Caite Hamilton

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

Raise your hand if your toxic trait is buying new bras when you have perfectly good ones in your drawer. If your hand is up, Derriere de Soie suggests turning in the old to make room for the new, with its twice-annual bra drive. The West Main Street store chooses a nonprofit benefactor (this past […]

With a wedding industry like Charlottesville’s (read: booming), it seemed smart and even necessary to officiant Claire Frances to create a network of professionals. In 2010, she launched the Community of Charlottesville Wedding and Event Professionals.  “Over the years, CCWEP has played an integral role in bringing a community of small business owners together who […]