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

#1

Wednesday is Give Roanoke Day.  A day when area non-profits of all sizes reach out to potential donors.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

Council of Community Services has been organizing Give Roanoke for five years.  It’s a chance for non-profits to get their message out to a wider audience. Amanda Holcomb, Council of Community Services Director of Community Engagement, says the day benefits organizations of all sizes.

“We have a range of nonprofits like us who have been around for a long time, who have staff,” said Holcomb. “We have all volunteer nonprofits, some nonprofits that are really just community based and don’t have a lot of development. So this is a day to amplify them and just raise awareness for their causes.”

Another way it benefits smaller groups is the Roanoke Gives website handles the payment platform, a service that can be cumbersome for small nonprofits.  Go to Give Roanoke.org to learn more and donate.  Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

#2

Give Roanoke 2026 is tomorrow, early giving started earlier this month.  As WFIR Denise Allen Membreno tells us there are ways to make smaller donations have a bigger impact.

Nonprofits of all sizes are participating in Give Roanoke Day.  More than 90 organizations are participating in hopes of raising money to carry out their missions.  Amanda Holcomb, Council of Community Services Director of Community Engagement, says there are ways to make donations of any size have a larger impact.

“And throughout the day we have different prizes like early bird that runs from 12am to 6am lunch money which raises money from 12 to 1pm,” continued Holcomb. “We have night out that’s nine to 11:59pm and then we have like a far far away challenge and a go getter prize for those that are fundraising for those nonprofit organizations.”

Information on the participating nonprofits and how to make your donation have a bigger impact can be found at GiveRoanoke.org.  Give Roanoke is all day Wednesday.  Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

Roanoke College is a smaller institution of higher education, but in recent years the Salem-based school has added programs to welcome more learners under its tent – and now the latest one is in partnership with a company that launched its suite of online career training courses almost 30 years ago. Roanoke College-Roanoke Valley was designed to offer a bridge between the school and the greater community by offering courses for workforce development and skills training, courses designed with input from local employers. Now RC-RV has teamed up with ed2Go, which will offer than 120 courses accessible through the Career Ready page on the Roanoke College website. WFIR’s Gene Marrano has that story:

The City of Roanoke unveiled a new historic marker earlier today to honor the legacy of an ophthalmology pioneer. More from WFIR’s Conner Arthur:

The City of Roanoke recognized the life of Dr. Elbyrne Grady Gill on Friday by unveiling a state historic marker at Elmwood Park. Located in the 700 block of South Jefferson Street, the marker stands across from the former Gill Memorial Hospital building.

Mayor Joe Cobb and local historian Rev. Nelson Harris spoke at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony to celebrate Gill’s medical and civic contributions. Harris, who researched and applied for the marker, noted that Gill’s legacy includes founding western Virginia’s first eye bank in 1957.

Dr. Gill opened the Gill Memorial Ear, Eye, Nose, and Throat Hospital in 1926. It was one of the first specialty hospitals of its kind in Virginia. The facility became a significant medical hub that attracted hundreds of physicians and specialists to the region for annual conferences.

Dr. Frank Cotter, a local practitioner, highlighted that Gill invited world-renowned figures to Roanoke. These guests included Nobel Prize winners Alexander Fleming, Selman Waxman, and Charles Best. Additionally, Helen Keller visited the city with great fanfare at Gill’s invitation.

Beyond medicine, Gill served as the chairman of the Roanoke Board of Health for 25 years. He was a charter member of the Roanoke Lions Club and led the Roanoke Booster Club for over a quarter century. His work focused on the progress and growth of the city.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources oversaw the installation through the oldest state highway marker program in the country. Funding for the project came from the Carilion Clinic Foundation and the Dr. E. G. Gill Blue Ridge Lions Sight Foundation, Inc.

The hospital building now serves as the RAMP business accelerator, but the new marker ensures the history of the site remains visible. This recognition highlights how one individual’s vision for specialty care helped put Roanoke on the map for medical excellence.

