may 2007
Neighborhood Writer Shares the
Magic of Her Childhood
by Jill Hufnagel
On Halloween night, Karen
Chase’s head was spinning with
ideas. Come morning, she would
begin competing in National Novel
Month. She would become one of
70, 000 writers nationwide to participate in the ultimate scribbling
challenge: to write 50,000 words (roughly 175 pages) by month’s
end. While she had written short stories for creative writing classes
in college, this was her first major writing endeavor. As she lay in
bed that night, it finally came to her: she would write a story based
on her family’s summer adventures traveling in an RV.
Karen began with the collaborative journal her family kept
while on the road for ten weeks in the summer of 1978. While
based on that journey nearly 30 years ago, the book Karen envisioned had a twist: the most significant historical moments magically coming to life at each stop along the way. The family’s journey
begins in Karen’s home town of Calgary and features stay-at-home
mom Kate, history professor dad Charlie, ten-year-old Davie, and
seven-year-old Jane. Karen felt moved to create a story around an
intact family — a gesture she sees as rare in contemporary juvenile
literature. She recalls, “As a family, we had fun together. My parents really enjoyed us. Both of them are playful and were able to
let their hair down and ham it up with us. My hope is to capture
that family spirit in the book.”
When Karen got about halfway through what she envisions will
be a hefty 80-90,000 word finished book, a friend suggested finding a focus group, to try out what she had written. When Karen
approached Crystal Spring librarian Donna Melville with the idea
of reading her work-in-progress to the third grade, she was wellreceived.
Since March, Karen has been reading The Madison’s Magical
Motorhome to three riveted third grade audiences. In conjunction
with the readings, she has created worksheets for the students to
complete. Many students have eagerly named Chase as their
favorite author. Says Karen, “The kids motivate me. Seeing their
reactions to certain details has altered
my writing. And they are sitting in
on the writing process, which
rarely happens — for them,
or for authors. I’ve had
this fabulous experience with the kids.”
The book is full of
the real-life details
that hook young readers.
Eight-year-old
Warner McGhee, a
student
in
Mrs.
Crawford’s class, says
that recalling the funniest
part of the story is easy:
“When Jane ate the mud pie.”
Because,
as
Warner
Karen Chase shares her work-inearnestly reasons, “Most progress with Ms. Crawford's riveted
people don’t get tricked by class of third graders at Crystal Spring
eating
mud.”
Says Elementary. Photo by Jennifer Hayes
— See “RV” on page 6
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inside
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She said...
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editor
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Since starting the paper, I have met so many people — many of whom I would not otherwise have met, their not being in the paths I regularly travel: to pre-school and elementary
school, to various playgrounds, back and forth to work. Some of these people I’ve met by
way of their discovering that, “Oh, you’re the one who does the paper. . ." and others I’ve
sought out to interview. This part of the paper, figuring out how to get to know a person and
pass on a glimpse of them in writing to our readers, has been telling.
Over the last few months, I’ve interviewed the firefighters of Station 8. That series is a
case in point for me, in noticing my own interviewing learning curve. I recall vividly the sort
of awkward feeling I had as I stopped in for that first round of interviews. The guys were finishing up breakfast, there I was, and I had trouble figuring out how to put everyone at
ease — myself included — in order to make them feel able to open up a bit and in turn to
gather the kernels that make for an interesting article. I felt stiff, held back and so, I think,
did they.
But it wasn’t until I embarked on round two of the interviews that I realized that mirroring
effect. This time, I was feeling more comfy. In part, both the place and the concept were
familiar. I also had a few more interviews behind me. So this time, the guys struck me as
light-hearted and jovial. They kidded with each other, and me, and I think the interview captures that sense.
When it came time for round three, I was dreading heading down to the station. It had
nothing to do with the guys, the story, any of it. It was the combined effect of a child who
had been crazy sick the night before, my own related insomnia, and an overall lack of energy toward much of anything. But I dragged myself down the three blocks and through the
firehouse doors. And when I did, admitting right up front that I was feeling a bit undone, it’s
amazing how that bit of honesty from me seemed to lead to the same in them. This time, I
was just myself and so, it felt like, were they.
With all three of the guys, there was that little click that I’ve come to seek in an
interview — the something that is larger than the questions and answers. The unrehearsed,
real-life stuff that makes an article worth writing and — I hope — reading. I value this: the
experience of asking people about their lives, their world, what ignites them. I feel privileged
when they’re willing to let that out. It’s yet another unexpected benefit of this post: bringing
pieces of the people who make this community what it is to all who read. So when I notice
myself feeling wrought up about an interview, I’ve begun to remind myself that if I want them
to be real, relaxed, engaged, I’ll need to do the same. — JH
Our intent is to provide a
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we seek to strengthen the
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voices, and to nurture a future of
collective growth. Finally, we wish
to share in the discovery of the
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copyright 2007
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"We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave
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that we must laugh again. We are Virginia Tech."
- Nikki Giovanni
all rights reserved.
2
Bluestocking Brief
clubbing it with hot reads from the neighborhood’s many book clubs
by Kathy Graves Stockburger
Depression with the Great Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show
on Earth. The story slides smoothly between these two periods in
Jacob’s life, each lens enriching the other.
Benzini is a harsh existence, a goulash of tragedy, violence,
absurdity and tenderness. Gruen’s attention to detail and character development, in unfolding scenes of both compassion and brutality, allow the reader to taste, smell and feel the circus in all its
complexity. At the same time, the author’s nonlinear approach to
telling her story permits the reader a glimpse into the assisted-living facility where Jacob’s grown children have him ensconced. The
novel asks: which existence is the harsher? At least the circus is
pulsing with life (and death), in sharp contrast to the sanitized, condescending — yet socially acceptable — dehumanization of the
nursing home.
