In 1956, Charlottesville had 22 daily passenger trains that traveled to Washington. Today, the service between the two localities is expensive and infrequent. But Meredith Richards, founder of Cville Rail and chair of the Piedmont Rail Coalition, says funds were made available and better rail service will soon become a reality. The Department of Rail […]
The City of Charlottesville and some citizens want electricity from renewable sources, but their options have dwindled. Pepco Energy Services, currently the lone provider of primarily renewable power in Virginia, is abandoning the market because of a law that goes into effect on January 1 to re-regulate the electrical industry. Dominion Virginia Power, meanwhile, is […]
How to balance the Charlottesville city budget in the bitter year ahead? Why not get new ideas on the table? C-VILLE convened an expert panel of drunks, disbarred attorneys and talking parrots to devise creative solutions to fill city coffers. Eliminate need for fire department by banning fires. City savings: $8.7 million Convert Free Speech […]
Job title: Environmental compliance manager. She seeks to improve the relationship between county government and the environment. Has worked for the city for: Four years Sarah Temple Best of times: Benchmarks. “The best times are at the end of the year when you can look back and see real, measurable results, both with conservation efforts, […]
Dear Ace: I saw that a company called Cavalier Films produced a new movie that’s premiering at the Regal theater Downtown. Are they affiliated with UVA?—Phil M. Buff Phil: It’s easy, in this town, to think that anything with even the slightest hint of orange (and/or blue) is something UVA has its hooks in. […]
In my mind, the real “hit” sprinkled among the 18 AC/DC classics in this standalone Rock Band expansion isn’t “Hell’s Bells” or “T.N.T.,” but the delicious irony that said track pack is being hawked exclusively at Wal-Mart, the supposed home of apple pie and all-American values. (Same goes for the band’s latest record, Black Ice.) […]
Despite a nationwide increase in the number of illegal immigrants being incarcerated thanks to what U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) calls “heightened strategic enforcement efforts,” the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail doesn’t seem to have a problem. Though ICE has its own detention facilities, these arrests initially become the responsibility of the localities where the […]
Several city residents are hoping a new organization can bring them together with county residents in order to collectively tackle issues with local governments. The newly formed Alliance of Neighborhoods sets out to unite city and county residents and neighborhood associations to “amplify neighborhoods’ voices” and bring key issues to city and county officials. Jack […]
Both Charlottesville and Albemarle have new green feathers in their caps. The Virginia Municipal League’s Green Government Challenge, under which both localities have gotten certified as “Green Governments,” may not itself stop the ice caps from melting, but it did encourage cities and towns statewide to step up their game on sustainability. Assets like the […]
Job title: Administrative assistant, handling payroll for Charlottesville’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Has worked for the city for: 34 years. “Longer than some of my coworkers have been alive.” Best of times: The people and the parties. “I love my coworkers. The big events are fun because everyone in the department is there working […]