, the last time noted for the gyros was 8/2/2008.
1150	Repeat The nonfood contact surfaces of the rusted metal shelves used for dry storage and in the refrigeration unit are not designed or constructed to be easily cleanable. Replace rusted shelves with other shelves that are smooth and easily cleanable.
1770 A	Critical Repeat The following utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: metal meat tenderizer, knives, tongs, etc. Additionally observed food storage containers (on shelves) soiled to sight and touch. Clean and sanitize these surfaces for food contact.
1800	Repeat The nonfood contact surfaces of the floors, walls, ceilings, and inside of refrigeration / freezer units are in need of cleaning. Observed soil / dried food matter on the floors, walls, and inside of refrigeration / freezer units. Observed dripping grease from the ceiling tiles in the kitchen (above bread). Clean the surface at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues that become encrusted or attract insects and rodents.
2790	Repeat The indoor wall material located at the left side of the three compartment sink does not meet the standard of: 1. smooth, durable and easily cleanable 2. nonabsorbent. Observed tiles missing and a section of exposed, unfinished wood along wall. Upstairs carpeted area with dry storage and refrigerator / freezer storage does not meet the standard of smooth, durable / easily cleanable, and nonabsorbent. Refinish or replace the wall material at the area designated so it is: 1. smooth, durable and easily cleanable 2. nonabsorbent. Replace the upstairs carpeted area with a smooth and easily cleanable floor material or discontinue use of the area for storage.
2890	Repeat Fluorescent light bulbs in the food booth area area missing end caps for the plastic shielding device. Plastic shielding device does not cover the entire length of the light bulbs and does not have end caps. Purchase end caps for the light shielding devices.

Tokyo Express - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:	Carry Out Food Service Only
Inspection type:	Critical Procedures
Inspection date:	June 02, 2008
Number of critical violations:	1
Number of non-critical violations:	0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code	Observation / Corrective Action
0450	Critical Employees observed handling ready-to-eat (RTE) food with their bare hands. Observed the sushi chef handling and slicing raw fish at the sushi bar (and placing raw fish in the sushi display case) with bare hands. Provide suitable utensils such as deli tissue, spatulas, tongs, single-use gloves, or dispensing equipment to handle RTE food to prevent contamination from hands.

Comments:
The above violation was noted during an observation period of the sushi chef / owner from the general seating area. A full, routine inspection was not conducted during this time. A follow-up inspection will be conducted to monitor the correction of any critical violations.

Gee - you don't think a sushi chef should KNOW HOW TO SAFELY HANDLE RAW ITEMS DO YOU??

Hong Kong Restaurant - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:	Fast Food Restaurant
Inspection type:	Routine
Inspection date:	April 16, 2008
Number of critical violations:	0
Number of non-critical violations:	0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
No violations were found during the inspection

Comments:
Three Compartment Sink set up correctly. Observed 100 ppm chlorine in the sanitize basin. New freezer purchased. Freezer will be used for cooling rice and chicken. Chicken broth is now made daily. Half of the broth is kept hot on the stove (above 135 F). The other half of the broth is stored at room temperature with a Time noted in the kitchen. All containers of cooked broth, chicken, etc. stored at room temperature are now marked with a time and are kept at room temperature no longer than 4 hours. New containers for food items have been purchased to replace the old, noncleanable containers. Sanitation has improved. Kitchen and coolers have been cleaned. Follow-up inspection will be conducted to monitor cooling processes at a later date.

New York Subs - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:	Carry Out Food Service Only
Inspection type:	Routine
Inspection date:	April 01, 2008
Number of critical violations:	0
Number of non-critical violations:	0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
No violations were found during the inspection

Comments:
Person in Charge (PIC) advised Time as a Public Health Control is used for the meat stored at room temperature during the lunch rush. PIC advised the time is noted once the meat is removed from the refrigerator and that the meat is not held at room temperature more than 4 hours. The last box of meat stored at room temperature during lunch is used (within 4 hours) and then after lunch, the meat is stored in the Prep Unit -- with employees removing meat from cooler to the grill-top for each order during the slower periods. Discussed employee health policy requirements with the PIC. Previously provided hand-outs to the PIC about employee health policy. Policy must be implemented effective today, April 1, 2008. Re-printed information. PIC has agreed to post the health policy information in the kitchen for employees to read. Each foodservice employee should be able to: 1. Be able to discuss the policy from memory OR 2. Be able to point to, or locate, a written employee health policy. PIC advised bleach is used as a sanitizer and that dishes are washed, rinsed, and sanitized in the three compartment sink. Advised PIC not to store food containers on top of one another (where the bottom of the food container is touching the top of the food in the bottom container). Discussed the new proposed inspection form with the PIC and discussed the "approved sources" and "supervision" sections. Contact the EHS with any additional questions or concerns: 540-857-7807.

Burger In The Square - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:	Fast Food Restaurant
Inspection type:	Routine
Inspection date:	May 28, 2008
Number of critical violations:	1
Number of non-critical violations:	0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code	Observation / Corrective Action
1770 A	Critical The following equipment food-contact surfaces were observed soiled to sight and touch: Inside of cooler used for ice storage (ice is used in drinks). Clean and sanitize these surfaces for food contact. Cooler must be cleaned and sanitized daily.

Comments:
All foods must be reheated to 165 F or above within 2 hours. After reheating, food may be held hot at 135 F or above. Monitor the reheat / hot holding temperatures for the chili and nacho cheese. These food items are very thick and can be difficult to reheat / hot hold properly. Observed a heavily scored plastic cutting board in the upstairs food preparation area. Person in Charge (PIC) has a brand new cutting board and has agreed to throw away the old cutting board as it can not be effectively cleaned and sanitized. Invert all plastic silverware so the handle side is up -- preventing contamination with the food contact surface. Thermometers were observed missing in several refrigeration / freezer units in the restaurant. PIC advised he has additional thermometers and will replace any missing thermometers. Consumer Advisory for raw hamburger has been added to the menu board. Please note that having the Consumer Advisory for the raw beef now means that raw ground beef is a ready-to-eat food and there is to be no barehand contact with either the raw meat or the cooked product. Employee health policy information has been posted in the food preparation area.

Chico's Big Lick Pizza - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:	Fast Food Restaurant
Inspection type:	Routine
Inspection date:	December 17, 2007
Number of critical violations:	2
Number of non-critical violations:	1

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code	Observation / Corrective Action
0830	Critical The prepared ready-to-eat (RTE) containers of spaghetti sauce, opened container of ricotta cheese, container of garlic/oil mixture, etc. in the refrigeration units are not properly dated for disposition. Mark the name and "consume by" date on the container of RTE foods at the time of preparation if the food is to be held for more than 24 hours. If the food is held at 41°F or below the food shall be served or sold within 7 calendar days. Some harmful bacteria continue to grow even at refrigeration temperatures so limiting the amount of time in storage limits the amount of growth allowed for these bacteria.
1510	The person in charge could not provide a food temperature measuring device. Obtain at least one food temperature measuring device so employees can properly monitor the temperature of food items in the establishment.
3360	Critical Pesticides are not being applied by a certified applicator. Observed an open container of D-Con and Boric Acid Roach Powder stored on a shelf with cleaned food containers, utensils, and clean linenes. Restricted used pesticides are to be applied by an applicator certified as defined in 7 USC 136(e) Certified Applicator, of the Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide Act, or a person under the direct supervision of a certified applicator. Remove all pest control chemicals from the restaurant.

Comments:
Previously provided the Person in Charge (PIC) with a summary of food code changes. Provided an additional copy of this document to the PIC on this date during inspection. An employee health policy must be in place by April 1, 2008. An example of a written employee health policy was previously provided to the PIC. Provided an additional copy on this date. Policy may be oral or written. Example is from the 2005 FDA Food Code. Contact EHS with any additional questions or concerns: 540-857-7807.

Nuts and Sweet Things - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:	Carry Out Food Service Only
Inspection type:	Routine
Inspection date:	March 28, 2008
Number of critical violations:	0
Number of non-critical violations:	0

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
No violations were found during the inspection

Comments:
Discussed employee health policy and provided hand-outs to the owners. Policy must be in place by April 1, 2008. Provided owners with a four page summary of food code changes.

Paradiso Cuban Restaurant - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:	Full Service Restaurant
Inspection type:	Routine
Inspection date:	May 27, 2008
Number of critical violations:	3
Number of non-critical violations:	1

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code	Observation / Corrective Action
0610	Observed uncovered food containers in the refrigerator. Food items were uncovered and stored directly on top of each other (bottom of bowl in contact with food). Cover all containers of food in the refrigerator.
0760	Critical The white rice, yellow rice, and rice with black beans were not reheated to 165F within 2 hours to eliminate pathogenic bacteria. PIC advised rice was reheated in the microwave. However, temperatures taken were below 165 F. Rapidly reheat food for hot holding to 165°F or above within 2 hours.
0820 A 2	Corrected During Inspection Critical Prepared sandwiches cold holding at improper temperatures (stored at room temperature during lunch). Observed a large container of chopped fresh garlic and oil stored at room temperature. Corrected during inspection. Cold hold potentially hazardous food at 41°F or below to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Person in Charge (PIC) implemented Time as a Public Health Control for sandwiches stored at room temperature. PIC moved the garlic and oil mixture to the refrigerator. PIC advised this item is infrequently used and will be kept in the refrigerator at all times.
0830	Critical Repeat The prepared ready-to-eat (RTE) food items (cooked rice, cooked chicken, cooked pork, etc.) in the refrigeration unit are not properly dated for disposition. Mark the name and "consume by" date on the container of RTE foods at the time of preparation if the food is to be held for more than 24 hours. If the food is held at 41°F or below the food shall be served or sold within 7 calendar days. Some harmful bacteria continue to grow even at refrigeration temperatures so limiting the amount of time in storage limits the amount of growth allowed for these bacteria.

Comments:
Contact the Environmental Health Specialist (EHS) with any questions or concerns: 540-857-7807.

Tavern on the Market - Inspection Report

Inspection Information:

Facility Type:	Full Service Restaurant
Inspection type:	Follow-up
Inspection date:	July 18, 2008
Number of critical violations:	2
Number of non-critical violations:	7

Definition of critical and non critical violations

Violations:
A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below.

Code	Observation / Corrective Action
0220	Critical In use open drinking containers stored in a manner that may contaminate food, food contact surfaces or utensils. Observed an uncovered drink cup with liquid on the food prep table in the dishwashing area (and above a box of uncovered single-service items). Observed an empty candy bar wrapper on top of a speed rack (with food items) in the Walk In Refrigerator. Employees may drink from a closed beverage container if the container is handled to prevent contamination of (1) The employee's hands (2) The container and (3) Exposed food clean equipment, utensils, and linens and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles. Employees should not eat in areas where contamination of food, equipment, single-use and single-service items may result.
0610	Food stored on the floor or food stored less than 6" above the floor. Observed multiple boxes and containers of food items stored on the floor in the Walk In Refrigerator. Elevate food storage onto approved shelving with minimum 6" legs or casters.
0620	Food stored under other sources of contamination. Food Establishment uses a basement area for the storage of food, drinks, and other items. Basement area has areas where paint is peeling and chipping, which can cause contamination. Basement area also has an open sump pump which could cause contamation if it were to overflow. Area around the sump pump is wet, appearing as though it recently overflowed. Relocate food storage to an approved area until the source of contamination is eliminated or removed.
1800	Repeat The nonfood contact surface of the floors and walls have accumulations of grime and debris. There is visible dried meat matter in the dishwashing room (behind the meat slicer) attached to the walls. Floors are not clean behind pieces of equipment and in corners. Clean the surface at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues that become encrusted or attract insects and rodents. Remove items from the floor (like the multiple bottles of cleaners behind the three compartment sink) so employees may clean the area. Remove the dried meat matter from the walls.
2810	Repeat Wall Tiles in the Dish Washing Area need to be painted with a washable paint so the area is smooth and easily cleanable. Wall tiles were previously painted over. However, paint is in the process of peeling and is no longer easily cleanable. Repair or replace wall or wall covering to make it smooth and easily cleanable. Replace missing and /or broken tiles along the wall surface. Floor must be replaced or repaired in areas where it is no longer a smooth and easily cleanable surface. Repair cove molding.
2930	Outer opening of the food establishment is not protected against entry of insects and rodents. Door to the outside was observed open. Keep doors to the outside closed to prevent flies from entering food preparation areas.
3030	Automatic paper towel dispensor is not working properly. No paper towels were dispensed. Hand drying devices such as individual disposable paper towels, a continuous towel system that supplies the user with a clean towel or heated air hand drying device must be provided at all hand washing lavatories to encourage proper hand washing and avoid employees to drying their hands on their clothing or other unclean materials
3270	Harborage conditions exist. Floors and walls must be clean. Multiple harborage conditions exist in the basement area. Employees are leaving the doors open to the outside, and as a result flies are entering the food preparation areas. Eliminate harborage conditions. Insects and other pests are capable of transmitting disease to man by contaminating food and food-contact surfaces.
3340	Critical Containers of cleaning chemicals are not properly stored to prevent the contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens or single service items. Observed several bottles of cleaning chemicals stored next to uncovered coffee filters and uncovered to-go containers. Containers of cleaning chemicals must be located in an area that is not above food, equipment, utensils, linens or single service items.

Comments:
None

The following hazard(s) have been corrected since the last inspection.

0820 A 2	Observed the following food items cold holding improperly in the Walk In Refrigerator and the Under Counter Reach-In Cooler (Under Grill). Observed the following food items cold holding improperly in the Walk In Refrigerator: Cooked Noodles (46.1 F); Sliced Tomatoes (46.1 F); Sliced Roast Beef (45.4 F); Raw Hamburger (50.1 F); Cooked Rice (45.9 F); Prepared Salsa (44.7 F); Prepared Alfredo Sauce (44.7 F); Sliced Turkey (45.2 F). Observed the following food items cold holding improperly in the Under Counter Refrigeration Unit: Cooked Chicken (44.5 F); Cooked Sausages (46.5 F); Raw Steak Meat for Sandwiches (47.9 F).
1450	Walk In Refrigerator and the Under Counter Refrigeration Unit are not cold holding properly. Majority of potentially hazardous food items are stored in the above units.
2350 ii	Kitchen / food preparation hand sink is in poor repair. The handle for the cold water at the hand sink is missing. The water, when allowed to run for an extended period of time, becomes very hot, which may become a hindrance to proper hand washing.

Ok - the point of all that? Did you see any mention of Rodents, except in passing? I certainly saw nothing.. and the VDH has a responsibility to publish each and every item they find. Were the mice in the Market Building? I do not doubt it - there are mice all over this city, you can see them crossing the streets if your up early enough in the morning. Were these mice "Just discovered?"

You tell me...

This is the end..

2008-09-21T10:48:00.002-04:00

Read this

And realize that now the city has full rights to toss out each one of the 10 vendors who lost their liscenses.

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the game. Stay tuned for more updates.

Holding my tongue

2008-09-18T10:07:00.002-04:00

I've been good. So good. I've been trying so hard to keep my mouth shut and give Bowers a chance, the entire council a chance. It's not been easy.

But now it ends.

First off, I want to thank Mayor Bowers, and the entire Council - including the newly minted Mr. Rosen, for making it impossibly easy to do this.

A city council who makes headlines for the confusing and dangerous machinations it attempts, and fails at does the people it represents no service.

Bowers, for all his "open office" speeches, his "looking forward - not back" promises, and obvious platitudes to the electorate - has assumed office as if he never left. Including the way council operated - which is at odds with the way it operates now.

And Mr. Rosen, rather than hang out and observe the workings of the Council, or asking questions - instantly feels left out and slighted. Have you always been denied the cool table Court?

With one meeting (and I'm not even going into the one before it in which Mr. Rosen asked for a copy of DRI's submission to the RFP - which was a debacle in and of itself) the Council has set the public face of the city back 20 years. After reading this article, I would not blame any business for refusing to relocate here, or expand.

Do I believe there are backroom deals going on? Yes, but with one caveat: I really don't think they are savvy enough to pull them off properly.

Remember when Mr. Dowe misspoke about "a boutique hotel property in downtown" a year ago or so? He then felt the full weight of the "backroom" fall upon him as he was booted for "suddenly discovered" double dipping. That hotel was/is to be the former Billy's Ritz building. And now, today's headline: "Patrick Henry site in a tax pinch"

It seems the city could be taking over the PH Hotel downtown at the end of the year, and putting it up for tax sale. Is this the council that should be doing such things, given the extreme dischord shown on simple issues such as a municpal golf course?

Fair enough, the city SHOULD own the PH - but to what end? Renovations and bringing it up to code would run in the millions, just like the Hotel Roanoke. By now most of us know the story on what a disgrace that was, not to mention the ongoing problems with the buildings. But the PH could do some real good; with the right leadership, and the right blend of public/private partnership. Personally, I can't trust the council do the right thing.

In one version of the Downtown master plan, the Municipal Library was moved to the Heironymous building, the library in the park became a Rec Center (same structure, different purpose), and the PH was a magnet for people coming to downtown for business and pleasure.

As I have posted before - I've been inside the PH - deep inside. I can tell you what kind of condition that building is in, firsthand. It is more magnificent and dramatic than the Hotel Roanoke, and also holds a deeper meaning for Roanoke.

Sure, N&W built the Hotel Roanoke - but they met at the PH. And just like the city council once consisted of actual leaders in Roanoke - the PH once held all the leading business functions. The Hotel Roanoke was more personal functions, short of the massive meetings that can now be held there.

Once again, I ask - is this the right council for the job? I had reservations back during the elections - and carefully chose my votes, knowing that I was voting for the best at that moment, but not the best overall. Where are the leaders?

Well, one of them is right here. And even though I have been holding my tongue lately, and keeping quiet when I could be shouting from the rafters - I have not abandoned my hopes. For a city that shines, a Council that works for the best of the City, and a public image that outstrips the rest.

I'm still working over here in my small section of town, and change is happening. Slowly, but steadily - it's happening.

It can happen all over the city too, if only we had the leadership to do it.

7 years on...

2008-09-11T08:32:00.000-04:00

And we are still finding new videos, new audio; things we had not seen, and things we had forgotten.

You know how I am with 9/11. it is THE day to honor our FD and PD, the NYPD PAPD FDNY and countless others who responded, and all those who lost someone.

As far as I know, I did not lose anyone in the WTC - but thats only as far as I know. There is still a big chunk of people I no longer communicate with from high school - many of whom went into exactly the kind of work that would have them at the WTC. Extended family that no one really has much communication with anymore. Countless others I worked with.

A relative of mine lost a co-worker after the first WTC bombing, back in 93. The one that cancelled my prom for me (it was supposed to be at Windows on the World, someplace I had not been - they moved it to Tavern on the Green - pedestrian). She stopped working at the Twin Towers shortly after that - choosing to keep her feet planted firmly on the ground. She always said - 'they tried it once, they will try again."

I had family that built the WTC- everything from laying the concrete 'bathtub' to working the steel into shape. I myself worked in the shadows of it in the winter before, when I noticed all downtown Manhattan seemed off - sadder, but with no reason.

I never went to the top, preferring the older Empire State for that. And I will never go to the top of the "Freedom Tower," should it ever be built. But my child, and eventual children and grandchildren, will understand the family story, and how 9/11 fit into it.

Some people ask me if I left NY because of 9/11 - and the answer is always no. 9/11 was a reason to stay.

Knock Knock

2008-09-10T09:11:00.000-04:00

A: Knock, knock.

B: Who’s there?

A: 9/11.

B: 9/11 who?

A: You said you’d never forget!

Oh man, now I am REALLY scared.

2008-08-27T05:45:00.002-04:00

Warning.....Warning:

This post is about national politics, and not related to anything local in any way. Read at your own discretion.

So, who are you going to vote for? Let me show you what I've found about Obama.

He is not who he says he is.

Yes, he looks like Obama. Not some alien or something. But that's not Obama.

And McCain? Not him either.

Apparently he is a POW again, without the war. So who is the dark mastermind behind all this? Who is Obama, and McCain?

Only one man is rich enough to pull off that much cosmetic surgery, and Hollywood-Style make-up. One Man we have all met before.

H. Ross Perot. Controlling your destiny weather you like it or not.

Well, that makes sense.

2008-08-12T05:46:00.002-04:00

Take a look at what the new CEO of Advance Auto Parts had to say about why he is relocating and re-organizing so many jobs to the Twin Cities (although he does promise not to be abandoning the Roanoke area):

"Still, workers there -- as well as local politicians and newspapers -- aren't blind to the Minnesota expansion. Jackson said one main reason he wants to grow here is to tap into the area's 18 Fortune 500 companies. Advance, which employs about 1,600 people in Roanoke, is that area's only company to crack the Fortune 500.

Having a major airport here is also a plus, as Roanoke's airport recently was named one of the country's 100 most endangered.

"If you add up all the revenues of Target, Best Buy, Supervalu, General Mills and so on, it's about $200 billion," Jackson said. "In Roanoke, it's $2 billion.

"So it's 100-to-1 in terms of our opportunity to look across the Twin Cities to see if there's talent that will help us go even faster and more effectively." (via The Strib)

It doesn't feel right, and it hurts to admit - but the guy is right. Who would want to locate a major national business in a place where there are no other major nationals?

The Roanoke Region continuously attempts to frame itself as a great place for business. But what happens when you cannot get the employees you need?

I can tell you the story of a local employer, who in the 3 years since they opened here - have run through all the decent, hard working employees they could. Now they are left with whatever walks in off the street. Of course, this is due in large part to management issues (poor employee retention policies), but the key is - there are no more skilled workers to do the jobs this employer needs.

And we are not talking about Brain Surgery here folks.

New hires are not willing to do the work required of them without complaint, are instantly jealous of what other employees might have (regardless of how long they have been there), and have a severe distrust and dislike of anyone with any sort of management power. And they lack both the basic common sense which guides a person to do a good job, and the education to meet anything but the minimum requirements of the job. (Speeling optshunul)

This is probably why the new CEO of Advance wants to stay put.

I don't blame the City Schools, or the County ones; I blame the culture that allows people to walk about, shuffling feet and slack-jawed and ignorant of how to spell Saturday.

That's why we cannot and will not compete for any major operation to relocate.

Hard truth, but it has to break eventually.

Been a while

2008-08-04T17:15:00.002-04:00

Let me tell you, I know I could be more communicative. More angry, visceral.

But gosh darn is it hard when you have a 7 month old.

There have been times I've been ready to sit down and hammer out some diatribe on something (perhaps the disappearance of Valley Forward; or the camouflaged Art Museum which is at once remarkably hideous, and unremarkable at the same time), only to be distracted by a winning smile and a hand close to the USB cord for my cell phone.

I guess I could just write draft after draft, hoping that I finish them and publish them - or jot notes throughout the day.

Maybe, as things settle down into a groove (amorphous, but groove none the less), I'll get back to the full time blogging thing. But for now, heck - I'm happy.

Although - and this is a heads up for all you out there, I hear tale of a certain Chef on the comeback trail to blogging. Yep, Chef K is on his way back folks.

And you thought I was cantankerous...

Now lookie here...

2008-07-21T14:24:00.002-04:00

Seeing as how it's MY day to do what I want, I give you this.. one of the very few things that makes me consistently giggle.

And considering the topic - rather timely, if you look at special features in the Times and the Roanoker as of late.

How the world (according to CNN) sees us.

2008-07-14T17:29:00.002-04:00

CNN/Money once again have published the "top 100 places to live" list, broken down by numerous factors. Small cities, large cities, medium-sized.. et. al.

And Roanoke is not on the list.

But it does not stop us from taking a look at the city's profile.

Shall we?

Financial	City stats	Best places avg.
Median family income (per year)	$49,283	$93,075
Family purchasing power (annual, cost-of-living adjusted)	$38,490	$107,483
Sales tax	5.00%	6.57%
State income tax rate (highest bracket)	5.75%	5.17%
State income tax rate (lowest bracket)	2.00%	2.43%
Auto insurance premiums (Average for the state)	$1,576	$1,791
Job growth % (2000-2007)	-7.05%	18.72%

Ok - so some of those are things which we have no control over - the income tax and such.

Want to see something we do?

Leisure and culture	City stats	Best places avg.
Movie theaters (within 15 miles)	13	51
Restaurants (within 15 miles)	601	4,094
Bars (within 15 miles)	19	408
Public golf courses (within 30 miles)	41	316
Libraries (within 15 miles)	22	89
Museums (accredited by AAM; within 30 miles)	2	13
Ski resorts (within 100 miles)	5	33
Arts funding (Dollars per person of state funds spent on arts)	0.9	1.5

Suddenly, we no look-a so good.

I could go on, but I'm sure CNN would sue me for reposting all the data.

(This data courtesy CNN/Money, thanks for not being litigious.)

I guess we could over-analyze this and point fingers and everything else. Or we could just decide to do better.

But is that really an option?

One last one

2008-07-13T00:07:00.000-04:00

I know it's still not a great shot, but when you realize the lights are on 220/581 - and the little red glow to the left there is the fire - that will give you an idea as to how high the flames were at that moment. Then imagine them 6 times higher, which is how high they were in the fireball shots below.

And those flames were originating roughly 30-60 feet below the roadway.

8600 gallons of fuel, and all that you see burning here are the pressure relief valves and the twin 125 gallon tanks the truck has.

See you in the morning, when the smoke will still be drifting off into the sky.

BREAKING NEWS!!!

2008-07-12T23:18:00.000-04:00

And if I had a direct uplink, I could have beat the news with this.
I was out in the back with the dogs, and my little shih tzu who has been skitzo since the 4th, started freaking over some echoing booms. I called the wife inside and had her turn on the scanner, and lo and behold - a tanker had fallen off of 581/220 right off the side by the new Carilion buildings - landing between the NS coal yard (where they also had two fuel trucks as of yesterday) and the highway.

We jumped in the batmobile and flew to a secret spot here in SE, with a great look across the valley to Carilion and the Old Mill.

Here are the photos. (sorry for the crappy quality - it was the little camera)

Just another fireball in Roanoke...?

Lines of blinky lights, and a little spark of fire.

To be honest, we did travel - and this shot was taken in a different location - a bit closer, but the view was not any better.

Here's hoping all goes well tonight as they fight it out, or let it burn out. Keep the FF's safe, and the PD on scene. Let's hope that the Medics aren't needed tonight.

More photos to come, as I can get them cleaned up.

Re: The ongoing cry for rail service to Roanoke

2008-07-11T06:36:00.001-04:00

Found this article, well written and reasoned - by someone who had the guts to take an 86 hour journey from New York City to Oakland, CA via Amtrak.

Train In Vain

Liveblogging the storm

2008-07-09T16:17:00.002-04:00

This is one massive storm...

There are wires down in the Hershberger/Preston area - NE

Tree on fire somewhere...

Scanners are a wonderful thing..

I guess we got lucky with the last few storms passing us by, and now it's our turn in the barrel.

UPDATE

Mill Mountain has vanished from view, transformers burnt out up in NE - I guess someone took a direct hit.

UPDATE 2

Mill Mountain Cam is not working suddenly...

5400 block of Airport Rd. - Wires on Fire across from Verizon, down and across the road

The Severe Thunderstorm warning is on until 5pm - and if you happen to live near the lake - consider this your warning. This is one heck of a storm.

Update 3

Accidents abound once again, as the rain driving abilities kick in..

Don't get soft folks - there's another line of heavy rain coming after the commercial break.

Update 4

looks like it's over, and we are in the clear... but back in WV, there might be a little something just for us - have to see how it develops...

later.

2008-07-08T06:20:00.000-04:00

MESSAGE!!

See you soon.

Thiings you won't see on this blog.

2008-06-26T10:10:00.002-04:00

Aside from timely posts, of course. (I need to get paid to do this full time, be much easier.)

You will not see a post, or link about the roanokerailcam.com nonsense. First off, it's not exactly firefox-friendly, nor is it all that interesting. The aim of the camera is horrible - even though they installed one of those fun "user-targeting" cameras - they left that option out for the public. It's java based - which is good, but uses almost none of the fun java-capable features. It is very nice for viewing the downtown skyline, but shows little else but the butt-end of the TMA, the nearly vacant Market St., 4 tracks of NS lines (2 of which see intermittent use), and the City Market Building (which really needs Roanoke painted on it's roof again).

Unlike the Star Cam where you can watch people come and go from the "unused" mountain, watch storms roll across the valley, and who knows what else as the year progresses - this RailCam is a one trick pony. Until it snows, then it will be great to see downtown coated in snow. But then what?

