Toy Lift 2005
The Toy Lift is apparently a bit behind on toys and money. If you can give either, please stop by Lowe's on 29 North or call - 973-6717. Yep, that's me. Update: they met their goal!
Toy Lift Friday
From WINA: Snow or no snow, the annual Toy Lift is happening Friday from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. at the Lowe's parking lot off 29 North. Spokesman Tom Powell says if you don't know what to give or don't have the time, you can…
Albemarle County BoS meeting … growth issues come to a head
If you are concerned, curious or just feel ignorant about where the Albemarle County growth process/issue, take 30 minutes to listen to this podcast provided by Charlottesville Tomorrow. I have attributed the quotations to the appropriate Supervisors and have indicated my uncertainty where necessary. One…
Google and transit
Charlottesville is consistently trying to tie itself to the debatable successes of Portland's transit programs. Google now is implementing a Google Transit Trip Planner for Portland. Let's take it a step further. Why don't we see if Google will invest some time and money to…
Eminent Domain update
This post at Bizzy Blog highlights some of the national and individual state movements towards protecting individuals' property rights, in response to the SCOTUS' Kelo ruling. Unfortunately, the author comes to this conclusion: I'm not happy with the idea that the “staying power” is already…
Land use, APFs and the public good
There is a good discussion over at the Road to Ruin about this article in the DP that highlights the conflict, yet necessary relationship between private developers and the public good/public infrastructure. Note also Bacon's Rebellion's discussion about the recent forum held by the State's…
Cautiously exuberant.
I love this, from Freddie Mac. The market is cautiously exuberant. GDP growth figures for Q3 have been revised upwards, and now show that the economy grew at an annualized rate of 4.3%, the best showing since the first quarter of 2004. This growth was…
Interest rates are high?
Interest rates may be considered high ... if you look at a very short-term window. When my parents were selling real estate in early '80s, rates were in the 17-19{070c63b32385cb02f7cc6b293bb2e967f577fefea717b7fffc8dc882e4751d49} range. Ranting about 6.5{070c63b32385cb02f7cc6b293bb2e967f577fefea717b7fffc8dc882e4751d49} seems a bit ... silly. Rates have actually dropped a little…
Wind energy right in our backyard
Following up on my new study for my Eco-Broker certification, I see this article about a Charlottesville company, Greenlight Energy: In the next two years, a Virginia company hopes to pump upward of $400 million into what could be Colorado's largest wind farm on private…
Rivanna Village public forum
This is a good idea. From Jessica Kitchin's story this morning in the DP: On Tuesday, the 88-acre development will be the focus of a town hall meeting in the designated-growth area that surrounds it. "The residents of the Village of Rivanna will have NO…