Hi there. It’s Amie.

It wouldn’t be fair to bring y’all on a Halloween costume journey and then not show it off. I present to you: Me, the Megalodon monster truck driver, Colton, the Grave Digger monster truck driver, and Kody, Premium Mayo. We had a great time going through the neighborhood with C’s cousin, John, who dressed as a Minecraft Creeper.

Now, on to the next holiday: Christmas. Whoops, Thanksgiving. Sorry, I got a little confused—Little Debbie’s Christmas Tree Cakes are already out (as are the gingerbread cookies), it’s certainly getting cold enough for snow, and our Christmas tree is going up this weekend. Alas, Turkey Day does actually come before Santa. I’ll be sure to leave out a couple of harvest decorations until midnight on Nov. 24.

There’s also another big thing happening this month: Election Day. That’s Tuesday, Nov. 7, and polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you’re hoping to vote early, you have until Saturday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m. to do so. Remember to choose the candidate that aligns best with your values!

Amie Knowles

Community Editor, Dogwood

Turkey Timeline: When and Where to Order Your Local Thanksgiving Bird From These Virginia Farms

Here’s what you need to know: There’s nothing better than enjoying a delicious turkey with your family during a lovely Thanksgiving lunch or dinner. Instead of opting for a store-bought turkey this year, consider purchasing a locally raised bird.

Our Top Picks:

Flanagan Farm—Owned and operated by Roy and Jeannie Flanagan and their five children, this Virginia Beach location has been farmed by five generations of the same family. “We pride ourselves in giving our customers the best produce directly from our fields for their tables. Freshness and quality of produce at a fair price is the basis for everything we do,” the farm’s website reads.
ShireFolk Farm—This Palmyra location is a family-owned and operated farm that prioritizes raising and producing healthy poultry. “We work hard to bring you GMO-free pasture-raised eggs and poultry,” the farm’s site reads. It buys its Broad Breasted White turkeys from a regional hatchery. The breed is the commercial standard, so the product will look and taste familiar to most.
Honey Brook Farms—Nestled in Brandy Station, this multi-generational farm seeks to produce top-quality organic produce. It was started in 2011, partially inspired by stories from “grandma and grandpa” about their time growing up in North Dakota where “farming was not just a livelihood, but a way of life.” The farm’s turkeys move across chemical-free pastures where they forage in the sun on a mixture of chemical-free grasses, clover, and flower while being supplemented with organic feed.

Ready to set the table? Click below to learn more about the featured locations and access information on three more Virginia turkey farms.

Read this article

What are your favorite things to cook for the holidays? If you’ve got a special dish (and would like to share), I think it’d be SO MUCH FUN to do a round-up of reader recommended recipes. Either respond to this email or click here to dish out your favorite dish. I can’t help it when a pun opportunity appears.

Early voting in Virginia’s legislative elections has been underway since Sept. 22, and over 570,000 ballots have already been cast. Additionally, over 170,000 plan to vote by mail.

Virginians have until Saturday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m. to vote early in person. Ballots requested by mail may be returned either in person or by mail through 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7.

Read this article

~ ICYMI ~

Good news, Virginia: You might be getting some extra cash soon! According to state officials, over $900 million in state tax rebates will go out to Virginia taxpayers in the coming weeks. Individuals who filed their state taxes in 2022 will receive a $200 rebate, while couples filing jointly will receive $400 (READ MORE HERE).
Virginia’s teachers consistently earn less than the national average—but there are ways Virginians can help bridge that gap. One popular option is through crowdfunding sources like DonorsChoose. The site allows individuals to pick and choose projects to help fund, with goals set by educators in those classrooms. So far, the site has helped raise more than $3.3 million worth of requests for Richmond Public Schools, with more than 6,500 projects being fully funded (READ MORE HERE).
In early October, media investigations revealed that an unknown number of Virginians were illegally removed from voter rolls by the Virginia Department of Elections (DOE). A month later, it’s becoming clear that the scope of this unconstitutional voter disenfranchisement numbers well into the thousands (READ MORE HERE).

Your Commonwealth Connection

Our weekly #ThisIsVirginia post spotlights the people, places, and things that make us a commonwealth.

The VADOC State Farm Work Center in Goochland County is partnering with the James River Horse Foundation to provide incarcerated women with the opportunity to work with retired thoroughbred racehorses.

“This program represents one of the many ways the Virginia Department of Corrections and its partners find innovative ways to place our inmates on a path to successful re-entry into society,” Scott Richeson, VADOC deputy director and James River Horse Foundation liaison, said in a media release.

The farm work center recently held an open house event for the public to interact with the horses. For more information about the James River Horse Foundation, click here.

📸: Virginia Department of Corrections

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!