Friday June 21
Carnival by Funtime Amusements will be located in the First Church of God Parking lot on Lee Street. Featuring fairground rides and games for all ages. 5-10pm
Cabo Fish Taco Beach Party

Saturday June 22 1pm-12midnight
Summer Solstice Fest
Featuring Dog Parade, Petting Zoo, Downtown Sundown 5k Run®, Beer Garden, Food, Live Music, Burnt Creative Indie & Vintage Craft Fair,Carnival, Treasure Island Play Beach, FREE Bike Valet Service, Water Wars, Wing Eating Contest,Festival foods, fun filled games and activities brought to you by your favorite local non profit groups, and so much more.

The event will take place on Main St. between Roanoke St & Washington St, Lee St. between Church St & Draper Rd. and Draper Rd between Roanoke St and Kent Square Parking Garage.

Live Music with:
PanJammers
Guilty Pleasures
El Capitan
MH & His Orchestra
Jason Byrd
Urth
Hoppie Vaughan & The Ministers of Soul

Entertainment with:
Animal Antics with NRV Varmints ( A Fun, Educational look at a variety of birds and reptiles)
Wing Eating Contest sponsored by Sharkey’s, P.K.’s & Café de Bangkok
Belly Dancing
Fire Show by Pyre in the Beer Garden
Albert Flea Circus Performances at 2:30pm, 4:30pm & 6:30pm

WDBJ7
WDBJ7 will be onsite throughout the festival- stop by and see them on the corner of Lee St and Main Street, outside Starbucks!

Cumulus Radio Broadcast Schedule:
WSPK, The Bear & Mix 100.7 will be live onsite throughout the day.
Summer Solstice Fest is a DEQ Certified Virginia Green Event

Treasure Island  sponsored by the New River Valley Apartment Council
Come and play in the sand beach next to Starbucks and you might even find a few pieces of eight and a Pirate or Two!

Family Rejuvenation Station  sponsored by Rhythm of Birth,  and The Sleepytime Teacher

DOWNTOWN SUNDOWN 5K RACE® .  This year the race will start and finish on Draper Road in front of the the stage in the heart of the festival! Packet pick-up and race day registration: Begins at 3pm on race day. The registration table is located on the Alexander Black House Lawn on Draper Rd. Race day registration for the event will close promptly at 7:15pm. The race begins at 8:30pm
Race proceeds benefit: Blacksburg Cross Country & Track & Field Programs & Summer Solstice Fest

Burnt Creative Vendors

A Little Twisted https://www.facebook.com/ALittleTwisted1 (Pembroke, VA)
Stitched & Salvaged (Radford, VA)
Wrenn Pottery http://wrennpottery.com/ (Floyd, VA)
All Mapped Out http://allmappedout.etsy.com (Clemson, SC)
Whispering Willow Soap Co. http://www.whisperingwillow.net/ (Lincolnton, NC)
Dashing Dog Studio http://dashingdogstudio.com/ (Blacksburg, VA)
Marshfluff http://marshfluff.etsy.com (Radford, VA)
Diament Jewelry http://www.diamentjewelry.com/ (Alexandria, VA)
Heart Rock Vintage (Eggleston, VA)
Blue Planet Creations http://blueplanetcreations.etsy.com (Beavercreek, OH)
Paris Mountain Botanicals (Blacksburg, VA)
Live Pretty Jewelry http://liveprettyjewelry.etsy.com (Huntersville, NC)
The Parsonage Handmade Soap http://parsonagesoap.com/ (Lovettsville, VA)
Dancing Dog Tees (Floyd, VA)
Sandra Eileen Designs http://sandraeileenjewelry.etsy.com (Blacksburg, VA)
Sophie’s Bistro https://www.facebook.com/sophiesbistro (Blacksburg, VA)
OmBeautiful http://www.ombeautiful.com/ (Manakin Sabot, VA)
Folkthreads (Roanoke, VA)

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Cabo Fish Taco, NRVAC,  Montgomery County Regional Tourism Office, Freedom First Credit Union, Dr. Steve Jacobs, WDBJ7, NRV Macaroni Kid, Cumulus Radio, Town of Blacksburg, Shelor, Sharkeys & Cafe de Bangkok,  NRV Varmints, Tech Bookstore, Filamina Jewelry, Beliveau Estate Winery, Nationwide Insurance, Go Fit Moms, Solar Connexion, Edible Arrangements, Amerigroup Inc, VA, Rhythm of Birth,
The Sleepytime Teacher, Blacksburg Live Music

Post written by Cyndy Graham

Heavener Hardware has a long history of serving the town of Blacksburg. Blacksburg Lumber Company started out in the Blacksburg library building on Draper Road before moving to 813 Kabrich Street in 1980. The company became Heavener Hardware and Lumber when David Heavener bought the business in 1983.  Current co-owner Charles Woerner starting working there four days later. Current store manager Ed brought Charles to work with him at Heavener. Previously, they were both employed by Basic Hardware (formerly Western Auto). Basic Hardware is no longer around, but used to be located on Main Street in downtown Blacksburg. Obviously, there is a wealth of knowledge and experience to be found at Heavener Hardware that you will not find at the “big box” stores. The prices are also comparable, and the great service adds to the value.

Charles, a 1982 Virginia Tech business management graduate, thinks that in addition to being a great place to have a business, Blacksburg’s overall quality of life can’t be beat!   Charles and his wife, a Blacksburg native, decided to stay in Blacksburg because of the great school system, temperate climate, and small town atmosphere; the same attributes that still attract people to the area. Despite the dearth of department store shopping, which has been helped in some respect by the addition of First and Main, Charles believes that the town does a good job helping businesses get noticed and keeping businesses informed of recent developments. New additions to Virginia Tech, such as the new arts center, and downtown improvements such as the College Avenue Promenade project, all contribute to making Blacksburg a progressive community, while still preserving the small town atmosphere that people love so much.

Heavener Hardware’s major affiliation is the True Value brand. True Value is one of the major co-ops in the hardware industry providing buying power while allowing local ownership and autonomy. The store employs 24 people with an average of 16 years of service. Some employees have been in the industry for over 40 years, guaranteeing that if you need expert advice on a project you are sure to get just what you need! The Rental Store offers equipment from hand tools all the way up to Bobcats. Rentals are available from 1 hr to as long as you need the equipment.

Charles Woerner is currently serving as the Board President for Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. He is in his second term on the DBI Board and is an extremely active member of the organization which Heavener joined about 4 years ago. Heavener Hardware has a cardboard compactor available for public use to recycle cardboard as part of the Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. GREEN Initiative.

Heavener Hardware was host to a Cash Mob on Saturday March 9, 2013. For more about our monthly downtown Cash Mobs please visit our facebook page.

Post written by Cyndy Graham

Easy Way Packaging Center has been at 610 North Main Street since 1985, when Charlotte Joyce and her husband built the multi-space building and started their business. A fixture on Main Street, Cathy Taylor bought the business in 2005.
Today, Cathy, Charlotte, and long-time employee Daryl, operate the business, which offers mailbox rentals and notary services in addition to packaging and shipping. In fact, Easy Way is the only FedEx shipping location in Blacksburg. However, Cathy would like everyone to know that FedEx is not always the best option in terms of price and delivery time. UPS can offer comparable service and price depending on the destination, and UPS also offers overnight delivery. FedEx pick-up times are 4pm, 5pm, and 5:30pm during the week. An insider tip that might help you is that you do not need to rush to get your package to the store early! No matter how early in the day a package is dropped off at the store, the pick-up times stay the same.

One of the many advantages of shipping with Easy Way, is the safety and security they provide. Each shipment is automatically insured. Although there are rarely problems, if a problem does arise, the team at Easy Way does the work for you to arrive at a solution. Cathy describes herself as a “people person,” and this fact is quite evident. She is warm and friendly, and this comes across in the way she does business. In fact, over the holidays a customer was so impressed when she informed him that he could ship his item at the post office for lower cost, he took to the blogosphere to commend her for her honesty.

Another advantage of shipping with Easy Way is parking. A hard-to-come-by luxury in downtown! There is ample parking available, and they can pull up to the curb to unload.  You can bring your package ready to ship, or the team at Easy Way can prepare it for you. They also have all of the supplies available if you choose to do-it-yourself. Operating hours are convenient (10-6 Monday-Friday and 10-2 on Saturdays). What can you ship? Almost anything! From tires to furniture to food, Cathy and her crew have seen it all. There are restrictions of course, and the knowledgeable staff is always there to assist you.

Easy Way Packaging Center is located at:

610 N.Main St

Blacksburg, VA 24060

Tel: 951-4351

They believe that what sets Lia’s apart from other salons is the décor, the quality of their work, and their inclusive mentality. I was struck by the large space that was decorated in a modern, but homey style. There are beautiful wood floors, and brightly colored oil paintings by Luanda’s brother line the walls. They told me they always strive to make sure the customer is happy with the salon experience. They are so warm and likeable, I’m sure this is the case. They told me they don’t cater to one specific kind of hair, and are very adept at doing all kinds, which adds an international element to the business. I felt very comfortable walking in and sitting down and talking, very much as I would in someone’s home.

Most of their clientele find Lia’s from referrals from other satisfied customers. I first heard of Lia’s when a friend had a pink streak put in her hair for breast cancer awareness. This is the third year that Lia’s has participated in the event, sponsored by the Virginia Tech Relay for Life. Luanda was approached by a member of the Relay for Life team with the hair streaking idea, which also happened to occur at time where she was dealing with the recent death of her fiancé to cancer. Of course, Luanda and Lia were onboard and they tell me the response has been overwhelming. People who were not interested in getting their hair done have also used the event as an opportunity to donate. In order to raise awareness for autism, one client requested a blue streak! Lia and Luanda plan to participate twice a year, once in March and once in October.
Lia’s is more than just a hair salon. It is a home away from home, a way to contribute to a cause you believe in, and a place to meet new friends!

Anybody who knows me well knows this fact about me: I DO NOT LIKE SHOPPING! And yes I will admit it- I am also VERY IMPATIENT!  I used to find Christmas  shopping to be a pain in the……. well you know what. Standing in line in crowded shops combined with the pressure to find exactly the right gift for each person on my list was not only frustrating to me, but was actually rather annoying.  Over the years Christmas shopping became an  exercise in frantically grabbing whatever I could find, as fast as I could find it and getting out of the door and back home as quickly as was humanly possible. Not much thought went into anyone’s gift. Friends or family members, who were unfortunate enough to come shopping with me, were usually left re-evaluating our relationship as they watched me turn into an impatient, obnoxious lunatic as I desperately tried to navigate my way through crowds and badly laid out aisles to find my way to the nearest cashier or doorway.

Part 2 of our Dogs of Downtown series!

Right down the road from Matrix Gallery, and Mr. Keefer Dogg are the Sister dogs of Clay Corner Inn-Minkie and Caly.  These gals enjoy lawn games with their parents and the B&B guests. Caly is an expert cornhole player, frisbee golfer, and both sisters love their tennis balls. Caly is a beautiful nine year old golden retriever, she’s a part-timer at Clay Corner Inn, and part time receptionist at Heartstrings Pet Lodging and Spa. Minky is an adorable jack russell mix, and a full time dog-keeper at Clay Corner Inn. I sat down with the two girls and their parents at their bed and breakfast one day.  Caly is the lover of the bunch, she wants a hug, a kiss, a pat, but she is not obnoxious about it. Minky is a silly girl, and her favorite stance is sitting back on her hind legs, paws folded.  These beautiful girls are friendly, happy, and very well trained. The girls moved east with their parents Nicky and her husband, Rick, when they took over Clay Corner Inn in the fall of 2011 after the original owners decided to retire. From their previous home in California they spent two years searching out B&B properties along the East Coast, wanting to get closer to their three children, the youngest of whom is in Barcelona, Spain, Nicky’s hometown.

The ladies of Clay Corner Inn live to be in their section of the backyard, where there is a taunting squirrel or two to corral. These little girls love being out in the canopy of trees that surrounds beautiful Clay Corner Inn, and sniffing in all the interesting scents that waft in. Although at times the view of a neighboring feline can just be too much to bear, we are all pretty sure these gals would not trade the Inn-life for anything.
Q: What’s the difference between people from Blacksburg compared to those in California?
A: I love people here! They are friendly and want to pet me and love on me. While walking on campus or downtown Dad says I’m a magnet for attention, because everyone always stops to pet me.

Q: What is it like to have other dogs and people staying in your home?
A: I LOVE IT! I like the dogs but I’m mostly interested in the new people, getting a hug, and showing them around my backyard.

Q: What is it like sharing your backyard with cats, squirrels and birds?
A: It’s RUFF!

Q: [for Minky] How do you like your job?
A: It’s great!…although I sure do wish those pesky squirrels would stop dropping in my yard unannounced.

Clay Corner Inn is located at:
401 Clay St., SW
540-552-4030

Coming in our next installment of the Dogs of Downtown; meet Goliath, Marketing Team Member at Nest Realty.

Have you noticed that Downtown Blacksburg has been “going to the dogs” for a while now? What do you think about it?

Why not visit some of the Dogs of Downtown:
Calypso the Golden Retriever and Minkie the Jack Russell mix, Dog-keepers at Clay Corner Inn
Keith R. Dogg “Keefer Dogg”, Assistant Curator at Matrix Gallery
Molly and Minnie the mini-Schnauzers, Sales Assistants at Mad Dog
Goliath the Bulldog, Marketing Team Member at Nest Realty
Bella the Bischon Freis, Diamond and Fine Jewelry Expert at Capones Fine Jewelry
Barkley, Antique Collector at Heirloom Originals
Xena, the receptionist at The Laser Clinic
Milo, the greeter at 130 Jackson, who can often be found stationed outside Bollo’s

Other doggie friendly spots in Blacksburg:
Community Arts Information Office
Fringe Benefit
Greenhouse Boardshop: they usually have treats for Fido
Heavener Hardware Lumber and Rental
Heirloom Originals
High Peak Sportswear
Huckleberry Trail
Mad Dog
Market Square Park
Matrix Gallery
Nest Realty
The Henderson Lawn

PLEASE be a responsible pet owner and pick up after your dogs.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Need more Tuba………….to participate in the 4th annual Downtown Blacksburg TubaChristmas!
TUBACHRISTMAS events are presented throughout the world. TUBACHRISTMAS was conceived in 1974 as a tribute to the late artist/teacher William J. Bell, born on Christmas Day, 1902. Through the legendary William J. Bell we reflect on our heritage and honor all great artists/teachers whose legacy has given us high performance standards, well structured pedagogy, professional integrity, personal values and a camaraderie envied by all other instrumentalists. The first TUBACHRISTMAS was conducted by the late Paul Lavalle in New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink on Sunday, December 22, 1974.
TubaChristmas in Blacksburg is sponsored and presented by Downtown Blacksburg Inc and the Department of Music at Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 – TIME: 6:00 pm
LOCATION: Blacksburg Farmers Market Square
REGISTRATION: 3:00 pm, Virginia Tech., Department of Music, Squires room 243
REHEARSAL: 4:00 pm, same
PARKING: Kent Square garage, 207 Draper Rd.
CONDUCTOR: Dr. Dave Ball
COORDINATOR: Elizabeth Crone 540-998-5972

For more information or to sign up to play in TubaChristmas please contact Elizabeth Crone at ecrone@vt.edu

Winter Lights Festival

Friday, December 7, 2012

Downtown Merchants annual Open House- 4-8pm, late night shopping, free gift wrap, snacks and beverages, holiday specials.
Deo Gloria will stroll through the stores and streets caroling as they go!
4:00-7:00pm Holiday Gift Market, with free hot chocolate and hot cider from DBI & more in Market Square Park
4:00- 5:30pm- Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Lyric (bring your own camera)
5:00pm Caroling with Blacksburg Children’s Master Chorale in Market Square Park
5:30pm Tree lighting with music from the Blacksburg Children’s Master Chorale on Henderson Lawn
6:00pm TubaChristmas in Market Square Park.Co-sponsored by the Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. and the Department of Music at Virginia Tech
7:00pm Holiday Parade co-sponsored by Blacksburg Parks & Recreation Department &Virginia Tech Chapter of Circle K

Holiday Gift Market Vendors:
The Green Market – fresh produce and preserves
Birdsong Farm – beeswax candles, soaps, etc.
Mystic River – lavender products
Greenstar Farm – fresh produce, vintage jewelry
Beyond Homemade – baked goods
Little Blue Woman – candles
Honeywood – wooden bowls, etc.
Sterling Bridge Dairy – cheese
Cavalier Farms – produce, preserves, eggs, meat
Buckeye Mountain Forge – ironware
Les Delectables – baked goods
Under the Green Umbrella – baked goods, salsas, cider and lemonade
Friends of the Farmers Market – market t-shirts, posters, aprons
Jen Richter & Jenny Huffman-Christmas cards, art prints, handmade books, some original paintings
Alexander Black House- Holiday cards & ornaments.
Kourtney Hunter – fresh Christmas wreaths
Spangler Family Farm – popping corn (in gift bags – unpopped)

Eucalyptus Massage Therapy Art Show & Open House

Friday December 7th, 4-8pm
Come meet George Wills, featured artist, and the staff of Eucalyptus!
We now have custom therapeutic jewelry
for anxiety and stress reduction and locally crafted gifts!
Holiday Gift Certificates Online or during desk hours!

An Artful Open House

In The Artful Lawyer, at The Creekmore Law Firm
Friday Dec 7, 4-6:30pm
With the sounds of Deo Gloria in your ears, and the anticipation of another Tuba Christmas and parade in your heart, add some artful cheer to your evening with us! We will have new art on the walls, from artists who showed with us over the past year to a preview of artists to come in 2013. Christmas cookies and drinks will be served as we gather together before the tree lighting as well. All are welcome!

Downtown Blacksburg, Inc & The Lyric Theatre invite you to a FREE movie

“A Christmas Story”

December 8- 3pm
Santa and Mrs Claus will be available for pictures following the movie in the lobby. Bring your own camera.
Happy Holidays from
Downtown Blacksburg, Inc.& the Lyric Theatre

Main Street Inn- Holiday Open House December 9

Please come and enjoy Main Street Inn ‘s warm and festive Holiday setting. The Holidays bring out the best in all so please have a seat in our welcoming lobby and warm yourself with the crackling fireplace. We will be serving hot cider with cinnamon sticks and freshly baked holiday cookies. We will offer tours of our accommodations and an overabundance of holiday spirit. “Make a Night of It” when you visit Main Street Inn on Sunday, December 9 for the VICCC Holiday Open House Tour and receive 15% off your stay. We look forward to hosting you this holiday season!

Nest Realty – Holiday Open House December 9

We are participating in the 3rd annual Holiday Open House Tour to benefit the Valley Interfaith Childcare Center on December 9 from 1-5pm. Join us for an afternoon of holiday cheer as you tour homes, gardens and businesses in Blacksburg. Nest Realty will be hosting a gingerbread house decorating contest and the decorated houses will be on display for guests to view and vote on their favorite during the tour. The entry fee is $10 and you will receive a pre-made gingerbread house to decorate as you choose! The winner will receive lots of accolades as well as a donation made in their name to VICCC. Come by Nest today to get your gingerbread house or contact Tina Merritt and she will have one delivered to you. 540-440-1678 tina@nestrealtygroup.com. Get your creativity on and support VICCC! You can also purchase tour tickets in advance at Nest Realty, 400 N. Main St.

Special Holiday Shopping Nights

Dec 13- 4-8pm- Ladies Night
Dec 20- 4-8pm- Gents Night
Including free gift wrap, personal shopping assistance, wish list creation,special discounts, refreshments and so much more.

Small Town, Small Law Firm, Big Service

I knew it was going to be an interesting interview when James Creekmore didn’t miss a beat after I asked my first question geared toward establishing his personal connection to Blacksburg.

“Oh, I hated Blacksburg. Prior to 2000 you wouldn’t have caught me dead in this town.”

Well… at least he’s honest. And as far as lawyer stereotypes go, that’s a pretty good start. James grew up in the Chesapeake area of Virginia, attended UVA for his undergraduate work (no surprises there) and William & Mary for law school. In 2006 he opened The Creekmore Law Firm in the Roanoke Valley and two years later he bought space in Blacksburg for a second branch. In 2011 he decided to merge the Roanoke and Blacksburg offices together to form one location in downtown Blacksburg. The draw of our small college town life was just too much to resist.

The office building itself, an old house that sits between Chipotle and Hokie House on North Main Street, dates back to the late 1800s and was a rooming house during the war. For the past 20-30 years it belonged to a real estate company and now, after extensive renovations that include exposing the original hardwood floors, belongs to Creekmore.

The small firm operates with just four attorneys and four administrative staff, so the everyday work environment is socially tight-knit and family-friendly, naturally leading to time spent together during off hours. They attend Salem Red Sox games, events at The Lyric, festivals around town and statewide and often celebrate holidays at the office.

“We turned the building into a Victorian Christmas party last year and a haunted house for Halloween this year and usually prepare a big meal and have everyone over for the downtown Christmas parade.  Playing together after work is also part of what makes coming to work fun.”

There are also quarterly local art & wine nights with live music and monthly “Shark Bite Luncheons” that are free to the public and include discussions on topics like trademarking and Internet privacy best practices. Creating fun, informative networking opportunities, James states, means you end up with a tremendous amount of friends in the area; friends that are either clients or potential clients.

“I love the business energy of the downtown community and the vitality of this corner in particular…. the retail, the restaurants. The accessibility of our office means we have a revolving door of visitors every day.”

The firm devotes a lot of attention to Intellectual Property Law, Small Business Litigation, Business Counseling and Corporate Law with a primary focus on technology. A majority of their clients come from New River Valley start-ups and young companies with ten or fewer employees, but they also offer services worldwide. Creekmore is a perfect fit for a town that includes the Corporate Research Center and tends to crank out college graduates who start local businesses so they can, quite frankly, stay local. The Blacksburg business community operates in harmony with Virginia Tech and vice versa.

“Here there is a different mentality about working for someone else. People worry less about finding a job, more about how to create one. We’re in place to support the entrepreneurs.”

Even though James has embraced (and even learned to love) the warm, friendly, energetic business and social community of Blacksburg, he still admits to only stepping foot in Lane Stadium when UVA is in town.

“Otherwise, I can wear an orange shirt of course. And I just recently started wearing a plain burgundy hat as well.”

I laughed and told him an outfit consisting of maroon and orange worn together is the first sign of total conversion. I bet it’s only a matter of time until he’s able to answer, “What’s a Hokie?” with complete conviction.

The Creekmore Law Firm
318 N.Main St.
Blacksburg, VA   24060
540-443-9350
Click to view slideshow.

Well neither would we! So now is the time for you to submit your design and you could win not only $500 in cool hard cash..(well a cool hard check actually but you know what we mean right?!) But you would also be the proud designer of the 2013 Steppin’ Out t-shirt which carries the honor of  being profiled through advertising/news articles, in store windows where t-shirts are sold, online prior to the festival, and at Steppin’ Out. Seriously you would go down in the annals of Blacksburg History alongside many other renowned t-shirt design artists from past years- including George Wills, Cece Bell, Forrest Worley and Robin Rogers. 33 years of Steppin’ Out t-shirt history.

You can get all the details that you need by downloading this nifty little pdf. SteppinOut_Design_Competition

So what are you waiting for? We are anxiously awaiting your design….or we could all be wearing Steppin’ Out t-shirts that look like this…….

And that would not be good for anyone!

T-shirt Design Contest deadline is Dec 14. Don’t spend the rest of you life saying “If only…..”

Dr. Logan Brooke is not only a practicing chiropractor, he is also a patient.

“It’s the best kept secret in healthcare,” Dr. Brooke of the downtown Blacksburg location of Tuck Chiropractic admits, “I get adjusted once a week for prevention.”

Dr. Brooke received his chiropractic license in 2005 and moved to Blacksburg from Ohio when Tuck Chiropractic recruited him in 2009.  He decided to pursue the profession after having a positive childhood experience with a chiropractor. A Biochemistry major from Bowling Green State University, he took classes in college that would allow him to transition easily into chiropractic school, allowing him to evolve his childhood passion into a career.

Chiropractic medicine is typically used as a complement to traditional healthcare treatments and benefits people who suffer bodily discomfort due to any number of factors, both physical and mental. This type of therapy concentrates on using manual techniques to adjust the spine, joints and other soft tissues.

“People who come to see us can generally be grouped into three categories, those with physical, emotional or biochemical issues.”

These issues can include any number of health situations from chronic headaches and scoliosis to digestive problems or even unresolved financial stress. The practice attracts a lot of families and 1/3 of Dr. Brooke’s patients are under the age of 24.

“Usually one member of the family starts to see us for a specific reason and then the entire family starts to come. It ends up being a positive experience for everyone.”

The office itself is located on North Main Street on the same block as the new Waffle House and next door to 622 North. All Tuck Chiropractic locations, twelve in total stretching from Galax to Bedford, support a “green” healthcare initiative, believing that making a dedicated effort to benefit the environment will ultimately benefit the patient.

Dr. Brooke’s office has switched to a digital system of record keeping and note taking, nearly eliminating all paper waste. Energy consumption is also kept to a minimum by turning off all electronics and therapy machines when they are not in use. I went by for this interview while the office was closed for lunch and noticed that the waiting room lights and all interior office lights were also turned off. Just that one hour a day of saving energy can make a significant annual impact.

As with most businesses located in the Downtown Blacksburg community, maintaining a strong liaison to Virginia Tech is vital to the success of the practice. However, to depend on a revolving tidal wave of students 8 months of the year, Dr. Brooke admits, is not a sustainable way of doing business. It’s a challenge, but a welcome one, to find a way to stay connected to the local population as well.

“I love the small town feel of Blacksburg. I think we all do a good job of supporting each other by patronizing local businesses as much as possible. I also love running into my patients in the grocery store. It gives me a unique opportunity to grow relationships outside of the office.”

One of Dr. Brooke’s favorite parts of his job is helping build an overall wellness foundation for his patients. It is so rewarding, he notes, to watch them achieve their personal health goals. Dr. Brooke is also an avid triathlete with lofty health goals of his own. He participates in at least two triathlons a month and this summer completed seven total throughout the state of Virginia.

Still, this all begs the question, shouldn’t we be trying to avoid needing a chiropractor at all? There is a misconception surrounding chiropractic therapy, as Dr. Brooke candidly said at the beginning. It’s not always used as a reactive form of alternative medicine, but a preventative one as well. It’s not all careless cracks and pops, but an intentional regimen of procedures that are tailored to each individual’s needs.

“People have to learn to overwhelm their body with good stress, while simultaneously decreasing negative stress. Simply understanding the difference is a huge lesson.”

At the end of the day, it’s all about improving the patient’s quality of life. By being aware of simple things like hydration, sun exposure, regular exercise, correct posture and a general positive mental attitude, we can be in control of our own health journey. But when real life happens, as it tends to do, places like Tuck Chiropractic are at the ready to steer us gently back on course.
Click to view slideshow.

Tuck Chiropractic is located at:
620 N. Main St.
Blacksburg,
540-951-4357

Patient Hours:
Monday 8-12 & 2-6
Tuesday 8-12 & 2-6
Wednesday 8-12 & 2-6
Thursday 8-12 & 2-6
Friday 8-12 & 2-6
Saturday 8-10