Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Halloween Safety Trunk-or-Treat Events, Thursday, October 26 at Claudius Crozet Park and Monday, October 30 at Darden Towe Park

Join us on Thursday, October 26, from 4 - 7 pm at Claudius Crozet Park (1075 Claudius Crozet Pk, Crozet, VA) and on Monday, October 30, from 4- 7 pm at Darden Towe Park (1445 Darden Towe Park, Charlottesville, VA) for Halloween Safety Trunk-or-Treat events. These events will provide information related to pedestrian safety awareness and plenty of trunk-or-treat activities with Albemarle County public safety partners. Learn more at albemarle.org/police.

Resilient Together: Register now for the Virtual Open House

VIRTUAL KICKOFF & OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 6 – 7:30 pm

Register now for the Resilient Together Virtual Open House. Expect an engaging, interesting, and informative conversation – not just presentations (although we will have a variety of subject matter experts in the room). First, we'll have a general presentation about the state of our area – the vulnerabilities we face, and how this effort seeks to help our community. Then, we'll open up topic-focused breakout rooms where you can visit, learn, and discuss heat and air quality, drought and flooding, and changing seasonal patterns and pests. You'll be able to move from room to room depending on your interests. Finally, we'll rejoin as a group and play a game designed to build understanding about what we might do (or have done) in a disaster or emergency.

Because planning for resilience requires community effort, we need you to be involved. Please join us!

AC44: Share Your Important Feedback and Other Opportunities to Give Your Input

SAVE THE DATE: VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

Monday, November 6, 2023, from 6 – 7:30 pm

This virtual open house will offer opportunities to learn about and share input on draft Goals and Objectives for the following five Comprehensive Plan chapters - Environmental Stewardship; Parks and Recreation; Historic, Scenic, and Cultural Resources; Housing; and Economic Development. Attendees will be able to move between breakout rooms for each Plan chapter. Register for the Virtual Open House.

ONLINE FEEDBACK FORMS 

Over the next several months, the project team will present draft goals and objectives for each Comprehensive Plan chapter. These goals will provide vision and direction for each chapter while the objectives will provide specific targets or outcomes to achieve each goal. Questionnaires are open for Environmental Stewardship, Parks and Recreation, Historic, Scenic, and Cultural Resources, Housing, and Economic Development.

THINK LIKE A PLANNER 

It's Pokémon Go meets Choose Your Own Adventure -- our new field notes activity was designed for you to think like a planner and observe popular places in Albemarle County. Doing this activity is simple! Go to a popular gathering spot, complete the field notes worksheet, and share it with the AC44 team. The deadline to participate is November 17, 2023.

Through this activity, you'll answer questions like:

• Where do you go for gatherings, community events, shopping, dining, errands, and entertainment? 
• How do you get to and from there? 
• What makes the place feel safe, welcoming, and convenient? 

Your input will be used to develop recommendations for bike and pedestrian access, traffic calming, placemaking elements, tree coverage, and public amenities within and around our Activity Centers and Rural Community Hubs. 

Interested in getting more information about AC44 directly to your email inbox? Update your Albemarle County News preferences here! You can also read the latest AC44 Digest to learn more about the County’s Comprehensive Plan and the work that’s been done over the past month, feedback we’ve received, and more. 

Albemarle County Community Survey Now Open 

Albemarle County's biennial community survey is now open to the public and we want to hear from you!

Survey responses help inform strategic planning, resource allocation, and program offerings, but most importantly, the survey allows us to formally check-in with our community to see how we are doing with service delivery.

Albemarle County last conducted a community survey in late 2019. At that time, the community shared that while satisfaction with fire rescue and police services were high, services around land use, planning, zoning, and solid waste/recycling had the greatest opportunity for improvement. 

Since that time, we initiated a comprehensive plan update and a zoning ordinance modernization project, and introduced electronic submission for many land use applications. In partnership with the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority, we opened new convenience centers in Ivy (2020) and Keene (2023) to provide recycling and tag-a-bag trash service to western and southern Albemarle, with plans underway for a third convenience center in northern Albemarle. 

The survey is administered in partnership with the Center for Survey Research of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. Earlier this month, a scientific sampling of households received a mailed letter inviting them to participate in the survey and also a mailed copy of the survey. If you received these, please complete the paper survey or use the link to respond online that you received by mail. Everyone else should respond using this link.

The results will be available in 2024. The survey is available in English and Spanish and will close on November 29, 2023.

Rivanna Solid Waste Authority (RSWA): Free Mulch is Now Available 

Want FREE mulch? The Rivanna Solid Waste Authority is currently offering free, freshly ground mulch from local trees and vegetation, with no dyes to customers of the Ivy Material Utilization Center, located at 4576 Dick Woods Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. 

Learn more by visiting their website. The mulch giveaway will run while supplies last and no purchase is necessary. 

