Iām not a newsletter editor today; Iām a scary shark (at least, in the Hoenn region). Thatās rightāonce again, I let my son select my Halloween costume. When we take our little Pikachu trick-or-treating this evening, Iāll be swimming through the neighborhood as Sharpedo, a water-type PokĆ©mon.
My favorite costume idea Colton ever came up with for me was when he was around 3 or so. He asked me to be a pumpkin, but not just any pumpkināa floating pumpkin. I brought that vision together with a jack-o-lantern sweatshirt, cloud tights, and a white tutu with battery-operated lights in the tulle. Classic.
As a family of PokĆ©mon this year, I suggest you hide the candy bucket if you see usābecause when it comes to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, we gotta catch ’em all. Happy Halloween, yāall. Iām so glad youāre here.
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History comes alive on Halloween night. (Zachariah Smith/Unsplash)
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By Aila Boyd
Hereās what you need to know: Famous Virginians make great choices for playing dress-upāboth for kids and kids at heart.
Our top picks:
- Dressing as George Washington is a classic Halloween costume choice. Born at Popes Creen Plantation in 1732, Washington went on to become a successful general and later the countryās first president.
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Channel the legendary Gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe, who spent a considerable portion of his life in Richmond. When trying to copy his iconic style, turn to the Poe Museum in Richmond for inspiration, given its extensive collection of Poe portraits and memorabilia.
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Known as one of the most fashionable Virginians, Pharrell Williams might have grown up in Virginia Beach, where shorts and flip-flops are common, but now dresses as though heās ready to storm a Parisian runway. In fact, the singer was named the menās creative director at Louis Vuitton in 2023.
Find your colonial connection? Weāve got plenty more costume ideas at the link below.
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Answers rolled in fast on Monday when I asked yāall this question: Has your outlook on the future changedāfor better or worseāsince Donald Trump returned to the White House?
Out of the 23 responses I read, only four people said they felt better. Of the ones that didnāt, there were exceedingly valid concerns. One reader, PR W., opened up about how difficult it is to turn on the news these days, saying: āI try to convince myself that it can’t get any worse, then there’s another unimaginable occurrence.ā
That response stuck with me all week. If yāall would like to talk more, my inbox is always open to you at amie@couriernewsroom.com.
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If you’ve ever had questions about the way the country operates, you’re not alone. (Markus Winkler/Unsplash)
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By Ryan Pitkin
What happens when no one stops a presidentāor a governorāfrom doing whatever they want? Jobs disappear. Programs vanish. People pay the price.
This weekās authoritarianism explainer breaks down the guardrails that protect US democracy: the separation of powers built into our Constitution. Think of them like the metal barriers on a mountain roadābarely noticeable until you realize how much theyāre protecting you.
Without a system of checks and balances in place, an unchecked leader or administration can strip away rights from their citizens one by one while ending programs that help everyday people access education, health care and any number of other resources they may take for granted.
Experts say those guardrails are under serious strain right now, as Congress keeps giving in to the current administration. Courts may be the last line of defense. And if those checks and balances fail, getting them back wonāt be easy.
With this in mind, itās important to consider, as the Founders once did: Would you rather be a citizen or a subject?
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Dogwood asked Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and two-term congresswoman, to tell Virginians in her own words how sheād help them survive and thrive if elected governor on Tuesday, Nov. 4. (Read more)
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Virginia House of Delegates candidate Andrew Payton (D-Harrisonburg) explains how creating policy that puts regular, working-class people first could improve the lives of all Virginians. (Watch here)
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During Dogwoodās event last month, Ashley Kenneth, CEO of The Commonwealth Institute, broke down the compounded effects of Republicansā cuts to Medicaid and the looming loss of subsidies that help millions of Americans get coverage via the Affordable Care Act. (Watch here)
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Reach 19,000+ Virginians who care about their communities! Sponsor Dogwood’s Dec. 6 Special Edition, āHow to Get Involved and Give Back this Holiday Season.ā Book by Nov. 21, 2025, and save 20% off your placement.
Click here to get started.
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles with stories from Aila Boyd, Ryan Pitkin, Bonnie Fuller, Brendan Smith, and the Dogwood team. It was edited by Paula Solis. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 7-year-old who loves monster trucks.
Dogwood is free to read for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.
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