tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39223200487905575302024-03-13T01:31:01.368-04:00moreFRONTmoreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.comBlogger791125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-12262307728103331582014-02-20T14:47:00.000-05:002014-02-20T14:47:53.647-05:00The BUTT stops here?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One afternoon a couple of weeks ago I decided to walk to the local branch of the library. My route took me past a building that houses federal employees. I was infuriated to see dozens and dozens of cigarette butts littering not only the area around a side door, but the sidewalk and street beside the building. "Really?", I thought. "If you're not going to screen, pre-hiring, for non-smokers then put a bucket of sand or something outside for them to dispose of their butts!" I still think I'll put a nasty-gram on their door suggesting they do something to stop trashing my neighborhood, because make no mistake about, cigarette butts ARE trash. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are very slow to decompose and so lie there until they are swept into storm drains, possibly to end up in a creek nearby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the interest of full disclosure, I have the dubious and unhealthy distinction of being a smoker. But I find it reprehensible how many people just fling cigarette butts out the car window or drop them when they're walking down the street. And don't get me started on the people who see a red light as an opportunity to dump their ashtrays into the street! When my ashtray is full I dump it into a bag and put it in the trash. When I'm smoking outside somewhere that doesn't have a disposal bin I put the cigarette out and put the butt in my pocket or in a tissue in my bag or find a trash can nearby. I don't just throw it down on the street or in the grass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read recently that urban birds put cigarette butts in their nests because they have figured out (?) that doing so keeps parasites out of the nests. Well, great, that takes care of maybe one out of every million butts that hit the ground. I wonder if the people who drop butts anywhere would or do throw their candy wrappers, cups or soda cans, fast food wrappers, etc. out the window or wherever they finish with them. I hope not, though a drive around our area will prove that some do exactly that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Roanoke County started their "The World is Not your Ashtray" program in January of this year. Roanoke City, just this week, began its own "anti-butt" campaign. I enthusiastically applaud both and wish them all the luck in the world in changing the thoughtless behavior that created this problem. But I'm willing to bet that a fair number of the offenders see nothing wrong with their actions and may even laugh at or resent being told differently. Unless we deputize a thousand folks to hand out citations to observed offenders how much is signage really going to do? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a thought. Maybe instead of putting a nasty-gram on the door of the building in my neighborhood, the next time I see someone smoking outside their door I just calmly, in a friendly way, suggest they get something in which to dispose of cigarette butts or sweep them up periodically. Maybe next time you're walking or riding with someone who litters, you ask them to please not do that anymore. I think we have a better chance for changing the behavior "one on one" than "them versus us". It's worth a shot anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sure the birds will adjust.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-31198263565288723962014-01-28T15:03:00.001-05:002014-01-28T15:12:49.355-05:00Digital Madness<h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My neighbor called me the other night to ask if I could come over and replace the cartridge in her printer. "Sure," I said....how easy was this going to be? Famous last words. Well, not exactly "last" words, there were many more that followed, few of them suitable for printing in a professional blog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cartridge had a sticker on top showing you how to insert it. It also had, as it's number one instruction, something about moving or removing a "green tab". We both looked at the cartridge as intensely as we might an unearthed treasure and neither of us saw anything green anywhere on it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh well, I figured, let's just slide the new cartridge into the slot the old one came out of and we're good to go. Wrong. No matter how I put that cartridge into that slot it wouldn't seat and inform the printer that it was there. I read the instructions that came with the cartridge...nothing. I made sure the cartridge was the right one for her printer. It was. Turn the printer off and back on...nope! Grrrr!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was at this point I told my neighbor my personal doomsday theory:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Computers, especially the ones in our homes, are the brainchild of some evil empire who is currently biding its time...waiting patiently for us all to go stark raving mad....unable to communicate with the outside world. When they land on our shores and demand our submission we will fall on our faces before them and say, "Thank God! Which one of you knows how to get rid of the blue screen of death?"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK, maybe it's not that bad but it is frustrating. Program updates, patches, new versions of everything, crashes....it is maddening! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think you've got issues with your home computer? In the February FRONT we talk to data professionals about cybersecurity and get tips on how we can protect ourselves. Check out that story and all the great content. Sign up for our early release eblast at <a href="http://www.vbfront.com/">http://www.vbfront.com/</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It'll give you something to do while we are waiting for the invasion of those who sent Bill Gates and Steve Jobs to prepare the situation!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cathy Cooper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Valley Business FRONT</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-42205566932198822982014-01-23T12:30:00.002-05:002014-01-23T12:30:36.766-05:00B r r r r r....Think you're cold?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="223" src="http://s.imwx.com/dru/2014/01/c8b7be51-827c-4d0e-9909-8c127ef9b46c_980x551.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/news/photos-winter-storm-janus-pounds-northeast-mid-atlantic-20140121</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baby, it's cold out there! </span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I dashed to my car this morning...a 30 foot walk I couldn't complete fast enough not to just hate life...I thought about all the people who have a lot farther to walk or have no choice but to be out in this inhospitable weather. Let's take a minute to think about these:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Mail Carriers</b> - They park the little truck, then walk several blocks delivering our very important sale flyers and charity solicitations. Then it's back in the truck for a block or two and repeat the process. Say what you will about the Postal Service, these folks deserve some respect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Sanitation workers</b> - How would you like riding on the back of a moving vehicle when the wind chill, standing still, is in the negative numbers? They don't make much for the job they do, but our streets and our yards would be a mess if they didn't do it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>People with dogs</b> - I know, they <i>are</i> kind of responsible for their own misery, but dog people can't imagine life without that pet. If you're lucky enough to have a fenced back yard to turn your best buddy loose in, good for you...and good luck next spring when you decide to go out in the yard the first time! But a lot of dog owners live in apartments or condos and have no choice but to follow their dogs around until...the spirit moves them, if you will. Some of them may be re-thinking this whole "dog owner" thing, but precious few of them would give it up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>School bus drivers and crossing guards</b> - Think your car takes a long time to warm up? Try waiting for a huge, poorly insulated, metal box to warm up. Then, every half mile or less, you get to fling the doors open to all that cold air. Not fun, I'm guessing. And the crossing guards, out there in that little wooden box (if they're lucky) waiting to make sure our children aren't mowed down by cold, grumpy drivers. These two groups are seriously underappreciated!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Construction and utility workers</b> - Building a house you just can't wait to get into? Well, thank the folks who work when it's freezing. Better yet, remember that if they <i>don't</i> work they probably don't get paid! So, if your project is a little behind, try remembering what you were doing when it was 15 degrees outside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Homeless people <span style="font-size: large;"><i>and</i></span> animals</b> - There are shelters for homeless people, but not enough to house all of them. Some of them are afraid of shelters for reasons those of us with homes probably wouldn't understand. My heart breaks for the dogs and cats who do not have a person who loves them. Where do you get a drink of water when everything is frozen? How do you stay warm without shelter? What if you haven't eaten and are too weak to go foraging? Look around your neighborhood and show some love to those animals other people forgot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are just a few examples of those who have to brave the extreme cold. There are plenty of others....send us your "frozen heroes". I'll post them here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cathy Cooper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Valley Business FRONT</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-3952815827735951102014-01-15T15:35:00.000-05:002014-01-15T15:35:07.590-05:00From Fat to Fit...What Works<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our January cover story, <b><i>Fit for Business</i></b>, takes a look at some of the many kinds of fitness centers and exercise programs available to those who are interested in getting in shape, or changing their shape.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxNrKiDYgMZSom2ZfL3G6iJfffPH4IQddVJols59FhIfK1FxeruuC8tdKm8QzvBfs49KuMOxwULmHHV_L3-kzbFJxUoZXxl0FPv8QcFVeqMB3AAgXq5gcrUY9iLLQsQgbmNHC62Hi1Q59/s1600/Cardio6_IMG_0597___inset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxNrKiDYgMZSom2ZfL3G6iJfffPH4IQddVJols59FhIfK1FxeruuC8tdKm8QzvBfs49KuMOxwULmHHV_L3-kzbFJxUoZXxl0FPv8QcFVeqMB3AAgXq5gcrUY9iLLQsQgbmNHC62Hi1Q59/s1600/Cardio6_IMG_0597___inset.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Photo: Mike Wilson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A large component of the fitness business is weight loss. Doctors and weight loss gurus have been telling us for years that exercise or diet alone won't give us the same results as exercise <b>and</b> diet. But is that really the bottom line? Statistically, most people who lose a significant amount of weight will gain it all or most of it back. Sometimes, even more weight is gained than was lost in the diet phase. Why is that?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quite simply, dieting is about losing weight, not changing the way we live. Unless there is a long-term commitment and the determination to make changes to our everyday lives, we are setting ourselves up for failure and disappointment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In an October, 2013 blog for <i>People</i> magazine, renowned fitness and nutrition expert Harley Pasternak, takes on weight loss television shows, saying, "...in my opinion these shows are doing more to hurt our understanding of healthy living than they are to help it."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boot camps, retreats, 24/7 monitoring and live-in personal trainers do result in dramatic weight loss, but how many of us can arrange or even afford that? Ordinary people trying to lose weight are usually on their own or maybe have a friend or two making the journey with them. It's hard to lose weight (I'm not talking to those who just need to get rid of that five pounds you gained over the holidays!) and even harder to keep it off forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Programs like Weight Watchers work to educate people about food and making the best choices for long-term weight management. There are other programs, each with its own approach to weight loss. Many of them require you to eat only foods they sell. And all of them cost something, a joining fee, meeting charges, consultation fees, food costs. It can be expensive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WebMD might have the best free advice out there:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Set a realistic goal</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Log your foods...all of them</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Log your activity</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monitor your nutrients (fats, sodium, sugar, etc.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Track your progress</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going it on your own is harder than having to turn up weekly and be accountable for your progress, or lack of progress, but if you're disciplined and determined it is possible to successfully lose and keep off weight on your own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How about you? What have you tried that worked...or failed? Let us know!</span><br />
<br />moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-1693265537334609852013-10-30T13:50:00.000-04:002013-10-30T13:50:05.179-04:00LIGHTS...CAMERA...ACTION!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Valley Business FRONT is excited about our new collaboration with WSLS, the local NBC affiliate. We are taking stories from the pages of the FRONT, adding dimension and personality. In <i>Behind the Business Scene</i>, Katie Love, WSLS features reporter, visits the businesses featured in our stories and talks to the business owners. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fa22pgvxqo3sJg84rj_VzEkqyhBddC5ySpzLbSIHilFlgmhHx_Sa05Q7kqMZNU97MZ-hLLR-shWV_xYXqZ2EX4nx_j_-P2N8X5v-gqphLt7vYsrIKBoSi2jnYWRnoA6Dm1PrLmbm-Opq/s1600/IMG_9846+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fa22pgvxqo3sJg84rj_VzEkqyhBddC5ySpzLbSIHilFlgmhHx_Sa05Q7kqMZNU97MZ-hLLR-shWV_xYXqZ2EX4nx_j_-P2N8X5v-gqphLt7vYsrIKBoSi2jnYWRnoA6Dm1PrLmbm-Opq/s320/IMG_9846+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe's Trees - Photo by Mike Wilson</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the first story Katie visited Joe's Trees, a business we featured in our August cover story about agritourism. Check out the broadcast piece here: </span><a href="http://www.wsls.com/story/23672156/behind-the-business-scene-push-for-agritourism-continues"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe's Trees</span></a> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_O8-AsWwh9JsbBmUj0fKIpMl7P7cjpQApPBvlzxszfQ0lHZk5bzAqRicK1MEWce_PGrsyeVh3qE4RpFurwl4LbkbDWtZcQDtoQ-qVrk_-FOVdVzBuIb1kdJ-dOoDtBMOkF9f-wa0ATCgH/s1600/2013-08-15+16.29.44_treat_time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_O8-AsWwh9JsbBmUj0fKIpMl7P7cjpQApPBvlzxszfQ0lHZk5bzAqRicK1MEWce_PGrsyeVh3qE4RpFurwl4LbkbDWtZcQDtoQ-qVrk_-FOVdVzBuIb1kdJ-dOoDtBMOkF9f-wa0ATCgH/s320/2013-08-15+16.29.44_treat_time.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Treat time at City Dogs - Photo by Jeanne Chitty</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Katie's next story was straight from our September issue... Downtown Roanoke doggie day care. We covered City Dogs, a downtown business with a growing enrollment of urban canines. Check out Katie's report here: <a href="http://www.wsls.com/video?clipId=9456439&autostart=true">City Dogs</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you missed the August story, which profiled several great agritourism sites in our area, or the September story about City Dogs, or any of our terrific issues, just go to <a href="http://vbfront.com/">vbfront.com</a>. Click on "issues" to read all the stories in all the issues!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are more features to come...so keep up with the FRONT and WSLS! </span>moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-78121707029224172942013-10-02T14:02:00.000-04:002013-10-02T15:08:23.888-04:00What's not open during the shutdown<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It might surprise you to know that the "partial shutdown" impacts our area in more ways than you think. If you have the perception that furloughed employees all work in Washington, DC, nothing could be farther from the truth. Only about 20% of federal government employees work in the nation's capital. Most are spread out throughout the country and many of them are right here in southwestern Virginia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many people in our area are going without pay. At sites operated by private companies, like The Peaks of Otter lodge and restaurant, employees have been furloughed and reservations for rooms and dining cancelled. The same goes for the concessionaires at Mabry's Mill. The Blue Ridge Music Center is closed and performances and special events cancelled.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though the Blue Ridge Parkway is open, the attractions, campgrounds, and even picnic sites are closed. The impact on the local economy will take a long time to be determined, and if the shutdown goes on for long, it will take a long time to recover from the loss of revenue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a list of where you needn't bother visiting until this impasse is resolved:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Blacksburg Shooting Range</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Blue Ridge Music Center</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Boley Camping Field</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.peaksofotter.com/images/View-from-lake-of-building-web3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://www.peaksofotter.com/images/View-from-lake-of-building-web3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from The Peaks of Otter Lodge website</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Booker T. Washington National Monument </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Caldwell Camping Fields</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cascades Day Use Area</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Craig Creek Recreation Area</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dragon's Tooth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fenwick Mines Day Use Area</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Flat Top Trailhead</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Glen Alton Day Use Area</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Interior Whistle Stop Picnic Area</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mabry's Mill</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pandapas Pond Day Use Area</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Peaks of Otter Lodge and Restaurant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Potts Shooting Range</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Roaring Run Day Use Area</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Steel Bridge Campground</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pines Campground</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Walnut Flats Campground</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">White Cedar Horse Camp</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">White Rocks Campground</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Wolf Creek Day Use Area</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Want to contact your US Senator or Representative? You'll have to write them. Until the shutdown is over, their Washington offices are closed. Here's how:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">9th Congressional District</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Congressman Bob Goodlatte</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Washington,DC Office</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">2309 Rayburn HOB</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Washington, DC 20515</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(202) 225-5431</span><br />
<span style="color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">6th Congressional District</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Congressman Morgan Griffith</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Washington, DC Office</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1108 Longworth HOB</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Washington, DC 20515</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(202) 225-3861</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">5th Congressional District</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Congressman Robert Hurt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Washington, DC Office</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">125 Cannon</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Washington, DC 20515</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(202) 225-4711</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Senators</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Senator Tim Kaine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">388 Russell Senate Office Building</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Washington, DC 20510</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(202) 224-4024</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Senator Mark Warner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">475 Russell Senate Office Building</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Washington, DC 20510</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1-877-676-2759</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-83773774251880668972013-10-02T13:12:00.001-04:002013-10-02T13:20:17.050-04:00FRONT favorites<h2>
</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Volume V of the Valley Business Front is complete (October 2012-September 2013).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can vote for your favorite cover or your top choice contributor, or both.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can pick up to three for each category. Email your picks to <a href="mailto:poll@vbfront.com">poll@vbfront.com</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Results will be published in our FRONTlist in the November issue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">View the covers and the contributors list below or see it in our on-line edition or in the printed October issue of the FRONT.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKhz4Ge_HB13yDbQMl950hgrwA035EAhiQntV1Ws2N0KNsyDz93nw7IPKe1MF3XcHmg4JvCCxz_sWynV7fgM8CXLiBvsPlBpB6D_i4NxANwGOwavUHUd-oDavrhavValoAlYxTMago3ar/s1600/FRONTfavorites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKhz4Ge_HB13yDbQMl950hgrwA035EAhiQntV1Ws2N0KNsyDz93nw7IPKe1MF3XcHmg4JvCCxz_sWynV7fgM8CXLiBvsPlBpB6D_i4NxANwGOwavUHUd-oDavrhavValoAlYxTMago3ar/s400/FRONTfavorites.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on image to enlarge</td></tr>
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moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-41989065191599828412013-09-03T10:57:00.003-04:002013-09-04T13:12:26.602-04:00Assisting Senior Drivers...<h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblKv6sbBjXeZCb_d5pBYUiKEAvq_VGSXqXb9tJkZpMl_Qa5pubo1nwaeZU9XfdOV1ZHpgqNVU__MgJmfo3AyOAYCXNr15R0omnGgefmv6g3NY9ip_wP3TER2T438M1Yje_Ip9K1pA/s1600/SENIOR+senior_driving.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblKv6sbBjXeZCb_d5pBYUiKEAvq_VGSXqXb9tJkZpMl_Qa5pubo1nwaeZU9XfdOV1ZHpgqNVU__MgJmfo3AyOAYCXNr15R0omnGgefmv6g3NY9ip_wP3TER2T438M1Yje_Ip9K1pA/s320/SENIOR+senior_driving.tif" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
...what you need to know and how to have "the talk".</h3>
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Statistics show that most drivers will outlive their ability to drive by about 7 to 10 years. How do you know when it's time to talk to a senior driver about giving up the keys? Your decision should not be based on any one warning sign but a pattern of warning signs or the degree of danger any warning sign poses to the driver and others.</div>
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</div>
<div>
Signs that it may be time to take the keys:</div>
<ul>
<li>waning confidence or unease with driving</li>
<li>signaling incorrectly or not at all</li>
<li>confusing the gas and brake pedals</li>
<li>having near misses</li>
<li>hitting curbs</li>
<li>missing stop signs or lights</li>
<li>not noticing important activity on the side of the road</li>
<li>driving in the wrong lane</li>
<li>getting lost in familiar places</li>
<li>dents and scratches on the car</li>
</ul>
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More information and warning signs can be found at the Virginia Highway Safety Office, a division of the DMV at <a href="http://www.dmvnow.com/safety/#programs/mature/index.html ">http://www.dmvnow.com/safety/#programs/mature/index.html </a><br />
<br />
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is currently engaged in several projects dealing with senior driving and training. For more information about these studies and other projects VTTI has on the board, go to <a href="http://www.vtti.vt.edu/research/vrus/index.html">http://www.vtti.vt.edu/research/vrus/index.html</a>.</div>
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When you know it's time to discuss giving up driving what do you say? It's hard to tell someone they have to stop doing something that's so important to their self-image. The American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) has an online seminar to guide you through the process from understanding what driving means to seniors, to observing warning signs, and "the talk".Go to </div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.aarp.org/home-garden/transportation/we_need_to_talk/">http://www.aarp.org/home-garden/transportation/we_need_to_talk/</a></div>
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If you are a senior who is concerned about your ability to drive safely, AARP also offers an on-line refresher course in driving skills or helps you find a live course in your area. There's one being held on Brambleton Ave.(Roanoke) in September and October. There is also a quiz to help you determine how safe a driver you are. Click here to be taken directly to the AARP website. <a href="http://www.aarp.org/home-garden/transportation/driver_safety/?intcmp=HP-LN-sec8-pos2">http://www.aarp.org/home-garden/transportation/driver_safety/?intcmp=HP-LN-sec8-pos2</a></div>
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-64342764821868376162013-09-03T10:54:00.000-04:002013-09-04T13:13:41.657-04:00Roanoke County Property Rights Resolution<h2>
</h2>
<h3>
Guest Interview with Ed Elswick <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7gjw6-iqq3uA-Y44oYh1J2IANW4Oij2tsbLjkKcHlTIgUvGIa1-LMgoWJAG8EGzve_m0Ld6A3P-O64q6nweSPVNVZshrELH8l35X_-RKibIjSoBtG1PbHeODPbcgKD62vuWqJsKc/s1600/Keagy+Village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7gjw6-iqq3uA-Y44oYh1J2IANW4Oij2tsbLjkKcHlTIgUvGIa1-LMgoWJAG8EGzve_m0Ld6A3P-O64q6nweSPVNVZshrELH8l35X_-RKibIjSoBtG1PbHeODPbcgKD62vuWqJsKc/s320/Keagy+Village.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is it necessary to introduce a resolution in Roanoke County that effectively restates rights already codified in the state constitution, state code, and county code and ordinances? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
That's a matter of opinion. To read what some informed local folks think, go to<br />
<a href="http://www.roanoke.com/opinion/pointcounterpoint/2160628-12/citizens-need-a-stronger-voice.html">Point Counterpoint</a> where The Roanoke Times featured the issue on Sunday, August 25; rebuttals were printed on Sunday, September 1.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
One of the projects used to illustrate the need for such a resolution is the Keagy Village project. To learn why, go to <a href="http://ww2.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/316982/">http://ww2.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/316982/</a><br />
<br />
The resolution introduced by Ed Elswick is being revised following board discussions about the issue. As soon as the revisions are complete we will post the resolution, in its entirety, on this page.moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-69700345562608227082013-08-07T14:21:00.000-04:002013-08-07T14:21:20.951-04:00MORE: Antiques and Flea Markets<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXIvv1ObXrRiY_ZqCA5OwkXeN3Wqxam6kgNfol1uxgROlqzx7mFcAa-hjouCRZSPW1pm64rHRzgrQvz_2X7n445rVdkygItxvmr_HbUsCZB-kdIKMlQ84umoL87jgNxZrwg0aAFZNrJcH/s1600/SENIOR+CharlottesWeb_items.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXIvv1ObXrRiY_ZqCA5OwkXeN3Wqxam6kgNfol1uxgROlqzx7mFcAa-hjouCRZSPW1pm64rHRzgrQvz_2X7n445rVdkygItxvmr_HbUsCZB-kdIKMlQ84umoL87jgNxZrwg0aAFZNrJcH/s320/SENIOR+CharlottesWeb_items.tif" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Tom Field</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Our August story "Caught in the collecting web", featured Charlotte's Web, one of the many venues for antique and collectibles shoppers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(540) 375-7229</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Locations to indulge your passion for antiquing or treasure hunting abound in our area. Some other local shops are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Roanoke Antique Mall (540) 344-0264</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Antiques on Main (Christiansburg) (540) 381-0539</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Antiques by the Market (Salem) (540) 387-0040</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Memories Past and Present (Radford) (540) 639-4709</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">For information about the dozens of other shops, visit:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.sundaydriver.com/">http://www.sundaydriver.com/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This company produces shopping maps for different areas of Virginia as well as other states. If you're planning a trip that includes antique shopping, you'll find one of their maps helpful.