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

RAM House executive director Melissa Woodson says the clock is ticking – and vows that the relocated day shelter with expanded services for those experiencing homelessness WILL be open on the last day of June.  The new RAM House shelter on Elm Avenue in a building deeded to the non-profit by the owners of Virginia Transformer is a 12,000 sq. foot foot space that Melissa Woodson says will be open for business by June 30th, completing the move from a former church on Campbell Avenue. Woodson says the NEW Ram House has more room to feature the services needed to help people get back on track.  Woodson gave us a tour last week, as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

Take a video tour of RAM House progress here Mike Morgan video

Closed for almost two years while undergoing renovations and a 5700 square foot expansion, the Eureka Park Recreation Center cut the ribbon today on a reimagined facility that also includes murals depicting life and some familiar faces in northwest Roanoke. The rec center first opened in 1965.  The refurbished Eureka Park Recreation Center features a renovated gymnasium, new hardwood floors, upgraded restrooms, community rooms and space for the PLAY afterschool program. At $14.4 million its the largest Roanoke City Parks and Recreation investment ever, made after receiving input from northwest citizens at numerous community meetings. Parks and Rec director Cindy McFall:

The Excel Center adult high school located at Melrose Plaza plans to have its first graduates later this year; adults who graduate with a high school diploma often will leave with work credentials as well. Today Virginia’s Secretary of Labor Jessica Looman made her first Roanoke stop ever at the Excel Center, which also offers free day care and transportation assistance for those enrolled in the program.  Right now the Excel Center has 57 students, with room for up to 300 – if additional funding for Goodwill – which operates the adult high school – can be raised. Looman said the Excel Center model could work elsewhere:

Andrew Lewis – if you live in the valley the name is probably familiar. Over the next few weeks as we approach the Fourth of July, WFIR will celebrate America’s 250th birthday – and “VA250,” local figures who played a key role during the American Revolution. You’ve may have seen his statue outside the Salem Civic Center – but who was General Andrew Lewis? Lewis had been a loyalist fighting under Lord Dunmore – England’s Royally-appointed Governor for Virginia – until Dunmore was a no-show on the battlefield. Here is WFIR’s Gene Marrano with the first in a series of VA250 stories, In Depth.”

It was talked about for almost two decades – the need for the Presbyterian Community Center in Southeast Roanoke to build a larger, more modern building that would better enable PCC to expand its afterschool Pathways program, financial aid services and food pantry capacity. Today they cut a ribbon on the brand new 15,000 square foot building. Through grants and donations the Presbyterian Community Center on Jamison Avenue has already raised 6 millions dollars towards the final target on 6.5 million, which will allow PCC to add a second story. Nicole Jennings is the executive director:

Visitors to the valley may come and go – but “Family Stays” when they are hear with a child needing serious medical attention at a local hospital or special clinic. Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Virginia and other “Houses,” want to make sure people understand their mission. Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Virginia is among the Phase 1 House’s nationwide to reveal the new logo – a heart and a house are prominent features, and so is the Family Stays tagline, as executive director Shannon Boothe explained at a ribbon cutting held yesterday to note the rebranding. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano :

The Taubman Museum hosted it 21st Annual Women’s Luncheon on, May 14, celebrating women, art, and art education in our community.  One of the two honorees was Judy Larson, former director of the Taubman Museum of Art, when it was at Center in the Square as the Art Museum of Western Virginia. Larson was with the Art Museum of Western Virginia when Randall Stout was hired to design the Taubman building; she left before it opened in 2008 for a museum post in California. Also honored was Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo, a board member for the Taubman Museum and Roanoke College. The program also honored all past Women’s Luncheon award recipients. Carilion Clinic CEO Emeritus Nancy Agee ,who rose from nurse to the top post at Carilion – was the keynote speaker. (corrected version)

The annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive returns on Saturday, when residents are encouraged to leave shelf-stable, non-perishable food and hygiene items in or by their mailbox before their mail delivery on Saturday. That’s when letter carriers will collect those donations, which will be sorted back at the local post office and distributed to local food banks – like Feeding Southwest Virginia in this region. Les Sinclair is a spokesperson for the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, and the  communications and public relations manager for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, serving parts of western and central Virginia; last year they collected almost 92,000 pounds of food during the one-day Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Community School is a small private school for pre-K through 8th grade, located across from Hollins University on Peters Creek Road. It may be best known for an annual event that’s back this Friday and Saturday – the Strawberry Festival fundraiser. 2400 volunteer hours or so every year are needed to prep for the now-46th Annual Strawberry Festival, which now draws up to 20,000 people to Elmwood Park every year for the two-day event, which returns this Friday from 11 to 6, and 10 to 4 on Saturday. Proceeds from sales of strawberry shortcakes and other variations goes towards operating costs at Community School, in an effort to keep tuition rates down as well. Order ahead of time and skip the big lines at peak hours. WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:

Governor Abigail Spanberger was in Roanoke today at the Higher Education Center to sign several new bills into law. The centerpiece is a workforce development package that expands apprenticeship access for high school students, increases the number of qualified career and technical education instructors, and makes the “Roanoke Community Builders Pilot Program,” championed by local delegate Sam Rasoul permanent, who was on hand. Community Builders is an initiative aimed at reducing youth violence.  Local leaders joining the governor included Mayor Joe Cobb, Roanoke City Public Schools Superintendent Doctor Verletta White, and Roanoke College President Frank Shushok. Delegates Chris Head and Lily Franklin, and State Senator David Suetterlein also witnessed the Governor’s ceremonial signing today.