STAUNTON – The Virginia Department of Transportation has closured Route 39 (Maury River Road) in the Goshen Pass area of Rockbridge County due to a forest fire. Route 39 is closed from the overlook eastern area to Route 601, which comprises the entire Goshen Pass.
The road was initially closed around 6 p.m. on April 12. The road will remain closed until 8 a.m. on April 13 when local officials will reevaluate the situation to see if the closure needs to be extended.
Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at http://www.511Virginia.org.
The VDOT Customer Service Center can assist with reporting road hazards, asking transportation questions, or getting information related to Virginia’s roads. Call 800-FOR- ROAD (800-367-7623) or use its mobile friendly website at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/. Agents are available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week.
The Staunton District Twitter feed is at @VaDOTStaunton. VDOT can be followed on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. RSS feeds are also available for statewide information. The VDOT Web page is located at http://www.VirginiaDOT.org.
The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.
Wintergreen Resort / Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
In a press release received Monday afternoon, the operator of Wintergreen Resort, Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. (PGRI), announced the acquisition of Nellysford-based Wintergreen Real Estate Company. Resort Asset Holdings, LLC – a real estate affiliate of PGRI – also co-owns Wintergreen Resort Premier Properties with Charlottesville-based Roy Wheeler Realty. The plan is to combine both brokerages into one firm, and “the agents and staff of both brokerages will continue to be part of the combined company going forward,” according to the release.
“Pacific Group has a strong real estate development and operations background, and we are excited to work with them on their vision of making Wintergreen Resort one of the truly premier resort communities on the East Coast,” said Tim Hess, managing partner of Wintergreen Real Estate Company, and of area developer High Country Associates.
Doug Anderson, the chairman of Resort Asset Holdings, cited “a coming generational turnover in the ownership of the properties at the resort,” explaining that many of the original owners are in their late 70’s and early 80’s, an age when people would consider selling resort oriented real estate. “We’d like to be helpful in that transition and to help the new buyers get the most out of their experience at Wintergreen,” Anderson added.
Copyright 2017 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Photos By Paul Purpura – BRL Mountain Photographer : Youngsters had an amazing afternoon at the annual Rockfish Valley Foundation Kite Festival held this past Sunday – April 9, 2017 near Nellysford, Virginia. Above they are participating in the parachute races. The kite festival was one of many events held this past weekend. BRL is the founding media sponsor of the kite festival held every April.
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Nelson County, Virginia
This past weekend started off on Saturday morning with a chill, but quickly turned into a spectacular couple of days for events across the Blue Ridge!
The annual Piney River Mini Triathlon was held this past Saturday morning. Its been a favorite for over a decade right here in the Blue Ridge. Click on the image above to see many more photos from our Facebook album that Paul Purpura shot that morning.If a triathlon wasn’t your thing and running was, you were in luck. The annual Be Bold 4 Miler was held on Saturday morning as well. BRL has been a founding member of the race since its beginning. To see more of the photos Paul Purpura shot there click on our Facebook album above.And on Sunday, one of our favorites, The annual Rockfish Valley Foundation Kite Festival was held. Blue Ridge Life has been the founding media sponsor of the festival since the beginning. To see more of Paul Purpura’s great photos from the kite festival click on our Facebook album above.
Thanks to everyone for a great weekend of events and see you again next year!
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Nelson County, Virginia
We launched our smartphone app a few days ago during severe weather potential, and staying on top of such things is why we developed the Blue Ridge Life app. We promise not to blow up your phone with silly stuff.
When you see the little red dot and hear our push alert, it’s because it’s important. Available for iOS and Android. Like our monthly magazine, the app is Priceless (FREE!).
You’ll be hearing lots more in the coming days and weeks!
And a special thank you to all of our Beta Testers over the past couple of weeks, stretching from Vermont to Southern Florida to Richmond and right here at home in the Blue Ridge Mountains!
Click on the photo above now to download the BRL App for your Iphone or Ipad via the Itunes / Apple Store. – Be sure to allow notifications if you want to get our news and weather alerts.
Click on the photo above now to download the BRL App for your Android device via Google Play. – Be sure to allow notifications if you want to get our news and weather alerts.
Many areas across the Blue Ridge are likely to fall below freezing Friday night into Saturday morning.
FREEZE WATCH
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
839 PM EDT Thu Apr 6 2017
Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-Northern Baltimore-
Northwest Montgomery-Northwest Howard-Northwest Harford-
Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-Clarke-Nelson-Albemarle-
Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper-Northern Fauquier-
Southern Fauquier-Western Loudoun-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-
Including the cities of Hagerstown, Frederick, Ballenger Creek,
Eldersburg, Westminster, Reisterstown, Cockeysville, Germantown,
Damascus, Lisbon, Jarrettsville, Strasburg, Woodstock,
Mount Jackson, New Market, Winchester, Luray, Shenandoah,
Stanley, Front Royal, Berryville, Lovingston, Charlottesville,
Stanardsville, Madison, Washington, Orange, Gordonsville,
Culpeper, Warrenton, Turnbull, Purcellville, Paw Paw,
Martinsburg, Charles Town, and Shepherdstown
839 PM EDT Thu Apr 6 2017
…FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING…
* TEMPERATURES…In the low 30s.
* IMPACTS…Freezing temperatures may kill sensitive vegetation.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Freeze Watch means sub-freezing temperatures are possible.
These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
&&
$$
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
839 PM EDT Thu Apr 6 2017
VAZ025-026-507-508-070845-
/O.CON.KLWX.WI.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-170408T0000Z/
/O.CON.KLWX.FZ.A.0001.170408T0500Z-170408T1300Z/
Augusta-Rockingham-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-
Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Including the cities of Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft,
Harrisonburg, Big Meadows, and Wintergreen
839 PM EDT Thu Apr 6 2017
…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT FRIDAY…
…FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING…
* TEMPERATURES…In the low 30s Friday night.
* TIMING…Strong winds through Friday evening for elevations
above 2000 feet. Freezing temperautres late Friday night.
* WINDS…West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* IMPACTS…Strong winds may blow down limbs, trees, and power
lines. Scattered power outages are expected. Freezing
temperatures may kill sensitive vegetation.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Wind Advisory means that winds of 45 to 55 mph are expected.
Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high
profile vehicles.
A Freeze Watch means sub-freezing temperatures are possible.
These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
&&
$$
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
354 PM EDT Thu Apr 6 2017
… Very Strong Winds Expected Today through Friday…
.An area of low pressure will deepen as it tracks from the Ohio
Valley into New York today into Friday. As a result very strong
and gusty northwest winds will develop across the Appalachians by
this afternoon through Friday.
NCZ003-004-019-020-VAZ023-024-032>035-043-045-070400-
/O.NEW.KRNK.FZ.A.0001.170408T0600Z-170408T1300Z/
/O.CON.KRNK.WI.Y.0010.000000T0000Z-170408T0000Z/
Surry-Stokes-Wilkes-Yadkin-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Patrick-Franklin-
Bedford-Amherst-Henry-Campbell-
Including the cities of Dobson, Danbury, Wilkesboro, Yadkinville,
Fincastle, Lexington, Buena Vista, Stuart, Rocky Mount, Bedford,
Amherst, Martinsville, and Lynchburg
354 PM EDT Thu Apr 6 2017
…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT FRIDAY…
…FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
MORNING…
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a Freeze
Watch, which is in effect from late Friday night through Saturday
morning.
* Temperatures…Falling into the low 30s Friday night, specific
to the Freeze Watch.
* Locations…Southeast West Virginia, southwest Virginia and
northwest North Carolina, mainly along and on either side of
the Blue Ridge, and into the foothills and piedmont of
Virginia and North Carolina.
* Winds…Northwest 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 or 55 mph.
Temperatures falling below freezing Friday night, specific to
the Freeze Watch.
* Timing…Winds continue to increase tonight through Friday.
Freezing temperatures expected to develop overnight Friday,
specific to the Freeze Watch.
* Impacts…Trees and tree limbs may be blow down. Isolated power
outages are possible. High profile vehicles on north- south
oriented roads should exercise caution. Motorists along
Interstate 81 and Interstate 77 should be prepared for strong
cross winds.Freezing temperatures may damage or kill crops and
plants if protective actions are not taken.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Wind Advisory is issued when sustained winds are forecast to be
31 to 39 MPH or gusts will range between 46 and 57 MPH. Winds of
these magnitudes may cause minor property damage without extra
precautions. Motorists in high profile vehicles should use extra
caution until the winds subside.
A Freeze Watch means sub-freezing temperatures are possible.
These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.Many area in the Blue Ridge are at risk of temps falling below freezing Friday night into Saturday morning.
Image grab via :Tranzon.com of the listing announcemnt of the Wintergreen Property.
Wintergreen Mountain
Nelson County, Virginia
A 382+ acre property near Wintergreen Resort, and linked to former owner and coal magnate Gov. James C. Justice of West Virginia, is scheduled to be put on the auction block this month.
