MLILY Mattresses in Roanoke, VA

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National Volunteer Month: SCORE gives back and makes a difference.

Katalinas Communications, Local Business

This National Volunteer Month, SCORE Blue Ridge is proud to announce the positive impact of its volunteers, who donate their time and expertise to help entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses, guide them in achieving new levels of success, and ultimately creating jobs and strengthening the local economy.

In fiscal year 2024, SCORE Blue Ridge volunteers helped 296 entrepreneurs, providing them with 529 total mentoring sessions.

“SCORE is the most effective source of small business mentoring in the U.S.,” said SCORE Blue Ridge Chair Stephen Wachnowsky. “We are proud to be making a positive difference right here in our local community.”

SCORE data shows that entrepreneurs who receive three or more hours of mentoring report higher revenues and increased business growth. In addition, SCORE Blue Ridge offers a wealth of resources to guide entrepreneurs in every phase of their small business journey.

"We are grateful to the more than 10,000 SCORE volunteers nationwide who selflessly dedicate their time and business expertise to help entrepreneurs achieve their dreams," said SCORE CEO Bridget Weston.

Find out what's happening in Roanokefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Held in April every year, National Volunteer Month recognizes the contributions of volunteers and is an opportunity to join the impact of volunteerism and encourage more people to get involved in their communities. April is a great month to reaffirm your commitment to giving back, including becoming a SCORE volunteer mentor.

Visit http://www.score.org to learn more about local volunteer opportunities or to request a mentor for your small business.

About SCORE

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories. Visit SCORE at www.score.org.

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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More from Roanoke

The most common in our area is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, according to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center

ROANOKE, Va. – The first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been spotted in Virginia! According to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, hummingbird migration is underway, and it won’t be long before Southwest Virginia sees the return of one of it’s most beloved birds.

Many of them will travel extraordinary lengths, with some flying across the Gulf of Mexico in one flight. The Wildlife Center explained that there are more than 350 different species worldwide, 15 of which can be found in the United States.

According to Hummingbird Central, an online resource started by the Chaparell Nature Preserve that allows bird watchers to document their sightings on an interactive map, the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were spotted in Virginia on March 30 in La Crosse, Chesapeake, Elberon, and Williamsburg.

The first sightings could happen any day now in Southwest Virginia.

Hummingbird Central Map

If you normally put your hummingbird feeders out, we’re sure you’ve come across the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, as it is the most common in our area. But the Wildlife Center said it’s a chance you could get a glimpse of a Rufous or an Allen’s Hummingbird, which are rarely seen in Southwest Virginia. Sometimes, however, they are blown off their migratory routes.

According to the Wildlife Center, males tend to arrive first with their bright red throats, followed by the females shortly after.

Planning on putting your hummingbird feeder out? Here are some tips the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center recommends:

It’s time to put your feeders out. The hummingbirds almost here! WSLS 10 / WSLS.com put together a list of tips from the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke to help you safely attract and enjoy your hummingbirds. https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2025/03/25/hummingbird-migration-is-underway-heres-when-the-tiny-travelers-could-return-to-our-area/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=snd&utm_content=rlucas&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1iAyE0NQbOxTO8f0-3ki2RD4OL6o4cwM_rKUV5ep2lMFNRGghEzR3n3QU_aem_fviKJODbMr0rwPRgnZEP3Q #hummingbirds #hummingbirdspirit

Posted by Rachel Lucas WSLS 10 News on Thursday, March 27, 2025

Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Neighbors in Roanoke City are sounding the alarm about a house in their neighborhood that is overflowing with trash, which they say is an eyesore and a health hazard. Neighbors said they’ve been asking the city to take action for two years and reached out to WDBJ7 about the home in the 500 block of McDowell Avenue.

“The city has said they’re taking them to court. I’m not being funny, but when the grass is overgrown, and they put a notice out, they come and cut the grass. So why couldn’t something be done with this? We’ve called the city’s code enforcement office, we’ve seen people come out, but nothing has ever been done,” said Tei Mann, who lives next door to the property.

The property on McDowell Avenue has trash and various items scattered all around the outside of the home. Mann said it’s not only an eyesore; it creates a bad smell and causes some health concerns for people living in the area.

“It’s just getting worse. It’s on the sidewalks. It’s in the backyard. We’re having rats running through the yard. The neighbor can’t let her dogs out just due to the rats being out in the morning. I have a trampoline, and I can’t even put my children back there just for the fear of the rats,” she said.

Mann said the trash buildup on the property began in April 2023 and has only gotten worse since then, despite neighbors complaining to the homeowner and making calls to the city. She said when it rains, the problem becomes even worse.

“It smells like mildew. It smells like a giant sock, like you’re sitting inside of a giant dirty gym sock. It’s just getting awful, and you can’t really walk down the sidewalk,” said Mann. “My children can’t ride their bicycles just because they’re going to run over stuff. I walked down through there, and there was kerosene, gas, spilled everywhere, and you wouldn’t even have known it was there if you hadn’t looked down.”

Mann said people driving by will sometimes stop to take pictures of the house.

“It’s affecting everybody. I feel like it’s bringing the property values down. We just had a new house built across the street, and everybody else’s yards are kept neat. It’s becoming like a tourist attraction for Roanoke City. The city bus will stop and take pictures,” she said.

Mann said the property also attracts unwanted animals.

“It’s not only just rats, it’s raccoons, it’s possums. We don’t know what else is left, and it’s a safety hazard because you never know what may blow over, if it’s a nail or anything. If it catches fire, my house is gone,” she said.

