Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why a JMU expert says Halloween’s scares are actually good for you

Coming up on the Harrisonburg Patch calendar: Celebrando Nuestra Cultura. A Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration 2026

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Good morning Harrisonburg! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why a JMU expert says Halloween's scares are actually good for you
  • How a Harrisonburg grad danced from HHS stages to national tour
  • Why Harrisonburg faith leaders are urgently writing letters for a local imam

Also on today's calendar: SOCKtober: Buy 3 pairs of socks, get 1 FREE! and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Why did the cookie go to the hospital? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Delightful with plenty of sun, with a high of 72 and low of 49 degrees.
  • Saturday: Sun through high clouds, temps: high: 67, low: 54.
  • Sunday: Rain, with a high of 61 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• JMU professor says Halloween offers safe way to confront mortality (whsv.com) — In Harrisonburg, a James Madison University professor explains how Halloween's scares can actually help people safely think about death and their own mortality. She says haunted houses and spooky symbols create a controlled environment to feel fear, adrenaline, and relief, encouraging residents to embrace the fun while recognizing the deeper psychological benefits behind the holiday's thrills.
   

• Screens & Stages: Harrisonburg High School alum stops for workshop with students amid national tour of hit musical (whsv.com) — Harrisonburg students at Rocktown and Harrisonburg High Schools got a rare chance to learn choreography and career insights directly from alum Kate Cummings, now touring nationally with "Mamma Mia." She shared how Harrisonburg City Public Schools shaped her arts journey and why supporting local arts programs matters, in a segment available to stream weekly.
   

• Harrisonburg interfaith association members rally around local iman detained by ICE (dnronline.com) — Harrisonburg faith leaders and residents are rallying around Imam Zaheer Akbar Alvi, a well-known local religious leader reportedly detained by ICE while visiting Northern Virginia. Members of the Interfaith Association of Harrisonburg-Rockingham are organizing letters of support, emphasizing his importance to the community and urging those who know him to contact the group to help.
   

📸 Around Harrisonburg

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Dunkin' posted a job opening for Shift Leader in Harrisonburg. Apply here.
  • Target posted a job opening for Specialty Sales (Style, Tech, Beauty) (T2071) in Harrisonburg. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Harrisonburg here.

🗞 Nearby News

Bridgewater

  • PEN America Director to discuss free speech in endowed lecture at Bridgewater College (rocktownnow.com)
  • No. 25 Bridgewater Volleyball takes down Roanoke in three sets (rocktownnow.com)
  • 2026 Photo Contest Submissions (bridgewater.blog)

Broadway

  • Turner Ashby, Broadway collide in one of Valley's biggest football games of the season (dnronline.com)

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 did the cookie go to the hospital?" — Because he felt crummy. (Thank you Sanda J. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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