writes: Fridays after 5 has been canceled this week. CDF had planned a very uplifting, reverential program for this evening and regrets that this opportunity for the community to come together will not occur. CDF strongly urges all who were planning to attend to take part in the Red Cross fundraising that was scheduled for this event to please support the Red Cross disaster relief and blood collection activities that are ongoing. You can reach the Red Cross at 295-LIFE. Tell them Fridays After 5 sent you!
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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I was really rather looking forward to spending some time socializing. I need some face time.
Anyone know why it was cancelled?
Keep in mind that people will still be downtown.
Do we really care if the music and beer trucks are gone?
Apparently, the city received some complaints regarding the appropriateness of having people dancing and drinking beer in public right now, particularly on a day of remembrance, and they called CDF to “recommend” they cancel.
Yesterday the city was apparently totally behind this event, and CDF put a lot of work into making it appropriate to the current situation. In fact, the mayor had agreed to make opening remarks! Today it appears they caved. We can only hope that our national leaders are more resolute in the face of the enormous national menace facing us than our local leaders were in the face of a few phone calls. If not, we’re in a world of trouble. It’s very disappointing. I just hope they’ll be sure to let us know when it’s okay to smile again.
I guess the frustrating thing is, like Waldo, we all need some face time. Our collective psyche needs to breathe, and if people didn’t like that idea they sure could have stayed away. All we’ve had for the past four days is CNN, MSNBC, and a repetitive showing of planes snuffing out thousands of lives. We can’t be expected to sit in front of the tube until this crisis is over.
Of course, now isn’t the time for petty bickering. We all have much larger battles to fight. But it is very disappointing. Perhaps the city erred with nothing but the best of intentions in mind, but I think without question they did err.