Dogwood

Plus: Spanberger, state lawmakers strike cannabis compromise Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Have I ever told you about the first drive-in movie my husband took me to see? We’d been dating for a whole month when he picked me up in his dad’s truck and drove just across the state…

Plus: It’s Mobilize Monday in Virginia Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Did you have a nice long weekend? I was fortunate enough to spend mine surrounded by people I love. We had an awesome family day on Friday, split between lunch in Danville and galavanting around Lynchburg. Then I got…

Plus: The history of the Juneteenth flag Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Tomorrow marks the 161st anniversary of Juneteenth. The holiday serves as both a celebration of resilience and a solemn reminder of the struggle for justice and equality. Here in Virginia, with its deep historical roots, the day invites…

Plus: Access this free, confidential mental health lifeline Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Is it really summertime if there’s not a free concert on the books? It was June 2016. My fiancé and I were in Blackstone for a wedding and had a choice afterward: drive a couple of hours…

Plus: Voucher program harms VA’s most vulnerable families Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. I’ll spare you a long “howdy, it’s Tuesday” in hopes that you scroll to the end today. Why? Spoiler alert: after years and years of patiently waiting, I finally met my favorite writer over the weekend, and…

Plus: What are your plans for America’s 250th? Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. I’ll let you in on a little secret: I fully understand that our beautiful country has some—how do I put this nicely?—issues right now, but I’m actually getting more and more excited about America’s birthday the closer…

Plus: VA Republicans vote against bill to speed up union negotiations Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. The weekend’s back once again, and it’s looking like a hot one where I’m at in Virginia. In the Southside, the highs won’t dip below 90 until Monday, when we get a still-sweltering reprieve…

Plus: Martha Stewart called this VA restaurant a ‘splendor’ Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Have I ever told you that I love history? Just kidding—if you’ve been a Dogwood reader for longer than this past Tuesday, you already knew. And if you’ve been here far longer than that, you’re probably…

Plus: Bobcat kittens found in Russell County Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Nearly 10 years later, I’m still trying to convince my husband that the half-acre our house sits on is plenty large enough for a horse. Thus far, my mission remains vastly unsuccessful.  It stands to reason that if…

Plus: SUN Bucks could save your family some grocery money Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. When we first got married 10 years ago, Kody and I very briefly discussed renting an apartment instead of financing a house. Technically, we even more briefly discussed living in his dad’s basement for a…