Author: press-release

PRESS RELEASE: Tom Tom Founders Festival– Tom Tom Founders Festival, the month-long music, art & innovation festival, announced today full details of its FREE April 13 (Founder’s Day) kickoff party at the McGuffey Arts Center. Running from roughly 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Apr. 13, the party will feature 10 local bands — from bluegrass and rock to punk, spoken word, and jazz — playing outside and inside McGuffey, public art projects and children’s activities on the McGuffey lawn, and a street food fair.

The one block of Second Street NW in front of the McGuffey (between Market St. and West Jefferson St.) will be closed down to form a block party compound. Outside performances, will occur from 5 to 8 p.m., and indoor performances from 8 to 11:30 p.m. New Belgium Brewing Company will sponsor the music. Beer sales will benefit The Dreamfield Foundation.

Sculptor Ed Miller, a festival artist-in-residence and a visiting professor in studio art at the University of Virginia, will be working on the McGuffey lawn with an interactive plaster sculpture, inviting the public to help him create the piece’s surface texture.

Festival organizer Paul Beyer notes, “As our City’s central civics arts space, McGuffey is the perfect place to launch the Tom Tom Founders Festival because of our focus on creativity and innovation.”

At the block party, Tom Tom organizers will publicly announce the festival’s full month-long schedule of events, along with the festival’s Artists- and Innovators-in-Residence. “It will be an entirely unique event, one that the City has never really seen.”

Local bands including Beleza Brazil, the Downbeat Project, the Olivarez Trio, and Chihamba, an African Dance Troupe, will be playing on the McGuffey’s front steps between 5 and 8 p.m.

After 8 p.m., bands from a wide variety of genres, including bluegrass, punk, rock, spoken word, and jazz will be playing inside McGuffey. These bands include, Hot Twang!, the Eames Coleman Trio, the Invisible Hand, Borrowed Beams of Light, Dwight Howard Johnson, and DJ Kris Bowmaster. These acts will be performing back-to-back, in studios on all three floors of the building.

“These bands represent some of our finest and longest established local acts, as well as several of our up-and-comers who are touring the country and making a name for themselves,” Beyer says.

Tom Tom Founders Festival has three presenting sponsors. The Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau is sponsoring Tom Tom arts programming. New Belgium Brewing Company is the music presenting sponsor, and The Dreamfield Foundation is sponsoring the kickoff party and additional concert events.

For more information about Tom Tom, including the May 11-13 music festival weekend with more than 50 bands playing on the Downtown Mall, please visit, www.tomtom2012.com.

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for supporting your local trails!

Street milling and paving operations will take place on McIntire Road, between the 250 Bypass and Harris Street, between the hours of 9am-3pm on Monday and Tuesday, March 5-6.

Southbound traffic off the Bypass onto McIntire Road will be prohibited during these hours. Message boards will be sited on the bypass advising motorists to use alternate routes. The message boards will be on site tomorrow (Friday) advising motorists of the pending work.

Northbound McIntire Rd traffic flow will be maintained at all times.

PRESS RELEASE: Office of Governor Bob McDonnell–– One of the most pressing challenges Virginia faces is how to fund the retirement system that our dedicated police officers, state employees and teachers will depend upon in the years ahead. They’ve served the commonwealth well. Unless we serve them well now by making tough choices and crucial reforms to the retirement system today, it may not be there for them tomorrow. This isn’t about politics; this is just a simple matter of math.

Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) reported that from 2009 to 2011, the unfunded liabilities in the pension system increased 69 percent, from $11.8 billion to $19.9 billion.

As of January 2012, the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) is funded at a low rate of 70 percent for state employees and 66 percent for teachers. Without further action, the JLARC report said that in 2013 our funded status could reach an unacceptable level of 63 percent for state employees and 61 percent for teachers. This means we stand the very real risk of being unable to meet our future obligations.

The structural imbalance in the Virginia Retirement System has not been addressed for too many years. It’s time for action, now. This doesn’t just impact public employees.

All three major bond rating firms have stressed to us how important a strong retirement system is to a state’s credit rating. Virginia has a AAA rating, the highest possible. It allows us to finance major infrastructure projects at the best rates available, and it makes Virginia a magnet for new businesses looking for stability in their home state’s finances.

If we don’t fix our state retirement system we would not only fail hundreds of thousands of employees, we’d also potentially dramatically increase future borrowing costs for taxpayers — and undermine our well-earned reputation for fiscal soundness. That’s unacceptable. 

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Virginia’s defined-benefit retirement plan has long been a very good one for our employees. Until last year, most existing state employees paid nothing toward their retirement. Recent studies indicated that only three states had no such employee contribution requirement.

When our employees were asked to contribute last year, for the first time, the contribution was offset with a corresponding pay raise. In recent years, most private-sector companies, and many other states, have moved to either a less costly defined-contribution plan, or have made employees contribute more in order to get their systems solvent. Virginia simply cannot afford to remain an outlier.

That is why I included in my proposed biennial budget the largest VRS employer contribution in history for state employees and teachers: more than $2.2 billion. I also have called for further VRS reforms that, combined with the measures already announced, will infuse more than $5.8 billion in savings or new monies into the system over the next 21 years.

Those reforms include several proposals outlined by a legislative commission, such as: adjusting the final compensation period, benefit multiplier and cost of living adjustment (COLA), and offering state employees an optional defined benefit/defined contribution hybrid plan not unlike that available to federal employees. 

* * * * *

I have also recommended that state employees contribute 6 percent of their salaries toward their retirement, up from the current 5 percent. Although this additional one percent contribution will require state employees to help shoulder the burden of getting VRS back on track, the entire amount remains their money and is simply held in trust for their future benefit.

I have both phased-in the additional 1 percent over two years and offset it with a 3 percent performance bonus in 2012. This is on top of a 3 percent bonus given in 2010.

A 6 percent employee contribution is a reasonable amount that is in line with our neighboring states. North Carolina requires a 6 percent employee contribution. Maryland requires 7 percent from its state workforce and is now asking localities to pick up one-half of the teacher retirement system payments.

As we take these steps at the state level, so too will localities have to do more for their employees. Teachers are local employees, and the responsibility and liability for the teacher retirement system falls clearly on localities, not the state.

While the state makes about 38 percent of teacher retirement system contributions, it is not required to do so. The state is providing this assistance to localities, but the retirement system for teachers won’t work unless localities also step up to the plate.

The rates have been set, the bills are now due. VRS sets rates for localities, and thus the state now stepping up and doing our duty is not an unfunded mandate on localities as some have erroneously claimed.

These changes to Virginia’s retirement system are reasonable, necessary reforms that proactively address potentially serious future shortfalls now, while there is still time to ensure long-term stability by making relatively small changes.

We must have the leadership to act today to ensure our state and local employees’ retirement accounts — and the good credit of the commonwealth — are there, in full, tomorrow.

PRESS RELEASE: Charlottesville Tomorrow–– On Tuesday, January 24th, local historian Rick Britton presents “Dr. Thomas Walker and the Founding of Charlottesville” as part of the Celebrate!250 History Talks series.

Rick Britton is a Charlottesville-based author, historian, and cartographer. Following a career as a graphic designer, he began working as a writer and editor in the mid 1990s. Now an award-winning historian with over 200 articles under his belt—the vast majority on the history of Virginia—Rick is the author of Albemarle & Charlottesville: An Illustrated History and Jefferson: A Monticello Sampler (which was awarded a bronze medal for non-fiction at New York City’s Book Expo, the nation’s largest book convention). He also teaches classes on the history of Albemarle County, conducts tours of historic sites and Civil War battlefields, illustrates maps for history books, and is a frequent radio and podcast commentator.

Dr. Thomas Walker was an explorer, physician, planter, import merchant, and frontier diplomat, and one of Albemarle County’s most forgotten early notables. Forgotten too is the role he played in the founding of Charlottesville. Mr. Britton’s History Talk will illuminate that role. These talks are hosted by Charlottesville Tomorrow, the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and the City of Charlottesville.

Each talk will last one hour and include a short question-and-answer period. These events are free and open to the public, and begin at noon in City Council Chambers.

A complete list of the lectures is available at the Celebrate!250 website.

If you’d like more information, please contact Jennifer Marley at 434-218-2253 or jmarley@cvilletomorrow.org.

PRESS RELEASE: Piedmont Environmental Council–– In Albemarle County, 2,283 acres were protected by conservation easements in 2011, adding to a total of over 85,700 acres, or 18% of the total land.

Rex Linville, Land Conservation Officer for the Piedmont Environmental Council says, “It is great to see landowners who care passionately about the future of our rural areas continue to step up to the plate and protect their land. It is also great that we have such a strong team of private and governmental conservation organizations working together here in Albemarle County. None of this would have been possible without the efforts of Piedmont Environmental Council, Virginia Outdoors Foundation, Virginia Department of Forestry, The Nature Conservancy, and Albemarle County.”

See a map of protected lands in Albemarle County.

A few highlights from last year’s conservation projects include the following:

–Protection of a 220 acre property on Dudley Mountain south of Charlottesville, preserving a forested ridge line that is visible from Charlottesville and Biscuit Run State Park.
–Protection of a mid 19th century farmhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the surrounding 84 acres, within the viewshed of Route 29
–Protection of 120 acres of farmland and installation of approximately one mile of streamside fencing and a watering system to keep livestock out of the Hardware River, which will improve stream health and water quality.

A number of landowners amended conservation easements that had been done years ago to strengthen the restrictions and add additional protected acreage.

In total, conservation easements in Albemarle County now protect approximately 372 miles of streams and rivers, 32,000 acres of prime farmland, 57,000 acres of forests, 23,000 acres along Scenic Byways, and 36,000 acres in historic districts. These resources make Albemarle and Charlottesville great places to live and are fundamental to the local and state economies. A recent study by PEC found that nine environmental benefits, such as recreation, farm products, and water quality, contribute $21.8 billion to Virginia’s economy every year.

PEC, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012, has been promoting private, voluntary land conservation in Virginia’s northern Piedmont since 1972, contributing to this region’s outstanding success. In the nine-county region where PEC works, approximately 12,100 acres were protected by conservation easements in 2011, adding to a total of over 348,000 acres or 15% of the total land in the region.

A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and a land trust (such as a public agency or a non-profit conservation group) to permanently protect natural and cultural resources on their land.

 

PRESS RELEASE: Piedmont Council for the Arts–– Piedmont Council for the Artsb(PCA) seeks proposals from Charlottesville-area artists interested in receiving a $500 stipend to lead a hands-on arts workshop with under-served youth. Workshops can involve any arts genre(s), including visual art, music, theatre, dance, film, and/or literary arts.

 

Selected artists will be paired with groups of K-12 students for short-term arts workshops. The artwork created during the workshops will be featured in May and August exhibitions at the CitySpace Gallery.

 

Artists should submit proposals for workshop curriculum within his or her artistic genre, in response to the creative prompt, "Telling Charlottesville’s Stories." Proposed workshops should be 2-6 hours in length, with the possibility of multiple workshop meetings. Individual artists should plan workshops for no more than 15 students. Collaborative, multi-artist projects will also be considered but should retain at least a 1:15 artist-to-student ratio to ensure quality artistic learning experiences. No more than 3 proposals may be submitted by one artist. All submissions must be received by February 6, 2012.

 

In February, a panel will select four proposals based on appropriateness and feasibility of workshop, past experience with youth, artistic excellence of work samples, quality of response to the creative prompt, and other criteria as defined by PCA staff. Selected artists will be notified by February 24.

 

Each selected artist or multi-artist project will receive one $500 stipend. Artists must cover the cost of their materials, but basic supplies may be available through PCA and partner groups. Workshops will be scheduled to take place in March, April, June, or July 2012.

 

This project is funded by the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in the CACF, and will be promoted as part of Charlottesville’s year-long “Celebrate250!” event.

 

Submissions should include:

 

One-page cover sheet, outlining:
Name(s) of artist(s) involved, with a lead artist identified for collaborative workshops
Contact information (email, phone, mailing address) for lead artist
Any past teaching experience(s) by the artist(s)
Scheduling preferences for workshop, including time of day, day of the week, or month (March, April, June, or July 2012)

One-page description of the proposed workshop, outlining:
Workshop Title
Detailed explanation of the arts activity that will be taught during the workshop
Expected artistic outcome for students, if appropriate
Relationship between the arts activity and the creative prompt
List of materials needed
Preferred number and age range of participants (ex. 10-15 upper-elementary students)
Preferred length (in hours) of workshop activity
Any other logistical details important to the success of the workshop

3-5 work samples created by the artist or during past workshops led by the artist, with brief descriptions. (Digital images should be formatted as JPGs.)

