Susan M. Ayers / Creative Writer with Flair

February 13, 2010

Susan’s Post

Filed under: General — Tags: , — susanmayers @ 11:17 pm

Published in The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
February 12-18, 2010 Edition

Valentines Opportunities Galore

Wondering what to do on Valentine’s Day? There is something for everyone in the Roanoke Valley whether you are: a couple looking for a romantic evening, flying solo, on a first date or working on winning someone’s heart.

If it’s an upscale venue with dinner and dancing the night away that you’re looking for:

Desire – A Valentine’s Ball at The Sheraton Roanoke Hotel on February 13 may just be the ticket you are looking for. This year’s event features the music of The Kings with host John Carlin.

“We like to have fun. Like last year’s event, there will be games and contests for couples,” enthused Sponsor Hounds Vice-President Elliot Broyles. The evening kicks off with cocktails at 6:30 in the Sheraton’s main lobby reception area and doors open at 7:00. Cash bar. For additional information, visit www.sponsorhounds.com. To reserve seating, call (540) 206-2414 up until 6:00 p.m. February 12.

Valentine’s Day Singing Telegram on February 12 is one way to show your loved one how much you care. The $25 cost includes singing, a special card, candy and flower. All proceeds go to Bethany Hall’s Client Recreational Fund. Call Jenny Neel at (540) 343-4261, ext 308.

Showtimers Community Theater is presenting “Mame” a musical by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee. Featuring a fun-loving socialite, Mame Dennis acquires custody of her 10-year-old nephew, Patrick, and isn’t quite sure what to do. Songs include Bosom Buddies, That’s How Young I Feel and Mame. The show runs February 11-28 and the cost to attend is $12 for adults and $5 for those under age 18.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.showtimers.org or by phone at (540) 774-2660. Requests may be emailed to boxoffice@showtimers.org.

Valentine’s Day (2010), a new movie with an all-star cast, will be released in theaters on February 12. The comedy/romance film involves intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles break-up and make-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine’s Day. A reviewer attending a press release regarding the movie said, “It is perfect for this day of love. Even if you are alone and have no Valentine of your own, it will set the mood and you will feel the love that is in the air at this time of year.”

For those who opt for a simpler means to show their love, consider making home made valentines and giving conversational hearts with the candy’s thematic take on love. And there is always the more traditional approach including one or any combination of: a box of chocolates, flowers and heart-shaped jewelry.

Light some candles and watch a romantic movie to cap the evening…
The bottom line is that however Valentine’s Day is celebrated, the main thing is to feel that love is in the air!

By Susan Ayers

February 5, 2010

Susan’s Post

Filed under: General — Tags: — susanmayers @ 7:39 pm

Miss Bonnie with samples of her new product

Miss Bonnie with samples of her new product.

Published in The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
February 5-11, 2010 Edition

 

Miss Bonnie’s Cheese Spreads Are a Hit

Looking for something easy, quick and delicious to serve for Superbowl Sunday? You may not need to look far. Enter Miss Bonnie’s Gourmet Cheese Spreads.

Beginning this Friday, the newly introduced classic cheddar cheese spread will be available for sale at 11 Kroger stores in the Roanoke Valley. Kroger introduced Miss Bonnie’s pimento cheese and jalapeno pepper cheese spreads to the area last summer. “It’s a great product line and we’re proud to carry it,” enthused Cheese Category Manager Tonya Morris.

On Saturday and Sunday, Kroger customers will have the opportunity to sample Miss Bonnie’s Olive Salad recipe, made with her Cheese Spread and Gambino’s Olive Salad from noon until 6:00 p.m.

“Gambino’s found that sales of their olive salad products increased as a result of Miss Bonnie’s recipe. We’re piggy backing on Gambino’s and vice versa. It’s a win-win for both as well as for the customers who love the cheeses and the recipes,” remarked Ron Adleman, Bonnie’s husband.

The story of Miss Bonnie’s Gourmet Cheese Spreads began because “I wasn’t satisfied with the choices offered in the food stores and I began crafting my own Cheese Spreads. My friends and family members encouraged me to market my Cheese Spreads and I decided to give it a try,” said Bonnie Adleman.

The home based start-up business began in a 600 square-feet space on the second floor of their garage in Midlothian, Virginia. Miss Bonnie’s pimento cheese spread was introduced the day before Thanksgiving 2006 in a Kroger store in the Richmond area. The Adlemans had decided to make enough cheese spread for ten (10) cases with one dozen jars in one case. “Almost all ten cases sold that day and Store Manager Milton Foster late that afternoon told me that I had the best first day sales of any vendor he ever had in any of the stores he had managed,” she recalled.

Because the Adlemans didn’t have any cheese spread to restock the store, they postponed Thanksgiving dinner until Friday and on Thanksgiving Day made 12 more cases of cheese spread. By Christmas, Miss Bonnie’s was in two additional Kroger stores in Richmond.

By the end of 2007, they were able to expand distribution to eight Kroger stores by streamlining production. Two of these stores were new. One of the two new stores opening in 2007 was the Midlothian Ivymont Kroger, managed by Ed Southern, who has been in the grocery business for 41 years and manages the largest volume Kroger store in the Mid-Atlantic, having opened three of the new Kroger locations in Richmond during this time.

“I have never, ever, seen a more prolific, customer accepted and demanded, grass roots promoted food item in my entire career,” exclaimed Southern. Being the second Kroger to receive Miss Bonnie’s cheese spread for sale, it was noticed that anyone who tasted this cheese was a fan. My challenge: get it into the mouths of my customers. Using a demo dome daily made this easy and I watched the product grow to the number one position in my specialty cheese commodity.”

In September 2007, the Adleman’s learned that Miss Bonnie’s Gourmet Pimento Cheese Spread was named the “2007 New Product Success Story of the Year” for Kroger Mid-Atlantic.

The release of their second item, Jalapeno Pepper Cheese Spread “took off just like its predecessor,” said Southern.

“I am so proud of Bonnie. She has become a star in this dim economy and everyone that she comes into contact with loves her. The customers gravitate toward her,” Ron Adleman remarked.

“In November 2009, Miss Bonnie’s Gourmet relocated production from their garage to a 13,200 square-feet plant that previously produced smoked fish in Front Royal, Virginia. Only currently using 25 percent of the plant with five acres behind the plant will allow room for expansion. The business currently has eight full-time employees and as the business expands, additional employees will be hired,” he said.

The product line is presently sold in 56 retail grocery locations in Virginia. The products contain “zero gluten fillers, no sugar, no trans fats and no carbs. It’s a blend of naturally aged cheeses – no artificial anything. It contains pure ingredients, is chunky, old fashioned and “diabetic friendly.”

“National rollout is scheduled to begin in mid-February beginning with the completion of distribution of the products to the remaining Kroger stores in the Mid-Atlantic Division. We appreciate all that Kroger has done to help the little guy,” said Ron Adleman.

For recipes and other information, visit www.missbonnies.com

By Susan Ayers

Susan’s Post

Filed under: General — Tags: — susanmayers @ 7:19 pm

Published in The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
January 29-February 4, 2010 Edition

Roanokers Rally to Assist Earthquake Victims in Haiti

Americans have been highly focused on the massive earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12 and not only is the disaster clearly the top news story, approximately 70 percent say it is the story they are talking about with friends, according to the Pew Research Center, a non-partisan “fact tank” that provides information on issues shaping America and the world.

Here in the Roanoke Valley, we continue to see businesses; non-profit organizations and individuals collectively band together to share their talent, money and time towards helping those in need.

“In just the first week of the Haiti response effort, the American Red Cross spent or committed $34 million and those funds were spent on food and water, relief supplies and logistical and support services in Haiti,” said Roanoke Valley Chapter American Red Cross Public Relations Director Amy Whittaker.

“As of 5:00 p.m. last Thursday, $26 million had been collected from individuals donating by mobile texting and more than 60 percent of the donations have come from online giving. The local chapter is the conduit for financial donation and any monies received by them is forwarded to the national organization,” added Whittaker.

The American Red Cross and its partners are currently providing more than 3 million pre-packaged meals, more than 1 million water purification packets and thousands of jerry cans so people can collect and transport clear drinking water. Aid will continue to be pushed through to Haiti over the next several days and weeks and as the international relief effort grows so will the monetary commitment of the American Red Cross. “Right now, it’s important to get relief there as quickly as possible, but also be thoughtful and responsible in how we spend the funds the American people have entrusted to us,” Whittaker emphasized.

For information on how to donate to the American Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-435-7669.

“Angel Missions Haiti is a Christian non-profit group dedicated to helping families obtaining life saving medical care for children. We are trying to get as many medical teams to Haiti as possible,” said the non-profit organization’s President, Tom Carpenter who manages the non-profit organization from a local perspective.

The teams have been made aware of the situation(s) that they face, including working long hours, sleeping on cots and eating available rations. Under normal conditions, medical personnel would see approximately 100 children daily verses 700-800 children daily. “It’s going to be a difficult trip” and those in the medical group are “true heroes,” he added. Carpenter’s wife and founder of the organization, Vanessa Carpenter, is already in Haiti.

