Category: News

By: Noah Camin

Blacksburg has recently passed a new ordinance bill that allows for more types of small-scale alcohol production. This bill would allow for the addition of distillery, winery, cidery and most recently meadery and seltzery.

The previous bill only allowed for breweries to be in the industrial or agricultural zone, but now it will be expanded to the general commercial and downtown commercial zones.

According to Blacksburg Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith, she believes it will be a great opportunity for the town to welcome these new businesses.

One of the new distilleries that are eager to make the move over is J.H. Bard’s Spirit Co. “The approval to allow small-scale producers within the General Commercial districts is huge for us” Co-founder Jason Hardy said. “When we approached Town staff about the potential to move to Blacksburg, they sprang into action to help us make it a reality.”

With the expansion of available zones, the Town of Blacksburg hopes this will lead to not only more employment opportunities, but also diverse options for students, tourists and residents as well.

“We certainly hope it provides more job opportunities in town…I think people can expect that well regulated, well run, establishments will broaden the shopping and entertainment opportunities currently available to Blacksburg residents and visitors” Town Council Member Susan Mattingly said.

The Town of Blacksburg has a growing economy, especially with the Virginia Tech campus nearby. Mattingly explains that these types of emerging businesses are very popular among the community and its citizens. They hope that the approval of the ordinance will allow the community to grow.

As stated in the ordinance, the Town of Blacksburg recognizes the challenges in the current commercial business environment and wants to support emerging trends and new niche businesses within the Town.

The vote was brought to the attention of the Blacksburg Counsel on Jan. 10, 2023, during their town meeting. The ordinance was approved with a vote of 7-0 in favor of passing.

“We’re excited to lead the way and would encourage and welcome others to join us…we’re hoping to become a major economic driver for the Town and look forward to welcoming both locals and visitors alike to our tasting room” Hardy said.

There are numerous breweries in the Blacksburg area including Bull and Bones, Eastern Divide Brewing, Lefty’s Right Mind Brewery, Rising Silo Brewery and The Maroon Door.

The town can expect to see the ordinance put into effect immediately and the respective businesses will be able to implement these changes in the coming months.

By Anthony Cusat

On Jan. 21, 2023, a Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park, California became a tragic scene in a mass shooting that took the lives of 11 people and injured nine more. Just two days later, another mass shooting in Half Moon Bay made national headlines as another seven people lost their lives with one more left injured. According to the Gun Violence Archive, these incidents are two of the 54 mass shootings that have occurred since the beginning of 2023.

Immediate media coverage of these events may shine a temporary light on recovery, but the aftermath of mass shootings presents a new set of challenges for communities to overcome.

According to a working study, there is evidence to suggest that communities that experience a mass shooting event have a reduced probability of excellent community well-being and emotional health by 27 and 13 percentage points respectively four weeks after the event occurs.

Lola Quraishi, a first-year student at the University of Virginia, saw the effects of one of these events after a mass shooting on the school’s campus in November of 2022. The shooter took the lives of three students and injured two more. In reference to the climate of Charlottesville after the shooting, Quraishi said, “It was just really somber and desolate… After it was confirmed that three people passed away, it was basically silent. I’ve never been in a situation so eerie. ”

After lockdown provisions were lifted, Quraishi said that the community came together in a way she has never experienced before. Flowers lined various monuments and people attended memorial services in honor of those who lost their lives.

However, as the months progressed, the physical reminders of what happened began to dissipate. Quraishi said, “It was sad slowly seeing the flowers dying around statues, and then when we came back from break, pretty much everything was gone… We all know that it still happened, but physically, remnants are going away.”

The retiring of other physical reminders also can be used in communities to start the recovery process. In the case of the Virginia Tech shooting, one of these efforts came in the form of renovations to Norris Hall, the location where 30 victims lost their lives. Additionally, the planned destruction and rebuilding of Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas serves a similar purpose after the shooting that occurred in May of 2022.

As for those affected by mass shootings, there is no forgetting. “Now that it’s happened, we know it could happen again,” Quraishi said. Now, Quraishi hopes this experience will help others know the warning signs before events like these have the chance to repeat.