Dave Norris decisive in Democratic candidates forum
The Mayor set himself apart with his comments on the Meadowcreek Parkway. “I don’t see what the city gets from this deal,” he said.
Hundreds protest Federal spending on Tax Day
First there was George W. Bush’s Wall Street bailout back in November. Then came Barack Obama and his $787 billion stimulus package, followed by a massive pork-filled omnibus spending package, and now a projected $3.55 trillion for the 2010 budget. The amount being spent is dizzying, and to a core segment of mostly conservative Americans [...]
City Councilor argues IMPACT ignores complexities
Since first convening in 2006, the social change advocacy group IMPACT (Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together) has held its so-called Nehemiah Action every March. While the meeting is conducted under the auspices of requiring social justice from local government leaders, the gathering always has a festive feel. This year, the mood was perfectly [...]
With Norris stepping down, who will lead homeless efforts?
After almost five years as PACEM’s first executive director, Dave Norris is moving on.
Now free, Spivey registers as sex offender
Less than 17 months after being sentenced for sex-related crimes with four of his students, former Charlottesville High School choir director Jonathan Spivey has been freed from jail.
IMPACT targets education after dental success
Last March, somewhere around 2,000 churchgoers amassed in University Hall to show their support for the social justice advocacy group IMPACT
Students give to homeless by going homeless
Five days after the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur began the Festival of Sukkot, an week-long commemoration of the biblical 40-year period during which the children of Israel wandered in the desert, living in temporary shelters, after their exodus from Egypt. To celebrate their escape, in Leviticus 23:42, it is written, “Ye shall dwell in [...]
"Yo no soy de los Estados Unidos"
Marlena has been here for a decade and every day she copes with the challenges that come with the language and cultural barriers of her adopted homeland. But though she relies on the help of a translator, Sam Ley, her obstacles here may pale next to what she had to go through to get to [...]
Habla Espanol?
During the last decade, Charlottesville went through a much-publicized makeover, as wealthier residents filtered into town to buy tony residences and partake in the array of upscale establishments that cropped up to serve their refined tastes. As the area swelled with wealth, another group of people tagged along in even larger proportions. Read more: What [...]
Not dark yet
My dad started to write his first of many books about America’s loss of direction when I began my formal education.
Praising a six-ton Jesus
“Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-JulyAnd I just hit town and my throat was dry,I thought I’d stop and have myself a brew.”—From “A Boy Named Sue” I’ve been to Gatlinburg, Tennessee—one of the two main entrances to the 814-square-mile Great Smoky Mountains National Park—two times. The first was with a roommate (and a few [...]
Food costs rise, but school prices won't
In about a week, area children will start drifting into city and county schools as their summer ends and educational instruction resumes. A long summer of continually rising costs of fuel and food means the pockets of their parents are lighter and consequently so are theirs. Fortunately, the price of their school meals will not [...]
Homeless evicted from Rivanna campsite
A homeless campsite near the Rivanna River was shut down Monday after occupants were ordered away by police for trespassing on public property.
Western State violated patient's civil rights
On August 1, the State Human Rights Committee (SHRC) affirmed a ruling that Western State Hospital in Staunton violated the civil rights of a Spanish-speaking mentally ill patient by keeping him in seclusion for the last 15 years. Fifty-seven-year-old Cesar Augusto Chumil’s treatment plans and medication-related information were always delivered in English, which he barely [...]
Local agencies look for fuel fat
Nationally, the cost of gas has skyrocketed—as recently as March, the average price of gas in Charlottesville was $3.15, and now it’s around $4.
For rebricking, activist pushes local hiring
One outcome of the July 21 City Council vote to move forward with the $7.5 million rebricking of the Downtown Mall was the mandate from Councilor Holly Edwards to Neighborhood Development Services Director Jim Tolbert to explore ways to incorporate local residents into the renovation workforce. “I would hope there are employment opportunities,” she said, [...]
Can Ridge/McIntire handle traffic boost?
The recent Board of Architectural Review (BAR) approval of a nine-story building at 301 W. Main St. has returned a spotlight to the busy intersection of that street where it meets Ridge/McIntire streets in the former Vinegar Hill neighborhood.
Kaine for VP closer to reality
The Washington Post has a piece today on the increasing likelihood that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine will be picked as Barack Obama’s VP choice.
StreamWatch study finds Rivanna River watershed is still dirty
According to today’s DP, a three-year study by StreamWatch found that three-quarters of the streams tested in the Rivanna River watershed failed to meet Department of Environmental Quality standards.
Community land trusts coming to town
Between 2000 and 2006, the median sales costs of houses doubled in the Charlottesville metropolitan area, and the county nearly kept the same pace. As a result, housing became affordable only for the few with enough money to spend on escalating properties. Your average family was practically priced out of town. “I was at a [...]
City Council moved by recent killing
Last night’s City Council meeting was to be dominated by discussion of the re-bricking of the Downtown Mall but that was upstaged by the public comment period.
Scriptural Reasoning program alters traditional religion
In 1994, future UVA religion Professor Peter Ochs started an unusual but simple practice of having academics from the three religious traditions that share the Bible as a fundamental text gather to read scripture, whether it was the Torah, the New Testament, or the Koran. “On a basic level, Scriptural Reasoning (SR) is an experiment [...]
Obama opens Charlottesville office, McCain MIA
On Saturday, July 19, the Barack Obama campaign opened 20 offices around the state of Virginia—including one on the Downtown Mall in the old A&N building—as it prepares to wage battle against John McCain for the presidency of the United States.
Charlottesville cyclist is dope-free
NPR has a story this morning on Charlottesville native Will Frischkorn and another cyclist from the Garmin-Chipotle team that is currently third in this year’s Tour de France.
Acitvists bring mock Bush to Mall to protest possible war on Iran
Around 6 pm tonight, a few volunteers for Charlottesvillepeace.org stood by the Free Speech wall and asked people to sign a petition to Charlottesville City Council imploring them to take an official stand against the chance the U.S. might go to war against Iraq’s northern neighbor.
Sad kids smarter than happy ones, says UVA study
A healthcare weekly reports today on research conducted by psychologists at UVA and the University of Plymouth (in the UK) that seems to show that where attention to detail is required, happy children may be at a disadvantage.
Coming to terms with the city’s homeless problem
Previous coverage: Hope Community Center helps get jobs for two homelessFollow-up Residents question Hope shelter [April 22]Edwards: Haven’t talked about homelessness in “comprehensive” way Area homeless numbers rise [April 8]Children counted doubles I first wrote about area poverty and homelessness a little more than a year ago, and that is when I met Tom Shadyac. [...]