Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How did your child’s Harrisonburg school score in Virginia’s new ratings?

Make time for Harrisonburg Farmers Market on the Harrisonburg Patch calendar

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Thursday December 25th Patch AM
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Good morning Harrisonburg! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How did your child’s Harrisonburg school score in Virginia’s new ratings?
  • Why Harrisonburg’s Port Republic Starbucks baristas walked out after union win
  • Shenandoah and Harrisonburg communities remember outdoorsman Donnie Davis Deane

Also on today's calendar: Harrisonburg Farmers Market and 1 more event.

Find out what's happening in Harrisonburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the little needle say to the mother needle when it brought home a failing report card? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Harrisonburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Thursday: Rather cloudy, warm and misty, with a high of 62 and low of 32 degrees.
  • Friday: Cloudy, a little rain; cooler, temps: high: 41, low: 35.
  • Saturday: Low clouds may break, with a high of 48 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Harrisonburg schools score below state average on SOL tests (dnronline.com) — Harrisonburg City Public Schools’ latest SOL scores trail state averages in reading, math, history, and science, though most subjects improved slightly over last year. A new state rating system now labels five city schools “on track,” three “off track,” and two “needs intensive support,” with especially low pass rates for students with disabilities prompting added staffing and instructional changes.
   

2. Harrisonburg's Port Republic Starbucks Baristas win Union Election (whsv.com) — Baristas at the Port Republic Road Starbucks in Harrisonburg have officially unionized after a 16-1 vote and joined a nationwide strike pushing for a first contract. Workers say they’re demanding fair wages, better staffing, and predictable schedules, and describe strong support from local customers who’ve brought supplies and encouragement to their picket line.
   

3. Donnie Davis Deane (pagevalleynews.com) — A Shenandoah resident, Donnie Davis Deane, died Dec. 19 at Sentara RMH in Harrisonburg, where many local families receive care. The 72-year-old retired Merck operator and avid outdoorsman is remembered by loved ones, with private services planned through Kyger Funeral Home in Elkton.
   

4. Affordable housing projects in Virginia get boost with $150M in financing (augustafreepress.com) — Harrisonburg is set to gain new affordable housing thanks to more than $6 million in state-backed loans for two local projects: Wisteria Gardens Senior Apartments and Market Commons PSH. These awards are part of a $150 million statewide package supporting 47 developments, leveraging over $1 billion to expand and renovate affordable and special-needs housing across Virginia.
   

5. Former JMU student sentenced for selling fentanyl that killed Fairfax Co. teen in 2023 (wtop.com) — A federal judge in Harrisonburg has sentenced a former JMU student to 20 years in prison and his Harrisonburg-based supplier to 15 years for distributing fentanyl-laced pills that killed a Fairfax County teen. The case, tried in a Harrisonburg federal courtroom, has driven the victim’s parents to advocate for stronger awareness of counterfeit pills and fentanyl dangers.
   

📸 Around Harrisonburg

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Harrisonburg

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

    Saturday December 27
  • Harrisonburg Farmers Market
    228 S Liberty St , Harrisonburg
    9:00 am
  • Walk On Wedding
    Edith J. Carrier Arboretum , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
    3:00 pm
    • Sunday December 28
  • Randy Black’s Annual Holiday Jam to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters
    Cave Hill Farms Brewery , 1001 Jacob Burner Dr , McGaheysville
    2:00 pm
    • Saturday January 3
  • Harrisonburg Farmers Market
    228 S Liberty St , Harrisonburg
    9:00 am

📣 Harrisonburg Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Harrisonburg PatchAM possible:

  • Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
    Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I highly recommend Liberty Nail and Spa!
    They have been in business for years but recently opened a new location on Neff Ave. My mom goes to Peter and she is extremely happy with her… (Nextdoor Beacon Hill)
  • A crash has been cleared on the northbound I-81 at mile marker 257.0 in Rockingham County.
    11:43PM on Dec 23: All northbound travel lanes on I-81 at mile marker 257.0 in Rockingham County are closed. (Nextdoor )
  • Virginia Staffing posted a job opening for Janitorial Maintenance in Harrisonburg. Apply here.
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Custodian in Harrisonburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Harrisonburg here.

Ok Harrisonburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I guess I’m not as sharp as I thought.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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