SoDu Morning Brief: Jordan High Students Hosted a U.S. Rep and Hope Valley Students Picked Pumpkins

Meanwhile, Friday should be off to a chilly start, but what scares await at some spooktacular Halloween events? And how does "Something Wicked This Way Comes" hold up after all these years?

SoDu Morning Brief: Jordan High Students Hosted a U.S. Rep and Hope Valley Students Picked Pumpkins
U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee spoke to students in Jordan High School's AP Government program on Thursday. Photo Courtesy: Tony Cunningham.

Your weekday local lowdown, powered by Southpoint Access.
💌 [Subscribe Free] | [Support Local Stories]

☀️ South Durham Weather Forecast – Oct. 24, 2025

Looking for the latest weather update for South Durham, NC? Here's your hyperlocal SoDu forecast:

Expect patchy frost through about 9 a.m., then sunny skies with a high near 66°. Winds calm, becoming northwest 5–8 mph late morning into the afternoon. Tonight, mostly clear and cold, low around 37°, with light winds.

Right now → Later

  • Now–9 a.m.: Frost possible on windshields, roofs, and lawns.
  • Late morning–afternoon: Bright sun, light NW breeze, cool and dry.
  • Evening–overnight: Quick cooldown under clear skies.

Quick Tips

  • Commuters: Give yourself a few minutes to scrape frost before school/work.
  • Gardeners: Cover tender plants or bring containers inside tonight.
  • Wardrobe: Start with layers; sweatshirt or light jacket is plenty by afternoon.
  • Pets: Refresh outdoor water - light ice skim possible by early Saturday.

At a Glance

  • High: ~66° (sunny)
  • Low: ~37° (mostly clear)
  • Wind: Calm → NW 5–8 mph daytime; calm at night
🌤️ Updated daily by Southpoint Access, your neighborhood source for South Durham news, weather, and community life.
wes.platt@southpointaccess.news

If this helps you plan your day, help us keep it free for South Durham.

Subscribe and Join the SoDu Crew!

Neighborhood News Guy's Note: Piedmont Wildlife Center Exceeds Support Goal

Remember back on Oct. 8 when I shared the news that Piedmont Wildlife Center was well short of its $10,000 fundraising goal?

Well, this week, it sounds like center supporters came through in a big way. Development manager Madeline Preiss reported in their Hawk Herald newsletter that benefactors actually tripled the giving goal. They raised more than $30,000!

"Have you ever felt such overwhelming gratitude that words never feel like enough?" she asked. "That's exactly how myself and the rest of our staff are feeling right now."

Congratulations to the Piedmont Wildlife Center. And thanks to all my neighbors who stepped up to show their support.

Wes Platt
Neighborhood News Guy


Foushee Visits Jordan High School

U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee on Thursday paid a visit to students in Jordan High School's AP Government class, sharing what happens in the House and Senate (when the government's not shut down).


Hope Valley Second Graders Get Their Pick at Page Farms

On Wednesday, second-grade students from Hope Valley Elementary School traveled to Page Farms near Brier Creek to pick pumpkins, take a hay ride, learn about cows, flop around in the corn crib, and get lost in a corn maze.


[Nerdspresso] Something Wicked This Way...Dumb?

Writes Jeff Stanford:

Something Wicked This Way Comes premiered on Disney+ in October. I was one of the legion who cheered its arrival. I couldn’t wait to watch it again and relive fond memories. Jonathan Pryce’s performance as the enigmatic Mr. Dark resonated in the dark corners of my brain. Jason Robards’ recitation of that iconic line from Macbeth, which inspired the title, still does laps in my memory. I was eager to savor the gentle wisps of nostalgia this flick would offer me.

I love the novel, and Bradbury wrote the screenplay for this adaptation. I had rediscovered it in recent years, reading it to my son at bedtime. It’s now one of his favorite books. The author’s poetic prose still lingers in my psyche. Now that it was available, I was ready to compare the two versions of this story with a mature perspective. Having only seen the film on pay cable 40 years ago, I was looking forward to a return viewing. 

The timing couldn’t have been better in these days leading up to Halloween. The movie fit the mood, beginning cryptically with a train pulling into town in the dead of night. I settled in, ready to be transported by the period setting and memories from my own treasured past. Something Wicked This Way Comes slowly revealed its story. Two young boys are tempted as their town is seduced by dark forces. My expectations were high. And they were not met. 

Read more in Southpoint Access...


🎟️ Events In and Around South Durham – Oct. 24

Three frightfully fun Friday options for your consideration:

  • 12 to 5 p.m. - The Witch's Haunted Barn - No Actors Version (Firefly Farm in Hillsborough)
    4911 Hunt Rd. - $12 per person, although children 2 and younger get in free.
  • 3 to 6 p.m. - Boo Bash (Lightbridge Academy)
    1015 Yunus Rd. - Parade, trunk or treat, face painting and more. Admission is free. Costumes and treat buckets encouraged.
  • 5 to 7 p.m. - Haunted Hill (Chapel Hill Community Center)
    120 S. Estes Dr. - Free Halloween event with a pumpkin decorating contest, games, and food trucks. Competitors in the decorating contest or folks who want to host a trunk for trunk-or-treat must register.

📅 More local happenings on the SoDu Events Calendar.

Have something to share? Email wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.

🗞️
Your feedback helps shape what we cover next: the stories, people, and local issues that matter most here in South Durham. Whether it’s school updates, new restaurants, road projects, or local events, your input guides how we grow and serve our community.

Fill out the questionnaire below for a chance to win a gift card to Bull City Solera and Taproom!
Southpoint Access Community Questionnaire
Help shape the future of local news in South Durham! Let me know what matters most to you and how you’d like to be involved.

🚗 Need a Traffic Update?

Check our Southpoint Access Live Traffic Map for real-time road conditions across Fayetteville Road, NC Highway 55, and I-40.

Avoid delays and plan your route smarter!


Get Connected


🤝 Support Our Sponsors

Local journalism in South Durham survives thanks to the generous businesses and organizations that make this work possible. 🧭

By supporting these sponsors, you’re helping Southpoint Access continue to deliver trusted, hyperlocal news and resources for our community - from school updates to neighborhood stories that keep SoDu connected.

💛 Shop local. Hire local. Support those who support Southpoint Access.