Podcasts about Albemarle

Sometimes the math doesn't quite work out and the podcast does not come together the way I would like. That is the case for this edition which should have gone out Saturday morning but I had ambitions that ended up causing more confusion. To get the week of September 28 moving correctly, it is time to finally present the sonic version of some recent stories.For a further explanation of why this is late, you'll have to listen at least until the second ad break or be a paid subscribers.In this edition:* Council addresses concerns related mass grading for Azalea Springs development (read the story)* Charlottesville asks: Can you go a week without driving? (read the story)* The UVA Buildings and Grounds Committee gets an update on construction projects (read the story)* A look at the sales-tax referendums in Albemarle and Charlottesville (read the story)* This year's usage of the Ivy Creek Solid Waste and Recycling Center continues to surpass previous years (read the story)* Charlottesville City Council briefed on regional solid waste plan (read the story)Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Sponsored message: Panorama Natural BurialAt Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward.Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit!Thoughts on CCE-1130The sun is about to rise and the sky is pretty. I'm going to go look at that and then get to work on the next newsletter, which will have audio in it. It may come out later today, but it may come out tomorrow. I do not know yet.I also have to write up stories for C-Ville Weekly and I have an idea of what I want to do for both of them, but I also need to sit and have a think.But first, I need to go see the sky. The waning moon is still large and will soon disappear as the light grows. The following image is here to give a cover for this post and has no connection to anything in this newsletter or podcast. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Today's sponsor: Big builds, small repairs, and everything in between, Nola Builds does it allA hundred years ago today, fingerprint expert Irving Lindsay Leafe became the chief of police in Charlottesville. He would serve in the position for less than six weeks. Both pieces of information can be traced to the archives of the Charlottesville Daily Progress. What else can be found in the digital archives for September 28, 2026? Let me know what you find out!In this edition:* Updates from the Charlottesville Planning Commission that have not yet been reported in this newsletter and perhaps no other place* Charlottesville City Council reappoints Schwarz and Harness to Planning Commission* Schwarz renamed as chair while Yoder remains vice chair* A brief update on the University of Virginia's affordable housing initiative* A brief description of the Missing Middle Committee* Planning Commissioner Carp provides an update on the quick build initiative* Area planners tour the Birdwood* No one speaks at the Planning Commission's public hearing on a Comprehensive Plan updae* A very brief report on the Central LibraryWant to subscribe to an information outlet that still believes in experimenting and innovating with format? If so, put your email address in the box. Charlottesville PC update: Schwarz re-elected chair, update on UVA Housing projectsA slightly less busy week gives us the chance to catch up with items in September that have so far not yet been reported. That includes two meetings that happened on the ninth day of the month at just about the same time.The first is the joint meeting of the Charlottesville City Council and the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority called to order by Mayor Juandiego Wade.There are usually no action items on the agendas of work sessions but Council had to make two appointments to the Charlottesville Planning Commission before that body could meet. The terms of Carl Schwarz and Ross Harness expired on August 31, 2026.Before moving on to business with the CRHA, Council reappointed both to new terms. More from the CRHA in the next newsletter.Schwarz served two terms on the Board of Architectural Review from 2014 to the end of 2021 before being appointed to the Planning Commission beginning September 2022. He continues to serve on the BAR as the representative from the Planning Commission.Harness was appointed to the PC earlier this year to fill a vacancy left with the resignation of Phil d'Oronzio. Harness is a realtor with Long and Foster.The Planning Commission also met on September 9 for a regular meeting and the first act was to elect leadership for the next year. Schwarz had been serving as chair and Danny Yoder had been vice chair.“The nominating committee of Hosea Mitchell and myself met, and we would like to request that Carl Schwarz serve again as chair and Danny Yoder serve again as vice chair,” said Commissioner Lyle Solla-Yates.Two of UVA's affordable housing sites in holding pattern With new chairs in place, Planning Commissioners gave updates including non-voting member Michael Joy who had updates on the University of Virginia's plans to contribute land for affordable housing projects. Just before the pandemic, former UVA President Jim Ryan had announced that up to 1,500 units would be built on three sites.UVA selected a group called Preservation of Affordable Housing to develop a two-acre site at the intersection of 10th and Wertland as well as the Piedmont Housing Alliance to build on a 12-acre tract of land off of Fontaine Avenue known as Piedmont.Both are in a holding pattern and Joy said both projects are dealing with fundamental shifts in what he called the affordable housing industry.“These shifts have been creating funding challenges, both nationally and locally, which is impacting affordable housing development,” Joy said. “The timing for this construction is contingent on the financing and the entitlements, and both of which are currently being worked through.”Preservation of Affordable Housing had submitted plans for a six story building at 1000 Wertland Street that would have 180 units with about 16,000 square feet of non-residential space.The city's Department of Neighborhood Development Services signed off on a development plan but a final site plan will need to be approved. In addition, the project needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the BAR, a body that was not ready to grant one in February 2025.The Piedmont Housing Alliance submitted a rezoning in December 2025 for the Piedmont site for 375 units but has since asked for an indefinite deferral.“Both of these sites are being treated as unique developments and they'll continue to progress on their own timelines,” Joy said.The third site is at North Fork and UVA has selected Bluestone Land LLC as a development partner.“North Fork is a very different site from the initial two properties in terms of size, scale, project phasing, and affordability mix,” reads the website of the President's Council on UVA-Community Partnerships. “We anticipate market rate and workforce/middle-income housing in addition to affordable units at this site.”Previous coverage:* University of Virginia resumes housing initiative for up to 1,500 units, April 30, 2021* UVA announces three sites for affordable housing projects, December 14, 2021* University of Virginia issues first request for qualifications for affordable housing developer, June 10, 2022* Nonprofits have been asked to work on UVA housing projects, February 15, 2023* UVA Foundation seeks firms to build 600 units of mixed-income housing at North Fork, November 26, 2024* A quick update on the UVA Housing Initiative, July 24, 2026* UVA still committed to affordable housing initiative launched during Ryan administration, C-Ville Weekly, July 29, 2026Sponsored message: Panorama Natural BurialAt Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward.Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit!Missing Middle working group updateLast week, the Stony Point Development Group held a required community meeting for the third phase of Dairy Central, a mixed-use project that is just under the threshold required for City Council to approve a special exception permit for additional height. In other words, this project is by-right under the city's 2023 zoning code.That Development Code is the third and final component of the Cville Plans Together initiative, a series of projects intended to increase the amount of housing that could be built across the city of Charlottesville.The Affordable Housing Plan was the first and it called for “soft density” across the city which resulted in a Future Land Use Map and a new zoning which allows for many more residential units without City Council's input. “Soft density” is also known as “missing middle” and the ability is embedded in the Development Code.One example of this in practice can be seen at 1040 St. Clair Avenue in the Locust Grove neighborhood on which a single-family home will be demolished to make way for six units. The 0.213 acre parcel is zoned Residential-A, which allows six units on a lot if half of them are designated affordable. Learn more in this story from August 2026. A final site plan has been approved.A working group of developers, staff, and other interested parties is leading efforts to loosen regulations in order to make it even easier for builders to construct more homes. The Planning Commission got an update on this missing middle work group from Ross Harness who said utilities are a barrier.“It was also noted difficulties that arise from the city having a gravity-fed only sewer system and how sometimes that prevents lots in town from even being reached without having a private pump system that… increases the cost of construction of those properties and long-term maintenance on the private side,” Harness said.Harness said there are many city policies that are preventing more housing units from being constructed such as requiring structures built on sublots needing to be spaced apart. He said the purpose of the group is to identify what developers call constraints.“Next steps for this group are a site visit to some of the parcels that some of the members of the subcommittee have so that we can actually get out there and have a little bit more physical discussion about some of these constraints,” Harness said.The Missing Middle work group is an informal committee, but I asked the city to provide a list of members. This was what was provided on September 10.* Local Builders and Developers: Bob Pineo, A.J. Amigoni, Richard Price, Nicole Scro, Dan Zimmerman, Trent Lawhorn, and Dan Rosensweig* Neighborhood Development Service: Matt Alfele, Carrie Rainey, Dannan O'Connell, Ben Koby, Madelyn Metzler, and Chuck Miller* Public Works: Brennan Duncan, Caleb Smith* Fire: Jason Campbell* Utilities: Cody Tusing, Calvin Chan, Chuck Drennen, and Donald Schrager* City Attorney's Office: J Vaden Hunt and one other staff member* Planning Commission: Ross Harnes and Betsy RoettgerLearn more about the Missing Middle Work Group here and also here on Connect Charlottesville. Quick-builds stuck?In the wake of a pedestrian being killed on Elliot Avenue in October 2024, the City of Charlottesville embarked on a series of projects intended to address safety concerns.After consultation with the Fire Department and the Charlottesville Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, a list of 67 “quick-build” projects were developed to use low-cost materials as traffic-calming measures. These were to have been completed in 2025.“These projects will rely on existing local capital funds for neighborhood transportation improvements, bicycle infrastructure improvements, and Safe Routes to School Improvements, as well as newly appropriated surplus funds for urgent transportation improvements,” reads the website.Planning Commissioner Josh Carp told his colleagues at the September 9 meeting that the city is far from meeting that goal after having conversations with staff.“We've built about half that list, and the upshot of a long meeting was that there is currently no staffing and no funding available to complete that list or to harden the projects that are already in place,” Carp said.Carp said this will be a topic of discussion when the capital improvement plan budget comes before the PC in November.I've requested additional information and will report back when I can.Previous coverage:* Charlottesville's new transportation planner briefs Council on future process, March 21, 2023* Charlottesville's “quick-build” projects are three-quarters built, August 14, 2025* Deputy City Manager Freas addresses pedestrian fatality on Emmet Street, October 9, 2025* Charlottesville City Council learns of plan to hire at least 42 new bus drivers over next four years, December 13, 2025* Charlottesville City Council briefed on efforts to lower speed limits, prepare new mobility plan, July 31, 2026LUEPC visits the Birdwood MansionIn late 2019, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors and Charlottesville City Council voted to dissolve a public body known as the Planning and Coordination Council which had provided an opportunity for elected officials to meet with their counterparts at UVA at a public meeting.This was replaced by the closed-door Land Use and Environmental Planning Committee which does not include any elected officials and certainly not enough to trigger Virginia's open meeting rules.According to the LUEPC website, the body has not met since May 15.According to Planning Commissioner Hosea Mitchell, LUEPC has met since then but said it was not an update on policy issues.“We went on a field trip,” Mitchell said. “It was a fun field trip. The field trip was to the Birdwood Mansion. The Birdwood Mansion is an edifice that was built between 1819 and 1830.”According to the website, rooms have been available for overnight accommodations since March 2026 at the Ivy Road landmark owned by the University of Virginia Foundation. That organization was created after UVA, Albemarle, and Charlottesville entered into a Three-Party Agreement which established guidelines for planning and development. That also led to the creation of the now-shuttered PACC.Previous LUEPC coverage:* Regional planners get preview of North Fork rezoning, January 12, 2022* Changes may be coming to closed-door planning group, May 10, 2023* Area planners hear from VDOT about desire to coordinate transportation projects, April 16, 2026* Closed-door body briefed on Rivanna Futures, water and sewer upgrade in northern Albemarle, May 14, 2026Two other items from the Planning Commission reports* Schwarz gave an update on a six-story building planned for 915 East High Street which is being developed under the 2003 zoning code rather than the new rules. That means the inclusionary zoning rules do not apply and the number of affordable units will be significantly lower.* Staff in the Department of Neighborhood Development Services continue to work on a second round of “code clean-up” intended to streamline the new rules. The idea is to have a public hearing before the Planning Commission in December. Learn more on the NDS website.No one speaks at Comprehensive Plan public hearingOn Monday, October 5, 2026, Charlottesville City Council will hold a public hearing on an update to the city's Comprehensive Plan. This is not to be confused with the five-year review of the plan which will really get underway sometime next year.The Planning Commission held their public hearing on the current proposed changes to the comp plan on September 9 and heard from Development Planning Manager Matt Alfele who reminded the appointed body that the Comprehensive Plan was last updated in November 2021 and the Community Facilities chapter needs to be updated.“Since then, there have been several amendments, including adoptions of both the Climate Action Plan and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan,” Alfele said. “Since then, there have been updates to city and partner agency Public utility and facility planning maps and projects. It is best practice to periodically update public utilities and facility maps and plans included in the Comprehensive Plan.”For instance, the updated chapter would include a map of the Central Waterline the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority is currently building.“The scope of the amendment includes adding 2 new strategies, one to adopt relevant RWSA and ACSA plans by reference within the Comprehensive Plan, and one to add future Schenks Branch Sewer Interceptor upgrade project,” Alfele said.The Schenks Branch Sewer Interceptor upgrade is a project mandated by a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality consent decree to replace a pipe from the 1950's. The first phase was installed with the construction of the John Warner Parkway, but the second phase has required negotiations between Albemarle County and Charlottesville. Learn more on this outdated cvillepedia article.No one spoke at the Planning Commission's public hearing and none of the members of the Planning Commission made a comment.JMRL in early planning for upgrade of Central LibraryThe Board of Trustees of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library will meet today at Northside Library, a building owned by Albemarle County that opened to patrons in March 2015.One of the topics on the agenda is the future renovation of Central Library, a building co-owned by Albemarle County and Charlottesville since 1978. Capital budgets in both Albemarle and Charlottesville include money in the current fiscal year for planning and funding in FY29 for construction. Each set aside $857,109 this year and $9,676,141 in FY29.Library Director David Plunkett gave an update at the August 24 meeting.“We're talking about this now, the design and community engagement is happening this year into next year,” Plunkett said. “And then construction those 2 years, a new building opens then.”#1131 is also a podcast!Did you notice that to be the case? For almost half of this newsletter's existence, the newsletter was a script for a podcast. When I left the Piedmont Environmental Council after two very unproductive years, I wasn't sure what form my return to journalism would take. But my dream job used to be working for public radio.I learned sometime in the 2000's I was never going to get hired for that sort of job. I'd worked in public radio for a while, and even moved to Charlottesville to take a full-time position. I was insubordinate, didn't listen to authority, and generally refused to be kept in the box my employer wanted me to be in. I stick to myself and maintain my independence because I learned to stay in the box for my next job. The older I got, the less I could afford to speak my mind so I mostly did my job and kept my mouth shut. For eleven years I did the job well, but this is America where people without connections and long pedigrees tend to get to be the ones who tell people to stay in boxes. In any case, paid subscribers, sponsors, and donors are helping me live out this fantasy of being an independent journalist. This is the work I think I am supposed to do, and the work I think about all of the time now. Even when dreaming. I'm not sure I would recommend this profession to anyone, but yet I wish I could explain how satisfying it is to do this work.Now I need to chill before getting back to work and the solution I think is Can. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Getting an AI pilot to work is one thing. Scaling it across an organization and delivering measurable business value is another. In Episode 69 of Digitalization Tech Talks, Jonathan Alexander of Albemarle joins Don Mack and Cole Lewis to explain why promising AI initiatives often become trapped in “pilot purgatory.” From building scalable data foundations to balancing horizontal and vertical AI strategies, this conversation explores the people, processes, and technologies required to scale AI across manufacturing operations. If your organization is looking to move from isolated AI experiments to repeatable, enterprise-wide value, this episode offers practical insights to help you think big, start small, and scale fast. Show Notes:Website: ADKAR Model for Change Management (https://www.prosci.com/blog/adkar-model)Paper: Use of AI in Chemical Manufacturing (https://www.chemengonline.com/use-of-ai-in-chemical-manufacturing/?printmode=1)E-book: Industrial AI: Transform the entire value chain (https://bit.ly/4zH79u0)Video: The Industrial AI Revolution: Siemens Keynote at CES 2026 (https://youtu.be/R4Wm6YdoZSs?si=rB9tZV_ulpEOoYd2)Contact Us:Jonathan Alexander (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-alexander1/)Don Mack (mack.donald@siemens.com and linkedin.com/in/don-mack)Cole Lewis (cole.lewis@siemens.com and linkedin.com/in/cole-lewis/)

