"Understanding Obamacare" is a series of occasional stories examining how the Affordable Care Act — widely called Obamacare first by critics and now also by some supporters — will change how you access and pay for health care. The series will look at the impact the new law has on individuals, businesses and health care providers in Southwest Virginia.
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- Under the Affordable Care Act, individuals are supposed to get health insurance, or face fines of at least $95 per adult and $285 for a family next year. Do you plan to buy coverage? Are you still wondering what you’re going to do? We’d like to know what you’re thinking about the mandate and how you plan to respond to it. Please email david.ress@roanoke.com or call 981-3253.
Norfolk Southern wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
NORFOLK — Norfolk Southern is outlining key initiatives for the railroad operator to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its environmental footprint. The Norfolk-based company described its strategy in a filing with the international not-for-profit CDP. The initiatives include: purchasing new, more fuel-efficient locomotives; increasing capacity and fluidity of the company’s major rail corridors; continuing research and development of alternative power; and recycling older locomotives by equipping them with more fuel-efficient,
In summer heat, customers want to keep cool over utility bills
Summer in southwest Virginia brings sunshine and heat. And for many, it brings high utility bills. The summer heat has left many people at the mercy of their air conditioners, as temperatures have climbed past 90 degrees. But turning thermostats down sends electricity bills up. Energy used to power air conditioning units makes up 8 percent of all electricity produced in the U.S., according to data from the American Council
Know how to handle yourself at work
WASHINGTON - A television reporter who was fired for some things she posted on her personal blog could have used advice from Robert Deitz. So could a law school graduate who sent an email to prospective employers to which he attached a picture of himself wearing a T-shirt showing off his beefy biceps. He thought the photo would help him get a job. It hasn't yet. It did, however, generate
Roanoke Good Will hosts job, resource fair
Learn about the Beyond Jobs program for women at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys' upcoming job and resource fair. The free event will be held 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Goodwill's headquarters, 2502 Melrose Ave. N.W., Roanoke. Participants in the Beyond Jobs program get help identifying their current skills and defining their career goals. The program offers connections to employment opportunities, financial education and access to training programs. For
Several Roanoke Valley Big Lots stores apply for ABC licenses
Several Big Lots stores in the area might soon begin to sell alcohol. Big Lots has applied with the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for licenses to sell wine and beer at several stores in the area. The move is part of a corporate initiative that started several years ago, said Andy Regrut, director of investor relations at the Columbus, Ohio, company. The alcohol initiative is "geographic specific" and
Names, changes in Roanoke, New River valleys business
ARTS Dorsey Taylor, owner of LinDor Arts, has been elected as an advisory board member for the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University. Regina Rodwell-Bell has been named deputy director of development and marketing for the Taubman Museum of Art. EDUCATION John Gladchuk has been hired as director of corporate and foundation relations at Virginia Tech. Sarah Stein has been named assistant professor of accounting and information systems at
The Next 14 Days: Upcoming Roanoke Valley business events
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 FIVE KEYS TO LOCAL SEO Dan Ingersoll speaks about search engine optimization. Hosted by the Roanoke StartUp MeetUp Group. Where: Business Lounge, 131 Kirk Ave. S.W., Roanoke When: 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cost: Free Contact: Taylor Ricotta, 556- 6254, taylorricotta@gmail.com PLUG INTO POWERFUL NETWORKING Connect SML Networking Group provides a structured networking environment to refer clients and increase presence. Limited to 25 attendees. Where:
Roanoke Valley realty transfers
ROANOKE Over $300,000 Epperson Family LLC to Nathaniel A. Jones and Kathryn S. Jones, 3102 Evergreen Lane S.W. Roanoke VA 24015, $315,000 07/17/2013. Helms, Ralph J. and Mary G. Adkins to Kenneth O. Robison II, 3439 Peakwood Drive S.W. Roanoke VA 24014, $410,000 07/18/2013. Toevs, Brian E. to Daniel T. Sarrell and Kimberly Y. Sarrell, 3835 Bosworth Drive Roanoke VA 24014, $400,000 07/19/2013. $200,000 to $300,000 Devinney, Erick W. and
Bent Mountain Bistro opens this week
Bent Mountain Bistro officially opened Wednesday night. The bistro is serving wood-fired pizzas, salads, sandwiches and BBQ, with many of the ingredients coming from local purveyors, said Greg Aldridge, a spokesman for the restaurant. The restaurant is at 9607 Bent Mountain Road, in a building that used to house a Mexican restaurant. Aldridge said renovations took 16 to 18 months because the building had to be stripped to bare bones.
