I’ve asked a couple of times over the years for folks to write at RealCrozetVA.

In 2005. And in 2008. And yesterday someone actually emailed me and asked if they could submit a story.

Short answer: Yes. Please do write for RealCrozetVA.

Slightly longer answer from 2008:

The goal remains the same now as it did then – to provide a forum for Crozetians to learn about and discuss growth issues, cultural events, news … whatever the community dictates. A lot has changed, and a lot remains the same.

While this is a “hyper-local” blog and I’m sure I could do some things to get business from it (I happen to be a Realtor), getting business was never the goal.

The offer to the community remains – if you want to write for RealCrozetVA, please let me know. At the very least, I’d appreciate your telling your friends about this site.

Admittedly, the glory and fame is overwhelming, but if you’re up to the challenge, and can stand to spell correctly and use correct grammar, please let me know if you would like to write for the site.

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I am working with some wonderful buyer clients who are building a home in Old Trail. The building process started when they were out of town, so I started taking pictures and videos for them so that they would be able to see what was happening at the site of their new home.

Watching new construction happen is always a fascinating process. If you’re interested, you can watch the process yourself. If you’re curious about the prices for these new townhomes, I have you covered there, too.

Two issues with the above-linked posts.

1- I always forget to remove my signature from the emails, thus cluttering up the posts and

2 – I really would like to get a new phone with a better camera than my blackberry.

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What a slow summer week in Crozet …

• @OldTrail what happened in the pool? in reply to OldTrail #
• RT @DailyProgress: RT @nytimes: NYT NEWS ALERT: House Panel Says Rep.Charles B. Rangel Violated Ethics Rules[and? What're they going to do?] #
• RT @OldTrail: Old Trail Swim Club closed for unexpected cleaning until 6pm. We apologize for any inconvenience. [Ugh.] #
• Thinking it’s about time for the swim meet to end at Crozet pool. Or at least turn down the speakers. #
• RT @JimDuncan: RT @cvillenewscom: @JimDuncan The SCOTUS has ruled that *only* sobriety checkpoints are legal. http://is.gd/dzCnN #
• 30 minutes ago there were 5 or 6 police cars in front of Musictoday/Starr Hill, cops were putting on the yellow vests. What’s going on? #
• RT @JimDuncan: It’s @TrailsideCoffee ’s birthday today! http://post.ly/nhnb #

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Do you know? Where is this neighborhood in Crozet?

Sure, it’s a good safety display, but from my point of view as a Realtor, it’s enormously useful.

Did you know?

So a broker who says something like, “There are tons of little kids in this building neighborhood — it’s really family friendly” could be accused of specifically steering families to the building and driving people without children away from it.

For this post, as it is about real estate, I will disclose again that I am a Realtor who lives in Crozet.

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We’re privileged to have great breweries in the area … now they’re coming together to make a beer together.

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• RT @MudhouseCrozet: Come to “Star Fk Radium” Today from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm. http://www.starfkradium.com http://fb.me/A2lRCh7t #
• RT @JimDuncan: Stopped into Greenwood Grocery for a sandwich, ended up tasting & getting a bottle of Cardinal Point’s Rockfish Red. #
• RT @MudhouseCrozet: Come to “The Dreamtime Project ” Saturday, July 24 from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. (cont) http://tl.gd/2iuc47 #
• RT @girlsonfood: RT @girlsonwine: White Hall in Crozet, Va., What a great place! Great tasting and friendly staff: http://bit.ly/ac33ba #
• RT @JimDuncan: Nelson County’s going to have a cidery! #
• Had a good time at the Crozet Tweetup. Nice to see familiar faces … With more of these, there will be more familiarity! #
• #comcast is bumping rates again. Glad I’m locked in for another 9 months. I hope. #
• RT @cvilletomorrow: Planning Commission rejects proposed business park reviewed as part of the Crozet Master Plan http://bit.ly/bqiUNu #
• Curious – as a consumer, what three real estate data points are you most interested in? #
• @trailsidecoffee is celebrating their one year anniversary this Sunday! http://bit.ly/cJyc9F #
• @paulawhite dumb question: w/ so many teachers losing jobs, does ACPS need another admin? in reply to paulawhite #
• I see the reports on the Crozet master plan & can’t wait for the @cvilletomorrow report for the full report. #
• Crozet Master Plan meeting tonight – last one of the Planning Commission process – http://bit.ly/9Sn1Hj #
• RT @CBS19: [NEWS] Crozet Company Receives Death Threats for Selling Sculptures http://bit.ly/aT5nif [what a shame] #
• RT @jasonsee: RT @NBC29: The parking issue at The Square in Crozet could be resolved soon. http://ht.ly/2arPO #
• Confirmed. Greenhouse Coffee is hoping for a fall opening. http://bit.ly/bSl68z #
• Cocina del Sol is ugly now. http://bit.ly/9YBdLE #
• Three stories posted on RealCrozetVA & RealCentralVA. I’m done there for the day. #
• RT @Ebvalentine: @realcrozetva I played the Old Trail course this weekend — gorgeous. Can’t believe it took me this long to get out there! #
• Breakfast place in Crozet? http://bit.ly/9j1y6K cc: @petermcarey @centofante @thecatwell #
• Greenhouse Coffee is coming? http://bit.ly/br36Wc Working on it … #

