Mural proposals sought for Bedford building; more …

Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org .

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Mural proposals sought for Bedford building

Bedford Get Together is seeking proposals for a community mural on the north-facing wall of
the Radford & Wandrei building overlooking Centertown Park in Bedford.

Proposals will be accepted online through June 1.

The project is intended to honor the sacrifices and celebrate the service of Bedford residents, including African Americans and women, who have served in the military and on the home front over the past 70-plus years, according to a news release from Bedford Get Together, a community nonprofit.

As a part of a proposal submission, each muralist must create a drawing that depicts the theme outlined in the Call for Artists. A selection panel will review all submissions and will meet with muralists as needed to fine-tune their proposals.

The decision will be made by July 1. The project is scheduled to be completed by mid-September, followed by a dedication celebration later in the fall.

For more information, contact Bedford Get Together at bedfordgettogether@gmail.com or 540-874-4840.

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Founder of Octo to speak at Virginia Tech commencement

Mehul Sanghani, chief executive officer and founder of Octo, will deliver the keynote address at Virginia Tech’s commencement ceremony on May 10.

Sanghani founded Octo, a technology firm focused on national security issues, in 2006 at the age of 30, according to a news release from the university. In January 2023, IBM announced it was acquiring the company for just under $1.3 billion.

Sanghani, who grew up in Blacksburg, graduated from Virginia Tech with bachelor’s degrees in industrial and systems engineering as well as psychology. His family immigrated to the United States from India in 1979 when he was 3 years old and own the Red Carpet Inn on South Main Street.

In 2021, Mehul and his wife, Hema Sanghani, also a Virginia Tech graduate, made a $10 million gift to the university. Of that, $1.5 million was allocated to establish the Market of Virginia Tech, an on-campus food pantry for students facing food insecurity. The gift also endowed the Sanghani Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics and established the Sanghani Player Lounge to support the Virginia Tech football team.

The university commencement ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. May 10 in Lane Stadium. A complete schedule and other information is at commencement.vt.edu .

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Central Virginia student named inaugural poet laureate of state community college system

Ana Leng, an international student from Cambodia currently completing an associate degree through Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, has been named the inaugural poet laureate of the Virginia Community College System.

Leng’s accomplishment comes after a state competition held April 6 at Piedmont Virginia Community College, according to a news release announcing Leng’s new role.

The competition’s theme, “I belong,” inspired Leng’s poem, “How Dare I Say That I Do Not Belong?” Leng was one of more than 300 students who entered poetry or visual arts across the community college system.

“As we were lined up on stage, I just remember thinking that everyone did so well and that each poem was so different and unique,” Leng said in the news release. “Hearing the host call out ‘Central Virginia!’ at first did come as a shock, but I remember feeling quite honored and grateful for the title and for everyone who helped me get to that moment. Once the shock wore off, all I could think was, ’It’s time to get to work!’”

Leng came to the U.S. to pursue higher education, intending to transfer after community college to pursue a psychology major. Leng intends to leverage her role as poet laureate to further awareness for mental health.

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National Park Service seeks food vendors for Mabry Mill

The National Park Service is seeking vendors to provide food and beverage service for the 2024 season at Mabry Mill, located at Milepost 176.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

It’s intended to be a temporary posting while the Park Service secures a new long-term concessioner at Mabry Mill, according to a news release from the agency.

Food trucks will be authorized to operate in the park in the overflow parking area adjacent to the historic buildings.

The food truck application form can be found on the “ Doing Business With Us ” page of Parkway’s website. A $300 nonrefundable fee is required for each application. The authorization will be valid until Dec. 31.

Questions can be sent to blri_concessions@nps.gov . Complete application packages must be submitted by May 15.

While Mabry Mill Restaurant and Gift Shop has historically operated as a park concession, the previous concession contract expired at the end of 2023, and the vendor didn’t accept an extension.

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