 Tim Gunn, on-air mentor to designers on the TV show “Project Runway” and all-around fashion guru, mingled with fans after his talk last Tuesday at Old Cabell Hall. Gunn was booked as a speaker by the Class of 2008’s Fourth-Year Trustees. Roughly 800 people attended the event. |
Tuesday 2/19
They want you!
The Virginia Defense Force’s 3rd Brigade will activate another battalion to serve in Charlottesville, as well as the surrounding areas. According to today’s Staunton News Leader, the increase could mean as many as 150 new state troops for times of emergency. Many of the new 13th Battalion troops will merely be transferred from other units, but some locals will fill out the ranks of the all-volunteer force. Want to join up? Just make sure you’re between the ages of 16 and 65 and a legal resident of Virginia and then you can serve the Commonwealth.
Wednesday 2/20
What am I doing wrong?
Today’s Daily Progress reports that 31-year-old Artis Wayne Keyton, Jr. was arrested Tuesday on charges of arson and vandalism, after allegedly trying to set fire to the house on Bolling Avenue where he lives with his mother. According to the Progress, Keyton poured gasoline over the house’s cinderblock foundation to light it, unsuccessfully. The incident apparently followed a domestic dispute, which we can only assume went something like this: “Concrete is not flammable!” “Yes it is!” “No it isn’t!” “Oh yeah?”
Thursday 2/21
One of their own
NBC29 reports that criminal and internal police investigations have been launched against a longtime Albemarle County police officer, Jeffrey Turner, in a case that began with a February 10 911 domestic violence call from his house in Crozet. When police arrived, they found enough evidence to arrest Turner. County police told NBC29 that they’ve dealt with “situations like this” in the past, and that the officers involved were removed from the force. If charged, Turner faces a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Friday 2/22
Van Halen concert postponed
 And the JPJ will not rock: Van Halen postponed their February 22 gig. |
There will be no “Runnin’ With The Devil” or getting “Hot For Teacher” tonight. Van Halen, who was scheduled to play at John Paul Jones Arena, will instead likely reschedule the show for May or June, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Tickets for tonight will be honored then, and refunds will be available at the point of purchase. JPJ’s press release does not give a reason for the postponement. The band’s February 25 concert in Duluth, Georgia, was also scuttled—but we feel safe in assuming that Diamond Dave is still madly grinning, whatever the issue.
Saturday 2/23
UVA gals perform swimmingly
The University of Virginia women’s swimming and diving team—a squad composed of 11 freshmen—blew away their competition in the Atlantic Coat Conference championships, capping the four-day tournament in Atlanta, Georgia, with a score of 800. (The University of North Carolina was second with 572 points.) On the final day of competition, freshman Liz Shaw took first place and broke her previous conference record in the 200-meter butterfly stroke, and a Cavalier quartet took first place in the 400-meter freestyle relay.
Sunday 2/24
I’ll show you…by crossing the border
Several locals say they will address the plight of immigrants by trekking across the border themselves. Virginia Leavell, Sue Frankel-Streit and Jeff Winder are planning to start somewhere in Mexico and cross the desert into the U.S., carrying food and water for what they anticipate will be a three-day trip in April, according to today’s Daily Progress. “Yeah, I’m worried, but this is bigger than me,” said Leavell.
Monday 2/25
It’s a bird! It’s a plane!
Virginia’s 16 superdelegates are elected officials (Senator Jim Webb, for one) and party members who can vote for whichever candidate they prefer at the Democratic convention this summer, but are under considerable pressure to make a public endorsement now. According to the Daily Press, Obama and Clinton have been working the phones, but most Virginia superdelegates interviewed by the Press echoed Jim Leaman, Virginia AFL-CIO president, in saying that by the time the convention rolls around, they expect the nominee to be apparent.
