[evp_embed_video url=”https://blueridgelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_0792.mov” autoplay=”true”] Video by BRLM Photographer Paul Purpura: Shot Saturday – July 25, 2015 at at the Rodes Farm Barn when local musicians joined students of the Wintergreen Summer Music Academy for a morning of string orchestra repertoire.
Rodes Farm / Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
The Wintergreen Perform Arts Summer Music Festival continues for the next few days. On Saturday a different twist as locals joined students of the Wintergreen Summer Music Academy for a morning of string orchestra repertoire in the Rodes Farm Barn.
Photo by BRLM Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Artistic director Erin Freeman conducts members of the Wintergreen Summer Music Academy and locals who joined in the music at the Rodes Farm Barn, Saturday – July 25, 2015.
Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
With the cutting of a ribbon Wild Wolf official opened their new event center adjacent to their restaurant and brewery in Nellysford. The space was most recently the previous home of Zestivities and years ago was and a garden center and rental spaces, long before Wild Wolf purchased the property.
Making it official! the ribbon is cut on the new event center at Wild Wolf Brewing in Nellysford.
Sherri Brooks of Shipman passed away peacefully early Monday morning at her home. She was surrounded by her husband, family and friends.Shipman
Nelson County, Virginia
I tend to write in first person at times like these, so excuse that form on this occasion. As I awoke this morning here on our farm in Roseland, like most any other morning I scrolled through my Facebook timeline. I saw the red square indicating a message. It was from my friend Michelle Taylor of Beech Grove. She broke the news to me that we all knew was eventually coming. Sherri Brooks was gone.
Sherri had been battling cancer for the past 5 years. She was first diagnosed in May 2010. Ever since that day of diagnosis she was a fighter. And she never let the fear, the anguish, the battle, kill that smile of hers. Michelle told me just this morning she was smiling to the very end. She died peacefully at her home in Shipman with husband David (Nelson’s current sheriff) by her side, along with Michelle and other family.
Above our April 2011 story on Sherri Brooks’ battle against colon cancer that eventually took her life on Monday – July 20, 2015
I first met Sherri thourgh her husband David. I’d met David back in 2004 at the old Ashley’s Market in Greenfield. David was a deputy and told me he was running for sheriff eventually and wanted my support. It was through that campaign I met his wife Sherri. We became instant friends. What a spunky woman! Full of fire and so full of compassion at the same time. The one thing I remember the most about Sherri. She loved her husband. More than anything in this world she loved her husband. Often during her battle with cancer, she told me, “I am not worried about me, you worry about him. I’ll take care of me, you take care of him.” Even in the depth of cancer and facing what eventually came to be, she was worried about her husband. She faced this battle with courage and even laughter. Lots of laughter.
Words tend to fail me in these times. I am not a great writer even when it’s a different situation. But it’s hard to put it together in words when trying to write about a person as they were and after they have left us.
As a pilot, one of my favorite songs has always been Clouds by David Gates of Bread, in absence of words these lyrics say it best:
See the clouds adrift so far below
Ever changing as they come and go;
Makes me wonder why I’m up so high
When really I am down so low
Of all the wonders I was one allowed
I think that I would always choose a cloud,
Always bring my feelings right out loud,
Whether I’m ashamed or proud.
And on this airplane coming home to you,
Sometimes I think I’ve flown my whole life through,
My whole life through,
As I wing my way to you.
See the clouds, they’re giving life below
In colors that the canvass cannot show;
Keeping secrets no one else could know,
For I’m the one who told them so.
Now and then I get up close to you,
Like to stay, but I’m just passing through,
So I’ll have to say goodbye,
Until next time I fly.
Bread – Clouds Lyrics | MetroLyrics
So until we all meet again Sherri, goodbye. It was a good run and you showed faith courage and that smile until the end.
RIP my friend.
Funeral announcement via Wells-Sheffield Funeral Home:
“Sherri Moyer Brooks departed this life on Monday, July 20, 2015.
