Sorry .... been BUSY!!!! plus thoughts on health care

Keeping up a blog requires time and discipline.. that's why I admire Dan Smith so much for doing such a great job with his. Its been a while since I blogged.

Anyway, I was pleased to give a workshop on freelance writing this past week and hope others will attend the monthly sessions being put on by the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge.

I am also pleased to join Chris Manning's new Vinton Voice weekly as a senior contributor. I've missed Vinton since I left the Messenger. Look for it starting next week.

Thoughts on health care debate: My only problem with all the people railing against health care reform is this... WHAT is your proposal? How about the extra $1000 a year one study says each of us who has insurances winds up doling out annually to cover those who don't have it?

Why do we spend much more GDP-wise than other industrialized countries on health care, hey such a large percentage of people are not covered? My only problem with all the people railing against health care reform is this... WHAT is your proposal? How about the extra $1000 a year one study says each of us who has insurances winds up doling out annually to cover those who don't have it?

Why do we spend much more GDP-wise than other industrialized countries on health care, hey such a large percentage of people are not covered? What about the costs to businesses every year to cover employees, which they are obligated to do as a benefit? If some don't like the reforms proposed ... than WHAT are they proposing?

This n' that - catchin' up

Want to try something different in a music venue? Check out the Garth Newel Music Center near Warm Springs, about 75 miles from Roanoke and just north of The Homestead Resort. The annual Blues and Jazz Festival held outdoors there yesterday was absolutely the most bucolic and wonderful setting there could be for an outdoor festival. The music was great too; especially The Waybacks. Most of the time the music offered there is classical in the chamber music ilk, so the blues and jazz was a nice change of pace. Check it out sometime. Outgoing director Jacob Yarrow is on to bigger and perhaps better things at the University of Iowa in about a month, but he gets kudos for creating the blues and jazz festival.

School scandal: Roanoke City Schools have been battling for the past few years to make a comeback: closing schools, shuffling attendance zones, changing superintendents, trying to convince doubters that an overage academy would work. The first-ever graduation last week of students from Forest Park Academy - some are in their 20's - featured smiles, hugs and tears from students, teachers and staffers. Less than a dozen dropped out and more than 100 did or will graduate by the end of the summer. Others wait to get in. Seems like a winner, does the overage academy in its first year, on the site of a closed elementary school that became a political issue when David Bowers ran for mayor last spring. (The recent raises for Central Admin. staffers while teachers got nothing was just a minor PR disaster)

The sorry saga at William Fleming over who didn't take Standards of Learning exams threw a bit of a cloud over last week's commencement ceremony, in large part because Fleming's Principal and four other school administrators were uninvited to their own school's graduation. Reportedly they helped certain students avoid having to take SOL tests that could have brought down the school's overall score and left it unaccredited ... that unfortunately became the focus of media coverage, leaving somewhat of a pall over other graduates and the event itself.

If there is blame then those at fault should be punished. But then changes need to be made: put systems in place that don't allow a school staff to exempt kids from SOL's without someone from Central Administration okaying that - and perhaps look again at the No Child Left Behind mandates which threaten schools that don't meet Standards of Learning benchmarks, with a loss of funding.

As School Board chair David Carson has said, it is bass ackwards - the schools that need more help (more teachers, tutors, remedial programs etc.) we're going to take funding away from ... huh? Here's hoping the powers that be learn from this unseemly situation and don't repeat it in the future.

It was 40 years ago today ... Tom Seaver taught the band to play

(with apologies to The Beatles and Sgt. Pepper) Long Island’s Newsday daily has been asking people about 1969, when (quote) “the Mets marched to a World Series victory that even their most avid fans couldn't have predicted. On a farm in Bethel, N.Y., nearly 500,000 people gathered for the Woodstock music festival that would come to symbolize the hopes for making "love, not war." For some, Woodstock also was an orgy of drugs and overindulgence. It was a summer of tumult. While students throughout the country marched for civil rights, casualties in the increasingly unpopular war in Vietnam continued to mount.” (end quote)
I was 11-12 that year, the first that I really followed baseball. My Aunt Shirley, a long suffering Brooklyn Dodgers fan, helped fuel my love for baseball. She quit the game when the Bums left for Los Angeles and only returned when the Mets were born in 1962. They were mostly ghastly for the first seven seasons but in 1969 they went from worst to first under Gil Hodges, the ex-Brooklyn first baseman who once was prayed for in a New York Catholic church by a priest and parishioners, when he was in the midst of a batting slump.
’69 was a magical year for the Mets and a great time to have that be the first year I followed baseball. (My passion for the game continues via the MLB baseball TV package and trips to dozens of major/minor league ballparks ... that includes the Durham Bulls Triple-A park yesterday). What I remember from 1969, off the top of my head: the Mets winning both games of a doubleheader 1-0 - with the pitchers driving the only run in both games!
There was Ron Swoboda hitting 2, two-run homers to overcome a 20 strikeout game by Steve Carlton, TV announcer Lindsay Nelson’s outrageous, gaudy sport jackets and Kiner’s Corner – the ponderous post game show awkwardly hosted by ex-slugger Ralph Kiner. Now well into his ‘80’s, Kiner still comes on SNY Mets broadcasts for several games every year and struggles, but its still good to hear him as a thread to my youth. Baseball was the game I listened to on my transistor radio as I cruised around the block on my Schwinn bike, or as I threw pitches in to the backyard pitch-back net.
I remember light-hitting infielder Al Weis becoming a hitting star in the playoffs, the Mets winning four straight World Series games after losing the first to Baltimore, the Cleon Jones hit-by-pitch incident, when Hodges came out of the dugout with a ball that had shoe polish on it – and the umpire awarding first base to Jones in a crucial spot.
We listened to playoff games in school or got updates from teachers – everything happened during the day back then, and the NY newspapers provided wall to wall coverage. Daily News cartoonist Bill Gallo drew his eagerly anticipated “Hero and Goat” cartoons after every playoff game involving the Metsies.
Radio announcer Bob Murphy provided the “happy recaps” and detailed descriptions of the weather and clouds. (I just found out he was an Army meteorologist, now it all makes sense). Shea Stadium sold great fried knishes and was adorned with blue and orange metal squares on the outside of the building, where ramps to the stands were.
In the early ‘70’s my Aunt, father, brother and Uncle Ray (Aunt Shirley’s husband) would go to games at Shea… my Uncle (who would arrive by subway from his Manhattan business) didn’t care much for baseball and would sit there reading Guns and Ammo magazine,
Back to October, ’69: I got off the St. Pius X school bus at my Aunt’s house that day, instead of at home, and we scored every play in the last game of the World Series, when the Impossible Dream came true. That’s the first time I had ever scored a game and my Aunt showed me all of the codes and symbols. Later the Mets were on Ed Sullivan that weekend, singing “You Gotta Have Heart” from the musical Damn Yankees. The names … Tug McGraw, Ken Boswell, Tommy Agee, Jerry Koosman, Duffy Dyer, Jerry Grote, Ed “The Glider” Charles… 1969 was my coming of age year, and the Mets had plenty to do with it. They were a national phenomena – witness George Burns in the movie “Oh, God!”, as God, describing their win as one of his true miracles. Few would disagree.
Oh yeah, the country was a mess because of the Vietnam War and we landed on the moon (I was glue to the TV for hours and remember the surreal moment when the first images from the moon flickered on to the screen) … but the Mets helped New Yorkers and others that rooted for underdogs around the country, in that Nixonian era, take heart – anything was possible.
I may not know where my wallet or keys are half the time now, but I remember 1969 – and the Amazin’ Mets.

Sparring over the Must See TV incident

(a woman who saw me comment on Craig Wright's In the News TV program didn't like my spin on the City Market "Must See TV" incident that ended with an arrest. Here's our back and forth)

On May 27, 2009, at 8:26 PM, Diane Tyler wrote:

(Her) I just watched "In the News" with you and David Tate regarding the incident on the City Market a few weeks ago. Wow - to think that you think it is perfectly ok for anyone to purposely disregard a police officer is beyond belief. Have you ever had to call on the police to assist you with anything? If that had directly affected a member of your family (fight, weapons etc.) I bet you would be singing a completely different tune. It amazes me how you can say that if "Roanoke" wants to attract "Artsy - Young People" that we need to not do this type of thing. If that is the way we need to attract people to the downtown area then we are on the wrong path. When is it ok for an officer to arrest someone? Where do you draw the line? I can tell you that everyone that I have spoken to about this incident has completely supported the officer. He doesn't get paid enough to risk his life everyday for a community that feels that they can ignore the law. What were you thinking?

(me) Diane, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I was right there in the middle of it, and as far as I am concerned Officer Lucas totally overreacted. The Police Dept. also act as ambassadors for the city, and in this instance he did not do his job in reading the situation correctly. I am not condoning the young woman for not producing ID when asked, but there was no danger, no threat, and if you listen to Lucas's diatribe on YouTube you'd see he had some sort of ax to grind about the type of folks that like to hang out in front of the City Market building.

Police officers are merely human beings, they make mistakes, overreact, misread situations. Lucas did here, and it gave the city a black eye. Thanks for watching In the News!

GOP Candidates in 17th district: not many contrasts during forum

Attorneys Bill Cleaveland, Josh Johnson and Melvin Williams; small business owner Chris Head and former Roanoke County Supervisor Mike Wray all converged on the Patrick Henry High School stage Tuesday night, hoping to state their case. “They all did a great job,” said one attendee, as she watched the five Republican 17th District candidates make their case for being selected in the June 9 primary, for the right to face Democrat Gwen Mason in the fall for a House of Delegates seat.

In fact it was hard for some in the audience to differentiate, based on questions about taxes, registering by party, transportation and funds for non-state agencies. About 100 showed up for the forum, sponsored by the Roanoke Valley Republican Women and moderated by Kathy Hayden Terry (with the Republican National Committee). “Any one of them is better than their Democratic counterpart,” said Terry as the forum opened. Whoever wins on June 9 she declared “will beat Gwen Mason.”

In opening remarks Williams, a part time minister, called himself a “person of conviction,” chastising President Obama’s Supreme Court pick earlier that day of Sonia Sotomayor as someone “who will not be that type of person.”

Johnson, just 30 years old, said he would “represent a new generation of Republican leadership. I have a lot of new ideas.” Head, who lives in Botetourt County, (as does Cleaveland) asked the audience if they were “satisfied with the direction that our nation and the Commonwealth is going in right now?” Many in the audience responded “no!”

Cleaveland said he was “100% committed,” to making a difference and held up a Taxpayer Protection Pledge he has signed, along with State Senator Ralph Smith (in attendance), which states he will not raise taxes. Wray, who served one term in Cave Spring on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, touted his experience as an elected official and said he had pushed for job creation while chairing the board.

On the question of whether voters should register statewide by party, Johnson and Cleaveland were opposed, while the other candidates said they could back such a measure. On most other questions there was more cohesiveness. All said they would not raise taxes under any or most circumstances. Look at eliminating waste in the state budget and realign funding priorities instead said the candidates.

Transportation funding emerged as the top priority for most candidates, with Cleaveland pushing education. Johnson would “look at toll roads” while others were hesitant to support that – or a gas tax increase.

Johnson pushed for offshore drilling as a way to raise revenue, while Cleaveland (also supporting offshore oil drilling) wanted to know why the $2 billion in waste identified several years ago by the Wilder Commission had not been slashed. “That’s the first place I’d start.”

Cleaveland also provided the only note of disharmony on the night, disputing Wray’s claim that he had cut taxes as a supervisor: while the rate per $100 of assessed value was lowered by a penny or two Cleaveland noted that sharply rising assessments had more than negated that reduction.

As for funding non-state agencies, like Center in the Square, some said a cost-benefit analysis of some sort would be in order first; others touted more public-private partnerships as a way to fund museums and the like. “Some times you do need a little help,” said Wray, recognizing the “quality of life issues” cultural organizations can provide.

Cleaveland, an attorney, prosecutor and substitute judge over the past 30 years, said he would provide “straight talk” to his constituents if elected, while Johnson vowed to “work hard.” Williams read from an endorsement just given him by Don Huffman, former chair of the Virginia Republican Party, and Head pledged to follow through on promises made during the campaign. “You can take that to the bank.”

Hollins University political science professor Ed Lynch, a former GOP chair in Roanoke County, was among those in the audience. If it made the task more difficult for voters, to distinguish one candidate from another, he said that was “a good thing. The answers were very thoughtful. It was clear that they all knew an awful lot about state government. They all have a lot of great experience [and] all have a lot to bring to the table.”

“Each one of them brings their own strengths,” said Fred Anderson, the former Roanoke County treasurer and current 6th District Republican chairman. He sported a Mike Wray button and said he was supporting the former supervisor because of a long-standing friendship. “I’d really like to have one candidate with all those strengths. Each one will appeal to a certain element in the party. I just hate that we have five good candidates, but only one nomination [to select].”

An arts-friendly town? tell the cops!

Our Take

An arts-friendly town? Someone forgot to tell the cops

First of all I was there, right in the middle of it, so I’m not opining second hand. I’m talking about the “Must See TV” performance art piece carried out by dozens of people in the Farmer’s Market area and in front of the city market building last week. You know by now, the exercise where people were to sit silently and watch the blank screen of a television set for five minutes. If passersby asked what they were doing, participants were supposed to reply, “I’m watching TV.” Local performance artist Beth Deel, who likes to “push the envelope,” at times, called it a “way to slow down time with an action and see what the interpretation is. Its really in the spirit of improv.”

Even some of the organizers weren’t sure what the message was supposed to be. But that’s the point of art, whether it hangs on a wall, stands in a plaza – or involves people staring at blank TV’s. The way Roanoke City Councilman David Trinkle explained it on Monday – his wife took part – the group was careful not to assemble in large bunches, thus avoiding the need for a permit on their part.

Someone forgot to let certain Roanoke City police officers in on the secret: that the Star City aims to position itself as an arts-friendly town, one that welcomes artists of all stripes and ages. So what happens? Officer Bill Lucas and company overreacted to the fact that several young people were sitting on the sidewalk in from of the market building last Thursday.

Brooke Rosel was there watching her television when Lucas barked at her to get up. “It wasn’t to be negative in any way,” said Rosel afterwards. Lucas threatened to fine and arrest her, said Rosel. “He was very, very rude.” Other officers “laughed” she said when they were let in on what was going on.

One young woman, Katherine Gwaltney, stayed in character when “Wild Bill” asked her for ID (?) by saying “wait, this is the best part!” as if she was obsessed with what whatever was playing on her (blank) portable TV. That wasn’t a good move – when a cop asks for something the better choice is probably to accommodate them, but Lucas and a fellow officer were totally over the top, yelling about keeping the sidewalks free for pedestrians (have they not seen young people sitting on the steps at the market building before?), barking at some of them to turn off their video recorders or to move along.

Huh? Have they not heard of the First Amendment? “Freedom of speech!” became a rallying cry, as Lucas cuffed Gwaltney and took her to the paddy wagon for a free ride to jail – hauling her portable TV under one arm. (One online wag compared Lucas to Barney Fife… does that mean Roanoke is Mayberry? Hardly the image it seeks.) “Looks like the Roanoke cops were just in a bad mood today,” said Matt Ames, “Its just ridiculous.”

City Manager Darlene Burcham has called the incident “unfortunate.” Trinkle said he hopes to see more performance art in the streets of Roanoke soon and fellow council member Gwen Mason decried Police Chief Joe Gaskins for (once again) displaying his fortress-like mentality by not coming out and making a statement, days after the incident.

Roanoke City sent the wrong message last week: that art is meant to be more stodgy – go spend your money to look at paintings hanging at the Taubman perhaps – and that youthful ideas involving performance art need not apply here. If I’m a young person on the fence about staying Roanoke and was a witness to the market incident – or if I’ve seen it on YouTube by now – do you think I want to stay here? What about tourists or conventioneers visiting from Hotel Roanoke? What must some of them have thought?

Some of those involved with “Must See TV” have held off the cuff, permit-less events in the past, like racing big wheels through parking garages. Maybe there is a way they could tip off the city in the future that, hey, this what we want to do. In any case the Roanoke City Police Department overreacted big time. I’ve lived elsewhere in a small city like Roanoke that also pegged part of its growth to the arts and young people – and this would not have been an issue 30 years ago!

Time to decide what you want to be Roanoke, how tolerant you want to be when it comes to the arts, and what type of arts, and how welcoming you want to be towards young artists and others that support them. Then let the rest of us in on the secret – starting with some of those apparently humorless, non-art loving police officers. “I think sometimes fear makes people overreact,” said Beth Deel, who thought Lucas might have believed it was “a political action. Hopefully we can get it all straightened out.”


(from May 22 Roanoke Star-Sentinel)

Remembering the Holocaust

(Sally Frishberg came to Roanoke last month to meet with local students. She was a Holocaust survivor. This story was written for but never made it into the Roanoke Star-Sentinel.)

Holocaust survivor tells Roanokers: never forget the Holocaust

By Gene Marrano

Emigrating from Poland after World War II, Sally Frishberg didn’t speak much about the two years her family hid from the Nazis, protected by a sympathetic Catholic townsman. Frishberg, a retired high school teacher from Brooklyn (she taught history and Holocaust studies) only opened up many years later and now speaks to groups, often to young people, about a time the world should not forget.

Frishberg was in Roanoke recently, visiting schools, speaking to students at all grade levels. This was her second visit to the valley – she studied at Hollins College with an NEA grant 20 years ago.

Now a volunteer at a Jewish heritage museum in New York, Frishberg also spoke at Temple Emmanuel and attended a Roanoke Symphony Orchestra concert, a program filled with music written by Jewish composers that had been interred in Nazi concentration camps during WWII. She spoke at the end of the Jefferson Center program.

“The night we landed [in New York] my Uncle told my father ‘you must forget about the past,” recalls Frishberg, “you lived through hell, but now you’re in America.” She overheard that conversation and took it to heart.” In general there was “a conspiracy of silence,” where no one seemed to talk about the planned extermination of Jews and others by the Nazis. Frishberg also felt “shame” that human beings could behave that way.

Some were protected, like the Frishberg family, which lost three family members while in hiding. “I don’t think enough were [hidden]. My generation is missing. The Nazis killed the children. We served no purpose.” Students she speaks to now ask her how the family survived two years in an attic – they had to crawl out when liberated by the Russians because their legs had atrophied from lack of use. She wishes more asked about how to prevent hatred and war. “I’d like to hear questions like that [but] I have absolute faith in America’s young people.”

Her trip started with the North Cross middle school class and ended at Patrick Henry. In between she also visited Hidden Valley Middle, William Byrd High School, Penn Forest Elementary and several other schools. Students at William Fleming High School performed an interpretive dance about the Holocaust, with Frishberg in attendance. “It’s a wonderful way to reach youngsters,” she said of arts-related programs about the Holocaust.

Frishberg isn’t sure if the world has fully grasped the lessons of World War II: “I am very discouraged by how little learning there has been, but when I speak to young people that changes. I feel vibes that are very positive. They want to learn [and] have a safer future.” That was Sally Frishberg’s message to young Roanokers.

Tea baggin' in Roanoke

(Just went down and spent time with folks near the Roanoke River, that Tea Party thing...

Hangin’ with the teabaggers

There were already hundreds of people, if not more, lining Reserve Avenue at the start of the two-hour Tax Day Tea Party rally on Wednesday, one of many held around the country. There were numerous placards protesting all of the spending in Washington and President Obama’s stimulus plans. “We don’t want 15% inflation again!” read Barbara Martinet’s handmade sign. “I’m worried that the country is headed for serious financial difficulties,” said Martinet, alarmed that the federal government is printing money to pay for stimulus and bailout programs.

Another president she noted attempted to keep financing a war at the same time he introduced sweeping social programs – Lyndon B. Johnson. “It nearly ruined the country,” said Martinet.

“How’s that change working for you?” read another sign, referring to the change Obama ran on during his 2008 campaign. Bonnie Martin wore a hat adorned with tea bags. “I’m here to show my disgust for our government, period – both parties. All of this unnecessary spending and the bailout – and these ridiculous bonuses that they voted [in] late at night.” Clean house and start over said Martin.

Rich and Sherie Hilts held up FairTax signs as cars crawled down Reserve, honking their horns to supporter the Tea Party protestors. “The centralist government is not supposed to be [as big] as it is today,” said Rich Hilts, co-owner of a small gourmet spice manufacturing company. “There’s not supposed to be this much power and cradle to grave [legislation].”

His wife has little confidence that those inside the Beltway can enact legislation and spend money wisely: “The government can’t run themselves,” said Sherie Hilts. “How can they possibly run our investments and our fiscal future?” She compared it to the climate in fascist Germany and Italy before World War II, when Hilts claimed that constant dire predictions about the economy made it easier for politicians to enact programs that ultimately proved to be catastrophic.

My take: (random thoughts from a Facebook debate) Question for all Tea Party backers: what's your alternative to jump starting the economy with Fed spending? Tax cuts? $600 checks? Didn't we try that already? For the last 8 years? Can we really build a sounder, long term economy by getting more folks to go back to the mall?

Telling people to go to free clinics for health care coverage is NOT the answer! we all pay for those who don't have health insurance. Contrary to what Sean Hannity says, we don't have the best health care system in the world - at least for the 50 million or so who don't have it. And those with coverage pay for those without. Don't you folks read how about businesses crippled, or homes lost over health care costs!

Private industry does not have all the answers either…what if GM had used some of the obscene amounts of money it paid people like now-fired CEO Rick Wagoner for R&D ... and government is and has always been a big part of our lives (infrastructure, Social Security, student loans, Medicaid, etc.) .... we all need to make sure we have the right people in place to make tough decisions and supply leadership.

This n' that - catchin' up

Just read Dan Smith's blog about the Richmond Times-Dispatch laying off their Roanoke reporter Rex Bowman - wow - and the Roanoke Times asking NRV reporter Tim Thornton to resign. Tim covered local issues like the possible Explore Park development as well as they could be when he was based in Roanoke. Its all a sign of the Times as newspapers contract. People are just not reading papers the way they used to, and potential advertisers know that. Plus folks are just not walking through the door to buy in the same numbers these days.

Rex Bowman is a talented reporter, has written screenplays and several books. We've both been laid of from newspapers within the past year. I feel your pain, Rex! Tim Thorton's "resignation" is just another sign of talent bleeding from the Roanoke Times.

Etc: I was honored to emcee the latest RAMA book and author dinner at Hotel Roanoke recently, where mega-best selling novelist David Baldacci was the featured speaker. Two other novelists - NY Times reporter-turned spy series scribe Alex Berenson and Dr. Bill Bass, who started the "Body Farm" at the University of Tennessee - also spoke. A great night for popular literature fans and a fundraiser for the youth and health programs suported by RAMA, an organization featuring the spouses of physicians.

Kudos to the Roanoke City School Board for working through sticky issues like the closing of schools and attendance zone changes in recent months. You cannot please everyone during that process, but chairman David Carson and company did not waffle, keeping a strong hand on the rudder the whole time, in concert with School superintendent Dr. Rita Bishop. Now, as David Carson said, lets get down to the business of educating kids, raising that shockingly low graduation rate in Roanoke City High Schools.

Green stuff: just taped a Cox TV show (The Interview) with LEED architect Gregg Lewis, and Roanoke Valley Cool Cities chair Diana Christopulus, for air on channel 9 in May (1:30pm and 8:30pm). They are working at two ends of the green/sustainability issue.

Should local elections be non-partisan... no party lines?

(Hank Bostwick of the Star City Harbinger blog asked local media types - should local elections be conducted without party designations? Read his question and my answer. At least one other respondant disagreed with my stand)

On Mar 23, 2009, at 4:24 PM, Hank Bostwick wrote:

> I can't put the question any plainer than that.
>
> Occasionally, the local buzz and banter is about the R's and D's after the names of City Council candidates in the Star City. Are they necessary? What purpose do those labels serve on a local level?
>
> Our sister City on the Parkway, Asheville, North Carolina, does not designate by party affiliation. For example, they hold an open nonpartisan primary which whittles down the number of Council candidates to 6 (from whatever number they begin with, depending on the number of interested candidates). Candidates are free to self-identify their partisan stripes. Parties do not endorse or select the candidates . . . the people do.
>
> I would LOVE an on-the-record statement about this issue. Should local politics be so partisan? Is one-party rule good for Roanoke? Or is that the wrong question entirely?

(my response)

Hank, what party labels do on a local level is supply a base of support for candidates. What's unfortunate is that many people will blindly follow the D or R label without looking closely at the candidate's record or platform....

Ideally, there should be no need for party labels at the local level, if people are really interested in electing the best person. I don't think electing a Republican supervisor or council member makes much difference once you start building support for state or national candidates.

But, again, its hard for some independent candidates to build that support base..... unless they are all independents and the playing field is fairer. Then perhaps you'd see business groups support certain candidates, civic groups others, environmentalists still others.

We all see what heavy partisanship has done at the national level as Congress tries to wade through the economic crisis. Politics has gotten in the way. Other localities - like the People's Republic of Salem - go the independent route.... why do we need labels for Supervisor (County) or City Council (Roanoke City).

We don't. But who will have the gumption to rock the boat? And would it bring more people into the process?

Gene Marrano

This didn't make it in the paper ...

(Wrote this little ditty on jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter. He's at Kirk Avenue Music Hall next week.. didn't make it in Roanoke Star-Sentinel,so here it is)

Jazz guitarist has always followed his own path

Since opening several months ago the Kirk Avenue Music Hall in downtown
Roanoke has provided an intimate setting for touring acts. Its all table and chairs, just over a 100-person capacity, the type of closeness that jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter likes. He’s at Kirk Avenue Music Hall (22 Kirk Ave.) on April 2.

A San Francisco area native now living in New Jersey, Hunter is known for playing custom seven and eight string guitars. He also learned much of his craft on the streets in places like Paris and Zurich. “I didn’t have the music school experience that most of the people I played with have had. I’m really kind of glad [because] playing on the street with all these really great musicians was really kind of learning music the old way,” said Hunter from New Jersey last week. “Thrown in the fire, you play all day long, under some pretty harsh conditions. It’s just a great training ground. It served me well.”

Hunter’s new jazz CD release is Baboon Strength. He’s always followed his
own path. “If I had a nickel for every person that’s advised me on how I should be playing music I’d have a whole lot more money than I did from actually playing.”

Baboon Strength is his first self-release after many years of recording on other labels. “It is probably one of the easiest records I’ve ever made. It’s been a great experience.” His custom guitars give him freedom and a different sound. “I just don’t think of music in those rigid terms. I think on a much wider scale.”

Hunter likens his extra-string guitars to a harmonic-melodic drum set, where he can play bass and lead guitar at the same time. “There’s a lot of space that I’m occupying and it also allows the music to move a little differently.”

A true jazz aficionado, most of what he likes is self-termed “fuddy-duddy” jazz, recorded before The Beatles, R&B and soul helped changed the popular music landscape. “Jazz [became] a lot less interesting to me,” said Hunter, who puts his own spin on the genre in any case. (listen to music samples at charliehunter.com)

Hunter prefers intimate spaces like Kirk Avenue Music Hall: “that’s the best kind of way you can play in my opinion. You’re right there and everyone’s in it together. There’s not that distance.” Go to kirk avenuemusic.com for more on The Charlie Hunter Duo concert (with Eric Kalb) on April 2.

Groovin' on a Saturday afternoon

Nothing profound to say, but haven't posted in a while. This past week I really enjoyed interviewing independent movie director John Waters via an ISDN line (whatever that is) from Baltimore. Made us sound like we were in the same room. He's the guy that directed Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, Crybaby. Used to work with the transvestite Devine, the big guy that dressed like a woman.

Waters is also an artist, writer, producer and was even featured on The Simpsons as a cartoon character about ten years ago. A few days before that I spoke with best selling author David Baldacci, who will appear at the Roanoke Academy of Medicine Alliance dinner at Hotel Roanoke on April 4. I have the honor of introducing him as the emcee that night.

Baldacci writes spy and sleuthing page-turners that might not be to everyone's liking but he's had 16 best sellers in a row, has a big house at Smith Mountain Lake and was a good enough writer that he gave up his job as a DC lawyer to write full time. Not bad.

I think of all the folks I've had a chance to interview or listen to over the past ten years and its pretty amazing. It just makes life fuller and more interesting as well.

Etc: I like the World Baseball Classic, but that might be because I just like baseball in general. Some of the Americans and ESPN are whining that it should be played at another time of the year and maybe it should,like after the season.. but hey, the weather's getting better and its baseball!

Enjoy March Madness... I think my bracket is in worse shape than President Obama's.

Gentle sparring with the Star City Harbinger over a story I wrote

(Note: I wrote a story for the Roanoke Star-Sentinel about Melvin Williams, one of many candidates on the Republican side for William Fralin's 17th House District seat in the General Assembly. Excerpts follow .... then Hank Bostwick, an attorney and the man behind the "Star City Harbinger" blog, read into what I wrote - or didn't write. A little back and forth follows - along with a comment from Star-Sentinel publisher Stuart Revercomb. Pretty good reading! So is Hank's blog by the way)

(original Star City Harbinger post)

Whoever planned Republican Melvin Williams’ debut on the political scene last week owes that man an apology. Opening his campaign from the 17th District GOP nomination as the closing act to the “official” announcement of the de facto Democratic nominee provides a teachable moment in flaccid campaign kickoffs.

Williams‘ street-side message lost any resonance it might have had to the din of a day of dual announcements–after a weekend of speculation and chatter–following the previous Friday’s false start and a leaked message about a “possible” announcement from a mystery candidate. Amid the obvious confusion, The Roanoke Times gave his campaign only a few sentences in a larger piece about candidate possibilities.

The most significant press Williams’ received last week was in a piece by the Roanoke Star-Sentinel’s Gene Marrano (whose work we usually enjoy). Even that didn’t go well.

On the same day The Roanoke Times reported that the Roanoke region’s unemployment level dramatically increased last month, Marrano reports Williams as “hearkening” back to a special time without all those pesky things like unemployment insurance, or temporary assistance to needy families or . . . general anaesthesia:

[The pioneers that settled America] . . . they didn’t ask for a handout . . . there was no safety net for them.

This is simply pointless patriotic pablum. It has nothing whatsoever to do with anything. What it reveals, however, is that Williams wants to play the same old worn out rhetorical game with the same old “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” cliches.

Williams tacks on a measure of Compassionate Conservatism Redux to overemphasize the redundancy:

[He] said “yes, people do need help from time to time,” but he wants to see communities and faith-based organizations get more involved.

Again, maybe Williams didn’t read this article from The Roanoke Times noting that local faith-based food banks are begging for state aid.

Predictably Williams endorses what Marrano describes as the “hands-off approach from (sic) government . . . ‘that tradition that’s made America great.’” A significant majority of Americans believe that the sort of extreme deregulation of the financial markets (i.e., smaller government) embodied in a completely laissez-faire, hands-off approach to governance is one of the primary causes of the current recession. Williams would appear to wish to exacerbate the problem.

... (so on and so forth)


>>> 3 Responses to “SCH’s first whack at Williams”

1. Gene Marrano on March 16th, 2009 10:45 am

SCH writer: You misread my piece in the Roanoke Star-Sentinel on Melvin Williams. It’s not my place to add things that Williams didn’t talk about when he announced a run for the 17th House District seat.

I was not writing a column - if he wants to gloss over things like unemployment insurance, lack of help for needy families etc. in making a statement like this:

“Williams harkened back to the pioneers that settled America: “they didn’t ask for a handout…there was no safety net for them,” he declared during a news conference. ”

… then that’s his perogative. Readers can then make up their own mind about whether Williams is in denial or whatever

Conveniently, you also left out the comment I secured from Williams after the announcement, when he conceded that there is a time and place for government:

“There is a place for government when people have no other options Williams conceded, but the first option should be assistance from the communities.” He also works with defendants that cannot pay their child support, due to a lack of work or other conditions. “The government needs to be there at times,” said Williams, whose grandfather was a member of the House if Delegates in Maryland.”

Please understand the difference between a straight news, factual account of an event and an op-ed, blog or otherwise, where the writer throws his own two cents in.

GM

>>> 2. Hank Bostwick on March 16th, 2009 11:03 am

Gene,

Your comment is appreciated; however, it is a bit perplexing. How can one “misread” a report about a campaign opening? You weren’t writing an op-ed or an editorial. So what there is to “misread” is beyond me?

If Williams did not say the things you reported him as saying, then you should print a retraction; otherwise, it is difficult to tell where your beef is coming from.

If you don’t agree with the political spin I put on Williams’ comments, that is one thing, but “methinks thou dost protest too much.”

You chose to filter his comments and focus on the ones preferred by your readership. Our critique of those comments is fair game.

The fact of the matter is that your piece defined Williams in a way that we find problematic.

Remember: we have a progressive agenda. You write for a conservative weekly.

There are bound to be differences.

>>> 3. Gene Marrano on March 16th, 2009 3:13 pm

First of all, many of the writers and columnist for the Roanoke Star-Sentinel are not conservative. I’ll let you guess who is what. You might be surprised. Don’t jump to conclusions.

Secondly, you were asking me to interject into my piece more so-called liberal talking points, when that is not my place.

Williams defined himself. I did not do the refining. I filtered and focused on nothing; you are reading into it an agenda I do not have.

You sound like Robert Craig or one of the other conspiracy theorists (same boring, pedantic ones) that are always addressing City Council. Retraction? of what?

Nuff said, peace

GM

>>> Hank - I read both the piece and your and Gene's tit for tat and it seems pretty clear to me that for some reason you're trying to make it sound like Gene was somehow responsible for what the candidate said . . .

Seems to me he just reported the facts of the news conference straight up. Which was run along side two democratic announcements of similar scope and equal presentation.

All very strange.

- Stuart

PS And I am curious - what in your mind makes us conservative? Is it something we publish(ed)? Or perhaps didn't? Being a 99% local coverage publication we really don't get much into politics. Would love some clarification on where that comes from.

Gonna be a "Creative Connector" ??

I was pleased to be chosen as one of 30 Creative Connectors for something called the Roanoke Creative Communities Leader Project. Wherein we will workshop for two days at the end of March, then look for ways "to make Roanoke "a more authentic and prosperous region" That's what the e-mail said anyway.

Its a concept based on writings by urban planning guru Richard Florida. We'll look at the 4T's - technology, talent, tolerance and territorial assets, then come up with a framework to "further the community's economic growth and quality of place"

Stay tuned....

Hatin' on the arts?

A writer acquaintance of mine (Lisa Solod Warren) just posted something to Huffingtonpost.com on the typical Republican stance when it comes to funding the arts. Give it a look.

Personally, I think the arts and the NEA have always been a punching bag for Conservatives and Republicans, despite the fact that they are taught in schools all the way through college - and create plenty of jobs. That's one thing arts supporters could so a better job of - explain just how support the arts makes economic sense. Towns like Roanoke and Charlottesville have hitched part of their wagons to the arts.

see link (paste into browser): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-solod-warren/why-do-repubicans-hate-ar_b_168443.html

"Rocky" is going away

Just a sad lament; tomorrow is the last day of publication for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, the tabloid-sized daily newspaper. That's the one I read most when I lived out there from '78-'85, and the one I'd pick up in airports when I visit every summer.

Denver has another daily, the broadsheet-sized Post, which is actually all the same company as the Rocky Mountain News anyway, so it probably didn't make sense to have two dailies from the same published anyway. Not these days.

But I will miss "Rocky", which lost sports columnist Woody Paige and others to the Denver Post years ago.

Papers everywhere are in trouble of course. The San Francisco Chronicle is in trouble; that city's only daily could go under. Life goes on I guess. Farewell, Rocky!

Some dumb stuff

• VDOT mulls shutting down I-81 restrooms to save 12 million dollars a year ... several years after spending a reported 20 million to renovate them. Huh? A "measly" 12 million? Would we rather have motorists pulling off on the side of the road to pee, or truckers taking a snooze on the shoulders? VDOT needs to look elsewhere for savings - like, no doubt, its top-heavy management. Rest areas are a must! This is DUMB.

• Tropicana orange juice returns to older carton label: good ol' Tropicana OJ changed its distinctive label to a bland package that looked like a generic store brand. So much so that apparently some passed it up in the juice aisle. At Christmas time my mom went on and on about the change in labels, then even wrote a letter to the company complaining about it. (yes, and old-fashioned letter). The sides of the containers were awful, mostly words and crappy graphics.

Here's what "The Brand Man" from the Portnoy Group said on line about the new label:

"The design is so awful and so recessive on the supermarket shelf that stores like my local Ralph's now have hanging signs (never seen before in the refrigerator section) to point out that this new look indeed is the old tried and true Tropicana brand orange juice....can you say ugly? As a focus group moderator of many years, I cannot imagine that Pepsi tested this new packaging anywhere except among their in-house branding folks. In a kitchen research test I did against the other major brands 100% of participants thought new Tropicana was a store brand of lower quality than the old Tropicana packaged juice. Not good for Pepsico especially in this tough economic climate...they should go back to the old packaging or fix this one immediately."
So, Tropicana announced a few days ago it is returning to the old label, saying "gee, we didn't realize how many people missed the old one," or words to that effect. In a world where old brand names and familiar companies are biting the dust left and right, folks are looking for things to hold on to. Think "New" Coke vs. Classic Coke on a much smaller scale. Think DUMB.

• USAirways decides that hey, it won't keep charging fliers for soda, coffee and other soft drinks, especially since other airlines did not follow through when it made the policy change a while back. Its not bad enough that you have to fly on overcrowded planes, with delays the norm, with bad air and cabins that haven't been cleaned. Not to mention a lack of food on most flights. Then you had to pay for a Coke, after paying for your overpriced ticket out of Roanoke. Hey, USAirways, worry more about how to keep your planes out of the Hudson River (props to Sully & Crew of course).

And USAirways wonders why its going broke. DUMB

that's my rant for today.

Not a bad little book, written by Salem man

(Note - interviewed this nice elderly gentleman, a retired engineer whose great-grandfather once had a brush with John Brown Baldwin. So he wrote a book about him.)

Salem man writes book about little-known Virginian:

Retired Civil Engineer John Hildebrand went from recreating the journal of a Civil War-era ancestor to writing a full-fledged book about John Brown Baldwin, a Staunton native and an instrumental figure of the period, if little remembered. Baldwin was a member several times of the Virginia General Assembly, visited Abraham Lincoln in a futile attempt to keep the state in the Union, and then was on hand afterwards to fight off the more onerous aspects of Reconstruction.

Yet his story was little known, until Hildebrand researched, wrote and published The Life and Times of John Brown Baldwin, 1820-1873 recently. Hildebrand used the Roanoke City library’s Virginia Room for research, as well as resources available through the Salem and August County historical societies. “Its amazing how much help they can give an aspiring author,” says Hildebrand, who arranged for microfilm and books to be delivered for his project.

“He was an influential politician during the Civil War era,” says Hildebrand, whose great grandfather encountered Baldwin in 1862, when stationed with the Army of Northern Virginia on Alleghany Mountain. Baldwin gave the regiment a “pep talk,” says Hildebrand, a member of the Salem Historical Society. His great grandfather kept a diary from 1862-1865. While editing it for publication he came across John Brown Baldwin and decided he was worth writing about in a full-fledged book.

Baldwin, also an attorney, was a member of the UVA Board of Visitors and made a secret visit to see Lincoln, trying to keep Virginia in the Union. Many at the time in Augusta County were pro-Union. “I didn’t work out,” noted Hildebrand, who said there were “pro-war” forces that wanted the President to punish the South, rather than try to work out differences diplomatically. Baldwin was a legislator for one term in his 20’s, then was reelected much later in life.

Baldwin aligned himself with President Andrew Jackson after Lincoln was assassinated; Jackson was almost impeached because many in Congress thought he was too lenient towards the Confederate States as they sought re-admittance to the Union. There is little doubt adds Hildebrand about what the Civil War was fought for. He quotes Baldwin, speaking at the Virginia Convention: “the issue here is slavery.”

The Life and Times of John Brown Baldwin, 1820-1873 is available through the Salem Museum/Historical Society and at Ram’s Head bookstore.

Oops! Here's picture

HERE's that photo of folks vying for water bottles at Berkley Springs.... judges just stood back and watched.. although they let us grab a few first.

Exhibits at Hollins

Went to opening at Hollins for 3 new exhibitions last week. This piece originally in Roanoke Star-Sentinel. Check out the stained glass from Ireland. That was neat ... Binh Dahn's work is just haunting.

Haunting images at Hollins in The Eclipse of Angkor exhibit: The Frances Niederer Artist-in-Residence at Hollins University this semester is Binh Dahn, who creates photographs on leaves using the chlorophyll found within. Dahn is also exhibiting some of his work in an exhibition being held on campus at the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum through April 18. There is an opening reception on Thursday, February 19 from 6-8pm.

In the Eclipse of Angkor features Vietnam-inspired “chlorophyll prints” of soldiers, prisoners of war and other experiences, all reproduced on plants and leaves. Some tend to be grim, stark reminders of a prison camp in Cambodia, where pictures taken of POW’s before they died or were killed have found their way into Danh’s hands. He’s a San Francisco area resident of Vietnamese descent.

“The image is transferred using the natural properties of leaves, which is photosynthesis,” said Dahn in explaining his technique, which had been on exhibit locally several years ago at the Art Museum of Western Virginia. Dank also uses the old-fashioned Daguerreotype method for some of his prints, saying as a photography student he was “always fascinated,” by a technique that lasted just about ten years after it was introduced in 1839. “Mirrors with memory,” is how Danh refers to the first photographic method.

Danh has visited Cambodia several times while researching his work and has been to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum – formerly a high school before it became a prison camp and mass gravesite during the Vietnam War era. That when “the Khmer Rouge started exterminating the [local] population,” notes Dahn, who is also working with Hollins students as the spring semester’s artist in residence. “A lot of them were children and normal citizens.”

Bringing Dahn’s work to the Wilson Museum fits with the mission of director Amy Moorefield, hired last fall. “I think Binh’s work is a perfect example of using the museum as a laboratory, really focusing on new technologies and artists that are …pushing the field of contemporary art further along.”

A printed catalog of Danh’s work, which also features several essays, will be available after the official launch on February 19. Two other exhibits at the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, one featuring Irish stained glass and the other called “Re-imagining the Distaff Tool Kit” will also be shown until April.

“We have something for everyone,” said Moorefield, noting that the Distaff exhibit will feature “domestic tools used by women.” The National Craft Council in Ireland helped bring over the contemporary stained glass art exhibit and the Wilson Museum has it first.

As for Danh’s work, the artist thinks it relates to today’s world and current events. “We hold people accountable. There is a sense of justice to be found.”

Bloggus Interruptus - my excellent adventure in water tasting

Haven't blogged for a while; its easy to get out of sync with all of that.. anyway just back from a lovely weekend trip to Berkley Springs, WV, where I was one of 11 judges in the 19th annual International Water Tasting festival ... waters from all over the world, in 4 categories, including municipal water... very interesting, and the packages some of the water came in was interesting also... CNN carried footage from the event, which draws entries from Canada, Japan, Bosnia, etc.

Several Virginia bottlers are represented and in fact the best non-carbonated bottle water came from outside of Martinsville - for the second year in a row. Who knew?

The free hotel (2 nights) and free meals didn't hurt either. The people were interesting - one fellow judge had small roles on Third Rock from the Sun and the Young and Restless when he was an actor. Now he writes about water for a website that's all about water. And the Water Master for the event - Arthur von Weisenberger - travels around the world investigating - water. Again, who knew?

By the end of the night I had sampled about 100 different water samples for clarity, odor, taste, refreshment, aftertaste. I've sworn off water for a while. I could hear it sloshing around in my stomach when I was walking around at one point.

Interesting too was the 'water rush" at the end, when spectators - yes, there were spectators, plenty of 'em, water geeks and bottlers looking for a marketing boost that comes from winning a bronze, silver or gold, were allowed to grab bottles from an elaborate display set up from all of the entries. Bottles with an unusual shape - like one shaped like a flask - were the first target. One women got knocked over by folks who came prepared, with garbage bags to scoop up multiple bottles. No one got hurt though.

Check out Berkley Springs sometime; about 220 miles from Roanoke. George Washington owned several lots in the town there and bathed on the mineral springs that bubble up from the ground. The water in Berkley Springs itself one a bronze for best bottled water.

An international festival all about water- who knew? Now I do.

Interesting post on Obama

A new friend of mine, Staunton author Lisa Solod Warren, just wrote something for the Huffington Post about Pres. Obama - urging him to put the stimulus plan together that he wants - to heck with courting Republicans!

Give it a look (paste link below into browser)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-solod-warren/dear-president-obama-with_b_162588.html

Slumdog... Periello (2 separate thoughts)

Took my 14 year old to dinner and a movie to celebrate her straight A's (just 2 of us). saw Slumdog Millionaire. Great movie, in part because its so different. Sweet love story, plus gritty look at life in India's slums. Supposedly the "Bollywood" filmmakers there are upset because it showed the slums extensively, which I guess they avoid. In any case a really good film.

-----

Saw new 5th District Congressman Tom Periello on MSNBC yesterday, discussing the proposed stimulus plan ... rationally, coherently, with articulation - and minus the red meat partisanship, jingoism and inflammatory rhetoric of the deposed Virgil Goode.

5th district residents should feel good about the change to Periello from Goode. He looks and sounds fresh, intelligent, upbeat and eager to make a difference. Another good argument for term limits - or for people just getting up off the couch and voting for change. We'll see if Washington "corrupts" Tom - whom Goode tried to portray as some sort of Un-American terrorist with commercials designed to inflame his more rural (redneck) base - but so far, so good.

Mill Mountain Theatre space ... and Writer's Conference

Center in the Square president Jim Sears has been making noise on his Facebook page about using the soon-to-be dark space at Mill Mountain Theatre for community performances. Others, like Todd Ristau (Hollins playwriting program and No Shame Theatre, plus Studio Roanoke, a space scheduled to open this spring) have told Dr. Sears they are interested in exploring that option.

Its a big space to fill if you're talking about putting on experimental plays or readings... MMT has over 300 seats I believe. Here's a thought:

what about turning the Trinkle main stage theater into a movie house? Show first run foreign films and big budget movies that need another screen .... or maybe second-run films? Many older folks seem to remember fondly the big old movie houses that used to be downtown. Maybe the Grandin Theatre folks could run it? Call in Grandin Downtown?

Its another way to draw folks downtown, other than for a night of drinking and carousing... if they ever get their act together at the City Market building some of the vendors could stay open to take care of people after they get out of the movie ... maybe an ice cream shop would pop up, who knows... Its a thought, anyway.

The Roanoke Regional Writer's Conference this past weekend was invigorating and informative.. great to be around another 100 writers/journalists or so .... lamenting about the fading away of newspapers, the rise of blogs and other on line news services ... and how most writers won't get rich, or close to it. Looking forward to next year's conference already. I presented one session and co-hosted another, which was also fun.

Writer's Conference this weekend

Looking forward to the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference at Hollins U. this weekend. I'm actually giving a presentation on freelance writing. There are several dozen presenters, many with much better credentials than I have, but I'm honored to be included in this group. There's a reception and keynote speakers Friday night, and a full day of workshops on Saturday. The best part is the networking, plus all the freelance writers commiserate about how they are not paid what they are worth!

Its $50 for the whole shebang; give it a whirl if you like to write or are thinking about it. Just about every genre will be covered. see the link at Hollins.edu.

I just hope I have something to say for my 45 minute session....

Its a shame- Mill Mountain will close

Crushing debt says MMT board director Jason Bingham, and a downturn in the economy that eroded the sponsorship base and ticket sales, helped do in Mill Mountain, which will declare bankruptcy. There are other places to see plays around Roanoke (Hollins U., Jefferson Center - where the GAMUT troupe has been - even the Taubman Museum, where acting students stage productions).

But Todd Ristau, involved at MMT with No Shame Theatre, is also involved with a new venture set to open this spring, "Studio Roanoke." He sent out this memo today with his thoughts on that venture, owned by ZZ Top-looking Kenley Smith (pictured) and the demise of 40 year old Mill Mountain Theatre:

Yesterday it was announced that Mill Mountain Theatre, a leader in our region's arts community, would close its doors today. While the current production, Driving Miss Daisy, will continue its scheduled run, staff were let go effective today.


I don't have a lot of information, but from what I have gathered it sounds like the economy, downturn in ticket sales, dwindling donations, and rising debt all contributed to the Board taking the drastic step of shutting down operations to "reorganize."


I don't know what reorganization means, but from what I've heard, there is every intention to keep MMT viable by transforming it into a model that will work better in the new economy than the fully professional model operating under the heavy burden of Equity compliance. Perhaps MMT will return to its community theatre roots and return to the space like a phoenix from the flames.

I want to say plainly, whatever financial debts Mill Mountain Theatre may have accumulated are not equal to the cultural debt our community owes this marvelous theatre.


Obviously, our hearts and prayers are with Patrick Benton and the Mill Mountain staff, who have given so much to our community for so many years. This isn't going to be an easy time for any of them, and what we can do to help, we should do. (This includes going to see Driving Miss Daisy. If they can't sell out this show, it will be harder to argue for the theatre's possible return.)

Nothing at this point is certain, and you probably aren't interested in my speculation. You have plenty of your own. Because Mill Mountain Theatre's programming is linked to our MFA program, I wanted to answer some questions some of you might be having.

What about student readings and productions already planned?

The production of Ant Farm, by incoming candidate Ben R. Williams, as well as the readings of Elvis Blossom (Sunny daSilva) and Dear Abe (Adam Hahn) have been cancelled, along with the rest of Mill Mountain's season. We plan, however, to move them to Studio Roanoke at the earliest opportunity.

What does the loss of Mill Mountain Theatre mean to the playwriting program at Hollins?

The loss of Mill Mountain Theatre, our area's largest equity playhouse, will be deeply felt, but it is not by any means catastrophic. We continue to have hope that Mill Mountain will return in some form and continue its commitment to new play development along with corporate sponsors such as Norfolk Southern Railroad who underwrite their festival of new works. In addition, the Playwright's Lab has been aggressively building partnerships with theatres across the country that produce new plays, and that growing network will continue to be available to our students. Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, we will have the launch of Studio Roanoke later this Spring, as well as the re-opening of the lab space on campus which will continue to provide performance, reading, and experiential learning opportunities to our MFA playwrights.

What about No Shame Theatre?

Studio Roanoke will be opening its doors to the public very soon, and as the Artistic Director of Studio Roanoke, I'm happy to tell you that No Shame Theatre will have a home in our new space.

What about other alternative programming?

Studio Roanoke be offering a great deal of programming similar to what you were came to expect from Underground Roanoke at MMT. In addition to No Shame at its usual time and price, Studio Roanoke will also be offering a Tuesday Night Lounge series which will include a Poetry Lounge, a Comedy/Improv Lounge, and an Acoustic Lounge on a different Tuesday every month. Shows will be at 8PM.

We're also planning to have a fully mounted presentation of a new or unpublished play the last week of each month, presentations of touring works by other companies and guest artists, as well as special presentations such as readings, small scale productions, all ages music shows, theatre for young audiences, classes, workshops and guest speakers.

What will ticket prices be?

Studio Roanoke is committed to a flat ticket pricing scheme of $10 for all regular programming, and $5 for all late night programming (i.e. No Shame).

If Mill Mountain had to close its doors, why do you think Studio Roanoke will succeed?

Studio Roanoke will be operating on an entirely different model than Mill Mountain Theatre, as we will be more like a community theatre instead of having to meet the requirements of operating under professional contracts. As a result, our operating budget will be a tiny fraction of the funds needed to operate a theatre on the scale of Mill Mountain Theatre.

Our mission is also very different from MMT's in that we are coming into existence specifically to tackle new works development and all the risk that implies. To do this, we are in the process of building a donor base equally committed to creating a place where that risk can be taken and new work can be developed without worrying about success at the box office.

Our ongoing creative relationship with the playwriting program at Hollins also puts us in a position to offer some of the top talents in contemporary theatre to our community through shared resources.

Is Studio Roanoke trying to replace Mill Mountain Theatre?

We know that Studio Roanoke could never hope to fill the void left by the monumental and groundbreaking work Mill Mountain Theatre has been doing for over 40 years. Even so, we hope that by offering innovative programming such as MMT's Underground Roanoke was created to provide, we can preserve and extend a portion of Mill Mountain's commitment to new and challenging acts of theatre while building and expanding a local audience for it.

What can we do to help?

If you want a theatre in your community, you have to go to the theatre in your community. If you want to have artists, you need to subsidize them with donations so they can resist making art with profit as their only motivation. It is vital for people to realize that individual support for arts organizations is absolutely essential. Arts organizations don't function on a market driven model. The value of a play or an art object is not best measured in dollars.

As an Artistic Director opening a theatre when theatres all around me are closing their doors, I hope that you will take this to heart and remember that in our darkest times the arts are where we can turn to remember that life is worth living, people have value, and to find hope for the future.

Please join us in the ongoing conversation we'll begin this Spring at Studio Roanoke, and let's find out together what is possible.

Thank you,
Todd Ristau,
Director, Graduate Program in Playwriting at Hollins University and
Artistic Director Studio Roanoke

Obama: “the journey we continue today”

photo: Serena Paynter (center) celebrates with her Kleenex close at hand

They gathered at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture on Tuesday to watch Barack Hussein Obama be sworn in as 44th President of the United States. There were officials of the museum and friends, about twenty in all, as someone who looked like them took the torch from George W. Bush.

Museum board chair Serena Paynter remembers the waning days of segregation in her native Bedford County: “it is undoubtedly one of the happiest moments of my life. I was pretty overwhelmed all morning. It forced me to reflect on my life.”

“Its history, its so emotional,” said Wanda Austin, manager at the Harrison Museum, which is kicking off a two million dollar capital campaign, funds it will need to move from an old school in Gainsboro to a new home at Center in the Square. “Its something many of us never thought we would see in our lifetime.”

Museum director Bamidele Demerson said the Obama presidency “resonates in ways that have implications for this museum. It certainly brings renewed interest and understanding of …inter-ethnic relations. Beyond that it reminds us about a time for examining identity. The story of African Americans is search for democracy, the search for dignity, the search for justice – the search for freedom. The story we tell here … resonates.”

Maxine Wright was overcome by the occasion. “I never knew I’d be able to see the first African American president. Its overwhelming …its wonderful.”

(full story in this week’s Roanoke Star-Sentinel! – Thursday )

Feels like New Year's Eve

Tomorrow's swearing in of Barack Obama will be a good day for this country. Its a new start after 8 years of various missteps by the Bush administration. Its a good day for African Americans and for all Americans in general. It sends the signal that Yes, We Can - anybody can, even the biracial son of a single mother, a man not raised in a privileged world.

Its exciting, to think about having a president once again who is a riveting speaker, who sounds intelligent and coherent, who challenges people - especially it seems other African Americans - to get off their backsides and be a part of the solution.

I'm not going to DC - I'm not that crazy - but I will talk to folks who are and I plan to watch the swearing in at noon at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture. I want to see folk's reactions, I want to see how they feel, especially older folks who remember the days of segregation here in Roanoke.

Its a day of hope, of new beginnings, a time to roll up our sleeves, to get out of Iraq, to go green at home and to put people back to work.

But first, on Tuesday, as W. heads for Texas, its time to party. Yes, we can!

Students reflect on historic presidential event

(L-R) James Madison students Tavon Wright-Cicero and Teonshay Parris as Barack and Michelle Obama

The inauguration of America’s first African-American president is a national milestone, and for some a personal one. Last November 4 during an Election Night party/school project at James Madison Middle mile several students reflected on that, after it was apparent Barack Obama would beat John McCain.

Jamie Strassburg’s 8th grade civics class included Tavon Wright-Cicero, dressed as Barack Obama, with Teonshay Parris on hand as Michelle Obama. The historical aspect of the election was a major topic – electing the first African American president. “A lot of our kids realize, hey, this is the one our grandkids will ask us about.” noted Strassburg.

That night Grace Mason, daughter of Roanoke City Councilwoman Gwen Mason, termed it “sort of an historical election. I find that really interesting.” Mason said her parents allow her to make up her own mind about political leanings, pointing out that although Gwen Mason is a flag-waving Democrat her father is a Republican. “I think Obama would be a better choice,” said Grace Mason, who has an interest in politics and can see herself running for office someday.

“I think we need change in the country and believe he can bring it,” said Wright-Cicero, dressed in a suit as Obama’s stand-in on election night. “As an African-American, it was also time for the student to reflect: “it makes me feel great that we’re getting recognition.” (Gene Marrano)

American Lion - A. Jackson book..and David Baldacci

Just finished reading two very different books.. American Lion by Jon Meachem was about President Andrew Jackson, who 30 years before the Civil War was wrestling with the issue of secession and slavery. South Carolina was making the most noise about seceding, and had voted to be able to "nullify" federal laws any time it voted to. Jackson would have none of that.

Again, the state's rights issue clouded the real problem - the thorny issue of slavery. jackson's own VP in his first term (1829-1833) was a South Carolinian - John C. Calhoun - who had his own presidential aspirations and was a backer of nullification.

Like Lincoln, Jackson was a strong unionist, yet he owned many slaves at the Hermitage in Nashville and initiated the removal of Indian tribes from southern states - a la The Trail of Tears. fascinating, complex man .. good read for history buffs ...

Meanwhile part time Smith Mountain lake resident David Baldacci will be in Roanoke for the RAMA dinner on April 4th, a bunch of doctors that will get together to eat and raise money for charity. Baldacci will be a guest speaker - I've been asked to emcee the event. (Hope I don't need a tux).

Anyway I'd never read a Baldaci novel; he's written a ton of them and they have almost all been best sellers. That's why he has a big house at the lake. So I read "Simple Truths" (2007) and will start on another one soon when I get done with a non-fiction book on the U.S.'s obsession with Iraq and Hussein.

I'll call Baldacci easy-to-read "brain candy" (actually my wife's term) ... good beach or mountain cabin vacation stuff. Try it if you're in the mood. Looking forward to meeting him. I was invited to a private reception afterwards .... "Gee David, can I use the SML house when you're up in Fairfax??? :) r-i-g-h-t ....

new non-fiction book from Salem author

(note: I just interviewed Salem writer/historian John Hildrebrand about his new book. Here's the text that set up the audio interview. Available by Friday at wvtf.org under "Studio Virginia." Nice guy... Civil War and history-philes, give it a whirl...)

Retired civil ENGINEER JOHN HILDREBRAND HAS USED HIS FREE TIME IN RECENT YEARS TO RESEARCH AND RECORD LITTLE KNOWN ASPECTS OF THOSE WHO SETTLED WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS IN VIRGINIA…NOW THE SALEM RESIDENT HAS PUBLISHED “THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN BROWN BALDWIN: 1820 TO 1873”, ABOUT A CIVIL-WAR ERA STATE LEGISLATOR, LAWYER AND CIVIC LEADER IN AUGUSTA county, A MAN WHO ONCE HAD THE EAR OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND THEN BECAME INVOLVED TO MAKE RECONSTRUCTION AND READMITTANCE TO THE UNION AN EASIER PILL TO SWALLOW. BALDWIN WAS A PROMINENT AUGUST COUNTY POLITICIAN AND CIVIC LEADER BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR :

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN BROWN BALDWIN: 1820-1873, FROM AUTHOR JOHN HILDEBRAND, IS AVAILABLE AT Ram's Head Bookstore IN ROANOKE, the Bookery ON North Nelson Street in Lexington. YOU CAN ALSO FIND IT THROUGHT THE Salem Historical Society, AT THE History Museum of Western Virginia IN ROANOKE AND THROUGH THE Augusta County Historical Society in Staunton.

You Say You Want a Resolution

[Our Take]

from the News Editor

(with apologies to John Lennon) A week late, here’s a few resolutions and actions I’d like to see take place in 2009. Let’s start with a complete makeover of the City Market building, turning it in to a tourist attraction like public markets in Seattle, Philadelphia and elsewhere. (Remembering Tom Hanks at the Pike’s public market in Sleepless in Seattle, where they throw fish around? Been there myself; it’s a lot of fun.)

That means a City Market building that has longer hours and offers more variety, maybe some retail and Farmer’s Market vendors in the winter - like a plan offered by Downtown Roanoke Inc. The food court should be open in the evening and on weekends when there are spring/summer events at nearby Elmwood Park, and it is ideally situated to take advantage of traffic at the adjacent Taubman Museum of Art. Where the money comes from for all of this is another story.

Speaking of the Taubman, let’s hope for later hours on the weekend, like a closing time of 9 or 10pm on Fridays and/or Saturdays. Keep the café open also or set up an expresso bar in the lobby – would make for a great date night and downtown eateries should benefit once the Taubman did close for the night.

Let’s also hope that Center in the Square museums, the Taubman and the Virginia Museum of Transportation get together to offer pay one price discount tix, even on selected days, so that downtown visitors can take in all the cultural attractions with their families at an affordable price. (And why aren’t there signposts, brightly colored maps on billboards, etc. downtown pointing visitors to these museums?) Perhaps the new trolleys can be used on special weekends for these “museum crawls,” which could also include art gallery stops.

Planning for new public parking garages downtown and at the Roanoke Civic Center would be nice – one at the corner of Campbell and Williamson downtown and another somewhere near the coliseum/performing arts theatre complex, where there seems to be some open spaces for one, even if it is purchased from private property owners. Hello?! People don’t like shuttles from remote lots and in the (mostly) blue-collar Star City they don’t want to pay for parking in downtown Roanoke. Businesses that leave for the 'burbs often cite the perceived lack of parking as one reason they bail out.

Assuming that Roanoke City Council finds the tree where money grows on it, movement on the amphitheater issue would be nice – fix the Elmwood Park site for community concerts and festivals. Right now it’s almost impossible to sit comfortably in a chair there… feels like being on the deck of the Titanic, after it struck the iceberg. Speaking of ice, the kind under your feet, not floating in the North Atlantic – wouldn’t a new, dedicated ice skating rink be nice, perhaps equipped with 2500-3000 seats that could also accommodate a lower-level professional hockey league team? (Would be a nice addition downtown, or perhaps near Tanglewood Mall as a way to attract people to that underused property).

And approve a larger amphitheater for the old Victory Stadium property – something low tech, where flood water damage from the nearby Roanoke River wouldn’t be fatal; maybe 5000-7000 seats and room behind them on the grass for thousands more. Otherwise those fields could still be used for recreation leagues in a city badly in need of athletic venues. Aren’t you tired of traveling to Charlottesville, Raleigh or Virginia Beach to see major acts under the stars?

That’s it for now, I’m done spending other people’s money … personally, I hope to help turn out more interesting Star-Sentinel papers for our readers. As for the 20-30 pounds I want to lose – every year – that truly is another story.

Correction: Dr. Diane Christopulos finished off her journey on the Appalachian Trail last year – she did not “through hike” (do it in one shot) as reported in a previous Our Take column. And her significant other, Mark McClain, did not hike the entire AT with her either. McClain said he often provided the shuttle service that brought Christopulos to and from trailheads along the 2000-plus mile trail. Other than that McCain said he appreciated the story on the couple’s visit to William Byrd High School, where they talked to students about green technologies and cool cities.

Its not your parent’s Roanoke any more

Our Take: commentary from the Star-Sentinel staff

What’s going on in Roanoke? What with world-class art museums going up, retro-looking trolley buses running up and down Jefferson St. to the Carilion Clinic from the market area, big renovation plans in the works for Center in the Square and a City Market building makeover on the horizon, downtown Roanoke is not the same place it was a decade or so ago.

That’s good. There are now more signs of life at night and on the weekends in Roanoke and not just from those out for an evening of carousing at Corned Beef. And downtown now stretches past the city market area, past the courthouse and municipal buildings, to Jefferson Center, the Kirk Family YMCA, Ed Walker’s new music bistro on Kirk Avenue and the funky Water Heater venue on 5th Street Southwest. A new amphitheater capable of welcoming larger acts to the valley could be coming down the road if people figure out where they want it - and if taxpayer money is available to help fund it.

There’s temporary public art all over the city, a new permanent sculpture outside the Roanoke Civic Center complex that classes up the joint and something dubbed the “West Campbell Arts District,” a nod to the handful of galleries that have opened there in recent years, in part to feed off the anticipated excitement of the new Taubman Museum of Art.

Speaking of the Taubman, have you been yet? Even if you’re not a big fan of the exterior architecture, inside the dramatic second floor galleries and sweeping staircase will win you over. Note to the Taubman folks: think about later hours on weekends, maybe 9-10pm on Fridays? Would make for a great “date night”, especially when live music is offered downstairs and the café is open. Then patrons could spill out into downtown Roanoke to continue their night out and everybody wins.

On its first day the Taubman Museum was open to 11pm and the place – and downtown Roanoke – was hopping. Now if they can just get food court vendors at the market building to stay open at night …at least some of them. “It’ll be an economic stimulus [for the city], at least the equivalent of renewing Hotel Roanoke, if not greater than that,” predicted former Roanoke City Councilman Rupert Cutler on the day they cut the Taubman’s ribbon.

Okay, its never going to be confused with New York, LA or Chicago, a different mix of jobs are needed to attract more young folks here and it will take a whole lot of money in some circumstances to keep moving Roanoke forward…but one has to admit the Star City is a bit cooler these days.

Turn off the lights … save the planet?

Our Take

From the News Editor

Yes, Diana Christopulos and her companion Mark McClain are unabashed tree huggers, with the Cool Cities Coalition and the Sierra Club being major missions these days. The couple finished a through-hike of the Appalachian Trail earlier this year and spend much of their time talking about saving the earth – from actions as “minor” as passing out compact fluorescent light bulbs; those swirling, squiggly bulbs that use about 75 percent less energy than do the regular fluorescents, according to McClain.

He explained as much to several classes at William Byrd High School last week, trying along with Christopulos to elicit answers from students that may have been planning their Christmas break already.

Even if you do not believe that carbon emissions are the main cause of global warming, or if you question global warming itself, as does at least one columnist for this paper, the thought that human beings can help preserve what fossil fuel sources we have left for future generations by - for starters - recycling and turning off lights when someone leaves a room sounds easy enough. Unless you’ve tried to get teenagers to turn off lights.

McClain also spoke to students about the need to harvest sustainable energy sources - the ones that are replenished, like solar and wind. “The way we make and use energy needs to be addressed,” said McClain. Who knows, in two to four years, armed with college degrees, some of those kids last week at William Byrd may be designing more efficient collection systems for sustainable energy sources, perhaps inspired by the Salem couple’s presentation.

Wind energy, solar and geothermal could replace several hundred coal-fired plants by 2030 said McClain, if everyone climbs aboard the renewable energy bandwagon. Bio-fuels for vehicles, like those made with corn, are just a “stopgap” he added, one that puts pressure on the world’s food supply.

McClain pushed the “two percent solution,” asking students to reduce their own carbon fuel emissions 2% a year for the next 40 years, by driving less, recycling more, using those compact fluorescent bulbs, turning off unneeded lights and other appliances. Get involved said McClain, embrace a “conservation culture.”

Christopulos said the Cool Cities Coalition “are the people in the valley that say, hey, we need to do these things. We feel like we are part of the solution [and] hope you will be too.” The couple said they have reduced their own carbon footprint by 30% over the last two years and offer a worksheet at rvccc.org where others can figure out how much carbon dioxide they are pumping into the air.

Their presentation came about at the behest of Byrd guidance coordinator Patrick Patterson, who said “its good for our kids” to think about such things. Even for those that haven’t signed on to the global warming theory, if we can use up less fossil fuels, preserving them for future generations, while also developing renewable energy sources that could mean cleaner, healthier air – and more jobs for our children – doesn’t it make sense to move in that direction? Now if can just get our kids to turn off the lights when they leave a room …

(originally published in The Roanoke Star-Sentinel)

Plane down, social networking

Still can't get over what happened in NY yesterday, or how everyone got out alive when jet went into the Hudson. It just shows how folks can really come together in a time of crisis. Hope that's what we see after Obama becomes prez - people coming together, regardless of party, race, etc.

Just getting the hang of this stuff.. Facebook, blogging. I see how it can take up big chunks of your time!

first post

Plane went in the river in NY today ... was on that flight path many times taking off from LaGuardia when I lived there ...