1. family and parenting
2. children

january/february 2015
centered
on
community.
family.
you.
Love is in the Air: Singing Valentines by The Virginia Gentlemen
by Noelle Milam
For over 40 years the Virginia Gentlemen, a local men’s a cappella do anything for Valentine’s Day because they felt like they needed to
group, have been delighting audiences with their barbershop-style rein in expenses after a big wedding. After the Virginia Gentlemen
harmonies. They perform in concerts and contests throughout the year, arrived at her workplace and began to sing, the woman simply
singing varied and diverse programs. According to their website, dissolved into happy tears. As Dr. Sherman tells it, by the end of the
www.roanokebarbershopharmony.org, the group performs a wide second song, the lead singer was so moved, that he began to cry too!
variety of music:
That
serenade
“Everything
ended with hugs
from show tunes
all around and
to big band
a
memorable
favorites,
pop
experience
for
tunes to do-wop,
everyone. “I tell
patriotic songs
husbands,” says
to
spirituals,
Sherman,
“it
and of course,
costs you a little
barbershop
up front, but it
classics.” Their
pays you a lot
mission is to offer
later.”
men of all ages
“ W h e n
“fun, fellowship,
we show up
and harmony,”
for
someone,
and the group
they are almost
does just that.
always surprised
They
meet
and wondering
every Monday
how to respond.
evening
at Jordan Truesdell, Jim Sherman, Ben Sherman, and David Lloyd (l-r) made up a Virginia Gentlemen
Then, as we
College Lutheran quartet known as Ben and the Boyz.
get
into
the
Photo courtesy of Jim Sherman
Church,
to
second
song,
rehearse. In February, however, they have a very special mission: they realize that these four guys are singing a message sent from
Singing Valentines.
someone who really loves them and wants to make their day special.”
In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Virginia Gentlemen don tuxedos, Singing Valentines are a creative and unique way to bring fun and
red satin shirts and white bow ties, and travel throughout Roanoke, romance to someone’s holiday and you can feel good about the
Salem, Vinton, and Botetourt County in groups of four (quartets) money spent. As if the idea of a Singing Valentine weren’t already
to serenade lucky recipients. Dr. Jim Sherman, who lives in South fabulous enough, a portion of the money raised goes to support two
Roanoke and practices pediatric pulmonology at Carilion, joined important causes: the John Tully Memorial Scholarship Fund which
the Virginia Gentleman with his son several years ago, and is the aids local college-bound high school students, and The Harmony
group’s current president. Both Shermans are enthusiastic about the Foundation which provides grants that promote vocal music in
Virginia Gentlemen and the Singing Valentine program. What’s school and communities.
not to like? As Dr. Sherman says, “The music is wholesome, the
Interested in purchasing a singing Valentine? Orders will be
harmonies make you have goose-bumps, and the atmosphere is taken through Valentine’s Day. You can arrange yours by contacting
welcoming. We have loved being part of the group.”
Mr. Ed Burke at (540) 977-0472. For $50, a tuxedoed quartet will
The Singing Valentines are special for everyone involved. Dr. be dispatched to your valentine’s place of work, school, or home on
Sherman tells the story of a young woman they surprised with a singing either February 13th or 14th (keep in mind that Valentine’s Day falls
Valentine from her husband a few years ago. This woman had been
— Continued on page 10
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She Said...
Lillian King Meidlinger
editor, right brain
lillian@southroanokecircle.com
761.0728
Lisa Boschen Bowers
advertising executive, left brain
lisa@southroanokecircle.com
353.2380
Amy Takacs, Creative Outlet
graphic designer
amy@creative-outlet.com
Johnny Meidlinger
internet kung fu
Jill Hufnagel & Brent Stevens
founders, creative consultants
The South Roanoke Circle
2517 S. Jefferson Street
Roanoke VA 24014
540.353.2380
southroanokecircle.com
Our intent is to provide a
neighborhood publication
that celebrates community
and fosters connection
among neighbors. In so doing,
we seek to strengthen the
neighborhood bond, to encourage our children to share their
voices, and to nurture a future of
collective growth. Finally, we wish
to share in the discovery of the
people and places that make this
neighborhood thrive.
Growing up, I was markedly shy, a telltale introvert. Every summer at the beach, for
instance, my sister would “find me a friend,” as my nose was safely wedged into a book to
avoid putting myself out there. As an adult, though, I’ve discovered the magic of fresh, outof -the-box conversations. While I savor the shorthand and ease of talking with friends I’ve
known for ages, there’s nothing quite like the possibility that bubbles up in a conversation with
someone new.
Whether in an airport lounge, at the blueberry patch, or at a conference, there’s
something to be said for that crisp first sink below the surface. It’s the full-of-who-knows-what
element of a tête-à-tête with someone new. Perhaps it’s a first meeting; or maybe it’s the first time
you’ve settled in long enough to move past the glossy surfaces. Either way: I’m drawn to these
feet up, settling in, thankfully-we’ve-moved-past-the-minutiae convos because it’s all new. Every
bit of it. And while I’ve been accused of interviewing people—given the repeat accusation,
perhaps there’s merit there—I would hold that I’m genuinely interested in high-tailing it past the
banal in order to really get to know people. A noble story I tell myself, for sure.
In a shared space (like our streets & sidewalks), I’ve found we tend to lean on close
fences. And in turn end up conversationally fenced-in. While in a conversation with someone
I don’t yet know, my curiosity is still intact. Without a shared history, I’m unsure if we sit on the
same side of the political spectrum, if he skews trickle or glass floweth over, her thoughts on
immigration and allowance. When my own curiosity is a window flung open, the trajectory of
our conversation has so many more turns and meanders. I’m more in the moment, and so is the
back and forth between us. From there is the chance to hear fresh perspectives, ways of living,
someone else’s “givens” that are the very artifacts of others’ worlds. And my own.
To that point, I get to listen in on the self I’m putting forward these days. What topics do I
circle? What do I disclose? What territory do I claim and beliefs do I hold way out in front in this
novel interaction? Who am I saying I am? And more importantly: how? There have been times
I’ve heard myself talking about lowest common denominator rubbish that I don’t even want to
think about, much less eat up air time fueling. Dear God; I’m 44 years old after all. I’m rarely
intrigued in a “tell me more” kind of way when we’re talking weather, meds, and test scores.
Other times, I’ve noticed my own values surfacing. Pieces of my own story I hold closest to my
heart: growing up working class, being a first generation college student, living on the wrong
side of the tunnel.
While there were years—make that decades—when I would have avoided the clunky
first passes that are the hallmark of getting to know someone, these days I find myself looking
for opportunities to navigate said clunkiness to bore down under it all and into a place of
curiosity, connection, and, with any luck: to widen my circle of friends. — JH
Romancing the Cup
~
We reserve the right to refuse
publication of any material we
deem unsuitable for this venue
and/or our readership.
copyright 2015
The South Roanoke Circle, LLC
all rights reserved.
Newlyweds Courtney and
Donald Deeds sip on coffee for
two at local hangout Sweet
Donkey Coffee House.
Photos by Marissa Yi,
Bella Muse Photography
2
Jefferson Street Realist
by David S. Bowers
It just occurred to me that some people born in the year 2000
will be getting their learner’s permits this year so they can drive
about town. Good golly. It’s yet another reminder of how quickly
time passes, and how long it’s been since I was that age.
Just the other day, while my thirteen year-old Noah was playing
Trivia Crack on his phone, he asked me, “Who is Stevie Wonder?”
What? How can someone not know who Stevie Wonder is? Isn’t it
just a given, from listening to the radio and the world around us,
that you know who Stevie Wonder is? Well…no, the same way that
some Kanye West fans made it obvious on Twitter that they were not
familiar with Paul McCartney. Commenters were aghast! Honestly,
though, if you’re a Beatles fan you’re going to tune your radio, your
XM, or your playlist to stations that favor that style of music; but a
teenager may not stumble into that. They are more likely to hear
a snippet of a Beatles or Stevie Wonder song in a commercial, or
played by a marching band at a halftime show for that matter. I don’t
despair too much over this. It’s not like I expect thirty years from now
my future grandchildren
will be downloading
Lil Wayne tracks to
their dad’s delight.