Anyway - the merciless whoring of this railcam (no less than 3 e-mails, each with the same exact message) prompts me to dub it the RoanokeFailCam, as it fails to show anything beyond what you see in the first 10 seconds. Oh, and the zoom function sucks too.
/crank off

You will no longer see any posts about the TMA, unless they do something astoundingly stupid. Really, it's a moot point since they tore down the Lonesome Dove - and I think now, a majority of the people (meaning those who are not already connected to the museum, or read "Atlas Shrugged" daily) are beginning to realize exactly how ill-fitting it looks downtown. Wait till it opens and people realize that it's filled with what are considered in the "fine arts" community call "filler pieces."

I am still, however, lobbying for a Museum of the City of Roanoke - mostly due to the vast amount of history this town forgets it has.

You won't see gripes and complaints about places I do not live, unlike some other blogs. I live in the City - what happens in the county is their problem to deal with. I will stay within jurisdictional lines, with the exception of the Roanoke-Allegheny Regional stuff.

I will not be harping on about the presidential election, except to say that I am dreading having to vote for either one of these two numbnuts.

All that being said - I want to leave you with a comment from a friend of mine - in relation to "sustainable pratices" and "green living." It's brilliant.

"

In my area the farmers grow mostly seed corn. If they do grow anything else they charge far, far more than the local grocery stores or Sysco does and they don't deliver.
So am I going to go burn up even more gas and my time to go chase the stuff down, I think not. How about every restaurant in town running about the countryside to get their own produce. How about every little farm in the area putting their goods into the back of a truck and going to every restaurant in town to sell their goods. Yeah there is a brilliant waste of gas, resources and not to mention greenhouse gases.

At the local "farmers market" there are three or four farmers that actually grow their own produce and sell it in season. The rest buy from the same market Sysco buys its local stuiff from. One "farmer" has bananas for sale every weekend. Imagine that a banana farm here in Michigan. Another specializes in fresh mushrooms. Chantrelles in May anyone? I have seen tomatoes in May and Peaches in October presented as "homegrown."
I don't shop at the local farmers market anymore, it is a joke.

The organic produce at the grocery stores sits on the shelf and rots.
I ask the produce clerks about it and they tell me it's a complete loss and they throw or give most of it away. So, they carry it so people can feel good about shopping there, becuase they have organic produce available? What a joke and a waste of resources.

The three vegetarian places that have opened here in the last 10 yrs have failed to get past the 1 year mark. The only place that "claims" to practice "sustainable" is a complete facade.They put tomatoes on their salads in January too. Here in Michigan, is a green leaf salad in January an acceptable sustainable practice?

There may be places where folks really cares about these things. The Pacific Northwest, Northern Califonia, and some of the larger cities that have a higher population levels but here in mid town USA, I am catering to the avg joe(and the farmers, lots of them). A place where they ask how big is the portion, not how good is it or is that free range chicken and organic produce. I do have some who ask if the salmon is farm raised or wild caught, not because they actually know something about it, but because they heard somrthing about it from someone, somewhere once.

In my observation of the movement:
The same people who cry about trees getting cut down and the loss of valuable resources, have no problem preaching organic farming. A practice that is known to take up twice as much land to produce half as much. This means cutting down more trees and using more resources to put into pratice. For what, so you can feel good about not using a few pesticides? These are the same people that think our American farmers are greedy, corrupt, polluters who know nothing. There are many, many farms here that have been in the same family for over 100 years. The ones that are still operational, produce more per acre than ever before.You would be led to believe by the organic movement that with modern practices, these farms should be wastelands incapable of even growing ragweed after 100 years of farming with pesticides and other "unsustainable methods." These are the same people who freak out about wild salmon populations and protecting them but won't eat anything but wild caught. (The same with shrimp.) The same people who look to Goverment as the end all, be all, will not allow the Goverment to set uniform standards when it comes to what is and what isn't organic farming. The same type of standards that other farmers who are not "organic" have to follow like a religion.
And we don't want to talk about those who won't subsidize farmers in America and have allowed many, many, farms to disappear and wont put into place a set of standards or rules for organic farmining, want me to carry fair trade coffee (subsidized)and organic (complete total lack of standards and ignorance of the reality of "fair trade and organic" movement) from another country. These same people that want me to carry "fair trade organic coffee" from another country don't want me to get tomatoes in January from the same countries that grow coffee.
These people who will cry about killing a cow for beef and agonize over the safety of our food supply i.e. e coli, want us to eat vegetables that have been fertilized with cow ****.
These same people who let a few towns and many farmers die a slow death in Oregon over water for some damn fish and it turns out that it's not really endangered by the practices of the farmers. But they sure felt good about it.
The same people who think that the most efficient model of transportation and distribution of products known to man that can move hundreds of thousands of cases from California to New York or Brazil to New York is the biggest polluter and is grossly ineffiecient, offer no real alternative other than the one I discussed in the first paragraph.

There are a few individuals who truly practice and believe in it, but from where I sit the whole organic sustainable movement is nothing if but a farce of itself. Another big money making, government grant grabbing machine with an agenda that is far more than what it appears to be on the surface.

Your other question, you ask is it all about the money.
I ask have you ever had to pay the light and gas bills, payroll, vendors, taxes, mortgage or rent? Have you signed your name to a loan for big enough to buy a couple, three, four houses while pledging to the bank everything you own or will possbily own for the rest of your life? I am thinking not, otherwise you wouldn't ask such a foolish question.

If my customers expect green salads with tomatoes in January they are going to get them.
I don't care if they taste like cardboard or not. I have 35 employees, some with families, who expect to have a job next week and I going to do everything I can to make sure they do.

Enough ranting, I think I am going to walk down the street and pick some wild mushrooms, hopefully I can find a few more chanterelles as the season is almost over here. They are really awesome with the tomatoes from my garden. Too bad I cant serve them in my restaurant. But alas, all the food I serve has to come from approved sources."

TMA?

2008-06-12T13:00:00.003-04:00

What could that stand for?

Or am I the only one who thinks it could have more than one meaning?

And, pray tell, where is the new logo?

Just something to amuse myself with...

***UPDATE***

here it is!

wow - beige. and grey.

wow

Who knows? Not us, thats for sure.

2008-06-12T09:02:00.002-04:00

Milan Tobacconists, a venerable downtown business since 1912, is moving.

Down the street to 309 S. Jefferson, the old Lee and Edwards Wine Merchants shop.

106 S. Jefferson, the current location, is owned by Blue Marlin LLC - which also owns the Frankie Rowlands/ Subway building.

One can only speculate that with the recent acquisition of the old Southern Pawn, we could be looking at yet another restaurant downtown, and a possible expansion of Frankie Rowland's.

And just a block away - the Ol' Billy's Ritz is heading down a similar road. Filings with the city include many details, one of which being a 5th floor added atop the existing 4. The amount of work required to convert this aged beauty into a boutique hotel and restaurant is.. well, expensive. And word on the street is, no investor would touch it - but the decision was made to go ahead anyway.

And much like the former Woolworth's/CampbellMart, all work has ceased there too.

Would it be too much to ask for the City to put a time limit/fine on permits for work? The Woolworth's has been an eyesore for over 2 years now, and if the owners had only went for the proper permits - they might not have received a stop work order, and we might have a viable retail location.

Milan should do well in it's new location, being 2 stories prepared for wine storage, which is not all THAT different from cigar storage. Hey, maybe it will become a cigar bar?

Anyway - that's my retail roundup. I kept meaning to get to it.

Oddly enough

2008-06-11T22:05:00.006-04:00

I've been getting a good number of requests lately for more of the Haunted Roanoke (tm) stuff.

Well, I'll be indulging those requests in the next few days, especially considering the recent documents that have crossed my path.

OH - the answer to yesterday's "secret": 4011116

Get out those secret decoder rings, kids. Little Orphan Annie needs your help!

So keep your ears open, there will be more to the story!

I know a (public) secret

2008-06-10T08:57:00.001-04:00

Change is coming - more condos. But most likely in the last place one would expect it.

Very last.

More to say on this later.

delayed update (final update)

2008-06-08T20:31:00.003-04:00

sorry folks, but we are dealing with a minor issue here at HQ

Lack of AC

At some point today, it seems (this is a laymans guess) that the transformer gave out for our AC, leaving us hovering around 85 degrees all day...

always the best days to happen.

So, as we await our savior (who has been getting slammed by service calls all day), we sit pretending that fans actually do something.

Anyone got a block of ice that will sleep 3?

Hopefully we will be back up and running in a few hours.

So, hot enough for ya?

*update*

We get closer to having AC again, and this whole trip puts me in mind of the Blackout of 2003. It was a hot August day in NYC, and things were progressing as they normally do. I happened to be off that day, and was spending a little RnR time at the future wife's place. She had gone to the store, so it was me and the dog in the air conditioned kitchen, watching TV.

The TV went off.

Came back on, and went off again.

I checked all the breakers, and everything seemed fine - so maybe a powerline in the area was down or something.

I turned on the radio.

Nothing...

I switched over to AM, and found news. At this time I looked at my cellphone. It had no signal.

Then word started to trickle in on the news about the power outage.

The future wife came home, reporting streets of confusion and near-chaos.

We decided to fire up the grill for dinner, and spent the night on the front lawn - radio keeping us informed as best they could.

There's that moment of *gasp* when you realize that for 200+ miles, there is no power.

This is not at all like that. But because of the heat and humidity, it feels like it should be.

Maybe the heat has muddled my brain.

**update 2***

24 hours after the initial call, we once again have air. After being told by multiple companies that "they could fit us in next week," Service Experts came and had us up and running in minutes.

Thanks to all you folks at Service Experts who made this happen.

Lost

2008-06-04T14:25:00.003-04:00

Much to the surprise of many of you out there - it might shock you when you read the next line.

I am an avid reader.

Which explains my silence lately, sort of.

I consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable on the history of Roanoke City, having read and studied and walked and explored since I first moved down here.

I considered myself to be fairly knowledgeable on the history of New York City, although not on the same intimate basis as my friends over at Forgotten-NY.

The past of New York is anything that is 5 minutes ago, and here in Roanoke - 5 years (roughly) seems to be the average. Victory Stadium will be a footnote, a joke, and a source of delineation between generations here in Roanoke in another 3-4 years.

The Lonesome Dove, less than that - as the new fascia hiding the HVAC units for the Art Museum only vaguely resembles the original.

For as much time as my mind spends in the past, I find myself having a hard time writing directly about it - it is much easier to couch it in contrast to today.

Anyway, I just finished reading this:

The story of a city, and a man - over the space of 260 years. Without revealing much about the book - Cormac arrives on Manhattan Isle in 1741, and is soon rendered immortal, with an asterisk. He cannot leave the island of Manhattan at any time. So for the next 260 years, he is a New Yorker - the only New Yorker some might say.

The book ends, it seems, on Sept. 12/13th, 2001.

It leaves you with the question: "What would I do with 260+ years of being in the same spot?"

So that's my question to all of you.

260 years, and you cannot leave the Roanoke Valley or you die and go straight to hell. What would you do? How would you handle 13 generations of people coming and going?

And how would you do it, knowing that anyone you grew to know, to love - would end up dead and buried while you still roamed around alone?

Just a question - feel free to leave an answer in the comments.

Oh, and for those of you looking for political discussion - Harris is now the chairman of the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center Committee? I knew it was doomed.

Hey!

2008-06-01T06:39:00.001-04:00

This almost makes us sound good!

EXTRY EXTRY READ ALL ABOUT IT

Breaking news from Downtown updated

2008-05-28T15:40:00.003-04:00

Whist out and about this afternoon, I noticed Elmwood Park without it's "Festival in the Park" items, but with a decidedly LARGE area of snow fence. You know, that orange plastic fence put up normally to designate a construction area? It's called snow fence.

Anyway, this vast area of snow fence is located at the corner of Elm and Williamson, just inside the park. And something is missing!

The curse is gone!

Stay tuned for further information....

****UPDATE****

From the City GIS Permit Center: "Remove the monument in the South east location of Elmwood park corner of Elm and Williamson and clean and repair the monument. Install a new slab and foundation to support the new look of the Mayor's Monument with electrical light and water line for planter irrigation."

New look? The plotz thickens.

Propaganda, or does he have a point?

2008-05-27T14:12:00.003-04:00

It seems that the Roanoke Citizen's Brigade is finally moving into the public light.

They have a blog now.

(the title and address are NSF tiny brains)

They have put a post up about some church having it's services in a city school. Sure - the post is crabby and cantankerous, but the question is - do they have a point?

Should city schools be allowing religious groups to hold services within them, even if it is not during school hours?

Interesting question, and I am curious to see more posts from them.

Finally!

2008-05-22T13:36:00.002-04:00

Thank heavens for PPS. And a leak.

Who knows who the leak was, but thank them if you do know.

A new plan for the City Market that actually works!

Mind you, I like this as both a citizen and shopper of the market, and as a future business owner. Should the report vanish, I have a copy and will be re-hosting it, but honestly, it's brilliant.

Almost seems to be inspired by the Chelsea Market in Manhattan, which is where the Food Network is now based.

Right down to the use of the center court area for vendors, I like this plan. This opens up the Market to more people - more uses - more options for products.

Yep - works for me. Your thoughts?

Oh - and notice the 3rd floor is a rental space/theater once again?

Damn skippy.

Brilliant

2008-05-17T07:17:00.000-04:00

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "What's missing?":

I am a city firefighter and would like to share some thoughts on the continual downsizing of the fire department.The citizens of Roanoke need to know this.

To Mason, Trinkle, Harris, Fitzpatrick, Nash and others so unaware yet in a position of influence:
The chief is senior management by assignment. The chief is not a senior fire officer, not hoback, not grigsby. Neither of them have firefighter views or concerns. They were given the job to do whatever Burcham says. Things will never be better for us until Burcham, Grigsby and Hoback leave. Then it will take a long time to clean up the mess they made. (Read the firefighter blog) The chief is an appointed position. You do not have to come up thru the ranks. You need never ride or drive a fire truck; you are not required to have any fireground experience. They were not with us on the street with ice covering our turnout gear, hands and feet numb from the cold; they were not there when we crawled thru the basements or attics with zero visibility and intense heat. They did not pull their lungs out to get the hose to the seat of the fire. They have not gone home with aching body and burning eyes. They never stood in a situation so dangerous that the mind very quickly and quietly thought of family. They were not there to hear the gasps of tortured agony. They did not help dig the remains of a body from the rubble. They weren’t there to hear the cries of the family members at the loss of a loved one. They haven’t seen what I’ve seen nor done what I’ve done.
Yet they pretend to be one of us and speak for us.
They don’t know who I am or what I’m about; and the fact of the matter is, I really don’t care.
I don’t need or want them to know me. But then they risk my safety and the safety of the public.

