Member One Federal Credit Union has donated $5,910 to the American Heart Association. The donation was funded by the union’s “Loans for Hearts Campaign,” in which the bank donated $10 to the American Heart Association for every loan closed in the month of July.

Here’s the full news release from Member One Federal Credit Union:

Member One Federal Credit Union recently donated $5,910.00 to the American Heart Association. The donation corresponded with Member One’s “Loans for Hearts Campaign”. For every loan closed in the month of July, Member One donated $10.00 to the American Heart Association.

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Jason and Paige Pratt of Pulaski County and Sam Gardner of Bedford County have won awards at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Summer Expo in Franklin.

The Pratts were named the winners of this year’s VFBF Young Farmers Excellence in Agriculture Award for their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability and involvement and participation with the VFBF and other organizations.

Jason Pratt is an agriculture agent for Virginia Cooperative Extension and works on the family farm with his father. Paige Pratt is an Extension specialist at Virginia Tech and oversees youth livestock programs. They married in May.

 Gardner was named the winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award for his work protecting environmental resources. He is the president of Gardner Heifers Inc.

Here are the full news releases from the VFBF:

Jason and Paige Pratt of Pulaski County have been named this year’s Virginia Read more »

All small business owners, stakeholders and policymakers are invited to join Gov. Bob McDonnell on Oct. 13 at Governor’s Small Business Summit  in Richmond.

The summit will feature panels on procurement, technology, key issues and financing and will take place from noon to 6 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel & Spa Richmond/Short Pump.

Here’s the full news release from the Office of Gov. McDonnell:

Governor Bob McDonnell announced the Governor’s Small Business Summit to be held on Thursday, October 13th in Richmond, Virginia.

Speaking about the Summit, Governor McDonnell commented, “Small businesses are the backbone of our local economies, making up 98% of all businesses in Virginia.  In these tough economic times we must continue to support and foster a positive environment in which small businesses can innovate, expand and grow jobs and opportunities for our citizens. I am committed to ensuring that Virginia continues to be the best state in which to start, own and grow a small business and this summit is an important part of that ongoing effort.”

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The Virginia Department of Forestry’s online tree seedling store opened today, with more than 40 tree species available and an expanded inventory of loblolly pine offerings.

The seedlings are grown in Virginia and are available in smaller quantities of 10 and 25.

Here’s the full news release from the Department of Forestry:

Virginians looking to plant trees on their land in the spring will have to go no farther than their computer. The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) opened its online tree seedling store today.

Every year, VDOF offers hardwood and pine bareroot seedlings. This year, VDOF has expanded its loblolly pine offerings. The six varieties available this year range from 25 percent to more than 60 percent in improved growth and yield, when compared with unimproved seedlings. Seedlings are available in quantities as low as 10 and 25.

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The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation will award equipment, including a $8,700 thermal imaging camera, to the Vinton Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department on Oct. 5.

The camera increases the likelihood of locating a victim in a fire and replaces the 10-year-old technology the department currently uses. Firefighters and their families, franchisees Mike and Chris Pietryzk and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Executive Director Robin Peters will attend the event at the Firehouse Subs located at 2019 Colonial Ave. in Roanoke.

Here’s the full news release from Firehouse Subs:

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The city of Roanoke is seeking applications from property owners to participate in Lead-Safe Roanoke, a program designed to give families free assistance with controlling lead paint hazards in their homes.

The program is aimed at low- and middle-income families with children less than 6 years of age living in single-family homes built before 1978. It has a goal of eliminating lead-based paint hazards from 75 homes in Roanoke.

Here’s the full news release from the city of Roanoke:

The City of Roanoke continues to seek applications from property owners interested in participating in the city’s Lead Hazard Control program called Lead-Safe Roanoke.

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Virginia Tech College of Engineering researcher Leigh McCue-Weil has developed a mobile application to help commercial fishing vessels and small boats maneuver more safely in the water.

The Small Craft Motion Program, compatible with iPhones, iPads and iPods, tells boat operators how they are moving in the water with data on acceleration, heave, roll, pitch, yaw and other factors. It is designed for fishermen to be better able to tell if they should be concerned with conditions and the boat’s movement.

Here’s a full news release from Virginia Tech:

A Virginia Tech College of Engineering researcher has developed an app that can help captains of commercial fishing vessels and other small boats better and more safely maneuver their craft in water.

The Small Craft Motion Program was developed by Leigh McCue-Weil, an associate professor with Virginia Tech’s Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering.

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The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission has agreed to financial, land and in-kind contributions to the new King School of Medicine & Health Sciences Center, with total grant value reaching $25 million.

The grant is the largest in the commission’s history and will go toward initiating progress for construcion of the medical school.

Here’s the full news release from King College:

Keying on its vision to promote economic diversification and prosperity in a region long dependent on tobacco production, the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission gave medical education and health care a gigantic shot in the arm in Southwest and Southside Virginia on Wednesday.

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The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute has won two awards for facility design and construction excellence.

The school received an Award of Merit from ENR Southeast’s 2011 Best Projects Awards program for excellence in design and construction by AECOM and Skanska USA Building Inc. AECOM also received first place in the 2011 Interior Design Excellence Awards for its work on the school.

Here’s the full news release from AECOM:

AECOM, a leading provider of professional architectural and engineering design services, announced today that the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute has received two awards for facility design and construction excellence.

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Mary Davis Holt, co-author of “Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women’s Path to Power,” is scheduled to speak at Hollin University Nov. 9.

Holt is an expert on business, women and leadership. Her book lays out six rules women follow that hinder their professional advancement and works to establish new rules to enhance advancement instead. She is also scheduled for a book signing after the talk.

Here’s the full news release from Hollins University:

Mary Davis Holt, co-author of the new book, Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women’s Path to Power, will speak at Hollins University’s Niederer Auditorium, located in the Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center, on Wednesday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

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