Hospital Dons Pink Gloves and Dances for a Cure
Unless you live on another planet, you well know that October is breast cancer awareness month. The NFL, Nascar and a host of others businesses and community groups get in on the action by wearing pink in support of the cause.
Now a local group is getting in on the action. Employees of Lewis Gale Hospital at Montgomery decked themselves in pink scrubs and pink medical gloves, then danced through the hospital hallways in the hopes of raising money for breast cancer research.
Their flash-mob style dance routine, set to the tune “Raise Your Glass” by pop singer Pink (naturally), was entered in the Pink Glove Dance Contest sponsored by Medline. The winner of the nationwide contest will have $10,000 donated to the breast cancer research organization of their choice.
The hospital employees got some choreography assistance from the High Techs Dance Team at Virginia Tech. Part of the dance routine was also filmed in Lane Stadium to demonstrate how the hospital aims to work throughout the community for breast cancer awareness and prevention.
All video entries will be posted on pinkglovedance.com beginning October 3, when voting will begin. Winners will be announced October 28.
Main Street Improvements Bring Communications Award for Blacksburg
The improvements along downtown Blacksburg’s Main Street have not only garnered attention for their aesthetic and pedestrian improvements, but also for the way information was shared with local residents throughout the planning and construction phases.
The Town of Blacksburg won the 2011 Achievement Award in the communications category from the Virginia Municipal League. The town was honored for its Main Street Improvement Project Communication Plan, which sought input from residents and business owners during the plan’s development phase, and offered information on the disruptions created by the construction phase.
The communication plan included one-on-one meetings with business owners, and a web page that provided updates, maps, and information. The town also launched a blog to post photos and construction videos during the project, and to offer residents and visitors a chance to share their comments and questions. The town also shared information through Facebook, Twitter and an advertising campaign.
The Town of Blacksburg was judged to be best of 12 entrants in the communications category. The award will be presented to the town during the Virginia Municipal League Annual Conference on October 4.
The Budget Savvy Bride
With the sagging economy and the average cost of a wedding estimated at $20,000 couples are worried about how they will pay for their big day. The wedding and honeymoon industry which up until now has been considered recession proof is feeling the pinch leaving many couples searching for less expensive alternatives and creative and do-it-yourself solutions.
As a result, venues, vendors and merchants are changing their mindset as well to come up with ideas and ways to add value to their product or service. The Holiday Inn University Blacksburg has a new concept for the budget savvy bride, a complete wedding package for $999
Having an inexpensive wedding does not make you a cheap skate, especially if finances don’t allow for a lavish one. If anything, budget weddings say that a couple is financially reasonable and that money is better suited for a down payment on a home. Weddings are just the beginning. Couples should be able to enjoy the wedding without the added stress of large debt they will be paying off for years to come.
Virginia Tech’s Center for the Arts
The construction for Virginia Tech’s new Center for the Arts is well under way. The plans for the new 130,000-square-foot, $89 million facility were approved earlier this year by the university’s board of visitors. The center will help redefine downtown Blacksburg and shape the performing and visual arts environment throughout the region.
The Center for the Arts complex will include both new and renovated facilities located at the intersection of North Main Street and Alumni Mall. “Its location — at the main entrance to campus near the center of the Town of Blacksburg — symbolizes our commitment to the arts and its importance to the university and to our broader community,” noted Ruth Waalkes, executive director for the Center for the Arts.
The complex will comprise three major areas — the performance hall, several visual arts galleries, and the Center for Creative Technologies in the Arts. The performance hall will seat 1,300 peopl
e and will have the flexibility to present theatre, music, and dance performances.
The visual arts galleries will incorporate display space for traditional visual art as well as interactive and digital forms and will exhibit both temporarily donated and university-owned artwork. The space will also be suitable for interactive and distance-learning activities and will further facilitate collaborations with the recently opened Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, Va., to include exhibitions and educational outreach opportunities.
The Center for Creative Technologies in the Arts will be housed in new space as well as renovated space in Schultz Hall. The center, a technological incubator, laboratory, and studio setting to be sued to explore the many intersections of art, education, and technology, will enhance public education at the primary, secondary, undergraduate, and graduate education levels. The center will include the Collaborative Performance Lab that will provide a venue for exploration for the visual and performance arts using the latest interactive technology.
Construction of the facility is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2013.
Parent’s Key Club
The Holiday Inn Blacksburg has developed a program exclusively for parents of Virginia Tech Student’s, The Parent’s Key Club.
If you are a parent of a Hokie you will no doubt make many trips to Blacksburg over the course of your student’s education. For example there is moving your student in, Parent’s Weekend, home football games, and of course those just because visits.
As a program participant parents can make the most of their visit to Blacksburg with discounts on hotel rooms, catering and our restaurant, discounts for referring friends and family, discounts at local businesses, free catered tailgate during home football games, monthly newsletters with Blacksburg happenings and much more!
And of course the most important reason to come to town is your Hokie’s graduation. As part of the Parent’s Key Club we offer Graduation Guarantee. When graduation is announced hotels in Blacksburg typically sell out within an hour. With us you can avoid the hassle of the phone lottery and trying to get a reservation. We will guarantee you one.
Holiday Inn University-Blacksburg would like to welcome you to Virginia Tech and the Parent’s Key Club. If you have any questions please call our Front Desk at 540-552-7001 or email us at PKC@thevthotel.com
Eco-Friendly Wedding Dresses
For the bride, one of the most important wedding choices will be her wedding dress. No matter what your budget, the wedding gown industry is offering more and more conscientious fashion options. You don’t have to sacrifice style to be environmentally friendly.
The easiest and most eco-friendly choice is to re-use a gown already worn. Buying vintage, renting, or wearing your mother’s dress is a great way to be environmentally friendly and can be cost conscious, too. Purchase a once-worn or sample gown from Brides Against Breast Cancer which donates the proceeds to help women with breast cancer.
Other online options of once worn bridal gowns include: Ebay, and The Dress Market.
Encore Bridal sells pre-owned couture wedding dresses and bridal accessories. “Re-using” wedding gowns reduces environmental waste. Also, Encore Bridal is committed to using green business practices (ex. use of recycled paper for stationary, use of recycled and biodegradable shipping products, fuel efficient transportation)
If having a new dress is important to you, consider earth friendly fabrics such as hemp, organic cotton, linen, tencel and silk Check out the options for wedding gowns in natural and eco-friendly fabrics at: Organic Weddings, (swatch requests are available), Conscious Clothing. and Threadhead Creations. For a casual wedding, check out Rawganique.
When the big day is over consider donating your wedding dress to a charitable organization-the ultimate in recycling. Brides Against Breast Cancer sells once-worn gowns and uses the proceeds to grant wishes to breast cancer patients nationwide. The I Do Foundation will donate 20% of the proceeds from the sale of your dress to the charity of your choice, and use the remaining funds to support the I Do Foundation’s ongoing work to encourage charitable giving at weddings. In addition, you receive a tax write-off from the I Do Foundation for the full value of the dress. Ask your bridesmaids to give their gowns to the Glass Slipper Project , a program that distributes formal dresses to high-school students unable to afford prom attire.
Source: greatgreenwedding.com
The Greenbrier Classic is Back!
The 2011 Greenbrier Classic returns for 2011 with an all-star lineup of PGA TOUR players and music superstars on July 25 – 31, 2011. Tournament badge options include your choice of FREE concerts by super group The Black Eyed Peas and country music megastars Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert at the WV State Fairgrounds.
For details about The Greenbrier Classic tournament badges and concert series, visit thegreenbrierclassicbadges.com or call 1-877-322-2870. Badges are also available at Ticketmaster and your local Kroger’s or United Bank.
New this year, you can enjoy the Classic and scheduled Concert Series in style. Forget about the parking, waiting in line, and shuttle transfers at the Greenbrier. Enjoy VIP transportation, including refreshments, during the rides up and back in a luxury University Travel motor coach from Blacksburg!
Buses will be leaving from Bull & Bones (the First & Main Parking Lot in Blacksburg) to the Greenbrier Resort (Golf Buses leave daily at 7:30am, Concert Buses will leave at 4pm). Buses will also be stopping at the Salem Park & Ride off I81.
If you are leaving from Blacksburg, you might as well stay in Blacksburg. Book your room at the Holiday Inn Blacksburg and receive a 20% discount on your room rate and complimentary transportation to Bull & Bones. Based on availability, call our Front Desk at 540-552-7001 for complete details and reservations.
Motor coach tickets are limited, so buy your BUS & TICKET, TICKET ONLY, or BUS ONLY package now. Each ticket entitles you to round-trip motor coach transportation, the appropriate golf/concert tickets or BOTH! All purchases are final and there will be no refunds for any reasons. For more information on buses and tickets call 540-605-1545.
Summer Travel Tips
Memorial Day kicks off the summer travel season for Americans and with the usual trips to the beach and lazy days spent by the pool come dire warnings of high gas prices and economic recession not to mention overbooked flights, long delays at check-in and new baggage fees. So what’s a traveler to do?
“Working with a professional travel consultant to plan your next trip, be it a grand tour of Europe or a long weekend, can save you both time and money,” said ASTA President and Chair Chris Russo. “Travel consultants are committed to making their clients’ trip the best travel experience possible. So while the summer travel season is always a busy one, this year if you work with a travel consultant to plan your summer vacations, it doesn’t have to be a frustrating one. ”
Despite the weak dollar, some travelers will be heading overseas this summer. For those looking to keep expenses down, consumers can opt for destinations whose currency is tied to the U.S. dollar or trips for which they pre-pay in U.S. dollars, such as Mediterranean cruises or an all-inclusive resort.
Tips for air travel include:
• Book your ticket ASAP. If you must book last minute, remember, you have options. The key to securing the best deal is flexibility in travel dates–ask your travel agent to check into special fares or consider flying into an alternate airport and renting a car. If your vacation includes international travel, make sure you have a valid passport. Your travel agent can advise you on the new rules and how to apply.
• Arrive early. Difficult airport parking, long lines at security checkpoints and the possibility of the airline overselling the flight and bumping passengers, should all be considered when deciding what time to arrive at the airport. Give yourself plenty of extra time. Need some incentive? Keep in mind that those who arrive earliest for an overbooked flight stand the greatest chance of staying onboard.
• Keep a close eye on all your belongings. Just as flights are becoming extremely crowded, airports can also be fraught with thieves. Be aware of your surroundings and maintain a close watch over tickets, wallets, purses, and other belongings at all times.
• Avoid getting bumped. 1) Get an advance seat assignment. Passengers with seat assignments are typically only bumped if they arrive late and their seat assignment is released. 2) Check-in online. Most airlines allow you to do so within 24 hours of departure. Seat assignments that were not available at the time of ticketing may be available when checking in online. 3) Don’t be late. If all else fails, get to the airport early. Some airlines reserve a portion of their seat assignment inventory for airport check-in. If you are denied a seat assignment at check-in, put your name on the “standby” seat assignment list.
• Remember 3-1-1. New regulations limit the amount of gels and liquids passengers can take through security in their carry-on luggage to travel-size toiletries of three (3) ounces or less that fit comfortably in one (1) quart-size, clear plastic zip-top bag and the one (1) bag per passenger must be placed in the screening bin.
• Know your limits. Pack light and know baggage limits. Some airlines now charge for a second piece of checked luggage.
Tips for travel by car include:
• Plan itineraries and arrange accommodations well in advance. Reservations for hotels, restaurants and rental cars get booked quickly during peak travel times. Your travel agent can help you get the lowest rate and make sure your rental car has room for your family, luggage and whatever souvenirs you bring home.
• Get a tune up. Before any long-distance drive, make sure to have your oil changed and your brakes, fluids and tire pressure checked. The slightest deficiency in air pressure significantly reduces your car’s gas mileage. On the flip side, too much air can result in a flat.
• Get an early start to avoid holiday weekend gridlock. Traveling during late night/early morning hours helps. The worst times to travel are after meals since most travelers postpone leaving until they’ve eaten with their families. Make sure that all drivers are thoroughly rested.
Source: TravelSense.com
Summer Live Concert Series
Holiday Inn Blacksburg’s 2nd Annual Summer Live Concert Series is just around the corner and we have a great line-up in store. Best of all, the event is free to the public, just bring your blanket or chair and spend the evening enjoying live music on the patio. We have you covered on food and drink as well. This year we will be serving the $6 combo hot off the grill. Mixed kabobs and assorted sides will be available for purchase as well as those delicious summer beverages.
Whiskey River Band
As far as the music goes, we have a little something for everyone, country, classic rock, funk, tropical and everything in between.
June 1 Whiskey River Band (Country/Rock/Southern Rock)
June 8 Awesomesauce (Variety)
June 15 Ministers of Soul (Classic Soul/R&B/Blues/Funk)
June 22 3 Minute Lovin’ (Country)
June 29 Factory Four Speed (Rock/Blues/Southern)
July 6 Ragtop (Easy Listening)
July 13 The Alliens (Funk/Tropical)
July 20 The Downing Brothers (Variety)
July 27 Walkin Sidewayz (Country/Classic Rock)
Any donations from this year’s series will benefit the United Way of Montgomery, Radford and Floyd an organization that focuses on generating and providing those communities with resources to build support for local human needs. What a great way to celebrate the summer, enjoying live music and great food for a great cause, so round up your family and friends and we will see you on the patio!
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Virginia Tech Graduation 2011
It’s that time again. The Virginia Tech Hokies are wrapping up finals this week preparing for this weekend’s graduation ceremony. Commencement is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. on May 13 in Cassell Coliseum. About 1,000 Virginia Tech graduate and professional students are expected to receive degrees at the ceremony.
Betty Chao, founder of Westech International, will give the keynote address for this year’s commencement ceremony. Chao established Westech in 1994 as a one-person technical consulting business. Headquartered in Albuquerque, N.M., today the company employs about 800 people and has revenues of about $75 million a year.
Finding Employment in a tough economy
Hiring levels for Virginia Tech graduates have remained relatively the same, according to a newly released study by career services. Stuart Mease,
director of undergraduate career services, noted student perceptions may not equate to the reality of the current job market. “Not all degrees have the same level of demand”.
The need is for students to develop skills outside of their particular major, comparing the job market to a game of Blackjack. “You never know what card is going to turn over,” says Mease. Six months after graduation, 21 percent of graduates are still seeking employment, while only 2 percent have not begun to seek employment.
Rachel Dobroth, a senior communication major and president of the Tech chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, said jobs were a major discussion among her group’s members. Dobroth, who is still looking for a job, said she usually stressed finding work through networking and not from standard job listings. “The jobs that are most meaningful are found through people and not through job listings,” Dobroth said.
Mease says, “There’s a myth out there if you have a degree, then a job is going to come calling,”That’s definitely not the case.” There are certainly different realities for students based on skill sets they have.
Regardless of future plans, we wish all of the 2011 graduates the best of luck in their future endeavors.
Sources: Roanoke Time, Collegiate Times
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