🌱 It's A Barbie World In Roanoke + School Physicals At No Cost

Hello all! Karena Garrity here with your Thursday edition of the Roanoke Patch Newsletter, filled with all the local news you need to know right now. Including updates on:

• Are you a Barbie girl in a Barbie world?
• Money for safety.
• School physicals for everyone.

But first, today's weather: A shower and thunderstorm. High: 87 Low: 69.

Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. Get your pink on and go see "Barbie!" The "Barbie" movie is getting a lot of hype, which is in turn creating a lot of interest in the film. If you are looking to get a glimpse of what all the fuss is about, you are in luck! According to WFXRtv.com, "The movie will be playing from July 21 through July 23, at the Hull’s Drive-in Theater. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m., and free small bags of popcorn will be available. For tickets, click here. The movie will also hit the screen at the Starlite Drive-in Theater. The movie will start at 8:45 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the gate only." (WFXRtv.com)
2. With an eye toward safety, it has been announced that the Roanoke Regional Airport will be receiving $4 million in federal funding for safety improvements. According to WFXRtv.com, "The funds were made available through the Federal Aviation Administration." (WFXRtv.com)
3. In an effort to ensure kids get back to school and are healthy this fall, several organizations have united including Bradley Free Clinic, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke City Public Schools, and the Roanoke City Health Department. This collaboration has made it possible for many Roanoke City Public School students to receive needed school physicals at no cost. More students are expected to get physicals through this program before the summer ends. (WDBJ)

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Today in Roanoke:

Thursday, July 20

• Ribbon Cutting for The EnVision Center (10:00 AM)
• Party in Elmwood — Roanoke City Special Events (5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke College - Salem, VA: "Looks even better IRL! Come see for yourself and take part in Virginia Private College Week. Daily info sessions, drawings for gift cards and more. It's all happening now through Saturday." (Roanoke College - Salem, VA via Instagram)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Adopted pets often take time to decompress in a new home. In fact, there is a general guideline that we often talk about called the 3-3-3 guideline. In the first three days, your new pet will probably be overwhelmed with their new surroundings. They may hide and not want to eat. They may not even want to come out of their carrier. After three weeks, your pet is probably getting a little more settled and establishing a routine. You might start to see some real personality from them, and you may also see areas where you'll need to work on behavior training with your pet. After 3 months your pet may be completely comfortable in your home now that you've built trust with each other!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke Outside: "What's better than a beautiful evening on the water in your canoe? A free concert at the water's edge! Concerts By Canoe returns this Friday with the Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee." (Roanoke Outside via Instagram)
• Roanoke Police Department - VA: "Thank you Officer Underwood for informing us in the latest safe measures for our Kia and Hyundai vehicles! We want our community to be safe while driving and while the vehicle is parked. #safercity #ProtectYourProperty" (Roanoke Police Department - VA via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Karena Garrity

About me: Journalism is in my veins. I have been a community reporter for the better part of the past 20 years. I love my community and I am honored to be a part of Patch.com. You can reach me at; karena.garrity@patch.com.

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