She was born October 13, 1964 to the late James “Junior” Moyer and Nannie Mae Moyer.
She met her soul mate, David Brooks in 1979 and married him in 1984.
Besides her husband, mother, and mother-in-law she is survived by six sisters; Hope Hite (Randy) of Faber, Renee Arnold (Bill) of Georgia, Linda Viar (Boonie) of Lovingston, Pat Wright (Dano) of Charlottesville, Helen Beasley (Michael) of Schuyler, Emma Ragland of Shipman and two sisters from another mother; Connie Miller (Ralph) of Afton and Michelle Taylor (Mike) of Beech Grove, 12nieces, 7 nephews, 16 great-nieces, 9 great-nephews and 2 great-great nephews, brother-in-law, Kenny Brooks of Amherst as well as a big loving extended family and many close friends.
Sherri believed God has a plan for us all and her motto was keep positive and life is good. She enjoyed spending time with her sista chicks, the beach, Jeeping and eating her Mama’s delicious food. She adored her husband and was thankful to have known and been shown great love as she was aware some people never have that in their lives. She now goes to join her Daddy and Billy Brooks and hopes to be remembered with love and laughter.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 23, 2015 at Calvary Baptist Church in Lovingston with Rev. Billy Coffey and Rev. James Rose officiating.
Interment will follow in the Davis Cemetery in Shipman.
The family will receive friends from 6-9 pm on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at Calvary Baptist Church in Lovingston.
Arrangements by Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel of Lovingston (434) 263-4097.”
Roseland
Nelson County, Virginia
A huge crowd turned out for the Music for the Mountains Festival held on the grounds at Devils Backbone Brewing in Roseland this past Saturday. A wide range of entertainers hit the stage including: Trees on Fire, The Will Overman Band, The Sally Rose Band, Gene and Gayla Mills – and a special appearance by Robin and Linda Williams.
Beautiful Saturday afternoon for the Music for the Mountains Festival to help raise funds to oppose the ACP through the region. Photos By Shay Munroe & Woody Greenberg.
Photo By Rick Tarbell : Sally Rose started out playing acoustic guitar and small venues in Nelson County as a young teen. Today she’s touring abroad with several CDs already burned. Her Sally Rose Band will be at Rockn’ To Lockn’ on July 24th at The Jefferson in Charlottesville.
Here’s what Sally has to say about it all on her Facebook Page:
“Hey there, sweetest dudes! We’re super stoked to play alongside great bands and friends at Rockn’ To Lockn’ @ The Jefferson on July 24th at The Jefferson Theater! We made the first cut and are stoked to get down and strut our stuff for a chance to head back to LOCKN’ Festival and play LOCKN’ 2015! Grab aaaaall yer homies, make some foxy glow paint signs, dancin shoes, yodeling howl and let’s party! Remember, it’s an audience vote! No matter the results of the competition, it’s going to be a fun-filled, killer show…Our fingers are crossed, but best of luck and camaraderie to all! Thanks so much for all the support over the years, y’all. Love you big time.”
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 426 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
640 PM EDT TUE JUL 14 2015
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
WESTERN AND CENTRAL MARYLAND
NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
WESTERN AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA
EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA
COASTAL WATERS
* EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING FROM 640 PM
UNTIL 100 AM EDT.
* PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE…
SCATTERED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE
SUMMARY…ORGANIZED THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX OVER WEST VIRGINIA AND
EASTERN KENTUCKY SHOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHEASTWARD TO
EAST-SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE WATCH AREA…EITHER MAINTAINING
INTENSITY OR (IF IT TEMPORARILY WEAKENS) STRENGTHENING AGAIN ONCE
ENCOUNTERING FAVORABLE AIR MASS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS.
AS SUCH…DAMAGING GUSTS ARE EXPECTED AND ISOLATED…MARGINALLY
SEVERE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE. SEE SPC MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 1419 FOR
METEOROLOGICAL DETAILS.
