City school board election: Hear from the candidates P.9
Crozet group pushes for Comprehensive Plan revision P.15
Karen Hao and the stakes behind OpenAI’s free chat P.33
Bear with us How volunteers are helping Virginians live peacefully with their wild (and hungry) neighbors
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USA in 2008 to offer a better, more affordable service to disrupt and challenge what I personally experienced to be an outdated and flawed approach to Realtor compensation at the expense of sellers and buyers.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.
Hello, Charlottesville.
Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.
10.15.25
One of my favorite genres of viral videos—second only to those in which people surprise their loved ones with an unexpected reunion—is animals doing things they shouldn’t. I saw one a couple of weeks ago in which a family watches as a gigantic bear wanders into their cabin and sniffs his way around the kitchen.
I played it twice. Once to laugh (because no one gets hurt, thankfully), and again because it felt like a metaphor for something larger—how close our worlds really are, and how surprised we still seem to be when they collide.
In this week’s cover story (p.20), Carol Diggs introduces us to the volunteers teaching Virginians how to coexist with our black bear neighbors. Through the Living With Black Bears program, the Rivanna Master Naturalists remind us that most conflicts with wildlife can be prevented with a few small changes—bringing in the bird feeder, securing the trash, creating a little noise on the trail.
It’s practical advice, yes, but it’s also an act of empathy. Learning to live alongside bears isn’t so different from learning to live alongside one another. It requires awareness, respect, and a willingness to adjust. Sharing space means remembering we’re not the only ones who call it home.
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
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
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
Lavonne Fitts
Kevin Foley
Barbara Fornoff
Joan Forrest
Georgia Garrett
Gerald Giammatteo
David and Janna Gies
Stephanie Goodwin
Trice Gravatte
Andrew Greeley
Jennifer Grover
Cara Hall
Kendra Hall
Jeremy Harris-
McDonnell
Wiliam Harvey
Madeleine Hawks
Ann Marie Haynes
Mary Haynes
Elain Heffelfinger
Chris Hellings
Stephen Herrick
John Heyser
Ezra Hitzeman
JoAnn Hofheimer
Lisa Hogan
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
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
Joe Peacock
Elizabeth Perdue
Joann Peters
James Peterson
Damon Pettitt
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
James Seitz
Elaine Shaw
Chuck Shelton
Paul Shettel
John Smith
Kristina 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
Jay Wildermann
Marcia Wilds
Andrew Wolf
Natalie Yancey
Suzanne Yeaman
Nura Yingling
Kelly Zalewski
Kathleen Zenker
Carol Diggs “retired” to Charlottesville in 2016 after a career in public relations while freelancing off and on. Now also working part-time as a tour guide at Montpelier, Carol writes about whatever and whomever sounds interesting, from Swannanoa and bobcats to death doulas and Colby’s Crew. Read her work on page 20
Sean Tubbs moved to Charlottesville in 2002, and has sought to understand why development occurs the way it does. Since 2005, he’s helped innovate information gathering to try to help people know they belong and how they can have their say. Read his work on pages 13 and 15.
Use code “friends” for discount on tickets
UVA MUSIC EVENTS
Date/Time/Place Event
Thursday 10/16, 10am & 11am Old Cabell Hall
Friday 10/17 6:30pm Carr’s Hill Field
Friday 10/24, 1pm
Old Cabell Hall
Saturday 11/1, 1pm Fralin Museum
Sunday 11/2, 1pm Rotunda Dome Room
Sunday 11/2, 3:30pm Old Cabell Hall
Friday 11/7, 6:30pm Carr’s Hill Field
Friday, 11/7, 8pm WTJU "Offbeat Roadhouse"
Friday, 11/7, 8pm Old Cabell Hall
* denotes free events
Symphony Youth Concerts * for local 4 and 5 grade classes thth Advance reservations required
Cavalier Marching Band * Open Rehearsal: Hoos take Flight Gaelynn Lea's Colloquium *
JJJJJerome Ellis: * Sonic Bathhouse #2
Flute Ensemble * Directed by Kelly Sulick
UVACMS: Jiyeon Choi, Clarinet with Shelby Sender, piano
Cavalier Marching Band * Open Rehearsal: Heroes Appreciation
Warren Wolf & Sharel Cassity Featuring UVA Jazz Combo Students
Choral Showcase: U Singers, Chamber Singers, Glee Club & Women’s Chorus
All artists, programs and venues are subject to change.
music.virginia.edu/events Subscribe to our music email
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2025 AT PANORAMA FARMS
This 2 mile race is run each year to celebrate the life of Kelly Watt, who died in 2005 at the age of 18, from complications resulting from environmental heat stroke, 3 1/2 days following the completion of an 8 mile training run on Ridge Road in Western Albemarle County, Virginia.
This race is free for any runners who are in high school or younger. There will be race day signup. Price for race day signup will be $25 for runners older than 12 years old. It will still be free for high school and below. There is also a children’s 1/2 mile run!
CULTURE
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Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com
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CM Turner arts@c-ville.com
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CONTRIBUTORS
Nathan Alderman, Rob Brezsny, Dave Cantor, Matt Dhillon, Carol Diggs, Shea Gibbs, Mary Jane Gore, Maeve Hayden, Andrew Hollins, Erika Howsare, Matt Jones, Sarah Lawson, Lisa Provence, Sarah Sargent, Kristie Smeltzer, Jen Sorensen, Julia Stumbaugh, Jake Solyst, Paul Ting, Eric Williamson
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26 Old Crow Medicine Show Circle The Wagons Tour with special guest Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
Government Mule
The Back in the Saddle Tour with Andy Frasco & The U.N. WITH ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N.
NOVEMBER 2-ON SALE NOW VILLAGES WRITERS’ ROUND TICKETS ON SALE
JUST ANNOUNCED!
WITH LOOSE CHAMPAGNE
10-18| SHADOWGRASS
10-23| “SOUTH OF HEAVEN” EKKTOPLASM, LCTR, & HEEMEYER
10-24 & 25| MOCK STARS 2025! TO BENEFIT SHELTER FOR HELP IN EMERGENCY IN HONOR OF WHITNEY FRENCH
10-28| HIGH FADE WITH THE RIES BROTHERS 10-29| WEST 22ND
10-30| ISAAC HADDEN & NATALIE BROOK
10-31| MASS SABBATH “THE ‘WORLD’S’ LARGEST BLACK SABBATH TRIBUTE”
11-01| DAY OF THE DEAD ALL STARS WITH XOAP
11-06| CAITLIN KRISKO & THE BROADCAST / DEAU EYES
11-07| LORA KELLEY ALBUM RELEASE PARTY
11-09| TWEN WITH MONSOON 11-11| WILL ANDERSON (PARACHUTE)ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE & POETRY READING
11-13| LØLØ WITH ALEX PORAT
11-15| LEIF VOLLEBEKK WITH HUNTER METTS
11-16| WILL OVERMAN WITH HOLY ROLLER 11-18| THE BENDS WITH HASH THE BAND
OCT 22-26
October 21, 6:30-8 PM ET, Old Cabell Hall, UVA st
An Evening with Karen Hao
New York Times Bestselling Author of Empire of AI
With introductory remarks by Dean Christa Acampora and followed by a conversation with Digital Technology for Democracy Lab faculty co-lead Mona Sloane and incoming College faculty member Seth Lewis
Free tickets
FILM: DIVIA
This is the second article in C-VILLE’s 2025 election series, covering local and statewide races in the lead-up to Election Day, November 4. For candidate responses to additional questions, visit c-ville.com.
Academic overview
Charlottesville School Board candidates on SROs, funding cuts, wellness, and more
BY CATIE RATLIFF
Between the school board and City Council, Charlottesville residents will elect at least two new representatives this November. With council pretty much a foregone conclusion (Mayor Juandiego Wade and newcomer Jen Fleisher secured the Democratic nominations in June), all eyes are on the school board race. Four candidates are vying for the three seats up for grabs in November: Zyahna Bryant, Dashad Cooper, Emily Dooley, and Lisa Larson-Torres.
Incumbents Dooley and Larson-Torres hope to retain their jobs, while Bryant and Cooper want to bring new perspectives to the board.
C-VILLE: How will you approach improving academic performance and closing the achievement gap if (re)elected to the school board?
Zyahna Bryant: Closing the achievement gap begins with building a strong academic foundation for all students. This starts with prioritizing literacy and ensuring that reading specialists and interventionists have the
resources they need to effectively support students who require additional help.
Another important element is strengthening partnerships with families and community-based organizations that are committed to fostering the village that is essential for a thriving learning environment and school community.
Dashad Cooper: Improving academic performance and closing the achievement gap starts with one of my top priorities: boosting reading levels and developing skilled, passionate readers. If a student can read well and actually enjoy reading, they can learn anything.
For our older students who aren’t on reading level, we should be providing tutoring and mentorship programs to help them catch up and gain confidence before stepping out into the real world. I also believe in supporting our teachers with the tools and training they need to use proven reading strategies, and giving families resources to keep learning going at home.
Emily Dooley: Closing achievement gaps requires targeted support. We [the board] have
worked hard to secure permanent funding for additional [English Language Learner] teachers, interventionists, and social-emotional learning specialists. … We also know how critical early learning is. That’s why I support maintaining small class sizes in the youngest grades and expanding early literacy and numeracy programs and expanding access to high-quality early childhood education.
Not every student learns best in a traditional classroom setting. That’s why we’ve invested in alternative programming for middle and high school students. … We also secured full ownership of CATEC, giving us more opportunities to expand career and technical education so students leave high school prepared for college, career, or both.
Lisa Larson-Torres: I will continue to advocate for continued support/resources to allow for targeted interventions to address those gaps and anything else we, within our school day, can do to provide for our students. The “gap” is more than a test score and there are bigger systemic inequities that fold into how a student shows up for school.
Albemarle County recently reintroduced SROs to high schools. What is your stance on school resource officers? How will you approach school safety at CCS if elected?
ZB: I believe that the vote to bring back SROs was rushed and I do not believe that the district has been very transparent with how they landed on that decision. With so many competing needs in the schools and in the community more broadly, I do not see the justification for the fiscal investment that has been proposed. However, I want to be clear that safety is a priority for me. If SROs are reintroduced as planned, I do hope to continue engaging with the community to make sure that the model works for all. I also want to keep a close eye on how the [memorandum of understanding] is implemented and evaluated because if it is not handled with care and close attention to detail, there could be consequences that are counterproductive for the division.
DC: If elected, I will ensure SROs receive specialized training in youth development, trauma-informed practices, and restorative justice CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
NEWS POLITICS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
investments in social/emotional supports, restorative justice investments and family engagement.
so they can build positive relationships with students. Mental health and proactive support remain the priority: socio-emotional counselors are the first point of contact, care and safety assistants are the second, and SROs are the last to be called. This hierarchy ensures that safety interventions are supportive and restorative first, enforcement last.
I will also continue to expand access to mental health services like Care Solace and socio-emotional counselors, addressing the root causes of behavioral issues. Community engagement is key and I will maintain open dialogue with students, families, and staff to monitor and adjust the program as needed.
ED: Our schools need to be places where students feel both physically protected and emotionally supported. I supported Charlottesville’s decision to reintroduce SROs, with clear parameters and accountability measures. Done right, this program can strengthen relationships and response capacity without compromising our commitment to equity and student well-being. It’s essential that SROs complement—not replace—the mental health professionals, care and safety assistants, and restorative practices already in place in our schools.
I’ll continue to prioritize safeguards: specialized training in adolescent development, de-escalation, and bias awareness; clear limits on SRO roles; transparent reporting; and regular evaluation.
: I was a “no” vote for the return of SROs this last spring for many reasons. We have several layers of improved and completed safety measures throughout the school division and we have a safety model that I believe warrants more time and investment before we add another layer (SRO) into the mix. … My approach has been to ask for ongoing
How will you approach federal pressure and potential funding cuts if elected to the board?
ZB: It is important that the board remains strategic in their budgeting decisions, and that those decisions align with the division’s stated goals and commitment to equity. We must remain committed in thought and with our dollars to the programs that have been shaped by the growing needs of our most vulnerable and marginalized populations.
At the same time, there has been deferred maintenance, for example, that has persisted for far too long. Keeping the state of our school buildings in their best condition must be a priority.
Conversations about and advocacy for funding our schools must extend beyond the local level; we must work to have our perspectives heard on the state level as well. In this moment, cultivating close relationships with community partners, organizations and advocates will be necessary as we truly are stronger when we all work together.
DC: I’ll approach federal pressure and potential funding cuts with a clear focus on protecting our students and maximizing the resources we have. We can’t control every decision at the federal level, but we can make sure every dollar we have is used effectively supporting teachers, literacy programs, tutoring, and mentorship for students who need it most.
I’ll also work closely with the state to advocate for our schools. If Abigail Spanberger is elected, her education plan could help counter many of the federal cuts, and we’ll be ready to leverage that to protect programs
Zyahna Bryant Dashad Cooper
and opportunities for our students. Locally, I’ll make sure CCS has a strong voice in communicating our needs, exploring innovative solutions, and building partnerships with families and the community.
ED: Charlottesville students deserve stable funding and schools free from political interference. My role is to keep politics out of classrooms and focus on what matters—students. We must ensure that our budget planning is proactive by maintaining strong financial reserves, identifying areas where we can be flexible, and protecting funding for core instructional and student support services above all else.
Additionally, we should strengthen our partnerships—with local government, the University of Virginia, and community organizations—to help offset potential shortfalls and expand shared services. I will continue
working with City Council on long-term financial planning to sustain key positions. At the same time, we must advocate with state legislators to modernize Virginia’s outdated funding formula and expand local revenue options so our community can directly invest in schools. We must make clear that every dollar cut from education has a direct impact on children. By staying focused on students rather than politics, we can navigate fiscal challenges responsibly and keep our priorities—teaching, learning, and wellness— at the center of every decision.
LL-T: I continue to ask the [CCS] superintendent and his team to stay on top of any programs/grants/titled monies that may impact our schools directly and we are planning accordingly—meaning we will do anything we can to avoid cutting programs that support our students.
Why should you be (re)elected?
ZB: I am a proud CCS alumna. I grew up in this community and I have a demonstrated commitment to educational equity. During my time at CHS I served as a student school board rep as a 12th grader. As a first-year at UVA, I was appointed by Virginia Gov. Ralph S. Northam as a member of the inaugural Virginia African American Advisory Board, where I co-chaired the education subcommittee.
As the youngest candidate in this race, I offer a fresh perspective that remains closely connected to the experiences and challenges that our students face. Having graduated from Charlottesville High School in 2019, I understand firsthand what it means to navigate our school system and can bring insight into developing policies and solutions that are informed by that student experience.
DC: I bring both lived experience and a clear vision for our schools. Growing up, I faced uncertainty, sometimes not knowing if the lights would be on or moving between homes just to get by. … With mentors and community support, I was able to stay on track. That experience drives me to make sure every child has the support and opportunities they need to succeed.
I understand the challenges our students face, and I have the dedication, experience, and practical vision to close the achievement gap and help every child in CCS reach their full potential.
ED: I’m running for re-election because I believe in the power of strong public schools to shape a stronger community. Over the past four years, I’ve helped lead CCS through major transitions—modernizing facilities, reconfiguring transitions for our middle grades, strengthening mental health supports, and improving teacher pay. I’m proud of that progress, but there is more work ahead.
As both an educator and a parent, I understand the challenges facing our classrooms and the importance of thoughtful, steady leadership. I listen carefully, ask questions, and make decisions grounded in what’s best for students—not politics. Charlottesville deserves a school board that stays focused on students, listens to the community, and delivers results.
LL-T: My experience and voice have great value to this school board, school division and community. I have been involved in many wins and accomplishments for CCS throughout my tenure and continue to advocate at the local, state and federal level for our schools. Literacy, funding for ongoing CCS infrastructure needs, and seeing our own state-of-the-art pre-K center completed remain priorities for me moving forward.
Candidate responses have been edited for length and clarity. The deadline to register to vote is October 24. C
Emily Dooley
Lisa Larson-Torres
Room for thought
Experts and advocates discuss gun violence in Charlottesville
Violence prevention advocates from across the East Coast met at CitySpace October 10 to discuss how to effectively address the root causes of gun violence in Charlottesville.
Hosted by the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, the panel was run in partnership with the Public Engagement in Governance Looking, Listening, and Learning Laboratory.
City Manager Sam Sanders thanked everyone for their attendance, noting the value of hearing from those within and from outside of Charlottesville about their experiences with gun violence. “I appreciate the opportunity for us to learn from peers who have been dealing with the problems we’ve been dealing with well—working on the solutions—because that’s really where the real work is done,” he said.
“When we expand who’s at the table, we can start to redefine what public safety really means,” said Kendyl Pugh, a UVA student and research assistant at the PEGLLL Lab. “It’s about opportunity, care, and connection. It’s about building systems that help communities heal and thrive.”
Per the Charlottesville Police Department’s 2024 annual report, gun-related crimes dropped 40 percent in the city over the three previous years. While Sanders and other attendees noted the progress in Charlottesville and cities across the country, they emphasized the importance of continually prioritizing community safety.
As Nicholas Sensley, founder of the Institute for American Police Reform put it, “gun violence is not inevitable.” Catie Ratliff
Pay dirt
AstraZeneca to invest in pharmaceutical factory at Albemarle’s Rivanna Futures BY SEAN TUBBS
Two and a half years after Albemarle County purchased 462 acres around the Rivanna Station military base, British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca announced it will invest $4.5 billion to locate a major operation there.
“This is a transformative moment for Albemarle County,” said Jim Andrews, Board of Supervisors chair, at the October 9 announcement. “Let’s all celebrate this win for Albemarle County.”
“There are going to be 600 spectacular jobs,” said Gov. Glenn Youngkin, one of many luminaries on hand for the event held on the county-owned land.
AstraZeneca announced in July that it would invest $50 billion in North America for a series of factories including a “multibillion dollar drug substance manufacturing centre focused on chronic diseases.”
“We are standing here today making turning that vision into reality,” said Pam Cheng, AstraZeneca’s executive vice president, global operations, IT and chief sustainability officer.
The investment will take the form of two separate facilities. One will focus on chronic diseases and the other will be for what a press release describes as “antibody-drug conjugates focused on therapies for oncology indications.”
Cheng said the goal is to open the facility by 2029. That is around the same time that officials at the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology hope to begin clinical trials for new medications that come from new research. The first director of the institute, Mark Esser, is a former vice president at AstraZeneca.
“This new facility is going to create a lot of important chemicals,” said Mehmet Oz, the 17th administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, otherwise known as television personality Dr. Oz.
The move is a big step toward satisfying the second goal of Albemarle County’s newly adopted Economic Development Strategic Plan, which is to “grow into the MidAtlantic’s premier destination for biotechnology and life sciences innovation.”
The new factory also fits in with the Central Virginia Innovation Corridor Strategic Roadmap, a document created by GO Region 9 to position the area for investment.
Youngkin said the two factories will be AstraZeneca’s largest in the world.
“This company stands for so much more than a manufacturing facility,” the governor said. “They find life-changing medicine.”
Youngkin said this investment will be part of the creation of a pharmaceutical district that will stretch from Rockingham County to Goochland County, with other investments planned by both AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly.
Albemarle has been working to get the site recognized by the Virginia Partnership for Economic Development as having Tier 4 status, meaning that all infrastructure for the site would be ready within a year. Earlier this year, Albemarle County was awarded $9.7 million toward the effort.
IN BRIEF
All the news you missed last week (in one sentence or less)
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported the announcement in late August in an article about the approval of three incentive packages by a state commission but exact locations were not confirmed at the time.
AstraZeneca is eligible to receive up to $191.3 million from the Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission based on the investment.
Near the end of the ceremony, Youngkin presented Virginia’s flag to Pascal Soriot, the executive director and chief executive officer of AstraZeneca.
“I came to this place and immediately fell in love with this site,” Soriot said. “There is enough space for expansion so we can continue building here.”
Chief Strategy Officer Jason Lineen named as interim chief of UVA Health Children’s. Construction closes eastbound Charlottesville Area Transit stop at Monticello Avenue and Sixth Street SE on Route 1 for foreseeable future. Chesterfield man arrested in Azalea Park for online child exploitation. Four people injured in Louisa County assault. Body of third-year University of Virginia student Gunnar Kennedy found in Slovenian ravine. Former Albemarle County registrar and elections director Lauren Eddy indicted on two counts of embezzlement and one count of forgery. UVA announces Scott Stadium concert featuring Luke Combs, Dierks Bentley, and Ty Myers. Paramount Theater launches Kids Club, with free entry and popcorn for children 12 and under. Old Ivy Road bridge reopens after repairs.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin was among those who attended the announcement that Astra Zeneca will invest $4.5 billion to locate a major operation in the area.
REAL ESTATE NEWS
Revise more
Crozet advisory group seeks further revision of Albemarle Comprehensive Plan before adoption BY SEAN TUBBS
The Albemarle Board of Supervisors is scheduled to adopt a new Comprehensive Plan on October 15 after a public hearing, but at least one county advisory board has urged revisions to be made first.
On October 8, the Crozet Community Advisory Committee adopted a resolution critical of language in the AC44 document that points the way to how Albemarle’s designated growth area might one day be expanded.
“The AC44 Growth Management Policy, as currently drafted, fails to sufficiently address Crozet’s future growth and development needs,” reads the resolution’s conclusion.
Since 1979, comprehensive plans in Albemarle have divided the county’s 726 square miles into growth and rural areas with development generally discouraged in the latter. The current AC44 document suggests no boundary adjustments at this time.
The unincorporated community of Crozet is one of the designated growth areas and the community advisory committee exist to serve as a clearinghouse for information. They do not have any binding authority; resolutions are symbolic.
Nevertheless, the resolution argues that language about growth area adjustments is confusing and could lead to premature expansion. Page 12 of the draft includes criteria for how land could be removed from the development area as well as guidelines for how it might be added in the future.
