photography from the Chesapeake Bay watershed by Bill Emory
Cyclists participate in the “Ride of Silence”. A slow quiet ride through the streets of Charlottesville and 323 other cities, a rolling meditation, remembering bikers killed in crashes with motor vehicles.
May 14 the City of Charlottesville was granted silver status as a bicycle friendly community.
The key is on the shelf by the window.
One hears about road devolution, unfunded mandates and reductions in force. Insufficient funds at the state level. Why is there enough money for sod as University of Virginia beautifies for finals exercises this weekend.
Why not grass seed and straw in a time of austerity?
The cost of installing a lawn does vary depending upon how much work a homeowner is willing to do himself. It also depends upon the market. Price of sod can run between $0.50-$1.00 per square foot, with installation running between $150 and $300 per pallet. Grass seed costs about $0.01 per square foot. Installation varies widely depending upon the method used. Seed can be spread with rotary spreaders, or can be blown out of a hose with a material that keeps it in place. The cost of professional seeding is much lower than sodding, as it is less labor-intensive, and requires less energy to transport the materials.–lawncare.net
The Elby Brass Rock-Marching Band performs at the Closing Day Gala of the Tom Tom Founders Fest.
St. Luke’s Episcopal? Anyone know? 1.2 miles southeast of Monticello on Route 53.
al·ley [al-ee] noun, plural al·leys.
1. a passage, as through a continuous row of houses, permitting access from the street to backyards, garages, etc.
2. a narrow back street.–Dictionary.com
Back before fire engines achieved the leadership role in urban design, back when streets were a part of the public commons, there were alleys. In Charlottesville several neighborhoods established before the apotheosis of the Automobile have alleys. The alley above is in Belmont, parallel to and north of Hinton Avenue.
Dear Charlottesville Planning Commission. Please consider the reintroduction of the alley into the urban form.
I thought acers were bullet proof, but I’ve seen a number of them around town with dead wood in their crowns, not thriving.
Div’s early interest in architecture was expressed in an attempt to park the cars within the confines of the building site.
JABA will break ground on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, from 10 to 11 AM for its affordable senior housing development, Timberlake Place, 1512 East Market Street, in the historic Woolen Mills neighborhood of Charlottesville.
trans·mute–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), trans·mut·ed, trans·mut·ing.
to change from one nature, substance, form, or condition into another; transform.trans·mog·ri·fy–verb (used with object), trans·mog·ri·fied, trans·mog·ri·fy·ing.
to change in appearance or form, especially strangely or grotesquely; transform. —Dictionary.com
Sunday a forum was staged by the Martha Jefferson Neighborhood Association to brainstorm with members of City Staff, Council and Planning Commission what to do now that MJH has taken the suburban plunge.
I have deep affection for Martha Jefferson Hospital but no love for the mess its exit leaves behind, the acres of impervious surface, the far-flung degraded neighborhood landscape of single family residences repurposed to house the filing cabinets and fax machines of medicos.
No summary offered here of brain storm sequelae.
On a personal note, I had a profane response, an emotive outburst (fortunately, not televised) following the brainstorming session. The position in which Martha Jefferson and Little High neighborhoods find themselves is similar to that of the Woolen Mills neighborhood and that similarity provoked me to say GOD DAMN.
Fifty years ago the Woolen Mills lost a neighborhood institution. Since the time of that loss the Woolies (Woolen Mills neighbors) have worked with City Staff, the Council and the Planning Commission to take corrective steps to lessen the consequences of the vacuum, the big emptiness that happens when a mono-culture moves on.
These cases of institutional death and institutional relocation are different. The problems faced by the neighborhoods are different. But the cast in the plays are the same. Planners, bureaucrats, politicians, developers and citizens.
Woolies have worked steadily for 50 years to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood.
Frankly, we have received little aid from the City in our efforts.
GD.