Podcasts about Albemarle

We kick off our Christmas series, "Eden's Promise," and explore the fascinating story of the Garden of Eden and its connection to the holiday season. Discover how the plan for redemption didn't start in a manger, but in a garden, full of unexpected twists and promises. We dive into what life was like before Adam and Eve's sin, and how hope and redemption were part of the plan all along.

This time the podcast is the same file as the radio show that airs on WTJU, complete with public service announcements and continuity befitting a program that goes out over broadcast signal at a specific time. For the sake of the holiday, I have made this the November 29, 2025 edition. This is the 333rd day of the year, a fact that may or may not have any significance but sounds like a good thing to say. I'm Sean Tubbs, the publisher of Town Crier Productions and the writer behind Information Charlottesville at infocville.com. Most Saturday mornings I present you with several recent stories in audio form, and this week is not one of the exceptions. Though, this edition begins a process of looking back at this year.In this edition:* Legislators have filed the first bills for General Assembly 2026 (learn more)* A new era for public transportation could be underway with the formation of the Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority (learn more)* The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority finds out how much a pump station failure cost to repair (learn more)* Charlottesville rooting out invasive species on city parkland (learn more)Archive stories:* This being Thanksgiving week, there aren't as many fresh stories, so this is a good time to begin the process of looking back. One of the first important stories of 2026 will be when assessments begin to come out. Here's how that sounded in January 2025 when they went up 5.1 percent.* Meanwhile, property assessments in Charlottesville went up 7.74 percent for 2025. In January, Albemarle Supervisors filled a key vacancy. Here's that story.* Charlottesville had a surplus for FY2024 in excess of $22.4 million and some of that funding would eventually go to pay for things such as an office building intended to be converted to a low-barrier shelter for the homeless. Let's go back to January to hear more about that surplus.* There are a lot of quirks to the area and one of them is the 45 acres or so of land in Albemarle County in the Woolen Mills that can only be accessed via the City of Charlottesville. One more story from January.Meta-information for November 29, 2025I did not work on Thanksgiving and I so wanted that streak to continue into the following day. I had a better time than I thought I would, and made a choice to stay in one place rather than be itinerant. I drove back at sunrise and traveled on U.S. 250 approaching Charlottesville from the west. The roads were empty as the sunlight slowly drifted over the horizon. I thought about the many times I've driven that road and how many stories I have written about places that have been built over the last twenty years. When I first moved to this community, I worked on Ednam Drive near the Boar's Head. I would travel there from northern Albemarle by the airport. The house I lived in was torn down to make way for the North Pointe development. Nothing up there looks the same anymore. I wrote stories about the roundabout at U.S. 250 and Route 151. I was part of a collaboration with the Daily Progress where four of us were assigned a stretch of the roadway as it goes from Nelson to Zion Crossroads. All of these forgotten stories flashed through my mind including different places I've been to as a catering server or a friend. There was no traffic but me so I was able to drive slow and go at my own pace. The fight over the Restore-n-Station. The storage unit at the corner with Old Trail. The people who died at the Harris Teeter. The landscaper who had to fight the county to use property just outside the growth area as a business. The construction of another roundabout now underway. That place where my friends used to live off of Gillums Ridge Road. That woman's house in Ivy who hired me to do transcription for a documentary she was making. The fact that I've never been to Duner's and probably never will. The recovery hospital UVA built that I wrote about at a time when I had no idea what happened in places like that. Now I am older and have spent a lot of time with my parents in similar spots. And then an explosion of thoughts as I drove past the Boar's Head where I spent a year and a half in my first real production job. My entire life changed working at that spot. It was too dark to see the renovations at Birdwood. I thought about stopping at the Bellair Market but it may not have been open. I remembered being a volunteer for the Charlottesville Track Club picking up supplies left in Ednam Forest for an organized marathon training.But once I got east of the bypass, suddenly so much change. I remembered the medical building torn down to build another medical building. New buildings on one side of the road constructed close to traffic with a new sidewalk. And then the cinderblock stairwell towers that will make up the Blume, followed quickly by a great expansion of the University of Virginia. The Karsh Institute of Democracy is coming along and the new student housing buildings are coming out of the ground. The Virginia Guesthouse will open up for the first guests next year and UVA awaits funding for the arts center approved earlier this year. Thanksgiving was two days ago, but I want to thank you all again for reading this newsletter and especially thank those who are paying me to keep writing stories. I'm grateful to be able to do this work. I could reminisce all day but I have new stories to write. For this edition, I did begin the process of looking back at 2025. In December I will produce a series of editions from stories from this year. I do this as a way of seeing what loose ends I have to tie up and what I have to look forward to in the next year. 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, Paul explores how true freedom and joy are found by letting Jesus into our toughest struggles. Using Paul's example in the Bible, who found joy even while in prison, we learn that freedom doesn't always mean escaping our situations but being content within them. This message will encourage you to invite Jesus into your "prisons," like fear or anger, so you can experience real freedom. By doing so, you'll begin to find joy and peace even in the toughest circumstances because Jesus is with you.

Written editions of Charlottesville Community Engagement often begin with a historical anecdote to mark the day and tie stories to a greater sense of the world. But what about this newsletter's history?* The first November 22 edition came out in 2021 as you can see and hear here.* The November 22 version from 2023 was the only one made that week. Go look!* Last year? November 22 rounded out a full week of newsletters!This edition is a podcast version where 92.3 percent of the material has already gone out in print form but now the stories can be heard as if you were listening to public radio.What's in this edition?* Albemarle's Economic Development Authority gets an update on AstraZeneca's investment at Rivanna Futures (learn more)* Officials celebrate one transportation project while another gets underway* Jaunt CEO Mike Murphy briefs Charlottesville City Council (learn more)* With one quarter down, Charlottesville currently projected for $921K surplus for FY2026 (learn more)* Albemarle Supervisors take a look at the five-year financial plan as budget planning accelerates for fiscal year 2027 (learn more)Sponsorship demonstration: Westwind FlowersFall is in full bloom at Westwind Flowers! With the crisp autumn air settling in, they're celebrating the season with fresh, local blooms perfect for every occasion.And as the holidays approach, let Westwind Flowers bring local beauty to your celebrations. Dress up your Thanksgiving table with seasonal blooms, gift your host or hostess with a gorgeous indoor plant, or join us for one of our Holiday Wreath Workshops on November 29th or December 6th. Create your own festive wreath, from the base to the finishing touch, with expert guidance and fresh, locally grown greenery.Westwind Flowers offers sustainably grown, thoughtfully curated cut flowers, perfectly suited to the season and the special moments in your life. They believe the blooms in your vase should be just as fresh, and just as local, as the food on your table. Visit their website to learn more!Thoughts at the end of #960-AThis is the first podcast edition in two weeks. The reason there was none last week? Last Saturday I published a text edition instead based on differing accounts of the forced resignation of University of Virginia President Jim Ryan.For a while I was posting these on Mondays, but the gravity of my workflow means they come out best on Saturday mornings. I've been an audio producer for most of my journalism career dating back to 1995 and an internship at WVTF Public Radio. Recording audio is how I've always conducted interviews, though I've not done that for a while.I would like to do so, though. Since beginning this newsletter in the summer of 2020, I've mostly relied on harvesting government meetings and information releases. For me that is efficient approach because it can be much more time consuming to process those interviews and turn them into finished pieces. The nature of my business plan is to be as prolific as possible.I'm a journalist first. Being a business person ranks lower, though I've added a lot of over the past five and a half years. I'm excited to look ahead to 2026 and trying out some new things as I can. Maybe I'll finally finish that media kit! Let me know if you want to see a preview. For now it is time to finish this up and move on with the day. Below is an image from one of the stories this week. 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

Interview with Stephen Hanson, President & CEO of Surface Metals Inc.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/surface-metals-csesur-former-lithium-player-pivots-to-nevada-gold-with-walker-lane-project-7467Recording date: 21st November 2025Surface Metals Inc. (CSE: SUR) has strategically positioned itself across two commodity cycles through its April 2025 acquisition of the Cimarron gold project in Nevada whilst maintaining a diversified lithium portfolio anchored by a 300,000+ ton LCE resource at Clayton Valley, California. This dual-commodity approach provides investors with exposure to gold's current bull market and lithium's structural electrification demand.Following recent meetings on Wall Street and Bay Street, President and CEO Steve Hanson reports renewed institutional appetite for junior and mid-cap mining opportunities. Major banks including JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, UBS, Deutsche Bank, and HSBC forecast gold reaching $5,000 per ounce in 2026, driven by central bank accumulation, interest rate dynamics, and geopolitical tensions. Simultaneously, lithium markets show stabilisation following the 2023-2024 correction, with institutional interest returning to quality projects.The Cimarron gold project, located in Nevada's prolific Walker Lane trend approximately 35 kilometres south of Kinross's Round Mountain mine, benefits from extensive historical work conducted by Newmont and Echo Bay during the 1980s-1990s. Surface Metals has digitised this historical database and created three-dimensional geological models, positioning the company to commence phase one drilling in early 2026 with clear targeting rationale. The programme aims to confirm historical high-grade intercepts, validate a non-43-101 compliant resource, and expand towards a million-ounce target. Shallow oxide mineralisation suggests potential heap leach processing economics - a lower-cost development pathway relevant for junior companies.Surface Metals' lithium portfolio demonstrates geographic and geological diversification across three projects. The Clayton Valley brine project sits immediately northwest of Albemarle's Silver Peak operation - North America's only producing lithium brine facility operational since 1966. The company targets a preliminary economic assessment in 2026, evaluating direct lithium extraction technology offering faster processing and higher recovery versus traditional evaporation ponds. Neighbouring operator SLB's 2025 demonstration facility successfully produced lithium from similar brine chemistry, de-risking technology application.Fish Lake Valley represents exposure to sedimentary claystone lithium mineralisation, sitting contiguous to Ioneer's Rhyolite Ridge project backed by Ford, Toyota, and Panasonic offtakes with 2026 construction commencement planned. Surface Metals actively seeks joint venture partners to fund initial drilling. In Manitoba, NASDAQ-listed Snow Lake Resources earns into the company's pegmatite project through funded exploration whilst Surface Metals maintains carried interest without capital outlay.Capital efficiency distinguishes Surface Metals' approach. The company has reduced operational costs whilst advancing projects through partnership structures and targeted technical work avoiding dilutive capital raises during unfavourable market conditions. Sector consolidation reduced lithium-focused companies from 200-250 to approximately 60, with Surface Metals amongst survivors maintaining intact portfolio positioning to capture recovery momentum.Management contemplates multiple value realisation pathways including asset sales, joint ventures, or corporate restructuring to separate gold and lithium portfolios. In market conditions where commodities experience distinct cycles, portfolio separation could unlock valuation disparities whilst providing shareholders direct exposure to preferred commodity themes.All projects benefit from tier-one North American jurisdictions with established infrastructure, proximity to operating mines, and relatively streamlined permitting. Nevada exploration permits typically achieved in 90-120 days. As gold supply deficits emerge from major producers exhausting high-grade reserves, and lithium supply security achieves strategic priority, Surface Metals' portfolio positioning addresses structural market dynamics favouring quality junior mining opportunities in premier jurisdictions.View Surface Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/acme-lithiumSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

WMAL GUEST: VICTORIA COBB (President, The Family Foundation) on Her Message to Students at at Western Albemarle High School WEBSITE: X.com/TFFVA SOCIAL MEDIA: FamilyFoundation.org Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow Podcasts on Apple, Audible and Spotify Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @JGunlock, @PatricePinkfile, and @HeatherHunterDC Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Website: WMAL.com/OConnor-Company Episode: Thursday, November 20, 2025 / 6 AM HourSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Elizabeth Underwood Kazimir, Director of Economic Development for the Stanly County EDC. Elizabeth shares her journey into economic development, from graduating during the pandemic in 2020 to leading transformative growth initiatives in Albemarle and Stanly County. The conversation explores exciting projects attracting talent from across the country, the challenges of building supportive communities for economic development, and how Elizabeth carved her own path in a field where her mother already worked. They also dive into music preferences, debate Spotify versus Apple Music, and discuss Elizabeth's own podcast, "The New Economic Developers on the Block," where she's usually asking the questions.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Elizabeth Underwood Kazimir, Director of Economic Development for the Stanly County EDC. Elizabeth shares her journey into economic development, from graduating during the pandemic in 2020 to leading transformative growth initiatives in Albemarle and Stanly County. The conversation explores exciting projects attracting talent from across the country, the challenges of building supportive communities for economic development, and how Elizabeth carved her own path in a field where her mother already worked. They also dive into music preferences, debate Spotify versus Apple Music, and discuss Elizabeth's own podcast, "The New Economic Developers on the Block," where she's usually asking the questions.

Read more:  Former UVA President Jim Ryan disputes rector's account of his resignation  Spanberger, Youngkin spar over UVA board appointments, president search  St. Joseph's Villa opens rapid rehousing center in Henrico County  On the agenda: Richmond zoning refresh, Albemarle road extension    Other links:  Higher SOL cut scores coming, but not this year, Virginia board says (Virginia Mercury)  RPS resumes work on a master facility plan as needs continue to grow (The Richmonder)  As electric bills and demand rise, is Virginia's energy crisis already here? (Richmond Times-Dispatch)  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Ever wonder how to stay happy even when life gets tough? In this message, we learn from Paul, who found joy while stuck in prison. He teaches us to turn worry into peace by praying with gratitude. When we focus on the good things and know we're not alone, joy can fill our hearts. Ready for a change in how you think and feel? Discover how to find real peace and happiness, no matter what life throws your way. Watch the message to explore how joy is possible, even in the darkest moments!

In this message, we explore how life's journey is a lot like using a GPS. Sometimes we make wrong turns, but it's all about finding our way back to the right path. We'll learn from Paul's story—a guy who was in prison but still found joy and purpose. Discover how having clarity, conviction, and community can guide us like a GPS, helping us stay on track even when things get tough. With stories and examples, this message shows how we can move forward with confidence and joy, no matter where we are.

In this inspiring message, we explore how small acts of honor and remembrance can lead to big changes in our lives. Using stories of historical figures and everyday symbols like bread and wine, one of our elders, Cecil Talbot, shows how life's interruptions might be just what we need to discover our true potential. You'll hear about the power of being present, the importance of community, and how each of us has unique gifts to share with the world. It's a reminder that even the simplest things can help us become a light in our neighborhoods and beyond.

In this message, we explore the difference between trying to earn God's love through our actions versus accepting His grace freely given. Paul, a devoted follower of Jesus, realized that all his achievements were nothing compared to knowing Christ. We learn that true joy and freedom come when we let go of trying to impress God and trust fully in Jesus. Like a fun game of tag, knowing Jesus is about enjoying the journey with Him, not checking off a list of rules. Discover how Jesus plus nothing equals everything we need for a joyful and meaningful life.

For this October 24, 2025 podcast edition, there are two anecdotes from sporting history worth noting. For one, Sheffield F.C. began operations on this day in 1857. Though they are in the eighth league from the top of English football, they're the oldest professional club still in operation. Flash forward to 1992 when the Toronto Blue Jays became the first Canadian team to win the world series? Will they do so again this time around? A reminder, Charlottesville Community Engagement is not a sportscast. I'm Sean Tubbs, still wanting to see relegation in baseball.In the latest sonic edition:* Charlottesville agrees to settle zoning lawsuit while others call for reform (read the story)* Civil rights pioneer Eugene Williams dies at the age of 97 (read the story)* Vacancy on Charlottesville Planning Commission after Stolzenberg resignation (read the story)* Charlottesville Police Civilian Review Board can once again meet quorum (read the story)* Sanders updates Council on work plan, potential of subsidizing rents at Kindlewood (read the story)* Albemarle Supervisors adopt Comprehensive Plan update (read the story)Shout-out: JackFest takes place this Sunday!In today's first subscriber-supported shout-out: Looking for a free fall event for your family that will help raise money for cancer treatments for patients at UVA's Children's Hospital? Mark your calendar for October 26 and JackFest at Foxfield in Albemarle County.The free event is named for Jack Callahan, a boy who beat back metastatic cancer after a 13-month course of intensive treatments in 2019 and 2020. JackFest raises funds for Ronald McDonald House to support families who need assistance while other treatments are underway as well as. Events include:* Kids' running races and family relays including a Superhero Dash, Cross Country races for Elementary and Middle Schoolers and a Child-Parent Relay Race* Family activities such as an inflatable obstacle course, bounce house, and slides; a petting zoo, and a truck touch with emergency vehicles* Adult and kid food options - including food trucks - and local beer & wineThe running races require registration and a fee. People can sign up for races at the JackFest website.Second shout-out: Piedmont Master GardenersDo you enjoy sharing your passion for gardening with others?The Piedmont Master Gardeners are now accepting applications for the 2026 training class for Master Gardeners serving Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Applications are due by December 1, 2025.The in-person class will meet weekly from February through April. Learn more and find the application at the Piedmont Master Gardeners' website. 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, we're diving into the inspiring story of three people—Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus—who show us what it means to live a life filled with courage and purpose. Imagine being so excited about something that you can't help but share it with everyone around you. That's the kind of passion these heroes had for spreading love and hope. They faced big challenges, but their belief in something greater kept them motivated. By learning how they poured out their lives to help others, we can find encouragement to face our own challenges and make a positive impact in the world. Join us as we explore how to live with boldness, stay true to ourselves, and focus on what really matters. Let's discover the adventure of living life to the fullest!

