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It’s a beautiful day

Posted on March 19, 2008 | Filed Under Random Thoughts

Just wishing everyone a happy day. Spring is almost here and I’ve already noticed the number of phone calls I’ve received have increased significantly and my web visitors have doubled in the last month!

Folks are looking to buy and sell real estate this year, contrary to the nay saying we hear in the media.

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Five things you might not know about me

Posted on March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Ramble On

Jeremy Hart asked Stuart Mease who tapped me for this meme as a way to share information from blogger to blogger to increase exposure and give a more personal touch to a blog. So here you go-

  1. I am an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. As a Boy Scout I was able to do a lot of amazing things and take some really fantastic trips to places like Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico!
  2. I spent almost 7 years in jail from 1998-2005. (I actually worked there as a magistrate!) One midnight shift I smashed a giant jail roach with a volume from the Code of Virginia, quite literally throwing the book at it.
  3. While in college I volunteered with the Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department as a cardiac technician on the rescue squad. Saw many tragic things.
  4. We have a golden retriever named Rooster. He’s a mischievous fellow and likes to raid the laundry for his favorite item to play keep-away…our socks.
  5. I worked for 4 summers at Camp Bethel near Troutville on the summer staff. One of the things I enjoyed most was working as the naturalist and one of my assumed responsibilities was to rid the main areas of any snakes that wondered in. I was given the nickname “Snakeman” by the kids!

So it is now time to pass this along to someone else.  I think I will tap Todd Hester and Rhett Fleitz.

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Roanoke’s prosecutor should look inward for problems

Posted on October 10, 2007 | Filed Under Rants

The Roanoke Times recently wrote an article about the Timothy Workman trial in Roanoke. Mr. Workman is the ex-DEA agent recently acquitted in the shooting death of a man outside a local restaurant several years ago. Apparently Donald Caldwell, the elected Roanoke City commonwealth’s attorney made some statements that local police have found offensive and inappropriate during the trial. Here are a few excerpts from the Times story-

“Roanoke police officers challenged the city’s top prosecutor Tuesday, rejecting remarks in which he compared a city officer to Barney Fife in open court.

Caldwell criticized police for allowing Workman, an off-duty Drug Enforcement Administration agent, to walk around and speak with investigators after the shooting rather than handcuffing him and isolating him like any other suspect.

Comparing Garrett to the bungling deputy sheriff on “The Andy Griffith Show,” Caldwell described him as “the good-hearted guy who tries to help out, but he doesn’t quite get it right.”

As a former Magistrate in Roanoke City, I have worked with the criticized police officer on many occasions and besides always being extremely professional and competent with me, I found him to always be respectful to those under arrest as well.

In this instance, it seems to me like another opportunity for the City’s elected prosecutor to sling mud and blame someone else for his own office’s blunders. I often found Mr. Caldwell’s office uncooperative (they are charged with advising the magistrates if necessary) and condescending towards victims, professionals and others on more than once occasions. Enough to classify it as an attitude endemic to himself and his employees.

Rather than fighting with federal authorities over which crimes they prosecute, it seems like the CA would want the Feds to prosecute in the cases where the criminals would get more time and therefore keep them out of our community longer. Instead, it smacks of a childish, territorial game played out at the expense and slandering of an otherwise professional police officer.

From Roanoke’s Chief of Police, Joe Gaskins-

Roanoke Police Chief Joe Gaskins said he is unaware of any complaint against Garrett in the officer’s 17-year career with the department.

“Kenny Garrett is a fine officer and for anyone to assume they knew what was in his mind without any proof was erroneous, period,” Gaskins said.

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Roanoke Arts Festival - October 4-7, 2007

Posted on August 23, 2007 | Filed Under Roanoke Happenings

The Roanoke Arts Festival is coming again!

I just received a press release from the tba: Thomas Becher Agency about the upcoming Roanoke festival and want to pass it on to you.

Highlights of this year’s festival include performances from Judy Collins, Grammy Award winner Ramsey Lewis and the Ramsey Lewis Trio & Little Feat.  Also there will be literature and poetry reading from the faculty and students of Hollins University Graduate Program in Creative Writing (which is a real treat if you’ve never attended a Hollins reading) and of course the Downtown Living Tour.

See more things to do here.