The podcast edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement marks the end of one week and the beginning of the next, and serves as a way to process and reset. The mission of this newsletter is to bring people stories about local and regional government and the audio version is a good way to hear some of the voices of decision-makers and those who speak up at meetings.Most of you are not listeners of the podcast but this is also a time for you to catch up on some of the stories. The links below go to Information Charlottesville, the archive for most of what goes out in the newsletter.If you learned something from the stories, please share them with other people you think might be interested.In this edition:* Charlottesville is on track to meet a 2021 spending goal for subsidized housing (read the story on C-Ville Weekly)* Lack of administrative capacity slowing Charlottesville's affordable housing progress (read the story)* Albemarle County Supervisors learned in early August that growth area master plans will no longer be updated in favor of “activity centers” and “multimodal transportation planning” (read the story)* The Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority in late August took another look at a study intended to determine what route expansions should be selected to seek additional funding (read the story)* Albemarle Supervisors want a say in governance of actual transit decisions (read the story)Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Sponsored message: Panorama Natural BurialAt Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward.Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit!Thoughts at the end of #1127-A for paid subscribersFun fact: This is only the third edition of this newsletter to come out on September 19.* In 2022, I did a Week Ahead with previews about what was coming up that week including City Council taking up a special use permit for student housing building on JPA, the rezoning of the second phase of Southwood in Albemarle County, and more.* In 2024, I had stories about temporary detention orders, sustainability efforts at the University of Virginia, and Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders telling Council he did not want to raise any taxes for the next budget. My memory tells me he didn't but memory is not to be trusted. But I'm not going to look it up now.This is behind the paywall as a thank you note to those who are helping me create an archive of what's been happening these last few years. With your support, I've been able to devote my life to this work. You're allowing me to pay attention to things and bring you stories that hopefully capture the conversations.The last time I did the calculations, about 16.2 percent of the Substack audience pays something. That's over 800 people at this point. I would like that number to increase and one way is to offer more content where I can.And less content in some places, too! For the past month, paid subscribers skip the “shout-outs” to give the newsletter a less cluttered look. The sponsored messages remain, but there's only one display ad per edition.I've been considering writing up photo essays of the changing landscape in Charlottesville. However, adding more work to the pile can sometimes cause me to shut down new ideas.But, I noted in the 2022 edition I wrote about what's now being called “The Adelaide” on JPA. I end this edition sharing some of those pictures and others from a recent walk around Grounds. I'm taking the pictures anyway as I walk around the community and I share them on my personal Facebook.So, as another perk for paid subscribers and to hopefully boost the numbers for these podcast posts, here are some recent photos. For more information on the above project, take a look at cvillepedia. The article is not up to date but a lot of the basics are there. While I helped create it, I have no ownership of the website but spend a lot of time there. Perhaps you might be interested in being an editor?Thoughts on the Verve? Learn more on cvillepedia. This post has bonus content for paid subscribers. Upgrade to get full access which also has the effect of helping me continue this work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Hero Tales from American History by Henry Cabot Lodge and Theodore Roosevelt - Lieutenant Cushing and the Ram ALBEMARLE - Theodore RooseveltIn this episode of the Enchanted Library, we read Hero Tales from American History, a classic read aloud enjoyed by families, students, and listeners of all ages."Hero Tales from American History" is a collection of stories by Henry Cabot Lodge and Theodore Roosevelt that celebrates notable American figures and their contributions to the nation, emphasizing themes of courage, patriotism, and heroism. The book includes accounts of key historical events and figures, such as George Washington and Daniel Boone, aimed at inspiring young Americans.This recording is part of our growing library of classic stories designed for families, students, and anyone who enjoys listening to books read aloud. Episodes are released regularly, and each book is organized so you can follow along chapter by chapter.Listen to more episodes and browse or search our full library here: www.enchantedlibrary.netJoin our Patreon - all members access our easily searchable episodes, and paid members can access exclusive recordings: www.patreon.com/enchantedlibraryAbout the Enchanted LibraryThe Enchanted Library is a family-friendly read-aloud podcast featuring classic living books, children's literature, and timeless stories. Each episode is designed to be easy to follow, whether you are listening on your own, with your family, or as part of a homeschool routine. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Do consider a paid subscription today in case a time accident takes place and suddenly I'm whisked back to September 5, 1698, when Tsar Peter I of Russia levied a tax on beards for everyone except the clergy and peasants. This is most likely not going to happen, but this is one possible reason to make a contribution.This Saturday edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement also offers me the opportunity to experiment. This particular version has material that did not appear on the WTJU radio program and is created fresh for the loyal listeners of the podcast.But for the first time in a regular post, paid subscribers get access to a synopsis of a particular project. There's nothing new in the reporting, but I took the opportunity to write up a summary of the ill-fated West2nd project based on a combination of previous reporting and new research. That part is not in the audio. Stories this week: * Charlottesville follows through with plans to clear encampments along the Rivanna River after 2000 Holiday Drive opens (look at the story)* Albemarle Supervisors presented with metrics on county performance in FY2026 (read story)* Albemarle Supervisors agree to allow County Executive to sign performance agreement for Southwood's second phase (view story)* Albemarle Supervisors agreed to charge fares for MicroCAT (see story)* Albemarle Supervisors approved rezoning for 18-unit development on three acres in Crozet (story forthcoming on C-Ville Weekly)* Paid subscribers get a written summary of what happened with West2nd, an unbuilt development that would been constructed on a city parking lot They are not all podcasts, but this one is. If you sign up for free, you'll get that each week as well as a lot of other information. Paid subscribers get a smidge more and support the work financially A sponsored message: Panorama Natural BurialAt Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward.Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit!No arrests made in conjunction with Charlottesville removal of people from Rivanna River encampmentsThis story assembles coverage from previous editions of the newsletterThis week the City of Charlottesville followed through on a deadline to remove people from encampments along the Rivanna River as soon as an emergency shelter opened at 2000 Holiday Drive to provide an alternative.Charlottesville's chief building official issued a temporary certificate of occupancy early September 1 after work crews cleared a list of violations that held up issuance the day before.The city closed off the Rivanna Trail at Free Bridge on Tuesday to give space for the clean-up and asked media representatives to stay clear.By the end of the first day, sixteen people had opted to move into the emergency shelter and the camps were declared to be closed.The same night, video footage captured someone setting fire to two of tents still standing at one of the camp sites. Officials are still requesting help.By the end of Wednesday night, ten more people had moved in. The city that day also posted a video with Nathan Smith, the CEO of Central Arizona Shelter Services. That firm is being paid $3.2 million for a year's worth of running the emergency low-barrier shelter.“Low-barrier shelter means we do everything we can to eliminate all the things that prevent people from accessing shelter,” said Nathan Smith. “For example, people don't access shelter because they can't bring their pets.”In the video, Smith takes viewers through the renovated first floor of 2000 Holiday Drive which includes storage space for people's belongings.“We have 240 bins for what could be up to 120 people,” Smith said. “Not certain 120 people are going to be here. If so, great, everyone can have two bins, but if not, maybe they can have three.”The men's dorm currently has 37 twin-size beds in a congregate setting but more can be added. Each has a locker underneath. Charging stations are nearby for phones and other devices, but also for health equipment like CPAP machines.There are currently 21 beds in the women's dorm. There are also four isolation rooms for a variety of purposes such as if guests are sick.Tables have also been set up for guests to play games and to share time with each other. Smith said that many people experiencing homelessness are also feeling isolated.“One of the reasons why people enjoy living in encampment situations is because they have a sense of community,” Smith said. “We want to bring them into a safer space where they're not worried about getting flooded or the other things that happen with the elements, particularly in the winter.”On Thursday, the city also released images and a video of what appears to be a person dressed in light clothing along a paved portion of the trail. As they walk into the frame of the security camera, they put a hat on their head to shield their identity.The person briefly leaves the trail and walks to one of the tents still standing alongside discarded items. They use some sort of a mechanism to start a flame and walk away when it ignites. The person that moves further down the trail and appears to walk away. They turn back to catch another tent on fire. This flame burns more quickly and continues to grow as the video ends.The city asks anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers line at 434-977-4000.Take a look at the video here.City Councilor Jen Fleisher updated the members of the Thomas Planning District Commission on the closure of the encampments at the group's meeting on September 3.“We've moved everyone out into shelter or alternative housing,” Fleisher said. “And that was an effort that involved multiple departments and agencies, as well as nonprofits and community volunteers. We've met with 26 guests, well, 27 guests as of this afternoon. Doors are open.”Fleisher said Central Arizona Shelter Services is being paid to run the site for the next year while plans continue to be developed to convert 2000 Holiday Drive into a permanent emergency shelter.Fleisher also said the cleanup of the trail will continue through Saturday and damages are being repaired.When asked about the fire, Fleisher said the fire happened after the last three residents of the encampment left on Wednesday night.So far no lawsuits have been filed against the city, but Fleisher confirmed there many people on site observing activities during the removal period.“While they were with us all day, no one communicated with us any concerns, and I haven't seen any reports yet,” Fleisher said.People staying there are getting two meals, a place to shower, and access to case managers.“That's the goal, to make this a stepping stone into transitional housing, then permanent supportive housing, and do so by really getting back on or first time connected to that case management, the support needed,” Fleisher said.On Friday, the city's Communications and Public Engagement office did another in-house video with City Manager Sam Sanders. He said that even though the shelter is operating under a temporary permit, the intent is for it to never close.“We're gonna make improvements to the space while we continue to serve in that location. I see it as a one-stop homeless services center,” Sanders said. “That's what I would like it to be. That is what we're hoping that our partners can come together and produce and that we can find as many providers who are willing to come to that location.”Sanders said the city will also be investing in transitional housing as a next step for many after a congregate emergency shelter. He thanked all involved with the swift opening of 2000 Holiday Drive.“We started this conversation in mid-July, and here we are in early September with the facility open that I never envisioned could be possible this quickly after buying the building last year,” Sanders said. “And our community partners, the assessment team members, all the folks who have really, really rallied around the idea that An emergency response is what was needed for what was happening at the Rivanna River.”The topic is likely to come up in some form at City Council's meeting on Tuesday, September 8.One item in the packet is Sanders' written report which contains a mention that he met with the executive director of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission on September 1 to “to discuss opportunities to align funding priorities to support a regional response to homelessness using currently allocated opportunities to engage all regional parties in the discussion.”What will that look like? Stay tuned to Charlottesville Community Engagement.Background context on why one Downtown Charlottesville project didn't work outThis week, the formerly daily newspaper called the Charlottesville Daily Progress printed an article about the demise of West2nd that appears to have been based on previous reporting in this newsletter. It's likely behind a paywall, but somehow I was able to click through.West2nd is a failed development by Woodard Properties that began life as Market Plaza. The article prompted a polemic on Reddit from someone demanding that the Board of Architectural Review be disbanded due to their role in the project's demise.As with many things, that is not the complete picture.My idea of a fun Friday night is reviewing old stories to make sure any future reporting I do is still valid. I'm only as good as how accurate I am, and memory should never be trusted. I also wanted to fill in one of my knowledge gaps.In the following, all links go to reporting I did years ago at Charlottesville Tomorrow unless otherwise noted.The roots of the failure of West2nd begin with the way the project came to be. In October, City Council put out a request for developers interested in developing the city-owned lot that also included 105 spots for market vendors. That idea stemmed from a design contest held by the now-defunct Charlottesville Community Design Center in 2007.Four proposals were received and one of them did imagine purchasing the lot next door from Charlottesville Parking Center which at that time was still owned by a group of shareholders rather than one person. Council selected Woodard Properties in June 2014 for an L-shaped nine-story building with 67 residential units, commercial space, and 115 market slots.“You see that it is possible to come to decisions,” said Mayor Satyendra Huja. “I have made up my mind that mixed-use development and the market can happen on this site in spite of the number of consultants we hired that said no.”A special use permit was needed and it sailed through the review process and was approved in December 2014. The Board of Architectural Review still had to sign off on the design.On Council, Huja was just an elected official and not in his previous perch as director of the city's planning efforts. He would leave office and permanently retire from public life at the end of 2015 but was on Council in October 2015 when the special use permit was amended.In early 2015, Planning director Jim Tolbert had left. That meant the project went through the rest of the planning process without anyone on Council to try to shepherd it through and with a new person in charge in Neighborhood Development Services.Council had a lot of turnover. Mike Signer and Wes Bellamy joined Council in 2016. Heather Hill and Nikuyah Walker did so in 2018, after the events of the year before. The political climate changed.When another request to amend the special use permit came before Council in early 2018, a 3-2 majority denied it. (C-Ville Weekly version by another reporter)“Whenever we begin to create housing that is supposed to be top-notch and high-level, very rarely do individuals from low-income communities have the opportunity to take advantage of such,” said Councilor Wes Bellamy at the time.After that vote, Woodard agreed to make changes and the new count was 4-1 two months later. Only Walker remained as a no vote. (Cavalier Daily article)By June 2018, I had left Charlottesville Tomorrow and out of play as a reporter. My new job did not extend to covering the Board of Architectural Review.At this point, the project has received a preliminary certificate of appropriateness from the BAR. According to the minutes of their August 21, 2018 meeting, Woodard returned to get it finalized and he hoped to get under construction by October.A description of the review begins on page 7 and indicates many BAR members were dissatisfied with many aspects of the project.A vote to recommend denial was 5 to 3 “based on the comments cited earlier focusing on mass and height and the use of the plaza as a functional public space.”While Woodard's lawyer appealed the BAR's decision to Council, that hearing never happened. Woodard also issued a press release announcing the project would be abandoned.“I hope that someone else can move this project forward. In early 2014 when we responded to the City RFP to develop this project, it was a different City Council and different circumstances. The last straw for us was yet another unexpected delay by the City Board of Architectural Review (BAR) on August 21st” said Keith Woodard.Some other articles to round this out:* Developer scraps West2nd project, citing ‘unexpected delay' from city's Board of Architectural Review, Eliza Haverstock, Cavalier Daily, August 30, 2018* West2nd City Council appeal indicates the project could still move forward, Geremia Di Maro and Jake Gold, Cavalier Daily, September 1, 2026* ‘The last straw:' Woodard pulls the plug on West2nd, Samantha Baars, August 30, 2018Woodard's son Anthony now runs Woodard Properties and recently purchased the 100 East Water Street for $15 million from the Charlottesville Parking Center, as I reported for C-Ville Weekly.The City Market continues to be a down attraction, coinciding with one held at the Ix Art Park.How will things develop in the future?Thanks to your paid subscription to the newsletter, I hope to continue to do the work for a long time to come.This post has bonus content for paid subscribers. Upgrade to get full access.Thoughts at the end of #1119-A Somehow the work week has concluded. And I have the opportunity to take a day off. I dislike this because as I say a lot, work to me relaxing. I research things for a living, and I have a lot of deadlines. If I am working toward them, I feel in a positive state.If I am not, I begin to deteriorate.This particular edition is a little late. Many podcast listeners this week have reached out to say how important it is for them to be able to hear the stories, so I'll keep doing them. I also want to figure out how to work with people who might like to learn production skills. In any case, this is now finished and I'm going to go to a birthday party a friend is throwing for herself. I will try my best not to work when I am there.The Week Ahead may be delayed until Monday morning with the next regular newsletter on Tuesday. I have two stories written for that. The goal with work tomorrow is to try to get a lot of next week framed out so when the time comes I'll just get to the tasks at hand. At some point, too, there is financial work to be done. I really need to get to that. Thanks again for reading and listening. Please share with people. This has all grown through word of mouth and people sharing. For now, though? Time to clean my kitchen after the delicious brunch I made for myself earlier after a five mile walk after sunrise. I'm old now, and I'm here for it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Dans cet épisode, enregistré dans le cadre de The Investment Event au Centre des congrès de Québec, on plonge au cœur de l'exploration, du développement minier et des minéraux critiques avec Olivier Caza-Lapointe, responsable des relations avec les investisseurs, et Frédéric Mercier-Langevin, chef des opérations et du développement chez PMET Resources, anciennement Patriot Battery Metals. Comment faire évoluer un projet d'exploration vers un projet minier d'envergure? Qu'est-ce qui distingue Shaakichiuwaanaan? Et quelle place peuvent occuper le lithium, le tantale et le césium dans son développement? Ils partagent l'évolution rapide du projet, l'intérêt d'investisseurs comme Volkswagen et Albemarle, ainsi que les prochaines étapes vers une décision finale d'investissement et une éventuelle mise en production. Un échange sur les relations avec la communauté de Chisasibi, les retombées locales et l'ambition de développer au Québec un projet majeur de minéraux critiques. Podcast Minier est propulsé par Agnico Eagle et est une initiative de Rouillier, agence de communication.

