Plank Road Exchange (former Batesville Store) is Now Open

The Plank Road Exchange (the former Batesville Store) is now open. And the sandwich I had was delicious. I’ll be back.

I was showing property to clients this morning and we went through Batesville. We drove past the Plank Road Exchange, and I made a U-turn because I saw their “Open” sign. Conveniently, my clients’ baby needed food, so the stop was well-timed (and they’re great new clients moving to the Crozet area). I took a few photos, got a juice, and left. Later today, I met another client and was supposed to meet a contractor who was serendipitously late. While waiting, we looked at the menu and decided to make a quick run to the Plank Road Exchange, and I’m glad we did.

While there, the store was what I’d hoped it would be – a place to get a fantastic sandwich (try the MC-50!*), the sides looked great and it looks like their ABC license is in the works … but what really defined the store was the friendliness of the proprietors, Aris and Jessica, their exuberance and the community they are facilitating. My client ran into her friend while we were there, a group of people were eating lunch and having what seemed to be great conversation, kids were running around (without being brow-beaten to be quiet by their parents), the pie was “delectable” … the Plank Road Store, which opened this past Saturday, was perfect.

Their opening is exciting – Batesville (based on my clients’ words, not mine; I don’t live there) – needs this store, needs this hub, needs this gathering and meeting place. I’m glad they’re open.

Or, as Lonnie Murray said:

“The store has been the cornerstone of our community and we’re really glad to see it opened again.”

Find them: (they say they’ll have “live music on the weekend”!)

– On Facebook
– On their website (under construction)
– On Twitter

* I would have taken a picture of my sandwich but I was way too hungry!

Spaghetti Supper to Benefit the DI Team

via email:

Those design-crazy, technical, artsy Fifth Grade Fasteroni Thinkers have won 1st place in the State Championship and are taking their spaceship and paper-mache babies on the road next month.
Please help the team raise the funds needed to get there.  Join us for a Spaghetti Supper at Crozet Baptist Church on Sunday, April 22 from 5-7 PM.   Donations will be gratefully accepted at the door.  If you cannot attend the supper, but would still like to make a donation, checks can be made payable to our team co-manager, Sue Brown, 4923 Lake Tree Ln., Crozet, VA  22932.
 
Where: CROZET BAPTIST CHURCH, Fellowship Hall – 5804 St. George Avenue, Crozet, VA 22932
When: Sunday, April 22, 5 to 7 p.m.
What:       Spaghetti, meatless tomato sauce, bread, salad and dessert, beverages                    
Cost:       Donations
Who:       To benefit the 5th grade Fasteroni Thinkers of Brownsville Elementary-Village School-St. Anne’s Belfield
Questions?      Heidi Brown, 434-823-5596, [email protected] 

Who are The Fasteroni Thinkers?
Rowan Breen, Isabel Brown, Thomas Cunningham, Julia Douvas, Annie Meenan, Kella Meier, and Everett McConville

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What is Destination ImagiNation (DI)?

Destination ImagiNation, our core program, is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Challenges. Participants gain more than just basic knowledge and skills—they learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving.

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Board of Supervisors Meeting Wednesday 28 March – Speak About the Crozet Library

If you can make this meeting, please do.

I’m borrowing this post in its entirety from the Build Crozet Library site because it’s really important for Crozet*

Wednesday, March 28th

marks a significant day for each of the parallel tracks of library construction bids and Albemarle County budget talks.

1. 3:15 pm: The new Crozet / Western Albemarle Library construction bids will be opened in room 241 of the County Office Building.?There are a few of us hoping to attend; we’ll send out information (number of bids, estimated costs) when we have it. ? Albemarle County Office Building. (Photo via Wikipedia)

2. 6:00 pm: The Albemarle County Board of Superivisors will hold a public hearing on the advertised tax rate, at 76.2 cents, just under the equalized tax rate of 76.4 cents the Supervisors specified for building the budget. The BOS can set the 2012-13 tax rate at the advertised amount or lower, but not higher. The Board of Supervisors will listen to public comments at the hearing, then vote on the tax rate at their April 4th meeting.

