Thinking about changing your cellphone plan? First check out this story in the Sunday Ticker about the differences between contract and no-contract plans.

Reporter Becky Mickel learned that more than 21 percent of cellphone users in the United States had a no-contract cellphone last year, up from 18.2 percent in 2009. And experts expect the percentage will keep increasing.

If you’ve made the switch to a no-contract phone, tell us about it: Why did you dump your contract? Would you do it again?

CenturyLink has announced new programs that could save low-income consumers money on telephone installation and service. Here is a press release from CenturyLink:

Low-income consumers in Virginia may qualify for assistance programs that will reduce the cost of initial telephone installation and basic monthly service, according to a recent announcement from CenturyLink. The company is spreading the word about the programs so consumers who potentially qualify for the services may apply for them.

The assistance programs, known as Link-Up and Lifeline, are available to qualifying consumers in every U.S. state (territory and commonwealth). Link-Up helps consumers pay the initial installation costs of getting telephone service. The amount of the discounts varies by state and reduces up to one-half of the initial hook-up fee, up to $30, for qualified households. Lifeline provides certain discounts each month on phone bills for qualified subscribers.  A household  is limited to only one lifeline discount in total even if the household has more than one telephone account or is receiving services from more than one telephone company. Read more »

Chris Morrill, Joyce Waugh, Andy Dickinson, Paul White, and Skip Zubrod.

Brandon Oaks is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning for a new environmentally friendly retirement residence. “The Pines at Brandon Oaks” is the Roanoke Valley’s first green retirement residence. Here is a press release from Brandon Oaks:

ROANOKE, Va. (July 29, 2011) – New residents eager to take full advantage of the environmental and health benefits of green living are making their move to The Pines at Brandon Oaks.  City officials, Brandon Oaks executives, construction partners and green business leaders will be celebrating the completion of the area’s first sustainably developed retirement residence with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning at 11:00 a.m.

Committed to the Environment and Residents

As one of the valley’s premier retirement communities, Brandon Oaks is not only committed to the health and vitality of its residents, it is also committed to environmental stewardship. With the opening of The Pines, Brandon Oaks is honoring its commitment to both. Read more »

Dining Services employees constructed costumes and appeared as characters at the Alice in Wonderland dinner at the D2 dining facility.

Virginia Tech Dining Services has been awarded national honors for its special Alice and Wonderland dinner. Here is a press release from Virginia Tech:

BLACKSBURG, Va., July 29, 2011 – Virginia Tech’s Dining Services was recently awarded a grand prize Loyal E. Horton award and a gold medal in the Residential Dining Special Event category by the National Association of College and University Food Services for its Alice in Wonderland dinner.

An honorable mention was also given for the Virginia Harvest Celebration dinner, inspired by Virginia Tech’s 2011 Common Book, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life.”

The grand prize Loyal E. Horton award was presented at the National Association of College and University Food Services 53rd national conference, held July 16 in Dallas, Texas. The Loyal E. Horton awards contest, a highly competitive and prestigious peer recognition program, is open to all 550 higher education institutions that are members of the association. Loyal E. Horton grand-prize winners are selected from each category’s gold award winners.

Virginia Tech holds nearly 40 special dining events throughout the school year to add interesting and educational experiences to the regular dining schedule. Dining Services has earned 38 Loyal E. Horton awards since 1992, in addition to awards from various industry organizations for programs, facilities, menus, and sales. Read more »

Emory & Henry College is expected to begin offering a new doctoral program in physical therapy, beginning in 2012. Here is a press release from the college:

Emory & Henry College accepted Thursday $200,000 in checks from various Smyth County entities in support of a doctoral program in physical therapy, which is expected to start in 2012 in Marion.

The checks were presented Thursday during a ceremony in the auditorium of the Smyth County Community Hospital Education Building in Marion.

The money includes $50,000 from the Smyth County Board of Supervisors and the Smyth County Industrial Development Authority, $50,000 from the Town of Marion and $100,000 from the Smyth County Community Foundation. The money from the Community Foundation is the first installment of a $500,000 pledge announced in the spring. Read more »

Neathawk Dubuque & Packett was recognized seven times for its marketing work in the healthcare industry. Here is a press release from ND&P:

Roanoke, VA – Neathawk Dubuque & Packett (ND&P) took home a total of seven awards at this year’s International Aster Awards and Virginia Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations (VSHMPR) Measure of Excellence Awards.

