Author: REW Writers

By Ken Wilson –

When Frank Kessler and the Kessler Group began construction on what was to be the largest planned unit development in Albemarle County in 1989, their goal was to create the “ultimate living community that would allow families to raise their children in a close-knit environment where residents enjoyed well-planned amenities.”

Almost three decades on, you could say they succeeded. And how.

Just ask Tara Savage with Keller-Williams Realty, who’s been selling homes in town for 22 years and living in Forest Lakes for 11. “I can’t think of any other neighborhood that has all the amenities Forest Lakes has,” Savage says. “My house was built in 1994 and I have lots of neighbors who are the original owners of their homes and who raised their kids there.” 

It’s no wonder. Singles and young families can find townhomes in 2018 well under $200,000, put down roots, and know there will be larger homes available a street or two away when they’re ready for them. Retirees likewise can downsize within the same community without having to pull up stakes and start over again.

This variety and flexibility helped Kessler sell 154 homes in what is now called Forest Lakes North in the first 15 months after he opened the development.

In 1993 he began work on Forest Lakes South. Coming up on its 30th anniversary next year, Forest Lakes is home to some 5,000 people in 1,455 houses, making it one of the largest neighborhoods in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The neighborhood attracts people of all ages, not only for its handsome homes and streetscapes, but for its variety of community activities, and the abundance of stores, schools and recreational areas just a short walk or drive away.

Convenience
Located just off Route 29 North, Forest Lakes is a five minute drive from the Charlottesville/Albemarle Airport (CHO), and from Hollymead Town Center, with its over 30 shops including Giant, Bubbles Salon and Spa, Hair Cuttery, Kirkland’s, Mattress Warehouse, and the Chevy Chase and Wells Fargo banks.

Among Hollymead’s restaurants are Bonefish Grill, Sakura Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, Sweet Frog, Vinny’s Italian Grill, and Quiznos.

For more shopping, exercise, and healthcare, Fashion Square Mall is about ten minutes away, and the Shops at Stonefield, Barracks Road Shopping Center, and the UVA Business Park, are just a few minutes further.

A Martha Jefferson Hospital outpatient facility is close by. So is the NGIC (National Ground Intelligence Center), a major local employer.

Community Activities
The conveniently located shops and services attract homeowners committed to the community and its long term interests.

“I remember when Forest Lakes was first built,” says Nest Realty agent and Forest Lakes resident Lori Runkle Meistrell, who has owned three properties there.

“So many people have lived here for so long and been part of the community because it has so much to offer. The homes have done a nice job of holding their value, in part because the community itself is so well-managed, and the amenities are properly budgeted for and maintained.”

Those amenities start with natural beauty. There is no doubt that Forest Lakes is one of the prettiest developments in the county. Many residents own wooded lots. Some enjoy water views on quiet cul-de-sacs. Five lakes—Lake Hollymead, Arbor Lake, Edgewater Lake, Watercrest Lake, and Heather Glen Lake—enliven the landscape.

“Originally the developer put in asphalt trails to connect the neighborhood to the community amenities,” Meistrell says. “But not only are there paved paths, there is an amazing trail system. There are natural, unpaved trails throughout the neighborhood for mountain biking, trail running, etc. These amenities make it a great place for people that have different interests running, biking, swimming, soccer.”

Savage too loves the paved and well-maintained trails running behind Forest Lakes houses and through the woods. “They blend in with the community,” Savage says.

“There is no through traffic, so my son can ride his bike around the pool and through the neighborhood. There is retail at the front [near Route 29], so he can ride his bike to McDonalds, and my 15-year-old daughter walks to the Dairy Queen. That’s something they love about living here. You have a real good sense of safety, and of neighborhood camaraderie. It’s unlike any other place in town.”

“The other thing that’s awesome is that my 10-year-old son loves to fish, and he can just walk to one of the lakes and go fishing. There is bass and sunfish and they do stock Hollymead Lake.” One of her son’s friends just caught a huge carp on Hollymead Lake—it was 22 inches long.

Homeowners in Forest Lakes run out of time before they run out of options like these for outdoor recreation.  When the weekend beckons in warm weather, so do two large swimming pools (one with a 90-foot water slide), four basketball courts, twelve tennis courts, two soccer fields, baseball fields, a sand volleyball court, and a fitness center. Children ages 5 to 18 can join the Forest Lakes Hurricanes Summer Swim Team, which helps them improve their swim strokes, and fosters a love of competitive swimming.

Road and mountain bike enthusiasts are attracted by the miles of paved and unpaved paths and the lightly-trafficked streets. Bike and racing clubs including Charlottesville Bike Club, Charlottesville Racing Club and Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club offer group rides in spring, summer, and fall.

Biking tours like the Tour de Greene, Tour de Madison, Boys and Girls Club Challenge, and the MS 150 Tour de Vine pass through as well. Forest Lakes has a competitive swim team belonging to the Jefferson Area Swim League, and also fields men’s and women’s USTA tennis teams each spring.

“My kids are grown now, but my husband and I spent years coaching neighborhood lacrosse teams on the Forest Lakes fields after school,” Meistrell says. “Kids could just walk over. Things like that are really nice. There are opportunities for kids of all ages.”

Pickleball beginners and intermediate players can take to the courts each Thursday. Senior citizens and other fans of non-impact fitness enjoy Yoga several times a week and Smovey classes on Fridays. Newcomers can meet their neighbors at a monthly get together over coffee. Two clubhouses are available for rent exclusively to Forest Lakes residents. 

Local farmers and craftspeople offer veggies, meats, flowers, herbs, crafts and more at the Forest Lakes Farmers Market Tuesdays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. from April to October.

Education and Educational Play
Forest Lakes surrounds the Hollymead subdivision, which dates to the early 1970s, and Forest Lakes South kids attend Hollymead Elementary. Forest Lakes North children go to Baker Butler Elementary. Both attend Sutherland Middle School. “The schools are very close,” Savage says. “That’s a major draw.”

Baker-Butler Elementary School is located on 55 acres crisscrossed by a series of nature trails. At least once a month teachers and students devote the day to exploring this natural environment. The trails connect with the surrounding community, and this connection is an important element of the BBES philosophy.

The school holds community building events throughout the year, including a bike rodeo conducted in conjunction with the Albemarle County Police Department, a community Valentine’s Day dance, and Halloween decorating activities in October.

Founded in 1972, Hollymead Elementary is a diverse school with 567 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It received the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and boasts a highly active Parent-Teacher Organization and volunteer corps, which lends support to the school and organizes social activities for students and faculty. Students showcase their talents annually through fine arts and grade level music performances.

Hollymead students engage in philanthropic activities, with Jump Rope, Hoops for Heart, and  UNICEF, and make donations supporting both local and world communities. Hollymead has sent Destination Imagination Teams to both regional and global competitions in recent years.

Nearby Sutherland Middle School encourages students to participate in a variety of Albemarle Parks and Recreation sports, cheered on by the school mascot, the Sutherland Shark. Students can also explore the fine and performing arts via orchestra, choir and band, drama, visual arts, and other electives.

Sutherland also boasts an up-to-date media center where students can broadcast news announcements, and a Video Club where they begin to learn modern media communication skills. The school offers accelerated math classes and the opportunity to earn high school credit in math and world languages.​​

On days when school is out—hooray!—the grounds “are like a community park,” Savage says, with kids playing baseball and soccer. “It’s super convenient for families to walk or bike there, and for kids to get there on their own. My son went to Baker-Butler and he could bike to school every day with a friend.”

Homes
While Forest Lakes was built in two separate sections, North and South, it is further subdivided into 38 separate neighborhoods, each with houses—detached single-family homes, duplexes, and luxurious townhouses—of similar size and style, with lot sizes 60 to 90 foot wide on average. Homes are smartly spaced, sheltered for privacy in many cases by hills and woods.

Spring Ridge, the final neighborhood built, was constructed along the New Urbanism model, which, in addition to close proximity to shopping, prioritizes sidewalks and easily accessible parks and green spaces.

“Albemarle County refers to it as the neighborhood model,” Meistrell says. “Subsequently there have been numerous neighborhoods developed that way. It’s very popular because of the tree-lined streets and sidewalks, and the pocket parks and green areas.”

Many Forest Lakes homes have single and two car garages as well as finished and unfinished basements. Single family homes range in size from 1,700 square feet up to 3,000+ square feet, and have three, four or five bedrooms.

Townhomes range in size with most averaging around 1,600 square feet with two or three bedrooms. Prices for single family homes range from $280,000 to $500,000 and above. There are currently 17 active listings in Forest Lakes, ranging in price from just under $170,000 for a townhome to just under $520,000. Homeowners wishing to rent out their properties typically receive $1,400 to $3,500 per month.

The amenities that attract homeowners to Forest Lakes come at “a very affordable price,” Meistrell says. “You do have a homeowners association (HOA) fee, but that keeps the actual cost  of the amenities down.”

Annual fees, which cover trash pickup as well as liability insurance, common area and facilities maintenance, landscaping, signs, security patrols, postage, bookkeeping, management fees and other community expenses are currently $960, paid in quarterly installments of $240.   

“People grow deep roots in Forest Lakes,” Meistrell says.  “It’s a microcosm within Albemarle County, a wonderful place for people who are new to the area to come to meet people. It has a strong sense of community.” 

By Marilyn Pribus –

“Each time it rains, pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, and even lead flow directly into our sewers and waterways,” laments horticulturist Karyn Smith of Stanardsville.

Since much of the water in our area is drawn from the Rivanna River watershed which encompasses Charlottesville, all of Albemarle County and parts of Fluvanna and Greene Counties, it’s critical to protect our water sources.

Some of our local stormwater even makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay where pollution can affect wildlife from birds to fish and even oysters. Each little oyster can filter 50 gallons of water every day so it’s particularly important to protect them.

Smith observes that humans have covered all too much land with buildings, roads, parking lots, tennis courts and other impermeable surfaces. Fortunately, she continues, as more people become aware of runoff-caused pollution, they seek better ways of managing their property to protect the environment.

One good tactic is employing permeable pavers for walkways, driveways and even parking areas. This means that, instead of running off, much of the rain can soak through the pavers to the soil beneath and eventually into the groundwater.

Another step is to increase the natural areas in yards. More and more people are installing bio-retention areas on their property. That’s the technical name, but we think rain garden has a far more romantic sound.

How Rain Gardens Help
A rain garden is simply a planned depression inviting rainwater from roofs, driveways, and sidewalks to be absorbed gently into the ground. The addition of such a garden to your property will add charm and beauty while helping to reduce erosion, flooding and water pollution.

“Rain gardens capture runoff, slowing it down and allowing it to filter through the soil,” explains Smith. “This helps prevent the poisoning of our clean water by keeping the pollutants from entering our waterways.”

It’s estimated that a rain garden helps absorb as much as one-third more water than the same area of lawn. Other benefits include lessening the potential for home flooding, reducing standing water in your yard and—the distinctly positive side effect of eliminating spots for mosquitoes to breed.

In addition, it’s a way to attract birds, butterflies and beneficial insects that eliminate insect pests. And, once established, rain gardens are not only appealing, they reduce the time required for yard maintenance.

Five Easy Steps

• Choose a location at least ten feet away from building foundations, underground utilities or septic system drain fields. An ideal location might be a place that already collects water.
  Contact local utilities if there is even a remote chance that you might hit service lines when you are digging. The agencies will check your property and spray paint or install little warning flags to protect your utilities.

• Determine if you have good drainage by digging a hole 6-8 inches deep and filling it with water. Measure the water’s depth, then measure again in an hour.
  If it drains more slowly than one inch in an hour, you’ll need to add gravel at the bottom of your rain garden. A bed of at least six inches of gravel will ensure that you have good drainage and that your plants will not drown.

• Design your garden.  It can be anything you like from a formal rectangle to freeform. Use a rope or hose to test various outlines, until it’s the size and shape you like.

• Prepare the soil. The ideal mix will include sand, topsoil and compost. Your local nursery or garden store can provide both guidance and soil amendments. Loosen up the garden area for a depth of about two feet. Grade it so the center is 6-8 inches lower than the sides, then make allowances for overflow in the event of heavy storms, possibly a dry “riverbed” of stones.

• Now the fun part! “Plants play a major role by absorbing pollutants and either holding them, or using them for nourishment and growth,” says Smith. ”There are hundreds of plants that are useful in rain gardens. Some of my favorites are Butterfly Bush, Virginia Sweetspire, and Crested Iris.”

You can employ trees, shrubs, flowers and groundcovers in any combination. Smith suggests that your best choices will be a variety of perennials native to this region because they already thrive in this climate, are generally less vulnerable to insect pests, and require less care.

Select plants that are tolerant of both wet and dry conditions.  It’s a good idea to put plants that prefer drier soil at the edges and the ones that like “wet feet” at the lowest part of your garden. Especially consider varieties which attract bees, birds and butterflies.

Your new plants should receive water about every other day until they are growing steadily, then weekly until they are thriving. Once they are well established, they will probably only need watering during extended dry spells.

Virginia Cooperative Extension offers good regional guidance. Visit ext.vt.edu and search for “rain garden.” The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s website cbf.org, also offers information on rain gardens and their value in protecting the Bay.

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Marilyn Pribus and her husband live in Albemarle County near Charlottesville. They have kept a large flat area at the lowest point of their property completely natural. It serves as a natural rain garden attracting birds, butterflies and a resident box turtle.

By Celeste M. Smucker –

Commercial real estate in Charlottesville and the Valley (including shops, office buildings, apartment complexes, manufacturing plants, subdivisions and warehouses) continues its impressive growth with more of the same predicted for 2019.

And so long as families continue to visit and move here for the natural beauty, outdoor activities, job opportunities, and mild climate (but with four seasons), agents are optimistic this trend will continue.

The positive forecast is consistent with a recent survey by the Deloitte Center for Financial Services that foresees a bright outlook for commercial real estate worldwide in 2019, and predicts that  investment in this market will  “continue to rise on the back of steady economic and employment growth in key global markets.” 

Widespread commercial growth also relies on consumer confidence, a strong economy and historically low interest rates said Peter Wray, Broker at Triangle REALTORS® in Staunton.

And these same factors support an active residential market, another critical driver of commercial growth that remains strong throughout our area.

Agents Report Robust Market
It’s a “great market,” says Robin Amato with Real Estate III Commercial Properties, who is having one of her best years ever.  She adds that all geographic areas are doing well.

The market is “really solid,” observes Lisa Jones, President of Pavilion Properties. She is happy to see new tenants signing leases at Peter Jefferson Place, her company’s Pantops-area development featuring Class A office space.  The newcomers join an impressive list of existing tenants, many of whom are renewing or expanding their leases.

One example is The Nature Conservancy, an international environmental organization recently relocated from their familiar spot north of town to their brand new Pantops office. They appreciate their new space, which is much more efficient for them, Jones said.

“Overall the market is still good,” says Benton Downer, Owner and Principal Broker at Downer and Associates.  He has noticed “a pause” in leasing activity due to interest rate jumps, but says   the investor side of the market continues to boom. 

The market is doing “real well,” says Bill Howard with Real Estate III Commercial Properties. He recounts the ” amazing number of calls,” his office receives these days with inquiries about all manner of property from close-in to as far away as Zion Crossroads and Greene County. 

Mike Pugh with Old Dominion Realty in Harrisonburg calls the Valley market “robust, and very active.”  So active, in fact, that many contractors, especially those required for large infrastructure development, are booked through next summer, he says.

Investors Motivated
An active part of the commercial market is investors looking for already leased properties. These could include shopping centers, apartments, office buildings, single tenant retail stores, mini-storage places, or gas stations. 

Investors range from single individuals (who may be searching for alternatives to the stock market in order to diversify) to larger entities such as REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts).

This particular market is “extremely strong,” Wray says.  He has “lots of investors calling,”  adding  there is plenty of competition, especially for prime properties.

A related trend is business owners purchasing or building their own space after leasing for a time. Continuing low interest rates are a big reason, Amato says. With  sufficient cash to put down, they can often enjoy mortgage payments that are less than the monthly cost of their lease.

Charlottesville’s Cavalier Produce, recently relocated to  Zion Crossroads, is just one example. When they moved into their newly built space, they left behind their close-in Carlton Avenue location where they had operated for years.

Part of their former space is now leased to the Champion Brewing Company, reports  Eddie Karoliussen, Broker with Four Corners Real Estate Solutions, LLC.  He adds that Found. Market Co. where visitors can enjoy coffee, gourmet food, bakery items and gifts, is now also located in the same center. 

Outlying Areas Popular
The strong commercial market is not confined to just a few parts of town.  Sara Schroeder with Hasbrouck Real Estate Corp. explained that in recent years some areas, especially downtown Charlottesville, were very busy.  Now, she says, we are seeing activity that is more widespread.

Wray agrees stating:  “In general, even with interest rates rising, the commercial market continues to be active and strong throughout Charlottesville, Waynesboro, Staunton and beyond.”

Zion Crossroads
Take Zion Crossroads, for example.  Trey Durham with Keller Williams Alliance cites the growing commercial market as an important contributor to the local lifestyle.  Home buyers living in communities such as Lake Monticello, Spring Creek, Villages of Nahor, and others plus surrounding rural areas all benefit from this expansion. 

Both Martha Jefferson and UVA have satellite offices in the area, Durham said, and residents can also shop at Walmart or Lowe’s, and choose from a growing number of restaurants.

In addition, public water and sewer is coming to Zion Crossroads, and that will only accelerate commercial growth, he says.

John O’Reilly, with BHG Real Estate – Basecamp, is also enthusiastic about the area’s commercial activity saying, “it is coming into its own.”

Greene and Madison
Both Greene and Madison Counties now enjoy active commercial markets.  This is due in part to the low inventory of homes and rising prices in Charlottesville and Albemarle that send homebuyers further out to shop.

One result is the impressive number of calls coming into Roy Wheeler Realty Co.’s Greene area office inquiring about retail and industrial space, says Matthew Woodson, Managing Broker—”more than in the previous five years,” he stated. 

He explained that when businesses like these locate in Greene County there is  “real added value” for residents making it more convenient to live, work and shop there. He sees commercial expansion continuing stating: “the best days are ahead of us.”

Bill Gentry, Broker and Owner of Jefferson Land and Realty is also pleased with expanding  commercial activity in both Greene and Madison. 

