“Why Crozet” began in January 2019 at the suggestion of Lisa Marshall, who had read Eric Weiner’s The Geography of Bliss, a funny travel memoir exploring what makes people happy with where they live. This suggestion came at the same time that Albemarle County was conducting focus groups for residents to comment on what they most valued about living here. The Gazette set out to draw attention to some of those suggestions, plus glimpses of the people who make Crozet a special place, whether in public roles or working behind the scenes. The very first piece featured a couple of beloved institutions, Parkway Pharmacy and the Crozet Library, and the natural beauty of the area from a hiker’s perspective.
In the pandemic years, we turned our attention to community resilience, the people who kept things going in the face of uncertainty: teachers, volunteers, nonprofits, churches, health care workers and business owners with creative ways to stay in business. Sometimes, we looked back at our history and reminded ourselves that we’d been through difficult times before.
Post-pandemic stories were those of people who were forced to rethink careers, businesses, hobbies and social connections. Stories since then have highlighted the area’s natural beauty, and the trails, forests and parks that allow all of us to keep our perspective. There has always been an emphasis on the human element: those who volunteer for our emergency crews, check on neighbors, help seniors, and sustain local organizations. We haven’t sought out celebrities, but concentrated on those who have made a difference without expecting notice. In fact, we’ve had several people decline to be mentioned because they didn’t think their efforts were worthy.
In news stories and letters to the editor, it’s clear there are many differences between those who mourn for the way Crozet used to be and those who accept its growth and try to make the best of it. But there’s one element of life here that all of us agree on: love for the natural elements that have remained despite encroaching development. One lesson from seven years of “Why Crozet” is that places endure when people care for them.
Please send your ideas for “Why Crozet” to editor@crozetgazette.com.