“The policy’s failure to define how these two sets of criteria work together risks making removal indistinguishable from expansion, contrary to our stated intent of limiting growth to existing boundaries,” the resolution continues.
The CCAC is asking the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors to consider several changes to the new criteria, including fully investing in infrastructure within existing development areas before making new ones.
However, the Planning Commission already recommended adoption after a public hearing on September 30. The Board of Supervisors held a further work session on October 1 at which one supervisor echoed many of the concerns reflected in the CCAC’s resolution.
“That is a topic which I’m hearing a lot of concern about because of its lack of detail and understanding,” said Supervisor
Crozet is a designated growth area, and its community advisory committees are a clearinghouse for information with no binding authority.
Ann Mallek of the White Hall District, which covers Crozet. She’s also a nonvoting member of the CCAC.
Michael Monaco, chair of the CCAC, says the intent of the resolution is not to clarify the language and not stop the update.
“I don’t believe there’s a strong desire to delay the adoption of AC44 entirely, but rather to see our feedback incorporated into the Growth Management Policy either through revisions to the current draft or future revisions following approval,” Monaco wrote in an email.
Monaco says he sent a copy of the resolution to the four active community advisory committees but had not heard back as of October 13.
Bill McLaughlin, the chair of the Places29-North CAC had not seen the resolution but hopes the county can follow language in the plan that requires a new review in five years.
“When the AC444 project started, data centers were not even considered, and today the issue is front and center,” McLaughlin said.
The last Comprehensive Plan update was on June 10, 2015.
The Village of Rivanna Community Advisory Committee has not met since the spring of 2022, after the members at the time quit to protest a lack of activity to update their master plan.
Annie Gould Gallery
A unique art gallery located in the heart of historic Gordonsville.
760 BELVEDERE BLVD
1246 GAZEBO CT
counter space. The oversized bedroom easily fits a king-sized bed and still provides room for a sitting area or home office. Two large walk-in closets offer great flexibility. The attached bathroom includes a low-threshold shower for easier access and a stacked washer/dryer. Step
N WASHINGTON STREET
A unique find in the convenient, popular Newtown neighborhood. The best of everything was done during the renovation of this home. Top quality craftsmanship shows in the fine detail throughout. Top of the line appliances. Thoughtful attention to details in the design and finishes to maintain the charm and character.
$625,000
RAVENS PLACE
Wonderful floor plan. Great, nearly flat yard. Many updates and improvements include: 2025 new roof, refrigerator, dishwasher, range, microwave (all stainless steel) 2020 shed remodeled, new front door and shutters. Primary suite remodeled with walk in shower. $495,000
RETRIEVER RUN
Top Quality, custom home in Ivy, set on 5 acres w/ mountain views. Extended living space w/ swimming pool and full size tennis/sport court. Covered terrace pavilions overlook the expansive lawn. Bright, expansive interior spaces.Vaulted great room opens to the gourmet kitchen and breakfast room. 2 primary suites on the 1st floor.The upper floors feature 3 additional suites and a billiard room.Terrace level features a family room w/bar, movie room, craft/ hobby room, home office and a full bath. Mechanical room houses a Geothermal system w/ room for storage. Home also includes a central vacuum system, irrigation system and an invisible fence. $2,475,000
LOCUST AVENUE
Charming 1929 classic brick home located in north downtown. Tastefully renovated and updated. 9’ ceilings, built-in bookcases, beautiful woodwork, trim and crown moldings. Sun filled spaces throughout. Professionally landscaped yard w/ mature plantings. Off-street parking. Quick access to UVa and Downtown. Recent upgrades include: new roof 2022, replacement windows, renovated bathrooms and new shutters. $799,000
HIGHLANDER WAY
Beautiful mountain views to the east! Architecturally designed and custom-built to take advantage of the views. This light-filled 3/4 bedroom cottage is set on a private 5 acre lot in Emerald Ridge. The bright great-room extends the length of the house. The covered front porch is extended living space as well. First floor primary suite, features an outdoor shower and a walk-in closet. Full, unfinished, walkout terrace level, with roughed-in bath. $725,000
ELDERBERRY PLACE
Stunning home inside and out, set on 1.5 acres. Dramatic great room opens to the kitchen & breakfast room, which leads to a large deck overlooking a beautiful lower terrace. First floor primary suite features a huge walk-in closet, separate vanities & a private side deck. Second floor has an open family room that overlooks the great room and leads to 3 bedrooms.Terrace level includes a kitchenette, family room w/fireplace, full bath and exercise room. Large 3 car garage. Fantastic neighborhood w/ pool, tennis courts, walking paths and pond. $1,250,000
THIS PAGE COSTS
And each week, we print 500,000 of them. Every page, every story, every voice costs only pennies—but losing them would cost our community much more.
$2,950,000
along?
Volunteers educate residents about their bear neighbors
“Everybody around here has a black bear story,” says Beth Kuhn. And Kuhn has likely heard them all. As outreach coordinator for the Rivanna Master Naturalists, the local chapter of the state’s master naturalist program, Kuhn helps deploy a cadre of volunteers to teach Living With Black Bears. Because in Virginia, black bears are our neighbors—and we need to know how to co-exist with them.
The impetus for the Living With Black Bears program started with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Over the last decade, DWR saw an increase in calls to its Wildlife Conflict hotline from people reporting concerns about black bears—more than its 16 wildlife biologists, who cover the entire state, could handle. These calls weren’t about bear attacks; they were from people who saw bears in their area, or in their yard, or (worse) on their back porch.
Courtney Hallacher, DWR’s statewide wildlife education coordinator, is also the state coordinator for Project WILD, a national program designed to train people interested in wildlife and conservation to be community educators. In 2022, Hallacher and the master naturalists developed
BY CAROL DIGGS
the Living With Black Bears presentation to educate people about their ursine neighbors.
“We want to give people ways to minimize human-bear conflict,” Hallacher explains. “Most of our bear interaction calls can be managed with preventive measures.”
Black bears were once plentiful in Virginia, but hunting and habitat loss severely reduced their numbers. By 1900, the only groups remaining were in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Dismal Swamp. And, because those two areas were isolated, inbreeding and population crash was a real threat.
When DWR was established and set hunting regulations in 1916, it outlawed bear hunting to help the population recover. Other factors helped too: more public lands and state parks increased open space for bears to live and move around freely, and reforestation and oak tree maturation expanded habitat and food sources. There are now black bears everywhere in the state except the Northern Neck and Eastern Shore, and the first bear hunting season opened in 1930.
More bears is good news, but it means they are more likely to run into humans. And while children happily cuddle with Teddy, Pooh, and Paddington, most adults are terrified at the thought of meeting an actual bear.
The first step in lowering fear of bears is knowing that black bears, unlike grizzly and polar bears, are not as much predators as they are foragers. The black bear’s diet is 75 percent vegetarian—plants, berries, roots, acorns and other nuts; its meat intake is largely insects, small rodents, the occasional rabbit or fawn, and perhaps a little roadkill. (In fact, black bears eat bee hives not so much for the honey as for the proteinand fat-rich bee larvae inside.)
Above all, a black bear is seeking to pack on the pounds. A bear might eat a bunny or fawn if it happens upon one, but you won’t
What we accept:
• Unwanted prescriptions or over-the-counter medications
• Household medical sharps in puncture proof containers
To be accepted, household medical sharps must be in a puncture-proof container, such as a laundry detergent bottle or red sharps container.
For information on our permanent drug drop off box, please call the Outpatient Pharmacy at 434-654-3350
For more information, contact Diana Webb at smjh_community@sentara.com
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This is a free, drive-thru event.
Drop-off locations
Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital
500 Martha Jefferson Drive, Charlottesville
Phillips Cancer Center Entrance
Sentara Crozet
Family Medicine
1646 Park Ridge Drive, Crozet
Sentara Forest Lakes
Family Medicine
3263 Proffit Rd, Ste 201, Charlottesville
see a bear stalking or chasing prey—that uses up too many calories. “Black bears are after the easiest food, which is not us,” says Hallacher. “Humans are not food, they are around food.”
Getting hefty is important for bears in two seasons: fall, when they need to build fat reserves for the winter denning season, and spring, when they emerge skinny and hungry. Females birth and nurse their cubs while denning, so you can imagine how hungry they are when they come out.
“Black bears need to take in 20,000 calories per day as they prepare for winter denning,” Hallacher explains. “They are super curious, and super opportunistic.” In their search for calories, black bears—whose sense of smell is 100 times better than a dog’s—may find their way into our backyards. Bird feeders full of energy-rich nuts and seeds; highprotein, high-calorie pet food left outside; trash cans full of tossed-out human food; trees full of ripe fruit; meat-smelling outdoor grills—these are powerful attractants.
Black bears are also intelligent. They remember their food sources, and de -
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES (ABOVE),
Courtney Hallacher, the DWR’s wildlife education coordinator, says black bears “need to take in 20,000 calories per day as they prepare for winter denning.”
velop a feeding routine in their territory. And if that includes your bird feeder, or a neighborhood’s trash cans, they will incorporate those places into their route. The result is a bear that’s habituated to being around humans.
“Black bears will naturally avoid humans,” says Hallacher. “They are skilled at moving through forests and shrubs, so they may be around and you don’t see them.” But if your house is on their food source list…
DWR’s materials offer several solutions to discourage a habituated bear. The first step is to remove the attractant: Take down your bird feeder, bring your pet food inside, keep your trash in a closed garage or use a bear-proof garbage can. If that’s not enough, the next step is an electric fence set up to interrupt the bear’s access. Then comes harassment—bright lights, loud noises, even a little buckshot in the bear’s padded rear. DWR stresses that these measures have to be applied consistently and over several weeks—because if they don’t discourage the bear, the final step is euthanasia.
“Lots of people think we can tranquilize a bear and relocate it,” says Hallacher.
tion, and she and RMN member Janelle Catlett held a session at DuCard Vineyards in 2024 as part of its event series. Catlett and Kuhn have also done several tabling events (where RMN volunteers staff tables to provide information on a variety of wildlife topics, including black bears) at gatherings from the Albemarle County Fair to the Apple Harvest Festival at Albemarle CiderWorks.
RMN volunteer Jack Day did the black bear educator training after “I learned the hard way—I was living in Lake Monticello, and bears took down my bird feeders.” Day was active on the neighborhood’s wildlife education committee, so he proposed giving the Living With Black Bears presentation for the community. “We probably had three or four dozen people come,” he recalls, “so it went over well.”
Day also enjoys doing tabling events. “There we can answer questions and share experiences—like once I was up north, and I saw what I thought was a young Labrador running in the woods. I clocked him at 35 miles an hour, and then he turned sideways and I realized, ‘That’s not a dog.’”
Like Kuhn says, everybody has a black bear story.
To report issues with black bears, call the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Hotline at (855) 571-9003 or email vawildlifeconflict@usda.gov.
To request a Living With Black Bears presentation, contact Beth Kuhn, outreach coordinator for Rivanna Master Naturalists, at blackbeareducation@yahoo.com.
Bears’ necessities
The best way to avoid a bear is to make a little noise: jingle your keys, talk, or sing. Usually bears will smell you and move away, long before you know they are nearby. And when you’re out in bear country, leave your ear buds at home.
“But relocation doesn’t work. Black bears will travel hundreds of miles to get back to their territory, running the risk of more conflict—most likely with vehicles as they cross roadways.”
This is where Living With Black Bears comes in. The local master naturalist chapters will set up sessions to provide information and tactics for people who have seen bears—or don’t want to see them—in their neighborhoods.
Michelle Prysby, senior specialist with the Virginia Cooperative Extension and director of the Virginia master naturalist program, says, “This is exactly what master naturalists are here to do. Education and outreach is a big part of our mission, and this program provides not just the training but also the tools—the slides, handouts, contacts—to inform the public.”
In its first year, Living With Black Bears trained volunteers in the four Shenandoah chapters where bear conflict calls were highest. Now 18 chapters, including Rivanna’s, have black bear educators.
Prysby gave the Living With Black Bears presentation to her neighborhood associa-
Never run from a bear. That can trigger its defense instincts—and black bears can run 30 to 35 miles an hour. If you do encounter a bear, back away slowly.
A bear standing erect is not being aggressive, it’s trying to get a better look or a better sniff. Don’t do anything to frighten or aggravate it. Back away slowly.
Trees are a bear’s safe space, not yours. Bears can climb a tree much faster than you can.
As for getting between a mother bear and her cubs, it’s unlikely. As soon as she smells you, she will alert her cubs to climb a tree. Never pick up what appears to be an orphan cub—the mother may be nearby. If the cub is injured, call a wildlife rehabilitation expert like the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro.
If you are walking with your dog in bear country, keep your dog on a leash (not the extendable kind). Almost all human-bear conflicts in which someone gets hurt involve dogs.—CD
Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Michelle Prysby, who directs the state’s master naturalist program, has given the Living With Black Bears presentation at a variety of area gatherings.
Announcing our 2026 Theme:
The Tom Tom Foundation is proud to announce the theme of our 14th Annual Festival. This April we will explore COURAGE, and the choices we make to take risks, bridge divides, and shape a shared future... together.
As Charlottesville marks both the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the 50th anniversary of our Downtown Mall, we will honor courage in all its forms: from the audacity of revolution or a radical entrepreneurial leap, to the vulnerability of creative self-expression, and the brave conversations that enable democracy to flourish.
Most importantly, because Tom Tom is a fully co-created Festival, insights from every corner of our community will shape the discussion. We’ll be sourcing music, art, and ideas that bring us together, and help us see where bravery and resilience are most needed in our lives, our neighborhoods, and our society.
This April, let’s create connections, spark dialogue, and dream about what’s possible.
Join us at a Community Interest Meeting to find out what the Festival is all about, share your ideas, and explore how you can get involved.
• Oct. 21, 6pm — Tom Tom Offices
• Oct. 22, 12pm — Tom Tom Offices
• Oct. 28, 6pm — Virtual
• Nov. 5, 10am — Virtual
Our schedule is catalyzed by community-led workshops, performances, installations, talks, and events that showcase amazing work here and across the nation. Share your skills and missions to help build a brighter tomorrow.
Applications close Nov. 7.
CULTURE
THURSDAY 10/16
ALL THAT JAZZ
The JD Allen Trio creates music that is rooted in the jazz tradition and is relentlessly contemporary, honest, and uncompromising. Driven by raw energy, tenor saxophonist and composer Allen, bassist Ian Kenselaar, and drummer Nic Cacioppo engage with spontaneity and form to create an introspective, urgent, and powerful sound infused with improvisational depth. What emerges is based in trust and focus rather than fast flash. $22–30, 7:30pm. Unity Church, 2825 Hydraulic Rd. cvillejazz.org
TO-DO LIST CULTURE
Wednesday
10/15
music
Big Gavel Band. Rockin’ and classic country music. Free, 5:30pm. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com
Bob Bennetta Trio. Live jazz. Free, 6:30pm. Afghan Kabob House, 200 Market St.
BRIMS Presents: Sea Shanty Sing-a-Long Concert. Set sail for a nautical sing-along, led by folk singer Matthew O’Donnell. Learn about the history of the shanty tradition, and sing some of the popular sea shanties of the past three centuries. Free, 5pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
Clay Street Unit. Mixing the newgrass spirit of the Rocky Mountains with the country-folk traditions of the Appalachians. With Valley Flower. $25, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
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.
dance
Weekly Swing Dance. Beginner-friendly swing dance lessons teaching the Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, and blues. No partner needed. Stay for social dancing after the class. $10, 7pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com
classes
BOO!ology Lab. Spook-tacular STEM fun for mad scientists ages four and older and an adult caregiver. Featuring new games, activities, and experiments every week. $5 after museum admission, 4pm. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. vadm.org
Paint + Sip: Moonlit Flowers. Learn how to paint the design in a step-by-step format. No experience necessary, all materials and first drink included. $44, 6pm. Starr Hill Brewery Tap Room, 5391 Three Notched Rd, Crozet. blueridgebrushes.com
Paint + Sip: Rainy Fall Drive. Learn how to paint this special design in a step-by step-format. No experience necessary, all materials included. $40, 6pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. blueridgebrushes.com
THROUGH SUNDAY 10/26
UNROMANTIC COMEDY
Four County Players presents Significant Other, a deeply funny and unapologetic unromantic comedy that explores single living and settling down. Jordan Berman would love to be in love, but that’s easier said than done. While searching for Mr. Right, he wards off lonely nights with his trio of close girlfriends—until their singles’ nights turn into bachelorette parties and Jordan discovers the difficulties involved in supporting friends who’ve found love of their own. Dalton Cox stars in this hilarious show, which contains mature language, content, and themes, including discussions of self-harm, depression, and sexually explicit language. $15, times vary. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org
etc.
Democracy360: Becoming America. An exclusive advance screening from Ken Burns’ upcoming documentary series “The American Revolution,” followed by a conversation reflecting on the nation’s founding and what it means today. Free, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Dürty Karaoke. Dive bar karaoke for your hump days. Free, 8:30pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
Fund the Fight: Board Game Night & Fundraiser. Hang out, play board games, and support the New River Abortion Access Fund. Free, 6pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com
Join the Conversation: Common Ground, Common Sound. Part community concert and part participatory rhythm session, this event will welcome everyone—no experience required—to partake in a shared civic act through sound. Free, 4pm. Hunter Smith Band Building at UVA, 180 Culbreth Rd. karshinstitute.virginia.edu
Join the Conversation: Democracy in Action. An interactive session where audience members meet the Karsh Institute of Democracy’s practitioner fellows and learn about the innovative work they’re leading in communities across the country. Free, 1pm. University of Virginia Rotunda Dome Room, 1826 University Ave. karshinstitute. virginia.edu
Not Bored Games. Play new and familiar games and eat snacks. For ages 11–18. Free, 5pm. JMRL: Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org
Rapture Karaoke. The longest-running karaoke event in town. Hosted by Jenn DeVille. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapture restaurant.com
Thursday 10/16 music
Berto and Vincent. A night of wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com
Betty Jo’s. Boogie-woogie takes on classics with a full horn section, groovy rhythm, shredding guitars, washboards, and the Queen of Boogie. Free, 8pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapture restaurant.com
Don Was and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble. Toptier jazz musicians from the Motor City. $44.75, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
JD Allen Trio. Embracing spontaneity and form, tenor saxophonist and composer JD Allen and his collaborators create music rooted in jazz tradition yet relentlessly forward-moving, honest, and uncompromising. $22–30, 7:30pm. Unity Church, 2825 Hydraulic Rd. cvillejazz.org
John Benjamin. A full-time singer-songwriter and live entertainer performs covers and originals. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Love Heals Benefit Show with Luke Rob. Music from an up-and-coming country music artist with 100 percent of all tickets and donations going to help Katriece Fitch with her medical expenses. $11.75, 7pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Songwriter’s Open Mic. An open mic featuring original songs only. This is a space for all levels, styles, and ages. Amps and mics provided. Hosted by Front Porch teacher Erynn Legna McLeod. Free, 7pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com
Uncle Pen. Traditional bluegrass, but make it cool. Free, 7pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
stage
Significant Other Jordan Berman would love to be in love, but that’s easier said than done. So until he meets Mr. Right, he wards off lonely nights with his trio of close girlfriends—until they begin settling down. $15, 8pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org
The Pirate Ballad of Bonny and Read An overtly theatrical, sea-shanty-fueled world premiere about rewriting the rules, claiming your voice, and choosing your own way forward. $35–70, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
words
Construction as Commitment: Nicki Green’s Alchemical Clay, with Jeanne Vaccaro. This talk takes sculptor Nick Green’s assertion that “clay is a trans material” as its starting point. In clay, the artist uses hand-making to study rituals of belonging and becoming. Free, 6:30pm. Campbell 160: School of Architecture at UVA, 110 Bayly Dr. arch.virginia.edu
Poetry Reading: Gregory Pardlo. A special poetry reading with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and Rea Visiting Writer Gregory Pardlo. Free, 6pm. University of Virginia Rotunda Dome Room, 1826 University Ave. creativewriting.virginia.edu
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
Crafters Cinema. A relaxed evening of crafting while enjoying a movie with other makers. This month: Hocus Pocus with autumnal origami and paper craft. Ages 16+. Registration optional. Latecomers welcome. Free, 5:30pm. JMRL: Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org
Democracy360: Building the American Dream. Through contrasting perspectives, speakers explore what opportunity means in 21st-century America— examining economic mobility, labor practices, the rise of new technologies, and the social contract. Free, 4pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. karshinstitute.virginia.edu
Democracy360: Washington Week with The Atlantic. Moderator Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, is joined at the roundtable by Atlantic staff writers Tom Nichols, Vivian Salama, and Nancy Youssef to provide analysis of the week’s biggest news. Free, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. karshinstitute. virginia.edu
Join the Conversation: A ‘Braver Angels’ Debate. A highly participatory Democracy360 session featuring a structured dialogue in which students and community members explore opposing views with respect, curiosity, and a spirit of shared learning. Free, 1pm. University of Virginia Rotunda Dome Room, 1826 University Ave. karshinstitute.virginia.edu
Friday 10/17
music
Acoustic Union. Rob Frayser, a key member of the Silas Frayser Band and Calf Mountain Jam, contributes the depth of his 30-year tenure as a professional musician to Acoustic Union. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
Cavalier Marching Band Open Rehearsal: Hoos Take Flight. Bring a picnic and a blanket and watch the band as they prepare for their halftime shows. Free, 6:30pm. Carr’s Hill Field. music.virginia.edu
GootGenuG. Jazz fusion originals and covers. Free, 6:15pm. The Birdcage at Mockingbird, 421 Monticello Rd. mockingbird-cville.com
Ken Farmer & the Authenticators. A priceless night of rocking good fun. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
Ken Matthews. Wailing saxophone and classic tunes on the clarinet. Free, 5pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com
Midnight Buzz. Fun covers and originals by veteran musicians. Free, 8pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
Neighbor. A dynamic quartet that blends ambitious compositions, soulful balladry, and fearless improvisations to create a unique musical experience. $19, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Pancho. Experienced musician performs country music favorites of yesterday and today. Free, 3:30pm. Fallen Tree Vineyard and Farm, 4593 Clark Rd., Crozet. fallentreevineyard.com
Sam Burchfield. Americana, psychedelia, indie folk, and Southern rock. $26, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
Stillhouse Sound. A dynamic five-piece band delivering an eclectic mix of soulful rock classics, funk favorites, modern hits, and deep cuts. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com stage
Significant Other See listing for Thursday, October 16. $15, 8pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org
The Pirate Ballad of Bonny and Read See listing for Thursday, October 16. $35–70, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com words
CreativeMornings Charlottesville: Miranda Elliott-Rader. A monthly breakfast lecture series for the creative community. This month: “Structures and Rituals” by puppeteer, mathemagician, and Quaker mystic Miranda Elliott-Rader. Free, 8:30am. WTJU 91.1 FM, 2244 Ivy Rd. creativemornings.com etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 16. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Democracy360: A Conversation with Beth Macy. Drawing from her forthcoming memoir Paper Girl acclaimed author Macy explores how economic upheaval, cultural tensions, and polarization have reshaped her hometown and the nation. Free, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. karshinstitute.virginia.edu
Democracy360: Guardrails of Democracy. A timely conversation exploring the rule of law and the democratic institutions that uphold it as cornerstones of democratic life and defining forces in the 250-yearold American experiment. Free, 4pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. karshinstitute. virginia.edu
The Fourth Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival. Join The Living Earth School for an evening of food, connection and family friendly feel-good films. Featuring a silent auction and a raffle for a Rivanna River Co. kayak, plus door prizes. $15–25, 5pm. PVCC Dickinson Hall, 501 College Dr. livingearthva.org
Was is on
Don Was and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble tour debut album BY SHEA GIBBS
If you’ve never heard of music industry legend Don Was, don’t beat yourself up. Born Don Edward Fagenson, Was has been making music for nearly 50 years. But until now, he’s never released a record under his own name.
He has produced music for The Rolling Stones, Elton John, and Ringo Starr. He’s played bass for Ryan Adams, Iggy Pop, and Bob Seger. His first commercially successful band, Was (Not Was), found itself on near constant radio and MTV rotation in 1987 with the ubiquitous hit “Walk the Dinosaur.” Since 2012, Was has served as president of Blue Note Records.
The music industry legend recently spoke to C-VILLE about his latest project, introducing John Mayer to Bob Weir, his eighthgrade dance, and what makes Taylor Swift a great artist.
C-VILLE: Your career has spanned so many musical genres. What can folks expect out of the first project you’ve put your name on?
Don Was: Distilling it down is a tough thing to do, but at its core, it’s a nine-piece soul-jazz band from Detroit, and we play like we’re from Detroit. We all grew up listening to the same radio stations and musicians. Some of us have played with each other at different times, but this is the first time the nine of us have been in the same band. It’s a collective with a common musical language.
What is that language exactly?
We’re having fun and improvising every night. Structurally, it’s not dissimilar to what I do playing with [former Grateful Dead member] Bob Weir: Every song has a personality of its own and is different every night. But it sounds like Detroit music, whether it’s MC5 or J Dilla or Motown or The White Stripes or John Lee Hooker. It’s honest, raw. It is not slick, and there’s a groove underneath everything.
Working with a band in that way sounds a lot like what a producer does.
I suppose it’s exactly what a record producer does … at least the way I make records. What I enjoy is getting inside a great artist’s head, helping them define what’s there, and helping them realize that by any means necessary. These aren’t just nine random players; they are individuals I’ve been playing with for about 45 years. When we get together, there’s a jocular familiarity.
Tell me more about the link between improvisational jazz and jam music. They are incredibly similar, and I think by design. Bobby talks about listening to jazz musi-
cians and playing with Jerry. The scales and modes and rhythms might be different, but procedurally there’s something intuitive about them both. The idea is: ‘Play anything but what you played before.’ You pay attention to where you are and approach each song with a beginner’s mind. That’s the fun part—not knowing what you are going to do. It makes every night an adventure. And it’s not just the fun part for the musicians, but also for the audience.
You’ve worked with John Mayer and Bob Weir, who’ve been playing together with Dead & Company for 10 years. Is that a coincidence?
I introduced John to Bobby and Mickey [Hart]. I met Weir in the ’80s, and when I started working with John, I would get in the car with him and he’d be listening to the Grateful Dead. I was shocked at how specific he could get in describing the music. The Blue Note Records offices are in the Capital Records tower, and one day John was in a studio downstairs. Bobby and Mickey came to see me, and I called John up. Bobby said, “Come and play with us. We drove up to Bobby’s TRI Studios and got two RVs and stayed there for four days. By the end, they loved it so much, they all wanted to work together.
How do you manage running Blue Note on top of making your own music?
I live in Detroit, and Blue Note’s in L.A., but I stay involved. I can almost get more done remotely from the bus or hotel rooms. I’m on Zoom meetings from dressing rooms all the time. Having a record company president who’s out playing and doing the same things the artists are doing every night gives you a greater sense of what they’re going through. I think you behave better as a record company when you understand what it takes to
stand up there and turn life into notes. For a label like Blue Note, where the artistry is the backbone, you should be highly sympathetic to the artistic process.
How does your latest project fit in with the rest of your career?
A weird thing happened in the early ’90s. I started getting successful as a record producer, and I got to work with all my heroes: Dylan, the Stones, Brian Wilson, Willie Nelson, Leonard Cohen. I would sit there and watch them, and I got to the point where I was thinking about my own music, “What’s the point of this?” I had writer’s block for like five years. I would look at Willie and think “I will never be as good as him.” But then I realized, Willie Nelson hasn’t experienced all the things I have. Willie didn’t drop acid and see MC5 in Detroit. George Clinton didn’t play Willie’s eighthgrade sock hop. So when the opportunity came, I remembered that the thing that makes you different is a strength, not a weakness.
Your new record dropped on October 10, one week after Taylor Swift’s latest. What’s the state of modern pop music? What I think about music in general is that there are two types: generous and selfish. Selfish is a guitar player trying to see how many notes he can squeeze into one line. It’s acrobatic and it can be cool, but if that’s all you got, it’s not enough. I’m interested in music that gets under your skin, that communicates a feeling that makes sense out of chaotic and confusing times. Anything that brings you comfort and understanding and an ability to deal with the world, that’s a generous thing for an artist to do. I have no judgment about what genre it’s in or who’s making that statement. If you can communicate with people, you are a great artist.
Don Was and The Pan-Detroit Ensemble will stop at The Jefferson Theater on October 16 as part of a tour for the band’s debut album, Groove in the Face of Adversity
TO-DO LIST CULTURE
FRIDAY 10/17
CUL-DE-SAC SOUNDS
Blending ambitious compositions, soulful balladry, and fearless improv to create a unique musical experience, Neighbor’s sound was honed through years of proximity and practice. The dynamic quartet of Richard James on vocals and keys, Rob Compa on guitar, Dan Kelly on bass, and Dean Johnston on drums performs a diverse catalog of songs combining Americana, funk, rock, jazz, soul, and more into an exciting and unpredictable live show. $19.25, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Friday 10/17
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 10/18
music
Andy Tichenor Almost Acoustic. A side project of Tichenor’s focusing on the acoustic stylings of his material. Free, noon. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com
Cavalcade Marching Band Competition. Show your hometown spirit and cheer on the CHS Marching Black Knights as they host area bands in a showcase like no other. $5–10, 9am. Charlottesville High School Stadium, 1401 Melbourne Rd. cvillebands.com
Jack Marion & the Pearl Snap Prophets. A comfortable blend of Americana, country, and gritty rock music. Free, 7pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com
2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com
The Wavelength. Vintage rock, blues, originals, and more. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
stage
Romeo & Juliet Shakespeare’s most iconic story of young love—reckless, tender, and allconsuming. $35–70, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespeare center.com
Significant Other See listing for Thursday, October 16. $15, 8pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org
SuperFly Anniversary Drag Show. An amazing night of drag performances hosted by Kaja Attenshun, featuring an all-star cast of regional drag artists. $23, 7pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com
The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Shakespeare at his most playful, where friendship tangles with romance and characters stumble through the beautiful, messy chaos of growing up. $35–70, 2pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com
words
Author Event: Camille DeAngelis and McCormick Templeman. DeAngelis reads from her new novel-in-progress, and Templeman reads from her new novel, Atlas of Unknowable Things. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. newdominionbookshop.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
Black Barbers of Charlottesville Tour. Take a look at the City of Charlottesville through the history of its Black barbers. This walking tour focuses 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 Thursday, October 16. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
CASPCA Fall Fest. A day of family fun with a dog Halloween costume contest, pumpkin picking, local vendors, food trucks, and more. Free, 11am. North Fork, 995 Research Park Blvd. caspca.org
Charlottesville City Market. Discover produce and products from 80+ local vendors. Visit the Market Management tent to match your SNAP dollars up to $50 each visit. Free, 8am. Charlottesville City Market, 100 Water St E. charlottesville.gov
Charlottesville Zine Fest. A community event celebrating zines from across Central Virginia and beyond. Free, 11am. JMRL Central Library, 201 E. Market St. charlottesvillezinefest.org
Court Square: Where Charlottesville Began Tour. A walking tour exploring the history of the region from the Monacan Nation to its modern history and the removal of four controversial Charlottesville monuments. $5–20, 10am. Albemarle County Courthouse, 501 E. Jefferson St. albemarlehistory.org
FIREFLY Karaoke. KaraFun has an extensive collection of karaoke songs across multiple genres, with 400+ new songs added each month. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com
Historic Downtown Mall Tour. A casual eight-block walk around Charlottesville’s historic pedestrian Downtown Mall exploring the history and development of the area. $5–20, 11am. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. albemarlehistory.org
Kendall Street Company. The genre-fluid, eclectic rock ensemble brings their singular live show to the stage. With jam band Wolph. $26, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
Meisha Herron. A natural singer who mostly plays acoustic folk, Americana, blues, and soul. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Pat Anderson. A roots rocker with tough-minded country-rock sensibility. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducard vineyards.com
Rivanna Roots: David Wax Museum. Blending the ancient and ever-relevant rhythms of traditional Mexican music with amber pop hues and unabashed rock riffs. With Tyler Dick Trio. $15, 5pm. Rivanna River Company, 1518 E. High St. frontporchcville.org
Shadowgrass. Bluegrass group known for its instrumental prowess and commitment to songwriting. $28, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com
Sold Kingdom. WTJU’s Third Rail presents ruststained, observational art pop by Leia Alexandra Manuel. Attend in person or listen live on 91.1 FM, wtju.net, or WTJU’s YouTube channel. Free, 8pm. The Stage at WTJU, 2244 Ivy Rd. wtju.net
The Queen City Porch Swingers. This duo brings the sounds of The Big Easy to life with lush tenor banjo, swinging bass, and entrancing vocals. Free,
The Human Edge: What AI Can’t Do and the Enduring Importance of the Liberal Arts. Christa Davis Acampora, Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, explores the enduring importance of the liberal arts as artificial intelligence accelerates change. Free, 10am. Newcomb Hall Theater, Newcomb Hall. engagement.virginia.edu classes
Embroidery Stitch Sampler 2. Make an embroidery sampler with a variety of stitches. Materials provided. Ages 13+. $25, 3pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Garden Basics: Easy, Nutritious Microgreens and Sprouts. A hands-on class offering simple and inexpensive ways to grow small-but-mighty nutrition powerhouses that are especially welcome in the winter months. Free, 2pm. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1118 Preston Ave. piedmontmastergardeners.org
Looking and Seeing: Poems of Description and Observation. Discuss poems that use description and observation as primary strategies in this one-day seminar focusing on work written by participants. $67, 1pm. WriterHouse, 508 Dale Ave. writerhouse.org
Needle Felted Mothman. Make a needle felted cryptid figure using a specialized notched needle to sculpt dyed wool. Ages 12+. $40, 1pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com
Needle Felted Owls. Make a needle felted owl figure using a specialized notched needle to sculpt dyed wool. Ages 12+. $40, 10am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.
Big Blue Door’s Days of Future Past. Three veteran improv comedy ensembles explore your future, your past, and everything in between. $10–15, 7pm. Light House Studio: Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W. Market St. bigbluedoor.org
Met Live in HD: La Sonnambula. Nadine Sierra summits another peak of the soprano repertoire as Amina, who sleepwalks her way into audiences’ hearts in Bellini’s poignant tale of love lost and found. $27–32, 1pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, October 17. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Sunday 10/19 music
An Lár Traditional Irish Band. Fast-paced jigs and reels alternating with lyrical waltzes, melancholy airs, and Irish folk ballads of love and adventure. Free, 2pm. Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com
Hogweed. Richmond-based string band plays traditional and original tunes. Free, 2pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potters craftcider.com
John Kelly. Local singer-songwriter with more than two decades of solo acoustic performing experience. Free, 1pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com
Matisyahu. For nearly two decades, Matisyahu has kept his creative spirit aflame by evolving his sound, melding genres, and testing the limits of the musical traditions that have inspired him. $44, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com
The Trio. A Sunday jazz session with Dan Barrale, Bill Edmonds, and Eric Franzen. Free, 1pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com
The Wonderleys. A mixture of new and old covers from many different genres. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com
PAGES CULTURE
stage
Significant Other. See listing for Thursday, October 16. $15, 2:30pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org
The Pirate Ballad of Bonny and Read See listing for Thursday, October 16. $35–70, 2pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St. ,Staunton. american shakespearecenter.com
classes
Upcycled Journal Making and Beginning Book Binding. Put together a journal using up-cycled items such as fabric, paper, cardboard, and string in an introduction to the art of bookbinding. Ages 12+. $45, 2pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com etc.
Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 16. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com
Paramount On Screen: Hocus Pocus. A villainous comedic trio of witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) are inadvertently resurrected by a teenage boy. $9–11, 2pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net
Silent Book Club. Read in quiet camaraderie. No assigned reading, no obligations. Bring your own book of choice. Free, 12:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com
Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Friday, October 17. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com
Tuesday 10/21 music
BRIMS. Irish music jam from the Blue Ridge Irish Music School. Free, 6:30pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.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
words
An Evening with Karen Hao. The bestselling author discusses her book Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI with UVA faculty Seth Lewis and Mona Sloane. Registration requested. Free, 6:30pm. Old Cabell Hall. dtdlab. virginia.edu
Patricia Smith Poetry Reading. A special poetry reading and book signing commemorates Smith’s work to date and celebrates the publication of The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems Free, 7pm. UVA Bookstore Mezzanine, 400 Emmet St. S. virginia.edu
classes
Paint + Sip: Harvest Moon. Learn how to paint the supplied design in a step-by-step format. No experience necessary, all materials and first drink included. $40, 6pm. Ellie’s Country Club, 16 Elliewood Ave. blueridgebrushes.com
etc.
Geeks Who Drink Trivia. Good trivia, good times. Teams of two to six people compete to win prizes like gift certificates and pint glasses, plus bragging rights. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.com
The Run Club. Do a 5K run, then drink beer. $1-off pints for runners. Free, 6pm. Decipher Brewing, 1740 Broadway St.
Vacuum of power
Karen Hao’s new book explores the impact of artificial intelligence
BY SARAH LAWSON
Whether you embrace artificial intelligence or not, it seems almost mystical in its abilities—despite the fact that it was created by humans. It can also feel unreal that asking ChatGPT to write an email actually reflects billions of dollars, millions of gallons of water daily, and countless jobs being streamlined out of existence. Awardwinning journalist Karen Hao wants you to understand the full implications of the AI tools we have and the ways that industry leaders are shaping our future from within a vacuum of power and neocolonialism.
In Hao’s new book, Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI, she makes the case that the AI industry is akin to European colonialism in the ways it has “seized and extracted resources … and exploited labor of the people they subjugated … for the empires’ enrichment.” She backs this up by recounting abuses of power impacting individuals and communities, balancing the horrors with dark humor and thoughtful calls to action. Hao also details AI’s far-reaching impacts, from systemic racism and privacy issues to stark environmental concerns and psychological abuse, gaslighting, exploitation, and the silencing of voices calling for industry accountability. All told, Empire of AI is a deeply researched, page-turner of a book.
Thiel show up, but so do data workers in Venezuela, Uruguay, and Kenya, whose lives—and livelihoods—aren’t as well known. These are some of the people who help train AI by identifying what it should and shouldn’t be seeing and doing—that could be videos training self-driving cars to avoid pedestrians or filters to block sexually explicit materials within AI. Rather than experiencing the trickle-down effects of tech investments, these workers are exploited by the systems they help make possible.
“I started thinking about a book in mid2022,” Hao says. “I had just written a series with MIT Technology Review called ‘AI Colonialism’ about this idea and wanted to explore it further. The arrival of ChatGPT in late 2022 finalized the decision for me. I realized there was so much missing context in the public discussion about what AI is, how ChatGPT works, and who it came from—all necessary for understanding what this technology would mean for our future.” She adds that ChatGPT also “represented a vision of AI development that made the neocolonial dimensions of the AI industry so much worse. So it became clear to me, through discussions with my amazing agent, that this was the book: braiding OpenAI and ChatGPT’s story with a broader argument about the empires of AI.”
In Empire of AI, Hao weaves together threads of ambition and power to explore
how OpenAI—founded to support social good and transparency—grew into something very different, taking the entire AI industry with it by consolidating funding around a very specific approach to artificial intelligence. “Nothing about this form of AI coming to the fore or even existing at all was inevitable,” says Hao about ChatGPT. “It was the culmination of thousands of subjective choices, made by the people who had the power to be in the decision-making room.”
An MIT graduate, Hao worked as a Silicon Valley application engineer prior to becoming a journalist. She skillfully weaves that into the book, commenting on the tech sector’s impacts on San Francisco’s Bay Area through gentrification and displacement— tactics at home that are not unrelated to the AI industry’s colonialism abroad. Hao, who leads the Pulitzer Center’s AI Spotlight Series in training other journalists how to cover artificial intelligence, was also a senior editor for AI at MIT Technology Review and featured on the TIME100 AI 2025 list.
Empire of AI was informed by “over 300 interviews with around 260 people and an extensive trove of correspondence and documents.” Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Peter
In the book, Hao writes, “Artificial intelligence doesn’t need to accept the logic of unprecedented scale and consumption to achieve advancement and progress. So much of what our society actually needs—better health care and education, clean air and clean water, a faster transition away from fossil fuels—can be assessed and advanced with, and sometimes even necessitates, significantly smaller AI models and a diversity of other approaches.” She suggests it’s a failure of imagination that has gotten us here, but Hao ends the book on a brighter note, offering examples of ways to refuse, interrogate, and reimagine AI.
“Since the release of my book, the empires of AI have only grown more powerful,” Hao says. “They’re spending hundreds of billions to develop and deploy their models with no end in sight to the extraordinary cash burn. They’re talking about building supercomputers the size of Manhattan that would also match the city’s energy demands. They’ve allied themselves with the Trump administration, turning the last nation-state government capable of holding them accountable, into a puppet that does their bidding.”
She continues, “There is so much work to be done to contain the empire, stop their seizure of power, stall and reverse their threat to privacy, art, jobs, education, democracy … We need to do more … Information is power. And the more that I can support informing as many people as possible about what these empires of AI represent, the more their power redistributes back to the people.”
An Evening with Karen Hao takes place on October 21 at Old Cabell Hall. It is hosted by UVA’s Digital Technology for Democracy Lab, Sloane Lab, and the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.
THE WINE DOWN -
WHAT’S DELISH AT LOCAL WINERIES?
53RD WINERY AND VINEYARD
A note from Winegrower and Owner, Dave Drillock I’m back! It has been a heck of a growing season. From early heavy rains to heat domes to drought! Don’t forget the Spotted Lanternfly! What’s a winegrower to do…giving up is not an option. That said, yields are lower resulting from smaller berries. My prediction…Winemakers and their Teams, who work hard in a normal year, will offer above average wines from a tough growing season, showcasing Virginia’s resilience!
October is Virginia Wine Month, and we are releasing our 2024 Viognier. A Medium bodied white wine, and if you like white peach, you will enjoy this wine. Lots of complexity and minerality at the finish. The connection of wine over the millennia has always been Family, Friends and Food and this wine is perfect for all three.
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:
Saturday, October 18th : Wine Club Pick-Up Day 1: 4th Quarter 2025 11-5:00pm
Live Music: Mike Proffitt 1-4pm
Food Truck: Salty Bottom Blue Oysters
As always, we are planning an extra special tasting experience. Not a wine club member, no problem. Guests welcome for $17/person which includes the tasting and a food coupon for the food truck.
Sunday, October 19th: Wine Club Pick-Up Day 2: 4th Quarter 2025 11-5:00pm
Live Music: Scuffletown 1-4pm
Food Truck: Zippy’s Smokeshack
As always, we are planning an extra special tasting experience. Not a wine club member, no problem. Guests welcome for $17 per person which includes the tasting and a food coupon for the food truck.
Saturday, October 25th - Live Music: Matt Johnson 1-4pm
Matt Johnson is a Central Virginia musician with a soulful voice and standout piano skills. A former The Voice, Season 15 contestant on Team Jennifer Hudson. Matt has performed everywhere from The National in Richmond to wineries and breweries across Virginia. Don’t miss the chance to see him live at 53rd!
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
2021 Merlot
A welcoming nose of dark fruits and herbs is evident in this well-balanced wine. Soft tannins with vanilla notes leave a rich and warm mouthfeel. This wine was aged in French oak for 9 months. Just named one of VinePair’s 20 Best Merlots for 2025.
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!
Fall Chocolate & Wine Pairing Event - October 19, 2025 123:00pm
DuCard Vineyards is excited to welcome back Master Chocolatier Ann Czaja, DipWSET, for a unique Chocolate and Wine Program. This class has become a beloved tradition at the winery and a favorite for guests. Ann and DuCard owner, Scott Elliff, select each pairing and share the reasons why they work. While tasting and sipping, Ann will talk about the history of chocolate, her role at Lindt, and offer samples of the “building blocks” of chocolate for everyone to try. Scott will share the story of the vineyard and how wine is made. Think you have it down? Good because there will be an opportunity for you to come up with you own perfect pairing. Limited seating, advance reservations required. $75 per person. Sorry, no discount for Wine Club members at this event. Purchase tickets at https:// ducardvineyards.com/event/chocolatewine-pairing-fall-2/
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
Fall at Eastwood Farm and Winery
Join us in celebrating the 2025 harvest. There is always something for the whole family to enjoy at Eastwood from our gold medal 2024 Petit Manseng and Petit Verdot to our new Oktoberfest beer and our popular juice flights for kids. We will also be hosting live music four days a week all season long. Join us for festive fall days in Virginia wine country.
Upcoming at the Winery:
Oktoberfest (every Saturday and Sunday September 13 - October 31)
Every Saturday and Sunday this Fall, Eastwood is bringing you all the cozy, festive vibes with a lineup of flavor, fun, and celebration
featuring delicious food truck specials, raffles, live music and traditional Oktoberfest beer. And the fun doesn’t stop after the weekend. You can enjoy a special Oktoberfest menu in the tasting room every day featuring German-inspired delights, including our Flammkuchen, Bacon Maple Pecan Brie and loaded potato soup seven days a week. Check out our website for full food truck and tasting room menus.
Virginia Oyster & Wine Celebration | Every Friday in September & October
Our Virginia Oyster & Wine Celebration is back every Friday night! The oysters are prepared by Salty Bottom Blue. Enjoy them in a relaxed, fun atmosphere with live music from 5-8pm on the stage in our tasting room.
Music Bingo | Thursday, October 30
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! Free to play
Paint & Sip | Wednesday, October 15th 6-8PM; October 26th 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 Events - Reserve Your Spot On Our Website
United By Beer Happy Hour| Thursday, October 16th 5-7PM
Join the Charlottesville Ale Trail for a fun happy hour. Open to the public.
Red Wine Showcase | Friday, October 17
Celebrate Virginia Wine Month at the Red Wine Showcase set against the picturesque backdrop of Eastwood Farm and Winery! This exclusive event brings together 18 esteemed wineries from the Monticello Wine Trail for an unforgettable evening of red wine tastings, gourmet pairings, community and conversation. Reserve your tickets at eastwoodfarmandwinery.com.
Harvest Party Weekend | October 17 -19
Join us for a festive weekend as we celebrate Harvest Party Weekend and Virginia Wine Month! Enjoy three days of live raffles, pop-ups, wine, food, music, and the Harvest Party Artisan Market on Sunday 10/19. See website for live music schedule
Halloween Weekend| October 31Nov 2
Enjoy our special release “snickers” chocolate stout and other fun adult treats like Chocolate Fondue and Warm crab dip, along with live music all weekend long.
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
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
“What She Said” White
This fun wine is a new release and a delicious representation of all the white grapes from Hardware Hills. A carefully crafted blend of Vidal Blanc, Traminette and Seyval Blanc it is packed with flavor and a hint of sweetness. A great porch sipper as we say goodbye to the warm summer months and gear up for Fall. Come get a bottle today and find out that... that’s WHAT SHE SAID!
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,
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. October is PACKED with many fun events here. If you haven’t seen our reels, click away to your favorite social media site for some winery funnies! VIRGINIA WINE MONTH IS HERE! Check out the many activities happening at the Hills!
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:
Oct. 16th - MUSIC BINGO NIGHT with Sara. This night is so fun! Sara brings the tunes and the prizes! Bring your love for wine, music, food, and fun! Games begin at 6:30.
Oct. 17th - LIVE MUSIC WITH F.O.G. - Five Old Guys -- but they know how
to party! Come get your weekend kicked off with this exceptional group of fun and fun-loving musicians for an evening of wine, food, tunes and fun! Music starts at 5:30.
Oct. 18th- SCOTTSVILLE WINE FESTIVAL! This first annual event is sure to please and show the charm and flavor of Scottsville, VA. Grab the whole crew and come spend a great afternoon with multiple wineries, vendors, food trucks and great music! https://www.riverbendwinefest.com/
Oct. 23rd- TRIVIA NIGHT at the Hills! OKTOBERFEST is our theme this month and get ready to put your brain powers to the test to win! Groups of up to 6 are welcome for a fun night of casual and challenging trivia good times! Games start at 6:30!
Oct. 30th - COUNTRY LINE
DANCING night at the Hills! Pull on your boots and grab your friends. This rapidly growing-in-popularity night is sure to get your feet stomping and learning some new moves! Bring the whole group! Dance lessons at 6 followed by open floor night!
Oct. 31st- LIVE MUSIC with Brent Hull. If you haven’t experienced a night of music with Brent... well come see what an amazing artist is here. Escape the Halloween ho-hum and come turn up the fun at the Hills! We’ll be serving mulled wine, great food, some special treats... and the magical mash-ups of this very talented musician!
5199 W River Rd, Scottsville, VA 434.286.4710 • www.hardwarehills.com
KESWICK VINEYARDS
Spooky Season at Keswick Vineyards
October is here, and we’re celebrating Virginia Wine Month with hauntingly good wine, live music, and plenty of festive fun!
Live Music Every Saturday & Sunday
Raise a glass to the season! Enjoy tunes from 12–4 PM while sipping your favorite Keswick wines among the fall leaves. Enjoy your weekend with all of your Keswick fam!!!
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. Join the Club… if you dare Become a member of Virginia’s Most Rewarding Wine Club! A treat far sweeter than any candy. Stop by the tasting room or visit our website to sign up today!
Hours:
Monday- Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm 1575 Keswick Winery Drive Keswick, Virginia 22947 Tasting Room: (434) 244-3341 ext 105 tastingroom@keswickvineyards.com www.keswickvineyards.com
PRINCE MICHEL VINEYARDS
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. During the month of October, enjoy this award-winning vintage at 15% off (20% for club members)!
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.
During the month of October, celebrate Virginia reds by cellaring a few bottles—or open one now for a late-summer evening on the patio. The Cabernet Franc’s vibrant fruit and graceful structure make it perfect for sipping, picnics, and backyard cookouts. On sale October 1-31st for Virginia Wine Month, the perfect reason to stock up!
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 Tannat (13.3% ABV)
Our 2023 Tannat is like sipping on dreams and red wine. It has a deep ruby color with an opaque core and garnet rim. Made from 80% Tannat and 20% Cabernet Franc, it exhibits a nice intensity of dark fruits, with aromas of blackberry and Damson plums, as well as integrated oak. This wine has a bountiful fruit-forward palate of dark fruits that balances juicy acidity, medium body, alcohol, and tannins. The wine finish lingers and invites more, making it the perfect accompaniment to a BBQ or a hearty fall stew.
October Hours: Fridays noon to sunset; Saturdays noon to 6 pm; Sundays noon to 5 pm. Mondays and
Thursdays by reservation only.
Until October 30 - Exhibition of art pieces by Richard Young.
Friday, October 17 – Sip & Learn – Briana Zack joins us at 6pm to share How to Kick the Sugar Habit.
Friday, October 24 – Book Club @ The Vineyard starts at 6pm.
Sunday, October 26 – Sip & Learn – Maria Frawley joins us at 4 pm to share her presentation on Jane Austin.
Sunday, November 2 – Wine Club Pick-Up Party – Our tasting room is closed to the public for our pick-up party, but our cabin is open to the public all day.
Friday, November 7 – Book World Meets Wine World at 6pm: author Charlotte Matthews will read from her newest book of essays, Everything in Its Brilliance.
2710 Hebron Valley Road, Madison, VA 22727 • 540-407-1236 www.revalationvineyards.com
VIRGINIA
WINE COLLECTIVE
Fall at the Collective Join us for Harvest Viewing Days at the Collective every weekend this September. We bring harvest to downtown Charlottesville and are located on Avon Street at the 4-way stop for Wegmans! You can watch the action during our first harvest while enjoying our delicious small plate menu and winemaker wine flights. If you would like to secure a seat by the viewing windows, we are taking limited reservations for lunch or dinner “with a view” every Friday. However, you don’t need a reservation to be a part of the 2025 harvest. There will be ample viewing opportunities. In fact, we will be roping off a small area on the production floor so that you can walk out to view the action all weekend long. Anytime is a great time to visit the Collective this September. Email Gabrielle@ eastwoodfarmandwinery.com to make reservations or if you have questions.
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:
Hallowine Trunk or Treat, October 24th 4-8PM
Join us for an evening of community, connection and Halloween fun. Great food, wine, and a food truck serving up delicious Oktoberfest fare. The event will take place in the grassy area behind the Collective building to provide space for the kids to trunk or while the parents sample wine treats door to door with each of our independent winemakers. Be a part of the kick off year to a new Charlottesville tradition! Costumes encouraged for all.
Lobsterpalooza Saturday, October 11th 12-3PM
Join us for a celebration of the sea. Our lobsterpalooza is here! Salty Bottom Blue will be serving up mouthwatering lobster rolls and fresh blue oysters paired with our incredible Collective wines! This is in addition to the daily menu served up by Chefs Andrew and Cory Partridge.
Paint & Sip | Select Sundays, October 12th 1-3PM, November 9th 1-3PM
Grab a glass of wine (or your favorite drink!) and let your creativity flow in this relaxed and fun class. 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 Events - Reserve Your Spot On the Virginia Wine Collective Facebook Page or the Eastwood Website.
Open Bottle Special | Every Sunday 3:30 to 5:00 PM
Half off all glasses poured from open tasting bottles.
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.
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
400 Worrell Drive 434-243-8500 kluge-ruhe.org
Installation view of Tjukurpa | Handle It: Robert Fielding. Courtesy of the artist and Mimili Maku Arts (top left). Haiti’s Time: Selections from the Collection of Beverly and John Fox Sullivan: Hector Hyppolite, b. 1894, Saint-Mar, Haiti; d.1948, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Fête du Morts, undated. Oil on Masonite (bottom right).
By Rob Brezsny
Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov.21): During World War II, Scorpio actor and inventor Hedy Lamarr developed frequency-hopping technology to prevent enemies from jamming torpedo guidance systems. Her solution rapidly switched radio frequencies in hard-to-intercept patterns. The technology was so advanced that no one could figure out how to fully adopt it until years later. Engineers eventually realized that Lamarr’s invention was essential for WiFi, GPS, and cell phone networks. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, you, too, have the potential to generate ideas that might not be ready for prime time but could ultimately prove valuable. Trust your instincts about future needs. Your visionary solutions are laying the groundwork for contributions that won’t fully ripen for a while.
Sagittarius
(Nov. 22-Dec.21): I guarantee you won’t experience a meltdown, crack-up, or nervous collapse in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. What unfolds may bring a similar intensity, but in the opposite direction: a personal breakthrough, a cavalcade of illumination, or a surge of awakening. I urge you to be alert and receptive for relaxing flurries of sweet clarity; or streams of insights that rouse a liberating integration; or a confluence of welcome transformations that lead you to unexpected healing. Can you handle so many blessings? I think you can. But you may have to expand your expectations to welcome them all.
Capricorn
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1959, a Swedish engineer named Nils Bohlin designed the three-point seatbelt, revolutionizing car safety. Working for Volvo, he insisted the design must be made freely available to all car manufacturers. Bohlin understood that saving lives was more important than hoarding credit or profit. Capricorn, your assignment now is to give generously without fussing about who gets the applause. A solution, insight, or creation of yours could benefit many if you share it without reservation. Your best reward will be observing the beneficial ripple effects, not holding the patent.
Aquarius
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your exploratory adventures out on the frontiers have been interesting and mostly successful, Aquarius. Congrats! I love how you have avoided tormenting yourself with self-doubt and roused more boldness than you’ve summoned in a long time. You have managed to ignore useless and superstitious fears even as you have wisely heeded the clues offered by one particular fear that was worth considering. Please continue this good work! You can keep riding this productive groove for a while longer.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN
(Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): I’m pleased to inform you that the coming weeks will be an excellent time to make a big wish upon a bright star. But I must also tell you how important it is to be clear and exact. Even a slight error in formulating your wish could result in only a partial fulfillment. And aiming your plea at the wrong star could cause a long delay. Sorry I have to be so complicated, dear Libra. The fact is, though, it’s not always easy to know precisely what you yearn for and to ask the correct source to help you get it. But here’s the good news: You are currently in a phase when you’re far more likely than usual to make all the right moves.
Pisces
(Feb. 19-March 20): In Korean tradition, mudangs are shamans who endure a personal crisis or illness and emerge with supernatural powers. They perform rituals to seek the favor of spirits. They heal the ancestral causes of misfortune and ensure good fortune, prosperity, and well-being for the people they serve. I don’t mean to imply you’re following a similar path, Pisces. But I do think your recent discomforts have been like an apprenticeship that has given you enhanced capacity to help others. How will you wield your power to bless and heal?
Aries
(March 21-April 19): Life is tempting you to tiptoe to the brink of the threshold of the rawest truth, the wildest beauty, and the most precious love. Your ancestors are conspiring with your guardian angels to lure you into the secret heart of the inner sanctum of spiritual truth. I am totally sincere and serious. You now have a momentous opportunity—a thrilling opening to commune with subtle powers that could provide you with profound guidance.
Taurus
(April 20-May 20): In the forests of America’s Pacific Northwest, “nurse logs” lie fallen but fertile. These dead trees host seedlings, mosses, and new saplings that rise from their decaying trunks. I regard this as a powerful metaphor for you, Taurus. Something old in you is crumbling, like outdated beliefs, outmoded duties, or obsolete loyalties. Part of you may want to either grieve or ignore the shift. And yet I assure you that fresh green
vitality is sprouting from that seemingly defunct thing. What new possibility is emerging from what was supposed to end? Resurrection is at hand.
Gemini
(May 21-June 20): A deeper, wilder, smarter version of love is beckoning you from the horizon. Are you ready to head in its direction? I’m not sure you are. You may semi-consciously believe you already know what love is all about, and are therefore closed to learning more. It’s also possible that your past romantic wounds have made you timid about exploring unfamiliar terrain. Here’s my assessment: If you hope to get exposed to the sweeter, less predictable kinds of intimacy, you will have to drop some (not all) of your excessive protections and defenses. P.S.: At least one of your fears may be rooted in faulty logic.
Cancer
(June 21-July 22): Princess Diana transformed the British monarchy because she insisted that royal duty should include genuine emotional connection. Her generosity wasn’t merely ceremonial but was expressed through hands-on charity work. She had close contact with youth who had nowhere to live. She walked through minefields as part of her efforts to rid the planet of that scourge. She hugged people with AIDS at a time when many others feared such contact. “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward,” she said. Her ability to maintain grace while remaining emotionally authentic reflected a genius for blending strength with sensitivity. Can you guess her astrological sign? Cancer, of course. Now is a perfect time for you to draw inspi-
ration from her example. Express your wisely nurturing energy to the max!
Leo
(July 23-Aug. 22): Certain African lions in Kenya have no manes. Scientists theorize it’s an adaptation to heat or a reflection of extra aggressive hunting strategies. But symbolically, it challenges expectations: Is royalty still royalty without the crown? I bring this to your attention, Leo, because I suspect you will soon be asked to explore your power without its usual accouterments. Can you properly wield your influence if you don’t unleash your signature roar and dazzle? Will quiet confidence or understated presence be sufficiently magnetic? Might you radiate even more potency by refining your fire? I think so. You can summon strength in subtlety and majesty in minimalism.
Virgo
(Aug. 22 to Sept. 22): During the next nine months, you will face a poignant and potentially inspiring choice: whether to wrangle with an endless tangle of mundane struggles, or else to expand your vision to the bigger picture and devote your energy intensely to serving your interesting, long-term dreams. I hope you choose the latter option! For best results, get clear about your personal definition of success, in contrast to the superficial definitions that have been foisted on you by your culture. Can you visualize yourself years from now, looking back on your life’s greatest victories? You’re primed to enter a new phase of that glorious work, rededicating yourself with precise intentions and vigorous vows.
Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888
How to Catch the CAT!
With the ETA SPOT app, you can see where your bus is, bookmark your favorite routes, and discover route alternatives. Find a link to our app on our website at CatchTheCAT.org or search in your phone’s app store for “ETA SPOT”.
Visit CatchTheCAT.org and select “CAT Schedules & Maps” from the left-hand column on the home page. Once the page loads, choose from a variety of options, including our downloadable fixed-route schedule, accessible real-time route map, convenient trip planner, and more!
Call CAT’s real-time arrival line at (434) 9703649 and press 0. When prompted, enter the 5-digit bus stop number associated with your stop. If you don’t know your stop number or need assistance, press 3 to reach CAT customer service.
Downtown Trolley Map
CLASSIFIEDS
Email salesrep@c-ville.com
classifieds.c-ville.com
WORK WITH US!
C-VILLE Weekly is seeking a Development Lead to help us build a robust philanthropic funding program through a fiscal sponsorship. This role is ideal for someone passionate about local journalism and skilled in fundraising, donor cultivation, and resource development. You’ll help us secure contributions, grow community support, and develop strategies to expand our impact as we explore opportunities to accept tax-deductible donations.
Commonwealth of Virginia
Albemarle County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re: Z.C.
The object of this suit is to:
Terminate residual parental rights in Z.C. (dob - 12/8/2019) and approve a foster care plan with adoption goal It is ORDERED that the defendant Brian Shamala, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before November 5, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
8/8/2025 Areshini Pather DATE JUDGE
LEGAL NOTICE
Michelle Freeman Counseling LLC, Charlottesville, VA, is no longer in business due to the passing of its sole member.
Patients wishing to request copies of their records should send a written request to the Estate of Michelle Freeman, P.O. Box 2744, Alpharetta, GA 30023. Please specify where the records should be mailed.
Requests received before October 31, 2025, will not incur any charges for mail or delivery.
Albemarle County, Virginia Albemarle County Tax Map No. 128A2-00-00-00300
SALE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025, AT 12:00 P.M. AT SIMPSON PARK, 2410 SIMPSON PARK DRIVE, ESMONT, VA 22937
In execution of a Deed of Trust, being dated February 12, 2015, of record in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia (“Clerk’s Office”), in Deed Book 4583, page 164 (the “Deed of Trust”), the undersigned as Trustee by instrument of record in the aforesaid Clerk’s Office, will offer for sale at public auction:
All that tract or parcel of land situated at Porters Precinct in Albemarle County, Virginia, containing 10.979 acres, more or less as shown on a plat of Diana P. Dale, P.E., L.S., dated April 4, 2003 of record in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, in Deed Book 2466, page 301.
(the “Property”).
TERMS OF SALE: A bidder’s deposit of the lesser of $10,000 or 10% of the winning bid, shall be paid at the sale by cashier’s check made payable to Bidder (to be assigned to Trustee if Bidder is successful), with the balance upon delivery of a trustee’s deed within 30 days of sale. If the initial deposit is less than 10% of the winning bid, then the successful bidder’s deposit MUST be increased to 10% of the winning bid by cashier’s check or wired funds within three (3) business days. Settlement shall be held within 30 days after the date of sale unless otherwise postponed at the sole discretion of the Trustee. Sale is subject to the covenants, conditions, restrictions, rights of way, and easements, if any, contained in the deeds and other documents forming the chain of title to the Property. Property is sold “AS IS, WHERE IS,” “WITH ALL FAULTS” and “WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTIES.”
Neither the Substitute Trustee nor the Lender shall have any obligation to obtain possession of the Property. It shall be the purchaser’s obligation, at the purchaser’s sole cost, to obtain possession of the Property.
The purchaser waives and releases the Substitute Trustee and Lender and each of their respective agents, successors and assigns from any and all claims the purchaser and/or its successors and assigns may now have or may have in the future relating to: (1) any condition, problem or violation affecting the Property; (2) any existing or future building or zoning code problems or violations, and (3) the accuracy or validity of any information described herein. Purchaser has not relied on anything in the foreclosure advertisement but rather has relied solely on such investigations, examinations or inspections of the Property as the purchaser has made.
TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE WITH RESPECT TO SETTLEMENT. The deposit shall be applied to the credit of successful bidder at settlement; or, in the event of failure to complete settlement within the time set forth after the date of sale, in accordance with the terms of sale, the deposit shall be forfeited and applied to the costs of sale, including Trustee’s fee, and the Property shall be resold at the cost and expense of the defaulting Purchaser. Risk of loss or damage to the Property shall be borne by successful bidder from the time of auctioneer’s strikedown at the sale. Purchaser shall pay all settlement fees, title examination charges, title insurance premiums, and recording costs. Current real estate property taxes will be prorated at closing as of date of sale. Rollback taxes, if any, will be the responsibility of the Purchaser.
THE TRUSTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT: (i) to waive the deposit requirements; (ii) to extend the period of time within which the Purchaser is to make full settlement; (iii) to withdraw the Property from sale at any time prior to the termination of the bidding; (iv) to keep the bidding open for any length of time; (v) to reject all bids; and (vi) to postpone or continue this sale from time to time, such notices of postponement or setting over shall be in a manner deemed reasonable by the Trustee. Announcements made on day of sale take precedence over all other advertised terms and conditions.
FOR INFORMATION SEE: www.fplegal.com/foreclosures or www.countsauction.com
Flora Pettit PC, Trustee
Nancy R. Schlichting
530 E. Main Street
P. O. Box 2057
Charlottesville, VA 22902
(434) 817-7990
beq@fplegal.com
P.S. THE BIG PICTURE
Made in Crozet
Big crowds turned out for last weekend’s two-day Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival, where more than 120 artisans showcased handmade jewelry, ceramics, textiles, paintings, and more. The event, held twice annually and now in its 45th year, filled Claudius Crozet Park—the event’s beneficiary—with local music from Lucy Isabel, Zuzu’s Hot 5 , Gina Sobel, and more; food from Crozet Seafood Supply, Popitos, Virginia Smoke & Soul; and a whole lot of community spirit.
Culinary Diplomacy returns on November 13 & 14 with Food Network show host, cookbook author,
