Good morning, Blacksburg.

Throughout April, beautiful pinwheels are shown around our community to raise awareness of child abuse and promote safe childhoods.

StepStone Family and Youth Services works with families facing developmental, emotional, educational and medical challenges and urges parents in need to reach out for support — offering therapeutic foster care and guidance.

On Saturday, 36 Warm Hearth Village residents, family members, staff and volunteers walked 3.2 miles to remember those lost in the 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy—an event planned by locals including former Virginia Tech educators.

On April 16th, the Virginia Tech community gathered to honor the 32 lives lost in the mass shooting by reading names and maintaining a candle lit for 24 hours—flags on state and local buildings flew at half-staff as the tribute underscored the lasting impact on Hokie Nation and Southwest Virginia.

Yesterday, Virginia Tech held a remembrance ceremony at the April 16 Memorial to honor the 32 lives lost in the campus shooting.

The ceremony featured a candle lighting at 12:01 a.m., a wreath laying at 9:43 a.m. and a 32-minute Corps of Cadets watch — a tribute to the university’s pledge to remember the tragedy.

Virginia Tech held its Authors Recognition event to celebrate creative and scholarly work such as books, journal articles, albums and films produced by its community.

The event also launched the University Press of Virginia Tech—set to publish peer-reviewed work from on campus and beyond.

Today, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week — honoring telecommunicators who serve as the vital link between the public and emergency services.

Governor Glenn Youngkin officially proclaimed the week to recognize their work in handling both routine and major emergencies.

Emily Sarver, a mining engineering professor, has studied how electron microscopy can reveal dust in lung tissue to help workers breathe easier in dusty jobs.

Her team will soon test a new method using a portable microscope and automated analysis—this tool may quickly detect harmful dust to lower risks of black lung and silicosis.

Several aquatic fitness classes will be offered in May to help improve strength, balance, and flexibility, with options such as Aqua Yoga, Morning Fit, Warm Water Workout, Rolling in the Deep, Bikini and Boardshort Bootcamp, and Aqua FITT led by certified instructors.

Registration for residents opens on April 22 at 7:30 a.m. + summer hours begin on May 27 with varying schedules and pricing for residents and non-residents.

Bryan Randall, a former Virginia Tech quarterback, became the new quarterbacks coach at William & Mary on Feb.

10 — he accepted the offer after a call from a friend and chose the job because it lets him stay near home with his family; he said the chance to learn and work with experienced staff made the opportunity right. Randall noted that the decision was unexpected but felt it was the perfect time to enter college coaching.

Bonsai Painting Night at Beliveau Farm Winery

6-8 p.m. — Beliveau Farm Winery — Ticket sales end March 21st, 2025 — Unleash your creativity while sipping wine and painting your own bonsai masterpiece.