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-74802811842238228802013-08-07T12:35:00.000-04:002013-08-07T14:24:01.375-04:00MORE...Agritourism <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWJ-wWnvJlCnfKSZH03Uu__roovFKN4Rqjq_HBYegKhAGk1pK_eBUk-N1UUBHYKKnzKlYqTpNgGnt58757ATnbOXvnKjLAZ8fQ5Ufwadvm4HE99fvW395bwcFbxGcrGIZdpmONGplVQ_g/s1600/COVER+Johnsons+OrchardsIMG_9323+27.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWJ-wWnvJlCnfKSZH03Uu__roovFKN4Rqjq_HBYegKhAGk1pK_eBUk-N1UUBHYKKnzKlYqTpNgGnt58757ATnbOXvnKjLAZ8fQ5Ufwadvm4HE99fvW395bwcFbxGcrGIZdpmONGplVQ_g/s320/COVER+Johnsons+OrchardsIMG_9323+27.tif" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Mike Wilson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Our August story on agritourism featured four farm operations in the Roanoke and New River Valleys, but there are many locations to visit in the area and throughout the Commonwealth.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For more information on the featured operations:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joe's Trees: <a href="http://joestrees.com/">http://joestrees.com/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Johnson's Orchards: <a href="http://www.johnsonsorchards.com/">http://www.johnsonsorchards.com/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thistle Cove Farm: <a href="http://www.thistlecovefarm.com/">http://www.thistlecovefarm.com/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blue Ridge Vineyards: <a href="http://www.blueridgevineyard.com/">http://www.blueridgevineyard.com/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website lists dozens of farms, wineries, micro-breweries and festivals. Check them out at:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/news/c-tourism.shtml">http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/news/c-tourism.shtml</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HNtU6RF5bRAkfztaHnxvxBvW9oepyD4Huq2EW06VcBH26Er6ANsc3pG_ACuylXS0B1K5zQ0m9Ek9lDnH56KljnylFfkko2LeEjg68MdxOjovAWMDZTX1tdxlPUJbqhOTPIh4BNztuQHZ/s1600/Beer+Tap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HNtU6RF5bRAkfztaHnxvxBvW9oepyD4Huq2EW06VcBH26Er6ANsc3pG_ACuylXS0B1K5zQ0m9Ek9lDnH56KljnylFfkko2LeEjg68MdxOjovAWMDZTX1tdxlPUJbqhOTPIh4BNztuQHZ/s1600/Beer+Tap.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: vdacs website</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><em>August is craft beer month in Virginia! </em></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><em>Find a great local brewer and celebrate!</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-86891862255547186392013-08-07T11:53:00.002-04:002013-08-07T14:25:01.467-04:00MORE...Doing good, locally<h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RO6Q2p_R8Bo14Kyh_oCW7XlOsG-b2wuOPbMmzr7E0CurxQ88QBwlFICDevDqZNAr6RkQnGtaV9z-reWqEQiFG5wb6d-4F-Uh-cs4GsdKUwIE1u4ukOz1CGY6BUA6jVdY7M3O9zaVwOwg/s1600/piggy+bank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RO6Q2p_R8Bo14Kyh_oCW7XlOsG-b2wuOPbMmzr7E0CurxQ88QBwlFICDevDqZNAr6RkQnGtaV9z-reWqEQiFG5wb6d-4F-Uh-cs4GsdKUwIE1u4ukOz1CGY6BUA6jVdY7M3O9zaVwOwg/s320/piggy+bank.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: stock image</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Did the FRONT article on charitable funding inspire you to become more involved in philanthropy in the Roanoke Valley? Here are some guidelines from the Foundation for Roanoke Valley to help you get started:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Establishing an endowment fund requires a minimum of $10 thousand.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Scholarship and Grantee Endowment funds require a $25 thousand minimum.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">You and like-minded friends or family may pool your resources to reach the minimum fund requirement.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are no set-up fees but the Foundation does assess a modest annual charge to administer a fund and support its work in the community.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Getting Started:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">First, determine your charitable purpose or intent.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Select the type of charitable fund that best supports your purpose. Foundation staff can outline your options and discuss the advantages of each.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Select a name for you fund. (your name, that of a family member, the name of a favorite cause, or a name that allows you to remain anonymous)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Depending on the type of fund you establish, you may designate current fund advisors such as yourself and spouse and successor advisors such as your children. This and other information noted above will be included in the fund agreement prepared by Foundation staff.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Sign the simple fund agreement.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Make an establishing gift.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Receive a tax deduction (to the maximum extent allowed by law) at the time the fund is established and when additional contributions are made to the fund.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">For more information or to contribute to existing funds, go to:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.foundationforroanokevalley.org/">http://www.foundationforroanokevalley.org/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span><br />moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-46889821748125002962013-05-14T11:02:00.000-04:002013-05-14T11:02:07.017-04:00Virginia Tech President Steger Resigns<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Steger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger has announced his
intention to step down as university president. The university's board of
visitors will assemble a search committee immediately.</div>
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Steger will remain as president until the search concludes and his replacement
begins work.</div>
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“When one is totally absorbed in doing what one loves, 14 years pass in a
nanosecond," said Steger. “These years have been the highlight of my
career in higher education, and it has been my privilege to serve as president
during a period in which we have strengthened our academic programs and
expanded our research and outreach programs.</div>
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“As a three-time graduate of this institution, Virginia Tech has afforded me
the tools for leadership and personal fulfillment. I have been doubly blessed
because I then had the opportunity to spend virtually my entire career in the
service of this great university,” said Steger.</div>
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“We sadly accept President Steger’s desire to step down as president,” said
Mike Quillen, rector of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. “He has had a long
and successful tenure but we understand his desire to ratchet back the
extraordinary commitment of a major university president. Charles has truly
been outstanding, visionary, and productive. I believe when history looks back
upon his tenure as president, he will be ranked among the best of Virginia
Tech’s strong leaders. He has advanced Virginia Tech’s position and our ability
to serve the commonwealth on many levels.”</div>
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Steger has spent virtually his entire career at Virginia Tech leading it from
one superlative to another. Since becoming president in 2000, the university
has increased it research portfolio by more than 300 percent, grown enrollment
from 27,869 to 31,087, increased graduate enrollment increased by 12 percent,
raised more than $1 billion in private funding, added more than 2.5 million
square feet of buildings, formed a school of biomedical engineering, created a
school of medicine, and joined the Atlantic Coast Conference.</div>
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Early in his tenure, Steger charted a course to bolster the research enterprise
and compete among the nation’s elite universities. He oversaw creation of
broad-based research institutes capable of garnering large-scale,
multi-disciplinary sponsored research grants. He made significant investments
in selected life science programs. University sponsored research moved from
$192 million in 2000 to more than $450 million today.</div>
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Over the course of his presidency, Virginia Tech has increasingly become a
first-choice school in the mid-Atlantic region for highly achieving students.
The average grade point average of incoming freshmen moved from 3.54 to 3.92
(on a 4.0 scale) and SAT average changed from 1173 to 1212 during his time at
the helm.</div>
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He adopted a business model that invested in seven large centralized research
institutes: Virginia Tech Transportation Institute; Institute for Critical
Technology and Applied Sciences; Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute;
Virginia Bioinformatics Institute; Fralin Life Sciences Institute; Institute
for Society, Culture and Environment; and the Institute for Creativity, Arts,
and Technology. The institute format allowed Virginia Tech to compete for and
win large-scale multidisciplinary contracts.</div>
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Steger partnered with Carilion Clinic to create the innovative Virginia Tech Carilion
School of Medicine and Research Institute <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>forming the fifth medical school in Virginia.
The Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute has quickly garnered world-wide
attention for unique new approaches to neuroscience.</div>
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A hallmark of his administration was the realization of a 50-year dream for
Hokie fans – entry into the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2004. Football won
four conference titles in the first eight years of play.<br />
Steger championed the arts investing in liberal arts and arts programming. He
was the driving force behind the new Center for the Arts scheduled to open this
fall.</div>
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Along with two other Virginia university presidents, he helped write
legislation giving greater operating autonomy to senior state universities.</div>
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Steger had a knack for fundraising. In 2011, the school completed a seven-year
campaign raising more than $1.1 billion. Earlier in 1998, under his leadership
as vice president for development and university relations, he led a fund
raising effort garnering $337 million.</div>
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Virginia Tech made history in 2003 when it built the “terascale” supercomputer,
System X. Using off-the-shelf Apple computers, System X was at the time
the fastest university computer in the world and third fastest of any computer
– business, government, or academic.</div>
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-19314226249422156852013-04-16T15:55:00.000-04:002013-04-16T15:55:53.887-04:00Lorton Retires from Carilion; Halliwill New CFO<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEe2_Z4yzdFyGueHYQDSagPS5pTer9wZPuSl-KwCwPTGUE7Vo1UfKyf9_c-ivpWtNVwBQDMo2YDzYfbg5p8UCQ-4NYMN1nEx65bIwIprxY74OJJDuM6Rto2pMnXuaKsLiP-xYwk0tcELeP/s1600/FRONTNOTES-don+lorton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEe2_Z4yzdFyGueHYQDSagPS5pTer9wZPuSl-KwCwPTGUE7Vo1UfKyf9_c-ivpWtNVwBQDMo2YDzYfbg5p8UCQ-4NYMN1nEx65bIwIprxY74OJJDuM6Rto2pMnXuaKsLiP-xYwk0tcELeP/s320/FRONTNOTES-don+lorton.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don Lorton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After more than four decades of service to Carilion Clinic and Virginia
health care, Donald E. Lorton is retiring. After three years with
Pulaski Community Hospital, Lorton began his career with Carilion in
1972 when he became the Assistant Controller. He has served as Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer since 1986. In 1993 he was named
Executive Vice President.<br />
<br />
After accepting Lorton’s retirement, the Carilion Clinic Board
of Directors appointed Donald B. Halliwill as Chief Financial Officer.
A southwest Virginia native, Halliwill has a 20-year history in health
care, serving in many capacities since joining Carilion in 1997,
including Director of Finance for the New River Valley Region, Chief
Executive Officer for Carilion New River Valley Medical Center and Chief
Financial Officer for the organization’s hospital division. <br />
<br />
Lorton’s leadership maintained the organization’s strong and
stable financial position through the years, despite severe economic
downturns and a rapidly evolving health care environment. In addition,
he was instrumental in the development of Carilion’s physician group,
information technology infrastructure and athletic clubs. In recent
years, he led Carilion’s development of an Accountable Care Organization
(ACO) with Aetna.<br />
<br />
“Don’s role in maintaining the financial health of our
organization cannot be overstated,” said Carilion Clinic President and
CEO Nancy Howell Agee. “His stewardship over Carilion’s resources
allowed us to make life-changing investments in southwest Virginia’s
health care and the results will be felt for many years to come.
Moreover, his vision and strategic thinking along with his deep concern
for the health of our region sets him apart. We will miss his steady
guidance.”<br />
<br />
“Don Lorton has proven himself over and over again to be a man for all
seasons,” said Laurens Sartoris, President of the Virginia Hospital and
Healthcare Association. “Not only has he always demonstrated the best
characteristics of a top flight financial manager, but it’s always been
combined with common sense, a vision of the future, broad-based
strategic thinking and lots of quiet wit and charm. It’s been a true
pleasure to know and work with Don.”<br />
<br />
“I have been blessed to work with and for many outstanding people
throughout my career,” Lorton said. “With their trust and support there
has been a long list of opportunities afforded me. It is rewarding to
think that I may have contributed to Carilion’s success and the
betterment of healthcare across Virginia. Carilion is well positioned
for healthcare reform and executing on its mission of improving the
health of the communities it serves. My wife Wanda and I, along with
our children and grandchildren will be relying on that commitment.”<br />
<br />
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-32999026000227530752013-04-11T15:13:00.004-04:002013-04-11T15:13:35.139-04:00Dual Winners in VTK Tech Transfer Challenge<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFrs5Lc2h_I6OPX_amDVf7_HN79Nw5_7vfqIs2nr1Eevn7_kGWh8K9ZCJ_ZaDbRLG9vlV2xrw5YumhjHlz-I6qG1em-v63aHHdzJb_qI5EZwd_RQvXD3Ffb677nDKC8iWIj8XidWVBWNt/s1600/TECHVTK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFrs5Lc2h_I6OPX_amDVf7_HN79Nw5_7vfqIs2nr1Eevn7_kGWh8K9ZCJ_ZaDbRLG9vlV2xrw5YumhjHlz-I6qG1em-v63aHHdzJb_qI5EZwd_RQvXD3Ffb677nDKC8iWIj8XidWVBWNt/s640/TECHVTK.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NanoSpin's team won for a cooling system.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The VT KnowledgeWorks Fifth
Annual Entrepreneurship Challenge’s Tech Transfer Challenge had two winners
this year: Keraesthetics and NanoSpin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
winning teams will receive $100,000 worth of mentorship and business support
services over a two-year period, including assistance in developing the overall
business strategy as well as the presentations and plan documents needed for
investor discussions and product launch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-3SNLSsHTb47GADGaS80TkuHVzD0vftHUSBvUA4BKa7GlxQ-CVuDhAd-8Cqz7MuOMpFYXZSJ_FDe4i_3Qt45UNP0B2jqo7EljVQN3TE2T30l85iydP4msKI4Y-At2b6cqBZpD0EnYleg/s1600/TECHkaraesthetics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-3SNLSsHTb47GADGaS80TkuHVzD0vftHUSBvUA4BKa7GlxQ-CVuDhAd-8Cqz7MuOMpFYXZSJ_FDe4i_3Qt45UNP0B2jqo7EljVQN3TE2T30l85iydP4msKI4Y-At2b6cqBZpD0EnYleg/s320/TECHkaraesthetics.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria Rahmany of Karaesthetics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mark Van Dyke and Maria Rahmany
of Keraesthetics, develop soft tissue bulking products using keratin
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The company’s lead
product, KeraFil, can be used for facial aesthetic applications such as facial
line and wrinkle reduction, as well as a therapeutic treatment for vocal cord
restoration and tissue reconstruction.<br />
biomaterials.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
NanoSpin is a cooling system for
computers and electronic devices that uses a liquid dispersion of magnetic
nanoparticles to dissipate waste heat. NanoSpin team members include Suvojit
Ghosh, Ravi Kappiyoor, Souvik Pal, Chris Prohoda, Mehran Tehrani, and Ishwar K.
