🌱 How a Charlottesville teacher’s new fellowship could reshape local humanities lessons

Hello Charlottesville! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Charlottesville teacher’s new fellowship could reshape local humanities lessons
• How every Charlottesville Middle School student is getting hands-on STEM time
• Why are Charlottesville crime and overdose numbers finally dropping?

Today's riddle: Who is taller, Mr Bigger or Mr Bigger's son? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Cloudy, a shower and t-storm, with a high of 69 and low of 52 degrees.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 69, low: 47.
• Friday: Increasing cloudiness, with a high of 67 and low of 46 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

1. Charlottesville teacher named Virginia Humanities fellow (newsvirginian.com) — A longtime Charlottesville City Schools teacher has been selected as one of just six educators statewide for the 2026 Virginia Humanities K-12 Educator Fellowship, bringing fresh humanities-focused lessons to local students. Over nine months, she’ll design migration-themed learning experiences aligned with Virginia Standards of Learning, centering refugee and migrant voices while strengthening reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in Charlottesville classrooms.
   

2. Innovation Hub brings hands-on STEM to all CMS students (newsvirginian.com) — Seventh graders from Charlottesville Middle School recently filled UVA’s Rotunda to show off “BioBots” built through the Innovation Hub, a lab school partnership with Charlottesville City Schools. The program gives every CMS student hands-on, project-based STEM learning and will grow further as the school’s $91 million renovation finishes and sixth graders join in 2026–27.
   

3. Charlottesville police report shows crime down nearly 11% in 2025 (29news.com) — Charlottesville’s police chief says overall crime in the city dropped nearly 11% in 2025, with overdoses down 58% and only one homicide recorded. The department credits steady neighborhood walk-throughs and stronger community relationships for more tips and cooperation, while stressing there’s still work ahead for residents who don’t yet feel safe.
   

4. Family of toddler meets anonymous liver donor who saved his life (29news.com) — At UVA Hospital in Charlottesville, a toddler’s family has finally met the anonymous liver donor whose decision saved his life. After the mother’s social media plea, a stranger stepped forward, leading to a successful transplant and inspiring more than 130 others to contact the hospital about donation. Doctors say those responses helped match additional patients with lifesaving organs.
   

5. Afton family shares son's story through Charlottesville billboard after fentanyl death (whsv.com) — A local family from nearby Afton is using a prominent East High Street billboard in Charlottesville to share their late son Tony Harvey’s story and warn others about the dangers of fentanyl-laced pills. They hope the message, rooted in their own loss, will reach young people and families across the area before addiction or a single counterfeit pill leads to tragedy.
   

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📸 Around Charlottesville

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Charlottesville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday April 30

• Startup Series
  Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, 225 East Main Street, Charlottesville
  12:00 pm
• Community Shred and Ice Cream Sundaes with OakHeart Financial Group →
  Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, 941 Glenwood Station Lane, Charlottesville
  3:00 pm
• Sail the Musician-ship
  Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, 201 East Market Street, Charlottesville
  4:00 pm
• The No Pressure Book Club
  Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, 201 East Market Street, Charlottesville
  6:00 pm
• Upfront Inc. Presents: Lue Elizondo – Persona Non Grata Tour
  Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, 215 East Main Street, Charlottesville
  7:30 pm

Friday May 1

• *NEW* Stepping with the CEO
  Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, 200 Zan Rd, Charlottesville
  7:30 am
• Jump-in Jamboree
  Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, 201 East Market Street, Charlottesville
  10:00 am

Saturday May 2

• Free Comic Book Day
  Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, 201 East Market Street, Charlottesville

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📣 Charlottesville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday April 30

• Reading Rumpus
  Gordon Avenue Library, 1500 Gordon Avenue, Charlottesville
  10:30 am
• Stay & Play
  Gordon Avenue Library, 1500 Gordon Avenue, Charlottesville
  11:00 am
• Paws to Read
  Gordon Avenue Library, 1500 Gordon Avenue, Charlottesville
  3:30 pm

Friday May 1

• Literary Masterpieces Book Group
  Gordon Avenue Library, 1500 Gordon Avenue, Charlottesville
  10:15 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Charlottesville PatchAM possible:

• Just Better Home Services — (434) 987-5680
  Plumbing, Electrical, & HVAC in Charlottesville, VA

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• MISSING DOG CROZET Anyone looking for a mostly white with black possible springer/spaniel mix.
  Last seen at 5629 Brownsville Road (Rte 250/Crozet) ran through woods toward Miller School Road. (Nextdoor Brownsville)
• My dog followed me to the end of the farm road.
  She is a husky German shepherd mix. She doesn’t have a collar just an orange band so she won’t be mistaken for a coyote. She disappeared from the end… (Nextdoor Shadwell)

• Atlantic Constructors, Inc. posted a job opening for Estimator - HVAC / Special Projects in Charlottesville. Apply here.
• The University of Virginia posted a job opening for HVAC Mechanic or Senior HVAC Mechanic in Charlottesville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Charlottesville here.

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Ok Charlottesville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: His son; he's just a little Bigger. (Thank you Joe Y. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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