Blue Ridge Marathon claims nearly $500,000 economic impact
Roanoke’s mountain marathon and half-marathon spurred nearly a half-million dollars in economic impact last month, according to a survey of the runners. The $476,000 in direct and indirect spending by 1,684 runners in the April 20 Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon and Half Marathon — and their friends and family who traveled with them — is up 26.3 percent from last year, according to the survey by Roanoke Regional Partnership and Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission. The race was in its fourth year, and was the biggest yet, up 77 percent from 2012, a partnership news release said, and benefitted from being listed among the toughest marathons in the world in several national publications. Runners traveled from 38 states, primarily in the southeast, as well as Canada, Germany, England and Ethiopia. Nearly half of the runners who responded to the survey said they stayed in town for at least one night, and about the same number brought others with them on the trip.
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Retail roundup: South Peak development in Roanoke County drawing attention
The first condo building at the South Peak development has been completed, and a different part of the project will start to take shape soon. Dirt has already been moved to prepare the site of a Hilton Garden Inn at the Roanoke County development, situated on a 62-acre hillside at the intersection of U.S. 220 and Virginia 419. The hotel is expected to take about a year to complete, opening
Give your input on 401(k) projections
WASHINGTON - If you have a defined benefit pension or a traditional plan provided by your employer, federal law says you have to be provided with an illustration of how much money you can expect to receive each month. But if you have money invested in a 401(k), the only thing you may see is a lump sum amount and little if any direction on how that money translates into
Business promotions and recognitions: May 19, 2013
ADVERTISING Brandi Surber has joined Access Advertising & Public Relations as an account executive. EDUCATION The National Academic Advising Association awarded two Virginia Tech faculty members with Outstanding Advising Awards: Andrew Becker, associate professor of ancient Greek, Latin and classical studies and associate chairman in the department of foreign languages and literatures in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, was named winner of the Outstanding Advisor Award -
Realty transfers: May 19, 2013
ROANOKE Over $400,000 Barnhardt, Richard J. Jr. and Neely Barnhardt to Theodore G. Keller Jr. and Anne Mason Keller, 2938 Wycliff Ave. S.W. Roanoke VA 24014, $775,000 05/03/2013. CBW Rentals LLC to SBC Properties LLC, 2230 and 2232 Plantation Road, 2501 Delano St., 2507 Delano St. N.E., 2101 and 2103 Riverdale Road S.E., 931 and 933 Van Buren St. N.W., Roanoke VA, 24012, 24013 and 24017 $410,000 05/01/2013. LaFollette, James
Healthy interest in proposed Abingdon medical school
ABINGDON — Soon, another new medical school may open its doors in Southwest Virginia. Discussions between the proposed school’s independent board and East Tennessee State University have created a buzz on both sides of the state line over a project that has evolved with broad regional cooperation. Tariq Zaidi, the proposed school’s interim president and chief operating officer, said the school could provide a major economic boost while improving health
Roanoke radio station WRIS to get new owner
A longtime Roanoke radio station is about to be sold to a longtime Roanoke radio man. Russ Brown, a veteran radio station manager who has worked in the Roanoke-Lynchburg market for much of the past three decades, is buying WRIS-AM (1410) from Lloyd Gochenour , a Baptist minister who has owned the Christian-themed station since 1964. Gochenour is 89, lives in a retirement facility and has not been involved with
New brand, money target tourism for Roanoke Valley
Energized with a new brand and funding formula, the area’s tourism bureau plans to push the Roanoke Valley as a mini-vacation spot for people across Virginia and North Carolina. That’s the first way to get the most people soonest, said Landon Howard, president of the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. The pitch is what Howard calls “a metro mountains mix,” located nearer to many North Carolina residents and to
Roanoke-area housing market continues to strengthen as April home sales vault over last year
In another indication that the Roanoke-area housing market has continued to strengthen, the region registered a big jump in home sales in April, according to industry figures released this week. There were 375 homes sold in April, up 29 percent from April 2012, when 290 sold, the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors said Tuesday. "Our activity is definitely up," said Betty Kingery, a Rocky Mount real estate broker and association
Second Cafe Asia location to open in south Roanoke County
Cafe Asia, which opened in Bonsack in 2008, is getting a sister location in south Roanoke County late this summer. It will be in the space that formerly housed Baja Bistro in the Shops at West Village. Owner Feng Chen said he decided to open a second restaurant because so many of his customers drive all the way across town for the restaurant’s blend of Asian cuisines. The first restaurant
Big Lots to occupy former Food Lion space on U.S. 220 in Roanoke
Big Lots will open in the former Food Lion building on U.S. 220 in Roanoke, according to a company spokeswoman. The discount retailer recently finalized a lease for the 31,762-square-foot building, Toni Fink said. The building will undergo renovations and should open in August, Fink said. An exact opening date will be determined closer to August. The store will be the closeout retailer’s fourth location in the Roanoke-Vinton-Salem area. Food
1. Natural Bridge, its nearby attractions are up for sale
2. Man injured in Roanoke motorcycle wreck Tuesday identified
3. Rocky Mount police investigate 3-month-old's death
4. Former police officer drains 2 holes-in-one in same round
5. Men in werewolf masks robbed Roanoke store Sunday, police say
6. Roanoke police file charges in stolen canoe caper
7. Group plans to reopen Radford movie theater
8. Water authority may use eminent domain in Roanoke sewer line project
9. Roanoker honored with Virginia Big Sister of the Year award
10. Roanoke County firefighter pleads guilty to firearms charges
THE ROANOKE TIMES
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