Friends of Nelson

06/21/2026

Virginia Animals from the Past

On June 27, Susan McSwain will be giving a presentation for the Nelson County Historical Society on animals that could be found in Virginia in past years. Some of them no longer live here, some species have been restored, while others have been permanently extirpated from the area ... or even gone extinct. Come learn some history that traces wildlife through the years.

Where: Oakland Museum - 5365 Thomas Nelson Hwy, Arrington, VA

When: Saturday, June 27 at 2 p.m. (Note: the meeting room at Oakland is quite small; the presentation will be repeated at 3 pm if warranted. You are invited to browse the exhibits in the museum before and after the presentation.) The museum will be open from 10 am to 4 pm.

Registration is not required, and the program is free. (If you would like to support the Historical Society, the suggested donation at the door is five dollars.)

Susan has been recognized by several environmental organizations for her stewardship of natural resources and her efforts to educate the public.

For more information about the Historical Society and events held there, visit Nelson County Historical Society https://nelsonhistorical.org/events/natural_history-2026-06-27

06/19/2026

A major turn in Southern Environmental Law Center's Clean Air Act lawsuit against xAI, Elon Musk’s sprawling data center complex straddling Memphis and North Mississippi.

This week, the U.S. Department of Justice intervened to support xAI and advance an unprecedented argument: that the company should be allowed to violate the Clean Air Act simply because the Trump administration says so.

DOJ does not dispute that xAI is operating 59 unpermitted gas turbines in Southaven, Mississippi, nor that these turbines are emitting harmful pollution. Instead, the department claims it can override Congress, the courts, and local communities by shutting down citizen enforcement actions.

This move threatens the right Congress created for communities to hold polluters accountable when regulators fail to act – not just under the Clean Air Act, but for many other bedrock environmental laws. It undermines decades of legal precedent and opens the door to more preferential treatment for polluters.

And the stakes for public health are severe. xAI's unpermitted plant is capable of emitting more than 5,300 tons of nitrogen oxides along with fine particulate matter, formaldehyde, and other pollutants tied to asthma, heart disease, and cancer.

We will continue our fight to ensure the Clean Air Act and other environmental laws are enforced as written and communities retain their right to seek justice.

Read this story for a closer look at our work on this case. And visit us on Instagram to learn more about data centers in the South.

This article was updated April, 14, 2026 to reflect new litigation. Just south of the Tennessee-Mississippi state line sits dozens of unpermitted gas turbines that power xAI’s Colossus 2 data center while releasing smog-forming pollution, soot, and hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde. The tech...

06/17/2026

Come join us tonight at the Rockfish Valley Community Center at 7pm to hear Pat Doyle from Richmond speak to us about the Appalachian Trail.

Pat Doyle is Outreach Chair of the Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club. He has played a part in maintenance and management of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia for more than 40 years, including both trail construction and regular maintenance. He has served twice as club president, from 1988-1990 and from 2021-2025.

He completed the Appalachian Trail in sections over more than 40 years, beginning in Nelson County, and completing the trail in Maine in 2025. In addition, he has backpacked several sections of the Colorado Trail, as well as hiking elsewhere in the Western US, Alaska, Ireland, and Austria.

Mr. Doyle lives with his wife Carol in the Richmond area, and often hikes with his daughter, Nora.

06/15/2026

Join us for our Community Conversation all about the Appalachian Trail, Wed June 17th, 7pm at the Rockfish Valley Community Center. Read some resources we have put together about the AT:

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and other organizations and agencies have made available a wealth of resources for learning about the past, present and future of our beloved Appalachian Trail, including the important ways we can interact with the AT as individuals and communities. Check out the li...

06/05/2026

Larkin Property Acquisition For Sale in Nelson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOVINGSTON, VA - Nelson County has successfully acquired approximately 683 acres along the Route 29 corridor south of Lovingston through a pre-auction purchase agreement at an all-in cost of $8,925,000. The acquisition represents a strategic investment in an area long identified by County planning efforts as a key location for future economic development because of its transportation access and proximity to existing infrastructure.

