CVILLE Weekly | January 8-14, 2025

The Miller Center's link to late Jimmy Carter, p.10

Two local hotels under new management, p.11

Author Paula Whyman on restoring a mountain, p.21

JANUARY 8 – 14, 2025

Housingpoor

Can Charlottesville solve its affordable housing crisis?

STEPHEN BARLING

CHARLOTTESVILLE’S FREE NEWS AND ARTS WEEKLY

tigersolar.com/service

Wednesday,

Wednesday, January 29, 6:00–8:00 pm

My name is Jordan Hague and I created Equity Saver USA in 2008 to offer a better, more affordable service to disrupt and challenge what I personally experienced to be an outdated and flawed approach to Realtor compensation at the expense of sellers and buyers.

In 2024 the National Association of Realtors settled a billion dollar lawsuit related to inflated Realtor commission practices. This monumental settlement opens the door for true free market competition and innovation to thrive. I’ve successfully sold homes using a 1% model for nearly 2 decades proving the old “6% legacy” commission model is a waste of money and does nothing to help promote affordable housing. Contact me direct to arrange a no obligation meeting to learn more.

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Hello, Charlottesville.

1.8.25

Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly. Things look a little different around here, huh? When I took over as editor in May, one of my top priorities was a full redesign of our pages, which hadn’t been done in about 15 years, so C-VILLE’s Art Director Max March and I got to work right away. We wanted to accomplish two main things: get the newspaper’s design more in line with contemporary publishing trends, and clean up some minor but annoying design roadblocks (check out the folio—now conveniently at the bottom—rather than the side—of each page!).

But we also wanted to introduce more visual opportunities to engage with the content, adding splashes of color, indulgent full-page photography, and sprinkles of personality throughout (peep In Brief, our quick rundown of all the week’s headlines we couldn’t get to, on p.10).

The website got a bit of a refresh, too. Head to c-ville.com and you’ll notice its design more closely resembles the new look of the paper, with matching typefaces and a roomier layout. Simpler to navigate than its predecessor, the new site includes a widget that links to the digital version of the current issue, and ways to easily sign up for the newsletter or donate to Save the Free Word.

We’re excited about the changes—and about the first cover story (p.15) with our new vibe. Written by Sean Tubbs, it’s a comprehensive look at the current state of affordable housing in Charlottesville. Much like it has with our paper, it sounds like 2025 will bring some changes in that arena as well.

This week’s contributors

From the field

What we’re doing, seeing, eating & enjoying

“The only downside to dining at Tavola on New Year’s Eve is that you can’t order everything on the five-course prix fixe menu. Fortunately, I was with my husband (an excellent sharer), and we decided to divide and conquer. But before we chose our antipasti, entrata, and dolci (every diner was served the same amuse and pasta course), out came a small plate with Italian sausage and lentils, Italy’s version of good-luck-for-the-new-year food: Lentils symbolize prosperity, while the sausage is for abundance. Next up, the “amuse” (baked oysters, cannoli with foie gras mousse, and Parker House rolls), a delicious start to even more deliciousness: seared scallop on the half shell with beet puree and trout roe (me) and lobster bisque (him); housemade spaghetti with perigord truffles (both of us); seed-encrusted ahi tuna with pomegranate molasses (me) and beef filet mignon au poivre (him). Everything was served with a wine pairing, carefully chosen and beautifully described by the restaurant’s sommelier. And yes, we did save room for dessert: tiramisu and affogato with vanilla bean gelato. Abundance, indeed!”—Susan Sorensen

“My best friend turns 40 this week, which means our friendship is 34 years old. I’m still deciding on the best gift, but—don’t tell her!—I’m thinking of either a gift card to Love Face & Body Spa (I still reminisce about a massage I was given there years ago) or a girls’ night (and brunch, obviously)

Inn. I’ll likely go with the latter. She made it all the way to 40—she probably needs a good rest.”—Caite Hamilton

Sarah Sargent has been writing about contemporary art for more than 20 years. In addition to C-VILLE Weekly, her writing has appeared in Art Papers, Sculpture Magazine, Artillery, and Virginia Living. A former director of Second Street Gallery, Sargent lives in southern Albemarle. Her blog is artnosh.com.

Eze Amos A documentary photographer and photojournalist, Amos originally trained in the sciences at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. After embracing his passion for fine art, and then photography, Amos immigrated to Charlottesville in 2008 where he now captures the unique spirit and energy of our city. His work has been published by The New York Times, Getty Images, and a wide range of other international news agencies.

at Oakhurst

FEATURE 15

Crunching the numbers

NEWS 9

10 Jimmy Car ter and the Miller Center’s Presidential Oral History Program.

11 Real Estate Weekly: Stay Charlottesville adds new properties to its por tfolio.

CULTURE 19

21 Pages: New book chronicles mountaintop restoration.

23 The Works: Pleasure of creating at Second Street.

26 Sudoku 26 Crossword

Free Will Astrology

Lost and Found

ADVERTISING advertising@c-ville.com

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Brian Hrozencik brian@c-ville.com

ED I TORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Caite Hamilton editor@c-ville.com

ART DIRECTOR

Max March max@c-ville.com

CULTURE EDITOR

Tami Keaveny tami@c-ville.com

NEWS REPORTER

Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com

ASSOCIATE CULTURE EDITOR

CM Turner arts@c-ville.com

COPY EDITOR

Susan Sorensen

NEWS INTERN

Merrill Hart

CONTRIBUTORS

Rob Brezsny, Dave Cantor, Matt Dhillon, Carol Diggs, Shea Gibbs, Claudia Gohn, Mary Jane Gore, Maeve Hayden, Andrew Hollins, Erika Howsare, Justin Humphreys, Matt Jones, Sarah Lawson, Erin Martin, Kristin O’Donoghue, Lisa Provence, Sarah Sargent, Kristie Smeltzer, Jen Sorensen, Julia Stumbaugh, Courteney Stuart, Paul Ting, Sean Tubbs

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Gabby Kirk gabby@c-ville.com

Sarah Smith sarah@c-ville.com

Candace Stevens candace@c-ville.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Tracy Federico designer@c-ville.com

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Faith Gibson ads@c-ville.com

BUSINESS

PUBLISHER

Anna Harrison anna@c-ville.com

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Debbie Miller debbie@c-ville.com

A/R SPECIALIST

Nanci Winter (434) 373-0429

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Billy Dempsey circulation@c-ville.com

C-VILLE HOLDINGS, LLC

Bill Chapman, Blair Kelly

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10

BRISK - 90S/00s ALT ROCK TRIBUTE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

RAMONA & THE HOLY SMOKES /LOW WATER BRIDGE BAND WITH SPECIAL GUEST LILLIAN HACKETT

JUST ANNOUNCED!

FEBRUARY 7-ON SALE NOW THE CURRYS/THEOCLES HERRIN

FEBRUARY 15-ON SALE NOW LARRY KEEL/JARED POOL DUO

APRIL 5-ON SALE NOW THE DIRTY GRASS PLAYERS

APRIL 10-ON SALE NOW YARN

| CERTAINLY SO WITH BRIE STONER 01-31 | THE BARONS WITH BOSCOBEL 02-08 | CARSIE BLANTON

02-01 | KPOP NIGHT (18+)

02-14 | VALENTINE’S DAY BURLESQUE (18+)

02-19 | MDOU MOCTAR (ACOUSTIC)

02-22 | PENELOPE ROAD

02-25 | ARTS FISHING CLUB

02-28 | CHATHAM RABBITS

03-01 | VANSIRE WITH SPECIAL GUEST TOLEDO

Uncommon cold

After years of little snow (our last snowy January was 2022, when more than 20 inches fell), the Charlottesville area got 4 to 8 inches of heavy, icy winter weather between the evening of January 5 and January 6. Following Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s state of emergency declaration on January 3, local schools and businesses announced closings for Monday and Tuesday (as of press time).

History made local

How Jimmy Carter shaped decades of work at UVA

BY CATIE RATLIFF

As the nation mourns the passing of former president Jimmy Carter at the age of 100, the University of Virginia Miller Center is commemorating and celebrating his impact on its flagship initiative: the Presidential Oral History Program.

Founded in 1975, the Miller Center is a nonpartisan organization focused on studying the presidency and its accompanying history and policy. After the National Archives stopped conducting its outgoing presidential interviews, the Miller Center started its own oral history project. The Carter administration was the first participant.

In a comment via email, Miller Center Professor and Co-Chair of the Presidential Oral History Program Russell Riley shared the impact of Carter and his administration on the growth of the program.

“The main actor in the development of the oral history program at the Miller Center was Professor James Sterling Young, then head of the center’s program on the presidency,” said Riley. “[Young] began consulting with staffers from the Carter White House to secure their cooperation with a project once they left office in January 1981. Carter himself was also consulted and agreed to endorse these efforts, which was instrumental in getting his senior officials to cooperate.”

At Carter’s suggestion, Young and the team first interviewed members of the administration before speaking with the former president himself.

The Carter administration interviews “were absolutely indispensable for the emergence of an ongoing program in presidential oral history,” said Riley. “The Miller Center demonstrated that a privately funded research institution could actually get the work

done. But it also demonstrated to scholars, journalists, practitioners, and students the tremendous value of hearing from those in the arena about their experiences and collective wisdom.” He noted that the Carter administration interviews helped reshape public perception of the presidency, shifting away from an overwhelmingly critical lens.

More than 20 members of the Carter administration participated in the oral history program, including Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy David Rubenstein, Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs Stuart Eizenstat, White House Chief of Staff Hamilton Jordan, and advisor and friend Charles Kirbo.

“I’m eager to cooperate as much as possible today. I don’t have any restraints at all to express to you,” said Carter at the beginning of his interview, and then he offered to help connect the center with any outstanding interviewees. “I still have some influence,

All the news

and I’ll be glad to help these procrastinators expedite any decisions.”

After his day-long interview on November 29, 1982, Carter continued his involvement with the Miller Center over many decades. He returned to Charlottesville for a 1987 public forum, the dedication of the Scripps Library wing of the center, and worked with the Miller Center to lead an election reform effort following the 2000 election.

The Carter interviews inspired the reinvigoration of the presidential oral history project in 1999. To date, the Miller Center has published oral history projects covering former presidents Carter, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.

In addition to his own oral history project, Carter participated in a currently unreleased interview about his relationship with Clinton.

Almost 44 years after the conclusion of his single term, Carter’s presidency contin-

IN BRIEF

ues to shape elements of the U.S. presidency and the Miller Center’s work.

“Domestically, Carter led a major effort in favor of deregulation, which in many ways was a precursor to what happened more vigorously under President Reagan,” said Riley. “In foreign policy, he was both a major peacemaker—including a masterful effort to bring peace between Egypt and Israel, and negotiating a return of the Panama Canal to Panama— and was responsible for helping to put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign affairs.”

Scholarship covering the Carter administration, and all of the published oral histories, continues at the Miller Center by drawing on the extensive archives of interviews. The center is currently working on interviews with the Obama administration, the first Trump administration, and soon, the Biden administration.

Beyond the presidency, Riley believes that Carter’s humanitarian work after leaving office set a precedent for his successors. “Former presidents today may well decide to cash in on their status, or just to play golf, but in so doing they defy public expectations, created by Carter, that public service is a continuing role for former presidents,” said Riley.

While the Carter administration’s public perception has shifted over the decades, the former president has long been celebrated for his volunteer and advocacy work postpresidency. Carter and wife, Rosalynn, worked with Habitat for Humanity for more than 30 years, with over 4,447 homes built, renovated, or repaired.

Carter, the longest-lived president, died on December 29, 2024. At press time, his remains are being transported to Washington, D.C., to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

Orange County asks for help finding a thief who stole $850 worth of champagne from a Locust Grove Walmart on December 10. UVA Health welcomes a baby boy, Kenzai Lucas, at 2:02am on January 1—the first born in the area in 2025. A Virginia Lottery New Year’s Millionaire raffle ticket purchased at the Fifth Street Exxon nabs $100,000 for its lucky buyer. A 19-year-old is struck in the leg during a New Year’s Day shooting in the 900 block of Upper Brook Court outside of Charlottesville. Virginia’s increased minimum wage ($12.41 per hour) is in effect as of January 1. The new Congress, including vocal critic and 5th District freshman Rep. John McGuire, votes January 3 to reelect Speaker Mike Johnson by a razor-thin margin of 218-215. “Fox & Friends” host Brian Kilmeade flubs Speaker vote prediction on air after seeing former Rep. Bob Good post on social media that he “will NOT be voting for Mike Johnson.” Rev. Virgil Wood, a Charlottesville native and civil rights activist, dies on December 28 at age 93. Waynesboro ramps up efforts to utilize its Eastern Federal Lands Program grant to connect Sunset Park to the Crozet’s Blue Ridge Tunnel. UVA men’s basketball team loses 70-50 at home to Louisville on January 4, days after a comeback win against NC State on December 31. Girl Scout cookie season gets underway (visit girlscouts.org before they run out of Thin Mints!).

C

In 1986, former president Jimmy Carter (right) visited UVA to speak to an Introduction to American Politics class taught by Larry Sabato.

Re-run

Two delegates gear up for reelection campaigns, Riggleman considers run

Ahead of the 2025 state legislative session, Dels. Katrina Callsen and Amy Laufer launched their respective reelection campaigns. Both Charlottesville-area delegates have been endorsed by state Democratic party leaders, including Speaker of the House of Delegates Don Scott and state Sen. Creigh Deeds.

Callsen gathered supporters at the Virginia Discovery Museum on December 29 to kick off her bid for reelection. In her freshman term, Callsen worked on bipartisan legislation, including a bill to formalize kinship care in Virginia. If reelected to represent the 54th District, she said health care, affordable housing, the environment, and education would be her top priorities.

Del. Amy Laufer formally announced her bid for reelection in a January 2 press release. The 55th District—which includes parts of Albemarle, Louisa, Nelson, and Fluvanna counties—is one of the only rural areas represented by a Democrat in the state legislature.

“We’ve got so much work to do in strengthening and investing in our public schools, finding ways to make health care more affordable and accessible, protecting our environment, creating more affordable housing, defending women’s rights, as well as the rights of our most vulnerable community members,” said Laufer in her campaign announcement.

The Virginia General Assembly convenes for its first session of the year on January 8.

When one door closes

Despite community outcry and fundraising efforts, longtime Charlottesville grocery store Reid Super-Save Market will close on January 25. Neighboring nonprofit Twice is Nice has purchased the Reid’s space, and plans to move in in early 2026, according to a January 6 press release.

Reid’s co-owner Sue Clements says many factors contributed to the decision to close the family-owned business; namely, “the cost of goods and services going up, increased theft, [and a] change in shopping habits.”

Multiple parties reportedly wanted to purchase the Reid’s property. In addition to a mutual interest in quickly closing an agreement, Clements says it “felt right” to sell to Twice is Nice, which will now have a more permanent home in the Preston-Cherry corridor.

With its two leases expiring at the end of 2025, Twice is Nice has been looking for a new location in the area of its existing stores. Finding a space has been difficult

Meanwhile, former Charlottesville-area congressman Denver Riggleman is considering a run for governor, according to a January 1 interview with The Washington Post. The one-time Republican representative said he would run as an independent and has begun putting together an exploratory committee. If Riggleman enters the gubernatorial race, he will likely face expected-Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger, who he endorsed in her 2022 bid for reelection to Congress. Both the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial races currently have only one candidate—Spanberger and John Curran, respectively—but there’s still time for others to make a run at either party’s primary.

with the rapid development of the area, according to Twice is Nice Operations Manager Lori Woolworth.

“The entire Twice is Nice team feels that it’s a real loss for Charlottesville to have Reid’s close its doors,” says Woolworth. “I just feel like this is a great opportunity for [Twice is Nice] to stay within the city, to consolidate, to be able to continue to grow.”

Racing ahead

Dashad Cooper formally announced his candidacy on January 3 for the Charlottesville City School Board. He previously ran for City Council, coming in fourth in the three-seat race in 2023.

Three board seats are on the ballot this November, with the terms of Emily Dooley, Vice Chair Dom Morse, and Chair Lisa Larson-Torres all expiring at the end of 2025. In a joint statement released January 4, Dooley and Larson-Torres confirmed their intent to run for reelection.

At press time, Morse had not indicated whether he would seek another term.

Changing rooms

Two boutique hotels under new management, with 200 South Street Inn under renovation

BY SEAN TUBBS

Acompany that specializes in managing accommodations for area visitors is now overseeing two additional downtown properties.

Stay Charlottesville now operates a six-room inn at 400 W. High St. as well as the 200 South Street Inn.

“What’s happening is these really great properties need updating and they had huge amounts of cost associated with them over the last couple of years that drove them to be not successful, so the model needed change,” says M. Travis Wilburn, one of Stay Charlottesville’s founders.

Wilburn started the company in 2010 when he built a guesthouse on his property that was originally intended for an aging relative. He began renting it out on a shortterm basis and created the business to help others manage rental properties to earn extra income. Since then he’s created the Charlottesville Insider website to promote the area as a destination.

“Our group is able to oversee these hotels and be able to drive more direct traffic,” Wilburn says.

While reservations are being taken now at 400 West High, 200 South Street Inn is closed until the spring for renovations.

“Our revitalized vision will keep everything you love about 200 South Street Inn while enhancing it with modern amenities and fresh experiences, like an outdoor pool,” reads the website.

Charlottesville’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services staff are currently processing the application to build that pool.

An LLC called Renaissance Investment purchased the two properties that make up the South Street Inn for $3.46 million in December. A separate entity called 400 West High Street LLC bought the property with that address in June for $1.41 million.

The Inn at 400 West High was established in 2011, but closed last year. The South Street Inn has been in business since 1986 and had been operated by Brendan Clancy since 1991.

Area occupancy rates remain steady, according to data compiled by the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau. October of 2024 was the busiest in recent history, with nearly 80 percent of area rooms booked.

Wilburn says there’s been an increase in the volume of area lodging, and both of these inns will be marketed to groups that can take over the entire property for special events.

“I think they are one-of–a-kind unique opportunities to be able to stay as a family or as a group in these really awesome properties close to downtown and have it just be your own private party,” Wilburn says. “That is not an opportunity that is easy to find.”

The city collected $8.12 million from the lodging tax in FY2023, a rebound from the $3.8 million collected during the pandemicconstrained FY2021. Last spring, council raised the lodging tax rate from 8 percent to 9 percent and budget staff anticipate bringing in $9.56 million in the current fiscal year.

Wilburn says this is paid by people from outside the community, providing valuable revenue for the city.

Later this year, the Virginia Guesthouse will open in the University of Virginia’s Emmet-Ivy Corridor with 214 rooms and nine suites. Developer Jeffrey Levien continues work on building a Marriott hotel at 218 W. Market St. There’s still no sign of movement on what will happen with the skeleton of the unfinished Dewberry Hotel.

Renovations are underway to modernize the rooms at 200 South Street Inn while retaining the historic charm.

Denver Riggleman

Annie Gould Gallery

kitchen with newer appliances along with plenty of cabinet and countertop space. The living room is centered around yourwood burning fireplace. Step out the sliding door to see your private patio with plenty of room to cookout. The laundry and powder room complete the first floor. Newluxury vinyl plank floors flow throughout the downstairs. Upstairs you will find a spacious primary suite with attached full bathroom and two closets. The other twobedrooms and a full bath complete the upstairs. You can feel confident with the new roof, HVAC, water heater, and windows installed within the last two years. Comesee your new home today! MLS# 659843 $320,000

Wonderful Greene County home minutes to NGIC/DIA and Charlottesville! As you enter, you will see real hardwood floors. The spacious living roomgives plenty of flexibility. The eat-in kitchen provides tons of storage and countertop space. Head down the hall to find your master suite with attached bathroom andtwo closets. Previously two separate rooms it has plenty of space to have an added sitting area, home office, or exercise area. You could also put the wall back to makea three-bedroom home. Another bedroom and full bath complete the main level. Step onto the gigantic deck overlooking the big fenced, sunny, flat yard. Plenty ofroom for any kind of play. Go downstairs to the basement to find a storage room, laundry room, full bath, and large family room. All of this with no HOA. Come seeyour new home today! MLS# 659755 $310,000

LUXURY BOUTIQUE INN

SURROUNDED BY HISTORY

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Navigating the affordable housing landscape in 2025 BY SEAN

Addressing costs

One of the toughest issues facing the greater Charlottesville region is the ever-increasing cost of housing, a barrier to financial stability for many. The problem has been getting worse over the past few years due to rising property assessments, increasing income disparity, and a shortage of housing.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a household’s rent or mortgage is considered affordable if the cost of shelter is no more than 30 percent of its income.

“For a family of three at 30 percent of [area median income] (roughly $20,700), affordable rent would be $520 per month, including utilities,” reads the summary of a housing needs assessment conducted for the City of Charlottesville in 2018. “At 50 percent of AMI (roughly $34,500), the family could afford $860 per month.”

Under HUD guidelines, households that routinely spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs are considered stressed. This assessment was seven years ago and since then, the area median income had increased with both inflation and the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By 2021, the AMI for a family of three at 30 percent had increased to $25,300 and $42,200 for a family at 50 percent of AMI. By 2024, those figures had jumped to $33,000 and $54,900 respectively. In other words, more people are now eligible for subsidized places to live.

Since the pandemic, the cost to buy a house has increased. The latest figures from the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors show that the median sales price in the region increased from $326,900 in the third quarter of 2020 to $455,000 in July through September of 2024.

The City of Charlottesville used its housing needs assessment to create an Affordable Housing Plan, which called for a series of reforms and a moral commitment from the city to spend $10 million a year on building, preserving, and maintaining units whose rents are within reach of those with lower incomes.

“To date, over $35 million has been identified,” said Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders in a briefing to council in early December, adding that the draft five-year capital improvement program has another $52 million for projects.

“If you add all that up, that’s $99 million in less than 10 years,” Sanders said.

The City of Charlottesville in recent years has used some of its share of federal COVID funds (as well as its own cash) to buy existing units. This includes the $5 million given to the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority to purchase the 74 units known as Dogwood Housing from Woodard Properties. In late summer 2024, council agreed to contribute $8.74 million to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville and the Piedmont Housing Alliance for the purchase of 6.5-acre Carlton Mobile Home Park.

The city has also provided millions in matching funds for projects being pursued by the Piedmont Housing Alliance, including the ongoing redevelopment of Friendship Court into Kindlewood.

The Affordable Housing Plan also led to a new zoning code intended to make it easier to build new units by mostly eliminating single-family code. Areas that had been zoned for one unit per lot now allow for more units, depending on the district.

For instance, developer Nicole Scro filed plans in December that would replace a single-family house on St. Clair

In 2024, Charlottesville City Council agreed to contribute $8.74 million to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville and the Piedmont Housing Alliance for the purchase of Carlton Mobile Home Park.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Avenue in the Locust Grove neighborhood with six units. To get that level of density, three of the units have to be rented at 60 percent of AMI.

For larger projects, the zoning code requires one out of every 10 units to be made available to households below 60 percent of AMI. So far, only one project has been submitted that would satisfy that requirement but the 180 units at 1000 Wertland St. will also be designated at some affordability level. One new apartment complex proposed at 1609 Gordon Ave. capped the number of units at nine to evade the affordability rules.

In response, the city is working on a tax abatement program to provide millions in incentives to developers who provide the units. Sanders told council that it will be expensive but he did not provide an estimate. Further details will be revealed this year.

Trump’s shadow as the new year begins

The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump will set the tone for a different four years than those under the nation’s 46th president. A key feature of the Biden administration was investment in infrastructure in order to stimulate the economy.

For instance, HUD recently awarded Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville $29.1 million to assist with redevelopment of the Southwood Mobile Home Park. The funding will pay for infrastructure during the second phase of work.

Sunshine Mathon, executive director of the Piedmont Housing Alliance, said he is watching for the impact of new administration policies locally as the federal government moves away from climate justice.

Dan Rosensweig, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, expects big changes in the housing world this year, but “we just don’t quite know what those changes will be.”

“[There is] a potential for huge cuts and/or a ‘burn it down and rebuild it’ strategy that could completely disrupt thousands of peoples’ lives locally and millions of lives nationally,” Mathon said in an email.

No one knows what Trump will do until it happens, but his nomination of Scott Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development would shake up the way public housing operates across the nation. Turner is a former NFL player who operated the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in the first Trump term.

“2025 will likely bring big changes in the housing world,” said Dan Rosensweig, Habitat’s executive director. “We just don’t quite know what those changes will be.”

Rosensweig said one aspect to watch is whether Trumpian policies such as tariffs and mass deportation of immigrants could increase the cost of construction. Full Republican

control of the federal government will have implications.

“We will also likely see a federal budget that eliminates or reduces reliable subsidies for affordable housing programs and construction,” Rosensweig said.

Housing advocates will likely press local and state officials to make up some of the difference by expanding programs and devoting more money.

Local projects in 2025

Regardless of dark clouds on the federal horizon, the Piedmont Housing Alliance is charging ahead with existing plans. The second phase of Kindlewood construction is expected to start soon, with 104 units in five residential buildings. Of these, 54 will be created for existing Friendship Court residents and four will be reserved for home ownership.

When Kindlewood was Friendship Court, all 150 units were reserved for households making less than 30 percent of the area median income.

“With redevelopment, there will be new homes at two additional tiers of affordability, providing more options for current and future residents,” reads a detailed profile of this second phase on PHA’s website.

PHA’s Financial Opportunity Center and Housing Hub will be located on the ground floor of a multifamily building. The other four buildings will be townhouses with some units reserved for households making 80 percent of the area median income.

Mathon said he is also hopeful construction can move forward on a 71-unit project at 501 Cherry Ave. that is being developed with Woodard Properties. Council has committed at least $3 million in capital funds. The city’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services wants to see a new site plan after going through three iterations so far.

Mathon is also hoping a partnership project with Habitat at the former Monticello Area Community Action Agency site on Park Street will break ground. The city’s capital bud-

The first phase of development at the Southwood Mobile Home Park will have 350 homes.

get for this year includes $1.86 million for that project. The city has approved a site plan with the Planning Commission signing off in mid-November of 2024.

Rosensweig said Habitat will finish the first phase of development at the Southwood Mobile Home Park with 350 homes, about two-third of which will be affordable. The second phase will get underway as well with 52 Habitat homes.

“This year, we were once again confirmed by Habitat International as the single most productive Habitat affiliate for our service area size in the U.S. and Canada,” said Rosensweig.

Habitat will also begin work on construction of 16 homes in Charlottesville’s Flint Hill development. In addition, planning will get underway with residents of the Carlton Mobile Home Park.

Looking ahead to policy changes

One of the biggest forces in affordable housing in the community is the Charlottesville Low-Income Housing Coalition. During the Cville Plans Together initiative, advocates pushed for a new zoning code that would allow for density in areas of the city that had previously been reserved for single-family homes. Now one of them wants Albemarle County to follow suit.

“I hope Albemarle County passes a Comprehensive Plan that ambitiously addresses zoning reforms to allow more affordable housing,” said Emily Dreyfus, an organizer with the Legal Aid Justice Center. Albemarle has been reviewing its Comprehensive Plan for more than three years and the draft chapter on housing is not yet available for review. Supervisors adopted a plan called Housing Albemarle in July 2021 that identified housing production as the No. 1 goal.

Dreyfus also wants Albemarle County to commit to $10 million a year and CLICH will be making a big push in that direction as the year gets underway.

There are several apartment complexes in the area that have rents subsidized through low-income housing tax credits and some of these are set to expire in the future. The National Housing Preservation Database notes that the affordability requirement for 200 units at Hearthwood Apartments ends on January 1, 2027, and mandatory income restrictions at Mallside Forest expire two years later. In late November, Dreyfus notified the Planning Commission of the looming Hearthwood expiration.

“One thing that does worry me a little bit, gives me a little bit of heartburn, is in fact Hearthwood,” said Planning Commission Chair Hosea Mitchell at a November 26 work session. “It looms large and I just want us to be certain that we’re thinking about that because we don’t want to revisit the [Carlton] mobile home crisis that we faced a few months back.”

Dreyfus said CLICH also wants governments and nonprofits to be able to intervene in other situations. Last year, an investment firm called Bonaventure purchased the Cavalier Crossing apartment complex on Fifth Street Extended with an eye toward increasing revenue. While that property never had a rent subsidy, its relative age translated into affordability. That will change as units are renovated.

“Cavalier Crossing will undergo a comprehensive renovation to upgrade unit interiors, amenities, and curb appeal,” reads an announcement of the purchase. “Bonaventure will enhance the existing amenity package which already includes a swimming pool, fitness center, basketball court, and volleyball court, to deliver an upscale community in a market where demand significantly outpaces supply.”

In 2024, Dreyfus helped organizers to get enough residents of the Carlton Mobile Home Park to support an effort by Habitat and PHA to purchase the site. They relied on a requirement that the owner issue a public notice when a legitimate offer is made. Dreyfus and others want that sort of notice extended to other types of properties.

Regional and state efforts

The high cost of housing is felt across the entire commonwealth, and policy outcomes are influenced by what comes out of the General Assembly each year.

Isabel McLain, the director of policy and advocacy with the Virginia Housing Alliance, said one of the group’s legislative campaigns in 2025 will be to increase the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, a program created in 2013.

“Currently it is funded at $87.5 million, which is the highest it’s ever been funded,” McLain recently told the Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnership. “We have been asking for the past couple years to reach $150 million a year.”

The trust fund contributes to many projects across the state, including the first phase of Kindlewood. McLain said another legislative request will be to extend the life of Virginia’s Housing Opportunity Tax Credit Act. The program is currently scheduled to end on December 31.

There’s also an effort to establish a Virginia-based rental assistance program to fill in gaps not covered by the federal housing voucher program.

“We’re seeing increased housing cost burden as rents continue to increase, so there’s all the more reason and all the more urgency for the state to take responsibility and try to do more to fill that gap,” McLain said.

Regionally, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is working on gathering data on the current housing needs in the area. They will work with the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech to update information with a hope of providing better real-time metrics about housing needs.

For anyone looking for more information on the overall topic, mark your calendar for March 12 and March 13. That’s when the Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnership will hold its next affordable housing summit.

The city has also provided millions in matching funds for projects such as the redevelopment of Friendship Court into Kindlewood.

CULTURE

THURSDAY 1/9

When it’s cold outside, you need extra motivation to get the blood pumping. Boston’s reggae-rock outfit The Elovaters do just that with uplifting tropical sounds that warm your soul and get you moving. Fans of acts like Slightly Stoopid and Sublime find plenty to love from this East Coast group channeling the island culture. Expect dub-inspired echo effects, an emphasis on the upbeat, and a lot of references to herbal refreshments. $32, 7pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

CULTURE TO-DO LIST

FRIDAY 1/10

FOR REELS

The Blue Ridge Irish Music School presents a double-feature screening of Absolutely Irish and The Tunnel from local filmmakers Paul and Ellen Wagner. The first film brings together standout stars of the traditional Irish music scene for a concert held in the intimate Irish Arts Center of New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. The latter explores the history of the Blue Ridge Railroad Tunnel at Rockfish Gap, built by Irish immigrants in the 1850s. The evening includes a discussion of the Blue Ridge Tunnel project by Kevin Donleavy. Free, 7pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. blueridgeirishmusic.org

Wednesday 1/8

music

Beleza Duo. An evening of funkalicious samba soul—music that moves you from the inside out. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

The Wavelength. Bluesy rock for your mid-week music boost. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com classes

2025 Vision Board. Ready to set your goals for 2025? Join Tiffany Edwards from TME Coaching and Consulting as she guides you through the process of creating a vision for your new year. $25, 5pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.

Bent Theatre Improv. A hilarious evening of improv comedy where you make the show by suggesting scenes for the players to act out. Free, 7pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St. 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

8 – 14, 2025

Thursday 1/9 music

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

Sharif. An artist in the midst of a shift from Americana musician to more of a romantic-pop singersongwriter. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

The Elovaters. Award-winning reggae-rock outfit from Boston. $28–32, 7pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jefferson theater.com

etc.

Bent Theatre Improv. See Charlottesville’s premier improv troupe perform skits based on suggestions from the audience. Free, 7pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potters craftcider.com

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 1/10 music

Brisk. Alt-rock tribute group plays grunge, alternative, emo, and pop-punk while mixing in deep cuts from one-hit wonders. $12–15, 8pm. The Southern Cafe & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Charlie Starr. The vocalist and lead guitarist of Blackberry Smoke, an American rock ‘n’ roll band well known for their blend of country, blues, and rock. Featuring Benji Shanks. $25–35, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Dale Ave Band. Hot club-style jazz, 1930s pop standards, and stylish original compositions. Free, 8pm. The Stage at WTJU, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net

Dara James and the Soul Disciples. Preaching the power of blues, R&B, and a whole lot of soul. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Matthew O’Donnell. An evening of music full of energy and wit with The Blue Ridge Bard. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St. dance

Boot Scoot Square Dance Party. A beginnerfriendly square dance. Big Silo plays driving old-time favorites and teach you how to move to the music. No experience necessary. Beginners and all ages welcome. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

words

Storytime. Join us for storytelling, songs, movement, and bubbles as we learn new words and practice language and gross motor skills. Free with museum admission, 10:30am. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St. vadm.org etc.

BRIMS Movie Night. A double feature from Charlottesville filmmakers Paul and Ellen Wagner: The Tunnel and Absolutely Irish. Free, 7pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

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 9. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Saturday 1/11 music

Acoustic Aubrey. Covers of classic R&B, jazz, acoustic rock, and more. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducard vineyards.com

Berto Sales. Brazilian and Latin guitar that will warm your spirit and satisfy your soul. Free, 11am. Tavern & Grocery, 333 W. Main St. tavernand grocery.com

Free Union x We Are Star Children. A co-headline show featuring Free Union’s ever-evolving music rooted in soul and the nine-piece “adventure pop” band We Are Star Children veering in and out of conventional rock/pop arrangement. $16–18, 7:30pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Josh Mayo. An up-close-and-personal show featuring original rock and classic covers. Free, 10pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

Kat & The Travelers. Steel-toe originals, roots jazz-blues, hot swing, vintage country, rock, and folk. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Love Story. A Taylor Swift tribute experience covering all the biggest hits from the iconic star’s career. $20–25, 7pm. Pro Re Nata Brewpub & Music Hall, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpk., Crozet. prnbrewery.com

Porch Dogs. Rock, pop, oldies, and country. You name it, they do it. Come bark with the Dogs. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Ramona & The Holy Smokes x Low Water Bridge Band. Genuine honky-tonk and country-grass Americana. $12–15, 7:30pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Sue Harlow. Americana-folk singer-songwriter whose haunting vocals delve into the depths of what makes people real. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

The Michael Elswick Gathering. Entertaining all with jazz, blues, ballads, and Latin tunes. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

words

Author Event: Paula Whyman. Join us for an afternoon with Paula Whyman, who will speak about her new book, Bad Naturalist, in conversation with writer Adam Nemett. Free, 4pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com

Fresh Stories Served Hot. Discover the power of stories with Sheila Arnold in a spellbinding evening of connection, joy, and unforgettable fun. Pay what you can. Suggested donation $20, 7pm. Visible Records, 1740 Broadway St. visible-records.com classes

Beginner Zentangle. The Zentangle® Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Ages 13+. $35, 11am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Family Studio Day. Families with kids of all ages can spend time creating art together in the gallery. Free, 10am. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org

Scratch, Paint, Film! An experimental filmmaking workshop. Create looped 16mm animations with hands-on techniques and showcase your work at the Odds & Ends Film Festival workshop. Free, 10am. Light House Studio: Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W. Market St. lighthousestudio.org

Watercolor Workshop Series: Mastering Basic Techniques. A review of techniques covered in Workshop 1, with a focus on application. Build confidence in using fundamental watercolor techniques. Ages 15+. $35, 2pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

etc.

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 9. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Sunday 1/12 music

Sharif. A musician who travels the globe sharing his incredible talents through his songs, both originals and covers. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.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

Willie DE. A blend of folk, blues, and a dash of jazz. Free, 2pm. Potters Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

dance

Salsa and 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. dmr adventures.com

classes

Crocheted Granny Squares. Take your crochet skills to the next level. Join Emma as she teaches you how to mix colors. Basic crochet experience needed. Leave with a bamboo crochet hook and a granny square. Ages 12+. $25, 3pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Hat Making with a Round Loom. Learn to make a hat the quick and easy way. All materials will be provided. No experience necessary. You will leave with a loom, a partially completed hat. Ages 10+. $25, 11am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Learn to Knit. Join Emma as she teaches you the basics of knitting. No experience needed. Leave with a pair of knitting needles, the beginning of a scarf, and enough yarn to finish it. Ages 12+. $25, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com

etc.

Annual Wassail Celebration. Toast the trees with us. Music provided by the Olwell’s. The festivities will be held both indoors and outdoors, so please dress accordingly. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, January 9. $15, available noon–8pm. Please confirm Eastwood Winery and Potter’s Cider hours beforehand. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Monday 1/13

music

DG3. Gin and jazz series welcomes trio playing modern takes on classics and standards. Free, 5:30pm. Oakhurst Inn, 100 Oakhurst Cir. oakhurst inn.com

etc.

Makers and Givers. A monthly crafting circle. Join our group and create art. Scrappy Elephant and the artist donate 100 percent of class fees to a local nonprofit each session. Pay what you can, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappy elephant.com

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 1/14

music

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., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

PAGES CULTURE

From the mountaintop

An author’s experiment to see what grows BY

SARAH LAWSON

In Bad Naturalist: One Woman’s Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop, Paula Whyman recounts her attempts to restore the ecosystem of a mountain that she and her husband bought. “I’ve been working on the mountain restoration for nearly four years now, since we bought the land in early 2021,” says Whyman. “I started work on the book several months after I started the meadow project.”

Situated near the Rappahannock River at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the land will feel familiar to local readers through Whyman’s descriptions of towering white oaks, black cherry trees, Albemarle pippins, and blackberries, as well as kudzu, autumn olive, and trees of heaven. It’s a place full of butterflies and bumblebees but also ticks and wasps.

But, how does one buy a mountain? After decades in the D.C. suburbs, Whyman and her husband decided to retire to the country. So they shopped around and bought the mountain much as anyone would buy any real estate. Their 200-plus acres of land encompass a roughly 1,400-foot mountain, full of neglected farmland and pastures, overgrown meadows, and forests along its slopes.

A different book might have interrogated the privilege of being able to buy a mountain or the potentially colonial impulse to do so, but Whyman eschews this in favor of meditating on what it means to own the land at all. “It still feels to me like a ridiculous and foreign concept, to own something like a mountaintop,” writes Whyman. “Where does such ownership begin and end? Do I own the soil and the rocks and the mosses? The toads by the pond, and the dung beetles, too?” These are questions she continues to chew on throughout the book.

Laying the groundwork for her land conservation and restoration project, Whyman writes, “I was driven by the particular goal of establishing a native meadow wherever we ended up—a neat, organized, narrowly defined project.” However, she is quickly disabused of the idea that this is a simple undertaking or one that she will have control over— or indeed one that will even involve planting a meadow.

Indeed, Whyman recruits a laundry list of experts, from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes program, and the Virginia Department of Forestry, to independent arborists and restoration contractors as well as a wildlife biologist and a forester. She hopes that these professionals will help her select the “correct” way to rehabilitate the land she has purchased. Along the way, Whyman gains valuable perspectives and ultimately discovers that there is not one right way to proceed, but countless considerations and perspectives to weave together. She also learns about the risks of disturbing an ecosystem, the hard way—unintentionally creating opportunities for chaos to flourish as she attempts to fix a variety of aspects of the land, from erosion to invasive plants. As she gains this firsthand experience, the tone of the book changes, from at times inelegant self-deprecating humor to a more thoughtful approach, reflecting on lessons learned. As much as Bad Naturalist is a tale of Whyman’s efforts to improve the land, it is also a personal chronicle that brings attention to, and vocabulary for, her new surroundings. She invites the reader to join her in learning the names of unfamiliar native flora and fauna throughout the book, from broomsedge and spotted knapweed to purple panic grass and grasshopper sparrows. “The more I paid attention to what was right around me, the more interested and curious I became,

and the more I could see how every creature and plant are connected,” recalls Whyman. “There are so many of these interconnections, I’ll never run out of new ones to discover, and that to me is inspiring.” She also digs into invasive plant legislation in Virginia: Indigenous practices of intentional burning to support healthy ecosystems, carbon sequestration, and habitat fragmentation, among other research topics to build her knowledge as a budding conservationist.

“My advice to aspiring conservationists or naturalists would be to start by looking closely at the natural world wherever you find yourself, and see what you’re drawn to, where your passion lies,” says Whyman. “If it’s birds, start watching them, and you’ll notice things you might not have noticed before. Maybe try to find out what one thing you could do, one thing you could plant, to attract more birds where you live. Maybe there’s a park where you live that could use some TLC, and volunteers for such an effort might be welcome.”

As for her own mountain and the TLC needed there, Whyman reflects, “I wanted the book to read like a wellshaped story, and that required some discipline [but] ... nature doesn’t stop, of course; the mountain keeps changing.” Indeed, she has two new conservation and land stewardship projects underway. “I now have two American kestrel nest boxes in the meadow, thanks to the folks at the Grassland Bird Initiative,” says Whyman. “They are studying kestrels to try and increase the population and to find out what’s behind their decline in this area. So, this winter, I’m keeping an eye out for kestrels that might be scoping out those boxes for nesting in the spring. I’m also waiting for a prescribed burn on two large fields that I have not burned before. It will be a big experiment to see what grows there afterwards.”

Paula Whyman will discuss Bad Naturalist: One Woman’s Ecological Education on a Wild Virginia Mountaintop at New Dominion Bookshop on January 11.

Tuesday 1/14

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. scrappyelephant.com etc.

Bingo. Five rounds of this brew-tiful game. Familyfriendly, so bring the whole crew. $20, 6pm. Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen & Brewery - Charlottesville, 520 Second St. SE. threenotchdbrewing.com

The Run Club. Do a 5K run, then drink beer. $1-off pints for runners. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.

FRIDAY 1/10–

SUNDAY 1/12

META MUSICAL THEATER

The Charlottesville High School musical theater ensemble brings a student-directed production of A Chorus Line to area audiences. Spotlighting an array of Broadway dancers auditioning for roles in the eponymous chorus line, the action builds across a bare stage. The personalities of potential performers are on full view as the cast of would-be stars describe life events that drew them to dance.

Directed by CHS senior Murray Susen, these January performances precede a trip to Charlottesville sister city Besançon, France, where the troupe will mount additional shows this spring. $15, times vary. Charlottesville High School’s Black Box Theater, 1400 Melbourne Rd. theatrechs.weebly.com

With pleasure

Ten artists share repetition across mediums at Second Street Gallery BY

“That Feels Good! Labor as Pleasure” at Second Street Gallery brings together 10 artists working in a variety of media and styles whose work shares a labor-intensive, often repetitive, approach. For curator Francisco Donoso, the repetitions and effort yield not just interesting artwork, but also pleasure for the artist creating it.

Donoso cites as inspiration adrienne maree brown’s [sic] philosophy laid out in her book Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good. Fiber artists in particular are known for this, and several are represented at Second Street.

John Fifield-Perez’s striking weavings, “Shift/Phase 02,” woven with double weave blocks, and “Pink/Pinch 01,” woven with the lampas technique, present markedly different styles. Resembling traditional weaving, “Shift/Phase 02” is unmistakably contemporary with its almost day-glo colors, bold geometric design, and the numerous yarn ends left dangling. A form of brocade, lampas weaving features two layers that are woven simultaneously. The artist’s interest in the lampas technique derives from its association with Los Angeles artist Diedrick Brackens, whose work explores queer identity. “I first saw modern lampas weave in Brackens’ tapestries,” says Fifield-Perez. “So it holds a connotation of contemporary queer weaving traditions for me.”

Elvira Clayton addresses the legacies of enslavement in her ongoing “Cotton and Rice Project,” which centers on an 1859 Savannah, Georgia, slave auction, one of the largest in history, in which 436 men, women, and children were sold. Her sculptures “Black People” and “Knotted History” feature bits of cloth tangled up with twigs, rice, cotton bolls, sequins, and wire—the fragmentary traces of the enslaved—and convey with their snarls the chaos and heartache endured.

A multimedia piece featuring crochet, a vintage clock radio, and sound, Kathleen Granados’ “Distant (B Sides)” explores familial history, memory, and identity. Granados augments cassette tapes her late father made as a young man with music she chose, cobbling together an intergalactic oldies radio show that resonates outward into space. The clock radio and cabinet reference a domestic setting. Clad in hand-crocheted black yarn, the cabinet both emerges from and recedes back into the surrounding crocheted cosmos. Different stitches arranged in a vortex shape suggests the universe expanding beyond the cabinet. The amorphous shape and the way the bottom part drapes

SARAH SARGENT

onto the floor underscores this feeling of expansion. Granados dots this inky swathe with a smattering of reflective appliqués to suggest distant stars.

“I like this idea of memory enduring throughout space,” says Granados. “I think of how radio waves, once they’re broadcast, continue to travel through the cosmos. There’s no sound in space, but I like to imagine that if that sound ever reached a distant place that it could be heard. It plays into this idea that these moments we share with our loved ones endure. That’s the impetus behind making the piece talk.”

Joyful and eye-popping, Max Colby’s maximalist creations reference the glittery excess of drag and celebrate nonconformity. Erect, yet soft, the sculptures incorporate both masculine and feminine attributes. “As she engages in this laborious time-consuming pro-

cess of stitching and making and stuffing, Colby, who is a trans woman, is thinking about the way gender is binaried and the way that nature is perceived and understood and filtered through,” Donoso says.

Nicole Yi Messier and Victoria Manganiello’s art collective, Craftwork, combines traditional craft with state-of-the-art technologies to produce sumptuous textiles that, though machine-made, are based on algorithms derived from plants. So while the weaving is high tech, the patterns are natural and the dyes, which come from organic and inorganic materials including plants, minerals, and fungi, are both synthetic and natural.

There’s no question that Fidencio FifieldPerez’s woven paper strips rolled over with lithography ink—“Salmon Colored Kid 1” and “Salmon Colored Kid 2”—are made through a painstakingly laborious process. The elegant restraint and stillness created by Fidencio, John Fifield-Perez’s husband, are emblematic of classic minimalism, but here, the weaving also references the handwoven mats of the artist’s native Mexico.

“Vessel Aflame” and “Wild Urn” reveal much about Sarah Boyts Yoder’s oeuvre. Both monotypes, the works compositionally resemble each other thanks to the outline of a vase—one of Yoder’s recurring symbols—that appears in both. These recognizable shapes also disrupt the abstraction, creating an interesting tension between nonobjective and representational.

With its staccato brushstrokes, Richard Yu-Tang Lee’s series “Rain in a Burning Garden” conveys the visual and auditory effects of rain. The allover repetitive nature of the brushstrokes suggests the unrelentingness of a downpour. Glitter adds a rain-slicked quality to the paint, while the title inserts a sense of trepidation.

Laura Josephine Snyder’s nonobjective work appears infused with symbolism. This quality together with its natural pigments, curious forms, and repeated lines recalls Hilma af Klint’s curious paintings and also the cartological quality of Aboriginal artwork. “The diver’s legs (to the sea)” is a mysterious and intense piece, thanks to the two “eyes” that stare out at the viewer.

In the Dové Gallery, Richmond-based Hannah Diomataris shows us another level of labor-intensive repetition with her “Sticker Work.” Using recycled bar codes from stores and libraries, which she cuts into tiny, uniform pieces, Diomataris creates complex arrangements of patterns that awe us with their beauty even as they rattle us with their obsessive attention to detail.

Elvira Clayton’s “Knotted History” is featured in “That Feels Good! Labor as Pleasure” at Second Street Gallery through January 24.

THE WINE DOWN

WHAT’S DELISH AT LOCAL WINERIES?

53RD WINERY AND VINEYARD

A note from Winegrower and Owner, Dave Drillock

Happy New Year and Cheers to January! We’re kicking off the year with the release of our 2023 Estate Grown Chardonnay, crafted from our vineyard in the Monticello AVA. This elegant wine is a blend of 60% stainless steel and 40% neutral French oak aging, resulting in a medium-bodied profile with aromas of yellow pear, golden delicious apple, and lemon zest. Its refreshing acidity and hint of minerality make it equally enjoyable on its own or paired with your favorite dishes.

We invite you to visit us at our scenic, meadow-like setting in rural Louisa County. At 53rd Winery, we pride ourselves on being down-to-earth and authentic. No scripts or rehearsed lines here—just genuine conversations and a shared passion for wine.

We’ve planned several exciting tasting events over the next six months. Check our website at www.53rdwinery.com or call us at 540-894-1536 for details. We look forward to welcoming you to the winery and deeply appreciate your continued support.

Jan. 18th – Zippy’s Smokeshack BBQ food truck

Jan. 19th - Happy Waffle Perkatude food truck

Feb. 1st - Vertical Tasting of Chardonnay and our Bordeaux-style red blend, Romulus, paired with soups from Sauce Catering. Reservations available online.

Feb. 9th - Our popular “Sweetheart Sips and Small Bites” wine and food pairing event. Reservations available online.

Open 7 days a week, 11 am – 5 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm 13372 Shannon Hill Rd Louisa, VA 23093 (540) 894-5474 • 53rdwinery.com

DUCARD VINEYARDS

2022 Cabernet Franc Vinter Reserve

Grown at our Whetstone Run vineyard, this Cabernet Franc was selected for its depth in color, welcoming mouth feel, well-defined structure. Pairs with French Onion Soup and hearty seasonal stews, and is perfect for the cold January weather.

We are open 7 days a week throughout the month of January, with live music every weekend! Make sure to keep an eye on our website and social media pages for the most up to date listings of our upcoming artists.

Fridays - Friday Night Out! Every Friday night through the summer we feature half price wine flights, live music, food for sale, and grills available for use until 8:00pm.

Weekends - Live music all weekend long! Check out our lineup on our website!

Jan. 26th – Charcuterie Board Class: learn to put together an amazing spread for your next party. Advanced reservations required, (1-3pm)

Open daily Mon-Thurs. 12-5 pm Fri. 12-9 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm

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

EASTWOOD FARM AND WINERY

Winter At The Winery Baby, it’s warm inside! We look forward to welcoming you to our cozy tasting room just five miles from the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville all winter. Join us for special events, award-winning wines, on tap beers and ciders, and delicious lunch and dinner menus all week.

Enjoy making your own s’mores around our fire pits with a mug of hot mulled wine. Or, stay inside and enjoy live music with a toasty seasonal flatbread or fondue. We also have juice flights and cheese boards for the kids. Open yearround, seven days a week.

Upcoming at the Winery:

Mocktails & Mimosas | January 1-31

We’re ringing in the new year with a refreshing new lineup of non-alcoholic beverages! From our vibrant mocktails to fruity mimosas, we have something for every taste. And if you haven’t yet tried Wölffer Estate’s non-alcoholic Sparkling Rosé, you’re in for a treat! Trust us, it’s that good. We’re excited to feature this non-alcoholic sparkling gem on our menu all month long, alongside delicious mocktails and a selection of refreshing non-alcoholic beers.

Low-Country Shrimp Boil | Fridays: January 3, 17, 24, 31

Get ready for a delicious, flavor-packed Shrimp Boil Feast most Friday nights this winter! We’re bringing the best of Southern tradition right to your plate with succulent shrimp, juicy sausage, tender corn on the cob, and perfectly seasoned potatoes – all served hot and ready to enjoy in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with live music from 5-8pm on the stage in our tasting room.

Teacher Appreciation Night w/Music Bingo | Thursday, January 16

Teachers are the heart of our community, shaping the minds and futures of our children every day. It’s time to show them just how much we appreciate their hard work, dedication, and passion! Join us for a special Teacher Appreciation Night, a celebration of the incredible educators in our community. All are welcome to join us and teachers enjoy a 10% discount on food and beverages in the tasting room and free entry into a special raffle for fun prizes. Plus, all guests can join in Music Bingo.

MUSIC AT EASTWOOD!

Join us for the popular Eastwood After Dark featuring upbeat, danceable music on Saturday nights from 5-8pm (in addition to our more mellow Saturday afternoon music program). Eastwood also hosts a range of live performances by talented local and regional musicians every Thursday and Friday night. See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.

Every Thursday: Live Music 5-8 PM

Thursday “Thank You” Community Day at Eastwood—$5 Taps (Beer & Cider)

Every Friday: Live Music 5-8 PM Low-Country Shrimp Boil 5-8PM (January 3, 17, 24, 31)

Every Saturday: Live Music 1-4 PM + Eastwood After Dark with Live Music 5-8 PM

Every Sunday: Music Bingo, Paint & Sip, Maker’s Market or Live Music (See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.)

What about the kids?

Kids can share in the experience with their own juice tasting flights and cheese boards!

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

Winery Hours: Sunday-Wednesday (12-5 PM); Thursday-Saturday (12-8 PM)

We look forward to welcoming you to our cozy tasting room, seven days a week. Join us for award-winning wines, beer, and cider, as well as a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Andrew Partridge that is perfect for lunch or dinner. Delight in lounging on our enclosed & heated veranda with a glass of our gold medal 2022 Meritage Reserve. Or, stay inside and enjoy live music with a seasonal toasty flatbread or our scrumptious Cast Iron Baked Brie. Escape to Virginia Wine Country, only five miles from Downtown Charlottesville. Open year-round, seven days a week.

Pet friendly and large groups are welcome. Ample indoor and outdoor seating.

Rt 20 near the intersection with Avon Extended (5 mi from Downtown Mall) Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 264-6727 www.eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

KESWICK VINEYARDS

Keswick Vineyards is excited to announce the opening of its new tasting room, designed to elevate your winetasting experience to new heights. This state-of-the-art space features a retractable roof and glass walls that can be fully retracted, seamlessly blending the indoor and outdoor environments. Imagine sipping your favorite vintage surrounded by panoramic views of the vineyard and rolling countryside, all while enjoying the perfect balance of fresh air and comfort.

Whether you’re a connoisseur or a casual enthusiast, Keswick Vineyards offers a range of tasting options to suit your preferences. You can enjoy wine

by the glass, bottle, or explore a curated flight of their finest selections. The traditional guided tastings are available Monday through Friday, allowing you to experience their diverse portfolio of wines in a relaxed setting.

Enjoy live music every Saturday from 12-4 PM, the perfect soundtrack to a relaxing afternoon in the vineyards.

Come experience the innovation and charm of Keswick Vineyards’ new tasting room—a place where tradition meets modern luxury, and every visit feels like a special occasion.

Wednesdays - Wine Down Wednesdays 5:30-8:30pm

Weekends - Live Music from 12-4 pm (check out our website for the schedule!)

Jan. 26th – Defining Virginia Terroir Tasting Series (advanced ticket purchase required)

Hours:

Monday- Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm 1575 Keswick Winery Drive Keswick, Virginia 22947 Tasting Room: (434) 244-3341 ext 105 tastingroom@keswickvineyards.com www.keswickvineyards.com

PRINCE MICHEL VINEYARDS

Symbius

During the month of December celebrate with Prince Michel’s Symbius! A blend of classic Bordeaux varietals, Symbius is a lightly oaked and complex and medium bodied red blend. Unveiling a bouquet of dark berries with hints of cedar and wild violets. Symbius has a velvet like texture and showcases exceptional tannic structure with a lingering finish. Pair this iconic blend with hearty meals of grilled or roasted meats such as beef, lamb or wild game.

Discover Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery, an iconic East Coast estate. Family and pet-friendly, it’s of the oldest and largest wineries in the Commonwealth. Also, home to Tap 29 Brew Pub, serving local craft brews and delicious pub-style food seven days a week. Located in the heart of Virginia Wine Country, our elegant winery on Route 29 between Charlottesville and

Washington DC offers wine tastings, tours, shopping, and scenic picnic spots daily from 11am.

At Prince Michel Indulge in a spectrum of wines, from luxurious craft picks such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Manseng, to distinctive options like our Sweet White Reserve from our Rapidan River series. Don’t miss our crowd-favorite Decadence Chocolate or a refreshing wine slushie for a delightful twist. We have something to offer for every palate!

Don’t miss our Holiday Open House with a visit from Santa on Saturday December 7 th , from 12-4!

Live Music every Friday – Sunday! (Music lineup on our website)

Friday 5-8 p.m.

Saturday 1-4 & 5-8

Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Open 7 days a Week at 11 a.m.

154 Winery Lane, Leon, VA  22725 (540) 547-3707

www.princemichel.com

A Woman-Owned Business

REVALATION VINEYARDS

Verj us

Dry January? We have you covered! Revalation Vineyards’ verjus is the perfect mocktail ingredient. This non-alcoholic juice produced by pressing grapes early in the season has a fresh, tart and sweet flavor. It makes an excellent spritzer, a yummy toddy with slices of fresh ginger or it can be drunk neat. It also adds zest to sauces, salad dressings and marinades, without overpowering other delicate aromas in the dish. Visit www. revalationvineyards.com for recipes.

Until Feb. 28 - Exhibition of art pieces by Nicole Horn.

Jan. 17th - Sip & Learn: Sterling Howell’s presentation, FlipFlopperJames Madison’s Work on the Bill of Rights, will start at 6:00pm. Come and mingle at 5:30pm!

Jan. 24th - Book Club @ The Vineyard starting at 6pm: The Black Penguin by Andrew Evans. The author will be present!

Jan. 31st - Words and Wine at 6pm. Poets, novelists, spoken-word artists, and storytellers of all sorts are invited to share their work. RSVP to the event by email - info@revalationvineyards.com. Arrive early to get your glass of wine or verjus and reserve your space in our reading list for the night.

Feb. 7th - Book World Meets Wine World at 5:30pm: Author Kelly Weinersmith will present her book A City On Mars.

May 4th- En Plein Air: Artist Day at Revalation. Artists are invited to create art in the vineyard from dawn to dusk and exhibit their work from 5pm to 7pm. Artist tickets available on our website.

January Hours: Friday 12pm to Sunset; Saturday 12pm to 6pm; Sunday 12pm to 5pm; Monday January 20 12pm to 5pm; Monday and Thursday by reservation only. 2710 Hebron Valley Road, Madison, VA 22727 540-407-1236 www.revalationvineyards.com

FOR FUN PUZZLES

Rodeos and Axioms, e.g. 16. Miranda July novel that made The New Yorker’s “The Essential Reads 2024” list 18. Netflix “true story” miniseries that was #2 on The Guardian’s “50 Best TV Shows of 2024” 20. Quaff made with honey

21. Build up

25. Jason who’s one half of Jay & Silent Bob

28. Screw up

30. Andean wool source

31. Wood-chopping tools

32. Iconic toy store ___ Schwarz

33. Onetime office note-takers

34. Dinghy propeller

35. Poker-themed roguelike deck-builder nominated for The Game Awards’ 2024 Game of the Year

37. “___ Been Everywhere”

38. Mar vel mutant with cold powers

40. “___ Meninas” (Velazquez painting)

41. “Slumdog Millionaire” actor Kapoor

42. Reserved

43. Attached document, sometimes

44. Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew

45. Tailless breed

47. Growing business?

49. Country crossover album that made many “Best of 2024” lists

54. Character paired with Wolverine in a 2024 title, the highest-grossing R-rated film ever

57. ___ del Fuego

58. Where eye color comes from

59. Penn who’s not opposite Teller

60. Pants length measurement

61. ___ see ew

62. Greek letter found within other Greek letters

63. “Don’t change that,” to an editor

DOWN

1. “___ little too late for that”

2. Paint badly

3. Organic catalysts

4. Sky blue shades

5. Permanent “QI” panelist Davies

6. Not as shy

7. “Grey’s Anatomy” star Pompeo

8. “Skip To My ___”

9. Hockey star Bobby

10. “Isle of Dogs” director Anderson

11. Member of the fam

12. Out sailing

14. Personnel concern

17. Was defeated by

19. Best possible

22. Froglike, to biologists

23. Film appropriate for all ages

By Rob Brezsny Aquarius

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Wilderness campers have developed humorous terms to gently mock their fears and anxieties. The theory is that this alleviates some of the stress. So a “bear burrito” refers to a hammock. It addresses the worry that one might get an unwanted visit from a bear while sleeping. A “bear fortune cookie” is another name for a tent. “Danger noodle” is an apparent stick that turns out to be a snake. “Mountain money” is also known as toilet paper. I approve of this joking approach to dealing with agitation and unease. (And scientific research confirms it’s effective.) Now is an excellent time to be creative in finding ways to diminish your mostly needless angst.

