National Night Out August 7th and Funeral for The Wicked Witch of Countryside

I found a UTube clip titled "Funeral at Countryside". It gave me the idea to have a ceremony after putting the feed on Tuesday evening. The winner of the naming contest will be announced. The "noname" wicked witch will be present at the ceremony to accept her name/fate. We will then have a procession in full regalia (all wearing our Save Countryside T-Shirts) carrying her with us as we walk the Ranch and Mattaponi gauntlet. We will then stop at the Save Countryside Banner for a moment of silence, stick (name here) into the ground beside the banner wearing the Countryside T-Shirt. Have her pointing at the banner and leave her there to whatever fate may befall her. Oh, the humanity!

A present for Newt ...

Can you spot them here?.

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Easy pickin's for a skilled golf ball hunter like Newt and his trusty staff. I got tangled up in butterfly bushes and whatever else I have not controled this year due to the demands of my second unpaid job. Newt, you better come get them as it is now public knowledge that these gemstones have been unearthed. Thanks for all your help, dude!

Pilgrims

Pilgrims

There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual energy of wind.
Annie Dillard

A Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

Annie Dillard penned those words in her Pulitzer Prize book, A Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, in 1974. At the time she was writer in residence at Hollins College and spent hours upon hours sitting beside that ordinary stream. I read her book shortly thereafter, and it had a profound impact on me.

First I felt a keen sense of community pride in knowing that Annie Dillard wrote that internationally acclaimed book right here in the Roanoke Valley. One of my best friends was living in faculty housing at Hollins back then and would frequently go with Annie to just hang out by the creek with her. She even was mentioned in the book several times. I thought that was so cool.

Even more importantly, that book impacted the way I perceived my environment. Growing up beside the Kinsey Dairy which later became Arrowood (Countryside), I was used to traipsing around the course as my father played rounds of golf. While he played, I wandered the wilder sections just off the fairways.

Before Annie’s book, I already found great enjoyment in finding living treasures under the flight path of the Piedmont DC-3’s and later Boeing 707’s. I’d see all types of snakes and invariably all of them were misidentified as copperheads or water moccasins (There are no poisonous water snakes in these parts). I’d surprise red foxes and even the more shy grey foxes as they slinked around the seventeenth hole. All manner of birds flitted around, singing atop their lungs. My favorite birds were the Meadowlarks. They’re hard to come by these days, but back then, they’d nest in the grassy rough areas beside twelfth hole fairway. Their brown-speckled white eggs were tough to spot nestled in the tall grasses. Nice bass and catfish swam in the sixteenth hole lake and good-sized perch there made for some excellent fishing afternoons. The lake at the seventh tee and sixth green had some of the largest bullfrogs hiding in their mud holes on the shore. I’d walk past those big 'ole frogs, and they would let out resonating burps before diving into their mud homes. I never was quick enough to catch them. Over at the second hole pond, snapping turtles ruled the water like alligators. Frankly, I was always scared of them. Dillard’s book made me realize how rich and fragile this living world really is.

As a judgment day looms, I find myself sitting back and wondering why I care so deeply about saving Countryside. In the end my best response to myself is that if I don’t stand up and be counted, then I’d always live to regret it. Countryside is more than a golf course and recreation space to me. It’s a living wild society co-existing with Man’s mechanical world. That society has endured the scars of Man; planes, roads, homes, and golfers. It’s learned to adapt to all of that. But the changes being contemplated by our city leaders this time, if enacted, would permanently erase that society.

There’s an avenue that is being ignored by the city, however. Countryside is a gem; a rough one, but one that only needs polishing. Wise city planners could use the existing space as a recreational hub that would utilize the existing beauty of the land coupled with the accessibility of the tract for its citizens’ benefit. Such a recreational plan, which includes golf, tennis, swimming and recreation center, need not permanently pave over the existing environment.

So as decision time nears, I say very loudly to anyone reading this: SAVE COUNTRYSIDE!

It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.
Ansel Adams

Letter to Editor

Jim Skinner of Roanoke had a letter to the editor posted in today's Roanoke Times.

In the letter Jim brings up several excellent points. One of his primary points is that many localities have municipal golf courses for their citizens. According to his research, Virginia Beach alone has eleven courses and Fairfax has nine.

