🌱 New County Superintendent Selection + Ukrainian Culture Art Exhibit

Hi 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 in our community today. Today you'll learn about these three stories and more.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and very warm. High: 79 Low: 43.
• Thursday: Sunny and very warm. High: 82 Low: 48.

Business owners and marketers in Harrisonburg: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories today in Harrisonburg:

1. The Rockingham County School Board plans to conduct closed-door meetings to interview candidates for the vacant superintendent position in the next 15 days. The board has received 15 completed applications, out of which 10 are from Virginia and five are from out of state. The board aims to hire a new superintendent by the end of May to ensure a smoother transition as the current superintendent, Dr. Oskar Scheikl, is set to retire after the end of the school year in June. (WHSV)
2. The Arts Council of the Valley is hosting a new exhibit titled "Her Wounded Soul," which showcases the culture and hardship of Ukraine through the lens of two Ukrainian artists, Viktoriya Samoylov and Natalia Verko. The exhibit not only portrays the horrors happening in Ukraine today but also displays the complexity of the culture and people of Ukraine. The exhibit will be open until Apr. 28 at Smith House Galleries in downtown Harrisonburg. (NBC29)
3. On Easter Sunday, the Shenandoah Valley Kennel Club hosted its fifth annual Fast CAT (coursing ability test) event in nearby Weyers Cave. The event was an opportunity for people to spend time with their dogs and promote the human-animal bond, as well as provide a mentally stimulating and physically challenging activity for the dogs, with opportunities to practice and try out the course. (WHSV)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Harrisonburg:

Wednesday, April 12

• Farmers Market - The Union Patio 1, James Madison University (9:00 AM)

Thursday, April 13

• Board Games - Grottoes Branch Library, Grottoes (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• It's National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week! The City of Harrisonburg joined the police department in celebrating the animal care and control officers for all they do to serve the community and the animals in it. (Harrisonburg, VA Government via Facebook)
• The Harrisonburg Police Department is also celebrating National Telecommunicators Week by acknowledging the dispatchers and the work they commit to the department and the community. (Harrisonburg Police Department via Facebook)
• James Madison University (JMU) has received a 17 percent increase in applications for the incoming class of 2027. The dramatic increase is partially due to JMU's decision to join the Common Application, which has enabled the university to recruit a broader landscape of students. (James Madison University via Facebook)

That's it for today. I'll see you back in your inbox soon with a new 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.