Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 19, 1991                   TAG: 9103190522
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VOLUNTEER'S WORK REWARDED

Her volunteer effort has sparked the revitalization of the area, Mayor Noel Taylor said.

"As people drive along 10th Street and glance to the Gilmer neighborhood, they see clean streets, new houses, clean lots and renovated parks; they see a community that is alive and filled with pride," he said.

Thornhill was recognized Monday for her work at Gilmer and on other community projects by being named Roanoke's Citizen of the Year.

The award is given by City Council to recognize individuals for their contributions to the city through volunteer service or in other ways. Council members make the choice after a screening committee reviews nominations made by residents.

Thornhill "exemplifies perseverance, determination and unparalleled unselfishness" in her efforts to upgrade the Gilmer neighborhood and improve the quality of life in the Roanoke Valley, Taylor said.

"What is truly special about [her] is her spiritual approach to problem solving. She gives without expecting to receive," he said.

Thornhill said she was surprised by the award because city officials had asked her to come to the Municipal Building to review slides for the Roanoke Neighborhood Partnership and had told her they'd take her home after the council meeting.

She said council and city officials who have supported neighborhood-revitalization projects deserved the honor. "This award goes not to me, but it goes to all of you," she told Taylor and council members.

Thornhill helped establish the Northwest Neighborhood Environmental Organization, a non-profit group that has spearheaded the Gilmer revitalization. The group has helped provide provide housing for low- and moderate-income residents.

For more than 30 years, Thornhill has been active in the Loudon Avenue Christian Church, where her church commitment grew into a vision and commitment to the community, Taylor said.

She has been active in the United Way, Total Action Against Poverty and the Roanoke Neighborhood Partnership's steering committee. She has also represented the city at All-America City presentations and Neighborhoods USA conferences.

Also Monday, council:

Approved an increase in fees at three municipal parking garages in downtown Roanoke to help cover increasing costs and establish the criteria for rates in the Dominion Tower garage that will open in October. The new monthly rates, to take effect July 1, will be: Market Square garage $50; Church Avenue $44; and Williamson Road $42.50. Fees will also increase for short-term parking in the garages at Market Square (75 cents for an hour) and Church Avenue (80 cents for 30 minutes).

Approved a $58,200 contract with Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, a Roanoke firm, to provide engineering services for the relocation of sewer and water lines that will be required by the Roanoke River flood-reduction project. The city is responsible for relocating the utility lines along the 10-mile section of the river.

Awarded a $112,047 contract to Lanford Bros., a Roanoke contractor, to repair the Old Mountain Road bridge over Tinker Creek near the Ole Monterey golf course. The contractor will have 90 days to finish the repairs. The bridge will remain open most of the time during the repairs, officials said, but it may be closed for an hour occasionally during non-peak traffic periods. The contractor will use portable traffic lights to route motorists across the bridge.