Blue Ridge Life, Issue #166

JANUARY 2019 NO. 166 PRICELESS (FREE!)

LILY THE FARRIER • DRAMA / LIFE • THE APPLE MAN’S DAUGHTER 21 11 JANUARY 2019 Blue Ridge LIFE261

We will Meet or Beat Most Cash and Prescription Plan Prices.

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2831 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA M-F 9-6, Saturday 9-2 Closed Sunday and Holidays.

24 hour prescription refills: 434-361-0370

With a heart for serving the community he loves, Bob Ladd is here to help manage your health.

Visit us on Facebook to reserve your spot in one of our exciting classes on how to live your best life!

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Our Afton office is open and accepting new patients!

10950 Rockfish Valley Hwy Lower Level Afton, VA 22920 www.shenandoahdermatology.com

Call today!

540-885-4500 2

Blue Ridge LIFE

JANUARY 2019

Nelson County… it’s a lifestyle!

Wi n t e r g r e e n R e s o r t

PRICE REDUCED!

21 Briarwood Lane Luxurious 4 BR, 3.5 BA townhome on Devils Knob Golf Course. Short walk to trails, the Nature Foundation and the Wintergarden Spa and Fitness Center with indoor/outdoor pools and hot tubs! Handsomely furnished with a redone kitchen.

Fireplace in the sunken LR with firewood supplied by the association. The second floor has 3 BR, 2 BA, with a large master with private bath with Jacuzzi. Top floor has another master suite. Outdoor decking and a spacious 2-car garage. Turnkey offering! $245,000

273 Devils Knob Loop This 3 BR, 2 BA PRICE REDUCED! golf-front charmer is the quintessential Wintergreen mountain home. The great room boasts a stone fireplace, cathedral ceiling and walls of glass leading to the ground-level deck and tranquil water garden. The open floor plan, high ceilings and outdoor spaces make this home live large! Beautifully maintained, handsomely furnished and turnkey, this would make an ideal second home or permanent residence. A loft offers a second family room/office. Attached 2-car garage. $329,900

PRICE REDUCED!

952 Blue Ridge Drive The many features in this 5 BR, 4 BA home include tile floors throughout with radiant heat, top-tier Brazilian soapstone kitchen countertops and tile backsplash, handsome wood railings, wood ceilings, exotic tile application in baths, and the list goes on.

Relax on the full front and rear porches. The living room with stone fireplace, family room downstairs and loft room offer elbow room for everyone. Only minutes from the Chestnut Springs swimming pool, golf and the resort amenities. This would be a wonderful rental income property. $334,000

14 Trails Edge This move-in ready PRICE REDUCED! contemporary 4 BR, 3 BA home with attached 2-car garage is centrally located in Wintergreen Resort. Home features a great room with floor-to-ceiling fireplace, vaulted ceilings, kitchen with island, two master bedroom suites, and a spacious deck. Hardwood flooring in the living areas and ceramic tile in the baths. Many improvements in the past two years—exterior painted, paved driveway, added landscaping and patio, new gutters, and stained decks. $415,000

403 Devils Knob Loop This well-maintained, one-owner home has 5 BR, 3.5 BA, 2 attached garages and can accommodate large or multiple families. Perched on a wooded parcel for privacy and for seasonal mountain views! Open flow for entertaining and access to decks. Master suite with private bath and jacuzzi tub, vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, loft area/office, rec room, beautiful fixtures/finishes to include tile inlays, hot tub and paved drive. Access to golf course and easy stroll to trails. Furnished. $398,000

1211 Blue Ridge Drive Well-maintained home with privacy, golf course access and views! Ideal opportunity to have a mountain getaway and an income producing property. Privately rented with income of $17,000 per year. Sold turn-key with ability to sleep 12. Cathedral ceilings, stone fireplace, open flow for easy entertaining, spacious kitchen with breakfast nook, 2 master suites, baths for every bedroom, second family room, 800+ square feet of wraparound decking, lots of parking, and ideal location to walk to amenities such as golf, tennis, hiking trails, and the Chestnut Springs Park with pool and playground for owners/guests. $374,900

Nelson County PRICE REDUCED!

1089 Beech Grove Amazing opportunity to own a charming home in the middle of Beech Grove. Situated on 2.27 acres with mountain views, mature landscaping and a spacious and private back yard. The house has 2/3 BR, and 2.5 BA with a handsome stone fireplace, sweet little gourmet kitchen and tile floors. The great room has a cathedral ceiling and opens out to a covered entertainment area, perfect for gatherings of all sizes. Huge metal shop building in the back of the property has a 2 BR, 1 BA apartment.

Perfect for a vacation rental or an extra area for guests. Main house can be 2 apartments. The perfect location just minutes to breweries, cideries, Wintergreen, the Farmers Market and shopping and services in Nellysford.

35 minutes into Charlottesville.

Great home business potential. $2000 roof painting allowance at closing. $329,000

2960 Beech Grove Road This classic cabin is sited on 37 acres overlooking the South Fork Rockfish River.

The cabin has 2 bedrooms and a bath. The acreage is accessible via an old road to the ridge, and there’s soil work indicating that there’s a good building site overlooking the valley.

Make this your private hunting and camping preserve. This is the property you've been waiting for!

$299,000

(800) 361-5155 • (434) 361-2440 • www.MountainAreaRealty.com

2788 Rockfish Valley Highway • Nellysford, VA 22958

JANUARY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Custom Homes | Major Additions | Renovations

License Class A - (BLD) 32216A

434.316.0090 4

Blue Ridge LIFE

JANUARY 2019

RMGantt.com

Community

Roy Wheeler’s Mountain and Valley Properties contributes a portion of every sale to a local organization.

This month’s RW gift goes to The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen.

Service

Customer surveys in 2018 indicate that 99% of our clients rated us excellent or very good and would recommend us to their friends and family!

Integrity

Our Wintergreen office and agents have never had a legal dispute or real estate board complaint since establishment in 2006.

Walk to Slopes!

Views!

New Listing!

20 Pedlars End

Homes this young offering superb energy efficiency & excellent location at Wintergreen Resort do not come to the market often! Located only a 5-minute walk to the Tyro slope, this modern mountain chalet is the perfect base camp for all who wish to experience the Blue Ridge Mountains. $425,000. Call Gavin Sherwood (434)962-0226.

76 Crab Orchard Ln

One of Wintergreen’s finest homes with views of the Shenandoah Valley distant mountains and lovely sunsets. This custom built 5 bedroom home has many upgrades, a 2 car garage, soaring great room with cathedral ceiling, den and more. $725,500. Call Steve Marianella (434)566-1293.

Slopeside Walkout!

141 Hemlock Drive

Beautifully furnished and decorated in mountain decor, this 5 bedroom home has been well cared for and in great condition.

Two family rooms, main level master, hardwood floors, central air and heat, sparkling kitchen with granite counters and custom cabinets. Seasonal views of the Shenandoah Valley and fibercement exterior siding. $499,000. Call Steve Marianella (434)566-1293.

Amazing Views!

905 Diamond Hill Condos

Rare WALK OUT ski slope condo. Furnished and ready to enjoy this ski season! Granite counters, stainless appliances, full kitchen, wood burning fireplace to relax by after a day on the slopes. Hot tub on patio! Great location for rental too. Walk to The Edges Restaurant, Mountain Village. $123,000 Call Steve Marianella (434)566-1293.

40 Timber Ridge Ln

Golf Front!

Extraordinary mountain views from this unique 5 bedroom house, on level lot with a hard-to-find large fenced backyard, perfect for children and dogs. Completely renovated inside and out. Designer furnishings, cabinetry, high end appliances.

Gourmet kitchen to please any chef. $1,400,000 Call Lauri Powell 540-718-1470.

