2022 Neighborhood Partnership Award Winners and Citizen of the Year Announced

Congratulations to all of our Neighborhood Partnership Award winners and our 2022 Citizen of the Year!

Neighborhood City Partnership Award - Doug Jackson

Neighborhood Youth Volunteer Award - Boxing & Brawling

Neighborhood Improvement Award - Roanoke Plawkers

Neighborhood Community Partnership Award - Northwest Faith Partnership

Neighborhood Communications Award - Linda Lockhart

Neighborhood Outstanding Volunteer Award - Marion Ware

Neighborhood Art Award - SE Greenway Gateway Mural Project

Neighborhood All-Star Award - I Heart SE

Citizen of the Year - Sunni Purviance

ROA Strategic Plan and Neighborhood Centers Plan Adopted

On December 19, 2022, Roanoke City Council voted to adopt both the Neighborhood Centers Plan and Roanoke Opportunities in Action: Economic Development Strategic Plan.

The ROA Strategic Plan builds upon previous work and performance, while providing direction toward a more inclusive and equitable economy and community. It provides implementation strategies for business recruitment, retention, and expansion as well as highlighting innovation, community development and financial empowerment in the City of Roanoke.

Neighborhood centers are urban corridors that can provide services of a social, cultural, or economic nature to the neighborhood in which it is located. For decades, the City of Roanoke has promoted neighborhood centers as important nodes in their network of economic activity. After conducting an analysis of three mature, successful neighborhood centers and examining a variety of corridors, four areas were chosen from dozens of potential centers to serve as testbeds for revitalization: 11th Street NW, West End, Melrose at 24th Street, and 9th Street SE. This selection was based on a high potential for success, considering activity drivers like traffic, residential density, and amenities like parks.

More information on these plans can be found: https://www.bizroanoke.com/wp-content/uploads/Economic-Development-Strategic-Plan_DRAFT_12.5.22-Revised.pdf

https://www.bizroanoke.com/roanoke-emerging-neighborhood-centers-vision-report/?fbclid=IwAR2Uq51DgtLGtI8DI7-Ka7lz_TsxJScTjZrwcBIPkr6GH0SJFrZ8MHGHXKE%20

Solid Waste Collection Schedule and Proper Disposal of Natural Christmas Trees

As the holiday season comes to a close, we want to remind you how to properly dispose of your Christmas trees! Starting Tuesday, January 3rd and ending on Friday, February 3rd, the Solid Waste Management Division will be collecting your Christmas trees along with your scheduled bulk and brush items. Please remove all lights, bulbs, ornaments, garland and tinsel and place your tree at the curb for collection with other bulk and brush items.

Natural trees without decorations will be collected and delivered to RVRA to be processed as mulch. Artificial trees or those with decorations still on them will be collected and disposed of as trash. Please do not place trees in the alleys for collection.

For more information, please call the Solid Waste Management Division at 540-853-2000, Option 1, send an email to swmcustomers[email protected], or visit the division’s web page at www.roanokeva.gov/solidwaste.

Roanoke Fire/EMS Heavy Technical Rescue Drill

Training time! During the last week of December, crews from all three shifts participated in the monthly heavy technical rescue (HTR) drill.

This month’s scenario involved a car that had gone under a bus and pinned the driver. Utilizing our new paratech interstate kit, they freed the car from its position underneath the bus and began to work on vehicle extrication.

Special thanks to Robert Young Towing for assisting Roanoke Fire/EMS with this important training exercise!