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CVEC Replacing Older Electric Meters With New Digital Ones – Not Smart Meters

Tommy
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©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Central Virginia Electric is replacing and phasing out older analog meters (the ones with dials) and phasing in newer models like the digital one installed here at BRLM last week.
©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Central Virginia Electric is replacing and phasing out older analog meters (the ones with dials) and phasing in newer models like the digital one installed here last week.

Arrington
Nelson County, VA
We got a visit the other day from a nice guy at CVEC saying he was here to replace the electric meter with a new one. “In addition to annual visual reads by a serviceman, CVEC has a regular schedule for retrieving and testing meters to verify their accuracy. When we retrieve a meter in the field for testing, we leave a new or a reconditioned meter. Your meter is new as are the others being installed since it is now more economical to replace a meter than to recondition one,” says Greg Kelly with Central Virginia Electric headquartered in Arrington, VA.

One of the curiosities we had is whether or not the replacement meter was the newer smart meter variety.

Via Wiki:

A smart meter is usually an electrical meter that records consumption of electric energy in intervals of an hour or less and communicates that information at least daily back to the utility for monitoring and billing purposes.[7] Smart meters enable two-way communication between the meter and the central system. Unlike home energy monitors, smart meters can gather data for remote reporting. Such an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) differs from traditional automatic meter reading (AMR) in that it enables two-way communications with the meter.

“The meter does not have the capability of interacting with internal household circuits or appliances and has no wireless communications component. The PLC module is fairly simple and either transmits a meter reading or it doesn’t. A firmware upgrade would not change or increase the meters functional capability,” Greg continued.

“This is part of our normal system maintenance, just like replacing old poles and wires. No one makes mechanical meters any more. Shame really, as they were very sturdy,” CVEC’s CEO Gary Wood added in an email to us.

So if you see the new digital meter being installed at your place, there’s the answer!

Thanks to CVEC for giving us the scoop and all of the details!

Devils Backbone of Nelson Wins Big At Great American Beer Festival In Denver

Yvette Stafford
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Photo: Publicity : The Devils Backbone team and owners from Nelson County, Virginia pose for a shot this past Saturday - October 12, 2013 right after winning 2 gold, 2 silvers and 2 bronze medals at The Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado.
Photo: Publicity : The Devils Backbone team and owners from Nelson County, Virginia pose for a shot this past Saturday – October 12, 2013 right after winning 2 gold, 2 silvers and 2 bronze medals at The Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado.

Denver, Colorado
Devils Backbone Brewing, based here in Nelson County, knocked it out of the park at The Great American Beer Festival held in Denver over the weekend. For the second year in a row the soon to be 5 year old brewery (next month in November) and brewpub also won Small Brewpub & Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year, and they are headed home with 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals for their craft beers.

Graphic via GABF: Al of the Virginia craft brews winning medals in Denver over the weekend. Click image to enlarge.
Graphic via GABF: Al of the Virginia craft brews winning medals in Denver over the weekend. Click image to enlarge.

Click here to view all of the winners at the GABF this past weekend in Denver.

Three Brothers Brewing in Harrisonburg (our March 2013 cover story here on 3 Brothers), a newcomer to the craft brew scene, also captured a bronze for their Rum Barrel Belgian Dubbel Style Ale

Congrats to DBBC and all of the winners!!

Nelson : The Festy Underway!

Yvette Stafford
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©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Photos By BRLM Mountain Photog Paul Purpura : Bands hit the stage just after noon Friday - October 11, 2013 at The Festy in Nelson County, VA. They continue into Friday night. The event that brings thousands to the area continues through Sunday.
©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Photos By BRLM Mountain Photog Paul Purpura : Bands hit the stage just after noon Friday – October 11, 2013 at The Festy in Nelson County, VA and continued into the evening hours. The event that brings thousands to the area continues through Sunday.

Roseland
Nelson County, VA
The Festy is off and running. The three day music, food, beer and camping event held on the grounds at Devils Backbone Brewing got underway around noon Friday and runs through Sunday. We told you about the setup here in this story earlier in the week.

Music fans gather around the stage Friday evening - October 11, 2013 at The Festy in Nelson County, VA - Photo By BRLM Mountain Photog Paul Purpura
Music fans gather around the stage Friday evening – October 11, 2013 at The Festy in Nelson County, VA – Photo By BRKM Mountain Photog Paul Purpura

We’ll be there throughout the weekend positing random happenings from Festy!

3500 Feet Up In The Mountains – Our Weather Station Is Back Online

Yvette Stafford
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©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine: Our BRLM Weather Station mounted atop The Nature Foundation At Wintergreen on Devils Knob - 3500 feet is back online as of Wednesday - October 9, 2013. - It's the 3rd and most modern we've had there since first going online in 2007.
©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine: Our BRLM Weather Station mounted atop The Nature Foundation At Wintergreen on Devils Knob at 3500 feet is back online as of Wednesday – October 9, 2013. – It’s the 3rd and most modern we’ve had there since first going online in 2007.

Devils Knob
Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
Just under seven years ago we started pumping out data from our newly installed weather station mounted at The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen. We went online February 28, 2007 and with the exception of two past occasions (one a 110 MPH winds gust – no that’s no a typo) that took out our station, and the most previous one just died, we have been online providing data from the mountain 24 hours a day – 7 days a week.

BRLM Publisher and weathercaster Tommy Stafford on the roof of The Nature Foundation At Wintergreen about 30 feet up where the new station is mounted just behind him. Tommy installed the new station Wednesday afternoon - October 9, 2013.
BRLM Publisher and weathercaster Tommy Stafford on the roof of The Nature Foundation At Wintergreen about 30 feet up where the new station is mounted just behind him. Tommy installed the new station Wednesday afternoon – October 9, 2013.

The latest weather station is a joint venture between Blue Ridge Life Magazine and The Nature Foundation At Wintergreen. Josh Palumbo, Forest Management Coordinator, at the foundation and BRLM Publisher Tommy Stafford help maintain the station that gets thousands of views each month. “This is a very significant station to have online. There is another weather station on the mountain at Wintergreen Resort, but it’s closer to the resort. Ours has always been mounted on Devil’s Knob which is roughly one of the higher points in the general vicinity of the mountain village. It gives us a good look at what weather is doing there 24/7,” said Tommy.

Tommy was an on air weatherman in the Memphis, Tennessee television market for over a decade, along with regular appearances on The Weather Channel for breaking weather events between 1997 and 2004 before moving to Virginia. He now does Tommy’s Weather daily here on our website, that gives audio weather forecasts for the Central Virginia Blue Ridge area.

You can see the mountain weather station along with a few other independently owned stations around the area, by clicking here to head on over to our Weathernet Stations Page.

Preps For Festy Underway – Event Starts This Friday

Yvette Stafford
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©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Photos By Tommy Stafford : John Howard of Wintergreen, VA helps load a big F for Festy on a cart in preps for The Festy that kicks off this Friday - October 11, 2013
©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Photos By Tommy Stafford : John Howard of Wintergreen, VA helps load a big F for Festy on a cart in preps for The Festy that kicks off this Friday – October 11, 2013


Roseland
Nelson County, VA
The Festy kicks off this coming Friday – October 11th and runs through the weekend. Preps have been underway for the festival that brings tons of great musicians together right here in Nelson where BRLM is based. Click here to see the lineup over the entire weekend. Festy was inspired by the Brew Ridge Trail Music Festival held back in 2009 on the grounds at Devils Backbone and became The Festy the very next year. Thousands attend the annual event.

In this panoramic view shot Tuesday afternoon from the parking lot of Devils Backbone Brewing, you can see many tents have been put up in preps for the weekend festival.
In this panoramic view shot Tuesday afternoon from the parking lot of Devils Backbone Brewing, you can see many tents have been put up in preps for the weekend festival. Click to enlarge view.

Blue Ridge Life Magazine will be covering The Festy over the weekend and we’ll update you more as the weekend draws near!

Apple Butter Makin’ Festival In Full Gear At Silver Creek & Seamans’ Orchard

Yvette Stafford
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Apple Butter Makin’ Festival In Full Gear At Silver Creek & Seamans’ Orchard
©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine - Photos By BRLM Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Brian Kidd (right) with Silver Creek & Seamans' Orchards pours the golden apple butter at the 2013 festival this past Saturday - October 5, 2013 in Tyro, Virginia
©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine – Photos By BRLM Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Brian Kidd (right) with Silver Creek & Seamans’ Orchards pours the golden apple butter at the 2013 festival this past Saturday – October 5, 2013 in Tyro, Virginia

Tyro
Nelson County, VA
For years we’ve been telling you about the annual Apple Butter Makin Festival at Flippin-Seaman in Tyro, VA. Just this year there’s been a tiny name change to Silver Creek and Seamans’ Orchards, Inc. Not to worry, nothing has really changed other than the name. The family’s and the feel are all still the same as you’ve come to expect! This past Saturday – October 5, 2013 the first of two festivals was held. The next one is later this month on October 19th.

Our BRLM Mountain Photographer came down off the hill to grab some shots at the first festival.

The corn maze and pumpkin picking are a staple favorite at the annual Apple Butter Makin Festival held each year in Tyro, VA
The corn maze and pumpkin picking are a staple favorite at the annual Apple Butter Makin Festival held each year in Tyro, VA

As we said, the next Apple Butter Makin Festival at Silver Creek & Seamans’ Orchards is Saturday October 19, 2013 beginning at 11AM.

To see lots more of Paul's photos from the 1st Apple Butter Making Festival this October, click on our Facebook Album above.
To see lots more of Paul’s photos from the 1st Apple Butter Making Festival this October, click on our Facebook Album above.

Virginia State Police Investigate Deadly Saturday Night Auto Crash On Afton Mountain

Yvette Stafford
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Virginia State Police Investigate Deadly Saturday Night Auto Crash On Afton Mountain
General area where fatal accident occurred Saturday night October 5, 2013 near the Route 250 & 6 intersection.
General area where fatal accident occurred Saturday night October 5, 2013 near the Route 250 & 6 intersection. Click to enlarge or use google link below story. 

Afton
Nelson County, VA

Via VSP Richmond:

Virginia State Police Sr. Trooper J.D. Allen responded to a single-vehicle crash in Nelson County Saturday evening (Oct. 5, 2013). The crash occurred at 7:40 p.m. on Route 250 approximately 200 feet east of Route 6.

A 1991 Toyota Camry was eastbound on Route 250 when it crossed the centerline, ran off the left side of the road and overturned. The car came to rest on its wheels.

The driver, Marion S. Martin, 79, of Shipman, Va., was injured in the crash. He was first transported to Augusta Health and then on to UVA Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Martin was wearing a seat belt.

The passenger, Josephine S. Brooks, 72, of Shipman, Va., died at the scene. She was not wearing a seat belt.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation at this time. Charges are pending.

Here’s link to a google map showing the area.

Beats For Ballard Brings Out Family, Friends & Musicians

Yvette Stafford
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©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Photos By Tommy Stafford : Countless people packed the Rockfish Valley Community Center this past Saturday night - October 5, 2013 to support Beats For Ballard.
©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Photos By Tommy Stafford : Countless people packed the Rockfish Valley Community Center this past Saturday night – October 5, 2013 to support Beats For Ballard.

Afton
Nelson County, VA
Back in August we told you about Robert Ballard’s fight against cancer. Robert is a noted musician and a member of The Central Virginia Blues Society. Back in our August story he was halfway through his chemotherapy treatment. Today he continues his comeback.

The man of the hour, Robert Ballard (right) visits with friends that turned out Saturday night for a benefit in his honor.
The man of the hour, Robert Ballard (right) visits with friends that turned out Saturday night for a benefit in his honor.

The old gymnasium at RVCC was packed with people showing up to help out with expense incurred as a result of Robert’s treatment and inability to work during the treatment.

There wasn't a seat in the house for those turning out to support Robert Ballard.
There wasn’t a seat left in the house for those turning out to support Robert Ballard.
Fellow musicians took to the stage to entertain for the evening and to support their friend.
Fellow musicians took to the stage to entertain for the evening and to support their friend.

The evening was one of fun and emotion as Robert took to the stage and thanked everyone for what they’ve done in supporting him in his battle.

“Hi, my name is Robert Ballard and I am on the road to being a cancer survivor.
I am so grateful to be here with you tonight-thank you!
Our good friend Gerry Bernard, recently loaned Susan and I a book titled Broken Open It is a collection of stories about people going through tough, life changing situations and how difficult times can help us to grow. In each case, there is a pattern of loss, discovery and renewal that exactly reflects my own recent experience. There are many analogies for this, such as the butterfly and its cocoon or the phoenix bird that rises from the flames and ashes.
The title, Broken Open, makes me think of an egg, cracked and spilled into a bowl where you can see what is inside. In my case, I found my bare soul. Here were my connections to everything and everyone. It was here that I was able to come to peace with it all and accept whatever was going to happen.”

You can read all of Robert’s remarks to the crowd here on the Beats For Ballard Facebook page.

Oktoberfest Events Continue Through Weekend At Blue Mountain Brewery

Yvette Stafford
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Oktoberfest Events Continue Through Weekend At Blue Mountain Brewery
©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Though she didn't come in first, BRLM Publisher Yvette Stafford tried her hand at the annual keg toss held this past Wednesday at Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton, VA. It's part of their week long Oktoberfest that continues through Sunday - October 6, 2013
©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Though she didn’t come in first, BRLM Publisher Yvette Stafford tried her hand at the annual keg toss held this past Wednesday at Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton, VA. It’s part of their week long Oktoberfest that continues through Sunday – October 6, 2013

Afton
Nelson County, VA
With fall in the air (at times) you know the Oktoberfest celebrations are in full swing across the Blue Ridge. Blue Mountain Brewery has been celebrating Oktoberfest with a variety of events over the past week. They continue through Sunday evening October 6, 2013. Our very own BRLM Publisher Yvette Stafford gave the keg toss a try on Wednesday night. Not first, or second, but she did make it a little over 13 feet in her toss!

In the male competition a little different technique was used!
In the male competition a little different technique was used!

For a complete list of events continuing at BMB through the weekend, click here.

Alexis Murphy’s Mother & Morgan Harrington’s Mom Unite At Lovingston Cafe

Yvette Stafford
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©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Photos By Yvette Stafford : Gil Harrington (left) consoles Alexis Murphy's mother, Laura during the CUE - On The Road To Remember Missing Persons Tour 2013 held Friday afternoon - October 4, 2013 at the Lovingston Cafe.
©2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine : Photos By Yvette Stafford : Gil Harrington (left) consoles Alexis Murphy’s mother, Laura during the CUE – On The Road To Remember Missing Persons Tour 2013 held Friday afternoon – October 4, 2013 at the Lovingston Cafe.

Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
It’s been two months since Nelson 17 year old, Alexis Murphy, disappeared. She hasn’t been seen or heard from since. For Gil Harrington, the wait was over on January 26, 2010 when the body of her daughter, Morgan Harrington, was found at Anchorage Farm in Albemarle County, VA. October 17, 2009 is believed to be the date Morgan was abducted and killed. The moms of both Alexis and Morgan got together once again Friday in Lovingston for the event.

The Nelson County High girls volleyball team (whom Alexis is a member of) hugs Laura Murphy Friday afternoon in Lovingston, VA
The Nelson County High girls volleyball team (whom Alexis is a member of) hugs Laura Murphy Friday afternoon in Lovingston, VA

The get together Friday in Lovingston was part of Missing Persons tour 2013 coordinated in part by Community United Effort – Center For Missing Persons. The tour helps bring attention to missing persons across the country, like Alexis Murphy of Nelson County.

A large group of media from across the region attended the event held at Lovingston Cafe on Friday afternoon - October 4, 2013.
A large group of media from across the region attended the event held at Lovingston Cafe on Friday afternoon – October 4, 2013.

For a complete history of the Alexis Murphy case, click here.

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