Category — Smtih Mountain Lake

Wedding season is fast approaching, so all of you (not so) single ladies, listen up: Smith Mountain Lake is making a name for itself as an “it” wedding destination in our region. For those of you who already know and love our beautiful lake, this should come as no surprise. SML is known for its breathtaking scenery and rural setting; and proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains make it an absolutely stunning location for any type of wedding, from the intimate to the splashy to the stately and grand. Accordingly, the wedding business is booming here, turning Smith Mountain Lake into a one-stop wedding hotspot!

Click here for Smith Mountain Laker magazine’s 2012 SML Wedding Guide! Featured vendors include:

• The Landing Restaurant
• Haywood’s Jewelers
• VitaZen
• The Cottage Gate
• Ruthie’s Kitchen
• June Bugs in March
• Print-n-Paper

Warm congratulations go out to those honored at the 11^th annual Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner, held on January 19^th at The Waterfront Country Club.

Those who attended were treated to an evening of fine cuisine and camaraderie, befitting this years’ theme, “Connect and Reconnect.”

This year’s winners were:

• Roy Enslow, Bridgewater Marina and Boat Rentals (Business of the Year Award)
• Joanna Hudzik and Harold Ingram, Haywood’s Jewelers (Service Excellence Award)
• Cheryl Ward, Bank of Botetourt (Norma Jean Tess Award for community leadership)
• Matt Brown and Andie Gibson, Laker Media (Regional Advocate Award)
• Phil Hager, Phil Hager Insurance (Enduring Enterprise Award)

The dinner also served to formally welcome and introduce the 2012-2014 Board of Directors, and to thank outgoing board members for their service. Outgoing members are Brian Weitzman, SML Animal Hospital; Frank Chrzanowksi, Hometown Bank and Patricia Dade, Appalachian Power.

Members of the chamber’s board of directors are:

• Lindsey Coley, Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore
• Chris Finley, The Willard Companies
• Terri Stanley, Premier Appraisals
• Mike Greer, Virginia Western Community College
• Traci Blido, Bedford County Administration
• Tom Gordon, Blackwater Cafe
• Christopher L. Whitlow, Franklin County Administration
• Helen Wilcox, Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital
• Tom Buck, Mitchell’s Point Marina
• Peggy Overstreet, Leisure Publishing
• Susan Myers, ServPro
• Lisa Hammock, Appalachian Power
• Dany Turner, Next Generation Designs
• Holly Sweet, Mariners Landing Resort Community and Conference Center
• Cheryl Ward, Bank of Botetourt
• Ted Puzio, Southern State Electric
• Gary Garst, Chirocare

Members of the Ambassador council were also recognized for assisting and mentoring new businesses throughout the year.

The Grand Drawing of the night, provided by Joanna Hudzik of Haywood’s Jewelers, was a set of ¾ carat diamond stud earrings set in 14-karat white gold worth $2,100. Gavin Hager of Hager Insurance won the drawing.

Event features several holiday festivities, toy drive and chance to win $1,000 shopping spree

Smith Mountain Lake, VA (November 11, 2011) – The Willard Companies is pleased to announce it’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Open House event at Westlake Towne Center on Thursday, December 1, 2011 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in front of Westlake Library. Several new activities are planned as follows: attendees can register for a $1,000 shopping spree awarded at the conclusion of the event, live entertainment by EastLake Community Church and Westlake Baptist Church members, and special appearances by Miss Smith Mountain Lake and Miss Blue Ridge pageant winners!

Several other festive activities taking place during the two hour event includes the following:

• Special arrival of Santa on vintage fire truck
• Holiday photos with Santa provided by Your School Photos
• Horse and Carriage Rides sponsored by Kroger
• Antique Car Show at Kroger Fuel Center
• Live concert by Smith Mountain Lake Harmeneers
• Live concert by Burnt Chimney and Dudley Elementary choirs
• Live concert by EastLake Community Church members
• Live concert by Westlake Baptist Church members
• Complimentary refreshments provided

In addition to the tree lighting and holiday festivities, the first 150 individuals who donate a new, unwrapped toy to WE CARE of Franklin County during the event will be given a complimentary ticket to a special showing of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at Westlake Cinema showing immediately after the event. Collection boxes will be located inside the retail stores during the event and movie vouchers can be picked up after toy donation. Tickets are not available for purchase.

Participating Towne Center businesses will be serving refreshments during the event and will be offering previews to exclusive holiday gifts, which include Kroger, Westlake Library, Merle Norman, Haywood’s Jewelers, Westlake Salon & Spa, and Cottage Gate. Carilion Clinic will also be participating.

The Fraser fir selected for the event will stand approximately 22’ tall and was picked from Roll Out Farm in Pilot, Virginia. The tree will be centrally located at the retail shopping center and stand in front of Westlake Library at Westlake Towne Center.

According to Ron Willard, President of The Willard Companies, “This event serves as a great way to jump start the holiday season. It’s fun for the community to come together and celebrate the spirit of the holiday season while at the same time collecting toy donations for a worthy cause and supporting local businesses.”

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!

While many believe we are in a recovering stage of a suffering economy, there are still quite a few among us who are struggling for any number of reasons. It could be due to unemployment as numerous companies are being forced to downsize. Perhaps the head of household became ill with a long-term ailment and is prevented from continuing to work through the recuperation time. Or maybe an unexpected major financial burden has made it difficult to make ends meet for a period. Whatever the reason, it is a true comfort to encounter treasures like Lake Christian Ministries, Inc. (LCM) who reach out to their surrounding community with a helping hand. 

According to their website, “Lake Christian Ministries provides food, clothing, household items and emergency financial aid to individuals and families living in the Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, area of Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties. Our mission includes providing these essentials in a loving and Christian atmosphere.” Just being in a position of needing to rely on others for help can be a very humbling experience in and of itself; the attitude of those providing the aid makes a big difference. As indicated by their mission statement, LCM has professed a commitment to not only provide the help, but also show compassion in doing so.

One of the services LCM provides is through mobile food pantries that make deliveries to three different locations on a monthly basis. They deliver these groceries to Three Oaks United Methodist Church in Hardy, Penhook United Methodist Church and also the Moneta Nutrition/Senior Center. The qualifying individuals and families meet them at these locations. Some of these churches provide volunteers who participate in the collaborative effort to support their community by assisting. They help to qualify and register families, and disburse the bagged groceries – one full bag and sometimes two depending on family size. They even serve the families breakfast at some locations.

LCM offers so many services. The assistance they provide would not be even possible without the donations and volunteerism of the people of the community. For further information on LCM , see their website at http://lakechristianministries.wordpress.com/.

Smith Mountain Lake is not only a geographical amazement providing an array of beauty that is absolutely breath-taking, but it is also part of a caring community that pulls together to assist each other in times of need.

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.

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 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!

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.

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

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!