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iRealEstate Kiosk at Valley View Mall

Posted on August 14, 2007 | Filed Under Random Real Estate, Real Estate News, Roanoke Happenings

The real estate kiosk at Valley View Mall, brought to you by iRealEstate, LLC is finally here.  It took the better part of two days to get this interactive real estate center up and running.  If you’re an agent and are interested in advertising, call (540) 397-0014.  If you’re a homeowner and want your house advertised at the mall, visit the kiosk and talk to the agent on duty!

Here are some photos from the install!

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More kiosks coming soon to-

Tanglewood Mall
Smith Mountain Lake
New River Valley Mall
River Ridge Mall

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Valley View cracks down on kids

Posted on June 29, 2007 | Filed Under Roanoke Happenings

The Roanoke Times is reporting that Valley View Mall has created a new underage policy, to go into effect on July 13, prohibiting “teenagers from hanging out at the mall without adult supervision on Friday and Saturday nights.”

The policy will require anyone under the age of eighteen to be escorted by a parent or guardian on Friday and Saturday evenings after 6:00pm.  Valley View Mall advises ID will be required at mall entrances.

You can read Valley View Mall’s announcement here.  I wonder how many extra security guards and Roanoke City Police officers that’s going to take?

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The Bald Eagle

Posted on June 28, 2007 | Filed Under Random Thoughts

“I know he’d be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly“
John Denver from Rocky Mountain High

Although not a Smith Mountain Lake real estate story per se, I felt that writing about the delisting from the endangered species list today of the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was definitely a topic worth writing about. The Bald Eagle has always held a special place in my heart as the symbol of our great country and also having earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a younger me in the Boy Scouts it holds even more significance (did you know only 5% of boys who enter Boy Scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank?).

Several news organizations wrote on the delisting today-

Washington Post - U.S. Declares Bald Eagles No Longer Threatened
CNN - Bald eagle soars off endangered list
New York Times - Bald Eagles, Thriving, Settle Into Suburban Life

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Former Roanoke Postmaster runs for Botetourt Supervisor

Posted on June 12, 2007 | Filed Under Random Thoughts, Roanoke Happenings

My cousin, Billy Martin, former USPS Postmaster for Roanoke, local artist and mediator has been endorsed by the Botetourt County Republican Committee for a seat on the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors, Blue Ridge District.

You can read more from the Roanoke Times and this Botetourt County blog.

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Vinton, VA crime locator map

Posted on June 4, 2007 | Filed Under Roanoke Happenings

The Town of Vinton, Virginia has joined the ranks of cities such as Chicago, Las Vegas and San Francisco by implementing an online crime tracker map according to this Roanoke Times story.

It’d be nice if Roanoke City, Roanoke County and other surrounding police departments did the same.  It’d be a real service to home buyers who want to check out the crime stats in the neighborhoods they’re looking to buy real estate in.

You can check out Vinton’s crimes here-  http://vinton.va.crimeviewcommunity.com/

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New York Yankees donate $1M to Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

Posted on May 24, 2007 | Filed Under Roanoke Happenings

The Roanoke Times, New York Yankees and HokieSports.com are reporting that the New York Yankees has donated $1M dollars to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund in memory of the Virginia Tech tragedy.  Virginia Tech President Charles Steger was invited to New York to throw a pitch off the mound at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night.

It’s also being reported that the Yankees will play an exhibition game against the VT baseball team next spring somewhere near the Blacksburg campus.  The Salem Avalanche stadium in Salem, Virginia has been mentioned as one possibility.  That would be pretty cool!

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Website recommendation to save you $$

Posted on May 9, 2007 | Filed Under Random Thoughts

I’ve used this website for some time to save money on my online purchases. RetailMeNot.com allows you to search for coupons and discounts for online merchants. It’s as easy as pie. Visit their site, type in the web address of the site you’re shopping at (here’s a sample search: www.amazon.com) and then click search. It will present you with a list of online discounts to use when you’re checking out. I recently saved $20 on a purchase using their service!

Visit their site: www.retailmenot.com

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It just makes me happy

Posted on May 7, 2007 | Filed Under Ramble On

I’m not sure if it’s the music, the carefree dancing or both together, but Matt Harding has it done right in his videos of himself dancing in remote and not-so-remote places around the world. His first video was a viral hit and landed him a second sponsored opportunity to produce a new video on behalf of Stride gum. Way to go Matt! Life should be this much fun for all of us! Thanks to my lovely wife Allison for pointing out this guy’s brilliance and zest for life.

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Tonight I was a Hokie.

Posted on April 17, 2007 | Filed Under Other Stuff

This afternoon we went to Virginia Tech to participate in the candlelight vigil organized by the students at VT. It was a beautiful experience of community healing, mourning and comfort. I’ve debated since yesterday, which seems an eternity ago, about whether I would post any comments or feelings about this tragedy. After tonight, I do feel like posting, not so much about the events of yesterday but the experiences of today.

After arriving in Blacksburg, we drove to Lane Stadium and parked in one of the overflow lots nearby. From there we walked toward the drill field. Neither my wife or I knew exactly where we were going and after a few minutes of walking we found ourselves beside the West A.J. dormitory. Allison had a very visceral reaction to being so close to this scene and my heart was troubled. We quickly moved away and found our way to the drill field well ahead of the candlelight vigil.


Reprinted with permission from Ben Lansing.

There was the constant reminder that this was a crime scene. Norris Hall is visible from the drill field with crime scene tape still intact and stuck in trees, placed there by the blustery winds. I counted 15 to 20 Virginia State Troopers around the drill field and we passed twice as many on our way to the drill field.

One thing that struck me was how quiet the campus was and how few people were around. Having been at the VT campus before I was expecting students to be out in the field, throwing the frisbee and socializing but there were probably less than 100 people out there. We found some candles and walked around the field. There was a minister playing guitar and singing songs of comfort, people were gathered around the impromptu memorial and gathered in small groups. It was a beautiful afternoon…brilliant blue skies and white clouds.

Shortly before the vigil began students and people began pouring out of dormitories and buildings, streaming in from the surrounding sidewalks. Estimates are around 20,000 to 40,000 people in attendance. What a privilege it was. Everyone was packed closely together holding the cold at bay and holding their candles of hope and comfort. The service was short but packed with good things. The media keeps playing the Hokie chant but the thing that struck me most was the playing of taps and the spontaneous singing of Amazing Grace by the large crowd.

Tonight, I was a Hokie.

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Roanoke City takes lead in new business initiative

Posted on January 31, 2007 | Filed Under Roanoke Happenings

On February 6, 2007 at 11:00am at the Valley View Mall Marble Court (in front of JCPenney on the first floor) the City of Roanoke will be announcing a new online tool to assist the city economic development team in determining new business and retailers to invite to consider the Roanoke region. Through this online portal, the City is seeking input from the citizens and region on who they should attempt to attract to Roanoke. Here’s a short excerpt from their pre-announcement–

In an effort to address the needs of the changing population and increase the quality of life of residents and visitors, a program to aggressively seek and attract retailers to Roanoke will be rolled out on February 6. The City of Roanoke will announce a new Web-based program, MyRetailRoanoke.com, to assist in economic development efforts focused on attracting new retailers and service providers to Roanoke. Join Roanoke Mayor Nelson Harris and City Manager Darlene Burcham on February 6 at 11 a.m. at Valley View Mall’s Marble Court on the 1st floors adjacent to JC Penney. We encourage all local bloggers to attend.

I’ll see you there!

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ING Checking

Posted on January 8, 2007 | Filed Under Other Stuff

I myself use ING Savings, wasn’t aware there was an ING checking yet but thanks to Cameron Johnson for getting the word out–

Do you use ING Direct? I do, and have since I turned 18. Now, they even let minors setup savings accounts. ING is an online savings account that pays very respectable interest rates. They’re super easy to use and best of all they charge no fees and pay rates you’ll never find at a bank for a liquid savings account with no minimum. Check them out at www.ingdirect.com.

Well it just gets better! A few weeks ago I was invited to open an ING Checking Account. And I did just that. Why? Why not? They offer no minimum balance, a Mastercard Debit Card, free ATM access, free bill pay, and a 3% interest rate (about 10x that of banks). And yes, it’s FDIC insured. Look out brick-and-mortar banks. ING and other virtual banks are going to grow by leaps and bounds and prove to be an even bigger threat in the years to come. One more added perk of an ING Checking account, is their new free $1,000 overdraft protection. You’ll never get a “non-sufficient funds” charge from ING - instead they give you an instant credit line so if you write a check for $30 you don’t have, they’ll accept it and not charge you a large fee but instead charge a “competitive interest rate” which would typically cost you less than a few bucks until you replenish your balance. I’m told their new checking account will be available to all customers in Jan or Feb 2007.

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