They’ve announced, so now I can! Over the weekend, my husband’s little brother popped the question—and our soon-to-be sister-in-law said yes!
Kelsey’s been a part of our family for six years, and she’s a total sweetheart. I remember, right before they started dating, I went to Hobby Lobby, where she worked at the time, and went through her line. She didn’t greet me with a “Hey, Amie, how’s it going? How’s the fam? What’s new?”
No, she looked up at me with the dreamiest eyes, a little breathless, and asked, “How’s Nick?” I knew from that very second that for her, there was only him—and they weren’t even official yet! Some people are just made for each other, and they sure are. So as you join me in celebration, remember, I’m so glad you’re here.
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Pumpkins for Pigs is accepting donations across Virginia. (GSz/Shutterstock).
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By Sam Cohen
Carving Jack o’Lanterns has been a Halloween tradition for centuries. Though it requires a good deal of setup and clean up, it’s fun to plan out specific designs and see if they end up looking the way you thought they would. (If you’re anything like me, the finished Jack O’Lantern very rarely looks how I pictured it in my head when I started carving…). Once everyone is done with their pumpkins, you fill them with tea lights and sit back to enjoy their spooky magic. The downside to all of this—aside from the aforementioned cleanup—is figuring out what to do with them after Halloween, before they begin to rot.
That’s where Pumpkins for Pigs comes in. Their mission, according to their website, “is to reduce food waste in our communities by diverting viable foodstuffs, including pumpkins, to farms, animal sanctuaries, and rescues for feed or compost.” The idea came to Jennifer Seifert, the founder of Pumpkins for Pigs, after a conversation she had with a local farmer back in 2017. He said that his animals love to eat pumpkins—“it’s a treat”— and that he’d gladly take any that Seifert might have left over. Since then, her Loudon operation has expanded to over 600 donation sites throughout the US and Canada.
Ready to give your pumpkins a second life and help local animals? Visit Pumpkins for Pigs to find a drop-off site near you and make a difference this Halloween!
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John Smith’s story changed over time, with reports of the young girl “saving” him suddenly appearing in his writings several years later—not when the event supposedly occurred.
Unlike in the animated film, there’s no historical evidence that Smith and Pocahontas had any romantic interest. In reality, their respective ages were approximately 27 and 11.
This is part two of our four-part history series honoring National Native American Heritage Month.
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Job: Production Supervisor
Location: Nestlé Purina in King William
Salary: $66,000-$106,000/year
Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- 2+ years of experience working in a manufacturing, military, or related environment
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1+ years of people leadership experience in a manufacturing, military, or related environment
Job description on Indeed: “The Production Supervisor will provide leadership and guidance to associates to ensure safety, quality, and service/zero waste goals are achieved and will drive Continuous Improvement efforts across the plant. The employee will manage shift operations, supervising, and directing production while coaching and developing team members. This position will work night shift (7pm-7am) on a rotating weekly schedule with every other weekend off.”
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Reach 19,000+ Virginians who care about their communities! Sponsor Dogwood’s Dec. 6 Special Edition, “How to Get Involved and Give Back this Holiday Season.” 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. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 7-year-old who loves monster trucks. This edition features reporting by Sam Cohen. It was edited by Paula Solis.
Dogwood is free for everyone. Your support makes that possible.
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