Charlottesville – Page 9 – Black and White

Coragyps atratus

The black vulture (Coragyps atratus) also known as the American black vulture, is a bird in the New World vulture family whose range extends from the southeastern United States to Central Chile and Uruguay in South America.–Wikipedia

vultures on the roof — Humans like to anthropomorphize animals. In that vein, the vultures are very mannerly. They wait their turn at the table.

vulture eying morsels — Density (check) City services (check) Food options (check) Walkability (not really a concern) Sustainability (check)

at the table — Connectivity (check) Mixed use and diversity (check) Traditional neighborhood structure (check) Smart transportation (check) Quality architecture and urban design (?)

Jefferson Lodge #20

Masons — The Masons float, Dogwood Festival 2015. Masons in the year 2000

Masons — These gentlemen do gravitas effortlessly.

raining on the parade

japanese umbrella — Rain falling on the 66th annual Dogwood Festival parade. Rain is better with friends.

where is the light switch?

CHO Mayor Huja silhouette — The City of Charlottesville is a quarter finalist in the Georgetown University Energy Prize, a nationwide competition for small-to-medium sized
communities to compete to win a $5 million grand prize by saving energy.
The Council meets tomorrow afternoon for a budget work session.

While operating 6016 streetlights, the City doesn’t appear to have an IES certified individual (Illuminating Engineering Society) on staff.
Who is in charge of the lighting? Who directs spending in this arena to make sure we get best lighting for dollars spent?
Who knows how many dollars are spent on lighting?
There are forms available to request the addition of streetlights, drop lens, highway-style fixtures, but
no one knows where the light switch is, where the form is to request the removal of lighting.
We submitted a dark-skies petition in 2000 trying to reclaim the night..
Someday…
(read Janis Jaquith’s essay “Turn Off The Lights”)

Charlottesville Marathon

Woolen Mills Chapel in the distance — Step by step, 26 miles and 385 yards. This section features sixty one feet of downhill, through the Woolen Mills neighborhood to the Rivanna River.

cardinal oversees unusually active bipeds

presser

overview of assembled press — The Charlottesville Police Department held a press conference at 2:00 pm Monday, March 23rd at CitySpace located at 100 5th Street NE, Charlottesville, VA.

TV people — The purpose of this press conference was to provide the media and public with the results of the investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the University of Virginia that was reported in Rolling Stone magazine in the fall of 2014.

Chief Tim Longo — Chief Longo addressed the assembled news folk and took questions.

journalists — My tribe.

plethora of devices — Once upon a time Journalists had to ask questions and photograph, now the job description includes blow by blow tweeting.

breaking down folling presser — Often we see television journalists skyping from conflict zones, but when news originates at home big gear is still de rigueur.

Reporter does a standup following the conclusion of the presser.

30 x1028 px box — Conclusion
Based on the information known to investigators at this time, we find no substantive basis of fact to conclude that an incident occurred that is consistent with the facts as described in the November 19, 2014, Rolling Stone Magazine article.
The department’s investigation cannot rule out that something may have happened to “Jackie” somewhere and at some time on the evening of September 28, 2012. Yet, without additional evidence we are simply unable to reach a definitive conclusion.
This investigation remains open, yet suspended in the event additional evidence should come to light.–CPD (full statement is available)

Mall Hugger

mall hugger — Call me old fashioned. A free opportunity in which I wasn’t willing to engage. I scurried off.

Trust. I’ll trust you. Will you trust me? Doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, why you’re here. Bring your heart-SHARE A HUG!
“In a time with so much division and fear, maybe the most revolutionary and helpful thing we can do is give each other a hug.”–The sign says

Vegas 2011 — This sign in Vegas, 2011, eyes wide open.

Pond

Mike Signer — Politics in our ten square mile pond is fascinating. In the big water,
state, national, there is a money at play. But in the little pond, it’s about vision, quality of life,
having principals and living by them, wanting to make your home better.

Charlottesville Tomorrow has the story.
Mike Signer

Wes Bellamy — These candidates are exemplary. They care deeply about their community.
Charlottesville Tomorrow has the story.
Wes Bellamy

Lena Seville — Many different paths lead to a councilmanic run. The candidates are activists: for community engagement, for the environment, for historic preservation, for clean safe streets, for better schools.
Charlottesville Tomorrow has the story.
Lena Seville

Dede Smith — Two of the candidates are incumbents. They’ve worked their way through a multitude of meetings in the past four years. Fielded thousands of e-mails. Met with citizens, made site visits. Stayed up late. Read thousands of pages of staff reports. It’s not easy.
Charlottesville Tomorrow has the story.
Dede Smith

Kathy Galvin — In a small pond like ours the candidates have guts, and there is little glory in the offing. No one has an office decorated in the style of Downton Abbey. The Councilors give us their work and selfless dedication, to make our town a better place.
Charlottesville Tomorrow has the story.
Kathy Galvin

Lowes Hell

Meadowbrook Hardware — Found my hardware store for life shuttered. Mercantile changes which result in a loss of
municipal character are a source of sadness.
Who will feed the Preston Avenue cats?

Tale of two cities

ada ramp — A portion of our City has a high density of Juris Doctors in residence. The southeast side of the City has few. Pictured above, a yellow “detectable warning” equipped ADA ramp up to a sidewalk. What is the JD density hereabouts? Intersection of Carlton Avenue and Franklin Street.