May 2009
The Greater Raleigh Court Civic League
www.grccl.org
R a l e i g h C o u rt — A H i s t o r I C A L N E I G H B O R H O O D L O O K I N G F O R WA R D
River Wild
Dan Wright Trailhead Work
By Chad Braby As we unloaded our kayaks on an unseasonably warm late-winter afternoon, we could hear the rush of the water beyond the trees. The view of the river was wild. Rock cliffs on the opposite bank, overhanging trees on the near bank. Downstream, around a bend, we could hear the first rapid, the water swollen by snowmelt. We eased into the river, paddled a few warm up strokes in the flat water, and turned with the current toward the noise. Into the rapid, a couple of hard strokes to edge past a tangle of brush on one side, then another opposite stroke to point the boat between several submerged boulders. Less than thirty seconds of action, but the heartbeat was up, the eyes were wider, and the smile was fixed as we drifted out of the class II back into calmer water.
Photo by Brenda Burnham
On two chilly, windy April Saturdays, groups of volunteers descended on the Dan Wright Trailhead with shovels in hand. They planted, weeded, and dug holes for sign posts. Then they dug more holes for benches, hauled heavy bags of concrete and hauled even heavier benches down the trail.
Sound like something from the legendary whitewater rivers? The New or the Gauley? Maybe, but on this day it was Raleigh Court neighborhood action on the surprising Roanoke River.
The volunteers—from the Civic League, Kids in the Valley Adventuring (KIVA), greenway groups and various willing friends and neighbors—were part of the Civic League's multi-year effort on the trailhead. April 4th was also Clean Valley Day, and the trail benefited from a Girl Scout troop who traveled the Greenway with their bright orange trash bags cleaning up litter.
My fellow paddler, GRCCL director Jake Gilmer, and I could not have picked a better day to check out the local water. The river was flowing nicely and the air was warm. The put-in at Salem Park off of Electric Road was easily accessible and rewarding, with scenery, quiet and immediate action. In fact, under those flow conditions, I would probably not recommend that particular put-in for the novice boater. There were several places a little further downstream that afforded some flat water paddling practice for the first timer in a kayak or canoe.
This is the second year we've received funding through Roanoke's Neighborhood Services Department to improve the trailhead and the Murray Run Greenway. The work was managed by our volunteer landscape architect Jim Loesel and GRCCL Greenway Committee chair Mike Urbanski. Both put in many hours getting ready for the workdays. Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department's Donnie Underwood assisted with ordering the signs and benches, as well as offering advice, equipment and loads of mulch.
One such location was just under the Brandon Avenue bridge near Back Country Ski & Sports. As we drifted past, the sound of traffic from the road faded and we returned to tree-lined quiet. We began —continued on page 5
Inside This Issue
President’s message...................................................... 3 Raleigh Court History................................................ 4 Grandin Village Farmer’s Market............................... 4 Tree Topping.............................................................. 5 Block Party................................................................ 6 Run With Grace........................................................ 6 Angel of Grandin Road.............................................. 8 Calendar................................................................. 10 Things you need to know.......................................... 10
—continued on page 7
May Meeting Will Focus on Schools By Lori Livingston
Roanoke City Schools have been in the news recently with announcements of changes to attendance zones and school closures. Dr. Rita Bishop, Roanoke City School Superintendent, and David Carson, Roanoke City School Board Chairperson, will discuss the status of education in the City at our May meeting. We will meet on Wednesday, May 13, at 7:00 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, corner of Brandon and Grandin. We will also elect Civic League officers at this meeting. Join us for coffee and desert at 6:45. Please note that we will meet on Wednesday instead of the usual second Thursday. The meeting is open to the public, so please bring anyone who's interested in our schools. Hope to see you there!