442 East Catoctin Dr

Paved driveway leads to this bright and spacious home spanning over 3200 sq. feet. Brand new Carrier Heat Pump installed in the Fall of 2018. Enjoy gatherings in the generously-sized two story living room graced with floor to ceiling windows leading to the deck with hot tub overlooking the 14th hole of Devils Knob gold course. $675,000. Call Marjolaine Marianella (434)326-2828.

Meet our agents and the organizations they are proud to be a part of: Steve Marianella

Gavin Sherwood

Marjolaine Marianella

Gavin@sherwoodteam.com (434) 962-0226

SMSales1@aol.com (434) 566-1293

Marjolaine.marianella@gmail.com 434-326-2828

Wintergreen Adaptive Ski

WNF, Friends of WG and Nelson Co. Youth Recreation

Charles Bindig

Cbindig@gmail.com (571) 209-7306

The Nature Foundation at WG

Lauri Powell

LPowell@TheChaseTeam.com (540) 718-1470

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation Monticello

www.WintergreenMVP.com | 434-361-1490 725 Beech Grove Rd, Roseland, VA 22967 Partnering with Roy Wheeler Realty Co. JANUARY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Editors & Publishers Yvette Stafford, Tommy Stafford info@blueridgelife.com

a mom & pop since 2005

Blue Ridge Life magazine (formerly Nelson County Life) is published monthly by The Afton Group, LLC and is distributed free of charge. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

Advertising deadlines are the 15th of every publishing month. For advertising information, download our ratecard at BlueRidgeLife.com or contact us at info@blueridgelife.com.

Views reflected by our advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or the company.

Blue Ridge Life Magazine, published by The Afton Group, LLC is pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing oppotunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise ‘any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.’ This magazine will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this magazine are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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Contributors Linda Crowe Victoria Beecher Godfrey Stephanie Gross Kate Simon Advertising sales@blueridgelife.com Address: The Afton Group, LLC P.O. Box 455, Wintergreen, Virginia 22958

434.361.0104

Have a story idea? Email us at info@blueridgelife.com

january 2019

7th Annual Valentine’s Day Run at Cardinal Point Vineyard

11

lily the farrier Every horse needs a good pedicure.

Saturday, February 9, 2019 info & registration: CORKSCREWRACING.COM

from

21

drama champs Psst. Have you heard? First place for “Every Brilliant Thing.”

26

the apple man’s daughter Some family heirlooms border the Blue Ridge Parkway.

inside basic necessities ................. 9 cover story ...........................11 ask the dr. ......................... 22 at home with marlo ......... 23

on the cover Photo credit: Stephanie Gross Third generation farrier Lily Green is greeted by a horse before she gets to work. Story starts on page 11.

thepublishers If you see me looking for a leather outback hat (that’s too small for my cranium but looks nice hanging in the hall), remind me that it is on the snowman.

Our winter cynicism was smothered by a gorgeous, earlier-than-usual snowfall. A certain cable weather network even gave it a name, a practice I don’t remember from my youth.

Youth. Peyton is great at reminding me of it.

“Mommy, when you were a kid, were the things around you in black and white?” she asked.

Little does she know we had PacMan, Lite Brite, and even Rubik’s Cube in my day! Whereas parents today worry about screen time, I remember being nagged about screen distance.

Luckily, there is a sled that just arrived (on horseback), delivered by an grey-haired man (at least 120 years old?), that the kids can play on.

It’s dark and we haven’t even started on dinner but there’s a good foot of snow on the ground and Adam is already zipping up his jacket.

“Where are the kids?” Tommy asks, the first time I’ve seen him in a while after spending a good chunk

of the day plowing the driveway.

I told him I wasn’t exactly sure but that I did hear happy screams, which is always a good sign.

About an hour or so later, the kids tumble back in, shedding their puffy snow gear before grabbing a dinner plate. Because the wood stove is roaring, puddles quickly form from those snowy clothes only to disappear just as quickly. Like youth, snow is a disappearing act, precious and fleeting. And parenting may be the most puzzling pastime since at least the Rubik’s cube.

Happy New Year!

Yvette and Tommy Stafford

JANUARY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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The Spine Clinic at Augusta Health Your destination for comprehensive spine care.

The Spine Clinic is a multi-disciplinary center made up of a physiatrist trained in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a physician assistant, a board certified spine surgeon, and a neurosurgeon. We treat patients with a variety of lower back pain, neck pain and other spinal disorders including osteoporosis. Not all patients require surgery, and because of our diverse medical backgrounds, we see and evaluate each patient to determine the best possible course of treatment, whether that be surgery or conservative medical management.

Call (833) AHC-HLTH or visit AugustaHealth.com/Spine-Clinic to learn more.

We are in network with Anthem!

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Blue Ridge LIFE

JANUARY 2019

basicnecessities

By Kay Pfaltz www.basicnecessities.com www.kaypfaltz.com Bubbles and Food Happy New Year. Perhaps you were one of many who popped corks as the year closed and another began — tick, tick, tick, pop. And however arbitrary our marking of time, it doesn’t stop the flow of frizzante, spumante, sekt, cava, cremant, or champagne around the world. As we welcome in 2019, I’d like to devote the year to writing about one of the greatest marriages — wine and food.

And where better to start (the meal, the year, your morning…) than with champagne?

While wine dates back some 8,000 years to ancient Persia or Georgia, bubbly is a newcomer. Champagne as we know it wasn’t born until the 17th century, and even those brave souls who professed admiration, were generally scorned as folks of degenerate taste buds. Champagne’s fame owes much to women, particularly of the royal courts. Madame de Pompadour said it was the only way to get sozzled and still stay sexy. Madame de Parabère declared it the only wine to give brilliance to the eyes without flushing the face.

Winter is a Great Time to Tour the Best of Wintegreen

When I lived in Paris, I found out quickly that people drink champagne not only for celebratory occasions but at all times, perhaps because it pairs so well with so much. When invited to someone’s home, I could debate over flowers or chocolate, but never go wrong with a bottle of bubbly.

Because sparkling wine is often served at the start of a feast (great for toasting, but also great for stimulating digestive juices) it’s traditionally paired with appetizers.

Some winning combinations include: oysters on the half shell, salty appetizers like nuts or pumpkin seeds, Gougère, fried polenta, ricotta with figs, prosciutto (but skip the melon) and salami. Then there are the more unorthodox pairings, lately in fashion: champers and potato chips, popcorn or chicken wings.

One needn’t stop drinking bubbles when the appetizers stop as champagne goes well with the main courses too: crab, clams, mousse of pike, grilled fish with cream sauce, risottos, mushroom dishes and for some, cheese souffle. Have a fullbodied champagne like Bollinger?

MLS# 570887

$139,000

6 Ivy Glen Lane Spacious 2BR, 2.5 BA townhouse at a short walk to the Spa & Fitness Center. Furnished.

1,460 sq ft

Try it with game. And that brings up an important point: when pairing, it always depends on your wine.

Salon is not Bollinger. One is lightbodied and delicate, the other rich and full. And Prosecco is different from a Blanc de Noirs. Consider the body, sweetness or house style of the sparkling wine with the food.

Le Mesnil, Grand Cru, Blanc des Blancs – Grapes are soured from the same village as Krug and Salon, and when you consider the luxury cuvées sell for in excess of $500, Le Mesnil seems a rather good deal, indeed.

Grower champagnes almost always represent better value than the grand marques and often better quality.

Notes of biscuit, cashews, peach, baked bread and brioche. $39.99 Charles Bove, Touraine, Rosé – All champagne is sparkling, but not all sparkling is champagne. Looking for a lighter price tag? This sparkling rosé from the Loire not only offers beauty in the glass but also on the palate. Nice minerality combined with aromas of strawberries, and a hint of citrus. Pair with shrimp, trout, smoked salmon, goat cheese. $21.99

MLS# 578548

$249,500

23 Shenandoah Ridge Great buy! 5BR, 4.5 BA, 2,280 sqft, furnished, mountain and Shenandoah Valley views all year round.

Café Wine and Cheese Shop A taste of Europe in the Blue Ridge!