Justin Fairfax was a former Lieutenant Governor who navigated the highest halls of power in Richmond. Doctor Cerina Fairfax was a renowned dentist, honored by VCU as an alumna of the decade. Together, they were a Northern Virginia power couple. But behind the doors of their Annandale home, a “messy and complicated” divorce was playing out in real-time, and as apparent result, that dual legacy is forever overshadowed by a final, violent act at their home. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:

The Affordable Medicine Act was passed by the General Assembly earlier this year, with sweeping bipartisan approval in both the House of Delegates and the state Senate. As originally written, the bill would mandate that as a maximum fair price on a drug is set for Medicare recipients, that same price would also be adopted for Virginians on any state-regulated healthcare plan.

Rhena Hicks, Co-Executive Director of Freedom Virginia, says the bill would allow hundreds-of-thousands more Virginians to benefit from the federal Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, “That means that lower drug cost for roughly 350,000 Virginians on the State Marketplace, 160,000 state employees, and others in the state-regulated health plans. So, Virginia would just leverage the work that the federal government has already done.”

The bill was sent back to the General Assembly with amendments earlier this week by Governor Spanberger. Among those amendments, is a reenactment clause that Hicks calls a “soft-veto.” “What it does, is it sends the legislation back to the General Assembly the following session. So this would push it to the 2027 session. It would have to be re-approved by the General Assembly, and could still lead to, kind of, the same outcome we have here,” she says.

But Hicks says there’s still hope for the bill yet. Since it was passed nearly unanimously, with a 36-4 vote in the state Senate and a 95-4 vote in the House of Delegates, the General Assembly theoretically has the numbers it needs to reject the Governor’s amendments.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS STORY:

A new home but the same mission for United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, which cut the ribbon on its new headquarters just off Electric Road this morning.  Now 100 years old, United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge moved from downtown Roanoke to southwest Roanoke County several months ago.  Abby Hamilton is the President and CEO for the local United Way; Hamilton spent much of her time at the podium this morning talking about affordable childcare, financial stability for the clients it serves, and working more closely with regional partners in the non-profit world.

Virginia Junior US Senator Tim Kaine says in a statement he is deeply troubled by the sudden departure of Virginia Tech President Tim Sands.  During a press conference this morning, Kaine said this action has the earmarks of previous well-publicized efforts to oust Presidents at other Virginia public universities-VMI, UVA and George Mason:

Kaine is calling on the Spanberger administration to take all necessary action to insulate university leadership from politically-motivated schemes.

#1

A film telling the history of Black and Jewish alliances is coming to the Grandin Theatre.  The Roanoke Jewish Federation is presenting the screening of SPILL THE HONEY – SHARED LEGACIES with the proceeds benefiting the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

The film “Shared Legacies” shows the importance of the shared history and strengths of the Black-Jewish Alliance. EB Smith Executive Director of the Harrison Museum of African American Culture says the film prompts an interesting conversation.

“It’s been interesting to see as well how the older generation views the relationship in contrast to how the younger folks are viewing the relationship nowadays,”

The SPILL THE HONEY works on educational initiatives with activists from across the globe to bring awareness of past and present to defeat the illnesses of antisemitism and racism. The upcoming screening at the Grandin Theatre includes a discussion with Dr. Ben Chavez, Civil Rights Leader and former NAACP Executive Director.

“Dr. Chavez is an African-American activist, author, journalist,” said Smith. “He was an early coordinator with the SCLC and assisted Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the civil rights movement. And so he’s been sort of at the center of the struggle for quite some time. And notably, he was one of the Wilmington 10 civil rights activists who were unjustly convicted of committing arson in North Carolina.”

The screening of Spill the honey-Shared Legacies is April 16 at 6:30 at the Grandin Theatre.  Tickets are 15 dollars.  Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

#2

A collaboration between the Roanoke Jewish Federation and the Harrison Museum of African American History is bringing a poignant film to the Grandin Theatre.  Spill the Honey-Shared Legacies shares the history of the Black and Jewish Alliance and how their histories impact that relationship.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.

