By Virginia Brooks FALL  The Shenandoah Valley is home to many of the most scenic views in Virginia. Each fall, these views are enhanced by the landscape mosaic of beautiful fall leaves, intertwining hues of amber, crimson and gold.  According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, leaves roughly tend to peak in boldness of color…

By Haden Raymer Amanda Atwell has dreamed of opening a cat café for her entire life. For the longest time, she felt like they were a strange invention of her imagination until she stumbled across one in Toronto in 2017. Since then, she worked to make that dream come true in Harrisonburg.  If anyone was…

By Meagan Heitz Any coffee shop in Harrisonburg —Broad Porch, Black Sheep and Coffee Hound — can be used as a workspace, hangout area or as a getaway for a “good cup of joe.”    “Coffee shops in Harrisonburg are everywhere, there are so many options that I would like to see before I graduate in…

By Jamie McEachin Chaz Haywood has been many things: a military man, a consultant in Washington D.C., a James Madison University student and a cobbler to make ends meet. Now, he’s the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Rockingham County. Above all else, he’s a history buff.  Haywood sits in his office in the historic…

By Adaire Adams The Shenandoah Valley has a variety of restaurants inspired by different cultures. From German to Thai food, the owners of these restaurants are passionate about bringing their cultures to the Valley.  Edelweiss John Moore spent his high school years living in the upstairs part of the family restaurant. He recalls waking up…

By Caroline Stoaks Nestled between Rocktown Kitchen and Drifters Cafe in downtown Harrisonburg lies a small second-hand shop that has found favor in the eyes of sustainable shoppers. As you walk in, racks of vibrant vintage clothing flood the room with color. A towering wooden shelf filled with well-loved shoes rests against the wall.  Mary…

By Elise Hellmann When Jonathan Stewart is not in his office at JMU, he is probably writing music, volunteering for Court Square Theater or participating in an improv show. Stewart is the Director for Finance, IT, and Assessment for the division of Student Affairs. He makes sure JMU has good processes in place, supervises the…

By Jamie McEachin Kirsten Moore proudly surveys the century-old beams in the Liberty St. Mercantile’s event space. After years of tricky renovations on the late-1800s building and a $2.5 million investment, Liberty St. Mercantile is open for business.  “With Magpie,” she says, referring to the diner across the street that she founded, “when I walked…

By PJ Barua In 1990, Jeff Wolter, a JMU senior at the time, opened a store called Party Perfect at the Kroger Shopping Center. Today that party supply store has expanded its scope and is prominently located near JMU on Port Republic Road. It’s now called University Outpost.  Wolter’s sister Christine Johnson, had just just…

By Elise Hellmann Cynthia Sirk-Fear was in Harrisonburg when numerous fires broke out around and within Shenandoah National Park, just a few weeks before our interview. “It was really sudden that day,” Sirk-Fear said. “I was heading back to the park on 81 and I was seeing smoke everywhere and getting lots of phone calls.”  …