Smith Mountain Lake - Vicki Millehan » Bedford County VA

A Locavore Hotspot in Moneta

copywriting — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:38:51 +0000

If an improved diet is part of your new year’s resolution this year, look beyond convenience health foods and resolve to pack your diet with locally grown, whole foods. Studies show that the processed foods that are staples of our everyday diets are keeping us sick, tired, and overweight. There is a quick fix, however, and all it takes is a little common sense and will-power. So this January, take stock of your pantry shelves, and resolve to make wise food choices in the New Year.

While the most important part of any diet is an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables (grown using organic or low-spray methods, and harvested locally, when possible), it is also important to consider the source of the meat we consume. Fortunately for residents of Bedford and Franklin counties, we have a virtual sustainable foods superstar in Mr. Bev Eggleston, owner of Eco-Friendly Foods of Moneta, VA. All of the meat from Eco-Friendly is raised humanely and fed a natural, hormone free diet; much unlike typical factory farm operations.

Eco-Friendly’s retail operation is still under construction, but the public is welcome to stop by in the meantime, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Check out the company’s website for more information: www.ecofriendly.com.

A St. Valentine’s Day Dining Guide

copywriting — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:47:03 +0000

For some, it’s the perfect excuse to ramp up the romance, to others; it’s a mere “Hallmark Holiday.” But no matter your personal feelings about St. Valentine, February 14^this an ideal date for a mid-winter’s night on the town. For the occasion, chefs across Central and Southwest Virginia (and around the world- click here for a history of the day, and how it’s celebrated all over the globe) pull out all the stops to charm their guests. From amuse bouche to mousse au chocolat, read on for a list of a few especially special regional Valentine’s Day Dining Options.

The Clifton Inn Charlottesville, VA Executive Chef Tucker Yoder has designed an elegant table d’hote menu featuring poached Virginia oysters, a foie gras terrine, coffee rubbed lamb shoulder with basil gnocchi, and goat milk panna cotta (just to name a few choices). The menu can be viewed by clicking here, and reservations may be made online or by calling (434) 971-1800. If the Chef’s Counter is available, it comes highly recommended.

The Millstone Tea Room Bedford, VA Proprietors Melanie and Jared Srisic offer fresh seafood, humanely raised pasture-fed meat, and locally sourced seasonal produce (some from their very own kitchen garden) year round. Theirs is a sweet, cozy restaurant; dimly lit, and with rich wood floors complimented by décor that is elegant and inviting; quiet and comfortable. The service is well-paced and friendly, though not intrusive; the perfect balance for a romantic meal. Last year’s Valentine’s Day Pre Fixe menu may be viewed here, but check back in the coming weeks for the 2012 version. For reservations, which are highly recommended, call 540-587-7100.

Dish Lynchburg, VA Dish isn’t offering a Valentine’s Day Menu per se, but this small plate restaurant is worth mentioning for a couple of reasons: sharing a meal necessarily brings us closer, but sharing a plate brings a whole new level of intimacy to one’s dining experience. Plus, every Tuesday night (on which Valentine’s Day happens to fall this year) they offer “Phenomenal Rendezvous,” a dinner for two with a bottle of wine included for only $35. What’s more, for all you turophiles out there, Dish offers a really lovely cheese selection, including a French Epoisses and a Grayson from nearby Galax, VA. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (434) 528-0700

Lucky Roanoke, VA Lucky Restaurant serves Southern American/Country French cuisine Tuesdays through Saturdays. Nearly everything served in the restaurant is locally sourced, so the dinner menu changes nightly, which is a really wonderful treat. They also have an excellent selection of wine, beer, and cocktails. The chefs are planning something special for Valentine’s Day this year, they’re just not quite sure what it will be…yet! Check back closer to the date for more information by calling (540) 982-1249. Reservations are recommended.

Smith Mountain Lake – Not Just for Vacations

Vicki Millehan — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:44:44 +0000

Smith Mountain Lake covers parts of 3 counties—Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania. Though great for vacationing, this creates a unique opportunity for those who may be contemplating making SML their primary residence. There are so many things to consider when trying relocate to a different city or even state. Of course, at the top of the list is typically the economic development in the given area. Are there jobs available, and if so, is it a growing or stagnant area?

Luckily for those looking to relocate to the SML area, Bedford, VA—according to the Virginia Department of Economic Development—has actually been designated a Certified Business Location. Some sources go even further and claim that due to the agriculture, industry and commerce, Bedford nurtures an atmosphere for a solid and diverse economy making it a progressive business environment.

According to the Bedford County, Virginia website, policies put forth by city and county governments—which are independent of each other—encourage social and economic growth. It is impressive for independent governmental bodies to be in such accord in working toward a common goal—the benefit of the people they are governing. It seems like this should be assumed, but unfortunately in many areas, it’s hardly a consideration, let alone a given. This website even goes so far as to state that “Government attitude toward business and industry is one of cooperation and support.”

Perhaps SML current and potential residents in and around Bedford realize the gem in their midst, and that’s why this area has been recognized as one of the fastest growing in the Commonwealth. With a stable civil situation, which assists in keeping the taxes under control, added to an excellent school system, it has quite an allurement. It is an incentive for potential residents to come and current residents to stay.

The types of industries in Bedford are plentiful and include as many as 29% in manufacturing alone. Retail, service, construction and even local government are others in ample amounts for the growing region. Transportation is easily accessible. The three inter-regional highways that cross through the area make it convenient for people and easy for deliveries.

Smith Mountain Lake, in all its natural magnificence and wonder, really is not just for vacations. Parts of the expanse should be recognized as a desirable residence where social and economic development is a priority. If you are looking to relocate, don’t let the opportunity to get the best of both worlds by purchasing in the SML area slip through your fingers. For assistance in buying lakefront property, call me, Vicki Millehan. I will be more than happy to give you some housing suggestions. I have over 19 years of experience in selling waterfront homes, and am a long-time resident of Smith Mountain Lake. My web page always has a current list of events that are taking place in Smith Mountain Lake

Chateau Morrisette Celebrates Labor Day Weekend with Live Music, Movies and More

copywriting — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:24:45 +0000

Wrap up the summer at Chateau Morrisette with their Friday Night Live, Cinema on the Lawn and Labor Day Monday events coming up on September 2, 3rd and 5th, respectively. Chateau Morisette is located in nearby Floyd and is convenient to all Smith Mountain Lake Residents, offering spectacular mountain views and regular fun-filled events for all tastes.

If you’re in the mood for a more rambunctious good time, live entertainment and fun, upbeat music, Friday Night Live features Southern Remedy from 6-9 p.m. Southern Remedy is a returning band that performs classic rock music, and while you listen you can dine from the outdoor grill, drink wine and dance with friends. Tickets cost only $8 apiece and you must bring your own seating. This event will continue rain or shine.

Next on the agenda for the weekend is the Cinema on the Lawn event. This is a more relaxing event for those who would like to curl up in a lawn chair and watch the sun set and have some delightful cinematic entertainment to round out their weekend. The Hitchcock classic “Dial M for Murder” will be shown and wine and food will be sold separately at the event. You must bring your own seating and blankets and picnics, coolers or outside food and drinks are not permitted. Tickets are $5, much less expensive than your average movie and with scenic sights surrounding you as the movie lights up the silver screen.

Finally, come celebrate your Labor Day Monday at the winery and join them for lunch followed by a tasting and tour. The restaurant will be open on Monday from 11 am to 2 pm and the winery hours are from 10 am to 5 pm. Take this opportunity to relax and enjoy some delicious beverages and food and pamper yourself a bit on your day off!