What does it mean to be hidden in the secret place with God? In this message, Paul walks through powerful Scriptures that show how God protects, covers, and strengthens His people in hard seasons. The secret place is not about escaping life, but about bringing our problems into God's presence and finding peace there. When we sit with El Shaddai, the God who keeps His promises, we discover we are never alone in the storm.

rWotD Episode 3403: Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Friday, 28 August 2026, is Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina.The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina were adopted on 1 March 1669 by the eight Lords Proprietors of the Province of Carolina, which included most of the land between what is now Virginia and Florida. It replaced the Charter of Carolina and the Concessions and Agreements of the Lords Proprietors of the Province of Carolina (1665). The date 1 March 1 1669 was when the proprietors confirmed the Constitutions and sent them to the Colony; later on two other versions were introduced in 1682 during the rule of Charles II and in 1698, following the 1688 Glorious Revolution that ousted the Stuart monarchy. The proprietors suspended the Constitutions in 1690. Despite the claims of proprietors on the valid version of the Constitution, the colonists officially recognized the 21 July 1669 version, claiming that six proprietors had sealed the Constitutions as "the unalterable form and rule of Government forever" on that date. The earliest draft of this version in manuscript is believed to be the one found at Columbia, South Carolina archives.The Constitutions were "reactionary" and "experimented with a non-common law system designed to encourage a feudal social structure", including through the use of non-unanimous jury decisions for criminal convictions. Some scholars think that the Colonists, settlers, and the British Crown kept themselves at a distance to the Constitutions from the beginning; however, others argue that it was a legal document that drew on the Stuart king's earlier charter to the colony and reflected crucial legal realities. While the provisions of the Fundamental Constitutions were never fully employed nor ratified, the documemt did help to shape power in the Carolinas and especially land distribution. Colonists' main concerns over the document were its exaltation of proprietors as noblemen at the apex of the hierarchically designed society. Second, the Constitutions had rules that were hard to implement by settlers for practical reasons. Thus, the proprietors had to amend the rules five times. They were repealed in part after the 1688 revolution against James II—the Glorious Revolution, which also reflected a partial reaction against such principles; however, for eight proprietors and the king who were the authors of the "Fundamental Constitutions", it reflected the proper order of governance, or as they wrote, they were creating a government with lords so "that the government of this province may be made most agreeable to the monarchy under which we live and of which this province is a part; and that we may avoid erecting a numerous democracy." The eight Lords Proprietors were Duke of Albemarle (1608–1670); Earl of Clarendon (1609–1674); Baron Berkeley of Stratton (1602–1678); Earl of Craven (1608–1697); Sir George Carteret (c. 1610–1680); Sir William Berkeley (1605–1677); Sir John Colleton (1608–1666); and Earl of Shaftesbury (1621–1683). Shaftesbury's secretary John Locke was involved in the drafting of the Constitutions for his patron and the other Lords Proprietors.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:13 UTC on Friday, 28 August 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm long-form Gregory.

Wed, Aug 26 6:28 PM → 6:54 PM Reported house fire Radio Systems: - Charlottesville, Albemarle, UVA PD, FIRE, EMS

Weitere Infos zu unseren Werbepartnern finden Sie hier: https://linktr.ee/aktienfuers_leben Petra Ahrens und Timo Pache melden sich zurück aus der Sommerpause – und sprechen in dieser Woche über Das Ganze sehen – Der Facebook-Mutterkonzern Meta wird in den USA mit zahlreichen Klagen überzogen, die möglicherweise sehr teuer werden können. Was bedeutet das für Aktionäre? The Trend is your friend – Die Nachricht elektrisierte Ärzte, Patienten und Investoren gleichermaßen: Das US-Pharma-Unternehmen Moderna hat einen ersten Durchbruch bei der Entwicklung von individualisierten Impfstoffen gegen Krebs erzielt. Die Aktie schoss daraufhin fast 180 Prozent in die Höhe. Was kommt da noch? Wahre Größe: Litium ist einer der wichtigsten Rohstoffe des 21. Jahrhunderts. Und Albemarle der wichtigste Produzent in der westlichen Welt. Die Geschäfte des Konzerns sind sehr schwankungsanfällig – aber die Aktie gerade deshalb jetzt interessant. Um diese Aktien geht es: Meta (A1JWVX), Moderna (A2N9D9) und Albemarle (890167). +++ Keine Anlageberatung oder -empfehlung. Alle Angaben ohne Gewähr, diese stellen keinen Ersatz für eine professionelle und individuelle Beratung dar. Wertentwicklungen der Vergangenheit sind kein Indikator für zukünftige Wertentwicklung. +++ Vermögen aufbauen und Wirtschaft verstehen mit Capital+: https://angebot.capital.de/#digitale-angebote +++

This message walks through the final words of James and asks a simple but serious question: Does our life show what we say we believe? James calls believers to live with real faith, honest repentance, patient hope, powerful prayer, and love that goes after those who have wandered. This is not about being perfect. It's about being changed by Jesus and letting our actions, words, and choices reflect Him every day.

Episode Notes On this episode of On Record, we sit down with local SPCA Executive Director Libby Jones, who discusses the organization's role in promoting animal welfare and how CASPCA's mission and philosophies guide their services.

What if your plans aren't the whole story? This message talks about letting go of control, using what you've been given well, and living with open hands instead of only chasing your own way. You'll be challenged to think about your time, talents, money, and opportunities—and ask: am I building something that really matters?

The I Love CVille Show headlines: Albemarle Co School Board Meeting Tonight, 630PM Allison Spillman Will Officially Quit School Board AlbCo Sex Offender Mike Swiney Denied Bond 191 Apartments Planned For Holiday Inn On Emmett St North Pointe Refines 250,000 Sq. Ft. Commercial Footprint Should City Hall Have Remembered A11 & A12? UVA Football Training Camp Heats Up Do Need To Rent Office Space? Contact Jerry Miller Read Viewer & Listener Comments Live On-Air The I Love CVille Show airs live Monday – Friday from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on The I Love CVille Network. Watch and listen to The I Love CVille Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, iTunes, Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Fountain, Amazon Music, Audible, Rumble and iLoveCVille.com.

How we treat people often shows what's really happening inside us. This message looks at the kind of posture we need in life: choosing humility, drawing close to God, and letting that change how we speak and act. Instead of tearing others down or judging them, we're invited to become better neighbors, friends, and family members. Real faith doesn't stay hidden—it shows up in how we love people.

In der heutigen Folge sprechen die Finanzjournalisten Daniel Eckert und Lea Oetjen über den FlashCrash von SK Hynix, den brutalen Absturz von AppLovin und Aufatmen bei der Telekom. Außerdem geht es um ExxonMobil, Chevron, SanDisk, Western Digital, Micron, Seagate, Honeywell Aerospace, Datadog, Alphabet, Motorola, Albemarle, Parker-Hannifin, Easyjet, Apollo, Peloton, Siemens, Rheinmetall, Renk, Hensoldt, Scout24, Commerzbank, Unicredit, Ondas Holdings, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, DroneShield, HANetf Drone ETF (WKN: A423E5), VanEck Defense UCITS ETF (WKN: A3D9M1) und Global X Europe Focused Defence Tech (WKN: A416YM). Unter diesem Link für den AAA-Newsletter anmelden – und am Samstag am besten direkt um 8 Uhr ins Postfach schauen. www.businessinsider.de/informationen/newsletter-crosspromo/ Am 2. Oktober findet unser "Alles auf Aktien"-Summit in Berlin statt. Mit dem Code „AAAFRIENDS“ sparst du 50 Prozent auf dein Ticket – aber nur unter folgendem Link. https://veranstaltung.businessinsider.de/event/financesummit26/summary?rp=c6dc55d6-6f4f-4fb4-b75f-3f3501d84859 Wir freuen uns an Feedback über aaa@welt.de. Noch mehr "Alles auf Aktien" findet Ihr bei WELTplus und Apple Podcasts – inklusive aller Artikel der Hosts. Hier bei WELT: https://www.welt.de/podcasts/alles-auf-aktien/plus247399208/Boersen-Podcast-AAA-Bonus-Folgen-Jede-Woche-noch-mehr-Antworten-auf-Eure-Boersen-Fragen.html. Hier könnt ihr den AAA-Newsletter abonnieren: https://www.welt.de/newsletter/article232797673/Alles-auf-Aktien-Der-taegliche-Boersen-Newsletter-fuer-WELTplus-Abonnenten.html Und – ganz neu: AAA gibt es jetzt auch auf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alles_auf_aktien/ Disclaimer: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlage-Empfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren und der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen. Hörtipps: Für alle, die noch mehr wissen wollen: Holger Zschäpitz können Sie jede Woche im Finanz- und Wirtschaftspodcast "Deffner&Zschäpitz" hören. +++ Werbung +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte! https://linktr.ee/alles_auf_aktien Anzeige: Eight Sleep: Der Pod 5 reguliert die Temperatur im Bett automatisch, trackt Schlaf- und Gesundheitswerte ohne Wearable und kann so zu besserem Schlaf beitragen. Mit dem Code ALLESAUFAKTIEN erhaltet ihr auf https://www.eightsleep.com/allesaufaktien bis zu 350 Euro Rabatt. Impressum: https://www.welt.de/services/article7893735/Impressum.html Datenschutz: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html

The Aussie share market paused after a stellar week of gains, with the ASX 200 down slightly but maintaining strong year-to-date momentum. Materials and tech sectors led, while financials lagged. Gold stocks surged following overnight price gains, and lithium miners rallied on positive earnings from US producer Albemarle. The RBA's rate decision next Tuesday will be closely watched by investors. Steve Daghlian and Laura Besarati are Market Analysts at CommSec. Each episode, they break down the day's market movements and explain what the numbers really mean. Check out our Market News page Follow us on:InstagramLinkedInYouTubeTikTok The content in this podcast is prepared, approved and distributed in Australia by Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814. The information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the appropriateness of the information before acting and if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Elizabeth City hospital is nearing its first anniversary after a busy year of expanding staff and treating patients across northeastern North Carolina.

Read more from VPM News:  Pilot program connects childcare centers with substitute teachers via app  How Charlottesville's trees are faring on the Downtown Mall, 50 years later On the agenda: Albemarle schools investigation, Charlottesville housing grants  WATCH: Happy Primary Day, (most of) Virginia! (TikTok)   Other links:  Virginia senators request special session to act on 'deeply alarming' groundwater report (Virginia Mercury)  Appalachian Power sees ‘explosive' growth from data centers, other big customers (Cardinal News)  Richmond DPU misses deadline to fix billing problems (WTVR)  U.S. Drought Monitor shows Richmond area drought conditions easing (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  *This outlet uses a paywall. Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

In this message, Cecil Talbot walks through James 4:1–6 and asks three honest questions: Who controls my heart? Where is my heart? What is my “it”? With stories, Scripture, and real-life examples, he shows how our desires, words, choices, and conflicts reveal what is really happening inside us. This message is a clear call to let God search our hearts, remove the noise, and lead us into faithfulness, humility, and the bigger purpose He has for us together.

For some reason, there has only been one other August 1 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement and that was back in 2024 with a recount underway in the Fifth District Republican Primary. This is a podcast edition that provides audio versions of stories and thus does not count toward a total number of produced newsletters. That number is 1,374 which comes from 375 Week Ahead versions and 1,099 general ones. There have been 2,210 days since #1. Somewhere here in may be a relevant statistic, but the best I can come up with is 0.62.But what does it mean?In this edition:* Charlottesville City Council votes to move forward with a sales tax referendum this November (read the story)* Charlottesville City Council allocates funding from speed cameras to cover the cost of providing the service (read the story)* Albemarle Supervisors approve policy to streamline installation of solar roofs (read the story)* Albemarle supervisors seek tighter regulation of concentrated agricultural feed operations (read the story on C-Ville Weekly)* Charlottesville City Council briefed on efforts to lower speed limits, prepare new mobility plan (read the story)A sponsored message: Panorama Natural BurialAt Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward.Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit!A shout-out for Town Crier Productions: Not entirely cut and paste from last week!It is Saturday and the final thing for me to do to end one week and begin another is to post this edition. The right move would be to produce the podcast version as soon as the WTJU version is completed, but that usually happens at a time when I want to stop working on a Friday.After six years, I have found ways to directly cover the cost of producing the written newsletter and the Information Charlottesville. I have absolutely no direct revenue from producing the audio version as the work for WTJU is free. I do the work because it's enjoyable. And I could just put the radio version in the podcast feed.I choose not to because of the sponsor above. In the last few months I've been experimenting with charging for advertising across multiple products. I'm happy to send the media kit to anyone upon request so you can see the details.I've also had at least one paid subscriber ask me if I could put all the shout-outs at the end. I cannot do that. If I'm to continue this newsletter I must diversify my revenue. I want to provide an affordable way for entities to reach an audience that I am still trying to understand myself.In any case, thank you for reading! And now the cut-and-paste bit intended to get your help in getting more eyes on the stories:* I post stories over at BlueSky but don't really do much else than that at this point. Here's the account for Information Charlottesville.* You can also subscribe to get Information Charlottesville postings via email Wordpress. This is where I confess I don't entirely know the link for this. Might be a pop-up?* Town Crier Productions has a Facebook page but I'm really not sure if it's worth keeping as the site doesn't really seem to like Substack material. Or Wordpress material. In six years of doing this, I've never had a post “go viral” and I think it's all throttled. I don't pay them any money anymore* And then there's Instagram which gets a couple of likes every now and then though I am really bad at images!Thanks for reading Charlottesville Community Engagement ! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

In this message from James 3:13–18, we learn the difference between worldly wisdom and Godly wisdom. Worldly wisdom is driven by jealousy, selfish ambition, and chaos. Godly wisdom shows up through humility, peace, mercy, and good fruit. Real wisdom is not just knowing the right things—it is living them out. This message invites us to ask God for wisdom, choose wise influences, and become people who bring peace wherever we go.

Read more from VPM News:  Local governments grapple with spiking energy costs   Other links:  Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement delays decision on including Virginia's tribes (Inside Climate News)  VA-01 Democrats escalate dispute with state party over primary neutrality (Virginia Mercury)  Seibert's Towing seeks fuel surcharge as costs rise, asks for $250 fee to handle damaged electric vehicles (The Richmonder)  Virginia lawmakers call for probe into Albemarle schools handling of child sex abuse cases (29 News)  Documents reveal details on several data center projects in Petersburg's pipeline (Richmond BizSense)*  Youth rescue camp aims to inspire Virginia's next generation of first responders (Cardinal News)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

JYour words are way more powerful than you think. This message dives into how one sentence can shape someone's identity, wreck a relationship, or literally change the direction of a life—for good or bad. We talk about reckless “jokes,” gossip, online comments, and the self-talk running in your head 24/7. You'll see how your mouth exposes what's really in your heart, why hurt people hurt people with their words, and how to flip the script—using your voice to speak life, call out potential, and bring healing instead of damage. If you've ever said, “I didn't mean it,” this is for you.

The rhythm of being an independent journalist who strives to cover a lot of ground sometimes is affected by alternate beats. The last two Saturdays have not been favorable to produce a new audio edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement so archive editions went out. But now it is time for the July 18, 2026 edition. I'm Sean Tubbs. This week's return to the usual studio means more ability to focus so there are stories from all six localities on the same topic. Then there are some two stories from the week before I am only just getting around to completing.This work is made possible by paid subscribers and the ratio is just below one in five at the moment. I'm grateful for those with means to support the time and research that goes into this public service.In this edition:* Fluvanna Supervisors are the first in the region to initiate a process for a ballot question(read the story)* Louisa County Supervisors pull sales tax referendum resolution from agenda (read the story)* Greene Supervisors support sales tax referendum requested by Greene School Board (read the story)* Nelson Supervisors also vote to proceed with the referendum for school construction (read the story)* Albemarle County Supervisors vote to move forward and this story won't be printed until Monday so hear it here first!* Charlottesville City Council discusses the finer points of how to use revenue from a sales tax increase to finance school construction (read the story)* Albemarle Supervisors make brief announcements on Biscuit Run Trail, drought watch, and federal housing bill (read the story)* Albemarle and Charlottesville transportation planners identify next locations for further study (read the story)* Charlottesville City Council reviews process for funding nonprofit agencies (read the story)New here? Go ahead and sign if you want to learn more about what's happening in local and regional government around Charlottesville First sponsored message: Panorama Natural BurialAt Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward.Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit!Second message: An improvised bit about the state of shout-outs and the likeWill the words written here match what I say in the audio version? I don't know. I've not done the narration yet. In addition to paid subscriptions, I diversify revenue coming in through a lot of different forms of advertising, underwriting, sponsorship and so on. The Piedmont Environmental Council has been sponsoring the Week Ahead since the beginning, for instance.In the early days, some people opted for a $25 month tier or more on Patreon which got them a shout-out. Many of the shout-outs you see come from just that, though that's no longer being offered. Others came through combinations like having a paid Substack subscription and Patreon member. That worked for a while but I've simplified.Several have taken me up on an advertising package that offers placements at the top of the newsletter, in the two “shout-out” slots, and in visual ads on Information Charlottesville. I only send this out on request at this point because I'm at a point where I am trying to figure out things like inventory and scheduling and trying to ascertain audience. Are people really reading?In any case, yes, they are, and that makes me work harder to keep it going and that includes offering additional ways to support.* Charitable gifts can be made to the Tiny News Collective and those are being directed to hiring additional people to assist me in the near future.* Patreon still exists as a way to contribute to the business, but this may in the future become something more artistic if I get up the courage to try to make music for an audience. It will be weird all the same.* Share stories on social media! Add a comment and share your thoughts as you do! The whole point of this is to spread information and discussion.Thank you to all of the advertisers and sponsors and readers and more!An experimental to read only paid subscriptions I'm toying with the idea of making the epilogue something only paid subscribers can read. Or a portion of it each time. Perhaps “behind the scenes” stuff should be for those who have decided to take a stake in it by paying? I'm not sure. Substack only started offering this up this time. And I'm not sure if I have any real “bonus” content here except to say that sometimes the soundbites in the audio version have extra phrases in them. This is because I try to not run quotes run too long. I can also say I am so glad to finally get this edition done. Two weeks ago I had to turn in the WTJU version a day early and I didn't have time to record new stories. I also figured July 4 was a good day for an archive.The next week I was out of town and not in a place where it was easy to record audio. I'm grateful to be back in a place where all of my stuff is and where I can fix issues as they come up. Anyway, I'm grateful you're paying into this. I hope you'll keep doing so. If you do have concerns about the subscription or what to switch to a different form of support, drop me a line. Hooray! This edition is done! This post has a very small amount of bonus content for paid subscribers. Behind the scenes stuff. Upgrade to get full access and to support the work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

James says your tongue is tiny but terrifyingly powerful. In this message, we unpack how one comment, one DM, one “joke” can actually steer someone's future—or your own. It's not just “watch your mouth”; it's “watch your heart,” because your words expose what's really inside. From AI clapbacks to a martyr who sang at his execution, you'll see how speech can carry shame, healing, death, or life. If you've ever said, “I didn't mean it,” this is for you. Learn how to use your voice with weight, integrity, and real influence.