A group of volunteer medical personnel from Roanoke and surrounding areas [Medical Mission to Haiti – Helping Angel Missions Haiti Causes] will be departing for Haiti on or about February 13 and will be working together to provide needed medical services to the children of earthquake ravaged Haiti.

Angel Missions Haiti is an organization consisting of all volunteers, which keeps overhead down and enables 100 percent of money donated to go to Haiti. The non-profit organization has partnered with businesses including General Electric, Abbott Labs, Adobe Software Company and Proctor & Gamble.

To donate money to Angel Missions Haiti, visit www.angelmissionshaiti.org or mail a check to Angel Missions Haiti, 4071 Barley Drive, Salem, VA 24153. The organization can also utilize donations in the form of medical supplies and other items that are listed on its website. A donated semi-truck will be parked at West Salem Baptist Church for the next two weeks. When the trailers are filled, they will be shipped to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to their medical Clinics and orphanages. Donations of the needed items will be accepted Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. and Friday from 8:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. For additional information, please contact Beth Richardson at (540) 353-5058.

“WDBJ7 lined up and partnered with other businesses Berglund Automotive, Carilion Clinic, Hometown Bank and Hardees and pledged to match the first $10,000 our community donates to the Salvation Army’s Haitian Disaster Fund and as of close of business last Friday $35,620 not including the $10,000 match, “ said Roanoke’s Salvation Army Development Director Trish Musselwhite.

More than 80,000 pounds of food, water and other emergency supplies have been delivered to The Salvation Army compound with the help of UPS and over 24,000 meal kits with rations sufficient to supply a family for five days have been provided to individuals and families in Haiti. Registration has begun for the estimated 10,000 people who are sheltered in makeshift tents adjacent to the compound in Port-au-Prince. The registration will be helpful, as deliveries of food rations will eventually be tied to numbers of registered people in any given district.

“Because this is for international relief, there are no administrative costs and all donations go for relief in Haiti, “emphasized Musselwhite.

For information on how to donate to the Salvation Army, visit www.salvationarmyroanokeva.org or call (800) SAL-ARMY.

Roanoke’s Commonwealth Catholic Charities anticipates having Haitian children brought in through the Division of Unaccompanied Children Services program and “we are trying to be as prepared as we can trying to get everything as stabilized as we can,” said Adoption Program Manager Marge Savage Thornton.

Children in Haiti previously identified and matched with an adopted family will be coming home more quickly because of the earthquake. Normally, “the process would take more than a year after identification,” remarked Thornton.

For information on how to donate, call (540) 344-5107.

By  Susan Ayers

Susan’s Post

Filed under: General — Tags: — susanmayers @ 6:54 pm

Published by The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
January 22-28, 2010 Edition

Sharebike and Cyclo-Ward Pedal Into New Location

More than 100 biking enthusiasts attended an open house held recently to celebrate the new digs of Sharebike and Cyclo-Ward Bicycle Repair, located at the corner of Jefferson Street and Franklin Road. Cyclo-Ward is the maintenance arm of Sharebike.

The subfreezing temperatures and wind gusts of up to 32 miles per hour didn’t stop The Starbomb and the Star City Alley Cat bicycle groups from braving the elements and holding their individual monthly rides/races, which left from and returned to Sharebike the evening of the open house. The remainder of the crowd chose to stay inside where it was warm.

Launched by Ron McCorkle and James Rosar in 2007, both the non-profit community bicycle program and bicycle repair business were previously housed in a 475 square-foot storefront located in the City Market Building at 32 Market Square. The new and more spacious location includes a social area with a coffee service and large chalk talk black board to encourage shared dialog, an educational center with DVDs, bike-related publications and accessories, yellow sharebikes and a bicycle repair area. Information regarding upcoming bicycle events and the greenways is also available at Sharebike. The new location will begin selling new bikes in March.

Last Spring, Sharebike acquired a pedicab [a three-wheeled vehicle with a seat in front for the driver, handlebars and a cab in back for passengers]. The purpose of the pedicab service is to encourage bicycling and to offer a unique opportunity for visitors from out of town to see the city and have a guided tour by one of Sharebike’s professional drivers.

A small fee is charged to use the yellow share bikes leaving from the main location and the bikes are free to use at three other Roanoke locations that are operated by the individual businesses that Sharebike has formed a partnership with including Blackdog Salvage [located at 902 13th Street, SW], Grandin Gardens [located at 1731 Grandin Road, SW] and Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission [located at 313 Luck Avenue, SW].

