Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Will Harrisonburg’s Salvation Army hit its $200,000 Christmas kettle goal?
Be sure to catch Walk On Wedding on the Harrisonburg Patch calendar
Greetings Harrisonburg! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Will Harrisonburg’s Salvation Army hit its $200,000 Christmas kettle goal?
- How did your child’s Harrisonburg school score in Virginia’s new ratings?
- How a Harrisonburg-linked fentanyl case ended in long prison terms
Today's riddle: What did the little needle say to the mother needle when it brought home a failing report card? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Harrisonburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Rather cloudy, warm and misty, with a high of 62 and low of 32 degrees.
- Friday: Cloudy, a little rain; cooler, temps: high: 41, low: 35.
- Saturday: Low clouds may break, with a high of 48 and low of 36 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Salvation Army short of its fundraising goal as Christmas approaches (dnronline.com) — Harrisonburg’s Salvation Army Corps is still about 30% short of its $200,000 Red Kettle goal, even as demand for shelter, food pantry support, and rental assistance rises locally. Bell ringers say donations remain steady and hope last-minute Christmas giving will help close the gap, emphasizing that even small contributions from Harrisonburg and Rockingham County residents make a real difference. 
Find out what's happening in Harrisonburgfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
2. Harrisonburg schools score below state average on SOL tests (dnronline.com) — Harrisonburg City Public Schools’ latest SOL scores show local students trailing state averages in reading, math, history, and science, though most subjects improved slightly over last year. A new state rating system now labels several city schools as “off track” or “needs intensive support,” especially for students with disabilities, prompting the division to add staff and rethink how it supports struggling learners.
3. Former JMU student sentenced for selling fentanyl that killed Fairfax Co. teen in 2023 (wtop.com) — A federal case tied to Harrisonburg has led to lengthy prison sentences for two people who admitted distributing fentanyl-laced pills, including a former James Madison University student whose supplier operated in the city. The drugs were linked to the 2023 overdose death of a Fairfax County teenager, and his parents recently watched the sentencing in a Harrisonburg federal courtroom as they continue advocacy against fentanyl.
4. Harrisonburg's Port Republic Starbucks Baristas win Union Election (whsv.com) — Baristas at the Starbucks on Port Republic Road in Harrisonburg have officially unionized after a 16-1 vote and joined the national “Red Cup Rebellion” strike. Workers say they’re pushing for fair wages, better staffing, and more predictable schedules, and they credit strong community support for keeping morale high as they prepare to return to work.
5. The Confederacy Goes on Trial, Along With Schools Named Jackson and Lee (nytimes.com) — A major federal civil-rights trial in the Shenandoah Valley is examining whether Shenandoah County’s school board discriminated against Black students by restoring Confederate names to two schools, with proceedings held at the historic courthouse in Harrisonburg. The case, featuring emotional student testimony and expert history witnesses, has become a national test of how the country now remembers the Confederacy and the legacy of segregation.
📸 Around Harrisonburg
Show off your photography skills and the sights around Harrisonburg! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Harrisonburg
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Walk On Wedding
Edith J. Carrier Arboretum , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
3:00 pm - Randy Black’s Annual Holiday Jam to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters
Cave Hill Farms Brewery , 1001 Jacob Burner Dr , McGaheysville
2:00 pm - Randy Black鈥檚 Annual Holiday Jam to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters
Cave Hill Farms Brewery , 1001 Jacob Burner Dr , McGaheysville
2:00 pm - Gratitude Walk for the New Year!
Edith J. Carrier Arboretum , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
11:00 am
Saturday December 27
Sunday December 28
Saturday January 3
📣 Harrisonburg Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Dogs 2 Read 2
Massanutten Regional Library , 174 S Main St , Harrisonburg
4:30 pm - Mercy Creek
Pale Fire Brewing Co. , 217 S Liberty St #105 , Harrisonburg
7:00 pm - Paint + Sip: "Evergreen Glow" at Sage Bird
Sage Bird , 325 N Liberty St , Harrisonburg
1:00 pm - Walk On Wedding
Edith J. Carrier Arboretum , 780 University Blvd , Harrisonburg
3:00 pm - Bryan Elijah Smith Concert
Pale Fire Brewing Co. , 217 S Liberty St #105 , Harrisonburg
7:00 pm - Geeks Who Drink Trivia
Pale Fire Brewing Co. , 217 S Liberty St #105 , Harrisonburg
8:00 pm
Thursday December 25
Friday December 26
Saturday December 27
Wednesday December 31
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:
- Better Add a Business — 5407640023
Really & This Is So Janky To Work With No Edit Button! - Test Brand Partner Business — (540) 867-5309
This will be shared to 12 patches - 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
- I highly recommend Liberty Nail and Spa!
They have been in business for years but recently opened a new location on Neff Ave. My mom goes to Peter and she is extremely happy with her… (Nextdoor Beacon Hill) - A crash has been cleared on the northbound I-81 at mile marker 257.0 in Rockingham County.
11:43PM on Dec 23: All northbound travel lanes on I-81 at mile marker 257.0 in Rockingham County are closed. (Nextdoor )
- Virginia Staffing posted a job opening for Janitorial Maintenance in Harrisonburg. Apply here.
- Government Jobs posted a job opening for Custodian 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 guess I’m not as sharp as I thought.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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