🌱 Hanukkah Begins At Roanoke Synagogue + AOA Free Pet Food Event

Good morning, friends! Ian here with the Tuesday edition of the Roanoke Daily. Are you counting down until Christmas? It's getting close! Here's a look at the local news while you take a sip of that peppermint mocha I know you just ordered, including updates on...

• Shooting victim drives self to hospital
• Brookside area fire claims one life
• Hip Hop Santa visits area children

On Dancer, on Prancer, on — I can't remember the rest...

But first, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun.

High: 44 Low: 27.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. An as yet unidentified Roanoke man arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in his own car Saturday night with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Police responded to the hospital to talk with the man and determined the incident had occurred outside of a business on the 2700 block of Melrose Avenue. The victim, an adult male, is being treated and police are investigating, but details are limited. No suspects were found at the scene and no arrests have been made. Investigators are asking anyone with any information to please come forward. (WSLS, WSET)
2. Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, began Sunday, Dec. 18 and continues for eight days with new light being added to the menorah each night. The Beth Israel Synagogue in Roanoke said they are being cautious as they gather during the festival this year as a steep rise in antisemitism has been recorded by the Anti-Defamation League within the last year on the backs of comments by several high-profile public figures. Director of Education Jaymes Inman said, "It’s a way that our community come together. And that we once again, especially in this climate of rising antisemitism, that, you know, we can say that we’re proud to be Jewish and that we’re going to continue practicing." (WDBJ)
3. Roanoke County Fire and Rescue was dispatched to a building fire shortly before 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon in the 6200 block of Darby Road in the Brookside area of the county. Crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly but found a deceased female inside the building upon searching. Roanoke County Police were called and began a homicide investigation, arresting a suspect on a charge of second-degree murder later that same day. More details as well as the names of the victim and the suspect will be released at a later date. (WSLS)
4. Angels of Assisi has announced that they will be offering free dog and cat food on Wednesday, Dec. 21 from noon until 3 p.m. on the loading dock of Roanoke Food & Produce located at 1119 4th St. SE in Downtown Roanoke. AOA and RFP previously teamed up to provide free pet food at the Mega Adoption Event art the Berglund Center this past weekend and on Monday afternoon saying "[We] hope to see you there and wish you a happy holiday season." (WFXR, WSET)
5. Normally when you see Santa Claus he's sitting in a chair (or wielding a giant hammer if you've seen Violent Night) but one area Santa rides a motorcycle — Hip Hop Santa — and for the last 17 years he's been a cheerful surprise to many. "I’m a different Santa. I can’t sit still, I got to move around the street. So, it’s different and you surprise people, you catch them off guard, " said Melvin Ward, who has been Hip Hop Santa in both Richmond and Roanoke. Ward and his elves ride by senior homes and the Roanoke Rescue Mission waving and handing out presents each year and he hopes others will join them in their work. "It’s all about the community. So, all the stuff comes from everybody who donates, and we put it together." (WDBJ)

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Today in Roanoke:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (8:30 a.m.)
• Ice Bumper Cars at the Berglund Center Coliseum (2 p.m.)
• Fleet Feet Pub Run & Walk at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6 p.m.)
• Twisted Trivia at Twisted Track Brewpub (6:30 p.m.)
• Seph Custer & the Flatbreaks at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke County Police Department: "Congratulations to Officer Brinkley! She recently spent a few days at the University of Tennessee to attend a training. That training is known as Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) instructor school. What does this mean? This means Officer Brinkley will come back and join several of our other instructors to teach this self-defense to women of our community!" (Roanoke County, VA Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Hooch is 7 months old, so of course, he's energetic and he loves to play with any and all toys. He also enjoys meeting and playing with other dogs but he gets so excited that he will sometimes jump right on the other dog's face!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Virginia Museum of Transportation: "𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝟏𝟐𝟏𝟖 𝐃𝐚𝐲🚂 Come check out the 1218 on Dec. 18! The steam locomotive was built in 1943 right here in Roanoke! The 1218 is the single survivor of the Norfolk and Western Class A locomotives!" (Virginia Museum of Transportation via Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside: "Need a last-minute stocking stuffer for the runner in your life? A Blue Ridge Marathon gift card makes a great gift and registration for the Sunday Slow-K is currently only $20!" (Roanoke Outside via Instagram)
• Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge: "The annual Luminary Display on Christmas Eve is a special holiday tradition in the Town of Buchanan in Botetourt County. Every year on Christmas Eve, volunteers put out water jugs as luminaries along Main Street as a way of showing their appreciation and gratitude for those who sent water to Buchanan after the flood of 1985 and the town's water system was down." (Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door! I'll see you tomorrow morning for the last Hump Day edition before Christmas!

— 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 Daily? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com