Gene Marrano
The Roanoke City Council session on Monday will include a morning closed meeting on security at the Noel C Taylor Municipal Building. Council will also vote to set a November 19th date for a public hearing on the sale of almost 12 acres of city-owned property on Peters Creek Road northwest (in the 2900 block), for a CarMax Superstore dealership. At the morning briefing City Council will also receive an update on efforts to turn the Roanoke River and other waterways in a recreational “Blueway.”
The Virginia Tech Hokies are coming off a tough loss to Georgia Tech 10 days ago – they have another tall order at home tomorrow against 24th-ranked Boston College.
St. Vincent’s Home is holding a very tasty 5K race and a shorter “fun run” tomorrow morning – more on the 2nd annual “Run for Donuts 5K” and its unique venue, from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce will recognize dozens of local companies – and winners in 17 categories – during its 32nd annual Small Business Awards event tonight at Hotel Roanoke. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
A school assembly this morning at Virginia Heights Elementary School in Grandin Village this morning was described to the staff as a chance to meet with Virginia’s Secretary of Education and other dignitaries. The real purpose – 3rd grade teacher Caroline Eschenbach, who in a surprise announcement was honored with a $25,000 Milken Education Award. Eschenbach can spend that check on whatever she wants to. Educators at up to 40 schools across the country will receive the Milken Award in 2018 – this will be the only one in Virginia.
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys has rolled out a new mentoring program in Rocky Mount, for at-risk juveniles between 12 and 17 that have had brushes with the law. Goodwill is looking for 40 mentors and will gear up for a January launch. The “evidence-based” mentoring model is borrowed from a Big Brothers Big Sisters approach. A $475,000 grant will provide services for 105 youth over the next three years. Stephanie Hoer is the senior director of program services.
A Roanoke County pedestrian-friendly project almost ten years in the making will celebrate with a specially-themed ribbon cutting today. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story: