Central Virginia has always been known for its fascinating inhabitants. This six-session series featured: Dr. Thomas Walker, discoverer of the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky; James Monroe, forgotten hero of the American Revolution; Dolley Madison, our nation’s first “First Lady”; Claudius Crozet who built the world’s longest railroad tunnel; Ben Ficklin, founder of the Pony Express; Cyrus McCormick who invented the reaper; the “Moon Ghost” who haunted southern Albemarle; self-made millionaire Samuel Miller; Maud Coleman Woods, “America’s Most Beautiful Blonde”; lunatic and philanthropist Archie Chaloner; Congressional Medal winner Frank Peregoy; and “Anastasia,” the Romanov family pretender who once convinced the world!
Born in Nelson County and raised in Charlottesville, Tech. Sgt. Frank Dabney Peregoy was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the Charlottesville City Armory on June 4, 1945. The National Guardsman — a member of the Monticello Guard, Company K, 116th Infantry — had performed an amazing feat of heroism in France on D-Day plus two. Brig. Gen. E. R. Warner McCabe presented the nation’s highest award to Bessie Kirby Peregoy, Frank’s widow. “You will have the comfort and consolation and satisfaction of knowing,” he told her, “that your heroic husband’s memory will live forever in the hearts of his country and his valiant deeds will live in the hearts of his fellow citizens.” This is his story.
Join us again next Thursday when Rick returns with the life of eccentric John Armstrong Chaloner who became a poet, a novelist, a playwright, a patron of the arts, a philanthropist, and a dabbler in eastern philosophy and the occult.
Central Virginia has always been known for its fascinating inhabitants. This six-session series featured: Dr. Thomas Walker, discoverer of the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky; James Monroe, forgotten hero of the American Revolution; Dolley Madison, our nation’s first "First Lady"; Claudius Crozet who built the world’s longest railroad tunnel; Ben Ficklin, founder of the Pony Express; Cyrus McCormick who invented the reaper; the "Moon Ghost" who haunted southern Albemarle; self-made millionaire Samuel Miller; Maud Coleman Woods, "America’s Most Beautiful Blonde"; lunatic and philanthropist Archie Chaloner; Congressional Medal winner Frank Peregoy; and "Anastasia," the Romanov family pretender who once convinced the world!
In this podcast Rick looks at the twists and turns of "Anastasia’s" life — her journey from a Berlin asylum to No. 35 University Circle in Charlottesville, Virginia — have fascinated the world for decades. The questions seem insurmountable: How had she escaped a Bolshevik firing squad? How had she escaped a Russia ripped to shreds by civil war? Chronically plagued by ill health and a fluctuating disposition, "Anastasia" consistently maintained her ersatz identity. Whether she was using the name Madame Tchaikovsky, or Anna Manahan, her claim remained the same. She said she wasHer Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, improbable survivor of a royal dynasty and rightful heiress to all remaining monies and holdings that had belonged to her father, Csar Nicolas II of Russia.
Join us again next Thursday when Rick returns with the life of Tech. Sgt. Frank Dabney Peregoy. Born in Nelson County and raised in Charlottesville, Peregoy was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the Charlottesville City Armory on June 4, 1945.
Sally Thomas has represented the Samuel Miller district since 1994 when she first won election to the board in 1993 as an independent write-in candidate over Carter Myers by a margin of 192 votes. In all elections since (1997, 2001 and 2005), she has run unopposed.
“I originally ran to give Samuel Miller voters a choice when only one name was on the ballot. Since then, I’ve been privileged to serve those voters and all the residents of Samuel Miller and the County….I love the job and the responsibility that the voters have given to me, but sixteen years probably is as long as one should stay, so I won’t be running for re-election this November,” said Thomas. She announced she would not seek a fifth term on April 8, 2009.
Sally grew up in a small town in Oregon and has B.A. and M.A.T. degrees from Harvard/Radcliffe in Government and Education. She and her husband, George Thomas, have lived here since 1963, raising two daughters who attended Albemarle County public schools.
Before being elected in a write-in campaign in 1993, Thomas was director of Governmental and Community Relations at the University of Virginia. Thomas served on the Albemarle County School Board and was president of the local League of Women Voters. Thomas was also appointed to the Albemarle County School Board as the At-Large member during 1980-1983. Sally was selected as the 1994 Virginia Women’s Forum “Woman of the Year,” and the Leadership Charlottesville “Leaders’ Leader of 2001.” She received gubernatorial appointments to the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Local Government Advisory Commission; the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations; and the Natural Resources Partnership.
She served as chair of the Metropolitan Planning Organization; the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors – 2001, 2002; the Planning and Coordination Council; the Citizens Committee for City-County Cooperation; the Thomas Jefferson Venture; and the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir Stewardship Task Force. She served as president of the Virginia Transit Association and the Charlottesville/Albemarle League of Women Voters.
Sally served on the boards of the AIDS Support Group; the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center; the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission; Scenic Virginia; Albemarle County School Board; and the City Social Development Committee. She was board liaison for the Mountain Protection Committee; the Albemarle County Historic Preservation Committee; and the ACE committee. Sally was a member of the Lewis and Clark Festival planning committee; Virginia Association of Counties Finance Steering Committee; Thomas Jefferson Sustainability Council; Jefferson Area Board for Aging Plan 2020 Advisory Committee; and the Policy Committee for VDOT’s U.S. 29 Corridor Study. She is a graduate of the Albemarle County Citizens Police Academy.
News media across the country are collapsing. After recent staff cuts, furloughs and the shutdown of local printing for the Daily Progress, will Media General be doing more downsizing? Can we support four TV stations? Two weeklies? Will blogs replace all of them? What about the partnership between the non-profit Charlottesville Tomorrow and the Daily Progress, being watched nationally as a possible future model for local news?
That topic was the subject of a Left of Center forum jointly sponsored with cvillenews.com. The event is moderated by site founder Waldo Jaquith.
University of Virginia media studies professor Bruce Williams began with a historical overview of how changing “media regimes” in the U.S. have impacted political communication and civil society, and how the recent ‘broadcast era’ may have been an anomaly in the larger sweep of American history.
Then the event continues with a panel discussion with Charlottesville Tomorrow’s Sean Tubbs, Daily Progress assistant city editor Josh Barney, and Hook editor Hawes Spencer, with moderator Waldo Jaquith, editor of cvillenews.com and Left of Center steering committee member.
Our recording begins with Maggie Guggenheimer, PCA’s executive director. After a brief round of introductions, she describes an effort in Chattanooga called CreateHere.
On the second Wednesday of each month, the Senior Statesmen of Virginia present outstanding speakers of local and regional interest. In December, they met to reflect on the past and future of their organization.
SSV founding member and past president Gene Ecton Davis spoke at the organization’s annual meeting about the history of the SSV. Following Ms. Davis’ presentation, Senior Statesmen members reflected on how they might better serve their community in the coming year.
The meeting took place at the Branchlands Manor House on December 9, 2009. The event was moderated by SSV President Marvin Hilton.
On October 26, 2009, the Piedmont Council of the Arts held the latest in a series of Creative Conversations. The project is a chance to bring representatives from different arts organizations together in order to share ideas. This time around, the topic centered around the idea of developing partnerships across many different non-profit groups.
After a round of introductions, Greg Kelly of the Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative and Pete O’Shea of SiteWorks began discussing how they were able to forge the StoryLine project in collaboration with the Piedmont Council of the Arts, the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department, and the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Freedom of Expression. Afterwards, the panel and participants had a conversation about what worked, what didn’t, and what lessons can be learned to inspire similar collaborations in the future.
Billie Campbell is the chief operating officer for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC). The TJPDC is one of 21 planning district commissions in Virginia established by the General Assembly under the Virginia Area Development Act in 1969. TJPDC has six member jurisdictions: the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. TJPDC is directed by a 12-member commission, consisting of two representatives appointed by each locality, more than half of whom are local elected officials. Ms. Campbell’s presentation will briefly review the history of the TJPDC since its creation in 1972, explore its working relationships with localities and public agencies, and present its programs and activities.
As chief operating officer, Ms. Campbell oversees TJPDC’s program operations and is responsible for the timely production of deliverables, preparation of the budget, implementation of policies, internal processes, and monitoring the effectiveness of programs and progress toward agency goals. She leads the Community Development Team at TJPDC and serves as the primary staff for the Charlottesville HOME Consortium. During her ten years at TJPDC, she has also provided staff support for the Jefferson Area Disability Services Board, the Local Workforce Investment Board, the Youth Council and the Jefferson Area Transition Council. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from George Mason University, a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois. Prior to her career in public administration, she practiced for twenty years as a structural engineer and project manager. She maintains her registration as a Professional Engineer.
On Tuesday October 13, 2009, Bill Bergen, an expert on Union Maj. Gen. Horatio Wright, delivered a presentation on General Wright and the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia. Fought on October 19th, 1864, Cedar Creek—the last major action in the Shenandoah Valley—pitted Confederate Gen. Jubal Early with approximately 15,000 men, against Union Gen. Philip Sheridan’s Army of the Shenandoah with about twice that number. Early surprised the Federal force with a pre-dawn attack, and was driving it northward, when Sheridan, who had missed the opening of the fight, famously rode to the sound of the guns, rallied his shaken troops, and led them to an overwhelming victory that helped Lincoln win the 1864 election.