Something else will
come along. Artists
come and go, many
more
quickly
than
others. Still, a quick
Wikipedia check taught
me that Lil Wayne
had his first platinum
record in 1999. Wow–
sixteen years ago–a
year before those new
drivers
were
even
born! That’s a pretty
long music career.
I sometimes try
to get my son to
appreciate, or at least
recognize, the music I
listened to at his age,
but I don’t push it. Much
of it has not exactly
aged well or remained in my current purview (sorry King Crimson!).
And I remember all too well, growing up in our tiny, one TV house,
dreading Lawrence Welk night. I could have retreated to my room,
and I’m sure by my high school years I did just that, but when I was
younger, we often watched TV as a family. Color TV was still a novel
experience in our house, so it’s just what we did. If the evening fare
included the “Champagne Lady” Norma Zimmer, then I endured it.
Wunnerful, wunnerful! Maybe it was the price I had to pay to stay
up late on Fridays for The Rockford Files.
I wonder if Noah feels the same way when we listen to our
playlists. I know he’d like to seek asylum at a friend’s house if we
sing along to U2–or anything at all for that matter (Lisa), or crank
Ozzy’s Over the Mountain (me) just to see if anyone is paying
attention.
My new car came with free SiriusXM for one year, which is
ingenious marketing by the way; I’m sure I will renew now that
it’s part of my daily experience. For the past few weeks I’ve been
hooked on the “Chill” station (#53), which features downtempo
electronic music–think somewhere between an all-night rave and the
background music at Metro. OK, no, it’s pretty much the Metro music.
Anyway, I had a brief moment of panic, as I was driving swim team
carpool, that what I was subjecting the kids to on the Chill channel was
the modern-day equivalent of WHUD, the “Beautiful Music” station
that my dad played in the car. It was round-the-clock Mantovani
with other symphonic interpretations of popular songs. What have I
become? Tan slacks and loafers! So I looked at the XM channel card
to review my options and I was shocked to find that there actually
IS a beautiful music channel (#69 - “Escape”, oddly grouped with
the jazz genre). Flipped to it briefly and–sure enough–Nothing but
strings: no vocals, not a beat in the house, as Mantovani filled the
air and blanketed me and the kids like the afghan your grandmother
knit while she listened to Your Hit Parade. I was suddenly in the back
seat of my parents’ Datsun 710, listening to WHUD and begging
for
something…
anything!...more
contemporary. I would
have settled for Anne
Murray at that point.
Cut back to the
present and I realize,
“Hey!
I’m not the
oldest coot listening to
satellite radio if there
is still a market for this
channel.”
“Dad. Dad! Hey,
Dad!!” I hear coming
from the passenger
seat…oh, right, time
to change the station.
Let’s flip to #23.
Maybe these kids will
enjoy the Grateful
Dead channel. Ironic
choice, I guess, since a
quick Wikipedia check
shows that the Grateful
Dead formed two years
before I was born. I suppose no matter what I do, I’ll be showing my
age, and the last thing my passengers want would be if I switched
to K92 and rapped along with “I’m So Fancy”. Probably best if I just
hum “Sugar Magnolia”…in my head.
Maybe a century from now the satellites will still be broadcasting
all of it, from Perry Como to Jerry Garcia to Iggy Azalea. One great
thing about music is that the choices are infinite, and in a few years,
when these kids are behind the wheel, they can pick whatever
channel they want. Just keep the volume down. Look both ways
at intersections. Never try to beat a train at a railroad crossing.
Absolutely do not drink and drive. And for everyone’s sake, please
no Mantovani.
Stop by Tinnell’s and
ask about our rapidly
growing Wine of the
Month Club! For
that matter ask your
neighbor - they are
probably already a
member!
