Roseland
Nelson County, Virginia By Jennie T. Willams
About three months ago, Elizabeth Campbell of Mac’s Country Store came across what appeared to be a hunting dog.
“He just showed up here – he was probably 30 pounds lighter,” said Elizabeth. “And he was real skittish at first, it’s taken us the first month for him to let us love on him, and now he’s fine with that.”
Elizabeth has a shelter set up for Max and feeds him a well-balanced meal every day (and suspects her customers are sneaking him snacks, too), but she’s worried that the pup, who lives outdoors, is going to get hurt.
Max has been hanging out out Mac's County Store for about the past 3 months. Every attempt to catch him so far has failed.
“He was definitely abused,” she said, adding that he’s smart – he’s avoided Animal Control’s traps. A small collection has been taken to pay for a doctor’s visit for Max, but Elizabeth just can’t get there. “I can’t get him into the car and I can’t get a leash on him. So I was hoping maybe somebody who works with a bused animals could help me get him to the vet and then to find a home for him.”
Elizabeth says Max is a wonderful dog, but due to liability reasons they just can keep him around the store any more.
If anyone knows of a way to help Max, please call Elizabeth at Mac’s Country Store at 277-5305.
Near Nellysford
Nelson County, VA
A group of lucky people recently sat down and savored their winning bid on a delicious silent auction item from last fall’s Opportunity Ball. The annual event benefits the Nelson County Community Fund.
Chef Ben Thompson co-owner of The Rock Barn in Arrington works on preparing the meal in the Agelasto's kitchen for the dinner recently held in their home.
“It was an auction item created by Joyce Claman and hosted by several couples with Peter and me having it at Elk Hill. Then at the Opportunity Ball several of us went together to bid on it, and we successfully won. So those attending were those bidding on it and ultimately paying to come. All the proceeds go to the Nelson County Community Fund,” said Betsy Agelasto who hosted the event in her Elk Hill home along with husband Peter.
(L to R) Chef Angelo Vangelopoulos, owner of The Ivy Inn, Joyce Claman of Wintergreen who helped organize the NCCF auction item, and Chef Ben Thompson, owner of The Rock Barn, pause for a photo in the Agelasto's kitchen during the dinner preparation. Scott Osborne with The Rock Barn shows off one of the many appetizers served to the party before dinner. Looking east out the foyer entrance to Elk Hill, dinner guests enjoyed cocktails on the porch before the dinner began. Peter & Betsy Agelasto pose for a picture in the elagant dining room of Elk Hill during a recent dinner that benefits The Nelson County Community Fund. One of the tables set for the dinner. Betsy Agelasto chats with one of the servers at the recent dinner that benefits The Nelson County Community Fund.
Nellysford
Nelson County, VA
For months we have been telling you about the progress (here on the web) over at Bold Rock Hard Cider just south of Nellysford on Route 151.
As a matter of fact, it’s one of our featured stories in the June issue of Nelson County Life. Photographer/Writer Marcie Gates visited Bold Rock on the very day they started pressing apples that would eventually be the cider in the bottles now! Click above on the magazine image to read that story now.
After all of that work, Nelson’s own, real, hard cider has started flowing. And yes, we have had some of it. Incredible!
Above NCL Publisher Yvette Stafford samples some of the Bold Rock Hard Cider poured by John Washburn, founder of the cidery. Virginia Apple was released to the public for tasting during a special dedication of the Rockfish Valley Foundation - Natural History Museum on June 14, 2012.In addition to the Virginia Apple shown above, Virginia Draft will be joining it as the hard cider bottled products are released to area stores over the coming weeks!
John Washburn, founder of Bold Rock Hard Cider, tells us the demand from distributors has been through the roof. Look for it to arrive in stores no later than the month of July.
Nellysford / Spruce Creek
Nelson County, VA
Surrounded by family, friends, volunteers, and dignitaries, the Rockfish Valley Foundation officially dedicated the new Natural History Center Thursday evening just south of Nellysford. It’s located in what was originally the Wintergreen Country Store, but most recently remembered as Spruce Creek Gallery for over a decade.
Writer / Photographer Marcie Gates first told you about the coming museum in the current June issue of NCL on page 22. Click above to read that story and learn more about the museum.
A crowd of 75 or so were on hand Thursday evening for the special dedication ceremony. Immediately following the dedication everyone moved inside to look it over and for an even larger treat. Above NCL Publisher Yvette Stafford samples some of the Bold Rock Hard Cider poured by John Washburn, founder of the cidery. Their signature Virginia Apple hard cider was officially released immediately after the museum dedication. John tells us it will be hitting area shelves across the state over the coming weeks!A wide variety of native Rockfish Valley food was on hand for everyone inside. Including bear, deer, and trout just to name a few!Linda Heuer of Nellysford provided beautiful piano music during the Thursday evening dedication and event. Lynn & Billy Coffey of Love, VA (yes, that Lynn that writes monthly in NCL) check out a unique hand crafted boat on display in the museum. Photo Courtesy of Ann Strober RVF Photographer : A man checks out one of the lifelike animal displays on hand in the museum. Photo Courtesy of Ann Strober RVF Photographer: David K Whitehurst, Director of Wildlife Resources for the State of VA, was just one of the several dignitaries on hand that spoke to the crowd during the ceremony.
The Natural History Center will open to the public beginning at 10AM to 4PM Saturday – June 16th. The museum will be open every Saturday & Sunday after that from 10A to 4P and by appointment. Eventually the center plans to increase the hours it is open.
Photo Via NCSD: Aaron Messer who recently served as the Rockfish Valley Community Center's Interim Manager has been jailed without bond on several felony charges for alleged crimes while on duty in that position.
Afton / Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Nelson County’s Commonwealth Attorney Anthony Martin and Nelson Sheriff David Brooks both confirm to NCL that 25 year old Aaron Messer, the one time Rockfish Valley Community Center manager earlier this year, has been jailed on numerous felony charges. It surrounds an investigation into what they say are occurrences happening while he was center manager. “I can’t give out specific details. The charges stemmed from 3 unauthorized checks cashed by Messer totaling approximately $2,500.00. He is currently being held without bond on 3 felony forgery charges; 3 felony uttering charges; and 1 charge of embezzlement relating to the total of the 3 checks,” said Nelson County CA Anthony Martin.
In a Friday conversation with Nelson Sheriff Brooks, he confirmed that his agency was part of an investigation into possible illegal activities by Messer while he was the interim center manager at RVCC. “We conducted an investigation into the activities there and Mr. Messer was eventually charged and jailed. A request for bond was denied at a recent court hearing,” Sheriff Brooks said.
The Humpback Rocks Picnic Area, located at milepost 8.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, will be closed beginning Wednesday, June 13, 2012 for reconstruction. This area closure is part of a larger road paving and rehabilitation project occurring this summer from milepost 0 to milepost 15.3 which will result in minor traffic delays along the roadway.
Reconstruction activities at Humpback Rocks Picnic Area include the removal and replacement of the pavement, replacement of the culverts and rebuilding of the pull-in parking sites. Several overlooks between milepost 0 and milepost 15.3 will be used as project staging areas and will be closed intermittently throughout the duration of the paving project, which is expected to be complete by Labor Day weekend.
Limited picnicking opportunities will be made available at the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center on a temporary basis to accommodate Parkway users. Numerous other alternative parking areas, overlooks and picnic areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway have picnic facilities as shown below.
In addition, Shenandoah National Park offers picnic grounds in the park’s South District. The Dundo Picnic Grounds, formerly the Dundo Group Campground, is located at Milepost 83.5 along Skyline Drive. The picnic grounds are suitable for both small and large group picnicking. Amenities in the picnic grounds include picnic tables, grills, water, trash cans, and vault toilets and a $15.00 entrance fee is accessed. For more information about Shenandoah National Park, visit www.nps.gov/shen.
Blue Ridge Parkway Ridge District Picnic Areas:
Milepost Overlook Name 5.8 Humpback Rock Visitor Center*
6.0 Humpback Gap Parking Area 10.7 Raven’s Roost Parking Overlook 11.7
Photo By Ann Strober : Ann grabbed this shot of large thunderstorm producing clouds dissipating looking south from Nellysford on Tuesday afternoon.
Nellysford
Nelson County, VA
As we talked about earlier, lots of storms moved across Nelson on Tuesday afternoon. Ann Strober sent us this nice shot of storm clouds to the south of Nellysford as the skies were becoming less threatening.
Glad the sunshine will return for several days starting on Wednesday 🙂
Photo By NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura : Mean looking storm clouds hang over the mountains near Route 664 & 151 late in the day Tuesday as strong thunderstorm moved across the area.
Roseland / Beech Grove
Nelson County, Virginia
Just about everyone across Nelson County heard the rumble of thunder and saw brilliant flashes of lightening Tuesday afternoon as strong thunderstorms moved across the area. NCL Mountain Photographer Paul Purpura grabbed this shot as he was leaving the valley headed back on the mountain.
We break out to mostly sunny skies on Wednesday with afternoon temps in the lower & mid 80’s.
The remainder of the week looks dry with milder temps right into the weekend!
Via Wintergreen Police Department : Christopher Martin of Virginia Beach was recently sentenced in a ski lift ticket scheme. He was arrested after an undercover investigation by WPD.
Lovingston / Virginia Beach
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: June 12, 2012
RE: Virginia Beach man pleads guilty to counterfeiting
Wintergreen ski lift tickets
FROM: ANTHONY MARTIN, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
A 28-year-old Virginia Beach man was sentenced in the Virginia Beach Circuit Court on June 5, 2012 after an investigation conducted by Wintergreen Police Investigator Steve Southworth of the Wintergreen Police Dept. and authorized by Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony Martin.
The investigation began in January 2012 when Wintergreen ski patrol observed several people with lift tickets that appeared different from official Wintergreen lift tickets. After being questioned, they told Wintergreen authorities that they purchased the tickets by email and thought they were valid tickets.
After investigators obtained the email subscriber information from a court-ordered request, investigators were led to 28 year old Christopher Martin from Virginia Beach. The purchasers of the counterfeit lift tickets all identified Martin as the person who sold them the tickets in Virginia Beach after looking at his driver’s license photo.
Southworth and Virginia Beach authorities then set up a sting operation on January 31, 2012. Martin was arrested after he sold 8 counterfeit ski lift tickets to an undercover detective for $320.00. After Martin’s arrest, officers found over a dozen more counterfeit tickets in his vehicle.
Virginia Beach authorities and Southworth charged Martin with the felony of obtaining money by false pretenses. Martin admitted to selling over $5,000.00 worth of counterfeit lift tickets to Wintergreen customers over the course of several months. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison all suspended on certain conditions. He was ordered to pay Wintergreen $5,360.00 in restitution and to be of good behavior and satisfy all rules of probation.
Our Media Partners at CBS-19 in Charlottesville reported on Friday that Tracy Davis of Nelson County is expected to enter into a guilty plea on federal charges involving the illegal harvesting and sale of bear organs.
“Authorities also said Davis trapped bears at George Washington National Forest near his home and sold their body parts.
Davis has a guilty plea hearing in the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Charlottesville scheduled for June 18.”
