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Happy weekend, Harrisonburg! In today’s edition: Major highway expansion moves ahead, gold and silver surge, Galentines DIY night, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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🏆 Most popular this week
Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.
Major highway expansion moving forward: $218.9 million has been awarded to Triton Construction to widen about six miles of I-81 in Harrisonburg-Rockingham, adding third lanes and replacing eight bridges, with lanes expected by late 2031 — get all the project details.
Community braces for transition: Pitman Family Farms, a California company, agreed January 15 to purchase Cargill, which has local Valley operations. Locals worry about jobs, though employees are offered chances to stay under Pitman — see how jobs are affected.
Closet refresh, solved: LeLa’s Boutique makes getting dressed easy with a curated mix of boho-leaning finds and timeless staples, think Liverpool pieces, Judy Blue denim, shoes, and giftable accessories. When your week needs something put-together without trying too hard, LeLa’s Boutique keeps the decision simple.
Courageous storytelling earns recognition: Harrisonburg’s Heritage Oaks superintendent Charlie Fultz earned GCSAA’s 2025 Leo Feser Award for a GCM piece on his mental health journey, his second win, and will be honored this month — read the full story.
Pizza night, upgraded: At Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza, Shenandoah Valley farms and a roaring oven turn fresh dough into blistered, chewy pies with smart seasonal pairings. Bring a friend, split a pie, and let the bar’s local microbrews or crisp cider handle the small talk.
Make room for laughs: Sipe Center keeps the calendar lively with movies and rotating stand-up nights, including Funny Womacks & Friends, in a comfy, community-run theater. When your week needs a mood lift, settle in and let the pros serve the chuckles while you handle the popcorn.
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? AHG has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
One emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ but pet insurance helps. I sure wished I’d had it after a $10k last-minute surgery for my cat (her name is Miss Stache). I learned my lesson and signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Your neighbors are Googling you: It’s uncomfortable but true… employers, new friends, even other parents at school pick up search names all the time. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up first, it can shape opinions before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so your first impression actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s someone you care about, you can help them too.
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
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📆 Sneak peek at next week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
👭 Galentines DIY Night | Monday (2/9) at 6:30 AM – Galentine’s calls for a no-drama girls’ night, so come sip, snack, and craft a teacup candle, then paint a wine glass you’ll actually hand-wash. Your $30 ticket covers both projects, mocktails, and light bites, plus a 10% in-store discount, limited spots.
🎗 Monday Night Madness @ Massanutten Ski Slopes | Monday (2/9) at 4:00 PM – Monday night at Massanutten means ski or ride for a good cause, benefitting Elkton Area United Services. Grab a $35 slope-use ticket and a $25 rental, and trade your case of the Mondays for corduroy, community, and skipping dishes. Buy tickets online, or in person.
🛠 Late Make @ Explore More Discovery Museum | Tuesday (2/10) at 4:00 PM – If your bright ideas keep dying in the group text, take them to Late Make at Explore More Discovery Museum’s Maker City. They supply the materials, tools, and patient supervisors, you bring curiosity, kids, and that half-baked sketch. Self-guided, low-pressure, surprisingly satisfying.
🎻 Old-Time Jam @ Restless Moons Brewing | Tuesday (2/10) at 6:00 PM – Tuesday night means the city’s biggest old-time jam, open to anyone who can strum, bow, or just clap politely. Bring your fiddle, banjo, or well-rested ears, and meet the pickers you nod to at the co-op. Play along, or enjoy the foot-tapping chaos.
🎉 Crucible x Agora One Year @ Shops At Agora | Wednesday (2/11) at 8:00 AM – Crucible x Agora is turning one, so swing by the downtown Harrisonburg café for Oatly happy hour with free oat milk drinks, seasonal sippers, cupcakes, and swag. You will even leave with a free baby coffee tree, the only houseguest that prefers benign neglect.
☕ Society of Curious Cups @ Aristocat Cafe + Tea House | Thursday (2/12) at 5:00 PM – Swap your drip for a monthly Society of Curious Cups tasting. Sip floral, fruity, bold, and earthy brews while learning where they come from, how to brew them, and why they taste that way. No pinkies, just curiosity, good company, and real flavor.
🎲 Weyers Cave Ruritans Bingo @ Weyers Cave Community Center | Friday (2/13) at 5:30 PM – Beat the winter blues at the Weyers Cave Ruritans bingo night, where the coffee is strong and the daubers do the talking. For $25 you get 10 games, two jackpot rounds, cash prizes, and a solid excuse to catch up with neighbors, family, and friends.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Harrisonburg report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 17°F – Low: 6°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -8. Northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 54 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -7. Northwest wind 7 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 26°F – Low: 10°F – Precip: 5%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 26. West wind around 6 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 10.
Most popular house this week
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Take a peek inside →
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