In Greene County, Chuck’s Auto Center plans to build on 29 North near Lake Saponi. Having lost their lease, they are working through the zoning and site plan process and expect to be up and running by early 2019, Gentry said.  Further north, O’Reilly’s Auto Store has filed a site plan and intends to build their new location in Cornerstone Square near Family Dollar.

If you love looking for thrift store bargains, head out to Another Time Around in Stanardsville in its new location near Great Value, Gentry said, observing that the shopping center there is now fully leased.

Thrift shoppers en route to Greene County will also be able to find bargains at the soon-to-be-open Goodwill store north of town in what was formerly Gander Mountain.  “Goodwill has done extremely well in Charlottesville,” Wray says and will be consolidating two other stores into this new 25 thousand square foot facility.

Pantops
Closer in, Pantops is a hot spot for both residential and commercial growth.  Martha Jefferson Hospital, nearness to Downtown, and plenty of free parking are big draws. Easy access to the Interstate plays a role as does ACAC’s new Pantops location on Martha Jefferson Drive.

Employees at Peter Jefferson Place who prefer to walk or run can take advantage of the nearby outdoor jogging paths and the showers available at their office, Jones said. 

While many of Jones’ tenants have businesses that are health related, her clients also include financial firms such as Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and residential mortgage companies.  Others include tech companies, attorneys and non-profits.

People who love Pantops amenities, but don’t want to buy a home just yet will be happy to learn about the apartments to be built in Peter Jefferson Place, Jones said.  Alternatively they can rent one of the luxury apartments going in above the shops at Riverside Village on the other side of Richmond Road.

The new North Pantops Professional Center on Olympia Circle, the first of three buildings planned for that site, will be ready for occupancy by mid-2019 says Steve Melton, Broker with Virginia Land Company. 

Response to ads about the new space has been good, Melton said and he is working with several likely tenants. 

Virginia Land’s other Pantops locations are also popular with space recently leased to UVA, Shenandoah Fine Arts and an attorney who walked in and decided on the spot to relocate from Downtown.

Closer to Town
Areas closer in are also busy from the Downtown Mall to mixed-use developments on Preston Avenue, McIntire Plaza and elsewhere.

The IX Project is another active spot. Property Manager, Erin Hill described new tenants located there including the North American Sake Brewery (Virginia’s “first and only”) featuring flavor infused varieties such as black cherry, black currant, blackberry and blood orange.  While sipping their favorite sake, enthusiasts can also sample Japanese inspired American cuisine.

Sake is brewed onsite and free facility tours are available at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday.  Visitors also look forward to happy hour Monday through Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

IX also welcomes Little Planet, which offers drop-off child care for parents working out, shopping or enjoying the food and drink available there.  Parents must be onsite to use this service featuring what Hill calls “organic, wholesome child care” that will soon include time in a yurt.

In another popular spot, local residents appreciate the retail stores, restaurants, theater  and service providers at 5th Street Station. 

For example, iFixt offers walk-in, fix-it services for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other mobile devices.  While awaiting their repairs, shoppers can take care of banking,  visit  their doctor at Sentara Family Medicine, get a haircut, or consult their favorite physical therapist at Select Medical.   

And very soon Starbucks with its drive-through window will open in a center adjacent to 5th Street Station for anyone wanting caffeine or a pleasant place to hang out.  Additional office and retail space will be available in the three buildings planned for that same site, Wray says.

Shenandoah Valley
Retail is hot in the Valley. 

Wray cited the Frontier Center in Staunton where shoppers at the Aldi grocery chain can select  from Bojangles’, Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s at lunchtime.

At nearby Staunton Crossing, out of town visitors can choose from one of 200 hotel rooms at the Marriott or Tru by Hilton Hotels that both just opened. 

And if your destination is Harrisonburg try the recently opened Madison Hotel near James Madison University, Pugh suggests.

Myers Corner, a mixed-use development on Route 250 in Fishersville is “developing strongly,” Wray says and will soon include a new assisted living facility and professional offices.

Warehouse space, which is in very short supply in the Charlottesville area, is more plentiful in the Valley, Pugh observes.  However, he adds that even there, inventory is shrinking, so the time to act is now if securing warehouse space is high on your list.

The commercial real estate market is booming on both sides of Afton Mountain.  Agents look forward to a productive 2019 and even more and varied places to work, shop, eat, live and enjoy a night out on the town.

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Celeste Smucker is a writer and blogger who lives near Charlottesville.

By Marilyn Pribus–

It’s right there on the calendar. Company’s coming for the holidays. Whether it’s long-time friends, your child’s college roommate or a flock of in-laws, it’s not too early to start prepping. Remember, happy visits don’t just happen. Plan ahead because you (and your guests) will be more relaxed when you are well prepared.

Safety First
Be especially aware if your list includes persons with disabilities or allergies or children.

Toxic items and fragile things are the greatest risks for youngsters and visitors with physical, visual or cognitive disabilities, so remove valuable breakables and heavy, tippy objects. Stash away scatter rugs that might trip a guest using a walker or stroller. Reduce the temperature on your water heater if it’s especially hot.     

Do you have adequate sleeping space for everyone? Is that old sleeper-sofa only suitable for guests you hope will leave quickly?

If your visitors include youngsters, you can probably put some of them on the floor on air mattresses, but don’t wait until the last minute to rent or borrow rollaways or inflatable beds.

How about bedding down the little ones? One Belmont grandma solved that problem by buying a crib and high chair at a local thrift store. She just stashes them away between visits—when other grandparents aren’t borrowing them for their own visitors, that is.

Speaking of little ones, ensure that medications or poisonous items are stored safely. Program your phones with numbers for medical emergencies including poison control and know the hours of the nearest urgent care facility or emergency department.

Protect visitors from pets. And if necessary, protect pets from visitors.

Ensure your animals have a safe retreat and introduce your guests to your pets in a calm setting. If you have young visitors, remind them how to behave around animals.

If you have pets that might be aggressive or upset by visitors, consider having them stay elsewhere while visitors are there.

The Little Extras
If you’re sure there are no allergies, a bouquet of flowers in the guest bedroom is always welcoming. Provide extra blankets and, if possible, a choice of soft or firm pillows for each guest. Include glasses and a water carafe for the bedside.

If you don’t have a folding luggage stand, be sure there are convenient places to set luggage. Have extra hangers in the closet and clear out drawers if guests are staying several days.

Does the guest room lamp work and is it bright enough for visitors who like to read in bed? Provide a clock with numbers that can be seen in the dark. Install nightlights in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms.

Be particularly sure stairs are well lit, especially if you have visitors with any sort of vision problems. Consider small flashlights for bedside tables.

Add a touch of hospitality by providing toiletries in the bathroom along with clearly identified towels and face clothes. And be sure to have plenty of T.P. that can be easily found right in the bathroom when it’s time to replace a roll.

Plan Activities
Make a list of places for good times together such as special holiday programs at the Paramount Theater and other live music venues. Monticello is free (with proof of residency) for one local resident of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Augusta, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange and Rockingham with each paying adult visitor. Ashlawn and Montpelier are other nearby significant historical sites.

There’s plenty of free or very-low-cost entertainment as well.

Stroll the Downtown Mall. Attend religious services. Exercise in your neighborhood, on the Rivanna Trail or farther afield in Shenandoah National Park.

If children are coming, find the nearest park or schoolyard with play equipment for them to burn off youthful energy. Invest in a soccer ball, a jump rope, snow saucers (it could happen!), and other equipment for vigorous play.

We Haven’t Eaten in Minutes
Check ahead of time for food allergies and preferences so your pantry will be well stocked. Have easy-to-find snacks for middle-of-the-night hunger pangs as well as a breakfast plan for early risers.

Will you do all the food prep, stock up on ready-to-serve items, eat out most meals, have guests pitch in on cooking or all of the above?

These days your company may well range from omnivores to those needing (or simply preferring) items that are gluten-free, vegetarian, kosher, halal, or vegan.

Browse the Internet for likely recipes and test them ahead of time. Most everyone can eat a vegan dish, but that’s not true for all selections.

Plan simple menus and freeze lasagna, soup, and casseroles ahead of time. Save pizza coupons and the menu from your favorite Chinese restaurant and order in.

Have eateries in several price ranges in mind if your guests want to treat you to dinner out.

Bottom Line
Above all, don’t let the “shoulds” get you down. You can use paper napkins instead of linen. (Have the kids decorate them with holiday motifs.) You can also use paper plates. You can buy frozen lasagna instead of making it. It’s the holidays—take the easy way and leave yourself free to enjoy every minute.

Above all, recognize that something always goes wrong. Remember also that the jammed garage door, the dead-battery car, and the ants that invade the kitchen will be a lot funnier when you look back on that memory in the future.

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Marilyn Pribus and her husband live in Albemarle County near Charlottesville. They’re relaxing this year because they will be neither visiting nor visited.

By Celeste M. Smucker –

Is golf your game?  Or maybe it’s tennis, pickleball, or swimming? (How does a saltwater pool sound?)

And wouldn’t it be great if, when you get home, tired out from a workout and ready to relax, you could enjoy beautiful scenery while you sit on your deck and take in the wonders of nature all around you?

The folks who live in Spring Creek at Zion Crossroads have these experiences, and others like them, every day.

