James River Exchange

Listen in for what Echelon Resources is offering the Town via a voluntary proffer.

Town Council, good luck tonight.

It is Monday, December 12. This is a James Exchange QuickTake. I am your host, Nancy Gill.

Decision time has come for Scottsville Town Council to vote on Echelon Resources application to rezone the tire factory from industrial to commercial and a special use permit for 205 apartments. They can vote tonight, after their public hearing. Or, they can defer the vote. 

On quite a different front, I went to a Bell concert yesterday evening. If you have yet to experience a full bell orchestra, it is breathtakingly awesome. Prior to the performance, one of the ushers started a conversation with me. For those of you who know me well, you know I enjoy meeting new people and starting a dialog. My usher did not disappoint. We talked about the theater we were in and theater. I told her about Victory Hall’s history of the floods, the fire trucks, the ambulances, and the arts. She mentioned that the one thing the town she taught in (creative writing) refused to cut the arts when our country was facing a turbulent economy. We talked about how the arts define culture.

Visit The James Exchange website! You can submit an event here.

It is Christmas time, and Scottsville Town Council has a decision before them that will define the future of the town. How does a $60 million investment weigh into their decision is something they will have to discuss openly with each other, town residents, and those who live in close proximity to Scottsville. This will affect more than the town.

On Monday, December 12, Scottsville Town Council will hold a public hearing on Echelon Resource’s special use permit for their Scottsville Lofts project. The meeting will be held in Council chambers on the second floor of Victory Hall (401 Valley Street) beginning at 7:00 pm. This is the Council’s regularly scheduled work session.

It is November 30th. Tomorrow is December 1st and there is a lot going on in Scottsville and surrounds. I am Nancy Gill, your host of the James Exchange.

In this episode, I spoke with Debbie Smith of the Chamber of Commerce. We talked about the second annual “Holiday Happenings” in Scottsville and what a wonderful town we live in. I did not cover all the events in the podcast, but the following are what has been sent to us:December 3rd: Buckingham Village Christmas Market11-4:00—Rain or Shine84 Lee Wayside Rd. BuckinghamCrafts are indoors and Santa will be visiting!Fox Fire wreaths , Santa, BBQ, Amish goodies, ornaments, lots of gift items and decorations, baked goods and more!!! If you would like more information call Martha Louis at (434) 547-2296).

December 3rd: Scottsville United Methodist ChurchIs inviting anyone who love Christmas Caroling to meet them at the church parking lot at 2:30 p.m.

December 3rd & 10th Scottsville LibraryIt's a new STORY TIME at the Scottsville Library at 11:00 am. Geared for kids 4 and up!  Crafts, songs, and free play.  No need to register, just drop on by!

December Movies at Scottsville Library1:00 Frozen on December 3rd.3:00 The Grinch on December 15th.

For more activities see the JMRL calendar.B.F. Yancey Community CenterThey are doing things a little differently. If you like to decorate, you are invited to stop by when you have time. For information, contact Ed Brooks.

The Southern Albemarle JABA Senior Center is celebrating Christmas on Thursday, December 15th.

December 17th is the day the Food Pantry distributes.

Scottsville’s Second Annual Holiday HappeningsDecember 10th from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.Visit the Scottsville Supply Company (Bee Store) on Valley Street from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for a variety of activities and a visit with Santa.Scottsville Library: Family Holiday Winter Crafts and Stories 10:00-4:00.SCAN Holiday Arts Market: Artists, Designers and Crafts 10:00-5:00 Victory Hall TheaterTown Christmas Tree Lighting: Canal Basin Square at dusk. Come light the tree with Santa and the Mayor!

It’s A Wonder Life Radio ShowFriday, December 16th at 7:30Saturday, December 17th at 7:30Sunday, December 18th at 3:00Victory Hall Theater, 401 Valley StreetBuy Tickets

A Celtic Christmas ServiceSunday, December 18th at 5:00 pmSt. Johns Episcopal Church on the corner of Harrison and Bird

If there are any other events not listed here, contact us and we will get them publicized!

