Photo via Wintergreen Fire Rescue : Crews begin the process of uprighting a tractor trailer that flipped over early Tuesday morning on US 29 southbound near Sunny Mountain Store in Nelson Count, just north of Lovingston. April 16, 2019
Near Lovingston
U.S. 29 Southbound
Nelson County, Virginia
Updated : 11:45 AM : Roadway is all clear open to normal traffic
Updated : 11:05 AM : Crews at the scene say the roadway should be completely cleared within an hour. They were getting ready to load the cab of the truck up at this time.
For the third time in less than 24 hours, large trucks have blocked traffic along highways in Nelson County. The most recent accident involved the flipped semi seen above. It was near Ponton Lane and U.S. 29 just north of Lovingston. As of 10:35 AM the highway was closed temporarily while wrecker crews upright the overturned tractor and trailer.
On Monday two other accidents stopped traffic. The first was another smaller box truck that went over an embankment stopping traffic on River Road (Route 6E) in Nelson County.
And yet another semi hauling liquid of some type blocked Route 151 in Nelson County near Brents Gap blocked the road for about an hour.
Traffic was expected to be back to normal around noon for the most recent accident on US 29 South. Around 11 AM crews were geting ready to load up the cab.
Image courtesy of Wintergreen Performing Arts : Artistic Director Erin Freeman Has Been Named A Finalist Nominee For Classical Woman of the Year Award.
Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
On March 27, 2019, American Public Media’s Performance Today announced the nominees for the Classical Woman of the Year Award. Erin Freeman was among the six finalists who included Emily Remington, Hilary Hahn, Jeannette Sorrell, Jennifer Higdon, and Marin Alsop; JoAnn Falletta was announced as the winner.
“Dr. Erin Freeman: Aside from the fact that she is brilliant, fun, and charismatic, Erin’s leadership in the Richmond, VA community is extraordinary. In a place burdened with histories of racial and economic disparity, she is a creative light of hope for our future. She understands and conveys the power of music to touch our souls, heal our hurts, and dissolve our divisions. Conducting for the Richmond Ballet, Symphony, or Chorus, she emanates and shares the potency of the music she helps create. (Roy Hoagland)”
Don’t Miss Artistic Director Erin Freeman at the Wintergreen Music Festival:
For the absolute latest updates from NWS, click on the image above.
TORNADO WATCH– CANCELED
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
605 PM EDT SUN APR 14 2019
TORNADO WATCH 67 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT FOR THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
VA
. VIRGINIA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
ALBEMARLE ARLINGTON AUGUSTA
CLARKE CULPEPER FAIRFAX
FAUQUIER FREDERICK GREENE
HIGHLAND KING GEORGE LOUDOUN
MADISON NELSON ORANGE
PAGE PRINCE WILLIAM RAPPAHANNOCK
ROCKINGHAM SHENANDOAH SPOTSYLVANIA
STAFFORD WARREN
VIRGINIA INDEPENDENT CITIES INCLUDED ARE
ALEXANDRIA CHARLOTTESVILLE FAIRFAX
FALLS CHURCH FREDERICKSBURG HARRISONBURG
MANASSAS MANASSAS PARK STAUNTON
WAYNESBORO WINCHESTER
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 67
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
605 PM EDT Sun Apr 14 2019
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
District Of Columbia
Maryland
Northern Virginia
Far Eastern West Virginia
Coastal Waters
* Effective this Sunday night and Monday morning from 605 PM
until 300 AM EDT.
* Primary threats include…
A few tornadoes possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
SUMMARY…Initially, semi-discrete individual supercells may pose a
tornado and damaging wind risk across northern Virginia early this
evening, with other storms expected to develop and race
northeastward across the region later tonight. Damaging winds and a
tornado risk will exist with a potential multiple round of storms.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 85 statute miles
east and west of a line from 25 miles southeast of Charlottesville
VA to 25 miles northeast of Martinsburg WV. For a complete depiction
of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU7).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
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.
From Storm Prediction Center : A tornado watch is in effect until 8PM Sunday evening for the areas highlighted in red. Amherst-Appomattox-Buckingham are three of several other nearby counties included in the watch. Click image above for the absolute latest updated info from SPC.
Tornado Watch – CANCELED
TORNADO WATCH 62…PREVIOUSLY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING…IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN NORTH CAROLINA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 7 COUNTIES
IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
CASWELL ROCKINGHAM STOKES SURRY
IN NORTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA
ALLEGHANY NC WILKES YADKIN
IN VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 23 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA
AMHERST APPOMATTOX BUCKINGHAM CAMPBELL CITY OF LYNCHBURG
IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA
BEDFORD CHARLOTTE CITY OF DANVILLE CITY OF MARTINSVILLE HALIFAX HENRY PITTSYLVANIA
IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA
CARROLL FLOYD PATRICK
IN WEST CENTRAL VIRGINIA
BOTETOURT CITY OF BUENA VISTA CITY OF LEXINGTON CITY OF ROANOKE CITY OF SALEM FRANKLIN ROANOKE ROCKBRIDGE
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 62 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 220 PM EDT Sun Apr 14 2019 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Tornado Watch for portions of North Carolina Western Virginia * Effective this Sunday afternoon and evening from 220 PM until 800 PM EDT. * Primary threats include... A couple tornadoes possible Isolated damaging wind gusts to 65 mph possible SUMMARY...Multiple clusters and rounds of thunderstorms are expected into early evening. A couple tornadoes and locally damaging winds are the primary hazards. The tornado watch area is approximately along and 90 statute miles east and west of a line from 25 miles south southwest of Charlotte NC to 50 miles north of Danville VA. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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.
Image from the Storm Prediction Center : As of 8:30 Sunday morning – Nelson and the immediate surrounding are are in the slight risk area (yellow) for severe weather on Sunday. An enhanced risk area (greater probability) is indicated in the orange shaded areas.
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Nelson County, Virginia
The threat for severe weather has ended and is no longer a factor.
Earlier post:
Updated 2:30 PM – April 14, 2019
As we get more into spring the return of severe weather becomes more likely, particular over the next several weeks until we get into the dead of summer. For several days I’ve been discussing the potential for severe weather to hit this afternoon & evening.
A deepening area of low pressure will be developing Sunday afternoon that will create the environment for possible severe storms. In our immediate region near Nelson, the most likely threat would be damaging winds and heavy rains, though an isolated tornado can’t be ruled completely out. The absolute best chances for any tornadoes would be more south and west of our area.
A broader view of the risk area from the Storm Prediction Center.
“The threat for severe weather will increase this afternoon and
tonight. There are two rounds for possible severe thunderstorms.
The first round is late this afternoon into early this evening.
Low pressure will pass by to our west through the Ohio Valley
before moving into the eastern Great Lakes during this time.
The cold front associated with the low will remain well to the
west, but a strengthening gradient will cause gusty southerly
winds to develop during the afternoon (around 30-40 mph). These
southerly winds will usher in plenty of moisture. Precipitable waters and
specific humidity are progged to be nearly maxed out relative to
climatology. At the same time, the wind field will be
strengthening at all levels of the atmosphere, causing
significant deep layer shear and low-level helicity to develop
throughout the afternoon. A band of showers and thunderstorms
are likely to race well ahead of the boundary this afternoon,
moving into our western areas this afternoon and toward the
Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas this evening. This
activity will be associated with shortwave energy, a mid-level
jetmax and divergent flow at the upper-levels of the
atmosphere. The main question will be how much instability
develops, because it will be somewhat limited due to extensive
mid-level cloud cover. That having been said, it will not take
much instability for a few of these thunderstorms to be severe
late this afternoon into early this evening, and that is because
of the strengthening wind field. Confidence with the first round
of potential severe storms is low, but locally damaging wind
gusts, large hail and perhaps an isolated tornado cannot be ruled
out since these cells may be more discrete, causing the
possibility of supercells. The best chance for severe
thunderstorms will be near and west of the Blue Ridge mountains
with the first round, since convection will arriving around peak
heating across these areas and moving into the Metro areas after
sunset. Isolated instances of flooding are possible as well due to
heavy rainfall rates and potential of training convection.
The second round of potential severe thunderstorms are expected
later this evening and overnight. A strong cold front is
expected to move through the area during this time. The wind
field is progged to be very strong with 70-80 knots of deep
layer shear most likely tonight. The strong shear combined with
forcing from the front and strong moisture advection should cause
a qlcs type feature to develop near the cold front late this
evening across western areas and that line will likely pass
through much of the area during the overnight hours. The main
threat will be damaging winds with the line, but an isolated
tornado and isolated instances of flooding cannot be ruled out as
well.
