‘It all started on the back porch’ … original ‘Cheese Shop’ founder passes away in Stuarts Draft

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Sarah Stutzman Hershberger passed away Thursday at the age of 95, the widow of Dan Hershberger of Stuarts Draft in Augusta County, Virginia. The Hershbergers, who were Amish-Mennonites, were the original founders of the Cheese Shop that today is located on Tinkling Spring Road (Rt. 340) five minutes south of I-64 and just north of Stuarts Draft.

In the 1960s, the Hershbergers started the Cheese Shop in their farmhouse on Churchmans Mill Road. The business is a staple for those looking for fresh cheese and meats as well as bulk items such as spices and baked goods, and today is owned by the Eavers family. The website tells more:

Augusta County to pay $600,000 to Hershey for over-assessment of Stuarts Draft plant

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Remember the tax revolt from 2009 when ordinary citizens in Augusta County protested that the government had over-assessed their properties just as the real estate bubble burst? (See Largest crowd ever … 1,000 residents protest taxes at Augusta BOS meeting and Augusta tax revolt was a huge success.)

It looks as if Augusta County also overestimated the value of the Hershey Manufacturing Plant in Stuarts Draft by valuing it for $30 million when in reality it was closer to $15 million.

Reporter Brad Zinn at the Staunton News Leader is reporting that, four years after the case originally began, the county and Hershey have come to an agreement with the county paying Hershey $600,000, an amount that is due within 10 days (see Augusta Co. to pay Hershey $600,000 in tax settlement.)

McKee Foods aka Little Debbie to expand Stuarts Draft facility

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that McKee Foods Corporation will invest $34 million to expand production at its manufacturing facility in Stuarts Draft in Augusta County. Virginia successfully competed against Arkansas for the project, which will create 54 new jobs.

Picnicking along the Blue Ridge Parkway

By Lynn R. Mitchell

It was a good day to pop up to the Blue Ridge Parkway for a picnic lunch at Humpback Rock picnic area so that’s exactly what we did.  With a brisk breeze, the temperature in the mountains was a comfortable 82 degrees in the middle of the day, perfect to meander along the Parkway and check favorite hideouts.

Milmont Greenhouse in Stuarts Draft … what’s on sale?

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Milmont was having a sale — half off the four-pack annuals — so it was a good time to drive to Stuarts Draft for flower to fill in where necessary in the pots and flower boxes that were planted in May. This is an annual trek for me and involves adding new colors as well as filler now that the original flowers have done a bit of growing.

I’ve never gotten a bad plant at Milmont. Look at how lush these hanging baskets and plantings look, and that’s because they take good care of all plants while in their possession. Once I adopt a plant, it’s treated with the same loving care that it received at the greenhouse.

Spring planting … hands in the dirt

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Hands in the dirt … spring planting after a trip to Milmont Greenhouse in Stuarts Draft. I look forward every year to the trip to buy flowers to pot for the porches and back yard, and garden vegetables for yummy summer goodness.

Stuarts Draft: Summer flowers at Milmont Greenhouse

By Lynn R. Mitchell

With sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 80s, it was time for a run to Milmont Greenhouse in Stuarts Draft, the Mennonite-run operation that features premium annual, perennials, trees, shrubs, and just about anything else needed to make a pleasing palate of colors in your yard.