Court Reporter - Jan 2013

January 2013

The Greater Raleigh Court Civic League www.grccl.orgRale igh Court — A HistoRiCAL NEiGHBoRHooD LooKiNG FoRWARD

Inside This IssuePresident’s Message .................................................... 3

Greater Raleigh Court Neighborhood Plan Updates .... 4

Local First Grader Jumps High in Cheerleading .......... 6

Things You Need to Know .......................................... 6

As the School System Goes, So Goes the City (Con’t) .... 7

Grandin Holiday Parade Photos .............................. 10

Meeting AnnouncementNeighborhood Meeting to Feature Roanoke City Manager

The Greater Raleigh Court Civic League will host Roanoke City Manager, Chris Morrill, as guest speaker at our January meeting. Make plans now to attend on Thursday, January 10, at 7 pm in the Fellowship Hall of Christ Lutheran Church, located at the corner of Grandin Road and Brandon Avenue. With daily decisions being made that impact Raleigh Court residents, Morrill can provide an up to date analysis of events in our area and also comment on the neighborhood plan. Citizens may want to discuss topics such as parking, the library expansion, economic development, public safety, recycling, and other neighborhood issues. Come join in and learn the latest news. All meetings are open to the public.

If School Board Chairman David Carson’s assertion is right, things look quite promising for Roanoke. At their annual update to the Civic League in November, School Superintendent Dr. Rita Bishop and David Carson reported encouraging news about our schools.

One of the most significant improvements is in the On Time Graduation Rate tracking students completing high school in four years. While Roanoke still lags the state, the improvement has been dramatic. Carson and Bishop were particularly encouraged that the city has closed the “achievement gap” among various segments of students. Very few urban American school systems have accomplished this.

Additionally, rates for students who are disabled, economically disadvantaged or with limited English are all similar to the city’s overall 76.6% graduation rate.

Also encouraging is the growing number of kids attending Roanoke City schools—up 240 students this year. Most schools had occupancy rates around 50 to 60% back in 2008 when they were rezoned. Now occupancy rates are 80 to 90%. Carson says this

has produced the necessary efficiency, and no additional schools will close.

While academics are improving, so are the extracurricular programs. Several years ago, “We were just the doormats” in sports, said Carson. He adds that extracurricular activates,

“As the School System Goes, So Goes the City.”By Susan Koch

(continued on p.7)

“As the School System Goes, So Goes the City.”

By Susan Koch

If School Board Chairman David Carson’s assertion is right, things look quite promising for Roanoke. At their annual update to the Civic League in November, School Superintendent Dr. Rita Bishop and David Carson reported encouraging news about our schools.

One of the most significant improvements is in the On Time Graduation Rate tracking students completing high school in four years. While Roanoke still lags the state, the improvement has been dramatic. Carson and Bishop were particularly encouraged that the city has closed the “achievement gap” among various segments of students. Very few urban American school systems have accomplished this.

Additionally, rates for students who are disabled, economically disadvantaged or with limited English are all similar to the city’s overall 76.6% graduation rate.

Also encouraging is the growing number of kids attending Roanoke City schools—up 240 students this year. Most schools had occupancy rates around 50 to 60% back in 2008 when they were rezoned. Now occupancy rates are 80 to 90%. Carson says this has produced the necessary efficiency, and no additional schools will close.

While academics are improving, so are the extracurricular programs. Several years ago, “We were just the doormats” in sports, said Carson. He adds that extracurricular activates, including sports, keep many kids in school. After heavy investments in two stadiums and other athletic facilities, Roanoke teams won 18 out of 25

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2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

On Time Graduation Rates

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Greater Raleigh Court Civic League Officers 2011-2012OFFICERS

President: : Jake Gilmer

[email protected]

Vice-President: Vacant

Treasurer: Chad Braby – Interim

[email protected]

Recording Secretary: Cassandra Van [email protected]

Corresponding Secretary: Vacant

Directors at Large: Parke Loesel

[email protected]

Matt Pritts

[email protected]

Martha Graves

[email protected]

Jenny Prickitt

[email protected]

