Discover 2023 EDITION 2 CAMPBELL COUNTY THE INSIDE SCO0P For all things Campbell County Recreation • History • Nature • People • Events • Sightseeing • &More!
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4 | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | CAMPBELL COUNTY CONTENTS 08 HORSE & HOUSE FESTIVAL 12 CONCORD JULY 4TH PARADE 18 FISHING/FUN DAY AT SPARROW ESTATES 20 CHICK-FIL-A IN CAMPBELL COUNTY 22 SPAIN, BROOKVILLE GRADUATE LOOKS BACK 24 SENECA LAKE 28 BEAT THE HEAT
On July 15, the Brookville Marching Bees held their first fundraiser for the season with a car wash and bake sale at the school. The Marching Bees are under the direction of Mario Ruiz and Josh Detwiler. Color guard instructors are Meghan Austin and Lori Turner. Photos by Toby Robertson.
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From local dining, shopping and entertainment to the big issues affecting our community and the world around us, we deliver the full picture! The Altavista Journal Where you work, play & live! 3 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE • WWW.ALTAVISTAJOURNAL.COM • • 434-369-6688 IN COUNTY 1 YEAR...................................$66 E-EDITION.............................$34 OUT OF COUNTY 1 YEAR...................................$84 E-EDITION.............................$34
HORSE & HOUND FESTIVAL a delight for visitors
STORY & PHOTOS BY TOBY ROBERTSON
On July 8 Johnson’s Orchards located at 1218 Elmos Road in Bedford, held the 18th annual Horse & Hound wine festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A wine glass was included for tasting and guests enjoyed wine from some of the Virginia’s finest wineries including Peak of Otter from Bedford, AmRhein’s from Bent Mountain, VA, Homeplace from Chatham, VA, Virginia Mountain from Fincastle, VA, Rebec from Amherst, VA, Fables and Feathers from Goodview, VA. Sampling and purchasing were both available.
Live music was offered by the Coleman Brothers from Sedalia. Brothers Clif (drum/vocals) and David Coleman (bass/vocals) have been playing music together for over 30 years. Clif’s sons Al (guitar/vocals) eventually joined the family jams to form the power trio formerly known as Mountain Run Band. The Coleman Brothers Band is the next evolution of the family band with the addition of local musicians Vince Whorley (keyboard/vocals) and Doug Reid (percussion/guitar). The five-piece band pays tribute to some of their favorite artists of the 60’s & 70’s combining classic rock, blues, roots music, and improvisational jams that keep their audiences grooving.
Arts, crafts, food vendors, were available. Happy Bees Apiary
that sells all-natural, raw honey was one vendor with honey samples. John and his wife Chris have three apiaries in Virginia: two on Smith Mountain Lake and one Franklin County. They provide delicious, golden, local honey. They manage the bees and harvest all of the honey themselves. It’s all natural and raw, and brought to you as the bees intended!
Cuba’s Cup and Treats LLC has been in business for about six months offering ice cream treats that are safe and healthy for an animal’s digestive and immune system track. All of their products are licensed and registered with the state. Right now, they are mobile and can be found at events or at their website cubascupsandtreats.com.
Food trucks available included El Cabrito’s from Lynchburg. James Monaghan, owner of El Cabrito’s Mexican restaurant, has been in business on Timberlake Rd. in Lynchburg for over 40 years. He enjoys coming to the event to see friends and customers and make new friends. Other food vendors included Salty’s Lobster and Porter House BBQ. Also available was cotton candy, funnel cake, fried Oreos, lemonade.
Kids could enjoy magic tricks by Patrick Green from Mystic
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Shown on opposite page, view of festival. Above at top, (L) Dee Webb (R) Jeff Webb of Collinsville enjoying the wine tasting. Below this image, the Watts children enjoying Mystic Moments. Top right, (L) Jarrett Jackson and & Erica Jackson of Bedford have a good time at festival. Center at right, Rascal jumping hurdles. Bottom right, Ashlynn Driskill of Vinton playing in bubbles.
Moments. Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue brought Hawk a rescue horse and kids could dip hands in paint and put handprints on the horse to raise funds to feed the horse in their care. A bubble machine was the highlight for the kids to play in.
Kazim Klowns of Roanoke handed out free water to keep people cool while enjoying the event. Cintas of Bedford had a cooling station set up with cold towels and cold water. Everyone enjoyed a cold towel on the hot day.
The highly anticipated Muskrat Race was held. Dogs of all shapes and sizes swam across the pond in pursuit of and artificial lure. Brandy, a 12-year-old mountain Feist, won the contest. Brandy has participated in the race for seven years.
Jeff and Dee Webb of Collinsville were attending the festival for the first time and said it was good to get to taste wines from different wineries. Dee’s favorite was the sweet wine from the Peaks of Otter Winery.
Eric and Jarrett Jackson of Bedford were also enjoying the festival for the first time proclaimed they were enjoying the atmosphere, community, culture, and having fun. Angie Linton of Bedford has been attending for all 18 years and said, “It a great time to be with family and get to taste the wine.”
Carolyn Byrd has moved here from California and loved everything about the festival including hanging out with family, friends, and especially her grandchildren. “This was a good way to taste different wines from area wineries.”
Danny Johnston said they have had to miss one year due to COVID. He explained it is a great way to bring the community out. “Proceeds from the event are used to help out different groups
with 50 percent used locally and 50 percent donated to rescue. Hospice House in Bedford, New Prospect Church (also known as New Prospect Baptist Church) is a historic Baptist Church located at 4445 Sheep Creek Rd, in Bedford. In 2009 the church had three members, now it has approximately 50 members. Austin Hull is pastor. Renovations include installing restrooms and building a pavilion.
Rescues that are helped include Commonwealth Search and Rescue, Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue, Inc., Friends of Bedford County Animal Shelter, Angel Search and Rescue, and Botetourt Horsemen Association.
The present farm was established in 1919 by ancestors, Robert Lee and J. Elmo Johnson, and is a six-generation farm. Danny and Nancy Johnson purchased the farm where they have lived and worked since the 1960s. The farm has 23 acres of trees, mostly apple.
Johnson’s Orchard is a family owned and operated farm. The farm is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and at the foot of the Peaks of Otter. The store offers apples, wines, relishes, jellies and souvenirs.
A favorite at Johnson orchard is the 15-foot statue of Johnny Appleseed. There are many trails in the orchard for walking and hiking with breathtaking views from any point of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Animals on the farm include goats, sheep, peacock, chicken, rabbits, turkey, and pigs and others.
Field trips are available by calling the orchard. •
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Shown on opposite page, The Coleman Brothers Band. Above at top, the Johnson Orchard Store. Below this image, Brandy, a 12 year old mountain Feists, with owner wins Muskrat Race. Top right, Danny Johnson, owner of farm. Center at right, Chris & John Hibbs Beekeeper with Happy Bees Apiary from Huddleston. Bottom right, Giles from Friends of Bedford County Animal Shelter going through the tunnel.
CONCORD JULY 4TH PARADE
well attended on Independence Day
STORY & PHOTOS BY TOBY ROBERTSON
On a beautiful July 4th morning Concord Volunteer Fire Department and Concord Rescue Squad held their annual pancake breakfast and parade. The Concord Rescue Squad offered the pancake breakfast at the station from 7 - 10 a.m. before the parade. Pancakes, eggs, bacon or sausage, milk, and juice was available $5.00 a plate with proceeds going to the Concord Rescue Squad.
The Concord Ruritan Club used to do the breakfast and parade up until about seven years ago. Mike and Doris Humphrey kept asking the rescue squad to take it over. It ended up that Concord Rescue took the breakfast and the Concord Volunteer Fire Department took the parade.
This is one of the fundraisers for the fire department and rescue squad. It was the 61st year for the community to come together and
support the local rescue and fire departments of Concord.
Kim Gryder with the Concord Rescue Squad says, “It was a great turn out and the weather was great.”
Members of the squad helped cook pancakes, bacon, and sausage. Everyone attending said the food was DELICIOUS.
Registration for the parade opened at 8:30 a.m. and went to 10 a.m. Around 250 entries entered the 45-minute parade line up that started at Concord Elementary School and went down Village Highway to the fire department. People lined the sidewalks, driveways, and their yards. This event was enjoyed by all ages. Participants included fire trucks, rescue equipment, antique cars, antique tractors, race cars, 4 wheels, golf carts, jeeps, school clubs, ball teams, horses, floats, and businesses. At the end of the parade
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Above at top left, Steve Thomas R- Bill Pleasants Central VA Shrine Clowns. Above at top center, (L) Blair Hunter & (R) Mason Hunter.
Above at top right, Manda Witkowski and family. Bottom left, Lewis Armistead standing with his 1990 Mazda. Bottom center left, Charlie Maddox on Grandfather’s 1956 John Deere 420S tractor. Bottom center right, Richard Martin on his restored Farmall. Bottom right, Rusty Giles aka Dusty Rusty of Motley, VA.
was Uncle Sam. Candidates running for office in Campbell County had the opportunity to come out and introduce themselves; some had floats and cars were marked with sign and banners.
Charlie Maddox drove his grandfather’s (Gerald Inge) 1956 John Deere 420S tractor. Gerald purchased the tractor in 1971 from Fred Ansty and in 1991 he restored it. Charlie has been driving the tractor since he was age 3. It is a working farm tractor. Richard Martin was on a Farmall that he restored; Richard and his wife are former owners of Carson’s store.
Bill Pleasant (Screwball) and Steve Thomas (Sparky) with the Central Virginia Shriners did a great job entertaining the appreciative crowd of onlookers. They say, “We ride in the parade to celebrate America and to put smiles on the kids’ faces.” Mason and Blair Hunter add, “They like to celebrate the 4th because of the fireworks, ice cream, and getting to be in the parade.”
Lewis Armistead came with his all original 1990 Mazda, Lewis is a part of the community and has been doing the parade for 15 years because he likes to see his friend and make new ones.
Harry Franklin is a U.S. Army veteran who came out to support America. Abigail Brown, 4 years old of Lynchburg, said this was her first parade and she liked the clowns and the truck when they went “beep” and the candy.
An old story was told from when the parade was held years ago. They would have a greasy pole contest and who ever got to the top of the pole won a prize. Also, a greasy pig race was held and who ever caught the pig got to take the pig home.
Concord Fire Department started in 1961 and originally began in a private garage until the station was built in the 60’s. The old station is still there. The department started with one engine. They remodeled it in 2000’s and built the new addition three years ago.
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Above at top left, Antique Trucks. Above at top center, Kids waving as parade passes by. Above at top right, Abigail Brown enjoys her first parade. Bottom right, Uncle Sam (Thomas Evans) driven by Shelley Evans.
The department now has two engines, rescue engine, two tankers, two brush trucks, command vehicle, hazmat trailer, two swift water rescue boats, and two drones. The department covers approximately 750 square miles.
There are around 40 active members with several of the men being lifetime members. Richard Carson is the only charter member from 1961. CVFD auxiliary has 11 members.
Charlotte Bryant, President of the Auxiliary, wants to thank all the members and volunteers that helped make this community event a success. Over 250 meals were served after the parade at the CVFD station. Charlotte would like to extend a THANK YOU to Jennifer and David Moore for their continued support of the fire department. A special thanks goes to the Virginia State Police and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office for the traffic control on Village Highway during the parade.
Tess Thomas with the jeep club said that 38 jeeps participated in the parade. She is the secretary of the CVFD auxiliary and loves the event and has been coming for over 50 years. This event brings the tight knit community together to celebrate the birthday of the great nation.
The CVFD auxiliary has other fundraisers including a Brunswick stew and BINGO, but the parade is the largest. The auxiliary meets on the 1st Monday night at the station at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend. You do not have to have someone on the fire department to be a member of the auxiliary. •
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Shown at top, Concord Fire Truck. Below this, (L) Sharon Jambard & (R) Roget Jambard enjoying breakfast before parade with church family.
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KIDS FISHING/FUN DAY AT SPARROW ESTATES always a great day for families to enjoy time outdoors
STORY & PHOTOS BY TOBY ROBERTSON
The first annual Richard Lindsey Kids Fishing/Family Fun Day was held on June 10 at Sparrow Estates on Town Fork Rd in Evington. It was a beautiful day to be outside.
Richard Lindsey was a devoted father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather who loved to fish. This tournament was dedicated in his memory to carry on his legacy and give children the opportunity to do something fun outdoors, which is where he spent most of his time. The event was free to the public and donations were accepted, and half was donated to the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Lynchburg.
The fun day consisted of fishing in three different age groups
Shown
(3–5-year-old), (6-8-years old), and (9-12-years old). This event was a catch and release with a total of 45 fish caught. Fish were weighed and the kid with the largest fish in their age group won a prize. Live bait was sold on location.
Raffles was held throughout the day; the largest item was a kayak. Youngsters were able to enjoy a petting zoo, face painting, bounces house, corn hole, and a fire truck. Live music and food trucks were enjoyed by all.
Sparrow Estates thanks everyone who made this event a great one. Look forward to seeing you all again next year. •
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above at left, Holten Curtis of Concord with the 3.2lb fish he caught. Shown above at right, Derrick Meador 12 yrs old of Lynchburg holding a rabbitt. On opposite page, top row at left, Noah Hall 8 yrs old of Lynch Station holding his 3.5 lb cat fish. Top row at center, Anna Belle 6 yrs old of Evington coming down slide. Top row at right, Carolina Bartley 7 yrs old of Rustburg enjoying the petting zoo. Bottom row at left, Larry Johns Jr. 11 yrs old holding his fish. Bottom row at right, Liam Gonzalez 8 yrs old of Forest getting face painted.
CAMPBELL COUNTY | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 19 KDR CONVENIENCE 1205 Main St. • Altavista, VA (434)608-2255 GAS • DELI • BEVERAGES NowServingBeeronTap! ...and much more!
CHICK-FIL-A IN CAMPBELL COUNTY
alumni
STORY & PHOTOS BY TOBY ROBERTSON
Dwayne Marshall, owner/operator of Timberlake Road’s newest restaurant, is often referred to by many names –business owner, husband, father, umpire, coach, motivational speaker, and the one he cherishes the most –Poppy. Marshall, a 1981 graduate of AHS, opened the doors of his new Chick-fil-A restaurant in Campbell County on June 1 to the delight of many happy guests.
“We’ve been trying for about five years to get into Campbell County,” states Marshall. “It’s a place our guests can now call home,” he further comments.
The journey into restaurant ownership began nearly 20 years ago in 2004 for Marshall and his family as they began operating the Chick-fil-A location inside the River Ridge Mall Food Court. In 2008,
he relinquished that location in order to take over ownership of the Drive-Thru Only location adjacent to the mall. He remained in that location until January 2021 when he and his team took the helm of the newly built Candler’s Crossing location near Hobby Lobby on an interim basis until his new restaurant on Timberlake Road was ready to open.
Two nights before opening their new restaurant to the public, Marshall held a ribbon cutting ceremony whereby he wanted his six grandchildren to cut the ribbon. “Anyone with grandkids knows what a joy it is to be a grandparent, and therefore I wanted my six grandkids to be present as one to cut the ribbon.”
He also held a dedication dinner that same night at which he
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opened by AHS
Shown above, the New Chick-fil-A at Timberlake.
gave recounts to his high school and college age team members of the times of being an Altavista High School student in1981 and the changes of today. “Most kids today have what they know as a ‘gas card,’ but in 1981 we simply had an ‘ash tray’ in our cars. Not for cigarette butts, but instead for spare change. On Saturday nights we would stop at the Minute Market and dig through our ash tray and collect nickels and dimes and proceed inside to pay for $3 gas with that spare change and then watch as our gas hands on the dashboard would go from the ‘E’to just above a quarter of a tank,” Marshall laughs. “From that point we would then drive from one end of town to the other end of town, turn around, and go back and forth while stopping occasionally at the Dairy Freeze to just ‘sit on the wall’ for a while,” he jokes. “Those were the good ol’ days, and those of us with the $3 in nickels, a quarter tank of gas, and an 8-track tape player were ‘it’ on Saturday nights,” he says with a grin.
Each week Marshall can be found inside his restaurant doing his favorite thing –walking the dining room and pulling up a chair to talk to his guests. “It’s great to be able to sit down for a chat with Altavista folks on a regular basis like Jabo Cox and his wife each week, and to catch up with Donnie and Nancy Wilkerson on their visits,” he says. Marshall and his team have worked hard to create the culture of “home”and “family” with their method of tableside ordering, which
is mostly unheard of in the quick-service restaurant industry.
“In high school, I worked for my uncle, Pat deBernard, serving hot dogs and cheeseburgers at the Village Pool Room and he taught me that presentation is everything and if you make every person feel at home they’d keep coming back,” he explains.
Even with a seating capacity in the dining room of nearly 130 persons, it’s not uncommon to see a “full house” on any given lunch or dinner hour. His restaurant is equipped with two drive thru lanes, curbside ordering with the app, catering, as well as third party delivery.
Marshall is also very much involved in the community, serving as league president for Timberlake Dixie Youth, as well as the District 6 Director of Umpires, all the while coaching his grandkids in baseball and wrestling. “There’s a lot on my plate on any given day, but the best joy in life is to be called ‘Poppy’,“ Marshall says.
More information on their products and other amenities can be found at their website of www.chicken4u2.comorby visiting them at their location at 21123 Timberlake Road. And, if you happen to be recognized by Marshall as an Altavista person, don’t be surprised if he pulls up a chair and has a conversation about the “good ol’ days in a great little town.” •
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Shown above at top left, Customers orders being taken at counter. Shown above at bottom left, Family & Friends meet at Chick-fil-A for Bible Study. Shown above at right, Dwayne Marshall Owner and Operator.
SPAIN
Brookville graduate looks back with fondness & respect
STORY BY TOBY ROBERTSON
Matthew R. Clark is the son of Milton Clark of Lynchburg and the late Janet Clark. He was born and raised in Campbell County and is a 1996 graduate of Brookville High School in Lynchburg.
Clark joined the United States Navy in 1996 after graduation. Like most teenagers he did not know what he wanted to do, so he enlisted in the Navy. He had two older brothers, Charlie and Chris, who were on active duty in the Marines, and they provided a lot of guidance and mentorship for his decision.
His initial plan like most young sailors was to complete four years enlistment, get out, and start his life in the private sector. His first duty station was on an aircraft carrier home ported just outside of Seattle, WA. He completed two deployments and visited six countries.
When coming back to Lynchburg to visit family and friends, he had a much different perspective on the world. He decided to reenlist for another four years, then he was getting out, then another four, and before he knew it, he was Chief Petty Officer (E7) with ten years in and enjoying the job he was doing and the impact he was having on those he was interacting with. Before he knew it, he had more than 20 years.
Clark’s accomplishments have been finding the love of his
life, getting married, and together having two great kids. He has earned two degrees while continuously serving which helped him earn a commission under the limited duty officer program.
At work, he has been part of some amazing things. He has assisted in the effort to locate a downed aircraft in the Pacific Ocean, helped discourage piracy in the Indian Ocean, and assisted in the delivery of food and water to areas of world stuck by both natural and man-made disasters.
He has worked with NATO and partner nations to build schools and hospitals in some of the most remote parts of the world and assisted both U.S. forces and our allies to locate and recover downed aircraft in the North and Mediterranean Seas. Most recently he spent a month leading a joint force processing evacuating families from Afghanistan, being the face of our Nation and the first person they came in contact with in their most troubled times. That is something he will carry with him forever.
During COVID-19, Clark was serving in Spain. COVID-19 hit Spain hard, and the country took it very seriously. For the first few weeks everything was closed. Once everyone had the mandatory masks, grocery stores would open to 10 to 15 people at a time. When entering you were handed disposable gloves and had your
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temperature checked before being allowed to proceed down any aisles. After you completed your shopping, you returned directly to your home.
Police and other government officials were patrolling the street to ensure only essential movement were taking place. After a month, families were allowed to be outside their residents to walk their dogs; his poor dog (Roscoe) was so tired of walks. Spain is very much a family-first country and during the pandemic everyone was a family. At 7:30 p.m. every day, the entire country took to their rooftops and windows to applaud and cheer for the first responders and to encourage each other that this will pass and everyone will make it through. It was an amazing experience each and every day.
Being in the military during the pandemic, the military took the virus seriously as well as they came up with new ways to work remotely, planning meetings with allied countries that took place virtually. They participated in exercises remotely where possible. Through the use of the technology, they were able to still be a participating force and continuously build new relationships with nations while maintaining long term commitments to allies.
“Spain was a wonderful place to live; of all the areas my family
and I have called home, Spain is at the top. The location provided easy access to the rest of Europe and Northern Africa. We were able to visit Italy, France, Belgum, Germany, and all the places that are on the top of everyone’s list. Living there for four years allowed us the opportunity to visit places that may not be on anyone’s list, but should be,” Clark explains. “The one thing that set Spain apart from the rest of Europe was the value put on family. When my wife and I went out to a restaurant, the staff would ask where our children were. When you are invited to a social event at someone’s house it is expected that your family will attend as well. If you are in the hospital for an extended period, your family is the one who tend to your needs not the hospital staff. Family is the most important thing in the lives of the typical Spanish person; it was refreshing to see. Spain has also made renewable energies a priority; there are solar fields and windmills everywhere, oh and traffic circles! Traffic circles everywhere, once you get the hang of them, they’re great! Can you imagine how much time you’ll save in your day not sitting at a red light? I have thoroughly enjoyed my four-year enlistment that has somehow turned into a 26-year career. Given the chance, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
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Matthew Clark’s rank is LCDR/04. •
Matthew Clark (Military). Photo by Toby Robertson
SERENITY AT SENECA LAKE VENUE
perfect setting for starry-eyed brides & grooms
STORY BY ALICE PRIVAL
Entering the lush fields surrounding Seneca Lake and leading up to the place where couples will tie the knot is the awe-inspiring walls of Knotty Pine (each plank of which was hand stained by Rochelle Ackerman with love in each stroke). Ackerman is the owner and creator of Seneca Lake Venue.
She loves each wedding and shares the heart of the happy couple, hoping that they will return for their first baby shower, their birthdays, graduation, and grace the place with another generation’s wedding!
Ackerman dreams with her clients, plans with them, cares about each detail as if it were her own. Seneca Lake Venue becomes part of her clients’ legacy, an extension of home.
Five years ago Seneca Lake was only a dream, a concept.
Ackerman reflects proudly, “My son Dustin designed this building. He is a natural architect. He can design anything!”
The building began construction in March of 2021 and opened
August 20, 2022; by fall there had been nine weddings!
Fast forward to this spring - there have been five weddings and reservations filling up! Ackerman’s eyes light up as she sweeps her arm across the outdoor expanse showing off the two acre lake and the spectacular views that await future clients who have a choice of outdoor weddings in the warm weather and indoor weddings beneath the soaring ceilings, warmed by a spectacular stone fireplace.
For the brides preparing for their entrance into marriage, a waiting room with everything a bride needs to prepare for her long-awaited day gives her the privacy, preparation, and peace of mind to breathe before making her entrance. Grooms are given their space with comfy chairs and a TV to calm their nerves before embarking on their greatest adventure!
Ackerman provides many options in the wedding plans. Clients can either request an all inclusive plan that provides the catering,
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the bakery, decor, flowers, and DJ’s, or the luxury barn can be rented for the occasion and a preferred list of venues will be provided to assist clients in their independent decision making.
Seneca Lake Venue is easy to find right off Gladys Road where a large stone marks the place, Seneca Lake. A stone that Ackerman’s son Dustin saw in the creek on the property when he first purchased it 12 years ago. It was Dustin’s idea to make that stone the sign for Seneca Lake Venue. Then man by man, tractor by tractor, managed to move that beloved stone to the perfect spot, just before the entrance.
You see the words painted on Dustin’s treasure in the creek - Seneca Lake. Turning left a few yards from the stone is the graveled road leading to the awaited wedding, your wedding!
As you approach the barn to the right is an ample parking lot where your friends and family will park and be shuttled a short distance to the barn. Ackerman leaves no stone unturned in preparing for your comfort and convenience. She states, “It has been heartwarming to hear the appreciation from parents of the bride and groom expressing their thanks for making such beautiful memories for their young adult children.”
The future plans take Ackerman’s breath away as she describes the vision of farm to table dinners catered with the meats and
Shown on opposite page, Rochelle Ackerman, owner and creator of Seneca Lake Venue. Shown above, full exterior view of the Seneca Lake venue. Shown above at right, Seneca Lake features changing rooms which also work as a perfect backdrop for wedding dress photos.
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vegetables from local farms coming together to provide feasts for the community right here under the stars, sprawling picnics on the grass or at the long tables served family style, listening to a live band.
Ackerman affirms her mission as “Sharing the beauty of this farm. Bringing together the community, providing reasons to get together.”
In addition to weddings Seneca Lake Venue offers:
• Family Reunions
• Graduation Parties
• Baby Showers
• Retirement Parties
• Birthday Parties
• High School Proms
*Any event you can imagine can be custom created by Rochelle Ackerman whose heart and soul are in your best interest, and whose 20 years of business experience working with the people in Virginia gives her the precise abilities you need to handle every detail of your event. •
Seneca Lake Venue
3453 Gladys Road Gladys, VA
(434) 610-3639
www.senecalakevenue.com
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Full interior view of the Seneca Lake venue.
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BEAT THE HEAT
with Geothermal Heating & Cooling
STORY BY ALICE PRIVAL
Scott Horseman Geothermal Heating and Cooling in Gladys heats with dirt, not oil. It’s natural! Geothermal Energy provides a renewable resource all day, every day, through every season, for years and years. It is the most energy-efficient way to make sure your home is comfortable no matter what the weather outside. Geothermal is four times more efficient than HVAC systems and costs less to operate. Geothermal works because the ground beneath our feet is warmer than the outside air in the winter and cooler in the summer.
There are two pieces to the geothermal system. The inside unit known as the heat pump and the ground loop which are the underground pipes which connect to the heat pump. In the winter the underground pipes, called a ground loop circulate water that absorbs the heat from the earth and returns it to the indoor heat pump. The heat pump extracts the heat from the liquid and then distributes it throughout your home as warm air.
With the heat removed, the water is re-circulated to collect more heat from the ground. In the summer the indoor heat pump takes the hot air from your home and removes the heat. This leaves behind cool air to be distributed through your vents as air conditioning. The removed heat from the air is rejected into the earth through the ground loop.
In many European countries geothermal is the standard. In Sweden
and Switzerland more than 75% of new homes have geothermal. This is not a new technology. The EPA has acknowledged geothermal systems as the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost effective systems available. They come in all sizes to fit the available space in the house, basements, or even a shorter size is made for a crawl space.
Also available are radiant floors -- luxury to your feet!
Scott Horseman was a firefighter with 36 hours on duty and 48 hours off. Horseman left the fire department in 1991 to have more regular hours with his family. He went to school for HVAC systems training and then took a job working for a heating and air company in Lynchburg.
In 1993, ice storms caused power outages for a week generating a $300 dollar electric bill for one month. Horseman recalls, “Either I was asleep in heating and cooling class or there was something they didn’t tell me. It was close to the same time that Virginia Power had two guys from Florida come to the headquarters in South Boston to give a seminar on house and duct leakage that I attended. I realized that is where a lot of high-energy bills came from. Also, 1993 was the year I installed my first geothermal heat pump. In 1994 I had an offer to attend a training program from Virginia who told me about a class that cost $1,500 dollars, not in my budget. They offered to pay $1,000 if I could come up with $500.”
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Shown above at left, Scott Horseman truly found his calling in life when he discovered the benefits of geothermal. At right, Office Manager Moran Bomar is happy to provide all the information you need about geothermal.
That class changed Horseman’s life! It was a revelation to realize what he needed to do. This was a two-week training in Staunton. “My Virginia Power rep said they would pay $1,000 of the $1,500 charge. Somehow I managed to go and learned all about duct testing and sealing ducts, along with house testing for air leakage. To prove all I had been taught worked, I bought a blower door (a low energy home kit), and tested my own house and ductwork. The results were shocking to me. I sealed my house and duct system. Our house was built before I was involved in HVAC so I did not install the ducts. To verify that the improvements worked, my wife and I read our meters twice a day and I went to the Lynchburg Airport every month for two years to get the weather data (of course no internet back then).
I was looking for two identical weather months, one before the improvements and one after. I finally found it and saw a savings of $100 dollars in one month. In 1995, 50 HVAC contractors including myself in the Lynchburg area were part of a program with AEP called Comfort Assured Dealers. A WaterFurnace geothermal rep called the Lynchburg office and spoke with the program director asking about an individual in the program who would be interested in talking to him about geothermal. The director gave him one name - mine. That same day, a customer from Altavista called about installing two geothermals in his new house. I figured it was meant to be.” Horseman had to sign a contract that he would install geothermal heat pumps to their standards and in turn the company would do the marketing for him.
Using geothermal, savings on the low end is 30 to 40% and on
the high end, 70 to 80%. Horseman looks back on the first time he ever heard of geothermal in the early 90’s in an article he read.
Horseman smiles as he remembers, “I tossed it aside and told my wife Vicki, I’d never get that!”
Well, that prophecy not only didn’t come true, instead it was the catalyst for future success! Horseman enthusiastically explains, “When I install geothermal I’m filling a need for someone. The driving focus are operating costs, longevity, lower maintenance cost, and an asset for some people is having no outside unit.”
Horseman tells his potential customers, “First take care of insulation and then come back and order your geothermal system.”
That is exactly what customers are doing every day and when they do they will be greeted by the highly efficient and confident Office Manager Morgan Bomar who has knowledge of all facets of the business. Bomar states, “I have a system for everything! Tell me I can’t, and I will!”
Horseman’s wife Vicki, soft spoken and demure, will show you the equipment on display and then direct you to Bomar.
When you walk in the office you can be certain your questions will be answered, and your needs will be met.
The success of Horseman’s business is that it works!
Scott Horseman Heating & Air 8580 Brookneal Hwy. Gladys, VA (434) 283-5501
Our goal is to ensure that our customers receive the highest economical performance and comfort possible from their heating and air conditioning system.
You can depend on Scott Horseman Heating & Air Conditioning to provide you with all of this, including:
• Planning Assistance
• Complete Comfort System Installation
• Routine Service and Maintenance
• Emergency Repair
• Energy Saving Advice and Consultation
CAMPBELL COUNTY | DISCOVER MAGAZINE | 29
(434) 283-5501 getgeothermal.net 8580 Brookneal Hwy • Gladys, VA
Scott Horseman Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. was established in 1989. Our company specializes in geothermal heat pump and radiant floor systems. We also install air-to-air heat pumps, furnaces, air conditioners, and boiler systems.
LLC E NGLISH’SLLC E NGLISH’SLLC The CompleTe home CenTer Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Saturday 8am-1pm 1522 Main Street Altavista 434-369-4771 www.Englishsllc.com NGLISH’SLLC RENTAL E nglish’s 434-369-4771 1522 Main St. Altavista, VA 1426 Wilborn Ave | South Boston, VA 24592 434-404-3527 |www.terryofsouthboston.com Huge vehicle inventory | Pre-owned models Flexible financing options | Friendly, no-hassle service YOU’LL LOVE OUR CARS!
Agnes Dowdy & Associates is a full service real estate firm. We are qualified to handle all types of properties and are knowledgeable in the many different types of financing available. We have offered professional services in this area since 1972 and look forward to continuing to be an active part of the Altavista community. We market residential, lake, commercial and investment properties as well as farms and new construction. We turn houses into homes and dreams into realities!
Email: ADowdyRE@aol.com www.AgnesDowdyRE.com
Agnes D. Anderson, Principal Broker/Owner, William P. Anderson, Associate Broker Cindi Parsons, Associate Broker & Mark Dowdy, Sales Associate
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