Page 625 – Blue Ridge Life Magazine

So Long Sue, Russ & Mary : Spruce Creek Gallery Goes Out In Style!

News

Tommy

-

January 9, 2009

©2008-2009 NCL Magazine : Spruce Creek Gallery in Nellysford, Virginia closes this weekend after 12 years in business.

Nellysford – Nelson County, Virginia
Nelson County will be a little more empty after this weekend. People who we are lucky enough to call friends, are closing the doors on Spruce Creek Gallery after 12 years of business in the old Wintergreen Country Store just south of Nellysford on Route 151. This ever changing economy has not been kind to lots of folks. It’s tough out there. But I always thought when I made my jaunt toward Wintergreen or Roseland, or Piney River, that I could look to the left and see Sue working away inside at Spruce Creek.

I first got to know Sue Bernard within weeks of our move to Nelson County back in 2004. Sue was part of NAMA at the time. (Nellysford Area Merchant’s Association) We were members of NAMA at the same time and became great friends over the coming years. I knew I liked Sue when I saw the Apple Computer sitting on her desk! We are a rare breed, and even more rare a few years ago! I always enjoyed stopping in and chatting it up with Sue. We talked about current events, family, money, great wines and beer, just life. It made my day seem more full when I got to chat it up with Sue in her gallery as she waited on customers.

Mary Reid (left) co-owner of Spruce Creek Gallery and Sue Bernard, the founder of the gallery wait on customers in 2007. Ask Sue about the sling!

A few months later I became friends with Russ and Mary Reid who became co-owners of the gallery. Talk about some go getters! These folks have done so much to help Nelson County. Sue started the annual tradition of holding a fundraiser for Blue Ridge Medical Center’s Rural Health Outreach Program. When Russ and Mary came along, they jumped right in and never missed a beat to help make it even better!

Russ Reid, far right, chats it up with customers at a past art show in Spruce Creek Gallery.

I must admit, I am art ignorant. But Sue never made me feel inferior just because I didn’t. She always helped to teach me about art. And I learned lots about it from going in Spruce Creek.

Customers stop to look over a recent local art display at Spruce Creek.

Sue, Russ and Mary, have put their heart, soul, and pocketbooks into Spruce Creek. It’s been a great ride and Nelson County is better off 12 years later for their contribution. They aren’t leaving our community, only closing the doors on the gallery. Knowing them as I do, they will continue to be strong supporters of RHOP which is working on their spring fundraiser for Spring 2009 now. And we will continue to see them all around the area. Sue even has some plans to continue an art gallery in some form in the coming months.

On Saturday at 3PM the trio will be holding a Thank You Celebration. If you know Sue, you know anything for a party! Seriously, it’s a way to say thanks and to old and new faces as they work toward closing. Show your thanks by dropping by and visiting on this very special occasion.

Sue, I’ll bring the hamburgers!

Best of luck to you all!
-T-

Here’s the latest info on Saturday’s Thank You Celebration sent to us by the gallery:

We would like to remind you that you are invited to a party this Saturday to celebrate the 12 wonderful years of the Spruce Creek Creek Gallery. The party will take place from 3 until 5 pm and we hope that you will be able to stop by and visit and meet some of the artists. We would also like to thank you for all the support that you have shown the gallery these past 12 years. So many of our customers and artists have become our friends that we didn’t want to close without acknowledging that.

We are expecting quite a few people to attend so we would like to ask you to please park in the field behind the gallery. You get there by turning left on Glenthorne Loop and then turning left at the entrance to the Riverside Nursery. You will see other cars parked there and we will put up signs. Then you just walk over the bridge and there you are!

All of the art in gallery will still be for sale and we will have a discount for cash and checks (if you want to be prepared). This will be one last opportunity to support the artists.

Also, since we are closing, all the fixtures will be for sale so you might find an odd this or that that you can’t live without. See you Saturday!

