APRIL 2019 NO. 169 PRICELESS (FREE!)
THE HOP HUSTLE 10
• FINDING MAMA 21
•
RESTORING RELICS APRIL 2019 Blue Ridge LIFE261
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STONEY CREEK PHARMACY
2831 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA M-F 9-6, Saturday 9-2 Closed Sunday and Holidays. 24 hour prescription refills: 434-361-0370
With a heart for serving the community he loves, Bob Ladd is here to help manage your health. Visit us on Facebook to reserve your spot in one of our exciting classes on how to live your best life!
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540-885-4500
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Blue Ridge LIFE
APRIL 2019
Nelson County… it’s a lifestyle! Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County
972 Devils Knob Loop One of the most spectacular view properties at Wintergreen! Sweeping views of the Rockfish Valley and Eagles Swoop from this home perched high on Devils Knob Mountain. Bright, open floor plan with hardwood flooring, wall of windows/doors, gas fireplace and vaulted ceilings. Updated baths, kitchen appliances and tasteful furnishings make this move-in ready! This home has had only 2 owners and has never been rented. Lot value alone is over $300,000. Lower level basement suite with 1 bedroom, 1 bath, and a sitting area offers rental opportunities. Windows and doors have been replaced. Don't miss this unique property! $525,000
2749 Fork Mountain Lane Perched on 100 acres on top of Fork Mountain in Montebello, this custombuilt post-and-beam home is a perfect getaway! Beautifully sited and landscaped with stunning views. The 4 BR, 4.5 BA main house looks out over two ponds as well as orchards and flower gardens. There is a stone fireplace in the great room, a gourmet kitchen, loft/office area, sunroom, patio and large deck. A 2 BR guest cottage below has a screened porch and deck looking over the ponds. There is also a 82.45-acre parcel that could be available, which adjoins this property and goes down to the North Fork River. Minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Crabtree Falls and the Appalachian Trail. $1,195,000
16 Stony Cove Lane Rustic sophistication is waiting for you in this mountain retreat. Custom-built one-owner home has never been rented. Constructed in 2012 with upgraded materials—stone fireplace, wide oak floors, soapstone counters, stainless steel appliances, hickory cabinetry, tile baths, surround sound and stereo, and more! 3 BR and 3 BA. Family room on the lower level that walks out to a concrete patio wired for a hot tub and plumbed for an outdoor shower. Spacious deck. Mature evergreens. Low maintenance and energy efficient! $349,000
Sto n e y C r e e k 42 Knoll Lane Renovated Rodes Farm “Tobacco Barn” with 3BR, 2BA, a bonus bunk room and established vacation rental history. Open great room with a stone fireplace. Downstairs bath with radiant heat, whirlpool tub and separate shower. Private loft bedroom/bath suite. A screened porch and deck have been added for 3-season outdoor living. Mature landscaping. Walk to Rodes Farm pool, tennis court, pond, archery and stable. Close to Nellysford. Stoney Creek golf, hiking and lake all nearby. 30 minutes to Charlottesville. Sold furnished w/exclusions. Yard maintenance included. $299,000
423 Foothills Drive Handsome, well-maintained home on nearly 4 acres located in the foothills of Stoney Creek. Open floor plan offering a great room with stone fireplace, spacious kitchen with breakfast nook, master suite with deck access, and a study/library. Terrace level boasts a family/game room, two additional bedrooms/ baths, and a large bonus room that is perfect for exercise equipment. Attached two car garage and an oversized laundry. Multi-level decks for entertaining. A delightful stream meanders through the property. The planted gardens glow when in bloom. A true gardener's paradise. $549,000
11128 Rockfish River Road A trip along the Rockfish River brings you just south of the historic “Rockfish Depot,” the setting for this 1820’s farmhouse. This area is the home of the town that inspired the 1970’s show, The Waltons. On its elevated perch, this home with double front porches sits, enjoying views of the Rockfish River and mountains. There have been many improvements and renovations over several years. The 3 BR, 3 BA house presents soapstone throughout, original heart pine floors, stained glass, custom hickory cabinets in the kitchen and a Hearthstone woodstove. Large fenced-in backyard with sheds. $289,900
2136 Dutch Creek Lane Situated between Sugarloaf and Mosby Mountains is this 94-acre parcel with the perfect combination of hardwood forest and open pasture. Follow Dutch Creek to this small community created with conservation and preservation in mind. Easy commute to Charlottesville and 20 minutes to Lovingston. Beautiful building sites overlooking the pond. Two old tobacco barns add historic character along with the rock outcroppings and mature hardwoods. Part of a 3000-acre Dutch Creek ag/forest district and a portion of conservation easement. $495,000
410 Fish Hatchery Lane Hikers and nature lovers— don’t miss! Rare opportunity to own this cozy mountain cabin with 3 BR, 1 BA on 6 +/– acres off Spy Rock Trail and steps away from gorgeous Spy Rock and the Appalachian Trail with hiking in GW Nat'l forest right outside your door! French doors from living area and sliding glass door from upstairs bedroom both open to decks with stunning mountain views. Central heat/air for year-round comfort, and a new wood-burning stove. Charming cabin in this unique location does not come up often. Note: Alternate drive to cabin— at the top of road use the second drive path to access cabin. $159,900
Coffey Hollow Lane Private outdoorsman’s (and woman’s) mountain getaway. These 42.3 acres adjoins the George Washington National Forest. Owners have built a camp to enjoy the property for days at a time to include a 20' x 24' cabin, all wired (use generator) with kitchen, living/dining, wood stove, bunks in the main room and 2nd room and a smaller 2-room cabin, also with built in bunk beds, and an outhouse. These are located beside the very audible Little Pannell Creek that flows down one side of the property. Above the cabins are very large rock outcroppings and an impressive rock overhang. 4-wheeler trails! $189,900
(800) 361-5155 • (434) 361-2440 • www.MountainAreaRealty.com
2788 Rockfish Valley Highway • Nellysford, VA 22958
APRIL 2019
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Community
Roy Wheeler’s Mountain and Valley Properties contributes a portion of every sale to a local organization. This month’s RW gift goes to The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen.
Service
Customer surveys in 2018 indicate that 99% of our clients rated us excellent or very good and would recommend us to their friends and family!
Integrity
Our Wintergreen office and agents have never had a legal dispute or real estate board complaint since establishment in 2006.
Well Maintaned!
Breathtaking Views!
16 Buckhorn Ln
A truly elegant home sitting atop Virginia’s Premier Four Season Resort offers all the modern conveniences & beauty you could want! Stone fireplace leads your attention all the way up to the gorgeous pine cathedral ceilings which run thruout the foyer, great room, & gaming loft. $415,000. Call Gavin Sherwood at (434)962-0226.
20 Pedlars End
Homes this young offering superb energy efficiency & excellent location at Wintergreen Resort do not come to the market often! Located only a 5-minute walk to the Tyro slope, this modern mountain chalet is the perfect base camp for all who wish to experience the Blue Ridge Mountains. $425,000. Call Gavin Sherwood (434)962-0226.
Amazing Views!
Endless Views!
1596 Vista Condos
Awesome view from this 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo with updated kitchen and tasteful furnishings. Open floor plan with lots of light. Wood burning fireplace. Walk across the street to golf and tennis. Short walk to ski (behind Highlands), the aquatics center, fitness center and Trillium Foundation. Ready to move in and enjoy spectacular sunrises and star gaze from your deck at night. $229,000. Call Lauri Powell 540-718-1470.
40 Timber Ridge Ln
Extraordinary mountain views from this unique 5 bedroom house, on level lot with a hard-to-find large fenced backyard, perfect for children and dogs. Completely renovated inside and out. Designer furnishings, cabinetry, high end appliances. Gourmet kitchen to please any chef. $1,400,000 Call Lauri Powell 540-718-1470.
Meet our agents and the organizations they are proud to be a part of: Charles Bindig
Gavin Sherwood
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation Monticello
Wintergreen Adaptive Ski
Cbindig@gmail.com (571) 209-7306
Gavin@sherwoodteam.com (434) 962-0226
www.RW-MVP.com | 434-361-1490 725 Beech Grove Rd, Roseland, VA 22967 Partnering with Roy Wheeler Realty Co. 4
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APRIL 2019
Lauri Powell
LPowell@TheChaseTeam.com (540) 718-1470
License Class A - (BLD) 32216A
Custom Homes | Major Additions | Renovations
434.316.0090
RMGantt.com APRIL 2019
Blue Ridge LIFE
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Editors & Publishers Yvette Stafford, Tommy Stafford info@blueridgelife.com
a mom & pop since 2005
Blue Ridge Life magazine (formerly Nelson County Life) is published monthly by The Afton Group, LLC and is distributed free of charge. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Advertising deadlines are the 15th of every publishing month. For advertising information, download our ratecard at BlueRidgeLife.com or contact us at info@blueridgelife.com. Views reflected by our advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or the company. Blue Ridge Life Magazine, published by The Afton Group, LLC is pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing oppotunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap. All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise ‘any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.’ This magazine will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this magazine are available on an equal opportunity basis.
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Contributors Linda Crowe Victoria Beecher Godfrey Stephanie Gross Kate Simon Advertising sales@blueridgelife.com Address: The Afton Group, LLC P.O. Box 455, Wintergreen, Virginia 22958
434.361.0104
Have a story idea? Email us at info@blueridgelife.com
april 2019
10
21
the hop hustle Spring is the time hopeful hops growers prep their fields.
finding mama If she smells like a hot cider donut, you’re getting close.
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restoring relics Ted started with a buggy, then a caboose. Most recently, he’s completed a cider press.
inside
basic necessities ................. 9 cover story...........................10 ask the dr. ......................... 22 at home with marlo ......... 23 brain builders ..................... 30
on the cover Photo credit: Stephanie Gross Stan Driver helps harvest hops grown at Blue Mountain Barrel House last year. A co-op of local growers are trying to make hops a viable crop. Story starts on page 10.
fromthepigs We heard you lard and clear. The crossword puzzles are back! We will spare rib you the details and excuses but the fun pages temporarily went away because of a nasty thing called a Canadian paper tariff, not to be confused with the great thing called Canadian bacon in Eggs Benedict. The testy tariff forced many publishers to reshuffle the deck, so to speak. It took an act of Congress and some good old fashioned pork barrel politicking, but we’ve found a way to bring back the puzzles. We, the pastured pigs of Maple Brook Farm, are sponsoring those pages. We assign some of that blame to gazillionaire and part time media mogul Warren Buffet, who has been gobbling up newspapers and print shops. Needless to say, the Oracle of Omaha’s appetite is minuscule compared to that of the Hogs of Roseland. Did someone say Buffet? Let us tell ya, we miss our nuts. Now, get your mind out of the dirty water trough. Part of our pre-retirement plan is to gorge on local chestnuts which we are proudly doing in this picture. Our young chestnut orchard isn’t producing these yet but we hope to be gobbling them up in a
few years. Plus, we’ve got more trees on the way this spring. Let’s talk about skunks for a minute. Right around feeding time, this black and white thing appeared in our paddock. We ignored it for a while until it started acting all big and mighty. Well, the farmer took care of it and unlike the crosswords, that skunk won’t be back. How can you be so sure that we’re not bacon it up? These Boston butts don’t lie. Happy April Fools! Pig 1 and Pig 2 APRIL 2019
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JACK’S BACK! k c a j S I CHR T. RK AT ITS BES
FARM~TO~FO
OMPANY’S C G IN W E R B WILD WOLF EF EXECUTIVE CH
e l l i v ’ C 313 2ND STREET SE
COMING SOON!! Wild Wolf is excited to be opening a second restaurant and brewery locaaon in Charlooesville, just off the downtown mall! We are equally excited to have Chris Jack back with us as Execuuve Chef! Chris will be working at both locaaons to ensure the highest quality of culinary execuuon and expeccons are met. Visit our website for current specials and events and updates on the Grand Opening of the Charlooesville locaaon.
2461 ROCKFISH VALLEY HWY • NELLYSFORD, VA WILDWOLFBEER.COM 8
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basicnecessities By Kay Pfaltz www.basicnecessities.com www.kaypfaltz.com April’s Fools Sometimes it’s better to get out in the world and talk directly to people about choice of beverage, rather than rely on what the pundits say. So, we checked in with a few folks. Donald Trump – “Favorite Wine? Clos de Tart. Clos means WALL in French! Walled vineyards protect the grapes from theft from immigrants!! Keep the infidels out! And the Zinfandels! Tart? Talk to my lawyers.” Michael Cohen - “He’s a liar. He doesn’t drink wine. Try Diet Coke. He wouldn’t know a burgundy if it sued him for fake news. And a clos is not technically a wall. Never trust a man who doesn’t drink wine. Or, er, Glenlivet 12 on the rocks.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – “I prefer the A.O.C. wines of France to the D.O.C. wines of Italy.” Bernie Sanders – “Universal Health Care for all wine makers!” R. Kelly - “I like young wines.” Ralph Northam - “In Med School, I liked the black wine of Cahors. Now, I stick to white Zinfandel.” Mike Pence - “Alcohol?” Sarah Palin - “Gosh-darn-it, the
Spring is a Great Time to Tour the Best of Wintergreen
maverick wine!” Tina Fey - “Gosh-darn-it, the maverick wine! Hah. And we thought life was crazy then. I wish I could trade my heart for another liver so I could drink more and care less.” RuPaul and Laverne Cox (Miley Cyrus, Kristen Stewart, etc.) “Rosé, honey. Rosé is gender-fluid, non-binary, polyamorphous and polysexual. Think of rosé as your Genderqueer, tranny best friend.” Kim Jong Un - “Rocket red and nuclear white.” Theresa May - “I used to like the wines of France and Germany. Because of global warming and... other things, I declare English wine the best.” Rhianna - “Let’s talk accessories and wine glasses to go! House of Fenty.” Gwyneth Paltrow - “I’m going to be very loving and non-judgmental about my favorite wine. It would naturally be an organic, biodynamic and somewhat Goopy wine. And I love to consciously pair it with zucchini blossoms from my garden. Sometimes the wine and I uncouple but that would be the next morning.”
MLS# 586864
$72,500
774 Laurelwood Beautifully renovated 1BR, 1 BA located in the heart of the Wintergreen Resort Village. Short walk to Eagles Swoop ski slope.
Grandpa - “In my day, we didn’t have 3,262 different wines in shmancy Whole Foodie shops; we made our own wine and it was good enough.” Sarah Huckabee Sanders - “Not taking questions today on glyphosates in wines. I can’t communicate on specific wine preferences.” Elon Musk - “There’s wine on Mars. Zombie Apocalypse wine.” Al Gore - “I invented wine.” Jeff Bezos - “I see you bought HQ2 red before. Perhaps you’d also like Alexa Rosé.” Sean Hannity – “I’m loyal to older whites, with a tinge of orange.” Trump - “I changed my mind. No tart and wall wines. The loser French stomp those grapes with there (sic) feet. SAD. The white Russian is my go-to of choice.” Dom Perignon - “Brothers, brothers, come quickly; fools are overtaking the earth!” Join us for Wednesday Wine Tasting with guest speaker, Lady Gaga, as she discusses Grigio Girls, her new line of wines. The venue for this is Wintergreen True Value Hardware. Glam-rock attire suggested.
MLS# 586697
$109,500
2038 Stone Ridge Cheerful 2BR, 2 BA condo with wonderful views of the 18th golf fairway. Walk to Wintergarden Spa & Aquatics. Sold furnished.
Café Wine and Cheese Shop A taste of Europe in the Blue Ridge! Wine tastings offered on Wednesdays and every other Tuesday. Call for more information. Mon 10am-4pm Retail Only Tu-Th 10am-6pm Fri-Sat 10am-10pm Sun 10am-3pm Reservations advised for weekend dinner and brunch. 2226 Rockfish Valley Highway Nellysford, Virginia ph: 434.361.1766 www.basicnecessities.us
Friend BASIC NECESSITIES Visit us on Foodwaze Review us on Trip Advisor and Yelp
MLS# 573912
$115,000
738 Laurelwood Condo 2 BR, 2 BA condo close to ski slopes, The Market and the Mountain Inn lodge. Private pool. Rental program. Furnished.
Dima Holmes 434.962.2252 DimaDHolmes@gmail.com
MLS# 582781
$269,000
53 Devils Bend P.O. Box 747 Nellysford VA 22958 WintergreenResort.com
Beautifully renovated 4BR, 3 BA home on the golf course. Large screened porch, hot tub. On ski shuttle bus route. Furnished.
MLS# 584559
$299,500
MLS# 584266
$495,000
27 Veery Ln
302 Pedlars Edge
4BR, 3 BA home with beautiful golf course views. Two living rooms, open floor plan. Large rear deck. On private rental program.
Spacious 5BR, 5.5 BA home with nice all year round mountain and valley views. 0.71ac lot. South exposure. 2-car attached garage.
APRIL 2019
Blue Ridge LIFE
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NELSON COUNTY STORY by YVETTE STAFFORD PHOTOGRAPHY by STEPHANIE GROSS
Hops illustration at right: Freekpik.com
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Hop harvest is an annual event at area breweries like Blue Mountain Barrel House where volunteers often spend a day picking and sorting before enjoying a well-deserved meal. Several hop growers have hit the scene in recent years such as Randy Green’s The Green Diamond Hop Yard in Shipman, which provides fresh hops to area breweries.
THE
HOP HUSTLE Local hops growers eager to craft a viable crop.
For Randy Green, lighting his hop yard on fire is a ritual each spring. Farmers do this to prepare the field for the next season’s crops, and on this acre of land, that means rows of mostly Cascade with a test row of Nugget. If you like the taste of hoppy IPAs brewed with local hops, you can thank Randy and other hops farmers like him. “Me and my son-in-law were sitting there on the back porch — we didn’t even have our house [built] yet — and he said, ‘What about hops?’” And to think this field could have been planted in pumpkins or pines, two of the crops Randy had considered when his wife bought this 15-acre parcel in Shipman back in 2005. The Greens knew they wanted to do something agricultural with the property — after all, Randy’s “always had dirt under [his] finger nails,” growing up in the rural town of Odessa, Delaware. In 2006, the Greens began pouring footers for their home and roughly around that time, Blue Mountain Brewery was getting set to open in Afton. Randy had already spent a few years researching hop growing in the Mid-Atlantic and quickly found out the bulk of the research was in the northern, drier states, with the epicenter being in the Pacific Northwest.
Tours and Tastings daily 299 eades lane lovingston, Virginia 22949 www.vadistillery.com | @vadistillery
Upcoming Events
NELSON COUNTY, VIRGINIA
n April 18 - Herb Day with Chris Casey n April 24 - An Abundance of Dahlias with Bev Lacey n April 25-27 - Plant Sale at Pharsalia n May 9 - A Passion for Peonies with Foxie Morgan (No. 1) n May 16 - A Passion for Peonies with Foxie Morgan (No. 2) n May 22 - The Bounty of Spring Flowers wth Foxie Morgan For more classses and to register online, please visit www.PharsaliaEvents.com.
434-277-5231 continued on page 12
APRIL 2019
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continued from page 11
But Mid-Atlantic craft brewing was about to have its moment and Randy learned about a hop harvest Blue Mountain was offering to ther public. “I went up there a couple of days before and I met Stan Driver. I said, ‘Stan, I’m interested in growing hops.’ He said, ‘Hop on here and help me do this stuff.’” Hop on here. He actually did say that and it was that experience harvesting the crop that probably sealed the deal for Randy. Those early hop growing days in Nelson County led to the loose formation of a group of fellow farmers who were trying to figure ways they could make a living growing hops for local breweries. As the number of breweries in the area exploded, that loose group formalized into the Old Dominion Hops Cooperative, a for-profit agribusiness whose mission is to promote the cultivation and sale of hops in the MidAtlantic United States. Randy chairs the group and says though members are mostly clustered in the Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Richmond areas, membership has branched out to Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and down south to North Carolina and Tennessee. Even Georgia — it can’t all be peaches, you now — has a few members. “One of our biggest challenges we have here in our Southern location is our summer days are shorter. They’re only about 14.5 hours long,” Randy explains. “Hops really need a lot of long day length in order to grow tall.” Hops will grow 40 ft high under the right conditions. In comparison, Randy’s posts are 12 ft tall. The ones at the Barrel House are 16 ft tall. With the help of research teams from Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, and North Carolina State, Randy is hoping scientists hone in on a hop variety that thrives on the Mid-Atlantic climate. And a necessary prong of making hops a viable crop for Virginia farmers to grow is assuring producers that they can efficiently process for sale. Just like apple growers need a packing shed, hops growers need a processing facility. continued on page 14
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Randy Green, chairman of Old Dominion Hops Cooperative, has been busy preparing his field for spring planting (above). Though his poles are shorter, his yard is modeled after the one at Blue Mountain Barrel House, which hosts an annual hop harvest (below).
All you can eat
Easter Brunch Buffet $21.95 adults/ 12 and under $9.99
Includes coffee or juice
Made to Order Omelets Ham Scrambled Eggs Sausage Bacon Grits Hash Browns
French Toast Casserole Muffins Donuts Fruit Salad Biscuits and Gravy Chicken and Waffles Hot Browns
9:30 am - 2 pm, Sunday, April 21 Call us for a reservation.
9519 CRITZERS SHOP ROAD (RTE. 151) AFTON 540-456-8020 BLUEMOUNTAINBREWERY.COM
Successfully Matching Buyers And Sellers Since 2004 WINTERGREEN RESORT
WINTERGREEN RESORT
LAND
2068 Stone Ridge, Wintergreen Resort $119,000 (MLS 58526) This nicely appointed two bedroom, two bath, first level Stone Ridge Condo with seasonal valley views, located on the 18th green of Devils Knob course is the perfect mountain getaway. Open living room and dining room with access to the covered oversized deck; which is perfect for relaxing, and entertaining.
743 Laurelwood, Wintergreen Resort $114,900 (MLS 582755) Laurelwood at Wintergreen is the only association with a private pool for owners and their guests. Coupled with easy access to resort amenities, shopping, dining, entertainment, skiing and more, makes this the perfect spot for your family’s home-away-fromhome. Desirable top floor, two BR, two BA floor plan is well appointed with a renovated kitchen, oversized loft BR w/ extra storage. Sold turnkey.
Glade Road, Shipman $55,000 (MLS 579698) Great opportunity to own 15 acres less than 10 miles to Lovingston and an easy commute to Charlottesville or Lynchburg. Mostly level terrain with a great mix of hardwoods and pine trees fronting on a public paved road. No HOA. There are deeded covenants and restrictions.
Sara McGann
434.996.4962 sbmcgann@gmail.com APRIL 2019
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Pack A Picnic!
MAC’S Country Store FRIED CHICKEN The Best Around Conveniently located near Crabtree Falls, the Appalachian Trail, Wintergreen, & The Tye River Featuring a deli, homemade foods, Virginia products, local wines, seating for 14. 7023 Patrick Henry Hwy, Roseland
434-277-5305 Mon-Sat 6am-8pm Sun 9am-8pm EXXON GAS 24/7
continued from page 12
Brady S. Nicks Attorney-at-Law,
Counselor, and Officer of the Court, serving Citizens of Nelson and Surrounding Counties in Matters before the Courts, Civil or Criminal, or between Parties.
Consultations are Confidential and Free. 434-263-4141 All Client calls returned within 24 Business Hours. Office Located on the Courthouse Grounds, Lovingston. nicksatlaw.com 14
Blue Ridge LIFE
APRIL 2019
“Dry them down, pelletize them, bag them, put them in nitrogen-charged bags so that they’re much more stable.” Because right now, the small scale hop-picking scene is centered around marketing them as fresh or wet. “Literally I harvest those hops on a Saturday morning and by 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon they’re at the Barrel House in Taylor Smack’s hands, and he’s going to use them right away, keep them in his coolers for a day or two before he brews them, or he’s going to dry them down and mix them with the hops that he’s growing because he’s growing the same variety.” “As a brewery that strives to remind people of the agricultural ties between beer and its ingredients, using local hops — primarily our own, but also from three local hops growers — is one more thing we do to make some of our beers have a flavor of the land,” Taylor Smack owner of Blue Mountain Brewery explains. “Hops grown here are going to have their subtle differences from hops grown elsewhere, and it’s one more thing we can do to be unique.” And for Randy, being able to grow hops is another way he and his family can come together. It would take about a week for he and his wife to plant this year’s plot. He instead holds a hops string party in the spring, and with help from family and friends, he can knock it out in a day. By mid-August, Stan shows up with a harvester and the gang reconvenes for a picking party. “It’s something that brings our family together 3-4 big occasions a year, other than the holidays. These are things we can do together.” Even Randy’s grandson is getting his hands dirty and he’s only 3. “He helped us harvest, he helped us put up some strings.” Which is how the Greens have chosen to put down roots in Nelson County, by sowing their field with hops and hope. BRL
Many area hops growers belong to the Old Dominion Hop Cooperative, a for-profit group aiming to study and advance the Virginia-grown hops scene. Founding member Stan Driver will be at Devils Backbone Brewing Company’s Home Brewer’s Weekend Saturday, March 31 discussing growing hops for home brewing. To stay in the loop, visit the Co-op’s page on Facebook or online at OldDominionHops.com.
April Adventures BASECAMP BREWPUB & MEADOWS 200 mosbys run, Roseland, VA • 434.361.1001
Beer Class: Malts, 6-7pm
4/11
$12 per person
Join Basecamp Brewery Manager, Aaron Reilly, as he breaks down the process of using malt in beer. Each guest will receive a DB beer and a 10% voucher to use in the Brewpub. Visit www.dbbrewingcompany.com to sign up.
4/13
Mississippi Leg Hound, 6-9pm Acoustic Duo
Seafood & Brews
4/20
Fresh oysters from Ward Oyster Company, Mobjack Bay, VA, and other seafood along with live music and a pop-up beer tasting. Visit www.dbbrewingcompany.com for more information and to purchase your tickets.
4/21
Easter Sunday Brunch, 11:30am-2pm
4/26 4/27
Ryan Greer, 6-9pm
WEDNESDAYS
GROWLER GRAB DAY, 11:30AM - 9PM
Join us in the Brewpub for Brunch and craft Bloody Marys. Visit www.dbbrewingcompany.com to view our Easter Brunch menu.
Soul Americana
Mississippi Leg Hound, 6-9pm Acoustic Duo
Special pricing on 64oz. growler fills
Sundays
BRUNCH & CRAFT BLOODY MARYS, 11:30AM-2PM
DBbrewingcompany.com ENJOY RESPONSIBLY © 2018 Devils Backbone Brewing Company, Roseland, VA
OUTPOST TAP ROOM & KITCHEN 50 northwind lane, lexington, VA • 540.462.6200
4/4 4/5 4/6 4/12 4/13 4/18 4/19 4/20 4/25
JACOB PAUL ALLEN, 7-9PM
4/26 4/27
BRUCE ALLEN, 7-9PM
SUNDAYS WEDNESDAYS TUESDAYS
Americana Country
BRYAN ELIJAH SMITH, 7-9PM Blues
CRAIG HANSON, 7-9PM Folk
CHEAP DATES, 7-9PM Folk
TYLER JAY SUPKO, MERCY DEER 7-9PM Live Music with Tyler Jay Supko (Americana) 7-8PM Live Music with Mercy Deer (Americana) 8-9PM
GAME NIGHT: CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY, 6:30-9:30PM 21 years and older only; not for the faint of heart
MARIE ANDERSON, 7-9PM Rock Soloist
RYAN GREER, 7-9PM Soul Americana
MUG CLUB DAY: SWAG PRIZE DRAWING, 11:30AM-10PM Mug Club Members may enter a drawing for a sweet swag prize! No purchase necessary to enter the drawing. Winner will be selected at 10pm! Country
GREG WARD, 7-9PM Reggae
BRUNCH & BEER MIMOSAS, 11:30AM-3:30PM GROWLER GRAB DAY, 11:30AM-10PM Special pricing on 64oz. growler fills
BURGER, BEER, BRAINPOWER, 6:30PM $11 Craft Burger Specials $1 off Pints between 6:30–8:30PM Trivia – Begins at 7PM
We are currently buying old barns, sheds, cabins, and houses for salvage. have one to sell? call us.
Meade Shirley 540-241-9075 elkmountaincontracting.com APRIL 2019
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Mountain Homes for Your Outdoor Lifestyle. MOUNTAIN HOMES AT WINTERGREEN
$235,000
MLS# 584761
$289,000
MLS# 584746
$60,000
MLS# 585773
67 Squirrel Tree Lane
72 Squirrel Tree Lane
734 Laurelwood Condos
Close to the slopes, this cozy, well maintained home is perfect for gatherings with family & friends. Nicely furnished & updated with a heat pump & new carpet. Master & guest bedroom on the main level. Loft has bunk beds & two twins. Large deck with seasonal mtn views.
This home has great ski access and a convenient location. The floor plan has been modified to provide approximately 300 sq. ft. of additional space to be enjoyed with family and friends. Master suite on main level. Large deck access across the view side of the house.
Cozy one-bedroom ground floor condo. A quiet neighborhood pool is in your back yard. Short walk to the ski slopes, restaurants, shops. New furniture in the living room, dining and bedroom all conveys. This condo could be a successful rental due to its central location.
$319,000
MLS# 584964
$365,000
MLS# 586359
48 Serviceberry Lane
14 Trails Edge
Terrific custom home situated at the end of a private point & nestled between 3 holes of the beautiful Ellis Maples designed course. Enjoy a gorgeous golf front location spring through fall. First floor master suite with light-filled sunroom. Vaulted ceilings and skylights.
Spacious A-frame located on a quiet cul-desac; convenient to mountain amenities. Two master suites, one on the main floor. This could be a wonderful home for full time residence. Beautifully landscaped, large deck to enjoy the fresh mountain air. Conveys turn key furnished.
$399,000
MLS# 585404
MLS# 585420
$449,000
1735 Blue Ridge Drive
Fantastic house with beautiful private setting. Large 1.13-acre lot with Shamokin Springs stream running through the back yard. Spacious home with many updates and special touches, new roof, new carpeting, and much more! Perfect home for family gatherings!
This beautiful home is located on Devils Knob Golf Course with long range views of the fairway. Open layout, many windows for natural light. Immaculately maintained with many recent improvements. Main floor master suite, lots of decks and outdoor living space.
Blue Ridge LIFE
APRIL 2019
$110,900
MLS# 571180
913 Diamond Hill Condos
21 Split Rock Trail
434.361.0500 / 800.325.2200
16
CONDOS AT WINTERGREEN
Perfect location for all seasons! Ski-in ski-out in winter, walk-in walk-out, slope side all other seasons. Wonderful mountain views right out your back door and just steps to the patio. Close to restaurants, shops, hiking and all activities at the Main Lodge area.
$225,000
MLS# 569770 1526 Cliffs Condos
One of the best condo views along Blue Ridge Drive. Extra set of windows on view side. View of slopes and walking distance to all facilities on Devils Knob; Spa & exercise facilities, golf, tennis, restaurants, on ski shuttle. Never rented. Mint condition.
WintergreenRealEstate.com
To Learn More, Contact Us Today! 434.361.0500 / 800.325.2200 STONEY CREEK AND NELSON COUNTY
$64,900
MLS# 585408 242 Timbers Condos
Convenient location for all seasons & services. Walk to ski slopes, restaurants, shops and activities. Easy to maintain & efficient to use or rent. Popular rental location for ski and conference guests. Smartly furnished and ready to use and enjoy.
MLS# 565143
$120,000
1541 Cliffs Condos
$229,000
MLS# 585501
$224,500
3204 North Ridge Condos
8296 Batesville Road
This 1 bedroom two bath condo has pleasant winter mountain & Shenandoah Valley views and beautiful sunsets. Short walk to upper mountain amenities-golf, tennis, restaurant, Spa, Devine Cafe & Wine shop and the Nature Foundation. The property conveys turn key furnished.
Located in the very popular Western Albemarle County area. This 14.50-acre tract has all the potential for a great country environment, with pasture for a horse or two. Located just off of the Nelson County line. Travel to Charlottesville and UVA only takes about 25 minutes.
MLS# 578418
$152,000
1722 High Ridge Condos
Enjoy the panoramic mountain views, relax by the fire or enjoy the outdoor patio in summer and experience the majesty of the Blue Ridge mountains. Renovated recently with new appliances, HVAC, furniture and carpeting. A peaceful and inspiring mountain experience.
MLS# 569031
$83,500
MLS# 585525
$499,000
780 Stoney Creek East
Unique lateral view to Humpback Mountain over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ground floor location featuring a large wrap around deck (deck is accessible from the master suite and great room). Convenient to golf, tennis, restaurant and spa. On the ski shuttle route!
MLS# 580173
MLS# 585221
On a private lot with seasonal views, this home welcomes you the minute you enter with an open floor plan & vaulted ceiling. Gourmet kitchen, master suite with a sitting room, spacious family room on the lower level. Close to the walking trail around Lake Monocan.
$239,000
MLS# 584725
$549,000
946 Diamond Hill Condos
1577 Vistas Condos
947 Black Walnut Drive
Beautifully maintained, slope front 2BR condo. Gorgeous views of the Rockfish Valley and ski slopes. A very desirable location in the Resort Village. This unit has not been on the rental program. Although would make a wonderful rental, if that is what you’re looking for.
This mid-level Vistas is an end unit which affords not only privacy but one of the most spectacular and panoramic views on the mountain. Convenient to upper mountain amenities and on the ski shuttle route. A great location with wonderful sunrise & sunset views.
This spacious home enjoys a great open flow for entertaining on the main level. Sunroom off the kitchen is a bright place to gather in every kind of weather. Large, unfinished area on the upper level is great for storage or could be finished. Large hobby room on lower level.
3079 Rockfish Valley Highway, Wintergreen Resort VA 22958
APRIL 2019
Blue Ridge LIFE
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asktheDr. By Dr. Steve Schmitz Afton Family Medicine
CALL US TODAY!
434-263-4500 8535 Thomas Nelson Hwy Lovingston, VA 22949
FOSTERFUELS.COM PROPANE • GAS LOGS • TANKS • HEATERS • GRILLS & MORE
How much is too much screen time? Just a few years ago we discussed screen time in very concrete terms. But now screens are everywhere and used for everything! I saw one prediction that eventually pretty much every flat surface we see will eventually wear a screen. So, what are the health risks of screen time? There is research to suggest that in children obesity, irregular sleep schedules, behavioral problems, loss of social skills, increased violence, and less play time all result from excessive screen time. But it is not only kids that are affected. It is proposed that adults may have changes happen in their brains, increased risk for obesity and diabetes, increased eye strain, decreased ability to process emotions, and even earlier death all resulting from lots of time on screens. Some of these problems stem from more time sitting, which we know is bad for us. Some are from an increasing interaction with others only through digital media at the expense of real time with other people. And some of these risks are from looking at the screens themselves.
Our world is going to have screens and digital interactions more and more. So, here are some basic guidelines to try to live with them in a healthy way: Kids under 2 should avoid screen time except for video chatting. Kids aged 2-5 should only have 1 hour per day max, and that should be high quality screen time with a parent. After age 6 the numbers aren’t as easy to nail down. Kids can have screen time, but need to be sure to be getting at least an hour of activity per day in addition. They also should not see screens an hour before bed. Finding that balance is the job of thinking parents. And those same guidelines are good ones for adults to abide by as well. Did you get an hour of activity in today? Talk with some friends in person? If so, enjoy the show! (But not right before bed.) If not, better go for a walk with a buddy instead! Dr. Steve Schmitz is a licensed medical doctor based in Afton. This column is provided as a service to readers of Blue Ridge Life Magazine and it does not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers of this magazine. If you have a question about your personal health, please consult your doctor.
S E N TA R A A F T O N FA M I LY M E D I C I N E
DISCOVER WHY PEOPLE TRUST SENTARA AFTON FAMILY MEDICINE OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:30am-5pm 10950 Rockfish Valley Hwy (SR151), Afton, VA For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit sentara.com or call (540) 456-6710. Follow us on Facebook @MarthaJeffersonHospital, and Twitter @MarthaJefferson.
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athome
Firefly Lightning fast internet is now landing in Nelson County!
withMarlo
By Marlo Allen Marlo Allen is a licensed Realtor residing in Nelson County
Rural no more … at least not when it comes to connecting with the world. If you have always wanted in on the Nelson County way of life, now may be a better time than ever to make the move. If you need to work from home or stream the latest Netflix hits, you can do it from the comfort of your home as fiber optic internet rolls out to county residents. What has attracted many people to Nelson County has been the very reason why high speed internet has been slow to spread. Our mountains and valleys offer beauty and seclusion but when it comes to broadband deployment, that beauty translates to rugged terrain. Couple that with our county’s relatively low population density, and property owners have been left with few options. The teams of white trucks you may have seen stringing cable lately are part of the Firefly installation. Who exactly is Firefly? According to its web site, fireflyva.com, Firefly Fiber Broadband
is a subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Coop. Firefly Broadband uses fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) to offer affordable and reliable broadband and Voice-Over-IP (VOIP) services. Just as CVEC brought thousands of rural Virginians electricity for the first time in 1937, Firefly is installing high speed fiber internet. Firefly internet is homegrown right here in Central Virginia, with virtually all technical and support staff based in Virginia. Firefly says it is “very proud to carry on in the tradition of CVEC, by providing internet and voice service offerings that are fair, honest, and reliable.” What is the Firefly Difference? Firefly says it will be offering no service contracts or usage caps. Unlike cable, DSL, satellite, cellular, and fixed wireless connections, fiber internet has lightning fast download and upload speeds. This symmetrical service means that you
Marlo Allen
can upload and download at the same speed, which enables amazing new capabilities, and gives you the ability to do more at home. When & Where? Construction of the mainline fiber-optic network in Nelson County began in November 2018. Pre-registration also began in November 2018 and remains open. Connections are expected to begin in late spring of 2019. Nelson is served by five substations. Only members who receive power from the Martins Store substations will be included in the build at this time. To connect the home must be eligible for CVEC electric service and be in one of these areas: Nellysford, Woods Mill, Covesville, Afton, Faber, Lovingston, Roseland, Schuyler, Shipman, and Stoney Creek. CVEC members in other parts of the county will be connected in the next five years.
434-996-3525
Don’t just SPRING for anyone! List & Buy with Marlo.
Salesperson of the Year 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Marlo G. Allen
Associate Broker Cell: 434.996.3525 Web: InsistOnThatGirl.com Email: Marlo@InsistOnThatGirl.com
Insist on that girl!
CVEC claims every member will eventually be able to sign up for Firefly Fiber Broadband service. However, houses in some areas may take up to five years to reach. Until then, property owners in those areas will need to rely on existing technologies, or “fast enough” speeds depending on their data demands. But at last, it looks like we are slowly turning the much-awaited broadband corner. And lets face it: Lightning fast internet is just one more reason why life doesn’t get any better in Nelson County! Please note that there are other great service providers for fiber internet in Nelson, so explore the option that is best for you. Marlo Allen, frequently referred to as “That Girl,” calls Nelson County home. In fact, she grew up in Nelson County and helped found Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery of Nellysford. Marlo provides real estate services in Nelson and surrounding counties.
InsistOnThatGirl.com 286 Acres with river & mountain views! Berry Hill Rd; #586279; $1,399,000
Rare opportunity to own a large tract of land with virtually everything on your wish list! Nestled in the Rockfish Valley with panoramic Blue Ridge Mountain views, a mile of Rockfish River frontage, bold creeks, spring, approximately 50 or 60 acres of pasture, woods with timber and trails, incredible privacy, and tremendous convenience. Located about 1 mile from route 29 and 4 miles from Route 151 which is recognized as a travel destination for Virginia wine, craft beer, hard cider, spirits and outdoor recreation. Ideal for farm, custom residence(s), recreation, investment, or development. Land has 19 possible division rights; tax records indicate 250 acres, but composite survey shows 286+/- acres. Approx 30 minutes to Charlottesville.
Marlo is a top-producing agent throughout Nelson County, Stoney Creek and Wintergreen. APRIL 2019
Blue Ridge LIFE
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Cancer.
We are here for the diagnosis. We are here for your care. Nearly one-third of people in the U.S. will develop cancer in their lifetime. But every year, more people survive by early screening and detection. As the only cancer center in the region to partner with Duke Health Cancer Network, we’re bringing the latest in cancer care research and treatment home to Augusta County. That means even when facing a diagnosis of cancer, you’re surrounded by the leading minds. To learn if you should have a cancer screening, call (833) AHC-HLTH to get connected with an Augusta Health physician.
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[ nelson county ] CHARLOTTESVILLE COLLEEN
STORYSTORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD by YVETTE STAFFORD
Finding
Mama
It’s a cold, cold morning in Colleen. The kind of morning that can make for a busy day for Mike Bell, a local septic guy. “Busted pipes?” I ask him. “Nah,” he says shaking his head. “Check portajohns and put toilet paper in them because they’re frozen.” It’s a dirty job done easier with a dozen donuts. continued on page 23
APRIL APRIL 2019 2019
Blue Blue Ridge Ridge LIFE LIFE
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AUGUST 22-25, 2019
INFINITY DOWNS & OAK RIDGE FARM • ARRINGTON, VA
4-DAY, 3-DAY TICKETS & ACCOMMODATIONS ON SALE NOW THU, AUG 22 __________ JOE RUSSO’S ALMOST DEAD two sets __________ GARY CLARK JR. __________ KHRUANGBIN __________ CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD __________ ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. __________ JERRY PARTY
FRI, AUG 23 __________ TREY ANASTASIO BAND DEREK TRUCKS __________ THE REVIVALISTS __________ OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW __________ PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG __________ EDIE BRICKELL & NEW BOHEMIANS __________ MELVIN SEALS & JGB __________ MOONALICE W/LESTER & DYLAN CHAMBERS __________ GREG HUMPHREYS ELECTRIC TRIO
SAT, AUG 24 __________ TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND TREY ANASTASIO __________ VULFPECK __________ OTEIL & FRIENDS FT. BOB WEIR W/ DEVON ALLMAN, DUANE BETTS & MORE __________ TWIDDLE __________ PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND __________ THE ALLMAN BETTS BAND __________ CORY HENRY & THE FUNK APOSTLES __________ LIZ COOPER & THE STAMPEDE
SUN, AUG 25 __________ BOB WEIR AND WOLF BROS SUSAN TEDESCHI __________ JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT __________ MOE. __________ ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES __________ STEEL PULSE __________ NAHKO AND MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE __________ THE SOUL REBELS __________ DEVA MAHAL __________ KELLER WILLIAMS’ GRATEFUL GOSPEL
11th Annual Rockfish Valley Foundation
Kite Festival - Sunday, April 14 11:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m. Behind Rockfish Valley Foundation Natural History Center 1193 Glenthorpe Loop Nellysford, Virginia
First 500 kites free! Duck race on the Rockfish Food Trucks For further details go to
www.rockfishvalley.org or call (434) 361-0271 www.facebook.com/RockfishValleyFoundation
A special thanks to our sponsors: 22
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FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
continued from page 21
“We go to these places once a month, sometimes twice a month. And that’s not enough. People want it. People need it,” says Shawn Woodward, the redbearded guy preaching the cider donut gospel inside the teal food trailer that’s amassed a cult following. Linda Turner, is another member of the cult. “They are delicious,” she assures me as she clutches a box for her work family. Sporting the trademark scrubs nurses wear, Linda will drive to the other side of the highway to her job at Blue Ridge Medical Center. “I started coming when they started coming here and I love it. I take them to my co-workers just to let them know that I appreciate them.” Just what the doctor ordered. And to think this hot cider donut business began as shaved ice in Buena Vista. “Originally the shaved ice business was called the Shaved Ice Shop,” Shawn explains. The business was started by a guy who goes by the name of F.W., and another business partner. “The logo was Mama with a mustache. No glasses. It was called Shady Crockett.” But shaved ice isn’t terribly popular during the colder months, when Mike Bell is trying to thaw out frozen portajohns. F.W. and his business partner had an idea. “They decided on donuts and never looked back.” And neither did Shawn who found himself ditching his day job in New Jersey to sling donuts out of a teal trailer down south. He had been managing a day program facility for adults with developmental disabilities. “So yeah, a big change in my lifestyle,” he admits. His fiancée, Mallory, was managing a restaurant at the time. “It was just time for a change.” Change can happen quickly and for Shawn and Mallory, it happened in a matter of weeks. Mallory’s brother, Blake, who runs Speakertree Records in Lynchburg, used to work for F.W. and she had been interviewed to manage the new brick and mortar Mama Crockett’s store at 5th and Clay. After that interview, Shawn, still in New Jersey, heard from Mallory. “Immediately, I need you down here,” she told him. Two weeks later the couple was in Lynchburg and had settled into an apartment. “The rest is history,” Shawn says, setting a bowl of batter under the highpitched whir of a mixer. Another customer approaches the window and this time it’s for a half dozen. Just a few seconds before, a machine dropped a clump of batter into a vat of hot oil where it travels along a channel, earning its characteristic copper color, before being dowsed with sugar. “I nearly broke my neck when I saw your truck,” Russ Blankenstein said as he forked over the money. continued on page 24
THE FOUNTAIN ROOM AT THE MARK ADDY INN Dinner 6pm-9pm Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED!
(434)361-1101
Mention this ad for $10 off Dinner!
ER ! T S EA UNCH BR
Meets and Music Tonia soul Ray
April 6&7 April 13&14
Greg Ward reggae
April 20
Jan Smith
April 21
folk
April 27&28
APRIL 2019
Jahsun piano
Jahsun piano
Blue Ridge LIFE
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continued from page 23
“I used to work for the City of Lynchburg and they would be downtown so I’d always stop in and get a couple, get half a bag and take it back to the office and have donuts and coffee. Now I work in Charlottesville so driving by, seeing the green trailer, really surprised me so I just did a U-turn and got a half dozen. My folks in Charlottesville I don’t think have ever had Mama Crockett’s so they’re going to get them today.” Russ is a good man because Charlottesville is 42 minutes away from Colleen. Doing the math, his rate of personal donut consumption could be 7 minutes per donut. Back inside the trailer, Shawn is dialing back the oil temperature — you don’t want those beauties getting too dark. Framing the inside of the service window are three important rules written in Sharpie that rival Noah’s ten. Rule 1: Sling ‘em. Rule 2: Be cool. Rule 3: Always trade for tacos. “I don’t ever want to sit behind a desk. This job is perfect. You get constant — I guess you could say gratification — people are happy. It’s donuts. People love donuts.” So who exactly is Mama Crockett? Shawn hears that question all the time. “What’s the backstory on her?” I ask. He replies with a long pause, which at first concerns me. But then the man with the red beard waxes philosophical and channels some Yoda. “Mama is everywhere.” We chuckle. “Any time someone asks ‘Where’s Mama?’ you gotta just look around and say, ‘Mama is everywhere.’” Today she is in Colleen, Virginia, U.S.A., Planet Earth. But donuts don’t last long, today is never guaranteed, so if you’re lucky to find Mama, enjoy her. “Mama’s always going to be moving.” BRL
If you are ready for a faster internet connection, you are ready for Exede Broadband.
• Rated #1 for delivering promised speeds • Up to 4 times faster than average DSL • Speeds up to 12 MBPS • Great for streaming video & movies, video chatting and sharing photos and files quickly Call today to learn more!
th • Riverfest May 4
Constitution Park South • downtown Waynesboro, VA 10am-4:30pm • FREE ADMISSION! Canoe Rides • Reptile World Show • Face Painting Stream Safari & Electro Fishing • Fish n’ Fun Rodeo Wildlife Center of Virginia • South River Duck Race MORE Presentations as well as Food, Games, & Exhibits!
Nelson Cable, Inc. 400 Front St. / P.O. Box 395
434.263.4805
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APRIL 2019
For more information:
www.riverfestwaynesboro.org
434-263-4881
434-946-5059
What’s on YOUR mind this Spring?
Tax refund not what you expected? Now is the time to correct your withholding for 2019.
April is Heartworm and Lyme Awareness Month
Free Nail Trim ($16+ value) when your dog is combo tested for heartworm and Lyme disease during their appointment.
C e r t i f i e d P u b l i c Ac c ou nt a nt s
Providing Quality Tax Services for Individuals, Trusts, Estates, and Small Businesses 2741 Rockfish Valley Hwy • Nellysford, Virginia • 434.361.9650 www.R-CPA.net
26th ANNUAL
NORTH BRANCH SCHOOL GOLF TOURNAMENT FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1PM
STONEY CREEK GOLF COURSE, WINTERGREEN, VA
IN SUPPORT OF
NORTH BRANCH SCHOOL IN AFTON, VIRGINIA
E CHOIC AIN’S TGUN CAPT O SH 1PM “ RT” T STA NTES G CO S PUTTIN & AWARD S PRIZE
North Branch School fosters respect, non-violence, environmental responsibility, and the involvement of students, teachers and families in our community. We value the uniqueness of each child. Our curriculum promotes the desire to learn and to develop abilities to the fullest. We are dedicated to providing a diverse environment that stimulates curiosity, creativity, and cooperation.
SIGN UP A TEAM OR SPON SOR A HO LE!
MEDIA SPONSOR
Proceeds support North Branch School and its programs. 540-456-8450 WWW.NORTH-BRANCH-SCHOOL.ORG NorthBranchGolfClassic@gmail.com North Branch School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color or income and actively seeks minority students. APRIL 2019
Blue Ridge LIFE
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AMHERST COUNTY STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD
RESTORING RELICS More than buggys, Ted Hughes breathes new life into an old cider press.
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ANTIQUES
Get in the Swing! Come Play at Wintergreen
TuckahoeAntiques.com Rt. 151 Near Wintergreen
CovesvilleStoreAntiques.com Rt. 29 south of Charlottesville
As you turn into Ted Hughes’ driveway, rusty farm relics lead the way to his workshop with the name of his business, painted in big, bold, red letters: BUGGY WORKS. “I’ve had too many birthdays,” he tells me as he greets me inside, settling into one of many chairs scattered around the shop. You can gauge the lifespan of a tree by its rings. As for Ted, the angle of his posture clues you into his age. “83 in September,” he proudly announces but with the sobering realization a marathon runner may have as he begins to see the finish line. 26 miles is a long distance to run. Eight decades is a long time to live. Even so, one foot right after the other is how Ted runs his race. continued on page 29
VeronaAntiques.com Rt. 11 north of Staunton
Happy Spring! We’re offering free haircuts tomorrow. Beech Grove Salon 434-361-1810
910 Beech Grove Rd (Rt. 664) Roseland, VA
It’s golf season at Wintergreen Resort. Ranked the number one golf resort by Blue Ridge Country Magazine, Wintergreen is the ideal destination to get your game ready for 2019 with our top-rated Golf Academy and 45 holes spread across two beautiful courses. From private lessons to 3-hour intensive clinics to 3-day schools and weeklong junior camps, we offer focused, personalized instruction on every aspect of the game, tailored for a range of abilities, from beginners to life-long golfers. Visit the website for all the details including special offers.
( April Fools ! )
855.245.5011 wintergreenresort.com
APRIL 2019
Blue Ridge LIFE
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TAYLOR MADE BUSINESS SERVICE, LLC Offering Bookkeeping, Payroll, Personal Finance, and Notary Services. p: 434.361.2208 • f: 434.361.2131 TaylorMadeSvc@gmail.com
BECERRA LAWNCARE Call to schedule your mulch and chipping job! Contact: Carlos Becerra
434-962-3266 Firewood • Debris Cleanup • Wood Chipper Mowing • Weed Eating • Pruning/Weeding Tree Trimming • Planting/Fertilizing • Mulching Spraying Weeds • Raking Leaves • Much, much more ...
We have room for your STUFF.
Call today for our competitive rates. FOUR SIZES: 5 x 10 10 x 10 10 x 15 10 x 20
200 Afton Mountain Rd, Afton, VA 22920
434-361-2445 or 800-361-5155
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Dine Divine!
continued from page 27
“Well I’ve been working all my life. I started working since I was 10, 12 years old,” he tells me. He begins his mornings at around 5 A.M. to feed the animals and stoke the fire. “Well that’s why you haven’t croaked yet,” I tell him. “It’s why you’re not dead yet. You do stuff.” Ted isn’t a coffee-in-the-morning man but he does have a thing for diet drinks. For breakfast, he has cheese toast and a banana. Six years ago doctors diagnosed him with spinal stenosis and told him he shouldn’t be walking. Instead, like the projects around him, Ted chugs along. “I’d hate to see this old stuff go to the junk yard. I can build a new piece, but it’s not like restoring. Just like the caboose. You can build a new caboose but we put that back for nothing!” Which is part of the fun: Finding a fixer-upper, assessing what it needs, and then bringing it back to life. Ted did that with the old caboose he restored for the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail in Piney River. Before that, he restored an old surrey he scored from an antique shop in Buena Vista. But I am here today to check out a cider press project someone told me about. He abandons his chair to briefly show me the pieces of the structure he’s replaced: the legs, the feeder box. A few days later, he tells me to come back to the shop because the project is finished and the owner is about to take it home. “It didn’t take me long to decide who I wanted to work on it,” says Dick Whitehead of Roseland. “Ted said he’d be willing to take on the challenge so now we have a totally restocked press.” Dick’s family gathers yearly to make apple butter and his middle daughter, Susan, has long had an interest in apples. And as the region experiences an apple cider revival, a cider press seemed like a good thing to bring to these gatherings. She located an old one in Farmville. “This box needed replacing and the drain rack needed some work,” Dick explains. “We brought it home. It worked. We used it two or three years. It wasn’t in the best condition but the mechanical side of it worked great.” Dick began to notice that the heavy iron screw press put a lot pressure on the wooden parts. Not only that, but a closer inspection revealed the wood had been damaged by powder post beetles. “We realized, ‘You know this grinds apples pretty well, it functions real well, maybe it will be worth restocking.’” Ted to the rescue. Using his own stash of oak, he replaced the damaged wood, re-greased the gears, upgraded some of the bolts, and replaced the grinder hand crank. The result is a virtual time machine that roars back to life with an ancient rumble that takes you back to the days families gathered together by horse and by buggy to squeeze the fruits of their labor. As the sign over his shop implies, the buggy works and so does the cider press. BRL
Take your palate for a food-cation at Wintergreen Resort! Our restaurants serve everything from light snacks, to incredible burgers and salads, to ovation-worthy fine cuisine. We have something for every taste and dining style. Plus you can leave the cooking (and cleanup) to us. Stoney Creek Bar & Grill opens for the season April 2. See spring bloom and enjoy dining al fresco with the best view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Serving lunch Tuesday-Saturday 11 am – 6 pm and Sunday Brunch from 10 am -2 pm. Call 434-325-8110 to reserve your spot. Tantalize your taste buds at Wintergreen
855.245.5011 wintergreenresort.com
APRIL 2019
Blue Ridge LIFE
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BRAIN BUILDERS
ANSWER KEY
30 30 30
Blue Ridge LIFE Blue Blue Ridge Ridge LIFE LIFE
NOVEMBER 2018 APRIL APRIL 2019 2019
,
ed
h s i n fi t u n t s e h C
Pork!
We are a small family farm that sources its chestnut tree stock from nearby growers. Our orchard will soon mature and begin producing tasty Nelson County chestnuts like the ones our pigs feast on. A new batch of pastured pork is coming soon. Price sheet available now at Tuckahoe Antiques in Nellysford.
Maple Brook Farm ROSELAND, VIRGINIA
,
Yolks for Folks
Eggs picked daily by humans, laid by hens that enjoy a life on pasture, and nest on fluffy piles of hemp. Sold by the dozen at Tuckahoe Antiques, Rt. 151 in Nellysford.
Maple Brook Farm ROSELAND, VIRGINIA
Where in my talent contract do I get royalties for use of this photo?
#hensonhemp APRIL APRIL 2019 2019
Blue Blue Ridge Ridge LIFE LIFE
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InsistOnThatGirl.com EEK
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NE
S TO
Marlo Allen
434-996-3525
Coveted Rosewood Community! 175 Rosewood Dr; #586507; $399,000 Mountain and golf course views, amenities, conveniences, and carefree living! One level with superior construction: Hardiplank and stone exterior, hardwood floors, custom cherry cabinets and built-ins, open flow, sunroom, 2 car garage; 3Br/2Ba
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2070 Stone Ridge; #586765; $149,000
Oakcrest Ln, Lot 7; #585831; $119,000
Well-maintained condo with park–like setting overlooking the golf course! Renovated kitchen and flooring; Sold furnished; 3Br/3Ba
Build dream home with privacy and mountain views! Wooded w/ 3 Br soil study; approx. 1 mile to Devils Backbone & Bold Rock; 5.12ac
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WI
1001 Devils Knob Loop; #585693; $699,000
17 Pitcher Plant Ln; #586706; $249,900
Luxury home blending contemporary architecture with mountain lodge! Stone fireplace, floating stairwell, 2 masters, decks; 5Br/4.5Ba
Great value! Private with lots of outdoor living space; open flow with cathedral ceiling, 2 living areas with stone fireplaces; 5Br/3Ba
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Coming soon! 472 Cedar Meadow Dr; $549,000
Tectonics built contemporary situated on a level double lot for enhanced privacy. Easy entertaining home with bright, open flow and multiple gathering spaces inside and out. Enjoy nature from the 1,000 sq ft of outdoor living space - decking, covered front porch, and back screened porch overlooking the frog pond. Step inside and be welcomed by the bright, open flow featuring cathedral ceilings, floor to ceiling stone fireplace, and custom windows. Nearly 70k in recent renovations to kitchen, bathrooms, flooring and other improvements. 4Br/3Ba
Livebeautifully in Nelson County Marlo G. Allen, Assoc. Broker 434-996-3525 InsistOnThatGirl.com
434-996-3525 Blue Ridge LIFE
Marlo Allen
InsistOnThatGirl.com APRIL 2019