The cold front will be near the near the I-95 corridor by Monday
morning, but the convection should be well off to our east by
that time. Gusty west to northwest winds will develop behind the
cold front along with upslope rain and snow showers near the
Allegheny Front.“
I’ll keep an eye on all of this and update the maps throughout the day as new ones come out.
Photo Wintergreen Fire & Rescue : Fire & rescue agencies from within Nelson County held a private Touch a Truck event for the Board of Supervisors this past Tuesday night – April 9, 2019 in Lovingston, Virginia
Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
On Tuesday evening the fire & rescue agencies from within Nelson County held a private “Touch a Truck” event just for the Board of Supervisors. A few years ago the Supervisors started a program to assist county agencies with the acquisition of major capital items and the agencies wanted to say thanks.
On a rotating basis, the County will assist one fire agency and one rescue squad each year. Every fire department has received assistance and most recently Lovingston Fire Department just started the cycle over when they received a beautiful new Spartan Tanker/Pumper. Every rescue squad has received an ambulance.
Board of Supervisor Larry Saunders, current chair and South District representative, (in driver’s seat) looks over one of the fire units from Gladstone this past Tuesday night – April 9, 2019 as part of Touch a Truck.
According to Chief Curtis Sheets from Wintergreen Fire & Rescue, “The tangible returns of this program are the safer, more reliable and efficient responses this newer equipment affords, the intangible are the improvements to recruitment and retention which occurs when agencies have equipment, they can be proud of.”
The County recognized years ago that volunteerism in Nelson was starting to wane. To do their part to help turn this around they developed this program to relax the fund-raising burden many volunteers face in hopes they could better use their time to train and answer 9-1-1 calls.
While surveying the equipment Tuesday the Supervisor and County staff commented that it was very helpful and impressive to see the equipment all in place.
Brian Clowdus, a nationally known Site Specific Theatre Producer, is bringing a well-known musical to Wintergreen Resort in September. Riding the ski lift is part of the experience. (SUBMITTED)
Wintergreen Resort – A spring day at the end of snow season is an odd time to spot a man riding a ski lift. But Brian Clowdus is a theatre man doing theatre things and Wintergreen Resort is about to become a stage.
“100% for me, theatre comes to life in the place it’s meant to be performed, like Sleepy Hollow in an actual covered bridge, Christmas Carol in a Victorian House, etc. etc.. And for Wintergreen, the hills will be alive with something.”
We’re chatting by text (it’s the only way Brian and I could get our schedules to match) and after the “hills will be alive” comment, he inserts the eye wink emoji. 😉
You see, Brian is known nationally as a Site Specific Theater Producer and part of that job is honoring confidentiality clauses in contracts while at the same time drumming up press for upcoming shows. If we were having this interview at The Edge, I could at least try to tease this big secret out of him with an après ski beverage, or maybe a sweet tea because this boy’s from Alabama (even though he’s currently on a work trip in New York City). So back to the nuts and bolts of being a Site Specific Theater Producer.
“I go into really cool environments and choose shows that make sense naturally in the location. So for Wintergreen it’s the breathtaking mountains and valleys. Producing in September, there will be no snow but audiences will have to ride a skit lift to get to the show. That is a first for me, but freaking cool, right?”
Totally freaking cool. Bring the kids-freaking-cool. The whole family-is-invited-freaking-cool. Brian’s production coincides with a rebranding effort underway on the mountain by what used to be Wintergreen Performing Arts, now known as Wintergreen Music. It’s annual summer music festival is also getting a reboot with a schedule that features events such as “Fresh Perspectives” on Wednesdays and “Fiery Fridays” two days later. Sunday’s Coffee & Kids is now “Social Sundays,” a series of family-friendly concerts. And though the event Brian is putting together for September is separate from Wintergreen Music, it is clear the Resort is embracing family-centric events when the snow guns are getting a rest.
After all, it was as a young child in Alabama that Brian was first bitten by the theatre bug.
“Mr. McGregor in Peter Rabbit in Kindergarten!,” Brian beams as you do in a text. “Even then I was seeing the potential of environmental theatre.”