ND&P won a gold Aster Award for the Massachusetts General Hospital “I’m Camera Shy” colonoscopy campaign poster. The agency also won a silver medal for a series of cinema advertising slides for Shore Health System and three bronze medals for work for Massachusetts General and VCU Health System.

In the Measure of Excellence competition, ND&P won first place in the television advertising category for a cardiac TV spot as well as third place in the website division for the Winchester Medical Center Bariatric Program.

“I’m very proud of the work that we have accomplished this year,” said ND&P’s president Susan Dubuque. “It is always a great compliment to have our work recognized with these industry awards.”

Creative Inc.’s Aster Awards is an international medical marketing awards program, which allows advertising agencies and healthcare organizations to compete for recognition against similarly sized agencies. VSHMPR is a state organization dedicated to improving effective healthcare communications, strategic planning and marketing.

Here is a statement from AEP on the company’s most recent dividend:

The Board of Directors of American Electric Power Co. (NYSE: AEP) today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 46 cents a share on the company’s common stock.

The dividend is payable Sept. 9, 2011 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 10, 2011, and is the company’s 405th consecutive quarterly common stock cash dividend. AEP has paid a cash dividend on its common stock every quarter since July 1910.

Governor McDonnell has announced Virginia’s Industrial Revitalization Fund, which will provide local governments grants to  revitalize derelict commercial and industrial structures. Here is a press release from the Governor’s office:

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced today the availability of $3 million in structural revitalization grant funding as part of the “Opportunity at Work” budget initiative approved by the 2011 General Assembly. The Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) will provide grants of up to $600,000, primarily in distressed communities, for construction projects aligned with local and regional economic development strategies.

Towns, counties or cities can apply for the funding, which is intended for publicly held properties, or for loans from local governments to private property owners. Each IRF grant will require a 1:1 match from public or private funds. Eligible properties include any large-scale, non-residential structure. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will administer the program.

“This funding provides communities with an opportunity to significantly advance their economic strategies,” said Governor McDonnell.  “Large abandoned or heavily underused structures with prominent placement in a community can seriously deter other investments. By initiating the long-awaited rehabilitation of these critical properties, we can spark entrepreneurship and job creation across the surrounding area.” Read more »

A new partnership between FREE Foundation and Physicians for Peace will connect Virginians with donated mobility devices and equipment. Here is a press release from the FREE Foundation:

Virginians in need of donated mobility devices are benefitting from a new partnership between Physicians for Peace and the Foundation for Rehabilitation Equipment & Endowment (FREE). This spring, Physicians for Peace presented FREE with a variety of high quality equipment, including rolling walkers, wheelchairs and shower chairs. The devices will be distributed through FREE’s locations in Norfolk, Richmond and Roanoke.

“We are so pleased to be working with Physicians for Peace.  This is the single largest donation of equipment received in the history of the Foundation” said Sonja Schaible, Executive Director of F.R.E.E. “It will allow us to serve more uninsured and underinsured Virginians who are in need and at risk, reducing falls and the resulting costs and increasing mobility and independence.” Read more »

Yesterday we posted a release about The Virginia Association of Counties Achievement Award winners for 2011. Here is a more information from Botetourt County about its award in the Parks and Recreation category:

Fincastle, VA – The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) announced its 2011 Achievement Award winners, recognizing the best in county government programs. Botetourt County won in the Parks and Recreation category for its “Upper James River Water Trail” project.

A “Water Trail” is a small boat and/or paddling route (or series of routes) along a waterway that combines recreation and environmental awareness while linking communities and land-based attractions such as recreational trails, historic sites, and parks.

Goals of the project included:
1. increase public access to the river
2. develop an identity for the Upper James River Water Trail
3. develop a sustainable tourism-based economy

The Upper James River Water Trail project has been the most successful tourism initiative undertaken by Botetourt County since the tourism office opened in 2005. The goal of the project as outlined in the grant application was to design a brand for the water trail, produce a brochure, website and marketing campaign. This goal was accomplished and has produced a multi-award winning program that is now being copied by localities across the state and region.

Botetourt previously won VACo Achievement Awards in 2004 for its submission: “A Cooperative Team Model for Successful Volunteer Emergency Services Planning and Implementation,” and in 2003 for its Recreation Incentive Program.