Employee
Above & Beyond Nominations:
Amber Neal Communications supervisor clayton laabs firefighter
Tipof the Month
From your finance department!
Friendly Reminder: Help Keep Our P-Card Records Clear and Accurate
When coding P-card transactions, please take a moment to include clear and descriptive details. Providing thorough descriptions helps our Finance team quickly and accurately identify transactions in the general ledger, and gives departments better visibility into how budget funds are being used. (example: instead of "annual dues" please include the employee name and the organization the dues are for).
In addition, please ensure transactions are coded to the correct accounts and that all reports include itemized receipts. This level of detail is essential for accurate recordkeeping and compliance.
A little extra care goes a long way—thank you for helping keep our financial records informative, accurate, and transparent!
Given the ongoing changes surrounding AI, here's an article discussing Windows 11's halt on adding AI features to Windows Notifications and settings. Microsoft is backing away from putting Copilot everywhere in Windows 11
Recreation Updates Recreation Updates
Park Updates Park Updates
Congratulations and Happy Retirement!
Congratulations and Happy Retirement!
Celebrating the Achievements of:
Celebrating the Achievements of:
Chris McCord (15 years)
Chris McCord (15 years) and Jeremy McPherson (20 years) and Jeremy McPherson (20 years)
Thank you for your incredible years of dedicated service!
Thank you for your incredible years of dedicated service!
The Cannon Park Pavilion’s The Cannon Park Pavilion’s
concrete pad has been concrete pad has been poured and construction poured and construction on the pavilion is complete! on the pavilion is complete!
The Corner Park playground and The Corner Park playground and
LUPE CARDONA
Officer L. Cardona plays a vital role in keeping Roanoke’s streets safe as a member of the department’s motorcycle unit. While patrol officers primarily respond to calls for service, Officer Cardona focuses on traffic enforcement addressing issues like speeding and equipment violations while still stepping in to assist patrol when needed.
Working on a motorcycle comes with unique challenges. From freezing winter mornings to triple-digit summer heat, Officer Cardona must stay alert and visible at all times to ensure both personal and public safety. The position requires completing an intensive two-week motor school, where officers train in everything from slow-speed maneuvers to high-speed braking and obstacle avoidance all on a strict pass/fail basis.
Safety doesn’t stop after training. Officer Cardona continues to refine skills through cone practice and motorcycle rodeos, which simulate real-world traffic situations and sharpen decision-making on the road.
Beyond enforcement, the motorcycle unit offers a unique opportunity to connect with the community. Whether handing out stickers to kids on Oak Street or chatting with residents who stop to say hello, Officer Cardona values the approachability that comes with the role.
Officer Cardona emphasizes that keeping Roanoke safe is a shared effort. “Our residents are our eyes and ears,” he notes, highlighting the importance of community involvement. Despite the challenges of modern policing, he and his fellow officers remain committed to making a positive difference every day one interaction at a time.
Visitors Center Visitors Center
Don’t let April Showers keep you
Don’t let April Showers keep you iinside. nside.
Turn a rainy day into an adventure
Turn a rainy day into an adventure at the Museum! at the Museum!
Jump into our NEW X’S and O’s Jump into our NEW X’S and O’s
MASHUP, where history comes MASHUP, where history comes alive and every question can alive and every question can possibly lead you to winning a possibly lead you to winning a prize. prize.
Test your trivia knowledge while Test your trivia knowledge while exploring the rich heritage of exploring the rich heritage of
Roanoke in a fun, interactive way. Roanoke in a fun, interactive way.
Special Events
ICYMI: Many of you know the Roanoke Roundup Street Festival has had its share of names. Well, this year we’re excited to share that the event has officially rebranded as Taste and Tunes on Oak St!
efromwhattheRounduphasbeen it’sreallya naturalcontinuationofwheretheeventwasalreadyheaded.Overthe pastseveralyears,twothingsconsistentlystoodoutasthebiggest draws:greatfoodandgreatmusic.Thenewnamesimplyreflects thosetwopillarsandhighlightswhatmakestheeventspecial.
Foodwillcontinuetoplayamajorrole.We’llonceagainhostour sanctionedSteakCookoffAssociationcompetitionandtheBBQ PitmasterPeople’sChoicecompetition,bothofwhichbringtalented cooksfromaroundtheregionandcreatealotofexcitementfor attendees.
