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BIG Weather Changes on the way !

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Hi Everyone,

This is the first entry on my weather post at our new NCL website. Some of you know I made my living for about 10 years doing television reporting & weather back in Tennessee and the mid-south before Yvette and I moved here to Virginia / Nelson County. After being a cop and running for sheriff, you have seen that by now! I went into television news and was a reporter for a number of years. I eventually moved into doing weather for the CBS & NBC affiliates in Memphis.

Tommy @ WREG-TV 3 Memphis in mid 1990’s

This is courtesy of WREG-TV Memphis when I was doing a live satellite shot of flooding on NW Tennessee in the mid 1990’s. I think this was about 1995 or 96.

Tommy in studio WMC-TV Memphis around 2000

Later in 1997 I moved to the NBC affiliate, WMC-TV 5 and did reporting as well as weather there. This picture is courtesy of WMC / Raycom Media. – Though I never got a meteorology degree I always had a deep interest in weather. In 1980 I became a licensed airplane pilot and then in 1982 a helicopter pilot. That made me want to learn lots about weather. From then on I learned all I could about it. Though I must admit even as a youngster back on the farm in W TN I loved to watch thunderstorms and see what the weather was going to do.

Tommy on Weather Channel in 2001 Tornados

Later on as I became more skilled in weather and my on-air presence I got the chance to do live shots via satellite for Weather Channel out of Atlanta. I freelanced for them, and pretty much became the “go to” guy for weather events in the mid-south and roughtly a 200 mile radius. from the later 90’s till 2004. The above picture was from a shot I did in late 2001 from a Crockett County, TN tornado scene. This picture is courtesy of The Weather Channel / Landmark Televison, Inc.

Ok, enough about the background. I will be sharing more about what I did in the past, more pics and video, and who I am, but for now let’s concentrate on the weather at hand.

What I hope to do in simple terms is explain what the weather should do here in Nelson County. As we said in the April issue of NCL, it’s a whole different ballgame here vs DC, Waynesboro, or Charlottesville.

Tuesday will be near perfect day. Look for temperatures to rise around 80 for just about everyone except on the mountain at Wintergreen where you’ll see temps around the lower 70’s. As I type this post Tues morning they are showing lower 80’s but I think that’s an error due to direct sunlight on the sensor. I’ll be changing that this afternoon as Josh Palumbo with TWNF and I put a solar shield on that particular station

Tonight will continue to be mild as clouds stream into the area in advance of an approaching system. To our west over TN – severe weather is setting up near my home area of NW-TN. By the time it gets here tomorrow after midnight, I don’t think we’ll have the severe weather here. A rumble of thunder perhaps, but that’s about the brunt of it. Showers will linger into Wednesday morning before sun works its way into the area by afternoon. We make it to the upper 60’s on Wednesday before hitting the lower 30s in the valley Wednesday night. On the mountain you should easily make the freezing mark. But hold on you “ain’t” seen nothing yet! The real changes are coming on Thursday!

Daytime highs Thursday only make the mid-50’s at best and lows that night in the valley hit around 25…yes, cover or bring in the plants! Friday look for lower 50’s and Saturday around 50, maybe. I am thinking positive! – but it will be hard to get the nature’s heater plugged in over the coming days. Over night lows will be in the lower 20s as we near Saturday. And yes that is in the valley, up above on the mountains, get your long johns out boy! How’s 10-15 degrees a couple of nights suit ya!

Thankfully we begin to moderate a little as we head into next week, but this blast of Canadian air coming later this week will remind us – it’s spring – not summer, not just yet! – But just remember this can’t last long and those 80 degree days will be back before you know it!

And before signing off this, remember on our main NCL weather page or in the upper left hand corner of any of the NCL’s web pages you can always get real LIVE weather conditions for any of our stations in the NCL Weathernet / Weather Underground network. Give them a test drive.

More weather later, have a great Tuesday!