A chief needs not have loyalty to the citizens or to the firefighters. He must only follow instructions from downtown. The office serves at the pleasure of downtown. Do you really think he speaks for us? Are you that naive? Or are you the same as he?

We didn’t come to council about our poor salaries, our ever decreasing benefits or the way we are mismanaged and mistreated. Our department is full of problems and the sad thing is that they come from the top down. Most of our people question why they stay here considering the way we are treated, even the young people. Look how many are leaving.

We came to you about SAFETY, and you could not see and were led. We will face even more cuts soon.
Where will you stand?

We write anonymously because of the retaliation, but if you squint your eyes in the twilight you will see me.
Blue ghost

Have you seen?

2008-05-14T09:13:00.002-04:00

The city launched the StarCam - 24/7 webcam live from the top of Mill Mountain.

It's about time too.. and because they are about 10 years late doing this, they used 10 year old web code.

The entire page refreshes every 15 seconds. Hope your cache is strong enough to handle it.

However, with a bit of digging - I was able to find the site where it does not refresh the entire page, just the photo.

And it's every 5 seconds.

Here you go - the Real StarCam

Oh, and your welcome - City of Roanoke, for saving your servers the 15 second total refresh.

What's missing?

2008-05-08T12:11:00.002-04:00

The new budget - for a cash-strapped city, is painful at best. Downright dangerous at worst.

We know about the FD getting cut by 6 positions, and the shuffle of equipment. That's bad.

What has not been spoken of are the cuts to the PD.

Suddenly I am thinking that we are about 2 years too late on the vote.

The Roanoke City Police Department, the only department where on any given day - around 9:30 in the morning, there might very well be 2 officers on patrol for the entire city while the rest sit around court, is facing a $1.2+ Million Dollar cut.

Let's say you wake up one morning and find your garden hose missing in action. Now you have no idea who took it, and it's not all that urgent, but you do feel the need to report it - as some of your neighbors have had other garden implements vanish recently. You call down to the HQ, and are put on the line with a Citizen Service operator. They take the report - file it, and ship it down to the correct officer for follow up as time warrants.

At least something gets done, and the report stays active until the officer, as part of his or her regular duties, closes it out.

That's before July 1. As of July 1 - those operators have been given notice that they will most likely be let go, pending budget.

So - no more Citizen Service operators, no more people to take your report and get it checked out in a fairly timely way. No more reports getting to officers, who as part of their normal duties, would investigate and close out the report.

Nope. Now they will be taking patrol officers off the street to staff the phone lines.

Let's take my home turf - Southeast, as an example.

Many years back, when Madame Burcham was just cutting her teeth in this city, the state and federal prosecutors came to the city to complain that the police were not bringing them enough cases in comparison to the reported crimes. In a quick scramble, the minimum staffing levels for the city were.. uh.. re-calibrated for the "population" of the city. This cut back most sections by at least 2 officers a 24-hour period.

For PD purposes - Southeast runs from the tracks south, 581/220 east, and south to the gravel pits. Yes - those gravel pits. On 220 south of WalMart.

That's Southeast, Garden City, SoRo, the Carilion area, Mill Mountain, Franklin Rd., - well, down to the Blue Ridge - you get the idea.

How many officers per shift do you think are on duty?

5? 7?

For an area that big?

How about 3.

3 per shift.

And now they are going to pull one to work the phones? Not to mention all the times they are stuck in court from 8:30am til' 12p or so...

Who will be watching the streets?

So now, if you think of it this way - you'll be looking at reduced fire service AND reduced police service.

The Harris legacy - a city in flames. A city that could be rolling in the cash, but does not have the common sense enough to turn a nickel into a dime.

It's going to be a wild and wooly two years folks.

Interesting so far

2008-05-06T20:24:00.005-04:00

Results are rolling in folks - come discuss them in the Meebo chatbox to the right there.

Mayors link

Council link

Right now, a very VERY strong showing for Bowers, with the exception of South Roanoke - which came out for Harris.

As far as the Council races - so far the only one who looks like a lock is Lea.

Come on, discuss.

***update*****

Times has called it for Bowers, and prematurely for the Dem slate.

Tinker... whats the delay?

*****update*****

So the election is over, and we welcome Mayor-Elect Bowers. We question the count for the Rosen-Wishneff result, but thats only because it's late - and math is not my friend. Although with a 102 vote difference pre-tinker, and a 104-202 Tinker result - it's hard to figure for some reason. Must be the tiredness.

Oh, and Nash will step down from Blue Ridge - that's my prediction. If he steps down from the council, that throws everything into chaos.

Harris, sorry to hear you are finished with politics. That's a statement that came too late, Emperor Nelson.

See you all tomorrow.

Voting..

2008-05-06T06:07:00.002-04:00

Today's the day. The day that will set the course of Roanoke for the next 10 years (see my previous posts as to why I say that).

I only ask this of you: Think before you pull that lever.

I wonder if Harris has learned anything from his reading on the history of politics in Chicago, if he is adopting a "Vote early, vote often" message today.

For my money - Bowers and Garner. I'm going to have to do some soul searching to figure out the 3rd and 4th - but Bowers and Garner for sure.

I'm no great fan of Bowers, but I think he is at least more responsive Harris could be.

As for Valerie - I've had chance over the past year to really pick her brain, and I am very impressed with what I have seen. She would be a great asset to the City Council.

And please, remember the Fire Fighters in all this - our saviors when we call.

Oh, and remember Mrs. Burcham too... as I am sure she is looking forward to another easy couple of years.

Get out and vote, there's nothing more important right now.

The growing pains.

2008-05-01T05:47:00.002-04:00

You know usually when I sit down to write one of these I have 18 tabs open in FireFox will all my supporting information, articles, and data.

Not this time. This time I am speaking to you off the cuff, and from the soul.

The Times, The Chamber of Commerce, and several other groups have endorsed Harris, Lea, Price, and Rosen.

The question is, why would they want the ticket that could keep Roanoke stagnant for another 2-4 years?

Harris is done, and has been for a while now. He reached the end of his usefulness with a trip to Mexico bought and paid for by a developer who then came with his hand out asking for city monies. Harris has his own troubled personal life which he needs time off to perhaps "prayerfully" go and think about what HE values. He is a man with a overinflated ego, who is supposed to be a man of God. Think about him in those terms, and you'll see where the trouble lies. Plus, it's hard enough to trust any politician - now your talking one who is also a minister? Oy Gevelt!

Lea is not a bad man, but has fallen in with a bad crowd. The ForTheHarris crew elected last time around has sunk a large hook into Lea - and they are buddy-buddy now. Lea never strikes me as a visionary, or someone who is capable of great thought. Not that he is not a smart man, but he is not a forward-looking one. So far, everyone keeps touting his founding of a sporting event. Ok.. so? Anyone for a game of Sandlot baseball? $5 bucks a head and we can donate the money to the hospital's children's services. Ok - so how hard was that? By the way - Sherman, watch what you say to the media - that's really what got your buddy Dowe evicted. When he accidentally came out with the City's negotiating to land a 2nd hotel Downtown, thats when the fuse was lit.

Anita Price, who are you and what do you want from us? She's a counselor for the City Schools - so combine her with Trinkle, and you have psychological help nearly from cradle to grave available on the City Council. Other than that? Can't really find anything - although I have to say, I will have a hard time supporting a candidate who allows her yard signs to be placed in medians and on public property. That's tacky.

And finally, Court Rosen. A fellow who I have personally met, and spoke with, and felt the need to wash my hands after speaking with. A person who stands to gain huge from a source no one thought of yet. Mr. Rosen was weaned in the halls of Congress as a lobbyist. And not just any lobbyist - but one for the Pharmaceuticals industry - a Billion Dollar Lobbyist. It was there he learned to speak in his vagaries, and offer no compelling visions - just wispy ideas that come and go like wind. He speaks to everyone, but for no one. Offering no real positions to pin him down on, claiming everything needs more study. He is a young professional who made his money in DC, decided to get out of that game and become a Land Spec Developer down here, and now sees the dollar signs popping up from the Carilion med school. A Pharma Rep in Roanoke + a med school in Roanoke = $$$$$$$$

This run for City Council, and all the various other meetings he shows up to, are purely for the display of his face. Making sure people know what he looks like seems to be very important to him, although personally I would rather know what he is thinking. Or if. I have heard rumor that Mr. Rosen might be a touch on the ditzy side. You know who else is a Pharma rep? The wife of Valley Forward's leader, Mrs. Lugar. You know who else is a Land Spec Developer? One of the board member's of Valley Forward, Mr. Fralin. Maybe being these things are what makes one a "young professional." Don't know, I'm not one apparently.

Anyway - these are the options the Times and Chamber of Commerce have seen fit to thrust upon us all.

I ask one thing of you folks. You all know I am the earliest announced candidate for the 2010 election. Please, think about what you are giving me to work with. For the good of the City, and all it's citizens - think hard about who will be in power 2 years from now.

I'll have one more post, covering the rest of the candidates before election day, but start thinking now where you want this city to be in 2, 5, 10, or even 20 years - and who is actually going to get it there.

Soon to be...

2008-04-28T21:58:00.002-04:00

I know I've been unnervingly quiet for the past week, or several weeks depending on how you look at it.

Just one more week and I'll be returning to normal, I promise.

The past few weeks have seen soaring highs, quiet lows, and the day to day discovery that is a child.

But don't think I've been resting, or had my gaze averted.

No, I have been keeping a keen eye on the "For the Harris" crew... the Also-Ran Bowers, Rabid Wishneff, and the ForOURCity crew. Along with the usual suspects (VF, AMWV-Taubman, et. al.), I've not yet turned a blind eye to any of the thwarters of progress and rational development in the city.

No, I've just taken a sanity break - for a short time anyway.

You have 7 days before I'm fully back.

And there will be a major post in the final hours before the election.

See you on the other side.

Into the mirror black

2008-04-15T21:05:00.003-04:00

And here we go, as the republicans (small r intentional) must be kicking themselves for not having a dog in this race.

Wishneff, who could have had the easiest run of all - let's his big mouth get in the way of any real progress and ruins his chances for re-election.

Harris - well, I hope he has started dusting off his shelves, cleaning out the desk. Without some major shenanigans, he is a lame duck on his way to the packing plant.

Lea, probably a shoe in. Has Anita Price done anything since she announced?

And Court Rosen, well what a tangled web he is turning out to be.

This election is getting ugly folks - so far the only one I trust is Garner.

Bowers reminds me of a few former mayors of New York City rolled into one.

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back in the swing of things - especially after all the loaded articles last week. It pained me to not be able to post about them, but family comes first.

Of course, I wish some of our elected officials would get that message. But what have you. There will be more to come in the coming days. I've been sitting on some powder-kegs, and I feel a little Donkey Kong.

Question is - which one is Mario?

What is youth?

2008-04-03T09:06:00.003-04:00

I have to wonder, with all the talk of Young Professionals and Youth Groups and whatnot - exactly where does that line fall. By some, the range is 21-40 - and others limit it to 19-35. But the City launched a new video to "sell" Roanoke to the outside world.

2 impressions I am left with after watching it: 1 - it's very 'old', and does not perk my youthful interests. 2 - The video gives plenty of reasons to come here, but no incentives to actually LIVE in the city. The things the video shows are accessible to anyone in the Valley - not just those who live in the city of.

Here's the Vid. Any observations?

Sometimes it's good to be wrong

2008-03-31T22:52:00.001-04:00

Well, thankfully we dodged that bullet. Alvin Nash will be the Dowe-placement for the next 2 years.

How many citizens really cared? Not many as far as I could tell.

I hope Mr. Nash can do a better job than the current pit of Vipers. From what I understand, he's a pretty decent and reliable guy, but once the vipers fang you..

Good luck Mr. Nash. Here's hoping all goes well for you.

My prediction

2008-03-31T08:18:00.001-04:00

Cutler will get the seat. Valley Forward will get the "Community Center", and we will get the shaft.

Let's see what happens.

Breaking news: RVAR selects it's ticket

2008-03-27T00:45:00.003-04:00

This just in:

The Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors has concluded it's interview and determination sessions - and selected Lea, Price, and Rosen as it's choices for City Council.

Add to this Dr. Cutler's assured hand-over of the Dowe seat, and it speaks to being screwed by the business sector.

Cutler should have never put his name in for Council (if he did to begin with - the man seems to get many things without asking), as now someone is going to have to reveal all the conflicts of interest the candidates for all open positions are rife with.

Rosen, Lea, Price, Harris. Does any one of them seem trustworthy enough to be YOUR elected official?

You might think differently soon enough.

Sorry I have been away so long, but sometimes life comes before public service. But never forget, I'm more motivated than before.

2010 is not that far off. And yes, I am the first announced candidate.

Easter dawn

2008-03-23T08:52:00.002-04:00

Looks like another beautiful day in the valley. Too bad this week can't be the same.

You'll see.

But for now, enjoy this little quiet day, and take the time to reflect.

A St. Pat's Tradition

2008-03-17T06:33:00.003-04:00

Don't sit under the apple tree...

2008-03-17T06:31:00.001-04:00

I know I haven't been the most reliable news source lately... And I know I have levt you wanting for opinion.. I'm sorry. Really..

It's just.. well, it's hard to post dispatches from the edge of a war zone each day, when you are fighting for the future of Roanoke. It tends to become more personal. I've seen some good people go down in flames lately, victims of the folly of war.

But we are heading in for a new round of battle, and with any luck - I'll be able to start writing you more often. Until then, keep us in your thoughts and prayers - we are up against a formidable enemy. And the stakes are high.

Until I return more regularly.. Don't sit under the apple tree, with anyone else but me.. anyone else but me, anyone else but me...

Come rain or shine

2008-03-14T22:48:00.003-04:00

Hell or highwater.

Southeast is on the move.... Stepping off at 11:30am today.. the SEAF will be marching proudly in the St. Pats parade.

