News

Winter Wine Weekend Returns To Hotel Madison

Sips, Seminars And Scenes AheadWinter Wine Weekend Returns To Hotel MadisonBy KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  2/19/20  Twelve years ago, winemaker Lee Hartman identified as a beer guy who didn’t know a merlot from a malbec. Now, he hopes to share his passion with Virginia and guide drinkers through the world of wine at the second annual Winter Wine Weekend.“I understand why some people aren’t immediately drawn to the world of wine, but after working with it for a number of years, it’s become central to me

Restless Moons Brewing Phases Into 3rd Year

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  2/19/20  Armed with a passion for quality beer and a homebrew kit, Jeff Moon studied as many texts and manuals as he could get his hands on for years with ambitions to open his own brewery. Two years ago, he took the leap and purchased the Wolfe Street Brewing lot to begin his beermaking adventure under the name Restless Moons Brewing.On Feb. 24, 2018, Restless Moons opened its doors and metamorphosed from a far-off dream into a full-fledged operation. This weekend, the

City seeks to fill multiple part-time positions at Feb. 25 job fair

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The City of Harrisonburg and the Department of Parks and Recreation will look to bolster their ranks of part-time staff members with a job fair later this month. The event, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center, will look to hire multiple seasonal part-time positions for Parks and Recreation, as well as a limited number of positions for the Department of Public Works. Applicants will be able to apply on-site and get the chance to speak

Dynamic Aviation Promotes Rod Moyer to Director, Flight Safety

BRIDGEWATER, VIRGINIA: February 12, 2020 – Dynamic Aviation, provider of special-mission aviation solutions, announced the promotion of Rod Moyer to Director, Flight Safety. Rod is responsible for providing leadership to the company’s Safety Programs for all Flight Operations Business Segments. Additionally, he continues to serve leadership in supporting the restoration of the First Air Force One, as well as other legacy aircraft operations, including the company’s 1943 C-47/DC-3. Mr. Moyer holds a

2 Bedroom Waiting List Open- Mosby Heights

The waiting list will be open from February 1, 2020 to March 30, 2020. We will be accepting applications Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. At this time, it is for the two (2) bedroom units ONLY. You will need to come into the office to pick up an application during those times. Each application will be date and time stamped once it is received and checked for completion. The application is then placed on the waiting list by date and time received.

Nonprofits Get $25K Endowments

Anonymous Donor Provides Funding For Four GroupsBy PETE DELEADaily News-Record  2/7/20  An anonymous donor provided The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County with $100,000 to establish endowments for four area nonprofits.The foundation’s executive director, Revlan Hill, said the donor came forward in December to begin the process.“We were thrilled,” Hill said. “It’s very important for organizations to have endowments. It gives them a stream of income to rely on each year.”Through the

Friendly City Food Co-op To Expand

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  2/1/20  Friendly City Food Co-op will expand into an adjacent building, according to a building permit application submitted to Harrisonburg.Steve Cooke, the general manager at the grocery store, said work will begin in March and the market will stay open for the eight- month duration of the project.The expansion will bring the footprint for the business to over 10,000 square feet, according to Cooke. The grocery store will have about 40 to 50% more products and will bring on

Fundrasier BRC Executives Take Plunge For Homeless Shelter

FRIGIDFundrasier BRC Executives Take Plunge For Homeless ShelterBy KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  2/1/20  A little snow did not stop Bridgewater Retirement Community from having an ice spa day for charity.On Thursday afternoon, four women from the senior team braved the snow and took a dip in a dunk tank to raise money for Open Doors as a part of the monthly outreach program Community Connections.Open Doors is a web of faith communities that operate a rotating, seasonal shelter for people who are homeless

McClung Named to 2019 Printing Impressions

We want to share some exciting news!McClung Companies was recently listed in the 2019 Printing Impressions 400, which is a resource that ranks the top 400 printing companies in the United States and Canada. This report provides details about each printing company. Printing Impressions provides authoritative analysis and information on trends and emerging technologies for the graphic arts industry. This is the 36th year that Printing Impressions has provided this report.Click for more information

Officer Promotions at F&M Bank

F&M Bank and its Board of Directors would like to congratulate the following individuals on their Officer promotions effective January 24, 2020.  Bank Officer:Ann Kirtley, Elkton Branch CoordinatorCarrie Grimes, Timberville Branch CoordinatorChristy Trail, Woodstock Branch Coordinator Emily Rhodes, Credit AnalystMary Pavlovskaya, Business Deposit Services OfficerTeri Hasley, Deposit Operations Manager  Assistant Vice President:Ashley Lam, Crossroads and Grottoes Branch ManagerJessica Fletcher, Dealer

Bluestone Vineyard Awarded Two Golds at 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca— For the 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (SFCWC), Bluestone Vineyard earned gold medals for the 2018 Estate Grown Stainless Steel Chardonnay and the 2018 Petit Manseng. The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is the largest competition of American wines. This year there were sixty-five judges, representing various North American wine regions, evaluating nearly 6,700 wines from over 1,000 wineries.  Bluestone Vineyard is very pleased with the results of this year’s

Resort Rec Center Changes Name

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  1/30/20  The Stonewall Terrace Recreation Center at Massanutten Resort has changed its name to Massanutten Family Entertainment Center — a move months in the making.The center is home to a gokart track, two 18-hole minigolf courses, bumpers cars, bungy dome and the famous LOVE sign. The center is part of the resort, which features an indoor and outdoor waterpark, ski and adventure park area, two golf courses and shopping and recreation options.Philip Hadded, activities

After First 15 Years, EMS Elementary Gets Own Space

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  1/29/20  Eastern Mennonite School’s elementary program has been waiting 15 years for a space to call its own. And not just any space. Instead of a space to learn in, school officials who have been planning for this for years wanted to create a “learning space.”On Tuesday, the new elementary school building, which has its own unique history, was dedicated with a ribbon- cutting ceremony attended by former students, teachers, principals, and current employees and families.

Registration Opens For Airport 5K

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  1/29/20  It’s time to get those running shoes as registration for the third annual Run the Runway 5K and Kids Fun Run at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport takes off Tuesday.The event will take place on March 15 and includes a 1K Fun Run for children ages 3-12 and a 5K race on the taxiway and runway.“This event offers participants a unique race opportunity on a real airport runway, making it a perfect fit for runners, walkers and families at all fitness levels,”

Mercy House Receives $100,000 Housing Grant

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  1/25/20  For the fourth year in a row, Mercy House has been awarded the Virginia Housing Trust Fund Homeless Reduction Grant for its efforts to provide food, clothes and shelter to homeless families with dependent children in the area.Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday that 25 affordable housing and homeless reduction projects across Virginia would receive nearly $12 million in funding to increase access to affordable housing, reduce homelessness and provide

East Market Street Reopens Following Prolonged Project

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  1/23/20  Out with the old and in with the new — East Market Street’s infrastructure project is finished, and the road is open to traffic once again.Originally planned as a quick summer construction project, digging into the downtown street revealed a century-old can of worms that extended the construction from May to January.City officials elebrated the reopening of the road, between Mason Street and Court Square, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.Tom Hartman,

School, City Officials Break Ground On New High School

SHOVEL READYSchool, City Officials Break Ground On New High SchoolBy MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  1/22/20  It was a moment years in the making and one that marked the next phase of the construction of a second high school in Harrisonburg — the actual construction phase.Discussion, support for and against, votes and talk of costs culminated in a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday at the site of what will be the second high school, and was attended by school and city officials, and about 75 people who

EMU Hires Alumni As Vice President

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  1/22/20  Jason Good has always wanted to return and work at his alma mater, Eastern Mennonite University. He was able to work there for 10 years after attending the university as an undergraduate student before working for a few years at James Madison University.But he always had his eye on coming back to EMU.“EMU has always been an important part of my life,” Good said. “I’ve had an eye on a position like this, and when it opened up I was very eager to come back.”Good

Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley, Inc. Announces January Support Group for SWAG – Harrisonburg and Rockingham County

Harrisonburg, VA – January 21th, 2020  Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley will hold their monthly support group meeting on Thursday, January 23 from 1:00-3:00pm at JMU Campbell Building located at 755 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. The group will be working with an art therapist from Shenandoah Art Therapy to create their own vision boards. They will also enjoy sandwiches and smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Café.  For more details about Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley, Inc.,

Sadie Rose Names New Director

By PETE DELEADaily News-Record  1/21/20  The Sadie Rose Foundation, which was formed about a decade ago to help grieving families suffering from the loss of a child, named Mount Crawford resident Vonda Driver as its new executive director this month.Driver took over the organization Jan. 1 as it transitions from just helping those suffering from child loss to people grieving the death of other loved ones and friends as well.She has been a longtime volunteer for the Dayton- based organization and served