EXPERIENCED TUTOR and HOMEWORK COACH
3rd through 9th Grade
Math, Science, and Spanish
Alexandra DeFelice
Roanoke Valley Governors School, 10th grade
Rates, Resume and References Upon Request
agdef541@gmal.com// (540)597-2921
2205 Crystal Spring Ave
(540) 345-7334
ADeFe462@students.rcps.info
ShopTinnells.com
3
Wine and Cheese tasting
every Friday 4-7 p.m.
Rossini ’s
CINDERELLA
Friday, March 20 | 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 22 | 3:00 pm
Shaftman Performance Hall
at Jefferson Center
Student Tickets are ALWAYS FREE
{Subject to Availability}
For info: operaroanoke.org/sempre-libera-2
For tickets, call 540-345-2550 | www.operaroanoke.org
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4
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Education Matters
by Dr. Christian Proctor
The Grass is Always Greener…
In 2011, Amy Chua published her best-selling book, Battle Hymn
of the Tiger Mother. Parents and educators snapped up copies.
Ms. Chua, a Chinese-American mother of two, was on all of the
morning television shows extolling the virtues of more aggressive
and demanding parenting techniques. There was an arrogance to
her message and frequent comments such as “I want my children
to be well rounded” or “Her children are nothing but automatons”
followed the author everywhere. But negative comments aside, most
traditional measures of parenting success indicated her children
were quite accomplished. As parents and educators, we worried
whether our children could compete on a new world stage.
The effect Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother had on education
policymakers was to exacerbate our already substantial concern
that our schooling and parenting were failing our children. The
naysayers piled on, asserting that we were “a nation at risk”, at
risk because our children were “not able to compete on a global
playing field.” “Even the Finns make our schools look like abject
failures” on international comparisons. “This century will be the
Chinese century” and “It is the end of the American dynasty.” And
so on. Our response was to further increase the demands we place
on our students. Kindergarten became first grade. Public schools
now offer preschool programs for four year-olds. Ninth graders take
college-level Advanced Placement courses and graduation from
high school now requires more math and science than ever before.
The thought being that we must “out-China” China if America is to
remain great.
I just returned from a ten-day trip to China during which I visited
eight different schools in seven days. North Cross, like many
schools and universities in the United States, has become attractive
to Chinese students interested in an American style education. My
trip was ostensibly about formalizing our growing relationship
with several Chinese education groups, but what I really looked
forward to was seeing Chinese schools and speaking with Chinese
educators about the issues they see facing Chinese students. Among
my many questions was why an American education is so attractive
to the Chinese when, in many ways, educators at home were trying
to imitate the rigor and demands of the Chinese system.
It seems that many successful Chinese see the American
educational system as exemplary because of the freedom of
expression and creative thought that can be frequently found in our
classrooms. Chinese businessmen recognize that real life questions
do not always present two courses of action, an obvious correct
response and one equally obvious incorrect response. They realize
that an education that teaches students to choose a best response
from among several correct courses of action will benefit their
children. They are willing to forego some of the academic rigor
of Chinese classrooms for the opportunity to have their children
become creative and thoughtful. Repeatedly, I saw school mission
statements that emphasized creativity, collaboration, and originality,
only to speak with principals that reported a struggle in matching
these mission statements to actual educational practices. Cultural
expectations and parenting practices made it difficult for them to
focus on these “softer” goals. As a result, many wealthier parents
choose to send their children to the United States for their education
or to American educational programs in China in order to get the
educational results they value most.
So it appears the grass is always greener on the other side
of the fence and, with this understanding, we need to be sure to
incorporate the best educational practices from around the world
while at the same time making sure we do not throw our own unique
educational advantage out with the bath water. Mixed metaphors
aside, we’d do well to remember that the term “nation at risk” came
from a 1983 Department of Education publication concerned with
our educational system not producing students able to compete
with the threat of a growing Japanese economy. Of course, we all
remember that our much-maligned educational system of the late
70’s and early 80’s somehow managed to groom the collective
creative genius that produced the digital revolution. While we need
to remain aware of our global competitors, I am confident that
our educational system has the flexibility required to improve and
produce the creative force necessary to remain a world leader for
generations to come.
