Shifting Gears

Time marches on. I can't really remember when I began this blog. I think it was in April of 2007. However, my interest in Countryside Golf Course dates back 40 years. I've been writing about the course ever since I can remember. As the events of 2005 unfolded, I found myself becoming more vocal and pointed in my written thoughts. Those thoughts and feelings were the genesis of this blog. Over the past couple of years, this blog has been instrumental in focusing positive attention on the golf course and marshaling forces devoted to saving it.

Along the way, Valerie Garner became an integral part of this blog. She worked tirelessly as an advocate, watchdog, and director of this blog. Now she has electronically moved on to her new site:

The Roanoke Free Press

This site will feature the same detailed Countryside coverage as well as fascinating community oriented topics. I encourage all readers to mark down The Roanoke Free Press as the source of information regarding Countryside.

This blog will continue to operate as an archive. In addition, I may add my own content from time to time relating to the course and the efforts by some to dismantle it.

Countryside Golf Course is safe for now, but insecurity is only one budget battle away.

Thom Ryder

March 2 - Request For Proposal

According to Brian Townsend a RFP will come before Council that will offer a 10-year lease for the Countryside property. According to Friday's budget work session the money to fix up Countryside can come from the Parks & Recreation Master Plan that was adopted by Council for funding at $7 million a year for 5 years. The amount suggested was $3 million for Countryside. To balance the budget, however, the City Manager, Darlene Burcham and Sherman Stovall, Dir. of Management and Budget had the $7 million as an option to postpone one year as a way to cut this year. So it will be interesting to see what happens on March 2. Also deferred to out year(s) is funding planned for the new super library.

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The three Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) that were not in the pipeline were Countryside (funding suggested above), the Market building (funding potential from Economic & Community Development Reserve for a portion) - question: is this where the amphitheatre money sits?

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The third item is the potential Conference (Hotel Roanoke) Center expansion (part can come from Conference Center Commission Reserves).

A 60 Degree Day At Countryside!

What a day - the golfers came out of the woodwork or wherever they hibernate in the Winter.

Lone Golfer in 20 Degree Weather

Only Golfer Playing at Countryside

Stopped by to visit the lonely Countryside Manager and found one car and one die hard golfer. He must have received new clubs for Christmas to be so anxious to get out on the course in 20 degree weather.

On another note - Brian Townsend, Assistant Manager for Community Development said the request for proposal (RFP) for 10 years of operation would go out the end of February or first of March. I asked since the city is maxed out debt wise how would the City pay for the desparately needed maintenance. Townsend wavered but indicated that they would look for someone responding to the RFP to offer to pay for the immediate maintenance needed for the golf course. I remarked that it would take longer then 10 years to recoup 1.2 million dollars. Townsend just shrugged.

Airport Land Lease Costs City More - MUCH MORE

The previous lease of Roanoke Airport Authority land used for Countryside Golf Club fairways cost the previous owners and now the City of Roanoke $4800 a year. This was attached to the 40 year lease that originated in 1967 when the golf course was built. It actually increased slightly from an original $1000.

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As part of the deal to swap land with the airport to widen the Runway Protection Zone for runway 6 the Airport Commission agreed to a new 10-year lease AT THE COST OF $18,000 a year - a 375% increase!

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According to Brian Townsend, Assistant City Manager, the land was assessed by a rental appraiser. This is more than the City gets from the Meadowbrook Golf lease of $17,500 a year. So not only are they paying on the $4 million debt and losing real estate tax they are now losing $500 a year in this poorly negotiated transaction.

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Even at that Granger MacFarlane, Roanoke City's representative on the Airport Commission voted "NO" on the 10-year lease. MacFarlane said "that he felt that the Commission would rue the day when the decision was made to go from a 5 year lease to a 10 year lease on the golf course property and that he thinks the Commission's negotiation position was given up." Taken from the ROA Commission minutes of November 11th.

Forest Park - "Dances With The Stars"

On Thursday, December 18th, seven students were recognized as graduates of Forest Park Academy at the Hotel Roanoke. Among them was Charneice Davis, 18, who just passed the Algebra SOL test and will graduate as the first semester ends in January. This was only a few weeks after her older brother, Chaz, passed the same test to become the first Forest Park Academy graduate. Chaz gave Charneice the inspiration to give it a shot too. Chaz and Charneice were forced to drop out of school to find work after their mother died 10 years ago. Charneice was sure she could not pass the Algebra SOL with only a week’s preparation. Staff worked with Charneice late into the evenings and now she is on track to complete all requirements for graduation in January.

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Lissy Merenda instructed the students in social and workplace skills. The students are now "well rounded individuals," said Merenda. Donna Dilley’s dance class paid off as the students demonstrated the merengue on the hotel dance floor.

Student, Terrance Meade, 17, will graduate in June and plans to go to University of North Carolina to become a computer engineer. His lofty goal is to invent his very own computer that he will name (with a little humility) the "Meade Computer" - just like "Apple Computer," said Meade.

Asha Wright, 17, will also graduate in June and plans to first go to Virginia Western Community College then transfer to King College in Tennessee. She get’s excellent grades but would have been a few credits short of graduating in June if it were not for the accelerated course work at the Academy. Asha, "just loves babies," and plans to be a neonatal nurse.

Walmart Marketing Manager, Mark Young, and Aaron Robins, Manager of the 220 Walmart Store, presented Principal Eric Anderson, School Administrator Rita Bishop, and School Board Chairman David Carson with a check for $25,000. Young said that this check is to, "make it [Academy] even bigger and better." Bishop said to the students, "this [Walmart] is your community believing in you … an investment in you."

School Board member, Todd Putney, said that "people that don’t interact with these students don’t know how great these kids are … they just don’t get it." People have a tendency to "stay at arms-length" but these students have a story behind their faces as well as a high level of motivation. Putney explained that one missed opportunity for these children to become productive citizens not only effects the rest of their lives but impacts the community as a whole.

"Poison Ivy" at Forest Park Academy

"At night when you're sleeping poison ivy comes a creeping around." No, there were no students twitchin’ and itchin’ in Forest Park Academy’s gym Friday but 14 students danced to tunes like the song "Poison Ivy" originally recorded by The Coasters in 1959.

The Forest Park Academy gym is where Donna Dilley teaches what started out as a "ballroom dance" class but evolved into other dances like the cha-cha and some good ol‘ rock and role moves. In addition to dance classes, Dilley conducts etiquette training programs for young people through the National League of Junior Cotillions. These programs help High School students build self-esteem, confidence and character.

"Dr. Bishop wanted to build social capital in all activities," said Principal Eric Anderson. Anderson admitted that his own experience failing the traditional waltz test at a wedding sold him on the need for the dance class.

The same students have taken the classes since they started in November. Eighteen students or nine couples in total. "If they do their work all week then they can go to dance class," said Anderson.

The excitement during the 2:00 to 3:30 PM Friday afternoon dance class was proof of their motivation to "do the work." The students’ next challenge could even be a "Dance with the Stars" competition.

This Friday was the Academy’s "highest attendance day ever," said Principal Anderson. He admitted that the first year of Forest Park Academy has been a challenge. Not all students have stuck it out but as Anderson said to students on orientation day, "staff is not babysitters … if you don’t want to be here then this is not the school for you."

Anderson said staff is "learning [the program] as they go." The Outreach Department goes to students’ homes while the Fulfillment Department holds student planning sessions where all career paths are open to them.