RoCo Register is a monthly publication of Roanoke County's Office of Public Information and is designed to deliver news about Roanoke County straight to your desktop. Complete information can be found on the County's Web site or, if you'd prefer, sign up as a fan on Facebook or to follow us on Twitter. Of course there's always the phone, 772.2010, or e-mail. We're happy to hear from you! |
|
Catawba Valley Farmers' Market Opens
Ginger Hillery, owner of Taste and See, Full Circle Farm
Photo by Carol Lyn Webster  |
There's a new farmers' market in the Catawba Valley at the Catawba Valley General Store on Route 311 - right across the street from the popular Homeplace Restaurant - that features local produce and goods, including everything fresh: fruits and vegetables, baked goods (including sugar-free and gluten-free products), eggs, herbs, fish, honey, flowers, alpaca fiber, and more.
The Catawba Valley Farmers' Market is a project of VT EarthWorks, a new business acceleration program for agriculture and natural resource-based businesses. Vendors at the market are all members of VT EarthWorks, which provides a number of business development services for its members. One example includes the creation of the 2010 Roanoke Valley Locavore Directory, which is available online; printed directories can be found at many area establishments.
VT EarthWorks is part of the Catawba Sustainability Center, which is a new initiative in the Office of Outreach and International Affairs at the Virginia Tech Roanoke Center. The Catawba Sustainability Center is a 377-acre property located in the rural Catawba Valley of Roanoke County. The center addresses a multitude of sustainability issues faced by rural communities in the 21st Century by focusing on the needs and opportunities for the people and the land of Catawba. The Catawba Sustainability Center is being developed with a diverse partnership, including local community groups such as Catawba Landcare.
The Catawba Valley Farmers' Market is open from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. each Thursday evening. You can also join the market on Facebook to receive weekly market updates and delicious recipes.
The Catawba Valley Farmers' Market is located at 4905 Catawba Valley Drive in Catawba. For additional information, contact Christy Gabbard, Director of VT EarthWorks and the Catawba Sustainability Center by e-mail or by phone at 540.767.6114. |
|
Glenvar to Get New Library
The current Glenvar Library is 5,000 square feet
and was built over 30 years ago.
 |
On June 8, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with a proposal to design and construct a new Glenvar Library.
The new library will be built on property at the existing site along Route 460 near Richfield Retirement Community and Fort Lewis Fire and Rescue. Although the Board voted to move forward with the $6 million project in early June, a public hearing was held and a second vote was taken to appropriate the funding on June 22. More than 20 people spoke in favor of the project at this meeting.
The design phase for the new library is currently underway with construction expected to begin next year. |
Second Glenvar Community Meeting Scheduled
The next Glenvar Community Meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 15 in the fellowship hall at Fort Lewis Baptist Church, 4215 Main Street, Salem. The meeting will begin with a short presentation and then break into groups to participate in a facilitated visioning exercise. The July 15 meeting will focus on the Dixie Caverns area.
Citizens are encouraged to join us, but participation is not limited to meetings. There will be opportunities to comment online and through materials that will be handed out at the meetings and are available at other County facilities. The informational flyer is available here.
For more information, please visit the Glenvar Community Plan webpage or contact David Holladay by e-mail or by phone at 540.772.2068 ext. 227. |
At a special meeting held June 24, 2010, the Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority appointed Acting Superintendent Bobby D. Russell as superintendent of the Western Virginia Regional Jail effective July 1, 2010. Superintendent Russell has been serving as acting superintendent since April 30, 2010, when former Superintendent Poff left to accept a position with the Roanoke County Sheriff's Office. 
Roanoke County's Department of Social Services is often asked to recommend websites or organizations that offer free prescription discount programs. This is not insurance but rather discounts for citizens who do not have prescription coverage. Three of the websites that the County recommends include:
