International Neighbors faces a crisis, and the community it serves could pay the price UVA shooter gets five consecutive life sentences
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Kari Anderson Miller, founder of International Neighbors, worries about the nonprofit's future under the Trump administration.
Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.
Small but mighty. I get the sense from this week’s cover story (p.20), an interview with International Neighbors founder Kari Anderson Miller, that that’s one way to describe her decade-old nonprofit. What struck me most wasn’t just the enormity of what her team does with so little, but the clarity of its purpose: Show up for people, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
It made me think about the people who keep this place going: my own small-butmighty team, who show up with open minds, good instincts, and the kind of consistency and compassion this work demands. As we head into Thanksgiving, I’m deeply grateful for them: Max March, our art director, whose precision (right down to drop caps—a few weeks ago he decided one looked wrong at three lines and dropped it to two) and calmunder-chaos creativity somehow never waver (even with a toddler and two cats in his workspace); Tami Keaveny, our culture editor, whose deep well of creativity never runs dry (her open-mic–night cover package remains one of my favorite features of the year); Catie Ratliff, our news reporter, whose increasingly surefooted pace and quick adaptability defined her year—especially the week she pivoted from one cover story to another when Jim Ryan resigned; CM Turner, our associate culture editor, who brings a wealth of arts knowledge to our pages, delivered with just enough highfalutin’ flair to stay both approachable to readers and endearing to the staff; and Susan Sorensen, our copy editor: sharp-eyed, deeply curious, full of institutional know-how—and owner of a shoe collection the rest of us can only aspire to.
Small teams, big purpose—Miller’s work at International Neighbors and my own team here are proof that showing up matters. I’m thankful for them, and for readers like you who make it all worthwhile. 11.26.25 This week’s contributors
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These generous benefactors of C-VILLE have supported our work through our Save the Free Word campaign. To contribute, follow the QR code.
Towns Ackerman
Susan Albert
Catherine Anninos
Lori Balaban
Timothy Bambury
Catherine Barnes
Julie Basic
Susan Battani
Josh Baumann
Jennifer Beachley
Mayanna Bean
Denise Benson
Anne Bergamesca
Rebecca Berlin
Kim Biasiolli
Patrick Bird
Paddy Bowman
Olivia Branch
Paul Brewer
Susan Brickman
Claudia Murray
Brindle
Sumner Brown
Colette Brown
Jack Brown
Kate Buford
Cathleen Burgess
Carol Burger
Patricia Burkett
David Calhoun
Michael Callahan
Linda and Pat Canzanelli-Dantona
Brian Carlton
Helen Cathro
Janelle Catlett
James Clark Jr.
Diane Cluck
Karen Collins
Lorraine Collins
Beth Croghan
Margaret Crone
Emily Currier
Maria-Eugenia
Dalton
Charles Dassance
Pam and Peter Dennison
Nancy Dettor
Martha Donnelly
Vincent Draddy
Charlotte Drummond
Louise Dudley
Lee Elberson
Jane Elmore
Karen Emmitt
Ken Engebretson
Elizabeth Engle
Rosa Ellen English
Gail Esterman
Joe Ethier
Tom & Anna Ferrell
M. Fife
Jon Fink
Lavonne Fitts
Kevin Foley
Barbara Fornoff
Joan Forrest
Amy Gardner
Georgia Garrett
Gerald Giammatteo
David and Janna Gies
Stephanie Goodwin
Trice Gravatte
Andrew Greeley
Jennifer Grover
Cara Hall
Kendra Hall
Jeremy HarrisMcDonnell
Wiliam Harvey
Madeleine Hawks
Ann Marie Haynes
Mary Haynes
Elain Heffelfinger
Chris Hellings
Stephen Herrick
John Heyser
Ezra Hitzeman
JoAnn Hofheimer
Lisa Hogan
Gina Hogue
Laura Horn
Christina Horton
Robert Inlow
Deb Jackson
Garth Jensen
Nina Johnston
Nicole Jones
Diane Jones
Janet Jospe
Brian Kelly
Trish Kenney
Tom Kirk
Kathryn Kluge
Julie Lacy
Marcia Langsam
Jacalyn LaPierre
Aaron Lawrence
Eric and Diane
Lawson
Elizabeth Lawson
Frances Lee-Vandell
Sean Libberton
Angeline Lillard
Peppy Linden
Jessica Lino
D. Little
Phillip Long
Rob Lynch
Catherine Maguire
Greg Mallard
Jeff Martin
Virginia Masterson
Jeanne and Bob Maushammer
Erin Mayer
Kieran Mcdowell
Mary McIntyre
Gretchen McKee
Ruth McWilliams
James Mernin
Nicolas Mestre
Tim Michel
Parthy Monagan
Vic Monti
Hilary Moorman
Michael Morency
Harold E. Morgan
Michael Moriarty
Catherine Moynihan
Jim Mummery
Karen Myers
Monica Newby
Sandy Newhouse
Kathy O’Connell
Dennis O’Connor
Diane Ober
Cynthia Van Osch
Annette Osso
Laila Ouhamou
Annette Owens
Timothy Palmer
Michael Pantano
Dashton Parham
Susan Payne
Amanda Peacock
Joe Peacock
Elizabeth Perdue
Joann Peters
James Peterson
Damon Pettitt
Andrew Pevsner
Elayne Phillips
Robin Powell
Anne Price
Ernest Pugh
Harry Purkey
Leslie Quenichet
Frances Racette
T. Radsky
Scott Ransom
Sarah Ratcliffe
Stots Reele
Marjorie Rein
Cindy Richards
Kevin Richardson
David Robinson
Julia Rubarth
Carol Gilbert Sacks
Audrey Sarate
Joan Schatzman
Sandra Schmidt
Eric Schultz
Karen Schuyler
Wendy Seay
James Seitz
Elaine Shaw
Chuck Shelton
Paul Shettel
John Smith
Kristina Smith
Rod Smith
Meredith Smoot
Mickey Speck
Maria Spence
Jim Spencer
David Stackhouse
Mariah Steele
Rod Stoner
Robert Strickland
Deborah Strong
Nichole Taylor
William Terrell
Emily Thiede
Reid Thompson
W. McIlwaine
Thompson Jr.
Prue Thorner
John Titus
Jessica Tobin
Erica Toy
Rose Trapnell
Jill Trischman-Marks
Susan Uland
Rick Vergot
Christina Walker
Steven Ward
David Waters
Chris Waugaman
Phoebe Weseley
Kelly West
Gary and Anne
Westmoreland
John Whitlow
Jay Wildermann
Marcia Wilds
Andrew Wolf
Natalie Yancey
Suzanne Yeaman
Nura Yingling
Kelly Zalewski
Kathleen Zenker
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 20.
Andrew Hollins is a freelance crime reporter, feature writer, and investigative journalist who has contributed to C-VILLE Weekly since 2023. He began his journalism career in 2016 with The Central Virginian. Since then, his work has been featured in The Daily Progress, The Progressive Frontier, and Trendline News. Read his work on page 11
VISIT THE ART MUSEUMS at the University of Virginia
Free parking & admission
THE FRALIN MUSEUM OF ART
Charlottesville’s comprehensive art museum
NOW ON VIEW:
In Feeling: Empathy and Tension Through Disability
Haiti’s Time: Selections from the Collection of Beverly and John Fox Sullivan
The only museum dedicated to Indigenous Australian art in the US
NOW ON VIEW:
In the Beginning: Paintings by Senior Artists of the Spinifex Arts Project
Tjukurpa | Handle It: Robert Fielding
Join us for our Annual Holiday Gift Shop Sale Dec 5-7!
400 Worrell Drive 434-243-8500 kluge-ruhe.org
(122
Top image: ROBERT FIELDING (b. 1969, Port Augusta, South Australia), Manta Miiḻ-Miiḻpa, 2021, acrylic and fluorescent aerosol on linen, 48 1/32 x 59 27/32 in
x 152 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Mimili Maku Arts. Bottom image: HECTOR HYPPOLITE, b. 1894, Saint-Mar, Haiti; d. 1948, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Fête du Morts, undated, oil on Masonite.
FEATURE
NEWS 11
11 UVA shooter Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. gets five life sentences, plus 23 years.
15 CPD finds “critical person of interest” in Sage Smith homicide
15 Fifeville street pattern changes on hold, thanks to neighbors objections.
17 Real Estate: County’s converting Hillsdale Drive stormwater basin into pocket park.
CULTURE 41
45 Stages: Illusionist Vitaly at the Paramount.
FOR FUN 56
56 Sudoku
57 Crossword
59 Free Will Astrology
62
The Big Picture
ED I TORIAL
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Caite Hamilton editor@c-ville.com
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Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com
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Sean Tubbs
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CM Turner arts@c-ville.com
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Susan Sorensen
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12-05| BRISK12-06| THE HEAVY HEAVY WITH LANEY JONES AND THE SPIRITS 12-11| AN EVENING WITH MAGNOLIA AND JOHNSON ELECTRIC CO. 12-12| DAVID WAX MUSEUM AND LOWLAND HUM PRESENT THE GOLDEN HOURS
12-13| RAMONA & THE HOLY SMOKES / HANNAH JUANITA WITH MOSE WILSON PRESENTED BY 99.7 WCYK
12-14| RHETT MILLER (OF THE OLD 97s) 12-19| BRANDON WAYNE & HIS LONESOME DRIFTERS / IAN GILLIAM & THE FIRE KINGS
12-27| “YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE” HOLIDAY COMEDY SHOW FT: JADE CATTA-PRETA AND CHRIS ALAN 12-28| REBIRTH BRASS BAND JANUARY 29 ON SALE NOW SGGL / SPEIDEL, GOODRICH,
We believe the holidays are a special time, a time for giving.
We try to give in lots of ways throughout the year, but sometimes an act of kindness can feel separating, especially to children, and often times the simple things can be missed.
A night out with your family can be just that, and many in our community are unable to do this.
For 20 years now, during the holidays we offer family nights out, on us. It’s an evening of stress-free dining where nobody needs to worry about what the cost is, or what they can and can’t get, or what the tip should be. It’s hopefully a great memory. It’s hopefully great fun. It’s hopefully a great holiday experience.
Maybe you know a family that could use this.
While we seek recommendations from places like PACEM, Ready Kids, and others, we also like to open nominations up to a wider audience.
Email us with a family that you think could benefit from a night out together. A family that hasn’t been able to do this in the past, or isn’t going to be able to do it this year.
Email us with a family that needs a break. It’s a simple act, but it can be a powerful one.
There aren’t many rules, we ask that the family have children 16 or under. We ask that you list their names and ages in the email, and how to contact them (or you can contact them with the info we send). If room is still available we will make a reservation for that family. The family comes in for dinner just like anyone else would. It is not an event. It is not special, and maybe that is what makes it so special.
Thank you and happy holidays from our family to yours.
citizenburgercville@gmail.com
EXPLORING
Tomorrow Talks Series
Join this year-round conversation & explore what courage looks like in our personal lives, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our society.
Courageous Listening:
The Bravery to Really Hear Each Other Wed Dec 3 | 6:30pm with Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade
The Courage to Connect:
The Simple Act of Gathering Your Neighbors Thur Dec 4 | 6:30pm with Sam Pressler of Connective Tissue
Tickets by donation, learn more below
IN OUR COMMUNITY
Community Interest Meetings
Sign-up to join a virtual community interest meeting and meet other engaged community leaders and learn how you can get involved in April’s Festival.
Tues. Nov 25- 10am- General Festival
Wed. Dec 3- 10am- Conference
Tues. Dec 9- 10am- General Festival
Sign up using the QR code below
After five days of video evidence and harrowing witness and victim testimonies, Judge Cheryl Higgins stoically sentenced former University of Virginia student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. to five life sentences, plus an additional 23 years, for the 2022 mass shooting that claimed the lives of UVA football players Devin Chandler, D’Sean Perry, and Lavel “Tyler” Davis Jr.
Sentencing began on Monday, November 17, three years and four days after the charter bus shooting that Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Richard Farley called “the worst crime in Albemarle history,” as well as Jones’ 26th birthday. He initially faced 13 charges: six counts of aggravated murder— three for the “willful deliberate, and premeditated killing of more than one person as a part of the same act or transaction” and three for doing so within the same three-year period—two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, and five counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. In a deal with prosecutors, Jones was allowed to plead guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, and five counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Hingeley’s opening statement described an angry young man whose “unfathomable acts of harm” were but a taste of Jones’ true capacity for violence.
“He was assembling an arsenal in his dormitory room for what purpose we cannot imagine,” Hingeley said, referencing the Ruger AR-style rifle, 30-round magazine, and an additional Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun found in Jones’ dorm room— a violation of UVA’s policy on firearms. In addition to the two guns, police found a Franklin Arms binary trigger kit, which allows an AR-15 to fire both on trigger pull and release, increasing its rate of fire.
The prosecution’s case, laid out over the first two days of the hearing, centered on both the emotional and the analytical, showing the unimaginable tragedy that Jones’ actions had caused in the lives of three promising young athletes and their families, and characterizing his behavior as cruel, cowardly, and fueled by jealousy, spite, and envy.
The prosecution, through the testimony of survivors and witnesses, disputed an accusation that Jones had made immediately prior to the shooting, and that the defense had made since: Jones had been the subject of bullying from the football players on the trip. Mike Hollins, who escaped the bus that night uninjured but was shot in the back when he returned to try and help his close friend, Perry, denied that any bullying took place.
On day two, survivor Marlee Morgan, the fifth person shot, recounted a massacre in slow motion, as Jones shot the first victim— Davis, with whom Morgan shared a seat— from the gap between the seats. Another victim, Chandler, was shot while sleeping with noise-canceling headphones on.
“It was not just like shot, shot, shot, shot,” she said. “It was long and drawn out.”
She recounted the events on the bus, and how, as she escaped the massacre, she looked down to see blood on her leg and realized she’d been shot in the thigh, with an exit wound toward her buttock. As her testimony neared its end, and she discussed the victims’ families and their grief, the pain and trauma of that night seemingly became too great for Morgan to hide. As she wept, she surprised many in the courtroom by offering forgiveness and hope to Jones, in spite of all he’d put her through.
The prosecution rested on Tuesday afternoon, after painting a detailed picture of a cruel and cowardly murderer, using countless bereaved family members and loved
ones as its brushes, and their testimony about their shattered lives as the paint.
With its work cut out for it, the defense began its case on Wednesday, as it attempted to show a more nuanced account of Jones’ life than the simple “bad guy” image so exhaustively rendered by the prosecution. Mental health experts and figures from Jones’ past testified to the abuse and neglect he suffered in his youth, and his drug-fueled paranoia as an adult. They also discussed his work ethic, holding multiple jobs to put himself through school fulltime. The victims and their families would at times leave the courtroom in disgust, seeing this testimony as an attempt to make excuses for the inexcusable.
On Friday, both sides laid out their closing arguments, with the prosecution asking for the maximum allowable sentence, and the defense suggesting that there were enough mitigating factors present for the court to show some mercy. Then, to the shock of many, Jones elected to speak for himself in a tearful allocution.
IN BRIEF
All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less)
“I’m so sorry. I’ve caused so much pain,” he said. Jones also apologized to the bereaved families directly: “I didn’t know your boys. I wish I did.”
When she returned with her verdict Friday evening, Higgins said Jones’ mental health struggles didn’t diminish his capacity to understand how wrong his actions were. His text messages moments before the shooting acknowledged that he would likely spend the rest of his life in prison. She said the five life sentences were not “vindictive,” but commensurate with the five lives he ended or permanently altered. She also noted the “execution-style” killings against those who couldn’t defend themselves as being factors in her decision.
In an email following the sentencing, public defender Nick Reppucci says that, while the defense recognizes the horror and tragedy that Jones’ actions have caused, it was seeking a sentence that satisfied both the needs of justice and principles of compassion.
“Obviously, Christopher caused horrific and permanent harm,” Reppucci says. “That said, there was substantial evidence that his conduct took place during a period of pronounced mental illness, which resulted in paranoia and cognitive distortions. As a result, his ability to perceive the world around him accurately or appropriately was severely compromised.”
Jones’ other defense attorney, Doug Ramseur, said in an email that he was “still processing,” and not yet ready to issue a public statement. Requests for comments from survivors and their families, as well as the Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, were not immediately returned. Reppucci says it’s too early to know where Jones will serve out his sentence. “The Department of Corrections classifies prisoners based on internal procedures,” he says. C
Virginia Department of Transportation begins construction on four-lane roundabout at intersection of Old Lynchburg Road and Fifth Street. Albemarle Police Department arrests Dillwyn resident Asiyus S. Langhorn following late-night chase November 16. A William Monroe High School resource officer was relieved of his duties November 17 due to “unprofessional behavior.” Investigation underway after gunshot wound incident at Piedmont Virginia Community College. “Weird Al” Yankovic announces 2026 stop in Charlottesville on Bigger & Weirder tour. Feast wins best consumer brand evolution and best visual identity in retail at Transform Awards North America. Charlottesville City Hall asks for name suggestions for this year’s Grand Illumination holiday tree.
C-Ville Creator Hub opens in basement of former Peoples National Bank. Virginia receives federal approval for universal broadband internet access. Department of Justice awards UVA’s School of Medicine
$5.3 million grant. Former UVA soccer standout Emily Sonnett wins third National Women’s Soccer League championship, this time with Gotham FC.
Christpher Darnell Jones Jr.
Lost and found
There’s been a break in the unsolved case of Dashad “Sage” Smith, who was 19 years old when she went missing from Charlottesville in 2012. Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis announced in a November 20 press conference that they’d found a “critical person of interest” attempting to change his name in California.
Erik McFadden, now 29, was the last person to have contact with Smith, a trans teenager, prior to her disappearance. After initially agreeing to meet with police for an interview, McFadden vanished, managing to evade investigators for the next 13 years. In 2016, the case was reclassified as a homicide.
McFadden was found in Los Angeles, authorities said, thanks in part to his attempt to officially change his name to Shiloh Mathis, the most recent in a number of pseudonyms McFadden had been using over the past 13 years. While Kochis said during the presser that CPD learned “a lot” from McFadden’s interview, he declined to elaborate.
A friend of the family, who requested not to be identified, runs a Facebook account called Hope for Sage Smith, and describes Smith as “delightful” and “sorely missed.”
“Sage was unique, creative, and loved to dance,” he says. “Those who knew her consistently describe her as vibrant, outgoing, and someone who lit up every room she entered.”
He says his goal is to raise awareness in case someone has relevant information that helps investigators bring answers and closure to Smith’s family.
Anyone with information about McFadden’s disappearance or Smith’s homicide is asked to contact Det. Ross Cundiff at 970-3373, or the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line at 977-4000. Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward, and an additional $10,000 is being matched by the City of Charlottesville for information leading to an arrest.—Andrew Hollins
One-way blues
Fifeville street pattern changes on hold after neighborhood outcry
BY SEAN TUBBS
The primary goal of Charlottesville’s new zoning code is to increase the number of places for people to live within city limits. Along with that comes initiatives to make adjustments to city streets so they’re safer for all who use them.
After a woman was killed crossing Elliott Avenue at dusk in early October 2024, the city’s Public Works Department was tasked with making dozens of “quick-build” projects that change traffic configuration using lowcost methods.
One of the 67 projects listed on the city’s website, Fifeville One-Way Streets, is on the list due to previous community engagement efforts.
The northern section of the Fifeville neighborhood is between West Main Street and Cherry Avenue, with vehicular traffic on many streets flowing in one direction. A small area plan adopted by City Council in March 2021 identified cut-through traffic as an issue that would get worse as the area continues to grow.
“Residents do not see a plan for how to cope with the added traffic from new construction,” reads page 47 of the plan.
To get efforts moving, the Fifeville Neighborhood Association and Woodard Properties commissioned a survey seeking further input. Residents complained about cutthrough traffic, dangerous intersections, and cars going the wrong way.
In June 2024, the city unveiled a proposal that includes reversing the flow of traffic on some streets and converting others to one way. Several on-street parking spaces would be eliminated. The project was added to the quick-build list this year and presented to the FNA in October.
Plans to reverse one-way streets in Fifeville are on hold after residents raised concerns about traffic flow, safety, and the impact of new developments.
“Directional changes, while potentially disruptive at first, are a proven way to reduce through-traffic and heavy vehicle use while maintaining full access for community members,” wrote traffic engineer Caleb Smith in a November 3 follow-up email to the FNA. A community meeting and neighborhood walk-through was held later in the month, and some residents were not satisfied.
Rebecca Newell told City Council on November 18 that residents are concerned about speed and are not convinced that changing road patterns will solve the problem.
“No detailed information was provided to the community explaining the plan or how this data resulted in the very cumbersome plan with many one-way roads having directional changes,” Newell said.
On November 19, Deputy City Manager James Freas told neighborhood leaders via
email that the project is on hold following the negative reception.
“I am sure there will be a better answer to the problem,” said Carmelita Wood, president of the Fifeville Neighborhood Association.
The pause occurs as the city’s Neighborhood Development Services continues to process an application for student housing on Seventh Street SW. On November 13, the city denied the first version of a major development plan.
One of the notes sent to LCD Acquisitions, whose proposed seven-story building will be called The Mark at Charlottesville, is that the city’s new zoning code requires a transportation management plan that will require a community meeting. Another is that the project will have to ask for a special exception to rules for streetscape requirements.
14, 2025 — Jan. 3, 2026
Bigger and Brighter than Ever!
Wintertime’s most Instagram-worthy destination awaits, featuring dazzling drone shows and the debut of Glistening Grove, a glowing walkway around Firefly Pond where 700 lights dance to music.
pvcc.edu/spring-momentum
REAL ESTATE NEWS Community center
Albemarle converting stormwater basin on Hillsdale Drive into a pocket park BY SEAN TUBBS
For decades, Albemarle’s Comprehensive Plan has divided the county’s land into two parts: a rural area where public investment is discouraged and a growth area intended to be a place where people can live, work, and play.
Yet Albemarle’s urban area lacks public open space with most of the county’s parks in the rural area or on the edge, away from direct transit access.
To begin to change that, the county’s Board of Supervisors has invested $1.65 million for urban pocket parks in the current budget.
The new AC44 document adopted in October calls for such amenities in community centers, which are to be “focal points for commercial and cultural activities that are accessible by a variety of transportation options.” Albemarle also has a strategic plan that calls for new parks to be developed along transit lines.
The county reviewed 169 potential properties that might be suitable for a new park and identified four candidates for potential investment. These were further ranked to see which could move forward fastest.
The one that scored highest and is in advanced stages of planning is located on county-owned land on Hillsdale Drive, where a stormwater basin was built as part of the rezoning for the Branchlands community in the 1990s.
“The County’s investment in this site aligns with ongoing efforts to redevelop nearby shopping centers and residential complexes,” reads a portion of Albemarle’s website.
“New enhancements here will provide valuable access to open space and recreation opportunities close to home.”
The property is within what AC44 designates as the Hillsdale Drive community center. Site-selection analysis estimates that 956 people live within a half-mile of the site, which is on at least two Charlottesville Area Transit routes.
This site also meets one of the criteria in AC44 that describes where such centers should be located.
“These spaces should be linked to other public open spaces and ideally be located along the public right-of-way frontage for easy access and visibility,” reads a section of the Development Area Land Use chapter.
To get feedback, Albemarle held a community meeting on November 17, and 33 people attended, according to Abbey Stumpf, the county’s director of communications and public engagement. They were shown initial thoughts for the property that would include a mix of active, passive, engagement, and experiential areas.
A second community meeting will be held in the near future.
The other three sites that were evaluated for further development were located on Berkmar Drive Extended, Free Bridge Lane, and Charlotte Y. Humphris Park. While the latter is located on a bus line and is within the growth area, there are few amenities there except for paved trails and a little free library.
Last year, Albemarle converted Free Bridge Lane to a car-free zone for a oneyear pilot. Supervisors agreed earlier this year to make that move permanent. C
Annie Gould Gallery
Albemarle County’s budget includes $1.6 million for urban pocket parks, including one planned for Hillsdale Drive.
$3,275,000
‘DIPLOMACY IS
When
years ago, she wanted to connect newly resettled refugees in Charlottesville to community members who would help them adjust to their new home.
former elementary school teacher Kari Anderson Miller started International Neighbors 10
DANGEROUS ’
“D
on’t be a dick.”
That’s the ask from Kari Anderson Miller, a former Greenbrier Elementary School teacher and Peace Corps alumna who started the nonprofit International Neighbors a decade back.
Her initial intent—to tether newly resettled refugees in Charlottesville to community members who’d help them adjust—meant to ease newcomers into their first exciting, bewildering, sometimes breathtaking months in the U.S. as they tussled with microwaves, air conditioners, public transportation, new jobs, and English mastery. Just neighbors, says Miller, helping neighbors.
But the flow of refugees stopped with President Donald Trump. On his first day in office in January 2025, Trump suspended all refugee admissions into the U.S. through executive order, and now is poised to shift both how many and who among the world’s nearly 43 million refugees is eligible to resettle in a country once known as the world’s melting pot.
The expected outcome, to begin in early 2026, is likely to slash refugee admissions to the U.S. by 95 percent, from 125,000 a year to just 7,500 with priority given to refugees “who can fully and appropriately assimilate.”
About 3,000 refugees live in greater Charlottesville, an American city with deep ties to the International Rescue Committee. And as 2026 nears, Miller, the nonprofit she created, and the 517 families it helped acclimate to life in Central Virginia, hold their collective breath as America continues to shift away from its sanctuary identity. And that may signal the end of International Neighbors’ work, and become a turning point for a city that once celebrated its diversity as a strength.
With a reduced refugee quota on the horizon, a nonprofit for newcomers is sinking fast.
BY CHRISTINE PHELAN KUETER
C-VILLE Weekly: Ten years is a long time. Kari Anderson Miller: Yeah, 11-11 was our anniversary. A whole decade. Can you believe it?
Describe what International Neighbors does. We do a lot of things, but mostly, we’re like Big Brothers Big Sisters, and match family to family, individual to individual. It’s extremely beneficial for both parties; those relationships are invaluable. When we launched 10 years ago, that first year, we had 40 families—referred to us mostly by teachers, doctors, and nurses. Today, we’ve served a total of 517 families from 19 countries speaking 24 languages who have been matched with someone familiar with American norms and traditions—families that’ve been given a hand up, not a hand out, and are thriving members of our community.
International Neighbors focuses on helping in the early days after refugees’ arrival. Why’s that important? Because you can’t build on broken. As an educator, I was always amazed when I’d receive a student who was a newcomer in kindergarten, first grade, second grade, or third grade whose family, say, had fled a war, who’d lived in camps for years, and then finally, they’re approved to resettle. … As teachers, we saw the despair and isolation these families experienced once they arrived. By the time they’re asking for help, it’s clear they’ve arrived in America having overcome so incredibly much. Refugees go through extreme vetting. All your DNA is checked to make sure you’re not related to a terrorist, or that you’d never ever had a connection to anybody who might wish ill on America. Most can’t live in their home country—
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My name is Jordan Hague and I created Equity Saver USA in 2008 to offer a better, more affordable service to disrupt and challenge what I personally experienced to be an outdated and flawed approach to Realtor compensation at the expense of sellers and buyers.
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.
most from Afghanistan, most from Iraq—because they’re considered traitors: They helped America, were recruited by U.S. forces to be on the frontlines, and did it. Most also arrive in debt because all of them have to pay for their airfare to get themselves and their families here.
The resettlement process is intense. But I can’t express or stress just how brilliant, patriotic, and generous these people are: not much to give but they’d give anything, anything at all, and are truly slammed headfirst into systems they don’t understand. I just knew that there had to be a better way to help them begin a new life. Especially in such a resource-rich town.
So: International Neighbors. We come into someone’s most vulnerable, exposed, confused, depressing time and tell them that it will be okay, and to show them the best of humanity, because they’ve already seen the worst of it.
What do refugees need when they arrive?
They’re blinking into the light, completely. They’ve never been on an airplane, and they come to America, and are met at the airport and brought to their new home, and often hear from the resettlement agency, “Here’s the key. Good luck. We’ll be in touch.”
These families have no idea how to work an oven or a microwave, no idea how to flush the toilet. One family I visited, their apartment was so hot because they’d pushed the AC unit button all the way to the right. Another had been here six years and they were still filling up buckets in the bathtub and bathing like they did in the refugee camp. To hear them gasp when they saw how the shower worked!
Charlottesville is one of 23 cities in the U.S. where refugees are resettled because UVA offers a lot of jobs, there’s healthcare—we’re fortunate to have some built-in things that make it a welcoming place. What’s not accounted for as much, though, is the incredible cost of living here, especially for a family that’s learning a new language. They’re dealing with so much information that’s new, they’re often leaving behind people they love and all the things they knew … things we just cannot imagine.
Maybe four years ago, during COVID, at least four refugees that I knew who had been resettled to Charlottesville, who landed first so high and full of hope, became so desperate after a time that they took their own lives. One drove the family car into Chris Greene Lake. He was the oldest, 21, he had five siblings, and his mother is heartbroken. We introduced his mother to another local woman who’d lost her son to suicide, and they embraced, and even though they didn’t share the same language, and just to have that connection— well, it gives me goosebumps. That’s community.
We Americans are so good at compartmentalizing our lives. We say, “We don’t want to impose! We feel funny.” Good gracious, impose! They would love it. They would love nothing more. So many times, if there was just one good neighbor who said hello, and smiled in that universal language … well, a lot of misunderstanding and pain could be alleviated.
How has 2025 been different?
Yeah, 2025. I knew how much work it took the first time Trump was elected, but I’ve always been proud to educate people in our community, to answer their questions. “No, sir, the wall at the border isn’t going to impact my job.” “No, ma’am, families from Norway aren’t refugees because they didn’t flee a war.” “No, sir, they don’t have to worry about ICE invasions because they’re here legally.” But 2025 gets more and more full of surprises and events that are unfair and don’t make sense. And that heightens the fear … fewer than 1 percent of refugees worldwide ever get resettled, so the folks here are really the cream of the crop. But we’re getting fewer and fewer, and in 2025, we’ve resettled zero so far.
What will fewer refugees mean?
We’ll see industries really suffer. Jobs will go unfilled. Prices will rise. The landscape we all love that’s often cared for by immigrants—jobs that these people are expected and are eager to do, but now are not allowed to, because there is not that flow of people to fill those positions.
A young International Neighbors volunteer delivers groceries to a refugee family.
THE RESETTLEMENT PROCESS IS INTENSE. BUT I CAN’T EXPRESS OR STRESS JUST HOW BRILLIANT, PATRIOTIC, AND GENEROUS THESE PEOPLE ARE: NOT MUCH TO GIVE BUT THEY’D GIVE ANYTHING, ANYTHING AT ALL, AND ARE TRULY SLAMMED HEADFIRST INTO SYSTEMS THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND. KARI ANDERSON MILLER
Will people connect the two?
Only if the president states it. I don’t think most people connect anything, cause and effect, or comprehend even what voting for a person really impacts the people in their communities.
In 10 years, have there been things that’ve surprised you?
I’m surprised when I hear people say, “Sure, sure, we love diversity! But I don’t want to see it or smell it or hear it.” Ten years later, I realize how many people and systems have that same feeling. Yes, we want immigrants here to work the jobs we don’t want to do … but we don’t want to hear about it.
UVA MUSIC EVENTS
Date/Time/Place
Friday, 11/28, 6:30pm Carr’s Hill Field
Thursday, 12/4, 1:00pm Old Cabell Hall & streamed
Thursday, 12/4, 7:00pm Newcomb Hall Theater
Friday, 12/5, 1:00pm Old Cabell Hall & streamed
Saturday, 12/6, 7:30pm Old Cabell Hall
Sunday, 12/7, 12:00pm Rotunda Dome Room
Sunday, 12/7, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall
Monday, 12/8, 7:00pm Newcomb Hall Theater
Tuesday, 12/9, 6:30pm University Chapel
Tuesday, 12/9, 8:00pm Old Cabell Hall
Event (* Denotes free events)
Cavalier Marching Band Open Rehearsal: The Dragon with Small Wings * Tea Time Recitals *
Studio of Stephanie Nakasian Private Voice Students
Tea Time Recitals *
Family Holiday Concert with Charlottesville Symphony & University Singers
UVA Cello Recital * Studio of Adam Carter
Family Holiday Concert with Charlottesville Symphony & University Singers
Popular Voice Class *
Piano Recital * Studio of Dr. Francesca Hurst Messiah Sing-In
All artists, programs and venues are subject to change.
Subscribe to our music email: music.virginia.edu/events
IN JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 1
It’s sad to see that a lot of places like Charlottesville that tout such inclusivity and access and it just doesn’t come to fruition. And all of us are complicit. Diplomacy is really dangerous. Heather Heyer’s famous quote was, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.” I feel like a lot of what we do at International Neighbors is to get people to pay attention.
The little white short bus we use to transport refugee kids, we’ve had a gun pulled out on our driver. We’ve had people flick us off. I heard a woman calming her husband down one night when we took kids to the bowling alley in the bus. She said, “No, no, honey, it’s a supper club,” and he said, “It’d better be.”
I had no idea how much courage it would take to run a nonprofit because I’d just assumed that people genuinely cared about neighbors, and people in our paths, and on our paths. Aren’t we all going toward the same things—for our families to have enough?
But our client base isn’t the squeaky wheels. It’s why the greater community doesn’t know about neighbors that need to borrow pliers to yank out their own rotting teeth or die by suicide. It’s a lot of, ‘mine, mine, mine.’
So what’s to come for International Neighbors as an organization?
We’ve cut what we can cut. People rebuilding their lives really do need assistance … and we’re saying no a lot more often than before, and that’s hard. I no longer earn a salary, and our few staff members have gone from full- to part-time. I told my staff, “I will do my best to pay you through 2025, but surviving this political regime again as an organization will be difficult.”
I always thought, “We’re all in this together.” As soon as I got nonprofit status for International Neighbors, became a 501(c)(3), someone from another nonprofit said to me, “As long as you don’t take my donors.” I thought she was joking.
You created an organization with a pretty pure and direct purpose…
And people were supposed to like it!
…so what do you want to happen now?
For people to care about the folks around them. For people to be great neighbors. For people not to be a dick. For them to talk and connect with people even if they don’t speak English. Because we’re capable of living a life that’s not based on fear.
There was a man from Syria we helped resettle who was walking to work at the UVA laundry and got hit by a car, and he was in a coma for four months. I’ll never forget this woman who was his manager, Rhonda, that I met … and she loved Faraz. She’d come and visit him. The family wasn’t going to pull the plug, people from his mosque who prayed over him, and do you know today he’s not just the father of two but of three, he drives for Uber Eats, and while he’s not 100 percent, he came through it.
But she had friends who told her, “Let him die! Pull the plug, because we don’t need any more Muslims here.” She couldn’t believe it. She told me, “I don’t know how you do what you do.” She lost friends.
But I’m going to say it like it is, because at this point, I don’t know what else to say: Systems here are not set up for folks to be able to survive. All we’re trying to do is to keep America the melting pot that it’d been, to keep it colorful and not just white. Or orange.
And not being a dick is free; it doesn’t cost a damn thing.
So, what does 2026 hold?
I feel like there will be one less nonprofit organization in Charlottesville. And International Neighbors isn’t the only one facing cuts. I think Charlottesville will become a lot more bland, and I don’t know how it’s going to look but I might maybe need a job. And one for five other awesome women.
To keep our 501(c)(3), we have to have a mission. Here we are, 10 years later, and our mission is not being met in a town that’s a good place to start a nonprofit … but ours has the word newcomer in it, and if we’re not getting newcomers, then we’re going to have to dissolve an organization made to serve them.
About
3,000
-1%
Fewer than 1 percent of the world’s 43 million refugees ever get resettled.
+1,800 number of coats collected and distributed to refugees 5 number of donors to International Neighbors who are former clients
-95%
possible reduction in the number of refugees allowed to enter the U.S. annually, under President Donald Trump
1,372 number of referrals made to International Neighbors over the last 10 years
877 number of refugee kids who got to attend summer camp over last 10 years
Here we are in November, and we’ll need to decide what exactly will be happening in 2026 as an organization, but for the folks who leave me messages, who stop by, leave us notes, that we’re saying no to, all we can do is try to be great neighbors. And if that permeates society, little by little, once you know your neighbor, and have that proximity, you’re not going to hate or fear them. You’re going to be astounded that you ever, ever, ever thought that they were less than.
76 number of refugees supported by International Neighbors who purchased homes 8 number of refugees supported by International Neighbors who started businesses
+4,000 number of volunteers for and donors to International Neighbors over the last 10 years
“At the end of the day, there’s always something to focus on and be grateful for,” said one of the refugees I know, who saw a family member hanging from a tree, alive, and had to watch him be slaughtered. And what was done to his poor loved one’s body he had to watch because, “They would not even let me close my eyes.” But he had to be grateful.
“Wow, what a bright color red, the blood of my brother,” he told me.
Oh, my God, I’m a white girl in America. I’ll be okay, I can’t complain about shit. So I’ll be grateful for the time we had as an organization even if we have to dissolve after a decade. BY THE NUMBERS
current number of resettled refugees in Greater Charlottesville
Kari Anderson Miller (right) says her nonprofit currently serves 517 families, from 19 countries, who speak 24 languages.
We may be located on the downtown mall, but we meet our community at the intersection of care and impact. We are your Community Foundation— this region’s hub for charitable giving.
Together, we ensure our region is one where everyone can belong, contribute, participate, and thrive.
Albemarle Housing Improvement Program
Since our founding in 1976, AHIP has played an invaluable role in providing critical repairs and rehabs to local homeowners in need. Our mission is to ensure safe, affordable homes stay accessible to our neighbors in Charlottesville and Albemarle.
To get the job done, we work with a spectrum of community partners, including local governments, peer housing organizations, social services agencies, regional funders, a wide variety of volunteer groups, and donors. Together, we improve homes, preserve families’ assets, revitalize neighborhoods, and protect our local affordable housing stock.
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
One of the clients we’re serving was kind enough to speak with us about why this work is important to her. As a single mother of twin teenage girls, she struggles to keep up with everything on her plate, so when our team came out to help ease that burden, it was a humbling, incredibly emotional experience for her, and she expressed immense gratitude accordingly. Those human moments with our clients make the work worth it every time.
As we head into winter, what are your biggest needs or goals, and how can the community lend a hand?
Winter is a particularly challenging time for our homeowners. The repair crises they face can grow into severe health risks at this time of year, particularly for those with elderly or minor household members. Our goal this season, particularly during December, is to raise $250,000 to make sure we’re able to respond to every repair need that comes to our door, and keep our community safe at home during the holidays.
(434) 817-2447
info@ahipva.org
2127 Berkmar Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22901
ROCKFISH
VALLEY FOUNDATION
Jill Trischman-Marks Executive Director
Botanical Garden of the Piedmont
The mission of the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont is to welcome all community members and visitors to engage in nature, to inspire learning through the beauty and importance of plants, to advance sustainability, and to promote human and environmental well-being
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
A standout moment this year came from our partnership with students in Charlottesville Public Schools’ Parkside program. During their visits to the Garden, the students helped design and build “bug snugs”—small habitats made from natural materials that offer shelter for beneficial insects.
Watching them work together, problem-solve, and take pride in creating something meaningful for the ecosystem was incredibly moving. One student shared that they had never built anything like this before and couldn’t wait to come back and check on the insects that might call their structure home.
Seeing young people connect with nature in such a hands-on, joyful way reminded us exactly why our mission matters. The Garden is already becoming a place where learning, belonging, and stewardship take root—and moments like this show how powerful that can be.
If your organization could make one holiday wish for the community this year, what would it be?
Our holiday wish is simple but heartfelt: that every person in our community feels a sense of belonging in nature. We hope people will come to see the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont not just as a community resource, but as a place where they belong— where they can walk, reflect, learn, and connect.
(434) 953-0060 950 Melbourne Rd Charlottesville, VA 22901
Environmental Literacy and Stewardship
RVF is YOUR gateway to conservation, education, and outdoor exploration in Nelson County.
Stroll our public hiking trails, visit the Rockfish Valley Natural History Center, explore ENLIT and the new Outdoor Learning Pavilion, and experience why thousands visit each year.
Your gift fuels our mission!
At RVF, you’ll find: • Scenic Trails & Birding Areas • Natural History Center Exhibits • ENLIT & Outdoor Learning Pavilion • Pollinator Gardens & Loop Trails
Wayne Snow is an AHIP crew leader.
We preserve black history & culture
We preserve black history & culture
We preserve black history & culture
Jefferson School
Building Goodness Foundation
At Building Goodness Foundation, we build opportunity.
We believe that well-designed, well-constructed, beautiful buildings create opportunities for children, families, and communities. We are a nonprofit organization that builds and renovates homes, schools, clinics, and community spaces for disadvantaged people, both locally and internationally.
If your organization could make one holiday wish for the community this year, what would it be?
Our wish is that everyone finds a way to get involved. Every act of giving truly makes a difference. Whether it’s making a gift, volunteering on a project site, or spreading the word about our mission, you can help strengthen our community. We’ve seen firsthand how generosity multiplies when people come together for a common cause. This season, we hope more people will choose to give of themselves to help families stay safe in their homes and nonprofits better serve those in need.
The holidays are a time for connection and kindness. How does your organization help bring people together this season?
We see connections take shape through every project we do. When we repair homes, we’re helping families stay safely and comfortably in the places that have anchored generations of gatherings and memories. For many homeowners, these spaces are where the holidays truly come alive. Our work also brings people together in a hands on way. Volunteers from all walks of life work side by side to build, repair, and improve homes and community spaces, both here in Charlottesville and abroad. Through these shared efforts, we create something lasting: stronger homes, stronger communities, and stronger bonds between neighbors.
(434) 973-0993
128 Carlton Rd. Charlottesville, VA 22902
Building Goodness Foundation building community and improving lives
Our Mission is to celebrate and amplify the human voice through live performances to educate and build community.
The holidays are a time for connection and kindness. How does your organization help bring people together this season?
Throughout the year, we bring thousands together—from sold-out crowds at The Paramount to families at FestivALL—through the transformative power of live music. This December, tickets for our summer mainstage productions go on sale mid-month, offering the perfect gift: a future night of togetherness at Cinderella or The Barber of Seville.
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
Hearing 2,500 voices rise together at Ting Pavilion during FestivALL, when singing ”Defying Gravity” as one community reminded us why we do this work. When hundreds of people—young and old, longtime opera lovers and first-timers—lift their voices together, that’s the magic of connection we are here to create.
The cold months can be tough for many; how is your team helping to bring warmth and hope to those who need it most?
We’re hard at work preparing our major education events in February and March, which will provide free musical experiences to over 2,000 students. We also partner with ParadeRest to give veterans, active military members, and their families access to live performances. We offer discounted tickets for students and youth—ensuring everyone can experience the warmth of live performance regardless of their circumstances.
(434) 293-4500
info@charlottesvilleopera.org
226 E High St. Charlottesville, VA 22902
BGF volunteers build a new batting cage with McIntire Little League.
Charlottesville Area Community Foundation
As your community foundation, we are honored to be part of a legacy of generosity that is rooted in a keen awareness of our interconnectedness as people sharing a place and time.
How does your organization celebrate the season together?
The Community Foundation is home to nearly 400 funds, making this the busiest season of the year for us! There is typically an appreciative exhale when the last grant disbursements go out for the season, and we take a beat to enjoy a meal together.
The holidays are a time for connection and kindness—how do you help bring people together this season?
This is a beautiful time of year for gathering, and our work is a wonderful depiction of that. Whether families are meeting with us to make decisions about their charitable giving during the holiday season and beyond, or we’re meeting with fundholders and local organizations to address food insecurity in our region, connecting with our neighbors is what we’re all about.
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
This year we attended a scholarship awards ceremony for three new Community Foundation scholarship funds that help high school students in Buckingham County continue their education.
(434) 296-1024
info@cacfonline.org
410 E. Water St. Charlottesville, VA 22902
Community Climate Collaborative
Did you know solutions to our changing climate are right here in our community?
The Community Climate Collaborative (C3) focuses on collective action, including every sector of our community, to help develop solutions that will preserve our planet for future generations. Bringing local schools, businesses, neighbors, and local governments together to lead on climate, C3 creates roadmaps for communities to implement solutions and policies that accelerate climate action.
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
One of the most moving moments for us this year came when a group of Albemarle County teens stood before the Board of Supervisors and successfully advocated for more climate funding in the county budget. Thanks to their determination—and support from C3’s youth interns and our Green Teen Alliance—Albemarle committed an additional $300,000 toward its Climate Action Fund.
Seeing young people from our community step up, advocate for a cleaner, more resilient county, and influence local policy was a powerful reminder of why we do this work. Their courage, energy, and commitment showed us that climate action isn’t just a future issue—it’s something young leaders are already shaping, and together, we truly can build the community we want to live in that allows residents to thrive for generations to come.
The cold months can be tough for many. How is your team helping to bring warmth and hope to those who need it most?
At C3, we’re focused on making sure every household, business, and nonprofit has access to a warm, safe, and energy-efficient home or facility this winter. Through our Energy Resource Hub, we connect families and businesses with one-on-one support, free home energy assessments, efficiency upgrades, and guidance on local programs that can ease high heating costs.
By helping residents reduce drafts, improve insulation, and access energy-saving appliances, we’re not only lowering monthly bills—we’re bringing real comfort and peace of mind to households facing tough choices during the colder months.
We want community members to know they’re not alone. Anyone needing support—or wanting to help a neighbor—can visit the Energy Resource Hub to find practical tools, personalized assistance, and a team ready to make this season a little warmer for everyone.
(434) 218-0265
info@theclimatecollaborative.org
232 E High St. Charlottesville, VA 22902
Cultivate Charlottesville
Cultivate Charlottesville engages youth and community in building an equitable, sustainable food system through garden-based experiential learning, growing and sharing healthy food, amplifying community leaders, and advocating for food justice.
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
Seeing young people and their families come down to the City of Promise garden to paint pumpkins for Halloween while adults picked up fresh produce from our team (and some donations from Bellair Farm) to take home.
As we head into winter, what are your biggest needs or goals, and how can the community lend a hand?
Cultivate still needs the support of the local Charlottesville community to continue to thrive. Your donation helps us continue to grow, share, and advocate for a healthy food system for all! We also need Harvest of the Month volunteers to help pass out fresh, healthy fruit and vegetable snacks to Charlottesville students the first Thursday of every month—sign up from our website or Instagram bio.
The cold months can be tough for many. How is your team helping to bring warmth and hope to those who need it most?
All the work Cultivate does is possible because of partnerships. We will collaborate to host a few more popup Community Market Days to continue to share fresh vegetables such as potatoes, kale, and herbs with the community. A lot of the food that is harvested at this time of year is perfect for the kinds of hearty comfort foods that keep folks warm and nourished.
Finally Home Animal Haven
Finally Home Animal Haven is a nonprofit rescue in Scottsville, that’s dedicated to saving abused, neglected, and surrendered animals, and helping them find their lifelong home. We are dedicated to rehabilitating, retraining, and safely placing these animals into a forever home or when not possible, providing a permanent sanctuary here at Finally Home Animal Haven.
If your organization could make one holiday wish for the community this year, what would it be?
Our holiday wish would be that as many animals could find good, loving homes, especially seniors who are typically the least adopted. There is nothing like a senior’s love. Full bellies, warm beds, and a family to love is probably what any animal would wish for this holiday season.
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
Our rescue works with animals who at times come to us extremely frightened, very sick, or broken-hearted. We take in many seniors and hospice animals that need extensive care, sometimes on an hourly basis. These animals are abandoned in their time of need. Seeing animals who were once so frightened they wouldn’t let you near them learn to enjoy and seek out the presence of others and, learn to run, play, and find joy again is a daily reminder of why our mission matters.
(434)
Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
The Jefferson School City Center, formerly known as the historic Jefferson School (which earned its historic designation in 2006), serves as a vital community hub in the heart of Charlottesville. This dynamic center provides a range of services and programs designed to enrich and support the local community.
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
When 60 first-graders walked through the doors of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center this November, they didn’t just visit a historic school—they stepped into their own story.
Six- and seven-year-olds from Greer Elementary watched a short excerpt from the documentary Raised/Razed, explored Vinegar Hill, a neighborhood the film focuses on, and then saw how this local history connects to the bigger story of Charlottesville and our nation through the digital map in the JSAAHC exhibition, Toward a Lineage of Self.
Their eyes widened. Their hands shot up with questions. They saw themselves in history. This is what the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center does: we transform history into living stories. We ensure that the contributions of African Americans, in our community and across the world, are not just remembered, but celebrated and woven into the fabric of who we are.
Every school visit, every exhibition, every program depends on donors who make it possible for students to access these experiences. Your gift ensures that the next generation grows up understanding that local history is their history—and that they have the power to shape what comes next.
(434) 422-1520
233 4th St. NW Charlottesville, VA 22903
Finally Home Animal Haven is a nonprofit rescue in Scottsville, Virginia dedicated to saving abused, neglected and surrendered animals and helping them find their lifelong home. We are dedicated to rehabilitating, retraining and safely placing these animals into a forever home or when not possible, providing a permanent sanctuary here at Finally Home Animal Haven.
We are devoted to educating people about these loving misunderstood animals and helping to provide them with a forever home: a place where they will never experience unnecessary pain again brought onto them by a cruel human hand. A place where they can live out their lives without having to work until they are no longer needed and thrown aside, a place where possibly for one of the first times in their life they will feel only love. They will never have to worry about having a shelter to shade them from the storm or wonder where they will get their next meal, a place where they can live out the rest of their lives peacefully, a place where they will always feel:
Light House Studio
Throughout the year, we hold workshops and community events that give young people opportunities to build new and lasting skills. In addition to filmmaking and technical abilities, our students learn soft skills: collaboration, communication, planning, citizenship, creativity, and empathy.
The holidays are a time for connection and kindness. How does your organization help bring people together this season?
We partner with Reclaimed Hope Initiative to offer a sensory-friendly screening for young people and their families so they can come and enjoy a holiday movie in the theatre. We are also hosting another free “HoHo Holiday Bash” on December 19 for elementary and middle school kids; wrapping up many of our community partner projects, which means that those who have participated will be able to share their completed films with family and friends over the holidays.
As we head into winter, what are your biggest needs or goals, and how can the community lend a hand?
In 2025 we experienced a number of changes with our funding, including the loss of government support as well as across-the-board cost increases. We are weathering these changes to the best of our ability, but to continue our current level of community partnership activity in 2026, we need your support. We are raising $100,000 through our Annual Fund campaign.
(434) 293-6992
220 W Market St. Charlottesville, VA 22902
Sherry Bryant, curator of learning and engagement, connects first-graders from Greer Elementary to the roots of their own community, unveiling the vibrant legacy of the historic Vinegar Hill neighborhood.
(Starting from bottom, left to right:) Rachel Lane, program director; Kristen Dillehunt, operations manager; Zack Marotta, education director; Lindsey Hepler, engagement director; Deanna Gould, executive director; Will Goss, creative director; Jalia Dillard, graphic design and content creator; Kayla Saunders. Teaching Specialist
Hope. Healing. Safety.
The Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA) provides free, confidential support for survivors of sexual violence in our community. From crisis intervention to long-term therapy, prevention education, and advocacy—SARA is here every step of the way.
Your gift helps ensure:
• Immediate support through our 24/7 hotline and crisis accompaniment services
• Free trauma-therapy and advocacy services for survivors
• Prevention education to stop violence from happening in the first place
• Training for workplaces, faith communities, and groups
Your generosity builds a safer, more compassionate community.
Scan the QR code to donate, or visit our website at saracville.org.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call our 24/7 Hotline (434) 977-7273.
Literacy Volunteers
All adults will have the ability to understand, speak, read, write, and communicate in English so they can fully participate in our community. LVCA promotes adult literacy through equitable, inclusive, free, confidential, one-toone English and Citizenship tutoring.
The holidays are a time for connection and kindness. How does your organization help bring people together this season?
Literacy Volunteers provides free, one-to-one English, basic education, and citizenship tutoring to area adults, many of whom are immigrants and refugees. In weekly meetings, our volunteer tutors and students forge real connections and friendships with folks they otherwise most likely would not have met. It is a gift to witness lives change through literacy empowerment.
As we head into winter, what are your biggest needs or goals, and how can the community lend a hand?
We always are seeking volunteer tutors! You do not need to have any teaching experience. We provide the training and materials. Volunteer tutors make a difference in their students’ lives from day one. You can learn more about volunteer tutoring, or sign up for one of our upcoming information sessions or training events, at literacyforall.org/tutors
As we head into 2026, we also are gearing up for our annual team-trivia fundraiser, Wordplay, on April 23 at The Paramount Theater. We are actively recruiting volunteers, raffle items, and team sponsorships. Team registration is now open. If you or your business is looking to support Literacy Volunteers, please visit literacyforall.org/wordplay
Rockfish Valley Foundation
The mission of the Rockfish Valley Foundation is to preserve the natural, historical, ecological, and agricultural resources of the Rockfish Valley. We accomplish this through enriching the lives of our community by supporting the Rockfish Valley Loop Trail system, Spruce Creek Park and the lands associated with them. The mission furthers supports conservation, recreation, preservation, and environmental education, and promotes a rural tourism experience in the Rockfish Valley of Nelson County, Virginia.
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
Celebrating our 20th anniversary, we opened the new Outdoor Learning Pavilion and fully launched ENLIT—interactive modules along the loop trails. A standout moment came during a youth author event with Danielle Simone (Adventures of Syd). Kids who joined our geology scavenger hunt—many by chance—left with prizes, books, and huge smiles. Moments like that remind us that even small programs can spark big impacts.
The cold months can be tough for many. How is your team helping to bring warmth and hope to those who need it most?
We focus on offering people a dependable place to unwind and reset. Thanksgiving weekend is one of our busiest of the year, and we hear the same thing often: a walk, a view, or a moment of quiet can make a real difference. RVF gives people space to breathe—no pressure, no schedule, just a welcome place to land.
The staff of LVCA, from left to right: Maureen Overstreet, program assistant; Catherine McCall, citizenship coordinator; Ellen M. Osborne, executive director; Steven Reid, program manager; Rebecca Thomas, communications coordinator
Sexual Assault Resource Agency
The Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA) is a 501(c)3 non profit agency working to eliminate sexual violence and its impacts through education, advocacy, and support services. SARA serves individuals and communities in the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. SARA works with all individuals affected by sexual violence, including nonoffending friends and family of survivors.
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
This past year, we took a big step forward — SARA and Foothills Children’s Advocacy Center came together under one roof. In a collaborative partnership to make healing less complicated for children, adults, and families. Our new space is full of light — literally and figuratively — and it’s helping us create the kind of environment that every survivor deserves.
As we head into winter, what are your biggest needs or goals, and how can the community lend a hand?
This season is one of the toughest funding climates we’ve seen for victim services. Across Virginia and the country, programs like ours are doing more with less, while the need keeps growing. Our community can donate, volunteer, or participate in community events to support SARA.
If your organization could make one holiday wish for the community this year, what would it be?
Our holiday wish is for a community where every person feels safe, supported, and free from the threat of sexual violence. A place where survivors are believed, compassion is the norm, and healing is possible for all.
We raise, train, and place service dogs with individuals challenged by disabilities to help them achieve greater independence and a better quality of life. Service Dogs of VA exists because, as we know, life can change in an instant. We invite you to engage with us to support our very important mission.
The holidays are a time for connection and kindness. How does your organization help bring people together this season?
One of the most heartwarming events we hold each year is Service Dogs of Virginia annual graduation. This year it will be held on Saturday, December. 6, at Monticello High School Auditorium at 10:30am. This event is a wonderful way to start the holiday season, as it brings together volunteers, supporters, and newly matched dog/people teams who tell their story about the amazing impact their dog is having on their lives. Donors and volunteers also understand the gift they have given to those who now have a dog, and this is a perfect kick-off to “the season of giving”
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
Listening to the parent of a child with autism who recently received a service dog talk about how the dog has so positively impacted their son and the family. Reducing anxiety, helping their son sleep through the night, allowing for more uninterrupted family outings has been truly life-changing.
(434) 295-9503 info@servicedogsva.org
P.O. Box 408, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Service Dogs of Virginia
the beginning of someone's journey towards independence.
A gentle nudge. A calming touch. A partner who understands without being asked.
For the people we serve, these small moments add up to independence, confidence, and hope. Our dogs do remarkable things—alerting to medical crises, steadying anxious minds, opening doors, and helping people step into whole new chapters in their lives.
But none of this happens alone.
You can help make this possible—scan the QR code or visit our website to make your gift.
Lead Trainer, Linda Farina
PLEASE
ALL BLESSINGS FLOW is a local faith-based nonprofit founded to help individuals living with disabilities and serious health conditions.
Our primary mission is to promote health equity by collecting and refurbishing medical equipment and supplies and providing these items to families in need in Charlottesville and Central Virginia. For children and adults with disabilities, obtaining the medical equipment they need and deserve can be a life changing blessing.
To reach our neighbors in need in Nelson, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Louisa, and Orange Counties, our ABF Mobile Unit visits a partner site in each county one day each week. Please call our warehouse in advance to be sure we have the items you need on the trailer. We will also be accepting donations of gently used medical equipment. 10 AM - NOON Look online for our
tions are tax
and joy to those in
Donate your used medical equipment and unopened supplies. Items may be dropped off during open hours at ourwarehouse located at 2335 Seminole
The Arc of the Piedmont
Our mission is to build and provide high-quality services and support to advance and enhance inclusion, respect, and appreciation for all people with developmental disabilities and their families.
The holidays are a time for connection and kindness. How does your organization help bring people together this season?
Specific to the holiday season, The Arc enjoys putting on our annual Santa Fun Run. It’s got a terrific holiday vibe with a sea of Santas made up of the people we support, our staff, and hundreds of community members supporting our mission. Throughout the year, we bring the ID community together with the general community in a mutually beneficial way. A few examples include showcasing the art from our artists in the Arc Studio, connections to places such as Kindness Cafe, and assisting our people to take advantage of the resources of places such as the YMCA.
How does your organization celebrate the season together?
Through holiday parties such as our annual Christmas party at Cherry Avenue Christian Church. We also partner with St. Thomas Catholic Church which donates gifts to individuals in our programs so that everyone has gifts to open at the party. This special party brings families, staff and community members together with the people we provide services to.
(434) 977-4002
bharrs@arcpva.org 1149
VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment
Supporting individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental challenges through Applied Behavior Analysis and evidence-based practices to help their unique gifts shine.
The holidays are a time for connection and kindness. How does your organization help bring people together this season?
At VIA, we are driven by the belief that all people, regardless of ability, can achieve meaningful, purpose-driven lives. Our mission is to make that vision a reality for individuals with autism. We provide compassionate, evidence-based services that build a strong bridge, connecting the people we serve to active engagement in the Charlottesville community. By promoting awareness, we are dedicated to creating a truly inclusive and welcoming Charlottesville.
Can you share a moment this year that truly touched your heart or reminded you why your mission matters?
Our programs and services are intentionally designed to meet participants where they are, providing the foundational support needed to achieve their future goals. One of our adult participants started her employment journey at MAC’s Cafe, our on-campus coffee bar at our CAAAS location. By mastering vocational skills such as taking orders, maintaining equipment, and crafting coffee orders, she was able to build a strong professional foundation. Her dedication quickly led to a successful transition to a paid position at Kindness Cafe, one of our valued community partners. Through this achievement, she gained far more than a paycheck; she earned independence, dignity, and profound pride.
Arc program individuals gather in front of Chandler’s Bakery.
VIA’s Adult Services team at CAAAS, from left to right: Julia Dyer, Jennifer Yeagley, Chip Cline, Megan Dora, Jessica Goode, Sincere Crawford, Judith Samuels, and Lorin Cahow.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025
SATURDAY, DECEEMBER 6, 20225
Ting Pavilion on the Downtown Mall (Course: 1 mile)
Ting on the Mall (Course: 1 mile)
Registration begins at 9am, the run is promptly at 10am
Registration begins at 9am, the run is promptly at 10am
- $25 • Children 4-12 years - $15 3 years and youunger FREE!
All proceeds from this event go to support the programs and services at The Arc of the Piedmont for people in Charlottesville and the surrounding community living with developmental disabilities. This year we ask companies, families, and individuals to get together with some of their closest friends, family, and co-workers and raise money for The Arc of the Piedmont’s mission of serving people with developmental disabilities.
All proceeds from this event go to support the programs and services at The Arc of the Piedmont for Charlottesville the living with developmental disabilities. This year we ask families, individuals to get with some of their closest family, raise money for The Arc of the Piedmont’s people with developmental disabilities.
CULTURE
TUESDAY 12/2
LOUD AND CLEAR
Tuesday Evening Concert Series presents Chanticleer, the male chorus known around the world for its eclectic repertoire and dazzling virtuosity. The Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble performs A Chanticleer Christmas under the leadership of music director Tim Keeler. Named for the clear-singing rooster in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and rooted in the musical traditions of the Renaissance, the group’s repertoire has expanded to include a wide range of classical, gospel, jazz, and popular music. $5–45, 7:30–9:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. tecs.org
SERENITY RIDGE RETREAT CENTER
Ancient Tibetan Buddhist Teachings for Modern Times
Join us in the serene foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and in Charlottesville!
USING BREATH TO REVITALIZE BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT: THE ANCIENT PRACTICE OF TSA LUNG
Breath to calm the mind and bring health to the body
January 2-10, with a weekend option January 2-4, 2026
Location: Serenity Ridge Retreat Center • Shipman, Virginia
Please visit SerenityRidgeVA.org for more information
LIGMINCHA CHARLOTTESVILLE MONTHLY PRACTICE
Location: Jefferson Memorial Regional Library, downtown Charlottesville
Date: November 19, 2025
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Learn More and Register: SERENITYRIDGEVA.ORG
Serenity Ridge Retreat Center, Shipman, VA
GERALD DICKENS
Performs A Christmas Carol
The great-great grandson of legendary author Charles Dickens, returns to the Wayne Theatre.
DEC. 4 at 2:00 PM
SCROOGE! The Christmas Carol Musical
This lively stage musical, adapted by Leslie Bricusse is sure to delight audiences of all ages.
DEC. 5-7 & 12-14
Fri-Sat: 7:00 PM | Sat-Sun: 2:00 PM
EVENING IN THE ROUND
Starring Linda Davis, Lang Scott & Bill Whyte
Get ready for an unforgettable night of music, laughter, and storytelling.
DEC. 7 at 7:00 PM
Wednesday 11/26
music
Open Mic Night. Mic check to all musicians, poets, and everyone in between. All ages welcome. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St. Silas Frayser Band. Frayser is home for Thanksgiving. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
Thankful Dead. Featuring Sisters & Brothers and Mama Tried covering tunes by the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band. $15–22, 7:30pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
etc.
Dürty Karaoke. Dive bar karaoke for your hump days. Free, 8:30pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
Really Good Friends Comedy Show. Featuring Chris Alan and Winston Hodges in an improv comedy hangout. Ages 18+. $25, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Thursday 11/27
Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday 11/28
music
Bob Bennetta Trio. Live jazz. Free, 6:30pm. Afghan Kabob House, 200 Market St. afghankabob-house.com
Chickenhead Blues Band. New Orleans boogiewoogie, upbeat, rhythm and blues sounds. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Erynn McLeod. A powerful yet soothing acoustic set at the crossroad of folk and musical theater from the local singer-songwriter. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
Gasolina Reggaetón Party. Dedicated to creating a community within the reggaetón and Latin-music scene through exciting and innovative events. Ages 18+. $26, 9pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
Ian Gilliam & The FireKings. Local rock ‘n’ roll, blues, rockabilly, and country. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.
Midnight Buzz. A dynamic band delivers an eclectic blend of acoustic and electric classic rock for a post-Thanksgiving party. Free, 5pm. Bottle House, 608 W. Main St. bottlehouse.net
Peen. C’ville’s premier Ween tribute band. $16–20, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Pink Lady Slipper. A Black Friday party featuring funky jams, covers, and originals. Free, 10pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapture restaurant.com
Prabir Trio. Raga meets Tom Petty. Free, 8pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellys charlottesville.com
South Canal Street. A repertoire of favorites including top hits from the late 1950s to the 1970s. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
stage
Vitaly: An Evening of Wonders. Combining breathtaking visuals with captivating style in an interactive theatrical experience that takes the audience on a magical journey. $35–68, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
TO-DO LIST CULTURE
FRIDAY 11/28
BOOGNISH BEATS
If you’re reeling from the indefinite hiatus of weirdo rockers Dean and Gene Ween, get a fix of chocolate cheese with Peen, C’ville’s premier Ween tribute band. The group has featured an expanding and evolving lineup since its conception in 2004, but the mission remains the same: Plumb the depths of Ween’s genre-hopping, casually irreverent catalog with the same energy and quirkiness as the purveyors of classic LPs Pure Guava and Quebec. $16–20, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
classes
Paint + Sip: Arctic Nights. Paint the supplied design in a step-by-step format. No experience necessary, all materials included. $40, 1pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. blueridgebrushes.com
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
Hillside Market Day. Get out of the house postThanksgiving and bring the whole family for a day of shopping, wine, music, food, and more. Free, 11am. Hardware Hills Vineyard, 5199 W. River Rd., Scottsville. hardwarehills.com
Trivia with Olivia. Get the weekend started with beers and trivia. Free, 6pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.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
Saturday 11/29 music
Andy Tichenor Almost Acoustic. Tichenor’s side project focuses on the acoustic stylings of his original and cover material. Free, noon. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com
Beleza Duo. An evening of funkalicious samba soul—music that moves you from the inside out— with Madeline Holly-Sales on vocals and keys, and Berto Sales on guitar, voice, and loops. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
Blue Healer. Classic rock and blues, with a full set of favorites from The Allman Brothers Band. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com
Friendsgiving: Chamomile & Whiskey. The annual event from everyone’s favorite Blue Ridge Mountain rock ‘n’ rollers. With Wilson Springs Hotel. $20–24, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
Gabriel Goldstein. An album release party for the modern-day troubadour native to Charlottesville. With Rahimah Blue. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
GootGenuG. Live jazz fusion featuring a mixture of originals and classics. Free, 6pm. Starr Hill Brewery Tap Room, 5391 Three Notched Rd, Crozet. starrhill.com
Ian Gilliam & The FireKings. Rock ‘n’ roll from local favorites. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com Jackson, Pendergrass, & Townsend. Original music in the jazz-blues tradition. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Jimmy Overton. Preserving endangered music through live performances. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com
Pat Anderson. A roots rocker with tough-minded country-rock sensibility. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
The Wavelength. Vintage rock, blues, originals, and more. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarle ciderworks.com
classes
Make a Zine with Jess. An interactive workshop demonstrates how to fold a single sheet of paper into an eight-page mini-zine. Materials and prompts provided. Ages 16+. Suggested price $10, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Wreath Making Workshop with Bellair Farm. Dive into the holiday spirit with this workshop led by Bellair Farm. $50, noon. Tasting Room and Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve, 5600 Moonlight Dr., Scottsville. mountidareserve.com
Wreath Workshop. Design and create a beautiful wreath at this time-treasured Charlottesville tradition—now in it’s 39th year. $95, 2pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. monticello.org etc.
Bar Botanical’s Trivia. Tag Team DJs host an evening with lots of puzzling questions and fun prizes. Free, 6:30pm. Bar Botanical, 2025 Library Ave., Rooftop 4R, Crozet. botanicalfare.com
Black Barbers of Charlottesville Tour. A walking tour looks at the city of Charlottesville through the history of its Black barbers. Focusing on stories from the late-19th and early-20th centuries. $5–20, noon. Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, 200 Second St. NE. albemarlehistory.org
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, November 28. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Court Square: Where Charlottesville Began Tour. A walking tour explores the history of the region from the Monacan Nation to its modern history and the removal of four controversial monuments. $5–20, 10am. Albemarle County Courthouse, 501 E. Jefferson St. albemarlehistory.org
Historic Downtown Mall Tour. A casual eightblock walk around Charlottesville’s historic pedestrian Downtown Mall discovering local history. $5–20, 11am. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. albemarlehistory.org
Pop-Up Market. An art and vintage market featuring local vendors alongside live performances from Amminal, Small Batch, and WTJU DJs. Free, noon. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
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
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, November 28. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Sunday 11/30
music
Beleza Duo. Featuring the vivacious duo of Madeline and Berto Sales, entertaining all with their funkalicious samba soul music. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
GootGenuG. An eclectic mix of jazz fusion classics and originals. Free, 6pm. Miller’s Downtown, 109 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. millersdowntown.com
John Sweet. An instrumental acoustic guitarist plays his own arrangements of music spanning several genres and decades. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Storytelling Session with Cville Stories. A vibrant, personal storytelling event where audience members have an opportunity to share their stories and hear tales from featured storytellers. Free, 3pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
classes
Paint + Sip: Holiday Wineglasses. Paint the supplied design on one or two wineglasses in a stepby-step format. No experience necessary, all materials included. $38–40, noon. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. blueridgebrushes.com
Printmaking Workshop. Learn the basics of linocut printing. Ages 15+. $35, 11am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.
123 Andrés. Grammy and Latin Grammywinning duo for kids and families known for their interactive, high-energy shows. $16, 4pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, November 28. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Memorial Christmas Tree Lighting. Light a candle in memory of loved ones, and enjoy performances full of holiday spirit by Brushwood School of Dance and the Gordon Barbour Singing Bulldogs. Free, 5:30pm. Town of Gordonsville, 112 S. Main St., Gordonsville. townofgordonsville.org
Music Bingo. Listen to your favorite music, match the songs to the titles on your music bingo cards, and win great prizes. Free, 2pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Silent Book Club. No assigned readings, bring your own book. All formats welcome. Free, 3pm. Ethos Wine & Tea, 817 W. Main St. ethoswineandtea.com
Monday 12/1
words
Storytime. A magical storytime adventure where the pages come alive and imagination knows no bounds. Free with admission to the museum, 10:30am. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. vadm.org
classes
Wreath Workshop. See listing for Saturday, November 29. $95, 4pm. Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. monticello.org
Tuesday 12/2
music
BRIMS. An open jam from the Blue Ridge Irish Music School. Free, 7pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
Tuesday Evening Concert Series: Chanticleer. A Christmas program from the male chorus known around the world for its eclectic repertoire and dazzling virtuosity. $5–45, 7:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. tecs.org
Tuesday Jazz with Jeff Massanari. A cast of great players joins the guitar virtuoso. Free, 7:30pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapture restaurant.com
Vincent Zorn. Lively flamenco rumba with a unique percussive technique that incorporates a diverse range of strumming styles, rhythms, and taps. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 201 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
classes
Ultrasimple Upcycling: All Things Winged. Offering a mystery project to help you rethink how materials can be used in arts and crafts exercises. No experience necessary. Ages 10+. $10, 4pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
etc.
Craft Extravaganza. An all-ages crafts program with fun, creativity, and seasonal cheer for everyone. Free, 6pm. Northside Library, 705 W. Rio Rd. jmrl.org
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
STAGES CULTURE
Vitaly
In our technology-driven time when we can fabricate A.I. videos of the most fantastic, improbable scenarios on demand, and when news sources are challenged for their veracity, I feel compelled to ask: Do we still have the capacity for the age-old excitement generated by magic?
Illusionist Vitaly [Beckman] hails from Belarus in the former Soviet Union, and now calls Vancouver home—so, you might imagine that his desire to dazzle has some rebellious fomenting from being born in a decidedly unglamorous epoch.
He made a name for himself by coming up victorious thrice on Penn & Teller’s TV show “Fool Us,” and he continues to bewilder people in the tradition of a Copperfieldesque visionary arriving to confound and delight audiences.
He bends reality in ways that are not unlike what software increasingly provides on our screens. But be that as it may, Vitaly’s approach is no tech trick: His is an in-the-flesh reworking of things that we could only previously imagine in pixels. He deals in artistic flair that enlivens still-life paintings, prompt-
WEDNESDAY 11/26
ing them into action like only the best functions of Adobe Firefly might. He loses people from their IDs in the way Google’s Magic Eraser plucks an unsightly bystander from a selfie. And the magician somehow manages to make movement appear on what is a two-dimensional paper photograph.
In this show, he’s attempting to tell his own biography through illusion. Of course, in a field that requires reinvention to avoid being a nostalgic act or worse—tolerably quaint, Vitaly skirts close to parody of the entire endeavor.
THE PARAMOUNT THEATER
Friday 11/28
FUNNY FRIENDS
It’s hard not to have flashbacks of Gob Bluth (Will Arnett) and Tony Wonder (Ben Stiller) on “Arrested Development.” But, at any kind of magic show, suspension of belief is mandatory in order to enjoy yourself. Here’s the one thing you must know going into this: You don’t want to be the person posting to your friends that the night vision video of all the bunnies jumping on the trampoline isn’t real, or the cynic in the crowd, arms folded, and constantly muttering about how it’s all a con. Live a little.—CM Gorey
An improv hangout with local funnyman Chris Alan and D.C.-based comic Winston Hodges brings together stand-up, storytelling, informal group therapy—all for the laughs. The Really Good Friends comedy show finds the duo riffing on stage, running new jokes by each other while catching up in a conversation infused with hilarity. The audience joins in on the fun by inviting viewers to share funny memories, submit AITA queries, and offer up summaries of old beefs for the comedians to settle. Ages 18+. $25.65, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
THE WINE DOWN
WHAT’S DELISH AT LOCAL WINERIES?
53RD WINERY AND VINEYARD
A note from Winegrower and Owner, Dave Drillock Happy Thanksgiving!
The connection of wine over the millennia has always been Family, Friends and Food. With the Holiday season approaching, our latest release is our Shannon Hill White. It is a blend of 61% Chardonel and 39% Vidal Blanc with aromas of honey crisp apple, white peach, citrus blossoms and Asian pears. Medium bodied, crisp and refreshing, it will go great with many of the appetizers enjoyed during the Holiday Season or simply as the welcome wine. We invite you to visit our serene, meadow-like location in rural Louisa County. We pride ourselves on being genuine and approachable, eager to share our passion for wine without any scripted lines or memorized facts, just a warm and welcome atmosphere. We are a Winery that just wants to be a Winery! For more details, please check our website at www.53rdwinery.com or call us at 540-894-1536. We look forward to welcoming you to the winery, and we truly appreciate your business and support.
Upcoming events:
Thursday, November 27th: Closed for Thanksgiving
Friday, November 28th: 53% off at 53rd!
Gratitude Getaway: 53% off a flight and 53% off snacks and charcuterie!
Live Music: Denise O’Meara with piano in the pavilion 12:30-4:30pm
Saturday, November 29th: 53% off at 53rd!
Gratitude Getaway: 53% off a flight and 53% off snacks and charcuterie!
Live Music: Matty & Mirabelle Metcalfe 1-4pm
Open 7 days a week, 11 am – 5 pm • Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm 13372 Shannon Hill Rd Louisa, VA 23093 (540) 894-5474 • 53rdwinery.com
DUCARD VINEYARDS
2022 Signature Viognier 100% estate grown Viognier with notes of apricot, pear, and honeysuckle leading to a natural salinity and lovely, bright finish. Best served slightly chilled, a great addition to your Thanksgiving meal!
We are open 7 days a week throughout the month of January, with live music every weekend!
Make sure to keep an eye on our website and social media pages for the most up to date listings of our upcoming artists.
Fridays- Friday Night Out! Every Friday night through the summer we feature half price wine flights, live music, food for sale, and grills available for use until 8:00pm.
Weekends- Live music all weekend long! Check out our lineup on our website!
November 28, 2025 Black Friday Music in the Mountains with South Canal Street - open 12-6 pm
Bring your Thanksgiving guests and your dancing shoes and come out to DuCard Vineyards for the fun and fabulous music of South Canal Street! They bring their repertoire of your favorites including songs by The Beatles, Chicago, Motown, Eagles and top hits from the golden era of music, late 1950’s to the 1970’s! DuCard Vineyards is open from 12 to 6 pm and the band is playing from 2 to 5 pm. Plan to grab your favorite DuCard wine and have some fun! No cover.
Open daily
Mon-Thurs. 12-5 pm Fri. 12-9 pm Sat/Sun. 12-6 pm
40 Gibson Hollow Ln Etlan, VA 22719 (540) 923-4206 www.ducardvineyards.com
EASTWOOD FARM AND WINERY
Winter at the winery means the return of warm mulled wine, fire pits and preparation for a season of celebration with family, friends and
the community. We look forward to welcoming you to our cozy tasting room throughout the season.
Upcoming at the Winery:
Low-Country Shrimp Boil is back! | Every Friday in November and December 4-7:30PM (except December 5th)
Get ready for a delicious, flavorpacked Shrimp Boil Feast every Friday night this Winter! We’re bringing the best of Southern tradition right to your plate with succulent shrimp, juicy sausage, tender corn on the cob, and perfectly seasoned potatoes – all served hot and ready to enjoy in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with live music from 5-8pm on the stage in our tasting room.
Thanksgiving Holiday Events
Celebrate Thanksgiving week at Eastwood Farm and Winery! We’ll be open before and after the holiday, with plenty of reasons to stop by. On Wednesday, Nov 26th enjoy live music 5-8PM and oysters from Salty Bottom Blue from 5-7PM. Then join us all weekend for live music, great wine, and our mouthwatering Shrimp Boil on Friday Nov 28th (4-7:30PM) and live music with Matthew O’Donnell (5-8PM). It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season with family, friends, and local flavor at Eastwood!
Music Bingo | Sunday, November 30th (2-4PM)
Everyone loves singing along with their favorite songs and who doesn’t love a competitive game of Bingo? Music Bingo brings together the best of both worlds
for a high energy game that is fun for everyone. Simply listen to the music, match the songs to the titles on your music bingo cards, and win great prizes!
Paint & Sip | Sunday, November 30th 12-2PM, Wednesday, December 10th 6-8PM, Sunday, December 28 12-2PM
Grab a glass of wine (or your favorite drink!) and let your creativity flow in our relaxed and fun Paint & Sip classes. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a first-time painter, the talented instructors of Blue Ridge Brushes will walk you through the painting process as you create your own masterpiece. Ticketed EventsReserve Your Spot On Our Website
Holiday Market and Santa Sunday | Sunday, December 7, 12-5PM
Enjoy free visits with Santa, sip on milk & cookie flights for the kids, shop local makers from Craft Cville, and savor festive food and drinks for all.
Holiday Carols |Thursday
December 18th with John Kelly and Friday December 19, with Sue Harlow 5-8PM
Enjoy the spirit of the season with classic carols and joyful tunes performed by local musicians. We look forward to welcoming you to the winery for a heartwarming celebration of holiday cheer in a cozy and festive atmosphere. Relax with delicious and seasonal beverages, snacks, and dinner and enjoy an evening that is fun for the whole family. Milk & Cookies Flights Available For These Events
Santa Sundays | Sunday,
December 7, 14, and 21st from 12-5PM
Join us for a special visit from Santa! Plus, we’ll have holiday milk and cookies flights available again this year (back by popular demand!) for the kids. This is an indoor event with opportunities to take your own photos with Santa. There is no cost to visit Santa.
MUSIC AT EASTWOOD THIS MONTH!
Join us for the popular Eastwood After Dark featuring upbeat, danceable music on Saturday nights from 5-8pm (in addition to our more mellow Saturday afternoon music program). Eastwood also hosts a range of live performances by talented local and regional musicians every Thursday and Friday night. See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.
MUSIC AT EASTWOOD!
Join us for the popular Eastwood After Dark featuring upbeat, danceable music on Saturday nights from 5-8pm (in addition to our more mellow Saturday afternoon music program). Eastwood also hosts a range of live performances by talented local and regional musicians every Thursday and Friday night (and Sundays!). See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.
Every Thursday: Live Music 5-8PM or Music Bingo 6-8PM
Thursday “Thank You” Community Day at Eastwood—$5 Taps (Beer & Cider)
Every Friday: Live Music 5-8PM Low-Country Shrimp Boil 5-8PM
Every Saturday: Live Music 12:303:30PM + Eastwood After Dark with Live Music 5-8PM
Every Sunday: Music Bingo, Paint & Sip, Maker’s Market or Live Music (See the Winery Calendar on our website for details.)
What about the kids?
Kids can share in the experience with their own juice tasting flights and cheese boards!
We look forward to welcoming you to our cozy tasting room, seven days a week. Join us for award-winning wines, beer, and cider, as well as a delicious seasonal menu by Chef Andrew Partridge that is perfect for lunch or dinner. Delight in lounging on our enclosed & heated veranda with a glass of our gold medal 2022 Meritage Reserve. Or, stay inside and enjoy live music with a seasonal toasty flatbread or our scrumptious Cast Iron Baked Brie.
Escape to Virginia Wine Country, only five miles from Downtown Charlottesville. Open year-round, seven days a week.
Pet friendly and large groups are welcome. Ample indoor and outdoor seating.
Rt 20 near the intersection with Avon Extended (5 mi from Downtown Mall) Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 264-6727
www.eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
HARDWARE HILLS VINEYARD
Temperance Bridge
As the weather gets chilly, this very special wine shines through with a special blend of estate grown chambourcin blended with a small percentage of estate grown, distilled, and crafted port-style vintage wine. A fireside sipper, this smooth and delightful wine not only makes a great base for hot mulled wine, but also works well with s’mores and dessert. An elegant, charismatic full-bodied experience of chocolatedrizzled ripe berries and spiced toffee with a velvety butterscotch finish. Difficult to describe. Easy to love.
After another successful harvest season, we are thrilled to be settling our wines into a nice winter nap as the aging process continues and the 2025 harvest matures. Our event space is now complete and booking for special events in the coming year -- come take a tour before 2026 pricing increases kick in!
HAVE YOU SEEN OUR REELS YET?? Check us out on all social media channels!
EVENTS:
Friday, Nov. 28th
5TH ANNUAL HILLSIDE MARKET! Bring the whole family for a day of holiday vendor specialty shopping, wine specials, Archer’s BBQ food truck, live music with Jefferson Speedboat band, and more! What a great way to get out of the house after a big holiday meal. Join us from 11 - 5!
5199 W River Rd, Scottsville, VA 434.286.4710 • www.hardwarehills.com
KESWICK VINEYARDS
Wine Down Wednesdays
It’s the last month of the year for midweek magic! Join us from 5:30–8:30 PM with Happy Hour on select wines from 5–6 PM. Perfect for shaking off those weekday cobwebs.
Line Dancing
Kick up your heels and join our fabulous Wine Club Manager, Chris, for some Shivering fun! Learn a few moves and laugh along from
5–7 PM! No experience (or rhythm) required!
Wine Club
Come be a part of Virginia’s Most Rewarding Wine Club! Enjoy exclusive savings, member-only events, and first access to new releases. Ask us today how to start sippin’ and savin’!
Live Music Saturdays
Every Saturday from 12–4 PM, enjoy local live music while you sip and soak in the vineyard views. Bring your friends, grab a glass, and make every weekend a little more Keswick.
At Prince Michel, indulge in a spectrum of wines—from luxurious craft picks like Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Manseng to distinctive favorites such as our Rapidan River Sweet White Reserve. But this season’s standout is our Prince Michel 2023 Cabernet Franc, freshly honored with a silver medal at the 2025 East Meets West Competition. Elegant and expressive, it showcases Virginia terroir with bright red cherry, violet, and savory spice, framed by supple tannins and a refined finish.
Discover Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery, an iconic East Coast estate. Family- and pet-friendly, we’re one of the oldest and largest wineries in the Commonwealth— and home to Tap 29 Brew Pub, serving local craft brews and delicious pub-style food seven days a week.
Located in the heart of Virginia Wine Country, our elegant winery on Route 29 between Charlottesville and Washington,
DC, offers wine tastings, tours, shopping, and scenic picnic spots daily from 11 a.m. Ask to taste the award-winning 2023 Cabernet Franc; it’s a versatile pour that pairs beautifully with herb-roasted chicken, mushroom flatbreads, grilled lamb, or aged Gouda.
Live Music every Friday–Sunday (lineup on our website)
Trivia every Monday, 6–7:30 p.m.
Tuesday is Beer & Wings Specials Day
Happy Hour every Thursday, 3–5 p.m.
Open 7 days a week at 11 a.m.
154 Winery Lane, Leon, VA 22725 (540) 547-3707 www.princemichel.com A Woman-Owned Business
REVALATION VINEYARDS
2023 Caber net Franc
With aromas of blackberry, plums and currants together with baking spices, this fine example of Cabernet Franc has the expected fruit bouquet and a well-balanced
and hearty mouthfeel. A long finish and pleasant aftertaste invite more pours. For some wine drinkers overwhelmed by Cabernet Sauvignon, this will be the one for you: all the dark fruit flavors you enjoy brought a bit more gently to you. The perfect accompaniment to roasted or grilled meats.
November Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 6 pm; Sundays, noon to 5 pm. Mondays and Thursdays by reservation.
Nov 27th – Closed for Thanksgiving Day
Dec. 5th – Book World Meets Wine World – Elizabeth Becker joins us at 6 pm to read from her newest novel, The Moonlight Healers.
Dec. 6th – Arts & Vines – Join us from noon until 6 pm for our Holiday Market.
Artisans Christina Boy Design (wood), Gary Grant (paintings), Phineas Rose Studios (jewelry),
Elizabeth Bennett (barn quilts), Richard Young (paintings), Lynn Young (embroidery),
Bound2Please Books, and Chocolatesville will be on site with their unique wares. With Pop-Up Food Truck - Cousins Maine Lobster Truck will be here from noon until 6 pm.
Dec. 22nd – 28th – Closed for Christmas Holidays. We reopen to regular business hours on Friday, January 2.
2710 Hebron Valley Road, Madison, VA 22727 • 540-407-1236 www.revalationvineyards.com
VIRGINIA WINE COLLECTIVE
Join us every Friday night from 4-9PM for winemaker wine flights and a delicious pairing menu
created by Chefs Andrew and Cory Partridge. Note that the Collective will be closed on Friday December 5th for a private event, but will open for special hours on Thursday December 4th from 4-9PM
The Virginia Wine Collective is a new wine production facility in Charlottesville. Eastwood designed the space to include nine winemaker suites and an incubator alongside the main production area. The suites provide a space where independent winemakers can anchor a license and make their wines. The Collective has been designed to reduce the costs associated with independent winemaking, and thereby support further innovation and talent in the Monticello AVA.
Upcoming at the Collective:
Winemaker Pop-Ups | Select Fridays 6-8PM
Enjoy free samples and tour the facility with some of our independent winemakers on Fridays! Check out events on our website: (https:// eastwoodfarmandwinery.com/ virginia-wine-collective/) and Facebook page as we will be adding more dates.
December 19: Chris Tropeano, Present Company Wine
December 26: Jake Busching, Jake Busching Wines
Production Tours and Guided Tastings
We look forward to welcoming guests to the Virginia Wine Collective for tours and guided tastings. Please email our Wine Collective Coordinator, Gabrielle Thomas, if you would like to schedule a tour or guided tasting. She may be reached at gabrielle@ eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Large Party Reservations
Interested in making a large party reservation for your group? Reach out to emma@ eastwoodfarmandwinery.com to book.
Fall Winery Hours: Fridays 4-9 PM
1585 Avon Street Extended Charlottesville, VA 22902 (434) 264-6727 https://eastwoodfarmandwinery.com/ virginia-wine-collective/
OLD TRAIL GOLF CLUB SANTA SHANKATHON
December 6th
Four Person Captain's Choice featuring 18 holes of FUN formats. How do you feel about putting with a pitching wedge, playing with the opposite hand, or teeing off with a junior driver? These are just some of the challenging formats players may face during the Santa Shankathon. Bring your A game, a festive costume or your best ugly sweater for a chance to win! Scan the QR code or call 434-823-8101 for details.
HOLIDAY EVENTS AT RESTOR ATION
Christmas Eve Dinner
Sunday, December 21st 10am - 2pm
Scan the QR code to view menu & make reservations.
Wednesday, December 24th 4pm-9pm
Celebrate the season with a delicious a la carte menu, including children's menu! Scan the QR code to view details & make reservations. Restoration Crozet | www.oldtrailclub.com/restoration | 434-823-1841
FOR FUN PUZZLES
SUDOKU
#1
#4
PUZZLES FOR FUN
Painful activity in the dark (also represented by the letters above the circles)
39. Ireland, to the Romans
40. Reel Big Fish genre
41. Certain Wall Street trader, slangily
42. Nixon veep Spiro
44. Skating champion Lipinski
48. Smar ten up
50. Morphine and codeine, for two
53. Author McEwan
54. Relaxing soak at the end of the day
55. “Star Wars” fighter
57. Rumors
59. Iowa college town
60. Cell transmitter
61. “La-la” lead-in
62. Go over, in blackjack
63. Edible garden green
64. “Hallow” suffix
DOWN
1. Require
2. Some skin care products
3. Black mark
4. Versifiers
5. Emmys : U.S. :: ___ Australia
6. Like ___ of bricks
7. ___ Aviv (city on the Mediterranean)
8. MDW counterpart in Chicago
9. Japanese por t on Honshu
10. Smooth feature of some boots
11. “Ruh-___, Shaggy!”
12. “That’s right”
14. Caramel-glazed dessert
17. Record for future broadcast
20. “Where the Wild Things Are” author
22. Infomercial psychic Miss ___
23. Bank offerings
24. Difficult journey
25. “Plasm” prefix
28. Aquarium buildup
31. Ankle injur y
32. Sacramento’s NBA team
#5
A CLICK DATE
Snap, sip, swoon.
Calling all singles for a fun, first-date adventure. Each duo starts with a portrait session with a local photographer, capturing those first-date sparks, and then heads to a nearby bar for drinks and conversation. It’s part photo shoot, part cocktail hour—and all about seeing if you…click.
By Rob Brezsny Capricorn
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Orb weaver spiders make seven different types of silk, each engineered for different purposes: sticky silk for catching prey, strong silk for the web’s frame, stretchy silk for wrapping food, and soft silk for egg sacs. In other words, they don’t generate a stream of generic resources and decide later what to do with them. Each type of silk is produced by distinct silk glands and spinnerets, and each is carefully tailored for a particular use. I advise you to be like the orb weavers in the coming weeks, Capricorn. Specificity will be your superpower.
Aquarius
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Benevolent gossip is the practice of speaking about people not to diminish them but to fondly wonder about them and try to understand them. What if gossip could be generous? What if talking about someone in their absence could be an act of compassionate curiosity rather than judgment? What if you spoke about everyone as if they might overhear you— not from fear but from respect? Your words about others could be spells that shape how they exist in the collective imagination. Here’s another beautiful fact about benevolent gossip: It can win you appreciation and attention that will enhance your ability to attract the kind of help and support you need.
Pisces
(Feb. 19-March 20): Every 21,000 years, the Sahara Desert transforms into a lush green savanna. It’s due to precession, which is a wobble in the Earth’s axis. The African seasonal monsoon becomes much stronger, bringing increased rainfall to the entire area. The last time this occurred was from about 11,000 to 5,000 years ago. During this era, the Sahara supported lakes, rivers, grasslands, and diverse animal and human populations. I’m predicting a comparable shift for you in the coming months, Pisces. The onset of luxuriant growth is already underway. And right now is an excellent time to encourage and expedite the onset of flourishing abundance. Formulate the plans and leap into action.
Aries
(March 21-April 19): The Japanese word mushin means “no mind.” In Zen Buddhism, it refers to the state of flow where thinking stops and being takes over. When you are moving along in the groove of mushin, your body knows what to do before your brain catches up. You’re so present you disappear into the action itself. Athletes refer to it as “the zone.” It’s the place where effort becomes effortless, where you stop trying and simply love the doing. In the coming weeks, Aries, you can enjoy this state more than you have in a long time. Ride it with glee!
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN
(Nov. 22-Dec.21): Some seeds can remain dormant for centuries, waiting for the right conditions to germinate. The oldest successfully germinated seed was a 2,000-year-old date palm seed. I suspect you will experience psychospiritual and metaphorical versions of this marvel in the coming weeks. Certain aspects of you have long been dormant but are about to sprout. Some of your potentials have been waiting for conditions that you haven’t encountered until recently. Is there anything you can do to encourage these wondrous developments? Be alert for subtle magic that needs just a little nudge.
Taurus
(April 20-May 20): For the foreseeable future, salmon are your spirit creatures. I’ll remind you about their life cycle. They are born in freshwater, migrate to the ocean, and live there for years. Then they return, moving against river currents, up waterfalls, past bears and eagles. Eventually, they arrive at the exact stream where they were born. How do they do it? They navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field and their sense of smell, remembering chemical signatures from years ago. I think your own calling is as vivid as theirs, dear Taurus. And in the coming weeks, you will be extra attuned to that primal signal. Trust the ancient pull back toward your soul’s home.
Gemini
(May 21-June 20): What if procrastination isn’t always a problem? On some occasions, maybe it’s a message from your deeper self. Delay could serve as a form of protection. Avoidance might be a sign of your deep wisdom at work. Consider these possibilities, Gemini. What if your resistance to the “should” is actually your soul’s immune system rejecting a foreign agenda? It might be trying to tell you secrets about what you truly want versus what you think you should want.
Cancer
(June 21-July 22): I’m only slightly joking when I recommend that you practice the art of sacred bitching in the coming days. You are hereby authorized to complain and criticize with creative zeal. But the goal is not to push hard in a quest to solve problems perfectly. Instead, simply give yourself the luxury of processing and metabolizing the complica-
tions. Your venting and whining won’t be pathological, but a legitimate way to achieve emotional release. Sometimes, like now, you need acknowledgment more than solutions. Allowing feelings is more crucial than fixing things. The best course of action is saying “this is hard” until it’s slightly less hard.
Leo
(July 23-Aug. 22): The Chinese concept of yuanfen means that some connections are fated. Certain people were always meant to cross your path. Not soulmates necessarily, but soul-evokers: those who bring transformations that were inscribed on your destiny before you knew they were coming. When you meet a new person and feel instant recognition, that’s yuanfen. When a relationship changes your life, that’s yuanfen. When timing aligns impossibly but wonderfully, that’s yuanfen. According to my analysis, you Leos are due for such phenomena in the coming weeks—at least two, maybe more. Some opportunities appear because you pursue them. Others were always going to arrive simply because you opened your mind and heart.
Virgo
(Aug. 22 to Sept. 22): Let’s talk about a forest’s roots. Mostly hidden from sight, they are the source of all visible life. They are always communicating with each other, sharing nourishment and information. When extra help is needed, they call on fungi networks to support them, distributing their outreach even further. Your own lineage works similarly, Virgo. It’s nutrient-rich and endlessly intertwined with others, some of whom came long before you. You are the flowering tip of an unseen intelligence. Every act of ground-
ing—breathing deeply, resting your feet, returning to gratitude—is your body’s way of remembering its subterranean ancestry. Please keep these meditations at the forefront of your awareness in the coming weeks. I believe you will thrive to the degree that you draw from your extensive roots.
Libra
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are currently in a phase when it’s highly possible to become both smarter and wiser. You have a sixth sense for knowing exactly how to enhance both your intellectual and emotional intelligence. With this happy news in mind, I will remind you that your brain is constantly growing and changing. Every experience carves new neural pathways. Every repeated thought strengthens certain connections and weakens others. You’re not stuck with the brain you have, but are continuously building the brain that’s evolving. The architecture of your consciousness is always under construction. Take full advantage of this resilience and plasticity!
Scorpio
(Oct. 21-Nov.21): The coming weeks will be a favorable time to stand near what you want to become. I advise you to surround yourself with the energy you want to embody. Position yourself in the organic ecosystem of your aspirations without grasping or forcing. Your secret power is not imitation but osmosis. Not ambition but proximity. The transformations you desire will happen sideways, through exposure and absorption. You won’t become by trying to become; you will become by staying close to what calls you.
Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888
VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY
KEVIN J. FLETCHER, and SHEILA M. FLETCHER
Plaintiffs,
Case No. CL 25-242 v.
CORNELIUS G. SHAVER, et al.
Defendants.
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
The object of this suit is to quiet title, by adverse possession or by partition, among persons who have or may have a fractional interest in a certain tract or parcel of land described as follows: real property located in Albemarle County, Virginia, containing approximately 225 acres, identified as Tax Map parcel #02500-00-00-00200, described in the tax records as all that certain tract or parcel of land situated in the White Hall Magisterial District, comprising the top and both sides of the south portion of the Pasture Fence Mountain, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains; further described as follows in a 1919 Deed in Albemarle County DB 172 Pg. 481- 482:
Beginning at a chestnut at draw-hars in Wm. T. Brown’s Line 142 1/2 poles to white walnut and ash near a spring thence N. 48 W. 20 poles to a walnut, thence N. 82 W. 25 poles to a locust, thence S. 7 E. 17 poles to chestnut sprout corner with T.J. Maupin land S. 120 poles to chestnut pointers thence E. 70 poles to white oak thence S. 30 poles to two ash trees thence E. 140 poles to bunch of ash trees on a cliff thence S. 65 E. 46 poles to a red oak thence N. 20 E. 98 1/2 poles to a chestnut oak thence N. 95 W.h 97 1/2 poles to the BEGINNING continuing two hundred and twenty five (225) acres more or less [the “Property”].
It appearing from the Complaint and by the affidavit filed according to law that there may be persons interested in the Property, to-wit the successors in interest, surviving spouses, heirs at law, devises and/or assigns, and the lien creditors of said parties, if any there be, of Cornelius G. Shaver, Clara N. Sites, and George W. Miller, believed deceased, who are made Parties Unknown, and Plaintiff has used due diligence to ascertain and serve all of the putative owners who are Virginia residents, and also there may be nonresidents and other Parties Unknown who may claim an interest in the Property, it is therefore,
ORDERED that all interested parties, including the Parties Unknown, appear before this Court on or before December 2, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. and take such action as they deem appropriate to protect any interest they may have in the above-described Property.
ENTERED: Cheryl V. Higgins
DATE: 10.17.2025
I ASK FOR THIS: Ralph E. Main, Jr., VSB#13320
Counsel for Plaintiffs Kevin J. Fletcher and Sheila M. Fletcher
Charlottesville community members gathered on the Downtown Mall November 20 for a Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil and march, honoring transgender lives lost to violence and protesting UVA Health’s limits on gender-affirming care for young people. The event, co-organized by the Queer Liberation Front and Indivisible Charlottesville, coincided with the 13th anniversary of the disappearance of Dashad “Sage” Smith. Earlier that day, Charlottesville police announced they had located a person of interest in the long-running case.
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