hburgnews.com

“Everyday Bikes” is a community bike project started by a collection of individuals affiliated with New Community Project, Our Community Place, and is sustained with the support and help of many others in our community. Their goal is to promote sustainable transportation, healthy living, and to empower low-income individuals. 

National Farmers Market Week is August 3 through 9. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is challenging everyone to eat local for a day. The Downtown Harrisonburg Farmers Market is open Tuesday August 5 and Saturday August 9 from 7am-1pm.

The City has just posted a video online titled “Your Trash”. The video has been shown at the Public Work’s session of Citizen Academy and it follows, literally, your trash.
Where does your trash go to after you put it out on trash day? What is the Resource Recovery Facility? How is recycling good for the environment and how [...]

There’s an article in today’s Washington Post about the local poultry industry and federal immigration “reform.” It hits several of the same points touched on in past hburgnews and DNR articles (such as the effects of high grain prices on the industry).
Hobey Bauhan, president of the Virginia Poultry Federation, and Rep. Bob Goodlatte use [...]

There’s a story in today’s DNR about “deathanol,” the federal mandate, and the impact of corn-for-fuel on the local poultry industry. I recently read an interesting article about “the seven myths of energy independence” in Mother Jones that touched on some of the same points.

Just discovered a new local blog about the impact of high food and fuel prices called Shenandoah Valley Hard Times. The blogger, Michele, lives in the Massanutten area. She wants to know how the rising cost of living is affecting local residents, and has asked for stories to be emailed to maggieoverstreet@hotmail.com

Dominion Virginia Power just announced a plan to reduce energy by offering incentives for saving energy, and installing “smart meters” at every customer’s home or business.
Here’s a video that explains how smart meters work.

WMRA’s Martha Woodroof recently did a story on the impact of rising fuel costs on Mr. J’s Bagels, Red Front produce, and other businesses in town.

Today was “Local Foods Day” at Harrisonburg City Schools! A “large portion” of the foods on the lunch menu were purchased from local sources. My sons go to Waterman Elementary and my oldest wanted to try the local meal out. I let them decide if they would like to buy their lunch or pack it [...]

This site calculates the walk score of your neighborhood based on how closed grocery stores, parks, library, etc., are to you (and, interestingly enough, porn shops but not places of worship). Joe and I live off Central Avenue near Keister; our house has an index of 48 out of 100, which feels about right. [...]

Much is happening with the arts downtown, with MACRoCk, the Museum and Gallery Walk, and First Fridays all gaining steam this spring. Next, a three-session facilitated dialogue begins about the next phases of turning the Ruddle Building into an arts center in downtown - that’s the building with the Old Dominion Coffee Company. [...]

According to a report released this week by the Virginia Employment Commission, “Harrisonburg area unemployment was down from 3.4 percent in February to 3.3 percent in March because of factory recalls.”
As noted in today’s DNR, “salaries in the Harrisonburg metro increased 41 percent” between 1997 and 2006 (the most recent data year available). But [...]

I’ve previously posted about Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s role in the federal farm bill negotiations. Last week, it was reported that negotiators had reached an agreement. But not according to Goodlatte. Today I came across an interesting memo allegedly sent from Goodlatte’s office.

The big news story yesterday and today seems to the the announcement from 84 Lumber: they say they are closing their Harrisonburg operation (along with many other locations) because the housing market has slowed. 84 Lumber also said that the local store was small and outdated.
Is this indicative of the national “sub-prime crisis,” local housing [...]