Olivia DeWan

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 11th November 2025

Stuff the Trunk: Harrisonburg Rallies to Restock Bolt’s Closet | The Harrisonburg Citizen

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Harrisonburg High School is inviting the community to help “Stuff the Trunk” on Saturday, November 15, to support Bolt’s Closet, a free resource that provides personal care items to students and their families. Volunteers will be collecting donations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Walmart Center on Burgess Road.


Madison Greer, a school counselor at Harrisonburg High School, joined forces with Roni Goldberg, a social worker at HHS, in a mission to support th...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 28th October 2025

Barefoot Puppet Theater brings ‘Galapagos George’ to Court Square Theater | The Harrisonburg Citizen

Richmond’s Barefoot Puppets Theater is coming to Court Square Theater tonight for a “magical” performance of Galapagos George, based on the true story of “Lonesome George,” the last known tortoise of his kind from Pinta Island in the Galápagos. 


Any Given Child Shenandoah Valley, the sponsor of tonight’s event, works to achieve equitable access to the arts for all K-8 students. By collaborating with Barefoot Puppets Theater to bring Galapagos George to Harrisonburg and Rockingham county, Any...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 27th October 2025

A bewitching brew: Blue Ridge Florist & Tea Room hosts Spooktacular Tea Experience

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Throughout October, by reservation only on Fridays and Saturdays, Blue Ridge Florist & Tea Room has turned its bright pink space into a whimsical Halloween wonderland affectionately called “Spooktacular Tea.”


“We redecorate the space depending on the holiday season,” Jennifer Phillips, floral designer and owner of Blue Ridge Florist & Tea Room, said. “We even offer ghost cookies, little tarts with spider webs, and fall flavors.”


Collaborating with Bitterswee...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 9th October 2025

Anicira hosts free ‘Healthy Pets’ Event to expand access to pet care

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Anicira, the non-profit veterinary service in Harrisonburg, will host its first free Healthy Pets event at Hillandale Park in Harrisonburg.


The event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 11 offers free vaccines and flea and tick prevention for household dogs and cats, helping local pet owners keep their companions healthy and protected.


“This is Anicira’s 20th year in service to the community, and we were founded as a non-profit veterinary ser...

The News-Gazette • 21st May 2025

Two Wheels, One Dream

Jackson Hotchkiss Cycles 550 Miles In Spain’s Gravel Earth SeriesOver the course of three days earlier this year, Lexington native Jackson Hotchkiss pedaled more than 550 miles through Spain’s mountainous terrain as part of the Gravel Earth Series, an international cycling tour.Competing with Ink Properties Racing, a team based in Greenville, S.C., Hotchkiss flew to Barcelona to race alongside renowned cyclists. His love for the sport, which eventually led him to compete in such an intense race,...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 2nd May 2025

Aristocat Cafe has been serving not only cats, but tea as well

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


For the past two years, Aristocat Cafe has served as a haven for tea and cat lovers alike. Founded by Amanda Atwell in 2023, the cozy Harrisonburg establishment blends her love for loose-leaf teas and feline companionship into a one-of-a-kind experience. 


“I’ve fostered cats since I was 16,” Atwell said. “I love all animals, but cats have a special spot for me. I always thought, ‘man, wouldn’t it be cool to put cats and tea together?’”


When Atwell visited Qu...

23rd April 2025

Students Present Research at ASPIRE | Bridgewater College

Three students presented their research on reproductive rights, feminist art and Chicana activism as part of Bridgewater College’s tenth annual ASPIRE: A Celebration of the Arts, Scholarship, Performance, Innovation and Research Excellence, held April 9-16, 2025.


Seniors Briana Carlsen, Juliann Jacobs and Perla Santana discussed the work they did for Dr. Maria Paz Esguerra’s History 423: Women and Gender in U.S. History course this semester.


“We were assigned a research paper about any top...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 18th April 2025

Brewing faith and freedom: New Creation expands to help trafficking survivors

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


New Creation, a woman-owned, faith-based nonprofit in Harrisonburg, is expanding its mission to support human trafficking survivors by adding a coffee shop to its boutique, with construction set to begin in the coming weeks.


Founded by Steve Andrew and Sabrina Dorman-Andrew, the couple was inspired by The Zion Project, a ministry in Uganda that worked with women coming out of trafficking. The couple felt called to help, saying their two young daughters were a m...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 4th April 2025

The Harrisonburg Innovation Hub provides a new space for workspace productivity | The Harrisonburg Citizen

Tucked away in private enclaves, desks invite focus. Lounge chairs foster collaboration among colleagues, while conference rooms buzz with fresh ideas. The Harrisonburg Innovation Hub isn’t just a workspace, it’s a dynamic environment designed for creativity and connection.


“The Innovation Hub was built for people who get things done,” said Peter Denbigh, founder of the Harrisonburg Innovation Hub. “Entrepreneurs, creatives and professionals need more than just a desk; they need an environmen...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 28th March 2025

Harrisonburg’s first Stone Soup event highlights the importance of community

On March 29 at 11:00 a.m., the Harrisonburg Farmers Market will usher in the spring season with a new tradition: Stone Soup. The event draws inspiration from the traditional folktale “Stone Soup”, retold by Heather Forest, which highlights the power of community and collective effort.


“This will be our very first year having the Stone Soup event,” Sarah Gorman, the Marketing Manager at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market and a contributor to The Citizen, said. “It’s a folktale about hungry travel...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 19th March 2025

Changing it up has helped put this food truck on the map

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Two years ago, John and Leigh Anne McMurray chased their passion for the culinary arts and opened Ott Street Eats, a food truck with an ever-changing menu. 


After spending years as an executive chef in Tampa, McMurray was ready for a change. Returning to his hometown of Harrisonburg, he and Leigh Anne, decided to turn their passion for global flavors into a business. Named after the residential road in downtown Harrisonburg, Ott Street Eats started as a caterin...

10th March 2025

Preparing Student-Athletes for Success: Coach Logan Papen | Bridgewater College

As the new Director of Strength and Conditioning at Bridgewater College, Coach Logan Papen is bringing new ideas to strengthen the College’s athletes both on and off the playing fields.


Student-athletes participate in strength and conditioning via an individualized training program designed to enhance their physical performance, prevent injuries and support overall athletic development. It is crucial to any collegiate athletic program. Papen works with all athletic teams associated with the N...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 8th March 2025

This regional music scene is really underground

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


When you think of a stage, you probably picture a raised platform, flashing strobe lights and a black backdrop. But last month, Dogwood Tales — a local, four-piece Harrisonburg band — was the latest group to perform in a far more unconventional setting: a cave.


“There is nothing more Shenandoah Valley-core than playing in a cave,” said Ben Ryan, a founding member of Dogwood Tales. “We were invited to play at Subterranean Sound and instantly accepted. This is a...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 17th February 2025

How a Hburg restaurant went beyond two pieces of bread and cheese

Correction: This article was updated to correct Kathleen Mania-Casey’s last name and clarify that its location is South Main Street.


By Olivia DeWan, contributor


Grilled cheese has long earned a place amid the pantheon of comfort foods—a warm, melty bite of nostalgia. But for Kathleen Mania-Casey, it became something more. 


As the owner and creative force behind Harrisonburg restaurant Grilled Cheese Mania, she transformed a simple sandwich into a thriving business, while aiming to se...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 16th February 2025

Founding footsteps: Hburg history comes to the fore during VA250

This story has been updated.


By Olivia DeWan, contributor


What does it take for a small cluster of springs in a rugged valley to become the heart of a thriving city? For Thomas Harrison, the answer was a vision, generosity and a deep connection to the land that would one day bear his name. 


As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution next year, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) is using the occasion to remind people that history...

10th February 2025

Campus Tracks: Exploring the Heart of BC’s Music Production Club | Bridgewater College

Tucked away upstairs in the Carter Center for Worship and Music, behind an unassuming door, lies a hidden hub of creativity. The Bridgewater College Music Production Club’s studio is packed with microphones, amplifiers and cables, all dedicated to one mission: helping students bring music to life.


“The Music Production Club is an outlet for people who want to make music,” said club Vice President Jimmy Rosend ’25, a computer science major. “You don’t have to be a music major. The people who c...

The Harrisonburg Citizen • 30th January 2025

Places and names might change, but showhouse culture remains

By Olivia DeWan, contributor


The sharp whine of an electric guitar slices through the crackling feedback of an amp. Then, it hits—a wall of sound: thundering drums, pulsing basslines, and raw vocals. Scuffed Doc Martens pound the floor. Bodies jostle and sway, gripping the low rafters for stability. In the cramped basement, people in the crowd press shoulder to shoulder, chest to back. Strangers, united only by the music, move as one.


Beneath the surface of Harrisonburg lies a vibrant comm...

Loudoun Times-Mirror • 9th August 2024

At King's Tavern, open mic nights come with community and 'a really fun crowd'

For the last 43 years, King’s Tavern & Wine Bar in Leesburg has hosted open mic nights every Friday, drawing a large collection of all kinds of musicians to the retro-styled stage.

Loudoun Times-Mirror • 19th July 2024

Knights in leather, steeds of steel

Amidst the thunderous roar of engines and the palpable buzz of power in the air, a figure clad in combat boots and a leather cut adorned with patches and chains, proudly displaying the Bikers Against Child Abuse logo, strides into a courthouse with one mission: supporting the child testifying against their abuser.

Loudoun Times-Mirror • 12th July 2024

A novel idea: County High history teachers transform ordinary lockers into literary creations

The smell of paint hangs heavy in the air while tape crinkles, crunching under Air Force 1s, flip flops and Vans. An army of senior LCHS Outreach students meticulously drag brushes across what used to be simple, navy-blue lockers, but are now morphing into pieces of art.

Loudoun Times-Mirror • 5th July 2024

Piano and purpose: Local pop musician Elisheva Desser releases new music with bright hopes for the future

In the backyard of a house in Nashville, Tennessee, the air vibrates with strong reverb from electric guitars. The crowd jumps in time with pounding drums, shaking the floor. In the center of the musical hub stands Elisheva Desser, aka Caleny, her leather jacket illuminated by the green glow of LED lights, a microphone clutched in her hand.

Loudoun Times-Mirror • 14th June 2024

Six-strings and cowboy boots: Local country music artist Sela Campbell on the come-up

Worn, black country boots click confidently across a stage, illuminated by fluorescent lights. The cold metal of acoustic guitar strings bite into the fingertips of 17-year-old Sela Campbell, one of Loudoun’s country music artists, as she faces a panel of judges on “American Idol” for the 22nd season.

Loudoun Times-Mirror • 31st May 2024

Congressional candidates outline policy positions

At a May 23 forum, 11 Democrats and one Republican seeking their respective party’s nomination to succeed Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Leesburg) as the 10th Congressional District representative discussed their views on the Israel-Hamas war, abortion access, immigration, federal student loans and data centers.