C-VILLE Weekly | October 8 - 14, 2025

THE PIECES OF US

At Democracy360, scholars, students, and citizens gather to confront a timeless question: Can America still fit together?

Dept. of Justice backs out of $665M Sentara whistleblower case P.9

Plans filed for 33-unit apartment building in Belmont P.13

Monica Ong's Planetaria on art, ancestry, and astronomy P.31

TICKETS ON SALE NOW A PROGRAM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA OCT 22 - 26, 2025

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Hello, Charlottesville.

Thank you for reading C-VILLE Weekly.

10.8.25

My daughter’s hair smelled of wood smoke on two separate occasions this past weekend—an indication, to me at least, that fall is underway. She sat by a fire pit at Henley’s Orchard on Sunday and, on Saturday, we wandered Rockingham County Fairgrounds for the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale, an annual event benefiting Mennonite Central Committee. Volunteers flipped pancakes on long griddles, men stirred stainless drums of Brunswick stew with oarsized spoons, and families waited for gallon bags of hot kettle chips. After that came an auction filled with the kind of craftsmanship you rarely see anymore: hand-stitched quilts, dovetail-jointed furniture, pies so perfect (and coveted—one went for more than $200!) they seemed like acts of devotion.

There was no political posturing, no shouting, no “us” and “them.” Just a community showing up—to feed one another, to give what they could, to build something together.

That’s what civic engagement looks like, too, at its best. This week’s cover story (p.18) explores how two local institutions—UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy and Monticello—are working to bring people together in exactly that spirit. Not to debate or win, but to listen, to learn, and to build a better version of our democracy, one conversation at a time.

At a time when public discourse feels so fractured, it’s heartening to remember that dialogue doesn’t have to start in a lecture hall or a think tank. Sometimes it starts over pancakes and coffee.

Hey, thanks!

This week’s contributors

Gibbs’ work has appeared in trade and consumer publications across the country and internationally. Read his work on page 18.

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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

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

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

Shea Gibbs is president of public relations and marketing firm Gibbs Communications and has been a working journalist for more than two decades.

Sarah Lawson is a writer and visual artist living in Nelson County. The child of two librarians, Lawson has always loved books of all kinds. They write about local authors and books that have

connection to the Charlottesville community. Read their work on page 31.

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FEATURE 18

THE EXTRA MILE

At C&F Bank, we get to know you & help you define your goals & work with you to get there, because you deserve the extra mile.

NEWS 9

9 DOJ withdraws from Sentara whistleblower case.

11 Trump wants UVA to commit to his agenda; council says yes to $6.2 million property.

13 Real Estate: Riverbend hopes to build Belmont apartments.

CULTURE 27

31 Pages: Planetaria’s poems focus on family, astronomy.

35 Stages: Madi Diaz bares her soul.

38 Sudoku

39 Crossword

41 Free Will Astrology

43 P.S. 46 The Big Picture

ED I TORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Caite Hamilton editor@c-ville.com

ART DIRECTOR

Max March max@c-ville.com

CULTURE EDITOR

Tami Keaveny tami@c-ville.com

NEWS REPORTER

Catie Ratliff reporter@c-ville.com

NEWS CONTRIBUTOR

Sean Tubbs

ASSOCIATE CULTURE EDITOR

CM Turner arts@c-ville.com

COPY EDITOR

Susan Sorensen

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

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Reverse course

Whistleblower suit against Sentara takes new twist BY LISA PROVENCE

Dixon, Karl Quist, and Sara Stovall say Sentara’s

NEWS HEALTH CARE

Nearly eight years ago, Charlottesvillians learned they had the highest health insurance premiums in the country. The Department of Justice filed a notice in December that it was intervening in a longstanding whistleblower case against Sentara Health, which the government alleged had cost taxpayers $665 million.

By June, the DOJ said, never mind.

What happened during those six months to cause the DOJ to withdraw from a case it had been investigating for more than four years?

The DOJ declined to shed light on the decision. “Outside of information on the public docket, we aren’t going to be adding additional comment,” says Brian McGinn, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Virginia.

“Very unusual,” says Tim Heaphy, former U.S. attorney in that same office. “When the department decides to intervene, that means they’ve vetted the information. My sense is this could be the new administration retreating from white collar crime and emphasizing violent crime and immigration.”

Attorney Zach Kitts focuses on whistleblower cases, known as qui tam actions, which means citizens can file claims of fraud on behalf of the government. He says it’s uncommon for the DOJ to intervene and estimates the department does so only in 7 to 8 percent such cases. To move to intervene and then dismiss, “that’s the rarest,” he says.

He doesn’t see a change in administration as a factor in the decision to withdraw from

the case. “Health care fraud is a priority with every administration,” and he notes that health care costs drive the federal deficit much more than defense spending.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Virginia has seen some upheaval the past six months. Its withdrawal from the Sentara complaint was signed June 15 by then acting U.S. attorney Zachary Lee, whose name came up in accounts of the abrupt tenure of former House of Delegates speaker Todd Gilbert. Gilbert was sworn in as U.S. attorney in July and resigned in August after the DOJ ordered him to fire Lee, who was hired under former President Joe Biden, according to the Roanoke Times.

For Sentara, the DOJ bowing out of the case was vindication of what it called a “meritless” suit.

Charlottesville locals Ian Dixon, Karl Quist, and Sara Stovall filed the qui tam suit in 2020. They alleged Sentara’s health insurance arm, then known as Optima Health, jacked its rates 266 percent in 2017 when it was the only area provider. Dixon’s family of four was looking at nearly $3,000 a month in health insurance premiums—with a $14,000 deductible.

By 2021, the DOJ was interested in the case and notified Sentara it would be investigating under the False Claims Act. Two years later, an apparently exasperated DOJ asked a judge to compel Sentara to turn over documents after a meeting in which the company displayed documents in a PowerPoint presentation that it had not turned over to the government.

DOJ filings estimated the government was bilked out of $665 million in Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Sentara has denied allegations that it deliberately defrauded the government and gouged its clients, and maintains it was only trying to help Virginians at a fraught time when Donald Trump, during his first term as president, was calling for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Sentara also notes its rates were approved by Virginia’s Bureau of Insurance and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

“At a time when Virginians were at risk of losing access to ACA coverage, Sentara worked with government leaders to meet the needs of Virginians—quickly expanding coverage and supporting the health of our communities,” says Sentara spokesperson Dale Gauding.

“The Department of Justice thoroughly reviewed the case and ultimately declined to intervene, reaffirming what we’ve said from the beginning: The facts and the evidence are on our side,” he says. “It’s unfortunate that the relators in this case have misconstrued the facts in an effort to win financial gains.”

Whistleblower plaintiffs are called relators, and if they prevail, they’re entitled to a portion of the damages the government recovers. When the DOJ reversed its position, Dixon, Quist, and Stovall were back on their own with attorney Martin Bienstock to pursue the case.

And that’s how they ended up with some of the highest-profile qui tam/False Claims Act attorneys in the country.

Dallas firm Reese Marketos is fresh off a $1.64 billion judgment for two whistleblowers in a case that spanned 12 years against Janssen Products, a unit of Johnson & Johnson. A jury found that Janssen made nearly 160,000 false claims related to two of its HIV products. “It is believed to be the largest False Claims Act judgment in history,” says the law firm’s website.

Philadelphia law firm Berger Montague, which specializes in FCA cases, worked with Reese Marketos on the Janssen suit, bringing eight attorneys to the Sentara case.

They’ll be joining former U.S. attorney Rick Mountcastle, who criminally prosecuted Purdue Pharma for its marketing of OxyContin in 2007. (In the series “Dopesick,” his role was played by Peter Sarsgaard.)

Mountcastle, now with Guttman Buschner, later won a landmark $1.5 billion settlement against Abbott Laboratories for the illegal off-label promotion of Depakote to control agitation in dementia patients in nursing homes, at the time one of the largest singledrug fraud settlements in DOJ history.

“Ian, Karl, and I are absolutely thrilled that our False Claims Act case is in the expert hands of the most successful, reputable law firms in the country,” says Stovall. “They put their full efforts behind us. A mere glance at their track record tells you these firms take on successful cases against powerful corporations.”

Academic freedom?

The University of Virginia received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education October 1, calling on the school to sign an agreement in exchange for increased access to federal funds. The letter, and attached “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” was sent to nine universities, which, in addition to UVA, included Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, Vanderbilt, and the University of Pennsylvania. By signing, the letter claims schools will “signal to students, parents, and contributors that learning and equality are university priorities,” and assure the federal government they are “complying with civil rights law and pursuing Federal priorities with vigor.” The letter then lists potential benefits, including “allowance for increased overhead payments where feasible, substantial and meaningful federal grants, and other federal partnerships.”

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, White House Senior Policy Strategist May Mailman, and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley are listed as signatories on the letter, which was addressed to UVA interim President Paul Mahoney.

The document opens by detailing the financial benefits received by higher education institutions—access to student loans, grant programs, and federal contracts; research funding; visas; and preferential tax code treatment. It concludes that schools “are free to develop models and values other than those below, if the institution elects to forgo federal benefits.”

Consideration of identity in admissions and hiring is explicitly barred, with exceptions for religious institutions, single-sex institutions, and for any school with a preference for American students. Other ideals listed in the agreement include promotion of a “marketplace of ideas and civil discourse” and “institutional neutrality,” and commitments to no inflation or deflation in grading and a five-year effective tuition rate freeze.

While the headlines of the document are relatively neutral, a closer inspection of the compact’s language reveals several ideologically charged items. Under the subhead of “student equality,” the document requires universities to define “‘male,’ ‘female,’ ‘woman,’ and ‘man’ according to reproductive function and biological function.” The same section further states that “immutable characteristics, particularly race” cannot be the basis for unequal access to “buildings, spaces, scholarships, programming, and other university resources.”

C

She adds, “We are as confident as ever that the facts are on our side, that what we allege is true and that Sentara owes a large amount of money back to taxpayers.”

At the October 3 faculty senate meeting, UVA professors slammed the agreement and passed a resolution calling on Mahoney and the Board of

Visitors to “reject this compact outright as well as any similar proposal compromising the mission, values, and independence of the university” by a vote of 60-2, with four abstentions.

According to an October 6 statement from Mahoney and Rector Rachel Sheridan, a working group has been formed to assemble the university’s response, and a form for community input has been created. “It would be difficult for the University to agree to certain provisions in the Compact,” reads an excerpt from the joint message. “We write to assure you that our response will be guided by the same principles of academic freedom and free inquiry that Thomas Jefferson placed at the center of the University’s mission more than 200 years ago, and to which the University has remained faithful ever since.”

UVA has not given a timeline for its response. The DOE letter invited “limited, targeted feedback” from universities by October 20, and stated the agreement should be signed by November 21. Catie Ratliff

Pedestrian fatality

Charlottesville Police are investigating a pedestrian traffic fatality that occurred in the 1700 block of Emmet Street North (U.S. 29) on October 1.

The victim, Charlottesville resident James Leroy Jones, 67, was crossing the busy roadway when he was struck and killed less than a mile from the nearly finished pedestrian bridge spanning Route 29. The bridge is scheduled to open October 31.

The driver, 20-year-old Eleanor Cribbs of Henrico County, has been charged with reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle while using a handheld device. At press time, she is in custody, and will next appear in court October 24. CR

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

New acquisition

City poised to buy building on Holiday Drive for $6.2 mil BY SEAN TUBBS

In recent years, Charlottesville City Council has agreed to spend millions of dollars to purchase land in order to advance its priorities.

That trend is set to continue this fall as city officials have negotiated the purchase of an office building and 3.8 acres of land at 2000 Holiday Dr. for $6.2 million for potential renovation into a low-barrier shelter for people without a place to live.

“Given the building’s current configuration, it will require renovation to be suitable for overnight shelter purposes,” reads the staff report for council’s October 6 meeting.

On September 15, City Manager Sam Sanders briefed the City Council on efforts to address the unhoused population and said the first priority is the establishment of a low-barrier shelter. At the time, he said city officials had toured a location but negotiations were not underway. A sales agreement that was included in the meeting packet is dated September 25.

“At this point, plans have not been developed, and costs are unknown at this time,” the staff report continues. “The proposed Purchase Agreement provides a short study period until October 30 to more fully identify any issues that would significantly prevent transition to a shelter use.”

During that time, city staff will reach out to various service providers who would be interested in running a shelter. The budget for the current fiscal year includes $500,000 toward an operating subsidy.

Council voted unanimously on October 6 to authorize Sanders to move forward with the purchase pending an evaluation of the property. A public hearing on the funding will be held on October 20.

The current building and the 1.574-acre property is assessed at $6.44 million, according to city property records. The 27,094-squarefoot building was constructed in 1964. The location is 800 feet away from a Charlottesville Area Transit stop on Emmet Street.

The funding for the purchase will come from surpluses from previous years that at one point totaled $22.4 million. In June, council agreed to spend $8.69 million of that on a series of initiatives, including $1.2 million to hire a company called Block by Block to clean the Downtown Mall and $280,000 was to be spent toward a long-term solution for a public restroom for the Mall.

Another $425,000 was set aside to hire two employees to provide outreach to the unhoused. Those positions had not been filled as of early September and the city was working with the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless to identify how the jobs could best be utilized.

IN BRIEF

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

If this purchase goes forward, closing is set for November 20.

In recent years, council has agreed to spend $8.67 million to allow two housing nonprofits to buy the Carlton Mobile Home Park, $5.9 million to purchase 20 acres of floodplain land on East High Street, and $4 million to purchase 405 Levy Ave. from the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

The intent of the latter purchase was for potential use as the low-barrier shelter, but that project did not move forward. The Levy site had also been considered at one point for a “single-room occupancy” facility similar to the Crossings at Fourth and Preston and the Vista29 project under construction on U.S. 29 in Albemarle County. In 2023, council also contributed $5 million to the CRHA’s purchase of dozens of homes throughout Charlottesville that are known as the Dogwood portfolio.

After closing in June, Tubby’s Restaurant and Deli reopens October 3. Construction on Ragged Mountain Reservoir begins October 6. Afton Scientific breaks ground on $200 million, 285,000-square-foot facility. Old Ivy Road bridge closes after being struck by commercial vehicle. Daniel Barmak, who killed a Wintergreen police officer in 2023, sentenced to 48 years. Shooting at North Carolina waterfront bar includes Charlottesville resident Solomon Banjo, 36. University of Virginia football coach Tony Elliott named Dodd Coach of the Week after high-profile win against Florida State University. UVA basketball alum Malcolm Brogdon signs with New York Knicks. UVA football team wins matchup against University of Louisville 30-27 in overtime. Keswick house fire kills two, injures two others. Albemarle County School Board member Allison Spillman receives threats following controversial social media post.

The city is eyeing an office building and three acres of land on Holiday Drive as the future site of a low-barrier shelter.

Fri, Oct 10, 7:00p @Saint Benedict Catholic, Richmond Sat, Oct 11, 4:00p @Christ Episcopal, Charlottesville Sun, Oct 12, 4:00p @Trinity Episcopal, Staunton Organist and Bach expert Todd Fickley guest directs the opening concert of Three Notch’d Road’s 15th season. The program features two cantatas, the organ solo Fantasia in G (BWV 572), and the cheerful instrumental Sinfonia from BWV 29. Cantata 147 is a mature masterwork which includes the beloved “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” melody and festive virtuoso writing for trumpet. Cantata 131 is a setting of Psalm 130, full of pathos, and possibly the very earliest cantata we have of Bach.

Tickets online or at the door: $30, youth/students free 434.409.3424 www.tnrbaroque.org

October Custom

Tuesday – Friday 10 – 5 Saturdays 10 – 3

Steve Marquardt, baroque trumpet Kim Leeds, alto Todd Fickley, organ & director

REAL ESTATE NEWS

Bigger Belmont

Riverbend Development files plans for 33-unit apartment building at site of old church BY

SEAN TUBBS

Riverbend Development intends to use Charlottesville’s new development code to bring as many as 239 apartments to an area of the city that street signs refer to as Downtown Belmont.

In late September, the company filed plans with Neighborhood Development Services to demolish a former church at 914 Monticello Rd. and replace it with a 33-unit apartment building.

That would be the second phase of a project Riverbend is developing in the neighborhood. The first will be across Carlton Avenue and will either be 130 or 206 units depending on how Riverbend moves forward.

NDS approved a final site plan for the concept with 130 homes that was developed under the city’s prior zoning code. Riverbend has also filed a major development project for 206 units that would be constructed across five buildings. A first plan has been denied and Riverbend submitted a new version this week.

Either way, five acres of land have been cleared for the first phase, including demolition of some houses.

The half-acre property at 914 Monticello Rd. for phase 2 is zoned Corridor Mixed Use 3, which allows unlimited residential density as long as the structure fits into the allowed building footprint. Buildings in CX-3 can be as tall as five stories if enough units are designated as affordable, but this project will only be three levels high.

There would be 19 one-bedroom units and 14 two-bedroom units, and the building would be 53,062 gross square feet. That’s enough to trigger rules that require the creation of a traffic demand management plan.

Officials with Riverbend Development did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the conceptual site plan, the building’s front will be on Monticello Road, with a 42-space parking garage entrance on Carlton Avenue.

The existing building was constructed in 1948 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and used for that purpose until the mid-1970s when the congregation moved elsewhere. It has since been used as an office. The property has no historic protections under city code and demolition does not have to be approved.

Under the new zoning code, decisions on what gets built are now granted by NDS staff if all technical requirements are met. Elected officials play no role unless a special exception is required. In this case, the city’s zoning administrator has agreed to waive the requirement that both Monticello Road and Carlton Avenue be treated as primary streets.

“Of the two frontages available, Monticello has an established urban form with a more built-out street wall,” wrote Deputy City Manager James Freas in April 2024. “Monticello is also more of a connecting street as in the next block it is effectively the ‘main street’ of downtown Belmont.”

A relatively new building that forms that street wall is at 1000 Monticello Rd. In August 2022, City Council voted 3-2 to allow a special use permit for a new structure with nine units. Representatives from the Public Housing Association of Residents argued for denial because the developer had raised rents, displacing some residents.

Under the new zoning code, council plays a much more limited role in development issues, and its approval is not needed for 914 Monticello Rd.

In addition to plans for 914 Monticello Rd., Riverbend Development has plans for a major development project across Carlton Road, 206 units that would be constructed across five buildings.

$2,275,000

Very nice Townhouse in convenient River Run. New roof and gutter leaf filters. Well maintained. Easy access to town and Penn Park. Easy walking distance to the Community pool.82

UTIME TO

TALK

Two organizations are leading a charge for local civic engagement By Shea Gibbs

VA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy hosted its first Democracy360 event during what seemed like a politically charged time. It was fall 2023, and the ever-lengthening presidential election cycle was ramping up for a 2024 showdown between the Dem incumbent and GOP nominee.

Democrats were still hopeful about President Joe Biden’s prospects in the coming election. Republicans were anticipating former President Donald Trump’s comeback. The nation was divided, and engagement across the political aisle was largely antagonistic.

The inaugural Democracy360 gathering, billed as a setting for “thought leaders, journalists, policymakers, scholars, artists, and students to explore how we can collectively shape a thriving democratic future,” would bring people together to unpack the American experiment in a non-partisan way. It would bring people together—on a college campus—to talk about the biggest issues facing the United States.

Then the next two years happened: a meltdown at the top of the progressive party, a hotly contested presidential election, nine months of a headlinegrabbing GOP presidency, and the stunning assassination of conservative thought leader Charlie Kirk on September 10 of this year.

Politics aside, few would argue that Kirk was not a champion of dialogue at institutes of higher learning. He spoke at hundreds of colleges and universities, often using a question-and-answer format and openly debating students. And he has been credited by many at the highest levels of the Republican party for bringing young people and students to the conservative movement.

It is against that backdrop that the Karsh Institute will host its second biennial Democracy360, drawing thousands of pundits, students, and civic-minded citizens to the University of Virginia grounds and Charlottesville’s Paramount Theater for seminars, lectures, and discussions from October 15 to 17.

“This is obviously timely stuff,” says renowned legal analyst and Democracy360 speaker Sarah Isgur. “I also hope people walk away with some bigger-picture thoughts on how to have these types of conversations in our current political climate … and how important humility is.”

A LIVING CLASSROOM

Steve Light believes place has power. The vice president of education for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and a Democracy360 event partner, Light and his team at Monticello think people best learn history’s lessons when they see and feel their connection to the past.

The implications for Jefferson’s historic home and associated museum are clear: Come to Monticello, experience a living classroom where you can learn what democracy meant to the founders of the United States of America, and take those lessons forward as you engage in democracy.

From there, it’s not a stretch to think of the entire City of Charlottesville, anchored by Jefferson’s university, as a living classroom itself—a place where residents and visitors might feel empowered to have the kinds of discussions that led a revolution and founded a new kind of government and country.

“You can look deeply at the history of a place and see it with all its contentions and challenges,” Light says. “I believe that looking through that history in an honest and full way helps us better understand the present.”

Light will direct two programs for Democracy360: Feast of Reason and Declaration Next. The first is an open-registration dinner and discussion relying on a proven Thomas Jefferson Foundation format: Guests play a card game designed to spark non-partisan discussion around a dinner table. They’re encouraged to share their experiences and perspectives but refrain from direct debate.

Declaration Next, in which students will work together over a day and a half to create a “Declaration for the Future of American Democracy,” takes the exercise further. After breaking bread at their own Feast of Reason, the students will convene to debate issues until they reach consensus on a Declaration of Independence for the modern generation. About 40 students from 12 colleges and universities around the Commonwealth were nominated and selected to take part in the program. “The group discussion and debate are designed to yield a unanimous document,” Light says. “It will take coalition and compromise.”

According to Karsh Institute Executive Director Melody Barnes, the Declaration Next working session will produce one of several Democracy360 deliverables. The Higher Education Democracy Exchange will hold a follow-up meeting from the 2023 event, with a goal of launching a digital platform to help campuses with democratic engagement next year. Another working session will focus on democracy and capitalism to “explore … how it can better support American interests at home and abroad.” Based on the work, the group expects to publish a policy playbook offering concrete economic growth strategies. “We don’t see this as a passive experience,” Barnes says. “We aren’t just inviting people to come and sit and listen.”

For Monticello, Democracy360’s timing supersedes the current political climate. Next year will mark the United States’ 250th anniversary, and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation plans to use the milestone to “reflect on our

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DEMOCRACY360

founding ideals and consider what the next 250 years could hold.” Taking part in Democracy360 is just one way the foundation hopes to drive civic engagement in Charlottesville and beyond.

“We see the 250th not just as a moment of commemoration, but a moment of launch, a refounding,” Light says. “As civic educators, we are focused on certain skillsets that help us channel disagreement and learn to work with people we disagree with.”

A CHANCE TO BUILD

The three days of Democracy360 will feature five working sessions and nine public seminars, conversations, and roundtables. The Atlantic will serve as the event’s official media partner and host multiple meetings, including a live recording of the PBS news analysis show “Washington Week with The Atlantic,” with Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg.

