Peter DeMartino, executive director of Charlottesville’s AIDS-HIV Services Group, takes his own blood sample to demonstrate a rapid Hepatitis C test. Photo: Eli Williams
Peter DeMartino did not witness the arrival of the AIDS epidemic in Charlottesville, but he knows the stories.
“Quarantine, nurses in suits, food left outside the door, people not being bathed or touched,” said DeMartino, who in 2010 became the executive director of the city’s AIDS-HIV Services Group (ASG). “It was that time in the crisis where people didn’t know. There was a lot of ignorance and a lot of fear.”
In the 27 years since ASG was founded to fight AIDS locally, a lot has changed. And in the three years since DeMartino’s arrival, ASG has changed too, broadening its mission to focus not just on testing and advocacy, but whole-patient health care. Now, the organization is expanding its scope even more with a grant from the state to conduct some of the first community-wide testing for another deadly virus with a powerful stigma: Hepatitis C, which kills 12,000 American annually, and, if early test results are any indication, occurs in high rates in Charlottesville.
Even as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) were recommending more people get tested for Hep C, which can persist for years without causing any symptoms, ASG found there was a vacuum of data on the disease in the Commonwealth. So the group stepped up when the Virginia Department of Health received funding from the CDC to explore proactive Hep C testing. Last month, ASG became one of two pilot sites in Virginia, offering a free, 20-minute Hep C test as a complement to an HIV test, both at its offices and at other sites in the community.
It’s a shift, said ASG staff, but one that lines up with the core values of an organization that knows how to fight diseases that nobody wants to talk about.
By the time the New York-born DeMartino hit his teens, there was widespread understanding of how to prevent HIV, but also plenty of reason to be afraid. So many had already died. “As a young gay man, there was sort of that fatalistic attitude of not if, but when,” he said.
In 2004, fresh out of graduate school and newly diagnosed as HIV positive, he went to work for the Desert AIDS Project in Palm Springs, California, fueled by a desire to seek out and learn from the people who had fought their way through the early years of the epidemic.
What he found was a $13 million organization serving mostly retirees who had been positive for years, led by people who had long ago put down the sword.
“We’d become this mecca, this odd Disneyland of people with HIV,” DeMartino said. “It got to a point where I started thinking, ‘Why am I doing this work still?’”
When he came to ASG in 2010, he knew he was facing a whole new set of challenges. The disease was the same, he said, but the epidemic was totally different—from the one in Palm Springs; from the one in Charlottesville in the ’80s, when ASG was founded. Especially in the rural South, AIDS was starting to look like a symptom of larger issues: poverty, poor health care, and systemic discrimination.
“It might not be people dying in bed unwashed and unfed because people are afraid of their HIV,” he said. “But now it’s transgendered individuals. It’s African-American women who’ve never felt like they had the right to appropriate care.”
DeMartino decided the local fight against AIDS needed not just new tactics, but a new mission. In three years, ASG has gone from a testing and crisis counseling center in an off-the-radar IX building space with an unmarked front door to a behavioral health organization offering a wide range of counseling and education services out of a highly visible and home-like building in the Martha Jefferson neighborhood.
The number of people coming through its doors is up 30 percent since 2010, DeMartino said. Support groups—positives, non-positives, partners, singles—meet in sunny rooms full of overstuffed chairs. Staff are trained to screen for mental health and substance use issues, a licensed clinical social worker is on hand to offer counseling for anyone who needs it, and ASG is now the first AIDS-specific organization in the Commonwealth licensed to provide Medicaid services.
In the midst of its institutional shift, staff and board members started looking for a way to take on another such disease: Hepatitis C.
An AIDS group targeting Hep C makes a lot of sense, DeMartino said. The two viruses have overlapping risk pools—sharing needles is probably the most common way Hep C is spread, though it’s possible to transmit it through unprotected sex—and there’s a high rate of co-infection. “From a scientific and epidemiological perspective, it’s very similar to HIV,” he said. “As a social issue, from a ‘How do we handle it in the community?’ standpoint, it’s extremely similar. There’s going to be stigma around it. There’s going to be fear of treatment.”
Christopher Barnett, ASG’s testing coordinator, said that of those screened, 9.5 percent have tested positive for Hep C. There’s not enough existing data to know if that’s unusually high for an at-risk population, said Barnett, but even ASG’s staff was surprised at the number.
When people do test positive, Barnett and others are there offer to support and a road map to treatment. Those infected can live for years with few symptoms, and the disease is often curable, but eventually, 70 to 85 percent who get it will develop chronic liver disease, and up to 20 percent will develop cirrhosis, according to the CDC.
“It’s crucially important that they know what their options are,” Barnett said.
DeMartino hopes that by applying what ASG has learned from nearly three decades of AIDS work to the fight against another killer virus, the organization can reach more people at risk for and infected with both, and at the same time, make Charlottesville the poster child for how to battle stigma-laden chronic disease in the South. The city has its share of issues that compound the problems of AIDS and Hepatitis, he said, but it also has the resources and willingness to fight back against all of that.
“If we can’t make this work in Charlottesville, we can’t make this work anywhere,” he said.
Why baby boomers need to get tested
Hepatitis C—a virus that causes liver damage, including cirrhosis and liver cancer—is the most common blood-borne infection in the U.S. About 3 million Americans have it, and nearly 75 percent of them were born between 1945 and 1965. As a result, the CDC last year started recommending all boomers get tested at least once in their lifetimes, regardless of whether they have other risk factors.
Other high-risk groups who should get a Hep C test include those who:
Currently or have ever injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago
Received donated blood or organs before 1992, when screening improved
Are on hemodialysis
To schedule a rapid test—you’ll have results in 20 minutes—visit www.asgva.org.
You nominated more than 480 of your favorite people, places, and things in Charlottesvile in the Best of C-VILLE Primaries. Now, vote the best of the best into the winners’ circle. Vote now until midnight on Sunday, June 30. Best of C-VILLE 2013 hits stands Tuesday, August 20.
Consider this your summertime bucket list. With only 93 days to enjoy the heat and fend off the cicadas, you’d better get started. Here are our suggestions, from driving a convertible and grilling the perfect steak to indulging in homemade peach ice cream and taking a dip au naturale. Whatever you do, don’t let the summer end without…
…starting a bonfire Flame on
A bonfire party? Isn’t that just for really cool people who ride motorcycles and put cigarettes out on their boot heel? Nope, you can do it too. But first things first—not within Charlottesville city limits. Fire Marshal Gary Whiting would be on you like a brush fire if you tried that.
Once you’re safely into the jurisdiction of Albemarle County Fire and Rescue, throwing a bonfire party is just a matter of securing the land (preferably private property) and a permit. Have the department out to your site. They’ll make sure you’ve got proper clearance (50′ on all sides), means of extinguishment (a hose, extinguishers, or buckets of water), and the right size fire (no more than 5’x5’x5′ feet).
Permit in place, have fun with your fire. The county’s assistant fire marshal, Elie Jones, says he’s seen teepee-like structures and wood stacked like a log cabin. Just don’t burn anything other than natural products like wood or brush, unless you’re planning a quick getaway on your Hog.
Photo: Jack Looney
…watching a ballgame Boys of summer
Rumor has it that when William Faulkner lived in Charlottesville, he spent much of his time wandering around in search of a good ballgame. Were he here today during the UVA off-season, he’d likely find his way to the all-star tournaments hosted by the Lane Babe Ruth League on steamy nights from late June through the middle of July. The league, whose roots go back to the 1958 union of the Lane and Lambeth leagues, plays in the shadow of the old high school on McIntire Road on a perfectly kept field, and features talent that emerges from the surrounding area’s Little League and Cal Ripken youth baseball setups. Want to know what summer felt like in the ’50s? Pack a picnic and a seat cushion and watch 13- to 18-year-old boys play ball like grown men. Like Skip said in Bull Durham, “This is a simple game. You throw the ball. You hit the ball. You catch the ball. You got it?” For schedules, visit lanebaberuth.org.
…playing badminton What’s that racquet?
Once called “Battledore and Shuttlecock” (we can’t make this stuff up), badminton as we know it today is a summertime classic originating from 18th century British India when it was created by British military officers. Similar to tennis, players volley the shuttlecock back and forth until one side wins the rally. The game ends when 21 points are reached. Grab your own set at Target for $19.29. Cheap and easy? That’s just what we like in a shuttlecock.
