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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Smith Mountain Lake Business Expo set for May 6
The Smith Mountain Lake Business Expo, a free event open to the public that will also serve as a mini job fair, will take place from noon to 4 p.m. May 6 at EastLake Community Church.
Erin Stanley, member relations and events director for the SML Regional Chamber, said examples of industries scheduled to participate in the 18th annual event include medical, health and wellness, media, home and garden, financial, real estate, hospitality, travel, home services and construction. Several clubs and civic organizations also will be on hand.
A number of exhibitors also will be highlighting job openings, Stanley said.
Attendees are encouraged to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. Free disposable masks will be available at the door.
For more information, log onto visitsmithmountainlake.com/sml-business-expo.
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Kids Fishing Day at Cave Mountain Lake set for May 7
The USDA Forest Service will host Cave Mountain Lake’s annual Kids Fishing Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7. The lake will be stocked with trout in advance of this event open to children ages 3 to 15.
Fishing is free at the event, but state game laws for the Youth Fisheries Program do apply. Children are allowed to catch and keep three trout, a minimum of 7 inches or longer, and should bring their own poles and any supplies necessary for catching fish. A reminder to parents that only one pole per person is allowed. A parent or adult guardian must accompany all children. Bring a picnic lunch and spend the day. It is anticipated that approximately 10 trophy fish will be included in the stocking.
Cave Mountain Lake is managed as a Youth-Only Stocked Trout program by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources from April 1 through June 15. People over the age of 15 may not fish in the lake until after June 15.
For more information, call the Glenwood and Pedlar Ranger Districts at 540-291-5227, visit www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj or follow on Twitter (https://twitter.com/GWJNF) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GWJNF).
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University of Lynchburg announces commencement speakers, schedule
The University of Lynchburg will celebrate the Class of 2022 over several days, with commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 19-21.
Julius Sigler ’62, ’15 DSc will deliver the commencement address for the undergraduate Class of 2022 at 9 a.m. May 19 on Shellenberger Field. He also will serve as the commencement speaker for the master’s programs ceremony at 7 p.m. May 20 in the same location.
Sigler returned to his alma mater in 1967 to teach physics after completing his PhD at the University of Virginia. He retired in 2015 as vice president and dean for academic affairs. His nearly five decades as a professor and administrator at Lynchburg also included serving as dean of the School of Sciences from 2003 to 2007.
After his retirement, Lynchburg renamed its science building Hobbs-Sigler Science Center in his honor, and Sigler received an honorary doctorate. In recent years, Sigler has continued to teach at the University in Senior Symposium and physics.
A complete schedule can be found on the school’s commencement website.
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Lee Smith to speak at Abingdon library
Lee Smith, the award-winning author who grew up in Grundy, will speak in Abingdon on May 15.
The event will celebrate her two recent works set in Florida: the novella “Blue Marlin” and the novel “Silver Alert.”
The event is part of the Friends of the Washington County Public Library’s “Sunday with Friends” series. It will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. at the library in Abingdon, at 205 Oak Hill St. It’s free and open to the public; call 276-676-6383 for more information.