Sue, Mary and Russ

Spruce Creek Gallery
POB 434
1368 Rockfish Valley Highway
Nellysford, VA 22958

434-361-1859

www.SpruceCreekGallery.net

Economic Development Authority : 1.8.09

Community

Yvette Stafford

-

January 9, 2009

1

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Thursday, January 8, 2009

PRESENT: Mr. Greg Kelly, Mr. Erwin Berry, Mr. Alphonso Taylor, Mr. Steve
Crandall (Staff: Ms. Maureen Kelley)
ABSENT: Ms. Emily Pelton, Mr. Bennett Saunders, Mr. Natt Hall

TREASURER’S REPORT – Mr. Taylor reported that there is a balance of
$136,611.50 on a CD that matures on January 12th. He noted that the
interest rates are approximately .82% for a 6-month CD and 1.3% for a
12-month or 18-month CD. Mr. Taylor reported that the Authority currently
has approximately $14,000 in checking and reviewed the funds which the EDA
has committed and is considering for 2009. He noted approximately $60,000
(Business Appreciation, marketing, board training, etc) in expected expenses
and suggested putting $100,000 on a six-month CD with the balance in the
checking account. Members voted unanimously to do so.

JAUNT TRANSIT OPTIONS/ROCKFISH VALLEY – Mr. Crandall reported that JAUNT and
Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) have completed their
report on a potential Rockfish Valley transportation plan. He suggested
that the EDA ask Wintergreen Partners (WPI) to do a bulk email to WPI and
Wintergreen Property Owners Association (WPOA) to provide information on the
proposal. Mr. Kelly suggested doing an online survey to gauge community
interest and gather ideas and feedback on the proposal. After discussion,
members directed staff to work with TJPDC to develop the survey questions
and post the study and survey on the county’s website within the next two
weeks.

LOCAL FOOD HUB PROJECT – Mr. Kelly reported that the project to develop an
efficient distribution and marketing infrastructure for locally- and
regionally-grown and produced product is moving forward with developing a
business plan and identifying funding for development. He noted that as an
adjunct to the ongoing work, the group is considering a proposal from
another company to develop an interactive website to allow growers and
producers to list the products they have for sale and buyers to purchase
those products. Mr. Kelly reported that he will ask the group to make a
presentation on the web-based system at a future meeting.

ELECTION OF 2009 OFFICERS – Members voted unanimously to elect the
following:

Chairperson – Mr. Steve Crandall
Vice-Chairperson – Ms. Emily Pelton
Secretary/Treasurer – Mr. Alphonso Taylor

MEETING SCHEDULE – Members agreed by consensus to continue their meeting
schedule of the first Thursday of each month at 3:00pm at The Nelson Center.

Meeting adjourned.

Copyright 2000-2009 by Rural Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Reports may
be reprinted or excerpted with attribution.

Planning Commission Work Session 1.7.09

Community

Yvette Stafford

-

January 8, 2009

0

PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION
Wednesday, January 7, 2009

PRESENT: Ms. Philippa Proulx, Ms. Linda Russell, Mr. Mike Tapager, Mr. Tommy
Bruguiere
ABSENT: Ms. Emily Hunt, Mr. Mike Harman

FAMILY SUBDIVISIONS – Commissioners considered amendments to Section 3-2 (4)
to read (proposed changes in all caps):

“A single division of a tract or parcel of land for the purpose of sale or
gift to a member of the immediate family of the property owner if: (i) THE
PROPERTY OWNER AGREES TO PLACE A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT ON THE SUBDIVIDED
PROPERTY THAT WOULD PROHIBIT THE TRANSFER OF THE PROPERTY TO A NONMEMBER OF
THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE (5) YEARS. Any parcel thus
created having less than five (5) acres shall have a right-of-way of no less
than thirty (30) feet wide providing ingress and egress to and from a
dedicated recorded public street. Only one such division shall be allowed
per family member, and shall not be for the purpose of circumventing this
ordinance. For the purpose of this subsection, a member of the property
owner’s immediate family is defined as any person who is a natural or
legally defined OFFSPRING, STEPCHILD, SPOUSE, SIBLING, GRANDCHILD,
GRANDPARENT, OR PARENT OF THE OWNER.”

In addition, Commissioners considered changes to Sections 4-2 and 4-2-1 of
the Zoning Ordinance to change references to “division rights” to “lots”.
Proposed language of “A family division pursuant Appendix B, Section 3-2, A
(Subdivision Ordinance) of the Code of the County of Nelson, Virginia 1989
as amended is exempted from the provisions of the above table.” was deleted
from the draft under consideration. Commissioners also agreed to a draft
amendment to the definition of “Subdivision” for both the Zoning and
Subdivision Ordinances to read, “A parcel of land which has been subdivided
into smaller parcels or lots for the purpose, either immediate or future, of
transfer of ownership or building development. The term ‘subdivision’
includes ‘family subdivision’ and ‘resubdivision’, when appropriate to the
context, shall relate to the process of subdividing or to the land
subdivided.”

SEASONAL DWELLINGS – Commissioners considered a proposed amendment to add
Section 2-35a (Cabin*) a single, permanent dwelling unit which may or may
not contain cooking and/or bathroom facilities dedicated to temporary
occupancy for purposes of recreation, education or vacation. Rental
properties meeting the above description shall be considered (cabins*).”
Also included in the proposed amendment is Conservation District Section
3-1-a Uses – Permitted by Conditional Use Permit 3-1-12a (Cabin*) and
Agricultural District Section 4-1-a Uses – Permitted by Conditional Use
Permit 4-1-24a (Cabin*).

*Note: Commissioners directed staff to insert the same term used in the
Virginia Statewide Building Code for a seasonal dwelling.

Commissioners directed staff to advertise the proposed amendments for public
hearing on Wednesday, February 11th at 7:30pm.

Commissioners set Wednesday, January 21st at 7:30pm for another work session
on:

– Historic neighborhood stores;
– Small wind energy ordinance;
– Revisions to the Communication Tower ordinance; and
– Clarifications on various time allowances for consideration and
decisions on issues coming before the Planning Commission.

Meeting continued to January 21st.

Copyright 2000-2009 by Rural Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Reports may
be reprinted or excerpted with attribution.

Light Snow Greets Nelson At Sunrise

News

Yvette Stafford

-

January 8, 2009

0

Photos By Paul Purpura : ©2009 NCL Magazine : LIght snow fell Thursday morning coating the ground with a light dusting mainly at elevations about 1500 feet.

Wintergreen – Nelson County, Virginia
As colder air moved in Wednesday night, there was just enough moisture left in the atmosphere being squeezed out giving folks, a small, but nice winter treat. A light coating of snow fell across the area with some light accumulation snow along the BRP, Wintergreen, and Afton Mountain. No real problems have been encountered, but it was nice to look at! Though we understand, as usually happens, Afton Mountain along I-64 at the interchange was a big mess.

Snow machines fire up at sunrise on Wintergreen Mountain

On a somewhat related note, Paul captured this shot early Thursday of snow making over on Dobie at Wintergreen Resort. Temps fell low enough to begin cranking out the snow again.

Temps will remain cold today with breezy westerly winds. Highs on the mountains should reach the low to mid 30’s for afternoon highs.

After A Rainy Day, The Sun Returns, With The Wind Thursday

News

Yvette Stafford

-

January 7, 2009

1

©2009 NCL Magazine : Low clouds move through the Rockfish Valley late Wednesday afternoon.

Nelson County, Virginia
After a couple of days of rain and even some wintry precipitation up in the mountains, look for the sun to return on Thursday. Overnight Wednesday skies began clearing out but winds began increasing as well. Look for gusts as high as 50 MPH at times in the higher elevations overnight. A Wind Advisory has been issued for much of the area until early Thursday morning.

By Thursday the winds still remain gusty from time to time, but peaking around 35 MPH for the higher gusts vs 50.

The next chance for rain returns on Saturday. Temps become much colder by the first of next week with highs only in the upper 30’s.

Tommy’s Weather talks about the latest details, updated nightly before midnight.