Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
The weather was absolutely perfect for the kick off of The Nelson Farmers’ Market Cooperative in Nellysford. This year they started one week earlier than normal.
Though many things aren't in season just yet, there's plenty of other things like lettuce that's ready to go!
According to their website The Nellysford market features:
Seasonal locally grown produce
* fresh, home-baked goods
* locally raised meat
* herbs, honey & mushrooms
* freshly cut flowers
* culinary treats
* bedding plants
* homeopathic remedies
* landscape and garden plants
* jams & jellies, mustards, vinegars
* arts and crafts items,
* and lots more!
This youngster listens to the tunes of Kim and Jimbo Cary at the opening of the Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative this past Saturday (4.30.11) in Nellysford, VA Nelson County Life Magazine is again one of the music sponsors at the market.Opening day of the market is always a popular time under the big white tent right next door the Wintergreen Real Estate Company.Gail Hobbs-Page (right) displays her Caromont Farm Cheeses this past Saturday at the Nelson Farmers' Market. Mariah Morgan chats it up with folks looking over all of her baked goods this past Saturday in Nellysford. It's not just food. There's all kinds of other totally local products you will find at the market.
The Plant Propagation team members will introduce you to the beauty and benefits of using native plants in your landscape and gardens,
with a focus on what plants will grow well in the valley. Learn how to use local native plants to naturalize your property, how to integrate native plants with other plantings and how to solve
challenging landscaping problems with adaptable, native plants and shrubs. Plants will be available for purchase. There will be no charge for the workshop. Please register by April 23rd by at
(434)325-8169.
Kerl Jam is a healing benefit for Phillip Kerl and his family… with live music from Molimo, Chamomile and Whiskey, and more…cake walk…live and silent art and service auction…10$ admission (kids under 12 free!)…
Blue Mountain Brewery has selected the Colleen Business Park in Nelson County as the home for its two new production brewery projects. During the year-long site selection process, the Colleen location emerged as the best fit for the projects, allowing Blue Mountain to expand its brewery operations in Nelson County. Blue Mountain originally located in Nelson after water studies and drilling test wells. Brewer Taylor Smack notes, “The water in this region is an integral part of the success of our brewery process. I had talked with Central Virginia Electric Cooperative [the Colleen Business Park land owner] about locating a brewery here as far back as 2004. The site never left my mind as very ideal, and we’re thrilled to finally be making a production brewery in Colleen a reality.”
Blue Mountain Barrel House and Organic Brewery is a 10,000 square foot production-only facility for the 10 lines of Blue Mountain beer that will be kegged or bottled in 750ml corked bottles and undergo 100% natural refermentation. These beers will be USDA certified organic and will tend toward the more “specialty” end of Blue Mountain’s beer production spectrum. Beers brewed will include the popular Dark Hollow Bourbon-Barrel Aged Stout and Mandolin, but will also introduce new styles such as an imperial pilsner and a barrel-aged Belgian-inspired ale. Production is slated to begin by January 2012, with a start capacity of 2,500 barrels per year, growing to a capacity of 5,000 barrels per year.
The second project, a large production brewery of 40-60,000 square feet will focus on the production of the current bottled beer lines, including Full Nelson and Classic Lager. This brewery will help service the large amount of unfulfilled orders from the current beer wholesaler, as well as begin expansion to out-of-state markets. The eventual capacity for this brewery will be 50,000 barrels annually.
Blue Mountain opened it's current brewery / restaurant back in October 2007.
County Administrator, Stephen Carter, noted, “The County worked diligently with Blue Mountain Brewery to assist in the expansion at the current location as well as locate the two new production facilities in Nelson County. The decision to locate in the Colleen Business Park is an exciting one for the company and for the County. The advantages of the Colleen Business Park, water quality, as well as the opportunity to expand in the same locality are the reasons that Blue Mountain chose Nelson County for the site of its production facilities. In addition to creating approximately 50 new jobs for the County, Blue Mountain Brewery will further enhance the already strong beverage business cluster with the addition of these operations.”
Both brewery facilities will share an effluent pre-treatment facility that will use aerobic treatment and anaerobic digestion to reduce the level of brewery effluent strength to meet the operating standards of the Nelson County Service Authority wastewater treatment plant. Although the two breweries will be production-oriented and not include a restaurant area such as the Blue Mountain Brewery pub in Afton, there will be a tasting area at both facilities, as well as a beer garden patio shared by both breweries for public tours and tastings. Customers will be able to fill their growlers or buy six-packs for off site consumption, while enjoying the magnificent view of the Blue Ridge and Nelson County from the hilltop site in the Colleen Business Park.
Gary Wood, President and CEO of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC), expressed congratulations to Blue Mountain Brewery and welcomed the new neighbors. “The CVEC Board of Directors was enthusiastic in authorizing the sale of land to Blue Mountain Brewery because these two production and bottling operations fulfill the purpose of developing the Colleen Business Park in partnership with Nelson County and the Service Authority.”
“Blue Mountain Brewery raises the already high visibility of Nelson County as a great place to live and do business, with a particularly strong combination of agricultural products and tourism. In addition, Blue Mountain Brewery will create jobs for our local citizens, support other local businesses and contribute to the County tax base.”
Cheers to Wintergreen Winery as they celebrate 18 wonderful years this Saturday April 30th! Come out and celebrate too!
Wintergreen/Beech Grove
Nelson County, Virginia Saturday, April 30 · 12:00pm – 6:00pm
Toast the Wintergreen Winery’s 18th Anniversary (and Jeff & Tamara’s 12th as owners) with live music, wine and gourmet food tasting, and door prizes.
Light picnic fare and scenic riverside picnic area available. $5 Admission fee (children are free) includes wine glass, wine tasting and wine and gift shop specials. Rain or Shine. MUSIC by:
Jim Waive (country-blues-rock ) followed by Jason Ring, the “one-man blues, country, bluegrass band”.
Wintergreen Winery
462 Winery Lane – on Beech Grove Road (Rte 664) just 1/2 mile off 151
Nellysford, VA
Photo Via NCSD : Willie McCoy Thacker in a 2007 file photo. Lawmen are still looking for Thacker on a variety of charges.
Piney River
Nelson County, Virginia Updated: 4.29.11 – 2PM EDT
Nelson County Sheriff, David Brooks tells NCL that Willie McCoy Thacker was taken into custody early Friday afternoon without incident. He was found in a hotel room in Madison Heights, Virginia. “The weapon was located around noon, and he was found s short time later,” Sheriff Brooks, added.
Original Post from 10:30 AM
Deputies continue following leads for a man they say fired shots Thursday night during a domestic dispute. “This was most likely an alcohol related incident. We received the call around 7PM Thursday night via 911. Once deputies got there they were told 54 year old Willie McCoy Thacker had fired a shot outside the home, ran off into the nearby woods and fire several more rounds. Deputies were also told Thacker had a pocket full of ammo,” Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks tells NCL.
Originally as the scene was unfolding, it was thought Thacker had fired at police, but as details came in, that was not the case. “All of the shots were fired before any of my officers arrived,” Sheriff Brooks continued. Later in the evening a Virginia State Police helicopter was brought in with special night vision and heat seeking gear to see if they could locate Thacker. A VSP tact team also made the scene along with a K-9 tracking dog. Thacker was never located and the search eventually ended around 10:30 PM Thursday night. “At no time was the public in danger and we don’t feel Thacker is a danger now to the public, though we continue to follow leads on his whereabouts so he can be picked up on several outstanding charges,” Sheriff Brooks added.
Thacker is wanted on the following charges:
Brandishing a firearm
Domestic A&B on wife
Possession of firearm by convicted felon
Sheriff Brooks is asking anyone with information on the location of Thacker to contact his office at 434-263-7050 or their toll free tip line at 877-570-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.
Present: Mr. Joe Dan Johnson, Mr. Tommy Bruguiere, Mr. Allen Hale, Mr. Tommy Harvey and Ms. Connie Brennan
CLOSED SESSION: Supervisors went into closed session to discuss a prospective business or expansion not previously announced.
Following the closed session, Supervisors voted unanimously to authorize staff to negotiate incentives for a business at Colleen Business Park.
(Note: By press release after the Closed Session – Blue Mountain Barrel House & Organic Brewery, a 10,000 square foot production-only facility for the 10 lines of Blue Mountain beer that will be kegged or bottled in 750ml corked bottles and undergo 100% natural refermentation, plans to begin by January, 2012 with a start capacity of 2,500 barrels per year, growing to 5,000 barrels per year. The second project, a large production brewery of 40-60,000 square feet will focus on the production of the current bottled beer lines with eventual capacity at 50,000 barrels annually.)
FY11-12 BUDGET: After discussion, Supervisors agreed to provide $314,000 in additional funding to the School Operating Funds (includes a 1% pay increase based on last year’s salary numbers; VRS and health insurance). Supervisors then agreed to provide a 1% increase for all county employees, including the County Administrator. Ms. McCann reported that the 1% across the board would add $64,000 to the staff recommendation for the schools and reduce the contingency fund to $79,669. (Non-recurring contingency fund remains at $159,000.)
Supervisors agreed to fund a new Planner position for 9 months of the budget year. Mr. Carter reported that there is funding in the budget for several other positions that could be filled in the future – a 24-hour/week staff person for Economic Development/Tourism; a full-time position for Building Inspections currently being filled by a part-time person; and an unfilled position in maintenance. Mr. Carter also reported that the Parks & Recreation van has been wrecked and disposed of. He said that Parks & Rec would like funding of approximately $22,500 to purchase a 12-person van. Supervisors directed staff to bring back some options, including purchasing a used van, at the May 10th meeting. Mr. Carter also noted that there are still times when only one 911 dispatcher is on duty and said that it would cost approximately $31,000 to add a 32-hour/week part-time dispatcher plus increase the hours of some of the part-time dispatchers to make sure there are always two dispatchers on duty at all times.
Supervisors agreed to hold the public hearing on the draft budget at their 7pm meeting on Thursday, May 26th. Meeting adjourned.
Via NWS : A new TORNADO WATCH #251 has been issued for Wintergreen, Nelson and counties east of the Blue Riidge until 3PM EDT. Look to your right under Nelson Weather Alerts for the absolute latest updates.
!CANCELED – CANCELED – CANCELED!
Tornado Watch
Statement as of 11:11 AM EDT on April 28, 2011
The National Weather Service has cancelled Tornado Watch 251 for
the following areas
In Maryland this cancels 1 County
In north central Maryland
Frederick
In Virginia this cancels 9 counties
In central Virginia
Albemarle Greene Nelson
Orange
In northern Virginia
Culpeper Fauquier Loudoun
In northwest Virginia
Madison Rappahannock
In Virginia this cancels 1 independent city
In central Virginia
Charlottesville
This includes the cities of…Charlottesville…Culpeper…
Frederick…Greenfield…Leesburg…Madison…Orange…
Stanardsville…Sterling…Warrenton and Washington.
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 251
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
740 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MUCH OF MARYLAND
A SMALL PART OF NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA
MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA
COASTAL WATERS
EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON FROM 740 AM UNTIL
300 PM EDT.
TORNADOES…HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 80 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES NORTH NORTHEAST OF
BALTIMORE MARYLAND TO 35 MILES EAST OF DANVILLE VIRGINIA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE
UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).
REMEMBER…A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…THIS TORNADO WATCH REPLACES TORNADO
WATCH NUMBER 247. WATCH NUMBER 247 WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT AFTER
740 AM EDT. CONTINUE…WW 249…WW 250…
DISCUSSION…A BROKEN BAND OF CONVECTION CONTINUES TO DEVELOP E OF
THE BLUE RIDGE AND THE SYNOPTIC COLD FRONT. A BREAK IN THE
CONVECTION IN NC IS ALLOWING AN UNIMPEDED INFLUX OF LOW-LEVEL
MOISTURE INTO VA…AND VERTICAL SHEAR PROFILES REMAIN STRONG. GIVEN
THE STRONG SHEAR AND MOIST PROFILES WITH WEAK INSTABILITY…THE
POTENTIAL FOR A FEW TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS WITH
SUPERCELLS/BOWS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST MIDDAY OR EARLY
AFTERNOON.
