Crozet's community blog
If you hadn’t noticed, Google recently came through Crozet. And none of us saw them???
And they must have been through relatively recently – gas at the BP was $2.29. And the sign says “Crozet Park Pool opens Memorial Day Weekend”
And the Crozet Mudhouse was not yet open.
Brandon Shulleeta reports in today’s Daily Progress:
A plan that would refurbish business buildings in the heart of Crozet — connected to or within walking distance of new apartments — might begin within several months, despite major financial stumbles.
And Bill Atwood verbalizes succinctly something I’ve been saying more verbosely for years (bolding mine):
Atwood said that in the retail world, “the longer you can get people to stay, the better the pay. In other words, if you have somebody who’s actually going to stay and eat at dinner and actually walk around, you’ll be viable faster. … Having people live there is the ultimate.”
Atwood said that young residents are “more apt to want to be in town and places where you can socialize, buy a dog and buy a cup of coffee. … I think that the idea of joining a village is going to be as important the next 10 years as joining a country club in the last 10 years.”
This is good news for all of Crozet.
Thanks to Emily Harper for the comment:
This is an update from Nelson County, the owners of the Blue Ridge Tunnel. The Tunnel is closed to the public at this time and any unauthorized persons entering at this time are trespassing. The Tunnel walls are not stable at this time. It is disappointing that some trespassers have been leaving trash and defacing the walls with graffiti.
It is the County’s objective to restore the Tunnel and convert it to a pedestrian trail. Woolpert Inc, our architectural & engineering firm is in the process of determining the most feasible, cost effective methods for rehabilitation and design of the Tunnel and related trails. Once that is complete construction will begin as funds are made available.
We appreciate your interest in the Tunnel, are working to make it safe for your enjoyment, and ask that you stay away until it’s completed.
I can’t help but publicize the Batesville Store’s writing. It makes me want to go this weekend. This is their weekly newsletter:
Dear Friends of The Batesville Store,
Relax. Kick back in your chair and plop your feet on the desk. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. Imagine:
The cool of a cold beverage pressed against your cheek. The riot of fragrances wafting from the garden. The clattering of Little Leaguers’ cleats on concrete and the cicada-like chatter of the infielders. The sounds of music from outdoor parties floating in the air late into the night.
And then, repeat after me:
Summer . . . never . . . ends . . . never ends . . . never. . . ends . . . never . . .
And it doesn’t—not at The Batesville Store. Don’t believe me? Then check out our “Fourth of July” Cookout this Saturday evening from 6:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m.
Getting us all in the mood will be the great high school rock band, Wille DE and the Wave. Featuring Batesville’s own Willie Denton-Edmundson on lead guitar and vocals, the quartet performs regularly at Floyd Fest, the most acclaimed rock festival in the Southeast, and won first place in the 2009 “Virginia Got Talent” competition. These kids are good. Very. Good.
While The Wave rocks inside, Kyle will be outside with the Char-Broil, grilling up a whole mess of burgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and veggie kabobs.
Meanwhile, Liza and Roberta will be lining up the farm table with cole slaw, potato salad, mac & cheese, baked beans, and roasted potatoes.
Plunk down 10 bucks (8 dollars for kids under 10) and you can eat and eat and eat . . . till summer (never) ends.
And if you are looking for something cool to beat the heat, we will have Sierra Nevada and Yuengling on tap as well as our usual selection of wines.
So climb into your shorts, put on your favorite tee, slip on your sandals, and head on down to the store. It’ll be a hot time in the old town Saturday night—don’t be left out in the cold.
Fondly,
Cid
From a reader:
Went to Anna’s grand opening last night in the Old Trail retail center. Looks like a local winner to me. Prices are reasonable and it’s family oriented but by no means a Chuck-E-Cheese kind of place. We were greeted by a wonderful aroma as we went in the back entrance where the wine bar is – they had a good wine selection with some local offerings. We had a couple of the specials which were excellent but were also drooling at the pizza and lasagna being served at nearby tables. Can’t wait to try those. Very personal and personable service and the head chef, family matriarch, and part owner, Maria, came out to talk to us about her authentic Sicilian background and recipes. The outside of that whole area could use some additional unobtrusive lighting in the parking lot and retail area but it’s tolerable at this point. I could go on but try Anna’s yourself, I think you’ll find it a fine addition to the Crozet area, even though it’s in Old Trail. You may be familiar with the original Anna’s in C’ville (which I haven’t been to) but it’s great to have a Crozet version nearby.
ed note: The phone number for Anna’s Pizza in Crozet is 823-1327. (434 area code for those of you not familiar with the area)
Update 22 October 2009: A second review of Anna’s Pizza in Crozet is coming next week.
Please join us Friday-Saturday, October 23-24 for the Crozet Spirit Walk. The Spirit Walk is a guided history tour of Crozet featuring 20 local actors and musicians that serves as a fundraiser for Field School. The tour ends at Old Crozet School, recently refurbished by Field School. Actors portray a variety of actual area historical figures from the 19th and 20th Centuries. Tickets ($5) are available at Mudhouse in Crozet.
Tours begin at 6:30 and depart every fifteen minutes through 8:30. Please park at Field School. For more information, please call Field School at 434-923-3435.
Update 23 October 2009: The Daily Progress has a nice story today on the Crozet Spirit Walk
From a reader:*
Crozet Baptist invites you to come hear great acoustic music Sunday, October 25. We are having our annual Fall Festival but this year besides Brunswick stew, cider pressing, and great kids activities we are adding a Folk Music Festival.
We are thrilled to bring a Virginia favorite, Robbie Schaefer (of Eddie from Ohio) to our part of town. He’ll bring two sets of music, the first at 4:30 featuring music from his children’s cd Songs for Kids Like Us, and then at 7:00 he’ll share his exceptional music and lyrics from his two cds In the Flesh and Strange and Lovely World.
But wait, there’s more, local faves Jan Smith and Scuffletown will also be performing – Scuffletown from 5:15 on our outdoor stage and Jan at 6:30 opening for Robbie. How much, you may ask, would one have to pay to have so much fun? Nada, zilcho, zero, come, be our guests! For directions check us out on the web: www.crozetchurch.org –street address, 5804 St. George Avenue, Crozet, Virginia 22932!
* Editor’s note: Thank you for the reader-submitted stories. We’ve had more reader-generated stories in the past month than we had in the first three years!
The next Crozet Business Networking Group meeting will be Tuesday, October 20th at 8:30 AM at the Old Trail Clubhouse. Our speaker will be Bill Gilliland with Action Coaching. His topic is hiring the right team members. Look forward to seeing you there and as always please invite other Crozet Business owners to join us!
Also, don’t forget about the Crozet Health Fair and 1 mile Family Fun Walk/Run on October 18th 2-5 at Crozet Baptist Church. The Crozet Business Networking Group is sponsoring this so please help pass the word!!! Over 20 health care providers, free screenings, children’s activities including a moonbounce. Put it on your facebook, twitter, etc. pages! You can cut and paste the information below:
First Annual Crozet Health Fair, Sunday, October 18th from 2-5 at Crozet Baptist Church. Over 20 healthcare providers offering free screenings, massage, and health information. Kid’s activities including crafts and a moonbounce. 1 mile Family… Fun Run/Walk starts off the fair with healthy activity! Lectures about nutrition, stress management, and first aid. Bring your whole family to… Keep Crozet Healthy!
As a part of the October activities for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), Marcia McGee, owner of Trailside Coffee, is leading the first Virginia-based “Pink Tulip Project Garden” located in Old Trail Village, Crozet, Virginia. Originally started in Maine, the Pink Tulip Project raises funds for breast cancer research through the creation of pink tulip gardens and the purchase of pink tulip bulbs. (www.PinkTulipProject.org)
Pink Day, October 17th, will allow community members from across the Commonwealth to order tulip bulbs for the Project Gardens in Old Trail Village. These gardens, planted in public view for everyone’s enjoyment, are a symbol of hope for those affected by cancer in our community. The concept, created by cancer survivor Robin Whitten, has raised over $120,000 for cancer research since its inception in 2006. Once ordered, the tulips will be delivered for Planting Day in mid-November.
Marcia McGee, whose mother passed away from cancer in 2008, found the Pink Tulip Project in a magazine. “When I read about the project, I was excited to participate and signed-up immediately. 100% of the profit goes directly to cancer research, and that’s really important to me. After talking about it with my employees, some of whom are seniors at Western Albemarle High School, they wanted to get involved, too. This Saturday’s ‘Pink Day’ is our kick-off for the effort to reach our goal of $2,000 for research.” Sold for $2 per bulb, all of which is donated, the Old Trail goal will provide an acre of tulips for the four planting locations.
…
“Pink Day” will feature the sale of pink tulip bulbs at each business in the Old Trail Village Center (OTVC). Additionally, Trailside Coffee will offer pink cupcakes and pink lemonade. The bulbs will be on-sale through November 1st; after that date, the bulbs will be ordered and Planting Day will be on Saturday, November 7th (rain date on Sunday, November 8th).
For more information, contact Marcia McGee, Trailside Coffee, [email protected], 434-205-4253.
Read the whole thing at C-Ville.
There are plenty of contentious issues at stake, but it was nonetheless a calm affair when dozens of Crozet residents turned out to Western Albemarle High School on September 30 to be briefed by Albemarle County staff on the mandatory five-year update to the Crozet Master Plan, adopted in 2004. Folks listened politely as staff described progress on a major downtown streetscape project, the new library and a 28-unit affordable-housing project for seniors called Crozet Meadows.
Also, please read the guest post by Leslie Burns here on RealCrozetVA:
At the town meeting on Sept. 30th, the progress of the Master Plan was reviewed by individuals spearheading each part of the plan that are seeing progress. A brief review showed attention to all of the 7 Guiding Principles. Take a moment to review the principles that you in Crozet set out as a guide from the very beginning of this process: