The Roanoker - January/February 2021 - 9

editor's note

The Strength of Roanoke
written by Liz Long, Editor I've never found an easier place to love than Roanoke, Virginia.

G
tell us about...

your love of Roanoke! From the
friendly community and local
businesses to the great outdoors,
what makes it home to you? Share
your thoughts on our social media
pages!

we want to
hear from you

Questions, comments or feedback
about The Roanoker? E-mail llong@
leisuremedia360.com

rowing up just down the road in Danville, I spent most of my youth watching and reading the
local news from here, believing Roanoke to be an enormously fantastic, progressive city. I just knew
it would be a great place to live. Twenty(ish) years later, it turns out I was right on the money.
I've now lived in " the big city " of Roanoke (as I referred to it as a kid) for over a decade, and there's
never been a warmer, more welcoming location. I was honestly shocked at how easy it was to find my
place, both personally and professionally, and I know that's because of the people. Friends quickly
become family, and Roanoke is just small enough that everyone seems to know everyone else, so the list
grows exponentially, perhaps without your even realizing it, until you're suddenly surrounded by a group
so caring and supportive that you wouldn't want to be anywhere else!
My headline isn't only a play on Ashley Fellers' article about the unique ways citizens are staying in
shape (page 44). She also wrote our cover story, " A Home to Love, " depicting the multitude of reasons
our city is so amazing (page 20). From the great outdoors to the small town feel with big city vibes, there
are so many things to love about Roanoke.
In fact, one of my favorite portions of our " 40 Under 40 " feature is learning why our Class of 2021 loves
Virginia's Blue Ridge so much. It's funny - I ask 40 individuals the same question, and the answers, while
varied, almost always drill down to the same thing: our community. Whether you've lived here all your life
or are a transplant like me, open arms, big smiles and an enthusiasm to help others is a common theme. It
speaks volumes as to why our region is a great place to live. Those 40 young professionals, by the way, are
doing incredible things, and I can't wait for you to meet them (page 26).
It's hard to believe, but this issue marks my fourth year at the editor's desk, and I could not be more
grateful to my team and our readers. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who crows about Roanoke
as much as I do to anyone who will listen (I mean, I even sneak local tidbits into my fictional books!), but
then again, it's easy to rave about beautiful mountains, diverse neighborhoods and restaurants and, of
course, some of my very favorite people in the world. Simply put, Roanoke is home. I cannot imagine living
anywhere else - and with neighbors like you, why would I want to?
Let's greet 2021 with those open arms, shall we? Welcome home.

contributors

Aila Boyd

is an educator and
journalist who resides in
Roanoke. She holds an MFA
in Writing from Lindenwood
University. Read her Gist
piece on Salem's newest
dance academy on page 16.

TheRoanoker.com

Ashley Fellers

is a writer, self-taught
painter and contemplative
photographer in Roanoke.
When not working at the
public library, she snaps
photos of sidewalk cracks,
rescues wet leaves from
windshield wipers and
leaves poems hidden under
park benches. She has a
Master of Fine Arts degree
from Virginia Tech. See her
cover story on Why We Love
Roanoke on page 20, and
Roanoke Strong on page 44.

Christina Nifong

is a writer with a decadeslong career profiling
interesting people, places
and ideas. She's recently
launched a new email
newsletter focused on life
in the slow lane, called
Nourishing Stories. Sign
up and find more of her
work at christinanifong.
com. Read her Gist piece
on page 16.

John Park

has become the
quintessential food
evangelist for Southwest
Virginia and the
surrounding regions.
Though John lives in a suit
by day, he prides himself
on sharing his love of great
eats and the people who
make it possible. Follow
his social media moniker
@hungryasianrke and see
John's dining photos of
Sidecar on page 56.

Dan Smith

is an award-winning
Roanoke-based writer/
author/photographer and
a member of the Virginia
Communications Hall of
Fame (Class of 2010). He
is founding editor of a
Roanoke-based business
magazine and a former
Virginia Small Business
Journalist of the Year
(2005). Read his feature on
Diversity in our Local Boards
on page 40.

Bob Sowder

is a native of Roanoke
and enjoyed a career
in broadcast television
and advertising, working
in markets from D.C. to
L.A. and a lot of fly-over
country. On a visit back to
Roanoke in 1999 with his
wife Jules, they discovered
Roanoke and returned to
raise their two children.
See Bob's photography on
the cover and in our Homes
section starting on page 48.

Aaron Spicer

is a veteran editorial
photographer originally
based in Northern Virginia,
with credits in numerous
regional and national
publications. Aaron
specializes in creating
clean and contemporary
environmental portraiture
that tells a compelling
story. See his photography
on our cover and on pages
20 and 21.

JAN/FEB 2021 9

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The Roanoker - January/February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker - January/February 2021