Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

We were shocked. For once, the snow started right when the weatherman said it would, and we awoke last Saturday to a true winter wonderland. Between three and four inches covered the ground in our small town. The neighborhood children threw snowballs at one another, Colton’s former t-ball coach rode his horse up the town streets, and kids from one to 92 raced down Carter’s Hill (the local sledding spot for the past umpteen decades). 

It was an exceedingly simple, idealistic day, and really was like a scene straight out of a Hallmark movie. Last Saturday was an excellent reminder that money doesn’t make memories—time does. Playing does. Making hot cocoa does. Wiping out so hard on a plastic sled that your first grader looks like he got into a bar fight does. And so does showing that mark off like a trophy to everyone in town.

Will we get some more snow this weekend? I don’t know, and this time, the weatherman says he doesn’t either. But I do know this: I’m excited to make the very best memories either way, and I’m snow glad you’re here.

Here’s what you need to know: If you’ve got a case of cabin fever, we’ve got just the antidote for you. While temperatures plunge throughout Virginia, that doesn’t mean the fun grinds to a halt. We’ve rounded up our most unique ideas for things to do throughout the state this month—both for our chilly weather fans and those who prefer central heat. 

Our top picks:

• Visit a ski resort—Massanutten Resort is a 6,000-acre mountain resort located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. In addition to slopes for skiing and tubing, the resort also has an ice skating rink. The property has 80 skiable acres, with 23 runs that are serviced by seven lifts.

• Indulge in a bowl of Brunswick Stew—If you’re searching for the best Brunswick stew in the DMV, look no further than Red Hot & Blue, located in Fairfax. They go all-out with the protein in their stew, tossing in pulled pork, shredded chicken, and Texas brisket.
• Get spooked at the Poe Museum—Surprisingly, a mahogany fragment of the coffin Edgar Allan Poe was buried in on Oct. 8, 1849, is housed at the Poe Museum in Richmond. The fragment comes from 1875 when Poe’s body was moved to a different part of the cemetery he was buried in, from an unmarked grave to a better location where a large monument was placed over his grave. 

Ready for more adventure? Click below to discover our top 10 winter activities in Virginia.

Question of the Week: Here’s the kicker. What is the best temperature to keep your thermostat on this time of year? For me, it’s a solid 67. My husband swears by two degrees warmer. Let me know your preference on this heated debate at amie@couriernewsroom.com. 

The Virginia House of Delegates recently advanced three constitutional amendments that would bolster reproductive rights, marriage equality, and voting rights as part of a two-year process that culminates with a statewide vote. 

The House passed along party lines a resolution to add reproductive rights to Virginia’s state constitution and protect prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, abortion care, miscarriage management, and fertility care.

In addition to the reproductive rights amendment, the House passed a voting rights amendment resolution that would automatically give people convicted of a felony the right to vote after they have served their time and returned to society, and a marriage equality amendment that would repeal the defunct ban on same-sex marriage that’s still in Virginia’s state constitution. 

• The cost of health insurance was too high for Katina Moss, a 51-year-old, self-employed Richmonder who helps take care of her parents. Things changed after Virginia opted in 2018 to expand its Medicaid program, which allowed Moss to get health insurance and be able to go see the doctor. Fast forward to today, and Moss is worried things could change again—but this time for the worse (READ MORE HERE). 

• When your marks are just as good off the court as they are on, it’s an impressive feat—and that’s the case for Virginia Tech Athletics. The NCAA recently reported that the Blacksburg college’s athletics program had an overall Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 90%. It’s a measure the collegiate association started tracking in 2003 as part of a broader academic reform initiative (READ MORE HERE).

• Medical debt will no longer appear on credit reports for all Americans. This new rule will erase an estimated $49 billion in unpaid medical bills from the credit reports of roughly 15 million Americans, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The agency estimates that the new federal rule could help boost consumer credit scores by an average of 20 points (READ MORE HERE).

This week, we’re featuring a football highlight! If you’d like to see your team’s accomplishments broadcast on Dogwood’s platforms, send a note and photo to amie@couriernewsroom.com or reply to this message. Just be sure you have permission to share from all of the proper sources—players/guardians, photographers, and coaches/schools, to name a few.

AP Photo/Lee Luther Jr.

Did you know that the Virginia Cavaliers football team from the University of Virginia has been around for over 130 years? The program technically started in 1887, but the team didn’t have anyone to play against until the following year.

Currently part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the team won the ACC Team Championship title in 1989 and 1995. It also competed in 21 bowl games from 1984 to 2019, winning eight.

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