New Krispy Kreme location won’t bake on site ... for now
Renovation plans for Krispy Kreme’s newly leased space at Townside Festival shopping center in Roanoke do not include the installation of doughnut-making equipment at this time. According to a building permit filed Thursday with the city of Roanoke, the company intends to do about $75,000 in remodeling to the former Padow’s Deli location. The work will include upgrading the restrooms to make them compliant with accessibility laws, installing new ceiling
Advance Auto earnings up in second quarter
RICHMOND — Advance Auto Parts Inc. said Thursday that its second-quarter net income rose 17 percent as it benefited from its acquisition of a Northeast car parts supplier and its profit margins expanded. Its earnings topped Wall Street expectations, but revenue was short. The Roanoke seller of auto parts and batteries posted earnings of $116.8 million, or $1.59 per share, for the quarter ended July 13, up from $99.6 million,
HomeTown Bankshares Corp. earns $642,000 in quarter
The parent company of Roanoke's HomeTown Bank earned $642,000 during its April-June quarter, officials said this week. HomeTown Bankshares Corp. said $488,000 was available to common shareholders after deducting dividends and related items on its preferred stock, according to an announcement Monday of its second quarter results. The results were an improvement over the same period a year ago, when the company earned $95,000. HomeTown said it fared better because
Star City Coffee House in Roanoke County has closed
Star City Coffee House on Brambleton Avenue in southwest Roanoke County has closed. A note on the door reads in part: "We thank you for your patronage. We have enjoyed making many great meals for you over these past four years. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we must unfortunately close our doors." Calls to one of the business owners, Ed O'Keefe, were not returned. Jon Smallwood, also listed as
Krispy Kreme signs lease at Roanoke shopping center
Krispy Kreme, which closed its iconic Roanoke doughnut shop after it was heavily damaged by fire on May 31, has signed a lease for a space at a Southwest Roanoke strip mall. Grant Clatterbuck, president of Sentinel Properties, confirmed Wednesday that the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based doughnut company recently signed a lease for the space formerly occupied by Padow’s Deli and Dave’s BBQ at Townside Festival Shopping Center on Franklin Road. Sentinel
Elliston house moved to make room for intermodal yard
ELLISTON — Eastern Montgomery County gave up a little more ground Tuesday to the expected eventual coming of Norfolk Southern Corp.’s planned intermodal freight yard. About 4 p.m., house movers working for Allen Howard, a longtime resident, wheeled his parents’ former house out of the way. It was a short trip, just 350 feet to the south. That was enough to situate the 1964 brick house outside the 78-acre field
Packaging firm to bring 96 jobs to Roanoke County
An international food packaging company will make a $93.5 million investment to buy and renovate the former Hanover Direct building in Roanoke County, creating 96 jobs in a metal can plant. County officials said today Ardagh Group’s plans will become the largest, single manufacturing investment in the county’s history. Executives with the Luxembourg-based manufacturer of containers for the food and beverage industry stood alongside local and state officials at the
Bent Mountain mansion, property up for sale
Facing financial distress, the owner of a huge, nearly new mountaintop home outside Roanoke is planning to sell the property at far below its construction price, along with 900 acres of land, at a Thursday auction. Whoever gets it could be in for a peak experience — views clear to North Carolina, total privacy and more than three times the space of a typical Roanoke Valley house. The 7,400-square-foot home
Interim head will lead LewisGale as the Salem hospital conducts national CEO search
An interim head of LewisGale Medical Center will lead the Salem hospital during a national search for a permanent CEO. Rex Etheredge was appointed interim CEO in mid-July, following the departure of Victor Giovanetti, who resigned to take a leadership position with a hospital chain in Nashville, Tenn. Etheredge has more than 35 years of experience in health care management. He has served as interim CEO of LewisGale Hospital Montgomery.
Peaks of Otter Lodge seeks to fill 20 jobs
The Peaks of Otter Lodge and Restaurant is hiring. The lodge, which re opened in July under new management, will fill 20 seasonal positions immediately. The available jobs are both full-time and part-time positions and include servers, a dining room supervisor, retail cashiers, night auditor, bartender, dishwasher and people to bus tables. Some of the jobs are new positions, but others are vacancies the lodge has yet to fill since
Covington newspaper faces red ink blues
COVINGTON — When the entire continent of Europe disintegrated into war during the summer of 1914, Richard Beirne II thought the good people of Alleghany County should know about it. Earlier that year, Beirne had bought Covington’s weekly newspaper — the Dispatch. On Aug. 10, 1914, he converted the paper from a weekly to a daily in order to bring local readers news from the battlefields. He named the paper
1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County
2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day
3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys
4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping
5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football
6. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust
7. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible
8. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen
9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli
10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area
THE ROANOKE TIMES
