This is the type of information dissemination that this blog is about – Crozet-specific announcements, news, etc. This new library has the potential to invigorate Crozet even more.We are pleased to announce that Albemarle County is in final contract negotiations with the architectural firm of Grimm and Parker for site selection analysis and design of our new Crozet Library….  These eight proposals were reviewed and scored by county and Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (JMRL) representatives, and the top three firms were identified.  These three firms were then invited to make formal presentations to, and be interviewed by an architect selection committee, consisting of five county representatives, JMRL library director, John Halliday, Library Board Representative, Tim Tolson, Building Advisory Committee representatives, Tom Hurst and William Schrader, and myself….  Out of McLean, Virginia, Grimm and Parker will partner with the local firm of Heyward Boyd, and will bring thirty years of library design experience to our project.  Factors contributing to this firms selection include the firms dedication to the community input process, creative and innovative design concepts, and the ability to stay on budget….  This Friday, library representatives, representatives of the Building Advisory Committee and county staff will be visiting two Grimm and Parker libraries in Maryland….  I feel certain that, with Grimm and Parker as our design team and the creative input and energies of the dedicated library community, were headed for a beautiful and dynamic Crozet Library, a true reflection of our community.  If you’d like more information, or have suggestions or concerns, please feel free to contact: Building Advisory Committee Representatives: William Schrader and Thomas Hurst, Library Board Representative Tim Tolson.The “staying on budget” aspect is exciting – will penalty clauses be written into the Contract?

The semi-annual tradition continues – This weekend is the Spring Crozet Arts and Crafts Show at Claudius Crozet Park….  Show hours are 10-5PM on Saturday May 13, and Sunday May 14th.  Please come by and support your park !Come on out to Crozet this weekend!There will also be a yard sale in Parkside Village.The PVHOA would like to hold a semi-annual Parkside Village community yard sale….  These dates coincide with the Crozet Park’s Arts and Crafts Festival.  It seems that much of the traffic from the festival finds its way into our neighborhood.  With this in mind, I thought these dates would be ideal.Yard sales will be set up and run by individual households on their property.  If there are students in the neighborhood in need of community service hours we would love to turn the sign making and advertising over to you.  It would be a great way to serve your immediate community and fill up some of those service hours.

Crozet is getting two traffic signals!  Might they consider making them flashing lights that do not require stopping during non-school hours?There was a nasty multi-vehicle wreck the other day on Route 240/Crozet Avenue at about 8:45 am – right when everybody was trying to make it to the schools.  Some were able to turn around and make their way to the new Old Trail connector road.  Others were stuck in the backup.  Most surprising was that the police guarding the movie set in Old Trail couldn’t be bothered to leave their posts chit-chatting.  I have little doubt that they were off-duty police, but they were in uniform and were driving County police cars – my thought is that public safety should come first.  Silly me.

The DP has a good story this morning about the tunnel running under Afton mountain.  Soon, it will be part of Nelson County’s tourism business.  “It’s going to be pretty dark,” Gandy said, explaining that the Whitesell Group studied a similar, longer tunnel in Seattle that used only reflectors when it was turned into a trail.  “It sort of looked like you’re walking at night under a full moon.  … To light it is just a sin.  You want that endorphin rush when you’re coming through.”I’m going to have to go one day soon.

Dear Members of the Crozet Community, We wanted to let you know that on Friday, March 31, children at Crozet Elementary School will be walking to school.  This event is designed to help kids learn that fitness can be fun and practical….  Supported by the Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation [ACCT] and their Safe Routes to School initiative, this event encourages all families who can walk to school to do so.  Children who must ride the bus will have the opportunity to take a walk around the outside of the school before entering the building for the day.  Parents who drive their children by car are invited to park at Crozet Baptist Church on St.  George Avenue and walk to school from there under the supervision of school staff.  A second supervised “Walking School Bus” will walk from the Brookwood neighborhood.  Members of the community are advised to be on the lookout for children walking in the neighborhoods and to be extra careful driving between 7-8am.

Mark your calendars – the March meeting is this Thursday, March 9, 7:30 at the Crozet Firehouse.