Rick Wellbeloved-Stone picked up two additional child porn charges in federal court.
Photo Charlottesville police
Richard Wellbeloved-Stone sat in federal court this morning, often with his head in his hands, as he waited for an initial appearance before a judge on additional charges of child pornography production and child porn possession, on top of the 19 counts of making child porn he faces in state court.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Hoppe found probable cause to move the case to a grand jury after the former Charlottesville High environmental sciences teacher, 57, waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Hoppe also found that Wellbeloved-Stone qualified for court-appointed counsel because his assets are marital property and his wife has filed for a divorce. “Given the nature of the charges, I can anticipate significant costs,” said the judge. Attorney Andre Hakes represents Wellbeloved-Stone on the state charges.
Federal public defender Andrea Harris appeared in court with Wellbeloved-Stone, and she did not seek his release on bond. He’s been held in Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail since his arrest July 27.
He came to law enforcement attention in an online chat on KIK Messenger with an undercover officer in the U.K., who passed along details to Homeland Security July 14. According to a court affidavit, Wellbeloved-Stone, using an account named “bijsincville,” described fantasizing about a prepubescent girl whom he had helped get dressed for bed.
Police searched his home July 25 and found an external hard drive containing 10 files with “titles consistent with child pornography,” according to the affidavit. One had a 9-year-old girl and the video focused on her vagina. Another had a 12-year-old girl performing oral sex on her same-aged boyfriend, and police say the girl is known in the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children.
On Wellbeloved-Stone’s iPhone, agents found 20 images of “a pre-pubescent female’s vagina” taken of the girl waist down. Some of the photos show a male hand manipulating the child’s genitalia, and metadata on the phone shows the photos were taken May 18 and May 20. There were also nonsexual photos taken of the girl before the more graphic images, according to the affidavit.
Wellbeloved-Stone appeared in Charlottesville General District Court September 28, where the prosecution dropped one count of child porn possession.
Current Charlottesville Area Mountain Biking Club President Sam Lindblom helped form Monticello High’s mountain biking club when his son started school there two years ago. Today, Western Albemarle, Albemarle and Charlottesville high schools have teams as well. Photo by Sanjay Suchak
As an avid mountain biker, Dave Stackhouse immediately started looking for like-minded riders when he relocated from Maine to Charlottesville in 2007. The search quickly led the 68-year-old veteran mountain biker to what was then a relatively new area organization, the Charlottesville Area Mountain Biking Club.
“The club had been formed in 2003 out of a growing necessity to create an organization that could integrate and represent the interests of the area’s mountain biking community,” says Stackhouse. “When I joined, it was just sort of getting its sea legs. We had about 40 members, and our activities were pretty limited.”
While the group had worked to construct a few trails at Walnut Creek and Panorama Farms—which is no longer open to mountain bikers—by Stackhouse’s estimation, most weren’t up to snuff. “At that point, we had no real background in trail-building, so those ‘legacy’ trails were installed in a way that we’d now call ‘not up to spec.’”
Furthermore, the efforts had largely been spearheaded by enthusiastic individuals or bike shops, and therefore lacked coherency. What was missing was a comprehensive, long-term vision, and a step-by-step strategy for implementation.
Stackhouse, a lifelong mountain biker who rode with several groups in Maine, landed a seat on the group’s board within a year. In 2010, he became president of the organization.
“I guess I sort of brought an outsider’s perspective to the table, which was probably attractive,” says Stackhouse.
Dave Stackhouse, a lifelong mountain biker, led the Charlottesville Area Mountain Biking Club to become involved in local trail building and maintenance. Photo by Sanjay Suchak
Upon joining the board, one of Stackhouse’s first moves was to advocate for acquiring chapter status through the International Mountain Biking Organization. Becoming a representative of the IMBA, the unifying body for mountain bikers worldwide, would instantaneously legitimize the organization. Additionally, having formed in 1988, the group would provide CAMBC with a wealth of resources, training and mentorship.
“They’ve been around for a long time and are very active in helping chapters implement sustainability standards for trail-building, as well as coaching them through developing the kind of local partnerships with city, county, public and sometimes private entities, which will allow for land use,” says Stackhouse. “They’re a huge advocate for the sport, and a conduit for putting that knowledge to use.”
After securing chapter status under Stackhouse’s leadership, CAMBC quickly adopted sustainability standards for trail-making. Members underwent training and learned how to create trail systems that would provide users with the most enjoyable ride, while having no adverse effect on the environment. Meanwhile, CAMBC beefed up its outreach. The group started emailing more newsletters, developed social media platforms and began hosting open rides and dinners on a weekly basis for riders of all skill-levels, beginners included.
A main goal was to get more kids riding, and to let families know how easy and fun the sport was. In short, all you need is a bike and a helmet. “A lot of people think that you need really fancy equipment and have to go blazing through the woods at breakneck speed, hitting jumps or something like that, but it really isn’t the case,” says Stackhouse. Mostly, it’s about getting into the woods, getting some exercise and enjoying nature. “If you want to buy a really nice bike and go fast, of course, there’s that option,” he adds. “But you certainly don’t have to. And that’s something we wanted people to know.”
Simultaneously, the organization launched a campaign to reach out to local nonprofits and organizations. Cultivating relationships with UVA, the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Fluvanna County and elsewhere became a priority.
“The idea was to educate these organizations and the public at large, letting them know that we existed, were willing to do the legwork to create and maintain networks of sustainable trails and, in turn, how those trails would benefit the community at large,” says Stackhouse.
CAMBC volunteers compiled comparative data, created PowerPoints and verbal presentations, and met with a number of officials, ranging from folks at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and UVA, to various Parks & Recreation representatives and more. After four years of hardcore planning and legwork, their labor paid off. By 2012, CAMBC had procured numerous Memorandums of Understanding—which Stackhouse describes as a kind of legal handshake between organizations—wherein CAMBC was granted permission to modify, create and maintain trails on various properties.
But early in the summer of 2012, the derecho came through and more-or-less demolished the entire area trail system. “There were trees down everywhere, and the work required to get it all up and running again was tremendous,” says Stackhouse. In seeing the forest through the trees, so to speak, he saw the opportunity to create a community partnership with the Rivanna Trails Foundation. The mountain biking organization had amassed a hundreds-strong email list and could easily pull together 50 volunteers for a given day of work, Stackhouse says. So he offered help in fixing area trails and making them sustainable.
After RTF agreed, CAMBC members and associates attacked the project with vigilance. While removing the trees, they fixed trouble spots on the trail. “There were multiple sections that, due to erosion and poor planning, had become dangerous, and were yielding injuries,” says Stackhouse. “As we cleaned up, we rerouted and fixed these. Sometimes, it was a quarter-mile stretch, sometimes 100 yards. It took many, many hours, and a whole lot of patience.”
The end result was two-fold. On the one hand, erosion was put into check, and a more nature- and user-friendly trail system was created. On the other, impressed with CAMBC’s diligence and its offer to take over maintenance of the system, the RTF decided to allow biking on its trails.
“Before that, sure, people were riding out there, but they were doing it illegally,” says Stackhouse. “What that agreement did was establish a 35-mile network of pristine, perfectly sustainable trails for riders right here in the city. Now, you can commute, take the kids out or get off from a hard day of work and jump right on the trail. It gave us access to trail riding right outside our back doors, which is something not a lot of cities have. It’s unique, and very special.”
The partnership sent a message: Charlottesville was ready to define itself as a full-on bike-friendly community. With the Rivanna Trail serving as a pilot of sorts, it became much easier for CAMBC to secure rights to other properties. And as more and more trails were installed in parks throughout the area, more and more people began to ride, creating momentum in the biking community.
Interscholastic revolution
Simultaneous to Stackhouse’s taking the helm of CAMBC, other seeds for the area’s mountain biking future were being planted. In 2010, having accepted a post teaching English at the Miller School of Albemarle, 36-year-old UVA graduate Peter Hufnagel pitched a revolutionary idea.
“I’d ridden on the UVA cycling team throughout college and my wife, Andrea Dvorak, was racing professionally, both as a road cyclist and a mountain biker,” says Hufnagel. “So, I understood better than most the realities of a young person trying to become a top-tier cyclist—it’s very, very hard. Support is typically minimal, and that makes it tough to excel. Meanwhile, I was working at this small, very progressive school and thought, ‘Why don’t we try to develop the world’s premier high school cycling program?’”
In retrospect, he admits the idea was a bit ambitious, but at the time it seemed perfectly rational. “I’d traveled all around the world and ridden in so many races in so many great places, and I realized that, right here in Charlottesville, we have some of the best roads and trails in the world,” he says. “Given the school’s student-first approach, it seemed logical that we should create a team, and seek to really put the area on the map.”
Pulling several all-nighters, Hufnagel developed a presentation outlining a strategic 20-year plan, which he pitched to the school’s administrators. Essentially, he intended to create a niche program that would offer mountain bikers and cyclists from around the world a home at which to pursue their sport at the highest level, while still getting a quality education. “The notion was sort of like a Hogwarts for cyclists,” he says with a laugh. “I had this vision of building something for the kids that would feel that special. Anything less than that wouldn’t cut it.”
To Hufnagel’s surprise, the administration bought in. With the school’s small class size and hands-on teachers, the program seemed a perfect match.
Andy Guptil and retired professional cyclist Andrea Dvorak helped found MSA’s mountain biking and cycling program, with the goal of creating a nationally recognized racing series. MSA’s cycling program now includes 30 riders from the U.S. and other countries and has featured five national champion riders. Photo by Sanjay Suchak
Hufnagel began working with his wife and her then-coach, professional cyclist Andy Guptil, to develop the program. “We’d get together and talk about what we needed to do to make this a viable reality,” Hufnagel says. “At first, I’d sort of rope them into a hypothetical conversation and they’d play along, but, with time, they got invested.”
Helping matters was the fact that both Guptil and Dvorak were in the process of retiring. Additionally, Guptil was dating Hufnagel’s sister, and the two had decided to move to Charlottesville. Within a couple of years, both Guptil and Dvorak took coaching positions at MSA.
“In a lot of ways, it kind of felt like the stars were aligning to make this happen,” says Hufnagel. “Things were just falling into place. But there was still a lot to be done.”
For one thing, if MSA was going to have a legitimate racing team, it was going to need to develop a means of competing. Furthermore, that means had to have weight: To attract serious cyclists, they needed to provide a channel into the collegiate and professional ranks.
Hufnagel’s solution? To create a nationally recognized racing series.
In spring 2011, working with Guptil and Dvorak’s contacts, he helped found the first USA Cycling-sanctioned interscholastic mountain biking series in Virginia, the Virginia High School MTB Series. Allowing student-riders to earn points, gain standing and qualify to compete in national-level competitions, the series would serve as a conduit for professional and Olympic teams.
Looking back, Hufnagel describes the first year as a major learning experience, and, starting with just three riders, as grassroots as it gets. “We featured six races and had four teams competing,” he says. “Blue Ridge School had a team, St. Christopher’s had a team, and there was a composite group from Harrisonburg. We’d pulled riders from the cross-country team and anyone else who was interested. There was no production value. While we had some protocols in place, we were basically making it up as we went along.”
Today, however, things are different. For the past two years, MSA has won the state championship. It routinely tops regional leaderboards, has graduated four riders with UCI professional contracts, has featured five national championship riders and had four riders selected to the UCI World Championship Team.
Next spring, if you attend a VAHS MTB Series race, you will encounter a scene reminiscent of a pro-level event. Only, it’s for kids. Riders tear through the woods, zipping around bank curves, navigating technical segments and hitting an occasional jump. “We’ve become hugely competitive, and offer events for elementary school kids on up to the high-schoolers,” says Hufnagel. “In 2018, we expect 32 teams will participate, which makes for something like 450 riders.”
Meanwhile, MSA’s mountain biking and cycling program has grown to include 30 male and female riders hailing from all across the U.S., Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republicand elsewhere. The team routinely includes athletes who compete in top-tier national and international events, and, last year, featured a rider who signed with Aevolo Cycling, one of the world’s premier U-23 teams.
Going public
Looking to expand MSA’s program to include a fall season, Dvorak spearheaded a partnership with the National Interscholastic Cycling Association in 2014. The organization, formed in 2009, had been instrumental in developing mountain biking as an official high school sport, mostly in the western U.S., in states such as Colorado, California, Oregon and New Mexico.
“The success at Miller proved to private schools across the state that having a mountain biking team was a viable investment,” says Dvorak. “But while we’d had a lot of success on that front, our goal was always to make the sport more mainstream. We wanted it to be viewed like basketball, soccer, football or whatever.”
For that to happen, they’d have to find a way to get mountain biking into public schools. Hence the partnership with NICA, which led to the formation of the Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League, a pilot league aimed at doing just that.
“The great thing about NICA is they provide a blueprint and resources for implementing programs that meet high school league standards,” says Dvorak. “They train, certify and vet the coaches. They provide insurance. They have standardized rule books. They supply trail-building information. You name it.”
When current Charlottesville Area Mountain Biking Club President Sam Lindblom, 45, learned about what was going on, he decided to take a chance.
“My son was going to be entering Monticello High School in the fall of 2015, and was really into mountain biking,” he says. “Considering what Andrea was doing, I decided to phone the athletic director and see if the school was interested in developing a program.”
When Monticello athletic director Matthew Pearman got Lindblom’s call, his immediate response was, “Why not?”
“Sam was really passionate about the idea and presented it in a manner that made perfect sense,” says Pearman. “As an AD, my goal is to enable as many students to participate in sporting activities and represent their school as I can. Basically, Sam said: ‘My son is really into mountain biking and he has enough friends to make a team. What can we do?’ It seemed like something we should try to make happen.”
Initially, the two decided it was best to form a club. As with MSA four years before, they were breaking new ground. “Normally, in my profession, when something comes up, I pick up the phone, call another AD and ask how they handled this or that situation,” says Pearman. “But in this case, there was no one to call. We were the first public school in the state to do this. So, there was a big learning curve. We had to take it step by step.”
Current Charlottesville Area Mountain Biking Club President Sam Lindblom helped form Monticello High’s mountain biking club when his son started school there two years ago. Today, Western Albemarle, Albemarle and Charlottesville high schools have teams as well. Photo by Sanjay Suchak
As luck would have it, each step of the way, Lindblom and Pearman were met with positive reception. Principals, superintendents, parents, school board members—they were all overwhelmingly supportive. “Of course, we had to do our due diligence and follow the process, but we didn’t meet with any opposition, and that made things a lot easier,” says Pearman.
Bit by bit, the two worked to develop a model that, they hoped, other public schools would be able to follow.
“That first year, I basically had no idea what I was doing,” laughs Lindblom. “We were kind of like the Bad News Bears. We had to figure things out and learn as we went along. We had to develop practice schedules, secure locations to ride, get funding for jerseys, cut trails, adopt mission statements. It was a lot to get thrown into.”
Naturally, Lindblom began consulting with his friends—many of who were adamant riders, and also parents. Seeing what he was doing at MHS, in spring 2016, a number of those friends sought to found teams of their own. Their efforts led to the formation of teams at Western Albemarle, Albemarle and Charlottesville high schools.
“It was really cool how it happened,” says Lindblom. “We were all getting together and talking about this, and maybe some people would come out and help at a practice, and they’d end up walking away saying, ‘Hey, I think I’d like to do this at my kid’s school.’ It was totally grassroots. We were all riding together at CAMBC, and our kids were racing on the Charlottesville Racing Club team, so it was neat to see this very public development blossom out of that community.”
Elsewhere across the state, other schools were taking notice as well. “I started getting a lot of calls,” says Pearman. “Athletic directors were phoning to ask me how we’d done it, what were the risks, how did it work, that sort of thing. Suddenly, we sort of found ourselves having achieved what we set out to do. We’ve basically become the go-to program for how you incorporate this sport in a high school setting.”
Riding into the future
The Miller School hosted the opening race of this fall’s Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League series on its student-built trails. The 3.3-mile course offers a 535-foot elevation gain and, according to official race info, “starts off with a challenging climb from the lower soccer field onto a gravel road before jumping into a short section of windy singletrack. Off the singletrack, riders will continue to climb up a doubletrack section of trail before riding over the flyover towards a fun, machine-built descent. A power climb under the flyover to the highest point on the course is followed by a fast and then twisty downhill before a final singletrack section into the finishing, opening field.”
Pearman says it’s phenomenal how far high school mountain biking has come in such a short period of time. “There were probably 600 spectators in attendance, with hundreds of riders from 30 different teams,” he says. “There were people lining the trails in the woods to cheer on the racers. It looked like a professional event. It blew me away. It was really incredible.”
In the last two years, Monticello High has grown its roster to 17 riders. It’s climbed the ranks to become the second-ranked public school team in the state, and sixth overall. In other words, it’s started to develop a healthy culture of competition.
“The most amazing thing is what happened when these kids started representing their various schools,” says Lindblom with a chuckle. “It was instantaneous rivalry. We ride together all the time and yet, they’re out here taking it really seriously in this super good-natured way. They talk trash, they watch the points standings, they want to get better. It’s cool to see that kind of investiture. They take pride in what they’re doing. And they’re being active and experiencing the outdoors in the process.”
Across town, senior Miller School standout Gus Myers, who wore the leader jersey until the last race of last spring’s VAHS MTB Series and rides for the Kelly Benefits U-23 professional development team in the summers, expresses similar sentiments. “This is a really, really special program—nothing like it exists anywhere else,” he says. “Before I came to MSA, I was this weird kid that spent all my time on a bike. People didn’t understand, and they didn’t really support me. But here, I’m surrounded by this amazing group of kids that are doing the same thing I am. Our coaches and teachers care deeply about what we’re doing. I have a support structure that allows me to thrive and push myself as hard as I can. It’s been pretty magical to find that.”
Myers grew up in Ivy, but moved to New Jersey with his parents two years ago. He has attended MSA since his freshman year in high school, and is now a boarding student, which he says lets him focus on cycling and mountain biking pretty much full-time. With competitive seasons in the fall, spring and summer, the only time he isn’t racing is for a couple of months in the winter—and even that time is chock-full of training (mostly long cardio-heavy rides in the mountains). At MSA, mornings get underway at 6, with riders meeting in the weight room for a workout. After that, they eat breakfast, and attend school from 8am to 3pm. Then it’s off to the bike room and practice, which runs until 5:30pm, at the school’s dirt track. Then they eat dinner and attend a mandatory study hall until around 9:30pm. Weekends are devoted to races, and the team is sometimes on the road for weeks at a time, traveling to places like California, Vermont or even Europe to compete.
It’s a grueling schedule, but Myers says it’s worth it. For most riders—Myers included—the end goal is to obtain a professional level contract, or to secure a spot on a strong collegiate team, which could yield an eventual pro contract.
“To compete at this level means you have make a lot of sacrifices,” he says. “We have tutors on the road with us, and our teachers put in a lot of Skype and email sessions. We do everything together as a team, and our lives basically consist of schoolwork, sleeping and biking. It’s really demanding, but with the school’s help and support, you sort of get into a groove and it becomes a routine.”
Looking to the future, Lindblom, Hufnagel, Dvorak and Stackhouse are all in agreement: As the sport goes more and more mainstream, and more and more kids get involved, things will continue to expand.
“I think what we’re seeing now is an intimation of the real growth to come,” says Stackhouse. “We still have a lot of work to do, but we started planting these seeds some years back, and we’re reaping the first big harvest of those results.”
GO-TO RIDES
Cor Carelsen
Owner of Crozet Bicycle Shop
Claudius Crozet Park. “For beginners on up to a seasoned rider looking for a good evening ride, I’d recommend starting at Claudius Crozet Park and following the trail down past the dog park along Licking Hole Creek. The trail starts out really easy going, so a beginner can ride until he or she feels uncomfortable with a hill or whatever, then turn around. If you want to go further, the loop is about seven miles total.”
Mint Springs Park
Mint Springs Park. “Located at the water reservoir within riding distance of Crozet, the park is maintained by Albemarle County and features various loop trails, about five to six miles in total. It’s very accessible and, with lots of elevation changes, you can really challenge yourself.”
Blue Ridge School Trail. The school is in St. George and has around 15 miles of trails of various difficulty levels, all of which are well marked and well maintained. The trails are very flowy, with not too many jumps, and feature some technical climbing and slow descending. Pro tip: “When you get there, go to the climbing tower at the trailhead, where you’ll need to register and sign an indemnity form.”
Daniel Sebring
Manager of Blue Ridge Cyclery, Charlottesville
Rivanna Trail
Rivanna Trail. “This is a perfect option for riders of all skill levels. It’s right here in the city, and you can hop on it and do anywhere from one to 35 miles. You can go to O-Hill and get technical stuff, or Carters Mountain and get some good climbs. Plus, it’s great for a car-free commute.”
Sherando Lake Recreational Area. “Located just outside of Waynesboro, for avid riders, this is a gold-mine of trails. The area is in the George Washington National Forest, and offers days worth of rides. Features lots of big climbs, 360-degree views and expert rides.” Pro tip: Pack a serious lunch and plan to be out there for the full day.
Dave Stackhouse
Former Charlottesville Area Mountain Biking Club president
Preddy Creek. For families and those getting into the sport, this is a great entry-level location. Situated on 571 acres of wilderness, it offers more than 8.6 miles of trails with plenty of easygoing beginner rides. In the future, look for an expert loop, which is currently being developed.