We do this in honor of those good brave sons and daughters of Ireland and Scotland who worked the NW shops, the Viscose mill.. Raised families, celebrated life and death in Southeast.

To them the glory, to us - the legacy and the future.

Come join us.

(crossposted to seroanoke)

sorry

2008-03-12T16:23:00.000-04:00

admit it.. you smiled.

Anyone got some free time?

2008-02-29T18:17:00.002-05:00

The link to the Application for Appointment to the City Council hit the internets today around 3pm.

Got some spare time? I say we flood them with applications - like career day at McDonalds.

Here's the link - its a pdf so be careful.

Seriously though - think of it, 1000 applications to go through? That would be worth it.

Here's the wind-up...

2008-02-29T11:13:00.003-05:00

Well, looks like the Star-Sentinel has finally got it's set of cojones in the mail. In this weeks issue (available online as a pdf) Stuart Revercomb (subject of not a few comments for some reason) lays out the timeline for the Dowe-based Scandal...

Not only did Harris know nearly the second the FOIA request was made, but the Times waited over 3 weeks to run the story after they received all the information back. You know, after the Dem primaries.

SO, doing a little extrapolative thinking here - and judging by the timing of certain stories that co-broke with the Dowe thing.. I'm going to lay this out.

1. On Dec. 19th, the VMT received it's report on how lousy it is. Anyone even remotely associated with the VMT knows that, and knows the potential it holds is 100 times greater than what it is now. Bev knows it, but the city part-owns it...

2. Jan. 28th, the Roanoke Times files it's FOIA (still no given reason as to why), 2 days later, the results of the search were handed back to the Times and all 7 council members. Harris knows.

3. Feb 9th. The City Democratic "Firehouse" popularity contest. The shake-out begins. Fitz is cast aside for someone younger and with more real-estate ties.

4. Feb. 21st. The Roanoke Times and Star-Sentinel both run headlines as the Dowe story finally breaks. In it's 2/29 edition, the editor of the Star-Sentinel documents the entire 3 week process.

5. Feb. 23rd. Dowe resigns, after a 90 minute chit-chat with Harris over his kitchen table. Light tea-sipping reported.. along with much knitting of brows.

6. Feb. 26th. Report surfaces about the VMT's problems. The same report which was handed over on Dec. 19th, that even the museum's own blog reported on (12/26) which was the follow up to a scathing report a few days earlier that got Fitz and co. in trouble. So how this report was missed a few days earlier, or a few MONTHS earlier - well, it's beyond me. Unless it was timed to try and take the heat off someone, there's no valid reason to try and make this an issue now.

7. March 3rd. Now it comes down to this - the city council meets to accept Dowe's resignation, and figure out a way out. I'm going to start taking names and figuring out odds here.. so if you have anyone you want on the list - let me know.

Possible Fill-Ins: Bill Bestpitch (10-1), Bev Fitz (100-1), Stu Revercomb (50-1).. Me (1000-1)

Anyone else?

Meebo Chatbox from time to time today.. see you there.

Ahh crud.

2008-02-27T17:06:00.002-05:00

Pardon my french, but WTF? The State Code trumps the City Charter? How does that work? Is this one of those stupid power plays between state and local govt.?

Well - this does change things drastically, now Harris and Co. have to be very careful who they choose. Talk about Russian Roulette.. I would not envy them right about now.

Everyone is going to watch who they choose, and think about the 27 months Harris and Co. will have to run the city the way they want.

Danger.... Danger Will Robinson.

So now the question is - the screw will turn, but for who? Us the citizens, or they the council?

Chatbox on and off tonight.

live...

2008-02-26T18:19:00.001-05:00

in the meebo chatbox.. for a while anyway

The beat goes on....

2008-02-26T16:54:00.001-05:00

3 dates now. 3 possible dates for the election.

Heres the question now, as I see it. Now that we know Dowe's *recent* dirty deeds, Harris' lack of enthusiasm for keeping his Councilmates in line, the entire council's (Wishneff not included) want for more downtown living space (to the tune of $880,000 non-imaginary dollars) and apparent limited vision for a certain amphitheater location (soon to be the next Berglund Nation location).

So - 17 comments, whats left to say? We don't trust Harris, we don't like the state of the city, oddly enough - no one has said anything about Darlene, and what are we doing about it? Who else can we vote for?

Will the slate of independents actually step forward this Friday as they say they will?

Will it be more of the same, or a past crop of losers?

Discuss.. here, and in the Meebo Chatbox .

The big set-up

2008-02-23T18:44:00.002-05:00

Pity Carlton Ban... uhh. Alfred Dowe, useful idiot of the For the City group.

He delivered the NorthWest vote - got Harris the slate he wanted, and got the boot.

And due to past problems, there is no recourse for Dowe.

It seemed like each time I wanted to post something this week, the words would start coming and something else would happen.

Something incredibly stupid.

Like? Well....

The Week in Review:

Monday: Valerie Garner announces run for Council, as an Indie. Kudos, I wish her the best of luck. Otherwise - it was a holiday, so things were quiet.

Tuesday: Wishneff shows he has a spine, or at the very least some sense - and walks out of closed door meetings which directly affect the way our money is spent. This was about the Amphitheater. Then the City Council voted to give the developers of the Hancock Building (The Grand Building) $880,000 in small, unmarked bills so long as they promise to never go condo. Whose money?

Wednesday: Dowe is a bad man. Spending that much.. Harris said so, because Darlene said so, because the accountants told them so. Then the Times told us all so.. So?

Later Weds: Harris announces that he is directing someone else to audit the council. And Hackworth and Moon to review things. Very important stuff for the 'mayor' to do.

Thursday: we find out the details on most of these things, thanks to the Roanoke Times and the FOIA. Seems Wishneff is one cheap man, having only spent $123.60 on the city's dime.

Friday: A quiet day, at least it appears so.

Saturday: Dowe, with hat in hand, submits his letter of resignation - just as I predicted when the story broke. Of course, because of the speed of this news, and those that needed to be consulted, dirt that needed to be gathered.. I didn't get a chance to post that prediction. But take my word for it. Ask anyone at work or at home, they will tell you.

So.. now we are going to be dealing with a "special election" to fill the seat of a useful idiot. Anyone have any guesses who that might be?

But still, it's a really crappy way to go out - shafted and set up by your "friends."

Makes me wanna holler, throw up both my hands....

2008-02-20T21:49:00.002-05:00

Sorry I've been away on bidness - but seriously.. considering the news today maybe I should have been.

I'll have much more to say later, look for a good - some might even say decent, post by Friday.

And kudos to Valerie Garner, hopefully when I enter the race (and I will, just not this go-round) I'll get some kudos from her.

Yes, dear fans - I will not be announcing this go-round. Obligations and responsibilities prevent me from being the belligerent candidate you know I can be.

Next time, however...

I wonder if there is a precedent for someone announcing over 2 years in advance? Oh well, don't think about it for now. But remember it in a few years.

I'll still be around, you?

Windy City Blues

2008-02-11T20:40:00.000-05:00

So how many of you are keeping track of what debris you have found on your property?

I have found: 6 roof shingles (not from my own thankfully)
3 strips of film from someones vacation to the grand canyon
1 apple and 1 orange (just to be difficult - the apple was nicer than the orange)
untold amounts of junk mail, most of which had to do with some carpet business
1 tennis ball (bad day to play fetch, eh sparky?)
And that's just in the back yard. That does not include the endless "soon to be mulch" pile of organic debris.

Oh, and a big batch of scruples. Not sure whose those are, but none of the presidential candidates have come to town - so I will assume they are local.

SO we have 2 new faces headed for the Council chambers. Rosen and Price, and let's not forget Lea - who is going to miss his little buddy Wishneff. But I am sure he can play nice with everyone.

Rosen, a land developer who moved here from DC; and Price - a school age guidance counselor. Those are your soon-to-be representatives. Combine Price with Trinkle and you get "cradle-to-grave" coverage. And I am sure Rosen has no interest in development of anything.

Well, I for one am still hoping for some good indies to come forth. There is still time, the deadline is a bit less than a month away.

Anyway, here's hoping for some light zephyrs rather than force 9 gales - and that goes for the elections too.

Oh - which reminds me. Did anyone else hear the Art Museum took some damage from the storm? I heard it once, but it's not been in the paper. I'm just curious.

Always check the Chatbox to the right there, you never know when I'm going to pop in.

Dear Bill,

2008-02-08T07:45:00.001-05:00

Please, stop it.

We know, we know. You folks are good and valiant and noble, and celebrate the diversity and whatnot.

8 people, black/white/men/women/young/old - all of them previous democrats, and tied into the system in one way or another. Not a single outsider in the race. Not a single "new" face - not to anyone who pays attention.

Perhaps we should call them the "Friends of H."

In short, because you got passed over for this round of elections - do not be such a good little soldier and tow the party standards. They are old, tired, and no one believes them anyway.

Just like that "oath," simple grounds for removal. Say something against the Democrats while a Dem.. shame shame shame. You took an oath.

An oath means nothing coming from duplicitous, sneaky, Machiavellian politicians of any sort - but worse on the heels of the disgrace of the Reorganization meeting.

Please - stop assuming the people are stupid. We know what you are about, and we don't like it. You are taking advantage of the complete disorganization of the rest of the city to enact your own little schemes, we know that too. We know a whole lot about how you do things.

Please, go away. That is all.

Oh. I thought we took care of that problem.

2008-02-07T23:02:00.000-05:00

Rats.

Now it seems that Patrick Henry is over-run with them.

First, on Saturday - the rats from City Hall descend upon PH. I'm sorry, I should say "quite obviously the best thing to ever hit this town, considering the Republicans can't even get a ticket together life is so full of sunshine and roses."

The Democratic primary. Where as few as 4 people could decide the fate of nearly 100k. And that's not including the MSA. That's right - if we get screwed, you do too.

Emperor Harris and Queen Burcham will be spending the night in PH, so they can be there to kiss the feet of the true overlord on Sunday.

Queen Hillary arrives to give lip-service and tear up, pander and promise on Sunday. Part of her "Confusion for America" tour.

Can you stomach it Roanoke? A city council that really doesn't give a rat's ass if you vote or not? A former first-lady who fits in perfect with our own City Manager?

Makes me want to call in sick from Reality this weekend, and live in the dream world of the new City Democrats. Fortunately, I have to work.

And yes, I am seriously going to throw up if I hear the words "Young Professional" and "amphitheater" in the next 24 hours.

Someone tell me - what do you really expect of your Council? Other than the obvious fixing of roads and the basic infrastructure stuff. The good stuff - what is it? What would get you involved in an election?

2008-02-04T12:55:00.000-05:00

Live! in the Meebo chatbox

forgot that before...

Words failed me

2008-02-04T12:13:00.001-05:00

Sure, there was much to be said last week. I was in the process of putting together a nice post recapping the week in my head for the weekend.

Saturday morning everything was derailed.

I had barely skimmed the entire paper on Saturday morning, opting to head straight for the "Letters to the Editor" as I usually do. The wife alerted me to something I missed, on the front page of the Virginia section.

GOP will sit out Roanoke elections.

Now, thankfully I have very large very sturdy coffee cups, as I slammed the one in my hand down on the table in disgust and shock.

Not one person to run for ANY of the open seats, including that of Harris. Disgraceful.

To me, this means all these guys, and these guys, are failures and directly to blame.

If ever you needed a better reason to gain candidates and stir up the pot of dissent against the current administration - you couldn't find one than the current state of the City.

Well, once again - we, the people, have been failed by our "leaders." Now our only hope is some decent, sane and strong independents to guide us. March 4th is the deadline for that, so let's get busy folks - and don't forget - the election board has to count write-in votes too.

The Burcham-crats, or Harris-crats, or Piece-o-Crats have the upper hand for now. But they also have all the baggage and damage control. They can, and for the good of the city, must be replaced.

Or do I need to go from door to door with a lantern looking for that one semi-honest, pissed off man to run.

And before I get the obvious comment of "why don't you run" - who says I am not?

I have made no declarations as of yet.

But shame on the Republicans... pitiful.

Studying up?

2008-01-26T01:23:00.001-05:00

Nelson Harris - age 43 - tanning hero - George Hamilton

Anyone else find it funny that Harris, with his own checkered recent (and past) is reading a book about one of the most corrupt cities in American history?

And he says he sees many parallels between Chi-towns past and our own, and I am sure he does. I would be on the lookout for more in the future if this book is anywhere near in-depth as it should be.

Harris is a student of History, and I am sure he is learning a great many lessons on politics and how to run a city.

I wonder if he has yet to read the history of Tammany Hall?

On a better note - I have to say, my admiration for Mr. Robin Reed just went up a few notches. Anyone who can get the true meaning of Mr. Schultz and Peanuts is a friend in my book.

I've got some other stuff thats been rolling around my head - but that's for another time, you all seem to be enjoying the commentary of "Dissenting Viewpoint."

A dissenting viewpoint

2008-01-22T18:39:00.000-05:00

This just in, from one of those rare people who actually use Mill Mountain.

"In case you haven't heard there is a group of people in Roanoke called Valley Forward. They have this idea of wanting to put a Restaurant atop Mill Mountain. The debate and argument has been going on quite a while now. The original plan has been scaled down a great deal from their original propasal.

I have been and continue to be in opposition to this development. Commercial development does not belong in a public park!!!! They claim that the structure will have minimal impact on the mountain, however they have not supported this with evidence other than claiming that they are building a LEED friendly building. The existance or idea of the structure in itself violates LEED recommendations that state land that is being used in a natural way should not be disturbed in order to build a structure.

There is no way to prove that construction traffic itself will not lead to pollution, road damage and disturb the natural habitats of so many animals. There has been no data published to detail the impact of soil erosion and damage from rain water run off from the addition of a building and two parking lots. There has been no evidence to support whether the proposal would be a success. In fact, Valley Forward has failed to answer the concerns posed by many citizens who are in opposition to the plan. They contunue to claim that based on a survey of a 500 people, that a majority of citizens favor this development. I find this funny as a large number of citizens do not know nor understand the scope of the project.

If you care about keeping Mill Mountain green, please consider attending a meeting of the Mill Mountain Advisory Committee at 4pm on Thursday January 24th at the Discovery Center. If you would like to speak on the issue, please note that you must sign up in advance. "

via Jen's Bike Blog

This just in....