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 70
STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 65 MILES SOUTH OF
DUBLIN VIRGINIA TO 50 MILES NORTHWEST OF WASHINGTON DISTRICT OF
COLUM. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED
WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY
DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WS 426 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
640 PM EDT TUE JUL 14 2015
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 426 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
ALBEMARLE ALLEGHANY AMHERST
APPOMATTOX ARLINGTON AUGUSTA
BATH BEDFORD BLAND
BOTETOURT BUCKINGHAM CAMPBELL
CAROLINE CARROLL CHARLOTTE
CLARKE CRAIG CULPEPER
CUMBERLAND FAIRFAX FAUQUIER
FLOYD FLUVANNA FRANKLIN
FREDERICK GILES GOOCHLAND
GRAYSON GREENE HALIFAX
HANOVER HENRY HIGHLAND
KING GEORGE LOUDOUN LOUISA
MADISON MONTGOMERY NELSON
ORANGE PAGE PATRICK
PITTSYLVANIA PRINCE EDWARD PRINCE WILLIAM
PULASKI RAPPAHANNOCK ROANOKE
ROCKBRIDGE ROCKINGHAM SHENANDOAH
SMYTH SPOTSYLVANIA STAFFORD
TAZEWELL WARREN WYTHE
VIRGINIA INDEPENDENT CITIES INCLUDED ARE
ALEXANDRIA BUENA VISTA CHARLOTTESVILLE
COVINGTON DANVILLE FAIRFAX
FALLS CHURCH FREDERICKSBURG HARRISONBURG
LEXINGTON LYNCHBURG MANASSAS
MANASSAS PARK MARTINSVILLE RADFORD
ROANOKE SALEM STAUNTON
WAYNESBORO WINCHESTER
Via NWS: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH continues for the counties highlighted in light pink until 1AM Tuesday. Click on image above for the absolute latest information.
EXPIRED – EXPIRED – EXPIRED – EXPIRED
WATCH COUNTY NOTIFICATION FOR WATCH 414
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
626 PM EDT MON JUL 13 2015
ALBEMARLE ALLEGHANY AMHERST
APPOMATTOX AUGUSTA BATH
BEDFORD BOTETOURT BUCKINGHAM
CAMPBELL CHARLOTTE CRAIG
FRANKLIN HALIFAX HENRY
HIGHLAND NELSON PITTSYLVANIA
ROANOKE ROCKBRIDGE
VIRGINIA INDEPENDENT CITIES INCLUDED ARE
BUENA VISTA CHARLOTTESVILLE COVINGTON
DANVILLE LEXINGTON LYNCHBURG
MARTINSVILLE ROANOKE SALEM
STAUNTON WAYNESBORO
$$
Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia Wintergreen Performing Arts kicked off their 2015 Summer Music Festival last week. The annual event runs through the month into early August. This year marks the 20th year of WPA.
Scroll down below Paul’s galley for the video segment of the opening night.
Above Paul’s gallery from opening night.
Above the story our media partners over at CBS-19 did on opening night of the 2015 season.
Via our media partners over at CBS-19 The Newsplex:
“Love, togetherness, passion, and hope are just some of the ways people described Whitney Loving’s vigil on Friday night. The young Nelson County girl died this week from injuries she received in a car crash. The vigil was held at her high school, Nelson County High School.
“I just think it shows what her life stood for,” said Dawn Tingler, “and you know, from a hospital bed, she was able to touch people without saying a word, and that shows God’s greatness right there.”
Photo via Facebook : Friends of Whiney Loving (Miss Nelson 2015) learned of her death early Thursday morning – July 9, 2015.
Nelson County, Virginia
Friends of Miss Nelson 2015 – Whitney Loving – learned of her death early Thursday morning in the post below to a prayer page that had been set up shortly after her June 26th car accident. Her parents broke the sad news to the nearly 12,000 followers.