Tommy

Nelson County Orchards & Fruit Stands

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a.m.FOG
9264 Critzer’s Shop Road, Afton, VA (on Albemarle side)
540.456.7100

Critzer Family Farm
9388 Critzer Shop Road (Rt. 151), Afton, VA
540.456.4772

Dickie Brothers Orchard
2552 Dickie Road ,Rt. 666, off 56 West, Massies Mill, VA
434.277.5516

Drumheller’s Orchard
1130 Drumheller Orchard Lane, (Rt. 741, off Hwy. 29) south of Lovingston
434.263.5036

Fitzgerald’s Orchard
728 Harper’s Creek Lane,(Rt. 682, off Rt. 56), Tyro, VA
434.277.5798

Flippin-Seaman, Inc. – Seaman & Silver Creek Orchards
5529 Crabtree Falls Hwy, Tyro, VA
434.277.5824

Saunders Brothers Orchard
2717 Tye Brook Hwy (Rt. 56), Piney River, VA
434.277.5455

The Apple Shed
14815 Thomas Nelson Hwy (Hwy 29), Faber, VA
434.263.8843

Nelson County Gift & Antique Shops

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Afton House Antiques
31 Afton House Lane, Afton, VA
540.942.2993

a.m. FOG
9264 Critzer Shop Road, Afton, VA
540.456.7100

Black Rock Gallery
The Mountain Inn, Wintergreen, VA
434.325.2200 x.8228

Blossom’s Flowers, Gifts & Crafts
911 Front Street, Lovingston, VA
434.263.8227

Blue Moon Antique Mall & Bookstore
8230 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Lovingston, VA
434.263.8890

Cat Rock Antiques
9704 Patrick Henry Hwy (Rt. 151), Roseland, VA
434.277.8049

Claudia’s Florist & Gifts
121 Main Street, Lovingston, VA
434.263.5848

Foxfire Gifts
954 Beech Grove Road, Nellysford, VA
434.361.2202

Garden Trade
71 River Road (Rt. 6), Faber, VA
434.263.8786

Lang’s Art & Gift Shop
Rt. 250 East slope of Afton Mountain, Afton, VA
540.456.7109

Lovingston Arts & Crafts
924 Front St. (In “The Packing Shed”), Lovingston, VA
434.996.5058

Logos of Wintergreen
Mountain Inn Lodge, Wintergreen, VA
434.325.1125

Lovingston Antiques
924 Front St. (In “The Packing Shed”), Lovingston, VA
434.263.6660

May Apple Antiques
Valley Green Shopping Center, Nellysford, VA
434.361.1151

Notforgotten Farm
3530 Tye River Road, Tye River, VA
434.263.6508

Rockfish Gap Country Store
Intersection of Routes 250 and 151, Afton, VA
540.456.6112

Spruce Creek Gallery
1368 Rockfish Valley Hwy (SR 151), Nellysford, VA
434.361.1859

Tuckahoe Antique Mall
4202 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA
434.361.2121

Valley Green Gallery
Valley Green Center (Rt. 151), Nellysford, VA
434.361.9316

Wintergreen True Value Hardware Gift Aisle
2230 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA
434.361.1919

Nelson County Lodging, Bed & Breakfasts, Cabins, etc.

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Acorn Inn Bed & Breakfast
2256 Adial Rd, Faber, VA
434.361.9357

Afton House Bed & Breakfast and Cottages
31 Afton Lane, Route 6 East, Afton, VA
540.456.6759

Afton Mountain Bed & Breakfast
10273 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Afton, VA
540.456.6844

Camp Blue Ridge
Montebello, VA
540.377.2413

Cox’s Creek Cottage
296 C & C Lane, Roseland, VA
434.277.5566

Dutch Haus Bed & Breakfast
655 Fork Mountain Lane, Montebello, VA
540.377.2119

Fallen Oak Bed & Breakfast
353 Mimosa Lane, Faber, VA
434.361.1011

Harmony Hill Bed & Breakfast
929 Wilson Hill Rd (Route 665), Arrington, VA
877.263.7750

Horseshoe Mountain Lodge
Roseland, VA
434.361.2525

The Mark Addy
56 Rodes Farm Drive, Nellysford, VA
434.361.1101

The Meander Inn
3100 Berry Hill Road, Nellysford, VA
434.361.1121

The Meeting Place (Boutique Hotel & Executive Retreat Center)
825 Rockfish Valley Highway, Wintergreen VA
Open year round for nightly, weekend or weekly rentals.
434.361.2380

Montebello Camping & Fishing Resort
15072 Crabtree Falls Hwy, Montebello, VA
540.377.2650

North Fork Cottages
697 North Fork Road, Tyro, VA
540.377.2007

Oakmoor Country Inn
98 Lobbans Lane, Afton, VA
540.456.6690

The Orchard House Bed & Breakfast
9749 Thomas Nelson Hwy (Rt. 29), Lovingston, VA
434.263.7747

Polly & Jim Bob’s B&B
6401 Rockfish River Rd, Schuyler, VA
434.831.1384

Resort Reservations & Country Cottages
Rural getaways, Wintergreen condos and homes available.
Afton, VA
540.456.8300

