🌱 AoA Pet Health Fair This Weekend + SWVA Wildlife Center Baby Shower

Good morning 'noke folk! Hello all. It's time for your fresh edition of the Roanoke Patch Newsletter and you know what day it is, right? 😱😱😱

But first, today's weather:

Breezy with partial sunshine. High: 69 Low: 48.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. Angels of Assisi will beholding their second Pet Health Fair this coming Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berglund Center. AoA will be offering a wide variety of low cost services including vaccinations, microchips, nail trims, and heartworm tests. Animals will be seen on a first come first served basis and more information can be found here by emailing Dayna Reynolds, AoA's Director of Community Engagement. "The goal of the Pet Health Fair is to increase accessibility to veterinary care. By doing so, we hope to keep people with their pets and help pets live healthier, happier lives," said Reynolds. (WSET)
2. Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center will be hosting a baby shower this coming Saturday, April 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday, April 23 from noon to 4 p.m. at Nature's Emporium on Brambleton Road. "Support from the public is vital to our efforts to give the hundreds of baby wildlife, from bunnies, squirrels, and opossums to owlets, songbirds, reptiles, and more, the chance to survive and thrive," said Sabrina Garvin, President and Co‐Founder of the SWVA Wildlife Center. Newborn animals come to the center every week and have many needs including species‐specific baby formula, critical medications, produce, meat, dry feed, and other supplies to see them through rehab to their rerelease into the wild. (WFXR)
3. The opening of Roanoke's first ever Chili's location has finally been announced and is a bit sooner than many expected — today! The location on an outparcel outside Tanglewood Mall so if you're craving a Triple Dipper (and I know you are) head on down. The restaurant delivers through DoorDash so if you just can't tear yourself away there's still hope. Chili's has had locations in neighboring cities Lynchburg and Blacksburg for years, but had always seemed to skip over the Star City for some reason until last year. (WSLS)
4. Roanoke area nonprofit the Playlist 4 Life Foundation, which focuses on awareness about mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention through music, has partnered with Garett Farms in Salem to create it's very own outdoor music venue. "We all have music as therapy. We all love it. It helps us through so many emotions. So it’s a natural fit that it should be conduit for mental health awareness and suicide prevention," said Deana Marcin, Playlist 4 Life’s founder. In addition to being an outdoor music venue the site will also host a camping area so attendees can get the full festival experience without having to travel too far. The first event at the venue will be the second annual “Springtime Growers Meet and Greet” in May. You can find out more about Playlist 4 Life here and Garrett Farms here. (WSLS)

Today in Roanoke:

• Education Appreciation Night at Big Lick Brewing Company (4 p.m.)
• Father John Misty at the Jefferson Center’s Shaftman Performance Hall (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges: "When we said it’s the biggest year ever, we weren’t joking. We’re announcing new shows every week! Check back tomorrow at 8am for another Northwest Ace Hardware Summer Concert Series announcement!" (Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "We are OVERJOYED to announce the Wood Duck found in an attic stuck to a glue trap starving to death has been released! And what a release it was -- she barely took a moment to look around before flying off out of sight." (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Public Libraries: "Are you spring cleaning? We are always taking donations of Halloween costumes for our costume swap that happens in October! Feel free to drop donations off at any Roanoke City Public Library branch. We appreciate your support!" (Roanoke Public Libraries via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Buddy is ready for a Fun Day Sunday 😎 in a new home! He's such a friendly guy, we can't believe he's still in the shelter waiting. Someone needs to make an appointment and come to meet him this week!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Instagram)

There now that wasn't too bad for a dreaded Monday edition, was it? Now you're in the loop and I'll see you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Ian

About me: Ian Graham is a novelist, screenwriter, and freelance contributing writer. He is a firm believer in being yourself… unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman. To connect with Ian, you can visit him on Facebook and Instagram. He doesn't bite. Except on full moons.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Roanoke Patch newsletter? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com