Month: April 2012

Charlottesville City Council to improve Carver, Tonsler

 The Charlottesville City Council approved a $350,000 appropriation for improving the Carver Recreation Center and buying new playground equipment for Tonsler Park.

The Carver Recreation Center is located in the old Jefferson School. Nearly a quarter of a million dollars will go to buying gym equipment, furniture, computers, and Wi-Fi service for the facility.

Tonsler Park will also receive a new playground to replace the current 17-year-old wooden structures. 

"It’s going to be like nothing the city’s ever seen before," Ehman told NBC29.

Click here for more information on Parks and Recreation’s projects.

Around the bend: Man on the run

In a recent posting, I wrote about people finding the right job and that most likely it won’t be doctor, lawyer or architect! For an example, I told of a laid-off construction worker who found a very fulfilling job as an elementary school janitor. This has inspired me to celebrate a very fulfilled working  man whom I have known for 30 years.  He is Gene P. and, all these years, he has handled the UPS route where I first worked and where I have lived the last 22 years. This man loves his work. It is a demanding job. First off is loading those big brown trucks to the brim and ,then, off the to the races, delivering. You don’t see many overweight UPS delivery people.  

 I am out and  about a lot and it is almost every day, whether walking the dog , on my bike, jogging, driving, mowing the lawn,etc. that we will wave to each other.  Years ago, I learned that Gene loves to mow lawns, which he does after work!  The other day, I asked Gene if he still is mowing? An enthusiastic Yes!

Gene obviously enjoys his work and what a difference friendly people like him can make in the context of your everyday life. It brings a smile every time I see him. That’s a lot of smiles.

I retired in July 2010, and, for my retirement party, I invited many people whom I have connected with over the years. It made for a most eclectic gathering. Though my contact with him on my job had been minimal, there was a lot of street connecting. I was very pleased that he came.

Postings to come: "Yes, but he’s so smart." Chilling interpersonal moments and Thrilling moments.

 

 

 

 

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News & Views 4.19.2012

Real Estate Related News

Clarke Shares Insights at Orlando Conference 
Carol Clarke, President of Montague, Miller & Co REALTORS® was a speaker during the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® 2012 Conference Week March 22-26 at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and Waldorf-Astoria in Orlando, FL. With an increased attendance from the previous year, the event welcomed nearly 1,000 top real estate brokers, managers, relocation professionals, sponsors and guests attending from the U.S. and over a dozen countries around the world.  Participating brokerages represented a significant share of the U.S. real estate market, with annual sales production of over $225 billion.  Clarke, who presented information on Social Media Training for Real Estate Companies, was among a distinguished line-up of speakers.  
 
Carol Clarke brings nearly 30 years experience in residential, farm, estate, new homes, and relocation brokerage to her role as Montague, Miller’s President. Since joining Montague, Miller in late 1989, Clarke has helped grow the company. She has a long history of civic involvement; she is a past President of the Junior League of Charlottesville and the Virginia Association of Realtors. She has served or is serving on several boards including the Charlottesville Albemarle Chamber of Commerce, Crime Stoppers, The Emily Couric Leadership Forum and is past Chair of the United Way.  Carol frequently facilitates Real Estate Seminars and workshops on Strategic Planning, Management, Relocation and Marketing Strategies.
 
Clarke is currently serving a second term on the Virginia Real Estate Board, which she chaired in 2008 and 2009. Most recently, Carol has been honored with the 2008 Virginia Association of Realtors’ REALTOR of the Year award and in 2009, the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors’ Ethics in Action award.
 
What’s 
Happening Around Town?
 
25th Anniversary of Fridays After Five
Every Friday during the season, the Pavilion hosts a FREE concert showcasing local and regional talent. Over 65,000 people attend Fridays After Five per season, making it a signature event of downtown Charlottesville.  The 2012 season of Fridays After Five, presented by Bud Light, kicks off on April 20th and is sure to feature exciting artists and provide fun for music fans of all ages. The line-up consists of central Virginia’s favorite local artists performing in a wide variety of musical genres. The events are all free and a portion of the proceeds from the concessions sales go to benefit a variety of local non-profits.  For a list of programs, visit www.thenteloswirelesspavilion.com/fridays-after-five.
 
Computers4Kids Fundraisers
The spring brings with it many fun opportunities to get out and support Computers4Kids, a non-profit after-school technology mentoring program for low-income youth.  Two fund-raising events this month will bring in funding to help make a difference in the lives of C4K students! 
 
C4K is very fortunate to be the charity beneficiary for the Foxfield Races this year.  
 
On Friday, April 20, C4K will be hosting Boots & BBQ at the Foxfield Race Track from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Tickets are $75 per person. 
 
Like to golf? On Monday, April 23, C4K will host a Scottish Golf Tournament at the Old Trail Golf Course in Crozet. 
 
To purchase tickets for the BBQ or download an entry form for the golf tournament, go to www.computers4kids.net  or call the office at 434.817.1121.
 
Dining Out For Life
Dining Out for Life is an annual dining fundraising event raising money for AIDS service organizations. Dining Out for Life will happen in 60 cities across the country, including Charlottesville, on April 26.
 
ASG (Aids/HIV Services Group) is bringing Dining Out for Life to Charlottesville for the first time ever. Local restaurants agree to give a portion of their food and beverage sales to ASG, the local AIDS service organization.
 
All you have to do is go out to eat at the Nook, Sticks Kebob Shop on Preston, Blue Moon Diner, or Escafe, and you’ll be raising money for ASG. For more information, visit www.asgva.org/dining-out-for-life/
 
Cville Bike mApp Released
On April 14th the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) released the Cville Bike mApp, a free, bike mapping application for iPhone and Android. The App allows cyclists to record their trips and send the trip information to the MPO for transportation planning purposes. With an expected decrease in federal transportation funding, this data will help elected officials better determine where to invest in future cycling enhancements and improvements. More specifically, the App will allow transportation planners, to map cycling patterns, determine cycling corridors, identify cycling barriers and find appropriate locations for cycling facilities.
 
The App is available for download from iTunes and Google Marketplace. When activated, the App taps into a phone’s GPS. During the trip the App records GPS points every few seconds. Once the trip is complete, the user can anonymously upload the information to the Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO. The App also records some qualitative data such as, trip purpose, weather, cyclist capability (beginner, intermediate or advanced) and affiliation with the University of Virginia.
 
The MPO is offering prizes for participation in the data collection period. If a cyclist chooses to enter the raffle and records 10 rides, he or she is eligible to win a gift card or service from a local bicycle shop. Several local bike shops; Blue Ridge Cyclery, Blue Wheel Bicycles, Cville Bike Lab, and Cville Bike and Tri, have donated for this project.
 
The MPO will be collecting cycling data over an approximately one-month period, from April 14th to May 18th. Help local planners and elected officials improve cycling in Charlottesville and Albemarle. Remember, mApp it for Better Biking!
Go to www.cvillebikemapp.com for more information about the project.
Citizens’ Group Formed To Find Downtown Home for City Market
To build upon the hard work of the City-appointed City Market task force and its conclusions of July 2011, several members of that task force, in cooperation with Market Central, created the Charlottesville Market District Alliance (CMDA) in October 2011. 
 
The CMDA is dedicated to advancing the task force recommendation that the City Market be sited downtown, overlapping with its current location. The CMDA recently submitted a letter to City Council laying out a vision for how to do so. It stated the following:
The City Market should be a key part of a mixed-use urban development of the two full city blocks between Water St. and South St., between Second Street SW and Second Street SE, including the First Street right-of-way.  This mixed-use two-block development would constitute a Market District, which would incorporate a multi-use public plaza that would serve both as a home for the market, as well as a variety of other public uses, like outdoor dining and event space. The plaza would, in effect, be an extension of the Downtown Mall, and would connect with its pedestrian character, but with a crucial difference: it would be designed from the start to house a public market as one of its purposes. The plaza’s multiple uses, anchored by its market function, will make it a vibrant part of the urban core of the city. 
 
