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🌱 Patch AM: How Harrisonburg parents quietly thanked 34 often-overlooked school staffers

Spotted on the Harrisonburg calendar: "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer " and "Frosty the Snowman" Free Holiday Films Sponsored by Paul…

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Cheers Harrisonburg! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Harrisonburg parents quietly thanked 34 often-overlooked school staffers
  • How much of Youngkin’s housing windfall is coming to Harrisonburg?
  • How a Harrisonburg drug case led to decades in prison

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Partly sunny; windy, cooler, with a high of 56 and low of 26 degrees.
  • Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 48, low: 36.
  • Sunday: Mostly sunny and windy, with a high of 50 and low of 18 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

1. Stone Spring PTSO gives holiday cheer to underrecognized staff (dnronline.com) — Stone Spring Elementary’s Parent-Teacher-Student Organization in Harrisonburg surprised about three dozen often-overlooked staff members with Walmart gift cards and a coffee bar, funded by recent fundraisers. The effort, led by local realtor and volunteer Derek Chaudhuri, has grown into an annual tradition that highlights support for bus drivers, cafeteria workers, counselors, office staff, and principals across the Harrisonburg school community.
   

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

2. Youngkin announces $154.5 million in affordable and special needs housing loans (rocktownnow.com) — Harrisonburg is set to benefit from Governor Youngkin’s new $154.5 million statewide affordable housing loan package, with funding for Wisteria Gardens Senior Apartments and the Market Commons PSH project. These investments will help create and preserve homes for low-income residents and expand local supportive housing options, tying Harrisonburg into a broader push for more affordable housing across Virginia.
   

3. Pair from Harrisonburg sentenced in U.S. District Court in teen's overdose death (whsv.com) — Two Harrisonburg residents have been sentenced to 15 and 20 years in federal prison after supplying fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills linked to an 18-year-old’s fatal overdose in Northern Virginia. Prosecutors say the drugs were sold during a break from James Madison University, and federal officials are using the case to underscore the deadly risks of fentanyl in local communities.
   

4. Virginia Lottery reminds adults to gift responsibly this holiday season (whsv.com) — Harrisonburg residents eyeing last-minute gifts are being urged not to give Virginia Lottery tickets to anyone under 18, since it’s illegal and considered unsafe for minors. State lottery director Khalid Jones says the long-running “Scratchers for Kids? Scratch that Idea!” campaign aims to keep gambling a fun, adults-only activity and prevent kids from seeing it as a way to make money.
   

5. Sen. Kaine introduces new bill aimed to help coal miners access Black Lung benefits (nbc12.com) — From Harrisonburg, Sen. Tim Kaine is spotlighting a new bill to make it easier for coal miners with Black Lung disease to access medical benefits. The proposal would streamline claims, expand clinics, and improve legal and bureaucratic support, though it currently has only Democratic backers and no public Republican support yet.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi everyone!
    I’m looking to rehome my cats. I work multiple jobs and I’m planning to move and travel making it difficult to keep them. I just don’t have the time… (Nextdoor Sunset Heights)
  • Burlington Coat Factory posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Stocking Associate - Part Time in Harrisonburg. Apply here.
  • Spencer Gifts, LLC posted a job opening for Assistant Store Manager - Spencer's 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 don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
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