James Burris
Owner of Black Dog Bikes, Staunton
Montgomery Hall Park
Montgomery Hall Park, Staunton. A great option just outside of downtown Staunton. Features around six miles of loops, some of which overlap to create bigger rides.
Braley Pond Day Use Area. Located 15 minutes outside of Staunton in North River, this is part of the famous Shenandoah Mountain Trail, and is in the George Washington and Thomas Jefferson National Forest. There are some smaller loops, but I like the Road Hollow to Bridge Hollow ride, with a descent to Braley Pond. It’s about 25 miles total, is for avid riders, and takes about three hours to complete. Expect rock gardens, off-camber side slopes, fast descents—in other words, a little of everything.
Lift-serviced resort rides
Wintergreen Resort
As the first location of the lift-served mountain biking program in the Mid-Atlantic region, Wintergreen deserves special kudos. With miles of expert and intermediate trails designed by former pro mountain biker Brad Stone, the course is no joke. It features an array of full cross-country loops, and an event-worthy 5.2-mile expert route with 1,000 feet of vertical change.
Massanutten Resort
With 30 miles of trails on its western slopes and a sweet bike park, Massanutten offers days of riding fun. A lower lift services beginner and intermediate trails, while an upper lift provides access to advanced trails. Additionally, there’s the 70-mile-long Massanutten Trail, which offers tons of elevation change, mountain views and rocky single-track.
New experts are in Jens Soering's corner. He's pictured here in 2003. Photo: Clement Mayes
A nationally recognized DNA expert says his conclusions provide further evidence that convicted murderer and former UVA student Jens Soering, who was charged with the 1985 murders of his girlfriend’s parents, Derek and Nancy Haysom, could be innocent—and that two killers who were involved are still at large.
Forensic scientist Thomas McClintock, who is a Liberty University professor and founder of DNA Diagnostics Inc., reviewed DNA test results done in September 2009. Such testing was not available in 1990, when Soering went to trial.
McClintock focused primarily on three blood-spattered samples—a piece of formica kitchen countertop, the front door and its threshold—from the Bedford County residence where Soering is accused of repeatedly stabbing the Haysoms and slitting their throats.
“Does Jens Soerings’ DNA profile match any of those?” McClintock said to a room full of local and national reporters at City Space on the Downtown Mall September 27. “They absolutely do not.”
In a report dated September 21, he stated that the blood came from at least one male contributor doesn’t match Soering or Derek Haysom’s genetic makeup.
Albemarle Sheriff Chip Harding, a longtime advocate of Soering’s innocence who asked Governor Terry McAuliffe to pardon him more than a year ago, called the press conference to announce new details that support his claim.
McClintock insists his is an unbiased, scientific review. “I don’t have a dog in this race,” he says. “I’m just looking at the data.”
Richard Hudson, a retired detective sergeant who investigated major crimes for the Charlottesville Police Department for more than 25 years, has also joined the cause.
In a September 12 letter to Governor McAuliffe, he writes, “I am a conservative Republican and I don’t generally think releasing criminals from the penitentiary is a good idea. I am persuaded, however, that Mr. Soering could not be convicted today on the evidence, science and analysis that has now been developed.”
He’s spent more than 250 hours reviewing the case, and echoes that there is no genetic evidence that connects Soering to the bloody scene at the Haysom home called Loose Chippings.
“The scientific evidence now demonstrates that two unknown men left their blood at the crime scene,” he wrote. “A shot glass was found on a table near where Derek Haysom’s body was found with an unidentified fingerprint; neither Elizabeth Haysom’s prints nor Mr. Soering’s prints matched.”
Harding’s theory is that the couple’s daughter, Elizabeth, whose uncommon type B blood was found at the scene and who has claimed her mother sexually abused her, had the motive for the savage slayings and used either an emotional or a drug connection to entice the unknown accomplices.
“This case is truly overwhelming,” Hudson told the room of reporters, and the sheriff, who has clocked more than 400 hours on the case, agreed it would be impossible to boil down years of research into an hour-long press conference.
Representatives from ABC’s 20/20 were present, and Harding says they’re working on a documentary, expected to air in November, that he hopes will encompass all of the evidence that supports his evidence-based theory that Soering is innocent.
Harding said the film, along with a supplemental letter he sent to the governor September 13, could pressure McAuliffe to pardon Soering before he leaves office in January.
“As of today, the Bedford County authorities refuse to make any attempt to identify and locate the two men who left their DNA at the crime scene,” Harding wrote. “That leaves two likely killers free to roam Virginia and possibly commit other offenses. …Derek and Nancy Haysom and their families have never received justice, because two killers have escaped prosecution for 32 years. If a pardon for Mr. Soering becomes the first step toward arresting and convicting the two murderers, you will finally give the victims and their loved ones what they deserve.”
A veteran of Iceland’s experimental Múm as well as the St. Petersburg Conservatory, multi-instrumentalist Gyða Valtýsdottir delivers an absorbing hybrid of those two worlds on Epicycle. The instrumentation hews to the traditional, but the sensibility and choice of material are adventurous, as Valtýsdottir interprets Crumb, Partch and Messiaen alongside Prokofiev, Schubert and Schumann. The cherry on top is her take on “Seikilos Epitaph,” a piece dating from circa the first century AD—the earliest known notated music. The musicianship is exquisite and the results are mysterious and mesmerizing throughout. “Louange à l’Éternité de Jesus” from Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time is a stunning work in any setting, morphing through countless shades of emotion from melancholy to hopefulness to terror to holy prostration. The concluding “Ave Generosa,” by Hildegard, provides an enigmatic ending to a spellbinding album.
Atlanta’s Omni comprises duo Frankie Broyles (Deerhunter) and Philip Frobos (Carnivores)—their self-titled debut last year was good minimal art rock, and Multi-Task is even better minimal art rock, with angular guitar riffs, punchy bass lines, drums totally locked into the grid. The songs are tight and knotty, but not devoid of melody—you can even sing along with lead single “Equestrian” and punchy declarations like “you can’t afford it / you know you’re worth it.” After a jangly beginning, “Choke” turns into swinging no-wave—a cross between Meat Puppets and Minutemen, as much as Gang of Four and Wire. And Frobos’ cold Britishisms are cut with a Southern lilt and good humor, humanizing the wind-up toy backing tracks. Half an hour of Multi-Task might be long enough, but it’s plenty good enough.
Longtime indie-art faves Deerhoof are angular and taut like Omni, but more academic and yeah, less fun. I know off-kilter time signatures are “cool,” and Deerhoof’s technique is unimpeachable, but I’m not sure what ends they serve. There’s a bemused air, but the album is shot through with menaced, anxious lyrics—“Slow motion detonation / Future that you could have saved”; “You could outlive your executioners / But you’re on TV, you’re expendable”; etc. Reference points are odd—some fleeting ’80s guitar rock moments, and a plodding “Smooth Criminal” funk groove in multiple spots, including “Come Down Here & Say That” with underutilized guest Laetitia Sadier. A reprieve comes via Xenia Rubinos, who brings soulful levity as she la-las through the whimsical piano-driven pop of “Singalong Junk.” But Greg Saunier’s drums, never the most interesting element, are always among the heaviest, and Mountain Moves feels like a workout.
Three surfer boys from the Aussie hippie beach town of Byron Bay, The Babe Rainbow delivers a suitably groovy debut LP. In Oz, the Babes are on King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s label—and like the Giz they’re versatile, though not as ferocious. Mostly, they’re hanging loose while hanging together—guitarist Jack “Cool Breeze” Crowther sounds casual but never sloppy, while on “Losing Something” and “Half a Kiss,” singer Angus Darling comes off like Devendra Banhart without the baggage. There’s nothing deceptive in the song titles—“Peace Blossom Boogie” has a light T. Rex hipsway; “Cosmic Now” is ’60s flower psych; and “Monkey Disco” comes with wah guitar, springy bass and the good ol’ four-on-the-floor. The Babe Rainbow is stony party music par excellence.
House mock-up on top of blueprints with pen notes and corrections
By Celeste M. Smucker –
The Blue Ridge Home Builders Association (BRHBA) is proud to feature the very best in new construction at the 54th Annual Parade of Homes on two consecutive weekends—September 30 and October 1, and October 7 and 8—from noon to 5 p.m.
Parade attendees can marvel at 41 homes from 17 different builders and experience a wide variety of neighborhoods, housing styles and price points including (for the first time ever) Spear Builders’ Vintage Log Cabin. The amenities offered by different communities are also on display as are all the latest in cutting-edge technologies, energy saving ideas, floor plans, and color schemes plus all that’s new in kitchens and baths.
If you love your home and don’t plan to move soon, you are still invited to attend. Bring any and all questions for onsite builders and agents about creative ways to reduce energy costs, replace kitchen cabinets, build an addition, upgrade old inefficient appliances, and much more, especially—but not exclusively—if you are a home owner with plans to renovate and update your home to suit your current lifestyle or make it more livable long term.
For more information see this year’s 80 page Parade of Homes Magazine with a map in the centerfold so visitors can easily locate participating homes. The Magazine is available prior to the first Parade weekend in this issue of the CAAR Real Estate Weekly and racked in the Weekly’s blue boxes next week. Or find it in C-Ville Weekly prior to the first Parade weekend and in the Daily Progress on Sunday October 1. You can also access the Magazine online at the BRHBA website on the Parade page.
To make the most of the Parade, plot your tour using the map in the Parade of Homes Magazine.. The map is divided into three geographic areas—East, Central and West—with homes identified by number, address and the builder’s name. Each home also has its own page with the name of the builder, the site agent and more, including floor plans. For best results, plan to visit as many homes and neighborhoods as you can.
The Parade is free and open to the public. There is lots to be excited about so bring family and friends and come on down to meet the builders and their agents at BRHBA’s biggest event of the year,
Make The Most Of The Parade
There is a real mixture of people who attend the Parade, and all are welcome, explained Kristin Sorokti, BRHBA’s Executive Director. Some are moving to Charlottesville and need a home they can move into right away. Others want to renovate an existing house and are looking for ways to save energy and make the most of their home’s best features. Still others have plans to build a custom home and are curious about what different builders are offering in the way of styles and floor plans.
The Parade can also help visitors get familiar with the products offered by BRHBA Associate Members such as lighting, HVAC systems, color schemes, countertops and other home components, Sorokti said.
These products can be viewed in each Parade home, or, for more help with design ideas, you are also invited to have a more hands-on experience at The Southern Development Homes Design Center on Cherry Avenue—Parade entrant # 17—Sorokti added. A visit to the Design Center is a unique chance to observe everything you need for a new home all in one location and a place where you can see and touch design features in different colors and styles. Professional designers will be available and ready to answer any questions during the Parade.
Plan to visit as many homes as possible and don’t be deterred by the price. Even if the higher priced homes don’t fit your budget, they offer a great opportunity to see the most and the best of desirable features all in one place along with knowledgeable agents and builders to answer your questions.
