This small Roanoke composting facility has survived three years of business, when conversations about composting are just beginning in the city and the state.
Samantha Verrelli
Sam graduated from Penn State with degrees in journalism and Spanish. She was an investigative reporter for The Daily Collegian at Penn State and a freelance reporter with PennLive. She’s from outside Philadelphia, and loves hiking, live music and finding new restaurants.
Posted inCulture
Then & Now: Work on Fishburn Park coffee shop picks up again following fire that destroyed owners’ van company
Keri and Justin VanBlaricom hope to open Fishburn Perk by the end of 2026.
Posted inLocal
Audit of Roanoke’s municipal purchasing cards finds lack of approvals for more than $880,000 in charges
The expense reports aren’t missing, the city auditor said, but a combination of technology and staffing issues caused a lag in approvals.
Posted inLocal
Roanoke third grader makes his case to city officials for park improvements
Jackson Gunter will address the city council on Monday about his vision: less litter and more repairs to broken playground equipment at Highland Park.
Posted inCulture
Then & Now: The Roanoke River Greenway inched closer to completion this year, with the opening of almost 3 more miles of trail
Roanoke County and Salem just opened a 0.6-mile section of the West Roanoke River Greenway. A larger section in the east should open in the spring.
Posted inEducation
Roanoke City Council to vote in coming weeks on new school funding policy, in an effort to rein in the schools’ budget
The proposed change marks the third alteration to the city’s policy in two years, after the 40% funding policy was in place for over a decade.
Posted inLocal
Thursday Salem City Council: legislative agenda, breakdown of the city’s votes from the Nov. 4 election
Both Salem and Roanoke listed support for expansions at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport as a priority on their legislative agendas.
Posted inLocal
Roanoke to include casino project on wish list for General Assembly, despite lack of support from local legislators
Some city officials say that the casino and entertainment district is one of Roanoke’s most important priorities.
Posted inLocal
Agenda Salem: City council to consider appropriation of about $2 million to schools for capital improvements
The funds up for appropriation come from the school division’s FY25 fund balance.
Posted inLocal
Roanoke City Council to consider approval of historic marker at Fishburn Mansion, hear presentation on solar panels at schools
The marker would remember Junius Blair Fishburn, a businessman and philanthropist who donated land that helped establish many of Roanoke’s parks.