Proposals may be submitted digitally to info@charlottesvillearts.org with a subject line of “Arts Inspire.”

 

Alternatively, artists may mail proposals to the address below. Please provide adequate postage and allow ample time for delivery. All submissions must be received by February 6, 2012.

 

Arts Inspire

c/o Piedmont Council for the Arts

P.O. Box 2426

Charlottesville, VA 22902

 

For more information, please email info@charlottesvillearts.org or call 434-971-2787.

PRESS RELEASE: The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library–– The Jefferson-Madison Regional Libraryhas been selected by the National Endowment for the Arts as one of only 75 not-for-profits to receive a $5,000 grant to participate in THE BIG READ. The book selected by JMRL is Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. Programming for THE BIG READ will be held during March 2012.

This will be the 6th year that the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library has participated in THE BIG READ. Past books that have been read as part of this program are The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, Their Eyes Were Watching God, A Lesson Before Dying and The Maltese Falcon. JMRL will be hosting free community programs and discussions about the book and other interesting programs at all branch libraries and other locations throughout the region. Program brochures and ReaderÂ\’s Guides will be available at the end of January at all branch libraries.

Grants from the NEA are to host a BIG READ project between September 2011 and June 2012. THE BIG READ brings communities together to read, discuss, and celebrate selections from United States and world literature. The National Endowment for the Arts launched THE BIG READ after a survey in 2004 showed a decline in the reading of literature. Less than half of American adults read literature, according to the report. Since the 2006 pilot program with ten participating organizations, the NEA, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and in cooperation with Arts Midwest, has given more than 800 grants to support local BIG READ projects.

PRESS RELEASE: Friends of Bill Bolling–– Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling today asked members of the Republican Party of Virginia’s (RPV) State Central Committee (SCC) to rescind the Loyalty Oath in connection with the upcoming presidential primary. 

In a letter to SCC members, Lieutenant Governor Bolling wrote:

“In recent days various Republican Party leaders and activists have inquired about my position on the Loyalty Oath, so I wanted to share my views on this issue with you. While I certainly understand the rationale for a Loyalty Oath and respect the initial decision the SCC made in approving a Loyalty Oath, it is my belief that the Loyalty Oath should be rescinded.

“I am concerned that requiring a Loyalty Oath may send the wrong message about our desire to grow our party and create an opportunity for more people to become involved in the party. If we want to prepare the Republican Party for the future and build a robust organization that can defeat President Obama and Tim Kaine this fall, we must grow our party, make our party more inclusive and avoid any action that could be perceived as being exclusive.”

Lieutenant Governor Bolling added, “I realize that one of the challenges with Virginia’s current open primary system is the possibility that our primary could be influenced by Democrats or other voters who do not have the best interest of our party or candidates at heart. That is a legitimate concern and that is why I have always supported and continue to support voluntary party registration in Virginia. I know that the SCC’s decision to require a Loyalty Oath in the upcoming presidential primary was intended to try and diminish this possibility.”

RPV Chairman Mullins has called a special meeting of the SCC for January 21, 2012 at which time the committee will revisit the requirement for a Loyalty Oath.

PRESS RELEASE: Rivanna Master Naturalists–– If you enjoy the outdoors and want to volunteer to conserve our local natural heritage, consider becoming a Virginia Master Naturalist. The Rivanna Chapter’s next training session will be held Tuesday evenings and some Saturdays from February 14 through May 22 at the Ivy Creek Natural Area.

Those interested in the program are welcome to attend this free, informational meeting in the Education Center at Ivy Creek Natural Area. For more information and an application, visit http://www.vmn-rivanna.org or contact Laura Seale at 434-974-7233.

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is open to all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status.
 

Become a Virginia Master Naturalist Information Sessions free and open to the public:

Tuesday, January 3, 2012, 7:00 pm, Ivy Creek Natural Area
Thursday, January 5, 2012, 7:00 PM, Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church
Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 7:00 PM, Ivy Creek Natural Area