Hello Blacksburg! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Patriotic Lego contest, new Amtrak station, and Sticker Palooza + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Community creativity on display: Christiansburg’s patriotic Lego contest will celebrate America’s 250th at Huckleberry Park on July 4. Registration closes June 29. Displays up to 10 inches tall, 10 long, 10 wide -- see how to register.
A new rail hub takes shape: Virginia Passenger Rail Authority shared an update on Christiansburg’s Amtrak extension, a $71.5 million station with parking and an accessible platform, expected to open in late 2027 for easier travel -- see the rail station update.
Rising leader in public safety: Blacksburg Police Department’s crime analyst was named to Montgomery County Chamber’s 40 Under 40, recognized for real time dashboards, mentoring interns, and leading data sharing across eight law enforcement agencies -- read the full profile.
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.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You can change that in just 10 minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks. In fact, 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold -- take 55% off.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Spare some fun: When the group chat needs an easy hang that isn’t another bar, Breakzone Recreation Center is the move. Lace up, claim a lane, and settle friendly rivalries... it’s low-key, laugh-heavy, and exactly the reset that makes the rest of your week in Blacksburg feel way more manageable.
Your yard, upgraded: Whether your porch pots are crying for color or your veggie beds need a jumpstart, Crows Nest Greenhouses has the good stuff, from sturdy annuals and perennials to houseplants, trees, and soil fixers. Friendly, knowledgeable folks, plenty of inspiration, and that happy greenhouse smell you can't fake.
Creekside sanity check: When you need to trade errands for birdsong, Heritage Community Park and Natural Area delivers 169 acres of meadows, creekside stretches, and walking or biking trails with picnic shelters that practically beg for a hang. Pack a snack, maybe binoculars, and claim an hour of calm this week.
|
04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
Makeup for skin that's changed, now up to 65% off: Laura Geller has built its following on formulas made for mature skin, led by the baked foundations women over 40 keep coming back to. Right now, new email subscribers get up to 65% off plus an extra 22%. Enter your email on the page and the discount activates. *See the VIP pricing →
Need cash but can't take on another monthly payment? This gets you a lump sum from your home's equity with no monthly bill and no interest, because it isn't a loan. Use the funds for anything, whether that's home improvements, paying off debt, or a large purchase, and pay it back by the end of your 30-year term. Checking your offer is easy, fully online, and won't affect your credit score. *See your cash offer →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
Wish you had someone to talk to right now? The quiet hours are the hardest, especially when you just want someone to talk to. That's exactly what this is built for: real conversations, real matches, real people. Not endless swiping, but actual chats with singles who want to connect as much as you do. Someone to talk to could be a message away. *Join now and start chatting → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
|
05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🏷 Sticker Palooza @ Christiansburg Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 3:00 PM – Whether you're still guarding a Lisa Frank sheet or raising a budding sticker baron, the library's Sticker Palooza is your moment. Make a sticker book, plunder their absurdly deep stash, or bring yours to swap for upgrades. All ages, low stress, and high nostalgia.
🦖 Dino Bone Free Build @ Radford Public Library | Thursday (6/25) at 2:00 PM – Channel your inner paleontologist, or just let the kids or grandkids boss you around, at a free play session with new foam dinosaur bones. Recreate fossils without the desert heat, the dust, or a grant proposal. Low stakes, high imagination, genuinely fun.
🐾 Paws for a Cause Day @ Christiansburg Huckleberry Park | Thursday (6/25) at 3:00 PM – Clear out the linen closet and the pet pantry, because the market’s collecting towels, unopened food and treats, collars, and cozy beds for the Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center. Free face painting, Simple Fixins grub, and splash pad, plus vendors on the way.
🪄 One Day Mini Summer Camp: Wizards & Wands @ Paint ‘n Fun Ceramics Studio (Christiansburg) | Friday (6/26) at 2:30 PM – Calling all pint-sized witches and wizards to the one-day Wizards & Wands mini camp where the magic happens in the art, not on your rug. They will whip up wands, charms, and glittery masterpieces, and you get a afternoon of quiet, coffee, and tidy furniture.
🎶 Blacksburg Community Band @ Henderson Lawn | Friday (6/26) at 6:00 PM – Summer Arts Festival rolls out a free hometown concert from the Blacksburg Community Band, all brass, woodwinds, and feel-good nostalgia. Expect Sousa, neighbors, and that one clarinetist who still crushes it. If skies turn dramatic, consider it the shortest encore in town.
🌊 New River Day @ Bisset Park (Radford) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Water's finally warming up, so Radford's inaugural New River Day is pulling triple duty with a mellow paddle and float, a cookout, and a river cleanup from Riverview Park. Call it cardio, call it community, then call it lunch, with bragging rights.
🌳 Park & Popsicles Night @ Huckleberry Park (Christiansburg) | Sunday (6/28) at 6:00 PM – If your freezer is down to mystery popsicles, Huckleberry Park has you covered with a sweet summer hang for preschoolers, elementary kids, and their patient people. Let them conquer the slides, you trade neighborhood gossip, and everybody leaves a little stickier, a lot happier.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Blacksburg report Weather forecastToday — High: 79°F — Low: 56°F — Precip: 0%
Areas of fog before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind around 2 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 2 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 85°F — Low: 62°F — Precip: 1%
Sunny, with a high near 85. West wind 0 to 6 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. This house is wildThis 5BR/4BA Cape Cod in Forest Hills offers over 4,200 sq ft of comfort and charm in the heart of Blacksburg. Hardwood floors, crown molding, and sun-filled rooms set the tone, while a double-sided wood-burning fireplace warms both the living room and eat-in kitchen. A main-level primary suite, finished basement, rear deck, and fenced tree-lined yard round it out.
Take a peek inside → |
| |
