NELSON NelsonCountyLife.com
C O U N T Y
™
L I F E
June 2008 No. 39 PRICELESS! (FREE)
the
railroad men pg. 12
GRAPE EXPECTATIONS • MYRTLE’S WISH • SHIPMAN TWISTER • PAT’S PAINTINGS PG. 20 PG. 28 PG. 30 PG. 46
NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
Conte Alain SanGiorgio Home office: 434-361-1121 Cell: 434-996-4668
Francesca SanGiorgio Home office: 434-361-1121 Cell: 434-906-0934
Specializing in Nelson County, Amherst County, Wintergreen, Stoney Creek, Charlottesville, and International Properties! 202 Graywinds of Edgewood • Nellysford, VA
NEW LISTING
Charming 2 bedroom, 2 bath home with incredible views in a quiet cul de sac sitting on 2+ acres, all cedar siding, move-in condition. Included is a 60 x 50 outbuilding, perfect for a car collection, workshop, or even as a barn. Great location, close to Wintergreen, would make a perfect getaway or primary residence. A must see at $329,900.
It's a Buyer's Market! • Representing Buyers & Sellers Crozet, VA R LLE SE ED T A TIV MO
71 Acres • Amherst E RS HO
RM FA
Afton, VA
Nellysford, VA T ON FR R E RIV
L CIA ER M M CO
Afton, VA
Crabtree Falls, Tyro T'L NA
ST RE FO
$254,500. MLS# 450950.
$895,000. MLS# 447266.
$499,000. MLS# 451037.
$699,000. MLS# 450950.
$545,000. MLS# 448502.
$277,000. MLS# 443783.
Wintergreen, VA
Wintergreen, VA
Wintergreen, VA
Wintergreen, VA
Nellysford, VA
Roseland, VA
D CE DU RE
T LO
EW E-N LIK
O ND CO
MS OO R ED 5B
S RE AC 1 5
8+
S RE AC
$309,900. MLS# 447376.
$149,900. MLS# 443050.
$225,000. MLS# 448958.
$469,000. MLS# 447681.
$749,999. MLS# 451244.
$240,000. MLS# 451035.
Arrington, VA
Roseland, VA
Stoney Creek
Nellysford, VA
Wintergreen, VA
Wintergreen, VA
S RE AC
AL NT RE
AL NT RE
+ 12
S RE AC
$125,000. MLS# 448510.
+ 27
S IEW S, V E R AC
$489,000. MLS# 449310.
NT RO RF TE A W
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$275,000. MLS# 451043.
6+
$165,000. MLS# 448196.
$1200/mo. MLS# 451810.
$700/mo or $1200/mo. MLS# 450936.
27 Chapel Hollow Road • Afton, VA 22920 • 434-361-0230 www.FondlyFrancesca.com • www.FourSeasonsRealty.biz
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE
what's your vision?
When you choose TIMBERPEG your vision is our goal. From blueprint to move in, we are with you every step of the way.
“Glenn Robertson worked really hard to make sure he understood our vision … so it would become his.”
Authorized Independent Representatives
434-971-7026
- John and Jeannine Regan Esmont, Virginia
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Experience the “Elite Difference” … Marketing of Your Home or Property Where the Buyers Are Charlottesville, Richmond and Washington, DC markets.
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NELSON C O U N T Y
L I F E
Editors & Publishers Yvette Stafford, Tommy Stafford info@nelsoncountylife.com Contributors Elizabeth Ferrall elizabeth@nelsoncountylife.com Photography Diana Garland diana@nelsoncountylife.com
20 Lakeview Court in Stoney Creek 3,172 Square Feet, 4 Bedrooms (2 Master Suites), 4 Full Baths, Hardwood & Ceramic Tile Flr, Custom Cabinets, Granite, Cathedral Ceilings, Family Room, Recreation Room plus many more Custom Features! Private View on Hole #3 of Tuckahoe Course! Awesome Value - $599,500 www.20LakeviewCourt.com
Lot 2 Hidden Springs Lane in Stoney Creek Private & wooded 1.95 acre lot with WPI rights! Plenty of privacy & is conveniently located close to Lake Monocan, Pool, Tennis, Golf & lots of walking/hiking trails! Great Value for only $140,000!
Bruce K. Flight Broker, ABR, GRI, CRS 434.327.1299 Bruce.Flight@FlightHomes.com Local Mailing Address 20 Lakeview Court Wintergreen, Virginia 22958 Firm Office 12000 Wyndham Lake Drive, Suite B Glen Allen, Virginia 23059
www.Elite-Realtors.net “Our Family Serving Your Family’s Real Estate Needs”
NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
Christina Kline christina@nelsoncountylife.com Paul Purpura paul@nelsoncountylife.com Office: The Afton Group, LLC 6222 Rockfish Valley Hwy Afton, Virginia 22920 434.361.0104 Have a story idea? Email us at info@nelsoncountylife.com Nelson County Life magazine 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 2008. All rights reserved. Subscriptions to Nelson County Life are available by mail at the annual rate of $28. Advertsiing deadlines are the 15th of every publishing month. For advertising information, download our ratecard at NelsonCountyLife.com or contact us at info@nelsoncountylife.com. Views reflected by our advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or the company. Nelson County 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.
june2008 12
railroad men Wait until you hear about the breakfast these men ate.
20
EF0 An EF0 tornado isn’t a biggie but it’s enough to tear the roof off a house in Shipman. For your daily mountain and valley forecast, visit us online. NelsonCountylife.com Keyword: weather
grape vine
This is what petit manseng looks like before it’s in a bottle.
30
storm in shipman Tornado? Closet!
inside
basic necessities ........................... 9 cover story ................................. 12 this old house ............................ 16 this new house ........................... 16 at home with marlo ................... 27 almost home .............................. 32 sam’s garden .............................. 39 ask the dr. ..................................... 40 the perfect fit ............................. 40 leisure guide .............................. 42 datebook ................................... 44
on the cover
Pictured: Gladstone Station Photographer: Yvette Stafford Now boarded up, the Gladstone Depot was the hub of activity in the small James River town. Story on page 12.
know your nelson.
from thepublishers It’s probably because we’re preggers but it seems as if television is full of shows about babies and people having babies. Jon & Kate + 8, for instance. Not that we’re opposed to having eight children but having them all at once is the scary part. We may not celebrate Hanukkah but we now understand why it’s nice to spread out the goodies over eight nights. With Christmas, all you’re left with is a sea of wrapping paper on the floor and a trip to the store to buy the D-cell batteries Santa forgot to bring you. Deliver Me is another one. The show is about three super trendy female obgyns running a practice in super trendy El-Lay. One of them, divorced and with a child, gets her ex-husband to freeze her eggs for her. Just. In. Case. On the silver screen, a trilogy of pregnancy-themed movies has emerged: Knocked Up (tacky), Baby Mama (haven’t seen it yet) and Juno (brilliant!). Tommy was out of town when I put Juno in the DVD player. It was the night Nelson County was getting hit by storms and since Jerky has never gotten over the Tennessee Tornado Event, I let him pile up on the bed with me. One of my favorite lines: “What is it with you rich people and your herb-infused juices?”
To capitalize on this pregnancy trend, I suggest a reality show to end all reality shows: a commercial-free hour based on the nursery rhyme “There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe.” We could keep the show commercial free by selling it to a single shoe sponsor. Let Nike, Keen or Adidas build that boot. Casting the old woman would be easy. Just take a television mom from the 1980’s – Meredith Baxter-Birney and Valerie Harper must be getting pretty pruny these days – and pair them with kids who win a nationwide casting call. “Dear Producer, My brother and I have always wanted to live in a shoe ...” The show would be a ratings bonanza. Honest to blog. Enjoy! Yvette and Tommy Stafford
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE
winetime
PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD
What better way to celebrate Cardinal Point Winery’s 5th anniversary than by lounging on the lawn with a bottle of wine, or two? Guests enjoyed music by the Cashmere Jungle Lords.
To celebrate its 15th year in business, Wintergreen Winery broke out the tent for local blues rock band South 29. Guests enjoyed new releases of Three Ridges Red and Mill Hill Apple Wine.
AMBROSIA
BAKERY & DELI
Now Open – Wednesday thru Sunday 8:00am – 5:00pm Closed Monday & Tuesday 434-361-9661
Purchase a Breakfast Sandwich & Coffee and receive a
FREE PASTRY (Valued up to $2.50) Expires June 30, 2008
We take Orders for your Life’s Special Events Located between the Blue Ridge Pig & Valleymont Grocery
NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
nightout
PHOTOGRAPHY by TOMMY STAFFORD
Soft Pretzel w/ Blue Mountain Ale Mustard Meat, Fruit & Cheese Plates Tomato & Mozzarella Salad Avocado Sandwich Marinated Portabello Sandwich Kiteʟs Country Ham Sandwich Local Bratwurst Fresh Strawberry Crumble Specials Daily • Menu Changes Seasonally
Guests at this year’s The Magic of Music Ball at Veritas Vineyard & Winery dined and danced the night away to raise money for Wintergreen Performing Arts. As for Larry Alan Smith wearing a flag around his waist, well, you had to be there.
Always 6 Great Beers on Draft On Tap In June Blue Mountain Lager Full Nelson Kolsch Nitro Porter RockďŹ sh Wheat (Limited Release) Dark Hollow 9519 Critzers Shop Rd. (Rt. 151) 540-456-8020 • www.bluemountainbrewery.com
fresh from the farm.
fresh to you.
Oyster Mushrooms Local Produce Plants Trees Shrubs
25% off Annuals with this ad. Promo ends June 30, 2008.
HOURS Tu-Sa 9 to 6 • Su 10 to 4 9264 Critzer Shop Road (SR 151) Afton, VA 22920 • (540) 456-7100
afton mountain Farm Market Orchard Greenhouse
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JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE
D’Ambola’s
snapshots
R E S TA U R A N T
Romantic Italian Restaurant. Full bar with traditional cocktails, imported and domestic wines and beers. Al fresco dining on deck.
COUPON FOR
$5.00 OFF WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY DINNER ONLY EXPIRES JUNE 30, 2008 This $5.00 coupon may only be applied to a DINNER TICKET for two or more dinner entrées that are not SPECIAL PRICE ENTREES.
Specializing in fine housemade sauces and Italian regional delights. Seafood is a specialty, but that doesn’t mean pasta, beef, chicken, or veal is overlooked. Dinner served Tuesday – Sunday 9278 Rockfish Valley Hwy. Afton, VA 22920 Call 540-456-4556 or Find menu and directions on WEB.
It may not be applied with other promotions or coupons. It may not be applied to appetizers, deserts or alcoholic beverages. COUPON FROM NELSON COUNTY LIFE MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE SERVER
The trick to successful shopping at the Pre-Mother’s Day Plant Sale at the Rockfish Valley Park is to get there early, which this lucky lady did.
Merideth Young of Black Rock Gallery welcomes back Wintergreen Police officer Alonzo Taylor after serving two years in Iraq. He’s looking forward to working in his garden and canning the applesauce and beans! CHRISTINA KLINE
www.dambolas.com
TOMMY STAFFORD
DINNER TICKET OF TWO (2) OR MORE ENTRÉES
MON-FRI 10-6, SAT 9-5, SUN 12-5 71 River Road Rts 29+6
Shoppers scooped up deals at th Rockfish Valley Community Center Spring Consignment Sale. Junior Stafford – currently a half Nelson – scored a Boppy pillow!
434-263-8786
YVETTE STAFFORD
…summer perennials for the border, floating lettuce for the pond, pots of veggie plants and baskets of fresh produce… and did we mention chocolate…?
Keep Your Teeth Healthy For Your Entire Life. Drs. Rice and Associates and their expert staff take time to listen and understand your dental needs and wants. Each doctor has more than 20 years experience and have helped thousands of people over the years, by eliminating tooth pain, restoring broken or decayed teeth and creating beautiful, healthy smiles.
Jim Rice DDS • Jennifer Rice DDS Sherman Smock DDS (Specialist in Periodontics)
NELLYSFORD 2905 Rockfish Valley Hwy 434.361.2442
NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
New Location in CROZET 325 Four Leaf Lane, Suite 10 434.823.2290
Sedation Dentistry • Complete, Modern Dentistry for Adults, Teens and Children • Dental Cleanings, all types • White Fillings • Caps (Crowns), Bridges, Veneers • Root Canals • Implants • 1 Hour Bleaching
basicnecessities By Kay Pfaltz kpfaltz@mbc.edu www.basicnecessities.com Château Musar, Part II This month I continue the story of Serge Hochar of Château Musar, and with the following passage hope to show that Hochar is as much a philosopher as he is a winemaker. “What you taste [when you drink his wine],” Serge says, “is truth. My religion is wine. It is a gift which is a miracle of life. I am a Maronite Christian, but it is not there that the core of my humanity lies. It lies in accepting the other, in tolerance, which is the only lesson for humanity and which is one of the chief lesson that wine can teach.” How, you might ask, can a wine teach tolerance? And Serge replies, “When you understand that all the flavors and smells and memories you have experienced over the last hours [letting the wine breathe and sipping it as it changes] have come from the same wine, then you will learn not to condemn any wine until you have stayed with it through all its stages. When you understand that, then you can learn not to condemn any person until you have watched him through many stages, too. You even can learn
to tolerate life through all its stages, never to make a complete judgment, always to know that there is more to be revealed. This is how taste can enhance your moral perceptions.” Now perhaps you too are beginning to love this wine and the man who creates it. When tasting a great wine, he speaks of something that is beyond taste, by which he means that the memories and associations that a wine invokes are as or more important than the simply physical sensations. Great wines are complex and induce thinking, ideas, inspiration, or as he calls it, “Taste beyond taste.” Perhaps Shakespeare was referring to the same idea when he said, “thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls.” Serge Hochar produces red, white, rosé as well as Arak, Lebanon’s national beverage (an anise-based spirit, like France’s Pastis or Greece’s Ouzo.) Château Musar is the most noble as well as most pricy of his wines, but there is also Hochar, a younger wine than Musar, and Rubis, once my wine of choice in Paris, but now only available on the Lebanese market. Château Musar’s white wines are dry and made from a blend of Obeideh and Merwah which are na-
tive to the Bekaa Valley and most likely the ancestors of Chardonnay and Semillion respectively. The color is golden so tends to give the impression of a sweet white, an impression furthered by Serge’s custom of serving his whites unchilled and at the end of the meal. Try these whites the way he recommends—they are unlike any wine you’ve likely had before. The reds are stunning and completely different from year to year. I’ve sampled Château Musar from five different decades and have favorites in all, with ’85, ’86 and ’88 holding special memories. The wines can taste of fruit or spice or meat or perhaps the earth and the land of Lebanon herself. When you sip them, do so slowly, letting them change and evolve in the glass, and Serge will be pleased you’ve had a conversation with his wine. And when you do, close your eyes and see if you taste truth. Château Musar is available at Basic Necessities.
Kay Pfaltz is co-owner of Basic Necessities in Nellysford.
Café Wine and Cheese Shop 2226 Rockfish Valley Highway Nellysford, Virginia ph: 434.361.1766 www.basicnecessities.us A taste of Europe in the Blue Ridge!
Now featuring guest chef Shawn Goodwin on Saturday nights! Dinner served Wed. through Sat. Lunch served Tue. through Sat. Brunch on Sunday Hours: Tuesday 10am-6pm Wednesday & Thursday 10am-8pm Friday-Saturday 10am-10pm Reservations advised for weekend dinners. Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE
TOMMY STAFFORD
snapshots
Out goes the blood, in goes the canned beverage. Five Star Health & Fitness owner George Luzaich purged some precious plasma for Virginia Blood Services (above). Donors who gave blood at the gym’s location received a free group personal training session. New Paintings by: Nancy Bass Gray S. Dodson David Eakins Janet Grahme Christine Rooney Junko Ono Rothwell Located one mile south of Nellysford, Virginia on Route 151 in the Old Wintergreen Country Store. Open Wednesday – Sunday 11a-5p ph: 434.361.1859 • email: sprucecreekgallery@gmail.com www.SpruceCreekGallery.com
Direct From A Local Virginia Farm
Beef, Goats, Lamb, & Eggs We are now producing certified organic free-range brown eggs, available at local farmers’ markets and Whole Foods. Our USDA inspected all natural meat is born and raised on our farm, hormone free, grass and grain fed. Retail cuts, halves and wholes available. Black Eagle Farm Piney River, VA 22964 434-277-8497 www.blackeaglefarm.com
YVETTE STAFFORD
Nelson County • Since 1979
Money raised from the 4th Annual Opportunity Ball was awarded to local organizations as part of the Nelson County Community Fund’s ongoing efforts to help fellow Nelsonians (above). Congratulations to the recipients!
BLUE MOON ANTIQUE MALL & BOOKSTORE
"The Moon" is full of unusual treasures and the best of the ABC's ... antiques, books and collectibles! 8230 Thomas Nelson Highway Lovingston
434•263•8890
Monday – Saturday 11:00 am – 5 pm – Sunday 12-5 pm 1/2 mile S. of Lovingston light on US 29
10 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
DAVID FERRALL
Celebrate Summer!
This just in ... Remember the North Branch School project truck that was vandalized and subsequently junked? North Branch parent David Ferrall won the Batesville Day Ugly Truck Raffle. It will be used in next year’s auto elective class at North Branch and then auctioned off at Band Fair 7, the school’s annual fundraiser.
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coverstory
ghosts of gladstone STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD
In its day, Gladstone was a bustling James River railroad town complete with general stores, families and their bread winners. Willie Cyrus was one of those men. continued on page 14
VERITAS VINEYARDS & WINERY
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June 14th: King Cadillac, 50’s Rockabilly July 12th Abbey Road, Beatles Cover Band August 9th: Kings of Swing, Swing and Dance Favorites September 13th: Jackass Flats, Toe-Tapping Bluegrass
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Enjoy live music, wine, and the big outdoors. Bring your family, friends, blankets lawnchairs and dancing shoes. 7-11 p.m. Admission $10.00, Either bring a picnic or purchase dinner by reservation for $15.00 www.veritas wines.com or 540-456-8000 ext 108
12 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
Your dream home is Just around the Bend.
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Willie Cyrus nearly quit on his first day on the job when a wreck in Buckingham County killed a man. He stayed on, retiring in 1995 after 40 years on the tracks.
continued from page 12
STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD
“A breakfast like that made you want to fight your grandma. When it got through you, you felt so good!” Though it’s been years since Willie ate such a breakfast, he remembers it clearly. Working his way up from fireman to brakeman to conductor for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, there were days he and the guys would have to stay the night in Durham. Before the train would head back to Virginia, a breakman would fix breakfast. “He would take a 2-and-a-half inch by 12 inch frying pan, cut up potatoes and onion, salt and pepper, water and cook them ‘til the potatoes and onions got done. Then he would put a big can of beef in it. Then you would scramble a whole dozen eggs, a big loaf of bread, and a big pot of coffee. We made the coffee the old fash-
14 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
ioned way: boil the water, put the ground in it, and pour a few drops of water in it to let the grounds settle at the bottom. And 25 miles up the road was our first stop and the railroad man would hit the ground running!” Originally known as the Richmond & Allegheny line, the tracks linking Richmond to Lynchburg reached the Bent Creek/Gladstone area the summer of 1881. Just eight years later, C&O purchased R&A turning Gladstone into a strategic mid point between Richmond and Clifton Forge, an important corridor for the coal industry. That’s when Gladstone began a boom that lasted well through the mid 20th century.
PHOTO COURTESY GLADSTONE COMMUNITY CENTER
Shirley O’Brien’s late husband, Edward Franklin O’Brien, was an engineer for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (above right). Fred Reburn, retired from C&O competitor Norfolk & Western, and joined fellow railroad men to share stories at a group that meets monthly at the Gladstone Community Center (above left). The Center was once the local YMCA, and sat adjacent to the depot (shown top left in 1977). The YMCA cafeteria was where many railroad men grabbed an inexpensive meal (far right). On the first Wednesday of each month, the Gladstone Community Center opens its doors to the town’s retired railroad men. Kitty Lyle manages the center. “It looks like they’re having a big old family reunion and they’re really happy and they talk about what went on years ago,” Kitty says as the men shuffle to the front of the cafeteria line to grab a helping of roast beef, mashed potatoes and corn bread. The line used to be longer. “We’ve lost right many railroad men, quite a few,” she says. We haven’t yet lost Fred Reburn, a tall white headed man who has brought a model of a Norfolk & Western engine he made of mahogany, maple, birch, oak, cherry, pine and, walnut. Though he worked for N&W and was based in Lynchburg, Gladstone’s C&O men are like brothers to him. Like Willie, Fred worked the Durham line. I asked him if he would have been one those guys you see in old pictures wearing the striped railroad caps. “I didn’t like hats. I was a little different.”
“Strange” was the word his wife used to describe him. “I didn’t like hats and I liked keeping my black shoes shined up all the time. One of the bosses had something to say about it but it didn’t bother me. I just kept shining my shoes anyway.” Shirley O’Brien’s late husband, Edward, was a railroad engineer who did wear those funny little hats. He is pictured in a photograph with two other men, laughing and smiling. “These were his buddies, making him laugh and carry on. They had a good time together.” Shirley then digs into in her purse and pulls out her wallet to show me a picture of her and her husband. “He retired in ‘84 and came down with pancreatic cancer and took two-thirds of his stomach out. I never heard of that ‘til then. He lived eight months and died.” Which is why women like Shirley come back to the old YMCA building to spend time with the railroad men and the ghosts of Gladstone. NCL
The old Gladstone Depot has seen better days. Originally part of the Richmond & Allegheny line, C&O bought R&A in the late 1800’s, expanding the operation. These days eastbound and westbound CSX trains pass through Gladstone.
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 15
thisoldhouse Location: 8331 Thomas Nelson Hwy., Lovingston, Virginia Offered at: $149,900 Comments: Brick cottage in Lovingston has many attractive features. Good investment property being sold “AS IS”. Within 1/2 mile of shopping center. Beautiful views from back yard. Contact: Ruth Ann Moore Blue Ridge Realty & Auctions, Inc. 434-987-4938
thisnewhouse Location: 1042 Blue Ridge Dr., Wintergreen, Virginia Offered at: $639,000 Comments: Magnificent new 5BR/3.5BA home just completed and beautifully finished. Includes granite tops, stainless appliances, maple cabinetry, hardwood, slate tile, carpet, basement wetbar, 2-spacious living areas, vaulted pine ceilings, 2 stone fireplaces (one gas; one wood-burning) and lots of decking. Just a few steps to the Chestnut Springs pool and park! Offered with WPI Right of Membership. Square footage is approximate. Contact: Hunter Price Mountain Area Realty 434-361-2440
Sold by Erwin ... Sykes Wintergreen home built by Tectonics II
“Erwin’s attention to every detail made our home purchase a breeze and his guidance steered us to the perfect home. His knowledge of the area, especially the Resort community, gave us the confidence to invest in a Wintergreen property, and to engage our new friend as a Realtor” – Karen & W.C. Sykes
FOR SALE by Erwin ... 4 Trillium Town Home at Wintergreen
Representing Buyers & Sellers • 18 yr. Wtg. Resort resident • Former WPI/Resort Board Member • Board Member, Nelson County Economic Development Authority
Erwin Berry III, Realtor Home Office (434) 325-7143 :: Mobile (540) 470-0300 erwinberry111@verizon.net WintergreenResortVAProperties.com
A Quality Service Certified Agent
16 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
snapshots
PHOTOGRAPHY by TOMMY STAFFORD
Sunny skies greeted the Nelson Farmers’ Market in Nellysford where shoppers took home local foods. Though it may be a little early for tomatoes, we did see one on this baby’s bib (right).
TEST DRIVE ANY SUBARU & RECEIVE 2 TICKETS TO THE BLACKFRIARS PLAYHOUSE! ($40 VALUE)
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www.stauntonautogroup.com
The all-new 2009 Subaru Forester
Join our free VIPerks Program today: Up to 15% off parts, labor & accessories Saturday Express Service available State Inspections for Life! Buy 2 oil changes, get 1 FREE! OIL CHANGES 1 2 FREE
Over 100 New & Pre-Owned Subarus To Choose From!!
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 17
goodeats
local pairings
Chef Jay Dovel prepares a strawberry dessert crumble, one of several menu new items using locally-sourced ingredients.
Blue Mountain Brewery’s seasonal menu, explained. STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD At his new job, Chef Jay Dovel gets to play with strawberries. “Everybody loves strawberries,” Chef Jay says, his eyes widening with his smile. The berries, picked locally, are being used in a dessert crumble, one of the several items on Blue Mountain Brewery’s seasonally-themed menu. “It’s something that’s easy for us to make and I hope the customers enjoy it.” But once strawberries are out of season, you can expect the food and beer menus to change, says brewmaster Taylor Smack. “That’s the way beer goes. It goes seasonally. You drink different types of beer in the summer than you do in the fall and winter. So our beers are changing seasonally. We always have one or two that are just completely different.” Allowing the menu to adapt to the seasons means stronger, fresher, ingredients, says Chef Jay. “Because we’re doing smaller sandwiches, you
want really bold, fresh ingredients on the sandwiches. Ale mustards ... We do a club sandwich with our Greek Goddess dressing which is watercress and herbs mixed in with sour cream. For the summer I’m going to bring out some robust peaches for the crumble and things of that nature.” Keeping true to his commitment to use local foods, Chef Jay is using bratwurst from Double H Farm in Wingina. The Bavarian soft pretzels are baked in Afton at Goodwin Creek Farm. Taking advantage of the crop of strawberries literally growing across the road from the brewery at Critzer Family Farm and amFOG, Taylor is planning to debut a Strawberry Weiss on July 3. “It’s traditionally a wheat beer but we’re using 100 pounds or so of local strawberries in it. That will be a freaky, bold experiment.” A frothy 22-ouncer with a pink-white head and garnished with a lemon is bold, and freaky, indeed. NCL
Doolittle’s Country Kennel It’s like camp for your dog! Buffy and Ernie, Nellysford
434-361-1880
Minutes to Wintergreen, near Nellysford
www.msdoolittle.com 18 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
snapshots
Lovely Lavender Day at
Pharsalia Tyro, Virginia
Wednesday, June 25, 10am – 3pm Begin your morning at 10 a.m. sipping lavender lemonade, meeting other workshop participants, and touring the historic private home, Pharsalia, and grounds. Annie Baggett of sunshine lavender farm ( www.sunshinelavenderfarm.com ) will share her knowledge about growing, caring for, and using lavender. And yes, lavender may be grown successfully in Virginia! Enjoy a tasty lavender laced lunch complete with Lavender Ice Cream! Beneath our purple tent, find lots of lavender seedlings, vases, clippers and hand crafted items from which to purchase. Lovely Lavender Day will wrap up at 3 pm. Please join us (and bring a friend) to enjoy this relaxing day in the country. PHOTOGRAPHY by TOMMY STAFFORD
For more details visit www.sunshinelavenderfarm.com, www.PharsaliaEvents.com, or call 434-277-5231
Despite the cloudy weather, Band Fair 6 attracted a crowd to Cardinal Point Winery. The event, an annual fundraiser for North Branch School, featured music from acts such as Jive Katze (right). An art show, a cakewalk and other activities kept the kiddos entertained.
