Author: Jim

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Brownsville has a new Principal – Jason Crutchfield

Brownsville’s last principal abruptly left in November.  Now they have a new principal.

Jason Crutchfield just sent this email to the Brownsville community:

Dear Members of our Brownsville Community:

This evening, the School Board announced my appointment as Brownsville’s principal, effective May 1.

I am grateful for the Board’s confidence in me, for the opportunity I had to interview for this position, but above all, for the chance to have been a part of your team these past two years.

 

As principal, I would like to build upon our strong foundation for learning. I especially am excited about our technological leadership. Such initiatives as our 1:1 program, our 3D printing and design capabilities, and our Innovation Lounge have enormous potential to deepen the learning of students and extend their learning environment further beyond the classroom.

Our students are champions when it comes to creativity as demonstrated, for instance, by our Destination Imagination teams. So, too, are our parents and other members of our school community who are so engaged with our school. Brownsville always has been gifted in that regard.
Continue reading “Brownsville has a new Principal – Jason Crutchfield”

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Crozet Real Estate Conversation – 1st Quarter 2016

I love doing these. Not only do we love real estate market analysis & data, but having the opportunity to shoot at Crozet businesses.

We’ve done these at the Crozet Mudhouse, Greenhouse Coffee, Crozet Library, and this month at Pro Re Nata (PRN).

The Crozet Real Estate Conversation with David Ferrall and Jim Duncan with Nest Realty.

This is a quick look at the 1st Quarter 2016 real estate market report – land sales, new construction contracts, total sales in Brownsville & Crozet Elementary School Districts.

Have questions about the market? Call or email us anytime. Or stop by the Crozet Mudhouse from 9am – 11am on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of every month!

 

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World-Class Fields in Albemarle County?

Athletic fields in Charlottesville – Albemarle have been deteriorating for years. I’ve played and coached soccer on them for 15+ years, but this year seems to be one of the worst yet. These fields are used not just for soccer, but by nearly 300 6th graders every day!

Last week, I took my spray paint to highlight the exposed sprinkler head, but the field was so muddy that the sprinkler was covered.

This week, the field had mostly dried, and the sprinkler was prominent in the middle of the “field.”

I wish I had a solution to offer, but I don’t. I know that the fields are dangerous and overused. It would be easy to point fingers and lay blame, but I’m more interested in finding a solution.

 

Soccer Saturday in Albemarle County. Note the exposed sprinkler head. (I remembered my paint today)

A photo posted by Jim Duncan (@jimduncan) on


 

Continue reading “World-Class Fields in Albemarle County?”

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7 April’s Downtown Crozet Initiative Meeting Wrap-Up

The Downtown Crozet Initiative met on Thursday; they are meeting again on 5 May at Noon at the Crozet Library. This is the stuff that will shape Downtown Crozet for lifetimes.

This is the agenda for the 7 April meeting.

Big thanks to Arthur Wollam for the following information! (all links added by me)

“This was my first meeting. There was no pre-meeting introductions but I seemed to be the only ‘new’ attendee. These meetings are open to all. I signed an attending roster with name, phone, and email.

Continue reading “7 April’s Downtown Crozet Initiative Meeting Wrap-Up”

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3rd Annual Pitch-in at the (Crozet) Park

via email:

On Saturday, April 16th from 9AM – 4PM, Crozet Park will host its third annual Pitch-in at the Park event.

This year’s event, sponsored by BB&T Bank, brings together volunteers and businesses throughout the community and makes it possible to complete many of the Park’s annual maintenance activities. Lunch is provided to ALL volunteers.

Please sign-up to spend a half-day or full-day and feel free to participate in as many projects as you wish; no need to skimp! This is a significant effort and we need everyone’s help. Follow this link to sign-up.

On behalf of the Crozet Park Board of Directors,

Thank you!

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RealCrozetVA Facebook – 10 March – 1 April 2016

The RealCrozetVA facebook and twitter pages continue to thrive …

March 10:

Good morning, Crozet

 

March 11 – great responses from readers answering the question, “Where are the Crozet playgrounds?”

March 14 – Old Trail reduces build out numbers. Read: fewer houses. (and I’ve heard they’re going to be announcing soon the next phase of the town center; stay tuned)

March 15 – Mudhouse is looking for a new head baker.

March 17 – Where are the best CSAs in and around Crozet?

March 19 – A few pics from the Crozet Cycling Club’s morning ride. It’s beautiful around here.

March 22 – A great cycling video featuring Ben King and Miller School’s Endurance Team.

March 23 – The Crozet Real Estate Conversation endures. See you soon!

March 23 – Finally, the North Crozet sidewalk project begins.

March 25 – The best place to track Crozet traffic (read: wrecks on 64, and subsequent backups on 250), is RealCrozetVA on Twitter.

March 26 – The Crozet Volunteer Fire Department painted over the graffiti in the former Barnes Lumberyard. Now … if the graffiti was interesting and beautiful, that’d be different. Unfortunately, the graffiti perpetrators are not artists.

March 30 – The Crozet Trails Crew continues to be awesome.

March 31 – The Crozet Farmers Market opens on 7 May!

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23 March – Learn About, then Speak About the Albemarle County Budget

via email from our Supervisor Ann Mallek:  (bolding mine)

“This Wednesday, March 23, at 7 pm at WAHS the county staff will be making a presentation on the budget, the local government side and the school side.

You may have heard about this through Amail, but I hope that extra effort will bring in a better turn out. Only two citizens attended the meeting at Jouett and at Monticello. One citizen was a repeat.

Let’s show what Crozet is made of and have a great turnout for this presentation.

Participants are welcome to offer questions and debate.

Make recommendations for items to restore from cuts or to cut from the budget.

As you know, one of the larger chunks of the budget which has suffered from lack of priority in the last six years is the CIP, or capital improvement program.

This is a great opportunity to advocate for inclusion of the Lickinghole Bridge into the six year road plan.

This highest priority project in Crozet is way past due.

I hope to see many folks there.  Thanks for your help.”

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Thank you, Jerry

Crozet lost a great person this week, and our hearts are with Jerry Finazzo’s family.

Via facebook (bolding mine)

Jerry’s service will be on 11:00am, Tuesday March 22nd at Teague In Charlottesville. They will also open their doors for visitation 2 hours before the service. The Daily Progress will have this information available in Monday’s print. I also would like to say thank you to EVERYONE for all of the positive responses. They are keeping my fathers spirit alive and my family strong.

Please, spend a few minutes reading this story from the Crozet Gazette in 2012:

 

Jerry is unfailingly generous to local charitable causes. Recently customers could donate part of the bill to their local church, for example. “When I see people trying to raise money, I’m with them 100 percent because I know what it is like to have to raise money. Tiz has a lot to do with this. She brings me ideas.

“I never take advice from people who are younger than I am. I look in people’s faces and I can tell if they have suffered. As a boy I spent every night with my grandfather. I’ve seen everything he told me about.

“I love my country—Italy—but here has more. Here you have to work for it, but there, however much you work, you still have nothing.”

Continue reading “Thank you, Jerry”

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Libraries are Awesome

(Part 1 of 2)

Yesterday someone from another state emailed me asking for permission to use this photo. Leaving aside the remarkableness of someone actually asking permission to use something on the internet, the email exchange led to an interesting exchange culminating with this:

I have looked at your new library. It is lovely!  I know you are happy to have such a wonderful community space.  As a realtor, I know you know a good library can be a real asset to a homeowner, create value  in the community, and enhance the quality of life.  I would have been lost without a library when I was a child, since I couldn’t buy all the books I wanted to read.

Yes.

I loved the old Crozet Library. And we love the new one too.

New Crozet Library
New Crozet Library
Old Crozet Library
Old Crozet Library