Tuesday, December 4
Yankees play Hokies
The New York Yankees will play an exhibition game at Virginia Tech on March 18, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. As part of their spring training, they will take on the Hokies at 3pm in English Field. "Since the tragedy of last April 16, the Virginia Tech family has shown great strength and resilience and have committed themselves to the healing process while looking ahead to their future," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Monday. "We bring the New York Yankees to Blacksburg this spring to celebrate the start of a new year for the Virginia Tech family and ours."
Wednesday, December 5
Goode: Happy b-day, General Lee!
 Virgil Goode loves Robert E. Lee and got an award for saying so. |
The Washington Times reports that Virginia Congressman Virgil Goode is set to deliver a speech at the Sons of Confederate Veterans’ (SCV) Jefferson Davis Camp 305 Christmas party. The speech is on Robert E. Lee, that heroic Southern figure who just happened to find himself on the wrong side of history in a very, very major way. For coming all the way across the Potomac from his Capitol Hill office, Goode is presented the Stephen D. Lee Award on the 200th anniversary of the other Lee’s birthday. That birthday, for the SCV anyway, is cause for celebration and a look back at the bad old days.
Thursday, December 6
Can’t wait for warm weather
 The Charlottesville Marathon is one of the 10 best up-and-coming marathons in the country, says Runner’s World magazine. |
In its January issue, Runner’s World magazine names the Charlottesville Marathon one of the 10 best up-and-coming marathons in the country. This accolade follows on the heels of Trail Runner magazine recognizing the Great Eastern Trail Run, which goes through the Blue Ridge Mountains, as one of the top trail series in the country, and Golf Digest naming the golf course at Spring Creek Golf Club in Charlottesville as "Best New Public Under $75." To all this great news we have just one thing to add: The dentist and doctors’ offices around town need to start offering more reading material than just People and Time.
Friday, December 7
Locals up for Grammys
The Grammys are announced and a couple of local names are in the mix. Christopher King, a resident of Faber, is nominated in the category of Best Historical Album for his co-producing and remastering work on People Take Warning! Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs, 1913-1938, a three- disc collection of tragic folk songs from the early 20th century. His nomination is nothing new, though, as he has received them three times before and actually won in 2003. Chris Daughtry, Fluvanna High alum and "American Idol" fourth place finalist, receives four Grammy nominations for his work on his eponymous album, Daughtry, one of the best-selling albums of 2007.
Saturday, December 8
Winning and losing
The sports programs at Albemarle County Schools are vacillating between triumph and grief as they come to terms with a big win and a major loss. The Monticello High football team won the Virginia AA Division 3 state championship in Lynchburg today, defeating Richlands 36-22 for the first football state championship for Albemarle County public schools. But the high would be deflated the next day as Albemarle High swim coach Kyle Wilson collapsed and died at a Sunday morning meet in Annapolis, Maryland, reports NBC 29. No word on the cause of death.
Sunday, December 9
Council, don’t preach
 "Contrarian Christian" John Whitehead is featured in The Washington Post for a Fredricksburg lawsuit. |
The Washington Post Magazine details the history of Rutherford Institute Founder and President John Whitehead in a story about a lawsuit filed by Fredericksburg City Councilman Hashmel Turner, an ordained preacher in the First Baptist Church of Love. After Turner concluded a prayer to open a City Council session with the words "In the name of Jesus Christ, we thank you for what we are going to do," the Council passed a formal ban on the invocation of any specific religious figures, to ensure that parties offended by Christ, Buddha, Vishnu et al. would not file suit against the city. The Post calls Whitehead "as much a contrarian as a Christian," and bills his mission as the prevention of a "bland, state-sponsored ‘civil religion,’" then lists a few of Whitehead’s greatest hits. Turner’s lawsuit, filed 14 months ago, is yet to proceed.
Monday, December 10
Another big old show at JPJ
A big announcement today for fans of country radio: Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban (a.k.a. Mr. Nicole Kidman) will play the John Paul Jones Arena on April 10. It’s a high-powered bill: Each performer is a Grammy winner, and each has a recent No. 1 album. What’s more, the press release announcing the show promises "12 No. 1 songs, 7 for Urban and 5 from Underwood." (Don’t you just hate those Arena shows that are all littered up with No. 2 songs?) Tickets go on sale to the general public on December 15.
