Crutchfield Recycling Electronics

Published by Waldo Jaquith on August 1, 2006 in Business. 4 Comments

Sean writes:

According to The Daily Progress, Crutchfield at Rio Hill is now offering electronics recycling. There will be a nominal fee (the article mentions $15 for an air conditioner, $10 for a TV) and Crutchfield employees will help unload large items. Thomas L. Frederick Jr., executive director of RSWA, is quoted as saying that the new Crutchfield recycling center could keep 15 to 20 tons of electronic equipment out of landfills each year. Eligible items may be dropped off during regular business hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

I just called Crutchfield and they told me that they’re taking that holy grail of recyclables: computers. It’s illegal to toss ’em in the trash, but you’ve got to drive to Richmond to recycle them. Not anymore: $8 for the computer, $5 for the monitor (CRT). Totally worth it.

Musictoday Sold

Published by Waldo Jaquith on August 1, 2006 in Business. 7 Comments

Charlottesville-based Musictoday, founded by Dave Matthews Band management in 2000, has sold a majority stake to event and venue management company Live Nation, Jane Dunlap Norris reports in today’s Daily Progress. Musictoday employs 200 people out at the old ConAgra plant, which band manager Coran Capshaw bought in 2001. Musictoday sells tickets and merchandise online, which dovetails nicely with Live Nation’s line of business. The two businesses also will be in a better position to combat the nemesis of each, Clear Channel. Musictoday has sold out to their spiritual nemesis, Clear Channel Entertainment, which was renamed Live Nation earlier this year. Live Nation == Clear Channel. Bummer.

Meyerhoff’s Local Connections

Published by Waldo Jaquith on July 28, 2006 in Law and Justice. 5 Comments

28-year-old Jack Meyerhoff lived in Charlottesville for a time, attending PVCC, when he was arrested for committing acts of ecoterrorism in Oregon with others from the Earth Liberation Front. In this week’s Hook, Lisa Provence looks into Meyerhoff, discovering that he moved here to be with his girlfriend, Lacey Phillabaum, who briefly wrote for C-Ville Weekly and freelanced for The Hook. Meyerhoff has pleaded guilty to 54 counts of arson and conspiracy, which may earn him almost sixteen years in prison.

UVa Prof Takes Money from Utilities

Published by Waldo Jaquith on July 28, 2006 in UVa. 42 Comments

Climatologists agree that fossil fuel emissions are worsening global climate change. Except for UVa Professor Environmental Science Patrick J. Michaels, who I can only assume is a never-ending source of embarrassment to the university. Today comes the news that Michaels is on the payroll of power companies, having accepted $100,000 from one power company and planning to accept another $50,000 from another. Burning coal significantly harms our environment, and power companies are desperate to cover up that message, hence the sponsorship of Prof. Michaels. He says that he sees no conflict of interest in accepting the money. To the extent to which he claims to be a scientist, there’s a clear conflict. But if he would confess that he’s simply a lobbyist, it’d be business as usual.

Jennifer Interviews Parks & Rec Director

Published by Waldo Jaquith on July 26, 2006 in Blogs. 1 Comment

C’ville blogger Jennifer has done something unusual for a local blogger — an interview. With a little guidance from the Daily Progress‘s Bob Gibson, she talked with Parks & Recreation director Michael Svetz about the recent cut in pool hours. It turns out that there’s a lot more going on than the change in hours, including systemic classism in the pools system and inefficiencies in the existing pools. Patrons of city pools will want to read this.

It’s really great to see local bloggers doing research into local matters.

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