Tuesday, Dec. 1
United Way Giving Tuesday
This is a day to donate to support the New River Valley community and help neighbors in need. United Way’s Giving Tuesday catalog (at https://www.unitedwaynrv.org/) has examples of the impact a donation can make in New River Valley.
Every gift will be doubled to make twice the impact. This year donors can choose to give in honor of a family member or a friend. The person so will be sent a thank-you email informing him or her of the gift and the impact it will have.
Wednesday, Dec. 2
Young Pros Mixer for Micah’s Backpack
The Blacksburg Young Professionals will celebrate the holidays together with a special mixer on Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Inn at Virginia Tech. Attendees are urged to wear a favorite holiday outfit .(Ugly sweaters are encouraged but are not required.)
The Young Professionals will use the occasion to collect non-perishable food items for Micah’s Backpack. All those who bring one item or more will be entered to win a $10 gift card to Sugar Magnolia! Information about their food requests is available at http://micahsbackpack.org/volunteer/.
Pre-registration is required. Attendees can register at https://forms.gle/vuj2nVhFNjSneuUJA
The event will be limited to 25 attendees due to state mandates.
Friday, Dec. 4
Blacksburg Reverse Holiday Parade
Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Town of Blacksburg will be staging a reverse parade where entries are stationary and spectators drive by to view them. Individuals and organizations are invited to participate in the 2020 Reverse Parade to be held on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is North Pole Fantasy. The reverse parade will be held along the 900 block of Patrick Henry Drive. Parade participants will form a line and spectators will be able to drive along the route and see the parade. Participants may not have a Santa in their entry or hand out any type of materials or candy this year. For more information, contact Randy Hall at 540-443-1106 or rhall@blacksburg.gov.
Town closings; adjusted solid waste pickup schedule for Christmas, New Year’s
The town’s facilities will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas day on Dec. 24-25.
Solid waste normally scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 24, will be collected on Tuesday, Dec. 22, along with Tuesday’s regular collection.
Solid waste normally scheduled for Friday, Dec. 25, will be collected on Wednesday, Dec. 23, along with Wednesday’s regular collection.
The town’s facilities will be closed for New Year’s Day on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Solid waste normally scheduled for Fridays will be collected on Thursday, Dec. 31, along with Thursday’s regular collection.
Monday, Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14
Puppy Kindergarten Mini Course
This class is for puppies 10 to 17 weeks of age. The class is designed to get the puppy off to the right start. The puppy will learn how to interact with people by sitting to greet and how to bite nicely. The class lessons cover how to teach sit, down and come.
Owners will learn how to teach their puppy in a positive and proactive manner. They will learn how to deal with the typical puppy problems such as chewing, barking, mouthing and jumping up.
This is a three-week course. The puppy comes to all classes. Please bring a chair. The class is taught outside at 4 p.m. as course #312230-D5. The cost is $60 refundable and $70 non-refundable.
To register, visit www.blacksburg.gov/recreation or call 540-443-1100.
Wednesday Dec. 2 and Friday, Dec. 4
Santa Claus is calling
Santa Claus will be making personal calls to children 8 years old and younger beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 and on Dec. 4 if needed. Parents can let Santa know to call your child by filling out a form at the Christiansburg Recreation Center by 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 or by registering online at www.christiansburg.org/recreation.
Tuesday, Dec. 8
Radford Tree Lighting and Santa’s Seven band
The Radford Public Library thanks the Santa’s Seven band for their donation of time and talents to the community. Formerly known as Santa’s Ukulele Band, Santa’s Seven is comprised of new members and has a more varied array of instruments. Santa’s Seven will perform at this year’s Tree Lighting Facebook Live event (unfortunately we can’t offer an in-person event) at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 10
Christmas at the Market
The Christiansburg Farmers Market presents Christmas at the Market and tree lighting. This year’s events will follow all safety guidelines and will be held outside. From 4-8 p.m., market vendors, local crafters and local businesses will be spaced 12-18 feet apart along Main Street from the square to the corner of Hickok Street. At 6:30 p.m., a tree lighting will take place in the town square. To prepare for the market, there will be no parking on Main Street after 10 a.m. on Dec. 10, and Main Street will close at noon to allow the vendors to set up. Main Street will reopen by 10 p.m. To reserve a place as a vendor at Christmas at the Market, apply by Monday Nov. 23, or until spaces are filled. Contact farmersmarket@christiansburg.org or call 540-382-2349, ext. 2017, for an application. No rain date has been set for the market and the tree lighting, but a live stream of the tree lighting will occur at a later date in case of inclement weather.