Sports Complex Holds Grand Opening

GAME ONSports Complex Holds Grand OpeningBy LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  1/20/20  Former NBA player Ralph Sampson was just as excited as the hundreds of children and their families to be at the Horizons Edge Sports Campus grand opening Saturday.“I saw this start from nothing and turn to something, and it’s been fun to watch this building grow and now see all these families here and excited to have this available to their kids,” Sampson said of the 90,000-square-foot building.Horizons Edge, located at

Road Almost Not Taken

Road Almost Not TakenCaptain-Turned-Poet Writes Biography For Famed WordsmithBy KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  1/14/20  McGaheysville poet J. Scott Price dedicated his youth to pursuing a lifetime of military service, saw that dream go down the drain from a back injury and turned to writing after his discharge.Today, he is finishing a manuscript of his poetry and collecting information as the official biographer of Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winning poet William Meredith.Had you asked Price

Valley Airport Soars To Record Year

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  1/14/20  Since partnering with SkyWest in spring 2018, the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport has seen an increase in passenger traffic, but nothing compared to record-breaking year the airport had in 2019.Total passenger traffic increased by 44% in 2019, according to Heather Ream, director of marketing and communications for the Weyers Cave airport.“We broke all-time monthly passenger records three different times,” Ream said in an email.The previous passenger traffic

Christmas Village A ‘Huge Success’

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  1/14/20  The Timberville Christmas Village may have had only two years under its belt, but it’s been calling a big crowd as attendance nearly doubled since opening.Shea Alexander, a Timberville resident and master planner for the event, told Town Council members during their Thursday meeting that attendance reached close to 10,000 compared to the village’s first year, when the number was between 5,000 and 6,000.“The Christmas Village was a huge success in our eyes,”

Merck Donates $52,000 To VPAS

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  1/14/20  In August, the Valley Program for Aging Services received a $52,844 grant from the Merck Foundation for health services in eastern Rockingham County, according to Beth Bland, the director of senior services.The services will be centered in Elkton, McGaheysville, Port Republic and Grottoes and will be called “Aging Well for Life.”Over the past five months, VPAS has been creating the programs to bring to those residents, according to Bland. Now comes the

OASIS PRESS RELEASE (for February 2020 Events)

EXHIBITS:    Main Gallery:  In February, the Main Gallery will have a new show by OASIS artists called “Love”.  There will be a First Friday reception on February 7, from 5-8 pm; this is a free event, with light refreshments and live music by The Coolheads.  The show will be on exhibit through 29 February 2020  Water Street Window Gallery:   During the month of February, the Water Street Window Gallery will have a display of Molly Whitmore’s work, with the theme of “framed botanicals” where the type of

Brotherhood Grows Another Year Older

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  1/10/20  Seven years ago, a childhood dream of three brothers from Rockingham County came to fruition as they opened Harrisonburg’s first locally operated brewery.On Saturday, Brothers Craft Brewing is celebrating its anniversary from noon to 11 p.m. with new releases on tap, music and an open house.Originally Three Brothers Brewing, the business was founded by siblings Adam, Jason and Tyler Shifflett. Production began in December 2012, and the first Brothers’ keg was

VA-Artists in the Marketplace Invites Applications for 2-Day Residency

VA-Artists in the Marketplace Invites  Applications for 2-Day Residency    HARRISONBURG, VA – Virginia Artists in the Marketplace (VA-AIM), a program for Shenandoah Valley artists, is now seeking applications for a one-weekend residency in May 2020. Applications are due April 3, 2020. Details and application materials are available at  valleyarts.org/vaaim-2020     VA-AIM is the first residency of its kind in the Shenandoah Valley. The 2020 program represents a collaboration among ​Arts Council of the

GARCC Amalfi Coast Travel - Deposit due in April

Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley announces their new Executive Director

Harrisonburg, VA - January 8, 2020 – Approximately 5,000 people in the Central Shenandoah Valley Community are affected by brain injury. In 2019 Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley (BICSV) met its mission goals to help provide options for your neighbors to return to work, school, and live productive and meaningful lives.   Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley (BICSV) gladly welcomes Cindy Noftsinger as the new Executive Director. Ms. Noftsinger graduated from James Madison

First (And Last) Night

Downtown New Year’s Celebration Comes To An EndBy KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  1/2/20As the world turned the page on another year, residents collected in downtown to share the memory of the final First Night Harrisonburg.Since he was 3 years old, Alden Holt has attended First Night and looked forward to the promise of fun with family and friends before the disco ball drop. With splotchy, rosy cheeks and puffy a coat, Alden, now 8, rolled in the cold grass and chased his friends in front of Turner

Harrisonburg Starts Entrepreneurship Program

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  12/24/19  As the new year approaches, Harrisonburg city staff are beginning a new program to help residents start or expand entrepreneurship.The city’s Economic Development Department has partnered with Co.Starters and will hold a nine-week course, called Launch Harrisonburg, to help people develop and fine-tune ideas to build successful businesses, according to a press release.“The ultimate goal of this program is to get businesses launched, ideally in Harrisonburg,”

POSITIVELY PABLO: As Cuevas Steps Down, A Resounding ‘Thank You’ From Community

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  12/27/19  Pablo Cuevas sat in the Daily News-Record newsroom for three hours telling stories that would end and begin in between tangents of conversation.He didn’t start with his days leading up to leaving Cuba in 1958, but how a man from Cuba was invited to the White House to meet President Richard Nixon when some people born in the United States had never even been to Washington, D.C.“I must have brought him bad luck,” Cuevas said while laughing, as his trip to the

‘Cafeteria On Wheels’

School Divisions Aim To Keep Students Fed During Winter BreakBy MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  12/19/19  For two weeks, students will be out of school for winter break and Harrisonburg City Public Schools wants to do what it can to make sure they get meals during that time.According to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, in its coverage area 131,880 households were food insecure in 2018. And one in eight children struggle with hunger.One place students are guaranteed at least two hot meals a day is school. No

Trumbo Appointed To Supervisor Seat

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  12/19/19  Former Planning Commissioner Brent Trumbo has been appointed to serve District 1 on the Board of Supervisors, filling the vacancy when Pablo Cuevas retires on Dec. 31.Trumbo will serve until the winner of a special election on Nov. 3, 2020, can be qualified and take office, according to County Administrator Stephen King. The special election will be to fill the term that ends Dec. 31, 2021.“I appreciate the confidence and I will do my best,” Trumbo told the

MTC Introduces ‘Future Friday’

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  12/20/19  The Massanutten Technical Center executive board met Monday to receive an update on new things going on at the regional program, including a new career- centric initiative.The executive board for Massanutten Technical Center consists of the school boards for Rockingham County Public Schools and Harrisonburg City Public Schools, and both superintendents.MTC Director Kevin Hutton talked to the executive board about a new initiative called “Future Fridays.” This

Brown Edwards merges with Richmond VA firm Gregg & Bailey

Brown Edwards is pleased to announce the merger with Richmond based Gregg & Bailey, P.C. (G & B) effective January 1, 2020.  The G & B partners Brad Bailey and Beth Llewellyn and their employees will become part of the Brown Edwards team and a significant number of G & B’s clients are expected to also transition.   Brown Edwards currently has a substantial client base in the Richmond area and the new office will allow for a convenient location to serve them.  With these changes, G & B clients can be

The Big News: Outdoor WaterPark Expansion Coming Summer 2020

WATERPARK HOURS & RATESWe are thrilled to announce that we’re going to be making a BIG SPLASH in summer 2020 with four new outdoor attractions and additional outdoor enhancements at the Massanutten Indoor/Outdoor WaterPark, including an enhanced kiddie area, gathering & observation area, bathhouse, and outdoor bar.Classic Twists and Turns; Green, Blue & White Inner Tube Slide Sensational twists, turns, and drops create an exciting ride for everyone. Tightly-Coiled Yellow & Orange Inner Tube

Accessible, Charitable Shopping Therapy For All Ages

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record     12/17/19  BRIDGEWATER — Tucked underneath the assisted living residents’ space at Bridgewater Retirement Community are trash-to-treasure items whose second chances at life serve more than to beautify a home.The ReRun Shoppe is an entirely volunteer- based business composed of three retail spaces. Between the book room, clothing shop and bargain space, multitudes of discount goodies are sold, often in like-new conditions for as low as 50 cents a piece.Laura Powell,

Residents Hear About Plans For Interchange

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  12/13/19  Bob Hess, of Massanutten, uses the 247 interchange to get on Interstate 81 north and south to play golf every Thursday, but described the roadway as a “bear.”“It’s a pretty hazardous area,” he said.Hess was one of several dozen residents who attended a design public hearing for the upcoming VDOT undertaking to improve the interchange and replace the four bridges betweenMartin Luther King Jr. Way and Burgess Road.Approval of the nearly $60 million project plans is

Arc Celebrates Arrival Of Vans With Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  12/13/19  Lena Faye Stewart, 65, of Staunton loves going to dollar stores to buy make-up, but she can’t drive herself.Instead, she rides the Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham vans when she comes to the center located at the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center in Harrisonburg.“When they say where do you want to go, I say Dollar General,” she said with a laugh.And on Thursday, the local Arc celebrated the arrival of its newest vehicles with a ribbon cutting for the pair

Council Approves $104.8M New High School

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  12/11/19  City Council voted Tuesday to build a second high school all at once to open in August 2022, with a guaranteed maximum construction price of $87.2 million.The decision, which followed about an hourlong public hearing, is expected to come with a $104.8 million bond.Mayor Deanna Reed and Councilmen Sal Romero and Chris Jones were in favor, while Councilmen George Hirschmann and Richard Baugh voted against it.The public hearing before the vote drew 35 speakers.

