🌱 Patch AM: What one Roanoke third grader is asking City Council to fix

Good morning to you Roanoke! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What one Roanoke third grader is asking City Council to fix
• How Roanoke’s warming bus could save lives this winter
• Will Roanoke’s casino idea and zoning overhaul actually move forward?

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and 1 more event.

And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Sara W.!

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Roanoke? Post it to Roanoke photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 47 and low of 33 degrees.
• Wednesday: Intervals of clouds and sun, temps: high: 54, low: 33.
• Thursday: A shower in the p.m.; breezy, with a high of 52 and low of 42 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Roanoke third grader makes his case to city officials for park improvements (cardinalnews.org) — A Highland Park Elementary third grader is urging Roanoke City Council to fix safety and cleanliness issues at Highland Park playground, from broken equipment to littered walkways. His presentation, part of Monday’s council sessions, also suggests student-led cleanups and anti-litter pledges, and will be available to residents via YouTube livestream.
   

2. 'The difference between life and death': warming shelters offer reprieve from cold temps for community's unhoused (wfxrtv.com) — Unhoused residents in Roanoke can escape dangerous overnight cold on The Least of These Ministries’ warming bus, open nightly from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. November through March. Parked on Luck Avenue, it offers warmth, a place to sleep, and device charging, and has already sheltered more than 1,800 people this year. Community donations and volunteers keep the service running.
   

3. Roanoke residents speak out against casino; update on zoning amendments (wdbj7.com) — Roanoke City Council’s final 2025 meeting drew residents who strongly opposed a proposed casino near the Berglund Center and pressed for changes to controversial citywide zoning amendments. Neighbors argued a casino would harm vulnerable residents and questioned its financial benefits, while others pushed for stricter lot-size rules and more neighborhood input on multi-family housing before council votes on revisions next spring.
   

4. Roanoke rabbi reacts to the Hanukkah shooting in Australia (wdbj7.com) — A Roanoke rabbi is responding to the deadly Hanukkah shooting in Australia by reassuring local congregants and tightening security at Temple Emanuel. He describes rising antisemitic violence, outlines existing safety measures at the Roanoke synagogue, and urges both Jews and non-Jews in the area to stand together against hatred while Hanukkah observances continue this week.
   

5. Roanoke Shine professional pickleball team partners with elementary students for 'Pickle Math' program (wsls.com) — Roanoke elementary students are teaming up with the Roanoke Shine pro pickleball team to make math more fun and confidence-building through a new “Pickle Math” program at Hurt Park Elementary. Created by fourth-grade teacher Thomas Kivlan, the initiative blends pickleball skills with math lessons, and organizers hope to expand it to more schools across the Roanoke area.
   

📸 Around Roanoke

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Roanoke

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Friday December 19

• Dickens of a Christmas
  Downtown Roanoke Streets - Roanoke VA 24011
• Lucy Addison Historical Marker
  At the east corner at the intersection of Orange Ave NW and Burrell Ave NW , 40 Douglass Ave NW , Roanoke
  11:00 am
• Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
  Taubman Museum of Art 110 Salem Avenue Southeast Roanoke, Virginia 24011
  6:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA
  Taubman Museum of Art , 110 Salem Ave SE , Roanoke
  8:45 pm

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• A Hike With a View
  FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Roanoke, VA 24018
  10:00 am
• Senior Programs Beginner Line Dancing
  Vinton, VA Calendar , 820 E. Washington Ave , Vinton
  11:30 am
• Board of Supervisors Meeting
  Roanoke County, VA Calendar , 5204 Bernard Drive SW First Floor , Roanoke
  2:00 pm
• Finance Committee Meeting
  Vinton, VA Calendar , 227 S Pollard , Vinton
  3:00 pm
• CANCELED_Town Council Meeting_CANCELED
  Vinton, VA Calendar , 311 S. Pollard st , Vinton
  6:00 pm
• Town Council Meeting
  Vinton, VA Calendar , 311 S. Pollard st , Vinton
  6:00 pm
• WBMS Beginning Band Winter Concert
  William Byrd Middle School Auditorium
  6:30 pm

Wednesday December 17

• CSMS Band Winter Concert
  Cave Spring High School
  6:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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• techtronics world — (540) 529-5829
  I sell electronics on line

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Yesterday's sunset from claytor lake.
  I love the color the water turns. I hope you all enjoy as much as I do. (Nextdoor Windward)
• A lot of my clients know that my dad suffered from cancer, well the good lord called him home this past week and now in honor of my father I will try my hardest to give back once a month versus quarterly.
  So this is the post as followed copied from my face book. Accepting a client for a free clean next month. It’s that time again to give back. If you… (Nextdoor South Roanoke)

• Kroger posted a job opening for Online Grocery Pick-Up Clerk in Roanoke. Apply here.
• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Baker and Packager Associate in Roanoke. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Roanoke here.

Ok Roanoke! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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