Louella Clement - fusia512002@

yahoo.com

Immediate Past President:

Chad Braby

[email protected]

COMMITTEE CHAIRS:Membership: Martha Graves

Adopt-a-Highway: Derek and Stacy Lam - [email protected]

Program:

Parke [email protected]

Newsletter Editor & Advertising::

Jake Gilmer - Interim

Special Projects: Tony [email protected]

Building Management: Carl Cress [email protected]

Grandin Road Merchants Liaison: Jenny [email protected]

Web & Social Media: Vacant

Greenways:Mike [email protected]

The Court Reporter is published by the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League five times a year on or about the first week of September, November, January, March, and May.Project2 8/3/11 10:18 AM Page 1

To better understand the priorities of the citizens of our region, Livable Roanoke Valley asked Virginia Tech to survey 1,030 people in the region regarding their opinions on 13 areas of livability, such as transportation, health care, land usage, and fire and police services. Of the 13 areas: jobs, education, and health care consistently ranked among the highest priorities. This was true in all parts of the region, rural, urban, and suburban; and across all ages, ethnicities, and abilities.

Based on these findings, Livable Roanoke Valley is now working with its partners to develop regional strategies in the areas of economic development, workforce development, and healthy communities. We will work to ensure that these strategies are integrated and mutually re-enforcing. They will also attempt to address some of the most pressing long-term challenges of the region, such as access to services and opportunities.

In the Greater Raleigh Court neighborhood, we also face some of the same challenges that are seen in other parts of the city and region. I have also noticed since my time here that many of our neighbors share common concerns, such as the future of their job, the quality of education, and the health of their family. That said, I think that the Raleigh Court community has much to share with the broader community about what it means to be livable. Our neighborhood is ideally designed to promote access to opportunity and physical activity. Many of our children can walk to school on safe sidewalks, our families have ready access to fresh food and restaurants in the Grandin Village, and for those of us that are blessed with a job, we can walk, bike, or take the bus to many areas of the City. I feel very lucky to live in such an ideal neighborhood.

You can learn more about Livable Roanoke Valley by visiting www.livableroanoke.org.

page 3

What does the future hold for the Roanoke Valley? How can we maintain or even improve the quality of life in our communities? This is a question that the Partnership for a Livable Roanoke Valley has posed and is looking for answers. During my day job with The Regional Commission, I serve as the project manager for Livable Roanoke Valley and it is my hope that all parts of the Valley will benefit from this work, including the Greater Raleigh Court Neighborhood.

The Partnership has been together for a little over a year and includes over 50 community leaders from local government, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and state government. Since its formation, Livable Roanoke Valley has worked diligently to better understand the strengths, challenges, and trends that will affect our region over the coming decades. In this analysis we have found many bright spots, but also areas of concern.

Our region is one of unique natural beauty that is increasingly recognized for its outdoor amenities and as an attractive place to live or visit. We have growing health care employment and stability in some of our traditional industries that capitalize on our position as a transportation hub. Students in our schools are doing well and we’re now seeing positive signs that our urban and rural schools are closing the achievement gap. We have survived the great recession and have a lower unemployment rate than the state and national average. These are a few of the many things that the Roanoke Valley should be proud to promote.

Nevertheless, our region has challenges that must be addressed in order to continue our progress. We have stable employment and population growth; however it is far from vigorous and significantly trails other parts of the state. The region has pockets of poverty and homelessness that affect not only those communities, but the Roanoke Valley as a whole. Many of the residents in these areas, both rural and urban, lack reliable transportation and access to educational opportunities, healthy foods, and to recreational facilities. These challenges in access have significantly contributed to the prevalence of other problems, such as obesity and unemployment.

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Great things are happening in Greater Raleigh Court. The 1999 and 2007 Greater Raleigh Court Neighborhood Plans set forth policies and actions geared towards improving all aspects of neighborhood function and quality of life. Your input has assisted the City as well as your neighbors in making great strides on many different projects in the neighborhood.

HOuSING

The comprehensive citywide rezoning implemented in December 2005 by Roanoke City Council reinforced the existing character of the neighborhood maintaining the amount of single-family, a goal of both the 1999 and 2007 neighborhood plans. Total Action for Progress (TAP) purchased the Terrace Apartments in 2005 for $3.5 million. TAP recently completed a $27 million renovation of the buildings while maintaining the historic architecture of the buildings.

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Grandin Village Business Association adopted a business plan for the village area that includes recommendations for the best retail and office mix, aesthetics, and involvement in the arts community. The Grandin Theatre Foundation raised money to support the revitalization of the Grandin Theatre. The theatre serves as the leading anchor for the village.

A very healthy business environment exists in the Village today. Pops Ice Cream is a major destination for neighborhood residents. Use of the building is made possible by cooperation with the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League who owns the building and leases it to Pops for community use. Firefli Media recently opened their first office in the old CVS building and 1906 Ale House opened in the former Isaacs Restaurant space on Memorial Avenue. The Grandin Village Community Market supports local sustainable agriculture by connecting neighborhood residents with local farmers, artisans, and other producers

in the economically viable environment that exists in the neighborhood today. The Roanoke Natural Foods Coop recently started urban farming on a piece of property outside the neighborhood. The food grown on this site is sold to neighborhood residents providing locally grown produce to the neighborhood.

INFRASTRuCTuRE

The Grandin Village streetscape project has transformed the Village into a very pedestrian friendly and neighborhood scale commercial area. By its design, the streetscape acts as a successful traffic calming tool and the wide sidewalks make outdoor dining at Village restaurants an attraction to all. Street trees and benches create an inviting environment for residents as well as those doing business in the village. A bike rack was recently installed in the village and serves also as a piece of public art within the streetscape. The streetscape has reinforced the pedestrian climate in the Village and helps maintain a strong and viable business environment within the neighborhood.

Many neighborhood streets have been recently repaved including Brandon Avenue north of Grandin Road. A new pavement trial on Brandon Avenue is underway. A special freeze resistant pavement that keeps ice from forming on the roadway until temperatures dip into the single digits is being tested by the City’s Transportation Division. If this trial is successful, this new pavement type will improve maintenance of streets citywide. Brandon Avenue between Sheffield Road and Greenwood Road was striped on both sides to include an on-street parking lane. The Roanoke River Flood Reduction Project and Roanoke River Greenway have been completed through the neighborhood in the past year. Improvements to Ghent Hill Park were made as part of the greenway project. A trailhead for the Murray Run Greenway was constructed adjacent to Patrick Henry High School. Perhaps the largest capital improvement in the neighborhood is the completion of the new Patrick Henry High School and football stadium.

Greater Raleigh Court Neighborhood Plan Updates By B.T. Fitzpatrick, Roanoke City Planner

Planning Building & Economic Development

Greater Raleigh CourtNeighborhood Plan

N E I G H B O R H O O DP L A N

R O A N O K EVIRGINIA

Adopted by City CouncilMay 21, 2007











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SERVICES

Roanoke City Police Chief Chris Perkins recently conducted a community walk in the neighborhood as part of his Police Community Walk Initiative. These community walks focus on solving crime and code enforcement issues. Representatives from various City departments and the neighborhood participated in the walk. Most of the issues that were discussed in the walk were property related. Although there are some exceptions, safety in the Grandin Village area has been overall much improved over the years.

One engine, one ladder, and one EMS unit now permanently reside at Fire Station No. 7.

Grandin Automotive Needs Your Support

As many of you have heard, Bill Millner has indicated he would have to close the Pure (formally Texaco) service station on Grandin Rd. Many of our neighbors have been customers of this station for years and under Bill, as well as previous owners, it has been an important part of our community. Bill is working on possibilities to keep the station in operation and perhaps find a new owner. In order to maintain the zoning for this business he needs to try to keep it open while working on transition planning. So the bottom line is, he is NOT closing the station as announced previously and will continue to provide service and gasoline sales, while working on alternatives. We have seen the loss of several businesses in our neighborhood over the past year. These closings reflect the challenges small businesses face

in the current economic climate and due to increased costs and competition. We have the opportunity to avoid the loss of another one. If you are not already a customer, think about becoming one. If you are already a customer please continues to be one.