Finally, to make the most of the Parade, have fun. Jodi Mills, with Nest Realty Group and Director of Sales and Marketing for Stony Point Design/Build, has participated in Parades since 2010 and describes a trend of people going first to a wine tasting or some other event and then on to the Parade, making a day of it.
It’s kind of like “old home week,” Mills said where you see a lot of familiar faces. This year Martha’s Market coincides with the Parade’s first weekend and she expects some of her regulars to stop and shop there first before visiting the best of the best new homes.
Shop For A Builder
If a brand new house is in your future, the Parade is a good place to find the best builder for your family’s needs. Feel free to ask questions about how many years a company has been in the business, what type of homes they build, and their overall approach to the building process.
“The Parade of Homes is the best way for purchasers to get out and see many local builders and their quality of work,” advises Susan Stewart with Roy Wheeler Realty Co. who represents builder Rich Carter of Southland Homes, Inc. whose Parade entry is in Troy east of Charlottesville.
“I suggest taking notes and pictures,” Stewart added and “…learn as much as possible about each subdivision and what is going on within the communities, what the standard options are each builder offers,” she said.
New home buyers also benefit from the advice of experienced REALTORS® familiar with the construction process. Greg Slater with Nest Realty Group, explained that many buyers are not intending to build when they first start planning for their next home, but eventually may realize that is their best option. Buyers new to building “have to be educated to the process and the differences between buying new vs. resale, and having a REALTOR® offer advice in this regard can be very helpful,” he said.
Attending the Parade can also help buyers understand that building is a multi-step journey that can take four to six months or longer to complete. The complexity involved almost guarantees there will be some challenges, so it is critical for these buyers to find a builder they can work well with, and an agent to help walk them through the process.
Impressive New Homes Market
Impressive growth in the new homes market means more builders and more subdivisions coming online giving buyers a lot of options to choose from.
New construction sales have been an increasing percentage of total sales for the last two years, explained Michael Guthrie, CEO and Managing Broker of Roy Wheeler Realty Co., the Parade’s main sponsor. He expects this trend to continue stating that all of this activity is “great for builders” who “are building as fast as they can.” Some are booked well into 2018.
“Market conditions are helping new homes sales,” Slater said, adding that “according to the Nest Midyear Market Report, inventory levels are down eight percent year over year.” At the same time, “resale contracts are up just one percent year over year.” In contrast, he continued, “new homes sales are up 23 percent. When existing homes aren’t available, buyers have to consider their new construction options,” he concluded.
Kate Colvin, Craig Builders Customer Representative and REALTOR® at Roy Wheeler Realty Co. agrees saying “with inventories of existing homes in the area remaining at low levels in key market segments, new construction has provided a great alternative for customers who may not otherwise be able to find exactly what they’re looking for. These customers typically have to wait a little longer for their new home than they would have with an existing home, but many say having a brand new home is worth the wait.”
Sasha Farmer, REALTOR® and Vice President of Montague Miller and Co. Realtors, Inc. represents Dobson Homes, Inc.’s Parade home. She believes that “the new construction market is offering a lot of great opportunities,” adding that many buyers appreciate having a brand new home that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. She explained that for many people having the biggest house is not as important as having one that reflects their personal lifestyle, one that allows them “to live the way they do.”
Central Virginia—and especially Albemarle County—is enjoying “a robust year for new homes,” said Jim Faulconer, Broker with McLean Faulconer, Inc. who represents Renaissance Builders in the Parade. He added that while much of the action is in the close-in areas, he is starting to see more activity in locations beyond Albemarle, and expects to see this growth continue, citing the importance of the University, the strong community and our area’s natural beauty.
Another factor impacting the market is that families now find it easier to sell existing homes, explained TJ Southmayd, Craig Builders Customer Representative and REALTOR® at Nest Realty Group. “This peace of mind allows them to move into a home and/or location that better suits their needs— whether that’s a little bit larger, or smaller—depending on the buyer.”
Builders and Associates Collaborate For Success
A successful Parade reflects a huge cooperative effort between BRHBA builders and their associates from related industries such as REALTORS®, lenders, insurance agents and vendors.
The main or Presenting Sponsor for the 54th Parade is Roy Wheeler Realty Co., helped along by many others including Specialized Insurance Services, the Gala Presenting Sponsor for the kickoff celebration at King Family Vineyards.
Associate members also contribute to the Parade through their participation on the Parade of Homes Committee. This collaborative approach to creating this big event starts three to four months prior to opening day and is a great way for associates to give back to the building community and also to network with builder members serving on the committee. “We couldn’t do this event without our sponsors and the Parade committee,” Sorokti explained.
Guthrie is proud of his company’s prominent role as Parade sponsor (a role it has had for several years running) stating that it is one of many ways they choose to give back to the community. “It’s our way of putting our money where our mouth is,” he continued, adding that the sponsorship is a good investment and a way for them to “communicate our support for the builders.”
After all their hard work, builders and associates come together at what Sorokti called “the spectacular launch party” at King Family Vineyards. This is a premier networking opportunity and another way to celebrate the builders’ hard work in completing their homes in time for the Parade. It also generates a lot of energy and excitement about the upcoming Parade weekends, Sorokti added.
The Parade, is a once a year chance to ask questions and enjoy the best new construction our area has to offer. Don’t miss it!
Celeste Smucker is a writer and blogger who lives near Charlottesville.
