Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Do some weeks just drag on and on for you like this past one did for me? If so, we made it to Friday! And if not, we also made it to Friday. This weekend, I’m looking forward to spending time with my little family, shopping for some Mother’s Day gifts for the ladies in my life, and maybe even swinging by a local library book sale.

You see, I’m trying to amass the single largest collection of books in Virginia. While it might take me a while to reach that goal, there are Virginians all over the commonwealth who already hold awesome records—and we’re telling their stories below. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, I hope you enjoy it because I’m so glad you’re here.

Amie Knowles

Newsletter Editor, Dogwood

Experience the Great Stalacpipe Organ in Luray. (Luray Caverns)

Guinness World Records Virginia holds

By Ellery Weil

Here’s what you need to know: The Guinness World Records are always fun to follow—and Virginia holds its own in them. Learn some weird and wonderful Virginia world records.

Our top picks:

You’d think that the world’s largest peach would be found in Georgia—but the world’s largest peach was grown in Virginia. The peach in question, grown by Henry Chiles of Chiles Peach Orchard in Crozet, weighed in at a hefty 1.83 pounds, and appears closer in size to a pumpkin than a standard peach.
Smithfield, a town long famous for producing high-quality ham, is the home of the world’s largest ham biscuit. The biscuit was crafted in 2002 to celebrate the town’s 250th anniversary, and was eight feet wide, over a foot tall, and filled with a feast-worthy 500 pounds of Smithfield’s finest ham.
You might be a fan of the “Legend of Zelda” video games, but can you match the enthusiasm of Constantine Adams? This Fairfax-based software engineer holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest collection of “Zelda” memorabilia as of 2025. Adams has over 3,000 Zelda-related items.

Curious? We figured you might be, so we wrote about nine of the coolest local records at the link below.

Hear a three-acre instrument →

A recent purchase of an antique painting featuring a cat and dogs. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

Readers, I need your help—identify this artist?

By Amie Knowles

I’ve been waiting all week to write today’s segment for y’all! Last Friday, my husband (Kody), and I went to Liberty Antiques Festival in Liberty, North Carolina. The show’s over three-decades old, and this spring was the last hurrah for its original location—so, of course, we had to go.

Over the years, I’ve made vendor friends at these types of outdoor markets. There’s Willie-Roy who calls me “Doll Baby,” Jay from good ol’ Danville, Jeff who recognizes me every year from my appearance on Antiques Roadshow, Linda who always gets and gives the biggest hugs, Craig and Carol the dynamic duo from Halifax, and countless others.

This year, I made a new friend. Since I didn’t get her name, we’ll call her “The Art Lady”—or “Art” for short. Art and I struck up a conversation about some of the really cool pieces she, her husband, and a friend brought to the show. Several of the pieces shipped straight from Europe, while others had a distinctly early American folk artsy flair. My favorite piece? It’s the one pictured above, which came home with me.

Art said she guessed it was early 1900s, and I’m thinking late 1800s to early 1900s as well. Honestly, I wish I had more conclusive information to share about it. Painted to look like it’s on an artist’s palette, I’ve only been able to find a single pair to complement it online, and they’re selling for double what I paid for the individual. To me, the signature looks like J. Klein or maybe Klisch. If you’re interested in helping me solve the mystery, shoot me an email at amie@couriernewsroom.com and I’ll send a closeup of the signature.

Regardless of whether or not the painting lands me a spot on Antiques Roadshow for the second time, I’m absolutely in love with it. Besides, I think adoring what you find is what antiquing’s really all about anyway—at least, it sure is for me.

Sorry for breaking the stride on this one, but I think you’ll forgive me. Usually, I highlight reader responses to the Question of the Week posed in Monday’s newsletter in this space. Today, I have another question: Are you participating in May Day?

As Ava Edwards recently reported, millions of Americans are getting involved in No School. No Work. No Shopping. today. That’s exactly what it sounds like—folks are skipping school, work, and the stores as a way to show economic power in the fight for democracy. You can read more about today’s unique protest here, as well as take the May Day online pledge.

If you do choose to participate, I’d love to know 1) what you boycotted for the day and 2) your reason behind that decision. Please write to me at amie@couriernewsroom.com and let me know all about it.

Share your take →

By Michael O’Connor

Dogwood recently caught up with Jaime Contreras of 32BJ Service Employees International Union, which represents workers in Virginia, in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC.⁣

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Contreras was there to rally on behalf of immigrants who have been under attack by President Donald Trump.⁣

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 29, heard oral arguments related to Trump’s bid to end Temporary Protected Status, which allows migrants fleeing hardship to settle temporarily in the United States.

Here’s what Contreras said →

Virginia is now the first state in the South to create a paid family and medical leave program. Here’s what it entails—including up to 12 weeks of paid leave for qualified employees. (See post)
Looking for opportunities to celebrate May Day?⁣ Whether you want to protest for your rights or connect with your fellow workers, Dogwood has your guide for all things May Day around Virginia.⁣ (Get involved)
Campus dining workers at Virginia State University and Norfolk State University are joining a growing number of their peers as union members. (Read more)

Would you share this newsletter with a friend?

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes stories from Ellery Weil, Michael O’Connor, and Ava Edwards. It was edited by Brook Bolen.

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