“This Saturday is Family Movie Night at Crozet Park Pool! We will be showing “The Lightning Thief” starting shortly after 8:00. The cost is $3 for non-season pass holders, free for season-pass holders. Come join us for an evening of swimming, fun, and a movie!”

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCrozetVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Note: the green/italicized portion of this post are from the public hearing on the Restore N Station.

• RT @CBS19Weather: Tracking a storm in Augusta Co. near Staunton, moving east towards Crozet. -MH #
• Pick up your copy of the Crozet Gazette today! #
• Rode my bike to show a house in Old Trail. http://bit.ly/98S0WL It’s hot. #
• Chiles Orchard has peaches. http://bit.ly/9Lqlcu (FB link) #
• Dear Crozet gas stations & consumers: 3 miles or so past the Greenwood Store is a better option. http://tweetphoto.com/25522493 #
• RT @CBS19Weather: Flooding waters running across Mint Springs Road, especially from entrance to park up to Emerald Ridge in Crozet. #
• Big rain, wind, lightning. You know, summer. In Crozet. http://tweetphoto.com/25432192 #
• RT @julenesque: Oh wait, I think the new Crozet borders include me now, or maybe it’s the Crozet Growth zone? (cont) http://tl.gd/1lj64t #
• It rained hard at my house an hour ago; 100 yards away – dry as a bone. #
• @CVilleKim I’d vote for taking 64 home. 250 West is bound to have standing water in places, & more chance for a tree being down in reply to CVilleKim #
• View looking from my neighborhood in Crozet towards Charlottesville http://tweetphoto.com/25402250 #
• All clear in Crozet. cc @gingergermani @TravisKoshko http://tweetphoto.com/25401446 #
• @GoodwinCreek what are your Crozet delivery days/locations? in reply to GoodwinCreek #
• RT @CrozetGazette: June issue out tomorrow! 40 pages of your hometown low-down! #
• Who’s missing a chocolate lab in Crozet? http://bit.ly/aG9Dko (please RT) #
• RT @ancym: Meals on Wheels needs drivers in Crozet – spare an hour/week or even /month? http://bit.ly/bAagGu or DM me #crozet Pls RT #
• RT @julenesque: I wish I could be surprised by the Goliath Gas Station decision, but it seems like par for the course. #
• RT @Duewestphoto: RT @CBS19: [NEWS] Despite Concerns, Board Approves Plans for Crozet Gas Station http://bit.ly/a5dPdD #
• RT @gingergermani: Mary Rice of Crozet now speaking against station. It is clear that no one in Crozet wants this station. #
• Frank Calhoun (sp) speaking. Moved his horse farm to Crozet b/c of character of neighborhood. #
• Barbara Westbrook of Crozet speaking. Against. #
• Mr Brown said he asked “Ms Higgins, would you live in my house if the gas station was there? Her answer was ‘no’” #
• RT @realcrozetva: Richard Brown, who lives on Free Town lane speaking. Against. [We've got to live there!] #
• I’d like to hear one member of the public not affiliated w/ the applicant speak for it. Seriously #
• Richard Brown, who lives on Free Town lane speaking. Against. #
• Mike Marshall, chair of the Crozet Community Advisory Council speaking. Against. #
• Bruce Kirtley, owner of the Exxon station, speaking. “No motivation to squelch competition.” “Opposed to the size & scope” #
• I’d like to know what are the real comparable gas stations. Cc: @cvilletomorrow #
• “This is about preventing competition” … Maybe, but it’s likely more public opposition than business opposition. #
• What road improvements will the Station require? Bringing in a lot of trucks will necessitate a wider road, turn lanes, etc. #
• RT @gingergermani: Higgans said they consulted with the neighbors. I am sitting next to one of them who says they did not consult with them. #
• It’s amazing how small our community is. Former planning commissioners abound, on both sides of the issue. #
• Marcia Joseph speaking on behalf of herself. Giving history & context to BZA appeals & saying community should have input. #
• Tom Goeke (sp) speaking against Restore N Station & accompanying truck traffic. #
• Gardy Bloomers (sp) speaking on behalf of Scenic 250 organization. Against the big truck stop/station. Not against smaller store. #
• Personally, I can’t think of arguments for this that benefit the people of Crozet/Albemarle with respect to the Restore N Station. #
• Making the comparison b/t proposed station & BP station. The new one would be HUGE. #
• Hearing on proposed Crozet “Restore N Station” at 2pm today. http://bit.ly/dph5jH #22932 #crozet #
• Anyone know if the Crozet school & office supply store offers print/copy service? #
• RT @NBC29: A well-known Crozet man has passed away. Jesse McDaniel died last week after a battle with lung cancer. http://ht.ly/1Sdzq #
• RT @ryancordell: Charlottesville, Crozet, Virginia–you’ve been good to our family. Thanks for everything, and we’ll see you again. #fb #
• Anyone interested in pickup soccer in Crozet this summer? #
• At the Old Trail pool. It’s hot. http://tweetphoto.com/24749971 #