Founded by McCorkle, Sharebike has no employees, but rather utilizes the bartering system with many of its volunteers. “One of the volunteers maintains the coffee service in exchange for our new blend of coffee created for Sharebike by Star City Roasters. Eighty percent of what we do is community supported by trade and donation,” said McCorkle.

“Sharebike has tripled in business after two years in all dimensions including size of building and volume and I anticipate at least doubling in volume this year. James Rosar, Owner/Operator of Cyclo-Ward, makes Sharebike possible by providing instruction, maintenance and repair for the bikes,” added McCorkle.
Being an organization created to stimulate, support and link together a wide range of community-based bicycling initiatives to Roanoke, Sharebike restores bikes that have been confiscated by the City and then donates the restored bikes to be used in an after school program at Woodrow Wilson Middle School overseen by Resource Officer, Jimmy Goad.

Sharebike’s hours of operation are currently 11:00a.m.- 8:00p.m. with the exception of Tuesday and Sunday when closed. McCorkle said that plans are underway to open daily in the spring and a Grand Opening is planned for sometime in March.

For additional information, visit www.sharebike.org and www.cycloward.com

By Susan Ayers

Susan’s Post

Filed under: General — Tags: — susanmayers @ 6:30 pm

Published by The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
January 8-14, 2010 Edition

“The Big Read” Offers A Lesson Before Dying

The Big Read Roanoke Valley is an effort to encourage people in this area to make reading a part of their daily lives and to foster a stronger sense of community. As part of The Big Read in Virginia, Roanoke Valley residents will read Ernest Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying.

The Big Read is actually a nationwide program created by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The program is designed to revitalize literary reading in America. The Big Read invites communities to read a single book of American literature and to then meet for book discussion groups, panels, lectures, film screenings and other activities in relation to the book.

In 2009, the NEA awarded 269 grants across the country, one that went to the Virginia Foundation Center for the Book to conduct The Big Read in Virginia. The Center located in Charlottesville, furnishes NEA-produced educational and promotional materials to participating localities in Virginia. The Big Read Roanoke Valley is part of The Big Read in Virginia.

Lucy Lee and Ann McCallum, co-chairs of the The Big Read Roanoke Valley are hoping that everyone in the Roanoke Valley [ninth grade and older] will have read the book by March. The board of the Friends of the Roanoke County Library are in charge of The Big Read. Many of the area’s school systems, colleges and area businesses are also participating.

The setting of “A Lesson Before Dying” is on a plantation in Louisiana during the late 1940s and is about a young African American man who is sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. The novel follows the relationship of him and the plantation’s college-educated teacher and the development of their relationship against a backdrop of racial segregation. It examines how a man should live confronted with what it takes to be a man in the certainty of death and uncertainties of life and examines racism, death, families, injustice and strength.

Upcoming events to complement the book community study.
March 4: Virtuoso banjoist Bela Fleck and an ensemble of all-star African musicians transcend barriers of language and culture with African music at The Jefferson Center 7:30p.m.–9:00p.m.
March 5: an international champion of hip-hop culture will perform with her original songs and spoken-word poetry at The Jefferson Center beginning at 8:00p.m.
March 12: “A Lesson Before Dying” film version will be screened at 7:30p.m. Directed by Joseph Sargent, the film won two Emmy awards when it was released in 1999. In 2000, the film won a Humanitas Prize.

By Susan Ayers

Susan’s New Post

Filed under: General — Tags: — susanmayers @ 4:32 pm

Published by The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
January 1-7, 2010 Edition

Annual Writers Conference to Convene At Hollins

The third annual Roanoke Regional Writers Conference is scheduled for January 22-23 at Hollins University.

Founded and organized by Valley Business FRONT Co-Founder and Editor Dan Smith, the conference opens Friday evening with a wine reception and introduction of teaching staff and speakers for the evening, Sara Elizabeth Timmins and Janis Jaquith.

Timmons, a filmmaker most recently from Los Angeles, will speak on “Telling the Story.” She has produced more than a dozen movies helping playwrights, screenwriters, writers, musicians and choreographers translate their vision to the screen.

Jaquith’s commentaries have been heard on the public radio show Marketplace, on National Public Radio’s (NBR) Day to Day and on NBR station WVTF. Having won a Virginia Press Association (VPA) award for editorial writing, she is a columnist and author.

The conference on Saturday is geared toward vocational and avocational writers who have the desire to become better at their craft and to network with other writers from the region. The 24 classes and two round-table discussions will be on topics including writing and social media, translating your work to film/stage, media writing, freelance writing and the law, freelance writing in this market, the short personal essay, and writing local history among others.

