Basye, VA – Bryce Resort in the Shenandoah Valley is in beautiful shape following the historic snow fall here. Resort staff are reporting 18 inches of new powdery snow in the last twenty four hours. Whether it’s for Christmas, New Years or in 2010, make plans to grab your family and friends, hop in the car and escape to beautiful Bryce Resort in the Alleghany Mountains of Virginia.

Just a 2-hour drive from Washington, D.C., you can ski, snowboard, tube, dine and shop, and still be home before bedtime, or there are many cabins and vacation homes to rent for a weekend or longer.

Bryce Resort is only 11 miles west of Interstate 81 in Shenandoah County. Take exit 273 off I-81 (Mt. Jackson) and within minutes you can be in a winter wonderland. The restaurant menu has been updated, the Ski Boutique is stocked with new equipment and clothing, and ski instructors are ready to help get you carving down the slopes.

This mountain hideaway began as a summer retreat called Bryce’s Mountain Resort way back in 1909. By the late 1960’s,  it was transformed into a winter getaway as well, when its ski slopes opened to the public. Ever since, couples and families from the Washington, DC, area have been discovering this hidden gem. In 2008, Bryce Resort was voted the most family-friendly resort in the Mid Atlantic/Southeast region of the U.S.

Ski Details

Every skier/rider must have a valid ticket to use the slopes. Children ages five and below are free with a ticketed adult. Seniors over 70 years receive free slope access on non-holidays.  Active Military and their dependents must have Military ID.

The Bryce Resort  Ski school operates under the direction of Horst Locher, a certified member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America, and a Certified Ski Coach of the United States Ski Coaches Association. For more information, email skischool@bryceresort.com, or call the Ski School at 800-821-1444 or 540-856-2121 ext. 229.

Early season lift rates will be in effect through Thursday, December 24. Regular ski hours and rates go into effect Friday, December 25. Night skiing begins Saturday, December 26, and is available the rest of the Christmas holiday period, except for New Year’s Eve and Sunday, January 3.

Here are the ski lift rates for this year.

Bryce also offers snowboarding and mountain tubing. .In fact, Bryce is one of the few ski resorts in the Mid-Atlantic Region which has true beginner terrain. Combine the beginner area with their nationally-accredited Horst Locher Ski School, and you have the perfect place to learn to ski or snowboard. Or, teach your kids!

If you are visiting for a day, you can sign up for one of Bryce’s First Time Ski/Snowboard Packages. If you are vacationing at Bryce for a more extended period, let one of their Ski School representatives tailor a multi-day Ski or Snowboard Instruction Program to fit your specific needs. Bryce’s highly-qualified instructors will have you skiing or riding proficiently in only a few days. The Resort also offers group and private instruction for people of all ages and skill levels  -  including children, adults, first-timers, or seasoned skiers/riders looking to fine tune their technique.

And for those of you who like to watch, did you know that Bryce Resort hosts USSA Ski Racing events? The Bryce Resort Ski Team is a United States Ski Association (USSA) member club whose objectives are to focus on fun and to build strong fundamental skills for junior and adult racers. In addition, ski team members compete in USSA-sanctioned ski races within the Southern Alpine Ski Association (SARA), which encompasses Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. Ski Team participants must become members of both the USSA and SARA organizations in order to participate in USSA races

Here is the USSA Racing schedule at Bryce for the rest of the season:

- Bryce Holiday Giant Slalom USSA - December 28 - 12:30 pm
- Bryce Holiday Slalom USSA - December 29 – 9:00 am
- Shenandoah Slalom USSA -  January 9 -  9:00 am
- Collegiate USSA Giant Slalom - January 23 - 12:00 pm
- Collegiate USSA Slalom -  January 24 – 9:00 am
- Collegiate USSA Giant Slalom - January 30 - 12:00 pm
- Collegiate USSA Slalom - January 31 – 9:00 am
- Bryce Resort Open GS Championship - February 14 - 12:30 pm
- Locher Dual SL Challenge - March 7 -  12:30 pm

Bryce Resort Airport

Bryce is proud to be one of the few destination resorts in the Mid-Atlantic with its own airport. Pilots and their families enjoy flying in for a round of golf, a day on the slopes, or a zip line tour. It is an easy 200-yard walk from the tie down area to all of these activities. If you have access to an airplane, you can fly to Bryce for lunch from another state and still be home for dinner. Once you experience the beauty of our Allegheny getaway, you will want to plan another trip soon.

Dining Options at Bryce Resort

In addition to a number of private restaurants in Basye, Bryce Resort offers two main dining options, one more formal, and one informal.

The Restaurant at Bryce Resort offers fine dining. The dining room is open  Friday and Saturday from  5 pm to 9 pm, and for Sunday Brunch (9:00 am – 1:00 pm). Reservations are required for holiday events, and are strongly recommended at all other times. Please call 856-2121, ext. 244 or email restaurant@bryceresort.com

Here are the Holiday Hours and Events for the Restaurant at Bryce:

- December 24 – 5 – 9 pm - Enjoy evening specials,  in addition to their regular dinner menu.
- December 25 – Noon – 9 pm - Regular dinner menu , plus daily specials.
- December 31 -  6 – 9 pm -  Prime Rib Buffet. $39 per person, including tax and tip.
- January 1 – 5- 9 pm -  Regular dinner menu

The Copper Kettle Bar and Lounge is Bryce Resort’s  informal dining option. Food is served on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 am to 9 pm, and on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from  11 am to 10 pm The Copper Kettle also offers great entertainment. Music begins at 9:00pm.

Here is the entertainment line-up at the Copper Kettle at Bryce Resort for the next few weeks:

- Fri – Dec. 25 -  DJ Doug - No Cover

- Sat – Dec. 26 -  Keith Bryant and Iron Horse-  $8 Cover. Featured in Country Weekly Magazine, Keith Bryant and Iron Horse will serenade you with their smooth country rock.

- Sun – Dec. 27 – Jerry Wimmer - $3 Cover -  Jerry Wimmer, lead vocal for The Worx, plays solo guitar and entertains the audience with his antics.

- New Year’s Eve – Thurs – Dec. 31 -   Mirage heads up the New Year’s Eve Festivities in the Copper Kettle. Dance your way into the New Year! $55  Cover charge includes appetizer buffet and champagne toast! Reservations required. Call 540.856.2121, ext. 244; or email: restaurant@bryceresort.com .

- Fri – Jan. 1 -  Sissy Raye - No Cover - Karoake

- Sat – Jan. 2 -  Shag - $7 Cover -  Shag plays”feel good vibes that drive you to the dance floor.” British vocalist Laurence Mckenna fronts the band.

- Sun – Jan. 3 -  Jerry Wimmer - $3 Cover

Use this link to check out the many places to stay in the Bryce Resort area.

Did you know? Bryce Resort honors those individuals who serve their country and community, as well as our dedicated students. Each winter season, certain dates are set aside for men and women serving in the Military, those who serve as First Responders, and Shenandoah County students who make the Honor Roll to receive free mid-week ski passes.

Military Days
In recognition of their dedication and service to our country, Bryce Resort honors the Military men and women whose commitment is strong, whose sacrifices are many, and whose perseverance is immeasurable. In addition to their normal weekday discounts for active military members and their families, once a month, the Resort  offers free lift tickets to active duty service men and women, as well as additional discounts to their dependents.

Here are the 2009/2010 Season Military Days scheduled at Bryce Resort:

- Wednesday January 13, 2010
- Wednesday February 10, 2010
- Wednesday March 10, 2010

Bryce Resort – By the Numbers

- Base Elevation - 1,250 feet
- Summit Elevation - 1,750 feet
- Chair Lifts: 2
- Carpet Lifts: 3
- Slopes: 8
- Longest Run: 3,500 feet
- Snow Tubing Park - 800 foot lanes

Trail Classifications:
- Beginner: 34%
- Intermediate: 33%
- Advanced: 33%

Rentals:
- Ski/Boot/Pole Sets: 700
- Snowboard/Boot Sets: 125

From the Fall issue of 7Bends of the Shenandoah magazine…

Strasburg, VA – Scott Rosenfeld has accomplished something lately that few developers across the country can claim. His firm, Rosenfeld & Co., has been moving full steam ahead on projects, in spite of the economy. In fact, he hasn’t slowed down a bit. He never does.

Rosenfeld, a Winchester businessman, saw the potential in Strasburg, a small historic Shenandoah Valley town a few years ago. Now his foresight and perserverance are paying off. Strasburg’s gateway entry – close to the intersection of Route 66 coming out from D.C. and Virginia’s Interstate 81 – has become the new “hot spot” for business in the Valley. Solaris, a California-based company, is getting ready to open their 500,000 square foot factory here where they will take Asian paper and convert it into consumer goods. Solaris chose the Shenandoah County location because it was near the Virginia Inland Port. Rosenfeld’s own Strasburg gateway “additions” are right down the street on Old Valley Pike – and are multiplying like rabbits.

Who says that the Valley is without amenities? Cedar Creek Center, a new brick professional complex built by Rosenfeld’s company, houses two new Strasburg restaurants – Castiliglia’s and Golden China Buffet; as well as N2 Hair, a beauty salon; Thomas Family Dentistry; and Piedmont Medical Laboratory, a Valley Health rehabilitation clinic. He’s also building on a new 9,000 square-foot Valley Health Urgent Care Clinic about 40 miles South of Strasburg in New Market, Virginia.

In addition, Rosenfeld is a partner in the nearby 4-story Fairfield Inn & Suites that opened last year. Winchester Family Practice will also be expanding to the area, opening Strasburg Family Practice in the complex in October.

Rosenfeld made a few new announcements this week. “We’re getting ready to rename Cedar Creek Station. It will now be the “Shentel Station.” Headquartered in Edinburg, Virginia, Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, the largest telephone, cable and Internet provider in the Valley, will be opening a service center and Sprint store in Strasburg.

Perhaps the most significant development news is the continuing construction of Homewood Retirement Community at the Shenandoah Valley, another Rosenfeld-inspired project. The new community, to be built in three phases, is slated to include 118 Independent Living cottages, 60 Independent Living apartments, 40 Assisted Living units and 20 to 40 skilled nursing beds.

The first phase of 32 EarthCraft House cottages is in construction now, and a model is scheduled to open in November. Homewood is one of the largest building projects in progress right now in the entire MidAtlantic region. And, it’s the first large retirement community to be built in the Shenandoah Valley.

“We encourage people to come out and enjoy the Valley, and nature,” Rosenfeld says. “Consider visiting Strasburg, or moving to or retiring here. It’s close to the action, while being far enough out to offer a relaxing retreat from the hustle-bustle workweek. All of our projects are bringing new jobs to the Valley. That’s a very good thing for the area.”

Harrisonburg – Being a realtor, every day I assist and advise clients about buying or selling a home.  From that perspective, it is easy to be objective and matter of fact.  I don’t need to allow my emotions to “muddy the waters.”

Martha Stewart Clean – If you are selling your home, and it needs some work, then I can offer you some tips:

You need fresh paint, and make sure that you pick nice and warm neutral colors.  You should update your appliances.  People seem to like stainless steel.  And nice carpet that doesn’t smells like a dog or cat.

Make sure that your house is clean… I mean really clean… Q-tip clean!  And, the yard needs to be raked, the flower beds need to be weeded, and oh yeah… the house needs to be staged perfectly… there should be no clutter around.

That is easy for me to say.  Never mind that they are normal people with normal active lives!  Never mind that it is going to cost $7,243  to pay for all of the upgrades that I have suggeste.!  Never mind that they have three children… seven years old, five years old, and two years old, and never mind that they are all active boys, virtual Tazmania devils of mayhem and destruction!  Never mind that Bruno, the family Boxer is in his shedding stage.  Never mind that Princess, the Siamese cat is experiencing bladder issues.

Never mind that Dad works all day long as an accountant and Mom works all day long dealing with smart-allecky ninth graders trying to persuade them that Geometry does have relevance for their lives, and they should do their home work, stay awake in class, not pass notes, and not make fun of the way that she stutters when she becomes aggravated.

And, never mind that there are piano lesson, violin lessons, soccer, and baseball, and church, and family, and that even in the midst of all that we expect in life, there is the regular and inevitable unexpected.

I tell my clients .. Make sure that your house is always ready to show with an hours’ notice.  And make sure that things are straightened, neat, and clean. No wonder my clients look at me with great pain and anxiety in their eyes.

A Confession to Make

We got a surprise visit from a potentially-interested party.  We had a full day’s notice.  So, we worked like fiends to clean up, straighten up, spruce up, and we even went and bought some items to give the place a little something extra.  We stressed, fumed, fought, and one of my children was reduced to sobs of frustration over our future move.  But there was not time to be patient and gentle.  And so, we were like tornadoes of Pine Sol clean and Martha Stewart hominess.

The interested party arrived – spent about 2 minutes and 21 seconds – and came to the conclusion that the house was outdated, that the pink bathrooms were interesting, and that they were not interested.

After a time of recovery for ourselves and our children to heal our bruised egos and the restoration of our relationships and togetherness as a family, we realized that it would not be easy, but that we had some hard work ahead.  We would all have to pull and work together.

So… new paint, new counter tops, new carpet, roof repair, tile in the Master bath, knobs on closet doors, repair to a utility sink, and the list goes on….

And what tremendous time and effort and thought it takes to do all of this.  To pick paints, carpet, tile, counter tops… And then after the changes are made, you second guess yourself.  Was that the right color?

Now, for us, I think we did okay.  I like most of the colors, but we went pretty bold and incorporated greens, tans, blues and even some orange.  It was difficult to be neutral and objective.  It was more like the colors were a reflection of who we are as a family.   The family room in the basement is a bold and stunning orange.  “Not what I would have picked,” as my father-in-law noted.  Not exactly the warm and neutral colors that I preach to everyone else.

It’s More about a Home

So, I have concluded: houses are less about paint color and more about the families that live in them.  Just like the people who live in the homes, sometimes there is mess and chaos.  But, there is also texture, substance and bold oranges!  I do suppose that most people are looking for more than a house anyway. Most are looking for a home.

Have any questions? Contact Ryan Roberts at (540) 908-8208, or visit: ryan@cbfunkhouser.com

Harrisonburg – I moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 1990 to attend Eastern Mennonite University. One of the first classes that I signed up for was Backpacking 101. I needed a physical education elective and I had been hiking on the Appalachian Trail since I was twelve and was so excited for this opportunity.

One of the first hikes that we took as a class was to Rawley Springs in Virginia. I was overwhelmed by the magnificence and beauty. There were majestic oaks and the entire area was a maze of rivers, streams, waterfalls, pools and tributaries. The air was crisp and fresh and the beauty of the fall leaves was an awesome experience.

I have returned many times over the years, with my wife, with my daughters and with my German shepherds to hike, to sit and be at peace, to camp in Lower Rawley and I love this area of George Washington National Forest.

The Highlands of Rawley Springs is a community that is located in the Upper Rawley portion and offers 2 acre to 10 acre lots for building a primary home, vacation home, or dream get-away. While offering tremendous privacy and a closeness to nature, the area is only nine miles West of Harrisonburg, Virginia, “the Friendly City,” where people can enjoy country living along with modern conveniences.

The Highlands of Rawley Springs are about two hours from Washington D. C., about an hour from Charlottesville, Virginia, and about two hours away from Richmond.

Have any questions? Contact Ryan Roberts at 540-908-8208 or ryan@cbfunkhouser.com

On top of being beautiful, spacious, quality built, and warm and homey, this house was built with a green advantage utilizing many green features and technologies, but the one that I want to talk about today is: ICF’s, or Insulated Concrete Forms.

These large, hollow blocks are stacked right off of the truck and filled with reinforcing bar and concrete. The end result leaves you with a high-performing wall that is structurally sound, insulated, strapped, has a vapor barrier and is ready to accept final exterior and interior finishes. These walls leave you with a R 50 Insulation rating and may lower your heating and cooling bills significantly.

One source, ICFhomes.com says, ” Homes built with ICF exterior walls require an estimated 44% less energy to heat and 32% less energy to cool than comparable frame houses. Consequently, your HVAC systems can be downsized. Since floor systems are hung on the inside of the wall, real energy savings come when you design above-grade, thereby eliminating a huge heat loss area in conventional housing.”

For example, July’s electric bill for this 5 Bedroom, 3 and 1/2 Bath, 4350 finished square foot home was only $130.

There are many other benefits to homes built using ICF’s including:

Safe & Healthy –There are no CFCs, HCFCs, or formaldehydes, and also no wood to rot and mold. ICFs are the answer for allergy and asthma sufferers. They have a two-hour fire rating and are termite and pest resistant. But most importantly, these structures can withstand a severe storm hit. Have you considered climate change into your future structure’s design?

Quiet – Your outside noises are eliminated. Is your future building site near train tracks, airports, highways or recreational vehicle trails? Maybe you simply do not wish to hear the neighbor mowing his lawn.

Storm Warning- Most importantly, ICF walls provide safe shelter from severe storms, whose occurrence is increasing in frequency as well as severity. Provinces and states with no past history of tornadoes are now experiencing them. As a result of the recent number of hurricanes in their areas, building codes are being upgraded along the seashores of the Caribbean, Florida and the Carolinas. Since 1983, insurance claims due to a majority of severe storm events have been doubling every five years. Protect your investment, protect your family, and protect yourself. Build with Insulated Concrete Forms.

Build Green with ICFs – Protect our Childrens’ Future
Our world’s number one challenge is to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that is being discharged into our atmosphere. The earth’s relatively sudden warming and consequent dramatic effects of climate change are directly related to these carbon dioxide emissions.

· Land filling construction waste is reduced to less than 1 percent when you build with AMVIC. For every one tone of methane produced by land filling practices, 20 tones of CO2 are produced.

· Every ICF home saves approximately 8.5 trees and effectively preserve nature’s air filters. Ask yourself the question, “How much oxygen does sand and gravel produce?”

· If we can reduce our energy bills by as high as 40%, we can reduce CO2 emissions by the same amount. The world’s international Kyoto agreement insists on a reduction of emissions by 50% just to slow down the effects of global warming. ICFs are a part of the answer to CO2 reductions.

I have certainly learned much from the benefits of using Insulated Concrete Forms in building a home.

Have any questions? Contact Ryan Roberts at (540) 908-8208 or ryan@cbfunkhouser.com

The main source of my information came from www.icfhomes.com/DYKpages/dykFACTS.htm

At the same time, I do care about nature. I do care about the earth, my environment, our water, our forests, our natural resources. I love to camp, fish, canoe, hike, and otherwise enjoy the beauty that surrounds me, especially here in the Shenandoah valley.

I don’t want to be perceived as some sort of flighty, granola munching, tree hugging extremist. And yet, I do feel a responsibility to live in a manner that is respectful to people, animals, and the earth.

Do you like the fresh and local vegetables at the farmers market? Do you try to re-use, recycle, and maybe even consume less? Do you enjoy walking to the park, to the store, or even to visit your neighbors and friends? Perhaps you are greener than you thought.

I am not impressed with an “eco-shic” persona that utilizes some sort of perceived global awareness as a status symbol. But I am challenged by the example of my wife’s late grandmother who cleaned and re-used her zip-loc bags, or who used the water from her boiled potatoes to water her garden vegetable. I am impressed by my wife who will quietly gather plastic silverware at a church gathering to make sure that it gets recycled. Small steps that make a difference.

This is why I have chosen to pursue GREEN as a designation as a REALTOR. I want to work with builders and buyers who want to build and own homes that are more energy efficient, that utilize earth friendly materials, and are built in places and in ways that promote the best for our community. I like networking with such people, people who are real, people who care, people who are concerned for the future.

Strasburg, Va. – EarthCraft House is a green building program that serves as a blueprint for healthy comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. The aim of the program is to help home builders be leaders in smart growth management and environmental stewardship. Homewood is one such builder in the Virginia and Maryland marketplace.

According to Earthcraft, building an EarthCraft House is about “constructing a healthy, more valuable home while minimizing environmental impacts.” EarthCraft House follows a systems approach to home building that stresses an understanding of how the different components of a home work together. This approach results in a home that performs better, is more economical for the homeowner (and costs little more to build than a comparable home built with standard construction practices).

The traditional energy sources used by homes can contribute to global warming and other serious environmental problems. Also, the materials used in the construction and maintenance of a typical home can deplete natural resources. Alternatively, an EarthCraft House can increase the energy efficiency of a home by as much as 30 percent, resulting in a reduction of over 1,100 pounds of greenhouse gases introduced into the atmosphere each year.

In addition, EarthCraft homes can conserve water and reduce stormwater pollution. EarthCraft homes are “sensibly built for the environment.”

Earthcraft homes are currently being built in Strasburg, Virginia at 33859 Old Valley Pike – as part of Homewood Retirement Community’s new development, and will be ready beginning this Fall. For more information, or to visit the Sales Center, call (540) 465-5500, or toll free – (866) 781-7333.

Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, VA will be holding a student orientation tomorrow, April 22, 2009 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. All prospective students are welcome. For more information, call 540-868-7027.