Greater Raleigh Court Civic League Officers OFFICERS President Susan Koch 345-9977 s.koch@verizon.net Vice-President Chad Braby 343-3975 cbraby@ullimanschutte.com
Lori Livingston 981-1145 lomaliv@juno.com Greg Brock GBrock@wdbj7.com Jake Gilmer jgilmer@rvarc.org
Treasurer Ruth Dickerson 345-2187
Immediate Past President Chad Van Hyning 798-5983 cvanhyning@hsmm.com
Recording Secretary Keith Dabbs 224-3082 kdabbs@carilion.com
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Membership: Karyn McAden
Corresponding Secretary Cassandra Van Hyning 798-1996 cvanhyning@spectrumpc.com Directors at Large Karyn McAden 342-8930 blackcat29@cox.net Melissa Morgan 312-3587 melissamorganhomes@msn.com
Program: Melissa Morgan & Lori Livingston Newsletter (incl. advertising): Jim Huizenga 345-9977 j.huizenga@verizon.net Special Projects: Tony Stavola 345-0010 astavola@carilion.com Building Management: Chad Braby Grandin Road Merchants Liaison: Kurt Navratil
Adopt-a-Highway: Kurt Navratil 343-7373 kdavidn@cox.net Brook Dickson bdickson@hollins.edu
Webmaster: Jake Gilmer
Neighborhood Affairs: Frank Eastburn 342-8063 haikune@msn.com
The Court Reporter is published by the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League fives times a year on or about the first week of September, November, January, March, and May.
www.floralrenditions.com • (540) 345-1334
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Greenways: Mike Urbanski 344-1388 mike_urbanski@cox.net
From the President
The State of the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League Our May Civic League meeting traditionally begins with the business of the Civic League. It’s a reminder that the Civic League is a legal entity, with a budget, bylaws, directors and its own 501 (c) 3 non-profit designation. So I’d like to take this opportunity to catch you up on the business of the Civic League. The Budget Fortunately, unlike many non-profits, the Civic League is fiscally healthy. In our budget of $29,000, we have several sources of income: rent on the building we own, advertising revenue, membership dues and grant income. If you’re new to the neighborhood, you might not know that we own the building where Pop’s Ice Cream Shop is located. We love having this neighborhood friendly tenant, and have tried to keep the rent affordable for the hard working owners. In most years, the rent covers the costs of insurance, taxes and maintenance on an old building. Some years, like this one, we actually generate a profit. We’re grateful to our many advertisers who support the newsletter. While advertising income doesn’t cover the entire cost of the newsletter, it certainly helps. Membership dues also cover the costs of the newsletter. One of our new initiatives will be to improve our dues collection and expand our membership, since this budget line has been declining. Look at the mailing information on your newsletter to see if your dues are due.
our membership efforts. Karyn was an organizer of the first Raleigh Court Block Party. She’s currently working at the Hollins University art museum. We very much appreciate all the hours she’s given to the Civic League. Up for re-election to the board are Greg Brock, Lori Livingston, and Melissa Morgan. Greg stepped in this winter to complete Chad Braby’s term when Chad became vice president. Greg lives on Greenwood Road and manages WDBJ-7’s alternative advertising. Lori is an engineer and lives on Blenheim Road. She and Melissa are in charge of our meetings. Melissa owns her own real estate company, Renaissance Realtors, and owns a house on Memorial Avenue. The Heavy Lifters One of the most heartening Civic League activities is our work on the Dan Wright Trailhead. The whole neighborhood owes a huge thanks to Mike Urbanski and Jim Loesel, who have put in many, many hours planning and organizing the work. On two chilly April Saturday mornings, we logged over 150 volunteer hours. Because of the work of Mike and Jim, all the volunteers had a great time, felt they’d made a difference, and actually got the work done. When you sit on one of the new benches they installed, take a minute to think about how that 300 pound plus bench got there and how deep the holes had to be to keep it anchored there!