Gruen weaves a number of threads throughout the book, providing fodder for a vigorous discussion. There is of course the love
story; actually two love stories, both full of risk and passion.
Sexuality permeates the novel, often in a gritty, tragi-comical way.
There is also the theme of family. While Jacob’s children and
grandchildren lose track of whose turn it is to visit him on Sundays,
the circus “family” with all its aberrations risks their lives for each
other on a daily basis. Throughout the story Gruen also permits us
to explore the often complicated relationship between humans and
animals, challenging our ideas of intelligence and faithfulness. In
the end, Water for Elephants provided a good read, and introduced some of us to a new voice. On a personal note, the significance of deep loyalty and friendship the author weaves throughout the book seemed to resonate with the Sometimes Tuesday
friends.
Kathy Graves Stockburger, owner of a consulting practice, is
the mother of three grown children and two grandchildren, who
live too far away in Chicago. She and her husband Bruce have
lived in South Roanoke for nearly thirty years.
Typically, a “best seller” does not work
its way into our Sometimes Tuesday reading list for the reason that it is a bestseller. Pedantic we’re not, nor do we avoid contemporary writers.
We simply have not gravitated toward best-seller fiction as a standalone reason for selection. As another reviewer previously stated
in this column, the method of selecting books is unique to each
club.
Ours is generally a process of winnowing down the many suggestions brought forward by our eleven members. While we don’t
have a “theme,” we do try to agree on selections with some literary merit, challenge ourselves a little and include some variety.
During our eight-year history we have at times admonished ourselves for periods of selecting deep, angst-ridden fiction. The many
books we have read, and passionately discussed, run the gamut
from classic to contemporary to lesser-known, yet critically
acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction.
It is no longer the books that glue us together, however. Our
close friendships and support of one another provide the framework for animated, open discussions on many topics, often using
the reading selection as a catalyst. Sometimes Tuesday (now a misnomer — we always meet on a Tuesday) is composed of a diverse
group of independent-thinking women who greatly enjoy one
another’s company. This is reflected not only in our lively monthly
dinner meetings, but also in our response to significant events (both
happy and sad) in the members’ lives and in our travels together.
Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen (Algonquin Books of
Chapel Hill, 2006) is indeed a bestseller. I toted the book (hardback) with me on a recent business trip, noting that many other
people (all women) waiting in airports had the same idea. It’s a
page turner, and you are hooked from the first page. The story juxtaposes nonagenarian Jacob Jankowski’s current existence in
assisted living with his years as a young man during the
3
Jefferson Street Coop
by Brent Stevens
photos by Mary Anne Marx
ever gotten out. Paige
recalls, "One day, I
came out to the yard and
BBC was gone. I assumed
a dog had gotten him and
gave up hope. But a few
days later, my next-door neighbor, Betty Tom Bradshaw, called
to tell me he was in her backyard. I
think a dog must have at least chased him because he'd never
leave Cindy." Betty Tom is especially fond of the chickens. She
grew up on Greendale Farms, out near the airport where
Crossroads Mall stands now. "Hearing them
reminds me of my childhood," she says.
Recently, Elizabeth showed off her chickens
at Crystal Spring Elementary's Pet Day. She
says, "I was so proud to have Cindy and BBC
there." The children are supposed to sit still as
their classmate presents their pets. Elizabeth
remembers their excitement: "Everybody wanted to hold them, particularly my friend Quinny
Mara, and I was like, wait your turn. But they
wouldn't." Elizabeth says she also enjoys watching the chickens play leap frog. McCoy and
Paige wink knowingly at each other and joke,
"Yeah, we dim the lights in the garage and put
on some Barry White when they get in a leap-frog kind of mood."
They're expecting Cindy to start laying eggs anytime.
And they're not the only ones. Paige and McCoy have twin
boys on the way, due July 4th. When her doctor gave her the news
x2, Paige recalls falling into a kind of fugue state. "My husband is
going to freak," she thought. McCoy, however, was thrilled: "I'm at
the perfect time in my life to have twins. It promises to be a lot of
fun." Despite the sign that hangs on their wall, McCoy and Paige
seem to take the pecks in stride. Still, they admit to having one pervasive worry: "Hawks."
A sign at the home of Paige and McCoy Darby on Jefferson
says, "Raising children is like being pecked to death by chickens."
Most of us who have children can appreciate this sentiment. But the
Darbys understand it better than most. Not only because they have
three children — Elizabeth (6), Greyson (7), and John Chandler (9
— but also because they have chickens.
Japanese Silky Chickens, to be exact. The Darbys fell in love
with the plentifully plumed birds while at Mill Mountain Zoo. They
thought, "Wouldn't it be awesome if we had a couple of these at
home?" While out trolling for fishing spots near Bonsack, McCoy
stumbled upon a man who sold exotic fowl. So when Easter rolled
around, instead of the usual yellow chicks, McCoy came home with
Cindy, a white Japanese Silky, and her grayishblack mate, BBC: Big Buckin' Chicken, a name
inspired by a Burger King Commercial.
Paige and McCoy both grew up in South
Roanoke around animals: horses, cats, dogs and
a ferret. Paige admits, "We didn't know what we
were getting into at first, but they've turned out
to be great pets." Their two dogs, a Chesapeake
named Cache and a Pug named Snorty, seem at
peace with their feathery companions, leaving
the sport of chicken-chasing to the children. But
only Greyson is quick enough to catch them
when it's time to put them in their coop.
The coop itself is quite impressive. The man
who sold McCoy the chickens threw in some feed and a basic
coop, but Darby, a general contractor, made some high-rent
improvements. He added a corrugated tin roof that he crafted out
of recycled materials left over from job sites, so now the chickens
have their own penthouse.
When they're not in their coop, the chickens enjoy "free
range" of the Darby’s backyard. McCoy says, "They flourish being
able to roam around like this. They even serve a practical purpose
by eating ticks and mosquitoes." Amazingly, the yard is only partially fenced in. Even more amazing: only one of the chickens has
4
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5
RV
Warner, “I can’t wait for the next part of story!” Mom Ann says he’s talked often about
how fun the motor home experience sounds to him.
Just as Karen's own mom allowed each child a drawer in the RV to fill with whatever they chose, characters Davie and Jane are given the same opportunity. This idea
seemed to fire the minds of Karen's young focus group. Campbell Lake, age eight, knew
precisely what she would secret away in her drawer: "A journal, my MP3 player, some
mystery books, and my stuffed animals." For William Cathey, it was "my Narnia books,
sweet tarts, my ipod, and my GameBoy." And for Warner the answer was easy:
“Monopoly!”
Listeners were also intrigued by the stops along the way. Campbell imagined visiting
the charmed RV lot where the Madison's adventure begins, and meeting "Buck
Kiddidlehopper," one of many memorable characters they discover while on the road.
Patrick Elder longed to witness "the Battle of Little Big Horn.” He thrilled at the notion of
traveling by motor home, concerned only with "trying to get to sleep. . . that could be
hard." For William, he felt that "agreeing with my sister about beds and drawers and
stuff like that" would prove challenging, but aside from the sibling business, he thought,
"It would be really nice."
For Karen there has also been a larger reward: “This gives me a way of having kids
in my life.” She adds, “It’s hard for an adult to get back into that mindset of being a third
or fourth grader, so the kids are helping me out with that. And I’m bringing pieces of my
own childhood with me to the readings.” Karen has brought in the journal that continues
to fire her imagination, her beloved childhood Pooh bear that is featured in a section of
the book, and photographs both of the RV they traveled in and of her and her brother
when they were about the same age as the children in the tale.
With about 25-30,000 words still to come before finishing the book and landing the
Madison family back home in Canada, Karen smiles, “My parents had no idea when
they planned the trip that it would become what it has.” After reading her first installment, her parents, brother and even her sister-in-law have eagerly awaited what’s next,
e-mailing her if they have to wait more than a day or two for the next chapter. She adds,
“It has become something of a family project of collecting memories to help piece together the book.”
In the end, her wish is to pass on the joys of her own childhood: “My hope would
be that the kids will see the wonder and fun in travel, and in history. The world seems
awfully big to only see one small part of it.” Karen laughs, “That and I hope RVs will start
cropping up all over South Roanoke.” Summer vacation is just around the corner. . .
The ENERGY that
sets us apart.
The EXPERIENCE that
brings it together.
The
DeMattia/Dove
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Office — (540) 989-4555
Lee — (540) 580-0785 • Gail — (540) 344-5003
6
Jocks on Your Block
featuring profiles of local athletes
by Kate Ericsson
The promise of a girls’ weekend in
Charleston, SC was the motivating factor
behind Lee DeMattia’s impressive month of
“firsts” — first time to leave the treadmill
and run outside, and first time to successfully finish a 5K and 10K race, all in the span
of three weeks. Lee is the first to admit she
has never been a runner, or even wanted to
be a runner, but six years after her second
child was born, she wanted to lose weight
and get in shape. A busy mother and real
estate agent, she decided that the most efficient way to do that would be through running. But when a friend invited her to
Charleston to spend the weekend shopping
and dining, plus running in a 10K, Lee
signed herself up knowing that this would
be just the motivation to get moving.
In January 2007, she faithfully worked
out at the RAC, creating her own running
schedule. She started out walking/running
1 mile distances and by February she was
running on the treadmill and adding
weights at the end of her workout. “I set a
goal I never thought I’d achieve. I signed
up for the 10K basically hoping to get
from point A to point B,” said Lee.
With the support of friends and family,
she maintained her training schedule. At
her first race, the Shamrock 5K in March,
her husband Rob waited at the finish line
with roses and friend Christy Cundiff
recrossed the finish line holding her hand
up high. Two weeks later, she finished the
Cooper River Bridge Run 10K in
Charleston in a respectable time no one
would scoff at.
What’s in store for this novice runner?
“My goal will be to renew the challenge of
the 10K. In the meantime, I look and feel
better. Running is a great way to stay in
shape,” said Lee. She’ll be competing at
the Gallop for the Greenways in May and
perhaps the Cherry Blossom 10K next
spring in Washington, D.C. Lee DeMattia
is proof that it’s never too late to become a
jock!
Kate is a mother of two, teacher, and
avid competitor in local running races and
triathlons.
Upcoming runs & races
May 5: Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon,
Huddleston, VA. Race #5 in the
Virginia Triathlon Series.
May 12: Second Annual Run With Grace
5K, Patrick Henry High School, for the
Grace Lovegrove Scholarship Fund,
Roanoke.
May 12: Gallop 4 the Greenways, 5K and
1 mile Fun Run, 5 PM, downtown
Roanoke. Post party to be held in
Elmwood Park. Sponsored by Valley
Forward.
May 19: Grandin Court Baptist Church
Road & Trail Challenge, 5K, Roanoke.
Hippocrates' Corner is on vacation
So, eat your veggies, take your vitamins, and do a
few laps around the block. See you next month!
Need a Tune-up?
