Hi there. It’s Amie.

I’ve got some great news. Y’all asked, and we listened. I really mean it when I say we do our best to cater our newsletter to your interests. That includes getting the news to you in a way that works best for you! Over the past week, I received several really kind emails from y’all, all saying the same thing: “Amie, that green font is hard to read.”

You know what? I agree. It was a pretty color, but… just not practical. I spoke with our superstar design team, and they graciously made an update here that’s easier on the eyes. Speaking of design, have y’all had a chance to check out our website’s makeover? I can’t get enough of how sleek it looks and user-friendly it is.

As always, if there’s something you’re really enjoying or if you would like to share an idea, my inbox is open to you. Have a great weekend!

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month With These Must-Read Books

By Sam Cohen

Here’s what you need to know: Discover must-read books by Hispanic and Latino authors to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, handpicked by staff in our parent company, COURIER Newsroom.

Our Top Picks:

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
I read the book for the first time when I was in middle school. … I remember thinking at the time, Oh my God, I can’t believe writing can be this good. And I still think that every time I revisit Cisneros’ work. Her prose will always make me feel like an energetic 13-year-old discovering what it means to truly love reading for the first time—The House on Mango Street is that tied into my memories. (Sam Cohen)
“Pedro Páramo” by Juan Rulfo
Probably my all-time favorite—It’s a magical realism book written in the 1950s that takes place in a tiny Mexican town. The narrative is nonlinear, and it’s not clear if the characters are currently alive or ghosts. (Crystal Harlan)
Check out Carmen Maria Machado’s fiction (here’s a short story you can read for free, and it’s wondrous). If you like the story, here’s a great commentary on it by Jane Dykema (which I read first—it’s what led me to the story). (Lisa Hayes)

Ready for more reading? We’ve got some stellar recommendations for you.

Read this article

What’s your favorite title? We all love a good read here in our newsroom. If you think there’s a book that should’ve made our list, we’d love to hear about it. Email me at amie@couriernewsroom.com or reply back to this email and we may feature your response. Don’t forget to mention what part of the commonwealth you call home!

Early Voting Began on Sept. 22—But That Wasn’t Always the Case in Virginia

Early voting in the commonwealth is convenient and simple, but it was not always so. And depending on which political party controls the General Assembly next year, it may not always be. Dogwood’s Carolyn Fiddler, the nation’s foremost expert in state politics, explains how the upcoming election could impact the future of voting in Virginia.

Read this article

RELATED: The federal government is less than two days away from a shutdown, unless Congress passes a funding plan that President Biden signs into law. Here’s how a shutdown could impact Virginia’s elections.

~ ICYMI ~

Do you care about preventing gun violence? The Virginia Senate race for District 31 (northern Virginia) may have a big impact. Democratic candidate Russet Perry is a former prosecutor in the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office and CIA officer who is running on a public safety platform that includes protecting vulnerable Virginians from domestic and gun violence (READ MORE HERE).
Did you see the four worst moments from the second Republican debate? The televised discussion featured seven candidates, who combined, are trailing frontrunner Donald Trump by a whopping 17 points in the polls. In addition to attacking teachers, public schools, and trans kids, candidates argued that striking auto workers are picketing for the wrong reasons (READ MORE HERE).
Virginia is home to some of the nation’s most prestigious educational institutions. Three remarkable Virginia schools have even earned their place among the top universities in the United States (READ MORE HERE).

Your Commonwealth Connection

Our weekly #ThisIsVirginia shares spotlights of the people, places, and things that make us a commonwealth.

In 2021, more than 704,000 people were facing food insecurity in Virginia, according to an interactive map by Feeding America. To patch the shortfall, the nonprofit organization calculated a need of nearly $453 million.

Thankfully, local food banks, community organizations, and businesses often help fill the gap. Throughout September, select Food Lion grocery stores across the company’s operating area helped support Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month. Charitable Foundation Food Lion Feeds provided dozens of food pantries with practical upgrades. During the Great Pantry Makeover, 27 pantries received remodels and had their shelves stocked.

Virginia recipients included:

Providence United Church of Christ in Chesapeake
Gleaning Baptist Church in Gloucester
Emmanuel Church of God in Christ in North Dinwiddie
Belmont Community Resource Center in Richmond

Food Lion associates volunteered their time and talents to complete the projects. To learn more about how Food Lion Feeds is helping tackle food insecurity, click here.

Photo Credit: Food Lion Feeds

This email is written by Amie Knowles, community editor at Dogwood, lifelong Virginia resident, and mom to a fantastic five-year-old who loves monster trucks.
Have a question or comment? Reply back to this email!