Among those teaching classes will be John Anderson, author of the recently published book, “Stand by Her: A Breast Cancer Guide for Men.” Anderson was prompted to write the book after his wife, sister, mother and mother’s best friend were diagnosed with breast cancer and his close encounters with the disease. He has since appeared on national television and has been asked by numerous publications to author articles on the same subject.

Other presenters include Blue Ridge Country editor Cara Modisett, Leisure Publishing Editor in Chief, Kurt Rheinheimer, two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Rex Bowman, and The Roanoke Star-Sentinel Editor Gene Marrano, among others.

The cost of the conference is $50 per person and includes the reception, coffee all day Saturday and lunch.

For additional information regarding the conference schedule and to register, visit http://www.hollins.edu/news-events/writers/writers.htm.

By Susan Ayers

Susan’s New Post

Filed under: General — Tags: — susanmayers @ 3:59 pm

Published by The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
January 1-7, 2010 Edition

Variety of Events Set for New Years in Roanoke

From New Year’s Eve Bouncy Ball Drop, Enchanted Eve and The New Year’s Blast to parties galore at local restaurants and hotels, there is something for everyone who wants to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Roanoke Valley.

At the second annual “New Year’s Eve Bouncy Ball Drop,” kids of all ages will gather in the atrium of Center in the Square, home to the Science Museum of Western Virginia, before noon for the countdown. More than 11,000 bouncy balls were dropped last year.

Because bouncy balls will be given out on a first-come first-served basis, it is recommended that participants arrive by 10:30a.m. At noon, everyone will drop their bouncy balls from various levels to the first floor of the atrium.

The event is free. For additional information, visit www.smwv.org or call (540) 342-5710.

The 6th annual “Enchanted Eve” is Roanoke County’s alcohol-free community inspired New Year’s Eve celebration held in Downtown Vinton from 6:00p.m. to 12:00a.m.

Tourism and Event Coordinator for Roanoke County Department of Parks and Recreation Wendi Schultz said, “Travel Through Time is this year’s theme that will magically transport participants through ten (10) decades of fun and merriment through numerous events and entertainment venues in buildings and public spaces all along Washington Avenue. There will be special attractions, games, music, parades, food, live entertainment and fireworks at midnight”

Schultz emphasized, “the event will be held regardless of the weather because most of the activities are held indoors.” She added that she has a “fabulous large group of volunteers” including16 community volunteers who serve on the committee that begins planning the annual event every January, an additional 250 volunteers who help in the preparation for the event and at the event and students from the Key Club at Lord Botetourt High School and JRTC students at William Byrd High School who help with security and handling the buttons for admission.

Admission fee in advance is $7 (ages 3-12 $3). Tickets may be purchased in advance at numerous locations including area Kroger stores and some of the banks located in Vinton. Tickets not purchased in advance will cost an additional $2. Attendance of 3,000-5,000 is anticipated.

For additional information, visit www.roanokecountyva.gov or call (540) 387-6078, extension 251.

Presented by Sponsor Hounds, LLC, Roanoke’s New Year’s Eve Blast returns for its 3rd year. The event includes two stages of live music. On the opening stage will be “Center Hill,” with a mix of 80s, rock hits and new music. “80’z Enuff” will be playing hits from the 80s and will ring in the New Year with the annual dropping of the Roanoke Star.

“The star drop is bigger than the ball drop in New York City,” enthused Elliot Broyles, Organizer at Sponsor Hounds. Retired engineer Gary Greer built the seven-foot Mill Mountain Star replica with lights inside three years ago. This year Greer added additional lights to the star along with a champagne glass in front. The ball that drops in New York City is six feet.

Also at the celebration will be three 20-foot screens for the purpose of broadcasting pictures of attendees as they walk in, the bands’ performance, and the Virginia Tech/Tennessee football game. The paparazzi will be on hand to snap photos as people arrive.

This is an age 21 and up event held 8:00p.m. -1:30a.m. In the Special Events Center at the Roanoke Civic Center. The $25 admission in advance includes all entertainment, the star drop and heavy hors oeuvres. There will be a cash bar. A reserved table includes prime placement near the main stage, eight tickets to the event, and a bottle of champagne for midnight toast, party favors and access to the VIP area with hors oeuvres.

For additional information, visit www.sponsorhounds.com/new years.html or call (540) 206-2414 or (877) 723-8496.

The 32nd annual Charity Ball for the Preceptor Omicron chapter of Beta Sigma Phi will be held on New Year’s Eve at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.
The ticket price of $160 per couple includes a strolling buffet dinner for two, seating in one of two ballrooms, live music and dancing and a champagne toast and balloon drop at midnight. For additional information and to purchase tickets, call (540) 342-5089 or visit www.newyearsevegala.org.

By Susan Ayers

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