Good morning, Roanoke.

Blue Ridge Land Conservancy was awarded $50,000 from The Conservancy Fund to re-envision Evans Spring by creating a new nature area in NW Roanoke in collaboration with Friends of Evans Spring + Hill Studio; a detailed plan is expected by winter or spring 2027.

The new Grace Period Free Food Pantry opens today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1201 Hardy Road in Vinton to offer fresh produce, snacks and essentials for residents facing food insecurity; organizers plan to serve the community on the first Saturday of each month.

Downtown Roanoke’s Mast General Store will celebrate its annual Friends Day next Saturday, Sept.

12 and donate 10% of its sales to Friends of the Blue Ridge. Shoppers may also round up purchases from Sept. 7 to Sept. 13 to help support local projects + boost community work.

The ninth annual Field of Honor tribute will return to Forest from Sept.

11 to 23, featuring over 1,000 American flags to honor veterans and first responders in Bedford County. Organized by the Rotary Club of Forest, the event will offer residents a chance to pay tribute to local heroes.

Roanoke Fire-EMS recruits are nine weeks into rigorous training as they practice full-gear drills twice weekly and study building safety ahead of the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb (Sept.

26), an event that will honor fallen heroes and support firefighter families.

Roanoke Mountain Adventures opened its new store next to Black Dog Salvage on Friday.

The business moved from its former Wasena Tap Room spot to offer more space and new product lines—featuring repurposed fixtures—near the Roanoke River and the Greenway.

5 Points Music Sanctuary hosts the first Art Harvest on September 13 at Dog Bowl Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event offers interactive stations — instrument decorating, tie-dye, a mural — plus a dog walk with VIA and Daisy Art Parade to celebrate local art.

On Friday, 7@four celebrated nine years on the air as anchors Melissa and Logan, alongside reporter Ava Herrera, recapped memorable moments and community stories from nearly a decade of local coverage.

The broadcast marked a significant milestone for the longstanding show.

Construction of the in-river park is on track to finish by the end of the year, and a city staff member said the design caters to casual weekend tubers (offering a welcoming outdoor option).

Last week, $1M in state and federal funds was allocated to renovate the Christiansburg passenger rail project, which remains on track to begin service soon.

Officials say the enhancements will support a smoother launch when the project starts.

An independent review published in JAMA guides flu, RSV and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for Roanoke residents starting in October; Dr. Sarah Nosal said everyone from six months up is advised to get the appropriate vaccine (including an updated mRNA option for adults 50 and older) to stay protected.

Virginia Tech's offensive line coach Matt Moore is building a season-opener rotation by mixing versatile players like Layth Freihat + Aidan Lynch with Altuner, while head coach James Franklin named Ethan Gronkemeier as starting quarterback; the option offense will test each lineman's snaps by game pace.