Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas ‘round here! Chatham (which I’m convinced is Virginia’s equivalent of Mayberry) had its town tree and lantern lighting last Friday night—and in these parts, that signifies the official start of the holiday season. It’s an evening filled with Christmas carols, Yule log wishes, and gingersnap cookies. If you couldn’t make it this year, be sure to keep an eye on our Instagram on Sunday for a festive recap video. Oh, and shameless plug for Chatham small business Callands Coffee; Dean and Jen have their Santa’s Secret blend on the shelves, and it’s the best ever.

Speaking of happy holidays, Christmas isn’t the only one on our minds! To our friends celebrating Chanukah, we wish you bright and meaningful celebrations over the week to come. May the dreidels spin and the menorahs light your homes.

No matter what you’re celebrating—or when those festivities occur—we’re so thrilled that you’ve taken a few moments to be with us today. Yep, we’re so glad you’re here.

Amie Knowles

Community Editor, Dogwood

Jingle all the way to these Christmas tree farms & light displays in VA

Here’s what you need to know: The holiday season is upon us, and there’s no better way to get in the holiday spirit than to view light displays and visit Christmas tree farms. We’ve rounded up some of the top destinations to visit now to maximize your holiday enjoyment.

Our top picks:

Snickers Gap Tree Farm—This family-owned choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm has been growing fir and spruce trees for 43 years. Currently, they have over 36,000 trees in various stages of growth, and the perfect one could go home with you.
Dominion Energy Garden of Lights—As you enjoy the one-mile walk, look for illuminated color-changing trees, the sparkling Conifer Garden, and the historic NATO Tower drenched in lights. The “Mega Tree” (you’ll know it when you see it) is a great place for a holiday selfie. Hot cocoa and holiday treats are available for purchase.
High Country Lights—This free musical light show features more than 200,000 Christmas lights choreographed to the sounds of the season every night at 6 p.m. from late November to Jan. 1, 2024, at Felts Park.

Light up your world with nine more exciting, festive adventures in the commonwealth. Just click below to discover what Virginia has to offer!

Read this article

From now through Dec. 12, we are running our Holiday Supporter Drive—and we need your support to ensure we can continue to report the local stories that matter most to Virginians.

You can join us by donating to our newsroom today!

Any amount helps, and every dollar counts towards our goal.

You can also help by following Dogwood on social media if you aren’t already—we’re on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

Or share our newsletter with your friends and family. Let them know why supporting local journalism is so important in Virginia.

Thanks again for being part of the Dogwood community!

Donate here

Y’all know I love me some holly jolly… and a healthy dose of procrastination. I’m still shopping for folks on my list. Are you?! I’m also running out of ideas and would love to order from small businesses throughout the commonwealth. If you know of any that could use a boost (or maybe even a shoutout), shoot me a message at amie@couriernewsroom.com or reply back to this email.

The proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would require companies to locate and dig up the roughly nine million lead pipes in their service areas within 10 years. According to the EPA, there are roughly 188,000 lead service lines in the state of Virginia.

“Every single American has a right to clean drinking water. Today, we’re closer to guaranteeing that right,” President Joe Biden said in a tweet.

Read this article

~ ICYMI ~

Virginia’s 2024 legislative session kicks off in just over a month, and the Democrats who will be in charge of both the House of Delegates and state Senate have made clear their priorities for the coming year. Here’s how it could affect you (READ MORE HERE).
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced that it approved the cancellation of nearly $5 billion in additional federal student loan debt for more than 80,000 borrowers. Individuals who qualify fall into two categories: They either participated in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) plan, or they made at least 20 years of qualifying payments in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan (READ MORE HERE).
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney will run for Virginia governor in 2025. In a campaign video announcement, Stoney said he wants all Virginians to have a fair shot at success. Stoney touts his efforts to enhance residents’ lives by bettering the city’s finances, improving roads, building new schools, and reducing poverty (READ MORE HERE).

Your History Highlight

Our weekly history highlight uncovers local stories you might not have heard—even if you’ve lived in Virginia for years! Got an untold story or legend you’d like for us to investigate? We’re all ears.

Stories of snowstorms in Virginia are nothing new. In fact, both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson wrote in their journals about a massive snowfall in 1772. Both future presidents jotted down that three feet of snow fell on January 28.

If you’ve ever wondered what a president’s house looked like in the snow, you’re in luck. This photograph from the Mount Vernon estate was taken in the 1900s. While it might not have been three feet, it certainly gives the idea of what George might’ve seen on a snowy day at home.

Be sure to share your Virginia snow photos with us this season!

📸: Theodor Horydczak, photographer/Library of Congress

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!