🌱 VDOE Appointees Hear Public Reactions + Blue Ridge Kite Festival

Hello, everyone! I'm back with fresh edition of the Roanoke Patch Newsletter, fresh off the presses. Let's get this Saturday started off right with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening in town, including updates on:

• Salem looking at redistricting schools
• The Gauntlet is under way
• Boones Mill lawsuit heard in court

Let's go!

But first, today's weather:

Increasingly windy. High: 51 Low: 27.

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Here are the top stories in Roanoke today:

1. Salem City Schools is looking at the possibility of redistricting some of its elementary schools, including South Salem, East Salem, and GW Carver Elementary. The reason for the proposal is the projected growth in the area owing to the soon-to-be-completed apartment complexes at the old Valleydale property as well as the housing development at Simms Farm. Salem officials say it is important to note that the redistricting will not affect current students who can stay where they are until they move to Andrew Lewis Middle School. A public meeting is scheduled at Andrew Lewis Middle School on March 24 and the school board is expected to review the plan on April 11. (WSLS)
2. Education board appointees of Governor Glenn Youngkin, Alan Seibert and Anne Holton, were on hand at a recent meeting at the O. Winston Link Museum to hear from the public about the governor's proposed upgrade of the state's history curriculum. Most of the speakers who came to the lectern spoke disfavorably of the changes with several pointing out that the material to be covered is too complex for the ages it targets. Roanoke County fourth grade teacher Michelle Brooks said "I’m not saying it shouldn’t be taught, but not to kids that young. They should be locating where they [the students] live on a map and learning about landmarks like major bodies of water" in criticism of the plan's effort to get fourth grade students to be able to point out the homes of the first eight presidents on a map. Department of Education staff are expected to work to review public comments and incorporate warranted edits so the board can adopt a final version of the document in April. (Roanoke Times)
3. The 22nd Annual Blue Ridge Kite Festival is scheduled to be held at Green Hill Park in Salem on April 15. Attendees will be able to bring their own kites to fly in the wide open field as well as watch the demonstrations being put on by the Richmond Air Force Kite Club and others. Food trucks and other vendors will be on site as well as arts and crafts tables and free kites and t-shirts courtesy of Anthem Healthkeepers and Friend of the Blue Ridge. The event will last from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to attend. (WFXR)
4. More than 100 entrepreneurs are participating in the Gauntlet business program this year in which over $300,000 in cash and prizes are given out each year. The Gauntlet is a 10-week course designed to help budding entrepreneurs create a viable business plan from which to jumpstart their own small business and help build the local and regional economy. Annette Patterson with the Advancement Foundation, who puts on the event, said "The Gauntlet is just that, it’s a really a platform, a project where it’s very local, you are recruiting entrepreneurs, you are recruiting mentors from your local towns but then you are connecting regionally." (WSLS)
5. A $70 million dollar lawsuit that claims ABC News defamed the owners and residents of a Boones Mill home in a news report that briefly featured video of the residence was heard in U.S. District Court in Roanoke on Wednesday. The suits claims that by showing the residence amid dialogue about racism in the area and the connection of two area Sheriff's Deputies to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. capitol the news outlet connected the residence and those associated with it to those events. Lawyers for both sides argued their cases, but no ruling was issued and no word given on when the judge's opinion would be provided. (Franklin News Post)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Roanoke:

• Back Pack Run - Green Hill Park - William Byrd High School (8 a.m.)
• Camp Dickenson Trails Workday - FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge (8:30 a.m.)
• Big Lick Exotix Grand Opening Event - Roanoke City Special Events (Noon)
• "Jersey Boys" - Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke: "Thank you Wisler Plumbing and Air for all of your help during #DoGoodDays! It's through community support like yours that we are able to continue our mission of saving our precious wildlife! 👏👏👏" (Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke via Facebook)
• Roanoke Police Department: "We at RPD would like to share how proud we are of Lieutenant Camp on her graduation from the 52nd Session of the Professional Executive Leadership School in Richmond, VA." (Roanoke Police Department via Facebook)
• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Check out Tyson's handsome smile! He's smiling because he's daydreaming about what a wonderful family will adopt him! This fun loving boy is incredibly smart. You may have seen us working on agility training with him!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke Sheriff's Office: "On Monday, March 6 and Wednesday, March 8, 2023, the Roanoke City Sheriff's Office held a refresher and recertification class for our Project Lifesaver electronic search specialists. We had three deputies go through recertification." (Roanoke Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
• Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge: "This Spring Break, experience the Metro Mountain Adventure that awaits here in Virginia's Blue Ridge!☀️ From family friendly outings to date-night dinners, scenic hiking trails to photo-worthy waterfalls, we've got your must-see list covered!" (Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right. 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