Month: March 2012

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News

City fills $3 million gap in school budget

 When Governor Bob McDonnell released a state budget that changed the retirement plan for public school employees and reallocated a portion of local sales tax dollars, the Charlottesville School Board was left facing a deficit of $4 million for 2012-2013.

After two months of wrestling with the new reality, the school board has found a way to make $1 million in cuts, and the city has agreed to fill the rest of the $3 million gap with one-time funds.

On Thursday, March 1, the school board voted on the official 2012-2013 budget, which increased by about $190,000 from last year’s budget to roughly $70 million.

Changes in this year’s budget include implementing shorter contracts for assistant principals and counselors, eliminating three secretarial positions, and reducing grant funding for teachers. In grades five through eight, class sizes will also increase.

“Our teachers and parents value small class sizes and so do we,” said school board chairman Ned Michie, explaining that he hoped the increases would not become a trend.
Classes, for this year at least, will grow only by one student.

But what about those snazzy new tablet computers that Charlottesville High School and Buford Middle School students received? If the school board was struggling for funding, why did they spend $2.4 million on glorified iPods?

Michie said the tablets aren’t the problem and will ultimately save money for the schools by reducing the district’s demand for costly textbooks that need to be replaced regularly.
“Textbooks are out of date the day they’re printed,” said Michie.

The tablets can serve simply as books, but they will also provide more interactive learning opportunities for hands-on students, he said. Michie estimates that over the course of the next four years, schools will spend an extra $250,000 each year on technology.

The real question posed in this year’s budget conversation is how the district will make up its gap next year, without more one-time funding from the city.

According to City Councilor Dave Norris, tax rates should remain the same, but the city may not be able to fill another gap like the one this year. “There will just have to be some structural changes,” he said.

One such structural change is the postponement of the reconfiguration of the school system. The $1.5 million set aside for that project was redirected toward the deficit, and according to Michie, the reorganization of Buford Middle School and Walker Upper Elementary School will likely not take place for another five years.

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The Editor's Desk

Editor's Note: Remembering things past

3.6.12 “An exquisite pleasure had invaded my senses, something isolated, detached, with no suggestion of its origin. And at once the vicissitudes of life had become indifferent to me, its disasters innocuous, its brevity illusory – this new sensation having had on me the effect which love has of filling me with a precious essence; or rather this essence was not in me it was me.” Those words are part of Marcel Proust’s famous description his encounter with a madeleine cookie from Remembrance of Things Past and crystallize his notion of ‘involuntary memory,’ a concept that made it all the way from his literature into the canon of modern psychology.

I remember reading the book in college and being bored to tears by it, but perking up all the same at a discussion about the way taste, smell, and memory seemed to have a hard-wired relationship. Yesterday I caught a whiff of something on the street that transported me instantly to the summers of my childhood, spent in a cabin by a lake with no electricity. It was probably the subtle smell of propane, which emanated from the gas-powered refrigerator, but it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that, for a moment, I felt exactly as if I was standing in the kitchen of that cabin in the early morning, with all the possibility of a summer’s day ahead of me.

This week’s feature is about J.W. “Jinx” Kern, a Charlottesville character, who has created a time portal out of a small shack near the corner of Market and Meade by infusing pork with primeval smoke and layering a half century of memorabilia on the walls of his clapboard building. These days we are bombarded by new information, which me mostly consume with our eyes. Take a deep breath and consider this from Jinx: “When the wind is right in this establishment, and the cooker is going, and it’s got a hickory fire in it and the humidity outside is just right, I can close my eyes and get a whiff of that, and bang it’s Paducah 1960.”–Giles Morris

Mountain bikers and RTF team up for O’hill trail day

PRESS RELEASE: The Rivanna Trail Foundation–– The Rivanna Trail Foundation is leading trailwork on O’hill this Saturday, March 10, to repair the extensive mudholes on the low-lying section beginning at the trailhead on Ivy Rd.

