Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190064
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETH MACY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That sentiment scored No. 1 in our recent reader-participation poll, in which we asked Roanokers to sketch their own versions of the Star City - all the amenities, shops, hang-outs and recreational opportunities they would add to the town's offerings.
We called it our Wish List '95, but many respondents wished people would quit picking on Roanoke: "I live in Fort Bragg, N.C., and I would do anything to move back; Fayetteville is a redneck military town," said Susan Wigginton Hartl, the first person to call our reader comment line. "Y'all should be appreciative of what you have!"
"You guys need to come and live with me in Bassett for a while," said Ann Harris. "There is truly nothing to do here."
And from West Virginia transplant Pam Purdy, now a Roanoker: "The people of Roanoke need to learn to appreciate Roanoke for what it is and to quit trying to make it into what it is not. Oh yeah, and Roanokers should also quit blaming First Union Bank for 'taking over' Dominion Bank when Dominion Bank's executives courted First Union to begin with."
As for all the other suggestions, the media - this newspaper and local radio stations, in particular - leave plenty room for improvement, readers said. As do offerings for teens, restaurants, roadways, rec facilities and the shopping scene.
Here are some of the highlights.
BRING BACK: A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED SCANDAL!
"Not since the Chuck Robb-Tai Collins affair has Roanoke - or Virginia, in fact - gotten so much attention," wrote Blake Bentley, 19. "The North-Robb disputes were nasty, but got boring."
Roanoke would also be more exciting, Bentley wrote, if the Civic Center got bigger acts like The Rolling Stones, Madonna and The Grateful Dead (several writers mentioned the latter). Other suggestions: a nightclub for ages 13-20, new entrance/exit ramps to Valley View Mall, the re-opening of Lakeside Amusement Park.
EVERYBODY WAS KUNG-FU FIGHTING
"An FM radio station that plays ONLY the hits from the '70s," says Salem's Steve Turner, who also wants more cooperation among valley governments, higher morals in the valley and a TGI Fridays restaurant.
OUCH
Paul Lancaster of Blacksburg minced no words when he put together his list: The return of the comic strip "Outland," another daily newspaper, fewer dumb reader surveys, better support of Total Action Against Poverty, real Polish sausage, more local documentaries by local TV stations, less fascination with mini-Graceland, the preservation of Gainsboro, more diversity, a tactical nuclear strike along Route 419, more dreamers, fewer politicians and a sense of humor.
YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE . . . OR EVEN THERE
Jerry Guzi thinks Roanoke needs a visitor center for Roanoke that a visitor can find without a tour guide, with parking.
Also: a limited access road from Brandon Avenue to Garst Mill to Brambleton to Colonial. "People living in the residential areas between those major points know how bad the traffic is that flows into their neighborhoods from one point to the other," wrote Guzi, who doesn't live on those paths. "Rather than having all the traffic flooding into, across, and through their neighborhoods, we ought to have a limited access road that takes the traffic PAST them."
Some of Guzi's additional suggestions: A good FM radio station, incubator sites for local start-up businesses, a good highway from Roanoke to Smith Mountain Lake, a state-supported college or university, an outdoor recreation lake in the city with walking paths (possibly at the former Jefferson Hills Golf Course) and a law protecting the surrounding mountains (``If we don't take action now, we'll wake up one day soon surrounded by a view of bumpy suburbs.'').
MAYBE IT COULD GO TO SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, TOO
"Roanoke needs an authentic electric trolley linking the market areas with the Virginia Museum of Transportation," wrote Dorr Tucker. "The trolley's clanging bell would encourage conventioneers at Hotel Roanoke to stroll over the new pedestrian bridge and visit the market area.
"And wouldn't it be nice to see a real passenger train resplendent in tuscan red sitting in the passenger station?
"To further facilitate downtown development, free parking should be available on the edge of the commercial district. Such parking in the vicinity of the transportation museum would not only boost attendance there, but also feed the market area via the trolley."
WE'RE PICTURING FRED MCMURRAY, WITH A MARGARITA . . . AND A WALKMAN
"Bring in a fashionable Big & Tall store because it's really hard to find clothes that fit unless you don't mind looking like your dad," wrote Jeff English. And "build an amphitheater so I don't have to travel a great distance to see Jimmy Buffett" and other groups that tour in the summer.
English also wants a water theme park, First Fridays at Five every Friday and an alternative radio station.
BIG LIQUE
A French influence was suggested by a couple readers, including Rachel B. Turner, who wishes Roanoke had fluorescent house numbers painted on curbs in front of all residences, which she observed in Paris.
And Dorr Tucker wants "a real French restaurant where Roanokers could partake of the likes of bouillabaisse and sweet breads."
EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED: MORE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
"A Christmas automobile decorating contest to be held in the market areas under the farmers' awning (lots of electric outlets). Entrants would decorate their cars in the afternoon, judging to be conducted after dark. To be judged by me," wrote Dick Howard of Salem.
He also suggested a system of mountain biking/hiking trails, which starts at the top of Mill Mountain and spirals around the mountain to the bottom. Plus: a fresh pasta shop, more civic leaders with vision, and a Jewish delicatessen.
THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE ROANOKE COLLEGE THINK TANK
A group of former grads who got together for the New Year came up with this list: a skateboard park/teen center with lighting for night-time use (a popular suggestion among many readers), more neighborhood revitalization followed by carriage tours, jazz night clubs on the city market, a Norfolk-Southern dinner train, a culinary school that would draw chefs and unique restaurants.
Signed by Steve Kluttz, Debbie Kluttz, Mary DePuy, Craig DePuy and Richard DeMartino.
MORE MEDIA BASHING
By Mitchell L. Mendelson, who wants a "free, i.e., 'alternative,' newspaper that has at least one adult on its writing staff and/or tries to appeal to intelligent, adult readers" and "a daily newspaper that employs (and publishes) at least one genuinely talented and interesting writer and/or commentator, and that doesn't constantly stoop to mindless sensationalism or cliched formula journalism."
Mendelson also suggested ethnic grocery stores and real neighborhood delicatessens worthy of the name, less suburban development and more redevelopment of the central city, transit service on Sundays, a radio station that plays mainstream jazz, a more serious and progressive professional theater, and "just one commercial radio station that plays new pop music for grown-ups."
AND MORE
Glenn Rose of Lexington wishes Roanoke had a good classical music radio station - one that doesn't play movie themes such as "Star Wars," "Loony Tunes" and "Indiana Jones'' as if it were Bach, Beethoven or Brahms.
AND MORE
Salem's Emily Brady wants "more news in the newspaper. More reporters out on the streets (no, not begging for money). More comics. More local writers. MORE. PLEASE, QUIT THAT DAMNING LINE ON A2 (`due to a reporter's error'); just give the correct info!"
She also suggests user-friendly computer wizards who make house calls, street musicians of all types, fewer top 40 classical classics on public radio, more parking downtown, a good bakery in Salem, a bistro in every village where happy singles can hang out and not look like they're on the prowl, more happy singles, and more up-and-coming, even down-and-out shows at the Iroquois and Coffee Pot - shows of the jazz-blues-folk-rock sort with a wider range of beverages and somehow, less smoke.
"But then, everyone would want to live here!"
by CNB