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“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!”

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Charlottesville Tomorrow reports:

While Albemarle County is seeking to increase its industrial and commercial land activity, proposals reviewed as part of the Crozet Master Plan to build a new business park and convert some residential homes to mixed use have been rejected by the Planning Commission.

The one thing I have not yet heard or read is what types of businesses might be in the business park. That would be helpful.

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Voice your opinion now rather than gripe about things in five years. See the agenda and supporting docs at Albemarle’s site.

c. CPA200900002 Crozet Master Plan 5 Year Update Amend the Land Use Plan section of the Albemarle County Comprehensive Plan by replacing the existing profile for the Community of Crozet and the Crozet Master Plan with a revised Crozet Master Plan, which establishes new land use policies, guidelines, recommendations, goals and strategies for future development within the master plan area, which may include or exclude lands beyond those described in the existing neighborhood and community profile and the removal of an approximately 29-acre portion of TMP 56-66 (NE of Firehouse Lane) from the Community of Crozet boundaries.

The master plan would establish the following for the master plan area: a vision for the area and guiding principles; land use designations and centers, mixed use areas, employment areas, residential areas, preservation areas; a plan for the transportation network, and its integration with the land uses; a plan for providing and supporting community facilities and services; a plan for parks and green systems; and a plan for implementing the master plan. In conjunction with the Crozet Master Plan, the following will also be considered:

(1) CPA 2006-02, to remove the proposed road shown in the Crozet Master Plan across TMP 56- 14D; (2) CPA 2007-002, US Route 250/Crozet Avenue (NW Corner)-Ploumis property (TMP 56-16), a proposal to amend the Crozet Master Plan from Development Area Preserve and Development Area Reserve (CT 1& CT2) to Urban Center/Mixed use (CT5); and (3) CPA 2008-002, Yancey Mills Business Park, located near 6317 Rockfish Gap Tpke and I-64, to amend the Land Use Plan from Rural Areas to Industrial Service, a proposal not within the Crozet Master Plan boundaries but considered with the Crozet Master Plan studyprocess. Copies of the full text of the Crozet Master Plan and related maps are on file in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and in the Department of Community Development, County Office Building, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia

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In the meantime here are three recent photos in Crozet …

Goodwin Creek bakery wants to be your friend. (great bread, purchased at Great Valu)

We’ve had some great sunsets in Crozet recently.

Harris Teeter has more local foods … “Six or fewer hours from the farm to your Harris Teeter”

Fardowner’s new patio:

Cocina del Sol is ugly. I hope the gray is a primer.

Update: It’s not permanent. Thanks to @brmtcrozet

Update #2 – Aargh. It’s going to stay ugly.

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Is inventory increasing? Looking at single family homes for sale in Crozet, it certainly does look like inventory is increasing. Breaking the Crozet inventory down by te top and bottom pricing quartiles – (see all of this week’s real estate reports)

Attached homes are a bit less predictable. I’m trying to sort out the massive spike, but I’m pretty sure I know what it is (email me if you’re curious).

There is so much more real estate data and reports; sign up to get them all for free. (and spam free)

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I’m not it, but I’d like to think RealCrozetVa is a good resource for those moving to the area and for those who live here.

I love digging through search terms that bring people to my blogs. This was an interesting one last week … someone from New York searching for resources to educate themselves on Crozet.

I assume they’re contemplating moving to the Crozet area; what are the things you would tell someone moving to Crozet?

1 – Read the Crozet Gazette.

2 – Educate yourself about the Crozet schools. (Western Albemarle High School, Henley Middle School, Crozet Elementary, Brownsville Elementary, Field School …)

3 – Search for homes in Crozet. You can even search for Crozet foreclosures.

4 – Ask questions.

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Crozet Park at 5pm.

Canceled.

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• Today was @MudhouseCrozet ’s one year anniversary. thanks for a great year! #
• RT @centofante: Crozet really needs a good breakfast place. Get on it, @JimDuncan [seriously. We *need* a breakfast place!] #
• @mtechman Rain seems to be either starting up or tapering off. It can’t decide whether to continue in reply to mtechman #
• RT @k12albemarle: WINA radio coverage today: Albemarle High is in Newsweek’s top 6% of high schools in U.S. for (cont) http://tl.gd/2dkfk8 #
• RT @ChilesPeachOrch: The sky is dark…..come on rain…. #
• RT @nelsoncountylif: From NCL: Blackberry Harvest Festival http://www.nelsoncountylife.com/2010/07/08/blackberry-harvest-festival/ #
• RT @nelsoncountylif: From NCL: Brew Ridge Trail Music Festival http://www.nelsoncountylife.com/2010/07/08/brew-ridge-trail-music-festival/ #
• Rain! Sounds like big drops that will stop in 3 minutes. Or less. #
• RT @MaryBethBowen: RT @OldTrail: Tweetup at @OldTrailGrille, Th., 7/15, 5:30pm. #crozet #tweetup (Yay! Day after (cont) http://tl.gd/2cphdt #
• RT @MudhouseCrozet: Hey-Yo! The Crozet Mudhouse is turning 1 year old this Saturday!!! Celebrate with us! The (cont) http://tl.gd/2cph33 #
• Fardowner’s has a patio. Sweet. #
• @MudhouseCrozet is kinda like a big living room tonight. #
• Getting some work done @MudhouseCrozet , listening to live music, young kids hanging out, bringing in stinky Chinese carryout. #
• Cut back on power today from 2 to 5. http://bit.ly/97aBSt Or all the time, really. #
• In the past 90 minutes, I’ve collected about 1. 5 gallons from my AC’s condensate drain. Need to find a way to consistently harness H20 #
• I’m thinking that “loosing stool” in the pool should be a expulsion offense. Or at least 2 week suspension #
• RT @JimDuncan Makes me want to go to the Batesville Store this Saturday http://post.ly/mFvB #
• Darn. Crozet Pool is closed today. Remember Caddyshack? #
• I had no idea that Crozet had a company that made Hindu statues. http://bit.ly/bnjPvn #
• What is @nestrealty ? http://bit.ly/a8q36a #
• RT @Maryberri: great free fireworks show from old trail apartments…glad i didn’t end up going into charlottesville #crozet #
• With no official Crozet fireworks, there seems to be more scattered fireworks. And more “big” fireworks. #
• Fascinating question on CSPAN this morning – “Is America exceptional?” #

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They’ve gone 32 years without being criticized.

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PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT CROZET MASTER PLAN REVISION

The public is invited to provide comments regarding proposed revisions to the Crozet Master Plan at a Planning Commission Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the Lane Auditorium at the County Office Building on McIntire Road.

On July 6, materials related to the Master Plan revision process will be available online at www.albemarle.org/crozet, at the Community Development lobby and at the Crozet Library.

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• Over the Moon Bookstore opens. http://bit.ly/cnJPs8 #
• [Obscenely good] RT @MudhouseCrozet: Fresh, hot Monkey Bread just went out of the kitchen. Sold the first whole (cont) http://tl.gd/29k5i2 #
• RT @fluvannareview: FAST Noses Out Crozet Gatorshttp://bit.ly/bA4azX #
• Walkthrough + closing then try to build new business. #
• RT @JimDuncan: Amazing sky tonight in Crozet http://post.ly/l7Fl #
• RT @OvertheMoonBook: We actually did it. We opened! And customers came in, browsed, and bought books and gifts (cont) http://tl.gd/26aets #
• Listening to the podcast of yesterday’s radio show; I’m 18 minutes in and my show notes are looong. We covered a lot. http://bit.ly/b69LE9 #
• If anyone is looking for a babysitter/mother’s helper in Crozet, please DM me. I know a great one looking for work. I vouch 100% #

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Sunday, July 4th!

This marks our second planned event and again will be open to the public. The cost to everyone will be $3.00 per person after normal pool hours (5 and under are FREE!). Bring the whole family out for some fun and enjoy your 4th of July right here in your own backyard!

Activities include:

DJ and Bubble Party! performing for the kids between 5-7 P.M. Family-friendly music, kids’ games, and 2 giant bubble machines – all at no extra charge!

Between 8-10 P.M. there will be live local music featuring Gwynne Wood and the Civilians (alternative pop, rock and country) and a second band (hopefully) to be named later.

Of course, the pool will also be open for swimming during this time.

Burgers, hot dogs, watermelon, cold drinks, and all our regular concessions menu items will be on sale after 5 pm at our concessions stand.

Bring your lawn chairs and make an evening of it (no alcohol, please)!

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“We shouldn’t have to justify our right to clean water and air.”

Great work by the Crozet Gazette.

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The temporary agreement was set to end today, but shop owners recently signed a one-month extension, said Crozet Hardware Co. owner Rick Ruscher. Another month is good news. Better news would be if the County and the railroad would sort this out permanently.

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• RT @CrozetGazette: RT @OvertheMoonBook Pssst. We’re opening tomorrow at noon. http://fb.me/xRDgjGNi #
• RT @rprav8r: Crozet copy shop by Great Valu rocks. Excellent service, done in a jiffy. [I love that place; I can stay in Crozet more often!] #
• Bother. No rain. Or wind. I feel bad for Charlottesville folks who got hammered by the storm, but I really wanted some rain #
• Slow, big raindrops. I hope it fills up my empty rain barrel. #
• @readermtwriter Are you open? What are your hours? in reply to readermtwriter #
• Possible wreck on 240, on the “Y” side of 240. #
• RT @MarcisMrBig: FREE beer tasting at Greenwood Gourmet in Crozet VA 4:30-6:30 on Friday!! Three beers, YUM!! #
• RT @cvillenews_desk: Liability agreement deadline looms for Crozet Square - http://bit.ly/a0omhf #
• RT @mastomillers: New review: Crozet Pizza - http://j.mp/cOwStY #
• Just upgraded the theme on http://www.RealCrozetVA.com – would you mind checking it out? #

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Who doesn’t love Crozet Pizza? For me, the pizza debate really is Dr. Ho’s versus Crozet Pizza.   

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For those who aren’t in or not satisfied with Comcast or Sprint/Embarq/Centurylink whatever (DSL) – courtesy of the Batesville Store email list: (bolding mine)

Dear Friends of The Batesville Store,

I am writing to you today about the launch of Batesville Broadband, a privately owned and operated company that will bring affordable high-speed Internet service to western Albemarle and northern Nelson counties.

If you are satisfied with your current Internet service provider, do not live in the areas listed below, or simply do not want high-speed Internet access, please accept my apologies for annoying you with this email.

If you are seeking affordable high-speed Internet access, however, please read on for information about the service, including a list of the areas that Batesville Broadband will cover in the coming months.

But first:

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT BATESVILLE BROADBAND IN GREATER DETAIL, PLEASE COME TO AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE STORE THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 20, FROM 4:00 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M.

I will be joined at the Open House by Miguel Laboy, the project’s lead technician, and Whitt Whitaker, our chief installer and head of technical support. After a brief presentation, we will answer questions.

IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT TO THE OPEN HOUSE BUT WOULD STILL LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BATESVILLE BROADBAND, PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL WITH YOUR NAME, PHYSICAL STREET ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER. (Editor’s Note: email address is cid **AT** thebatesvillestore –DOT — com)

Here are some key features of Batesville Broadband:

– In the coming months, we intend to cover these areas: Batesville, North Garden, Greenwood, Plank Road West, Craig’s Store Road, The Batesville Road, Miller School Road, Ivy, Route 151, Afton, Avon, Nellysford, Crozet, White Hall, Free Union, Covesville, and Lovingston.

– We will take subscriptions as early as this Sunday and begin installing the service next week.

– For a monthly fee of $59.95, two computers in a house will have access to the Internet through Batesville Broadband’s password-protected web portal. Access for each additional computer costs $7.50 a month. The monthly fee also covers the subscriber’s lease of the equipment. There is a one-time installation fee of $99.00

– Payment is month-to-month. There are no long-term contract obligations. If a subscriber decides to drop the service, there are no hidden or additional costs. If a subscriber does not wish to use the service in any given month, no payment is required. A subscriber can re-activate the service at any time without penalty.

– The service uses a combination of ultra-high-speed T – 1 lines and state-of-the-art wireless technology to create a web of access points. Clear line of sight to the southern sky is not required, nor do houses need to be wired with fiber optic or other expensive direct cables.

– Batesville Broadband does not require dish receivers of any kind. The equipment used in most installations has virtually no visual footprint. A small outside antenna and an even smaller interior receiver will be sufficient in most cases. More difficult installations might require the use of a narrow green pole that is bracketed to a tree and has a small antenna at the top.

– Tests of the system show consistent, symmetrical upload and download speeds of 1.2 to 1.45 megabytes with latencies ranging from 12 ms to 50 ms. “YouTube” videos download without buffering. The low latency makes for great online gaming.

– Subscribers will not have to deal in any way with a phone company, cable company or satellite Internet service provider. Liza and I own the company. We have no silent partners or private investors. I will be managing the project. All of our technicians, installers, and tech support specialists have local ties.

– Subscribers with service problems will not be routed through an auto-menu or have their calls answered by someone overseas. Tech support will be handled locally.

– The service will allow for Virtual Private Networks, and within a matter of months, Batesville Broadband intends to offer VOIP, an Internet-based phone service.

Liza and I have lived in Batesville for twenty-four years and know from experience that as high-speed Internet access has become a virtual necessity of life, finding an affordable, reliable method for gaining that access in a rural community has remained virtually impossible.

We have tried dial-up, two different satellite services, and a cell phone company’s portable broadband system, and we’ve found all of them to be severely wanting. It seems that every few months the phone company promises that DSL is coming our way “very soon.” The area’s electric coop has been touting its “Internet Over the Electrical Lines” project for close to ten years. People tell us that cell phone cards work okay—when they are not glitching out or slowing to dial-up speed.

We have heard the sales spiels, subscribed to the services, dealt with remote tech support call centers, and torn our hair out as the “latest solution” has turned out to be little more than the most recent problem. In other words, we’ve experienced what many of you have experienced—and it’s not fun.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands and develop an Internet service that actually worked—and that my friends, neighbors, and I could have some say in, some control over. I believe that I have found this in Batesville Broadband.

I am looking forward to discussing the project further with you Sunday.

Fondly,

Cid

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Shenandoah National Park is observing its 3rd annual Neighbors Day on Saturday, June 19th, with free admission to The Park along with a 20% discount on SNPA bookstore purchases. Just show your driver’s license from a county bordering the park. — This program was initiated by the Blue Ridge Committee for Shenandoah National Park Relations. Visit www.nps.gov/shen/

Sincerely,
Phil James
Chairman, Blue Ridge Committee for Shenandoah National Park Relations

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Download all the Crozet real estate market reports for this week; sign up to receive them yourself.

I’m trying to figure out what happened in February with respect to the spikes ….

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