July 28th, 2005 issue #0430

July 28th, 2005

Minimum security: Alston shipped to Botetourt

Andrew Alston's family hoped he'd do his time at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail– and for a while last spring, the father of the man he killed was afraid Alston would. "What little time he got should be in a penitentiary," said Howard Sisk, whose only son Walker died at Alston's hands. "He's living at Club Med on Avon."

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No malice: Alston juror cites drunkenness

Since November, when former UVA student Andrew Alston was sentenced to three years in jail for stabbing 22-year-old firefighter Walker Sisk 18 times, many in Charlottesville have wondered what that jury was thinking. Now they know. In the 3,000-word cover story of the June edition of the Swarthmore College Bulletin, "Seek Justice, Love Mercy," juror Liz Kutchai describes how the jury rendered its verdict– and how emotionally devastating the experience was, not only for the families of the two young men, but for the jurors as well.

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The week in review

Biggest line: Paramount members brave 90-degree plus temperatures to buy their Yo-Yo Ma tickets July 26. Most anticipated forecast: The weather for July 27, 29 and 30–...

Recommended: Five local spots make the cut

In its June 2005 issue, Wine Spectator magazine highlighted Charlottesville as one of six "unique and appealing American wine regions" worth exploring. The tourist-fr...

Fried clams: A recipe for a better city

Picture this perfect moment: two old friends reunited on a brilliant July afternoon, sipping margaritas on the deck of a New England restaurant, looking out over the Essex ...

$old

ALBEMARLE 5/13 George B. McCallum III, executor of Mildred S. Anderson estate, to Liberty Land Ltd., 58.80 acres in Rivanna Magisterial District, $1,250,000. Michael ...

Enchanted: Bears have left the cottage

ADDRESS: 1840 Fendall Avenue NEIGHBORHOOD: Rugby ASKING: $549,000 YEAR BUILT: 1925 SIZE: 1,692 fin. sq. ft. LAND: 0.293 acres CURB APPEAL: 8 of 10 LISTED BY: Rick D...
STILL AVAILABLE

APPEARED IN THE HOOK: January 19, 2004 in issue 0307 ADDRESS: 500 Rookwood Place, Ednam Forest ASKING PRICE: originally $1,500,000 now $899,900 LISTED BY: Nancy Lee McConne...

Property auctions

July 28 at 3pm at the Orange County Courthouse Property: 0.523 acres at 19521 Constitution Highway Debtor: unknown Amount owing: unknown Bidder brings: 10 percent of ...

Heart attack: Denial can be deadly

One of my favorite movies is Something's Gotta Give with Diane Keaton. Why did she show up at the Oscars wearing her Annie Hall outfit? That is so '70s, and she didn't win ...

Puppy love: Pooch ploy pays off

Chemistry is sometimes overrated. Sure, it did a lot for Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but in Must Love Dogs it's the strength of the individual actors, Diane Lane and John Cusack,...

Worth the wait: CD excitement contagious

Two weeks ago, Jay Pun and Morwenna Lasko celebrated the completion of their debut album at the Gravity Lounge. Paul Curreri and Devon Sproule locked down the opening slot ...

'Lethal' year: Ex-mayor Cox back in town

Maurice Cox may have just returned from a year at Haaavad, but don't expect to see him "pahking" his "cah." The former mayor, who returned to town with his family on July 4...
First ladies: Lynn, Spacek reunite Saturday

Sissy Spacek is having an old friend over on Saturday, and everyone in Charlottesville is invited. Organizers booked a live band months ago, but the set-list seems flexible...
Her, too: Play depicts Faulkner relationship

In April 2004, the Daily Progress reported in Joan Williams' obituary that the writer had "a rich mentor-protégé relationship and a brief romance" with American author an...
Hot seats: Ticket-seekers sweating for the Paramount

It wasn't the Rolling Stones, but avid performance-goers began lining up at 7:15am, nearly three hours before the first tickets to the Paramount Theater's fall season would...
Im-paws-ible? Vet sees 'cougar' on Parkway

When Donny Peppard went biking along the Blue Ridge Parkway last month, he saw more than beautiful views: "I saw something sleek with a long tail, running away," he says. H...

Pavilion patrimony: World's largest lobster trap

Charlottesville's new Pavilion is days away from officially opening. We will all marvel at the increased capacity, the sheer mass of canvas and truss, and the aching ballad...

The secret: Organize your sloppy day

Periodically, a college student sends an email to me asking if he or she can interview me for a term paper. I always say yes, and I always learn something about my work by ...

Frogfall: It's raining fish and fowl

DRAWING BY DEBORAH DERR McCLINTOCK Q. From a Cincinnati reader: "Can anyone yet explain the fish rain in Honduras and the frog rain in other parts of the world? Could it ...

Dancing by Hart: Ballet pro offers expertise

If Vince Lombardi and Shari Lewis ever had a daughter, she might have grown up to be something like Sally Hart. To watch the 50-year-old ballet instructor teaching her youn...

Mr. Casual: Smiling through the big tent flap

Audiences will soon be able to laugh at the elements as they enjoy evening concerts under man-made shade at the new Charlottesville Pavilion. Likewise, it's impossib...

City won't enforce law

I was pleased to see your recent article about erosion problems at developments near the Rivanna [July 14: "Wash out: New developments raise mud and ire"]. I was not please...
Lynch missed the bloat

In response to William Lynch's letter [July 7: "We did not dump"] concerning his visit to the Gardner property, he visited the site a few months too late. The "cleanup" of ...

Cultural calendar, July 28-August 11, 2005

THURSDAY, July 28 DANCE CARD Slippery: Belly dancing and pole dancing lessons at the Berkmar Ballroom. Rio Road. 975-4611. STAGE Off th...