Stamp Out Hunger food drive set for Saturday
On Saturday, May 12, letter carriers across the nation will be participating in the country’s largest, single-day food drive – Stamp Out Hunger. Sponsored by the National Association for Letter Carriers, this food drive will be taking place across the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank’s service area, including Lynchburg, Winchester, Charlottesville, Staunton, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg and the surrounding counties.
Mail carriers will pick up non-perishable food donations left outside by residents as they deliver the mail along their daily route. Read more
Antique Appraisal Fair benefits WVPT, Cancer Society
Are you a fan of the PBS series “The Antiques Roadshow”? Are you or a family member an antique collector? Do you have an item that you would like appraised? WVPT has a special opportunity for you.
The Factory Antique Mall is hosting an “Antique Appraisal Fair” – Saturday, April 14th from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Stop by with your antique, collectible, or favorite family heirloom, and let the elite dealers at The Factory Antique Mall tell you all about it. One appraisal is $10. Get three appraisals for $25. Tickets available at the door. Net proceeds benefit WVPT and the American Cancer Society. Hope to see you there, thanks…! Read more
County to hold public input sessions for community wildfire protection plan
Augusta County Fire and Rescue is seeking public input during the development of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
This plan identifies wildfire risks facing woodland areas in the County and includes information about wildfire response, hazard mitigation, community preparedness, and structural protection. The goals of the plan are to promote wildfire awareness and safety education, and to identify and reduce hazardous fuels to protect life, property, and natural resources. Read more
Dixie Gas & Oil makes donation to BRCC foundation
Dixie Gas & Oil Corporation is proud to support the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation through BP’s Fueling Communities Program with a grant donation of $3,250.
The grant will enhance the Blue Ridge Annual Fund in supporting projects and programs to the students and faculty of BRCC. Each year the Blue Ridge Annual Fund provides support in different ways including: financial-need-based scholarships to students who might not otherwise be able to afford a college education; mini-grants to faculty members for instructional improvement activities that allow for more focused and career-specific instruction; emergency financial assistance through the Women’s Resource Center to students – both women and men – in need; and professional development opportunities for all BRCC staff members to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. Read more
Staubus set to release debut album, “Dam Town”
Jeremy Staubus has had family and friends encouraging him for years to pursue a career in Music City.
The Mount Solon native is taking a step in that direction with the upcoming release of his debut country-music album.
“Dam Town” is set for release this month. The CD will be available online at www.JeremyStaubus.com.
Staubus took a different road to a budding career in country music. As a teen, he listened to ’90s rock and started out in music playing guitar in a rock band with his brother. He made the switch to country jamming old country and bluegrass hits with his grandfather, which sparked his interest in country music.
In 2009, Staubus joined a local cover country band, Wildhorse, and has played clubs, fairs and private parties across Virginia and West Virginia with the band. As a solo artist, Staubus has performed in two prestigious country-music competitions, the Colgate Country Showdown and the Virginia Dreams Voice of the Valley, making it to the semifinal round in both.
More at www.VirginiaCountyMusicAwards.com.
Food Bank bracing for shortages
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is expecting to lose more than 2 million pounds of food in the coming months – about 10 percent of its supply.
Within the last 60 days the Food Bank received word from food manufacturers that it would be receiving significantly less donated food due to advancements in technology that help manufacturers become more efficient. With less excess inventory, fewer products will be available for donation.
Compounding the problem is the threat of substantial drops in food donations from the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture. The Food Bank is at risk of losing another 300,000 pounds of food as legislators seek ways to trim the budget. Read more
Council announces ‘This Place Augusta’ series
The role of Augusta County’s landscape in the creation of villages and industries throughout its history will be the topic of the second program in the “This Place Augusta” series being held over the next few months. In the talk, Virginia Military Institute history professor Ken Koons will explore Augusta’s settlement at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.
The series, “This Place Augusta,” enlists local experts to help area residents appreciate the past, understand today’s trends, and take part in the future of their county. The topics are water resources, history of settlement patterns, agricultural vitality, land use planning, conservation and development, and the future.
The six sessions are being hosted by the Augusta Community Partnership. Valley Conservation Council is organizing the events in coordination with the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Augusta County Farm Bureau. The series is underwritten by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge.
Koons will speak on the role of geography and natural resources in the formation of villages and enterprises along waterways, turnpikes, and railroads. Vestiges of early settlement remain—can new development fit in this architectural and natural landscape? This session is co-sponsored by the Augusta County Historical Society.
The first talk, held in October with presenters Ken Fanfoni, of the Augusta County Service Authority, and Bobby Whitescarver, of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, focused on Augusta County’s water resources, and how they are being used and protected.
After Koons’ presentation, the series continues Jan. 31, when Steve Saufley, of the Virginia Farm Bureau, will talk on “Town and Country Augusta.” The discussion includes how the farms and forests of Augusta County drive the local economy and contribute to everyone’s quality of life. The farming lifestyle has been predominant in the past. Today, though, maintaining agricultural viability and a rural heritage is an immense challenge.
On Feb. 28, “Planning Augusta” will feature Augusta County planners who will explain how the Comprehensive Plan is supposed to guide development. Find out what those colors on the Future Land Use Map mean, what ordinances require, and how county policies address the water, historic, and agricultural resources discussed in previous sessions.
The fifth presentation, “Conserve as You Grow Augusta,” is tentatively slated for March 27. Sara Hollberg, author of Better Models for Development, will explain why planning simultaneously for conservation and development has many benefits. From resource protection policies to individual site design, see examples of how strategic open space – in urban as well as rural settings – can be key to long-range fiscal and environmental health and quality of life.
The series wraps up with the presentation “Future Augusta, ” with a tentative date sometime in April. The evening will be a quick recap of previous sessions that set the foundation for a group discussion of the most important issues and opportunities for Augusta County.
All of the programs are held at the Government Center in Verona at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public. The ACP will provide refreshments each evening. For information, contact Sara Hollberg at 886-3541, or sara@valleyconservation.org.