Call
PC DOCTOR
(540) 819-6862
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7
8
750 Den Hill Road
Christiansburg, VA 24073
Phone: 540-382-6710
Fax: 540-382-5992
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Roanoke, VA 24018-1550
Phone: 540-777-2888
Fax: 540-777-2899
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9
For the past several
months, this column has
addressed the various
issues that should be
considered
when
attempting to answer
hers
r Brot
e
t
r
a
the question, “Do I
by C
need a will?” In
February’s column,
we discussed the
concept of the “probate estate” in
order to highlight
just which assets
are controlled by
the terms of someone’s will. As I mentioned in that column, if you have titled your
assets so that no part of your assets become part of your “probate
estate” at death, then your will would not govern the disposition of
any assets, thus obviating one's need for a will. Additionally, if you
are comfortable with your probate estate passing by Virginia’s
laws of intestate succession (see last October’s inaugural column
for a quick review), then you would not need a will; a will
becomes necessary only when you want your probate estate to go
to people other than your “heirs-at-law.”
In March, we moved on to the topic of powers of appointment
and the possibility that you might have been given a power to
appoint assets held in a trust set up by someone else. Most estate
planners create “testamentary” powers of appointment, which simply means the power to appoint can only be validly exercised if
exercised in the power holder’s last will and testament.
In April, we discussed another major reason people often need
wills — to plan for the orderly distribution of their estates in the
most tax-efficient manner available. In other words, you might
need a will to reduce, defer and/or eliminate the imposition of the
federal estate tax. In some cases, wills that make use of the major
benefits provided under the estate tax can provide families with
very significant savings (I’m talking six to seven figures in some
cases).
But this month, I wanted to discuss briefly the hands-down winning factor that drives people into my office to make wills. It’s not
the vagaries of the intestacy rules, not the mysteries of powers of
y
s
a
e
l
Lega
appointment, not even the thrill of keeping money out of the hands
of Uncle Sam. It is the most basic of human emotions—fear that the
“in-laws” will get custody of the kids!
Yes, this month we tackle the thorny question of appointing
guardians for minor children. I cannot tell you how many clients
finally decided to make wills out of fear that their minor children
would become wards of the state. I hope you realize the “in-law”
comment above was just a joke, right? Well, maybe there was a
little bit of truth in it, but I digress.
The typical example goes like this. Married couple comes in
for the initial meeting and tells me that they have never had wills
before and have never really thought about who should get what.
They have two children, ages 15 and 10, and are planning to
leave the kids with the grandparents for a week. “Where are you
going?” I ask. “We’re flying into [insert name of really small island
with even smaller airport] for a much needed getaway,” they reply.
“When do you leave?” I ask nervously, already knowing the
answer. “In three days.” Seriously, this happens more often than
the press lets on.
Well, here is where the will becomes important. Virginia law
provides that every parent may appoint a guardian of the person
(and of the estate) of his or her minor child by his or her last will
and testament. Only in the absence of the testamentary appointment does the local court have permission to appoint guardians
generally. It should be noted that Virginia law does not expressly
grant parents the power to appoint guardians under their revocable trusts, but I suspect that distinction will be dealt with in the near
future as more Virginians make use of revocable trusts (to be discussed in the next month’s column).
Finally, I must confess that while it is true that the question of
guardianship most often brings people into my office to make
wills, it is also the question that most often derails the completion
of the wills. I am not a social scientist, but I suspect the increasing
mobility of families and the lack of connection to a particular community have something to do with the inability of parents to agree
on suitable guardians for their children. Oh, and there is that
whole “in-law” problem, too. Mom and Patti, you know I’m just
kidding. Happy Mother’s Day!
Carter R. Brothers, a South Roanoke resident, is an attorney
with the Roanoke law firm of Melchionna, Day, Ammar & Black,
P.C. Just because he wrote this article discussing guardianship,
please don’t call him up and ask him who should be the guardian
of Anna Nicole’s child.
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10
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Through June 2007
The Jefferson Street Realist
front porch views from south roanoke’s main street
by David S. Bowers
For the first time since the Circle began
in September, I am intimidated by a blank
page. Generally, I pick my topic in
advance, crank out a draft in an hour or
two, and edit over a couple of days. This
month, nothing is bubbling up and the
deadline quickly approaches.
Here’s something I’ve been saving for
just such a time. Jill did a “She Said” a
while back about being a Yankee in a
southern town. I’ll give you my New York
slant on Mason v. Dixon. OK, OK, I’m not
really from the City. I grew up an hour north
of NYC. Go ten miles further and you’re in
cow country, but at least we were still on
the Metro-North line.
Of course there are the well known differences: regional accents vary, southern
mannerisms are more genteel, New Yorkers
are allegedly rude, and the pace of life is
different. Blue states, north; red states,
south. Back in the 1860’s we spent a few
years shooting at each other. Some people
still like to gather and reenact Civil War
battles. What a pleasant summer Saturday:
let’s wear itchy, woolen suits, run around in
the hot sun, and pretend to shoot at each
other across a field. It’s living history!
Certainly, the weather is better
in Virginia, and there’s more daylight, being further south. I’m all
for that. In the end, I strongly doubt
I would consider going back up
north. For me, though, there are three
important distinctions between north
and south: pizza, sandwiches, and salad
dressing.
I know for sure that no pizza will ever
measure up to my New York standards.
What was that scam Pizza Hut tried to pull
on us a few years ago, the Big New
Yorker? Forget about it! I really do like
some of the varieties at Pizza Hut, Domino’s
and Papa John’s, but their attempts at New
York style pizza have been way off.
There are pizzas that really belong in a
different category, so I don’t compare them.
Fork in the Alley and Corned Beef & Co.
come to mind. These wood-fired pizzas are
excellent, but they are vastly different from
the “pizza pie” I’m searching for.
Frank’s, Chico’s Big Lick, and New York
Pizza in Vinton all come close, but they are
still somehow just a little different.