JMU Partners With Valley Airport

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  12/11/19  Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport is sporting purple and gold after James Madison University President Jonathan Alger announced a new partnership with the Weyers Cave airport.As of Thursday, SVRA is the official airport of JMU, with Alger telling faculty and staff that the partnership is “a great example of how institutions of higher education can have exponential impact on community growth as JMU strives to become the national model of the engaged

HEC First Municipal Utility To Pass 1% Solar Net Metering

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record 12/12/19  On Wednesday, the Harrisonburg Electric Commission connected the home solar-energy system of Mike Tedross and Marianne Saeed to the city grid, making HEC the first municipally-owned utility in the state to have an installed capacity of solar reach 1% of annual peak load.“I think it just shows that commitment to the environment and renewables that we have here in the Valley and particularly within our city limits,” said Brian O’Dell, general manager of HEC.Tedross

Timeless Connections Through Literature

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  12/12/19  Stemming from an affinity for literature, students from Eastern Mennonite University are forming relationships with residents in assisted living at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. But since establishing a connection through storytelling, that bond has since evolved into friendships that defy ideological differences.“The pattern is initial discomfort and then growing warmth, strong sense of connection and then a little bit of recognition of difference

Bank of the James Welcomes Nancy C. Smith to Harrisonburg Office

Harrisonburg, Virginia, December 10, 2019… Nancy C. Smith has joined Bank of the James in Harrisonburg as an Assistant Vice President and Business Banker.   In this new banking role, Mrs. Smith will be working with small business and commercial customers throughout the Valley.  Prior to becoming associated with Bank of the James, Mrs. Smith was with Wells Fargo for 22 years.  She is a graduate of Buffalo Gap High School in Swope, Virginia and graduated from Valley Vocational Technical Center in

Sponsor a Responder: The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Kicks Off December 30

The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Kicks Off December 30 Annual college bowl game honors the everyday heroes in hometowns across the country Harrisonburg, VA (Grassroots Newswire) December 10, 2019 -- SERVPRO is proud to present the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, scheduled to kick-off on December 30, 2019, at 12:30 ET at the Gerald J. Ford Stadium, located on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in University Park, Texas. This is the second annual SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, and it honors the

Consultants Present Purcell Park Plan

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  12/10/19  After gathering information through surveys on potential changes to Purcell Park, LSG Landscape Architecture and Greenplay presented its findings to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on Monday.Among the many suggestions the community has given to improve the park, high priority items were picnic tables, year round restrooms, additional trail connectivity, upgrading the playground and addressing flooding issues.“People don’t hate the park. They love

BROWN EDWARDS MAKES FORBES LIST OF AMERICA’S TOP TAX FIRMS

Brown Edwards is included on the Forbes Magazine list of America’s Best Tax Firms for 2020.  Forbes collaborated with a market research company, Statista, to create this list of 227 firms nationwide.   Brown Edwards is one of five recommended firms in Virginia.  Brown Edwards is a full-service regional accounting firm with offices in three states and recognized as one of the top 100 firms in the nation.  In addition to the traditional auditing, accounting, and taxation services, the firm provides industry

Harrisonburg’s Holiday Parade Opens The Season In Style

JOYFUL CITYHarrisonburg’s Holiday Parade Opens The Season In StyleBy LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  12/7/19  Family, togetherness, tradition — that’s what Harrisonburg’s annual Holiday Parade is all about.As the temperature dropped and the sun went down, families and friends hunkered down on the sidewalks from the Rockingham County Office Building clear to City Hall to watch the parade.Megan Summers, Greg Will, Carter Summers and Adrien Cline all snuggled together as they watched the floats and bands

DN-R Recognized For Agriculture Reporting

DNR 12/4/19  NORFOLK — Staff members at the Daily News- Record were honored Tuesday for their work in covering agricultural issues in Rockingham County.At the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting in Norfolk, the DN-R received the Virginia Farm Bureau 2019 journalism award for a daily newspaper and the Ishee-Quann Award for Media Excellence, which honors the “best of the best” among each year’s participants.The Ishee-Quann Award is named after Jeff Ishee, co-host of Virginia Farming, and the

Small Business Saturday Lures Shoppers To Local Retailers

OUTSIDE THE (BIG) BOXSmall Business Saturday Lures Shoppers To Local RetailersBy PETE DELEADaily News-Record  12/2/19  Each Small Business Saturday, Linda Combs heads to downtown Harrisonburg with her visiting daughter, Emily Ryan.Together, the duo hit many of the small shops, including one of their favorites, Lady Jane, a home decor and gift shop located on South Main Street.They also enjoy browsing Agora Downtown Market, a collection of small businesses under one roof.“This is a tradition for us,” said

Our Community Place, Volunteers Provide Thanksgiving Meal

Hot Food, Warm SmilesOur Community Place, Volunteers Provide Thanksgiving MealDaily News-Record  11/29/19  When Dave Bodson came to Harrisonburg in 2011, the fi rst place he went was Our Community Place.He stayed because of the family.“They help you out when you need it,” he said.For the last nine years, Bodson has been spending his Thanksgiving at the OCP’s annual Thanksgiving meal put together by volunteers and community members for locals who have nowhere else to go for the holiday.An open room filled

One Lit Way To Celebrate Christmas

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  11/30/19  TIMBERVILLE — It may not be the Star of Bethlehem, but one Christmas star is illuminating the way for people to the Shenandoah Valley this holiday season.Timberville Christmas Village held its second annual tree lighting Friday with the magic of Santa and help from children who counted down for the ceremony.Lined by renovated horse stables housing artisan vendors with a brilliant centerpiece tree and wafting aromas from cinnamon-roasted nuts and savory Ethopian

EMU Students Launch Weather Balloon

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  11/26/19  When Eastern Mennonite University students were planning the launch of the weather balloon they’ve been working on all semester, they hoped the weather would cooperate.While Monday was a sunny, mild day, the wind kicked up a bit, which wasn’t ideal for the balloon’s launch, said Douglas Nester, a student in the Engineering Design III class at EMU.The balloon was designed to rise 125,000 feet before popping due to the atmospheric pressure, and then float down

Local SPCA To Host Adoption Special

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  11/26/19  With the holiday season right around the corner, the Rockingham- Harrisonburg SPCA is cutting adoption fees by 50% starting today.The Thanksgiving-themed adoption special will run until Saturday.Tiffany Corbin, marketing and fundraising manager for the R- H SPCA, said 25 cats and 15 dogs will be eligible for the reduced adoption fee this week, with photos of each animal available on the R-H SPCA’s website. “We usually do a Christmas- theme adoption special,

Cold Weather Allows Massanutten Resort To Open Slopes Earlier Than Ever

WINTER WON’T WAITCold Weather Allows Massanutten Resort To Open Slopes Earlier Than EverBy IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  11/22/19  At a white mountain to the east of Harrisonburg, it’s time to hit the slopes.And this weekend, earlier than ever before, Massanutten Resort will oblige skiers and snowboarders.“It’s the earliest we’ve ever opened for skiing,” said Kenny Hess, director of sports and risk management for the McGaheysville resort.Today, select slopes will open to Massanutten season pass holders and

Massanutten Resort Feeds Families For The Holidays

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  11/22/19  Beyond sharing in gluttonous face-stuffing over the table, Thanksgiving is a time to sit and reflect on blessings and good fortunes.For many families, the traditional notions of a Thanksgiving feast are out of reach. Either they are away from home and loved ones or financially struggling to pack a table with enough food to feed all the mouths gathered around it. Whatever the case, Massanutten Resort is working to provide families with food for the holidays.On

Dance, Dance, Dance • Fundraiser Benefits Child Care Center

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  11/18/19  They waltzed, trotted and cha-cha’d all night long.Dancing with the Stars of the ‘Burg took place Sunday for the 10th year to raise funds for the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Child Day Care Center. Held at the James Madison University Festival Conference and Student Center, the event featured seven teams comprised of prominent members of the local community paired with experienced dancers from the Shenandoah Valley Chapter of USA Dance.Over the years, each show has

County School Board To Discuss Redistricting

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  11/8/19  During a series of meetings, the Rockingham County School Board will share information on a number of potential changes, including redistricting.For the past two and a half years, members of the school community have been involved in a process and conversation about creating an educational system in Rockingham County Public Schools that is designed to prepare children for the future.On Monday at 7 p.m. at the Elkton Area Community Center, Superintendent Oskar

InDemand Series: Looking Forward

WHSV is wrapping up our year-long look at in-demand jobs in the valley. We’ve featured 24 different career paths with jobs that feature high pay but do not require a four-year college degree. Debby Hopkins with the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development board says people are often surprised with the options out there when starting to look for a career. “They can look at what a cook can get or look at a pilot or take a look at an opportunity that they never really considered before,” Hopkins said. “Many

Weichert Affiliated Office in Your Area Welcomes New Team Member

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lernard Freeman Franchise Communications Specialist Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. 225 Littleton Rd., Morris Plains, NJ 07950 Office: 973.401.5578LFreeman@weichertrealtors.net Gordon Cowan Joins Weichert, Realtors(r) - Nancy Beahm Real Estate Harrisonburg, VA (Grassroots Newswire) November 5, 2019 -- Weichert, Realtors(r) - Nancy Beahm Real Estate is proud to announce Gordon Cowan has joined their Harrisonburg office. Cowan joins a dedicated team of

Virginia Economic Review: Cheido John

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EMU Ranks In Top 10 For Online Program

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  11/2/19  Eastern Mennonite University was recently ranked by SR Education Group for having one of the best online bachelor’s degree programs in the state.SR Education Group recently published its 2020 Best Online Colleges By State rankings, which are based on a combination of manually researched tuition, accreditation, and PayScale salary data.EMU ranked eighth in the state of Virginia.There are a number of online programs offered at EMU, but it’s the nursing programs

Hundreds Walk To End Alzheimer’s At JMU

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  11/4/19  Celena Johnson watches people every day lose their memory and become less of themselves.Johnson works in the memory care unit at White Birch Communities, an assisted living facility in Rockingham County.“I see so many residents who have Alzheimer’s, and it’s just heartbreaking to see them lose a piece of who they were,” she said. “And there’s no cure to this awful thing.”Johnson attended the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday with other

New HEF Executive Director Named

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record 11/5/19  A new executive director of the Harrisonburg Education Foundation will be officially named following a vote during the Harrisonburg School Board meeting today.Cody Oliver will take the helm of the organization.Former Executive Director Zanetta Ford-Byrd resigned to pursue and expand her consulting practice, said Deb Fitzgerald, School Board chairwoman.“This is an opportunity she wanted to take advantage of,” Fitzgerald said, adding that Ford-Byrd has been the

Board OKs $87.24M Max High School Cost

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record 11/6/19  The Harrisonburg School Board voted in favor of an $87.24 million guaranteed maximum price of a new high school at Tuesday’s meeting.Following a presentation and breakdown of the cost by local contractor Nielsen Builders Inc., the board unanimously approved the price for the school to open in 2022.“ It feels like a safe price just thinking about our community and some of the numbers that were put out into the public. To have it come under $90 million — I mean,

PrePOPsterous® Wins Made in Virginia Award

NEWS RELEASE Contact: Tisha McCoy-Ntiamoah, Owner PrePOPsterous Gourmet Popcorn & Sodas 540.227.4801 info@prepopsterous.com www.PrePOPsterous.com PrePOPsterous® Wins Made in Virginia Award PrePOPsterous® Gourmet Popcorn & Sodas scored a top spot in Virginia Living magazine’s prestigious 8th Annual Made in Virginia Awards. PrePOPsterous® Gourmet Popcorn & Sodas is Virginia’s destination for fresh-made gourmet popcorn and soda pop. The company is an online retailer that ships all over the U.S. and

BARRELS OF BERRIES: CrossKeys Vineyards Expands Its Production Facilty

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  10/30/19  MOUNT CRAWFORD — As Saam Bakhtiar stood among barrels of wine in the new $1 million production facility of CrossKeys Vineyards, he was dwarfed by the high ceilings.That’s the point.“The goal is to have this whole place filled up with barrels,” said Bakhtiar, the director of operations at CrossKeys Vineyards.The barrel room is only a part of the new 8,500 square foot building which also houses nearly two dozen stainless steel fermenting tanks, with eight for white

New Paramedic Program To Host Mock Injury Event

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  10/30/19  A new paramedic program at Blue Ridge Community College is showing off its skills with an event today that simulates an emergency situation.The paramedic class is having a “moulage” contest to see who can create a mock injury or illness that they may encounter as an emergency medical technician or paramedic.Moulage is the art of applying mock injuries for the purpose of training emergency response teams and other medical and military personnel.These fake

Sipe Center Ready For Action

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  10/26/19  BRIDGEWATER — The candy is stocked, seats are set for use and the popcorn machine is ready to pop for the Sipe Center’s grand opening Nov. 1.In a week, guests will be greeted by a custom-made clapperboard featuring the multipurpose theater’s logo. With treats in hand, attendees will enter the Holton Theater to watch The Hunts — an indie-alternative- folk rock band from Chesapeake.“People can expect a full house with a performance that would appeal to a wide

RCPS Hosts Community Forum To Discuss Innovation

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  10/26/19  BRIDGEWATER — About 150 people attended a community forum at Turner Ashby High School on Friday, hosted by Rockingham County Public Schools, to discuss innovation and community relationships.The goal of the forum was to share the new things going on in the school division and to deepen the connections and collaborations between community members.Superintendent Oskar Scheikl opened the forum with a presentation on the values of the school division and how they

CHAPTERS OF FUN : Book-Or-Treat Offers Safe Environment For Children

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  10/28/19  MOUNT CRAWFORD — Halloween costumes, free books and Alfredo the pig?They were all at the Green Valley Book Fair.Hundreds of families braved the rain Saturday morning to attend the fourth annual Book-or-Treat, one of several events the fair hosts every year.While children dressed as their favorite superheroes and Disney princesses, parents enjoyed the treat of a fun and safe environment.“It is safe, trustworthy and you know who puts it on,” said Jennifer Eakle,

InDemand Series: Customer Service Representative

WHSV – If you like helping people solve problems, a career as a Customer Service Representative could be for you. “Nobody ever calls customer service and says, ‘hey, everything is going great, I don’t have anything to talk about,'” said Brian Killingsworth, a customer service representative with Classic Distribution. “They call you when something goes wrong.” That’s why there’s a need for people to fill customer service jobs in just about every field. “I don’t think it’s specific to any industry, any

Skeleton Fest Draws 3,500-Plus

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  10/21/19  HARRISONBURG — Rithika Ganesha Babu, 2, of Harrisonburg celebrated her second Halloween event at the fourth annual Skeleton Festival in downtown Harrisonburg on Saturday.Rithika and her parents were just one family that made up the estimated 3,500plus guests at the event that spanned across downtown in the Friendly City.“Last time, she was just 5 months old, so she couldn’t do anything,” said Radhika Nandakumar, Rithika’s mother. “So this time she’ll be seeing all

Rockingham County Staff To Be Recognized For Service

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  10/22/19  HARRISONBURG — Diane Lepkowski has been working for Rockingham County for the last 35 years, and she will be honored along with 60 other county employees this week.“It has been a really rewarding career,” Lepkowski said.The Board of Supervisors will recognize employees for their terms of service during its meeting Wednesday.When Lepkowski began working for the county in 1984, she started in the animal control department. She was there for 14 years before

City Schools Hosts Summit

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  10/22/19  HARRISONBURG — After three eight- hour days of discussion, Harrisonburg City Public Schools will soon have a draft of the plan that will guide the school division for the next five years.About 30 community leaders and school staff members met Wednesday through Friday last week to discuss goals, mission statements, beliefs, strengths and weaknesses of the school division and more, said Michael Richards, superintendent of schools.The summit was loosely formatted

A Reminder To ‘Bee Kind’

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  10/23/19  LINVILLE — For the last three years, students at Linville- Edom Elementary School have spent the month of October participating in inclusion activities to promote diversity.Each year Principal Amy Painter tries to add something to make the event a little different than the year before. Thanks to a collaborative effort with students from Broadway High School and James Madison University, and a grant from the Spotswood Garden Club, that came in the form of new

More Airport Traffic Could Mean More Employees

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  10/17/19  WEYERS CAVE — Since partnering with SkyWest Airlines, Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport continues to increase in passenger traffic, with Executive Director Greg Campbell telling airport commission members Wednesday that the airport could see more employees.Campbell said flight tracking has been “very well,” with the airport expected to be ahead of revenue for the year.With the addition of new flights to be offered seven days a week in December, Campbell said

Arc To Host Candidate Forum

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  10/12/19  HARRISONBURG — Arc of Augusta and Arc of Harrisonburg will be hosting a candidate forum Monday, featuring candidates from six districts running for a seat in the General Assembly.Those is attendance will be Republican John Avoli and Democrat Jennifer Lewis, House of Delegates 20th District; Republican Ronnie Campbell and Democrat Christian Worth, House of Delegates 24th District; Republican Chris Runion and Democrat Jennifer Kitchen, House of Delegates 25th