Dr. Christian Proctor has been Headmaster of North Cross
School for three years and has over 23 years of experience in
education. His time in the field has been marked by creativity,
innovation, and school growth. A native of Chapel Hill, NC, Dr.
Proctor and his wife, Ellie, have two children; Katherine, a college
senior, and Andrew, a college freshman.
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6
Pa and Cla
Dr. Courtney’Cner
by Courtney Wiegard
Why Fido’s Bad Breath Could Be a Sign of More Serious Problems
We love our four-legged children almost as much as we love our
human family members. Some of us may admit that we actually love
our animals more than certain family members. We love how our
pets greet us eagerly when we return home. We love their wagging
tails, the soft purring, and the adoring looks from those soulful eyes.
But what we don’t enjoy is the foul odor emanating from their mouths
during sloppy wet kisses.
Why does Fido’s breath smell? This foul odor, called halitosis,
is caused by bacteria associated with plaque and tarter build-up on
the teeth and gums. The very same periodontal disease process that
humans experience also occurs in our animals. While we faithfully
perform our daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing routine, rarely do
we practice daily dental care for our pets. Veterinary wellness care
has largely focused on vaccines and parasite control, yet we have
ignored what hides underneath those slobbery lips. And what may
be lurking there undetected could dramatically shorten your pet’s
life. Imagine what your mouth would be like if you went only a
few days without brushing. Now imagine refraining from brushing
or flossing for the entire lifespan of your animal. Add to the mix
retrieving dirty tennis balls, swimming in the lake, licking private
areas, and eating stinky treats from the backyard. Yuck.
It is important to remember that our animal companions have a
“pack mentality” and may endure significant pain and discomfort
without showing their beloved human (or “pack leader”) any
outward signs. They may subtly chew their food on only one side
or take a little longer to finish that bowl of kibble. They may seem
tired or distant or “seem to be showing their age.” These could be
warning signs of fractured, diseased, or abscessed teeth. If you
have experienced any of these conditions, you know how horrible
tooth disease can be. Remember that Fido cannot tell you that he
is in pain. He is looking to you to be his spokesperson. Tooth
and gum disease in dogs and cats is linked to an increase
in heart, liver, kidney, and joint disease. Diseased teeth
are a source of chronic pain or even chronic cough in
animals.
Take a moment to lift up Fido’s lips and look
beyond the front row of incisors to the premolars
and molars and check for discoloration, swollen
gums, or foul odor. A dental check up should also
be part of your pet’s routine veterinary exam. If
a problem is discovered, your veterinarian can
assess the degree of your pet’s periodontal
disease, discuss treatment options, and help
set a course for preventative care.
A full-on dental cleaning will require
your pet to be sedated. Pets will
receive a full preoperative workup, including a physical exam,
and preoperative blood work. General anesthesia can sound very
scary. While Fido receives his dental cleaning and any related
procedures, your veterinarian will take precautions to protect your
animal, including providing intravenous fluids and using state of
the art monitoring equipment. Veterinarians know that your pets are
members of your family and will treat them accordingly.
Most veterinary hospitals have dental x-ray and state of the art
dental equipment to do oral surgery, extractions, and professional
cleanings. Two-thirds of canine and feline teeth are below the gum
line and can only be properly evaluated by dental radiography.
Dental x-rays can reveal periodontal conditions that we cannot
diagnose with visual examination alone. Dental x-rays also allow
veterinarians to ensure that any extracted tooth has been completely
removed. Pain management is also a top priority to ensure your
pet’s comfort before, during, and after any dental procedures.
Local pain control as well as anti-inflammatories and other pain
medicine can be used to help Fido recover from dental procedures.
Imagine undergoing a root canal or extraction without the benefit of
anesthetics! Not for my babies!