Many stories on Charlottesville Community Engagement are made because they are a result of listening to a public meeting and chopping what is said into a narrative intended to let people know what took place. This newsletter began as an attempt at a radio newscast on July 13, 2020 and has gone through many iterations. This is the second podcast this week and steps are being taken behind the scenes to integrate audio production into the overall process. I'm Sean Tubbs, and a thank you to the subscriber this week who contributed paid $50 a year because of the podcast!Here's what is in this edition:* Interim UVA President Mahoney declines to sign White House “Compact for Academic Excellence” (read the story)* Charlottesville seeks settlement lawsuit against city's zoning code (read the story)* Albemarle and Charlottesville economic development groups briefed on Innovation Corridor Roadmap (read the story)* Albemarle Executive Richardson sheds more details on AstraZeneca (learn more)* An update on transportation projects in Albemarle County including a ribbon-cutting for U.S. 29 pedestrian bridge set for November 13 (read the story)* Greene County awarded AA and Aa2 bond-ratings (read the story)* A very rudimentary look at next week's meetingsFirst shout-out: Piedmont Master GardenersDo you enjoy sharing your passion for gardening with others?The Piedmont Master Gardeners are now accepting applications for the 2026 training class for Master Gardeners serving Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Applications are due by December 1, 2025.The in-person class will meet weekly from February through April. Learn more and find the application at the Piedmont Master Gardeners' website.Second shout-out: JackFest coming up on October 26In today's second subscriber-supported shout-out: Looking for a free fall event for your family that will help raise money for cancer treatments for patients at UVA's Children's Hospital? Mark your calendar for October 26 and JackFest at Foxfield in Albemarle County.The free event is named for Jack Callahan, a boy who beat back metastatic cancer after a 13-month course of intensive treatments in 2019 and 2020. JackFest raises funds for Ronald McDonald House to support families who need assistance while other treatments are underway as well as. Events include:* Kids' running races and family relays including a Superhero Dash, Cross Country races and a Child-Parent Relay Race* Family activities such as an inflatable obstacle course, bounce house, and slides; a petting zoo, and a truck touch with emergency vehicles* Adult and kid food options - including food trucks - and local beer & wineThe running races require registration and a fee. People can sign up for races at the JackFest website. 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

Is there a method to the madness that is Charlottesville Community Engagement? Like a complex solar system with bodies dancing to a gravity not fully understood, there is sometimes a need to break programming and produce an audio version mid-week. This October 15, 2025 edition is required because at least one of the stories will be obsolete at the end of this day. So, here he goes:* Albemarle Supervisors set to adopt AC44 on Wednesday night after public hearing (read the story)* There's also an update on transportation projects in Albemarle County (read the story)* Charlottesville and Staunton area officials briefed on ten years of regional transportation planning (read the story)* Transit agency gearing up for update of Virginia's State Rail Plan (read the story)Sponsored message: Learn to Pitch with Denise Stewart Coaching on October 18Are you a professional who wants to sharpen your message, elevate your delivery, and have your audience walk away with a clear, powerful version of a pitch/speech/story? TedX coach Denise Stewart is holding a one-day, hands-on speaking intensive called Pitch! - Master the Speech that Matters! This will be at Studio IX on October 18.And readers of Charlottesville Community Engagement get a discounted price of $199 down from $250. There's also a Buy One Get One Free offer if you have someone you'd like attend with. Enter the promo code CCE when you sign up at EventBrite! (sign up) 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

Sometimes, one word makes all the difference, and in this message from Philippians 2:12-18, that word is "therefore" because it connects what Jesus did on the cross with what we're called to do now. Too many of us live with so much history between us and the cross that we fail to see how HIS act is relevant to OUR actions, and with one simple but powerful illustration, Paul helps us repair the rupture between what Jesus did for us and who Jesus has made us to be.

The calendar now reads 10-10, which is CB Code for Standing By. That's how Charlottesville Community Engagement remains most of the time, waiting to report whatever it is that a one-person information outlet can put together for a growing number of subscribers. The goal is to produce one audio version a week, and this is that. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I began my professional career in public radio thirty-years ago and somehow I'm still doing this thanks to over 800 paid subscribers. Join them so I can plan for the next thirty years!In this installment:* Albemarle's next Comprehensive Plan passes through Planning Commission (read the story)* AstraZeneca will invest $4.5 billion in next-generation pharmaceutical plant at Albemarle County's Rivanna Futures site (read the story)* Council holds first reading on use of $7.95 million in surplus funds (read the story)* Charlottesville City Council briefed on financial headwinds at annual retreat (read the story)* City Council agrees to two leases for agricultural use (read the story)* Deputy City Manager Freas addresses pedestrian fatality on Emmet Street (read the story)* City Manager Sanders hires an assistant (read the story) NEED TO PRODUCESponsored message: Learn to Pitch with Denise Stewart Coaching on October 18Are you a professional who wants to sharpen your message, elevate your delivery, and have your audience walk away with a clear, powerful version of a pitch/speech/story? TedX coach Denise Stewart is holding a one-day, hands-on speaking intensive called Pitch! - Master the Speech that Matters! This will be at Studio IX on October 18.And readers of Charlottesville Community Engagement get a discounted price of $199 down from $250. There's also a Buy One Get One Free offer if you have someone you'd like attend with. Enter the promo code CCE when you sign up at EventBrite! (sign up) 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

Wall Street pulled back from record highs with the S&P 500 facing another heat check as the rally faltered. Albemarle shares rose after a broker upgrade on cash flow prospects, while rare earth stocks surged after China tightened its grip on global supplies. Delta Airlines reported robust demand heading into 2026, and PepsiCo announced a portfolio overhaul under activist pressure. In Europe, Ferrari suffered its worst single-day drop on record, overshadowing the launch of its new EV technology. In commodities, oil eased 1.5% following a Gaza ceasefire, copper climbed to a 16-month high, and gold slipped below $4,000 an ounce. Back home, Aussie shares are expected to end the week on the back foot, with the local dollar weakening against a stronger Greenback. 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 I Love CVille Show headlines: Western Albemarle HS Student Replies To Spillman Noah Coffin, President, Turning Point USA at WAHS Allison Spillman Resign From AlbCo School Board? Council To Consider $6.2M RE Purchase For Shelter How Will Shelter At 2000 Holiday Dr. Impact CVille? Jay Jones Suggests Politician & Family Should Be Shot Cardiac Cavs Survive On The Road Vs. Louisville If You Need CVille 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.

LExplore how the ideas of unity and humility can transform our lives and bring true joy. In this message, we continue to unpack the letter from Paul to the Philippians. Learn how Paul's words encourage us to have the same mindset as Jesus by putting others first and working together. Discover practical ways to make a positive impact in your relationships and community, showing how what we receive can shine through us. Join in as we discuss how serving and connecting with others can lead to a more joyful and fulfilling life.

