December 2012 - The South Roanoke Circle

centered
on
community.
family.
you.
Art by Emmeline Nguyen
december 2012
Why we love December in SoRo...
visitingÊ̅iÊ>˜˜Õ>ÊˆVŽi˜ÃʜvÊ>Ê
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i˜œÞˆ˜}Ê̅>Ìʺ˜œÊ«>ViʏˆŽiʅœ“i»ÊviiÊUÊwearing pajamas inside out and doing a snow dance before bed to bring on the
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…ÀˆÃ̓>ÃÊ«…œÌœÃÊUÊknowing that the often missing “white
…ÀˆÃ̓>ûʈÃÊ>Ü>ÞÃÊÀi`ii“i`ÊLÞÊ̅iÊÜ>À“Ê>˜`ÊvÀˆi˜`ÞÊ}iÃÌÕÀiÃʜvʜÕÀʘiˆ}…LœÀÃÊUÊdrinking mulled cider or spiced wine on
>Ê«>À̈VՏ>ÀÞÊV…ˆÞʘˆ}…ÌÊUÊenjoyingÊ̅iÊÓiÊœvÊܜœ`‡LÕÀ˜ˆ˜}ÊwÀiÃÊ>ÃÊޜÕÊëÀˆ˜ÌÊvÀœ“ÊޜÕÀÊV>ÀÊ̜ÊޜÕÀʅœÕÃiÊUÊhiking the
ÌÀ>ˆÃÊ̜Ê̅iÊÃÌ>À°°°ÊiëiVˆ>ÞÊ܅i˜Ê̅iÞ½ÀiÊ؜܇`ÕÃÌi`ÊUÊwrappingÊ̈˜ÞÊ>`Ûi˜ÌÊ}ˆvÌÃÊvœÀʎˆ`Ãʈ˜ÊVœÕ˜Ì‡`œÜ˜Ê“œ`iÊUÊbaking
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`œÜ˜Êœ˜Ê̅iʓ>ÀŽiÌÊUÊplaying porch fairy, leaving holiday deliveries on the doorsteps of friends and neighbors
Equity Loan
Member FDIC
1 to 60 Months
* with a Valley Bank MyLifestyle Checking account or a Valley Bank Money Market account.
OTHER TERMS AND RATES AVAILABLE.
Valley Bank pays all Closing Costs excluding the appraisal fee.
*Terms and conditions: To obtain the 3.45% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for a 60 month term either a Valley Bank MyLifeStyle checking account or a Valley Bank Money Market account are required. A 4.52% APR for up to 60 months will apply
without one of these deposit accounts. APRs are effective as of September 1, 2012 and are subject to change at the bank’s discretion. Payment example for a consumer who finances $10,000 at a term of 60 months and at an annual percentage rate of
3.45% would result in 60 payments of $181.70. A consumer who finances $10,000 at a term of 60 months and at an annual percentage rate of 4.52% would result in 60 payments of $186.22. The minimum loan amount is $10,000. The maximum loan
amount is $417,000. Loan-to-value ratio can be up to 85%. Valley Bank pays all closing costs for a new equity loan, with the exception of the cost of an appraisal if required. If you pay off your loan within 36 months, all closing costs paid by Valley
Bank on your behalf must be reimbursed.
Available for owner occupied principal residences only. Purchase money loans are not eligible. Home equity loans may be either a 1st or 2nd deed of trust. If a 1st deed of trust, the payments do not include taxes and insurance and the
actual payment obligation will be greater. If a 2nd deed of trust, the 1st must be held by an institutional lender. Property insurance and flood insurance, if applicable, must be in effect on the property being secured. Other products and
terms may exist for applications which do not qualify under the aforesaid conditions. Interest paid on home equity loans may be tax deductible and you should consult your tax advisor regarding tax advantages. Home Equity loans are
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LENDER
He Said...
Lillian King Meidlinger
editor, right brain
[email protected]
761.0728
Lisa Boschen Bowers
advertising executive, left brain
[email protected]
353.2380
Mary Anne Marx
photographer, creative consultant
[email protected]
345.6279
Amy Takacs, Creative Outlet
graphic designer
[email protected]
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.
Unless you live under a rock, you know that The Hobbit comes out this month. I know, my
kids know, even our dog Dixie knows . . . but she’s offended by the wargs. I’m excited about
the film and a little worried. First and foremost, it’s the first of three films. Peter Jackson needed
three films for The Lord of the Rings. Carrying it around will make any bookworm buff; it weighs
in at over a thousand pages. And it’s not just the length. The layers of mythology and backstory
permeate every page. It’s denser than a Marie Callender coconut cream pie — sorry, I’m
writing this just before Thanksgiving.
The Hobbit, in comparison, is rather light. It is straightforward and accessible, a gateway
drug for Tolkien’s harder stuff. Three films screams epic, and I fear that Jackson and company
will muddle up the book’s lively tone. The Lord of the Rings has a rich atmosphere, but it’s
oppressive and ponderous — sturm and drang. I get a sunny feeling when I’m reading The
Hobbit, even when the material takes a scary or sad turn. I’m worried that Jackson will inject
too much seriousness into the film.
There’s also the matter of the thirteen dwarves. Jackson says that the dwarves were part
of why he was reluctant to take on The Hobbit. What I’m about to say may offend some of
you Tolkien fanatics out there, but here it goes: Tolkien is not great at crafting well-rounded
characters. Gollum is a notable exception. But many of the denizens of Middle Earth can be
boiled down to a few traits. Give me, for example, more than three adjectives to describe
Aragorn, Gimli, or Legolas. Jackson’s right. The dwarves in The Hobbit are a problem. To begin
with, there are thirteen of them. The number is not the curse, however. Tolkien spends very little
effort distinguishing them from each other. Even their names run together: Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin…
Sir Ian McKellen makes the point that film demands that characters be developed. He says,
“If we see them, we want to know who they are.” I imagine, then, that Jackson will expend a
lot of cinematic energy to flesh out these dwarves. Visually, he’s already succeeded. The look of
the dwarves runs the gamut from bombardier hats to elaborate beards. The dialogue, however,
is another matter. One thing is for sure: The Hobbit will be a much looser translation to the
screen. I’m fine with that as long as it’s not hokey, but Tolkien fanatics are largely a devout lot
who require strict adherence to the text.
All of these nitpicky details aside, the real joy of The Hobbit is sharing it with my children.
Both Henry and Cole are reading it avidly and the Lego catalog has become crinkled and
dog-eared in the section with The Hobbit sets. They have questions ranging from how Sauron
can live as an eyeball to which sword is better: Glamdring or Sting? Their enthusiasm gives me
something I didn’t have as an only child: a community of geekdom. As I watch them turning The
Hobbit’s pages, I think of myself as a child. I’m back in my grandmother’s basement. There’s a
Duraflame on the hearth. It’s a crisp winter day. The sky is a stark white. There’s a good chance
of snow, and I’ve got a Coke in the little bottle and a bowl of ravioli. I’m on the ratty old couch
that reeks equally of smoke and dust. But I’m not really there. I’m in Middle earth. And life is
good. — BS
A Winter’s Trail
~
We reserve the right to refuse
publication of any material we
deem unsuitable for this venue
and/or our readership.
copyright 2012
The South Roanoke Circle, LLC
all rights reserved.
Greg and Heather Harkey take a Sunday stroll with their Miniature Dachshund, Ginger, on the
Chestnut Ridge Trail in South Roanoke.
Photo by Mary Anne Marx
2
It’s Always Sunny on Lockridge
by Katie McKernan
In Which Eastern Healing Meets Western Medicine And Everyone Is Better
We’ve suspected (read: known) for quite some time that our son,
Eion, was either ADD or ADHD. The signs were all there and had been
for a long while. That being said, I was vehemently and, surprising
no one, vocally opposed to medication. He would outgrow it, I was
quite sure. And even if he didn’t, why on earth would we drug a
poor, defenseless child simply to make our lives easier? Yes, I knew,
drugs were for the weak, the lazy, and the unfortunate children of
bad parents.
The inability to focus that came with ADD plagued Eion in school
last year. Round about mid-October, it became clear that he was
struggling. He couldn’t read. He spent his recess walking laps
because he misbehaved or was guilty of some other transgression.
He described himself as stupid and a troublemaker. My baby was
falling through the cracks.
But being the resourceful (stubborn) mom I am, that WAS NOT
going to happen. So, in a move that baffled all who knew me, we
pulled him out of public school and became homeschoolers.
While he still had the attention span of a gnat, I was able to
control his environment and the pace and flow of learning. We made
progress. And I patted myself on the back for resisting the urge to
simply turn to medication, the “easy way out”.
After a successful year of homeschool, we contemplated the
future. We were able to keep him current with his contemporaries
academically, but being isolated was making the social issues even
more pronounced. He needed socialization. So it was back to
public school, repeating first grade, with the idea that the academics
would be easy this time around, leaving him free to use his energy
for everything else. Only it didn’t work out quite like that, and his
inability to finish work in a timely manner persisted.
There was one difference in my approach this time: I was open
to drugs.
At some point during The Great Homeschool Experiment, I ran
into a friend at the gym and regaled her with tales of the morning’s
frustrations and how I finally decided Eion was DONE for the day.
She told me a story about her son and it changed our lives.
Her son was ADD too. He was older and they had not tried the
medications available until he was in high school. She told me how
happy he was and how he said it was easier to learn, to concentrate.
How his life was better.
It was then that it dawned on me. I had always looked at ADD
medications as something for my, for the adults’, benefit. I had never
even once considered that they might make the child’s life easier.
So when things were derailing this fall, we said yes to drugs.
I still felt like a traitor as I dissolved that first dose in a glass,
my heart leaping out of my chest thinking about the possible side
effects. Would it work? Would he be the small percentage that went
the opposite direction and became more hyper? Or worst of all,
would he be that infinitesimal percentage that could suffer a fatal
cardiac response to the medication? And if it went wrong, could I
ever forgive myself?
Not to ruin the dramatic tension, but Eion lived. And thrived. The
medication takes away all the hyper, allows him to focus in on things
but does not, as I feared, leave him a drooling zombie, devoid of
personality. His teachers say he is like a different child. (I assume in
a good way.) But what I trusted the most was his response. He told
me that the world was “less noisy” and that it was easier to make
sentences.
At which point I had to take a deep breath, look in the mirror
and say I was wrong. My sweet little boy had been battling demons,
had carried this extra burden, because I had been too proud to try
medicine. I had judged all those parents and I was wrong.
Score one for Western medicine.
During the year of homeschooling, I hurt my back. The funny
thing was, it was not a dramatic incident or anything. It just started
to hurt and never got better. So I rested and gave up tennis, running,
and weight lifting.
Rest didn’t work.
So I went to see my doctor, who referred me to physical therapy.
PT was a godsend and restored me to mobility, and some occasional
tennis. Over the summer, I continued all the exercises with unparalled
commitment–I was the world’s model physical therapy patient. But
still, the pain persisted. There were days when even getting out of
bed brought me to tears and everything I wanted to do was out of
reach.
I went back to the doctor and had x-rays, a MRI, and several
more appointments. In mid-September, I was offered the choice of
spinal steroid injections.
Being a complete sissy when it comes to needles, I hedged. I
called my primary care physician to see what she thought. Between
when I called her and when we spoke, I decided to go to a yoga
class. It was core strengthening, much like PT, so what could it hurt?
The class was both humbling and exhilarating. Had you asked
me a year prior, I would have told you there was no way in hell that I
could become less flexible. Yet there I was, gingerly moving between
poses, sometimes only moving an inch or two into a forward fold.
But, a gigantic but, I walked out of that class feeling better that I had,
literally, in months. That day, for the first time in forever, I was pain
free.
The next day, still on a yoga high, I knew I could not wait until the
next Sunday’s class. So I went to Uttara, a yoga studio about which
friends had raved but I had never visited. And I kept going back,
as often as I could. I felt great, both physically and mentally. (You
may not know this, but I am a wee bit high strung.) Those precious
minutes of shavasana left me clear headed and at peace.
Not long after my yoga epiphany, the reports of meningitis from
tainted steroid injections came out. All I could think was, I was one
appointment away from (possibly) being infected myself. That could
have been me. As I told the studio’s owner all this after a class that
left me feeling particularly zen, she hugged me and said, “You came
to the right place.”
Score one for Eastern healing.
I guess Eion and I are still a little broken. He needs his meds and
I need my yoga classes. Without our crutches, we both revert back
to less pleasant states. But we’re healing, be it on an Eastern or a
Western path.
Namaste.
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!
Wine and Cheese tasting
every Friday 4-7 p.m.
2205 Crystal Spring Ave
(540) 345-7334
ShopTinnells.com
3
•
Holiday Memories
an AmRhein’s exclusive
available at AmRhein’s in Salem
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540-344-7398
2740 Ogden Road, Roanoke • 540.989.7100 / 1101 W. Main Street, Salem • 540.387.3816
www.AmRheins.com
Shouldn’t you choose your rehab as carefully
as you chose your surgeon?
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4
Please join us for Christmas caroling!!!
Tuesday, December 18
Meet at the Ronald McDonald House
at 5:30 PM, sharp
Bundle up & bring the whole family!
Two charming neighborhood homes for sale...
2518 Richelieu Avenue
1602 Hamilton Terrace
or find on www.realtor.com
Call 540-798-6231
Discover the possibilities.
Upcoming Winter Admission Events
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
8:30–9:30 a.m.: Open House for Early Childhood Program
Cole & Associates CPAs, LLC
Friday, January 11, 2013
For all of your tax and accounting needs
9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.: Visit Day for Grades 1–11
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
8:30–9:30 a.m.: Open House for Early Childhood Program
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Protect your
personal information
8:30–9:30 a.m.: Open House for Early Childhood Program
9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.: Visit Day for Grades 1–11
To arrange a visit, please contact
Deborah C. Jessee, Director
of Admission and Financial
Assistance, at (540) 989-6641
or [email protected].
COMMUNITY
DOCUMENT SHRED DAY
January 19th 10am – 1pm
2118 Rosalind Ave. SW, Roanoke, VA 24014
rXXXDPMFDQBTDPN
$PMPOJBM"WFOVF3PBOPLF7"twww.northcross.org
5
Jocks on Your Block: North Cross School’s Winning
Field Hockey Team
by Katherine Kelly
The field hockey team at North Cross School is back on top after Raiders defeated the Carlisle Chiefs to claim the title of Blue Ridge
becoming the Blue Ridge Conference Champions this fall.
Conference Champions!
The last year the North Cross School field hockey team won a North Cross advanced into the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic
conference championship was 1997. One member of that team Association (VISAA) state tournament quarterfinals as a result of the
was Katherine Kelly, who is lucky enough to enjoy another title fantastic season. Junior Kirby Evett was asked about her experience
fifteen years later as North Cross’ field hockey coach. Kelly grew up this year. She said, “This season was such a breath of fresh air.
on Stanley Avenue and graduated from North Cross in 1998. She We really bonded as a team off the field and it showed through our
returned to the school this year as an associate in the admission office performance in our games. We have become so close as friends
and as the varsity field hockey coach. “I moved back to Roanoke and a team!”
in 2011, but being at NCS has
Field Hockey parent and
truly felt like coming home,” she
South Roanoke resident David
says.
Lake stated the following after
Winning only one game in
a tough overtime loss in the
the previous season, the team
quarterfinals against Hampton
started this year with high
Roads Academy. “There I was,
hopes after working hard in
looking at the team huddled
the off season. Building on that,
together,
comforting
each
the team was fortunate to have
other after their emotional triple
former Division I Field Hockey
overtime loss in the quarterfinals.
All-American from Colgate
Parents, watching them, were
University and NCS parent
drained by the game, and
Brenda Wilson and Sarah
overcome with emotions, joining
Boxley Parrott Beck (Somerset
the tears being shed by their
Street native and NCS class of
daughters, friends, and fans.
’98) as assistant coaches.
What struck me is how far they
The first few games of The North Cross Raiders take a time out to pose for a team photo.
came, starting by volunteering
Photo courtesy of Katherine Kelly
2012 were hard fought but
to come to practice together
ended in losses. As the season
with parents last summer and
progressed and the girls came
ending with the confirmation
together on and off the field, it soon became apparent that they were that they were truly a team. As a parent, as a fan, and as a part of
on their way to the first winning season in years. The culmination of the community, I smiled through my tears. Like them, I won’t forget
their efforts came on Saturday, October 26, when the North Cross what this felt like!”
6
What’s cooking in your kitchen this holiday season? Channeling
your inner Martha Stewart, you have prepared an elegant feast and
decorated the table in anticipation of friends and family. Hopefully,
you will not have any uninvited guests. No, I am not talking about
your boisterous ex-brother-in-law from Salem or your eccentric Aunt
Sally from Greensboro. Of course, with love in our hearts, we will
welcome all of our relatives and neighbors. To be clear, the uninvited
guests are named: Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter,
Norwalk virus, Clostridium, Staphylococcus, and all their nasty
cohorts. Please do not lose your appetite! There are ways to prevent
these foodborne pathogens from invading your home. Proper food
preparation, storage, and cooking methods can help alleviate a bad
case of belly ache or something even worse.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 48
million Americans are infected with a foodborne illness each year.
Of those, 128,000 require hospitalization and 3,000 die due to
complications. Research also suggests that serious diseases such as
reactive arthritis, cancer, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and juvenile-onset
diabetes may result from the immune response to such illnesses. The
consequences of these conditions can be far-reaching, but an ounce
of prevention may be worth a pound of cure. Let’s start with clean
hands and food safety.
Alcohol hand sanitizers are good for when you are on the run but
they are no substitute for soap and water, especially before eating or
preparing food. Be certain to scrub well with soapy suds for at least
20 seconds, carefully washing between the fingers and covering
both surfaces of your hands and wrists. A good rule of thumb (no pun
intended) is to sing a short song twice in your head, such as “Happy
Birthday.” This may work well for young children, but personally I
prefer the Shakespearean method, washing vigorously while quoting
Lady Macbeth, “Out damn’d spot, out I say!”
Food storage is also important. The “Danger Zone” is the
temperature range which allows germs to grow. Perishable food
should always be refrigerated within 2 hours or 1 hour if the ambient
temperature is above 90 degrees F. Always keep food below 40
degrees F or above 140 degrees F. Note that your refrigerator should
be kept at or below 40 degrees F and your freezer should be at or
below O degrees F. Carnivores should be aware of the following:
poultry, fish, ground meats, and other meats should be cooked or
frozen within 2 days. Whole cuts of beef, veal, lamb, or pork should
be cooked or frozen within 3 to 5 days. Meat and poultry should be
wrapped prior to
freezing. In addition,
meat should be wrapped
in the original package with
plastic wrap or foil. For all
you survivalists, low-acid canned
foods, such as meat, poultry, fish,
by Carolyn
and most vegetables, can be stored for
H’Doubler,
2-5 years. High-acid canned foods, such as
M.D.
tomatoes or citrus fruits, can be stored for only
12-18 months.
So, now you are ready to cook but your meat is
still frozen. What is the best method for thawing? Quick
thawing methods, such as using the microwave or submerging
the food in cold tap water, are effective for cooks with busy
lives; however, the meat must be cooked immediately after thawing.
Otherwise, thawing foods in the refrigerator is recommended. Be
certain that the thawing food is covered and keep any juices from
dripping on other food. Investing in a good meat thermometer is
worthwhile since oven temperatures vary. Placing the thermometer in
the thickest part of the food, avoiding the bone or gristle, is considered
the proper technique. Checking the temperature in several locations
helps verify that the food is evenly heated. Finally, allow the meat to
rest for several minutes prior to carving. Leftovers should be eaten
within 4 days and reheated to at least 165 degrees F.
Finally, here’s the scoop on restaurants and take-out food. When
you are tired of cooking and eating leftovers, you may decide to go
out for seafood or order Chinese. Eating at a restaurant you trust is a
good way to avoid stomach bugs. It may be boring, but consumption
of raw or undercooked finfish or shellfish is more likely to expose the
consumer to parasites or bacteria. If sushi is your style, stick to midocean fish like yellow-fin tuna. When bringing leftovers home, you
should refrigerate them immediately. Warm delivery food should
always be eaten within 2 hours after it arrives. Another option is to
keep it in the oven at 200 degrees F or above. The goal is to keep
the food temperature out of the Danger Zone. Many blessings to all
of you for a safe and happy holiday season!