…listening for cicadas Music in the trees
Close your eyes. What do you hear? Drumming or singing? Both, actually. The particular thrumming sound of summer is the result of a natural orchestra, featuring some 100-decibel daytime solos by the 17-year cicadas, which create their particular rattling call differently than many other singing insects. Instead of rubbing body parts together like crickets and katydids (an act called stridulation), the male cicada instead tenses and relaxes muscles in specialized sections of the thorax called tymbals. To those string and percussion sections, a number of frog species lend their voices, pushing air through their voice boxes in an act that approximates singing. Go somewhere quiet, close your eyes, and see if you can pick one layer of sounds from another. For more information about insect calls, visit insectsingers.com.
Photo: Jack Looney
…driving in a convertible Ride in style
The open road, the wind in your hair, the top down on your…Jeep Wrangler? Well, that just won’t do. Throw a silk scarf in your hair and hop in a 1978 Alfa Romeo or, better yet, a 1959 MGA. Batesville-based Sports Car Rentals offers one- to two-day rentals of those classic rides and more—plus 200 free miles per day for optimum exploring (and showing off).
File photo.
…crashing a wedding Your absence is requested
I’ve seen a few crashers in my day (including one at my own wedding) and, as a wedding photographer, I’ve been to over 100 weddings over the past few years. With these experiences in mind, here’s a small manifesto for wannabe-crashers.
Be committed. Wedding crashing is a larger task than Hollywood would have you believe. You will have to spend a fair amount of time and maybe even some money preparing for it. You will have to do a fair amount of research. And there is a high likelihood that you will be busted (which could be part of the fun for you).
As if it wasn’t obvious by their general disregard for social niceties, crashers are often rude. So be nice. Be super nice—even if you get busted. A simple “So sorry, we were just having a little silly fun” is way better than a stream of expletives. And less likely to end in handcuffs. If you are happy, fun, and generally polite, you will blend better.
Speaking of blending, this is the hardest part. Most weddings in the area are between 100 and 250 people. That sounds big, but start thinking about how many people you know, starting with your family, and pretty quickly you’ll realize you know well over 400 or 500 people. Now, imagine you’ve spent time figuring out which of those people to invite to your shindig. You now have some idea of what the average bride and groom goes through while planning their wedding. They’ll be taking note of every face they see that night.
There are a few ways to best avoid getting caught. The best one is to pick a huge honkin’ wedding—500-plus guests. The bigger the reception, the easier it will be to go unnoticed. This will take some serious research, as this type of wedding is more rare in our area.
Dress nicely, but not too nicely. Most weddings are not black tie affairs. If you wear a dapper jacket and a tie, or a nice dress, you will likely fit right in. If you walk into the room and everyone is in a tux, it’s probably best to tuck your tail and run.
Bring a date, not a partner in crime. There are very few singles at weddings—most have dates, partners, or spouses of some sort, so don’t crash expecting to score. Instead, make it a date with your significant other. It will be more fun, and you’ll blend much better as a pair.
Come late, and leave early. Grab a drink or two at the cocktail hour and then fade into the mist instead of attending the ceremony. The cocktail hour is generally when the bride and groom are having their portraits taken. Everyone else is less likely to notice (or care about) your presence.
Speaking of presence, bring a present. The truth is no one likes a wedding crasher, but if you bring a token of good tidings, it might help balance out your social karma.—J.R.
Photo: Jack Looney
…learning to golf At home on the range
Ah, the serenity of the golf course. Green grass. Bucolic ponds. The occasional call of the whip-poor-will. …If only you didn’t have to actually hit the golf ball.
To really enjoy the links, you’re going to need someone to help you swing less like Charles Barkley in traction and a spot to practice without fear of humiliation. Fortunately, Charlottesville is a good place for both.
“I’ve taken a lot of lessons [around Charlottesville], and I can honestly say I’ve never had a bad one,” said Philip Seay, executive director of the First Tee of Charlottesville, a program designed to teach young people life lessons through golf. “The most important thing is finding a pro who can understand your swing and get to know you.”
C’ville is home to two instructors who consistently make the national “best teaching pro” lists: Rob McNamara of Farmington Country Club and Kandi Comer, who runs Kandi Comer Golf out of Old Trail Golf Club. McNamara’s schedule is mostly devoted to the Farmington membership; nonmembers have to be sponsored by a member in order to work with him. Comer is more accessible, offering one-on-one sessions and group lessons to all types of players. Seay also recommends Rion Summers or Dan Knop at Meadowcreek Golf Course, Scott Ezell at Birdwood Golf Course, or Kevin Daughtrey at Dick’s Sporting Goods. If you’re a beginner or intermediate player, Seay says to inquire about the Get Golf Ready program when you contact a pro.
Seay said the best place for beginners to practice is McIntire Park Golf Course, a sand-green track where you can play all day for $5. As for driving ranges, Seay recommends Old Trail and the Highlands Golf Park in Ruckersville “if you want level terrain so you can see what the ball is doing.” Now who would want that?
Photo: Andrea Hubbell
…eating your weight in ice cream I scream, you scream
A perfect summer experience can crowd out a hundred hours spent in a dark, un-air-conditioned house waiting for the power to come back on after a storm. In your memory, it’s the sweetest, most fleeting moments that last longest. Nothing is quite as sweet or as fleeting as peach ice cream. When the peaches at Chiles Peach Orchard are perfectly ripe, the Crozet Lions Club volunteers roll up their sleeves and make all-natural, old-fashioned peach ice cream during the dog days of summer, giving you about a minute to gulp down your two scoops before it melts in your cup. The 24th annual Peach Ice Cream Days run August 3-4 during the orchard’s regular hours on Saturday (9am-6pm) and Sunday (10am-5pm).
Photo: Jack Looney
…paddling the Moorman’s River High water
You gotta wait for it. Only a big summer storm can supply the water you need to run the Moorman’s River, but it’s totally worth it for an adventure that can be wrapped under four hours start to finish and get you places you can’t get on feet or wheels. The Moorman’s is a scenic and shallow trout stream that runs parallel to Garth Road. Ditch a car on Free Union Road, and then continue up to the bridge at Millington Road, where there is a path to the put-in area. If the water’s good, you can run the stretch back to Free Union in a couple sweet hours that take you down a section of the river parallel to Ridge Road, along some of the most beautiful private land in Albemarle County. About halfway down, the river makes a hairpin left turn and there’s a sandy beach with a perfect swimming hole. Stop and soak in it.
FUN, coming to the nTelos Wireless Pavilion September 26. Publicity photo.
…breaking a sweat Groove to the music
The only way to combat the wet, wooly humidity of Central Virginia is to revel in it, accompanied by a strong backbeat to help you get down. Summer brings the music outside with many opportunites to get your groove on.
Fridays After Five (at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion through September 13) is the best way to shake off the week, get cold beer spilled on you, and practice your hula moves.
Tease your bangs and take in the air-conditioned splendor at Aquanett’s ’80s cover show at The Jefferson Theater (June 8).
Forty-five years later, the progressive rock stylings of Yes (at the Pavilion on July 23) are still blowing the minds of its devout fan base—and the flashbacks are free.
Trombone Shorty opens on a high note before Grace Potter & the Nocturnals (at the Pavilion on August 14) lay down some badass rock.
The Beach Boys (at the Pavilion on August 28) serve no other season as well (even without Brian Wilson) and are the epitome of summer fun.
If slow motion is your speed, The XX’s hypnotic vocals and honey-thick beats presume to rock you with restraint at the Pavilion on September 20.
And self-described FUN (at the Pavilion on September 26) is…well, it’s sold out, so you’d better have your ticket.
Whether you’re a twirling dervish, a skipping hippie, or a head-nodding marathoner, the area’s music festivals let you do your thing. The Steel Wheels host the Red Wing Roots Music Festival (July 12-13), and Floyd Fest (July 25-28) is in its 11th year. New to the circuit, the Interlocken mega-fest in Nelson County will round out the summer and The Festy (October 11-13) officially closes the outdoor music season.
Photo: Will Kerner
…watching a movie outside At the dive-in
Drive-in movies are so last year. Local photographer Will Kerner, who frequently hosts movie nights in his backyard, says you really only need two things for a successful movie night: a good quality projector with high lumens (he recommends Panasonic) and a large white fabric (his is a 9’x21′ from a theatrical supply house in New York City). Barring the latter, use what you have. “Sometimes we just project on the wall surface, which is 6’x14′,” Kerner said. And another tip: “Care must be taken about the wind!” Never try to put up a screen on windy days or nights—and make sure your sound system can be protected or moved if it rains.
…having a picnic Basket case
When people say “fun in the sun,” what they’re really referring to is a picnic (we’re guessing). With that in mind, here’s a list of treats—both savory and sweet—to make the most of your outdoor dinner. HotCakes Barracks Road Shopping Center, 295-6037
Sesame noodles ($6.49/lb.)
Crab cakes ($12.99 each)
Feast! 416 W. Main St., 244-7800
Fruit salad ($10/lb.)
Baby spinach salad ($12/lb.)
Herb hummus ($6.95 per 6.5 oz. container)
Crostini ($5.95 a bag)
Blackberry and rhubarb jam by Jam According to Daniel ($9.50 per jar)
Market Street Market 400 E. Market St., 293-3478
Egg salad sliders ($1 each)
House pasta salad ($3.50 per package)
Tuna salad ($9.99/lb.)
Trader Joe’s Stonefield Shopping Center, 974-1466
Sliced Tuscan pane (Italian Bread baked in stone ovens) ($2.49)
Happy Trekking trail mix with almonds, cashews, pistachios, chocolate, cranberries and cherries ($5.49 for a 15 oz. bag)
Marinated Cilieginie mozzarella ($5.99)
Whole Foods 1797 Hydraulic Rd., 973-4900
Seasoned grilled vegetables (in wet bar) ($7.99/lb.)
Multigrain tabbouleh ($6.51/lb.)
Mac-n-cheese (from smoked bar) ($8.49/lb.)
Chocolate parfait (chocolate cake with chocolate sauce and whipped cream) ($4.99 each)
Watermelon slices (price depends on weight)
…skinny dipping When I dip, you dip, we dip
Skinny dipping goes hand in hand with cheap beer, fake IDs, and balmy summer nights. Here are a few of our favorite places to bare it all.
The beach at Darden Towe. The little-known sand dunes on the banks of the Rivanna will make your sprint to the water feel like the opening credits of “Baywatch.”
Walnut Creek Lake. The gates are locked at night, so it’ll be a bit of a hike in. But it’s secluded and the water is always warm this time of year—perfect for your buff backstroke.
ACAC’s rooftop pool. This is the Ph.D. level of skinny-dipping. It would require some James Bond-type skills (and maybe a misdemeanor or two), but imagine the view (and not just of your dipping partner’s bare cheeks)!
…running through a sprinkler Shower the people
The spray of your neighbor’s sprinkler may be an unwelcome shower, but at our local parks, playing in the spray is a summertime ritual. Greenleaf, Belmont, and Forest Hills parks have all been renovated in recent years and gussied up with modern geysers of chlorinated rain. Kids dig the gushing whimsical animals and mushrooms that pump out continuous sprays of water and the ’rents can relax and chat while supervising the soaking.
File photo.
…stargazing Bright lights, no city
The old country saying goes that “The stars shone on Alabama.” And while that may be true, they currently shine on Central Virginny. Charlottesville is one of the most romantic (and best) places to look at the stars. In fact, UVA’s Fan Mountain Observatory in Southern Albemarle was established here because of the low levels of light pollution. Here are some of our favorite places to get your (star)shine on.
Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub. It’s a bit of a hike, but the stars (and brews) make the trip well worth it. Magnificent mountain backdrops show you your place in the universe. With a few beers, and the right partner, you may just find the meaning of life.
Carter Mountain Orchard. There’s light pollution in scores here, but that’s half the point. Not only do you get the sense of being two steps closer to the heavens, you’ll feel godlike when looking out over all of Charlottesville. Also an amazing spot to watch a summer storm roll in with your honey (thunderbolts set the mood).
O-Hill. Fan Mountain’s little brother can hold its own and is much more accessible to us townies in the summer. While there are occasionally public nights, it’s much more charming on a quiet evening. On top of O-Hill, you’re wrapped in the warm blanket of the cosmos. Is there a better way to spend an evening with your loved one?
…grilling the perfect steak How it’s done well (and not well-done)
Start by selecting a quality-grown steak with a fair amount of clean, white fat marbelization. The New York strip, rib-eye, and hanging tender are all cuts with a tasty balance. Remove the steak from refrigeration about one hour before cooking. This allows the meat to come to room temperature, and makes for a more evenly cooked result.
For the finest flavor, the grilling should be done over an all-natural charcoal fire with no gas or chemicals, as they can impart a subtle, “off” taste in the beef. Spread the coals out evenly to avoid hot spots, and when they reach the point of glowing embers (no flames) and are too hot to hold a hand over, your heat is ready.
Season the steak well with kosher salt, a course ground pepper, and a light sprinkle of sugar (a steakhouse secret that produces a gorgeous caramel sear on the outside), then lay it on a hot grill.
Be careful to avoid flare-ups from the coals, and move your cut around as necessary so that flame never touches the meat. Let it cook approximately six minutes on each side to achieve the optimum sear outside and a medium rare center, using a quick touch test to check that the meat is slightly soft, but springs back.
Remove the steak from the grill and transfer it to a rack to rest for eight minutes. This allows for carry-over cooking and the redistribution of the juices as the temperature starts to come down. The juices should drip away from the meat to preserve the bronzed crust. Glisten the meat by brushing a teaspoon of melted butter on top, and serve with a bold red wine.
Photo: Jim Hall
…visiting the Corner Come back soon
When class is in session and the seasonal population is too high to allow for any useful anthropological observation, most fully realized adults regard the Corner as some distant planet that may or may not host intelligent life, posing too great a logistical challenge to bother exploring. Nowadays, with space to move around and the latitude to stand in one spot without being trampled by an army of Dockers-bepanted, blue-blazered Darden hopefuls with bangs, the Corner can be a rather enjoyable concentration of drinking holes and snack bars.
Descending a narrow stairway off of Elliewood Avenue, a reveler could get a speakeasy vibe arriving at the door of Coupe’s, the self-declared “Cheers of the South.” Inside this cozy rathskeller I asked for what they considered to be their signature cocktail. Bartender Matt Oster made me what he said he makes for anyone ordering a drink they can’t get anywhere else, his Muddy Water Mai Tai. A dash of grenadine was splashed with coconut-flavored Malibu rum and the glass filled with Shock Top wheat ale, with a little tilting room left. Oster laid that concoction on the bar alongside a shot of orange-infused vodka (Virginia ABC laws prohibiting the serving of a mixture of high-proof liquor and beer in a bar). I dumped the vodka into the beer cocktail. It goes down quite smoothly, this bursty, refreshing MWMT. Plus, Coupe’s menu is compact and solid with tacos, sliders, a chicken wrap, and meat-laden salads. Their backyard-comfort outdoor seating backs up to trees along the train tracks. It’s a nice little sneak away.
Michael’s Bistro is another offseason Corner sweet spot. The bottle beer menu is pages long with offerings from Chimay to Humboldt Red Nectar Ale. The draft beer list, under the chalkboard heading “I’d tap that,” is equally exciting, with options like PBR and Delirium Tremens (another Belgian). If there’s not a beer for you at Michael’s, then go back to Canada. Plus, on my visit, there were grown-up folks overheard having conversations about the finer points of Kierkegaard and the moral quandary of investing in domestic drone futures.
If the Charlottesville geography police will permit it, I’d put the bar at the Courtyard Marriott at West Main and 12th Street in the Corner zone. I miss the days-gone-by preponderance of dim hotel lounges and this place has a Euro-’80s motif that encapsulates so many quaint and quirky elements of a lost age haven for travelers of impossibly disparate origins to gather in gleeful cacophony. But, most enticingly, there’s a huge-screen TV propped a few feet in front of a long sofa in a place that’s mostly empty and weird enough to feel like you’re anywhere but home.—P.L.
Photo: Courtesy Montpelier
…taking a tour Lost in a forest
Sun too hot? Find shelter in 200 acres of old-growth timber at Montpelier’s Landmark Forest. Virtually undisturbed for two centuries, the rich Davidson soil provides a foundation for five varieties of oak that grow alongside massive tulip poplar and hickory trees, some of which are 200-300 years old with diameters approaching 5′. The deciduous forest canopy is visited by more than 100 bird species each year, from colorful buntings, orioles, and tanagers to imposing hawks, woodpeckers, and owls. Starting from the Visitors Center, begin your walk on a gentle one-mile loop or carve your own path through the forest in the footsteps of James Madison. Access to the Landmark Forest and the wider grounds of Montpelier is free to all visitors. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 9am to 5:30pm. Bird info at montpelier.org/mansion-and-grounds/montpelier-birds.
File photo.
…climbing a tree Come on, get higher
Tree climbing: It’s not just for kids anymore. In fact, it’s become a fairly serious recreational sport, with folks using rope systems previously used only by professional arborists to scale the branches. We reached out to the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards for some local recommendations, and while many were hesitant to recommend climbing public trees (it’s not only dangerous, but potentially harmful to the tree itself), a few of the Stewards suggested the tulip poplar trunk at Kemper Park. Not really trees anymore in the truest sense, the hollowed-out trunks once stood as full-grown trees at the West Front of Monticello until they were removed in 2008 due to old age.
Other suggestions? The big Sycamore along the river at Riverview Park and, more generally, a white pine. Said CATS president Phil Stokes, “It puts out a single whorl of new branches each year as it grows and it tends to keep its lower branches.” The view is limited because of its dense outer foliage, but if you want height, there’s no better option. White pines are the tallest tree in Virginia.
File photo.
…scoring big at a yard sale Make me a deal
Choose wisely. That’s a lesson that can apply to all aspects of yard saling—from the area of town you visit to the time you go. Said self-professed “yard sale queen” Ellen Shevella, “The first person there usually has the best selection, but also the highest prices.” Toward the end of the day, sellers are willing to let things go for cheaper (if not free!) to avoid dealing with them any further. “I find that they’ll take almost any offer on large piece they don’t want to have to store or heave around again,” Shevella said.
Other tips? Organize your route to maximize sales. Shevella scours listings on Craigslist and in local papers and hits neighborhoods with the most sales first. (She said Downtown sales—from Locust all the way to Rugby, in fact—are the most fruitful.) If you’re looking for something specific, ask! It’s possible the seller may be holding on to something but needs that extra push.
And when you’re about to buy, use small bills. “If you’re trying to bargain with a seller and you finally get them down to $10 off of $40, don’t hand them a 50 dollar bill,” she said. If they’re not into haggling, leave your name and number. If they don’t sell what you want that day, they might be willing to take your offer tomorrow.
If it sounds like hard work, it pays off. Shevella, an antiques dealer, has made some pretty big scores: an antique Iranian tribal for $25 that ended up being worth $400; an antique double bunny chocolate mold bought for $5 which she resold for $200; and a $500 14k gold pocket watch for $25. Happy hunting!
Each week, the news team takes a look at upcoming meetings and events in Charlottesville and Albemarle we think you should know about. Consider it a look into our datebook, and be sure to share newsworthy happenings in the comments section.
The Charlottesville City Council meets at 7pm Monday at City Hall. The agenda includes resolutions and ordinances on the city’s ADA Transition Plan, the proposed utility rates for 2014, and the Meadowcreek Stream Valley Master Plan. The Council will also hear a quarterly update from the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority.
The Albemarle County Planning Commission meets from 6-8pm Tuesday in Lane Auditorium at the County Office Building. On the agenda are two special use permits and a rezoning application that would allow for a higher density build at the Lofts At Meadowcreek in the Rio magesterial district.
On Wednesday, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors holds a regular meeting starting at 9 a.m. at the County Office Building. Up for discussion and/or action: the Virginia Tourism Development Financing Program, the Community Health Improvement Plan, board and commission vacancies, and two public hearings, including one concerning the Bellair CSA’s barn.
The Charlottesville School Board meets from 5-7pm Thursday in the media center at CHS. Included in the agenda: the renewal of the superintendent’s contract, an update on science lab renovations, details on science textbook adoption, and a report from the Special Education Advisory Committee.
The City Council will hold a work session on the Charlottesville City Market from 5-7pm Thursday at CitySpace, 100 Fifth Ave. NE. Council members will see a presentation from Market Ventures on the future of the City Market.
The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission meets from 7-10pm Thursday at the Louisa Arts Center on Fredericksburg Avenue in Louisa. The meeting will include a report on FY13 third-quarter finances.