Chateau Morrisette would like to offer you a wonderfully relaxing weekend with their 3-day lineup of exciting events so close by to Smith Mountain Lake. If you haven’t visited the winery before, take your chance now in the midst of so many wonderful activities!

“Get Low” Star and Trick Mule Amazing Grace Performs Live at the Sedalia Country Fair

copywriting — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:44:32 +0000

Get the whole family involved in a relic from the past by bringing them out to The Sedalia Center’s Sedalia Country Fair! This fun-filled nostalgic country fair event takes place nearby to Smith Mountain Lake at Bedford’s Sedalia Center and includes activities such as food competitions, agricultural displays, tons of animals and other kids’ activities, local vendors and more! Step back in time as you experience an old-fashioned fair atmosphere that’s fun for the entire family.

All the fun takes place on September 10th beginning at 10:00 a.m. and keeps going until 6:00 that evening. Some of the highlights of the event include the Coon Mule Jump and the food competitions, with categories ranging from best homegrown produce, home canned vegetables, meats and fruits to baked goods. No pre-registration is necessary to enter the competition, and for more contest guidelines visit http://www.sedaliacenter.org/?q=/events/Country_fair_2011

As the main event of the fair, a very famous visitor will be present to entertain and delight the audience: Amazing Grace, trick mule will be performing live! This is no ordinary trick mule; Amazing Grace has earned renowned fame and has co-starred in movies with the likes of Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray and Lucas Black. Grace is the star of the movie Get Low and can perform tricks such as dunking a basketball, playing the piano, painting on canvas, getting the mail and doing basic multiplication! Read more about her and watch a video of her featured on the Today Show here and don’t miss out on your chance to see this unique movie star in our own backyard! The kids will love Amazing Grace the mule and adults will be delighted and awed by her talents as well.

Admission to the fair for adults is just $5 and children 12 and under are admitted for free. This event is a great opportunity to mimic the fair atmosphere and community gatherings of the not-too-distant past and to come together as a community in the beautiful, agriculturally rich setting of Bedford and Smith Mountain Lake. Don’t miss your chance for exciting family fun in the sun this September!

For more information visit the event site or call (434) 299-5080. The Sedalia Center is located at 1108 Sedalia School Road in Bedford and is conveniently located to the Smith Mountain Lake area.

We hope to see you there!

Family Comes First at the Bedford Genealogy Fair

copywriting — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:01:37 +0000

Family is important to Smith Mountain Lake Residents, and what better way to bring the family together than to attend the Bedford Genealogical Society’s Bedford Genealogy Fair on September 10, 2011. If you’ve ever been curious about your ancestors and would like to know more about genealogy and its study and uses, the genealogy fair is a perfect opportunity to come enjoy the company of expert genealogists, scholars and family historians.

Each day of the fair boasts lectures every hour from 9 am until 1 pm covering various topics of interest to genealogists and family historians, and other day events include 40 tables covering surnames, libraries, organizations, vendors selling books and wares (many of the books will be related to Bedford County), free census and internet genealogy look-ups, and breakfast and lunch items will be catered and available for purchase during the day. In addition to all this, each guest may bring one old photo to have scanned and have minor digital corrections made. All events associated with the fair are open and free to the public!

During the lectures, participants will have the opportunity to hear author Connie Lapallo tell the story of one of the few survivors of Jamestown, VA. Ginny Guedes will be offering a lecture on photography and digitizing old photos. Retired Historian Dr. John Kern, PhD will lecture on how to use land records and deeds as an aid to conducting your genealogical research. These lectures and others are listed on the Bedford Genealogical Society’s lecture schedule, which you may access here.

The informative genealogy fair takes place on the Bedford Campus of Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) at 1633 Venture Blvd in Bedford, VA (24523).

Come out for an educational and enlightening experience amongst other Bedford, Franklin County and Smith Mountain Lake area residents and learn about your own ancestors or hear more about the history of others!

Dueling Pianos and Dazzling Duets to Light up Labor Day Weekend for Smith Mountain Lakers

copywriting — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:30:37 +0000

A few nights of classical music are in store this Labor Day weekend for those of us who are lovers of music here at beautiful Smith Mountain Lake. Partake in a few evenings of musical enlightenment as you listen to the beautiful sounds of master musicians such as Maestro David Stewart Wiley, Tracy Cowden, Philip & Tara Bouknight and Leah Marer Wiley during the 2 days of exciting musical events and local concerts.

On Friday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m. Tracy Cowden and David Stewart Wiley will grace the Trinity Ecumenical Parish stage in Moneta on duo pianos, providing the lake crowd with the privilege of enjoying their program entitled “Duo Piano Fireworks: From Sea to Shining C”. Throughout this program you will hear 176 keys dueling in harmony, with favorites such as Rachmaninoff Romance, Grieg Norwegian Dance, selections from Petrouchka, a Hungarian Dance and the Haydn Variations by Brahms, and a Gershwin Porgy and Bess Fantasy. There will also be a sampling of piano music from Maestro Wiley’s score to the locally filmed “Lake Effects” movie starring Jane Seymour. For a sneak peak at the scoring and to enjoy all the classics, get your tickets early for the program because they are sure to sell out!

In addition, there will be a program on Sunday, September 4 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. entitled “Labors of Love: from Boheme to Bernstein” in which the Bouknights and the Wileys will perform classic “Labors of Love” from beloved hit musicals and the silver screen as well as popular arias, duets and trios. The program is built for the three shining vocalists and the accompanying piano in order to share with us the musical expressions of love and love’s labor’s lost. Bring a date or your spouse to this night of musical enchantment conveniently located near the lake, and hear classics including duets from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Mozart’s Don Giovanni & Marriage of Figaro, Bizet’s Carmen, Copland’s The Tender Land, Bernstein’s Candide & West Side Story, and Puccini’s La Boheme as well as themes from theater classics including Gone With the Wind, Rent, My Fair Lady, and many other romance favorites.

Tickets for these events cost $20 each or $35 per ticket for both performances and they are available by mail when addressed to SMAC, P.O. Box 70 in Moneta, VA (24121) (please include a self-addressed stamped envelope) and they will also be available at the SML Visitors Center, Print-n-Paper, and the General Store. Come get swept away with us while enjoying a few nights of entertainment and refined romance on this very special Labor Day weekend!

Both concerts will be held at Trinity Ecumenical Parish in Moneta, VA on Route 122 at Lakemount, Moneta. For tickets or information contact (540) 297-0965 or (540) 309-1676.

4th Annual Jazz & Wine Festival Comes to the Sedalia Center

copywriting — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:07:52 +0000

Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or want to broaden your tastes, the Sedalia Center’s 4th Annual Jazz & Wine Festival has something to offer everyone. Come out for a classic evening of wine tasting and jazz music featuring talented artists and a rare chance to sample the tastes of some of the region’s best vintners. The smooth voices and musicianship of Jane L. Powell, Nat Reeves, and the Vince Lewis Trio will provide the perfect backdrop to your wine-tasting experience while you sample wines from Blue Ridge Vineyard, Century Beverage Distributor, Chateau Z Vineyard, and Fincastle Winery, among many others.

The event takes place in the Sedalia Center’s shaded, atmospheric open-air pavilion. The artists are local legends, with Jane Powell beginning her singing career in Roanoke, Virginia and Nat Reeves being born in nearby Lynchburg. Powell has been described as having a soulful style and a five-octave range, performing throughout the US, Canada and the Caribbean and has been featured in a national McDonalds commercial, a Dino DeLaurentis film Marie and in the 1999 New Line comedy, The Bachelor. Nat Reeves and The Vince Lewis Trio have also received national acclaim and airplay. These artists are divine jazz musicians who will put on a performance you won’t want to miss out on at the Sedalia Center!

Bring your friends and family out for a night of refined relaxation and all sorts of live entertainment with music, dancing, and drinks from 4:00-10:00 pm on August 27th at the Sedalia Center located at 1108 Sedalia School Road in Bedford, VA. It is convenient to Smith Mountain Lake and only costs $15 for an advance ticket and $20 at the gate for a night of music, wine, vendors, festival food and beverages. Advance tickets may be purchased here.

For more information, call (434) 299-5080 or visit www.sedaliacenter.org

Give the 3D Archery Tournament at Blackwater Bowhunters near Smith Mountain Lake a Shot

copywriting — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:59:40 +0000

If you’re interested in the hunting and archery amenities in the Smith Mountain Lake and Franklin County areas, this event may be for you! Blackwater Bowhunters is hosting a 3-D Archery Tournament on August 20th & August 21st. With 14 paper spot and 25 +1 3D targets, the building is well-equipped for the tournament and can cater to all participants. If you’ve never tried your hand at archery, the 3D targets are the perfect, safe way to get started, and for old pros you can come join this competitive event and enjoy a special breakfast and lunch provided on site by “By George” restaurant.

Blackwater Bowhunters is located at 1084 Wirtz Road in Wirtz, VA and is convenient to Smith Mountain Lake and Westlake.

Another tournament event, the Tough Man Tournament event will be hosted on August 27th. For both events registration begins at 8:00 am and ends at 2:00 pm each day. The cost is $10 for the First Round and $5 for each additional round, but only the first round counts for tournament scoring.

Blackwater Bowhunters has a charter from the Virginia Bowhunters Association and participates in many community outreach events. Please come out on August 20th, 21st and 27th for some 3D and recreational fun with your family and friends and to support our local businesses!

Children’s Literature Celebrated with Events at Hollins University

copywriting — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:56:36 +0000

For those of us living at Smith Mountain Lake with an affinity for literature or those of us with children who we’d like to inspire to read and enjoy books and the journey of knowledge they can open, Hollins University has some special upcoming events to offer us.

On July 23rd, the University will be hosting the Seventeenth Annual Francelia Butler Student Conference on Children’s Literature at 9:00 a.m. The conference will include a keynote address by visiting scholar Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina. Gerzina is the author of “Frances Hodgson Burnett: The Unexpected Life of the Author of The Secret Garden” and “Black London: Life Before Emancipation” and editor of “The Annotated Secret Garden” and the “Norton Critical Edition of The Secret Garden.” An author of her caliber is a great treat to have visiting and enhancing the already extensively rich culture of our area. Her most recent book is “Mr. and Mrs. Prince” about Lucy Terry, the first known African American poet, and her husband Abijah Prince. Gerzina is also well known for her nationally-syndicated program “The Book Show” and has appeared on many British radio and television documentaries. She has much to speak about and share with reading enthusiasts and scholars alike. To learn more about her as an author and about her works, visit www.gretchengerzina.com. To learn more about the event, visit www.hollins.edu or call (540) 362-6451. The conference takes place in the Frances Niederer Auditorium in the Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center at Hollins University.

If you can’t make it out to the conference, another opportunity to celebrate children’s literature at Hollins University will be taking place on July 27th at 7:30 p.m. in the Hollins Room of the Wyndham Robertson Library. There will be a Children’s Literature Faculty Authors Reading held there, where Graduate Program in Children’s Literature faculty authors read from their own works. This is an opportunity for children and scholars alike to come hear some original works being read and delight in the imagination involved in the process of creating children’s literature.

Visit Hollins University at 7916 Williamson Road in Roanoke, Virginia (24019) to reconnect with your inner child and learn from some of the community’s top scholars about how to return to the imagination and wonder of your youth and to enjoy some great literature provided to us as residents of the Roanoke Valley/Smith Mountain Lake area. Enrich your life with this and other vast local opportunities to immerse yourself in creativity, culture and knowledge!