County Outline Area Below
The National Weather Service has issued Tornado Watch 251 until
3 PM EDT this afternoon which replaces a portion of Tornado Watch
247. The new watch is valid for the following areas
The District of Columbia
In Maryland the new watch includes 11 counties
In central Maryland
Anne Arundel Howard Montgomery
Prince Georges
In north central Maryland
Carroll Frederick
In northern Maryland
Baltimore Harford
In southern Maryland
Calvert Charles St. Marys
In Virginia the new watch includes 15 counties
In central Virginia
Albemarle Greene King George
Nelson Orange Spotsylvania
In northern Virginia
Arlington Culpeper Fairfax
Fauquier Loudoun Prince William
Stafford
In northwest Virginia
Madison Rappahannock
In Maryland the new watch includes 1 independent city
In northern Maryland
Baltimore City
In Virginia the new watch includes 7 independent cities
In central Virginia
Charlottesville City of Fredericksburg
In northern Virginia
City of Alexandria City of Fairfax City of Falls Church
City of Manassas City of Manassas Park
This includes the cities of…Aberdeen…Annapolis…Arlington…
Bel Air…Chantilly…Charlottesville…Chesapeake Beach…
Columbia…Culpeper…Dahlgren…Edgewood…Fallston…Falmouth…
Frederick…Gaithersburg…Greenfield…Havre de Grace…
Joppatowne…Laurel…Leesburg…Madison…McLean…Orange…
Reston…Spotsylvania courthouse…St Marys…Stanardsville…
Sterling…Towson…Waldorf…Warrenton…Washington…
Washington…Westminster and Woodbridge.251
Via NWS : A new TORNADO WATCH is now in effect until 8AM EDT for all of Central Virginia including Nelon & Wintergreen. For the absolute latest watches and warnings, look to the right under Nelson Weather Alerts.
!CANCELED – CANCELED – CANCELED!
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 247
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1240 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011
SCROLL FOR DETAILED COUNTY OUTLINE AREAS
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MARYLAND
NORTHERN NORTH CAROLINA
FAR NORTHEAST TENNESSEE
VIRGINIA
EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA
COASTAL WATERS
EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY MORNING FROM 1240 AM UNTIL 800 AM EDT.
TORNADOES…HAIL TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 80 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES NORTHEAST OF
MARTINSBURG WEST VIRGINIA TO 50 MILES WEST OF GREENSBORO NORTH
CAROLINA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE
ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU7).
REMEMBER…A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
DISCUSSION…TSTMS CURRENTLY CRESTING THE BLUE RIDGE ARE EXPECTED TO
INTENSIFY DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AS THEY ENCOUNTER A MOIST
AND MODERATELY UNSTABLE AIR MASS IN PLACE ACROSS THE PIEDMONT.
GIVEN THE STRONG VERTICAL SHEAR IN PLACE…THE SETUP WILL FAVOR A
CONTINUATION OF SUPERCELLS AND BOWING STRUCTURES CAPABLE OF
TORNADOES…DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL.
WATCH COUNTY NOTIFICATION FOR WATCHES 240/247
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1242 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 247 UNTIL
8 AM EDT THIS MORNING WHICH REPLACES A PORTION OF TORNADO WATCH
240. THE NEW WATCH IS VALID FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
IN MARYLAND THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 13 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL MARYLAND
ANNE ARUNDEL HOWARD MONTGOMERY
PRINCE GEORGES
IN NORTH CENTRAL MARYLAND
CARROLL FREDERICK WASHINGTON
IN NORTHERN MARYLAND
BALTIMORE HARFORD
IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND
CALVERT CHARLES ST. MARYS
IN WESTERN MARYLAND
ALLEGANY
IN VIRGINIA THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 23 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
ALBEMARLE GREENE KING GEORGE
NELSON ORANGE SPOTSYLVANIA
IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA
ARLINGTON CULPEPER FAIRFAX
FAUQUIER LOUDOUN PRINCE WILLIAM
STAFFORD
IN NORTHWEST VIRGINIA
CLARKE FREDERICK MADISON
PAGE RAPPAHANNOCK SHENANDOAH
WARREN
IN WESTERN VIRGINIA
AUGUSTA HIGHLAND ROCKINGHAM
IN WEST VIRGINIA THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES
IN NORTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA
BERKELEY GRANT HAMPSHIRE
HARDY JEFFERSON MINERAL
MORGAN PENDLETON
IN MARYLAND THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 1 INDEPENDENT CITY
IN NORTHERN MARYLAND
BALTIMORE CITY
IN VIRGINIA THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 11 INDEPENDENT CITIES
IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG
IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA
CITY OF ALEXANDRIA CITY OF FAIRFAX CITY OF FALLS CHURCH
CITY OF MANASSAS CITY OF MANASSAS PARK
Present: Ms. Philippa Proulx, Ms. Emily Hunt, Ms. Linda Russell and Mr. Mike Tapager
Absent: Mr. Mike Harman and Ms. Connie Brennan (Board Liaison)
CLASS I COMMUNICATION TOWER/AT&T/WATERWORKS LANE: Deferred by applicant.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS/SMALL WIND ENERGY/COMMUNICATION TOWER: Commissioners have drafted amendments to allow small wind energy systems on parcels of land of 20 acres or more with a height of greater than 100 feet but less than 199 feet in the Conservation, Agricultural, Industrial M-2 and Limited Industrial M-1 Districts.
In addition, the Commissioners have reviewed and drafted revisions to Article 20 Communication Tower Ordinance to include Broadband regulations, new and updated definitions and updated regulations for pole diameters and antenna sizes. The draft provides for four classes of towers as follows:
Class I – maximum height of 85 feet with approval of the Planning and Zoning Director;
Class II – maximum height of 130 feet with approval of the Planning Commission;
Class III – requires approval of a Special Use Permit by the Board of Supervisors; and
Class IV – Broadband, License Exempt Provider with approval by the Planning and Zoning Director
During the Public Hearing on the proposed amendments, MR. ROBERT CHAFFINCH, Shipman, expressed his concerns with health issues related to wireless technology. He said that if the ordinance is passed, it should contain regulations for precautionary protections and health monitoring, especially for the elderly and children.
MS. LORI SCHWELLER, attorney representing Verizon Wireless, said that Verizon supports the draft ordinance but has concerns with the Section 20-5-17(8)d. which limits the antenna size to 1,152 square inches and Section 20-5-17(b) which limits the base and top diameters of a metal monopole. Ms. Schweller said that the county encourages co-location but the diameter size restrictions would prohibit co-location as the diameter is based on the height of the pole and the equipment mounted on the pole. In addition, she said that the county has said that it does not want larger arrays of antennas but the surface size limits would prohibit multiple technology arrays.
MR. JIM DAVEY, Lovingston, said that he is desperate for high speed internet and supports the ordinance.
Following the public hearing, Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend approval of the amendments to the Small Wind Energy Systems ordinance, Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 8A, 8B, 9 and 18.
Commissioners discussed the two issues raised by Ms. Schweller in the draft Communication Tower Ordinance. They agreed to consensus to change the language to remove Section 20-5-17(b) – diameter requirements; and to add the statement “required distance from pole and antennas size may be modified by the final approving authority” to Section 20-5-17(8)d. They voted unanimously to recommend approval of the repeal and reenactment of Article 20. Ms. Russell said that her understanding is that the county cannot deny a tower permit based on health concerns but suggested that the county have Mr. Payne (County Attorney) review the draft ordinance relative to FCC regulations on the issue.
Meeting continued to Tuesday, May 3rd at 7:00pm at the Courthouse for a Comp Plan Work Session.
