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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Mendota Trail in Washington County reopens
The Mendota Trail in Washington County is now fully open, following the removal of approximately 30 fallen trees that had temporarily closed the section between Reedy Creek Road and the Benhams parking lot. After Hurricane Helene, the area had been deemed unsafe for public use due to extensive treefall.
The Mendota Trail is a 12.5-mile trail that follows a former Norfolk Southern rail route.
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Roanoke Women’s Foundation announces grant recipients
The Roanoke Women’s Foundation has announced its 2024 grant award recipients:
DePaul Community Resources, $32,400 — Funds kinship care program
Huddle Up Moms, $100,000 — Funds used to establish diaper bank
LEAP For Local Food, $65,000 — Funding increases nutritional security
Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley, $55,617 — Funds domestic violence services
Restoration Housing, $94,000 — Funding supports residential treatment for pregnant women
West End Center, $65,000 — Funds to expand afterschool program for teens
RWF supports non-profit organizations in the cities of Roanoke and Salem, the Town of Vinton, and the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, and Franklin. Since 2005, RWF has provided $5,694,217 in grants to arts and culture, education, the environment, and health and human service organizations through a competitive process. Funding is provided by RWF member donations; grant recipients are voted upon by the RWF membership.
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Lynchburg Humane Society has emergency need for people to adopt or foster dogs
The Lynchburg Humane Society is holding a Spaced Out Dog Adoption Special through Sunday, November 10. Adoptable dogs at the Center for Pets will have their adoption fees completely waived during this special, with a $20 microchip fee. This special excludes VIP
pets indicated on their website with a blue VIP marker.
“Yesterday and today we received 12 dogs in need from the same home, four of which are pregnant,” said Development and Communications Manager Claire LeFew in a statement. “We are taking in these pets to an already full shelter and are urgently asking for fosters and adopters for dogs. If you can possibly bring a dog into your home, please stop by. It can be temporary (foster) or permanent (adoption).”
The Lynchburg Humane Society encourages anyone interested in adopting a dog during the special to come to the Center for Pets on Old Graves Mill Road to meet the many
dogs they have available for adoption. Adoptable dogs can be viewed on their website,
www.lynchburghumane.org, under the “ADOPT” tab. For questions about any specific pets, interested adopters can reach out to the adoptions team at adoption@lynchburghumane.org.
Interested fosters can reach out to foster@lynchburghumane.org.
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Veterans parade in Roanoke Saturday
The Virginia Veterans Parade be held in downtown Roanoke this Saturday, November 9th at 11:00 a.m. In addition to spectators being invited to attend in person, the parade will also be broadcast live on WSLS-TV.
Ahead of the parade, starting at 9:30 a.m., the public is invited to the “Thank a Veteran” meet and greet at the Market Building in downtown Roanoke. Veterans with service dating back to World War 2 will be in attendance.
The Virginia’s Veterans Parade route will begin at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Elm Avenue and continue along Jefferson Street towards downtown. The procession will then turn right on Campbell Avenue, ending at Williamson Road (US Route 221). For more information on the parade route, available parking, or how to become a participant, visit www.VirginiasVeteransParade.org.
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St. Michael Lutheran Church in Blacksburg has a new pastor
The Rev. James Henricks is the new pastor of St. Michael Lutheran Church in Blacksburg. He comes from the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) where he was the Director of Evangelical Mission (DEM). He served in that position since 2021. Prior to accepting the call as DEM he served Summer Memorial Lutheran Church in Newberry, S.C, 2017 to 2021. He also served as Vicar at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church in Sarasota, Florida. During his college years he served as Area Director at Lutherock Camp and Conference Center in Newland, N.C, and as an instructor at Mountain Trail Outdoor School in Hendersonville, N.C.
Pastor Henricks received his undergraduate degree in Communication from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2010, a Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC in 2015, and a Master of Theology from the University of Helsinki’s Religion, Conflict and Dialogue program in 2017.
