Cover Story

From bubbles to charitable gifts the items in this year’s gift guide all share one guiding principal, authentic country living. Plenty of useful stuff, all perfect for the tough-to-shop for Keswickian.

In Vino Veritas your wine shop ‘east’ of Charlottesville says it’s a great time of year to come in for the holidays as they have plenty of gift giving options! Come by every Friday for a wine tasting from 4:30-7pm. 3015 Louisa Rd, Keswick at Shadwell Corner; 434-977-6366; Open Monday-Saturday

Michael Turk Company’s Belgian Cover Up for kids. Hand-loomed 100% bamboo combines both flexibility and extra protection from the sun. The fibers provide natural UV protection as well as a soft to the touch feel, fast drying and ultra-absorbent performance with bacteria resistant qualities. www.madeincharlottesville.org

Will Coleman Equestrian offers a rare, special, gift option – inquire on ownership in one of the syndicates. Regarded as one of the top event riders in America and a 2012 Olympic athlete, Will has carefully produced and competed horses at the highest levels of eventing.  Tivoli Farm, Gordonsville, 434-981-1629, www.willcolemanequestrian.com

Floradise Orchids’ lavish custom orchid arrangements will bloom through the Holidays into the New Year in one-of-a-kind containers. Orchids in heirloom species and superb blooming varieties. Weekly delivery. ($175+; Gordonsville, 540-832-3440, visit Wednesday thru Sunday:  10am – 5pm)

Donate a gift to Help Save The Next Girl and 100% percent of your money goes to the primary focus: to spread safety information and prevent future crimes against young women. (donations can be mailed to: Help Save The Next Girl, PO Box 8062, Roanoke, VA 24014) 

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, has so many ways to give aid or financial support.  The money you invest in assisting a Partner Family, whose payments generate the funds that go directly toward building additional homes. (donate a gift on behalf of a friend, call 434-293-9066)

Instant Shade will work with you to pick the perfect tree for that special gift for Christmas, to commemorate a birth or other special occasion. Call Ralph to make this unique gift, custom arrangements or to visit the nursery off of Polo Grounds Road, Charlottesville. Plant a tree! (fees vary, 434-981-8733)

Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA  Your caring and generosity make it possible for these guys to continue its life-saving work. One of the few No Kill communities in the entire nation; but their job is far from over as pets are in need. No gift is too small or too large. To make your gift call or visit www.caspca.org.

Hospice of the Piedmont offers great savings at many of the area’s best restaurants, theatres and vineyards with their 2020 hibernating edition of ‘Dining  Around the Area’ coupon book. An estimated value of more than $1,200, the dining books make a great gift from the heart.  ($50; call 434-817-6900, or log in: www.hopva.org)

CASA Piedmont, support by generous donors enable these advocates to help over 200 children last year. They rely solely on the support from caring individuals. No other agency provides community volunteers to serve as child advocates in juvenile court proceedings. (call 434-971-7515 to donate)

Monticello Annual Fund Your gift will significantly aid in the enhancement and stewardship of Jefferson’s Monticello — the only home in America recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site — one of the world’s greatest cultural treasures. For further information please visit: www.monticello.org

Piedmont Environmental Council Your contribution will help sustain the organization and help keep the Piedmont a wonderful place to live and work. With a donation of $35 or more you will also become a PEC member or renew your existing membership. Contact Karissa Epley at [email protected] or 540-347-2334.

Our mailing address is: The Montpelier Foundation, P.O. Box 911, Orange, VA 22960.

Laurie Holladay can make a lamp from almost anything. Build a lamp, fuse a memory with function. Give this shop a riding hat, riding boots, antique seltzer bottles, duck decoys, toys, bottles, vases, trophys and watch Mr. Holladay transform it into an unforgettable gift. (123 South Main Street, Gordonsville, 540-832-0552)

Stokes of England  has candlestands! This local blacksmith shop has custom hand-forged architectural iron works and turn out detailed wrought-iron railings, stair cases and doors for royalty all over the world.   Visit their shop to discuss custom orders. (117 South Main Street, Gordonsville, 540-832-7888)

Montpelier Farm  Every bale of hay, quart of grain, halter, horseshoe, and vaccination is made possible by generous donors. Sponsoring a permanent resident at Montpelier makes a wonderful gift for someone special.  Please call our TRF Montpelier Development office with any questions, a donation of any size is gladly appreciated, call Nancy Lowey 540-672-3454.

Montpelier Charitable gifts from generous donors allow Montpelier to open the doors every day to visitors, students, scholars, and international leaders from emerging democracies. Your gift honors James and Dolley Madison and shares their legacy with the nation and the world. Please contact [email protected] or call (540) 661-0253. Our mailing address is: The Montpelier Foundation, P.O. Box 911, Orange, VA 22960.

Beautycounter, this season’s essential gift set, a limited-edition hand wash and lotion in a fresh neroli scent, packaged in elevated, sustainable frosted glass bottles.  The gentle hand wash cleanses without stripping skin, while the fast-absorbing lotion hydrates and conditions with shea butter and jojoba oil. Pampered hands! ($65; call consultant Sierra Young, 540-290-5478)

Gregory Britt Design will bring your special someone beautiful holiday décor, custom centerpieces, wreaths, tree decoration and magnificent mantels sure to brighten the day. Simply call with a budget and he will get to work.  (cost varies; 5445 Gordonsville Road, Keswick – in the heart of Cismont, 434-548-0580, www.gregorybrittdesign.com, delivery service available)

The Little Keswick Foundation for Special Education has several methods of making contributions that will enable the donor to enjoy personal financial benefits while supporting their mission to support children who experience learning disabilities and/or emotional behavior issues.  Visit www.lkfse.org

Danny & Ron’s Rescue Calendar features photos and stories of some of the many dogs rescued.  All proceeds from the sale of this calendar will be used to help Danny & Ron’s Rescue, based in Wellington, FL, and Camden, SC, whose mission is to help homeless dogs find loving families to adopt them. Contact: [email protected]

The Calendar is available online for only $20 each (+ $3 shipping) and 100% of the proceeds go directly to our rescue efforts! 

Private Libraries is more than just a bookseller, Kinsey Marable & Co. assembles private libraries unique to each client. Let Kinsey assist in building your private library, recommend acquisitions, investigate authenticity, find rare or out-of-print volumes and help you understand the fair value of books. (202-329-8313, www.privatelibraries.com)

Inspiring a Passion for the Future of the Sport

Story by Colin Dougherty, Photography by Warner Garande

Keswick Hunt Club held it’s Opening Meet for the 2020-2021 Hunt Season on October 23rd, on a beautiful fall morning at Cloverfields. It was a great day to be in the Keswick countryside. All of this is only possible by all the generous landowners and, on this day, the Coles and Barnes families’ kind support at Cloverfields. The usual hunt breakfast of ham biscuits and ‘hunt coffee’ to warm the insides for those that needed it was not offered in accordance with county regulations in place due to the pandemic.

Living in Keswick for nearly twenty years, I have concluded that fox hunting is best described as a passion. Many of my neighbors are immersed in the excitement and challenge of this age-old sport. This ancient countryside tradition was developed by the British during the 16th Century into an aristocratic sport. Today, a wide range of riders from all walks of life put aside the day’s responsibilities and gallop across fields and over fences that they may never have had the opportunity to roam. Fox hunting is one of the few sports that binds people to horses, horses to hounds, and all of us to the land. When it is absolutely perfect, it is totally out of control, the hounds are screaming, and hooves are pounding the terrain. The horn is blasting as riders are streaking across land many wouldn’t otherwise have the courage to cover at a wide-open gallop.  

As a hunter, if look back at your first time in the field, you may recall the excitement felt the first time you heard the ‘moving off sound’ of the huntsman’s horn blow, or perhaps as a young junior how your pony started to dance in anticipation as the hounds opened on a line. You knew something extraordinary was about to happen; your heart is pumping in the joyful anticipation of a fun day of sport. At the very least, a day in the countryside away from the chaos of real-life in the pandemic-world we live in is downright refreshing. 

Fox hunting grants the unique opportunity for a real connection with your horse, absolute immersion in the pack mentality of hounds, and to test your skills in navigating challenging terrain. Following an organized pack of hounds as a member of a hunt club whose activities affect the entire community, not just you, while participating in a sport you enjoy as the result of a twelve-months-a-year program which has been carried on continuously for generations here in Keswick, it sinks in how important it is to inspire youngsters to embrace and carry on the traditions.

For those families with the ability and passion for the fox hunting lifestyle, they may include their children at a Keswick Hunt Club meet. First, remember that fox hunting, unlike other equestrian sports, is purely for fun and that the last thing any hunt club wants is to make the introduction to the sport something less than fun. Nevertheless, there have to be some do’s and don’ts, but rest assured, the knowledge and expertise available to these young riders of the Keswick Hunt is unprecedented. The opportunity to experience true camaraderie among your fellow sportswomen and men in the field is ideal at this moment in the club’s history. The Juniors are essential for the club’s continuation as they are the future members, volunteers, staff, and perhaps masters of the hunt. Inspiring these youngsters to become our prospective supporters, land conservationists, and land owners keep these traditions alive for generations to come.

At the Keswick Hunt Club’s Opening Meet, India Mooney, daughter of KHC member Kelsey Mooney, was riding Spring Ridge Willow, a Welsh small pony. Now seven, India began riding at age three and has since fallen in love with the sport, especially hunting. She enjoys showing in the short stirrup and hunting with KHC as often as she can. Kelsey adds, ‘a good pony and rider can do both and would benefit from enjoying both worlds.’ Willow and India are a perfect team, each knowing their role and keeping each other safe, making them a fantastic pair for fox hunting.  

At a recent KHC Junior Meet, Gabrielle Shriver, daughter of KHC member Mary Shriver, joined India with mentors Sandy Rives, ex-MFH and Honorary Whipper-In and Rory McClendon, Honorary Whipper-In. Sandy says ‘we all soak in and enjoy seeing the enthusiasm that the juniors bring to our fox hunting field.  The juniors are so excited to hunt with the hunting staff on junior days and we all love making it possible.’

Gabrielle was riding a small pony mule by the age of two, beginning her formal lessons at the Glenmore barn on their string of super school ponies. After completeing her first hunter pace at age six she had to take a year off from riding while recovering from brain surgery treatment for epilepsy. She started hunting with Oak Ridge at age seven and hunts regularly ever since earning her buttons at Oak Rridge and four Fairly Hunted Awards from the MFHA. She began hunting a small pony, moved up to a small large (in photo), Princess, courtesy of Sally Lamb. The pair won first place in the junior division of the Shenandoah judge trail ride competition this summer. They also earned a blue at the KHC fall hunter pace Junior division. They enjoy and are members of MSPC and Deep Run pony club. As well as a junior member of Farmington and Keswick Hunt Club.  Gabrielle trains currently at Millington stables under the watchful eye of professional Chanda Boylen.  In the future she wants to show a bit and learn how to piaffe in dressage but in the meantime,    she loves to trail ride and ride bareback. Fox hunting is her absolute favorite. Having other children in the field makes hunting that much more fun for her, as a buddy always does.

Fox hunting is a pursuit, something you work on, and in this work, the real pleasure is discovered. Keswick has held many events over the years geared to getting Juniors involved and encouraging their participation. Learning how it ‘gets done’ is essential and a vital role of the club’s adult hunting members. In part, by the example of the members, the club must teach juniors the fox hunting formalities such as going to the meet, arrival, moving off and in the field, turn out for various stages of early cubbing, formal hunting with and without colors, and even in frigid weather or rain. The more experienced ladies and gentlemen can show the juniors how it is ‘being done’ at the Hunt Breakfast, matters of attire and the collective knowledge shared on etiquette points, precedence in the field, and various courtesies. 

It is a fox hunt; it is not a race or competition. Riders enjoy the challenge on any level while others will follow on foot. The more experienced may enjoy the eager chase, the caught scent with hounds at full cry, maintaining a gallop to keep as close to the hounds as they can, leaping over fixtures and creeks along the way. At any age, a fox hunting beginner should pick a good teacher, someone you know, and stick by their side, riding in a flight that best suits your comfort and ability. This guidance will enhance the experience and keep the junior or adult beginner safe, on a solid mount.  

I read recently something that stuck with me – in a world where you can be anything, be kind. Encourage a young junior or a beginner of any age to get out and hunt. Amid all these changes in 2020, embrace this endeavor, share your experiences, and even offer to mentor. You never know what opportunities it may bring into your life and the passion you can cultivate in fellow horse lover. Our children are the future of the hunts, and it doesn’t hurt to get outdoors, meet new friends, see new country and just maybe, they come to the realization of how important land is and to inspire these juniors to protect it for future generations.

By Colin Dougherty

 IN VINO VERITAS – Wine & Gourmet Shop

For the better part of a decade owner, Erin Scala worked in New York City at several Michelin star restaurants, notably JoJo, PUBLIC, and The Musket Room. In 2014, she returned to her home state of Virginia to run the wine programs at local downtown restaurants, Fleurie & Petit Pois. Today, she is the sommelier at Common House social club in downtown Charlottesville, and since 2017, she’s owned In Vino Veritas Fine Wines, a wine retail shop in Keswick, Virginia. 

Erin writes the thinking-drinking wine blog, produces audio essays for the I’ll Drink to That wine podcast, and consults about wine privately and commercially through her company, ThinkBev. Her articles about wine have been published in The Washington Post, Wine & Spirits, Wine & Country Living, and Knife & Fork magazine. For several years, she covered the Virginia wine scene in a column for her local paper, The C-Ville Weekly. 

Named one of Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40 wine professionals to watch, her wine list at Fleurie won a Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence” in 2016 and 2017. Erin received a James Beard Rhône Rangers Travel Study Grant to study Rhône varieties in California in 2016. She competed in the Sommelier Scavenger Hunt held by Wine & Spirits Magazine to find delicious Pinot Noirs in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA in 2017. In January 2018, the I’ll Drink to That podcast was written up in the New York Times. 

Certified as a Certified Sake Professional, and also with the WSET Diploma of Wines and Spirits, she believes that fermented beverages are a unique and dynamic communion with time and place and that often the best beverages come from small vineyards, orchards, and breweries using products farmed by passionate families who believe in minimal intervention.

 COUNTRY HOUSE ANTIQUES – Go Shop

Country House Antiques offers art, antiques, and décor for the country house and garden. Nancy Parsons, the owner, specializes in antique and unique equestrian pieces related to foxhunting, polo, and racing. The shop also offers 18th and 19th century English, French and American furniture and lovingly curated vintage pieces. Check out a display of handmade rugs with access to a larger inventory of rugs upon request. Many items are consigned from area farms and estates – it is undoubtedly a treasure hunt!

On any given day, you might find a wonderful 18th-century highboy, a vintage needlepoint pillow featuring horses, hounds, or foxes, or an antique sculpture of a whippet for a special place in your garden. Recently, some unique midcentury modern pieces have come in. New inventory arrives every week, and the best pieces go quickly. She posts on Instagram or Facebook to see the new arrivals. Nancy comments, “I’m so grateful to the Keswick community for supporting my shop, now in its fifth year! We are open every weekend, and we hope to see you soon!”

COUNTRY HOUSE ANTIQUES – Go Shop

Located: 5447 Gordonsville Road, Keswick // Phone: ​434-295-0616

CURRENT HOURS // Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 5pm or by appointment.

 STOKES OF ENGLAND – Blacksmithing

Founded in 1981 by Joe Stokes and oldest son Stephen Stokes, first commissions were for knives, swords, furniture, hardware, and fire screens, but eventually included gates railings, lighting, and balconies. Their work has been featured in many prestigious publications over the years, including Architectural Digest, Southern Living, Home and Garden, and Shropshire Magazine and being written about in the New York Times and Washington Post and many local publications, including Keswick Life. 

Stephen and his team of skilled craftsmen work directly with their clients. Recently, Stokes of England was commissioned to make all the hand-forged iron gates and balconies for the new business school at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, VA. Stokes of England operates a showroom and gallery where a wide variety of artisan pieces are offered, including furniture, lighting, hardware, and traditionally made wooden doors with iron strap hinges and hand-forged locks. Custom orders available; also, make an appointment to tour the forge and watch the blacksmiths at work on the forges and anvils.

STOKES OF ENGLAND – Blacksmithing

Located: 4085 Keswick Rd, Keswick  //  Phone: ​434-295-9848

CURRENT HOURS – Flexible but by appointment.

 TASTING ROOMS – Cidery & Wineries

Three tastings rooms come to mind in the immediate area of Keswick, first is an apple cidery, Castle Hill Cider, which offers their extraordinary grounds and tasting room Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from midday to 6 pm, with light fare on Fridays and a full lunch menu on the weekends. Just down the road, you will find Keswick Vineyards, with the tasting room open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, reservations not required but suggested on the weekends. Next, to the opposite end of my tour, around the Shadwell horn, across the river, towards Monticello, you will run across Jefferson Vineyards, open midday to 6 pm Thursday thru Sunday. Don’t miss the Simeon Market while you are on this side of Keswick environs – they are stocked up on picnic baskets, picnic blankets, and all other great goodies to fill those baskets!

 GREGORY BRITT DESIGN – Create

Gregory has a knack for creating inspired flower arrangements, dream weddings, lovely cocktail parties, and a myriad of events. He can design your gardens, style your photoshoot, and decorate your home for any holiday. 

The design studio, turned shop, is an excellent addition to the area. The space is charming and vibrant and packed with interesting plants, vases, pottery, vintage, retro, gifts, antiques, one of a kind finds, and treasures, many from Gregory’s collection.

Ok, the holidays are coming, and you might be thinking about decorating, have no fear; this team can help! Holiday decorating and parties with wreaths, garlands, and styling are available at the end of November.

Gregory began gardening while growing up in Indiana. During college, he studied art history and painting.  He worked in small florist’s shops and event design companies. After college, it was to New York City, free-lancing for all of the design stars, while simultaneously working on his painting. In 1999, the business Gregory Britt Design was born. After acquiring some fantastic clients, Gregory was fortunate to travel and create celebrations for them worldwide. The charming village of Washington, Virginia, was the next adventure. The world-renowned Inn at Little Washington welcomed Gregory as their floral and event designer, and then after ten years, he ventured to Keswick. Gregory lives in Keswick on a farm with dogs, cats, horses, and of course, gardens.

GREGORY BRITT DESIGN – Go Shop, Plan a Party, decorate for any reason.

Located: 5445 Gordonsville Road, Keswick // Phone: ​540-522-0531

CURRENT HOURS // Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 5pm or by appointment.

 LEGACY MARKET – Convenience Store

One recent visitor was skeptical about food from a gas station, but Legacy Market did not disappoint! Everything is made fresh with quality ingredients. The sandwiches and sides are delicious. Our reader’s favorites were the custom sandwiches, the Mulberry, Washington, and Louisa. “It was damn good, especially with the added tomato slices he requested!” he exclaimed.

This C-Store sits at the gateway to Keswick and Cimont areas. It is essential for me to fill up on Exxon products and quickly get the propane tank for my patio grilling – literally just a 1/4 mile down the road for me. The nightly dinners, featuring southern comfort food specialties like fried chicken or fried catfish, with two sides, are a weeknight value at $6.99. 

The parking is tight, it is what it is, so you’ll have to be patient. The staff is always warm and friendly – the coffee fresh and hot!

LEGACY MARKET – Convenience Store, Exxon Fuel, Propane Tank Exchange

Located: 3008 Richmond Rd ~ Shadwell  //  Phone: ​434-245-0315

CURRENT HOURS // Monday – Thursday 4:30am-10:00pm, Friday 4:30am- 11:00pm, Saturday 4:30am – 11pm, Sunday 6am – 9pm

 THE CLIFTON – Sleep, Eat & Drink

One word comes to mind – staycation! This local spot is a favorite for the socially distanced these days as the Clifton does a beautiful job of keeping us all safely separated. 

The original 1799 building is full of history, modern charm, and seven newly renovated and luxurious bedrooms and suites. The different but equally beautiful views from these rooms include the Monticello Mountain, the cascading waterfalls of their superb pool, and the beautiful lawns and gardens. All rooms offer the finest of rural and modern amenities. 

With its sun-drenched veranda and an enclosed patio with stunning views of the Virginia countryside through floor-to-ceiling windows, the restaurant ‘1799’ is one of the most romantic restaurants in the area. The seasonal menu highlights dishes showcasing local ingredients—with many sourced from the chef’s garden—to create distinctive regional food. The cuisine is perfectly complemented by inventive cocktails and an extensive wine selection featuring Virginia’s most celebrated wines and ciders, along with vintages from around the world.

They serve breakfast (yes, locals can be seated without being a hotel guest) and dinner daily, but lunch is performed only on the weekends, but do call ahead to be sure they aren’t closed for a wedding. Guests of the hotel enjoy complimentary continental breakfast each morning of their stay. 

Located just off The Clifton Lounge is The Copper Bar, a sophisticated and chic cocktail bar, aka the local Pub. It features a modern quartz bar with copper trim-lined oak shelves and mirrors on one side with lush velvet banquettes on the other. The space offers a hushed, intimate vibe for guests to savor original and inventive seasonal libations.

THE CLIFTON – Sleep, Eat & Drink

Located: 1296 Clifton Inn Drive, Shadwell // Phone: ​434-971-1800

Email: [email protected]

CURRENT HOURS // Cocktails & Dinner by reservation, Breakfast daily, Lunch on the weekends but do call ahead.  Lodging and visit arrangements, best to call.

CISMONT MARKET & DELI – C-Store

As an early morning patron, I am typically greeted by Judy and Gregory, a friendly welcome and willingness to put up with my ‘custom’ orders with a smile while we are all still waking up.  This convenience store stocks a range of everyday items such as coffee, groceries, snack foods, confectionery, soft drinks, tobacco products, over-the-counter drugs, toiletries, newspapers, and some gifts suitable to not let you walk into a host’s home empty-handed. They even have some NFL gift apparel and gear right now, heavy on the Eagles, of course – makes me happy as I am originally from Philadelphia.

They have great BLTs, double bacon cheeseburgers, and fried chicken – some say it is the best they have ever had. Still, the Cismont Market hands down set themselves apart by offering Diesel fuel, a rarity these days in the Keswick environs. Don’t miss this long-standing Keswick staple; every out-of-towner must stop in. You just haven’t been here unless you have visited this Keswick environs classic.

CISMONT MARKET & DELI – Convenience Store, Exxon Fuel, Diesel Fuel

Located: 5412 Louisa Road ~ Keswick //  Phone: ​434-295-1866

CURRENT HOURS // Monday – Saturday 5am-10:00pm, Sunday 6am – 9pm

Adapted by Piedmont Environmental Council

A proposal to build a gas station and restaurant at Boyd Tavern was dealt a major setback this month when the Board of Supervisors deadlocked on a vote for the necessary special use permit. 

The Piedmont Environmental Council played a pivotal role in helping protect the character of Black Cat Road by reminding both supervisors and the community at large that the county decided a long time that this intersection should remain rural. 

“This is an expectation neighbors and many residents in the Keswick area have expressed,” said Sean Tubbs, PEC’s field representative for Albemarle County, at the June 17 public hearing. “PEC feels you must take their expectations into consideration.”

Supervisors voted 3-3 on a motion to approve the permit,  which means the permit for the 4,000-square-foot project will not move forward at this time. However, Tiger Fuel has filed a lawsuit against Albemarle, claiming the county’s requirement for a permit process is unlawful. 

Supervisors Bea LaPisto-Kirtley (Rivanna), Ann Mallek (White Hall), and Donna Price (Scottsville) voted to deny the permit. Supervisors Ned Gallaway (Rio), Diantha McKeel (Jack Jouett), and Liz Palmer (Samuel Miller) voted for its approval. 

The site is located in the southwest quadrant of Exit 129 on Black Cat Road and is the only commercially-zoned property in the area. Keswick Hall is a mile to the north. Across the street is the Mechunk Acres neighborhood. 

While zoned for commercial use, the county’s zoning ordinance requires a special use permit for gas stations, restaurants and convenience stores. That’s because the property is not served by public water or sewer and those uses are considered to be more intense. 

The June 17 public hearing was the second held for the permit. Another public hearing was held on May 20 and also lasted several hours. Both hearings were held electronically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At least one resident of the Mechunk Acres said he was not able to access the June 17 meeting. 

County staff recommended approval of the project in part due to a series of conditions, including agreement by Tiger Fuel to turn off lights for at least part of the night. Planners also said the size of the structure would be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan because it would be the same footprint of a country store. 

However, the Comprehensive Plan also includes a policy on rural interstate interchanges that seeks them from being developed. 

“Interstate interchanges in the Rural Area should not be used as tourist destinations or tourist ‘stops’ along Interstate 64,” reads the plan. “The Black Cat interchange has narrow winding roads in one direction and a connection to Route 250 East in the other direction.” 

The Board of Supervisor’s denial came despite a public relations campaign by Tiger Fuel to convince Supervisors to vote yes. 

“I have heard from many of you that the scale of our project is a point of concern so we have worked hard to… address that topic,” said Gordon Sutton, the president of Tiger Fuel. He said the proposed structure would be smaller than a Sheetz or a WaWa. He also hinted that the site could be the new home of a Dollar General if the permit was not granted.

Sutton said he grew up across the street from the site and he did not want to change the rural character of eastern Albemarle. 

“I [am] a lifelong resident of this community and I care deeply about seeing it protected,” Sutton said. “I can think of nothing worse than seeing our beautiful county transformed into strip mall USA you might find in northern Virginia.”  

The Piedmont Environmental Council  agrees with this sentiment, but urged denial of the special use permit because approving it would have been against the Comprehensive Plan. PEC staff analysed planning and zoning issues associated with the proposed project and helped educate the community. This outreached resulted in significant public input which ultimately influenced members of the BOS.

“This will change the expected character of the area,” Tubbs said. “This county’s respect for its citizen-led Comprehensive Plan has made Albemarle such a desirable place to be.”

Supervisor Price said she received over 700 emails on the topic before the second public hearing. 

“What we have is a first-time development of this property, and it will be developed at some point in the future,” Price said. “Are we basically shoe-horning in an application that doesn’t fit within the description of a country market?” 

At the end of her initial comments, Price wanted to know what fellow supervisors thought about whether this was the right location for a gas station, given the Comprehensive Plan. 

Supervisor Palmer said she did not think a Dollar General would locate on the site, but was persuaded to approve the project in part because of the condition requiring turning off the lights at night. Supervisor McKeel also supported the project because she felt the use was appropriate.

“I do think that we need to look at the definition of a country store differently now, “ McKeel said. “We have to look at things as living documents, and maybe our country stores need to change a little bit with the times as well. This is a model of a modern day general store.” 

Supervisor Ann Mallek said the project was inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s rural protections. 

“The expectation for the intersection policy was revisited as part of the Crozet Master Plan in 2010, and it was strengthened [in 2015] with the Comprehensive Plan revision,” Mallek said. “It just happens to be that there is an interstate going by. Many of these residents were actually there before the interstate got there.” 

Mallek said a similar gas station outside Crozet was built against neighborhood wishes. In that case, the developer continues to return to the Board of Supervisors to ask to be let out of previously approved conditions. 

Supervisor LaPisto Kirtley said her vote came down to personal experience.

“I go through this corner several times a day,” she said. “Black Cat Road is a rural road. Where the proposed gas station is is on a blind curve. People are speeding around there. You’re now adding a business where people are going in making left turns and right turns. That’s a real problem for me.”

LaPisto Kirtley said she did not think this would be a country store and that advertising for it on interstate signs would attract more than local clientele. 

“The additional traffic from that use would be too great,” she said. “It’s not a small country store for locals, which would be more fitting in with the rural nature.” 

Supervisor Gallaway said he was not concerned about interstate traffic because Exit 129 does not have the commercial activity at Exit 136 at Zion Crossroads.

“I am somebody that commutes from Charlottesville to Richmond every day for my job, and I pass that intersection every single day,” Gallaway said. He said he prefers to use the bigger gas stations because they are easier to access. 

The 3-3 vote came at the end of a four-hour public hearing and discussion.  

The vote does not end the story. Tiger Fuel filed suit against the county last year over the need for a special-use permit, an outcome that results from an ongoing appeal against the county. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled before the Albemarle Circuit Court. 

Please write in and tell us your thoughts, questions, concerns, or comments related to this article, by email to [email protected]

Keswick Hall Construction Update: Never Once Waivering in the Face of the Challenges, Owners are Committed to Excellence on the Renovations, Legacy Project Built to Stand in the Community for a Lifetime

By Colin J. Dougherty

Recently whenever I drive through the gates, I couldn’t help but notice the significant progress made on the renovations at Keswick Hall – our beloved community touchstone. A message sent recently to the public simply said, “With Spring upon us, the Hall renovation and expansions are well underway. In the coming months, we look forward to the completion of the Hall, Horizon Pool, and Jean-Georges at Keswick Hall.” Brief and to the point, it continues to thank the community for the patience throughout the project and expresses, “looking forward to welcoming you to the new Keswick Hall.” 

I couldn’t wait to know when, so I picked up the phone and called John Trevenen, Managing Director of Keswick Hall. For starters, they answer the phone a bit differently with a shortened name, simply ‘Keswick Hall’, no more ‘and golf club’ or resort, etc., just plain and simple. John explained the return to this tried and true designation was just the tip of the iceberg for the owner’s unwavering commitment to getting the transformative job done right and to perfection. The name encompasses the entire experience, the hotel, the club, the spa, golf, tennis, and the great new dining experiences coming to the property, a staple in the Keswick environs. 

The owners, Molly and Robert Hardie, and their experienced team lead by Trevenen, are no strangers to the highs and lows of real estate rehab and construction. Still, time and energy up on the hill, first built upon in 1912, sometimes takes a particular set of skills, patience, and late afternoon walks in the Estate to decompress and avoid exhaustion while dealing with all the surprises that continued to creep into the project.  Keswick Hall has certainly tested their endurance, but Trevenen reports that there is nearly no stone left unturned at this point of the project, the hurtles of approvals are behind them, and there is now a clear path to completion.

“Molly and Robert have had a consistent voice at every turn,” Trevenen says; they made their desires very clear.  He added, “never once did they waver in the face of the challenges, and did not step back from the responsibility” they embarked upon when closing the doors on the infrastructure problems of past on New Year’s Day 2018. Getting it right above all has caused time delays and questions on when will it all be finished. These comments don’t worry the team, they are building at a very high standard of excellence and creating a Hardie family legacy to last a lifetime – a gift of significant improvement for all, especially for the Keswickian community. 

The 1912 historic ‘house’ side of the hotel structure was wrought with decades of patched up repairs that were never meant to stand the test of time, especially Albemarle County’s summertime humidity, deluges of rain, and icy winters. The right steps have been taken to ensure the best outcome when it would have been much more manageable to tear down large portions of the hotel. The more expensive and time-consuming choice was made to restore it to the original masonry substructure and rebuild to preserve the historical features that would have otherwise been lost. 

The Palmer Room, at the member’s clubhouse, dining space, an experience adored by generations of club members, will remain a special part of Keswick Hall. The members have expressed they like this space generally the way it is, as many have their favorite corner to meet with friends or grab a quick meal. To tie in the existing club spaces with the new Jean-Georges restaurant just above, there is a new transitional hard space area adorn with new patios, fresh rehab of the existing porches, along with a new fire pit with outdoor fixtures and furniture.  With all the changes coming to the clubhouse, one thing stays the same, the membership at Keswick Hall is a cherished and vital part of the business model going forward for the Hardies. 

The tennis courts have had significant investments made for improvement over the past months. Leading the way, stewards Tristan and Gabriella, bring us into a new era of local tennis club play with brand new Cremonini red clay from Italy covering the courts. The lighting system is engineered and executed in the same type used for the US Open Tennis tournaments. The courts are open for bookings, lessons, and the pro-shop is ready for equipment consultations and repairs. 

The Jean-George restaurant is an excellent advantage for the Keswick community, hotel guests, and puts the Keswick environs amongst an exclusive list of destination dining places. The new design is elegant, with a focus on easy, casual, and relaxed dining. The days of complicated menus and over-attending staff at Fossets are now gone! We will soon be welcomed to an enjoyable new dining experience of modern cuisine with a perfectly framed view in the main seating area, or perhaps an outdoor table in the courtyard with a freshly made pizza of the day. The courtyard at Jean-George features a Petanque court, French-style Bocci Ball, where a pre-dinner game can be enjoyed with a cocktail in-hand. Petanque, the ball game that is played on a flat court surface about 12 x 3 meters, has just a few simple to follow rules and is enjoyed between two players or teams.

When you sit back and take in what is happening at Keswick Hall, all at one time, you quickly realize how it will all be so great. John Trevenen, and the Hardies, are personally and deeply involved in the project, fostering this creation of ‘our house’, more of a palace – a place for gathering, great food, drinks with friends and leisure activities. It is the local spot to rest your head, regroup and enjoy a spa treatment, hit some balls, or relax by the pool. Stay tuned, for great things are coming soon! 

Please write in and tell us your thoughts, questions, concerns, or comments related to this article, by email to [email protected]

Thoughts by Tony Vanderwarker

If you’re old enough to remember the Cold War days, you probably recall air raid drills. A siren would go off and school kids would have to scramble under their desk and hide until the siren stopped. The thought of multiple ICBMs with nuclear warheads obliterating American cities was too much to bear. They horrifying scenes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, great cities flattened by the awesome power of a mushroom cloud were chilling. They were brought home to me when a group of hideously maimed and burned Japanese kids visited my junior high school. They were our ages but the difference between my classmates and the Hiroshima kids were stark. We were fine because our nation had dropped the bomb. They weren’t because the Japanese were the ones it had fallen on.

Nuclear war was too gruesome and frightening to even begin to comprehend and fortunately, it did not happen. We did not blow each other off the face of the earth, people filled with their air raid shelters and we put the Cold War behind us. But a new and even more frightening enemy is upon us. This time there’s no mushroom cloud, no disabling radiation, instead the enemy is a bit of protein smaller than 1/1000 of a human hair. It’s not even alive, it’s just organic matter but it has the power not only to kill millions but to cripple economies and even unseat a president.

We have seen in the past three weeks the strongest economy in our history shrunk to a Depression-era level, unemployment soar to an unheard of height, our healthcare system overburdened to the point that dying patients are being refused treatment. This is not one hydrogen bomb but an insidious, unseen force that attacks us not because we are its enemy but because we are human.

Being human we like to get together, laugh, joke, pay each other on the back and tell stories. We like to go out to dinner, go to parties, baseball games, movies, hang out in bars, we’re social animals and that’s what the enemy attacks. If we don’t want to catch the nasty virus, we have to practice what’s euphemistically called social distancing, we are forced to stay apart. Instead of shaking hands, we’re now supposed to do an elbow bump. If we don’t, we risk being strapped to a gurney in an emergency room waiting for hours to be treated. Or if we’re too old, left to die—alone—because the risk of infecting family is too great.

So we have to abandon our habit of getting together, of going to church, of watching the lacrosse team bring home another national championship and the basketball team defend their title. Wimbledon has been cancelled, opening day of baseball has been delayed, the Olympics put off, the political conventions pushed back. Instead of the Country Music Awards being staged on a showy set, performers will play and sing from their rec rooms. All the events that make up our lives are no longer there and are left alone in our homes staring at our TV screens.

Annie and I went shopping at Wegman’s today. We wore masks she’d sewn out of dishrags. I felt alternatively like I was a bank robber or Hopalong Cassidy but I’m sure my fellow shoppers just thought the guy with an orange dishtowel over his face was just an odd duck. The checkout lady told us to stand behind the line, “Please stand behind the line while I ring up your items.” I have always stood exactly where I wanted to at checkout but no more. Now I have to stand behind the line.

So I ask myself, will life ever go back to normal? Will we return to shaking hands, crowding into a lively bar, sitting packed in the stands at a football game? Or are we in a new reality, has the little bit of protein reduced us to loners, people who are so fearful of ending up in the ICU that we won’t behave like people any more. When someone used to sneeze we used to say, “Gesunheit.” Now are we going to snarl, “Jesus Christ, are you trying to kill me?”

Can you imaging keeping social distance at Thanksgiving? Are we no longer going to have a couple drinks and go out on the crowded dance floor and make idiots of ourselves? What are we going to do on Easter, sing hymns to each other across the dinner table? Are we going to wear latex gloves to break apart and share the matzoh on Passover? How can we line dance with our friends when we have to stay six feet apart? Are we going to have to give up everything that makes life worth living to avoid dying? That’s the question, and right now I’m not sure we have the answer.

As is the tradition, on the cover, was an excellent review of where we have been in 2019. As we begin 2020 we wanted readers to take a moment to look back, so we have pulled together the best from 2019 and put them all in one place. We wish everyone a new year that’s quite simply the best.

January

Looking forward to 2019 – Molly and Robert Hardie, owners of Keswick Hall are pleased to announce the multimillion dollar transformation and partnering with Chef Jean George Vongerichten who will oversee the property’s culinary operation. UVA plans new school of Data Science following the 120 million dollar gift (the largest in the University’s history, given by Jaffrey Woodfriff, trustee of Quantitative Foundation.)

February “Keswick Hunt Phase 1 Completed”

At 6 PM on February 23, a hundred and forty pairs of eyes blinked and went wide as Hunt Club members walked through the front door of the renovated club. People were agog at the sight of the gleaming floor, the new porch, dining room created from the former storage room and kitchen, the new curtains festooned with hunting scenes, and the 137 photos hanging on the walls which had been cleaned, reframed, captioned and hung in orderly groups on the walls.

March “Historic Virginia Garden Week”

Keswickians Guide to Local Destinations

This driving tour through the Keswick environs of Somerset and Orange celebrates the Centennial of the Dolley Madison Garden Club, a founding member of the Garden Club of Virginia, and host of the tour. Four gracious homes, with links to the earliest history of this beautiful place, highlight the area’s agricultural and equestrian roots.

Keswick Scene

Keswick resident and accomplished floral and event designer, Gregory Britt, opens an interesting new venture in the Keswick environs. He had driven by Blue Bomar’s old mechanic’s garage many times and one day in February he noticed that it was empty. The Keswick Hunt Club held their annual Hunt Ball marking the end of the hunting season. The black tie affair was held in the freshly renovated clubhouse which is now available to the public for special event rentals.

April “Keswick! Horse Showing as it was meant to be…”

Every spring in May when all the country is beautiful, the Club holds its annual Horse Show unique in point of originality and emblematic of the highest sport of sporting spirit there being no Club prizes and only laurels to the winners in the form of ribbons. Private Cups, the gifts of individuals, are often presented, but these are not Club prices. It is a gathering of the gentry from far and near to enter into friendly competition, their best carriage teamsn and best hunters as well as their saddle horses and children’s ponies. Pippin Hard Cider has just released two new blends to market: Ginger and All Hopped Up. Riding the median between dry and sweet, Ginger combines fresh-pressed apples with ginger root and a kiss of oak to create an exhilarating and thirst-quenching hard cider. Twenty winders from the Monticello Wine Trail (MWT) competed in the 2019 Monticello Cup Wine Competition, a friendly competition among wineries in the Monticello American Viticultural Area (AVA). This year’s competition was coordinated by the Virginia Wine & Spirits Academy, and all entered wines contained a minimum of 85% fruit from the Monticello AVA and were produced by a member of the MWT-included in the winners was Keswick Vineyards.

May “Beyond the Gates!”

Please join us June 8 as we celebrate 10 years of charitable giving and present our 10th Anniversary Historic Farm Tour and Country Fair, “beyond the gates.” Come along with us as we go “beyond the gates,” past those rock walls and stroll with us down the tree lined paths to six of Keswick’s celebrated historic farms, the Keswick Hunt Club, and Grace Church. Our chosen route for this special day in the country was first traveled by Virginia’s earliest settlers Confederate and Union troops and the grounds are as beautiful as they were then.

June “The Wedding Issue”

Margaret Sutherland Carragher and David Gregory Kalergis, Jr. met at the wedding of their mutual friends, Annie and Drew Thomasson, in May 2016. There was an immediate spark of attraction and three years later, Maggie and David wed at James Monroe’s Highland in Charlottesville on June 1, 2019. Jacqueline Camille Langholtz and William Randolph Taylor met by chance at Commonhouse, in Charlottesville, just weeks after the social blub opened in the summer of 2017. The attraction was instantaneous and mutual, and on June first they were married in the chapel of St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville. Bianca Moreira Catta-Preta and Ross Michael Svetz were married on June 15th at the mountaintop cabin on East Belmont Farm.

July “Summer Exercise”

Many people believe the phrase “dog days of summer” stems from the fact that dogs tend to be a bit on the lazy side during the hottest days of summer. Of course, who can blame them? However, the Keswick Foxhounds still must be exercised during the “dog days of summer” as they are enjoying their vacation from the busy foxhunting season of September through March. So beginning in the early summer they walk through the miles of fabulous grounds of the Keswick Estate, then later they are followed by the jt. MFH’s, hunstman and whippers-in on bicycles. August begins and the older hounds take the puppies along and begin hunting through the corn and bean fields of the Keswick environs. Final renovation have begun on the Keswick Hunt Club. To date, the members have their clubhouse, and the hounds have their kennel. What connects us all are the horses. Now, it’s their turn. The new barn will feature a standing seam metal gambrel roof, seven horse stalls, a washroom, a tack room, storage, and a bathroom. The structure will also include a spacious living space on the second floor with a new kitchen, two baths, three bedrooms and an open living area which connects to a roof deck overlooking the mountains. For the barn itself, we will reassemble the extraordinarily high quality stall components from the Merifield’s Barn that were generously donated by its owner.

August “Cooling Down”

Keswick can be extremely brutal in the summer. It’s hot, muggy, full of dusty rock roads, and pretty smelly stalls, too. Factor in that most of us who live and work here have to wear full-coverage clothing when it’s burning hot outside (not to mention that riders wear protective vests), and you’ve got a recipe for about four months of complete and utter overwhelm. As the weather heats up, we find ourselves desperately reaching for things that keep us cool – not just Kohr Bros and air conditioning, but also portable fans, facial mists, cooling clothes, and a little dip like this fox found, perhaps, on a Keswick farm.

Horsin around Will Coleman’s up-and-coming partner Chin Tonic HS made a smashing impression in his FEI debut at the 2019 MARS Great meadow International, winning the CCI2-S class on his dressage score. Keswick Horses excelled at the World Champion Saddlebreds crowned in Kentucky.

September “Hot Supervisor Race – Get Out and Vote!”

As is the tradition, on the cover, Keswick Life goes deep and has caught up with the candidates in the closely contested Albemarle Supervisor’s race in the Rivanna District which governs the beautiful Keswick area. Our forum style question and answer format sets the bar high for the candidates and let’s our readers get the indepth view they need to make an informed vote on November 5th. Read all about it starting on page 8 with Mike Johnson, and page 10 with Bea LaPisto Kirtley.

The beautiful and historic Keswick Hall is set to reopen late Summer 2020, following the completion of an extensive and loving restoration that marries the resort’s classic style and sophistication with luxurious comfort and modern amenities. As part of the expansive and transformative restoration, Molly and Robert Hardie are creating five speculative homes at Keswick Estates, the residential enclave that is part of the property, provides residents the opportunity of enjoying resort life all year round.

The Keswick Hunt Club’s Puppy Show was established by Anne Coles in honor of her late husband, Eddie Coles to encourage club members and guests to be aware of the young hounds all while having a wonderful party! The foxhounds are a major resource for the KHC and their lineage can be traced back hundreds of years. Read all about this year’s puppy show held at Tivoli on page 16.

October “A Joyous Noise”

Grace Church Unveils its New Bespoke Pipe Organ

Article by Michael G. Latsko, Director of Music & Organist – photographs by Bill-Remington just in time for its 275th anniversary in 2020, Grace Church will have a refurbished, refreshed (and slightly taller) chancel, a new musician’s gallery framing an interior view of the beautiful tower stained glass window, and a brand new, bespoke pipe organ – the result of the unlikely combination of Mother Nature’s fury and what music director & organist Michael Latsko likes to call “blessed insurance,” a riff on the popular hymn “Blessed Assurance.”

Montpelier CEO Kat Imhoff leaves to join The Piedmot Environmental Council while Railey Cooley begins a new position at Richmond’s Manchester Studios. Get the full story and read all about their new ventures on page 13. And The Last Word on the Election Results – pretty much a bloodbath across the County for moderate and Republican candidates. The rest of the state, except Richmond and Tidewater is solid red. We are deeply divided. The Suburban Republican and the Rural Democrat are extinct.

November “Hunting Styles and Etiquette”

On the cover, co-MFH of Keswick Hunt Club, Nancy Wiley, Will Coleman and Mary Kalgeris. Fall is such a wonderful time of year when the field is mounted in full flight over hill and dale in pursuit of a good gallop in the countryside. The Hunt is an exhilarating sport for those adventuresome types, as well as for meeker types who follow on foot. We often need to refresh the traditions and etiquette of this age old sport. Foxhunting is meant to be a fun sport, after all most foxhunters have risen early, cleaned a horse, tack, clothes, etc. shipped to the meet and then are expecting a fun morning in the sport. As each new season begins, it is never inappropriate to remind ourselves of the courtesies. Hunt clubs all across the country have begun their formal season with their Opening Meet and holding their traditional Blessing of the Hounds.

This year’s Opening Meet was held at Cloverfields, the pack set off at 9 a.m. and returned at noon to a Hunt Breakfast. The field and spectators were thoroughly welcomed with ham biscuits and a hot toddy before the hounds moved off. If you happened upon this rare site, you might wonder what century you were in as the opening meet has been held at Cloverfields since 1896. The Blessing of the Hounds at Grace Church started in 1929, so it’s been happening a long time, and fox hunting has been a tradition and a sport in Albemarle County since the colonial days.

Of all the places on the Little Keswick School campus where students work toward life-altering growth, the Depot is where the real magic happens. “LKS is a thriving, compassionate, dynamic community, and the Depot is its beating heart,” Gaillee says. “From our first day touring the campus, where we met many of our son’s future friends at lunch, to the many talent shows, Community Meetings and parent workshops—the Depot holds such a special place in our hearts.” This spring, as their son transitioned out of LKS, the Fitzpatricks thought about how much he loves the Depot and how they all would miss the feeling of coming to a second home there. To ensure this special place lasts far into the future, they decided to fund a much-needed renovation of the historic building.

December “Great Cause, New Name”

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Montpelier Farm located at James Madison’s Montpelier Estate, the plantation home of the Madison family located in Orange County, Virginia, will now be operated under the auspices of the Virginia Thoroughbred Project (VTP) in cooperation with The Montpelier Foundation, the TRF announced Monday. The VTP is a newly formed organization lead by President, Sue Hart, along with several members of the former Montpelier Advisory Board. Under this new arrangement, 41 Thoroughbreds formerly cared for by the TRF have been adopted by the VTP and will remain on the pastoral estate and managed by the current Farm Manager, Crystal Weve.

Fall is such a wonderful time of year when the field is mounted in full flight over hill and dale in pursuit of a good gallop in the countryside. The Hunt is an exhilarating sport for those adventuresome types, as well as for meeker types who follow on foot.

By Keswick Life, Photo by Warner Granade

Etiquette 

The Master is the final authority in the field –

We often need to refresh the traditions and etiquette of this age-old sport. Foxhunting is meant to be a fun sport; after all, most foxhunters have risen early, cleaned a horse, tack, clothes, etc. shipped to the meet, and they are expecting a fun morning in the sport. The courtesies and conventions of the hunting field, developed over the centuries, aim to produce an environment in which an exuberant sport may flourish pleasurably and safely. As each new season begins, it is never inappropriate to remind ourselves of the courtesies 

There are proper conventions and etiquette that participants are expected to follow. Any unsafe, rude, or unsportsmanlike conduct will be addressed by the Master up to and including removal of a rider from the field. The Master is the final authority in the field. Any requests by the Master must be followed immediately and without discussion. At the beginning of the meet, all should greet the Master and Hunt Staff with a pleasant “Good Morning” starting the day to the “Moving Off” sound of the huntsman’s horn, awaiting a fun day of sport. If you bring a guest, introduce him/her to the Masters and Field Master, make sure they have signed a release before tacking up, and paid the capping fee before hunting commences. It is your responsibility to inform them of proper etiquette and ride with them at the back of the field. At the end of the day, thank the Master, Huntsman, and Staff; they worked hard, bringing you a day’s sport.

If there is one single overarching concept to understand about foxhunting, it is that we are guests on someone’s land and enjoy our sport solely through his/her goodwill. Without the Landowner’s hospitality, there is no hunting. The question is: How do we maintain that goodwill? We answer that question every hunting day in the way we treat our landowners’ land, crops, and livestock. Landowners are our lifeblood. Never miss an opportunity to speak to them and thank them. Please look for them at the meet to greet them. Please greet everyone you see working on the farm. Leave gates open that you find open and close securely those you find closed. If you break a fence while hunting, it is your responsibility to fix it then and there, if that is impossible, prop it up as best you can and immediately report it to your field master. Go around any crop fields or fields that you suspect have been recently seeded. Go slowly around livestock so as not to agitate them or make them run. Do not go on any lawns or mowed areas. If on the road, where possible, get to the side to allow cars to come through. Never take rides on Hunt or non-hunt days through hunting territory unless you have permission from the Landowner (s) and have called to make sure the area you wish to ride in is open.

Although the Hunt may not be everyone’s cup of tea, there can be no doubt that the efforts of a Hunt Club and their dedicated members throughout the world have successfully preserved vast tracts of land, in its original state — wild, unspoiled, and a safe haven to the teeming wildlife, ecosystems, and habitat that coexist on the land.

If you choose to carry your cell phone while hunting, be sure to silence it before the meet starts, further, be mindful if taking photos to be discrete, respect the privacy of our landowners, and never allow it to distract from hunting. Should you need to make an emergency phone call, ask your Field Master where the best place is to do that where you will be out of the way.

Attire 

“You and your horse should be properly turned out.”

While the guidelines for hunting attire vary in details from club to club, each follows similar rules of attire. You should be clean and neat, make sure your horse is fit and ready to hunt and is clean and properly turned out.

There are opportunities to get dirty along the way. If you have long hair, you must wear a hair net – male or female. Rated safety helmets are strongly recommended, and all helmet chin straps should be securely fastened.

For ladies and men — tan breeches, black boots, black jackets, yellow or tattersall waistcoat, white shirt and stock tie, knotted and secured with a stock pin. Each article has a field-ready purpose; the wool Melton jackets are tightly woven to repel the inevitable precipitation, vests, or waistcoats are insulating as well as protective, knee-high boots save legs from scratches and scrapes.  Historically, the stock tie and pin looking so impeccably turned out performed double duty as a tourniquet or sling. Tack should be of black or brown leather, with a white saddle pad, preferably contoured, not square. No colored pads, boots, wraps, fleece, etc., are allowed, especially on formal days – this is clearly not a sport for the faint of heart. When a rider has reached a certain level of dedication and expertise, he or she is awarded their “colors” by the Hunt’s Masters. This is a great honor and is designated with a change in dress. For women in the field, jacket collars are trimmed with the club colors, while men earn the right to wear “pinks” with white breeches… pinks… scarlet… red — it can all be quite confusing. “The proper term is always ‘scarlet’ when referring to ‘pinks,’ named after the tailor Mr. Pink who made the jackets in his London shop. Traditionally ‘red’ is never used as a descriptive term.” Also, interesting to note, “When the British soldiers came home from the war, they hunted in their uniform (redcoats).” Members of other hunts should always ask permission of a Master to wear their colors when hunting with a different hunt

Keswick colors were awarded to Suzanne Hanagan, Vanessa Massaro, Susan Travellin, DeeDee Slewka, Sophie LaPorte, Carol Pattie, Tracy Kilpatrick, Robin Schuler, Will Coleman III, Yvonne Wilson, Joel and Nicolette Merle-Smith, and Jerrie and Meri Wade. The Barrister Award was given to Warner Granade, for his many contributions to KHC above and beyond any reasonable expectation.