Transition of Emergency Services Successful 

by Sharon Curran Wright

During a recent interview with Cody Davis, Director/Chief of the Buckingham Department of Emergency Services, Davis said that, as of December of 2020, the Buckingham County Volunteer Rescue Squad had transitioned all of its operations over to the Buckingham County Department of Emergency Services. After 50 years of excellent service by volunteers, the county responded to a dwindling volunteer force and increasing administrative requirements by staffing positions with county employees. A number of those who previously volunteered are now on staff, and three continue
to volunteer with BCDES. 

One of the first orders of business by the county was to remodel, expand, and reopen the Glenmore Station. Doing this drastically decreased response times to the northern part of the county and allowed better services to citizens in that part of Buckingham. 

BCDES’s newest ambulance, a 2022 Wheeled Coach/F-550 Type 1 Ambulance

Two new ambulances – one of which already has more than 100,000 miles on it – serve the county. Through grants and other funding support, BCDES has been able to place new heart monitors into service and new state-of-the-art airway placement technology. A new utility terrain vehicle for accessing remote patients and new ventilators will be placed into service soon. In addition to these new assets, the department is also working on implementing new and improved patient care protocols and unveiling programs and initiatives that will enhance care in Buckingham County. 

Interior of aforementioned, displaying some of our equipment, including stretcher and heart monitor.

At the time that the county took control, there were roughly 1800 calls for service being handled annually. This number continues to increase and is now at roughly 2200-2300 annually. While the number of calls is increasing in general, the biggest reason for the spike in numbers over the last two years is that Buckingham is handling more of its own calls rather than having to request mutual aid assistance. This is a benefit of our increasing number of staffed ambulances in the county.

From left to right, staff members  EMT-A Roebuck, EMT-B Atkinson, Paramedic McConville, and Captain/Paramedic Plumb grab a shift photo as they begin their day.

Davis believes that the county has benefitted from the transition by having more personnel and more medic-level staff as well as by the addition of more reliable and advanced equipment. He points out that the staff is composed primarily of Buckingham County residents, which promotes a sense of ownership, pride, and compassion. Davis hopes that the current department supports and protects county citizens as well as the volunteer force did for so many years. 

Davis gives credit to the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors, County Administrator, County Attorney, and the citizens. Their support of BCDES has been paramount to the department’s  success.

THE BCC RECOGNIZES LOCAL LEADERS

The Buckingham Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated its successes and annual award winners at its recent banquet held at the Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Department in mid-January.

The awardees included Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Rebecca S. Carter (center), Volunteer of the Year Award recipient St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary represented by Father Anthony Haynos (left), Youth Achievement Award Courtney Agee (right). Business of the Year Award recipient The Cake Place (owner C.V Swann was not present).

NOMINATION LETTER ABOUT REBECCA CARTER

The former longtime County Administrator Rebecca S. Carter served the Buckingham community and the region for 35 years, helping to lead the way for growth, innovation and industrial development in the County.

Born in Clifton Forge, Virginia, Mrs. Carter grew up in a family of nine. As a child, she was raised to work hard and respect others, qualities that all who know her would say set the tone for her service to the County. Mrs. Carter studied business management and marketing at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College. She married her late husband, Wayne Carter, in 1972 and raised three children. In 1986, the Carter family moved to Buckingham County, when Wayne was transferred to the area for his job with CSX Transportation. They fell in love with the county and its people, built a house and settled down, beginning a small farm. In September of 1986, Mrs. Carter took a job as the administrative assistant at the County office in Buckingham. She held this position for eight years, helping several different County Administrators. Finally, in 1994 she herself accepted the position of County Administrator, a job that she then held for the next 27 years, until she retired in June of 2021.

Carter worked with many different members of the Board of Supervisors to help make countless positive changes in the County. She worked with the Town Council of Dillwyn for the replacement of its aged water and sewer lines and facilitated the County’s purchase of Dillwyn’s wastewater facility. Over the next several years, she helped the County to obtain over $13 million in grants to build a new water system facility, extend water lines, and upgrade and extend sewer lines along the Route 15 and Route 20 corridors. This brought in several new businesses to the County. She was involved with turning the old Dillwyn Primary School into a brand-new library and community center that the County can be proud of. Thanks to her efforts in combination with many others, Buckingham implemented the state-of-the-art gated waste sites, a vast improvement for residents’ trash disposal.

Also under Carter’s leadership, the County built a new administration complex and renovated the historic county courthouse. The Carter G. Woodson School complex on Route 20 was renovated and upgraded, the vacant Gold Hill School building was put to profitable use and a full-time, countywide emergency rescue squad was formed. These are just some of a long list of improvements and projects to which she contributed, helping to ensure their successful outcome for the common good.

Above Letter Submitted by Brother Maximilian Watner

NOMINATION LETTER ABOUT ST. THOMAS AQUINAS SEMINARY 

Director Faye Shumaker nominated St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, noting “the nominee seeks to serve the community in every possible way.”

She said as a team “they have worked to pick up more than 600 bags of trash…Imagine the size of a trash pile containing that many bags, a small mountain, for sure.”

“They show up to support the blood drives sponsored by the Buckingham Masons. Two of the blood drives were largely successful because of their participation.”

Shumaker noted the seminary’s work on the inherited Ruritan Club community organization signs across the county that the seminarians performed “quite a bit of work” on. “This group spent many hours on this project along with other Chamber members.”

“There are many other things that can be said about this amazing group of young men, but with the things I have mentioned above, I am delighted to (nominate)…St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary.”

From left to right – Director Margaret Vance, Pres Jordan Miles, VP Brother- Max, Sec- Faye Shumaker, Treasurer-Ruth Lyle, Newsletter Editor-Sandra Moss, Directors Jewel Harris, Barbara Wheeler & Justin Midkiff. Not pictured; Eddie Slagle and Brenda Jones.

NOMINATION LETTER ABOUT THE CAKE PLACE

Suzanne Vandergrift, Vice President of the Buckingham-Dillwyn Garden Club, nominated The Cake Place in Dillwyn, owned and operated by C.V. Swann.

“This small business owner opened her doors in October 2020 when our country was deep in the pandemic. Opening any business during that time was risky, but a food business…most people would have called her crazy. But she saw an opportunity…to build a small business in a small town and a fabulous bakery was born in Dillwyn.”

She noted that the business had to pivot because of the economy and “closing wasn’t an option…So she put a business plan together and restructured.”

She said the business now offers The Cake Place Venue, Event and Wedding Planning, Catering and much more. “She’s always available whether it’s a Sip and Paint Program, an emergency catering Solution, or a child’s special birthday cake.”

NOMINATION LETTER ABOUT COURTNEY AGEE

Casey Dunkum, a high school agriculture teacher, nominated Courtney Agee.

“Finding a hardworking, courteous, smart, young person could be a tall task. However, I know someone who fills each one of those characteristics… Courtney Agee is that young lady,” said Dunkum.

Agee is a Senior at Buckingham County High School, Dunkum said, noting she was a well-rounded person, “full of potential. I have had the pleasure of working with Courtney for many years through the FFA and I am truly amazed at her work ethic.” She added that Agee is a student in the local community college’s Governor’s School and ranked 9th in her class. She serves as FFA President, her class spirit coordinator, and is on the tudent Council’s Executive Board, and Scholastic Bowl Team Member.

“Courtney works at her family’s business, Dillwyn Repair Service. She does a great job assisting customers,” Dunkum noted, adding she also volunteers with the Glenmore Volunteer Fire Department. 

“Courtney has participated in almost every event the (FFA) chapter has sponsored. She has served as an officer for several years and is currently chapter president. She is the first to volunteer to help an advisor or help coordinate the officers.”

Dunkum noted Agee has participated in VCE Cooperative leadership camps, where she placed in the Top 10. “Courtney is a model of integrity that is truly refreshing…Her senior quote is Romans 12:12: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer…Through her trials, she has overcome them with her faith and support of her family and friends.”


Please note the qualifications and accomplishments of these outstanding Buckingham County citizens in the nomination letters above.