The Market District development would also include building space for a mix of office, retail, restaurant, and residential space, designed in ways that leverage the value of the public plaza, such as restaurants, store fronts and balconies that open onto the plaza. The CMDA vision will build on the design insights envisioned in several of the design proposals, including the winning proposal, in the 2007 Market Value design competition.
 
Working out implementable details of this vision will require skilled architects and designers, guided by a public-private partnership that includes CMDA and developers, balancing public space and viable private economic development.
 
The 12-member CMDA board explained its vision in more detail in a letter indicating that the City Council’s support for its vision is the first prerequisite for moving things forward. Dave Norris has publicly stated that finding a permanent downtown home for the City Market is his top priority for his next two years on council. A preliminary response to the Board’s letter from Norris asked that the letter be discussed at an upcoming Council meeting.
 
11th Annual 5K Run/Walk for Hospice of the Piedmont
Runners and walkers alike are invited to participate in the annual Keswick Club Run/Walk in memory of Sally Carle.  The event begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 12 on the beautiful grounds of Keswick Hall. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. Pre-registration cost is $20; race day registration cost is $25.  
 
All proceeds benefit Hospice of the Piedmont, which provides care to patients and families throughout all stages of serious illness, dying, and grief, regardless of their ability to pay.
 
This year, for the first time, participants are encouraged to recruit individual sponsors to support their efforts.  
 
Visit www.hopva.org to download a registration form and additional details.  Or call the Keswick Fitness Center at (434) 923-4319 or Hospice of the Piedmont at (434) 972-3568.
 
Mount Sharon Gardens Open One Day Only
A unique opportunity to visit ten acres of exquisite gardens overlooking 60-mile views of Piedmont Virginia will be offered 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13 at Mount Sharon, home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Seilheimer, Jr. in Orange, Virginia.
 
The gardens, regarded as one of the most beautiful private landscapes on the East Coast, was a five-year collaboration between the owners and noted Charlottesville, Virginia landscape architect, Charles J. Stick.  Ten integrated “garden rooms,” each with its own botanical theme, are tastefully accented by pavilions, fountains, pergolas, and statuary, creating a private work of art of national significance.
 
“Mount Sharon has never been open to the public in May, the time when it is looking its best,” said owner Mary Lou Seilheimer. “This is a one-time opportunity to see the gardens as only Charlie and I get to enjoy them.” Event chair Cynthia Whitman adds, “Thanks to the generosity of the Seilheimers, proceeds from the tour will benefit two non-profit organizations, Boys & Girls Club of Orange and Preservation Virginia.”
 
Advance tickets are available and are $20 each, $30 on the day of the event. Accompanied children under 16 are free.  Advance tickets can be purchased by phone, mail, or over the Internet by contacting Cheryl Greenday, Preservation Virginia, 204 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23220, 804 648-1819, ext. 319 or going to www.preservationvirginia.org.
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Outdoor Lighting

Years ago outdoor lighting consisted of a harsh floodlight beaming at the front door or plastic lights lining a walkway or dangling across the patio. Today the look is natural, sophisticated and energy-efficient as homeowners look at ways of bringing the same ambiance of indoor lighting to their outdoor living environment.

There is not much difference between interior and exterior lighting anymore. Some manufacturers provide the same style and elegance of interior lighting to the outdoors, including chandeliers.
 
Boulderscape fixtures, such as natural looking rock lights that blend into the landscape, are popular, especially around fountains and pondless waterfalls. People are putting in natural pavers and lighting is following that trend. There are even waterproof fixtures that are fitted inside the water source. They light up the fish and plants at night, bringing all that activity alive. Moving water makes the whole yard will shimmer.
 
Outdoor security lighting has come a long way since floodlights provided what looked like blinding beams scanning prison yards! Today, security lighting is trending toward both beauty and safety. If you are fortunate enough to have mature trees in your yard, you can light those for a more subtle form of lighting. This can be quite beautiful and at the same time give you a substantial savings of power consumption. Where security is concerned, lighting is the number one crime deterrent. There’s no reason it can’t be done in an attractive way.
 
Another outdoor lighting option is the stem-mounted landscape light that sits 18” off the ground and provides a 10’ circle of light. This provides more light than the inexpensive, plastic lights that sit down close to the ground that have a four -watt bulb in them and don’t put out any light.
 
As far as materials are concerned, cast aluminum and resin fixtures are growing in demand. Cast aluminum is an ideal material to use outdoors because it does not oxidize the way a brass fixture would. Resin allows for lots of details in the fixture, giving it a hand-carved look for a lower price point.
 
Selecting The Right Fixtures
Before selecting fixtures, study your home’s architectural and material elements. If you have copper roof or gutters, then the lights in the landscape should match that element on the house. If you have black shutters, use black lights. 
 
It’s also important to know what the lighting will look like at night. Walk through the area before dark and then as it turns dark hook up some pieces to see what effect they’re going to have.
 
Showing digital photos of the areas you want to light to the staff at a lighting showroom will help them determine the right style and size fixture for your home. If you are replacing lighting on an existing house, measure what size the fixtures are and what type of bulbs they hold. Also take note of the placement of the electrical boxes in relation to the door. Sometimes boxes are mounted very high, making a fixture that hangs down better suited to the space. The same is true if the box is mounted low. Then you would want a fixture that has most of its size going above the electrical box.
 
Homeowners living in a rural setting have special lighting considerations that a professional can address. The night skies in the country can be beautiful so do some kind of downlighting so you don’t lose the darkness. Dusk-to-dawn light would take away the ability to see the stars.
 
Energy Savings
Energy efficiency is improving with the introduction of low voltage lighting and fiber optics. Low voltage lighting has created an outdoor lighting revolution. Two lanterns and a lamppost use 500-600 watts, depending on the bulbs. With that same amount of power, low-voltage lighting could light the whole front of the home, plus trees. Low voltage allows less consumption of power but gives a more dynamic effect. Fiber optics stretch that even further with a single illumination source.
 
Many companies are coming out with wall and post lanterns that take fluorescent bulbs. They are using opaque glass, which hides the bulb, making for a more aesthetically pleasing fixture.
 
Timers are another way to conserve energy from a simple digital timer to photocells that respond to darkness.
 
Increase Home Value
Outdoor lighting has an aesthetic value that can give your home a whole new look. It makes your home an oasis of beauty. At night you can light isolated portions of your yard, so when you look outside there will be a soft glow and that’s what will make it so enjoyable.
When done well, outdoor lighting creates a usable environment. Enjoying the outdoors improves the quality of a person’s life. The light makes it an inviting place to be, plus much safer and secure, and that provides peace of mind. 
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Home & Garden Festival

Formerly known as the Home & Garden Show, the 39th Annual Blue Ridge Home Builders Association (BRHBA) Home and Garden Festival takes place on April 20-22nd at the John Paul Jones Arena. There’s a feeling of excitement and celebration as BRHBA focuses on the word “Festival.” This year brings together more exhibitors than ever before (120 including the outdoor booths) to demonstrate their newest home and garden products and services, and to answer your questions. This is the destination for the latest tips and trends for 

homeowners who are remodeling their current homes, updating to sell, or even building a new home. At only $5 admission, with children under 12 free, it is an enjoyable weekend for the whole family, and a good introduction for newcomers to area businesses and services. 
 
Special Events
Just visiting BRHBA’s website (www.brhba.org) will whet your appetite when you see the exciting range of activities planned, all included in the price of admission. The exhibitors are going out of their way to welcome you and to put on marvelous displays. And this year will have even more treats and special events, according to Jim Kuznar, Executive Vice President of BRHBA. “We’re anticipating the best turnout ever. Our sponsors, partners, and participating vendors are exceptional and we have many events planned that we’ve never done before, including live music and wine tasting.” 
 
