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New Owners At Wintergreen Resort – “Millions In Improvements Underway”

Yvette Stafford
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™©2008-2012 Nelson County Life : Photo By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Mallory Crandall of Roseland (left) hops from a ski lift at Wintergreen Resort during the winter season. Major improvements are on the way for the upcoming ski season just a few weeks away.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, VA
Nearly $12 million will be invested in facilities and infrastructure improvements at Wintergreen Resort over the next 16 months by the James C. Justice Companies, highlighted by an immediate $6 million infusion, in cooperation with the Nelson County Service Authority, to build a five-million gallon raw water storage tank and pumping station that will double the resort’s snowmaking capacity for the upcoming ski season, as well as provide a redundant water supply to the water treatment plant.
Ski Season to Benefit from Increased, Technically Advanced Snowmaking Capabilities
The new high-tech snowmaking equipment will allow Wintergreen Resort, twice named “Best Ski Resort” by readers of WashingtonPost.com, to open more ski and snowboard terrain earlier and to deliver more consistent snow conditions throughout the season according to Jay Roberts, the property’s Vice President of Resort Operations.
Other near-term projects include:
• upgrades and expansion of the Wintergreen Aquatics and Fitness Center;
• renovation of Devils Grill, the mountaintop clubhouse restaurant that combines spectacular views with an elegant, private club-style atmosphere; and
• upgrades to the fitness facility at Stoney Creek.
As part of the renovation, the golf course and facilities at Devils Knob will be privatized. Access will be available to members, their guests and registered resort guests starting with the spring 2014 season. At an elevation of 3,850 feet, the Devils Knob golf course, designed by Ellis and Dan Maples, is the highest in Virginia with 50-mile views of the Shenandoah and Rockfish Valleys.
The Justice Companies have committed another $3.2 million to maintenance and improvements throughout the resort.
“This investment reflects our commitment to Wintergreen Resort,” said James C. Justice, II, Chairman, President and CEO of James C. Justice Companies, Inc. and The Greenbrier Resort®. “Our vision is to make this among the top four-season resort experiences in the east and we see tremendous opportunities in developing new membership programs and vacation packages. The Wintergreen facilities are spectacular and the entire Resort has a tremendous impact on the local and regional tourism industry.”

Wintergreen Resort, located 35 miles southwest of Charlottesville, Va., is a four-season mountain retreat with beautiful views on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Situated on 11,000 acres adjacent to the George Washington National Forest, the Resort offers a unique vacation, social, and conference setting with skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, 45 holes of championship golf, a tennis center with three indoor courts and 19 outdoor clay courts, a full-service spa featuring 13 treatment rooms, a fitness center, and multiple dining options. Additional amenities include a lake, swimming pools, a youth entertainment center, and 40,000 square feet of combined indoor/outdoor meeting space.
For more information about Wintergreen Resort, call (434) 325-8211 or visit the property’s web site at www.wintergreenresort.com.

Nelson Boasts Big Tourism $$$ Increase Along With State

Yvette Stafford
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™©2012 Nelson County Life : Photo By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Fall Colors near the Mountain Inn At Wintergreen Resort

Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
VIa The Nelson County Tourism Bureau

Governor Bob McDonnell’s recent announcement that tourism in Virginia became a $20 billion industry in 2011 was good economic news not just for the Commonwealth as a whole. Data released by the United States Travel Association reveals that every locality in Virginia posted an increase in tourism revenue last year

According to the USTA, tourism in Virginia generated $20.4 billion in revenue, an eight percent increase over 2010. Tourism also supported 207,000 jobs in the Commonwealth and provided $1.32 billion in state and local taxes. In terms of those numbers tourism is the third largest industry in Virginia.

Tourism was again an important contributor to the local economy in 2011. Tourism revenue for Nelson County eached $169.68 million, a 6.9 percent increase over 2010. Local tourism-supported jobs totaled 1560, while local tourism-related taxes were $4.9 million. All data was received by the Virginia Tourism Corporation from USTA and is based on domestic visitor spending (travelers from within the United States) from per person trips taken 50 miles or more away from home.

Nelson County Board of Supervisor Chairperson Tommy Harvey reported the news to the Board, noting that, “Tourism has been a strong economic strategy for Nelson County, improving the quality of life for our residents and helping to keep the tax rate affordable. Nelson’s tourism businesses, farms, lodging, restaurants and shopping, all contribute to our local economy.”

“The support that we’ve received from the Governor’s administration and the General Assembly has been essential to keeping tourism strong – especially during challenging economic times,” said Rita McClenny, interim president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “This new economic impact data shows that the investment is paying off and that Virginia’s tourism industry is headed in the right direction.”

The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) is the state agency responsible for marketing Virginia to visitors and promoting the Virginia is for Lovers brand. Virginia is for Lovers is the longest-running state tourism slogan in the country. Virginia is for Lovers stands for love – pure and simple, and promotes the state as the ideal destination for loved ones to completely connect on a great vacation. Virginia is for Lovers was named one of the top ten tourism marketing campaigns of all time by Forbes and was inducted into the National Advertising Walk of Fame in 2009. Virginia was recently named one of the top 10 wine travel destinations in the world for 2012 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Beech Grove: I Will! – Richmond Couple Seals Engagement During Romp, Stomp & Chomp

Yvette Stafford
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©™2012 Nelson County Life : Photos By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura: Sal Biundo (left) proposes to and presents an engagement ring to Rachel Mertz at this past weekend's Romp, Stomp & Chomp at Wintergreen Winery. The Richmond couple did all of this while stomping the grapes!

Beech Grove / Roseland
Nelson County, VA
For years we’ve been telling you about the annual Romp, Stomp & Chomp Harvest Celebration at Wintergreen Winery. It’s a lighthearted weekend reminiscent of the I Love Lucy stomping grapes episode. The Labor Day weekend event coincides with grape harvests here in Virginia.

But the 2012 celebration had a much different twist this time around as a Richmond couple made their engagement official while stomping grapes!

Rachel shares a kiss with Sal after he presented her with the engagement ring!
The happily engaged couple!
The rock! Wow!

We shared a video Wintergreen Winery shot of the couple on our Facebook timeline. Click here.

No word on whether the couple plans to come back and share vow at Wintergreen Winery’s Verandah, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea since they are doing weddings there all of the time now!

You didn't have to be getting engaged to enjoy the annual festival, young and old get in on the fun each year.
And if you weren't into stomping grapes, there was plenty of food, music and of course WINE!

The Romp, Stomp, and Chomp celebration signals the unofficial end to summer. Though fall doesn’t officially begin until September 22nd.

Enjoy the few remaining days!

Lovingston: Democracy Vineyards Opens Tasting Room Over Labor Day Weekend

Yvette Stafford
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©™2012 Nelson County Life : Photos By Yvette Stafford : Though Democracy Vineyards has been producing wines for a few years now, all that was lacking was an official tasting room. Over the Labor Day weekend that happened!

Lovingston
Nelson County, VA
We first told you about Democracy Vineyards officially opening back in August of 2009. They’ve been producing award winning wines ever since. But one thing they didn’t have until recently was an official tasting room for folks to drop by and check out their wines when in the area. That all changed over Labor Day weekend as Democracy’s brand spanking new tasting room opened complete with a celebration and their annual blessing of the harvest presented by Dr. Eugene Thomas of Clarendon United Methodist Church. A few finishing touches remain to be completed, but all in all it’s ready to go!

The Nelson County Ruritans also returned to cook up their burgers and dogs along with Turtle Zwadlo and his fellow band members, Yankee Dixee, sharing their special blend of mountain folk music.

A couple checks out the wines at Democracy Vineyard's newly opened tasting room on Mountain Cove Road just outside of Lovingston, VA.

Above, August 2009 story on Democracy Vineyards in Nelson County Life Magazine. Click on the pages above to read.

NCL Juniorette Publisher Peyton Stafford even checked out the newly opened tasting room. Still now quite ready to sign the tasting counter just yet!
Lot's of neat memorabilia covers the walls at Democracy as you enter the new tasting room.

According to their website, Democracy is open weekends until Thanksgiving from 11 am to 5 pm Saturday, 1 to 5 pm Sunday and noon to 5 pm Monday holidays.

To learn more visit Democracy Vineyards, by clicking here to connect to their website.

Once In A Blue Moon

Tommy
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Once In A Blue Moon
©™ 2012 Nelson County Life : Photos By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Paul grabbed this shot of the August 31, 2012 Blue Moon rising over the Rockfish Valley this past Friday evening. You are looking east from Founders Vision Overlook at Wintergreen Resort.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, VA
I’t s a good thing the Blue Moon came on Friday night and not Saturday night. Cloud cover certainly would have spoiled it for sure! NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura camped out for a little while Friday evening as the rare Blue Moon started rising over the Rockfish Valley of Nelson County.

In this shot Paul used his super duper telephoto lens to get up close on the August 31st Blue Moon. Depending on which calendar you go by, it will be at least 2015 before we see another one.

Via Wikipedia:

Blue moons between 2009 and 2021

The following blue moons occur between 2009 and 2021. These dates use UTC as the timezone; exact dates vary with different timezones.
[edit]Seasonal
Using the Maine Farmers’ Almanac definition of blue moon (meaning the third full moon in a season of four full moons), blue moons occur
August 31, 2012
August 21, 2013
May 21, 2016
May 18, 2019
August 22, 2021
Calendar

Blue Moon of August 31, 2012 View From Guayaquil, Ecuador
Unlike the astronomical seasonal definition, these dates are dependent on the Gregorian calendar and time zones.
Two full moons in one month (the second of which is a “blue moon”):[16]
2009: December 2, December 31 (partial lunar eclipse visible in some parts of the world), only in time zones west of UTC+05.
2010: January 1 (partial lunar eclipse), January 30, only in time zones east of UTC+04:30.
2010: March 1, March 30, only in time zones east of UTC+07.
2012: August 2, August 31, only in time zones west of UTC+10.
2012: September 1, September 30, only in time zones east of UTC+10:30.
2015: July 2, July 31
2018: January 2, January 31
2018: March 2, March 31
2020: October 1, October 31
The next time New Year’s Eve falls on a Blue Moon (as occurred on 2009 December 31) is after one Metonic cycle, in 2028. At that time there will be a total lunar eclipse.

Nelson Photographer, Artist & Innkeeper Displays Unique Art At Flying Fox

Yvette Stafford
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Nelson Photographer, Artist & Innkeeper Displays Unique Art At Flying Fox
Art & Photo Image By Kathy Versluys from the Acorn Inn : This image called Brainstorm is just one of several on display now at the Flying Fox tasting room in Afton.

Afton
Nelson County, VA
Most of us here in Nelson know Kathy Versluys and her husband Martin as the owners of the Acorn Inn B & B. Many know Kathy’s work as a professional photographer. And now people get the chance to see her artistic side as well. “Kathy has graciously shared her works with us for the next 6 weeks. We love her work – nice variety of subjects and almost all of them just make me smile,” said Lynn Evans, co-owner of Flying Fox Vineyards.

Another of the artworks by Kathy on display now in the Flying Fox tasting room.

Be sure to drop by and take a peek!

To learn more about Kathy, visit her website by clicking here.

Quiros Will Serve 25 Years In Prison For December 2011 Nelson Murder

Yvette Stafford
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Mugshot via NCSD : 39 Year Old Francis Quiros has been sentenced in connection with the December 2011 murder of Amy Holden of Nelson County.

Lovingston
Nelson County, VA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 28, 2012
RE: Nelson County murder defendant gets 25 year prison sentence
FROM: ANTHONY MARTIN, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY

Francis Panal Quiros, a 39 year-old man, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder following the December 14, 2011 killing of Amy Holden, 41 years old, who lived in Shipman, was sentenced today by Judge J. Michael Gamble in the Nelson County Circuit Court.

After hearing testimony from Kathy Woods, Amy Holden’s sister, about how the murder affected her and her family, the Judge sentenced Quiros to 40 years in prison and suspended 15 years meaning Quiros will have to serve 25 years in prison. There is no parole in Virginia.

Upon Quiros’ release from prison, the remaining 15 year sentence will not have to be served unless Quiros violates his probation rules. After he serves the 25 year sentence, he will then be on probation for 20 years and was ordered to have no contact with any members of the Holden family as a further condition of his probation.

Part of Labor Day Weekend Rain Free : Then Isaac’s Leftovers

Tommy
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©™2012 Nelson County Life - Photo By NCL Mountains Photographer Paul Purpura : Part of the Labor Day Weekend will be dry, but some won't. This is a look toward the Rockfish Valley from the slopes at Wintergreen Resort.

Nelson County, VA
August is outta here! Part of Labor Day Weekend will be dry. Unfortunately, we will be dealing with some tropical rainstorms courtesy of what was hurricane Isaac.


Tommy talks more about it in his audio weather. And, a look back at the numbers for August. Listen above!

VA Craft Brewers Fest Takes Place In Spite Of Soggy Saturday

Yvette Stafford
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Photos By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : In spite of continual rain, a respectable crowd still braved the showers to attend the Virginia Craft Brew Festival this past Saturday afternoon on the grounds at Devils Backbone Brewing in Roseland. Above Denise Moldenhauer of Roseland chats it up with a friend at the festival.

Roseland
Nelson County, VA
Not the most ideal weather but still an okay attendance for the Virginia Craft Brewers Festival this past Saturday afternoon on the grounds at Devils Backbone Brewing. Over a half inch of rain fell throughout the afternoon, but that didn’t stop the taps from being pulled. Lots of different breweries from across Virginia converged in Nelson to participate.

The 2012 Virginia Craft Brewers Festival is designed to bring together all qualified and interested Virginia Craft Breweries as an opportunity to promote the Virginia Craft Brewing Industry and the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild.
The event featured the Virginia Craft Beer Cup competition in 5 Categories with the cup being awarded to the best overall brewery.
In addition to plenty of craft beer on hand, several live bands played throughout the day.
Several other outdoor events including cycling competitions will take place over the weekend into Monday on the grounds at Devils Backbone Brewing.

USTA Senior District Tournament Kicks Off At Wintergreen Resort

Yvette Stafford
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Photos By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Roughly 300 participants will converge over the weekend for the USTA Senior District Tourney that kicked off this past Friday at Wintergreen Resort.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, VA
A few hundred senior tennis players will be continue hitting the courts this weekend at Wintergreen Resort as the USTA Senior District Tournament takes place at their Devils Knob facility. People from all over the region are here to participate.

Tournament action continues through the weekend and wraps up on Monday.
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