Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Roanoke schools are turning sunshine into emergency power and savings

Also, don't miss Nrv Aarp/Toc Health Fair on the Roanoke Patch calendar

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Coffee in hand, Roanoke? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Roanoke schools are turning sunshine into emergency power and savings
  • How far behind is Roanoke on its affordable housing goals?
  • Was your data in Roanoke's four-month-late breach notification?

Also on today's calendar: Nrv Aarp/Toc Health Fair and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you get when you cross an angry cow with an angry sheep? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 92 and low of 71 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Friday: Cloudy, showers around; humid, temps: high: 85, low: 68.
  • Saturday: Humid with a stray t-storm, with a high of 78 and low of 68 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. A Virginia school district pioneers solar and battery microgrids (canarymedia.com) — Roanoke City Public Schools is rolling out solar-and-battery microgrids at both high schools, strengthening their role as disaster shelters while cutting long-term energy costs. The district already leads Virginia in school solar capacity, and these new systems will boost resilience, reduce electric bills, and provide students with hands-on exposure to clean-energy technology.
   

2. Zeros for Housing at City Hall, Millions for Lead Paint, and 50 years of Artemis Poetry, this Week in Roanoke (roanokerambler.com) — Roanoke residents are reminded this week that the city is lagging on affordable housing goals even while millions in lead-paint remediation funds remain available for local homeowners. The newsletter also spotlights Artemis's 50-year poetry milestone and points readers to a Roanoke-focused events calendar and historical photo feature.
   

3. Roanoke City data breach: What happened and how to protect your information (wsls.com) — Roanoke City is notifying residents that a May phishing attack on a city employee's email may have exposed sensitive personal data, including Social Security and financial information, with letters only going out August 24. Officials say there's no evidence of misuse but urge Roanoke residents to monitor bank accounts, check credit reports, and consider security freezes to guard against identity theft.
   

4. Roanoke runway safety system factors into fatal Miami crash investigation (wdbj7.com) — Roanoke's own runway safety system, which stopped a jet from reaching Peters Creek Road last year, is now part of the investigation into a deadly Amazon cargo crash in Miami. Investigators are weighing whether more airports should install EMAS, the specialized concrete beds Roanoke adopted in 2004 because of limited runway space.
   

5. Roanoke man reflects on surviving 9/11, 25 years later (wdbj7.com) — A Roanoke man who was training in the World Trade Center on 9/11 shares how split-second decisions helped him escape the South Tower. Now back home with a family in Roanoke, he's still processing survivor's guilt and the emotions that surfaced only years later, especially through conversations with his children.
   

📸 Around Roanoke

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Roanoke

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📣 Roanoke Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Maggie, a dog who went missing in Roanoke, VA, has been safely reunited with their family after 5 hours, 48 minutes. Message from Owner: "Maggie is… (Nextdoor Hollins Rd)
  • We have 2 (new to us) juvenile peafowl that got spooked on Sunday and took off.
    One is pretty young/small, the other is a little bit older. We've already had the older one returned to us after a neighbor found it and reached out… (Nextdoor Greater Deyerle)
  • Mondelez International posted a job opening for Full-time Nabisco Merchandiser/Order Writer in Roanoke. Apply here.
  • HealthMarkets posted a job opening for Insurance Agent 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: An animal that's in a baaaaad mooood! (Thank you Lisa A. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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