Evince Magazine
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March 2009
March Contents 2
Editor’s Note
3 Discover What It’s Like to Be a Butterfly by Nancy Tait Civil War Authority to Speak by Lynne Bjarnesen 4 X Marks the Spot for Alterations and Custom Clothing by Joyce Wilburn
Even though the wind is howling outside my office window and I’m sipping on hot chocolate to stay warm, I know warmer weather is coming because of the promises made by the tiny purple crocuses in my garden. Although Webster might not agree, I believe this second season of the year that arrives on March 20 is named spring because it’s time for all of us to spring into action after our long winter’s hibernation. To help you spring in the right direction, Evince writers have compiled a plethora of ways for you to rejuvenate yourself, your relationships. your home and your city. Expert chef Annelle Williams has written a column as irresistible as her food--Make Eating Part of Spring Cleaning. If overwhelming clutter has accumulated over the past few months, Throw Out the Mess and Organize the Rest will tell you where to start revamping your home. While de-cluttering, if you find clothes that need repair, then X Marks the Spot for Alterations and Custom Clothing is a must-read. On the more serious side, Marriage Coach Dr. Joey Faucette has tips on sprucing up the husband-wife bond while strengthening the parent-child connection in his column Stay Married Forever. Historic District ReDevelopment cheerleader Liz Sater explains why you should Clean Up Paint Up Fix Up your property wherever it is located-- and the reasons why might surprise you. When you need a break from springing into action, grab a refreshing drink and chuckle along with Dena and Larry as they offer different viewpoints about the necessity of spring cleaning in She Said, He Said; then check out the March calendar and plan to have some fun participating in the wealth of activities described in the other 20+ stories. If you take advantage of all the ideas in this month’s Evince, it will be an exciting eventful month and season. In the busyness of springing into action, however, don’t forget your clocks. They will be springing forward at 2:00 a.m. on March 8th.
PS: What are you doing to live frugally and make your money stretch? Please share your ideas and we'll include them in the April Evince.
She Said He Said by Dena Hill & Larry Oldham 6 Believe / March is Clean Up, Paint Up, Fix Up Month by Liz Sater Around the Table / Make Eating Part of Spring Cleaning by Annelle Williams 7 Throw Out the Mess and Organize the Rest Spring Cleaning Begins This Month by Joyce Wilburn 8 Steaks on the Square by Scott Brooks with Misty Cook Business Advice from a Golfer by Joyce Wilburn
OICE FOR CHANGE
Publisher
Andrew Scott Brooks Editor Joyce Wilburn joyce@evincemagazine.com (434.799.3160)
Contributing Writers Lynne Bjarnesen, Scott Brooks, Kim Clifton, Misty Cook, Emily Cropp, Androniki Fallis, Joey Faucette, Mary Franklin, Jane Govoni, Jim Harper, Dena Hill, Linda Lemery, Rosalee Maxwell, Deborah Morehead, Doug Newell, Jeanne Nostrandt, Larry Oldham, Liz Sater, Nancy Tait, Joyce Wilburn, Annelle Williams Sales Manager Larry Oldham larry@evincemagazine.com (434.728.3713)
9 Painting with Jazz by Doug Newell DSO Presents Winter Concert by Mary Franklin 10 Spotting Exceptional Customer Service by Rosalee Maxwell Middlesex – A Story of Walls Tumbling Down by Jane Govoni
Sales Associates Kim Demont (434.836.1247) kim@evincemagazine.com Laura Kondas (434.836.2796) lkondas317@mac.com
AU Sponsors Community Read by Emily Cropp Coming Home with the Bootlegger’s Daughter by Jeanne Nostrandt 11 Second Thoughts / A Common Thread by Kim Clifton 12 March Calendar 14 Pulitzer Prize Winner and Poet Laureate to Speak by Androniki Fallis
THE
Associate Editor Larry G. Aaron larry.aaron@gmail.com (434.792.8695)
5 Reflecting Forward / Dealing with Dementia by Linda Lemery
Editor’s Note
Ve ince
Janet Phillips Featured in Spring Concert by Joyce Wilburn Join Alice on Her Adventures in Wonderland by Joyce Wilburn
15 Stay Married Forever / Spruce Up Your Relationships by Dr. Joey Faucette Paintings by Pig-casso Please by Jim Harper
On the Cover:
Photo of Xinia West of X-S Alterations & Tailored Designs by Tony Adcock. See story on page 4. For more information visit www.flickr.com/photos/tonyadcock/ or email tonyadcock@verizon.net.