There is a lot to accomplish including one long re-route and drainage work on lots of mud sections. If you ride, run, or hike trails at O’hill, we hope you will join us on this important workday. We especially need experienced trail workers to help lead inexperienced volunteers. But even if you have no experience at all you can be a big help. Please make sure to bring heavy work gloves and sturdy footwear for this event.

The Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club (CAMBC) is supporting this trail work day with tools & equipment and hopefully many volunteers.

Blue Ridge Cyclery is also supporting this trailwork day with food on the grill. If you are one of the riders who attends the BRC Thursday Night Throwdown, then these are the trails you ride, trails that need your help this Saturday.

We’ll meet at the RTF shed at 8:45am and drive over to park near the trailhead off of Ivy Road near the fire station. Contact Todd Niemeier by email at todd.uacc@gmail.com or phone at 434-989-0150 for more information.

Thanks for supporting your local trails!

C-VILLE Arts Beat: Top Picks for Mar 6-Mar 12

Saturday 3/10

The vinyl countdown 

Still looking for a first pressing of Hot Rats? Is your Bitches Brew a real needlebuster? Moved to the suburbs and didn’t get your requisite Rumours? Then it’s time to cash in that jar of loose change, audiophiles. The Charlottesville Record Fair has thousands of vintage platters up for grabs, as well as CDs, 45s, and musicmemorabilia. Bring bucks, though, cuz they don’t take plastic. Free admission, 10am–4pm. Holiday Inn, 1901 Emmet St.​​  (704) 996-9945.

Trade your cash for vinyl gold at Charlottesville Record Fair on Saturday.

 

Thursday 3/8

She hoops to conquer 

Having long distanced themselves from fighting crime with Captain Caveman, the Harlem Globetrotters are bringing out a new lineup in 2012, including Fatima “TNT” Maddox, the first female Globetrotter in nearly 20 years. Maddox and her renowned teammates bring their patented toolbox of flips, spins, and tomfoolery into town to entertain kids and adults alike. $22–$94, 7pm. John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd. 
(888) JPJ-TIXS.

Sunday–Monday 3/11–12

Higher! Steeper! 

Whether you are into surfing it or saving it, the Earth is at the center of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Expect a hand–picked selection of award–
winning films covering risky outdoor sports, environmental causes, and anthropological journeys. Get your tickets early. $15, available at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports or online at www.theparamount.net. Sunday at 4pm, Monday at 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 East Main St., Downtown Mall. 979-1333.

Through 3/25

Big pimper’n

Barboursville’s energetic Four County Players are sure to deliver a wildly entertaining production of The Scarlet Pimpernel. The comedic adventure, based on the French Revolution, finds victimized French aristocrats reliant on an elusive 18th century hero-in-disguise. Superman’s got nothin’ on this guy. $12-16, Fridays are half price. See fourcountyplayers.org for show dates and times.  Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. (540) 832-5355.

Green Scene Blog: Spring on Sharondale Farm

Folks, here’s a new post from Mark Jones, who tells us what’s up with his Sharondale Farm and several other projects. Busy guy!

As we break out of the slower winter season here at Sharondale Farm, many new projects are budding on the horizon. With the early warm weather, pruning of the fruiting trees and shrubs has taken priority. We have beautiful nectarine and plum blossoms from the cuttings brightening up the house. Some of the willow prunings are replanted with the intention of growing living structures like a fedge (fence-hedge) and a dome room.

I am almost ready to pour several slabs of concrete, including the floor of a ferrocement cistern that will collect about 3,500 gallons of rain water off the barns. The plan is to grow a small ecosystem with catfish and aquatic plants that will enhance the nutritional value of irrigation water for the garden. This first step in developing a comprehensive water management plan will lead to a small pond and wetland to capture some of the surface runoff that cascades off the property and across the road during heavy rains. More on this as we develop it.

I’ve planned several workshops on growing mushrooms and permaculture. I am also preparing to participate in a professional development workshop about teaching permaculture creatively.

A new local mushroom club is forming–want to be a part of the planning? The first public foray is at the Ivy Creek Natural Area on Earth Day. This event is free and open to all. So if you’re a mycophile and mushroom stalker or always wanted to be one, come on down.

We five farmer-owners of the Firsthand Farmers Cooperative are developing a very interesting and diverse CSA program for this year. We will offer all the delicious and nutritious farm share items from last year: vegetables, herbs, eggs, dairy items, and mushrooms. And we’ll add a variety of other awesome locally produced items including: pastured meats, beautiful flowers, slow roasted coffee, farmstead ferments, and baked bread.

For those of us rooted and growing in our places, our projects blossom to cross-pollinate with other ideas and projects. The seeds of collaboration germinate, growing our interdependence and strengthening the resilience of our communities.
 

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Uncategorized

The Winners Parade

The Winners Parade!

Categories
Living

C-VILLE Kids! Save the date night: Getting out is good for your kids

It’s true what they say: Those who play together stay together. A recent report from The National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia reveals that couples who carve out time for each other (no kids allowed!) at least once a week are less likely to experience disappointment with their relationship. This is especially true for new parents. Says the report, “New parents who saw their couple time decline across the transition to parenthood were about two times more likely to experience a decline in marital quality, compared to new parents who kept up their couple time.” In other words, get outta the house!

Categories
Living

C-VILLE Kids! Cooking with your little one yields lessons for you both

Wash, rinse, repeat: Maisie and Megan prepare kale for a pot of minestrone. (Photo by Cramer Photo)

 

Wash, rinse, repeat: Maisie and Megan prepare kale for a pot of minestrone. (Photo by Cramer Photo)

Not only does my 4-year-old know the difference between bolognese and besciamella, she knows how to make them too.

Since her birth, Maisie’s kept me company in the kitchen. It’s where I spend the majority of my day. At four weeks, I’d put her bouncy seat on the counter. At three months, I’d wear her in a baby björn and bring herbs to her nose to sniff. I narrated everything I did as if I were hosting my own cooking show. At six months, when she started sitting up, I’d plunk her down on the counter and let her explore the utensil crock. She’d watch me steam and purée all of her first foods. Her first word was banana.

Once she could stand, her post was a kitchen chair up against the counter. While she napped, I would measure out messy ingredients and take care of any peeling or chopping so that when she joined me, she could just dump and assemble. It always took longer than if I had just done it myself and there was always a mess to clean up, but it gave her confidence and know-how.

As she’s grown, I’ve come to genuinely depend on Maisie as a very able (and cheap) sous chef. I ask her to season something and she grabs a pinch of kosher salt from the dish and sprinkles it just like a professional chef. She cleans mushrooms, stems rosemary, and takes garlic cloves out of their “jackets.” She asks if it is time to add the bay leaf and reminds me that I have a parmigiano rind that I can throw into the soup for extra flavor. She watches for water to boil and can smell pinenuts about to burn. She eats every third ingredient while she works, but since she likes raw kale and cannellini beans as much as chocolate chips, I happily oblige. She helps me prep for dinner parties and will ask the next day, “By the way, how did your guests enjoy the lasagne we made?”

There are still spills—from the minor (a quart of chicken stock) to the catastrophic (a cup of couscous). And there have been close calls with splattering oil or trying to snatch a veggie from under my knife, but I just use it as an opportunity to review the rules. Even adulthood doesn’t protect you from injuries in the kitchen.

My pride in being a good cook runs a close second behind being a good mother, and I hope to teach both to Maisie. She already respects food and the time it takes to prepare it. She already chooses whole foods over processed ones and eats mindfully, stopping when full. She bids our dog “bon appétit” every night. Seeing the importance in feeding those that you love thoughtfully-prepared wholesome food is the hard part. Learning how to do it is the easy part. She’ll be cooking for us all by herself in no time.

Categories
Living

C-VILLE Kids! Doc Talk: How to recognize (and remedy) your kids' bumps, bruises and ailments

Dr. Paige Perriello (Photo by Ashley Twiggs)

Does my child have a cold or is it seasonal allergies?
Sometimes it can actually be difficult to tell, but there are a few things that might help you to tell the difference. First, most children under the age of 2 years old don’t develop significant environmental allergies. Also, in that age group, we would not want to assume it was allergies and not evaluate for other infections.

In general, children with allergies tend to be afebrile (not feverish), sneezing, and with a constant runny nose with clear discharge. If the eyes are involved, they tend to be red and itchy and may be swollen. Children with a cold can have fevers, thick nasal discharge and if the eyes are involved, they are more likely to have mucous and to not be itchy.

Finally, look for symptoms that seem to come and go only in certain environments. If your child is completely fine, but every time she rolls around in the grass she starts sneezing and gets a runny nose, talk to your doctor about potential allergies.

How do I know if my child has a concussion? How do we treat it?
A concussion is a complex process affecting the brain that is brought about by traumatic forces to the head, either direct or indirect. If your child gets any type of hit to the head caused by a player, a stick, the ball or the ground during a game, he should be evaluated immediately and by an athletic trainer if available. If there isn’t one around and, as a parent or coach, you are unsure if the player is unharmed, the most important motto for concussion in sports at all ages is, “When in doubt, keep them out.” If you are unsure if your child has a concussion, he should be removed immediately from practices and games until evaluated by a doctor. Some common signs of concussion to look out for are headache, nausea, fatigure, irritability, difficulty focusing in school, dizziness, light or noise sensitivity and sleeping problems.

How do I know if my child needs stitches?
As the weather warms and kids return outside to play, the rate of injuries increases. Often times, children will get cuts as a result of falls or other injuries. The most important thing to do at home is to stop the bleeding with firm, direct pressure if needed and then clean the wound with warm soap and water. After you’ve taken those steps, call your doctor’s office for advice. If the edges of the skin don’t touch easily or the cut goes all the way through the skin into the fat layer, then it is likely that some type of closure may be needed. Skin glue offers a nice alternative for closure in kids when it doesn’t appear to be serious. If you are having trouble getting the cut to stop bleeding, it will likely need attention and you should contact your doctor immediately.

Paige Perriello is a general pediatrician practicing at Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville. She is married, with a 2-year-old daughter.

 

Brush ’em toofers! Kiersten Jenkins gets a checkup with Dr. Stone. (Photo by Nick Strocchia)

FIRSTS
Tooth hurty: Time for the dentist
When your baby’s first tooth pops into view, it’s time to call the dentist. We talked to pediatric dentist James R. Stone to find out what you can expect from the first visit.
First, Stone recommends scheduling an appointment in the morning. A well-rested child “will present the best chance of gaining their cooperation during a visit,” he said.

Before your little one ever says “Ahhh,” a staff member will brief you on the basics, including feeding practices (bottles versus “sippy” cups), oral habits (like thumb sucking and pacifier use), cavity causers, brushing techniques, and the importance of primary (baby) teeth.

To prepare, read books to your child at home about the dentist, but Stone suggests avoiding a pre-visit lecture. “You can overwhelm them if you tell them too many things,” he said.
During an exam, Stone checks the child’s bite, enamel, and soft tissue and looks for decay. If plaque has built up, he cleans the teeth, and every exam ends with a fluoride varnish.
Then comes the easy part—introducing your little one to the legendary prize box.—Taylor Harris

Categories
Living

C-VILLE Kids: And his little dog, too

(Photo by Cramer Photo)

“Full of beans.” That’s how Amy Gardner describes both her 4-year-old son, Ben, and her 6-month-old Corgi, Momo. In fact, they share a few other personality traits, too: “They’re strong-willed, energetic, and they’re both really funny,” she said. “I have a feeling they’re going to be quite the team.”

It sounds like they already are. Momo, a natural sheep herder, follows Ben everywhere, trying to flock him and his friends.

Giving in to her son’s promises to take care of Mo have been a great way to teach responsibility (Ben feeds the dog at least once a day), but there’s another added benefit: No more running around indoors. “Ben knows that if he runs in the house, Momo’ll chase after him and nip at his heels like he’s a sheep,” Amy said.