Senior Living Apartments Approved
At a public hearing October 11, the Nelson Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a Special Use Permit to build 12 apartments for independent living seniors age 55 plus in Afton.. The property, at 9485 Rockfish Valley Highway on Route 151, is currently zoned A-1 Agricultural and has three abandoned buildings that will be torn down. Quakeela Teasley and Charles Meade, the applicants, presented the plan for two separate six-unit buildings on the 10-acre parcel. Teasley is a Nelson County native who grew-up in Shipman and graduated from Nelson County High School before becoming a registered nurse working in home health care. Rentals are expected to be near $3,000 monthly.
Misdemeanor Update to Dog Ordinance
Nelson Supervisors voted unanimously October 11 to update the current Dogs Running At Large (3-43) ordinance. Animal Control Supervisor Kevin Wright successfully argued that offenders will be more willing to comply with the new law by increasing the severity of the penalty for owning a dog running loose to a Class 1 misdemeanor for a first offence. Written warnings and civil penalties have been eliminated.
Biosolids and Water Treatment Residuals
Public notices and invitation for public comment are issued for two environmental permits in Nelson County. Aqua Virginia, Inc. has applied for Wintergreen Stoney Creek STP treated sewage wastewater (VPDES Permit VA0074047) to be released into Allen Creek at 0.12 million gallons per day. Allen Creek is at the South Fork of the Rockfish River watershed.
Synagro Central, LLC re-applied for an existing permit to include land application of biosolids and water treatment plant residuals as fertilizer to specific sites in Nelson County.
More details are found at nelsoncounty-va.gov/2022/
Afghan Refugees in Community
Rockfish Presbyterian Church (RPC) and Rockfish Valley Community Center (RVCC) cosponsored a speaker from Kabul, Afghanistan, on October 27. Meena A. asked that her full name not be published nor photos printed for security. Meena is an Afghan-American psychologist who fled Afghanistan in 1992. As an experienced counselor, Meena has been involved with providing mental health counseling and support to Afghan refugees resettled in the United States since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. The presentation described the beauty of country of Afghanistan, the culture, and challenges faced by refugees. More than 30 people attended and provided contacts for assisting refugees. Victor Monti identified a local church, Grace Episcopal, in Massies Mill, that is sponsoring refugee families. Other local services recommended include Church World Service, Waynesboro, and Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Charlottesville.
Rockfish Valley Community Center News
Rockfish Gallery Grand Opening
The new Rockfish Gallery and Gifts first opened in July with a fully volunteer crew. Now with the Gallery running smoothly Thursday through Sunday, a grand opening celebration was held Sunday, October 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. Attending artists included Tom Evans, Nancy Lauler, Chuck Strauss, Cindy Gilmer, Jill Averitt, Sue Waterman, Tom Wilkinson, Sue and Ron Soloman, Michelle Jenkins, Amelia Williams, Jean Shipman, Nancy Donnelly, and Michele Reday Cook.
Christmas Tree Sale
RVCC volunteers will bring a hundred fir trees from North Carolina—due to arrive before Thanksgiving—to be sold for Christmas. Trees will be available for pickup at the rear of the main building.
Indoor Winter Market Opens
Beginning on Saturday, November 5, local wood crafters and artisans will return to the indoor market along with produce, meats, cheeses, jams, baked goods, plants, and greenery from 9 a.m. to noon. The market runs on the first Saturday of the month along with pancake breakfast service 8:30-10:30 a.m. Vendor information is available at 434-361-0100 or [email protected].
Holiday Concert
Harps of Gold Concert will be offered to the public on December 10 in the RVCC auditorium. Save the date for this special event. Details will follow.