According to an online listing by auction company Tranzon, LLC, tours of the property for prospective bidders are scheduled for April 6, 13, and 20. Bidding for the property opens April 10 and closes April 27. https://www.tranzon.com/FX1871
The property information package, available for download to Tranzon account holders, includes a recent tax card of parcel 11-A-2G and lists joint ownership by Wintergreen Partners Inc. and James T. Miller out of 818 N. Eisenhower Dr., Beckley, WV 25801. That address is also listed as the location of Beckley Little League, Inc., where Miller serves as Secretary and Treasury; James C. Justice II is the company’s President. http://apps.sos.wv.gov/business/corporations/organization.aspx?org=2382
According to the information packet, the property “is encumbered by a Right of First Refusal in favor of the current Wintergreen Resport Owner and Operator (Wintergreen).” That means Wintergreen would have 60 days to exercise that right but “Wintergreen has verbally expressed to Seller that it does not intend to exercise this right, according to the Seller, but Seller is not yet in receipt of a written waiver.” A Q&A portion of the packet addresses the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline and refers bidders to reach out to Friends of Wintergreen and the Wintergreen Homeowners Association for more information, and to FERC for information on the pipeline’s likely path.
BRL has reached out locally to Wintergreen’s local public relations department for comment.
Blue Ridge Life Magazine has been a mom & pop since day one. Yvette and Tommy Stafford started the magazine on this very day 12 years ago on April 1, 2005. Eight years ago son Adam joined the gang. Six years ago daughter Peyton came along too!
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Nelson County, Virginia
The year was 2005. The date, April 1st. That’s when it all started. Nelson County Life Magazine was our charter publication that eventually expanded into Blue Ridge Life, and these days covers the Central VA Blue Ridge area.
Above a CBS19 News clip on our 12th anniversary. Click play to watch.
We’ve been copied. Imitated, and on and on. We haven’t changed. It’s still just us. Mom and pop. Yvette and I started this magazine as a family operation a dozen years ago today. Fast forward to 2017 it’s still a family operation joined now by our son Adam in 2008 and daughter Peyton in 2010. We still live, work and play right here in the Blue Ridge, based in Nelson County.
Click on our Facebook album above to see more photos from the year it all began!
We couldn’t have made any of this possible without your support. The readers. And we definitely couldn’t have done it without the support of our advertisers. Many of them that started on day one are still with us 12 years later to this very day. We thank you greatly for your continued confidence and friendship.
Lots has changed in this past 12 years. We haven’t. Though we’ve updated with the times, we’re the same people you got to know way back then.
We have an exciting announcement in the next few days, fitting for our dozen years here in the Blue Ridge. Stay tuned.
Until then, take a look back at some of the photos from year one.
Afton / Rockfish Gap Turnpike
Albemarle County, Virginia
Via VDOT:
TEMPORARY SIGNAL TO BE ACTIVATED ON RT. 250/151 IN AFTON
Signal will enter flash mode next week; motorists advised to use caution
The temporary signal at Route 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) and Route 151 (Critzers Shop Road) near the Albemarle-Nelson county line will be activated next week.
Contractors will work to install the signal heads and place the signal in flash mode early next week. The signal is expected to be fully operational by April 10.
Crews have been working since early March to install the temporary signal and accompanying advance warning flasher on Route 250 eastbound, which has a steep downgrade.
Motorists should be aware of the new traffic pattern and drive with caution in the area.
A more extensive project is in development to convert the intersection to a roundabout. The safety improvement project will address a history of turning-related crashes at the high-volume intersection. Route 250 carries 6,700 vehicles per day and Route 151 carries 10,000 with about seven percent truck traffic daily on both routes. Pending funding approval, preliminary engineering on the project will begin in 2018.
Virginia Distillery Company is offering a new whisky starting April 1st – and all for a good cause. Nelson County First Responders Single Cask (Coffee Finished) is dedicated to the hardworking First Responder teams in Nelson County, a group that’s near and dear to the team at Virginia Distillery Company.
Why? Virginia Distillery Company got to witness the First Responders heroic efforts firsthand this past November when there was a forest fire on the hillside behind the distillery. As a thank you to all who responded to assist, Virginia Distillery Company is donating the net proceeds from the sale of this whisky to local Nelson County First Responder teams.
The Nelson County First Responders Single Cask (Coffee Finished) will be released for the first time on April 1st with an official launch at the distillery’s upcoming ‘Spring Fling’ event on April 8th. A larger event will be planned in the coming months for the First Responders where the distillery will announce the donation amount from the release.
Virginia Distillery Company worked with a local coffee company, Trager Brothers Coffee, on this whisky. The team at Trager Brothers Coffee used an ex-Bourbon cask from Virginia Distillery Company and did a cold brew coffee soak. After emptying the coffee from the cask, whisky was added and left to completed finishing for 18 months.
This limited release is available only at Virginia Distillery Company’s Visitors Center. Virginia Distillery Company invited Nelson County First Responders to stop by anytime during the month of April for tastings of this special whisky.
