'Tis the season for Christmas tree farms

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNFjjeWNepEBYdwa4QPnr85L5TayNg1BPsOKfQmLNUbtPcB9QDNfBnYzsKd5cJWkIFzsKL-u9ZS3frNDiPOjOG_6M8nphw5N-2IbgdhWbTmu6EmSuX78hNfv0qQxhRAr2rrxpd_uaRD-L/s1600/Christmas+tree+McDonnell+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNFjjeWNepEBYdwa4QPnr85L5TayNg1BPsOKfQmLNUbtPcB9QDNfBnYzsKd5cJWkIFzsKL-u9ZS3frNDiPOjOG_6M8nphw5N-2IbgdhWbTmu6EmSuX78hNfv0qQxhRAr2rrxpd_uaRD-L/s400/Christmas+tree+McDonnell+2.jpeg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Linda Jones and Joe Freeman of Mistletoe Meadows Tree Farm deliver Christmas tree to Virginia Executive Mansion in 2010. With First Lady Maureen McDonnell.</i></div><br />So you may not be ready to pick out a <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/christmas-tree-season-comes-early-this-year/article_0b606dde-4fe1-11e3-a267-0019bb30f31a.html" target="_blank">Christmas tree</a> today but it's not too late to be thinking about this year's purchase. After all, there's only <a href="http://www.xmasclock.com/" target="_blank">35 days until Christmas as the countdown clock shows</a>. <br /><br />Here's a list of Virginia Christmas tree retailers: <a href="http://vagrown.va-vdacs.com/Default.aspx?category=CHRISTMAS%20TREES" target="_blank">Virginia Grown Christmas Trees</a>.<br /><br />Here's a list of Christmas tree farms in the Staunton area: <a href="http://vagrown.va-vdacs.com/Default.aspx?category=CHRISTMAS+TREES" target="_blank">Staunton Christmas Tree Farms</a>.<br /><br />Gather the family and have fun! 'Tis the season....

Blue Ridge Mountains Christmas in Shenandoah Valley Christmas tree farms Joe Freeman Linda Jones Maureen McDonnell Mistletoe Meadows Tree Farm Staunton Virginia Grown Christmas Trees western Virginia 'Tis the season for Christmas tree farms

Linda Jones and Joe Freeman of Mistletoe Meadows Tree Farm deliver Christmas tree to Virginia Executive Mansion in 2010. With First Lady Mau...

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McDonnells receive avalanche of pumpkins at Virginia Executive Mansion

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YyeJoHGPeBHD4q0NbhbF2lAsmOAyRlOEcZL7QKNPMRwvykiHQpBT-TYdPZFG9kT9qoOEp5GDjCR-61bxdUV9ikFwDOiulVs2j3cmY9uqy04NJ80lSE8e9OseqpU1sj2bmJeHD1GEsbqY/s1600/Bob+McDonnell+fall+pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YyeJoHGPeBHD4q0NbhbF2lAsmOAyRlOEcZL7QKNPMRwvykiHQpBT-TYdPZFG9kT9qoOEp5GDjCR-61bxdUV9ikFwDOiulVs2j3cmY9uqy04NJ80lSE8e9OseqpU1sj2bmJeHD1GEsbqY/s400/Bob+McDonnell+fall+pumpkins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYfdDZjmxiXiD4ISXwwkGZaINu4_QBHk0S0-niOr1ysvdnUkD-LxbpfgchqHpba53d86Ede5lQWCfn0SzL37o5n99IyEAcwn7r4nBg8TseNAKVZA6Uaho6aV2fCJVONhClq7fYafx3xdV/s1600/Bob+McDonnell+fall+pumpkins+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYfdDZjmxiXiD4ISXwwkGZaINu4_QBHk0S0-niOr1ysvdnUkD-LxbpfgchqHpba53d86Ede5lQWCfn0SzL37o5n99IyEAcwn7r4nBg8TseNAKVZA6Uaho6aV2fCJVONhClq7fYafx3xdV/s400/Bob+McDonnell+fall+pumpkins+2.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photos courtesy of Michaele White, Governor’s Photographer</i></div><br />Governor Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell received a delivery of several hundred Virginia pumpkins Thursday from the Virginia Pumpkin Growers Association and its members.  Growers from the <a href="http://http//www.vdacs.virginia.gov/shippers/pumpkins.shtml"><b>Brann/King Farm</b></a> in Riner, <a href="http://www.ashlandberryfarm.com/"><b>Ashland Berry Farm</b></a> in Beaverdam, and <a href="http://pumpkinva.org/association-members/"><b>Cassell Farm</b></a> in Laurel Fork donated pumpkins, gourds, and other decorative items to the governor and his staff to show how locally-grown pumpkins are fresh, nutritious, and how they support the local economy.

