🌱 Electronic Recycling This Weekend + Saving The Salem Skate Park

Hello, neighbors! It's time for the esteemed Hump Day edition of the Roanoke Patch Newsletter with what's happening in town, including updates on...

• Three shot in NW Roanoke.
• Raising awareness of child abuse.
• Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates meeting.

Let's get moving!

But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny and nice. High: 77 Low: 51.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. A Salem woman has sounded the battle horn in an effort to save the skate park at Moyer Sports Complex. The park, located next to the Roanoke River in South Salem, has been under renovations that destroyed the older skate park, and earlier this month Salem City revealed they have no plans to rebuild it. "Moyer is important because it’s been a staple, it’s an iconic figure, but it’s more than that, it’s really a place where we can get together, it’s where we can be a community and enjoy our sport," said Laura Saunders, whose son uses the skate park. Salem officials said they are considering putting a pickleball court where the skate park once stood. Saunders has started a petition to save the park that has garnered over 2,500 signatures so far and has attended city council meetings along with others to make her feelings known. To sign the petition click here. (WFXR)
2. Three people were shot in the Hurt Park area of Northwest Roanoke shortly after the end of the latest Gun Violence Prevention Commision Workshop. Police officials said the call came in around 5:30 p.m. and officers arrived to find the victims were a mother and her two children, who all suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea expressed frustration at the news. "I was very impressed with some of the presentations that were made today but we still have this old-age problem of gun violence occurring. As soon as we walk out the door, not far from where we are… there’s gun violence. I’m disappointed with that. I’m disappointed in the fact that regardless of what we’ve done it doesn’t seem to change things," he said. No suspects were found at the scene and no one has been arrested. Police are asking for anyone with information to please come forward. (WSLS)
3. Carilion Clinic is hosting a drive-thru recycling event Saturday for used electronics to raise money for its new cancer center. The clinic has partnered with River Acceptance, a company that works with corporate clients to help securely and ethically dispose of electronic assets that have reached the end of their usable life. "I don’t think people feel good about just throwing electronics in the landfill because they recognize that’s not the right thing to do, but they don’t always have an option for the best right way to dispose of them. We’ve received a lot of gratitude from the community and from employees to be able to recycle their electronics this way," said Sara Wohlford. The free event will be at Carilion’s Riverside Campus parking lot from 7:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The event raised more than $5,000 for the cancer center last year and a full list of what is accepted can be found here. (WDBJ)
4. A Roanoke Valley nonprofit is determined to make a difference in the lives of children who have suffered or are suffering abuse during Child Abuse Prevention Month. Children's Trust is an education and advocacy organization offering different programs for children including the Court Appointed Special Advocate program. The organization estimates that 1 in 4 children in the Southwest and Central Virginia area they serve has experienced neglect or abuse with Roanoke City experiencing the highest number of reported cases at 2,937. "Child abuse doesn’t always look like bruises. It can be a child not having eaten for three days at a time. It could be a child not having adult supervision for multiple hours at a time. It could be having a parent that is using substances and can’t adequately care for their child," said Sammi Rader, the director of the CASA program in the Roanoke Valley. The organization encourages everyone to visit their website to learn more and to call the Virginia Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-552-7096 if they think they've seen evidence of child abuse. (WSLS)

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Today in Roanoke:

• 21st Annual Senior Fun & Health Fair Day at the Salem Civic Center (10 a.m.)
• Roanoke City Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting at Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (1 p.m.)
• Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates Meeting at Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (5:30 p.m.)
• The Last Real Circus at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "Recently eight members of our department participated in a 3-day heavy technical rescue course. The course covers procedures for lifting and stabilizing heavy vehicles like school buses and tractor trailers." (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Thank you to everyone who adopted pets last week, April 3-8. Happy Tails to Blase, Cashmere, Aiden, Uno, Skylar, and Jane who all went home! Pictured are a few of the happy families! 💜" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Market Building: "New and exciting additions are coming soon to the building, including the authentic Jamaican cuisine of Reggae Grub. Be sure to follow them for updates, menus, and details!" (Roanoke City Market Building via Facebook)
• Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges: "We've decided to combine Flashback Fridays and Flashback Rewind to create the all new Cundiff Heating & Air Conditioning Flashback Concert Series! Don't miss the first show of the season on May 12! Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute: Tuesday's Gone!" (Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges via Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside: "Wanna be involved in the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon, but don't wanna run up a giant hill for a bunch of hours? There are many GREAT (and really helpful and important) ways to take part in race weekend without running! Take a look!" (Roanoke Outside via Instagram)

Alrighty ... there you have it. Thanks for following along and staying informed on your way up the hill. 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