🌱 Roanoke Top Pet-Friendly Destination + Branch Exhibit At Taubman

Hello again, everybody! It's Wednesday in a four day work week so that doesn't really make it Hump Day, does it? Heck if I know. Let's look at some local news...

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First, today's weather:

A thunderstorm around in the p.m.

High: 81 Low: 64.

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Here are the top five stories in Roanoke today:

1. A controversial property development off of I-81 exit 140 behind the Salem park and ride that drew a lot of pushback from property owners in the adjacent neighborhoods when it was first presented in March has made a return. The development plan calls for the rezoning of the 32-acre lot from single family housing to mixed use commercial. It details that 85 townhomes and a hotel are to be built there. The rezoning application was withdrawn after a heated community meeting in which nearby residents voiced their concerns and at least one resident said she plans to speak out against the rezoning and development at the upcoming planning commission meeting. "This future land use map was created in 1995. In 1995, neither section of The Fairways at Hanging Rock, Innsbrook or a majority of the other homes shown on this map had even been built," said Lynn Bledsoe, a resident of the nearby neighborhoods. The planning commission will look at the plans and make a recommendation to the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors who have the final vote on whether the project will be approved. (Roanoke Times)
2. Current 17th District delegate Chris Head, a Republican whose district includes sizable parts of Roanoke City and Roanoke and Botetourt counties, has decided to run for a newly created seat in the state senate in 2023. Now that redistricting has been completed in Virginia, the new Senate District Three that stretches from Craig County to Waynesboro was created and has no incumbent. "The people in current District 17 for the House of Delegates, I've been serving them for 11 years, but you get north of that they may know my name if they've seen me for a piece of legislation or something, but they don't really know me, so we've got to take every opportunity to get to know the entirety of this district and it's a big patch of turf," said Head. No one else has announced a bid for the open seat yet, but with the election more than a year away and the 2022 midterms still the focus, it's almost certain there will be other challengers. (WDBJ, Wikipedia Virginia 17th District Entry)
3. WSLS Channel 10 is partnering with area restaurants to offer a way for patrons to save money while giving to charities. The Dining for Charities program offers gift certificates to local restaurants for 50% off (i.e. a $50 gift card for $25) and includes eateries such as Cabo Fish Taco, Jersey Lily's and Frank's Italian Restaurant. The current charity partner is the United Way of the Roanoke Valley who will receive 15% of all the proceeds. (WSLS, Dining for Charities)
4. Roanoke has been named one of the most pet-friendly cities in the state by Trazee Travel, a travel blog dedicated to people under 40 years old. It focuses on products, tips, reviews, events, Top 5 listicles and Under $100 day guides covering a wide range of topics. In addition to naming the city overall, the blog specified several neighborhoods and businesses as particularly pet friendly including the Wasena and Grandin neighborhoods and Golden Cactus Brewing Company that keeps free treats on hand for its four-legged visitors. (WDBJ, Trazee Travel)
5. Roanoke Valley artist and creative Betty Branch is the focus of a new exhibit at the Taubman Museum of Art. It is free for public viewing and will run through March 2023. It features a variety of Branch's works from collectors and institutions all over the world including several from the Taubman's own collection. Branch, a celebrated creative whose art includes everything from sculptures to poetry began her career in her 40s and has since been featured in galleries as far away as Paris, France and Carrara, Italy. "[My art] is an expression of where I am at the moment and the only criteria I have is what feels or sounds or looks right to me. I basically did it because I loved it, and I just couldn't not do it. I did not have a plan at all. But the things in my life and the things in my thoughts, it was just perfectly natural for me to put them into clay or wax," Branch said. She currently creates her pieces from her studio in Roanoke's Warehouse Row on Norfolk Avenue. (Roanoke Times, Google Maps)

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Today in Roanoke:

• Views and Brews presented by Roanoke Mountain Adventures (6 p.m.)
• Author Event at Book No Further: "Building Understanding" by Henry Yampolksy (6:30 p.m.)
• USA Navy Band Concert at Elmwood Park (entry is free) (7 p.m.)
• Rossdafareye at Martin's Downtown Bar and Grill (9:30 p.m.)

This weekend in Roanoke:

• Flat Picking Fridays at the Daleville Town Center (Friday @ 5 p.m.)
• Big Lick Conspiracy at 5 Points Music Sanctuary (Friday @ 6:30 p.m.)
• Lottie J Farm's 3rd Annual Open Farm Days (Saturday @ 10 a.m.)
• Roanoke Taco Fest at Elmwood Park (Saturday @ 11 a.m.)
• Brew at the Zoo at Mill Mountain Zoo (Saturday @ 5:30 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• Roanoke Valley SPCA: "Happy tails to all of our adoptees and adopters who formed their new families this past week, August 29 - September 3. We finished up the Clear the Shelters with 71 adoptions for the month of August!" (Roanoke Valley SPCA via Facebook)
• Roanoke City Public Schools: "Did you know that RCPS publishes a monthly newsletter called The Star News? We just published our August issue last week! All families with an email address on file receive the newsletter and community members can visit our website to sign up." (Roanoke City Public Schools via Facebook)
• Virginia Children's Theatre: "Become a VCT VIP! Celebrate our 15th season with us. We've revamped our Season Subscriber benefits. When you purchase tickets to our three mainstage shows (THE SECRET GARDEN, BEAUTY & THE BEAST, JAMES & THE GIANT PEACH) you will receive receive the following: discounted ticket prices, a backstage tour, programs signed by our actors, and a collection of books representing each of the three mainstage shows!" (Virginia Children's Theatre via Facebook)

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Alrighty. You're all set for today. See you all tomorrow morning.

— 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Roanoke Daily? Contact me at roanoke@patch.com