🌱 First Ever Regional Native Plant Survey + Name News For Admin Bldg.

Hello, friends! It's time for the Thursday of the Roanoke Patch newsletter — all about what's happening in town recently. Today's issue includes news about...

• County officials unveil payment details for new CTE center.
• Mill Mountain Zoo Spring Fling.
• Salem High School construction update.

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather: Partly sunny and milder. High: 64 Low: 46.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. The Roanoke City Public Schools Naming Committee has announced that they intend to name the new administration building in Downtown Roanoke after William B. Robertson, a native Roanoker, educator, and the first Black advisor to Virginia's governor. The new hub is located inside the old Roanoke Times building that sits along 2nd Street SW and across Salem Avenue SW. The committee took suggestions from the public through Oct. 11, 2022, and are expected to finalize the naming with a vote on April 11. (WSLS)
2. Roanoke County officials have unveiled a new funding plan for the career and technical education center that is to be constructed on Peters Creek Road NW. The plan will allow the school system to borrow up to $138 million for the project, which will eventually replace the aging Arnold R. Burton Center for Arts and Technology on Roanoke Boulevard in Salem. That building was constructed in 1962 and has seen little in the way of updates since. Chief among the concerns voiced by the board of supervisors at the presenting of the plan was the drop in enrollment over the last decade and the need to also build two new elementary schools to replace other aging facilities. The county cannot afford to do both. A vote on the plan is expected after a few more I's are dotted and T's are crossed. (Roanoke Times)
3. Mill Mountain Zoo is having a Spring Fling to hurry along the warmer weather on March 25 at 11 a.m. The event is designed to "celebrate the beginning of spring with activities related to gardening, birding, and other fun things to get you thinking about springtime!" said Education Manager Bambi Godkin. Attendees will be able to enjoy a variety of festival favorites including face painting and arts and crafts while they experience the zoo's animals. All of the activities are included with general admission to the zoo and will last until 4 p.m. (WDBJ)
4. The Roanoke Master Gardeners, Roanoke Master Naturalists, Plant SWVA Natives, and the Blue Ridge Wildflower Society have partnered up to survey the independent nurseries in the Roanoke region. The purpose of the survey is to provide their members and the community with a look at where they can find native plants and by doing so the organizations are hoping to encourage an increase in the sale of plants native to the region. The survey did not include big box retailers like Lowe's and Home Depot and was conducted in spring 2022. The full results can be seen here. (Roanoke Star)
5. Salem High School has been the site of a multi-million-dollar remodeling and renovation project and Tuesday night the Salem school board was told the construction is 99 percent done on the school itself and $95 on the sports apparatus. Board members were also shown a 10-page presentation with photos and other information. The entire project is expected to be done in time for the 23-24 School Year Open House, which normally takes place in mid-August. The full presentation can be seen here. (WSLS)

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Today in Roanoke:

• FCA Meeting — room 151 - William Byrd High School (7:45 a.m.)
• Terrier TV Planning Meeting — William Byrd High School (3:30 p.m.)
• Ribbon Cutting for Balance Wellspace! (4 p.m.)
• William Fleming vs. Christiansburg — Girls Tennis (4:30 p.m.)
• An Evening with Dr. Melissa Furman — "Future Landscape of Labor and Talent" (5:30 p.m.)
• School board meeting — Roanoke County (6 p.m.)
• "Jersey Boys" — Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke City Public Schools: "William Fleming's cheer team placed first at the March Madness Cheer Competition. Congratulations, Lady Colonels!" (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke College: "Beware the Ides of March and spring in Virginia! As we hunker down against the snow flurries and bone-chilling winds, we're fondly remembering last week's T-shirt weather and hoping to feel it again very soon." (Roanoke College via Facebook)
• Botetourt County: "Blizzards are coming to Daleville! Learn more about the owners, Khushbu & Harry Patel, of the new Daleville Dairy Queen!" (Botetourt County via Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.: "It's hard to believe but today marks 6 months of our Downtown Ambassador Program! 🎉 During that time, our ambassadors have made great strides in the ongoing improvement of Downtown Roanoke making it an even better destination!" (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Facebook)
• The Agape Center Vinton-Roanoke: "THE AGAPE CENTER VINTON-ROANOKE is grateful for the recent grant from our corporate sponsors COCA-COLA CONSOLIDATED! It's because of corporate sponsors like them and individuals like you that we’re able to help so many families in need! 🥰" (The Agape Center Vinton-Roanoke via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. 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