This year we were fortunate to receive almost $17,000 in grants from Roanoke’s Neighborhood Services. This is “pass through” money designated for work on the Dan Wright Trailhead and banners for Grandin Village. While we don’t have to spend Civic League funds, we do have to match some of the money with volunteer hours. On the expense side, our volunteers spend approximately $4,500 annually to produce and mail the newsletter. Other large expenditures include the block party and the summer cartoon series at the Grandin. The Civic League partnered with an anonymous donor to underwrite the cartoons, both because they’re a wonderful event for families and because the Grandin is so important to the viability of the Village. The Directors Much as we’re lucky to be fiscally sound, the Civic League has had an extraordinary history of attracting wonderful people into leadership positions. New people constantly re-invent and revitalize the organization. At the May meeting, members will vote on several directors. New to the board is Mary Dykstra. Currently with R/E Max, Mary has been a real estate agent for 22 years. She is an enthusiastic booster of Raleigh Court real estate and often re-locates out-of-towners to the neighborhood. Mary has recently joined the city’s Architectural Review Board and is a CASA advocate for neglected and abused children. She lives on Warrington Road and has one grown son. Mary replaces Karyn McAden, who has served two terms and led page 3
Raleigh Court History
Memorial Bridge – Gateway to Raleigh Court By Nelson Harris Following the annexation of Raleigh Court into the city in 1919, development occurred rapidly in the Virginia Heights and Raleigh Court neighborhoods. With such growth, improved infrastructure was needed and none was more important than a new bridge across the Roanoke River. The old Virginia Avenue (Woodrum) Bridge was not adequate and was in disrepair. In 1924, a bond issue was approved that financed construction of a new bridge. On December 8, 1925, Roanoke City Council adopted a resolution naming the new structure “Memorial Bridge” in honor of fallen veterans of World War I. Interestingly, veterans groups opposed the naming on the grounds that the bridge naming was not a sufficient enough recognition, as they had proposed other ideas. Thus, they boycotted the dedication of the bridge in 1926 (see photo). Memorial Bridge opened for traffic on May 6, 1926, and was dedicated a few months later on August 30th. The cost for construction was $282,750, and the building contractor was W.W. Boxley. Boxley, along with James and Norma Towles, rode the first vehicle across the bridge. At the dedication ceremony, Congressman Clifton Woodrum delivered a brief address with Mayor Blair Fishburn officiating at the ceremony. The Roanoke Times reported, “Congressman Woodrum delivered an eloquent oration setting forth the high principles on which America has always gone to war, and lauded the spirit of her fighting men who have sacrificed all in perpetuating their country’s freedom.” The local Boy Scouts, along with Councilman Charles Fox, unveiled large bronze plaques on the bridge. The plaques contained quotations using words from Patrick Henry, Theodore Roosevelt, “Stonewall” Jackson, and Thomas Jefferson. The quotations had been chosen by the City Council. Following the unveilings, the
Photo from Historical Society of Western Virginia
crowd joined together in singing "America" while accompanied by the Dokkie Band. Memorial Bridge exists today in its original form with five 120foot spans, being 54-feet wide and 785 feet long. For many years a trolley track ran down the center of the bridge. Memorial Bridge was re-dedicated on Veterans Day in 1991 following a needed restoration. In April 2002, the bridge was completely restored and the old, imbedded street-car track removed. The concrete was reinforced and the surface repaved for a total cost of $2.1 million. Nelson Harris is the author of Greater Raleigh Court: A History of Wasena, Virginia Heights, Norwich and Raleigh Court, published by The History Press. The book is available from the author or from local and on-line book retailers.
Farmers’ Market in Grandin Village Raleigh Court is becoming a real foodies’ mecca. First we had the Co-op offering organic foods and exotic ingredients. Then all the wonderful restaurants in Grandin Village. Next came Grandin Gardens and community gardening. Then Local Roots Café opened, with the chef harvesting tonight’s dinner from the backyard garden. Now there’s more good news for those of us who love to eat and want interesting ingredients. Starting in May, Grandin Village will be home to a new farmers’ market. The market will showcase local foods and farmers, all from within a 60 mile radius of Roanoke. Local artists and craftspeople will also sell at the market. The Grandin Village Community Market is being organized by the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op and will set up in the parking lot behind the Co-op. The market will be open Saturday mornings from 8:00 to noon from May through September. Brent Cochran is the Community Market Coordinator. He’s a Roanoke native and graduate of Patrick Henry High School. After graduating from Hampden-Sydney College, Cochran moved around the country and traveled abroad, developing his knowledge of local food systems and environmentally friendly farming. He returned to Roanoke about a year ago and works at Black Dog Salvage. Cochran sees the community market as more than a source of fresh produce. He hopes it will be another gathering place for Raleigh Court neighbors and a magnet to attract other Roanokers to our neighborhood. He also hopes it will be a place where shoppers can learn from vendors and non-profit exhibitors. Grandin Village Community Market Saturdays – 8:00 a.m. to noon, May through September Parking lot behind Co-op (on Westover) More info: Brent Cochran. Email: brentcochran@me.com page 4
TREE TOPPING
River Wild—continued from page 1
By Christina Koomen Smith
Recently, many members of the Virginia Heights Baptist Church and other Roanokers were distressed to see that the Bradford pear trees in the courtyard outside the church had been “topped” at the peak of their blooming season. Bradford pears are notoriously unstable trees, and the church had periodically trimmed some of their branches, hoping to maintain their stability and prolong their lives. But this time, the folks commissioned to do the work took a different approach, one not intended by the church. Understandably, many wanted to know how such a thing could have happened. But perhaps we can use this as an opportunity to discourage others from this practice. Asked why the practice of topping continues, tree expert James Urban of Urban & Associates Landscape Architecture in Annapolis, Md., sums it up in one word: money. Topping is a quick way for less scrupulous “arborists” to make a buck. Asked about the Bradford pears, Urban commented, “Unfortunately these trees will probably not die … pears can actually survive this kind of treatment. … But once you start this you need to keep at it every several years – essentially ruining the tree in order to save it.” The destructive – and expensive – cycle that topping sets in motion is just one of several reasons why it’s such a bad practice. The “sucker” branches that a topped tree puts out in order to survive are more susceptible to damage than natural growth, and yet they can actually grow to a height that surpasses the tree’s original size. In addition, topping exposes the tree’s wood to decay as well as invasion by pests and disease. It removes most of the foliage the tree needs to photosynthesize food, which can eventually weaken the roots and create instability. And of course, it’s ugly. There is no fix for a tree that’s been topped, so the best course is prevention. That means property owners need to be vigilant against those who continue to promote topping. If a tree needs pruning, ask the vendors you talk to if they top trees, and if they do, look elsewhere for help. (Beware of topping by its other names: stubbing, heading, heading-back, stubbing-off, tipping, hat-racking, topping off, dehorning, lopping, or rounding over.) Tree management sources advise that if a tree has grown too large for its location – one reason some owners mistakenly believe topping is necessary – it’s better to remove it entirely if it cannot be reduced through sound basic pruning. Another ounce of prevention is species and site selection: when choosing a tree, make sure its projected growth poses no future hazards to power lines, house foundations, and other nearby structures. There are many good websites that offer information about trees and tree care. Two to check out: www.arborday.org; and www.plantamnesty.org.
to unsettle some of the many ducks we would see along the way. I’m far from a birding expert, but I spotted mallard, goldeneye, black duck, a wood duck, and a handful of other waterfowl species that I couldn’t name. We also chased several great blue heron downriver, sometimes getting close enough to hear the slow beat of their majestic wings as they flew away. We were scolded by the unmistakable chatter of several kingfishers and were constantly serenaded by songbirds and the drumbeat of woodpeckers. Drifting into Roanoke city limits, amidst industrial parks, the river still felt wild. It was easy to imagine feeling even more isolated on a summer trip with the trees leafed out and the bank filled in by the normal bushy tangles. We passed another put-in location immediately upstream of the Peters Creek bridge, and eased into railyard territory. We could hear sounds from the railroad, and the faint smell of creosote was in the air. As we drifted through a long, straight section, we hatched a plan to bring our four-year-old kids along next time in canoes. The kids would love the calmer float trip, and the Peters Creek put-in would make for a nice, attention-deficit friendly cruise of less than an hour. Paddling past Mudlick Creek, we drifted into Raleigh Court. Signs of urban life were frequent, but it still didn’t take much imagination to forget that we were in the middle of the city. My fourteen foot flatwater kayak was perfect for the trip. Jake’s shorter whitewater kayak was serviceable, but he did get a little tired from the increased paddling and steering effort required by the shorter boat. As we rounded a gentle bend behind Virginia Avenue, we continued to see lots of ducks, geese and heron. I was struck by the amount of wildlife in our neighborhood that goes unnoticed as we live out our busy lives. I’ve even heard that a bald eagle can be spotted from the Memorial Bridge, though we didn’t see it on this day. One last rapid beckoned as we paddled past the old Hannah Court trailer park, future home of a new city park and greenway section. This rapid was manmade, as a contractor had split the river in half, diverting flow in order to demolish a low-water dam and make way for the greenway bridge. Immediately after the rapid, we pulled the boats out and carried them to our shuttle vehicle in the parking lot of Wasena Park. In total, an easy, extremely enjoyable, sometimes wild, trip of under two hours. Perfect for a Saturday afternoon in the neighborhood.
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Run With Grace Set for June 6th By Rick Lovegrove The fourth annual Run With Grace 5K to raise money for a scholarship in memory of Grace Lovegrove and for Patrick Henry High School running teams will be June 6 on the PH cross country course. Nearly 300 people participated last year. The women’s 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. and the men’s 5K at 9:15 a.m. A one-mile fun run/walk will go out at 10:00 a.m. from the PH track. There are also open and middle school team challenges. Early registration is $15 for the 5K and $10 for the run/walk. Same-day registration is allowed up to the time of the races. The course is mostly wooded and challenging. Grace Lovegrove ran track at Woodrow Wilson Middle School and track and cross country at PH, where she earned 12 athletics letters and was an honor student. She was running with her Christopher Newport University track teammates on Jan. 10, 2005, when she collapsed from cardiac arrest. Proceeds from the race will be split between a scholarship in her memory and the PH cross country and track teams. The event also helps raise awareness of organ donation and sudden cardiac arrest. For more information and to download a registration form, go to www.runwithgrace.com. Registration forms can also be picked up at Fleet Feet Sports.
Food, Friends & Fun Join your neighbors at the fifth annual Greater Raleigh Court Block Party and Street Fair on Sunday, May 31. There'll be food, music, and plenty of kids' activities. The Block Party is co-sponsored by the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League and the Grandin Village Business Association. Kelly Zappia of the GRCCL and Susan Stump, GVBA president and Valley Bank manager, are chairing the event. Activities kick off at 2:00 and run until 5:00 in Grandin Village. Volunteers are needed for one hour shifts at the Block Party. Please contact Susan Koch (s.koch@ verizon.net) to volunteer for a one-hour shift at the Block Party.
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Trailhead—continued from page 1
In May, a group of middle schoolers from Woodrow Wilson will spend a morning spreading mulch on the trail. They've chosen this project as a fundraiser. We will also be digging more holes and mixing more concrete in June. We expect to install a large sign showing a map of the greenway. We will also put up several signs in Raleigh Court pointing to the greenway; these signs will be similar to the universal library signs. The Dan Wright Trailhead honors past board member, Court Reporter editor and greenway builder Dan Wright. Dan suffers from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. He can be reached at the Bryan Center in Fincastle at dwright@rev.net.
Mike Urbanski shows off one of the signs being installed along the Greenway.
A newly installed sign post near the Fishburn Park pedestrian bridge.
During their trip from Greenville, SC to visit Dan Wright, Dale and Brenda Burnham took time on a rainy day in March to plant some flowers at the trailhead.
Even though we had a power auger (leaning on the tree), we had to use other tools to remove some rocks. This bench now overlooks the Grace Lovegrove memorial tree.
Dan Wright's sister Brenda Burnham and his daughter Stephanie Wright tend the flower bed around the main entrance on Grandin Road.
Volunteers sign in.
Lots of kids showed up to help.
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Angel of Grandin Road By Kelly Zappia Mr. Tarpley, aka the Angel of Grandin Road, provokes quite a few questions. His kind smile, devoted attention to the beautification of our Village and his legendary status as “Bank Robber Catcher� keeps him as a local staple of conversation and admiration. Maybe you have heard about his park. Maybe you have spent the day at the park. He has created a beautiful area for kids and adults across from the fire station. While his health has not allowed him to tend to the space as he has in the past, he has been able to watch the daily attendance at the park grow. There is a kudzu fort that has seating inside and wildflowers galore. James has grown this wonderful area, and it has become a special gathering area that allows neighborhood socializing for adults and kids. Maybe you have heard about his efforts to keep the Village area beautiful. He works on a daily basis to keep everything spic and span. I ran into him one day battling the works of an invasive graffiti artist. He was having no part of the paint on the front entrance wall of the Grandin Theater and, armed with a bucket and some soap, he removed it. James is a connector for the Grandin Village and for the neighborhood of Raleigh Court. He has been known to provide tremendous aid to the Annual Block Party. He helps visitors with directions and just generally keeps up with all of the merchants, shoppers, visitors and strollers through the area. One of the great aspects of our little village is the sense of connectedness one can feel when shopping locally, seeing friends and acquaintances walking through and having the banker, pharmacist or book shop owner know your name. James helps to maintain not only our clean area, but also our connection to the village. Thank him next time you see him, oh, and ask him about the time he caught a bank robber. It is quite the story.
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Things you need to know… Grandin Village Summer Concert Series
The Virginia Heights Baptist Church will provide their 12th season of the Grandin Village Summer Concert Series. The concerts, featuring local bands and music groups, will be on the second and fourth Sundays of June, July, and August in the courtyard at the corner of Memorial Avenue and Grandin Road. Concerts begin at 6:30 pm. All concerts are free, and concessions will be available. Watch the church's outdoor sign this summer for specific groups. If it's raining, the concert will be held indoors. For more information, you can contact the church office at 344-7748.