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Just a reminder that this weekend brings the Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival. And, but for a couple possible thunderstorms, it should be a beautiful weekend.

Deep in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia lies the little town of Crozet. Steeped in history and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, Crozet is a supportive, growing community close to Charlottesville. Monticello, Ashlawn, Montpelier, the University of Virginia, Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the nearby Shenandoah Valley make central Virginia a place of interest to visitors from all of the the world. Charlottesville is consistently ranked by Money Magazine as one of the 100 Best Places to Live in America. Those who visit often find ways to return – and some make it their permanent home.

The Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival is now entering its 30th year and has become a tradition for many artists, patrons, volunteers and entertainers alike. It has a strong reputation locally and the demographics of the area provide support year after year. Due to its central location in the Commonwealth and its convenient access to many major roadways, including I-81 and I-64, the Charlottesville area makes a great show stop between major cities. Any time of year is a good time of year to do business here.

Update: If you have some time, feel free to volunteer at the Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival.

The tents are up and we are getting ready to host over 100 exhibits for the 30th Annual Crozet Arts & Crafts Spring Festival. However, we are in need of more volunteers to help us Saturday and Sunday! Please, please consider volunteering an hour or two or more. But if you could only work an hour, we can use your help. There are a variety of tasks from running the information tent to pouring Starr Hill beer at the wine and beer tent on Sunday (must be 21 to volunteer at the wine and beer tent).

Any time you can provide will be greatly appreciated! Funds generated from this event help run the operating costs of Claudius Crozet Park, Inc. and ultimately will help us provide support for the Crozet P.A.R.C. campaign. It takes a village to run this event. Claudius Crozet Park, Inc, is a non-profit and independently-run park(no funds are received from Albemarle County).

See the link below and consider where you might be able to provide help with this event, please?

www.crozetartsandcrafts.volunteerhub.com (we only need your name and email when you sign up)

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!!!!!

www.crozetpark.org
www.crozetartsandcrafts.com
www.facebook.com/ClaudiusCrozetPark

P.S.
Entertainment on Saturday beginning at 3:30 p.m. will be Terry Allard, Darryl Rose and the Kid Pan Alley singing group. It promises to be great entertainment!

_______________________________________________

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCrozetVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCrozetVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Editor’s Note: Leslie Burns was kind enough to answer my call for someone to write about last week’s Crozet Community Association meeting.

A handful of Crozet Citizens showed up last Thursday to hear what is happening in our town at the Crozet Community Association gathering. Who are these folks? Why, they are your neighbors… hoping to pull together and grow community involvement. You might not have heard about the meeting or paid much attention to the small signs announcing it that were posted around the main intersection of town. But maybe it is time to start showing up at these association meetings…they only meet five times a year. It is not a huge commitment to make. That was one of the issues that came up at the meeting- how to reach out and connect the many neighborhoods and people living out there that have the health of our town in mind.

Here’s the dilemma. No tax revenues = no new funds to support the type of cultural and much needed improvements (think Library, road improvements, sidewalks, etc.) that are at the very heart of the Master Plan of Crozet. So where do the revenue hungry turn when it is time to welcome developers of light industrial business parks? The easiest places to access are usually given the green light for development first and we have a light that we should examine closely before we let it change on us. Some of the locations recently designated by our leaders for ideal growth are a few major intersections of highways with Rte 64.

