Buford class gets college grant

“When somebody says you can’t write, what are you going to tell ‘em?” shouted Alvin Edwards, City School Board (www.ccs.k12.va.us) chair. “I can!” yelled back the seventh grade of Buford Middle School. Such was the call and response at Alumni Hall on January 31, part of the official kickoff of what will be a five-and-half-year […]

MACAA dismisses exec director

After a year with Phillip E. Dukes at the helm of the Monticello Area Community Action Agency (MACAA) (www.avenue.org/macaa), the Board of Directors has decided to cut ties. “MACAA needs to move in a different direction and that will require new leadership,” said Robert Smith, president of the Board of Directors. MACAA is a nonprofit […]

State GOP chair tackles party woes

As the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Edward W. Gillespie was at the helm of the party in its glory days, when the Republicans trounced the opposition in 2004 and retained both the presidency and Congress.

Biscuit Run traffic at last addressed

For the third time in a month, the County Planning Commission (www.albemarle.org) convened almost solely to discuss Biscuit Run. But on this occasion, January 30, they were joined by the City Planning Commission, and for the first time offered comments on what is possibly the biggest issue with the project: the traffic problems and solutions […]

City Assessments rise 14 percent

Though the rest of Central Virginia’s housing market has slowed, Charlottesville apparently didn’t get the memo. The local real estate market is healthy, and assessments, just mailed to homeowners on January 31, went up again, showing Charlottesville residents the downside of living in one of America’s most desirable cities. According to the City Assessor’s office […]

RED DIRT ALERT!

Never fear: This apparent blemish on Monticello’s (www.monticello.org) nearly flawless face is but a necessary step on the path toward improvement. Construction of the new 42,000-square-foot Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith History Center began January 19 with the demolition of Monticello’s former ticket office. The new facility will house an improved ticket office, gift […]

Corrections from previous issue

Due to an editorial error, last week’s Get Out Now calendar incorrectly listed the band Jolie Fille as playing at Atomic Burrito on Saturday, January 27. Jolie Fille actually played Atomic Burrito on Friday, January 26. C-VILLE apologizes to any Zydeco fans who might have missed the show and regrets the error beaucoups.

Short timers

Dear Ace: Why is February the shortest month?—Cal N. Dar We all remember the old rhyme: “Thirty days hath November, and please don’t forget September. But if April and May were candy today, we’d all have a happy tomorrow.” Or wait. Ace is a little confused. But there’s one thing he does know: February is […]

Wincing the Night Away

cd By indie standards, The Shins are huge. They’ve been helped along the way by a catchy tune in a McDonald’s commercial and the words Zach Braff put into the mouth of Natalie Portman in his film Garden State: Surely, The Shins Will Change Your Life will one day be the title of a book […]