2008-01-17T19:55:00.001-05:00

Hosted by "For the Future's Citizens for Rockledge"? Coffee and Treats by Mill Mountain Coffee?

And here I thought the snow had stopped. Apparently, the snowjob rolls on.

On the good side, I guess you can no longer say it's impossible to get people organized around here.

At least 2 of them think this is a good idea.

Check the forecast..... mmmm.. snow again. Ok. Let's see - support something that a very small minority want, that is dubiously bring brought forth while it's snowing. Umm.. think not - thanks though.

Oh - and the petition has stalled out at 459 signatures. Give them a hand, with some real reasons to build something on the mountain. OR voice your concerns, complain, hoot and holler. Whatever - it's a public petition. They will delete any postings that do not measure up to their standards.

But please, feel free to help them reach the goal of 1000 signatures on this loaded baked potato of a petition.

And go right ahead and go on down to support the "For the Future's Citizens for Rockledge."

(makes me want to do a facepalm just thinking about it. in the chatbox if'n you care)

Snow Job

2008-01-17T10:43:00.001-05:00

SO - which is it, the Wishneff article in today's paper (aka - the Times strikes back) or the lovely weather outside?

Discuss it in the Meebo box. (down on the right side)

Where have all the heroes gone?

2008-01-16T10:06:00.000-05:00

Harris for Mayor, again.

Ballin, Cranwell, Fitzy, Lea, Price, Rosen, and Wyatt for Council. All Dems.

And Lockard in the Ross Perot position.

Not one outstanding person among the lot of them. Not one worthy of public attention. Although interestingly, Rosen and Ballin are both young'ins - which is interesting.

So far, those are the two I really want to hear from, as they "represent" the younger citizens of Roanoke far better than the geriatric council does now.

Will they make it? Nope. Let's be honest about it. They do not have the name recognition (and by that I mean the well-known name because daddy did something good - like Fitz or Cranwell), nor do they have the experience (in the 'One Manager to rule them all' world anyway). Of course, we do not know their views on certain things. The same could be said for all the candidates.

Some questions for them:

What is to become of the old Victory Stadium site? Will it be an Ampitheater, soccer fields, or perhaps a good location for the new 'mega-library'? Because, right about now - ain't much o nothing going on there, and it's looking pretty sad. Plus- the location of the new hotel on Reserve, speaking of ugly, is there nothing the city can do to prevent it from looking like it does? I understand there are delays and such, but does it need to be an eyesore? Is there no slipcover we can put over it?

And about that ampitheater? Downtown, or not? Or can we put something similar (and cost-effective) downtown that has multiple purposes?

Is Rockledge even an issue? Or is it one of those fear-mongering things tat will be a great tool that the City actually has very little say over. Regardless of whatever may happen, the courts still have the last word on this one, due to the covenants on the mountain. And no Lugar or Burcham interpretation matters a hill of beans in the face of a legal decision.

The Market Building, and downtown in general should be the forefront of this election - as this is our main attractor/collector for new arrivals and new businesses. Too many vacant buildings still - too little sensible planning, and that exploded bathysphere of a zero-to-bankrupt Art Museum. Theres more loans being floated there then in all the banks during the Flood of '85.

This is by no means going to be an easy election - our choices suck so far. And with the importance of the Downtown issues, and the education of our children always in the balance - we need the heroes of tomorrow today.

We need the ones who can walk in and change the world - who do not get bogged down in endless debate and study, and most of all - we need someone as Mayor who can effectively handle the job, and be a leader - not a preacher.

But so far - Harris is our only choice, and I'm not sure whats more depressing. That, or the fact the pack so far is nothing but Democrats.

Goood Morning Roanoke!

2008-01-11T09:38:00.000-05:00

Another interesting day unfolds here in ol' Noketown. We start with rain and fog, and smoke and mirrors.

Once again - more articles on the Democratic Candidates for City Council and Mayor, but only the Dems. I shall assume there is not one Repub or Indie anywhere within the City of Roanoke remotely interested.

Money - sure it comes down to money. It always does. But write-in candidates usually don't spend much on advertising, if anything at all. Might be an option, if you think about it.

Of course, I'd personally like to see hundreds of write ins, each getting a hundred votes - negating the best efforts of the paid politicians to continue their reign of power.

Anyway - just thought I would toss that out there.

Sitting in the Meebo box for a bit. Stop by and say hi if you like.

The Emperor Strikes again

2008-01-08T20:46:00.001-05:00

So Harris is going to try for 2... Wonderful.

This should be fun.

In the Meebo Chatbox to the right there - stop on by and enjoy a laugh at the Mayor's expense.

Word on the street is....

2008-01-07T20:35:00.000-05:00

That our CEO would not be unhappy if someone, or something - tore down the Market building completely, and replaced it with something more "progressive" like stores and parking.

Yes, you heard me.

Tear it down.

She does not see the value in having yet another city-funded building that requires more funds than it will most likely generate in revenue.

Well, at least she is thinking of our finances.

Think she needs to go yet?

Pardon Moi?

2008-01-07T18:02:00.000-05:00

The City Council chooses to find someone else to take on the burden of fixing what it will not.

This is acceptable?

I'm in the Meebo chat to the right, being angry and broody on this one folks.

I think the gauntlet has been thrown down by Emperor Harris and CEO Hillary Burcham.

War?

A touch delayed

2008-01-06T21:54:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I had to be in at 6 this morning, which meant I got to read all the headlines from today's paper - but had no time to respond to them.

Although if I know my readers, you know which articles I'm talking about.

#1: Softened Opposition

Straight out balderdash I say. You can always find people to say what you want them to say, but it's what you report that leaves the impression. Now I don't know if Mr. Kittredge has any real inside line or reason for pointing the story in the direction it took, unless is had something to do with the New York Times article from last week. But seriously now, the citizenry of Roanoke has given up, as usual, and accepted it.

I guess they think that once the Council decides it, it's a done deal. And the sad part is, because they act on that belief - it becomes a reality. Which leads us to article #2.

#2: Selling ideas on Market Building

So the Adams boys have teamed up on this story, straight from the desk of Darlene herself - on the age old question: What do we do with another municipal owned building that the city has a poor track record of maintaining?

I think it comes down to this folks, this is the election issue of the next dozen years. The wise, learned individuals down at the Municipal building (which by the way has more unmaintained issues than most realize), including the C.E.O. (self-ordained) of Roanoke have seen fit to decide NOT to maintain any publicly owned structure in the past decade. Most of which had not been maintained since the late 60's as it was.

Rather, they ordered study after study on what to do with these buildings. Studies on how to improve the areas around the buildings, without dealing with the buildings themselves. And now, they are selling off city property - YOUR property - because they no longer want to pretend to spend the money on upkeep.

Sure, they can all promise they do not want the Market Building sold. But Harris, for all his faults, said it best.

From the article: 'Mayor Nelson Harris said the city council must consider a number of alternatives. "One is the market building remaining completely in municipal hands and have it operated by the city," Harris said. "Another option would be some kind of public-private partnership."

In other words - we make no promises folks. We will do what we feel is best to do. That WE does not include YOU. If you wanted something to base your benchmark of a candidate this election cycle on, this is it.

And article #3: Rockledge won't make, or break, Mill Mountain.

I am actually agreeing with Dan Radmacher. I know, I'm just as shocked as you. But like I have said before, Valley Forward is backing the wrong horse on this one. While it is certainly nice that they raised $35,000 for the Greenways (where did the money go by the way?), I've said before - no restaurateur could ever give any sort of guarantee that a restaurant, or a pair of restaurants would succeed on Mill Mountain. As a matter of fact, it would probably be one of the biggest food-related gambles to hit Roanoke in a long time, short of allowing Spanky to operate another restaurant. Maybe now they will get the message - a restaurant on Mill Mountain, no matter how noble the cause - will not be the harbinger of a new era in Roanoke.

Just like the Art Museum and the Market Building, the Restaurant depends on the people - the very same people who have not been consulted, and are generally left out of the process.

I said before - this is a critical election for the City of Roanoke, and regardless of political party, if you cannot see that, you should probably move to the County.

Actually - I would recommend it. Us mouthy minority folks who are ruining it for everyone, well - we are just getting warmed up.

Exactly what I meant.

2007-12-29T08:08:00.000-05:00

Remember how I said I would be on hiatus until the 2nd, unless something really stupid happened?

Here it is.

Read on, go ahead. I don't think I really need to say much more about this. I mean - makes us look like gold once again.

Ladies and Gentleman, there will be a slight delay.

2007-12-24T11:07:00.001-05:00

The Forgotten-Roanoke family is proud to announce the arrival of PVC.

PVC is the first child for the Forgotten-Family, and came into the world claws out. Obviously he shares his dad's sensibilities. But thankfully, he shares his calm, zen-like state with his mother. He is not a pit bull, yet.

Coming in at a respectable 7lbs, 7oz. and 19 3/4ths inches long - he's a cruiser weight baby.

All is well, mother and child are fine. Father is undergoing therapy for being present at the birth, and cutting the cord. Deep therapy. Actually, he has a prescription for a 4 pack of Guinness. We are just hoping he stops mumbling and drooling soon.

We will take a pause for the Holidays, and barring any unusual news in Roanoke - will return shortly after the first of the year.

Merry Christmas, Happy Belated Chanukkah, Enjoyable Kwanza, and a hearty Festivus for those who watch too much tv and refer to pop-culture references far too much.

We'll be back.

DId he just say "dusting"?

2007-12-21T09:36:00.001-05:00

Ok - so we can let Robin Reed off the hook for this one. I don't think anyone was calling for any kind of snow, much less accumulations of +-1"

But does it matter? It snowed. The Friday before Christmas, and it snows. Everything was hushed this morning, and it felt like Christmas. And even now, at 9:30 with the now still on the ground and roof - Mill Mountain coming out of the slight fog that held it before - the mountain is capped by white.

It's been a long, yet remarkably fast year - and here in the closing days, things just suddenly slowed down.

Enjoy it while it lasts..

Required Reading for today

2007-12-20T05:24:00.000-05:00

If I had more than a 5 hour turn-around from yesterday to this morning, I might have a post ready for you - but for right now, you have some homework.

http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/144097

http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/letters/wb/144112

And have you heard about this? You probably have not, unless you are one of the inside crowd from a certain group. They have been circulating it among themselves, without allowing public comment on it. There was a signature in protest I saw in the early days of this, it has since been deleted. Always good when you remove dissent.

Anyway, I have work. Someone has to serve you people...

FYI

2007-12-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

I am in the Chatbox (to the right and down a little) until about noon today. Stop by and say hi, or Excelsior, you Fathead!

Oh, and by the way - the Miller's Hill project is not being held due to market weakness, or any of the stuff mentioned in the article - they ran out of money. Plain and simple - but always the hardest thing to admit. ESPECIALLY when you are a government funded agency.

More Quadrants nonsense

2007-12-19T08:40:00.000-05:00

Amazingly, I am actually agreeing with the Times editorial board today.

I guess the whole Fire Reporting thing does not bother me near as much as the lack of reporting of Police reports. It's bad enough the actual reports of incidents is slim, but now you are taking away the only thing that connects the crime to the location. A triple homicide, drug related, in a neighborhood is reduced to a triple homicide on some street somewhere. And I could rattle off a list of streets on which you would never know where it happened.

This is just another reason to begin the process of removing the current City Council. Any council that would allow the hired gun of a City Manager (former human resources admin.) to set policy that directly affects the citizens of the city should be removed.

Consider this: The City of Roanoke is ill, and like any ill being - needs to be checked thoroughly. Well, we have checked and identified a mass which is causing the illness. But we are not sure why. So let's do a biopsy.

Take Darlene out, and if - by some chance - the illness does not fade, then we know it is the entire council that needs to be ousted.

Not the most pleasant way to do it, but it beats a full enema flush that would take care of the problem immediately.

I guess Ms. Burcham, holed up in the least city-like section of Southwest Roanoke in her $384k home (which by the way, is valued more than 4 of the Councilmembers homes) feels she rules the roost. And with the way she pulls strings on her appointed candidates (Harris, Dowe, Mason, Trinkle), is secure in the way she runs things.

When a retired city employee has to fear for his pension for crossing the City Manager the wrong way, theres a distinct problem. If you can't figure out what it is, please... Leave Roanoke to those who can.

And as I write this, I get 2 e-mails from MyRoanoke telling me of fires, with just a street - no quadrant. And minimal information anyway.

But that's usually what we have reporters for, right?

Valley Forward makes an assumption.

2007-12-18T13:56:00.001-05:00

Find the op/ed piece here.

Or the original posting of the same thing (with additional writer information) here.

I have been biting my tongue on this one for 5 days now.

So I guess the easiest way to do this is to tit-4-tat it, but I do ask that you read the piece alongside the VF document, so you can follow along.

Fiction: Valley Forward wants to destroy and desecrate the Mountain.

Fact (as I see it): Valley Forward does not have the combined brainpower to understand exactly what are the ramifications of what they do want. Each time they are called on the carpet - the definition of what they are trying to do changes - like in this piece. Now it is a "Community Center." Well, I think the mountain has one currently. Two if you count the 2nd floor of the hot dog stand in the zoo. 3 if you consider the picnic pavilion. I could go on, as there are more - hidden meeting places. Clandestine and secluded, but I am sure none of the folks from Valley Forward know where they are.

Fiction: Valley Forward will personally benefit from the Rockledge Plan.

Fact (as I see it): Directly, no they will not profit. But in the long run, as the legal wrangling and day to day operations of the "thing" grow - they will absolutely profit. Certain members of Valley Forward will take their clients up there and woo them to land major contracts, all the while writing it off as a business expense.

And this $2.5 million over 20 years? Thats $125,000 a year. A nice sum, but when split among the Zoo, the Mountain, and the greenways - well - it's equal to a good corporate sponsorship or two for the zoo. And that's still without defining profit for the "thing." Will it be after overhead? Before? Will this be some City/Enron style accounting?

Fiction: Valley Forward doesn't understand the environmental impact.

Fact (as I heard it): That's not what your old Bio Professor told me. LEED certification is nice, but untested in the long run - and means about as much as those EnergyStar appliances that still run up your bill every year. Anyway - if you are going to build something, build it smart - forget the nonsense of LEED and all the rest. Oh - and those 2 parking lots you will be adding? Won't they be on uneven ground? How do you propose to remedy this problem?

Fiction: Citizens are against this plan.

