Signs of the Times - What, When and Where?
May 2001
Seen Around Town: What, When and Where?
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Name the Place. Name the Occasion.

"Camp Jeep at Stoney Creek Golf course," says Blake Caravati.

Well, not quite. The first picture was taken at the golf course at Keswick. And while part of the event took place at the same location used for Camp Jeep, the event was the introduction of Jeep Liberty, not Camp Jeep.

The pictures above are courtesy of Clare Aukofer, whose "brother Frank, retired Washington Bureau Chief of the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel and part time auto writer ("I do theater, he does cars" says Clare)," participated in the introduction of Jeep Liberty at Keswick Hall a couple of weeks ago. The Jeep folks sent auto writers off to the Nelson County Camp Jeep area, where the test routes were 'challenging' (Clare Aukofer, electronic mail, April 29, 2001).

Says Caravati, "I have involvement in both Camp Jeep and of course golf.

As Mayor I have been involved in helping Camp Jeep come to our area and hopefully return year after year. The event brings over 10,000 people to our region and last year used 3,000 hotel rooms for a week. As a tourism and economic development event it has been extremely successful. On the other hand, as a citizen, I am still conflicted and confused about the need to drive an SUV. I have yet to find a valid reason to use such a vehicle for daily life and I am in a business that uses heavy duty vehicles. The perception that they are safer than cars is erroneous and the fact is that they are big polluters and extremely inefficient gas guzzlers. For sport, well maybe.

Camp Jeep 2001 will occur on July 26, 27 & 28th at Oak Ridge in Nelson County, Virginia.

Located 35 miles from Charlottesville, Oak Ridge is nearly 5,000 acres of expansive vistas and 250 year-old architecture. At its heart is an elegant mansion you can tour during Camp Jeep. The Oak Ridge property is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and dozens of other activities.

This year, two-time Grammy nominated songwriter and musician Tom Chapin returns to Camp Jeep by popular demand, accompanied by Jon Cobert and Michael Mark.

For more, see Camp Jeep Activities.

As to golf, I have been playing since I was ten and my game has gotten worse not better. I believe that it is one of the most difficult sports out there. In order to try to get the sport out of the elitist stigma and spread its good qualities - discipline, honor, sportsmanship, and concentration - as far as possible to those who otherwise might not have an opportunity, David Toscano and I are working with Joe Louis Barrow and the PGA sponsored First Tee organization to develop a program in Charlottesville. The program centers around developing a small executive course that is open to kids and specifically disadvantaged kids.

If, you or anyone else would like to become involved please call David T. or me. Thanks George and I will wait eagerly for my prize [for being the first one to answer.]

Blake Caravati (electronic mail, May 2, 2001).

As a prize, Clare Aukofer has offered to give Blake Caravati a set of directions used by the reporters on their test routes for Jeep Liberty.

The Liberty is the replacement for the venerable Jeep Cherokee except in Europe, where it will still be called the Cherokee.

Comments? Questions? Write me at george@loper.org.