🌱 VT Prof Talks About Titan Submersible + 10th Give Local NRV Day

Hello again, neighbors! It's me, Michelle Paul, your host of the Blacksburg Patch newsletter. Let's get this Friday started off right with a quick guide to everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Couple of thunderstorms. High: 75 Low: 62.
• Saturday: Humid with a thundershower. High: 75 Low: 59.

Here are the top three stories in Blacksburg today:

1. A Virginia Tech professor, Dr. Stefano Brizzolara, provided insights into the missing Titanic submersible, highlighting the lack of redundancy and safety measures in the craft, as well as the challenges posed by extreme depth, pressure, and temperature. The absence of communication and orientation capabilities, along with the reliance on sonar mapping, further complicates the search efforts. The professor emphasized the difficulties of navigating in the darkness of the depths and the distortion caused by changes in salinity and temperature. (WDBJ)
2. The nearby Mountain Lake Lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains is once again in the national spotlight as Misty Belles, Vice President of Global PR at Virtuoso, discussed summer travel movies, including "Dirty Dancing," on TODAY. Belles highlighted the Lodge as the real-life Kellerman's from the iconic film and mentioned the Lodge's "Dirty Dancing" weekends and Baby's Cabins available for rent. She also revealed that filming for the "Dirty Dancing" sequel will take place at Mountain Lake Lodge later this year, with Lionsgate announcing the sequel's release date as Feb. 9, 2024. (WSLS 10)
3. The Community Foundation hosted the 10th annual Give Local NRV Giving Day in the New River Valley, aiming to raise a minimum of $500,000 for local organizations. Donors can choose from a list of over 100 non-profits to support, with the 24-hour giving event concluding on Jun. 29 at noon. Early donations have already surpassed $234,000, and participants have the chance to win grants and prizes. (WSLS 10)

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Today and tomorrow in Blacksburg:

Friday, June 23

• Friday Night Outdoor Concert Series At Henderson Lawn (6:00 PM)

Saturday, June 24

• Blacksburg Farmers Market At Market Square Park (8:00 AM)
• Lavender Festival At Beliveau Farm Winery (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The 2023 Steppin' Out T-shirts, designed by Natalie Green from Blacksburg High School, are now available for purchase online and at select locations in Downtown Blacksburg. The shirts will also be sold during the Steppin' Out event on Aug. 4 and 5. (Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. via Facebook)
• Amanda Stewart and Marlon Ac-Pangan from Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences conducted research in Trinidad and Tobago to investigate the fermentation process of cocoa, shedding light on the transformation of cocoa into chocolate. Watch the video of their travels at the link. (Virginia Tech via Facebook)
• Mark your calendars for a Small Business Fundamentals of Marketing seminar taking place next Wednesday, Jun. 28. The special seminar, with speaker Steve Matuszak, is $30 for Chamber members and $40 for future members. (Montgomery County VA Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday off right! I'll be in your inbox soon with your next update.

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.