Here in Charlottesville, where architects seemingly outnumber traffic lights, the concept of building “green”—or environmentally friendly—homes, schools and city buildings is an idea whose time has come. Whether you chalk it up to rising electricity prices or greater public awareness of the toxic chemicals in traditional building materials, there’s no denying that the trend of […]
Tuesday, November 2 Albemarle gets blue shading Voters came to the polls in droves in both Charlottesville and Albemarle County today, with voter turnout topping that of the 2000 elections. In Albemarle, a whopping 75 percent of registered voters came to the polls to vote in the presidential race, as did 66 percent of Charlottesville’s […]
Tuesday, October 26 A detestable act Today The Daily Progress announced it would adopt a new advertising policy, after some readers protested the newspaper’s decision to run an anonymous ad decrying homosexuality as “A Detestable Act… Wickedness… Gross sin!” The quarter-page ad, which contained no identification of its sponsor, appeared in the DP on Monday, […]
In the roughly 25 years since his death at age 50, Steve McQueen has enjoyed a vibrant afterlife in the American pop consciousness. Including memoirs by two ex-wives, biographical treatments have come out at a pace of at least one every three years. Remakes of his movies—Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger’s turn at The Getaway […]
Tuesday, October 19 Bush’s beady eyes A tour bus featuring a giant picture of President Bush and the line “Yes, Bush Can! ’04” rolled into town today, coming to a halt at an environmentalist rally near the UVA Rotunda. Two men in suits emerged from the bus to loudly voice their support for the President. […]
Tuesday, October 12 No such thing as a free ambulance Many city governments must factor rescue and emergency medical services into annual budgets. Not here in Charlottesville, where the all-volunteer Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS) gets the job done with zero tax dollars. CARS is the busiest volunteer squad in the country, having responded to more […]
When Melissa Howard joined the Wal-Mart store in New Castle, Indiana, in 1992, she received a blue vest, a red, white and blue nametag, six bucks an hour, and the title of “electronics department manager.” Howard hoped to climb the corporate ladder, accept greater responsibility and take home a fatter paycheck. So she worked diligently […]
Tuesday, October 5 New supe’s tests examined In their fourth public meeting in one week to address new standardized testing, Charlottesville school administrators convened this evening with nearly three-dozen attendees at the Friendship Court meeting room. Under discussion: the “Flanagan” tests, the first major instructional initiative by new city superintendent Scottie Griffin. Acknowledging that the […]
Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo Sr. is no slave overseer. But he knows the specter of the slave patrol colors the way some people see police officers. In early September, Longo addressed about 15 people attending this fall’s Citizens Police Academy. The annual 10-session class trains neighborhood residents in the basics of police work. In […]
Tuesday, September 28 Serial rapist is black As of today, local cops can stop scrutinizing Latinos or white men in their search for the serial rapist. (Police reportedly sought DNA samples from two Latino men as part of the DNA dragnet.) Confirmation that the serial rapist is indeed a black man came yesterday, when police […]