Blue Ridge Parkway
Nelson County, Virginia
Lots of locals and many visitors use the Blue Ridge Parkway as a means of getting around a little quicker, even in the winter months when it’s open. The BRP hasn’t been open very much since the December 19th snow that dumped 2 feet and then some along the parkway. Though it briefly opened after the heavy flooding rains in January, it’s essentially been closed due to a heavy, deep snow pack.
A snow bank of nearly 4-5 feet blocks the BRP looking north from Reeds Gap. Beyond that drifts equally as high block portions of the parkway. Cross country hikers and skiers get suited up Sunday afternoon at the Route 664 - BRP intersection.
Though the parkway has been closed to traffic, it’s been ideal for cross country hikers and skiers that want the road all to themselves. This past Sunday numerous people took advantage of the conditions.
This sign pretty much says it all. Just beyond it is the BRP route toward Love, VA.
A 50 degree day up on the BRP did help to melt some of the snow, and rains early this week will do even more, but it’s a safe bet the parkway will be closed well into the near future.
Photo By Ann Strober : A small reminder that warmer days are ahead! Ann grabbed this shot Sunday near Nellysford, VA.
“Meet the Growers” who provide the local food to Stone Soup Café! Celebrate local food and local farmers. Meet the folks behind the scenes who provide us with great local food – JMD Farm, Blue Haven Acres, our own Stone Soup gardener Susan Hastings, Chef Laura Bon Cash & many others! Bring your questions on gardens & food, share recipes, taste some samples and find out more about what these local farmers are providing to our community! Enjoy some local Virginia wine too!
Event Date: Saturday 27th of March 2010 02:00 PM
Location/Address: 908 W Main St Waynesboro VA 22980
Contact Telephone Please call 540-943-0084 for more information
A Kid’s Avenue, downtown Waynesboro 3rd Friday’s event! Stone Soup presents…
A reading by Dougie Morris, author of “Wilhelmina Under the Stairs” at Short and Sweet Bakery .
Come here Wilhelmina’s story – Wilhelmina has lived her whole life in peaceful safety on the banks of the Maury River. She’s one of the Maury River rats, a stable, close-knit pack. But Wilhelmina is bored with safety, tired of being protected. She longs to break free and strike out on her own. When a flood sweeps her away from her family, she’s washed downstream and into the adventure of a lifetime! Enjoy some sweet RAT cookies from Short & Sweet Bakery! Books available at Stone Soup (www.stonesoupbooks.net) or on-site.
Event Date: Friday 19th of March 2010 05:45 PM
Location/Address: 133 North Wayne Avenue
Contact Telephone Please call 540-943-0084 for more information
Information regarding the make up days for Nelson County Public Schools. Click image to download information on the days missed and make up procedures.
Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Some of the worst winter weather in years seems to be on its way out. Now it’s time to make up those days missed at school. Nelson County Public Schools have already been out over two weeks and this winter is not finished yet! Classes resumed last week after a stretch of days out for snow. The general plan is to increase the length of the school day by 20 minutes for the rest of this school year, starting on Monday – February 22nd. If more days are missed additional steps will be determined at that time.
This letter went out last week explaining the make up procedure for missed days. Click to enlarge view.
Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
It’s been about a year since Cheryl Tompkins, owner of Stoney Creek Pharmacy in Nellysford, was diagnosed with breast cancer. After months and months of chemotherapy and radiation, she on the mend, coming back strong! We’ve been telling you about Chery’s battle over the past year, both here on our web edition and in the magazine.
By Aaron Lee
Nelson County Life
A Massies Mill dog has collared a “Best of Breed” prize at this year’s Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
On Tuesday, honors were awarded to a 137-pound Komondor – bred by Mike and Sherry Harman – whose bleached janitor-mop appearance is probably more familiar to the general public on TV than it is on a dog run.
At Westminster the “Best of Breed” judging includes categories for sporting, non-sporting, toy, hound, herding, terrier and working. The Komondor falls into the “working” bracket and the Harman’s dog was one of four of its breed – two males and two females – that were judged. All told, approximately 150 breeds were judged between Monday and Tuesday. While some dog shows carry a purse, no prize money is tied to winning at Westminster. This year’s “Best in Show” – the contest’s top honors – went to a four-year-old Scottish Terrier.
Komondors, native to Hungary, are sentinels who watch over livestock and are rare in the United States, Sherry Harman said during a phone interview on Thursday afternoon. Roughly a hundred Komondors are born in the United States each year, Harman said. Compared with an estimated 2,000 Golden Retrievers born each month, she said. “It’s a very small community,” she said of Komondor owners. Known as ultra-protective of their flock, Harman described a Komondor’s attentiveness and ferocity in the face of a potential threat by saying, “I have not locked my door in 20 years.”
Harman and her husband Mike (A member of the Nelson County Planning Commission) have raised Komondors for 23 years and this year was the second time they’ve shown at Westminster. During the previous showing the couple’s dog received an “Award of Merit,” she said. The five-year-old dog the couple took this year is officially known as “Champion Meadow View Officer N A Gentleman,” but is known to the Harman’s as “Major.””It’s really an incredible dog,” said Harman, who spent the most of the last month on the road traveling to different dog shows. Without much pause after Westminster the Harmans drove to South Carolina this week to compete in three more dog shows.
The couple co-owns “Gentleman” with Janet Cupolo, according to Westminster’s Web site.
Harman, now retired, showed her first dog in 1991 and has since traveled the circuit country-wide in an RV.
“Heck, if we weren’t doing this, what would we be doing,” she asked.
Back suffering from all that shoveling? Need to move a bit after being “shut in” by the weather? Sounds like you could use an Iyengar yoga class led by Shaaron Honeycutt in a beautiful and spacious facility, right in “downtown” Nellysford at the Tuckahoe Club House.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY CLASSES February 20 & 21 – Saturday class and Sunday class begin at 9 a.m.
This is a multi-level class, for both beginners and those with experience. Check it out and start your weekend out right!
Please R.S.V.P. (phone 434.981.5553 or e-mail: shaaronh@gmail.com and leave a contact #)- Minimum of 3 people required by 8 a.m. of the day of class. Will call if there’s NO class…. otherwise we’re on. Bring any yoga props you may have, including a yoga mat (but if you don’t have anything, c’mon anyway… there’s some for you to borrow).
Event Date: Saturday 20th of February 2010 09:00 AM
Location/Address: Tuckahoe Club House in Stoney Creek Street: 2nd left as you turn into Stoney Creek from Rt 151 – entrance on right side
Contact Telephone Please call 434.981.5553 for more information
Cheryl pictured in our July 2009 article while undergoing one of her many chemo treatments at UVa in Charlottesville.
This coming weekend Cheryl is celebrating life with her family, friends, and whoever wants to drop by and say hello. Or as Cheryl puts it, “Done with treatments, now it’s time to party!”
This Saturday from 2-4pm at the Rockfish Valley Volunteer Firehouse Cheryl is having a get together for kids with a webkinz fashion show. More fun & food from 4 to 6pm (while it lasts). Then the night caps off from 6-10 with a DJ on hand!
There’s 50/50’s, door prizes, along with auction items!
Come on out and celebrate life with Cheryl this weekend!
Learn the best way to prune shrubs and small trees with landscape designer Susan B. Viemeister. Learn what to prune, when and how as well as which tools are best for the job. Demonstrations, ‘hands-on’ experience, hand-outs, diagrams and resources as well as lunch will be provided. Bring gloves and your favorite handtools. To register go to www.pharsaliaevents.com. Class fee- $50