You must do your part so Fido doesn’t have to go through this
again! Cleaning and extracting are where the veterinary work ends
and yours, as caregivers, begins. Okay, so maybe he won’t let you
brush those teeth every day. Don’t get your fingers bitten. Other
preventative care options include dental chews, special antimicrobial
mouth rinse, prescription dental food, or enzymatic water additives.
It is that easy. Your veterinarian is here to help you keep your fourlegged, fur-covered child with you as long as possible. Check with
your veterinarian about a preventative dental plan for
your pet.
Courtney has been a veterinarian at Vinton
Veterinary Hospital for almost ten years. She lives in
the neighborhood with her husband, Spencer; two
daughters, Elliott and Brynne;
three dogs, Milla,
Spanky,
and
Annie; and two
kitties, Bailey
and Dewars.
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7
Not Yer Mama’s Page
John Squared Shirts, LLC: Promoting Southern Style
By Christian Blackwell
John Squared has become a household name throughout all of
Baldridge and Gardner have prided themselves on hand
South Roanoke and other parts of the Roanoke Valley. The company deliveries to all customers. With the production capabilities of Press
was created to sell shirts, hence the name John Squared Shirts, LLC. Press Merch, a local screen-printing and embroidery company, shirts
However, within about a year of its founding, the company has began to be made proficiently. However, sales increased heavily
grown to sell short and long sleeved shirts, bumper stickers, and over time and a website became necessary to help with purchases.
drink koozies.
The use of online transactions has allowed John Squared to spread
John Squared was started by two students at Patrick Henry to various geographical regions. Purchases have been shipped
High School (who are incidentally two of my best friends). John all over; John Squared has wearers in Virginia, Alabama, Ohio,
Baldridge is a member of the Patrick Henry soccer team and an Florida, and even Washington State. When asked about how the
avid outdoorsman. John Gardner is a member of the Patrick Henry company has changed and developed over the last year, Baldridge
baseball team and a student at the Roanoke Valley Governor’s shared “[The company] has become more customer-oriented; trying
School. Together, they formed John
to make our products with all of
Squared. The company began
our fans in mind.”
slowly; initially, the two had the
Coming soon for John Squared
idea to start the company during
Shirts will be the production of
the later months of 2013. Though
fleece jackets, which is the featured
it started as a joke or playful
item of the “Winter Collection.”
idea, John and John recognized
More information about new
the realities that their ideas could
products and the company can
become a successful business
be found online and on social
venture. When questioned as to
media. The John Squared Twitter
why they started the company,
handle is @JohnSquaredUSA
Baldridge replied, “Watching
and the Instagram username is @
how southern clothing companies
JohnSquaredShirts. Purchases can
could use their love for their home
be made at JohnSquaredShirts.
in their products made us want to
com.
do the same with our own home
The future is uncertain for John
in mind.” The southern aspect of South Roanoke teenage entrepreneurs John Baldridge (left) and
Squared. With the two Johns
John Squared is a testament to one John Gardner (right), founders of John Squared.
being juniors and graduating in
Photo by Madeline Cobbler
of the company’s popular slogans,
May of 2016, the two founders
“Cherished Tradition”.
most likely will end up attending different universities. “No matter
The expedience of growth for the teenage-run company has what, we plan to expand to new areas,” Gardner remarked when
been nothing short of impressive. “We have to be thankful for asked about the future endeavors for the company. For now, the two
our community and the local high school students that are fans,” are doing their best to enlarge the company as much as possible
Gardner stated when asked how the company has expanded so and continue to create quality products.
well. Originally known only throughout the Patrick Henry student
Seeming to never run out of ideas, Baldridge and Gardner will
body, John Squared has become commonly recognized throughout continue to create southern apparel as long as they can. Regardless
other schools such as Hidden Valley, Cave Spring, Salem, and more. of their other commitments, they will always find time to connect with
Huge amounts of social media support and even a sign next to new clients, create different products, and promote the Cherished
Gainer Field in the Patrick Henry Stadium has aided the company’s Tradition.
growth. Most of all, the tight-knit South Roanoke community has
Christian Blackwell is currently a junior at Patrick Henry High
fueled John Squared’s development.
