Calling All Moms In The Boones Mill/rocky Mount/sml Area (Norfolk: crime, home)

[leavinjersey]

As many people on this site are, we are looking to relocate to the Franklin/Bedford County area.

I've many of these threads & have learned a lot about the areas. I have 3 boys 3 7 & 8. There in soccer, wrestling basketball & football. They love to be outside with the other kids, hiking, dirt bikes, swimming, building forts etc...

Mom-to-Mom:

What school does your kids attend & how do you feel about them
How do you feel about the middle school & High School
How are the sports programs
Are they through the school, Y, or rec program
What is there to do
What areas do you avoid & why

I know these are your 'opinions' but a mom knows & understands where another mom is coming from!

I appreciate the info.

If you'd like, Private Message me your feedback!

Thanks

[seanpecor]

I'm not a mom, I'm a dad, can I chime in? Don't hit me

We live in northern Franklin County. Our girls attend North Cross School, a private school in Roanoke (North Cross School).

Franklin County kids are big into sports. The recreation dept has a big schedule Franklin County Virginia - Parks & Recreation Department - Schedules (broken link). The awesome YMCA in Rocky Mount has two large buildings, one for all ages and another specifically designed for kids under 12. The latter building has basketball courts with state of the art flooring that looks like traditional hard flooring but has some give to it to minimize bone injuries in kids as they learn their way around a court. And the YMCA has loads of sporting activities, plus it has a skate park adjoining it. Furthermore, another youth center is being planned across the road from the YMCA. Local school sanctioned sports is pretty important in the county and you'll have no shortage of options. The only challenge in high school is being good enough to get some game time. The high school population is over 2,000 so teams are more competitive locally with other regional high schools but team rosters are full up with first, second even third stringers etc.

At North Cross, participation in at least one sport during high school for one year is mandatory and pretty much everyone gets plenty of game time since the school population is only 250 or so.

There is no shortage of stuff to do. Check out Photo Gallery (broken link) for some great photos organized by FC events. Roanoke Times' entertainment section Southwest Virginia entertainment news, movie reviews and calendar listings - Roanoke.com is also a good source. Also the Smith Mountain Laker magazine Smith Mountain Laker @ SmithmountainLaker.com Magazine - Smith Mountain Lake - Home. And the Roanoker magazine The Roanoker Magazine.

A North Cross family owns Rising Star Sports and Adventure Camp. This is in southern Roanoke County right off of Route 220. So it would be about 15-20 minutes from Rocky Mount.

As far as areas to avoid, there aren't that many. Franklin County crime is very, very low. I suppose if you wanted peace & quiet in the country then be mindful of where the Norfolk Southern rail line is situated relative to any home you may look at or building site you may consider. But there aren't any hot spots of urban criminal activity.

Sean

[jballa]

Originally Posted by seanpecor

I'm not a mom, I'm a dad, Sean

Sean, you can't refuse replying to any Rocky Mount/ F.C. posts can you? LOL...

[seanpecor]

No way! I'm pathological

Sean

[SmerkyGrl]

Originally Posted by seanpecor

I'm not a mom, I'm a dad, can I chime in? Don't hit me

/smack


That was just irresistible.

[leavinjersey]

thanks, i've been able to get some copies of the smith mountain laker mag, & will definetly check out the other web sites.

if there something i heard about building a new rail yard some where?

[seanpecor]

The intermodal rail yard, yes. But that's on the other side of the blue ridge. The two likely places at this point are in Salem in the 10th street area or in the country in a town called Elliston, which is northwest of Roanoke (Boones Mill, Rocky Mount, SML is south of Roanoke).

Sean