New River Voice

Although temperatures in the New River Valley have felt more like January than Thanksgiving of late, the holiday of feasting is just around the corner. If you’re new to hosting the Thanksgiving gathering, a James Beard award-winning chef created a complete Thanksgiving menu that you can follow.

If you’ve been having the same items on your Thanksgiving table for years and years, maybe it’s time for some new recipes. Check out the delicious dishes that Scott Peacock prepared for Better Homes and Gardens. Perhaps Slathered Eggs, Lemon-Glazed Sweet Potatoes, or Buttermilk Pudding will be just the thing to make your Thanksgiving feast sing!
Heather Morgan Shott, the BHG.com Senior Food Editor, lives and in New York and is looking forward to her Thanksgiving feast.

Infant mortality claims the lives of seven times more children in Virginia each year than does motor vehicle accidents yet receives far less attention and focus, State Health Commissioner Karen Remley, M.D., MBA, said today in announcing the appointment of a working group of medical and health professionals and community and civic leaders to address the problem.

In 2007, 839 infants died in Virginia, with premature births accounting for more than half the total. Earlier today, the March of Dimes released a national “Prematurity Birth Report Card” that gave the United States “D” grade for its preterm birth rate of 12.7 percent.
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As days get colder, residents of Southwest Virginia will spend more time indoors to seek relief from the weather. Heating and cooling uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other home system. Yet, a large portion of that energy is wasted due to correctable problems in the home, and a few simple steps can help reduce home energy costs. (more…)

A tragic fire struck one of Pulaski’s most recognizable venues early Monday morning. The first arriving fire engine reported heavy smoke and heavy fire from the Pulaski Depot. The Draper, Dublin, Newbern and Fairlawn fire departments were called for mutual aid assistance.

The Depot, a building on the National Historic Register, was home to the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Museum. Although a few items have been salvaged, the museum appears to be a total loss, according to Pulaski officials. The fire is under investigation by the Pulaski Fire Marshal’s Office. (more…)

Produced by Sawyer Smith

Thank God, the election is over. Maybe you’re beside yourself with joy and hope and “Yes We Did.” Good for you. It’s the other side I’m thinking about at this moment. The folks who feel sick to their stomachs. The ones who are telling each other that the country’s fucked. They’re pissed and they want everyone to know it. Well, I’m listening.

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Sometimes it takes more than just walkin’ away to find you’ve lost. Sometimes it doesn’t take a good friend to say, “it’s just time, and it goes.” But that’s the way it goes. It’s just the way it goes.

For those unfamiliar with the extraordinary body of work proffered by the incomparable Alejandro Escovedo, those opening lyrics to the Americana pioneer’s meditation on love, loss, and empty nostalgia from his “Thirteen Years” canon would seem to portend an evening of gloom and despair. Yet, as the relatively bantam but zealous crowd comprising the Lyric Theatre’s auditorium on Friday, Nov. 7, witnessed, this gorgeous, albeit somber, opening number served as a referendum on the times in which we live and immutably endure. (more…)

Thanksgiving is almost here and Christmas is just around the corner. You’d love to get away for the holidays but the logistics seem so daunting. Can you afford plane tickets for your family of four to see relatives in Des Moines? Do you really want to drive 10 hours to see friends in New York—and risk wintry weather conditions on the road? So much to think about: gas prices, time off from work, pet options, and hearing the kids ask a thousand times, “Are we there yet?” (more…)

It was a blustery Blacksburg afternoon. As the wind whipped and the sun fought through clouds to occasionally peek through to the Virginia Tech campus.

At 1:30 p.m. on Tech’s Drill Field, a group of about 75 people gathered as a response to California’s passage of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage. Finally by about 2 p.m. the group began its meandering 40-minute march from the Drill Field throughout campus and back to the starting spot. (more…)

Another great session from The Listening Room archive is now available!Join Tim as he interviews three of four members of the celtic and Appalachian instrumental band Dot Dot Dash. For more information on the band, visit their MySpace page. (This show has been brought to you by the letter U.)

To catch new episodes of The Listening Room, tune into WVRU 89.9 FM at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays–or listen live online.

The format of The Listening Room was slightly altered for the November 4th episode. Rather than interviewing a local musician or band, Tim W. Jackson invited Taryn Chase to join him in hosting an “Election Special.”

Essentially they devoted the show to encourage listeners who hadn’t voted yet to get out to the polls. And in between, they played a selection of songs about how important the voice of the people truly is–including songs by artists such as John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Leela James, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Ben Lee, and the Black-Eyed Peas.

While everyone may not be satisfied with the outcome of the election, those of us who participated by volunteering or voting can all be proud of the numbers of folks who turned out. If only our nation can keep this level of enthusiasm and show continued ownership over our government.

To catch new episodes of The Listening Room, tune into WVRU 89.9 FM at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays–or listen live online.

Barter Theatre PassBooks are available for purchase at the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley in Pulaski, Virginia. Barter’s Season PassBook has the listings for upcoming productions and is the easiest and most cost- effective way to enjoy the season.

