Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
They’re calling it Suites by T-lot! Short-term affordable housing for those needing shelter. The grand opening at the former Apple Valley Motel on Franklin Road was today. Guests are required to pay an affordable rate. The 19 rooms at Suites by T-lot! are each fully furnished with a refrigerator, microwave, television, a private bathroom and other amenities. The Least of These Ministries will also offer a shuttle three days a week to downtown Roanoke for guests that need transportation. Dawn Sandoval founded The Least of These Ministries, which has its headquarters in downtown Roanoke:
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Between now and March 3 if you feel like a shopping spree for clothing or home fashions is in order, it can also be for a good cause that helps local schoolchildren enrolled in Boys and Girls Clubs programs. The story from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
An artful afternoon is bringing crafts to artists at Brambleton Recreation Center next Wednesday, WFIR’s Alex Torres has more:
This weekend at Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Southwest Roanoke County, the play “Song of Mark,” from the Logos Theatricus troupe will be staged. Admission is free but donations will be accepted for the local non-profit NoBounds. For more on No Bounds and its mission, here is WFIR’s Gene Marrano, “In Depth.”
It may take up to 18 months but RAM House on Campbell Avenue celebrated its future new home on Elm Avenue today with an event at the current day shelter site in a 100 year old former church. shelter will be called the Jain Care Center, named after the family that donated the building – the Jains own Virginia Transformer. RAM House is conducting a capital campaign and is about halfway to reaching a 4 million dollar-plus goal. Development director Candace Bell says the new location for RAM House will make it easier for shelter guests to find other services:
Josephus Johnson-Koroma G Marrano photo
Its been talked about and been in the planning stages for years and now its about to happen – the Wasena Bridge will start coming down in May after more than 8 decades of service, outdated and in need of a replacement cycle that might take two years. The new Wasena Bridge will feature bike lanes, wider sidewalks, lookout seating and improved lighting. The City will put signage out to inform motorists on the best ways to reach the businesses in the Wasena neighborhood once the bridge demolition gets underway. The 50 million dollar project will kick off with a ceremonial groundbreaking next month. Project manager Josephus Johnson-Koroma works for the City of Roanoke:
The founder of Help Save the Next Girl says her late daughter Morgan Dana Harrington would be “Flabbergasted,” to see what family and friends have done on her behalf since she was murdered in 2009. One prime example is the annual “Docs for Morgan,” basketball game tomorrow night. The Story from WFIR’s Gene Marrano: