Tuesday, February 27
New move for local food
 Soon, those who eat organic will realize they’re not doing enough. “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” will guide shoppers to food’s new zen—eating locally. |
The Daily Progress picks up on the local food movement story on their website today. “Charlottesville-area gastronomes are choosing to shun traditional grocery stores in favor of locally produced food for their family’s dinner plates,” Brian McNeill writes. But that’s not the news. No, the news is that “Buy Fresh, Buy Local,” a guide to buying and eating local food will be out next month, further solidifying Charlottesville’s status as a hub of the movement. Piedmont Environmental Council and the Institute for Environmental Negotiation are sponsoring the campaign, to include bumper stickers and other promo materials, so all can wear their stomachs on their sleeves.
Wednesday, February 28
Kaine among the nurses
Governor Tim Kaine visited the UVA School of Nursing today, and it wasn’t ‘cause he had a boo-boo. He was there to address what the state would do to help the nursing shortage. Though many kids want to be nurses, Kaine said a lack of nursing school faculty and classroom space was the “choke point,” the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. This year the state will give nursing schools a 10 percent raise to retain teachers and offer $200,000 in scholarships to nursing students. The average UVA Hospital nurse makes just over $50,000 per year.
Thursday, March 1
Downed Albemarle Marine honored
Corporal Bradley T. Arms of Albemarle was 20 years old when he was killed, the only one from his platoon to die under fire in an incident in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. Now, local Marines from across Central Virginia are naming their detachment in his honor, WCAV reports. Arms’ photo will be displayed at each meeting of the Marine League. The Department of Defense confirmed 3,163 casualties in Iraq as of yesterday.
Friday, March 2
A tale of two budgets
 Charlottesville City Manager Gary O’Connell rolled out the proposed budget for FY 2007-08. The county also announced their budget this week. |
The City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County both announced their FY 2007-08 proposed budgets today. In the city, total proposed budget is $136.5 million, a 13.6 percent increase over last year. In the county, total proposed budget is $315.4 million, a 5.6 percent increase over last year. Neither the city nor the county budgets offer across-the-board tax relief to offset rising real estate assessments. Assessments increased 14 percent in the city and county assessments rose between 11 percent and 17 percent last year.
Saturday, March 3
UVA scientists study Saturn’s bling
 Look, up in the sky. Some of the solar system’s brightest lights come from icy particles spewing from Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. |
Researchers at UVA discovered that icy particles, blasted off the surface of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, smatter other nearby moons, making them unusually bright and shiny. Even more exciting, some scientists have speculated that organisms possibly living on Enceladus’ surface could be spreading to other hospitable moons, like nearby Titan. Dr. Anne Verbiscer and colleagues published in the journal Science their reflectivity study of Saturn’s moons. Enceladus has an icy volcano that is one of the brightest objects in the solar system.
Sunday, March 4
Another kind of publicity
Though she typically appears in print as the victim in the 1984 UVA rape case, Greenwich, Connecticut event coordinator Liz Seccuro is quoted this month in her professional capacity. She offers a tip in the latest issue of InStyle Weddings. On page 217, the creative director of Dolce Parties suggests “a teamed entree—like a petit filet mignon paired with a crab cake.” Her helpful suggestion can save wedding planners $18 per plate!
Monday, March 5
He’s on fire
Charlottesville Fire Chief Charles Werner was awarded the 2006 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Fire Service Management at a ceremony in Virginia Beach, a city press release announces. This year he was recognized for his contributions to other fire departments in Virginia as well as his cooperation with the Homeland Security Information Network Fire Service Working Group…whew. Werner has won the award twice before, in 2002 and 2003. This year, he got press for his initiative to put a working smoke detector in every city household. Werner has been with the Charlottesville Fire Department since 1978.
