In brief

Crowning new owners After eight years in downtown Charlottesville, the Violet Crown theater will soon be under new ownership. The news comes at the end of the Virginia Film Festival, which showed several movies in the theater. Violet Crown opened on the Downtown Mall in 2015, following the closure of a Regal cinema at the […]

Meltdown

After years of legal battles, the Swords into Plowshare project has melted down the statue of Robert E. Lee, which once stood in a park near Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. Opposition to the monument’s initial removal fueled the deadly violence of the 2017 white supremacist Unite the Right rally. Now, the bronze which once formed the […]

Council’s turn

After several years of discussion, the Charlottesville Planning Commission has recommended a new zoning code that will increase the amount of buildable space within city limits. The appointed body has recommended the restoration of an idea to limit development in areas of the city identified as more prone to displacement of Black and other minority […]

Super intentions

In a surprise move, the Albemarle County School Board voted unanimously to extend Superintendent Matthew Haas’ contract on October 12 despite a petition calling for the administrator’s removal. Neither the discussion of the administrator’s contract or the vote were listed on the meeting’s agenda.   At the sparsely attended meeting, some school board members expressed […]

Spreading the word

Local politicians, authors, and readers alike turned out to the Downtown Mall to visit the Banned Bookmobile on October 18.   Across Virginia, the number of book challenges has risen dramatically in recent years, with several school systems pulling content and local governments, including the Warren County Board of Supervisors, restricting library funding over titles. […]

In brief

Community outreach The University of Virginia President’s Council on UVA-Community Partnerships met recently to discuss the university’s relationship with the broader Charlottesville community. The council is made up of area leaders from institutions including UVA, the Legal Aid Justice Center, and the Public Housing Association of Residents. The October 20 event highlighted the college’s ongoing […]

Less Dairy Market?

A long and meticulous conversation has been held all year about proposed new rules and regulations for buildings in Charlottesville, and the Planning Commission will likely take a final vote on a recommendation on October 18. Since a public hearing was held September 14, the six remaining planning commissioners have held four meetings to finalize […]

Reaching out

Since the pandemic, the health care industry has been rapidly evolving to address new challenges, staffing shortages, and high rates of burnout. As part of its effort to support local health care workers, the Blue Ridge Health District is launching the Outreach Network on October 18 to boost some of its most vital members: outreach […]

Protest on Grounds

Tensions are high across the United States over the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The complex and rapidly developing situation has resulted in accusations of atrocities by both sides, and steadily worsening conditions for those in Gaza. Locally, controversy erupted when the University of Virginia chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine put out a […]

In brief

Change of PACE(M) After weeks of debate and controversy, Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders said that Market Street Park will resume operating hours on October 21, when it will begin closing again at 11pm. This change comes with the announcement that PACEM (People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry) will open its cold-weather shelters early this […]