Year: 2011

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Race to Nowhere at Crozet Methodist – 9 September 2011

Mark your calendars – Race to Nowhere at Crozet Methodist Church.

I recommend we all go – so that we can see and affirm that we’re not alone in recognizing that our educational system has failed. And then we can figure out what to do about it.

Watch the video then read this at RealCentralVA.

When:  Friday, September 9, 2011
Time:  7-9 p.m.
Where:  Crozet United Methodist Church Sanctuary
Sponsor:  Coalition for Childhood

Advanced tickets sold on line for $10.00 or at the door for $15.00.

Update from the comments:

Did you know about the Bartleby Project?

“The Bartleby Project begins by inviting 60,000,000 American students, one by one, to peacefully refuse to take standardized tests or to participate in any preparation for these tests; it asks them to act because adults chained to institutions and corporations are unable to; because these tests pervert education, are disgracefully inaccurate, impose brutal stresses without reason, and actively encourage a class system which is poisoning the future of the nation.” Read John Taylor Gatto’s full statement on the Bartleby Project (it’s long).

Update 2: Seth Godin writes –

Large-scale education was never about teaching kids or creating scholars. It was invented to churn out adults who worked well within the system.

…

As we get ready for the 93rd year of universal public education, here’s the question every parent and taxpayer needs to wrestle with: Are we going to applaud, push or even permit our schools (including most of the private ones) to continue the safe but ultimately doomed strategy of churning out predictable, testable and mediocre factory-workers??
?
As long as we embrace (or even accept) standardized testing, fear of science, little attempt at teaching leadership and most of all, the bureaucratic imperative to turn education into a factory itself, we’re in big trouble.?

?The post-industrial revolution is here. Do you care enough to teach your kids to take advantage of it?

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Crozet Parenting Yahoo Group

In a sign of Crozet’s growing self-sufficiency and independence, we have our own Crozet Parenting Yahoo Group.

Charlottesville has had a vibrant and active Yahoo Group for Parents – Parenting Network of Charlottesville (PNOC) for quite some time.

via email:

Crozet Area Parents (CAP) is an informal association created to encourage networking and the exchange of info to all parents residing in the area. Topics of discussion include (but are not limited to) play groups, childcare/babysitting, healthcare issues, special events, classes, schools, doctors, camps, sports, homeschooling and other topics of interest to Crozet/Western Albemarle families.

This group is open to parents of children of all ages in the Crozet/Western area. Other individuals, incl. school staff, who work with families in Crozet/WA are welcome to join, but please be sure to respect the rules and culture of the group.

Here’s the link.

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Jarman’s Gap “Detention Pond” to be “BioFilter”

Thanks go to everyone involved in advocating for this – from the Old Trail residents, Ann Mallek, VDOT and lots of others I’m sure.

From the Old Trail group:

We have some great news to pass on today. We’ve just heard yesterday from the VDOT project manager for the stormwater management system at Jarman’s Gap Road and Old Trail Drive. It seems that VDOT has reconsidered their plan for a detention pond and will, instead, be putting in a “Bio-Retention Area”, which should be similar to the biofilter proposal submitted by Scott Collins. We have confirmation that this design will NOT require a fence.   
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Crozet Real Estate Market Update – 1 September 2011

I was all set to throw several charts up after the fold, but when I started checking the data in our new beta software, it wasn’t right. Darn it.

So … the Crozet real estate market right now boils down to this:

– New construction in Crozet is doing quite well.

– Existing homes are competing with new construction, buyers can be, and are being choosy and are often choosing new construction.

– If you’re looking to sell our home in Crozet: Price.It. Well. My advice since 2008 remains true:

– Advice for buyers – do your due diligence, be patient, save your money in the meantime.?

– For Sellers – as I said last year – do not attempt to chase the market down. Beat it down. (ask me for advice)

Briefly:

– Homes under contract are about the same as last year at this time.

– New listings coming on the market are down markedly; this is very good – the fewer homes on the market, the better chance for existing inventory to be sold.

– Sold homes are up slightly.

Download reports:

Crozet Real Estate Market Insight (pdf)

Crozet real estate market detailed report (pdf)


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Crozet Trails Crew Weekend Fun – 3 September 2011

via email from the Crozet Trails Crew:

To mark the 45-day countdown to Crozet Trails Day 2011 (cue fireworks and kazoos), we will be having a workday this Sunday, beginning at 8:30am.

We will be working on a section of the WAHS cross country trail (where the 5k will be held). We’ll meet in front of Trailside Coffee (they open at 8am!) and then walk or carpool close to the trail.

I’ll bring tools, but feel free to bring a weed-eater if you want to. Please wear long pants, good shoes, work gloves, and bring water.