Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
BLACKSBURG – The Blacksburg Town Council heard funding needs from local agencies and non-profit organizations as they prepare for the new fiscal year’s budget.
The first to address the Council during the March 26 meeting was former Councilman John Bush with the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation in support of funds needed to “renovate and restore the Alexander Black House (ABH) and to operate and create programming for both ABH and St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall (SLOFH)” according to Bush’s presentation.
Among some of the many steps the organization is taking to preserve and digitize cultural artifacts are creating opportunities for the community to visit and learn more about ABH and SLOFH. Old-time music events, Soul Food, Blues, Brews & BBQs, exhibits, concerts, and many other festivities are happening in coordination and cooperation with BMCF and other partnerships such as the Lyric Theater.
Museum of Art and History President Jean Haskell spoke, asking for continued support from the Blacksburg Town Council. Haskell also shared some upcoming events for the museum such as the ArtsNRV Market on June 7 and 8, which will include a special addition of the semi-truck art vehicle coming from the Virginia Fine Arts Museum, considered “one of the finest museums in the country” Haskell said.
On Nov. 6, Cultural Crossroads, a concert featuring traditional music and dance, will be occurring at the Moss Arts Center in Blacksburg.
“That means it’s going to have performers who are Native American, African American, European, Celtic, Asian, and Latin. They do Appalachian music and dance,” Haskell said.
Montgomery County Public Schools also just completed their county-wide art shows and there has been a revitalization of the Montgomery County Junior Appalachian Musicians (MJAM) program, according to Haskell. MJAM serves students at Prices Fork Elementary and Christiansburg Elementary Schools.
Tina King with the New River Valley Agency on Aging said, “We are a governmental cooperative that was established in 1975, when Blacksburg and some of the other local governments came together to form us as the area agency on aging to serve the New River Valley.”
The New River Valley Agency on Aging is focused on providing sources and information to older adults, seniors, and their caregivers.
“The overall representation, the service level in the New River Valley, Blacksburg is like 12%, we touched over 29,000 individuals throughout the New River Valley,” King said. “Additionally, our meals have increased in Blacksburg this past year by over 1,000…and we anticipate we will deliver even more than that this year.”
King said there will be programs coming up this year dealing with dementia as well, as the organization looks forward to the upcoming year along with a caregiver conference.
Many other speakers addressed their monetary needs for non-profit and volunteer organizations in the NRV and Blacksburg who depend on local government support and donations to continue their work.
Casey Hodges, a flutist with the Blacksburg Community Band, highlighted their needs as they maintain a music library, transportation for their musical instruments and equipment, and present scholarships to local high school students in the Montgomery County Public Schools for music endeavors.
Erica Slagel-Perry School Program Manager for the Community Health Center of the New River Valley discussed their services in Dublin, Christiansburg, and the most recent location at Pulaski County High School.
“We offer all of our services on a sliding scale fee to individuals who are 200% or below the federal poverty level,” Slagel-Perry said. “In 2023, we served 677 Blacksburg residents that met criteria for the sliding scale, these same patients were seen at our Center approximately four times, that adds up to about 2,900 visits over the year.”
The organization is asking for monetary assistance in keeping fees low and offering medical and dental services to community members.
Wonder Universe Childrens Museum “welcomed over 30,000 visitors this past year” Executive Director Nora Bolte said, had collaborations with Virginia Tech, a new East Asian exhibit, and have expanded on their other cultural explorations for the museum.
Other agencies that addressed council include Literacy Volunteers of the NRV, , Blacksburg Farmers Market, the Summer Arts Festival will continue to offer summer events on Henderson Lawn, The Lyric Theater and Live Work Eat Grow .
Public citizen comment also included many community members responding to Blacksburg Town Council’s reported position not to act in response to previous requests from individuals to sign a permanent ceasefire in Gaza resolution.
Rosemary Sawdon of Blacksburg said, “I sent all of you an email this Monday on March 25 and it was in regard to a resolution that some of us in the town are asking you to consider regarding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. I received one response from you and that was from Susan Mattingly, and I thank you for responding. The response indicated to me that this was not a purview for this particular Council and so I am here to tell you that over 100 American communities have signed on to a resolution for a Gaza ceasefire.”
Several other community members from local high school and university students, citizens from the ages of children to senior citizens, and men and women of many diverse cultural backgrounds lined the aisles of the Council meeting waiting for their opportunity to address the Council concerning the resolution.
James Hardell of Blacksburg, who lived through World War II, asked for council to “let them do their job” in response to Israel’s response to the initial attack in October.
“In any war that has to be fought, there are casualties, civilian casualties, youth, babies,” Hardell said.
U.S. miliary veteran Waverly Evans echoed the thoughts of Hardell with his comments that we should let Israel take care of their business and town council needs to focus on the citizens of Blacksburg. However, if council chooses to take a stance, Evans said that it should be gauged on the feelings of all community members and not just the ones that have repeatedly appeared to address council, many he says are the same individuals.
Blacksburg Town Council will hold their next regular meeting on April 9, 2024, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
