🌱 Patch AM: How Harrisonburg schools hope to hire top teachers despite budget delays

Coffee in hand, Harrisonburg? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Harrisonburg schools hope to hire top teachers despite budget delays
• Where you can see Harrisonburg’s award-winning gingerbread landmarks this season
• Can Harrisonburg cool off Broadway’s red-hot Gobblers on Friday?

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Rain and drizzle in the p.m., with a high of 50 and low of 41 degrees.
• Friday: Windy with sunny intervals, temps: high: 51, low: 25.
• Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 48 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Harrisonburg City School Board discusses plan for future job opportunities (rocktownnow.com) — Harrisonburg City Schools leaders are reworking how they hire so they can lock in strong candidates earlier, despite ongoing budget uncertainty. At this week’s school board meeting, the superintendent and HR director outlined a plan to post real, grade-specific openings—especially in special education—so skilled teachers and instructional assistants can be placed quickly to support local students.
   

2. Gingerbread replicas of Generations Park and Friendly City Co-op are on display (dnronline.com) — Downtown Harrisonburg’s annual gingerbread house competition has produced two standout local replicas you can visit this season: Generations Park, now displayed at Old Town Hall in Bridgewater, and Friendly City Food Co-op, showcased at the co-op in Harrisonburg. Both creations highlight beloved community landmarks and will remain on view through the holidays, offering a festive outing for families and local history fans.
   

3. Gobblers down Mustangs for fourth consecutive victory (dnronline.com) — Broadway’s girls basketball team rolled past Monticello 66–45 in its home opener, setting up a Valley District showdown with Harrisonburg on Friday. Several Gobblers shared the scoring load, with Ella Yoder leading the way and teammates chipping in balanced offense ahead of their test against the Blue Streaks.
   

4. Virginia Lottery reminds adults to gift responsibly this holiday season (5 p.m.) (whsv.com) — Several WHSV stories from Harrisonburg highlight holiday giving and reminders for local adults. The Virginia Lottery urges people here to gift tickets responsibly, while the 29th annual Toy Convoy just finished distributing donated toys to Valley families, alongside other regional news and sports updates of interest to Shenandoah Valley residents.
   

5. Broadway Town Council honors departing members (dnronline.com) — Broadway’s town council honored Vice Mayor Bev London, Councilman Chad Comer, and longtime town attorney Matt Light at their final meeting, recognizing years of service to the community. Light is stepping back as his Harrisonburg legal practice and teaching duties grow, but all three say residents can still expect to see them at town events and around the area.
   

📸 Around Harrisonburg

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Harrisonburg

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Wednesday December 24

• "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer " and "Frosty the Snowman" Free Holiday Films Sponsored by Paul Riner
  Court Square Theater , 41-F Court Square , Harrisonburg
  11:00 am

Saturday December 27

• Walk On Wedding
  Edith J. Carrier Arboretum , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  3:00 pm

Sunday December 28

• Randy Black’s Annual Holiday Jam to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters
  Cave Hill Farms Brewery , 1001 Jacob Burner Dr , McGaheysville
  2:00 pm

📣 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 18

• Fall Bball @Hillyard
  Montevideo Middle , Penn Laird , Penn Laird
  4:30 pm
• Trivia at Sage Bird Ciderworks
  Sage Bird , 325 N Liberty St , Harrisonburg
  8:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Paint & Sip
  Sage Bird , 325 N Liberty St , Harrisonburg
  5:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Vietnam Veterans Breakfast
  Wood Grill Buffet , 1711 Reservoir St , Harrisonburg
  9:00 am
• Whoville Christmas Celebration
  3105 S Main St , Harrisonburg
  2:00 pm
• A MOO-RY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION AT MYERS HIGHLAND COW FARMSTEAD!
  Myers Pumpkins , 3831 Bull Run Rd , Penn Laird
  3:00 pm
• Ugly Sweater Party at Cracked Pillar Pub
  The Cracked Pillar Pub , 403 N Main St , Bridgewater
  7:00 pm
• Massanutten Resort - Elevations Lounge
  Elevations Lounge , 4614 Massanutten Dr , Massanutten
  8:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Walk On Wedding
  Edith J. Carrier Arboretum , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
  3:00 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:

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• Better Add a Business — 5407640023
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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• 1 bedroom 1 bathroom located in Ice House South building available for sublease.
  Available ASAP (flexible) through June 2026 with option to renew. Monthly rent $1275 with WiFi included. Quiet building, many non-student residents… (Nextdoor Sunset Heights)

• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. posted a job opening for Doughnut Decorator in Harrisonburg. Apply here.
• Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Stocker 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 know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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