This edition and its copy comes straight from the radio version that aired on WTJU this morningGood morning and welcome to Charlottesville Community Engagement for July 11, 2026. I'm Sean Tubbs, a writer and producer who covers local and regional government in the area in and around the University of Virginia. That includes Albemarle and Charlottesville, two communities in a nation wrestling with how to solve problems that often seem intractable.I'm traveling this week and so this is an archive edition that captures two recent discussions about trying to get a low barrier shelter for the unhoused built at 2000 Holiday Drive. This is a document of a process still in motion created to remind people that solutions can take a long time in a complicated world. This kind of journalism is intended to remind people of who said what and when.Source material:* Charlottesville City Council briefed on low-barrier shelter by groups that provide the programming, March 27, 2026* City Council presented with The State of Homelessness 2026 by four nonprofit groups working on the issue, May 12, 2026* Many details remain to be worked out for how three groups will work together at Charlottesville's future low-barrier shelter, May 15, 2026* Work continues to develop operations plan for low-barrier shelter and service center for unhoused, July 10, 2026New here? Sign up for the free newsletter, but please know that paid subscriptions keep it going!First public service announcement: The Good Foundation event todayThe GOOD Foundation invites community members to a FREE Urban Farming Workshop, Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Carver Recreation Center, 233 4th Street NW, Charlottesville. Master Gardener Sheila Jackson will teach you how to grow container vegetables and herbs in small spaces, and everyone receives a starter plant to take home. The workshop is part of The GOOD Foundation's Black Farmers Initiative. For more information, contact Jackie Martin at goodfoundationcville@gmail.com or 434-202-8034.Second public service announcement: Piedmont Master GardenersThe Piedmont Master Gardeners will present “More Trees, PLEASE!”, a free Garden Basics class open to all, on Saturday, July 18th at 2 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1118 Preston Avenue. It will focus on suitable trees for home landscapes, emphasizing appropriate placement of native species, and highlights the benefits of trees to our environment and well-being. Register at Piedmont Master Gardeners dot ORG to reserve your place in the class. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

What do you do when life doesn't look like you thought it would—and your faith starts to feel more like work than love? In this message, we look at what the Bible says about faith and works, and why what you do can't be the core of who you are. Using the story of Mary and Martha, we talk about burnout, cynicism, disappointment, and how to return to your “first love” by sitting at Jesus' feet again. This is for anyone who's tired, confused, or quietly wondering who they are now.

Welcome to the NYS AHPERD A-Z Health and PE Podcast. In today's episode we are hosting two PETE scholars from our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) PETE programs.  Our first guest is Dr. Stacey Imagbe, an Assistant Professor at Morehouse College.   Dr. Stacy Imagbe is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology at Morehouse College, a Historically Black College and University in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University, with a specialization in pedagogy and psychological sciences, grounding her work at the intersection of teaching, learning, and human performance.Dr. Imagbe brings a powerful blend of scholarly expertise and lived experience to her work. Her research agenda centers on optimizing physical activity opportunities and promoting lifelong physical activity and fitness among minoritized populations through culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP). In addition, she designs and facilitates CRP-focused professional development experiences that support educators in creating inclusive, affirming, and effective learning environments.Dr. Imagbe is an active member of SHAPE America's Professional Preparation Council and currently serving as General Vice President–Elect for Georgia AHPERD. Through these partnerships, she advances parity, student success, and equitable access to high-quality, culturally responsive physical activity opportunities for all learners. She is also the 2026 recipient of the Leroy T. Walker Young Professional Award.Our next guest is Dr. Kacey Hopson is a Professor of Kinesiology in the Department of Health and Human Studies at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in Elizabeth City, NC. ECSU is a member of the University of North Carolina System. Dr. Hopson is a proud graduate of West Virginia University. Dr. Hopson is focused on improving health and academic achievement in college courses through Action Based Learning techniques, including the use of kinesthetic desks. Dr. Hopson's other focus is helping college students learn to cook healthy food on a budget. Her Move Smart – Cook Smart program provides transportation for students to the Food Bank of the Albemarle's teaching kitchen each week for a healthy cooking lesson and the opportunity to take home free groceries. Additionally, Dr. Hopson and her colleagues published an Open Educational Resource (OER) in 2026, in OER Commons, to help undergraduate students understand the research process, The Basics: A Guide to Student Health and Wellness Research Success.

What's the point of saying you care if you never actually help anyone? This message looks at the difference between just talking about love and actually living it out in real life. Through simple stories and examples, it challenges you to ask if your actions really match what you say you believe—and shows practical ways you can start showing real love to people around you this week.

Most companies aren't struggling with procurement because they're spending too little on technology. They're struggling because they're building intelligence on top of fragmented data, disconnected workflows, and outdated operating models. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton and Karin Bursa are joined by Mark Schenecker, VP of Manufacturing Industries at Coupa, for a data-driven conversation on the future of direct procurement. Drawing from Coupa's State of Direct Procurement 2026 report, Mark unpacks why procurement leaders are pulling away from the pack and why AI alone isn't the differentiator many organizations think it is. From fragmented data and disconnected workflows to the growing importance of supplier visibility and risk intelligence, the discussion explores what separates companies that react to disruption from those that anticipate it. Together, they explore why clean, connected data must come before AI, why leading organizations have moved beyond price-only sourcing decisions, and why procurement deserves a strategic seat at the table. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Intro (01:04) Why procurement is becoming a strategic competitive advantage  (01:17) Moving away from a 1986 approach to procurement  (02:41) Meet Mark Schenecker: Three decades of supply chain innovation (07:13) Behind the State of Direct Procurement 2026 report (08:01) The critical leap from generative AI to agentic AI  (09:13) How a digital front door simplifies the employee experience (13:46) The $16 million cost of operating on fragmented infrastructure  (17:02) Why sophisticated analytics on messy data just produces more noise  (21:36) The three-pillar framework: Infrastructure and foundation first  (26:17) Moving beyond unit price to build supply chain resiliency  (28:25) Shifting from passive reporting to active decision intelligence  (30:09) Closing the procurement influence deficit at the executive table  (35:08) Breaking down the hidden silos between direct and indirect spend  (39:36) Real-world outcomes from Albemarle, Glencore, and ADM  (48:20) Key takeaways, maturity assessments, and closing thoughts Additional Links & Resources: Connect with Mark Schenecker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schenecker/ Learn more about Coupa Software: https://www.coupa.com/ Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now's NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/ WEBINAR- AI that moves at velocity: Cut through latency with agentic workflows: https://bit.ly/4x4626t This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/infrastructure-gap-direct-procurement-at-breaking-point-1600 The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We all play favorites, even when we don't mean to. In this message from James 2, we look at how judging people by looks, money, or status pulls us away from God's heart. God doesn't have “favorite kids” — His love and mercy are for everyone. You'll hear real stories, simple examples, and a clear call to stop ranking people and start showing mercy. Discover what it means to live like the ground is level at the cross, and how mercy can change the way you see and treat others this week.

This message is a straight-up call to action. It's all about not just listening to God's words, but actually living them out. Using James 1, we look at what it means to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. We talk about how easy it is to collect sermons, podcasts, and verses—but never change. Real faith shows up in how we talk, how we treat people who can't give us anything back, and how we resist the pull of the world. Don't just hear it. Go do it.

On June 13, 1895, a two-seat vehicle driven by Émile Levassor crossed the finish line in Paris 48 hours and 48 minutes after leaving that city in the world's first automobile race. The journey took contestants on a 1,178 kilometer course to Bordeaux and back and Levassor arrived six hours before the runner-up. However, the rules called for a four-seater and both were ineligible for victory. What sort of race is Charlottesville Community Engagement documenting? I'm Sean Tubbs, and we can only know through the stories.In this edition:* Kellie Brown is stepping down as Charlottesville's director of Neighborhood Development Services (read the story)* Area officials report from recent Chamber trip to Chapel Hill (read the story)* Albemarle Supervisors presented with first transportation priority list in a few years (read the story)* Albemarle Supervisors allow building to remain within stream buffer (read the story on C-Ville Weekly)* UVA Provost: Record number of applications for Class of 2030 (read the story)* Only two buildings left to be programmed at UVA's Emmet-Ivy Corridor (read the story)* Buildings and Grounds Committee gets details on UVA's next heat plant (read the story)Thanks for reading Charlottesville Community Engagement ! This post is public so feel free to share it.First shout-out: Plant Virginia NativesSummertime means that the invasive vines are winning the battle at my house but one day I will attain the skills to make my garden something more palatable and less like it's an exterior shot in the Walking Dead.I often look longingly at the Plant Virginia Natives to inspire my dreams of a tidy yard. Plant Virginia Natives is part of a partnership with ten regional campaigns for ten different ecosystems across Virginia, from the Northern Piedmont to the Eastern Shore.Take a look at the full map below for the campaign for native species where you are in the Commonwealth. For the Charlottesville area, download a free copy of the handbook: Piedmont Native Plants: A Guide for Landscapes and GardenSecond shout-out: Celebrating the community's other information organizations!There are a lot of stories each week that go out through this newsletter, but no one information outlet can put together the entire picture. That's why each regular edition ends with a section called Reading Material.Charlottesville is fortunate to have a media landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now, I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.Now more than ever, journalism is needed. To be a citizen of a democracy, you must seek information from multiple sources. Consume only one and you are at risk of becoming a zombie!#1069-A ends with a Town Crier Productions backstorySaturday podcast editions mark the end of one work week and the beginning of another. As soon as “publish” is hit I'll get to work on the next set of stories. Paid subscribers and other contributors have been keeping this newsletter afloat for nearly six years now.The first edition on July 13, 2026 is a lot different from where the newsletter is now. The original idea was for the newsletter to be a five to ten minute podcast each day. My career began as an intern for WVTF Public Radio back in January 1995. That's where I learned to write copy for broadcast, and learned to write quickly.But there weren't really a lot of jobs in public radio and unsettling experiences in New Hampshire in 1996 caused me to lose interest. It took living outside the country for a year to want to come back and want to get back to this career.I've been in Charlottesville now for nearly 24 years moving here for a job in public radio but I was not a good fit for the organization that hired me. I went back to freelancing but that wasn't enough to make a living so I worked at Court Square Tavern and created a business to try to figure out if I could make money off of podcasting.I couldn't, but the Charlottesville Podcasting Network was an experiment in trying to use audio to get information out in different ways. By 2007 I had to take a steady job and for eleven years I learned about this community in my time at Charlottesville Tomorrow.And now I've just concluded a week in which I published five morning newsletters each day. I don't think I could go back to afternoon publication anymore because the benefits of the switch become more clear each day.For now, though, I really want to hit send so I can get on with the day. There are a lot of stories to dig into today. I'm grateful for paid subscribers, sponsors, and donors for their belief in the work I'm doing. In so many ways, I'm still that 21-year-old kid in Roanoke in awe that I got to write stories about local government. I believe in what I do and appreciate you reading to the last line. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Life can feel unfair—stress, loss, temptations, and situations you never asked for. This message shows how what you believe about God's love changes the way you face all of it. You'll learn why some people grow bitter while others grow stronger, how our own desires can quietly pull us off course, and how to tell if something is truly good or just looks good for a moment. If you've ever asked, “Why is this happening?” or “Does God really care about me?” this message will help you see your trials in a new way.

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV, we head down to the Pasquotank River, part of the legendary Albemarle Sound and Chowan River Basin, to break down one of the hottest bass fishing tournaments in the region with Elite 70 Alpha “Solo” Series winner Ryan Lachniet.Ryan put together an incredible tournament performance, bringing a massive 28.78-pound bag of bass to the scales to secure the win. In this episode, we talk about how he was able to figure out the Pasquotank River bass, what made the bite set up the way it did, and how tournament anglers can approach tidal river systems connected to the Albemarle Sound and Chowan River Basin.Ryan was throwing a Coike Slinging Hamma, and we dive into how that bait played a role in his winning strategy. We also discuss key bass fishing tips, tournament fishing decision-making, bait selection, river fishing patterns, tidal bass behavior, and how anglers can better prepare for competitive bass fishing events in North Carolina and Virginia.If you are interested in Pasquotank River bass fishing, Albemarle Sound fishing, Chowan River Basin bass fishing, Bassmaster Elite Series-style tournament breakdowns, bass fishing tips, tidal river fishing, North Carolina bass fishing, Virginia bass fishing, or learning how successful tournament anglers break down unfamiliar water, this is an episode you do not want to miss.Whether you fish local club tournaments, the Bassmaster Opens, the Bassmaster Elite Series, kayak tournaments, regional bass fishing trails, or just want to become a better weekend angler, this episode is packed with insight into how to catch more bass on river systems, sound-connected fisheries, and high-pressure tournament waters.Topics covered in this episode include:·      Pasquotank River bass fishing·      Albemarle Sound bass fishing·      Chowan River Basin fishing·      Tournament bass fishing strategy·      How to catch bass on tidal rivers·      Bass fishing bait selection·      Winning tournament patterns·      Bassmaster-style fishing breakdowns·      North Carolina bass fishing tips·      Virginia tournament fishing·      Coike Slinging Hamma fishing tips·      Big bass tournament strategy·      Elite 70 Alpha Series recap·      VA Elite Tournament Series fishing·      How to break down river systems for bassMake sure to subscribe to Fishing the DMV for more bass fishing reports, tournament breakdowns, fishing interviews, bait reviews, and conversations with some of the best anglers, biologists, guides, and tournament fishermen from across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. Ryan Lachniet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rylachniet_fishing?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Ryan Lachniet on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.lachniet Please support Fishing the DMV on Patreon!! https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcast If you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.com  LMD Enterprises: http://lmdoil.com/ Jake's bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/ Link to Tactical Fishing Company: https://tacticalfishingco.com/ Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech Phone Number: (757) 566-1278 Email: lin@fishingprotech.us Fishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168 Flint Financial Planning: https://www.flintfinancialplanning.com/ Support the show

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV, I am joined by Ben Ricks, Assistant Chief of Fisheries Management and Coastal Region Supervisor with the Inland Fisheries Division of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Ben is also one of the hosts of Better Fishing with 2 Bald Biologists, and he brings a fisheries biologist's perspective to one of the most talked-about bass fishing destinations in the country.We start the episode with a broad overview of North Carolina bass fishing, including the different types of opportunities anglers can find across the state — from inland lakes and rivers to coastal river systems loaded with largemouth bass potential.Then, around the 25-minute mark, we dive into a full breakdown of the Roanoke River, Pasquotank River, Albemarle Sound, and the surrounding connected waters leading into the Bassmaster Elite Series event on the Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound.This fishery exploded onto the national bass fishing scene after the 2025 Bassmaster Elite event, where Kyle Welcher put together a historic performance with over 118 pounds and won by more than 45 pounds. But with the 2026 Bassmaster Elite event taking place in June instead of April, anglers could face a completely different challenge.In this episode, we talk about what makes the Pasquotank River and Albemarle Sound so unique, including wind-driven water movement, connected rivers and creeks, forage, largemouth bass behavior, coastal North Carolina habitat, and why this fishery has the potential to produce giant tournament bags.If you are a Bassmaster fan, tournament angler, North Carolina bass fisherman, or someone who loves learning about fisheries management and bass behavior, this episode will give you a deeper look at one of the most unpredictable and exciting stops on the Bassmaster Elite Series schedule.Topics Covered: North Carolina bass fishing Bassmaster Elite Series Pasquotank River preview Albemarle Sound bass fishing Roanoke River largemouth bass fishing Pasquotank River fishing report Coastal North Carolina bass fishing Wind-driven water movement and bass behavior Fisheries management with Ben Ricks Better Fishing with 2 Bald Biologists Why this fishery can produce giant bagsSubscribe to Fishing the DMV for more bass fishing reports, tournament breakdowns, fisheries management conversations, and regional fishing coverage across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.Ben Ricks contact information: ben.ricks@ncwildlife.gov  link to Two Bald Biologist Podcast: Better Fishing with 2 Bald Biologists" is a monthly podcast featuring North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission biologists Corey Oakley and Ben Ricks  link to NC Wildlife website: https://www.ncwildlife.gov/Please support Fishing the DMV on Patreon!! https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcast If you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.com LMD Enterprises: http://lmdoil.com/ Jake's bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/ Link to Tactical Fishing Company: https://tacticalfishingco.com/ Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech Phone Number: (757) 566-1278 Email: lin@fishingprotech.us Fishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168 Flint Financial Planning: https://www.flintfinancialplanning.com/Support the show

Life feels long… until it doesn't. One random moment, one weird accident, and everything can change. This message talks honestly about how short and fragile life really is, why money and stuff never feel like “enough,” and what we're actually building our lives on. If you've ever wondered, “What am I even doing with my life?” this will help you zoom out, see the bigger picture, and start making choices that matter beyond just right now.

It seems that we have arrived at the end of May 2026, as well as the end of another busy week at Charlottesville Community Engagement. This week began with a holiday and ushered in a switch to a morning publication as opposed to an afternoon one, a transition intended to prepare for a more active future covering local and regional government in the community. One hopes.Mostly every story that features soundbites from a meeting is produced using skills I learned in radio over 30 years ago. The podcast is a weekly digest of some of those stories and is a slightly different edition from the award-winning radio show that airs on WTJU every Saturday. Well, one award. The Alliance for Community Media recently recognized the radio show with a 2026 Hometown Media Award for Best News Program. Hit play and listen!In this edition show:* Albemarle Supervisors briefed on how county government plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (read the story)* Charlottesville Planning Commission briefed on environmental reviews underway (read the story)* RSWA can now safely accept lithium batteries; new baling facility cost less than expected (read the story)* RSWA Board approves $11.7 million budget for FY2027 (read the story)* Biosolids company reduces amount of land requested to be sludge eligible (read the story)* Health-oriented community fair happening midday Saturday at Washington Park (read the story)* The Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review takes a look at new design for a student housing building near Westhaven (read the story on C-Ville Weekly)When you're done listening, share with someone else!First shout-out: Charlottesville Jazz Festival is less than two weeks away!In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Charlottesville's Downtown Mall, JazzFest2026 will offer audiences a chance to enjoy nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and many of Charlottesville‘s finest musicians over four days of club, concert, and featured performances.Multiple stages in the Downtown Mall area will host special events with outstanding artists and the festival will feature a two-night/multi-venue Club Circuit with no cover charges. One way to learn what's happening is to follow the Charlottesville Jazz Society's Facebook page.The Charlottesville Jazz Festival's mission is to bring people together through the spirit of jazz—celebrating its culture and qualities of innovation, improvisation, and collaboration.JazzFest 2026 will foster those qualities for the benefits they offer both the art form and the community.Second shout-out: Consider support for Town Crier Productions!In July, this newsletter and occasional podcast will mark the 6th anniversary. There have now been at least 1,060 regular editions, over 360 Week Ahead Versions, and dozens of property transaction editions. All of the work is done from my sense that people should know what's happening in local and regional government.I'm only able to do this work because of a steady stream of people who want to help cover the costs to research and produce stories about land use, transportation, economic development, and whatever else I can get together in a given edition.This continues to be an experiment and one worth doing as long as I can. The business model is overly simple.* I'll report as much as I can and keep building up a system that allows me to do more reporting* People who want to support the work can do so through ways that make sense to themOn that latter point, paid subscriptions through Substack work quite well. There is a chance at some point that the newsletter delivery mechanism moves somewhere else, but that's a project term at least two or three horizons away. Any amount helps, but be warned I may increase the base price in July.I've also set up a way for people to make a charitable contribution to support the journalism. This is through the Tiny News Collective and I've got a lot of ideas on what that might mean for the future of this work.A bit about shout-outs. When I launched this venture back in 2020 during the pandemic, I promoted a Patreon account and offered brief promotional messages in exchange for them being at a certain tier. Many are still paid for that way, but I'm no longer taking new ones.Instead I have an ever-evolving media kit for a sponsorship package that's received a few bites. I introduced a line at the top of the regular newsletter and am trying to measure how many people click. This media kit is currently available by request because I am very much still trying to figure out that system.In any case, the real question is: Did I read all of this in the podcast version or did I say something else? You'll just have to hit play! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Everyone wants joy, but life is full of pain, stress, and hard seasons. So how are we supposed to have joy when everything feels like it's falling apart? This message digs into James 1 and shows that real joy isn't fake smiles or “I'm fine.” Joy is knowing you're not alone—God is with you, and His people are with you. You'll learn how trials can actually strengthen your faith, reveal what you really trust, and why staying connected (instead of isolating) can help you walk through suffering without being crushed by it.

