Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education | News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR

A local non-profit has kicked off a campaign to help provide affordable housing in the Roanoke area. Restoration Housing has been dedicated to providing affordable housing to senior and low-income residents for more than ten years. Isabel Thornton, Executive Director of the Restoration Housing, says the organization’s annual fundraiser, called the Preserve Campaign, is helping to keep that mission alive.  The campaign began in mid-September, and runs through October 15th. Thornton says all gifts help the organization grow their capacity to serve. The fundraiser comes after Restoration Housing celebrated the completion of construction on the historic Trinity United Methodist Church in Southwest Roanoke earlier this year, providing housing to 15 senior citizens. WFIR’s Caitlin Barker Reports:

A candidate running for a seat on Salem City Council says he wants to lead by example and improve the city. More from WFIR’s Clark Palmer:

Open Enrollment starts October 15 and staffers at the Local Office on Aging are ready to help you weed through all the changes.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

There are changes every year that means the plan you are on may not be the best for the prescriptions you take. Ron Boyd, President and CEO of the Local Office on Aging says if you don’t investigate the different plans, it could cost you a lot of money.

“We have staff and volunteers that are certified. They’re unbiased,” said Boyd. “They’re not selling a product. They’ll look at your prescriptions that you take and offer up the plans and what it would cost. And it’s totally up to the senior to decide. They’re not going to tell you what to do.”

You can call the LOA any time to ask questions about Medicare.  The LOA will also be at Valley View Mall Monday thru Thursday during Open Enrollment to help you pick the best plan for your needs.  Boyd says it’s best to set up an appointment, so you don’t have to wait. Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

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Open Enrollment for Medicare starts this month and your prescription benefit, or Medicare part D may be changing.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.

Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7th.  That’s when Medicare recipients need to review their current coverage to determine whether it still meets their healthcare and prescription drug needs.  Ron Boyd, President and CEO of the Local Office on Aging says people need to be diligent

“A lot of people, whatever their prescription plan is, they just let it ride,” observed Boyd. “But it’s very important, especially this year, we’re still not totally sure about all of the changes. It’s very important to take a look at it because you need to like if your prescriptions are going to be changing, if the cost of your prescription on the current plan is going to be changing, you need to know those things.”

Not knowing could cost you a lot of money.  LOA offers free unbiased Medicare counseling any time but during open enrollment you can find them at Valley View Mall Monday thru Thursday from 11 am to 3 pm.  Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are recommended.  Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

Local Office on Aging

(540) 345-0451

A two-year renovation and expansion project at W.E. Cundiff Elementary School in Vinton celebrated its completion with a ribbon cutting today. A new administrative wing, open-style classrooms converted to separate spaces with walls and a new cafeteria are highlights of a remake that cost more than 20 million dollars.  The W.E. Cundiff Elementary project also added new bus lanes. The renovation was first discussed in 2018 and was delayed for several years by the pandemic, before the Roanoke County School Board funded it along with several other school projects. Principal Ashley McCallum has been at Cundiff for ten years; she spoke about the changes:

The Writer by Bus program in Roanoke that is a collaborative public art initiative by RIDE Solutions, the Roanoke Arts Commission, and Valley Metro introduced its 12th “Writer By Bus” author this morning, Chanlee Luu, who road Valley Metro buses around the Valley for at least a month, and then wrote a book of poetry based on that experience. She spoke at the Third Street Transit Station this morning, where copies of her book, “The Bus Goes on Green – from Atom to Biosphere,” was also available.  Luu earned a Master’s for creative writing at Hollins – after receiving a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at UVA, and some of her writings in “The Bus Goes on Green,” have a scientific aspect. Its also year 7 for the “Art By Bus” program and a Valley Metro Bus is now wrapped with artwork from Lucinda Rowe, taken from a mural she painted on an outside wall at the Roanoke Co-op in Grandin Village.

For the past year-plus there’s been a slightly different “vibe” on the Virginia Western Community College campus – in July 2025 a new president came on board. Today Dr Laura Treanor is officially inaugurated – and receives her Presidential Medallion. Its the new Virginia Western VIBE – as in Visionary Innovation, Bold Engagement. At least one staff member was wearing a VIBE t-shirt yesterday as Dr. Laura Treanor talked about this morning’s formal inauguration – more than 14 months after she succeeded Dr Bobby Sandel. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

Members of Roanoke City Council are being urged to reject any proposal that could bring in a data center. Details from WFIR’s Clark Palmer:

A Roanoke City resident seemed to voice support for two members of city council who voiced opposition to a potential data center in the Star City. More from WFIR’s Clark Palmer:

For the past two decades Feeding Southwest Virginia in Salem has invited local elected officials for “Elected Officials Day,” where they can speak about the importance of supporting the food bank – before rolling up their sleeves to bag potatoes bound for the pantries and the Feeding America warehouse in Abingdon. This is the last Elected Officials Day that Feeding Southwest Virginia President and CEO Pam Irvine will preside over; she’s retiring at the end of the year. September is also Hunger Action Month. A recent report shows that 120,000 Virginians have lost their SNAP benefits that helps food-insecure families pay for groceries, due to heightened eligibility requirements now required by the federal government – putting even more strain on food banks like Feeding Southwest Virginia. Congressman Ben Cline, Delegate Sam Rasoul and Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb were among the elected officials helping out this morning.

The Rotary Club of Roanoke-Downtown has partnered with the Rescue Mission of Roanoke to dedicate a “Peace Pole,” outside the women and children’s center, inscribed in four languages with the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth, ” in English, Spanish, French and Arabic. The dedication is part of an International Peace Pole movement, reflecting the hope for peace among people and communities worldwide.  Lisa Thompson is director of development and communications for the southeast Roanoke homeless shelter:

For about a decade the House of Bread non-profit has been helping under-resourced women build job skills and regain their footing by training in a hands-on commercial kitchen. This Saturday in keeping with theme, House of Bread will hold a first-time fundraiser – a “bake off,” featuring some well known local figures. A baking competition, a soup and bread dinner featuring House of Bread’s own baked goods and a celebrity desert auction featuring bakers like Mayor Joe Cobb, city council woman Vivian Sanchez-Jones and delegate Sam Rasoul. The Bake-off is this Saturday from 6 to 8pm at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church. Lisa Goad is the program coordinator for house of bread, which works out of a shared kitchen space in Roanoke’s West End neighborhood. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano: