A Chesapeake Bay Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grant has been awarded to the City of Lexington. The $200,000 grant will go toward renovations that will capture and filter rain water in the city, helping to reduce pollution in waterways caused by run off. Lexington is one of 41 recipients to receive grant funds for Chesapeake Bay Watershed restoration and outreach initiatives.

Here is the press release from Mariner Media.

The City of Lexington is the recipient of a $200,000 Chesapeake Bay Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) Grant.  The grant is awarded through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund to the Thompson’s Knoll Green Affordable Housing Production Program.

In making the August 28th announcement, the Chesapeake Bay Program and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) noted the grant will be applied to the integration of green stormwater infrastructure. Rain gardens, bioswales, bioretention ponds, permeable pavements, etc. will be installed throughout the development to capture and filter rain water where it lands. This model significantly reduces run off which is the major cause of pollution in our waterways.

Thompson’s Knoll is a unique partnership among advocates for affordable housing and advocates for conservation. “Lexington is a headwaters community whose actions contribute to the health of the Chesapeake Bay. We are pleased and proud to be awarded this grant which will allow the City to model the very best stormwater management practices to protect the health of our local watershed and beyond,” says Kitty Sachs, special projects coordinator for the City. “This was a very competitive grant process and the award acknowledges the innovative and environmentally conscientious characteristic of the Thompson’s Knoll neighborhood.”

Lexington is one of 41 recipients of $9.2 million in grants for restoration and outreach initiatives in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed’s six states and the District of Columbia.  ”The Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund is a model, public-private partnership that has demonstrated its ability over time to achieve measurable and significant on-the-ground conservation results that benefit people, fish, wildlife and the communities of the Chesapeake,” said David O’Neill, Director of the Eastern Partnership Office at NFWF. “Through these grants, diverse agencies led by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Forest Service, pool resources with private funding from  Altria, Wal-Mart, Wells Fargo, FedEx and others to make smart and cost-effective investments that directly benefit the Bay and its rivers.”

“These innovative projects, envisioned by non-profits, local governments and other agencies, are an illustration of the incredible commitment people have to restoring our rivers and streams. With NFWF’s invaluable support these projects will make a difference, supporting progress toward a Bay that is increasingly healthy and resilient,” said Jeff Corbin, EPA Senior Advisor for the Chesapeake Bay and Anacostia River. “All of these efforts underscore the level of engagement we need from everyone in making daily choices for clean local and regional waters.”

For more information about the Chesapeake Bay Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants Program, visit www.nfwf.org/chesapeake. For more information about Thompson’s Knoll, visit www.thompsonsknoll.com.

A public forum will be hosted by the Bedford Agriculture Economic Development Advisory Board on Sept. 20 at 2:30 p.m. Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Matt Lohr will be at the forum to discuss  agriculture economy in Virginia. The forum will take place at the Bedford Welcome Center and reservations are not required. For more information, contact the extension office at 586-7675.

Here is the press release from Bedford County.

Bedford, Virginia—The Bedford Agriculture Economic Development Advisory Board
(AEDAB) will host a public forum on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, from 2:30 – 4 p.m. at the Bedford Welcome Center, 816 Burks Hill Rd.

Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Matt Lohr will be in attendance to discuss the many facets of the agriculture economy both locally and throughout the Commonwealth and to answer questions. Agriculture producers, family farmers, and interested individuals from Bedford and the surrounding areas are encouraged to attend. Read more »

Samsung Galaxy S III

U.S. Cellular stores in the area will host free device workshops in September. Current and potential smartphone users can attend these workshops to learn about phone features and get advice on which phone or table to buy. Various locations in Christiansburg, Salem, Roanoke, Rocky Mount and Lynchburg will be hosting the workshops. See the press release below for dates and times.

Here is the press release form U.S. Cellular

ROANOKE/LYNCHBURG, Va. (August 30, 2012) — Have you ever wondered how to use all of the features on your smartphone, or perhaps, wanted to know if you’re doing everything you can to get the most out of your device? You’re not alone. U.S. Cellular is inviting current or potential smartphone users to a Device Workshop on where you can learn more about the features, tips and tricks of a specific device — or even stop by to decide if a smartphone or tablet is right for your needs. At the workshop, U.S. Cellular associates will offer attendees hands-on assistance for Android™-powered, Windows™ Phone and BlackBerry® devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S® III™.

“Your phone is supposed to simplify and enhance your life, which is why U.S. Cellular provides a high-speed nationwide network and the latest phones and tablets. Ensuring every customer knows how to get the most out of their device is just one of the ways we provide the best customer experience,” said Dana Dorcas, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the Mid-Atlantic. “From offering the only points-based reward program in the industry to new devices faster without resigning contracts, we treat every customer like a neighbor, not a number.”

The latest Android™-powered, Windows™ Phone and BlackBerry® options offered by U.S. Cellular enable customers to transform a smartphone to a device that meets their exact needs. The Samsung Galaxy S® III™ allows customers to enjoy faster web browsing and quick app downloads with access to U.S. Cellular’s high-speed nationwide network.

U.S. Cellular will offer free Device Workshops at the following locations:
Christiansburg, U.S. Cellular

Saturday, September 1
8 a.m. 10 a.m.
103 Conston Avenue, Christiansburg, VA 24073
(540) 382-2656
Salem, U.S. Cellular
Thursday, September 13
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
1420 West Main Street, Salem, VA 24153
(540) 375-6760
Roanoke – Valley View, U.S. Cellular
Saturday, September 15
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
4760 Valley View Blvd., Roanoke, VA  24012
(540) 362-9774
Roanoke – Electric Road, U.S. Cellular
Thursday, September 20
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
3260 Electric Road, Roanoke, VA 24018
(540) 725-5887
Rocky Mount, Franklin County Public Library
Thursday, September 20
12 noon to 2 p.m.
355 Franklin Street, Rocky Mount, VA 24151
(540) 483-5900
Rocky Mount, U.S. Cellular
Friday, September 21
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
842 Tanyard Road, Rocky Mount, VA 24151
(540) 483-5900
Lynchburg, U.S. Cellular
Saturday, September 22
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
3911 Wards Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 832-0808

The workshop is open to everyone. Please call the store to RSVP.
PHOTO CAPTION: Device workshop attendees can learn about the latest smartphones, like this Samsung Galaxy S III from U.S. Cellular, and how they can make their lives easier.

About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. Currently, 31 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds and 58 percent will have access by the end of 2012. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Champion in 2012 for the second year in a row. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

Advance Auto Parts will be presenting at the 2012 Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference on Sept. 6. The event takes place in New York City. A live broadcast of the presentation will be offered on the AAP website, www.advanceautoparts.com.

Here is the press release from Advance Auto Parts

ROANOKE, Va. (August 30, 2012) – Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP), a leading retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items, will be presenting at the 2012 Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference in New York City, on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 9:45 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time. A live broadcast of the presentation will be available online in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.advanceautoparts.com. Please click on the webcast link to register prior to the event.  A replay will be available at www.advanceautoparts.com for thirty days.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for First Bank in Salem on Aug. 23. The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce held the ceremony.

Here is the press release from the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce.

The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for First Bank on Thursday, August 23, 2012. They are located at 1406 Colorado Street, Salem, Va.  Members of the community, the Chamber of Commerce, friends and family joined Jim Grubbs, SVP Regional Executive, Phil Barbour, VP City Executive & Branch Manager and local staff to celebrate their location in Salem.  The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber would like to thank First Bank for their membership and support.

POParazzi Studio and Gallery in Roanoke  is temporarily relocating from its current Kirk Avenue location in the Horton Building to 101 Campbell Ave. The  move is due to renovations in the Horton Building. The studio will be open Sept. 7 from 5 to 9 p.m. for Art by Night and then Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m.

Here is the press release from POParazzi Studio/Gallery

POParazzi Studio/Gallery is temporarily relocating to 101 Campbell Avenue due to renovations at the Kirk Avenue location in the Horton Building.

The Campbell Avenue location will be open for the September 7th Art by Night, 5 – 9 pm, and afterwards, from 12 – 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

Gerald Hubert’s solo exhibition “Charmed in Old Southwest” will open to the general public on the October 5th Art by Night at the Campbell Avenue address.

Roanoke’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund grant has been extended to September 2013.  Funds are still available to Roanoke property owners and prospective buyers who are in need of environmental cleanup to their property.  The grant comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Visit www.roanokeva.gov/brownfields for more information.

Here is the press release from The City of Roanoke

Roanoke, VA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently extended the city’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant to September 2013. RLF funds are used for the environmental cleanup of properties, including lead and asbestos abatement. The grant still has more than $1 million available for low to no-interest loans to for-profit entities and up to $200,000 in grant funds to non-profit organizations. The former Virginian Railway Station on Jefferson Street is an example of a recent RLF project.

More than $475,000 in assessment grants is also still available for property owners and prospective buyers through the city’s brownfields program. These funds can be used for Phase I and II environmental site assessments, and other studies. The city has three environmental firms under contract to provide these services as expeditiously as the private sector. City staff handles administration of the grants and coordinates services for applicants. Recent assessments have been completed at 1210 Patterson Ave., 305 1st St., and 131 Campbell Ave. Read more »

Ben Grove of Blacksburg has been named to the inaugural class of the Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results or VALOR program. The program teaches selected agricultural leaders to engage in all parts of the Virginia agricultural community, creating solutions and promoting agriculture. Click here to learn more about the VALOR program.

Here is the press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 29, 2012 – The Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results (VALOR) Program has selected its inaugural class, which comprises 11 outstanding individuals from throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The VALOR Program is designed to develop leaders who can effectively engage all segments of the Virginia agricultural community to create collaborative solutions and promote agriculture inside and outside the industry. Read more »

An awards ceremony for small businesses will take place  in Roanoke  on Oct. 4. The 26th Annual Small Business Awards will be located at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. The ceremony is hosted by The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center. Tickets start at $56.50 and can be purchased by calling 983-0700 ext. 221, e-mailing business@RoanokeChamber.org, or online at www.RoanokeChamber.org.

Here is the press release from the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center (RRSBDC) will recognize the accomplishments of outstanding small businesses at the 26th Annual Small Business Awards on Thursday, October 4, 2012, at 6 PM at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Reservations will be accepted by calling 983.0700, x221, e-mailing business@RoanokeChamber.org, or online at www.RoanokeChamber.org.  Tickets are $56.50 per person, $452 for a table of eight, and $565 for a table of 10, and includes dinner.

The Chamber and RRSBDC will recognize eight individuals as nominees for the Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, one Small Business Veteran of the Year, and over 70 business nominees for the Small Business of the Year Award. Business awards will be presented in the following categories: Construction/Real Estate, Micro-Business (five or fewer employees), Technology, Business-to-Business Services, Business-to-Consumer Services, Wholesale/Retail, Legacy (in business for 50-plus years), Not-For-Profit Arts & Culture, and Not-For-Profit Health & Human Services. The overall business winner will be named the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year for 2012 and will be entered in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Virginia Small Business of the Year competition.

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, established in 1889, has 1,200 member firms.  The Chamber serves its members with advocacy, networking, information and business assistance programs that maintain a strong business climate in the Greater Roanoke Region.

The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center promotes the growth and prosperity of small businesses by offering professional business counseling, training, and information resources to entrepreneurs, start-up companies, and existing small businesses. The RRSBDC is hosted by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Weekly TEDTalks will be hosted  Wednesdays at noon at 16 West Marketplace. TEDTalks are online videos that share ideas on technology, entertainment and design.  The first TEDTalk will take place on Sept. 5. These events are free and open to the public.

Here is the press release from 16 West Marketplace.

Roanoke, Va. (August 27, 2012) –16 West Marketplace in downtown Roanoke will host weekly TEDTalks, carrying on a tradition begun two years ago by Katherine Walker in The Shadowbox which became a popular lunchtime activity for downtown residents and professionals. The talks, free and open to the public with no registration necessary, will be hosted every Wednesday at noon.

“Locally hosted TEDTalks have become a launching pad for discussion about our collective vision for Roanoke and how all of us can work together to move this city forward,” says John Garland, owner of 16 West Marketplace. “We’ve heard comments from so many people about how much they enjoyed this event and hoped to see it continue in another location.  16 West is an ideal location so it was an easy decision to make to continue to host the TEDTalks here in the heart of downtown.”

The first TEDTalk at 16 West will be held on Sept. 5 and will feature Stephen Ritz, a teacher in New York’s South Bronx who grows gardens with his kids for food, greenery and jobs. He will discuss the many ways to grow hope in a neighborhood many have written off.

New TEDTalk topics will be chosen each week, moderated by the owners of 16 West and other members of the community, with group discussions to follow a video presentation of the original TEDTalk.  Food will be available for purchase at Café 16, which opened in late April and offers organic, gourmet fare including tea, coffee, smoothies and lunch items such as wraps, sandwiches and salads.

TEDTalks began as a simple attempt to share what happens at TED, a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, with the world. Under the moniker “ideas worth spreading,” talks were released online, rapidly attracting a global audience. Since 1984, TED has grown from a single conference to two conferences, bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design, and includes the award-winning TEDTalks video site.

16 West Marketplace, scheduled to be complete in October 2012, aims to cater to the healthy, innovative, and savvy tastes of those who live, work, and frequent Downtown Roanoke. The marketplace offers one-stop shopping for many daily routines and needs. Located in the former S&W Cafeteria, at 16 West Church Avenue, just off Jefferson Street, the historic building has been restored to its original art-deco splendor. The building is currently comprised of Carilion’s RAC Xpress, Fleda A. Ring Artworks, Core Chiropractic and Wellness Center, Café 16 and eight apartments.

For more information about the TED Talks, contact John Garland at 540-342-6001 or jgarland@spectrumpc.com. For more information about 16 West Marketplace, visit 16westmarketplace.com.