🌱 How a former factory is reshaping Buena Vista’s economic future

Good morning to you Buena Vista! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a former factory is reshaping Buena Vista’s economic future
• Which Buena Vista nonprofit just landed new university grant funding?
• How many overdose deaths hit Buena Vista’s corner of the Sixth District?

Also on today's calendar: Ultimate Frisbee and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high of 39 and low of 25 degrees.
• Friday: Cold; afternoon snow showers, temps: high: 36, low: 33.
• Saturday: Considerable cloudiness, with a high of 44 and low of 30 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• ‘A Shift And A Movement' (thenews-gazette.com) — A major redevelopment milestone just wrapped up at the Virginia Innovation Accelerator in Buena Vista, where Phase 2 has opened the Junction 245 Marketplace and soon a full commercial kitchen. Local leaders say the project is transforming a former factory into a hub for entrepreneurs, with apartments, outdoor recreation, and even the city’s Visitor Center still to come.
   

• Washington and Lee Announces November Community Grants (wlu.edu) — A Buena Vista nonprofit, The Community Table of Buena Vista, Inc., just received a share of more than $28,000 in community grants from Washington and Lee University, alongside other Lexington and Rockbridge groups. Local organizations can still apply for the next funding round, with proposals due March 20, 2026, offering another chance to support services that benefit Buena Vista residents.
   

• Ben Cline runs interference for Trump, DoD, on illegal missile strikes (augustafreepress.com) — Buena Vista is included in new overdose statistics showing five drug-related deaths across Rockbridge County, Lexington, and the city for 2024, part of 147 such deaths in Virginia’s Sixth District. The piece sharply criticizes Rep. Ben Cline’s support for Trump’s missile strikes on alleged drug boats near Venezuela, arguing they’re illegal, ineffective against fentanyl-driven overdoses, and politically motivated rather than focused on local public health needs.
   

📸 Around Buena Vista

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Buena Vista

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday December 19

• Dungeons & Dragons Meeting
  Von Canon Library, 1 University Hill Dr, Buena Vista
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday December 22

• Ultimate Frisbee
  The Fields at Southern Virginia University , Ridge Ave , Buena Vista
  7:30 pm

Wednesday December 24

• LIBRARIES CLOSED- HOLIDAY
  A. B. Modine Memorial Library , 2110 Magnolia Avenue , Buena Vista

Friday December 26

• Dungeons & Dragons Meeting
  Von Canon Library , 1 University Hill Dr , Buena Vista
  6:00 pm

Monday December 29

• Ultimate Frisbee
  The Fields at Southern Virginia University , Ridge Ave , Buena Vista
  7:30 pm

📣 Buena Vista Shout Outs!

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

🗓 Events Nearby

Friday December 12

• Economic Development Committee Meeting
  150 S Main St , Lexington
  6:00 pm

Saturday December 13

• Birding at Boxerwood
  Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden , 963 Ross Rd , Lexington
  9:00 am
• Holiday Open House at The Workshop at Timber Ridge
  ByCary/The Workshop at Timber Ridge/Rooms by Cary/Jarvis Ceramics , 1178 Reid Rd , Lexington
  10:00 am
• Wintry Puzzle Contest
  Just Games Lexington , 29 W Nelson St , Lexington
  10:15 am
• Cookies On The Mountain
  Irvine Estate , Lonesome Dove Trail , Lexington
  1:00 pm
• Gifts of Nature Workshop
  Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden , 963 Ross Rd , Lexington
  1:00 pm
• Cookies On The Mountain - A Cookie Swap
  Irvine Estate , Lonesome Dove Trail , Lexington
  1:00 pm

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

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• We offer you so many fun things to see, taste, try and buy that we make shopping fun!
  Lettuce solve all your #giftmas needs. 8am-12:30 Wednesdays in the heart of historic, walkable, downtown Lexington. (Nextdoor Buena Vista)

• Food Lion posted a job opening for PT Customer Service Leader in Buena Vista. Apply here.
• Wright posted a job opening for Traffic Control Flagger in Buena Vista. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Buena Vista here.

🗞 Nearby News

Lexington

• Stepping Back in Time. Duke's Antique Center, Lexington's Vintage Landmark (virginianreview.com)
• 5 Hallmark-Like Getaways Near Northern Virginia (northernvirginiamag.com)
• RHS Revolutionary Events Continue (thenews-gazette.com)

Amherst

• Making Amherst Your Home Away From Home (amherststudent.com)
• Top 5 weekend events: Virginia Christmas Spectacular, Wreaths Across America and Jimmy Fortune performs in Amherst (newsadvance.com)
• Amherst supervisor: Board should 'step back' in Brady letter matters (newsadvance.com)

Ok Buena Vista! 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 could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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