Community Corner

🌱 How Suffolk’s natural preserve just grew by nearly 2,000 acres.

Also, don't miss CAY Night: Allen Hudson & the Halfmoons on the Suffolk Patch calendar

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Cheers Suffolk! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

🎃 Hosting a Halloween event in Suffolk? Let Patch get the word out for you. Post it to the Patch calendar.

In today's newsletter:

  • How Suffolk's natural preserve just grew by nearly 2,000 acres.
  • Which Suffolk schools just earned Virginia's top "Distinguished" rating?
  • How low Suffolk-area reservoirs are affecting your water use now.

Also on today's calendar: Craft/Vendor Market and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Warmer with sunshine, with a high of 85 and low of 58 degrees.
  • Friday: Beautiful with some sun, temps: high: 76, low: 54.
  • Saturday: Sun through high clouds, with a high of 75 and low of 65 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Natural area preserve in Suffolk expanded by 1,900 acres (wavy.com) — A major conservation win just added 1,916 acres of forest and wetlands to the South Quay Sandhills Natural Area Preserve in Suffolk, expanding it to 5,668 acres. The newly protected land, just east of the existing preserve, strengthens wildlife corridors to the Great Dismal Swamp and helps safeguard local water quality in the Chowan River and Albemarle-Pamlico watersheds.
   

2. Virginia Beach City Public Schools and Suffolk Public Schools announce 100% accreditation for school year (wtkr.com) — Suffolk families can celebrate as Suffolk Public Schools report 100% state accreditation across the division for 2026-27, with six schools now rated Distinguished. Leaders credit focused support plans and note big gains from last year, when only two Suffolk schools reached that top status, while still emphasizing continued work for all student groups.
   

3. VB, Norfolk reservoirs short 'at least 17 inches' of rain as drought conditions persist (wavy.com) — Suffolk-area reservoirs that help supply drinking water to Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and parts of Suffolk are running about 7.5 feet low, with rainfall roughly 17 inches below normal over the past year. With boat ramps at Western Branch and Lake Burnt Mills closed, officials are urging residents to voluntarily cut nonessential water use to avoid stricter restrictions later.
   

4. Co-Creator of Dark Web Marketplace Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison (justice.gov) — A Suffolk man has been sentenced in Chicago to 40 years in federal prison for co-creating Empire Market, a dark web site that enabled hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal drug and data sales. While the crimes were global, his Suffolk ties make this a notable case for local residents following major federal prosecutions involving someone from their community.
   

📸 Around Suffolk

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • LAMP LIGHT FARM LLC
    Don't forget we have our Rabbit Processing Workshop on October 17th! We have two rabbits left available for students and 10 spaces left for workshop… (Nextdoor Lake Cohoon)
  • Anyone interested in adopting this sweet girl?!
    Litter trained, had first shots, been drwormed. 8 weeks old. Happy, healthy, and socialized with dogs and kids of all ages. Rehoming fee $30,… (Nextdoor Country Roads)
  • BAE Systems posted a job opening for Outside Machinist in Suffolk. Apply here.
  • Metro One The Loss Prevention Group, Inc. posted a job opening for Unarmed Security Officer - Suffolk in Suffolk. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Suffolk here.

Ok Suffolk! 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 is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white?" — A chalk board (Thank you Charlie H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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