by Sharon Curran Wright

The Buckingham Active Seniors a fun group of individuals, ages 50 and up, who come together to share common interests and explore new ones. Their goal is to provide fun and exciting activities for senior citizens in Buckingham County.  

The Buckingham Active Seniors has grown tremendously since their start in late 2010. They meet at 1:00 on the second Tuesday of each month except in June, November, and December at the Buckingham Community Center beside Dollar General in Dillwyn. They strive for positive, informative, and enjoyable quality programs and events for members.  Along with socializing, members contribute a dish for the refreshment table and settle in to learn something new from the variety of speakers who have participated. Over the past two years, various local groups have spoken of the services they provide, and others have provided information about exercises to do at home, facts and resources related to Alzheimer’s disease, and how to avoid scams. Special talks by Marian Kyner, MSN, RN, informed the group about dementia and keeping the brain healthy, being social to live longer, and the relationship between music and memory. 

The group also sponsors trips outside the area. In May of 2023, they took a boat to Tangier Island for a tour and lunch. In September of 2023, they went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for two days to see a play and visit the Amish Markets.  

On the third Tuesday of the month, the Buckingham Active Seniors have a “Fun Day.” This could mean a movie or games, and Bingo is always a big hit. They have visited Saunders’ Orchard and had lunch at Lovingston Inn. A trip to the Shenandoah Heritage Market provided an opportunity to shop and get lunch at the Wood Grill. In January they held a Yard Sale Swap for Fun Day, where people exchanged items. In June of each year, members meet at a selected park for a “Senior Picnic,” and in September they will meet for a fish fry. 

In June of 2023, the group held a “Senior Prom,” a wonderful evening of getting dressed up for dinner and dancing that was so popular they plan to do it again this year. At Thanksgiving they invite veterans from the community to join them for a large luncheon so they can be recognized for their service and share in the meal. Our seniors are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items, toys, and clothing to donate to Buckingham County families in need. 

The Buckingham Active Seniors get together for fellowship and to possibly learn something new. Seventy or eighty members bring food for the refreshment table and enjoy talking after the regular meeting on the second Tuesday. The third Tuesday of the month is “Fun Day” when they will get together for a movie or games or travel. Meetings are held at the Community Center beside Dollar General in Dillwyn. Membership is free, so grab a friend and join the fun! For more information, contact Wendy Spivey at 969-4242, ext. 1216.

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. 

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. 

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.

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 Buckingham Chamber of Commerce celebrated its successes and recognized award winners at its annual banquet, which this year was held at the Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Department in mid-January.

From left: Robbie Maxey, Jessica Moss & Ben Moss of Moss Tree Service – Best Business Award;
Kimberly Page– Volunteer of the Year Award; John O’Bryant– Lifetime Achievement Award.  

NOMINATION LETTER ABOUT JOHN O’BRYANT

John O’Bryant was born May 1, 1944, in Buckingham County. He attended school in the county and made his mark here. 

Upon graduation from Buckingham County High School, he joined the army. After serving three years, he made his home in Richmond; ten years later he heard Buckingham County calling to him: “Come home, John. We need you.” 

John returned to Buckingham in 1975. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Dillwyn Fire Department, and the acting treasurer appointed John as the new treasurer. He continues to serve as the treasurer to this day. 

Treasurer was not enough excitement for John, so he decided to become a member of the rescue squad within a year of becoming a volunteer for the fire department. As a member of the rescue squad, John faced responsibilities and duties beyond keeping track of money. Needless to say, John rose to the challenge; he was on call to head to the emergencies. John served on the rescue squad approximately 22 years from 1976 to 1998. 

The following is from an article in The Farmville Herald of December 18, 1998, entitled “The AHA Honors O’Bryant”: “He became certified to teach first aid with the American Red Cross in 1976, working with volunteers from area rescue squads. During the early 1980s, John earned certificates as a CPR instructor with the American Heart Association and began volunteering with the AHA, teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Of course, he also continued working as a Red Cross first aid instructor. … In John’s words when asked how many people he has instructed, ‘I know there have been several thousand.’ How many lives have been saved because of his CPR instruction? John ‘retired’ after 20 years serving the AHA as a CPR teacher but remained as a unit volunteer.” If it weren’t for COVID, John would still be CPRing. 

John joined the Masonic Lodge in 2007 and served as secretary “pro tem” in 2012 and became the secretary in 2013 and held that position until 2022. 

John has also been involved in the Lion’s Club service organization since 1975 in multiple capacities. In 2008 he became treasurer where he continues today. 

As a member of Maysville Presbyterian Church, John was an active member and was always willing and able to fulfil any needs of the church as a volunteer. 

John is now a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church where he serves as assistant treasurer and is involved with the buildings and grounds and wherever he can be of help.

NOMINATION LETTER ABOUT MOSS TREE SERVICE

Stonefield Farms Nominates Moss Tree Service for Business of the Year. 

When Audra and I first moved to Buckingham, we looked around to find someone to help take down some massive oak trees that surrounded our home site. They had become overgrown and had dying limbs that had started falling from the trees. When we started searching for a tree service, Moss Tree Service stood out. Not only did they have a bucket truck, but they were local to the county. When Ben Moss and Robbie Maxey came to the house, they were prompt, polite, courteous, and gave us a fair quote. They have the safest tree cutting operation I’ve ever seen. This is important to us. Audra and I met riding together on a rescue squad. In Audra’s first year in emergency services, she responded to multiple tree-cutting fatality calls. The same year, my dad took a nasty shot to the head when a tree he was cutting kicked back. She hates being around tree cutting. Ben and Robbie’s safety and style put her completely at ease. She informed me that they are the only ones she wants taking down trees for us. We are not alone. They have an endless list of satisfied customers here in Buckingham. 

That by itself is enough. But that is not all. There is a community aspect of Moss Tree Service that goes beyond a job well done. They are present in the community, quietly supporting the various activities that collectively make up Buckingham. These are just some of the folks they have helped. There are many others not listed here. 

According to Brian Bates of the Buckingham Firefighters Association, Moss Tree Service is very supportive of the fire departments in Buckingham and helped out in a pinch, hanging banners at the Dillwyn Tractor Pull. 

And if cutting trees and hanging banners for iconic Buckingham organizations isn’t enough, this is what Randi Perry Wright posted about our neighborhood heroes: “Thank you so much to the two men that stopped to help my 16-year-old this morning after she hit a cow on Raines Tavern. We are very grateful! Update: I have learned it was Ben and Robbie (I believe) from Moss Tree Service. Many, many thanks for stopping to make sure she was safe.” 

All of this is why Moss Tree Service is the Buckingham Business of the Year. 

Sincerely,
James L. Smith, III Stonefield Farms 

NOMINATION LETTER ABOUT KIMBERLY S. PAGE

Public servitude and virtue are characteristics that are becoming less common these days, unfortunately.  It seems as if people are more worried about “what’s in it for them” rather than what they can do to help others.  It is reluctant to know that there are still people out there who continue to give back to our community with a true sense of compassion to help promote the common good.  Now talking about being virtuous, this is a person that has done what they ‘ought’ to do.  It is conforming to moral and ethical principles.  In The Thirteen Necessary Virtues, Benjamin Franklin, one of our Founding Fathers, lists different virtuous qualities that are desirable and necessary to have which include: 

5 Frugality- “Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.”

#
6 Industry – “Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.”

I recommend that Kimberly S. Page be nominated for the Volunteer of the Year Award.  There is not some sort of function that Kim is not involved in.  She is a dedicated member of the Dillwyn Volunteer Ladies Auxiliary and an active member of Cedar Baptist Church.  In fact, she had directed Christmas plays in the past, participates in Youth Group and Sunday School.  

Every week, I get on social media and see that Kim has shared some local event.  You can always find Kim taking pictures as well of the local “happenings.”  Additionally, she is a Math/Algebra teacher at the Buckingham County High School where she is also in charge of the Yearbook Club, assists with Senior activities and the Homecoming Parade.

Kim has coached and assisted with Buckingham County Youth League with various sports.

So, not only does public service dictate her extracurricular activities and hobbies (as you can see), but so does her full-time job as an educational leader to our children.  

I will not forget this past Chicken BBQ at the Dillwyn Firehouse.  Numerous Auxiliary members were absent due to a tragic event that occurred in our community.  Kim grabbed the bull by the horns and called several of her friends, the night before, who were able to fill-in last minute.  It was quite a success.  We prepared more chicken dinners that day than I can ever remember. 

As the years go by, I find that individuals are more worried about themselves and what will benefit them instead of the common good.  I think it is appropriate and well-deserved that Kim S. Page receive the Volunteer of the Year Award. 

Kim’s sense of virtue and public service are qualities we should all try to emulate. 

Thank you- Justin Midkiff. 

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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.

2024 Buckingham Chamber of Commerce Officers

Thomas Jordan Miles III, President
Brother Maximilian Watner, Vice-President
Sandra. Moss, Newsletter Editor and Chamber Founder
Faye Shumaker, Secretary
Ruth Lyle, Treasurer

Directors

Eddie Slagle
Brenda Jones
Barbara Wheeler
Jewel Harris
Margaret Stout
Justin Midkiff, who also serves as Clerk of the Circuit Court for Buckingham.

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. 

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.

There were over 60 entries in the 2023 Buckingham Photo Contest. The Grand Prize was $75 , 1st place in each category received $30, 2nd places received $20 and 3rd places received $10. All winner received ribbons. The 2023 categories were Favorite View in Buckingham / Landscapes/sunsets/waterways (no animals). Only in The ‘Ham (Unique to Buckingham), Children/Domestic Animals/ Wildlife, Fun in the ‘Ham. Entries in the 2024 contest will be accepted from April 1st to July 15th. 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

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Other Winning Photos Were Unavailable at Press Time, Including

Vickie Luck’s “Rosney Rd.” ;

Emma Ranson’s “Sunset at Mt. Rush ;

and Sammy Ranson’s “Sunset Near Spears Mountain”.

Congratulations To You All!

All About St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary

by Sharon Curran Wright

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 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. 

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.

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.

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!

Other special events not pictured here:

Primitive Technology Day is cancelled 2021.

Vino in The Village TBA

Indian Relic Show Oct 9

 

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.

(An Interview With Buckingham County IT Manager 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

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.

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.