Charlottesville
Albemarle County, Virginia
Lots and lots of smiles this past Wednesday night as Mandi and Taylor Smack rolled out the soft re-open of the newly renovated South Street Brewery. The duo bought the Charlottesville landmark back in the Summer of 2014. “I was a brewer there for five years and it is still near and dear to my heart. Plus, we’re excited to have a bastion of beer making and a great brewpub environment right in downtown Charlottesville,” says Taylor, who worked at South Street from 2002 until 2007 when he, his wife Mandi opened Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton.
Read our September 2014 story above on the purchase and renovation of South Street Brewery.
The newly renovated South Street Brewery is holding a series of soft opens for the next day or two to practice for the official opening to the general public on Monday November 3rd.Veteran South Street goers will notice a brighter more open space since the renovation that took several weeks to complete.Just a small portion of the phenomenal food menu that’s being rolled out at SSB.A large group of Nelson County patrons turned out Wednesday night to congratulate Mandi & Taylor on their launch!
“We’d just like the folks who have loved South Street all these years to give us a shot when we open; no one knows how important this brewery has been in our lives, and we feel honored to carry it forward after the amazing 16 years Jacque Landry and Fred Greenewalt created there. We are confident our passion will be contagious once people see the great, fun things we will be doing with South Street Brewery,” Taylor says.
Photo Courtesy of NBS: Virginia Naturally Schools Chairperson Suzie Gilley (R) presents a certificate for the 15th year of recognition for environmental education and stewardship to North Branch School science teacher Toni Ranieri (L).
Afton
Nelson County, VA Story Courtesy of NBS
North Branch School in Afton is one of only three schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia to be recognized as a Virginia Naturally school all 15 years the program, managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, has been offered.
According to Wildlife Education Coordinator and Virginia Naturally Schools Chairperson, Suzie Gilley, “The goal of the school recognition program is to recognize the efforts undertaken by Virginia schools that increase the environmental awareness and stewardship of its students. North Branch School has inspired students for 15 years to be environmental stewards.”
Gilley presented a Certificate of Recognition to North Branch science teachers Toni Ranieri, Margaret Lambert, Jennifer Page, and Maggie Buchanan, at a schoolwide assembly on Friday, October 24. In addition, as a 15-year school, North Branch received a collector’s wildlife print of a snowy owl to display at the school.
“At North Branch, children spend on average 120 minutes each day outdoors,” says Head Teacher, Charlotte Zinsser Booth. “In addition to free play and physical education time, our field and woods are classrooms for students. Gardening, tree identification, the study of animal tracks and shelters, and even a frog pond are part of our outdoor learning.”
Since 1983 North Branch School, which offers classes for students in preschool-8th grade, has made its home in Afton. Zinsser Booth says that the school is seeing their message of environmental stewardship carried forward to new generations. “Some of our alumni are now parents, and they are sharing their love for nature with their children. That is a true measure of the success of our environmental education program.”
In addition to on-campus learning, North Branch students have participated in hawk watches, trout in the classroom program and trout release into mountain creeks, hikes, stream monitoring, trash pickup, and several educational programs in the Chesapeake Bay area. “Because of our small class sizes, we are able to take many meaningful field trips each year related to our science curriculum,” Science teacher Margaret Lambert explains.
As part of the Virginia Naturally program, teachers at North Branch will be able to participate in free professional development workshops for environmental education. “I am pleased that our teachers are recognized for their work with students and have the opportunity to further their education,” Zinsser Booth concludes.
Those interested in learning more about the Virginia Naturally program or North Branch School may visit their websites at: vanaturally.com and north-branch-school.org
Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend on Sunday – November 2, 2014 at 2AM, but simplicity’s sake it’s easier to turn your clock back one hour before bed on Saturday night.
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
We knew it eventually had to happen. The dreaded end to Daylight Saving Time. Say so long to that perceived extra hour of daylight once the clocks roll back one hour, officially at 2AM this coming Sunday morning. But to keep it simple, unless you are a party animal, it’s best to set your clock back one hour when heading off to bed Saturday night.
We don’t get that hour back again until Sunday – March 8, 2015.
Afton
Albemarle / Nelson County, VA
Crews battled a large brushfire Monday night on Afton Mountain. Our media partners over at CBS-19 have more in their story below.
Photos Courtesy of Jordan Bentz : A firefghter hands off an ax to a fellow firefighter after battling a blaze shortly before noon Sunday – October 26, 2014.
Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
Crews from five different fire departments responded to a house fire just before noon Sunday at 89 Lobbans Lane in Afton. Crews with Rockfish Fire, Wintergreen, Faber, Lovingston and Crozet responded to the blaze. When units arrived fire was reported as coming through the roof. “No one was hurt in the fire,” Nelson Emergency Medical Services Director Jaime Miller confirmed.
Firefighters place a ladder on this house at Lobbans Lane Sunday morning while battling a blaze.
It took crews several hours before crews cleared the scene after putting out the fire.
Folks checked out many of the silent auction items before the dinner, live auction and dancing began.Once the silent auction was over, everyone headed into the main ballroom for a fabulous multi course dinner paired with Veritas wines.And of course there was plenty of dancing too!
Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
Talking about ending on a positive note! Not a cloud in the skies and perfect fall temperatures for the final day of the Nelson Farmers Market in Nellysford. The market has been going strong all season. Countless people turned out for last day and picked out lots of produce and crafts from the end of the season.
This panoramic view of the market grounds in Nellysford shows all of the activity at the final day of the market this past Saturday 10.25.14
“On Saturday, October 18th human remains were discovered in southern Albemarle County. The remains were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond for examination and positive identification. The Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that these are the remains of Hannah Graham, 18, of Fairfax, Va.
Following the positive identification, Albemarle County Police Chief, Colonel Steve Sellers and ACPD Detective Sergeant Terry Wall notified Hannah’s parents, John and Sue Graham. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Graham family and Hannah’s friends during this incredibly difficult time. We ask that you respect their privacy.
We also ask for your cooperation as we now move forward with the death investigation. Since the discovery along Old Lynchburg Road, officers and detectives have been working around the clock to process the scene and preserve evidence. Our focus is on the investigation and therefore, we will not be answering questions regarding the case or investigation. We do ask that people continue to call in with tips or information. We are specifically asking to hear from individuals who live along Old Lynchburg Road or who might have seen suspicious behavior in the area following Hannah’s disappearance. The Charlottesville PD tip line remains open at 434-295-3851.
We continue to work with our local, state and federal partners. We are working with the Charlottesville Police Department, the Fairfax City Police Department and the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox Field Office which is the lead agency on the Morgan Harrington investigation.
We would like to thank everyone for their continued support during this difficult time. We remain committed to this investigation and will work to ensure that justice is served.”
Wintergreen / Afton
Nelson County,VA
Late October means the pretty colors in the Blue Ridge along with plenty of ghosts & goblins in the night! This past weekend Wintergreen Resort held their Harvest Fest Weekend I. Not to worry if you missed it, you can catch it again this coming weekend with Harvest Fest II held October 25th & 26th.
Down the mountain and up Route 151 Blue Mountain Brewery held their 3rd Annual Fall Pumpkin Carving Party on Wednesday afternoon. Click on the Facebook album by Yvette to see more.
