Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 21, 1994 TAG: 9411220080
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN MCCUE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
About 50 people who aim to change that met last week in downtown Roanoke, their second meeting in as many months. None of the valley localities have a formal greenway plan, but each has assets that could serve as the foundation, representatives from Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem and the 5th Planning District Commission told the group.
There's the Appalachian Trail, the Jefferson National Forest, Blue Ridge Parkway, Explore Park, dozens of city and county parks and some spots of undeveloped land along the Roanoke River. Roanoke County is working with Salem on a "rails-to-trails" project near Hanging Rock to preserve a battlefield and develop recreation.
Over the decades, the city has generated numerous studied and plans for open space projects, but they all sit on a shelf, said Evie Gunter with the city's planning department.
But local governments aren't, and probably won't, establish greenways that link our parks, rivers and other natural and recreational resources, said Terry Harrington, the county's planning director. Not on their own, anyhow. It will take a strong grassroots effort: "If it's a whole movement, they'd listen," he said.
Bob Fetzer, a commercial and residential developer, said a nonprofit organization will probably be formed to keep the ball rolling, and to apply for grants.
For more information, call Lucy Ellett at 343-7480.
UPDATE ON THE STRIKE FORCE
The Roanoke River Group of the Sierra Club will sponsor a program by Terri Cofer of the Virginia Conservation Network, based in Richmond, on the final recommendations of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Strike Force on Government Reform. If implement, Cofer says, the recommendations will dramatically weaken the protection of Virginia's air, soil and water quality, state lands and endangered species.
The program is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Science Museum lecture hall, fifth floor of Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke. There is no admission charge and the public is invited.
PENNIES (or DOLLARS) FROM HEAVEN (or D.C.)
The Roanoke Valley has been awarded $345,800 from the federal government to develop a plan to deal with stormwater runoff in the region. The four localities - Roanoke, Roanoke Valley, Salem and Vinton - must match the grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Rain water that runs off roads, roofs, farms and undeveloped land picks up contaminants along the way and often pollutes streams and rivers. The money will pay for master plans of different ways - structural and non-structural, such as creating wetlands - to handle that runoff in the valley's 16 watersheds.
Wayne Strickland, director of the 5th Planning District Commission, which submitted the application in 1992, said it's the first grant of its kind in the country. Runoff was a chief player in the 1985 flood, and Strickland's staff soon began studying the issue.
The planning process will begin in January, and take about 18 months.
EN-DEERING LICENSE PLATES
Virginia hunters won't need skill or luck to bag a buck this hunting season. They can order one on a new license plate being offered by the Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
The white-tailed deer adorns the latest in a series of conservation plates that help pay for wildlife conservation and research projects. For every set of plates, $15 of the $25 annual fee goes to those game department programs.
Sales from the first two plates - featuring the mallard ducks and largemouth bass - have brought in $186,825 since July, 1991. The department expects the deer symbol to be just as popular, if not more.
Any of the conservation plates can be ordered through the DMV. Vanity tags are an extra $10.
SKYLINE DRIVE CLOSED
For the 16th year in a row, the Shenandoah National Park has closed portions of Skyline Drive during the hunting season to prevent poaching. Hunting is banned inside national parks year-round. By closing parts of the scenic road at night, rangers can focus on problem areas and along the park boundary.
The following segments of Skyline Drive are closed daily between dusk to 8 a.m., and will open January 7, 1995:
Front Royal to Thornton Gap (Mile 0 to Mile 31).
Swift Run Gap and Rockfish Gap (Mile 65 to Mile 105).
The middle section remains open for overnight access to Skyland Lodge.
ENVIRO GROUP HAS NEW BOARD
Clean Valley Council, dedicated to recycling and litter cleanup throughout Roanoke Valley, elected new officers and a new board of directors this month.
The new officers are: Allan C. Robinson Jr., president; Ed Callis, vice president; Nancy Bailey, treasurer/secretary.
New directors on board are: Ellen Aiken, from the College of Health Sciences, and Elizabeth Downs, from Moss and Rocovich.
HANG ON TO YOUR SPRAY CANS!
Another Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is right around the corner.
April 22, 1995, will be the third waste-collection day, sponsored by the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority, Clean Valley Council and Salem. The past two collection days have been immensely popular. Next year's is scheduled for a Saturday, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Now is the time to start saving flashlight batteries, paints, drain cleaners, motor oil, used antifreeze and other household toxins. Clear a spot in your basement or garage - safe and secure from animals and children - and store those bottles cans and containers until collection day.
For more information, call the Clean Valley Council at 345-5523.
The Green Scene, an environmental-news notes column, appears every other Monday in Extra. If you have ideas or items to add, please send them to Cathryn McCue at the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.
by CNB