Pharsalia Events • 2333 Pharsalia Road • Tyro, Virginia 22976 PHOTO COURTESY WINTERGREEN RESORT
SOCCER CAMP!
A lady takes a moment to look over the valley and mountains of the Blue Ridge as part of The Wintergreen Nature Foundation’s 25th annual Wildflower Symposium. 50 programs included hikes to see and identify native wildflowers, ferns, trees and shrubs in their natural ecosystems. For more information, visit twnf.org.
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grapevine
grape expectations STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD
Integrity since 1977
• Landscape Planting & Design • Paver & Brick Patios & Driveways • Retaining Walls • Drainage/Erosion Control Solutions • Outdoor Kitchens & Living Areas • Grading, Seeding & Sodding • Pruning, Transplanting & Renovation • Beautiful Water Gardens & Fountains
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20 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
sm
are 12 feet apart. We’re planting the vines four feet apart and there are 8 feet between the rows ... That way they put more energy into the fruit.” In effect, the vines compete for the nutrients and the fruitiest grapes win out. Though the rule of thumb is to wait three years before a full harvest, there’s a chance that the one-year-old vines may produce quality fruit in the fall of 2009. “There’s a possibility to get something at the two year point which I would certainly like. But I think the general rule of thumb is you shoot for three years and the vines are already a year old when you get them.” It’s a wait but as Richard’s planting buddies know, good wine takes its time. “They will all get a bottle of Petit Manseng at the end!” NCL
Introducing the Daily Local Blog from Experience Nelson County
Kim Chappell, Realtor • 434-238-2430 39 Wintergreen Drive • Wintergreen, VA 22958
A Partnership with Roy Wheeler Realty Co.
Photo Tours
www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com
Dan’s Landscapades
Experience Nelson County!
Dan Ingraham of Afton Mountain Bed & Breakfast (above) spends an afternoon helping fellow innkeeper Richard Bulissa plant 1000 vines of Petit Manseng at Orchard House Bed & Breakfast in Lovingston (right). The grapes are being grown for Lovingston Winery. A harvest in the fall of 2009 is possible.
Though it began as an apple orchard in the late 1800’s, the soil at the Orchard House Bed & Breakfast in Lovingston is nourishing a different fruit. “It’s the vine that everybody’s talking about,” says owner Richard Bulissa. “Virginia Tech is very big on promoting Petit Manseng in the state so it was the way to go.” Richard and wife, Deb, had been wanting to plant something ornamental for their guests. After speaking to Ed Puckett of nearby Lovingston Winery, Richard decided to dedicate an acre of land to grapes Ed desperately needed. Using a high density grid scheme, Richard and several friends planted 1000 vines. “I think in normal vineyards the vines are six feet apart and the rows
snapshots
It looks like a UFO landed on Helen Oglesby’s yard but relax, it’s just a metal gazebo. Helen, the owner of Cat Rock Antiques in Roseland, is turning 80. Out of this world! PHOTO by YVETTE STAFFORD
Sherry Wheeler of Ambrosia Bakery & Deli sent us this pic of her recent fishing trip with local apple man Paul Saunders. The trip was a live auction item Sherry bid on at the 10th Annual Evening of Art, Music & Cuisine at Spruce Creek Gallery, an event benefitting the Rural Health Outreach Program.
PHOTO COURTESY SHERRY WHEELER
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22 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
rounds at the hospital in Waynesboro and headed over to Lovingston like he did every Wednesday morning to hold the OB-GYN clinic. (Another doctor in town, Harry Gamble, held the pediatric clinic and the health club). “I was just amazed at the devastation,” he remembered. Dr. Raynor was summoned that afternoon by Dr. Gamble at the command post in Lovingston. He was there for a week, but there were very few injuries for Drs. Raynor and Gamble to take care of. “People were either totally okay or they were dead,” he said somberly. Instead of treating injuries, the doctors took insulin and heart pills around to people who lost everything but their lives in the storm. Before, during and after Camille, Dr. Raynor made house calls, he helped people when they needed him, how they needed him and he’s still trying to do just that. Dr. Raynor is nearing 80 years old, but he is still the County Medical examiner and he even practices medicine two days each week. Charles and Steve, the young doctors who run Afton Family Medicine, the practice Dr. Raynor once owned, each get one afternoon off. Dr. Raynor is a general physician. That term has a different meaning now then it did 50 years ago. Back then, he dealt with everything from high school sports to pre-natal care. The nearest hospital was in Waynesboro. There was one OB-GYN nearby but he only took care of complicated deliveries. Dr. Raynor took care of everything his patients needed. Maybe he did deliver half the babies in Nelson County. NCL 50 years ago this July 4th, Dr. Bob Raynor started practicing medicine in Nelson County. back then, patients paid $3 for a visit. These days, the cost can be as much as $70.
RAYNOR COLLECTION
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Some people say that Dr. Bob Raynor has delivered half the babies in Nelson County. Sometimes… he agrees with them. “I from day one wanted to be a country doctor,” he said. “I grew up in the country. I was raised on a farm. I understand farm people.” Day one happened when he was 6 years old. Even though his parents had prepared him, the little boy became upset in the children’s ward the night before a surgery that would remove his tonsils. After an intern came into the room to soothe the room of sniffling children, Dr. Raynor decided that he wanted to be just like that aspiring doctor. 22 years later, on Independence Day 1958, Dr. Raynor was setting up shop in Nelson County. Medicine has been through many changes since then. For one thing, Dr. Raynor remembered, there were no staffed emergency rooms and rescue squads were unheard of. In the 1960s, there was no appointment system at Dr. Raynor’s office. “A lot of people didn’t have telephones,” Dr. Raynor remembered, thinking about all the changes in medicine since he began practicing. “Now everybody has not just phones, but cell phones. And at least half the medications that I use now weren’t even on the drawing board then.” The first patients he saw paid $3 for a doctor’s visit. Now a simple trip to the doctor’s office could cost more than $70. When Hurricane Camille hit, Dr. Raynor thought it was just a bad storm for the better part of the morning. He got up early and went to make
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got And views? would you like to enjoy them? Is there any place in the world as beautiful as Nelson County in the summer? In my personal opinion, I would say there isn’t. And, come fall, Nelson’s foliage is breathtaking. There is nothing better than enjoying each season, and all the spectacular splendor that Nelson has to offer right from the comfortable setting of your own home. Every time I am driving through Nelson County and see all of those gorgeous homes with their windows facing those amazing views, the blinds and curtains are all pulled. Why are these spectacular views being blocked out? Am I missing something? Should you not be soaking in the view from your Nelson dream home, enjoying the sense of openness and flow from the outdoors to the inside of your home? I have to believe that it is not the homeowners’ fault. With all of that sunlight pouring in it has to be very hot, and very bright, and not to mention the fading of the floors, furniture, and everything in between. What is a homeowner to do? Of course they want to enjoy their views, but they don’t want everything in their home destroyed by the sun, and that air conditioning just can’t keep up. Fortunately, there is a solution that can solve everyone’s problem: 3M Window Film installed by Clear View Window Tinting. Window film allows homeowners to still see out of their windows, and to keep out the damaging rays of the sun. Look at film like a water filter. If you put a water filter on your tap, you eliminate the harmful chemicals in
your water. Film will eliminate 99.9% of the UV rays, and can reduce the amount of glare by as much or as little as you like depending on the film you choose. What about all of that heat gain that comes through the windows? Film takes care of that as well. It used to be that darker films were more effective. Thanks to 3M, that is no longer the case. With its new Prestige line of window films, Clear View Window Tinting can now apply a clear film to windows that will reduce as much heat and fading as some of the darkest films out there. What about the film going bad, peeling, or changing colors? 3M has taken care of that with a residential lifetime warranty. If anything goes wrong with your window film, 3M and Clear View Window Tinting will replace it free of charge. 3M was rated the third most innovative company in the world last year by Money Magazine ( just behind Toyota, and Google ) for being a world leader in adhesives, and many other products. The 3M name is one to stand behind. So please get those views back that you fell in love with the first time you saw them. Having Clear View Window Tinting install 3M window film on the windows in your home will make you see Nelson County the way it was truly to be intended, and that is by you. To find out more about the amazing new films from 3M Corporation, call Darin Martin, Jr. with Clear View Window Films at 434-996-TINT (8468) or go to www.clearviewtint.com.
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JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 23
– Located in the Mountain Inn – Do you love Wintergreen as much as we do? When you buy or sell with us, you are investing in Wintergreen’s future – Call us or stop in and be a part of Wintergreen’s future.
The Official Real
Contact any of these outstanding Realtors® at our Mountain Inn office for information about Wintergreen and Stoney Creek real estate.
91 Oak Lane Internationally renown interior designer, Marie Abercrombie, has brought the magic of her talents to this stunning mountain home. Her exquisite use of color, texture, and décor, make this home a masterpiece. All furnishings convey. Two master suites, 2 fireplaces, granite gourmet kitchen. $749,000. Brian Chase. www.goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (447531)
Brian Chase Managing Broker 434-987-4168
Kim Chappell 434-238-2430
Pam Le Vine 941-724-4787
Gourmet kitchen, hardwood floors, vaulted wood ceilings, master bath w/ granite double vanity, 3 fireplaces (2 gas/1 wood), great mountain views, private 1 acre lot adjoining National Forest, multiple decks, 5 bedrooms / 6 full baths with luxurious tile and fixtures, owner breaking ground on 2 car garage. $1,695,000. (443434). Also available w/ 2 adjoining lots - family compound, investment, privacy. Own 1/2 the cul-de-sac. $2,995,000. Brian Chase. www.goWintergreen.com 434-296-9860 (449341)
16 Ridge Lane Steve Marianella 434-566-1293
Christy Phillips 434-987-6388
Rod Phillips 434-987-6399
Thomasina Shealey 703-328-8680
One level home on Devils Knob Loop offers tons of quality. With 2 master suites, 3 full baths (all w/ tile and solid surface vanities), great room w/ gas fireplace, gourmet kitchen w/ granite counters, covered deck w/ winter mountain views, and 2 car garage, this is a great buy. $599,000. Brian Chase www.goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (447601)
105 Saddleback Knoll Stoney Creek: Contemporary estate home designed/built for owners. Impeccably maintained and improved. Set high on a 1.3 acre water-front lot. Extensive landscaping w/ Koi pond, stone terrace, circular concrete drive, 1st floor master, 2 fireplaces, wine tasting center, gourmet kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths. $889,000. Brian Chase. www.goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (448607)
24 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
682 Pedlars Edge
Beautiful Lindal Cedar home built by Tectonics II in 2006. Amazing mountain views and a quick walk to Tyro ski area. 3BR, 3FB plus loft sitting area and second family room. 2 stacked river stone fireplaces, antique hardwood flooring, gourmet kitchen and large master suite. Two-level deck. Sold with WTG Membership. Call Kim Chappell, 434-238-2430. www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com (452603)
! 00 9,0 29 $ D CE DU RE
380 Cedar Drive
John Croxall 434-953-6566
2006 Stone Ridge Woods 3BR/3BA condo in great condition with two master suites, wood burning fireplace, nice deck and close to Spa, Fitness Center and Shuttle Stop. Membership Bonus Available. $288,600. Kim Chappell, 434-238-2430 www. ExperienceNelsonCounty.com (452382)
618 Devils Knob Loop
2064 Stone Ridge Great renovated studio on Wintergreen Rental Program.Overlooks 18th hole, new bath,furniture and flooring. $149,000. Call Steve Marianella @ 434-5661293 (446973)
10 North Rock Tree Lane
650 Fawn Ridge This large 5BR house is golf-front with its own private path to the course. Lower level is private retreat with second LR, FP, BR & BA. Bonus space with 2 entrances. Huge deck for enjoying golf views. $535,000. Kim Chappell 434-238-2430. www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com (447902)
Spectacular views & sunsets all year - right next to Blue Ridge Overlook! Spacious home has soaring stone fireplace, hardwood floors & wall of windows in main living area. Kitchen open to dining & living area. Private bedroom suites & decks on all 3 levels. Quality built-ins & details,2-car garage,paved driveway,lighted walk-ways,landscaped care-free yard. Trail in backyard leads right to hiking trail! Beautifully furnished & ready to move in. Amazing value for the best views in Wintergreen. $899,000. Call Christy Phillips at 434-987-6388. (440827)
Home features abundance of high-end finishes, 5 bedrooms + a 6th as bonus room, granite kitchen counters, cherry cabinets, 2 master bedrooms, 2 gas fireplaces, 2 large family rooms, 2 minute walk to Tyro ski slope, endless wrap-around decking. Furnished. $699,000. Brian Chase. www.goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (447596)
712 Devils Knob Loop
Spectacular custom resort home with stunning views. This 5BR, 5.5Ba home has plenty of room for family and friends with three large suites, bonus rooms and an 800sqft deck. Enjoy expansive views from many rooms. Chef ’s kitchen including high-grade appliances and large butcher block island. Study/library with flat panel TV. Large loft with great views. Call Kim Chappell 434-238-2430. www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com (448678)
756 Laurelwood Well maintained Laurelwood 2 bed condo with winter mountain views. Nicely appointed with very solid furnishings and genuine mountain chalet flavor. Large living room with wood burning fireplace. Walk to ski slopes - in summer, enjoy Laurelwood’s private pool. Furnished. WPI. $189,000. Brian Chase. www.goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (448977)
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523 Crawfords Climb Stoney Creek spacious 3200 sq.ft. Tectonics built estate home on 3+ acres. Spectacular year round valley and mountain views. Vaulted, open living area, wrap around decking, stone fp, game room, screened porch, workshop, 2 car garage. 3 bed.2.5 baths. Priced under appraisal at $559,000. Pam LeVine - cell # 941-724-4787. (452459)
738 Pedlars Edge Rare 5 bedroom ski front home on Wintergreen’s Tyro slope. Full WPI premier membership INCLUDED, ski this winter! Hardwood floors,lots of space and storage,3 1/2 baths and your own private sauna room! Great value at $599,000. Call Steve @ 434-566-1293 (446948)
158 Mountain Inn Condo Great rental property at the Mountain Inn. Lowest priced comparable unit on the market with high rating on the rental program. WPI included. Mountain views and a great location. Just step out your door to shops, restaurants, ski slopes and more. $169,000. Call Rod Phillips at 434-987-6399 or rcventures@embarqmail. com (447863)
2210 Tanners Ridge Value priced 1BR condo with large patio, wood-burning FP and many updates. Membership Bonus Available. $129,000 Call Kim Chappell, 434-238-2430. www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com (439919)
31 Trillium Close
Spacious 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath Trillium condo with a whopping 2,207 SF of living space, a 2 car garage, plus 700 SF of storage. If you need space for all the gear you use when enjoying Wintergreen but don’t want the responsibility of a detached home, this townhome is for you. Walk to the Wintergarden Spa & Fitness Center. $409,500. Brian Chase www.goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (438513)
1190 Laurel Springs
Exceptional new home on one of the largest lots on Wintergreen Mountain. Fantastic open floor plan w/ soaring ceilings & views of gorge & mountains beyond. Shows beautifully w/ wood floors, stone fireplace, exposed beams, tiled walk-in shower, whirlpool tubs and large covered back deck. Spacious gourmet kitchen w/ stainless, granite & solid hickory cabinets has excellent layout open to whole main floor. Master suites on both levels. Second family room has fireplace and wetbar w/ fridge. Quality construction by Copperleaf Homes. Offered at $649,000. Call Christy or Rod Phillips at 434-987-6388 or rcventures@embarqmail.com (446687)
443 Blackrock Drive One of just a few building sites left in Tyro Overlook. If you want an exclusive location to build a new home with Mountain views and easy slope access, this is your lot! A 2 minute walk and you’re on Tyro ski slope. Not enough? Platted open space to the East means no adjacent home on this side. Views, location, skiing, open space - act now before it’s too late! Offered at $185,000. Brian Chase. www.goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (438261)
1296 Stoney Creek West
With ARB approval, the existing home on this golf front lot will be removed to make room for The Big Acorn Hollow, a magnificent Winterwoods Homes luxury timber frame and stone design. This special lot is located within 100 yards of the Stoney Creek clubhouse. Already have your own lot? Choose from any of the 16 mountain living and estate portfolio designs. $2,725,000. Brian Chase www. goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (446830)
490 Three Ridges This 1 BR condo is rated Gold in the rental program. Rare, end unit. Sold furnished and ready to enjoy. $189,000. Call Kim Chappell 434-238-2430. www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com (448392)
5 Dripping Rock Nice wooded lot with easy access on quiet street in Wintergreen Resort. Build your dream home on this .47 acre lot. www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com. 434-238-2430. (441374)
95 Deerberry Lane Level wooded lot on quiet Cul de Sac at Wintergreen. Build your dream getaway or invest now in a buyers market! Close to golf,hiking,skiing,tennis, nature preserve. Includes WPI right. Offered below appraisal and $25,000 off neighboring lot! Call Steve Marianella at 434-5661293 . (451508)
645 White Oak This renovated unit sparkles w/ great contemporary upgrades. 2 bedroom unit plus loft as 3rd. Sold furnished and loft configured with room for 2 more of your best friends or family. Walk to ski slopes and Mountain Inn. Split level design adds privacy. Winter views. WPI. $224,000. Brian Chase. www.goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (448412)
IDE E-S P SLO
53 Valley View Lane
Cozy mountain cottage - this is as idealic as it gets. New conveniences, but tons of mountain charm. Great kitchen design w/ solid hickory cabinets, dining, living area w/ stone fireplace, large master bedroom, wood floors. Sold furnished w/ a few exclusions. Very high quality furnishings. Great attention to detail. ‘Smart House’ security system monitors things like under house temp or leaking pipes & notifies owner of any problems. Perfect home for the long-distance owner. Nice level lot. WPI. Call Christy & Rod Phillips at 434-987-6388 or rcventures@embarqmail.com. $430,000. (448577)
304 Dobie
Renovated, fully furnished, ground-level, 2 bed, 2 bath condo, center of Wintergreen village. Ski off your deck at the top of Dobie ski slope - condo sits right behind Blue Ridge Express chairlift - it’s like having your own warming hut on the mountain! New kitchen, new tile flooring, updated baths and top-of-the-line furnishings. Sold furnished with founding WPI right. Superb rental income. $395,000 Call Brian Chase. 877-296-9860 www. WintergreenListings.com (432925)
1253 Monocan Drive
Stoney Creek: Exquisite Bordeaux-inspired design by architect William Poole. 1st floor master, 4 bedrooms, billiard room, 4 full and 2 half baths, office, 3-car garage, 5 hearths, gourmet kitchen, magnificent built-ins throughout. Now $25,000 below 2007 assessment! For Sale $995,000 - short term lease available. Brian Chase. www.goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (434529)
501 Rodes Valley Drive
Step into this magnificent lake-front home and discover a tradition of building excellence. Designed by the current owner and first time on the market, there are lake views from every room. The main house includes 3 bedrooms, 2 full and 2 half baths. The adjacent guest house offers another 2 bedrooms designed to sleep six, 2 full baths, and a great room with stone fireplace. All on more than 2 acres. Offered at $825,000. Brian Chase www.goWintergreen.com 877-296-9860 (441086)
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 25
26 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
athome withMarlo
Score Big
A quiz on buyers’ favorite home features
By Marlo Allen Marlo Allen is a licensed Realtor residing in Nelson County
We all know that avocado colored appliances and brown shag carpeting are “out”, but what is “in” these days? Attitudes and preferences of home buyers are ever changing and thus it is nearly impossible for a seller to appeal to every prospective buyer. However, knowing what most appeals to buyers could boost your marketing efforts. Take the challenge and see how well you score when it comes to knowing home buyer preferences. 1. What single home feature do buyers say they want most in a home? A. Walk-in closet in master bedroom B. Central air conditioning C. Backyard D. Fully finished basement 2. What is the median size (in sq ft) purchased between late 2005 and early 2007? A. 2,230 B. 1,840 C. 1,450 D. 1,000 3. Within 3 months after buying a home, nearly half of all buyers remodeled or made improvements to which
part of the house? A. Master bathroom B. Backyard C. Kitchen D. Home office
age B. Bedrooms C. Kitchen space D. Bathrooms
4. Which home feature saw the biggest jump in popularity since 2004 (when NAR conducted the last survey)? A. High speed Internet access B. Media room C. Eat-in kitchen D. Oversized garage
Answers; according to the National Association of Realtors 2007 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences.
5. What 3 features are buyers willing to pay extra for in a home? A. Proximity to work, a wooded lot, and a backyard or play area B. Whirlpool baths, proximity to schools, and a deck C. A corner lot, a lawn sprinkler system, and high-end kitchen appliances D. Central air conditioning, walk-in closets, and hardwood floors 6. What’s the most common type of home purchased? A. Single level B. Split level C. Two levels D. Three levels 7. What did new-home buyers most wish their home had more of? A. Stor-
It’s about dog-gone time to get a new place!
Call Marlo for all of your real estate needs. Marlo G. Allen
434.996.3525 Email: Marlo@InsistOnThatGirl.com Web: www.InsistOnThatGirl.com
1. B - Central air conditioning; staying cool is important to buyers in all regions of the country; 83% of buyers purchased a home with central air. 2. B - 1,840 sq ft; the size of the typical home purchased by survey respondents increased by 100 square feet since the last survey in 2004. 3. C - Kitchen; 47% of buyers remodeled or made improvements to their kitchen within the first three months. 4. D – Oversized garage; from 2004 to 2007, oversized garages (for two or more cars) gained 16 percentage points to 57 percent. 5. D – Central air, walk-in closets,
and hardwood floors. Buyers aren’t afraid to spend money on the features they really want. (65% of buyers would be willing to pay extra for central air conditioning, followed by 60% for walk-in closets, and 57% for hardwood floors.) 6. A – Single level; 47% purchased a single-level home, while 44% purchased a two-level home, and 9% bought a home with three or more levels. 7. A – Storage; Nearly half of home buyers said more storage space would make their residence ideal. Would your home score big with today’s buyers? Marlo Allen, frequently referred to as “That Girl,” calls Nelson County home. In fact, she grew up in Nelson and besides being a Realtor, is a family business partner at Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery in Nellysford. Marlo provides real estate services in Nelson and surrounding counties.
Fantastic Value in Afton! Home on 1.7 acres for only $199,900: Incredible value on recently renovated, stick-built rancher in Afton; updated kitchen with new cabinets, countertops, and tile backsplash; new heat pump, flooring and deck; freshly painted; upgraded w/ hardwood floors, brick fireplace w/ gas logs, woodstove, cathedral ceiling in huge great room; extra space w/ mud room and utility room; outbuildings w/ electric; live in house while building dream home on neighboring parcel w/ great mountain and ridge views. 7.7 acre building site for only $99,900: Build dream home in Afton convenient to Waynesboro, Crozet, Wintergreen and Charlottesville; mountain views w/ potential for panoramic views w/ selective clearing; soil study approved for 5 bedroom home; mature hardwoods and mountain laurel; great for recreational activities such as hunting and four wheeling!
770 Pounding Branch Rd MLS 452208 & 452210 1,570 sq ft; 3br/1ba 1.7 acres w/ house $199,900 7.7 acre building parcel - $99.900 Buy both for only $279,900!
Insist on that girl! JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 27
givingback
wish granted STORY by YVETTE STAFFORD PHOTOGRAPHY by TOMMY STAFFORD
The old farm house Myrtle Underwood has called home for 17 years is finally getting the repairs it’s needed. “I needed water piped into the house. I needed a bathroom. I needed rewiring done, which is getting done. I needed the roof fixed.” Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Amherst/Nelson, Inc., formerly known at Christmas in April, have spent hours renovating the Nellysford home. “The house is probably 70 years old, 100 years old, and just basically needed to be generally updated all the way around,” says Will Dinwiddie, a volunteer who sits on the Rebuilding Together board. “The roof in the back hadn’t been put on properly so she couldn’t even use one of her rooms. Basically about a quarter of her house wasn’t usable because the roof was leaking.”
Originally from Vermont, Myrtle moved to Nelson County in 1982. Though her son has tried to help with the repairs over the years, Will says the house was aging faster than Myrtle’s son could fix it. “There’s a good portion of people that moved into an old farmhouse, built in the old country ways, and have been making due since then.” “I had to lug my water from outside inside,” Myrtle says. The jugs are in a room adjacent to the kitchen, which is where Myrtle is preparing a potato macaroni salad for the volunteers. “I do want to tell them that I thank God for them every day and I pray that God blesses them no matter what they do now and no matter where they go. I’ll remember them.” NCL
SOCCER CAMP!
July 21 - July 25
Rockfish Valley Ruritan Park 9am - 12 pm (12-16 years) $120 (intense program for the advanced player)
CALL JANICE WHEATON 434-277-5499 www.uksocca.com
28 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
Myrtle Underwood prepares a batch of potato macaroni salad for the volunteers helping renovate her Nellysford home. The crew was organized by Rebuilding Together Amherst/Nelson, Inc. For more information, call 434-946-9674.
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Nelson County
Summer Festival STORY by TOMMY STAFFORD
FILE
Rhonda Holland of Oak Ridge Estate fondly remembers the early years of the Nelson County Summer Festival. “The first one was basically music and wine,” she says. “The first one was started as a tourism effort.” That was 17 years ago this June. The annual festival started out with only four wineries. Today that number has grown to eight, including the county’s newest, Flying Fox. “It’s just gotten bigger and has a core group that follows it regardless. We determined that the year it rained on us and on Sunday people came anyway. They didn’t care if it was raining or not.” Rhonda has been the event’s site person since the beginning. It is the only event held on the lawn of Oak Ridge. “It’s the scholarship for Nelson County students,” she says. “This one will always be very dear to me.” The 2008 festival will feature old favorites like pony rides, petting zoos, and the like. Kids under 12 are admitted free. Unlike previous years, this year’s event will feature a rock climbing wall Rhonda plans to attempt. “I’ll be climbing it! When we had the Co-op Rodeo out here I climbed the electric pole too, so I can handle the rock climbing wall,” Rhonda says laughing. This year’s music acts include Terri Allard and Tropikiimba on Saturday, along with TigerLily and Seldom Scene on Sunday. It’s the kind of event, Rhonda says, entire families can enjoy. “When we all started out with this festival, we were in our 30’s. Our children have grown up, now our grandchildren are coming to the festival. I still get excited about it.” NCL
FILE
FILE
This year’s Nelson County Summer Festival will be held at Oak Ridge Estate, June 28 29. For more information, call 434-263-8676 or visit NelsonCountySummerFestival.com
SATURDAY—TERRI A LL A RD • TROPIKIIMB A • SUNDAY—TIGER LILY • SELDOM SCENE
Nelson County Summer Festival Saturday, June 28 Sunday, June 29
CHILDREN’S
CRAFTS
ACTIVITIES
PONY RIDES
MARKET PLACE
FOOD WINE BEER
RUR A L EXHIBITS
11 am–6 pm on the shaded lawn of Oak Ridge Estate Located off Route 29 midway between Charlottesville and Lynchburg
Save $5 with advance purchase!
Tickets are $10 per day in advance or $15 at the gate. Children under 12 are free with an adult. Advance tickets are available at Valley Video and Variety or Valleymont in Nellysford; Nelson County Visitor Center in Lovingston; or Mays Farmers Service in Colleen.
For tickets or further information, call 434-263-8676 or visit NelsonCountySummerFestival.com
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 29
stormstories
STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by TOMMY STAFFORD
“The wind didn’t sound right to me.” – Sharen Dowdy, Shipman
30 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
I spent much of my previous career an on-air television weatherman working for various affiliates and networks across the country. During those 15 years, there’s no telling how many tornados I tracked, chased and reported on. Now that I live hundreds of miles away from tornado alley, I was not expecting to cover a tornado story in Shipman. Ed and Sharen Dowdy survived a direct hit the evening of May 8. National Weather Service surveyors confirmed the damage to be from an EF0, a twister with sustained winds of about 75 miles per hour. Sharen says she remembers thinking the storm wouldn’t be so severe. “We were teasing our niece that was working on a
school paper in the floor that it wasn’t going to be that bad.” Famous last words. “The first thing I recall hearing was the flying door of the kitchen, the breaking glass, my niece yelling out, and I instinctively knew something was not right. The wind didn’t sound right to me.” After spending some years living in Iowa, Sharen and Ed weren’t strangers to tornados. They too, didn’t think they’d encounter one in Virginia. “I was tracking the weather radar out of Roanoke,” Ed remembers. “The only thing we were seeing on local TV were flash flood warnings for Nelson County. All of a sudden there was a change in the wind, a thump on the side of the house, then the windows blew out.” Sure enough, the National Weather Service never issued a specific tornado warning for Nelson County that night, though other surrounding counties were under warnings Though tornadic events in Virginia are a rarity, they do happen. A tornado that touched down in Petersburg on August 6, 1993 killed four people and injured 238. According to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, that twister was the state’s first recorded violent tornado since 1950. Daily and annual records were shattered in 2004 when 87 tornadoes struck the Commonwealth.
Though April and May tend to be active tornado months in the mid-south and Gulf Coast states, Virginia’s tornado season – if you can call it that – appears to peak in July. The Dowdys just happened to get an early taste of it. “I wandered back in the dining room and noticed the ceiling was gone,” Ed says. “I could have sworn I saw the roof when I glanced up, then I felt it sprinkling and it took me a minute to understand and realize that the entire roof was gone.” The Dowdys tell us they have been so very blessed with people offering help until they get back on their feet. They are currently living in a relative’s house across the street until they work out a permanent housing plan in the coming weeks. NCL
And you thought Virginia was safe from tornadoes. Ed and Sharen Dowdy of Shipman survived a direct hit the evening of May 8, 2008. A National Weather Service team confirmed the strike to be that from an EF0, with winds measuring roughly 75 miles per hour.
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 31
almosthome Little Bit
Little Bit is a small, adult Domestic Short Hair. She came to us with her friends Mia and Bebe when their owner died. Little Bit is one sweet kitty who would love a quiet, loving household. Contact Almost Home for more information.
DIANA GARLAND / diana@nelsoncountylife.com
DIANA GARLAND / diana@nelsoncountylife.com
Tater
Tater is a young male Hound mix. He’s sensitive, cheerful and very well behaved. He would love to be in a home with another dog or two. Tater is trained to use a doggie door and loves to ride in the car. Come by Almost Home to see this cheery, affectionate guy.
The Almost Home Pet Adoption Center is a no-kill facility owned and operated by the Humane Society/SPCA of Nelson County. For more information, call 434-263-SPCA (7722) or, visit us as 29 Stagebridge Road, 3 miles north of Lovingston, Virginia.
With an Invisible Fencing® System you and your dog get a very visible friend. • Ask about our Comprehensive “1 Year Money-Back Guarantee” • All Invisible Fence Products Include a Lifetime Warranty • Invisible Fence works both indoors and outdoors • Over one-and-a-half-million dogs stand behind Invisible Fencing • Battery Back-Up included For Power Failure • Call today for a FREE demonstration and estimate
by Coyner Associates, Inc. 434.977.8955 1.800.93.FENCE (33623) 32 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
givingback
Come to Tryouts! It is Fun And You Meet New Friends
Nelson Express Travel Soccer Girls – U12 (rising 4th, 5th and 6th graders, born before 7/31/98 and after 7/31/96) Boys – U15 (rising 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders, born before 7/31/97 and after 7/31/93) Boys – U19 (rising 10th, 11th and 12th graders, born before 7/31/90 and after 7/31/92)
Tryout Dates June 15 @ 2 p.m. Fleetwood Community Center (Old School)
the
bluebird box builder
For more information call Heidi Crandall (434)760-3360 OR Email: hatcreek@nelsoncable.com
ROCKFISH VALLEY
STORY by YVETTE STAFFORD PHOTOGRAPHY by TOMMY STAFFORD
After retiring from a career in aerospace, which included a 25-year stint at NASA, Paul Davis is helping launch a different kind of bird. “This is what is called a Carl Little Bluebird House,” Paul says, holding up a set of plans he uses to make houses for the local chapter of the Virginia Bluebird Society. “The first couple I kind of winged it and then I found that I had done it all wrong.” After trial and error, the plan Paul settled on requires 40 cuts per house. He’s assembled several dozen, so according to his math, Paul says he’s made about 2000 cuts. “I find it very calming. The first few I put together were really frustrating, especially putting those raccoon guards in front. That just about drove me up the wall.. But I’ve gotten now where I’ve figured out how to make the cuts without getting my fingers all punctured and nicked.” Paul makes the guards from metal mesh. The wood for about 30 of the houses he has built is reclaimed. “Both the cedar and the pine came from a house being built up around Greenfield. The craftsmen that were building the home gave us the pieces that they had left over.” After receiving a grant to refurbish houses at the Rockfish Valley Loop
COMMUNITY CENTER .SATURdAY,JUNE 7.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST served from 8:30 - 10:30 AM
New Prices start in June:
RVCC Members ~ $6@ Non-Members ~ $7.50@ Children under 12 . . . Members ~ $3@ Non-members ~ $4.50@ RVCC is on Rockfish School Lane, West off Rt. 151, between Nellysford & Afton ~ 434.361.0100
Trail, Paul made some modifications to the posts. “The original houses were mounted on just regular fence post, steel fence post. I had lost several eggs and hatchlings chicks last year from snakes and we felt like we needed to do something about it.” So Paul took stove pipe and made a snake guard. The design is now part of the blue print. “Yeah, bluebird print.” NCL
Voted Best Salon in Nellysford!
The Beech Grove Salon 434-361-1810
JUNE 008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE
Nelson County 5335 Rockfish River Road
With 2000 feet of frontage on the Rockfish River and just 35 minutes from Charlottesville and 15 minutes to Scottsville, this three-bedroom, three-bath home (with fourth bedroom and bath above the garage) sits on 62 riverside acres with total privacy. Built in 2000, it features a spectacular, bright great room with granite countertops in the kitchen, a Ledgestone fireplace, vaulted ceiling and hardwood floors. Off the great room is a charming studio/library as well as an inviting screened porch and deck. There is a master bedroom suite up and two bedrooms, each with baths, on the main level. The basement has a large laundry room, a huge bonus room and a woodworking shop. The attractive two-car garage and guest suite was added in 2003. The gardens are lovely, mature and prolific! There are sixteen acres of excellent horse pasture and a one-mile mowed, mostly riverside, hiking trail. There are several put-in/take-outs for canoes/kayaks/inner tubes as opportunities exist for floats from 13 miles (to James River), 3 miles (to next bridge) or one mile (from put-in upstream). The Rockfish is a state Wild and Scenic River and one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries of its size in the mid-Atlantic. This is one of the most exceptional properties on the market. $1,075,000 Owner/agent New Pricing!
492 School House Lane
A wonderful opportunity to own a true Virginia farmhouse with stunning mountain views and total privacy! The original log cabin was built in the late 1800s and has been renovated and landscaped beautifully. Three bedrooms, two baths, tiled and hardwood floors and custom hickory cabinets in the great room, dining room, office/music room, laundry room, mudroom, covered porch and more! Separate rental/ guest house; barns and workshop and a 443-squarefoot attached, unfinished apartment or office. Brand new central heat and A/C. Offered with 9.08 acres. 30 minutes to Charlottesville and right below Wintergreen Resort. Wood furnace for backup heat. $685,000
Enjoy fantastic Blue Ridge Mountain views from this fully updated threebedroom, two-bath home on 15 acres. The property has beautiful mature landscaping, great six-stall barn and heated tack room, fencing and paddocks on about 10 acres with creek for the horses. Lovely bluestone patio opens to the view, koi pond, specimen gardens, and privacy abounds. This property is good for the spirit and in move-in condition. Just 30 minutes to Charlottesville and close to Nellysford and Wintergreen Resort.
$799,000
Stoney Creek at 483 Cedar Meadow Drive
125 Stoney Creek West
This classic custom-built 3-bedroom,
New 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath cottage
2.5-bath ranch is set within beautifully
situated on a 1.32-acre home site with
landscaped grounds, perennial gardens and a park-like adjoining lot that is available for purchase. Special features
lots of bonus space in the unfinished basement (1176 square feet). An
include hardwood floors, 2 wood-
oversized (576 square feet) 2-car garage
burning fireplaces, security system,
and wraparound deck with screened
2-zone heat/AC, cathedral ceilings and
porch are added features you don’t
large windows and skylights that bring light and mountain views into the
want to miss. Motivated seller—bring all
interior. Wintergreen membership also
offers! Seller will also consider a long-
available for purchase at reduced rate.
term lease or lease to buy option.
Priced to sell.
34 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
131 Mimosa Lane
$499,000 WPI
$410,000 WPI
1127 Jenny’s Creek Road
Nelson County living at its finest! With a charming three-bedroom, two-bath cottage and 16 acres of fenced pasture, this little farm has everything you need. There are four separate paddocks. It also has a spacious equipment or hay barn as well as a run-in shed for horses or livestock. Jenny’s Creek is bold and runs through the property and you won’t believe the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountain views. Relax on the screened porch and watch the seasons change. Mature landscaping surrounding the house. The living area has old custom paneling and an amazing parquet ceiling and floor. Easy commute to Lovingston, Amherst or Lynchburg and 45 minutes to Charlottesville. $425,000
362 Seaman Lane
Horseshoe Road Parcel
Nestled in a sheltered valley high in the
A unique 12-acre, mostly open property,
Blue Ridge, this freshly renovated 3 BR
ideal for horses or other livestock,
home awaits new owners. Located at
located just south of Lovingston in a
the end of a state-maintained road and
quiet area with easy, quick access to
adjoined by significant acreage (282) in
Route 29. This property has fantastic
conservation easement and the Cash
building sites with a great view of the
family farm (106 acres). Renovations
Blue Ridge and is nestled between two
include a new roof, furnace and kitchen
other small farms. Less than ten minutes
with granite countertops. That fabled
from Blue Ridge Medical center, schools
offering of a small parcel amid large
and the services of Lovingston. Just 40
land holdings within walking distance of
minutes to Charlottesville or Lynchburg.
the GW National Forest trail system. $275,000
An unusual offering at $179,000 (Owner/agent)
Wintergreen 1247 Black Walnut Drive
550 Crawfords Climb
529 Cedar Meadow Drive
4251 Cub Creek Road
Off the grid! Top-of-the-world living with self-sufficient electric system powered by the sun in a thoughtfully constructed and comfortable home or home-away-from-home. Sited high on the flank of Three Ridges Mountain and adjoining the GW National Forest, nearly every room offers a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge. The large great room, three bedrooms, two and a half baths, screened porch, and a lot of decking offer space for family and friends. The location offers complete privacy. Leave your electric bills! Minutes to Wintergreen Resort. $375,000
Stoney Creek Lots 983 Stoney Creek West .8 acres. Golf front.
$148,500 WPI
959 Stoney Creek West .8 acres. Golf front and mountain views. $148,500 WPI 60 Scarlet Tanager 3.52 acres. View potential. $179,500 WPI 1757 Black Walnut Drive 4.11 acres. Rock outcroppings. $119,500 WPI This is an unusual chance to purchase a
Great views from this handsome 3-
The welcoming entry surrounded by
mint condition home in Stoney Creek
bedroom, 3.5-bath home situated on a
professional landscaping entices all who
for under $400,000. This 1765 square
large 2-acre parcel. There is a gorgeous
visit. This charming 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath
foot, 3-bedroom, 3-bath home sits on
stone fireplace in the sunken living
cottage is of environmentally friendly
beautiful, private 2.58-acre homesite
room along with custom built-in
SIPS construction. There are mountain
with year round stream flowing through
bookshelves. With three levels, there’s
views from kitchen window, screened
the back yard. This is an ideal
a great deal of privacy for everyone.
porch, rear gazebo and private side
permanent home for a couple wanting
The screened-in porch allows plenty of
patio. Electronic hidden fence keeps pets
to downsize or a manageable second
outdoor living room along with the
within the property. Light and cheery
home for someone wanting to take
inviting decks. Wonderful for enjoying
may be the best adjectives to describe
advantage of Wintergreen amenities.
all the seasonal changes in the foothills.
this bargain, currently the lowest priced
30 min to Charlottesville.
Half an hour to Charlottesville.
property in Stoney Creek. Come see!
$395,000 WPI
$585,000 WPI
$310,000 WPI
205 Wood Nettle Lane (2 lots) 1.6 acres golf front. $259,000 WPI 129 Cedar Glen Close .44 acres. View and golf!
$169,000 WPI
203 Cedar Glen Close .68 acres. Pond front, golf and mountain views. $189,000 WPI 515 Cedar Glen Close .65 acres with year round views. $169,000 215 Rodes Valley Drive 5.5 acres. Mountain views.
$239,000
1514 Crawfords Climb 4.94 acres. Great view potential. $185,000 WPI
Nellysford, Virginia • (800) 361-5155 • (434) 361-2440 • www.MountainAreaRealty.com JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 35
The Dobie Mountain Lookout The Dobie Mountain Lookout by Winterwoods Homes exudes the true essence of our luxury timber frame and stone design features from the moment you approach the front door. It features natural stone and 185 year old antique hand hewn log walls, highlighted by dramatic soaring arched timber bents inside and out. This main level living home design embraces you with a spacious open living and dining area featuring our signature massive natural stone fireplace, master bedroom with spa-like bathroom and dressing room, gourmet equipped two chef kitchen with pantry, separate laundry and project room, all flowing onto the impressive covered outdoor living spaces with dramatic stone fireplaces on each level along with a one car porte cochere and pavilion with grand stone fireplace for cooking and entertaining. The lower level of the home has two bedrooms with two full bathrooms along with a spacious recreation room with stone fireplace and wet bar equipped kitchenette. Truly special features include the three level elevator, antique oak spiral staircase accessible viewing tower, and hand hewn laminated curved bent roof on the rear. Interior fixtures and finishes designed by award winning Slifer Designs in the breathtaking Vail Valley of Colorado. Bedrooms: 3; Baths: 3.5; Square Footage: 3,214; Base Price: $1.75M.
Tel (434) 361-1212 Fax (434) 361-0001 www.WinterwoodsHomes.com
6 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 008
A nationwide turn-key design/build company, Winterwoods Homes has partnered with the nation’s premier suppliers to deliver luxury timber frame and stone designs of extraordinary quality. Their industry leading partners include Tennessee Log and Timber Homes, Vail Valley’s Slifer Designs, and Antique Cabins and Barns, Shades of Light, and Roy Ashley and Associates. The Winterwoods Homes mountain living portfolio boasts 11 unique designs. Based in Stoney Creek, Winterwoods Homes is pleased to make its national network of experts available to the Wintergreen community. With a base price of $500,000 for The Little
Stoney, – $712,500 for The Dobie Mountain Lookout – $1.2M for The Big Acorn Hollow, there is a design for every desire and budget. Let Winterwoods Homes take you on a journey to a truly unique and special dwelling where you will treasure every moment for years to come.
For assistance with Wintergreen and Stoney Creek real estate or for additional information regarding the stunning creations of Winterwoods Homes, please contact Brian Chase, Managing Broker.
At Wintergreen Resort Premier Properties, the official, on-site real estate broker of Wintergreen Resort, success is defined one satisfied client at a time. That’s why buyers and sellers are increasingly turning to us to provide solutions to their real estate needs on Wintergreen Mountain and in Wintergreen’s valley community of Stoney Creek. The natural beauty and traditions of Wintergreen Resort are our cherished inspiration and we look forward to sharing that inspiration with you. As we expand the portfolio of services provided to our clients, we are proud to be engaged in an exclusive marketing relationship with Winterwoods Homes - a nationwide turn-key design/build company of luxury timber frame and stone designs for dramatic living in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by the grand lodges of Yosemite and Yellowstone, Winterwoods Homes’ 11 mountain living designs will take you on a journey to a special dwelling where you will treasure every moment for years to come. Equally important, these inspired designs allow you, the owner, to create a home that truly reflects your tastes and preferences with the benefit of guidance from one of the industry’s most revered design teams. JUNE 008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 7
Enjoy Stoney Creek at Wintergreen
3TONEY #REEK "AR 'RILL Dine with a view at the Stoney Creek Bar & Grill with the most picturesque setting in all of Nelson County. As the days warm up be sure to enjoy the sunshine on the deck. Serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Call 434325-8110 for reservations and visit our website for our menus.
snapshots
Benefitting the Fleetwood Community Center in Massie’s Mill, the Fleetwood Trail Ride attracted riders from all over Virginia and surrounding states. More than 150 riders, and many two-legged and four-legged non-riders, participated.
3TONEY #REEK 'OLF #OURSE Golf at Wintergreen brings you the best of the best, a stunning Rees Jones design and cutting edge grass technology. Tee it up at Stoney Creek this spring. And don’t forget Devils Knob opens April 1. Call 434-325-8250 for tee times.
2ODES &ARM 3TABLES
The Stables is ready for you to enjoy spring on horseback with trail rides, pony rides for the young ones, lessons, after school programs and camps. Call 434-325-8260 for program details and reservations.
434-325-2200 • wintergreenresort.com 38 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
The clouds may not have fully cooperated but star gazers did catch views of the Moon, Mars, and Saturn. Guided by the folks from the Charlottesville Astronomical Society, the event was sponsored by the Rockfish Valley Foundation and Central Blue Ridge Master Naturalist Chapter.
PHOTOGRAPHY by DIANA GARLAND
sam’sgarden By Sam Saunders Saunders Landscapes, LLC
Global ‘Warning’ If Al Gore had exercised the same tenacity and determination in his presidential campaign that he used in the making, branding, marketing and showing of his movie ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, his office would have definitely been oval shaped for these last number of years. This movie which shares viewpoints of a particular subset of scientists convinced that the earth is warming and man is to blame, has definitely stirred up the media, naturalists and many others. A growing number of communities are beginning to enforce certain regulations that I consider completely unrealistic and furthermore unproven methods in their efforts to save the environment; including banning Christmas lights, mandating hybrid cars and outlawing wood burning fireplaces. However, regardless of where you stand on ‘Global Warming’, I think we can all agree that a cleaner earth is a better earth and one obvious and realistic solution that should be mandated and NOT obligatory is to R-E-C-Y-C-L-E. I find it pretty amusing that when I now go to the dump there is an attendant, for whom I am undoubtedly paying through some county tax, to monitor and control my disposal practices, but to what end? My options once I arrive are to drop my paper here, my bottles
there, my cans in the round hole, my PETE in the oval hole or to just toss it all into one big bin and forget about it. So under the attendant’s hawk eye, I meticulously sort my garbage while Joe (or Jane) Lazy just jumps out of their mini-van and tosses all of their trash in the bigger disposal area which should be labeled ‘LAZY CITIZENS’ and zooms off in a cloud of dust. We have laws requiring dogs to be registered (even in rural Nelson none-the-less), we have laws controlling when I can burn my brush fire, we even have laws requiring me to protect myself while I operate my vehicle, but Mr. & Mrs. Lazy can dump 100% of their trash into one area destined for some hole in rural America and no one even raises an eyebrow or threatens a fine. What has this country come to? Recycling is actually very easy. Wash it out, flip it over, read the bottom and insert it in the round, oval or rectangular hole at the recycle center. End of story. We are not talking complex math here. Nor are we trying to orbit the moon – it’s actually quite elementary and does not take that much more time than Joe Lazy’s run to the dump. RE-CY-CLE. Do you know how long a bottled water container sits in the average landfill before it is gone? We are not referring to years but generations. Furthermore,
why throw your kitchen scraps into the garbage when the ‘living’ waste from vegetables, coffee, egg shells, etc. mixed in a 4 parts green to 1 part carbon (dried grass clippings, leaves, shredded newspapers, etc.) creates in the right environment (compost tumbler or bin) the most wonderful ‘black gold’ compost that a gardener could ever ask for. So while I am obviously not the poster child for ‘going green’ and as the ‘Al Goronites’ are out trying to stop me from decorating my Christmas tree and to not burn my fireplace all to the tune
of ‘Global Warming’, I am feliz Navidad and warm as toast over here in Lovingston, I do believe that common sense and utilizable methods to keep our earth clean and green should be enforced. On a side note, I don’t understand this climatic pendulum that seems to be swinging toward the warmer side – however I do find it perplexing that the dinosaurs figured out how to cool the earth millions of years ago. And they had a brain the size of a pea! Until our next article… Happy RECYCLING!
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jeff’s mission STORY & PHOTO by YVETTE STAFFORD
Taking a break from preparing the courts for the Spring Slam, Wintergreen Resort Tennis pro Jeff Ryman told me about a mission trip to Guatemala he’s planning. “I’m going to be doing some construction and helping out medical teams,” he says. For Jeff, going on a mission trip to
Central America is a first. He got the idea from a college buddy who was involved with Hearts In Motion, an Indiana-based organization that sends teams of teams of volunteers to Central America. There, the teams conduct medical screenings and surgeries; others help build facilities such as schools. Jeff’s goal is to raise enough money to
cover the cost of his mission trip. “$1000 includes basically everything that I’m going to be doing down there ... everything but the plane ticket. It covers my seven days down there and all the work that I’m going to be doing.” So far, he has raised $300 for the July trip. For more information, call Jeff at 540-325-6599. NCL
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 39
asktheDr. By Dr. Stephen Schmitz Afton Family Medicine Dear Dr. Steve, Why should I have a physical? A lot of folks see a doctor’s office as a place to go only if something is wrong. To me that seems like only visiting your mechanic if your car breaks. We all know a car needs regular maintenance, such as oil changes, brake pads, and proper air pressure in the tires. I like to think of a physical as preventative maintenance for the body. Most medical problems are much more easily handled if caught early. For example, I have recently diagnosed diabetes in two patients. One came in because she felt terrible. She was constantly thirsty and urinating, had blurry vision and nausea, she was a little confused. She ended up in the hospital because her blood sugar was so high. It took shots and medications to get her feeling better, but even then she already had irreversible kidney damage. On the other hand, another guy came for a physical where we checked his blood sugar and found it to be mildly high (early diabetes). With simple diet changes and exercise he has brought his sugar down and controlled or even cured himself of diabetes. The first patient essentially came in when her “engine” had overheated and nearly seized up, the sec-
ond patient simply did his regular “tune up” and avoided major problems. Physicals are a little different for adults and kids. In my next column (in 2 months) we will look at well child checks. For an adult, a physical is all about examining one’s current health, habits, family history, and risk factors for disease to try to make a plan to keep the body feeling good for years to come. Sometimes this involves tests like blood work or cancer screening. But, discussion about health is perhaps even more important. As a family doctor of course I am available for when there is a problem In fact, most of my day is spent trying to help people overcome disease. But, what is really exciting is when I have the opportunity to help stave off medical problems before they start. That is what a physical is all about. Dr. Stephen Schmitz is a licensed medical doctor based in Afton. Have a question for him? Email him at AskTheDr@nelsoncountylife.com. Sorry, due to the high volume of messages received, personal replies may not be possible. The Editor reserves the right to edit questions for content, accuracy, and length. This column is provided as a service to readers of Nelson County Life Magazine and is not intended to replace the advice of a physician. If you have a question about your personal health, please consult your doctor.
theperfectfit By Agnes F. Schrider, PT Nelson Physical Therapy
To Buy or Not to Buy Frequently, I am asked to recommend brands of treadmills, bicycles, ellipticals or weight machines for home use. My first response is not the answer you want to hear although it is the one that will save you the most money. My first response is to make exercise a habit for three months before investing in home exercise equipment (unless of course, you are already in the habit of exercising). Too often, home exercise equipment ends up as a clothes hanger or just collects dust. I recommend that you start by walking 5 days a week, gradually building up to 30- 45 minutes or doing light weights with dumbbells or elastic tubing (a tiny financial investment). If you can establish the habit (even if you aren’t exercising a full 30 minutes) for three months, then it is a good chance that your investment in home exercise equipment will not go to waste. If you have tried multiple times to exercise on your own and know you need guidance, encourage and socialization, it may be wiser to join a center where you can get the support to stay on your program. It is important to identify what type of exerciser you are:
40 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
Independent: They are self motivated to exercise on their own. They may need a personal training session periodically to evaluate and advance their routine. These individuals may exercise at home or in a center. Personal Training Exercisers: these folks will only exercise if a personal trainer is there to instruct and guide them through a program each week. They enjoy exercising at home or in a center. Club Exercisers: these exercisers enjoy the atmosphere and camaraderie of the club setting to keep them on their program. They also like the professional exercise machines, weights and the guidance received from a trained staff. Mixers: these individuals may enjoy running or walking outside but also belong to an exercise center for weight training and exercise classes. Group Exercisers: these are folks who know they will only exercise if it is in a group exercise setting. Investing in home exercise equipment is great because there are no excuses for you not to exercise however, it is only a good buy if you are going to use it. Make it a habit first!
Another reason why people trust Afton Family Medicine.
Dr. Charles Cole
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-5pm. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (540)-456-6710 7849 Rockfish Valley Hwy (SR 151), Afton, VA • www.marthajefferson.org
NELSON PHYSICAL THERAPY & FITNESS Caring for the Community
Experience what Nelson Physical Therapy & Fitness Center has to offer! • Group Circuit weight training classes • Multiple levels and styles of Yoga classes with 4 experienced teachers • NIA classes • Golf Fitness training • Personal Training in your home, our center or your gym • Annual or Monthly Fitness memberships • Wellness Education seminars • Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
NELSON PHYSICAL THERAPY & FITNESS 1543 Beech Grove Rd. Roseland, VA 434.361.2650
NELSON PHYSICAL THERAPY & FITNESS Caring for the Community www.nelsonphysicaltherapy.com Agnes F. Schrider, PT is a licensed physical therapist, fitness trainer, and certified golf fitness trainer based in Nellysford. Have a question for her? Email her at ThePerfectFit@nelsoncountylife.com. Sorry, due to the high volume of messages received, personal replies may not be possible. The Editor reserves the right to edit questions for content, accuracy, and length. This column is provided as a service to readers of Nelson County Life Magazine and is not intended to replace the advice of a licensed professional. If you have a question about your personal health, please consult a health professional.