One of those events is Radio Disney Team Green Game Show – Power Edition, sponsored by BRHBA and its partner, UVA Community Credit Union. In this fun game show, families will compete for prizes and learn about energy-saving home improvements and PowerSaver Loans. Children will have a chance to win a Radio Disney Party for their elementary school, while parents can talk with representatives from the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) about financing energy upgrades. Building or retrofitting a home with energy efficient and sustainable products is a well-intentioned goal, and there are many things the homeowner should know about before embarking on the venture. LEAP is there to help with information on products, builders, etc., and with financing. You can also enter to win free home energy reviews.
 
In another area of the arena, a special “Kid Zone,” sponsored by Charlottesville Gas, will provide children with many hands-on activities to keep them busy and involved. While a particular treat for adults comes from two local vineyards, Reynard Florence of Barboursville (www.reynardflorence.com) and Stone Mountain Vineyards in Dyke (www.stonemountainvineyards.com), who will offer wine-tasting. The SPCA has an outdoor booth and all pet-lovers will want to visit and think about taking home a new ‘little one.’
 
Quality Exhibits
If you peruse home magazines and dream of building, remodeling, redecorating, or even upgrading elements of your home, then visiting the Home and Garden Festival will surely bring that longing into focus and be a real first step on the road to your dream. As you walk the aisles and stop in at the many exhibitors’ booths, you will be doing much more than collecting ‘trinkets.’ This is an exceptional chance to learn, so BRHBA invites you to allow yourself time to enjoy this valuable experience. 
 
Whether you’re knowledgeable or not about products and services for your home, you will find that after a little browsing you’ll know the questions to ask and you’ll be able to get answers that will put you on the right track for your needs. As Jim Kuznar asserts, “We’re very proud of the response we got to this year’s Home and Garden Festival. There are top-notch providers in every area of building and remodeling and they’ll be ‘manning’ the booths with knowledgeable people who are excited to help. A real resource for information—and a good time!” 
 
Local exhibitors include quality builders, remodelers, and landscape contractors. You’ll also find a full range of the latest and finest building products represented: HVAC, including geo-thermal; insulation; windows and siding; roofing; water treatment; wood and other flooring; tile and stone. There will be booths showcasing a broad range of interior and exterior products, such as wood stoves, window shutters, closet systems, carpeting, wood and other flooring, spas, plus many others. You’ll also see local repair and service companies in addition to national concerns that have a presence in the Charlottesville area. The range of display is wide and varied—a real treat for the serious shopper as well as the casual browser. Many vendors will have unadvertised specials for visitors to their booths, so be on the lookout for a good deal on products you need or want. Yes, be sure to collect the trinkets—and you’ll come away with a lot more, too.
 
The Green Theme
A cursory look at this year’s exhibitors (full list is on BRHBA’s website: www.brhba.org) clearly demonstrates how far the building trades have come in the last 39 years in Central Virginia. Over the years, Blue Ridge Home Builders Association has grown, matured, and become a leader in promoting sustainable building practices. So, too, have area builders and remodelers, tradespeople, service providers, product vendors, and consultants become fluent in the ‘green language’ of energy conservation and green building.
 
At this year’s Home and Garden Festival, BRHBA continues its focus on ‘green education’ with additional opportunities to learn the language yourself through a series of free workshops, presented by UVA Community Credit Union. These workshops are designed to help educate and inform the public on a variety of green building and design principles. “In addition to green building, the seminars will also provide local residents and property owners easy access to information and resources that will help create more energy efficient, healthy and comfortable homes,” Kuznar says.
 
The Festival workshops are geared for the DIY-er, the person intending to build, and those looking for energy savings in remodeling or in simple upgrading, and for anyone wanting to add value to their homes. They cover topics from new construction questions, to water conservation, to geo-thermal, as well as showing simple, cost-effective improvements you can do yourself.
 
BRHBA’s Workshop Schedule
 
Friday, April 20 
  • 2-3pm – New Construction: What to Ask Your Builder
  • 3:30-4-30pm – Home Energy Assessment 101
  • 5-6pm – It’s Time to Think About the Water
Saturday, April 21
  • 11-12pm – Composting
  • 12:30-1:30pm – Cash for Comfort- How to Pay for Energy Improvements
  • 2-3pm – Reducing Your Carbon Footprint with Geothermal
  • 3:30-4:30pm – New Construction: How to Save 30-50 percent on Energy Bills
Sunday, April 22
  • 1:30-2:30pm – Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Improvements
  • 3-4pm – Home Energy Assessments: Get Information for Big Savings
One of the first booths to visit, where many of your questions about green construction will be answered, is EarthCraft-Virginia’s (www.earthcraftvirginia.org), where you’ll enhance your learning of “comfortable conservation.” EarthCraft is a non-profit organization in the Southeast U.S. that trains builders, consults with them during the building process, and certifies their homes. By using a builder or contractor who is affiliated with EarthCraft, your new or remodeled home and upgrades will have EarthCraft certification. This assures that your home is more sustainably built or improved well beyond standard building codes, yielding utility savings and better resale value as well as more comfort in daily living. 
 
All EarthCraft Homes average a 30 percent reduction in energy usage compared to typical code-built homes. In addition to outstanding energy performance, their certified homes are durable, comfortable, and both water and resource efficient. EarthCraft informs us that while there is no research available in Virginia, a recent study conducted by a realtor’s association in Atlanta showed that ‘green’ homes spent 80 days on the market (versus 140 days) and received 93 percent of asking price (versus 90 percent). 
 
Currently, 19 quality builders in the Charlottesville area are certified to build to EarthCraft standards. Two local construction companies, as well as other contractors, that work with EarthCraft are exhibitors at the H&G Festival. 
 
Abrahamse & Company Builders (www.abrahamse.com) has been a high-quality, award-winning builder in the Charlottesville area for 35 years, a long-time member of BRHBA, EarthCraft, U.S. Green Building Council, and many other sustainable groups, but this is their first visit to the Home and Garden show/festival. When asked why, Dale Abrahamse explains that he believes sustainability and good quality construction belong in homes at all price points. “I’m excited to talk with people about how to increase efficiency and sustainability—without having to spend a fortune to do it. Sustainable construction and products have reached the point that they are available and should be used for everyone. It is not more expensive to use energy efficient products,” Abrahamse states.
 
While Abrahamse & Company is known for working with architects on new custom homes, in the last years they have been  working with the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) and bringing their ‘high-end,’ quality construction and green principles into the field of retrofitting existing homes  to increase energy efficiency and sustainability. They invite you to stop by their booth so they can show you what’s possible–plus they have a little ‘trinket’ for you.
Another EarthCraft affiliate, Artisan Construction, Inc. (www.artisaninc.com), founded by Doug Lowe in 1987, has a long-standing and stellar reputation for sustainable construction.
In 2005 Artisan Construction built the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified home in the area and recently Lowe was a judge on the Department of Energy’s “Solar Decathlon” international research project.
 
All this started, Lowe says, from a keen interest in energy efficiency and the process evolved into one dedicated to sustainability. To each home they bring knowledge gained from products used in their commercial buildings, mostly medical and high-tech. Because of this high-tech background they are called upon to build homes that are highly custom and unique—ones requiring this expertise. Yet, as of 1996 they had built homes in most Charlottesville subdivisions, too.
 
Doug Lowe is adamant that green building not be restricted to only custom homes. In his view, “…all homes are custom” and with some forethought and planning, homes can easily incorporate green design principles. For example, Lowe tells us that the “…most common sense and important energy efficient design principle is the siting of the house. Does it take advantage of passive solar? Is it protected from the cold winds of winter? Does the landscaping add to its protection in summer and winter?” 
 
Artisan Construction has been an exhibitor at the Home and Garden Show for many years and Lowe is excited to return. “I always enjoy the show, seeing old friends. So I hope many people will stop by to talk—we’d like to make new friends and we have lots to show them.”
And that last statement can be attributed to all the exhibitors, “Stop by. Say ‘hey.’ We have lots to show you!”
 
Francesca Toscani (Interior Editions) specializes in reworking and remodeling difficult kitchen, bath and other interior spaces to unlock their potential. Contact her at francesca.toscani@yahoo.com.

New City Arts hosts three-day forum

It often seems as if Charlottesville has an unusually high number of artists – and arts organizations – per capita. But are those artists serving the needs of the community, and vice versa? The New City Arts Initiative, the Charlottesville-based branch of the International Arts Movement group, is hosting a weekend-long forum to address these questions and more.

From Friday to Sunday, April 20th-22nd, New City Arts will host a series of presentations and exchanges at The Haven. The presenters include Greg Kelly and Maggie Guggenheimer from The Bridge PAI, Howard Singerman and Dean Dass from UVA’s Art Department, and formerly Charlottesville-based artists like Kate Daughdrill and Adam Wolpa; the presenters are paired, in the hopes of instigating lively discussion.

Day passes and weekend-long passes are still available via walk-up registration during the weekend of the forum; details, and a full schedule of events, are available on the New City Arts website.
 

Green Scene Blog: How efficient is your house?

I heard from the folks at LEAP this week, and true to form, they’re cooking up still more big ideas to make local houses more efficient. An announcement’s coming on April 26 about their next big campaign. I promised not to reveal all, but I can tell you this much: It’s a cool way to celebrate Charlottesville’s 250th birthday by making the town an even better (read: "more energy-efficient") place to live.

And I can also tell you this. If you’d like to sign up for an extremel affordable home energy review, get in touch with LEAP soon. Or, visit the LEAP tables at the Home and Garden Show, or the Eco Fair, both happening this weekend.

What’s a home energy review? It’s a visit from a smart professional person who will check out your house and come up with a list of things you can do to cut energy usage by at least 10 percent–and likely more. We’re talking low- or no-cost changes: stuff like washing your clothes in cold water instead of hot.

Because LEAP subsidizes the review, it will cost $25, which is mighty reasonable compared to the several hundred you might pay on your own. Reviews are performed by professionals who contract with LEAP, so that they can dispense unbiased advice.

Stay tuned for more…

C-VILLE Arts Beat: Top Picks for Apr 17-Apr 23

Thursday 4/19

Poetry in motion

The Bridge’s neo-bohemian attitude also leads to film enthusiasts rubbing elbows with painters, musicians, photographers and writers, so it only seems inevitable that this cultural soup has resulted in Flicker Poetry. On Thursday night, Michael Rutherglen, Lisa Fink, and Jordan Bolden will read their work in between films by Stan Brakhage and James Broughton, groundbreaking filmmakers who were among the first to attempt poetic expression on film. Donation suggested, 8:15pm. The Bridge PAI, 209 Monticello Rd. 984-5669.

Three poetic talents express themselves between reels of “the wacky, the brave, the beautiful, and the rarely screened” such as James Broughton’s Scattered Remains (above) at The Bridge PAI’s Flicker Poetry.

Friday 4/20

Free love

Friday’s After Five is about to get a discount on its car insurance. FAF turns 25 this year, and with over 65,000 people attending each season, it is officially “the place to be” on Friday nights in Cville. Opening this season will be Love Canon, breaking out the hits of the ’80s with a twist of banjo, mandolin and “high lonesome” vocals. Be sure to bring a few bucks so the beer truck doesn’t get lonely. Free, 5pm. Ntelos Wireless Pavilion, Downtown Mall. www.thenteloswirelesspavilion.com

Saturday 4/21

Aww shucks

Why don’t oysters give to charity? Because they’re shellfish. Luckily, Cerberus Productions and Devil’s Backbone Brewery are back at it again with the Second Annual Blue Ridge Oyster Festival to benefit The Chesapeake Bay Foundation. After the success of last year’s event, improvements have been made to facilitate the crowds starving for oysters and The Rock Barn’s tasty treats. Music provided by Tara Mills with Strings Attached, William Walter & Tucker Rogers, Adrian Duke, and Jackass Flats. Top that off with local beer and wine. See you there. $10-15, 1pm. Concert Grounds at Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company, 200 Mosby’s Run, Roseland. 361-1001.

Thursday-Sunday 4/19-22

Birdspeak

After graduating from UVA with a BA in printmaking and political and social thought, artist Kate Daughdrill made her way to Detroit to continue her creative journey. During Charlottesville’s upcoming Tom Tom Festival, Daughdrill will be back to host three performative printing sessions on the Downtown Mall and surrounding streets. Using stencils and birdseed, she will create a series of birdseed prints that are typically legible for two to three days, followed by a workshop at The Garage, teaching others to create and share their own prints. This one ain’t just for the birds. Free, Downtown Mall, April 19-22 and 7pm, The Garage, 250 First St., April 22. www.tomtomfest.com.

Flock to artist Kate Daughdrill as she stencils her way through Downtown using birdseed as her medium.

UVA receives $12 million gift for Contemplative Sciences Center

 The University of Virginia will establish a Contemplative Sciences Center thanks to a $12 million gift from Sonia and Paul Jones of Greenwich, Conn. The gift was made in honor of their yoga teacher.

Paul Jones is a UVA graduate and hedge fund manager whose $35 million donation to the University went to build the John Paul Jones Arena, named in honor of his father.

The goal of the Center will be to foster understanding of the practices, ideas and application of contemplation techniques such as yoga and meditation.

According to UVaToday, the Contemplative Sciences Center will involve collaboration among among the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and Curry School of Education. There are future plans to include the School of Architecture, Darden School of Business and McIntire School of Commerce.

The Center will offer programs next year, including a new Buddhism Contemplation course, a Contemplative in Residence and Contemplative Science Research Grants.

Click here for more information.

Green Scene Blog: Learning as we goat

I used to write all the time on this blog about gardening, and then canning, and then chickens. We still garden a lot, haven’t slowed down on the canning, and our flock remains a fixture. But all those things are, in a way, par for the course. They’re factors in our life, smoothly incorporated into the routine. What’s news right now is goats.

And the goats are a big deal for us. They take up an awful lot of Mr. Green Scene’s time as he cuts fenceline and moves the electric netting from place to place, wrangling goats all the while. They’ve loomed large in what I think of as the headlines of our household: "Goats Escape; Are Recaptured." "Novice Farmers Await Birth of Unknown Number of Kids." "Twins Born to Tan Goat; Cuteness Overwhelming."

Yesterday, the headline read "First-Ever Goat Milking." Our second set of twins was born on Monday–again, we weren’t home and missed the event; good thing our goats are of a breed that doesn’t need human help to kid.

The new babies looked great, but mama had a problem: Her udder was lopsided. (Women, can you imagine the humiliation?) One teat was very swollen, and the kids wouldn’t nurse there. The more they nursed on the other side, the more lopsided she became. And the more outsized the teat, the less chance the kids had of latching on.

So we determined to try to milk her. Need I say it? We’ve never done this before. We got a few tips from friends with experience and we read up online. Then we marched into the goat fence with a bowl of warm water, a leash and collar, and a big bucket o’ treats.

Mr. Green Scene lured the lady with treats, grabbed her horns, and held her while I clipped on the collar and leash. We secured her to a nearby tree and offered her grain. Then I washed her teat, to help her relax and let the milk down, and began milking with the technique I’d read about: thumb and forefinger around the top of the teat, other fingers squeezing in turn, top to bottom.

And right away, it worked! It was much less tricky than I’d feared. Milk squirted onto my shoes and onto the ground. Mama goat was very cooperative (for a goat). I milked and milked, feeling elated.

Ten minutes later, things were much improved. We milked twice again today (saving some of the milk, now that we know we can do it). We’re not sure that we’re out of the woods; the kids still need to get used to milking there, and we’re crossing our fingers that mama won’t get an infection. But what a cool experience.

Nothing’s better than learning on the fly!