County seeks to bolster country stores

Advance Mills Supply was a prime example of the country stores within Albemarle County, but its fate typifies a recent trend. The store—listed as “threatened” by a 2003 report from the Albemarle County Historic Preservation Committee—was demolished this past spring, and other country stores face fire, demolition and neglect. Albemarle County is working on ways […]

Six-story W. main building proposed

On July 17, the city Board of Architectural Review (BAR) will get a look—its third, in fact—at Bill Atwood’s plans for a new mixed-use building on W. Main Street. The new building would sit on the corner of West Main and 10 1/2 streets, the current site of the Under the Roof furniture store. That […]

$1,050 for reckless driving

On July 1, a new set of Virginia driving laws took effect, including Libertarian-rankling cell phone-usage restrictions and booster seat requirements. But one of the new laws is sure to infuriate and possibly bankrupt thousands of Virginia drivers, starting immediately. Taking its cue from similar measures in New Jersey, Virginia has enacted a set of […]

“Bong hits” ruling blow to free speech

The controversial Supreme Court case of Morse v. Frederick—infamous for its focus on a banner with the message “BONG HiTS 4 JESUS”—was decided by a 5-4 ruling June 25. The Court ruled in favor of school administrators who suspended a student for refusing to take down the banner. Local free speech advocacy groups, however, are […]

Pedestrian killed on W. Rio

A 62-year-old Latina woman died after she was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of W. Rio and Earlysville roads, police said June 26. Police Sergeant Pamela Greenwood, 35, was on duty, heading north in her police-issue 2007 Ford Explorer, when she struck the woman, identified by The Daily Progress as Esperanza de Jesus […]

City botanical garden in the works

In last week’s cover story, C-VILLE reported that a botanical garden might be right around the corner. Turns out, if a local conservationist has his way, it could be closer than that. Rob Sacilotto, owner of Botanique, a nursery for carnivorous and unusual plants, has nearly finished a proposal requested by the Department of Parks […]

Peace and the art of scooter maintenance

On July 15, Alix Bryan will be puttering south out of Washington, D.C., on a scooter. Almost two months and more than 9,000 miles later, she hopes to be pulling up to Dubya’s “Western White House” in Crawford, Texas. It’s what she’s doing in between that she wants the world to know about. Alix Bryan […]

The soil-slinging begins

Correction appended Charlottesville voters will be looking at a new spot on the ballot this fall as a result of the city’s membership in the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District (TJSWCD). The city has been a member since 2006, but this is the first full year of membership. Charlottesville joined too late last […]