Meet Willie Mae Gray who works for the Blue Ridge Health District as a community health worker. Her office is located at the B.F. Yancey Community Center in Esmont, and she organized a walking initiative through UVA’s Cancer Center to promote healthy walking.

The newly expanded trail at Simpson Park, across from the Community Center, is a great place for people of all ages to walk—safely. If you haven’t been to Esmont recently, it is well worth the trip just to visit the park and see how the community gardens!

You can contact Willie Mae through her email.

To learn more about Walking with Heart, visit the website.

I will have another podcast tomorrow with Debbie Smith on Scottsville Chamber activities.

Don’t forget to visit Freddy Jackson with Love: No Ego at Hardware Hills Vineyard today. You can start your Christmas shopping at Hardware Hills’ Holiday Bazaar.

As always, if you have a song, a story, an event, an issue, or just want to have a conversation, I would love to hear from you…contact me.

Greetings to the James Exchange. In this episode, meet Freddy Jackson with Love: No Ego. You may have seen the above logo throughout our area. But, what exactly is Love: No Ego? T

Through our conversation he speaks to his journey from growing up in Buckingham County, traveling to LA and other cities, and coming back home to Central Virginia to start “Love: No Ego.”

On Friday, November 25th Freddy will be at Hardware Hills Vineyard. And, the proceeds from the Hillside Market’s Holiday Bazaar raffle will benefit his organization.

There will be several vendors for visitors to chat with and purchase their local offerings. Musician for the day is Sue Harlow. Food will be available from Firefly on the Fly food truck.

The numbers are in for the Town of Scottsville election which was held on November 8. The results will be certified with the Virginia Board of Elections on December 5th.

The Albemarle County results are:Hynes – 120Gritsko – 99

Write-ins:Hyson – 63Bessette – 44Munson – 35Butler – 1Smith – 1Phipps-1Delaney – 1Knotts – 2Blank – 1

150 write-in votes were cast/with 149 listed here.

Albemarle County Results on the Virginia Board of Elections Website:

The Fluvanna County results are:Hynes - 5Gritsko - 6Write-in - 2

Fluvanna County Results on the Virginia Board of Elections Website:

On the Virginia Board of Elections website, the final count is:Hynes - 125Gritsko - 105Write-ins - 152

Virginia Board of Elections Website

Have a great day, and as always, if you have a song, a story, an event, an issue, or just want to have a conversation, contact me.

Have an event for the holiday season? Send it to us, and we will help promote.

In Scottsville the Echelon Resources’ special use permit to change the zoning on the tire plant from industrial to commercial moves to the Town Council for discussion and action. Echelon’s sup is to create 205 apartments in the vacant plant. The Planning Commission recommended approval to Town Council on a 3 to 1 vote

Agenda with the Staff ReportYouTube Channel to review past meetings.The Town livestreams with ZOOM Password is 1744.

About the town election held this past Tuesday, November 8. I will not report on anything until the final count is completed. The County of Albemarle has tallied the write-in votes, but has yet to give a breakdown of the 117 votes cast. The same holds for Fluvanna County. Expect a James Exchange QuickTake on this once everything is finalized.

The Buckingham Board of Supervisors meets Tuesday, November 15th at 6:00 pm. Of interest on their agenda is a presentation by Ben Price, Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund: Presentation regarding Gold Mining Ordinance. Gold mining has become an issue in the county with Ashton Bay, a Canadian company undertaking exploratory drilling in mines that have been abandoned since around the Civil War. The Board of Supervisors received a request from a concerned group of citizens to adopt the Community Rights Ordinance which would protect citizens from toxic trespass. Additionally, through their zoning ordinances they can outright ban mining in the County. 

Agenda and Packet for November 15 MeetingLive stream from Buckingham County YouTube Channel 

Fluvanna Board of Supervisors don’t have much on their docket for Wednesday, November 16. They meet at 7:00.

AgendaLivestream from theirYouTube Channel

As always, if you have a story, a song, an issue, an event, or just want to have a conversation, contact me.

Why silos? Virginia is divided into different jurisdictional districts which determine how services are provided to those living in specific areas. In this episode I mentioned “silos” because our friends to the South are in a different health district than those of us north of the James. This podcast is for them, and a good listen for everyone!