Third Street Blues

Something getting in the way lately as you scramble from the Downtown Mall to get to Market Street Wineshop before it closes? No, not the UVA students—we’re talking about the block-of-a-fence that Third Street NE has become. You may be wondering what’s going on there, since, to the untrained eye, it doesn’t look like much […]

Seven projects alter face of Crozet

When the county parks director busts out an obscure reference to an old country saying about the “dog in the sunshine,” you can bet it’s not your average public meeting. More than 100 people from the sometimes-ornery Crozet community came out to Western Albemarle High School on September 20 to review seven different projects that […]

They see you, but can you see them?

As Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo stood in front of City Council once again to make his case for installing surveillance cameras on and around the Downtown Mall, Councilor Julian Taliaferro said, “Chief Longo, I only have one question. Do you think this will make a difference?” Longo looked up at the former fire department […]

Calls prompt reduction in park hours

One block north of the Downtown Mall, directly adjacent to Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, lies Lee Park. It’s the block of public green space surrounding a bronze sculpture of the Confederate general, and for years, the people have been permitted to mosey around the equestrian war statue until 11pm. Now, after a slew of disturbance calls […]

Police won’t classify MHS incident a shooting

On Friday, September 14, just hours before classes at Monticello High School let out for the week, Albemarle County Police responded to a call from a resident of Stone Creek Apartments, which abuts MHS, about a possible shooting. An object had broken a first-floor apartment window, nearly missing a man who was in the apartment […]

Former teacher pleads guilty to sex offences

A former social studies teacher at Western Albemarle High School has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of coercion and enticement of a minor. The teacher, Richard Neal Willetts, was arrested in March for charges stemming from a series of graphic sexual e-mails written to a male student who was only 15 at the time. […]

“I’ll be reachable on my boat”

VA President John T. Casteen held—well, technically not a “news” conference, but an “informal round-table session with the media” last week, though it was a conversation with a bunch of reporters about the state of the University. Here’s some of what he had to say.

City defers on $21M loan to Jeff Scholars

It now looks like a $21 million tax-reduced loan could ride on the fate of a former frat house. At its September 17 meeting, City Council opted to defer approving a $21 million bond for the Jefferson Scholars Foundation—a move city staff confirms is unusual. The reason? Continuing ambiguity over whether the Foundation will tear […]

How UVA reduced water use by a third

If all the city’s water customers were swimming around in a pond together, UVA would be a mighty big fish. In 2006, the University went through 438 million gallons of water, which is 13,305 gallons per person (including faculty, staff and students). Given that the pond itself is looking drier—both the city and Albemarle County […]

Iraq first topic in ambitious debate series

While the Dome Room of the Rotunda tends to elicit hushed tones, the hush was quieter than usual on September 18 despite the large audience gathered in the round to watch three men and one woman debate the central question of the Iraq War—whether to keep or withdraw U.S. troops. The audience sat staring at […]