Charlottesville Breaking News
Summer reading: 5 local authors to take to the beach
In a town where there are more writers per capita than readers, it can be daunting to think about keeping up with the local offerings when it seems like just about everyone has a book. For your convenience, the Hook nets out a few must-reads from Charlottesville's literary luminaries (and there are plenty more). So when you're packing up for the beach or heading to the hammock and looking for something to delve into, here are five books worth reading if you're living here– or even if you don't.
The Art of Fielding
by Chad Harbach
Former Hook fiction winner and UVA creative writing MFA,
Harbach was the "It" first-time writer two years ago, getting a
bidding war and a roll-out that would make published writers who
have to do their own marketing– the majority– weep. With good
reason. The Art of Fielding, which made the New York
Times best books of 2011 list, is a darn good read, loosely
about baseball at Westish College in northern Wisconsin, but also
about friendship, family, love, and dreams. You know, the
basics.
Tiny bullies
Nick GalifianakisCarolyn:
I'm having trouble dealing with my violent niece and nephew, 5 and 7. I have two children of my own a little older. We are a tight family that (mostly, despite this big issue) enjoys hanging out together quite often. It's common for the 5-year-old to hold my 7-year-old down and just swing punches. The boy was kicked out of day care at 2 for his violent tendencies. In an effort to not tear the family apart, we've tried to deal with it by telling ourselves that in time it will go away. Things aren't better, except that he is wiser now and waits for when he thinks we're not watching to hit our kids.
At a recent birthday, the two hit or kicked every kid at least once.
I am as nonconfrontational as it gets, and as a result I think my kids have learned that being hit by them is OK. In a world of bullies, I need to send the message that it is most definitely not OK, even with family.
I just don't know how to open the parents' eyes. They don't express any concern or impose any real discipline and leave everyone else to deal with them. The children don't take our discipline seriously as a result of a lifelong use of empty threats by the parents.
I love them and want them in our lives, but I'm worried about ca...
Decision delay: Dumler awaits ruling on petition
Christopher Dumler leaves Albemarle County Circuit Court after the May 20 trial. Judge Cheryl Higgins will rule on whether Dumler remains on the board on May 31.Courteney StuartAt least 470 of his constituents want him gone, but embattled Albemarle County Supervisor Chris Dumler hangs on– and he has at least one more week to serve the Scottsville District before Judge Cheryl Higgins rules on a petition to remove him from office.
"For the board to work, it requires trust, and they don't have it in Mr. Dumler's case," said special prosecutor Mike Doucette in his closing argument, wrapping up a four-hour trial on Monday, May 20 that brought at least three of Dumler's fellow supervisors to the stand along with several unsatisfied Dumler constituents.
"I was really appalled, but I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt," testified supervisor Ken Boyd of his feelings about his fellow board member immediately following Dumler's October arrest on charges of forcible sodomy. Boyd noted that after Dumler pleaded guilty in January to a reduced charge of misdemeanor sexual battery, "I lost respect for him."
Supervisor Duane Snow described his inspiration for writing an open letter asking Dumler to step down after the conviction, explaining that staying silent while Dumler remained on the board seemed "the wrong message to send to our youth."
Back in early February, soon after Dumler accepted the plea that reduced the...
"Epic networking fail": Book salesman mistaken for child predator
Southwestern Advantage websiteThe alert from Albemarle County Schools on Thursday, May 23, struck fear into the hearts of area parents: a man driving a white Chevy wagon had reportedly approached a child who'd just gotten off the school bus and was walking up the driveway towards his Keswick area home. If the reported incident had all the hallmarks of every parent's worst nightmare, it soon became apparent that things weren't quite as they first seemed.
According to the school system's "urgent safety message," blast emailed just after 1:30pm, less than an hour before many county students would be riding the buses home, the man "told the student he wanted to get to know the families in the area and asked what other houses on the street had children." News traveled fast among parents, who shared the information on their Facebook pages, and expressed concern that a predator could be targeting county kids.
Fortunately, the fear didn't last long as the man— now identified as a college student from Texas— stopped by the police station to explain the misunderstanding.
According to a police press release sent two hours after the school's alert, the man is a student representative for Southwestern Advantage, a 150-year-old Nashville, Tennessee-based company that hires college students and sends them to cities around the country where they sell the company's educational books and software. The man and three other Southwestern Adva...
Escapes: Summer fun near and far
Well, summer is right in front of us, and while living might not be easy these days, it is an opportunity to get out and explore all the things that our area has to offer. And we're not just talking about Charlottesville, we're talking about all the surrounding counties near and far that are having summer events to rock your world; everything from summer tubing and sight-seeing in Nelson County, to bluegrass in Augusta County, to a shoe factory in Lynchburg and a pro golf tournament featuring music by Aerosmith and Kenny Chesney in the nearby Allegheny Mountains. Oh, did we mention dinosaurs and theater? A new rock music festival in Nelson County at the end of the summer expecting to draw 30,000 people? Seriously, don't miss some of these great escapes. – Courteney Stuart, editor
Ski Resorts Do
Summertime: Wintergreen and Massanutten
When the heat of summer rolls around don’t forget that the local
ski resorts have summer activities too. Wintergreen Resort, located
about 45 minutes from Charlottesville, provides summer tubing,
hiking in the Blue Ri...
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