The Roanoker - January/February 2017 - 33
OUR TOWN | ON THE GROW related festivals, to live music and lawn games at the Salem Public Library." Hot New Thing #25 BROADBAND EXPANSION in the Roanoke Valley this past spring/summer season. Many areas-Raleigh Court, Grandin Court, Cave Spring, Southeast, Orange Avenue, 10th Street, downtown, all over-have been nearly inaccessible at times because the roads leading to them have been under construction. And it hasn't just been the road surfaces, but also curbs, sidewalks, bike lanes and utilities (gas and electric lines, fiber optics lines), sewers and landscaping. Many of the renovations have been coordinated, which is a good thing. Roanoke Times Metro columnist Dan Casey called it "a perfect storm of beautification projects, plus beefed-up annual paving, plus infrastructure upgrades." The sparkling finished product has been worth the inconvenience. Hot New Thing #24 SALEM UPGRADE r City Planner Benjamin Tripp explains it this way: "Salem is undertaking a comprehensive effort to enhance downtown as a regional destination. This includes the replacement of all sidewalks with brick pavers and a new more historic look; the addition of new distinctive festival-style lighting; and places for sidewalk dining. Hand in hand with this is an effort to hold more special events downtown for people of all ages, from the Salem Half Marathon and some craft beer ...it hasn't just been the road surfaces, but also curbs, sidewalks, bike lanes and utilities (gas and electric lines, fiber optics lines), sewers and landscaping. Many of the renovations have been coordinated, which is a good thing. THEROANOKER.COM The Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority has created 47 miles of new broadband width and geeks everywhere are turning cartwheels. That means speed and capacity, baby. The authority was created under the Virginia Wireless Services Facilities Act by Roanoke Valley governments. The principal goal of the authority is to improve affordable broadband services in the valley, primarily for businesses and governments, operating as an open-access network. The Resources Authority spent an initial $6.2 million (from a bond) to cover the start-up costs, and the local governments must pay that back. Bonus: Hot New Thing #26 YES, IT'S A CHAIN, BUT . . . The Mellow Mushroom in the downtown of the unmentionable North Carolina mountain town we have left in our wake with the above 25 things and more is an inviting, goodvibe place with good food and fun. By all indications the big new one on Franklin Road next to the Carilion Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosciences (nee Ukrop's) building-it's still an hour wait to get in most any days as we go to press-will extend the "Keeping it mellow since 1974" mantra of the JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 | 33