🌱 Roanoke County To Educate With Art + Vinton Museum Memory Bricks

Hi all. It's a brand new week so it's time for the first Roanoke Patch Newsletter. Here's a bit about what's gone on locally over the last few days to get you all caught up. In today's issue, you'll find news about...

• 'Huddle Up Moms' holds annual summit.
• Team Rubicon training people interested in heavy equipment.
• Woman hospitalized after shooting in NW city.

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather:

Increasing cloudiness. High: 79 Low: 59.

Here are the top stories today in Roanoke:

1. Local organization 'Huddle Up Moms' recently organized its annual summit with the theme 'The Invisible Load of Motherhood.' The summit aimed to provide resources and support to mothers in the community. The organization's primary mission is to educate, empower, and connect moms, helping them navigate the challenges of motherhood. To assist financially struggling moms, 'Huddle Up Moms' offers free distributions of diapers, wipes, and formula. Kim Butterfield, the Director of Marketing and Communications for the organization, emphasized the importance of moms knowing they are not alone. 'Huddle Up Moms' hosts events throughout the year, and those who missed the summit can find more opportunities to get involved on their website. (WFXR)
2. Team Rubicon, a non-profit organization, has partnered with Lawrence Equipment, a local company, to provide training for new heavy machine operators. This collaboration aims to prepare volunteers to respond to disasters in Virginia and North America along with other organizations like CASE, National Wildlife Refuge System, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In Roanoke, one of three cities involved in the training program, volunteers are trained to operate CASE construction equipment. They learn skills such as picking up poles and restoring roads and bridges to assist in disaster recovery efforts. Lawrence Equipment has graciously allowed the organization to use its facilities for training purposes. If you're interested in becoming a local volunteer, there is an opportunity to get involved by visiting the organization's website. (WDBJ)
3. The Vinton Historical Society and Museum held a ceremony on June 3, 2023, to dedicate honorarium bricks in their Memory Pergola. The pergola, located on the museum lawn, was built in 2004 by Jeremy "Muffin" Allen as his Eagle Scout project. The museum, situated at 210 E. Jackson Ave. in Vinton, is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Memory Pergola can accommodate approximately 700 bricks. If you wish to honor or memorialize someone or a group with a memorial brick, you can get in touch with the museum through their website. (Vinton Messenger)
4. A shooting incident occurred in Roanoke early Saturday, resulting in a woman being hospitalized. The Roanoke Police Department received a report around 12:30 a.m. about a person who had sustained a gunshot wound in the 400 block of 4th Street NW. Responding officers found the woman outside a residence, and although her injuries were not life-threatening, she was taken to Carilion Roanoke Hospital by Roanoke Fire-EMS for treatment. The police were unable to locate the suspect at the scene but have identified the individual and are actively searching for them. The suspect and victim are known to each other, suggesting that this is an isolated incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Roanoke Police Department. Both calls and texts can be made anonymously. (WSLS)
5. Roanoke County has launched a program to paint storm water drains in order to educate residents about the importance of safeguarding local waterways. Officials emphasize the ongoing need to raise awareness about pollution and combat illegal dumping into the county's rivers and streams. Many citizens wrongly assume that storm water drains lead to treatment plants, when in fact, they directly discharge into water bodies. The program provides stencil kits containing non-toxic paint, a stencil, work gloves, safety vests, and other supplies necessary for marking the storm drain inlets. Interested individuals can contact Cindy Linkenhoker, the county's storm water program manager, to learn more about the program and sign up their own stenciling team. (Roanoke Times)

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Today in Roanoke:

Tuesday, June 13

• Roanoke Regional Chamber Pop-Up at the Salem Red Sox Game (10:30 a.m.)
• Academy on Aging: THE WHEN, WHERE AND HOW OF LONG-TERM CARE (5:30 p.m.)
• Roanoke City School Board Meeting at Noel C. Taylor Academy at Oakland (6:30 p.m.)
• Dance Artist Talk II: Gary Abbott (8 p.m.)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Do you know a Roanoke dad whose texts make you smile? This Father’s Day, celebrate him with a shoutout on Patch. Just fill out this simple form and we’ll do the rest!

From my notebook:

• Roanoke County Public Schools: "State Champs!!! The Northside softball team just won the VHSL Class 3 state championship 3-1 over York! Congratulations Vikings! Photos courtesy Jill Green and Leanna Rippey." (Roanoke County Public Schools via Facebook)
• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Y'all really seemed to find the Northern Short-tailed Shrew — one of the few venomous mammals in the world — very interesting, so here's a video of one in action, accompanied by some more fun facts for you!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Public Libraries: "The summer Feed & Read schedule starts tomorrow! Free meals are available for children 0-18 years old at all City libraries!" (Roanoke Public Libraries via Facebook)
• Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge: "Just in time for the weekend, the National Park Service has announced that mileposts 121.4 and 136 are complete on the Blue Ridge Parkway! The parkway in that section is now open 🎉 We'd recommend a metro mountain adventure!" (Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge via Facebook)
• Roanoke Ballet Theatre: "Congratulations to our wonderful dancers on two excellent performances! Best of luck to those moving on to a new adventure and see you soon to those returning! RBT is forever ya'll's family!" (Roanoke Ballet Theatre via Facebook)

That's it for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— 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