By Ken Wilson – Pretty country town, warm and friendly people. If you think that’s a Chamber of Commerce cliché, a Hollywood screenwriter’s daydream, come to Madison on Saturday, September 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the 25th annual Taste of the Mountains street festival, and talk to Steve Grant, owner of Blue […]
By Celeste M. Smucker– Welcome to our annual public schools feature! This comprehensive article with overviews written by each of the school districts provides information about the host of educational opportunities available to students in Charlottesville City, Waynesboro and surrounding county schools. If you are planning a move to central Virginia, or have your eye […]
Charlottesville area private school schools offer impressive options, with plenty of choices to meet the specialized needs of every child. The following are descriptions— in their own words—of the philosophies and offerings of just a few of our impressive private schools to give parents and children an overview of the remarkable opportunities these institutions have […]
By Ken Wilson– The first season of the annual Staunton Music Festival, “if you can call it a season,” says Artistic Director Carsten Schmidt, was just a handful of concerts over a weekend in 1998. “It was very small and it was very improvised and it was just a bunch of friends. There was basically […]
By Marilyn Pribus – Furniture that isn’t new goes by many names: previously-owned, second-hand, or even antique. We’ve always called it “very early heirloom”—that wobbly-legged chair from my grandmother, the many-times painted dresser from my in-laws, and the heavy, gouged round oak table from my parents’ attic. But in each case, the price of free […]
By Celeste M. Smucker– Water draws and fascinates us, and along with mountain views is the natural feature most sought-after by home buyers. Whether we own a lot on one of our local lakes, a home on the James River or a rural property with its own pond, water adds value to our lives. The […]
By Ken Wilson– Put me on a mountain, way back in the backwoods. Put me on a lake with a biggin on the line. – Montgomery Gentry We have the mountains, we have the backwoods, and we sure do have the lakes and the rivers. Fishing and boating enthusiasts have everything they need here in […]
By Ken Wilson – Call it a day trip. Take three or four and call them a staycation. Describe it as a spiritual- journey-cum-geographical quest, an exercise in mindfulness via the family car. The nomenclature doesn’t matter, the trip’s the thing, and whether you’re conserving cash, stopping to smell the roses, or just exploring because […]
By Marilyn Pribus – “Buy fresh, buy local” is great little bumper sticker you see around these parts. And it’s a wonderful motto. When we shop local, we support our whole community and a great place to start is at farmers markets because the money we spend there stays right here. In fact, a Virginia […]
By Celeste M. Smucker– Go west across Afton Mountain to discover the independent cities of Waynesboro and Staunton where residents relish their panoramic views and enjoy amenity-rich, small town lifestyles complete with rapidly growing commercial sectors that offer all the conveniences of life in big cities. Known for its easy access to outdoor activities, this […]