You know what I want? Thin crust, but
not weak and wispy like a saltine. There
has to be some density to it, like the sole of
a good leather shoe. It’s OK if it’s a bit
scorched on the bottom. Your jaws need to
work hard when you gnaw into a slice.
When you’re done, your cheeks ache a little bit. The sauce should not be overly
sweet. You can taste some of the herbs, it’s
a little salty, but overall, the sauce takes second place to the cheese.
The cheese is the key to the kingdom.
There should be lots of it, melted
enough
so
that little
puddles appear all over the
surface. Pools of orange for a perfect pie.
Also, there is no need to cover it with a
mess of toppings. It’s fine if you want them,
but go easy. Two important points about
toppings: first, there should always be an
anchovy option. If you don’t offer
anchovies, you are not a pizzeria. Second,
mushrooms are great, but only if they come
out of a can. A fresh mushroom on pizza
tastes like dirt.
Next time you’re in Poughkeepsie, New
York, go to Tony’s Pizza Pit, on Main Street.
Now that’s a pie!
Here’s the deal on sandwiches: cold
cuts. What is the operative word there?
Cuts? No, you could just as easily say
slices, or shreds, or hunks, and it means
about the same. Cold is the word. Cold cuts
are meant to be cold. Unless I ask for a
meatball sub, a reuben, or a cheesesteak,
for crying out loud don’t heat my sandwich!
Who wants to eat a bunch of hot lettuce
and mayo?
When we first moved here I was
stunned that a hot sandwich seems to be
the default presentation. I order them cold,
but if I forget, and I’m asked if I want it
heated, I want to blurt out, “Good God,
why?” After twelve years here, I’m still
struggling to get past this.
Finally, salad dressing. Up north,
Ranch isn’t even on the menu. If you
have a salad in our house you will
have to bring your own Ranch. I
don’t remember where it was, but the
first time I ordered chicken wings in
Roanoke, they came with a little cup
of Ranch. I thought my heart was
going to stop. I used to be opinionated about these things, so I’m pretty
sure I handed it right back and asked for
Blue Cheese — with celery, of course.
So there you have it. I managed to fill
up a page after all. Just get me going, and
I’ll tell you how things ought to be.
David invites you to visit his blog for
daily
doses
of
reality,
at
www.jeffstreet.com. He also welcomes your
comments by email to [email protected].
All proceeds benefit local charities so please come on out to
support local non-profit organizations in our valley!
Outdoor concerts are held at the Downtown
Roanoke Rail Car Lot on Salem Avenue between
1st St. & Jefferson. Must be 21.
www.firstfridaysroanoke.com
May 4th:
Get down with Groove Spot.
Proceeds benefit: CHIP of
Roanoke Valley, Virginia Jason
Project & Blue Ridge
Independent Living.
May 18th:
Enjoy two for one, with 2 local bands
Sweet Jule & the Sugardaddies AND
The Seed. Proceeds benefit:
Alzheimer’s Association, Literacy
Volunteers of Roanoke Valley & SW VA
Second Harvest Food Bank.
11
June 1st:
Leave your castle and come
listen to The Kings.
Proceeds benefit: Roanoke
Valley Speech & Hearing Center,
Science Museum of Western VA
& YWCA.
KidSpeak
Teacher Feature
Name: Jeffrey Crook, Ed. D.
School: Patrick Henry High School
Grade: 9-12
Years teaching: 13
How did you get here? I applied for the position and was appointed principal on
August 9, 2006.
What inspires you? The good Lord, my wife Cindy and two sons, Tyler and Jacob.
What exhausts you? Negativity and people who always complain.
What’s your secret indulgence? Buffalo Wild Wings – Caribbean jerk flavor.
What’s your favorite book? Jim Collins's Good to Great.
What’s your best school memory? Spring Break at Myrtle Beach and playing
football on Friday night in front of the home crowd.
And your worst? Geometry – I had a hard time with Geometry.
What would your classroom theme song be? Steve Miller’s “Fly like an Eagle.”
How would you spend the perfect summer day? Playing baseball and soccer with my sons on a beach in the Caribbean.
What’s your down the road dream? I eventually would like to secure a Superintendent of schools position.
Think Your Dad Rocks?
Carrier of the Month
In honor of Father's Day on June 17th, we are now accepting DADications for SoRo's Greatest Dads. Tell us what
makes your dad capable of jumping over high fences and let
us share it with all the 'hood in our special Father's Day
Celebration of Paternal Pride. Send us, in 100 words or
less, your thoughts on what makes your father the fastest,
funniest, all-around most fabulous dad in these parts. We'll
print as many Dadications as space allows.(Guaranteed to trump all neckties,
golf paraphernalia, and miscellaneous car gadgets!)
Submission deadline: 5/12.
CINQO DE MAYO FUN DAY AT
CRYSTAL SPRING ELEMENTARY!
Sam Andree is a freshman at Faith Christian
School, where he is also on the soccer team.
He rides his bike a lot and likes chillin with
friends. Favorite Sport: Soccer. Favorite Food:
Waffles. Favorite Movie: Casino Royale.
Favorite TV show: The Office. Sam delivers
Cassell, Hemlock, Poplar & Audobon.
Photo by Mary Anne Marx
1st Annual Juice &
Snack Drive
Sponsored by
www.Roanoke4Kids.com
Second Harvest Food bank NEEDS
about 46,000 juice boxes and enough
snacks to feed almost 3500 children.
May 1 - May 25
Crystal Spring Elementary School’s PTA is
hosting its annual “FUN DAY” celebration for
our school and neighborhood children on Saturday, May 5, 2007 from
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Come rain or shine!
The Annual Fun Run circling the oak tree starts at 9:25 a.m. The day's festivities include: Inflatables, Carriage Rides, Karaoke, Face Painting, Plant Sale,
Bake Sale, Fun Baskets and a Marketplace featuring local merchants.