It was announced tonight at the Crozet Community Association meeting that there is going to be a Master Plan review and meeting on Thursday, January 21st whose purpose (for one) will bring to light an idea that at least one person in our community claims will supply the revenue generating light industrial growth that Crozet (by way of our growth-area designation in the county) is destined to support. Where is this development to occur? The proposed development of land equal to the size of two Fashion Square Malls, sits quietly by the intersection of 250 and 64 at that sleepy little intersection that is the gateway to our homes and schools right now. Imagine a Waynesboro type intersection right next to our lovely pastoral village. Is this what you moved to Crozet to get close to?

If “Intersectionville” is the very name of the town you want to live in you may well get it, unless you show up to exhibit your commitment to an alternative way of life. The vision of retaining the downtown area and building it up to support sustainable and healthy growth alongside the tracks and within walking distance of community services already in place, will become nothing but a memory if the car and semi-truck driven sprawl is allowed to go in where it is proposed.

If you have an opinion to voice please show up on Thursday night on the 21st at the Field School auditorium (Old Crozet School on Crozet Ave.) at 7:00 PM. Meet some new neighbors and bring some neighbors that you already know. Meet some of the planning department representatives that have been actively involved in our master plan-consistently showing up to hear what YOU have to say. Listen to what is proposed to develop around us and become an active part of the small town that you moved here to enjoy. If you let others make your decisions for you- you are going to have to live in a world that someone else created for you and your children. Government is here as a tool of the people. If we do not interact, speak-up and have a hand in the sustainable design of our town here- it will not be a tool in our hands- but in the hands of those that would profit from business-as-usual sprawl. If the vision for Yancy Mills Industrial park and surrounding areas is not of a sprawling build out- let that be shown clearly to us.

Here’s the challenge… People that live in Crozet can affect how and where that revenue-creating light industrial growth is to occur by becoming the community that we claim we came here to be part of.

You want that small town feel? Now is your time to shine on Thursday- January 21st.

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCrozetVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

Basically, we’re taking our Christmas trees – sans lights and stands – to Crozet Park or Greenwood Community Center. Who’s going to be first?

From the County of Albemarle:

Trees will be recycled into free mulch for the public

It’s almost that time of year again!

As in the past, the Albemarle County Parks & Recreation Dept will host its annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program beginning December 26, 2009 through January 16, 2010. The Christmas Tree Recycling Program collects discarded Christmas trees which are chipped into mulch and then offered to the public at no cost. This program has been in operation since 1988 and recycles over 3000 trees each year; which in turn yields over 144 cubic yards of mulch. Not only does this recycling program provide citizens a place to dispose of a potentially large and cumbersome item, it also reduces the impact on our landfill.

By combining forces with the Charlottesville Curb Side Pick-Up Program, the two programs collected over 5600 trees last year, yielding approximately 268 cubic yards of mulch. According to the City Public Works Department, their curbside pick up will be the week of January 11th, 2010. Trees must be at the curbside by 7am. Shortly after the City’s curbside pick up, the County and City Parks & Recreation crews will team up to chip the estimated 2600 trees at Darden Towe Park.

As a reminder, this program is for Christmas trees only, please no yard waste. Both the County & City programs require that all decorations, stands and nails be removed from the Christmas trees. Free mulch will be available to citizen by February 1, 2009, at Darden Towe Park.

The County will operate seven sites daily, 7am till dark.

The sites are as follows:

- Chris Greene Lake in Earlysville

- Crozet Park

- Darden Towe Park

- Greenwood Community Center *

- Rivanna Solid Waste Authority Recycling Center on McIntire Road (*note: Sunday hours are 12noon – 5pm)

- Scottsville Community Center

- Walnut Creek Park

The recycling location on McIntire Road may be congested; please consider Darden Towe Park as an alternate location that is less congested and is suited better for large loads and contract haulers.

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCrozetVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

The Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival is this weekend, and with any luck the weather will be as good as it was this past weekend (which was perfect). This is a great event that tends to highlight one of the (many) reasons why it’s great to live in Crozet.

Wine tasting, children’s events, hundreds of arts and crafts vendors …

The Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival’s site has a nice history of the event, written by Tracey Pugh:

The first Crozet Arts and Crafts festival occurred in May 1981 with a roster of 28 artists and craftsmen. The idea was Mrs. George Kane’s. At the time she was serving as treasurer of Claudius Crozet Park and she was well aware that the Park desperately needed a source of yearly income to support it. In particular, there was the pressing necessity of paying off a very sizeable debt incurred when the 20-year-old junior Olympic pool required extensive repairs. The debt came to $53,000 and interest on it amounted to nearly $5,000 that first year.
…
In the years since its inception, advertising and other costs have climbed, guidelines for permits and licenses have become more rigid and offering an affordable show for the artists has become increasingly challenging. We not only want to raise money for the day-to-day operation of the Park, we want to ensure our artists make a profit as well. Most of the festival profits come from gate admission. There is a limit on how much the Festival can charge in space fees, and the monies received from those are spent on advertising and other expenses. Many of the ideas and principles implemented by Mrs. Kane are still in effect.

Claudius Crozet Park is a community non-profit recreational facility open to all. Our goal is to provide a clean, safe place for children to play, a place where families will want to spend leisure time together and where young and old alike can enjoy the beauty this area is blessed with. As the primary source of income for year round operations, the Crozet Arts & Crafts festival relies heavily on the support of local businesses and individuals to help ease expenses.

(They’re on Facebook, too!)

(Search for homes for sale in Crozet, or call Jim Duncan 434-242-7140)

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCrozetVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

I don’t know about you, but buying a season pass to Crozet Pool was one of the best decisions we’ve made in a long time.

End of the Summer Hours!!!!

The pool will be open during regular hours through Sunday, August 23rd. On Monday, August 24th the pool will be open from 11 AM to 5 PM. The pool will re-open on August 29-30th at our regular hours and again for the Labor Day Weekend. Please see the Labor Day Weekend note below for operation hours.

Labor Day Weekend

The pool will be open Saturday and Sunday at our regular hours but on Monday the pool will be open from 11 AM to 7 PM. Please come out and enjoy the last weekend the pool will be open this summer.

Mark your Calendars!

The last pool event is upon us and will be held this Friday. The pool will be open late and food will be served beginning at 8 PM. These events will be open to the public. The cost to all Non-Season Pass Holders will be $4.00 per person (with five (5) and under free). All Season Pass Holders must bring and show their ID/pass to get in free!

Food being served will be hot dogs, chips and both freeze-pops and sugar cookies.
_______________________________________________
Crzp mailing list
Crzp@ccp.avenue.org
http://ccp.avenue.org/mailman/listinfo/crzp

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Get your pool passes now! Even better, they will be using a new saline-based chlorination system.

This year, the pool committee has already been busy making other improvements for their patrons. First and foremost, the pool’s water sanitation process has been completely converted. Rather than continuing to use a granulated chlorine injection process for water treatment, the pool has converted over to a new, improved, safer water treatment system called ChlorKing®. This system makes it no longer necessary to have staff handle hazardous and expensive chemicals. It reduces the amount of room needed to store sometimes large, heavy quantities of chlorine that are necessary to keep the water levels safe. It creates a natural antiseptic environment that prevents bacteria and algae from forming. Furthermore, there is the potential that the ChlorKing saline chlorination system could reduce our system running costs by up to 80% annually.

As an added perk, while chlorine exposure to humans is often harsh, this system will be so much kinder and gentler to our natural bodies. Potentially gone are the days of red, irritated eyes or itchy, dry skin, green hair for our fair haired swimmers or even bleached bathing suits and the water will feel soft, silky and more all natural than ever before. There will be no more of that chlorine taste or smell; however, you will find a slightly salty taste to the water from now on, which is normal with this system.

This is something I have been playing with/testing – searching for homes in Crozet that have a reasonably high Walkscore … while the Walkscore data isn’t 100% accurate, it does serve as a reasonable guide … (if a house has a Walkscore of 3 it probably isn’t very walkable, but if it’s 50, there’s a good chance that you can walk to something (reasonably).

If you’re curious, search for Crozet homes with high Walkscores for yourself.

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This seems like a big win-win for the County of Albemarle and the Field School and a loss for Crozet Park, who have been leasing their space to the Field School.
The Daily Progress has the story:

Albemarle County officials have an idea about how to use the abandoned Old Crozet School: lease it to a private school and a nonprofit.
The Field School of Charlottesville, a middle school for boys, hopes to become a tenant, as does Old Crozet School Arts, a nonprofit that would offer classes in dance, visual arts, music, theater and other art forms.

