At press time, more than 840,000 visits were made to c-ville.com, with over 4,230 views of our September story on closings at Dairy Market, including Jonathan Wright's 434th Street.
With this issue, C-VILLE wraps up its 2024 news coverage. What follows is a glimpse at our top news stories of the year, according to Google Analytics.
Big changes in the works at Dairy Market
September 4 A popular topic for C-VILLE readers (it made our top 10 list in 2023, too), changes at Dairy Market was our most-viewed news story of 2024. Specifically, the mass exodus of restaurants from the food hall. While some of the market’s future plans have come to fruition (including the much-anticipated free parking), more new vendors are expected in the coming months.
Updates on the construction and detours at Hydraulic Road and Route 29
July 17 Construction stories were top of mind for many this year, with more than 2,700 viewers checking our online update of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s work on Hydraulic Road and Route 29. VDOT Project Manager Will Stowe recently told us he does not have data yet, but notes anecdotally, “We still occasionally see some confusion from drivers at the [Hydraulic Road] roundabout, but drivers are getting the hang of it.”
Tim Kaine and Hung Cao talk policy and priorities
October 30 Ahead of Election Day, C-VILLE swapped emails with longtime Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and challenger Hung Cao about their respective platforms. Kaine won his third U.S. Senate term by a margin of 8.2 percent. In a weird update, the Associated Press shows only 96 percent of precincts reporting results at the time of this writing (December 12).
UVA frat expelled, others suspended
May 1 Written by C-VILLE contributor Matt Dhillon, this story recapped the (then) latest on fraternities in hot water following a hazing investigation. Since the expulsion of Pi Kappa Alpha in April, two more fraternities have had their fraternal charters terminated: Kappa Sigma and Theta Chi. Sigma Alpha Mu’s suspension is set to expire on January 5, just before the start of rush.
Quirk Hotel to undergo rebrand following $24 million sale
May 8 The former Quirk Hotel, now called The Doyle, was rebranded in the wake of its sale in April. Since our original coverage, new owner Blue Suede Hospitality Group has expanded its portfolio to eight properties—doubling its locations after purchasing the Charlottesville hotel.
A seat on the Albemarle County School Board is up for grabs in upcoming special election
September 25 In other election news, many C-VILLE readers checked out our coverage of the special election for the Rio seat on the Albemarle County School Board. Though former-appointee Chuck Pace won, he’ll be campaigning again soon—the same seat will return to the ballot as regularly scheduled in November 2025.
VDOT removes left-turn lanes from Hydraulic Road onto Route 29
August 23 Always interested in construction news, readers logged on for our August update on the removal of left-turn lanes at the busy intersection of Hydraulic and 29. No formal data about improved traffic flow has been released, but Stowe told C-VILLE that VDOT has “observed better throughput and reduced travel times on all approaches … due to additional green time.” He also shared that the installation of remaining pedestrian signals at the crossing is almost complete, with work slated to wrap up in late December or early January. Construction of a pedestrian bridge in the same area will continue into fall 2026.
Changes at IX Art Park
February 7 Early this year, Dhillon also took a look at changes in the works at IX Art Park. Since his dive into the skeleton crew running the park, IX has undergone a variety of updates (including the stylistic change of its name from Ix to IX).
UVA withholds degrees from students arrested at encampment
June 18 The University of Virginia made headlines for its reaction to protesters when it withheld degrees from some graduating students arrested at the pro-Palestine encampment. All of the withheld degrees have now been conferred and backdated, but not without public pressure and stress for impacted students. Despite continued organizing by pro-Palestine student groups, UVA has not met demands for divestment or disclosure.
House of Delegates committee advances resolutions calling for constitutional amendments
November 20 A late entry to this list, C-VILLE’s review of three potential state constitutional amendments, and the amendment process, was popular with readers in recent weeks. Even if the legislature passes the suggested amendments during its 30-day session starting on January 8, the earliest any of the items could make it on the ballot is November 2026.
Sentara must comply with DOJ demands
March 27 Returning to a story she’s been following for years, former C-VILLE news editor Lisa Provence highlighted recent discoveries in the Department of Justice investigation into Sentara Health. Updates have been scarce since March, but the investigation into Sentara’s insurance rate hikes is ongoing.
More than 600,000 visitors have been to Shannon Library since March, according to UVA Library records. Supplied photo.
By Merrill Hart
After a nearly four-year closure for renovations, Shannon Library has re-established itself as the University of Virginia’s main study spot. This December marks a full academic year since five floors of expanded seating and a grilled cheese café joined historic reading rooms and the checkered entrance hall students first crossed back in 1938.
UVA Library employees say community use of the space has held steady over the year, with about 635,000 visitors recorded since March. That’s more than twice the foot traffic that neighboring Clemons Library saw in the same time period.
Few, if any, current UVA undergraduates had the chance to explore the main library, formerly known as Alderman, before it closed its doors in 2020. Elyse Girard, executive director of communications and user experience for university libraries, describes Alderman as “kind of a sad space to go into”—with much fewer windows than it has now.
“I just love how much light is in the building and how open and inviting it is [now],” Girard says. “I was only at the library a couple months before it closed, and it was just dark and dingy and hard to navigate.”
Public Services Manager Will Wyatt, who started working at UVA libraries as an undergraduate in 2014, agreed the old library felt dark. Standing at 6-feet, 4-inches, he would often brush against low ceilings during visits to the library’s pre-renovation cramped stacks.
But certain nooks always felt like home. When Wyatt’s family came to Charlottesville for his 2017 graduation, he proudly walked them through Alderman’s walnut-paneled McGregor Room, known affectionately as the “Harry Potter Room.” Today, the space features the same vintage feel, updated with new windows and shelving.
“That’s an affectionate place in my heart,” says Wyatt. “That’s still a room that gets a lot of gasps from people.”
The mix of old and new echoes creative efforts to reframe resources for an increasingly digital era. After a lengthy moving process, the library now houses 1.2 million books—roughly 12 miles worth of shelf space. Online platforms like Virgo have seen increased usage, according to Girard, and staff continue monitoring the evolving use of space and services. Instead of visiting only to check out books, students often come to Shannon to study together, Wyatt observed.
“I do feel that in this iteration of the building, there are more spaces that are conducive to collaboration and teamwork, and I see them being used for that quite frequently,” Wyatt says.
Shannon also houses the Scholars’ Lab Makerspace, an interactive facility on the third floor that connects users with electronics, crafting, laser-cutting and 3D-printing. Makerspace manager Ammon Shepherd says the move from Clemons to Shannon has increased interest in user-led projects, which range from surgeons printing heart models to students designing elaborate Halloween costumes. The Makerspace plans to host 40 community events next semester.
With all the buzz, one question still lingers for some Shannon enthusiasts: Where is talking allowed? Unlike Clemons, where each floor requires a different decibel level, Shannon opened with no rules.
While the library has not enforced noise norms because staff are still figuring out how each space is being used, Wyatt says certain rooms already have unspoken conventions.
“The McGregor Room has always been, you know, you’re gonna get a death glare if you step too hard in there,” he says.
If the project proceeds, the hotel at 218 W. Market St. would replace a shopping center that includes The Artful Lodger, The Livery Stable, and several other businesses. Photo by Eze Amos.
There has not been an uneventful year in Charlottesville real estate for a long time, and no amount of column inches can capture all that happened in 2024. Here’s one way to take the pulse of this year.
0: The number of places there will be to live at 218 W. Market St. The developer opted to build a hotel.
184 feet: The height of a structure developer Jeffrey Levien seeks to build on the Downtown Mall where Violet Crown Theater currently sits.
1: The number of new City Council members, as Natalie Oschrin began serving a four-year term in January.
2: The number of names for an 80-unit Seminole Trail housing project that finally broke ground this year after construction pricing caused delays. What started this year as Premier Circle ended as Vista29. The principal nonprofit involved also changed its name from Virginia Supportive Housing to Support Works Virginia.
11: The number of “Major Development Plans” filed with the City of Charlottesville after a new zoning code went into effect in late February, though one is actually a duplicate. Two of these have been approved, one of which was for the BEACON commercial kitchen project at 221 Carlton Rd., and the other was for a deck expansion at ABC Preschool.
6: The number of units that will be built at 303 Alderman Rd., currently a single-family home slated for demolition. City staff have to sign off on a major development plan for this by-right development and none of the units are required to be income-restricted.
12: One major plan for undeveloped land on Hillcrest Road calls for 12 units to be constructed along the U.S. 250 Bypass. None are required to be affordable.
24: Another major plan seeks to build 24 units at 2030 Barracks Rd., directly to the east of the Meadowbrook Shopping Center. Half of these would be income restricted.
51: The number of residential properties in Charlottesville that sold for more than $1 million by the first week of December.
$2,575,000: The highest price paid in the City of Charlottesville in 2024 for a single-family home at 1824 Winston Rd. on October 29.
$8.7 million: Charlottesville City Council agreed to a five-year, $8.7 million loan to Habitat for Humanity and the Piedmont Housing Alliance to purchase the Carlton Mobile Home Park for eventual redevelopment. The terms of the agreement prohibit construction until mid-2027, though planning can get started.
$10.5 million: The University of Virginia Foundation purchased three commercial buildings on Arlington Boulevard for this price, possibly for a future road connection between Copeley Road and Millmont Street.
$24 million: The amount paid by Blue Suede Charlottesville LLC to buy the Quirk Hotel on West Main Street. The relatively new building is now known as The Doyle Hotel.
5 percent: The average assessment increase for all property in the City of Charlottesville. It’s a lower figure than 12.33 percent in 2023 and 10.77 percent in 2022. The higher assessments means more tax revenue. City Council intends to spend any surplus.
4.07 percent: Albemarle County’s average assessment also went up by a smaller amount in 2024 than in previous years.
Owen Brennan was recently named executive director of The Haven. He’s been the nonprofit’s interim leader since Stephen Hitchcock left in July. Supplied photo.
New leader
On January 1, Owen Brennan, interim executive director of The Haven, will officially become the organization’s permanent executive director.
“Owen’s knowledge of The Haven and the local Continuum of Care, his calm presence in accompaniment of people in crisis, and his deep understanding of the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness are the right combination of skills to lead The Haven into the future,” said Rabia Povich, chair of the board, in a December 10 press release.
Since opening in 2010, The Haven has been a resource for community members experiencing homelessness and poverty.
Brennan has worked for the organization in various roles for more than a decade, most recently as operations director for the nonprofit. He is currently listed as both the executive and operations director on The Haven’s website, and has an extensive background in collaborating with other major players working to address housing insecurity in the Charlottesville area.
The Haven is one of many local nonprofits expected to work with city leaders and the Salvation Army on the creation of a year-round, low-barrier shelter in the city. While The Haven has a low-barrier day shelter, Charlottesville does not currently have a low-barrier, overnight shelter available year-round.
Powering down
File photo.
Albemarle County Public Schools will kick off 2025 with a new personal communication device policy, prompted by an August executive order from Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Starting January 7, students must store phones and similar devices in a locker, backpack, or designated area for the duration of the school day. Exceptions for individualized education plans, 504 plans, and special circumstances will be allowed.
High school students will be able to use devices during non-instructional time for now, but use during lunch and passing periods will be phased out in August 2025. Middle schoolers will continue to operate under current rules, prohibiting phones for the entire school day.
“This initiative supports our goal of helping students stay engaged and achieve academic success,” said Judy Le, chair of the Albemarle County School Board, in a December 10 press release. “Creating device-free classrooms allows students and staff to focus on meaningful learning experiences.”
Procedures for family and staff communication during emergencies will also be updated as part of the new policy.
For the win(s)
Four University of Virginia swimmers set world records at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest on December 12. Current Hoo and Olympic medalist Gretchen Walsh broke her own record in the 100-meter individual medley, posting a time of 55.71 during the semifinal. Her sister, Alex Walsh, joined alum Paige Madden and incoming Cavalier Katie Grimes on the 4×200-meter freestyle relay, breaking another world record during the final event of the day.
Giving season
In more UVA athletics news, the Virginia women’s basketball team received the largest gift in the program’s history, and the second-largest gift to any UVA women’s team ever. The “transformational” donation comes from alum Alexis Ohanian, general partner and founder of early-stage venture capital firm Seven Seven Six. Ohanian is also the co-founder and former executive chairman of Reddit, a popular social media site, and is married to tennis legend Serena Williams.
Hope to help
Inmates at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail will receive “hope packs” from Christ Community Church this holiday season as part of an initiative by Richmond-based organization Good News Global. Charlottesville is one of 30 jurisdictions nationwide participating in the program, according to a December 10 release. Hope packs are given to male, female, and juvenile inmates, and include personalized gifts and necessities.
Looking back at the good, the bad, and the surprising from 2024.
By Caite Hamilton, Tami Keaveny, Catie Ratliff, and Susan Sorensen
We don’t know about you, but we love a list. Quick to read, easy to digest—what’s not to like?—they’re the perfect way to wrap up a long, eventful year of news, arts, and food coverage. Behold, all the naughty and nice things about 2024.
Ten headlines we were surprised to see
From January 1 onward, 2024 was a newsworthy year everywhere. And Charlottesville was no exception, making local and national news headlines. Here are 10 that surprised us this year.
March 20: Wildfire destroys multiple buildings at Twin Oaks
When a wildfire devastated two structures at Twin Oaks, including a processing and storage facility, the future of the intentional community was uncertain. Twin Oaks is still recovering nine months later, but it’s moving forward. The community closed its signature hammock business as a result of the fire, and is weighing what business it wants to pursue next.
April 29: Ukrop family sells Charlottesville Quirk Hotel
Four years after it opened, the Quirk Hotel Charlottesville was bought by Blue Suede Hospitality Group on April 29. The Ukrop family sold the four-story, West Main Street building for $24 million, $20 million more than they paid for the property in 2017. Renamed The Doyle Hotel, the spot retains many elements of the Quirk, including the popular rooftop bar.
May 4: UVA calls in state police to break up encampment, arrest students
Leaders at the University of Virginia called in Virginia State Police to break up a pro-Palestine encampment after days of peaceful demonstrations. More than two dozen people were arrested. Prosecutors and university officials eventually dropped all charges and no-trespass orders after months of public pressure.
May 28: Mel Walker dies at 71
Mel Walker, Charlottesville icon and owner of Mel’s Cafe, died on May 28 at the age of 71. Opened in 1989, the popular West Main Street eatery was not only a cherished soul-food restaurant, but a gathering place for Charlottesville’s Black community before it closed its doors permanently in July.
June 7: Local Food Hub announces imminent closure
Following the surprise announcement of its closure in early June, Local Food Hub ended its Fresh Farmacy program on July 15. The program offered clients a “prescription” for fresh produce and distributed more than 40,000 pounds of local produce in 2023. While fellow local nonprofit Cultivate Charlottesville offers fresh produce through community gardens, that organization is at risk of also closing if it does not raise enough funds by April 2025.
September 5: UVAHealth physicians and professors publish letter of no confidence
A group of physicians at the University of Virginia released an open letter on September 5 calling for the removal of UVA Health CEO Craig Kent and School of Medicine Dean Melina Kibbe. Allegations in the original letter included the creation of a toxic work environment and unsafe patient practices. In October, a group of surgeons also came forward, alleging that UVA has pressured providers to fraudulently raise bills.
September 21: Umma’s closes after two years
Korean- and Japanese-American fusion restaurant Umma’s closed its doors after hosting its last dinner service on September 21. A popular space for the local LGBTQ+ community, Umma’s shut down not due to a lack of support, but because its owners moved out of town.
October 17: Tony Bennett announces immediate retirement
Basketball legend Tony Bennett announced his retirement as head coach of the University of Virginia men’s team on October 17, just 20 days before the Hoos’ first game. Bennett’s exit, which came months after he signed a contract extension, shocked and saddened fans. Interim Head Coach Ron Sanchez, an associate head coach under Bennett, is off to a shaky start, with preseason polls predicting the team will finish fifth in the ACC.
Photo via UVA Athletics Communications.
October 21: City Manager and Salvation Army announce low-barrier shelter plans
City Manager Sam Sanders presented Charlottesville City Council with plans and funding options for converting the Salvation Army’s thrift store on Cherry Avenue into a year-round, low-barrier shelter. The creation of such a shelter has been a longtime priority for local leaders, but became more urgent following the erection of tents in Market Street Park last fall. City Council is expected to allocate funding for the project at its last meeting of the year.
November 27: Blue Moon Diner closes its doors
Beloved diner/gathering place/music venue Blue Moon Diner served its last stenciled pancake in late November, after nearly 20 years under the stewardship of Laura Galgano and Rice Hall. The diner, which originally opened in 1979 and was previously owned by Mark Hahn of Harvest Moon Catering, was a Charlottesville institution but, as Galgano wrote on the restaurant’s Facebook page, “It’s time for new adventures!”—CR
Triomphe!
10 Hoos who made us proud in Paris
Kate Douglass won two gold and two silver medals at the 2024 Olympic Games. Photo via UVA Athletics Communications.
There was a lot to like about the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. The games were the most ecologically sustainable of the modern era. Every medal contained a piece of metal from the Eiffel Tower. The logo for Paris 2024 featured a lowercase ‘i’ to symbolize inclusivity and individuality. For local fans, however, one of the best things was the success of former, current, and future University of Virginia athletes.
When the Olympics and Paralympics concluded on September 8, UVA-affiliated athletes (and one Wahoo-to-be) had earned 16 medals—seven gold, seven silver, and two bronze. A dozen of those medals were won in the swimming pool, with Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh returning home with eight of them. (UVA Swimming & Diving Head Coach Todd DeSorbo was Team USA’s women’s swimming coach, and 25 percent of the female swimmers who competed for the United States were current or former Hoos.) In addition to Douglass and Walsh, Emma Weber seized gold at her first Olympics, while Paige Madden earned silver and bronze. Then there was the silver medal awarded to Western Albemarle High School’s Thomas Heilman, a future Hoo who, at 17 years old, was the youngest male swimmer to qualify for the Olympics since Michael Phelps in 2000.
On the soccer pitch, former Cavalier standout Emily Sonnett competed on the United States’ women’s team that defeated Brazil to capture a record fifth Olympic gold medal. And during the Paralympics, UVA rower Skylar Dahl was part of the U.S. PR3 mixed four with coxswain that claimed silver.
But not all UVA athletes were on Team USA. Rower Heidi Long was on Great Britain’s women’s eight team that won bronze, and Pien Dicke helped the Netherlands win gold in field hockey.
It was later reported that if the University of Virginia had been its own country in the 2024 summer games, it would have finished with the 16th-most medals, just behind Spain. To that, we say: Wahoowa!—SS
Turn, turn, turn
Four times traffic held us up
1. The first of a few summer efforts to eliminate congestion in high-traffic areas, a roundabout at the intersection of Hydraulic Road and Hillsdale Drive wrapped up in August after a month under construction. At the peak of the work, the Virginia Department of Transportation reported that roughly 35,000 vehicles per day were being detoured from Hydraulic Road to avoid the construction.
2. Left turns are so 2023, said the Virginia Department of Transportation in August as it eliminated left-turn lanes from Hydraulic Road onto Route 29. Drivers were encouraged to take a circuitous route through nearby shopping center parking lots, all in the name of “improving traffic flow” (but to hell with your morning commute).
3. Construction began on a pedestrian bridge in the—you guessed it—Hydraulic corridor, just north of Zan Road in September. Part of a $30 million project to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety in that area, the project will continue until fall 2025.
4. A two-decade-long process to rehab the Belmont Bridge ended in late June to mixed reviews, garnering criticism for its clunky medians, unfinished landscaping, and, as one commenter on Reddit put it, “I’m most disappointed that they created this graffiti paradise. Wish we could have an art competition to cover all that gray.”—CH
Photo by Stephen Barling.
The best words
We’re proud of every cover story we print on Wednesday, but some resonate with us more than others. Here’s a look at C-VILLE staffers’ favorite features of the year.
Editor in Chief Caite Hamilton
Her pick: Timeless treasure (June 12)
“As I wrote in my letter that week, this cover story read more like an excerpt from a memoir than the type of feature we normally run, but Michael Moriarty’s piece on finding his dad’s vintage Timex struck a chord with me. Loss is a universal experience, and I hoped Mike’s piece—which so deftly navigated the complexities of grief—would strike a chord with readers as well.”
Culture Editor Tami Keaveny
Her pick: Wild observations (January 10)
“In 2024 we found three ways to champion the eloquent work of writer and poet Erika Howsare. In a feature on her latest book, The Age of Deer, Howsare shared her research process, telling writer Sarah Lawson, ‘I felt the aching gladness of being alive and among other living things.’ A frequent contributor to C-VILLE Weekly, Howsare wrote our May 22 cover story about the thriving arts scene in the Shenandoah Valley, and her December 4 feature looked at environmental concerns around light pollution.”
News Reporter Catie Ratliff
Her pick: Educational opportunities (May 1)
“As a news reporter, my job often involves sorting through documents, attending local government meetings, and conducting phone interviews. Working on this cover story was both a breath of fresh air and enlightening, and it provided readers a look into Charlottesville’s alternative-education learning centers and the students enrolled in them. Lugo-McGinness Academy and Knight School both shine in their fostering of community, and they build environments where students feel safe and can learn effectively.”
Editorial Assistant CM Turner
His pick: Now playing (August 21)
“Connecting artists and audiences is one of the most fulfilling aspects of what we do in the C-VILLE Weekly Culture section. When we focused our lens on a new generation of musicmakers shaping Charlottesville’s sonic scene earlier this year, we provided a picture of the varied and dynamic acts sharing their sounds on stages around town. From punk rock to hip-hop, Americana to mainstream, local listeners have a lot to choose from.”
Copy Editor Susan Sorensen
Her pick: Role call (October 30)
“I love fall. And I love movies. So come late October, when the leaves are changing and the Virginia Film Festival is rolling, Charlottesville is my happy place. Which is why my favorite 2024 cover story was our guide to the 37th film fest. This year, we focused on folks working behind the scenes, including directors, producers (thanks for stopping by, Matthew Modine!), writers, and production designers, to name a few. Not only was it illuminating reading, but the package of stories made me a wiser, more appreciative moviegoer.”
Sold out!
58 reasons why you should’ve bought your tickets early in 2024
1/13: Roy Wood Jr. and Jordan KlepperThe Paramount Theater | 1/26: The LegwarmersThe Jefferson Theater | 1/27: Hot in Herre: 2000s Dance PartyThe Jefferson Theater | 2/1: The Red Clay StraysThe Jefferson Theater | 2/3 Daniel Donato’s Cosmic CountryThe Jefferson Theater | 2/17: The StewsThe Jefferson Theater | 2/18: Tanner UsreyThe Southern Café & Music Hall | 2/19: Chelsea Cutler (The Beauty Is Everywhere Tour)The Jefferson Theater | 2/20: Blackberry SmokeThe Jefferson Theater | 3/3: St. Paul & the Broken BonesThe Jefferson Theater | 3/4: GWARThe Jefferson Theater | 3/8: Dawes & LuciusThe Jefferson Theater | 3/10: The Disco BiscuitsThe Jefferson Theater | 3/14: The Cancelled PodcastThe Paramount Theater | 3/15: Mark NormandThe Paramount Theater | 3/16: Mason RamseyThe Jefferson Theater | 3/19: Hermanos Gutiérrez The Jefferson Theater | 3/21: Jack Stepanian The Southern Café & Music Hall | 3/22: “The Moth Radio Hour” The Paramount Theater | 3/22: Haley Heynderickx The Southern Café & Music Hall | 4/3: Slaughter Beach, Dog The Southern Café & Music Hall | 4/5: Wait Wait Stand-Up Tour The Paramount Theater | 4/5: Sam Burchfield & The Scoundrels with Tophouse The Southern Café & Music Hall | 4/6: Ryan Caraveo The Southern Café & Music Hall | 4/28: Mandy Patinkin The Paramount Theater | 5/5: Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band The Jefferson Theater | 5/9: Dar Williams The Southern Café & Music Hall | 5/10: Pecos & the Rooftops The Jefferson Theater 5/11: Chamomile and Whiskey Rivanna Roots | 5/14 and 5/15 Thievery Corporation The Jefferson Theater | 5/21: Temple Grandin The Paramount Theater | 6/17: The Japanese House The Jefferson Theater | 6/26: TrousdaleThe Southern Café & Music Hall | 6/27: Pete Davidson: Prehab Tour The Paramount Theater | 6/30: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Ting Pavilion | 8/16: HASH with Pinkish The Southern Café & Music Hall | 8/24: Jack Stepanian The Southern Café & Music Hall | 9/6: Gogol Bordello The Jefferson Theater | 9/9: An Evening with Goose Ting Pavilion | 10/2: Vampire Weekend Ting Pavilion | 10/9: Ailey II The Paramount Theater | 10/9: Ray LaMontagne and Gregory Alan Isakov Ting Pavilion | 10/13 Neko Case The Jefferson Theater | 10/19: Kate Bollinger The Southern Café & Music Hall | 10/20: Sabrina Carpenter: Short N’ Sweet Tour John Paul Jones Arena | 10/22: Nick Shoulders and the Okay Crawdad The Southern Café & Music Hall | 10/22: 49 Winchester The Jefferson Theater | 10/25: Whiskey Myers Ting Pavilion | 10/26: Little Feat The Paramount Theater | 10/30: Jelly Roll: Beautifully Broken Tour John Paul Jones Arena | 11/9: Ronny Chieng The Paramount Theater | 11/9: TychoThe Jefferson Theater | 11/15: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway The Jefferson Theater | 11/22: JP Harris Dürty Nelly’s | 11/23: Shane Smith & The SaintsThe Jefferson Theater | 12/6: Bored Teachers: The Struggle is Real Comedy Tour The Paramount Theater | 12/15: Indigo Girls The Paramount Theater | 12/18: Leslie Odom Jr. The Paramount Theater
Indigo Girls performed at The Paramount Theater on December 15. Supplied photo.
Looking good
Our Art Director Max March picks his favorite shots of the year
Being on the ground during major news events is so important, and for my money there isn’t anyone who does it like Eze Amos. He’s particularly good at finding quiet moments amidst the chaos, and this photo—taken right before Virginia State Police broke up the UVA encampment protesting the war in Gaza—resonated with me.
There’s something about great show photography that makes you feel like you’re there in the moment. Charlottesville really punches above its weight when it comes to the caliber of touring musicians who put on terrific shows here, but it’s particularly special when you get to feature a show from some local talent, like up-and-comers Palmyra, in this shot by Tristan Williams.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Three additions to C-VILLE in 2024
C-VILLE celebrated its 35th birthday in September of 2024 and, with it, added some new merch, an arts newsletter, and a donor campaign.
Merchandise: T-shirts! Tote bags! Bumper stickers! Our new line of merch, launched in September, celebrates C-VILLE past and present. Head to c-ville.com and click “Shop” to wear your love for your local paper on your sleeve (or your coffee mug).
To-do List: Also in September, we started sending out a weekly newsletter from the Culture section. Sign up for it (and our Friday morning one, too) at c-ville.com.
Save the Free Word: Thanks to more than 100 generous readers, our new donor campaign has amassed nearly $10k, a healthy sum that’s helped us add a News Editor to our staff (look for his byline in January).
Speaking of which,
two more changes coming in 2025:
In January, you’ll notice C-VILLE has a new look—online and in print. We’ve been working hard to usher the weekly into the 21st century (better late than never?) and into our next 35 years.—CH
As part of Madison House’s Holiday Sharing program, volunteers wrap gifts for recipients. The program has been ongoing since its launch in the 1970s. Photo
courtesy of Madison House.
In addition to celebrating the season themselves, a number of local organizations are gathering donations for community members this December.
The median household income in Charlottesville is $67,177, but the poverty rate in the city is more than double the state average—23.6 percent, according to current census data. To ease the burden of holiday expenses, several area nonprofits and businesses are hosting donation drives for individuals, families, and animals experiencing hardship. C-VILLE spoke with five organizations via email about their merry-making efforts: The Salvation Army, Come As You Are Cville, Madison House, Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, and Jefferson Area Board for Aging.
Through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, 1,009 children and 191 teenagers across the Charlottesville area will receive gifts this year. Recipients qualified for the program through an application, interview, and verification process earlier in the fall, and will pick up their gifts at an assigned time.
“We are happy to be providing this service again to those who are struggling with making ends meet,” said Major Jennifer Van Meter, corps officer for the Salvation Army. “We want people to be able to celebrate Christmas without a financial burden.”
To adopt an Angel, visit one of the many trees at locations around town, including the YMCA, Walmart, and Dairy Market. The deadline for dropping off gifts is December 15.
Come As You Are Cville has partnered with several groups for its annual Christmas toys giveaway.
“By providing gifts, you are helping to level the playing field and provide opportunities for these children to experience the joy of Christmas,” said Stephane Kabesa, associate director of CAYAC. The nonprofit hopes to give gifts to 160 registered children in lower-income families in Charlottesville and Albemarle. Donations should be dropped off by December 12 at 4pm at the Jefferson School Foundation on Fourth Street, NW.
The Holiday Sharing program at the University of Virginia’s Madison House will support more than 40 families this year. Those referred to the program receive personalized gifts and need-based donations, and are welcomed by student volunteers at events throughout the season. Through a partnership with the Batten School, Madison House also provides families with food and grocery-store gift cards.
One highlight of Holiday Sharing for many students is distribution day, when children of participating families visit Madison House and decorate cookies, make gifts for parents, and play games.
Individual and business contributions to Holiday Sharing can be made year-round.
For furry friends, the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is accepting donations to its Branches of Hope Giving Tree program through Christmas Day. There are currently six trees at businesses around town, with roughly 300 ornaments, according to Development Manager Lauren Krohn.
“Each ornament contains either a ‘wish list’ of items we use or provide [for] the animals regularly here at the shelter, food to stock our Pet Food Pantry, or a monetary donation amount that corresponds to an item or treatment (such as vaccines, microchipping, etc.) that we provide the animals,” said Krohn. “This donation drive will benefit our resident animals here at the SPCA, as well as the families who rely on our veterinary and pantry services.”
CASPCA is expected to surpass its 2023 total of 2,658 adoptions, and has served almost 500 families in its veterinary clinic this year. Pantry services are also popular, with more than 29,000 pounds of dog and cat food distributed.
While giving trees end after Christmas, CASPCA accepts donations year-round. Popular items include pet food, dog beds, and toys.
Across its service area of Charlottesville, Region 10, and five neighboring counties, Jefferson Area Board for Aging is working to bring merriment to older and disabled adults this December. More than 150 people will benefit from the holiday gift drive, which includes both practical and fun items.
“We hope that the gift bags will let our members know that they are loved, appreciated, and, most of all, seen,” said Teresa Cooper, a JABA volunteer service coordinator. “We were blown away by the donations and support from our community, and are so thankful. Our volunteer center is overflowing with gifts for our members.”
The donation window for JABA’s holiday gift drive has closed, but the organization always welcomes items such as arts and crafts supplies, puzzle books, and household items.
More information on donation drives and other ways to support community members can be found on the organizations’ websites.
Investigators at Monticello hope that by studying colonoware they will get a more complete picture of how early, Indigenous, and enslaved Americans lived. Supplied photo.
For 24 years, Monticello’s Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery has been studying and cataloging artifacts left behind by early and enslaved Americans, creating an online archive that enables intersite, comparative archaeological research on slavery. Now, thanks to $354,000 in funding from the National Science Foundation and The Conservation Fund, the DAACS and its collaborative researchers will launch the largest study ever conducted on a particular kind of artifact known as “colonoware,” a type of handmade, low-fired pottery crafted by mostly Indigenous and enslaved Americans.
Through studying colonoware, co-principal investigators Beth Bollwerk and Lindsay Bloch are attempting to paint a more complete picture of how early, Indigenous, and enslaved Americans lived their lives.
“One of the main questions we hope to answer with this project is, ‘Why were people making and using colonoware?’” Bloch says. “We know that it isn’t as simple as them not being able to afford other pottery. There are likely cultural reasons why people may have wanted to cook in these rather than iron pots.”
Seventeenth- and 18th-century Americans had access to imported and commercially made pottery and cookware. Thus, when archaeologists discover colonoware, they are able to glean certain facts from both its existence and the context in which it is discovered. Where was it found? What is it made of? How was it made? The answers to these questions are how researchers are able to learn more comprehensively how the first Americans—people who did not make it into the history books—lived their lives.
The first study examining the phenomenon of colonoware was conducted in 1962 by British archaeologist Ivor Noël Hume in Colonial Williamsburg. Initially thought unique to Virginia, further study revealed similar examples of colonoware in other parts of the Mid-Atlantic.
The DAACS colonoware study has brought in a “rock star team” of archaeologists and historians that includes Mary Beth Fitts from UNC-Chapel Hill, Karen Y. Smith from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and Brandi MacDonald from the University of Missouri’s Archaeometry Laboratory. The study will include approximately 180,000 artifacts and fragments, and more than 600 samples from 40 sites in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
“One of the key techniques we’ll be using is laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,” Bloch says. “You can think about it sort of like an equivalent DNA analysis for pottery, because it’s based on the unique makeup of the sample. But instead of DNA, this technique tells us the different proportion of elements that make up the pottery. By testing the pottery in this way, we will be able to compare samples and identify which pots were made with the same clay sources, because they have the same fingerprint, and we can tie that to where that clay came from.”
Researchers will also seek the input of Indigenous tribes and descendants of enslaved people in the region for their insight on how these artifacts were created and used. The Catawba Nation of South Carolina, as well as descendant communities from Monticello and Mount Vernon, are being consulted to help inform the study’s research and analysis.
“We are forging new relationships with descendant communities who are known through ethnohistory and oral tradition to have been involved in colonoware production,” Bollwerk says. “In particular, the Rappahannock Indian tribe and Pamunkey Indian tribe … have a well-documented tradition of pottery production. The Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia and the Cheroenhaka [Nottoway] tribe do, as well. We have reached out and consulted with these tribal communities as the project moves forward.”
A rendering by the firm Diamond Schmitt shows the proposed Center for the Arts (right) fleshing out the Emmet/Ivy Corridor with the School of Data Science immediately to the south. Image via University of Virginia.
As the University of Virginia continues to expand onto Ivy Road, its new buildings are creating a new urban fabric for the public institution’s footprint in Charlottesville. On December 5, a committee of the Board of Visitors reviewed a preliminary design for the proposed Center for the Arts, and recommended a smaller building.
“You’re dealing here with a welcoming site to the university,” said John Nau, chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee.
The Center for the Arts would be located in the northeast corner of the Emmet/Ivy Corridor. As presented, the building would house the 1,200-seat Richard and Tessa Ader Performing Arts Center and serve as the new home of The Fralin Museum of Art and the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection. The Department of Music would also move to the site, freeing up space for other UVA uses at Old Cabell Hall.
“The Center for the Arts will have an internal promenade on the ground floor that builds on the design guidelines of the previous buildings developed in the Emmet Ivy District,” said Gary McCluskie, an architect with the Toronto-based firm Diamond Schmitt, which has been hired to design the arts center.
Those buildings are the School of Data Science, the Virginia Guesthouse hotel, and the Karsh Institute of Democracy. One rendering shown to the Buildings and Grounds Committee depicted the possibility of films being screened on media walls above the entrance to the theater.
Nau expressed concern that those media screens might distract people at the busy intersection of Emmet Street, Ivy Road, and University Avenue.
“I have seen traffic come to a halt around sporting venues around the country that use these screens,” Nau said.
The project has an internal budget of $315 million. Nau and others questioned the scale and asked whether the center is something UVA really needs to build. Another committee member asked for updated financial projections to see if the center would provide revenue by attracting shows that currently don’t have an appropriate venue in the greater community.
While part of the funding for the center comes from a $50 million donation by the Aders, the bulk of the project might depend on a $200 million capital funding request made to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the General Assembly. UVA’s Senior Vice President for Operations and State Government Relations Colette Sheehy said Richmond has already authorized pre-planning work as well as given the green light to proceed with design.
“That is normally a signal from them that they are going to support the construction,” Sheehy said.
UVA President Jim Ryan said the project has been in the works for a long time. The building’s large size is comparable to what’s being built nearby, he said, and the structure would hide the Lewis Mountain parking garage. Ryan also noted that moving The Fralin would allow that building to serve as a new entrance for the School of Architecture, which is currently tucked away from public sight.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to get to the architecture school but if we wanted to create a secret spot for architecture, we succeeded,” Ryan said.
Earlier in the meeting, the committee also approved amending UVA’s Major Capital Plan to add $160 million for the construction of three residential buildings at the western end of the Emmet Ivy District. BOV member Bert Ellis was the lone vote against doing so because he said UVA needs to cut spending.
Four organizations have expressed interest in operating a new grocery store at 501 Cherry Ave., the site of the former Estes IGA supermarket. Photo by Eze Amos.
Fresh ideas
The Cherry Avenue Grocery Community and Stakeholder Engagement Project held its fourth and final Buy Back the Block event on December 9, unveiling both the results of its survey and the names of parties interested in owning and operating a grocery store at 501 Cherry Ave.
The development is on the site of the former Estes IGA supermarket, and is a collaboration between Woodard Properties and Piedmont Housing Alliance. In addition to space for a grocery store and the Music Resource Center, the project is also slated to include two apartment buildings with one-, two-, and three-bedroom affordable units.
Current plans have the development applying for a certificate of occupancy in 2027.
More than 500 people completed the survey, with 75 percent indicating they would shop at a grocery store at 501 Cherry Ave. Top priorities of respondents in selecting a grocery store were proximity to home and work, selection of fresh food, and low prices. Most surveyed preferred that the store be either a co-op or owned by someone with “deep roots in Fifeville or other historically Black communities in Charlottesville/Albemarle.”
If a grocery store is not possible, survey respondents favored options like a farmers’ market, child-care facility, or nonprofit community center. Many meeting attendees said a grocery store is still their preferred choice, and they would like additional details before moving forward with any alternative.
Beyond the survey results, those who were at the event also heard from Fifeville Neighborhood Association President Carmelita Wood about potential groups interested in owning and operating the store: Good Food Grocery, the newly formed Food Co-op steering committee, Laziz Local Produce, and Goodwill Industries.
Suit dismissed
Following the dismissal of her Title IX lawsuit last month, complainant Jane Doe reiterated to The Daily Progress her distrust in and frustration with the University of Virginia. The December 9 article details both the complaint, court proceedings, and UVA’s response.
Doe accuses a now-former professor and department head of repeated instances of sexual harassment beginning during her January 2019 study abroad program. The professor, identified as Gabriel Finder by Charlottesville DTM, resigned prior to disciplinary action, has been barred from working at UVA, and was stripped of his emeritus status.
UVA leadership was first informed of a “consensual relationship” between Doe and the professor in January 2020, at which point the Title IX office became involved. Though Doe initially claimed the relationship was consensual, she later said she had reevaluated her relationship with the professor and wanted to hold him accountable. A formal Title IX investigation was opened on March 19, 2020.
The final investigation report was not released until April 30, 2021.
In his memorandum opinion, U.S. District Judge Robert Ballou—a double Hoo and current lecturer at UVA law school—issued a summary judgment dismissing the suit. He further found the delay did not rise to the level of “deliberate indifference,” as stated in the suit, and said Doe’s on-time graduation with a 3.98 showed she was not prejudiced by UVA.
Thomas Jefferson Statue at the University of Virginia
Burnout
A December 8 fire at the University of Virginia Sigma Pi fraternity house on Virginia Avenue displaced 13 students in the middle of final exams. Charlottesville Fire Department responded to the single-structure fire around 1:30pm. The blaze caused significant structural damage, but no injuries were reported. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
What a racket
After 10 years in business, Moose’s by the Creek will close at the end of 2024, according to owners Melinda “Moose” Stargell and Amy Benson. In a December 8 Facebook post announcing the closure, they shared, “We’ve won awards, received many accolades and reviews and have cooked many meals but none of that could’ve been possible without YOU…our customers, friends and family.” At the end of the post, they teased that “something new” will be announced soon.
New road forward
In a rare show of bipartisanship, District 5 Rep. Bob Good worked with Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to advance the creation of an emergency access road to Wintergreen. The road will be built near Milepost 9.6, connecting Laurel Springs Drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway. “Currently there is only one road in and out of Wintergreen,” said Warner in a December 5 release. “This greatly hinders the ability of first responders to get into town, and impacts public safety for all residents.”
Local food equity nonprofit Cultivate Charlottesville launched a fundraising campaign to help cover a $500,000 budget shortfall. Without the donations, the organization may close as soon as spring 2025, according to a November 26 social media post.
“Cultivate Charlottesville is at a critical funding crossroads,” shared the organization. Among other challenges, the nonprofit cited staffing changes, depleted savings, and grants falling through as contributing factors to possibly closing. “Our work is focused on the local food system, and we’re calling on the local community to help us reach our fundraising goal.”
The potential closure of Cultivate Charlottesville puts a strain on already under-resourced food equity efforts. While it terminated Fresh Farmacy deliveries in July, Local Food Hub will shut down entirely at the end of the year. Cultivate Charlottesville was one of the nonprofits expected to help bridge the offerings lost with the closure of LFH.
Through its partnership with Charlottesville City Schools, Cultivate has worked with 20,500 students in its community gardens since its launch in 2007. The nonprofit has also grown and distributed more than 100,000 pounds of fresh produce to community members in public and subsidized housing.
To donate to Cultivate Charlottesville, visit cultivatecharlottesville.org/donate.
Follow the money
The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into the financial records of former United Way president and CEO Kristi Williams after the nonprofit paused operations in early November.
Williams left her role with United Way of Staunton, Augusta County & Waynesboro just before the nonprofit shut its doors temporarily. She worked with the organization in various roles since October 2018, according to her LinkedIn profile.
While rising operating costs were previously cited as the reason for the closure, questionable transactions that occurred during Williams’ tenure raised concerns for investigators and board members.
In a November 20 filing obtained by The Daily Progress, ACSO requested a search warrant for Williams’ financial records with DuPont Community Credit Union going back to January 2023. The warrant application also includes an affidavit with copies of checks totaling more than $20,000 written and signed by Williams.
For information about resources and updates on the operational pause of UWSAW, visit united waysaw.org.
Kristi Williams. Photo via LinkedIn.
So far so good
University of Virginia men’s basketball interim Head Coach Ron Sanchez held his first Coaches Corner at Dairy Market on December 2, after taking over the program from former coach Tony Bennett weeks before the start of the 2024-2025 season. Despite Bennett’s sudden departure, the Hoos have had a respectable 5-2 start under Sanchez’s leadership. The Cavaliers’ next big test comes on December 4, when the team will face the undefeated Florida Gators in Gainesville. Tipoff is at 7:15pm.
UVA men’s basketball interim Head Coach Ron Sanchez held his first Coaches Corner on December 2. Photo via UVA Athletics Communications.
Big discovery
Construction crews uncovered a literal pillar of history while working near the Rotunda at the University of Virginia on November 26, according to UVAToday. The stone pillar was unearthed near the building’s lower north plaza and is believed to have been buried by workers in the early 20th century. The pillar was previously part of a wall along University Avenue.
Christmas pun
Spruce Lee is the official name of Charlottesville’s 2024 holiday tree. The tree will be lit December 6 during the annual Grand Illumination at Ting Pavilion, where it will remain throughout the holiday season. Beyond the fun, this year’s naming contest also served as an informal introduction to ranked-choice voting, which will be used in the 2025 Democratic Charlottesville City Council primaries. Spruce Lee won with 59 percent of the vote, coming out ahead of runner-up Boots with the Fir.
