1. Town of Blacksburg Arbor Day and & Earth Day Celebration

Tree planting at our neighborhood's Wong Park

When: This Saturday, 17 April 11AM - 4PM
Where: Wong Park

No need to rsvp or sign up. Just come if you want, dress appropriately; and bring drinking water!



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2. The Blacksburg Price House:
Nature Center, Environment, Sustainability, Discovery and Engagement

Operated by SEEDS - Seek Education, Explore, DiScover

With Contributing Partners:
Town of Blacksburg Dept. of Parks and Recreation
VT Dept. of Biological Sciences Outreach Program

Located at the Historic Blacksburg Price House, 107 E. Wharton St.

Mail to:

SEEDS
PO Box 824
Blacksburg VA 24063-0824

http://www.seedsguys.org

Founded in 1995, SEEDS has a mission to teach kids to be active citizens
in a sustainable society. SEEDS is a 501(c)(3) charitable not-for-profit
youth education organization. Your Donations are tax deductible.
Our FIN # is 541782139



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3.


Date: Saturday, April 17th (event will be postponed in the event of rain)

Time: 9 am - noon

Location: Draper Avenue adjacent to the Blacksburg Farmer's Market

Event Description:

* Fix Fest: Dust off your bike, pump up the tires, and lube the chain. Spring is here! Has your bike been sitting in the garage over the winter - or for the last few years! If so, it’s time to get your bike ready to ride! Everyone can bring their bikes downtown for a *free* safety check and basic tune up. Our local bike shops - Bike Barn, East Coasters, and Hokie Spokes, will be on hand with mechanics offering basic services. (Participants that require part replacement or more involved repairs will be referred to the bike shops.)

* Bike Swap: Come out and barter, trade, buy or sell bike-related goods. Anyone with a surplus of road, mountain or commuter bike stuff (e.g., frames components, clothing or complete bikes) can reserve a sellers' space at the Bike Swap. For information on how to reserve a space see the Bike Swap FAQ page.

If you have general questions about the event, please email them to ealohman@gmail.com


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4.
The VT Environmental Coalition will host their annual Earth Week celebration, with a week of environmental education and events to promote sustainable growth and development on campus and in the Blacksburg community. Sustainable Blacksburg has partnered to coordinate a number of events during the week in conjunction with student efforts.

For a detailed list of events visit: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=112648145412316&index=1


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During this spring semester, an Urban Planning and Affairs class has undertaken an evaluation of different bike planning elements for the Town of Blacksburg. On April 28th, the students will be presenting some of the information they have collected as well as asking for input. They have been concentrating on the following questions:



What conditions do cyclists experience as they ride around Blacksburg?

What does Blacksburg need to do to become a model bicycling community?

What are the components of a top-quality bike plan?

What is the best way to involve the community in the bike planning process?

What kinds of data should be used to support bike planning and what technologies can be used to collect and analyze the data?

What strategies are other localities using to fund bike programs and facilities?

Is an investment in bike facilities also an investment in economic development?

What does a community need to give up, or trade off, in order to support cycling?



Plan to attend if you're interested in hearing more. For more information, contact Diane Zahm, PhD, Urban Affairs and Planning, Virginia Tech, dzahm@vt.edu

Blacksburg will be hosting a variety of environmental education and sustainability awareness events in the next two months. Here is a brief overview of what's to come. More detailed information will be posted later.

Bright Ideas: A Weekend of investigating coal and Virginia's energy future
March 26-28

Friday March 26
Coal. The question of energy debate.
7 PM, Squires Colonial Hall

Saturday March 27
Energy in the Commonwealth Roundtable Panel Discussion
3 PM, Graduate Life Center Auditorium

EARTH HOUR
8:30-9:30 PM
What? Turn off your lights from 8:30pm to 9:30pm and be a part of a global statement for action on climate change! See www.earthhour.org

Where? At your residence! Or bring out your talents and join us for a community gathering from 8pm to 10pm on the VT Drillfield! (Note: no open flames allowed)

How? Our community's electricity usage will be monitored during Earth Hour and we'll be able to see the positive impact our community can have!

