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Hey Blacksburg, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Most neighborly towns list, Rural Film Festival, and free prom dresses + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Blacksburg protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Culture, history, and local charm: A recent list names Blacksburg among Virginia’s most neighborly towns, celebrating Hokie spirit, the Farmers Market, and community music, alongside spots like Staunton, Leesburg, and Petersburg — check out the full lineup.

Demographic shifts reshape classrooms: Released March 3, a UVA study predicts Montgomery County Public Schools enrollment will drop by nearly 900 students by 2030, a faster decline than expected for Blacksburg and Christiansburg families — get all the details.

Connecting campus and countryside: Matthew Wagner has expanded the Catawba Sustainability Center’s applied research, adding faculty projects, student learning, and producer partnerships at the Roanoke County living lab about a half hour from Blacksburg — read the full story.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Score deals at kids’ consignment sale
• Celebrate the Dino Poet Pen Pals launch
• Mobile Library visits Newport Community Center

🫶 We got your back

Your midweek sandwich fix: Next Door Bake Shop keeps things simple and satisfying with pressed paninis and stuffed bagel sandwiches (think Twisted Cuban or Thai market), plus stout coffee and celebratory cakes. A quick lunch that doesn’t feel phoned in, followed by something sweet.

Need a low‑key reset: Heritage Community Park and Natural Area spreads across 169 acres of meadows, woodsy trails, and Toms Creek nooks for an easy after‑work breather. Bring a coffee, spot a few birds, and let the kids roam the Nature Play Space while you rack up steps.

Rainy-day boredom hack: Imaginations Toys is the reliable Blacksburg spot for thoughtfully picked toys and games that actually get played with. They’re locally owned, and as a Maxtrix children’s furniture dealer, it’s also where bunk-bed daydreams turn real without a wild goose chase.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🧾 Free Income Tax Prep @ Christiansburg Library | Thursday (3/12) at 11:00 AM – If doing your taxes feels like wrestling a porcupine, VITA is back with free prep. Walk-ins only, income limits apply. Call NRCA at 540-320-3217, or check facebook.com/VITAatNRCA for details, then treat yourself to a guilt-free latte.

👗 Free Prom Dresses @ Meadowbrook Public Library (Shawsville) | Sunday (3/15) at 1:00 PM – Got a teen with champagne taste and a soda budget? Swing by to browse racks of free prom dresses, no appointment drama, just community magic and plenty of styles. Bring a friend, a measuring tape, and your best that-hem-can-be-fixed optimism.

🔨 Cornerstone Crew @ El Rodeo Restaurant | Monday (3/16) at 11:30 AM – If you miss swapping Hokie war stories without sitting through a program, this monthly no-host meetup in Blacksburg is your speed. Casual fellowship at a local spot, you cover your tab, free but required registration, limited space, and a $5 nod to the scholarship fund.

🎼 Talk: “Meet the Maestro” @ Cube | Tuesday (3/17) at 6:30 PM – Warm up your ears with a pre-concert chat as Irish Baroque Orchestra director Peter Whelan shares insider insights and colorful history before the downbeat. Think smart context, a dash of wit, and fewer guesswork glances at the program. It’s free, but registration is required.

🌱 The Big Plant @ Bisset Park (Radford) | Friday (3/20) at 10:00 AM – Roll into Bisset Park to plant thousands of native trees, and call it cardio with purpose. Whether you’re a forester or your houseplants fear you, tools are provided; bring layers, water, snacks, and sturdy shoes. Shade, wildlife hangouts, and all ages welcome. Sign up: https://signup.com/go/AZEjJaM

🎥 Rural Film Festival @ The Lyric Theatre | Wednesday (3/25) at 7:00 PM – Settle into The Lyric for the fourth annual Rural Film Festival, a free night of short films exploring rural grit, family, and community from around the globe. It’s travel without TSA, conversation without small talk, and yes, a free concession for the win.

🎶 MJAM Community Dinner and Concert @ Meadowbrook Community Center, 267 Alleghany Spring Road, Shawsville, Virginia | Saturday (3/28) at 5:00 PM – Take a break from leftovers and hit MJAM’s community dinner and concert for music, munchies, and good company. Instructors and student groups handle the tunes, you handle the eating. Free to get in, food for sale, raffle tickets, and a 50/50 that might fund gas.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Blacksburg report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 73°F – Low: 57°F – Precip: 20%

A slight chance of rain showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. West wind 1 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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Tomorrow – High: 78°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 46%

A chance of rain showers after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 2 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers before 5am, then rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Virginia but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This 4-bed, 3-bath 2021 custom home sits on a private 1.02-acre lot with a wrap-around porch and 3,008 sq. ft. of refined space. An open main level pairs a gourmet kitchen and fireplace-warmed living room with a massive screened porch, plus a primary suite with a laundry-connected closet, office, upstairs family room, paver patio with fire pit.

Take a peek inside →