Gene Marrano

After launching almost a year ago with its first cohort of students seeking a high school diploma and workforce credentials, the Excel Center Adult High School at Melrose Plaza is getting ready for a small expansion in size, starting with job fairs today through next Tuesday. Kelly Weems is Senior D

The first and only graduate so far of the Excel Center Adult High School at Melrose Plaza is Brittany Mills, 19 years after a car accident led to her not finishing. Now Mills has earned her diploma and a dental assistant certification. There are 14,000 adults in the Roanoke Valley without a high sch

From the WFIR News room this is your Culture Calendar – With a look at some of the local events coming up this weekend and in the near future. Sponsored by the Roanoke Cultural Endowment. See more at Roanoke Cultural Endowment.org. Its the opening weekend at Showtimers Community Theatre, this Thurs

A local hero of the American Revolution – whose name has become synonymous with the City of Salem – is being honored with a new exhibit by the Salem Museum & Historical Society; open now through next March after a ribbon cutting yesterday. “Andrew Lewis: Salem’s Revolutionary Champion,” features 18th century artifacts and weapons, re-created items where touching them is fine, and backstories on how fictional people lived at that time of change in this country, from all walks of life – even those enslaved in the valley. Assistant director for the Salem Museum is Hunter Haskins, he says there is a hands-on, interactive approach to the new exhibit on General Andrew Lewis and the times he lived in. WFIR’s Gene Marrano has that story:

FloydFest '26 "Daydream" as it was nicknamed was more than a dream this past weekend; it actually took place, as thousands headed to Floyd County for a long weekend of "Music, Magic and Mountains." Big name headliners, regional favorites and newer bands looking to win the "On the Rise" title and a m

From the WFIR News room this is your Culture Calendar – With a look at some of the local events coming up this weekend and in the near future. Sponsored by the Roanoke Cultural Endowment. See more at Roanoke Cultural Endowment.com. Its the second of three weekends at Showtimers Community Theatre, this Thursday night through August 9th, for the Drowsy Chaperone, a Tony award winning musical where colorful characters come to life in a lonely man’s apartment, in a musical that’s also filled with funny dialogue. Its the last weekend starting this Wednesday night for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Mill Mountain Theatre, as the story of Willie Wonka comes to life on the Trinkle Main Stage. The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2026-27 season, with masterworks concerts featuring the music of Mozart, Dvorak, Brahms and more … and Pops concerts with the music of Sinatra, Rock music from the 70’s and the Kings of soul. See RSO dot-com for details. Opera Roanoke has also announced its 2026-27 offerings, which includes Verdi’s La Traviata to kickoff the season September 19th and 20th at Jefferson Center. Hear more in the link below:

Beginning with the harvest, the more steps that fresh produce has to go through before landing on a consumer’s table means more opportunities for contamination – such as in the widely publicized recall of lettuce from 9 states, and almost 20 million eggs possibly being contaminated. Local growers are ready to step up says a spokesperson for the Roanoke Foodshed Network. Take some links out of the supply chain and meet face to face with the growers in season locally who are ready to offer you their produce at local; farmer’s markets and farm stands, or maybe the LEAP retail shop on Patterson Avenue. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

Its not a pharmacy like the corner drugstore where anyone can walk in to pick up a prescription, but is designed to serve long-term care facilities in Virginia and parts of surrounding states. “Specialty Rx” has cut a ribbon in Roanoke. Specialty Rx says it is the nation’s largest privately owned long-term pharmacy chain, supporting more than 11-hundred facilities and 350-thousand patients annually. Location number 15 opened recently on Connecticut Avenue in Roanoke and yesterday they cut a ribbon. WFIR’s Gene Marrano explains:

Its that time of year again – local public school systems are asking members of the community to “Load the Bus” this weekend with school supplies at any of the four Walmart stores in the Roanoke Valley. There’s a kickoff event tomorrow at 3-pm at the Salem Walmart, and then school supplies – or monetary donations – will be accepted through Sunday at 5pm, earmarked for students in need in Salem, Roanoke County, Roanoke City and Craig County. Every school supply donated by the public during the annual Load the Bus campaign will be distributed to children whose families may not be able to fully equip them for the new school year – in Roanoke County school gets underway again on August 13th. Chuck Lionberger is director of community relations for Roanoke County:

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys and Melrose Plaza unveiled its 2026 group of "Living Legends" this morning, five community leaders that are now honored on the "wall of history," that celebrates northwest Roanoke and Black achievement. Its the second group of Living Legends to be recognized after