Wine tastings offered on Wednesdays and every other Tuesday. Call for more information.

Tu-Th 10am-6pm Fri-Sat 10am-10pm Sun 10am-3pm Reservations advised for weekend dinner and brunch.

2226 Rockfish Valley Highway Nellysford, Virginia ph: 434.361.1766 www.basicnecessities.us

Friend BASIC NECESSITIES Visit us on Foodwaze Review us on Trip Advisor and Yelp

MLS# 571718

$329,500

298 E Catoctin Drive 4BR, 2 BA home in like new condition, built in 2014. Open floor plan. Located behind the green on hole #14. Furnished.

Dima Holmes 434.962.2252 DimaDHolmes@gmail.com

MLS# 569127

$385,000

1042 Blue Ridge Drive P.O. Box 706, Wintergreen VA 22958 WintergreenResort.com

Great value for 5 BR, 3.5 BA craftsman. Large entertainment room. Close to community pool.

Furnished. Two fireplaces.

MLS# 576168

$399,900

MLS# 580448

$795,000

218 Ravens Roost Lane

64 Fawn Ridge Drive

5BR, 4.5 BA plus a den, total of 3,306 sq ft. Craftsman built in 2006. Furnished, on private rental program.

Very private and picturesque golf front lot. Luxury 6 BR, 6.5 BA home with a large entertainment room. Multiple large decks.

JANUARY 2019

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Nelson County… it’s a lifestyle!

WINTERGREEN HOMES

WINTERGREEN CONDOS

770 Devils Knob Loop A mountaintop paradise with spectacular views of the mountains and valley. Relax in the warm and casual elegance beside one of the two stone fireplaces. Spacious open layout on the first floor with a large gourmet kitchen, granite counters and pantry, grand living room with fireplace and cathedral ceilings, and a master suite with direct access to a balcony. The lower level offers a family room with stone fireplace, a second master suite, 3 BRs, and a full bath. Three large decks afford opportunities for you to savour the year-round views. A perfect getaway! $735,000

945 Diamond Hill Enjoy the mountain views and watching the activity on the ski slopes from this renovated 2BR, 2BA ski-front unit!

This is a fabulous location for the ski-focused buyer looking to be in the heart of the action. Open floor plan with a wood-burning fireplace in the living room. Upgraded with stainless steel appliances, granite counters, new furnishings, and a fully tiled master shower. Minimal steps! Excellent rental! $259,900

14 Trails Edge This move-in ready contemporary 4 BR, 3 BA home with an attached 2-car garage is centrally located in Wintergreen Resort. Home features a great room with floor-to-ceiling fireplace and vaulted ceilings, kitchen with island, two master bedroom suites, and a spacious deck. Beautiful hardwood flooring in the living areas and ceramic tile in the baths. Many improvements in the past two years—exterior painted, paved driveway, added landscaping and patio, new gutters, and stained decks. A fabulous mountain home just waiting for you!

Price reduced! $415,000 31 Deer Springs Lane Over $50,000 below assessed value! This classic chalet home nestled in the heart of Wintergreen Resort and is the perfect mountain getaway!

Open floor plan in the great room with lots of light and a stone fireplace. Original home features 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The family room and master bedroom/ bath were added in 2007. The family room is large enough to accommodate a pool table or ping pong table as well as a seating/entertaining area. Roof was replaced in 2007 along with new skylights. $295,000 16 Stony Cove Lane Rustic sophistication is waiting for you in this handsome mountain retreat. Custom-built one-owner home has never been rented. Constructed in 2012 with upgraded materials—stone fireplace, wide oak floors, local soapstone counters, stainless steel appliances, hickory cabinetry, tile baths, surround sound and stereo, and more! 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. Family room on the lower level that walks out to a concrete patio wired for a hot tub and plumbed for an outdoor shower. Spacious deck. Mature evergreens to add color year-round. Low maintenance and energy efficient! $389,900

WINTERGREEN LOT 443 Tyro Lane Ideal location for skiiers! Only steps from the slopes on Tyro! Seasonal mountain views. Open space adjoins for additional privacy. This lot is convenient to all of the amenities Wintergreen has to offer! $59,000

1573 Vistas Step inside this tastefully renovated two bedroom end unit and enjoy the breathtaking mountain and valley views! You can even watch the night skiing on the popular Eagle Swoop slope. Updated with painted cabinets and new appliances in the kitchen, and vanities in the baths. All you need to do is hang your clothes in the closet and begin enjoying your time in the mountains! A short walk to tennis, golf, and the Wintergarden Spa/pool. Would make an excellent rental unit. $239,500 182 Mountain Inn Seller will consider owner financing! Well maintained one-bedroom loft unit conveniently located in the main lodge of Wintergreen Resort. Access to shopping, dining and skiing just outside your door! Perfect for a weekend getaway. An excellent rental property on the front desk program. $95,000 162 Mountain Inn Attractive layout and design featuring vaulted ceilings and a full breakfast bar.

Larger than most Mountain Inn units.

Furnished with a sleep sofa in the living room and two queen beds in the loft. Walk to skiing, dining, and shopping.

Chastity Morgan • 434.941.5883 mobile • 434.361.1103 home (434) 361-2440 • www.MountainAreaRealty.com

2788 Rockfish Valley Highway • Nellysford, VA 22958

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$99,500

AMHERST

[ amherst county ]

STORY by LINDA CROWE PHOTOGRAPHY by STEPHANIE GROSS

The Farrier

It’s a brisk winter day in the mountains of Amherst County – a Carhartt, gloves and knit hat kind of day. Lily Green is in her element. She’s decked out in a red and black buffalo plaid jacket and leather chaps, her dark hair tucked up under her denim ball cap. Well-worn fingerless gloves reveal stained and scarred fingers wrapped in tattered bandages. They look like something out of a Dickens novel, yet you’d trust these sturdy hands with any job from the toughest to the gentlest. continued on page 12

JANUARY JANUARY 2019 2019

Blue Blue Ridge Ridge LIFE LIFE

11 11

continued from page 11

Lily Green is a third generation farrier, following in the steps of her grandfather and her father. Her accent makes her hard to place – Virginia by way of upstate New York, Illinois, Arizona, Colorado and Kentucky. She talks like an old farm hand, but in reality, this 22-year old has been working in the farrier trade for the last four years.

“Make sure he knows where you are at all times,” she says, referring to the horse she’s taking care of. “And don’t put your fingers out – he might think they’re a carrot.” Meanwhile Stitch, Lily’s black and white herding dog and constant companion, waits in her truck until the work is complete.

Kevin, a light rust-colored horse, is getting a trim today. His owner, Ashley Radzisauskas, holds his lead while Lily gets to work. Near at hand is Ashley’s dog Rusty, a lithe reddish herder, who drops at ball at Ashley’s feet, then stares at it with the intensity of his breed. They’re a matching set, the three of them, with their light red hair. Ashley fakes a throw, then hides the ball in the bed of the truck. “or he’ll never leave us alone,” she explains.

Lily Green received her certification at the Midwest Horseshoeing School, part of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, where everything she received indepth training in trimming, forging, equine anatomy, physiology and biomechanics – in short, you need to know to take care of a horse’s feet.

With a hoof knife she clears caked dirt from the underside of Kevin’s hoof. A pleasing sawlike sound fills the air as she takes the rasp and files down the nicks and scrapes from Kevin’s hooves. Lily works purposefully and swiftly while the horse cooperates – no wasted effort here.

“I’m rasping off flairs, give them a good shape, settin’ ‘em up to go out in the field.”

“Shoeing school was fun,” she says as she files away on Kevin’s feet, “but it was hard.”

Farriers learn blacksmithing and forging, as well as anatomy. “So we can collaborate with the veterinarians on the horses’ feet. You’re literally an equine podiatrist. “ In America’s version of an apprenticeship, after graduation She worked with John Samsill in Arizona, Roger Skelton in Colorado, then here with Matt Grimm.

Next she paints on a coat of farrier’s hoof oil – a fingernail polish of sorts – on the hooves which penetrates and seals against invading bacteria, and also makes them look and smell good.

A eucalyptus, wintergreen smell wafts from the can. “A nice little finishing touch,” she says.

Kevin done, Ashley retrieves Vinny. He’s 24, but as Lily says, “doesn’t look a day older than five. ... Ashley keeps ‘em real nice. They have all that pasture out there. She rides ‘em up mountains. They get it all here.” continued on page 14

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When she’s not shaping shoes for horses, Lily Green might be found dabbling in custom metal art. For more info, visit her page on Facebook: LG Shoeing

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JANUARY 2019

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$0 enrollment and first full month free.

Must be redeemed by February 28, 2019. New members only.

Amenities vary by club location. Some restrictions apply.

acac.com/month-free acac.com/crozet 434.817.2055

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Blue Ridge LIFE

JANUARY 2019

continued from page 12

The affable Kevin wanders over to watch, having managed to slip his lead. He loves a good party. Work stops and Lily holds Vinny while Ashley walks Kevin back, securing his rope again. From time to time Kevin peers around the trailer at the proceedings with a wistful stare.

No shoes for Kevin and Vinny today. “Depending on how much you’re riding and what you’re riding on,” Ashley explains,” they may need shoes.” Rocky terrain might require shoes for instance. On Ashley’s place, it’s mostly pasture and soft forest floor. “If they tear their shoes off, they tear their feet up, so it’s better to keep them barefoot if you can.”

“That’s how I roll,” adds Lily. “I don’t just slap shoes on ‘em for the heck of it. I try to make sure we’re doing what’s best for their environment. For what Ashley’s doing, barefoot is perfect.”

Kevin and Vinny will get their trim on a 6-week schedule during the summer, but that slows down to every 10 weeks in the winter, depending on their seasonal diet. Just like fingernails, diet effects hoof growth.

With her blooming business in Central Virginia, Lily is on the road anywhere from three to six days a week, traveling in a two hour radius around Lynchburg in her bright red truck.

An oh, that marvel of a truck. She drives a 15-year old Dodge Ram 2500 tricked out with a silver Stonewell body – a farrier’s dream. Like Ashley’s horses, it looks much younger than its actual age.

Before cars, most towns and many farms had their own blacksmith shop. That’s no longer true. Lily’s truck is a blacksmith shop on wheels. She connects an anvil stand to the trailer hitch, then slides the anvil out of its travel bracket and sets it on the stand.

The forge itself sits on a swing-out arm and a 7-gal. propane tank is mounted securely behind the cab. If she needs them, a drill press and bench grinder stand at the ready. A special shelf holds her topical products – hoof conditioners, ointments for hardening, white line disease, and abscesses. Shoeing nails, rasps, back-up tools have their own compartments. A shoe rack holds every size of readymade shoe. Bars of iron are stowed in the bed in case she needs to

hammer out a custom shoe. She makes many of her own tools, knives and hoof picks.

When she does shoe a horse, she uses the hot-shoeing method she learned in school. “They warned me I’d become addicted to the smell of burnt hoof,” she says. After sizing up the horse’s foot, she’ll light the forge which comes to life with a low roar. Once it heats up to 3,000 BTUs, she swings open the forge door and with tongs, places a shoe in the chamber to heat up.

Lily talks as she works, but won’t be distracted from the task at hand. Blacksmithing can be challenging at times. A draft horse stepped on her toe the other day, yet she chooses not to wear steeltoed boots. “If that weight came down and bent the steel toe, that might slice my toes,” she says. “That’d hurt even more.” She chuckles.

“You get kind of a sick sense of humor about it sometimes.”

Generally, she says, you just try not to get stepped on. “My big thing is not to get kicked in the mouth. Some horses do that if you get too close.” She’s bent over the back foot. “You can see my position, right? This is where all the power is.”

January Adventures BASECAMP BREWPUB & MEADOWS 200 mosbys run, Roseland, VA • 434.361.1001

1/1

New Years Day: Hangover Brunch, 11AM-2pm

1/3 1/12 1/17

“Bad Gift Swap” Party, 7-9pm

brewpub

Hearty Brunch food specials, Beer Mimosas, and Craft Bloody Marys are sure to cure that NYE hangover!

Distillery Lounge

Bring your wrapped "bad gift" and enjoy a white elephant gift swap. Gifts should range from $25-$40.

Mississippi Leg Hound, 6-9pm Acoustic duo

Beer 101 Class, 6-7:30pm with a guided tasting led by Aaron Reilly the Summit $14 per person. Sign up on Eventbrite

1/24 1/26

Seed Swap, 6-8pm Brewpub

Bring your extra seed, saved or purchased, to swap with fellow gardeners.

Mississippi Leg Hound, 6-9pm Acoustic duo

OUTPOST TAP ROOM & KITCHEN

50 northwind lane, lexington, VA • 540.462.6200

1/1 1/5 1/10 1/11 1/12 1/17

NEW YEARS DAY: HANGOVER BRUNCH, 11:30AM-3:30PM Hearty Brunch food specials & Beer Mimosas sure to cure that NYE hangover!

LIME KILN TREE BURN AFTER PARTY, 6:30-9:30PM Live Music by Scuffletown

GROWLER GIRLS, 6:30-9:30PM

Bohemian Dream Catcher - $25 per person – Must RSVP to Dizzle by January 3rd via Facebook event page or e-mail dizzle.clark@dbbrewingcompany.com

CRAIG HANSON, 6:30-9:30PM Folk Rock

RYAN GREER, 6:30-9:30PM Soul Americana

LEXINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NON-PROFIT EXPO 5:30-8:30PM Come learn about our local non-profits here in the Lexington area!

1/18 1/19 If a horse is too rough on a regular basis, and if the owner doesn’t work together with her to correct any issues, she’ll refer them elsewhere. “You’ve got, what, 1200 pounds here? You get one wrong move on a horse that doesn’t like you, you’re in the hospital for months,” she laughs. “At best. If I get hurt, that’s my livelihood.”

Scant minutes later the shoe glows a meteoric orange. She places it on the anvil and the sound of her blacksmith hammer rings through the woods as she levels it up, working fast against the cooling iron, then files off any rough edges. She heats it up again.

Once more on the anvil to get it just right, then it’s over to the horse where she holds it against the hoof. A sizzle, a curtain of smoke – “ah, that burnt hoof smell!” – and it’s done. No pain and not just a good fit, but a perfect one.

Like every good craftsperson, Lily can judge her predecessors by the quality of their work and she appreciates coming behind a good farrier. Her advice? “Do your best work. Enjoy the people and the horses. Have a passion for what you do,” she says. “And you won’t hurt anybody.”

With that, she closes up shop and she and Stitch head off to the next job. BRL

BRYAN ELIJAH SMITH, 6:30-9:30PM Blues/Rock

RESOLUTION RUINER BEER DINNER, 7-9:30PM

Did you know only 8% of people keep their New Year’s Resolution? May as well come to this beer dinner! – 4 Courses of Guilty Pleasure foods paired with some of our favorite Devils Backbone beers. $45 per person – Must purchase ticket through EventBrite by January 11th to reserve your seat.

1/24 1/25 1/26 1/31

GAME NIGHT: YAHTZEE, 7-9:30PM

SUNDAYS

BRUNCH SPECIALS & BEER MIMOSAS, 11:30AM-3:30PM

WEDNESDAYS

GROWLER GRAB DAY, 11:30AM-10PM

TUESDAYS

BURGER, BEER, BRAINPOWER, 6:30-8:30PM

BEGINNING JANUARY 8

Hosted by Dizzle

ALEX SHREVE, 6:30-9:30PM Rockin’ Jammin’ Acoustic

JASON RING, 6:30-9:30PM Bluegrass/Piedmont Blues

TROUTMOUTH, 6:30-9:30PM Folk

$10 Burger – Two Extraordinary Chef Crafted Burger Specials for just $10 +tax Special pricing on beer between 6:30–8:30PM Trivia – test your knowledge over a great burger and a pint

DBbrewingcompany.com ENJOY RESPONSIBLY © 2018 Devils Backbone Brewing Company, Roseland, VA

JANUARY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

15

Mountain Homes for Your Outdoor Lifestyle.

MOUNTAIN HOMES AT WINTERGREEN

$289,000

MLS# 582973

MLS# 583968

$315,000

MLS# 579243

$105,000

990 Shamokin Spring Trail

278 East Catoctin Drive

449 Three Ridges Condos

One of the best values on the mountain!

A reverse floor plan with living upstairs and bedrooms down to take advantage of the views through Shamokin Gorge. Just a short walk to community pool and playground. Not far from the Wintergarden Spa, tennis, golf, and skiing.

One of the best home values on the mountain!

Located in one of the highest and private parts of the mountain and backs onto the 14th green of Devils Knob Golf Course. Just a short walk to all the amenities of Devils Knob. Whole house generator. Remodeled several times.

Easy walk to restaurants, shops, activities and ski slopes. Very private - last doorway at the end of Three Ridges parking. 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath ground floor unit, so child & pet friendly as the deck is essentially “ground level”. “Step down” great room provides for a higher ceiling.

$385,000

MLS# 569127

MLS# 583936

$549,500

1042 Blue Ridge Drive

284 Hickory Spring Road

Charming mountain home with a wonderful floor plan to spend time with family & friends.

Open layout with cathedral ceilings in the great room. Master suite on main level. Spacious den with a fireplace & wet bar. Lots of exposed wood, pine doors & stone throughout.

The perfect Christmas present to any family!

This beautiful home adjoins the George Washington National Forest and Appalachian Trail. Close to all Devils Knob facilities. The view from the rock out cropping at the rear of the home is spectacular. Nice deck for entertaining.

$590,000

MLS# 566225

412 Black Rock Circle A remarkable view from the ridge top of Black Rock Mountain. The original home design has been greatly expanded so that now the great room floor space and ceiling height is quite impressive. Large, renovated kitchen. Wraparound decking with nice mountain views.

434.361.0500 / 800.325.2200

16

CONDOS AT WINTERGREEN

Blue Ridge LIFE

JANUARY 2019

MLS# 582155

$749,000

300 Cedar Drive If you are looking for a beautiful mountain home with privacy and wonderful mountain views, this is the property for you!

Immaculately maintained; great room, family room, gorgeous fireplaces, large kitchen and a den for gatherings with family and friends.

MLS# 584203

$179,000

1826 High Ridge Court Condos Looking for a well maintained 2 bedroom ridge condo with breathtaking 180° year round views of the resort and mountains at a fantastic price? This is it! Turnkey & ready for immediate occupancy; this unit boasts a gorgeous wrap around deck and no front steps for easy access!

MLS# 569031

$229,000

946 Diamond Hill Condos Beautifully maintained, slope front 2 BR condo.

Gorgeous views of the Rockfish Valley and ski slopes. A very desirable location in the Resort Village. This unit has not been on the rental program, although would make a wonderful rental, if that is what you are looking for.

WintergreenRealEstate.com

To Learn More, Contact Us Today!

434.361.0500 / 800.325.2200 STONEY CREEK AND NELSON COUNTY

MLS# 580585

$134,500

MLS# 573830

$163,000

$549,000

MLS# 568647

2071 Stone Ridge Condos

1719 High Ridge Condos

265 Black Walnut Drive

This is a well-cared for condo with seasonal views across the Shenandoah Valley and sunsets across the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has the 18th green of Devils Knob Course below the deck.

Just a short walk to Devils Grill, the Spa & Fitness Center, tennis, golf and hiking.

Priced to sell! Enjoy panoramic long-distance views from this attractive and well-kept condo.

Nicely furnished with private master bedroom and bunk beds in the guest room, ready for a family gathering. Seller has enjoyed this unit, but his relocation is your opportunity!

Large 5BR home on the golf course. Generous decking, flower beds, stream and bridges. Unique spiral staircase, reminiscent of a “lighthouse”, giving access to 4 guest bedrooms, 2 baths and a bonus room. On the third level is a tower room (sunroom) with “widows walk”.

MLS# 572162

$185,000

128 Eagles Court Condos Beautifully renovated ski-in/ski-out condo. Put on your ski boots and push off onto Eagles Swoop ski slope. Nice mountain views over the slope. Open and bright floorplan. Located in the heart of the Black Rock Village. A short walk to The Market, restaurants, shops and more.

MLS# 579183

$245,000

1602 Overlook Condos In altitude- the highest 2 BR in Overlook. End unit, wrap-around deck, hardwood floors throughout, new stone fireplace, excellent views over the Blue Ridge Mountains, Rockfish Valley, Black Rock Village and ski slopes. On the ski shuttle route for the lower mountain.

MLS# 569770

$225,000

1526 Cliffs Condos

Stoney Creek

One of the best views along Blue Ridge Drive!

Views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and ski slopes. Walking distance to the Wintergarden Spa and Fitness Center, golf, tennis and Devils Grill. On ski shuttle route; no hassle with parking. Never rented. Mint condition.

MLS# 580173

$549,500

MLS# 582965

A stunning custom designed and built post and beam home. Beautifully maintained. Nice floor plan to enjoy family & friends. Yearround views across the Rockfish Valley and surrounding mountains. Home sits on almost 4 acres in a very private, landscaped setting.

$249,500

MLS# 574421

$597,900

1577 Vistas Condos

1270 Glenthorne Loop

This condo a is mid-level, end unit which affords not only privacy, but one of the most spectacular and panoramic views on the Mountain. Just a short walk to Devils Grill, spa & fitness center, golf, tennis and hiking trails.

On the ski shuttle route to the lower mountain.

This is a beautifully built 4 BR 4 BA home with an open floor plan offering views from every room.

The home is very private, yet just a short drive from Wintergreen Resort amenities (skiing & golf), wineries & breweries. Located on about 30-acres, minimal yard maintenance.

3079 Rockfish Valley Highway, Wintergreen Resort VA 22958

JANUARY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

17

Rockfish River Gallery Fine Art and Exquisite Crafts from Virginia

55 Artists & Artisans – We Are Unique !

Here are a few of the items that we have: lots of cards, five different jewelry makers’ jewelery, local Virginia authors’ books, witches, fairies, watercolor, oil, acrylic, pencil sketches and mixed media paintings, hand-made clothing, dolls, hand-made wooden toys, local music, blown glass and stained glass, strange fish, pottery and on and on ...

Part Of Our Mission Is to Allow As Many As Possible Local And Extended Local Artists And Artisans To Display Their Work and to Promote Art in the Community at Large. We now have more than 50 artists, Artisans and Authors Displaying their Work

Rockfish Valley Community Center 190 Rockfish School Lane, Afton, VA 22920 We are open all year Weds. through Sat. from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. 434 - 294 - 4668 Check our website for info, map and news. www.RockfishRiverGallery.com

asktheDr.

By Dr. Charles Cole Afton Family Medicine Dear Dr. Cole, How long is it OK to be outside when it’s cold?

This depends on the weather and how prepared you are for it. If you have the right equipment you can be outside for hours or even days. If you are not prepared you could get in trouble in just a few minutes and develop hypothermia.

Our normal body temperature is about 98.6 degrees. Hypothermia happens when the body loses more heat than it produces and the body temperature drops. At about 95 degrees your normal body functions can be affected and stop working properly. If not recognized and treated quickly it can lead to organ failure and death. Our body’s response to cold is usually shivering – this is the body’s attempt to create warmth and normalize the temperature. You may also develop slurred speech, decreased breathing, confusion, drowsiness and loss of consciousness.

We usually think of hypothermia in the winter, but it can occur at all

times of the year and in many types of weather. It can even happen inside if you do not have adequate heat or clothing. If you are wet and cannot get dry you are especially at risk.

Windy weather increases the risk – we have all heard about the wind chill factor where it feels much colder than the actual temperature. Older and very young people are at increased risk of hypothermia. If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs you are at increased risk.

There are ways to decrease the risk of hypothermia. If it’s really cold and you don’t have to go outside then stay inside! If you must go out then be prepared. Wear a hat and mittens. Wear layered and loose fitting clothing with a windproof outer shell. Wool, silk or polypropylene clothing is better than cotton. At the first sign of shivering go inside and get warm. Winter can be fun but you need to be prepared!

Dr. Charles Cole is a licensed medical doctor based in Afton. This column is provided as a service to readers of Blue Ridge Life Magazine and it does not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers of this magazine.

If you have a question about your personal health, please consult your doctor.

S E N TA R A A F T O N FA M I LY M E D I C I N E

CALL US TODAY!

434-263-4500 8535 Thomas Nelson Hwy Lovingston, VA 22949

FOSTERFUELS.COM PROPANE • GAS LOGS • TANKS • HEATERS • GRILLS & MORE 18

Blue Ridge LIFE

JANUARY 2019

DISCOVER WHY PEOPLE TRUST SENTARA AFTON FAMILY MEDICINE OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:30am-5pm 10950 Rockfish Valley Hwy (SR151), Afton, VA For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit sentara.com or call (540) 456-6710.

Follow us on Facebook @MarthaJeffersonHospital, and Twitter @MarthaJefferson.

athome

Oh, what a relief!

Real estate tax relief for qualifying Nelson County residents

withMarlo

By Marlo Allen Marlo Allen is a licensed Realtor residing in Nelson County

The holidays are fun, but the aftermath may leave you looking for a way to save. Savings, in the form of real estate tax relief, may be just around the corner for some residents of Nelson County. It sure is a relief to know that discounts could be on the horizon for those who own real estate and also apply and qualify. May you kick off the New Year with one of these tax saving opportunities.

Relief for the elderly and disabled: Who? The minimum age for an elderly applicant is 65. A disabled applicant is an individual who has been declared 100% disabled by the Social Security Board. Qualifications?

Applicant must occupy the home as a primary residence. The total household income of everyone living in the home cannot exceed $50,000. Income sources include savings, retirement, social security, and all other sources. If applicant

has a family member living with them, than the first $6,000 of that person’s income is exempt from the calculation. Net worth cannot exceed $100,000; the home and 1 acre of land are excluded from the net worth calculation. Savings? Tax relief is based on a sliding scale and provides a 10-80% savings. When? Submit application between January 2 and February 15, 2019. Yearly application is required as tax relief is based on fluctuating variables such as income and assets.

Exemption for disabled veterans: Who? Applicant must reside in the home as a primary residence and be certified as a veteran and 100% disabled. The US Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor agency must provide a letter to certify that the applicant is 100% disabled. A surviving spouse (of a 100% disabled veteran) may also qualify if the veteran died after Jan. 1,

Marlo Allen

2011. Savings? Qualifying applicant will receive total exemption from paying real estate taxes on the house and 1 acre home site. When? Can be submitted anytime. However, it is best to submit early in the year before tax bills are mailed. Once qualified the program automatically renews.

Land use eligibility and savings: Who? Residents with qualifying acreage; land calculated after subtracting 1 acre home site. Qualifications? Agricultural; minimum of 5 acres in production for sale of plants or animals such as beef cattle, poultry, hay, etc…

Horticultural, minimum of 5 acres in production for sale of fruits, vegetables, nursery, or floral products, etc… Forest; 20 acre minimum devoted to tree growth (can be timbered) Savings? Some taxpayers have had their tax bill cut in half; savings is variable as it is dependent upon the land classification and

434-996-3525

Ring in the New Year…

values. Note: Repayment of savings (up to past 6 years) can occur in the form of a roll back tax penalty if the land use is changed. For example, land that is taken out of land use and subdivided for residential purposes would be subject to the penalty.

When? Applications are typically due

by Dec. 31st for review by the land use committee in February. Nonrefundable application fee is $50 per parcel plus 25 cent per acre. Renew every 6 years upon renewal notice.

Contact the Commissioner of Revenue office at 434-263-7070 for additional information or applications.

May you have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

Marlo Allen, frequently referred to as “That Girl,” calls Nelson County home. In fact, she grew up in Nelson County and helped found Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery of Nellysford. Marlo provides real estate services in Nelson and surrounding counties.

InsistOnThatGirl.com

Your Property + Marlo = SOLD! My listings just sold or pending sale:

by selling your property in 2019!

Specializing in: Nelson County - Wintergreen - Stoney Creek

Marlo G. Allen

Associate Broker Cell: 434.996.3525 Web: InsistOnThatGirl.com Email: Marlo@InsistOnThatGirl.com

Insist on that girl!

Afton: 175.8 Acres on Rockfish Valley Hwy Afton: 5.2 Acres on Creek Rd Lovingston: 32 Court St Stoney Creek: 47 Wood Thrush Ln Stoney Creek: 36 Knoll Ln Stoney Creek: 167 Foothills Dr Stoney Creek: 185 Coleman Pl Stoney Creek: 49 Saddle Ridge Ln Wintergreen: 280 Fortunes Ridge Dr

Go from Listed to SOLD. Call Marlo!

Properties noted reflect status as of December 15, 2018.

Marlo is a top-producing agent throughout Nelson County, Stoney Creek and Wintergreen.

JANUARY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

19

SALES LISTINGS

R E S U LT S ROD PHILLIPS / OWNER - AGENT

434-987-6399 / Rodfphillips@gmail.com

RE/MAX Realty Specialists welcomes Griffin, our newest member of the team.

762 PEDDLARS EDGE DR $1,595,000

WINTERGREEN DRIVE DEVELOPMENT $1,320,000

93 TYRO LANE $899,000

Ski front, newer construction, 5 br/4ba, 4024 sq ft, great views

6 bedrooms, 6 baths, 4200 sq ft, great rental property

Longview Farm, 62 acres, spectacular Nelson County views

48 SHAMOKIN SPRINGS TRAIL $445,000

22 KNOB HILL PLACE $299,900

Updated home with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths

Build your dream home on this spectacular lot with mountain views.

957 DIAMOND HILL CONDO $229,000

Ski front unit, 2 bed/2 ba 1100 sq ft, mountain views

37 MARBLE LANE $219,000

1505 CLIFFS CONDOS $124,000

1501 CLIFFS CONDO $119,000

258 TIMBERS $69,900

Ski front timber frame construction, 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 4650 sq ft

132 ROCKY RD $485,000

4 bedrooms, 2 baths, great Pedlars Edge location.

22 townhomes/65 condos/hotel

1st level walkout with great views

1bedroom, 1bath, 763 sq ft, great mountain views

rodphillips.remaxagent.com

20

47 BEECH DRIVE $599,900

Blue Ridge LIFE

JANUARY 2019

Ski front, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 675 sq ft, rental income

2112 SADDLE HOLLOW RD $539,000

22+ acres, great Crozet location and views

326 DOBIE CONDOS $225,000

Ski front with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, and great views

1085 BLUE RIDGE DRIVE $45,000 Golf front lot

RE/MAX Realty Specialists 1186 Crozet Ave, Crozet, VA 22932-3130,

LOVINGSTON

[ nelson county ]

STORY by LINDA CROWE PHOTOGRAPHY by STEPHANIE GROSS

Drama / Life

Diana Driver (top) coaches students in her Advanced Drama class in preparation for last year’s spring musical, The Addams Family (above). The popular theater program has brought home five state championship titles.

Stadium lights shine like a beacon behind the high school as the parking lot begins to fill up. Kids rush around in their cheerleading, drum major and flag team uniforms. Four State Championship banners adorn the walls as parents and fans take their seats and wait for the show to begin. But this is theater, not a football game, they’ve gathered to watch.

It’s Thursday night and at the moment, chaos reigns as Diana Driver attempts to herd her Advanced Drama students onto the stage of the Nelson County High School Auditorium.

“YOU GUYS SHOULD BE GETTING INTO COSTUME RIGHT NOW!” she shouts over clumps of actors running their lines and the buzz of audience members talking among themselves. “GET YOURSELVES TOGETHER!” The Virginia High School League’s Sub-Regional One-Act Play Festival takes place in this very auditorium on Saturday and this is the last rehearsal before the competition. “Because of the foul weather prediction for Friday night, the football game has been moved to now,” she explains, “It’s senior night for Anna Dolleris who is also a cheerleader. She’ll come in two minutes before the show, with no make-up and no warm-up before the rehearsal. So that’s fun,” she says.

Leah Moxley approaches Driver. “I do the load on, so after that, do I go backstage or up to the light booth?

“So after the load-on, you go up to the light booth to be there with Erin,” Driver says. “But we’re not doing the load-on tonight, so you’ll do that on Saturday.”

An enthusiastic nod, then Leah heads to the light booth after receiving instructions from Driver on how to keep the door to the light booth door from automatically locking her out during the show. continued on page 22

JANUARY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

21

continued from page 21

Students in Diana Driver’s Advanced Drama class rehearse a performance of Every Brilliant Thing. The practice seems to have worked as the team brought home a state trophy this year.

Driver continues. “The drum major for the band is in the show, as well as another actor who is doing flags. A lot of kids just had their sports banquets a few minutes ago, finishing up their track and cross country seasons. Another actor has guitar on Thursdays. So there are just a lot of things happening in one night.” She should be breathless with all this going on around her, but she’s not.

Tonight’s rehearsal is a “tweak.” The cast and crew received feedback from a morning rehearsal and now changes must be made. Award-winning local playwright, Peter Coy, adapted the play Every Brilliant Thing, by Duncan MacMillan, with Jonny Donahoe, for a larger ensemble cast.

Driver met him early in her tenure at Nelson and they’ve been collaborating ever since. Tonight he’s giving private notes to some of the actors, taking them aside and talking to them in low tones. They listen intently and nod occasionally, as Peter gesticulates. “It’s a delicate situation,” says Driver, “You don’t want to mess with a kid too much when they’re rehearsed and ready to go. Some of these things don’t have as much to do with the play as they do with life. You don’t want to tweak too much, but at the same time you want it to be right.”

Driver speaks with authority and experience. Those four State Champion banners on the wall belong to her program. Her actors have won runner-up a couple of years and they’ve been to the state championships lots of times, putting them in league with other stand-out Nelson programs such as Future Farmers of America and the band program, in addition to sports teams like soccer, volley ball and basketball.

“Kids want to work hard on something they believe in.

They want to be good. That doesn’t always mean winning,” she says. “It means that you have a product that you’re proud of.” She looks up at the stage. “I can’t remember a year when we weren’t proud.”

One need look no further than her former students to see what a positive influence she exerts.

Lukas Miller currently stars as Prince Charming in the Broadway tour of Cinderella.

Michael Hamilton, who has worked in theater in Chicago for the past nine years talks about Driver’s skill in pulling the best out of her actors. “She’s good at allowing students to be who they are by focusing on fun and enjoyment. She sets up an environment where you’re comfortable being yourself and you’re not afraid to fail or look goofy,” he says. “She has a talent for handling different personalities – kids who want to be in the lead,” he pauses to think back about who he was in high school, “and people who are more shy and less likely to get up and speak. They can feel comfortable enough to step out on a limb and participate.”

This translates to his life on and off the stage. “Most of all, she helped me become a people person,” he says. “People must be able to deal well with one another through difficult times, to give and receive criticism. She teaches the basic skills of interacting and listening intently. For any sort of business or occupation that requires you to work with other people, these are essential tools for getting along in the world.”

“Ms. Driver taught me what a successful ensemble looks and sounds like,” says Bram Crowe-Getty, a musician and youth counselor, “She gave us the courage to experience failure safely, and the permission to laugh at ourselves wildly.”

continued on page 24

22

Blue Ridge LIFE

JANUARY 2019

Check out our Weekly Specials! duh!

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Thanks to all of our loyal clients for your support!

Wishing everyone a Peaceful and Happy New Year.

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Blue Ridge LIFE

23

continued from page 24

THIS IS WHAT A STATE CHAMPION THEATER TEAM LOOKS LIKE. Diana Driver’s Advanced Drama class took home the first place trophy in its division for its performance of Every Brilliant Thing. This year’s win is the fifth for Nelson County High School’s drama program, which performed The Addams Family for last year’s spring musical (below).

24 24

Blue Blue Ridge Ridge LIFE LIFE

JANUARY JANUARY 2019 2019

Her current students find this a life-changing experience as well. “Being part of our drama family has definitely changed the way I look at things, especially when it comes to other people,” says actor (and drum major) Anna Cheape. She also appeared in last season’s spring musical, The Addams Family. “One of Mrs. Driver’s famous quotes is ‘Love each other!’ and I feel like this is something that is so simple yet so important to the way we as people should treat each other.”

Waiting for the show to begin, parents Elizabeth and Chris Shepard praise the drama program. All three of their children have appeared on the Nelson stage. Their daughter Delia is a senior and like her mother (a Tye River Elementary School teacher) plans to pursue a career in elementary education. She’s had minor parts in the high school musicals, but this play offers her a larger, more serious role.

“Delia’s more on the shy side so it’s been good for her to step outside of her comfort zone a little bit,” Elizabeth Shepard explains. “And the exercises that Diana does with the kids and the mental preparation she trains them for – we feel like they rise to the occasion for Diana.”

But how will theater help Delia in her future career? Shepard answers with a grin: “It’s always good to act when you’re a teacher.”

On stage, the tech crew practices a cue. The lights come up on Cleo Hill who sings, then the lights come back down.

“Slower on that fade!” Driver says, calling back to the tech booth. “One more time.” They reset the cue, run it again and the lights go back down, more slowly this time, “Perfect!”

The entire cast and crew take the stage to warm up with Driver and Coy. The kids shake like rag dolls, they blow raspberries, they hum and buzz and make high-pitched noises. It’s like stumbling onto an alien invasion. “Billy Button Bought a Bunch of Beautiful Bananas!” they all shout, and then perform the time-honored “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,” exercises designed to help them enunciate and project.

Anna Dolleris runs in from the game, still wearing her cheerleader uniform. The ensemble cheers.

Warm-ups behind them, the cast clears the stage and the house lights go down. On Saturday the play will be timed and if it goes one second over 35 minutes, the troupe will be disqualified.

Knowing this, it’s hard to concentrate at first. But all distractions soon evaporate as the students disappear into their parts. With humor and compassion they portray the story of a young girl growing up with a mother who suffers from depression, and the acting soon carries the audience away from all other distractions. By the time it’s over, they’ve come in mere seconds under the 35 minutes. Too close for comfort. They’ll work on that Friday. For now, it’s Senior Night and the kids race off to the football field.

Saturday arrives. The auditorium is full now with actors, parents, and theater enthusiasts from Nelson, Appomattox, Buckingham, Chatham, Gretna, and Dan River high schools.

Just after lunch, the audience returns to their seats. It’s show time for Nelson.

Much has changed since Thursday night. The kids have picked up their cues. Some of the blocking is different and there is an unmistakable tension in the air – this single performance determines whether or not they’ll advance to Regionals. A few minutes into the play, and they settle into their roles with confidence more typical of a professional theater ensemble.

The last line is delivered and the house lights come up to reveal members of the audience dabbing at their eyes with tissues and handkerchiefs. Diana Driver and her cast and crew won’t know until the end of the day that they will, in fact, advance to Regionals, that Anna Dolleris and Cleo Hill will take home Best Actress awards, that Nelson County High School will win first place. Impossible to know at this point that they will win Regionals and advance to state. Or that soon another State Championship Banner will join the other four. They will only know that this was a performance to be proud of. BRL

434-263-4881 February is PET DENTAL MONTH. Special $129* *Routine dentals only. Does not include antibiotics, pain meds, pre-op blood work or extractions.

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JANUARY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

25

AFTON

[ nelson county ]

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD

The Apple Man’s Daughter Tasked with overseeing the future of her father’s orchard land, Carl Edward Van Deman’s daughter treats the beloved property as a family heirloom.

Margaret Van Deman Blackmon is the daughter of an apple man who became a land man, plain and simple.

And as she gazes over the orchard he bought more than half a century ago, she knows she’s staring at the property’s next stage.

“I feel personally responsible. I feel responsible to the [Blue Ridge] Parkway, and I feel responsible to my own parents that this be developed.”

There’s the d-word: Develop. Developer. Development.

To the ear of anyone sensitive to the pace and scope of urban sprawl in and around Central Virginia, hearing that word can make you wince. But lets give Margaret a chance to explain where she’s coming from. Her story begins in North Carolina.

That’s where Margaret and her siblings were born and her father, Carl Edward Van Deman was a Cornell grad with a horticulture degree working as an extension agent for North Carolina State. He got a job in Crozet working for Chesley Hayden, who had put him in charge of fruit growing at about ten orchards in Albemarle County. And though Carl enjoyed those days amongst the blooming apples, those weren’t his trees he was caring for. He wanted his own orchard, on his own land.

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Blue Ridge LIFE

JANUARY 2019

continued on page 28

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JANUARY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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continued from page 26

Your local answer for primary & preventive health care needs!

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434-263-4000 28

Blue Ridge LIFE

JANUARY 2019

Carl got his chance in the mid 1950’s when a parcel became available not too far from Crozet, up in Afton. All he wanted, Margaret said, was the apple orchard that sat on part of the property.

But there was a catch.

“Our father only wanted an apple orchard and that’s what he had to do to purchase 500 acres. He had to buy it all from Harland Hinton’s widow.”

“All of it” was 800 acres, not 500 acres. So Carl the apple man cut his first big land deal thanks to someone who had a different dream. “[Dad] initially purchased 800 acres of land for $25,000, immediately turned around and sold 300 to Pete Lang who wanted the golf course, which was a part of Swannanoa.” Swannanoa is an estate built in 1912 that operated as a country club for a few years beginning in 1929.

So Pete got the golf course, Carl got his orchard.

“We realized that we were part of something quite special,” Margaret says to me from her family’s home, built decades ago after the sale of their house in North Carolina. “Our parents had taken all of their savings to buy this property and you might say, ‘Well, $25,000 that’s not very much,’ but back then it was a lot.”

And those Van Deman kids were put to work. After school, Carl gave them jobs to do. Margaret holds up a board with various sized circular cut-outs used to sort apple sizes.

“Daddy used to call these ‘school boy apples.’” she shows me, tracing her finger inside a small circle about the size of her fist, before pointing to a larger circle. “And of course these were the more primo ones, they would be put in a purple tissue to be sent.” continued on page 30

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Sending wishes of gratitude and a huge thank you to all of those who helped to make 2018 a wonderful year! Thank you for your ongoing business, support, loyalty, referrals and friendship.

May you have a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous 2019!

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Friday, Feb. 1, 7:00 PM at North Branch School 221 Mickens Road, Afton

Advance tickets: $12 adult/$3 children Call 540-456-8450 Bill’s music has been featured in movies and TV series and on “A Prairie Home Companion,” and “Mountain Stage.”

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Attendees are invited to bring a main or side dish (desserts provided) and join Bill for a potluck supper at 6 PM.

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JANUARY 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

29

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Blue Ridge LIFE Blue Ridge LIFE

NOVEMBER 2018 JANUARY 2019

continued from page 28

That’s how Rossmont Farms — which is how Mr. Hinton ran it — became Elk Rock Orchard. Carl named the land after the elk that had been brought into the region to keep vegetation down on what is now the sunset side of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Ah, the Parkway. In the spirit of using the d-word, the Parkway was very much indeed a development, albeit by the public sector. Though Carl saw this land as his dream orchard belonging to he and his family, the National Park Service had other ideas when it approached Carl to buy the property at timber prices. That’s when Margaret got involved. There were back and forth negotiations that ultimately led to the land becoming condemned, before the parties settled in court. Since then, Margaret has turned away numerous offers to purchase the property. They just didn’t feel right.

But as she unfolds a subdivision map of the property, now surveyed into healthy-size estate lots, she tells me this feels right. Elk Rock Orchard is now Elk Rock Meadow, “an exclusive 80-acre private residential development along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains just west of Charlottesville,” according to the development’s web site.

“My father just wanted an orchard and I used to tell him, ‘You know, daddy, the smartest thing you ever did was to buy this wonderful piece of property.’ … Anything that happens here will be a real asset to Nelson County and to Virginia, and for that matter to the country.”

Though “D” is for Development, “A” is for “Apple,” and as the saying goes, this one doesn’t fall far from the tree. BRL

We are currently buying old barns, sheds, cabins, and houses for salvage. have one to sell? call us.

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Festival Rockfish Valley Community Center February 9th 12-7pm Join us as we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Brew Ridge Trail with live music, local beer and food, fun for the whole family Suggested $5 Donation to benefit RVCC

Greg Ward

12-2 PM

Sally Rose Band

2:30-4:30PM

Sun-Dried Opossum

JANUARY 2019

5-7PM

Blue Ridge LIFE

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InsistOnThatGirl.com

Marlo Allen

434-996-3525

Land for sale in Afton – Starting at $125,000 • 360° mountain and pastoral views • Parcels: 5 to 40 Acres • Large parcels suitable for vineyard or brewery • Builder and financing options and recommendations available • Call Marlo. Appointment is required.

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Tax Map 12A Parcel 79 Nelson County, Va Contour Interval 20 ft 70 9

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Information on map subject to change

M - $550K

5 ac

20.01 ac

A - $150K

L - $275K

5.01 ac B - $145K

20.04 ac K - $325K

10.07 ac C - $220K

20.02 ac J - $300K

18.46 ac

20 ac

5.01 ac

D - $300K

H - $350K

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5.04 ac (R

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0 Cartography and Analysis by Blue Ridge GIS LLC blueridgegis@gmail.com Peter J. Hof 2018

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100

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200

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1,000 Feet Meters 300

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Data Sources: Imagery and parcel data from VGIN, 10m NED and derivatives from USGS. These data are not a survey-quality product and the end user assumes the risk of utilizing it. Blue Ridge GIS LLC does not assume any liabiliy for damages arising from errors, omissions, or use of this information.This map is for reference only and is not intended for navigational purposes.

Livebeautifully in Nelson County Marlo G. Allen, Assoc. Broker 434-996-3525 InsistOnThatGirl.com

434-996-3525 Blue Ridge LIFE

Marlo Allen

InsistOnThatGirl.com JANUARY 2019