Small town, big news

Those of us following the “Small Town, Big Crime” podcast—a locally produced show from journalists Courteney Stuart and Rachel Ryan that investigates the 1985 Bedford County double murder of Derek and Nancy Haysom—got a bit of a surprise while browsing Netflix at the end of 2023. The co-hosts had been tapped for commentary in the […]

That I might drink

There were many tributes to local Ten Course Hospitality restaurateur Will Richey after he passed away in late 2023 following a car accident. But perhaps the most enduring will be Ode to a Nightingale, a black lager that brewer Mark Fulton whipped up for the menu at his and Richey’s Högwaller Brewing. A combination of […]

We’ll cheers to that

The local wine industry got extra buzzy toward the end of 2023, after Wine Enthusiast named the Monticello American Viticultural Area the Wine Region of the Year, noting its long growing history, adaptability in the face of global warming, and inclusive, collaborative ethos. What does this mean for Charlottesville? It’s another step toward becoming a […]

Look inside

A personal trainer for more than 20 years, Cecil Hassell, it’s safe to say, knows how to help people feel confident about what they’re seeing on the outside. But he recently turned his attention to helping people—and more specifically, kids—feel confident about what’s on the inside, too. With his children’s book, The Adventures of the […]

The wheel deal

What’s an e-bike and is it right for you? Josh Carp will let you borrow one of his bikes to help you figure it out. Through his Charlottesville E-bike Lending Library, the electric bike enthusiast allows you to snag one of the eight in his collection for up to a week to see if you […]

Track meet

Running is free—running alone, that is. Finding a community of runners takes a little more effort. So, Lauren Lieske, coach and personal trainer at CrossFit Charlottesville, has been getting people to move together with a free track running series.  Hosted each Sunday on Charlottesville High School’s athletics field, the weekly event is open to the […]

Getting warmer

If knowledge really is power, then Community Climate Collaborative is giving area youth the keys to the kingdom. In partnership with the Virginia Discovery Museum, the nonprofit has distributed more than 3,000 Climate Action Kits to fourth and fifth graders in Charlottesville and Albemarle, helping them learn about solar and wind power. The kits include […]

No hard feelings

Managing big feelings is a tough job when you’re a little kid. Managing them while also going to school, learning, and socializing? Even tougher. Mountain View Elementary School counselor Charlotte Geddy gets it, which is why earlier this year she started what she calls “Coping Skills Café,” where she invites students to learn different ways […]

Bleating hearts

It takes a certain amount of vision to decide to stake your future on a herd of goats. But in 2008, that’s exactly what former homebuilder Jace Gooding did. With the economy barreling toward a recession, he found a business partner and started Goat Busters, setting his herd of Kiko goats to work clearing vineyards, […]

A tree grows in C’ville

Trees are life. No, really. They provide oxygen, reduce energy costs, fight against climate change, and lead to better health simply by existing. That’s why ReLeaf Cville is working to create as much tree coverage in the city as possible. Last fall, with a $46,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry, the group planted […]