Posts by JOHN

When my wife and I started this magazine just over seven years ago, we set out to help the parents in the Roanoke Valley—young parents, parents of kids age zero to seven—learn more about what our region had to offer. After all, those are the kinds of parents we were at the time.  As new…

In our twenty-first century American culture, many of us have a tendency to address problems more reactively than preventively. This is seen in health care when we focus our attention on excellence in bypass surgery, but not as much in preventing heart problems in the first place. It’s seen in the care of our home…

By: Tracy Fisher When I tell people I love going to the library, I often get a strange response: “Why? You can get all those books online now.” It’s true, digital options for books are here to stay, and I really do love having a whole bookcases’ worth on my tablet. But I don’t go…

Provided by brandpointcontent.com Natural disasters come in multiple forms and can quickly devastate many lives in a matter of moments. While they all can cause nightmares for those affected, few are as powerful and destructive as hurricanes. That’s why, when hurricanes make landfall and wreak havoc, help is immediately needed and accepted by the people…

When a fire ignites in your home, it can spread rapidly. It used to be that families had up to seven minutes to escape once their smoke alarm sounded, but many homes these days are built with lightweight construction materials, which burn faster than solid wood. Your family could have as little as two minutes…

For most families, one of the focal points of back-to-school time is picking out the perfect backpack. While the kids focus on the aesthetics – the colors, amount of zippers, and extras that come with it – it’s your responsibility as a parent to focus on the function. The average McGraw-Hill standard textbook weighs 3-4…

You can’t miss the Taubman Museum of Art. As you drive down Williamson Road, you see the metallic peak pointing upwards and the curves of the building arching and flowing like the beautiful mountains surrounding Roanoke. The gorgeous surroundings were the main inspiration behind the contemporary structure, designed by renowned architect Randall Stout. Executive Director…

It’s a sad fact of life that not all children are born into families who are well-equipped to raise them. Children as young as newborns can experience direct and indirect abuse, trauma, and neglect. Hardly a day goes by that the nightly news doesn’t air another story of a child hurt by those most meant…

It’s the inevitable, ongoing battle we all fight. I’m talking about the never-ending, sometimes overwhelming struggle against clutter, crud, and family chaos that comes with having kids and just plain living. What parent hasn’t complained about his kitchen counter being covered with papers and other random items? Who hasn’t been frustrated about running behind again…