Puri.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
The Tech Transfer Challenge provides
an opportunity for Virginia Tech faculty, staff, students and/or alumni
proposing to establish a new venture in Blacksburg, a chance to accelerate their
innovative technology transfer from the university to the private sector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other teams that competed in the Tech
Transfer Challenge were Laser Light Energy Applications in Wood Products
Production, NanoMed, LLC, and VT Transportation Technologies.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAGePKAEZZ7FgdxwyY9scQySK_UHLnLCQXKmVQrtSjmAeNOsqMUmXFWurm83SS0tcm86uY-c0Mi1Et9dvWdWMR4y4ULuIPlky7ONf0M8Zh-AqFtMWitBI4Xu71PSz_H4GrvkALq1I3u7g/s1600/TECHpureair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAGePKAEZZ7FgdxwyY9scQySK_UHLnLCQXKmVQrtSjmAeNOsqMUmXFWurm83SS0tcm86uY-c0Mi1Et9dvWdWMR4y4ULuIPlky7ONf0M8Zh-AqFtMWitBI4Xu71PSz_H4GrvkALq1I3u7g/s320/TECHpureair.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stephen Epstein, PureAir</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
The winning concept in the
Student Business Concept Competition was PureAir: Emergency Asthma and COPD
Inhalers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stephen Epstein won $10,000 in
scholarships plus summer workspace at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research
Center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PureAir is designing the world’s
smallest profile emergency inhaler, which can work within minutes and can be a
lifesaving device to the over 28 million Americans with asthma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Campus Tech, the Card Isle, Combined Sand
Metal Printing, NanoSpin, and ViGLi also competed for the grand prize.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
The winning student team will
also advance to the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Business Concept Challenge
and compete for the $25,000 grand prize on August 22, 2013, at the Hotel
Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
The Global
Student Challenge is part of the VT KnowledgeWorks Global Partnership Week,
which offers university students, faculty, and business professionals from all
over the world a chance to collaborate, form partnerships and build their
global networks. </div>
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-21813872156220428202013-04-05T10:40:00.003-04:002013-04-05T10:40:26.324-04:00Advance Auto Shuffles, Eliminates Executive Chairs<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1HJD5HzzzdL824GIbf7mh7A30TVNmjqD3fjacgC8Y6hEzHXiIBT_wHjXNoHtl-QwuhhDo4eCDqyibeen7CLVqMLp4FVpA161mG4LZtdSnGoXkJTxqHY7EXeTOlTGGFth2lqwMYuaOFk_/s1600/Darren+R.+Jackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1HJD5HzzzdL824GIbf7mh7A30TVNmjqD3fjacgC8Y6hEzHXiIBT_wHjXNoHtl-QwuhhDo4eCDqyibeen7CLVqMLp4FVpA161mG4LZtdSnGoXkJTxqHY7EXeTOlTGGFth2lqwMYuaOFk_/s400/Darren+R.+Jackson.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Advance CEO Darren Jackson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Roanoke-based Advance Auto Parts, an automotive
aftermarket retailer of parts, batteries, accessories, and maintenance
items, has announced several organizational changes.</span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";">George
Sherman will become president, leading Advance Commercial Sales, Field Operations, Store
Operations Support, Merchandising, Marketing, Supply Chain and Ecommerce
Teams.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";">Sherman served as Senior VVP, Best Buy
Services, which included leading the Geek Squad. He will report to CEO Darren Jackson and will be stationed in Roanoke.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";">Charles
Tyson, who currently serves as senior VP Merchandising and
Marketing, has been promoted to Executive Vice President,
Merchandising, Marketing and Supply Chain. Jim
Durkin, who serves as President, Autopart International (AI),
will assume the new role of senior VP Commercial Business.
Mr. Durkin will be responsible for the Company’s Commercial Sales Team,
Commercial Marketing and AI. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";">Tammy
Finley, who most recently served as vice president, Employment Counsel
and Government Affairs, has been promoted to the role of Senior Vice
President, Human Resources. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";">“I
am thrilled to welcome George to the Advance Team and I am excited
about the promotions of Charles, Jim and Tammy. Advance’s future
success lies in our ability to empower and enable our team to drive
outcomes and grow sales,” says Jackson. “In order to allow our leaders
to better inspire their teams, serve their customers and grow our
business, we needed to simplify our business alignment and clarify roles
so we can work together to build on our capabilities, accelerate our
Commercial growth and improve our profitability.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";">Jackson will
continue to operate as the company’s chief executive officer and will
focus on strategic and leadership development. Additionally, the role
of chief operating officer, which is held by Kevin Freeland,
has been eliminated. The role of Senior Vice President, Commercial
Sales and Marketing, which is currently held by Donna Broome, has also
been eliminated. M</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Book","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(Photo: dc.citybizlist.com) </b></span></span></div>
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-71119654732112459022013-03-26T13:39:00.003-04:002013-03-26T13:39:55.325-04:00Interactive Achievement Gets Cash Infusion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSTxLzl76O7twiGmuVKRGjeKBgEDaQ_sqkZ_89-H0Ghf2v6AZQRZjMCAvJaH7Xvm2acjzn-2sfPgkxmaGEj10ZxEkyN3FeEhx2F36h-207jdRb3Pe-RQtSTz91q3SfJRGhhu1ABisy0j2/s1600/Interactive+Achievement0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSTxLzl76O7twiGmuVKRGjeKBgEDaQ_sqkZ_89-H0Ghf2v6AZQRZjMCAvJaH7Xvm2acjzn-2sfPgkxmaGEj10ZxEkyN3FeEhx2F36h-207jdRb3Pe-RQtSTz91q3SfJRGhhu1ABisy0j2/s400/Interactive+Achievement0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interactive Achievement in downtown Roanoke.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "NewsGoth BT","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Interactive
Achievement, creator of standards-based instructional improvement
software, today announced a $3.5 million growth equity investment for a minority stake in the company.
The infusion of cash will help Interactive Achievement continue to meet
the growing needs of its clients and to expand its product offerings.
</span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "NewsGoth BT","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“This
investment will allow us to continue to help educators make a
difference in the lives of children all over the country,” said Jonathan
Hagmaier, founder and
CEO. “It reinforces to me that we are on the right path as a company;
we have a bright future ahead of us.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "NewsGoth BT","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
assist in its mission of creating leading education products to better
personalize a student’s education through the use of data, Interactive
Achievement will
add offerings related to technology enhanced assessment items,
curriculum and instruction management, resource management, and data
analysis to its award-winning software platform.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "NewsGoth BT","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Founded
in 2006, Interactive Achievement currently employs 45 staff, mostly in
the Roanoke-Blacksburg region. The company is a leader in personalized
education and
its software products assist educators with making data-driven
decisions to support student achievement in all academic areas.
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "NewsGoth BT","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
new funds will be used to expand the company’s business in Virginia,
South Carolina, Tennessee, and Indiana where its current clients are
located and to extend
its reach nationally. With this investment will come a significant
increase in new jobs within the next 18 months. Most positions will be
based in the Roanoke-Blacksburg region. Interactive Achievement will be
hiring for the following positions: software
developers, sales associates, project managers, customer support
personnel, content specialists, and managers.
</span>moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-28349821349852052942013-03-21T15:56:00.003-04:002013-03-21T15:56:41.053-04:00Ground Broken for West End Center Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTYdi81r1bf8KnGbkM7HsYr9ZNfBqdGnZ1RV3e_-gieelnnwnghTxfwxALTN5Ay2Y7LLjGjgO41xjP7z6Bivm0YxYnoJFshEu_-Nhy3SRWtVFl2ViWaUpScWW7IlUY_SMKYn2gDwAadgc/s1600/West+End+Project+groundbreaking+3.21.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTYdi81r1bf8KnGbkM7HsYr9ZNfBqdGnZ1RV3e_-gieelnnwnghTxfwxALTN5Ay2Y7LLjGjgO41xjP7z6Bivm0YxYnoJFshEu_-Nhy3SRWtVFl2ViWaUpScWW7IlUY_SMKYn2gDwAadgc/s640/West+End+Project+groundbreaking+3.21.13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Freedom First Credit Union (FFCU), along with the
City of Roanoke and the West End Center for Youth, held a groundbreaking
ceremony today to celebrate the beginning of construction for the West
End revitalization project. Plans for the site include an urban mix of
commercial and meeting space, a community pavilion with a full-service
production kitchen, and gardens to encourage and promote healthy
financial and physical lifestyles.
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The project will be anchored by a full-service
Freedom First branch scheduled to open in early 2014, which will serve
the West End, Hurt Park, and Mountain View neighborhoods, as well as
commuters to downtown Roanoke. </div>
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“This important project will enable Freedom First
to reach into the community with the financial education and specialized
products we’ve developed to serve people of modest means,” says Credit
Union President/CEO Paul Phillips. “Establishing a Community Development
Financial Institution in the West End area of Roanoke gives people who
are currently unbanked and under-banked a real opportunity to move
toward long-term financial self-sufficiency.”</div>
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The West End project aligns with Freedom First’s
unique mission and structure, which focuses on affordable housing,
transportation, and financial education in addition to a broad range of
traditional financial services. The credit union is working closely with
nonprofit agencies, local government, and other businesses on this and
other projects that serve community and economic development goals.</div>
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“We are excited to
partner with Freedom First in this venture that will greatly expand the
opportunities available to the families we serve,” says Joy Parrish,
Executive Director of the West End Center, which owns the property and
will oversee its community activities. </div>
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The planned production
kitchen and gardens will enable the West End Center to bring fresh food
and nutrition education to the neighborhood, and the community meeting
space will accommodate educational initiatives.