Many also appreciate the sense of community and the easy stroll to their local eaterie, Tavern on the Green. One Spring Creek resident called it, “an incredible restaurant and tavern that has acquired  somewhat of a ‘Cheers’ atmosphere (where everyone knows your name).”

And if the idea of living in a community that welcomes people of all ages is your thing, Spring Creek is a good choice.  Expect to find what  Trey Durham, with Keller Williams Alliance – Charlottesville,  calls “a broad swath” of people from singles to families to retirees. 

Spring Creek’s real estate market is active and REALTORS® are excited to see resale homes  selling right along with new construction. Lots are also available. Reserve yours today and choose one of the community’s featured builders, or find your own when you are ready to get started.

And if all of that is not enough, you will love Spring Creek’s home prices and enjoy significant savings in property taxes compared to either Albemarle or Charlottesville.

You may be thinking, that all sounds great but wouldn’t you would have to drive a long way from town to find these incredible and affordable benefits all in one place?  If so, you would be wrong.   

Spring Creek is conveniently located  a short distance from Interstate 64, just 20 minutes from Charlottesville and 35 minutes from Short Pump. 

Spring Creek Lifestyle
Living is relaxed and easy at Spring Creek. 

“It feels magical when you go in the gate,” says Bevin Boisvert with Roy Wheeler Realty, Co.  She describes the always friendly guard at the gate and the clean, well kept common areas that make the neighborhood feel like a resort.

The quick and easy commute to both Charlottesville and Richmond is also a plus.

According to one resident:  “I work in Charlottesville but realized I did not want to live there.” The location between Charlottesville and Richmond is “perfect,” she said, because she can hop on the Interstate and go either direction whether for work or shopping.  On the other hand, there are also “some conveniences right outside our gates (Walmart, Sheets, Lowes). We are out of the hustle and bustle of the City, and feel we have the best of both worlds,” she concluded.

For golfers, the premier course, described by Durham as one of Spring Creek’s “biggest features,”  may be the main draw. 

Atlantic Builder’s Sales Manager David Boisvert agrees describing Spring Creek as “an amazing community close to Charlottesville [that] is amenity-rich with a top-rated golf course.”

The golf course has received numerous awards over the years.  In 2017, Golf Digest named it #66 on their list of America’s Greatest Public Courses, and it has been part of this elite group since 2011.  It was also recognized in Golf Digest’s Best Golf Courses in Virginia, ranking  #11 in 2017.

Course designer, Ed Carton, describes the course as one that  is “playable for higher-handicap golfers,” but also “challenging for tournament professionals.”  Players also appreciate the bent grass fairways and beautiful greens enhanced by “the natural contour of the land [that helps] make Spring Creek a unique, exceptional golfing experience.”

Even if you don’t play golf, living on a lot adjacent to the court adds value to your lifestyle and your pocketbook.  Corky Bishop, Club General Manager, estimates golf course lots may be worth twice that of similar ones elsewhere in the community.  And when your house backs up to the course you have a nice unobstructed view with no added yard maintenance.

It is a “fact of real estate,” that lots with golf course or water views (also available at Spring Creek), sell for more than similar lots elsewhere in the community,” Durham said. 

Conservation lots are another premium option in Spring Creek. These border (usually at the back) a “no build” area, which means as long as you live there, only nature will be your neighbor on that side, explains Charlene Easter with Spring Creek Realty.

Another popular sport at Spring Creek is pickleball, played on a tennis court with a whiffle ball and ping pong paddles. Three dedicated courts are now available to accommodate the huge demand, explains Vic Gregor. A local resident, he was one of the first pickleball players and helped build the courts.

Organized games are available five days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m, and “everything needed to get started is available courtside,” Gregor said urging “curious residents to stop by and give the sport a try.”  Call Gregor for more info and to learn about free beginner lessons.

John O’Reilly, with BHG Real Estate – Base Camp, sums up the many benefits of this remarkable neighborhood stating it is an all-inclusive, “soup to nuts” place, a destination with outdoor games like golf and tennis plus pretty pocket parks that appeal to everyone.

Community
Many Spring Creek residents move in and look forward to leisurely games of golf or the convenience of working out at the state-of-the-art fitness facility with sauna at the clubhouse.  Once they settle in, they discover an active community with plenty of ways to meet new people.

“It truly feels like a community in the best sense,” Easter says.  A resident of several years she has witnessed the excitement of new home owners when they realize they live in a welcoming and friendly place and can “jump right into neighborhood events.” 

One new resident described the neighborhood culture as “neighbors looking out for neighbors, everyone wanting to help with whatever it is they are good at…and community meetings where people actually listen and speak up.”

Newcomers also find friends when they gather at Tavern on the Green, the full service restaurant and bar overlooking the lake and the 18th green. Open to the public, the Tavern serves lunch and dinner with a full service menu that includes dietary preferences such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or kosher.  Just ask your server.

The clubhouse is also the place for family-friendly activities like 4th of July fireworks, Easter Egg hunts, Oktoberfest and Breakfast with Santa. Bishop sees part of his job as encouraging  community by getting residents of all ages involved in events such as these.

Real Estate Market
Overall sales are up 13 percent compared to last year at this time says Dan Girouard, Broker with Spring Creek Realty.

“We experienced the typical summer slowdown,” said David Boisvert, Sales Manager for Atlantic Builders, “but I’m already seeing business pick up this month.”

Durham agrees stating that the market is “good,” adding that new construction is “brisk.” 

Resale homes are also moving faster than they were a year ago.  Girouard reports  that the year-over-year average number of days on the market (DOM) for resale homes decreased from 131 to 125. Sellers are also happy that the resale homes inventory is at an all-time low, which means there is much less competition than a year ago.

Spring Creek’s success is highlighted in CAAR’s (Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS®) third quarter housing report that shows a dramatic increase in Louisa County’s home prices.

“A lot of that has to do with new homes being sold in Spring Creek,” explains Michael Guthrie, Broker with Roy Wheeler Realty, Co. He adds that this market activity also reflects rising home prices in Albemarle and Charlottesville that push buyers further out in their search for the perfect house.

Families that want to build a home in Spring Creek, but are not yet ready to move, can purchase a lot today and hold it until they are ready to build, locking in today’s price.  When the time is right, the subdivision’s featured builders stand ready to help, or buyers can bring their own.

Coming in Spring of 2019 there will be a new inventory of lots for both single family and attached homes (also known as villa homes), Girourad said.  He urges you to visit soon and be one of the first to reserve a lot.

Spring Creek Buyers
Spring Creek’s amenities appeal to a wide range of individuals and families from move-up buyers to downsizers and even an occasional first timer.

Young families make up about 40 percent of Spring Creek buyers, Girouard said.  Most commute into either Richmond or Charlottesville for work. 

A big advantage for families that need more space to spread out—often younger folks but not always—is that many of Spring Creek’s homes come with basements, O’Reilly says.  This kind of space is great for play rooms, hobby areas or workshops.

Retirees and pre-retirees appreciate that at Spring Creek their money goes so much further than elsewhere, Girouard explained.   These folks want to down-size and “build a home with ‘one-level living’ features offered by our featured builders.”

He is delighted that “Stanley Martin Homes recently introduced their Marcella Villa homes starting at $299,000.  These homes for one-level living have “VERY exciting floor plans” and he expects a newly decorated model to be ready by Spring 2019. 

For buyers who want a brand new home but can’t wait while one is built, Atlantic Builders has two that are available and ready for move in.  They are “just waiting for your finishing touch and can be ready for delivery in approximately 30 days,” Girouard said.

While most Spring Creek buyers plan to live in their homes, the potential for appreciation has not escaped the notice of investors. 

Two separate sets of Bevin Boisvert’s clients purchased Spring Creek homes for rental.  One couple bought a home to rent out and a villa home where they plan to live after retirement, but which, meanwhile, is leased. 

They referred some of their friends who understood Spring Creek’s potential and also bought two homes.

Everyone Welcome
Spring Creek is a vibrant place with a cross section of home owners from different age groups. Access to this kind of diversity would not be possible, for example, to retirees who move into a 55+ community.

“What an incredible community of individuals coming together to create an energetic, joyful environment,” one resident said.

“The combination of young families raising children and retired folks together volunteering to create a friendly and welcoming neighborhood is very special. In addition, children playing at the park, laughter at the bus stops, planned family events to celebrate holidays, all provide the community with across the lifespan experiences.”

Do you want to move into a community that is both affordable and close-in, a place where people of all ages enjoy life together?  If so ask your agent about Spring Creek. 

A beautiful resale, or the perfect building lot await you now.  Then move in and enjoy all of Spring Creek’s amenities with a host of new friends.

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Celeste Smucker is a writer and blogger who lives near Charlottesville.

By Marilyn Pribus –

One of the most appealing quality-of-life aspects of Central Virginia is our vibrant art scene thanks to artisans who populate studios in both Charlottesville and the nearby, scenic Blue Ridge countryside.

“We have an extraordinary group of talented people working sometimes in obscurity,” declares Joe Samuels who, with his wife Owie, owns Jos. T. Samuels REALTORS® in Charlottesville. “I like the diversity of the presentations. There are so many wonderful gift ideas and Owie and I are always shopping for family and friends.”

Regional artisans founded the Tour in 1994 to enhance awareness of professionals living and working in our area. An excellent way to explore this art trove is during the 24th annual Artisans Studio Tour on Saturday and Sunday, November 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year’s Tour includes 49 artisans in 28 studios in Charlottesville and surrounding counties. Central Virginia’s fall foliage provides a stunning backdrop to this free driving tour of studios of returning favorites and new artists.

During the tour, featured artisans welcome the public into their studios and galleries. For many visitors, the best part of the tour is meeting and talking with the artisans themselves.

It’s also a fascinating opportunity to learn about the processes involved in creating pottery, furniture, woven items, jewelry, stained glass, and other media.

At some studios, visitors see demonstrations and in others they have a chance at hands-on experience. In addition, most studios provide locally sourced refreshments.

Each artisan has undergone a rigorous approval process ensuring all work is of the highest quality. This means the tour is an excellent opportunity to find a unique gift for someone special or to add to your own collection.

Meet Some Artisans
While we’d love to feature every single member on the tour, we are happy we can highlight a variety of artistic callings.

New on the tour this year is blacksmith Corry Blanc, founder of Charlottesville’s Blanc Creatives (Studio 18).

With his current team of ten, including chefs, designers and artisans, Blanc creates heirloom pieces for daily use including steel and copper cooking pans, wooden items like spatulas and boards, cleavers and knives.

He forges the cookware by hand with hammer and anvil to create functional pieces rooted in old traditions, but with a modern look. Everyone who finds themselves in the kitchen will be charmed when using these wonderful tools.

Lotta Helleberg (Studio 12) is a Swedish-born artist based in Charlottesville who has been experimenting with textile printmaking for more than a decade. Most recently, she’s been focused on eco-printing, relief processes, and local plant-based dyes.

“My art embraces natural materials and a commitment to leaving behind minimal waste and toxicity, paying homage to the natural world in both form and content,” she explains.

“Most of all, I want to instill an appreciation of the environment we have near.” Her unique works have been featured in dozens of solo and group exhibitions as distant as Oregon, New York, and Canada.

Jo Perez (Studio 4) is a glass artist. “Color, light, line, texture and form,” she says. “I love the magical qualities of glass!”

She’s been “playing” with glass for nearly 40 years and her creations include both glass art and jewelry. She confesses she still can’t wait to get into the studio to make something new. 

“The challenge of creating a pleasing work of glass art or an interesting piece of jewelry and the technical skills needed are what I seek in the studio each day,” she says. “The learning curve leads me forward with each completed project to the next new inspiration.”

Jan Elmore (Studio 9) works at her Red Horse Studio in Keswick where she creates mixed-media sculpture, paintings, painted paper collages, and wood-framed mirrors. While she especially likes creating mirror frames, her work also includes carvings, wall-mounted compositions, and painted canvases with embellishments.

Much of her material is repurposed from remnants of wood, copper, aluminum and other scraps she collects from local woodworkers and recycling centers. She finds that random bits of discarded items often suggest new designs. She also adds texture from a variety of papers, leather, and fibers. 

I Want to Take the Tour!
Start with a visit to artisanstudiotour.com for profiles of the artisans, a peek at every participants’ work—often with links to individual websites—a downloadable Studio Tour map, and detailed directions to each studio.

An inviting wrinkle is the Passport Program, which gives you the opportunity to win a shopping credit with a participating studio artisan of your choice. This program is sponsored by Jos. T. Samuels REALTORS® who have been sponsors for at least five years.

Pick up a Passport at any participating studio and receive a stamp from each one you visit. Every visitor is eligible to win a $50 credit and if you collect five stamps, you’ll have a chance to win a $300 credit.

“These artisans have so much to offer and my wife and I like to support their efforts,” concludes Joe Samuels. “The tour is very worthwhile and I urge everyone to take a look. It’s pretty surprising and pretty wonderful.”

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Marilyn Pribus and her husband live in Albemarle County near Charlottesville. She especially enjoys the opportunity to speak with various artisans.

By Ken Wilson –

We gather in the dark to see better in the light. Revelation and apprehension, moral suasion and informed reflection . . . cinema expands our knowledge, clarifies our thinking and moves us to action for our own sakes and our neighbor’s. Opening our eyes, it opens our hearts—or just our mouths to laugh out loud.

Always topical, always surprising, by turns invigorating, agitating and just plain funny, the Virginia Film Festival takes over Charlottesville theaters each fall with a hometown-curated selection of buzz-generating new films and history-making oldies, attracting cinemaphiles, cinematographers, the clued in and the merely curious. All told, it’s an intense four days—and it’s coming right up. 

Set for November 1-4 on big screens all around the city, the 31st annual Virginia Film Festival will center on 150 films, locally produced to internationally acclaimed, including a tribute to one of the art form’s most innovative and intriguing figures, Orson Welles.

“Our 2018 program is highlighted by a selection of some of the most talked-about films on the current film festival circuit,” said Jody Kielbasa, director of the Virginia Film Festival and Vice Provost for the Arts at the University of Virginia, “including many that have vaulted to the top of the current major award season conversations.”

When the closing credits roll, the talk will begin. Over 100 industry guests from around the world (including director, writer, actor and producer Peter Bogdanovich, director and producer Allen Hughes, and Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz) will join local thinkers and shakers for Q-and-A’s, galas, parties and general geekdom with an engaged, let’s-change-the-world edge.

Opening Night Drama
America’s racial tensions, ever festering and newly inflamed, will be examined from a number of angles this year, starting on November 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the Paramount Theater with Green Book, the dramatic feature debut of director Peter Farrelly.

Inspired by the true story of Jamaican-American jazz and classical pianist and composer Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) and New York bouncer Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), who chauffeured Shirley on a tour in 1962, the film takes its name from a segregation-era travel guide written to help African-Americans manage the legal roadblocks, dangers, and soul wearying degradations of the Jim Crow South.

Martin Luther King III on Charlottesville
Charlottesville’s own recent racial ignominy is the focus of Charlottesville, a documentary about the Unite the Right rally in August 2017 that asks “How could this happen in modern America?”

Martin Luther King III, son of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, will address the community following the film’s national premiere on Saturday, November 3 at

4:00 p.m. at the Paramount. King will then take part in a discussion moderated by UVA Center for Politics director Larry Sabato.

“Martin Luther King III has dedicated his life to carrying on the cause to which his father dedicated, and ultimately gave his life,” Kielbasa says. “We are proud to be working with our friends and partners at the UVA Center for Politics to share this powerful documentary and to be part of a conversation about how we can and must move forward together in our ongoing effort to create the kind of world Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned for us all.”

Roma
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he’d gone to support striking sanitation workers. Before his death he’d planned a March on Washington on behalf of the poor.

This year’s Centerpiece Film, Roma, Saturday, November 3 at 8:30 p.m. at the Paramount, is director Alfonso Cuarón’s semi-autobiographical tale of one such member of this often forgotten, overlooked and taken for granted class of people, a live-in housekeeper caring for four school-aged children in Mexico City in 1970.

An examination of family dynamics,  Mexican social matters, and the passage of time, the film is Mexico’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film in the 2018 Academy Awards.

A Little Laughter
Variety calls The Favourite, a period comedy concoction about two cousins vying for the favor of Queen Anne in early 18th century Britain, “a perfectly cut diamond of a movie.” Kielbasa calls it “a stunning film” and “an incredibly fun watch” about which there is “tremendous Oscar buzz.” Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’s dark and bawdy comedy with a lesbian love triangle stars Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz, and may be seen on Friday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Paramount.

Before the talkies the movies were already funny. Ben Mankiewicz and Peter Bogdanovich will screen and discuss the latter’s critically-acclaimed documentary The Great Buster, a look at the life and career of silent film icon Buster Keaton, on Saturday, November 3 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s-Belfield School.

Orson Welles
A collaboration of sorts between two celebrated directors, living and dead; a controversially received, late period attempt at a “new kind of film”; and two context-setting documentaries—par for the course for the Virginia Film Festival, where intellectually enticing deep dives are just part of the fun.

When Orson Welles died in 1985 with his quasi-autobiographical film, The Other Side of the Wind,  still unfinished, his good friend Peter Bogdanovich vowed to complete the project.

Nearly a half century after production began, Bogdanovich has fulfilled his promise, editing and assembling hundreds of hours of Welles’ raw footage to recreate what he envisaged: a satire of Hollywood’s golden age, and a film-within-a-film starring one Hollywood legend as another one attempting a comeback.

Bogdanovich will introduce They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead, Morgan Neville’s new Netflix documentary about Welles’ final directorial efforts, on Saturday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Virginia’s Culbreth Theatre.

He will present The Other Side of the Wind itself on Sunday, November 4 at 12:00 noon at the Paramount, then discuss the film and its original director in a conversation moderated by Ben Mankiewicz.

Welles’ experimental docudrama F For Fake, which puzzled fans and critics upon its release in 1973, will be shown at Vinegar Hill Theatre on Friday, November 2 at 3:15 p.m. A discussion with director Allen Hughes, who chose the film and for whom Welles was a major influence, will follow.

On Thursday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m. Vinegar Hill Theatre will show The Eyes of Orson Welles, a new and very personal tribute by director Mark Cousins based on Welles’ own drawings and sketches.

Allen Hughes
Allen Hughes and his twin brother Albert started young and worked fast. The two Detroit boys produced their first homemade films at age 12, dropped out of high school to direct music videos for hip hop artists like Tupac Shakur at 18, and premiered Menace II Society, the first major motion picture rooted in hip hop culture, at the Cannes Film Festival when they were only 20.

Allen Hughes will present Menace II Society on Friday, November 2 at 8:30 p.m. at Vinegar Hill Theatre. On Saturday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m. at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Hughes will screen and discuss The Defiant Ones, his popular HBO docu-series about the unlikely and often contentious partnership between music moguls Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine.

Christoph Waltz
German-Austrian actor Christoph Waltz won Academy Awards for Inglourious Basterds in 2009 and Django Unchained in 2012. Academy Award-winning producer Mark Johnson will interview Waltz and show highlights of his work in A Tribute to Christoph Waltz on Saturday, November 3 at 1:00 p.m. at the Paramount.

“Our audiences will not only have the chance to hear from someone who is clearly one of the leading actors working today, but also one who is at the very top of his game, and whose star is still on the rise,” Kielbasa said. “He is truly one of the most interesting and talented actors of his time, and brings a sense of originality to every role that makes it nearly impossible to imagine anyone else in it.”

National Geographic
Beginning a new partnership with National Geographic, the Festival will present a trio of documentaries, including Science Fair (Thursday, November 1 at 6:00 p.m. at UVA’s Newcomb Hall Theatre), a chronicle of nine high school students from around the globe competing for honors at the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Two former fair winners will join Charlottesville High School’s Matthew Shields, founder of the internationally acclaimed science club BACON (Best All-around Club of Nerds), for a panel discussion after the screening.

Free Solo (Saturday, November 3 at 2:15 p.m. at St. Anne’s-Belfield School) follows rock climber Alex Honnold, as he pursues a lifelong quest to scale Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan—alone, and without a rope.

In Into the Okavango (Sunday, November 4 at 11:00 a.m. at the Culbreth), National Geographic photographer Neil Gelinas accompanies researchers on an expedition to the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana to discover why the Okavango River is drying up.

Biggest Little Farm
Documentary director John Chester and his wife Molly, a chef and cookbook author, are the intrepid young couple at the heart of Biggest Little Farm (Saturday, November 3 at 3:45 p.m. at the Culbreth), the autobiographical story of how the Chesters ditched their two-bedroom Santa Monica apartment for a whole ‘nother ecosystem, fighting coyotes, insects and wildfires to establish a self-sustaining biodynamic farm outside L.A..

“It’s a feel-good film,” Kielbasa says, “a great story that will resonate here in our community, which is such a strong supporter of farm-to-table and sustainable living and locally sourced food.”

Family Day
Film, fun and food (some of it no doubt of the sugar high inducing sort) is the bill of fare for Family Day on the Betsy & John Casteen Arts Grounds at UVA on Saturday, November 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Five family-friendly shorts will be shown at 10:00 a.m., followed at 1:00 p.m. by Disney/Pixar’s 2017 hit Coco and a 90th anniversary viewing of Steamboat Willie, an eight-minute black-and-white cartoon which, in Kielbasa’s words, “really launched Mickey Mouse and the Disney Company.”

UVA faculty, students, and community organizations will lead arts-inspired workshops (some require pre-registration). As always, the Festival’s Young Filmmakers Academy will roll out the red carpet to premiere films by local school kids produced in collaboration with Light House Studio, and the Charlottesville Symphony will offer a musical instruments petting zoo.

Family Day is free and open to the public; complimentary and convenient parking will be available at the Culbreth Road Garage.

The Front Runner
This year’s Closing Night Film, set for Sunday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount, is a work with exceptional resonance in today’s political climate. Jason Reitman’s The Front Runner, starring Hugh Jackman, looks back at Gary Hart’s 1988 run for the Democratic presidential nomination, abruptly aborted after the press, following Hart’s own dare, uncovered evidence of an extra-marital affair.

The film’s stellar cast includes Vera Farmiga as Hart’s wife, J.K. Simmons as his embattled campaign manager, and Alfred Molina as famed Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee.

“Given everything that’s been happening with the press and our country and the world in the last two years, I cannot think of a more immediate and compelling subject than the three-week period when Gary Hart suddenly became the frontrunner in the presidential race and then his race imploded,” Kielbasa says.

“It has issues of personal character and judgment and the right to privacy, and it’s really an extraordinary film coming up a couple of days before the mid-terms.”

Resonance, relevance, range and power—thirty times now the Virginia Film Festival has brought the world to Charlottesville, entertaining and astonishing, giving pause for reflection, spurring action from resolve. Silence your phone and take a breath. Thirty-one is about to start.

By Ken Wilson –

It has Blue Ridge views and Starr Hill brews, and it has a treasured piece of Virginia history, Crozet does. And it’s ready for its close-up.

Quiet, lovely, and only a 15-20 minute drive from Charlottesville, the little town known for the railroad overpass, the old train depot, and the pizza joint National Geographic called the best in the world, is sprucing up, growing out, and enjoying a rising standard of living.

Situated alongside Route 250 and not far off I-64, “crow-zay” (sounds much better than “crah-zit’)  is approximately 12 miles west of Charlottesville and 21 miles east of Staunton. Originally named “Wayland’s Crossing,” it was renamed in 1875 in honor of Colonel Claudius Crozet, the French-born civil engineer behind the construction of the Blue Ridge Tunnel (1850-1858) for the rail line connecting Charlottesville to Staunton.    

Crozet covers a total area of 9.7 kilometers according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and has a median home value of $332,000. Its growing population of roughly 6,620 is a well-educated: 32 percent of its residents have earned a Master’s degree or higher, 27 percent have a Bachelor’s degree, and 19 percent have an Associate’s degree or have taken some college classes.

Crozet is also a youngish community, with a median age of 38 and a half. “Crozet is becoming a central hub for folks who work in Charlottesville, who want to be close enough to town but have all the amenities of Crozet,” says REALTOR® Angus Arrington IV with Real Estate III.

“I have been here 33 years,” says Roy Wheeler Realty Co. REALTOR® John Updike, marveling at the transformation he’s seen. “When I first moved here the only grocery store was the IGA” (now Crozet Market, with a bakery and deli). “If you wanted something else, you’d have to go into town to get it. I’ve watched Crozet develop over the years. The growth has been pretty amazing.”

“Back in the day I always said ‘Ten years from now Crozet is going to be a great place to live.’ Ten years has gone by pretty quick and I think what I said holds true. Whether it’s a drugstore or grocery store, most of what you need is now in Crozet. It has become a become a self-sustaining community.”

“Crozet is a beautiful area surrounded by mountain views,” says REALTOR® Greg Slater of Nest Realty, who moved to town in 2009. “It has a small town feel with all the benefits of community and the relationships caused by that environment. The schools are recognized as some of the best in the area and many choose Crozet for that reason. There are plenty of amenities as well in the form of outdoor activities and entertainment.”

“Crozet has three economic hubs,” notes REALTOR® Jim Duncan with Nest Realty: “Downtown, Old Trail Village, and the Route 250 corridor where Harris Teeter is.” Route 240 is busy as well.

Next door to each other on the original historic Three Notched Road are the entertainment marketing company Musictoday, founded and run by Dave Matthews Band manager Coran Capshaw, and one of the area’s first breweries, Starr Hill.

Downtown Crozet
The tiny old downtown is where Bob and Karen Crum and their four children opened Crozet Pizza in 1977 in an old, unoccupied building they rehabbed themselves, serving gourmet pizzas back in the day when the usual options were pepperoni, sausage or cheese.

Today their daughter, Colleen, her husband Mike Alexander, and their three daughters, operate the restaurant that’s earned high praise from National Geographic, Fodor’s, Food Network Magazine and The Washington Post.

The oldest store in town is the Modern Barber Shop, a family-run business dating to 1933. Crozet Hardware first opened, albeit in another location, in 1949. Two doors down, Charlottesville coffee shop owners John and Lynelle Lawrence opened their Crozet Mudhouse in 2009.

Around the corner and down a block or so is the Crozet Library. Long housed in a 1923-vintage Chesapeake and Ohio Railway depot, charming but small, it relocated in 2013 to a new 18,000-square-foot facility with study rooms and conference spaces, a separate section for teens, and a fireplace lounge with rocking chairs and tall windows looking out to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Today the old train station is the Crozet Artisan Depot, showcasing a collection of handmade arts, crafts and accessories by over 70 regional artisans. Sharing the space is the Tourism and Adventure Center run by the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Outdoors
Some of Crozet’s most popular destinations from spring through fall are its orchards.

At Chiles Peach Orchard and Farm Market, the Chiles family first planted peach trees back in 1912, shipping the crop all over the country for commercial production. In 1974, when a bad freeze left them with so little fruit that the usual picking and packing routine wasn’t worth its while, they put an ad in the paper, set up a card table, scales and a cigar box, and hoped for the best. They sold out.

Local pickers have been welcome since, as what was meant to be a one-time, emergency measure became an annual April through November, pick-your-own-fruit tradition. Today they offer peaches, strawberries, sweet cherries, pumpkins and seventeen kinds of apples. Visitors will also find a frozen yogurt machine, an ice cream parlor, and numerous enticing fruit products.

Another old Crozet family lends its name to another old Crozet orchard, Henley’s. Joseph T. Henley, Sr. was the Commonwealth of Virginia’s first fruit inspector. In 1932 he purchased five acres of land and planted apple trees, gradually expanding his property to grow nectarines and peaches as well.

Henley’s Orchard has been in the family for four generations now, offering its fruit from mid-June till the end of October. Late-season apples are kept in cold storage and sold throughout the winter until April.

Fruit lovers enjoy healthy bodies, and healthy bodies love to move. Locals sports and recreation fans flock to the 520-acre, wheelchair-accessible Mint Springs Valley Park, with its beach, hiking trails, playgrounds and picnic shelters with grills.

Eight acres of water are stocked with sunfish, channel catfish, and largemouth bass, and U.S. Coast Guard-approved boats with electric motors (no gas) are welcome. The annual Crozet Running Trail 5K is held in Mint Springs each May.

The local YMCA makes its home in Claudius Crozet Park, which also features baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, walking trails, a pool, and a dog park, and hosts the Peachtree Baseball program and the award winning Gators Swim Team. During the park’s annual Arts and Crafts Festival each fall over 120 jury-selected fine art and craft exhibitors sell handcrafted works.

Engaged couples seeking a picturesque setting for their weddings, are grateful for David and Ellen King, who moved to Virginia from Houston, Texas in 1995.

An avid polo player since 1980, David wanted a farm with twelve relatively flat acres for a polo field. Today their Crozet property contains both a polo field and King Family Vineyards, where eighteen different wines are currently for sale.

Field and weather conditions permitting, matches on Roseland Polo Field take place each Sunday at 1:00 pm from Memorial Day Weekend through early October. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. The matches are free and open to the public, and begin at 1:00 pm.

Crozet Real Estate
All this good living attracts homebuyers, and Crozet is an officially designated Albemarle County growth area.

“Crozet has a good mix of existing and new communities,” Slater says. “There are a wide variety of housing opportunities. There are older communities with smaller homes, townhomes, villas, and single family detached homes, and there are opportunities in neighborhoods with HOAs, as well as more rural properties.”

“About 30 percent of the homes that sold this year were built before 2000. About 30 percent were new construction. The other 40 percent fall in between. So far this year the median price for closed home sales is $435,000. The low was $130,000 and there have been three sales in excess of $1 million.”

Growth has brought retail services as well.

Beginning in 2005, Old Trail Village introduced the popular New Urbanism model of living to Crozet: a walkable urban village with a Village Center consisting of 35 apartments and an array of locally owned shops and restaurants, plus an ACAC Fitness and Wellness Center and healthcare facilities.

Seasonal outdoor entertainment in the Village includes family movie nights, craft fairs, markets, festivals and other special weekend events.

Townhomes and single family homes starting at $464,900 ring the Center, and more are going up now—about 1,500 people currently make their home there, a figure that’s expected to triple once construction is finished.

Adjacent are the Old Trail Golf Club and the Kandi Comer Golf Academy, which offers private and group golf lessons for seniors, adults and juniors. Kandi herself has been recognized as one of the top instructors in Virginia by Golf Digest, and her Golf Academy is a Certified GolfDigest Clubfitter.

With all these amenities, it’s no wonder the Crozet community is truly multi-generational. “All demographics are attracted to the Crozet area,” Slater says. “It is not uncommon for family members to migrate into this area to be close to other family that has settled here.”

One option for older residents is The Lodge at Old Trail, a senior living community with rental apartments in the standard categories of Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care. Just a short distance away from the Village’s shops and businesses, it boasts access to a pool, garden, fitness center, athletic fields, golf course, and miles of walking trails.

“Parents, kids, and grandparents can  get together at the restaurants or the coffee shop, and see each other but go back to their own homes,” Updike says. “The grandparents are not in some place that feels like an institution they have to go back to. Old Trail has everything from babies to grandparents—to me that’s a great concept.”

Crozet Lore, Crozet Style
Drivers passing by Old Trail in 2007 might have been astonished to see an ark and a number of rather non-native animals—elephants, camels, chimpanzees!—in a neighboring field. Comedy director Tom Shadyac was filming part of “Evan Almighty,” his 2007 take-off on the Biblical Noah’s Ark story updated to the 21st century, in 21st century Crozet.

The film bombed, but if cinematic glory proved elusive, Crozet had won some literary love, thanks to Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy series. Brown set the popular feline mystery novels here, name-checking the town paper, the Crozet Gazette, and incorporating local businesses like Parkway Pharmacy, Crozet Tack and Saddle, and Over the Moon bookstore, all still operational today, into her plots.

The ark is gone, its inhabitants dispersed across the face of the earth, but the area today is graced with an abundance of better appointed domiciles, not to mention better weather and a lot less drama.

“We wanted a slower pace of life” says Jim Duncan, explaining why he moved his family to Crozet in 2002. “It’s been a great place to work, raise kids, coach soccer, ride a bike.” As an avid cyclist, Duncan raves about Crozet Trails, twelve miles of trails accessible by foot, bike or hybrid bike, “a phenomenal asset to Crozet,” he says. “I ride a road bike with a cycling club, and we ride every day of the week. The roads here are world class.”

A world class place to ride, not to mention the great views, rich community, and a relaxed pace of life. What does that sounds like? That sounds like Crozet.

By Celeste M. Smucker–

What do you do if you love all that is Charlottesville, but also want to live close to or on a beautiful body of water?   Or maybe you appreciate the mountains and country living, but find your perfect job in Richmond.

If you can relate, discover the benefits of living at Lake Monticello, a popular and affordable gated community in nearby Fluvanna County with a resort lifestyle accessible to buyers from Millennials purchasing their first home to growing families ready for a larger place, and self-employed professionals.   

The Lake also appeals to retirees and others who want an elegant waterfront property where they can dock their boat and enjoy the view.

The water is the biggest draw at Lake Monticello, but the world class golf course is beloved of those who enjoy this sport.  Plenty of other activities, such as swimming, tennis and walking, are also  popular among  families, young professionals, telecommuters and retirees.  And just about everyone raves about two other features of this community: its easy going year-round vacation lifestyle and the security of living in one of our areas few gated communities. 

Second home buyers who want a relaxing place to unwind from day-to-day stress also seek out Lake Monticello. Often, once they experience the magic of being at the lake, they decide to sell their other home and enjoy more stress-free living full time.

For those who have jobs in town, Lake Monticello is an easy drive to both Charlottesville and Richmond.  And homebuyers wanting the best value for their money will be thrilled about home prices at the Lake that compare favorably to those in either Charlottesville or Albemarle County.

Lake Monticello’s Real Estate Market
The market is active in Fluvanna County. The recently released third quarter market report from CAAR (Charlottesville Area Association of  REALTORS®) shows a small year over year increase in the price of detached homes, while attached homes enjoyed a huge (22.1 percent) increase.

Sellers were also pleased about the significant decrease in the median number of days homes stayed on the market indicating buyers are snapping them up quickly.

The County’s total number of sales to date is 251, including 10 lots, reports Vicki Wilson, Principal Broker at Monticello Country REALTORS®.  These figures compare favorably to just 221 sales, including 15 lots,  at this time in 2017.  There are also 42 homes and/or lots under contract, but not yet closed, indicating a strong year end report.

Wilson added that “new construction is gaining here again,” stating “there are lots available to secure now to build later.”  She shared that she and her husband did just that, and are now living in “a brand new home with beach and boat access,” built by custom builder, Taylor Lyn Homes.

Currently buyers can choose from 67 homes and 31 lots for sale in this popular lake community.  While that may seem like a lot to choose from, Diane Miller, Associate Broker with Long & Foster – Lake Monticello, explains that any given buyer’s choices are restricted to a narrow price range based on what they can afford and what is suitable for their family.  If you look forward to relaxing in a lake home, the time to buy is now before this small inventory shrinks even more.

New construction is an option for buyers unable to find what they want in the resale market, Miller agrees. “There is building going on at Lake Monticello,” she continued, saying that some builders already own lots and are  ready to build while others are checking out what is currently on the market.

While most homes in this community are not right on the water, there are always buyers looking for waterfront properties as soon as they come on the market. 

“The buyers for waterfront homes are diverse; some are well into retirement, others retiring in several years, and still others are purchasing a weekend getaway for their growing young families,” explains Patsy Strong Principal Broker at Strong Team REALTORS®.  “Interestingly enough, they all purchase here with the idea of enjoying a more relaxed waterfront lifestyle, which they immediately find at Lake Monticello!” 

Regardless of whether you want a lot or have plans to build a new home it is a good idea to work with “a seasoned, experienced agent that has new construction experience,” when building your Lake Monticello home, Wilson says.

This is also good advice for those buying resale homes, especially if they have questions concerning issues such as water access, water sports, boat use, and docks.

Lake Monticello’s Many Benefits
Back in the 1960s, developers saw a piece of forested property and envisioned a lake surrounded by homes. The project got off the ground, and soon the Home Owners Association (HOA) took over the community’s management. By the early 1980s, Lake Monticello was a modest 400 lot subdivision.

The original lake grew in size in 1969 when Hurricane Camille brought torrential rains and weakened a nearby dam causing an influx of water from another lake. Today the 350-acre Lake Monticello has  22.5 miles of shoreline and is surrounded by 4,200 homes.

A recent analysis of local real estate trends by Michael Guthrie, CEO and Broker with Roy Wheeler Realty Co., examined the increased real estate activity in areas outside of Charlottesville City and Albemarle County. “Buyers are having to travel out a bit further to find a home they can afford,” he said.    

Lake Monticello with its amenity-rich lifestyle is a great example of this trend. “There is a great opportunity here for first time home buyers or buyers downsizing,” Wilson said.

A quick search of area homes finds several available for under $200 thousand. If  you are a first time buyer or a downsizer and this is your price range, call your REALTOR® today as these homes won’t last long.

Once homebuyers settle into their new place at the lake they can enjoy plenty of other benefits along with their lower monthly payments.

The HOA—which all residents must join—provides essential services, and homeowners pay annual dues for amenities such as common ground maintenance, trash pickup and snow removal plus the security gate and a full-time police force.

“The Lake Monticello Homeowners Association continues to make nice improvements here, which are attracting new buyers from all over the country,” Strong said.  “The golf course has never looked better, and the summer saw lots of residents enjoying swimming and boating activities,” she concluded. 

“There have been a new pub, clubhouse and golf clubhouse renovations in the past few years,” Wilson said, adding that  “the pub is open to the public and so is Lakeside Restaurant.”  In addition, “the new pool is currently being constructed for spring, and the tennis courts are newly finished too. The community has been here for years so having all new and updated facilities is wonderful,” she said.  

In the event of a fire or medical emergency, a fire and rescue squad is ready and waiting just outside the gate, and is quick to respond. Tom Morace, Broker with Long & Foster – Lake Monticello, recalled an experience when an ambulance and the EMT arrived within five minutes after his mother slipped on her deck, fell and broke her shoulder.

One snowy winter evening Wilson had a similar emergency that prompted a call to the rescue squad.  Help was there within five minutes even though many local roads were closed due to the snow. 

The quality of Fluvanna County schools is a critical consideration for families with children who appreciate the high level of parental involvement and the variety of student programs available including special education, gifted and talented education, career and technical education, and alternative education. Thanks to Fluvanna County’s quality schools, the  Class of 2018 earned over $1.3 million in scholarships. 

Second Homes Popular
Lake Monticello is a popular destination for work-weary people who want a place to rest and rejuvenate on long weekends and during vacations.  In fact, many love their second home so much, they choose to live at the Lake full time. 

“I have sold several homes in the past couple of years where buyers have bought a second home with plans of retiring in the future.  Most of them have taken an early retirement and moved here permanently,” Wilson said. “They fall in love with the lake and the ‘vacation at home’ feeling, so they move sooner rather than later.”

Second home buyers come from all areas, but many appreciate the relatively short trip from Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC.  Some also come from the northeast.

Lake residents enjoy high speed internet service, which is attractive to home owners who are self employed, telecommuters or who work from home at least part of the time.  Not only can they enjoy  the beautiful views from their home office, they can also look forward to a boat ride or a leisurely walk around the Lake when they take a break. No wonder so many decide to sell their other house and work at the Lake full time.

“I have seen it over and over again,” Strong said. “Buyers purchase a waterfront home for weekend use, then they start extending their weekends and working there on Fridays and Mondays. Eventually I run into them in the middle of the week and they confide they have made the move to the water permanent.” 

Lake Monticello Buyers
The Lake’s original developers found buyers in New York and other northern cities explains Keith Smith with Roy Wheeler Realty Co. – Charlottesville. At that time, he and his wife Yonna, also a REALTOR®, lived in New York City and were enticed by a $150 incentive to come experience Lake Monticello. They fell in love with the area and the lake, bought a lot and relocated. 

They soon realized their lot was overpriced, but encouraged Smith’s father to join them in their resort  lifestyle. He in turn invited some of his friends who also settled there after seeing the beauty of an area that is such a pleasant contrast to New York City.

The trend of lake residents encouraging family and friends to join them continues today. 

“One of the most interesting things we see is people who move here and enjoy it so much they end up getting family members and friends to join them,” Strong said.

Today buyers still come to Lake Monticello from the northeast and from Northern Virginia. They come for the “low home and land prices, the proximity to Charlottesville and Richmond and the community activities and involvement. Many of my clients get involved in the volunteer opportunities within Lake Monticello and Fluvanna County once they are here,”  Wilson said.

If you love the idea of living where you can enjoy a 12-month vacation, plus take part in the many opportunities Charlottesville has to offer, call your agent today.  You’ll be experiencing a comfortable resort lifestyle before you know it.

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Celeste Smucker is a writer, blogger and author who lives near Charlottesville.

By Marilyn Pribus –

When Eric Dahl, his wife, Jill, and their sons moved north from Florida, it’s no coincidence they bought a home at Lake Monticello where his two brothers already lived. Dahl is now Fluvanna’s Deputy County Administrator/Finance Director.

“Jill and I really like the nature aspects of Fluvanna rather than the hustle and bustle of a city,” he says. “That’s why we moved from Tampa—for a little slower pace and more seasons around us.”

He particularly cites the outdoor opportunities. “We like hiking and biking, both locally and in the mountains and also water activities like kayaking on the Rivanna River.” They also appreciate being close to Charlottesville where Jill works.

Vicki Wilson, Principal Broker and co-owner of Monticello Country  REALTORS®, isn’t surprised the Dahl family chose Fluvanna.

“People often move here because someone they know already lives here,” she comments. In fact, she says she and her husband settled in Fluvanna after visiting her parents here many times. The school system was also important to them and she points out the nearly new high school is state of the art.

“Affordability is a main attraction in Fluvanna,” she continues. “There are many choices for first-time homebuyers under $200,000. We are also diverse—there are young people through retirees here.”

Another factor, she says, is that Fluvanna is a reasonable commute to both Charlottesville and Richmond. When they first moved here, in fact, Wilson worked locally, while her husband worked in Short Pump. 

The Past and the Present
Fluvanna County dates back to 1777 as part of Henrico, then Goochland, then Albemarle Counties. It celebrates its history with nearly 20 National Historical Landmarks from the Courthouse in Palmyra to the slate-roofed Seay’s Chapel Methodist Church built at the turn of the last century.

The 1854 Pleasant Grove House is another National Historical Landmark. Now the centerpiece of Pleasant Grove Park, it was once part of a plantation growing tobacco and other produce that were shipped to Richmond on the Rivanna River.

Today the house is the County Museum and Welcome Center where visitors may tour the historic dwelling and browse exhibit galleries on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from noon to 4 p.m. on weekends. Admission is free.

The park itself is a generous triangle of land adjacent to Fluvanna High School and roughly bounded by Route 53 on the west and the Rivanna River on the east.

About 25 years ago, the county purchased close to 1,000 acres of farm land and eventually the Fluvanna Heritage Trail Foundation was formed. Today the Foundation—along with the Parks and Recreation Department—has created 22 miles of trails starring river habitat, wildflowers, grassy fields and woodlands.

For example, visitors on the Tree Identification Trail can learn the names of many native trees. A Natural Experience  is a downloadable guide (from the County website) to various trails in the park.

Park visitors also enjoy the butterfly garden, and picnic shelters may be rented or used on a first-come, first-served basis when not reserved. There is also a community garden at the park with close to 100 individual plots that may be rented by the year and have public access to water.

The Dog Park is also popular, says Dahl who often visits to give the family pooch some off-leash exercise. “There are three different gated areas,” he explains, “so owners can choose for their dog to be with larger or smaller dogs.” Waste disposal bags are provided.

Dogs must be up to date on vaccinations and must be leashed except in the runs. The Dog Park area has the trailheads for a self-guided fitness circuit and the Sandy Beach Trail, an ADA-accessible gravel trail leading to the Rivanna River.

The park’s weekly seasonal Farmer’s Market is always a big bonus.

Youth Sports
A number of sports leagues serve Fluvanna youth including softball, baseball, basketball, soccer and aquatic teams. The Carysbrook Sports Complex on Route 15 between Palmyra and Fork Union hosts a variety of recreational venues.  There’s a playground plus softball, soccer, and baseball fields for youth activities. An indoor gym hosts basketball, pickleball and volleyball.

When not scheduled for league use, both indoor and outdoor facilities are open to the public. The hours vary by season.

Seniors Love Fluvanna
“There is a huge senior community with lots of support here in Fluvanna,” says Wilson who’s been a Meals on Wheels volunteer since its inception in the county some ten years ago. “We have eight routes,” she says, “and Friday is my day.”

Indeed, folks find this a great place to retire. The county’s Senior Programs have activities—many free—for those 55 and older including charitable projects, exercise programs, guest speakers and community forums. One example is JABA (Jefferson Area Board on Aging) that operates once-weekly programs including lunch and doings at four locations in the county.

In addition, JAUNT serves Fluvanna with a circular route within the County and a commuter route with stops between Fork Union and Charlottesville and urban Albemarle County. Trips are discounted for seniors and persons with disabilities. 

Et Cetera
Wilson points out that as the county’s population grows modestly, there are an increasing number of restaurants, groceries, and other businesses people want to have handy. Nearby wineries are also popular.

For complete information about historical, social and recreational aspects of the county, including calendars of activities, visit www.FluvannaCounty.org.

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Marilyn Pribus and her husband live in Albemarle County near Charlottesville but have considerable kin in Fluvanna County.