Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
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Ashlyn Poole would have been 17 years old today but the Christiansburg High School student-athlete was killed in a car crash last summer. Now random acts of kindness initiated by her parents to honor her memory has led to a fundraiser this Saturday, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
The Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia announced its biggest fundraisers during last week’s “Roanoke Valley Gives Day,” at a luncheon today. Roanoke Catholic, Lake Christian Ministries and the Prevention Council of Roanoke County took home the top honors in the large, medium and small organization categories, respectively. Despite Facebook and Instagram going down that same day Michelle Eberly with the Community Foundation says it was a record-breaking event. Roanoke Valley Gives raised $823,000 in its fourth year – about $80,000 more than in 2018.
Another series of public meetings from Tuesday through April 3rd at Roanoke libraries are designed to receive input from “all” sectors of the city’s population, as it crafts an updated comprehensive plan with “interwoven equity.” WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
All meetings at city library branches: Gainsboro March 26, Raleigh Court March 28 (both 5-7); Belmont March 30 10-12, Melrose March 30 2-4, Main Library April 2 11:30-1:30, Williamson Road April 3 5-7
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The owner of Wine Gourmet has formally announced his run for Cave Spring Supervisor. 33-year-old Brian Powell says he wants to move economic development projects like “Reimagine 419” in southwest County past the planning stage and into action. Powell is seeking the Democratic nomination in a district that skews Republican. No other Democrat has announced a run with the filing deadline at the end of the month. Paul Mahoney has announced his intention to run for the Cave Spring supervisor seat as a Republican. At a news conference outside the County Administration building today Powell was also critical about how the oft-delayed Cave Spring High School rebuild was handled. (George Assaid is not running for reelection this fall)