Submitted photos
Plenty of Buzz > Michael Hemphill, the creator of the Buzz TV show (Blue Ridge PBS) and the Buzz4Good radio version (WFIR) called it The 12th Day of Christmas,” on January 6 (the Epiphany or “Little Christmas” for many Christians,) a party for local nonprofits that Buzz has featured (while also offering marketing support), held at the 9th Street SE industrial park in Roanoke. The venue was used for a house of horrors (Blue Ridge Nightmares) during the Halloween season; Center in the Square operates the facility and is making it available for rentals. Vintage storefronts and old vehicles provide much of the atmosphere. As for the 12th Day of Christmas, when Hemphill also let some of the organizations tell others their story (filming some of it for a future Buzz episode,) “nonprofits do so much vital, yet underappreciated, work in our communities – homeless shelters, food
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pantries, free clinics, historical museums, arts and culture festivals, animal shelters and on and on,” says Hemphill. “We want to celebrate these life-giving organizations and give our entire region one final holiday festivity as we start a new year.” The event included live music by Roanoke Symphony Orchestra musicians and some bad dancing.