Ashland Berry Farm Bob McDonnell Brann/King Farm Cassell Farm Executive Mansion Maureen McDonnell Virginia Virginia Pumpkin Growers Association McDonnells receive avalanche of pumpkins at Virginia Executive Mansion

Photos courtesy of Michaele White, Governor’s Photographer Governor Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell received a delivery of s...

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58 historical Virginia homes open free of charge this weekend

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHt3GXCtZp5H6V_nFw1Ix3X3-XMQqZLncUtT2UyDddo6oV8YXssvrppN0QuWFYh3mzfUnTtGAJjmZMwRdPyskXlaPcjzE1HFOut0XNphICKDznIUD8iT94NtdY_sfEf2bJ8KoXYxRnuZC/s1600/Virginia+Executive+Mansion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHt3GXCtZp5H6V_nFw1Ix3X3-XMQqZLncUtT2UyDddo6oV8YXssvrppN0QuWFYh3mzfUnTtGAJjmZMwRdPyskXlaPcjzE1HFOut0XNphICKDznIUD8iT94NtdY_sfEf2bJ8KoXYxRnuZC/s400/Virginia+Executive+Mansion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Virginia's Executive Mansion, Richmond</i></div><br /><b>Free admission to select historic homes this weekend</b><br /><br />This is a great weekend to head out and explore 58 of Virginia's historic homes <i>free of charge.</i> What a fantastic opportunity to get an up-close-and-personal look at the Commonwealth's Executive Mansion, Edgar Allen Poe Museum, the Dooley Mansion in Richmond's Maymont Park, homes of our historical figures such as Patrick Henry and Light Horse Harry Lee, taverns, the coast guard station in Virginia Beach, and many other homes and mansions from the coast to the mountains and everywhere else in the Old Dominion. Best of all, admission is waived Saturday and Sunday, September 14 and 15, 2013. <a href="http://www.historicalhomes.virginia.gov/septpromo.cfm">The listing of all 58 homes is here.</a><br /><br />Virginia is for history lovers!<br /><br />From the <a href="http://www.historicalhomes.virginia.gov/septpromo.cfm">Governor's website</a>: <br /><blockquote>In celebration of the Executive Mansion's 200th Anniversary, Governor Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell declared 2013 the "Year of the Historic Home." There are over 120 sites scattered across Virginia classified as Historic Homes that span from pre-Colonial times through the Modern era, all of which provide an abundance of cultural, historical, and architectural information and promote an understanding of, as well as an interest in, Virginia’s story.<br /><br /><div class="closeParagraph" style="color: black;">To further promote the Year of the Historic Home effort, in the spring of 2013, seven historic homes across Richmond came together in a collaborative effort to open their doors admission-free to the public for an entire weekend to "Time Travel through Virginia History." Because of the successes and benefits experienced from the spring promotional weekend, the homes throughout Richmond are coming together to host this collaborative weekend in the fall, as are over 50 homes throughout Virginia. </div><div class="closeParagraph" style="color: black;"><br /></div><div class="closeParagraph" style="color: black;">Exclusively during the weekend of September 14 and 15, 2013, Virginia’s most renowned historic homes and museums will be open free to the public, in support of theYear of the Historic Home. </div><div class="closeParagraph" style="color: black;"><br /></div><div class="closeParagraph" style="color: black;">"My husband and I have been thrilled with the excitement surrounding the Year of the Historic Home," said First Lady Maureen McDonnell. "The spring success of the Historic Home Promotional Weekend in Richmond came as a pleasant surprise, and promoting this initiative in September as a statewide effort is extremely exciting and promises great results.  We encourage you to print your passport and visit these historical sites, which have been home to many of America’s Founding Fathers, U.S. presidents, and many other important figures."</div><div class="closeParagraph" style="color: black;"><br /></div><div class="closeParagraph" style="color: black;">A list of the participating homes follows as well as details of each home,and their hours of operation on September 14 and 15, please visit our <a href="http://www.historicalhomes.virginia.gov/learn.cfm">Learn page</a>. Please don’t forget to visit our "<a href="http://www.historicalhomes.virginia.gov/timetraveler.cfm">time travelers</a>" page and print your passport in order to be granted free admission. </div></blockquote>

2013 Year of the Historic Home Bob McDonnell Maureen McDonnell tourism Virginia history Virginia Is For Lovers 58 historical Virginia homes open free of charge this weekend

Virginia's Executive Mansion, Richmond Free admission to select historic homes this weekend This is a great weekend to head out and expl...

