Thursday, Aug. 6
Radford City Public Schools “Fill the Cruiser” supply drive
Hosted by the Radford City Police Department at Food City from 1- 3 p.m. Donate facemasks, disinfecting wipes, reusable water bottles, paper towels, tissues, hand sanitizer, paper, dry erase markers, notebooks, markers, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, binders, rulers, ear buds, scissors and any other items needed at the schools.
Friday, Aug. 7
Virginia Cooperative Extension Virtual Farm to Table
This week’s topic: Sweet Potatoes; 2 p.m. Virginia Cooperative Extension is offering a new educational opportunity that will be of interest to everyone from kids to retirees. In the Virginia Virtual Farm to Table Program, participants will take virtual tours of Virginia farms to learn how: Virginia grown food is produced and prepared; to prepare new recipes from the foods that are produced on local farms and VCE professionals, farmers, and food businesses are cultivating healthy food, farms, and communities. Each session will focus on a new food and will be 40 minutes long. All sessions will take place on Fridays at 2 p.m. There are currently 17 sessions of this program (two more are in the works). The full list of offerings and registration is at bit.ly/2zQYNXl. Recordings of previous episodes are also available at that link.
National Ag Library Three-Part Series: Explore Intersection of Food/Culture
This week’s topic: Rice How it Evolved Through International Collaborations; 1:30 p.m. National Agricultural Library is hosting a three-part webinar series to explore the intersection between food and culture, as a bridge to learning about world cultures. The hope is to inspire the audience to try new flavors and rice recipes. It is hosted by Dr. Susan McCouch, Cornell Universit, Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics, a Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science, elected to the National Academies of Science. McCouch spent five years at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines prior to joining the faculty at Cornell. She published the first molecular map of the rice genome in 1988. Her research interests center on understanding the process of rice domestication and examining how rice diversity is partitioned genetically and distributed geographically with an eye to enhance plant performance in agriculture. Also, Marcia Greenblum, MS, RDN a Registered Dietitian with the Food and Nutrition Information Center, National Agricultural Library, will explore the impact rice has on the American diet, its importance, basic preparation, storage, and nutritional benefits. Access via Zoom with this link: www.zoomgov.com/j/1601662650?pwd=MTlWZnhzNm9wVW1tdFdGeGp2V2xJUT09
Saturday, Aug. 8 and Sunday, Aug. 9:
Free school supply giveaway
On behalf of the RADical Change Commission and JCC (Jubilee Christian Center), First Baptist on Downey, The Shelter, and RYAP (Radford Youth Adult Partnership), the second annual Free Community School Supply Shopping Day, isa two-day event from 1-5 p.m. each day, as long as supplies last. Event is restricted to Radford residents. There are no income verification requirements. Please come to the check-in tent upon arrival. School supply lists are provided, volunteers to assist in the shopping experience. Come one, come all.
Monday, Aug. 10:
Radford City Council Meeting
7 p.m., Council Chambers, 10 Robertson St.
Neighborhood meeting for Blacksburg rezoning request
Request to rezone 40.34 acres of vacant land from RR-1 Rural Residential Zoning District to PR-Planned Residential Zoning District at 1900 Toms Creek Road (Tax Map No. 195-A 5) by Meredith Jones of Eden and Associates (applicant) for Lucas TCR, LLC (property owners). The request is for residential development with a maximum of 84 single-family residential lots. A neighborhood meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10, 6 p.m., in the council chambers at 300 South Main St. with appropriate Public Health Emergency provisions addressing social distancing in place. For individuals preferring to remain at home, the meeting will also be broadcast live on Comcast cable, WTOB Channel 2 or streamed live on www.blacksburg.gov. Comments may be submitted via letter or email. If you wish your comments to be included in the first packet to Planning Commission, please send them no later than close of business on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. Contact Kinsey O’Shea, Town Planner at koshea@blacksburg.gov or 540-443-1300 if you have any questions
Swing ‘fore’ persons with intellectual disabilities
The International Development Association’s 23rd Annual Golf Classic will be played at the Blacksburg Country Club. IDA is community-based and funded by area United Way and local donations, serving children and adults in the NRV and provides inclusive social, recreational, transportation, and educational activities, as well as advocacy. Opportunities to achieve a balanced life, increase self-esteem and confidence, socialize, exercise, have family respite, and practice appropriate social skills are just a few examples of benefits gained in IDA’s programs/activities. Public support is vital. IDA is in dire straits because of COVID 19. The organization has not been able to have its fundraisers, so the golf tournament fundraiser is critical to the IDA budget
Thursday, Aug. 20
Organizing your DNA matches
A program of the Blacksburg Public Library, 6 p.m. on Zoom. Register by emailing:
novygenealogy@gmail.com. Learn how to organize your DNA matches using the Leeds Method. The goal of the Leeds method is to help you identify groups of DNA matches that may share a common ancestor. Join Rebecca Novy of Novy Genealogy to learn how to use this simple, effective tool.
Friday, Aug. 21
Blood Drive
Red Cross Blood Drive; 1- 6 p.m. Radford Recreation Center, Sponsored by the Va. May #38 Masonic Lodge of Radford
Monday, Aug. 10
Radford City Council Meeting
7 p.m., Council Chambers, 10 Robertson St.
Wednesday, Sept. 23:
Sixth Annual Radford Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament
Tournament will be held at the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech. You can print/mail in the registration form and payment or visit radfordchamber.com/annual-golf-tournament to register/sponsor online.
Ongoing:
Meadowbrook Library 2020 Summer Backpack Program
Now through Sept. 1; Every Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The summer backpack program is intended to help families with children and teens stretch their grocery budget. One bag per child per week. Drive thru program and each week there will be crafts for the kids and a healthy snack provided by a nutrition specialist with Virginia Cooperative Extension, in addition to the bag of food. The drive thru will be held on the side of the building closest to the playground. This program is open to residents of Eastern Montgomery County only. For more information call the Meadowbrook Library at 540-268-1964.
Browsing by appointment at the Radford Public Library
If you are an adult (minimum of 18 years old), you can now reserve a time to browse books in the library. Call (540) 731-3621 to book a half-hour browsing appointment starting at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., or 3 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Reservation slots are limited. Screening questions, temperature check and masks are required. Please call 731-3621 for full details.
Grab-and-Go services at the Radford Public Library
Even though the library is offering some in-facility appointments, RPL are still maintaining Grab and Go Services to help everyone stay safe and healthy. Patrons can still schedule Grab and Go Holds and prints appointments as well as Public Computer time (the computers on the main library floor will not be available). They can even download the myLibro app for free in the App Store to place holds and schedule a pickup time once the holds are available. For Grab and Go Prints, email the documents to rad.lib@radfordva.gov, then call731-3621 to make sure the document are received and schedule a time to pick them up at the building entrance. Prices are the same as usual ($0.10 for black and white, $0.25 for color), and exact change is appreciated when possible.
Montgomery County Economic Development Authority position open
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors is seeking applications for the Economic Development Authority (EDA). EDA role is to work with the Dept. of Economic Development to carry out the Board of Supervisors’ vision and policies for economic development in Montgomery Co., including business retention/ expansion, business attraction/ marketing, entrepreneurial development, workforce development, commercial real estate development/reuse, and communications/ outreach.
Four year, at-large appointment. Meetings held on third Tuesday each month at 11:30 a.m., at the Montgomery County Government Center. This is an at-large appointment. Seeking applicants from all districts. Members of economic development authorities are required to submit a Statement of Economic Interest (SOEI). Applications will be taken until all vacancies are filled. Applications are available at www.MontVa.com.
Interested citizens who are registered voters and in good tax standing should submit a letter of intent, or an application, along with a short resume to: F. Craig Meadows, County Administrator, 755 Roanoke Street, Suite 2E, Christiansburg, Va 24073. For more details/questions, email Judy Kiser at kiserjw@montgomerycountyva.gov.
Town of Christiansburg Public Art Advisory Board
The purpose of Christiansburg’s Public Art Advisory Board is to advise and make recommendations to the Central Business District Committee regarding the promotion, support and value of public artwork as a means to beautify Christiansburg and promote creative place making within public spaces. The committee is comprised of Town Council appointed volunteers who will meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. in Council Chambers at Town Hall. As the Advisory Board is new, its members are open to residents’ ideas and suggestions for art in public spaces in Christiansburg. If you would like to submit an idea, please email publicart@christiansburg.org.
Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library is open to the public
All branches of Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library are now open to the public. This includes public computers, notary services, and first-time passport processing. The library does not have in-person programming, does not accept donations and does not make community room reservations. MFRL is not assessing fines on overdue days through Sept. 1. Children’s items are always fine-free.
Radford Public Library computers on call
The library is scheduling appointments for public computer use. Call ahead at 731-3621 to schedule a same-day, one-hour appointment within the library community room. Library staff are on hand to help. Masks are required, but the library does have some on hand just in case. The library will have some pre-screening questions as well as a no-contact temperature check when patrons arrive at the library as part of the procedure in being mindful of the safety of patrons and staff.
Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library passport service
The library is processing passport applications by appointment only. There is a processing delay, so plan ahead to apply for your passport. Call (540) 382-6969 ext. 210 to schedule an appointment.