This is the seventh and final part of this series for 2009.
The Senior Statesmen of Virginia and The Charlottesville Senior Center cosponsored a candidates forum featuring the candidates for the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors: Jack Jouett District: incumbent Dennis Rooker (I); Rio District: incumbent David Slutzky (D), and challenger Rodney Thomas (R); Samuel Miller District: Madison Cummings (D), John Lowry (I), and Duane Snow (R). The candidates made brief statements of their positions on various issues following which the session was opened for questions from the attendees. SSV board member Jim Perkins moderated the event.
Jack Jouett Magisterial District
Dennis Rooker
Dennis Rooker (Independent) is the incumbent supervisor representing the Jack Juett Magisterial District. Dennis Rooker has lived in Albemarle County for forty years and presently lives in Roslyn Ridge with his wife, Ann. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. Dennis has a B.A. in Economics and a Juris Doctor, both from UVA. He has been a practicing attorney and businessman in this area for 33 years and has owned and operated law, media, real estate and venture capital businesses.
Dennis has served on the Board of Supervisors for 7 years (2 years as chair), four years on the Planning Commission (2 years as chair), the area’s transportation board (MPO) for 7 years, and numerous other boards and committees over the past twenty years including the Planning and Coordination Council for Albemarle County, Albemarle County’s Audi Committee, South Fork Rivanna Reservoir Stewardship Task Force, Transfer of Development Rights Committee, Meadowcreek Parkway Design Advisory Committee, and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Transportation Funding Committee.
Rio Magisterial District
David Slutzky
David Slutzky (Democrat) is the incumbent supervisor representing the Rio Magisterial District. David’s passion for Albemarle County is readily apparent from his significant community involvement. As a member of the Board of Supervisors for the last three and a half years, he has immersed himself in the complex issues facing Albemarle and has applied his expertise on subjects from transportation solutions to spearheading new initiatives to protect the rural areas of the County. David is also the Chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), serving as such for the past three years. Because of his experience and commitment to finding smart, realistic solutions, he has earned the respect of Albemarle residents from across the political spectrum. His record shows a commitment to doing what is right for the County, not what is politically easiest or most popular.
David has decades of experience in both the public service sector and as the manager of a small business. He and Melissa founded the environmental and economic policy firm, E2Inc., that has grown to employ over forty professionals here in Charlottesville. As a recognized expert on environmental policy issues, David served in the White House as a Senior Policy Advisor, where he led the International Task Force of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development. David deeply believes in environmental sustainability and has incorporated this into his private life: he is a proud owner of an electric truck. Additionally, he is a part-time Urban and Environmental Planning Professor at the University of Virginia. He cherishes his role as an educator in the community and enjoys building relationships with his students.
David received his bachelors’ degree from the University of Chicago and his environmental law degree from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. Then he and his wife Melissa were ready to raise their family, they made their home in Albemarle, where they have lived for the past few decades. David and Melissa have three grown children: Briana, Rebecca, and Isaac. David also recently became a grandfather to an adorable little baby boy-Briana and her husband’s son, Phinneas.
Rodney Thomas
Rodney Thomas (Republican) is a candidate for supervisor for the Rio Magisterial District. A lifelong resident of Albemarle County, Rodney is well aware of the issues facing the Rio community. Rodney began working locally for The Daily Progress. When the Vietnam conflict escalated he was drafted into the United States Army and served one tour before being honorably discharged. Upon his return home Rodney continued his career in the print industry and by 1979 Rodney was able to purchase Charlottesville Press, Inc., a family owned print shop which he still operates today.
As a small business owner in Albemarle County for 30 years, Rodney understands the issues facing the local business community. Yet he is also aware of the important role local organizations play. Serving as an active board member of the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Crime Stoppers, and Charlottesville Host Lion’s Club, Rodney has worked to improve the quality of life in Albemarle. Rodney brought this same mission of service to the Albemarle County Planning Commission in 1998, where he served the Rio District until 2006.
Rodney and his wife Nancy moved to Carrsbrook 36 years ago and still live there today. Their two children, Rod and Ashley, now have families of their own and the eight grandchildren enjoy spending time with Rodney and Nancy whenever they can.
Samuel Miller Magisterial District
Madison Cummings
Madison Cummings (Democrat) is a candidate for supervisor for the Samuel Miller Magisterial District. Madison Cummings has lived in Central Virginia for the last 39 years, 31 of those years in North Garden. He served as a staff and senior pharmacist at UVA Hospital from 1970 until he retired in 2004. His wife Pat taught in Albemarle County schools for 37 years. All three of their children were educated in Albemarle County schools and two of their children continue to live in Albemarle County.
Madison has served Albemarle County in many capacities during those years. Early on when his children were young, Madison was involved in building playgrounds at Red Hill Elementary, coaching soccer and baseball, and serving as president of Red Hill PTO (1988-89) and as a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission for Albemarle County Education in the 21st Century (1990-91). In 1994, he was appointed by Sally Thomas to the Albemarle County School Board and was elected for a second term in 1997. He has been a member of Albemarle County School’s Health Advisory Committee for 4 years.
From 2002 to 2008 Madison was a member of the Charlotttesville Albemarle Commission on Children and Families. He has been a member of the Cove Garden Ruritan for 25 years; has served on the African-American Teaching Fellows Board and participates in the Community University Research and Service Partnership.
Madison has been a member of the Democratic Party Steering Committee as Chair for the Samuel Miller District the last 5 years. He continues to advocate for bipartisan cooperation as when he served on the Albemarle County School Board.
John Lowry
John Lowry (Independent) is a candidate for supervisor for the Samuel Miller Magisterial District. John moved to the area in 1970. He graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1969. John met his wife, Nancy Feil, of Charlottesville at W&M. They have three children and four grandchildren.
Currently retired, his last employment was with Old Dominion Capital Management as an Investment Counselor. Prior to that he worked for Wachovia Securities and its predecessors from 1976- 2007. He was among those who opened the office of Wheat First Securities on the downtown Mall in May1976. In the summer of 1976 he played in the 14th Virginia Fife and Drum Corps for the Queen of England and the President of the U S at Monticello. He taught investments at Piedmont Virginia Community College for ten years. John co-founded the adult SOCA League and founded the Stock and Board club for fellow professionals. While serving on the joint Airport Board the new terminal was built. He has been chair of the Board of the Oratorio Society and the Charlottesville & University Symphony. He is the current chair of the Albemarle Economic Development Authority. He is a recent graduate of the Sorenson Institute for political candidates.
Duane Snow
Duane Snow (Republican) is a candidate for supervisor for the Samuel Miller Magisterial District. Duane was born and raised in Charlottesville and has been married to Rena Snow for 42 years. They have five children, all of whom attended Albemarle County Schools. He and Rena are the proud grandparents of 12 grandchildren.
Duane was the CEO and president of Snow’s Garden Center for 35 years. He was a former instructor at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Gardening and Landscaping classes.
He served on the Albemarle County Architectural Review Board and 10 years with the Virginia State Agricultural Council. Duane is the past president of the Charlottesville Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow.
Duane hosted for 35 years the longest running radio gardening show in the nation. He previously served on the board of the American Heart Association and the Boy Scouts of America Committee. He is a committed church and community leader.
Kenneth G. Elzinga is the Robert C. Taylor Chair in Economics at the University of Virginia, and has been a member of the faculty since 1967. Mr. Elzinga has received many distinguished awards, including the Thomas Jefferson Award, the highest honor the University of Virginia accords its faculty. Each fall Mr. Elzinga teaches the largest class offered at the University of Virginia, introductory economics.
Mr. Elzinga’s major research interest is antitrust economics, especially pricing strategy and market definition. He has testified in several precedent-setting antitrust cases. He is a former Fellow in Law and Economics as the University of Chicago and a Thomas Jefferson Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University. Mr. Elzinga is the author of more than seventy academic publications.
He also is known for three mystery novels, co-authored with William Breit under the pen name Marshall Jevons, in which the protagonist employs economic analysis to solve the crime.
On Wednesday, September 16th Ron Wilson, who was the Appomattox National Park historian for twenty-five years, delivered a fascinating talk on the Battle of Five Forks (and the three actions that immediately preceded it). Fought on April 1st, 1865, Five Forks — often called the "Waterloo of the Confederacy" — pitted Confederate Gen. George Pickett with approximately 10,000 men, against Union Gen. Philip Sheridan with twice that number. General Pickett — not particularly the sharpest knife in the Confederate rack — missed the opening of this very important engagement because he was attending a shad bake a few miles to the rear. The Southern defeat at Five Forks spelled doom for Lee’s Petersburg defenses and was truly the beginning of the end.
On Wednesday, September 23rd, Rick Britton (along with Ron Wilson) will conduct a tour of the siege lines at Petersburg and the Five Forks battlefield. Bus tour departs from the Charlottesville Senior Center at 9:00 AM. There is a fee for the tour. Call 974-6538 for more information
This is part six of a seven part series. The event is held every third Wednesday at the Charlottesville Senior Center.