COIN makes the kind of sweet indie pop perfect for blasting on Indian summer drives with the car windows rolled down. This energy translates to the stage, where lead singer Chase Lawrence spends performances whipping his hair, jumping off amps and hyping up the crowd until it’s having as good a time as he is. The band is touring its second album, How Will You Know If You Never Try, in the wake of mainstream success with the single “Talk Too Much.”
Wednesday, September 27. $15-17, 8:30pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. 245-4980.
Whether you believe in magic or not, you’ll be left wide-eyed with wonder listening to Son Little’s second full-length album, New Magic. In his quest to find where musical ideas originate, this Philadelphia-born songwriting sorcerer made a name for himself weaving together American music genres. The result is a cohesive vision that is entirely unique, combining soulful melodies and flowing instrumentals, while often using nature as an inspiration, as in “The River.”
Thursday, September 28. $12, 8:30pm. The Southern Café and Music Hall, 103 S. First St. 977-5590.
Colter Wall plays the Hoopla main stage on Friday. Photo by Melissa Stillwell
There are no barriers when it comes to Canadian-born songwriter Colter Wall. Despite starting his career two years ago, Wall has been filling the boots of legends such as Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, and using them to achieve great heights. Gritty storytelling alongside folk-bluegrass guitar and banjo power his debut, self-titled album, which he is touring on from coast
to coast while adding to an already hearty repertoire of memorable performances.
In 2012, five members of the performance protest troupe Pussy Riot made a surprise appearance inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where the group launched into what is now deemed the “punk prayer,” and took the Lord and Vladimir Putin’s names in vain. Putin was outraged, and Patriarch Kirill declared (per the Guardian), “the devil laughed at us,” as the whole world got a front row seat while three the participants were hunted down, put on trial and convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.” UVA Drama’s season opens with Barbara Hammond’s WE ARE PUSSY RIOT OR EVERYTHING IS P.R., an interactive protest play that chronicles the story that became an international sensation.
Through October 7. $8-14, 8pm. Ruth Caplin Theatre, 109 Culbreth Rd. 924-3376.
What wasn’t quite clear from renderings of The Standard, the deluxe student apartments now under construction across from The Flats on West Main Street, was just how massive and Soviet Bloc-looking the 499-space parking garage is.
This is what The Standard will look like in a year or so. Mitchell/Matthews
Good news: It’s going to be covered by the building and won’t be a stand-alone monstrosity.
According to Chris Engel, the city’s director of economic development, the “parking being built is solely to support the building,” which has 189 units and commercial and retail on the first of its six floors.
Developer Landmark Properties, based in Athens, Georgia, is “redefining the college living experience,” according to its website. The complex is shooting for a fall 2018 move-in.
The Standard garage back in July. Staff photo
“It’s kind of an eyesore,” says Flats resident William Rule. The construction noise, too, has been a problem, he says.
Mel Walker, owner of Mel’s Cafe, is not perturbed about the construction down the street or the upcoming influx of students. “They’ve got to eat somewhere,” he says.
CPD’s August 12 bill
Photo Eze Amos
Charlottesville police spent nearly $70,000 for the Unite the Right rally, including almost $44K on overtime and a $565 pizza tab from Papa John’s. The bill includes $3,300 for Albemarle sheriff’s deputies, $2,400 for jailers and $750 for the services of clinical psychologist Jeffrey Fracher. The city spent $33,000 for the July 8 KKK rally.
“Solidarity Cville rebukes the ‘Concert for Charlottesville’ as a show of false unity.”—Statement dropped about the same time the Dave Matthews-led concert was beginning September 24.
Art installation erased
A group of residents worked through the wee hours September 24 to transform the Free Speech Wall to the Solidarity Wall. Little more than an hour later, a man erased their efforts.
Where’s the gas?
Charlottesville’s first Sheetz opens September 28 on the Corner. The petroleum-less convenience store is a new concept for Sheetz and the fourth it’s opened in the middle of a college town. It features USB phone charger ports every three feet, and is open 24/7, which means rush hour around 2am on weekends.
Historical Society under fire
Steven Meeks. Photo Eze Amos
For years the tenure of Steven Meeks as president of the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society has brought grumblings from former board members and a loss of half its dues-paying membership. Now the city is citing leadership and transparency issues in its proposal to up the rent for the McIntire Building, where the nonprofit is housed, from $182 a month to $750, according to Chris Suarez in the Daily Progress.
Accused murderer arrested
Huissuan Stinnie, the 18-year-old on the lam since being accused of the September 11 murder of New York man Shawn Evan Davis on South First Street, was arrested in Fluvanna September 25. He faces charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.
Store it in style
Lifelong mountain biker and Charlottesville resident Eric Pearson was frustrated by the hassle of having to back his car out of his garage each time he pedaled home and needed to hang his bicycle back on the hook over his workbench, so he committed to buying an outdoor storage container for his two-wheeler.
“I quickly discovered that no elegant product existed,” he says, and decided to build a device for those who also wanted an aesthetically pleasing way to keep their bikes from becoming one of the 1.5 million stolen in the country each year. Thus, the Alpen Bike Capsule was born.
Courtesy Alpen
Each slim silver cylinder uses an integrated Bluetooth lock to provide secure access, is waterproof, lightweight, durable and bolts to any surface. While Pearson says his capsules look great outside any home or apartment, or on the back of an RV, we think it looks like it came straight off a Star Wars set—and we’re okay with that.
The product should hit the market by mid-2018, he says. And though it’ll set customers back about $1,000, Pearson says early orderers can expect significant discounts.
