🌱 Patch AM: Could this fake city invoice land in your Harrisonburg inbox?

Morning Harrisonburg! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Could this fake city invoice land in your Harrisonburg inbox?
• What’s changing under Harrisonburg’s new chief public defender?
• How to get free tax prep help in Harrisonburg this season

Also on today's calendar: The SlashO Longhorns Visit Harrisonburg! and 6 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: Cold with low clouds, with a high of 35 and low of 23 degrees.
• Friday: Afternoon snow showers; cold, temps: high: 33, low: 28.
• Saturday: Clouds giving way to some sun, with a high of 41 and low of 23 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Harrisonburg Police Department issues scam alert (rocktownnow.com) — Harrisonburg Police are warning residents about scam emails impersonating the city’s Community Development Department and sending fake invoices to people who applied for land use approvals. Officials say real city emails end in “@harrisonburgva.gov” and urge anyone receiving an unexpected invoice to verify it directly with Community Development at 540-432-7700 before paying.
   

2. New Chief Public Defender for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County introduced during City Council meeting (rocktownnow.com) — Harrisonburg’s new Chief Public Defender, Abigail Thibeault, formally introduced herself to City Council while highlighting her office’s growing caseload and recent results. Since January, her team has opened over 1,800 cases and closed more than 950, with many dismissed or dropped. She said recent jury trials in Rockingham County have all ended in not-guilty verdicts or dismissals.
   

3. Free tax prep returns to Staunton, Waynesboro thanks to expanded United Way (augustafreepress.com) — Harrisonburg households making $68,000 or less will again have access to free tax preparation this season, thanks to new funding that lets the local United Way expand services into Staunton and Waynesboro. The program aims to file 300 returns at sites in Harrisonburg and nearby cities, potentially saving working families tens of thousands of dollars in filing fees while helping them claim key tax credits.
   

4. Court Square Theater to premiere ¡Hola, Paisano! on December 18 (rocktownnow.com) — A new short documentary about Mexican American bakery owners Hugo Hernández and Berenice Rodriguez will premiere at Court Square Theater in Harrisonburg on December 18, followed by a panel and cake for El Paisano’s anniversary. Local creatives with strong Harrisonburg ties helped make the film, which explores immigration, family, and food, and the celebration continues that night at Broad Porch Coffee’s Latin Dance Night.
   

5. Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces star-studded Class of 2026 (wsls.com) — Harrisonburg native Kristi Toliver is being inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame’s star-studded Class of 2026, highlighting her decorated basketball career from college to the WNBA. She joins big names like Grant Hill, Michael Vick, and Tony Bennett for an April 25 induction in Henrico, celebrating athletes and sports leaders from across Virginia.
   

📸 Around Harrisonburg

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

🗓 Upcoming Events in Harrisonburg

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 13

• The SlashO Longhorns Visit Harrisonburg!
  James Madison University, 800 S Main St, Harrisonburg
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 12

• 2025 Pre-Legislative Holiday Brunch
  Massanetta Springs Camp & Conference Center , 712 Massanetta Springs Rd , Harrisonburg
  9:00 am
• Seán Heely’s Celtic Christmas
  Forbes Center , Concert Hall
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 13

• Winter 2025 Commencement
  Atlantic Union Bank Center Event Floor
  10:00 am
• Master Gardener Talk Series
  Frances Plecker Education Center , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  10:30 am
• Terrace: Members Only Wreath-making
  Edith J. Carrier Arboretum , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  12:00 pm
• Holiday Highlander
  Brix & Columns Vineyards , 1501 Dave Berry Rd , McGaheysville
  1:00 pm
• A Heritage Christmas: Rise Up and Follow — Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center
  Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center , 1921 Heritage Center Way , Harrisonburg
  2:30 pm
• Uncle Bengine + The Minor Four
  Pale Fire Brewing Co. , 217 S Liberty St #105 , Harrisonburg
  7:00 pm

📣 Harrisonburg Shout Outs!

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

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 11

• THMS Winter Choir Concert
  THOMAS HARRISON MIDDLE SCHOOL
  4:00 pm
• Fall Bball w/Pence
  Montevideo Middle , Penn Laird , Penn Laird
  4:30 pm

Saturday December 13

• Master Gardener Talk Series
  Frances Plecker Education Center , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  10:30 am
• Terrace: Members Only Wreath-making
  Edith J. Carrier Arboretum , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  12:00 pm

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

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

• Test Brand Partner Business — (540) 867-5309
  This will be shared to 12 patches
• Better Add a Business — 5407640023
  Really & This Is So Janky To Work With No Edit Button!
• Sunpower Supreme — 5408675309
  i can update the location

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Has anyone seen my cat?
  My cat Miko went missing near 520 Davis Mills Drive here is a picture of her ⬇️ If you see her, please message me or call: 703-399-5002 (Nextdoor Chestnut Ridge)
• Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
  Miko was LOST on December 9, 2025 in Harrisonburg, VA 22801 near Near Davis Mills Drive Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to… (Nextdoor Sunset Heights)

• Wendy's posted a job opening for Crew Member in Harrisonburg. Apply here.
• Old Navy, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate - Valley Mall - VA in Harrisonburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Harrisonburg here.

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

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook