Author: Holly Marcus
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Holly Marcus, Senior Contributor
A $1,000 fine, and other local library trivia
“The library is part of the educational and cultural life of its community and defines the library’s role in the community as assisting in the democratic process through the free communication of ideas.”
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Learning to fight back: Class teaches self-defense skills
Deputy Matt Glovier removes his padded training suit after spending over an hour battling a dozen women. Punches had been thrown at his head. Jabs were directed at his ribs. Tennis shoes kicked and whacked his legs and stomped his feet. At one point his ear was grabbed and twisted, dropping him to his knees.
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Tearing down walls: A trip through time in one of Harrisonburg’s first “new” public schools
In 1878, the school board decided that Harrisonburg needed a “large and more modern building” due to the “increasing number of scholars.” The old academy was razed and a seven-room brick structure went up in its place. The following year, a new brick schoolhouse opened on South Main Street. Cost: $5,000.
Animal lovers divided on how to handle feral cats that roam the area
Bundled in a heavy coat, a woman sits in a picnic shelter at Hillandale Park. Five large, healthy cats dine on plates of cat food scattered around her. She and several other caretakers come twice a day to feed these “homeless” cats, as she calls them. She doesn’t want to be identified; she’s been hassled over the years for doing this.
Valley Friends Meeting sees solar as better stewardship
Part of Quakers’ beliefs include stewardship and – upon listening to the divine within themselves and others – the group began to feel a need to do something about climate destabilization. In 2014, they put out a statement to invite other religious groups and communities to make an effort toward reducing their carbon footprint on the environment. Having already done an energy audit on their meeting house, one member said, “Are we going to put our money where our mouth is?”
New pedal-powered compost business giveth, and taketh away
Rummaging through a bright yellow bucket filled with kale scraps, orange rinds and coffee grounds, Nidhi Vinod gives the go-ahead to dump the contents into a compost bin tucked into a corner of the parking lot by the Turner Pavilion downtown. She hands the bucket to Amelia Morrison who cleans it and places it back on the trailer which is attached to a bicycle. They grab the next bucket and check it for non-compostable items before adding it to the mix of kitchen scraps, fruit peelings, bio plastics and paper napkins.
Looking For A Home
“Residentially impaired” is how Dylan Thompson describes his living situation at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The church rotates with 15 other places of worship in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County that take in homeless guests as part of Open Doors.
