Give it another shot

After two-and-a-half years of living with COVID-19, many of us carry a sense of dread when the temperatures drop. Will winter coronavirus, colds, flus, and other infections rise as we gather in smaller spaces for longer periods of time? In a word: Yes.  But fear not. Vaccinations work to keep infection rates lower for many […]

Reduce, use, fill

Charlottesville was eco-conscious before being eco-conscious was cool. That could explain the myriad of secondhand and sustainability-focused shops around town, some of which have been fixtures in the community for decades. Why, though, have even more of these stores popped up in the last year? An abundance of factors contributes to the need for such […]

Deadly shortcut 

In 2018, 54-year-old Joseph Mark Audia was killed when he was crushed between two cars in the Jak ’n Jil restaurant parking lot on East High Street. The Louisa County man was standing next to his car when a pickup truck ran off the road and crashed into several parked cars, trapping Audia between his […]

In brief: CHS student protest, and more

CHS students protest Youngkin’s proposed transgender student policy Several hundred Charlottesville High School students walked out of class in protest of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed transgender student policy on September 28, emphasizing the harmful impacts the guidelines could have on the health and safety of transgender students across Virginia. The controversial policy would force transgender […]

‘Blighted’

For decades, two of Albemarle’s toniest enclaves—Farmington and Ednam Forest—have lived in proximity to a less desirable neighbor. Charlottesville Oil, built in 1950, has long been known for the junked vehicles and debris outside. And inside, when it rained, it poured.   Albemarle County finally noticed. On April 22, it sent Charlottesville Oil president James […]

In brief: Local schools on lockdown, and more

SOL scores drop Four Albemarle County elementary schools—Greer, Mountain View, Red Hill, and Woodbrook—have been accredited with conditions for the 2022-23 school year, meaning their Standards of Learning exam pass rates in one or more student demographic groups did not meet state standards, according to a statement issued by the school district on September 22. […]

A more humane approach 

By Ezra Maille Julie, a 21-year-old UVA student, was at a bar with her friends when she was physically assaulted. A stranger grabbed the baseball hat off her head, and when she attempted to get it back, he struck her in the face, before fleeing the scene and being apprehended by university police. After the […]

‘It’s scary’

When Sarah first heard about Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposed transgender student policy, she sat down at her desk and cried. Her 10-year-old transgender child, who attends Charlottesville City Schools, was now in danger of losing critical protections and facing discrimination at school.   “I realized that things are about to get really tough,” says Sarah, […]

Through a different lens

Henry Martin stands tall in the photo, his eyes piercing and thoughtful, dapper in his jacket. Martin was born enslaved at Monticello in 1826. In the early 1900s, he was one of the most recognizable figures on Grounds. He rang the Rotunda bell, and was the head janitor at the University of Virginia. But most […]

A daughter’s search

On a sunny afternoon in July, hundreds of people looked on as a 737 touched down at the Spokane International airport. Sitting in a shuttle bus on the tarmac, surrounded by family and friends, Linda Chauvin watched the scene unfold with a mix of grief and exhilaration. “The excitement was actually so palpable. We see […]