Ram's Head Will Either Close or Be Sold at End of Year

Rams Head's distinctive facade in Towers Mall

John and Lolly Rosemond, who have owned Ram's Head book store in the Towers Mall for 47 years, will relinquish ownership at the end of the year and retire. It is not clear whether the store will close or be sold. Manager Christine Hastings has expressed an interest in buying one of the most respected independent book stores in the region.

The Rosemonds opened the store at the then three-year-old Towers Shopping Center in 1964 and have expanded it into four spaces over the years. It has expanded so much, in fact, says Lolly that the stock has become virtually unmanageable. It has never been computerized. "We opened before people had their stock on computers," she says, "and we've talked to people about it. They threw up their hands."

If Christine Hastings buys the store after the first of the year, says Lolly, it will be computerized and the store will likely have a strong on-line presence.

The store's name, Ram's Head, comes from the Rosemonds' love for the University of North Carolina, whose mascot is a ram.

Ram's Head is in the middle of a closeout sale that will run to the end of the year. Lolly says that if the store is sold to Christine Hastings, it likely will be contained within one or two units. "Increasingly, we have sold to order for large customers," she says, "and we don't need this large inventory."

Ram's Head shortly after opening in 1964

She believes that, even as bookstores across the country close on a daily basis and even the big ones are in serious trouble, Ram's Head has a unique niche because of its location, stock, employee knowledge of books and customer loyalty.

"People still want real books" and the book buying experience, she insists. Over the years, Ram's Head has been the one bookstore in the region where local and regional authors could be certain their books would be featured. Bud Robertson's new book on the Civil War will be sold there and Lolly says Tom Angleberger, whose children's books have been on the New York Times lists, was launched there.
She says the location "is an interesting shopping center with eceletic shoppers," pointing to the success of Fresh Market and Dollar Tree, which appeal to different ends of the economic scale.

The potential sale to Ms. Hastings is something the Rosemonds hope happens. "We think Christine can be a success here," says Lolly. "She was with Books Strings and Things in Blacksburg and Roanoke and has 20 years of experience."


Rams Head has been a Roanoke Valley icon for decades. Let's hope that status continues with new management. Good book stores are a real treasure and Ram's Head is a good book store.

(Black and white photo: Neil Good Studios)

An Alternative for Christmas Giving

My friend Janeson Keeley has a wonderful idea (here) about how many of us can spend that urge to help others at Christmas. Hers is not a traditional notion of filling stockings for poor children, but one that is very close home to many of us (including moi). It involves Catawba Hospital and the often helpless, lonely and devastated patients whose lives involve considerable dispair. I urge you to consider her request.

What a Republican Virginia Will Look Like

Those of us who have been morbidly curious about what an all-Republican government would do given the chance can now look at Virginia for an answer. With the Senate swinging over to the Repubs (the official count right now is 20-20, but with Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's vote, the Repubs have a majority), the House long in its hands, a Repub governor and a state Supreme Court that is to the right of John Birch, we'll see how the GOP governs.

My guess is we'll get some of the following:

• A clamping down on abortion, which nearly doesn't exist in Virginia already. I'm looking for something similar to what Mississippi rejected yesterday, a law that makes birth control illegal.
• A requirement that every citizen, regardless of age, background, physical and mental condition or national origin carry a concealed gun. At least one. Could go to two or three. Guns will be not only legal but encouraged in places like bars, church, school and work.
• The coal industry, which has caused far more deaths than Aids, will have strong support as it knocks away mountaintops and pollutes the air.
• Concern for the environment will be as out of date as leisure suits.
• Poor children will go hungry and without medicine.
• Rich people will get richer and pay even less tax than they pay now.
• The gap between wealth and poverty, which is huge today, will double or triple over the next four years.
• Roads and bridges, already crumbling under a 25-year austerity focus, will begin to disintegrate. I expect a Minneapolis-style catastrophe on one of our bridges any time now. Hope I'm not on it. Hope you're not, either.
• The state will start sending federal funds back to Washington because the Repubs won't want to be told how to spend them.
• More prisons will be built in a state that is overbuilt by about half.
• Utility rates will wind up on the moon.
• Cities will be on their own, though the mandates will not slow down.
• All bare breasts on state statuary will be covered.
• Bible Study will be a required high school course.
• Cigarettes will make a strong comeback among kids.
• Oil derricks will appear off the Virginia coast in huge numbers and we'll have a major oil spill within 10 years of their appearance.

And there'll be plenty more that we haven't even imagined yet.

(Graphic: crowel.typepad.com)

Comedian's Appearance Postponed at RC

Comedian Amy Schumer’s Saturday appearance at Roanoke College has been cancelled. Her show is rescheduled for Jan. 21, 2012 at 8 p.m. at Roanoke’s Colket Center Wortmann Ballroom.Tickets are $5 for the general public.

Quote of the Day: China Owns the Solar Industry

"Whatever action the American government might take, it could prove too late to save the American solar panel industry. China, whose government has been a big promoter of green-energy companies, already accounts for three-fifths of the world’s solar panel production, giving it enormous economies of scale.

"And it exports 95 percent of its production, much of it to the United States, rather than using it within China. That has helped push wholesale solar panel prices down sharply — to $1 to $1.20 a watt of capacity today, from $1.80 in January, from $3.30 in 2008."

--From a New York Times story today, outlining China's emergence as a kingpin in green energy, especially solar panels, which receive heavy government subsidies.

Ralph Smith Was Right: District's Voters Are Dumb

Ralph Smith looking intelligent

By winning the 19th District Virginia State Senate race yesterday, Ralph Smith was proven right in his assessment of his constituents. They're as dumb as he is.

Early in the campaign season when it looked like the timid Democrats were going to field a candidate--a prominent lawyer from Roanoke--Smith said, in effect, that because the Democrat spoke English clearly and precisely, the people in Floyd and Franklin Counties would not be able to understand them. Har, har, har.

The implication is that they'd vote for the dumb candidate (Smith) over the smart candidate because they had more in common with Smith.

Looks like he nailed that one. Smith beat former Senator Brandon Bell, running as an Independent even though he is a conservative Republican. Smith's brand of nut-case, radical, everybody for himself, non-government has the vote of the people in the district he doesn't live in.

Photo of the Day III: I've Been Bad

Lunch at the New Yorker Deli today was an exercise in truly awful judgement. I had the onion wheel, which I love. The onion wheel has about 2 million calories, half a ton of fat, three beer steins full of salt and sugar, a cubit of white flour, one of those deadly Claussen pickles, half a basket of onions (so I can't go around anybody after eating) and a partridge in a pear tree. On top of all that, the sandwich is almost unmanageable, so I wound up eating it with a fork. Don't tell my doc.

Photo of the Day II: " ... But Will It Huuuurt?"

OK, so now you know: Your favorite editor is a wus. Can't stand shots. But here, he grimaces and takes the stab of a flu shot from nurse Nancy Wilson of Roanoke City this morning. The pained expression was premature. This was the least painful needle stick I've had in memory and I have diabetes (meaning I stick myself a lot). Thanks, Nancy. You earned the Princess of the Day designation.

Photo of the Day: Talking to Writers About Personal Writing

I took the opportunity last night to run down to Christiansburg and talk with a group of New River Valley writers about making time to write for yourself. Nice crowd and a good response. I enjoy talking with writers. (That's me in the middle, by the way. Laura Purcell, who writes for Valley Business FRONT, took the photo.)

Selfish Countrysiders Get Their Way Again

You have to wonder what the people who live around the former Countryside Golf Course want. They have opposed every effort to alter the land so that it can produce tax revenue, be useful and have the use be minimally intrusive, but the hard heads have prevailed. Today, the Roanoke Valley Natural Foods Co-Operative withdrew its proposal to produce food on a portion of the course because of wrong-headed opposition from the Countryside cadre.

The one thing they simply won't hear is that this is not their property. It is our property, meaning the property of the citizens of Roanoke and their say is only a part of what should be considered. I would urge Roanoke City Council to ask the Co-Op to re-consider the withdrawal of an excellent plan, which was apparently killed because these city slickers think chickens will be disruptive to their pristine lifestyle. This pisses me off. I had pretty much been neutral about the future of Countryside until now. No longer. The selfish interests of a few must not be allowed to overwhelm the benefit of the many.

Here is the Co-Op's press release:

Citing respect for the wishes of nearby residents The Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op today withdrew it’s proposal to create an urban farm on a 12 acre parcel located  in NW Roanoke City and adjacent to what was once the Countryside Golf Course.

In a statement before Roanoke City Council, Co-op General Manager Bruce Phlegar officially withdrew his group’s interest.  “We are very interested in creating a cooperatively owned urban farm in the city of Roanoke.  But we are not interested in creating an entity that is a significant point of conflict with the surrounding neighborhood.  Out of respect for those who oppose this project, and in the hope that the city will continue to work with our group, we respectfully  withdrew our proposal.”

The Co-op had initially submitted its request on July 8 after City planners said they wanted the parcel to be used for commercial urban agriculture in its master plan for the Countryside property and several parcels adjoining it.

The Co-op plan called for 8 green houses know as “high tunnel hoop houses,” garden style row crops and an orchard. The group planned to have as many as 400 free-range chickens to produce eggs and fertilizer for the plants.

Since the group uses sustainable farming techniques, it would not use harmful commercial fertilizers or pesticides. Plans also called for a small retail shop where locally grown produce would be sold to members of the surrounding community. The building would also have included classroom space.

“We still believe in the value and viability of a sustainable urban farm within Roanoke City limits,” says Phlegar. “It offers our community hyper-locally grown produce, and many educational opportunities. Our farm will strengthen the local, sustainable food movement in the Roanoke Valley.” Phlegar said the group would continue to seek property within the city that would meet their needs and have the general support of the surrounding neighbors.

Photo(s) of the Day: A Tale of Two Trees

What we have here are two trees, across the street from each other. One is a normal tree and the other is Appalachian Power Company's version of what a tree should look like. I'll leave it to you to determine which is which. I like the normal tree. Not so much the ApCo tree.

Photo of the Day III: Mother Smith's Been in the Kitchen

Mother Smith went into the kitchen first thing this morning to throw together a little German potato salad for the first time in years. Good stuff, but I have no chance of eating any of it because it's heavy on white potatoes and bacon (that's bacon grease in the metal cup; Mmmmmmm), two no-nos for moi. But my son's family will enjoy it at dinner tonight.

Photo of the Day II: Oh, Hell Just Park It Anywhere

I don't know what it is about some delivery truck drivers that tells them that they can park their trucks any damn place they want for as long as they choose. This soft drink truck blocked the street to the farmer's market in front of City Market Building yesterday until the driver had delivered all the Pepsi he could. Never mind the people trying to get through traffic.

Photo of the Day: A Nice Day for a Rugby Game

The Roanoke Rugby club was getting clobbered by the Charlottesville Club about an hour ago when this photo was taken at Highland Park in Roanoke, but I don't think anybody who wasn't playing cared one whit. It was a beautiful afternoon with lots of sun and a lot of big guys huffing, puffing and hitting on each other. Fun stuff.

'Rum Diary' a Little Too Rum-Soaked for Some of Us

I suspect that those of you who've never had a fight to the death with alcohol or drugs will see "The Rum Diary" a little differently than I did. This Hunter Thompson debut tale is like a drug/booze induced two-hour race to the bottom of human endeavor. The drunk is the good guy.

This movie makes "Train Spotting" look sober and glamorous. I'm waiting for somebody to say--as they did about "Train Spotting"--that it glorifies addiction. It doesn't. If you come out of this one wanting or needing a drink, you're the one with the problem.

This is a Johnny Depp vehicle that is actually stolen from him by Giovanni Robisi as his newspaper colleague, a man whose life has been eaten away by his addictions to the degree that he makes a bum living under a bridge look middle class. Robisi is fine actor who has never played the role of an admirable character that I've seen and this one is no exception, but his portrayal is Oscar worthy. A gem of a performance in a difficult part.

There are a number of layers to the story of the newspaperman who is in Puerto Rico in order to get a career bump; his corrupt boss; the corrupt real estate developer and his even more corrupt banker buddies; the news guy's colleagues (including Robisi) who are not a worthy lot and a gorgeous blonde who outshines the scenery.

I'd like to say it's a fun movie (it's not) or a worthy movie (not much of Thompson's stuff is worthy) or even a movie that needed to be made (nope). It's a diversion of a kind I don't much like what with all the boozing and drugging. But Robisi is worth watching. He really is.

Popular New Comic Amy Schumer Coming to Roanoke College

Amy Schumer

Those of you complaining because Roanoke never attracts any good national comedians can shut up now. Amy Schumer will be at Roanoke College Saturday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. (Colket Center, Workmann Ballroom) and tickets are a measly $5 a head.

Amy Schumer is one of the hottest new comic entertainers on the tour. You might know her from the Roast of Charlie Sheenor as a finalist on “Last Comic Standing.” She recently released “Cutting” on Comedy Central Records, following her spring 2010 Comedy Central Presents stand-up special. She filmed a movie with Steve Carell, “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,” and hadseveral TV roles, including a part in the upcoming season of Adult Swim’s mocumentary series “Delocated.”

Call 540-378-5125 for tickets and remember to put on your big girl panties and your big boy overalls because this show is rated for grown-up (as opposed to mature) audiences.

Chatting It Up at the Roanoke Energy Expo

Tech engineering students Hoil Song, Jesse Allen and Adam Broda explain their modified electric car.

Sisters-in-law Remy and Monica Pangle talk wind with Joe Reich Jr.

Sarah Huddle of Envenergy explains wind power to a student.