Mountain Fun Funds First Responders

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  10/12/19  MASSANUTTEN — If you find yourself in Massanutten today and notice the lush sounds of nature have been replaced with the rattling strum of blues and rock, do not be alarmed. It is fall festival season, and Massanutten Resort is hosting its annual autumn party all Saturday long.For 21 years, the resort has celebrated fall with a day of food, crafts and activities. Set along the mountainous ridges of McGaheysville, visitors can perch from a bird’s view with $5

Bikers Ride For Our Community Place

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  10/14/19  HARRISONBURG — A line of about 30 motorcycles stood waiting in the parking lot of Our Community Place on Saturday morning.Bikers put on their helmets, walked to their rides, and at 11 a.m. they kicked their bikes into gear and one after the other, filed out of the parking lot for an hourlong charity ride.“Are you riding too?” one woman asked Sam Nickels, the director of Our Community Place.Nickels answered by putting his helmet on and walking to his motorcycle,

BRCC Official Highlights Successes, Challenges

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  10/11/19  HARRISONBURG — Oftentimes the best way to learn about an organization or institution of higher learning is to hear it straight from the people directly involved.At an annual community breakfast on Thursday morning, business owners, politicians and other stakeholders heard from a number of former Blue Ridge Community College students via a series of 30-second commercials created to inform thepublic about what BRCC has to offer.They included a woman who enrolled

MTC Unveils Cybersecurity Lab, Classroom

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  10/11/19  HARRISONBURG — There was only one reaction as dozens of officials and community members walked into Massanutten Technical Center’s new state-of-the-art cybersecurity classroom and lab on Thursday afternoon: “Wow.”It was an understandable reaction. Upon walking in, to the left it looks like any other classroom, but to the right it’s like the control room of a high-tech security firm.With long tables lined with sleek computers and two large display screens,

City’s Skyline Literacy Receives $250K Grant

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  10/9/19  HARRISONBURG — A year ago, Skyline Literacy was on the verge of closing due to funding sources drying up. Today, the organization is still open and just received a $250,000 grant to ensure that 250 local residents achieve citizenship.Skyline Literacy was awarded a Citizenship and Assimilation Grant from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Of the over 60 organizations nationwide that applied for the grant, Skyline was one of only 29 organizations out of

Local Beer Nationally Recognized

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  10/9/19  HARRISONBURG — Nearly a decade ago, Ben Trumbo was only a beginner brewer tinkering around with a recipe for a semisweet Irish red ale in St. Louis.On Saturday, Trumbo and the other brewers of Harrisonburg’s Pale Fire Brewing received the bronze medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival competition in Colorado for their Red Molly Irish ale.“Having your work recognized on this level — it’s incredible,” Trumbo said.The award is part of the largest beer competition

Officials Talk I-81 Projects, Funding

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  10/5/19  HARRISONBURG — With Interstate 81 improvements already underway, the Virginia Department of Transportation lead for the I-81 work, Dave Covington, joined Del. Tony Wilt, R-Broadway, a member of the Interstate 81 committee, for a Daily News- Record podcast Friday to discuss funding and what to expect on the roadway in coming months.  ProjectsSome examples of improvements include enhancement to safety service patrols, along with flashing chevron signs in Botetourt,

$5M Stadium Included In New High School Plan

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  10/2/19  HARRISONBURG — After a back and forth discussion Tuesday, the Harrisonburg City School Board approved the final design proposal for a second Harrisonburg high school, which will include a sports stadium but not a canopy-covered walkway.Board member Andy Kohen made a motion to amend the design to cut the stadium, which was supported by Nick Swayne and Kaylene Seigle.Chairwoman Deb Fitzgerald and board members Kristen Loflin and Obie Hill were opposed to

American Manufacturing ‘Doing Very Well’

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  10/2/19  HARRISONBURG — As students young and old visit factories in the Valley to learn about work opportunities, an industry group released a report on Tuesday showing the nation’s manufacturing activity contracted in September.The Institute for Supply Management’s “snapshot” showed the worst reading in a decade, according to The Associated Press. But the report is not indicative of the industry as a whole, said Tom Nelli, vice president of manufacturing at the Cadence

City Fire Chief Named ECC Acting Director

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  10/3/19  HARRISONBURG — Harrisonburg Fire Chief Ian Bennett was named acting director of the Harrisonburg- Rockingham Emergency Communications Center after former Director Jim Junkins was transferred to a new position, according to city staff.Junkins will focus on serving the technology department, working with radio and computer systems, according to Rockingham County Administrator Stephen King.The HRECC is a multijurisdictional agency that is funded equally by

HHS Students Creating Videos For NASA Project

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  10/4/19  HARRISONBURG — When you get a request from NASA, you don’t say no. Students at Harrisonburg High School have been asked to participate in a project with the space agency to help address common science misconceptions.Andy Jackson, co-director of the Governor’s STEM Academy at Harrisonburg High School, received an email solicitation asking that his engineering students be given a task to create videos for students in grades fourth through eighth to explain the

Building Relationships, Homes And Community Over Crab Legs

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  10/4/19  HARRISONBURG — The crabs are boiling and wine bottles frothing in preparation for the Harrisonburg Seafood Festival tonight at Bluestone Vineyard.For the second year in a row, the Shenandoah Valley Builders Association hosts an evening of fine dining and live music to raise funds for the Central Valley Habitat for Humanity.Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that works with displaced families to secure safer and more stable housing opportunities.

‘A Fuller Life’ For Veterans

Equine Therapy Nonprofit Hosts Family DayBy PETE DELEADaily News-Record  9/30/19  TIMBERVILLE — For decades, Spence White kept his anger, anxiety and stress deep inside his mind.The 69-year-old Vietnam veteran didn’t talk about the fighting or foreign lands or the way he and other soldiers were treated when they returned from combat.“I was a bundle of knots,” said the Marine, who served from 1968 to 1975. Those knots started to loosen about four years ago, when he met Trish Lynch. She introduced him to

Board To Vote On New HHS2 Design

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  10/1/19  HARRISONBURG — Tonight the Harrisonburg City School Board is expected to accept the final design proposal of a second Harrisonburg high school.School Board Chairwoman Deb Fitzgerald said in a previous interview that there will most likely be amendments that will be proposed and accepted with the final design proposal.“There will be some prelim unfinalized costing numbers on these possible deletions and additions,” Fitzgerald said, adding that the cost numbers

Service Demand Sky High

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  10/1/19  WEYERS CAVE — Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport will be adding a new flight to Dulles International Airport and changing the departure time of the flight to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport starting on Dec. 4, according to Heather Ream, communications director of the Weyers Cave airport.Since partnering with SkyWest in April 2018, the airport has seen notable increases in passenger traffic, such as a 67% increase in passengers year-to-date compared to 2018.The

School Board Weighs HHS2 Options

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  9/21/19  HARRISONBURG — As the architects and designers get closer to a plan for the new high school, commonly referred to as HHS2, the school board is weighing options on how to save money should it come to that.At a meeting this week, the board heard from the architectural firm designing the new high school with help from input from the community, stakeholders and students.“We’re developing a menu of sorts,” said Deb Fitzgerald, school board chairwoman. You could also

Council May Purchase More Land For HHS2

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  9/23/19  HARRISONBURG — At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, officials will consider renaming a portion of Hillcrest Drive and a supplemental appropriation of $153,000 to purchase additional land for the new high school.Council will consider approving a supplemental appropriation of $153,000 to buy additional land because city staff has determined that it is needed in regard to offsite street improvements.If approved, the money will be moved from the city’s General Fund

Sacco Named DN-R Editor

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  9/23/19  HARRISONBURG — Jim Sacco has held the sports editor reins since April 2016 and, starting this week, will be taking on a new position — managing editor of the Daily News-Record.For the last 22 years, Sacco has been fully immersed in the journalism world. He started as a city hall reporter at the Manassas Journal Messenger in 1997 and later moved on to the sports department in 1998.He served as the sports editor for the Northern Virginia Daily for one year, the

Sportsplex Slated For January Completion

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  9/24/19  HARRISONBURG — Horizons Edge, the forthcoming $12 million sportsplex located between U. S. 11 and Interstate 81 just south of Exit 251, is now slated for completion in January, according to Jeff Flammang, the general manager.The site includes six cabins, a dormitory, a soccer field, a lodge and a “field house,” which will house a variety of sports facilities, according to previous Daily News-Record reports.Construction began on the site in January and work on the

City Buys More Land For 2nd High School

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  9/26/19  HARRISONBURG — City Council unanimously approved purchasing additional land for a second Harrisonburg high school at Tuesday’s meeting, which is in the works to open for the 2022 academic year.Voting in favor were Mayor Deanna Reed and Councilmen Sal Romero, Chris Jones and Richard Baugh. George Hirschmann was not present.The cost of the 0.75 acres, which is located east of South Main Street abutting Boxwood Court, will cost $150,000, with around $3,000 in

