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While the recession has delivered an economic pummeling in most areas across the country, Charlottesville and a slew of other college towns are thriving, according to Forbes.com, which ranks Charlottesville #11 in its list of top 20 college towns for jobs, citing job growth of 2.05 percent.
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Say hello to Dr. Don Wilson, new director of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton. In the Presidential library biz, Wilson (no relation to Woodrow) appears to be a whiz, having held executive positions at the Eisenhower, Ford, and elder Bush libraries. He was also our nation’s top Archivists, watching over the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the rest of the National Archives. He replaces historian Eric Vettel–appointed as director four years ago–who has decided to “pursue other interests.” (0)
With only two weeks to go until the June 9 primary to decide the Democratic nominee for governor, a new poll says it’s still anybody’s ballgame. According to the latest from Public Policy Polling [pdf], 31 percent of likely primary voters remain undecided about which of the three candidates they prefer. Among the remaining 69 percent who stated their support, former Democratic National Committee chair Terry McAuliffe still leads the pack at 29 percent, while State Senator Creigh Deeds and former delegate Brian Moran each earned 20 percent, with a 3.9 percent margin of error. (3)
Amid a deep recession, which includes the deaths of many shopping malls, according to a new Wall Street Journal report, developer Wendell Wood plunges forward with his Northtown Shopping Center, a planned open-air retail place, seen here from a passing vehicle on the afternoon of May 21. (1)
Over the years, the Hook has profiled several local veterans whose stories are worth remembering on this Memorial Day. Last year, the Hook looked back at the life of Marine Cpl. Brad Arms, the Charlottesville resident who was killed in 2004, only a few months into his service in Iraq. In the run-up to that war in Iraq, the Hook sought the insights of veterans of the first Gulf War Eric Allen and Jacke Brown, as well as Vietnam War veteran and Green Beret Alan Farrell. In 2005, the Hook interviewed Hank Allen, Horace Boykin, and Mason Allen, all among the African-American veterans of World War II. And in 2004, the Hook learned of the remarkable story of the seven brothers Cason, who all served in and survived their tours in the Second World War.
–photo by Mark Blevis/Flickr (3)
Hook interns Cameron Feller and Gordon Block catch their breath after handing out dozens of free CDs as part of a promotion between the Hook and 106.1 The Corner FM on the Downtown Mall last Wedesday, May 20. (1)
Since UVA has a two year wage and hiring freeze and every major employer in the region has had layoffs and/or furloughs, where’s the job growth?
Fast food restaurants? Other minimum wage positions?
The Commonwealth recently released stats that showed this area’s unemployment doubled in one year to over 5%.
So where’s the growth? Could you provide more info, Courtney? And what is Forbes’ methodology?
These lists are typically useless for just the questions they don’t answer.
I agree lots of friends looking for jobs and there aren’t any accept minimum wage. Doesn’t look like the housing market is improving from all the for sale and for rent signs around town. Commercial construction is the one sweet spot fueled by Martha Jefferson’s new hospita, the University, and Wendell Wood.
So where are these jobs ?
Agree with the above posters. I’ve been out of a job for the last six months. Anyone can see that the number of employment ads has greatly decreased in the past year. Then you have to weed out the ones that aren’t seriously looking for employees, they’re just fishing to see if there’s someone out there better than what they have. Or they want to get rid of older employees and hire kids because they’re cheaper. When the ads are legitimate, many applicants are going for the same position. The temp agencies are full up too. People I know who assumed they had secure jobs are not so sure about that now, especially “older” employees in their forties on up.
I thought my profession was one of the more secure ones. I was wrong about that, and also made the mistake of aging. My job is now being done by three part-time kids with a tenth of my experience. This is a very serious situation that is being glossed over by those not immediately impacted.
Unemployed, sorry about your situation. Hope it turns soon.
Nationally, between unemployed and UNDERemployed people looking for work, the percentage is OVER 15%.
Depending upon gender, race, and area, the figures may be significantly higher.
This is an inane list published at an infelicitous time. The Hook must have needed some space to fill to include it here, too.