Happy Birthday to the Associated Press which incorporated as a non-profit news cooperative on May 22, 1846 to share the costs of covering a war between the United States of America and Mexico. Charlottesville Community Engagement is an experiment in bringing people stories about an area that seems to be in constant change.Once a week there's an audio version and this is a chance to catch up on what's been said: * Charlottesville's budget for fiscal year 2026 is on track for surplus (read the story)* City Manager Sam Sanders given an update on development of a plan to make 2000 Holiday Drive a functioning support center for homeless (read the story)* Work to build a sidewalk to support additional development in the Fry's Spring neighborhood is on pause due to higher than expected right of ways costs (read the story)* Bike Month continues and one Charlottesville City Councilor implores people to log rides with a government agency to beat Richmond (read the story)* Charlottesville will commemorate the late Mel Walker on May 30 with the unveiling of Mel's Walk (read the story)* Supervisor Sally Duncan wants Albemarle to consider creating rental inspection program (read the story)This edition has no shout-outs except this oneCrikey, I'm tired. I pretty much go at this work non-stop because there's a lot to get to and I have a reputation to keep. A reputation for my dedication to doing the work. Is dedication or is it something more stubborn? Either way, I didn't put shout-outs in this one because I want to get it out the door so I can move on to writing two stories for C-Ville Weekly, possibly doing land use transactions, prepping what will likely be a fairly short Week Ahead, and then getting ready for next week's stories. But Fridays are a good day to send out this list of social media sites where you can help share the work. And here are some social media possibilities:* I created a BlueSky account because I missed Twitter but I don't do much except post links to Information Charlottesville stories. That may change.* There are 445 followers of the Town Crier Productions Facebook page which is currently solely used to let people know when a story has been posted to Information Charlottesville. I may begin using this to do live video of podcast recording. Interested?* There are slightly more followers on Instagram, but I have paused posting here because I want to make the images look better and so far that's not been worth investing the time.* I post a version of the Week Ahead on Reddit each Sunday which is a little shorter. This is intended to attract people to the newsletter and many of you got here from there. But there is no official page and you have to know my username. Maybe I'll change that in the future?* Except for reposts of this show, there is no new content on the Charlottesville Podcasting Network but it predates this newsletter by 15 years. I had a good idea and all I wanted to do was tell stories about the community. Here I am still, hoping to get more people involved.* I'm not doing video. Not everyone has to do video.Thanks for reading Charlottesville Community Engagement ! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Union members have called the veto a “betrayal.” Also: The US Supreme Court denied a request to intervene in Virginia's redistricting fight. Read more from VPM News:  Spanberger's collective bargaining veto tests relationship with labor  Hanover broadband expansion on track for completion by end of 2026  ICYMI: US Supreme Court declines to intervene in Virginia redistricting On the agenda: Richmond public works, Albemarle road maintenance plans    Other links:  Richmond collects $5.6 million related to delinquent taxes from short-term rentals (The Richmonder)  Henrico nursing home facing severe violations after multiple residents abused, state finds (WTVR)  Thrown-out ballots and map confusion: Voters are losing the redistricting battle (NPR)  The future of nuclear fusion energy could be at Jefferson Lab (WHRO News)  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

Life doesn't always go as planned. In this message, we look at James, the brother of Jesus, and how God used scattered, stressed-out people to spread hope. We learn that being moved, shaken, or uncomfortable doesn't mean God has left us—it might mean He's sending us. James goes from doubter to strong leader after meeting the risen Jesus. His story calls us to real, everyday faith, not a double life. You'll be challenged to see yourself as a servant of Jesus right where you are—at work, at school, and at home.

Ever feel like your life is about to fall apart, but somehow it doesn't? This message explores what might really be holding things together behind the scenes. Through a powerful story about a boy, his piano, and a messy home, we talk about family, choices, and the quiet love that doesn't give up—even when you walk away. It's for anyone who feels stuck between two worlds, or who wonders if their prayers or tears even matter. If you've ever asked, “Does anyone really care what happens to me?” this is a message you'll want to watch.

The I Love CVille Show headlines: CVille May Ask AlbCo For $10M For Homeless Shelter? Should Albemarle Give Tax Money To 2000 Holiday Drive? Consultants Say 501 Cherry Ave Stinks For Grocery Store Bad Delivery Access & Waste Removal, Too Small Global Media Pub Ranks CVille #3 “Luxury Housing Market” Belmont Market Sells In 7-Figure Deal, Here's What's Next… UVA Wins Program's 20th Men's Lax Championship Contact Charlottesville Business Brokers To Buy/Sell Read Viewer & Listener Comments Live On-Air The I Love CVille Show airs live Monday – Friday from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on The I Love CVille Network. Watch and listen to The I Love CVille Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, iTunes, Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Fountain, Amazon Music, Audible, Rumble and iLoveCVille.com.

We all know how to clean things up on the surface—crop the pic, fix the vibe, hide the mess. But what about the stuff underneath? This message uses real-life yard work, stubborn roots, and annoying weeds to talk about anxiety, money, success, and the hidden patterns that keep growing back no matter how often we “trim” them. You'll see why some things in your life are so hard to change, why burnout keeps returning, and why your inner world matters more than you think. It's not about trying harder; it's about letting the right Gardener work at the roots.

You've heard of the Prodigal Son, but what if the real main character is the Father? This message dives into God's love as unfathomable—not just for the wild child who runs away, but for the “good kid” who stays home, keeps the rules, and still feels empty. Whether you relate more to the partier or the perfectionist, this talk exposes the lie that you have to earn God's love. It is finished. Come hear how a Father sprints toward both sons, tears up the scorecard, and invites you into a grace‑filled party you didn't pay for.

Dear Wonderful Reader,Tuesday, March 17th, 2026, marked 4 years since I freed myself from the shackles of my corporate job. Four years is a decent chunk of time. For the same duration as my undergraduate degree, I've been frolicking around Mexico City, perfecting my Spanish and waking up every day to the joy of being alive. How have I survived without a regular paycheck? And, more importantly, have I learned anything that's useful to you?It has been mostly a dream, but this quit-my-job-aversary comes at a particularly difficult time. I've barely made $2,000 this quarter, not even close to my personal OKR of $15k. Selling some of my index fund investments to pay my rent makes me feel like I'm failing at being an adult. Then again, I did take six months off client work to launch my second book, get it funded on Kickstarter in just 12 days, and get featured in The New York Times. Still, it's hard to see the beauty in all that I've accomplished when reality is currently kicking my ass.As you know, last week I was hit by a family emergency, causing me to fork out a couple thousand dollars more to fly to LA and say goodbye to my grandmother, who it seemed was on her deathbed. I sat with her in the hospital for five days as she went through a heart operation, reflecting on life in a mortal-imperative kind of way, while somehow helping to nurse her back to health. It was a close call. Not every day is sunshine and roses.Sometimes those deeper, existential questions irk me. Am I really that much better off than before I burned my New York 9-5 life to the ground back in 2022? However, all it takes is a five-minute conversation with another software engineer who hates his life to knock my own sense back into me. I've definitely made the right choice.I'm definitely not in the same place in this “creative career” as when I started. My direction is clearer and narrower in a way that's motivating. I have a product to sell. I have workshops to teach. My path has a lot more shape, but it's not easier. In fact, I'm still suffering. Yet I am following the advice of Graham Weaver, from my favorite episode of Lenny's Podcast:“Life is suffering, so make sure you pick something worth suffering for.” That's how this feels right now. It's a lot of work, but I'm much happier doing this than sending Sean a stupid, boring spreadsheet. (If you remember, in my corporate tech career, I worked with more men named Sean than with women on my teams, lol).Here are four lessons I've learned in my fourth year of freedom.A second date?

In 1677, the longtime residents of the old and remote county of Albemarle in northern Carolina, a collection of cranks and dissidents who had fled from Maryland and Virginia and were used to living free of interference from the Carolina proprietors and the Crown’s tax collectors, revolted against new attempts to collect duties on tobacco. Quite astonishingly, they succeeded! And not without some history comedy along the way. In the long history of the Americans, it is easy to ignore Culpeper's Rebellion. Virtually all surveys of American history do. Albemarle was small, a literal backwater, and not even the most important part of Carolina. Historians of North Carolina, however, see it as a truer reflection of the American Revolution, a century later, than the other colonial upheavals of the 1670s. The Albemarle rebels were an early example, in their democratic tax-avoiding free-trading don't-tread-on-me resistance, of ideas that would later be taken up throughout English North America.  Subscribe to my Substack! X – @TheHistoryOfTh2 – https://x.com/TheHistoryOfTh2 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfTheAmericans #158 The Free County of Albemarle #160 The Official Founding of North Carolina Primary references for this episode (Commission earned for Amazon purchases through the episode notes on our website) Lindley S. Butler, A History of North Carolina in the Proprietary Era 1629-1729 Noeleen McIlvenna, A Very Mutinous People: The Struggle for North Carolina, 1660-1713 Hugh F. Rankin, Upheaval in Albemarle: the Story of Culpeper’s Rebellion, 1675-1689