DO YOU NEED HELP WITH THE COST OF YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS? Take advantage of the
MEDICATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
hoop dreams
A free, eligibility-based, prescription assistance program available through Blue Ridge Medical Center 4038 Thomas Nelson Hwy. Arrington, VA 22922
STORY & PHOTO by YVETTE STAFFORD
Though Nelson County High School Basketball Coach Brandon Garrett guided his team to a state win this year, he isn’t resting. “We’re trying to get the youth in Nelson County more involved in basketball and I think with the season we had I think we’ve got a good chance to do that.” Coach Garrett says he is planning a summer basketball camp for
elementary and middle schoolers to be run by team members the younger kids have grown to idolize. Proceeds raised from the camp, Coach Garrett says, will go towards the purchase of new uniforms for the Junior Varsity team. “Being on the team is one thing but when a kid looks good, they’re going to feel good, they’re going to play good, it’s going to carry over. It’s a mental
Your One Store for Drugs and More!
Stoney Creek Pharmacy
Don’t turn into a lobster this summer.
a second for an opinion By Drs. Brian and Jennifer Prax Chiropractors
Did you see this Good Morning America segment that aired on March 25, 2008?
Gas pains? Shop locally! Stoney Creek Pharmacy Valley Green Shopping Ctr. 2831 Rockfish Valley Hwy Nellysford, VA 22958
Mon.-Fri. 9am - 6pm Sat. 10am - 2pm phone: 434-361-0370 fax: 434-361-0377
Made possible by a grant from the Virginia Health Care Foundation
ADVERTORIAL
Chiropractic Adjustments Can Help Control High Blood Pressure?
Now’s the time to stock up on sun screen products!
For more information call 434-263-4000 Wait for the auto-attendant, then dial 6
thing, psychological.” As a kid growing up in Buena Vista, Coach Garrett – a history teacher at Nelson Middle School – says his involvement in basketball and summer camps proved pivotal. “You can kind of turn kids around if they’re moving in the wrong direction through basketball. There’s a lot of things you can do with basketball to reach a kid.” NCL
“We set up a double-blind study to really look and see if in fact this [chiropractic] procedure was affecting high blood pressure,” said University of Chicago Medical Center hypertension specialist George Bakris, M.D. “The results were intriguing. The patients who received the chiropractic adjustments saw their blood pressure drop an average of 17 points -- a dip that usually takes two blood pressure medications to achieve.” According to the American Heart Association, one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure with at least a third of those people not aware of the problem. Chronic high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, heart failure, stroke, or kidney failure – it is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
Chiropractic is the largest holistic health profession in the world which focuses on the function of the spine and the relationship to the health of the nervous system. When nerves experience tension, the body cannot send effective messages and is unable to adapt efficiently. Chiropractors help by identifying that tension and providing appropriate care. A simple screening process can help to identify if problems in the spine are present and may affect blood pressure. Chiropractors receive special training to identify those potential problems called vertebral subluxations. X-ray, computerized technology, and a detailed examination are used to evaluate for specific spine and nerve tensions. Call your local chiropractor to find out today if this particular procedure can help you. Drs. Brian and Jennifer Prax, chiropractors, provide unusually effective, gentle and logical care. Email your questions or comments to info@chiroprax.com. For more information go to www. chiroprax.com or 434-977-LIFE (5433)
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 41
Nelson County
The
leisureguide
Mark� Addy
food&dining Ambrosia Bakery & Deli Decadent cheesecake and other desserts, as well as tasty sandwiches. 2192 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA 434.361.9661
The Mark Addy Inn, just minutes fromWintergreen… Offering the finest in lodging and international cuisine in an elegant setting. The Fountain Room is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Casual attire is appropriate. Live entertainment most Saturdays 6:30–9:30. Call or visit website for information. Private parties and events are welcome. Visit our website for menu details!
(434) 361-1101 56 Rodes Farm Drive � Nellysford, Virginia � www.mark-addy.com �
Basic Necessities Serving up a taste of the South of France for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Great wine selection. 2226 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA 434.361.1766 Blue Ridge Pig Strawberry’s famous hickory-smoked BBQ. 2198 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA 434.361.1170 Chen’s Chinese take-out. 73 Calohill Dr., Lovingston, VA 434.263.8865 Chirios Pizza Pizza and subs. Take out or delivered. Valley Shopping Center 2777 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA 434.361.9188 Copper Mine An All American Prime Beef Steakhouse with casual but elegant dining. Featuring fresh seafood and organic poultry as well. Dinner reservations are required. Wintergreen Resort 434.325.8090 D’Ambola’s The place to go for a great Italian meal. 9278 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Afton, VA 540.456.4556
HAMNER THEATER
www.thehamnertheater.com • 434.361.1999
Don’t miss
A Shadow of Honor, Onstage May 23 - June 1st Saturday, June 7 From Aretha to Ziggy - Rural Nelson Dance Party
In the Cabaret
Saturday, June 14 - TigerLily Nelson County favorites - A soulful equation of 1 part bass and 3-part harmony Doors/Bar/Food 6:30pm Music 7:30pm $15 includes food, by reservation only. Please call 434-361-1999 for reservations.
The Hamner hits the road
Look for us in July at the DC Fringe and at the Wintergreen Performing Arts 2008 Summer Music Festival
Call 434-361-1999 for reservations & info
The Hamner Theater @ The Rockfish Valley Community Center 190 Rockfish School Lane, Afton, Virginia • www.thehamnertheater.com The Hamner Theater is a non-profit 501(c)(3) project of the Rockfish Valley Community Center in Nelson County.
42 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
Devils Grill The highest restaurant in Virginia with spectacular views of our Devils Knob golf course Dine on our patio for lunch or dinner. Distinctive American cuisine with a Southern flare. Dinner reservations are required. Wintergreen Resort 434.325.8100 The Dogwood Steaks, seafood and country cuisine. Lunch, breakfast and dinner. 2461 Rockfish Valley Highway, Nellysford, VA 434.361.1700 The Edge Casual dining with a view of the slopes. Seasonal live entertainment. Wintergreen Resort 434.325.8080 The Fountain Room at The Mark Addy Inn Offering the finest in international cuisine in an elegant setting. 56 Rodes Farm Dr., Nellysford, VA 434.361.1101 Lovingston Cafe Lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Breakfast Friday through Monday. 165 Front Street, Lovingston, VA 434.263.8000 Rapunzel’s Coffee and Books Full espresso bar and used bookstore, live music every Friday and Saturday. 924 Front Street (in the Packing Shed), Lovingston, VA 434.263.6660 Sparrow’s Café Village at Glen Mary (Rt. 664) 434.361.0054 Stoney Creek Bar & Grill
Located in the valley at the Stoney Creek Golf course. Serving casual lunch, Sunday brunch and dinner. Seasonal live entertainment on our deck. Reservations please for brunch and dinner. Wintergreen Resort 434.325.8110 Thai Mex II Wonderful Thai and Mexican cuisine to keep dining interesting and fun. Sophisticated but not stuffy. Open 8:30am to 10:30pm 7 days a week, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Valley Green Shopping Center, Nellysford, VA 434.361.1400 Thai Siam Take-Out Authentic Thai food, antique shop next door. 4137 Tye Brook Highway (Rt. 56), Colleen, VA 434.263.8577 Vineyard Coffee House Corner of Rt. 151 and Chapel Hollow Rd, Afton, VA 434.361.1692 Vito’s Italian Restaurant Specializing in pizza and Italian dishes. 8181 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Lovingston, VA 434.263.8688
shuteye Acorn Inn Bed & Breakfast 2256 Adial Rd, Faber, VA 434.361.9357 Afton House Bed & Breakfast and Cottages 31 Afton Lane, Route 6 East, Afton, VA 540.456.6759 Afton Mountain Bed & Breakfast 10273 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Afton, VA 540.456.6844 Camp Blue Ridge Montebello, VA 540.377.2413 Cox’s Creek Cottage 296 C & C Lane, Roseland, VA 434.277.5566 Dutch Haus Bed & Breakfast 655 Fork Mountain Lane, Montebello, VA 540.377.2119 Fallen Oak Bed & Breakfast 353 Mimosa Lane, Faber, VA 434.361.1011 Harmony Hill Bed & Breakfast 929 Wilson Hill Rd (Route 665), Arrington, VA 877.263.7750 Horseshoe Mountain Lodge Roseland, VA 434.361.2525 The Mark Addy 56 Rodes Farm Drive, Nellysford, VA 434.361.1101 The Meander Inn 3100 Berry Hill Road, Nellysford, VA 434.361.1121 The Meeting Place 825 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Wintergreen, VA 434.361.2380 Montebello Camping & Fishing Resort 15072 Crabtree Falls Hwy, Montebello, VA 540.377.2650 North Fork Cottages 697 North Fork Road, Tyro, VA
Nelson County
leisureguide
540.377.2007
540.456.8000
Oakmoor Country Inn 98 Lobbans Lane, Afton, VA 540.456.6690
Wintergreen Vineyard & Winery 426 Winery Lane, Nellysford, VA 434.361.2519
The Orchard House Bed & Breakfast 9749 Thomas Nelson Hwy (Rt. 29), Lovingston, VA 434.263.7747 Walton’s Mountain B&B 6401 Rockfish River Rd, Schuyler, VA 434.831.1384 Resort Reservations & Country Cottages Rural getaways, Wintergreen condos and homes available. Afton, VA 540.456.8300 Royal Oaks Cabins in the Mountains 45 Royal Oaks Lane, Love, VA 800.410.0627 Sarah’s Mountain Retreat Cabin 406 Fish Hatchery Lane, Montebello, VA 540.377.6458 Shadow Mountain Rentals 15644 Crabtree Falls Hwy, Montebello, VA 757.424.2884 Simpson’s Hollow Bed & Breakfast 580 Simpsons Lane, Lovingston, VA 434.263.6380 The White Pig Bed & Breakfast 5120 Irish Road, Schuyler, VA 434.831.1416 Tye River Cabin 6011 Crabtree Falls Highway, Tyro, VA 434.238.2430 Wintergreen Resort Studios, condos and homes available. Wintergreen, VA 800.266.2444
wine&beercountry Afton Mountain Vineyards 234 Vineyard Lane, Afton, VA 540.456.8667 Blue Mountain Brewery 9519 Critzers Shop Rd. (Rt. 151), Afton, VA 540.456.8020 Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery 9423 Batesville Rd, Afton, VA 540.456.8400 DelFosse Vineyards & Winery 500 DelFosse Winery Lane, Faber, VA 434.263.6100 Flying Fox Vineyard 27 Chapel Hollow Rd, Afton, VA 434.361.1692 Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery 2800 Berry Hill Road, Nellysford, VA 434.361.1266 Lovingston Winery 885 Freshwater Cove Lane, Lovingston, VA 434.263.8467 Mountain Cove Vineyards 1362 Fortunes Cove Lane, Lovingston, VA 434.263.5392 Veritas Vineyards & Winery 145 Saddleback Farm, Afton, VA
gifts&antiques
Open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm 434.263.6100 • 500 DelFosse Winery Lane Faber, VA • GPS: N37˚ 53.367 W078˚45.710 Order our wine online: www.delfossewine.com
Sunday, June 15, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Father's Day BBQ
Join us for an afternoon of fun and enjoy a great Father's Day barbecue prepared by Hank's Smokehouse.
Saturday, June 28, 6 p.m. Summer Wine Dinner
Afton House Antiques 31 Afton House Lane, Afton, VA 540.942.2993 a.m. FOG 9264 Critzer Shop Road, Afton, VA 540.456.7100
Menu by Eric Stamer of Eric Stamer Catering. Wine from DelFosse Winery. Complimentary Wine Glass. A 10% discount on wines purchased at that event.
Black Rock Gallery The Mountain Inn, Wintergreen, VA 434.325.2200 x.8228 Blossom’s Flowers, Gifts & Crafts 911 Front Street, Lovingston, VA 434.263.8227 Blue Moon Antique Mall & Bookstore 8230 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Lovingston, VA 434.263.8890 Cat Rock Antiques 9704 Patrick Henry Hwy (Rt. 151), Roseland, VA 434.277.8049 Claudia’s Florist & Gifts 121 Main Street, Lovingston, VA 434.263.5848 Kelly’s 5060 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Faber, VA 434.361.1169 Foxfire Gifts 954 Beech Grove Road, Nellysford, VA 434.361.2202 Garden Trade 71 River Road (Rt. 6), Faber, VA 434.263.8786 Hughes Mews Antiques 2471 Rockfish Valley Hwy (Rt. 151), Nellysford, VA 540.456.7237 Lang’s Art & Gift Shop Rt. 250 East slope of Afton Mountain, Afton, VA 540.456.7109 Lovingston Arts & Crafts 924 Front St. (In “The Packing Shed”), Lovingston, VA 434.996.5058 Logos of Wintergreen Mountain Inn Lodge, Wintergreen, VA 434.325.1125 Lovingston Antiques 924 Front St. (In “The Packing Shed”), Lovingston, VA 434.263.6660 Mountain Vision Pottery 2019 Beech Grove Road, Roseland, VA 434.361.1725 Notforgotten Farm 3530 Tye River Road, Tye River, VA 434.263.6508 Rockfish Gap Country Store Intersection of Routes 250 and 151, Afton, VA 540.456.6112 Spruce Creek Gallery 1368 Rockfish Valley Hwy (SR 151), Nellysford, VA 434.361.1859 Tuckahoe Antique Mall
4202 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA 434.361.2121 Valley Green Gallery Valley Green Center (Rt. 151), Nellysford, VA 434.361.9316 Wintergreen True Value Hardware Gift Aisle 2230 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA 434.361.1919
orchardcountry a.m.FOG 9264 Critzer’s Shop Road, Afton, VA 540.456.7100
Our dining room is now smoke free.
Fresh Seafood Char-broiled Steaks Specialty Sandwiches Fresh Salads Daily Specials
Critzer Family Farm 9388 Critzer Shop Road (Rt. 151), Afton, VA 540.456.4772 Dickie Brothers Orchard 2552 Dickie Road ,Rt. 666, off 56 West, Massies Mill, VA 434.277.5516 Drumheller’s Orchard 1130 Drumheller Orchard Lane, (Rt. 741, off Hwy. 29) south of Lovingston 434.263.5036 Fitzgerald’s Orchard 728 Harper’s Creek Lane,(Rt. 682, off Rt. 56), Tyro, VA 434.277.5798 Flippin-Seaman, Inc. – Seaman & Silver Creek Orchards 5529 Crabtree Falls Hwy, Tyro, VA 434.277.5824 Saunders Brothers Orchard 2717 Tye Brook Hwy (Rt. 56), Piney River, VA 434.277.5455 The Apple Shed 14815 Thomas Nelson Hwy (Hwy 29), Lovingston, VA 434.263.8843
Lunch 10:30 - 4:00 Dinner 4:00 - 9:00 Open 7 Days a Week
165 Front Street Lovingston, Virginia 434-263-8000
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 43
Nelson County
South River Restaurant & Wine Shop
datebook
Grillin’ & Chillin’
Every Monday on the bar-side pa�o: live music and grilled foods 7 - 9 PM Plus: Join us EVERY WEDNESDAY at 7:30 pm for dinner and dancing with live acous�c music by Jimmy O
JUNE EVENTS: • Free Wine Tas�ng Every Thursday, 6-8pm (except during Wine Dinner) • Sun. June 15th Father’s Day* • Tues. June 17th High Tea at 3pm* Summer Tea Preview • Thurs. June 26th Wine Dinner at 7pm* Summer’s Introduc�on *Call for Reserva�ons & Informa�on
i7JSHJOJB 8JOF 3FUBJMFS PG UIF :FBSw - Virginia Wineries Associa�on
GOLD MEDALS:
i'JSTU JO :PVS (MBTTw i8JOF $FMMBSw
4PVUI 3JWFS
sunday
Ralph Rush at Humpback Rocks 2-4 pm at Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm, Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 5.8. 540-943-4716
monday
fri-sun
june 6-8
Helga Johnson Jewelry Workshop Please join us at The Meeting Place for a weekend of design and instruction for a lovely piece of jewelry for a treasured daughter, friend, or yourself. You will learn about color and design, along with beading techniques to enable you to design and create your own pieces of jewelry. 434-361-2380
saturday
june 7
Nelson Farmers’ Market Co-op Featuring music by Eli Cook, sponsored by GAIA Homes, Inc. The market is located in Nellysford and is open from 8 am to noon. 434-244-2399 From Aretha to Ziggy Dance Party benefit for Rural Nelson. Suggested donation $5 -10. At The Hamner Theater. 8pm. 434-361-1999
sunday
june 8
Sunnyside with Carol Phillips at Humpback Rocks 2-4 pm at Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm, Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 5.8. 540-943-4716 Bethlehem UMC Sesquicentennial Celebrate the Bethlehem United Methodist Church’s sesquicentennial at the Harewood Community in Piney River. 434-361-1055
44 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
Jeannine Barton Regan Watercolor Workshop Please join us at The Meeting Place for Jeannine’s fantastic workshop. Methods of painting with transparent watercolor will be explored using washes, glazes, wet in wet, dry brush, color mixing and manipulation. 434-361-2380
june 2 saturday june 14
Salsa Lessons Start your Summer off on the right foot! Hot Salsa lessons are just what you need this month to get you ready for summer fun. No partner required. Lessons are taught at the Nelson Center in Lovingston by Lisa Harbin. June 2, 9 and 23 at 7:15pm - 8pm. $ 434-263-7773
Restaurant & Wine Shop 23 Windigrove Dr • Waynesboro, VA (540) 942-5567 • southrivergrill.com
fri-sun june 1 june 13-15
540-456-8000 ext. 107 Father’s Day BBQ at DelFosse Winery From 11-3 434-263-6100
mon-fri june 16-20 Wintergreen Resort Swim Lessons Level 1: Water Exploration: Students will develop safe practices around water. Instruction will include self confidence, and introductory swimming skills. Level 2: Primary Skills: This level marks the beginning of basic locomotion and stroke development. 9am - noon. $ 434-325-8182
Nelson Farmers’ Market Co-op Featuring music by Victor Cabas, sponsored by Nelson Physical Therapy & Fitness. The market is located in Nellysford and is open from 8 am to noon. 434-244-2399
friday
Concert Series at Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery Live music at the winery. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic and the enjoy the view. Discounted admission if you bring non-perishable food items for our local food bank. May cancel if inclement weather, please call. 4- 8 pm. $ 540-456-8400
Friday’s on the Patio From 5-8 pm at DelFosse Winery 434-263-6100
Starry Nights at Veritas Vineyards & Winery Join us for an evening of pure merriment. Bring your chairs, blankets, dancing shoes and picnic baskets, watch the sun go down and the stars come out. Enjoy live music, dancing, wine and a great crowd. Vineyard picnic dinners available. 7 -11 pm. Fee includes wine glass and live music. 540-456-8000
Nelson Farmers’ Market Co-op Featuring music by Buzzard Hollow Boys, sponsored by Rockfish Gap Country Store. The market is located in Nellysford and is open from 8 am to noon. 434-244-2399
In the Cabaret: TigerLily Nelson County favorites - A soulful equation of 1 part bass and 3-part harmony. Doors/Bar/Food 6:30pm Music 7:30pm. By reservation only. At the Hamner Theater. $ 434-361-1999
sunday
june 15
Harry Baldwin and his Percheron draft horses at Humpback Rocks 2-4 pm at Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm, Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 5.8. 540-943-4716 Father’s Day at Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery Treat Dad to wine tasting and some complimentary cheeses selected to pair with our wines. Dad gets a free Cardinal Point wine glass to take home! 11 am - 5:30 pm. 540-456-8400 Father’s Day Winemaker’s Brunch at Veritas Winery Treat your father, yourself or other loved ones to a gourmet brunch stating with champagne cocktail the five courses paired with Veritas wine. 12- 3 pm. $
june 20
saturday june 21
All About Fruit Day Every year Edible Landscaping hosts an “open house” at their nursery in Nelson County. Natural beauty surrounds the orchard and greenhouses. Tours, lectures and guest speakers, all about EDIBLE landscaping for your home. Propagation, pest control, pruning, etc. 9-5 pm Bring a picnic lunch. 434-361-9134
sunday
june 22
Mountain Messengers with Keith Fitzgerald 2-4 pm at Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm, Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 5.8. 540-943-4716
monday june 23 Nelson Library Book Group CARPE DIEM by Autumn Cornwell: Sixteen-year-old Vassar Spore’s detailed plans for the next twenty years of her life are derailed when her bohemian grandmother insists that she join her in Southeast Asia for the summer, but as she writes a novel about her experiences, Vassar discovers new possibilities. Noon. 434-263-5904
Nelson County
datebook
snapshots
PHOTO COURTESY NELSON INSPECTIONS DEPT.
Enjoy Nelson County’s
Red, White &Brew TM
COMING SOON!
Democracy Winery Devil’s Backbone Brewery & Pub Eades Hollow Distillery
Peter Brechlin of the Nelson County Inspections Department speaks to a class at Rockfish River Elementary School as part of Building Safety Week.
mon-fri june 16-20 Wintergreen Resort Swim Lessons Level 1: Water Exploration: Students will develop safe practices around water. Instruction will include self confidence, and introductory swimming skills. Level 2: Primary Skills: This level marks the beginning of basic locomotion and stroke development. 9am - noon. $ 434-325-8182
wednesday june 25 Lovely Lavendar Day at Pharsalia From 10 am - 3 pm. Check the website for class schedule. Annie Baggett of Sunshine Lavendar Farm will share her knowledge about growing, caring for and using lavendar. 434-277-5231
saturday june 28 Nelson Farmers’ Market Co-op Featuring music by Warmed Over Boys, sponsored by Stoney Creek Pharmacy. The market is located in Nellysford and is open from 8 am to noon. 434-244-2399 Summer Wine Dinner at DelFosse Winery 434-263-6100
sat-sun june 28-29
Nelson County Summer Festival A showcase of Nelson County wines and culture for residents and visitors alike. Actives include music, agricultural displays and demonstrations, children’s area, wine tasting, microbrew beer and a variety of food and crafts vendors. Wine tasting is available for an additional fee. Fee. 11 - 6 p.m. 434-263-7015
sunday
june 29
Pam Ward and Grassy Ridge 2-4 pm at Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm, Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 5.8. 540-943-4716
monday june 30 Practice Dances Nelson County now has a great place to practice ballroom dancing. If you already know how to dance and just want a chance to enjoy a night out, our practice dances may be just what you’re looking for! Each month will highlight the “dance of the month” but we play a variety of music so you can practice all your moves. No partner required. Light refreshments provided. Nelson Center, 7:30pm - 9pm. 434-263-7773
Want to be included in our datebook? Email your event information, short and sweet, to datebook@ nelsoncountylife.com. We’ll try to publish as many events as possible, space permitting. Deadline for next month’s issue is the 15th. Sorry neighbors, event MUST be in Nelson County or benefit an organization in Nelson County.
For more information, contact the Nelson County Visitors Bureau at 800-282-8223 or online at www.nelsoncounty.com. Afton Mountain Vineyards www.aftonmountainvineyards.com 540-456-8667 I-64 to Exit 99, take Route 250 East (1.3 miles) Right onto Route 6. Right on Route 631 (1.2 miles) Blue Mountain Brewery www.bluemountainbrewery.com 540-456-8020 I-64 to Exit 107, take Route 250 West (6 miles) Left onto Route 151 South (1.3 miles) Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery www.cardinalpointwinery.com 540-456-8400 I-64 to Exit 107, take Route 250 West (6 miles) Left onto Route 151 South (2.4 miles) Left on Route 638 - Avon Road (0.9 miles) Left on Batesville Road (0.7 miles) DelFosse Vineyards & Winery www.delfossewine.com 434-263-6100 I-64 to Exit 118A, take Route 29 South (20 miles) Right onto Route 616 (3.2 miles) Flying Fox Vineyard www.flyingfoxvineyard.com 434-361-1692 I-64 to Exit 107 Left onto Route 250 West (6 miles) Left onto Route 151 (7 miles) Right onto Chapel Hollow Road - Route 709 (0.1 miles)
Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery www.hilltopberrywine.com 434-361-1266 I-64 to Exit 107, take Route 250 West (6 miles) Left onto Route 151 South (10 miles) Left onto Route 612 (1 miles) Lovingston Winery www.lovingstonwinery.com 434-263-8467 I-64 to Exit 118A, take Route 29 South (35 miles) Right onto Route 653 - Freshwater Cove Road (1 mile) Mountain Cove Vineyards www.mountaincovevineyards.com 434-263-5392 I-64 to Exit 118A, take Route 29 South (28 miles) Right onto Route 718 - Mountain Cove Road (1.5 miles) Right onto Fortunes Cove Lane (1.8 miles) Veritas Vineyard & Winery www.veritaswines.com 540-456-8000 I-64 to Exit 107, take Route 250 West (6 miles) Left onto Route 151 South (3 miles) Right onto Route 6 (1.3 miles) Wintergreen Vineyard & Winery www.wintergreenwinery.com 434-361-2519 I-64 to Exit 107, take Route 250 West (6 miles) Left onto Route 151 South (14 miles) Right onto Route 664 (0.5 miles)
JUNE 2008 NELSON COUNTY LIFE 45
pat’s paintings STORY & PHOTO by YVETTE STAFFORD
When we hired Pat Echols Saunders to do a pen and ink of our home, we were hoping for something that would show up nicely on a note card. She nailed it. “Every old house has so much character and no two are alike,” she says, sitting over an acrylic snow scene of our home she is working on. “You have the basic structure but people have added on and added on.” It just so happened a member of the sprawling Saunders clan, Jack Saunders, lived in our house with his wife, Margaret Dameron. Not only that, but Jack spent some of his early years at the 1800’s brick farmhouse Pat shares with husband, Robert, and their five kids. A native of Monroe County, West Virginia, Pat met her husband while studying at Virginia Tech. “If I see a house just driving by and there’s something about it that catches my attention then I want to paint it. So I either go out and take photographs or I go out and sketch it or whatever. A lot of them are rural scenes because that’s what I grew up with around West Virginia.” Besides historical homes and buildings, Pat has an eye for rural landscapes. Yet the mountains that surround her is the one subject that continues to elude her. “I struggle. One day I want to catch the mountains. I’ve painted them a hundred times but still, you can’t capture what they really look like, they’re so beautiful ... One day.” NCL
46 NELSON COUNTY LIFE JUNE 2008
Woodson’s Mill (above), local farm houses, and the University of Virginia Rotunda (below) are among the subjects Pat Echols Saunders has painted.
Pat Echols Saunders drew this pen and ink drawing of The Dameron House at Greenfield at her home in Piney River. Ironically, Jack Saunders spent part of his life at both homes.
For more information on Pat Echols Saunders’ work, call 434-277-8036 or visit PatSaundersArtist.com
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