Streets surrounding CSE will be closed until 4:00 p.m. for the Fun Run,
Carriage Rides and participants’ safety! Come play for the day!
Make extra money as an independent
representative with sterling silver jewelry
so beautiful it sells itself.
30%
commission!
www.Roanoke4Kids.com will be collecting donations of
juice boxes and nutritious snacks so that Second Harvest
Food Bank can continue to feed children in our area. Help
us reach our goal of 46,000 juice boxes.
To get a list of items that are needed, along with 100%
juice boxes, and a list of drop off locations please visit
www.Roanoke4Kids.com.
Free jewelry
bonuses and
trips!
Simply interested in earning FREE jewelry?
Book a fun, presentation-free home party!
Contact Amy @ 301-330-0414 or [email protected]
12
KidSpeak
MOMinations
Our Mom’s the bomb and she’s the best
Our Mom will pass every Mom-bomb test
She loves us more than our words can tell
She loves us even when we’re not acting so swell.
She’s always there for us, smiling and cheering us on
Her full support is something we can depend upon
Whenever we ask her (even when we don’t) to be there
She comes to our plays, our games, and is there for us — everywhere!
Mom’s such a fashion inspiration, and looks great without much fuss
She looks so good each and every day and tries to help us
Look good, too, and tries to help us pick out what to wear
Even though we fight about what she picks and don’t let her brush our hair!
When we wake up, we know something when each day starts
One thing’s for sure, and we know it in our hearts:
She loves us, through and through. Through all the fuss and bother
We’re proud of our Mom, the # 1 bomb, and glad that she’s our mother.
by Campbell Lake, age 8 & Katherine Lake, age 7
For Kate
Two kids and a dog
Laundry, cook, clean - never ending
We should thank her daily. by Rob Ericsson
My mom is the best because when I am sad she makes me happy and she
loves us and takes care of us and makes GOOD FOOD!! That is why my
mom is the best. P.S. She is a rockin' mom! by Jack Hitchins, age 9
I happily watched Jean's first days of motherhood, when she learned of her
first pregnancy in the spring of 1983, through the current spring of 2007,
now with four children, ages 23 to 9. Let me say that she is a mom whose
boundless energy, enthusiasm, intelligence, creativity, courage, and love
bring many blessings for her children and me. As a teacher, OM coach, athlete, student of life lessons, mother, and spouse, she is always engaged with
life's challenges, our community, and her family. Christine, David, Claire,
Jack, and I are grateful for this mom, Jean Hitchins. by John Hitchins
The Top Ten Reasons Why My Mom Is the Best
10. Mom always knows what to say when something goes wrong.
9. Mom is our lost and found. Whenever we lose something, she finds it.
8. Mom is very generous. She likes to spend money on us! (That’s not a bad
thing.)
7. Mommy is good at helping us with our homework.
6. She’s a know-it-all (in a good way!)
5. Mom loves to have fun with us..., like blasting “Let's Get It Started” in
the car.
4. She’s cool!
3. She is always there when you need her. ALWAYS!
2. Mom loves to laugh with us or at least say “I’m dying inside!”
1.Mom is a great cook. It’s kind of like we have our own personal Martha
Stewart.
Congrats on being the best mom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by Avery and Alden Willett
Mommy
My mom is silly and very fun, too.
She has loved me her whole life, just like I love her, too.
I like my mom, I like my mom.
And I like the way she smells good, too--like sweet spring breezes.
She gives me dessert and she takes me great places.
And she loves me, too.
I cuddle with her every morning. I love her so because she is cool and silly.
by Scarlett Stevens, age 6
We would like to "mominate" our loving and beautiful mother and wife, Leslie
Floyd, on this Mother's Day 2007. She recently gave up something she
enjoyed very much in teaching at Second Presbyterian to be a stay-at-home
mom. She tirelessly cares for her daughters, Ella and Charlotte, and also
keeps our nephew, Jack, who lives across the street. If that weren't enough
she still manages to cook, clean, and keep us all organized. Her first concern
is always for her family, never for herself. Dad's job requires that he travel
pretty regularly so he's not always available to help the way he should.
Nonetheless Mom never complains and always supports him. We don't tell
her nearly enough how much we truly appreciate everything she does.
Happy Mother's Day Mom! We love you!
by Craig, Ella, & Charlotte Floyd
Why My Momma is the Best . . .
There’s so much, so I don’t know where to start. Momma takes good care
of me and my Daddy. She helps me get ready for school in the morning. She
reads to me. She takes me to the playground and she lets me invite my friends
to our house.
Her favorite things are sleep and the telephone. She loves to laugh.
Sometimes she laughs so loud we can hear her from way down the street. I
love my Mommy. by Noah Bowers, age 5
My mom is special because she always plans fun trips for our family. She
always gets me games and books that I like. She lets me play a lot, especially on the playground after school. My mom is special because she is always
looking for fun things for me to do. But best of all, even when my mom is busy
working, when it's time for me to go to sleep, she always stops what she is
doing and comes into my room to talk for a while before she says goodnight.
by Nicholas Logan, age 7
My mom... she is the best mom in the world! She makes me feel so special!
Whenever I am feeling sad she tries to make things better! She takes care of
me when I'm sick, and she makes it seem all better! I usually have a huge
amount of homework. She's always happy to help! When she comes home
from work, she talks and listens to me even if she's tired. She lets me help
cook the meals (well at least some of them!) She helps my dreams come true!
She knows I love tennis, so she supports me in that, too. She takes me shopping a lot, and when she does she spends a lot of money. She takes me to
stores that help out my school because she cares about me and my education. I know she loves me very much! But most of all, I love my mom! And I
think that's important! by Michaela Magnuson
My mom is as sweet as a sugar cookie. Sometimes she is spicy. My mom
is warm like hugs and kisses. When I am sick or hurt, my mom knows just
what to do. When she goes to work, she is a real doctor that helps other kids.
Sometimes even my friends. My mom works very hard. I am proud of my
mom. She works a lot, but she tries to come to all my games. In first grade
my mom was the READING FAIRY. My favorite part was that she let me pick
books to read to my class. Sometimes on her day off she eats lunch with me
at school. Some other things I love about my mom are when she snuggles with
me at bedtime, sometimes she reads stories to me, and she always scratches
my back. She plays lots of games with me. At the store she lets me push the
cart. She lets me have friends over a lot. In December my mom lets me help
decorate the Christmas tree. My mom is a great cook.
I love my mom!!!!!!!!! by Chase Magnuson, 2nd grade
13
Trash Talkin’
by Amy McGinnis
A lot of questions about recycling have come my way recently,
making me realize that although I was born into it as a way of life,
my knowledge base is thin at best. Can I recycle my aluminum pie
tins? Well, gee, I don’t know. How about pizza boxes? And what’s
up with the brown and green glass, anyway? Hmm, I said. Let me
find out. And while I’m researching, how about the bigger question, too: Is recycling worth the hassle?
The short answer to that one is yes. While not a stand-alone
solution to the environmental problems looming large on up ahead,
your recycling efforts are valuable, helping to address three core
issues: One, the supply of raw materials our planet can provide us
is, in fact, limited. Two, it takes energy, and lots
of it, to convert those raw materials into usable
form. Three, all methods for disposing of solid
waste – generated at the rate of about 4.5
pounds per person per day in the U.S. — have
negative environmental impacts.
Most of my questions went to Skip Decker,
Manager, Solid Waste Management for
Roanoke City for the last eight years. I found
him impressive. He answers his own phone,
knows his stuff, and has vision about where the
Valley could go in the future as far as his department is concerned. One piece of that vision is
the idea of a valley-wide Material Recovery
Facility, which would expand our recycling
options as well as potentially generate revenue.
For now, however, all City recycling goes
straight to Cycle Systems, where it’s sorted and
processed for market.
Skip’s numbers indicate that in Roanoke City, perhaps one-third
of households take the trouble to recycle, despite the relative luxury of curbside recycling service. That number is city-wide; while the
stats here in South Roanoke are a bit better, they’re not exactly
impressive. Since confusion about what can be recycled can only
hinder participation, here’s a short primer for recycling in Roanoke
today:
First off, I learned that the city will provide you not one but two
green recycling bins. If you need another to keep up with it all, call
the very friendly folks at 853-2000 and you’ll have one before the
week is out.
Second, if you aren’t already recycling, you’ll need to figure
out whether it’s a “bottles/cans” week or a “paper” one. The easiest way, if you don’t have your attractive municipal calendar
handy, is to check what your neighbors are putting out.
So. Week 1: Glass, aluminum, steel, plastic. Rules: Clear glass
only. Aluminum cans, foil, foil pans and trays. Tin cans; metal lids
from frozen juice, etc. Tips: It’s not necessary to remove labels for
recycling. The high temperature of glass and metal processing
deals easily with contamination, so a minimal rinse is fine. Only
plastic containers labeled “1” or “2” in the little triangle on the bottom are accepted, but there are no other restrictions, so yes, deter-
gent bottles are okay. Remove plastic caps.
Week 2: All your paper. All of it. Everything you can imagine
from magazines to packaging is acceptable. Newspaper, including all those ads in the middle. Cardboard. Paperboard, which is
the stuff gift/cereal/toothpaste boxes are made of. New technology means plastic window envelopes and staples are okay. And
despite popular notion to the contrary, pizza boxes are too, provided they aren’t grease-soaked. What can’t go in: food-contaminated paper, waxed cardboard milk/juice containers, oil-soaked
paper, thermal fax paper, stickers and plastic laminated paper
such as fast food wrappers, juice boxes, and pet food bags.
That’s your curbside, in a nutshell. Disposing
of other stuff: Batteries, which can leach toxins if
they’re landfilled, can be dropped off at the kiosk
at the Main Library on Jefferson or at the Raleigh
Court branch. Pick up prepaid envelopes for
inkjet cartridges and cell phones at those kiosks,
too. Packing peanuts can be taken to UPS Store
locations for re-use. Plastic grocery bags, #2 or
#4, can be deposited in the canisters at Kroger
to be “downcycled” into products like plastic
lumber.
Now, what about those pesky brown and
green bottles that no longer have a recycling
home? Skip tells me that a market for colored
glass does exist; however, Roanoke City residents
don’t generate enough volume annually to get
any takers. Sounds crazy but it’s true. So, short of
promising to hold lots of parties and recycle the
result, what can you do? Let the people who count
know that you care. That’s your City council members, mostly. Tell
them that the idea of a valley-wide joint Material Resource Facility
seems like a no-brainer. Maybe if we, the denizens, express
enough interest that some political benefit could attach… well, a
girl can dream, can’t she?
For you dedicated souls driving your brown & green to Salem’s
recycling center, the skinny is that yeah, they’ll take it off your
hands for you. But if you want it to be recycled, you need to drive
a little further on down the road to Montgomery County. Be sure
you hide your City sticker, though; our glass ain’t welcome down
that way. More craziness? You bet. Residents only, please.
To otherwise reduce your brown & green, savvy beveragebuyer Jeff Glenn of Carolina Ave tells me you can find some cool
microbrews in aluminum cans at the Co-op on Grandin. Cans of
Yuengling, from nearby Pennsylvania, are a decent environmental
choice. Put a pilsner glass in the freezer for maximum enjoyment
of your guilt-free packaging.
You won’t see me buying boxed wine, though.
Amy is a mother of two and has in recent years begun a return
to her green roots. She’d love to research your environmental questions: [email protected]
Kate Ericsson, M.T., M.Ed.
Reading specialist and
private tutor
540.915.1655
[email protected]
14
Economics 24014
Women and Finance: A Likely Pairing
by Paul Higgins
Despite the fact that the majority of women will be, at one point
in their lives, in control of their household finances, some women
may feel that they lack the confidence or knowledge to make wise
financial decisions alone. Although patterns are changing, a
woman will generally spend more time out of the workplace, earn
less, and live longer than her male counterpart. With less money
needing to last longer, women need to be prepared to handle their
own financial decision-making.
Getting Started — It’s never too late — or too early — to
start taking an active role in your finances. If you haven’t been
involved in your family’s finances to this point, becoming organized is a good place to start. Everyone, both men and women,
should keep an organized, updated record of all assets owned in
their name, their spouse or partner’s name and their minor children’s name. This record should contain account numbers, institutions where accounts are held, approximate value and legal ownership. This information will be helpful should an unexpected event
occur, such as the death of a spouse or divorce.
In addition to keeping an organized record of assets, you
should begin reading financial publications and attending any
meetings with financial advisors or planners. These experts can
help answer questions about your individual circumstances.
Splitting Up — A sad fact of American life is that over half of
married couples will at one point separate or divorce. With this in
mind, it is important to try to keep a clear head when it comes to
finances, even during this emotionally trying time. Your organized
record of family finances should help make the process of dividing property a little smoother. Some steps to consider once a
divorce seems inevitable:
Set up your own checking, savings and credit card
accounts if you did not maintain these separately during
your marriage. Many experts advise husbands and
wives to maintain some separate accounts during their
marriage.
Close or freeze joint accounts. Update your will and
any beneficiary designations that will change because
of your divorce.
Preparing for the Unexpected — While death
is inevitable, no one likes to think about it. Having a plan
Universal Design...
A New Trend for Aging Spaces.
in place makes handling financial arrangements much easier
should you find yourself suddenly widowed. Again, the key to a
good plan is knowing what you have. An organized record of all
accounts, including retirement, insurance and social security benefits will help you quickly settle accounts and continue to receive the
income you are entitled to. For communication with most financial
institutions, you will need to provide a copy of the death certificate.
Some important steps to take right away include:
- Keep all accounts current. Pay all of your spouse’s bills on time.
- Complete paperwork for multiple copies of death certificates.
- Notify the administrator of your IRA accounts, your insurance
agent, and your spouse's employer (whether currently
employed or receiving a pension).
- Contact Social Security. They will need to be notified of your
status as a widow to continue receiving benefits.
- Change ownership on all accounts and real estate. Any assets
that were held jointly will need to be changed to sole ownership
in your name for future estate planning.
Taking an active role in your finances is an important step for
many women. While preparing for the possibility of divorce or
becoming a widow may be unpleasant, it can help ease some of
the stress should these events occur. If you have not established a
relationship with a financial professional, you should begin working with someone you trust. He or she can help you prepare for the
unexpected and gain confidence in your financial decision-making.
Paul is a Financial Advisor with Smith Barney located in
Roanoke and may be reached at 581-0700 or [email protected]
1 2005 Report on Socially Responsible Investing Trends in the United States, Social
Investment Forum, January 24, 2006
2 2005 National Association of College and University Business Officers
Smith Barney and Consulting Group are divisions of Citigroup Global Markets
Inc. Member SIPC.
Citigroup, Inc., its affiliates, and its employees are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any tax-related statements are not
intended or written to be used, and cannot be used or relied upon, by any such
taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties. Tax-related statements, if
any, may have been written in connection with the "promotion or marketing" of
the transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed by these materials, to the extent
allowed by applicable law. Any such taxpayer should seek advice based on the
taxpayer's particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
ACCESSIBLE STYLE
Making our homes accessible to all is the goal of universal design, a movement that is
gaining momentum as baby boomers enter their retirement years. As interior designers,
we have come to understand how people’s needs change as they age and how features in
today’s designs will benefit them for years to come, meeting short-term desires and also
long-term needs. Issues of design include safety and ease of access and mobility, balanced
by comfort, seamless entertaining of family and guests, and a home that is easy to maintain. Some ideas to consider as we age:
ILLUMINATING STYLE POINTS:
• Use eggshell or flat enamel paint finishes to minimize light reflection, which can be disorienting for those with impaired vision.
• Have sheers, lightweight curtains or blinds at windows to control glare.
• Color contrasting surfaces can aid the visually impaired, and also prevent disorientation in
case of a fall. Dark tiles around a white tub, dark countertops and a lighter backsplash, even
stair treads and risers in contrasting colors can all be beneficial.
• Add lighting throughout the home: task lighting in the kitchen, a nightlight between the bedroom and bathroom, easily reachable lamps on both sides of the bed. Control lamps with
touch. Use brighter light bulbs in all settings, being sure to check manufacturer suggestions
on wattage.
• Make sure wires are secure against the floor or wall. Install rocker light switches; consider
illuminated switches in select areas.
• Arrange furniture and work areas to optimize the use of natural light.
• Install closet lights, as well as adjustable rods and shelves.
• Keep objects off the stairs. Stairways should be well lighted, top and bottom, with overhead
lights that can be switched on at either end. Firmly attached carpet or a non-slip finish are
essential. If possible, mount a handrail on both sides.
Stedman House • 2209 Crystal Spring Ave. • Roanoke, VA. 24014
540-345-7797 • 800-605-6186
15