Today’s edition is sponsored by the Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop

When was the last time you played a musical instrument? When was the last time you recorded a song you wanted to write either for yourself or for others? In an attempt to change the tone of these introductory paragraphs of Charlottesville Community Engagement, I decide to look instead at this day in music.

Two sources report that on January 22, 1959, Buddy Holly hit record on a machine and captured his final performances on a tape recorder, recordings that would later be posthumously produced professionally after his death in an aircraft crash on a snowy night. I’m Sean Tubbs, and more on that rabbit hole at the end of this edition.

In this edition:

* There is a vacancy on the Greene County Board of Supervisors as Francis McGuigan resigns

* Albemarle and Charlottesville officials are preparing for a weekend storm expected this

* The Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority will meet today the first time in 2026

* Albemarle County promotes Amy Smith to be the next Parks and Recreation Director

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First shout-out: Cville Village seeks volunteers

Can you drive a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment? Change an overhead lightbulb, plant a flower, walk a dog for someone who is sick, visit someone who is lonely? If so, Cville Village needs you!

Cville Village is a local 501c3 nonprofit organization loosely affiliated with a national network of Villages whose goals are to help seniors stay in their own homes as long as possible, and to build connections among them that diminish social isolation. Volunteers do small chores for, and have gatherings of, professors and schoolteachers, nurses and lawyers, aides and housekeepers. Time and chance come to all – a fall, an order not to drive, failing eyesight, a sudden stroke. They assist folks continue living at home, with a little help from their friends.

Cville Village volunteers consult software that shows them who has requested a service and where they are located. Volunteers accept only the requests that fit their schedule and their skills.

Volunteering for Cville Village can expand your circle of friends and shower you with thanks.

To learn more, visit cvillevillage.org or attend one of their monthly Village “meet-ups” and see for yourself. To find out where and when the next meetup is, or to get more information and a volunteer application, email us at info@cvillevillage.org, or call them at (434) 218-3727.

McGuigan resigns from the Greene County Board of Supervisors

The Greene County Board of Supervisors will once again need to fill a vacancy now that one of its members has resigned while in office.

Francis McGuigan turned in his resignation as the at-large Supervisor today, just over two years after being elected in November 2023.

“We would like to thank Supervisor McGuigan for his commitment to the community,” said Board Chairman Steve Catalano in an information release.

On January 13, McGuigan had voted for Catalano to be chair during the annual organization meeting. Midway Representative Matt Hartung was not present for the vote but joined the meeting later.

The release states Supervisors will discuss how to move forward with a replacement at their next meeting on January 27.

In the fall of October 2023, former Supervisor Abby Heflin resigned as the Stanardsville representative and the Board accepted applications for a replacement. The person appointed was Steve Catalano.

For more on this story, take a look at this story on the Piedmont Journal-Recorder.

Area preparing for heavy winter storm

A large winter storm is heading for the east coast this weekend and that’s expected to leave a heavy accumulation of snow and ice. Preparations are underway by first responders and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Albemarle’s Deputy County Executive, Trevor Henry, briefed the Board of Supervisors Wednesday night about what was known at that time.

“We have through our emergency manager a process by which we spin up our planning efforts,” Henry said. “And so I wanted to just assure the board but also use this as a reminder to the community that they should be paying attention to this weekend.”

Henry said any snow and ice that falls may continue to be a problem as the forecast is for temperatures to remain below freezing through the end of next week. He added public safety will be ready.

“Police and fire are really looking at a Saturday morning to at least initially through Monday night,” Henry said. “That may be a longer operational period where there’s going to be additional resources.”

Henry said the county is asking residents to be prepared to be without power for up to three days. To that effect, the county set out a message this afternoon with information including a checklist for an emergency kit created by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Soon afterward, the City of Charlottesville announced it has activated the Snow Operations Team with a description of their duty.

“The City is responsible for winter operations across approximately 165 centerline miles of roadway, 49 miles of sidewalks (including Safe Routes to School and City-owned properties), more than 45 municipal and school parking lots, City parks facilities, and the Downtown Pedestrian Mall,” reads the message.

The city has over 165 people working on snow operations as well as a sizable inventory of equipment including “25 dedicated snowplow trucks equipped with salt spreaders and brine tanks.”

Roads will be pretreated with brine and crews will begin clearing snow when necessary.

“Snow response follows a priority plan,” reads the message from the city. “Crews will begin with primary routes, including major corridors and roads critical for emergency response and transit service.”

Emergency snow routes will also be in effect as of 9 a.m. Saturday. Anyone who parks along these corridors must move their vehicle or it may be towed.

Designated Emergency Snow Routes include:

* Market Street (Old Preston Avenue to 9th Street NE)

* High Street (Preston Avenue to 9th Street NE)

* Water Street (Ridge Street to 10th Street NE)

* 2nd Street West (Market Street to Water Street)

* 4th Street East (Market Street to Water Street)

* West Main Street (Ridge Street to JPA)

* University Avenue (JPA to Rugby Road)

There will be free parking in the two municipal parking garages Friday, January 23 at 6:00 PM through Tuesday, January 27 at 8:00 AM.

For the city’s full list, click here.

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Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority to meet today

In late 2025, an entity known as the Regional Transit Partnership ended and transferred many of its duties to a recently created authority intended to promote greater cooperation and coordination between the area’s multiple transit agencies.

Today the Board of Directors of the Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority will meet for the first time in 2026 at the Water Street Center. (CARTA website)

The agenda for today’s meeting looks much like an RTP agenda with opportunities for Jaunt, Charlottesville Area Transit, and University Transit Service representatives to tell what they’re doing and how they fit into the bigger picture. So far, though, the only two voting members are Albemarle and Charlottesville.

Scottsville Supervisor Michael Pruitt will be joined by newcomer Jack Jouett Supervisor Sally Duncan, and Charlottesville City Councilor Natalie Oschrin will be joined by newcomer Jen Fleisher. Fleisher has attended multiple meetings of the RTP as an alternative representing the Blue Ridge Health District.

There are details on both Jaunt and the University Transit Service in the packet, but nothing from Charlottesville Area Transit.

One of the main tasks for CARTA this year will be to conduct something called the “Regional Transit Service Prioritization and Implementation Feasibility Study” which builds off of the 2022 Regional Transit Vision Plan and the

January 22, 2026: Albemarle and Charlottesville preparing for winter storm