Thanks to the recent story in the Crozet Gazette on realcrozetva, this blog has received several (many?) new visitors. Thankfully, two have so far answered the call to write for this blog! Starting today, I am going to, assuming continued interest, establish a “readers’ forum” highlighting stories written by readers. If you have an idea, please email me. If you want to become a regular writer, please email me. Soon there will be a “write for this blog” button in the sidebar.
Wireless in Crozet?
A suggestion from a reader:As community leaders meet to discuss plans for the future, preserving the past, and helping to enhance Crozet’s business independence – how about developing free internet access as is available in downtown Charlottesville? My husband and I are both in lines of work where the computer is our office and it would really be great to be able to go to a coffee shop or park bench to tap out e-mails, read the news, etc., while being in the company of our Crozet neighbors. See the following link as a reference: Charlottesville Free WirelessPerhaps the new library will help to facilitate this notion?I think this is a fantastic idea…. If the new library were to provide free wireless in all directions – wow!I’ve broached the idea of a regional wireless cloud once before…. Say what you will, providing wireless is a form of drawing people together, of encouraging community. Even if this interaction is fleeting, as we say a quick hello and return to our laptops…. Unfortunately, Crozet does not yet have a coffee shop, and if we get one at the new Clover Lawn Shoppes, it might be a Starbucks, with their ridiculous pay-for-use T-Mobile internet, another reason I won’t go there.This note from a reader provides me the perfect opportunity to correct one thing from the recent profile done on realcrozetva by the Crozet Gazette. The saturation of internet access in Albemarle is around 75-80%, not broadband saturation; but we are getting there!
The Goal of Realcrozetva
The goal of realcrozetva is one of community contribution. I want realcrozetva to be a destination for discussion, for information, for sharing of thoughts and ideas specific to Crozet.One of the best things to come from the arrival of the Crozet Gazette is that people are talking about it and talking about current issues affecting Crozet because of the Gazette. That’s what I want for realcrozetva.com. If this blog becomes a destination for people to learn about Crozet goings-on, and I segue from author/editor to contributor because others have taken on this mantle, fantastic. This blog would be a success. A more informed populace is (in this ideal world) a better one.As always, if you want to write, or have a story idea, please email me.This is a similar goal to another local site, cvillenews, but I couldn’t find one of Waldo’s many requests for others to take on his role.
A Reason I like Crozet
We have only one phone exchange (for now) – 823-. This reminds me of the town I grew up in, where the exchange was 825-; and I vividly remember the feeling of loss when 827 was born. No longer could I remember only four digits to call a friend (or remember my home number). Perhaps with cell phones’ growing dominance, we can push off the advent of new Crozet phone exchanges for a while longer … but for now, 823 is a reason I like Crozet.
Crozet Library update
Wednesday, October 25, 7:00pm, Western Albemarle High School: Community Feedback Time!Albemarle County Representatives and Grimm and Parker architects will solicit community feedback regarding the library and its potential sites. Community feedback from this meeting will be reported to the Board of Supervisors.If you can, come to this meeting. A vibrant, dynamic, interesting and functional library can shape and enhance a community in a way unlike any other development.Sign up for Albemarle County’s excellent, informative and timely! A-Mail (or continue to visit realcrozetva and/or subscribe to the realcrozetva calendar!)From A-Mail:Officials from Albemarle County and the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library are inviting Crozet area residents to attend a public meeting on Wednesday, October 25, from 7:00 pm until 9:30 pm at Western Albemarle High School. The purpose of the meeting is to update the community on the status of the project, introduce the project consultant, and get public feedback on two location options for the new library to share with the Board of Supervisors prior to their final site selection decision.The consultant team is led by Grimm & Parker Architects, a firm headquartered in McLean, Virginia with a 30-year history of successful library and other public architecture projects. The Grimm & Parker team was selected based on their overall public library expertise, experience with downtown and town center libraries, and their successful track record of integrating public comment and input into library design and programming decisions, among other criteria. The meeting will include an introductory overview of the library project, a brief discussion of library design possibilities, and then a detailed site analysis of the two locations under consideration conducted by the consultant team. The consultant will then lead participants through a facilitated feedback session to generate input that will be passed on to the Board of Supervisors.
Parkside Village Yard Sale 7 October
Come one, come all and help the residents of Parkside Village clean out their respective attics and hopefully make a little bit of money, too!Any other community yard sales out there?
Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival
The bi-annual event continues!
Bring on the Chains!
Chain retailers, that is. Thanks to Jonathan:Harris Teeter will soon be coming to Crozet. At least they’ll have a comprehensive wine selection, something that Great Valu has rapidly been expanding recently. Will people come from Waynesboro? As of the 2000 Census, 5,229 people lived in the 22932 zip code. People are continuing to move into Crozet, though.Heck, I’ve heard rumors about a CVS …
Civilization comes to Crozet
Some would say …Â Right across the street from Blue Ridge Builders’ Supply.Personally, my money will stay with Sal’s and Crozet Pizza, but that’s just me.
Crozet Library news
Wednesday, September 20, 7:00pm, in the Crozet Library: Architect Meet and Greet with the Crozet Library Building Advisory Committee Ms. Melanie Hennigan, of Grimm and Parker Architects, will be available to answer questions and hear comments regarding the new Crozet Library. Grimm and Parker has been hired as the firm who will be aiding in the selection of a library site and, ultimately, designing our new Crozet Library. Thursday, September 21, 7:00pm, at the Meadows (unless location is changed due to turnout), Ms. Hennigan will hold a Meet and Greet with members of the CCAC, which is also open to the public. Wednesday, October 25, 7:00pm, Western Albemarle High School: Community Feedback Time! Albemarle County Representatives and Grimm and Parker architects will solicit community feedback regarding the library and its potential sites. Community feedback from this meeting will be reported to the Board of Supervisors.