County Administrator, Candy McGarry said " The financial stewardship of the Board of Supervisors over the years enabled the County to react quickly to this opportunity. Purchase of the property fits within the already established debt capacity strategy, without additional General Fund revenues; therefore, there is no increased burden on the taxpayer.”

County officials recognize the public interest surrounding the purchase and are committed to transparency throughout the process. The acquisition allows the County to evaluate future opportunities for this strategically located property, rather than seeing it pass into private ownership without public input.

County officials emphasized several important points:
* The acquisition does not approve or commit the County to any specific development project.
* No rezoning actions are being proposed as part of this purchase.
* Any future use of the property would require public discussion, community input, and appropriate governmental approvals.
* County ownership provides greater local control over future outcomes that would not exist under private ownership.
* The property can be evaluated for a variety of potential public purposes, including economic development, recreation, infrastructure, or a combination of uses.
* Purchase of the property fits within the already established debt capacity strategy, without additional General Fund revenues.

The Board believes responsible economic development remains essential to maintaining quality public services, supporting schools, strengthening public safety, and reducing pressure on residential property taxpayers. At the same time, County leaders remain committed to preserving the character, natural beauty, and agricultural heritage that make Nelson County unique.

Over the coming months, the County will conduct additional analysis regarding the property's opportunities, constraints, infrastructure needs, environmental considerations, and potential public benefits. Citizens will have multiple opportunities to participate in those discussions.

06/04/2026

Keep America Beautiful just released a 2025 comprehensive study of roadside and coastal litter. It can be found here: https://storage.pardot.com/969243/1778631534E3SJOAuP/KAB_2026_National_Litter_Study

Highlights from the study:
* Although the amount of litter has declined in recent years, an estimated 35 billion pieces of litter remain across the nation’s roadways, waterways, and coastal areas on any given day, making litter an everyday reality for most Americans.

* Nearly all Americans (94%) view litter as a national problem.

* Education drives behavior change; collaboration among communities, businesses, and government can reinforce effective solutions.

* Cigarette butts remain the single most littered item in the U.S. At any given time, more than 3.8 billion cigarette butts are present across the nation’s roadways, waterways, and coastal areas.

* 90% of Americans say it is their personal responsibility to help reduce litter, but 74% acknowledge that they have littered at some point in their lives, with 13% saying they have littered in the past month.

06/03/2026

Monacan Indian Nation Powwow this weekend June 6th and 7th. For more info click here:

Powwow Grounds: 225 Laurel Cliff Rd, Monroe VA 24574

06/01/2026

YOUR PRESENCE IS NEEDED: ATTEND THE JUNE 11 BZA HEARING ON THE RIVERSTONE SOLAR PROJECT
Buckingham County residents and landowners are called on to attend a critical Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) hearing on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. concerning the Riverstone Solar project and the validity of its Special Use Permit (SUP22-SUP299).
This hearing will determine whether County officials improperly allowed the project to continue after the developer failed to meet a major deadline required by the permit approved in 2022. Read more at

Buckingham County residents and landowners are called on to attend a critical Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) hearing on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. concerning the Riverstone Solar project and the validity of its Special Use Permit (SUP22-SUP299).

05/28/2026

Did you miss our talk on recycling in Nelson and the Re-Use Shed? A summery will be coming out shortly in our newsletter. Go to our website to sign up! Susan McSwain provided her notes to us on the event that you can read here:

Expanded Information following the May 20 Friends of Nelson (FON) TalkWritten by Susan McSwain, May 21Susan McSwain served as Nelson’s first Solid Waste & Recycling coordinator and helped with the overhaul from a system of unsupervised drop-off garbage sites to gated, staffed collection centers.--...

05/22/2026

Do you have a well or spring? What’s in your water?

The Virginia Household Water Quality Program aims to improve the water quality and health of Virginians with wells, springs and cisterns. We provide affordable water testing, help interpreting their water test results, and information about addressing problems. Click here for more information and to register:
https://register.ext.vt.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=3936700&selectedProgramAreaId=44377&selectedProgramStreamId=