Musicwillalsotakecenterstagethroughoutthedayandevening. We’rethrilledthatInfiniteJourneywillheadlinetheeventthisyear. Evenbetter,theinternationallyacclaimedHonkateers(Shawncantell youthestory)willbeopeningtheshow,whichshouldmakeforafun hometownmoment.
We’realsocontinuingtheRoanokeVoicecompetition,whichhas becomeagreatopportunityforlocalperformerstosteponstageand sharetheirtalentwiththecommunity.
Asalways,theseeventssucceedbecauseofthepeoplewhomake themhappen.Ifyou’reinterestedinparticipatinginoneofthe competitions,supportingtheevent,orvolunteeringtohelpout, pleasefeelfreetoreachouttome.We’realwayshappytohavemore peopleinvolved,andit’sagreatwaytobepartofsomethingfunfor thecommunity.
Library Library
HealingStones:AGardenforHope&Remembrance HealingStones:AGardenforHope&Remembrance
NestledbetweentheRoanokeSeniorCenterandLibrary,the NestledbetweentheRoanokeSeniorCenterandLibrary,the AdvocacyRockGardenisaplaceofreflection,remembrance,and AdvocacyRockGardenisaplaceofreflection,remembrance,and rrenewal. enewal.
Eachstoneplacedherehonorsalifetouchedbyviolenceand Eachstoneplacedherehonorsalifetouchedbyviolenceand rrepresentsoursharedcommitmenttohealing,safety,and epresentsoursharedcommitmenttohealing,safety,and compassion.Everyrocktellsastory:someofsorrow,someofsurvival, compassion.Everyrocktellsastory:someofsorrow,someofsurvival, allofstrength. allofstrength.
HowYouCanTakePart: HowYouCanTakePart:
Bringyourowndecoratedrockpaintedwithanupliftingimageor Bringyourowndecoratedrockpaintedwithanupliftingimageor messageandhelpfillthisspacewithcolor,creativity,and messageandhelpfillthisspacewithcolor,creativity,and compassion. compassion.
OrpickuparockattheRoanokeLibrarytodecorateandreturnto OrpickuparockattheRoanokeLibrarytodecorateandreturnto tthegarden. hegarden.
Together,webuildaGardenofVoices:avisiblesymbolofour Together,webuildaGardenofVoices:avisiblesymbolofour community’spromisetolisten,tobelieve,andtobuildasaferfuture community’spromisetolisten,tobelieve,andtobuildasaferfuture fforall. orall.
CreatedinpartnershipwiththeCityofRoanoke,RoanokePolice CreatedinpartnershipwiththeCityofRoanoke,RoanokePolice Department,RoanokeLibrary,andRoanokeSeniorCenter,inhonorof Department,RoanokeLibrary,andRoanokeSeniorCenter,inhonorof victimsandsurvivorsofviolenceinourcommunity. victimsandsurvivorsofviolenceinourcommunity.
Pet of the month Meet Dougie!
Owner: Kim Kruse
... also known as Chaos with fur and a smile.
Dougie is my 20-month-old Red-Tri Australian Shepherd.
Technically, he belongs to my daughter but since she ran off to Oklahoma to become a nurse, he has graciously taken over my life. So much for the whole “empty nester” thing My husband and I got a full-time, high-energy, four-legged roommate instead.
Dougie is basically an Olympic athlete. He dominates the dog park, conquers obstacle courses like he’s training for the canine Olympics, and attends Dogtopia here in Roanoke while I’m at work (because apparently he has a busier social calendar than I do).
He also believes he is part dolphin. Swimming is his passion, and keeping him out of the pool is a full-time job I am currently losing.
Oh and his party trick? He smiles. Whether he’s embarrassed or thrilled to see you, he flashes this goofy grin like he knows he’s adorable.
Dougie has brought a ton of joy into our lives… and by “joy,” I also mean constant activity, zero
personal space and a daily reminder that I now answer to a dog. I wouldn’t have it any other way!
If you would like your pet featured, please send pics and some fun facts to either Kim, Babette, CC, Christine or Lee Ann!
April Fools’ Day April Fools’ Day
April Fools’ Day, celebrated on April 1, has uncertain origins and likely developed from multiple traditions. One of the most widely accepted theories connects it to France’s adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1564. When the New Year was moved from April 1 to January 1, people who were slow to adopt the change or who continued celebrating in April were mocked and called “April fools.”
