A committee of Charlottesville citizens has saved the Charlottesville Independence Day celebration for the second time in the past few years. After concern was raised last week over the lack of a celebration, Tom Powell, real estate agent Ray Caddell, and WINA’s Dann Miller, among others, have formed the Save the Fireworks committee, and they’re making big promises: “This is far in excess of any fireworks show that’s ever been in Charlottesville. It’ll be bigger, badder, more outrageous. We’re going to spend at least 50 percent more than the biggest show that’s ever been here.” They’re even figuring out a plan to make sure that the fireworks happen every year from here on out, and end the annual scramble that has became standard in the past few years. Elizabeth Nelson has the story in today’s Progress.
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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"This is far in excess of any fireworks show that’s ever been in Charlottesville. It’ll be bigger, badder, more outrageous. We’re going to spend at least 50 percent more than the biggest show that’s ever been here"
Way to go. That`s the ticket. We need more tasteful goals like this. Maybe next year we can spend twice as much and be more outrageous, perhaps to the 10th power.
Other than the goal of excess the "saviors" should be applauded for their efforts but don`t ask too many folks what we are celebrating.
Hey, maybe this Christmas we can RENT a $50,000 Christmas tree! WOW!!!
I’m glad you made this comment… it relates to something City Manager Gary O’Connell said earlier as quoted in the media, that the city wasn’t "in the fireworks business" or something like that. BUT they must be in the "Christmas merriment business" having spent a wasteful amount of the city’s tax dollars on Christmas trees and what not.
BUT they must be in the “Christmas merriment business” having spent a wasteful amount of the city’s tax dollars on Christmas trees and what not.
No. They spent $500 on a Christmas tree a few years ago. They’ve been donated ever since.
While, yes, they are now accepting donated Christmas trees, in the very recent past the city did not. I used your search engine to find this story on the "past" holiday waste of the city government:
"Charlottesville resident Robert Shiflett has donated a 22-foot Norway spruce to serve as the city’s Christmas tree this year. This may be the start of a new tradition: after last year’s $22,000 fake tree was destoyed by vandals, a county couple donated a replacement. After the heat that the city took for the cost of the 2000 Christmas tree, getting somebody to donate the tree every year would like prove to be an excellent public image move. Jake Mooney has the story in today’s Progress."
$22,000, if that figure is correct, is pretty darn wasteful.
It just bugs me that Gary O’Connell is so dismissive of the efforts to save the fourth of July celebrations with his comment "we aren’t in the fireworks business." How easily they forget…
The $22,000 figure is rounded, if I recall. The invoice said something like $21,150. (I think it was adjusted in later stories, or should have been.)
Otherwise, a damn well-written and reported piece of journalism, although Maurice Jones swears up and down to this day (falsely) that WVIR actually broke the story. It was one of the biggest stories around for a solid month, too. An "evergreen," if you will. (Har!)
O’Connell’s got to get a new speechwriter. I remember quite vividly that after the original rented tree was destroyed, he told some hack at the Progress that the city was getting "out of the holiday tree business." Or something close to that.
O’Connell’s got to get a new speechwriter.
Yeah, because he’s not in the speechwriting business.
*rimshot*
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the first annual Charlottesville Shock & Awe Fireworks Celebration!!!"