🌱 New Niche Brewery Coming To Downtown + New Bent Mountain Farm Store

Good morning, fellow Roanokers! It's time for the dreaded Monday edition of the Roanoke Patch newsletter! 😱😱😱

Let's get this Monday started off right, with a quick look at what's happening in town. In today's issue, you'll learn about...

• One person hospitalized after Garden City accident.
• Area schools finish strong at NCAA DIII Wrestling Championships.
• New way markers for Roanoke and Botetourt.

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather:

Rather cloudy; breezy, warmer. High: 52 Low: 30.

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Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. A couple whose primary work is described as the construction of data centers and power generating stations has purchased a 10 acre plot fronting Floyd Highway on Bent Mountain with the intent of building a farmer's market. Terio and Lisa Comerose currently live in Richmond, but plan to move to the Bent Mountain area after visiting and falling in love with the area. The new farmer's market won't be a traditional farmer's market per se, but rather a sort of hybrid farmer's market/grocery store. Terio Comerose said it's, "a farm store with fresh meats and fresh product, local produce" and even floated the possibility that the store will carry fresh seafood. The site is located next door to the Treehouse Tavern and across the road from the VDOT workstation. (Roanoke Times)
2. One person was taken to the hospital after a vehicle struck a building in the Garden city area of Roanoke City Friday afternoon. Emergency crews responded to the call on Garden City Boulevard and arrived to find a vehicle buried in the front of a duplex. Photos showed traffic backed up for quite a ways back towards Roanoke during the afternoon commute. Crews said neither of the duplex residents were home at the time of the crash and that it was the driver of the vehicle who needed to be hospitalized. No further word is available as of yet about the driver's condition. The two apartments are damaged and the tenants displaced. (WFXR)
3. The NCAA DIII Wrestling Championships were held Saturday at the Berglund Center and featured wrestlers from area colleges. Cave Spring High School graduate and Roanoke College senior Mahlic Sallah finished 8th in the competition after losing the seventh place match to Charles Baczek of Wabash College. Sallah finished out a remarkable college wrestling career with a second All-American Honors and the season ended on a high note for three Southwest Virginia colleges — Roanoke College, Averett University, and Washington & Lee University. (WSLS)
4. Roanoke County and Botetourt County have teamed up to install two new signs along Route 11 Lee Highway and Route 220A Cloverdale Road. The two signs are described as wayfaring signs designed to more clearly mark the boundaries of each county. The two counties agreed to share the costs including the initial purchase, installation, and ongoing upkeep of new signs. The new signs stand over 11 ft. tall and say 'Welcome to Virginia's Blue Ridge' with the name of the county being entered in the center. No timeframe was given for the completion of the project. (Botetourt Bee)
5. Roanoke’s next craft beer venue will be called Blindhouse Beer Company and is the passion project of the former head brewer of Triple Crossing Beer in Richmond, Tyler Wert. Wert, along with his wife Nicole Davidson-Wert, said they plan to open the brewery at 534 Salem Avenue SW in the late spring or early summer. "It’s going to be a quaint, little, Euro-style cafe vibe," said Tyler Wert. Blindhouse will join the many other breweries in in that area on what's become known as Roanoke's 'beer alley.' A Few Old Goats Brewing, Big Lick Brewing, Golden Cactus Brewing, and Twisted Track Brewpub all occupy nearby spaces. (Roanoke Times)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Healthcare Appreciation Night at Big Lick Brewing Company (4 p.m.)
• Irish Jam Band at Big Lick Brewing Company (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Staff member Katie Harlow gave a virtual program about nature and wildlife for her mother's elementary school class in Richmond! Through technology our message of wildlife conservation can reach well beyond the Roanoke area!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Meet Kyllian — he needs a little time to warm up, but once he does, he's is just the sweetest boy! Look at his smile! He's been said to do well with cats in his previous house, and he absolutely loves to play with toys." (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Straight Street Roanoke Valley: "We want to thank First Christian Church for the use of a large classroom for setting up a clothing closet. The new items are used for local and foreign missions. We do have an immediate need: shelving and clothing racks!" (Straight Street Roanoke Valley via Facebook)
• Roanoke Ballet Theatre: "Help Roanoke Ballet Theatre Soar! Join us on the Rooftop in Center in the Square April 21st at 7pm for our Spring Spritz Fundraiser. This fundraiser will raise money for Professional Performances and Industry Professionals who teach our students!" (Roanoke Ballet Theatre via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (March 14)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar on March 14th and 15th at South County Library in Roanoke (March 14)
• Homebuyer Blueprint Live Webinar (March 16)
• Add your event

That's it for today — that wasn't so bad, was it? I'll see you all tomorrow morning for another update bright and early! Peace out!

— 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