🌱 Community Colleges Meet About Future + Greek Festival Returns

Hello all. I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh edition of the Roanoke Patch newsletter. Let's get this day started off right, with a quick guide to what's happening in town. Today we'll cover:

• Mental health dispatch program gets 'overwhelmingly positive' welcome.
• Valley Metro to repurpose building Greyhound doesn't want.
• Roanoke City Public Schools launches Star City Eats food truck.

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather: Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 84 Low: 67.

Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. The Marcus Alert Program launched in Roanoke on July 1 as a way to better respond to mental health crises during 911 calls. The program provides dispatchers and police with the ability to direct callers to a crisis hotline or send a clinician to the scene instead of police officers. Since launching, the program has responded to over 160 scenes, with about 30 in the first week of July. The program aims to improve mental health crisis response and prevent tragic outcomes like the death of Marcus-David Peters in Richmond in 2018. Though not yet statewide, the program represents progress in providing appropriate resources for mental health calls with roots in advocacy from legislators like Creigh Deeds. (Franklin Post)
2. Community college leaders met in Roanoke on Wednesday to discuss the future of education, including a new plan to prioritize job placement for high school graduates. The chancellor of the Virginia Community College System shared information about fewer students completing their education, following Gov. Glenn Youngkin's announcement that he wants every high school graduate to achieve higher education. The chancellor explained he is prioritizing expanding opportunities in community colleges to be responsive to local employer and community needs, and plans to target more veterans, parents and working adults seeking higher education in the new action plan. (WDBJ)
3. After the opening of Roanoke's Third Street Station in June, Building No. 2 on the site appeared unused, despite plans for it to contain a Greyhound ticketing office. However, Valley Metro General Manager Kevin Price said Greyhound was hesitant to lease the building, so Valley Metro decided to use it to expand services instead. Building No. 2 will now house a customer service station expected to open by fall 2022 to provide conveniences that customers previously had to visit Valley Metro's administrative building for. Though no agreement is finalized, Greyhound will continue using the station as a bus stop but without a ticketing office, while Building No. 2 will still have a waiting room for Greyhound passengers. (Roanoke Times)
4. After a two-year hiatus, Roanoke's Greek Festival is returning in September for the first time since 2019. The festival celebrates Greek culture, food, music and crafts, and will take place Sept. 15-17 at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Admission is free and open to the public, with proceeds benefiting the Local Office on Aging and Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Centers. The rain or shine event will run Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m.-7 p.m., marking an exciting comeback for a treasured Roanoke tradition. (WSLS)
5. Roanoke City Public Schools launched a new mobile food truck called Star City Eats under federal nutrition programs to deliver meals to the community. The truck was designed and run by high school culinary and marketing students to give them real work experience. Star City Eats allows RCPS to bring affordable, nutritious meals on wheels to areas where students live and need food access. Kids under 18 eat free while adults pay $4.05 for the low-cost meals. After debuting on Aug. 9 at an event providing families free books and activities, Star City Eats will serve the Roanoke community once more this summer before hiring paid student interns to continue operating it. (WDBJ)

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Today in Roanoke:

Thursday, August 10

• Summer Health Clinics (Students ages 10 and older) (8 a.m.)
• Summer Health Clinics (Students of all ages) (8:30 a.m.)
• Pollinator Promenade — Mountain View Community Garden (10 a.m.)
• Party in Elmwood — Roanoke City Special Events (5:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Move over, Ratatouille! This Virginia opossum joey gripping her feeding tube (kinda looks like a strand of spaghetti, huh?) deserves a Pixar film, too!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "How about a feel-good Friday story? A local 7-year-old artist sold his own paintings and bookmarks to raise $100 for the Center! In addition, this little Picasso also sold plants earlier this spring and also donated another $50!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge: "Admission is FREE at this weekend's Botetourt County Fair! 🥳 Enjoy the beer garden and live music, a twilight market with local vendors, several demonstrations, traditional fair contests, and more!" (Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Do you want to get more involved with the Roanoke Valley SPCA? Are you great at planning events? Do you have a lot of connections? If you answered yes to any of these questions, applying to join the 20th Anniversary Committee may be right for you!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.: "We have another week full of music downtown! 🎵 Don't see your music event? Submit it to our event calendar at downtownroanoke.org/events/submit-an-event Find a full list of events happening downtown at the link!" (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. See you all tomorrow 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