When the pandemic hit, a lot of people started turning to different hobbies that they may not have normally chosen. YouTube, for many, was the teacher. For 15-year-old Emily Diggs, it sparked an interest in a creative soap making hobby that morphed into a growing business. Emily’s venture started during the pandemic when she was 12. Trial and error marked her first pursuit at what would become the Blacksburg-based soap business The Blacksburg Rose. “I went through lots of trial …
J.H. BARDS is a name with great significance. J and H are the initials of the founders and proprietors, Jason Hardy and Jayson Hudson. “BARDS” came about as these Blacksburg natives returned …
Laura Lamoureux grew up in Blacksburg, the daughter of two teachers. She was always determined, with a job and her own money from the time she was 12. Laura’s paper route funded …
In the early spring of 2021, Luke Underwood had some issues with the electrical system in his 2008 Jayco Eagle 32-foot fifth wheel camper. He is naturally mechanically-inclined, not born with any …
What child – or adult(?) – doesn’t crane his or her neck to get a look at a barn and perhaps glimpse a horse or cows, sheep, goats or llamas. Barns capture …
It started with a compliment and an exhortation to bring music instruction to the community. Nearly 30 years later, the Renaissance Music Academy [RMA] is making Blacksburg and the New River Valley …
Parker Stafford was 12 years old when he remembers first being impressed by glass. He had traveled to England with his grandparents and was awestruck by stained glass windows. After graduating from …
There’s an old joke that says watching soccer is like watching grass grow, except with soccer players in the way. The real joke is the absurdity of that statement because soccer – …
When Joe Hotter was told 900 words – or thereabouts – were needed on his life for this article, he exhaled sarcastically: “Oh boy. We’re in trouble now.” But with the first …
re you looking forward to retirement? I did. There was a mental countdown that last year of school; 179 more days…98 …23 …1! I could hardly wait, but a friend asked, “If …