Nominations for these awards are accepted throughout the year, ending Dec. 31st. If you know of someone, or a business, deserving of recognition by the Buckingham County community, please call 983-2372 or send your letter to the Buckingham Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 951, Dillwyn, VA 23936.

The banquet also included the installation of officers and the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

“The Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor these deserving individuals and the business,” said Chamber President Thomas Jordan Miles III. “These people have contributed directly to the well-being of Buckingham County. I want every one of you to know that the State of the Chamber is very strong. 2022 was a great year for the Chamber. Our Board and membership recognize that in any good community you need good businesses – large and small – which require our support. And that is what the Chamber does and does well and we are proud of that.”

Stars, Wine & Muddy Paws

by Sharon Curran Wright

Kathie and Michael Boyce had a dream of leaving city life behind, buying some land, and living a different life. To that end, they bought property in Buckingham County and established KMB Farms, where they keep bees, grow garlic and berry bushes, and will soon be making fruit wines. 

This summer they will open Muddy Paws Winery, its name a tip of the hat to the 17 dogs that they have rescued over the years. Wines will be made, bottled, and sold on site. The Boyces have been making fruit wines for 15 years, having learned the craft by joining amateur wine groups that met monthly, sharing ideas, tips, tricks, and recipes. Among their favorite fruit wines that they have made are elderberry, raspberry, apricot, apple, strawberry, cherry, and pomegranate. Because they are beekeepers, they also make various meads. Stone fruits for their wines will be harvested from an established orchard that they lease in Nelson County; they plan to grow their own berry bushes and some grapevines. 

Kathie & Michael Boyce

According to Mike, fruit wines are typically sweeter than grape wines and true to the fruit flavor. A fruit wine will ferment in eight weeks, so a fresh batch will be produced at Muddy Paws every eight weeks. Muddy Paws Winery can do five batches at a time, and they plan to have that many available at the “soft” opening of the winery in late spring. They also plan to open on weekends this summer with a grand opening planned in October. 

In addition to offering unusual wines, Muddy Paws Winery will have a tasting room and outdoor seating in a wooded area so patrons can enjoy the natural setting. A fenced-in dog park area will promote play with pets and interaction among pet lovers. Patrons will be able to stroll through gardens and a nature trail. Unique “Wine and Star Night” events will center around a 600-pound antique Newtonian telescope that is 10 feet long and a foot in diameter, built in Michigan in the 1930s. It is powerful enough to see all the planets and some binary stars.

Muddy Paws Winery is located on KMB Farms, an enterprise already familiar to many in Buckingham County. At KMB Farms, Michael grows garlic and sells garlic products including smoked garlic powder and garlic cooking wine. Kathie started handcrafting soaps from natural ingredients 18 years ago and now includes salves, lip balms, creams, and laundry detergent in her inventory. She makes a soap for soothing poison ivy,
pine tree body butter, and goat’s milk hand
cream. In all of her soaps, Kathie sources shea butter from women in a village in Ghana, a business decision that aids entrepreneurship among women in that country.

Both Kathie and Mike love to experiment with ingredients to come up with new products. After discovering that some cleaning products contain chemicals that are toxic to dogs, they created a spray out of natural ingredients that is safe and actually cleans better.

The motto for KMB Farms is “Right Next Door to Nature.” They use no artificial ingredients, and their products are all natural “with nothing you can’t pronounce,” as Mike likes to say. They don’t use pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. The packaging they use is biodegradable or reusable. 

KMB Farms products can be found at the Scottsville Farm Market or on the farm itself. The Muddy Paws website and KMB Farms Facebook page will carry announcements about upcoming events.  For more information, call (301) 305-2773.

Buckingham County Photo Contest

There were over 30 entries in the 2022 Buckingham Photo Contest. The grand prize was $50.00, with ribbons given in each category to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. This years’ Grand Prize will be $75 and $50 for each 1st prize, $20 for each 2nd, prize and $10 for each 3rd prize in each of the divisions. The categories this year will be Favorite View in Buckingham/landscapes/sunsets/waterways (no animals); Only In the ‘Ham (Unique to Buckingham); Children/Domestic Animals/Wildlife and Fun In the ‘Ham. Entries to this years’ contest will be accepted from April 1st to July 15th, 2023. The photos must be taken (preferably digital so they can be professionally published) in Buckingham County, and both the Buckingham Chamber and Buckingham County must be given permission to use them.

For an application and/or rules for this years’ contest, call the Buckingham Chamber at
983-2372 or you can download an entry form at www.buckinghamchamberofcommerce.com


1st Place “My Favorite View in Buckingham” & Grand Prize
Betty Shapiro, Foggy Field Landscape

Youth Entry-1st Place
Kelsi Steinruck, The Peeping Squirrel
1st Place – “Hometown Pride”
Bro. Maximilian Watner, Crank-It-Craig
1st Place “Children or Farm Animals”
Lisa Phillips, Dalmation Piglet
1st Place – “Only In the ‘Ham”
Father Alexander Wiseman, The “Uncommon” Starling
2nd Place – “Children or Farm Animals”
Betty Shapiro, Two Red Fox
2nd Place – “Only In the ‘Ham”
Brother Maximilian Watner,
Sunset Over Spears Mtn.
2nd Place – “My Favorite View in Buckingham”
Tyler Leskanic, Bersch’s Pond
2nd Place – “Hometown Pride”
Betty Shapiro, The True Spirit of Sports
3rd Place – “Children or Farm Animals”
Raymond Toney,
Tennessee Terminator.
3rd Place – “Only In the ‘Ham”
Christian Borst, “The Temptation In the Garden of Eden”
3rd Place – “My Favorite View in Buckingham”
Father Alexander Wiseman, Floating the James
3rd Place – “Hometown Pride”
Lisa Phillips,
The Little Engine That Could

A Tranquil & Prayerful Space

All About St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary

by Sharon Curran Wright


Springtime procession to ask God for the blessing of the fields.

A smooth driveway winds through woods and leads to a large, open space high on a hill in western Buckingham County near Dillwyn. From here a broad view of the surrounding mountains and forests inspires a sense of quiet and calm, conducive to a life of prayer and study at the St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary.

A Catholic seminary is a specialized college that forms Catholic priests who will be dedicated completely to the service of Jesus Christ and His Church. As a house of studies of the Society of St. Pius X, the St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary draws from the 2,000 year history of the Catholic Church and its traditions. The seminarians focus on the Christian philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, who lived in the Middle Ages in Italy but whose teachings have had great influence on Western thought. Though there are more than 180 Catholic Seminaries in the United States, this is the only seminary of their congregation in North America.

Previously located in Winona, Minnesota, the seminary had outgrown the old facility, but another building that suited their needs couldn’t be found. The organization received a donation of land in Buckingham and bought adjacent tracts in 2011 to total about 1100 acres. They found the natural beauty of the area and its weather to be welcoming toward their goals of some measure of self-sufficiency and their life of prayer. Finding a new home in the state that was so important to our country’s foundation serves to unite their love of God with their love of country. 

The new building is made of red brick and slate with the intention that it will last for centuries in the Old World tradition. The goal was to design a place in which the beauty, silence, simplicity, permanence, and stability of the architecture would complement the spiritual formation of the seminarians. During construction the seminarians worked in rotational crews, especially on the tile work. Over ten miles of trim and millwork were all made in their own workshop.


The Liturgical Ceremony for Holy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter): the consecration of the holy oils by the bishop.

The 120,000 square foot building can house up to 120 students plus staff, faculty, and guests and includes a laundry, classrooms, bedrooms, offices, an exercise room, and a barbershop. The courtyard is a place for quiet reading and contemplation, and its lovely pool of water functions as part of the fire suppression system. Dark wood furniture and trim, arch supports in the hallways, and arched windows provide a consistent theme of tradition and permanence to the architecture. Plans for the future include a convent and chapel for the sisters of the order as well as a vineyard, large vegetable garden, and orchard. Fundraising for a full church will begin in a few years; the church building will extend eastward from the front plaza where the bells are located and will join the administration building with the seminary proper. Eventually, there may also be a retreat center. 


The Seminary is a house of higher education as well as prayer. The Seminarians have up to four classes per day.

Today, the seminary hosts 108 young men from seven different countries. These are those who have felt the call of the Lord to serve and who applied with a letter of recommendation from their local priest. There are seven brothers and six sisters in addition to ten professors, of which nine are priests and one a lay man. Seminarians are all on “work-study,” so there are only five full-time employees; the rest of the work is done by the brothers and the seminarians, including janitorial duties, kitchen work, and grounds maintenance. Students pay a small tuition, and private donations also support the seminary.  

A very strict schedule of prayer, study, and work begins at 6 a.m. There is silence for much of the day as a necessary condition for learning; silence makes one receptive to intellectual formation. The community acts as a family of people who pray, eat, work, and recreate together. Three classes every morning may include theology, philosophy, history, Latin, scripture, apologetics, dogma, and canon law. Daily Mass is delivered and two services are held on Sunday. Worship is conducted in Latin as a demonstration of unity with the faith since the time of the apostles and of unity with all believers throughout the world because the Latin Mass is the same in every country.


The Seminary students and faculty at the beginning of the 2021-2022 academic year. The priests/professors are seated in the front row. Only after the first year-and-a-half of their studies do the Seminarians receive the black cassock.

St. Thomas Aquinas supports local businesses whenever possible and draws about 1000 visitors every year into the county to attend the various ordination ceremonies. Several families have moved from out of state to be near the seminary, and one even brought their family business with them. The seminary has been very involved with the Buckingham Anti-Litter Task Force and won first place in both of the anti-litter drives in 2021 for the most trash collected. One of the brothers sits on the BATF Board of Directors. The seminary is also actively involved with the Buckingham Chamber of Commerce; one of the brothers is vice-president of the Chamber. In the future, they hope to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and they plan to contribute to local blood drives.

While the recently constructed building is reminiscent of a medieval castle, the seminarians do not intend to be outsiders to the community. Services are open to the public. An Open House is planned for May 14, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during which a free lunch will be offered along with a tour of the chapel, building, and grounds. If you plan to attend, please inform them ahead of time at webmaster@stas.org. Daily Mass is at 7:15 a.m. and on Sundays at 7:20 a.m. and 10 a.m. Vespers, which is chanting of the Psalms, occurs at 5 p.m.

Seminarians say that Virginia has been very welcoming, and they would like to return the favor. When you spot a brother in black robes walking through town, don’t be shy; they would like to engage as friendly neighbors here in Buckingham.


A computer-generated rendering of the proposed church for St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary. Currently a large conference room serves as the place of worship. The new church will tie into the current building. On the right half of the picture is the current East wing of the main cloister. Fundraising and construction are expected to begin in about 5-7 years.

Historic Buckingham, Inc. The Historic Village at Lee Wayside, The Housewright Museum and The Adams Museum

The historic village was ten years in the making and opened on September 20th, 2007. It is located on almost 40 acres adjacent to the Lee Wayside and is owned by Historic Buckingham, Inc. The historic significance of the property is that Rose Cottage was a stage coach stop and also the spot where General Robert E. Lee and his troops stayed two days after the surrender at Appomattox on his way back to Richmond.

At the present time, the Village consists of the following structures: log tobacco barn, slate company office, slate roofed privy, general store/ welcome center, corn crib, smoke house, one room school, post office and an outdoor pavilion. A working blacksmith shop which was built on site now contains a beautiful brick forge and is staffed with a local blacksmith during special events. 

The newest addition to the village is The Village Stage. Completed in 2013, it is used for music and theater. The restroom facility was completed in 2017 and the Morgan Building , housing a sawmill exhibit and the 1918 Chevy car opened in 2019. 

Over 2000 visitors come to the Village during its 7 major events and also on weekends when there is no event. A volunteer staff is available every weekend to lead visitors on a tour. The Village, which is a living history park, is an extension of HBI’s main headquarters. The Housewright Museum is located across from the Buckingham County Courthouse. The Housewright Museum has wonderful exhibits of Buckingham history and artifacts.

In 2018 , HBI opened a wonderful addition to its other sites, The Adams Museum. This new building is located directly behind the Housewright Museum and houses the collections of H. Spencer Adams and his late wife, Winnie Adams. The HBI Research Library is also housed in The Adams Museum which is handicapped accessible.

• The Historic Village is open, weather permitting, April–December, on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm. Call (434) 547-2296 for information, for a special tour of the village, to volunteer or to use the park for your group, or visit www.leewaysidevillage.com

• Housewright Museum and The Adams Museum are open April–December, 1pm to 4pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Call (434) 547-2296 for more information about the museum, or visit www.historicbuckingham.org

• Events in 2021: During COVID restrictions, the museums and village may not open until June. Check website or call 434-547-2296.

Plan to Attend These Fun Events!

Mayfest (Buckingham County Day) likely canceled in 2021.


The Fall Farm Fest is October TBA

The Spooky Hollow Drive Thru, October 30, 2021
The Village Christmas Market is December 4th 10:00 – 4:00
The Housewright Museum Christmas Open House is December 4, & 5

Other special events not pictured here:

Primitive Technology Day is cancelled 2021.

Vino in The Village TBA

Indian Relic Show Oct 9

The Buckingham Chamber of Commerce recently met to honor and recognize local leaders.

 

From left: Keith Agee, Jonathan Fitzgerald, Rachel Bardon. Forground, Atman Johnson

Keith Agee was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the Glenmore Division of the Buckingham County Fire Dept. He has been an active member of the Glenmore United Methodist Church, where he has held many titles. Read more about Keith in his nomination letter below.

Rachel Bardon, a Senior at Buckingham County High School, won the Youth Achievement Award. She is in the Governor’s school program and, In addition to her heavy academic load, she is the vice-president of the future Business Leaders of America and a member of the Students Against Destructive Decisions.

She has also been a member of the local 4-H club for several years. Read more about Rachel in her nomination letter below.

Special Touch Design Florist was recognized as Business of the Year. Owned and operated by Tracy and Jonathan Fitzgerald, they were honored for their excellent customer service and professionalism. Read more about Special Touch Design Florist in their nomination letter below.

Atman Johnson was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award for his work at the James River State Park, assistance with newborns at U.VA, and his help with Heartland Horse Heros in Dillwyn. Read more about Atman in his nomination letter below.

Buckingham County Broadband Opportunities Expanding

(An Interview With Buckingham County IT Manager Jamie Shumaker)

 

Jamie Shumaker

Buckingham County Guidebook (BCG) –
Do you have any way of estimating how many homes and businesses in Buckingham now have Broadband?

While there is no published compilation of quantifiable data, if we take into account the FCC Broadband Coverage Map and the Commonwealth’s Connect data, we deduce that around 35% – 40% of County residents and businesses have Broadband, or near Broadband speeds, at this time. The estimated coverage numbers are presented to the FCC by telecommunication providers throughout the County.

(BCG) What Broadband providers are currently available in the County?

Buckingham has expanded available broadband providers three-fold in just the last two years, when Broadband services were only available through HughesNet, Wildblue and CenturyLink. Additionally, locally owned Kinex Telecom has been working to bring fiber to many areas throughout the County. Utilizing the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Corporation (MBC) fiber network, Kinex has been able to add residents and businesses throughout Buckingham. They provide internet to several large users such as the Buckingham County Public Schools as well as the Administration Building and Courthouse, and are continuing to build fiber around these areas and providing service to the residents that they pass. A great percentage of Buckingham residents with current access to broadband depend on the local telephone provider, CenturyLink, for access to high-speed internet. In August of 2020, Comcast announced its infrastructure expansion in the County to cover approximately 1800 homes at project completion, possibly in the summer of 2021. Finally, Central VA Electric Co-op (CVEC) coverage, serviced through their subsidiary Firefly, is estimated to be completed by mid-2022 and offer as many as 4590 passings (a resident or business that will have the opportunity to become a customer).

(BCG) Do you know about how many homes and businesses outside the CVEC coverage area will be serviced through their subsidiary Firefly?

Outside of the CVEC service territory, Firefly has committed to an additional 1200 locations based on FCC auction awards, and have applied for several grants that would potentially add another 800 homes and businesses to their network (if the grants are awarded). At present, Firefly service is available to 1200 locations within Buckingham. By this summer (2021), that number is expected to increase to 3200. Through their initiative, all CVEC customers, which include a great majority of the western part of Buckingham, will have access to fiber broadband.

(BCG) How is Buckingham County encouraging Broadband expansion?

As Senator Mark Peake has stated, “Access to the internet is no longer a nicety; it is a necessity. We absolutely depend on it. Broadband has become an important part of the Commonwealth’s infrastructure and nowhere is that infrastructure weaker than in our rural areas.” As a rural area, it is increasingly important for Buckingham to make sure that our residents are able to have access to broadband for education, career opportunities, healthcare services, and social awareness. Local government is keenly aware of the importance of broadband and the dangers of the lack thereof. We are constantly pursuing opportunities to expand coverage areas of existing providers and exploring viable alternative providers through grassroots conversational efforts, grant applications, and Virginia committees that encourage advancement.

by Dan Curran, Publisher,
Buckingham County Guidebook

New County Library Construction Progressing

Contributed by Rick Ewing, Director, Central VA Regional Library

The new Buckingham County library is scheduled to open in September 2020, but, since it’s a large construction project, the time frame could change.

The new library will be about 8,000 square feet; roughly twice the size of the current library.  The new Buckingham County Community Center will be in the same building.  Not only will there be great opportunities for collaboration between the library and other community organizations, people visiting the community center will visit the library, and vice versa.  Also, with recreation fields on the same property, it will be easy for folks to stop into the library on their way home from enjoying some outside activities.  At the intersection of routes 15 and 20, this is the best location in Buckingham County.

The library will have a separate Children’s Room, a Teen area, and an Adult area with a fireplace.  There will also be a special collections room, housing local history and genealogy.  For those needing a quiet space to work, tutor, or have a small meeting, there will be a study room.  Finally, we’ll have a larger meeting room that will also serve as a space for library programs.  The number of public computers will more than double.  People will be able to print in color or black & white from their phone or other device or send a print job to the library from their home or office to pick up later.  We’ll even have faxing for the public.  Fast WiFi will be available inside the library while we’re open and 24/7 just outside of the library.

Entrance In Progress

During the move from the current library to our new location, the library will be closed.  We believe the move will take about two weeks.  Moving a library collection while keeping it in order plus moving all that goes with it is quite an undertaking.

Amy White, the library manager, and her staff are looking forward to being able to provide top notch service to the “regulars” and also welcome the rest of the community into Buckingham County’s new library.

Plan to Attend the 5th Annual Vino in the Village

(dates subject to change due to COVID19 pandemic. For up-to-date information, call 983-2372.)

Plan to attend the 5th Annual “Vino in the Village” to be held on Saturday, Sept. 19th , 2020 from 11 am.-3 pm. at The Historic Village at Lee Wayside, 2 miles west of Sprouses Corner. (84 Lee Wayside Village) Vineyards from all over central Virginia will bring their finest bottles for tasting. 

Attendees are invited to sit back and enjoy live music on the Village stage from bluegrass to jazz .A fine art show will add to their enjoyment of this special event held under the beautiful shade trees at the historic village. This family friendly festival also has a children’s activity area sponsored by the Buckingham County Library.

For more information, contact Martha Louis at marthalouis60@gmail.com

This event is sponsored by Historic Buckingham Inc. All donations go toward Village development and up-keep. HBI is a 501 (C )3 organization.

Admission: Tasters-$15 (includes glass). General admission-$10 (non-tasters). Children 12 and under free.

Previous Scenes

Plan to Attend These Fun Events!

Mayfest (Buckingham County Day) is Saturday, May 9, 10–2

The Fall Farm Fest is October 3rd
The Sleepy Hollow Drive Thru
The Housewright Museum Christmas Open House is December 4, 5 & 6
The Village Christmas Market is December 5th 10:00 – 4:00

Other special events not pictured here:

Primitive Technology Day is April 18, 11–4

Vino in The Village is Sept. 19, 11-3 (see page 86)

Indian Relic Show Oct 10

Indian Relic Show (TBA)