Little High Neighborhood Association

Information for and about the Little High Neighborhood in Charlottesville, VA

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The Haven rises to the weather emergency challenge

During this severe weather both the Salvation Army and PACEM have been completely full so the Haven stepped in and provided hotel vouchers for 82 people who otherwise would have been outside overnight. But the Haven couldn’t have done it without donations that came pouring in from our community. I’m very proud of our neighborhood for doing its part in helping raise funds for the Haven.

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Email from the Haven, 1/27/26

We met our goal, thank you!

Our unhoused neighbors will remain safe during this extreme cold.

We are in awe of the generosity of the Charlottesville area community. You answered our urgent call for support and in less than 12 hours, we met our goal of $27,100 several times over! Keep an eye out for a post-storm wrap-up email with more details on the total, the application of the funds, and the impact.

Thanks to this immediate and kind support, 82 individuals who would otherwise be unsheltered will remain in hotel rooms to ride out this winter storm. Thank you for helping us keep everyone in our community safe and warm during this extreme cold!

Through this winter weather event, we are reminded of how expensive it is to SHELTER our neighbors and how much more humane, comfortable, and cost-effective it is to HOUSE them. The Haven is prioritizing using the extra funds raised to move as many of our neighbors out of hotels directly into housing.

Learn more about how The Haven supports community members towards housing stability through our housing programs.

City Press Release on Snow Removal Assistance

All of the following post is taken from a City of Charlottesville Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2026

City of Charlottesville Working to Connect Volunteers with Residents in Need of Snow Removal Assistance

The City of Charlottesville is reminding residents that sidewalk clearing remains essential for public safety following recent icy conditions and is partnering with the United Way of Greater Charlottesville to help ensure seniors and individuals with limited mobility are not left behind.

While the current ice conditions are more challenging than a typical snowfall, clear sidewalks are critical for the safety of pedestrians, neighbors, and especially children traveling to and from school. To support those who may be unable to safely clear snow and ice themselves, the City and United Way are working together to identify community volunteers who can assist with sidewalk clearing throughout Charlottesville.

Residents who need help with snow or ice removal may call 434-972-1702 to request assistance. The City and United Way will make every effort to connect callers with a volunteer and will notify residents when help is scheduled to arrive. Community members who are able to lend a hand or would like more information are encouraged to sign up through the United Way of Greater Charlottesville at:

Volunteers Needed – Snow Removal Assistance | United Way of Greater Charlottesville

City officials also encourage neighbors to check in on one another and assist where possible. A small amount of shoveling can make a significant difference in keeping sidewalks passable and the community moving safely.

“Together, we can help our city recover more quickly and ensure everyone can get where they need to go safely,” City Manager Sam Sanders said. “Thank you to the volunteers who continue to show up for their neighbors.”

 

Media Contact:
Afton Schneider
Director of Communications & Public Engagement
City of Charlottesville
434-996-0331
media@charlottesville.gov

 

Please Be Careful Shoveling Snow

Barely shoveled Meriwether StreetThanks to all those who have helped their neighbors with shoveling. The snow is more difficult to remove than I had imagined and I personally made embarrassingly little progress helping my neighbors. Temperatures are dropping fast now (Monday, 1/26, 5:20pm) and everyone needs to be careful. According to the American Heart Association, shoveling snow involves several risks for heart health.

Five ways snow shoveling affects heart health

  1. Snow shoveling involves mostly Isometric or static exertion that involves the contraction of muscles without any movement in the surrounding joints.
  2. The act of shoveling snow is mostly arm work, which is more taxing and demanding on the heart than leg work.
  3. While straining to lift heavy loads, such a shovelful of snow, you often unconsciously hold your breath, which causes big increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
  4. Since you are mostly standing still while shoveling, your legs are not moving much which results in pooling of blood in the lower extremities, so it is not getting back to the heart which needs the oxygenated blood.
  5. Breathing/exposure to cold air causes constriction of blood vessels throughout the body, disproportionately raising blood pressure and simultaneously constricting the coronary arteries (which are about the size of cooked spaghetti).

[Read more…]

About the Snow Removal Ordinance

Partially shoveled sidewalk on Meriwether StreetThe City of Charlottesville requires residents to clear their walkways and adjacent sidewalk within 24 hours of the end of snowfall. Many other localities have the same basic law. It’s well-meaning and is based partly out of concern for residents who would find it difficult to navigate uncleared sidewalks.

But the snow removal ordinance ignores the undeniable reality that a great many city residents are simply NOT able to shovel even a modest amount of snow due to physical limitations common to both an older population (15% of our neighborhood’s population is 65 or older) as well as to people with various disabilities.

By requiring all residents and renters to clear the sidewalks around their property or face  fines, the snow removal ordinance is based on the ableist assumption that all residents are young and healthy enough to comply without incurring undue risk to themselves. One size does not fit all and complying with this law would pose a serious and totally unnecessary risk to the health of many of our residents. It’s very well known that very cold temperatures and snow shoveling combine to create a serious threat to heart health.

We (the Neighborhood Association) have tried in the last several years have tried to fill the gap by helping neighbors in need but a big snowfall is well beyond our limited resources to handle. We have raised these objections with the City Manager’s office and the office of Neighborhood Development Services for the past several years and suggested the City should do the following: cut some slack to residents who are known to be physically incapable of fulfilling this legal obligation; use private contractors to clear the snow and ice for these residents; and charge for the service based on the resident’s income. We will continue to press this case. Contact us if you would like to help with this campaign.

Please Help Your Neighbors Shovel!

Big snowstorm in Charlottesville, 2016The forecast may change but at this point it looks like we’ll get close to two feet of snow this weekend (Saturday, 1/24 through Monday, 1/26) with bitterly cold temperatures prevailing for several days following the end of the snowfall.

So we (the Neighborhood Association) are asking every able-bodied resident to help shovel the walks and sidewalks of your neighbors who may have trouble doing this for themselves.

So we (the Neighborhood Association) are asking every able-bodied resident to help shovel the walks and sidewalks of your neighbors who can’t reasonably do this for themselves.

We encourage anyone who needs help to contact us at lhna.cville@gmail.com

What is Charlottesville’s snow removal policy?

New Dominion Bookshop

New Dominion Bookshop, Charlottesville, Va

New Dominion Bookshop is an independent bookshop located on the Charlottesville Downtown Mall at 404 East Main St. We are an all-new bookstore, and we host events featuring renowned authors and local writers. To place a book order, to receive personalized book recommendations, or to purchase a gift card, please visit our contact page to speak with our staff.

 

Carpe Donut

Carpe DonutCarpe Donut is a locally owned and operated maker of exquisite organic donuts since 2007.  The only ingredients in our donuts are: organic flour, organic eggs, organic apple cider, organic spices, pure organic sugar, and non-aluminated baking powder. We cook all our donuts in 100% pure soybean oil. No hydrogenation, no trans-fats, no shortening. Continue…