Podcasts about national pollinator week

It's full summer - for us and for the fauna of the Northern Hemisphere.  That means many of our most charismatic, sun-loving pollinators are at the peak of their seasonal cycles – and we are celebrating National Pollinator Week with Tora Rocha of the Pollinator Posse based in Oakland, CA – sharing all things love of pollinators. Tora is a gardener and ecosystem steward, leader, and innovator in public gardening. Along with Terry Smith, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) education specialist, in 2012 Tora co-founded the Pollinator Posse, an Oakland, CA-based organization developing and encouraging pollinator-friendly landscaping and fostering appreciation for local ecosystems through outreach, education, community science, and habitat creation. With eco-friendly landscape techniques at the heart of the work, they teach respect for the creatures which keep their place — and the world — blooming. Tora and the Pollinator Posse envision a day when life-enhancing, thought-inspiring green spaces will grace every corner of world. Tora joins Cultivating Place this week to share her garden-life, Pollinator Posse, journey story. Join us! Cultivating Place now has a donate button! We thank you so much for listening over the years, and we hope you'll support Cultivating Place. We can't thank you enough for making it possible for this young program to grow even more of these types of conversations. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Google Podcasts. To read more and see more photos, please visit www.cultivatingplace.com.

The 2024 Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Research Days are scheduled for July 10-24, and last week the USDA recognized and celebrated National Pollinator Week.

Certified organic crops typically earn a higher price than conventional, but struggling California walnut growers find the organic premiums have not translated to higher profits, and last week the USDA recognized and celebrated National Pollinator Week.

Certified organic crops typically earn a higher price than conventional, but struggling California walnut growers find the organic premiums have not translated to higher profits, and last week the USDA recognized and celebrated National Pollinator Week.

Gov. Doug Burgum has proclaimed June 17-23, 2024, as Pollinator Week in North Dakota. North Dakota is home to many pollinators, including more than 840,000 honey bee colonies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's National Pollinator Week, and butterfly farmers in Kansas and around the U.S. are raising awareness about how habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change are killing off our pollinators. Plus: The Missouri Department of Conservation's new director reflects on how conservation work has evolved over time.

It's National Pollinator Week, an annual event created to bring attention to the sharp decline in pollinator numbers due to habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. Butterflies often capture people's attention and help spark interest in pollinator conservation, something butterfly farms are helping promote.

Know the problem before you 'fix' the problem; National Pollinator Week and certifying your landscape

Some information on National Pollinator Week and how important they are to your garden!

Here's the June 24 episode of Horticulture Hangover, our radio broadcast on KLBJ. We talk about National Pollinator Week, heat stress on citrus, and the pros and cons of various types of irrigation. We also get two calls about unruly vines driving people crazy.   Austin listeners, don't miss Colleen's free class, Native Plant Maintenance, at the Natural Gardener on July 8 at 10am. Tune in live on Saturdays at 8am CST online here, or on the airwaves: 99.7 AM and 590 FM Join our Patreon for early access to Horticulturati episodes, bonus content, and more!  Email info@horticulturati.com

It's National Pollinator Week next week. We hear about what makes effective public engagement on pollinators and of a new event in Vancouver, Washington, the Pollinator Festival. 

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from Summit Responsible Solutions Studios. Happy Father's Day! Garden expert, Teresa Watkins provides Father's Day suggestions for flowers, planters to give to Dad, and celebrates National Pollinator Week with CJ McCartney, Florida Wildflower Foundation director and botanizer. Teresa answers questions on daylilies color reversion, snails in the garden, cutting back an Areca palm damaged in winter, lettuce bolting, and more. https://bit.ly/3c1f5x7 Lettuce that are slow-bolting:   Slobolt Lettuce, Seed Saver Exchange  and Butterhead 'Speckles' Lettuce Territorial Seed Company. Graphic credit:  Teresa Watkins Listen every Saturdays from 7am - 9am EST on WFLA- Orlando. Call in with your garden questions and text messages on 1-888.455.2867 and 23680, Miss the live broadcast? Listen on Audioboom podcast 24/7. https://bit.ly/3c1f5x7 #WFLF #WFLA #FNN #WNDB #WDBO #BetterLawns #gardening #Florida #planting #gardeninglife #radio #southflorida #northflorida #centralflorida #wildflowers #Deland #SHE #Orlando #Sarasota #Miami #FortLauderdale #BLGradio #WRLN #WiOD #gardening #SummitResponsibleSolutions #QualityGreenSpecialists #BlackKow #Pollinators #PollinatorWeek #Butterflies #Bees #FathersDay #Wildflowers 

National Pollinator Week is an annual celebration since 2010 in support of pollinator health that was initiated and is managed by Pollinator Partnership. This year National Pollinator Week festivities will take place across the country June 19 – 25, 2023 and in celebration, this week on Cultivating Place we look closely at one particular group of our native pollinators the charismatic bumble bees, the more than 250 species in the genus Bombus. Our guest this week, Leif Richardson, is an Endangered Species Conservation Biologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, coordinating the community science efforts behind the newest of the society's North American Bumble Bee Atlases - this time in California. If you're in the Northern California listening region, mark your calendars for the mid-July opening of an in-depth and beautiful exhibit entitled Bombus: The Natural History of Bumble Bees. At Gateway Science Museum on the campus of California State University, Chico, this new exhibition interweaves current scientific research on the North American population of bumble bees, as well as over a decade of study, observations and spectacular photography by plantsman and California Bumble Bee Atlas participant John Whittlesey. Through his deeply studied lens, you will never see a bumble bee again without a deepened love and appreciation. Listen in this week and join us in person this summer! Cultivating Place now has a donate button! We thank you so much for listening over the years and we hope you'll support Cultivating Place. We can't thank you enough for making it possible for this young program to grow even more of these types of conversations. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Podcast, and Stitcher. To read more and for many more photos please visit www.cultivatingplace.com.

This week's show starts with a State House Report featuring State Representative Matt Muratore, who provides discussion on the latest news from Beacon Hill and around his district.   Richard Rosen, South Shore business man & local beekeeper stops by to share updates on his two restaurants, McGuiggan's Pub and The Patio.   Sharon Sullivan, Managing editor of Lawn Love calls in to discuss a recent article on the best spots around the country for beekeeping and shares tips to kickoff the start of National Pollinator Week.   Win Farwell, Brockton City Councilor calls into the show to provide insight on the city's FY2023 budget process and the latest news from the City of Champions!   Do you have an topic for a future show or info on an upcoming community event? Email us at mondaynighttalk@gmail.com. If you're a fan of the show and enjoy our segments, you can either download your favorite segment from this site or subscribe to our podcasts through iTunes today!  © Monday Night Talk with Kevin Tocci - 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the show host and/or owner is strictly prohibited.             s!    

What's Shakin' at the Almond Alliance | June 24th, 2022 This week, Aubrey Bettencourt covers: ➡️ Travels to the State of Washington, Washington D.C. and Omaha, Nebraska. ➡️ Thanking our shipping partners all across the world and getting our members in touch with the Almond Desk at each of those carriers. ➡️ Farmers for Free Trade looking to get India online. ➡️ Drought and Water Updates. ➡️ This is the Season of Grower Meetings. ➡️ DPR comment period coming soon. ➡️ National Pollinator Week; The Almond Industry is a champion for bees. To learn more or become a member of the Almond Alliance visit AlmondAlliance.org. Follow us on Social Media: Facebook Twitter Instagram

On this week's Good Growing podcast we are celebrating National Pollinator Week! We give helpful tips for helping out pollinators plus our favorite pollinator plants. Plus, tons of resources if you're looking to include pollinator habitat in your landscape. Watch us YouTube https://youtu.be/YhxRfaGN2PU 0:26 - Hi Katie! 0:36 - Those Darn Racoons 2:25 - Hi Ken! 4:11 - What are pollinators? 8:10 - Tips for helping pollinators 8:51 - Reduce pesticide use and minimize pollinator exposure if spraying 12:18 - Create nesting habitat 15:26 - Protect existing habitat 17:16 - Plant more flowers 18:59 - Utilize different blossom shapes 21:51 - Advice for designing a pollinator garden 27:51 - Favorite plants 28:08 - Ken: Purple coneflower, butterfly milkweed, rattlesnake master, blanket flower, sunflowers, grey-headed coneflower, obedient plant 29:46 - Katie: Beebalm (Monarda), lantana, beardtongue 31:34 - Chris: Zinnia, parsley, Autumn Joy sedum, giant alliums 34:40 - Resources for those wanting more - Pollinator Pockets https://extension.illinois.edu/cfiv/pollinator-pockets - Illinois Extension Pollinator Website – coming soon! - Pollinator partnership https://www.pollinator.org/ - Xerces society https://www.xerces.org/ - Monarch Waystation Project https://monarchwatch.org/waystations/ - Indiana/Illinois Sea Grant Pollinator Garden brochures https://iiseagrant.org/resources/publications-products/results/?_sft_creator=c-eliana-brown - Become an Illinois Master Naturalist https://extension.illinois.edu/mn - iPollinate https://ipollinate.illinois.edu/ -- Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe -- Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

National Pollinator Week may be coming to a close, but that doesn't mean we're not still sweet on all things bees. While the radio team chatted about their love for honey, the studio buzzed with calls. KC from Store 4574 in Concord, North Carolina, kicked things off as the Associate Caller of the Day, leaving a bee-utiful shoutout for her entire store. Deandre from Store 1556 in Orland Hills, Illinois, felt the sting while playing 5 Seconds or Less – but he still gets a hive-five for participation. Mary from Store 330 in Victoria, Texas, left a shoutout for fellow associate Karen as she retires after an un-bee-lievable 41 years! Tune in to catch all of the buzz-worthy shenanigans at The Bo Show.

It’s the final Friday of June, unless something can be done to add another day to the month. I am unaware of any campaign to do so, but perhaps there need to be changes. So, welcome to this 24th day of the fifth interval of what we’ve come to call the two thousand and twenty-second year. This is Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter and podcast about the built environment that celebrates 400 editions with this installment that arrives 711 days later. I’m your host, Sean Tubbs. Sign up for a free subscription, but if you opt to pay, Ting will match your initial payment! On today’s edition of the program:Charlottesville’s budget surplus is increasing with revenues higher than originally budgetedCharlottesville City Council will make appointments to the Planning Commission in July You can count on one hand the number of Albemarle residents who voted in the Republican Primary for the 7th Congressional District Changes to Charlottesville Area Transit routes could soon occur as soon as more drivers can be hired First shout-out: The Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign Since the very beginning of this newsletter, one long-time Patreon supporter has used his shout-out to draw your attention to the work of the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign but today let’s talk about National Pollinator Week, which runs through June 26! There will be many events designed to draw your attention to the crucial role that bees and other creatures play in making sure plants reproduce. On Saturday at 10 a.m., Scottsville’s Center for the Arts and Natural Environment will host Allison Wickham from Siller Pollinator Company will lead an introduction to bees and beekeeping. If you're thinking about starting a backyard beehive or are just curious about what's involved with keeping bees, then this is a great introductory class for you. There will even be a honey competition judged by Allison Wickham! For the tuition rate and to register, visit svilleartsandnature.org for a list of all of the upcoming classes. Charlottesville’s FY22 surplus likely to increaseThere’s less than a week until the fiscal new year for Virginia and its local governments. On Tuesday, Charlottesville City Council got an update from interim City Manager Michael C. Rogers on what can be expected in terms of “one-time money” in the form of a financial report. (read the report)“And we see that there’s a projected $14 million surplus for revenue,” Rogers said. That’s higher than the $13 million projected in April. However, Rogers said that number could change as the city’s expenditures have also been down due to various reasons including COVID. “We have a lot of vacancies in our budget, the market has had an impact on our ability to hire as rapidly as we need to,” Rogers said. “While 92 percent of the budget year has passed, we’ve only spent about 85 percent of our budget expenditures. That’s going to release in a surplus.”However, Rogers said the actual surplus will not be known until later in the year after the city’s books are closed and reconciled. One of the reasons why there will be a surplus is due to tax rates increases and assessment rises for personal property and real estate. Earlier this year, Council voted to increase the real estate tax rate to $0.96 per $100 of assessed value. That penny increase applied to the entire calendar year of 2022. Council also opted to keep the personal property rate at $4.20 per $100 of assessed value, also contributing to the surplus. That was over the recommendation of Commissioner of Revenue Todd Divers who suggested reducing it due to a sharp increase in the value of used vehicles. The city also will not bring in as much revenue from Parks and Recreation as originally believed. “During the budget process we budgeted for the idea that we thought we would be fully operational but as you know we’re not and so therefore we are not going to make those marks,” said Krisy Hammill, the city’s senior budget performance analyst. The city has also closed on its latest sale of municipal bonds which are used to finance capital projects. The cost of doing so will increase as interest rates go up. “We closed with about $28 million at a rate at about 3.07 percent, which is about double of what we got last year but it is indicative of the market and still a very good rate,” Hammill said. Council makes appointments, but not yet to Planning CommissionOn Tuesday, City Council appointed Laura Knott and Sally Duncan to the city’s Historic Resources Committee and Dashad Cooper to the Police Civilian Oversight Board. Other appointments included members of the Sister Cities Commission, the Region 10 Board, and the Retirement Commission. However, they did not fill all the open positions.“Appointments to the Planning Commission have been postponed until the July 18 Council meeting,” said Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook. “There were a few people we needed to interview and didn’t have time to do it today and at least one person was not available.”Council will not meet the first week of July. The window to apply for the Planning Commission has closed. There were at least 28 applications for the five seats, including those of sitting Commissioners Karim Habbab, Hosea Mitchell, and Rory Stolzenberg. There will be at least two newcomers because Commissioners Taneia Dowell and Jody Lahendro are not eligible for another term.  There are three at-large vacancies on the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Applications for those positions are due on August 5, 2022. That entity’s next public meeting is June 27, 2022 and there’s no information yet available on their website. In fact, there’s not been a meeting listed on the CRHA website since January 2021. (apply here)City still seeking to fill key vacancies crucial to approval of new buildings Earlier this month, interim Charlottesville City Manager Michael C. Rogers told Council of a shortage of building inspectors. On Tuesday, he said positions are being readvertised and other solutions are being explored. “I have executed an agreement with the University of Virginia’s building official to provide staff capacity to assist us in the permitting and inspections process and they began last week,” Rogers said.Rogers said the agreement will carry into the fall. Albemarle Republicans choose Anderson in 7th Congressional District Voters in Albemarle’s “Small Sliver” within Virginia’s new 7th Congressional District went to the polls Tuesday in the Republican primary. Eight people in all voted in the six way race and half selected Derrick Anderson, the candidate who came in second-place overall. There were two votes for State Senator Bryce Reeves who came in third and two votes for the winner. Yesli Vega received 10,878 votes and will face incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger in November. Albemarle County is otherwise entirely within the new Fifth District. I’ve begun reporting on the Fifth District with a new newsletter if you want to join my journey in learning more about the localities within. In today’s two other shout-outs: Code for Charlottesville and local media!You’re listening to Charlottesville. Community Engagement and it’s time for two quick shout-outs. Code for Charlottesville is seeking volunteers with tech, data, design, and research skills to work on community service projects. Founded in September 2019, Code for Charlottesville has worked on projects with the Legal Aid Justice Center, the Charlottesville Fire Department, and the Charlottesville Office of Human Rights. Visit codeforcville.org to learn about those projects. The final comes from another Patreon supporter who wants you to go out and read a local news story written by a local journalist. Whether it be the Daily Progress, Charlottesville Tomorrow, C-Ville Weekly, NBC29, CBS19, WINA, the Crozet Gazette, or some other place I’ve not mentioned - the community depends on a network of people writing about the community. Go learn about this place today!Next steps for Charlottesville Area Transit route changes outlined at partnership meeting Before the pandemic, Charlottesville Area Transit hired the firm Nelson Nygaard to take a look at its routes to suggest changes to optimize service. The study was done but nothing has been implemented so far. The Jefferson Area Regional Transit Partnership got an update at their meeting yesterday.“CAT planned on implementing that system optimization plan last year but they’ve been dealing with driver shortages like every other transit agency in the country so that’s been postponed,” said Jim Baker of Nelson Nygaard. CAT director Garland Williams directed Nelson Nygaard to revisit the route changes to identify how it might be phased into service over time rather than be done all at once. This would include restoring service to pre-COVID levels, expanding service areas in both Charlottesville and Albemarle, and expanding Saturday and Sunday service. Since the pandemic, CAT has run no service on Sundays. “We felt like that’s a pressing need to get some level of Sunday service back on the streets,” Baker said. “So we’re proposing to get the trolley back online, the Route 12 which ran pre-pandemic up the U.S. 29 corridor, and to get service down into Avon Street past the CAT garage for Sunday service. Baker said three routes would see changes as part of the first phase.The Center at Belvedere would finally be served by the northbound journey of Route 11. To make up for the time, there will no longer be service on a loop that runs through the Locust Grove neighborhood.  Route 2 would be split into two services with 2A serving Fifth Street Station and the Willoughby Shopping Center and 2B serving Mill Creek in Albemarle County for the first time on its way to Piedmont Virginia Community College. This would also serve Monticello High School. 2A would run for some of Sunday A second bus would be added to the current Route 6 to improve frequency to 30 minutesThe second phase would make changes to services along the U.S. 29 corridor.Route 7 would be expanded to the Wal-Mart and would travel bi-directionally along Hillsdale Drive and through Seminole Square Shopping Center. Baker said the goal here is to link downtown Charlottesville with Wal-Mart, which is a major shopping destination. Route 5 would no longer travel to the Wal-Mart but would instead have a northern terminus at Fashion Square Mall. Its new southern terminus would be the UVA Hospital. The Sunday-only Route 12 would be eliminated in favor of Route 7 going seven days a week The third phase will implement the rest of the changes. Here are some of them:Saturday service would be introduced to Route 1 Route 3 would be broken into two routes with one traveling solely between downtown and Willoughby Shopping Center A new route, tentatively known as Route 3E, would travel around Belmont and downtownRoute 6 would no longer serve the University of Virginia Hospital via Prospect Avenue. It would also be routed along South First Street as it travels between downtown and the Willoughby Shopping Center. This would add additional service to Crescent Hall.Route 8 serves Stonefield and would be altered to travel south to the University of Virginia Hospital and down to Willoughby Shopping Center via Prospect Avenue. This service would no longer travel downtown. Route 9 would also no longer serve the UVA Hospital and would instead travel to Fashion Square Mall Route 10 would be altered to no longer travel on Stony Point Road and instead would travel bidirectionally through the Pantops Shopping Center on its way between Downtown Charlottesville and Sentara Martha JeffersonWhen will the phases be implemented? According to the presentation, that’s all going to depend on drivers. Six more drivers are needed for phase one, a total of 12 are needed for phase two, and a total of 27 are needed for phase 3. There’s an additional “phase three plus” that’s perhaps not worth detailing because it would need a total of 46 additional drivers. That’s a much higher number than six. “Assuming we can get the pay scale to be comparable to Jaunt and [University Transit System], and we can get six more drivers, that should not be [beyond the reach] and then we can begin phase 1,” Williams said. “The jump, though, is getting authorization from the city and the county to fund us to make the additional resources.” The Regional Transit Partnership meeting was held a couple of hours before a public meeting on the Regional Transit Vision Plan. which is $350,000 in the making. The following illustrates confusion that can come from having planning processes not tied to actual logistics. City Councilor Brian Pinkston asked what the proposed CAT changes had to do with that study.“Is this sort of like a first step towards that larger vision?”Williams said these changes have nothing to do with the Regional Transit Vision Plan. “They didn’t even copy these routes,” Williams said. “They took a whole new approach and said the slate was clean.” I’ll have more from the Regional Transit Partnership and more on the Regional Transit Vision plan in future installments of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Support the program!There’s a lot of information in this installment of this program, which is the 397th edition of the program. About a quarter of you are paying something to help keep Town Crier Productions in business. I have never been a very good salesperson, and won’t overly pitch.But, if you are benefiting from this newsletter and the information in it, please consider some form of support. I am not a nonprofit organization and most of my time is spent in putting the newsletter together, which includes producing the podcast.Supporting the program through a Substack contribution or through Patreon makes it very easy for me to get paid and every single dollar that I get makes me want to work that much harder to serve the community. In just under two years, I’ve produced hundreds of stories that seek to give you information about how decisions are made in our community and in the Commonwealth of Virginia.For more information on all of this, please visit the archive site Information Charlottesville to learn more, including how you too can get a shout-out! Thank you for reading, and please share with those you think might want to learn a few thing or two about what’s happening. 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

It is really and truly summer now Happy Summer Solstice Season in the Northern Hemisphere. Are your gardens and parks full of the sound and movements of winged life – the fluttering of moths at your white flowers, at the porch or street light each evening? Dragonflies, mosquitos, bumblebees, and flower flies dancing across your flowers and grasses by day? National Pollinator Week is June 20 – 26, and this week we're in conversation with Dr. Monika Egerer, pollination ecologist at the Technical University of Munich sharing more about the importance of well-designed urban gardens for pollinator support. Monika researches the ecology and management of production-oriented ecosystems in and around cities. She pursues an interdisciplinary research approach that analyzes connections between biodiversity, environmental and climate protection, ecosystem services and social-ecological issues in urban agricultural systems. A strong focus of her work is the role of insects and plant biodiversity in urban ecosystems, specifically in the context of habitat management, urbanization and climate change. Seems that our gardens as contributions to urban biodiversity depend on our viewing them as habitats and our embrace of an “agroecological” in which the focus on production for our needs (food, flowers, control) and the needs of other lives (ecology) is key. As is a little more wildness... Enjoy! Cultivating Place now has a donate button! We thank you so much for listening over the years and we hope you'll support Cultivating Place. We can't thank you enough for making it possible for this young program to grow even more of these types of conversations. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Podcast, and Stitcher. To read more and for many more photos please visit www.cultivatingplace.com.

We're all a buzz for National Pollinator Week! TJ from Walmart World talked with Jason, a 26-year Walmart associate and bee keeper, and Debbie, a 32-year Walmart associate who leads the charge to save bees at Store 5037. Listen in as they talk about the important role these pollinators have in sustaining life the way we know it, and the ways Walmart is working to preserve bees and establish more sustainable practices.

We're all a buzz for National Pollinator Week! TJ from Walmart World talked with Jason, a 26-year Walmart associate and bee keeper, and Debbie, a 32-year Walmart associate who leads the charge to save bees at Store 5037. Listen in as they talk about the important role these pollinators have in sustaining life the way we know it, and the ways Walmart is working to preserve bees and establish more sustainable practices.

We’re now one day past the summer solstice, and one day closer to the next one. There’s a rhythm to our existence on this planet that never stops so it makes a lot of sense to take a lot of snapshots. Here’s another installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement capturing a few observations about June 22, 2022, the first full day of summer. I’m Sean Tubbs, ready to adjust to days that shed light as I shed light on more buildings and food. Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Ting will match your initial payment!On today’s program:Details on how Charlottesville’s future zoning will match Future Land Use Map vision for more density all across the city Lights will soon be installed at the McIntire skate park in CharlottesvilleThe Albemarle Planning Commission takes up a rezoning for 525 units on Old Ivy Road and the developer asks for more time to retool the application First Shout-out is for the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards In today’s first subscriber-supported shout-out, have you ever wanted to learn as much as you can about how to preserve and protect trees? The Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards are opening up registration for their fall series of online training sessions and field activities running from August 9 through November 19. Full tuition details are at charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org and if you want to get a feel for what you may learn, there’s a public tree identification walk through the grand trees spanning the front areas of the University of Virginia on Sunday, June 26. Attendance is limited, so register today! June 27 meeting scheduled to review Charlottesville zoning reportTwo of the three components of Charlottesville’s update of its overarching land use policies are complete, and the work towards the third is moving along. Last week, the city released what’s being called the Diagnostics and Approach Report which provides a pathway forward for how the city’s zoning ordinance will be rewritten. (read the draft)“This zoning rewrite project is not about adding more plans, goals, or objectives – this work is entirely focused on implementing the Affordable Housing Plan and the Comprehensive Plan,” writes James Freas, the city’s director of Neighborhood Development Services. All of this work has been done and will be done done under the auspices of the Cville Plans Together initiative. A public meeting will be held on Monday, June 27 at the Ting Pavilion about the document. “At the core of the entire Cville Plans Together process there has been a commitment to addressing issues of racial equity and affordable housing and that core commitment remains as we work through the zoning rewrite. Meeting this commitment requires that our zoning allow people to build more housing units throughout the city, that it establishes incentives to include affordable units in new multi-family development, and that it is sensitive to the potential for displacement.” The draft report calls for several steps to make the zoning ordinance more predictable. This would include restricting the usage of the special use permit process to uses rather than bulk and massing. It would also discourage further rezonings. The future zoning map is to facilitate the vision of the Future Land Use Map, which calls for all single-family residential lots to be able to build three units with a fourth available if it is rented or sold at city-defined affordability levels. In fact, much of the additional density in higher-intensity zones would require that same affordability for “bonus” units. In a separate but related process, HR&A Advisors are working with Code Studio and the city on an inclusionary zoning ordinance to codify the details. This will also include the Sensitive Communities areas which are intended to stop further displacement in neighborhoods such as Fifeville and Tenth and Page. Several properties in those areas have recently sold for high amounts. Other useful information and recommendations in the draft:A description of housing types begins on page 33 if you want to know the difference between a carriage house and a triplex and a twelveplex.There is a recommendation to create zoning districts based on building form to reflect the different designations in the Future Land Use Map. There would be a “house-scale district” and a “medium-scale district.” Smaller lots would be permitted more “lot coverage” than larger ones.  Other recommendations include reducing parking requirements and the modification of existing setback requirements to provide flexibility to place more units on lots. There are pages of diagrams that depict how this might be achieved for different lot sizes and shapes. There is a focus on urban form rather than density, allowing density to be regulated by building codes and fire codes.Building heights would be expressed in both feet and stories Some of the many existing mixed use corridor districts with similar building heights and an urban form could be combined into a single district. The word “family” would be replaced with “household” or “unit” There should be more use of manufactured homes particularly for “tiny” homesThe Entrance Corridor Review Board should be eliminated by building standards into the zoning codeThe work is not yet complete. Some but not all of the existing zoning categories have been taken through the process but Appendix B shows the ones that have. There will certainly be more information about this process in the next few months. Please stay tuned to this newsletter which seeks to bring as much information as possible. Fundraising goal met to light up McIntire Skate ParkA public-private partnership to relocate a skate park removed for road construction resulted in a new facility in McIntire Park opening in 2019. But until now, there have been no lights due to budget cuts to the project made to get it completed. This morning the city announced a fundraising goal has been met and lights will be installed by mid-September. When in place, the park will stay open until 10 p.m. “The lights are LED fixtures from MUSCO Lighting, chosen for their low-light pollution, energy use, heat emission, and longevity,” reads a press release. The funding for the lights comes entirely from private donations with contributions from the Bama Works Fund, the Perry Foundation, the Rock The Lights Campaign by Duane Brown, Upper-level Screen Printing, Freestyle, Hatcher Consulting, and Anonymous Local Foundation.Second shout-out: SCAN holding a Beekeeping 101 class Since the very beginning of this newsletter, one long-time Patreon supporter has used his shout-out to draw your attention to the work of the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign but today let’s talk about National Pollinator Week, which runs through June 26! There will be many events designed to draw your attention to the crucial role that bees and other creatures play in making sure plants reproduce. On Saturday at 10 a.m., Scottsville’s Center for the Arts and Natural Environment will host Allison Wickham from Siller Pollinator Company will lead an introduction to bees and beekeeping. If you're thinking about starting a backyard beehive or are just curious about what's involved with keeping bees, then this is a great introductory class for you. There will even be a honey competition judged by Allison Wickham! For the tuition rate and to register, visit svilleartsandnature.org for a list of all of the upcoming classes. There are plenty more pollinating resources on the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Facebook page, so sign up to be notified of lectures, plant sales, and more! Greystar asks for more time on Old Ivy Residences rezoning after Planning Commission public hearing The Albemarle County Planning Commission had a long public hearing on June 14 on Greystar Development’s rezoning request for up to 525 units on about 35 acres on Old Ivy Road. The five parcels of property are nearby University Village, Huntington Village, Ivy Gardens, and several office spaces mostly owned by the UVA Foundation. “And then to the north of course is the Darden Business School at UVA, North Grounds including the law school and other nearby UVA destinations,” said Rebecca Ragsdale, a planning manager with the county. There are three different zoning types across the property, with R-1, R-10, and R-15. The higher intensity zoning parcels have legally-binding conditions on them called proffers. “And one of those proffers is that the R-15 properties are limited to R-1 density until transportation proffers are deemed satisfied by the Board of Supervisors,” Ragsdale said. Some of the land had been owned by the Virginia Department of Transportation for usage for the now-defunct Western Bypass. The Rivanna Trail runs through the site and portions of it will be rerouted as part of the development. There are discrepancies between what county staff in terms of affordable housing and what the developer had offered. Ragsdale said the developer’s interpretation assumed that the R-15 properties are already rezoned and should not trigger the county’s policy. As such, they’re offering 14 of the units to be designated as affordable rentals. Staff disagrees. But the major concerns related to transportation impacts. Planning Manager Kevin McDermott said a traffic study commissioned by the developer found that intersections on the western end of Old Ivy Road particularly at the U.S. 250 interchange are already overburdened. “Existing conditions at those are currently failing for many movements and poor all around,” McDermott said. McDermott said the county and the Virginia Department of Transportation are working on potential options but the work is not complete. “If they are determined as feasible, we would need to identify funding for that,” McDermott said. The eastern end of Old Ivy Road has a narrow railroad underpass, which McDermott said was also being studied but nothing is shovel-ready. McDermott also said the traffic study also showed that Old Ivy Residences would cause further delays. He said there have been some improvements to upgrade the road such as installation of curb and gutter and a thirty-foot road width. However, he said nothing has been done to realign the roadway at the underpass and there’s a partial sidewalk on the south side of Old Ivy Road. Greystar argues development is consistent with comp plan John Clarkson is the managing director of Greystar, which is based in Charleston, South Carolina. “We think we have a project here that is very appropriate for what is defined by the zoning,” Clarkson said. “We intend to build a very thoughtful and well-designed project that meets the housing demand.” Greystar hired the law firm Williams Mullen to help them through the land use process in Albemarle. Attorney Valerie Long said there have been enough improvements on Old Ivy Road since the proffer was adopted in the rezoning in 1985. “Most significantly, the University’s construction of Leonard Sandridge Drive which obviously took a tremendous amount of traffic off of Old Ivy,” Long said. “Really the outstanding one is the railroad trestle. We certainly understand and agree that is a problem and we are comforted and encouraged by Mr. McDermott’s comments about how closely they are working with VDOT and the University representatives to address that issue.” Long said Greystar will make contributions to a solution when it is identified. She said the issue before the county is whether to approve dense housing inside of the designated growth area where the units would be close to where people want to be. There is currently no transit along Old Ivy Road, but Long said they would build a bus stop. They’re also asking for a reduction in the parking requirements. Long also addressed the concern about the developer’s interpretation of the county’s housing policy. The Bivins that Long refers to is Commissioner Julian Bivins, who represents the Jack Jouett district where this development would be built. “The land is zoned R-15, not all of it it, but the vast majority as Mr. Bivins indicated, about 27 acres, are zoned R-15,” Long said. “So we’re not asking for an increase in those parcels in terms of units.” Rents would be between $1,850 and $3,600. Bivins suggested that Greystar offer more than just 14 units. “Affordable units is not about poverty,” Bivins said. “Affordable units is about jobs and because our community morphing into more of a service industry, those jobs don’t pay as much as some of the other jobs used to be. So I think if this goes forward, when it goes forward, it would be a really strong signal that [you] really want to be responsive to the community if [you’re] not saying [you’re] only giving 14 units.” Public hearingOver two dozen people people spoke at the public hearing, most of them opposed. One of them was Joel Loving who lives in the Bel Air neighborhood.“There’s no question that adding as many as 1,500 residents and a thousand vehicles to this small area will have a substantial impact on pedestrian and vehicular traffic, stormwater, the local school system, and I’m sure there’s plenty more that will be discussed this evening,” Loving said. Elizabeth Kutchai recently moved into University Village after living in Charlottesville for decades. She said 525 units are too many. “The University of Virginia has already erected many new buildings on Old Ivy Road,” Kutchai said. “They also own Ivy Gardens Apartments and have plans to redevelop that property, increasing its density by 150 percent. See also:UVA making plans for Ivy Gardens redevelopment, June 9, 2021UVA committee briefed on new capital projects, June 4, 2022Many other residents from University Village asked for the Commission to consider specific topics, such as a concern fire and rescue access would be limited. “No fire department no matter how good they are is going to be able to cope with a fire in a development of this size when you have people packed in there like sardines,” said resident Daniel Avery.One of the final speakers from University Village was Sally Thomas, who served 16 years on the Board of Supervisors. In 2001, She voted to adopt the Neighborhood Model District zoning to fulfill the Comprehensive Plan goal of compact development in the designated growth areas. “This Old Ivy apartments complex is not what the county hoped for in smart growth,” Thomas said. “Why not? It’s certainly dense and within the growth area. But it’s also like too many other projects that seemed to be desirable developments. It overloads the present facilities and its interconnectivity just hasn’t quite been developed in a way that will work for both the residents and the neighborhood.” Only three people spoke in-person at the public hearing in favor of the rezoning. One was the lawyer for the property owner who will sell it to Greystar. Another was John Matthews whose company produced a report for the development. The other was Ivo Romenesko. He’s a Farmington resident who was also part of the Development Initiative Steering Committee which helped develop the Neighborhood Model. “The clock is ticking on the growth area,” Romenesko said. “I think that the double digit percentages that are occurring with population in Albemarle and the Planning District put pressure on Albemarle County and I would like to see the growth area accommodate as much reasonably good, well-designed development as it can so that we can preserve the beautiful areas of Albemarle County as long as we can.” In her rebuttal after the public hearing, Long acknowledged there is work to be done to increase connectivity for both pedestrians and motor vehicles. She said Greystar is offering funds toward improvements. “Greystar is committed to continuing to negotiate with all of its neighbors,” Long said. “They want to improve the safety and the traffic issues and they’re continuing to make those contributions and as somebody said, make the connections. We’ve spent a lot of time talking to Mr. McDermott and VDOT and other folks. We’ve had our traffic engineer putting suggestions together, our civil engineer drawing plans, submitting them to various off-site owners with engineered plans for paths, for connections, for road improvements. We just can’t do it unilaterally.” Commissioners had concernsAt-Large Commissioner Luis Carrazana likened the 1985 proffer restricting development until transportation improvements as a gate. “That is a concept that I believe is very useful particularly as we consider amendments to our Comprehensive Plan,” Carrazana said. Carrazana said the Commission hears again and again about overburdened roads and overcrowded schools. He also said he did not think the conditions of the proffer have been met. “In terms of the failing road, and that road is not getting any better,” Carrazana said. “It is dangerous.” Commissioner Karen Firehock said another constraint is the presence of the railroad, which has been owned by CSX for many years but will soon be owned by the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. She said the underpass is hazardous after heavy rainfall. “I have seen cars floating, very surprised UVA students in fact not realizing that wasn’t just a puddle and having cars being towed out and totaled because they were underwater,” Firehock said. However, Firehock said she felt this was a good area to develop if the connections can be made. Commissioner Corey Clayborne said he felt the density could be appropriate but traffic concerns are a show-stopper. “I don’t believe that the transportation piece has been satisfied according to the Board’s stipulation on that,” Clayborne said. “That hasn’t been proven to me tonight.” Clayborne said he did understand how the developers came up with the number 14 for affordable housing units. “But nothing prevents you from doing above what the policy asks either and there’s just no way that I could vote for 525 units and… 14?” Clayborne said.Bivins suggested that Greystar could get permission to connect to Leonard Sandridge Road, which leads out to eastbound U.S. 250.“I don’t know you do that,” Bivins said. “You all are sophisticated enough and you all have the various buttons that you can push in that administration. I would encourage you do to that and I would particularly encourage you to do that before you meet with the Supervisors.” Bivins made a motion to recommend denial of the rezoning, but Long approached and asked for a deferral so some of the issues could be worked out. The Planning Commission granted that and Firehock has the final word in this story. “I will just say that I very much look forward to seeing how the applicant works on all of these things because I think we do believe that density in the urban ring is a good thing,” Firehock said. Support the program!There’s a lot of information in this installment of this program, which is the 397th edition of the program. About a quarter of you are paying something to help keep Town Crier Productions in business. I have never been a very good salesperson, and won’t overly pitch.But, if you are benefiting from this newsletter and the information in it, please consider some form of support. I am not a nonprofit organization and most of my time is spent in putting the newsletter together, which includes producing the podcast.Supporting the program through a Substack contribution or through Patreon makes it very easy for me to get paid and every single dollar that I get makes me want to work that much harder to serve the community. In just under two years, I’ve produced hundreds of stories that seek to give you information about how decisions are made in our community and in the Commonwealth of Virginia.For more information on all of this, please visit the archive site Information Charlottesville to learn more, including how you too can get a shout-out! Thank you for reading, and please share with those you think might want to learn a few thing or two about what’s happening. 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

Better Lawns and Gardens Hour 1 – Coming to you from Summit Responsible Solutions Studios, Gardening expert and Better Lawns and Gardens Host Emeritus, Tom MacCubbin fills in for Teresa Watkins on her garden tour to the Brandywine Valley, America's Garden Capital. Tom discusses the current incredibly hot temperatures, Father's Day gifts, National Pollinator Week, and summer starting, with preparations for a Fall vegetable and fruit gardening season with longtime listener and friend, Jim Alison, in North Florida. Gardening calls and texts include best peach varieties for Florida, tomato plants declining, how does heat index affects plants, putting holes in containers for drainage, how often to water sod, groundcover varieties, and more. https://bit.ly/3c1f5x7 Father's Day Gifts –     Tom MacCubbin's Booiks https://amzn.to/3xBlDMU                                      Lance Walheim's Books https://amzn.to/3tKegS2 Graphic and photography credits: Teresa Watkins    Listen to Better Lawns and Gardens every Saturday 7 am - 9 am EST.  Call in with your garden questions 1.888.455.2867, or text 23680.     #WFLF #WFLA #FNN #BetterLawns #gardening #Florida #planting #gardeninglife #radio #southflorida #northflorida #centralflorida #tropical #floridalife #photography #SHE #fertilizer #turf #grass #landscaping #fruits #vegetables #Orlando #Sarasota #Miami #FortLauderdale #BLGradio #WRLN #WiOD #2022 #gardening #fertilizer #SummitResponsibleSolutions #QualityGreenSpecialists #BlackKow #gardentours #travel  

Welcome green thumbs! This week the team celebrates National Pollinator Week by discussing the magic of pollination. Kevin offers his favorite plant recommendations to attract pollinators, and other beneficials, all year round.Read On: Plant For PollinatorsWatch On YouTube: All About PollinatorsGreen Acres Nursery & SupplyGreen Acres Garden Podcast Group on Facebook @idiggreenacresSign Up for Email Ads and Timely Garden TipsPictured: Honey Bee on Echinacea (Coneflower)

We are now half of the way through a month that some may consider half way through the year. Many of these observations are arbitrary, but it is definitively June 15, 2022 and this is the equivalent installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement. What shall we learn today? Stay tuned and let me know if you did. On today’s program:The Charlottesville Economic Development Authority learns more about the city’s lease for space the S&P Global building downtown A key document for the third phase of the Cville Plans Together initiative will be released tomorrowA major toy manufacturer is set to open a factory in Chesterfield providing over 1,700 jobsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues a warning on “forever chemicals” in drinking waterAnd the Charlottesville Planning Commission recommends a special use permit for 11 homes in the section of the Belmont neighborhood inside a mixed-use urban zoning district First shout-out: The Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign It’s getting very close to the technical end of springtime, and one Patreon subscriber wants you to know the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign is a grassroots initiative of motivated citizens, volunteers, partner organizations, and local governments who want to promote the use of native plants. Did you know that National Pollinator Week is June 20th-26th this year? There are many ways to celebrate and learn more about our native pollinators, and here's a great one to start with:Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is hosting an in-person/virtual Pollinator Power Symposium on June 23rd, and there is an excellent line up of speakers scheduled for the day! There are plenty of resources on the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Facebook page, so sign up to be notified of lectures, plant sales, and more! City details terms of S&P Global’s lease for downtown buildingCharlottesville’s Office of Community Solutions continues to review leases the city has with third parties who rent space. Council held a work session on the topic in May and learned that until now there was no central place in city government entrusted with keeping track of leases for about 145,275 square feet of floor space and about 50 acres under ground lease. (view the presentation)One of those buildings is a five-story structure currently occupied by a branch of S&P Global, an international company that does research into economic and business issues. According to the May presentation, the city’s Economic Development Authority takes in $240,000 annually in rent but the property’s market value could be as high as $1.58 million. “The S&P Global building started its life as the National Ground Intelligence Center,” said Chris Engel, the city’s economic development director. “Essentially it was built in the 60’s by the federal government and occupied by the Army.” In the 1990’s, NGIC moved to a larger and more secure location at the Rivanna Station in northern Albemarle County. “At that time the city was concerned about the loss of activity that building created and went and petitioned the federal government and the General Services Administration to have them gift the building to the city,” Engel said. The city entered into a lease with the Economic Development Authority and the EDA offered a 30-year lease to a company that used to be called SNL Financial, which then took the space to consolidate its offices into one place rather than be scattered across multiple locations. A company that would later be renamed S&P Global purchased the company in July 2015 for $2.2 billion. Engel said the EDA’s lease with S&P Global is about two thirds of the way through. “The way the lease is structured is that all the burden is on them to manage the facility and maintain the facility, everything,” Engel said. “We essentially do nothing from a physical standpoint.” Engel said S&P Global has earned upfit credits for about $9 million worth of investments put into the building at the beginning of the lease. “Those credits are nearly running out,” Engel said. “Those credits are nearly running out. They’re not quite all the way run out. They have actually just qualified for about $3.5 million in additional rent credits. They replaced the boilers. They replaced the roof, the chiling system, the elevator system. They added fire protection.”When the credits do run out, Engel said S&P Global will pay closer to market rate. Council will have a further discussion on city-managed leases.Charlottesville’s zoning rewrite is about to enter next phaseOn Thursday, the city will publish a document intended to set the stage for the final portion of the Cville Plans Together initiative.“So this is the diagnostic and approach report,” said James Freas, the city’s director of neighborhood development services. Freas briefed the Charlottesville Planning Commission at the beginning of their meeting on Tuesday. An open house to explain the event will be held on June 27 at the Charlottesville Pavilion, an event for which Freas said the city would validate parking. “We look forward to a lot of conversations with the community, with all of you, and whoever else chooses to show up at that meeting,” Freas said.The new zoning code is expected to make it easier for more dense development in the city. That’s a major goal of the new Comprehensive Plan adopted by Council last November. The zoning rewrite may also offer more guidance for rules and regulations about housing affordability. Direction for that comes from the Affordable Housing Plan adopted by Council in March 2021. “This first report kicks off our three-step process for the zoning rewrite,” Freas said. “As I’ve referred to it before, this is kind of the conceptual plan of the new zoning ordinance and it lays out the ideas. It talks about what we need to do to change our zoning ordinance in order to advance implementation of the affordable housing plan.” A joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission will be held in September to confirm the next steps in writing up the new ordinance. A first draft will be the second step, followed by a review of a final draft next spring. In May, Planning Commissioner Hosea Mitchell got a preview at the closed-door meeting of the Land Use and Environmental Planning Committee that consists of top planning staff from Albemarle, Charlottesville, and the University of Virginia. “The rewrite of our code is not form-based code but as Mr. Freas mentioned a couple of times, it does contain form-based elements,” Mitchell said.In general, form-based code refers to a series of rules and regulations to govern building envelopes. We’ll hear much more about these details as the conversation continues. Meanwhile, there is an active lawsuit in Charlottesville Circuit Court against the City Council for adopting the Comprehensive Plan. Among other things, that suit argues that the city failed to provide a transportation plan. There’s a hearing on July 15 on a motion to force the plaintiffs to identify themselves, followed by another hearing on August 26.See also:Anonymous group of city property owners files suit against Comprehensive Plan adoption, January 12, 2022Charlottesville served with suit against the Comprehensive Plan, March 20, 2022City responds to Comprehensive Plan lawsuit, April 12, 2022Charlottesville zoning info slightly delayed, May 13, 2022Environmental Protection Agency sounds warning about PFAS in drinking waterThe United States Environmental Protection Agency today has issued four advisories on the potential for “forever chemicals” in water supplies. The term PFAS covers per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances which are used in the manufacture of many products people use every day such as non-stick cookware, food packaging, electronics, and more. These substances do not break down and can accumulate in the human body and blood over many years and have been linked to cancer and diseases that affect the immune system. The four advisories are for specific substances.“The updated advisory levels [for PFOA and PFOS], which are based on new science and consider lifetime exposure, indicate that some negative health effects may occur with concentrations of PFOA or PFOS in water that are near zero and below EPA’s ability to detect at this time,” reads a press release announcing the steps. “The lower the level of PFOA and PFOS, the lower the risk to public health.”This fall, the EPA will issue new regulations on drinking water related to PFAS. There’s also $1 billion in funding for states and localities to install equipment in drinking water supplies to filter out the substances. The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority has applied for a $21 million grant to remove the contaminants by upgrading filtration systems, according to the May agenda. Youngkin announces LEGO factory in ChesterfieldWill everything be awesome in Chesterfield County’s near future? Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced that the LEGO Group will open a 1.7 million square foot manufacturing plant in Chesterfield County’s Meadowville Technology Park.“This transformational project will create more than 1,760 jobs and bolster Virginia's manufacturing industry, which continues its renaissance with major investments by high-caliber corporate partners like the LEGO Group,” Youngkin is quoted in a news release. The $1 billion investment is spurred by $56 million from the state’s Major Employment and Investment Project grant program. Such a fund has been established by the General Assembly  and that figure depends on LEGO providing every one of those jobs. There’s also another potential for $19 million in state funding for site development costs that will require approval by the legislature. The LEGO Company was founded in 1932 and remains a family run company headquartered in Denmark. Their primary product is plastic construction blocks. “These cherished play experiences are being made in factories across the world, keeping up with the continuously high demand and soon they’ll be manufactured right here in Virginia,” says the narrator of an announcement on a new website for people who’d like to work thereApplications for positions will be taken later this year and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership will use the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program to recruit potential applicants. Second shout-out is for LEAP’s new Thermalize Virginia program In today’s second Patreon-fueled shout-out: Have you been thinking of converting your fossil-fuel appliances and furnaces into something that will help the community reduce its greenhouse gas emissions? Your local energy nonprofit, LEAP,  has launched a new program to guide you through the steps toward electrifying your home. Thermalize Virginia will help you understand electrification and connect you with vetted contractors to get the work done and help you find any rebates or discounts. Visit thermalizeva.org to learn more and to sign up!  Planning Commission recommends approval of 11 units at 1000 Monticello Road The Charlottesville Planning Commission has recommended approval of a special use permit for additional density at 1000 Monticello Road in the Belmont neighborhood that would allow for 11 units and a small commercial space on the ground floor.A split City Council denied a similar permit in February 2021 with the majority expressing concern about adverse impacts on the neighborhood. At the time, five of the units were being proffered as affordable to households and individuals whose incomes at around 65 percent of the area’s median. This time around, two additional units would be restricted to tenants at 80 percent of the area median income. Neither is required by existing city code.“This project does not trip the standard in Section 34-12 of our zoning ordinance, the requirement for affordable housing, so this condition is offered by the applicant above and beyond what is required under our code,” said city planner Brian Haluska. The property in question already has an apartment building with 23 units that was purchased by Core Real Estate and Development in January 2018 and then sold to Piedmont Realty Holdings a year later. The special use permit is required for additional residential units on the 0.81 acre property. An existing curb cut into a parking lot would be removed. “The proposed new building footprint, which will house 11 units and a small commercial tenant space, is proposed directly adjacent to the existing building fronting along Monticello Road,” said Kelsey Schlein with Shimp Engineering.  (view the presentation)Schlein said the project has been brought back because Council adopted both an Affordable Housing Plan and a Comprehensive Plan that calls for more housing. “The purpose of the land use section of the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Plan states that ‘land use policies shape where housing is located, what housing looks like, and how much housing is built,’” Schlein said. Schlein said in this case, the developer would not be seeking any city funds to help subsidize the development. She added the site is within walking distance to eight bus stops, is an example of infill development. The length of the affordability period is at issue. The developer is offering the below market rates for ten years, but the city wants more.“I think a 30 year period would be more in  line with city policy and then also the lack of mention of a willingness to accept vouchers,” said Alex Ikefuna, the interim director of the Office of Community Solutions. The last time this project was before Charlottesville officials, there were several speakers who argued the special use permit should be denied because the rents at 1000 Monticello Road were increased. Schein said the current owner should not be punished. “There was a longtime owner, and then there was a short-term owner, and now we have this third owner in place who has been in place since 2018,” Schlein said. “During the short-term owner… I believe 11 of the units had already gone to a rental rate that somewhat more of a market rate.” Schlein said there are six tenants left at 1000 Monticello Road who are renting below market rate. She said the project would take federal housing vouchers. She said she knows the city would like to see longer terms, but her interpretation of the Affordable Housing Plan is that those would be triggered by the acceptance of public funds. “When an applicant utilizes city funds, there should be a standard by which they adhere to,” Schlein said. “In this case, ten years is what we can commit to on this project.” Councilor Michael Payne voted against the proposal the first time and said he wanted it to be known that Piedmont Holding has displaced some of the former owners. Only one person spoke at the public hearing. Brandon Collins worked for the Public Housing Association of Residents when this permit was last before the city. He now works for a government entity but last night he said he was speaking for himself. “As it stands I’m going to ask you to deny this special use permit for this property,” Collins said. “A special use permit is going outside of your existing rules. The property is already outside of your existing rules and in order to do so you have to show that there’s a benefit to the community and that there’s not a negative impact on the community and I think it’s really crass to hear the development team talk about their commitment to affordable housing and affordable housing crisis when this exact property has contributed to the crisis in Charlottesville when it comes to affordability.” However, the Commission recommended approval. “I do think it is a good infill proposal,” said Commissioner Karim Habbab. “I do like the commercial. I think something creative can happen there to extend that Downtown Belmont feeling.” “I’m of the opinion that this is a good project,” said Commissioner Rory Stolzenberg. “Certainly if you look at it in a vacuum ignoring the site its possibly the best possible project you can imagine. It’s replacing a redundant driveway and curb cut with 11 units of housing, seven of which are affordable.” Stolzenberg pointed out that Council is not permitted by law to consider previous actions by previous owners, or the current one, as it considers the permit. “If we’re denying those homes as punishment to the property owner, when does that punishment end?” Stolzenberg asked. The Council recommended the special use permit on a 5-1 vote with Commissioner Jody Lahendro voting no and Commissioner Taneia Dowell not present. Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Ting will match your initial payment! 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

Next week (June 19-25) is National Pollinator Week. Bridget has some ideas to help you highlight this notable week to customers. Keys to engaging customers include information about both food and habitat. Pollinators need seasonal nectar, so an emphasis on the flowering diversity of herbaceous and woody plants is helpful. One aspect of habitat might be to show them how to make a shallow bowl to fill with water and add stones on which to rest (like these cool Petoskey stones). While they've surpassed their goal of a million registered pollinator gardens, your customers may still be interested in the movement.

It's National Pollinator Week! Obviously we love our pollinators here at Bloom Box so join us in talking about some of the most important insect pollinators and what we can do to help them.Show NotesSend us your questions at growingwithbloombox@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail.Bloom Box: Growing Deeper: https://plantnebraska.org/podcastFollow us @NEBloomBox on Facebook and InstagramLearn more about Bloom Box: https://plantnebraska.org/bloom-boxLearn more about the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum: https://plantnebraska.org

Today the year turns 161 days old, but don’t get too used to that number, for it will be replaced quite soon with another, and another, and so on. But 2022 is still not yet at the halfway point, and you’ve got three weeks left until that not-quite-august occasion on July 1. The occasion right now is this installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement, and this person writing is Sean Tubbs.  There’s lot of information in every installment of this newsletter and podcast. Send it on to more people to help grow the audience!On today’s program:The University of Virginia is asking developers to send in qualifications to build two mixed-use communities as part of an affordable housing initiativeTwo redevelopment projects being undertaken by the city’s public housing agency may not get financing through low-income housing tax credits this yearCharlottesville City Council officially kills the West Main Streetscape Louisa County Supervisors discuss a referendum for a sports complex and whether it should include turf fields on existing athletic fieldsAnd Charlottesville will only one outdoor pool at a time for the time being First shout–out: JMRL to kick off the Summer Reading ChallengeIn today’s first subscriber-supported public service announcement, the Jefferson Madison Regional Library wants you to read as much as you can this summer, and for encouragement and incentives, they’re holding another Summer Reading Challenge. There’s an Ocean of Possibilities this year and the Central Library will kick off the challenge this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Central Library. It will be a party with music, food, and fun! The Friends of the Library will pop up a mini-book sale and a Books on Bikes parade! You can learn more about the Summer Challenge and how you or your family members can win awards and receive prizes. Visit jmrl.org to learn more about the kickoff event, this Saturday! University of Virginia issues first request for qualifications for affordable housing developerThe University of Virginia is moving forward with an initiative to use property owned by its real estate foundation to create units that will be reserved for people whose incomes are below the area median income. The UVA Foundation issued a request this morning for qualifications from firms to develop two separate projects, including a two-acre site on Wertland Street. The other is a 12-acre site on Mimosa Drive known currently as Piedmont. “UVA/UVAF intends to enter into a ground lease with one or more development team(s) best suited to satisfy UVA/UVAF’s requirements and desired features,” reads the request for proposals. UVA announced a goal of building between 1,000 and 1,500 affordable housing units in March 2020, but momentum was stalled by the pandemic. These two sites as well as the North Fork Research Park were identified in December after initial work for the project was conducted by the firm Northern Urban Real Estate Ventures. A similar request for qualifications for a firm for North Fork will be made at a later date. Under the arrangement, the UVA Foundation would continue to own both sites and the developer would own the structures and other improvements. “UVA/UVAF seeks to maximize the amount of affordable and workforce housing at each site and as such, will provide the land as a part of the Project,” the request continues. “UVA/UVAF will not otherwise contribute funding to the Project.” The developer will be responsible for preparing the plans and getting all of the necessary approvals, including archaeological studies. They’ll also have to have experience getting financing through Virginia Housing. Other development requirements include:Deliver a moderate to high-density mixed income housing communityOffer a maximum number of affordable housing units, with an emphasis on creating mixed-income communities that include, but are not limited to, units in the 30 percent to 60 percent area median income rangeCoordinate with UVA/UVAF and local jurisdictions on the utilities and infrastructure that will serve the development, and coordinate on the design aesthetic that interacts with the surrounding community.Demolish the existing improvements as needed to accommodate the Project, with the exception of historic structures (applicable only at Piedmont).City officially cancels West Main Streetscape projectCharlottesville City Council has voted to officially cancel the $55 million West Main Streetscape project as well as other projects in an effort to get the city’s transportation house in order. The Virginia Department of Transportation will now administer a project to extend a turn lane at Route 250 and Hydraulic Road. A project to coordinate traffic signals on Emmet Street has also been canceled, as has a Smart Scale funded project at the intersection of Preston and Grady. The details were discussed at a work session with the Planning Commission on May 24. (read my story)“While this is called cancellation of those projects, that’s in regards to the funding with VDOT, so as discussed, especially some of the safety projects, these are not going away forever, they’re just going away as Smart Scale projects,” said City Engineer Jack Dawson. The West Main Streetscape began with a $350,000 study authorized by Council in February 2013 which also led to a rezoning for the street. Over the years, Council authorized more and more funding as a local match for VDOT funds to build the project which was to be split into four phases.  The project lost support as a plan to renovate and expand Buford Middle School became a priority for the current City Council. Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook said the project has been on life support for at least a year. “In a sense, this is almost a formality for us to recognize that which has already been made clear to us and decisions we have made ourselves over the last few years,” Snook said. “This is just finally pulling the plug on it.” The Commonwealth Transportation Board next meets on June 21 and may take up the official resolution to defund the project. Virginia Housing does not recommend funding for two CRHA projectsThe Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority has appeared to have fallen short in its attempt to get financing for two planned redevelopment projects in a current funding cycle. Virginia Housing, the entity that authorizes low-income housing tax credits in Virginia, has issued its final rankings for this year pending approval by their Board of Commissioners later this month.  Credits for 47 units in the Sixth Street Phase One project have not been recommended to be funded through what’s known as the Housing Authority pool. An application for additional credits for 113 units for the second phase of the redevelopment of South First Street also did not rank high enough to move forward. Virginia Housing granted credits for the second phase in 2020 and this second application was to fill in a funding gap caused by higher construction costs. South First Street Phase One is currently under construction and is expected to be occupied earlier this year. That 62-unit project did receive low-income housing tax credits in 2021. The only application recommended for funding from the Housing Authority pool this year is for new construction of 68 units in Norfolk by a company called Brinshore. In that project, 47 of the units would be supported through the credits. CRHA executive director John Sales said is hopeful the Virginia Housing Board of Commissioners will reconsider the rankings at their next meeting in Richmond coming up later this month on June 21 and June 22.“The Board in the past has fully funded Public Housing redevelopment efforts,” Sales said. “We are hoping the Board does the same thing this year when making final allocations.”Sales said if Sixth Street’s request is not funded, CRHA will pursue another financing opportunity later this year or reapply in 2023. He said the South Street Phase Two project will move forward if another source can be found to fill in the funding gap.   You can download the full list of rankings from the Virginia Housing website.Lifeguard shortage causes Charlottesville to limit outdoor pool hoursWith summer just getting under way, the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department has made the decision to restrict hours at both Onesty Pool and Washington Pool so that only one of them will be open each day. “The Department is actively recruiting lifeguards and if the staffing levels increase and are able to operate both pools concurrently, we will update the operating hours,” reads a press release that was sent out this morning. For now, Onesty will be open Thursday through Saturday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Washington Park Pool will be open those hours from Sunday to Wednesday. The indoor Smith Aquatic Center is now open every day after being closed for a couple of years. Outdoor spray grounds are also open. Visit the city’s website for more information. Second shout-out: The Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign It’s getting close to the end of springtime, and one Patreon subscriber wants you to know the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign is a grassroots initiative of motivated citizens, volunteers, partner organizations, and local governments who want to promote the use of native plants. Did you know that National Pollinator Week is June 20th-26th this year? There are many ways to celebrate and learn more about our native pollinators, and here's a great one to start with:Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is hosting an in-person/virtual Pollinator Power Symposium on June 23rd, and there is an excellent line up of speakers scheduled for the day! There are plenty of resources on the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Facebook page, so sign up to be notified of lectures, plant sales, and more! Louisa County may seek a referendum for a sports complexDiscussion of a sports complex with new athletic fields in Albemarle County stalled at the end of the budget cycle, but Louisa County is considering a referendum on the issuance of $16.5 million in bonds for that purpose. The Louisa County Board of Supervisors discusses a draft petition for the referendum at their meeting this past Monday. For a referendum to get on the ballot, a Circuit Court judge has to sign an order by August 18. “This is for a bond issue of up to $16.5 million and it lists four baseball fields, four rectangular fields for sports, concessions, lighting, parking and related facilities, a field house at the high school football field and renovation of existing sports facilities,” said Louisa County Attorney Helen Phillips. Phillips said the language in the ballot question has to be in plain English and not in legalese.Supervisors discussed the proper wording, and whether the suggested wording was too broad. There is a possibility of two different ballot questions. One would be for the complex, and one would be for the field house and other renovations. “In the discussions we’ve had about going to referendum, I don’t recall anything other than just going to referendum to see if people would get behind building a sports complex,” said Mountain Road District Supervisor Tommy Barlow. Supervisor Fitzgerald Barnes said he sees the need for a complex that would expand the county’s offerings, but that the existing school fields also need to be addressed. “What we don’t have in this county is synthetic surfaces for girls’ softball where they could play in the rain,” Barnes said. “These fields would allow, number one, not having to water them, not having to fertilize them, not having to cut them. They would be maintenance free fields.” Barnes said this could help the county increase revenue from lodging taxes. Supervisor Toni Williams of the Jackson District said the ballot question as suggested appeared to assume that the county has already decided to proceed with the project. “It appears that the cake is baked in this that the decision has been made to build them,” Williams said. “Maybe the real special election should ask, first of all, do you want these facilities in the county, and if you want them, do you authorize the Board to pay for them by bond?” Supervisors gave direction to divide the referendum into separate questions. Final language will be discussed and approved at future meetings. The location for a future sports complex has also not yet been selected. For more information on this and anything else happening in Louisa County, visit Engage Louisa by Tammy Purcell. Town Crier Productions has a sponsorship thing with Ting!For over a year one year now, Town Crier Productions has had a promotional offering through Ting!Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! 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

Fans of longer days in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States of America have three weeks to go until the world begins turning back to the other way. The solstice will mark the official start of summer, but many would argue it is already here. I’m not here to argue, and neither is Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter and podcast that seeks to document as much as it can. The I mentioned above is me, Sean Tubbs. Sign up for free to make sure you get every installment. But if you do pay to support the work, Ting will match your initial payment! On today’s program:Details on what’s in the compromise budget that the General Assembly will vote on todayAlbemarle Supervisors have a full meeting including a vote for a new Planning CommissionerTwo plans for a future Regional Transit Authority are presented to area leaders and both have hefty price tags First shout-out is for LEAP’s new Thermalize Virginia program In today’s first Patreon-fueled shout-out: Have you been thinking of converting your fossil-fuel appliances and furnaces into something that will help the community reduce its greenhouse gas emissions? Your local energy nonprofit, LEAP,  has launched a new program to guide you through the steps toward electrifying your home. Thermalize Virginia will help you understand electrification and connect you with vetted contractors to get the work done and help you find any rebates or discounts. Visit thermalizeva.org to learn more and to sign up!  General Assembly returns today to consider conference reportBoth chambers of the Virginia General Assembly will convene at 10 a.m. to finish work on several bills left over the regular session. The major item left waiting to be finalized is the state budget and conference reports were made public over the weekend. There are 370 pages in the conference report for HB30, the technical name for the bill that carries the two year state budget that begins on July 1. A team of six Delegates and eight Senators were appointed to come up with compromises. One running theme is the reduction of funding that is now required because of elimination of the sales tax on foods for human consumption and personal hygiene products. The standard deduction for Virginia income taxes has also been increased from $4,500 to $8,000 for single filers and $9,000 to $16,000 for married couples. There’s a lot in it, and here are some highlights. Let’s start with education. A $400 million competitive fund will be set up for local school boards to apply for funding for “construction, expansion, or modernization, of public school buildings.” The grants would cover up to 30 percent of the project cost. There is a separate $400 million for the School Construction Grant program “for debt service payments on school projects that have been completed or initiated during the last ten years.” School systems across Virginia will get $104.1 million in FY23 and $257.2 million in FY24 in “hold harmless” payments to represent the loss of revenue from the suspension of the grocery A hundred million dollars will go into a College Partnership Laboratory Schools Fund which would be for the creation of “public, nonsectarian, nonreligious schools in the Commonwealth established by a baccalaureate public institution of higher education.”The Secretary of Education is directed to study the practice of collecting student debts for public institutions of higher education. The RISE Foundation of Waynesboro is allocated $250,000 for preventive services for at-risk youth. Around $9.5 million over two years will go to support the implementation of the Virginia Literacy ActChesterfield County Public Schools would get $1.364 million over two years to help establish a recovery high school for students in “early stages of recovery from substance use disorder or dependency.”Here are some economic development and tourism items:There’s $66.7 million in funding over two years to support biotechnology in Virginia, including up to $18 million for the University of Virginia Institute of Biotechnology “to accelerate biotechnology commercialization, genomics and gene therapies, drug delivery technologies and biomanufacturing facilities in the Commonwealth over the next five fiscal years through incentives designed to attract 150 research scientists.”The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will be allocated $125,000 to the Virginia Wine Board to breeding vinifera-style wine groups “with a specified focus on combining vinifera fruit quality with downy mildew resistance, with an objective of commercializing the resulting variety within 10 to 15 years.”There’s $700,000 to hire seven inspectors for regulating hemp products and investigating possible violations. This is related to changes in the already adopted rules for hemp and marijuana.Nine million would be spent over the next two years for the Governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund.The Frederick County Economic Development Authority will get $5 million to help develop sites that can “support the growth of small aerospace, avionics, and unmanned systems companies in Planning District 7.”  Matching funds would need to be provided within a year. Virginia Tech would receive $2.5 million to “create a unique, world-class future truck research and development center in Southwest Virginia.”Nelson County would get $250,000 to support the planning of a Vietnam War and Foreign Conflicts Museum. The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton would get a $250,000 grant for renovations. Thirty million in funding for a new Solar Loan and Rebate program has been eliminated. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority would get $2.5 million in FY24 for a grant program to spur development in the offshore wind industry. There’s $200,000 for a feasibility study whether a new inland port should be built in either southwest Virginia or the Lynchburg area. There’s $2 million for an international sailing event called OpSail250. Environmental items:There’s $575,000 in new funding for an invasive species detection program.The Department of Conservation and Recreation would get $350,000 for creation of an environmental literacy plan. The Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund would get an additional $10 million, matching a $10 million appropriation from the state’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act. DCR would also get $1 million to study of harmful algae blooms on Lake Anna. The phased ban on polystyrene containers would be delayed five years until July 1, 2028Another $320,000 would go to monitor groundwater for the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).The Department of Wildlife Resources gets $400,000 over two years for a program to restore freshwater mussels across Virginia.Here are some land use items:The Department of Housing and Community Development is directed to develop a model lease for manufactured home parks in collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders, and to conduct a feasibility study of these parks as a “source of affordable housing for Virginians.” Just over $11 million for planning for a Center for the Arts at the University of Virginia has been deferred. For more on how we got to here, some other articles: After months of wrangling, Virginia has a budget deal. What’s in it?, Virginia MercuryLawmakers to vote on budget, won’t take up stadium bill, Associated PressVirginia budget proposal includes new marijuana crime, WUSA 9Supervisors to appoint Planning Commissioner for White Hall DistrictThree candidates are awaiting to see if they will be the one selected to represent the White Hall District on the Albemarle Planning Commission. Jennie More resigned in April before the end of her second term.Supervisors will meet today at 1 p.m. and will make their appointments at 6 p.m. after a closed session. They will also select a new non-voting member to represent the University of Virginia. The previous holder of that position, Luis Carazana, was elevated to be the at-large commissioner. Unlike the Board of the Supervisors, there are seven members of the Planning Commission. The applicants for the White Hall seat are Marc McKenney, Lonnie Murray, and Elizabeth Wachtneister. Murray is an elected member of the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation Board.Second shout-out: The Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign It’s getting close to the end of springtime, and one Patreon subscriber wants you to know the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign is a grassroots initiative of motivated citizens, volunteers, partner organizations, and local governments who want to promote the use of native plants. Did you know that National Pollinator Week is June 20th-26th this year? There are many ways to celebrate and learn more about our native pollinators, and here's a great one to start with: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is hosting an in-person/virtual Pollinator Power Symposium on June 23rd, and there is an excellent line up of speakers scheduled for the day! There are plenty of resources on the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Facebook page, so sign up to be notified of lectures, plant sales, and more! Partnership briefed on potential vision for regional transitWork is nearing completion on a conceptual study for how public transport  might work better across the entirety of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. Today the Board of Supervisors will get an up close look at the $350,000 Regional Transit Vision.Last week, an appointed body consisting of elected officials and transit officials got an update on the Regional Transit Vision. “The project is a collaborative effort to evaluate and establish a clear long term vision for transit service in the region, and not just the urbanized area but also the rural areas surrounding Charlottesville and Albemarle County,”  said Tim Brulle of AECOM is the project manager for the vision plan. If you’re unfamiliar with planning, you should know that any plan needs a vision statement to provide an overarching purpose. “To develop, design, and provide transit in the Charlottesville area in a manner that reflects a collaborative, inclusive, and equitable process representing needs in both rural and urban areas,” Brulle said. The purpose is to reduce reliance on personal vehicles for multiple reasons and outcomes, and to provide a way to get around for people without access to one. But how to make that work? Scudder Wagg with Jarrett Walker + Associates presented one vision concept that assumed the region had access to new revenues from a transportation authority similar to one in the Richmond area. This is known the “constrained “ vision. “So basically if you applied a similar funding structure there to your region, how many dollars and if you put most of those dollars to transit, what could it produce?” Wagg asked. “It’s about $26 million a year.”Such an authority would take enabling authority from the General Assembly and would build off of existing services. Wagg also presented a vision that assumed no limits on transit funding. For instance, that would allow for expansion of demand responsive service to seven days a week, as well as fixed-route transit to places that currently don’t have it such as Scottsville, Ruckersville, Lovingston, and Palmyra. This “unconstrained” vision would come with a hefty price tag. “So there’s no defined limit when we were designing a network that we collectively with staff and others at the table felt would help you achieve those goals and the total annual estimate of that network is about $70 million a year to give you some sense of scale,” Wagg said. Most of that cost is in personnel with drivers and mechanics, as well as a additional vehicles. It takes people to run a transit system, and another way to measure one is through service hours. Wag said Charlottesville Area Transit has about 94,000 service hours a year, Jaunt operates 37,000 for a total of 131,000 service hours for the general public. The unconstrained vision includes potential collaboration with the University of Virginia whereas the constrained vision does not their role into account. The partnership isn’t in charge of the purse strings, so today’s conversation before the Board of Supervisors will yield more of a sense of whether there’s an appetite to pursue additional funding and if so, where to direct it. Jarrett Walker + Associates helped redraw the bus system in the Greater Richmond area, and CAT Director Garland Williams was there at the time.“The majority of the emphasis was actually put on frequency and our ridership jumped 22 percent,” Williams said. “Then the second piece was to look at once the frequent service is in, how can you readjust networks to adjust travel times.” Williams said that the same model could be applied here. A microtransit pilot in Albemarle is a year away from happening and depends on award of funding from the Commonwealth Transportation Board.“It will be awarded and the starting of it will be acquisition, development of the program, software acquisition, things that have to happen before the actual buses are on the ground,” said Trevor Henry, the assistant county executive. The regional transit study is separate from a $150,000 governance study about that will suggest how to actually move forward with setting up new structures to actually run the enhanced service, be they constrained or unconstrained visions.Watch the Regional Transit Vision presentation here: 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

Pollinator populations in the U.S. have been falling for decades. They contribute significantly to the sustainability of our food production systems, the health of the environment, and the economic vitality of the agricultural sector. In celebration of National Pollinator Week, we visit with Clark Vanbuskirk, M&M Service Crop Specialist, about what we can do to improve pollinator habitat and help increase their numbers.

In this episode of From the Woods Today, we commemorate the upcoming National Pollinator Week, June 21-26. The KY State Apiarist chats with us about the basics of bees, swarms, and common misunderstandings about this natural phenomena. We have our monthly mushroom highlight, as well as our tree of the week segment. 6.16.21 Watch Video From the Woods Today

This is National Pollinator Week, and U.S. and European Union come to an agreement that will drop trade tariffs on some ag products.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has proclaimed this week as National Pollinator Week. Pollinator species play an important role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is National Pollinator Week and in today's show, Sabrina talks with California beekeeper Gene Brandi about how the drought is affecting honeybees and apiaries in the state. We also hear about the California Walnut Board's recent campaign with See's Candy, and we talk with Western Agricultural Processors Association board member Dan Pronsolino. Supporting the People who Support Agriculture Thank you to our sponsors who make it possible to get you your daily news. Please feel free to visit their websites.   Agromillora – https://www.agromillora.com/ California Citrus Mutual – https://www.cacitrusmutual.com/ The California Walnut Board – https://walnuts.org/ Soil and Crop – https://mysoilandcrop.com/  For advertising inquiries, please contact us at 559-352-4456 or jay@jcsmarketinginc.com    

UGA's Becky Griffin with great information about fireflies and our pollinator friends

Today Is American Eagle Day,  Family Awareness Day,  Father's Day, Global Orgasm Day, National Smoothie Day,  Husband Caregiver Day,  Lambrusco Day,  National Hike with A Geek Day, National Daylight Appreciation Day,  National Seashell Day,  Midsummer,  Summer Solstice,  National Turkey Lovers Day,  World Productivity Day, Plain Yogurt Day, and World Refugee Day.  Today Starts Animal Rights Awareness Week,  Greencare for Troops Awareness Week,  National Play Catch Week, Carpenter Ant Awareness Week,  Fish Are Friends, Not Food! Week, Lightning Safety Awareness Week,  National Craft Spirits Week,  National Mosquito Control Awareness Week,  Universal Father's Week,  National Insect Week,  National Pollinator Week, and Old Time Fiddlers Week.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Itstoday)

With National Pollinator week next week, we caught up with staff at Pollinator Partnership (P2) to learn about what's happening to celebrate the week, but also to catch up on growing P2 initiatives; Bee Friendly Farming and the Pollinator Stewards program. 

California's farms, ranches and agricultural businesses are going to take a big hit from pandemic related losses. The range? Between $5.9 and $8.6 billion this year. That's according to an economic study recently released. We have the details. There's a record breaking almond crop on the way here in California. But can robust almond sales survive pandemics, trade disputes, and weather? We have that report. And it's National Pollinator Week, we're going to be talking about all the creatures that are involved in pollination, making the food you eat. It's coming up on this week's edition of the KSTE Farm Hour. Let’s get started.

GSU Host and Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel discusses National Pollinator Week designated for a week each year in June. Since 2007 when Pollinator Week was created, most consider the situation getting worse and not any better. We would be without our fruits and vegetables if the pollinators were gone. He shares tips on creating flower beds with longer bloom show to help keep the pollinators happy all growing season.

Chapter 1: BC seems to be on the short-list for NHL hub cities...some speculate it could be announced as early as today!  Guest: Christian Aumell, CJOB Sports Show host Chapter 2: A two-day summit kicks off today that aims to explore innovative climate change solutions designed for a post-COVID-19 world. Climate Solutions Innovation Series is hosted by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, and Simon Fraser University's Sustainability Office and Office of Community Engagement. The free webinars are open to the public and will feature engaging discussions with local experts and an opportunity for participants to pose their own questions to the speakers. Guest: Dr. Zafar Adeel, Executive Director of the Pacific Water Research Centre Chapter 3: What great new fall TV shows should you be looking out for? How has television production been affected by the pandemic? To tell us more, we're joined now by Troy Reeb... Guest: Troy Reeb, Executive Vice President Broadcast Networks at Corus Entertainment Inc Chapter 4: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the provincial government stepped in to ensure our borders were safe guarded from the spread of the virus. But as of this weekend, those duties have been handed back to the feds. Guest: Mike Farnworth, Public Safety Minister Chapter 5:David Eby introduced not one, not two, but THREE bills yesterday which includes  ICBC changes, Ombudsperson concerns re: public emergency declarations and Liquor changes. Guest: David Eby, BC Attorney General Chapter 6: For a long time, black culture has been exploited by white artists - in music, in fashion, and in dance. A group of local dance leaders in Vancouver recently got together to address how the dance scene here can better respect black culture.  Guest: Nii “Prince” Engmann, educator and professional dancer Chapter 7:  If you're out enjoying nature this week, keep an eye open for the hundreds of local “citizen scientists” in Metro Vancouver who are hoping to find, identify, and document butterflies. The effort is supported by the David Suzuki Foundation and is a part of on-going plans that have led up to this week - National Pollinator Week.  Guest: Winnie Hwo, project lead Chapter 8: Should overdose deaths be noted daily like COVID deaths? Guest: Karen Ward, drug policy advisory and advocate

It's National Pollinator Week so connect with your customers on the many ways pollinators are important to the ecosystem and our dining tables. Pollinators are as diverse as our garden should be so encourage planting diverse species as well as flowers from spring through fall. Helping to create a habitat for them is also important.

Farmers, Ranchers and Private Forest Landowners Use Conservation to Protect Pollinator Habitat, Boost Crop Production

  Get the latest agriculture news in today’s Farm City Newsday, hosted by Danielle Leal. Today's show is filled with stories covering National Pollinator Week, an AFBF poll that shows Americans support COVID relief to farmers and the concern that surrounds Ag Order 4.0 fertilizer limitations. Tune in to the show for these news stories, recipes, features and more.

Join Peggy and Teri as they discuss what is happening in their gardens and their visits to Willow Oak Flower and Herb Farm, Riversdale, and Homestead Gardens. For those who have gardening questions, Peggy and Teri give advice on who to contact in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. Together they discuss upcoming events, places to visit in the DC metro area, and National Pollinator Week. Check out their websites for more information at pegplant.com and cottageinthecourt.com. Listeners can contact them via gardensnplantspodcast@gmail.com.

Laurie Davies Adams is the President and CEO of Pollinator Partnership, where she leads the world’s largest nonprofit devoted solely to the health of all pollinators and presided over its signature initiatives: the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC), National Pollinator Week, Eco-Regional Planting Guides, the BeeSmart™ Gardener App, and the U.S. Bee Buffer Project and Monarch Wings Across America.   Laurie has signed agreements with over eleven federal agencies influencing over 1.5 billion acres of US land to encourage pollinator conservation. She was also a key consultant with the White House on the Presidential Memorandum on Pollinators and instrumental in the development of the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators.   In this podcast episode, Laurie sheds light on how our pollinators affect our food production, climate change, and our public health; the impact of industrializing beekeeping to serve our industrialized agriculture; and more.   Episode notes: www.greendreamer.com/177 Weekly solutions-based news: www.greendreamer.com  Support the show: www.greendreamer.com/support  Instagram: www.instagram.com/greendreamerpodcast

It's not just an agriculture issue - it's an EVERYBODY issue when it comes to Wisconsin's waters.  Next week Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin is hosting two "Water Matters" tours to engage with municipalities, towns and county officials, other farmers and interested neighbors on what's happening with conservation efforts at the farm gate.  Shelly Mayer, Exec. Director of PDPW, joins Pam to explain. It's National Pollinator Week!  Time to draw attention to the little things we can do to help the little things that pollinate our crops, flowers, vegetables and trees.  Josh Scramlin talks with a beekeeper from Wisconsin on the challenges being faced. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Hupy and Abraham Outdoor Report, fish artist Joe Tomelleri talks about his waterproof guides: Fishes of Wisconsin and Fishes of the Great Lakes. (americanfishes.com, hupy.com) Ruffed Grouse Society regional biologist Jon Steigerwaldt discusses the Wisconsin spring drumming surveys and the importance of aspen for grouse. (ruffedgrousesociety.org) Drew Larsen, national habitat education programs manager for Pheasants Forever, talks about National Pollinator Week and PF efforts to improve grassland habitat for pheasants and other birds. (pheasantsforever.org) In the Madison Outdoors Report, pro angler Duffy Kopf reports moderate action for bass, walleyes and panfish on the Madison Chain. (pappastradingpost.com, fisherkingwinery.com)

Pollinator Partnership is the organization responsible for bringing us Pollinator Week, so it is only fitting "P2" leads off our special week of podcasts! In 2007, Congress unanimously declared a week of June as National Pollinator Week. Pollinator Week has now grown into a international celebration of the invaluable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. In this 2019 Pollinator Week kickoff podcast, we've invited Kelly and Vicki on the show to discuss four of their 30+ programs to pollinators and pollinator habitats, including: Pollinator Week Mite-athon NAPPC Honey Bee Health Grants Bee Friendly Farming Kelly is the Director of Programs and Operations and responsible forPollinator Week, North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC), and P2 grants and scholarships. Kelly received her Masters of Science in Environmental Management form the University of San Francisco. Vicki is the Research Director for P2 Canada. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy & Management where her graduate studies focused on understanding how native bees use gardens and habitats in cities. As Director she oversees P2 Canada’s research programs, keeping on top of new and emerging pollinator issues and managing a program set that includes pollinator habitat conservation and landscape management assessments; understanding and enhancing agroecosystems; landuse and pesticide policy review; support for threatened and critical species; and ecosystem service assessments. Websites mention in the podcast include: https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week https://www.pollinator.org/miteathon https://pollinator.org/honeybee-health https://www.pollinator.org/bff _______________ This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global Patties is a family business that manufactures protein supplement patties for honey bees. Feeding your hives protein supplement patties will help ensure that they produce strong and health colonies by increasing brood production and overall honey flow. Global offers a variety of standard patties, as well as custom patties to meet your specific needs. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this show with Kelly and Vicki!  _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com  Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong"

Nadia Ruffin is an entomologist, gardener and educator. She is the founder of Agricademy Inc, and Urban Farm Sista based in Cincinnati, Ohio. A lover of bugs and all life forms since very young herself, Nadia loves sharing this admiration and curiosity, with youth especially. In 2018 the Cincinnati City Council honored Nadia’s farming and agriculture initiatives, the primary focus of which is to share her knowledge and passion for the biological world and all that it offers to us in the way of endless and healthy wonder, food, beauty, and learning. In preparation for National Pollinator Week coming up next week, we speak with Nadia this week and explore this wonder, this work, as well as how and why we could all try to meet and manage our own fears. Join us! Cultivating Place now has a donate button! We thank you so much for listening over the years and we hope you'll support Cultivating Place. We can't thank you enough for making it possible for this young program to grow even more of these types of conversations. For photos visit www.cultivatingplace.com. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher.

On Cultivating Place today we celebrate National Pollinator Week in the US when we’re joined by British biologist, conservationist and Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex in England, Dave Goulson. A gardener and bumblebee expert, Dave is the founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust dedicated to growing the awareness and appreciation for the life and importance of the bumblebees - and all insects of our world - join us! For photos visit cultivatingplace.com. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher.

Listen in to learn about National Pollinator Week, how the Pollinator Partnership helps the world's pollinator populations, and how you can take part. “Protect their lives, preserve ours.” - Kelly Rourke. Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Kelly-Rourke

Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, birds and other animals bring us one in every three bites of food we eat. Pollinators form the underpinnings of healthy and sustainable ecosystems that support a multitude of wildlife. For years, pollinator populations have been in decline and this decline is attributed most severely to a loss in feeding and nesting habitats. In addition, environmental degradation, the misuse of chemicals, pests and disease, and now climate change are all contributing to shrinking and shifting pollinator populations.Val Dolcini, formerly the Administrator of the USDA Farm Service Agency, is a fifth generation Californian, a passionate supporter of American farmers and ranchers, and a firm believer in the promise of our nation's rural places.  He is currently the President & CEO of the Pollinator Partnership, an organization dedicated to the support and protection of pollinators throughout North America. This year, Val and his team have collaborated with Blondie's Debbie Harry to launch a new campaign called BEE Connected, designed to raise awareness about the decline in the global population of bees, as well as the insects' importance in the food chain and Earth's ecosystems.The initiative ties in with Blondie's new studio album, Pollinator , and debuted in conjunction with the 10th annual National Pollinator Week in June. To raise money for the campaign, limited-edition "Pollinator/Save the Bees" T-shirts are being sold at Blondie.net/beeconnected. The website also features links to various organizations that support bee conservation. To find out more about Val and what you can do to save the bees, visit www.pollinator.org   

June 20-26 is National Pollinator Week and while honeybees get a lot of attention, Debbie Hamrick of the NC Farm Bureau champions native bees.

In this episode of the Doom and Bloom(tm) Survival Medicine Hour, Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, welcome Tara Dodrill, preparedness journalist and author of Power Grid Down: Prepare, Survive, and Thrive After The Lights Go Out, discuss the latest news about Middle East Respiratory Virus, and how this year's flu vaccine was only 19% protective against the illness (normally it's 60-70%). Also, a disease you don't know much about: Vibrio Vulnificus, a relative of Cholera that has killed two people in Florida this year, and a mention of National Pollinator Week, a week of awareness about our animal pollinators.  A third of human nutrition requires these bees, beetles, birds, and other wildlife to produce our food. Also, on the lighter side, a segment of the Alton's collaboration with Charley and Courtney Hogwood, the "Barely Prepared" news parody Youtube series.  

In this episode of the Doom and Bloom(tm) Survival Medicine Hour, Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, welcome Tara Dodrill, preparedness journalist and author of Power Grid Down: Prepare, Survive, and Thrive After The Lights Go Out, discuss the latest news about Middle East Respiratory Virus, and how this year's flu vaccine was only 19% protective against the illness (normally it's 60-70%). Also, a disease you don't know much about: Vibrio Vulnificus, a relative of Cholera that has killed two people in Florida this year, and a mention of National Pollinator Week, a week of awareness about our animal pollinators.  A third of human nutrition requires these bees, beetles, birds, and other wildlife to produce our food. Also, on the lighter side, a segment of the Alton's collaboration with Charley and Courtney Hogwood, the "Barely Prepared" news parody Youtube series.