What's News Today for Monday, August 21, 2017

Schools across our area have different plans for the solar eclipse. Some are dismissing early and others are dismissing late with group activities to watch and use it as an educational experience.

There are watch parties across the area and some are handing out free eclipse glasses.
Downtown Roanoke in Market Square
Blacksburg on the Holtzman Alumni Center Lawn
Lynchburg at Riverfront Park
Danville Science Center
Radford University Center for the Sciences
Click here to check out more places. 

Roanoke City Council meets tonight. On the agenda is a hearing about the city using eminent domain to expand the greenway. The property is owned by Walker Foundry. If city council agrees to using eminent domain to get the property, the city has to make another effort to negotiate. According to documents, the city offered nearly $80,000 previously but the company rejected the plan saying it was not going to work with the foundry operations. Also on the agenda is a proposal to sell more the former Fishburn Park Caretaker's Cottage on Brambleton Avenue to restore the building and use it for a single-family residence.

The Virginia Cooperative Extension is hosting well water clinics in Roanoke this month, testing wells, springs, and cisterns. The informational meeting is today at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building on Church Avenue. You'll get sampling kits that have to be returned Wednesday. 

Beer:30 kicks off tonight. The new event is in downtown Roanoke's Market Square starting at 5:30 p.m. Starr Hill Brewery will be there. The company is opening its new local brewery next month. You can get in for free and beers are $5.