PROCTORVILLE - While some families moving into the area are growing, others are looking to downsize.

For some residents, Cliff View Patio Homes is the perfect place to call home.

"The people here are so nice," resident Naomi Belville said of the Rome subdivision. "We thought this was the best area for us because it is close to hospitals, pharmacies and stores."

Belville said that she and husband lived in South Point for 40 years and then moved to South Pasadena, Fla., where they have lived for the last 20 years. They have recently moved back to the Proctorville area.

"We wanted to be back close to family," she said.

Belville said they returned around Christmas, and although they looked, they couldn't find anything new in the South Point area. Then they found the Cliff View Patio Homes that they now call home.

Belville said the units are really nice and she enjoys the fact that the residents are from all walks of life.

"For the money, you can't find anything nicer and the neighborhood is quiet," she said.

The Cliff View Patio Homes are owned and built by Riley Development.

The development has been there for approximately four to five years and although they currently have 28 units, they are planning to build more.

The homes have three bedrooms, two baths with a patio and a privacy fence.

"We just felt a need for this style of homes in this area," Vice President of Riley Development David Spurlock said.

Spurlock said some senior citizens had talked about putting an assisted living facility at the location, but the patio homes were the avenue the company chose to pursue.

The majority of people who move into the homes are downsizing, Riley said, but they also have residents with children and a mix of both out-of-state residents and people from the county.

Riley Development has been incorporated since 1968 and is owned by Gary and Helen Riley. The family owns many developments in the area including Roman Harbor, Harbor View, Cliff View Apartments and Rejon Acres.

- By Catherine Burcham

Seniors citizens ready to go 'back to school'

SYBENE - August is "Back to School" month at the Sybene Senior Center in Burlington.

Seniors are being asked to bring in school pictures by Aug. 22, and then they will have a show-and-tell on Aug. 24.

Senior citizens will be reciting poetry on Aug. 25. The activities will conclude Aug. 29 with a brown bag lunch.

For more information, contact the Sybene Senior Center at (740) 894-7569.

Annual canoe caper sets sail Saturday

CHESAPEAKE - The Symmes Creek Restoration Committee will host its annual canoe caper at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Chesapeake Boat Ramp.

Music will be provided and free T-shirts for people picking up litter. A canoe trip to Burlington will be offered.