Hotseat
Life after fame: McCorkle continues to impress
Published on Mar 14th, 2013
1 comments It is a rare writer that can give the reader the feeling that a story is meant personally for her. And yet, whether it be rocking the Paramount Theater last March with singer-songwriter Matreca Berg...
The General: Douglass battles for 5th District seat
Published on Aug 27th, 2012
15 comments The skill set of military general and Virginia farmer is a popular one in American politics, dating back to George Washington. That's why Democrats tapped Brigadier General John Douglass, who's...
Semantics: The meaning of Thane Kerner's Silverchair success
Published on Jul 9th, 2012
8 comments Last year, Inc. magazine ranked Silverchair as one of the fastest growing private companies in America. Locally, the technical publishing company, while employing 240 people, has a lower profile....
Takin' the 5th: Peyton Williams wants cousin's job
Published on Apr 9th, 2012
35 comments Campaign workers are meeting in the living room of the house Peyton Williams' great aunt built off JPA in the the 1930s. A reporter and photographer appear. Cars need to be moved so a volunteer can...
Art of writing: Harbach knocks it out of the park
Published on Mar 14th, 2012
6 comments Related story: • Kayley's Constellations - By Chad Harbach Literary phenom Chad Harbach credits the Hook for his runaway success with The Art of Fielding, the book that was on everyone's top 10...
Friedman's field: The man who never left community college
Published on May 19th, 2011
12 comments Frank Friedman has been in community college for 33 years. The good news? He did get several degrees beyond an associate's, and a pretty sweet job as president of Piedmont Virginia Community College....
HOTSEAT- Nail-biter: Perriello in fight for his life--- again
Published on Oct 7th, 2010
6 comments Tom PerrielloPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO When Tom Perriello sat in the Hotseat two years ago, he was a political unknown challenging longtime 5th District incumbent Virgil Goode. Conventional wisdom said...
HOTSEAT- Candidate Clark: Novice plays big-league politics
Published on Sep 30th, 2010
0 comments Jeff ClarkPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Jeff Clark had just finished a debate with 5th District incumbent Congressman Tom Perriello, and afterward, says Clark, Perriello's mom came over and told him he was...
HOTSEAT- Lead role: Carole Thorpe stars in Tea Party
Published on Aug 19th, 2010
3 comments Carole ThorpePHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO After years in theater, Carole Thorpe has taken many roles, but perhaps her biggest began on Tax Day 2009, when she carried a sign that read, "Greed, arrogance,...
HOTSEAT- Swanson's song: Give peace a chance
Published on Jul 22nd, 2010
0 comments David SwansonPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO It's not too hard to pick out David Swanson's house. That would be the one with the "Wage Peace" and "End the War Now" signs in the front yard. On his website,...
WWJD? Leslie Greene Bowman's 21st-century Monticello
Published on Apr 8th, 2010
7 comments   Leslie Greene BowmanPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO In Charlottesville, a popular variation of WWJD is "what would Jefferson do?" For Leslie Greene Bowman, a variation weighs as she goes about her new...
HOTSEAT- Hot type: McConnell upbeat on newspaper biz
Published on Mar 25th, 2010
1 comments Lawrence McConnellPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Literal minds could compare Lawrence McConnell's job as publisher of the Daily Progress to that of a general manager of any business. He's responsible for all...
HOTSEAT- Great spinner: Colum McCann's an NBA winner
Published on Mar 18th, 2010
0 comments Colum McCannPHOTO BY BRENDAN BOURKE If you don't know who Colum McCann is, the pun in the headline will make no sense and people may think he's a basketball player. "Great spinner," of course,...
Have pen, will travel: NPR's Cheuse journeys through writing
Published on Mar 11th, 2010
0 comments "All writing is travel writing– you pack a noun, and you pack a verb and take the reader somewhere," says writer Alan Cheuse. He should know. Although Cheuse prides himself on his fiction and...
HOTSEAT- SOL: Pam Moran and the incredibly shrinking budget
Published on Mar 4th, 2010
0 comments Pam MoranPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Growing up in the low country of South Carolina, Pam Moran remembers sitting around the table on her grandfather's back porch, and the lessons she learned there....
HOTSEAT- First lady: Betsy Casteen's Carr's Hill adventure
Published on Feb 11th, 2010
0 comments Betsy CasteenPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO John and Betsy Casteen at a 2005 art opening.FILE PHOTO BY DAVE MCNAIR Betsy Foote had no idea what she was getting into when she married John Casteen. "He didn't...
HOTSEAT- High octane: Jay James' Best (hot)seat in the house
Published on Dec 3rd, 2009
1 comments Jay JamesPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Some days, you can't turn on the radio without hearing Jay James. The sports director for WINA is on during morning drive time. Flip the channel and he's talking...
HOTSEAT- The revenuer: Commissioner reveals secret solar side
Published on Oct 15th, 2009
0 comments Lee RichardsPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Sometimes on ballots are positions that you have no idea what they're about, like Commissioner of Revenue. Charlottesville has one, and he's running unopposed for...
HOTSEAT- The producer: Kielbasa recasts Virginia Film Fest
Published on Sep 24th, 2009
1 comments Jody KielbasaPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO A movie poster for The Deal leans against a chair in Jody Kielbasa's office at the Virginia Film Festival. The film starring William Macy and Meg Ryan didn't...
HOTSEAT- Native son: Thomas vows mannerly campaign
Published on Aug 27th, 2009
0 comments Rodney ThomaPHOTO BY WILL WALKER Sure it's a political campaign, but Board of Supervisors candidate Rodney Thomas says he's not going to trash-talk his opponent, David Slutzky. Heck, Thomas won't...
HOTSEAT- Neff-scape: From delegating to delegate?
Published on Aug 13th, 2009
2 comments Cynthia NeffPHOTO BY WILL WALKER The first thing that's odd about Cynthia Neff's candidacy against four-term incumbent Rob Bell? There's no "Vote Cynthia Neff" sign in her yard. The second? Her...
HOTSEAT- Stoner's zen: Building Goodness turns 10
Published on May 21st, 2009
0 comments Jack StonerPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Jack Stoner could have just bought a flashy car. Instead, he went to Haiti in 1997 for his midlife crisis and volunteered his building skills for a rural development...
HOTSEAT- On the 'No Fuss Bus': Moran drives to June 9 primary
Published on May 7th, 2009
0 comments Brian MoranPHOTO BY HAWES SPENCER Of the three Democratic candidates for governor, former delegate Brian Moran is the Kennedy-esque one. His family is Irish, politically involved, he's got the looks...
HOTSEAT- Big shoes: Walking the Walk(er)
Published on Apr 30th, 2009
0 comments Walker ThorntonPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO On a first date, Walker Thornton doesn't usually bring up what she does. Executive director of SARA doesn't sound too bad. Spelling out Sexual Assault Resource...
HOTSEAT- Obama girl: Why Szakos eyes Council seat
Published on Apr 2nd, 2009
0 comments Kristin SzakosPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO It's the Obama effect, and we're not saying that because Kristin Szakos has an Barack Obama "Hope" poster hanging in her living room. After working on Obama's...
HOTSEAT- Adam's adamant: Gottschalk pulls no punches on sports talk show
Published on Mar 26th, 2009
0 comments Adam GottschalkPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Many boys grow up wanting to be police officers, and might even play games of cops and robbers with their siblings, but never grow up to wear the badge. While...
HOTSEAT- Top o' the ticket? Deeds in HotSeat again
Published on Mar 26th, 2009
0 comments Creigh DeedsPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO When this newspaper was launched in early 2002, not many people around here had ever heard of the state senator from Bath County who had just won the 25th District...
HOTSEAT- Unoppressed-- and outspoken: Tim Reid overcame
Published on Mar 19th, 2009
0 comments Tim ReidPHOTO COURTESY TIM REID Former WKRP in Cincinnati star Tim Reid can trace his success in Hollywood back to growing up in segregated Norfolk, where separate but equal was the law of the land...
HOTSEAT- The Reader: <i>Post</i> critic talks books, squeezebox
Published on Mar 12th, 2009
0 comments Michael DirdaPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO When Michael Dirda was growing up in an Ohio town that didn't have a bookstore and where reading material was purchased from the drug or thrift store, a future in...
HOTSEAT- Cold feet? Hopwood takes the plunge
Published on Feb 12th, 2009
0 comments Lt. Todd HopwoodPHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO Lieutenant Todd Hopwood is one of those people who jump into the freezing Atlantic Ocean in February. "I can't believe I'm doing it again," he confesses a...