July 4th Fireworks Video/Music

Friday evening I enjoyed great company at a friends house on 6th Street, Southeast. We gathered for food and beverage and to watch the fireworks from my friend's deck. The anticipation built, the children got "antsy" and so did I. This was going to be my first attempt at taking pictures of fireworks and I was at the ready. The neighborhood fireworks had us jumping to the deck only to be greeted with a "false start". Then it happened low into the trees at first - then soring higher. I snapped pictures fast and furious. Captured here are the best of who knows how many shots I took - I lost count. This was not as easy as I had thought especially with no tripod. So TURN YOUR SPEAKERS ON for "Stars and Stripes" music accompaniment.

Local Colors May 2008 Video

The host country for Local Colors 2008 was the Philippines. Countryside Neighborhood member, Evelyn Sayers, who regularly attends our meetings and is always ready to help at our events dances in Local Colors again this year. Watch this video to the end and see our lovely neighbor.


The below video depicts the countries of Mexico, Greece, and India. You have to wait all the way to the end for the "hot" belly dancing!

Listen To The "Electro Krats"

A promise kept at the St. Patrick's Day parade today. A video of Roy Bedwell singing "Ring Of Fire" at the Roanoke City Democratic Committee Christmas Party in December. 2007. CLICK HERE AND TURN YOUR SPEAKERS ON.

Video - Unveiling Ceremony of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Monument

I had quite a bit of video and tried to capture a little bit of everything that transpired that day. I hope you enjoy the clip.

Relief - VP of Operations, Meadowbrook

Those who are on my email list received the very comforting response from the VP of Operations at Meadowbrook Headquarters in Florida. Just that he took the time to reply was a welcome surprise to me after Mr. Smith said he would not talk to me/us about the property anymore. Mr. Beasley seems to appreciate our efforts which is again a welcome relief from the silence we get unless we relentlessly "nag" for a response. We should continue to keep our eyes open on buffer and tree replanting. When the Zoning Commission Public Hearing is announced we should attend. I am still curious as to the plans for the expansion. You golfers may be "banking" off the building for a hole-in-one on Number 2 and Number 3!

URBAN STREET GOLF - AlmostGOLF Video:

Council Meeting - Trane Property - Wasena Park

UPDATE: Listen to message from Roanoke City Planning Department - moving the stake(s) 10 feet:

The RED Line is Where The Three Stakes Converge

The BLUE Line had NO Stakes - Should Follow the Tree Line

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It was a very, very long Council Meeting that I attended Monday. I went not only to present the pictures of the Trane Property that was staked off but to also support the Wasena Park group wanting to save the beautiful trees that will be cut down along the banks of the Roanoke River. This is part of the flood project being conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers. I went down to Wasena Park Sunday afternoon. I am SO jealous. The huge trees were showing their colors in all their splendor. The sun shown through them like a kaleidoscope. Take a moment to view the video. How I wish we had a park like that. It made me even more determined to hang onto this golf course. We all saw what the Countryside property means to the City and it did not include a "real" park. It was row upon row of houses, retail, and through traffic.

The "bench cut" to accommodate the flood reduction program at Wasena Park takes out Wiley Drive and will leave a permanent scar. It also prevents the disabled and our older citizens from reaching the Roanoke River picnic area. At least Council promised to revisit the aesthetics and the access when the engineers complete their work.
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After 2 hours I finally got to speak. Mayor Harris left so he did not hear the "public comments". I had pictures printed of the stakes that you see on the blog. I included a picture of the map above because pictures of stakes did not tell you anything unless you could put them together in an overview. Council did look at them and then they ended up with Ms. Burcham.

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In short I pointed out that this property line DOES interfere with play according to Meadowbrook management. That is unless Trane opens it's doors so golfers can play through. This conjures up scenes from the movie "Caddyshack" doesn't it?

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The bottom line is - according to Ms. Burcham, the City Manager, Meadowbrook had blessed the previously measured property lines. However, I explained that the stakes were far from what had been initially measured out according to Steve Smith, the golf course manager and golf pro, and would require the impossible task of reconfiguring number 3 fairway. I say impossible because there is barely anything left of number 3 now. I am very glad I went to the meeting because Ms. Burcham was unaware that the stakes had been planted and had not seen them.

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Here comes another "whoa Nellie" as Ms. Burcham was none too pleased that I brought it to the Council's attention before she became aware of it. I was very forgiving and said that I believed the stakes were just placed last week so it would be understandable that the City Administration may not have seen them yet. However, after the meeting when I approached her to reassure her that the stakes were recent I got the "ice box" and "no lookie in the eyes" shut out demeanor that has defined Ms. Burcham these many years. She gave me the pictures back without looking up .. "here you probably want these back ... we'll go out and take a look". I just hate that, just really hate that, smile, @:D

SEE WASENA PARK - Turn on your speakers:

September Sunflower at Countryside

Hot Day at Countryside Golf Course

These hardy souls at 2:30 PM Saturday afternoon in 104 degrees in the shade according to my temperature gauge. The trees are giving up their leaves to conserve what little moisture they can reach. The groundhog searches for water and food. The grass is so dry it feels like you are walking on needles with bare feet. This did not deter the golfers from their appointed rounds. Their clubs kicking up dust ... how do they do it ... WHY do they do it?

Peach Festival - Northwest Child Development Center - Stone Soul Picnic

The Stars of the show - watch them in action below.



Below is Stone Soul Picnic and NW Children's Choir Together

Tick ... Tick ... Tick ... August 1st Deadline Comes and Goes

No response from my inquiry to the Roanoke City Planning Department today regarding communication with the development team. Today was the deadline for Mike Morgan, Victor Foti, and Triangle Development to respond to comments from the April 3rd presentation. Perhaps tomorrow will yield a response. It is not a hard question ... did they respond or not? Let us hope this is not another Toll Brothers incident. You may recall what we went through waiting for the news that Toll Brothers pulled out of the project long before my Council presentation. The letter was received February 16, 2006. The City Manager knew Toll Brothers pulled out and said nothing at the February 21, 2006, Council meeting. Should time continue to tick away I will go back and analyze and post the email received from Mr. Townsend and Mr. Chittum to ensure I did not misundertsand the firmness of this deadline.

Close Encounters at Countryside

The Countryside Neighborhood has been stuck in the Twilight Zone for over 2 years now and it is wearing thin on all of us. We struggle to enjoy this treasured green space while still wondering what will become of us. Though the August 1st deadline looms large and the development team will be meeting with City Administration any day now we will not be privy to the discussion nor will we have a place at the table. Will there yet be another deadline extension? It has been almost a year since these developers submitted their response to the RFP (Request For Proposal) put out by City Administration. This Video is meant to amuse while presenting a satirical view of the insanity of building residences in the Roanoke Regional Airport overflight area and in the 65 DNL noise contour. The FAA discourages residential land use and considers a golf course a compatible land use for property this close to an airport runway. The VDOA website states that a municipality is opening themselves up to lawsuits by ignoring their citizens safety and not protecting unsuspecting citizens unaware their purchase is so close to an airport runway and the noise associated with aircraft flying overhead. Not to mention the guide lights that flash blindingly during poor visibility as demonstrated in this video.

THE HANGING OF THE BANNER!

This historic event took place today at approximately 4:30 PM. Mark it on your calendar as it will be the day the tide will turn for our community. Countryside Golf Course will have a new lease on life with such commitment and persistence of neighbors like those you see in this video clip - Ken and Rosanne Saunders and Al Steele. Countryside Neighborhood Alliance will prevail. Citizens of Roanoke, we need your help - CALL or EMAIL the City Council members. Tell them how important it is to the City of Roanoke to keep this treasured asset as a Municipal Golf Course. This vision will be applauded in years to come as the "smart" thing to do for the quality of life image for which Roanoke City is known. For more information email: savecountryside@cox.net

Entering the Video World

We're experimenting with adding video clips from YouTube to this site. In the future we can cover important community events and rallys as well as the news of the day from our point of view.

Stay Strong! Be Loud!