Signs are sprouting on front lawns, so it must mean Roanoke City election season is here.

Congrats to Lynn Pagans, Librarian at Fishburn Park Elementary School. She is the winner of Greater Raleigh Court Civic League’s $1,000 Classroom Grant. She’ll use the funds to purchase sustainability-themed books for their library.

Her winning grant application was chosen by a selection committee of five Civic League volunteers.  It was a difficult decision, as a number of fantastic projects were proposed by the four local elementary schools that participated in the pilot grant program.

The check was presented to Ms. Pagans at the Fishburn library in a surprise event.  It certainly brightened up a cold, rainy, Monday morning.  City Schools Superintendent Dr. Rita Bishop and School Principal Judy Lackey were also in attendance at the surprise presentation.

The Classroom Grant project is a new effort of GRCCL, and serves to help strengthen the ties between our neighborhood and local schools.  We’re thrilled with the outcome and look forward to expanding the program next year to involve Woodrow Wilson Middle School and Patrick Henry High School.

The Greater Raleigh Court Civic League is a regular participant in the City of Roanoke’s Neighborhood Development Grant program. The grant money is available for physical improvement projects that make the neighborhood more livable. Recent successfully funded projects in Raleigh Court include:

• Murray Run Greenway construction and improvements
• Playground equipment at Virginia Heights Elementary
• Public Art installations
• Seasonal banners in Grandin Village (partnered project with GVBA)

If you see a need or a place where money could be spent on your street or elsewhere in the neighborhood, and are interested in spearheading the effort, we’d love to hear from you.  Please contact Chad Braby (chadbraby12@gmail.com).

Courtesy of RNA (Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates):

• Are you tired of looking at tall weeds and grass?
• Is there an abandoned car on your street?
• Does the curb look like a dump when someone gets evicted?
• Are you concerned about the health, safety, and welfare of the people in your neighborhood?

If you answered yes, to any of these questions and you want to learn more about what you can do to help, please come to the Code Enforcement Workshop 102 hosted by the Division of Code Enforcement to be held Monday, November 7 from 6p-8p at the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, EOC Conference Room (Room 159), 215 Church Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24011.
The City of Roanoke needs your help to make your neighborhood a better place to live. By attending this
FREE workshop, you will learn what is a code violation and how to report it anonymously as well as track the progress of your report.

Please contact the sponsors of this workshop below if you have any questions about attending.
Office of Neighborhood Services 540.853.5210 or the Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates 540.467.0540

Please mark November 10 on your calendar, as GRCCL will host an important conversation with Roanoke City Schools Superintendent Rita Bishop and Board Chairman David Carson.

Thursday, Nov. 10, 7 pm at the Raleigh Court Child Development Center

From our friend, neighborhood and Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates liason, Dustin Akers:

You are cordially invited to attend a ‘Hands-on Historic Rehab Tax
Credit Workshop on Saturday, November 12 as representatives from Hill
Studio PC and Old Southwest Inc. will explain how owners of historic
properties can take advantage of the Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax
Credit and the Virginia Rehabilitation Tax Credit.

Participants will learn how historic tax credits work, and how to
prepare the tax credit application through on-site training and mock
application.

Who should attend?
Business and home owners, community leaders, real-tors, contractors,
developers and anyone who wants to learn about how you can undertake a
historic tax credit application on your own.

Participation is limited to 27 people, accepted on a first-come,
first-served basis!

When: Saturday, November 12……….10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: Jefferson Center……..L.L. Rice Room 541 located at Luck Ave.
SW

Cost: $10 (includes lunch) and registration is required

To register: Return the attached registration below form with payment
to Erica Taylor, City Planner II, City of Roanoke Dept. of Planning,
Building & Development 215 Church Ave. SW, Room 166, Roanoke, VA 24011.
Enclose check for $10 made payable to City of Roanoke.

(See attached file: 2011 rev tax credit workshop save the date.pdf)

This workshop is presented by: Hill Studio PC and Old Southwest Inc. and
is sponsored by::
* City of Roanoke
* Old Southwest Inc.
* Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation, Inc.

For additional information, contact Erica Taylor by calling 540.853.1522
or
by email to: erica.taylor@roanokeva.gov

Live music, drinks, friends, fun!  Next Friday, Sept 30, 5:30 to 9:30 pm in Grandin Village

From our friend Christina Nifong:

WHO: High schoolers and adults, school teams, book clubs, church groups, civic clubs, office and business teams, faculty, and others in teams of 3 individuals.

WHAT: Spelling Bee World Series!
(Every team “comes to bat” 9 times.
Spell it right and hit a home run!)

WHEN: Tuesday, October 25th at 6pm

WHERE: Christ Lutheran Church, corner of Grandin Rd. and Brandon Ave.

WHY: To support Literacy efforts in the valley

HOW: Call 265-9339 for more info and to register

Magicians, jugglers, face painting, hot dogs, kids’ activities, music, bands, chess matches, food and drinks. Enjoy the best of Raleigh Court at our annual Block Party in Grandin Village. Also, check out the car show at Grandin Road Pure Station. Co-sponsored by the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League and the Grandin Village Business Association. Best of all. . .it’s FREE and everyone’s invited.