Tuesday 9/30 First of Two City Council Candidate Forums @ 7pm

Local Organizations Team Up to Host Candidate Forums

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  September 22, 2014

CONTACT:      Thomas Jenkins, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition       
540-230-2130; tj@shenandoahbicycle.com

Pete Bsumek, Harrisonburg Rockingham Green Network

540-421-4105; pkbsumek@gmail.com

                       

HARRISONBURG, VA—Residents are invited to join candidates for Harrisonburg City Council on Tuesday, September 30 for the first of two candidate forums. The next is on Wednesday, October 15. The forums are organized by the Downtown Dining Alliance, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, Harrisonburg Rockingham Green Network, Better Together / Mejor Juntos, and the Northend Greenway. Both forums are free, open to the public and will start at 7:00 p.m. at JMU’s Memorial Hall, which is the former Harrisonburg High School on South High Street.

This is the second time these groups have come together to host candidate forum. Better Together / Mejor Juntos joins the four 2012 sponsors. Just as the groups saw in 2012, all eligible candidates have agreed to take part. The 2014 candidates include (in alphabetical order): Ted Byrd, DD Dawson, Alleyn Harned, Joshua Huffman, Chris Jones and Helen Shibut.

Moderating the non-partisan forums is the 4C Initiative, a partnership between the Fairfield Center and JMU’s Institute for Constructive Dialogue and Advocacy. Better Together / Mejor Juntos will interpret the forums in English and Spanish, which forum organizers, hope will encourage greater participation. The format of the forums is primarily question and answer. Citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions to the candidates during the events.

The forums will enable residents to learn about what each candidate stands for by fielding questions on issues regarding Harrisonburg’s future. Topics include but are not limited to education, local economy, and transportation.

“Nice places to live, work, and play don't just happen. The decisions we make today will shape the future of our city for years to come,” said Pete Bsumek of the Shenandoah Sierra Club and Harrisonburg Rockingham Green Network. Bsumek added, “These forums will help our community think about the future, and will help the city residents to choose leaders who have the vision and ability to make important decisions about everything from ensuring environmental sustainability of our community, to how to support and encourage affordable housing and attract good paying jobs to our area."

Thomas Jenkins of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition stresses the events' value. “The candidate forums are great opportunities to hear how your potential Council members think and feel about a range of important topics. We urge every Harrisonburg resident to attend,” said Jenkins.

To submit a question or to RSVP to this forum, please visit www.facebook.com/events/1557316534496774.

Title:  City Council Candidate Forums

Date:  Tuesday, September 30, 2014 and Wednesday, October 14, 2014

Time:  7:00 PM

Location:  JMU Memorial Hall Auditorium, 395 South High Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Cost:  Free

Sponsors: Better Together / Mejor Juntos, Downtown Dining Alliance, Harrisonburg Rockingham Green Network, Harrisonburg Northend Greenway, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition

Jeremiah Bishop's Alpine Loop Gran Fondo

Beautiful weather and a record breaking turnout both contributed to an amazing day for Jeremiah Bishop's Alpine Loop Gran Fondo. In the second year the event grew from 250 riders to 400. It is an event not to be missed and with a distance for nearly everyone (35, 75, or 105 miles distance options) We can't wait to help out again next year.

Epic day off: Spruce Knob, WV.

On Monday, after a long day of work here at the shop, Paul and Scott set out to make the most of their Tuesday off.  They embarked on an adventure deep into high backcountry at the precipice of West Virginia.  After a curvy 2 hour mountain drive from town, they reached the exposed summit of Spruce Knob.  They encountered temperatures and wind gusts in the 40's.  With a swift retreat to more comfortable conditions at lower altitudes, they sought the perfect spot to setup their hammocks.  Surrounded by a grove of terrestrial lightning bugs, ferns and Red Spruce they slept near the Seneca Creek Trailhead.

After a basic dutch oven breakfast and some open fire espresso, the odd pair hopped on their mountain bicycles to explore the Epic Trails as designated by IMBA.  They returned to the precipice to ride through a magical alpine boreal forest, interspersed with rock fields and wildflower meadows as they descended the Spruce Mountain ridge.  Huckleberry, Lumberjack and High Meadow trails spit them out on Seneca Creek Trail at the bottom of the mountain.  The cooler temperatures did not afford them a swim at the base of Seneca Creek Falls, however it did provide Paul with a birthday plan.  After a leisurely 6 hours in the woods, pizza and beer would be the only way lure these two back into reality.

When is your next day off?  Let us help you make it Epic.  Come by SBC to get the best ride beta, map selection and bike gear around.  For more info on IMBA Epic Rides, click here.

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Weekly Wednesday Night Ride

Do you know the most fun & easy way to avoid riding in the summer heat?  Ride in the dark with a night light to stay cool!  Starting last week, Wootten will be out at the Western Slope of Massanutten every Wednesday Night to ride mountain bikes with those not afraid of the dark.   Come out for a chill paced no drop group ride if you dare.

Giro d'Ville 2012

If you don't know what foof is, don't look on urbandictionary.com, go to google maps and search Charlottesville.  However, either way you look at it, you're right.  This weekend, Harrisonburg's brave mountain warriors will be holding it down in Montebello, fighting the foof.  Reputations are at stake.

Giro d'Ville is a multi-day mountain bike stage race for gnarly rival locals and their respective cycling communities.

Tim says "We put the F U in FUN."

Crossfit Harrisonburg is coming downtown!

If you thought Mountain Biking was hard, crossfit will rock your world.  Crossfit Harrisonburg getting all Pulped Up with the Short Mountain Acai Bowl for a post workout recovery meal!  It's a must, and its Paleo if you go no granola!  Stoked to have the Crossfit Harrisonburg crowd all hooked up on the smoothie goodness!!!!!!