Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Which Harrisonburg routes will see lane closures and detours this week?

Coming up on the Harrisonburg Patch calendar: Virginia Pumpkin Festival

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Good morning to you Harrisonburg! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Which Harrisonburg routes will see lane closures and detours this week?
  • Will Harrisonburg permanently ban police license plate reader technology?
  • How EMU students turned Ethiopian New Year into a campus-wide celebration

Also on today's calendar: Shenandoah Valley Real Estate Wealth Workshop (Live Virtual Sign-Up) and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What are the two favorite words for a shark to hear? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

  • Sunday: Partial sunshine, with a high of 68 and low of 56 degrees.
  • Monday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 68, low: 56.
  • Tuesday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, with a high of 72 and low of 55 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Staunton District Traffic Alert for September 28 – October 2, 2026 (virginia.gov) — Drivers in and around Harrisonburg face upcoming lane and shoulder closures on Route 11, Route 33 East Market Street, and nearby I-81 segments as VDOT advances widening, paving, and sidewalk projects. Expect nighttime ramp closures, shifting traffic patterns, and reduced speed limits through at least 2027, so planning alternate routes or extra travel time will be essential for daily commutes and school runs.
   

2. Harrisonburg Moves to Ban City Use of License Plate Readers (theriver953.com) — Harrisonburg officials are weighing an ordinance that would ban the city from buying or using automatic license plate reader systems, a move that could significantly shape future policing technology here. Council directed the city attorney to draft the measure earlier this month, and it appeared on the Sept. 22 agenda, though final actions from that meeting have not yet been posted.
   

3. Ethiopian Students Welcome 2019 (theweathervane.org subscription) — Ethiopian students at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg recently hosted a lively New Year celebration, sharing food, dance, and traditions with classmates and faculty. The event highlighted EMU's growing international community and showed how cultural celebrations help students feel at home, build friendships across backgrounds, and deepen the campus's sense of belonging and diversity.
   

4. Virginia Fastest ABSN Programs For Career Changers (allnurses.com) — If you live in Harrisonburg and already hold a bachelor's degree, both James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University offer accelerated BSN programs that can move you into nursing in about a year. The guide compares tuition, schedules, clinical placements at Sentara RMH and Augusta Health, and how quickly graduates typically recoup their investment through RN salaries across Virginia.
   

5. JMU Opens Sun Belt Play with Win at Old Dominion - James Madison University Athletics (jmusports.com) — JMU football, based in Harrisonburg, has opened Sun Belt Conference play with a win over Old Dominion, pushing the Dukes to a 4-0 start. The athletics site highlights postgame press conferences and recent media availabilities, giving local fans more insight into players, coaches, and momentum heading into the rest of the season.
   

📸 Around Harrisonburg

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🪧 Patch Classifieds

  • Great apartment available in Bridgewater
    For professional or retired individual: One (or two) bedroom, open living-dining-kitchen, bathroom suite, office, screened porch on ground floor;... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Back on Market — Buyer Financing Collapsed.
    Appraised Over Contract. No Conditions. asking 250,000 Move in 2 bedroom 1 bath just under 1 acre (Nextdoor Smithland Rd)
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for 911 Emergency Communications Officer II in Harrisonburg. Apply here.
  • Wendy's posted a job opening for Crew Member 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: "MAN OVERBOARD!" (Thank you M J. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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