Royal Oaks Cabins in the Mountains
45 Royal Oaks Lane, Love, VA
800.410.0627

Sarah’s Mountain Retreat Cabin
406 Fish Hatchery Lane, Montebello, VA
540.377.6458

Shadow Mountain Rentals
15644 Crabtree Falls Hwy, Montebello, VA
757.424.2884

Simpson’s Hollow Bed & Breakfast
580 Simpsons Lane, Lovingston, VA
434.263.6380

The White Pig Bed & Breakfast
5120 Irish Road, Schuyler, VA
434.831.1416

Tye River Cottage
6011 Crabtree Falls Highway, Tyro, VA
434.748.7977

Wintergreen Resort
Studios, condos and homes available.
Wintergreen, VA
800.266.2444

Nelson County Restaurants

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Ambrosia Bakery & Deli
Decadent cheesecake and other desserts, as well as tasty sandwiches.
2192 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA
434.361.9661

Basic Necessities
Serving up a taste of the South of France for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Great wine selection.
2226 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA
434.361.1766

Blue Ridge Pig
Strawberry’s famous hickory-smoked BBQ.
2198 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA
434.361.1170

Chen’s
Chinese take-out.
73 Calohill Dr., Lovingston, VA
434.263.8865

Chirios Pizza
Pizza and subs. Take out or delivered.
Valley Shopping Center
2777 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA
434.361.9188

Copper Mine
Casual, yet elegant dining near to the Blue Ridge Terrace on the Mountain. Reservations required.
Wintergreen Resort
434.325.8090

D’Ambola’s
The place to go for a great Italian meal.
9278 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Afton, VA
540.456.4556

Devils Grill
Clubhouse restaurant at the Devils Knob Golf Course. Reservations required.
Wintergreen Resort
434.325.8100

The Edge
Casual dining slopeside. Reservations required.
Wintergreen Resort
434.325.8080

The Fountain Room at The Mark Addy Inn
Offering the finest in international cuisine in an elegant setting.
56 Rodes Farm Dr., Nellysford, VA
434.361.1101

Grill 151
Carnivore and herbivore-friendly diner in the Valley. Breakfast all day long.
2842 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA
434.361.2333

Lovingston Cafe
Lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Breakfast Friday through Monday.
165 Front Street, Lovingston, VA
434.263.8000

Rapunzel’s Coffee and Books
Full espresso bar and used bookstore, live music every Friday and Saturday.
924 Front Street (in the Packing Shed), Lovingston, VA
434.263.6660

Sabrina’s Kitchen
Family dining, home cooking.
69 Calohill Drive, Lovingston, VA
434.263.6494

Stoney Creek Bar & Grill
Clubhouse dining at the Stoney Creek Golf Course.
Nellysford, VA.
434.325.8110

Thai Mex II
Wonderful Thai and Mexican cuisine to keep dining interesting and fun. Sophisticated but not stuffy.
Valley Green Shopping Center, Nellysford, VA
434.361.1400

Thai Siam Take-Out
Authentic Thai food, antique shop next door.
4137 Tye Brook Highway (Rt. 56), Colleen, VA
434.263.8577

Vito’s Italian Restaurant
Specializing in pizza and Italian dishes.
8181 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Lovingston, VA
434.263.8688

Nelson County Wineries & Breweries

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Afton Mountain Vineyards
234 Vineyard Lane, Afton, VA
540.456.8667

Blue Mountain Brewery (Opening Sept 2007)
Rockfish Valley Highway
Afton, VA

Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery
9423 Batesville Rd, Afton, VA
540.456.8400

DelFosse Vineyards & Winery
500 DelFosse Winery Lane, Faber, VA
434.263.6100

Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery
2800 Berry Hill Road, Nellysford, VA
434.361.1266

Lovingston Winery
885 Freshwater Cove Lane, Lovingston, VA
434.263.8467

Mountain Cove Vineyards
1362 Fortunes Cove Lane, Lovingston, VA
434.263.5392

Veritas Vineyards & Winery
145 Saddleback Farm, Afton, VA
540.456.8000

Wintergreen Vineyard & Winery
426 Winery Lane, Nellysford, VA
434.361.2519

Spot News: Fire at Wintergreen Resort

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Update: 04.01.07 – 4:45 PM EDT – Lynn Tyler, Director of Food & Beverage, for Wintergreen Resort tells us The Copper Mine will reopen for regular business beginning Tuesday evening. They expect renovations on the damaged areas to begin as soon as adjusters and contractors have looked things over Monday.
Scroll for updated photos by Paul Purpura – 04.01.07

Wintergreen Fire Dept. and area rescue teams responded to a fire at Wintergreen Resort Saturday afternoon around 3:30pm. The fire shown is above the ceiling of Pryor’s Porch Cafeteria at the courtyard of The Mountain Inn. As of this post, the entire Inn was evacuated. Resort managers tell us they are working quickly to get nearby mountain restaurants and in the Inn back in operation. From what we could tell, the fire itself was contained to the Pryor’s building. Devils Grill Restaurant and The Edge are nonetheless open; no word yet when Copper Mine will reopen. – By the way, Stoney Creek, in the valley, will be opening 4-1-07 for brunch. Thankfully, no one was hurt … a very, very good thing. Kudos to the rescue teams. As soon as we have updates, we’ll post them on this site.

All photos by Tommy Stafford. Copyright 2007 Nelson County Life Magazine.

Wintergreen Fireman on roof with flames

Wintergreen Fire Dept. responding

Wintergreen Fire Dept. responding

Wintergreen Fireman on roof with flames

Updated 04.01.07:

Below are a couple of additional photos from our NCL photographer, Paul Purpura. The first is a look from inside after they got most of the fire out.

View from inside Pryor’s

The other one below is a nice shot showing all of the fire teams at work on the roof.

Paul Purpura wide shot of fire fighters

Earl’s “Homecoming” Visit to Nelson

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This past weekend our friend, monthly writer in NCL, and legend, Earl Hamner came back to home to Nelson County. We’ll have lots more about Earl in our May issue, but here’s a peek of his visit the weekend of March 24-25th.

We can’t say enough good about Earl and all of the contributions he’s made to our magazine, this county, and this country.

DOUG, RONNIE, EARL AND AUDREY

This is Earl and his sister, Audrey, from near Roanoke, signing books for Ronnie and Doug Johnson from Vermont at the Walton’s Mountain B & B in Schuyler. They drove down to to see Earl at the VA Festival of the Book in Charlottesville and here in Nelson. Nice folks. We met them a couple of years ago when Earl was back here for his biography released by James Person. Doug and Ronnie have become nice friends of ours. We always look forward to seeing them whenever they are down this way!

Stafford for Sheriff?

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Hi everyone! Welcome to the official Tommy Stafford for Sheriff site. The internets are cool aren’t they? Anyway, below is a reprint of what appeared in the April (Fools?) 2007 issue of Nelson County Life. Feel free to comment away, but be gentle. This politicking thing is new to me.

Stafford for Sheriff

I tried running for Sheriff years ago
in an eight man race and came within
a few hundred votes of actually winning
it. I was 26 at the time.

But I am much wiser now so I’m
thinking about running again. My
momma tells me I was just ahead of
my time, bless my pea pickin’ heart.

I had hired a consultant to advise
me on my campaign. He told me I
probably wouldn’t win and since he
felt sorry for me, he didn’t charge me.

He took one look at me and said,
‘Son. Can you grow any facial hair?’
I grew my moustache but it wasn’t
dark enough so they airbrushed it for
the poster. The consultant also told
me I needed to do something about
my tasseled loafers.

‘Son, take off those sissy slippers
and get you some lace up shoes!’

I did and I still lost. I should have
remained true to myself. I should
have been more like Lt. Jim Dangle
on Reno 911. He’s a hero of mine
because he’s always been true to himself.
If his way of protecting the citizens
of Reno, Nevada is by wearing
polyester shorts, then Amen brother!
I do believe those shorts are 20%
inspiration and 80 % perspiration.

As Sheriff I would let turkeys
drive truck drivers in cages. I would
form a regional task force to fight
the growing shoefiti epidemic (page
38). And because I am a man with a
compassionate heart, I will endorse
the formation of a competitive knitting
league. Though my wife tells me
knitting is not a sport, I disagree.

So I hope you remember me on
Election Day. This year, I believe it
falls on the second anniversary of this
magazine, April 1, 2007. Visit TommyStafford.
com for more info.

My name is Tommy Stafford and I
approve this message.

This is a test post.

Woo hoo! Our new site’s up! This is still very much a work in progress and we’ll be tinkering with it the next few days so bear with us as we add content, including text archives of previous issues. In the meantime, check out the NCL WeatherNet on the upper left hand corner for your local Nelson County weather.

Enjoy!

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