Artists get a chance to paint the town by creating mural in downtown Vinton

The Charity Cottage Thrift Store, along with Angelo’s Restaurant and the town of Vinton, is seeking proposals from local professional or amateur artists for a mural to enhance the aesthetics of downtown Vinton.

The mural will be painted on the southwest wall of a building at 333 Pollard St. that houses the restaurant and is near the thrift store.

The mural is about 30 feet long by 10 feet tall.

Although all types of creative interpretations will be considered, only hand-drawn or digital designs will be accepted. Submissions should consider the history, legacy and beauty found in the community of Vinton, according to advance information.

Artists must submit samples or images of the proposed mural artwork, along with an entry form, which is available at theadvancementfoundation.org/call-for-artists-mural-contest/.

The deadline for entries is May 15, and the winning artist will be notified May 25. The artist can start painting the mural June 1.

Vinton Town Manager Chris Lawrence; Annette Patterson, president of The Advancement Foundation; and Angelo Linares, owner of Angelo’s Restaurant, will judge the contest.

The Charity Cottage was founded by The Advancement Foundation as a nonprofit business with a social agenda. Proceeds from the cottage’s store benefit other charities, such as Manna Ministries, West End Center and Project Access, that are struggling.

Another foundation program, LEAP (Lift, Educate, Advocate and Proclaim), helps the underprivileged to learn new business skills by volunteering for Charity Cottage.

For more information on the mural project, contact Lauren Thompson at PR@theadvancementfoundation.org or call 345-1292.

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Air Force Airman Blake Thornburg has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio. Thornburg, a 2010 graduate of Northside High School, is the son of Kim and Buck Thornburg of Roanoke County.

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Zachary Saunders, a 2010 Salem High School graduate, has been promoted to lance corporal in the Marines.

He is with the 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa, Japan.

Saunders’ parents are Keith and Elizabeth Saunders of Roanoke.

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The Marcus M. Wilson Scholarship Fund will receive a portion of some meals purchased on May 16 during Spirit Night @ Chick-fil-A.

The restaurant at 4805 Valley View Blvd. N.W., will donate 10 percent of purchases from customers who mention the scholarship or bring in fliers from 4 to 8 p.m.

Fliers are available by calling 815-4584.

Lorena Wilson and her husband Marvin started the scholarship three years ago to honor their son Marcus, who was killed in an accident 13 days after graduating from Patrick Henry High School in 2010. He wanted to study criminal justice, his mother said.

Since the scholarship’s inception, seven graduates from William Fleming and Patrick Henry high schools and Forest Park Academy have each received $500 scholarships to continue their studies.

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