🌱 Mr. J's Bagels Expanding + International Women's Day Celebration

Hello all. It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Harrisonburg Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: An a.m. shower; mostly cloudy. High: 48 Low: 26.

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Here are the top three stories in Harrisonburg today:

1. The Harrisonburg staple bagel shop Mr. J's has expanded with a new restaurant in nearby Elkton – the first new location to open in about 20 years. The Elkton location opened its doors on Jan. 2o this year and has been a popular spot ever since. With a different demographic from the usual college students in Harrisonburg, the Elkton location offers a few different menu items to better fit its environment. Mr. J's owner Angela Dean has assured residents this will not be the last expansion for the chain as she wants to continue to open more locations throughout the state. (The Breeze)
2. The 2018 James Madison University women's lacrosse team was honored during halftime at the Dukes game to celebrate the five-year anniversary of winning the National Championship game. The team was destined for success early on after two consecutive undefeated fall ball seasons and winning the season opener against the No. 3 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Five years later, former players still reminisce on the season. (The Breeze)
3. Over the weekend, the Valley celebrated International Women's Day with its seventh annual event "Embracing Equity." The event began on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. with participants gathering at Harrisonburg City Hall and walking to Court Square. This event was a fun way for women to connect and celebrate each other while finding new ways to support each other and build each other up. The event also featured local speakers, dancers, musicians, and more. (WHSV)

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Today in and around Harrisonburg:

• Spring Break Day Camp - Horizons Edge Sports Campus (8:00 AM)
• Knitting & Crocheting Circle - North River Library, Bridgewater (4:00 PM)
• Jazz Night Jams - Three Notch'd Valley Collab House (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• On Mar. 8, the Harrisonburg Police Department celebrated International Women's Day by acknowledging the inspiring women in the department. Harrisonburg police are comprised of about 17 percent women, higher than the national average. (Harrisonburg Police Department via Facebook)
• James Madison University's junior pitcher Alissa Humphrey recorded the fourth perfect game in program history. The historic game led the Dukes to an 8-0 win over Farleigh Dickenson, improving their record to 13-5. (James Madison University Athletics)
• Looking for a new position that emphasizes your customer service and administration skills? The Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation is hiring a full-time position as a transit dispatcher nearby. Take a look at the posting for more information. (Harrisonburg VA via Twitter)

You're officially in the loop for today! See you soon for another update.

— 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.