Today's edition is sponsored by the Ragged Mountain Running and Walking ShopSeptember 30 is the final day of the federal fiscal New Year and one version of today's Charlottesville Community Engagement could perhaps have been about how this region might be affected by a federal shutdown. Each edition of this newsletter could be a lot of different things, but what gets selected is usually a matter of what is available for me to write.I'm Sean Tubbs and for a story on the looming shutdown, I refer you to the Virginia Political Newsletter by my colleague Brandon Jarvis.In today's installment:* Albemarle Supervisors have endorsed their legislative priorities for the 2026 General Assembly while Charlottesville City Council is still working on theirs* Jaunt turns 50 this year and is seeking stories from riders* Albemarle Supervisors get a progress report on climate action initiatives including where $522K in spending will go this fiscal yearThanks for reading Charlottesville Community Engagement ! This post is public so feel free to share it.First shout-out: A Week Without DrivingHow different would your life be if you didn't have a car? From Monday, September 29 to Sunday October 5, Livable Cville invites you to join the local Week Without Driving experience. The goal is to learn more about barriers and challenges that nondrivers face in our community and to reflect on the challenges you would face as a full-time non-driver.There are many reasons why people do not drive, including people with disabilities, youth, seniors and those who can't afford vehicles or gas. A third of people living in the United States do not have a driver's license, but are forced to navigate a mobility system designed almost exclusively for drivers.Livable Cville expects the Week Without Driving experience will help participants better appreciate the challenges and barriers they face. For more information and to register your participation, please visit: https://livablecville.org/weekwithoutdrivingLocal elected officials preparing for 2026 General AssemblyThere are over a hundred days left until the 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly and less than two months until legislators can begin to pre-file bills.Across Virginia, localities are determining what priorities they would like to see turned into legislation.At their meeting on September 15, Charlottesville City Council went through a long list of suggestions from the Planning Commission, the Human Rights Commission, and the Office of Sustainability.“Energy prices are going up,” said Kristel Riddervold, the city's sustainability director. “Legislative priorities related to expanding distributed energy, meaning solar, all over the place in different ways.”Riddervold said city priorities are for the Virginia General Assembly to maintain the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act, full funding for the Virginia Clean Energy Innovation Bank, and reform of rules for construction of data centers. You can see the full list here.The Human Rights Commission submitted a three page list including a request for legislation for expanded rights for those who rent, a request for localities to have right of first refusal to purchase supported housing units, and a $60 million state fund for housing assistance to support 5,000 families. Another legislative request is to require all Virginia localities to maintain a public homeless shelter. You can view this list here.Vice Mayor Brian Pinkston said many of those ideas seem very aspirational and may not take into account political realities.“The one that says here, ‘require that each county and city in Virginia maintain a public overnight homeless shelter or fund a private equivalent,'” Pinkston said. “I mean, that would be lovely because we're, we're doing this. I have a sense for neighboring counties and communities, the work that we're doing here. But does that have any hope of being passed?””City Councilor Michael Payne said many of the Human Rights Commission's requests are part of statewide efforts and many of the aspirations could get through depending on who holds the majority in 2026.“There definitely [are] some that potentially I think really could get passed this year, including like the 5,000 family funds or first right of refusal, but for example, the homeless shelter one you mentioned. I mean, I would feel. I think we could all feel confident saying there's no chance that passes this year.”The Planning Commission submitted a list of 15 potential pieces of legislation. The first addresses the section of state code that is at the heart of the lawsuit against the city's zoning code. Number six is a reintroduction of failed legislation that would allow localities to tax land and improvements at different rates. (view the list)Council will have a further discussion on October 6 before adopting their legislative agenda on October 20.The Albemarle Board of Supervisors is a little further ahead and had the third of three work sessions at their meeting on September 17. Albemarle has four legislative priorities, three of which would involve legislation and the fourth being a budget amendment.“First, we're seeking as a priority enabling localities to enforce the Virginia Landlord Tenant Act,” said County Attorney Andy Herrick. “We're also carrying over from past years expanding the authority to use photo speed monitoring devices.Currently those are limited to road construction work zones and school zones and Albemarle wants to be able to use them on rural roads. Albemarle also wants the General Assembly to try again on legislation to allow localities to hold a referendum on whether to levy a one cent sales tax to fund school construction.“This is an initiative that has been sought in prior years, that's passed the Assembly and been vetoed by the Governor in the past two years,” Herrick said.The budget amendment relates to another item Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed this year. The legislature's version of the budget had funding for a connector trail to connect Biscuit Run Park with the Monacon Indian Nation Tribute.Supervisors adopted their legislative priorities and the next step is to schedule a meeting with area legislators.To learn more about some of the statewide issues, read this story in the Virginia Mercury from Charlotte Rene Woods.Jaunt turns 50 this year and seeks travel storiesAs the Week Without Driving continues, one way people participating might get around is public transit. In addition to Charlottesville Area Transit, the region is served by Jaunt, a public service corporation that formed in 1975.To celebrate, Jaunt is asking people to submit their stories of using the service.“As we look back on 50 years of service, we know the most important part of Jaunt's story is the people we serve,” said Mike Murphy, Jaunt's Chief Executive Officer. “Our mission has always been rooted in community, care, and connection—and this anniversary is about celebrating the ways Jaunt has supported essential regional needs for mobility across generations.”Jaunt was created as Jefferson Area United Transportation but the acronym became the official name in 1983.Have a story from that time? Tell Jaunt at the website they've created.Second shout-out: Five Things ReLeaf has done recently!Time for a subscriber-supported shout-out, this time for ReLeaf Cville!* On April 21, ReLeaf Cville celebrated Arbor Day 2025 by talking with 40 fourth grade students at Greenbrier Elementary about the importance of urban tree canopy, and then planting a tree on the preschool playground* On April 25, the Van Yahres Tree Company donated time and energy to provide tree care to 45 trees ReLeaf planted in the Rose Hill Neighborhood, Fall 2023* On May 10 at RiverFest, Green Team members Moos and Antony joined Keith Pitchford, Board vice-chair, and Cathy Boyd, Executive Director, in providing information about ReLeaf Cville and playing Tree Bingo* In May, C-Ville Weekly profiled ReLeaf Cville's efforts to help homeowners turn their yards into leafy oases - and cool their neighborhoods.* The fourth annual Green Team session took place this week and was designed to equip rising 9th-12th graders in tree knowledge and tree care skills, this year's schedule includes sessions co-led by the Rivanna Conservation Alliance, Van Yahres Tree Company, Master Naturalists, Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards, Community Climate Collaborative, and Steve Gaines, Charlottesville's Urban Forester.Albemarle Supervisors briefed on Climate Action programs, $522K in FY2026 spendingFor the past eight years, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors has been in support of efforts to monitor greenhouse gas emissions as part of an international bid to keep global temperatures from rising. For six years, though, a different set of elected officials opted out of the program.On September 17, 2025, the six elected officials got a briefing from staff on county and regional efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to a world of higher temperatures and more volatile storms. They were also briefed on how staff plans to use $300,000 the Board dedicated to the issue at the end of the FY2026 budget process as I reported at the time.Resources:* 44-page progress report from Albemarle staff* Slide presentation from the briefingBut first, some recent history.Recent historyIn June 1998, local leaders signed a document called the Sustainability Accords, a series of statements intended to solidify the work of several environmental groups working in the area. While climate action itself was not mentioned, the document called for the development of “attractive and economical transportation alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use” and called for the promotion of “conserv[e]ation and efficient use of energy resources.”In December 2007, Albemarle Supervisors voted to adopt a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050. At the time, Supervisor Ken Boyd voted for the “Cool Counties” initiative though he expressed concern about the potential impacts. (read a story I wrote then)In the years that followed, a group called the Jefferson Area Tea Party raised concerns about both the resolution and the county's membership in the International Council for Sustainability. The ICLEI group provided resources to measure greenhouse gas reductions and Boyd sought to end participation“We are being infiltrated in local government by an agenda that is set by this international organization,” Boyd said in early May 2011 as I reported at the time. “I think it's now a cancer that is infiltrating our local government here.”By that time, two other Republicans had joined the Board of Supervisors giving Boyd votes he needed to change direction. Democrat Lindsay Dorrier Jr. was a swing vote.Lane Auditorium was packed on the night of June 8, 2011 with some in the crowd defending sustainability efforts and continued participation in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Members of the Tea Party claimed that civil liberties were being threatened.At the end of the meeting, Supervisors voted 4-2 to end participation in ICLEI as I reported at the time. Three months later, they ended participation in Cool Counties as reported in the Charlottesville Daily Progress.However, the Republican majority would come to an end in 2013 after Democratic candidates defeated Duane Snow in the Samuel Miller District and Rodney Thomas in the Rio District.Back on the jobIn September 2017, Supervisors voted to adopt a resolution to “support local actions to reduce climate pollution.”“In October 2019, the Board adopted greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement,” said Jamie Powers, a county employee since 2023 who is now Albemarle's Climate Program Manager. “The next year, October 2020, the board adopted the Climate Action Plan and stood up the Climate Action Program to implement that plan and help get the community's emissions down in line with the board's targets.”The targets now call for a 45 percent in emissions reductions from 2008 levels by 2030 and to be carbon-free by 2050.Powers said emissions continue to climb across the world and the effects of climate change are here now as a present crisis rather than one for the future to deal with.“The impacts are generally going to be worse over time and increasingly unpredictable unless we can get global emissions under control,” Powers said. “And we do have a role to play locally.”Albemarle's reduction targets are in line with the Paris Agreement which set a framework to reduce emissions so that the increase in global warming could be kept below 2 degrees Celsius. The increase is now at 1.5 degrees.Powers said climate change itself is not the underlying problem.“It is a symptom of a set of problems,” Powers said. “This socioeconomic system that we have, it works exactly as designed and it brings us to a climate crisis and a biodiversity crisis and all these sorts of things. So if we are going to effectively address the climate crisis, we need to take a look at our systems and address things appropriately.”The models used by Albemarle and other local governments are complex and conform to the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories. These are put together by ICLEI and emissions come from many source sectors.“The major sectors of emissions are transportation, stationary energy, and that includes solar,” said Greg Harper, Albemarle's chief of environmental services. “That would be kind of like reducing that stationary energy. Ag force and land use is a smaller contributor and then waste as well.”Albemarle resumed doing inventories in 2018 and Harper said emission levels dropped during COVID but increased for 2022. Data is about two years behind. Harper said reductions can be decreased many ways, such as if many groups can work together to reduce a metric known as “vehicle miles traveled.”“We don't want to stop activity in the county, obviously, but we want to shift people from driving a car by themselves to taking mass transportation, getting on their bicycle for smaller commutes,” Harper said.Powers said Albemarle has been active in many ways to encourage reductions such as supporting home energy improvements, providing “climate action activity kits” through a nonprofit, installing electric vehicle chargers, and creation of the Energy Resource Hub.Albemarle also provided several grants including $20,000 for the International Rescue Committee's New Roots farming program to allow them to electrify equipment and improve their agricultural practices.“If we break down some of the things that they were doing from their composting practice, we calculated that about 25 tons of carbon dioxide is sequestered by them using the composting practices,” Powers said. “About 5 tons of avoided emissions by removing synthetic fertilizers from their operations.”All told, Powers said about 38 tons of carbon dioxide emissions were prevented.Albemarle County is also collaborating with the City of Charlottesville and the University of Virginia on the Resilient Together initiative which seeks to create a resilience plan to adapt to a different weather pattern. That will come before the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors in early 2026.FY2026 fundingPowers also outlined a recommendation of how Albemarle might put that $300,000 to use, as well as another $222,000 in carry over funds for climate action.“The Board made it clear we wanted to emphasize projects that are going to get the most value in terms of emission reductions in FY26,” Powers said.The Residential Energy Improvements line item is intended to assist property owners with lower incomes and that $237,000 does not include another $150,000 the county received through the federal Community Development Block Grant program.“A lot of times, especially in low income households, energy is going out the window, literally,” Powers said. “And so how can we help those folks tighten up their envelopes so when they're turning the AC or the heat on, it's still staying in the home instead of heading out the window.”The Local Energy Alliance Partnership (LEAP) and the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program (AHIP) are partners on that project. Powers said the goal will be to reach up to 50 homes, decreasing emissions classified as “stationary” energy. He estimates the return on investment will be about $3,000 per ton of emissions prevented.Another $100,000 will be spent on energy efficiency in county-owned buildings.“Most likely implementation looks like LED installation, LED fixture installation, likely at two different buildings,” Powers said. “If we transition the equivalent of the space of Northside Library to those fixtures, we would reduce again in that stationary energy category, one of those four categories by 0.03 at $700 per ton and annually that'd be a 143 ton reduction.”Albemarle funded the Energy Resource Hub in FY2025 at the $100,000 level and an additional $63,000 for this year. This is a program that helps homeowners find rebates and other incentives.Partners have not yet been found for the Climate Action Collaboration initiative.For previous coverage on climate action issues, visit Information Charlottesville.Reading material for September 30, 2025* Whistleblowers accuse HUD of ‘systematically undermining' fair housing laws, Ryan Kushner, Multifamily Dive, September 25, 2025* HUD cuts multifamily mortgage insurance premiums, Julie Strupp, Multifamily Dive, September 26, 2025* Albemarle County to consider delay on data center ordinance, Jenette Hastings, WVIR 29NBC, September 28, 2025* Watershed mapping project shows rapid loss of forests, offers new view of Va.'s changing landscapes, Evan Visconti, September 29, 2025* Charlottesville's schools are old. Local officials are trying to change that, Brandon Kile, Cavalier Daily, September 29, 2025* Afton Scientific breaks ground on $200 million expansion in Albemarle, Kate Nuechterlein, September 29, 2025What's the ending, #929?Today I could not get moving. Something is off but my job is to bring people information. I picked up four new paid subscribers since posting the May 2025 transactions, and it is important to get out what I can.The story I wanted to tell today was an accounting of yesterday's traffic congestion caused by a truck hitting a bridge under construction that carries Old Ivy Road over the U.S. 250. I lack the resources to get such a story together but I have questions about whether such an incident is covered by emergency management officials in the area.There are so many stories I want to tell, and sometimes the best I can do is link to other people's coverage. Here's a story from VPM. Here's one from 29NBC News. Here's another from CBS19. How about Cville Right Now?There is a lot of rhetoric about climate action and moving people out of automobiles. Is any of it having any effect? Are fewer people driving alone? How many people are paying attention to this issue? What is the community supposed to do when a major highway is shuttered for hours? Are we all so endless trapped in a news cycle that solutions remain elusive, situations remain intractable?I don't have the answer but I know I want to be part of an information ecosystem that seeks to do better than what we have at the moment with a series of wicked problems that are difficult to solve in this era of fragmentation.So what's today's ending? A note that David Bowie's Diamond Dogs helped me think this morning and this 1973 special seems important. 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

Let's explore how to find joy even when life gets tough! In this message, we dive into how you can stay positive like Paul, who found joy even in hard times. Learn how living with a purpose and standing strong with friends can make you feel unstoppable. Curious about tackling fear and speaking up confidently? This message will inspire you to live boldly and find true joy no matter what challenges you face. Join us to discover how to create a life filled with meaning that can be lived boldly without fear or intimidation!

We have reached the end of another week here at Charlottesville Community Engagement and all that is left to do is put together an audio version using the stories already told. Listening might become habit-forming if you have an interest in discussions about the future, and if you want to spot the mistakes. Is this the one where I leave in the curse words? Tune in!If not, this edition also serves as a way to remind you of some of the stories this week.In this edition:* Albemarle Planning Commission takes a look at the county's draft Comprehensive Plan (read the story)* Albemarle Supervisors discuss 2025 build-out analysis (read the story)* Albemarle PC recommends approval of new rule to allow taller buildings in industrial districts (read the story)* Manning Institute of Biotechnology director outlines hope for creating new medicine (read the story on C-Ville Weekly)* Charlottesville poised to appropriate fourth state grant for flood preparation (learn more)Sponsored message: Westwind FlowersAt Westwind Flowers the Dahlia fields are in full bloom with a stunning array of colors and varieties that only this season can offer.You're invited to experience it for yourself on September 27th and October 4th during their Dahlia U-Pick events at their farm, located on the historic grounds of James Madison's Montpelier. It's a chance to stroll through the fields, cut your own flowers, and soak in the beauty of the season—a flower lover's dream come true!Can't make it to their Dahlia U-Pick event? They can bring the season to you! Order your locally grown, freshly harvested bouquets today, available for pickup at their Gordonsville floral studio or delivered straight to your home, your office, or someone special.Westwind Flowers offers sustainably grown, thoughtfully curated cut flowers, perfectly suited to the season and the special moments in your life. They believe the blooms in your vase should be just as fresh, and just as local, as the food on your table.To register for a Dahlia U-Pick, order seasonal flowers, or learn more, visit westwindflowers.com. 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

Discover how joy and peace can shine through even the toughest moments of your life. This inspiring message shows us that true joy doesn't depend on what's happening around us. By focusing on God and practicing gratitude, we can find happiness and contentment, no matter the situation. Learn how the Apostle Paul found joy while in prison and how his faith encouraged others. This message will help you see how trusting God, being thankful, and sharing your faith can lead to a life full of joy, hope, and courage.

“National Public Radio will serve the individual: it will promote personal growth; it will regard the individual differences among men with respect and joy rather than derision and hate.” Thus begins a document written by Bill Siemering in 1969 when the federal government was investing in public broadcasting. Charlottesville Community Engagement is a newsletter and podcast that is not public media but aspires to all of the principles in that document. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I'll be bringing up that paper again. Now it's time for these things from this week in 2025:* Charlottesville City Manager Sanders tells Council work continues to find site for a low-barrier homeless shelter (read the story)* UVA committee briefed on new public safety agreement with Albemarle and Charlottesville (read the story)* UVA's Board of Visitors signs off on lease and possible sale of Oak Lawn to Charlottesville City Schools, and Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders details some next steps (read the story)* C-Ville Sabroso to hold 13th event this Saturday at the Ting Pavilion (read the story)* Loop De Ville coming up on September 27 (read the story)* Riverbend to rework rezoning proposal for land near U.S. 29 / I-64 intersection (learn more)Sponsored message!At Westwind Flowers the Dahlia fields are in full bloom with a stunning array of colors and varieties that only this season can offer.You're invited to experience it for yourself on September 27th and October 4th during their Dahlia U-Pick events at their farm, located on the historic grounds of James Madison's Montpelier. It's a chance to stroll through the fields, cut your own flowers, and soak in the beauty of the season—a flower lover's dream come true!Can't make it to their Dahlia U-Pick event? They can bring the season to you! Order your locally grown, freshly harvested bouquets today, available for pickup at their Gordonsville floral studio or delivered straight to your home, your office, or someone special.Westwind Flowers offers sustainably grown, thoughtfully curated cut flowers, perfectly suited to the season and the special moments in your life. They believe the blooms in your vase should be just as fresh, and just as local, as the food on your table.To register for a Dahlia U-Pick, order seasonal flowers, or learn more, visit westwindflowers.com. 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

Generally the audio version of Charlottesville Community Engagement comes out on a Friday or a Saturday, but due to a series of factors, this time around non-radio listeners can hear it on a Monday. We're in a time when so much is happening all at once, but this particular week there needed to be a break, an eddy in the space-time continuum. I'm Sean Tubbs, and here are the items you're going to hear today:In this edition:* UVA fundraising surpassed $885 million in FY2025 (read the story)* FEI property now known as Sycamore Hill (read the story)* The UVA Buildings and Grounds Committee has approved the schematic design for the future Center for the Arts (read the story)* Albemarle Supervisors get update on Shenandoah National Park (read the story)* Greene Supervisors approve financing package for White Run Reservoir, other projects (read the story)* TJPDC legislative liaison briefs Greene Supervisors on upcoming General Assembly session (read the story)* Two Supervisor seats on the ballot in Greene this November, one of them contested (read the story)* Charlottesville hires Block by Block firm to perform services of “Clean Team” (read the story)* Democrat holds onto Virginia's 11th Congressional District (read the story)* Virginia Court of Appeals sends Albemarle's “missing middle” case back to Circuit Court (read the story)Sponsor: Westwind FlowersIt's that time of year we've all been waiting for… Dahlia season!Westwind Flowers in Orange, Virginia believes the blooms in your vase should be just as fresh, and just as local, as the food on your table.Join them in September at their Gordonsville floral studio for their Dahlias & Desserts Workshop—sweet treats, stunning flowers, and serious fun.Then in October, grab your shears and sign up for their Dahlia U-Pick events at their farm… a flower lover's dream come true!But why wait? Order your locally grown, freshly harvested Dahlia bouquets today, delivered straight to your home, your office, or to someone special.Westwind Flowers offers sustainably grown, thoughtfully curated cut flowers, perfectly suited to the season, and the special moments in your life.Learn more at westwindflowers.com. 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

Discover how to find true joy even when life doesn't go as planned. In the first message of our series through Philippians, we explore the power of gratitude and how it can change the way we see our circumstances. Learn how gratitude helps us stay positive, trust in the process, and overcome the ups and downs of life. Join us as we uncover the secret to staying joyful through any challenge!

Heaven says the earth is already full of God's glory (Isaiah 6:3),and yet most of us don't see the world that way. What does heaven see that we don't? The potential for the glory of God that is in us to erupt from within us to the world around us!! We are geysers of revival, and God uses the things that make us feel broken and fragile to release them. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? Yes.

There is a different gravity to holidays weeks as the routine is challenged in exchange for the illusion of a day off. Or at least, that's definitely the case with this edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement produced at the end of a truncated week in which a lot seems to have happened. I'm Sean Tubbs, and if you're a skeptic of the audio, I still recommend listening to the first story today.In this edition:* Charlottesville City Council ends consideration of anti-camping ordinance after pushback from homeless advocates (read the story)* Charlottesville City Attorney explains why Gentry Locke still represents city in case against zoning code (read the story)* An update on some residential projects under review in Charlottesville* Ridership on Charlottesville Area Transit up five percent in FY2025 (read the story)* Rivanna River pedestrian bridge once again misses out on federal funding (read the story)* 5K race planned Sunday to raise money for prostate cancer research (read the story)* Albemarle's deputy fire chief is now Charlottesville's emergency management coordinator (read the story)Sponsor: Westwind FlowersIt's that time of year we've all been waiting for… Dahlia season!Westwind Flowers in Orange, Virginia believes the blooms in your vase should be just as fresh, and just as local, as the food on your table.Join them in September at their Gordonsville floral studio for their Dahlias & Desserts Workshop—sweet treats, stunning flowers, and serious fun.Then in October, grab your shears and sign up for their Dahlia U-Pick events at their farm… a flower lover's dream come true!But why wait? Order your locally grown, freshly harvested Dahlia bouquets today, delivered straight to your home, your office, or to someone special.Westwind Flowers offers sustainably grown, thoughtfully curated cut flowers, perfectly suited to the season, and the special moments in your life.Learn more at westwindflowers.com. 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

JDiscover how the most captivating message in history can change how you live. In this video, we talk about what makes Jesus' words stand out and how they can shape your everyday choices. You'll learn to recognize powerful truths and how to use them in your life to make a real difference. Get ready to understand and act on words that have the power to transform the world around you. Let's dive into what it means to live with true authority!

Wall Street closed at new record highs, with investors now digesting fresh earnings from Nvidia, though the stock slipped after its data centre revenue fell short of estimates. Elsewhere, Cracker Barrel surged on news of a logo revamp, while American Eagle tapped Travis Kelce in the wake of the Sweeney controversy. Meanwhile, bond yields fell as markets shrugged off Fed drama, and Albemarle gained on a stronger lithium price outlook. Energy stocks also led the advance as US crude inventories declined. Back home, the ASX is set for a flat start on Thursday ahead of results from Wesfarmers. 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.

Join us as we explore how to build a life that stands strong, no matter what comes your way. Inspired by the timeless story of wise and foolish builders, this message dives into the power of taking action on what you hear. Discover why it's not just about knowing what's right but actually doing it. Learn how to turn knowledge into action for genuine transformation. Whether you're navigating school, relationships, or personal challenges, this message offers relatable insights to help you live with purpose and resilience.

