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Hello, Charlottesville.

Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.

If you follow me on Instagram (@editoratcville), you likely saw a behind-the-scenes image of the making of this week’s cover: a picture of photographer Tristan Williams capturing a beautiful cut of meat from JM Stock, pincushioned with acupuncture needles.

I was the one who got to take that steak home for dinner, and my husband managed to throw together some mashed sweet potatoes and a simple tomato salad. It was delicious. But the irony wasn’t lost on me.

The steak was meant to illustrate this week’s cover story (p.21), a look at some local residents who suffer from alphagal, a red meat allergy brought on by bites from the lone star tick. For them, a meal like that isn’t just off the table—it can be dangerous. And yet, as this week’s feature explores, some Central Virginians are finding unexpected ways to reclaim foods they thought they’d lost for good. Through acupuncture, a handful of people with alpha-gal say they’re not just managing symptoms, but, in some cases, eating steak again. It’s a story about risk, skepticism, and the complicated space between lived experience and medical certainty. And it might just make you look at what’s on your plate a little differently. 5.6.26

Letter to the editor

This week’s contributors

I am a senior at The Covenant School who is interested in gun and school safety policy. I came across the “Charlottesville School Board vote to rescind SRO model fails despite community concerns” article on your page. As a student, I think that having proper protection in our schools is a must. Over this year (which has only been a few months), there have already been 10 school shootings in the U.S. If we drop regulations and do not allow the return of school resource officers, I can’t even imagine how this number might grow. I understand the viewpoint of the families and students affected by having officers in school. However, I think the overall protection of students outweighs a lot of their concerns. I for one am put at ease knowing I can learn in a safe environment. I think that in order to resolve these issues, we must find an alternative way to do it rather than risking the safety of students.

Cailyn Livelli Albemarle County

Christine Phelan Kueter, a native Midwesterner, has worked in book publishing, as a newspaper reporter and columnist, and as a writer and editor in higher education. A correspondent for WVTF/Radio IQ since 2020, her monthly series, “Meet Virginia,” aired on Virginia Public Radio in 2024. Read her work on page 21.

Sarah Lawson is a writer and visual artist living in Nelson County. The child of two librarians, Lawson has always loved books of all kinds. They write about local authors and books that have a connection to the Charlottesville community. Read their work on page 35.

Now through 05/18/2026, spend $ 100 or more in a single transaction at The Happy Cook and receive a $ 20 gift card.

Gift cards are redeemable beginning 05/20/2026. Gift cards available while supplies last. Limit one per household. Not valid on prior purchases or in conjunction with other offers. Visit The Happy Cook for cookware, tableware, and thoughtful gifts curated for seasonal entertaining.

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN

Faithfully and lovingly adapted by Broadway legends, Betty Comden and Adolph Green MAY 8-10 & MAY 15-17 Fri-Sat at 7:00 PM | Sat-Sun at 2:00 PM

& LYNN A Salute to Conway & Loretta

Tre, grandson of Conway Twitty & Tayla, granddaughter of Loretta Lynn perform fan favorites. 2 SHOWS: JUN. 5 & 6 at 7:30 PM

NATHAN STANLEY

Tribute to Ralph Stanley - The grandson of bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley, brings an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling to the Wayne. JUN. 12 at 7:00 PM

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURE

NEWS 9

9 City Council updated on state of area homelessness.

11 Richmond Common House to close, plus May Day Strong.

12 Stepping with the CEO.

13 Real Estate: Commission votes against mobile home park expansion.

CULTURE 29

33 Preview: The Head and the Hear t at the Jefferson 35 Pages: Reflection and insights from a dying trans woman offer comfort and inspiration

Sudoku

Crossword

Free Will Astrology

or C-VILE

ED I TORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Caite Hamilton editor@c-ville.com

ART DIRECTOR

Max March max@c-ville.com

CULTURE EDITOR

Tami Keaveny tami@c-ville.com

SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Nathan Alderman news@c-ville.com

NEWS REPORTER

Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com

NEWS CONTRIBUTOR

Sean Tubbs

ASSOCIATE CULTURE EDITOR

CM Turner arts@c-ville.com

COPY EDITOR

Susan Sorensen

DIGITAL EDITOR

Tristan Williams

CONTRIBUTORS

Rob Brezsny, Dave Cantor, Carol Diggs, Shea Gibbs, Andrew Hollins, Erika Howsare, Matt Jones, Sarah Lawson, Lisa Provence, Sarah Sargent, Kristie Smeltzer, Jen Sorensen, Julia Stumbaugh, Jake Solyst, Paul Ting, Eric Williamson

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Rob Davis rob@c-ville.com

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Tracy Federico designer@c-ville.com

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Faith Gibson ads@c-ville.com

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Gregg Early development@c-ville.com

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C-VILLE Weekly is Charlottesville, Virginia's award-winning alternative newspaper. Through our distinctive coverage, we work to spark curiosity and enable readers to engage meaningfully with their community.

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MAY 7: Ole 60 with the Jack Wharff Band and Rob Langdon

JUNE 20:

WNRN Presents: The String Cheese Incident Just Keep Spinning Tour 2026

JULY 18:

Alison Krauss & Union Station ft. Jerry Douglas with Special Guest Theo Lawrence

JULY 26: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Benefiting the Charlottesville Free Clinic

Aug 19: Dominic Fike

SEPT 5: WNRN Presents: Charley Crockett Age of the Ram Tour with Nat Myers

SEPTEMBER 8:

Sierra Ferrell A WNRN 30th Anniversary show Heavy Petal Tour

SEPTEMBER 22:

Rainbow Kitten

Surprise

SEPTEMBER 24:

Sam Barber

More Announcements Coming Soon!

FRIDAYS AFTER FIVE! 5:30-8:30 pm

MAY 29-ON SALE NOW GIA RAY WITH DAVID SICKMEN NOVEMBER 6-ON SALE FRIDAY MICHIGANDER

FT. JOHN RADEMACHER 06-06| SOUTH OF HEAVEN: ÜGA BÜGA,VARA ALTA, TO BE A KING, HEEMEYER

06-10| TRISTEN

Under pressure

Service providers and city leaders say immediate action should be taken to address affordable housing and local unhoused population

BY CATIE RATLIFF

NEWS HOUSING

At its May 4 meeting, Charlottesville City Council received an update on “The State of Homelessness” from a coalition of service providers. Led by continuum-of-care coordinator Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless, the conversation covered everything from the latest data on the local unhoused population to ambitious plans for shelter and housing programs.

Every service provider who spoke noted an increase in the number of people needing help in the last year, and how the area’s network of nonprofits is stretched beyond their capacity and resources.

“The cost of living going up, and rents going up, and wages not following accordingly, those economic pressures are getting so, so strong that we are seeing more and more folks enter our system of care,” said Owen Brennan, executive director of The Haven, ahead of the presentation. “It is really critical that we have a strong system of care now, as the need increases and our need to begin scaling our response increases as well.”

Data from BRACH shows a jump in the number of people experiencing homelessness locally, both on the by-name list (every unique person known to have experienced homelessness in a given year) and during the Point-in-Time count (the number of people unhoused on a specific date) conducted on January 28.

The annual by-name list, which includes everyone in BRACH’s catchment area (the city and surrounding counties) experiencing homelessness, is up to 703 people this May— an increase over the 620 on the by-name list recorded between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025. There has been a steady increase in the by-name list year over year, with 498 people in 2023 and 571 people in 2024.

The most up-to-date count from BRACH has 335 individuals on the by-name list currently experiencing homelessness.

“[The by-name list] is people who are either outside or sleeping in a shelter. Any place not meant for human habitation. So if they have a roof over their head, it’s because

it’s an emergency shelter or it’s because they’re sleeping in a car or place that doesn’t have running water or electricity,” said BRACH Executive Director Shayla Washington. “If they’re couchsurfing, or staying with friends or family, and just kind of unstably housed, that does not count toward our byname list. There’s a lot more of that in our community than we know, a lot of that doesn’t even get reported to us.”

This year’s winter PIT count occurred during the historic snow and ice storm that paralyzed most of the Mid-Atlantic for days. As a result, the number of people in emergency shelter, 87, was significantly higher than usual and approached counts from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cash required to make that emergency shelter response possible was substantial, roughly $100,000 over the course of 18 days, and largely came from community fundraising efforts.

Beyond emergency space, which is without question in short supply, Charlottesville’s lack of transitional and affordable housing for people trying to exit shelters is lacking.

Rent estimates for a one-bedroom apartment in Charlottesville range from $1,700 to $1,850 per month. Two-bedroom estimates average between $1,900 and $2,050 per month. The average Social Security check, or Social Security disability income, in Virginia is roughly $1,540 a month.

“People aren’t even making enough to pay just rent, much less the other bills and needs they have in their lives,” said Washington. “As a reminder, affordable housing is defined as not paying more than 30 percent of your income towards rent.”

Other factors contributing to the local housing crisis noted by BRACH include: a spike in evictions, gaps in the local behavioral health system, longer shelter stays, an aging unhoused population, staff burnout, and a limited number of landlords willing to work with homelessness prevention groups.

The Salvation Army currently hosts the majority of the area’s year-round shelter beds, but its offerings are program participationdependent, and require additional screenings for entry. The organization is raising funds to increase its offerings and bed space, but with

IN BRIEF

All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less)

a planned 2027 groundbreaking, it will be several years before the Center for Hope opens. There is reportedly already a waitlist for the small supply of spaces for families the Salvation Army will eventually offer.

The proposed low-barrier shelter at 2000 Holiday Dr. does not address every need brought up by service providers, but it does offer a starting point for collaboration and a safer alternative to current encampments in Charlottesville.

Councilor Michael Payne voiced serious concerns about safety conditions at the Rivanna Trail encampment, including its location along the waterway and fire risk amid an ongoing drought. Homeless service providers echoed many of these worries about lack of structure and safety, but noted BRACH has one outreach coordinator who is responsible for the entire catchment area, and is at the site near 0 E. High St. daily. City Police Chief Michael Kochis and Joe Phillips, Charlottesville Fire Department’s deputy chief of community risk reduction, reported numerous incidents and ongoing safety concerns at the campsite, before confirming one person died there on November 24.

“I walked there and my heart really does break. And I am terrified because what is happening is not any minimum level of care; it is not meeting any level of structure that is going to help these folks,” said Payne. “Someone is going to die out there … I can’t believe where we’re at, and this cannot be it. I say this not wanting to criminalize anything, arrest anyone, but caring about these people as human beings, this just feels like we’ve abandoned folks. … This cannot be sustainable or compassionate to these folks.”

The low-barrier shelter may still be a few years away from being operational, but councilors and service providers seem poised to take action on the Rivanna Trail encampment by creating an alternative camping site at a new location—potentially even at 2000 Holiday Dr. When and how it gets up and running remains to be seen.

Class cut Albemarle schools eliminate some teaching assistant positions to fund other programs in new 2027 budget. Spoiled Cherry? Grocery store experts say 501 Cherry Ave. isn’t currently feasible as the site of a proposed co-op supermarket; steering committee says it’ll work with property owners to fix the site or find another. News cycle May is National Bike Month, and Charlottesville encourages two-wheeled transit with free community events listed at bikecville.com. Chuck roast Gov. Abigail Spanberger welcomes England’s King Charles III April 30 at, of all places, Front Royal, for counterintuitive 250th anniversary celebration of United States’ independence from Great Britain. Hesperides robbed Charlottesville and Albemarle honor one outstanding teacher from each public school at April 29’s Golden Apple Awards. Mudhouse run? After an April 30 traffic stop, followed by a car chase through Crozet and a subsequent foot chase, Albemarle police arrest Crozet resident and elaborate neck tattoo possessor Jonathan A. Iseman, 41, wanted on multiple warrants in assorted area jurisdictions.

Since the March 24-25 cleanup at the Rivanna Trail encampment, the city and homeless service providers have continued outreach to the site.

It’s gonna be May (Day)

An estimated 500 people gathered in Charlottesville on May 1 for a day of no work, no school, and no shopping, according to organizers. The area’s May Day Strong event, one of 3,000 nationwide organized by a coalition of activists including Indivisible and the Democratic Socialists of America, began with a rally at the Downtown Mall’s Free Speech Wall at noon, followed by a march to Booker T. Washington Park for a community party.

Sandrina da Cruz, one of the local event’s planners, called it “a huge success,” noting that organizers gave away 50 grocery gift cards to families struggling with rising costs.

“The Supreme Court’s gutting of the Voting Rights Act really brought home [the] critical importance of collective action—our people power—in building an inclusive, multiracial democracy,” said Kathryn Laughon, a member of Indivisible Charlottesville who helped put together the event.

Organizers say they’re following May Day with a series of workshops starting in June. Da Cruz says the People’s Activist Series is designed to help citizens prepare “for a sustained general strike to defend democratic elections and to protect human lives.”—Nathan Alderman

Roadside attraction

Fifth District Rep. John McGuire made a rare appearance in Charlottesville May 4. Rather than talk with voters, McGuire stationed himself with a large campaign sign along U.S. 250 W during the morning rush hour. At press time, McGuire’s office did not have any upcoming events planned in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area.—Catie Ratliff

Second story

Charlottesville-founded Common House receives a second set of walking papers in Richmond BY

NATHAN ALDERMAN

Two weeks after Common House Charlottesville suddenly shut its doors, the social club’s Richmond landlords handed the coworking, dining, and event venue another eviction notice.

In an April 28 press release, the owners of 303 W. Broad St., a 1914 brick building that has housed the club for six years, announced that they’ll be taking over the site with their own management as of May 19. They haven’t announced a new name for the business, which they’re currently promoting as 303 West Broad.

Owners of the soon-to-be-former Common House site include Ted Ukrop, founder of Richmond’s Quirk hotel, and New York City-based real estate investment firm Mercer Street Partners. They say that Quirk manager Schulte Hospitality Group will run the new club.

For now, 303 West Broad’s ownership, management, and name seem like the only elements that will change. All existing employees will be offered jobs under the new owners, and the club will honor any event reservations customers have already booked, according to the release.

In response to questions from C-VILLE, the owners of 303 West Broad declined to discuss any potential disputes with Common House’s current management. Through a spokesperson, they said they’d already planned to part company with Common House before the Charlottesville location shuttered.

“Due to certain limitations imposed by Common House Inc., ownership was unable to provide the members with a heads up in advance of a public announcement, which may have caught some members by surprise,” the

spokesperson said. “The owners certainly would’ve preferred to handle this differently.”

“The [Charlottesville] closure made it clear that a transition and rebrand must happen sooner than initially planned,” the spokesperson said. The property owners say that the Charlottesville closing breached Common House’s trust with members, and that they wanted to make a change quickly “to show the community that ownership ‘has their back,’ is in it for the long haul, and is committed to providing the best experience possible.”

Asked whether the Richmond location had experienced any problems, 303 West Broad’s owners say the club “had its strongest year ever,” and that to their understanding, “Richmond is the best-performing club under the Common House brand.”

C-VILLE reached out to Common House Inc. for comment, but received no reply. The company opened its first location in Charlottesville in 2017, managed by co-founders Josh

Rogers, Derek Sieg, and Ben Pfinsgraff. All three have since left the company, with state and federal financial filings suggesting Rogers exited in 2018 and Sieg in 2023.

According to U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission filings, Sieg’s exit seems to have coincided with the original owners’ March 2023 sale of Common House Inc. The company’s new owners included Maxwell Joseph, founder of Raleigh-based real estate company Hem + Spire, and Jeremiah Joseph. (It’s unclear whether the two Josephs are related.) By June 2024, state filings show they were joined as co-owners by Adam Savaglio, an executive vice president at the hospitality company Ennismore.

Pfinsgraff apparently continued as president and CEO under the new ownership until October 2024, when he was succeeded by Ben Wood. Wood previously worked for multiple real estate-related businesses, including WeWork, whose ambitious plans for expansion fell through. At press time, Common House Inc.’s website still listed Charlottesville and Richmond among its locations, alongside Chattanooga and New Orleans. Aside from a new app for members—in the works, but not ready to launch by the May 19 takeover—303 West Broad’s owners say they’re moving cautiously as they assume the business.

“A club must speak to the needs of the community it serves, and the owners and new management company believe it’s important to listen before implementing any big changes,” the spokesperson said. “What’s best for a club in another city may not be best for Richmond.”

The owners of 303 W. Broad St. in Richmond are parting ways with their former tenants, the Charlottesville-founded social club Common House.

Organ and Friends

Presented by the St. Paul’s, Ivy Concert Series May 15, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.

Artistic Director and Director of Music Ministries Gabriel Rhys Simerson embarks on a mission to pair our Schoenstein organ with as many instrumentalists as he can in one evening!

Guest artists will include Scott Hayes (All Saints, Richmond), Deke Polifka (St. Paul’s Memorial Church, Charlottesville), Fr. Rick Lord (St. Paul’s, Ivy), and Justin Esposito (The Ivy Consort), collaborating on harpsichord, violin, classical guitar, and piano. The St. Paul’s, Ivy Concert Series offers free on-site parking (including accessible spaces) and a fully accessible building.

851 Owensville Road j Charlottesville, Virginia 22901 j stpaulsivy.org

Learn more about our music and worship: stpaulsivy.org/worship

NEWS BUSINESS Stepping out

Albemarle and Charlottesville’s top officials lead walk across new pedestrian bridge BY SEAN TUBBS

On the brisk morning of May 1, the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce assembled about two dozen people in the parking lot of the sprawling Seminole Square Shopping Center to walk to its counterpart on the other side of U.S. 29.

“This shopping center is going through a transformation and is a sign of the opportunities and progress that still rests in the City of Charlottesville,” said City Manager Sam Sanders. “The fact that we’re 10.2 square miles sometimes makes us forget that there are opportunities to still do things.”

Sanders’ comments kicked off the fourth in a series called Stepping with the CEO, a monthly gathering that gets business leaders out in the community to see potential while networking. Charlottesville native Andrea Copeland has been the Chamber’s top official since last May.

“I remember what Seminole Square used to look like and so now we see new development happening,” Copeland said.

Great Eastern Management Company is currently redeveloping the façade of a portion of the center for a new generation of businesses while working out the financing to build 352 apartments on the site of a Giant Food store that closed in 2012.

In 2018, both Albemarle and Charlottesville adopted a small area plan to guide future development around the intersection of U.S. 29 and Hydraulic. That included a bridge across the two sides of the road that also connects two localities.

“When people are moving around through this part of the city and the county, no one really pays any attention to whether they’re in the city or the county,” said Albemarle County Executive Jeffrey Richardson.

Sanders said he has heard some call the new bridge pointless because they’ve not seen anyone cross it, but he said it will save lives.

“What’s most important about this bridge is that they don’t walk across the avenue, because that’s what was happening,” Sanders said. “People were playing Frogger with their lives, crossing the major, major highway.”

The May 1 walk wound through Seminole Square

before getting to the first ramp for the bridge. The western end of the bridge lands at The Shops at Stonefield and onto Bond Street, which contains a mixture of local and national stores in single-story buildings constructed in the early 2010s. The original concept had promised apartments on top of ground floor retail, but the market after the Great Recession, which lasted from late 2007 to mid-2009, curtailed interest.

O’Connor Capital bought the complex in 2017 and began building the hundreds of residential units allowed.

“We fell off a cliff with real estate,” Richardson said. “Which means you see retail with no residential. But what do you see all around it? It’s filling in.”

Lauren Carbo is one of the co-owners of cvilleSMASH, a nine-court indoor pickleball complex that opened in one of Seminole Square’s former retail spaces. She’s glad to be able to use the bridge to get to Stonefield for lunch.

“We do have members who live here in some of the residential properties that circle around Stonefield, that walk over the bridge,” Carbo said. “They don’t drive, they walk over the bridge and they come over and play.”

Carbo said more people will use the bridge as the city side gets redeveloped.

“We just need the city side of the bridge to continue its growth,” Carbo said.

The next Stepping with the CEO will be held at Monticello on June 5.

A recent Stepping with the CEO, a monthly networking event for local business leaders, led participants around Seminole Square Shopping Center and across U.S. 29 to The Shops at Stonefield.

REAL ESTATE NEWS Outside the line

Planning Commission recommends denial of mobile home park expansion near Crozet

BY SEAN TUBBS

When Albemarle County supervisors adopted a new Comprehensive Plan last October, they retained a growth management policy intended to limit development in crucial areas.

“The Natural Resources chapter of AC44 places importance on water resource protection, especially the public water supply system,” said county planner Jered Tate at an April 28 public hearing on a rezoning for an expansion of Beaver Hill mobile home park near Crozet.

The community was first developed on the northern side of Three Notched Road in 1965, 15 years before Albemarle supervisors downzoned most of the county to “rural area.” The southern side is fair game for development.

The property owner is seeking a rezoning to the R-4 district to add spaces for 49 more mobile homes. The land is also within the watershed of the Beaver Creek Reservoir, which supplies drinking water to Crozet.

Civil engineer Justin Shimp represented the landowners and said the Planning Commission had the opportunity to consider if this location close to the development area was appropriate to fulfill a desired need.

“The reason we have zoning is to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the public,” Shimp said. “Maybe aside from food, housing is the most critical item for a human to have.”

About a dozen people spoke during the public hearing, where half urged the Planning Commission to uphold the county’s growth management principles and recommended denial of the rezoning as well as a request to connect to public water and sewer.

“If granted, the amendment will be cited in every future rural rezoning application in the Crozet viewshed,” said area resident Heather Taylor.

Others asked the Planning Commission to take into account that the expansion would allow more people to live closer to jobs.

“Given that our entire country and especially Albemarle County is in a massive housing affordability crisis, I would honestly find it unconscionable to reject this proposal on the basis that we are protecting the rural area,” said Michael Crenshaw, another Crozet resident.

The newest planning commissioner said she could not support the plan.

“I really wanted to be compelled by this application, but I feel like it really falls short in any commitment to protecting the water quality,” said Catherine Brown, recently appointed to the Scottsville District.

Commissioner Karen Firehock said the recent adoption of AC44 reiterated the county’s desire to keep the growth area boundary intact and to restrict development away from waterways.

“Our county has good drinking water quality and there’s a reason: because we protect our watersheds,” Firehock said.

A motion to recommend denial passed four to two. The next stop will be the Board of Supervisors at a date to be determined.

One of those “no” votes came from Commissioner Nathan Moore. He said if supervisors deny the project, they also need to begin opening up areas for development.

“Now we’re down to just 5 percent of the county’s land and we’re hemmed into this really small space and more and more that’s putting a real burden on the housing supply,” Moore said. “A supply that’s not keeping up with demand.”

In May 2025, county supervisors deadlocked on a vote to approve a similar project in southern Albemarle.

Annie Gould Gallery

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The Beaver Hill mobile home park property owner seeks a rezoning to R-4 to allow for the addition of 49 mobile homes.

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SOME CENTRAL VIRGINIANS WITH THE RED-MEAT ALLERGY ALPHA-GAL TURN TO ACUPUNCTURE FOR SYMPTOM RELIEF

Another shot at

BY CHRISTINE PHELAN KUETER

It took two years and four multi-day hospitalizations before Kenny Belew, 47, finally knew what left him writhing in pain, his gut raw and inflamed, his midsection almost comically distended.

“I looked like I was pregnant,” says Belew, of Palmyra, recalling the moment just before he was carted off by ambulance for a nine-day hospital stay. “I hadn’t gone to the bathroom in 10 days. I came home from work, told my wife, ‘I can’t do this no more. I’m going to go sit in the tub.’ Then I got so weak I couldn’t get out.”

The year was 2017, and, much like now, few physicians knew about alpha-gal syndrome—sometimes called the “red meat allergy” or “lone star tick disease”— which can trigger everything from crippling gastrointestinal upset to itching, hives, and swelling, to anaphylactic shock and even death in its victims, who had been unlucky enough to have been bitten by a carrier tick.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly a half-million Americans have alpha-gal syndrome, even as many clinicians still haven’t heard of it.

Scientist Thomas Platts-Mills, at the University of Virginia—the first to identify the link between the allergy and the bite of a lone star tick—believes at least 5 percent of central Virginians (which includes eight counties of Albemarle, Cul-

ed to eating fish, turkey, and chicken. If she wanted ice cream, she knew she’d have to rush home before the violent pain in her stomach started. Social meals became a headache.

“At cookouts, when people cook a steak on a grill, you have to ask them to cook a chicken on a different part of the grill, to avoid contamination,” Smith says. “So I became that person. It kind of sucked.”

People with alpha-gal syndrome most often react hours after eating mammals— beef, lamb, pork, venison—or animal products, like milk, cheese, or gelatin. Carrageenan, a thickening agent (made out of red algae that contains the alphagal epitope and is used in everything from whipped cream to toothpaste, and air fresheners to cosmetics) may also spur allergic reactions.

Typical alpha-gal reactions range from mild—such as the bloating, stomach upset, and mild hives Smith got, which she tried to remedy with Benadryl and bedrest—to seismic: debilitating gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea, hives, and swelling of the extremities, or, in the most dangerous cases, full-on anaphylaxis, such as what happened to Belew.

It can also, rarely, be a killer. The firstknown death due to the alpha-gal allergy was documented by Platts-Mills and colleagues late last year.

of cross-contamination—his grilled chicken getting cooked on the same spot as a piece of steak, or pork, or lamb was grilled, for example—made him anxious.

Ten years after his diagnosis, though, a tiny pinprick changed everything.

“I’d hear of acupuncture being a potential cure for the condition,” recalls Brown, “but I was naive, like, ‘No way.’ When a friend of mine told me he was going to try it for his alpha-gal, at the back of my brain, I was like, ‘Impossible.’ Then he sent me a picture of himself eating a steak. That changed it. I said, ‘Sign me up. I’m in.’”

A month later, Brown met with Charlottesville acupuncturist Michael Jabalee, who practices integrative medicine in a small office on Hillsdale Road. After an exam, Jabalee inserted an eyelash-sized needle with a round hook at its head into Brown’s right ear and covered it in a round bandage. Jabalee—who, a dozen years before, had been trained in a procedure called the Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment, or SAAT—told Brown to continue to avoid eating red meat, keep his ear dry, and come back in four weeks. A month later, once the needle was removed, Brown headed home, immediately grilled a T-bone steak, cut off a fistsized piece, and stared at it.

peper, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, and Orange) have it.

That’s more than 17,000 people. And Belew is one of them.

Many with alpha gal syndrome experience allergic reactions, like Belew, who works for the City of Charlottesville gas department. Others with alpha-gal allergy remain symptom free, and may never know they have it, though they’re still at risk of developing a reaction. But one encounter with the wrong tick, whose bite often leaves an itchy nodule, and things can change quickly—seemingly for keeps.

Developing symptoms

Rebecca Smith, 41—“a good old country girl [who eats] meat with pretty much every meal”—broke out in “red, rashy hives” after returning from a 2018 camping trip. A nurse, she knew she was having an allergic reaction, but it took some doing before she had a diagnosis.

“Alpha what?” Smith remembers asking. After a couple of inconclusive blood tests, the allergist who hesitantly confirmed Smith had alpha-gal syndrome also noted that she had mast cell activation syndrome—when the body’s immune system inexplicably and mistakenly amplifies an allergic reaction. Told to avoid red meat and dairy, Smith adapt-

Pins and needles

In 2011, when Travis Brown first got shooting stomach pains on his way home from work, he began tracking what he’d eaten for lunch.

“A feel-bad day was when I had a burger,” explains Brown, now 40, a site manager and former pipe-layer who lives in Culpeper. “A feel-good day was when I had a chicken sandwich.”

A couple of times he rushed to the ER with a “face that looked like it went a round or two with Mike Tyson: nose swollen, head-to-tail in hives.” It wasn’t long before Brown realized his episodes happened four or five hours after he’d eaten lunch, about the time when he was headed home from work.

That delay—characteristic of people with alpha-gal syndrome—was key. “Compared to shellfish or peanuts, which are pretty instant,” Brown says, “alpha-gal is like a ticking time bomb; it takes hours. For me, [an allergic reaction] took four or five.”

But it took eight months, several doctors, and two allergists for Brown to get a diagnosis in 2012—pretty quick, when compared to other symptomatic patients at that time who waited more than five years to be diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome. After that, Brown quit red meat, had “awkward conversations at cookouts,” and generally avoided restaurants where the risk

“It was the scariest meal of my life,” he recalls. “I was like, ‘I’m either cured, or I’m going to the hospital.’ I had a fork in one hand and an EpiPen in the other. That day, I ate only the fist-sized portion, and waited. It was 2pm, and I knew if I was okay between 6 and 8pm, I’d be fine.”

Nothing happened that day. And nothing happened the next—or the next. Brown says he’s eaten red meat every single day in the two years since Jabalee removed the needle from his ear. He considers himself “cured.”

“It’s mind-blowing because, when you think of acupuncture, you might see, like I did, that it could work for muscles and tendons,” says Brown, “but, like, a chemical reaction within your body? I just couldn’t understand that.

“I went and saw Jabalee. It took a month for him to cure me—a month after over a decade of trouble.”

The skinny on alpha gal

Initially, scientists thought alpha-gal syndrome was an allergic reaction triggered only after the bite of the lone star tick, an arachnid prevalent throughout a growing portion of the United States, including in Virginia. But alpha-gal cases occur worldwide, so it’s now thought that other kinds of ticks also carry and transmit the disease, too. It’s also likely that the tiny creatures both create and transmit the triggering carbohydrate, conveyed in their saliva,

It’s estimated that at least 5 percent of central Virginians have alpha-gal syndrome, including Palmyra resident Kenny Belew, who contracted the disease in 2017.

entirely on their own, rather than acting as a vector carrying the disease between, say, an infected deer or mouse.

There’s evidence that those with alphagal syndrome are at higher risk of heart disease and heart attacks. There’s also evidence that people with alpha-gal syndrome who have certain blood types (including A and O) may be less vulnerable to allergic reactions.

What’s less clear, though, are solutions.

Medicine is often siloed. That means research done by, say, allergy scientists may not percolate to those in other specialties who are caring for people with alphagal: emergency room clinicians, cardiologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, and oncologists, among others. And while there’s evidence that the length of time to an alpha-gal diagnosis is improving, twofifths of medical professionals say they’ve never heard of it. One-third lack the confidence to diagnose it and help their patients manage the condition.

While there is no known cure except to avoid its triggers, and stories about desensitization and remission are anecdotal, there is evidence that acupuncture may help relieve alpha-gal symptoms.

A 2021 study involving a retrospective chart review of subjects treated for alphagal syndrome using auricular (in the ear) acupuncture found that 96 percent of subjects said their symptoms went into remission. While the study had several

limitations, including its retrospective approach, absence of lab values, and the fact that it didn’t include a control group, some with the allergy, like Belew, Smith, and Brown, are convinced.

While he doesn’t recommend acupuncture for alpha-gal, Platts-Mills also doesn’t dismiss those who say it works.

“The only people who are going to get treated with acupuncture are patients with alpha-gal, and they’re only going to go if they’ve got symptoms,” he says. “They’re a select group. I don’t know of any evidence that indicates that the antibodies go away; all I’ve heard is that their symptoms go away. Which is perfectly possible. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t happen; we just don’t know the mechanism.”

Platts-Mills has a couple of theories—including one that acupuncture triggers “a spray of exosomes, some of which have an effect on mast cells” and another related to acupuncture’s possible “indirect effect on the autonomous nervous system”—but says “it’s too far outside [his] world.”

But “if you can be changed from being in the symptomatic class to the nonsymptomatic class, I think that’s great. I’m in favor of that. I don’t recommend it, because we’re trained so thoroughly not to recommend alternative medicine, but the truth is, some alternative medicine works.

“But how it works?” Platts-Mills chuckles. “I haven’t got a clue.”

Ticks bite

Belew is constantly outside—in addition to working for the City of Charlottesville gas department, he likes to camp and fish— and gets bitten by ticks all the time. He thought nothing of the bites, including the one that appeared on his ankle in 2017 that left a tiny, itchy nodule just before he started having symptoms. Neither did he consider how a steak birthday dinner out and, several days later, a hamburger and hot dog at a cookout might’ve triggered his body’s massive allergic reaction. At the time, it seemed to come out of nowhere.

Hospital scans revealed Belew’s wildly inflamed colon and small intestine and a full bowel obstruction. During the first of his four hospital stays, doctors snaked a tube through his nose into his stomach and digestive tract to pump out its contents. They repeatedly wondered aloud whether he had Crohn’s disease. Others thought portions of his intestines might need to be surgically removed.

Belew and his wife, Stefani—he calls her “Stevie”—were terrified. They had young children and spent two Easters in the hospital. The mystery continued, on and off, for nearly two years.

Doctors confirmed “he was having an allergic reaction, but couldn’t figure out

where it was coming from,” Stevie recalls. It wasn’t until three hospital admissions later, and a transfer to UVA, that Belew met gastroenterologist Brian Behm, who tested him for alpha-gal. It came back positive.

Poke the (b)ear

Jabalee got interested in using acupuncture to relieve allergies when “observing patients’ adverse reactions to medications, or foods, and how their pulse would respond.” He learned the SAAT method and, today, uses it to treat the roughly one-third of his clients who’re seeking allergy relief. About half of those clients have been diagnosed with alpha-gal, Jabalee says.

Acupuncturists are careful to say they don’t offer cures, though.

With alpha-gal syndrome, acupuncture offers “more of a remission than a cure,” explains Charlottesville acupuncturist Mila Zimmerman, who just became SAAT-certified and calls tick-borne illnesses among clients “massive.”

“I cannot as a practitioner guarantee a cure,” she says. “But I can say, hopefully, ‘You might get 90 percent clearing of these symptoms.’”

“We’re not treating diseases,” adds Jabalee. “We look for what’s out of balance. We’re just saying, ‘Hey, we find when we needle this point in this way

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

A nurse, Rebecca Smith recognized she was having an allergic reaction, but it took time before she could get a proper diagnosis.

Before he was diagnosed, Travis Brown rushed to the ER with a “face that looked like it went a round or two with Mike Tyson: nose swollen, head-to-tail in hives.”

that people are getting relief.’ If someone is amenable to that, then we do it. Since I’ve been doing the SAAT, it’s been very reliable and helpful for people. Maybe even life-changing.”

Platts-Mills says he has “very little anger about people doing alternative medicine.” Acupuncturists “have a treatment that works—it doesn’t work permanently, and doesn’t work for everybody—but then that’s true of every other medicine we’ve got,” he says. “Hopelessly true.”

Sitting for SAAT

Acupuncturist Jessica Dodds—who’s been treating clients with alpha-gal syndrome for the last year—kept getting the calls.

“‘Do you treat alpha-gal?’ they’d ask me, or, ‘Do you do the ear thing?’” Dodds recalls.

She’d heard of alpha-gal, but didn’t anticipate just how many clients would be interested. She got SAAT-certified one year ago and now estimates people with an alpha-gal syndrome make up one-third of her business. She doesn’t advertise, but has a sign on the road in front of her Kents Store office that says, simply, “alpha-gal.”

After sending lengthy introductory emails, Dodds begins every 90-minute visit asking about alpha-gal clients’ goals (“I’d love to not have diarrhea,” or, “I want to eat burgers again,” or, “I’d love to go to a restaurant and not fear contamination”). Though it varies by practitioner, acupuncturists often test clients’ reactions to “filters,” small vials that contain allergens that are brought close to but never touch their body. Then acupuncturists observe what happens: perhaps a quickening of a client’s pulse, or an observed weakness during a muscle task.

Dodds has clients close their eyes and hold a metal rod in one hand that’s tethered by wire to a metal base. She “exposes” clients to a variety of allergens by placing the small vials in the metal base (containing everything from alpha-gal to lactose, ragweed, cat dander, venison, and more). Then she asks clients to do a series of strength tests with their fingers or arm, noting any weaknesses when the vials come close.

Depending on what she observes, Dodds then places as many as six needles into the client’s concha—the depression in the central ear that leads to its opening—and then covers each with a bandage. Clients are advised not to wash their treated ear, to continue avoiding contact with triggers, and to return in three to five weeks.

Belew got four needles in his right ear.

“I was skeptical at first, because I’d read there is no cure, and from what I’d heard about acupuncture, there wasn’t a lot saying that it worked,”

Belew said. “I remember thinking, though, ‘It might be the best money I’ve ever spent,’ because I really missed meat, and really missed living a normal life, and having a normal diet.”

Dodds took the needles out of Belew’s ear last October. After a couple of days, he ate a few bites of hamburger. Nothing happened. A week later, he texted Stevie to meet him at Outback Steakhouse, where he ordered steak.

“I sat and stared at it for a long time, because I couldn’t wait,” Belew recalls. “I was so excited. I sat and ate that, and let a week go by, and I had no issues at all.”

It’s been five months. Belew says he’s eating whatever he wants. He’s also back to cooking bacon—“real bacon, not turkey”—for his kids when the family goes camping.

“This changed my life,” Belew says. “There are still people that say to me, ‘There’s no way. There’s no way that works.’ I’m like, ‘Hey, let’s go get a burger and I’ll show you.’ I won’t end up in the hospital. I’m totally fine.”

Smith enjoyed her first bit of ham last Thanksgiving after having acupuncture for her alpha-gal. While the roast-beef-and-cheddar sandwiches she recalled loving eight years ago aren’t as tasty as she remembered, she’s grateful she can “eat what I want to eat for dinner. That’s really nice.”

“When the guy comes back, and says, ‘I’m eating the meat again!’ or, ‘My son’s not losing the weight, he can play the sports again,’ it’s stuff like that, where, holy smokes, I realized I really like this,” says Dodds. “I didn’t up front think that I’d love it so much. In one treatment, you can seriously change people’s lives.”

The main thing, says Jabalee? “Keeping an open mind.”

“It’s the bird watchers’ proverb,” he chuckles, hands clasped. “When the bird and the book disagree, always believe the bird. Don’t dismiss your experience.”

Charlottesville acupuncturist Michael Jabalee treats patients using a procedure called the Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment, or SAAT.

Acupuncturist Jessica Dodds has been treating alpha-gal patients using SAAT for the last year.

Mary Jae Abbitt

Brown & Eure Households

Patti Cary & Todd Stansbury

Pam & Frank Edmonds

Janna & David Gies

Julie & Geoff Montross

Susie Morris

Margaret & Chris Noland

Dana Scheurer, Alive at Reston Town Center, 2008

CULTURE

FRIDAY 5/8

WHITE NOISE

Bella White stretches her sonic blueprint beyond her bluegrass roots to arrive at a moodier brand of contemporary folk. The Calgary, Canada, native recently relocated from Vancouver Island to New Orleans, spurring explorations into indie rock, and expanding a homespun sound steeped in Appalachian traditions mixed with modern singer-songwriter stylings. Nashville-raised singersongwriter Erin Rae performs in support, sharing an intimate, honest, and playful set embracing influences from baroque-pop to cosmic country and indie-folk. $32.70, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 South First St. thesoutherncville.com

TO-DO LIST CULTURE

Wednesday 5/6

music

Open Mic Night. Mic check to all musicians, poets, and everyone in between. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.

The Hip Snacks. A feel-good revolution that’s growing faster than you can keep up. $5, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

The Wavelength. An all-star lineup featuring Liz Barnes and David Drubin. Free, 6:30pm. The Whiskey Jar, 227 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thewhiskeyjarcville.com

dance

World Ballet Company: Swan Lake The legendary tale takes flight in a breathtaking production. $53–116, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

classes

Navigating Opportunities: Open Calls & Approaching Galleries. Offering insight into how galleries review submissions and how to approach institutions professionally and thoughtfully while identifying opportunities that align with an artist’s goals. $40–50, 5:30pm. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St SE. secondstreetgallery.org etc.

Dürty Karaoke. Consistently voted Charlottesville’s best karaoke. Free, 8:30pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com

Rapture Karaoke. Hosted by Thunder Music. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

Thursday 5/7

music

Berto and Vincent. A night of wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com Ole 60. Caught in the crosshairs of indie rock sonics, folk songwriting, and country sensibilities. $49, 7:30pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com

stage

The Hound of the Baskervilles When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the moors with a look of terror on his face and paw prints by his body, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are called to unravel the curse of the hound. $35–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com

words

Open Mic Reader’s Night. Share your work with the community. Free, 6:30pm. Virginia Wine Collective, 1585 Avon St. Ext. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

classes

Bonsai Wire Tree Charm. Make a bonsai tree charm out of wire and beads. Turn it into a giant necklace or wind-chime decoration. Ages 18+. Registration recommended. Free, 6:30pm. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org

CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

SATURDAY 5/9 & SUNDAY 5/10

WELL CRAFTED

Enjoy a full weekend of art, music, food, and family fun at the Spring Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival. The bi-annual juried arts and crafts event brings together more than 125 artists and artisans in a spring showcase, offering high-quality goods across an array of disciplines— including pottery, jewelry, woodcraft, fiber art, and more. Explore kids’ activities and craft demos alongside live performances from local favorites, including The Pollocks, Skyline Country Cloggers, Kai Crowe-Getty, and others. $6–14, 10am. Claudius Crozet Park, Crozet. crozetfestival.com

Eurydice

By Sarah Ruhl

May 8 - 24

Directed by Devynn Thomas

Thursday 5/7

etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. An escape room meets a pub crawl. Visit the Preston Avenue breweries, crack codes, unravel riddles, and sample Charlottesville’s best brews. Players get $1 off pints at each brewery. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. Like an escape room but at a winery. Crack codes and unravel riddles while sampling Charlottesville’s best wine, beer, and cider. Play when you want and go at your own pace. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Friday 5/8

music

Bella White. Stretching beyond bluegrass roots to arrive at a moodier and more audacious breed of folk/Americana. $32, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Bob Bennetta Trio. Live jazz. Free, 6:30pm. Afghan Kabob House, 200 Market St. afghankabob-house.com

Cawson’s Coop. A high-energy, female-led country cover band, blending modern hits with ’90s country favorites. Free, 7pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com

Ian Gilliam & The FireKings. Blues, rockabilly, honky-tonk, and rock ‘n’ roll music. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Javanese Keroncong featuring Peni Candra Rini & Rumput. Acclaimed Javanese singer and composer performs an evening of Indonesian string band music. $20–25, 7pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com

John Kelly. Charlottesville-based singer-songwriter with more than two decades of solo acoustic performing experience. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Scuffletown. The high-energy duo of John Whitlow and Marc Carraway perform a unique blend of roots, jazz, world, bluegrass, and original music. Free, 6pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com

The Greenhorns. A new seven-piece band blends New Orleans funk, jump blues, R&B, and a little jazz. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. The Lonesome Millies. Rappahannock-based acoustic trio plays a mix of folk, Americana, and light rock. Free, 5pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Waylon Wyatt: Everywhere Under The Sun. A 19-year-old folk-country artist from Hackett, Arkansas, known for his raw, red-dirt take on Americana. $57, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

stage

The Hound of the Baskervilles See listing for Thursday, May 7. $35–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. american shakespearecenter.com

The Life of Marie Gaglione. A group of crack improvisers riff on Gaglione’s live, unedited readings from her own journals. With an opening set by Big Blue Door’s resident spring team, Hot Tee. $10, 7pm. McGuffey Art Center, 201 Second St. NW. bigbluedoor.org

words

Author Event: Scott Simon. Simon shares his new book, Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known. A conversation with screenwriter and author Thomas Pierce follows. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com

PREVIEW CULTURE

Getting together

The Head and the Heart takes it back to the beginning BY CHRIS YOUNG

Over more than 15 years, The Head and the Heart has produced dozens of relatable, sentimental songs, establishing itself as a folk-pop band full of choral harmonies, catchy songwriting, and inviting performances. The group’s sixth album Aperture came out in May 2025, and as part of a current anniversary tour the band is playing its self-titled debut album in its entirety.

In 2022, The Head and the Heart released its melancholic opus, Every Shade of Blue, a 16-track “collection of songs that celebrates the beautiful mess that we were during this time of transformation,” the band wrote on Instagram. The opening notes of the title song introduced the exquisite complexity that characterized the album as a whole.

Every Shade of Blue documented how six individuals separated by COVID-19 could bring the band’s disparate ideas together, with the result being admittedly disjointed amongst some standout moments. It was also The Head and the Heart’s final record of its major-label deal with Warner Bros.

The creative process for Aperture couldn’t have been more different. “With this one, we just wanted to be way more concise,” says drummer Tyler Williams. “But also more together through the whole writing process, where we’re all touching the songs from the beginning.”

By the spring of 2023, the six musicians had no label or manager. They went into Aperture bound by no one and it was a feeling similar to making that debut album in 2011, which was picked up by Seattle’s legendary Sub Pop Records, was the last time they’d self-produced one of their records.

“We felt like we were in that position again where we were doing it for ourselves and not really having deadlines or outside influence or pressure put on us,” says Williams. “So it really did feel like we were back to those beginning years in more ways than one.”

The Aperture project began in Richmond, Virginia, at The Brink, a recording studio that just happens to be close to Williams’ home. With two-thirds of the band present—including songwriter and guitar player Jonathan Russell, pianist Kenny Hensley, bassist Chris Zasche and Williams—“things just felt a little more spontaneous where we were not even really talking about song structure or chords or anything like that,” Williams says. “Just jamming in the moment, and fully formed songs were coming out of that. And that was exciting, because we’ve never really written that way before.”

Violinist Charity Rose Thielen and guitarist Matty Gervais were initially left out as the couple welcomed their second baby in Seattle—but were ecstatic to hear the foursome’s efforts from the first jam session, which included the emotive album tracks “Pool Break” and “Cop Car.”

From there Gervais stepped up. “He went into this record process fully himself and ready to attack these songs with a tenacity that I’ve rarely seen in songwriters,” Williams says.

Gervais took impromptu jams from various sessions in Richmond or Seattle and gave back “full lyrics, melodies, and beautiful top lines and all this stuff,” Williams says, adding that time and again, Gervais “created this beautiful piece [when] we thought it was just a jam.”

The record’s title has a few different meanings, but “one of the ideas is opening

up the aperture to the collective vision of this band and allowing all of those influences onto the record,” says Williams. “For the first time in a long time, the six members had full autonomy to do whatever they wanted to do, and everyone contributed to the final product.”

Jefferson Theater | May 12

“It’s kind of amazing how many songs we were able to create in the moment when we’re all feeling trusting of each other,” Williams said. “This album also feels vulnerable because it is so much us. There’s so much of our spirit in it.”

“For the first time in a long time, the six members had full autonomy to do whatever they wanted to do, and everyone contributed to the final product.” TYLER WILLIAMS

The Head and the Heart is celebrating its 15th anniversary by playing its eponymous first studio album on tour.

The Head and the Heart

The

CULTURE TO-DO LIST

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Saturday 5/9

Breakfast + Conversation: Fine Art + Flowers. Meet the exhibiting artists behind the current exhibition, and hear from the curator about how the show came together. $10, 10am. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org classes

Watercolor Happy Hour. A relaxed, joyful evening of painting in an open structure without specific instruction. All materials provided. Ages 15+. $25, 5:30pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, May 7. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Jurassic Park Escape Room. Can you find a way out of Jurassic Park and turn the power back on before the dinosaurs escape? Ages 11+. Registration required. Free, 3pm. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, May 7. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Saturday 5/9 music

Classic Road. A full band of two people. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Eddie 9V. A thrilling mix of Southern soul, blues, rock, and funk. $25, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

FarAway. The duo of Sara Davenport and Brian Franke play a wide variety of music on both the cover song and original side. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Her Checkered Past. Anne O’Brien and Frank Bechter perform music to warm the heart by the hearth. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Jeremy’s Ten: The Pearl Jam Tribute. The nation’s most authentic tribute to one of the ’90s most prolific and influential bands. $18–25, 7pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com

Josh Mayo. Music from a one-of-a-kind voice to cure whatever ails you. Free, 9:30pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

Ron Gentry. Influenced by the sounds of Motown, The Beatles, CCR, and others. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducard vineyards.com

Scuffletown. Smooth singing and multi-instrumental offerings. Free, 6pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

The Pollocks. A rockin’ good time. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesville market.com

The Sugar Hollows x James River Junction. A night of roots-rich rock and good vibes. Free, 8:30pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com

Travis Elliott. Singer-songwriter blending catchy alternative pop hooks with punk energy and Americana grit through originals and covers. Free, 1pm. Tasting Room & Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve, 5931 Blenheim Rd. mountidareserve.com

stage

The Hound of the Baskervilles See listing for Thursday, May 7. $35–75, 2pm and 7:30pm. Blackfri-

ars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. american shakespearecenter.com

words

Lauren Catlett: Little Star. Celebrating the 10th anniversary edition of Little Star with editor Lauren Catlett. Free, 4pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominion bookshop.com

Light ON Blackfriars. Featuring Analise Toone on the dramaturgy of A Bold Stroke for a Husband. $7, 11am. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com

New Dominion Storytime. Featuring readings from recent storybooks and the classics kids know and love. Rain or shine. All ages welcome. Free, 11am. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.com

classes

Beginner Hand Sewing. An introductory course for those with little or no hand-sewing experience. Ages 15+. $20, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Creative Writing for Teens. Got stories, ideas, lyrics, or new worlds living in your head? Let’s get them on the page. Come experiment, take risks, and find your voice. Ages 11–18. Free, 10am. Crozet Library, 2020 Library Ave., Crozet. jmrl.org

Mother’s Day Paint & Sip. Follow an acrylic painting tutorial or paint your own masterpiece while enjoying a selection of fancy snacks and drinks. For teens ages 11–18 and their mothers/maternal figures. Registration required. Free, 1pm. Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org

Slow Stitch Techniques and Stitches: Cloth Weaving and Couching. An intermediate session introduces new techniques as a way to expand slow stitching practices or for use in other hand-sewing projects. Ages 16+. $20, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

To Get the News From Poems: Poetry in Response to Current Events. Exploring how poems can address the issues and events of our time, focused on work shared by seminar members, and discussion of poems by published writers. $67, 1pm. WriterHouse, 508 Dale Ave. writerhouse.org etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, May 7. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Charlottesville City Market. Explore seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goods, hot breakfast, global flavors, unique crafts, and more from 100+ local vendors. Free, 9am. Charlottesville City Market, 100 Water St. E. charlottesville.gov

Family Studio Day. Exhibiting artist Priscilla Whitlock shares projects that reflect the joy we find in nature and in one another, using brightly patterned papers and decorations. Free, 10am. Second Street Gallery, 115 Second St. SE. secondstreetgallery.org

Jurassic Park Escape Room. See listing for Friday, May 8. Free, 10:30am. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org

Met Live in HD: Eugene Onegin. Soprano Asmik Grigorian returns to the Met as Tatiana, the lovestruck young heroine in this ardent operatic adaptation of Pushkin. $27–32, 1pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

SUNDAY 5/10

ARTISTIC TESTAMENT

The Oratorio Society of Virginia’s staging of Mendelssohn’s Elijah is presented with a full orchestra led by music director Michael Slon Experience the power of 100-plus voices singing in harmony, bolstered by soaring guest soloists including soprano Caroline Worra, mezzo-soprano Isabel Randall, tenor Brenden Christie, and bass-baritone Richard Ollarsaba (pictured) as Elijah. Together, the singers and musicians bring to life the Old Testament story of the titular prophet through timeless melodies in an adapted English-language version of the masterful oratorio. $10–40, 3:30pm. Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds. oratoriosociety.org

Piedmont Master Gardeners’ Plant Swap. Gardeners are invited to bring vegetables, perennials, annuals, houseplants, shrubs, trees and herbs to trade. Free, 10am. James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe Pkwy. highland.org

Rivanna RiverFest. Celebrate and experience the Rivanna River. Featuring family-friendly activities and live music. Free, 2:30pm. Rivanna River Company, 1520 E. High St. rivannariver.org

Spring Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival. A weekend of art, music, food, and family fun featuring more than 130 artists and artisans showcasing pottery, jewelry, painting, photography, woodcraft, fiber art, personal care products, and more. $6.50–13, 10am. Claudius Crozet Park, Crozet. crozetfestival.com

Spring Open House and Plant Sale. Shop for plants, enjoy guided garden tours, and learn about Monticello’s Center for Historic Plants at Tufton Farm. Free, 9am. Monticello’s Tufton Farm, 1293 Tufton Farm. monticello.org

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, May 7. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Sunday 5/10

music

Arcy Drive: The Pit Tour Spring 2026. A group of four good buds from Northport, New York, perform their own brand or attic-rock. $29, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

GootGenuG. Jazz fusion quartet brings original music and covers. Free, 2pm. Pro Re Nata, 6135 Rockfish Gap Tpke., Crozet. prnbrewery.com

Olivarez Trio. A vibrant acoustic blend of French jazz styles mixed with eastern European folklore, waltzes, early jazz improvisations, and more. Free, 1pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com

Randy Johnston. Solo jazz and blues. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Second Sunday Bluegrass Jam. Musicians gather in a circle to jam and the audience sneaks a spot to watch. Show up with instruments if you got ’em. Otherwise, just show up. Free, 2pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

The Oratorio Society of Virginia: Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Presented with full orchestra, outstanding professional guest soloists, and the power of 100+ voices in harmony. $10–40, 3:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. music.virginia.edu

Vicky Lee. Live harp music for Mother’s Day. Free, 1pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

stage

The Hound of the Baskervilles See listing for Thursday, May 7. $35–75, 2pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespeare center.com

classes

Beginning and Intermediate Gelli Printmaking. Explore a quick and easy method of printing that uses a gelli plate, paint, and paper to easily create monoprints. Ages 16+. $30, 2pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Blackwork for Beginners. An introduction to outline-only embroidery. Learn double running stitch, split stitch, backstitch, and stem stitch working from nature motifs inspired by the Tudor period. Ages 15+. $30, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Wine Glass Painting. All materials and instructions provided. Ages 21+. $20, 11am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, May 7. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Hope Grows Celebration. An afternoon full of family fun, community connection, and meaningful impact. Ticket includes live music by The Currys and activities including pony rides, lawn games, arts and crafts, and more. $40–200, 3pm. King Family Vineyard, 6550 Roseland Farm, Crozet. kingfamilyvineyards.com

Mother’s Day Market. Celebrate Mother’s Day with local vendors, a flower-bouquet bar, and harp music by Vicky Lee. Free, noon. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmand winery.com

Spring Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival. See listing for Saturday, May 9. $6.50–13, 10am. Claudius Crozet Park, Crozet. crozetfestival.com

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, May 7. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Monday 5/11

music

Ramona Martinez. Local favorite serenades with a signature mix of country western and mariachi music. Free, 5:30pm. The Fitzroy, 120 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. thefitzroycville.com

classes

Teas From The Garden: Discover the Herbs in Your Own Backyard. Exploring different categories of tea and typical garden plants that can be used to make steeped beverages. Ages 18+. Free, 5pm. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org

Tuesday 5/12

music

BRIMS. Blue Ridge Irish Music School open jam featuring traditional Irish music. Free, 6:30pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellys charlottesville.com

The Head And The Heart: 15th Anniversary Tour with the Brudi Brothers. The American indie folk band is at it again. With the Brudi Brothers. $191–555, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com Tuesday Jazz. A cast of great players joins guitar virtuoso Jeff Massanari. Free, 6:30pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

words

Moms Lit Society. Books After Bedtime: A book club for moms who love to read and connect. This month: Sadeqa Johnson’s The Keeper of Lost Children. Free, 6:30pm. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. charlottesvillefamily.com

Plot Twisters Teen Book Club. Avid teen readers ages 11–18 are invited to read a book of choice on a monthly theme or genre, then meet to discuss the readings, decide future themes, do crafts, and eat snacks. Registration required. Free, 5pm. Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org etc.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Good trivia, good times. Teams of two to six people compete to win prizes like gift certificates and pint glasses, plus bragging rights. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St.. fireflycville.com

PAGES CULTURE

Celebrating 10 years of Little Star

Lauren Catlett on working with Carmelita Estrellita

Recently re-released in a 10th anniversary edition, Little Star is the memoir of Carmelita Estrellita, a trans poet, artist, and educator who lived in Charlottesville until her death in 2016. Edited by Lauren Catlett, the book combines Estrellita’s writing, stories, and drawings to share reflections on her life and to offer comfort, affirmation, and inspiration to others facing challenges of their own.

Catlett is a nurse, artist, and researcher at the University of Virginia School of Nursing, where they study aging and end-of-life care with a focus on older adults from historically marginalized communities. They recently discussed Little Star and their hopes for the new edition.

C-VILLE: Little Star provides a glimpse into Carmelita’s experiences as a trans woman, from institutionalization and discrimination to the joys of taking ownership of her identity. How would you describe Carmelita and what it was like to spend time with her?

Lauren Catlett: The time I spent with Carmelita was characterized by reserved quietude and expressive creativity. These qualities were ones we shared, and I think this helped to open communication between us. In the telling of her stories, she had both wisdom and humility. As I observed her interactions with others, I saw that she was not afraid of vulnerability, neither laughter nor weeping, with those close to her. I don’t know how many friendships and connections Carmelita had, but the ones I knew of had depth and authenticity.

I met Carmelita as a volunteer at the Jefferson Area Board for Aging adult day center, where we spent time helping the older adults there. Just as in Carmelita’s story of reading literature with her aging aunt Anne in Little Star, the longstanding tenderness and compassion she had for elder members of our community was evident in her service at JABA and in her later involvement with a local companionship initiative for older adults.

Carmelita told me of her strong call to service, even though some of her attempts to volunteer had been met with rejection due to discrimination based on her gender identity. … I saw Carmelita as a quiet change agent in our community.

She had frequent visitors while on hospice, and her visitors described how she became an important part of the places she frequented around town. As she said in Little Star, Carmelita’s goal was to be a force for good

in the world, which she demonstrated in her attitude and actions, even from her hospice bed.

The book is also about Carmelita’s cancer journey, during which she expressed her desire to share her story with others. How has sharing the book in the past 10 years shaped your own relationship to mortality?

Sharing Little Star has shaped my relationship to mortality and meaning-making as an artist by demonstrating a poignant and viable way of prompting reflection about end-of-life through stories and artwork. The book has become a living entity though the author is no longer living. Sharing Little Star highlights the capacity of legacy-sharing to reshape perceptions of disappearance and erasure in mortality. In a sociopolitical climate that threatens the existence of transgender people, this capacity is especially important.

As a researcher, legacy-sharing through Little Star has influenced my work related to end-of-life communication and has allowed me to connect with community members from diverse backgrounds about end-of-life issues. Personally, Carmelita’s lessons on finding regrowth through suffering helped me navigate my father’s serious illness and death in April of this year, and the life-threatening health challenges of my own that I faced in the preceding decade. As Carmelita said, in the suffering, there was something bigger, and that held true every time.

In the book’s epilogue, you describe how Carmelita’s story encouraged affirming resources for trans folks in aging and end-of-life care, and how this informed your research on health equity for transgender older adults. Has anything changed in how you hope readers will experience the book now? When we first released Little Star, the focus

versity.

was on elevating messages of forgiveness and hope in the context of anti-transgender stigma and the fear of mortality. These messages have gained even greater relevance in the sociopolitical environment of today, especially Carmelita’s emphasis on giving back and forgiving. I’m reminded of Hil Malatino’s book, Trans Care, that critiques medical and political systems of ‘care’ for trans people while urging trans people to ‘show up’ in these systems that so often ‘fail to show up’ for them. Carmelita had been doing this for decades, as have many of the trans older adults I’ve met subsequent to the publication of Little Star

I hope that the book will continue to serve as a nuanced and meaningful account that challenges misconceptions and misinformation about transgender people perpetuated in public fora and social media. I hope that trans people reading the book will find hope for greater equity, acceptance, and equanim-

BY SARAH LAWSON

ity in a time of significant ad-

Lauren Catlett will celebrate the 10th anniversary edition of Little

“Jordan

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In 2024 the National Association of Realtors settled a billion dollar lawsuit related to inflated Realtor commission practices. This monumental settlement opens the door for true free market competition and innovation to thrive. I’ve successfully sold homes using a 1% model for nearly 2 decades proving the old “6% legacy” commission model is a waste of money and does nothing to help promote affordable housing. Contact me direct to arrange a no obligation meeting to learn more.

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SUMMER CAMP Guide

Annual directory of Summer Camps, Schools & Programs for kids

Sabre D&D Summer Camp for Kids!

ABOUT

Sabre is pleased to offer D&D summer camp for all kids, ages 10-17.

Sessions at Sabre will run from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. of the week selected.

Our In StoreDungeon Master will teach your kids all about D&D and help them build characters to take on epic adventures!

Read all about it on our website, and see you here adventurer!

SUMMER CAMP WEEKS:

June 1-5 • June 8-12

June 15-19 • June 22-26

June 29-July 3

July 6-July 10 • July 13-July 17

July 20-July 24 • July 27-July 31

August 3-August 7

Gauging Your Child’s Readiness for Camp

Answering these questions will help you determine when your child is ready for camp.

• What is your child’s age? Children under age 7 may not adjust easily to being away from home. Consider the day camp experience to prepare them for future overnight camp.

• How did your child become interested in camp? Does your child talk about camp and camp activities on a sustained basis? How much persuasion is necessary from you?

• Has your child had positive overnight experiences away from home? Visiting relatives or friends? Were these separations easy or difficult?

• What does your child expect to do at camp? Learning about the camp experience ahead of time allows you to create positive expectations.

• Are you able to share consistent and positive messages about camp? Your confidence in a positive experience will be contagious.

Learning

About American Camp Association

The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 20,000 yearround and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org or call 800-428-2267.

SUMMER RECREATION CAMP 2026

(FULL DAY)

Ages 6-13

The Albemarle County Parks and Recreation Department will be sponsoring the Summer Recreation Camp at four locations. This program is for children ages six to thirteen. The program consists of organized recreational activities, sports, games, contests, arts & crafts, and special events. This program is run in coordination with summer school.

• Child must turn six by November 30, 2026. (No Exceptions, this is a daycare license requirement)

• This program is open to all children in the age group.

• Maximum of 90 participants for each location.

Monday-Friday June 15 –June 26, 2 weeks (except Fri, June 19th)

8:00am-5:30pm

*Cost of camp is a one-time fee ($220), whether you attend one day, one week, or both weeks, includes field trips to Albemarle County Lakes for swimming.

Locations:

Brownsville Elementary, Stone Robinson Elementary, Walton Middle School, Woodbrook Elementary

ADVENTURE CAMPS 2026

(FULL DAY)

Ages 6-13

Our ACPR Adventure Camp is a specialized type of summer camp that focuses on outdoor activities and adventures, offering campers opportunities to explore nature, develop skills, and build confidence through recreational activities. We will be using the school facilities, ACPS outdoor space and field trips to Greenwood Community Center, Maymont Park and to Albemarle and City Parks.

Our ACPR Adventure camps will emphasize the importance of community and teamwork, creating a supportive environment where campers can build friendships and forge lasting bonds with their campers and recreation leaders.

Mon-Fri, July 6-10

8am-5:30pm

*Cost of camp is a one-time fee ($185)

Locations:

Brownsville Elementary, Stone Robinson Elementary, Walton Middle School, Woodbrook Elementary

ALL-SPORTS CAMP 2026

(FULL DAY)

Ages 6-13

All-Sports Camp is open to the youth ages 6-13 for the purpose of providing them with a positive multi-sport experience. The camp’s main goal is to equip the participants with the tools to become better athletes and people. Through a variety of sport choices, we give campers the opportunity to explore and nurture their interest leadership through athletics.

Fundamentals of a variety of sports will be covered through stations, drills, and skills training. This program is designed to introduce the participants to a variety of sports during the week and on Friday there will be time for contests and games. If it rains all activities will be in the gym.

Mon-Thurs, June 29-July 2

8am-5:30pm

*Cost of camp is a one-time fee ($185)

Locations:

Brownsville Elementary, Stone Robinson Elementary, Walton Middle School, Woodbrook Elementary

FOR FUN PUZZLES

SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

BY MATT JONES

Free solo

DOWN

1. “The Human Condition” author Hannah

2. Georges who created “A Trip to the Moon” (1902)

3. Advantage, metaphorically

4. Dark hours in Dor tmund

5. Legal rep.

6. Space station where Shannon Lucid is the only American woman to have stayed

7. Ab ___ ( from day one)

8. Kathmandu’s country, per the IOC

9. Bioengineered food, briefly

10. More, at the cantina

11. Way off

with chlor-

31. Philosophical argument for faith in God

33. Neil Patrick Harris-hosted Netflix game show of late 2025

35. Back-and-forths

36. Ohm creation

37. Not a good sign

38. Orioles great Ripken

41. It’s usually under 3 and 4

43. Curvy figures

44. Hard-to-read writing

45. Settings in a book?

47. Dreams, in Nimes

48. Divest, maybe

54. Resembled, in a way

55. Longtime Pennsylvania senator

12. American Gladiator with an explosive name

14. Friendly words after “hola”

15. Scale used in the summer

16. Calling

21. Trident, e.g.

22. Roundish script letters used in old Latin manuscripts

23. Crude shelters

24. Unsurpassed, as a record

25. Partial phrase on a diner sign

28. Page of music?

29. “Miracle on 34th Street” Oscar winner Edmund

31. Kung ___ tofu

32. Situps’ target

33. Unconvincing argument, in slang

PAGE COSTS

By Rob Brezsny Gemini

(May 21-June 20): I invite you to ruminate on death not as the conclusion of physical life, but as a metaphor for discarding what’s stale and outmoded. In that light, what would be the best deaths you could generate during the coming weeks? Use your imagination with verve and vigor as you dream up scenarios in which you purge parts of your life that are not serving your strongest, most vital yearnings. Visualize how much fresh potency that will liberate. (P.S.: To reiterate: You are not in physical danger.)

Cancer

(June 21-July 22): What part of you is too tame? Maybe your imagination is politely well-behaved, or maybe your voice edits itself before it dares to say what it really thinks. Can you inspire it to be wilder and freer? Not reckless or destructive, but more honest and experimental? Here’s a suggestion: Go on regular excursions with your wild side, maybe once every two weeks. Follow it as it chooses what to explore and create. This might ultimately teach your tamed self that it’s safe to let primal wisdom help steer you.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): According to quantum physics, particles can become “entangled,” which means they share a single connected quantum state. Observing and measuring one particle reveals information about the other, even if they’re not in close proximity. Einstein called this “spooky action at a distance.” I predict that different parts of your life will also interweave in unlikely ways during the coming weeks, Leo. Moves you make in one area will seem to produce mysterious effects in other domains. For example, adjusting your morning routine may boost your creative output. Healing an old alliance could unlock a professional opportunity. Everything will be more intermingled than the visible evidence suggests.

Virgo

(Aug. 22-Sept. 22): Your key power word for now is stretch. Speak it aloud multiple times every day, and write it on a card that you put in a place where you will keep seeing it. Also, make a point of physically and spiritually living out these three senses of stretch: 1. To lengthen, widen, or expand without snapping or tearing. 2. To unfurl your body to its full reach, boosting circulation and warding off stiffness or cramps. 3. To take on challenging tasks that push you to amplify your abilities and move beyond what you previously believed you could do.

Libra

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Four oracles for you, Libra: 1. You’re in possession of keys to doors that haven’t been built yet. Tuck those keys away somewhere safe. 2. You’re ready to dream up titles for stories your life hasn’t lived through yet. Write those titles down. 3. You are being

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN

(April 20-May 20): When lightning from a cloud hits sand or soil, the current travels down into the ground. It melts material along its path and forms tubular, branching glass structures that can penetrate deep below the surface. I believe that metaphorically similar phenomena will soon happen in your life, Taurus. Sudden insights or electrifying feelings will leave permanent traces in your psyche, creating new pathways for energy and information to flow. These disruptive inspirations and inspiring disruptions will rewire your internal circuitry, creating channels that will enhance your receptivity to future revelations. You’ll be able to absorb clues and hints from life that you weren’t tuned into before.

granted sneak previews of your future, even though you can’t yet see the bridge that will carry you there. Imprint these glimpses on your memory. 4. You have everything required to grow a more muscular faith that’s grounded in real evidence, not in vague hopes and wishful thinking. Take advantage.

Scorpio

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): At the ancient Library of Alexandria, editors did far more than copy manuscripts. They compared multiple versions of important works and produced editions that aimed at definitively reliable texts. Their efforts at preservation required active intervention rather than mere reproduction. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, I think it will be fun and transformative for you to make similar adjustments to your own life story. How might your memories of the past need to be corrected and refined? How could you make your personal mythology more accurate and liberating? I invite you to revise and revivify the tales you tell yourself about your magnificent journey from the moment you were born until now.

Sagittarius

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The speed of light is how fast it travels through a vacuum. When moving through water and other media, though, light’s swiftness decreases. The fastest possible speed in the universe only applies in emptiness. If you put anything in light’s way, it slows down. Let’s use this as a metaphor for your life. I suspect you may be frustrated by how incrementally things are moving. But you’re not in a vacuum. Your bright intelli-

gence is traveling through the complex situations that life has brought you. So of course you’re not zipping along with maximum haste. My advice: Be grateful for the slowdowns. Learn all you can about how they are educating and transforming your brilliance.

Capricorn

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Cryptographer Claude Shannon was the father of information theory. His achievements were comparable to those of Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin. Here’s one of his secrets: He kept his office filled with juggling equipment, unicycles, and mechanical toys, which inspired him to solve abstract problems. His playful tinkering helped inspire breakthroughs that ultimately created the digital age. For him, recreation and innovation happened at the same time. I invite you to try a similar approach in the coming weeks, Capricorn. Blend “serious work” with “just messing around.” Be alert for key insights that emerge from improvisation and experimentation. Your diversions won’t be distractions from your purpose but rather pathways toward it.

Aquarius

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Master calligrapher Yukimi Annand is an Aquarius. She teaches that beautiful letters emerge not just from the hand that holds the brush, but from the entire body and relaxed awareness. Breath, posture, centered weight, and quiet mind all flow through the arm to create each stroke. Trying to control the outcome with arduous effort produces rigid, lifeless art. This is an excellent

teaching for you right now, Aquarius. Whatever you’re striving to accomplish, I beg you to refrain from forcing results through grueling, overly laborious exertion. Instead, align your whole being so that graceful outcomes flow naturally from your soulful coherence.

Pisces

(Feb. 19-March 20): The placebo effect is getting stronger over time. Placebos in drug trials are becoming increasingly effective, to the point where it’s sometimes becoming harder to prove that actual drugs work better than sugar pills. Are we getting better at healing ourselves through belief? That would be a problem for pharmaceutical companies but interesting for the rest of us. Dear Pisces, I believe your placebo response is exceptionally strong right now. In the coming weeks, use it deliberately. Be daring and exuberant in your efforts to heal yourself.

Aries

(March 21-April 19): Astronomers depend on instruments to collect the observations that fuel their work, but they don’t spend every night glued to the stars. On overcast nights, they turn to what they have already gathered, digging into past measurements and reworking the data. You’re in a comparable phase, Aries. For now, looking farther out into the glittering world won’t give you anything essential. The guidance you need is folded into what you’ve previously seen, felt, and taken in. It’s waiting for you to sort through and understand it on a deeper level.

Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888

CLASSIFIEDS

SIZES AVAILABLE

UPSCALE EVENT CENTER LLC

1226 Harris Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY

for a restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages, Consumed on and off Premises license to sell or manufacture beer & wine.

James Jackson, Owner

NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be Submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

PRICING

Email salesrep@c-ville.com

classifieds.c-ville.com

FORECLOSURE SALE OF

REAL ESTATE AT PUBLIC AUCTION

Albemarle County, Virginia Albemarle County Tax Map No. 128A2-00-00-00300

SALE: FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026, AT 12:00 P.M. AT THE SCOTTSVILLE POOL 7414 SCOTTSVILLE ROAD, SCOTTSVILLE, VA

In execution of a Deed of Trust, being dated February 12, 2015, of record in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia (“Clerk’s Office”), in Deed Book 4583, page 164 (the “Deed of Trust”), the undersigned as Trustee by instrument of record in the aforesaid Clerk’s Office, will offer for sale at public auction:

All that tract or parcel of land situated at Porters Precinct in Albemarle County, Virginia, containing 10.979 acres, more or less, as shown on a plat of Diana P. Dale, P.E., L.S., dated April 4, 2003 of record in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, in Deed Book 2466, page 301.

(the “Property”)

TERMS OF SALE: A bidder’s deposit of the lesser of $10,000 or 10% of the winning bid, shall be paid at the sale by cashier’s check made payable to Bidder (to be assigned to Trustee if Bidder is successful), with the balance upon delivery of a trustee’s deed within 30 days of sale. If the initial deposit is less than 10% of the winning bid, then the successful bidder’s deposit MUST be increased to 10% of the winning bid by cashier’s check or wired funds within three (3) business days. Settlement shall be held within 30 days after the date of sale unless otherwise postponed at the sole discretion of the Trustee. Sale is subject to the covenants, conditions, restrictions, rights of way, and easements, if any, contained in the deeds and other documents forming the chain of title to the Property. Property is sold “AS IS, WHERE IS,” “WITH ALL FAULTS” and “WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTIES.”

Neither the Substitute Trustee nor the Lender shall have any obligation to obtain possession of the Property. It shall be the purchaser’s obligation, at the purchaser’s sole cost, to obtain possession of the Property.

The purchaser waives and releases the Substitute Trustee and Lender and each of their respective agents, successors and assigns from any and all claims the purchaser and/or its successors and assigns may now have or may have in the future relating to: (1) any condition, problem or violation affecting the Property; (2) any existing or future building or zoning code problems or violations, and (3) the accuracy or validity of any information described herein. Purchaser has not relied on anything in the foreclosure advertisement but rather has relied solely on such investigations, examinations or inspections of the Property as the purchaser has made.

TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE WITH RESPECT TO SETTLEMENT. The deposit shall be applied to the credit of successful bidder at settlement; or, in the event of failure to complete settlement within the time set forth after the date of sale, in accordance with the terms of sale, the deposit shall be forfeited and applied to the costs of sale, including Trustee’s fee, and the Property shall be resold at the cost and expense of the defaulting Purchaser. Risk of loss or damage to the Property shall be borne by successful bidder from the time of auctioneer’s strikedown at the sale. Purchaser shall pay all settlement fees, title examination charges, title insurance premiums, and recording costs. Current real estate property taxes will be prorated at closing as of date of sale. Rollback taxes, if any, will be the responsibility of the Purchaser.

THE TRUSTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT: (i) to waive the deposit requirements; (ii) to extend the period of time within which the Purchaser is to make full settlement; (iii) to withdraw the Property from sale at any time prior to the termination of the bidding; (iv) to keep the bidding open for any length of time; (v) to reject all bids; and (vi) to postpone or continue this sale from time to time, such notices of postponement or setting over shall be in a manner deemed reasonable by the Trustee. Announcements made on day of sale take precedence over all other advertised terms and conditions.

FOR INFORMATION SEE: www.fplegal.com/foreclosures

Flora Pettit PC, Trustee

Nancy R. Schlichting

530 E. Main Street

P. O. Box 2057 Charlottesville, VA 22902

(434) 817-7990

nrs@fplegal.com lmg@fplegal.com

curate and host a variety of 21+ events, supporting local artists and artisans, to bring cannabis lovers together. Whether you are passing through the city or found your forever home in Charlottesville, Virginia, The Hidden

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haven for all of us. We look forward to welcoming you with open arms in a friendly and hidden place, where you are seen and known.

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The good, the bad, and the Charlottesville

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C-VILLE

Malcolm Brogdon returns to work for University of Virginia basketball program. Jim Ryan slated to speak at UVA commencement. Downtown Mall turned into eight-block art gallery as Charlottesville City Schools’ K-12 students’ work displayed in business windows. Return of Fridays After Five. Virginia says “yes” to redistricting. Charlottesville police note 10 percent drop in major crimes in 2025. Mas gets a makeover. C-VILLE Weekly finishes in top third of Wordplay participants. Horses circle track in rain; spectators imbibe. That menu for new Glass Building restaurant Aster, tho.

C-VILE

President Donald Trump visits Charlottesville; his entourage closes multiple exits on I-64 en route to Trump Winery. Common House closes. Billy Strings breaks his leg backstage at a Charlottesville concert after some ill-advised pre-encore skateboarding. Armed, masked ICE officers abduct at least one person from Mallside Forest Apartments. Traffic! Pollen! Fluctuating temperatures! Freeze affects local vineyards Spotted lanternflies are back. Charlottesville School Board moves forward with return of SROs. South Street Brewery kicks the barrel—er, bucket—after 28 years.