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCrozetVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

From Albemarle.org -

The Christmas Tree Recycling Program collects discarded Christmas trees which are chipped into mulch and then offered to the public at no cost. This program has been in operation since 1988 and recycles over 3000 trees each year; which in turn yields over 144 cubic yards of mulch. Not only does this recycling program provide citizens a place to dispose of a potentially large and cumbersome item, it also reduces the impact on our landfill.

By combining forces with the Charlottesville Curb Side Pick-Up Program, the two programs collected over 5600 trees last year, yielding approximately 268 cubic yards of mulch. According to the City Public Works Department, their curbside pick up will be the week of January 12th, 2009. Trees must be at the curbside by 7am. Shortly after the City’s curbside pick up, the County and City Parks & Recreation crews will team up to chip the estimated 2600 trees at Darden Towe Park.

As a reminder, this program is for Christmas trees only, please no yard waste. Both the County & City programs require that all decorations, stands and nails be removed from the Christmas trees.

Free mulch will be available to citizen by February 2, 2009, at Darden Towe Park.

The County will operate seven sites daily, 7am till dark. The sites are as follows:

Chris Greene Lake in Earlysville
Crozet Park
Darden Towe Park
Greenwood Community Center
*Rivanna Solid Waste Authority Recycling Center on McIntire Road (*note: Sunday hours are 12noon – 5pm)
Scottsville Community Center
Walnut Creek Park

* The RSWARC on McIntire Rd. may be congested, please consider Darden Towe Park as an alternate location that has easy access and is suited better for large loads and contract haulers.

*** Editor’s note – I have pre-posted this in order to keep the above Crozet Park/Swimming post at the top.

Copyright RealCentralVA.com, LLC. If you like this post, please, visit RealCrozetVA.comwhere this was originally posted.

From the Crozet Park Board:

Claudius Crozet Park, Incorporated (CCP, Inc) is currently accepting applications to serve on its Board of Directors.

CCP, Inc is a non-profit (I.R.S. classification 501(c)(3)) organization which owns a 22-acre park in Crozet and operates the Park in partnership with Albemarle County Parks and Recreation. Directors are expected to attend monthly meetings and assist with ongoing efforts in Park planning, fundraising, and operations. The term of a Director is three years.

Interested applicants should contact Kelly Strickland at 434.981.6029 or submit a letter of interest to: Claudius Crozet Park, Inc. P.O. Box 171 Crozet, VA 22932 or via email.

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This year with wine tasting!

One note – if you happen to take photos of the Festival, please upload them to Flickr and tag them with “crozet” – that way they’ll show up in the slideshow to the right.

From their press release:

“Don’t miss central Virginia’s premier juried Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival. Saturday and Sunday Oct 11 & 12, 2008 Approximately 120 of the finest artists and craftspeople from around the nation will gather together. This two-day event is held, rain or shine, and, for many it is THE place to find one of a kind, handmade items of pottery, textiles, leather, glass, wood and metal as well as beautiful photography and art.

Our festive fare menu includes a variety of foods ranging from fresh popped Blue Ridge Kettle Korn, Lion’s Club famous gourmet hot dogs, K&R BBQ, local favorite La Cocina del Sol and MORE. There is no need to take a lunch break away from the grounds. The kids will be entertained as there are activities designed just for them including sand art, face painting, and more!

NEW – Wine Tasting Tent! Admission is $7 and includes a souvenir glass. Stop by our tasting tent and sample some of the finest wine this area has to offer. Identification required.

When you are ready to take a break, grab some lunch and a seat around the stage and plan to see local favorites Skyline Cloggers, magic by Dick Hildebrand, award winning bluegrass and more. All exhibits are handicapped accessible and under shelter.

Come and enjoy a day in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains and marvel at the beauty of the Virginia countryside. All proceeds benefit Crozet Park, a
community non-profit recreational facility open to all. Call 434-823-2211 or visit our website www.crozetpark.org for more information and directions.

Gate Admission is $5 for adults and children under 12 are free. No pets please.”

Update from an email:

“They can use a few more volunteers if anyone is interested in helping out in the community.
If you can give a couple hours for setup (today), call.

Update 14 October 2008 – I’d qualify the Festival as a huge success. I’ll try to do a full write up soon.

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The Second Annual Crozet Music Festival is on!

28+ Bands for $20 ($15 in advance)!!!

