Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education

The Roanoke Public Library Foundation is asking residents to pull out those scrapbooks or rummage around in the attic – seeking 1940’s era photographs for a book sequel. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

 

Complete schedule of scanning events:

  • Main Library, Thursday, May 2, 6 p.m.
  • Main Library’s Virginia Room, Saturday, May 11, 2 p.m.
  • Raleigh Court Branch Library, Tuesday, May 14, 12 p.m.
  • Williamson Road Branch Library, Wednesday, May 22, 12 p.m.
  • Gainsboro Branch Library, Thursday, May 30, 6 p.m.

Over 600 students, faculty, alumni and parent volunteers from Faith Christian School in Roanoke County spent most of the day at Healing Strides in Boones Mill, which employs horse-assisted activities to promote wellness in children and adults. The school’s latest “Project Faith” community service project involved more than 2000 volunteer hours. Project Faith is an annual fundraiser for the school, with a goal of $170,000 this year. Students from grades K through 12 participate and seek sponsorship money from family and friends. Carol Young is the Healing Strides CEO:

 

By the fall semester Jefferson College of Health Sciences in downtown Roanoke should officially be Radford University Carilion. The state approval is in place and now the final word on accreditation for the new entity should come by June. Brian Hemphill is the president of Radford University. This morning Hemphill joined leaders at Jefferson College and Carilion when a logo for the new school was unveiled. The final commencement for Jefferson College of Health Sciences takes place next Friday.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia House of Delegates has finished a new searchable website that has biographical sketches of every lawmaker who’s served in the body for over the past 400 years.House Clerk G. Paul Nardo said Wednesday that the online database has posted information of the more than 9,700 men and women who’ve served since the House of Burgesses first met in 1619.Past House members include George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.Nardo said he made the announcement on the 400th anniversary of George Yeardley assuming the position of deputy governor on April 18, 1619. The first legislative session convened in July of that year.The state is planning several events this year to mark the start of the House of Burgesses in Jamestown, the New World’s first representative legislative assembly.

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) – A new campaign has launched in Virginia to help pregnant mothers who abuse opioids or other drugs.The Roanoke Times reports that several groups have partnered to launch an effort to connect women with recovery programs.The program is called “Mother-up” and its website is mother-up.org. Participating groups include the Children’s Trust, Carilion Clinic and the Virginia Department of Social Services.Lisa Denny, director of child abuse prevention for Children’s Trust Roanoke
Valley, said the campaign will direct women to resources that “aren’t necessarily punitive.” She said some women who are on drugs while pregnant don’t tell their doctors because they fear having their babies taken away.

G Marrano photo/WFIR

Student hunger and even homelessness is a real issue for many who attend Virginia colleges and universities – especially at the community college level. That was the point keynote speaker Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab made at the annual statewide faculty conference for Virginia’s Community Colleges.  Goldrick-Rab teaches at Temple University; she’s written a book on the subject and appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to talk about it. At today’s conference Anthem BlueCross BlueShield donated $100,000 for food pantries located at rural community colleges in Virginia.

A federally-funded program being administered by Radford University is offering specialized education training to teachers in the Appalachian region. More on “ASSET” as it continues to roll out, from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

click below for an in depth conversation about the ASSET program with Lisa Thompson (and WFIR’s Gene Marrano):