Donald Trump takes office for a second time on Monday. And as national politics once again stir uncertainty, C-VILLE News Reporter Catie Ratliff turns our attention to the local organizations that represent some of our most vulnerable neighbors, asking: How are they preparing for another Trump presidency?
The past few years have left an indelible mark on these groups. Immigration advocates, LGBTQ+ organizations, environmental coalitions, and others have endured years of rhetoric and policies that directly threatened their communities. Now, as the political landscape continues to shift, they’re bracing for the return of challenges they’ve faced before—while also gearing up for the opportunities to stand stronger and fight smarter.
From the field
What we’re doing, seeing, eating & enjoying
This week’s cover story (p. 16) explores the plans these organizations are putting into place. Some are focused on expanding resources, building coalitions, and fortifying legal protections. Others are doubling down on grassroots advocacy, public education, and mutual aid. But all of them share a common goal: to ensure the communities they serve not only endure but thrive, no matter what comes next.
This story is not about fear; it’s about preparedness. It’s about how leaders and volunteers alike are rallying together, determined to meet potential threats head-on. And it’s about how we, as a broader community, can support their efforts on the frontlines.
This week’s contributors
Relix, Brooklyn Vegan, and American Songwriter. If he see him at a show, be sure to ask him about his cat, Apollo.
Kristie Smeltzer is a writer, writing coach, and teacher. Her fiction has been published by Scribes*MICRO*Fiction, MonkeyBicycle, and Atticus Review. Smeltzer earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of Central Florida. She loves helping others tell their stories and collaborates oneon-one with writers through her consulting business. She also teaches creative writing classes for WriterHouse. Learn more at kristiesmeltzer.com.
“The next fun thing I’ve got planned is a girls’ day with four of my friends. This weekend, we’re going to have tea and snacks at Ethos Wine & Tea, and then we’re heading to Eastwood Farm and Winery for some wine and their new chocolate fondue. We’re celebrating the fact that the holidays are over and we have time to spend together again (and that we survived our families during that time!).”—Stephanie Vogtman
“For the past year, I’ve been working to reclaim my glory days and physical fitness by playing in recreational soccer leagues through FXA and SOCA. It’s been hard-going on both fronts, as I was never the most skilled player on the pitch, and have certainly lost a significant amount of the athleticism I carried in my teens and 20s. Regardless of the aches and pains or goal deficits incurred each week, I’m thankful for the community I’ve found. With so many enthusiastic adult players in the region, it’s clear C’ville is a soccer town.” CM Turner
Tristan Williams is a live music, portrait, and editorial photographer based out of Charlottesville, Virginia, where he has been contributing to C-VILLE Weekly since 2017. He proudly serves as house photographer for Red Light Management’s venues, the Ting Pavilion, The Jefferson Theater, and The Southern Café & Music Hall. His work has also been featured in Billboard Magazine, Pitchfork, Stereogum,
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Reid it and weep
Reasons why a locally owned grocery store was forced to close BY
Charlottesville has its share of decades-old businesses that are locally owned and operated and insinuated into the fabric of the community. Unfortunately, in the coming weeks, it will have one less.
ANDREW HOLLINS
The owners of Reid Super-Save Market, a popular grocery store on Preston Avenue, announced January 6 that they have accepted an offer from local nonprofit thrift store Twice is Nice to con-
NEWS DEVELOPMENT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
solidate its two Preston Avenue locations into Reid’s current building after the market closes on January 25.
Reid’s has been a Charlottesville fixture since shortly after its namesake, Malcolm Reid, bought out the Stop and Shop’s West Main Street location in 1961. When a fire forced a move to Preston Avenue in 1982, Kenny and Phyllis Brooks purchased the business from the Reids after Malcolm’s passing. In the 43 years since, it has been popular with residents in both the 10th and Page and Rose Hill neighborhoods for its proximity, and with those from around the city and beyond who wanted to support one of Charlottesville’s few locally owned and operated grocery stores. In 2016, it passed from Brooks to his daughters, Sue Clements and Kim Brooks. Their tenure as owners started just in time for COVID-19, which is when the store’s struggles began.
“The grocery business is a very low-margin business,” Clements says. “‘A penny-making business,’ as my dad used to refer to it.”
Reid’s problems went beyond the pandemic, however. While COVID changed many people’s shopping habits, Clements says the combination of increases in the cost of goods and services, rising instances of theft and shoplifting, and the cost of living in Charlottesville all caused her store to struggle. The final straw, it seems, was inflation.
“Increased prices and inflation [had] a huge impact on our business,” Clements says. “As consumers started to watch their expenses, many would opt for a big-box store with lower prices, prices that an independently owned store cannot compete with.”
Reid’s got a lifeline in January 2024, when Megan Salgado, a customer and Charlottesville resident, started a GoFundMe to keep Reid’s from closing its doors. The effort raised $21,370 from community members and other local businesses, but Clements knew then the lifeline wouldn’t keep the store afloat permanently.
Reid’s closure comes at a time when grocery stores in downtown Charlottesville are at an all-time low, and stores like it are becoming a thing of the past. The term “food desert” was coined in the U.K. in the 1970s to describe areas where low-income residents were unable to access adequate nutrition because of a “perfect storm” of issues that restricted their ability to acquire and afford fresh food. Now,
the USDA uses the term to refer to areas where a majority of the residents are low-income and have low access to healthy food, defined as more than one mile from a source of fresh, nutritious food (i.e., grocery stores, farmer’s markets) in urban areas, or 10 miles in a rural area.
According to a map on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website based on 2019 data, large swaths of the 10th and Page and Fifeville neighborhoods are currently designated as food deserts, with almost the entirety of the remainder of downtown Charlottesville on the threshold of the same designation prior to Reid’s closing and the loss of other locally owned stores like the Kim IGA on Cherry Avenue, which community leaders have focused on reopening, as reported in a C-VILLE cover story last fall.
Kennedy Smith, a senior researcher at the The Institute for Local Self-Reliance, suggested in an October 23 column for the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the failure of local, independent grocers like Reid’s might be more than the will of the free market; she suggests the game was rigged from the start.
“Independent grocers are failing, not because they can’t compete with the bigger chains on service,” Smith wrote. “It’s because those chain retailers have been allowed by lax antitrust enforcers to bully their suppliers into exclusive deals. Those suppliers, squeezed by powerful retailers, then try to make up their lost profits by overcharging independent grocers for the same goods.”
Smith suggests the Regan-era rollback of the RobinsonPatman Act rigged the system in favor of large corporations, allowing chain stores like Walmart and Food Lion to get food at prices that smaller stores like Reid’s cannot. According to Clements, the increased cost of goods and services reached “the point that we could not be competitive if we had passed all of those along to our customers.”
Reid’s loss is Twice is Nice’s gain, however. The thrift store’s business model is centered around a mostly volunteer staff and donated goods, enabling it to donate a reported $2 million to area seniors over the last decade. Operations Manager Lori Woolworth says they’re sad to see Reid’s close, but excited about the opportunity to grow.
“Remaining in the city, serving the neighborhoods we currently serve, offering a local and affordable shopping option has always been important to us,” she says.
Mental wellness days to take effect next school year
CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS will have two mental wellness days each school year, beginning in 2025-26.
“I know that it can be very difficult to find a moment’s rest during the academic year,” said Superintendent Royal Gurley in a December announcement. “Teachers are supporting student success not just during the school day but after hours as well. These paid days off are one way our division can help teachers press ‘pause.’”
The wellness days are scheduled for September 19, 2025; March 6 and September 18, 2026; and March 6, 2027.
CCS and Albemarle County Public Schools both have teacher vacancy rates below the state average of 3.4 percent for the current school year, but burnout and workload are still a concern for both districts. ACPS does not currently have an equivalent number of mental wellness days for its employees.
“After coming back from C OVID, my ‘mental wellness’ seems to be getting better but is still low,” one ACPS teacher told C-VILLE in an email. While he generally supports the idea of mental wellness days, the teacher said he’d rather see issues contributing to educators’ stress—lack of time to complete their workload and an excess of meetings that cut into planning time—addressed.—Catie Ratliff
The closure of Reid’s next week is a loss for the little guy—and for residents who have relied on the locally owned grocery store for decades.
CCS Superintendent Royal Gurley says the additional days off “can help teachers press ‘pause.’”
IN BRIEF
All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less)
UVA Health launches mobile care unit to improve accessibility. Rock Paper Scissors owners sell to Karen Ward, a NoVa native with six years’ experience in stationery stores. Local bodybuilding coach Elliott Atwell receives 21-year sentence for child porn. Anyvent wedding planner Savannah Quinn chosen as contestant in 29th season of “The Bachelor,” premiering January 27. Albemarle County Board of Supervisors elects chair and vice chair. City of Charlottesville offers residents $1,000 vouchers to offset cost of e-bikes. Nonprofit artisan retailer Ten Thousand Villages announces closure of 13 stores, including the one on the Downtown Mall. Mistrial declared in UVA rape case after jury deadlocks. Dave Matthews celebrates 58th birthday. UVA women’s basketball falls to Duke January 12, 60-55. Albemarle County hires consulting firm for Three Notched Trail and Blue Ridge Tunnel connection. Gunfire damages two residences off Jefferson Park Avenue on January 12.
New portal
Albemarle County launches system to access plans under review BY SEAN TUBBS
In any given year, Albemarle’s community development department processes thousands of documents that are used to determine what gets built throughout the county.
As 2025 begins, the county has launched a new way for residents and businesses to access those documents via the internet. Monday morning saw the debut of Civic Access.
“This portal provides the community with an easy-touse system for managing community development needs,” said Albemarle County Community Development Director Jodie Filardo in a release. “Civic Access offers residents and businesses a convenient way to interact with community development services, making processes more transparent and easier to navigate.”
Albemarle County’s new Civic Access portal will allow anyone— from residents to businesses—to interact with local development projects like the one at 1193 Seminole Trl., where a proposal to rezone the site of Cville Oriental for up to 165 units is on hold.
information, such as the number of rezonings filed in a given year. The new portal displays that eight were filed in 2024.
The portal, built by Tyler Technologies, is designed for the many builders, planners, and other industry representatives who need approval before they can begin the work. The release did not mention the role of the media, but this column and land-use reporting in general relies on access to public information.
For instance, Albemarle requires business owners to apply for zoning clearances to determine if a new space they are moving into is suitable. A look at the county’s former document system brings up the fact that Schwarzschild Keller & George Jewelers will be moving from Millmont Street to The Shops at Stonefield.
The new portal shows that the application was approved on December 17, 2024, three days before an answer was due.
In another zoning clearance application, Eastwood Farm and Winery is seeking to take over a space on Avon Street Extended that was once occupied by Michael Shaps Wineworks. The winery will use the spot to incubate wine in five specially designed suites, but so far the clearance has not been granted.
“The suites will provide a space where independent winemakers can anchor a license and make their wines,” reads the website of Virginia Wine Collective, which says it will be open this spring.
The new portal makes it easier for anyone with a browser to learn about projects—the former CountyView system was less-than user-friendly. One can also see a range of
Only one rezoning has been approved, and that was a county-initiated rezoning of land around the Rivanna Station military base to prepare for a future defense and intelligence campus. Less than three months passed between the application and action by the Board of Supervisors, according to the portal.
One long-time observer of Albemarle government hopes the new system can help the county speed up the time it takes for a building permit to be approved and to accelerate rezonings.
“I must admit, we do feel a little like Charlie Brown watching Lucy put down the football because we have heard such promises on new platforms in the not-so-distant past,” says Neil Williamson of the Free Enterprise Forum. There were 19 rezoning applications in 2023, nine of which were approved, with another eight under review. Two are on hold, including a proposal to rezone the site of the Cville Oriental grocery store for up to 165 units. That project stalled after the Planning Commission reluctantly recommended a rezoning last summer after several members expressed it was not large enough.
However, there is nothing in the portal that explains why the project is on hold. There’s also nothing in the portal with the status of another rezoning for 33 acres in Crozet that has an application date of February 21, 2023. The Albemarle Planning Commission agreed to a deferral at its December 17 meeting.
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PLANS OF ACTION
As the saying goes, “new year, new me,” but the United States is starting 2025 with a rerun: the inauguration of Donald Trump and a Republican majority in the U.S. House and Senate.
Few of Trump’s priorities have clearly outlined policy proposals, either on his campaign website or in his official statements post-election. The president-elect’s stances are instead made evident by his appointments, public comments, and social media posts.
Despite disavowing Project 2025 (project2025.org), Trump has nominated several people involved with the political initiative for cabinet positions, and has followed the document’s appointment recommendations. Project 2025 provides insights into the policy proposals his administration is considering. Ahead of inauguration day, C-VILLE spoke with local stakeholders who may be affected by Trump’s potential policy changes.
Ground movement
Mirroring his first term, Trump is expected to prioritize the rollback of climate regulations over the next four years. He has made sweeping promises to limit funding for clean energy programs, including unspent funds from the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022.
“One of the things we are concerned about is obviously a lot of incentives and rebates were passed under the Inflation Reduction Act,” says Susan Kruse, executive director of Charlottesville’s Community Climate Collaborative. “Some of those rebates have not even fully deployed yet into states.”
More than $8.8 billion in home energy rebates were approved in the IRA, and more than a dozen energy-related tax rebates created. While Virginians have benefited from IRA tax incentives since the start of 2023, energy rebates are yet to be rolled out.
If the rebates are not deployed, Kruse says CCC is “really going to be pushing for localities to kind of fill those gaps and really help to continue to accelerate energy-efficiency and home and business electrification.”
Trump’s campaign website also calls for the elimination of the Green New Deal. No legislation called the Green New Deal has been passed by Congress, though the name has been widely adopted as a descriptor of climate-conscious legislation, including carbon emission reduction efforts. Trump has also promised to, once again, exit the Paris Climate Accord.
Throughout his political career, Trump has questioned the existence of climate change and the merit of environmental
efforts, including at a rally just before the 2024 election, where he claimed “we don’t have a global warming problem.”
The selection of former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who voted against certifying the 2020 election, to head the Environmental Protection Agency further foreshadows deregulation and downsizing efforts. Zeldin, a member of the House’s Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, received a 14 percent score from the League of Conservation Voters, an environmental group.
For now, Kruse says the best path forward for environmental activists and those concerned with climate change is local- and state-level organizing.
“Local action is absolutely our best opportunity to advance climate in a really immediate sense,” says Kruse. “It
BY CATIE RATLIFF
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS BRACE FOR IMPACT OF THE INCOMING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Susan Kruse, executive director of Community Climate Collaborative, started with the nonprofit in 2019, during the first Trump administration.
ACTION
is unlikely to see many more things advance at the federal level over the next four years.”
The Community Climate Collaborative has always been focused on local-level efforts, something it plans to continue under the second Trump administration. Upcoming projects from CCC include the launch of an energy resource hub with the Local Energy Alliance Program, advocating for a solar ordinance in Albemarle County, and organizing around climate priorities in both the city and county’s annual budgets. The energy resource hub will fully launch in February, according to Kruse, and can be found at energyresourcehub.org.
“We’ve got a great community here where people really know how to work together to solve problems,” says Kruse. “We’re really looking forward to working with other organizations and other members of the community to really make our community an example … of a livable, sustainable future.”
Countdown
During and after his run for the presidency, Trump emphasized education policy as a primary issue for his administration.
The Trump-Vance campaign website mentions a number of education priorities, including “cut[ting] federal funding for any school or program pushing Critical Race Theory or gender ideology on our children. … veto[ing] the sinister effort to weaponize civics education, keep[ing] men out of women’s sports, and creat[ing] a credentialing body to certify teachers who embrace patriotic values.” The site also calls for the direct election of school principals.
All of the potential policy changes are framed through the lens of protecting parental rights, including Trump’s most radical education proposal: the elimination of the Department of Education.
Headquartered in Charlottesville, Whole Woman’s Health works to protect access to reproductive health care in the commonwealth and nationwide.
While the president-elect has repeatedly said he wants to close the federal DOE and turn things over to its state-level counterparts, he will likely encounter significant barriers even with a Republican-controlled Congress. Still, budget cuts and downsizing of the DOE are expected.
“Any significant changes to the Department of Education will impact youths’ wellbeing, resulting in increased need for our programs,” says Eileen Barber, lead communications specialist at ReadyKids, a Charlottesville nonprofit that offers counseling, family support, and early-learning opportunities. “The DOE is responsible in part for enforcing non-discrimination laws and funding public schools, upholding policies and programs that guarantee the right of every child to an education. If these responsibilities are moved to the states, there will be less federal oversight to ensure all children receive a quality education.”
“We anticipate the need for our services to increase, as well as the number of referrals we send to partnering organizations,” says Barber.
Combined with federal funding cuts and a decrease in grant opportunities, an increase in ReadyKids participants may affect the organization’s operations and offerings. The nonprofit also anticipates indirect impacts from policy changes in other areas that affect families and the education sector.
“We believe partnership is crucial. Charlottesville is home to many nonprofits doing vital community work,” Barber says. “When organizations work together to provide holistic care and a network of support, we are able to share information, resources, and services that make our community stronger.”
Picture of health
While Trump does not support a national abortion ban, his official campaign website is anti-abortion: “President Trump’s three appointees delivered the biggest win for life in a generation in overturning Roe v. Wade,” it reads. Virginians—and those traveling to the commonwealth— can still access abortion care through the 26th week of pregnancy, with exceptions past that date to protect the life and health of the pregnant person.
Organizations like Planned Parenthood and Whole Woman’s Health are working to further protect access to reproductive health care in the commonwealth and nationwide.
“We are doing everything we can to have as many protections as possible,” says Jamie Lockhart, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia.
Anti-abortion activists have pursued efforts to further restrict reproductive health care following the Dobbs v. Jackson decision that overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, namely through legal and legislative efforts to bar or limit access to mifepristone and other abortifacients.
Project 2025 also calls for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies to restrict or ban access to mifepristone, the “week-after pill,” and other contraceptives. In addition, it advocates for the enforcement of the Weldon Amendment, which allows insurers and providers to withhold abortion access on the basis of personal beliefs.
Trump has nominated David Weldon, author of the amendment, to lead the CDC.
“We know that they’re going to try to attack abortion access in a number of ways,” says Lockhart. “We know that
CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
ReadyKids, a Charlottesville nonprofit that offers counseling, family support, and early-learning opportunities, has operated in Charlottesville since 1921.
they’re going to try to pass restrictions or bans through Congress. We know that they’re going to also try to take actions administratively.”
WWH has also taken action ahead of inauguration day, according to CEO Amy Hagstrom Miller. “We have added to our on-site supplies in our clinics in case there is any disruption in shipping or in the ability to get abortion pills in our clinics,” she says. “We are also preparing to be part of litigation if needed.”
Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Whole Woman’s Health Alliance (the advocacy arm of the Charlottesvillebased organization) has been a major player in the legal fight to protect access to mifepristone, in Virginia and across the country. WWH and other pro-choice activists in the Charlottesville area have also organized an abortion fund and other resources to help those in need access reproductive care.
Pro-choice organizations like WWH and Planned Parenthood have lobbied for legislation to protect abortion and contraceptive access in Virginia, most recently through a proposed amendment that would enshrine protections for reproductive freedom into the state constitution.
The amendment, along with two more focused on marriage equality and voting rights, passed the House Privileges and Elections Committee in November. However, the earliest any of the proposed constitutional amendments could appear on the ballot is November 2026.
In the interim, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia is calling for Gov. Glenn Youngkin to reverse course on two bills passed by the legislature in 2024—the Right to Contraceptive Act and the Contraceptive Equity Act.
“Both [acts] received bipartisan support and passed through the House and Senate, but then they were vetoed by Governor Youngkin,” says Lockhart. “We are again pushing for those pieces of legislation and asking the governor to do the right thing this year and to sign those bills into law.”
“Everyone said that Roe v. Wade was settled,” says Lockhart. “Just like people thought Roe v. Wade was safe, we know that everything else is at risk. We know that access to contraception is at risk. We know that marriage equality for LGBTQ couples is at risk, and so we’re not taking anything for granted. … We have to ensure that we’re being vigilant, making our voices heard, and that we’re doing everything we can here in Virginia to enshrine protections in our constitution for Virginians.”
Also under the umbrella of health care is the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, something Trump and congressional Republicans have long advocated to repeal and replace. Beyond this and his support of Medicaid, Trump’s health care agenda is relatively ambiguous.
While the change in administration and Congress brings a number of unknowns for the entire health care industry, the Charlottesville Free Clinic expects an increase in patients to continue.
“We are always in the position of anticipating that we will have more patients,” says Willa Barnhardt, CEO of development and finance.
“We’re having a call … to discuss what potential changes could be coming that would impact our patient base and how we treat patients. But we’ve been around for 31 years, and steadily grow and grow because of ... community needs,” says Barnhardt. “The care we provide there won’t change … none of what we do on a day-to-day basis is going to change.”
With pride
In a continuation of his first administration, the president-elect and Republican majority in Congress are expected to attack rights and protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.
The Protecting Parents’ Rights section of the TrumpVance campaign website is less than subtle, decrying the Biden-Harris administration and “radical left [for] using the public school system to push their perverse sexual, racial, and political material on our youth.”
Project 2025 further asserts that “redefining ‘sex’ to ‘sexual orientation and gender identity in Title IX … puts girls and women in danger of physical harm.”
There is no evidence that protections on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation increase rates of violence against women or girls. There is no evidence supporting claims transgender people are more likely to be perpetrators of sexual assault. There is significant data published in multiple studies and journals, including the American Journal of Public Health, that trans people are more likely to be victims of violent crime and sexual assault than cisgender people.
In its assessment of Trump’s stances on LGBTQ+ rights, the American Civil Liberties Union anticipates a number of regulation and rule changes removing protec-
tions against discrimination. Other possible anti-LGBTQ+ policies include a ban on openly transgender people in the armed services and “blocking gender-affirming medical care for transgender people in federal health care programs such as Medicare.”
For local organizers, the incoming Trump administration and Republican Congress has sparked renewed and rapid work on the creation of a queer community center.
“Since we opened our store [The Beautiful Idea] a year and a half ago, we’ve planned to work on a community center and thought about [it] as a long-term project,” says Ellie Picard, the shop’s co-owner. After the election, local organizers decided the time for a community center was sooner rather than later. “Having more physical spaces in the region that are queerowned, queer-controlled, is absolutely crucial to the vitality and sort of the survival of the community,”
Picard says.
Picard and other activists working on the launch of the queer community center have moved fast, and are in the process of leasing a location downtown. The space may be open by February, but organizers are still trying to solicit feedback on priorities from other LGBTQ+ people in the area.
“We see how fast rights and access to opportunity can be rolled back in this country, when people feel like there’s nothing stopping them from trampling on other people’s rights,” says Picard. “Having places where we can share skills, share resources, provide mutual aid to each other, and create new resources for liberation and survival—that’s desperately needed. And the act of creating those spaces does so much for our spirits and our collective sense of hope and capability.”
After the overturn of Roe v. Wade, LGBTQ+ activists worried that the Supreme Court could overturn the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling that federally legalized samesex marriage.
Anecdotally, Picard says she knows a number of people moving up wedding dates out of concern for the future of marriage equality.
The state legislature passed a bill protecting Virginians’ right to marriage equality, signed into law by Youngkin in 2024. An amendment that would remove the existing anti-marriage equality language from the state constitution is currently being considered, and could appear on the ballot as early as 2026.
SUPPLIED PHOTO (LEFT), TRISTAN WILLIAMS (RIGHT)
The Charlottesville Free Clinic, led by co-CEOs Willa Barnhardt and Meghan Hinger, has seen an increase in patients year after year.
Senlin Means and Ellie Picard, co-owners of The Beautiful Idea, are part of the effort to launch a queer community center in downtown Charlottesville.
Step back in time with Silents Scored Live, a silent-film screening with in-person musical accompaniment. Composer, film lecturer, and Violet Crown artist-in-residence Matt Marshall brings more than two decades of experience writing and performing music for classic film screenings that offer a glimpse into what the cinematic experience once was. Marshall live-scores works from the eponymous pioneering French filmmaker in The Beginning of Cinema with Georges Méliès, including 1898’s The Magician and surreal sci-fi shorts A Trip to the Moon and The Impossible Voyage. $10.50, 2pm. Violet Crown Cinema, 200 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. charlottesville.violetcrown.com
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TO-DO LIST
Four local musicians join up for an intimate evening of original songs in the round, when Neon Angels brings singer-songwriters Holly Renee Allen, Blair Jones, Susan Munson, and Molly Murphy together to share music and personal stories. The performers, all members of the Blue Ridge region’s flourishing Americana music scene, celebrate individual musical achievements—and their collective strength— through song at this event honoring women’s voices. $20, 8pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.org
Wednesday 1/15
music
The Wavelength. Vintage rock and jazzy blues vibrations for your mid-week music boost. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com
classes
Embroider a Bookmark or Card. Whether you are new to embroidery or experienced, join us for an evening of simple stitching to create a bookmark or stationery card. Supplies and stitch instructions provided. Ages 13+. $25, 5:30pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Vision Board Workshop. In this guided experience you’ll explore your deepest desires, clarify your intentions, and bring them to life through the art of vision boarding. $25, 6pm. Hardware Hills Vineyard, 5199 W. River Rd., Scottsville. hardwarehills.com
etc.
Rapture Karaoke. Downtown C’ville’s longestrunning karaoke party. Hosted by Jenn Deville. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
SuperFly Run Club. Run around the city, then enjoy $5 pints. Raffles and exclusive merchandise to be earned. Free, 6pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com
Thursday 1/16
music
Baby Jo’s. Boogie-woogie takes on classics with a full horn section, groovy rhythm, shredding gui-
tars, washboards, and the Queen of Boogie, Betty Jo. Free, 8pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
Berto Sales and Vincent Zorn. A night of wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Songwriter’s Open Mic. A space for all levels, styles, and ages. Amps and mics provided. Sign-ups start at 6:30pm. One original song per performer. Free, 7pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
dance
Grand Kyiv Ballet: Snow Queen. A classic fairytale transformed into an exquisite ballet about love and friendship, and how the warmth of a friend’s devoted heart removes the spell of a wicked Queen. $33–120, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
etc.
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. Like an escape room but at a winery. Crack codes and unravel riddles while sampling Charlottesville’s best wine, beer, and cider. Play when you want and go at your own pace. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Friday 1/17
music
Eli Cook Band. Music from the crossroads of blues, the highways of rock, and the backroads of country. The full-band experience is defiantly something you don’t want to miss out on. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.
Emo Night Karaoke. Featuring members of Just Surrender, Freshman 15, Weatherbox, Big D and the Kids Table, Jet Lag Gemini, and more playing your favorite songs from back in the day live on stage with you on lead vocals. $15, 8pm. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Neon Angels. Join Susan Munson, Holly Renee Allen, Molly Murphy, and Blair Jones for an intimate singers-in-the-round showcase. $20–25, 8pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com
Sue Harlow. Deeply emotive, heart-touching songs that lay down the essence of acoustic Americana folk. Free, 5:30pm. Hardware Hills Vineyard, 5199 W. River Rd., Scottsville. hardwarehills.com
Surface & Friends. Soulful hits, powerful ballads, and timeless classics that have shaped the R&B landscape. Featuring Kut Klose, Rude Boys, Rome, Changing Faces, and Public Announcement. $50–75, 8pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
The Dagga Boys. Jon Spear and Ken Farmer neatly blend blues and bluegrass with old-school rock and folk music. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshouse winery.com
words
CreativeMornings Charlottesville. A free monthly breakfast lecture series for the creative community. Free, 8:30am. Downtown Charlottesville. ComeToCharlottesvilleVA.com etc.
Storytime. Join us for storytelling, songs, movement, and bubbles as we learn new words and practice language and gross motor skills. Free with admission to the museum, 10:30am. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St. vadm.org Trivia with Olivia. Get the weekend started. Prizes to be won and fun to be had. Free, 6–8pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superfly brewing.com
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, January 16. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Saturday 1/18
music
Berto Sales. Brazilian and Latin guitar. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernand grocery.com
Brian Franke. A range of folk and singer-songwriter music from the 1960s through today, upbeat covers from the classic rock era, ’90s alternative rock, mainstream pop, and even some of today’s hits. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarle ciderworks.com
Jim O’Ferrell. Acoustic alternative rock and more. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Pat Anderson. A roots rocker with a toughminded country-rock sensibility. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
The Wavelength. Dance the night away with jazzy blues and rock from local mainstays, with special guest Paul Hammond on drums. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Tina & Her Pony. Indie Appalachian folk and Americana music. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
TRIED IT IN C’VILLE CULTURE
Putting a fine point on self-care
When someone said “acupuncture” to me, the image that used to come to mind was Pinhead from Hellraiser. With maturity, though, I’ve developed an earnest desire to try traditional Chinese medicine. In the new year, the new me decided to take a stab at acupuncture (sorry!).—Kristie Smeltzer
What
Getting acupuncture through Common Ground’s community services.
Why
Lifelong curiosity about traditional Chinese medicine.
How it went
My mind was blown and my body rejuvenated.
Walking into Region Ten’s Blue Ridge Center, where Common Ground provides acupuncture, I had no expectations for the experience. I wanted to stay open to whatever may come. I turned my first-timer paperwork in, and awaited my appointment time. When it arrived, I quietly crept into a large, darkened room with six zero-gravity chairs, including one for me. A quick look around revealed that I should sit and take off my shoes and socks. Soft, soothing music serenaded us as I liberated my toes.
After a brief, whispered conversation with the acupuncturist, she checked my pulse in three places on each wrist, then looked at my tongue. Her assessment: stagnation. I’ll confess I felt both seen and attacked (kidding, mostly). I spent the tail end of 2024 experiencing a condition I affectionately refer to as emotional constipation. Stagnation sure covered that, as well as the chronic pain I had mentioned on the intake paperwork as a reason for my visit. The acupuncturist explained that she’d do a general placement of the needles to get things flowing.
I reclined into a comfortable position while the acupuncturist grabbed her tools. She explained that clients feel slight discomfort when stuck but that there shouldn’t be lingering pain. She rolled both legs of my sweatpants up to the knee, making it clear why loose-fitting clothes are a must. Starting at my right foot, she placed 13 needles between my feet, knees, hands, and forehead. For me, the process was almost entirely free of discomfort. I felt the slightest of pricks in my feet, hands, and forehead and didn’t feel the pokes to the insides of my knees at all. Full disclosure, I have a decently high pain tolerance, but I don’t think it factored in here. The pokes caused less pain than a hangnail. With the needles in place, the acupuncturist told me to relax for a half hour as the treatment worked. Some, she said, fall asleep while others feel physical sensations like floating. Soft snores from clients around me lent credence to her statement. Almost immediately, I felt increased blood circulation in my right foot and ankle. The sensations in-
trigued me, because my plantar fasciitis—a condition caused by inflammation of a thick band of tissue in the foot, the plantar fascia, that connects the heel to the base of the toes—in that foot had been acting up, resulting in stiffness and pain. When that fascia gets mad, it sucks worse than trying to inhale large peas through a small straw.
Common Ground commongroundcville.org
As I reclined, a flowing sensation spread from that foot to my entire body. The best way to describe it is that my flesh felt awakened. In one of those wonderful little serendipities that make great experiences unforgettable, someone began drumming outside by a large, frosted window at the far end of the room. As I watched his soft silhouette drum, the irregular rhythm complemented the steady thrum of my own happy heart. All felt right in the world.
Jess Croes provides acupuncture in a group setting at Common Ground, which helps to make wellness services more affordable and accessible.
Enter our annual Haikus from the Heart contest
Capture the beauty, agony, or mystery of love with your best haiku. The top 10 will be published in C-VILLE's February 12 issue and the first-place winner will earn a Valentine's Day prize package, including a $50 gift card to a local restaurant.
ENTRIES MUST:
❤ Be in haiku format (three lines total, five syllables in the first and third lines, seven in the second line).
❤ Be original and unpublished.
❤ Be PG-13.
❤ Be submitted by February 3. SPONSORED BY: ENTER HERE: bit.ly/haikus2025
Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes are ready to move you
or his latest record, Wake the , singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet teamed up with cumbia band ¿Qiensave?. The result is a mix of Prophet’s alt-country rock blended with the Latin-rooted sounds of the Salinas, California-based group, in the umpteenth album of a man with more than two dozen records to his credit—if you include his early output with the band Green on Red. The association with his new backing band, currently on tour, raises a couple of questions.
First, why is it billed as Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes and not Chuck Prophet & ¿Qiensave?? The answer parallels the loose translation of the band’s Spanish wordplay name: Who knows? I can’t imagine that five guys appearing on stage every night across the country are hiding from some sinister element (big brimmed hats aside) and trying to work out a national tour undercover. Is it repression from the top down?
lymphoma. He’s even drawn a parallel of his exploration with The Clash’s interest in reggae. So while he’s got the band lending its talent to big tracks like “Jesus Was a Social Drinker” and “Ford Econoline,” in slightly retrofitted arrangements that make use of the percussionist, extra slide, and acoustic 12-string guitars, it’s weird that the band’s called Cumbia Shoes. Maybe it’s because the guys aren’t playing their own songs, but backing up a punkrooted dude who found his way to their musical style. Semantics!
I’m not trying to insinuate that Prophet and his management are engaging in the worst kind of musical colonialism, as Prophet credits his allconsuming fascination with cumbia music as the inspiration for his ultimate remission from Stage 4
Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes
Tuesday 1/21
The Jefferson Theater
The set does flaunt a wide range of genres, with the overall thought, as I understand it, that the band’s rhythmic sound is pulled from the many hues of cumbia’s dance-focused tapestry. And that brings me to question number two: If the audience is supposed to get up and shake it, why is this a reserved seated show with the standing general admission areas confined to the periphery? Higher ticket prices? An elderly clientele? Because it’s on a Tuesday? It could be all of the above but really, I have to ask ¿Qiensave?. Best not to seek answers. Instead, allow two talented parties to take you wherever they plan to go—with whatever name they give you.
—CM Gorey
TO-DO LIST CULTURE
dance
Schwifty DJ Dance Night. Schwifty songs, comin’ at ya with DJs lighting up the dance floor. Bristol. House. Rick & Toni. Tech House/Deep House. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. words
Artists in Conversation. Artist talk with “Sticker Work” exhibiting artist Hannah Diomataris. Come hear the explanation behind the detailed, mixed-media work on view from the artist herself, in conversation with Leigh Suggs. Free, 10:30am. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org
classes
Indoor Gardening: You Don’t Need a Green Thumb. A garden-basics class presented by the Piedmont Master Gardeners. Free, 2pm. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1118 Preston Ave. trinityepiscopalcville.org
Printmaking Workshop. Use local artist Josef Beery’s BookBeetle Desktop Letterpress to create your own prints inspired by animals depicted in the “Shifting Ground” exhibition. For children ages 6–13. Registration required. Free, 11am. Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA, 400 Worrell Dr. kluge-ruhe.org
Watercolor Workshop Series: Color Mixing and Application. Practice mixing a range of colors and creating color charts. Engage in exercises focusing on applying mixed colors in simple compositions. Ages 15+. $35, 2pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.
Men’s Basketball: UVA vs. Louisville. Cheer on the UVA men’s basketball team on the big screen. Free, noon. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Storytime. Featuring readings from recent storybooks and the classics kids know and love. Rain or shine. All ages welcome. Free, 11am. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, January 16. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Sunday 1/19 music
Dave Goodrich. A rock-based repertoire including flavors of blues, rock, pop, Motown, and original music. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Matt Johnson. Singer-songwriter stylings in the tropics of Free Union. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshouse winery.com
The Pollocks Acoustic Trio. Acoustic trio plays favorites to dance to. Free, 2pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
Travis Elliott & Tucker Rogers. A fresh and improvised setlist of acoustic music. Free, 7:30pm. Vision BBQ & Catering, 247 Ridge McIntire Rd. visionbbqcville.com
Zuzu’s Hot 5. Hot trad-jazz, coming to you live and direct. Free, 1pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com dance
Salsa & Bachata Lessons. Come for great community and a strong foundation in the connection between partners. Ideal for all levels. Free, 4pm. DMR Studio D, 109 Second St. SE. dmradventures.com classes
Macrame Snowflakes. Learn basic macrame knots and techniques to create elegant, snowflakeinspired designs. No prior experience needed. $20,
THURSDAY 1/16
FROZEN FANCY
With winter in full effect, it’s the perfect time to take in the Grand Kyiv Ballet’s Snow Queen, an adaptation of the famous Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. The Ukrainian dance company presents a fantastical story of love and magic featuring the music of Edvard Grieg, Jules Massenet, Mozart, and Vivaldi. After Kai is turned hard and cold by a shattered piece of magic mirror, he’s swept away in a winter storm. The brave and beautiful Gerda must endure hardships and difficulties to thaw the Snow Queen’s icy spell and warm her beloved friend’s heart. $33.50–120, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
2pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com
Needle Felted Sheep. Learn how to make a cute and fuzzy little sheep using a specialized notched needle to sculpt dyed wool. Beginners and intermediate students welcome. Ages 14+. $40, 11:30am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Needle Felted Veggies. Learn how to make soft and colorful carrot, radish, onion, and/or turnip decorations using a specialized barbed needle to sculpt dyed wool. Beginners and intermediate students welcome. Ages 14+. $35, 3pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, January 16. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Monday 1/20
music
DG3. Gin and jazz series welcomes trio playing modern takes on classics and standards. Free,
5:30pm. Oakhurst Inn, 100 Oakhurst Cir. 22903.https://oakhurstinn.com etc.
Trivia on Tap. Five rounds of themed trivia for teams of up to six competitors. Hosted by Olivia. Reservations recommended. Free, 7pm. Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery - Charlottesville, 520 Second St. SE. threenotchdbrewing.com
Tuesday 1/21
music
Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes. New band, new record, new sound. $27–35, 7pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesouthern cville.com
Vincent Zorn. Lively flamenco rumba with a unique percussive technique that incorporates a diverse range of strumming styles, rhythms, and taps. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St. thebebedero.com
words
Race, gender, and the 2024 Electorate. Join expert panelists for a post-election analysis on
how race, gender, and age shaped the 2024 presidential campaign, alongside challenges to voting rights. Part of UVA’s 2025 MLK Celebration. Free, 11am. The Miller Center, 2201 Old Ivy Rd. millercenter.org
classes
Drop In Still Life and Watercolor Sessions. All the supplies you need to take a relaxing and creative break in your day are provided. Feel free to bring objects you’d like to draw and any additional supplies you’d like to use. $5, noon. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com
Paint + Sip: Snowy Cardinals. Paint, sip, snack, repeat. Learn techniques and skills to render a snowy cardinals scene. $42, 6pm. Ellie’s Country Club, 16 Elliewood Ave. elliescountryclub.com
etc.
Teen Time. Join other teens at the library and destress from school. Free, 3:15pm. Crozet Library, 2020 Library Ave., Crozet. jmrl.org
The Run Club. Do a 5K run, then drink beer. $1-off pints for runners. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.
FOR FUN PUZZLES
25. Initials for home projects 26. Band known for elaborate videos 28. Thurston Howell ___ of “Gilligan’s Island”
Segment between “Eat” and “Love”
Bird warble 34. Voice actor Blanc
XX
39. ___ carte
40. “The Jungle” novelist Sinclair
41. “American Fiction” actress Rae
42. 35mm camera initials
43. “Luck ___ my side”
44. Animation collectible
46. Arizona State University locale
48. Title bestowed on Stephen Fry in 2025
49. On vacation
52. V
56. No longer minor
57. 2013 disaster film portmanteau
58. “The Color Purple” protagonist
59. “Dallas Buyers Club” Oscar winner Jared
60. Of majestic proportions
61. Road repair stuff
62. Wilson of “Cars”
63. “Peter Pan” pixie nickname DOWN
1. Cocktail with cranberry juice, informally
2. Moving van rental company
3. Hair care product
4. “Children of Blood and Bone” author Adeyemi
5. “Not even!”
6. “Part of Your World” singer
7. Suffix for Earth or finger
8. Air freshener target
9. Battery for smoke detectors
10. Deliver a lecture
11. Not just once
15. Places for big-name players
16. Point opposite WNW
18. Smoothie superfruit
21. Bird on a quarter
25. Color-changing substance
26. “Citizen Kane” director Welles
27. Potter’s furnace
29. “Casablanca” character
30. ‘90s handhelds
31. University of Alabama cheer
32. Subsequently
33. Member of the Jackson 5
By Rob Brezsny Aquarius
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In old Hawaii, it was forbidden for ordinary people to touch objects that belonged to the chiefs or to anyone with spiritual powers. Other taboos: Never walk across the shadow of an important person and never wear red and yellow feathers. Our modern taboos are different, but often equally rigid. For example, you are probably hesitant to ask people how much money they make or what their relationship status is. What are other taboos you observe? I won’t outrightly advise you to brazenly break them, but now is a good time to re-evaluate them— and consider changing your relationship with them.
Pisces
(Feb. 19-March 20): As winter progresses, each day is longer and each night shorter. Most humans feel an undercurrent of joy that the amount of light in the world is growing. But as an astrologer who appreciates cycles, I like to honor the beauty and powers of darkness. That’s where everything new gets born! It’s where the future comes from! In ancient Hawaiian religion, the word kumulipo meant “beginning-in-deep-darkness.” It was also the name of a prayer describing the creation of the world. In the coming weeks, I believe you will be wise to tap into the rich offerings of darkness.
Aries
(March 21-April 19): Author Anaïs Nin wrote, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” I bring this to your attention because you Aries folks now have a mandate to expand your life through courageous acts, thoughts, and feelings. I suggest we make the Arctic fox your power symbol. This intrepid creature undertakes epic migrations, journeying over 2,000 miles across sea ice, using starlight and magnetic fields to navigate. Let’s dare to speculate that you have something in common with it; let’s propose that you are equipped with an inner guidance system that gives you a keen intuitive sense of how to maneuver in unfamiliar territory. P.S.: Anais Nin has another tip: “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
Taurus
(April 20-May 20): Taurus archeologist Howard Carter made a spectacular discovery in 1922: the intact tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun, more than 3,300 years after his death. It was filled with over 5,000 artifacts, became a global sensation, and to this day remains the most famous find from ancient Egypt. A short time before he succeeded at his five-year quest, Howard Carter nearly gave up. But then his sponsor agreed to provide funds for a few more months, and he continued. In this spirit, Taurus, I urge you to keep pushing to fulfill your own dream. Renew your faith. Boost your devotion. Remember why you feel so strongly.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Bristlecone pine trees grow very slowly, but they are hardy and long-lived. Their wood is so dense and strong that it’s virtually immune to disease, insects, and erosion. They grow in places that are inhospitable for many other trees, flourishing in cold, windy environments where the soil is not particularly rich in nutrients. For the bristlecone pine, apparent obstacles stimulate their resilience. I don’t want to exaggerate the ways they remind me of you Capricorns, but you and they certainly have affinities. I believe these shared qualities will be especially useful for you in the coming weeks.
Gemini
(May 21-June 20): The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest telescope in space. Recently, it discovered hundreds of galaxies that no humans had ever before beheld. They are very old, too—far more ancient than our own Milky Way Galaxy. I propose we make this marvelous perception-enhancing tool a symbol of power for you. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you now have a robust potential to see things that have always been invisible, secret, or offlimits to you. Some of these wonders could motivate you to reinterpret your life story and reshape your future plans.
Cancer
(June 21-July 22): One theory says that humans evolved to be afraid of reptiles because our early ancestors were frequently threatened by them. Among the most commonly feared creatures in modern culture are snakes. And yet, as anyone knows if they’ve studied mythology, snakes have also been symbols of fertility and healing in many cultures. Because they periodically shed their skin, they also represent regeneration and rebirth. I’m hoping you don’t harbor an instinctual aversion to snakes, Cancerian. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to call on and benefit from their iconic powers.
Leo
(July 23-Aug. 22): In the coming months, be extra creative as you enhance your network of connections and support. Encourage your allies to provide you with tips about opportunities and possibilities that you would not
otherwise know about. Ask them to serve as links to novel resources that will nurture your long-term dreams. Here’s an idea to energize your efforts: Get a vivid sense of how trees use vast underground fungal webs to communicate with each other.
Virgo
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I love my job as a horoscope writer. What could be more fun than analyzing cosmic signs to generate inspirational counsel for my readers? It’s a big responsibility, though. I am intensely aware of how crucial it is that I craft my messages with utmost care and compassion. Having been scarred as a young adult by reckless, fear-mongering fortune tellers, I’m rigorous about nurturing your free will, not undermining it. I want you to be uplifted, not confused or demoralized as I was. With these thoughts in mind, I invite you to take a vigorous inventory of the effects that your work and play have on the world. Are they aligned with your intentions? Are your ambitions moored in impeccable integrity?
Libra
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Why are diamonds considered so valuable? I’m skeptical. High-grade diamonds are not as rare as public perception would lead us to believe. Yes, they are extraordinarily hard and scratch-resistant, but is that a reason to regard them as a sublime treasure? I acknowledge they are pretty in a bland way. But other gems are more intriguingly beautiful. Maybe the most important reason they are so prized is that diamond sellers have done effective marketing campaigns to promote them as symbols of love and luxury. All
this is a prelude to my main message: Now is an excellent time to think and feel deeply about what is truly beautiful to you—and take steps to bring more of it into your life. For you Libras, beauty is an essential ingredient in your life’s purpose.
Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov.21): The way that ancient Romans made concrete was more ingenious than modern methods. Their manufacturing materials included lime clasts, which gave the concrete self-healing qualities. When cracks arose, they fixed themselves. That’s why Roman aqueducts built 2,000 years ago can still convey water today. Metaphorically speaking, I hope you will work on building similar structures in the coming weeks. It’s time to create strong foundations that will last for a very long time.
Sagittarius
(Nov. 22-Dec.21): Do you harbor a yearning to learn a new language, new skill, or new trick? The coming weeks will be a favorable phase to get serious about doing it. Have you fantasized about embarking on an adventure that would expand your understanding of how the world works? The time is right. Have you wished you could attract an inspirational prod to unleash more creativity and experiment freely? The astrological omens suggest that inspirational prod is imminent. Have you wondered whether you could enhance and fine-tune your receptivity—and thereby open up surprising sources of fresh teaching? Do it now!
Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888
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Community & MISC. Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE
ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® Site Visit
PUBLIC NOTICE
ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® Site Visit
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The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® is the highest credential a healthcare organization can achieve. A Magnet designation indicates to patients and the public that these organizations have met the most stringent, evidence-based standards of nursing excellence in patient care delivery.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® is the highest credential a healthcare organization can achieve. A Magnet designation indicates to patients and the public that these organizations have met the most stringent, evidence-based standards of nursing excellence in patient care delivery.
UVA Health University Medical Center was designated as a Magnet organization in 2015 and 2020 by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® and they are now applying for redesignation.
ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® Site Visit
UVA Health University Medical Center was designated as a Magnet organization in 2015 and 2020 by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® and they are now applying for redesignation.
We invite patients, family members, staff, and other interested parties to provide feedback via email or direct mail.
• All comments must be submitted by February 14, 2025
We invite patients, family members, staff, and other interested parties to provide feedback via email or direct mail.
The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® is the highest credential a healthcare organization can achieve. A Magnet designation indicates to patients and the public that these organizations have met the most stringent, evidence-based standards of nursing excellence in patient care delivery.
• Anonymous comments should be sent in writing to the Magnet Program Office.
• All comments must be submitted by February 14, 2025.
• Please note that ALL COMMENTS WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL and will not be shared with the organization.
UVA Health University Medical Center was designated as a Magnet organization in 2015 and 2020 by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® and they are now applying for redesignation.
• Anonymous comments should be sent in writing to the Magnet Program Office.
• Please note that ALL COMMENTS WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL and will not be shared with the organization.
Send Comments to: Noriko Gates
American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program Office 8515 Georgia Ave., Suite 400 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492
Send Comments to: Noriko Gates American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program Office 8515 Georgia Ave., Suite 400 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492
We invite patients, family members, staff, and other interested parties to provide feedback via email or direct mail.
• All comments must be submitted by February 14, 2025
• Anonymous comments should be sent in writing to the Magnet Program Office.
• Please note that ALL COMMENTS WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL and will not be shared with the organization.
E-Mail Comments to: magnet@ana.org
E-Mail Comments to: magnet@ana.org
Why is Magnet important?
Why is Magnet important?
Send Comments to: Noriko Gates
American Nurses Credentialing Center
Magnet Recognition Program Office 8515 Georgia Ave., Suite 400 Silver Spring, MD 20910-3492
Magnet recognition acknowledges the invaluable contributions of nurses in all healthcare settings and among all populations worldwide. It is a results-driven recognition that fosters nurse engagement and the role nurses play as interprofessional team members to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
E-Mail Comments to: magnet@ana.org
Magnet recognition acknowledges the invaluable contributions of nurses in all healthcare settings and among all populations worldwide. It is a results-driven recognition that fosters nurse engagement and the role nurses play as interprofessional team members to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Why is Magnet important?
Magnet recognition acknowledges the invaluable contributions of nurses in all healthcare settings and among all populations worldwide. It is a results-driven recognition that fosters nurse engagement and the role nurses play as interprofessional team members to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
CAMP
P.S. THE BIG PICTURE
Local exercise retailer Relay Active put the “cat” in “cat pose” Saturday morning when it hosted another sold-out kitten yoga session at its Dairy Market store. Led by shop owner Ann Mazur, the class was an all-level, slow-paced vinyasa, with Snuggles and Tootsie, two adoptable shelter cats from the Louisa Humane Society roaming through legs and sniffing faces while participants performed their planks and low lunges (and downward dogs—how dare they!?). Mazur says she tries to hold the class at least twice per month, and donates the proceeds to LHS.
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