Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Did you awake to a winter wonderland? Across large swaths of Virginia, meteorologists called for snowy conditions this morning. If you were lucky enough to see some measurable winter precipitation, don’t hesitate to send your photos my way at amie@couriernewsroom.com. I’d love to show them off! Stay warm this weekend—and remember, I’m so glad you’re here. 

Wintergreen Resort has 24 slopes and trails. (Wintergreen Resort)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: Ready to hit the slopes? Virginia offers a number of resorts that are scattered along its mountainsides. 

Our top picks:

• Wintergreen Resort, which spans 11,000 acres on the eastern slopes of Central Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, calls itself “the perfect snowy playground for winter sports.” The resort has 24 slopes and trails with

  terrain suitable for both beginners and experts.

  
  

• 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 resort has 80 skiable acres, with 23 runs that are serviced by seven lifts.

• Bryce Resort is open seven days a week in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. The destination offers skiing and snowboarding trails that are appropriate for both seasoned veterans and beginners. 

Looking to book your winter getaway? We’ve got more information on these and other skiing opportunities at the link below. 

On Monday, we asked readers to write in about the unhinged secrets that erupted at the Thanksgiving dinner table. 

My personal favorite response wasn’t quite a “confession” as much as a solid laugh.

“It’s not a secret if you’re up here [writing in] telling everyone.”

Touché, Dan G. Touché. 

A raccoon passed out at a Virginia ABC store and has since recovered. (Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter/Virginia ABC)

By Sam Cohen

In case you missed it, a raccoon in Hanover County made the news on Tuesday after it broke into a liquor store and consumed enough alcohol to pass out in the store’s bathroom. Thankfully, the raccoon was picked up by the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter for safe recovery. 

“After a few hours of sleep and zero signs of injury (other than maybe a hangover and poor life choices), he was safely released back to the wild, hopefully having learned that breaking and entering is not the answer,” the shelter wrote on Facebook.

The shelter, which provides veterinary care for animals, including those without a home until they can be adopted, has now turned the amusing incident at the Ashland ABC Store into an opportunity to raise money for “shelter animal care and enrichment” and more.

There’s a brand new fashion statement inspired by the “Black Friday Bandit” incident. The shelter partnered with the staff at Bonfire, a custom merchandise company, to create a “Trashed Panda” shirt available for purchase here.

• Richmond’s latest energy analysis uncovered the hidden forces pushing household utility costs to unsustainable levels. Here’s why thousands are paying more to stay warm—and what can be done about it. (Read more)

• Shoppers in Virginia plan to spend about 5% less this holiday season than a year ago, in response to higher prices and economic uncertainty, according to polling from Roanoke College. (Read more)

• More than 1 million Virginians face food insecurity—and you can be part of the solution. Here’s how to get involved and make a positive impact in your community. (Watch here)

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