Are you wearing green? Just a few months before we got married in 2016, Kody was about to leave for work on Saint Patrick’s Day—with no green in sight. At the time, he worked at a local nursing home, had striking similarities to Elvis Presley when he styled his hair just right, and it seemed to me like every woman there had a crush on him (I mean, rightfully so).
I didn’t want him getting pinched by a million eager ladies, so I quickly fashioned a rocking bowtie out of excess cardboard and green marker and pinned it to him as he headed out of the door. Not only did it save him, but he also got plenty of compliments on his creative green element. Today, he’s upgraded to a green collared shirt. Enjoy your lucky holiday, and remember, I’m so glad you’re here.
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Several Virginia locations will serve green beer this month. (Autumn Martin/Unsplash)
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By Amie Knowles
Here’s what you need to know: Several Virginia breweries, festivals, bars, and more will serve up a signature green beer for St. Patrick’s Day.
Our top picks:
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From now through Thursday, Mar. 19, stop in at one of Virginia’s Big Buns locations to sample fresh spins on traditional favorites—including green beer. The star of the menu is the Blarney Burger, featuring grilled Angus, corned beef, melty Swiss, kraut, and grain mustard.
- Punch Bowl Social has a variety of special menu offerings today. Green beer is available for $6, and guests will receive free party favors while supplies last. Don’t forget to bowl a game or show off your karaoke skills while you’re there.
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The annual Shamrock Shindig is back in action at Makers Union. All four locations will serve green beer, green Jell-O shots, Guinness, Irish food, and more—as well as have live musical performances from 5 to 8 p.m. this evening.
It’s your lucky day. We’ve got more on the locations listed at our article below.
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Charlottesville Education Association President Shannon Gillikin and Charlottesville School Board Chair Lisa Torres sign the first union contract for school support staff. (Screenshot)
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By Michael O’Connor
The Charlottesville City School Board recently approved the first collective bargaining agreement for the school district’s support staff.
The new three-year contract covers 267 workers, including safety officers, nutrition managers, and custodians, and calls for annual 10.5% raises from 2026 to 2029.
Shannon Gillikin, president of the Charlottesville Education Association, the union representing the workers, said she was relieved the contract got approved. It now needs to get funded by the city, but Gillikin said she didn’t have any concerns about the city budget, which is scheduled for final approval on April 9.
“Overall, I’m super proud of our contract,” Gillikin said in an interview. “It gave the support staff a significant raise.”
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Our reporting cuts through false narratives, documents what’s actually happening in our communities, and provides voters with the clear, factual information they need—especially when the stakes are high.
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Out of all the books in the world, this one’s my favorite. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)
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Every once in a while, a book comes along and reminds you to breathe. For me, that’s “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy. I purchased my copy in January 2020 and read it cover to cover in a single sitting. And then, I read it again.
It’s a short little story; all of 128 pages with one or two sentences and an illustration on each. The sketch-like images coupled with the handwritten letters give such a comforting appeal, it’s easy to get just as captivated by a single rendering as it is the whole book.
One thing I’ve noticed, by talking with other people who’ve read it, is that everyone has a favorite page they can quote off the top of their head. For me, it’s, “Most of the old moles I know wish they had listened less to their fears and more to their dreams.” What a great reminder to go for things and give them our all—even if taking that first step is a little scary.
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Would you recommend this newsletter to your neighbor?
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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 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition includes a story from Michael O’Connor. It was edited by Brook Bolen.
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