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Governor will host 2013 Virginia Wine Summit

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzLaAAhPFVd7rKh4aNeCnC-x6CHm5cuS4aWYK5epE6juyli_GOLZ29lUxrREXUNN1QIoVGuuoqaZoX5TuuY4X5hSlxPgkwRAQt2FXA0pbewsQWLOn4h-wPSUMSGM3rAD2sa6zuBEJf-NN/s1600/Wine+summit+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzLaAAhPFVd7rKh4aNeCnC-x6CHm5cuS4aWYK5epE6juyli_GOLZ29lUxrREXUNN1QIoVGuuoqaZoX5TuuY4X5hSlxPgkwRAQt2FXA0pbewsQWLOn4h-wPSUMSGM3rAD2sa6zuBEJf-NN/s320/Wine+summit+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that he and First Lady Maureen McDonnell will host the second annual Virginia Wine Summit on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_634751551" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Monday, October 28, 2013</span></span> at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond.  The event, which will feature famed British wine critic, author, and television personality Oz Clarke, will bring together wine experts and industry leaders from around the country to discuss the current and future state of Virginia wine.  In addition, the summit will feature Virginia wine pairings with culinary offerings, including Virginia oysters.  Panels, tastings, and discussions will be held throughout this day-long event.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Commenting on the event, Governor McDonnell stated, “The continued success of Virginia wine means more good jobs and economic opportunities for Virginians. Sales of Virginia wine are at an all time high with sales up more than 23% since 2010.  The Virginia Wine Summit quickly has become an important component of my administration’s efforts to promote Virginia’s outstanding wines. Because of our efforts, the Commonwealth is becoming the East Coast capital for wine and wine tourism.  We are very fortunate to have the internationally regarded wine expert Oz Clarke visit our great Commonwealth and be our keynote speaker. Oz, who I met in London several years ago on during a trade mission, and the Summit’s other notable speakers will undoubtedly help raise the profile of our wines to an even higher level.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In addition to Clarke’s (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">www.ozclarke.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">) keynote address, the Virginia Wine Summit will feature some of the nation’s foremost influential wine professionals, including:  Dave McIntyre of <i>The Washington Post</i>;<i> </i>Andrew Hoover, a Virginia wine specialist for <i>Wine Enthusiast</i>; Chef Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen (Baltimore, MD); Sommelier Charlie Berg of Blue Hill Stone Barns (Pocantico Hills, NY); Sommelier Michael Madrigale of Bar Boulud, Epicierie Boulud & Boulud Sud (New York); Sommelier Steven Grubbs of Empire State South (Atlanta, GA) & Five and Ten (Athens, GA); Sommelier Todd Thrasher of Restaurant Eve (Alexandria, VA); Master of Wine and founder of the Capital Wine School Jay Youmans; and Master Sommelier Kathy Morgan.  These experts will inform an audience filled with winemakers, restaurateurs, sommeliers, connoisseurs, media, wine-shop owners, and other industry professionals. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Summit attendees will take part in panel discussions with topics ranging from wine pairings with signature Virginia foods like ham and peanuts, ageability of Virginia wines, “Bang For Your Buck”, and an in-depth analysis and tastings of key Virginia varietals, such as Cabernet Franc, Viognier, and others. A Virginia wine and oyster panel will be sponsored by the Virginia Tourism Corporation and led by a team of wine professionals that will discuss the pairing, as Virginia’s oysters have also had a record breaking harvest this year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The Virginia wine industry is coming off its most successful year ever,” said Todd Haymore, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.  “Domestic and international sales reached an all-time high, record numbers of people visited our wineries, and major publications, such as <i>Decanter</i> and the <i>New York Times</i>, featured glowing articles on our wines and wineries.  In addition, last October’s first ever summit, which featured world-renowned wine critic Steven Spurrier, was an overwhelming success that helped bring together a wide variety of wine industry opinion leaders to discuss this fast emerging global wine region. The Governor, First Lady, and I, working in partnership with our wineries and vineyards, are looking to build on that success this year starting with the second annual Virginia Wine Summit, where we’ll proudly showcase our wines with the nation and the world.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Virginia currently ranks fifth in the number of wineries in the nation with more than 230. Virginia is also tied with Texas as the nation's fifth largest wine grape producing states. According to a 2012 economic impact study, the Virginia wine industry employs more than 4,700 individuals and contributes almost $750 million to the Virginia economy on an annual basis. In addition, more than 1.6 million tourists, a record high, visited Virginia wineries in 2011. Earlier this month Governor McDonnell announced that Virginia wines reached a new record sales level with more than 511,000 cases sold in fiscal year 2013.  That figure represents a five percent increase over the previous fiscal year.  Export sales, mostly to China and Great Britain, increased by 74 percent during the same period, from approximately 3,300 cases to more than 5,800 cases. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To register for the Virginia Wine Summit, and for more information, please visit </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.virginiawinesummit.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">www.virginiawinesummit.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">. Additional speakers and more information will continue to be announced on the site in the coming weeks.  For more information about the Virginia wine industry, please visit the Virginia Wine Marketing Office's website at </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.virginiawine.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.virginiawine.org/</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <wbr></wbr>or call <a href="tel:804-344-8200" target="_blank" value="+18043448200">804-344-8200</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">  <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>

Bob McDonnell Maureen McDonnell Virginia Wine Summit Governor will host 2013 Virginia Wine Summit

Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that he and First Lady Maureen McDonnell will host the second annual Virginia Wine Summit on Monday,...

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Governor Bob McDonnell: 'I wish all Virginians a happy and safe Fourth of July'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9NRZAyNRqayVnyvsY3zyjhYftnGkN_SYC25Td4TZ0nTHKsolgRmBKpmQeQsjktQQTpb8E17WLgH3xibLKBLHzTUWKf_N0-xZXAdBwKpeCnSAZjOkfOP-wQAOAQZ-YDhoaROfARrGkAup/s960/American+flag+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9NRZAyNRqayVnyvsY3zyjhYftnGkN_SYC25Td4TZ0nTHKsolgRmBKpmQeQsjktQQTpb8E17WLgH3xibLKBLHzTUWKf_N0-xZXAdBwKpeCnSAZjOkfOP-wQAOAQZ-YDhoaROfARrGkAup/s400/American+flag+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />From Governor Bob McDonnell in observance of Independence Day: <br /><blockquote>It was a Virginian, Richard Henry Lee, who 237 years ago brought forth a resolution stating ‘Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.’  That resolution led to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, by Virginia’s second governor, Thomas Jefferson.  The Declaration, adopted on July 4, 1776, marks the birth of American freedom, and the timeless principles that continue to govern this great nation: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.<br /><br />“Tomorrow, Americans will continue to celebrate our independence with fireworks, parades and picnics.  As we celebrate with our family, friends and neighbors, let us also pause to remember our service members who have gone before us while protecting our great nation.  And let us also recognize the brave men and women who continue to protect our freedom and liberty, both at home and around the world, and pray for their safe return.  May we never forget, freedom is not free.<br /><br />“Tomorrow, in recognition of our active, reserve and National Guard service members, their families and all veterans living in Virginia, Maureen and I will be attending the first annual ‘Fourth at the Fort’ open house at the Fort Monroe Freedom Support Center.<br /><br />The Freedom Support Center, a Department of Veteran Services program, developed by Maureen and her tremendous team as part of her Serving Our Service Member Families initiative, provides assistance to military members such as one-stop access to benefits and programs and career planning and guidance, and support for families whose service members are deployed.<br /><br />During this event, we will celebrate those who have given so much to protect this nation, and those who are on the front lines of freedom still today, culminating with music and fireworks at the beach hosted by USAA and the Fort Monroe Foundation. I hope active duty and veteran military and their families in the area will join us for this patriotic event in honor of our men and women in uniform: our American heroes.<br /><br />“I wish all Virginians a happy and safe Fourth of July.”</blockquote>For more information about “Fourth at the Fort” please visit: <a href="http://www.fmauthority.com/" target="_blank">http://www.fmauthority.com/</a>

Bob McDonnell Department of Veteran Services Fort Monroe Foundation Fourth of July Freedom Support Center Maureen McDonnell National Guard Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell: 'I wish all Virginians a happy and safe Fourth of July'

From Governor Bob McDonnell in observance of Independence Day: It was a Virginian, Richard Henry Lee, who 237 years ago brought forth a re...

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