New-style lights sprout up in downtown Floyd as part of the rehabilitation grant from Virginia.

The lights, made by Crenshaw Lighting, have a gaslamp look to them and already adorn the Village Green and the new municipal parking lot on Locust Street.

Meanwhile, new sidewalks with alcoves for seating and musicians near completion on Locust Street along with the timber-frame public restrooms in what will be the town park between the Winter Sun and Angels in the Attic.

The face of Floyd is changing. Many like it. Some do not. Such is the controversy that always follows change.

Many feel change must come if Floyd is to evolve into a viable community that can help sustain a growing, and diverse, population.

A number of new merchants have been willing to take a chance on Floyd and we can only hope that local residents and visitors will patronize these new businesses.