The buzz: Broadband expanding; farmers markets opening; prescribed burn (2024)

Farmers markets with food trucks are opening, an upcomingprescribed burn for the national parkand broadband is increasing.Here's the buzz.

The buzz is a short recap of area business trends. Send ideas to reporter Laura Peters at lpeters@newsleader.com or follow her @peterslaura and @peterpants .

Lingo Networks to expand broadband

Nearly$945,000 in grants will be aiding the expansion of broadband in the area.

Through the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative, the grants were awarded toAlbemarle, Augusta, Bland, Gloucester and Greensville counties. Theprogram provides funding for communities partnering with private sector providers to extend broadband access to unserved areas of the Commonwealth, a release said.

Locally, Augusta County will receive$278,880, with Lingo Networks as the partner for the program. The broadband expansion means more opportunities for area citizens and business.

“Broadband access has become an essential tool for localities to attract new businesses and thrive, as well as support the diverse needs of their schools and students,” said Governor McAuliffe in a release. “I’m pleased to announce the first round of grants from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative, helping localities provide last-mile services and leverage their telecommunications infrastructure to build a new Virginia economy. I hope these funds will allow the recipients to utilize these resources for the betterment of their citizens, increasing broadband access and spurring job creation opportunities.”

The Virginia Telecommunication Initiativeprogram is a state-funded program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development and this is the first grant announcement from this new program, a release said.

The goal of the initiative is to create strong, competitive communities throughout the state by preparing those communities to build, utilizeand capitalize on telecommunications infrastructure, a release said. Consistent with the enabling legislation, the Department of Housing and Community Development will award nearly $1 million annually to eligible applicants to provide last-mileservices to unserved areas of Virginia, a release said.

“Today’s announcement is an excellent example of the great work that can be realized by bringing together local governments and private service providers to ensure quick, reliable and affordable internet access to unserved areas of the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore in a release. “I congratulate these localities on receiving the grants to strengthen their broadband efforts.”

Seventeen applications totaling more than $3.7 million in funding were received, a release said.Projects were selected through a competitive process evaluating each project for a demonstrated need and benefit for the community, applicant readiness and capacityand the cost and leverage of the proposed project, the release said. The level of funding awarded is based on the infrastructure needs in the project areas.

Farmers markets, food trucks to open in the area

Staunton recently opened its farmers market this past weekend, kicking off the spring/summer season.

Starting this past Saturday the Staunton's Farmers Market started up in the Wharf parking lot. The twice-a-week market will be starting its Wednesday market the first week in May.

Waynesboro will officially kick off its farmers market on Saturday, May 13under tents in the Arch Avenue Parking lot, at the corner of Arch Avenue and Main Street. A few vendors will be represented at Riverfest April 29, according to Jenna Clarke, executive director of Project Grows, which runs the farmers market.

Augusta County will kick off its North Augusta Farmers Market (also managed by Project Grows)on Wednesday, April 5. Food Truck Wednesdays will also be kicking off this Wednesday at the market. The food truck event will run April through October from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine. To find out which food trucks will be there each week, visit the Augusta County Parks and Recreation section of the county website under community events.

This week, the schedule says Farm Fresh Fixins, The Breakfast Guy and Spice Sea Gourmet will be at the event.

Here are the hours for the area farmers markets:

• Staunton — Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 1 pm. in Staunton's Wharf parking lot. Market runs from April to November.
• Waynesboro — Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arch Avenue Parking lot.Market runs from May to October.
• Augusta County — Wednesdays from noon to 5 p.m. at18 Gov Center Lane, VeronaMarket runs from April to October.

Prescribed burn in national park

Sometime between April 4 and May 30, the Shenandoah National Park Fire Managers will burn 90 acres of Big Meadows.The burn should take a day to complete, officials said.

A portion of Big Meadows at milepost 51, which is the open area across from Byrd Visitor Center, is burned each year for the purpose of maintaining the open vista by preventing encroachment by trees and shrubs, a release said.Access to Big Meadows will be restricted during the burn, but all park facilities will remain open during the prescribed burn.

Prescribed burns are ignited by fire managers under aset of conditions, including weather, fuel moisture and resource availability, so the burn can be monitored properly and to accomplish specific resource management objectives, a release said. All prescribed burns will be conducted as interagency projects, with local support, under the guidance and direction of trained and experienced National Park Service personnel, the release said.

Smoke from the burn may be visible in and around the Big Meadows area and visitors driving in areas of smoke should keep their headlights on and drive at lower speeds.

This was updated to add a section about a prescribed burn in the Shenandoah National Park.