Category: Community

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Public Involvement Matters as Crozet Grows

Neil Williamson has a solid editorial at the FEF (as noted on the RealCrozetVA facebook page): — make sure to click through and read the whole thing.

If a significant community engagement process happens and the project still gains approval, does the process have value?  What if the project is rejected out of hand, or the density reduced, then does it have value?  I anticipate it depends where you sit.  Please let me explain.

A week ago Sunday (July 3) I was surprised to find myself nodding in agreement with an opinion piece in The Washington Post written by Stewart Schwartz, the Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.  The piece entitled “Stop saying no to development in your neighborhood”  included the following:

“Yet wherever infill and walkable, transit-accessible development are proposed, existing residents are either saying no to development or forcing it to be cut back so much that the region isn’t producing the new housing we need.

Some of the most strident opposition comes from our wealthiest and most fortunate neighborhoods. This is the case even though these neighborhoods have benefited as their property values have soared by virtue of convenient access to Metro and all of the jobs, restaurants, grocery stores and services that transit-oriented development brings.

It is a good thing that people are passionate and actively engaged in planning decisions in our communities. We need everyone at the table, and we need to pay serious attention to good design, transportation, public spaces, affordable housing and other community benefits. We need to ensure we balance development, historic preservation, public parks and other community assets. But the intensity and hostility of the opposition are suppressing thoughtful discussion about the benefits of transit-oriented development for the community, transportation and the environment.”

One thing I’ll add: the minutes provided often are not as detailed or as timely as I would like; that’s ones of the big reasons I try to tweet (and often have help thankfully) the meetings. CCAC tweet summaries and agendas are here.

 

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Why Do you Love Crozet? Part 1

I’m working on a story entitled “What do you love about Crozet?” and it’s coming, but I got detoured by Patricia’s thoughtful comment on the facebook post. (bolding mine)

We are at an interesting time in Crozet; my goal with this post and the next (and really, with many of the posts here) is to highlight our community, focus on it, and not lose sight of what makes Crozet such a special to live.

There was a page somewhere on here and someone said about the new building going up behind the old post office, “It’s about time for Crozet to get a classy business!” That burnt me, that’s belittling Sal’s Pizza, Crozet Hardware, IGA, Fisher Auto Parts, Crozet Barber Shop,…some of our longtime businesses.

They are part of what makes up Crozet. They are very classy people and businesses! They are part of the reason why people wanted to move here, small town community, their hospitality (how we were raised to be). How often do, not all, but many of the new comers speak to the middle to lower class people here? Not often enough! I’m very out going, know many people, old and new, in Crozet because of where I work.

Continue reading “Why Do you Love Crozet? Part 1”

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When Are the Crozet Fireworks (in 2016)?

When Are the Crozet Fireworks Being Done? is one of the more common questions asked. “How can I donate to the Crozet fireworks?” is one of the more common questions that ought to be asked.

  • The Crozet Fireworks are being held on 2 July, 2016
  • You can donate to the Crozet Fireworks fund here.
  • And … volunteers are needed!
  • Pro tip: walk or ride bikes to the parade and the fireworks – you’ll find navigation much, much easier.

Crozet Fireworks 2 July 2016

From the CCA site: (click through to read the whole thing)

It all starts with the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) parade at 5:00 PM at Crozet Elementary School and goes down Crozet Avenue through downtown Crozet to Claudius Crozet Park.  The Parade Grand Marshals are Rick and Pete Maupin and we hope that the Richmond Shriners’ ACCA Mini-Patrol cars are one of the many entries in the parade.

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It takes a village to have a community celebration. Your help for just an hour or two on Saturday, July 2 will make a big difference to the success of the Crozet Independence Day Celebration. Sign-up to help with the Crozet Independence Day Celebration (CIDC) next Saturday, July 2, between 5PM to 10PM. There are a variety of tasks and time slots. Most of the time slots are only an hour – so there’s lots of ways to help and still enjoy the event.

To sign up to help and volunteer, go here.

When you sign-up it will ask for your name, email and, optionally phone number. No one else can see your email and phone. We promise we won’t share it. It’s helpful for us to have it if something happens and we need to let you know about a last minute change.

We urge church groups, civic and neighborhood associations to sign-up. Crozet Trails Crew already has volunteered to staff one spot the whole evening! Let’s see which group can have the most volunteers!

With your help, we can make this Crozet Independence Day celebration the best ever!

 

Update 28 June 2016

Crozet fireworks map - 2016

 

Download postcard with fireworks traffic information

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Support the Crozet Independence Day Parade & Fireworks (2016)

via email –

“We are writing to ask for your enthusiastic support of our small town tradition – our annual Crozet Independence Day parade and fireworks show!

This event helps maintain the best of Crozet – friends and neighbors coming together to enjoy good times, celebrate our nation’s independence and help out others.  It’s an event that brings our community together and is an important fund-raiser for many local organizations like the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department, Crozet Lions, and Claudius Crozet Park. Your attendance at the event helps them, too.

Continue reading “Support the Crozet Independence Day Parade & Fireworks (2016)”

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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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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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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
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Grease on the Road

The Pink Ladies in the number "Freddy, My Love" from "Grease": Carly Haling, Ryann Sheehy, Virginia Garey and Lauren Rider.
The Pink Ladies in the number “Freddy, My Love” from “Grease”: Carly Haling, Ryann Sheehy, Virginia Garey and Lauren Rider.

 

Western’s stage production on tour, radio and Web
by Brian Cohen

In show business, you have to show that you have a show, so the audience will show.

Got that?

Western Albemarle High School (WAHS) drama students are not only rehearsing for their March 24-26 run of “Grease,” but also promoting their production at other venues and in media. Due to mainly to the higher-than-average fees for show rights, the school’s drama department has acknowledged that publicity will play a vital role in filling the seats.

Continue reading “Grease on the Road”