Elementary school students listen to a tour guide.

Andrea Martin works the Roanoke City booth on crutches.

The Energy Expo at the Roanoke Civic Center was already drawing substantial crowds at its opening this morning at 10 a.m., when these photos were taken. There was a large contingent of businesses and governments whose displays had a distinctly energy-friendly focus. The Expo runs until 6 p.m. and all day Saturday.

Photo of the Day: Forsythia in the Fall

Forsythia grows along my fence and in the spring it is one of the first glorious signs of the season. I had not noticed before yesterday as I was mowing under it, that the forsythia is equally gorgeous in the fall, especially if you're a Redskins fan. The yellow and burgundy are simply marvelous.

OK, 'Splain Me This One, Lucy

Under the ruberic of "inexplicable" comes this (according to a local daily newspaper in today's edition):

Pulaski County High School's football team, which has won one game this year and lost eight, is likely to make the playoffs. Carroll County, which has two wins, is all but a lead pipe cinch to get in. Meanwhile, Patrick Henry High in Roanoke (which plays in a different classification), will likely finish a respectable 7-3 and second in its district with a win over one-game winner William Fleming tonight and has a distant, outside chance of making the playoffs. Its entry depends on other teams losing.

Quote of the Day: Demonstrating Faith in His Faith

Justin Amash

"The fear that unless In God We Trust is displayed throughout the government, Americans will somehow lose their faith in God, is a dim view of the profound religious convictions many citizens have. The faith that inspired many of the Founders of this country — the faith I practice — is stronger than that. Trying to score political points with unnecessary resolutions should not be Congress’s priority. I voted no."

--U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) on why he was one of nine members of Congress--and the only Republican--to vote against retaining "In God We Trust" as the country's motto.

There's a Lesson in Those Political Ads: It's About Lying

John Edwards

Those of us who have stumbled upon early-evening TV during the past few weeks (and not many people would sit there and watch on purpose) have been assaulted with the spiked bludgeon of outrageous political ads (or as the Republican guy calls them, "Ai-yuds," two syllables). Nearly all of them are so filled with bald-assed lies as to be laughable.

I ask that you take a few minutes to search out ads, especially those from 70-year-old Ralph Smith, the Dumbest Man in Virginia Government, according to one poll (mine). His opponent, Brandon Bell, a former Republican who lost patience with the direction of the party (off a cliff), started the little tiff by correctly calling Smith (who says he owns four houses outside his Senate district, but "lives in" a rented cabin, which is in the district*) a "liar." Not a "truth stretcher" or a "provaricator" or even "a man who wouldn't know the truth if it stuck a pin in his ass," but "a liar." In old Western movies when a guy called another guy a liar, usually in a bar, the lie-ee pulled a beat up old Civil War gun and the accuser drew a faster, silver-plated Colt .45 and blew a fake hole in him. Frontier justice, it was.

Smith's version of justice is to tell more lies. This is pretty much Republican Party dogma, though. Bell once voted for a tiny tax cut in order to save Virginia from becoming Greece and today Smith has turned that on its head saying it was a job-killing tax hike. Smith forgets--or probably never knew--that 30 years ago when taxes were high compared to today, we had 3 percent unemployment and even his little business was humming along. A lot of the Repubs--who caused the economic conditions we are experiencing today--are daring anybody to even mention a tax increase.

Brandon Bell on WSLS-TV

An example of that is Dave Nutter--an otherwise decent guy, but man who, when he puts on that Senate candidate mask, turns into Halloween--saying Roanoke Democrat John Edwards killed jobs by suggesting that maybe it was time to put a tax on gas so people wouldn't use so much and maybe we could use the money to fix a few bridges which are going to fall down and kill everybody in Tazewell County. Dave won't have it. Won't countenance even the discussion of it. And besides, John Edwards wants to KILL YOUR JOB with a big tax increase on ... well, whatever.

The great solace I take from all this is that it will be over Tuesday about 7 p.m. and we'll see if anybody believed the people who are telling the whoppers on the people who know how to run government in a sensible manner. That would be Edwards and Bell, but you sure as hell can't tell it from the ads.

(* Yeh, right Ralph.)

Photo of the Day III: Litter as Marketing

I walk out the door this morning to take my walk and I notice a lump of litter on the walkway leading to the front door. So I go over to pick it up and discover that it's a local daily newspaper. I look up and down the block and see that every walkway has one, though nobody takes the paper. Then it occurs to me: the paper has been losing something like 10,000 print subscribers a year and this is its way of turning that around.

Brilliant marketing. Litter the place and they'll buy your product. Think we may try that with FRONT.

