Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How will rebuilding Fire Station #4 change emergency coverage near downtown?

Coming up on the Harrisonburg Patch calendar: Madison Jazz Collective at Pale Fire Brewing Co. – Harrisonburg

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Hey there, Harrisonburg! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How will rebuilding Fire Station #4 change emergency coverage near downtown?
  • What this IDEA ruling means for Harrisonburg City School Board and families
  • How will RHSPCA's new clinic tackle Harrisonburg's outdoor cat problem?

Also on today's calendar: Shenandoah Valley Real Estate Wealth Workshop and 9 more events.

And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Wanda F.!

Today's riddle: Why do Norway's navy ships all have barcodes? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Sunny and cooler, with a high of 63 and low of 42 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 74, low: 50.
  • Thursday: Sunny and delightful, with a high of 77 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Harrisonburg City to build new fire station at Station #4 on Rock Street (rocktownnow.com) — Harrisonburg is moving ahead with a full replacement of Fire Station #4 on Rock Street, a key hub serving the Northeast Neighborhood and downtown. Construction will take about two years, with firefighters temporarily reassigned and a new one-story, solar-equipped station designed to serve the community for at least 50 years. Neighbors can expect periodic public updates and meetings as plans progress.
   

2. Harrisonburg School Board prevails on IDEA appeal (valawyersweekly.com) — A federal judge in Harrisonburg has upheld a hearing officer's decision in an IDEA dispute involving the Harrisonburg City School Board and a student's graduation plans. The court agreed that the question of a 2025 graduation date was moot and found no error in how the hearing officer framed and decided the issues. The ruling leaves the school division's approach to the student's diploma track intact.
   

3. Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA opens vet clinic (dnronline.com) — A new veterinary center at the Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA is now treating shelter animals on Old Furnace Road, aiming to speed adoptions and improve care. Staff hope expanded spay and neuter capacity will significantly reduce Harrisonburg's outdoor cat population and ease pressure on an already crowded shelter. Leaders say the clinic is a key step toward long-term, sustainable animal welfare in the city and county.
   

4. 887 H-1B petitions filed by employers classified under the Educational Services industry in Virginia in 2025 (businessdailynetwork.com) — Virginia's educational institutions filed 887 H-1B petitions in 2025, with a 98.3% approval rate, and Harrisonburg City Public Schools accounted for 13 successful petitions. The data shows universities like UVA and Virginia Tech leading filings, while James Madison University submitted 25. For Harrisonburg residents, it highlights how local schools rely on highly skilled international educators and staff.
   

5. Listen to Mario This Week for Your Chance to Win Tickets to 'No Fear Night' at Fear Forest! (rocktownnow.com) — WSVA is running a weekday call-in contest this week for family four-packs to "No Fear Night" at Fear Forest in Luray, with prize pickup at Harrisonburg Media Group's Heritage Center Way office. The special nights offer a toned-down, kid-friendly version of the haunted attractions, with no actors or animatronics. Eligibility rules, tax details, and prize conditions apply to all Central Virginia entrants.
   

📣 Harrisonburg Shout Outs!

  • 🌟 Crosslink Community Church, 4904 South Valley Pike, Harrisonburg, Va. —Wanda F. Like

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

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Harrisonburg

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Our cat Jessie got out.
    She is an indoor cat so is not be used to being outside. She is friendly but does not like v to be held for more than a minute. She may or may not… (Nextdoor Downtown Harrisonburg)
  • In search of a recommendation for someone who could assist a disabled individual after a recent move.
    Need assistance with unpacking, sorting and especially organizing, and possibly some light cleaning for a single room and bathroom. Basically,… (Nextdoor Harrisonburg)
  • Qualified Staffing Search Group posted a job opening for Injection Molder in Harrisonburg. Apply here.
  • Burlington Stores posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate - Part Time 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: "Why do Norway's navy ships all have barcodes?" — So when they come back to port they can just scan-da-navi-an! (Thank you Jessica C. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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