Sunday March 28
Mountain Top Removal Coal Mining Field Trip

email Bryce Carter at bryce88@vt.edu to reserve a space

Blacksburg Fix Fest
Sunday April 17
9-12 AM, Draper Road between Roanoke Street and Blue Ridge Real Estate, (adjacent to the new Farmer's Market Square)
What? Come celebrate bicycle commuter awareness with a free bike tune up and participate in a bike swap for parts with other local bike advocates

Go here fore more information: http://fixfest.wordpress.com/

Earth Week

April 16-23
The VT Environmental Coalition will host their annual Earth Week celebration, with a week of environmental education and events to promote sustainable growth and development on campus and in the Blacksburg community. Sustainable Blacksburg has partnered to coordinate a number of events during the week in conjunction with student efforts. Schedule TBA

Clean Commute Day

Friday May 21

Pledge to use a clean commute option - biking, walking, carpooling or public transit - and be eligible for great prizes including bike gear, a Giant Boulder Bike from Cardinal Bicycle, monthly passes on SmartWay and Valley Metro buses, gift certificates, coffee, and more! The Town of Blacksburg will be partnering with Ride Solutions to promote Clean Commute Day, where two hospitality tents will be set up to reward travelers who pledge to commute "clean" this day.

More information can be found at http://www.ridesolutions.org/cleancommute/

Jan. 18 Conservation Lobby Day - Richmond, VA

MLK Day is your day to tell legislators what you expect from them this General Assembly session. Join Virginia Conservation Network, the Garden Club of Virginia, and countless volunteers as we take our conservation priorities to the Capitol on January 18, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.

Whether you discuss energy efficiency, green building, natural resource protection, or other important conservation issues your legislators need to hear from you. Every year General Assembly members learn important information about how to do the right thing for the environment from citizens like you. Not to mention that by taking the time to discuss your position on specific legislation you hold them accountable for their vote.

When: January 18, 2010 (9 am - 2 pm)
Where: Centenary Methodist Church, Richmond VA (411 E. Grace Street)
Registration: $15.00 Registration (Deadline: Jan. 14)
$15 adults, $10 students; includes lunch and materials.

For more information and to purchase a ticket please visit:

http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/getinvolved/event_detail.cfm?id=1053

The new Blacksburg Market Square Park & Farmers Market is opening this Friday, December 4th from 4-7 pm for the Winter Lights Festival. The new timber frame structure will be full of farmers market and craft vendors, there will be tuba players at 6pm, and there will be hot cider, hot chocolate and funnel cakes.

The weather forecast is for chilly weather so dress warmly and come out and enjoy the festivities. A formal Grand Opening is planned for April.

The Town of Blacksburg is developing a climate action plan which will identify how the town can meet its goal of reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by the year 2050. In addition, the town recently received a $186,900 federal grant to support local energy efficiency and conservation efforts. The Town is soliciting comments and feedback from the public to help guide the development of the long-term Climate Action Plan and identify how the grant funds can be spent most effectively in the short term.

Blacksburg residents are invited to discuss these issues with us at a public meeting on Thursday, December 3, from 7-9 pm, at the Blacksburg Transit building 2800 Commerce Street.

Please take a moment to fill out the Town’s climate action planning survey, at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=r1WH44_2fcwhxkyxvrhnTJUA_3d_3d.

Finally, local business owners can fill out a separate survey on the role of the commercial sector in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dg_2fimKlrTj5ivvOjI1QnaQ_3d_3d.

For more information, please contact Susan Garrison, Environmental Sustainability Manager at sgarrison@blacksburg.gov.

Thanks to all who participated, helped coordinate, donated, sponsored, and volunteered during Sustainability Week 2009. It was a great success. Moving forward, Sustainable Blacksburg is currently working on two local initiatives;

New River Valley Local Food Coalition
Sustainable Blacksburg has partnered with the Blacksburg Farmers Market to start an NRV local food coalition to promote sustainable and local food awareness throughout the region. We hope to work with local merchants and restaurant owners to start sourcing more local foods downtown, as well as raise awareness about the Blacksburg farmers market and the importance of buying and eating local foods!
The first general membership meeting will be in January, time and date TBA, check back for updates.

Partnership with VT Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Team
Sustainable Blacksburg has recently partnered with the VT Hybrid Electric Vehicle team to promote alternative transportation in the Blacksburg and campus communities. More updates to come!

Please continue to check our website for Sustainable Blacksburg project updates, local sustainability efforts, and any other information regarding sustainability and the Town! If you have questions you can email Jackie Pontious, SB Program Coordinator at jackie@sustainableblacksburg.org

Sustainability Week 2009 will take place October 11th - 17th. Events will be held throughout the week on the Virginia Tech campus and throughout the Town of Blacksburg. The events will entertain, educate, and highlight sustainability programs and practices working to build a sustainable campus and town. Please join us!

Do you want to be an exhibitor at the Home Sustainability Fair on Saturday October 17th?
Fill out this form to register for the fair.