ALS Night with the Salem Red Sox
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 5th for the ALS Night at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. Game time will be approximately 7:00 pm (check the sports pages listing for exact time). If you buy the tickets from an ALS Night event organizer, part of the ticket price goes to the ALS Foundation. More information will be forthcoming – contact Rick Watkins at snickawrick@cox.net.
• Online membership sign-up, payment, and renewal. • Member ability to customize or update their contact information and notification preferences. • Online events calendar, notification, and sign-up. • Online discussion groups. • Photo and file sharing. • Reviews and classifieds. As part the website development and transition process, a Board Member may be contacting Civic League members to update their contact information. If you are a current member of the Civic League and do not receive email notifications regarding events, please contact Jake Gilmer to have your email address added to our new membership system. Jake is a Civic League Board member and can be contacted at jake.gilmer@gmail.com or at 540-343-4417.
Festival in the Park
By Mary Kay Brown, FITP Volunteer co-Chairman Help celebrate Festival in the Park's 40th anniversary!! Volunteer. Over 500 volunteer slots need to be filled. Festival dates are Thursday, May 21 through Monday, May 25.
Preservation Workshops with Bob Yapp
Whatever your interest, there's an areas of need for you. A sampling of volunteer needs includes Pepsi sales, children's area, merchandise sales, set-up/teardown, stagehands to help bands set-up, or beer/wine sales and serving. Shifts are approximately 3-4 hours. On Thursday and Friday the shifts are evenings only; Saturday – Monday three shifts—1st, 2nd, and 3rd—will be available. To volunteer, go to www.eventzone.org, click on Festival in the Park and go to the "volunteer" button. You can sign up on-line!! Help us make this another successful Festival. Volunteer!!
You’re Never Too Old for Cartoons
You can enjoy free cartoons at the Grandin Theatre this summer, thanks to the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League. For the third year, the Civic League has partnered with the Grandin to offer this popular summer morning treat. The sponsorship is underwritten by Civic League dues and contributions. "We think it’s very important for the neighborhood to support the Grandin Theatre, since it’s so crucial to the vitality of Grandin Village," said Civic League President Susan Koch. "By sponsoring the cartoon series, we also offer a fun activity to the neighborhood." Round up some kids and enjoy popcorn, laughter and air conditioning this summer. Showings start at 10:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, June 19-20, July 17-18, and August 14-15. They’re free to everyone.
Plans for Civic League Website
The Board has been working with BigTent.com to bring about these changes and hopes to unveil the new site this summer. The website will have a variety of new features that will enhance the Civic League's ability to distribute and share information with its members. It will also debut functionality that will improve member recruitment and retention. Some of the features that may be integrated into the improved site include:
Bob Yapp, former host of a PBS series on home renovation, will conduct two day-long renovation workshops for homeowners and professionals. The homeowner workshop will be on Saturday, May 16. It will cover the economic benefits of preservation, how to get a long lasting (and cost effective) paint job on your house and how to repair old windows. The Friday, May 15 sessions for contractors and non-profits will also include a discussion of what makes a building “historic” and a showing of the film Blue Vinyl. Both sessions will be held at the Claude Moore Education Center at 109 Henry Street, starting at 9:00. The $10 registration fee covers lunch and all materials. For more information or to register, contact Erica Taylor at 853-1522 or erica.taylor@roanokeva.gov.
What to Do with Raleigh Court Elementary Property?
The School Board is planning a meeting for Thursday, May 21 to discuss the future of the property once the school closes this spring. The school is next to PH and the Dan Wright Trailhead. We’ll email members with meeting details.
Calendar
GRCCL Membership meeting....... Wed., May 13, 7:00 pm Preservation Workshop...................... Sat., May 16, 9:00 am Special School Board meeting.................. Thursday, May 21 Festival in the Park............................Th.-Mon., May 21-25 Grandin Village Block Party.............. Sun., May 31, 2-5 pm Grandin Theatre Cartoon Shows........June 19-20, 10:00 am July 17-18, 10:00 am August 14-15, 10:00 am ALS Night at Salem Red Sox........................Wed., August 5
By Jake Gilmer
In the coming months the Civic League will be expanding the functionality of its website and membership management system. page 10
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Greater Raleigh Court Civic League P.O. Box 3092 Roanoke, VA 24015
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q new member q renewing member New members are welcome to join the Civic League at any time. Your mailing label shows when it’s time to renew your membership. You may pay your dues at the next membership meeting. Multiyear or life memberships are welcome! The Civic League is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Donations may be claimed as charitable deductions for tax purposes.
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