Tuesday, March 20
Who’s flying the friendly skies?
 Our local airport, how do we love thee? The Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport reports 95 percent customer satisfaction—not bad for an industry that’s otherwise reporting widespread travel misery. |
Apparently, lots of happy people are using the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport. Or, at least, there were 771 satisfied people during a four-week period in September 2006. The airport’s customer satisfaction survey, conducted by the UVA Center for Survey research, reported a 95 percent approval rating. More than half of people who use the airport live outside Central Virginia: 54.5 percent. Locals comprise 35.9 percent.
An afternoon of adventure
Isn’t business interesting? The president and chief operating officer of Universal Studios, Ron Meyer, gave a talk today at UVA’s Darden School of Business as part of Darden’s 50th Anniversary Speaker Series. He oversees Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Universal Television, USA Network, the SCI FI Channel, and Universal Theme Parks and Resorts. Meyer has been prez for 11 years, and was ranked No. 9 in Premiere magazine’s 2006 “Power 50” in Hollywood. Ooh, can we touch him?
Wednesday, March 21
Spring is here for Cavalier football
 We can’t wait to get more of this guy! Al Groh’s Cavalier football team began their spring practice to the sound of birds chirping and shoulder pads colliding. |
UVA football begins their spring training with a full lineup for the season. Unlike last year, no players are on academic leave, though a few, including quarterback Jameel Sewell, are recovering from injuries. Last season was Groh’s sixth at Virginia, his alma mater, when he took the Cavaliers to 5-7. This season promises to be significantly better, Jeff White of the Richmond Times-Dispatch writes hopefully.
Thursday, March 22
Look out for the Cadillacs
About 420,000 people move across state lines to retire each year, Retirement Migration in America estimates. Chosen destination? Monticello! Charlottesville has again been named the “Best Place to Retire,” beating out towns in 34 states, in the fourth edition of America’s 100 Best Places to Retire, produced by Where to Retire magazine. An entire mag specifically devoted to where to relocate for retirement? That’s potentially a lot of folks ready to tee off on our patch of the Blue Ridge.
Friday, March 23
Wanted: a breath of fresh air
The Fresh Air fund, which gives free summer vacations to kids from New York City’s “toughest neighborhoods,” announces they’re looking for spots in Charlottesville. Hosting a nature-deprived child just may win you some famous friends: the organization’s board of directors includes former UVA footballer Tiki Barber, singer Mariah Carey and The New York Times publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. among other fab philanthropists.
Saturday, March 24
Little development that could
A new generation of home buyers is seeking smaller houses with more amenities, the Staunton News Leader’s Home Front section reports. At mention is Old Trail, a planned 250-acre New Urbanist community in Crozet which features sidewalks and walking trails. “It’s the kind of layout more buyers say they want to see, instead of commercial drags like Charlottesville’s U.S. 29 North.” While this is old news to us, the concept of clustered mixed use is a new one for Augusta County, which is apparently looking to Albemarle for what (and what not) to do.
Sunday, March 25
Jamaican ’em ski
With adequate labor ever a problem for local ski resort Wintergreen, this season they found a unique solution. Thirty-five Jamaicans were flown in on work visas to staff the 11,000-acre enclave and, apparently, freeze their asses off. The Associated Press reports that many of the Jamaican workers didn’t think to bring winter coats. As resort seasons lengthen, ski locations like Wintergreen can no longer fill their staffing needs with students on breaks. To get the specific work permits, only 66,000 of which are issued, Wintergreen had to show they’ve tried and failed to hire U.S. workers. Now, the Jamaicans are an important part of the fabric at Wintergreen, which employs between 500 and 700 workers a year and has spent $50 million on expansion over the past decade.
Monday, March 26
Going for a ride
 It’s here! The Downtown Transit Center opened on March 26 with free bus rides for all. |
In case you’ve been under a rock, or simply haven’t tried to traverse the mess that is Water Street south of the Downtown Mall, the new city bus transit center opens today. In celebration of the new central hub, all bus rides are free today, yippee! While the new, glass-clad building sure looks spiffy, watch out for completely confusing changes to the bus routes.