The City of Roanoke has taken legal action against the property owner for failing to comply with the city zoning code, and he has been fined four times over the last year, most recently last week when a judge fined him $1,000.

“We’ve had the property owner in court as far back as May 2024. At that time, the property owner was found guilty and fined $500 due to non-compliance, a series of really not taking heed to the city’s requests to remove the items,” said Roanoke City Codes Compliance Administrator Jeff White.

White said because the property has continued to violate the city code, the city has continued to pursue legal action against the property owner. The court case against the owner is ongoing and was presented to a grand jury on Monday. It is awaiting indictment.

“We are staying ready. We are prepared to continue pursuing legal action and do what we are allowed to bring this issue into legal compliance. That may come in the form of the indictment and what unfolds from that decision, and our office working with that assistant commonwealth’s attorney’s office to ensure that we can resolve this issue,” said White.

White said the city’s goal is to get the items removed from the property either by the property owner or by the city itself, depending on the court’s ruling.

“We want to see those items removed from the property, or because it is outdoor storage, they could keep it, of course, but it would have to be in a fully enclosed building,” said White. “It is possible that at some point nearing the end of this legal pursuit or some time depending on the decision, that yeah, we may be in a position to go in there and actually remove it. But of course, at this point, it is in the court’s hands.”

White thanked the people living in the neighborhood for their patience.

“They have been extremely patient, and we definitely appreciate that. Anytime you’re dealing with an owner who is non-compliant and is simply not responding to city notices, there is a process, in this case, a legal process, which has to play out fully before we can see a complete resolution to this particular matter,” he said.

White said he encourages concerned neighbors to reach out to the city about the property, and it will gladly communicate where things stand with the legal case.

Copyright 2025 WDBJ. All rights reserved.

ROANOKE, Va. – Authorities say they expect to determine the cause of the massive fire that destroyed Noke Van Co. in southeast Roanoke on Friday night. The owners of Noke Van Co. are already looking ahead, planning for the future despite the loss.

“Everything’s gone,” said Justin VanBlaricom, CEO and owner of Noke Van Co. “It seems like the end, but it’s not.”

The fire tore through their space, which housed more than 18 vans, including Chris’s Coffee and Custard’s food truck.

Beth Woodrum, owner of Chris’s Coffee and Custard, shared the emotional impact of the loss. “He was really sad, just sat and watched it, but we talked about it this morning and he said, ‘I’ve got some ideas, Mom.‘”

Only a few vans and a single bag of tools made it out of the blaze.

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Josh Yerton, chief design officer and co-owner, recalled the moment he learned of the destruction. “Yeah, that was the first words out of his mouth were, ‘It’s all gone,’ you know, through tears, and I didn’t even know what to say. My heart sank.”

Over 34,000 square feet of hopes, dreams, and adventure vanished in an instant. However, the team at Noke Van Co., a crew of 20, is already focused on rebuilding and looking forward.

“This is the beginning of Noke 2.0, so this is what we got to start with, and we will grow it from here,” VanBlaricom said.

Now, they are searching for their next location, emphasizing that it doesn’t matter where. “The business is not the building; the business is this group of people,” Yerton added.

A GoFundMe campaign for the business has already surpassed $25,000. The owners say that money will go directly to supporting their employees. You can contribute to the campaign at GoFundMe: Rebuild Noke Van Co..

“We want to make our employees safe because there are 20 families that we feed,” VanBlaricom said, choking up.

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, he noted, “It’s pretty clear to us it was an accident, most likely related to electrical, but there was no ill intent. I know there’s rumors and stuff like that when there’s a big fire that these conspiracy theories come up, but it’s just a tragic accident.”

Chris’s Coffee and Custard is trying to raise funds too: A heartfelt thanks to Johnson Orthodontics for providing their generous matching gift of up to $20,000! To donate to this matching gift campaign for the truck, click here.

Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

The Vinton location will reopen later this Summer

Roanoke – Roanoke’s Big Lots! store location on Hershberger Road is scheduled to reopen this week. Roanoke store manager Jeffrey Tussey told 10 News the store will reopen at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 10. The reopen happens after closing several weeks ago due to a bankruptcy protection filing that led to many stores across the country shutting down.

A sign now hangs outside the Roanoke location that says, “The comeback starts soon!”

“We are going to be selling a lot more clothing than we did furniture,” Tussey said. “One of the major differences is we are going to be selling a lot more apparel. We are going to have a good selection. We are still going to carry furniture but maybe not as much.”

He says the store will carry branded apparel including U.S. Polo, Joe Boxer, and Steve Madden.

Roanoke’s location is one of many that will reopen under the Big Lots! brand as part of the Variety Wholesalers umbrella. The Roanoke store is one of nine stores reopening in six states.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Big Lots! brand back to life by offering more deals than ever, lots of famous brands, and a new apparel department for the entire family,” said Lisa Seigies, president and CEO of Variety Wholesalers. “We’re opening stores quickly so we can serve the community. We know the stores won’t be perfect to start, but each week we’ll add more new products as we build toward the grand opening celebration in the fall. Every time a customer visits Big Lots!, we want them to find something new and exciting!”

More reopenings across the country are planned in May and June, including the Vinton location.

Roanokes location is part of the the first of four waves of openings according to Business Wire. Future opening dates will take place in May and June across eastern markets, totaling 219 locations.

In addition to the initial nine locations, Variety Wholesalers plans to reopen Big Lots! stores in North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and West Virginia, among other states.

Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.