Podcasts about charlottesville

BEING THOMAS JEFFERSON: An Intimate History (Bloomsbury), is the deepest dive yet into the heart and soul, secret affairs, unexplored alliances, and bitter feuds of a generally worshipped, intermittently reviled American icon from accomplished Jefferson scholar and biographer Andrew Burstein. A prolific historian of early American politics and culture long specializing in the life of the mind in bygone times, Burstein peels back the curtain on Jefferson. He shows the most articulate of the founding generation to have been a seductive, quietly ambitious theoretician who privately wavered “between involvement and retreat, between conviction and irresolution,” he writes.About the author: ANDREW BURSTEIN recently retired from Louisiana State University where he was the Charles P. Manship Professor of History. He is the author of The Passions of Andrew Jackson, Jefferson's Secrets, and numerous other books on early American politics and culture. He is co-author (with Nancy Isenberg) of Madison and Jefferson and The Problem of Democracy. He is on the Advisory Committee of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson. Burstein's writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and on Salon. He advised Ken Burns's production Thomas Jefferson, and was featured on C-SPAN's American Presidents series and Booknotes, as well as numerous NPR programs. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. #andrewburstein#charlottesville#monticello #authorpodcast #speakingofwriterspodcast #books

Please subscribe, like, and share!Welcome to Part One of the Navigating Artivism Collection, where we are asking: how do Artivists thrive in an economic system built on Racial Capitalism? And how do Artivists reconcile and navigate capitalist practices when trying to subvert them?This podcast is funded by Dannie & janet and your donations! Help keep our podcast going by making a donation via the RFC landing page https://artivismexperts.wixsite.com/rfc-lands. Tap the Donate button! Help us continue this fruitful work. Subscribe on your streaming services: https://reflectcalibrate.buzzsprout.com/shareCopyright janet e. dandridge and Dannie SnyderUnauthorized reproduction is prohibitedSHOW NOTES1. Example of local cooperative in Charlottesville, VA: C'ville Arts Cooperative Gallery https://www.cvillearts.org/our-artists2. Reach about The United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives https://www.usworker.coop/en/. USFWC national grassroots membership organization for worker cooperatives and democratic workplaces. Our mission is to build a thriving ecosystem for worker-owned and controlled businesses and their cooperative leaders to power movements for racial justice and economic democracy.3. Resource worth checking out: https://www.art.coop/ Art Coop is working for a future in which artists closest to the pain of an extractive economy know their power and use it to dismantle the current system. They resource a community of artists committed to building the art worlds we want. Art.coop is located in the U.S. but is rooted in the international Solidarity Economy movement. Through their site, you can also find courses at https://creativestudy.com/solidarity-economy. Creatives around the world are working together, placing people and the planet over profit to create thriving homes, businesses, investments, and creative work.4. Learn more about trust-based philanthropy at https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/.*Thanks to Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group for sharing these resources:5. Extraction as white supremacy | Moving towards anti-extraction practices in the artshttps://www.creativeknow.org/bopawritersforum/extraction-as-white-supremacy6. What Does It Mean to Dismantle Racial Capitalism Anyway? | Nonprofit Quarterlyhttps://nonprofitquarterly.org/what-does-it-mean-to-dismantle-racial-capitalism-anyway/

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jonathan Spiers discuss the Richmond region's top business stories. This week they cover the closure of the Saks Fifth Avenue retail store in Stony Point, a Charlottesville restaurant coming to the Manchester area and new housing developments under development in several parts of the city.

This Week on In Stride    Sinead Halpin-Maynard is joined by Irish event rider and sport horse sales professional Lee Maher to talk about finding his own path in the horse world and building a successful sales program.Meet the Guest: Lee Maher  Lee Maher is an Irish event rider and co-founder of EquiSales International. He has competed through the upper levels of eventing, including a top-10 finish in a CCI2*-L and a 7th-place result in a CCI2*-S at Mill Spring International Horse Park in 2025. While Lee brings extensive competition experience to his work, his true specialty lies in sport horse sales, where he focuses on giving horses a solid foundation and matching them with riders who are the right long-term fit. He works alongside his husband, Chris Talley, and they split their time between Ocala, FL and Charlottesville, VA.  In This Episode, Lee and Sinead Discuss:    • Taking the leap from Ireland to the U.S. and building a career without a traditional background  • The principles behind his sales program and why honesty and fit matter more than fast results  • What it's like building a business with your spouse and navigating work, life, and time off  • Putting horse welfare first while managing expectations in sales and competition  Episode Sponsor EquiHealth App Keep your horse's training, health records, and goals organized in one place. -  Visit https://www.equihealth.net/ to learn more. In Stride Is Brought to You by Ride iQ Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches. Members also get: - Weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts - Exclusive podcast episodes - Dressage test prep resources - A supportive learning community Start your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com Looking for More? Want straightforward, expert advice on keeping your horse sound and thriving?  Dr. Erica Lacher's Horse Health Essentials eight-part program is available now. -  Save 35% with code POD35 at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health. Ask An Expert is your go-to podcast for practical, real-world advice from top equestrian professionals.  -  Listen anywhere: https://pod.link/1776969830

When Deb Tyson was recruited to play basketball at Louisburg College in 1974, she had no idea she would also play volleyball. Her head coach, Terry Pettit, had no idea he would coach women's volleyball at the same school, a small junior college in North Carolina. That coincidence changed their professional journeys. Pettit became the head women's volleyball coach at Nebraska, and Deb Tyson became the head volleyball coach at a junior college in Columbus, Nebraska, James Madison University, the University of Virginia, and a decorated high school athletics director in Charlottesville. This is a conversation about her remarkable journey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Read more VPM News:  Reforming public university boards is a hot topic at the General Assembly  Richmond Free Press ceases publication after 34 years  Chesterfield teacher's union warns about preparations for ICE confrontations    Other links:  Charlottesville sees decline in opioid overdose calls, though doctors say concerns remain (29 News)  Attorney General Jay Jones joins multistate lawsuit challenging Trump's changes to loan forgiveness rules (WRIC)  Va. unemployment claims jump 71%. Those don't include nearly 700 looming Amazon layoffs. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)  After sale of Virginia nursing home, data shows 911 calls spiked by 70% (WTVR)  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Virginia's recent winter storm brought with it the usual state of emergency announcements along with “the inevitable swooping in” of some politicians going “after anyone who's price gouging.” Price gouging laws basically mean things like “batteries,” “tree removal services,” food and water can't be sold at “unconscionably higher” prices than they were “10 days prior to the storm,” explains Scott Goodman, a defense attorney at The Goodman Law Firm in Charlottesville, Virginia. “The business or the supplier that can open its books and show that this is what it costs them to get the water [for example] and that the percentage of the profit that they're adding on top of that when they sell it to a customer is basically the same as it was prior to the state of emergency, that would again, speak to the fact that they're not price gouging. They're simply passing along a higher cost that they have to the customer.” Follow us on Instagram for EXCLUSIVE bonus content and the chance to be featured in our episodes: https://www.instagram.com/problematicwomen/   Connect with our hosts on socials!   Elise McCue X: https://x.com/intent/user?screen_name=EliseMcCue Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisemccueofficial/   Virginia Allen: X: https://x.com/intent/user?screen_name=Virginia_Allen5 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiaallenofficial/   Check out Top News in 10, hosted by The Daily Signal's Tony Kinnett: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoUpc2Pzfk0n89cXWBqQltHY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check out Christ Episcopal Church, Charlottesville, VA, where David serves on staff.

The Show Must Go On Despite battling the flu for over 10 days, Niki Foster, President of the Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce, refused to miss another episode of The Valley Today. Host Janet Michael awarded her friend the "perseverance award of the year" as they settled in for a conversation about recent community celebrations and upcoming events that have the chamber buzzing with unprecedented excitement. Stargazers Gala Honors Local Leaders The chamber recently hosted its Stargazers Gala, marking a triumphant return to annual dinner awards after a COVID-induced hiatus. The event brought together community members in a mix of elegant cocktail attire and casual work uniforms, creating an inclusive atmosphere that reflected the chamber's welcoming spirit. Among the evening's honorees, Tana Hoffman received Citizen of the Year recognition, while Mayor Lori Cockrell earned the Education Contributor of the Year award. Cockrell, who celebrates 36 years in the public school system before retiring this year, received a particularly touching nomination from a former student who described how the educator followed her journey from elementary school through higher education. Furthermore, the awards recognized Blue Ridge Opportunities as Nonprofit of the Year and entrepreneur Shelly Cook for her community-building efforts. The chamber also introduced a new "Community Spark Plug" award, honoring Jen Avery and Rob McDougall for their energizing presence in Front Royal. Small and Large Businesses Shine In a move that Foster and Michael both celebrated, the chamber now splits business recognition into two categories. On Cue Sports Bar and Grill claimed Small Business of the Year honors, while Rappahannock Electric Cooperative took home the Large Business award. This division allows the chamber to acknowledge that larger businesses often contribute through financial donations, whereas smaller operations typically give their time—both equally valuable yet difficult to compare. Entertainment Elevates the Experience Adding to the evening's magic, literally, the chamber brought in entertainer Chris Michael. Board member Tina Tolliver had originally spotted Michael at a pre-COVID event and finally made her vision a reality five years later. Meanwhile, Brad Minardi from Artsii transformed the venue with spectacular uplighting effects that perfectly complemented the stargazer theme. Wine Festival Registration Breaks Records Shifting to future events, Niki shared staggering news about the May Wine and Craft Festival. By early February, the chamber had already secured 17 wineries—a number they typically reach just before the event itself. Even more impressive, approximately half of these participants are new to the festival, offering attendees fresh tasting opportunities alongside their beloved regulars. Additionally, food vendor spots have nearly sold out, with only three spaces remaining. This early momentum represents an unprecedented shift in the festival's typical timeline. Foster attributes the surge partly to the chamber's strategy of limiting food vendors to encourage festival-goers to support Main Street restaurants and coffee shops. The festival, scheduled for the third Saturday in May, expects around 200 total vendors including wineries, crafters, and commercial exhibitors. All participating wineries hail from across Virginia, from the Eastern Shore to Charlottesville, with local meaderies Honey and Hops and Saga also returning. Bowling for Business and Community Before the wine flows in May, the chamber invites the community to its popular bowling event in March. These twice-yearly gatherings at Rick Novak's bowling alley consistently sell out, offering a low-key opportunity for team building, employee appreciation, or simply an evening out with friends. The event takes on added significance this year as Novak's movie theater recently suffered fire damage and remains closed. Supporting the bowling alley directly helps a local business owner navigate challenging times. Interested participants can register online through the chamber's website or Facebook event page, though Janet jokingly suggested avoiding in-person registration to spare people from Niki's lingering cough. Celebrating Milestones and Looking Ahead Before wrapping up, Niki highlighted Jenneration Salon's 20th anniversary celebration on February 12th. Owner Jen Nicholson, who relocated from the Martin Shopping Center to her own renovated building on Warren Avenue two years ago, will host a ribbon-cutting at 5:30pm followed by refreshments. Looking to February 24th, the chamber's Business After Hours event will showcase CSM Aesthetics at Blake & Co Hair Spa. Janet marveled at how much the beauty industry has evolved, noting that salons now offer services far beyond traditional cuts and color—including Botox, permanent makeup, and various aesthetic treatments. These networking events remain open to non-members, allowing curious community members to test-drive chamber involvement before committing to membership. A Testament to Community Spirit Throughout the conversation, both women emphasized the difficulty of selecting award winners when so many individuals and organizations deserve recognition. Yet this challenge itself speaks to Front Royal's vibrant business community and the chamber's role in celebrating those who make it thrive. As Foster battles through her illness to share these updates, she embodies the very perseverance and community dedication that the chamber honors. For more information about upcoming events and committee opportunities, community members can visit frontroyalchamber.com or follow the organization on social media.

Hundreds of JMU students protest ICE… School support staff in Charlottesville could soon get a pay raise… Wintergreen Resort welcomes wounded warriors for a weekend of snow sports and camaraderie….

There is a theory that both the next podcast edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement as well as the next written version might be delayed out of some sort of concern about whether the internal numbering system is equipped to deal with the impending approach of the 1,000th edition. At least, that is one possible explanation of why it has taken so long to produce these older stories from the last week. There was a slight disruption in the routine which sometimes results in delays. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I look forward to sorting it all out.Audio versions of stories previously sent out in the newsletter: * Charlottesville City Council agrees to reallocate funding intended to run low-barrier shelter (read the story)* Charlottesville's finance director presents more details on city's $8.5 million surplus (read the story)* The 700 block of Charlottesville's West Main Street is now known as “Mel's Walk” (read the story)* Albemarle's Economic Development Authority agrees to spend $500K on Boulders Road Extension (read the story)* Supervisor Mike Pruitt shares information on CARTA with fellow elected officials (read the story)* The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission will try again for federal funding for design of Rivanna pedestrian bridge (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.Today's shout-out: Cville Village seeks volunteers!Can you drive a neighbor to a doctor's appointment? Change an overhead lightbulb, plant a flower, walk a dog for someone who is sick, visit someone who is lonely? If so, Cville Village needs you!Cville Village is a local 501c3 nonprofit organization loosely affiliated with a national network of Villages whose goals are to help seniors stay in their own homes as long as possible, and to build connections among them that diminish social isolation. Volunteers do small chores for, and have gatherings of, professors and schoolteachers, nurses and lawyers, aides and housekeepers. Time and chance come to all – a fall, an order not to drive, failing eyesight, a sudden stroke. They assist folks continue living at home, with a little help from their friends.Cville Village volunteers consult software that shows them who has requested a service and where they are located. Volunteers accept only the requests that fit their schedule and their skills.Volunteering for Cville Village can expand your circle of friends and shower you with thanks.To learn more, visit cvillevillage.org or attend one of their monthly Village “meet-ups” and see for yourself. To find out where and when the next meetup is, or to get more information and a volunteer application, email us at info@cvillevillage.org, or call them at (434) 218-3727.End notes for #998-AMy thoughts were well-intentioned. As I was producing stories last week, I did produce the audio but I did not post them to the Information Charlottesville website. Somehow I forgot that finished audio segments had been made and it felt like a slog to have to do the audio again.This is because the radio version did not air last week and so I didn't feel the same pressure to follow all of the steps. This week there will be a radio show and I have enough material that I am considering slowing down a little this week to focus on business and administration things.Also, it is going to be in the fifties later and I want to go for a walk and watch the ice and snow melt. So I am going to aim to have the next newsletter out tomorrow. That will be #999 and after that will be #1000. No comma. I think that's how I'll get through adding a fourth digit.Another reason things were difficult this week is that my copy of Adobe Audition reset and a lot of my bookmarks disappeared. Because I could not see the recent links to session files, I assumed I had not produced them.I'm writing this as I produce the podcast and also missing are my links to various sound files I use as punctuation in between stories. Youngers versions of me used to love playing around with audio production. I still do, but these days the need to produce takes the capacity away from being creative.Which is why this may be a week I listen to my brain and take a slight reset. All I know is that I'm very glad to have this edition done and to have a few hours off away from writing. There are many stories to tell, but there are also days I need to do a little more.Oh! Another reason this week is weird. For some reason, the gain on the headphones for my recording set-up is really low so I can't really hear myself while narrating. This is an annoyance but also causes issues. Perhaps I'll spend the rest of the day setting up a new place to 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

Today on the show, we're diving into the latest controversy shaking up the country. Donald Trump's social media post depicting former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys has sparked outrage from both Democrats and Republicans.Even Senator Tim Scott called it “the most racist thing I've seen from this administration.”So here's the question: Can we finally agree that Donald Trump is a racist?We're breaking down his long history of racist and divisive rhetoric — from the birther movement to Charlottesville — and asking whether Black MAGA will finally stand up to this kind of behavior.And because America can't seem to agree on anything right now, even the Super Bowl halftime show is dividing us!Will you be tuning in to Bad Bunny's halftime performance or Turning Point USA's “All-American Halftime Show”?It's the biggest sports day in America — and somehow, we're still split down the middle.

A talk about parish life in our late modern context given by Fr. Kyle Williams on February 4, 2026 at All Saints Anglican Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.

A talk about parish life in our late modern context given by Fr. Kyle Williams on January 21, 2026 at All Saints Anglican Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.

A sermon for Sexagesima by Fr. Sean McDermott on February 8, 2026 at All Saints Anglican Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Guest Preacher: Pastor Raye Jones, Faith Baptist Church, Charlottesville, VA.

Read more VPM News:  Spanberger orders state law enforcement to exit federal immigration agreements  Virginia Court of Appeals asks SCOVA to take over redistricting case  Immigration policy takes center stage at Richmond school board meeting  Charlottesville carries out Point in Time Count despite icy conditions  Central Virginia delays, closures for Thursday, Feb. 5    Other links:  Bezos orders deep job cuts at 'Washington Post' (NPR)  Senate looks beyond Capitol Square to stored Confederate statues (Richmond Times-Dispatch)  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

When it comes to the condition of Jews in Christian Europe, France was long known as the haven and heartland of integration and of toleration. And yet when things seemed to be going well for Jews in Western Europe and North America generally and France especially, the infamous fin de siècle Dreyfus affair brought to the surface some of the worst kinds of bigotry and animus--like contemporaneous Russian pogroms a premonition of the deadly looming revival of ethnic or religious divisions that had seemed a thing of the past. Our guest today, historian Maurice Samuels, author of many fine books on French history (Inventing the Israelite: Jewish Fiction in Nineteenth-Century France (2010), and The Right to Difference: French Universalism and the Jews (2016))and director of the Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism has written a crackerjack new book. Alfred Dreyfus: The Man at the Center of the Affair, (Yale 2024) has written a wonderful account of Dreyfus himself and how should we understand what that turmoil has ot tell us how Jews then (and perhaps today) coexisted with a mainstream secular Christian society either by way of assimilation or (not quite the same thing) by peaceful integration that preserved cultural distinctions. The discussion ranges widely, setting the scene in the prior centuries when Jews settled all over France, and then were accorded unusual rights by the universalist vision of the French Revolution. Maurie also explains why succeeding generations in France included the ascension not only of Leon Blum the Jewish socialist (and inventor of the weekend!) who improbably led anti-fascist France during in the 1930's--but also the other Jews who followed him as political leaders in France, right up to the present-day. From Hannah Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) forward, Maurie shows, intellectuals have missed the significance of the way Dreyfus and his family integrated without assimilating. The conversation culminating in Maurie introducing John to the fascinating "Franco-French War" about what that coexistence should look like: assimilation which presumes the disappearance of a distinctive Jewish cultural identity, or integration which posits the peaceful coexistence of French citizens of various religions and cultures. Mentioned in the episode Karl Marx, "On the Jewish Question" (1844) George Eliot's (perhaps philosemitic) Daniel Deronda (1876) Why does Yale have a Hebrew motto, אורים ותומים (light and perfection)? The Haitian Revolution in its triumphs and tribulations is an analogy that helps explain jewish Emancipation--and also in some ways a tragic counterexample. The horrifying Great Replacement Theory we have heard so much about in America (eg in Charlottesville in 2017) began in France; Maurie has some thoughts about that. Michael Burns, Dreyfus: A Family Affair. America's racial "one drop" rule. Pierre Birnbaum, Leon Blum: Prime Minister, Socialist, Zionist (Yale, 2015) Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

When it comes to the condition of Jews in Christian Europe, France was long known as the haven and heartland of integration and of toleration. And yet when things seemed to be going well for Jews in Western Europe and North America generally and France especially, the infamous fin de siècle Dreyfus affair brought to the surface some of the worst kinds of bigotry and animus--like contemporaneous Russian pogroms a premonition of the deadly looming revival of ethnic or religious divisions that had seemed a thing of the past. Our guest today, historian Maurice Samuels, author of many fine books on French history (Inventing the Israelite: Jewish Fiction in Nineteenth-Century France (2010), and The Right to Difference: French Universalism and the Jews (2016))and director of the Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism has written a crackerjack new book. Alfred Dreyfus: The Man at the Center of the Affair, (Yale 2024) has written a wonderful account of Dreyfus himself and how should we understand what that turmoil has ot tell us how Jews then (and perhaps today) coexisted with a mainstream secular Christian society either by way of assimilation or (not quite the same thing) by peaceful integration that preserved cultural distinctions. The discussion ranges widely, setting the scene in the prior centuries when Jews settled all over France, and then were accorded unusual rights by the universalist vision of the French Revolution. Maurie also explains why succeeding generations in France included the ascension not only of Leon Blum the Jewish socialist (and inventor of the weekend!) who improbably led anti-fascist France during in the 1930's--but also the other Jews who followed him as political leaders in France, right up to the present-day. From Hannah Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) forward, Maurie shows, intellectuals have missed the significance of the way Dreyfus and his family integrated without assimilating. The conversation culminating in Maurie introducing John to the fascinating "Franco-French War" about what that coexistence should look like: assimilation which presumes the disappearance of a distinctive Jewish cultural identity, or integration which posits the peaceful coexistence of French citizens of various religions and cultures. Mentioned in the episode Karl Marx, "On the Jewish Question" (1844) George Eliot's (perhaps philosemitic) Daniel Deronda (1876) Why does Yale have a Hebrew motto, אורים ותומים (light and perfection)? The Haitian Revolution in its triumphs and tribulations is an analogy that helps explain jewish Emancipation--and also in some ways a tragic counterexample. The horrifying Great Replacement Theory we have heard so much about in America (eg in Charlottesville in 2017) began in France; Maurie has some thoughts about that. Michael Burns, Dreyfus: A Family Affair. America's racial "one drop" rule. Pierre Birnbaum, Leon Blum: Prime Minister, Socialist, Zionist (Yale, 2015) Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

When it comes to the condition of Jews in Christian Europe, France was long known as the haven and heartland of integration and of toleration. And yet when things seemed to be going well for Jews in Western Europe and North America generally and France especially, the infamous fin de siècle Dreyfus affair brought to the surface some of the worst kinds of bigotry and animus--like contemporaneous Russian pogroms a premonition of the deadly looming revival of ethnic or religious divisions that had seemed a thing of the past. Our guest today, historian Maurice Samuels, author of many fine books on French history (Inventing the Israelite: Jewish Fiction in Nineteenth-Century France (2010), and The Right to Difference: French Universalism and the Jews (2016))and director of the Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism has written a crackerjack new book. Alfred Dreyfus: The Man at the Center of the Affair, (Yale 2024) has written a wonderful account of Dreyfus himself and how should we understand what that turmoil has ot tell us how Jews then (and perhaps today) coexisted with a mainstream secular Christian society either by way of assimilation or (not quite the same thing) by peaceful integration that preserved cultural distinctions. The discussion ranges widely, setting the scene in the prior centuries when Jews settled all over France, and then were accorded unusual rights by the universalist vision of the French Revolution. Maurie also explains why succeeding generations in France included the ascension not only of Leon Blum the Jewish socialist (and inventor of the weekend!) who improbably led anti-fascist France during in the 1930's--but also the other Jews who followed him as political leaders in France, right up to the present-day. From Hannah Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) forward, Maurie shows, intellectuals have missed the significance of the way Dreyfus and his family integrated without assimilating. The conversation culminating in Maurie introducing John to the fascinating "Franco-French War" about what that coexistence should look like: assimilation which presumes the disappearance of a distinctive Jewish cultural identity, or integration which posits the peaceful coexistence of French citizens of various religions and cultures. Mentioned in the episode Karl Marx, "On the Jewish Question" (1844) George Eliot's (perhaps philosemitic) Daniel Deronda (1876) Why does Yale have a Hebrew motto, אורים ותומים (light and perfection)? The Haitian Revolution in its triumphs and tribulations is an analogy that helps explain jewish Emancipation--and also in some ways a tragic counterexample. The horrifying Great Replacement Theory we have heard so much about in America (eg in Charlottesville in 2017) began in France; Maurie has some thoughts about that. Michael Burns, Dreyfus: A Family Affair. America's racial "one drop" rule. Pierre Birnbaum, Leon Blum: Prime Minister, Socialist, Zionist (Yale, 2015) Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

When it comes to the condition of Jews in Christian Europe, France was long known as the haven and heartland of integration and of toleration. And yet when things seemed to be going well for Jews in Western Europe and North America generally and France especially, the infamous fin de siècle Dreyfus affair brought to the surface some of the worst kinds of bigotry and animus--like contemporaneous Russian pogroms a premonition of the deadly looming revival of ethnic or religious divisions that had seemed a thing of the past. Our guest today, historian Maurice Samuels, author of many fine books on French history (Inventing the Israelite: Jewish Fiction in Nineteenth-Century France (2010), and The Right to Difference: French Universalism and the Jews (2016))and director of the Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism has written a crackerjack new book. Alfred Dreyfus: The Man at the Center of the Affair, (Yale 2024) has written a wonderful account of Dreyfus himself and how should we understand what that turmoil has ot tell us how Jews then (and perhaps today) coexisted with a mainstream secular Christian society either by way of assimilation or (not quite the same thing) by peaceful integration that preserved cultural distinctions. The discussion ranges widely, setting the scene in the prior centuries when Jews settled all over France, and then were accorded unusual rights by the universalist vision of the French Revolution. Maurie also explains why succeeding generations in France included the ascension not only of Leon Blum the Jewish socialist (and inventor of the weekend!) who improbably led anti-fascist France during in the 1930's--but also the other Jews who followed him as political leaders in France, right up to the present-day. From Hannah Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) forward, Maurie shows, intellectuals have missed the significance of the way Dreyfus and his family integrated without assimilating. The conversation culminating in Maurie introducing John to the fascinating "Franco-French War" about what that coexistence should look like: assimilation which presumes the disappearance of a distinctive Jewish cultural identity, or integration which posits the peaceful coexistence of French citizens of various religions and cultures. Mentioned in the episode Karl Marx, "On the Jewish Question" (1844) George Eliot's (perhaps philosemitic) Daniel Deronda (1876) Why does Yale have a Hebrew motto, אורים ותומים (light and perfection)? The Haitian Revolution in its triumphs and tribulations is an analogy that helps explain jewish Emancipation--and also in some ways a tragic counterexample. The horrifying Great Replacement Theory we have heard so much about in America (eg in Charlottesville in 2017) began in France; Maurie has some thoughts about that. Michael Burns, Dreyfus: A Family Affair. America's racial "one drop" rule. Pierre Birnbaum, Leon Blum: Prime Minister, Socialist, Zionist (Yale, 2015) Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

When it comes to the condition of Jews in Christian Europe, France was long known as the haven and heartland of integration and of toleration. And yet when things seemed to be going well for Jews in Western Europe and North America generally and France especially, the infamous fin de siècle Dreyfus affair brought to the surface some of the worst kinds of bigotry and animus--like contemporaneous Russian pogroms a premonition of the deadly looming revival of ethnic or religious divisions that had seemed a thing of the past. Our guest today, historian Maurice Samuels, author of many fine books on French history (Inventing the Israelite: Jewish Fiction in Nineteenth-Century France (2010), and The Right to Difference: French Universalism and the Jews (2016))and director of the Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism has written a crackerjack new book. Alfred Dreyfus: The Man at the Center of the Affair, (Yale 2024) has written a wonderful account of Dreyfus himself and how should we understand what that turmoil has ot tell us how Jews then (and perhaps today) coexisted with a mainstream secular Christian society either by way of assimilation or (not quite the same thing) by peaceful integration that preserved cultural distinctions. The discussion ranges widely, setting the scene in the prior centuries when Jews settled all over France, and then were accorded unusual rights by the universalist vision of the French Revolution. Maurie also explains why succeeding generations in France included the ascension not only of Leon Blum the Jewish socialist (and inventor of the weekend!) who improbably led anti-fascist France during in the 1930's--but also the other Jews who followed him as political leaders in France, right up to the present-day. From Hannah Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) forward, Maurie shows, intellectuals have missed the significance of the way Dreyfus and his family integrated without assimilating. The conversation culminating in Maurie introducing John to the fascinating "Franco-French War" about what that coexistence should look like: assimilation which presumes the disappearance of a distinctive Jewish cultural identity, or integration which posits the peaceful coexistence of French citizens of various religions and cultures. Mentioned in the episode Karl Marx, "On the Jewish Question" (1844) George Eliot's (perhaps philosemitic) Daniel Deronda (1876) Why does Yale have a Hebrew motto, אורים ותומים (light and perfection)? The Haitian Revolution in its triumphs and tribulations is an analogy that helps explain jewish Emancipation--and also in some ways a tragic counterexample. The horrifying Great Replacement Theory we have heard so much about in America (eg in Charlottesville in 2017) began in France; Maurie has some thoughts about that. Michael Burns, Dreyfus: A Family Affair. America's racial "one drop" rule. Pierre Birnbaum, Leon Blum: Prime Minister, Socialist, Zionist (Yale, 2015) Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

When it comes to the condition of Jews in Christian Europe, France was long known as the haven and heartland of integration and of toleration. And yet when things seemed to be going well for Jews in Western Europe and North America generally and France especially, the infamous fin de siècle Dreyfus affair brought to the surface some of the worst kinds of bigotry and animus--like contemporaneous Russian pogroms a premonition of the deadly looming revival of ethnic or religious divisions that had seemed a thing of the past. Our guest today, historian Maurice Samuels, author of many fine books on French history (Inventing the Israelite: Jewish Fiction in Nineteenth-Century France (2010), and The Right to Difference: French Universalism and the Jews (2016))and director of the Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism has written a crackerjack new book. Alfred Dreyfus: The Man at the Center of the Affair, (Yale 2024) has written a wonderful account of Dreyfus himself and how should we understand what that turmoil has ot tell us how Jews then (and perhaps today) coexisted with a mainstream secular Christian society either by way of assimilation or (not quite the same thing) by peaceful integration that preserved cultural distinctions. The discussion ranges widely, setting the scene in the prior centuries when Jews settled all over France, and then were accorded unusual rights by the universalist vision of the French Revolution. Maurie also explains why succeeding generations in France included the ascension not only of Leon Blum the Jewish socialist (and inventor of the weekend!) who improbably led anti-fascist France during in the 1930's--but also the other Jews who followed him as political leaders in France, right up to the present-day. From Hannah Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) forward, Maurie shows, intellectuals have missed the significance of the way Dreyfus and his family integrated without assimilating. The conversation culminating in Maurie introducing John to the fascinating "Franco-French War" about what that coexistence should look like: assimilation which presumes the disappearance of a distinctive Jewish cultural identity, or integration which posits the peaceful coexistence of French citizens of various religions and cultures. Mentioned in the episode Karl Marx, "On the Jewish Question" (1844) George Eliot's (perhaps philosemitic) Daniel Deronda (1876) Why does Yale have a Hebrew motto, אורים ותומים (light and perfection)? The Haitian Revolution in its triumphs and tribulations is an analogy that helps explain jewish Emancipation--and also in some ways a tragic counterexample. The horrifying Great Replacement Theory we have heard so much about in America (eg in Charlottesville in 2017) began in France; Maurie has some thoughts about that. Michael Burns, Dreyfus: A Family Affair. America's racial "one drop" rule. Pierre Birnbaum, Leon Blum: Prime Minister, Socialist, Zionist (Yale, 2015) Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

When it comes to the condition of Jews in Christian Europe, France was long known as the haven and heartland of integration and of toleration. And yet when things seemed to be going well for Jews in Western Europe and North America generally and France especially, the infamous fin de siècle Dreyfus affair brought to the surface some of the worst kinds of bigotry and animus--like contemporaneous Russian pogroms a premonition of the deadly looming revival of ethnic or religious divisions that had seemed a thing of the past. Our guest today, historian Maurice Samuels, author of many fine books on French history (Inventing the Israelite: Jewish Fiction in Nineteenth-Century France (2010), and The Right to Difference: French Universalism and the Jews (2016))and director of the Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism has written a crackerjack new book. Alfred Dreyfus: The Man at the Center of the Affair, (Yale 2024) has written a wonderful account of Dreyfus himself and how should we understand what that turmoil has ot tell us how Jews then (and perhaps today) coexisted with a mainstream secular Christian society either by way of assimilation or (not quite the same thing) by peaceful integration that preserved cultural distinctions. The discussion ranges widely, setting the scene in the prior centuries when Jews settled all over France, and then were accorded unusual rights by the universalist vision of the French Revolution. Maurie also explains why succeeding generations in France included the ascension not only of Leon Blum the Jewish socialist (and inventor of the weekend!) who improbably led anti-fascist France during in the 1930's--but also the other Jews who followed him as political leaders in France, right up to the present-day. From Hannah Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) forward, Maurie shows, intellectuals have missed the significance of the way Dreyfus and his family integrated without assimilating. The conversation culminating in Maurie introducing John to the fascinating "Franco-French War" about what that coexistence should look like: assimilation which presumes the disappearance of a distinctive Jewish cultural identity, or integration which posits the peaceful coexistence of French citizens of various religions and cultures. Mentioned in the episode Karl Marx, "On the Jewish Question" (1844) George Eliot's (perhaps philosemitic) Daniel Deronda (1876) Why does Yale have a Hebrew motto, אורים ותומים (light and perfection)? The Haitian Revolution in its triumphs and tribulations is an analogy that helps explain jewish Emancipation--and also in some ways a tragic counterexample. The horrifying Great Replacement Theory we have heard so much about in America (eg in Charlottesville in 2017) began in France; Maurie has some thoughts about that. Michael Burns, Dreyfus: A Family Affair. America's racial "one drop" rule. Pierre Birnbaum, Leon Blum: Prime Minister, Socialist, Zionist (Yale, 2015) Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/french-studies

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa sits down with creative powerhouse and master maker Mr. Larrie an innovator, educator, and all around joy generator in the crafting world. From crafty kid beginnings to becoming a standout voice in the arts, Mr. Larrie shares how glue, glitter, and self discovery can absolutely change your life (and possibly your furniture).They get real about representation, personal growth, and the not so glam side of the crafting industry, plus how to build brand relationships without selling your creative soul. Mr. Larrie also dishes on his podcast Happy Again, where joy and self expression are always in season.It's inspiration, laughs, and creative truth bombs proof that being fully yourself is the ultimate handmade flex. ====Where You Can Find Mr Larrie! ===========Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store

An anti-fascist spy handed American officials evidence of murderous intent from a Nazi planning server — and they declined to act.About the GuestChristopher Mathias is a journalist covering the far right, formerly a senior reporter at HuffPost, with work appearing in The Guardian, The Nation, MSNBC, Zeteo, and WNYC. His reporting has helped unmask white supremacist cops, soldiers, teachers, and politicians, and he was a Deadline Awards finalist for feature writing. He is originally from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and lives in New York. His new book, To Catch a Fascist: The Fight to Expose the Radical Right (Atria Books), is out now.About the EpisodeDays after Jonathan Rauch's influential Atlantic essay announced he'd moved from fascism skeptic to fascism believer, Christopher Mathias joins the show to discuss his new book — a deeply reported investigation into the decentralized network of anti-fascist activists who infiltrate, monitor, and expose neo-Nazis and white supremacists operating in positions of power across America.The conversation quickly moves beyond whether Trump is a fascist to the harder questions his book raises: Who gets to decide who is exposed? What rights to privacy do members of extremist groups retain? Is unmasking community self-defense or vigilantism? And does the same logic that justifies exposing a neo-Nazi EMT extend to the tens of thousands of ICE agents now conducting raids on American streets?Timeline00:00 Introduction Jonathan Rauch's Atlantic essay and the renewed fascism debate01:10 Meet Christopher Mathias Introducing the book and the journalist behind it01:45 The Greenville Moment When Mathias first used “fascist” in a headline after watching Trump whip a crowd into chanting “Send her back”02:40 Defining the F-Word Fascism as a right-wing politics of domination; Langston Hughes recognizing it in the 1930s before the word arrived04:15 The Hard Question If MAGA is a fascist movement, are the 70-plus million who voted for Trump fascists too?05:55 The Worst of the Worst Why the book targets explicit neo-Nazis in positions of power, not ordinary Trump supporters08:15 Who Decides? Privacy, accountability, and whether everyone at Charlottesville deserves exposure10:45 Antifascist Amnesty Leave the movement and we leave you alone; return and we publish12:30 The Equivalence Trap Why Mathias rejects the idea that this is just radicals exposing radicals14:05 From Neo-Nazis to ICE How anti-fascist tactics are now used to identify masked federal agents17:15 Where Does It End? Drawing lines between violent enforcement and bureaucratic participation19:40 “Just Following Orders” Why some orders shouldn't be followed, and the occupation of Minneapolis21:30 The Battle Over Shame Competing databases, surveillance, and what America should be ashamed of23:15 The Spy Who Warned Charlottesville An infiltrator uncovers plans for violence that officials ignore26:00 Minneapolis as Model “We protect us” and a blueprint for grassroots resistance28:45 The Underground War Intelligence, counterintelligence, and the personal cost of exposure30:30 Closing Fascism as a snake eating its own tail and the urgent task of limiting the damageLinks & ReferencesMentioned in this episode:Jonathan Rauch, “Yes, It's Fascism” — The Atlantic (January 2026)To Catch a Fascist: The Fight to Expose the Radical Right by Christopher Mathias (Atria Books, February 2026)Christopher Mathias reporting archiveFollow Christopher Mathias: BlueSky | XAbout Keen On America Nobody asks more impertinent questions than the Anglo-American writer, filmmaker and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Andrew Keen. In Keen On America , Andrew brings his sharp Transatlantic wit to the forces reshaping the United States — hosting daily interviews with leading thinkersand writers about American history, politics, technology, culture, and business. With nearly 2,800 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the history of podcasting.Website | Substack | YouTubeWebsite | Substack | YouTube

There is an inkling of a legend that one day scientists will perfect a regular orbit for the audio edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Or at least, in the current day and age, this podcast edition happens as a secondary or perhaps tertiary by-product of the creation of many stories. The optimal time for this to come is Monday morning but the mini Ice Age has taken its toll on normal routines. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I do hope you'll take a listen whenever you can.In this edition:* City Council took a look at national financial picture at recent retreat (read the story)* Charlottesville City Council briefed on FY27 budget; assessments up an average of 3.72 percent in 2026 (read the story)* Charlottesville's FY25 surplus totals $8.5 million (read the story)* The Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority meets for the first time in 2026 (read the story)* Albemarle County seeking changes to form-based code at Rio / 29 (read the story)* Council confirms willingness to let group build bridge to Vietnam memorial, accept the infrastructure (read the story)* City Manager Sanders goes through his work plan; Ashley Marshall leaving city government (read the story)First shout-out: Camp Albemarle!Today's subscriber-supported public service announcement goes out to Camp Albemarle, which has for over eighty years been a “wholesome rural, rustic and restful site for youth activities, church groups, civic events and occasional private programs.”Located on 14 acres on the banks of the Moorman's River near Free Union, Camp Albemarle continues as a legacy of being a Civilian Conservation Corps project that sought to promote the importance of rural activities. Rebuilt in the early 1980's, a legacy of 4-H programming thrives along with a wide range of additional activities. Educational initiatives from schools across the region spark environmental learning moments at every turn.Second shout-out: WTJU Folk Marathon running this weekWTJU's volunteer hosts are curating a Folk music mecca, running February 2 – 9, all to raise money for the non-commercial radio station as it continues to find its footing after federal funding cuts. Check out the schedule on the website here!Keep your dial set to 91.1 FM (or stream from their player) for a week of Folk sounds, including old-time, honky tonk, global music, roots, and mind-bending psych folk. There will be deep dives into the work of singular artists, including Brandi Carlile, John Prine, Jesse Welles, Martin Carthy, and many more. There will be tributes to some of the musicians we lost in 2025, including Raul Malo, Danny Thompson, Joe Ely, Michael Hurley, and Todd Snider.The Marathon will boast eight live concerts, open to the public, and broadcast on air, online, and on the WTJU YouTube channel. Stop by to see Mama Tried, Scuffletown, the Buzzard Hollow Boys, Red and the Romantics, Ramona and the Holy Smokes, and others! Every hour of the seven days and nights broadcasts directly from WTJU; even the overnight programming is populated with archived concerts from our very own stage! We have also invited some of our favorite local musicians in to present special programming, including Banjo Hall of Fame member Bill Evans, singer/songwriter extraordinaire Terri Allard, and band leader Waverly Minor. Where else but WTJU can you find such support from the community?End notes on #995-APeople who listen to the audio of this one may notice some interesting errors. More than usual, I'm popping my p's and otherwise hitting plosives. That's because something weird is happening with my recording set-up that I can't hear proper gain on my voice when I'm recording. If I can't hear them when I'm narrating a script, then they end up in the final mix because there's no choice.I'll figure it out, but I left it in for this one because this may have been one of the hardest audio editions to have done for a while. I barely took a breather in January and sometimes when I do too much work I don't process all of the stories properly.So yesterday I took off from writing new stories to get caught up with what I've already done. I usually do this work on Saturdays but I wanted to look at the General Assembly. This particular audio version also includes brand new interstitials. Those are the bits of sound in between the audio segments. One of the original ideas was that I would continue to make new ones but I've been using the same 20 stings over and over. So, today I made an effort to make new ones from existing weird things I've made over the years.Speaking of which, I've had an idea. In the coming weeks I'll be announcing a new way people can support my work, and that also involves changing the Patreon away from reporting and to something more artistic and creative. Probably not at all even close to the mainstream and it may not work, but I don't want to close the account.In any case, there may or may not be a regular newsletter today. I have to attend to the business of it all and this is a day where I may need to give myself over to that.Then again, maybe I won't. 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

Matthew F. Jones is the author of seven critically acclaimed novels as well as a number of screenplays. His novels have been widely translated and several times have been named on best novels of the year lists. Three of his novels, A Single Shot, Deepwater and Boot Tracks, have been made into major motion pictures. He has taught creative writing at a number of colleges and universities, including Randolph Macon College, Lynchburg College and the University of Virginia. He grew up on a horse and dairy farm in rural upstate New York and currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

WHY STEVIE? Recently, Stevie Wonder announced his 2026 World Tour — A triumphant return to the global stage, during which the iconic legend will headline 40 major shows across North America, Europe, and Asia. So far, South America is not mentioned in the itinerary. Even so, Team Derringer heard from a listener in Caracas, Venezuela who is a dedicated fan of the consummate "Superstition" hitmaker whose amazing career has spanned more than 65 years. STEVIE IN CARACAS The last time Stevie Wonder toured Venezuela was January 1 to 6 of 1970 when he performed in Caracas. Since then, he continues to be revered in Venezuela's capital city. In this episode, join Paul Derringer with newly minted Rob Derringer who pulled double-duty by subbing for both Laura Derringer and Alton Derringer who were unavailable for this session. WHO IS KLEIDI? Paul and Rob hold an informative discussion with singer and musician Kleidi Buroz of Caracas who conveys Stevie Wonder's influence, which started when Kleidi was a student at the National Experimental University of the Arts of Venezuela (UNEARTE). STEVIE'S TOP FIVE With translation help from Humberto "Berto" Oliveira Sales of the Charlottesville-based Brazilian-influenced duo Beleza, Kleidi takes Paul and Rob through a Top Five Countdown of Stevie Wonder's best of the best. Listen in to find out the Top Five from a Venezuelan's point-of-view. WHERE TO LISTEN & CONNECT More info & show notes: www.derringerdiscoveries.com/095 Spotify Playlist: Stevie Wonder Inspired Website: www.derringerdiscoveries.com Theme Song: Your Sister's Room by Ho Jo Fro. Episodes: www.derringerdiscoveries.com/episodes. Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, and BlueSky. Newsletter: Stay up to date by signing up for our newsletter.  Thank you for listening to Derringer Discoveries!   

WHY STEVIE? Recently, Stevie Wonder announced his 2026 World Tour — A triumphant return to the global stage, during which the iconic legend will headline 40 major shows across North America, Europe, and Asia. So far, South America is not mentioned in the itinerary. Even so, Team Derringer heard from a listener in Caracas, Venezuela who is a dedicated fan of the consummate "Superstition" hitmaker whose amazing career has spanned more than 65 years. STEVIE IN CARACAS The last time Stevie Wonder toured Venezuela was January 1 to 6 of 1970 when he performed in Caracas. Since then, he continues to be revered in Venezuela's capital city. In this episode, join Paul Derringer with newly minted Rob Derringer who pulled double-duty by subbing for both Laura Derringer and Alton Derringer who were unavailable for this session. WHO IS KLEIDI? Paul and Rob hold an informative discussion with singer and musician Kleidi Buroz of Caracas who conveys Stevie Wonder's influence, which started when Kleidi was a student at the National Experimental University of the Arts of Venezuela (UNEARTE). STEVIE'S TOP FIVE With translation help from Humberto "Berto" Oliveira Sales of the Charlottesville-based Brazilian-influenced duo Beleza, Kleidi takes Paul and Rob through a Top Five Countdown of Stevie Wonder's best of the best. Listen in to find out the Top Five from a Venezuelan's point-of-view. WHERE TO LISTEN & CONNECT More info & show notes: www.derringerdiscoveries.com/095 Spotify Playlist: Stevie Wonder Inspired Website: www.derringerdiscoveries.com Theme Song: Your Sister's Room by Ho Jo Fro. Episodes: www.derringerdiscoveries.com/episodes. Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, and BlueSky. Newsletter: Stay up to date by signing up for our newsletter.  Thank you for listening to Derringer Discoveries!   

A sermon for Septuagesima Sunday given by Fr. Sean McDermott on February 1, 2026 at All Saints Anglican Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Heather Heyer was a 32-year-old paralegal and civil rights activist who was killed on August 12, 2017, during the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. While participating in a peaceful counter-protest against white nationalists, Heyer was struck by a car. The driver, James Alex Fields Jr., an avowed neo-Nazi from Ohio, deliberately accelerated his Dodge Challenger into the crowd of counter-protesters. The impact killed Heyer and injured at least 35 others. Her official cause of death was blunt-force injury to the torso. This is what I picked up surrounding her energies + spirit box session at the end

Carolina was in big trouble late in the first half against Virginia, but came back to beat the Cavaliers in Charlottesville (2:15)...Joel Berry joins to talk about the win and the Tar Heel season (14:32)Plus: did Matt Krause sleep in Carmichael to call the WBB game? (41:00), the FB schedule is about to be released (42:08) and, despite what Facebook says, Jones isn't dead (52:19)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If there's anything I have learned in my thirty years of reporting, it is that there is always more to be learned. One reason to do journalism is to document potential solutions to problems over time. At least, there's the point of Charlottesville Community Engagement and this edition is a collection of audio stories from the past week. For those of you who do not want to listen, there are also links to this newsletter's archive at Information Charlottesville.In this edition:* Charlottesville Planning Commission briefed on tax abatement, student housing review (read the story)* Albemarle Supervisors begin 2026 with a transportation update (read the story)* Albemarle assessments have increased by 6.17 percent in 2026 (read the story)* Spanberger signed ten first executive orders on first day in office (read the story)* Charlottesville City Council weighs in on student housing changesCharlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.First shout-out: Plant Virginia NativesThe year is now 2026 and time is running out for me to plan for what my yard could look like if I were to get it ready for spring! The invasive plants won again and I've got maybe a month until they begin to come back to life. Is this the year I get ahead of the creeper and vine that thrive in the humidity and the hot sun? What else could I plant instead?One resource I could consult is Plant Virginia Natives to figure my way out of my predicament. 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 Gardens.A glimpse of the story spreadsheetSecond shout-out: Charlottesville Scholarship ProgramToday's second subscriber-supported shout-out goes to the Charlottesville Scholarship Program. Started in 2001 by an initial investment by Charlottesville City Council, the Charlottesville Scholarship Program has grown their endowment to over $1.3 million, and has awarded 201 scholarships totaling more than $1.1 million.The goal of the program has remained constant: to assist low- and moderate-income City residents and City employees who wish to improve their lives through post-secondary education. Many of these students are the first in their family to attend college.Income-eligible Charlottesville Public School System high school seniors, City residents who are Charlottesville Public School System graduates or GED recipients, and City municipal and City School System employees, no matter where they reside, are all eligible for CSP scholarships. In a typical year, CSP awards eleven new, renewable scholarships. Ten of these are designated for eligible high school seniors, and the 11th scholarship is designated for an eligible adult applicant.To learn more about the program, sign up for their newsletter, or make a donation, visit their 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

Charlottesville protesters rally in solidarity with residents of Minneapolis against ICE… Forecasters warn of extreme cold Monday night, one day after snow and ice blankets the region… As child poverty rates increase in Virginia, proposals to provide free breakfast in public schools make their way through the General Assembly….

The Lorax Society is one of U.Va.'s many organizations with a focus on sustainability. The society's mission is to preserve the natural biodiversity of Charlottesville. Maddie Foreman, the current president of the Lorax Society and second-year College student, discusses upcoming changes to the organization following the election of a new executive board, as well as her plans for new events and initiatives this semester.

Inside Carolina's Rob Harrington and Tommy Ashley break down North Carolina's comeback 85-80 win in Charlottesville over the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday. Carolina trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half, but Seth Trimble's two three pointers out of the break followed up by Jarin Stevenson's 17 points in 17 second half minutes pushed the Heels to victory. Caleb Wilson lead UNC with 20 points but it was Stevenson, Trimble (16), Luka Bogavac (14) and Derek Dixon (11) carrying the scoring load with Henri Veesaar struggling on the offensive end.   This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Carolina snapped its two-game losing streak by running past Notre Dame on Wednesday night (5:14) and now goes to Charlottesville to see Virginia (12:37)WTEN National Champion Reese Brantmeier joins (23:08)Plus: 5SecondChallenge (57:18), Pop-tarts Bowl scarf (1:12:58), more fake AI Carolina Basketball news (1:24:05) and a throwback to an-all time Pod story: the ACC's inappropriate commemorative coin (1:33:50)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Inside Carolina's senior reporter Greg Barnes joins Tommy Ashley to discuss North Carolina's trip north to play Virginia in Charlottesville on Saturday. The Tar Heels got back in the win column with a blowout of Notre Dame in the Smith Center, but the Wahoos present a complete different, and more difficult, challenge for Hubert Davis and his team.   This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today's edition is sponsored by the Ragged Mountain Running and Walking ShopWhen was the last time you played a musical instrument? When was the last time you recorded a song you wanted to write either for yourself or for others? In an attempt to change the tone of these introductory paragraphs of Charlottesville Community Engagement, I decide to look instead at this day in music.Two sources report that on January 22, 1959, Buddy Holly hit record on a machine and captured his final performances on a tape recorder, recordings that would later be posthumously produced professionally after his death in an aircraft crash on a snowy night. I'm Sean Tubbs, and more on that rabbit hole at the end of this edition.In this edition:* There is a vacancy on the Greene County Board of Supervisors as Francis McGuigan resigns* Albemarle and Charlottesville officials are preparing for a weekend storm expected this* The Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority will meet today the first time in 2026* Albemarle County promotes Amy Smith to be the next Parks and Recreation DirectorCharlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.First shout-out: Cville Village seeks volunteersCan you drive a neighbor to a doctor's appointment? Change an overhead lightbulb, plant a flower, walk a dog for someone who is sick, visit someone who is lonely? If so, Cville Village needs you!Cville Village is a local 501c3 nonprofit organization loosely affiliated with a national network of Villages whose goals are to help seniors stay in their own homes as long as possible, and to build connections among them that diminish social isolation. Volunteers do small chores for, and have gatherings of, professors and schoolteachers, nurses and lawyers, aides and housekeepers. Time and chance come to all – a fall, an order not to drive, failing eyesight, a sudden stroke. They assist folks continue living at home, with a little help from their friends.Cville Village volunteers consult software that shows them who has requested a service and where they are located. Volunteers accept only the requests that fit their schedule and their skills.Volunteering for Cville Village can expand your circle of friends and shower you with thanks.To learn more, visit cvillevillage.org or attend one of their monthly Village “meet-ups” and see for yourself. To find out where and when the next meetup is, or to get more information and a volunteer application, email us at info@cvillevillage.org, or call them at (434) 218-3727.McGuigan resigns from the Greene County Board of SupervisorsThe Greene County Board of Supervisors will once again need to fill a vacancy now that one of its members has resigned while in office.Francis McGuigan turned in his resignation as the at-large Supervisor today, just over two years after being elected in November 2023.“We would like to thank Supervisor McGuigan for his commitment to the community,” said Board Chairman Steve Catalano in an information release.On January 13, McGuigan had voted for Catalano to be chair during the annual organization meeting. Midway Representative Matt Hartung was not present for the vote but joined the meeting later.The release states Supervisors will discuss how to move forward with a replacement at their next meeting on January 27.In the fall of October 2023, former Supervisor Abby Heflin resigned as the Stanardsville representative and the Board accepted applications for a replacement. The person appointed was Steve Catalano.For more on this story, take a look at this story on the Piedmont Journal-Recorder.Area preparing for heavy winter stormA large winter storm is heading for the east coast this weekend and that's expected to leave a heavy accumulation of snow and ice. Preparations are underway by first responders and the Virginia Department of Transportation.Albemarle's Deputy County Executive, Trevor Henry, briefed the Board of Supervisors Wednesday night about what was known at that time.“We have through our emergency manager a process by which we spin up our planning efforts,” Henry said. “And so I wanted to just assure the board but also use this as a reminder to the community that they should be paying attention to this weekend.”Henry said any snow and ice that falls may continue to be a problem as the forecast is for temperatures to remain below freezing through the end of next week. He added public safety will be ready.“Police and fire are really looking at a Saturday morning to at least initially through Monday night,” Henry said. “That may be a longer operational period where there's going to be additional resources.”Henry said the county is asking residents to be prepared to be without power for up to three days. To that effect, the county set out a message this afternoon with information including a checklist for an emergency kit created by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.Soon afterward, the City of Charlottesville announced it has activated the Snow Operations Team with a description of their duty.“The City is responsible for winter operations across approximately 165 centerline miles of roadway, 49 miles of sidewalks (including Safe Routes to School and City-owned properties), more than 45 municipal and school parking lots, City parks facilities, and the Downtown Pedestrian Mall,” reads the message.The city has over 165 people working on snow operations as well as a sizable inventory of equipment including “25 dedicated snowplow trucks equipped with salt spreaders and brine tanks.”Roads will be pretreated with brine and crews will begin clearing snow when necessary.“Snow response follows a priority plan,” reads the message from the city. “Crews will begin with primary routes, including major corridors and roads critical for emergency response and transit service.”Emergency snow routes will also be in effect as of 9 a.m. Saturday. Anyone who parks along these corridors must move their vehicle or it may be towed.Designated Emergency Snow Routes include:* Market Street (Old Preston Avenue to 9th Street NE)* High Street (Preston Avenue to 9th Street NE)* Water Street (Ridge Street to 10th Street NE)* 2nd Street West (Market Street to Water Street)* 4th Street East (Market Street to Water Street)* West Main Street (Ridge Street to JPA)* University Avenue (JPA to Rugby Road)There will be free parking in the two municipal parking garages Friday, January 23 at 6:00 PM through Tuesday, January 27 at 8:00 AM.For the city's full list, click here.Thanks for reading Charlottesville Community Engagement ! This post is public so feel free to share it.Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority to meet todayIn late 2025, an entity known as the Regional Transit Partnership ended and transferred many of its duties to a recently created authority intended to promote greater cooperation and coordination between the area's multiple transit agencies.Today the Board of Directors of the Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority will meet for the first time in 2026 at the Water Street Center. (CARTA website)The agenda for today's meeting looks much like an RTP agenda with opportunities for Jaunt, Charlottesville Area Transit, and University Transit Service representatives to tell what they're doing and how they fit into the bigger picture. So far, though, the only two voting members are Albemarle and Charlottesville.Scottsville Supervisor Michael Pruitt will be joined by newcomer Jack Jouett Supervisor Sally Duncan, and Charlottesville City Councilor Natalie Oschrin will be joined by newcomer Jen Fleisher. Fleisher has attended multiple meetings of the RTP as an alternative representing the Blue Ridge Health District.There are details on both Jaunt and the University Transit Service in the packet, but nothing from Charlottesville Area Transit.One of the main tasks for CARTA this year will be to conduct something called the “Regional Transit Service Prioritization and Implementation Feasibility Study” which builds off of the 2022 Regional Transit Vision Plan and the Regional Transit Governance Study from 2023.Not on the agenda is a discussion of how CARTA might be able to help increase funding for CAT's mission to hire a total of 108 drivers. That's the amount CAT Director Garland Williams says is needed to restore full service and make long-awaited route changes.Here's a story about that from December 2025 as well as a story from August in which a representative from IMPACT said the organization is watching. Patreon-fueled shout-out: Design DevelopArchitectural firm Design Develop is offering a new service aimed at the development community that the rest of us might want to know about , too — 3D point cloud scanning! This technique uses specialized equipment, such as 3D scanner systems, to gather a large amount of data points that represent the surface of the scanned object or scene. This really comes in handy when working with historic structures, as the firm knows from its experience in Baltimore and Charlottesville. Read their blog post for more information!The applications of 3D point cloud scanning are extensive and cover various fields, including architecture, construction, cultural heritage preservation, virtual reality, industrial design, manufacturing, and more. These applications require accurate 3D spatial information, and Design Develop's workflow provides precise and comprehensive results, all while being more cost-effective than traditional methods.Design Develop has expertise in this workflow for their own needs and now has a dedicated team offering this service in the Charlottesville and Albemarle Area. If you're involved in the real estate, design, or construction industry, contact them for more information or a free quote.Visit their website for an introductory video that captures the 3D point cloud scanning of the Downtown Transit Center and a booklet that will explain more!Albemarle promotes Smith to Parks and Recreation DirectorAfter a nationwide search, Albemarle County has named a veteran of the Parks and Recreation Department to lead the office after the retirement of former director Bob Crickenberger.“Our own Amy Smith, who has been the deputy director and, and has enjoyed a wonderful career serving Albemarle county, was our top candidate,” said County Executive Jeffrey Richardson.Smith will lead a department with a $5,584,028 budget for fiscal year 2026 and 27 full-time employees. Two objectives in the county's strategic plan address how parks can help reach Quality of Life Goals.These are:* 4.4 — Integrate parks planning with multi-modal transportation planning across the County* 4.5 — Enhance overall access to parks and recreational opportunities with an emphasis on urban neighborhoods.The FY26 budget also includes $1.5 million for work to pursue the latter objective through creation of a new urban pocket park on Hillsdale Drive as well as new amenities at Humphris Park.Soon after being announced, Smith explained her philosophy toward parks and recreation.“Our parks protect natural beauty, promote health and wellness, provide spaces for connection, and ensure that residents of all ages and abilities can enjoy the outdoors. I'm truly inspired by Albemarle's commitment to quality of life,” Smith said. “I plan to build upon the same foundation through increasing innovation, strategic management of resources, and furthering, uniting and empowering our dedicated Parks and Rec staff and our amazing community partners.”Smith began working for the county in 1993. Jack Jouett Supervisor Sally Duncan just joined the Board and said she was impressed by the time Smith has spent working for Albemarle.“I just think it's really great when we can retain people and have people, you know, build their careers here and have longevity,” Duncan said.Supervisor Ann Mallek is in her fifth term representing the White Hall District and said Smith has helped oversee and manage many of the parks that have come on line in the past two decades and will now work to bring many more that are planned into reality.“So many things on your plate with the blueways and Buck Island and the Brook Hill ramp and such a long, long list because there's so many places that you already manage,” Mallek said.The blueways are a series of amenities allowing people to use area rivers and streams for recreational purposes. As part of this effort, the county opened Brook Hill River Park on Rio Mills Road in the summer of 2019 and there are plans to develop a park at Buck Island 17 miles down the Rivanna River.Smith helped lead a parks and recreation needs assessment for Albemarle in 2018 and creation of a parks strategic plan. Much of that is now within the Parks and Recreation Chapter of AC44, the name the county called their Comprehensive Plan. This link will take you right there.There's also the recreation side of the department which provides many ways for people to interact with each other. Richardson said the intent is to overcome obstacles as they pop up.“When our middle school volleyball league registrations opened across Albemarle County, there was a rush of families signing up their students for this program,” Richardson said. “Henley was, was completely full within three minutes. Lakeside was full within 30 minutes.”Richardson said there were many calls from people who were disappointed they missed out but the department showed flexibility in the name of customer service.“So what the Parks and Rec department did was step back, reformatted the league and they expanded capacity, ultimately registering 400 participants across all the schools,” Richardson said. “And that eliminated the wait list.”For more on how to provide feedback on the new Hillsdale pocket park as well as Humprhis Park, visit engagealbemarle.org.Articles by other journalists you are encouraged to read next:* When Virginia GOP senator's solar farm stalled, the Youngkin admin got involved, Ben Paviour, Virginia Mercury, January 13, 2026* ICE detains 5-year-old Minnesota boy; school leader says agents used him as ‘bait', Elizabeth Shockman, MPR News, January 21, 2026* Va. lawmakers want voters to take a 180-degree turn on redistricting; some reform advocates are wary, David Poole, Virginia Mercury, January 22, 2026* Winter road salting is a growing source of pollution [and] Virginia officials want alternatives, Katherine Hafner, WHRO, January 22, 2026#989 is an echo from the pastA thing I keep to myself is a long history of relaxing through challenging myself to recording improvisational music. At one point I wanted to be in a band, but I've always been way too guarded to do such things. Or at least, not willing to put in the time.Yet I've recorded many hours of my attempts at songs over the years and I find the experience of expressing myself through musical creation helps me fill out a lot of the rough spots in my life. I made a decision a long time ago to keep all of that to myself, but I'm also aware of my mortality more than usual.So I had this idea to begin to put some of my sound recordings on Patreon as part of that system. After all, my hope is to soon have a mechanism people can use to make tax-deductible contributions for the reporting.This is still just an idea crafted at a time where I'm paying a lot of attention to where I was at this time in 2011. I was not quite four years into my time at Charlottesville Tomorrow and I was very uncertain about what I wanted to do. I am interested in what I was singing at that time for reasons I'll explore over on Patreon if I decide to go ahead with this side project.Oh yeah, also somehow this edition is a podcast, too. Not sure how that happened.And now, probably the weirdest video I've posted yet which is still germane somehow. 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

Charlottesville remembers a prominent disability rights advocate who died this month… Two bills in the General Assembly take aim at VMI, and if passed could change the structure of governance at the state school… Environmentally friendly policies, including rejoining RGGI, are back in vogue in Richmond….

This week on The Stitch Please Podcast, Lisa tackles one of sewing's most surprisingly controversial topics: notches. That's right those tiny cuts in your pattern that somehow inspire big feelings. Lisa breaks down the three main camps: outward notches (aka outies), inward notches (ennies), and the bold rebels who say “no notches, no rules.”With help from the sewing community and plenty of real talk wisdom, Lisa explores the pros, cons, and emotional baggage of each method plus how she landed on what works best for her own projects. Whether you're team snip, team clip, or team absolutely not, this episode proves that good sewing is less about following rules and more about finding what makes your process smoother and your seams happier.===========Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store

Read (and) watch more VPM News  Spanberger makes policy promises in first General Assembly address Watch: The Joint Assembly Address (YouTube) Watch: Gov. Abigail Spanberger discussing affordability (YouTube) On the agenda: Richmond traffic safety grants, Charlottesville housing  Other links In historic first for Virginia, Adam Spanberger becomes first gentleman (The Washington Post)* DOJ sues Virginia for not providing voter data (The Hill) Rocky Mount unveils monument to Black Civil War soldiers (Cardinal News) Planned James City County missile factory to be fully operational in 2028 (WHRO)  *This outlet utilizes a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

MLK Day ... GUEST Eddie Jones … co-founder of Wilkinsburg's "Eternal City" Church. On fasting … GUEST Rev Kurt Bjorklund ... Senior Pastor, Orchard Hill Church. Reading Black Books: How African American Literature can make our Faith more Whole & Just… GUEST Claude Atcho … is pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Charlottesville, VA ... he’s taught AfrAmer lit at the college level and is a regular writer & podcast contributor for “Think Christian” … he’s also written for Christ & Pop Culture, the Gospel Coalition and “The Witness: A Black Christian Collective”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sermon for the Second Sunday after Epiphany by Fr. Sean McDermott on January 18, 2026 at All Saints Anglican Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Dr. Marty Betts, a small animal practitioner in Charlottesville, VA, and Heather Hopkinson, a credentialed veterinary technician at North Carolina State University, join the podcast this week to explore the evolving role of veterinary technicians in practice. The conversation highlights their career journeys, their shared work on AVMA's Committee on Advancing Veterinary Technicians and Technologists, and real-world examples of how empowering technicians to work at the top of their scope improves efficiency, patient care, job satisfaction, and retention. It's a great episode, and we are excited to share it with you!Thank you to our podcast partner Hill's Pet Nutrition! You can find more information about Hill's Pet Nutrition at Hill's Pet Nutrition - Dog & Cat Food Transforming Lives and Hill's Vet - Veterinary Health Research, Practice Management Resources.Remember, we want to hear from you! Please be sure to subscribe to our feed on Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating and review. You can also contact us at MVLpodcast@avma.orgFollow us on social media @AVMAVets #MyVetLife #MVLPodcast

In this episode of The Valley Today Community Health series, host Janet Michael talks with Dr. Kevin Volkema, a board-certified family medicine physician at Valley Health Primary Care Greenwood, about the critical importance of primary care. From Chicago Suburbs to the Shenandoah Valley Dr. Kevin Volkema's journey into medicine began with a simple nudge. Growing up in Wheaton, Illinois, just outside Chicago, he received encouragement from two unlikely sources during high school: his own primary care physician and his chemistry teacher. Both pulled the 16-year-old aside and suggested he consider a career in medicine. Initially, Dr. Volkema didn't think much of their advice. However, during his sophomore year at the University of Illinois, he decided to take a leap of faith. He earned his EMT license and began volunteering at a clinic for the uninsured. That experience changed everything. "I really, really enjoyed that year," Dr. Volkema recalls. "Most importantly, I enjoyed working at that clinic for the uninsured. That's really where the foundation grew of this appreciation for community health and community service and this grassroots effort of making change for individuals." Today, Dr. Volkema serves as a board-certified family medicine physician at Valley Health Primary Care Greenwood. He splits his time between patient care and his role as regional medical director, bringing both clinical expertise and administrative insight to the growing Winchester community. He moved to the area this past summer with his wife, a neonatologist at Valley Health, after completing a stint in Charlottesville where she finished her fellowship. The Power of One: Understanding Primary Care's Impact When most people think of healthcare, they envision dramatic scenes from television—emergency rooms, operating theaters, intensive care units. Yet Dr. Volkema emphasizes that this high-stakes, acute care represents only a fraction of actual healthcare delivery. "The reality is that's not the majority of health or the majority of healthcare," he explains. Primary care, by contrast, serves as the quarterback, the home base, the front door to the healthcare system. The statistics backing this claim are remarkable. According to a major study published in JAMA, just one primary care physician for every 10,000 people produces measurable effects: decreased mortality, reduced hospitalization rates, fewer emergency room visits, lower healthcare costs, and improved chronic disease management. "One person could affect 10,000 lives," Dr. Volkema emphasizes. "That's a pretty huge impact." More Than Just Availability: The Three A's of Primary Care Dr. Volkema shares wisdom from one of his mentors, who told him that patients care about three things when choosing a primary care physician: they want someone who is able, affable, and available. Fail on any of these three, and success becomes impossible. Increasingly, availability has become the biggest challenge. This explains why many people default to urgent care facilities—they're open when patients need them. Nevertheless, urgent care cannot replace the continuity and comprehensive oversight that primary care provides. Valley Health has recognized this critical need and made substantial investments in primary care infrastructure. The organization has built new clinics, including the Greenwood location where Dr. Volkema practices, remodeled existing facilities, and aggressively recruited physicians to serve the growing community. Building Relationships That Save Lives Primary care thrives on continuity. Dr. Volkema particularly enjoys seeing entire families—parents, grandparents, and children—because understanding family dynamics provides crucial context for individual health. "Who you live with, how you sleep, if you're stressed, if you are eating a healthy diet, if you exercise—those are gonna influence everything," he notes. "But if I don't even understand the basics about who you are as a person or how your life works, how am I supposed to help you with your chronic medical conditions?" This relationship-building extends beyond physical health. Surprisingly, primary care serves as the largest provider of mental health services in the United States. When people experience depression, anxiety, or grief, they typically turn to their primary care physician first—not because PCPs are psychiatrists, but because patients trust them. "We've built that relationship. We've put in the effort to develop that connection with them so that when things do arise, they feel comfortable talking with us," Dr. Volkema explains. The Four Horsemen: Preventing Chronic Disease Dr. Volkema frames chronic disease management around four pillars, sometimes called "the four horsemen": cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Much of primary care's preventive focus centers on delaying or preventing these conditions from developing. Through lifestyle modifications and mindful attention to habits, patients can potentially push back diagnoses by a decade or more. Instead of developing a chronic condition at 55, thoughtful prevention might delay onset until 65 or 75. Importantly, Dr. Volkema stresses that it's never too late to start. Impressive research demonstrates that individuals 65 and older who begin exercise and weightlifting routines show measurable improvements in bone density, muscle mass, metabolic health, and overall function. "There's never a time that's too late to start," he assures patients of all ages. "It can always make a difference." Bridging the Gap Between Generalist and Specialist Primary care physicians sometimes face skepticism about their breadth of knowledge compared to specialists' depth. Dr. Volkema acknowledges this reality while highlighting two significant advantages primary care physicians possess. First, there's that crucial continuity of care. A specialist may know everything about one body system, but they lack the benefit of a 3-, 5-, or 15-year relationship with the patient. They don't understand the full context of someone's life, medical history, and individual circumstances. Second, primary care physicians identify and fill gaps in care. When Dr. Volkema sees patients who have only followed with specialists, he consistently discovers concerning omissions: missed cancer screenings, unknown medication interactions, and unassessed common medical conditions. "It's keeping an eye on all these different facets of an individual's life and an individual's care to make sure that there's not only a hyper fixation on one type of problem or one concern, and that all the other factors are still being addressed as well," he explains. Practical Access: Getting Care When You Need It Valley Health Primary Care Greenwood currently employs five providers—three physicians, one physician assistant, and one nurse practitioner. Three additional physicians will join the practice in 2026, with one starting in May and two more in July. All providers are accepting new patients, dispelling the common misconception that no one is taking new patients in the area. Patients can research providers at valleyhealthlink.com/primarycare or valleyhealthlink.com/findadoctor. The practice offers same-day appointments for urgent needs, though it's not a walk-in urgent care facility. Patients must call to schedule, but the practice holds multiple same-day slots specifically for this purpose. Additionally, a physician assistant dedicates her entire schedule to same-day patients, providing crucial access for both established and new patients. The Greenwood location also features a full-service lab open from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Any Valley Health patient can have blood drawn there, regardless of which Valley Health physician ordered the tests. This convenience factor has proven particularly valuable for patients who work in different areas than where they live. When to Seek Care: Earlier Is Better Dr. Volkema emphasizes the importance of seeking care early in an illness. Treatments for conditions like influenza work most effectively when started soon after symptom onset. Tamiflu, for example, provides maximum benefit when begun early in the disease course—the same principle that applies to COVID antivirals like Paxlovid. The practice offers same-day testing for strep throat, influenza, and COVID-19, with results available in 15 to 20 minutes. This rapid turnaround helps patients get appropriate treatment quickly, especially important during seasons when multiple viruses circulate simultaneously. For individuals with complex medical needs who require immediate primary care—perhaps after a hospitalization or recent move to the area—Valley Health operates a transition clinic on Amherst Street near the hospital. This clinic provides bridge care while patients establish with a long-term primary care physician. The Path Forward As Winchester's Greenwood area continues its explosive growth—transforming from farmland into a bustling commercial district—Valley Health's investment in primary care infrastructure positions the community for better health outcomes. Dr. Volkema's message remains clear and hopeful: primary care access exists in the Shenandoah Valley, providers are accepting new patients, and establishing that crucial relationship with a primary care physician represents one of the most impactful health decisions anyone can make. Whether you're managing chronic conditions, seeking preventive care, or simply need someone who knows your complete health story, the door to primary care stands open. The question isn't whether you can find a primary care physician—it's whether you'll take that first step toward better health. After all, as the research shows, one physician really can change 10,000 lives. Perhaps it's time to let them change yours.

Check out Christ Church, Charlottesville, VA (https://www.christchurchcville.org/), where Amanda serves as Associate Rector.

On June 3, 1781, a lightning-fast British cavalry raid led by "Bloody Ban" Tarleton raced toward Charlottesville and Monticello with one mission: capture Virginia's lawmakers and Thomas Jefferson. In this America's Founding Series episode, Professor Nick Giordano tells the cinematic, largely forgotten story of Jack Jouett, the "Paul Revere of the South," whose all-night ride through the Virginia backcountry helped save the Revolutionary government from decapitation. You'll hear how Tarleton's raid unfolded, why Jefferson's escape was so close, and the timeless lesson Jouett leaves us about government vs governance and why republics survive only when citizens take responsibility before the system even wakes up.   Episode Highlights: • Jack Jouett's midnight ride: the backcountry dash that beat Tarleton's dragoons to Monticello and Charlottesville • Tarleton's raid on Jefferson: what happened at Monticello and why Virginia's leaders fled to safety • The modern takeaway: why Jouett was forgotten, and how his story proves governance is a citizen's duty, not a bureaucrat's promise  

In this Stitch Please Sankofa episode, host Lisa from Black Women's Stitch opens 2026 with a reflective 2025 year in review, grounded in the West African principle of Sankofa: learning from the past to build a better future. This episode offers listeners a vivid and personal exploration of the history of Black quilting and sewing, creative traditions, and the lived experiences that shaped the Stitch Please podcast throughout the year.From a six-month appointment at Wellesley College's Humanities Center to hands on engagement with the Black craft and fiber arts community in Boston, Lisa takes us through a year of learning, stitching, collaborating, and teaching. She deepens ties to Black women quilters in Boston, craft industry professionals, quilt guilds, and local libraries while examining the shifting landscape of independent craft businesses and maker culture.This Sankofa reflection also covers Lisa's entry into narrative podcasting about Black history, including a storytelling episode on Miss Fine Brown Frame and the award-winning narrative short “Very Fine People”, recognized by Audio Flux. Her travels to Cape Town and Ghana highlight the connection between African diaspora textile traditions, sewing history, and the enduring cultural legacy of handmade work.Finally, Lisa revisits a year marked by creative celebration and industry acknowledgment. Serving as a Golden Scissors judge at H+H Americas, earning an AMBIE nomination, and winning three Black Podcasting Awards all of which further solidified her voice as an award-winning Black podcaster, scholar, and cultural memory keeper. Through the lenses of community, knowledge, storytelling, and recognition, Lisa invites listeners to choose what personal wisdom to carry into 2026 and to embrace the power of Black women in creative leadership, dreaming boldly even in turbulent times.=======Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly...