🌱 Oak Grove Plaza Has New Owners + Annual Youth Summit Held

And it's Monday again. Isn't it crazy how that seems to happen just all of a sudden? Anyways, you know what that means...

😱😱😱

It's time for the dreaded Monday edition of the Roanoke Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses with a quick guide to what's happening in town. Today you'll read about...

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and mild. High: 68 Low: 54.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. Roanoke County Police were called to the North Point Apartments on Peters Creek Road to calls of a break-in in which the homeowner had shot the intruder. The call came shortly before 2:45 a.m. and one person was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police are investigating and say the homeowner is fully cooperating. (WDBJ)
2. The new Bonsack Fire Station project received a boost from the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors after they voted for a budget amendment that adds $6 million to the 2023 budget. Almost half of the amount will go to the station raising the total invested in the project to $10.3 million. Assistant County Administrator Doug Blount said it became apparent during the initial bidding phase of the project that it was underfunded. "Based on what we see as being the soft costs as well as some offsite improvements, and then the construction costs, we are confident we will be able to do the project with the $10.3 million," he said. The site of the new station will be on an outparcel purchased from Parkway Wesleyan Church along Orange Avenue and is expected to be completed in late 2024. (Roanoke Times)
3. The annual Roanoke Youth Summit is designed to provide a safe space for middle and high school students across the area to voice their thoughts on the city they call home. City officials attended the event, which was held at William Fleming High School on Saturday with nearly 100 students attending and joining in on different themed workshops on topics ranging from gun violence to self-esteem. Anita James Price is the chair of The Roanoke Youth Services Citizens Board, which puts on the annual event. "[The youth] have a voice and we have to give them the opportunity to use that voice so they can tell us, the adults, what’s on their hearts and minds," she said. This was the ninth year in a row the event has been held and the first event to be back in person since the pandemic. (WSLS)
4. Oak Grove Plaza, located at the intersection of Electric Road and Grandin Road Extension, is under new ownership and the new owner has plans for an upgrade. In the opinion of area residents the plaza, which was constructed in 1964, has become an eyesore with several empty storefronts, badly weathered signage, and an overall unkempt appearance. But the managing partner of a real estate company that just recently purchased the property said they are in talks with a nationwide tenant for the largest vacant space and that a lease on that space will fund needed updates to the entire facility including new lights and a resurfacing of the parking lot. No word yet on who the national tenant might be, but new owner Kirtesh Patel said, "Our goal for the next three years is to just keep the money in it, improve it and hopefully after that break even. I bought it to keep it." (Roanoke Times)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Roanoke City Council informal Meeting at Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (9 a.m.)
• Roanoke City Council Regular Agenda Session at Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building (2 p.m.)
• Books & Beans Book Club at Book No Further (6:30 p.m.)
• Women’s History Month Feature Film: North Country at Grandin Theatre (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Police Department: "We had a great time at the Annual Roanoke Youth Summit today! Sgt. Wood hosted a vendor table and Lt. Boswell and City of Roanoke E-911 Center Supervisor Hawley participated in a personal safety workshop with Help Save the Next Girl." (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Now that Shelby is back from foster care, she's looking for her new home! Just look into those eyes. How can you resist them?!?" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Now's not the time to "squirrel" away your nuts! Peanut, Nutter Butter, and Baldwin are currently the top 3 names! "Tail" your friends to vote and help name this ambassador! Click 👇 to vote today!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge: "🎉The countdown is ON for Downtown Roanoke's St. Patty's Day Parade & Shamrock Festival! With one week away, click the link to start planning your day of fun in Virginia's Blue Ridge!" (Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge via Facebook)
• Straight Street Roanoke Valley: "Thank you New Century Church for a great meal. Appreciate the amazing volunteers and Google search when playing new Uno game. Blessed as Pastor Derek discussed healthy relationships with the students tonight." (Straight Street Roanoke Valley via Facebook)
• Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board: "Virginia Georgia Transformer will be back with us on March 6th from 10am-2pm to talk about job opportunities! Stop by the Roanoke Center to talk to them, or see how we can help your with your resume!" 🎉🎉🎉 (Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board via Facebook)

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Alrighty — you're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update and be sure to take a chill pill today because it's National Day of the Dude! 😎

— 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