Meet Some of Our Writers
Art & Production Director Vaden & Associates (Dan Vaden) Graphic Designer Kim Demont
evince\i-’vin(t)s\
1: to constitute outward evidence of 2: to display clearly: reveal syn see SHOW Editorial Policies:
eVince is a monthly news magazine covering the arts, entertainment, education, economic development, and lifestyle in Danville and the surrounding areas. We print and distribute eVince free of charge due entirely to the generosity of our advertisers. In our pages appear views from across the social spectrum. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. We reserve the right to accept, reject, and edit all submissions and advertisements.
EVINCE Magazine 300 Ringgold Industrial Pkwy Danville, VA 24540 © 2009 All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part in any medium without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.
For subscriptions, call 434.799.3160.
We now accept Visa, MC, and Discover for ad payments
Dr. Joey Faucette Life Coach & Speaker Call toll free 1.877.4DRJOEY to Listen to Life and make a life, not just a living. www.listentolife.org
Annelle Williams is an active daughter, wife, mom and a retired pharmacist who has pursued her love of cooking as a second career and found that it’s a wonderful way to give to those you love, whether they want it or not.
Jim Harper is the Vice President of the Langhorne Board of Directors and Chairman of the Pig-casso Committee.
Jeanne Nostrandt is the Program Chairperson of The Wednesday Club, a retired Professor of English at James Madison University and a UNC basketball fan.
Deadline for submission of April stories, articles, ads, and calendar items is 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 21. Submit stories and articles to: joyce@evincemagazine.com. Submit calendar items to: kim@evincemagazine.com. For ad information contact a sales associate listed above.
Evince Magazine
Discover What It’s Like to
Be a Butterfly by Nancy Tait
The Danville Science Center is giving you an opportunity to be a butterfly—almost. In the exhibit, Amazing Butterflies, visitors change their perspective to that of a caterpillar as they saunter through a long tunnel where blades of grass tower over their heads. Next, they explore a maze filled with caterpillar and butterfly games where rhymes give hints about which path to take while learning about caterpillar diets and what it’s like to walk on a leaf. The right route changes you into a beautiful butterfly, but some paths lead to poisonous plants or predators waiting to pounce. Who knew the life of a butterfly was so adventurous? “Amazing Butterflies is more than a maze where half the fun is getting lost and finding your way out,” says Science Center Director Jeff Liverman alluding to its educational value. ‘When you visit our Butterfly Station and Garden after it opens in April, you’ll have a new appreciation for how these insects live,” he predicts. A few of the other adventures include: n Teaming up with friends to walk like a caterpillar. Each person becomes one set of legs. The trick is to time your movements so the entire caterpillar moves forward. It’s harder than it looks. n Feeding caterpillars at caterpillar pinball. Watch out for the red balls. They aren’t lunch balls; they’re pesticide balls.
n Walking through a passionflower and trying to keep away from the sticky, hooked hairs. The plant uses those hairs to protect it from caterpillars. n Playing foosball. This is no ordinary foosball game. In this version you can be a striker wasp aiming at a caterpillar or carpenter ants defending the caterpillar. n Climbing into a pupa pod. This is where you change into a butterfly. While you’re in the pod have your picture taken. n Cranking wheels with a friend to start blood flowing through the wings so a butterfly can fly. n Climbing the spider web without becoming tangled in it. n Grabbing a pair of wings and flying down a zip slide. Amazing Butterflies will be at the Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead Street, until Monday, May 25. Amazing Butterflies is included with Science Center admission. Regular admission is $5 for youth 4-12 and $6 for seniors. The Science Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 am-5 pm and Sunday, 1-5 pm. For more information call 434.791.5160 or visit www.dsc.smv.org.
Civil War Authority to Speak by Lynne Bjarnesen
One of the country’s preeminent authorities on the Civil War, Dr. James “Bud” Robertson, returns to Danville to present Why Civil War Came, the first in a series of lectures that will continue through 2015 in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the war. A native of Danville, Robertson is the recipient of every major award given in the field of Civil War history. He has appeared regularly in Civil War programs on the Arts & Entertainment Network, the History Channel, C-Span, and public television and radio. He was the chief historical consultant for Gods and Generals, the Turner Pictures/Warner Brothers movie. William J. Howell, speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and Chairman of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, explains the reason for beginning the commemoration years before the actual anniversary, “While the first battles of the Civil War began in 1861, the issues leading up to the Civil War developed long before that and legacies of the war continue even today.” The free event will be held on Saturday, March 21, at 3 pm in Averett University’s Pritchett Auditorium on Mt. View Avenue. The local series of lectures will be hosted by the Danville Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Planning Committee and co-sponsored by the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History and Averett University.
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March 2009
ASK DR. JUDITH
Judith A. Ostrowski, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology Danville ENT Associates, Inc.
Q: Dr. Judith, What causes hearing loss? A: Hearing loss can be caused by many things; noise, illness, medications or genetics. The most common hearing loss for people over 65 is a sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This is a hearing loss that occurs due to damage to the auditory system at the inner ear. It is not surgically treatable.
Another type of hearing loss occurs at the outer or middle ear. It is called a conductive hearing loss and can sometimes be surgically corrected. A conductive hearing loss can be caused by middle ear infection, a hole in the eardrum or certain diseases such as otosclerosis or even excess ear wax. A third type of hearing loss is a mixed loss. This hearing loss is both at the inner ear (sensorineural and permanent) and a the outer or middle ear (conductive hearing loss and possibly medically treatable). The treatment of hearing loss depends on what type of loss you have. The most effective treatment for a sensorineural hearing loss is hearing instruments. A conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss must be addressed by an MD, preferably an Ear-nose-throat Specialist (ENT).
Hearing Testing - Pediatric & Adult Hearing Aids and Aural Rehabilitation Assistive Listening Devices Custom-Made Swim Plugs Custom-Made Hearing Protection Race Car Driving Sets Payment Plan Available
159 Executive Dr. • Suite C Danville, Virginia 24541 Fax 434.792.0468
434.792.0830 • 800.368.7183 www.denthc.com Hours 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
X Marks the Spot for Alterations and Custom Clothing by Joyce Wilburn
Sitting next to Xinia West at X-S Alterations and Tailored Designs and watching while her nimble fingers deftly separate the seam of a jacket, I couldn’t help but be in awe of her talents and work ethic. Not only can this youthful-looking mother of two boys create any garment from a picture in a few days, she can fluently describe it in two languages—her native Spanish and what husband Nuel jokingly calls Danvillian English. The love story that brought these two together and eventually led them to Danville and the opening of a sewing business, started almost 20 years ago when Nuel visited his retired parents in Costa Rica and met their seamstress, his future wife. Eight years after that meeting, they married and Nuel brought Xinia (pronounced SeenYa) back to his 50-acre farm in Danville. Xinia’s high-school English classes provided a good foundation for learning in her new Southern Virginia hometown, but it was the determination to speak like a native that helped her succeed. Nuel elaborates, “Xinia did great learning the language and within two years, she was correcting my English! She didn’t want to speak until she could speak perfectly.” With that same attitude of accepting nothing less than perfect, Xinia now works 60-hours a week or more creating and sewing clothes for area men and women either by altering or repairing clothes that are brought into the store or custom designing new ones. Xinia began sewing when she was 17 and learned the fundamentals from her grandmother in Central America. Her skills improved while creating custom-made clothing for friends and continued to develop while working in the alterations
departments of clothing stores in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. and in several Danville stores. The move to Piedmont Mall came in 2001, when Xinia set up shop in Heel to Toe, a shoe repair store. Before long, a steady flow of customers zipping in and out of the business led the sewing corner to expand and eventually fill the entire space. Three years ago, Xinia and Nuel moved again to the mall’s lower level near J.C.Penney where they are currently preparing for the busiest two seasons of the year—weddings and proms. “You don’t have to buy off-the-shelf clothes. High-end custom clothing is available right here,” says Nuel noting that 1/3 of their business is tailored designs and the remainder is alterations. The evolution from a simple zipper-andbutton replacement shop to a custom clothing design store has increased the workload, but unfortunately, the staff hasn’t grown. Occasionally, Xinia’s sisters, Flori Clark and Nidia Melendez, have joined in the adventure. “It would be wonderful to have an experienced part-time assistant especially during this busy time,” adds Nuel wistfully. Hopefully, when that person is found and hired, Xinia will have time to teach the sewing classes that customers are requesting, passing on a skill that her grandmother nurtured decades ago and thousands of miles away. X (Xinia) –S(Sewing) Alterations & Tailored Designs is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon until 8 p.m. For more information about their services or to inquire about a job as an experienced seamstress, call 434.791.2888.
Evince Magazine
Reflecting Forward Dealing With Dementia by Linda Lemery
I had an idea for my column but became distracted, and the idea sneaked away while I was trying to remember what I was doing. I wondered whether this was what having dementia or Alzheimer’s was like for elderly people on a daily or even minute-to-minute basis. To answer this question, I did some reading. I learned that dementia is the gradual deterioration of mental ability, making it increasingly difficult to live one’s daily life. Some symptoms include forgetfulness; not being able to think or plan ahead; not knowing where one is or what day it is; trouble remembering what words to use, how to balance a bank statement or do other calculations, how to dress or make phone calls; and being increasingly quick to lose one’s temper. Almost 60% of dementia cases can be classified as Alzheimer’s disease, making it the most common type of dementia. Alzheimer’s often strikes earlier in life, as early as age 45, while generalized dementia often delays its onset until after age 70. Alzheimer’s is progressive, irreversible, and incurable. The severe memory loss can mean that afflicted people might not remember their children’s names or where they’ve lived for a period in time. They might have trouble with simple daily activities, like getting dressed or brushing teeth. They might not recognize familiar places or faces. Some other symptoms include trouble with language (writing, reading, speaking, understanding), anxiety, aggression, wandering away from home, and getting lost. Other conditions can mimic dementia and some are reversible. See your doctor for further information. The right diagnosis is imperative for the right treatment. Whatever my initial idea was for this month’s column, I learned a lot from my reading. Significantly, most of the strategies for dealing with a person who has dementia can also be applied to dealing with the challenges of daily work and home life. Sensitivity and kindness are everything. Perhaps the following are lessons for us all: • • • • • •
Be patient, calm, and kind. Build more time into your schedule to accommodate the need for patience. Focus on one day at a time, but plan for the future. Take your time. Accidents occur when elderly people are hurrying, regardless of whether or not they have dementia. Connect over common ground. Remind the person of experiences the two of you share. Build a bridge through recalling shared memories and cross it together. Use signage, clocks, daily/weekly/monthly calendars, memo boards, and other visible reminders of place and time. For example, posting the names of rooms near the doorways may help residents living in a facility find their destinations. Talk with other people who are experiencing the same frustrations and build a network of support to find solutions to common problems. Take care of yourself.
Linda Lemery llemery@gamewood.net lives, writes and works in Danville.
Can You Identify These?
Shown here are nanoscale images thousands of times smaller than a human hair that were captured by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. These pictures are part of an art exhibit, Sights Unseen: Images of the Nanoscale that will be on display as part of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s celebration of NanoDays 2009. Observed across the county from March 27 through April 5 , NanoDays encourages educational and research organizations to focus efforts on bringing nanotechnology to the public through workshops, hands-on activities and other events. The public is invited to view the nano art show and meet curator Kimberly Duncan at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 27, at IALR, 150 Slayton Avenue. Also scheduled on the same date is a lecture for area math and science teachers entitled Nanomaterials:Little Things Changing Our World. For more information call 434.766.6772 or email laura.holloway@ialr.org.
She Said by Dena Hill It Happens Every March I have a love/hate relationship with the month of March. It is true that March winds bring in the springtime. I love that the weather is becoming warmer; the trees are ready to bloom and it is time to start planning my gardening, painting, and fixing up the house for summer. The part I hate is when I am forced to tell you my plans of springtime chores that I want to accomplish. I hate sharing all of this with you because you start whining about the honey-do list and “why do I have to help do all these things? “ This year I am not even going to tell you my plans. I am not going to ask you to help me, and I have thrown away the honey-do list. So, you can relax; I will take care of all the springtime work, and you just rest up for the coming summer months deciding on where we vacation, what movies we will see, where we will eat, who will drive, when we must visit your mother, what to wear, what book to read next, and should you pay someone to cut your grass-- you know, all the important decisions in your life.
