News

Coronavirus Brings Virginia Distilleries & NASCAR Full Circle

CORONAVIRUS BRINGS VIRGINIA DISTILLERIES AND NASCAR FULL CIRCLE

Driver Colin Garrett Delivering Free Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer to First Responders and Essential Businesses

South Boston, VA (March 26, 2020) - In a twist on NASCAR’s roots in running moonshine during Prohibition, two Virginia distilleries, Springfield Distillery and Bondurant Brothers, are partnering with NASCAR driver Colin Garrett and nonprofit Racing For Heroes to get their alcohol-based hand sanitizers to South Central Virginia’s first responders and essential businesses that desperately need it.

Responding to the national shortage caused by hand sanitizers being stockpiled due to COVID-19, the distilleries shifted their production lines from whiskey to alcohol-based hand sanitizers to help meet the need. To get supplies to communities as soon as possible, NASCAR driver Colin Garrett has volunteered to make the deliveries.

Nonprofit Racing For Heroes is taking orders by email and phone, and Garrett will personally make the delivery runs. The distilleries are giving away the hand sanitizer, but anyone who wants to help combat the epidemic of veteran suicide is encouraged to make a donation to Racing For Heroes.

First responders and essential businesses can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 434-822-4201 to place their order with Racing For Heroes. Donations may be made online at RacingForHeroes.org.

Garrett will also be helping make deliveries to other areas of Virginia for Silverback Distillery. Silverback’s hand sanitizers can be ordered on their website, sbdistillery.com.

Other distilleries in Virginia or North Carolina that would like to participate can contact Racing For Heroes to coordinate.

Mike Evock, founder of Racing For Heroes, said “while this is a difficult time for everyone, it’s especially hard for those at risk of suicide. We hope this will not only help prevent spread of the virus, but possibly also help save jobs since financial stress is one of the leading causes of suicide.”

James Gordon, owner of Springfield Distillery, said they’re happy to have Racing For Heroes take over the delivery logistics. “It’s taking all of our resources just to produce as much hand sanitizer as possible so there’s no way we can make deliveries. Now we can concentrate on production and let them and Colin handle the rest,” he added.

Colin Garrett has been running a pro bono National Awareness Campaign for Racing For Heroes for over a year. Garrett said “racing to raise awareness is on hold because of the Coronavirus. I’m excited to get behind the wheel in a different way, though, to help the distilleries and Racing For Heroes help our communities. It will be great if someone in need of RFH’s free services to combat veteran suicide happens to learn about them through this effort.”

Lisa Kipps-Brown, the marketing strategist behind the National Awareness Campaign said, “NASCAR’s roots lie in the fast cars that ran moonshine during Prohibition. Now it’s come around full circle, with a NASCAR driver delivering alcohol-based hand sanitizers produced by distilleries. Colin will even be delivering to law enforcement officers like those who would have been chasing stock car racing’s forerunners, including the Bondurant brothers’ grandfather, in the 20’s.”

Quantities of the hand sanitizer are limited and priority will be given to first responders and essential businesses in South Central Virginia. Springfield Distillery and Bondurant Brothers Distillery encourage other distilleries in Virginia and North Carolina to contact Racing For Heroes if they want to join the cause and help expand distribution to other areas.

- MORE -

IMAGE:

Colin Garrett and James Gordon, owner of Springfield Distillery, with jars of alcohol-base hand sanitizer produced at Springfield. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14oXoE-sCflWt9jDKMsxJViJezCe0-TvY/view?usp=drivesdk

ABOUT RACING FOR HEROES: 

Racing For Heroes combats the epidemic of veteran suicide by providing free mental and physical health, job placement, and motorsports therapy services. Founded by retired US Army Special Forces Mike Evock, the 501(c)3 nonprofit is based at Virginia International Raceway. Visit racingforheroes.org for more information. 

ABOUT COLIN GARRETT:
19-year-old NASCAR driver Colin Garrett races in the Xfinity, Truck, K&N Pro, and Super Late Model Series. Garrett has been running a pro bono National Awareness Campaign to combat Veteran suicide through his racing since February 2019, promoting nonprofit Racing For Heroes. Colin and his Xfinity Series team owner, Sam Hunt, are crowdfunding their new team in 2020 to expand the National Awareness Campaign and promote Veteran- and Military Spouse-Owned businesses. They surpassed their goal for Daytona and were able to set aside enough to pay for a veteran’s stem cell treatments. Visit ouramericandreamteam.com for more information on Colin, his crowdfunded team, and the military-owned businesses that support it.

ABOUT SPRINGFIELD DISTILLERY

Springfield Distillery is a Virginia craft distillery that makes whiskey using local ingredients. Located on River Road, a Virginia scenic byway in Halifax County, Springfield offers seasonal and regular flavored whiskeys, bourbon, and cocktails. Owned and operated by James and Kelly Gordon, Springfield has a Tasting Room and is a favorite venue for weddings and other special events. Visit springfielddistillery.com for more information.

ABOUT BONDURANT BROTHERS DISTILLERY

Robert Bondurant, Head Distiller at Bondurant Brothers Distillery, is a grandson of the famous moonshiner, Jack Bondurant. Jack and his brothers made moonshine and fruit brandy during Prohibition, and the film LAWLESS was based on their exploits. Nearly ninety years and two generations later, Robert is keeping the family tradition alive by producing his 94 proof moonshine and peach brandy using the same time tested techniques his grandfather did. Visit bondurantbrothersdistillery.com for more information.

###

CONTACT:

Racing For Heroes: Darren Mix, COO

Phone: 434-822-4201

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: ouramericandreamteam.com

Colin Garrett:

Phone: 434-579-7767

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @colingarrettweb

Website: ouramericandreamteam.com

A Message from EarthDay.org for During the Pandemic

A Message from EarthDay.org

March 20, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic does not shut us down. Instead, it reminds us of what’s at stake in our fight for the planet. On December 24, 1968, astronauts on the moon took the first full color photo of the Earth. This photo, titled “Earthrise,” showed us both strength and fragility of our planet while helping launch the modern environmental movement. That movement took a historic step forward just over a year after that photo, when 20 million people turned out for the world’s first Earth Day.



Human health and planetary health are inextricably linked. To protect one, we must protect the other. Millions rallied behind this idea to create the first Earth Day in 1970, and, 50 years later, we must rally behind it again.

On April 22, join us as we EARTHRISE, a global digital mobilization that drives actions big and small, gives diverse voices a platform and demands bold action for people and planet. Over 24 hours, EARTHRISE will fill the digital landscape with global conversations, calls to action, performances, video teach-ins and more. While Earth Day may be going digital our goal remains the same: to mobilize the world to take the most meaningful actions to make a difference. Below are ways to participate:

SPEAK: Exercise your right to express, promote and defend your ideas. While we may not be able to assemble in-person, we can still create a mass outcry and a mass outpouring of support online.

  • Take action: Share what you’re doing, today and from where you are: What are you fighting for — it could be for your children, for frontline communities, for safe water to drink. What compels you to act, and why are you in this fight?
  • Add your voice to this global demand for action with #EarthDay2020 and #EARTHRISE.

ACT: Everyone can do something. Join us on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day — April 22 — as we issue 24 actions for the planet that you can take now, wherever you are.

  • Take action: Join us on earthday.org and on @earthdaynetwork on social media for 24 hours of action with EARTHRISE. Every hour, on the hour, we’ll have a new, powerful way for you to demand action and drive change.

VOTE: More than 65 countries host major elections in 2020. Make your demands known by voting for those who will defend the planet.

  • No elections in your country? Too young to vote? Demand change with civic action — call your representatives, tweet at your policymakers, volunteer for a candidate. There are so many ways to tell your leaders that human and planetary health must be the top political priority.
  • Take action: Send a message to your leaders on April 22, and get registered, educated and ready to vote in your elections in 2020. Throughout April, earthday.org will have ways to get involved in local, state and national politics as we launch our Vote Earth campaign.

EDUCATE: The first Earth Day seized the power of education through campus-wide teach-ins that sparked conversation, engaged local communities and informed change. Now, as Earth Day goes digital, we’re bringing teach-ins to a global scale. Some of the world’s most inspiring musicians, artists, scientists and thought leaders will use digital teach-ins to share their experience, expertise and lessons to a global audience across the 24 hours of EARTHRISE.

  • Take action: We need you to share your knowledge and wisdom as well. Bring your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors into this global digital conversation to share what you’re doing locally to meet this global crisis. And tune into EARTHRISE as we release 12 digital teach-ins from some of the world’s most inspiring voices for change.

While coronavirus may physically distance us, it will not silence or divide us. Through the power of digital media, we’re more connected than ever. On Earth Day 2020, we seize all the tools and actions that we have, big and small, to change our lives and change our world, not for one day, but forever.

 

 

Shop & Support Local Businesses

Executive Order 55 & Continued Precautionary Health Measures for COVID-19 Pandemic

To all Town of Halifax residents, businesses, and visitors:

In response to Governor Northam enacting Executive Order 55 effective from March 30 - June 10, the Town of Halifax wanted citizens, businesses and visitors of the continued steps being undertaken during the current COVID-19 pandemic. With the health, safety, and general welfare of all our citizens and town staff in mind, the doors to the Halifax Town Hall, located at 70 South Main Street, will remain closed to the public through Friday, June 5th unless amended or rescinded by further executive order.

Sanitation services will continue as scheduled with recycling and glass.  Please continue to place properly prepared items for pickup.

Under Public Safety, the Town of Halifax Police Department (HPD), along with other law enforcement agencies and first responders, including the Halifax Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD), will continue to be dispatched immediately to emergency calls by the 9-1-1 Center, and to conduct routine patrols and safety checks town-wide. Non-emergency calls will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and may involve setting up an appointment; those non-emergency type calls should be made to 434-476-2526 (HPD) or 434-476-3334 (9-1-1 Center/Dispatch). Walk-ins to HPD may be curtailed based upon additional health safety protocols.

Town administration staff will be available to respond to phone calls at 434-476-2343 and emails between the hours of 9:00am-5:00pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and from 9:00am to 1:30pm on Wednesdays. Limited appointments may be arranged, but will be subject to change based upon additional health safety protocols. Emails may be sent to:

Carl Espy at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Denise Barksdale at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Online tax payment services will continue to be available through Paymentus on the town website at www.townofhalifax.com, or by calling the toll free number, 1-877-489-1674.

Other payments and correspondence may also be sent via mail to P.O. Box 627, Halifax, VA 24558.

Please continue to check the town website and social media platforms for further and updated information.

Executive Order 55 applies to the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.  This order places restrictions on businesses that serve the public in addition to the CDC recommendations to limit public gatherings to less than 10, and social distancing of 6' between people.  For additional information, go to:

http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Thank you for your patience and continued cooperation. Please be sure to exercise every common sense precaution.

Available Business Property in Town of Halifax

 

Check out this great piece of real estate that is available and located in historic downtown Halifax, VA! For over 32 years Bill & Susan Granger operated Triangle Florist on this quaint corner lot! This property is loaded with some great amenities such as a 10x12 insulated walk in cooler, safe bolted to the floor, fire/security alarm, 8-2 line phone jacks, fax machine line, restroom, oil heat, central air, tons of heavy duty built in shelving and much more! This property is for sale or rent and there are so many business types that would work for this property such as another florist, boutique, shoe store, arts/crafts store, bakery and the list could go on! Great location with so much potential and just look at that front porch! If interested please call Bill Granger @ 434-579-1531!