Mr. Skinner also suggested that the course be restored and upgraded to take advantage of opportunities for tournament action and play from visitors and business people.

His greatest point in my opinion is...

Once this course is developed, it will be gone forever.

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.

It's a foggy night at Countryside

Runway 6 guide lights flashing towards the 12th green

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The Little House on the 13th tee blocks a guide light.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind on Runway 6 Approach
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This evening was one of those foggy nights here at Countryside Golf Course. The neighborhood was enveloped by very heavy wet air that activates the brightening of the guide lights on the approach to runway 6 at the corner of Ranch and Lewiston. This is where you golfers cross from the 12th green to the 13th tee. The brightening of the flashing strobe-like guide lights have to be experienced on a foggy night like this to get the full effect. The heavy air meeting the intensified brightness of the guide lights is almost 4th of Julyish. The first picture was taken from my patio. The second picture is of the little outhouse at the 13th tee location with a guide light flashing behind it? Sight of a fatal airplane crash in 1994 - CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE. I'm sure someone will comment here on its real use of this little house for this non-golfer. The third picture is right out of the movie - "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". It is the little ships making way for the mother ship. Won't the new home owners be surprised when their living rooms and bedrooms light up for the first time one foggy night? Video to come later as I just returned from the mother ship and am feeling a bit disoriented.

The People Speak

The Petition

For months now, we’ve been trumpeting the message: “SAVE COUNTRYSIDE!” All we can say is that Roanoke has responded! Our community wants to save the course and utilize the green space as a golf and recreational area for the entire city.

Our online petition offers a unique public comment area. We’ve taken those comments and presented them here.

Countryside is an incredible asset to the entire Roanoke Valley and needs to be preserved and developed as a recreational facility for the Northwest section of the city. "Developing" the Countryside property as a residential/business area is shortsighted and destructive.

This is the perfect use for this property. Adding more people under will create liability for any builder, realtor, and the city in the future as I have seen it happen elsewhere with a crash and as planes get nosier.

THE ONLY REASON WE MOVED TO OUR LOCATION WAS THE GOLF COURSE. WE ARE CERTAIN WITHOUT ANY DOUBT THAT KEEPING A GOLF COURSE INTHIS LOCATION WITH SWIMMING AND TENNIS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL POSSIBILITIES WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE SURROUNDING CITY AREA AND FOR OUR FUTURE CHILDREN GROWING UP. THIS REALLY WOULD BE A WASTE TO DESTROY THE POSSIBILITIES.

Save the course!

Having a municipal golf course would be a great addition to the Parks and Rec. Dept!

No comment should be necessary; it obvious that the area should remain a golf course and other amenities updated and upgraded.

We definitely need indoor tennis courts on that side of town

Whether or not Countryside has a name change - the city of Roanoke would lose out by not keeping it as a public golf course. I've noticed that the staff at Countryside is afraid to spend any extra money to maintain the upkeep on the course now because they don't know what will happen there next.

I grew up in NW and have never moved far from my early beginnings. We need a recreational area in the NW, Why are we being left out from the city planning?

One of the things that was mentioned regarding the uniqueness and genuine beauty of Roanoke, when being named All American City, was the allure of the Countryside gold course. Located so snugly, yet effortlessly convenient, but it adds a nuance to a city the size of Roanoke, that most Major cities NEVER achieve. When I supported the 'development' of countryside, I as many of my friend ASSUMED they meant, taking our jewel of a golf course, and developing it into a diamond of a golf course. New club house, fixing the wonderful pool and indoor tennis courts to their previous luster. NONE of us THOUGHT the city was thinking of creating anything other than a better golf course. With what we have seen in areas of Roanoke where some of the most beautiful homes ever built are starting to fall into decay, or be destroyed, (another beauty that made Roanoke what it is),... we need to go back and review ways to save those precious works of art. Somehow, the leadership of Roanoke seems to believe that the only way to generate revenues, improve our ability to draw in new business etc, etc,....is to destroy the things that MADE Roanoke considered "the best kept secret in the US'.... and SHOEHORN as many new projects as possible, into the smallest spaces. (i.e. New Art Museum) A project that ballooned from a few million to over 40 million I hear? Wouldn't make more since to build a Five million dollar museum, and put 35 million dollars of great art into it? Same mentality is being used for the golf course. If we can shoehorn several hundred houses into it, we can get this amount of revenue. I have run business' since I was 20 years old, ...and I can tell you, ... Smart use of money collect beats rampant spending every time. Stop this direction, use my tax money in a way that IMPROVES the STANDARD of living for each resident, ...and no the NUMBERS of residents living. This too will provide the revenues needed.

