James River Exchange

Welcome to the James Exchange: Friday Forward August 26, 2021. I am your host, Nancy Gill. In today’s episode, I had a conversation with Erin Root, the director of the Scottsville Center for Arts and the Natural Environment (SCAN). We talked about art, her background, and future plans mixed with a dream.

Monday’s episode is a conversation with Donna Price, Albemarle County Supervisor for the Scottsville District.

Enjoy the show!

Welcome to the James Exchange: Monday Matters August 23, 2021. I am your host, Nancy Gill.

In today’s episode you will hear from Laura Mellusi. She has been involved in many activities and organizations in and around Scottsville for several years. We talked about Evelyn White, events, more events, and why she stepped down as Vice Mayor of Scottsville.

Enjoy the show!

No words for this one folks…listen up.

Welcome to the James Exchange: Monday Matters 8.16.2021. I am your host, Nancy Gill.

In today’s episode, you will meet Caitlin and Cody Walls. I spoke with them on Sunday. We talked about what brought them to Scottsville and also the coal mines in Western Virginia.

Before we get to the Walls, this evening the Town Council meets at 7:00, I believe in Council Chambers. Topics include Emergency Declarations on severe weather, Delta variant, and Continuity of Government. Discussion continues on the VDOT sidewalk grant; and whether to apply for grants for floodplain mapping. You will hear more about their decisions in a later podcast.

Don’t forget to come to Canal Basin Square on Tuesday, August 17 at 7:00 for a concert with the Charlottesville Band. Should it be raining, the band will reschedule later in the month. You can get updates and coming events on the Town’s event website page.

Today is a momentous occasion in our ‘fair ville’ – the DMV Select office opens. I hope to introduce you to LaToya Hamlet in a future podcast. She is the manager of our local DMV Select office.

I hope you enjoy getting to know the Walls.

(Conversation with the Walls)

We will be hearing more from the Walls in later episodes. What we didn’t discuss was Cody’s work with autistic students, and we will expand on their homesteading activities. Friday Forward’s podcast will be on an event held at James River Brewery back in June. I hope everyone has a terrific week.

Welcome to the James Exchange: Friday Forward 8.13.21. I am your host, Nancy Gill.

Events:Friday, August 13 at 6:00 Collinswood 76 Hardware Rd, the Fluvanna part of Scottsville. Ronnie Johnson, a Scottsville favorite, is playing. We haven’t heard his music in a while. Collinswood is going to be rocking! Saturday, August 14 at 11:00 Farmers’ Market Rivanna Winds is the band’s newest Charlottesville Municipal Band ensemble, specializing in German Music and Dixieland. Sunday, August 15 at 2:00 Sh’Boom at Thistle Gate Vineyards Bring your snacks or a full picnic paired with our selection of award-winning wines and enjoy the entertaining musical experience of Sh'Boom featuring music from the 60's through today. Music starts at 2:00, but we open at 1:00. Seating will be on a first come first served basis, no reservations needed! You are welcome to snap your fingers, clap your hands, tap your feet, dance around and sing-along! Tuesday, August 17 at 7:00 Canal Basin, Main Street Charlottesville Band offers FREE concerts and all are open to the public. Concert goers will be asked to bring blankets or lawn chairs and sit socially distanced. Check back at this website regularly for information about each concert.

Now for this week’s episode. I spoke with Maggie Snoddy, but before we get to her I have to tell a story. This could turn into a separate podcast in the future: Why I Love Scottsville.

So, I will tell you why I love Scottsville….

In our fair-ville there are many people I have met through my years—somewhat limited years compared to some—in this area. On Wednesdays there is a special gathering at the Batteau of local ladies. Our group has grown, but about a month ago there was a celebration for Adelaide’s birthday. I was late coming to the table. Anne, Jackie, Susan, and Adelaide were there and had finished their dinner. It was a birthday celebration without a cake so all three deserts on the menu were ordered. Then, what is a birthday celebration without song? I went over to a table and told them it was Adelaide’s birthday and we would love for them to join in the song. They did.  It goes like this: “This is your birthday song, it isn’t very long. Ohlah!” Their reward was the portions of the deserts we didn’t finish. It was a grand night, but what made it special was John told us why he was in Scottsville. He and his mother were traveling and they were the Walton television show fans. They came to Schuyler to visit the house, the museum, and came to the Batteau for dinner. We talked to both of them and John actually went around to everyone because he wanted to know where we were from and a special place that he could visit. Well, we went home feeling pretty good about celebrating a friend’s birthday with complete strangers.  Fast forward to this past Wednesday. Shawna brings the Batteau phone to our table. It was John. He knew we would be at the Batteau and he wanted to make sure everything was alright. It was fantastic, and the newcomers to the group just stared at us as we tried to explain who John was. This is why I love Scottsville!

Now on for the show. I spoke with Maggie Snoddy. Some will know her as the sign-lady. I have known Maggie for over twenty years. She has been involved with much around town and I simply thought it was time I spoke to someone across the river.

(Our conversation)

I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did.

Thank you for joining in on this podcast. Don’t forget our farmers’ market and the entertainment that will be there tomorrow. Have a great weekend.

Welcome to The James Exchange: Monday Matters August 9, 2021. I am Nancy Gill, your host. In today’s issue we will hear from Jack Maxwell who has become our “unofficial/official” weather guy. To read Jack’s research and data collection https://www.facebook.com/scottsvilleabw. He also has a second page for his nonprofit Tribute to First Responders: https://www.facebook.com/tributetofr.  Jack and I spoke on Wednesday, August 4th.

This will be my last post on the storm that occurred on Wednesday/Thursday, July 28-29. I want to bring attention to Mountain Vista Road between James River Road and Route Six. The road is open to local traffic.

Yesterday morning I decided to take my dog, Jeff Buckingham, for a walk along Mountain Vista Road. My intent was to give him an outing while I took photos. I had driven the length of the road from James River to Irish on Saturday. I simply could not believe the damage I was viewing. Trees—massive trees—uprooted and so many snapped in a twisting motion of wind from ten – twenty—thirty feet up. Their trunks a testament to the devastation of this storm. Our friends along this road, not only lost power longer than the rest of us, they also have no internet access and are relying mainly on cell phones. When will services be restored? There isn’t a definitive answer, but if you drive this route, you will see down fiber-optic lines…yes, fiber optic. There are places where lines are being installed on newly placed poles. Other places have equipment laying on the ground. Driving through today, I did not see any changes.

The photos in the slideshow accompanying this podcast were taken from James River Road to the first bridge. 

(My conversation with Jack Maxwell).

Yesterday, August 8, was the Ice Cream Social/ Launch Party for WellAware. Over 60 folks of all ages attended and learned about community health workers and what this organization will bring to our area.

Thank you for joining today. I look forward to posting again on Friday…Have a great week. And, remember our friends who did not fare as well as most during the storm.

Welcome to The James Exchange: Friday Forward August 6, 2021. I am your host Nancy Gill. In today’s episode, I spoke with Betsy Payton about WellAware, a community health initiative with UVa, Central Virginia Health Services, and the Charlottesville Free Clinic.

The Scottsville Farmers’ Market is Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00.

WellAware Ice Cream Social and Kick-off Event is Sunday, August 8 from 4:00 pm to 6:00.

Scottsville Town Council meets on Monday for their monthly work session starting at 7:00.

Topics and excerpts are:

·      Emergency Declarations for July Severe Weather and Renewed Covid Emergency

o   There is now substantial spread of covid in almost every count of Virginia, including the Charlottesville region and around Scottsville. The CDC therefore advises face coverings indoors, for everyone…An important decision for the Town of Scottsville is whether to declare a new local emergency and return to remote meetings.

o   Severe Thunderstorm Emergency need for a Declaration of Local Emergency.

·      Factory redevelopment progress: floodplain mapping

o   The Town’s Comprehensive Plan, and the West Downtown Small Area Plan, call for action to improve the readiness of the tire factory site by solving an old problem: an error in the floodplain map. The factory had a levee built in the 1980s, at the same time as the downtown levee. But while the Town amended the floodplain map to account for the levee’s protection and remove the area inside from the FEMA floodplain, the factory owners never did the same.”

o   Without benefitting any developer directly, these applications would improve the shovel-readiness and value of the tire plant, by removing the liability of the floodplain status.

o   Action: Directive on DCR and VHDA grant applications. No budget impact except staff time.

·      Economic Development Planning: Center on Rural Innovation

o   CORI is a consulting and investment group focused on tech entrepreneurship in rural communities. They aim to improve the share of tech jobs in rural areas. This partnership and strategy is something the Town could explore. Action: Guidance to staff and Planning Commission

·      Itinerant business licenses

o   Council and staff have lately heard several complaints from itinerant business owners, especially food trucks, about the very high rates for their business licenses. The Town has licensed several firms at the rate of $50 for a week, but we have only ever issued a $500 annual peddler’s license for the old flea market at Irish Road. This tax law is old and appears designed to deter travelling business while protecting brick-and-mortar. This is a legal and legitimate goal, but it may not be the intent of the current Town Council.

·      VDOT sidewalk project scope and contract

o   In 2020, VDOT awarded the Town a $320,000 grant with an $80,000 match requirement. The Town delayed the start of the work during the pandemic and considered the overall value of the project. The Town has also adopted a small area plan and approved rezoning likely to increase population. During the public hearings, existing residents were concerned about traffic impacts and pedestrian safety. Sidewalk and crosswalk improvements could be helpful. (Note: The Town will be responsible for costs overruns).

·      DMV Select progress

o   This project has several parts to be completed before the launch on August 16th and grand opening ceremony on the 24th. The Government Services Committee is extremely helpful, as are DMV staff.

o   Ms. LaToya Hamlett serves as DMV Supervisor. The DMV Clerks are Ms. Ebony Hubbard, Ms. Tamara Williams, and Ms. Telyjah Jackson. This team brings DMV work experience, local knowledge and IT skills, and a generous commitment to public service

o   Tocci Mid-Atlantic has almost completed their work. Purchasing furniture, hardware, and computers is complete.

Today’s guest is Betsy Peyton. Please listen to our conversation to learn more about WellAware and community health workers.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.

Welcome to Monday Matters, August 2, 2021. I am your host, Nancy Gill.  I apologize for not getting Friday Forward out last week, but without power and no internet service…well it was quite a week we had in the Greater Scottsville area.

Today’s episode is all about that storm. In the words of so many who were walking around town on Thursday, they had never seen damage like this even with the famous Scottsville floods.

I had a chance to catch up with Jack Maxwell via text and email. He graciously sent me the work he did on storm data. I will be speaking with him later this week on what made him so interested in the weather and his nonprofit.

I drove around looking at the damage and tried to come up with a schematic of the area. I could see damage from the road, but could not ascertain what had happened between the roads. Jack Maxwell used the internet to create the following map.

To view the map and explore the different areas, click on Jack’s map.

I took several photos of the damage. The Storm 7.2021

On Thursday, I had the opportunity to talk with Thomas Unsworth by the library. For those who don’t know Thomas, he is the town clerk and serves on the James Madison Regional Library’s board of directors. (You will hear his words in the audio part of this podcast).

Today, Matt Lawless stopped by to discuss the public safety element of this storm, the cleanup effort, and any hot topics coming up in Town Council meetings. Summer 2021 has not been restful for our elected and appointed officials as well as town staff. (You will hear his words in the audio part of this podcast).

I will be back on Friday Matters with Betsy Peyton with WellAware and Maggie Snoddy our infamous “Sign Lady.”

Movie on Saturday in the Victory Hall parking lot. Ice Cream Social and Launch Party at the Farmers’ Market Pavilion on Sunday, August 8 from 4:00 to 6:00.

Have a great week!

Welcome to The James Exchange: Monday Matters July 26, 2021. I am your host, Nancy Gill. Sean Tubbs, who has a podcast City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County meetings, let me know that I must have time-traveled into the future by speaking to Mayor Ron Smith in 2023. If anyone else caught onto this adventure, I really met with Mayor Smith on Friday, July 23, 2021.

There isn’t much to announce for government meetings in Scottsville this week. The past couple of months have been hectic with a lot of decisions made and a record-setting four-hour meeting in June. In a rare event, Mayor Smith had to cast a tie-breaking vote which changed the zoning on the Upper Bird Street 19.87 acres from Industrial to Village Residential.

Construction on the DMV Select office is going well. The Town Council conference room is being repurposed for this office. I believe all staff positions have been filled. I have heard some confusion on what a DMV Select office is, and concerns on how it will affect limited downtown parking.

DMV Select offices provide services for vehicle titles and registrations, license plates, permits and placards, transcript requests, return checks, voter registration applications, E-Z Pass, transportation network company vehicle renewal, and hunting and fishing licenses. What they do not provide is processing any online or franchise dealership work, processing mechanic/storage lien titles, do not issue Vital Records, and they do not issue or renew driver’s licenses, learner’s permits, or ID cards. For more information go to: https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/general/#utilities/select_svs.asp

The Scottsville DMV Select will open in mid-August. We will see if parking becomes an issue.

The James River Boys & Girls Club registration for the fall starts today! Stop by 300 Page Street between 2:30 and 6:30. The club is for ages 6-18. Registration is ongoing.  You can also call 434-286-8801 for more information.

The Scottsville Center for Arts and the Natural Environment held their first community outreach event last Thursday on the beginning stages of developing their 13 acres on Hardware Street. Over twenty participated in the discussion and had the pleasure of walking the trails. It was a great turnout for a much-anticipated event. I will have more on this later.

There are people in our community that we always expect to see while out and about. Eileen Pillar was one of these. She could be seen replenishing her booth at Rivertown, volunteering at Bread of Life, attending church, or simply waving as we passed her driving along Valley Street or James River Road. I often saw her in my driveway. If I was outside and she had something to tell me, she would stop by for a chat. After my mother passed, I called her regarding The Community Medical Supply closet. I had several items to donate, but my contributions would have been redundant. However, Eileen stopped by. We had a mutual acquaintance in Buckingham who needed some things. I was so excited to have Mom’s things used, that I loaded her vehicle with everything—whether she wanted to take it or not. She did retaliate by giving me things that I probably didn’t need either. Eileen left us on July 16, 2021. She will be missed by those of us who met her while out and about and at volunteering with her chosen activities. There will be a memorial service for her on Saturday, July 31 starting at 11:00 am at Christ Church on Glendower Road. (https://www.thackerbrothers.com/obituary/Eileen-Pillar)

This is what I have for you today. I am looking forward to talking with one of our friends from Buckingham this evening. You will be hearing from her on Friday Forward. Have a great week!

Welcome to the James Exchange: Friday Forward, July 23, 2023. I am your host, Nancy Gill. The James River Boys and Girls Club registration for the fall begins on Monday, July 26. The club is located in the Scottsville Community Center at 300 Page Street. The next movie night in the Victory Hall parking lot will be on August 7th at dusk. The movie selection is always a surprise. Bring your family, chairs, blankets and enjoy the show. On August 8 from 4-6:00, WellAware will be hosting a meet and greet at the Farmers’ Market Pavillion in Scottsville. There will be ice cream, some gospel songs, and lots of people to meet. WellAware is a program through UVa, CVHS, and the Charlottesville Free Clinic bringing community health workers to our communities. On Tuesday, August 17, the Charlottesville Band will be performing at Canal Basin Square starting at 7:00 pm.

(Conversation with Ron Smith)

Have a great weekend everyone!