School and the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School.
8
9
Continued from page 1 —
City of Roanoke
Waste Collection
Schedule
February 1: Paper Products/Brush
February 8: Bottles & Cans/Bulk
February 15: Paper Products/Brush
February 22: Bottles & Cans/Bulk
March 1: Paper Products/Brush
Neighborhood Events
for February
February 1-28: The Market Gallery features “Identity”, an
exhibit that reveals 100 different artists’ conceptions of the
idea of identity
February 7, 10:00AM-4:00PM: 16th Annual Tons of Fun Event
at Tanglewood Mall
February 7: WazUpWidis - Urban Race and Stair Challenge
(Wells Fargo Building, downtown) For information visit
mountainjunkies.net/wazupwidis.htm
February 12, 5:30PM-9:00PM: Party in the Market: Downtown’s
Beach Music Winter Series (Roanoke City Market Building,
downtown)
February 13-14: Virginia Gentlemen deliver Singing Valentines,
call Ed Burke at 540.977.0472 to schedule yours
February 14: Train Lover’s Day at the Virginia Museum of
Transportation February 16: Presidents Day, holiday for Roanoke
City Schools
February 21: Chinese New Year 2015 at the Taubman Museum
of Art (downtown)
February 26 – March 1: Roanoke Children’s Theater presents
EAT (It’s Not About Food)
SoRo Circle March Issue
Advertising Deadline:
February 16th
Call Lisa at 353.2380 to reserve your space!
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on a Saturday this year). They will sing two love songs, in four-part
harmony, and deliver your personal message along with a long
stemmed rose. The Virginia Gentlemen will only be delivering
singing valentines for two days, so you are encouraged to make
your reservation early.
Finally, a word to all musically-inclined gentlemen out there:
The Virginia Gentlemen are always eager to welcome new
members into the group. Their prerequisites? You must be male
and be able to carry a tune. They will show you the rest. The
ability to read music is helpful but not necessary. “Excellence in
singing is not a requirement but a goal,” says Sherman, “Many of
the chorus members are comfortable singing with others in their
voice part around them, but not comfortable alone. We work
on it, seek to become better and more confident, and eventually
excel in quartets. It’s a friendly learning environment.” It’s also
family-friendly: something fathers and sons can do together. In
addition to Dr. Sherman and his son Ben, who is now a local
college student, there are four other father-son duos in the group.
“Here is an activity that unites a family,” Dr. Sherman points out.
Now that’s an organization worth supporting.
N e i g h b o r h o o d N o sta l g i a
Roanoke’s First Flight
by Nelson Harris
Some thought it would never happen. For weeks, promoters of the fair organizers to
Great Roanoke Fair of 1910 had been advertising the appearance task for trying to
of a Curtiss Aeroplane at the fairgrounds as a centerpiece for dictate to Ely where
Roanoke’s most celebrated annual event.
he should fly when
The Great Roanoke Fair’s inaugural appearance was in 1902 they knew nothing
and occurred for many falls thereafter with various exhibits, balloon about his machine.
rides, excursions, horse racing, and craft shows. The fair of 1910 The
newspaper
was billed to exceed all previous ones. Some 300 horses participated described
the
in track events and there were exhibitions of cattle, domestic flying apparatus
arts, sheep, swine, poultry, farm machinery, canned goods, and thusly, “[it] has
needlework. The Norfolk & Western and Virginian Railways had about as many
special trains to serve the fair for those attending from central and whims and moods
southwestern Virginia. The fair also boasted “scores of censored and notions as an
sideshows” but gambling was prohibited. There were premiums unusually pretty girl
and purses totaling $20,000 ($480,000 in today’s dollars). Fair of eighteen who
association president James Woods, however, considered the flight has been spoiled
of a Curtiss Aeroplane to be the main attraction.
and petted all her
Roanokers had never witnessed a powered, heavier-than-air life.”