The film “Shared Legacies” examines what brought the two communities together and what that relationship is like today.  It features many of the Civil Rights leaders who fought for change in the late 1950s and 1960s. EB Smith Executive Director of the Harrison Museum of African American Culture says it’s good for the younger generation to hear from these people.

“Throughout the civil rights movement, the two communities were pretty aligned for quite some time and worked together on many civil rights issues,” Smith added. “Martin Luther King, for example, famously collaborated with a lot of Jewish clergy throughout the course of his career. The Freedom Riders throughout the South, they were advocating for voting rights, were heavily represented from both communities.”

The SPILL THE HONEY is a non-profit organization which works to educate activists all over the world to bring awareness of past and present to defeat antisemitism and racism. Next week’s screening includes a panel discussion after the film.

“The conversation has shifted to some degree as Israel has become a bigger player, as other issues have come up. And so it’s gotten a bit more complicated,”

Smith will lead the discussion which will allow the audience to ask questions of Rabbi Judy Schlinder and Dr. Ben Chavez, a Civil Rights Leader and former NAACP Executive Director. The screening is April 16 at 6:30 at the Grandin Theatre.  Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

To get tickets

#1

The United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge is cutting the ribbon on its new home next Wednesday and at the same time starting its “Opening Doors Campaign.”  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

The United Way actually moved into its new space on Electric Road in Roanoke County in January.  The April 14th Ribbon Cutting and Open House is also the start of the Opening Doors Campaign which Kianna Price Marshall, Vice President of Advancement says strives to unlock a better future for those they serve.

“This new space, our headquarters, is designed to strengthen collaboration, expand our impact across the region,” added Marshall. “So through the Opening Doors campaign, basically we’re allowing or hoping and asking for donors to have the opportunity to celebrate this milestone while helping ensure our new home continues to build a hub for collaboration, innovation, and service.”

Marshall says through this campaign the United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge is working to expand access to critical services and invest directly into the people and programs that make lasting change.  The open house is next Wednesday at 11 am.  Find more information at WFIRNews.com.  Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

#2

The United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge is celebrating its new home which it says makes the organization more accessible.  It’s “Opening Doors Campaign,” seeks to open doors and brighter futures through partnerships.  WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.

The Opening Doors Campaign is an invitation to donors to be a part of the United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge’s next 100 years.  The campaign seeks to expand access to critical services, strengthen partnerships across the region and invest directly into the people and programs that make lasting change.  Kianna Price Marshall, Vice President of Advancement …

“We’re creating a place where partnerships grow stronger, community solutions take shape, and neighbors find the support they need to thrive.”

Marshall says everyone is invited to celebrate the new home at 3800 Electric Road and the “Opening Doors Campaign,” at the open house on April 14th at 11 am. Denise Allen Membreno WFIR News.

United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge

The City of Roanoke, United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, and other local partners are encouraging residents to take charge of their financial well being with a host of free financial empowerment events, beginning this weekend. A coalition of financial, community, and government organizations – all together called the Bank On Roanoke Valley partnership – are working together to help people boost their financial literacy all next week, as part of the annual Roanoke Valley Saves Week.

Brandon Meginley, a Financial Stability Specialist for the City of Roanoke and coordinator for Bank On Roanoke Valley, highlights the significance of financial wellness, “Having a clear picture of your own personal finances, can get you at least some of the way towards to beginning to save. You can feel at least empowered with the information to start taking steps in the right direction.”

The week-long initiative will kick off this Saturday at noon with a free community cookout and resource fair to be held at Roanoke’s EnVision Center, followed by a series of three free workshops on financial wellness topics ranging from budgeting to building credit.

Click here to sign up for one of the Roanoke Valley Saves Week workshops

LISTEN TO THIS STORY BELOW: