Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

I’ve just realized it’s finally no longer January, which by my calculations contains approximately 783 days. In the first month of 2024, there were a lot of impactful moments. My kiddo turned a year older; Monster Jam 2036, when he can drive in the show for the first time, we’re getting closer. Taylor Swift’s boyfriend made it to the Super Bowl (and yes, I’ve ordered friendship bracelets to pass out on Feb. 11). I made a New Year’s resolution that I’ve already broken. Oops.

It was also a month of change and challenge. Moments of mourning. Times of understanding. Seconds of clarity. Helium.
Wait, helium? Last weekend, we installed our first “Alexa” device, the Echo Pop. It’s fascinating. The smart speaker plays music, tells jokes, gives weather reports, everything. Begrudgingly, it even helped Colton out when he asked it to solve a question on his math quiz (which, props, kid). Alexa also reported that by 2030-ish, the Earth will run out of helium.

Is that true? I have no idea. My degree’s in English, not science, and I couldn’t find a single piece of conclusive evidence to corroborate it one way or the other. But it
felt “factual” enough in the moment to make me spontaneously combust into tears at 11 p.m. You see, Colton loves balloons, and at this rate, I won’t be able to buy him a big “1-3” when he becomes a teenager. It was so simple, but the element of the unknown—of the change—got to me. I wonder if gets to you, too?

If you’re dealing with uncertainty right now, you’re not alone. Here’s your validation that it’s okay to feel confused. It’s alright to be conflicted. Taking a moment to do nothing more than breathe is also an important action. Whatever you’ve come here with today, I hope you’re able to lay it down for a few minutes while you read an intentionally positive newsletter. And remember, I’m so glad you’re here.

Amie Knowles

Community Editor, Dogwood

10 amazing Virginia rentals for your next getaway

Here’s what you need to know: While staying at a conventional hotel or resort for a getaway is nice, they can sometimes feel a little too cookie-cutter. If you’re looking to shake up your next getaway, consider staying at a weird, wild, or otherwise unique Airbnb.

Our top picks:

The Tobacco Barn—Rustic meets chic at The Tobacco Barn. While the rental features plenty of modern design elements, like a cozy fireplace and soapstone floors, its high-peaked ceilings and exposed-log crossbeams reveal its prior functionality as a place where tobacco leaves were stored for drying.
Hobbit House—The Hobbit House is the perfect rental for those who like J.R.R. Tolkien’s books or the Peter Jackson film adaptations. The unique and whimsical dwelling offers in-house surround sound, a large tiled shower, a wood-burning fireplace, an outdoor grill, and a hot tub.
LUX Heated Tugboat—This tugboat-turned-houseboat is unique in the fact that it floats on an 8-acre private lake but has all the conveniences you could ever want, including a fully stocked kitchen and Wi-Fi. The lake is surrounded by 142 wooded acres that offer more than 5 miles of trails for hiking and biking. At night, you can relax on the private beach by the fire pit or on the deck overlooking the water.

Ready to pack? Check out our list of 10 amazing Virginia vacation rentals.

Read this article

Have you ever wondered about something specific to Virginia, but weren’t sure how to Google your question to find the right answer? We’re right there with you. We decided to launch an audience survey to get a better understanding of the questions you may have about VA in the hopes that we can do some investigating on your behalf.

If you could take a few minutes to fill out the survey and let us know what’s on your mind, we’d be so grateful. Looking forward to hearing what you want us to report on next!

What are you curious about, Virginia?

Good news! Companion bills in the Virginia Senate and House—SB 373 and HB 737—both recently advanced out of committee.

Workers would receive 80% of their pay during leaves that meet certain criteria. Contributions from both employers and employees would fund the program. The two lawmakers who introduced the bills estimate that the cost would equal about 0.5% of a worker’s paycheck.

Passed along party lines with the Democrats in favor, the additional leave isn’t set in stone. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has remained silent on both bills so far.

Read this article

~ ICYMI ~

Major teacher salary increases could be coming to Virginia. Yep, you read that right. Jessica Craven recently took to social media to update how education-based legislation in the General Assembly is moving through the chambers. The changes could help with teacher shortages, bring about competitive salaries, and increase access to affordable early childhood education (WATCH HERE).
Rockingham County schools recently banned 57 books, many with LGBTQ+ storylines. A local teen named Rex Fritz was one of the first to speak out about the decision. The high school senior noted that his personal review of several of the titles didn’t align with controversial themes opponents of the books raised (READ MORE HERE).
Although Virginia may not hold as much filmmaking prestige as Hollywood, Atlanta, and even Wilmington, it has still served as the backdrop for a number of notable films and television shows. The next time you settle in for a movie night, consider watching one of these six options that were filmed right here in the commonwealth (READ MORE HERE).

Your Commonwealth Connection

Throughout February, we’re sharing a plethora of impactful stories of Black Virginians on our social media pages. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for the latest updates.

Black History Month was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976. Since then, every US president has designated a theme for the February celebration.

2024’s theme, “African Americans and the Arts,” was chosen to highlight the experiences and influence of Caribbean, African, and Black American artists, among many others. From literature to film, music to architecture, fashion to visual arts, the contributions of Black Americans have had a lasting impact.

Who are some of your favorite Caribbean, African, and Black American artists? Let us know by replying to this email!

What did you think of this newsletter?

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