The new Crozet / Western Albemarle Library has been mentioned in almost every story about the budget — fortunately, it’s included in the proposed budget. Please contact the BOS (again, if you have already); write, call or speak with your support. BOS contact information can be found here.

Please see this message from White Hall supervisor, Ann Mallek:

Please share with your listeners/readers my encouragement that they attend the hearing and share their thoughts on general or particular elements of the proposed budget. Speakers should prepare for a two minute as well as a three minute presentation. If there are many speakers signed up at the beginning, the hearing will run on a two minute allotment. Being able to prepare in advance is far better than editing while sitting in the auditorium. I know that from years of trying.

Thank you for your help. You are welcome to call if you have any questions.

This is a prime opportunity to provide public input to our County’s elected officials.

* Whether you support or don’t support the building of the Crozet Library, this meeting crucial. And for the record, I am in total and complete support of the County fulfilling their promise to Crozet, Western Albemarle and all those who use and depend on the library.

Crozet Christmas Parade – 11 December 2011

One of my favorite things about Crozet.

From the Crozet Volunteer Fire Department:

SANTA WILL BE ARRIVING ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011 @ 3 PM
 

THE CROZET VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE HOSTING A SMALL CHRISTMAS PARADE ON DECEMBER 11, 2011 AT 3 PM. THE PARADE WILL START AT WAYLAND DR AND TRAVEL TO THE CROZET FIRE STATION.

 
SANTA WILL MEET THE CHILDREN AFTER THE PARADE AT THE FIREHOUSE.

 
HOT CHOCOLATE AND COOKIES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT FIREHOUSE

 
ANYONE WISHING TO ENTER THE CHRISTMAS PARADE MAY CONTACT THE CROZET VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AT (434) 823-4758 OR DROP OFF YOUR INFORMATION AT THE FIREHOUSE.

(sorry for the all-caps, but I copy and pasted)

Crozet’s Past Comes Alive on Crozet Avenue

via press release:

The Field School of Charlottesville? convenes its annual Spirit Walk on October 21-22.

Crozet, VA, September 16, 2011: Historical haunts return once more to Crozet Avenue on October 21st and 22nd when the Field School of Charlottesville convenes its third annual Spirit Walk to celebrate the history of Crozet and Western Albemarle. The Spirit Walk gathers the Crozet community — the very past, past, and present — for a family friendly evening of visits with the likes of Samuel Miller, Paul McIntire, Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and other famous figures.

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Show your Support for the (building of) Crozet Library

via email:

Greetings friends/patrons of the Crozet Library,

Crozet and JMRL staff and board representatives have been working with Albemarle County staff and Supervisors for some time to urge them to fulfill their promise of building the new Crozet/Western Albemarle Library.

The plans for the new library were approved by the County Architectural Review Board in April. The parking lot for the new library is currently under construction.

A small group of supporters is convinced that strong and sustained advocacy is the only way to get the new library built. We are in the process of organizing this grassroots effort as “Build Crozet Library.”

There’s a particular urgency to this effort: without seeing steps taken toward building the new building soon, JMRL will need to start reducing the collection at the current Crozet Library. The excellent staff has done everything they can to make the space work for all patrons, but the crowded conditions are not sustainable.

WED, Oct. 5, at 9:00 am:

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Dancing and Old Time String Music to benefit Crozet Charities – 24 September 2011

Uncle Henry's Favorites Band

via press release:

UNCLE HENRY’S FAVORITES PLAYS OLD TIME STRING BAND MUSIC AT GREENWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER WITH BRAD SAYLER CALLING

The sound of old time string band music and dancing feet will be heard Saturday night at a country dance to raise money for groups in Albemarle County that provide life-saving support and are working to keep our community healthy. Uncle Henry’s Favorites, one of the South’s premier old time string bands, will be playing tunes at the Greenwood Community Center from 7:30 pm to 10:30 on Saturday, Sept 24. The dance is sponsored by Ann Mallek to celebrate our community’s commitment to volunteerism and citizen engagement. The event will be fun for the whole family, whether you come to listen to music or to dance. Admission at the door is a donation of your choice to the Crozet Fire Dept., the Western Albemarle Rescue Squad, the Earlysville Volunteer Fire Company or the Crozet PARC.

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