Photo of the Day II: Sneaky Constabulary

This looks like a scene from a 1940s movie where the dispatcher says, "Calling all cars. Calling all cars ..." This motorcycle constable is hiding behind the car wash at the corner of Elm Ave and whatever street Bud's Suds is on a little while ago. He's looking for speeders. I caught him first.

Photo of the Day: A Lonely Vigil on City Market

Patti Landovek sits silently--trying to keep warm--at the fountain on Roanoke City Market, a lone sentinel in the Occupy Wall Street Movement. "We're small in number, but we are dedicated," she says.

Tech Grad Back for 'Jeopardy!' Champions Round

Roger Craig

(UPDATE: Craig won easily on opening night, making his way to the semifinal round, which will be shown next week.)

 Roger Craig, a 1999  graduate of Virginia Tech's College of Science--with two bachelor's degrees (biological sciences and biochemistry)--is next up for “Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions.”

He will compete in his first round tonight, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. on CBS affiliates.  The 33-year-old Newark, Del., native last year became the third-highest winning contestant on the show (excluding tournaments), behind Ken Jennings ($2,520,700) and David Madden ($430,400).

Craig is earning his Ph.D. in computer and information sciences at the University of Delaware. He auditioned unsuccessfully for the "Jeopardy! Teen Tournament" when he was in junior high school and tried out for the show as an adult three times since 2006 before being selected as a contestant.

Photo of the Day II: Ignoble Triumvirate

Here's your favorite editor and his posse--two of my best friends. They are (center) Keith Ferrell, a marvelous writer who has about 18 books to his credit; and Pete Krull, an investment counselor whose niche is investments with conscience (meaning you don't have to worry that your money is being invested in tobacco or tennis shoe slavery). We met at The Quarter for lunch in downtown Roanoke today and--I swear this is true--it was my first sitdown at a bar in at least 17 years (since I quit boozing). Pete and Keith are talking about collaborating on Pete's first book. Keith was a big help on the novel I have out there for sale.

Photo(s) of the Day: A Walk at Hollins

Barn near the horse center.

I'm taller when I walk at Hollins.

Behind the fence ... horses.

The very definition of a pastoral scene.

Walking at Hollins these crisp fall mornings is a sensual delight, especially in the morning light, which is so defining. The loop around the campus comes with two good-sized hills and a lot of scenery. If I lived on campus, I think I'd walk the loop daily, but since it's a 15-minute drive from my house, I only do it occasionally and with great delight.

Quote of the Day: Brandon Bell Saved Virginia

"Brandon Bell, a lot of people don't realize, saved this state from going broke."

--Virginia Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw on 19th District Independent Senate Candidate Brandon Bell's introduction of a bill in 2004 that capped the state car tax reimbursement to localities. Quoted here in a story by Michael Sluss and Mason Adams.

UFO Expert Scheduled To Speak at Tech

OK, boys and girls and Trekkies everywhere, Virginia Tech hears you calling. The Virginia Tech Union has scheduled UFO expert Robert Hastings to speak Wednesday Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Owens Banquet Room and--knowing that your finances are a little loose right now--it's free.

Hastings, according to the press release, will share his "extensiveresearch on the existence of UFOs and the government’s efforts to deal with the phenomenon. His 90-minute lecture and slideshow, 'UFOs: The Secret Story,' focuses on information gleaned from thousands of declassified documents from U.S. Air Force bases, the FBI, and CIA, as well as interviews with 120 former or retired U.S. military personnel. Hastings says the documents and military accounts confirm the existence of UFOs and argues that the government is aware of it, despite years of denials.

"Hastings has been researching UFOs since 1967, when he claims to have witnessed a two-week period of intermittent UFO activity from an air traffic control tower at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. Since then, he has devoted much of his time to studying the crafts and how the government responds to reported sightings.

"In 2010, he co-sponsored the UFO-Nukes Connection press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. At the event, seven former or retired Air Force personnel discussed Cold War-era UFO activity at nuclear weapons sites. Hastings appeared on 'Larry King Live' in 2008 to talk about his observations at Malmstrom."

Photo(s) of the Day: The Big Read Kickoff

Pearlie Mae Fu with two of her fans.

Big crowd turned out for the Big Read opening event.

These lovely ladies were with the soccer team.

Refugee soccer team showed off its trophies.

The Roanoke Valley Big Read kicked off tonight at the Patrick Henry Hotel by introducing the kind of soccer team--refugees--that are featured in this year's book, Refugees United. It's a book about a team of immigrants that helped bring a Georgia Community together and expand itself.

The Big Read will sponsor a lot of reading events around Roanoke in the next few months and people will be encouraged to read the selection and talk about it.