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??
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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?

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)


Continue reading “Crozet Real Estate Market Update – 1 September 2011”

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.

Batesville Store Update

For those of you not on the Batesville Store email list:


THE DREAM HAS DIED . . . . LONG LIVE THE DREAM!

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Dear Friends of The Batesville Store,
 
Since June 10, the day that state regulators forced us to suspend our operations, we have set one goal for ourselves–re-opening The Batesville Store. The pursuit of that goal has not been easy, and there have been numerous times when we’ve talked about giving up. But then we would recall the astonishing support that we have received from our friends and neighbors in the community, and it would inspire and motivate us all over again.
 
We received more than seven hundred fifty emails of support. We heard personally from many of you. We received old-fashioned letters by way of snail mail. We read what you wrote on Facebook. We held onto the petition that more than five hundred of you signed the weekend after we closed.
 
How could we have turned our backs on all this?
 
We weren’t the only folks who heard from you. Local and state politicians were inundated with emails and phone calls. So too were county and state regulators. The public made their views known–and then some!
 
And you know what? It made a huge difference. Continue reading “Batesville Store Update”

The Moving Jarman’s Gap Timeline

I’m thinking I should look for a widget to put in the sidebar of RealCrozetVA to track the Jarman’s Gap timelines.

– First it was “June through August of 2011

– Then it was “August 15

– Then it was “August 22

Today (16 August 2011) it’s “August 29”

As of 8/24/2011: Now it’s “September 12 to November 12”


And VDOT told me that there’s likely to be another delay due to Hurricane Irene’s arrival.

At some point, the sign needs to read:

“You’ll know when the road’s closed when it’s closed. When it’s open, it’ll be open.”

Update:

From Stacy Londrey at VDOT (who has been very quick to respond to my emails):

The closure has indeed been moved to September 12. We are experiencing continuing water-line troubles while attempting to relocate utilities before the closure, which accounts for the many delays. A positive out of this most recent delay is it provides recovery time after Hurricane Irene, if she shows herself this far inland.

Also from Stacy:

Our project inspector has heard from several residents of Haden Lane that they are concerned about access. Jarmans Gap Road will be closed just east of their road, meaning that they will only be able to make left turns off their street—but they will have full mobility without driving through a work zone. This will allow them access to the official detour route (down Old Trail Drive) and other points west.

The attached map may provide a good visual for the location of the closure.

PDF drawing showing the Jarman’s Gap box culvert closure

Old Crozet Schools for the Arts – Fall 2011 Registration

via email:

Child-centered arts education; classes for teens & adults: Ballet, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, Yoga…more!

WALK-IN REGISTRATION for fall classes at OLD CROZET SCHOOL ARTS will be held at the school (1408 Crozet Avenue; entrances and parking on the sides of the building) Friday, August 26 from 3:00 – 6:00 pm and Saturday, August 27 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. FALL SESSION begins September 6.

For class descriptions and registration info, visit www.oldcrozetschoolarts.org or email [email protected] or (434) 964-6770?

Jarman’s Gap Road Closing Delayed. Again

Perhaps VDOT would be better to set expectations at “closing soon” rather than trying to hit specific dates. Heck, aim for “Third or Fourth Quarter 2011”.

– First it was “June through August of 2011

– Then it was “August 15

– Then it was “August 22

Today (16 August 2011) it’s “August 29”

– Update 8/24/2011: Now it’s “September 12 to November 12”

I’ve emailed VDOT asking why and will post when I hear back.

That was fast. Thank you, Stacy Londrey at VDOT:*

Yes, the closure date has changed again.  The contractor, GEI, is relocating two water mains in preparation for the new box culvert, and the work is taking longer than expected.  

Their current schedule calls for the precast concrete box culvert to be delivered just after Labor Day.  Between August 29 and that date, they will be digging and preparing the site for installation.  We do not have a firm completion date, but the 45-60 day window is still a good estimate.  We are aware of the Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival on October 8-9 and hope to accommodate traffic that weekend, if at all possible.

Continue reading “Jarman’s Gap Road Closing Delayed. Again”