Nelson County, Virginia
Hopefully you enjoyed the daylight hours of Monday. That’s was the last technical day of Summer as Fall began at 10:29 PM EDT Monday night. And with the predicted temperatures for the coming week, it will definitely feel like fall like.
I talk more about it in my weathercast. Click the player below for more.
Enjoy!
Lovingston / Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
Press Release via Nelson County Tourism & Economic Development Office
Nelson County officials announced that a contractor has been selected for Phase I of the rehabilitation and trail project for the Blue Ridge Tunnel. Fielder’s Choice Enterprises, Inc. from Charlottesville, Virginia, was awarded the contract. Phase I encompasses the parking area and trailhead near the old Afton Depot and the construction of a pedestrian and bicycle trail along the original rail bed for approximately 3400 feet to the East Portal of the 1850s tunnel.
Work will begin September 29, 2014 and is scheduled to be completed by February 2015. The $749,149 award from the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Commonwealth Transportation Board through the “Transportation Alternatives” competitive grant program provides funding for Phase I construction. Funding for Phase II has also been awarded, and plans for that phase are being finalized with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Since 2001, the County of Nelson has worked with federal, state and local partners to secure funding and support for the project. Allen Hale, Nelson County Board of Supervisor member and President of the Crozet Tunnel Foundation says, “I am thrilled to anticipate the beginning of construction on the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail after so many years of effort and planning. Nelson County is appreciative of the continuing financial support of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel Foundation, our local government partners in the region, and individuals on both sides of the Blue Ridge Mountains. And, I especially want to recognize the hard work and persistence of the staff of Nelson County in overcoming the many hurdles along the way to bring this project to fruition.”
For the purposes of ensuring safety and eliminating liability, there is currently no public access to either the west portal or east portal (including no access into the Blue Ridge Tunnel itself) during the construction phases of the tunnel.
Greenfield
Nelson County, VA
Drivers headed down Route 151 of the Rockfish Valley in Nelson got quite the surprise around the Greenfield area of Afton when a truck caught fire near the corner at Chapel Hollow Road. “Danielle and I filled up the first +-10 buckets of water before the fire trucks showed up,” Marcel McNicoll told us by email Thursday night. He and his wife Danielle own and operate Le Blue Ridge B&B in Afton/Greenfield.
Firemen were able to get the blaze under control relatively quickly.
No other details were available as of this post.
Studio City, California
Just a few weeks ago 91 year old Earl Hamner, Jr. – Nelson native and creator of the highly popular TV series, The Waltons, was in a California hospital having surgery. Today he’s quickly recovering and back on his feet. Our Woody Greenberg, who’s been personal friends with Earl for decades, dropped in to see he and his wife at their home near Los Angeles.
As we’ve been telling you over the past several months, a documentary on the life of Earl Hamner is currently in production. Back in the Spring of 2014 Earl was back in his hometown of Schuyler in Eastern Nelson County, Virginia. Crews were filming for the movie that will be released in the coming months.
Click on the Earl Hamner Storyteller Facebook page above to read more about the progress on the upcoming documentary.
Congrats on the tremendous recovery Earl!
Be looking for more updates in the weeks ahead on his forthcoming documentary.
Rodes Farm / Nellysford
Nelson County, VA
When Wintergreen Performing Arts usually hosts it’s music up top in the tent at Wintergreen. But this past weekend as the summer season has winded down, folks got a real treat to take in the jazz sounds of the Robert Jospé Express Quartet in the Big Red Barn at Rodes Farm. The event was followed up by The 2nd Annual Pig Roast (Crème de la Crème Pig Roast) held at the Lake Monocan Clubhouse in Stoney Creek.
To see more of Paul’s pictures from Friday night, click on our Facebook album above.
Faber
Nelson County, VA
Thanks to Woodmen of the World insurance company the volunteers at the Faber Volunteer Fire Department in East Nelson County have a brand new flag pole outside their station on Route 6 East. The new pole and flag were dedicated during a dual ceremony this past Thursday 9-11 to remember those lost during the 9-11 attacks in the US.
Click on the Faber Fire Facebook photo album above to view all of the dedication photos.
Arrington
Nelson County, Virginia
It’s a wrap! Lockn’ 2014 is in the history books until next summer. Our reporter extraordinaire, Marcie Gates did a superb job reporting and taking pictures from the festival. (click here to see all of the her reports from previous days)
We wanted Marcie to experience the festival from more of the perspective of a real festival goer vs a reporter with total access and the creature comforts that a large number of people attending don’t have. Success!
Read more about her final day below and thanks again Marcie, you knocked it out of the park, and hundreds of comments and emails agree too!
Nelson County, VA
Much cooler weather has moved into the Blue Ridge and it looks like it will be here for the next several days. Though we will have the chance for several showers in the forecast through the period, we won’t have the chance for those oppressive 90°+ readings anymore!
Tommy talks more about cooler temps in his daily weathercast for Monday – September 8, 2014
Tommy says we’ll be back in the 80’s by mid week but back to the lower 70’s by next weekend for daytime highs!
Arrington
Nelson County, VA
Much smoother. That’s how folks are describing Lockn’ 2014 over the first one back in 2013. Less traffic jams and smoother parking are just a few of the things our Marcie Gates has noticed while covering this year’s festival. Thunderstorms moved in Saturday night causing organizers to briefly suspend the music but within an hour things we back on track and Tom Petty took the stage!
Willie Nelson is the main headline Sunday!
Enjoy!
Read more about Marcie’s adventures in her Facebook post above. She’s out and about with the feel. Marcie tells us in spite of her (tongue in cheek) in some of her posts, she’s found everyone to be fun, helpful and in great spirits for the 2014 festival!
We’ve been telling you about our Marcie Gates covering Lockn’ 2014. Friday she was in full swing for day 2 coverage.
Read on!
