Category: Crozet

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Urgent need to Conserve Water in Crozet

So say The Daily Progress, WCAV and WVIR. From the DP:

The Albemarle County Service Authority is asking residents and businesses of the Crozet area to curtail water consumption for the next few days.
A water line break discovered today is limiting the amount of water available to the area.

Residents are asked to not wash vehicles and delay laundry until early next week.

Restaurants are asked to serve food on paper plates to minimize the number of times they run the dishwasher.

The voluntary water restrictions are a “precautionary measure” to ensure that firefighters have enough water to extinguish any potential fires.

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You want more fields in Crozet?

Mark you calendars, then.

Community Workshop for the Western Park Master Plan Scheduled for March 25

Crozet area residents are invited to attend a Community Workshop to discuss their vision for the new Western Park on Tuesday, March 25, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Western Albemarle High School Cafeteria.

The goal of this community workshop, which is the first step in the park master plan process, is to solicit comments, advice and suggestions from Crozet citizens about the features they would like to see in the long-term plan for the new Western Park.  The workshop will also include information about the existing conditions at the site.

As identified in the Crozet Master Plan, the creation of Western Park in Old Trail is an essential part of the network of public parks and greenways envisioned for the Crozet Development Area. The future parks and greenways network will provide recreational opportunities for the community, protect sensitive natural systems, preserve public areas that characterize Crozet, and link neighborhoods to downtown and other areas in Crozet and the region.  35.8 acres have been established for the Western Park greenway and park area, to include a mix of recreational uses such as sports fields, trails, picnicking, and preserved areas. The first step towards the creation of Western Park is the creation of a master plan for the long-term development of the park and greenway area.

Rieley and Associates, a local landscape architectural firm, has been selected to develop the Western Park Master Plan. A committee consisting of County staff, Old Trail staff, representatives of the Crozet Park Board, the Crozet Community Advisory Council, the Crozet Community Association, and an at-large member will meet regularly to provide direction to the consultant throughout the Western Park Master Plan process.

For more information, including maps and graphics of the actual park location, visit the Western Park Master Plan page on the County websiteTo receive email updates about the progress of the project, go to www.albemarle.org  and sign up for Amail, the County’s e-news service.

Thanks for the heads-up, Lee!

(reprinted entirely from an email from Albemarle County)

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Crozet Cougar?

WCAV describes today how the Crozet mountain lion is terrorizing a neighborhood.


Creative Commons License photo credit: JasperYue

This story has been covered several times in the Crozet Gazette; spend some time looking there for more information. Specifically, start downloading the pdfs from August 2007 on for the aftermath of this letter:

I am shocked and concerned that the people of Crozet appear not to be alarmed by recurring reports of a mountain lion in their town and vicinity.

I live in the Maryland-Washington DC com- muting area and may relocate my family to the Crozet area, so I have visited Crozet many times and read the Crozet Gazette online. The Gazette has reported the “Crozet Cougar” at least twice now, the latest in the July 2007 issue. For under- standing, readers should note that this predator is known by several names: cougar, panther, puma, mountain lion, and lion.

Apparently the people of Crozet are not aware of the lion’s mortal threat to the community. If they were, there would be a call to eliminate this predator before tragedy strikes. But no concern has been voiced, at least not in the Gazette. And certainly no decisive action has been taken to protect the public, because the lion is still at large after multiple sightings over the last year.

I am writing this letter to awaken the Crozet community to the danger of mountain lions to people, especially children, with the hope that citizens will act to avoid a tragedy which will darken the life of the community for many years.

Note: the photo is not from this area.

Update 02/28/2008: The Daily Progress does a thorough vetting of the Crozet Cougar story.

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Crozet Needs more Soccer Fields

Desperately. Four teams were practicing on the one soccer field at Claudius Crozet Park. Granted, this is a temporary situation until the time changes and the teams slated for 6pm slots will actually start at the correct time, but this photo highlights the problem.

There is an opportunity here – find land for soccer fields in Crozet. Who’s up for the challenge?

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Who likes Bordeaux?

If you do, there’s another new vineyard in the Crozet area. From a press release forwarded to RealCrozetVa –

Five years ago Chris and I began a journey into the world of winemaking. We went to seminars, talked to experts in the business, hired a consultant and ultimately took the plunge. We decided Mountfair Vineyards would focus exclusively on the reds — and in particular, the Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot.