Carolyn H’Doubler is board certified in Internal Medicine. She
is a staff physician at the VA Medical Center in Salem. She lives in
South Roanoke with her husband and three children.
Hippocrates’
Corner
We Dedicate our Fourth Annual
MANGER OFFERING
To help fight Homelessness in the Roanoke Valley
Second Presbyterian Church invites you to join us for any, or all, of our three Christmas Eve services on
Monday, December 24, 2012. All offerings collected at these services will be donated to benefit the programs
of Family Promise of Greater Roanoke (formerly Roanoke Valley Interfaith Hospitality Network). This nonprofit group helps families who are struggling to overcome homelessness by providing temporary housing and
skills development. Come join us in worship and in service to those who face the adversity of homelessness.
Communion Service (Chapel), 12:00 noon
Family Service with Christmas Story (Sanctuary), 5:00 p.m.
A Service of Lessons and Carols (Sanctuary) with Communion, 10:00 p.m.
214 Mountain Avenue, SW
•
Roanoke, VA 24016
•
540/343-3659
Dr. George C. Anderson, Senior Pastor
7
•
www.spres.org
Support your Crystal Spring Businesses this Holiday Season!
Walk to Where you Shop!
NV Studio
Kara Joyce, Hair Stylist
540-580-0012
for Christmas
[email protected]
2223 Crystal Spring Ave
Roanoke, VA 24014
Technology &
Tradition
Goldsmith Jewelers
2209 Crystal Spring Avenue
Roanoke, Virginia 24014
(540) 339-9975
on Crystal Spring Ave.
985-3700
Don’t forget to stop by The River and Rail
[VI\``V\Y/VSPKH`NPM[JLY[PÄJH[LZ
6HUYLQJWKHÀQHVWJURFHULHVPHDWDQGSURGXFHVLQFH
4UPQCZ5JOOFMMTBOEBTLBCPVUPVSSBQJEMZHSPXJOH
Wine of the Month Club! For that matter ask your
neighbor - they are probably already a member!
5RDQRNH9$‡
8
Not Yer Mama’s Page
“Now Dasher! Now Prancer and Vixen!”
Cried Santa, “On Donder and Blitzen!”
“All the cookies I ate
left me stuck in the grate!
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Art by Olivia Snyder / Limerick by Mary Anne Marx
Art by Emily Tenzer
Bradley
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In the giving spirit this month? So is The South
Roanoke Circle’s roving teenage reporter, Bradley
Smith. She asked several neighbors the following
question:
If you had $1,000 to give to charity this
month, who would you give it to and
why?
“Children’s hospitals because the kids need it.” (Cara,
age 17)
“I would give it to people who can’t afford a meal so
they could have a good Christmas meal.” (Elana, age
16)
“I would give it to the Rescue Mission because people
need help.” (Elizabeth, age 16)
“I would buy bibles for young people so they would
know God’s word.” (James, age 48)
“Angels of Assisi because I want to help all of the cute
puppies.” (Amanda, age 12)
“The Salvation Army because I think they need help.”
(Daniel, age 13)
9
Marketplace
Known
by Rebekah Manley
Rebekah Manley, former Minister to Youth at St. John’s
Episcopal Church, helps usher in the Christmas season with a
short story of faith.
PC DOCTOR
I dated Santa Claus in high school. All right, perhaps
James was not THE Saint Nick. However, to the preschool kids
visiting our child development class, he was real.
It helped that James played D-line and carried himself with
a sincerity uncommon in 11th grade boys. I think was in part
due to the fact that James lost his father at a young age. I was
neither as aware of nor as appreciative of his sweetness then
as I am today.
Exhibit A: For Valentine’s Day, my twin sister got a diamond
necklace from her boyfriend. James excitedly gifted me with a
roaring lion rug with a “3 years and up” sticker emblazoned
on it. At the time, I felt my present was “small” but in retrospect
I recognize the big heart behind it.
