Author: Jim Duncan

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Boy Scouts, Western Park, Downtown Crozet Redevelopment

Lots of stuff was discussed last night in the CCAC meeting.

Alison Wrabel with the Daily Progress was there and has a great recap.

Click through to read all the tweets; there’s a lot there, and thankfully, I wasn’t the only one tweeting!

Continue reading “Boy Scouts, Western Park, Downtown Crozet Redevelopment”

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Discolored Water in Crozet is Fine

We talked about this on Twitter over the weekend. I spoke with Gary O’Connell with Albemarle County Service Authority today and he was kind enough to send the following: (please read to the end)

Late last week and into Friday, new water treatment equipment at the Crozet Water Treatment Plant needed to be serviced unexpectedly.  In order to properly service the equipment, the water treatment plant production schedule had to be changed. This included greater reliance on one of the water tanks, which may have led to the water discoloration (natural minerals in the water that are not a health risk).   While the discolored water was not aesthetically pleasing, it is safe and meets all federal and state drinking water standards.

We received some calls late Friday and over the weekend from Highlands, Old Trail, Parkside Village, Cory Farm, Foothill Crossing, Brookwood/Crozet Park Area and Westlake Hills.

Even during a Drought Warning and mandatory restrictions, water quality comes first.  Flushing from a fire hydrant is one of the best ways to quickly clear out discolored water and replace it with fresh water. We have conducted minimal flushing near the Water Treatment Plant on 240 and several other locations in Crozet to remove the discolored water.

This discoloration, contrary to some social media posts, has nothing to do with algae in the reservoir, nor with the drought. The discoloration seems to be related to the equipment failure, and subsequent flushing appears to have slowly cleared up the Crozet water system.

The ACSA has active Twitter/Facebook/Instagram postings where we list all water related issues and water emergencies that our customers can utilize. Also for an immediate response to a water quality concern or other water related issue, please call our 24/7 on call number at 434-977-4511, we will immediately respond to check out any water related issue. Our goal is safe, clean and reliable water for your use.

We apologize for any concerns this might have raised.

Gary

Gary O’Connell

Executive Director

Albemarle County Service Authority

(434)977-4511

EVERY DROP COUNTS! CONSERVE OUR PRECIOUS WATER

A few thoughts –

  1. The water is fine.
  2. I’m profoundly impressed that ASCA has an active Twitter account; they responded at 9:19pm on Friday night.
  3. Walled-gardens kill the internets. I like NextDoor; I was an early adopter of it in 2014, the Albemarle County Police are there now, and the site is a great thing. But it’s not the internet. It’s not open. It’s not searchable by outsiders. And that sucks.
    1. Recently in Crozet, there have been issues with water (ASCA), cable (Comcast and here), and Verizon and here.  Lots of discussions on NextDoor as well, but … Comcast, Verizon, and ASCA aren’t there … so … lots of information and complaints to an echo chamber. 
    2. If you have an issue, mention them on Twitter, @ me at RealCrozetVA   and I’ll retweet as necessary … or … call them so they have a record. If one person calls, one person tweets, and 19 people tell each other on a piece of the internet that the service provider can’t see … there are only two reports of an issue. End ranty advice.
  4.  We are in a drought. Be a good neighbor and community member and conserve, please.

We had this discussion in 2014 as well.

 

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CCAC Meeting – 18 October 2017 | Western Park, Downtown Redevelopment

CROZET COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Crozet Elementary School Cafeteria
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2017 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Agenda

  1. Agenda Review (DaveStoner – CCAC chair)
  2. Approval of Minutes
  3. Western Park Master Plan Update (Bob Crickenberger, Albemarle County – 60min)
  4. Barnes Lumber Rezoning Update (Frank Stoner, Milestone Partners – 45min) [tentative]
  5. Neighborhood Improvement Funding Initiative (NIFI) Update on Crozet Square  Streetscape (Dave Stoner – 15 min)
  6. Items Not Listed on the Agenda
  7. Announcements & Future Agenda Items
    1. NovemberCCAC
    2. Re-Store’n Station SP Amendment Update

For those attending & tweeting (anybody?) and for those following along on Twitter, the hashtag will be #CCAC1017

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Crozet Spirit Walk – October 23-24

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

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Cider Pressing at the Crozet Farmer’s Market – 10 October

Freshly made apple cider will be featured again this year at Crozet Farmers’ Market. Wayne Clarke will bring his wooden, hand operated press and apples from Henley Orchard. If you’ve never tasted cider straight from the press, you’re in for a treat. If you’d like more than a complimentary cup of cider, bring a clean jug and make a donation. All donations will go to organizations that assist impoverished people of the Appalachians.

And try your hands at African drumming! William (Whit) Whitten will be at Market to offer a lesson in African drumming beginning at 10:00 AM, all ages welcome and drums available. Don’t miss this opportunity to share Whit’s years of experience in learning and teaching the rhythms of Africa’s many cultures.

As always, local fruits and vegetables will be available for purchase along with fresh cut flowers, potted plants, herbs, arts, crafts, hand-woven items, homemade baked goods, farm eggs, and heirloom varieties of tomatoes and peppers. A Master Gardener Horticultural Help Desk will offer Cooperative Extension publications and advice appropriate for this time of year, and a children’s activity will feature decorating pie-sized pumpkins. Along with a pumpkin, your child may take home directions and a recipe for making a pie from scratch.

Market hours are 8AM until Noon; cider pressing begins at 9 AM and drumming at 10 AM.

New vendors are always welcome, Crozet market asks only for 5% of your sales. Just show up and set up, no reserved spaces.

Location: parking lot of the Crozet United Methodist Church

1156 Crozet Ave, Crozet, VA 22932

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Wrapping up the Crozet Town Meeting – 30 September 2009 Crozet Town Meeting- September 30 2009

Ed. Note: This story was written by RealCrozetVA reader and commenter Leslie Burns.

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:

The 7 Guiding Principles of Crozet’s Master Plan–

– Building Distinct Neighborhoods

– Linking the community through multiple forms of transportation, including walking and bicycle riding.

– Diversity, affordability and choice in housing stock.

– Promoting locally grown businesses that provide jobs for residents.

– Valuing and conserving natural resources.

– Families, History and Diversity provide identity to the community.

– Actively supporting the community facilities-parks, pool, library etc.

Lee Catlin and Ann Mallek welcomed and introduced the evening’s presenters and their purpose. Individuals working directly with each area presented an overview of the progress being made.

Bill Letteri – Director of the Albemarle County Office of Facilities Development- spoke about the many facets that make up the master plan as a whole and how they work together. He urged Crozet to stand united behind the plan which has $15 million in funds scheduled to help realize the vision.

Trevor Henry– Albemarle County Senior Project Manager- brought us up to date on the Library and introduced the elevation/drawings for viewing. The Library is working towards a LEED Silver certificate, making it not only a pleasant place to read books, but an environmentally friendly place as well.

Jack Kelsey– Albermarle County Transportation Engineer- spoke of the progress being made on the Streetscape project. The preparations for the utilities work is almost complete, as well as slow and steady progress towards gaining easement rights downtown. The process is still on schedule. The new curbs, sidewalks and trees, as well as removal of the utility lines will greatly enhance the downtown experience.

Jarman’s Gap project (a VDOT project) for widening and improving the usability of that road is also on track and is an active piece of the Master Plan puzzle.

Bill Schraeder– Chair of Fundraising for the Crozet Library- urged all those present and beyond, to be creative and provide sources for funding of the library. He asked all of the citizens of Crozet that work for, or have retired from corporations/businesses who donate through matching funds or otherwise, to reach out to them for monies to be donated to the Crozet library. You can contact Bill directly or donate using the following contact info:

Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library-Crozet Building Fund
1500 Gordon Ave., Charlottesville, Va. 22903
phone: (434-977-8467 | email
Crozet Library Fundraising Committee-Bill Schrader, Chair
phone: (434)823-8420 | email

Ron White– Albermarle County Housing Director- let us know that new affordable housing project at The Meadows (on Crozet Ave.) is ahead of schedule. A grant of $700,000 provided funding for the land and site preparation that will bring the total units at the Meadows to 66. The new buildings are Earthcraft built- meaning that they are in line with green building specifications. Once the new buildings are completed, the older units will be renovated. This housing is specifically built for those 62 years and older.

David Wayland– heads the Crozet Historic District and updated us on the Historic District designation, which has been approved. The area included is north from the Rock Gate cemetery on Crozet Ave. up to the Old School, west on St. George and east to include the downtown area.

Elaine Echols– Albemarle County Principal Planner- gave us a five-year update on the Crozet Master Plan. Crozet is one of eleven growth areas in Albemarle County. They project that by July 2010 the planning and preparation should be completed and bids for work to take the progress forward will occur.
Albemarle County Police had Sergeant Pete Mazmer (sp) speak about the police presence in Crozet and in this section of Albemarle County. Main concerns he addressed were traffic and safety.

All speakers were available to answer questions and provide more information following the brief updates.

PLAN TO ATTEND the first of many scheduled forums to discuss individual Master Plan topics. The first forum will be held at the Old Crozet School on October 15th, hosted by Crozet Community Advisory Council.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED???
Sign up for Crozet e-news from A-mail: www.albermarle.org/amail
Check out the Crozet website: www.albermarle.org/crozet

Attend the Crozet Community Advisory Council regularly scheduled

Meetings on the 3rd Thursday of each month, 7-9 PM at The Meadows

For more information on the Crozet Master Plan please call Rebecca Ragsdale at 434-296-5832 or email.

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Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival – October 10 and 11 2009

The Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival is this weekend, and with any luck the weather will be as good as it was this past weekend (which was perfect). This is a great event that tends to highlight one of the (many) reasons why it’s great to live in Crozet.

Wine tasting, children’s events, hundreds of arts and crafts vendors …

The Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival’s site has a nice history of the event, written by Tracey Pugh:

The first Crozet Arts and Crafts festival occurred in May 1981 with a roster of 28 artists and craftsmen. The idea was Mrs. George Kane’s. At the time she was serving as treasurer of Claudius Crozet Park and she was well aware that the Park desperately needed a source of yearly income to support it. In particular, there was the pressing necessity of paying off a very sizeable debt incurred when the 20-year-old junior Olympic pool required extensive repairs. The debt came to $53,000 and interest on it amounted to nearly $5,000 that first year.
…
In the years since its inception, advertising and other costs have climbed, guidelines for permits and licenses have become more rigid and offering an affordable show for the artists has become increasingly challenging. We not only want to raise money for the day-to-day operation of the Park, we want to ensure our artists make a profit as well. Most of the festival profits come from gate admission. There is a limit on how much the Festival can charge in space fees, and the monies received from those are spent on advertising and other expenses. Many of the ideas and principles implemented by Mrs. Kane are still in effect.

Claudius Crozet Park is a community non-profit recreational facility open to all. Our goal is to provide a clean, safe place for children to play, a place where families will want to spend leisure time together and where young and old alike can enjoy the beauty this area is blessed with. As the primary source of income for year round operations, the Crozet Arts & Crafts festival relies heavily on the support of local businesses and individuals to help ease expenses.

(They’re on Facebook, too!)

(Search for homes for sale in Crozet, or call Jim Duncan 434-242-7140)

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To the Person Who Backed into the Car at the Crozet Mudhouse

Be responsible and ‘fess up. Please. From a comment on the CvillePieFest post:

Nice photos. The Mudhouse was busy. Unfortunately the parking lot was even busier. Our car was parked on the row near the tracks and was seriously backed in to. No note was left, tho I’m sure the other car was damaged. No quote yet but I may rethink coming in to big Mudhouse/Crozet activities.

I hate to make such a negative post on RealCrozetVa, but I’d hate even more for the person who backed into L Ward’s car to not send an email or leave a comment apologizing. Heck, email me your contact info and I’ll pass it along. This shouldn’t happen, darn it.

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Crozet PARC – a Dome for the Crozet Pool

The new Crozet Park Aquatic and Recreation Center (Crozet PARC) will be the first of its kind in Albemarle County. It will provide affordable year round swimming and fitness programming for families in the western part of the county and beyond.

Our fundraising campaign has two phases. The first benchmark is to raise $200,000 in the community to match a pledge from Claudius Crozet Park, Inc. This $400,000 benchmark will provide the funding to add a removable dome to the existing pool; the final phase of the campaign will provide the funding to convert the existing park building into a recreation center that will offer fitness equipment, classes, after- school and camp programs, and community space for healthy lifestyle workshops. The Crozet P.A.R.C. will be a special place, open to all, regardless of ability or income.

Campaign Goals:
• 2009 – 2010 Pool Dome Fund Drive
• 2010 – 2011 Recreation Center Fund Drive
Claudius Crozet Park, Inc. is a community-owned charitable organization (501(c)3).

All gifts are tax deductible and can be mailed to:
Crozet Park Pool Dome
PO Box 171
Crozet, VA 22932

Make checks payable to Claudius Crozet Park, with pool dome written in the memo section.

Information will be available at the Crozet Music Festival October 2nd, 3rd & 4th and at the Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival on October 10th & 11th.

For more information or to make a donation on-line visit our park website after October 1, 2009
and click on the Crozet P.A.R.C. campaign tab. The park website is www.crozetpark.org.
For additional questions contact Ravi Respeto from the fundraising committee at [email protected].

More at Crozet Gazette.

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A Review of DaLuca’s in Old Trail

I tweeted last week about how my wife and I were trying out the new wine bar, DaLuca’s, in the Old Trail Town Center. That tweet prompted this reader-submitted* review:

DaLucas is newly opened and we are thrilled to add yet another restaurant name to a rapidly growing list of other new eateries in Crozet.

Yippee they are here – however – some tweaking needs to occur if they are going to flourish and compete with what is already out here and what is on the way.

Having worked in New York in the food and entertainment business I tripped over myself to be first in line at Dalucas after having read their posted menu pre-opening that seemed Zagat worthy to me.

Upon arrival I was disappointed that Sauvignon Blanc was not available by the glass – it may be on the wine menu by now if others like me who enjoy a good grassy wine have requested it.

My husband and I ordered two drinks – a pinot grigio and he a beer that was an interesting lemony/citrusy brew – forget the names but was good.

Then the three tapis – quite pricey and not very large for a tapis serving in my mind. Quality too was lacking, but hey, it was only night two since opening.

The bill was a shocker at $65.00 and we went home still hungry.

We love the view of the mountains from the patio, we love that they are here but we hope the prices come down some and the wine bar expands its choices of wines (hint we have some great local wineries to add to your wine menu – Mount Fair, King Family, White Hall).

We want to support these nice folks – all of them from the wait staff to the owners – but with current prices we can’t afford DeLucas very often.

Foodie Mom in Crozet

As I said again on Twitter:

@crozette at $60 minimum for 2, da Luca’s won’t be a weekly (or monthly) outing for most, I suspect

*Thank you for the review! If you would like something on RealCrozetVA, please let me know.