Our old horse barn would slowly become a winery — a climate controlled barrel room, timber framed tasting room, lab and bathrooms were added while lots of stainless steel equipment found its way into the structure. In the vineyard we tilled the rocky soil, built trellis and established 5 acres of vines. While our plants matured, we were fortunate to source fruit from an award winning vineyard just up the road.  In the Fall of 06 we crushed our first grapes and are now proud to offer our first wines from that vintage:

INAUGURAL

in•au•gu•ral adjective marking a beginning, first in a projected series.

Cabernet Franc—with a strong supporting cast. Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec compliment Virginia’s favorite grape. Spicy Boysenberry and Raspberry flavors up front, black pepper undertones, subtle oak finish. Petit Verdot lends additional structure and color.

Cabernet Franc (50%), Merlot (25%), Petit Verdot (20%), Malbec (5%)

More Info/Purchase

BELATED

be•lat•ed adjective delayed beyond the usual time.

A harmonious balance of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. Silky, Black Currant and Plum fruit, clean lingering finish with just a hint of oak.

Merlot (60%), Petit Verdot (20%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%), Malbec (5%)

More Info/Purchase

In March, we’ll ship our next release “Wooloomooloo” to our Wine Club members. The wine club receives a quarterly shipment (March, June, August and December) of six or twelve bottles and gets first dibs on all new releases. Additionally, club members enjoy a 20% discount off all winery purchases as well as invitations to exclusive winery events. Learn more about the wine club.

Our goal is to make the finest red wines in Virginia, offer a different level of personalized service and perhaps have some fun along the way. We hope you’ll join us.

Fritz and Chris
Mountfair

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Pick up your February Crozet Gazette

It’s on news stands now, and should be online in the next few days.

Pick it up at any of these places –

Albemarle County Office Building
A.M. Fog
Anderson’s Store (Rt. 151)
B & B Cleaners
Batesville Store
Blue Ridge Builder’s Supply
Bright Beginnings (Crozet)
Brownsville Market
Chiles Peach Orchard
Crozet Blue Ridge Dentistry
Crozet Dairy Queen
Crozet Family Medicine
Crozet Great Valu
Crozet Hardware
Crozet Laundromat
Crozet Library
Crozet Pizza
Crozet Veterinary Care Center
D & W Market
Fabulous Foods
Gateway Market
Augusta RegionalChamber of Commerce
Greenwood Gourmet
Greenwood Country Store
Hunt Country Store
Ivy Corner
JMRL Main Library
Joy Mart
King Family Vineyard
Maupin Brothers Store
Maupin’s Music and Video
The Meadows
Modern Barber Shop
Mountain Area Realty
Mountainside Senior Living
Music Today
New Dominion Bookstore
Old Trail Golf Course
Old Trail Sales Office
Otto’s
Parkway Pharmacy
Piedmont Store
Rice and Rice
Rockfish Country Store
Second Heaven
The Snack Corner
Starr Hill Brewery
Subway (Crozet)
Teresa’s Cafe
Toddsbury of Ivy
U.Va. Credit Union (Crozet branch)
Waynesboro Tourist Center (Afton)
Wyant’s Store
Area Schools (when in session)

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Avoid Interstate 64 this morning

Thanks to 511 and WCAV:

Accident involving truck: – Tractor Trailer Accident: Albemarle County, on I-64 east, at mile marker 114.5, about 15 miles east of Waynesboro. Both lanes are closed, and traffic is backed up about 3 miles. There is a detour in place, off of Exit 107, and onto US 250. Expect delays.

One of the best things about living in Crozet is that, unlike other parts of the Charlottesville/Albemarle area, there are two routes into Charlottesville – 250 and 64. 250’s going to be slow this morning, but it’s a lot better than if 29 North gets shut down. At least we have options.

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Pulled from the Comments – Why I chose to move to Crozet

My family moved out of Charlottesville to a farm near Crozet 9 years ago. We moved out this way because we could see the way things were changing in the north of Albemarle County, way more traffic, more subdivisions, more shopping centers. I grew up in SC which has been taken over by shopping centers and developments. When one gets run down, the developers move a mile down the road, abandon the first shopping center and build another. There are many abandoned shopping centers around Greenville, SC. It is an ugly, concrete filled, traffic inundated place, that used to be green and lovely until the developers took over. I would hate to see that happen to Crozet. It seems to be already happening in the north of the county.

I love old Crozet. Yes, it is rundown in some ways, but my kids love watching the train at the old library, I love being able to look for books in the library and still being able to keep an eye on my kids. If the library doesn’t have a book that I want, they will get it for me from another library in the county or in the state. I love that the librarians know my name, and that I know the people in the hardware store, and the pizza and grocery store.

I really would rather not see the Harris Teeter go in on 250. Our traffic will increase substantially, and where one store goes, others will follow. I make a trip to Charlottesville or Waynesboro once a week for a major shopping trip, what I run out of during the week, I shop for locally.

I love that I can have chickens, roosters, donkeys, horses and cows and no one complains about the noise, smell, flies, … We live in what is now a rural area. How long that it will remain that way is questionable, but I chose to move here because it was a largely rural area. I think that it is the charm of the area, and keeps it unique. If we add all the things that people want like a movie theatre, Chinese restaurants, more pizza places, more stores, then it will begin to be more like NoVA and less like Crozet. What will make our town unique? We will look like every other place in suburban USA.

Editor’s Note – anyone is welcome to submit a story to be published on RealCrozetVA.com. If you’re interested, please let me know. Also, a new library is coming.

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What to do this week in Crozet

Monday 28 January & Thursday, 31 January –

Peachtree Baseball

6-8 p.m. at the Crozet Firehouse

$65.00 Due at the time of registering.

Please bring a birth certificate for each child registering.

For more information visit our website.

Tuesday, January 28 –

There is a FREE tax seminar this Tuesday, January 29 at Crozet Library at 7:00 PM in the meeting room.  If you have questions about the Alternative Minimum Tax delays or just want to make sure you are getting every deduction you deserve please come meet our tax professional.

Tuesday, January 28 –

The Planning Commission will hold a work session on Tuesday, January 29, at their regular 6:00 p.m. meeting, to review and discuss the Crozet Downtown Zoning project.

Discussion will include review and recommendation on proposed regulations for a new Downtown Crozet Zoning district and boundaries for a potential County-initiated rezoning to the proposed zoning district.

The Commission will be asked to review and provide specific comment on the following issues:
• Proposed By-right & Special Use Permit Uses permitted by the proposed Downtown Crozet Zoning district regulations
• Boundaries of County-Initiated Rezoning
• Buffer/Screening Adjacent to Residential Districts requirements of the proposed Downtown Crozet Zoning district
• Information regarding potential impacts of a County-initiated rezoning, including implications to the Entrance Corridor & Architectural Review Board (ARB) guidelines

Thursday, January 31 –

Benyaro at Uncle Charlies at 9pm!

From a truly underground (NYC subway) background, the uniqueness of Benyaro, a folk-pop trio led by Ben Musser and sister, Meg Chamberlin, is the creation of songs with themes of idealism, mountains and stars, and a latent spirituality while keeping to a simple folk-pop format. Older listeners will recall memories of late 60’s-early ’70’s country pop that one might see on TV.  “Humble Child” is a fine introduction, with a sound comparable somewhere between a righteous Gram & Emmylou, and Three Dog Night.

Ben Musser and Tucker Yaro met in the spring of 2005. A “craigslist” match-made-in-heaven, both were happy to discover they lived right down the street from one another in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. So, they got together and started playing.

Tucker was into the sound coming from Ben’s four-track, and Ben was into Tucker’s playing and singing. Benyaro was born and the two took their sound to the subway platforms, not having a venue to perform at. They drew large crowds and were soon offered slots in various NYC venues despite having no demo or recorded material.

Once in the NYC club scene, Benyaro augmented their sound by adding the voice of Meg Chamberlin. Meg, Ben’s sister and a singer in her own right, adds an incredible female voice and occasional percussion to the band.

Since then, Benyaro has not only performed all over Brooklyn and Manhattan, receiving praise for their unique acoustic roots/soul sound, but has also opened for the legendary Malcolm Holcombe in Boston, NYC, and Johnson City (TN) as well as performed on their own in Austin, Nashville, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Charlottesville, Richmond, Blacksburg, Raleigh, Charlotte, Gastonia, Boone, Pittsboro (NC), Spartanburg, Columbia, Hartsville (SC), Savannah, Gainesville, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, De Land (FL), Beaumont (TX), Harrisburg, Wilmington (DE) and Mackinac Island (MI). Benyaro has achieved all of this without a studio recording. They did appear on a radio show in Blacksburg, VA (WUVT) and were able to use that humble recording for booking and to sell at shows to start spreading the good word that is their sound.

Note: If you have a story idea or would like to publicize your event, please let me know.

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