Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Overnight I‑81 crawl: when the mystery oversize load hits Harrisonburg
And check out 40th Annual Members' Show on the Harrisonburg Patch calendar

Good day Harrisonburg! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Overnight I‑81 crawl: when the mystery oversize load hits Harrisonburg
- Are Harrisonburg students making these fire safety mistakes in their apartments?
- Want to help Harrisonburg's new Salvation Army leaders serve local neighbors?
Also on today's calendar: 40th Annual Members' Show and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the tree say when Spring arrived? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Harrisonburg.
- Friday: A stray afternoon t-storm, with a high of 82 and low of 61 degrees.
- Saturday: Partly sunny and humid, temps: high: 83, low: 62.
- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 85 and low of 63 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Oversize load alert: What are they driving up from North Carolina to I-495? (augustafreepress.com) — Expect major overnight delays on I‑81 through Harrisonburg as a massive oversize load crawls from North Carolina toward the D.C. area, taking up more than two lanes and escorted by state police. VDOT says the convoy will pass through Staunton and Harrisonburg between Thursday evening and early Friday, urging drivers to avoid these routes or check 511 for updates.
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2. Semester begins, fire officials remind students of importance of fire safety (whsv.com) — As college students return to Harrisonburg, the city's fire chief is urging them to take simple precautions like watching their cooking, avoiding candles, and not overloading outlets to prevent dangerous apartment and dorm fires. He shares recent local incidents, stresses checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and reminds students they'll never be in trouble for calling 911 if something seems wrong.
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3. Salvation Army welcomes new leaders in Harrisonburg (whsv.com) — New Salvation Army leaders Majors Alan and Kim Grimes are settling into their roles in Harrisonburg and are eager to meet more residents and expand local services. They're especially looking for volunteers to help serve meals at the shelter, and say many community members already have personal ties to the organization's work in the city and Rockingham County.
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4. VDH reminds of food safety tips for those working in agriculture (whsv.com) — Health officials in Harrisonburg are urging anyone who works with animals or keeps backyard chickens to take extra care with food handling and hygiene to avoid salmonella. They emphasize handwashing, changing dirty boots before entering the house, and watching for serious symptoms like high fever, dehydration, or bloody stool that should prompt medical care.
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📸 Around Harrisonburg
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Harrisonburg
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Movie on Festival Lawn →
James Madison University Virtual Events Festival Lawn
9:00 pm - 40th Annual Members' Show →
Park Gables Gallery at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, 1491 Virginia Ave, Harrisonburg
2:00 pm - Mozaic Dance Team Audition Workshop →
James Madison University Virtual Events The Union, Warren 256
8:00 pm - Community Gear Swap →
90 N Main St, Harrisonburg
9:00 am - Fall Community Gear Swap →
Walkabout Outfitter, 90 N Main St, Harrisonburg
11:00 am - Mineral Museum Hours →
James Madison University Virtual Events Festival Mineral Museum
1:00 pm - Weeks of Welcome Field Day →
James Madison University Virtual Events Hillside Field
5:00 pm - Mozaic Dance Team Pre Audition Workshop →
James Madison University Virtual Events UREC Group Exercise Studio 2 (Room 378)
8:00 pm - Veterans Breakfast
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Drifters Cafe 217 S Liberty Street Unit 104B Next to Pale Fire in the Icehouse
10:00 am - Mineral Museum Hours →
James Madison University Virtual Events Festival Mineral Museum
1:00 pm - ELEVATE: Strategic Planning Fundamentals (with Dr. Nick Swartz from JMU's SPCE) →
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce TBA More information to come.
5:30 pm - Shenandoah Valley Watercolor Society Splashing Color For 40 Years →
Park Gables Gallery at VMRC, 1491 Virginia Ave, Harrisonburg
5:00 pm
Friday August 28
Sunday August 30
Monday August 31
Tuesday September 1
Wednesday September 2
Friday September 4
📣 Harrisonburg Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Excellent to work with!
They will handle all of your insurance paperwork as well! Fasylt, efficient, and Vet owned! Veterans Roofing Company Website is all one word ( next… (Nextdoor Chestnut Ridge) - VeteranRoofingGroup.com
They will work with your insurance company for a fast, easy process! (Nextdoor Chestnut Ridge)
- New Day Executive Search posted a job opening for Sous Chef in Harrisonburg. Apply here.
- Kona Ice posted a job opening for Server 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: What a re-leaf! (Thank you Flo G. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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