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Albemarle County Community Digest
September 2025
| | | Welcome to another monthly edition of the Albemarle County Community Digest. Thank you for subscribing and being an engaged member of our community! Please share this email with any friends, family, and neighbors who might be interested in staying informed. | | Upcoming Events & Opportunities | | |
Human Services: Broadband Office
Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) is October 6-10. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance's (NDIA) DIW is an annual week of awareness, recognition, and celebration of digital inclusion. Our Broadband Office has sought to make a difference, one connection at a time, and now that universal broadband access is right around the corner, we are focusing on equipping residents with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves online.
Throughout the week of October 6-10, follow our social media channels for daily tips on staying safe online and being cyber-aware. We’ll cover topics including common scams, passwords, and protecting your online information. For more information, connect with one of our digital navigators at digitalinclusion@albemarle.org.
| | | Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD) Events | | |
Halloween Safety Trunk-or-Treat Events at Claudius Crozet Park and Darden Towe Park
Albemarle County Police and our public safety partners invite you to two fun-filled evenings of Halloween safety awareness and community celebration!
📍 Claudius Crozet Park – Thursday, October 23, 4–7 pm
📍 Darden Towe Park – Friday, October 24, 4–7 pm
These free events include trunk-or-treating, safety resources, and activities for kids of all ages. Costumes are encouraged—we’ll bring the treats! Learn more: www.albemarle.org/police.
Also happening at Darden Towe Park on October 24 - arrive early to catch the Battle of the Badges championship softball game featuring regional first responders. The games begin at 8 am, with the championship slated for 4 pm.
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Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The Albemarle County Police Department, in partnership with Sentara, Wegmans, and the DEA, will host four drop-off locations for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25, 2025 (add to your calendar). This free and anonymous service is the safest way to dispose of unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications, vape pens, and e-cigarettes. Proper disposal helps prevent misuse and protects the environment.
Medical sharps will be accepted at Sentara locations only (in puncture-proof containers such as detergent bottles or red sharps containers). Please remove identifying information from all medication bottles.
Drop-off locations:
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Wegmans (no sharps accepted) (100 Wegmans Way, Charlottesville, VA 22902)
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Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, Phillips Cancer Center Entrance (drive-thru) (500 Martha Jefferson Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22911)
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Sentara Crozet Family Medicine (drive-thru) (1646 Park Ridge Drive, Crozet, VA 22932)
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Sentara Forest Lakes Family Medicine (drive-thru) (3263 Proffit Road, Suite 201, Charlottesville, VA 22911)
Can't make it?
ACPD sponsors two DEA National Prescription Take Back Days each year on the last Saturdays of April and October. Outside of Take Back Days, community members can utilize a permanent drop-off box for pills and patches at the Sentara Martha Jefferson Outpatient Pharmacy, available Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. For more details, call the Outpatient Pharmacy at 434-654-3350.
| | The Rivanna Stormwater Education Partnership: Rain Barrel Workshop Opportunity on October 2 | | |
Did you know that every time it rains, stormwater can wash fertilizers, pet waste, and harmful chemicals from our yards into local streams and rivers? Installing a rain barrel at home is an effective way to reduce this pollution while also conserving water.
Join the James River Association, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, and the Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District for a rain barrel workshop at the James River Brewery, 561 Valley St, Scottsville, VA, on Thursday, October 2, at 6 pm.
Learn how to assemble and install a rain barrel to collect and reuse rainwater for your garden or landscape. Just one barrel can collect hundreds—even thousands—of gallons of water each year, helping the environment and saving money. Note: Registration is required online, along with a registration fee of $50. You must bring a vehicle large enough to transport your barrel (dimensions: 22.5" x 33.5") at the time of the workshop.
| | Rivanna Solid Waste Authority (RSWA) - Bulky Waste Amnesty Days | | |
Applications for Albemarle County Funding to Community Non-Profits and Agencies for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027: Open October 1- November 1
As part of the budget development process each fall, community organizations may request funding for the upcoming fiscal year from the County. The County provides funding to numerous community non-profits that provide a wide variety of community services, from arts and festivals to homelessness support. These contributions allow the County to provide additional services and enriching programs for residents by leveraging the work of outside agencies. These requests are read and rated objectively using established criteria. Funding recommendations are presented as part of the County Executive’s Recommended Budget, which is typically released in late February. During the budget development process that follows, the Board of Supervisors makes final funding decisions. For more information on the process, please visit the Agency & Cultural Funding webpage.
The application period is open from October 1 to November 1, 2025, for funding in Fiscal Year 2027, which is July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
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You're invited to apply for a position on one of our boards, committees, or commissions! Serving on a board or committee is a great opportunity to contribute to important decisions and to help shape our community.
If you would like more information, click here to learn about the role of boards and commissions and view the current vacancies. Share this information with others who might be interested in serving.
We appreciate your consideration and sharing this opportunity.
| | Albemarle County Parks and Recreation (ACPR) | | |
We Need Your Input: Take Our Summer Swim Survey by October 6
We welcomed over 26,000 guests this summer to our swimming beaches, and it's clear that our beaches remain a cornerstone of healthy, active living in Albemarle. From kayak rentals to relaxing in the sand, residents of all ages made the most of our parks this summer. Now we'd like to learn more about your visits. If you visited any of our swimming beaches at Chris Greene, Mint Springs, or Walnut Creek Lake Parks, please share your input on possible ideas to improve future summer swim seasons. We'd like to hear from you about your experiences through a brief questionnaire, just for you!
Please take a few minutes to share your valued thoughts to help guide improvements and make next summer even better. Our Parks and Recreation team will review your answers and use them to build on our successes and identify opportunities for improvement in future seasons. Take the questionnaire and share your input by Monday, October 6.
Online Registration for Flag Football & Soccer Starts on October 7
Registration opens Tuesday, October 7, for Flag Football and Soccer middle school sports!
Our middle school sports program is held at all five Albemarle County middle schools, and homeschoolers are welcome. 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 about the upcoming season.
ACPR Adult Basketball Leagues
Online registration for the Co-ed Adult Basketball League will open on Wednesday, October 15. The league is open to men and women aged 16 and over. It will consist of eight games, with a tournament held at Albemarle High School. Teams can register for competitive or recreational divisions. There is a maximum of 12 teams per division.
ACPR also has a Women’s Basketball League. The women's league will consist of six games, followed by a tournament starting in January. The games will be on Sundays at Journey Middle School. Online registration will also open on October 15 at albemarle.org/parks.
| | | People & Project Spotlights | | IT Department: Training GIS Training Session to Support Local Realtors | | |
On Monday, September 15, the IT Department conducted a training session for the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (CAAR) staff to introduce the new GIS Viewer, with 71 attendees in attendance.
During the session, the GIS team provided a guided overview of key features, including advanced search capabilities, parcel information interaction, and the use of layers and filters. Paul Rittenhouse led the session, with Blake Baines and Lauren Williams offering one-on-one support. The team will continue to enhance system functionality and share training materials, tools, and updates to support users moving forward.
As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the GIS Viewer, we continue to refine the GIS Viewer with both major upgrades and smaller, helpful enhancements. Visit our website to read more about the most recent updates to the GIS Viewer.
| | Early In-Person Voting Has Begun | | |
There are three different options to cast your vote in the 2025 November General Election. You can vote by mail, early in person, or at your polling place on Election Day.
Register by Friday, October 24. Be sure to check your voter status. You can use Same-Day Registration to cast a provisional ballot between October 25 and November 4, if you're eligible to register to vote. However, if you're already registered in a different locality and need to update your registration, you might qualify to cast a non-provisional ballot instead. For more details on eligibility for Same-Day Registration, please contact the Elections Office.
Voters can opt to cast their ballot by mail for the upcoming November General Election. To vote by mail ballot, you must apply for an absentee ballot by October 24. You can mail your ballot to the Voter Registration Office at the County Office Building or drop it in the drop box 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.
Click here to learn more about how to vote in the upcoming election and all your options for casting your vote.
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Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD): School Zone and Bus Camera Enforcement Now in Effect
The 30-day warning period for Albemarle County’s expanded school zone speed camera program and new stop arm bus camera program has ended. As of September 15, citations are now being issued to drivers who travel 10 mph or more over the posted school zone speed limit on Hydraulic Road and Rockfish Gap Turnpike during school zone hours when the school zone lights are flashing or illegally pass a stopped school bus with its stop arm extended and red lights flashing.
These programs are designed to encourage safer driving behaviors and protect students traveling to and from school. Learn more at albemarle.org/police.
| | Recap: September Event Round-Up | | |
2025 SEAS the Day Veterans' Outdoor Day
The 2025 SEAS the Day Veterans’ Outdoor Day at Walnut Creek Park took place on Sunday, September 21. This event, geared to military families and hosted by the West Point Society of Monticello, was sponsored by the West Point Society of Monticello in partnership with Albemarle County Parks and Recreation.
There were plenty of outdoor activities, from spin and fly-fishing instruction to games for children. In addition, local business organizations that support and provide opportunities to veterans were also on site. We'd like to thank all veterans and everyone who supported and participated in the SEAS the Day event.
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Albemarle County Fire Rescue (ACFR) and Charlottesville Fire Department Honor Victims of September 11
As our country united to commemorate the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Albemarle County Fire Rescue and the Charlottesville Fire Department united to honor and remember the lives lost with a stair climb event in John Paul Jones Arena. This event was also sponsored by IAFF 2363 and IAFF 4007. A bagpipe performance was provided by Albemarle Pipes and Drums, and Albemarle and Charlottesville Honor Guards conducted the Presentation of Colors.
Alongside volunteer departments, law enforcement, EMS, and community members, crews from ACFR and CFD climbed 2,071 steps, symbolizing the 110 flights that first responders ascended in each World Trade Center tower.
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Each year, stair climb events are held across the country to honor and pay respect to the 343 firefighters who gave their lives on 9/11/2001. These events are memorials to the trek those first responders made into and up the World Trade Center buildings.
The attacks on September 11 took 2,977 lives. Events like this are more than symbolic—they reinforce the importance of readiness, mental wellness, and long-term health in public safety professions. The fire service continues to evolve based on lessons from 9/11, focusing on cancer prevention, mental health support, and improved protective equipment, all central to our public safety mission/goals. By participating in national remembrance events, ACFR supports a culture of continuous improvement, honoring the past while actively shaping a safer, healthier future for first responders and our community we serve.
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Recap: Albemarle County Fire Rescue: National Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month is observed each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. It's not too late to take some time to prepare your family, home, and ultimately, our community.
Get emergency alerts straight to your phone by texting ALBEMARLE, CVILLE, or UVA to 226787. It only takes a minute—and it could make all the difference.
If you haven't already, visit cua911.gov/alerts to learn more, sign up, and manage your alerts.
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Recap: Parks and Recreation - Darden Towe Park: Piedmont Patch - Prairie Bioblitz
Peabody School students and staff, along with the Piedmont Discovery Center, the Parks & Recreation Department, Master Gardeners, and community volunteers, are continuing their efforts to restore biodiversity at Darden Towe Park.
After a successful Phase One—where over 100 volunteers contributed 1,000 hours to plant 20,000 native plants across 10,000 square feet—Phase Two kicked off with new planting methods. On September 20, the first Citizen Science Bioblitz was held to document the return of wildlife to the area. A bioblitz is a community event where people work together to identify as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period, helping track ecological recovery. It’s also a great way to connect with nature in our community.
Planting continued September 24 and 26, with students and volunteers installing thousands of native plugs and seeds. This work strengthens community connections while fostering a healthier, more resilient local ecosystem.
| | | (Photo Credits: Amy Lastinger and Piedmont Discovery Center) | | | | |