Ongoing
Wrapping for a Reason
A holiday wrapping booth to raise money for local emergency assistance will be located in Uptown Christiansburg (formerly the NRV Mall), near Bath & Body Works. The wrapping booth will be open on the weekends Friday through Sunday through Dec. 16, then daily from Dec. 16 through Christmas Eve.
Volunteers are needed to wrap gifts in a sanitary, socially distanced environment. All proceeds benefit the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program, commonly known as ‘MCEAP,’ which provides emergency food, clothing, utility, rent and mortgage assistance to Montgomery County residents year-round. The sign-up link to volunteer is https://tinyurl.com/w4r2020.
Those unable to volunteer their time and talents this year can consider donating supplies such as hand sanitizer and disinfecting spray/wipes so all proceeds can go directly to help community members in need. For more information, email w4areason@gmail.com or text/call 540-239-1093.
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with Mango Languages
Study Cherokee or Powotami on Mango Languages this month during Native American Heritage Month in November through the Radford Public Library. Participants who don’t already have a Mango Languages account may call the library at (540) 731-3621 to create one.
Aquatic, Rec Center hours for appointments
The Christiansburg Aquatic Center is open by appointment only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 5 pm. To make a reservation, visit www.cacpool.com
The Christiansburg Recreation Center is open by appointment only Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m., on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. To make a reservation, visit www.christiasnburg.org/recreation.
Through Dec. 4
Glencoe Mansion Gallery Show by Portrait Artist Teresa Regil
Glencoe Mansion, Museum & Gallery is hosting a gallery show by portrait artist Teresa Regil, “A Painted Portrait of a Beloved. A Family Heirloom.” The show will be on display through Dec. 4. Regil is generously donating one of her paintings for a silent auction to help benefit the museum. The painting is her master copy of a work by her artistic inspiration John Singer Sargent. The piece will be open for bidding throughout the length of the show, and the winner will be announced at the end of the show. Everyone is welcome to visit the museum. There is no admission charge.
Through Dec. 31
Christiansburg Leaf Collection
The Town of Christiansburg’s annual free leaf collection is underway and runs through Dec. 31, weather permitting. Public Works crews use a special truck that vacuums the leaves. Therefore, they will collect only piles of loose leaves; leaves placed in bags will not be accepted. Please do not place your pile of loose leaves in a way that blocks sidewalks, sanitary sewers, solid waste carts, drainage ditches or utility meter boxes. If you are concerned your leaves may blow away prior to pick-up, please place a tarp on top of your pile. Crews will remove the tarp when they get there, collect your leaves and leave your tarp behind.
Montgomery-Floyd Library Curbside only
All branches of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library are offering only curbside pickup service (including remote printing). In-branch services are not currently available. Curbside hours are: Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Please return all library items in the outside Book Drop. Visit https://www.mfrl.org for more information.
Radford Public Library Resumes In-Library Appointments
Same-day in-house browsing and computer use appointments can be made Monday through Saturday on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Staff will continue to ask screening health questions, take temperatures and require masks be worn as part of the ongoing process of in-library browsing. Children/youth under 18 are welcome to browse when accompanied by an adult. Please call (540) 731-3621 to schedule an appointment to browse or use the computers on Thursday through Saturday.
Radford Public Library Grab & Go Services
Monday through Saturday. Please remember that you can use the MyLibro app to search RPL’s catalog and place holds as well as schedule pick-up times. For Grab and Go Prints, email the documents you would like printed to rad.lib@radfordva.gov, then call 731-3621 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.
