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As we approach the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy, the University of Virginia is offering an on-line course called “The Kennedy Half Century.” It’s spearheaded by UVA political science professor Larry Sabato and looks at Kennedy’s life, assassination and legacy. Sabato says a lot of time and money in the course, which is available on-line beginning today. He says the course is free and people have signed up from all over the world to take it. You can sign up here, or through I-tunes University.
Regional planners want to hear from Roanoke-area residents about how they get where they’re going. The Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has put out an on-line survey to get attitudes on pedestrian and mass transit. The study area includes the urbanized portions of Bedford, Botetourt, Montgomery, and Roanoke Counties, the Cities of Roanoke and Salem, and the Town of Vinton.
October is historically one of the busiest months for Blue Ridge Parkway, but parkway officials says attendance numbers are down so far this month. They say there is no telling how the government shutdown really impacted the parkway until the end of the month. WFIR’s Starr Anderson has the story.
Roanoke’s “Go Outside Festival” returns to the valley this weekend. GO FEST features hands-on experiences with equipment like paddleboards, kayaks and bicycles, workshops, concerts and free camping. “This is an opportunity to showcase everything about the outdoors in the Roanoke Region,” says Pete Eshelman with the Roanoke Regional Partnership. “It’s right on the greenway, it’s right on the Roanoke River, it’s right at the base of Mill Mountain.”
Virginia Forestry officials say the Roanoke region will see peak fall foliage later this month, and they’re offering to help motorists find some places to view those fall colors that are off the beaten path. Spokesman Gregg O’Donnell says state foresters cover a lot of ground and get to see unique areas. He says they are sharing those gems by offering directions to a number of self-guided driving tours on the VDOF website.
The American Red Cross is encouraging us to remember the military this holiday season by “giving something that means something.” The organization is once again collecting holiday cards for distribution to service men and women and veterans around the country. It’s called “Holiday Mail for Heroes“, and the Red Cross wants to get those cards before December 6th so it can send them out.
Homer Hickam
Best-selling author Homer Hickam, best known for Rocket Boys will return to West Virginia this weekend to talk about the book and how it became the movie “October Sky.” The Rocket Boys Festival will be at the exhibition coal mine in Beckley from Thursday until Sunday. You can find information about this weekend’s festival in Beckley at “Rocketboysfestival-dot-com”.
A program at Wintergreen Resort designed to help wounded warriors and people of all ages with disabilities is gearing up for its winter sports. It’s called Wintergreen Adaptive Sports, and since 1984, the program has been helping its students with disabilities learn how to ski and snowboard. WLNI/WFIR’s Starr Anderson has the story.
UPDATE:
The government shutdown that went into effect at midnight means closures along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but the roadway itself will remain open to traffic. Mabry Mill, Peaks of Otter Lodge and Restaurant, the Blue Ridge Music Center, campgrounds and all of the other sites and attractions along the scenic route will be closed.
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October is historically one of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s highest visitation months, but if the threatened federal government shutdown happens, that may not be the case this year. The Department of Interior says public areas of all national parks would be closed and public access would be restricted if there is a shutdown. More from WFIR’s Starr Anderson.
Photo: southastshakeout.org
State Emergency Management Officials hope at least one million people will sign up to participate in an upcoming earthquake drill called the Great Southeast ShakeOut. Officials says the drill gives everyone the chance to practice what they should do in case another quake strikes the state. WFIR’s Starr Anderson has the story.