flight before. There had been hot air balloon rides in the past but
Ely noted the
never the presence of an aeroplane. In fact, there had been only gentle hills of South
one such flight in Virginia, and that was a flight made by Orville Roanoke and told
Wright at Langley in 1909. An aeroplane had tried to fly at the officials that if he Eugene Ely poses in front of a Curtiss aeroplane
state fair in Richmond in the summer of 1910 but never got off the could lift off from in 1911. The tubes crossing his chest are bicycle
inner tubes used as life preservers.
ground, much to the disappointment of fair organizers who had those heights, he
Photo from the U.S. Naval Historical Center
to explain to those in attendance why their tickets would not be was
confident
refunded! Thus, to have an aeroplane fly across the fairgrounds in Roanokers would witness their first flight of an aeroplane. Fair
Roanoke was historic indeed.
promoters quickly acquiesced to Ely’s request and told spectators
The pilot was Eugene Ely, 24, of the Curtiss Aeroplane Company. that Ely would fly the next day.
Ely had flown elsewhere in exhibitions, most recently in Iowa at its
At 5:40 p.m. on September 22, Eugene Ely and his Curtiss
state fair. His plane was loaded on a train there and shipped to machine took off from a hill in South Roanoke just northeast of
Roanoke. (Early planes were disassembled, transported, and then Virginia College as thousands watched from the fairgrounds. Ely
re-assembled by the pilots.) Ely and his flying machine arrived in was earlier concerned about wind gusts coming from the slopes of
Roanoke by train on September 21, the second day of the fair. Mill Mountain, but by 5:00 p.m. a tethered balloon at the fairground,
Attendance was record high as spectators anticipated Ely’s flight. 400 feet in the air, held perfectly still. Ely, eyeing the balloon from
Some even paid an additional 15 cents just to see Ely’s machine in its South Roanoke, got his chance and announced he would fly. Forty
temporarily-erected garage near the fairground gates. Ely surveyed minutes later, Ely moved down the slope and gradually ascended
the fairgrounds that morning, specifically the lay of land within the in a northwesterly direction, crossed the Roanoke River west of the
horseracing track. Ely quickly became concerned. His machine fairgrounds, and then turned and came over the grounds, descending
needed 100 linear feet of running space to rise four feet. To clear the safely in the center of the infield. “Thousands shrieked with delight
buildings, fence, and wires at
when the flying machine hove
the end of the track, he would
in sight and every movement
need 300 feet of ground. The
was watched with intense
confined space within the
interest,” reported the The
racetrack that he was provided
Roanoke Times.
was not enough. Only under
The day Ely flew was
exceptional conditions could
“Old Soldiers Day” at the
he lift his machine into the
fair and Civil War veterans,
air in that space. (A Curtiss
both Union and Confederate,
advance man had assured fair
had been admitted for free.
organizers the track’s infield
One can only imagine their
was sufficient.) Nonetheless,
thoughts as the aged men
Ely told fair organizers he
watched a man take flight. Ely
would try to fly at 2:00 p.m.
had flown a half mile and right
Crowds thronged the track
into Roanoke history.
area. Ely and his machine
Fair organizers hoped to
managed to get lift but only to
have Ely return the following
ten feet and over a space of
year but it was not to be. The
100 yards. Ely had to drop the
young aviator died tragically
plane fearing he would flip the
on his twenty-fifth birthday
plane on the fairgrounds’ fence.
in 1911 when his Curtiss
Ely geared up for take off aboard his Curtiss aeroplane in 1910.
Unbeknownst to spectators,
aeroplane failed to pull out
Photo from the U.S. Naval Historical Center
Ely had tried to convince fair
of a dive at an exhibition in
officials that he would have better flying conditions if he could take Macon, Georgia.
off from a surrounding hillside but they had insisted he fly within the
Nelson Harris is a former mayor of Roanoke and an author of
fairgrounds’ perimeters. This proved to be a mistake. The machine several books on our region’s history. He is currently working on a
needed 400 more running feet than it had. The Roanoke Times took history of the Roanoke Valley in the 1940s.
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