This is the best use of this land.

Don't forget that they can still turn the course into an Arnold Palmer signature course and bring in The PGA & LPGA for tournaments which the revenue would be astronomical just for the City motels alone.

I remember Countryside very well from my undergraduate days at VT. It would be a shame to lose it.

Please pay attention to us and do the right thing for once. The lovely thing about the Roanoke Valley is that we have so many wonderful amenities within minutes, Countryside being one of the major assets. Please don't turn Roanoke into another no class Podunk town.

Keep the property as a golf course. Improve it and its associated amenities and it will pay for itself many times over, as well as providing a recreation area for area citizens and an attraction for visitors. Imagine ...a city owned entity that pays for itself and provides many avenues of recreation.

Keep the property as a Golf Course and improve on it.

I live on the golf course, so I have a personal interest. The City should not be in the Real Estate business to begin with.

I think the Name should remain Countryside and Name the signature hole after Roy Stanley.

I am in full agreement with this petition. Keep the golf course alive! It is always a pleasure to play there, and who better to name the course after than Roy Stanley. He gave so much to this community.

This is a great opportunity for Roanoke City to have a great Municipal Golf Course near the Airport and a major shopping area for Southwestern Virginia. It will not only be a good recreational area for Roanoke City citizens but an additional draw for tourism.

I live in Vinton now, but grew up in Roanoke and graduated from Fleming in 1978. Roanoke Country Club is only about 1 mile from Countryside. Why don't they put new housing and businesses there?

I agree with what was written and will be glad to sign any petition to keep Countryside.

ROANOKE CITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A STATE OF THE ART GOLF COURSE THAT COULD BE THE ENVY OF ALL LOCALITIES. IT CAN BE A TOURIST ATTRACTION BY OFFERING GOLF PACKAGES ALIGNED WITH ONE OF THE NEARBY MOTELS. THE PACKAGE COULD EVEN INCLUDE DINNERS AT ONE OR MORE OF THE FINE RESTAURANTS NEAR BY AND COULD EVEN INCLUDE TICKETS TO A PLAY AT THE MILL MOUNTAIN THEATRE. GOLFERS LOVE TO TAKE TRIPS TO GREAT GOLF COURSES AND THEIR WIVES WOULD LOVE THE SHOPPING AT VALLEY VIEW MALL. THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE TO PUT ROANOKE ON THE MAP FOR ANOTHER VENUE OF TOURISTS. SALEM CITY HAS ATTRACTED TOURISTS WITH THEIR STATE OF THE ART BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL FACILITIES. ROANOKE HAS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY IN THEIR HANDS. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS TAKE IT! PLEASE!

Countryside is a Maples design. He designed 30 or 40 golf courses, mostly in North and South Carolina. He is acknowledged in golf circles to be one of the top American golf architects. What a shame it would be to destroy one of his great works.

I learned to play golf as a 13 year old at Countryside and continue to play there to this day, it's the best course for the money in town and is also a great layout, we're short on affordable courses in the Valley. It adds a lot to the community and should be preserved!

I learned as a child how to play golf at countryside and i still play today at countryside and do not want it to go anywhere!!!

I have played the course regularly for many years and consider it a very positive recreational outlet for the Roanoke valley.

I think the city should consider operating the golf course as a public course and a source of revenue.

Keep the course as it was intended--GREENSPACE.

With the lack of recreational facilities in this quadrant of town, it would be a shame to lose Countryside Golf Course, pool and tennis club. With the "proposed" Wm Fleming stadium/track this could become a recreation hub for the northern portion of the city. Properly run this area will be a revenue generating entity for the city. If the City can allow a methadone clinic to be located in this area (less than 1,000 yards from a middle and high school) it seems entirely fair to work with the area on something positive that would increase livability and recreational opportunity in this area.