ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 18, 1996 TAG: 9612180046
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
Musicians say ad a whopper of a miscue
NEW YORK - Music teachers are unhappy with a Burger King commercial they say tells children that playing classical string instruments is a nerdy thing to do.
The Miami-based fast-food restaurant chain disagrees, saying it has no plans to pull the ad.
The commercial, which has been playing since November, shows a studious boy playing a cello poorly. But after a cartoon character zaps him and a visit to Burger King, the boy becomes a skilled electric guitarist.
The commercial drew the ire of The American String Teachers Association, whose president, Edward Adelson, said he told Burger King last week that the 11,000-member group was calling for a boycott of its restaurants until the ad was withdrawn and the group was assured the company wouldn't repeat the depiction.
``This commercial tells kids that playing a classical instrument such as a cello is a nerdy activity, an uncool activity and something kids shouldn't want to do,'' Adelson said.
But Burger King said in a statement its advertising is designed ``for both its entertainment value and its ability to reach our consumers.''
- Associated Press
Valley Bank to open new branch
Valley Bank said Tuesday it has received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to operate its third branch, at 2203 Crystal Spring Ave. S.W. in Roanoke
The branch is to open in mid-January. The site was vacated Dec. 6 by NationsBank, which merged the South Roanoke branch into its Starkey Road office.
- Staff report
Adia announces name change
Adia Personnel Services, a national temporary employment service with two offices in Roanoke and one in Blacksburg, will change its name Jan. 1 to Adecco.
Adecco (pronounced ah-DEK-o) is the name of the company created recently when Adia, of Redwood City, Calif., merged with Ecco S.A., a Paris employment agency. Combined, the two companies create the world's largest personnel services organization, according to Adia.
- Staff report
Texaco exec cooperating
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - The Texaco executive who taped meetings where company managers allegedly belittled blacks and plotted to destroy documents is cooperating with prosecutors and may get the charge against him resolved without a trial, according to court papers.
Richard Lundwall ``is and has been engaging in discussions with the government concerning certain issues presented by this case, including the possible disposition of the case without trial,'' according to court papers filed this week in U.S. District Court in White Plains.
Lundwall was charged with obstruction of justice last month. Prosecutors originally had a deadline of today to file an indictment against him, but in the court papers, a federal magistrate gives prosecutors another 30 days to investigate while talks continue.
- Associated Press
Salem bagel shop closes doors
The Chesapeake Bagel Bakery at Ridgewood Farms Village Shopping Center in Salem closed Monday. The Salem bagel shop and another at Old Country Plaza near Tanglewood Mall are part of a franchise owned by Fuel Oil & Equipment Co. of Roanoke. The company decided to consolidate its bagel operations, said Steve Giorno, operations general manager for Chesapeake.
"We decided it was smarter to operate under one roof," he said. He said some of the store's 10 employees were shifted to the Old Country Plaza location.
Chesapeake Bagel Bakery is a national chain based in McLean.
- Staff report
Bell Atlantic gives to schools
Bell Atlantic Corp. said it will give nearly $1million to public schools and colleges in Virginia to establish interactive distance learning facilities.
This is the third straight year the company has made such awards, and it said it plans to distribute $4million over the next four years for distance learning projects.
The company will give $120,000 to Virginia Tech to help fund distance learning campus classrooms and four distance learning sites at graduate centers in Falls Church, Hampton Roads, Leesburg and Alexandria.
Distance learning is a concept in which a teacher in one location communicates with students in other locations through satellite transmissions or over phone lines. Bell Atlantic's system allows interactive communication by both voice and video.
- Staff report
LENGTH: Medium: 94 linesby CNB