🌱 Crownpoint Harrisonburg About To Lease + Man Faces Murder Charges

Good morning, neighbors! I'm here with your Monday edition of the Harrisonburg Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's going on locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Clouds breaking for some sun. High: 70 Low: 51.
• Tuesday: Pleasant with clouds and sun. High: 74 Low: 50.

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Here are the top three stories in Harrisonburg today:

1. Crownpoint Harrisonburg is preparing to lease its homes. The project includes duplexes and townhomes, with completion expected by mid-August. The retirement community aims to provide an active lifestyle for seniors, offering amenities such as a pickleball court, coffeehouse, gym, and more. Crownpoint hopes to alleviate the housing crisis by creating vacancies in existing homes for the next generation. An open house is scheduled for May 20 for those interested in exploring the community. (WHSV)
2. A Harrisonburg man is facing charges, including attempted murder, following an incident that involved an abduction and a shooting downtown. It began with a domestic disturbance call and escalated to the abduction of a 52-year-old woman. Police pursued the suspect's vehicle and fired a shot when the suspect ignored orders to drop his weapon. The victim managed to escape safely, and no officers were injured. The suspect, Oliverio Patricio-Garcia, was taken into custody and charged with multiple offenses related to the incident. (WHSV)
3. The riders of Harrisonburg Police Department's Unity Tour successfully arrived in Washington, DC at the National Memorial on May 12. This dedicated crew completed a challenging journey, covering over 70 miles per day throughout the week. Their mission was to honor and pay tribute to Officers John Painter and Vashon JJ Jefferson, who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty in February. The achievement of reaching their destination demonstrates their unwavering commitment and serves as a testament to their perseverance and respect for their fallen comrades. (Harrisonburg Police Department via Facebook)

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Today and tomorrow in Harrisonburg:

Monday, May 15

• Gardening for Kids in Luray At Massanutten Regional Library (4:00 PM)

Tuesday, May 16

• Women's Empowerment Network At Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce (11:45 AM)
• LEGO Club At Shenandoah Community Library (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Harrisonburg Farmers' Market is currently selling strawberries, which are in high demand and tend to sell out quickly. Visitors are encouraged to stop by and purchase these delightful berries before they run out. (Harrisonburg Farmers Market (Official) via Facebook)
• McGaheysville Firefighters responded to a residential structure fire in the evening, where smoke was seen coming from the roof line of a single-story house. Although no one was home, firefighters forcibly entered the house and promptly extinguished the fire. Mutual aid was provided by Elkton Volunteer Fire Company, Grottoes Fire Company, Harrisonburg Fire Department, and Rockingham County Fire and Rescue, who assisted with additional resources. (McGaheysville Volunteer Fire-Company 80 via Facebook)
• The head of the Brent Berry Food Drive in Harrisonburg, James "Bucky" Berry, is facing significant medical bills and is seeking community support. After being in intensive care and the hospital for several weeks, Berry is looking for assistance to prevent losing his business and cars. The Berry family has contributed approximately $2 million to the community through their food drive over the past 15 years and hopes to continue their efforts with the community's support. (WHSV - TV 3 via Facebook)

You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.