The First Annual Festival was well received; this year the Festival moves from Claudius Crozet Park to Misty Mountain Campground, and it should be even better than last year’s event (the alcohol problem should be fixed).

Local food, beverages (I hear Blue Mountain is coming, too!) and an impressive local music lineup in an atmosphere that is family friendly with a playground and more – what more could you ask for? If Crozetians will embrace this, it could turn out to be something mighty good.

Huge kudos to those putting this event together.

What else could you do that weekend, anyway? Will Goldsmith predicts UVA is going to blow out Maryland, C-Ville doesn’t show much going on that weekend, so why not come to Crozet?

Located at the Misty Mountain Campground on 250 West

Music Schedule: Noon – 8PM (schedule is coming soon!)

Acoustic Stage:

Saturday, October 4

Eli Cook
Devon Sproule
Paul Curreri
Helen Horal
Morwenna Lasko and Jay Pun
Greg Brown
Marianna Bell

Sunday October 5

Red Shoes
Jeebus
David Tewksbury
Martinez and Guthrie
Joia Wood
Joe Pollock

Main Stage bands:

Saturday Oct 4

The Wave
Jim Waive and the Young Divorcees
Hogwaller Ramblers
Travis Elliott
Six Chasing Seven
Tim Be Told
Kings of Belmont

Sunday Oct 5

Grey Matter
Chickenhead Blues Band
Trees on Fire
Ian Gilliam and the Firekings
South 29
Charlottesville Blues Allstars
Alligator

Tickets:

$20.00 At the gate
$15.00 Advance

Ticket Outlets: Mincer’s, Belair Market, Maupin’s Music and Video in Crozet and online at CrozetMusicFestival.com

Gates Open: 11:00

3 stages at a beautiful, full service campground. Rain or shine. Event to benefit The Western Albemarle Rescue Squad

Other activities include, over night camping, food, beverages, jam area, playground, game room, many cool vendors

*Disclosure: I am on the Board of Directors for the Festival.

Contacts:
Biff Rossberg
Chris Munson / 20 South Productions

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From Charlottesville Tomorrow -

Strickland did not make a specific financial request, but instead presented an overview of the role the pool at Crozet Park plays in western Albemarle County. He reminded the Board that the County assisted with the construction of the Crozet pool in 1996, and continues to provide financial assistance for some families thanks to a partnership with the County’s Department of Social Services. Strickland also suggested residents of western Albemarle County would benefit from an indoor aquatic facility.

Why no specific request?

Rooker told Strickland that he felt the Star Swimming proposal was specific, and included a plan that demonstrated how the facility’s operating costs could be maintained without ongoing County support. Strickland said that Crozet Pool would not be seeking operating costs from the County.

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What were the highlights? Lowlights? What can be done better next year? Favorite performance?

As the DP noted:

But from Seth Johnston’s point of view, things were moving along well. Johnston, who plays with The Rogan Brothers band, said the perils of putting together a music festival are enormous, “like invading Normandy, when nothing goes right.” He was impressed that short, 30-minute-or-so sets were moving along rapidly and organizers seemed to have pulled it off with aplomb.

“Charlottesville needs this,” said Johnston, standing near the beer truck and wearing a green velvet shirt and black cowboy hat, beer in hand. Several musicians said there is no similar venue or festival in the area and the event fills a void.

“All these local bands need to have an outlet like this,” Johnston said. He said local talent is impressive. Ian Gilliam, who played at the event, is a Stevie Ray Vaughan-like guitarist. Young rock bands are coming out of the woodwork, he said.

That the thing happened at all makes it an unqualified success. Next year will be better.

Technorati Tags: crozet, crozet music festival

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One of the best events in the region makes its fall appearance this weekend at Crozet Park. More information here.

Come and familiarize yourself with the Park grounds in anticipation for next weekend’s Crozet Music Festival.

Technorati Tags: crozet

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Competition makes the strong stronger, makes the efficient that much more so and forces needed changes and evolutions.

In Crozet, the Old Trail development (ultimately 2200 homes in a New Urbanist development) is a force to be reckoned with. They have plans for a fitness facility. Likely a grocery store. A pool next year. They have plans to provide “affordable” housing (which may have a different definition of “affordable” than many of us are used to).

The time for arguments about whether Old Trail should have been approved at such a scale, has past.

Crozet Park faces some very real competition. Currently, they have one of, if not the, best soccer field in the County of Albemarle. They have two very nice baseball fields, two playgrounds and an outstanding pool and swim team. When it comes to nuts and bolts, they are providing a product, and for the past forty years or so (a great history is here, provided by Crozet’s Brian Campbell) have held a monopoly in Crozet on these facilities.

But they won’t keep the reputation as having the best product if they don’t innovate and embrace their position as the hub of Crozet. Competition, by its very nature, takes advantage of the complacent.

Nostalgia can carry only so much; human nature causes people to go to the newer product. That’s why people buy new cars, new houses and new toys. “Used” items aren’t as much fun (and often not as valuable either).

Let’s hope that the Park Board sees fit to compete – the possibilities are endless.

Technorati Tags: crozet

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Ed. Note: One of my favorite parts of running RealCrozetVA is the reader submissions I receive from time to time. Should you ever want to write a story for the blog, please submit it here.

I wonder if anyone else who grew up in Crozet ever feels this way when they drive through Crozet today. I read that some feel the old Crozet was an eye sore, the old buildings and store fronts, etc. Maybe you need to go to Charlottesville to live. Crozet was a village.

The old bank is gone. Crozet Superette, run by Mr. Moses Sandridge and his wife is gone. The Crozet Shoe Shop is gone. The old Crozet Drug store, where Jimmy Robinson use to dip out the biggest ice cream cones for 10 cents, is gone. Old Seals’ gas station is gone. I remember Mrs. Seal well, sitting out in the front, helping out. Tomlin Grocery – long gone.  Sandridge Gas Station where the road to IGA begins. Morton’s Frozen Food, with the TV dinners, Ice box pies, etc – gone. Acme Visible records where my mother worked, closed. The Red Front Super Market and Nannie Wagner’s 5 and dime, just a sweet faded memory. Coffee Jackson selling Christmas trees in the parking lot beside the old bank, I just smile to think, “how did he make anything for his efforts?”

Crozet had a theater at one time. Crozet had a drive-in too. Crozet Pool was where most all of us kids stayed from sun up to sun down and then rode our bikes home, or walked. We all had swimming lessons too. Vacation Bible School at the old Crozet Methodist Church, and oh! the popsicles handed out at the end. All the fun sleigh rides down the hill in Orchard Acres. Christmas time was something else.

Fourth of July at Crozet Park was beyond excitment for us kids. We could barely sleep the night before it started. Starting first grade and Mrs. Sara Wyant. I loved her and she loved me. The train ride from Crozet Station to Charlottesville and then to McIntyre Park to play. Trick or Treating and our home-made costumes.

I rode through Crozet recently; it’s not the Crozet I remember.

Nothing like it. It has a feeling of not being sure who or where it  belongs. I felt sad when I rode to old Crozet Elementary School, I got out and walked around and went to the back of the school where I started first grade so many years ago. I walked through the play ground. I looked over and I spotted something that I knew could not  possibly be the same sliding board that I nervously slid down in 1962.

It sure looked the same. I went over and stood beside it. It still seemed larger than life to me. I looked underneath the sliding board and was so surprised to see stamped just under the steps it read, “Property of Crozet High School”. For all of you former Crozet residents you will know what that means.  I had found one thing they had not taken away from us. You know what I mean. I left with a feeling you have when you go back to a place you haven’t been for many many years and you find something that holds so much memory for you.

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Please email this story to your friends, your homeowners’ associations, whomever you think might be interested in contributing to the Crozet Community’s fireworks celebration.
Make those checks payable to -

Downtown Crozet Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 124 
Crozet, Virginia 22932

Text of the letter requesting funds is below the “fold.”

From crozetpark.org:

The annual Crozet Volunteer Fireman’s Fourth of July Parade will be held June 30th at 10:00 a.m. !

A summer fest – party will be held after the parade at Claudius Crozet Park with fireworks by the Crozet Community Association that evening.

I don’t know that the Crozet Community Association is the sponsor, and frankly, I don’t care. So long as the fireworks go on (and I can see from from my back porch)

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Dear Crozet community leaders:

I am writing as President of the newly incorporated Downtown Crozet Association, Inc. to ask for your support of a community effort for which our organization has agreed to serve as the coordinating sponsor.

After many years of providing a free Fireworks Display as part of their Fourth of July Fireman’s Carnival, our Crozet Volunteer Fire Department has reluctantly decided that they must give up providing this show which has become a tradition for our community. The fireworks costs have increased significantly and this expense was taking away from the purpose of their carnival – to raise funds to purchase fire fighting equipment!

The Downtown Crozet Association is a Virginia non-profit corporation (our IRS 501c3 application is pending) consisting of downtown Crozet merchants, property owners and others who are committed to preserving the identity of Crozet as a distinct community and promoting the small town values that drew us here in the first place!

We must raise $4,200 to Save the Fireworks and, although we have placed collection jars at locations around town, your leadership donation is essential to reaching our goal. Won’t you join us as a key patron for this community event? We have scheduled the Fireworks for 9:30 PM at Crozet Park on Saturday, June 30th as the concluding event of the day-long Summerfest.

Thank you for your interest in our town, Crozet.

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Courtesy of Brian Campbell. Thanks to Brian for this very informative comment, I thought it deserved its own post.

“Crozet Park was donated to the community some 40 or so years ago. I can get the exact date. It was specifically set up for the Crozet Community. It was not given to Albemarle County. As such, it was set up to be governed by a board to decide on it’s uses and operation. These board members are revolving and are elected with a typical President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Also, since we don’t operate under Albemarle County Parks System, we have a deed. Somewhere along the way, we established a good working relationship with the county. We don’t have the resources to take care of things like baseball and soccer fields, and the county needed these recreational resources for it’s citizens in the Crozet area. So we have a working agreement with the county. They supply and take care of all of the fields for the recreational programs, and we have the decision rights over what we want to have at the Park. The Park did build the pool and is in charge of it’s operation. We receive no money from the county for operation of the pool or any other activities. They just take care of up-keep of the hefields and grounds. The Park building is also owned by the Park. The actual programs are run by private non-profit organizations such as Peach Tree. This also helps us as we don’t have the resources to organize these programs. The Crozet Park Board consists of volunteers from the community consisting or groups that might have an interest in what is offered at the Park. This includes groups like Peach Tree, The Fire Department, The Lions Club, and we also have at large members, those that aren’t attached to an organization, but have an interest in how Crozet Park is run.

We meet the first Wednesday of every month to discuss the Park’s issues, and we’re always looking for new members. We like to have members associated with organizations or busineses, but we will take interested ordinary citizens as well. If anyone is interested in being on the board, they are welcome to get in touch with me. I hope this clarifies the Park’s operation some.”

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From The HooK today, referencing the new Field School, a single-sex school (of which I am a huge advocate, as I graduated from the former all-male Virginia Military Institute) - 

Barnett says he’s close to finalizing the school’s initial location, which will likely be in the Claudius Crozet Park community center in Crozet. He proudly shows architectural renderings of the space, which will feature flexible classrooms with moveable walls and a large central common area. The school is accepting applications for the fall for 16 spots in each the fifth and sixth grades. (Seventh and eighth grade will be added over the following two years.) A shuttle will take students from Charlottesville to and from school each day.

The question of the day – what will be the impact on Claudius Crozet Park? Presumably the Park Building will no longer be available for rentals.

Update: Todd Barnett clarifies and expands with his comment.

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From the Crozet Community Association listserv:

Bill Atwood, Architect for Crozet Station, the proposed redesigned, remodeled, and rebuilt commercial area stretching from the corner of 240 & 810 to Crozet Great Valu, came to the Crozet Community Advisory Committee last week, and presented his ideas for the new project. He would like to include Crozet people in the design phase of Crozet Station. Here is what he wrote:

I am looking for 14-16 people to work with me in the field towards creating a Crozet Architectural Language. I would like to start this process on or about 1 Nov 06 & conclude on or about 15 Jan 07. We will be establishing 6 – 8 Iconic architectural pieces in Crozet. We will be meeting regularly, at an agreed time. Bill

If you are interested, email David – dfwayl AT earthlink DOT net

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The bi-annual event continues this Weekend!

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The girls’ team I coach is in need of a field – the offerings in Western Albemarle seem to have become more sparse and the competition more intense.

Anybody know of a spare soccer field – or even an open, level field that we could use?

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