Pisces

(Feb. 19-March 20): If you were producing the movie of your life, what actor or actress would you want to portray you? Who would play your friends and loved ones? How about the role of God or Goddess? Who would you choose to perform the role of the Supreme Being? These will be fun meditations for you in the coming weeks. Why? Because it’s an excellent time to think big about your life story—to visualize the vast, sweeping panorama of your beautiful destiny. I would also love it if during your exploration of your history, you would arrive at interesting new interpretations of the meanings of your epic themes.

Aries

(March 21-April 19): Abdulrazak Gurnah is a Tanzanian writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2021. He has also been shortlisted for four other prestigious awards. I find it odd that his acclaimed novels have received mediocre scores on the prominent bookrating website, Goodreads, which has 150 million members. Why is there such a marked difference between expert critics and average readers? I speculate that those in the latter category are less likely to appreciate bold, innovative work. They don’t have the breadth and depth to properly evaluate genius. All this is my way of encouraging you to be extra discerning about whose opinions you listen to in the coming weeks, Aries—especially in regard to your true value. Trust intelligent people who specialize in thoughtful integrity. You are in a phase when your ripening uniqueness needs to be nurtured and protected.

Taurus

(April 20-May 20): “Every joke is a tiny revolution,” said author George Orwell. I agree, which is why I hope you will unleash an unruly abundance of humor and playfulness in the coming days. I hope you will also engage in benevolent mischief that jostles the status quo and gently shakes people out of their trances. Why? Because your world and everyone in it need a sweet, raucous revolution. And the best way to accomplish that with

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): During the next three weeks, doing the same old things and thinking the same old thoughts are strongly discouraged. For the sake of your spiritual and physical health, please do not automatically rely on methods and actions that have worked before. I beg you not to imitate your past self or indulge in worn-out traditions. Sorry to be so extreme, but I really must insist that being bored or boring will be forbidden. Stated more poetically: Shed all weak-heart conceptions and weaksoul intentions. Be of strong heart and robust soul.

minimum chaos and maximum healing is to: 1. Do so with kindness and compassion. 2. Be amusing and joyful and full of joie de vivre.

Gemini

(May 21-June 20): Research suggests that if you’re typical, you would have to howl with maximum fury for a month straight just to produce enough energy to toast a piece of bread. But you are not at all typical right now. Your wrath is high quality. It’s more likely than usual to generate constructive changes. And it’s more prone to energize you rather than deplete you. But don’t get overconfident in your ability to harness your rage for good causes. Be respectful of its holy potency, and don’t squander it on trivial matters. Use it only for crucial prods that would significantly change things for the better.

Cancer

(June 21-July 22): I invite you to write a message to the person you will be in one year. Inform this Future You that you are taking a vow to achieve three specific goals by January 2026. Name these goals. Say why they are so important to you. Describe what actions you will take to fulfill them. Compose collages or draw pictures that convey your excitement about them. When you’ve done all that, write the words, “I pledge to devote all my powers to accomplish these wonderful feats.” Sign your name. Place your document in an envelope, write “MY VOWS” on the front, and tape the envelope in a prominent place in your home or workplace.

Leo

(July 23-Aug. 22): Congratulations on all the subtle and private work you’ve been doing to make yourself a better candidate for op-

timal togetherness. Admitting to your need for improvement was brave! Learning more about unselfish cooperation was hard work, and so was boosting your listening skills. (I speak from personal experience, having labored diligently to enhance my own relationship skills!) Very soon now, I expect that you will begin harvesting the results of your artful efforts.

Virgo

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Construction on the Great Wall of China began in the 7th century BCE and lasted until 1878. Let’s make this monumental accomplishment your symbol of power for the next 10 months, Virgo! May it inspire you to work tirelessly to forge your own monumental accomplishment. Take pride in the gradual progress you’re making. Be ingeniously persistent in engaging the support of those who share your grand vision. Your steady determination, skill at collaborating, and ability to plan will be your superpowers as you create a labor of love that will have enduring power.

Libra

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): We are all accustomed to dealing with complications and complexities—so much so that we may be tempted to imagine there’s never a simple solution to any dilemma. Copious nuance and mystifying paradox surround us on all sides, tempting us to think that every important decision must inevitably be taxing and time-consuming. As someone who specializes in trying to see all sides to every story, I am especially susceptible to these perspectives. (I have three planets in Libra.) But now here’s the unexpected news: In the coming weeks, you will enjoy the luxury of quickly settling

on definitive, straightforward solutions. You will get a sweet respite from relentless fuzziness and ambiguity.

Scorpio

(Oct. 23-Nov.21): When my daughter Zoe was 11 years old, she published her first collection of poems. The chapbook’s title was Secret Freedom. That’s a good theme for you to meditate on in the coming weeks. You are currently communing with a fertile mystery that could ultimately liberate you from some of your suffering and limitations. However, it’s important to be private and covert about your playful work with this fertile mystery—at least for now. Eventually, when it ripens, there will come a time to fully unleash your beautiful thing and reveal it to the world. But until then, safeguard it with silence and discretion.

Sagittarius

(Nov. 22-Dec.21): From a distance, Brazil’s Rio Negro looks black. The water of Rio Solimões, also in Brazil, is yellowish-brown. Near the city of Manaus, these two rivers converge, flowing eastward. But they don’t blend at first. For a few miles, they move side-by-side, as if still autonomous. Eventually, they fuse into a single flow and become the mighty Amazon River. I suspect the behavior of Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes could serve as a useful metaphor for you in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. Consider the possibility of allowing, even encouraging, two separate streams to merge. Or would you prefer them to remain discrete for a while longer? Make a conscious decision about this matter.

Expanded

and

(877) 873-4888

CAPRICORN

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Commonwealth of Virginia VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Charlottesville Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re: Z.D. (DOB 2/1/2007)

The object of this suit is to terminate the parental rights in Z.D. (DOB 2/1/2007)

It is ORDERED that the defendant Patricia Dillard, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 24, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.

12/5/2024

Areshini Pather DATE JUDGE

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P.S. LOST AND FOUND

HIS NEWEST BOOK IS...

LUCY CAT IN A CAT BOOK, is primarily for children five to eight years old kindergarten through third grades. It’s main focus Is on getting children to relate to each other in a positive manner regardless of their cultural and diverse origins. The Book consists in two parts: One is pictorial-cartoon depictions showing how Lucy Cat is able to befriend everyone around her in a very convivial manner. The Second part is Lesson Planning Suggestions giving the Teachers or Instructors ideas about how to reinforce the messaqe each cartoon presents.

Amazon.com Local Author William A. James, Sr. has done it again.

Shell shocked

Where: Virginia Discovery Museum

How many items are currently in the lost & found? There’s typically about 20 to 30 items in our lost & found on a given day. At the moment we have a group of stuffies, including a few well-loved dogs, a small gray Squishmallow, and a star-shaped doll.

How does something end up in the VADM lost & found? Most of these were turned in by other guests. They stay a few months.

What are some “greatest hits” items that have been lost at VADM? We see many stuffed animals lost in the museum. In November, we had a child lose their stuffed turtle. A few of our stuffies kept him company until the family could come back for him a few days later.

If lost, contact: 977-1025 or Visitor Services Manager Matt Berman, matt@vadm.org.

OTHER BOOKS BY JAMES ARE:

In, A MURDER ON FIFTH AND DICE AND THE RUIN OF FIFEVILLE, James shows how drugdealing 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)

In, HARD TIMES AND SURVIVAL: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN AFRICANAMERICAN SON, James relates His Story and the Reader learns what He means when He Says: “Do not GiveIn to Adversity, but overcome it by Steady and Constant Perserverance.”

IN THE STREETS OF VINEGAR HILL, James reveals how fear and misunderstandings caused The Charlottesville City Council to condemn and Demolish a 20 Acre Tract (30 Black businesses and 600 residents) from the Downtown area from 1958-1964.

Local Author

William A. James, Sr.

Call or Write, William A. James, Sr. 434-985-8987 PO Box 6991, Charlottesville, VA 22906 Wjpublications@aol.com

BOOKS 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

New Year’s SALE

JANUARY 2ND - 31ST

BULK

$3.99/lb (SRP $5.99)

GROCERY

PRODUCE

$5.99 (SRP $8.99)