June 18, 2024: Cooling centers open, Alzheimer’s research to get big boost at Harrison Center, and another look at regional economic development
Plus: Albemarle Supervisors mark Juneteenth
If you have ever wondered when the War of 1812 got underway, you now know that it was June 18 of that same year. On this day, President James Madison declared war against Great Britain for several reasons related to expansion of the young country. Charlottesville Community Engagement does not often delve into historical examinations and today is no exception. I’m Sean Tubbs, wondering what people will write about 212 years in the future.
In today’s installment:
Charlottesville has designated three official cooling centers this week to help people get out of the heat
Albemarle Supervisors observe Juneteenth with a proclamation
The head of a new translational research center at the Manning Institute of Biotechnology explains the latest in research into neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers
A UVA geriatrician warns of an epidemic of elder fraud
Albemarle and Charlottesville’s economic development authorities get a briefing on regional strategies such as designating U.S. 15 and U.S. 29 as defense corridors
First-shout: Rivanna River Forest Health & Resilience Project
Have you ever noticed a tree or an entire forest smothered in vines and wondered what is going on? It’s likely that an invasive species has taken over and tree health is in danger. Several groups in our community are doing what they can to push back pockets of invasives, but a partnership is working this summer to take a broader look.
The Rivanna River Forest Health and Resilience Project is funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The idea is to improve the ecology along the urban Rivanna River through planting of native trees and identifying high-risk spots. The scope is the five miles of waterway from the confluence of the North Fork and South Fork down to Moores Creek. Led by the Rivanna Conservation Alliance, this summer will see the creation of forest resilience management plans for three urban parks.
To learn more, visit the Rivanna Conservation Alliance website at rivannariver.org.
Charlottesville opening cooling centers this week to help people escape the heat
Temperatures this week are expected to be in the 90’s each day with the thermometer growing steadily higher all week. The City of Charlottesville is preparing safe places for people to be.
“With the heat wave and heat index being over a hundred degrees for the next week that several cooling centers are being opened throughout the city,” said City Councilor Michael Payne at last night’s City Council meeting.
Those locations and times are:
Herman Key Jr Recreation Center at 800 E Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Monday - Friday: 12 PM - 9 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 1 PM - 6 PM
Jefferson Madison Regional Library Central Branch at 201 E Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Monday - Thursday: 9 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 9 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed Sundays
Closed Wednesday, June 19th due to Juneteenth Holiday
Tonsler Recreation Center at 500 Cherry Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Monday - Friday: 12 PM - 8 PM
Saturday: 12 PM - 6 PM
Closed Sunday
The city also sent out tips to avoid injury such as staying hydrated, limiting outdoor activities, dressing appropriately, and to check on those who are vulnerable.
“Ensure that family members, neighbors, and friends, especially the elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses, are safe and staying cool,” reads a press release sent out on Monday.
Albemarle Supervisors commemorate Juneteenth with proclamation
Tomorrow is Juneteenth which marks the 159th anniversary when Black residents of Galveston, Texas finally learned that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed, ending the legal practice of slavery. Albemarle Supervisors had a proclamation on the occasion last week.
“WHEREAS, Black Americans came to commemorate this day as Juneteenth with celebrations across the country,” read Supervisor Chair Jim Andrews.
Andrews invited Marnita Simpson Shepherd to say a few words. She’s a descendant of James Elias Simpson for whom Simpson Park in Esmont is named after.
“There are countless African Americans, Albemarle County residents, along with Simpson, who deserve to have their sacrifices and hardships recognized,” Simpson Shepherd said.
With limited time, Simpson shared a few things about her great-grandfather who lived from 1875 to 1950.
“As an entrepreneur, successful merchant, and substantial landowner at a time when because of racism and subjugation, most Black Albemarle County residents Could neither read nor write,” Simpson said.
There will be a ceremony to commemorate James Elias Simpson on June 30 but Marnita Simpson Shepherd took the time to stress the importance of recognizing Juneteenth.
“I’d like to imagine that the souls of those who endured so that we may live freely fly even higher and lighter on this day of recognition,” Simpson Shepherd said.
Harrison Center of Translational Research preparing to learn more about neurodegenerative diseases
Construction is underway at the Fontaine Research Park for the Manning Institute of Biotechnology which is expected to open in 2026. When it opens, several research teams will relocate there including the new Harrison Center of Translational Research.
“The vision that we have for it right now is to develop a center that will accelerate both the discovery and the implementation of novel treatments to treat and also cure neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. John Lukens of the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Dr. Lukens has recently been appointed to be the first director of the new center. The vision involves employing scientists to do basic research in the same facility that works to provide care to patients. (learn more)
“So kind of going from bench in the lab to bedside and then back to bench to really optimize the treatments,” Dr. Lukens said.
Lukens has been with the UVA Department of Neuroscience since 2014.
Dr. Lukens said most treatments now are about preventing the disease from taking hold and so far there are not many mitigations that can restore a person’s acuity and memory. He said one area of research will look into using the body’s ability to use the immune system to fight it from taking hold.
“For the longest time, neuroscience was kind of siloed in terms of our thinking and pretty much thinking about the disease just as an issue of neurons,” Dr. Lukens said. “These are the cells in our brains that hold our memories but also control all of our functions. Over the last couple of decades there’s been amazing advancements in terms of technology most notably imaging and also genetic technology. We know now that there’s quite an important role… for the immune system.”
A specific goal will be to find ways to limit the deposit of neurotoxic material that underlies how Alzheimer’s strangles the brain from regular function.
“This is amyloid beta and tau tangles, but also kind of to kind of dampen down some of the inflammation that is causing some of the neuronal injuries, too,” Dr. Lukens said.
The new Harrison Center of Translational Research will be part of the larger Manning Institute for Biotechnology. Dr. Lukens said having similar groups in the same area could lead to advancing research.
“The goal here with everybody being under the same roof will be to have a real streamlined process where basic researchers, translational researchers, clinicians that will be implementing the drugs and also companies will all be in the same area getting coffee and lunch together and that’s how you really kick start and accelerate the implementation of treatments,” Dr. Lukens said.
Dr. Lukens said his own research is into a cell type in the brain called microglia which he said is in the immune system that serves to protect the brain from neurotoxins. Understanding how these cells work could help with a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. As the research continues, Dr. Lukens said he would like to see breakthroughs be turned into innovations that are created and nurtured in Charlottesville.
“A lot of times some of these findings get picked up by industry outside of Charlottesville and I’d like to see more of what’s being discovered be tested here to see it all the way through,” Dr. Lukens said.
He also said he would like to see more interaction with the public as the center becomes part of the community.
UVA geriatrician warns of fraud campaigns targeted at older Americans
An associate professor of medicine and geriatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine is advising that older Americans and their families take steps to protect themselves from being fooled into giving away money.
“I believe elder fraud has reached an epidemic scale,” writes Dr. Laurie Archbald-Pannone in an article published yesterday on the Conversation.
Dr. Archbald-Pannone’s article cites a statistic from the Federal Bureau of Investigations that Americans older than 60 lost $3 billion in 2023 to online scammers. She recommends teaching skills to identify and avoid fraud, and to have the courage to report it when it happens.
“The FBI has suggested that older adults are often targeted because they tend to be more trusting and polite,” the article continues. “They often have financial savings, own homes and have good credit – all of which make them more attractive to scammers.”
These scams can take the form of fake tech-support calls, investment frauds, and fake romance. The article lists several tips including this very important one:
“Resist pressure to act quickly. This is a big one: Scammers often create a false sense of urgency. A legitimate business will let you think through your financial decisions.”
Read the article on the Conversation to learn more.
Second shout-out: Plant Virginia Natives
We’re just about at summer, and time may be running out to consider transforming your outdoor spaces for this year. But even if you’re already looking ahead to next year, one resource to guide your planning is Plant Virginia Natives!
Plant Virginia Natives is part of a partnership with ten regional campaigns for ten different ecosystems across Virginia, from the Northern Piedmont to the Eastern Shore. Take a look at the full map below for the campaign for native species where you are in the Commonwealth. For the Charlottesville area, download a free copy of the handbook: Piedmont Native Plants: A Guide for Landscapes and Gardens. As I plan for spring, I’m going to take a look because after almost four years of one Patreon supporter selecting this as his shout-out, I’m excited to get to work myself!
Charlottesville and Albemarle economic development bodies meet
If the greater community is to have a regional strategy for economic development, it probably makes sense for two of the biggest players in the community to learn about it first hand while in the same room.
Earlier this month, the economic development authorities for Albemarle and Charlottesville held a rare joint meeting to get a briefing on a strategy put together by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and recently adopted by their official body. (read the CEDS)
“A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS, presents the collective coordinated actions of the entities and organizations that will work towards creating economic prosperity for the region,” said Ruth Emerick, chief operating office for the TJPDC.
The plan lays out strategies for how different groups can work together toward specific actions, clustered around four goals.
TJPDC hired the firm Camoin Associates to conduct the research for the plan, which involved site visits to all six localities in the district. A major reason to have the CEDS is that any groups including businesses can now appeal to one of the strategies in the plan as they seek grants or other funding opportunities.
“This shared vision also allows our community to leverage existing assets while also growing our emerging industries which we know are growing rapidly in the area,” Emerick said.
The plan is also a snapshot of current economic conditions. Total employment in 2022 for the six-locality region was about 133,000 jobs, an increase of about 4,000 since 2017.
“This growth rate was greater than both the state of Virginia and the United States during that same time,” Emerick said.
The leading industries are government and health care, including at the University of Virginia. Emerick said.
The plan has four goals.
“Goal 1 has a focus on existing industries, Goal 2 really leans into cross-sector collaboration opportunities,” Emerick said. “Goal 3 is about promoting placemaking and as we all know, and hopefully we know that idea is on the appeal of live, work, and play locations and impacts a lot more than just tourism.”
Emerick said the idea is to create places where businesses want to locate or if someone wants to relocate to the area to pursue their career.
Goal 4 is about infrastructure investment, covering everything from proper placement of utilities to ensuring there is enough housing.
TJPDC staff will use a series of metrics to track progress and to report back to the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the next five years.
Charlottesville has recently adopted their own economic development strategic plan and Economic Development Director Chris Engel pointed out that Goal 4 in that document is about about placemaking. (view Charlottesville’s economic development strategic plan)
“For a region like ours which kind of trades on quality of life in a lot of ways, I think that’s important that came out,” Engel said. “Two separate consultants talking about quality of place having an impact on economic development.”
Emerick said the appendices in the CEDS are worth reading.
“I for one would suggest going through the appendices in the CEDS plan because there are a lot of locality-specific data in there that you can use instead of sit down yourself,” Emerick said. “Secondly, there’s a lot of opportunity to do cross-collaboration with other jurisdictions who might be working on the same types of economic problems.”
For instance, the plan for the TJPDC reason is included within a greater plan for an even bigger area known as Region 9 which stretches north to Fauquier County. That higher-level document is in Appendix IV.
That’s allowed for even more goals at a regional level. For instance, Goal 3 in “Go Virginia Region 9 Super-Regional Strategies” is to “Designate a Defense and Intelligence industry corridor” that could stretch down U.S. 29 and U.S. 15.
Reading material:
Virginia air board member wants continued environmental justice focus, Charlie Paullin, Virginia Mercury, June 11, 2024
Warner gifts $650,000 to Piedmont Housing Alliance, Garrett Whitton, CBS19, June 14, 2024
DEQ: No current elevated E. coli risk at Lake Anna, CBS19, June 14, 2024
Brush fire closes Poplar Ridge Trail between O-Hill and the bypass, Jay Hart, Cville Right Now, June 17, 2024
Cooling centers opening around Charlottesville, CBS19, June 17, 2024
The going away of #691 (not #692)
For the past week, I’ve been able to get newsletters out before 10 a.m. This is a shift I want to maintain because it really seems to help motivate me. It has been a prolific week, and as soon as I hit send I’ll be doing a podcast version that may serve as tomorrow’s output.
I’ll keep this end note short because I want to get on to the next bit of work and I want to get this one out. There are five stories, which is what I like to get in a newsletter. In the subscriber pitch above, I mention how I really want to still be here in two years when the Manning Institute of Biotechnology opens. I want to keep writing about this community and try to explain the changes underway.
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