craigslist comes to Roanoke and Blacksburg
For those who haven’t heard, Roanoke and Blacksburg now have their own craigslist!
Green Frog gives one for the team
Today I was fortunate enough to stand for my friend Ric as a groomsman at his wedding in West Virginia. It was an outside wedding and started to look like it was going to rain but we were fortunate that the rain held off until the tent was being packed away many hours after the ceremony.
It was a harrowing day for me personally and I’m glad to be back at home in Roanoke, dry and frogless. My adventures starts when I was walking up to the front of the tent to stand with the groom and groomsmen and I passed by a flaming torch which quite nearly engulfed my shoulder (while I was blissfully unaware). During the ceremony, a black wasp was flying around harrassing the soon to be wedded couple, minister and best man. It soon turned its attention to myself and as I watched it fly around me (while trying not to make a move) it soon disappeared. I found out later from Rocky behind me, it had crawled up under the back of my sports coat. I feel fortunate not to have aggravated it at that point. And finally, during the reception I spotted a Green Frog (Rana clamitans melanota). Being the amateur herpetologist that I am, I decided to step in front of him to prevent his escape into the creek. Hong Kong Froggy then takes a flying leap over my foot while at the same time letting loose with a stream of frog urine that would make many a horse jealous. His stream of watery defense strikes me square in the ankle and leg, wetting my pants leg and sock. At this point, I find it’s best to leave him be.
All in all it was a fun and exciting day. Many heartfelt congratulations and blessings to Ric and Sharon!
Roanoke County hosts drive-in movies
The Roanoke County Parks Department will be hosting drive-in movies this summer in three of the county’s larger parks. Walrond Park, Starkey Park and Vinyard Park will play host to “Shark Tale” (June 24), “Shrek” (July 29), and “E.T.” (August 26) respectively. You can find more information on this great family activity hosted by Roanoke County at the Roanoke County Parks website.
Virginia schools receive a ‘D’ for school lunch programs
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has issued a report slamming 23 states for poor school lunch programs. According to CSPI, the Commonwealth of Virginia received a ‘D’ for it’s school nutrition programs.
There is currently bipartisan legislation pending in Congress to address the issue of school nutrition. According to CSPI-
Bipartisan legislation (S. 2592 and H.R. 5167) introduced earlier this year would require USDA to bring its nutrition standards for foods sold out of vending machines, school stores, and a la carte in line with current nutrition science, and to apply those standards to all foods sold on campus throughout the school day.
Interestingly, Kentucky received the highest grade for school nutrition in the nation, an ‘A-’.
- Roanoke County school lunch menus
- Roanoke City school lunch menus
- Salem school lunch menus (link on left menu)
Real Estate development in Troutville
According to the Roanoke Times, there is a new real estate development in the works for Troutville in Botetourt County. The area in question, a rolling 43-acre tract of landing bordering Route 11 near the corner of Valley Road will be developed to include a nature preserve, chipping green, horse barns and 3-story apartment buildings.
“The project…would house enough people to double the population of Troutville. The Troutville Town Council has embraced the project. It recently approved Tam’s request to rezone about half of the property from agricultural to multifamily residential.”
I don’t know about you, but I think one of the major attractions of the Troutville area is it’s quaintness and relative peace and quiet.
“William Rader, the town’s mayor, said the town council doesn’t think the development will dramatically affect the look of the town because Tam told him it will be hidden by tree cover.”
(Emphasis added)
I don’t know about the town council, but I think doubling the population of the town and adding 3-story buildings and a driving range qualifies as a dramatic change in such a small town.
It also begs the question, how does Botetourt County and the Town of Troutville plan to support such a huge change in population with services such as fire and rescue and schools?
Botetourt County officials, however, have some concerns about the impact the project will have on emergency services, schools and traffic along U.S. 11. Erosion and sediment control are other concerns.
Isn’t that what I just said?
“It seems pretty aggressive to me to build that number of units in that location,” said Botetourt County Administrator Jerry Burgess.
Well, at least someone appreciates that this is more than just an ornamental change to the landscape and community. Wouldn’t it be nice if for once real estate developers would just come out and be a little more forthright?
Maybe a statement like this–
‘Yes, this development is large, wieldy and will dramatically change the community, but it will make me a lot of money’.
We can only hope.
Back in Roanoke
Well I’m glad to be back in Roanoke after a week-long vacation in Ocean Isle Beach, NC. I had a great time with my family (even though I spent the first two days sick and in bed) as we visited the beach for many walks at all times of the day and night, dining and general all-around beach activities.
It amazes me the price of real estate down there. A single half-acre lot near the beach can go from $399,000 to $699,000. That’s just for the land people, it doesn’t include the home to go on it! It makes me glad to live in an area like Roanoke where the real estate is much more reasonable!
I’ve had several people contact me recently after locating my blog on the Internet while searching for real estate in Roanoke. I am very thrilled naturally to have potential new customers to help in their search for Roanoke real estate, but also that the blog is bringing interested (and interesting) people to me. I’m looking forward to talking with more of you!
NewVa Connects
What in the world is NewVa Connects?
A. newvaCONNECTS is a new organization devoted to uniting young professionals in the Roanoke region.
For all you 20 and 30-something professionals out there, Roanoke now has a professional organization with you in mind. Check it out at – http://www.newvaconnects.org/. There will be a roundtable discussion on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 6pm at the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce for those interested.
It’s about time too, I’m looking forward to the benefits this can bring the Roanoke Valley and NewVa region.
Furry creatures beware
It’s been a harrowing few days for the fauna of the Roanoke Valley. Recently I myself have inadvertently (and with much regret) run over with my car a bird and a rabbit. The bird I hit traveling down I-581 in Roanoke City and the poor rabbit ran underneath my car while traveling in the Hollins area. I never saw it, my wife pointed it out. Sad. I also witnessed yesterday a squirrel get run over by someone else and I have noted more than the usual number of dead animals on the side of the road, including a beagle on I-81 heading back to Roanoke from Christiansburg yesterday.
My conclusion- there must be some sort of El Niño effect over the Roanoke Valley now causing mass confusion and hysteria amongst the animals. If you’re furry and you crawl around on four legs best take shelter for a few days until this is over!
A day of sixes
Today was the day of sixes, much doom and gloom predicted by some but I just think it’s cool. It won’t happen again for 1000 years. Of course, 6-6-66 will be around in 60 years! Thanks to Vic for holding the atomic clock!
Copperhill Road
OFF MARKET
Just got back a little while ago from the Copper Hill area of Floyd County. I had to go to put a for sale sign on an eight-acre parcel of real estate I now have listed. It’s a fantastic eight acres- very secluded and private with a rustic home, studio, spring, small stream and comfortably nestled in the holler. The asking price is $92,000. It would make a great artist’s retreat or weekend getaway spot. For the right handy person this property is a steal! There’s abundant evidence of wildlife on the property. I noticed deer tracks right away and just up from the home is a huge area of turkey scratchings. And speaking of turkey, a turkey crossed the road directly in front of me on the way up there.
To get to the land, you need to head up Route 221 from Roanoke and travel through the Back Creek area of Roanoke County, over Bent Mountain and to Copper Hill just inside Floyd County. Take a right on Copper Hill Road to a right on Pine Forest Road. Go down until you reach Sugar Run Road and take a left. The property is not too far down Sugar Run Road on the left. You’ll see my Park Place REALTORS sign at the entrance to the driveway.
