The Roanoker - January/February 2018 - 12

FROM THE

EDITOR

Meet Our New Editor

Plus a fresh new look in our design and departments.
answers earn you a peanut soup or a
bowl with? (Extra points if you get that
reference without peeking first.)
A new year means new goals, and if
staying (or getting) in shape is on your
list, we have a featured piece that's just for
you, with plenty of suggestions on how to
be active no matter the weather or budget.
Don't miss the gorgeous artwork in
our photo essay (page 42), excerpted
f rom Carilion Clinic's "Healing Art in the Blue
Ridge" publication. Unique pieces feature the
artists' takes on areas or landmarks of the Roanoke,
Shenandoah and New River Valleys.
You may have already noticed our first issue of
2018 showcases a beautiful redesign, including a new
masthead. But hey, that's not all-we also have more
fantastic writers and a new department, "A Day In,"
which will share neat spots to enjoy a meal, shop or
explore. And I won't give anything away, but this is
the start of great things to come for The Roanoker in
2018 and beyond. I'm thrilled to share the adventure
with you, and to share my love for Roanoke with
anyone who will listen.

TELL US ABOUT...
Our Facebook and
Instagram fans answered
our Q&A "What do you
LOVE about Roanoke?"
See some of those great
answers on our Newcomer
Delights opener on page
29 and stay tuned for
the next Q&A for your
answers to possibly be in
a future issue!
WE WANT TO
HEAR FROM YOU
Questions, comments,
or feedback about The
Roanoker? E-mail llong@
leisuremedia360.com
FOLLOW
THE ROANOKER
roanokermag
roanoker

Cheers!

llong@leisuremedia360.com

MEET THE

CONTRIBUTORS

Scott Fell

was an intern at The
Roanoker 30 years
ago. After a brief
three-decade hiatus
practicing law in
Roanoke, he is back.
Test your knowledge
with Scott's "Roanoke
Quiz" on page 28.

Jes Gearing

spends her free time
exploring the region's
trails on bike and foot
and is really stoked
about the bourgeoning
craft beverage culture
here in the Blue Ridge.
Follow her adventures
on Instagram
@JesGearing. Read
her featured piece
about Newcomer
Delights on page 29.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

Bryan Paiement

is a special education
teacher at Wasena
Elementary and
studied creative
writing in Wilmington,
NC. In his free time,
Bryan loves to cook
and enjoy the outdoors
in and around the
Roanoke Valley. Read
Bryan's piece on a
father-son workout
challenge on page 40.

Marica Saunders
of Rivers and Roads
Photography is a
traveling wedding and
portrait photographer
based out of Roanoke.
She's inspired by light,
color, composition
and the connections
between all of the
beautiful people she
gets to meet. See her
photography on our
cover and throughout
the magazine!

Dan Smith

is an award-winning
writer, author and
photographer and a
member of the Virginia
Communications Hall
of Fame. He is founding
editor of a Roanokebased business
magazine and a former
Virginia Small Business
Journalist of the Year.
Read Dan's piece about
Staying in Shape on
page 36.

Lizetta Staplefoote
is a content marketing
professional living in
the Roanoke Valley and
working for clients all
over the country. When
she's not wordsmithing
or brainstorming, she
enjoys hitting trails,
star gazing and live
music. Read Liz's piece
on the Little Green Hive
in The Gist! department
on page 20.

Laura Wade

is the founder of
Thrive by Heart and
offers workshops and
individual guidance to
empower women to live
and love their lives. She
is passionate about her
family, holistic health,
personal transformation
and sharing ideas to
inspire others to live
their best lives. Read
Laura's piece on the
Jefferson Center Music
Lab on page 21.
TheRoanoker.com

LIZ LONG HEADSHOT: TARA LILY / BRYAN PAIEMENT HEADSHOT: RIVERS AND ROADS PHOTOGRAPHY / MARICA SAUNDERS HEADSHOT: ALMIRA B. PHOTOGRAPHY

MOVED TO ROANOKE nearly a decade
ago from Nashville, Tennessee
(though I'm a V irginia girl
through and through, growing
up down the road in Danville
and dreaming of Roanoke as "the
big city"). Coming f rom a larger
metropolitan region, I admit I had
doubts on Roanoke being "it" for me.
I couldn't have been more wrong,
and was pleasantly surprised at the multitude of
events, restaurants, cost of living and more within
the region. Roanoke greeted me with far more than
just open arms. Put simply, it's home.
But we all know home is more than a place-it's
about the people. Ask anyone you know about their
favorite part of the region, and I bet "community" is
well within their top three reasons. This, I think, is
where Roanoke shines more than any other city (yes,
I'm biased) and brings us together for work and play.
Our newcomers article (page 29) shares stories
from individuals and couples who made the move
here and why they fell in love with their new
home. And yep, you guessed it-"community" is on
everyone's list. Roanokers make it easy to be part of
something bigger.
And I may no longer be a newcomer, but I
certainly learned a few new things in our "How
Roanoke Are You?" quiz (page 28). Will your

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The Roanoker - January/February 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker - January/February 2018