🌱 Roanoke 100 Miler Club + More Info On Recent Storage Shed Fire

Happy New Year fellow Roanokers! 🎊 Here's the first Roanoke Daily of 2023, full of information on what's happening locally. Today you'll learn about...

• Eureka Center Survey Closes
• Roanoke City Christmas Tree Collection
• City Property Values Strong

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather:

Clouds breaking and warm.

High: 64 Low: 41.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. A lot of people make New Year's resolutions that include getting in better shape and PLAY Roanoke, a part of Roanoke City Parks and Recreation, is aiming to help those in Roanoke out with that. They're hosting the Roanoke 100 Miler to encourage people to commit to tracking their activity level for 100 days with the goal of going 100 miles in that time. "It is not just miles, like physically moving a mile. Like walking or biking. You can substitute a mile for 30 minutes of human-powered activity. Things like yoga, you are staying in the same place, but if you do 30 minutes of yoga that is a good substitute. Especially on those really cold days when you can’t go outside,” Molly Hagan, the Marketing Coordinator for Roanoke Parks and Recreation said. Participants will receive messages, check-ins, and fitness tips from PLAY Roanoke, the program launches Jan. 8, and more information can be found here. (WSLS)
2. The City of Roanoke's first public survey for the new Eureka Center has officially ended, but officials say there is still time for residents to voice their opinion in upcoming community meetings, the first of which is scheduled for Jan 24. Roanoke City Parks and Recreation's Planning and Development Coordinator, Katherine Slusher, said "We haven’t designed anything yet in terms of the new center. We want to make it really clear that this survey is big picture visioning. What programs do you want to see? What types of spaces do you want to see? How do you want the new facility to feel?" The Eureka Center is located on the grounds of Eureka Park in the Melrose-Rugby Neighborhood. No time and location for the meeting has been announced yet, but interested parties can watch this website for more info. (WDBJ)
3. More information has been released about the shed fire that happened before Christmas on Colonial Avenue. On Dec. 22 a storage shed behind a residence caught fire and burned to the ground. Inside was the property of well-known percussionist Vladimir Espinosa, a Cuban born Roanoke Valley musician who plays in several local and regional bands including Music Road Co and Cinémathèque that feature wide variety of music from Caribbean surf to afro-infused rock. Espinosa said in a message, "I am going through this stage of grieving of losing instruments that had been part of my [musical life] since coming from Cuba. These instruments were very dear to me because they were worth more [than monetary] value." Espinosa was away on a gig when the fire broke out and has opened a GoFundMe to help replace some of the equipment he lost. (Roanoke Times)
4. Roanoke City Solid Waste has announced that they will begin picking up residents' real or artificial Christmas trees beginning Tuesday, Jan 3. Natural trees must be free of decorations because they are going to Roanoke Valley Resource Authority where they will be made into mulch and compost, but artificial trees just need to be placed at the curb on their normal collection day and Roanoke City will take care of the rest, decorations or not. The department will collect trees until Feb. 3. (WDBJ)
5. Homes in the City of Roanoke have experienced a growth in value for the 9th straight year according to a recent report from the city's Office of Real Estate Valuation. The initial report issued by the office says values have risen 10% over last year and that total property values in the city are approaching $10 billion. The city is expected raise an additional amount of $10 million in real estate taxes in Fiscal Year 2024, which will help with the increasing costs of public schools and the city workforce, which includes police and firefighters. Officials said that residents need to carefully review their tax assessments when they arrive and to file an appeal by Feb 1, 2023. (WFIR)

Today in Roanoke:

• New Year's Day Breakfast and Brunch at The Hotel Roanoke (7 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
• First Draft: A Generative Writing Workshop at Ursula’s Cafe (3 p.m.)
• Star City Cruise E-Bike Tour at Roanoke Mountain Adventures (3 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "The Stranger Things girls Eleven, Max, Nancy, and Joyce are in foster care for the holidays, but they are really hoping for a new home in the New Year!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Instagram)
• Roanoke Public Libraries: "Are you a young job seeker wanting a fresh start in the new year? Check out this amazing event hosted by our friends at the Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board! The first session will be Tuesday, January 10th at 5pm!" (Roanoke Public Libraries via Facebook)
• Downtown Roanoke, Inc.: "Join us this weekend at WDBJ7's Elmwood on Ice! ⛸ ❄Admission = $6 ❄Skate rental = $2 ❄Skate aids for those who need them ❄Fun for the whole family! Details and schedule are available at ElmwoodOnIce.com!" (Downtown Roanoke, Inc. via Instagram)

Alrighty, you're in the loop and ready to start this year off right. Kind of a slow news day, but those are good sometimes, especially with the way the world has been the last few years. I'll see you tomorrow morning for another Roanoke Daily.

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— 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