Native born Richmonder here. We pronounced it Lee. Parham is pronounced “Pair-‘em” and Powhite is pronounced Po-White, at least from the 1940s. There was never any controversy about the pronunciations until the 1980s, making the alternates a newish phenomenon. Coincidentally, the 1980s is when growth seemed to really take off in the area and lots of people moved from other places. Probably where the pronunciation conflict stems from. Of course, perhaps it was just not mentioned in the media at the time and, of course, no social media.

There are others in the state but they have defined areas, so each is a franchise with exclusivity. Rappahannick Electric is one. Appalachian Power is another.

Man, that’s going to be a traffic nightmare.

The mountains of Virginia are well past peak now so Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge parkway are not good now. Best color will be east of the mountains in the mid- piedmont west of Richmond. Add, past peak above 2000’ above sea level.