United Way Hosts Charitable Work Day

Gift That Keeps On GivingUnited Way Hosts Charitable Work DayBy JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  9/26/19  HARRISONBURG — For the last four years, the United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County’s Day of Caring has been completing projects the Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham couldn’t.The Arc, located at the Lucy Simms Center, is a place where those with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the opportunity to learn new skills and socialize. With day- support programs located at the Arc,

Hard Work Pays Off

Fair Producers, Buyers Recognized At DinnerBy IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  9/19/19  HARRISONBURG — Fried chicken, mac n’ cheese and iced tea made up only a small fraction of the different dishes Rockingham County 4- H and FFA members families piled high on the tables at the annual county fair buyers appreciation dinner on the fairground Wednesday evening.“This is one last thank you to all buyers,” said Sam Leech, 4-H extension agent for Rockingham County.About 860 participants, their family members and

Timeless Toys Opens Second Location

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  9/19/19  HARRISONBURG — In 2011, customers of Sheila Helmuth’s Harrisonburg business, Kitchen Kupboard, at the Shenandoah Heritage Market at 121 Carpenters Lane constantly spoke about the need for a toy shop.Later that year, Josh Helmuth, Sheila’s son, and co-owner Wes Dunlap opened Timeless Toys at Shenandoah Heritage Market.After already expanding once within the market, Timeless Toys opened a new location in the Agora Downtown Market, in Harrisonburg, last month.“We’re

InterChange Celebrates New Facility’s Completion

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  9/20/19  MOUNT CRAWFORD — Years of planning, 18 months of construction and more than $41.6 million later, the new Inter-Change cold storage facility in Mount Crawford is operational.Gov. Ralph Northam and Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring joined state Sens. Emmett Hanger, R- Mount Solon, and Mark Obenshain, R- Rockingham, InterChange leaders and Rockingham County Supervisor Bill Kyger for speeches before the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday.“It

Valley Airports Among Those Receiving Federal Funding

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  9/20/19  HARRISONBURG — United States Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both D- Va., announced on Wednesday that 11 airports will receive federal funding from the United States Department of Transportation, including Luray Caverns Airport and Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport.Funding from DOT surpasses $23 million to support improvement projects across Virginia.“We’re excited to announce that these federal dollars will benefit 11 Virginia airports,” the senators said in

John Wayland School Wins Environmental Award

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  9/20/19  BRIDGEWATER — For the 20th year, John Wayland Elementary School has been recognized as one of the best in the state for environmentally friendly practices by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.Virginia Naturally Schools is the official environmental education school recognition program of the commonwealth. These schools are being recognized for their environmental and stewardship efforts during the 2018- 2019 school year.Now in its 20th year, the goal

Volunteers Needed For United Way Day Of Caring

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  9/17/19  HARRISONBURG — United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County has been hosting the annual Day of Caring for more than 20 years — and this year is its largest event to date.The event is sponsored by Merck, Wells Fargo and James Madison University.Day of Caring is an organized volunteer day where community members, local organizations and business teams can volunteer at local nonprofits to complete projects including physical repairs, client interaction,

Shenandoah Planning District Commission Marks 50 Years

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  9/18/19  HARRISONBURG — The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission was chartered in September 1969 to provide planning services and technical assistance to five counties, five cities and 11 towns throughout the Shenandoah Valley.On Tuesday, nearly 50 years later, more than 70 members from local jurisdictions gathered at the Frontier Culture Museum to celebrate and look back on how the region has changed since 1969.In 1969, the Virginia General Assembly passed

City Lauded For Senior Program

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  9/16/19  HARRISONBURG — The city’s Parks and Recreation Department was recently honored for its attainment to help seniors in the community to stay active.The Parks and Rec department’s 50 & Wiser Program, called “Fit and Strong,” was declared the Best Health and Wellness Initiative in Virginia for a midsized city at the Virginia Recreation and Park Society conference on Sept. 7, according to a press release from the city.“We really love being able to make an impact in

Broadway-Timberville Festival A Hit

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  9/16/19  BROADWAY — The sun came out and the 55th annual Broadway-Timberville Autumn Festival and Antique Car Show took place Saturday without a hitch.The festival was created to highlight what the local businesses have to offer, while also bringing shoppers in from out of the area and kicking off the fall season.There were more than 150 food, craft, artisan and retail vendors strung along Main Street, along with more than 100 classic cars available to view.Some local

SVEC Surpasses $30K In Awarded Grants

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  9/16/19  HARRISONBURG — Since the Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Committee inception in 2017, the group has awarded more than $54,000 in contributions to local organizations.With its 2019 grant cycle coming to a close, the committee has awarded more than $30,000, with almost $10,000 awarded in late August.Operation Round Up is the SVEC’s charitable giving program that addresses crucial needs within its service territory, according to a press

Tourism Spending Increases Throughout The Commonwealth

$231 Million Generated By Visitors In Rockingham CountyBy IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  9/13/19  HARRISONBURG — Over $231 million of Rockingham County revenue was generated by tourism in 2018, an increase of 6.1% from 2017 and the most money generated in a Shenandoah Valley locality, according to data from the United States Travel Association.Every locality in the Commonwealth saw an increase in tourism last year, resulting in $26 billion in travel spending combined across the state.“I think we’re just very

City Comes In Ahead of State Average With $131.4 Million

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  9/13/19  HARRISONBURG — The Harrisonburg Tourism Department is celebrating its success after bringing in around $131.4 million in tourism dollars in 2018.The number accounts for people staying in hotels, motels, shopping and dining in the city.According to the United States Travel Association, it is a 5.3% increase from 2017.Due to the $131.4 million, the overall tax collected in Harrisonburg from tourism was $4,822,639 compared to $4,674,366 in 2017, which is a 3.2%

Purcell Park Prognosticators

Residents Weigh In On Future AmenitiesBy LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  9/7/19  HARRISONBURG — More than 30 people gathered at the Lucy Simms Center Thursday night for an information session and public input on potential redesigns and upgrades to Purcell Park.Employees were present at the forum from the consultant firm LSG Landscape Architecture and from Greenplay, which acts as a management tool for agencies by organizing consultant teams that are responsive and understand the needs of their communities

Habitat For Humanity Hosts Groundbreaking Ceremony

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  9/9/19  HARRISONBURG — Families and Central Valley Habitat for Humanity workers took part in a ceremonial groundbreaking to mark the beginning of the end of the group’s work on Roberts Court in Harrisonburg on Sunday afternoon.The building was already on its way to completion before the ceremonial groundbreaking could commence and David Wenger, the executive director of Central Valley Habitat for Humanity, says that’s a good sign.“That means your building process is moving

VPAS Receives Donation From B-T Rotary

DNR 9/9/19  Valley Program for Aging Services received a donation on July 30 from the Rotary Club of Broadway-Timberville to fund support services for older adults living in the Broadway and Timberville area. Rotary Club of Broadway-Timberville President Johnny Garber presented the $4,300 check to Beth Bland, VPAS director of senior services in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, and Mia Olsen, Timberville Broadway Senior Center director. The funds were raised at the second annual Friday Evening in the

Explore More Discovery Museum Closes For Upgrades

Almost ‘Clear For Takeoff’Explore More Discovery Museum Closes For UpgradesBy KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  9/10/19  HARRISONBURG — Kids often dream of being astronauts and going to space, but the Explore More Discovery Museum may inspire the next generation to look up at the clouds instead of the stars.Each year, the museum closes after Labor Day to spruce up the interior and bring in new interactive exhibits. The biggest expansion is to the aviation exhibit, which will feature runway lights converted

First Bank & Trust Company Holds Ground Breaking Ceremony for Woodstock, VA Office

ABINGDON, Va., Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Executives and Board members of First Bank & Trust Company will participate in a ground breaking ceremony at 1101 Hisey Avenue in Woodstock, Virginia on Wednesday, September 11, 2019. The event will take place at 10:00 AM. James D. Whitacre, Vice President and Agricultural Lender will be present as well as Evelyn G. Richard, Administrative Assistant and Loan Specialist and Charlyn L. Keister, Loan Processor. All are employees of the new Woodstock, Virginia

MillerCoors Employees Reflect On Women In Manufacturing

‘It Was Never A Question’MillerCoors Employees Reflect On Women In ManufacturingBy IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  9/2/19  ELKTON — In Rockingham County sits the largest producer of American light lagers in the world, where nearly 500 Valley residents work — MillerCoors’ Shenandoah Brewery.Over 100 of those workers are women in roles from engineering to packaging and quality control to vice president/plant manager.Lori Michelin, the vice president/ plant manager, joined the brewery team two months ago and has

OCP Gets $50K Grant

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  8/30/19  HARRISONBURG — Our Community Place recently received a $50,000 grant from the Merck Co. Foundation, which will help assist the homeless in finding housing, health care and employment.The nonprofit applied for the grant in April and was given the money in full last week.Around $35,000 will be put toward expanding the case management program, which launched in the beginning of 2018. It will also be put toward hiring a fulltime licensed social worker.The case

