Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org.
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Federal funding will expand Buffalo Mountain preserve
The Buffalo Mountain Natural Area Preserve in Floyd and Carroll counties will receive $9.5 million in federal funding for an expansion project.
The funding will protect 3,311 acres of the Southern Appalachian Rich Cove Forest, as well as nearly 14 miles of mountain streams at the headwaters of the New River, according to a news release from the offices of U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both D-Virginia.
Two other projects in Virginia also received funding: The Cedar Mountain Project in Albemarle County will receive $1.3 million for a conservation easement that will protect 767 acres of family-owned forestland, and the Assamoosic Pinelands State Forest Project in Southampton County will receive $3.3 million to establish a new state forest.
The funding comes from the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Legacy Program and was made possible through annual Land and Water Conservation Funding and the Inflation Reduction Act, the release said.
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Melrose Plaza opens call for artist submissions for new mural
Artists are invited to submit ideas for a community mural at Melrose Plaza in Roanoke.
The mural, which will wrap around two sides of the Melrose Plaza building on Melrose Avenue and 24th Street, will have an estimated total mural space of 1,758 square feet.
“We want this mural to honor the history of Northwest Roanoke while celebrating a big step forward in revitalization through Melrose Plaza,” Zenith Barrett, vice president of advancement at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, said in a news release. “The selected mural will reflect the spirit of unity, diversity, and empowerment that defines our community.”
Melrose Plaza will include Market on Melrose, a full-service grocery store; a Bank of Botetourt branch; Wellness on Melrose, a wellness center; and The Excel Center, an adult high school.
Submissions must be received by June 28. The project will be awarded in August. Artists will be able to start working on the mural no earlier than Sept. 3, with completion before Oct. 31.
To submit a proposal for the mural, visit https://roanokearts.org/melrose-plaza/
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Nominations sought for annual volunteerism awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Virginia Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards, an annual award program coordinated by Serve Virginia and the Virginia Service Foundation.
Nominations will be accepted through 5 p.m. June 25.
The Awards honor individuals and groups in the following categories:
- Individual, youth (age 18 and under)
- Individual, young adult (age 19-30)
- Individual, adult (age 31-59)
- Individual, senior (age 60-plus)
- Independent group (family, friends or other informal group)
- Community organization (nonprofit or government)
- Faith-based group (spiritual community)
- Educational organization (K-12 school or higher education institution)
- Small business (for-profit, zero-50 employees)
- Corporation (for-profit, 51-plus employees)
Honorees will be recognized in a ceremony at the Executive Mansion this fall. Additional information is available through Serve Virginia at ServeVirginia.org/governors-awards.