Author Archive for Waldo Jaquith

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Parks Need an Overhaul

Published by Waldo Jaquith on December 11, 2005 in General News. 4 Comments

In today’s Progress, John Yellig writes about the state of Charlottesville’s parks:

A city-sponsored needs assessment by PROS Consulting LLC, a consulting firm specializing in public facilities, found that Charlottesville’s aging park system needs $33 million in upgrades to bring it up to modern standards.

“The majority of parks look ‘tired’ and lack the strong image value that enhances neighborhood, the community and creates a strong advocacy,” states the 69-page document, presented to the City Council last week. “The city of Charlottesville is locked into a 1960’s mindset as it applies to recreation centers.”

$20M of that is to deal with rec centers and pools, $13M for the parks themselves. Council will figure out what to do in a month or two.

Kluge Auctioning Morven Contents

Published by Waldo Jaquith on December 10, 2005 in General News. Closed

Billionaire John Kluge is auctioning off much of the contents of Morven, the AP reports, now that he’s decided to spend all of his time at his other home in Palm Beach. Kluge announced that he’d be donating Morven to UVa in May of 2001, retaining the right to live there for the rest of his life. The 91-year-old has decided that he can do without 553 items, including furniture and rare collectables. The auction will be held on the 16th at Christie’s — a preview is available on Christie’s website.

I call dibs on the truck-sized picnic hamper.

Local Boy Makes Bad

Published by Waldo Jaquith on December 10, 2005 in Crime. 10 Comments

From the AP:

A Virginia college student was ordered held without bail Friday on federal charges he was part of a group of radical environmentalists who toppled a high-tension electric line and firebombed a lumber mill office and a tree farm.

Dressed in jail fatigues and shackled around the ankles, Stanislas “Jack” Meyerhoff, a student at Piedmont Community College in Charlottesville, Va., responded in a quiet voice, “Yes, your honor,” when asked if he understood the 17 counts of arson, conspiracy and destruction of property that could send him to prison for life. About 5-foot-6 and 140 pounds, Meyerhoff was clean-shaven with short brown hair.

Meyerhoff, 28, was one of six people arrested Wednesday in five states on federal charges they took part in a series of attacks in Oregon and Washington state dating back from 1998 to 2001.

Given that he was named an honor role student at Central Oregon Community College just last June, we (happily) can’t claim him as a local.

Rio/29 Most Dangerous Alb. Intersection

Published by Waldo Jaquith on December 9, 2005 in Transportation. 10 Comments

At the Daily Progress, Jessica Kitchin has reviewed traffic accident reports and found that the Rio Road intersection with Rt. 29 is the most dangerous in town:

Rough police numbers show that, through Dec. 1, there were 55 accidents at the Rio Road and U.S. 29 intersection this year. The Hydraulic Road and U.S. 29 intersection was second with 26 accidents, followed by Airport and Proffit roads and U.S. 29 with 19 accidents and Woodbrook Drive and U.S. 29 with 18 accidents. The U.S. 250 and Route 20 intersection in Albemarle rounds out the top five with nine accidents this year.

[…]

Observation of the intersection during 30 minutes of rush hour traffic showed that not a single rotation of the traffic lights was without at least one driver moving on a red signal.

[…]

In a 30-minute time frame, drivers in at least three cars appeared to slam on the brakes at the Rio Road and U.S. 29 intersection because the car in front of them stopped at a red light.

The good news is that the traffic lights on 29 have been synched up. The bad news is that doing has all but eliminated flexibility for intersecting roads; that Rio light lasts just 10 seconds, including the yellow.

New Albemarle Superintendent: Moran

Published by Waldo Jaquith on December 9, 2005 in Education. 1 Comment

The Albemarle County School Board has appointed Pamela Moran as the new superintendent, Sarah Berry reports in the Daily Progress. The search began in June, when Kevin Castner announced his resignation, ending with the selection of the twenty-year veteran of the albemarle school system. She spent a decade as the principal of Stony Point, and has been the assistant superintendent for the past few years. She’s been the acting superintendent since Castner announced his resignation. Moran is the first-ever female superintendent of the county school system.

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