Fast forward to 2019 and the timing feels right. With the explosion in popularity of Hamilton, I ask Brian if he thinks musicals are having a moment.
“I think reinvented art is having it’s moment,” he counters. “Hamilton is successful because it’s not your typical musical and it’s bringing in a new audience. This is what I do: I reinvent things and put them in locations that blow people away. This may be a classical musical everyone knows but I promise you they have never seen it or experienced it the way they will at Wintergreen Resort. Where else can you actually sit on the side of a mountain watching the sun set with a Broadway musical happening all around you?”
And come May, we should officially know how alive these hills are about to get.
We took this photo back in late March of 2009 (left) New owners, Tony & Elizabeth Smith posed with Tom and Shinko Corpora who owned the Afton Vineyard & Winery since 1988. 2019 marks a decade Tony & Elizabeth have now owned Afton Mountain Vineyards.
Photo By Tommy Stafford : Today that pavilion is the home to many happenings. This was a small winemaker’s dinner held this past Friday evening at AMV for wine writers and media. April 5, 2019Photo By Tommy Stafford : AMV Winemaker Damien Blanchon pours wine for Yvette Stafford (left – Publisher of Blue Ridge Life Magazine) during a blind wine tasting this past Friday evening. The private media event coincided with 10 years of ownership by Tony & Elizabeth Smith. April 6, 2019Photo By Tommy Stafford : One special events of that evening was the sampling of some of the original wines from when AMV opened. Surprisingly a couple of them were still fairly good. Some others, not so much! April 6, 2019.Photo By Tommy Stafford : Winemaker Damien Blanchon pours a sample of sparkling wine produced at AMV for Richard Leahy of Charlottesville. Richard is a renowned author, regional wine specialist, consultant and Wine Competition Chair. April 6, 2019Photo By Tommy Stafford : Damien (right) raises a glass in honor of the Smiths 10 years of ownership at Afton Mountain Vineyards. Friday – April 6, 2019.
Though many improvements have been made at AMV during the past decade, the Smiths and Damien agree, they never want the vineyard and winery to lose its charm and sustainability. They pride themselves on using innovations like having goats trim excess grass around the property versus having to spray herbicides to keep things neat. Just one of the many things done at AMV.
For the absolute latest updates from NWS click on the image above.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Blacksburg VA
1034 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019
VAZ011-018>020-023-024-035-WVZ042>044-507-508-032300-
Giles-Craig-Alleghany VA-Bath-Botetourt-Rockbridge-Amherst-Mercer-
Summers-Monroe-Eastern Greenbrier-Western Greenbrier-
Including the cities of Pearisburg, New Castle, Clifton Forge,
Covington, Hot Springs, Fincastle, Lexington, Buena Vista,
Amherst, Bluefield, Flat Top, Hinton, Hix, Union, Lewisburg,
White Sulphur Springs, Alderson, Quinwood, Duo, and Rainelle
1034 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019
...Increased Fire Danger Through This Afternoon...
Westerly winds of 5 to 15 mph, with gusts to 25 mph will occur
this afternoon as a dry front moves across. Relative humidity
values will drop into the 20s. This will dry fuels out and lead to
the threat of rapid spread of any fires, especially in elevations
above 2500 feet.
Winds will start to diminish by dusk.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
456 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019
Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-Augusta-Rockingham-Shenandoah-Page-
Warren-Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-
Culpeper-Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Stafford-
Spotsylvania-King George-Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-
Eastern Highland-Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-
Central Virginia Blue Ridge-Hardy-Eastern Pendleton-
Including the cities of St. Charles, Waldorf, Lexington Park,
California, Chesapeake Beach, Huntingtown, Dunkirk, North Beach,
Lusby, Prince Frederick, Staunton, Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft,
Harrisonburg, Strasburg, Woodstock, Mount Jackson, New Market,
Luray, Shenandoah, Stanley, Front Royal, Lovingston,
Charlottesville, Stanardsville, Madison, Washington, Orange,
Gordonsville, Culpeper, Dale City, Manassas, Woodbridge,
Lake Ridge, Montclair, Falmouth, Fredericksburg, Dahlgren,
Warrenton, Turnbull, Monterey, Big Meadows, Wintergreen,
Moorefield, Brandywine, Franklin, Oak Flat, Ruddle,
and Sugar Grove
456 AM EDT Wed Apr 3 2019
...Enhanced fire weather threat this afternoon for areas south
of Interstate 66 and U.S. Highway 50...
A dry cold front will move across the area this afternoon
promoting warm, very dry, and breezy conditions. West Northwest
winds will strengthen between 15 to 20 mph with gusts of 25 to 30
mph and humidities will drop into the 20 to 25 percent. The
strongest winds will occur in northern areas. This will result in
an enhanced fire weather threat or near red flag conditions. Any
fires that develop have the potential to spread rapidly.
Winds will diminish rapidly with sunset this evening, but it will
remain dry tonight with poor moisture recovery.
Photo By Beth Wells, CVEC : Virginia Senator Mark Peake talks with the crowd gathered last Tuesday during the unveiling of FireFly Broadband in Appomattox County, Virginia. March 26, 2019.
Appomattox County, Virginia
Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC), a member-owned electric distribution cooperative, celebrated the first stop for rural broadband in Central Virginia on Tuesday. Senator Mark Peake joined public officials, CVEC’s board, members, and representatives from Rural Utilities Service (RUS), Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC), and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to mark the occasion with an on-site ceremony. “I applaud CVEC for taking this step to bring high speed internet to the rural parts of the state,” said Senator Peake. “It is critical that the Commonwealth of Virginia not be left behind in the digital age and that residents and businesses view this region as a place to call home.”
CVEC serves almost 37,000 members across 14 Virginia counties. “As a not-for-profit, member-owned organization, CVEC’s strategy remains focused on meeting the needs of our co-op members,” said Gary Wood, president and CEO of CVEC. “In 1937, CVEC was formed to provide electric service to our members when it was not available. Eighty years later, our members are facing a similar challenge and CVEC is committed to providing reliable and affordable high-speed internet to the communities, businesses, and residents we serve.”
“Cooperatives serve 56% of the nation’s landmass and many are working relentlessly to bring reliable, high speed internet to their communities,” said Paul Breakman, a Senior Director of Business and Technology Strategies with NRECA. “Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is one of nearly 100 electric cooperatives across the nation to launch a rural broadband project, which is both enhancing CVEC’s electric grid operations and member services, and helping to close the digital divide.”
With the addition of a fiber network, CVEC will be able to better incorporate smart grid technology into its daily operations, improve integration of distributed energy resources, and help lower power costs through interactive energy management programs. By increasing bandwidth for communications within its system, CVEC will improve efficiency, increase reliability, and expand security.
CVEC’s fiber construction at Appomattox substation will reach over 1,600 residents and is part of a five-year plan to install over 4,500 miles of fiber-optic cable, providing broadband internet access to all of its members. CVEC will invest $110 million to complete the fiber installation and wil lease the fiber to its subsidiary to offer retail internet and phone services to its members through Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM. The fiber-optic network will be installed on and adjacent to existing overhead and underground electric distribution lines, utilizing the existing infrastructure.
High-speed internet with unlimited data at 100 megabits per second for $49.99 per month or 1 gigabit per second of unlimited data for $79.99 per month are package options offered by Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM. Unlike many other internet services, there are no contracts and the download and upload speeds will be the same on the Firefly network. Voice-over IP phone service (VoIP), with unlimited local and long-distance calling in the continental U.S., will also be available for $34.99 each month. Managed WiFi service is included in all internet packages, assuring the best performance for all wireless devices in a home.
The origin of the subsidiary name, Firefly Fiber BroadbandSM, is explained by CEO Gary Wood. “In the warm central Virginia evenings, the fireflies use the magic of their light to bring beauty to points all across the rural countryside. Firefly Fiber Broadband will use the magic of laser light beamed through fiber optic glass tubes to bring world class, high speed internet service to points all across the rural area. Our goal is to make Firefly Fiber Broadband as much a part of our rural lifestyle as the native fireflies.”
About Central Virginia Electric Cooperative
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric utility serving almost 37,000 homes, farms and businesses in the rural portions of 14 Virginia counties. CVEC is proud to be a Four-Star Cooperative for Service Excellence certified by the Touchstone Energy Service Excellence Program. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.
About the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national trade association representing more than 900 local electric cooperatives. From booming suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development across 56 percent of the nation’s landscape and serve 42 million Americans. Learn more at www.electric.coop.
