Good morning, Blacksburg.

A local community youth program will host a fundraising event this weekend at its center to support youth activities.

Organizers encourage local families to join and boost the program's efforts.

Dylan Ever, a VT creative writing grad student, writes free customized poems from a Poetry Menu at Blacksburg Farmer's Market each week — encouraging visitors to embrace artistic expression.

Smokestack Theatre’s Haunted History Tours return to offer guided visits exploring the town’s spooky past at their historic venue.

The tours will run on fall weekends (see schedule for details) to give residents a firsthand look at local history.

College admissions directors at Virginia Tech and Roanoke College advise families to start early as deadlines for class of 2031 applications approach this fall.

They recommend visiting campuses + using virtual tours and scheduling weekly check-ins so that students remain in charge while balancing application work with a busy senior year.

Virginia Tech held a Narcan training session on the Drillfield yesterday where students learned how to recognize an overdose and respond effectively, with guidance from Zac Clark (founder of Release Recovery) who stressed that everyone should know how to use Narcan in emergencies.

Governor Abigail Spanberger announced the 2026 School Performance and Support Framework results today, offering early data from over 1,800 schools and outlining improvements such as a new student growth measure and a $26.7 million grant opening Friday for schools needing extra support — a move to boost accountability and student achievement.

Virginia hired Heather Barrar as its first full-time Director of Outdoor Recreation; her statewide listening tour starts Oct.

14 in Blue Ridge Highlands and Heart of Appalachia — gathering input to improve trails, river access and local business.

The Collegiate Times staff has shared top Blacksburg dining picks featuring diverse flavors from Italian at The Cellar to Thai at Yeah Siam and sushi at Green's.

Their guide (including North Main, Draper, and University City) helps locals find memorable spots for meals and people-watching.