New Parking and Bike Lanes on Brandon Avenue

As part of a repaving project on Brandon Avenue from Grandin Road to Edgewood Street, the City restriped the pavement to provide on-street parking and a bike lane. The westbound lane of Brandon Road has a formal, on-street parking area, while the eastbound lane has a formal bicycle lane. With the addition of this bicycle lane there is now creates a largely continuous accommodation for bicycles from Peter’s Creek Road to Brambleton Avenue.

Things You Need to Know

Local First Grader Jumps High In CheerleadingBy Susan Koch

Virginia Height’s first grader Ana Wingfield is quite the cheerleading sensation. She recently placed second in the National Cheerleading Competition held in New Jersey.

Ana’s mother Crystal was a basketball star. She expected that her daughter, who is tall for her age, would also become a star performer on the basketball court. Instead, when she was only four, Ana announced that she wanted to try cheerleading. She’d seen it on TV and fell in love with it.

Now, “cheerleading is her life,” says mom Crystal. She practices six days a week at the Iconix Allstars Facilities in Salem. Four days are for tumbling, practicing her back flips and hand springs. She works with the Iconix Allstars team on the other two days.

When she competed in New Jersey, she performed in front of thousands of people. Her mother says she’s a natural performer, and marvels that Ana seems to have “no nerves at all. She’s in her zone.” She credits the coaches and team for bringing Ana out of her shell.

This year Ana and her mom will travel around the east coast to six different competitions. The young cheerleader appeared locally at William Byrd High School as part of a cheerleading competition to raise funds for cancer. And all the while Ana’s a straight A student at Virginia Heights, which she loves.

(continued from p.1)

including sports, keep many kids in school. After heavy investments in two stadiums and other athletic facilities, Roanoke teams won 18 out of 25 championships where they competed. The School Board has won its own athletic victory—soon Patrick Henry will become part of the Blue Ridge district so that kids don’t have to travel so far to compete.

Bishop also cited the music and theatre programs at Patrick Henry. This year, the PH orchestra was invited to play at Carnegie Hall. And the career and technical education program has grown from 35 students to over 500.

These successes haven’t come easily in years of tight budgets. They’re the result of many years of hard work and tough decisions. In addition to closing five schools, the School Board has outsourced various functions. Head count for the school staff is down by 188.

Many hours went into creating the Community College Access Program, which allows city students to go to Virginia Western for free if they have at least a 2.5 GPA, thanks to partnerships with many generous sponsors.

Neither Carson nor Bishop is complacent about their successes. Bishop expects to keep pushing on the graduation rate. While she’s pleased with progress on reading scores, she’s concerned about math performance. She reminded the audience that the US ranks 25th in math performance, and she says, “We have to embrace the challenge. We’re going to tank as a country if we don’t solve this.” Bishop has taken on the challenge for Roanoke students, but admits that the biggest problem is finding excellent math teachers.

Additionally, there are several issues with the state government. While school started in August this year, the state still retains the right to allow jurisdictions to set the opening date, and Roanoke’s waiver will soon expire. This means the state could force the opening back to September, a move that Carson and Bishop feel would hurt learning. Additionally, the state’s portion of funding for our schools is dwindling. Fortunately, the City has stepped up with additional dollars, including a small pay raise for teachers this year.

As Bishop concluded, “The success of our city and our country depends on our schools. Only one stimulus program ever worked, and that’s education.”

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Greater Raleigh Court Civic LeagueP.O. Box 3092Roanoke, VA 24015

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New members are welcome to join the Civic League at any time. Your mailing label shows when it’s time to renew your membership. You may pay your dues at the next membership meeting. Multiyear or life memberships are welcome! The Civic League is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Donations may be claimed as charitable deductions for tax purposes.

Please mail your membership dues ($10 family, $15 business, or $100 life membership) or gifts to: GRCCL, P.O. Box 3092, Roanoke, VA 24015Or go to www.grccl.org and click on “JOIN US” to fill out a membership application online.

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Court Reporter - Jan 2013

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Transcript of Court Reporter - Jan 2013