~ Friday Morning Sunshine over the Amherst Depot ~
Offices of the Amherst County Chamber of Commerce (Suite A on the right)
and the Economic Development Authority of Amherst County (Suite B on the left)
...and coming soon the Amherst County Visitor Center!
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Area Happenings & Announcements
Updated Weekly!
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It's Been a Long Time in the Making
and the Amherst County Chamber of Commerce
is extremely happy to announce
our move to the Depot
at 328 Richmond Hwy, Suite A, Amherst!
We are working with the County to get the Visitor Center up and running.
Be on the lookout for more information this spring. We think you're going to love it!
Our New Home
Please note: our
phone number and mailing address are still the same
(434) 946-0990 ~ P.O. Box 560, Amherst VA 24521
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SAVE THE DATE!
Amherst County Chamber of Commerce
15th Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Sweet Briar College
Prothro Dining
5:30 pm ~ Social Hour
6:30 pm ~ Dinner & Program
event details will be forthcoming
HONOR YOUR FAVORITE BUSINESS!
The Amherst County Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the
2017 Business Appreciation Awards!
There are a number of award categories.
The deadline for submission is April 6th.
Winners will be announced at the May 9th dinner.
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Click the following links for more information:
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Revisiting the Fight to Save Sweet Briar College
On Sunday, March 5th at 2:00 p.m., at the Amherst County Museum and Historical Society, Sweet Briar Alumna and author of The Spirit of Sweet Briar: How Love and Determination Saved Our Alma Mater, Becky Lambert, and Amherst County Attorney, Ellen Bowyer, who filed the lawsuit seeking to halt the closure, will revisit the roles they played during those four tumultuous months leading up to Judge Updike's ruling that prevented the closure of Sweet Briar College.
In February 2015, the Board of Directors of Sweet Briar College voted to close the College in August of that same year. On March 3, 2015, the decision was announced publicly, and the College and community reacted with shock, mortification and heartbreak. Becky Lambert started photographing as the event unfolded, and continued until the triumphal settlement in Judge Updike's court on June 22, 2015. Ms. Lambert published a compendium of her photographs in November 2016, with commentary. County Attorney Bowyer prepared and delivered the case.
This visual presentation will leave you inspired by the sheer amount of work that was accomplished in such a short period of time because Amherst County, the Sweet Briar community, and Friends of Sweet Briar College believed in the importance of Indiana Fletcher Williams' legacy and refused anything less than the perpetuity she requested.
The program will be held in the Hamble Center, behind the Museum, located at 154 South Main Street in Amherst, and is open to the public with no admission fee. Light refreshments will be served. Ms. Lambert will be available following the presentation to autograph her book.
The Program is made possible by The Greater Lynchburg Community Trust.
The Amherst County Museum and Historical Society is a nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to discover, collect and preserve objects related to the history and genealogy of Amherst County. The society exhibits, interprets and offers its collections to provide educational experiences for people of all ages.
For additional information contact Octavia Starbuck, Director, Amherst County Museum and Historical Society at 434-946-9068 or by the website email: staff@amherstcountymuseum.org.
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PRESENTS the 2017 AMHERST MUSIC SERIES
INDIVIDUAL AND SEASON TICKETS
at (434) 989-3215, Door of Venue or
LynchburgTickets.com
PERFORMANCES IN BEAUTIFUL AMHERST COUNTY LOCATIONS
ADMISSION DISCOUNTS FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS
and RESTAURANT 10% DISCOUNTS on FOOD at PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS
Modern Musick
March 5, 4:00 pm
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
670 Patrick Henry Highway, Amherst, VA
Modern Musick focuses on diverse genres and composers from the early modern era utilizing period instruments and performance practice techniques.
Elena Mullins and Friends
March 26, 4:00 pm
Sweet Briar Chapel
134 Chapel Road, Sweet Briar, VA
Singer and composer Elena Mullins will premiere AGAR-commissioned songs composed from the poetry of Christine de Pizan. Accompanying her are David McCormick on violin and Anthony Harvey on lute and theorbo.
The James String Quartet
April 7, 7:30 pm
Amherst Presbyterian Church
163 Second Street, Amherst, VA
The Forest-based quartet will play arrangements of ragtime songs by Scott Joplin, the music to Alfred Hitchcock's classic film "Psycho," Philip Glass' Mishima #3, and Mendelssohn's String Quartet Opus 44 No. 1
TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets:
- $15 adults, $2 children (K-12)
- $5 college student with ID
Season tickets, Amherst series:
- 10 concerts $100 for adults ($50 savings)
- 5 concerts for $60 ($15 savings)
- students/children $20
Get 10% Off Your Meal!
Subscribers and ticket holders (including online ticket holders) get 10% off a meal on the day of each concert (alcohol excluded as required by law). Show your ticket or reservation and get 10% off at the following restaurants:
- Market at Main, 904 Main Street, Lynchburg
- Travelers, 202 S. Main Street, Amherst
- Winton (Winton Monthly Brunch or the Tavern), 599 Patrick Henry Highway, Amherst
Two restaurants closed on Sundays offer 10% off on a meal (no alcohol) the week after AGAR concerts (Tues.-Sat.) when you show your ticket:
- Koto Grill, 1758 Amherst Highway, Madison Heights
- Lola's, 188 S. Main Street, Amherst
AGAR
P.O. Box 117
Clifford, VA 24533
434-989-3215
AGAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit , founded in 2006, which operates with support from government, foundation, corporate and individual sources. AGAR is funded in part with grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Greater Lynchburg Community Trust.
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YOGA and DRUMMING CLASSES!
Ongoing Yoga Classes....
Have you missed a class in the past session? Fitness requires participation. We offer motivation and guidance. Sign up for this next session.
Mindful Mountain Yoga offers a holistic approach to health and well-being, improving quality of life through movement and mindful awareness. We begin with stretch, strength and balance. Week to week, exploring energies within mind and body, we balance our immune system, bring peace of mind, and gently challenge our spirit. Each class leaves us relaxed and refreshed. Results are noticeable within a few classes. Our studio welcomes every ability level, finding ways to connect community.
Ongoing Drumming Classes....
Recently
a new participant dropped into drum class. She had never beat on a drum before and here Malcolm had her banging different sounds on one of our extra conga drums. It's not difficult to learn where bass tones are played on a drum, or to find the position for tone sounds.
We play together at our own level of practice to create a mix of beats, together coming up with a rhythm that sounds amazing. Of course, we have a great teacher, Malcolm, who is also about listening, sharing his experience and technique. By end of class we have shared a creative experience and built on our knowledge of percussion.
Drum classes fit into our Mindful Mountain Yoga studio holistic approach to health and well-being, improving quality of life through positive energy and mindful awareness. Week to week, exploring energies within mind and body, we balance our immune system, bring peace of mind, and take a gentle but challenging approach to include our spirit.
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....NEW....
Qigong practice at Mindful Mountain Yoga
Instructor Tim Griffin
Qigong originated in China centuries ago. This
ancient discipline teaches graceful standing movements and relaxed balance, supporting immune health and a calm mind. Participation is available to a wide range of physical ability. Slow, balanced, low impact movements are practiced with controlled breathing, concentrating on how to shift our body weight to relax our muscles.
No experience is necessary. Recent evidence based studies on Qigong's benefits show:
Better brain function.
In a 2013 study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, including 120 healthy people in China, those who practiced 3 times a week for 40 weeks showed increases in brain volume and improvements on several tests of memory and learning, compared to those not doing the exercise.
Less depression and anxiety.
Practice showed positive effects on several measures of psychological well-being, including reduced depression and anxiety, and better stress management, according to a 2014 systematic review in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Practice yielded significant reductions in anxiety symptoms in a 2015 review in the Journal of Evidenced-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
Better balance, fewer falls.
Guidelines on fall prevention in older people from the American Geriatric Society recommended practice because it targets strength, gait and balance. Research shows that Qigong improves coordination and reduces fall risk.
Arthritis relief.
Six clinical trials reviewed in 2014 in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science found "strong evidence" that Qigong controls pain and improves physical function in people with knee osteoarthritis. Evidence showed improved balance and strength.
Register online or walk in and register at the first day of class. Check or cash (online payments are in process of correcting fee choices). RSVP to reserve your spot. Beginners are encouraged. Wear comfortable clothes.
- Beginning 3/16/17, on Thursdays, 11:00 to 12:15 noon, 4 or 8 week sessions @ $12.50/class.
- A 4 week registration is $50 and includes (1) 45 minute individual instruction, by appointment.
- An 8 week registration is $100 which also includes a free bodywork/massage session.
- Drop in classes are $15. Our list of interested participants is growing.
Mindful Mountain Yoga is located at Second Stage | Amherst
194 Second St, Amherst VA
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CALLING ALL GARDENERS EXPERIENCED OR NOT
JOIN THE VILLAGE GARDEN CLUB
* HELP BEAUTIFY AMHERST
* EXPERIENCED MEMBERS TO SHARE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE
*
PROJECTS AVAILABLE & NEED MANAGEMENT
* ANNUAL GARDEN FEST
* 63-YEAR HISTORY OF BEAUTIFYING AMHERST
* AFFILIATE OF VIRGINIA FEDERATION OF GARDEN CLUBS, INC.
"No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth,
and no culture comparable to that of the garden."
~ Thomas Jefferson ~
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Amherst County School Board Meeting Schedule ~ 2016-2017
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursdays at 6:00 pm unless noted otherwise in the
board room of the School Administration Office - 153 Washington Street, Amherst.
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Amherst County Board of Supervisors Meetings ~ 2017
Meetings are regularly held on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
The first Tuesday meeting convenes at 1:00 pm. The third Tuesday month meeting convenes at 7:00 pm.
All meetings of the county Board of Supervisors are held in the County Administrators Building at Second and Washington Streets unless otherwise noted.
Board of Supervisors Inclement Weather Policy:
If a Board of Supervisors meeting is cancelled due to inclement weather, the meeting will be held on the following Monday, unless a holiday, in which case the meeting would be held on the following Tuesday. Pursuant to Virginia Code 15.2-1416, all hearings and other matters previously advertised shall be conducted at the continued meeting and no further advertisement is required.
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Governor McAuliffe and the Commonwealth of Virginia want to know if you are online. If you are in need of internet service please take a moment to answer a few questions regarding your need. Responses will be mapped and shared with policy makers to stimulate broadband policy and funding discussions throughout the remainder of the administration.
Let's get our rural communities online!
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ATTENTION:
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Welcome to Our Newest Members!
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2017 Amherst County Chamber of Commerce Board Roster
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OFFICERS:
Patrick Dreher, President - Glad Manufacturing Co.
Amanda Ramsey, Vice President - First National Bank
Martha Tucker, Secretary - Blue Ridge Medical Center
Chad Mooney, Treasurer - Petty Livingston Dawson & Richards
DIRECTORS:
Chad Bryan - Virginia Farm Bureau
Amy Campbell - Sweet Briar College
Chad Eby - Hermle Clocks North America
Ralna Francis - Centra
Sabrina Kennon - Specialty Exterminating Co.
Ruth Martineau - Community Maps
Drew Ramsey - Ramsey Cabinets
Bruce Strickland - Virginia Select Auto
Bill Tucker - Tucker Family Farms
Ryan Webb - Rehab Associates of Central VA
EX-OFFICO MEMBERS:
Jack Hobbs - Amherst Town Manager
Claudia Tucker - Amherst Co. Board of Supervisors
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Free and available for use by any local organization!
INSTRUCTIONS:
That's it...All done!
The Amherst County Community Calendar is managed by the
Amherst County Chamber of Commerce
. Please note, the Community Calendar is available for all area organizations; you do not have to be a member of the Chamber to list an event. If you need assistance, please contact Vanessa Angus at the Chamber office (434) 946-0990.
Certain restrictions may apply.
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Our Hometown ~ Amherst County, Virginia
Video created by Kobault Films
for Amherst County Chamber of Commerce
Kobault Films is a spin-off of the Amherst County High School Tech Club
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It's Time to Re-New or Join Anew!
Have you mailed in your 2017 Dues?
There is no better way to introduce your business, service, and/or expertise to the Amherst community than through membership with the Chamber.
The Amherst County Chamber of Commerce is continuously working to create new ways to promote the region and the advancement of the business community.
Our goal at the Chamber is to help business owners network and grow their business. At the Chamber of Commerce we work diligently to help our members achieve their business goals each year. We measure our success by our members' success.
Your business membership with the Chamber makes programs, services, and events possible, and without your partnership we cannot accomplish our shared mission of a thriving, profitable business community.
ADVERTISING/PROMOTION
Chamber Website:
All members are listed on our website,
www.amherstvachamber.com
, in the business directory which is where up to 4,000 people go each month searching for businesses and organizations like yours! With the membership portal you can promote "Hot Deals", job opportunities, upcoming events and more.
Social Media:
With a multitude of subscribers on Facebook and Twitter, you can utilize the Amherst County Chamber of Commerce (ACCC) to promote your business, events, special announcements. "Member Monday" on Facebook and Twitter-each week an individual business is showcased to include an overview of the business with contact information.
Weekly e-Blasts:
Our weekly communications highlight our members, Chamber events and events in the county, and important state/legislative information that matters to your business. Currently
delivered to the inbox of hundreds of people and then cross-posted on Facebook and Twitter to reach thousands more
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Send us your newsworthy announcements and events and we will get the word out!
Amherst County Guidebook:
This annual magazine is distributed throughout Central Virginia and is published in conjunction with ACCC as advertisement for Amherst County. Chamber members are listed in the publication at no cost and also have the opportunity to purchase additional advertising at a discounted rate.
NETWORKING
Amherst County 3rd Thursdays:
Monthly
networking opportunities to meet potential customers, clients, and vendors to generate new business leads.
Annual Business Appreciation Awards Dinner:
A special evening set aside to honor Amherst County businesses for their commitment to serving our residents, visitors, friends and family.
INCREASED CREDIBILITY
Join Today!
As a Chamber member, you increase positive perception among consumers and business owners:
According to a research study by The Shapiro Group, Inc. and Market Street Services, when consumers know that a business is a member of their local Chamber of Commerce, they are 44% more likely to think favorably of it and 63% more likely to purchase good or services from the company in the future.
Ribbon Cuttings:
The best way to quickly bring awareness to your business. This ceremony introduces you and your employees, along with your location, products, and/or services to the community.
Contact the Chamber to reserve a date and time.
ADVOCACY
The Chamber works with our members to support local and state policies that create an environment favorable to business, community growth and development.
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Do you have an Upcoming EVENT,
Hot Deal
or Special ANNOUNCEMENT?
If your business or organization is a current member of the Amherst County Chamber of Commerce, send us your events and public notices, we'll be happy to share in our weekly eBlasts.
Please email notices in jpg format to:
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Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors:
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