Sun, Aug 24 11:13 AM → 11:13 AM CHS Alarm Radio Systems: - Charlottesville, Albemarle, UVA PD, FIRE, EMS

Once more into the breach we go, though we're not headed for battle but for another bout of audio stories collected and packaged as the Charlottesville Community Engagement podcast. This is an element of Town Crier Productions, a one-person information outlet created in 2020 to provide me, Sean Tubbs, with a way to do what I love best: Write stories that may seem obscure until you realize I'm writing about growth, economic development, and living in a changing community.In this edition:* One person is dead and another injured following house explosion in Keswick (story)* Judge Worrell is set to make a decision related to the granting of default judgment in the legal case against the city's zoning code but it had not come in at press time (story #1) (story #2)* Albemarle Fire Chief Dan Eggleston will retire in October and a brief look back at his career as well as a listen back to a March story about why fire and police both asked for more money in the FY2026 budget (story)* Charlottesville City Council briefed on regional tourism efforts (story)* Albemarle County Supervisors adopt economic development strategic plan (story)Sponsor: Westwind FlowersIt's that time of year we've all been waiting for… Dahlia season!Westwind Flowers in Orange, Virginia believes the blooms in your vase should be just as fresh, and just as local, as the food on your table.Join them in September at their Gordonsville floral studio for their Dahlias & Desserts Workshop—sweet treats, stunning flowers, and serious fun.Then in October, grab your shears and sign up for their Dahlia U-Pick events at their farm… a flower lover's dream come true!But why wait? Order your locally grown, freshly harvested Dahlia bouquets today, delivered straight to your home, your office, or to someone special.Westwind Flowers offers sustainably grown, thoughtfully curated cut flowers, perfectly suited to the season, and the special moments in your life.Learn more at westwindflowers.com. 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

Dive into this powerful sermon as we explore the warnings of false prophets and the importance of authentic faith. Uncover how appearances can deceive and why genuine spiritual fruit matters. Learn how to recognize true teachings by aligning with Scripture and cultivating a deep relationship with God. This message challenges us to evaluate our own faith journey, ensuring we're rooted in truth and not led astray by misleading voices. Let's embrace this call to be vigilant, plant ourselves in fertile spiritual soil, and flourish with love, joy, and righteousness.

Pastor Brigette Kimmer dives into the bold teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing the choice between the world's easy road and the challenging, rewarding path of faith. Jesus urges us to embrace a life of authenticity and purpose, aligning with God's kingdom through acts like giving, praying, and forgiving. It highlights the inspiring story of Stephen, a true believer who stood firm and forgave even in the face of danger. She challenges us to ditch superficial paths and follow Jesus' transformative way, encouraging genuine commitment and reflection on our lives' true direction.

The time has come for another audio edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Or at least it is time for me to produce one. I'm Sean Tubbs, the publisher at Town Crier Productions, an extravagant name for a company that describes the kind of journalism I produce as often as I can. I got my start in public radio and use audio from meetings to fuel my reporting. In this edition:* UVA Board of Visitors appoints law professor as interim president (learn more)* Community walk planned for Greenbrier neighborhood this Sunday (learn more)* Albemarle County expanding school zone speed camera locations while Charlottesville to start (coming soon)* A handful of Fifeville residents want Charlottesville to crack down on illegal fireworks (coming soon)* Weldon Cooper Center releases new population projections (learn more)* Another motion is filed in the legal case against the city's zoning code in advance of an August 13 hearing (learn more)* Albemarle Supervisor Michael Pruitt outlines steps he will take if elected to Congress (learn more)* Albemarle and Charlottesville recognize Soul of Cville with proclamations (learn more)Commercial sponsor: 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

Dive into a transformative message about the art of asking and receiving. This talk explores how approaching life with childlike boldness and curiosity can bring incredible opportunities. Discover the importance of persistence and seeking bigger dreams without letting realism dull your spark. Learn how genuine ask-and-receive energy, fueled by an expectation of good, can not only enhance your life but also impact the world around you positively.

In this message from The Jesus Way series, we're challenged to reconsider our approach to judgment. For apprentices of Jesus, it's not about avoiding judgments, but rather about being able to make judgments without being judgmental. Learn how healing our eyes, heart, and spirit can help us have hard conversations without having a hard heart.

At long last, another sonic edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. It's summertime and the podcasting isn't as easy due to a combination of travel, heat, and other factors but this edition will tide you over until the next version which may be in two weeks. Or perhaps on time? I'm Sean Tubbs, and if you've never heard one of these before, take a listen!In this edition:* Charlottesville City Council refers Development Code back to Planning Commission (learn more)* Charlottesville files motion asking Judge Worrell to reconsider default judgment (learn more)* Charlottesville Planning Commission reviews design for apartment building on Seminole Trail (learn more)* City Council briefed on budget scenarios for expanded service (learn more)* Albemarle Planning Commission discuss Comprehensive Plan's implementation chapter (learn more)* The Albemarle Board of Supervisors followed suit eight days later and some members want AC44 to speak to social belonging (learn more)Commercial shout-out: 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

12 Articles With Great ESG Stock Picks. Includes the terrific Humankind ranking, top infrastructure, lithium mining, and AI stock picks. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 157, July 25, 2025 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 157, published on July 25, 2025, titled “12 Articles With Great ESG Stock Picks.” Before I begin, I want to let you know that my next podcast will be on August 22nd as I'm taking some time off. So, this podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, please visit this podcast's webpage for links to the articles and additional company and stock information. I have a great crop of 12 articles for you in this podcast! Note that some companies are mentioned more than once! ------------------------------------------------------------- Humankind 100 rankings I'm beginning this episode with another of my favourite company rankings whose annual list has just been released. It's the Humankind 100 rankings. Here is an overview of them from their website. “The Humankind 100 celebrates the one hundred U.S. public companies with the highest Humankind Values. We believe these companies consistently work to create large amounts of value, not just for their investors, but for humanity at large. The Humankind 100 companies are ranked based on Humankind Value, a proprietary metric that provides an estimate of the overall dollar amount a company creates for investors, consumers, employees, and society at large, and are therefore among the most ethical companies in the United States, according to our research.” End quotes. Their top 5 companies are Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), Eli Lilly & Company (1LLY.MI), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), AbbVie Inc. (ABBV), and Pfizer Inc. (PFE). ------------------------------------------------------------- Infrastructure Stocks To Consider - July 12th This second article features a sector favoured by many ethical and sustainable investors. The article is titled Infrastructure Stocks To Consider - July 12th. It's by MarketBeat and seen on marketbeat.com. Here are some quotes from the article. “1. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) provides graphics and compute and networking solutions in the United States, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and internationally. The Graphics segment offers GeForce GPUs for gaming and PCs, the GeForce NOW game streaming service and related infrastructure, and solutions for gaming platforms; Quadro/NVIDIA RTX GPUs for enterprise workstation graphics; virtual GPU or vGPU software for cloud-based visual and virtual computing; automotive platforms for infotainment systems; and Omniverse software for building and operating metaverse and 3D internet applications. 2. Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) provides financial infrastructure and technology for the crypto economy in the United States and internationally. The company offers the primary financial account in the crypto economy for consumers; and a marketplace with a pool of liquidity for transacting in crypto assets for institutions. Read Our Latest Research Report on COIN 3. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) offers various products and platforms in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets segments. The Google Services segment provides products and services, including ads, Android, Chrome, devices, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Photos, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. Read Our Latest Research Report on GOOGL 4. Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) designs, develops, and supplies various semiconductor devices with a focus on complex digital and mixed signal complementary metal oxide semiconductor based devices and analog III-V based products worldwide. Read Our Latest Research Report on AVGO 5. Oracle (ORCL) offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Best Lithium Mining Stocks 2025: Buy Top Mining Stocks Now Every investor knows that lithium is a basic mineral for electric batteries. So, this next article will interest many investors. It's titled Best Lithium Mining Stocks 2025: Buy Top Mining Stocks Now. It's by Farmonaut and found on farmonaut.com. Here are some quotes by Farmonaut on each of their picks. “1. Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) headquartered in the USA, is the world's largest lithium producer… With operations spanning North America, South America, and Australia, Albemarle boasts: Diversified extraction & processing operations, including high-margin lithium brine and hard rock mining projects Ongoing investments to expand production capacity in Nevada (USA), Chile, and Australia A resilient supply chain and ability to scale output to meet global demand Strategic partnerships with leading EV battery makers Strong commitment to sustainable mining and ESG practices Albemarle's scale, geographic diversification, and innovation position it as one of the best performing mining stocks of 2025. 2. Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (or SQM) (NYSE: SQM) is South America's lithium market leader. Based in Santiago, Chile, SQM boasts some of the world's largest and lowest-cost lithium brine operations situated in the renowned Lithium Triangle (Chile, Argentina, Bolivia): Extensive lithium reserves & robust extraction technology, delivering high efficiency Geopolitical stability—Chile enjoys a relatively favorable mining regulatory environment compared to other regions Cost-effective production enables SQM to remain highly profitable even as competition heats up Continuous expansion to satisfy increasing global lithium demand for EV batteries and storage solutions Environmental sustainability programs, making SQM attractive for ESG-focused investors SQM competitive positioning ensures it remains a top choice in the best lithium mining stocks to buy for 2025. 3. Livent Corporation (NYSE: LTHM) distinguishes itself by focusing on high-purity lithium chemicals for next-generation battery technologies. With operations in the United States, Argentina, and China, Livent stands out for: Supplying premium lithium hydroxide and carbonate solutions for advanced battery manufacturers Strong partnerships with key players in the EV battery chain, including Tesla Expansion projects in Argentina and the U.S., boosting 2025 production capacity and flexibility ESG and sustainability initiatives for responsible lithium extraction Livent is uniquely positioned for specialty market growth, making it one of the best lithium mining stocks for investors eyeing niche applications and supply chain integration. 4. Piedmont Lithium (NASDAQ: PLL) though a smaller player, it has become a rising star by focusing on high-quality spodumene reserves in the United States—especially in North Carolina's Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt. Piedmont brings: Strategic U.S. supply source—critical for domestic battery manufacturers and government-led supply chain diversification Fast-tracked expansion projects supported by U.S. regulatory incentives and EV adoption targets Potential to benefit from blockchain-based traceability in mining—enhancing transparency for institutional investors Growing interest from global automakers and battery companies seeking secure lithium supply Piedmont's agility and domestic positioning could mean outsized growth as U.S. policy emphasizes onshoring critical battery mineral chains.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Infrastructure Stocks Powering the Next Wave of Innovations Now, like most investors, you probably are invested in AI stocks, either directly or via funds. Hence, this next article 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Infrastructure Stocks Powering the Next Wave of Innovations, should interest you. It's by Justin Pope and found on fool.com. Here is some of what Mr. Pope says about his picks. “1. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) The company has maintained its winning position as it progressed from its previous Hopper architecture to its current Blackwell chips, and it expects to launch its next-generation architecture, with a CPU called Vera and a GPU called Rubin, next year. Analysts expect Nvidia's revenue to grow to $200 billion this year and $251 billion in 2026.  2. Amazon (AMZN) Web Services (AWS) has long been the world's leading cloud platform, with about 30% of the cloud infrastructure market today. Through the cloud, companies can access and deploy AI agents, models, and other software throughout their businesses. 3. Microsoft (MSFT) Its Azure is the world's second-largest cloud platform, with a market share of approximately 21%. Microsoft stands out from the pack for its deep ties with millions of corporate clients. 4. Arista Networks (ANET) sells high-end networking switches and software that help accomplish this. The company has already thrived in this golden age of data centers, with top clients including Microsoft and Meta Platforms, which happen to also be among the highest spenders on AI infrastructure. 5. Broadcom (AVGO) which specializes in designing semiconductors used for networking applications. For example, Arista Networks utilizes Broadcom's Tomahawk and Jericho silicon in the networking switches it builds for data centers. Broadcom's AI-related semiconductor sales increased by 46% year-over-year in the second quarter.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ethical Companies To Invest In 2025 (ECL, MSFT, UNFI) The final reviewed article for this podcast episode is titled Ethical Companies To Invest In 2025 (ECL, MSFT, UNFI) and was written by the Analyst Team and seen on asktraders.com. Now a few quotes from the article by the Team. “1. Ecolab (ECL) a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions, presents a straightforward ethical narrative. Its products and services help businesses reduce water consumption, improve hygiene standards, and prevent infections, contributing directly to public health and environmental protection… Analyst ratings remain in line with current pricing, with Wells Fargo & Company reiterating a price target of $260.00 in May 2025. With the Ecolab stock price having gained 14% since the start of the year, the company has managed to outperform the market on the period whilst holding true to it's ethical standing. While its dividend yield of approximately 1.1% is slightly higher than others on the list, its P/E ratio of around 38x indicates a similar valuation based on future earnings potential. 2. Microsoft (MSFT) presents a complex ethical profile. On one hand, its commitment to carbon neutrality, investments in renewable energy, and initiatives to bridge the digital divide are commendable… The stock's impressive 20% YTD return and a consensus analyst price target of $475 reflect market confidence in its financial stability and future growth, primarily driven by its cloud and AI segments, making it one to keep on shortlists… While Microsoft offers a modest dividend yield of around 0.7%, its high P/E ratio of approximately 36x suggests a premium valuation reflecting its growth potential rather than a focus on immediate shareholder returns. The company's low debt-to-equity ratio underscores its financial strength, allowing it to invest heavily in research and development and pursue ambitious sustainability goals. 3. United Natural Foods (UNFI) stock has pulled back ~15% this year, although remains firmly higher over the past 12 months, with a gain of more than 70%. The company, a leading distributor of natural, organic, and specialty foods, presents the most challenging investment case with the recent cyber incident causing a sharp pullback in the stock. This could in fact be an opportunity… Unlike Microsoft and Ecolab, United Natural Foods does not offer a dividend, reflecting its current financial constraints. Its low P/E ratio of around 8x suggests a deeply discounted valuation, reflecting the market's skepticism about its turnaround prospects. Recent earnings on July 16 beat expectations, however, and the stock is on the move with an 8% gain immediately off the back.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- More articles of interest from around the world for ethical and sustainable investors 1. Title: Top 10: Wind Power Companies on energydigital.com. By Jasmin Jessen. 2. Title: Ethical Companies To Invest In 2025 (ECL, MSFT, UNFI) on AskTraders.com. By Analyst Team. 3. Title: The Green Gold Rush: Why Techem's $6.7B Sale Signals a Buying Opportunity on ainvest.com. By Wesley Park. 4. Title: AJ Bell adds Rathbone Ethical Bond to buy list on portfolio-advisor.com. By Christian Mayes. 5. Title: Procter & Gamble Named Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock on ainvest.com. By Ainvest. 6. Title: 11 Best Halal Dividend Stocks to Buy Now on insidermonkey.com. By Vardah Gill. 7. Title: JPMorgan Picks 3 Top Stocks In Alternative Energy On Heels Of Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' - First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR), Brookfield Renewable (NYSE:BEPC), and HASI (NYSE:HASI) on benzinga.com. By Priya Nigam. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast, “12 Articles With Great ESG Stock Picks.” Please click the like and subscribe buttons wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these deeply troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. As I mentioned earlier, I'm taking some time off, so I'll talk to you next on August 22nd. Bye for now.   © 2025 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

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In this episode of Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf sits down with Bradley Sullivan at the Charlotte Motor Speedway to dive into Bradley's unique journey as a Memory Maker at Broad River Retail. Bradley, affectionately known as Sully, recounts his path from his early days in the furniture business, his meaningful recruitment experience at the transformative Purpose 8:28 event (Bradley's 'Day Zero' in Fort Mill, South Carolina, on August 28, 2019), and his rise through various leadership roles within the Company—from his start in Cary as an AGM with Michael Childers, to taking on the GM role in Bull City, to revamping the culture at the Ashley Outlet in Charlotte, N.C., on South Boulevard (which changed its identity during Bradley's tenure from the Boulevard Bulldogs to the "Boulevard Believe"), and now leading the Albemarle Aces to success. Bradley's remarkable story is marked by resilience, personal growth, and a knack for seeing potential in the underdog. Throughout the conversation, Bradley emphasizes his love for developing people, not just selling furniture. He highlights how culture is the cornerstone of thriving stores and shares heartfelt stories about the Albemarle Aces' journey to becoming a top-performing memory-making group, including winning the North American Ashley Store of the Month a record-setting three times within the past five months. The discussion also explores the importance of confidence, overcoming setbacks, and the challenge of consistency in retail. Bradley gives a special shoutout to the individual Memory Makers who make the Albemarle Aces shine, reinforcing the deep bonds and connections that drive success within Broad River Retail. Additional Resources: Broad River's Original Purpose Summit, Purpose 8:28 (held on 8.28.2019) - https://www.purpose828.com   Watch this episode YouTube:  https://youtu.be/3irD0s0Rpic  Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes. Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com                              Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail