March 2023 Archive: Valley News Insider’s Top Stories

Looking back at March 2023? You’re in the right spot. This archive pulls together the most talked‑about stories, events, and updates that shaped our valley last month. Whether you missed a community fair or need a quick refresher on a city council vote, we’ve got it all in one place.

We’ve organized the highlights into two easy sections so you can jump straight to what matters to you. First, we’ll recap the buzz around local events—festivals, charity runs, and weekend markets that brought neighbors together. Then we’ll dive into the nuts and bolts of government and school news, from budget approvals to new classroom initiatives.

Community Events You Missed

Spring kicked off with the annual Valley Spring Festival on March 8th. Stalls featured fresh produce from nearby farms, live indie bands, and a kids' art contest that drew over 200 entries. The highlight? A surprise flash mob by the local high school dance team that got the whole crowd dancing.

Charity runners hit the downtown trail on March 15th for the “Run for Rivers” 5K. Over 300 participants raised $12,000 for river clean‑up projects. If you didn’t join, you can still see the photo gallery and download the route map for next year’s race.

The March farmer’s market moved to the new downtown plaza, offering a wider selection of organic veggies, handmade jams, and even a pop‑up coffee stand. Regular shoppers praised the longer hours—now open from 7 am to 2 pm, six days a week.

Local Government and School Updates

City council met on March 3rd to vote on the downtown parking revamp. The proposal, approved by a 5‑2 vote, adds 150 electric‑vehicle charging spots and redesigns traffic flow to ease rush‑hour congestion. Residents can expect the construction phase to start in early May.

On the education front, the Valley School Board announced a partnership with the tech startup EduTech on March 21st. The deal brings tablets and coding workshops to all middle schools, aiming to boost digital literacy for over 2,000 students. Parents expressed excitement about the hands‑on lessons that complement the standard curriculum.

Lastly, the fire department launched a new community safety program on March 27th. Free home‑fire inspections and a “Stop, Drop, and Roll” demo for kids were offered across three neighborhoods. The initiative has already reduced non‑critical emergency calls by 15% in the first week.

That’s a quick run‑through of March’s biggest moments. Want deeper dives? Use the search bar at the top of the page to pull up full articles, photo slideshows, and video interviews. Bookmark this archive for future reference, and keep checking back—our valley never stops moving forward.