Community Corner

🌱 Why is Salem suddenly attracting so many new families and kids?

Spotted on the Salem calendar: Salem High School Volleyball vs Blacksburg

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What's up Salem! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

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In today's newsletter:

  • Why is Salem suddenly attracting so many new families and kids?
  • Salem thanks Van Gresham after five decades on zoning board
  • Can Salem's golfers upset the five-time defending state champions?

Also on today's calendar: Blacksburg at Salem and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 82 and low of 49 degrees.
  • Friday: Brilliant sunshine and nice, temps: high: 77, low: 52.
  • Saturday: Mostly cloudy and not as warm, with a high of 66 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. 44% of the Roanoke Valley's population growth is in Salem. Roanoke ranks last for attracting newcomers. (cardinalnews.org) — Salem is driving nearly half of the Roanoke Valley's population growth, with a 2.1% increase and especially strong gains among young children and adults aged 25 to 44. That surge is tightening housing, reshaping school enrollment, and raising big questions for local leaders about zoning, development, and how prepared Salem is for more families moving in.
   

2. Gresham retires from Board of Zoning Appeals after 50 years (salemtimes-register.com) — Salem residents are marking the retirement of Van Gresham, who stepped down September 24 after an extraordinary 50 years on the city's Board of Zoning Appeals. He reflects on resolving cases with common sense, urges citizens to consider what's best for all of Salem, and leaves the board in the hands of current members led by Chair Thomas Copenhaver.
   

3. Salem golfers qualify for state tournament (salemtimes-register.com) — Salem High School's golf team has clinched a spot in the Class 4 state tournament after finishing second at the Region 4D event, led by a one-under 71 from Ashnoor Kaur. The Spartans will head to Mineral, Virginia, for a practice round Sunday and then compete Monday, hoping to challenge perennial power Blacksburg for the state title.
   

4. Salem's Sean Slusser graduates from FBI National Academy (salemtimes-register.com) — Salem Police Capt. Sean Slusser, a 19-year veteran of the city's force, has graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico. His completion of advanced leadership and investigative training places him among a select group of Salem officers with this credential, strengthening the department's experience and connections with law enforcement agencies nationwide.
   

5. Roanoke College unveils new scholarship to offer local students an affordable education (wfxrtv.com) — Salem families now have a new reason to take another look at Roanoke College: a Southwest Virginia Scholars Award worth $5,000 a year for four years starting in fall 2027. The scholarship is open to admitted students from 24 regional counties and eight cities, stacks with other aid, and could make college nearly free for the highest‑need local students.
   

📸 Around Salem

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Has anyone lost this sweet kitty?
    He has been around Wildwood Rd close to the church for many months. So loving and friendly and we wonder if he lost his way home. We have posted… (Nextdoor Wildwood Zana)
  • 👟 Noticed some changes along Route 60 in Clifton Forge?
    They're part of Clifton Forge Connects, a community effort to make walking to everyday destinations safer and easier! The project focuses on… (Nextdoor )
  • Quest Diagnostics posted a job opening for Medical Courier in Salem. Apply here.
  • InstaSwim posted a job opening for Private Swim Instructor in Salem. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Salem here.

Ok Salem! 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: "What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white?" — A chalk board (Thank you Charlie H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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