Exhibit B: All I had to do was ask my kind courter to put on
a Santa costume for our preschool visitors and he was all over
it — ready to cut class and everything. Okay, we may have
gotten him a pass; I don’t remember. But I do remember the
reactions of the kids: sheer joy and cries of “Santa is here!!!!!”
James’ six-foot-plus frame fielded their tackles. He passed
out candy canes and hugs. With ten plus kids surrounding him,
James zeroed in on the brown eyes of a little girl named Molly.
“How are you, Molly?” James kneeled down. With familial
comfort, Molly patted Santa’s thigh leaving a wet, cookie
imprint. Seconds later, Katie squealed, spilling her apple juice,
“Molly, Santa knows YOUR name.” In awe of this celebrity who
tripled them in size, the kids didn’t notice James utilizing their
yarn-strung nametags. Intrigued by anything exciting enough to
waste juice, I paused and listened for Molly’s response. Molly
stood up straight, hand on her hips and said, “Of course he
does, he remembers ME from Wal-mart.”
Molly is in college now. I wonder if she recalls her certainty,
“Of course he remembers me!” As I prepare for the holidays,
Molly’s story makes me smile and I remember the reason we
celebrate Christmas. With Molly’s cookie-confidence and
dirty hands — I reach out, knowing God kneeled down to
humanly face us through his son. During this season with so
much competing for time and money, I rest knowing there is
no competition for God’s attention. He meets us individually
— no name tag needed. With hands not on hips but in certain
praise we can say, “Well of course he knows me. We meet
everyday.”
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NEIGHBORHOOD DOG SITTER
SOUTH ROANOKE
CINDY ROBERTSON
552 Dillard Rd. 24014
(540) 314-1660
WORLD TRAVEL AND AZAMARA CLUB CRUISE LINE
12-Night Baltic Cruise London to St. Petersburg
June 10-22, 2013
Cruise rate from $3600 per person, which includes
~ All gratuities
~ Beverages
~ Standard brand spirits, beer and wine
~ A complimentary AzAmazing land event.
Call Joe Abbatello at 989-6146 for information.
10
A Month of Giving
Neighborhood Events
for December
December brings forth a season that reminds us it’s important
to give of ourselves as well as to receive. Following are a variety
of ideas for giving back this month.
- Deliver a roll of paper towels, a cup of sugar, and a couple
of eggs to the neighbor you always hit up when your pantry
is bare.
- Prepare a meal for the guests at The Ronald McDonald House.
- Volunteer to help socialize cats or walk dogs at Angels of
Assisi.
- Help serve lunch or read good night stories at the Rescue
Mission.
- Make double dinner and drop one off to a friend in need…or
in over her head!
- Call up Crystal Spring Elementary and see how you can lend
a hand.
- Collect trash on your street or in an area park.
- Write a letter to a teacher to let her know her impact on you.
- Rake your neighbor’s leaves & bag them up in paper bags
- Drop off a batch of soup or cookies to the Crystal Spring
firefighters.
- Offer to keep a friend’s kids.
- Drop off your soda tabs to Ronald McDonald House and your
boxtops to a local school.
- Leave a mystery bouquet of flowers on someone wonderful’s
doorstep.
- Write a good, old-fashioned thank you note: to your mom,
your dad, your spouse, your sister, your friend.
- Leave a note of thanks to your mail carrier.
- Give your school bus driver a muffin or hot cocoa one morning
soon.
- Clean out a closet and donate your treasures to the Discovery
Shop.
- Sign up for a walk or race that benefits a cause close to your
heart.
- Look someone in the eye, say thanks, and mean it.
- Come up with your own Random Act of Kindness and do it!
Now through December 29: The Market Gallery presents
Naughty & Nice III with featured artists Rod Adams and
Ann Glover
December 5-16: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (features
several SoRo residents and will play at the Mill Mountain
Theater’s Waldron Stage)
December 7: Art by Night (downtown)
December 7, 14, and 21: Dickens of a Christmas
(downtown)
December 10, 6:00PM-9:00PM: First Annual South
Roanoke Holiday Open House (at the Crystal Spring Shops)
December 18, 5:30PM: South Roanoke Neighborhood
Christmas Caroling (meet at the Ronald McDonald House at 5:30 sharp!)
December 21-January 6: Winter Break for
Roanoke City Schools
11
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