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.