From Left to Right: Jeff Kleppin, Nicole Barnett, Rob Gropman, and Keith Weltens

Six years ago, Keith Weltens, Rob Gropman, and Jeff Kleppin were a group of brewing hobbyists that enjoyed sitting around the back yard with their friends, chatting, having a laugh, and drinking their home crafted brews.  After a few years of this camaraderie, talk turned to speculation about what to do after retirement.  It was Weltens who encouraged the others, saying that brewing might be the way to go.
Not only did the trio know something about craft brewing, but they also felt that Radford could use a popular brewery.  Between funding, licenses, certifications, equipment, and supplies, there was a lot to do and a lot to plan for.  The first concern, however, was to find a location.
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Located at the center of the majestic New River Valley in southwestern Virginia, Radford is an exciting city with an identity that spans centuries. From the daring journey of Mary Ingles in 1755, to the academic excellence of Radford University, to the New River, to the people that live, work, dream, create, and work here. Whether it’s outdoor activities, art, shopping, intellectual interests, sports, or even the nightlife, Radford has so much to offer!

SAMPLING OF EVENTS:  

Every weekend September 24th – October 30th
St. Albans Sanatorium Unhinged – Haunted House at St. Albans Sanatorium

Every weekend, September 25th – October 15th
Pumpkin Festival at Sinkland Farms in Riner

Every Day, October 1st -31st
DAK Lights at Randolph Park in Dublin

Saturday, October 2nd
SMART Tour at Motor Mile Speedway

Saturday, October 2nd
October Cruiser Night at downtown Pembroke, VA

Saturday, October 2nd
Rockin’ Main Street—Fallin’ Into Fun at downtown Christiansburg

Every weekend, Oct 8th – Oct 30th
The Dark Woods Haunted Trail – Haunted House at 228 Peppers Ferry

Saturday & Sunday, October 9th & 10th
Newbern Fall Festival at 5240 Wilderness Road

Saturday, October 9th
Radford Highlanders Festival at Radford University

Saturday, October 16th
Craft & Draft at Glencoe Mansion Museum and Gallery

Saturday, October 16th
Craft & Vendor Fair at The NRV Mall

Saturday, October 23rd
Region Four Virginia Bass TBF 2021 Championship Event at Claytor Lake

Friday & Saturday, October 22nd & 23rd
12 Hours of Madness at Motor Mile Speedway

Sunday, October 24th
Spirits Along the Wilderness Wagon Ride at Wilderness Road Regional Museum in Dublin

Saturday, October 30
PUMPKIN SMASH! at Motor Mile Speedway

Saturday, October 30
Jack-O’-Lantern Spectacular at Randolph Park in Dublin

Sunday, October 31st
Halloween Party with 220 South at Fatback Soul Shack in Christiansburg

Friday, November 5th
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver at The Little River Bluegrass Barn

Friday – Sunday, November 12th -14th
52nd YMCA Craft Fair & Annual Book Fair at The Christiansburg Recreation Center

Thursday, December 2nd
Town of Pulaski Christmas Parade

Friday & Saturday, December 3rd & 4th
Winterfest at Randolph Park in Dublin

WEEKLY 

Thursday Tunes 6:00 PM  9:00 PM at Longway Brewing
See www.longwaybrewing.com/calendar for other music events

Every Saturday from May – October
Radford Farmer’s Market 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

NOTE:  The above events are scheduled as of time of printing.  We suggest that you check with the event organizers for continual updates. Also, we accept event submissions for subsequent issues

Radford Virginia in 1981 was a different place in a different time.  Before the information age, things moved more slowly.  Tasks that are instantaneous today took hours, days, and sometimes even weeks back then.  During 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot.  NASA launched the first space shuttle flight.  The Oakland Raiders beat the Philadelphia Eagles for the Superbowl trophy while Dolly Parton hit the charts with “9 to 5”.  And while everyone was glued to their television sets to finally learn who shot J.R, a young man named Dean Young was just starting out on his new business adventure at 1620 East Main Street in Radford.
Dean’s father had been a mechanic, but the internal workings of the vehicles were not for him.  Dean wanted to work more with the outside than the inside, so he began working for other body shops until he had the skill and motivation to strike out on his own.
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Mark Brookner worked at the Lynchburg Foundry for eighteen years before finding work as a material handler at Mar-Bal in Dublin.  Mar-Bal is a manufacturer of electric insulators, and Mark worked there till he was laid off from his third shift job in 2007.  As it turns out, getting laid off was one of the best things to happen to Mark Brookner.
Over the years, Mark’s brother had taught him a great deal about painting.  So, with plenty of time on his hands, Mark started painting for relatives and friends.  Word spread.  His aunt told a couple of her friends, and soon the requests began pouring in.  “Hey, can you paint my house?”
It wasn’t long before Mark found he had regular work as a painter.  The painting, however, led to other odd jobs.  Folks would hire him to paint, then ask if he could also take care of other things.  Through this process, Mark became a general handyman as well as a sometimes landscaper, doing mowing and various lawn maintenance.  The main work, though, was painting.
The layoff wound up lasting three months.  Even after returning to his third shift schedule at Mar-Bal, Mark tried to continue painting during the day.  But it was just too much.  He told Mar-Bal “I appreciate the opportunity, but I’m going to see if I can make it on my own.”
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I have been talking with a lot of advertisers and there is a lot of excitement out there for Radford Magazine. Our first issue will be the Fall/Winter issue. The deadlines for it will be as follows:

• August 16th for Article Submissions and Events
• September 1st for Ad Placement and Payment
• September 7th for Ad Art
• Distribution will begin the last week of September

Contact me at 540-815-1079 or john@brilldesigns.org if you would like to place an ad or submit a story.

– John Brill