C-VILLE Weekly | February 1 - 7, 2023

The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA faces allegations of workplace dysfunction and animal mistreatment—with calls for the executive director and CEO to step down

Defendants relieved former police chief's lawsuit dismissed PAGE 10

A little robot girl becomes a violent menace in M3GAN PAGE

Three

Winter

Monday- Thurday (includes cart

Friday - Sunday (includes cart

27 Galleries: What’s on view this month.

29 Screens: Move over Chucky, M3GAN ’s on the loose.

33 Sudoku

33 Crossword

35

P.S. 38

HotSeat: Mahanoor Samee

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1 –7, 2023 c-ville.com

February

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SENTARA MARTHA JEFFERSON HOSPITAL

Meet Ryan.

Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital is dedicated to improving the health of our community and it shows through the compassionate care provided by the people that work within our walls.

Ryan Thompson, RN, BSN, is one of those people. From the moment you meet Ryan, you know that you are in the hands of a dedicated caregiver focused on helping you feel better.

“When you serve in the community in which you live, these people stop being strangers but people you will see again.”

Hear more from Ryan in his own words at Sentara.com/MarthaJeffersonPeople.

THIS WEEK

Hello, Charlottesville! Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly. I’m a fan of dogs. Cats, too. I had a little dog growing up, a white bichon-poodle mix that was as cute as he was poorly trained. He was the very first pet my sister and I ever cared for, and we loved him dearly. He was so damn adorable that it was hard to resist giving him whatever he whined for (hence the poor training). So, it’s tempting to say that because I’ve raised dogs I’m especially hurt by this week’s cover story (p. 14). But, truly, anyone can empathize with an animal in need, whether they’ve formed a bond with one or not, which is why our community has reacted so strongly to the open letters sent to the board of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA.

The controversy at the SPCA involves more than the alleged mistreatment of animals—there are allegations of staff dysfunction and abuse, too. More than 100 current and former staff and volunteers have come forward with claims that the shelter is over capacity and leaving animals to sit in their own urine and feces, that staff aren’t properly trained, and that the facility is far too reliant on volunteers to run it properly and safely. A group called CASPCA Concerns is urging the shelter’s board of directors to oust their executive director and CEO—but the board won’t budge.

2.1.23

Trapped in the middle of this conflict are the animals themselves, who, according to these allegations, already suffer neglect. And they may continue to be left in these conditions if locals boycott the shelter. Hopefully a swift resolution will help these pets get the care they need.—

Richard DiCicco

Charles Peale, Joan Drinks RC, collage

“He was my whole life.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Shootings continue

On January 23, the Charlottesville Police Department responded to a shots fired report in the area of Sixth and Garrett streets at around 10pm. Officers discovered a juvenile male, who was shot, and has since been treated and released from the hospital. The following day, police responded to a shooting report in the 400 block of Oakmont Street at around 12:44am, and found a 30-year-old female who had been injured. She was taken to the hospital, and is in stable condition. Anyone with information about either case is asked to contact Detective Ronald Stayments at 970-3939. On January 28, police responded to another shots fired report in the 1100 block of Grove Street at around 9:41pm, and located an adult male, later identified as 36-year-old Eldridge Vandrew Smith of Charlottesville, who had been shot multiple times inside a parked SUV. Smith, known as “Skeete” to friends and family, was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information related to the homicide should call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 977-4000.

Brown joins race

Bellamy Brown has resigned from Charlottesville’s Police Civilian Oversight Board, and joined the crowded Virginia House District 54 race. Brown, a Marine Corps veteran and freelance financial consultant for Albemarle County, unsuccessfully ran for City Council as an independent in 2019. County school board chair Katrina Callsen, city social services assistant Dashad Cooper, and former Charlottesville mayors Dave Norris and David Brown are also running for the Democratic nomination.

Close to home PAGE 11

CROWDED FIELD OF COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Seven men and four women are vying to replace former Charlottesville City councilor Sena Magill, who resigned last month.

John Hall ran for City Council twice, and has previously been banned from City Hall, the University of Virginia, and Albemarle County Public Schools.

First Chesapeake programs director Alex Bryant was the executive director of IX Art Park Foundation in 2022, which gave him “first-hand experience of the power equitable public spaces have.” The 30-year-old UVA alum, who has also worked as the Tom Tom Foundation’s managing director, currently serves on boards for Big Brother Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge, African American Teaching Fellows, and Friends of Charlottesville Downtown.

Donald Dunham III is the President and CEO of Cavalier Professional Services, a financial energy and consulting company. He wrote to council that he has “a lot of experience with affordable housing,” and argued that his “broad technical, business, and leadership skills” will be an asset.

James Guidry had only resided in Charlottesville for 60 days when he submitted his application. The UVA clinical manager wrote that he “wants to make Charlottesville a place that anyone looking to move here, or already live [sic] here, can call home.”

Former Charlottesville School Board member Leah Puryear is the director of Uplift @ UVA, where she has assisted first-generation, college-bound high school students for 42 years. Puryear, who received the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Award in 2021, is “committed to the continued growth and advancement for all of Charlottesville’s residents.”

John Santoski previously served on the Charlottesville Planning Commission and Charlottesville School Board, where he cast the deciding vote to “adopt an anti-discrimination policy for gay and lesbian students and faculty.” Now the executive director of the Arc of the Piedmont, he sees Charlottesville as a city “on the cusp of significant change.”

Kristin Szakos was a two-term city councilor and former Vice Mayor. Szakos will be on vacation in June and July but says she can attend meetings on Zoom and do her work remotely.

Christopher Valtin, a retiree who moved to Charlottesville two years ago, listed “a desire to get more involved in local politics” as his motivation for wanting to serve on City Council. The UVA alum and former member of the Virginia Government Finance Officers’ Association wrote that his experience financing capital projects would prove useful.

Michael Cusano has lived in Charlottesville for just over three years and has no intention of running for council next year. Cusano believes his position as president of the Johnson Village Neighborhood Association would “aid in [his] effectiveness as an interim City Council member.”

Kathy Galvin has recent experience with council, having served from 2012 to 2019. The UVA School of Architecture alum wrote that her priorities include “affordable housing, environmental sustainability, healthy communities,” and that she would not seek re-election.

Carla Manno has lived in Charlottesville for 40 years and holds four different degrees from UVA. The former Buford Middle School teacher wrote that she wants to serve with “full regard for the complexity of our community.”

— Cal Mincer, mourning his father, Mincer’s UVA Imprinted Sportswear owner Mark Mincer, who passed away on January 28 after battling brain cancer. He was 60 years old.

Alex Bryant

Leah Puryear

Kristin Szakos

Kathy Galvin

EZE AMOS

ELLI WILLIAMS

SUPPLIED PHOTO

CHRISTIAN HOMMEL

Bellamy Brown SUPPLIED PHOTO

Out... Hang Abode

‘No evidence’

Defendants in Brackney lawsuit relieved it’s been dismissed

sphere of entitlement or its institutions of cultural supremacy.”

Tucker has promised to continue the fight, but Goodman says he expects Moon’s ruling to be upheld on appeal.

“Of course, Mr. Tucker is going to complain that Judge Moon never really heard testimony from witnesses in court, that he based his decision before there was even a trial,” Goodman says. “But Judge Moon was able to look at what the filings were and the supporting documents in the filings and say, even with what you have, there’s not enough here.”

In addition to naming the city, Snook, and Bellamy as defendants, Brackney’s lawsuit also named former interim city manager Chip Boyles, former assistant Charlottesville police chiefs Jim Mooney and LaTroy “Tito” Durrette, and former city councilors Heather Hill and Sena Magill. Also named was Michael Wells, president of the local Police Benevolent Association.

The suit described policies and procedures Brackney implemented as chief to increase transparency and reduce racial discrimination in policing and her firing of three officers who were captured on video engaging in what the suit describes as “unlawful, criminal, departmentally inappropriate, misogynistic, harassing and racist” behavior. After an investigation, the suit alleged, Brackney also disbanded the SWAT unit prompting the defendants to retaliate against her.

By Courteney Stuart

In June, former Charlottesville police chief RaShall Brackney held a fiery press conference outside the federal courthouse in downtown Charlottesville announcing a gender and race discrimination lawsuit against the City of Charlottesville and 10 individual defendants over her September 2021 termination. Seven months later, a federal judge dismissed all of her claims.

“The plaintiff must plead enough factual content to nudge a claim across the border from mere possibility to plausibility,” wrote Judge Norman K. Moon, whose ruling to dismiss was filed on January 20.

C-VILLE legal analyst Scott Goodman says he’s not surprised by Moon’s ruling.

“I don’t think there was anything to the lawsuit,” he says. “And Judge Moon confirmed that by basically saying there was no evidence, there was no proof that anything that happened to the chief was related to race or gender or anything else other than just subjective decisions made by city administrators that she was not up to the job.”

Through a spokesperson, the city declined to comment. Other defendants, however, expressed relief.

“When city employees, city leaders, are meeting to discuss the performance of the chief of police, we’re allowed to discuss the

performance of the chief of police and to conclude that for whatever reason, we don’t want to continue with the chief of police in office as long as the reason is not something that’s racially improper,” said Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook, who is also an attorney. “And the judge found there is no evidence that there was any racial [or gender] aspect to this decision.”

Bellamy Brown, the former chair of the Police Civilian Oversight Board, noted that his role as a defendant stemmed from a single public statement he made.

“The only thing that I did within my role as the chair … was to alert the community as to how things were within the police department,” he says. “The court looked at the law and the facts and … I think the court came to a correct result.”

In his statement following the dismissal, Brackney’s attorney Charles Tucker says the suit met the legal standard and should have advanced to trial.

“When we embarked on this case with Dr. RaShall Brackney, we understood that the process would be equal to a 15-round heavyweight title fight,” the statement reads. “We did not come into this lawsuit with any delusions regarding Charlottesville’s atmo-

Brackney’s suit alleged that defendant Wells and the Police Benevolent Association administered an internal police survey designed to reflect badly on her. It also cited public statements made by other defendants.

“While great strides were made with the department in areas of racial equity and addressing officer conduct, many of these changes came about at the expense of leadership mistrust among many of the officers we depend on to protect and serve our city,” Boyles said publicly in the weeks after her filing, according to the suit.

“Even Black women officers were leaving,” Snook told CBS19 News on October 4, 2021, the suit notes. “These were her handpicked people.”

The suit claims that no Caucasian or male department leads faced similar treatment during a period of pending departure.

Judge Moon rejected each of the suit’s claims, noting that Brackney had not established a relationship between Wells and the city and ruling that other defendants, as city employees, “cannot interfere with the City’s contract with Plaintiff.”

Courteney Stuart is host of “Charlottesville Right Now” on WINA. You can hear her interviews with Lloyd Snook, Bellamy Brown, and Scott Goodman at wina.com.

“I don’t think there was anything to the lawsuit.” C-VILLE LEGAL ANALYST SCOTT GOODMAN

Although RaShall Brackney’s attorney has compared the former police chief’s lawsuit to a “15-round heavyweight title fight,” others think the judge’s January 20 ruling to dismiss will be upheld on appeal.

While his colleague expanded vertically, an Alloy Workshop co-owner reimagined his first floor

collaborationfunky-cool between artists Abby Kasonik and Kiki Slaughter— what a bright idea!

Yes in my backyard

Charlottesville residents speak out about affordable housing

By Eshaan Sarup news@c-ville.com

On November 15, 2021, the City of Charlottesville approved a comprehensive plan to address equity issues in land use, transportation, and housing. A vital component of this plan was to increase affordable housing, specifically by building more duplexes and apartment buildings in areas traditionally reserved for single-family housing.

But every new housing project involves a lengthy approval process, including input from community members who often oppose new developments. For instance, approval for a new eight-story building on Jefferson Park Avenue only passed by one vote last May, with opponents of the project arguing that it would block sunlight from other residents and intrude on neighborhoods historically occupied by families.

Livable Cville, an advocacy group that believes housing is a human right, seeks to provide answers for those skeptical of new developments. In a FAQ document posted on its website, the group answers questions like “Won’t this all just benefit developers and real estate investors?”, “Will the proposed land use map lead to the construction of large apartment buildings in my neighborhood?”, and “Has this process been rushed?”

Charlottesville resident Syleethia Carr argues that the process is not happening fast enough. “At the end of the day, City Council members are going home, maybe to a house, apartment, townhouse, or duplex. But many here are going to their cars or under a bridge looking for shelter anywhere.”

The Daily Progress reported last May that homeless rates were up in both the city and the county. A Virginia Public Media report last year found that over 1,000 people in the city were on a waitlist for affordable housing vouchers.

“Having stable and secure housing is something that is important to the cultural fabric of Charlottesville,” says Carr, a graduate of the Public Housing Association of Residents’ internship program. “You have people that were now shipped out to Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, Fluvanna but most of them don’t have transportation. Affordable housing is needed because these people work here.”

Matthew Gillikin, a Charlottesville resident who has been involved in housing conversations since the summer of 2017, concurs.

“I think it’s very important to pair zoning regulations that allow more people to live closer to their jobs and schools and amenities,” he said, noting the issue is multifaceted.

“I’ll be the first person to say that zoning alone isn’t going to solve this issue,” Gillikin says. “It’s an issue a decade in the making. And so it’s not like we’re going to be able to quickly undo the damage that’s been done.”

One part of the solution that Gillikin has focused on is parking. In an op-ed to the Progress, he urged the city to eliminate parking minimums to allow for more affordable housing.

Carr says students at the University of Virginia have a role to play and can use their voices to advocate for the community. “The people that are right here … that are pushing the trash out the way, that are driving the cars around, these people that do these jobs, they are the ones that are helping us,” she said.

Carr sees UVA students as a part of the community, not separate from it.

“We are together as a community, as a whole community. When you go to Walmart, I go to Walmart too,” she says.

“My main joy is seeing a child smile because they are at home with their family. The question is when will there be affordable housing here? How long will we wait on real affordable housing?”

Syleethia Carr, a graduate of the Public Housing Association of Residents’ internship program, says affordable housing is not being built fast enough in Charlottesville.

In the doghouse

By Brielle Entzminger reporter@c-ville.com

The executive director and CEO of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is under fire after more than 100 current and former staff and volunteers made allegations of severe internal dysfunction and animal mistreatment at the shelter. The organization’s board of directors, however, is standing behind Angie Gunter, who has led the CASPCA since 2017, and also serves on its board.

In an anonymous letter to the 14-member board published on January 17, the group, which has named itself CASPCA Concerns, accused Gunter of creating a toxic work environment and enabling poor animal care practices, and called on the board to remove her and hire a new CEO with a “proven track record of leading collaborative and results-driven workplaces.”

“Ms. Gunter’s management style is demeaning, divisive, and punitive. She creates a culture of fear among her staff and volunteers,” reads the letter, accusing Gunter of fueling infighting; gossiping about employees; belittling, surveilling, and targeting staff; ostracizing those who voice concerns; and refusing to address problems. “She is reactionary and upends operational processes frequently. … Her stated priorities change week to week, leaving staff unable to meet ever-changing expectations.”

Gunter’s controversial behavior has led to high employee turnover and understaffing, forcing the shelter to rely on volunteers to perform essential tasks, such as cleaning cages and feeding animals, claims CASPCA Concerns. Employees often do not receive adequate training, and some are not able to safely handle animals or properly assess their needs and behaviors.

Additionally, the group accuses Gunter— who made $182,142 in 2020, according to the nonprofit’s latest Form 990—and the executive team of subjecting animals to unhealthy living conditions. Members say they have found large dogs housed in crates that are too small for them to move around in, and living in their own feces and urine. They’ve also seen dogs and cats put in isolation for months, receiving little to no enrichment and interaction, and discovered dogs suffering medical complications and in need of emergency surgery, leading to the death of one dog within the last year. And across the shelter, housing areas are in desperate need of maintenance and upgrades—but leadership continues to transfer in animals, and put the CASPCA over capacity, according to the group.

“Some cats are housed in single-compartment cages. … The windows in the Small

Dog/Puppy Room have rusted frames. Hoses leak and leave standing water on the floor of the Small Dog Isolation room,” reads the letter, which includes photos of rusted windows falling apart. “Some kennels have peeling paint on the kennel floor or chewed marks in the kennel wall. The sliding internal doors that separate dog kennels are often broken.”

“Recently transferred dogs are housed in crates as there are no available kennels to accommodate them. [The] CASPCA transfers in dogs with known behavior concerns even though it does not have a canine behavior director,” the letter continues. “These dogs with behavior concerns often live in the shelter for months without finding homes.”

In addition to calling for Gunter’s removal, CASPCA Concerns urged the board to engage animal welfare and workplace consultants to “develop a plan to enact swift but long-lasting improvements,” as well as attract and hire a “more diverse set of employees.” They also encouraged the shelter to provide exit interviews, require training for the executive team, designate one board seat for an active shelter volunteer, and “offer a way for employees to express concerns without fear of retaliation.”

After the board did not immediately respond to its letter, the group sent a second one on January 23, which included an additional dozen testimonies from former staff and current volunteers. (The first letter contained statements from over 30 current and previous employees and volunteers.) The following day, Board President Jenn Corbey said the board “intends to pursue diligently the goals of making the

shelter a better place,” but “we believe that Angie Gunter is the best person to lead this effort forward and she will continue to act as the CASPCA’s CEO.”

“The CEO and the Board will work closely together to ensure that your concerns about staff development, workplace enhancement, and organizational and leadership development are addressed in a meaningful way,” continued Corbey. “We ask for your patience as this process moves forward.”

In a January 27 press release, the board, represented by the public relations firm Blue Ridge Group, reiterated its support of Gunter, and denied allegations of animal mistreatment. “[Gunter’s] commitment to the animals has been exemplary, and she is committed to the wellbeing of the staff. … There has been no evidence of animal neglect or cruelty,” reads the statement, blaming staff and volunteers for “the poor treatment of the animals.”

“We will continue to work closely with the Board, the staff, the volunteers and the community with the goal of making the shelter a better place,” the statement continues.

In a January 27 WINA interview, Corbey also refuted the claims of animal mistreatment and a hostile work environment. When asked how she knew the complaints about Gunter’s management and behavior were not true, Corbey provided no details, and said the board does not speak with past employees. The board is currently conducting its own investigation, plans to hire workplace consultants and implement measures to improve the organization, and will release a statement when its investigation is complete, she said.

“We’re not taking this lightly at all. We’re reading the letters and are taking this under investigation,” said Corbey, declining to share how the board is investigating the complaints.

According to CASPCA Concerns, the shelter received a write-up for incorrect custody records and a warning regarding animals housed in the basement and offices during a 2021 state inspection. “Staff, fosters, and volunteers provide the best care to animals that they possibly can under current circumstances. The substandard care for and placement of animals is the direct result of Angie Gunter’s ineffective management style, failure to retain staff, and unqualified decision making,” reads the coalition’s January 27 statement.

In response to the board’s support of Gunter, around a dozen people held a protest outside the shelter on January 27, and former volunteer Juliet Lunka started a change.org petition calling for both Gunter and Corbey’s removal, which has over 1,300 signatures as of January 30. The CASPCA Concerns Facebook page has amassed more than 370 followers.

Toxic work environment

In the WINA interview, Corbey claimed the backlash against Gunter “came as a shock,” and she said they hadn’t received complaints about her before—however, CASPCA Concerns says these allegations against Gunter and the shelter’s executive team are not new. In 2018, former executive assistant Tomeka Rhoades sent the board a five-page letter following her resignation, claiming Gunter repeatedly demeaned her, gossiped about other employees and board members, yelled and cursed at her, and tried to control her, among other inappropriate behavior.

“I feel that I have been a victim of mental, verbal, emotional abuse, bullying, and discrimination. It felt like every day I was reminded of how smart I wasn’t or talked to like a juvenile or treated like a slave,” wrote Rhoades, who worked at the SPCA for a year. “I left the shelter almost every day in tears.”

The following year, former volunteer Kristin Swenson sent a 13-page letter to the board, sharing concerns about the shelter’s poor animal care practices and toxic work environment. And in 2021, an anonymous employee sent the board president a ninepage letter alerting them of poor leadership, high turnover, and other critical issues.

After resigning last year, one former shelter employee, who wishes to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, says they heard about similar negative experiences from many people who had resigned

Around a dozen people held a protest outside the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA after current and former staff and volunteers made allegations of internal dysfunction and animal mistreatment at the shelter.

CASPCA refuses to fire controversial CEO

EZE AMOS

before them and those who left after them. “So I started reaching out to people and slowly but surely, I got [CASPCA Concerns] going,” says the former employee, who worked at the shelter for a year and a half.

At the shelter, the employee says they did not receive training, and witnessed Gunter pit employees against each other and use gossip against those she disliked.

“It is literally the behavior of a bully,” they claim. Gunter and the executive team “didn’t care that I was staying 12 hours a day [or] that I care about the animals. They basically made my life so miserable there that I had to leave for my own mental health.”

Last year, the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA placed a record number of pets in adoptive homes, achieving a 99 percent live release rate for dogs and 98 percent rate for cats—yet this success is “built on a crumbling foundation,” and cannot last much longer, claims CASPCA Concerns. Due to the shelter’s toxic work environment, the group says that at least 50 employees have resigned since November 2021, and at least 30 directors, managers, and other non-entry-level staff have resigned since January 2020. Seventeen job openings—including multiple manager and coordinator positions—are listed on the CASPCA’s website as of January 30.

Following the board’s refusal to fire Gunter, Animal Care Manager Courtney Ott resigned on January 25, describing the mistreatment she experienced and witnessed.

“The recent response from [Corbey] solidifies that this toxic environment will continue to be an issue,” wrote Ott in a letter to the board. “This acceptance and ignorance of mistreatment is so much deeper than I thought.”

“Those of us who are sweating, crying, and breaking our bodies to care for these animals the best we can day in and day out,” wrote Ott, “are treated as just replaceable numbers.”

Animal mistreatment

Shelter whistleblowers have raised the alarm about numerous types of poor animal care and treatment.

They claim dogs with behavior concerns are isolated without placement plans, and are unavailable for adoption for months.

“There were multiple instances where we would adopt out dogs that have significant bite histories into the public without proper counseling with the adopters,” including an instance in which a dog, who was later euthanized, bit off an adopter’s ear, says Katie Roche, who served as the shelter’s adoption and intake coordinator, humane education and outreach coordinator, and an adoption counselor.

There are currently three dogs up for adoption that have killed other dogs, but it is not mentioned in their online biographies, claims Roche, who resigned in 2021. A fourth available dog was involved in an altercation that led to another dog’s euthanasia. Additionally, Roche accuses the executive team of transferring in too many animals—including those with contagious, deadly illnesses. During her three years at the shelter, she says she saw many dogs forced to live in crates due to housing areas being at capacity.

In CASPCA Concerns’ January 17 letter, several photos from recent years show dogs housed in crates, while a 2021 photo shows three puppies and an adult dog housed in an exercise pen, with feces and urine covering the floor. (Corbey claimed these photos were “false.”)

Former adoption and intake manager and dog care lead Claire Allen echoes concerns about untrained staff, rampant overcrowding, and dangerous dogs. She claims she was instructed to hide dogs in play parks, offices, and other areas, and forge custody records during an inspection.

“Despite voicing the shortage of space numerous times, it fell on deaf ears,” says Allen, who left the shelter in 2018 after working there for three years, in a letter to the board. “Dogs harming themselves and circling in their crates were left to suffer for the sake of maintaining a high live release rate.”

When Allen later became an animal control officer for the City of Charlottesville, “behavioral evaluations were discontinued entirely, and Animal Control’s direct access to the shelter’s informational database was taken away,” she said. “When I would ask for updates on particular animals, staff would have no knowledge of what was going on.”

CASPCA Concerns says it will continue to gather evidence of employee and animal mistreatment, and send letters to the board and publish them online—until leadership meets its demands. In addition, the group urges people to email the board, volunteer at the shelter, and foster or adopt an animal in need of a safe, loving home.

“People are getting pretty upset. They’re saying they’re not going to volunteer or give money to the shelter. The board needs to take this seriously,” says the former employee who started the coalition. “We are strong, we are united, and we’re not giving up.”

In photos shared by CASPCA Concerns, multiple dogs can be seen housed in crates and cages, with feces and urine covering the floor—evidence of poor animal care and treatment, the group claims.

“I left the shelter almost every day in tears.”

TOMEKA RHOADES, FORMER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Former adoption and intake manager and dog care lead Claire Allen claims her concerns about animal overcrowding at the shelter “fell on deaf ears.”

STARTS NOW!

This beautiful luxury townhome has everything you want. As you enter you are greeted in a light filled foyer. The bottom floor has a great multi-purpose room which is a perfect guest suite with attached bath or additional large family/recreation room. On the main level you find an open floorplan including your living room, dining room & upgraded gourmet kitchen with oversized island. Enjoy the view of Carter Mountain from your living room. Perfect for entertaining inside & out with a lovely deck with plenty of space to cookout or relax. Head up to the bedroom level. There you’ll find a large master bedroom with two closets including a walk-in & master bathroom with double vanities & beautifully tiled shower. Two more bedrooms including another with a walk-in closet, bathroom, & laundry complete that level. As a bonus, the pulldown attic stairs lead to additional storage space which is a rarity in a townhouse. Perfect location minutes from UVA, Downtown, Wegmans, & I-64. The Avinity neighborhood is a true community where neighbors know each other. Enjoy the dog park, clubhouse, playground & full gym or meet your neighbors at a wine social or weekly food truck. Come see your new home today! $450,000

Previous model home is now ready for you to move in! This like-new home in the newly soldout Village Oaks neighborhood is perfect for thosewanting easy, single-level living. The open floorplan with LVP floors allows the natural light to flow through the home. The upgraded kitchen with an ample diningspace includes a island with bar is perfect for entertaining. With easy access to the patio and large yard, it is ready for hosting a backyard BBQ, playing in the yard, oryour favorite canine friend. The large owner’s bedroom has an attached bath with double vanities and an adjacent large walk-in closet. Two additional rooms, full bath,and laundry room completes the inside. The two-car garage has space for additional storage. The neighborhood takes care of the lawncare, trash, and snow removal;so you can relax on the weekends or simply walk across the street to the pool on a hot day. There is also a playground and clubhouse for when you want to entertainaway from home. All of this with a quick commute to Charlottesville and I-64. Come see your new home! $350,000

3434 MONTAGUE STREET

105 VIRGINIA AVEUE

Southern Albemarle estate with 1.5 miles of frontage on the James River with 540± acres of highly fertile, gently rolling landscape. Historic farmhouse dating to the late 1700s offers extensive views of the river. Under conservation easement with the VOF. MLS#630470

$4,865,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

PEA RIDGE FARM

317 acre estate that has it all: location, views, water, stunning main residence, event center and more! The 15+ acre lake is centered among lush rolling fields of rich grass and a spectacular 5-BR home with heart pine floors, 4 FP, study, garages, and unparalleled views exists. 25 minutes west of Charlottesville in Greenwood, this exceptional property is a one-of-a-kind, not to be replicated, gem. Also includes a large metal barn, log cabin with FP, stunning party barn and a 2 BR cottage. Additional acreage available. MLS#631962 $8,875,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

TURKEY SAG ROAD

33-acre property with beautifully constructed 3-4BR home. Home features great room with dramatic stone fireplace and panoramic views and large master suite with private deck. Peace, privacy and tranquility unsurpassed, but close to town. MLS#635341

$1,875,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

BLACKBERRY

HILL FARM

Impeccable country property with an attractive, well designed and self-sustaining 5,525 fin. sf residence on 38± acres with 3-car garage, barn and Blue Ridge Mountain views. A peaceful oasis easily accessible to Charlottesville and Washington DC. MLS#634846

$1,550,000 Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

Unique 88-acre property with lake and 4-BR home. Property includes two-car garage, storage shed/shop and 3760 sq. ft. multipurpose building. Beautiful mountain and lake views just 4 miles from Charlottesville, with division rights. MLS#635483

$1,275,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

RED HILL

10 miles south of Charlottesville, a beautiful 283 acres, rolling to hilly, mostly wooded tract, borders Walnut Creek Park, with lake and miles of trails. This land has pastures, trails, creeks and a river! Many homesites, NO EASEMENTS. MLS#634310

$1,995,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

BELMONT LOFTS

This 3-bedroom, 3.5 bath condo features extra high ceilings, a modern & open floor plan with huge windows and doors, and a large rooftop terrace with views of the Downtown Mall all the way around to Monticello. MLS#634149 $1,890,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

GIBSON’S HOLLOW

Ivy area. Minutes from town and backing up to Bundoran Farm, Gibson’s Hollow offers complete and private domain at the end of a private road. Mountain top ridges offer panoramic views with minor clearing at several building sites. There is a caretaker’s house which is being offering as is, and 19th century log outbuildings. There are multiple parcels and division rights making this an excellent conservation easement candidate. Your own nature preserve. MLS#634183 $3,250,000 Tim Michel, 434.960.1124 or Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

EVERGREEN HILL

Private 18 acre horse farm, with 4-bedroom main residence, 1-bedroom cottage, beautiful 8-stall center aisle barn, outdoor riding ring, and several fenced pastures and hay fields. With access onto 570 plus acres of parkland with trails. MLS#632164 $1,295,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

HATTON

RIDGE FARM

175 acre grazing farm with 2/3 mile frontage on the James River. Impressive 4-5 bedroom, brick Georgian home, circa 2000 in excellent condition. Fertile James River bottomland for gardens, plus many recreational uses. MLS#632477 $2,670,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

DUDLEY MOUNTAIN ROAD

RIVER LAWN FARM

K’DEE

Embodying the essence of country life! 214+/- acre farm with spacious main residence, 3-car garage with apartment, dependencies & farm buildings. Many agricultural & recreational uses. Easily accessible to Charlottesville,Orange,I-95&DCregion.MLS#636896

$1,975,000 Charlotte Dammann, 434.981.1250

Remarkably large parcel located convenient to Charlottesville and UVA. Exceptional Blue Ridge views, charming farmhouse (in need of restoration). Under VOF easement but with divisions into already predetermined parcels. MLS#585228 $4,400,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

29 acres fronting Blenheim Rd. a small agricultural & residential subdivision with CCR’s, but NO HOA. 2 buildable lots, with an historic red barn, silo, & an 8-stall stable. Driveway in place, underground power, well & water, & several building spots with mountain views.

MLS#624834 $495,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

FRAYS

MILL

Mostly wooded preservation tract of 81.395 acres next to Frays Mill Subdivision in highly desirable Northern Albemarle. This beautiful gently rolling land has a great, private homesite with Blue Ridge Mt. views, and creek on property. MLS#608509

$995,000 Jim Faulconer, 434.981.0076

SOUTHWIND ESTATES

3 separate parcels with commanding Blue Ridge Mtn. views, level building sites 15 minutes from Charlottesville. Sites have been perked, have wells, and ready for your dream home. MLS#632482 $375,000 (7.8 acres), MLS#632490 $275,000 (2.4 acres), MLS#632487 $175,000 (2.0 acres), Court Nexsen, 646.660.0700

CROZET AREA

Beautiful building lot -3.3 acres, fronting on a quiet paved county road. Land is mostly in pasture, some woods, creek and elevated homesite with panoramic views of mountains, pond, and surrounding pastoral area. Less than a mile to Harris Teeter at Crozet.

MLS#636349 $450,000 Jim Faulconer,434.981.0076

MEADOW FARM

Wonderful gently rolling parcel of land with just under 26 acres, 18 miles south of Charlottesville. The land is wooded (mostly hardwoods) with an elevated building site, stream/creek, total privacy, and long road frontage. MLS#619394 $229,500 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

436+ acre parcel of land in Southern Albemarle! 4 division rights; complete privacy; lush, gently rolling terrain; long road frontage; stream; 3-acre lake; 125135 acres of open land; mature hardwood forests. Under conservation easement. Owner/agent. MLS#634139 $2,985,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

LYNX FARM LANE

Great building lot in Ivy! Over 2.5 acres less than 6 miles to Charlottesville and UVA. Your future dream home could sit on this beautiful, wooded land, the perfect combination of country and city access. Murray Elementary School District. MLS#634897 $165,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

GREENTREES

94+ acres 20 minutes from Charlottesville. Originally part of a 188-acre tract, two parcels may be purchased separately or together, with 2 developmental rights each. Mostly maturing pine and very long public road frontage.

MLS#635861 $700,000 Tim Michel, 434.960.1124

RAGGED MOUNTAIN FARM

Two wonderful estate parcels comprised of 185.01± acres in coveted Ragged Mountain Farm. Excellent elevated building site, complete privacy, and beautiful views. Murray/Henley/Western school district. MLS#621083 $1,895,000 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

EDNAM FOREST

Wonderfully large 1.5+ acre building lot in Ednam Forest. Build your dream home on this elevated, wooded lot located in a single family community, minutes from UVA and within walking distance to Boar’s Head Resort. MLS#598537 $289,500 Steve McLean, 434.981.1863

MURPHY’S CREEK FARM

SUNNYSIDE

BROOMFIELD FARM

FARM

926 Coleman Street Keith Road Lot

Stoney

NOMINATE ME

Rising values

Market Activity - CAAR Footprint

Assessments up 12.33 percent in Charlottesville

WESTWOOD ROAD

ONE LEVEL LIVING. The Water view dominates the interior spaces from most rooms in this fabulous, new, waterfront residence. Expansive views from two full length decks promise hours or days of relaxation. The front door opens to the great room with a wood burning fireplace and hardwood floors that flow through the first floor. A bright open kitchen with gorgeous countertops and appliances. Complete one floor living with master suite featuring a walk-in shower and double vanities. 2 additional bedrooms with a full bath, stack unit washer and dryer hookups. The terrace level offers more water views, even from the laundry room! A large family room, an additional bedroom and full bath round out the finished rooms. Large unfinished room can serve as storage, studio, or workshop. Includes a one-year builder warranty. $500,000

ROCK QUARRY ROAD

Unique building site overlooking a quarry lake. Serene setting for a home. Gated, private entrance. Road to home site in place. 3 private properties share lake and access, sandy beach, cabana and 20 acres of common land

By Sean Tubbs

For the second year in a row, the average real estate assessment has increased by double digits.

Residential parcels increased by an average of 11.52 percent, based on 15,148 taxable properties. Commercial properties went up an average of 12.16 percent, and that includes apartment complexes, retail, and office space. When you throw in new construction, the overall average increase comes to 12.33 percent.

Nearly 98 percent of all properties in Charlottesville went up in value, with just over 1 percent declining.

As we wait for more details on how those assessments shook up, it’s a good time to look at the December numbers for property sales in the region.

“The median sales price in December was $422,450, up 5.7 percent from the previous year, a price increase of $22,950,” reads the latest report from the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors.

Those numbers are also based on lower sales volumes. There were 29.6 percent fewer homes sold in the last month than in December 2021.

Drilling into the city, only 39 homes were sold in Charlottesville compared to 55 in 2022. The median sales price increased from $406,000 to $468,000. One prominent example of the increase in valuation is the $270,000 sale of a duplex in the Orangedale neighborhood on December 19. That unit had been flipped by an entity called Aspiring Developments, which had purchased it for $140,000 in June.

December also saw other sales that were well over the 2022 assessment. A condominium on Douglas Avenue sold for $950,000, or nearly 19 percent over the 2022 figure of $441,000. A house on Yorktown Drive sold for $715,000, 62.13 per-

cent over. The 2023 assessment, however, is at $646,700.

As for new construction, a recently built house on Lochlyn Hill Drive sold for $843,804. The 2023 assessment on that home is $834,900.

At the end of December, Charlottesville had the fewest active listings with 61. Sales were down sharply in Albemarle with 115 sales compared to 189 the previous year. However, the median price increased 21 percent to $547,459. Earlier this month, the county announced an average assessment increase of 13.46 percent.

One change over December 2021 is a higher number of homes available. There were 740 active listings at the end of the month compared with 436 a year previously.

But not all communities had the same trends. Median prices went down in Greene County by 10 percent, dropping from $350,000 to $315,000. That’s based on 14 sales in 2022 compared to 27 in 2021. There were 66 active listings at the end of the month.

The number of homes sold in Fluvanna County increased by six with 44 purchases. The median sales price increased from $305,504 to $359,995 with 99 active listings on December 31. Louisa County had 57 sales, a 23 percent decrease over 2021.

The median went up from $335,000 to $375,000 year-to-year. Nelson County also saw a decline in median sales price with a 6.6 percent decrease from $417,500 to $390,000.

a large utility barn).

Zion

Annie Gould Gallery

Nearly 98 percent of all properties in Charlottesville went up in value, with just over 1 percent declining.

An overview of market activity across Charlottesville and the surrounding counties between December 2021 and December 2022. Sales decreased by double digits in all but Fluvanna County.

CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS Nelson County

Albemarle County

Greene County

Louisa County

Fluvanna County

City of Charlottesville

2995 FORSYTH RD $1,700,000 ESMONT MAURY ATKINS (540) 223-2719

5781 GOLF DR $899,900 CROZET KATE COLVIN (434) 996-5008

1375 BEAR ISLAND PKWY $520,000 ZION CROSSROADS DUKE AND SHARON MERRICK (434) 962-5658

22 TRILLIUM CLOSE $485,000 WINTERGREEN RESORT SUSAN CAMERON RERES (434) 953-5552

1515 STILL MEADOW CV $699,990 CHARLOTTESVILLE SIMONE AND DAVE ALLEY (434) 760-0076

653 IRISH RD $440,000 SCOTTSVILLE CHRISTA DEREEMER (434) 987-2165

ALBEVANNA SPRING RD $297,500 SCOTTSVILLE STEVE WHITE (434) 242-8355

2 HOLLY CIRCLE $399,900 PALMYRA SUSAN STEWART (434) 242-3550

5360 LACKEY LN $200,000 COVESVILLE JAN SHIFLETT (434) 242-6057

1100 DRYDEN LN, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22903 WWW.HOWARDHANNA.COM/ROYWHEELER

PRICE CHANGE

PRICE CHANGE

PRICE CHANGE

SALE PENDING

TWO LATEST BOOKS & MORE from local Author William A. James, Sr.

In, A MURDER ON FIFTH AND DICE AND THE RUIN OF FIFEVILLE, James shows how drug-dealing and gang violence led to the condemnation, demolition, and gentrification of Fifeville. It is a Sequel to his IN THE STREETS OF VINEGAR HILL, 2007. (He is writing a play based upon this latest Book)

A great way to celebrate Black History Month!

SOLD AT:

The University of Virginia Bookstore

400 Emmet Street, Charlottesville, VA 22904 (on UVA Grounds). Patsy Goolsby, Manager, 434-924-1075 | bookshop@virginia.edu

2nd Act Books

214 East Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Daphne Spain, Owner, 434-202-0754 | daphnespain@gmail.com

CULTURE

THURSDAY 2/2

TOGETHER IN HARMONY

Treat your ears to a bevy of never-before-heard sounds at an intimate evening with Alash. The trio of BadyDorzhu Ondar, Ayan-ool Sam, and Ayan Shirizhik began studying Tuvan music in childhood, and are now masters of throat singing, a technique for producing multiple pitches at the same time. Alash’s sound is continually evolving, a result of the band’s commitment to staying true to Tuvan musical heritage while also infusing songs with modern, Western elements. With complex harmonies, a variety of instruments, contemporary song forms, and Tuvan spirit, Alash’s music is the best of both worlds. $20-25, 7pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.org

TUESDAY 2/7

BLOODY VALENTINES

Learning is fun at Profs and Pints, a lecture series that connects seasoned scholars with lifelong learners. Grab drinks and food, and settle in for a talk from medievalist and Longwood University professor Kat Tracy on “The Ancient Origins of Valentine’s Day.” Tracy will share an assortment of lessons about the strange and dramatic origins of our sappiest holiday, including pre-Christian fertility rituals involving streaking and goat-skin whips, Roman mythology, and the tragic tale of a beheaded rebel saint. $13.50-17, 5:30pm. Graduate Charlottesville, 1309 W. Main St. profsandpints.com

SUNDAY 2/5

JOURNEY CONTINUES

American rock outfit Journey never stopped believin’. The rock ‘n’ roll hall of famers are on the road celebrating 50 legendary years with the Freedom tour, “a special evening full of fun and rockin’ good memories,” according to founder Neal Schon. The band performs from its classic catalog, including “Any Way You Want It,” “Faithfully,” and “Lights.” Also on the ’80s rock double bill is Toto, performing hits “Africa,” “Rosanna” and more. $35 and up, 7:30pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpauljonesarena.com

CULTURE ALL YOU CAN EAT

Practical and palatable

BohoVegMom’s recipes make vegan eating reasonable for even the most reluctant cook

By Laura Drummond

Known by the online community as BohoVegMom, food blogger

Amy Rolph has been serving up plant-based recipes from her home in Charlottesville since 2019. The restaurant manager turned stay-at-home mom started an Instagram account to connect with other vegan cuisine enthusiasts during the pandemic, and soon after launched a dedicated website (bohovegmom.com) to share her practical and palatable dishes.

Rolph has been eating a plant-based diet since the early aughts. As an environmental science student at Penn State, she felt compelled to adopt a vegan lifestyle. “While learning about the human impact on the world, I wanted to reduce my impact as an individual. That’s why I started eschewing animal products,” she says.

A self-described experimental eater, Rolph was excited about a plant-based diet, especially after finding it helped her feel nourished, energetic, and healthy. However, it did have its challenges. Reflecting on those early days, Rolph says, “Veganism wasn’t mainstream, and ‘plant-based’ wasn’t even a thing back then. You couldn’t really go out to restaurants, and there weren’t all these vegan products on the shelves at the grocery store.”

Wednesday 2/1 music

Berto and Matt. Brazilian and Latin treasures that will make you smile from the inside out. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

Jim Waive. Classic country tunes from the man with a velvet voice and impressive beard. Free, 7pm. Blue Moon Diner, 606 W. Main St. bluemoondiner.net

Karaoke. Jen DeVille hosts this weekly song party. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

Wavelength trio. Vintage rock, blues, and jazz. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com

stage

The River. Live Arts’ production of Jez Butterworth’s bewitching and mysterious play stars Steve Tharp, Christina Ball, and Caitlin Reinhard. $22-27, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

etc.

BTS: Yet To Come RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook: Need we say more? $25, 7pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

Hoop Dreams A classic documentary following two young men seeking glory in the NBA. $10, 7:15pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

Thursday 2/2

music

Alash. Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing, a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. $20-25, 7pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. front porchcville.org

Berto & Vincent. Wild gypsy rumba. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

stage

words

Friday Night Writes: A Reading Series for Emerging Writers. Short stories, poetry, and music. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com

outside

Playdates at the Playscape. BYO snacks and buddies and enjoy outdoor play. $20, 9:30am. Wildrock, 6600 Blackwells Hollow Rd., Crozet. wildrock.org etc.

BTS: Yet To Come See listing for Wednesday, February 1. $25, 7pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

Funeral Parade of Roses An electrifying journey into Tokyo’s underground scene of the 1960s. $10, 9:30pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

The Last Waltz On Thanksgiving Day, 1976, The Band gave its farewell concert at Winterland in San Francisco. $6-8, 8pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Saturday 2/4

music

Berto and Vincent. An uplifting performance from seasoned musicians. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Berto’s Latin Guitar Brunch. Enjoy the sounds of Brazil, Spain, and Latin America with Berto Sales. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernandgrocery.com

Bush/Marshall/Meyer/Meyer. A special collaboration. $34-74, 8pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Flipturn. Its debut album, Shadowglow, is a snapshot of a band caught halfway between youthful optimism and adult precision. $1823, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

With few easily accessible options, Rolph turned to cooking more for herself. “That time made me resourceful,” she says. “I can attribute most of my skills to many years of having to cook vegan without being able to buy convenience food.” Rolph asserts that she does not possess natural talent nor formal training. Her culinary abilities have been hard-earned in her home kitchen, where she has spent untold hours building and refining her recipes.

“It’s a lot of trial and error,” she says. “I’ve been working on them for years in my little notebook.” The finished recipes Rolph shares via BohoVegMom have these common characteristics: plant-based, simple, delicious, and budget friendly.

By keeping recipes straightforward, BohoVegMom illustrates that preparing vegan meals doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. “This plant-forward lifestyle is going to be the cheapest that anyone can possibly eat,” says Rolph. She hopes to make plantbased eating reasonable for even the most reluctant cook. “Any little changes can add up to a lot. Being experimental and being willing to try new things in the kitchen is a good thing.”

The River See listing for Wednesday, February 1. $22-27, 7:30pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

words

Piedmont Landscape Association Presents: 38th Annual Seminar. An array of national authors and experts discuss topics relevant to local central Virginia gardens and landscapes. $67-87, 9am. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Between Wonder and Omen, Conjoined Twins from Constantinople to Norman Sicily. Roland Betancourt discusses the depiction of male conjoined twins who arrived in Constantinople from Armenia in 944. Free, 6:30pm. Campbell Hall 160, UVA Grounds. art.as.virginia.edu

Friday 2/3 music

Flat Five at Offbeat Roadhouse. Modern jazz. Free, 8pm. The Stage at WTJU, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net

Organ Recital by Jonathan Dimmock. Performing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach on the Taylor & Boody organ. Free, 7:30pm. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 Rugby Rd. westminsterorganconcertseries.org

stage

The River See listing for Wednesday, February 1. $22-27, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

Goth Takeover Presents: Mr. Fang and the Dark Tones. Get ready to dance, romance, and take a bite out of the night. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. 234-4436 Jelly Street Jazz. Grab a glass and enjoy mellow jazz sounds. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Rob Midnight. The local singer-songwriter’s original music is soulful and Americana inspired. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

The Montvales with Buckbilly Deluxe. Classic country standards and timeless originals. Free, 7pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com

stage

The River See listing for Wednesday, February 1. $22-27, 8pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org

words

Mary Llewellyn McNeil in conversation with Caroline Preston. McNeil discusses her recent book, Century’s Witness: The Extraordinary Life of Journalist Wallace Carroll. Free, 4pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com

Storytime. Readings of recent favorites and classics. Free, 11am. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.com

Amy Rolph developed her plant-based recipes at home, long before vegan options became widely available at stores and restaurants.

February exhibitions

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library 2450 Old Ivy Rd. “Visions of Progress” showcases portraits that African Americans in central Virginia commissioned from the Holsinger Studio during the first decades of the 20th century, and other permanent exhibitions.

Botanical Fare 421 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. Watercolor paintings by Juliette Swenson. Through March 17.

Chroma Projects Inside Vault Virginia, Third St. SE. “A lifetime isn’t long enough for the beauty of this world” showcases the mixed-media nature studies of Jane Skafte.

Through February 24.

City Clay 700 Harris St., Ste. 104. “50 Years 50 Pots” features pottery by Nancy Ross. Through February 26. First Fridays opening and artist talk.

The Connaughton Gallery Rouss & Robertson Halls, UVA Grounds. “Pink Dreams and Counting Sheep,” works by Lesli DeVito and Piper Groves. Through March 3. Reception February 9.

Crozet Artisan Depot 5791 Three Notch’d Rd., Crozet. “Rustic Realism,” acrylic painting on Masonite by Craig Peterson and “Outdoor Inspirations,” nature inspired jew-

elry by Suzanna Garrett. Through February 28. Meet the artists event with Peterson on February 11 at 1pm.

C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery 118 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. “A Farewell Exhibit—Retrospective for Milenko Katic.” Celebrate the life’s work and retirement of long-time member Milenko Katic. Through February.

Elmaleh Gallery Campbell Hall, UVA School of Architecture. “Manual Of Biogenic House Sections,” “Connected Urban Ecologies: Bridging Venice’s Urban Ecosystem,” “Soil Stories,” and “Mill to Build.” Dates vary. The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA 155 Rugby Rd., UVA Grounds. “Joseph Cornell: Enclosing Infinity,” and other exhibitions. Greencroft Club 575 Rodes Dr. “Landscapes and More,” acrylics by Matalie Deane and oils and pastels by Julia Kindred. Through March 31.

Jefferson School African American Heritage Center 233 Fourth St. NW. “Picture Me As I Am: Mirror and Memory in the Age of Black Resistance” showcases a selection of portraits taken of African American individuals at the Holsinger Studio. Opens February 11.

Le Yeux du Monde 841 Wolf Trap Rd. “Locus Amoenus,” works by Janet Bruce. Through February 26.

McGuffey Art Center 201 Second St. NW. In the Smith Gallery, works by Sam Fisher & Anna Fox Ryan. In the first floor galleries, works by Jing Shui and Robert Bricker, and Mike Powers and Charles Peale. In the second floor galleries, the UVA art department show. In the Associate Gallery, “RED.” Through February 28. First Fridays openings.

New City Arts 114 Third St. NE. “Salience, the sea,” an exhibition of collage work by Sarah Lawson. Through February 24. First Fridays opening and artist talk.

Northside Library 705 West Rio Rd. The Charlottesville Camera Club’s winter exhibition features over 30 photographs from the club’s members. In the Quiet Room, pastels by Brita Lineburger and mixed media by Shirley Paul. Through February 28 and opens February 13, respectively.

PVCC Gallery V. Earl Dickinson Building, 501 College Dr. “Black Joy Is: Ferocious, Fearless, Forever, Female, For Me.” Local and regional African American female artists examine what Black joy is through a variety of mediums. Through March 25.

Quirk Gallery 499 W. Main St. “Daily Observations,” 68 paintings and illustrations by Elizabeth Graeber and her mother, Susan Graeber. Through February 12.

Random Row Brewery 608 Preston Ave. “Local Landscapes,” photography by Andy Stafford. Through February.

Ruffin Gallery 179 Culbreth Rd. “Counterpoint” includes recent and new photography, textile, and video installation work by Sepideh Dashti, and “Aesthetics of Undocumentedness,” a group exhibition. Through February 24 and 17, respectively.

Second Street Gallery 115 Second St. SE. In the Main Gallery, “Mother Tongue” by Valencia Robin. In the Dové Gallery, “Selected Works” by James Everett Stanley. Through March 24. First Fridays opening.

Studio Ix 969 Second St. SE. “The Golden String Art Show” presents varied visual art responses to a song: “The Gold String” by Devon Sproule. Through February 26. First Fridays opening.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charlottesville 717 Rugby Rd. Works of the BozARTS Collective members Christine Rich, Brita Lineburger, and Joan Dreicer. Through February.

Vault Virginia 300 E. Main St. Bill Atwood’s “Final Bill” exhibition continues on the first and second floors.

Visible Records 1740 Broadway St. “Lago Gatún” consists of two continuous-exposure films traveling south to north through the Panama Canal by Kevin Jerome Everson. Opens February 10.

This week’s HotSeat features Visible Records’ new Assistant Director Mahanoor Samee. Read our interview with her on page 38.

James Everett Stanley at Second Street Gallery

Kori Price at PVCC Gallery

Craig Peterson at Crozet Artisan Depot

Sarah Lawson at New City Arts

Milenko Katic at C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery

CULTURE THIS WEEK

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

Saturday 2/4

outside

Playdates at the Playscape. See listing for Friday, February 3. $20, 9:30am. Wildrock, 6600 Blackwells Hollow Rd., Crozet. wildrock.org

etc.

BTS: Yet To Come See listing for Wednesday, February 1. $25, noon. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. draft house.com

Drag Bonanza. Hosted by Bebe Gunn and Cherry Possums. $12-15, 8:30pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Moonstruck Brunch. Cher and Nicolas Cage shine in the Oscar-winning romantic classic. $10, 11:30am. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

Sunday 2/5

music

Journey featuring Toto. Don’t stop believin’. $35 and up, 7:30pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. johnpaul jonesarena.com

The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers. An ensemble choral performance. Free, 3pm. Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds. dei. virginia.edu

Wavelength trio. Jazzy bluesy vibrations. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd, Free Union. glasshouse winery.com

stage

The River See listing for Wednesday, February 1. $22-27, 2pm. Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. livearts.org etc.

The Phantom of the Opera Movie Party. Sing along to the music of the night. $14, 6pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

UVA vs. Pitt Women’s Basketball Game. Cheer on the Hoos on the big screen. Free, 2pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Monday 2/6 music

Gin & Jazz. The Brian Caputo Trio performs in the Château Lobby Bar. Free, 5:30pm. Oakhurst Inn, 100 Oakhurst Cir. oakhurstinn.com

etc.

Corpse Bride A grave misunderstanding leads to otherworldly romance in Tim Burton’s fantasy. $10, 7:30pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. draft house.com

Tuesday 2/7 music

Josh Mayo & The House Sauce’s Tunesday Tuesday. A bi-weekly jam session with local favorites. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapture restaurant.com

Vincent Zorn. Olé. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. the bebedero.com

words

Create a Bird-Friendly Yard. The Piedmont Master Gardeners teach participants how to help reverse the rapid decline in songbird populations by creating a healthy landscape. Free, 4pm. The Center at Belvedere, 540 Belvedere Blvd. thecentercville.org

Profs & Pints: The Ancient Origins of Valentine’s Day. A look at the modern holiday’s roots in pre-Christian fertility rituals, Roman mythology, and tales told of a beheaded rebel saint. $13-17, 5:30pm. Graduate Charlottesville, 1309 W. Main St. profsandpints.com

outside

Playdates at the Playscape. See listing for Friday, February 3. $20, 9:30am. Wildrock, 6600 Blackwells Hollow Rd., Crozet. wildrock.org

etc.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy A bartender is tied to a string of stranglings in this 1972 shocker. $7, 7pm. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 5th Street Station. drafthouse.com

Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night. Teams of two to six people play for prizes and bragging rights. Free, 8pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com

Ferdinand Singers

Westworld junior

M3GAN is a low-budget enjoyable horror flick

By Justin Humphreys arts@c-ville.com

Gerard Johnstone’s M3GAN is built on a concept that was a chestnut 40 years ago: seemingly benign artificial intelligence turning on its human creators. With a creepy, malicious android little girl as the film’s lead, Johnstone serves up a mélange of Child’s Play, Frankenstein, and Westworld. By playfully reworking the old robots-in-revolt shtick, the horror specialists at Blumhouse Productions have made this slick, inexpensive, pulp entertainment enjoyable.

Robotics specialist Gemma (Allison Williams) takes in her recently orphaned niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), while, simultaneously, her job security as a toy designer hinges on her next computerized novelty being a hit. Gemma supersedes her boss David’s (Ronny Chieng) orders and dives headfirst into finishing her latest invention, M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android), a robotic humanoid playmate for kids. Using Cady as a test subject, Gemma watches her neice bond with M3GAN, and the very protective robot quickly reveals it’s far more advanced than even Gemma realized. Faster than you can say “HAL 9000,” things begin to go horribly awry.

M3GAN’s script doesn’t bear close scrutiny, but no one expects it to. It’s firmly

committed to delivering comic scares involving the half-saccharine, half-creepy M3GAN, and they’re much funnier than they are creepy. The film’s PG-13 rating works in its favor, since Johnstone and his screenwriters cleave more toward black comedy than gore. Their middlebrow jabs at overreliance on technology and corporate sleaziness are generally well-aimed, beginning with a hellishly accurate toy commercial parody announcing the annoying Furbee-like Purrfect Petz that Gemma’s company produces.

One excellent creative choice is Gemma’s characterization. Indifferent to her traumatized niece’s emotional needs, she cold-bloodedly uses the child as a pawn to further her career. But Williams doesn’t telegraph evil to the audience: Her manner is eerily normal and polite as she goes about her inhuman business. The two key kid actors, McGraw and Amie Donald as M3GAN (voiced by Jenna Davis), do an admirable job of selling their characters’ respective humanity and inhumanity. Chieng’s performance as David is middling, mainly because his role is written as a caricatured big-business jerk. Likewise, many of the supporting characters are well-worn stereotypes.

The special effects and makeup are good overall, and appear to have been done with

puppetry more often than CGI. The musical choices are above average throughout, and peak sharply with the inventive use of British composer Basil Kirchin’s “Silicon Chip.” But the film’s last act is mostly a dud. Plot points established early on go unresolved— possibly groundwork for a sequel—and Gemma has a contrived and out-of-character change of heart. Sequences that show promise seem to fade out as quickly as they began, their potential cut short.

M3GAN

PG-13, 102 minutes

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Regal Stonefield & IMAX, Violet Crown Cinema

If you approach M3GAN without high expectations, it might pleasantly surprise you. Johnstone and company knew exactly what they were making: dumb, fun horror that demands to be seen with a big, rowdy audience. Don’t stream it—viewers’ lively reactions are a key part of the movie’s appeal. Made for around $12 million, it delivers exponentially more entertainment than some of the $200 million spectacles from the last few years. M3GAN is like a Wendy’s cheeseburger: You either like it or you don’t, and nobody is going to mistake it for filet mignon.

A little told us...

M3GAN stars Amie Donald and Violet McGraw in a sci-fi, black comedy about an overprotective child robot that turns violent.

The film’s PG-13 rating works in its favor, since Johnstone and his screenwriters cleave more toward black comedy than gore.

PICTURES

There’s a whole bunch of news you’re missing! Follow @cville_weekly, and @cville_culture to get the latest scoop on what’s going down in Charlottesville.

WINE DOWN

WHAT’S DELISH AT LOCAL WINERIES?

53RD WINERY AND VINEYARD

2021 Cabernet Franc

This wine has the perfect balance of fruit, spice and earth with notes of cherries, red raspberries, black peppercorns, and warm leather! It’s perfect to age, but can easily be drunk now. Pair with roasted veggies, a perfectly seared filet mignon, or chocolate covered strawberries.

We are open 7 days a week, 11am to 5pm offering our 100% Virginia wine by the bottle, glass and tasting flights.  Enjoy your visit at our intimate, meadow-like setting in rural Louisa County.  we offer well-spaced indoor and outside seating and customers are welcome to bring their own picnic baskets, chairs and blankets. Children and pets are welcome, but pets must always remain outside of buildings and on a leash.  Quality wine, friendly staff at a great escape! Visit our website, www.53rdwinery.com.

Feb 4th – Winegrower’s Education class- pruning techniques (advance reservation required)

Feb 12th- Valentine’s Pairing wit Sauce Catering & Superbowl Tailgating Boxes available, with live music by Denise O’Meara

WINERY Guide Map

Feb 18th – Live music by John Kelly and Blue Ridge Pizza Co.

Feb 25th- Taste the Future Barrel tasting (advance reservation required)

Open 7 days a week, 11 am – 5 pm

13372 Shannon Hill Rd Louisa, VA 23093 (540) 894-5474 • 53rdwinery.com

CASTLE HILL FARM CIDERY

Hewes Crab Pommeau Five Year Reserve

Our Hewes Crab Pommeau, arrested by Gold Rush eau de vie, is the result of over 5 years aging in neutral Hungarian Oak puncheons from Keswick Vineyards. Initial maturations

in choice Kentucky bourbon barrels create a layered and complex profile. The appearance of light honey and amber when poured, gives way to subtle tears and gentle legs upon swirling. Delight in a spirituous kiss of bourbon on the nose followed by a gentle lift of caramel, toffee and vanilla. Savor each sip and explore complex flavors, layer by layer. Best served chilled.

Visiting Castle Hill Cider

Our expansive cider barn features a variety of ample seating including Adirondack chairs overlooking the rolling countryside and lake; farm tables for larger parties; as well as bistro seating and cozy couches for smaller groups. Inside the Tasting Room, you’ll find bistro seating and a roaring fireplace. Outdoors, there are a variety of options including patio and firepit seating available yearround (weather permitting), and plenty of green space to walk the grounds or throw a football. Castle Hill Cider welcomes all guests! We offer non-alcoholic beverage options and a delicious food menu. Well-behaved dogs on a leash are also welcome both indoors and outside. Dogs must remain leashed and with their owners at all times.

Feb 3rd - Cider Maker Release Event of Hewes Crab Pommeau Five Year Reserve (5:30-7pm)

Feb 9-12th - Valentine’s Weekend featuring Cider & Gearharts Chocolate Pairing

Feb 17th - Wine & Cider Maker

Panel Event

Hours:

Thursday 1-8pm

Friday 1-7pm

Saturday 11am-5pm

Sunday 11am- 5pm

6065 Turkey Sag Rd. Keswick, VA 22947

Tasting Room Text/Call: 434.365.9429 www.castlehillcider.com

CROSSKEYS WINERY

Fiore

A lustrous pink rosé of Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin with fruit flavors and aroma. Delicately pressed and fermented cool to preserve aromas of raspberries, grapefruit, and a hint of strawberry. Refreshing and light when served cold but bold enough to pair with a variety of dishes when lightly chilled. Soft cheeses, rich seafood dishes, or herb rubbed poultry will show off the complexity of the wine.

CrossKeys Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery located in the heart of beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Our approach is to grow, by hand, the highest quality fruit using careful canopy management and yield balance to achieve 100% estate-grown wines that are truly expressive of the varietal and soils here at CrossKeys. Our first vines were planted in 2001 and we have only grown since then. Our 125acre estate currently houses more than 30 acres of vines with plans for more planting in the future. We currently grow 12 varietals of grapes all used to produce our one of a kind award-winning wines.We offer wine tastings throughout the day. Our knowledgeable tasting room associates will guide you through tasting our wines whether you are a novice or a seasoned veteran. We love large groups and want to make sure your experience at CrossKeys Vineyards is extraordinary. We request that large groups call the vineyard 48 hours in advance to set up a reserved group tasting. The group will have a reserved table, staffing, and a cheese plate

included with price.

Mondays through ThursdayWinery Tours (by reservation only) at 12:30 pm

Feb 8-14th- Wine and Chocolate

Pairing

Feb 9-14th – Valentine’s Dinner each night (advanced ticket purchase required)

Feb 18th – Salsa night! (table reservations recommended)

Open Daily from 11- 7pm

6011 E Timber Ridge Rd, Mt Crawford, VA 22841 (540) 234-0505

https://crosskeysvineyards.com/

DUCARD VINEYARDS

2021 TANA Chardonnay

Produced exclusively from our TANA vineyard, this “Mȃcon” style wine shows aromas of green apple on the nose and pleasing minerality on the palate, with a hint of oak on the finish. This wine just received a gold medal in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Our uncrowded rural Madison County area has mountains, streams and plenty of beautiful views along scenic back roads. The tasting room is near hiking and biking trails along the Shenandoah National Forest and is a perfect respite after your day out! Enjoy some peace and quiet relaxation in this challenging environment. Sit on our lawns and sip or pick up a bottle or three of our award-winning wines to take home. Reservations available and recommended (especially

for Saturdays). No reservation fee or minimum purchase. Walkups accommodated on a spaceavailable basis. To order wine for local delivery or UPS shipping, visit our website!

Open daily – Mon-Thurs. 12-5 pm

Fri. 12-9 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm

Weekends (Fri-Sun) - Live music Friday-Sunday all month long. Check out our website for details and the musical artist lineup!

Feb 12th - Valentine’s Day Brunch

40 Gibson Hollow Ln • Etlan, VA 22719 (540) 923-4206 www.ducardvineyards.com

HORTON VINEYARDS

Sparkling Trio! Knots&Shuttles, Erotes, and Súil are the perfect sparkling trio to help you with your Valentine’s Day needs! Súil: 100% Early Pick ViognierAged on the lees since 6/2016 disgorged 3/2020 is crisp, complex, dry, sparkling with notes of brioche and green apple. Hand riddled and hand disgorged. Erotes: Touriga Nacional Rose sparkling on the lees for 9 months has raspberry flavors throughout with a crisp finish. hand riddled and hand disgorged. Knots and Shuttles: Sparkling Tannat the big blackberry notes are bridged by the petit Manseng dosage to the huge tannic finish.

WE ARE HIRING!

Want to work in a fun and unique industry? Come visit us at Horton! We’re looking for tasting room staff to help make memorable experiences for our guests, build our local wine club, and so much more. Give us a call or email for more information: info@ hortonwine.com

Open Daily from 10 am – 5 pm

Feb 14th - Valentine’s Day wine dinner at the The Inn and Tavern at Meander in Locust Dale, Va. $85 per person, call for tickets: 540672-4912

Feb 25th- Winter Wine Weekend, hosted by Hotel Madison, visit our tasting booth!

6399 Spotswood Trail, Gordonsville, Virginia (540) 832-7440 • www.hortonwine.com

REVALATION VINEYARDS

2020 Tannat

Made from 100% Tannat grapes, the nose of this wine features almond, cherry, raspberry, toast, mint, black pepper, and tomato juice aromas. The mouthfeel is round, elegant, and has a good length with soft tannins. The wine will become more expressive and complex if allowed to breathe for 30 minutes.

Virginia is for Wine Lovers! Starting this May, Revalation Vineyards will host a Virginia Varietal Comparative Tasting Series to highlight how different terroir, cultivation practices and winemaker techniques contribute to the flavor, aromas and mouthfeel of wines that are all made from the same grape. Guests will be able to taste each wine and enjoy it alongside expertly paired small plates. Our first event features Tannat on Saturday, May 20th. Tickets will be available on our website, starting April 1st. www. revalationvineyards.com

Hours

Nov. 1 – Apr. 30 Hours: Friday 12 –sunset, Saturday/Sunday 12pm to 5pm

All Month – Vibrant paintings by Kim Gardner are being exhibited until the end of February.

Feb 17th - Book Club @ The Vineyard

2710 Hebron Valley Road, Madison, VA 22727 540-407-1236

www.revalationvineyards.com

of M. Lewis, Henley, WAHS, JMU

- Over $16M in annual sales

- Ranked in top 20 out of over 1,000 realtors

Seller Review: Jordan sold our home quickly and helped us select the best offer out of the 8 we received in one weekend on the market. He was wonderful and insightful in what was an extremely stressful event. His ability to market our home was impressive. It never looked better in the pictures he took. The 3D touring technology he used was amazing. Highly recommend Jordan.

Chuck D

BY DAVID LEVINSON WILK

ACROSS

1. Org. with a Climate Change section on its website

4. “Wild” Bill who was shot dead in Deadwood

10. Nintendo debut of 2006

13. Links to a social media post

15. For some time

16. ____ Arbor, Michigan

17. Person trying to gratify a black bird?

19. Reggae-like genre

20. Phone notifications

21. “Gosh, that was close!”

22. Tugboat’s tugger

25. Sarcastic way of saying 35-Down

27. Goodyear’s Wingfoot One, for one

28. Apple product since 2006

30. QB’s mistakes

31. 1997 title role for Depp

33. Things “said” in doctors’ offices

36. Kylo ____ of “Star Wars”

37. Positive response to the question “øCÛmo esta el presidente de Estados Unidos?”?

38. Wish it weren’t so

39. Henna, for one

40. Like zombies

41. ____-free chickens

42. Cirque du ____

44. ìHere we go again Öî

45. Makeup of Joan Didion’s “Slouching Towards Bethlehem”

47. Tony who managed three World Series-winning teams

49. Whiskey barrel

50. Madison Ave. bigwig

52. Make a scene?

53. Something Mark Zuckerberg profits from?

58. Electronics company that once owned NBC

59. “You can’t be serious”

60. “Rats!”

61. Actor Cheadle

62. Props for majorettes

63. “Tubular!”

DOWN

1. ì... and others,î for short

2. Golfers try to break it

3. Many moons ____

4. Simona who won the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019

5. BeyoncÈís ìIf ____ a Boyî

6. Sidebar, e.g

7. Smooch

8. World Cup chant

9. Lead-in to 18-Down

10. Bathe the midsection of a physically fit tusked beast?

11. Best way to sing

12. Seriously impressed

14. Has a hive mentality?

18. Alka-Seltzer sound

21. Part of a sentence: Abbr.

22. Car in the Beach Boys’ “Fun, Fun, Fun”

23. Buster ____, host of ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” podcast

24. Make a sighting of Marvel Comics legend Lee?

25. Included covertly in an email

26. ìOnce ____ a time ...”

28. Selena Gomez’s character in “Only Murders in the Building”

29. Continent with 11 time zones

31. Skeleton makeup

32. “Easy to use,” in product names

34. Annual science fiction awards

35. ìLater!î

37. National Ice Cream Month

41. Rapper born Carlton Ridenhour ... or a hint to solving 17-, 37- and 53-Across and 10- and 24-Down

43. Sturdy tree

44. “The Most Stuf” cookie

45. Digital birthday greeting

46. Anarchist convicted with Vanzetti in a 1921 murder trial

47. Duran Duran lead singer Simon

48. Neuron parts

50. Bank statement no.

51. Kind of tape

53. Pocket watch chain

54. “So that’s it!”

55. Distant

56. Paleozoic ____

57. Appropriate answer to this clue

ANSWERS 1/25/23

the grid so that every row, column, and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

STATEWIDE CLASSIFIED AD NETWORK

Current Vacancies

Community & MISC. Notices

AUCTIONS

ATTN. AUCTIONEERS:  Advertise your upcoming auctions statewide and in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audiences. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, HYPERLINK “mailto:landonc@vpa.net” landonc@vpa.net

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SERVICES

DIVORCE-Uncontested, $450+$86 court cost. WILLS-$295.00. No court appearance. Estimated completion time twenty-one days. Hilton Oliver, Attorney (Facebook). 757-490-0126. Se Habla Espanol. BBB Member. HYPERLINK “https://hiltonoliverattorneyva.com” https://hiltonoliverattorneyva.com.

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Caring for an aging loved one? Wondering about options like senior-living communities and in-home care? Caring.com’s Family Advisors are here to help take the guesswork out of senior care for you and your family. Call for your FREE, no-obligation consultation: 1-844-494-0682

HOTSEAT

Mahanoor Samee

When First Fridays rolls around, Visible Records is a must-visit for gallery hoppers looking for compelling, distinct works in a variety of mediums. Every month the artist-run gallery and studio space collaborates with an impressive lineup of local and visiting artists, including Fumi Ishino, Dana Washington-Queen, Jackie Sumell, and the February 2023 artist, Kevin Jerome Everson. Visible Records also hosts a variety of community events, including letter-writing workshops, concerts, and lectures. Assistant Director Mahanoor Samee joined the Visible Records team in November of last year. “I see Visible Records as a catalyst from which radical and creative thought arises, specifically to strengthen community power and pursue justice,” Samee writes. “I want it to be a refuge for us all to feel safe and supported. But I also want it to be a place to turn up and have a good time.” Learn more at visible-records.com. (Answers have been edited for length.)

Age: 23

Pronouns: she/her

Why here: I came for school and stayed for my job at Visible Records

Worst thing about living here: This town is mad boring please put me on to some shit to do

Best thing about living here: It’s peaceful and the nature is gorgeous

Favorite hangout spot: Tonsler Park

Favorite restaurant: Box’d Kitchen

Bodo’s order: Currently a cinnamon raisin with honey walnut cream cheese

Who is your hero: Musa (as). Duron Chavis. My Didi.

Best advice you ever got: The purpose of your life is to experience living—My younger brother Aadam

If you do what makes you happy, it’ll lead to doing more of what makes you happy—Ely Sibarium

Proudest accomplishment/achievement: I worked hard as hell to learn myself, and to be happy and at peace. There’s nothing I cherish more.

Do you have any pets: Ziggy!

My dog.

What songs are you listening to right now: “GOD DID” by DJ Khaled and “Cicada” by Anju

What’s a song you pretend you don’t like because it’s embarrassing that you love it: “Knife Talk” by Drake. Though I don’t hide it well.

Who’d play you in a movie: A younger Kajol

Most embarrassing moment: One time when I was 18 a guy asked for my number. And I just stared at him, mouth agape, looking utterly terrified, for like five minutes. He didn’t know what to do so he just kept saying “It’s okay, it’s okay, you don’t have to give me your number”. When I finally

Biggest lie you’ve ever told: I had just turned 6, and got an Ariel cassette as a birthday present. I knew I wasn’t supposed to, but I got curious and impulsively pulled all the tape out and ruined it. I cried. And when my mom came, I blamed it on my brother. He got in so much trouble, I still feel guilty about it.

Describe a perfect day: I would be with my best friends or my siblings in Pakistan. And we would go on a hike at sunrise and get lost and end up somewhere magical. We would talk to intriguing strangers about their lives. Then we’d stumble upon a mind-blowing street concert and stop to watch. Then we would go home, nap, and wake up at the same time. We would gather in the living room, drink perfect chai, and argue over something random that leads us into a deep Wikipedia dive or a 20-minute YouTube video on something we will never reference again. We would make something together—a song or TikTok dance or brownies. And we’d build a blanket fort to sleep under, stocked with turkey sandwiches and Kit Kats and clementines and hot Cheetos and just in case ginger ale. And when everyone in the house is

Most used app on your phone: Instagram or FaceTime

Last text you sent: i can not sleep bro like i literally cant sleep to save my life

Most used emoji: is so versatile Subject that causes you to rant: “Community”

Best journey you ever went on: Pakistan! Or Tanzania.

Next journey: I don’t have one planned but I would honestly love to go to Pakistan again and visit the north

THE ARC STUDIO

Favorite curse word: I actually do cuss a little. Probably fuck.

Hottest take/most unpopular opinion: Intention matters more (or at the