How could someone abandon an infant in the woods?

A news clip from NBC-29 struck my heart: "Police confirmed ... a body found in the woods near Interstate 81 is, in fact, missing 5-month-old Cory Cole."

Five months old. Alone. Left in the woods in winter. Beside the interstate as if tossed out like a rag doll.

At five months an infant is beginning to reveal a personality, smiling, recognizing, snuggling. At five months an infant is already an ingrained member of the family. And at five months an infant is totally dependent for everything.

How could anyone anywhere hurt a baby? My heart hurts thinking of that poor child....

Waynesboro's Zeus Digital Theater to next build a restaurant

Brett Hayes' rendition of the new restaurant from the Zeus Digital Theater Facebook page.

Walking into Waynesboro's Zeus Theater is like walking into a high-end movie theater in a big city, thanks to an entrepreneur who had a dream that has benefited the entire area.

Brett Hayes' dream was of a better movie theater, something he wrote about on his blog in 2009. He didn't want to be another of the chains. He wanted to follow through on his own ideas of using the latest available technology to show movies so he invested $8 million to make it come true.

His Zeus Theater opened in October of 2010 on Lew DeWitt Boulevard in Waynesboro, Virginia, a state-of-the-art digital stadium-seating theater that has not only drawn hoards of locals to its eight screens but has shut down the aging chain theater in neighboring Staunton. Hayes offered cafe seating in the lobby complete with tall tables and chair for theater snacks as well as a meeting/party room.

Hayes is a self-described MBA, former US Marine, Gulf War Veteran, serial small business owner, commercial land developer, project manager, closet economist, and Rotarian. His Zeus Theater has been a huge success.

At the time of its opening, Hayes told NBC-29, "I would like to see a restaurant in front of my theater within three months of opening. If this works as well as I expect it to then I'll probably be adding onto it." However, three years later that part of the plan had not come together.

Until today. On New Year's Eve, Brett Hayes posted to his Facebook page with plans for a restaurant:

In the coming year, I am going to build a restaurant in front of Zeus. I have been trying to develop the corner lots for years and frankly I have lost patience with the national chains.

I am not prepared to discuss the details of the menu yet, but it will be family friendly serving lunch, dinner and deserts.

We will be breaking ground in the late Spring and plan to be open by November 2014.

The sketch [above] is version 2.0 or so. I still have some refining to do to get it where I want it. I am talking about this now, because I am excited about it and people are asking about it.

With his track record for Zeus Theater and its success, I have no doubt Hayes' restaurant will enjoy the same success.

Winter weather hits Shenandoah Valley ... local schools on delay

 

Graphic from The Weather Channel

Augusta County and Staunton public schools are on a two-hour delay this morning after winter weather moved into the area overnight. Ice, snow, and freezing rain were expected with a winter weather advisory lasting until 4:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Tuesday night and Wednesday, heavy rains will be moving into the Valley with wintry weather in other areas making Thanksgiving travel hazardous for millions along the East Coast.

The Winter Weather Advisory includes locations in the Shenandoah Valley and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Check NBC-29 for the latest closings/delays and weather updates throughout the day.