Kyle Guy played
for the UVA men’s basketball team from 2016 to 2019. Photo via Matt Riley / UVA Athletics Communications.
Home court
Former University of Virginia basketball star Kyle Guy is returning to Charlottesville as Athlete Development Mentor/Special Assistant for the Hoos.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kyle and his family back to Charlottesville,” said UVA men’s basketball Head Coach Tony Bennett in an August 7 release announcing Guy’s return. “Kyle is not only one of the best players I’ve ever coached, but also one of the finest young men I’ve met. He will make an immediate impact on our program, working with our players and sharing the expertise and competitive fire he’s gained throughout his collegiate and professional [careers].”
During his time as a player at Virginia, Guy was a member of the 2019 National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship winning team, making several key plays during the March Madness tournament. He went on to play professionally for five seasons, with three years in the NBA and two seasons playing abroad in Spain.
Guy’s return to Charlottesville marks the official end of his professional career and his transition into coaching.
“I want to sincerely thank Coach Bennett and Carla Williams for trusting me with the opportunity to come back and begin this next chapter of my life,” said Guy in the release. “I’m beyond excited to help this team and the University in any way needed. I’m also excited for my kids to see the work never stops! Fail harder!”
Rain check
Image via EOSDIS Worldview.
Several people and animals were evacuated from Misty Mountain Camp Resort in Albemarle County in the middle of the night on August 9, when rain from Hurricane Debby caused flash flooding around 3:30am.
Water from the storm rushed in and out of the campground, resulting in no injuries but partially submerging multiple RVs.
“I saw a car … floating on down the road,” camper Keith Hebert told CBS19. “We just weren’t planning on this; this about ruined our weekend.”
Charlottesville is almost 200 miles inland, but the city and surrounding areas are still at risk for dangerous conditions from hurricane remnants. As we approach the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, the City of Charlottesville is reminding residents to stock up on supplies, ensure outdoor furniture is secured, monitor weather conditions, and avoid flooded areas.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.
Burning questions
The Albemarle County Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating a suspicious fire that occurred on August 11, resulting in an estimated $30,000 of damage to Vocelli Pizza. Albemarle County Fire Rescue units were dispatched to the scene at approximately 1:45am, where they discovered the front of the pizzeria and two trash cans ablaze. Anyone in the area near the time of the fire or with information should contact the Albemarle Fire Marshal’s Office at 296-5833.
Park plans
The Charlottesville Department of Parks & Recreation will present its key findings from months of public comments at 6pm on August 20 at Carver Recreation Center. The findings will inform the city and PROS Consulting as they develop a master plan for the department, which will guide Parks & Recreation for at least the next 10 years.
Cause for celebration
After weeks of fundraising efforts, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville’s offer to purchase Carlton Mobile Home Park has been accepted. The offer—which was put together in record time following notification that an anonymous buyer offered $7 million for the property in early June—is a joint effort between Habitat, Piedmont Housing Alliance, Legal Aid Justice Center, and the City of Charlottesville. “[We] are thrilled and relieved to know that the Bolton family has accepted the offer we put before them on behalf of the residents who live in the community,” posted Habitat on Facebook on August 8. “We are humbled to know that the residents of the Carlton community were willing to take this leap of faith with us. We look forward to working closely with the residents in the months and years to come.”
Virginia swimmers were in the spotlight this week, with stunning highs and devastating upsets at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Current and former Hoos Kate Douglass, Paige Madden, Gretchen Walsh, and Emma Weber earned a stunning 11 medals. Returning Olympian Douglass won gold in the 200 breaststroke, the first Cavalier to ever win gold in an individual event.
In the relay pool, Douglass, Walsh, and Weber also won the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay, setting a new world record in the event. Walsh added yet another gold medal and world record to her resume in the mixed 4×100 medley relay, tying the all-time record for fastest 100-meter butterfly split.
UVA alumna Paige Madden also had a stellar showing in both individual and relay events, taking home silver in the women’s 4×200-meter free relay and bronze in the 800-meter freestyle.
The women’s 200-meter individual medley final was a mixed bag for the Hoos. While Douglass added a silver medal to her repertoire, Alex Walsh finished with the third best time but was disqualified due to an illegal turn when switching from backstroke to breaststroke.
Local high schooler Thomas Heilman won his first Olympic medal, achieving silver as part of the men’s 4×100-meter medley relay. The UVA 2029 commit swam well but did not progress to the final in either of his individual events.
Bigger and better
File photo.
Charlottesville’s Sabroso Festival is set to be bigger than ever this year, with the event moving from Washington Park to Ting Pavilion on the Downtown Mall.
The Latin American culture festival—set for September 21 from 1 to 10pm—will feature activities and entertainment for people of all ages, including live music, dancing, and face-painting. Last year’s celebration saw roughly 4,500 attendees, prompting the move to a larger venue. Salvadoran band La Maquina will headline the event.
This year marks the 12th annual Sabroso Festival hosted by Sin Barreras, a local nonprofit that advocates for immigrants and the Latinx community.
“Cville Sabroso is our Latino community’s way of sharing our vibrant cultures (beautiful music and dances, food, crafts, and traditions) and our love of Mexico, Central America, and South America with the broad[er] Charlottesville community,” shared Sabroso Fest and Sin Barreras co-founder Fanny Smedile in a August 1 release.
According to festival chair Andrea Jacobs, support for the expansion has been ample and exceeded the organizers’ expectations. “We’ve already blown past our initial goal of 20 committed sponsors and exhibitors by August 1, and we’re expecting all the available booths to be taken by mid- to late August,” she shared.
For more information on Cville Sabroso Festival, visit the event’s Facebook page or the Sin Barreras website.
Help wanted
Charlottesville Police responded to two instances of shots fired this week and are seeking public assistance locating a suspect in connection with an earlier incident. No injuries have been reported in connection with the shootings at the 900 block of Grady Avenue and the area of Prospect Avenue and Bailey Road, which occurred on July 31 and August 2 respectively. Casings were found on or near both scenes. CPD is also searching for Gustavo Junior Laurent in connection with a July 28 shooting on East Market Street.
Tonsler tipoff
The Tonsler League kicked off its annual playoffs on August 4, with teams Elite Company, Takeover, Ballywood, and Hitlist progressing to semi-finals on August 8. Undefeated champs Elite Company play Ballywood at 6:30pm, with Takeover set to face Hitlist at 7:30pm. The top two teams will meet in the playoff final at 7:30pm on August 10. Before tipoff for the men’s final, the Tonsler League will host a women’s tournament from 5 to 7pm that evening. All events are free and open to the public.
Wheel-y good
Cyclists with Journey of Hope will stop in Charlottesville on August 7 before continuing their 4,000-mile cross-country trip. This year marks the 37th annual trek to raise awareness for people with disabilities. The cyclists will pedal into town at 3:15pm on August 7, visiting local partner CrossFit SPRC at 943 Second St. SE.
An anonymous buyer has offered $7 million for the Carlton Mobile Home Park site, putting into motion a 60-day window in which the owners must consider counter offers.
Photo by Eze Amos.
Moving forward
After meeting with current residents of Carlton Mobile Home Park, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville announced it is working to secure financing to place an offer for the property in a July 26 press release. Habitat has until August 6 to make an offer on the park, or the sale of the land on which it is sited to an unknown, third-party buyer for $7 million can proceed.
Opened in the 1970s, Carlton Mobile Home Park houses approximately 60 families. If the sale of the property goes through and tenants are served eviction notices, displaced residents will be faced with the extremely difficult task of finding comparably priced affordable housing.
According to Habitat, lot rates at CMHP currently range between $375 and $450 per month. There are currently no units available at or near that rate in the Charlottesville area in any online listings.
Habitat, Piedmont Housing Alliance, and the Legal Aid Justice Center began pursuing a potential partnership with residents immediately after tenants received notice of the anonymous offer on June 7. More than 40 percent of residents signed a petition indicating their support for Habitat placing an offer on CMHP, exceeding the 25 percent margin legally required.
Residents confirmed their interest in Habitat purchasing the park in a meeting with all three nonprofits. Based on the community conversation, Habitat and partners agreed to keep CMHP a mobile home park for at least three years while considering future plans and to cap annual rent increases at either five percent or $15 monthly, whichever is less.
Under Virginia law, manufactured home park owners must provide tenants with notice of a purchase offer at least 60 days before the potential closing date. The owner must consider any additional offers to purchase made by “an entity that provides documentation that it represents at least 25 percent of the tenants with a valid lease.”
Park owners do not have to consider offers made after the 60-day window.
It is currently unclear if the owners of CMHP were intending to sell the park when they received the anonymous offer. However, Virginia law requires park owners to provide tenants with a 90-day notice of any potential listings or sale. The 60-day window provided to residents indicates the anonymous offer was made without a listing or prior intent to sell.
As the August 6 deadline for Habitat to make an offer quickly approaches, the group and its partners are focused on financing.
“This is, admittedly, one of the most challenging efforts we’ve ever been involved in given the timeline imposed upon the process,” said Habitat President and CEO Dan Rosensweig in the release. “We and our partners feel deeply that, given the enormous stakes for the families, we have a moral and ethical imperative to do everything we can to prevent displacement.”
In a comment via email, Habitat Communications Manager Angela Guzman shared that PHA has taken the lead on procuring funds for the offer. “They have narrowed conversations down to a couple of lenders,” she says. “Funding seems to be lining up.”
COVID outbreak
Four residents and one employee of the Charlottesville Salvation Army, the city’s only year-round homeless shelter, have tested positive for COVID in the past week. Arrangements have been made for COVID-positive residents to quarantine in hotel rooms. If the spread continues, the shelter’s soup kitchen may have to switch to only providing take-out meals. Luckily, no further cases of the virus have been identified following consistent testing of residents and staff. Last year alone, the Salvation Army served more than 60,000 meals and provided accommodations for 15,000 guests.
Swimming in silver
University of Virginia swimmers Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass helped lead Team USA to an Olympic silver medal in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay on July 27, setting a new American record of 3:30.20. After achieving an Olympic record in the 100-meter butterfly during semifinals, Walsh took home silver in the event on July 28, with teammate Torri Huske winning gold. As of press time, Walsh will compete in the 100-meter freestyle on July 30, with the event final set for July 31. Two-time Olympian Douglass will dive back into the pool for the 200-meter breaststroke on July 31.
Swimmer Gretchen Walsh helped Team USA earn the silver on July 27. Photo via UVA Athletics Communications.
Shooting at Holly’s
CPD seeks assistance locating suspects and a vehicle (believed to be a mid-2000s Honda Accord) involved in a shooting that occurred at Holly’s Diner on July 23 around 11:22pm. Holly’s Diner hosts karaoke every Tuesday night, an event that draws consistent crowds. One person was shot but is expected to recover with minimal injuries.
Charges have been dropped against UVA professor Noah Salomon. Photo by Eze Amos.
Termination trend
Theta Chi’s Fraternal Organization Agreement has been terminated by the Office of Student Affairs at the University of Virginia. The decision affirms that a hazing incident from March violates Adam’s Law, a piece of Virginia anti-hazing legislation from July 2022. Per the Hazing Misconduct Report published on July 2, Theta Chi may not seek re-establishment until the 2028-29 academic year, provided that it halt all public and private “underground” operations. The report found that Theta Chi engaged in hazing, including coerced servitude and other embarrassing or harmful acts.
Charges dropped
Trespassing charges have been dropped against Islamic Studies Associate Professor Dr. Noah Salomon, who was arrested by Virginia State Police as they forcibly dissolved a pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Virginia in May. Salomon acted as an unofficial facilitator between students and UVA police prior to the escalation. He is the sixth person of the 25 people arrested for trespassing to have his case dismissed. “May [the] dismissal of my case be an occasion for us all to demand that the University of Virginia and all universities never again summon a small army to suppress peaceful student protest,” he told CBS19.
Humane hope
Habitat For Humanity of Greater Charlottesville is hustling to put together a bid for the Carlton Mobile Home Park after a $7 million offer was made by an unknown source. Residents have a 60-day window, which ends on August 6, to counter the initial offer. Carlton residents have collectively signed a petition that allows Habitat to make an offer on behalf of the park. Signatures have exceeded the 25 percent quota of households required by the Virginia Manufactured Home Lot Rental Act, but the status of the counter offer remains uncertain.
The highly anticipated 2024 Paris Olympics kicks off July 26, with opening ceremonies officially starting at 1:30pm eastern daylight time. While the actual competition is an ocean away, Charlottesvillians will see several familiar faces representing Team USA and other countries on their small screens.
Equestrian
Local equestrian Will Coleman is returning to the games for the first time since his original appearance in 2012.
Coleman started riding—on a Shetland pony named TJ—after moving to Charlottesville at 6 years old.
After graduating from UVA in 2007, Coleman returned to competition and founded Will Coleman Equestrian, which he runs with his wife Katie Coleman. The business is based in Gordonsville, Virginia, and Ocala, Florida.
The equestrian has been named to the U.S. Olympic Eventing Team and will compete with his horse Off the Record. Eventing, also called Three Day Eventing, is split into three parts consisting of dressage, cross country, and show jumping.
Rowing
After competing in the Paralympics, Sky Dahl will return to Grounds, where she competes on the ACC Team. Photo via virginiasports.com.
Across the pond, alumna and former UVA Rowing captain Heidi Long will compete for Great Britain in the women’s eight. The 2024 games are her first Olympic appearance.
“Every day I’m trying to keep focused on rowing and what we are trying to achieve, but I also want to enjoy and feel the excitement of all these special moments,” Long told online magazine British Rowing. “Knowing that my friends and family will be in Paris to support the whole team will hopefully inspire and encourage us to have the best time of our lives.”
In the Paralympics, Sky Dahl will compete in Para Rowing 3 mixed four with coxswain. The PR3 category includes athletes with residual function in the legs and those with vision impairment.
Soccer
Stepping onto the pitch, Cavalier alum Emily Sonnett will play on the U.S. women’s soccer—or, as it’s listed on the Olympic website, football—team.
Since graduating from Virginia, Sonnett has had an action-packed professional soccer career. She is a member of the U.S. national team and was part of the squad that won the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Sonnett is already an Olympic medalist, winning bronze with Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Swimming
The Charlottesville area will be well-represented in the pool this Olympics. University of Virginia Head Coach Todd DeSorbo is leading the American women’s team, which boasts an impressive five Cavalier competitors. Local highschooler Thomas Heilman will also be swimming for Team USA and is the youngest swimmer to make the men’s Olympic team since Michael Phelps in 2000.
Breaststroke
In her first ever Olympic appearance, UVA’s Emma Weber will represent Team USA in the 100-meter breaststroke event. Weber’s personal-best time of 1:06.02 is unlikely to get her to the podium, but anything is possible in this event, which online publication SwimSwam said is “proven to be unpredictable.”