"The
West End is a neighborhood that is on the rise,” says Roanoke City
Manager Chris Morrill. “With existing assets like the West End Center,
interesting housing stock, and proximity to downtown, the West End is
poised to be an even better place to live and work. It is our hope that
Freedom First's investment in the neighborhood, and services that will
be offered to residents and businesses, will be a catalyst to more rapid
improvements."</div>
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-79332065737731751312013-03-18T09:11:00.005-04:002013-03-18T09:13:15.260-04:00Startup Business Workshop in Roanoke March 29<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->The Business Lounge in downtown Roanoke, in conjunction with VT KnowledgeWorks of Blacksburg,
is sponsoring a Startup Readiness Workshop on Friday, March 29, 2013 at the Lounge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The full-day workshop helps prospective entrepreneurs test
the strategic essence of their business concept, tighten up on managerial
focus, and review the overall business start-up process.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
The price is $49 for one person, $89 for two from the same company. Register online at <a href="http://www.vtknowledgeworks.com/">www.vtknowledgeworks.com</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -9.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -9.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
What you’ll learn… </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
The Four Fundamental Factors that govern startup
success</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
The Strategic Essence of every successful
business</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
Five Powerful Habits used by good managers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
The power of full Commitment</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>How the Money really moves around</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 27.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
Accounting…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>De-Mystified</div>
<br />moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-87875416299470851362013-03-15T22:37:00.000-04:002013-03-15T22:37:03.370-04:00Red Sun Farms Bringing Jobs to PulaskiThe subsidiary of a Mexican agricultural leader
will create 205 new jobs and invest a total of $30 million to establish
its first U.S. high-technology greenhouse production operation in
Pulaski County,
the first tenant of the New River Valley Commerce Park.
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Red Sun Farms, a producer of high-quality
hydroponic, organic vegetables, will erect climate-controlled
greenhouses on 45 acres of land to grow greenhouse-grown vegetables,
creating the new jobs within five years, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell
announced at a news conference at New River Community College.</div>
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“This game-changing project has been in the works
for a long time, and it is gratifying to see it come to fruition today.
Red Sun Farms uses extremely high-tech equipment to provide a continuous
supply of the best organic greenhouse-produced
vegetables, and after much research determined that Pulaski County is
the ideal spot for its first U.S. production center,” the governor said.
“Virginia offers optimal climatic conditions for greenhouse operations,
a central location providing convenient access
to East Coast markets, and a top-notch workforce ready for this new
opportunity. As the first tenant of the New River Valley Commerce Park,
Red Sun Farms’ significant investment and creation of new jobs is a
tremendous win for the Commonwealth and Pulaski
County, and represents strategic growth for the New River Valley
region.”</div>
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Virginia successfully competed against Tennessee for the project.</div>
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“We welcome Red Sun Farms’ first U.S. greenhouse
tomato production operation to Pulaski County and the Commonwealth of
Virginia,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade.
“The company will not only provide new jobs to the
community, it will help diversify the local economy and add value to
Virginia-grown products. I am confident Red Sun Farms will find success
in the Commonwealth and continue as a leader in the greenhouse vegetable
industry of North America.”</div>
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Headquartered in Michoacán, Mexico, Red Sun Farms
was founded in 2001 as part of a family owned agro-industrial group,
Agrícola El Rosal S.A. de C.V., a company dedicated to production of
vegetables under greenhouse hydroponic systems using
high technology. Red Sun Farms is a key component of the agriculture
division, and is an integral part of the group’s business growth and
development throughout North America.</div>
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The Red Sun brand is owned and marketed by JemD
Farms, the only Mexican- and Canadian-owned greenhouse company in North
America. Its sister brand, Golden Sun, produces tomatoes in Canada.
Currently, JemD Farms owns and operates 150 acres
of high-tech greenhouses in Canada and 250 acres in Mexico, making this
expansion a true North American operation.
</div>
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Among its high-tech features: computer-monitored humidity, oxygen and carbon dioxide monitors.
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“We are excited to soon begin construction on our
new greenhouse facility in Dublin,” said Carlos Visconti, chief
operating officer of JemD Farms. “Being able to provide quality, safe
and now locally grown greenhouse produce to our retail
partners and consumers is a great accomplishment for our team. We
would especially like to thank Governor McDonnell and his agencies and
departments, Pulaski County, the New River Valley Economic Development
Alliance and many others who worked tirelessly
to make this project a reality.” </div>
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“This announcement establishes a unique, high-tech
industry in Pulaski County that supplements our existing agricultural
businesses,” said Joe Sheffey, chairman of the Pulaski County Board of
Supervisors. “Furthermore, it is the first in
what we plan to be several other industries to locate in our regional
Commerce Park. We see Red Sun Farms as yet another step in our efforts
to diversify our local economy.”</div>
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The New River Valley Commerce Park is a 1,000-acre,
publicly owned industrial site located next to New River Valley Airport
and Foreign Trade Zone #238, just 3 miles from Interstate 81.</div>
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-44716444762015734802013-03-12T09:07:00.001-04:002013-03-12T09:07:19.018-04:00Locking Down the Cell in Roanoke<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIva1s5q1i2bvyx8Cwgt7DeHhhqWzJ0egCRxPU4S3FvwheizTZPpEJ0G9InMcIOReod9hirE-Ni9Xtfy6h3SvGl8TWsMsfldmsJpddU6fUD-XAw3BeDPS1k33Mt3eQzsnti2Ko4N3_TJN/s1600/ORIGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIva1s5q1i2bvyx8Cwgt7DeHhhqWzJ0egCRxPU4S3FvwheizTZPpEJ0G9InMcIOReod9hirE-Ni9Xtfy6h3SvGl8TWsMsfldmsJpddU6fUD-XAw3BeDPS1k33Mt3eQzsnti2Ko4N3_TJN/s400/ORIGO.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Roanoke company, ORIGO, has introduced
a technology that can end hand-held cell phone use while driving, addressing a
leading national public safety problem. ORIGOSafe is a new ignition interlock
system that requires drivers to secure their phone in a docking station before
their vehicle can start. This prevents motorists from holding their phones to
talk or text while behind the wheel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Says Clay Skelton, ORIGO’s founder, “By
taking the phone out of the driver’s hands – but not preventing making and
receiving calls – ORIGO can reduce accidents, increase safety and improve the
performance of drivers, particularly young drivers. It takes away the
temptation to reach for the phone while driving.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The statistics tell of a tragic
problem:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Teen
driving deaths are up 19 percent in the first half of 2012; texting while
driving causes 11 teen deaths every day; </span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16 percent of all drivers under 20
involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving;
motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens in the United
States’ 97 percent of teens in a survey say texting while driving is highly
dangerous, yet 75 percent of them say it’s common among their peers; more than
25 percent of teens say they read or send at least one text every time they
drive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And it’s not just a young driver
problem. Many adults are involved, as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A study conducted by the Virginia Tech
Transportation Institute found that “Talking or listening on a cell phone … did
not statistically increase crash risk. Dialing, reaching, and other
intensive visual-manual cell phone sub-tasks did.” That’s why ORIGO allows
drivers to stay connected hands-free through Bluetooth and other technologies,
yet takes the phone completely out of the driver’s hands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ORIGOSafe is easily installed in any
type of vehicle, and is a fully integrated device that supports the top-selling
smart phone models. There’s no software to buy or maintain, and no need to
wonder if it’s working. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ORIGO also comes in a version to
improve safety among commercial drivers. The ORIGOSafe Commercial has a module
called ORIGOCommand, an iPad-based fleet management package with a central
database for administrators to manage multiple fleets at multiple locations and
restrict truck usage to an easily manageable list of authorized drivers. </span></div>
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-39372734272955085892013-03-12T08:53:00.000-04:002013-03-12T08:53:31.324-04:00Virginia Tech Climbing the Rankings Ladder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTk3ZaPhZiGoYBQrDybA8VVJ5WAEd2H9qCpRp4kJpAYsP8G-8atlK5GeU8CW1q2irmQ6A3s40DUiu_o-IkPyazTI2tNuD5D5nSH3Nr0E_3Zuulbpc7lgQ904FMBlv_WqR6mGpK8JkAd_G/s1600/tech.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTk3ZaPhZiGoYBQrDybA8VVJ5WAEd2H9qCpRp4kJpAYsP8G-8atlK5GeU8CW1q2irmQ6A3s40DUiu_o-IkPyazTI2tNuD5D5nSH3Nr0E_3Zuulbpc7lgQ904FMBlv_WqR6mGpK8JkAd_G/s400/tech.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Virginia Tech ranks in the top 20 colleges and universities being talked
about most frequently in print, broadcast, and Internet media, and in
blogs and tweets, according to the latest ranking by an Austin,
Texas-based company that specializes in media analytics.<br />
<br />
Global Language Monitor said that its “brand equity measurements” of
2012 mentions ranked Virginia Tech No. 17. Last year, the Blacksburg,
Va., university was rated 19th. This year’s measurement puts it higher
on the list than Johns Hopkins, the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, and Duke. The University of Virginia fell from number 25 to
32 on the Buzz list.<br />
<br />
The company rated MIT as the number one school followed by Harvard. The
University of California at Berkeley was the top public university in
the 10 highest ranked schools. The University of Minnesota jumped 15
spots into the top 20 while the University of Michigan dropped 12 places
from 13 to 25. Public universities held 13 of the top 25 rankings.<br />
<br />
“Virginia Tech has long been in the forefront of new technology
applications, and we suspect that this latest ranking reflects the
technical expertise of many young people wanting to become Hokies,” said
Larry Hincker, associate vice president of University Relations. “It
also might reflect [Virginia] Tech’s highly respected reputation. Either
way, it’s nice to be noticed.”<br />
<br />
For 2012, Virginia Tech’s homepage had 16.7 million page views and 11.4
million unique views. In addition, there were 3.3 unique visitors, while
the university’s Facebook page grew from 93,571 likes in January 2012
to 118,063 likes in December 2012.moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-30703664066032831652013-03-11T11:07:00.001-04:002013-03-11T11:07:49.898-04:00Life-Guard 12 To Get New Home in Lexington<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDjoX_jrYFxz6iYVZRORkTcu3IubDz4k8G1mwcIibzi7xsMfdeDKf38KdM6xQZ2J14Gv4F11Jw5DK7whsIirKH8AQFuuaZ6Mj3fTv2Eu6ZmQ8DMmJxZZgonvtsqAqpfLi1ToqJCXk5AGx/s1600/lifeguard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDjoX_jrYFxz6iYVZRORkTcu3IubDz4k8G1mwcIibzi7xsMfdeDKf38KdM6xQZ2J14Gv4F11Jw5DK7whsIirKH8AQFuuaZ6Mj3fTv2Eu6ZmQ8DMmJxZZgonvtsqAqpfLi1ToqJCXk5AGx/s400/lifeguard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington is to begin construction
on a helicopter hangar, crew quarters and offices mid-March. The new
facility, located on .411 acres behind CSJH, will be the permanent
location for Carilion Clinic’s Life-Guard 12 helicopter.<br />
<br />
The new hangar will allow the EC135 aircraft to be hangared during
inclement weather and extreme temperatures. Additionally, the hangar
space will permit routine maintenance to be performed on-site, decreasing
the need to relocate the helicopter to Roanoke and remain in its
primary service area.<br />
<br />
“Crew quarters and offices will adjoin the hangar. Having crew quarters
at the same location as the helipad optimizes response times from the
time of the request to the time they are airborne,” explained Susan
Smith, director at Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation. “We are also
excited to have Carilion’s Lexington ground division co-located in this
new facility.”<br />
<br />
Furthermore, the site will include an above ground Jet-A fuel tank. This
tank will help to maximize operations by allowing Life-Guard 12 better
access to fuel for long distance flights.moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-71539607406028542182013-03-06T10:39:00.002-05:002013-03-06T10:39:56.657-05:00Alleghany Gets 55 New Manufacturing Jobs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRHLt8a4EeL1h5Hq6Q0b69n3Lw77J442-uUfxkYYcYUqMBG3RuNFoDqyRCEsDrlC9vP-amPQ-DsDpGQvAjfeUEZUVkhl5-0rJGkuuKgew7K7oY9tDD2X33gktNPlq8fNnVVu0fgVRCAOS/s1600/Balchem_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRHLt8a4EeL1h5Hq6Q0b69n3Lw77J442-uUfxkYYcYUqMBG3RuNFoDqyRCEsDrlC9vP-amPQ-DsDpGQvAjfeUEZUVkhl5-0rJGkuuKgew7K7oY9tDD2X33gktNPlq8fNnVVu0fgVRCAOS/s320/Balchem_logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Balchem Corporation, <span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">which specializes in choline chloride and precision release nutrient technologies for animal nutrition and health,
today celebrated the opening of its newest manufacturing facility to meet growing demand.</span>
The
company is investing approximately $10 million and creating 55 new jobs
within two to three years in a 68,000-square-foot building at Alleghany
Regional Commerce Center.<br />
<br />
The facility
will more than double the company’s output capacity for the animal
nutrition and health sector with its new encapsulation technology.
“This world-class
manufacturing facility gives us the ability to better meet our
customers’ needs for our products and technology,” Balchem president and
CEO Dino Rossi said at a ribbon-cutting event with
area business leaders, customers and elected officials.<br />
<br />
“By greatly
increasing capacity for the animal nutrition and health sector, we’re
also advancing solutions that aid in gains in animal productivity and
health and reducing the environmental impact of
contemporary feeding programs.”<br />
<br />
Balchem,
based in New Hampton, N.Y., supplies encapsulated nutrients and
manufactures more than 140 different products across human, animal and
industrial applications. Balchem has
worked to refine and improve encapsulation technology and processes for
more than 40 years, with keen focus in the animal nutrition and health
industry for the last 10 years.<br />
<br />
The
Covington plant will produce Balchem’s growing portfolio of
encapsulated nutrients: AminoShure-L Precision Release Lysine,
AminoShure-M Precision Release Methionine, NitroShure
Precision Release Nitrogen and NiaShure Precision Release Niacin.
moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3922320048790557530.post-61373875439173495592013-03-06T09:50:00.003-05:002013-03-06T09:50:36.323-05:00Richfield Cuts a Ribbon on Rehab Center<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKuT8QKNmPCg8Q0DdN2RxLoA7jDddLpnQviW2F-ui020sJX51z7cKA1MIeUkvyE4lKGT0snVmhOyFfdNeTavVLGfsIaVVJ7GiYT7cq9JM4hd6pA2SgR6oevZ4Spe_kUOTO3gQ7DZKA0Xx/s1600/Richfield+ribbon+cutting_print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKuT8QKNmPCg8Q0DdN2RxLoA7jDddLpnQviW2F-ui020sJX51z7cKA1MIeUkvyE4lKGT0snVmhOyFfdNeTavVLGfsIaVVJ7GiYT7cq9JM4hd6pA2SgR6oevZ4Spe_kUOTO3gQ7DZKA0Xx/s400/Richfield+ribbon+cutting_print.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Representatives from Richfield and the community cut ribbon on new Rehab Center at Richfield on March 5 in Roanoke. <span class="usercontent">From
left to right: Pete Larkin from the office of Congressman Bob
Goodlatte, Roanoke County Supervisor Joe ‘Butch’ Church, Richfield Ret</span><span class="textexposedshow">irement
Community CEO Ray Fisher, Richfield Chairman of the Board Stewart
Bruce, Roanoke County Vice Chairman Charlotte Moore, Angie Hall from the
office of Congressman Morgan Griffith, and Salem Mayor Randy Foley.</span>moreFRONThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13350600751587766930noreply@blogger.com0