Smile! On July 1, over 750,000 adult Virginians became eligible for dental coverage under the state’s expanded Medicaid dental plan. Previously, only children and pregnant Medicaid recipients were eligible for coverage. “Oral health is an integral part of overall health, well-being, and quality of life,” said Governor Ralph Northam in a press release. “This historic […]
By Danny O’Dea All along Route 151, breweries and wineries dot the sides of the road. This beautiful, hilly stretch of Nelson County highway is known around the state for its picturesque watering holes. Take a turn down the more residential Dick Woods Road, however, and you’ll see signs with bold letters that read “NO […]
Orange we lucky: A chance encounter in a music store in Orange, Virginia, was the setting for acoustic duo Scuffletown’s auspicious start. The group’s name comes from a long-lost Orange County town, and for the past quarter century, the duo has traveled the country at large. Their signature blend of roots, jazz, world, and bluegrass […]
Backing it up: The Detroit record label Motown produced more hits than The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, and Elvis Presley combined. And much of that success had to do with its backing band, The Funk Brothers. From 1959 to 1972, the group of session musicians provided the distinctive sound for The Temptations, […]
Hit me with your best shot: No ’80s playlist is complete without songs by Madonna, Elton John, Sinead O’Connor, Bruce Springsteen, Janet Jackson, and The Pet Shop Boys. Yet while their sing-along hits were dominating the airwaves, each of these artists recorded lesser-known tracks to bring attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic that was largely ignored […]
By Julia Stumbaugh In December 2020, a group of local youth took their case to a virtual City Council meeting. The goal: Keep the Charlottesville Skate Park open. The city had issued a release earlier that month warning that the park could be shut down if mask-wearing and social distancing regulations weren’t followed. In response […]
Larry Sabato will keep on tweeting The Republican Party of Virginia has a big campaign underway. The organization is trying to help its candidate, Glenn Youngkin, win a governor’s race in a once-purple state that’s gone blue in every statewide election since 2009. But Rich Anderson, chair of the VA GOP, apparently has other matters […]
Paleo diet: Thanks to Steven Speilberg’s Jurassic Park, we learned that theme parks populated by cloned dinosaurs are a bad idea. Revisit the Costa Rican island where plans for a new tourist attraction go horribly awry when the dinosaurs break out and go on the attack. The billionaire park owner desperately tries to underplay the […]
Friday’s fired up: Channeling ’60s soul and ’70s disco funk, Erin & the Wildfire tackles everything from female solidarity to pizza. That quirky range is backed by the solid grooves of Matt Wood on bass, Ryan Lipps on guitar, and Nick Quillen on drums, a rhythmic soundscape bolstered by Erin Lunsford’s powerful, soaring vocals. Spudnik […]
Locally made jam: Mama Tried is a local supergroup, pulling talent from Charlottesville favorites like Alligator, Mojo Pie, The Cows, and The Skip Castro Band. The all-star band features Susan Munson (guitar and vocals), Charlie Pastorfield (guitar and vocals), Stuart Holme (bass), Kent Raine (drums), and Sam Johnston (keys, vocals, and harmonica). Expect an evening […]