Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
Brooks Michael, Carilion Clinic adolescent health educator, offers some advice on balancing virtual school lessons at home with the rest of your life – while many are still remote working as well right now. She spoke with WFIR’s Gene Marrano earlier this week … and here is a Longer Listen:
*(from City News Release) Effective Sept. 16, 2020, at 5 p.m., Councilwoman Djuna Osborne will be resigning from Roanoke City Council. Ms. Osborne joined Roanoke City Council on July 1, 2018, and her term was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2022. “It is with a heavy heart that I tender my resignation as a Roanoke City Council Member. I want to be completely transparent with the residents of Roanoke. Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19 I, along with each of you, have had to make significant adjustments to accommodate the needs of my family. As a result, I am no longer in a position to meet the full obligation of my Council duties while also meeting my new obligation as a full-time stay-at-home mom and educator, along with the ongoing responsibilities of my private practice. I have to focus on my family’s education and health, so I have made the difficult decision to step down as a Roanoke City Council Member effective Sept. 16, 2020, at 5 p.m. I have the deepest respect for my colleagues on Roanoke City Council and am confident that they will work with City Administration to fully discuss options on how to fill the vacancy. I am so incredibly grateful for the two years I have been able to serve the citizens of our City. Thank you for what we have accomplished together, and for your support and understanding.” – Djuna Osborne
Roanoke City Council will participate in a special meeting on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, to discuss next steps in filling Ms. Osborne’s vacancy. If you have any questions, please contact the Roanoke City Attorney’s Office at 540-853-2431.
For the past 14 years, the Rescue Mission’s Drumstick DASH fundraiser has been held in Downtown Roanoke on Thanksgiving morning but due to concerns over COVID-19, it was announced today that race will be fully virtual this year – and does not have to be run or walked on Thanksgiving.
(full release from Rescue Mission) First, we want to thank you for your support for the Drumstick DASH and the thousands of meals we serve every year because of your enthusiasm towards helping others. “Move your feet so others can eat” may be the tag line but what it really means is “Move your feet so a child can focus in school”, “Move your feet so the elderly can get a full meal” or “Move your feet so a mother doesn’t have to make a choice between a mortgage or a month worth or groceries”. Your support has helped thousands rise out of poverty, and with your support this year, that won’t change.
Pam Northam/G Marrano photos
A former teacher herself, Virginia First Lady Pam Northam is in Roanoke today, visiting schools and childcare centers – something she has done for the past three years. The first stop this morning was at Burlington Elementary School in Roanoke County:
Roanoke City Council approved the extension of a contract with the Higher Education Center, for a walking plaza it will build in part of a parking lot the city will sell to the Center. Higher Education Center executive director Kay Dunkley also told council today it would not be named for Civil Rights Lawyer Oliver Hill as first announced but instead will remain unnamed honor a number of people from Gainsboro. Local residents had complained last year that the decision was made without input from them. Council member Michelle Davis on what has changed:
United Way of Roanoke Valley launched the Smart2Start one-stop application process earlier this year, to help parents find child care support and “learning pods” throughout the Roanoke Valley. It allows them to search for all available openings, as well as any financial aid they may qualify for. Vivien McMahan is Vice President for Community Impact at United Way of Roanoke; she joined us live via phone this morning:
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A commission in Virginia has found that history learning standards in the state’s schools “continue to be incomplete with regards to incorporating African American history into the larger narrative.”
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Monday that the conclusion was made in the final report by the Virginia African American History Education Commission.
The commission said that the state should make immediate technical changes to learning standards related to African American history. It also said that Virginia should explore broader changes during a formal standards review at a later time.
Gov. Ralph Northam created the commission in August 2019 and tasked it with examining Virginia’s history standards. It is made up of teachers, principals, superintendents, policy experts, history professors, parents and community leaders.
The commission opposes African American history being taught separately. And it proposes standards that will include key themes to ensure that an African American perspective is presented. Those themes would include colonialism and systemic racism.
Jerry Falwell, Jr.
Liberty University’s executive committee released a blistering statement today about now-former school president Jerry Falwell Jr, saying they are “committed to learning the consequences that have flowed from a lack of spiritual stewardship by our former president.” The committee has also hired a forensic firm to conduct an investigation into all facets of Liberty University operations during Falwell, Jr.’s tenure as President, “including but not limited to financial, real estate, and legal matters.”
(Full statement from Liberty)
Liberty University’s Executive Committee, acting on behalf of its Board of Trustees, issued the following statement today:
This past week challenged all of us to the core. While we had been willing to extend grace and understanding to Jerry Falwell, Jr. before, once the revelations about his past personal life came more fully to light, we acted swiftly and decisively to ask for his immediate resignation, which we received. Some may say that all the signs were there for a long time before last week. It’s certainly fair to say that there were questionable comments made, worrying behavior, and inappropriate social media posts, but all the signs were not there until the start of last week. While we still didn’t know the full scope of the matter, we have learned enough about the past to know that we had no choice but to take the leadership of Liberty University in a new direction.
We are also committed to learning the consequences that have flowed from a lack of spiritual stewardship by our former president. One of the leading forensic firms in the world has been retained by Liberty University’s Board of Trustees to conduct a thorough investigation into all facets of Liberty University operations during Jerry Falwell, Jr.’s tenure as President, including but not limited to financial, real estate, and legal matters.
Throughout these past few weeks, we knew we were being lifted in prayer by the entire Liberty University community. For this we are especially grateful, as we know it was by the Lord’s grace that we were able to put aside emotion and make the decisions that were necessary and essential for bringing calm to the storm. We thank all those who extended prayerful support!
“Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Matthew 8:26b
Of course, moving forward, we are very mindful that we must seek leaders who demonstrate a full commitment to the spiritual mission of Liberty University by words, actions, and example. That is why, in addition to starting a search for a new president, we are also reviewing options to establish a new role in the top leadership of the University for someone who will serve as a spiritual coach, mentor, and guide to help ensure that every member of the University leadership fulfills his or her spiritual responsibility to live out the Christian walk expected of each and every one of us at Liberty.
Lastly, we are charging Jerry Prevo to use the full range of his presidential authority to implement any changes necessary to improve the ongoing operations of the University, and to enrich the spiritual mission of Liberty University, not only for its students but also for every executive, administrator, faculty member, and the entire staff, and for a prospective new president, as well.
We ask for continued prayers as we all manage this transition and for a continued commitment by us all to fulfill our spiritual mission here at Liberty University today and always.
NEWS RELEASE: On June 15, 2020, the City of Roanoke Auditing Report concerning On-Street Parking found a potential issue in which parking citations were issued in place of a warning in certain situations. In order to address the situation the City of Roanoke, in partnership with Lancor Parking who operates the PARK Roanoke program, has established a refund program.
Anyone who believes they may have incorrectly received a citation in place of a warning between Jan. 1, 2017, and March 25, 2020, can submit a claim to PARK Roanoke through Sept. 1, 2021. If a claim is found to be eligible, a refund for the total amount of the citation, any fees associated with the citation and compounded interest, will be issued.
Individuals can request a refund by visiting www.parkroanoke.com and clicking on the banner that says: WARNING CITATION REFUND: CLICK HERE TO INQUIRE ABOUT ELIGIBILITY. Please allow up to 10 business days for a reply regarding eligibility. If you qualify, allow three to six weeks for the refund to be processed. Refunds will only be eligible for specific first-time violations including parking within a designated loading zone, parking or stopping in a no-parking zone, and for exceeding timed parking. A full list of eligible violations can be found here.
To ensure this issue is resolved going forward, PARK Roanoke has implemented the following steps:
- Completed Full Software upgrade to the TickeTrack System.
- Created New SCOFFS that accurately identify warning tickets vs. citations.
- Periodic spot audits conducted by management.
- Reviewing Current City Code.
Media inquiries should be directed to Melinda Mayo, Communications and Media Officer for the City, at 540-853-6357 or melinda.mayo@roanokeva.gov.