🌱 Song & Video 'It's Here' Debuts + Miss Virginia Pageant Today

Hi there, Roanoke! I'm here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town, including news on:

• Roanoke Arts Commission plans community engagement through mural projects.
• Clydesdales coming to Roanoke.
• Virginia Children's Theatre receives a lifeline donation.

Let's motor!

But first, today's weather: Humid; an afternoon t-storm. High: 86 Low: 69.

Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. The Roanoke Arts Commission has announced its plans to enhance community engagement through mural projects during the summer. The first project involves renewing the South Jefferson Street Wall at River's Edge North Park. Local artist Jon Murrill was chosen by a community panel to refresh the mural. Murrill's proposal impressed the panel with its combination of abstract and figurative art, showcasing the city's love for outdoor activities at River's Edge. The mural aims to connect and engage the community through volunteer painting days. Murrill has established partnerships with various Roanoke organizations, including Virginia Tech, Fleet Feet, Carilion Clinic, and the Roanoke Outside Organization. Murrill, a former educator, has dedicated the past decade to building his passion for art and now works as a full-time muralist. The Roanoke Arts Commission previously adopted a similar model last year, resulting in a series of murals along the greenways in Southeast Roanoke. The community painting days led by Murrill are scheduled to begin in August, with over 14 sessions planned. Sign-up links will be available on the Roanoke Arts website in July. (WFXR)
2. Miss Virginia, a prestigious beauty pageant, is taking place in the Star City. This year, 23 women will compete for the title and crown. The pageant, which began in Roanoke in 1953, is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2023. Miss Virginia has been crowned Miss America on four occasions. The competition's primary mission is to provide scholarship opportunities for young women to pursue their educational goals. Victoria Chuah was crowned Miss Virginia in 2022 and is excited to pass on the crown. Throughout the competition week in Roanoke, the candidates will participate in various events, including the Four Points Premiere Celebration, Reception/Receiving Line, Miss Virginia Purse-a-nality and Basket Auction, and the Miss Virginia "Show Us Your Shoes" Parade. The parade will be held on July 1 at Hotel Roanoke starting at 11 a.m. (WDBJ)
3. A local arts and cultural partnership recently showcased a multimedia presentation that caught the attention of Roanoke's lead municipal economic developer. The presentation includes a video featuring a song about creativity and art, performed at various locations in downtown Roanoke. The video showcases dancing, singing, parades, shows, and highlights outdoor murals and sculptures from the city's public art collection. While Roanoke has typically emphasized data on building sites, incentives, hiking, and beer to attract industries, the new presentation fills a gap by showcasing the arts. Marc Nelson, the director of the Roanoke Department of Economic Development, believes this unique angle has been missing from their promotional efforts. The video featuring Roanoke-based hip hop artist Harvest Blaque can be seen here. (Roanoke Times)
4. Downtown Roanoke Inc. announced that a world-famous Budweiser Clydesdale will visit the Star City's Historic City Market for the weekend. The Clydesdales, symbolizing quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, will make a pit stop on July 8-9. The Clydesdales will be traveling across the country this summer in support of Anheuser-Busch's partnership with Folds of Honor, an organization providing scholarships for college to families of fallen and disabled service members. If you're interested in meeting the Clydesdales and capturing the moment, visitors can head to Downtown Roanoke and check out updates on the Downtown Roanoke Inc. Facebook page. (WFXR)
5. Virginia Children's Theatre has received positive news for its fundraising campaign, aiming to raise $100,000 during the summer. The Secular Society has pledged a matching investment of $50,000 for VCT's "The Show Must Go On" fundraiser. The Secular Society will donate $50,000 over the next year, matching each dollar raised by VCT with two dollars, to support the theater's mainstage productions for the 2023-2024 season. This funding commitment will extend for two years beyond the upcoming season. The theater faced challenges due to rising costs, decreased audience numbers, and the discontinuation of pandemic-related government funding. The support from The Secular Society and other donations will enable VCT to continue its impact on the youth of the Roanoke region through educational programs and live performances. Donations can be made through VCT's website. (Roanoke Times)

🏘️ Looking to differentiate yourself from other real estate agents in Roanoke? Partner with the Roanoke Patch and gain access to a targeted, engaged audience through our premium newsletter sponsorships. Click here to learn more.

Today in Roanoke:

Saturday, July 1

• LITZ + The Kind Thieves at The Dog Bowl (5 p.m.)
• Kyle Forry at Big Lick Brewing Co. (6:30 p.m.)
• Miss Virginia 2023 at the Berglund Performing Arts Theatre (7 p.m.)
• Soul Patch at Martin’s Downtown Bar and Grill (10 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "What does the fox say? You can quite literally hear it in this video! We've got just a couple hours left in #GiveLocalNRV and we're VERY close to hitting our goal of raising $10,000! Your support will help us!" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Police Department: "The Roanoke Police Department wants our community to know that we are all committed working to help those who are unsheltered in our community. We are here to ensure that our community is safe, healthy, and sheltered!" (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Today, Superintendent Dr. White presented a challenge coin to Chief Operations Officer Chris Perkins in recognition of his outstanding, steadfast, dependable, and hard-working leadership to his staff and the entire RCPS community." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Roanoke Fire EMS Department: "The City of Roanoke's Fire-EMS department is now hiring! 🚒🚑🚒🚑🚒🚑 Applications are now open for firefighter-paramedic and firefighter-EMT. To learn more about the responsibilities and requirements, and to apply, please visit the link." (Roanoke Fire EMS Department via Facebook)
• Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge: "Enjoy a summer getaway at the historic The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center 🥳 Have fun on-site at their outdoor pool, gorgeous bar, and restaurant. Nearby, see the famous Roanoke Star, hike scenic trails, and explore Downtown Roanoke!" (Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today! PATCH staff and contributors are off for July Fourth so I will see you for your next update a day late next week!

— 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