Experience The ’60s Through Stories, Songs At Brewery

By KATHLEEN SHAWDaily News-Record  8/30/19  HARRISONBURG — No need for a time machine because the 1960s are alive again tonight at Pale Fire Brewing through stories and songs from the time of Woodstock.From 7:30 to 9 p.m., Mark Berger, author of “Something’s Happening Here: A Sixties Odyssey from Brooklyn to Woodstock,” will read about his personal experiences as a part of the decade’s counterculture. A family affair, Berger’s nephew and Americana rock ’n’ roll musician Justin Jones will assist in the

The Best Lawyers in America Names 8 Attorneys to their Annual List

The Best Lawyers in America Names 8 Attorneys to their Annual ListEight attorneys with over 300 years of combined experience were named in The Best Lawyers in America 2020 edition.  Selected by their peers, the attorneys were recognized in the following categories:Daniel L. Fitch – personal injury litigation – defendantsCharles F. Hilton – medical malpractice law - plaintiffs, personal injury litigation - plaintiffs, professional malpractice law - plaintiffsGlenn M. Hodge – health care law, real estate

Park Possibilities : City Wants Input On Purcell’s Future

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  8/28/19  HARRISONBURG — Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation is holding a public forum next week to gain input from those interested in redesigns and upgrades to Purcell Park.The forum will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Lucy Simms Center, 620 Simms Ave.Parks and Rec hired a consultant firm, LSG Landscape Architecture, to be a part of the process to make upgrades, but also to help the city develop a Master Plan for Purcell Park.“This won’t be an overnight

VMRC Lyceum Series To Begin

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  8/28/19  HARRISONBURG — Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community will kick off its 16th Shenandoah Valley Lyceum season with presentations on the rise of sea levels, the history of the death penalty in Virginia and women in Jamestown.Presenters were selected from a committee comprised of VMRC employees, residents and community members, according to Maureen Pearson, director of public relations and outreach at VMRC.“In the last three years we have broadened our

SVEC Linemen Traveling to Bolivia

ROCKINGHAM – As part of “United We Light: Project Bolivia” three Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) linemen will travel abroad in early September to help electrify a South American region for the first time.   Mike Alexander, Roger Pace and JT Jacobs are leaving Sept. 4 for the Oruro region in western Bolivia. Alexander is a lead lineman in SVEC’s Winchester District; Roger Pace is a lineman first class in the Shenandoah District; and Jacobs is a lineman second class in the Augusta

Harrisonburg Resident Bauhan Reappointed To State Board

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  8/27/19  HARRISONBURG — Hobey Bauhan, president of the Virginia Poultry Federation, has been reappointed to the Virginia Board of Workforce Development for a second four- year term.The Virginia Board of Workforce Development is a panel of 38 business leaders and officials that forms policies to improve the state’s workforce.Bauhan, of Harrisonburg, was originally named to the board by then- Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2015.“It used to be that a lot of the agencies involved in

Celebrating National Aviation Day

August 19, 2019/in Blog Posts /by Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Happy National Aviation Day – a day that we honor the history and continued advances in aviation! President Franklin Theodore Roosevelt first introduced National Aviation Day in 1939. The date of August 19th was chosen because it’s also the birthday of Orville Wright, who along with his brother Wilbur, made early advancements in powered flight. In celebration of National Aviation Day, we’ve done a deep dive into the SHD historical

A Fresh Start For 500 Bridgewater Freshmen

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  8/23/19  BRIDGEWATER — Alicja Pietruszewska had never been on a plane before — until two days ago.To say that it was a big change moving from her home in Northern Ireland to Bridgewater, Virginia, would be an understatement. Pietruszewska is one of about 500 new freshmen who moved into the dorms this week at Bridgewater College. Pietruszewska is an exchange student here to study graphic design.Pietruszewska said when choosing a college, she liked this area, the space and

EMU Names New Deans

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  8/23/19  HARRISONBURG — Eastern Mennonite University has named longtime campus leaders to three new academic dean positions.David Brubaker, Sue Cockley and Tara Kishbaugh each now lead one of three schools as part of EMU’s new academic structure. The design, developed after a year of study and discussion, will enhance opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and will streamline undergraduate- graduate tracks, among other objectives. It is being phased in and

Pork For The Pantry Provides Meat To Area Food Bank

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  8/22/19  HARRISONBURG — Pork For The Pantry at the Rockingham County Fair has been providing fresh pork to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank since 2015. This year, Pork For The Pantry was able to provide its largest donation to date.With the conclusion of the 2019 Rockingham County Fair, local businesses and individuals were able to purchase nine hogs to provide more than 1,000 pounds of fresh pork to the food bank by the end of August.Pork For The Pantry is a local

First Bank & Trust Company Executive Leadership Team Transitions

ABINGDON, Va., Aug. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- First Bank & Trust Company and its parent holding company, First Bancorp, Inc., today announced that William H. Hayter, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank & Trust Company, will transition from his position as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 5, 2019.  The announcement was made by William Hayter at the Bank's 40th anniversary celebratory dinner that included bank officers, board members and executive management. William H. Hayter,

Record-Breaking Day For Adoptions At Local SPCA

By PETE DELEADaily News-Record  8/19/19  HARRISONBURG — Leading up to two events Saturday, Huck Hawaz had high hopes that Harrisonburg-area residents would come out in droves to adopt animals.The events, Clear the Shelters and Girls Putts for Pets, led to a record- breaking 29 adoptions at the Harrisonburg- Rockingham SPCA. It shattered the previous record of 11 set in the spring.“It was quite a jump,” said Hawaz, the executive director. “We couldn’t be happier.”At the start of the day, the shelter had 207

City Health Center Gets $167K

Will Support Behavioral ServicesBy LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  8/16/19  HARRISONBURG — The Harrisonburg Community Health Center was awarded $167,000 in federal funding to support behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder services.U. S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both D-Va., announced this week that the U. S. Department of Health and Human Resources would be giving more than $3 million in total to 21 health clinics across the state.Lisa Bricker, the executive

EMU Reflects On Successes, Plans For Year Ahead

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  8/15/19  HARRISONBURG — Eastern Mennonite University is looking ahead at the upcoming school year with intentions of remaining a strong educational institution in the Valley.President Susan Schultz Huxman, along with other members of the higher education community, met with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce this week for the kickoff of the “unofficial” start to the new school season and discussed the highlights of EMU’s journey so far and what lies

InterChange Facility To Open Next Month

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  8/15/19  HARRISONBURG — The Rockingham County Board of Supervisors got a firsthand look at the work being done at the new InterChange cold storage facility near Mount Crawford on Wednesday, touring the $41.6 million facility.Gov. Ralph Northam announced the 250,000-square-foot cold storage and blast freezing facility on Aug. 10, 2018, bringing 88 full-time jobs to Rockingham County.President Devon Anders said by the time the facility opens, there will be close to 90

Brown Edwards Moves Up in Top 100 Ranking

INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) announces the release of its 2019 annual financial performance analysis and ranking of the nation’s largest public accounting firms.  Roanoke, Virginia based Brown Edwards is among the nation’s top 100 firms again this year, moving up eight spots to #87.  The rankings are based on 2018 U.S. net revenue. IPA is the industry’s leading trade newsletter, and the report is the most accurate listing of the nation’s largest accounting firms based on fiscal performance.   Brown

Business Issues Addressed At Summit

Ag, Broadband, I-81, Workforce DiscussedBy IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  8/9/19  WEYERS CAVE — Local business owners, regional elected officials, and Valley economic development professionals gathered for the seventh annual Valley Business Summit on Thursday at the Robert E. Plecker Workforce Center at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave.Bettina Ring, the secretary of agriculture and forestry for Virginia, gave the keynote presentation during the event’s opening ceremony, touching on subjects such as

JMU ranked among best schools in the country by Princeton Review

WHSV 8/8/19HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) — James Madison University once again made the list as one of the leading four-year institutions in the country. The school was included in Princeton Review's list of 385 Best Colleges for 2020.Colleges are chosen for the list based on academic offerings and surveys from students who are in attendance. JMU said this does not mark the first time its made the cut.Only 13 percent of four-year colleges are included on the list, according to the Princeton Review."On one hand,

Fairgrounds Celebrates New Horticulture Building

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  8/8/19  HARRISONBURG — The Rockingham County Fair is one of the largest gatherings within the county and on Wednesday, the newest feature was officially ready to go.More than 60 people braved the morning thunderstorms to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Horticulture building at the fairgrounds.With the help of the community and a willingness to get the job done, Fair General Manager Rebecca Holloway welcomed attendees to the “little country store” that would

Blue Ridge Community College Unveils $21M Biosciences Building

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  8/7/19  WEYERS CAVE — The high-fidelity mannequin purchased this year for the EMS training program at Blue Ridge Community College may not fool anyone by the looks of it. But when you hear what it can do, it becomes clear why this tool is at the top of the line for simulating various medical situations.Scott Vanderkooi, an EMS instructor, demonstrated how the high-fidelity mannequin can be programmed to talk, scream, have pupils dilated and breathing can be

