Month: March 2014

The Blue Ridge Home Builders Association’s (BRHBA) 41st Home & Garden Festival, April 4-6, makes the Main Street Arena on the Downtown Mall the place to dream and plan and plot, to chat with local home and garden professionals, pick up a few ideas, and figure out how to make them happen.

With 80 booths featuring everything from flooring to roofing options, plus food and drink tastings, door prizes and children’s activities, the festival is a gaze and graze event for homeowners, handymen, gardeners and fix-it-up chappies – for anyone eager to channel springtime energy into a renovated kitchen or retiled bathroom.

Landscapers, floor and window specialists, interior and exterior designers and other experts will be on hand for this annual event, the largest and only trade show of its kind in Central Virginia. Blue Ridge Homebuilder’s Association Executive Vice-President Kristin O’Connell Sorokti estimates that about a 1,000 people attended last year’s show.

“We want to double that this year,” Sorokti says, “because we have a brand new venue, the Main Street Arena. We are really excited about this opportunity to partner with the Downtown Business Association and the Arena. We believe that the Festival will draw a big crowd because it’s coinciding with the City Market. This is a great opportunity to reach people who are out in April, when the community is ready to start thinking about home improvement.”

BRHBA was founded in 1964 to “advocate for the homebuilding industry in this area,” Sorokti says. “We are a membership association that provides educational opportunities for our members, networking opportunities, and other opportunities to help them grow their businesses.”

“A lot of the vendors may have new technology and new innovations that we haven’t seen yet,” she continued, “especially in the areas of green building and sustainability. A lot of our seminars will be catered toward green building and energy efficiency. They will offer the community a lot of new idea and get them in touch with local businesses.”

A festival going on its 41st year is a festival the community loves and supports. Corbin Snow, co-owner of Snow’s Garden Center on Avon Street Extended, remembers attending as a child, back when it was held at the Cage, a University of Virginia facility next to U-Hall on Emmett Street. The festival highlight for five-year old Corbin? Playing in the hot tub one vendor had on display.

Snow’s has been a festival participant “since the inception of the show” says co-owner Scott Price. He remembers the Cage era too. “Back in those days, we’d have to shovel snow just to get in the front doors,” he says. “That was a challenging situation to have a home and garden show in. The Cage was basically a big warehouse with no heat. Now it’s a really wonderful event in a great location, on the Downtown Mall.”

Whether what’s needed is a handsome new roof, patio, garden or kitchen, or just a plain vanilla repair job, Central Virginia residents have many fine handymen, craftsmen, and artisans to choose from. “I’ve been going for the last 20 years off and on,” says Kevin Blair of The Blair Company, a local remodeling and maintenance company. “I like to go and see the latest and greatest building techniques and materials and methods. It’s kind of interesting to see what’s on the cutting edge, and also I get creative ideas from what other vendors have done with mockups and displays and things.”

For Blair and other building and landscape pros, the festival is a place to meet old friends, colleagues, and clients. “I run into a lot of fellow business owners and people I’ve known and dealt with over the years,” he says, “so it’s kind of a social event, too.”
Jerry Bledsoe is a third generation owner of Robert Bledsoe Building Company, his grandfather founded it in 1944. “We decided this is a good opportunity to give the individual homeowner our products and services.

This will be the 14th festival in a row for Darren Giacalone, owner of Charlottesville’s Roof Top Services. “Being a local business, I think it’s important to be there to meet existing and future customers,” Giacalone says. “We’ll show probably ten different types of roofs that are out there for the homeowner to consider.”

Virginia natives Trevor Payton and Chad Hommel use their horticultural skills and artistic vision in landscaping, ornamental gardening, stonework, and turf management. The two men founded Charlottesville’s Zenscapes, they say, to “take landscaping to the next level.”

That was just a couple of years ago. “Since we’re a young company, the festival is a very good opportunity to put our face in front of the community,” Hommel says. “We plan on having a simple ornamental garden on display and some literature outlining what we do.”

Archeologists in Israel found a hearth full of ash and charred bone in a cave in Israel this January, evidence that humans may have built cooking fires as early as 300,000 years ago. The hearth and grill shop Wooden Sun, which opened in 2010 in the IX Building on 2nd Street SE in Charlottesville, adapts this innovative Stone Age survival technique for a rather more sophisticated, 21st century clientele.

“My partner’s been in this business for 30+ years; we formed a partnership in 2009,” says company co-owner Jonathan Schnyer. “We sell fireplaces and stoves – wood, gas, electric and pellet, and the parts and accessories you need to keep safe and cozy. In the winter, we specialize in fireplace projects. In the summertime, we’ve been getting into outdoor kitchens and high end grill business.” Wooden Sun installs and maintains them all.

Batteries Plus on Emmett Street at Albemarle Square specializes in light bulbs as well as batteries, and with incandescent bulbs disappearing from store shelves and LED bulbs taking their place, lighting is a topic of conversation these days. Batteries Plus salesman Alfred Wanderlingh will lead a seminar on green energy lighting solutions for the home. With incandescent bulbs harder and harder to find, people are interested in saving money on their electric bills, Wanderlingh says, but “they want information.” Wanderlingh’s talk is intended “to make it easy for people to make the switch” to LED lighting, even if they’re nervous about how it might change the look of their home.

“I want to discuss how putting in energy-efficient lighting applications right off the bat can benefit the homeowner,” Wanderlingh says. “It allows them to try out the bulbs before they put them all throughout their house. A lightbulb that’s on more than ten hours a day is a good place to start with an energy efficient lightbulb if you’re not sure about switching.”

The University of Virginia Credit Union will offer two workshops, one on heat pumps, and another on using one’s home as equity. The second session will address “mortgage, refinance, home equity and Power Saver loans,” the Credit Union’s Rebecca Cardwell says, delving into various ways to use home equity to finance improvements that increase the home’s value.

While grown-ups search and study, kids will be able to play. “We’re trying to create more of a family-friendly atmosphere,” Sorokti says. “We’re going to have an entire kids zone in the annex of the Main Street Arena, with a Bounce House inside, popcorn, face-painting, and balloon animals. Lowe’s has been kind enough to donate a bunch of kits for kids’ activities.”

For the first time, the festival will sell food and feature beer and wine tastings. Carpe Donut will sell coffee, along with their signature organic donuts and other goodies. Charlottesville’s Three Notch’d Brewery and Standardsville’s Kilaurwen Winery will offer tastings.

The Festival will be open to the public on Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:oo p.m. Tickets are $5. Children 12 and under are free. Downtown garages will validate parking for two hours. The festival will donate forty percent of its proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

Ken Wilson

Fluvanna County Public Schools

The Fluvanna County Public School system is comprised of five schools: Carysbrook Elementary, West Central Primary, Central Elementary, Fluvanna Middle School, and Fluvanna County High School. All of Fluvanna’s schools are fully accredited. Fluvanna County Public Schools will:
• Provide a quality education to all students.
• Build a culture that is conducive to learning in a safe and nurturing environment.
• Foster relationships with our community.
• Operate in an effective and efficient manner.

Student enrollment is a little over 3,800 students with a targeted student-teacher ratio of 22:1. The school system offers a variety of student programs including special education, gifted and talented education, career and technical education, and alternative education. Parental involvement is high, as is the school system’s expectation of its students.

Fluvanna County Public Schools Points of Pride (2012-2013 FCPS points of pride are located at www.fluco.org):
• Fluvanna County High School finished 17th at the Destination ImagiNation Global Finals.
• 18 Students from Fluvanna County Public Schools participated in the Regional 24® Math Competition. One student placed first and another placed fourth
• For the second consecutive year, Fluvanna County High School earned a Silver Medal in U.S. News and World Report’s rankings of Best High Schools in America.
• Over 500 Fluvanna County High School students earned Industry Credentials during 2012-2013 school year.
• Fluvanna County Public Schools graduation rate surpasses the State average.
• Fluvanna County Public Schools has one of the lowest dropout rates in the State of Virginia.
• 19 former and current Fluvanna County High School students earn AP Scholar Awards; one awarded College Board’s highest Honor of National AP Scholar.
• Fluvanna County High School continues to outperform the Nation in the area of English on both SAT and AP exams.
• The Television Production class at Fluvanna County High School added a new component to their curriculum: FLUCO TV, FLUCO TV includes broadcasting home football games as well as broadcasting at least one other home event for the other sports. FLUCO TV has also started broadcasting the monthly School Board meetings. In addition to these events, FLUCO TV is developing a Fluco magazine show which will highlight events, people, and courses at the High School. Future plans are underway for cooking and carpentry shows. The group hopes to invite community members to come in and participate in their broadcasts.

Real Estate Related News

Tommy Brannock joins Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates
Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates is thrilled to welcome Tommy Brannock. A Charlottesville native and UVA grad, Tommy is well known in our community for his years of success in real estate sales as well as for his commitment to giving back to the community.  Professional awards and accolades for Tommy number too many to detail here but suffice it to say, he is not only well respected as an authority in the business but well loved too, for decades of selfless and integrity-drive service to his clients.

On the community service and personal passion fronts, Tommy has worked tirelessly for many years on behalf of the Virginia Institute for Autism and the Alzheimer’s Association.  In addition to serving as coach for dozens of local youth lacrosse teams, he has been a Collegiate Lacrosse Office since 1978!  In a town he feels lucky to call home, Tommy is truly a tireless public servant.

What’s Happening Around Town?
Create2 Exhibit by Artist Roundtable Group at CitySpace
What: Create2 Exhibit & First Fridays Opening Reception
When: First Fridays, April 4, 5:30-7:00pm
Where: CitySpace (100 5th Street NE, Charlottesville, VA 22902 on the Downtown Mall)
Piedmont Council for the Arts (PCA) is excited to present Create2, an exhibit in the CitySpace Gallery by an artist roundtable group formed through the support of the PCA in November 2012. Artist Roundtable members include Adrienne Dent, Terry Coffey, Matalie Deane, Leah Geiger, Keith Alan Sprouse, Kelly Oakes, and Susan Stover.

There will be a First Fridays opening reception from 5:30-7:00pm on Friday, April 4 with light refreshments at CitySpace (located at 100 5th NE on the Downtown Mall). This event is FREE and open to the public.

Guillermo X Ubilla is a photographer and digital artist based in Charlottesville where he combines his passion for creating visual imagery with creative storytelling. Ubilla comes from a mixed background of computer science, psychology, and graphic design. He is currently focused on creative expression through portraiture.

Kelly Doyle Oakes was born into a family of artists in Baltimore. Oakes honed her skills at Parson’s School of Design and Maryland Institute College of Art, where she received a BFA in Illustration in 1985. She worked in advertising until starting a family in 1990. Her passion for art led to her start a business painting murals and decorative furniture, working with many accomplished designers and interior decorators. Oakes moved to Charlottesville in 2002 and opened an art gallery/studio space where she started painting and showing her artwork again. She has exhibited at McGuffey Art Center and Firefish Gallery and is an art teacher at The Covenant School.

Adrienne Dent works with mixed media. Dent attended summer classes at the Maryland Institute of Art and moved to Charlottesville in 1994 where she studied painting and pursued a degree in Italian Literature at the University of Virginia.

Terry M. Coffey learned the art of calligraphy over 35 years, while raising two children and working full-time in human services. Terry has also in that time developed techniques in watercolor and oil painting. Terry has exhibited locally and regionally in Virginia while maintaining a studio in Charlottesville.

Matalie Deane is a native of Charlottesville. She has been drawing and painting since she could hold a pencil. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Art from James Madison University. Recently she has been an active member of Bozart Gallery in Charlottesville, Palette Gallery in Stanardsville, Shenandoah Valley Art Center, Central Virginia Watercolor Guild, Piedmont Pastelists, and Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers of Washington D.C. In 2013 she was juried into Smithsonian Annamarie Sculpture Gardens Art Center in Maryland, International Miniature MPSGS in Washington D.C. and Rehoboth Gallery, Maryland with an honorable mention award. Her artwork was also selected for the Artizen Magazine cover. Her present focus is on small works, miniature art and the freedom of watercolor design. Her website is www.mataliestudio.com.

Keith Alan Sprouse is a documentary and portrait photographer based in Charlottesville. Among his recent projects are “The Cville People Project,” which has been featured in The Hook and on NBC29 news, a series of portraits of individuals with mental illness entitled “A View Inside,” and “Grace Under Pressure,” a collaboration with Charlottesville Ballet. A selection of his work can be seen at www.keithalansprouse.com

The exhibit will remain on display through Friday, April 25. There will also be an exhibit by local artist Katie McKinley on display inside the PCA office within CitySpace.

CitySpace is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm and is located at 100 5th Street NE on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville. To learn more, visit www.charlottesvillearts.org.

Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA to Host Rabies & Microchip Clinic
On Sunday, April 6th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Charlottesville- Albemarle SPCA is holding its spring low-cost Rabies Vaccine and Microchip Clinic. Pet owners can have their pet(s) vaccinated at the SPCA during this Clinic for just $10.00 per pet, have their pet microchipped for $25.00 or receive both services for just $30.00. Flea and tick preventative will also be available for purchase at a discounted rate. This is the perfect time for the public to protect their pets in three important ways at a very low cost. The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is located at 3355 Berkmar Drive; the clinic will take place on the left side of the SPCA, in the building’s ground-floor education room.

Rabies is a deadly but preventable virus. In an effort to protect people and pets against the rabies virus, Virginia state law requires that all dogs and cats over the age of four months get vaccinated against rabies. The SPCA asks that Clinic attendees bring all dogs on a leash and all cats in a carrier. Pet owners will need to show proof of current rabies vaccine in order to receive a three-year vaccine. The clinic is first come, first served and limited to vaccine and microchips available. The microchips include a lifetime registration. This clinic is made possible with support from Zoetis Pet Health.

“One in three pets will get lost in their lifetime and proper identification is their quickest ticket home,” says Lisa Lane, Director of Marketing and Development at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA. “We are happy to provide these three important services at an affordable price to help keep pets in our community healthy, safe and with their families.”

The mission of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the lost, abandoned, and homeless animals of the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle and to increase the number of these animals being placed in appropriate, loving, and permanent homes through adoptions, foster care, and outreach, and to set a standard of excellence and leadership in shelter animal care, humane education, and progressive animal welfare programs.

For more information about the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA call 434-973-5959 or visit our website at www.caspca.org. The SPCA’s main adoption center is located at 3355 Berkmar Drive in Charlottesville and is open seven days a week from 12 PM– 6 PM.

The Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival Coming to Charlottesville and Staunton
Charlottesville: 
Wednesday, April 16th – 7:30pm
Dickinson Performing Arts Center – PVCC
Staunton: 
Thursday, April 17th – 7pm
Visulite Cinema

Wild and Scenic On Tour brings together a selection of films that tell a story about our planet, our beautiful and precious wildlands, and the people of the communities who love and defend them.  They open our eyes and hearts to fantastic experiences in remarkable places.  They beckon us towards action, highlight issues, and provide solutions.

Attendees can win door prizes and there will be a special raffle for a framed print of an enormous 1,600 year old redwood tree generously donated by National Geographic photographer, Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols.

Raffle tickets can be purchased at any of Wild Virginia’s 2014 Film Festival screenings or in advance online at www.wildvirginia.org

Wild Virginia will be offering special $10 Wild Virginia memberships at the door ($35 value).

There will be 17 different short films, with entirely different films at each venue.

The Charlottesville show will feature a series of short films, including Ryan’s Stories. Living in poverty for as long as he remembers, Ryan Hudson grew up in and out of homeless shelters.  At 14, Ryan was introduced to snowboarding through Outdoor Outreach, a non-profit organization dedicated to using outdoor activities to empower at risk youth, and his life took a 180. Now competing as a semi pro athlete and serving as a brand ambassador for The North Face, Ryan’s story shares just how transformational the outdoors can be.

Other short films at the Charlottesville show will include:
• Right Now: Living with Mountain Lions. This high impact music video was designed as an urgent wake up call to spotlight public apathy towards mountain lions. As one of America’s few apex predators, they should be revered, not feared, as popular media portrays. The video challenges us to consider and respect the wild animals around us as we–and they– go about our daily lives. WE have become disconnected from nature. WE are causing the decline in Puma populations, and with them goes a healthy ecosystem, which WE also need for our own survival. Some people care. Most people don’t. How can we turn this thing around?
• Sacred Headwaters. Sacred Headwaters is a multimedia piece featuring National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis and photographer Paul Colangelo on the fate of the Sacred Headwaters in northern Canada. The shared birthplace of three salmon rivers, the traditional territory of the Tahltan First Nation, and home to an incredible ecosystem of large mammals, the Sacred Headwaters is at risk of losing all that makes it sacred to resource extraction.
• The Staunton Show will feature a series of short films, including Reynaldo. Reynaldo lives in the Amazon Rainforest. He used to cut down trees and farm the land to survive. He learned the hard way that it was not a sustainable way to live. He saw his land turn barren and his crops die. Then he woke up. He changed the way he worked and began planting trees. Then he learned how to farm in balance with the forest. Now he travels all over the region helping others to do the same.
Other short films at the Staunton show will include:
• A Brief History of the 5cent Bag Tax. When your city is overflowing with plastic bags, how will you react? Jack Green, head of the Department of the Environment, is on a mission to rid the city of its plastic bag scourge in this short film by DC-based DunkYourBagel promoting reusable bags to protect the environment.
• Backyard. Backyard tells the stories of five people in four states, all with very different backgrounds and perspectives, but all at odds with the natural gas extraction occurring around them. Despite their differences, unnerving similarities emerge from their shared experiences with the massive unseen entity that is “the industry.” Brief, animated interludes remind us to ask the bigger picture questions as well.
Film content is appropriate for everyone. Tickets are $10 each night.Purchase tickets in advance or for more information, visit www.wildvirginia.org.
Fluvanna Spca Continues 25th Anniversary Celebrations With 5K Run/Walk
Celebrating 25 years of serving the Fluvanna community, the Fluvanna SPCA welcomes all to participate in the 4th Annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 12, 2014.  The race will be held at the scenic Lake Monticello Golf Course at 51 Bunker Blvd., Palmyra, VA 22963, and is not restricted to Lake residents.  All proceeds support the FSPCA’s no-kill mission by providing life-saving animal care.

The race begins promptly at 7:30 AM with registration opening at 6:45 AM.  Early-bird registration through 3/29/2014 is $20 for ages 16 and up; after 3/29/2014 is $25.  Registration is $15 for ages 15 and under.  Registration by 3/29/2014 guarantees a race t-shirt and goodie bag.  T-shirts and goodie bags are available only while supplies last for registrations after 3/29/2014.  Race will be held rain or shine, and registration fees are non-refundable.

Prizes will be awarded to top male and female finishers overall and per age group.  Awards ceremony will be held immediately following race.  Water will be available during the race and light refreshments will be provided after the race.
Visit www.fspca.org for more information and to register.  Early-bird deadline is 3/29 so register today!  Come run or walk with your family and friends, enjoying a healthy spring activity while supporting life-saving care of the FSPCA’s homeless, furry residents.