Author: Eric Gorton
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Eric Gorton, senior contributor
Eric has worked as a media relations coordinator in University Communications at James Madison University since March 2005. He started working in public relations with the Virginia Department of Transportation in September 2000. Before that, he worked as a reporter and editor at the Daily News-Record from 1987 to 1999 and as a Web content developer for SEI, Inc. in Harrisonburg from 1998-2000.
Harrisonburg looks to reboot tourism interest by luring conferences, events
The city’s relatively small size could be its biggest asset as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers, said Jennifer Bell, Harrisonburg’s tourism manager since July 2019, who has been putting more effort into getting advertising in front of conference and event planners. Since October she has purchased four full-page color ads in Small Market Meeting Magazine, a full-page color ad in the wedding edition of Virginia Living magazine, a full-page ad in ConventionSouth Magazine and an assortment of digital advertising across various platforms.
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Local restaurants endured the summer of ‘Now Hiring,’ but it hasn’t been easy for some
Like many restaurants and retail stores across the country, Harrisonburg businesses have faced some challenges in finding — and keeping — employees this summer, although their experiences have been almost as diverse as the types of food and products they sell.
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In a school featuring ‘stewardship’ learning, solar array will be the newest teaching tool
hortly after Bluestone Elementary School opened in 2017, third grade students buried milk containers on the school grounds.
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Harrisonburg to retain metropolitan designation until at least 2030
Harrisonburg will maintain its status as a metropolitan statistical area for at least the next decade – news the city was happy to receive last week. That’s when the U.S. Office of Management and Budget announced it would continue to classify communities with a population of at least 50,000 in the core city as an MSA.
For the birders: pandemic spurs new interest in area’s feathered friends
Disappointed that the barn owls were not putting on the hunting display he had hoped for, Matt Gingerich resorted to a smartphone app and Bluetooth speaker to mimic their call. Moments later, in the deepening twilight, a large, dark-colored bird darted above the pasture, making a beeline straight at him and his invited guest, photographer Bob Adamek.
City news roundup: New school’s cost expected to go up; HEC to end electric rate discounts
Because of building materials’ rising costs, Harrisonburg’s second high school could cost an additional $7.7 million, according to an estimate presented to city and school district leaders Tuesday.
Harrisonburg’s school district prepares for first step in Bluestone Elementary solar project
Contractors interested in designing, building and maintaining a solar array on the roof of Bluestone Elementary School have one more week to submit their qualifications to Harrisonburg City Schools.
With hackers always on the prowl, local utilities keep defenses up
While local officials and experts say cybercriminals couldn’t actually shut down the local grid by hacking into systems controlled by the Harrisonburg Electric Commission and Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative, they have plenty of other incentives to try – and never give up.