Skyline Roofing To Build New Metal Shop, Planned Warehouse

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  8/7/19  HARRISONBURG — Skyline Roofing is building a new metal workshop and an accompanying warehouse adjacent to its offices at 2389 Grace Chapel Road in Harrisonburg.“It’s an expansion, but it’s really just kind of customized for us,” said Kevin Weaver, owner of operations for Skyline Roofing.Before moving to Grace Chapel Road in early summer, the company was in a much smaller location at 112 Meigs Lane, Weaver said.The previous building was dim with low ceilings and posts

Community Health Centers: A Guide to a Vital Network of Care

Community Health Centers are medical clinics and so much more. They are consumer-driven and patient-centered medical homes, local economic engines, and trusted community partners. They form the backbone of America’s health care safety net and play a critical role in improving health outcomes, lowering costs, and ensuring access to high-quality, integrated care. By mission and statute, the health center model requires that health centers locate in areas of greatest need and are led by representatives of

Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA To Hold Foster Session

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  8/3/19  HARRISONBURG — Being in a kennel doesn’t always make a dog ready to go into a home, so what does? Fostering.The Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA is holding a free foster information night Tuesday at its shelter, 2170 Old Furnace Rd., from 6-7:30 p.m. to talk about what it’s like to foster an animal and the positive effects it has on the animal.“We are really trying to engage the community to learn more about it and grow our foster program more,” the local SPCA’s

Having Better Relationships : Robert McFarland's Viewpoint

Viewpoint: Robert McFarlandDNR 8/3/19  Many people want to have better relationships at work or at home, but they are unwilling to do what needs to be done to develop them.Good relationships don’t just happen. They have to be carefully cultivated. If you want to have better relationships with others, then you must be intentional and consistent in growing those relationships.Here are five ways you can develop better relationships.1. Get Real Today more than ever, people crave authenticity. They want to know

Sipe Center Ticket Sales Exceeding Expectations

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  8/5/19  BRIDGEWATER — As tickets for the new multipurpose theater, the Sipe Center, went live on Thursday, Jay Litten thought they would sell only a couple of dozen.By midday Sunday, the center had sold about 115 and rising, he said.“The response has been tremendous,” said Litten, Bridgewater’s town manager.The Sipe Center is a $ 1.3 million building for live music, theater and meetings, located on the corner of North Main and East College streets in downtown

From Parking Lot To Barking Spot

Anicira Completes Outdoor Dog Park At Adoption CenterBy IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  7/29/19  HARRISONBURG — Anicira, an area dog adoption and veterinary organization, hosted an open house to celebrate the completion of its new dog park outside the adoption center in Harrisonburg on Saturday.“This was our vision from when we first opened our adoption center,” said Dan Chavez, operations coordinator for Anicira.The dog park is behind the group’s adoption center on North Liberty Street, which was the group’s

SVEC Welcomes Increased Solar in Power Supply Mix

ROCKINGHAM – Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) will be among the utilities to benefit from a new partnership between Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) and EDF Renewables North America.   ODEC and EDF have entered an agreement to develop and build a 30MW portfolio of distributed solar projects across ODEC’s member service territories in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Headquartered in Glen Allen, ODEC is a not-for-profit, member-owned, power supply cooperative serving 11 distribution

InDemand Series: Maintenance Mechanic

Date: July 10, 2019 WHSV – In this week’s look at InDemand jobs in the Valley, we’re featuring careers in mechanical work. Jonathan Kisamore, a maintenance mechanic apprentice at Tenneco in Harrisonburg, took a passion for mechanics and turned it into a career. “From a kid on, I’ve always been kind of mechanically inclined and always liked doing mechanical work,” said Kisamore. According to economic statistics from the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board, the salary range for this position

BRCC Educational Foundation Announces New Board Members

FOUR NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO BRCC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION BOARD   The Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation Board has recently appointed four new members to fill spaces vacated by outgoing members. They are Dave Metz, Tassie Pippert, Justin Rexrode, and Andy Vanhook.  Dave Metz graduated from Purdue University, served in the Navy as a communications officer and received his MBA from James Madison University. Dave and his wife, Debbie, came to Staunton to start an equipment rental business,

Library Introduces Dads To Storytime

Report: Virginia Best State For Business

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  7/11/19  HARRISONBURG — On Wednesday, Virginia was named the top state for business in America by CNBC, a news business outlet, for the first time since 2011.Good showings on business ranking lists contribute to economic development, said Frank Tamberrino, president and CEO of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.Companies go through what’s called a site selection process when deciding where to conduct business, be it manufacturing, logistics, services, etc., based

New Harrisonburg High School Principal Is ‘Coming Home’

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  7/11/19  HARRISONBURG — Missy Hensley comes to Harrisonburg High School from Central High School in Woodstock and said she is excited to accept the opportunity and challenge of serving as the principal.Hensley is taking the reins from Cynthia Prieto, who retired after 34 years in education with the last five as principal of HHS.Hensley has 24 years of instructional and school leadership experience. She has been a school administrator since 2004 and has served as

Sipe Center Takes Shape

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  7/10/19  BRIDGEWATER — What started as plain construction walls now has a fresh coat of “downrush midnight” paint.Bridgewater Town Manager Jay Litten gave a tour of the construction site for the town’s new $ 1.3 million multipurpose theater Tuesday, giving council members and visitors a fresh glimpse of the interior and exterior of the Sipe Center.In his report to Town Council, Litten said the building continues to progress toward an early August completion, remaining

New Dayton Town Superintendent Takes The Reins

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record 7/9/2019  DAYTON — After a job interview in May, Angela Lawrence went for a hike, one of her favorite activities, before heading back to Chase City to continue her work as a town manager.That interview was successful, and Lawrence began in her new position as the town superintendent of Dayton on Monday.Lawrence, 56, grew up in Lenexa, Kansas, but was born in Battle Creek, Michigan.“I was raised to be involved in the community,” she said.Lawrence has over 25 years of experience

Local Man Raises Over $20K For Cancer Research

By MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  7/6/19  HARRISONBURG — A local business owner has raised over $20,000 for the American Cancer Society, specifically for breast cancer research and awareness — and he plans to raise more this year.Two years ago, the group came to speak to the Harrisonburg Rotary Club, of which Paul Riner, owner of Riner Rentals, is a member. They talked about a campaign to raise money and awareness for breast cancer called “Real Men Wear Pink.”Riner said it was a “right place, right time”

County Supervisors Remember Late Chuck Ahrend

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  6/28/19  HARRISONBURG — An advocate for agriculture, a representative for Rockingham County, but most importantly, a humorous friend.Charles “Chuck” Ahrend, 93, of Harrisonburg, died on Monday at Oak Lea Nursing Home. But the former member of the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors established his legacy long before then.Ahrend was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1987 where he represented the communities of Singers Glen, Edom, Melrose, Mount Clinton and

Executive Director Of Local Boys & Girls Club Named

By LAINE GRIFFINDaily News-Record  6/28/19  HARRISONBURG — The search is over. The Boys & Girls Club of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County named Sandra Quigg as the new executive director.Quigg will replace Lori Kizner, who served as the executive director for about four years but resigned in April to join her husband, Scott Kizner, who took the superintendent post in Stafford County last summer.Quigg said she is ready to take over, although she knows she has big shoes to fill.“I think I’ve always been

Donation Provides 40,000 Meals For Area Food Bank

By JESSICA WETZLERDaily News-Record  7/1/19  VERONA — The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank provides more than 25.3 million pounds of food a year to those in need. On Friday, through a generous donation, the food bank was able to fund 40,000 of those meals.Patrick Blevins, a State Farm insurance agent covering parts of the Shenandoah Valley, donated $10,000 to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank to feed roughly 32,000 individuals each month in the Valley.“I wanted to give back to the community and to be able to serve

F&M Bank Announces $10K Business Contest

By IAN MUNRODaily News-Record  7/2/19  HARRISONBURG — F&M Bank, a locally owned and operated financial institution, has started collecting votes for its first “Local Business You Love” contest, where the winner will receive $10,000 from the bank.“We thought it’d be a fun way for us to learn a little more about other local businesses,” said Mark Hanna, president and CEO of Timberville-based F&M Bank. “Hopefully, we can pick up a few good ideas from local businesses that we can bring to our banking

JMU Names New Dean Of College Of Education

L’Esperance Comes From Eastern Carolina UniversityBy MEGAN WILLIAMSDaily News-Record  6/13/19  HARRISONBURG — When Mark L’Esperance began telling people he was going to be working at James Madison University, the response he often got was, “that’s a great place for teacher preparation.”As the person who will be taking over the leadership of the College of Education, this is exactly what L’Esperance was hoping to hear.After a nat ional search, JMU announced this week that L’Esperance will become the next