In the conference’s opening conversation, local politicos and activists will come together to talk about the roots of democracy. An advanced screening of Ken Burns’ documentary series “The American Revolution” follows, along with a “Braver Angels” debate, an exploration of what opportunity means in 21stcentury America, and a community concert.

Isgur, editor of SCOTUSblog, host of the Advisory Opinions legal podcast, and a former Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs director, will help lead the “Guardrails of Democracy” conversation on Democracy360’s final day. The session is intended to address the concerns Americans on both sides of the political spectrum have about the function of the executive branch and ways to keep it in check—whether it is a Republican or Democratic administration.

“Our constitution demands that we have three functioning branches of government,” Isgur says. “And we haven’t had that in 15 years. I’d argue the judiciary is the only branch that our founders would recognize today. Congress has receded into oblivion, and the presidency is on human growth hormones. So, the real question is how to protect the judiciary and how to get those other two branches functioning again.”

Are the guardrails of U.S. democracy at risk of failing? Isgur says yes, but that’s nothing new; they’ve been at the same risk since the nation’s founding. What’s more, the details are perhaps less important than the discussion. For Democracy360, the critical takeaway is civic engagement, a populace capable of demanding that American democracy functions in the way it was intended.

“Our ability to engage in a way that allows us to productively disagree, that allows us to find the spaces of agreement, to do that in a manner that is civil and constructive while not mitigating our points of view, is essential,” Barnes says.

A CHANGING DEMOCRACY

Two years after the first installment of its new flagship event, the Karsh Institute has made changes to Democracy360. The 2023 convention featured dozens of speakers and 42 public events. While feedback was positive, administrators decided to scale back the open-registration events in favor of democracy-building activities. “Because of what we learned in 2023, we realized Democracy360 could serve as a platform for people to come together, roll up their sleeves, and hash some things out,” Barnes says.

The 2023 audience skewed to older ages, Karsh administrators say. The 2025 event is designed to increase student involvement. Barnes says the effort’s been successful. Registration has been robust for 18- to 22-year-olds, and “students from the Commonwealth and beyond are interested and eager to have this kind of opportunity to be curious, to wrestle with tough issues, productively disagree, and find those places where we do agree.”

The Karsh Institute targets its biennial civic gathering to a diverse group at a time when the word “diversity” is a political third rail. Barnes doesn’t believe seeking diverse perspectives is partisan, though. Pluralism, along with the rule of law, is at core of the U.S. constitutional republic, she says.

“Even with the challenges we face, we have to remain vigilant about advancing those core values and principles,” she says. “When I speak of diversity, I mean that in all of its different facets.”

Diverse opinions breed tension, Barnes says, but that too is at the heart of the American journey. From the Revolution to today, debate and even a sense of fear have driven our progress. Barnes believes Democracy360 can give people space to work through their fears about our changing civic environment and, maybe, find progress in peril.

Isgur, who ran Republican Carly Fiorina’s 2016 presidential primary campaign, says students need a civic reeducation. According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a group that’s been tied to conservative donors, annual surveys show college students increasingly believe it is acceptable to use violence to stop speech they find offensive.

After the politically motivated attack that took the life of Kirk—along with the rise in political violence across the partisan spectrum—administrators at the Karsh Institute and Thomas Jefferson Foundation believe it is more important than ever to discuss ideas openly in the halls of higher education. Barnes says Democracy360 will not only be a place where diverse opinions are encouraged philosophically, but also one where it will be safe to express them without fear of physical reprisal.

Events like Democracy360, according to Isgur, are essential for putting together the pieces of the collective American future. “Almost everything we hold to be true now was once an offensive idea held by the minority,” she says. “If we can’t teach the next generation how to debate ideas, this experiment will fail regardless of anything else we do.”

“Looking through [the] history [of a place] in an honest and full way helps us better understand the present,” says Steve Light, vice president of education for the

Democracy360 speaker Sarah Isgur says she hopes to walk away from the event with a better understanding of how to have tough conversations in our volatile political climate.

Thomas Jefferson Foundation.

300 Albemarle Square Shopping Center, Charlottesville (at the old Northside Library location)

Fiction

Art

1/2 price days: October 11th & 12th

300 Albemarle Square Shopping Center Charlottesville (at the old Northside Library location)

What:

Thanks for your support! Masks Recommended ...and much, much more!

The Friends thank Albemarle Square for their continued support.

The Friends thank Albemarle Square for their continued support. 1/2 price days: April 9th & 10th

(434) 977-8467

info@jmrlfriends.org • (434) 977-8467

info@jmrlfriends.org

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.

FRIDAY 10/10

MUCH MORE

Award-winning singer-songwriter Roberta Lea is known as a powerful performer and engaging storyteller. The Virginia native has built a career as a touring member of The Black Opry, one of CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2023, and a voting member of the Recording Academy. Her debut album Too Much of a Woman explores themes of vulnerability and strength while defying genre alignment. Southern rock, hip-hop, inspirational gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and classic country combine for a varied listening experience reflective of the performer’s roots. $20, 8pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.org

CULTURE TO-DO LIST

Wednesday 10/8

music

Dizgo x Underground Springhouse. A double bill featuring jamband stalwarts and genre-bending rockers. $16–20, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com Kissing Other People. A trio of accomplished musicians that seeks to unlearn boundaries of perfection and find the best sound for the given song in the given moment. With Matthew McAllister and Julia Kwolyk. $30, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potters craftcider.com

Mood Ring: Queer and Trans Open Mic Night. Share your original music. Mic, speakers, and keyboard provided. Free, 7pm. Firefly, 1304 E. Market St. fireflycville.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.

South Canal Street. Songs from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, including Motown, funk, soul, rock, and pop. Free, 5:30pm. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com

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

words

Storytime at the Garden. Bring a blanket or chairs for stories and rhymes outside. For ages 2–4. Free, 10am. Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, 950 Melbourne Rd. piedmontgarden.org classes

BOO!ology Lab. Step into the Virginia Discovery Museum’s Boo!ology Lab this October for some spook-tacular STEM fun for mad scientists ages 4 and older and an adult caregiver. $5 after museum admission, 4pm. Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 E. Main St. vadm.org

etc.

Dürty Karaoke. Dive bar karaoke for your hump days. Free, 8:30pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com

Paramount on Screen: The Librarians Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. As they well know, controlling the flow of ideas means control over communities. $11–13, 7pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Rapture Karaoke. The longest-running karaoke event in town. Hosted by Jenn DeVille. Free, 9pm. Rapture, 303 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. rapturerestaurant.com

WEDNESDAY 10/8

KISS AND TELL

Durham, North Carolina-based folk duo Viv & Riley and Nashville, Tennessee-based singer-songwriter Rachel Baiman linked up in 2022 to form the supergroup Kissing Other People. With encouragement from producer Greg Griffith, the new trio launched its project with an openness to exploration above technicality. With that ethos the group has pursued more analog, indie, and grunge sounds than any of the individual artist’s previous work, leading to exciting performances that forego perfection in service of playing the right tunes in the right place and time. Matthew McAllister & Julia Kwolyk open the show. $30, 6:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. frontporchcville.org

PAGES CULTURE

Thursday 10/9 music

American Aquarium. Nearly two decades of pushing toward that rare form of rock ‘n’ roll that’s revelatory in every sense. $32, 8pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

Berto and Vincent. A night of wild flamenco rumba and Latin guitar. Free, 7pm. The Bebedero, 225 W. Main St., Downtown Mall. thebebedero.com

Dogpark. An infectious stage presence and an homage to the indie rock of the ‘90s have kickstarted this band from a backyard outfit to a mainstage group. $32–100, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Driving Sideways. Heartfelt rock ‘n’ roll with a touch of surf. Free, 7pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com

Open Mic Night. Music, singing, poetry, spoken word—everyone is welcome to participate. Hosted by Jordan Redifer and Mark Douglas with guitars on hand to accompany anyone who wants/needs it. Free, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

Ron Gentry. An artist influenced by the sounds of Motown, The Beatles, CCR, the Stones, Hendrix, and many others. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Soweto Gospel Choir: Peace. The multi-Grammy and Emmy Award-winning choir returns to North America to perform a joyful program of freedom songs, spirituals, and classics. $29–49, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net stage

Romeo & Juliet. Shakespeare’s most iconic story of young love—reckless, tender, and all-consuming. $35–70, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St. Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com classes

Pikasso Swig Mini Paint & Sip. Keeping it fun and manageable by painting adorable 4x6-inch mini masterpieces—perfect for your desk, a bookshelf, or anywhere you need a little pop of handmade joy. $40, 6:30pm. Pikasso Swig Craft Bar, 333 Second St. SE. pikassoswig.com etc.

Bent Theatre Improv. A hilarious evening of improv comedy where you make the show by suggesting scenes for the players to act out. Free, 7pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

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

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

Friday 10/10

music

Crewe d’Bayou x Chickenhead Blues Band Mashup. A sunset soirée musical mashup bringing the sounds of the bayou and the Big Easy. Free, 6pm. Chisholm Vineyards at Adventure Farm, 1135 Clan Chisholm Ln., Earlysville. chisholmvineyards.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

We are star dust

Monica Ong’s Planetaria asks us to look further BY SARAH LAWSON

Monica Ong is a visual poet and author of the new book Planetaria. With a focus on family and diaspora as well as astronomy, the poems in Planetaria are tactile—not just visual but multidimensional. The book features a poem that takes the form of a wheel that’s viewed through a View-Master toy, a poem with locks of real hair atop text, and intricately letterpressed, interactive poems. Each work asks for multiple looks, creating a rich experience as the reader navigates Ong’s creative vision. C-VILLE talked with Ong about her inspiration and creative process.

C-VILLE: In addition to family photos and Chinese star charts, Planetaria is shaped by science, from its epigram by a physicist to a poem in tribute to astronomer Caroline Herschel. How do you describe your relationship to science as a poet?

Monica Ong: I view science with awe and regard scientists with deep admiration for what they do. Although I was somewhat intimidated by STEM subjects as a young student, poetry provides me with a space to get acquainted with the things that scare me but I am mysteriously drawn to.

What I love about astronomy is how this cosmic perspective encourages me to zoom back and embrace a much broader long-term perspective, which has helped me navigate these strange times. I am inspired by how scientists test the stories we tell about the world with meticulous experiments and are willing to follow the evidence into new territory, even if it means overturning or giving up their attachments to long-held beliefs.

It takes courage to follow the truth, especially if it exists outside of one’s comfort zone or inherited framework. You have to be brave to go somewhere new.

Family and tradition—as well as breaking with tradition—are significant themes in this collection. Describe your process of exploring family photos.

I often think of our ancestors as early cosmonauts who gave up the world they knew to brave the great unknown in search of a better life. I found myself gravitating to images of my parents or grandparents during these big life changes, often collaging those scenes with astronomical diagrams and imagery.

Our families were very much like a gathering of asterisms, seemingly close in proximity within photos, but often living great distances away from one another, due to war, due to survival, due to the pursuit of dreams.

I like to look at the scientific language in astronomy textbooks for interesting syntax while also free-writing responses to these pho-

tos and then weaving these texts into the images with design. It’s in the process of asking my family about the photos that fascinating stories they’ve never told finally get to be uncovered.

Was there a typical process for creating each work, or was each a unique project when it came to combining text, images, and other elements?

As the artist Ben Shahn once said, “Form is the shape of content,” which is to say that whatever the poem asks of me, I make. From poem to poem, I am thinking about its context of reading and how my decisions about a poem’s material, syntax, scale, or form are in service to the reader’s experience.

The most complex poem that I designed was the “Star Gazer,” which takes the form of a planisphere. By writing verses to connect selected asterism from the Chinese night sky, this piece allows readers to see the stars on a desired date in a manner that reveals a poem among the stars. It is a poem that changes over the course of the seasons such that the poem you may see on a summer birthday will be different than one you may offer a loved on a winter’s night.

What went into your decision to divide the book based on moon phases?

I like how grouping the poems into moon phases allows more breathing room in the

pacing of these works as a collection. Visual poetry can be dense in how it engages readers on multiple levels. Thus, it was important to consider a kind of close reading that is not rushed and tilted towards the expansion of time and space in order to reflect back the cosmic perspective that the poems seek to live in.

When you give readings, are there visual elements that you incorporate in-person?

I love giving multi-media readings of this work to show images of the visual poems in process and as gallery installations, as well as planetary footage from NASA and historical portraits of some of the women scientists who inspired many of the poems. Thanks to the Yale Quantum Institute, I even custom-designed a poetry reading for the Yale Leitner Observatory & Planetarium where I utilized the 360-degree dome to display the Chinese star system that inspired many of the constellation maps in this collection.

Creating this immersive cocoon of shared wonder in celebration of motherhood, women in science, and family diaspora also brought audiences together across disciplines and geographies. Doing this work has shown me time and again that despite the manufactured illusions of difference, we really are just made of star dust.

Monica Ong will read and discuss Planetaria at New Dominion Bookshop on October 11.

FALL TREE SALE

Fall Planting Prepares Trees to Endure Summer Heat! Join us at the Virginia Dept of Forestry (900 Natural Resources Drive)

Saturday, October 11th from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon

Choose from 37 varieties of primarily native trees and shrubs, priced from $6.00 to $15.00. Limited to 8 per household.

We maintain our own volunteer run tree nursery, concentrating on native trees, some of which are hard to find from commercial sources. As an all-volunteer organization, we are committed to increasing public awareness of the value of trees in all environments.

Join us on one of our many guided tree walks, or at one of our various educational talks presented on zoom or live. View all upcoming events listed on the main page of our website on the bottom right. Sign up on our website to receive news about new talks, walks, and dates for the next tree sale.

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

uvamusic:

* 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

CULTURE TO-DO LIST

Friday 10/10

Dave Goodrich. Guitarist and singer-songwriter brings a repertoire of blues, rock, pop, Motown, and original music. Free, 5pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Eli Cook. Music from the crossroads of blues, the highways of rock, and the backroads of country. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

James Tamelcoff. A rising star raised in rural Virginia, known for his classic country sound. $19, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Jon Tyler Wiley. Rock ‘n’ roll from Virginia. Free, 7pm. Dürty Nelly’s, 2200 Jefferson Park Ave. durtynellyscharlottesville.com

Liz Barnes/Barbara Martin Quartet. Beautiful jazz and blues music featuring Liz Barnes on piano, Barbara Martin on vocals, Tom Harbeck on bass, and Jim Howe on drums. Free, 6pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com

Mr. Spacecat. A straight-up rock ‘n’ roll band plays great songs that make you feel good, which in turn makes the band feel good. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

Roberta Lea. This award-winning singer-songwriter with a country-tinged neo-pop sound is a Virginia native known as a powerful songwriter and engaging storyteller. $20, 8pm. The Front Porch, 221 E. Water St. frontporchcville.com

The Legwarmers. This ain’t no half-assed cover band, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no fooling

around—it’s the ultimate ’80s tribute band. $23–31, 9pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

stage

One Man Poe Show. In honor of the macabre, the terrifying, and gothic horror at its most legendary, award-winning U.K. actor Stephen Smith performs four of Edgar Allen Poe’s timeless tales of psychological horror. $25–70, 7pm. Newcomb Hall Theater, 180 McCormick Rd. engagement.virginia.edu

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 find loves of their own. $15, 8pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org

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. $41–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 9. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Paramount On Screen: Ghostbusters Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson take a chance on going freelance, de-haunting houses with a ghost-removal service in this classic comedy. $9–11, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Trivia with Olivia. Get the weekend started with beers and trivia. Free, 6pm. SuperFly Brewing Co., 943 Preston Ave. superflybrewing.com

SATURDAY 10/11

EVENING OF THE IMPROV

Grammy Award-winning progressive bluegrass purveyors The Infamous Stringdusters return to town with Oakland, California’s retro-soul outfit The California Honeydrops. Known for high-energy performances and improv jams, the Stringdusters push the boundaries of Americana music while honoring its deep running roots, captivating audiences across the country and around the world. Born out of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, The California Honeydrops have become a mainstay of the festival scene with a vast repertoire of original songs and timeless classics performed with an unwavering commitment to the art of improvisation. $60–80, 7pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com

Watershed Moments: A Mini River Film Festival. Celebrating the ways people connect to and are transformed by our local waterways through four films and a Q&A panel. Free, 7pm. Light House Studio: Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 W. Market St. lighthousestudio.org

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 9. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

Saturday 10/11 music

Acelia. An alternative singer-songwriter currently based in Richmond, Virginia. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Cake Fight. Energetic party band plays the best modern pop and classic rock. Free, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwood farmandwinery.com

Emo Night Karaoke. Choose from a setlist of 125+ pop punk and emo songs, and sing with a backing band made up of members from Just Surrender, Freshman 15, Weatherbox, Big D and the Kids Table, Jet Lag Gemini, and more. $19, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Holly Renee Allen. Great pickin’, soulful harmonies, and a good time for all. $10, 7pm. The Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesvillemarket.com

Josh Davidson. Shenandoah Valley local plays a mix of country, folk rock, Americana, and more. Free, noon. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com

Kat and the Travelers. A Virginia Wine Month harvest party featuring a blend of originals, swing, vintage jazz, blues, and boogie. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Porch Dogs. Come bark with the dogs. Free, 12:30pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmandwinery.com

Press Play Music Series: SKANK. Ska, rocksteady, bluebeat, and dub. Free, 5:30pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

The Infamous Stringdusters x The California Honeydrops. American progressive bluegrass band known for its virtuosic musicianship, innovative arrangements, and genre-blending style plays with the retro-soul outfit born out of Oakland. $60–80, 7pm. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. tingpavilion.com

The Invasion. A Virginia Wine Month harvest party featuring a stripped-down and energetic British-invasion tribute band specializing in British rock ‘n’ roll from the 1960s and 1970s. Free, 6pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

The Party of a Showgirl: A TS12 Celebration. Celebrating the release of Taylor Swift’s new album. Ages 18+. $20–27, 9pm. The Jefferson Theater, 110 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. jeffersontheater.com

The Wavelength. Vintage rock and jazzy, bluesy vibrations featuring guests Dan Barrale on drums and Michael Elswick on sax. Free, 5pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glass housewinery.com

Three Notch’d Road: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” The Virginia Baroque Ensemble celebrates the opening of its 15th season with cantatas 131 and 147 by J.S. Bach. $30, 4pm. Christ Episcopal Church, 120 W. High St. tnrbaroque.org

stage

Romeo & Juliet. See listing for Thursday, October 9. $41–75, 2pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. americanshakespearecenter.com

Significant Other See listing for Friday, October 10. $15, 8pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org

The Two Gentlemen of Verona. See listing for Friday, October 10. $41–75, 7:30pm. Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 S. Market St., Staunton. american shakespearecenter.com

words

Author Event: Monica Ong. Ong reads from her new poetry collection, Planetaria A conversation with writer and scholar Sumita Chakraborty follows. Free, 7pm. New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. ndbookshop.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

classes

Embroidery Stitch Sampler 1. Learn how to make a stitch sampler using various stitches. Supplies and written instructions provided. Ages 13+. $25, 11am. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Revising Prose: Seeing Your Work Anew. Discuss essential elements that writers need to set up early in their work to gain reader trust and buy-in, in addition to grabbing their interest, with writer Kristie Smeltzer. $62–67, 1pm. WriterHouse, 508 Dale Ave. writerhouse.org

etc.

Black Barbers of Charlottesville Tour. Take a look at the City of Charlottesville through the history of its Black barbers on a walking tour focused on stories from the late-19th and early20th centuries. $5–20, noon. Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, 200 Second St. NE. albemarlehistory.org

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 9. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

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 in 2021. $5–20, 10am. Albemarle County Courthouse, 501 E. Jefferson St. albemarlehistory.org

Crozet Fall Arts and Crafts Festival. The 45th annual event features more than 125 jury-selected artists, craft demonstrations, live music, children’s activities, food, and Virginia wine and beer. $6–12, 10am. Claudius Crozet Park, Crozet. crozet festival.com

Historic Downtown Mall Tour. A casual eightblock walking tour around Charlottesville’s historic pedestrian Downtown Mall, discovering local history. $5–20, 11am. Ting Pavilion, 700 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. albemarlehistory.org

Paramount On Screen: Summer of Soul. A powerful and transporting documentary— part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture, and fashion. $9–11, 7:30pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Queeraoke. Everyone is welcome to join the fun and sing their heart out, no matter what level of singing they have. Free, 9pm. Holly’s Diner, 1221 E. Market St.

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 9. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

STAGES CULTURE

Madi Diaz

Madi Diaz is overcome with emotion. And she certainly lets her heart rule her hands and her voice. Diaz’s kind of heartfelt music either works for you or it doesn’t; that is to say that someone baring her soul with soft determination either resonates with you and your own life experiences, or you shudder at the prospect of having to deal with an emoting woman with an acoustic guitar headed in your direction.

The Southern Café & Music Hall

MONDAY 10/13

If you fit in the former group, Diaz’s intriguing lyrical visions, and relationship issues sung in highly individual melodies, are yours to enjoy. She employs a classic singersongwriter approach to her work that could be as at home in 1975 as it is in 2025. She’s released a few advance tracks from Fatal Optimism, her seventh album, which arrives October 10, including “Heavy Metal,” a vulnerable but tough self-depiction that discusses the strength of her heart—an ironic use, but considering her genre, not a surprising one. It sounds as if Diaz’s next album will continue down the path she established with 2021’s History of a Feeling and last year’s Grammy-nominated Weird Faith. Love goes wrong. A breakup occurs. A feeling of “how could you do this to me?” permeates everything. Then a slow return and the act of putting one’s self back together, followed by unexpectedly falling in love again. That’s how it goes for Diaz and most everyone else on Earth, but she’s committed to putting herself out there. Her music operates as a genuine reflection of her personal life and her reaction to it. So Fatal Optimism is likely to supply more relationship angst—at least if the tracks “Ambivalence” and “Feel Something” are anything to go by. This is not to say the whole collection is devoid of excitement in its downtempo introspection—who knows what she’s got up her sleeves. But, if it turns out that there’s a single moment offset by blast beats or distorted guitar solos, I’ll eat my hat.—CM Gorey

Sunday 10/12

music

Henley & Lou. Lifting your spirits with the ultimate feel-good vibes of heart and soul music. Free, noon. Keswick Vineyards, 1575 Keswick Winery Dr., Keswick. keswickvineyards.com

Patrick & Aaron Olwell and Friends. Enjoy an energetic and eclectic Irish music jam featuring fine renditions of traditional tunes all afternoon. Free, 2:30pm. Albemarle CiderWorks, 2545 Rural Ridge Ln., North Garden. albemarleciderworks.com

Second Sunday Bluegrass Jam. Musicians gather in a circle to jam and the audience watches from the perimeter. Show up with instruments if you got ’em, otherwise just show up. Free, 2pm. Batesville Market, 6624 Plank Rd., Batesville. batesville market.com

Shane Click. With more than 20 years experience and hundreds of shows under his belt, it’s no wonder his cover band was voted “Best in the Valley” by the Daily News Record readers poll. Free, 2pm. DuCard Vineyards, 40 Gibson Hollow Ln., Etlan. ducardvineyards.com

Willie DE. A solo acoustic performance of bluesy rock sounds. Free, 2pm. Glass House Winery, 5898 Free Union Rd., Free Union. glasshousewinery.com stage

Significant Other See listing for Friday, October 10. $15, 2:30pm. Four County Players, 5256 Governor Barbour St., Barboursville. fourcp.org

words

U Ask, UVA Answers: Research on Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Lori L. McMahon, vice president for research, presents a lecture covering research on dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. Free, 2pm. Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org

classes

Expressive Watercolor and Ink: Autumn Mushrooms. Learn techniques to paint autumn mushrooms using watercolor paint and ink. Beginner friendly, ages 15+. $35, 1:30pm. The Scrappy Elephant, 1745 Allied St. scrappyelephant.com

Paint + Sip: Pumpkin Full of Daisies. Learn how to paint the design in a step-by-step format. No experience necessary, all materials included. $40, 1pm. Virginia Wine Collective, 1585 Avon St. Ext. blueridgebrushes.com etc.

Brewery Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 9. $15, noon. Starr Hill Brewery, Dairy Market. puzzledbee.com

Crozet Fall Arts and Crafts Festival. See listing for Saturday, October 11. $7–12, 10am. Claudius Crozet Park, Crozet. crozetfestival.com

Fall Fest at Mountaintop. Fall fun for the whole family including face painting, crafts, a book sale, pumpkin decorating, games, inflatables, live music, a treat trot, a bake sale, and more. Free, 1pm. Mountaintop Montessori, 440 Pinnacle Place. mountain topmontessori.org

First Anniversary Bash. A jam-packed celebration featuring live music by RawBeets, guided wine tastings, food trucks, and more. Free, 1–4pm. Fallen Tree Vineyard and Farm, 4593 Clark Rd., Crozet. fallen treevineyard.com

Music Bingo. Listen to your favorite music, match the songs to the titles on your music bingo cards, and win great prizes. Free, 2pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. eastwoodfarmand winery.com

Paramount On Screen: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit The plucky characters from a series of animated shorts, Wallace (Peter Sallis) and his dog, Gromit, make their feature debut. $9–11, 4pm. The Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Downtown Mall. theparamount.net

Vineyard Puzzle Hunt. See listing for Thursday, October 9. $15, 5pm. Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2531 Scottsville Rd. puzzledbee.com

WTJU Vinyl Takeover. Your favorite WTJU Radio DJs spin five full hours of vinyl to keep you grooving and relaxing all day long. Free, 1pm. Potter’s Craft Cider, 1350 Arrowhead Valley Rd. potterscraftcider.com

Monday 10/13

music

Madi Diaz. A singer-songwriter who cuts to the emotional core of her own experiences with startling precision. $28, 8pm. The Southern Café & Music Hall, 103 S. First St. thesoutherncville.com

Tuesday 10/14

music

Prabir. Raga/Tom Petty-inspired rock from Richmond. Free, 7pm. 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

Plot Twisters Teen Book Club. Avid teen readers are invited to join and read a book of their choice on a monthly theme or genre. For ages 11–18. Registration required. Free, 5pm. Central Library, 201 E. Market St. jmrl.org

Profs & Pints Charlottesville: An Encounter with Early Vampires. A scholarly look at centuriesold Slavic beliefs concerning the undead, with Stanley Joseph Stepanic. $13–17, 5:30pm. Graduate Hotel, 1309 W. Main St. profsandpints.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.

FOR FUN PUZZLES

SUDOKU

#1

#1

#4

#3

Verbal

62. Midwest state capital not on the Interstate Highway System

63. Words of regret

64. Became a snooze

DOWN

1. Threw barbs

2. Powdered wig

3. Wobbly citrusy option

4. Rolling Stones hit “Honky ___ Women”

5. Top roster

6. Steak namesake

7. Prepare (oneself)

8. Olympic gear that weighs about 27 ounces

9. “Queer as Folk” actress Gill

10. Accord promoter

11. “Coronation Street” character ___ Sharples

12. DVR button

13. Suffix for record holders

17. Specialty of Chopin or FaurÈ

40. Big number presented to the audience? 41. Bendy pipe

Promotional piece 43. Couple 46. 1990s “Bond girl” por trayer

Feet, slangily 51. Academic suffix 52. 1965 John Coltrane album set up in four parts

57. Personalize, perhaps

60. Shout of respect

61. More catchy, as music

20. Close NASCAR position that may result in a photo finish

24. 1990s “murder ballad” by the then-Dixie Chicks

25. French 101 word often seen after d’

26. “Dress for Less” chain

28. “The BFG” author

30. “Morbius” director Daniel

31. Change copy

32. Casual meetup?

35. ___ Tower (Telegraph Hill landmark)

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.

By Rob Brezsny

Scorpio

(Oct. 23-Nov.21): Some medieval mystics claimed that angels spoke in paradoxes because the truth was too rich for simple logic. These days, I believe you Scorpios are extra fluent in paradox. You are raw yet powerful, aching and grateful, confounded but utterly clear. You are both dying and being reborn. My advice: Don’t try to resolve the contradictions. Immerse yourself in them, bask in them, and allow them to teach you all they have to teach. This may entail you sitting with your sadness as you laugh and letting your desire and doubt interweave. The contradictions you face with open-heartedness will gift you with sublime potency and authority.

Sagittarius

(Nov. 22-Dec.21): The ancient city of Petra, built in sandstone cliffs in what’s now Jordan, was mostly hidden from the outside world for centuries. In 1812, Sagittarian Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it by disguising himself as a pilgrim. He trained extensively in the Arabic language, Islamic culture, and local customs so he could travel incognito. You Sagittarians can benefit from a similar strategy in the coming weeks. Life will conspire to bring you wonders if you thoroughly educate yourself about the people and situations you would like to influence. I invite you to hike your empathy up to a higher octave, cultivate respect for what’s unfamiliar, and make yourself extra available for exotic and inspiring treasures.

Capricorn

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): During the 1800s, countless inventors chased the impossible dream of perpetual-motion machines: contraptions that would run endlessly without any fuel source. Every attempt failed; such devices bucked the fundamental laws of physics. But here’s good news, Capricorn: You are close to cracking the code on a metaphorical version of perpetual motion. You are cultivating habits and rhythms that could keep you steady and vital for a long time to come. I predict the energy you’re generating will be self-sustaining.

Aquarius

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Octopuses have three hearts and blue blood. They taste with their skin, solve puzzles, and squeeze their entire bodies through coin-sized holes. No wonder they are referred to as the aliens of Earth, just as you Aquarians are the aliens of the zodiac. According to my analysis, now is a perfect time for you to embrace your inner octopus. I authorize you to let your strangeness lead the way. You have the right and duty to fully activate your multidimensional mind. Yes, you may be misunderstood by some. But your suppleness, radical empathy, and nonlinear genius will be exactly what’s needed. Be the one who sees escape routes and paths to freedom that no one else perceives. Make the impossible look natural.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY FOR FUN

(Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): Libra architect Christopher Alexander developed a sixth sense about why some spaces feel comfortable while others are alienating. What was the source of his genius? He avoided abstract principles and studied how people actually used spaces. His best architecture soulfully coordinated the relationships between indoor and outdoor areas, private and public zones, and individual needs and community functions. The “quality without a name” was the term he used to identify the profound aliveness, wholeness, and harmony of spaces where people love to be. In the coming weeks, Libra, I hope you access your own natural gift for curating relationships and cultivating balance. Your solutions should serve multiple needs. Elegant approaches will arise as you focus on connections rather than isolated parts.

Pisces

(Feb. 19-March 20): Dear Pisces, it’s like you’re in one of those dreams when you’re exploring the attic or basement of your home and discover secret rooms you didn’t realize existed. This is good! It means you are finding uncharted frontiers in what you assumed was familiar territory. It suggests you are ready to see truths you weren’t ready for before. Congrats! Keep wandering and wondering, and you will discover what you didn’t even know you needed to know.

Aries

(March 21-April 19): No relationship is like any other. The way we bond with another has a distinctive identity that embodies the idiosyncratic chemistry between us. So in my view, it’s wrong to compare any partnership to a supposedly ideal template. Fortunately, you Aries are in a phase when you can summon extra wisdom about this and other relaxing truths concerning togetherness. I recommend you devote your full creativity and ingenuity to helping your key bonds ripen and deepen.

Taurus

(April 20-May 20): Poet Rainer Maria Rilke advised, “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.” These days, dear Taurus, that’s your power move: to stay in conversation with mystery without forcing premature answers. Not everything needs to be fixed or finalized. Your gift is to be a custodian of unfolding processes: to cherish and nourish what’s ripening. Trust that your questions

are already generating the early blooms of a thorough healing.

Gemini

(May 21-June 20): I am a great admirer of Bart Simpson, a fictional fourth-grade student on the animated TV show “The Simpsons.” He is a constant source of unruly affirmations that we could all benefit from incorporating into our own behavior when life gets comically weird. Since I think you’re in such a phase now, Gemini, I am offering a batch of Bart-style gems. For best results, use them to free yourself from the drone of the daily routine and scramble your habitual ways of understanding the world. Now here’s Bart: 1. “I will not invent a new religion based on bubble gum.” 2. “I will not sell bottled ‘invisible water.’” 3. “I will not try to hypnotize my friends, and I will not tell coworkers they are holograms.” 4. “I will not claim to be a licensed pyrotechnician.” 5. “I will not use the Pythagorean theorem to summon demons.” 6. “I will not declare war on Thursdays.”

Cancer

(June 21-July 22): During its entire life, the desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis grows just two leaves. They never wither or fall off but continually grow, twist, split, and tatter for hundreds of years. They keep thriving even as their ends are worn or shredded by wind and sand. I love how wild and vigorous they look, and I love how their wildness is the result of their unfailing persistence and resilience. Let’s make Welwitschia mirabilis your inspirational symbol in the coming weeks, Cancerian. May it

motivate you to nurture the quiet, enduring power in your depths that enables you to express yourself with maximum uniqueness and authenticity.

Leo

(July 23-Aug. 22): Have you been to Morocco? I love that so many houses there are built around spacious courtyards with intricate tilework and lush gardens. Sooner or later, of course, the gorgeous mosaic-like floors need renovations. The artisans who do the work honor the previous artistry. “In rebuilding,” one told me, “our goal is to create new magnificence that remembers the old splendor.” I hope you pursue an approach like that in the coming weeks, Leo. The mending and healing you undertake should nourish the soulfulness you have cultivated, even as you polish and refine.

Virgo

(Aug. 22 to Sept. 22): Virgo novelist Agatha Christie often planned her elaborate plots while cleaning her house or washing dishes. She said such repetitive, physical tasks unlocked her creativity, allowing ideas to emerge without force. I suggest you draw inspiration from her method in the coming weeks. Seek your own form of productive distraction. Instead of wrestling with a problem in a heroic death match, lose yourself in simple, grounding actions that free your mind to wander. I am pretty sure that your most brilliant and lasting solutions will emerge when you’re not trying hard to come up with brilliant and lasting solutions. Expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes: RealAstrology.com, (877) 873-4888

LIBRA

Oct 4 & 5 | Oct 11 & 12 Noon to 5pm Daily

Legals

RENTALS. FOR SALE BY OWNER.

NEED TO MOVE YOUR PROPERTY OR JUST MOVE INTO ONE?

ADVERTISE IN THE C-VILLE CLASSIFIEDS!

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.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

As legally required by Virginia Code § 15.2-2507, on Monday, October 20, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., the City Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, will hold a Public Hearing in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 605 East Main Street, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902, to consider an amendment to the current Charlottesville City Budget which would exceed one percent of the total expenditures shown in the currently adopted City Budget. The potential Budget Amendment would help fund a property acquisition, environmental and mobility policy plans and renovations to office spaces in City Hall using surplus funds currently allocated to the City’s Capital Improvements Fund.

Any person may appear at the Public Hearing to express their views on the proposed Amendment Appropriation. Individuals with disabilities, who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in the Public Hearing, may call (434) 987-1267, or submit a request via email to ada@charlottesville.gov. The City requests that you provide forty-eight (48) hours’ notice, so that proper arrangements may be made. A copy of the full text of the proposed Amendment Appropriation is available for inspection in the Office of the Clerk of City Council in City Hall, 605 East Main Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902.

VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ALBEMARLE COUNTY

BARBARA J. JOHNSON, Case No. CL24-682

Plaintiff v.

SERVE: HERNANDEZ CRUZ 4500 Bunker Hill Road Keswick, Virginia 22947 (Albemarle County)

SERVE: VICTOR NATIVIDAD MONROY CRUZ 4500 Bunker Hill Road Keswick, Virginia 22947 (Albemarle County)

SERVE: MARIA NATIVIDAD MONROY CRUZ 4500 Bunker Hill Road Keswick, Virginia 22947 (Albemarle County)

SERVE: PMC DISTRIBUTION, INC. 95 Campbell Road Keswick, Virginia 22947 (Albemarle County)

SERVE: EDWARD L. JOHNSON 4455 Bunker Hill Road Keswick, Virginia 22947 (Albemarle County)

SERVE: DABEIBA JOHNSON 4455 Bunker Hill Road Keswick, Virginia 22947 (Albemarle County)

SERVE: JOYCE M. MOORE 4475 Bunker Hill Road Keswick, Virginia 2294 7 (Albemarle County)

SERVE: FELICIA JOHNSON 4050 Campbell Road Troy, Virginia 22974 (Louisa County)

AND ANY “PARTIES UNKNOWN”;

SERVE: BY ORDER OF PUBLICATION Defendants.

AMENDED ORDER OF PUBLICATION

The object of this suit is to quiet title to real estate lying and being in Albemarle County, Virginia, and which is described as:

Tax Map Parcel (IMP) 80-145A is described as all that certain piece or parcel of land, with all improvements thereon and appurtenances thereunto, lying and being situate in the Rivanna District, Albemarle County, Virginia, containing two (2) acres, more or less, and being bounded and described in that certain deed dated May 14, 1894, from A. P. Fox to Nancy Howard, which deed was recorded May 14, 1894, in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, in Deed Book 100, Page 498.

It appearing from an Affidavit filed int his cause that there may be Defendants who addresses are unknown and further that there may be parties who are unknown that may have an interest in said property;

On consideration whereof, it is ORDERED that all parties hereinabove named, including those designated as “Parties Unknown”, appear on or before October 8, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. and do what is necessary to protect their interests; and is further ORDERED that this Order be published once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Albemarle County, Virginia.

ENTERED this 29th day of August, 2025

Cheryl V. Higgins

I ASK FOR THIS:

Joseph W. Wright, III, Esquire, Attorney for Plaintiff

VSB#30347

Dygert, Wright, Hobbs & Hernandez, PLC 415 4th Street, N.E. Upper Floor Charlottesville, VA 22902

Tel: (434) 979-5515

Fax: (434) 295-7785

Email: jwright@charlottesvillelegal.com

AUCTIONS

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P.S. THE BIG PICTURE

One of these nights

Members of Charlottesville High School’s Class of 1975 returned October 3 and 4 to celebrate their 50th reunion, retracing the path from Lane High to the then-unfinished new campus as the school’s first graduating class. Alumni gathered for a spirited weekend of tailgating before CHS’ Friday night football game against Louisa County, school tours, and dinner at the Greencroft Club with a DJ spinning ’70s tunes.

HOST COMMITTEE