Photo Courtesy of Basic Necessities – Nellysford, VA: Bev Lacey (center) owner of Basic Necessities in Nellysford, gets a hug from former CHIPS co-star Erik Estrada this past Thursday – April 11, 2013. Estrada was in Nelson to promote the film Finding Faith. He was a guest at Rockfish Valley Baptist Church where the film was shown prior to dinner at Basic Necessities. Joining the two, Deputy Randall Smith (L), Director of Education with Safe Surfin’.org based in Bedford County & Jason P. Campbell, Executive Director, of Safe Surfin’ on the far right.
Nellysford
Nelson County, VA
“I was just about to close up the shop for the evening when these gentlemen dropped in and asked if they could have a bite to eat,” Bev Lacey, owner of Basic Necessities told us. Little did she know she was about to host one of the most popular television stars from the lates 70’s and 80’s. Erik Estrada, co-star of CHIPS, best known to many as Ponch’ Poncherello, the sexy California Highway Patrol motorcycle cop. Estrada was in Nellysford earlier in the night at Rockfish Baptist Church to promote a film he recently starred in called Finding Faith. “The film “Finding Faith” is a full-length narrative motion picture that features child advocate and celebrity Erik Estrada. The film, set to be released in early 2013, tells true stories and experiences from law enforcement officers with the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. The film is family friendly and a faith-based production in association with Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church,” according to the description on the film’s website.
Kay Pfaltz (center) with Basic Necessities poses with Erik Estrada while he was in Nellysford this past Thursday – April 11, 2013.
BlueRidgeLife™2012-2013 : Photo By BRLM Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : The annual Rockfish Valley Foundation Kite Festival will be held this Sunday – April 14, 2013 from 11AM until 3:00PM at the Bold Rock Cidery Field just south of Nellysford, VA in Nelson County. Blue Ridge Life Magazine is one of the sponsors again this year.
Near Nellysford
Nelson County, VA
The weather should be nearly perfect for the 2013 Rockfish Valley Foundation Kite Festival this coming Sunday – April 14, 2013 Blue Ridge Life Magazine has been a sponsor of the annual festival since it began several years ago. This year’s will be bigger and better than ever!
Click on the flyer above to enlarge and see more details about this year’s event!
Photo By Michael Barber – Arphotecture.com: This is the largest of two fires that were burning Tuesday afternoon (April 9, 2013) near the Nelson / Albemarle line north of Heards Mountain. This is the view as seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway near Route 250 looking east.
Albemarle / Nelson County, VA
Area fire crews were busy for much of the afternoon Tuesday battling forrest fires in Eastern Nelson & Western Albemarle County. The first fire started around 2PM Tuesday afternoon north of Heards Mountain on Spring Valley Road. That’s the one seen in the photo above taken by Michael Barber owner of Arphotecture.com – Michael is also the Public Information Officer with Wintergreen Fire & Rescue.
Watch BRLM Publisher Tommy Stafford in his report to CBS-19 in Charlottesville from the scene of the Taylor Creek Road fire in Afton, not too far from Greenfield Road. Click on the image above to view that report.
Another fire started an hour or so later along Taylor Creek Road in Nelson County. It’s not believed the two fires were caused by one another due to the distance separating them.
Photo By Michael Barber: Crews examine some of the forest area burned in the Taylor Creek Road fire Tuesday afternoon – April 9, 2013.Photo By Michael Barber: Fallen trees from the Taylor Creek forest fire block the roadway Tuesday afternoon – April 9, 2013Photo By Tommy Stafford: Dozer crews with the VA Dept of Forestry arrive on the scene of the Taylor Creek Road fire Tuesday afternoon – April 9, 2013.
By late in the day Tuesday, the Taylor Creek Road fire was under control. Crews were still working on the Spring Valley Rd fire outside of Heards. It involved about 50 acres just after dark Tuesday.
Cooler and rainy weather is on the way for Thursday and Friday.
Photo via Michael Barber WF&R – Medic Eric Arnold, Captain Jeremiah Fish & Assistant Chief Mike Riddle with Wintergreen Fire & Rescue’s Rope Team prepare to recover a female Liberty University student that fell to her death at Crabtree Falls Monday afternoon – April 9, 2013
Crabtree Falls
Nelson County, VA
Updated 8:45 AM 4.9.13 Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks tells BRLM that the victim an 18 year old female college student from Liberty University fell to her death Monday night at Crabtree Falls. Brooks said she is a resident of New Jersey.
Via CBS-19 Tuesday afternoon 4.9.13:
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the identity of a Liberty University student who died after falling at Crabtree Falls.
CBS19’s sister station in Lynchburg, WSET, is reporting 18 year-old Faith Helbig died after falling off the falls at around 5:30 pm on Monday.
“The victim fell approximately 100 feet down the falls over three distinct ledges, the last one of an elevation about 30 feet tall,” said Michael Barber, Wintergreen Fire & Rescue’s Public Information Officer. Barber is also a crew member with WF&R and made the scene. “Our rope teams were deployed. Members came in from off duty and as far away as Verona. We used what is called a low angle rescue on the trail to recover the victim,” Barber added.
The victim and several others from Liberty hiked the falls Monday. When the 18 year old female fell, others had to walk out for help since there was no cell phone coverage in the area.
Screengrab via CBS-19 Charlottesville: Emergency Crews from the area recovered the body of an 18 year old female student from Liberty University that fell to her death Monday night – April 8, 2013 at Crabtree Falls in SW Nelson County, VA. Our media partners at CBS-19 were there as well. Click on the image above to view their coverage from Monday night.
Several times in the past area rescue crews have worked fatal calls at Crabtree Falls in SW Nelson County, VA. Over 25 people have lost their lives at the falls. The most recent before Monday was in 2010, a photographer died trying to get a better shot.
BlueRidgeLife™2013 : Photos By BRLM Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Snowboarders take a final run this past Saturday – April 6, 2013 at Wintergreen Resort. This is the latest ever they have held skiing since the resort opened over 30 years ago.
Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, VA
For the first time ever skiers were able to head down the slopes on April 6th. Unprecedented, to say the least. A few days ago we told you about the latest skiing in the history of Wintergreen Resort.
Boarders hop on the lift for a final time during the 2012-2013 ski season at Wintergreen Resort.Boarders and skiers take advantage of the final day of the season at Wintergreen Resort this past Saturday – April 6, 2013.In the true spirit of a mild spring day, this skier hops off the lift for another trip down the slopes at Wintergreen Resort – April 6, 2013
BlueRidgeLife™2013 – Photos By Woody Greenberg : Earl Hamner, Jr. native of Schuyler, VA in Nelson County stands in front of the George Washington statue on the capital grounds in Richmond with an official senate proclamation for his lifelong work, much of which was based on his childhood experiences in Nelson.
Richmond, Virginia
By Woody Greenberg
For Waltons International Fan Club President Carolyn Grinnell, seeing Earl Hamner standing in the well of the Virginia Senate to receive the plaudits of the nation’s oldest legislature “brought tears to my eyes.”
Hamner, 89, was recognized for both his literary achievements – “Spencer’s Mountain,” “Fifty Roads to Town,” – and his television successes – “The Homecoming,” “The Waltons,” “Falcon Crest” – and having put the state of Virginia in a very favorable light before national audiences.
The Senate proclamation was the latest in a long string of honors for the Nelson County native stretching back to the early 1970s when “The Homecoming” and then “The Waltons” drew millions of viewers entranced by the stories of a Virginia family struggling through the depths of The Great Depression and later World War II.
Hamner based the characters on “The Waltons” on his own family. His sister Nancy and her husband Garnett Jamerson, and brother Paul beamed proudly from the Senate gallery as Senate President Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling praised Hamner, saying “The Waltons” became “a piece of Americana that captivated the audience,” and called Hamner’s achievements “truly remarkable.”
Also on hand were Hamner’s wife Jane, his son Scott and his daughter Caroline as well as other relatives and friends.
Hamner had been honored the night before by the Library of Virginia for having donated his writings – scripts, books, correspondence – to the library. He was interviewed before an audience of 150 well-wishers by former television anchor Lisa Powell.
“Some people said The Waltons’ taught lessons,” Hamner said. “I wasn’t trying to do that but because I wrote about people of character and decency it was interpreted that way.”
Hamner told Blue Ridge Life, “I’m trying to persuade myself that I’m worthy” of the honors he has received. He said he was very glad to see friends from Nelson County in the audience Tuesday night and in the Senate Gallery Wednesday.
Other BRLM stories on Earl Hamner’s proclamation here, and here.
Via NWS: Areas highlighted in blue are under a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY until 2AM Friday. Higher elevations above 2000 feet may see accumulating snow & sleet from 2-4 inches. Click image for latest text updates.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
912 PM EDT THU APR 4 2013
VAZ025-026-036>038-503-504-050600-
/O.EXT.KLWX.WW.Y.0029.000000T0000Z-130405T0600Z/
AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-WESTERN HIGHLAND-
EASTERN HIGHLAND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…STAUNTON…WAYNESBORO…HARRISONBURG…
CHARLOTTESVILLE…HIGHTOWN…MONTEREY
912 PM EDT THU APR 4 2013
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT FRIDAY…
* PRECIPITATION TYPE…SNOW…SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN ABOVE 2000
FEET.
* ACCUMULATIONS…1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET. LESS THAN ONE
TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE FROM FREEZING RAIN.
* TIMING…UNTIL 2 AM. THE WORST CONDITIONS WILL BE LATE THIS
EVENING.
* TEMPERATURES…UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S. RISING INTO THE MIDDLE
30S EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.
* WINDS…SOUTHEAST 5 MPH OR LESS.
* IMPACTS…ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY…
ESPECIALLY ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT
TONIGHT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW…SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BLACKSBURG VA
940 PM EDT THU APR 4 2013
…MIXED PRECIPITATION TO SLOWLY TAPER OFF OVERNIGHT…
.LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE COAST OF THE CAROLINAS WILL MOVE OFF THE
VIRGINIA COAST OVERNIGHT. THIS WILL KEEP PERIODS OF WINTRY MIX
AROUND THROUGH MIDNIGHT BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION TAPERS TO DRIZZLE
OR FREEZING DRIZZLE OVERNIGHT.
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT FRIDAY…
* HAZARD TYPES…A WINTRY MIX OF SLEET…SNOW AND LIGHT FREEZING
RAIN.
* ACCUMULATIONS…ICE ACCUMULATION OF UP TO ONE TENTH OF AN INCH
WITH AROUND AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF SNOW OR SLEET ACCUMULATION.
* TIMING…THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.
* IMPACTS…SLICK ROADS.
* WINDS…EAST 5 TO 10 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES…IN THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW AND SLEET
WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS
AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND SLEET AMOUNTS TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VIA EMAIL AT RNK.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV OR AT
PHONE NUMBER 1…8 6 6…2 1 5…4 3 2 4.
Above, BRLM Publisher Yvette Stafford takes a quick spin along the slopes on a snowmobile with Ski Patrol Director Tucker Crolius. She also chats with GM Hank Thiess about the latest skiing ever. Click play to watch.
Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, VA
2013 marks the latest ever that skiing has taken place at Wintergreen Resort. As a matter of fact, Hank Thiess, General Manager there says it’s the latest ever that ski lifts have ever run in Virginia. Period. An unprecedented series of late season snows combined with a much colder March and a new 5 million gallon storage tank made for the perfect scenario.
This coming Saturday – April 6, 2013 the resort will hold one final day of day skiing with lift tickets only 25 bucks! And they may actually get 2-4″ of new snow overnight Thursday into Friday. Incredible!
Don’t hold your breath though. Tommy says we’re looking at some 80° weather by next week with mountain temps near 70° WOW!
BlueRidgeLife TM2013 – Photo By Woody Greenberg – Earl Hamner on the floor of the VA General Assembly around noon Wednesday – April 3, 2013
Richmond, VA
As we mentioned Tuesday evening, Nelson County, VA native Earl Hamner, Jr. Is back in the state being recognized for his lifetime’s work. Much of it based on his experiences here in Virginia as a child.
BRLM’s Woody Greenberg sent the picture in above from the noon ceremony in Richmond.
BlueRidgeLife™2013 – Photo By Woody Greenberg – Nelson County, VA native Earl Hamner is interviewed by Lisa Powell at the Library of Virginia Tuesday evening – April 2, 2013. Hamner has donated his scripts from “The Walton’s,” “Falcon Crest” and many movies to the library. He appeared before an audience of fans, entertaining them with stories about his long career as a writer and television producer. On Wednesday he will be honored with a proclamation from the Virginia General Assembly.
Tuesday evening Earl appeared at the Library of Virginia where he was interview about his life and career. Woody Greenberg, a personal friend of Earl, and a regular writer for BRML was on hand.
BlueRidgeLife™2013 – Photo By Judy Greenberg – Earl speaks to Peter Coy, director of the Hamner Theater, at a reception at the Va Library recognizing Earl for his donation of his papers.BlueRidgeLife™2013 – Photo By Judy Greenberg – Earl Hamner greets some of his many fans who attended his talk at the Library of Virginia Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday Earl will receive a proclamation by the full Virginia legislature for his life’s work.
Woody will be there for that and we will have more from Richmond on Wednesday!
