Town residents and business owners will spruce their properties up this weekend in preparation for the vice presidential debate at Longwood University taking place just under three weeks from now on Oct. 4.

This year, the town is holding its cleanup earlier than in the past because of the debate, which will draw thousands of journalists and others as well as the eyes of the nation on the town and university.

“It was a suggestion … just to give people an opportunity if they want to clean up and spruce up for the debate, this would be a good time to do it,” Town Manager Gerald Spates said.

The town will hold another cleanup later in the fall, Spates said, closer to the date usually observed in the past.

“We will have thousands of outside visitors to our town, so we have encouraged everyone to please clean their spaces as much as possible,” Farmville Mayor David Whitus said.

He said the early pickup will allow residents to put material they could not normally put in their regular trash pickup.

“We hope that all the residents take advantage of the early cleanup and make a special effort this year to cleanup and spruce up prior to all of our visitors coming to see us on Oct. 2, 3 and 4,” Whitus said.

According to the town, residents need to have all items at the curbside by 7:30 a.m. on Monday morning, and will include items not normally picked up, such as furniture, appliances, carpet, bedding and building materials. However, any loose items must be boxed or bagged to be collected and be in a container that can be thrown away, according to a press release.

Town officials said if residents put small tree limbs in an old garbage can, the can will be thrown away with the limbs.

“If you set it out, it will be thrown away,” officials said in the release. “Containers must be strong enough to handle the weight of its contents. Rocks, cement block, brick and loose dirt will not be picked up.”

While the town won’t pick up hazardous chemicals on Monday, the town will make arrangements for certain items, Spates said.

“We will make arrangements to dispose of them,” he said, citing oil and lead-based paint as examples.

Farmville will also be recycling electronic items and asks residents to separate them from all other items.

“All town residents and businesses that have (recycling) items are encouraged to call in for this pick up by 4 p.m. Friday,” officials said in the release.

Brush should be separated from other items such as bags, metal, furniture, etc. Recyclables should also be separate from all other debris. Motor oil needs to be in a capped, labeled container marked “motor oil.”

“All items collected during this campaign become the property of the town of Farmville, (which) is, therefore, responsible for its proper disposal,” officials said in the release. “If you have any questions or requests for collection, call (434) 392-3331.”