Fact (as I see it): Citizens are against this plan. It's ok to have 2 differing viewpoints on something. The company hired to survey the citizens of Roanoke has a checkered history with polling, and the methodology of this particular poll has not been made public. Put a poll online, and no - a petition does not cut it. But thanks for the strange history lesson.

Fiction: The Rockledge plan is just a restaurant.

Well, it would have been if they did not feel the need to suck up to the Fishburn family, and the public at large. But in that case, they could have kept the Inn too. Meddling public ruins everything! Although I do like the "bike racks and water fountains would be added." Now, explain to me - as a businessman - I get the bike rack concept, but why would you give water away free when you are charging for it inside?

Fiction: A restaurant on Mill Mountain will fail.

Fact (as I see it): Possibly. There are no assurances that you, your franchisee, or anyone involved with the project can give that will say otherwise. What you have is an untested theory, that people will come more to the mountain if you put food on it. A safe idea would have been to test a few hot dog stands up there, or approach the Zoo about a partnership to test the waters. All it would take is one bad winter to sink a project like this. And again, I ask - who will plow the Mill Mountain Parkway? Who will maintain the access roads, and when will Sysco deliver? And how? An 18 wheeler on Mill Mountain 2-3 times a week? 52 weeks a year (barring weather issues)? Thats some wear and tear. Not to mention a supply-side logistics problem. Putting all this on your franchisee and expecting him to be your saving grace? Insane.

Fiction: As a public park, no development was ever intended on Mill Mountain.

And here we go... Fact (as I sarcastically see it): Fishburn himself allowed construction on Mill Mountain!! What's wrong with you people! You'll upset the ghost of Fishburn, a smarter man than you!

Fact (as I see it normally): Fishburn was a smart businessman. He offered the Roanoke Merchants Association (of which he was an influential member) the space to put one giant sign advertising Roanoke for the holidays, at which time they chose the Star. Mind you - that was only supposed to last a year. The Zoo was built to give a "children's area" to the Mountain, as it had always been a popular destination for families during nice weather. It's "fee" was nearly non-existent at the beginning, it was not until the Zoo became a full Non-profit in 1975 that a "structured fee" was enacted. But through both instances, Fishburn had a greater reason in mind. Something for the community. There once was a watchtower atop Mill Mountain. For many years, one could go climb to the top and look out over the Valley. For a time, you could even shine a high-powered spotlight on your neighbors and annoy them from afar. All for a nickel.

Problem was, this tower burned twice after lightning strikes. Generally unsafe at any wind-speed, and a steep hike. Putting a Star up there seemed the next best thing. Gave a lookout point, and soon followed with an actual overlook. The Zoo gave the City community a place to go experience things they might not at home. The Central Park Zoo started much the same way. A way to bring kids into contact with "simple" animals - Cows, goats, chickens, and the like. In your average city, the odds of actually touching one of these before the age of 18 is slim. Thats why all Zoo's have a small domestic animal area, it's part of the reason they exist.

So tell me now, was Fishburn concerned about making a buck while looking good before the future environmental crowd? I say no, he was genuinely interested in giving something to this community it did not have. A place to breathe, get out and stretch their legs. And be above it all. It was an escape from the valley floor, where trains belched smoke and soot - and factories added more of the same. The buildings he would have considered adding would be the bathrooms and such, and as for the old Rockledge Inn? It was a shell.. harmless and useless and utterly defunct. In 1964, when the Mill Mountain Playhouse emerged there - it was a near miracle that the building did not collapse around them. Did he allow the presence of the Rockledge? Sure - like you allow the presence of that decorative rock someone gave you when you moved in. It's there, and until you find a use for it - it's going to stay there.

So Valley Forward, I ask you. Am I not open minded enough to grasp your stunning plan? Do you sleep the sleep of angels at night knowing this is going to be the thing that either saves Roanoke from itself, or condemns it to Hades? Have you considered asking the public directly, yourselves, without fraud or misleading questions (as you have done once before) - or did you just assume that because I am opposed to YOUR concept (not the concept of food and some light service on Mill Mountain, just YOUR concept for it), I must be "one of them" who does not wish to see Roanoke progress.

If you know anything, Lugar & Co., if you have learned anything from the times you have been here to read my blog - you should know better than that. I just try and keep an eye out for everyone's interests.

And one final question, as a non-profit entity (MMCF) would you be seeking a reduction in the property taxes you would owe the city, as the Art Museum has done?

Open your minds on that one.

Fallacies, Inaccuracies, and the Very Modern Ms. Burcham

2007-12-18T08:38:00.000-05:00

(if you feel so inclined - check the chatbox to the right as you read this. Im there if there's anything you wish to say)

So the City's own Hillary Burcham, Grand Dame of High Social (t)reason and overall deep-thinker has shown how little she cares to understand Roanoke.

What-Who-How? you ask.

Well, let's start back a year or so. When I was searching for a new location for Forgotten-HQ, I was advised to stay out of certain areas of the city. NW and SE to be precise. But knowing that the city reported crimes online by location, specific enough without divulging the actual address - I knew that the old NW-SE myths were false. And SW and NE had just as many problems as any other sector. It did give a good general guideline as to what specific areas to avoid in each, and combine that with some good old Common Sense - and behold - a happy and secure resident of Southeast.

And I, for one, am glad that the "certain individuals" within the city decided to ignore Ms. Burcham's orders to cease and desist reporting Quadrants. Without that information, it might have taken longer to find a home - might have cost me time and money, and I might not have been so lucky to find the HQ high atop a hill overlooking Roanoke.

What we really need to examine are Burcham's reasons for cutting off the quadrant system.

From the article (and the heretics mouth): Under a directive from City Manager Darlene Burcham, officials are not allowed to provide quadrant designations in news releases reporting crimes or fires.

To include the quadrant portion of the street names, Burcham reasons, could fuel negative racial and socioeconomic perceptions about certain areas of the city.

The city administration prefers to think of Roanoke as one community, she said, and believes that dividing it into quadrants would create barriers.

And these are exactly the leadership skills that got her the job in the first place. Of course, that's not the entire story. I have it on good word that Ms. Burcham quite often gets lost going places in the city, and blames it on the quadrants (as well as whomever gave her the directions). Not that she has the best driving record going anyway. How many city vehicles has it been now? Not to mention the untold amounts of man-hours spent dealing with her bi-polar decrees.

But she means well - with the line about the "perceptions of certain areas of the city." So I guess the West End will be renamed Disney Land to avoid any stereotypes too. Will Old Southwest become the Monarchy of Reichert?

But I digress.

The real story here is the fact that Ms. Burcham has seen fit to quash the free-flow of information coming out of the city. No longer can a citizen get reports of crime, now it must come via official channels - and even those are limited to an e-mail (with little information) or a news story (which is usually just the e-mail copied).

And then there is this gem: A document explaining Burcham's position provided to The Roanoke Times adds that "we do not want citizens to show up at the scene of an accident or crime and interfere with police or fire operations."

Considering the speed at which the city releases any information, the likelihood of someone rushing down to a crime scene, or a fire based on the city releasing information about it is marginal at best. Due to the topographic terrain of Roanoke, it is often hard to determine where an event is taking place. You might hear sirens rushing this way and that - but unless you are in direct line of sight of the event, there is rarely the chance to see what is happening. Our local news stations and news papers sit complacent waiting for the official word from the city, rather than gathering information on their own.

In other words, most citizens do not get the chance to ever discover what all the fuss was about. And thus, we are in the dark. Just as they want it.

I said it yesterday during council sessions - they love the fact that the citizens are so ignorant of what they are doing, they can do what they wish and get away with it.

This is just an extension of that.

Special thanks to reader R. Provolone for the heads up on this. There's still more to be said, but I'll be back later.

check for me in the chatbox today - I'll be there on and off.

And here we go.. 7 P.M. laugh off!

2007-12-17T18:57:00.000-05:00

Flabby Harris yapping again.. let's hope the friction from his lips does not set off the fire system again.

Some nonsense about some junket Harris went on, and now a presentation from.. oh god.. this is going to be bad.

Now there's Carlton Banks.. rockin the mic.

Give me a few - this is moving a bit fast and I need to collect my thoughts.

~

City Youth Leadership

And now High Lord Emperor Harris talking about N.O. and the junket he went on. Why does he feel the need to keep going.. and going... and going.. crap.

Thank god he's over.

Now, onto people who obviously HAVE a thought in their head.

~

Dowe reconnects? I heard he hires a crew to put up his Christmas lights.

This is too serious.. well spoken kids talking about the future. Obviously, this will not last.

~

I really should turn this over to the wife - and she is far angrier than I am, but she tends to become incoherent..

SLIDESHOW!!! Grab your popcorn folks.. now we get to see New Orleans.. OH SHUT UP HARRIS...

Looks like the kids had a rip in a big city.. oh wait - now they will never be happy in Roanoke - settling for 2nd best. Unless.. maybe we can make Roanoke more like New Orleans! I know, more restaurants serving Alligator! Maybe at the restaurant on Mill Mountain!

Oh wait... That's not what a "certain" crowd wants.

And look - a university other than Tech! *gasp*

We could use some of those home rebuilders here in Roanoke, drive Patterson Ave. or any of the more extant areas that are not South Roanoke or OSW. There's always a house or two that are boarded up, or something strange.

I give these kids credit though, they went through hell in the Lower 9th Ward. I am sure it has changed them in ways they don't quite understand yet.

~

And a standing O for the Youth Brigade. Good presentation, although a bit quick at the end.

Franken-Gwen made a funny, but the lovely mics didn't quite get it.

And here we go folks..

~
Old Firestation #3

Nice sentiment - but if it stays City Property, it will fall to wreckage.

OH NO.. Victory Stadium has been tossed out there. God.. the tears.. the tears.

Old #3 becomes just another revenue source for the city.

Wishneff tired? Taken a Benadryl?

OH HERE WE GO

Art Museum asking for a property tax cut, as well as a reduction in the Downtown Service Fee.

Damn near $80 grand lost if they go through with this, after donating a good chunk of property to them? SCREW THAT!

Ok - Wishneff has taken the Robitussin DM again.. I've seen him order a ribeye with more lucidity.

Shock - there goes $80k down the shiatter.

~

Beginning the Ordinance changes

And this is why Stephanie Moon gets the good money.. I'd like to see any one of you hold up on reading crap like this. Plus - she looks good in white.

Oh - where's the laugh track.

Go Steph Go

Hey - Fitz and Carlton Banks are conferring.. no fair!

~

I tell ya, if it wasn't for the ignorance of the citizens of Roanoke - the Council might actually have to work!

They keep having no citizens signed up for comments - so why are these folks (save the Victory Stadium guy) hanging around?

~
806 Marshall Ave. SW - a much condemned building
ARB crap. But, if I may, WHY do you need a Cert. of Appropriateness for the DEMOLITION of a building?

And why was this building not demolished since 1988 when it first was condemned??

Time and time again.. this house should have been blown up by now, made firewood - or found in pieces at Black Dog.

And yet OSW wanted the house saved? And now the ARB wants it saved? I'm smelling asshattery!

So tell me now.. Shall we call this the Victory Stadium house?

Bob Reichert steps up to the mic

BOB - shut the hell up. Seriously - go out with your damn ruler, measure fences.. in some other place. LEAVE ROANOKE.

Sick of you, sick of your nonsense. It's a house thats been condemned since 88.. .

WHY DOES ANYONE GIVE THIS MAN AND HIS WIFE CREDENCE???

The damn Reicherts, ruining OSW for many years to come!

Oh - do not bring up the leaky ship the Hotel Roanoke is. The that hotel physically will not last another 25 years without serious, and I mean major renovation.

~

So lets see - we might be talking about 6 total properties on Marshall? Sounds ripe for a housing complex!

Low-income? Sure! Or wait a minute.. how about.. McMansions!

Why the double-L would you need a 3-fold argument to demolish a house? Here we go..

You cannot have a historic district if the PEOPLE.. sorry OWNERS do not care. If you can find a person willing to do the work, thats fine. But odds are, you won't. Get over it. And TEAR IT DOWN.

Oh look, Harris is trying to follow along. Cute.

"A little housing slump"????? Uhh.. yeah. Bill, come back to reality.

Will we have a memorial board give-away like we did with that Stadium?

Bill Bestpitch, unannouced candidate for City Council gives the speech of his lifetime to impress his bosses.

~

Harris.. for the love of god.. SHUT IT!

Oh good - More OSW nonsense.

Oh god - another mention of Victory Stadium.. this time by Benadryl-Wishneff

~

Christ Craft steps up to the mic, to rehash what we have heard on - kind of like a live reaction from the public, if only the elected officials actually paid attention.

Chris Craft means well.. really - he does. But he still has not figured out that they just do not care.

Oh.. I'm chuckling darkly at that last comment Chris. (the mayor might have a heart attack while walking into the defib-less Municipal Building)

You know - maybe we can actually pay our mayor to give a damn, as it seems he can't do it for free.

I mean, how dare the city council have sidebar conversations while a citizen is speaking?

Is Trinkle hiding his face in something?

~

And that ends another barn burning session of the Roanoke City Council. Not affiliated with reality in any way, but fun none the less.

Be back here next time, when the City Council will bring us more joy and comfort.

(edited for clarity at 10pm, when the Novocaine of Harris' voice wore off)

Back in the Chatbox

2007-12-17T18:55:00.000-05:00

For a while anyway - liveblogging the city council again. I can't help it - this might be an addiction.

Partial Liveblogging the City Council

2007-12-17T14:02:00.000-05:00

Also in the Chatbox to the right there..

Dear Lord God, do we really need to start the City Council meetings with a badly worded prayer?

Wishneff is MIA, Harris is sounding extra jowly today.

~

Harris is giving out presentations. I wonder if he writes these things himself? If so, I feel bad for those in his congregation when he starts preaching.

Anyone see a puppetmaster in the room there?

~

Nice display of gratitude by Christine, although it sounded like she got stuck when she was talking about Darlene.

Hey! It's Franken-Gwen! Can the city not invest in a decent lighting system considering this is broadcast?

Uh Oh - the "Harris Glad-Hand" has made an appearance.

Oh - this is the Council session where they will vote to give the AMWV a tax-break on property, personal property...

FIRE ALARM!

This is an interesting turn...

~

Cameraman is on his way back - thats a good sign.