Kate Douglass—whose image was displayed across the outside of the U.S. Olympic Trials arena—is among the favorites to take gold in the 200-meter breaststroke. Her biggest competition is expected to be defending winner Tatjana Smith of South Africa.
Butterfly
Walsh will make another appearance for Team USA in the women’s 100-meter butterfly and is likely to take gold after setting a new world record in the event at Olympic Trials this June. “Making the team was the biggest goal, but getting a world record was absolute insanity,” she told NBC Sports poolside at the Trials. “I couldn’t ask for a better first event of the meet.”
On the men’s side of the pool, Western Albemarle High School student Thomas Heilman will represent the U.S. in both the 100- and 200-meter butterfly. The 17-year-old is the youngest person on the American Olympic swim squad and made major waves when he qualified for two events at his first Olympic trials in June.
The up-and-comer faces steep competition in both of his events, with Kristóf Milák of Hungary expected to win the 100- and 200-meter races. Heilman’s personal best times in both events put him in the running for a spot on the podium, with a higher likelihood that he places top three in the 200-meter butterfly final.
Freestyle
Sprinting the 50-meter free is up-and-comer Gretchen Walsh, who made a major splash at the NCAA Championships and Olympic Trials earlier this year. The UVA fourth year is on the shortlist to make the podium in the event, though Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström is expected to comfortably take gold.
Walsh will also be swimming in the 100-meter race and is among a handful of serious contenders for the podium in that event.
UVA alum Paige Madden is the one to watch for the longer distance freestyle events, competing in the 400- and 800-meters. Madden has posted impressive times in both races and will represent the U.S. alongside living legend Katie Ledecky, who holds the world record in the 800.
Madden will be swimming an uphill battle to medal in both events amid a crowded competitive field.
In the relay pool, the U.S. has a truly stacked lineup: Walsh and swimming superstar Kate Douglass, another UVA alum, will race on the 4 x 100-meter women’s freestyle relay, while Madden and Ledecky will lead the 4 x 200-meter women’s freestyle relay.
The U.S.-Australian rivalry in the pool will be on full display in the relay events, with Australia favored to take gold in the events. The Aussie roster for the women’s 4 x 200-meter free relay includes the two fastest women in the world in the event, Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan. China and Canada are also expected to have a good showing in the race.
In the international field, Aimee Canny will be competing on behalf of South Africa in the women’s 200-meter freestyle event. A current UVA student, Canny was part of the record-breaking 2023-24 women’s NCAA team. Canny will need to fight to pull off an upset, with Australia expected to sweep gold and silver in the race and Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey favored to win bronze.
Individual Medley
Following an incredibly competitive race at Olympic trials, UVA swimmers Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh (pictured) will represent Team USA in the 200-meter individual medley event. Photo via UVA Athletics Communications.
After an incredibly competitive race at Olympic trials, Douglass and Alex Walsh will represent Team USA in the 200-meter individual medley event in Paris.
Touching in just behind Douglass in the final, Alex Walsh not only earned a spot on her second Olympic team, but achieved a lifelong dream of making Team USA alongside her sister Gretchen at the Olympic trials.
“To have a sibling duo that is this elite … both going for the same Olympic dream is so rare,” Alex said ahead of Olympic trials. “We’re proud of each other no matter what.”
The 200-meter IM is a major toss-up, with both Douglass and Alex among the shortlist to take home the gold. Alex and Douglass won silver and bronze, respectively, in the event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Team USA has not officially announced the roster for the women’s medley relay, but Douglass and Gretchen Walsh are both highly anticipated to swim the breaststroke and butterfly legs of the event, respectively. Whatever combination of swimmers the U.S. puts forward, the Americans are expected to sprint away with the gold in the relay.
UVA Swimmers could also appear in the mixed medley relay, but there has been no official information released about the makeup of that team. The U.S. has dominated the event in international competitions recently, with Douglass swimming on the gold-medal team that won top prize at this year’s World Aquatics Championships.
Tennis
Twenty-three-year-old Emma Navarro is riding a career-high rank of 15th in the world going into the Olympics. Photo via UVA Athletics Communications.
On the courts, Charlottesville will recognize Danielle Collins and Emma Navarro on Team USA. Both Hoos will play in the singles field, with Collins pulling double duty on the doubles roster.
Navarro—who left UVA to go pro after her second year—has reached new heights after upsetting tennis star Coco Gauff in the fourth round at Wimbledon. While she was knocked out in the quarterfinal by Jasmine Paolini of Italy, the 23-year-old is riding a career-high rank of 15th in the world going into the Olympics.
Also competing in singles, Collins had a strong showing at Wimbledon and is one to watch in Paris. The 2016 alum is currently ranked ninth in the world in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association and was previously ranked seventh in 2022, with the Olympics set to be her last major competition before retiring later this year.
In the doubles arena, Collins is ranked lower, currently positioned at 154th internally by WTA. She will compete alongside Desirae Krawczyk, who is 12th in the world.
As of press time, preliminary brackets for Olympic tennis events have not been released.
Track and Field
Former Cavalier Bridget Williams will represent Team USA in the women’s pole vault. Photo via UVA Athletics Communications.
In the track and field arena (or, as it’s labeled on the Olympics’ website, Athletics) several Virginia alumni will be competing—but only one for Team USA.
On the American team, former Cavalier Bridget Williams, née Guy, will represent Team USA in the women’s pole vault following her win at U.S. Olympic trials.
“Being a first time Olympian is a huge honor that I will never take for granted,” Williams told Virginia Sports. “The United States consistently [boasts] the top athletes in the world, and I am grateful I get to be a part of this year’s team.”
On the Jamaican team, Hoos Andrenette Knight and Jordan Scott are both making their first Olympic appearances at 27 years old.
A world-class athlete in the 400-meter hurdle and flat events, Knight has been named as an alternate and is among the relay pool. Jamaica’s track and field team are among, if not outright, the best in the world, so qualifying for the team is extremely competitive even for top-ranked athletes.
Knight is currently ranked seventh in the world in the 400-meter hurdle event and finished fourth in the race at the Jamaican Olympic trials earlier this summer. She holds the school record in the event at UVA, which she set during her final year of NCAA eligibility in 2021.
Leaping into action, Scott will compete in the men’s long jump and triple jump for Jamaica. During his time at Virginia, Scott set school records which still stand today in both events.
“Coming from Jamaica, with such a rich history in the sport, I’ve grown to see how much these athletes were admired and cherished by my country and it is still surreal that I’ve finally achieved this goal and am receiving the same level of admiration as the individuals I once looked up to,” Scott told Virginia Sports.
Competing for Grenada, Halle Hazzard will sprint the women’s 100-meter dash at her first Olympic Games. She is one of only four athletes on the Grenada Olympic track and field team, with the Carribbean nation sending six competitors total to Paris this summer.
Hazzard currently holds the UVA record in the 100-meter dash at 11.20 seconds, set in 2019.
Virginia law student Ashley Anumba is also making her Olympic debut in Paris, representing Nigeria in the women’s discus throw.
Ranked 35th in the world in her event, Anumba competed for University of Pennsylvania as an undergrad, then the Hoos during her first two years as a law student. After the Olympics, she is set to return to Charlottesville for her final year of law school.
Also throwing his hat in the ring this Olympics, alum Filip Mihaljević will make his third Olympic appearance for Team Croatia in the men’s shot put.
Post-grad, Mihaljević has risen through the ranks to become one of the top shot put athletes in the world, currently ranked seventh internationally. He previously competed in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics and has placed progressively higher in his event at each Olympic Games.
Goalball
Competing on the American Goalball team, Matt Simpson is making his third Olympic appearance, vying for another medal after taking home silver in 2016 and coming just short of the podium in 2020. The sport is specifically made for visually impaired athletes, with competitors throwing balls with bells inside them into goals. Simpson graduated from UVA Law in 2020 and is a practicing attorney.
Rep. Bob Good has served two terms as Charlottesville's representative. Supplied photo.
Countdown
The Virginia Department of Elections has certified primary election results, calling the 5th District in favor of challenger John McGuire on July 2. Incumbent Rep. Bob Good is expected to call for a recount in the coming days, with the deadline to file fast approaching.
While McGuire declared victory shortly after the June 18 primary, razor-thin margins left the race too close to call prior to certification. DOE counts show McGuire eked out a win over Good by just 374 votes.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin congratulated and endorsed McGuire shortly after results were certified. “John is a patriot and will be a great congressman,” shared Youngkin on X/Twitter. “I fully endorse him and look forward to his victory in November.”
Though the primary results have been certified, the Good campaign isn’t down for the count yet. The congressman and his team have publicly questioned the integrity of the election and indicated he will call for a recount.
With the final vote totals coming in at 49.7 and 50.3 percent for Good and McGuire respectively, the results are well within the one percent margin needed for a recount. The 0.6 percent margin is just shy of the cutoff for the state to pay for the recount, meaning Good’s campaign will have to foot the bill.
Good has until July 12—10 days after the election results were officially certified—to file for a recount.
“Republican voters across the 5th District deserve to know that all legal votes have been accurately counted,” shared Good on X/Twitter on July 2. “We will vigorously pursue that objective over the coming days and weeks, as permitted by Virginia law.”
If the tally comes out in McGuire’s favor, Good will be the first Republican incumbent to lose a primary this election cycle.
As of press time, Good’s Campaign Director Diana Shores has not responded to a request for comment.
Given the rightward lean of the district, whichever candidate is named the Republican nominee is expected to win the November general election. Both Good and McGuire are extremely conservative, though the latter does not have a formal policy or platform section on his campaign website.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democratic nominee Gloria Witt on Election Day, November 5, 2024.
The name game
File photo.
Three Charlottesville schools will have new names this upcoming school year. Venable and Clark elementary schools will be renamed to Trailblazer Elementary and Summit Elementary respectively. The Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center will retain its acronym, but with a slight change to Charlottesville Area Technical Education Center. New permanent signage is expected this August.
Higher hires
Graduate Student Workers at the University of Virginia have reached an agreement with administration following a months-long Cut the Checks campaign by the United Campus Workers of Virginia. According to the UVA branch of UCW, university leadership has agreed to hire nine to 10 new financial and administrative staff for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. “We will continue to keep a watchful eye on UVA’s executive administration’s actions, particularly on increases in department staff compensation, any further late or delayed payments, and the completion of these new hires before the end of the academic year,” shared @UCWVAUVA on X/Twitter on July 3.
Sad news
Local activist Brenda “Bee” Lambert died in an apparent suicide pact she entered with her husband James Shea Jr., who is being treated at UVA Hospital and is now in stable condition. Charlottesville Police discovered the elderly couple when conducting a welfare check at their home on Monte Vista Avenue on July 4. While Lambert was pronounced dead at the scene, Shea was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. CPD is still investigating the incident and has indicated no further details will be released at this time.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed five new members to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors on June 28. With this slate of selections, 13 members of the BOV are now Youngkin appointees and hold a majority of the board.
The BOV comprises 17 voting members and is responsible for approval of policies, the university’s budget, and long-term planning. Appointees are eligible to serve up to two four-year terms and must be confirmed by the Virginia General Assembly.
According to the Virginia Public Access Project, three of the five appointees—Dan Brody, Marvin Gilliam Jr., and David Webb—made major contributions to Youngkin’s 2021 campaign for governor.
Brody, an Albemarle County resident and president of Health Data Services, graduated from UVA with an economics degree in 1973. He also donated $25,000 to the Youngkin campaign in 2021, according to VPAP. Additionally, he contributed $30,000 dollars to Spirit of Virginia—a Political Action Committee heavily associated with Youngkin—and $25,000 to the governor’s Inaugural Committee.
A graduate of UVA CLAS ’82, Webb now lives in Virginia Beach and is the vice chairman of commercial real estate giant CBRE’s Capital Markets Group. VPAP data indicates that Webb contributed $84,000 to the Youngkin campaign, $25,000 to Spirit of Virginia, and $400 to Youngkin’s Inaugural Committee.
A former coal mining executive, Gilliam is a returning face to the BOV, having previously served on the Board from 2010 to 2014. Public campaign donation records indicate that Gilliam gave $120,000 to Youngkin’s 2021 campaign, the largest contribution of those appointed this year. Gilliam has an extensive record of campaign donations to Republicans across Virginia, including $150,000 to the Spirit of Virginia PAC and $50,000 to Youngkin’s Inaugural Committee.
The two other appointees, Dr. David Okonkwo and Porter Wilkinson, do not appear to have donated to Youngkin based on information from VPAP. Okonkwo currently serves as a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh, while Wilkinson is the counselor and chief of staff for the Smithsonian Board of Regents.
Drawing connections
Supplied photo.
Local artists from the Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention Center and the Starr Hill Pathways program got the opportunity to show off their artwork in student commissions for the Equity Center at the University of Virginia. The commissions were highlighted at the annual Starr Hill Pathways Student Expo on June 28 at John Paul Jones Arena.
The art installations are part of a collaboration between the Equity Center, the Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, the Charlottesville Mural Project, and BRJDC intended to center the voices of local youth in each piece.
For their project, creatives from BRJDC made three fabric murals measuring the same size as the detention center doors. The fabric murals are on display at the Equity Center’s office on the Downtown Mall at 201 W. Main St.
The Starr Hill Pathways mural, created by students in the Creative Arts pathway of the program, highlights local youth’s interpretation of diversity. The mural, which features the word “diversity” in bright colors amid blossoming roots, is also located in the Equity Center.
Crash into me
Former Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley was charged with Driving Under the Influence on June 24 in Albemarle County. Neither driver was injured as a result of the two-vehicle crash, but Albemarle County Police arrested Tinsley at the scene on suspicion of DUI. Tinsley is out on bond but is currently dealing with other legal issues surrounding a potential breach of settlement connected to the sexual assault allegations that prompted him to leave DMB in 2018. Tinsley’s arrest is not expected to have any impact on, let alone ruin, DMB’s current tour.
Change of pace
As of July 1, Virginia motorists are subject to new laws passed by the General Assembly, impacting uninsured motorists, farm use vehicles, disabled parking placards, and owners of manufactured homes. Drivers without insurance can no longer pay an uninsured vehicle fee and are now required to attain coverage at or exceeding Virginia’s liability limits. Other changes include the replacement of informal farm use placards with official Department of Motor Vehicles-issued plates, the elimination of the fee for disabled parking placards, and a new process for proof of ownership transfer for manufactured homes. For more information on these changes, visit dmv.virginia.gov.
Higher power
Former Cavalier Bridget Williams soared to new heights at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials on June 30, winning the women’s pole vaulting final. Williams, née Guy, graduated from the University of Virginia in 2019 and was thrice named an All-American during her time in Charlottesville. Williams will represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics later this month.
With her blazing-fast 100-meter butterfly, Gretchen Walsh became the first swimmer to set a new world record at the US Olympic trials since 2008.
Photo via UVA Athletics Communications.
The University of Virginia will be well represented in the pool at the 2024 Olympics this summer. Several current and former Hoos will swim for Team USA, along with Cavalier commit and Western Albemarle High School student Thomas Heilman.
Even before the competition, the pressure was on for former UVA swimmer and Olympian Kate Douglass, who, as one of the top-ranked swimmers in the country, has been widely considered someone to watch coming into the event. Douglass smashed all expectations, including her own, by winning three events: the women’s 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter breaststroke, and 200-meter individual medley.
Finishing right behind Douglass in the 200-meter IM was Alex Walsh, who solidified her spot on Team USA with the second place finish. The pair has dominated this event in international competitions for several years, with Walsh and Douglass winning silver and bronze respectively in the race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Alex’s younger sister, Gretchen Walsh, also made a major splash at Olympic trials. On the opening day of the swim meet, she set a new world record in the women’s 100-meter butterfly semi-final with a time of 55.18 seconds.
“I’m still in shock,” Gretchen told NBC Sports in an interview after winning the event final. “Making the team was the biggest goal, but getting a world record was absolute insanity. I couldn’t ask for a better first event of the meet.”
In addition to the 100-meter butterfly, Gretchen will represent the U.S. in the 50-meter freestyle and on the 100-meter freestyle relay team.
While Alex is already an Olympic medalist, this year’s games will be the first time both Walsh sisters swim for Team USA. “To have a sibling duo that is this elite … both going for the same Olympic dream is so rare,” Alex said at a press conference in the weeks leading up to Olympic trials. “We’re proud of each other no matter what.”
Current Cavalier Emma Weber also made the roster in the 100-meter breaststroke, qualifying for her first Olympics. Weber swam a blazing-fast 1:06.10 in the event finals, setting a new personal best and finishing 0.67 seconds behind defending two-time Olympic gold medalist Lilly King.
Alumna Paige Madden also had a stellar showing at trials, qualifying for the Olympic team individually in the 400- and 800-meter freestyle races. Madden will also be competing as part of the 200-meter freestyle relay team, an event for which she won a silver medal in 2020.
Virginia Head Coach Todd DeSorbo, who was tapped to head the US women’s Olympic team last year, will coach Douglass, Weber, Madden, and the Walshes in Paris.
On the men’s side of trials, Charlottesville 17-year-old Thomas Heilman made waves as the youngest swimmer to make the US men’s Olympic swim team since Michael Phelps. Heilman will represent the US in the 100- and 200-meter butterfly races.
Several other current and former Virginia swimmers posted impressive times at Olympic trials, with Claire Curzan and Jack Aikins coming just short of making the cut for Paris. Aikins took the 2023-24 season off from NCAA competitions to focus on the trials, and placed third in both the 100- and 200-meter backstroke finals.
The 2024 Paris Olympics kick off on Friday, July 26, with swimming events starting the next day.
Leaders from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, Piedmont Housing Alliance, and city council joined Sen. Warner at the affordable housing roundtable.
Supplied photo.
Money matters
Local housing advocates and city leadership sat down with Sen. Mark Warner at Kindlewood on June 14. The senator delivered a $650,000 check from Congress, which Piedmont Housing Alliance will use to establish a permanent Financial Opportunity Center and Housing Hub in the affordable housing community.
Formerly known as Friendship Court, Kindlewood is in the middle of a massive resident-led redevelopment, with support from PHA, numerous nonprofit organizations, and local government. Beyond structural improvements, the project will add more community resources, including the FOCHH.
“The Financial Opportunity Center and Housing Hub … serves Charlottesville City residents, Albemarle County residents, Nelson County residents, the whole range, and it’s a one-stop shop for people to come for housing- or financial-related opportunities,” said Sunshine Mathon, CEO of PHA.
Benefits of the center include access to HUD-certified housing counselors, financial and housing coaching and information, and down payment support opportunities. The FOCHH has been operating out of a temporary location on High Street, but the plan has always been to have a permanent location at Kindlewood.
“A lot of our residents don’t have cars,” said Mathon. “Having access to walkable or busable locations really removes a barrier.”
Beyond the FOCHH, Sen. Warner and local leaders spoke about potential next steps to address Charlottesville’s housing crisis.
While Warner is proud of several Democratic accomplishments in recent years, he lamented the lack of action on affordable housing.
“If we step back and we think about over the last four or five years, particularly coming out of COVID, the one area the federal government didn’t do that much on was housing, and now we’ve got housing shortages everywhere,” said Warner. “The most important thing we could do today is get the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.”
In addition to calling on the Fed to reduce rates, the senator spoke to the benefits of Community Development Financial Institutions and the LIFT [Low-Income First Time Homebuyers] Act introduced by Warner and Sens. Tim Kaine, Raphael Warnock, Chris Van Hollen, and Jon Ossoff.
The LIFT Act—first introduced in 2021—would allow first-time, first-generation homebuyers to purchase a home with a 20-year mortgage at a 30-year rate.
Legislation like the LIFT Act and other federal efforts aimed at addressing affordable housing are crucial, according to Mathon.
“Where we really need to see scaled investment is in affordable homeownership, and the local and state level have some resources to support that, but at the federal level, it’s pretty minimal,” he said. “If we’re going to really make a dent in the homeownership disparity rates between Black and white households in our community, we have to invest federal-level resources to unlock that.”
Shots fired
Around 5:30am on Wednesday, June 12, Charlottesville Police Department Officers dispatched to the 100 block of Harmon Street following reports of shots fired. A total of 41 shell casings from a pistol and rifle were found at the scene. A single home was struck along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. No one was injured in the incident. Police Chief Michael Kochis believes this was a targeted offense connected to other shots-fired investigations and community feuds.
Heading home
Photo via UVA Athletics Communications.
The Hoos have been knocked out of the College World Series. After a nailbiter 3-2 loss to the University of North Carolina in the opening game of the tournament, the Cavs entered into an elimination game against Florida State on June 16. The Seminoles quickly pulled ahead, with the score at 7-0 at the end of the sixth inning. Virginia finally got onto the board with two runs in the seventh inning, but was not able to catch up to Florida’s lead, culminating in a 7-3 game.
Cooling off
The City of Charlottesville is reminding residents to stay cool ahead of a major heat wave hitting the area this week. With humidity bringing the heat index over 100 degrees, those looking to escape the hot temps can head to the cooling centers at Herman Key Jr. Recreation Center and the central branch of Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. For more information on cooling center hours and tips for managing the blazing weather, visit charlottesville.gov.
Anti-war protesters at UVA stood united when confronted by Virginia State Police on May 4. Photo: Eze Amos
The University of Virginia is withholding degrees from four graduating students who were arrested at the encampment for Gaza on May 4, pending trials by the University Judiciary Committee.
Eleven students face UJC trials in connection with the protest, with proceedings seemingly in limbo while students are away for the summer. While UVA asserts it is normal for degrees to be withheld amid a UJC trial, activists argue the university is violating student protesters’ freedom of speech in an attempt to justify the decision to bring Virginia State Police to the encampment and its refusal to meet activists’ demands.
While the UJC and University Deputy Spokesperson Bethanie Glover declined to comment on the specifics of the cases against the 11 students, Professor Walt Heinecke provided more information on the nature of the charges.
According to Heinecke, the UJC charges against students include “disorderly conduct on university owned or leased property, or at a university sanctioned function,” “any violation of federal, state, or local law,” and “failure to comply with directions of university officials.” The cases also allegedly mention violations of the following policies: exterior posting and chalking (PRM-008); tent use on university property (SEC-013); regulations of weapons, fireworks, explosives, and other prohibited items (SEC-030); and use of amplified sound on outdoor university property (SEC-041).
While some of the policy violations are self-explanatory, Heinecke says he is unaware of what the weapons, fireworks, explosives, and other prohibited items policy violation is referring to, but speculated it could be due to brief usages of a bullhorn at the encampment.
Heinecke is the current president of the UVA chapter of the American Association of United Professors and served as a faculty liaison to the students at the encampment throughout the protest. Since UVA decided to bring in Virginia State Police to forcefully break up the assembly, he has been working to protect student protesters from retaliation by the university for exercising their Constitutionally protected freedom of speech.
“The Student Affairs Office charges against the students are flimsy and overstated at best,” says Heinecke. “They appear to be a desperate attempt to detract from the University’s decision to use the Virginia State Police to violently shut down what was a peaceful protest against genocide in Gaza and the university policies supporting that genocide. The trumped-up charges appear to be no more than weak attempts to justify violating students’ First Amendment rights to speech and assembly.”
“It is standard practice for the university to withhold the degrees of students who have been referred for potential violations of the university’s policies or standards of conduct,” Glover told C-VILLE in a comment via email. “It’s important to clarify that free speech remains a core value of UVA, and any cases awaiting UJC review were referred due to violations of policy and standards of conduct, not because of constitutionally protected speech.”
Glover cited the fact that protesters were allowed to demonstrate for four days prior to the encampment being broken up by police as an example of the institution’s commitment to free speech.
For the graduating students facing UJC charges, the withholding of their degrees has put their personal and professional lives into limbo.
“As a first generation student, I tried my best to present myself as happy on a day [graduation] that is important not just for me, but for my whole family, but it was really hard, after my whole family saw UVA-approved brutality against me on the national news and while my diploma hangs over my head with no guarantee of when I will get it,” said Cady de la Cruz, a fourth-year Lawn resident whose degree has been withheld. “It is an empty punishment because I did everything to fulfill my degree. The only reason UVA has stalled the process is to make an example out of me.”
Both de la Cruz and Heinecke allege that UVA administration deliberately drew out the UJC trial in an attempt to pressure students into one-on-one meetings.
“The university delay[ed] the process on purpose because our cases are being used to teach a lesson to students of what violence and punishment the university will enact in order to repress activism and discourage all who consider protesting in the coming years, especially as the calls for divestment from genocide will only get louder next year,” de la Cruz said.
While UVA has dropped the No Trespass Orders against student protesters arrested on May 4, the university has not indicated any willingness to dismiss the UJC cases.
“Admin is revealing they are willing to upend all UVA norms and precedents to obliterate all calls to divest from genocide,” said de la Cruz.
