Love is always a central theme in weddings, but for Brogan Dinger and Nathan Shifflette, it went beyond the love they had for each other to include their families, their community and its economy and the environment. Nearly every decision was braced by the questions: Who will this help? [and] What won’t be hurt? It started by deciding to have the wedding on the family farm, continuing a family tradition and allowing Brogan to be photographed with her horses. Nathan, …
By Joanne M. Anderson The year 1891 is not only noteworthy for the Hormel Company introducing its Spam product, James Naismith creating basketball and Carnegie Hall opening with Tchaikovsky as guest conductor, …
By Dr. Steve Jacobs Summer is the time for contact lenses for sports, beach time, gardening… you name it. Many activities are enhanced by the freedom of not wearing framed glasses. From …
No appointment necessary! Those are welcome words for people who struggle to carve out time in this busy, work-a-day world for something as simple, and as vital, as visiting the doctor for …
Text by Joanne M. Anderson Photos by Always and Forever Photography Riner was once a thriving village with a sawmill, lumber yard, tobacco factory, tannery, hotel, shoe factory and well company. Originally …
Text by Karl H. Kazaks Photos by Nathan Cooke Reginald Davis knows what it’s like to feel a calling. He’s been a devoted religious man since 1977, when, as he says, “I …
Text by Jennifer Poff Cooper Photos by Always and Forever Photography Local artist Aili Wang has not stopped drawing and painting since private art lessons at age 15. A native of China, …
Text by Jennifer Poff Cooper Photos courtesy of Blacksburg Chinese School When Chinese school started in Blacksburg, some of its current younger teachers were not even born. The school recently celebrated its …
Ross Perot hit the proverbial nail on the head with this observation: “Most new jobs won’t come from our biggest employers. They will come from our smallest. We’ve got to do everything …
“Tears and Cheers” are common for moms when a child starts kindergarten ~ tears for the moment of separation from a little one who it seems was but a babe in arms …