Roanoke Times Loses Superb Business Reporter Alicia Petska

Just got word that Alicia Petska, an outstanding business writer and guild president at The Roanoke Times, is the latest significant loss for TRT. She has taken a job with Roanoke College. A large number of Times reporters have taken PR jobs with established institutions in the region over the past few years. 

Recent losses include Kevin Myatt (weather reporter at a terrible time; he and his wife were also copy editors) and Robert Anderson, the superb high school sports reporter, just as football season began recently.

Petska is just about 40 years old and a graduate of one of the world's great journalism schools, the University of Missouri. Her business reporting was exemplified this past Sunday with a comprehensive story on technology developments in the region. 

I have been told that The Times is seeking to replace Petska, Anderson and its vacant school reporter position. No word on Myatt's position as the weather reporter--which he defined. 

The Diary of Anne Frank prepares to take a bow.

After delays, 'Diary of Anne Frank' Scores Big

 The stage version of the literary masterpiece "The Diary of Anne Frank" was produced at Mill Mountain Theatre nearly 60 years ago when the theater was, indeed, on Mill Mountain. It was scheduled for the 2020 season, but Covid-19 erased that opportunity. So, it was with great anticipation that the story of eight members of two families shunted away in an Amsterdam attic, hiding from the Nazi monsters debuted this week at MMT.

And the wait was worth it in this Wendy Kesselman adaptation, starring a stellar local cast, backed by  Broadway veterans and with superb stagecraft in evidence from the stark set to lighting, costuming, sound and all the details that comprise a first-class production. 

The starring role here goes to Cave Spring High School student Elise LeGault who anchors the play as Anne Frank, a pubescent live wire with an unusual gift for the written word. Miss LeGault shines as the little girl emerging into young womanhood, ebullient, curious, funny and discovering what being a woman means, even as she fully enjoys her childhood in confinement.

Griffin Shaver, another Cave Spring student, plays the young boy who grabs Anne's fancy and supplies her first kiss. Both of these youngsters have been in MMT mainstage performances previously. The third young performer in the cast is Lilah Vanke, who plays Anne's sister with a degree of expertise.

Broadway is represented vividly with Jane Labanz as Anne's mother and Jonathan Brody as her father. It is left to Brody, as Otto Frank, the only survivor of the two families hiding in the attic to explain the emotional ending of the families in Nazi concentration camps. It is a vivid, troubling performance that left the audience (about 2/3 of a house) pin-drop quiet.

The remainder of the cast is a mixture of pros and local amateurs: veteran Scott Watson, who has substantial regional theatre credits, as well as a film and TV background; Amanda Lea Mason, with Broadway and TV credits; Jeffrey McGuillion, who has been in a number of MMT productions; Roanoker Sarah Coleman, a Radford University grad; and Drew Callahan, a member of the theatre's carpentry team and an actor of substance.

As difficult as this material is (and for some it requires a crying towel), I would strongly recommend it for kids from middle school (Anne's age in the 1940s) through high school. It is a powerful story of grace in the face of one of the ugliest moments in human history and the courage of a young girl who preserved it for us, putting a face on the horrors of Nazism.

Call the box office at 540-342-5740 for tickets. Ticket prices are reduced for student groups at the 10 a.m. matinees.

 

Patti and I examine a photo book her son, John, made for her.  That's grandboy Anders on the right.

It Is a Family Thing

The older I get--and that's OLD--the more I understand the value of family. It is unparallelled, frankly. I got a reminder of that yesterday when I drove a bit less than two hours to my sister's home in Crozet, outside Charlottesville. I have been to her house twice in more than 10 years and loved being there each time. So why didn't I go more often? I really can't explain it.

Anyhow, I met her grandkids, Anders and Anthony, her son John and John's delightful wife Ursula. I also re-connected with Patti's husband of more than 60 years, Tony. I came away filled with the warmth of a giant hug.

We talked of family, of kids growing up, of accomplishment, of our hopes and in the case of the grandparents, what we hope our legacies will be. We took pictures. Waaaay too many pictures, until later when we are grateful we took the time to point the cameras and phones. 

I had been feeling down lately, a bit unloved and borderline useless. All that was pushed away yesterday and with my son's family's visit over the weekend. It is all about family, however you define "family."

Here's some of what it looked like.

My nephew John and his lovely wife Ursula (who organized our gathering)

Ursula and my sister, Patti

Son Anthony (left), John and Ursula.

My buddy Ursula and me. 

Tony, Patti and me.

Tony, Patti, me and their grandson Anders

Anthony and the flag

Me and the boys, Anders and Anthony