SO reading ahead in the Council agenda - the AMWV tax-break could cost the city nearly $50k this year alone. And that's only in property taxes - the Downtown Service Fee (??) would run nearly the same - for a rough total (after deductions for what they would actually have to pay if/when the city does vote it through) $68k... Let's see if that gets brought up.

~

Did he just say SERVANT? Sheesh.. what a mook.

Good show for the kid though, with any luck I am sure this will aid him in getting a high paying job someplace other than here. I'm just guessing here.

Hey- I guess that fire alarm was a good way for Wishneff to sneak in. Must have been out to lunch or stuck in traffic somewhere.

Ok - the Roanoke-Allegheny Regional Commission is making a stand here - attempting to be nice about saying NONE of the City Council has bothered to pull themselves out of the nether-regions to talk to them. AANNNDdddd Harris just shoved him off the podium.

Jerk.

I guess the City Council does not do much when it comes to the Greater Roanoke Transit Co. - otherwise known as Valley Metro - even though they are technically the Board of Directors. Otherwise they could have had some small level of a conversation with Wayne.

~

Here's Rupert. Talking about the Carvin's Cove and protecting it. Just like he did at the Valley Forward press conference. Is there some mysterious developer attempting to build a waterpark there? Perhaps Donald Trump was spotted walking through the woods with a notepad? Nope, so other than the fact that Our Fair City Council has the brains of a school of guppies, why is he so harping on what should be a no-brainer, slam dunk of an easement?

Uh oh - Rupe's lost the thread for a moment there. Wait - Fees - now he has their attention. Although I don't see a reason why we should charge people to use something that has been free and clear for a long time, unless you are going to add some value to the site. Want to raise money from the people going to visit? Get a bunch of Hot Dog stands. Let the City Council staff them, and work for tips.

Oh Harris.. if only you had the conviction of what you said...

~

Ok - I'm going to take a break while they bore everyone in sight. Although it does amaze me how much they bank on the average citizen not reading the agenda, and staying as uninformed as possible.

Be back in a few - but the council chambers is near empty now. Just a handful of people left.

~

Oh wait, open mic afternoon.

Helen is talking about trees, and she's not wrong. A few weeks late - but not wrong. We do take down too many trees - but we don't have a comprehensive program for allowing development without losing trees. Oh sure, they can plant new ones - but the attrition rate for new trees is higher than the life of existing ones. But that's just tree talk.

~

I'm gone for 2 minutes and Darlene is suddenly on? Sheesh - what did I miss?

Oh - accreditation. Right. This matters why? Is the LAPD accredited? NYPD?

Oh no - Darlene is being funny. Crap. EVERYONE RUN!!!

I want the text of this.. this is hysterical. Someone please, stop her. Can anyone on the Council read and speak at the same time?

Oh please, someone else wrote this because Darlene wanted something to read quickly - and this is what they whipped up (under the whip I'm sure).

Oh well - I guess I have to watch the 7pm meeting - if possible.

I just wish something interesting had happened, as it would show some signs of life from this city council. Well - I'll be in and out of the chatbox today - so drop a message and I might be there to get back to you immediately.

Happy Holidays folks. Ask Santa for a better group of Council members next year.

A (3 year early) Christmas Gift

2007-12-17T12:19:00.000-05:00

The Blue Ridge Business Journal gives us a gift this year on Page 25 of the Dec. 17th issue.

What could it be? And why would I be writing about it?

It's a infobox titled "Retirement by the numbers in the Blue Ridge Region." It gives us a peek into what the 2010 census will hold for the Roanoke/Lynchburg MSA.

Estimated population between the two? 688,241

Thats nearly 700k (which will probably be more likely by 2010) for an area most companies write off as too small.

Too small? I think not. Those are exactly the kind of numbers that people need to look at. More than that, 289,061 of those near 700k are 65 and older. Whats known as "free money" in the retail industry. Those who most likely do not have mortgages, have money socked away in retirement and savings accounts.. the golden gooses of the world.

The group under that, the overwhelming Baby Boomers? 270,000 of them reside in the area - they are the big wave getting ready to break.

Much like the 2000 Census claims a total of 75 people living in the 24011 zip code, and thats a number we know has grown since then.

I guess we will finally start making some waves after all - especially if we can get the Trans-Dominion Express running, thereby making commuting possible between Roanoke and Lynchburg with ease and comfort.

But, with these numbers comes the realization that only 129,180 people in the combined MSA are under the age of 40. A daunting number when you consider the landslide of retirees just ahead of them.

But it is this small group - 130k strong, that is truly the future of the Roanoke-Lynchburg MSA.

Anyway - I can't wait for the 2010 Census. Might just be a bit of a wake up.

Major businesses, take note.

Hanging around

2007-12-12T19:36:00.001-05:00

in the chatbox - stop by and say hi

be there until 9:30 or so

Common Council

2007-12-12T09:33:00.000-05:00

Ever hear of a Common Council? In Roanoke?

And no, I am not referring to a council of like-minded rich uppity white people.

Believe it or not, at one time this city had a Common Council, elected from 4 wards (oops. there's that word again).

From 1908:

Highland Ward

Jefferson Ward

Kimball Ward

Melrose Ward

4 Wards - each with 6 elected representatives, 24 total. No city manager. Through World War 1, this city had Wards. It was not until 1918 that the city adopted (by vote) the current Council-City Manager system, and even then - it was for the sole purpose of handling the day to day operations of a quickly growing city.

The Wards vanished sometime after WWI, and the "at-large" system has held sway since. The "at-large" system of elections can be a useful one, when the population is well balanced and altruistic in it's intentions. But once you get an imbalance, as happened when a good chunk of the city lost jobs and housing - and a impermanent population - you have a problem.

At that point it's easy for one group, or one mindset to take control. And thats when the population "at-large" becomes disenfranchised.

With the Ward system, it becomes much harder for an organized take-over like that to occur. Sure you can always buy a vote or two, but in the long run - you will not get the same overwhelming results as you do with the "At-large" system.

Now, that being said - the Common Council vs. City Council, leaving aside the "at-large" bits. Common Council is the preferred label of Syracuse, Buffalo, Madison, Danbury, Racine, And Los Angeles. City Council is the label of Cities like New York City - but the difference between the two is minimal. At least in normal places.

Roanoke's own City Council is, as we said, elected "at-large" across the board. The New York City Council is elected by district, with the Mayor being elected at-large. And a number of Common Council's elected officials are by district, with 2 or 3 seats being at-large for balance. Some of them even separate the election of Mayor from the rest of the Council, for safety purposes.

Probably one of the wisest options of all really. Our own "at-large" council is the very thing that cripples us, singular interests - not even all that special, really. Just singular.

So tell me, which is better? Which would be ripe for growth? The answer is fairly simple.

Coming up soon, an entirely new series of "New Roanoke" articles - otherwise known as Rke2.0

Hide your councilpeople.. this could get ugly.

Good morning.

2007-12-12T08:45:00.000-05:00

For anyone interested, I'm live in the chatbox to the right over there for the next hour (til' about 9:45 or so)

Feel free to drop me a message, or say hi.. I might just respond.

Sad news out of the other camp.

2007-12-11T23:13:00.001-05:00

For a confirmed ReThuglican like myself, I have to say - the Democrats just got screwed.

Well-Tanned Harris and his crew of "Fleece the City" candidates have now gained control of the City Democratic Party.

Is it just me, or does Harris look like he has high blood pressure issues?

At any rate - now is the time to strike and wipe this sad political machine from the City's wards.

Oops - did I just say that word again?

Folks - there's bad, and then there is bad. And the sheer chance that more "For the City" candidates, or even worse "Forward the City" (if you catch my non-subtle drift) should make your liver quiver, and your heart skip a beat.

Harris claims to be a King-maker in this town. I say we get together and crown him good.

Tonight, and possibly only tonight - this ReThuglican stands with the formerly useful City Democrats - who have now been "outsourced."

But perhaps a 3 way dance is exactly what the city needs....

Delayed entry.

2007-12-11T12:42:00.000-05:00

(Sorry about this, I could have swore I hit the publish button - but I found it languishing in my drafts. Ah well. Enjoy.)

Destination No-where.

Valley Forward does not realize it, but at the press conference last Friday for the "Inn/Restaurant on Mill Mountain", they defined their role in the future. First, the "press conference" was not your traditional press conference. There was no moment during, or after, when they took comments and questions from those in attendance. Well, not on the public scale. Any questions or comments were "off-podium" and decidedly away from the camera's lens. They were quickly surrounded by their well-wishers, and the media were kept at bay for a short time. Only when they spawned off into smaller groups did the news stations get a shot at interviewing Fralin, Lugar, and whoever else would stand still. I know I saw a couple of folks shoot straight for the door when the cameras went mobile.

So it was more of a press release, than an actual conference. But it was the meat of the matter that truly set them apart, and laid the path to the future of Valley Forward, and Roanoke.

First off, the new revamped "Restaurant on the Mountain" will boast a "destination restaurant", a cafe, and a public meeting room (affectionately called the Fishburn room, in an attempt to win the family's support). They will actively seek $1 million in public support funds to get the ball rolling on this, and when they have it - will turn around and go to the "5 or 6" banks they have lined up to give them loans for the rest of the money. That $1 million is also known as "community investment," or - in this case "a buy-in" program. Gas prices, higher food costs, and the like are all contributing to the drop in funding of worthwhile things like the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, and actual useful and needed services. Those contributions normally come from average folk, poor and rich folk alike. So who will be in the best place to really donate to, and benefit from a restaurant on Mill Mountain?

Wait for it...

Ownership of the physical structure would be by the Mill Mountain Community Foundation. A new Foundation (for profit, or non- has not been specified) consisting of 9 open seats, which will be filled thusly: 1 member of the Fishburn Family (of which there are 4 left), 1 member of the City Council, 1 person from the MMZoo (unclear as to Zoo Board, or Zoo actual), 1 person from the Mill Mountain Committee, 1 person from unknown group, and 4 people selected "at large" by the City Council.

So what they are really saying is, a minimum of 5 people serving the interests of those who support the Restaurant in the first place. And considering the makeup of our current council, I can say with confidence - You would be facing a SoRo, OSW heavy Foundation. Thats a given of course. What really stuns me is the way they intend to operate.

All net profits will be disbursed to the Mill Mountain Zoo, and to improve the trails and greenways. And yet they still claim they will be cash-flow positive in the first year. Must be teaching Enron math at Radford. Let that be a warning to all you parents out there. But here's the "emotional hook." They are basically eluding that if this project fails (due to the public - always the public's fault), the Zoo will not be able to sustain itself. This "Community Restaurant/Cafe/Not An Inn" is the best hope the Mill Mountain Zoo has to survive.

Valley Forward, you're doing it wrong. Usually you show some sort of involvement in something before you go spouting about it's future. Get up there and get to know the folks at the Zoo before you make statements like that. They tend to have more of an impact that way.

The new thing - whatever it's going to be called - will not be visible from downtown. And will have no direct link from downtown. Other than perhaps an ad or two. But it's going to be (at the very least) a tax windfall for the city. I guess in meals tax, or property taxes... if they pay property taxes. If they declare non-profit, there goes that source. Aside from the fact that it is located atop a mountain, with one road access - how often does the city plow that road in the event of a snowfall? No matter what they may claim, it will still cost money to keep this thing open - money from the city, money from the community... Support from a community where you are really engendering none.

And how long before a quicker route is looked for? A back way to get up there. Perhaps something off Yellow Mountain Rd.?

No, something was wrong with this plan. It seemed very thin - rushed. The speeches were obviously very well rehearsed, but the subject was not. They even admitted time was an issue in pulling this together. I wonder if this is the same plan they submitted to the Council back in October, considering they should have had a better concept and presentation in the time allotted. Then again, they have not even bothered to release the actual proposal on their own website. However, you can go and see the original proposal for the Inn, and draw your own conclusions.

So this is it. Valley Forward's path to the future. Talk in a huddle, and expect everyone else to immediately grasp the concept. And pout a lot if you don't get your way. As evidenced by the "Public Park. Public Park. Public Park." statement by Lugar. Although I do give them some credit for trying again. And I still don't mind the idea of having some form of food up there. As long as I don't have to see the golden arches, and proper accommodations were made for the public AT LARGE to get there.

Ah well.. It's worth a shot, right? But maybe Valley Forward needs to take a page from NewVaConnects and engage the public before assaulting them with ideas. Just a thought.

Just another day in Roanoke

Ignore that last post

Used Car Salesmen.. unite!

If not now, when?

How long?

And so it begins....

St. Pats is not a day for drinking...

Addendum

Career Criminals

Wait.. it gets better.

"I should have never left..."

The problem with Roanoke

Lifting the veil, 5 years on.

Baby come back.....

Well, thats over.

The ony thing I will say going into this

Well, since no one else has posted it..

Graduation Rates, and the Big City.

Stealing Thunder

To Market, To Market..

Nick's Pig-N-Chicken - Inspection Report

Zorba Restaurant - Inspection Report

Tokyo Express - Inspection Report

Hong Kong Restaurant - Inspection Report

New York Subs - Inspection Report

Burger In The Square - Inspection Report

Chico's Big Lick Pizza - Inspection Report

Nuts and Sweet Things - Inspection Report

Paradiso Cuban Restaurant - Inspection Report

Tavern on the Market - Inspection Report

This is the end..

Holding my tongue

7 years on...

Knock Knock

Oh man, now I am REALLY scared.

Well, that makes sense.

Been a while

Now lookie here...

How the world (according to CNN) sees us.

One last one

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Re: The ongoing cry for rail service to Roanoke

Liveblogging the storm

Thiings you won't see on this blog.

TMA?

Who knows? Not us, thats for sure.

Oddly enough

I know a (public) secret

delayed update (final update)

Lost

Hey!

Breaking news from Downtown **updated**

Propaganda, or does he have a point?

Finally!

Brilliant

Have you seen?

What's missing?

Interesting so far

Voting..

The growing pains.

Soon to be...

Into the mirror black

What is youth?

Sometimes it's good to be wrong

My prediction

Breaking news: RVAR selects it's ticket

Easter dawn

A St. Pat's Tradition

Don't sit under the apple tree...

Come rain or shine

sorry

Anyone got some free time?

Here's the wind-up...

Ahh crud.

live...

The beat goes on....

The big set-up

Makes me wanna holler, throw up both my hands....

Windy City Blues

Dear Bill,

Breaking news from Downtown updated