New leash law has some residents barking mad

(File photo) For city residents, keeping a dog on a leash is commonplace. But in the county, where backyards are more spacious, some have come to expect to see animals running around untethered. Now thanks to a new Albemarle County’ ordinance, allowing a dog to run freely on another’s property is a Class 4 Misdemeanor, […]

Green Scene: This week's environmental news

BULLETIN BOARD Eco reading: Virginia Cooperative Extension, a Virginia Tech-based organization that offers education in farm management, agriculture, and natural resources, recently announced that it has released several of its publications in e-book format. Free publications include “Boiling Water Bath Canning,” “Pruning Peach Trees,” and “Aerating Your Lawn,” and additional titles will be released each […]

The unlikely return of George Allen

Will George Allen’s ability to capitalize on anti-Obama sentiment put him back on the political map? (Washington Time-Zuma Press) Depending on when you’re reading this, Virginia’s ex-governor, ex-senator, and ongoing political punch line George Allen is either a) the presumptive Republican senatorial nominee, or b) the actual Republican senatorial nominee. The chance that he is […]

County board remains split on Western Bypass 

  Albemarle County Supervisor Chris Dumler said he wanted to see for himself how the proposed Western Bypass would interact with the environment, so he hiked the 6.2 miles before Wednesday’s vote. (Photo by Aaron Richardson/The Daily Progress)  Last week the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors continued arguments over the long-debated route 29 Western Bypass. […]

Trash talk: Single stream, dirty MRFs, and redefining waste

Baled plastic bottles—many likely from Charlottesville curbside containers—await pickup at TFC Recycling in Chester. The single-stream plant can process 6,600 tons of recyclables a month. (Photo by Ash Daniel) This pile of newsprint and ink cost you nothing, but there’s stiff competition for it all the same. Recyclable materials—including the weekly in your hands—have been […]

Your guide to hiking, biking, and rafting—oh my!

Blue Hole (Photo by Tom Daly) Jump in Nothing cools quicker on a muggy summer day than a dip in a frigid creek-fed swimming hole, and there are some beautiful ones within an hour’s drive of the city. Blue Hole in White Hall is a local favorite. From the Sugar Hollow Dam off Garth Road, […]

Fun for the family: Summer camps and puttin' places

Puttin’ places Mini-golf isn’t just for trips to the beach and boardwalk. Charlottesville has two family-owned greens that offer classic summer fun for little putters—and parents, too. The Putt Putt Fun Center on Rio Road East near Fashion Square Mall has been around for decades, and offers two 18-hole courses. Tickets are $6, with $14 […]

Patio-a-go-go

Sitting on a restaurant’s patio in the summer heat is a summertime rite of passage. Here’s a list of al fresco places around town to eat, drink, see, and be seen. Aguas frescas at Cinema Taco (Photo by John Robinson) Melon heads What says summer better than a slice of fresh fruit in your hand, […]