RSWA's Sixth Annual Great Pumpkin Smash Composting Event 

Rivanna Solid Waste Authority (RSWA) is hosting the 6th Annual Great Pumpkin Smash composting event at McIntire Recycling Center, located at 611 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902, from October 31 through November 7, 2023 from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. 

Participants will be able to “smash” their pumpkins by dropping them into a large composting container. The recycling container will be accessible through self-service. Pumpkin composting is free of charge and open to City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents. Go green and compost your pumpkin! For more information, please visit their website. 

Reminder: Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (JMRL) Needs Your Important Feedback on Strategic Planning for 2024

Help JMRL plan the next five years of library services! Your input can make a big difference! Take the JMRL Strategic Planning Survey to give your input. The survey will be open through October 2023. Once the survey closes, the Library Board will conduct discussions about strategic plan drafts at upcoming public meetings next year.

Announcements

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2023

October 22 – 28, 2023 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Did you know that even very low levels of lead in children’s blood are linked to harmful effects on the brain, behavior, and development?

Visit our Housing webpage for more information and resources on how to protect your family from the harmful effects of lead. Together, we can prevent lead exposure!

2023 Second-Half Property Taxes: Due December 5 

2023 Second-Half Property taxes will be mailed soon in the coming weeks. Did you know you can pay your taxes with the County’s upgraded, extremely user-friendly Automated Tax Payment Kiosk? The 24/7 kiosk is located on the side of the County’s McIntire Road building facing Preston Avenue and features many new improvements. Watch this video 📽️▶️ to learn more about the automated tax payment kiosk and additional details on all the payment options available at the kiosk. 

Other payment methods available are - online, by phone, or by drop-off in County drop boxes. There is no fee for payments by electronic check, which can be used online or by phone. Here's more information and details on ways to pay: 

• Pay online. Visit www.albemarlecountytaxes.org to pay using a credit card, electronic check, or PayPal. 
• Pay by mail. Instructions for payments by check are attached to your bill. If choosing to pay by mail, please be aware that there might be unexpected delivery delays from the post office. Tax payments postmarked by December 5, 2023, will be considered on time. 
• Pay by phone. Call 1-866-820-5450 to pay using credit card. 
• Pay at the County Office Building at 401 McIntire Road using the 24/7 automated payment kiosk using check, cash, or card. 
• Drop off. Use the drop boxes located in the parking lot at either the County Office Building (401 McIntire Road or 1600 5th Street Extended.) No cash is accepted in drop boxes. 
• Pay In Person. Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm, at the County Office Building at 401 McIntire Road. 

A convenience fee of 2.5% for credit card and 2.35% for debit card payments and a$1.95 minimum applies when paying online or by phone. A 2.5% convenience fee for credit/debit cards applies when paying at the automated kiosk. 

To avoid incurring a late payment penalty, payments must be made by December 5, 2023. 

Learn more about Tax Rates, Due Dates, and Late Penalties. Still have questions? Email [email protected]. 

Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD): Donation Scam Prevention Tips

Be alert and protect yourself against scams and fraud. We’re all vulnerable to scams. Fight fraud with knowledge and don't be afraid to ask for facts. Here are tips related to donation scams and ways you can protect yourself: 



• Fact-check a charity before donating. 
• Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request. 
• The name and number you see on Caller ID can be falsified. Call back a number you know is genuine to verify. 
• Use extreme caution in online communications. Emails should come from authentic addresses and should be expected. 
• Don't make a decision in a hurry. Don't allow yourself to be rushed. 
• Report suspected scams to the non-emergency line at 434-977-9041.

Upcoming Office Closures

Our offices will be closed on Friday, November 10 in observance of Veteran's Day. We will also be closing at noon Wednesday, November 22 through Friday, November 24 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Public safety departments will operate as usual. 

In Case You Missed It

Ways to Vote: November 2023 General Election

Early in-person voting started Friday, September 22, and runs through Saturday, November 4. Any voter registered in Albemarle County may opt to vote early in person and can do so in Conference Room A at the County Office Building on 5th Street. Please note, voters can expect a long ballot with all the local candidates.

There are three different options to cast your vote in the 2023 November General Election. You can vote by mail, early in-person, or at your polling place on Election Day. All of these options are safe and effective opportunities.   

Check on your voter status here. 

Same Day Registration is available until Tuesday, November 7, 2023.  

Voters who opt to cast their ballot by mail for the upcoming 2023 November General Election must request a ballot by this Friday, October 27. You can mail your completed ballot to the Voter Registration Office at the County Office Building or drop it in the dropbox at the front entrance to the building. Use the pre-addressed envelope included with your mail-in ballot. Get your mail-in ballot application today. 

Learn more about the upcoming election and all your options for casting your vote. Still have Elections related questions? Please email the Office of Elections at [email protected] or call 434-972-4173. 

Albemarle County Parks and Recreation (ACPR): Register Now for Middle School Sports Flag Football and Soccer 

Registration is now open for Flag Football and Soccer middle school sports! Register today for the first day of games that start on Monday, November 6. 

Our middle school sports program is held at all five Albemarle County middle schools and homeschoolers are welcome as well. This popular after-school program is a partnership between Albemarle County Public Schools and Parks and Recreation. Learn about registration costs, school locations and more for the upcoming season. 

Register Now for an Upcoming CPR Certification Course

Want to get CPR certified this fall? Here’s your chance! Albemarle County Parks and Recreation is offering a fall CPR certification course at Greenwood Community Center in Crozet! Learn adult, infant, and child CPR and master the necessary skills to possibly assist in the event of an emergency until advanced help arrives.

The 3-hour course takes place on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 5:30 pm and is $75 per person. Don't delay registration, as spots fill quickly! View more information about the course and register online today. 

Unveiling of Historic Marker Honoring Virginia Lee Murray  

This month, was the unveiling of the historic marker and ceremony, led by residing pastor of St. John Baptist Church Reverend Kelvin Hawkins, honoring Virginia Lee Murray who taught at St. John School in Gordansville, VA, where the marker is located. Murray began her education in Albemarle County, and later attended Gloucester Training School, the first African American public secondary school in Gloucester County. Graduating from Howard University in 1927, and later receiving her Master’s degree from New York University, she worked as a demonstration teacher in Cobham from 1928-1931, when she was appointed a supervisor in Albemarle County’s then segregated school system.  

At the unveiling ceremony, Board Chair Donna Price, Supervisor Bea LaPisto-Kirtley, and our Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion Jesse Brookins gave congratulatory remarks, along with Rebecca Kinney, Board President at St. John Family Life and Fitness Center, and Lorenzo Dickerson, Filmmaker/Founder of Maupintown Media, L.L.C., all honoring Virginia Lee Murray. Pictured are alumni who participated in the ceremony to unveil the marker. 

As part of the Community Remembrance project, a Board of Supervisors’ initiative, the County’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, invited members of the Historic Preservation Committee to assist in efforts to increase the number of historical markers in the county recognizing women and people of color whose stories and contributions have historically been excluded from County markers. St. John School was one of the historic locations chosen. 

St. John Family Life and Fitness Center, at St. John School, will also be celebrating the opening of the newly renovated 100-year St. John Rosenwald School on November 11, 2023, where Virginia Lee Murray will also be honored.

Recap: All-Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Transportation Meeting

Albemarle County's Community Advisory Committees (CACs) are groups of local community members that help the County by providing feedback on programs, policies, and plans. 

This month, the County and the six CACs partnered for an All-CAC meeting focused on transportation in the county. 

The meeting reviewed transportation planning and participants included County staff, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. 

Thanks to everyone who participated in the All-CAC meeting! Want to learn more ways you can get engaged in local government? Visit engage.albemarle.org. 

Economic Development Office Updates

Career Pathways Fieldtrip – The Albemarle County Economic Development Office joined several departments from the County to engage students during a Career Pathways field trip.

Around 40 ninth grade students from Albemarle High School visited the Broadway Blueprint to learn about various career paths available within our local government. Additionally, students were able to explore the Broadway area to see firsthand the positive impact a large collaborative project has on our community. Students also visited the Monticello Fire Station to speak with ACFR and ACPD staff about their roles in police and fire/rescue departments.

Hispanic Heritage Month was September 15-October 15 – According to the Joint Economic Committee’s Hispanic Entrepreneurship and Business Brief, the nearly 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States contribute more than $800 billion to the American economy annually. The Albemarle County Economic Development Office celebrates our Hispanic entrepreneurs and business owners and recognizes their impact on our local economy. Please visit Buy Local and support Hispanic businesses in our community.

People & Project Spotlights

Recap: Digital Inclusion Week

This month was National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s (NDIA) Digital Inclusion Week (DIW), which was an annual week of awareness, recognition, and celebration of digital inclusion. The Board of Supervisors also proclaimed October 2-6 Digital Inclusion Week in Albemarle County, VA.

We highlight this initiative and continue to amplify the importance of building connected communities. Pictured are our Program Manager, Jason Inofuentes, and Director, Michael Culp, from our Broadband Accessibility and Affordability Office (BAAO), who received the proclamation recognizing Digital Inclusion Week.

Our Office of Equity and Inclusion also worked with BAAO to create a video as a part of our 21-Day Equity Challenge sharing an overview of equity and broadband in the county. View the video and learn more about the 21 Day Equity Challenge.

Have You Visited Our Online Engagement Center?

We are looking forward to providing you with a variety of robust tools designed to enable you to share your expertise, ideas, and feedback with us on a regular basis.

Please visit the site and register to access current and future projects.

Did a friend forward this email to you? Subscribe to receive these emails directly to your inbox.

View as Webpage