All Photos By Paul Purpura : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Stan Driver, owner of Riverside Nursery, works on getting this year's hops in the ground at Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
Temps made it to the middle 60’s Monday afternoon in the Rockfish Valley of Nelson County, and people that have been waiting on the warmer weather made use of it! Our Paul Purpura caught up with Stan Driver, owner of Riverside Horticulture & Nursery in Nellysford, getting the ground ready and putting in hops at Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton.

Flags mark the area in the hop field.

Last summer we showed you what they look like being harvested at maturity.

Many of the hop plants going in now will produce hops that will be used in beers made on location at Blue Mountain Brewery.

Blue Mountain Brewery was Nelson’s first microbrewery opening to the public back in October 2007.

Sunny warm weather continues Tuesday, with chances for rain in the forecast for the remainder of the week.

Parents who want a choice, consider North Branch School. Limited spaces available in Preschool, K-5th grade, and Middle School programs for 2010-2011. Drop by between 7:00 – 8:30 PM to meet teachers and tour the school.

Event Date: Thursday 25th of March 2010 07:00 PM

Location/Address: North Branch School/221 Mickens Road, Afton, VA

Contact Telephone Please call 540-456-8450 for more information

This post was submitted by North Branch School.

Kane is 2 1/2 year old yellow lab missing from Afton, VA in the Bland Wade Road area. Click to enlarge photo.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
Updated: 12:20 PM
Great News! Kane was just located! His owner Becky Combs just commented saying: “Kane is FOUND!!!!! He was spotted behind the Rockfish Elementary school. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers. He has some minor injuries but nothing that seems to be major. What a WONDERFUL day this is!!!! Thank you SOOOOOO much NCL for your generousness in posting this on your website.”

This is excellent news Becky. Thanks to everyone for helping out and getting Kane back home! Bet he’s a hungry dog!

Original post from earlier this morning:
A longtime friend of ours just up the road contacted us over the weekend to see if we could help in locating her missing dog. Being the dog lovers we are too, of course we will!

Here’s the information about Kane sent from Becky Combs of Afton:

“Kane, our beloved 2 1/2 year old yellow lab is missing from out home in Afton, VA after a romp with his buddy Kalik on 3/3. We are combing the area, going door-to-door in this rural area as much as possible. There have been sightings but no concrete information. If you know of anyone along Rt. 151 between Nellysford & Rt. 250, please pass along this information. He is wearing an Invisible Fence collar and a purple nylon collar with his tags on it. He will be scared and hungry right now. He is ball obsessive so if anyone has a tennis ball, baseball or softball and throws it to him he may fetch it and bring it back. If anyone sees or hears anything, please let us know – day or night. All phone numbers should be tried. “

She has setup a special Facebook group page to assist in the search. Click here.

As of late Saturday evening it’s believed Kane was traveling north along Route 151 toward 250. According to information on the Facebook Group Page, Kane was seen eating from the dog bowls at a family home recently. Becky went to the area but wasn’t able to find him.

If you have any information Becky has asked that you call these numbers, anytime day or night:
H: 540-456-6417 C: 540-246-2025

More contact numbers are listed in the Facebook group page listed above, but either of these should get her.

Photos By Tommy Stafford : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Shaaron Honeycutt (left) chats it up with Claudia Gibson at Saturday's RVCC Community Market . Click any photo to enlarge.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
Packed house. That’s the only way to describe the March 6th RVCC Community Market and Pancake Breakfast. February’s event was canceled due to all of the snowfall across Nelson. But, with the sun shining and temps headed toward the 50’s it was a perfect days for people to get out!

Dawn Averitt Bridge grabs something to drink at RVCC"s monthly panckake breakfast held in conjunction with the market.

The indoor market is a winter alternative that started a few years back to give folks a place to go during the cold months while the Nelson Farmers Market is in hibernation.

Brian Craig and son Rowen check out the market this past Saturday morning.

All kinds of homemade jams, jellies and preserves were just some of what could be found at the market.

There was live music to entertain the crowd.

People head into the market Saturday morning.

The regular outdoor farmers market held in Nellysford begins in May.

The Lovingston Indoor Farm Market will be held later this month on March 20th in the Nelson Center.

Photos Courtesy of The Hamner Theater : l-r, Chris Baumer, Chris Patrick

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia

Tonight’s showing of Nixon’s Nixon at 7:30 p.m. is followed by a Free Opening Night Champagne Reception.

Nixon’s Nixon by Russell Lees
On August 7, 1974, the night before becoming the first and only American president to resign, Richard Nixon met with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the White House. There are no tapes of *this* meeting. In Russell Lees’ political satire, Nixon has not yet decided to resign, and both men are determined to secure their place in history. They drink, they talk…

Chris Patrick as Nixon

‘Mr Lees’ play flashes with humor…as hilarious as it is hair-raising.’
(Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times)

Directed by Marcello Rollando, with Chris Patrick and Chris Baumer.

from left: Ryan Wender, Anya Scott, Chris Patrick, Kevin O'Donnell

Showing in rep with
All is Always Now, by Robert Wray

Robert Wray’s comedy about actors and acting, loss and moving on was developed, in part, at the Hamner’s VPI workshop. Elements of Shakespeare, Melville and Chekhov combine to create a story about a group of theater friends who gather together for one last night in New York.

Directed by Peter Coy, with Kevin O’Donnell, Chris Patrick, Anya Scott and Ryan Wender.

Performances will be held Weds. – Sat. at 7:30 p.m., Sun. at 2:00 p.m.
Admission $10.
Reservations suggested, 434.361.1999.

Visit http://www.hamnertheater.com/Season5/All_Is_Always_Now_and_Nixons_Nixon_In_Rep

Nixon’s Nixon will preview Feb. 24 and open Feb. 25, closing March 13;
Performances held Feb. 25, 26, 27, Mar. 5, 11 & 13 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 28 & Mar. 7 at 2:00 p.m.

All is Always Now will preview March 2 & 3 and open March 4, closing March 20.
Performances held Mar. 4, 6, 10, 12, 17, 18, 19 & 20 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Mar. 14 at 2:00 p.m.

Event Date: Thursday 25th of February 2010 07:30 PM

Location/Address: Hamner Theater

Contact Telephone Please call 434 361 1999 for more information

Photo By Tommy Stafford : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Cancer survivor, Cheryl Tompkins looks over some of the items at Saturday's event. Click photos to enlarge.

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.

This past Saturday Cheryl teamed up with the Nelson Relay For Life and held a Celebration of Life event at The Rockfish Valley Volunteer Fire Department in Afton. This year’s Relay for Life will be held May 15th & 16th at Nelson County High School.

The first part of Saturday was all about the kids! Bracelets were made along with a webkinz fashion show.

The first part of the day was geared toward kids, but later in the day it was food, music and entertainment going late into the night.

A medal that was presented to Cheryl after her completion of cancer treatments.

In addition to all of the other entertainment, there were 50/50’s, door prizes, and auction items as well.

Nelson County Relay For Life on the web by clicking here.

©2009-2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Stoney Creek Pharmacy owner, Cheryl Tompkins, last summer at UVa receiving chemo treatments for her breast cancer. This weekend she celebrates life!

Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia

If you’ve ever had a prescription filled here in Nelson County, chances are you know Cheryl Tompkins, owner of Stoney Creek Pharmacy in Nellysford. We first told you about Cheryl’s fight against breast cancer in our July 2009 issue of Nelson County Life Magazine. Back then Cheryl was undergoing intense chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She finished those up a few months ago and is now back at the pharmacy getting back to full speed!

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!

Photo By NBS : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Mason Rothenberger (4th from left) and her classmates at North Branch School show some of the shoes they collected for school children in Afghanistan.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
By Bonnie Holliday

“Where are my shoes?” This familiar cry is heard in homes throughout Central Virginia. For the past few weeks; however, students at North Branch School in Afton have been asking this question to make sure they remembered to bring gently used shoes and socks to school as part of a Shoe Drive for school children in Afghanistan. During a school-wide assembly, 5th grade student, Jay Rothenberger, asked his classmates, classmates of his sister Mason, age 6, and any other school family interested, to help his church collect shoes and socks for children in Kabul. St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Scottsville had learned of the need through parishioner, Cathy Russo.

While serving in Afghanistan, her son, Lt. Matt Russo, visited an elementary school in Kabul. Lt. Russo found a school with no heat, broken windows, and a playground consisting of two swing sets but no swings. The children were wearing sandals although the temperature was below freezing. In correspondence with his mother, Lt. Russo, said, “These children who have so little in a war torn country are so anxious to come to school and educate themselves as a way out of war and poverty. Anything we can do will be greatly appreciated.”

Lt. Matt Russo with school children in Afghanistan.

Jay, Mason, and their friends collected approximately 60 pairs of shoes and boots and over 30 pairs of socks to send with the collection from St. Anne’s to the children in Kabul. “I wanted to let people at my school know so we could get more socks and shoes for the kids in Afghanistan,” said Jay, age 11. “They have to walk to school in sandals when it is 20 degrees outside.”

Fifth and sixth grade North Branch teacher, Michael Donegan, used the stories and pictures of the students in Kabul to further his students’ study of Afghanistan and surrounding countries. His North Branch class was surprised to learn that only 1 out of every 5 girls attend school in Afghanistan and that Afghan teachers make approximately $38 a month.

North Branch School on the web: http://northbranchschool.wordpress.com/

RVCC Community Market, 9 am to noon, features fresh seasonal veggies, farm raised meat, local cheeses, fresh eggs, baked goods, art and crafts plus music by the FREE UNION BAND. In addition to the market the RVCC monthly pancake breakfast begins at 8:30 am. 190 Rockfish School Lane, Afton. 434-361-0100

Event Date: Saturday 6th of March 2010 09:00 AM

Location/Address: 190 Rockfish School Lane

Contact Telephone Please call 434-361-0100 for more information

This post was submitted by Donna Kincaid.

Photos Courtesy of Ray Uttaro : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Hunderds of turkeys were scattered along the shoulder of Route 151 Wednesday when a semi rig hauling them jackknifed just north of Bland Wade Road. Click photos to enlarge.

Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
As NCL was the first to tell you, Route 151 just north of Bland Wade Road was down to one lane for a big part of Wednesday. For the second time in less than two months a semi tractor trailer rig used for hauling turkeys and chickens wrecked in almost exactly the same location.

The semi operated by Circle S Ranch in Monroe, N.C jackknifed across across Route 151 Wednesday. Hundreds of turkeys were thrown off the trailer during the wreck with many injured or killed.

On December 19th of 2009, another tractor trailer used for hauling poultry and using Route 151 as a cut through between I-64 and US 29 jackknifed in almost the same location blocking the road and stranding over 400 drivers on their way home in a snow storm and sub freezing temps. Cars were backed all the way up to Rockfish Gap at one point that night while crews worked to clear the road. Drivers finally were able to make it home shortly after midnight.

Turkeys in their cages along Route 151 and other sit on top while crews worked to clear the highway.

According Nelson Emergency Service Coordinator, Ray Uttaro, the driver hit an area of black ice and lost control. At the time of the accident, interstates and local roads in Nelson were in very hazardous condition.

The road was completely reopened for normal traffic around 3PM Wednesday afternoon.