Minority report Local African-American business owners face the challenges of an open market A white Charlottesville resident is about two-and-a-half times more likely to be a business owner than is a black resident, according to U.S. Census figures. But though this statistic is hardly something to cheer about, it’s less skewed than the national white-to-black […]
Ease on down the road City Attorney braces for a fight as Councilors squabble over MCP easement Craig Brown seemed a little nervous. He shuffled a stack of papers, wearing the apprehensive expression of someone unaccustomed to dropping bombs. “There’s no shortage of opinions in this community about the Meadowcreek Parkway,” Brown said, bracing for […]
Black market birth control As the General Assembly targets contraception, Planned Parenthood looks to Charlottesville During last year’s General Assembly session, Delegate Richard Black (R-Louden) sent all 40 State senators a letter promising that Virginia “will lead the way in restoring the sanctity of human life.” It’s a laudable goal for the Commonwealth, which executes […]
"All politics is local." It’s a famous declaration from longtime Speaker of the House Tip O’Neil. Had he been speaking about Charlottesville and Albemarle County, he might have added a corollary: "and local politics is boring." That seems to be the consensus anyway, since only about a quarter of all registered voters in the City […]
Gearharts Fine Chocolates’ Maya Holy cow. That’ s the initial reaction to the flavor explosion when you nibble the Maya. Underneath the layer of cocoa dust, the tiny dark chocolate nugget first offers a faint, smooth orange taste quickly overpowered by the spiciness of cinnamon. But that’ s just a precursor to the earthy zip […]
Pole vault Teacher surmounts her Mormon upbringing to teach burlesque – and other dance moves The pole juts seven feet straight into the air from atop a 4’x4′ wood-and-ceramic-tile platform. A lithe, limber Brooke Shields lookalike in 5" heels, stockings and tight gym shorts and matching bra, swings suggestively around the brass fixture. She crooks […]
In American Motel, a short film by local writer and director Alexandria Searls, a man uses a piece of string to illustrate for a young woman the various connections, or "lines," in life. Gently, he wraps the string around her neck, her feet, a lamp on the wall, etc. Then he tugs. "Pull on one […]
Grounds swell Officials give UVA props for the North Grounds Connector Road The 1.3 miles of eastbound lanes on the Route 29/250 Bypass between the exits for Route 250 and for Barracks Road are as mundane as roads get around here. Two blue rectangular highway signs indicate food (Taco Bell, Ruby Tuesday’s and Arby’s) and […]
Tuesday, September 21 Water, water everywhere About 75 residents gathered tonight at Monticello High School to hear new RWSA director Thomas Frederick outline five different options for expanding the region’s water supply, including projects to expand local reservoirs, dredge sediment from the South Fork Rivanna reservoir, and pipe water from the James River. This winter, […]
Wheels keep on turning The City tackles traffic from signals to bikes to gnarly street crossings Mixed signals Whenever City and County officials talk about traffic, the message is always an ode to regional cooperation. The traffic problem is bigger than any one jurisdiction, they say, so Charlottesville and Albemarle have to work together for […]