The season will include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Four Places, Of Mice and Men, Adjoining Trances, Devil Sedan, Othello and more. For more information you may call the Fine Arts Center at 540.980.7663.

Here in the New River Valley, it looks like gray skies are in the forecast through the weekend, and then colder weather comes to visit after that. It’s definitely the kind of conditions that call for a nice, warm casserole.

Make these hearty dinners from Better Homes & Gardens ahead for a quick and easy weeknight meal, or serve one as part of your Sunday supper tradition with friends and family.

Heather Morgan Shott, the BHG.com Senior Food Editor, lives and eats casseroles in New York.

It has been some time since my last entry. Autumn has asserted itself in Giles County, and Halloween come and gone. It is a few weeks before Thanksgiving, and you know what that means …. it is time again for the Narrows Junior Women’s Club TV Auction. Below I have re-printed my posting from last November, which describes the auction and how you can view it on television in the county.

Happy Autumn

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It is once again time for the Narrows Junior Women’s Club TV Auction.

Each year at this time, the Giles-based organization holds its annual television auction on the local cable access channel. It is a multiple evening event, with tonight (November 14, 2007) being the third and final evening of the auction. Various figures from the community help emcee the event, which auctions off goods donated by local area businesses.

Suddenlink customers in the county can tune into the auction on channel 2 at 7pm. The auction operates several land line and cellular telephone numbers so that viewers can call in bids for currently displayed goods. The emcees introduce and talk up the items, with frequent camera cutaways to a large dry-erase board, on which all items up for bid are listed. As the calls pour in, the board is updated on-camera by a real person.

I’ve found this to be a nice touch, rather than having a computer-driven display.

Bidding items range from gift certificates to restaurants and other local businesses to housewares, clothing, and specialty items. New displays of goods are arranged throughout the evening, and the emcees never fail to keep the calls coming in. The Junior Women’s Club TV Auction is a Giles County tradition, and is a great way to support a local organization.

More information on the club can be had at the Town of Narrows web site.

John Hildreth lives in Pembroke, and teaches at Radford University.
www.radford.edu/jhildret

Recently we looked at the live music schedule for 202 Market in Roanoke and saw that the influx of performers seemed to be reduced to a trickle. We wondered if Gary Jackson, the person primarily responsible for booking bands, might have left. (more…)

We’re all busy. The holidays are just around the corner. Your life is moving at breakneck speed. And you’ve had fast-food three nights in a row.

Say goodbye to the drive-through and hello to fresh, healthier, never-boring meals. Every recipe here tastes great and is ready in 20 minutes or less. Try these quick meals to make your life easier.

Heather Morgan Shott, the BHG.com Senior Food Editor, lives in New York.

Leaves provide luscious color to many of our homes and stores. After highlighting their display of life, the hassle of cleaning the leftovers can be pain we all have to burden. However, who says it’s all a chore with no fun? This Saturday, Nov. 8, Pathways for Radford is holding its Sixth Annual “Rake Leaves, Eat Pie,” down at Wildwood Park.

Raking leaves off the nature trails through Wildwood Park will help to ensure paths will be less slippery during the winter months. Elizabeth Altieri, a member and event organizer for this Saturday has been working with Pathways for Radford with her husband for years now. “We support all things green … environmentally and nature,” she said. After six years, the event has gained local support from nature enthusiast residents. Around 25-40 people show up to pave the way to mother nature’s eloquent scenery.

After clearing the paths, everyone gathers for festive pie eating. Usually 10-15 pies are readily made for everyone to share. “Pumpkin pie pecan crunch” is Altieri’s favorite. It seems to hit the spot after an hour of raking leaves. Other refreshments, such as hot chocolate, coffee, donuts, and other heart-warming goods, are supplied by Pathways for Radford prior to the raking.

This event comes as the last of the season for this busy group. Earlier this summer, they opened a new mountain bike trail in Radford on July 19. Throughout the summer they hold an educational forum and lectures on nature at the Outdoor Classroom at Wildwood Park. Much of their work takes them through the commonly used Riverway path that extends from the Dedmon Center, through Bisset Park and into Wildwood Park. Their goals are clear and simple, to educate and promote maintenance and use of all trailways that run through Radford.

Wheatley Stefan is an intern at the New River Voice.

A seemingly under-the-radar, low-key musician, Tim Reynolds, joined with his band TR3, is actually a mind-blowing and intense performance that is a symphony of the senses. On Friday night at Awful Arthur’s, you can experience this mastery in Blacksburg.

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Another great session from The Listening Room archive is now available!

There aren’t many people playing the psaltery these days, but Floyd singer Nico Woodruff is one of them. Woodruff mixes traditional celtic sounds with vocals influenced by Joni Mitchell and other great folk singers. Be sure to check out Tim’s conversation with Nico and visit her MySpace page at www.myspace.com/nicolecooleywoodruff.

To catch new episodes of The Listening Room, tune into 89.9 FM at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays–or listen live online.