There are now 60 days until the end of 2023, and today is marked by the Day of the Dead or All Souls Day. Perhaps but not at all related, November 2 is also National Deviled Egg Day. This is Charlottesville Community Engagement, a newsletter that celebrates Traffic Directors Day for all the work that goes into putting out information to the public. I’m Sean Tubbs, and I can mark off the creation of this introductory paragraph as it is also Project Management Day. 

On today’s show:

* Charlottesville will spend $5.9 million to purchase floodplain land that had been slated for 245 apartment units 

* Construction begins this week to build a block of sidewalk on East High Street in Charlottesville 

* Albemarle County has once again been awarded a AAA bond rating by the three major agencies

* Albemarle and Charlottesville officials on a regional transportation body get an update on the Regional Transit Governance Study 

* And Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville recently dedicated two homes on Coleman Street to families who went through their program 

Eleven months into the year with holidays on the horizon now as pumpkins give way to all manner of other decorations. For many, the pending merriment provokes a sense of anxiety. That’s as good a time as any to mark National Stress Awareness Day on this November 1. Perhaps this edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement will prepare you for the time ahead. I’m Sean Tubbs, and probably not.   

On today’s program:

* The final campaign finance reports are published showing another high level of activity in the at-large Albemarle School Board race

* Turnout in early voting in Charlottesville is well below the state average in Virginia 

* Charlottesville has solicited information from developers who would like to partner to build affordable housing 

* There are several vacancies on Charlottesville boards including four seats on the Human Rights Commission

* Charlottesville City Council gets brief lesson on recent population trends and forecasts from the Weldon Cooper Center at the University of Virginia 

We are now on the penultimate day of October, a month that whirred by so fast the leaves have fallen off the trees. In Ten-Code, 10-30 could also mean “Use Caution” or “Illegal Use of the Radio” which could also be an apt description of Charlottesville Community Engagement.

This is the 593rd edition of a newsletter and podcast that also does not seem to conform to any rules or regulations of contemporary journalism. I’m Sean Tubbs, determined to proceed independently.

On this edition:

* An on-demand microtransit service has launched a one-year pilot in Albemarle County 

* The city needs more information before it can approve a site plan for 130 townhouse units in Belmont

* The Charlottesville Planning Commission recommended approval of a new zoning ordinance earlier this month after deliberating about two new additions made since the public hearing in mid-September

In this edition:

* The University of Virginia Health System has purchased a 5.2 acre historic property in Fifeville for $3.5 million

* A small grocery store on Preston Avenue said it’s working to stock empty shelves and will stay open

* Albemarle Supervisors review the way the next transportation priority list is being developed

What you’ll learn in this edition:

* Charlottesville City Council suspends remote public comment after recent racist remarks

* City Manager Sam Sanders further explains decision to reimpose operating hours at Market Street Park this Saturday

* The person whose arrest in September began the incident speaks to Council 

* Campaign finance reports are in and both candidates vying for the at-large seat on the Albemarle School Board have raised over $100,000

We’ve now arrived at October 16, 2023, the 289th day of the year. We’re nearly 80 percent of the way through this year and it’s almost time to begin another one. For those with birthdays today, you’re perhaps on the next stage already. I’m Sean Tubbs and I know that this is the 590th edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. 

And if you’re interested in a little time travel, why not go back and read or listen to the 289th edition from December 7, 2021? Thanks to all of those who are supporting this work and my efforts to eventually get to edition 1180. 

Within this edition:

* A review of several items from Albemarle County’s Facilities and Environmental Services Department including an update on the Square project in Crozet

* Charlottesville City Council gets a briefing on the Housing Advisory Committee’s desire to restore an overlay district in the new Development Code for what had been called “Sensitive Communities” 

Be bald, and be free! That’s the slogan for one of the supposed holidays for October 14, and I hesitate to even mention it at all except to say I represent. I’ve always thought of pawns as bald, and this is National Chess Day as well. Supposedly it’s also National I Love You Day, but rest assured that Charlottesville Community Engagement has that sentiment every day with a sunrise and a sunset. I’m Sean Tubbs. 

In this edition:

* A Charlottesville man was killed by gunfire early this morning in the 200 block of East Market Street

* Charlottesville has announced that the opening of an overnight shelter on October 21 will coincide with a restoration of closing times in Market St. Park 

* A public hearing date has been set for University of Virginia Foundation’s request to rezone part of the North Fork Discovery Park to include up to 1,400 residential units

* Snippets from two candidate forums for the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors

Stand by, for it is October 12 and 10-12 signals “Stand By” in later versions of the Ten-Code developed decades ago to assist communications in the days when signal times were short. Earlier versions of 10-12 signified that officials were present. That’s a status that’s usually valid in any given edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. I’m Sean Tubbs, ten times five. 

In this edition:

* The Greene County Board of Supervisors are taking applications for someone to be the interim representative for the Stanardsville District

* Several updates from members of the Charlottesville Planning Commission including a forthcoming tree canopy study, but no report from the University of Virginia

* The Charlottesville Planning Commission stops short of taking action on the new Development Code but reviewed their suggestions such as allowing some neighborhood commercial by-right

Every now and then, there shall be a Sunday edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement due to various logistics and rerouted circuits. There is a great deal to process to get through the various steps required to deliver this distilled information to you and for some reason it was necessary to break the format. I’m Sean Tubbs, candidly admitting that perhaps I just forgot what day it was. 

On today’s edition:

* The Charlottesville Planning Commission is waiting on legal advice before making a recommendation on the city’s proposed Development Code

* There’s a vacancy on the Greene County Board of Supervisors which means there will be three new faces on the elected body in January

* There’s money for affordable housing projects in Charlottesville

* A snapshot of the plan to build a new reservoir to allow more growth in Greene County 

10-5 stands for relay, so that’s just what I’ll do to begin this October 5 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. According to one source for dubious holidays, today is National Be Nice Day and perhaps you might do something to also commemorate World Teachers’ Day. This also may be an occasion to educate yourself about your mental health on National Depression Screening Day. No matter what, consider breaking into dance to honor National Get Funky Day. I’m Sean Tubbs, and I shall do all four. 

In today’s edition:

* A Suffolk man is in police custody after an alleged abduction and strangulation in Charlottesville last night 

* A deadline is soon approaching for new applicants for Albemarle County’s tax relief program for the elderly and disabled 

* Albemarle County is one of several hundred localities in the mid-Atlantic region with a customized climate out look 

* The final funding will soon be in place to build a section of Charlottesville’s Meadow Creek Trail 

* Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders outlines his work plan and says he does not regret his decision to temporarily lift the hours of operation at Market Street Park to allow overnight camping by the unhoused