Smith Mountain Lake Ladies, Do you enjoy craft beer? Are you interested in learning more about the process of making craft beer? Join us for the first meeting of Barley's Angels SML Chapter, at the Sunken City Brewery Taproom on July 22 at 7pm. Barley's Angels is an international group for women interested in exploring beer.  Barley's Angels serves women who seek a comfortable environment to explore and learn about Craft Beer while allowing  brewers  a platform to demonstrate their commitment to provide safe, friendly experiences for their female customers. SCBC Brewmaster, Jeremy Kirby, will be on hand to give a tour of the brewery and enlighten us on the beer making process. We will discuss future plans for our group: field trips, food pairings, sensory tasting, etc. Lastly, we will g... 07/22/2014

You and your family have finally shaken free of school time schedules and obligations and it’s time to make the most of the summer months. Whether you live here or love to vacation at Smith Mountain Lake, we hope you are making plans to take advantage of all the exciting on and off-water fun available. With a little effort and a lot of help from local publication Laker Magazine’s “90 Days of Summer Fun” feature, you can have your best summer yet here at beautiful, thrilling Smith Mountain Lake.  For some great warm weather activity ideas, thoughts on family-friendly entertainment and budget-friendly pastimes, check out the article’s 90 - yes, 90 - summer fun ideas catalogued in one place and written with you in mind. Ideas such as attending local events, exploring historic highlights an... 06/03/2014

Randall Quay Edna helped me buy a home in 2011   "After a few short discussions and home visitations, Edna was able to get a sense for what we were looking for. The search was not lengthy, to find the right house, as she was attentive and pro-active in finding the right house. She made sure that we were completely satisfied with the decision made before we made the purchase. She put her clients best interest ahead of everything."   Thomas Sartorius Edna helped me buy a home in 2011   "Edna has truly been the best realtor we have ever worked with, anywhere! She is the most gracious, honest, hard-working, and conscientious realtor we've ever met, and she has now become one of our most treasured friends after helping us find and purchase our home at Smith Mountain Lake. You can trust Edna ... 04/23/2014

I thought I would post a update to our residential Real Estate market here at beautiful #SmithmountainlakeVA ..  According to the Roanoke Valley MLS as of today March 17, 2014 there are currently 45 residential waterfront listings priced between from $1,195,000.00-$6,900,000.00.   Please remember to call #EdnaJamiesonRealtor at 540-520-0168 or email ednalovessml@gmail.com for help at beautiful Smith Mountain Lake Virginia.   View all these at http://www.usamls.net/smithmtnlakeproperties//default.asp?content=results&menu_id=243773&this_format=1&query_id=141053183&sortby=0&page=5   OR VIEW ALL AVAILABLE LISTINGS IN THE BEAUTIFUL SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE VIRGINIA AREA ON MY WEB SITE AT SMITHMTNLAKEPROPERTIES.COM .     If looking to buy or sell Real Estate in Smith Mountain Lake, contact Edna. ... 03/17/2014

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." as much as I like this Ben Franklin quote, it's not quite accurate       Sunken City Brewing Company opened in May of 2013 near the Westlake Town Center in Hardy at Smith Mountain Lake. It is a popular location and they produce excellent craft beer such as Dam Lager, Red Clay IPA, a Brown Porter and a seasonal, Sunktoberfest. In addition to hosting live local bands on the weekends, holding events such as Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day and Octoberfest, they have started a homebrew beer club, the Smith Mountain Mashers. Learn to Homebrew Day, 2013   Open to anyone interested in homebrewing, meetings are held on the first Monday of every month, at 7pm in the taproom. Dues are $5 at each meeting and led by brewmaster, Jeremy Kirby.... 02/12/2014

  "I want to see my race live such high and useful lives that       they will not be merely tolerated, but they shall actually be needed       and wanted because of their usefulness to the community." "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else." Booker T. Washington February is Black History Month and Booker T. Washington is a personal hero of mine. On April 5, 1856, he was born into slavery on a 207-arce tobacco farm near present day Smith Mountain Lake. His birthplace was designated a National Monument in 1956, 100 years after his birth. The Booker T. Washington National Monument  is located off Rte 122 in Hardy, Franklin County, Virginia. He spent the first nine years of his life here, living on the farm until Emancipation in 1865. An author of 14 books- an orator, a cham... 02/11/2014

Updated Smith Mountain Lake - Residential existing home and condos on the lake according to the Roanoke Valley MLS and shared by Edna Ledoux Jamieson, Realtor/ABR.   Dear Friends:   I wanted to take this opportunity and wish you and yours a very blessed New Year.  I also thought it would be a perfect time to send you the updated list from our MLS of available water front homes.  There are currently 396 homes,condos and townhouses listed on Smith Mountain Lake.    I've linked all of them below.  Please do not hesitate to call me any time at 540-520-0168 if you have any questions on any.  If you do not already have a personal portal where you can save your favorites and where I can help you narrow your search to only homes or land you are interested in, then please let me know and I'll be... 01/10/2014

I just found this article on Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Web site and I think it is absolutely worth sharing.  We can never be too careful!  Virginia Watercraft Owner's Guide Boat Theft Prevention Equipment Identification Boat owners should mark all equipment when purchased. Many local law enforcement agencies will loan an engraver for this purpose. Engrave a unique identification number and the state's abbreviation in a concealed area. These identification numbers will assist law enforcement officers in tracing stolen merchandise back to the owner. If your boat was built before 1972, it may not have a hull identification number. Since most registration numbers can be removed easily, it is a good idea to inscribe that registration number onto some unexposed location... 08/29/2013

Smith Mountain Lake is not without highly successful water safety advocacy, and an event in May helped prove the lake community’s excellence in safety awareness. The National Safe Boating Council held its fourth annual “Ready, Set, Wear It!” world record day on May 18th this year, of which Smith Mountain Lake placed third nationally. Participants around the world were invited to participate in the event which required people to inflate their inflatable life jacket or wear an inherently buoyant life jacket to break the world record for life jacket wear.  The event promotes proper life jacket wear while boating and participation in recreational water activities across the globe. Smith Mountain Lake received stand-out status when 127 participants gathered at Bridgewater Marina, coming in ... 07/26/2013

  A well designed and maintained outdoor space can be as useful as indoor space for properties at Smith Mountain Lake. Living at a waterfront location with such astounding natural scenery means residents and guests want to be outdoors and as close to the view as possible. Make the most of your Smith Mountain Lake home with a well developed patio, deck or yard. HGTV Gardens has plentiful tips and ideas for creating the perfect natural hideaway. Here are just a few tips for ground cover and walkway enhancement:   Use a variety of ground materials to create texture and definition. Think a mix of gravel, pebbles, bark chips and stone.  Low-growing sedum can be planted intermittently along a walking path or focal point to create an eye-catching pattern and add color to earthy ground material... 03/19/2013

As Smith Mountain Lake enters the warmer months of the year, residents and soon-to-be vacationers start thinking of all their favorite fun-in-the-sun activities. At our beautiful recreational lake, of course, this usually means getting out on the water - which leaves a lot of people working harder than usual to look great in a bathing suit.    Fortunately, SML residents have no shortage of gyms, aerobic studios and personal trainers at their convenience to get fit, stay fit and support healthy living year-round. There are more than ten fitness locations within just a couple of miles of each sector of the Smith Mountain Lake community. Each location offers a distinctive approach to keeping the body toned and atmosphere in which to do it.    Your favorite workout routine may be a circuit ... 03/07/2013

If you’re planning a vacation to Smith Mountain Lake this summer, there are countless resources to help plan your stay. One of our favorites is the Laker Magazine’s Best Of listing found in their January/February issue. While you’re at SML, you’ll want to get out on the water as much as you can, spend quiet moments with a book, friend and lake view and no doubt experience a few waterfront restaurants, shopping outlets, pampering hot spots and entertainment attractions - plus several more distinctive lake businesses. The magazine’s Best Of guide can help you narrow down what is available with the added benefit of knowing the business earned recognition from the local community.    In the Best Of you’ll find establishments chosen for categories such as Best Burger, Best Place to Come By B... 02/19/2013

Since its establishment in the 1960‘s, Smith Mountain Lake has earned a reputation as an idyllic retirement or second home location. Its custom building opportunities, well-designed developments, maintenance-free neighborhoods and pristine condominium and town home communities support high quality living. Large lots, low taxes and well-developed neighborhoods aid buyers in turning their SML property into a perfect home. Buyers in retirement or approaching retirement seek SML as the perfect place for entertaining and accommodating guests.    Retirees from northern cities and surrounding states in search of a milder climate, escape from heavy traffic and overwhelming busyness and a location convenient to loved ones find exactly that at Smith Mountain Lake. Here, life is enhanced by stunni... 02/05/2013

The most difficult part about planning a vacation at Smith Mountain Lake may be choosing the right accommodation. The community offers a wide range of lodging options, including quaint bed and breakfast hideaways, vacation rental homes of all sizes, houseboats for a full-time on-the-water experience, hotel and resort suites and lakeside camping spots fit for both tent and RV adventures. There’s a place fitting for every single, couple or family, so how do you narrow it down to what you need?    Before you start your search, consider what each type of location offers. How much space will you need? What can you afford? What kind of experience do you want while you’re here? What location on the lake will be most convenient? Decide if you’re looking for specific amenities such as Internet a... 01/28/2013

After a week of rain and snow, Smith Mountain Lake’s water level is back to normal pond and rising. Smithmountainlakelevel.com shows a three foot rise in just four days, a relieving turn after several weeks  of hovering at the very low sub 792-foot level. Water levels can make a big difference in on-the-water activity. Low levels can make it difficult for boaters to get watercraft in and out of the water, and may even prove dangerous when rough terrain is exposed in unexpected places.    High water levels are optimal, but not so high that flooding is an issue. When the water level approaches overflow stage - around 802 feet according to smithmountainlakelevel.com - the water rises high enough to reach boat lifts, flood low docks and can even sink carelessly placed watercraft. Full pond ... 01/18/2013

With the turn of time from 2012 to 2013, spirits are high and the community expectant at Smith Mountain Lake, Deb Beran Realty included. Housing market reports from the National Association of Realtors, KCM Blog Real Estate site and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development all point to a positive outlook for the real estate sector in the coming year. In addition to promising housing sales and construction reports, Smith Mountain Lake and its Roanoke Valley and central Virginia neighbors are experiencing exciting progress in business, education, tourism and community development.  In 2013, we predict Smith Mountain Lake will see some of its best days yet, but we can guarantee it will continue to be a place boasting some of the most beautiful properties in the nation, a place ... 01/04/2013

Homestead Creamery, Inc. dairy products manufacturer is the recipient of the first-ever Virginia Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund. The fund is worth more than $1 million and will be used toward expanding the company, including hiring more employees, producing more products and adding a line of cheeses to the brand. Homestead Creamery has also said it plans to increase purchases of state-grown agriculture products by close to $1.5 million.  The Homestead Creamery company is located just a couple of miles from Smith Mountain Lake on route 122 in Franklin County, the most traveled thruway in the community. The company launched in 2001 and has since become a sought-after brand in Virginia grocery stores and several states along the east coast. Their products r... 12/18/2012

It’s easy for a holiday shopper to feel there are many gift ideas to choose from but few that are as distinctive as the individual they’re shopping for. At Smith Mountain Lake, residents are at a holiday shopping advantage. Retail outlets surrounding the lake are distinctive on purpose.  Here, shopping opportunities match the unique character of SML - providing gifts that are a refreshing change from the norm.  As you head out in search of hall-decking decor, children’s toys, beautiful apparel, one-of-a-kind jewelry, home interior accents and gadgets of every kind, plan on a day of shopping at SML. The wide variety of outlet locations will help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Use the Smith Mountain Laker Magazine’s 2012 gift guide. Or, check the SML Chamber’s business director... 12/12/2012

Smith Mountain Lake has come a long way in a few decades. Beginning with the construction of a dam in the early 1960’s and progressing as a quiet residential retreat and more recently a thriving community complete with every commercial convenience needed to live well. Regional news station WSLS aired a fascinating piece earlier in the month providing an overview of the lake’s initiation to its continued development over the following years.  In the lake’s relatively brief history, it has proved to be a magnet for residential and commercial developers and anyone who appreciates a recreational lake lifestyle. The community is currently experiencing an exciting time of rapid growth, surely the outcome its founders dreamed for it. If you’re interested in the lake’s history and how it became... 11/29/2012

Some towns have pumpkin festivals, some have apple festivals and others like to center their fall community extravaganza on Halloween, hay, gourds or harvest time crafts. At Smith Mountain Lake, the big fall festival is all about the chili. This year, Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta will be host to our 10th annual Chili Festival, put on by the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber and sponsored by several area businesses. The event is complete with chili contest, craft vendors, music and fun attractions for the kids.  The SML Chili Festival has become an annual highlight, packing the plaza with cooks, tasters, tents and trophy prizes. Attendees can come by car or boat, docking at Bridgewater Marina. The festival is an excellent event to get to know the lake community better, mingling with local famil... 10/26/2012