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living room, or September, when you had to move the furniture around the house. I know the house is important to you, and it means a lot to me that everything is clean and the house is spotless. I don't want to sound like a male chauvinist pig, but your woman's need to clean can be taken care of (as I told my ex-wife) with a phone call to a cleaning service. I don't understand the necessity of cleaning every spring, messing it up every fall, and cleaning it again next spring. All this cleaning talk is really giving me a headache. Why don't we just skip this March madness of cleaning, buy some ice cream, sit on the porch, or cook some steaks? If we don't invite the neighbors over this year and we avoid all our friends (so they won’t visit us), who is going to see the house, dirty or clean, except us.....and maybe the dog? Have you ever heard the dog complain? No, I didn't think so. We can all be happy if we work together on this thing, reevaluate our priorities and learn to live together in harmony. A few germs might booster our immune systems and help us live longer. On the other hand, we could clean, but the physical exertion could cause heart attacks or strokes and our immune systems could be weakened if we become germand-dirt free. And that could expose us to all kinds of health problems. I rest my case.
She said He said
he Said by Larry Oldham I really don't think you understand how hard I work and all the important daily decisions that have to be made. Yes, March is a hard month, but so was January when you couldn't decide which tile to lay on the bathroom floor, or November, when you had to paint the ceiling in the
He Said / She Said can be seen in Showcase Magazine.
Q: In order to make my house more saleable, what renovations or improvements can I do inexpensively with major paybacks? A: Six come to mind that will cost little, but offer a great payback when showing the house and impressing a buyer. 1. Simple kitchen upgrades 4. Any necessary repairs 2. Bathroom facelifts 5. Remove excess clutter 3. Touch-up painting 6. Curb appeal is the first impressionhave the yard looking good.
Dale Bray Castiglione, Associate Broker / Licensed in VA & NC
Wilkins & Co. Realtors
428 Piney Forest Road • Danville, Virginia 24540 Office: 434.797.2477 • Cell: 434.203.7583 • Fax: 434.797.4020 1.800.295.4007 • email: edale3@verizon.net
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March 2009
March Is Clean Up, Paint Up, Fix Up Month In 1982, two Harvard professors, James Wilson and George Kelling, suggested that by targeting minor disorder in a neighborhood, more serious vandalism and crime could be reduced. Their theory has become known in urban revitalization efforts as the broken-window syndrome. In its simplest form, the duo maintain that if a structure suffers a broken window, graffiti, or other malicious damage and it is not repaired within a short time, there is an increased risk that vandals will interpret the neglect as an invitation to do more damage. While the theory has been criticized by several subsequent studies, the premise is still heavily supported by anecdotal evidence. In 2005, university researchers worked with local police to identify several crime hot spots in Lowell, Massachusetts. In half of the locales, authorities cleared trash, fixed streetlights, enforced building codes, and discouraged loiterers. In the other half, there was no change in environment or routine police service. The areas that received additional
Believe...
In the redevelopment of Danville's Historic Downtown and the Tobacco Warehouse Districts by Liz Sater, Re-Development Coordinator attention experienced a 20% reduction in calls to the police. The study concluded that cleaning up the physical environment is more effective than misdemeanor arrests. A clean, safe environment supports and encourages development. If the public feels that property is unobserved long enough for vandalism to occur, they naturally assume that the entire area must be unsafe. That is why it is so important that we continue our efforts to make Downtown Danville attractive, clean, and appealing to the public. In Downtown Danville, we have come so far. There has been over $58 million in public and private improvements to downtown properties over the last five years. Over 50 store fronts have been improved using the façade grant program. City Beautiful Committee maintains the flowering planters and hanging baskets and the Public Works Department makes sure that the litter baskets are regularly emptied. In addition, City Council has enacted an
ordinance that prohibits aggressive panhandling in the downtown district, but we can do more. The Danville Downtown Merchants Association is asking every business and property owner in the district to “Clean Up, Paint Up and Fix Up” their property during March. It takes very little money, time, or effort to wash display windows, sweep entry ways, repair upper-level windows, and clear away clutter. If every business and property owner– even if the building is vacant - would make a small effort, the combined effect would have an enormous impact and show passersby that we care. In the current highly competitive retail environment, Downtown Danville can capitalize on its rich cultural heritage and unique historic properties. But we must also make the extra effort to reinforce the message that Downtown Danville is a safe and enjoyable place to live, work and play.
I admit it. I always overstock my kitchen. This year I’ll begin spring cleaning early by ridding my cabinets, refrigerator and freezer of mounting clutter. Here are a couple of ideas to help you get started too. When my husband suggested that it was time for a real food budget, I decided to see how long we could live off what I had stockpiled in the kitchen. With the exception of a few staples, we ate quite well for a couple of weeks. As you would imagine, the packages pushed to the back of the freezer were the ones that really needed to be eaten first. I had plenty of canned beans and tomatoes, two things I buy routinely, along with canned tuna and salmon. There were several different pastas, rice of every possible variety, and a broad collection of condiments that kept our menu varied.
If eating your way through your cabinets doesn’t suit, here’s another idea. I did a major purge when our new president called us to community service. It made sense to clean out the cabinets and take the excess to a local food bank. It’s better to be proactive with your kitchen supplies rather than waiting until the "best if used before" dates make you hesitant to use them. The shelf life on spices and dried herbs is usually one year. Keep a marker handy to date new bottles as you buy them. Salt and pepper would be the exceptions, because they seem to last forever. Whether you use the budgetary plan, the social consciousness route, or a combination, it feels so much better to have clean cabinets and a tidy refrigerator. Now you’re ahead of the curve and ready to begin your other spring cleaning projects.
Bean and Vegetable Soup
Make Eating Part of Spring Cleaning by Annelle Williams
2 sweet onions, thinly sliced into rings 1 T extra virgin olive oil 1 cup sliced carrots 1 cup sliced celery 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 T dried Italian herbs ½ tsp. crushed red pepper 1 lb. chicken sausage, thinly sliced (or Italian sausage) 1 (16oz.) can diced tomatoes 2 qts. chicken broth (or 2 qts. water with chicken bouillon added) 2 small turnips, peeled and diced (or 2 white or sweet potatoes) 2 bay leaves salt and pepper to taste 1 medium bunch of kale, stems removed, sliced into shreds (or baby spinach leaves) 2 (16oz.) cans cannelloni beans shredded Parmesan cheese extra virgin olive oil for garnish rustic whole grain bread, sliced and toasted
In a large soup pan, sauté onion in olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add carrots and celery and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Add garlic, herbs, red pepper and sliced chicken sausage, and sauté for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and chicken broth. When mixture begins to simmer, add turnips and bay leaves. Cook over low heat for about 30 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaves from soup. Adjust taste with salt and pepper. Add kale and beans to soup and continue cooking for another 30 minutes. Serve soup garnished with Parmesan cheese and a little olive oil along with rustic whole grain bread.
Evince Magazine
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Throw Out the Mess and Organize the Rest Spring Cleaning Begins this Month by Joyce Wilburn
What are you doing at 7:44 on the morning of Friday, March 20th? At that exact moment, Spring will arrive at your front door and Vernal Equinox will announce the official beginning of spring cleaning. If that gives you reason to run out the back door, don’t worry. There are ways to make the job less daunting. Knowing where to begin tackling a mountain of clutter can sometimes be the hardest part of the job. To discern the point of commencement ask yourself, “Which cluttered space bothers me the most?” That’s where you begin. However, if your answer is, “the whole house,” then start in the room where Destiny told you to read this article, or at the front door, or the one space that would give you the most pleasure to see organized. With a trash bag in one hand, a box labeled “Give Away” in the other, and a Chinese proverb on your lips--The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones-- you are ready to begin. Pick up the first item that is cluttering your space and either put it away, trash/recycle it, or donate it to a local agency or friend. It’s that simple. Every item must have a home, but not in your house. If you can’t decide between keeping or donating, ask yourself, “When was the last time I used this?” If it’s been more than a few years, think seriously about allowing it to have a new life with someone else. Clothes that are out-of-style, the wrong size, or not age-appropriate are your foes because they don’t make you feel good about yourself. If it doesn’t make you feel good, let it go, let it go, let it go. (Can be sung to the tune of Let It Snow.) It’s important to find a home for everything that you keep. Gather items together where they will be used. For example, outdoor sports equipment is hung in the garage or near the back door, not in the front hallway. Recipe books are shelved in the kitchen not your bedroom. Toys are contained in a play area not scattered throughout the house. The job can be overwhelming, but remember, the mountain of clutter wasn’t created in a day and it won’t disappear in 24 hours. Set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes and work uninterrupted on one area of the room, one drawer, or one section of a closet until the bell rings. Do that at least twice a day and you will see amazing results before the spring cleaning season ends, when Ms. Summer Solstice arrives in June for a few months of vacation. Goodwill Industries (434.792.5522) and DAV Thrift Store (434.791.3050) are two agencies that accept gently-used items. Call for more information.
Spring Is Here! It’s time to:
• Install a carbon monoxide detector (if your home has a gas fireplace or gas heat) • Clean your heating/air conditioning ducts • Clean your dryer vents • Make your home safe, clean and efficient
Call the Experts
John Holt & Co. Inc. Other Services Include: Chimney Sweeps • Caps Installed Help prevent Dangerous Carbon Monoxide Problems With Annual Chimney Inspections
434-797-5211
781 Daisy Payne Lane • Dry Fork, VA 24549
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March 2009
Steaks on the Square by Scott Brooks with Misty Cook
We were in the town square of Yanceyville, North Carolina, about to visit a new restaurant that had garnered rave reviews. It was a cool, top-down evening, and Misty and I had no problem finding it because we literally followed our noses to Steaks on the Square. From the moment we walked through the door, it was obvious that something special was happening. With a simple glance around the room, I could see several different entrées being eaten by people with huge smiles on their faces-the kind of smiles that say, “Don’t you dare touch my food or I’ll bite your fingers off.” “I want some of those ribs,” I overheard Misty say to herself. When Misty says she wants some ribs, she’s prepared to eat her weight. She is certified as a Kansas City Barbecue Society official judge and normally throws scoring numbers around while I’m trying to eat. She critiques ribs to the point of noting what feed the pig ate. But that night she was
quiet. The ribs were so good she couldn’t stop eating long enough to be a judge. Restaurant owner Nathan Jones arrived with a sampler platter of several meals within a meal. The next thing I know country-girl Misty and I, city-boy Scott, are eating beer-battered frog legs. Following that, Misty swallowed cream cheese jalapeño poppers like they were M&Ms and then our waitress asked for our entrée order. In a short time, my ribeye steak arrived after being cooked to perfection on a wood-fired grill. The touch of flame gave it that edge, but the steak melted in my mouth. Whatever special trick they use to give the steaks that extra kick of flavor is something everyone should experience. I was reminded of a meal I had in San Antonio a few months earlier, when I tried a rare American Kobe-style Wagyu beef that costs $10 an ounce. The ribeye I was eating at Steaks on the Square was better, hands or hooves down, at a fraction of the cost.
Misty spent the rest of the evening raving about the salad bar. I don’t eat salad, but her generous praise had me almost making one. Steaks on the Square has compiled an eclectic mix of dishes that diners would expect to find at a fancy-named restaurant with a signature chef. So next time you feel like taking that special someone to a extraordinary place, skip the long line at an unremarkable restaurant and take the short drive to Yanceyville for something fresh and new. Oh, and be sure to make a reservation. The regulars are going to be there, and it’s likely to be packed to the seams.
Business Advice from a Golfer by Joyce Wilburn
Marilyn Hanover has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University and almost three decades of work experience, but the new Chair of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce Board credits a four-hour class in business golf with teaching her an invaluable lesson about working with other businesses and their employees. “How people play golf can tell you how they might react in business,” says Hanover with a slight smile, “because if they cheat in golf, they might cheat in business. If they’re unethical in one, they might be unethical in another.” The Indianapolis native, who has lived in the Smith Mountain Lake area since 1997, then adds advice for impressing a potential customer or business partner, “If you don’t know the golf course, go beforehand so you can tell your guests where to aim and what hazards are around. This gives the impression that you have prepared for this golf event and will probably be prepared for business.” Because golfing is a favorite pastime, Hanover could probably
spend every day on her home course at The Water’s Edge nestled on the shoreline of Smith Mountain Lake, but her job as Technical Manager of Sartomer, a global supplier of specialty chemicals in Chatham, limits playing to the weekends. She explains the reason for assuming more time-consuming responsibility as chamber board chair, “Our company wants to be involved in the community, so when the chair opportunity arose, I accepted the request.” Leading the monthly meetings of the 21-member board, which represents over 700 chamber members, is an elected volunteer
job that only one other women, Martha Walker, has held since the Danville and Pittsylvania County Chambers merged in 2001 and formed the DPCCC. Six other women have served as chair in the separate chambers dating back to 1915 in Danville and 1981 in the County. Mindful of its rich history, Hanover and the board are continuing the chamber’s work of “energizing the region by creating exceptional business growth and profitability in a vibrant, customer-centered culture.” They must be doing an exceptional job, because the chamber was recently recognized with a fivestar accreditation based on sound
When you order, tell your server that you read this story in Evince and maybe they’ll give you a sampling of their deepfried brownie bites. They are so mouth-watering good that if Steaks on the Square were Desserts on the Square and only served brownies, it would still be worth the drive. For more information and reservations call Steaks on the Square, 118 Main Street, Yanceyville, NC, 336.694.9663.
policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community. That’s quite an honor considering that only 41 of the 6,936 chambers in the United States have five stars! Being a knowledgeable leader, Hanover can quickly list the merits of chamber membership. “It’s a good networking opportunity both socially and educationally,” she says, noting that members suggest training topics needed by employees and the chamber brings in experts to present programs, lead workshops and seminars, or speak at Business at Breakfast. If there is legislation that members want to promote, the chamber helps there too. “A lot of voices joining together can be louder than an individual’s,” she adds. Of course, there are the fun social occasions like the Shrimp Fest, Southside Show- Biz, Business after Hours, Business before Hours, Young Professionals’ events (YoPE), the Chamber Classic Golf Tournament on June 1 and the Ed Steffey Memorial Education Open Tournament on September 25. Some events are for chamber members only, but others, like the golf tournaments are open to all--just remember that if you play, be sure to follow Hanover’s advice if it is a business golf event. For more information visit www.dpchamber.org.
Evince Magazine
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Neurology & Sleep Clinic of Southern Virginia Drs. Juan E. Cuebas and Rafael V. Hurtado welcome new patients at their newly built state-of-the-art neurology practice & sleep center at 178 Executive Drive. The doors of the Neurology & Sleep Clinic of Southern VA are open to serve children and adults with all kind of neurological and sleep conditions.
Painting with Jazz
• Tingling • Sleep Problems • Blackout Spells • Stroke
• Parkinson’s • Fatigue • Imbalance • Memory Loss
Sound and Sight will begin at 7:30 pm in the Kirby Theater, 215 North Main Street, Roxboro, on Saturday, March 14. Tickets are $10, $15, and $20. For more information call 336.597.1709 or visit www.Kirbytheater.com. Directions from Danville: Turn right off 58 East onto the Milton Highway (Route 62) which becomes Route 57. Roxboro is about 18 miles past Milton. After entering Roxboro, keep left to stay on Route 57; go straight on Court Street. Turn left onto North Main Street.
DSO Presents Winter Concert
by Mary Franklin
The Danville Symphony Orchestra Winter Classical Concert will feature selections from Wagner, Balakirew, Tschaikowsky, Griey, and Dvorah with guest conductor, Dr. Jonathan Green. A native of New York, Green received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Fredonia School of Music and a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts where he was an Ornest Fellow. He completed additional studies at Oxford University and Chautauqua Institution and received the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro where he was a University Excellence Fellow. The free Winter Classical Concert will begin at 8 pm on Saturday, March 7, in the GWHS Auditorium, 701 Broad Street. For more information, visit www.danvillesymphony.net.
• Weakness • Leg/Arm Pain • Anxiety • Falls
Drs. Cuebas & Hurtado also perform EMG/Nerve conduction studies, EEGs, Sleep Studies, and therapeutic Botox injections.
The Neurology & Sleep Clinic of Southern VA relocated from 201 South Main St., where it has been serving for the past three years.
by Doug Newell Kirby Theater Artistic Director
If you like jazz and you appreciate art, you are going to love Sound and Sight, a very special event at the historic Kirby Theater in Roxboro, North Carolina. “It was a big hit in 2005 when we explored this venue for the first time. Audiences were mesmerized as the paint began to flow with the music presented by Frank Kimbrough’s Trio,” says Doug Newell, Artistic Director of the Kirby Theater. “It’s the type of performance art you don’t get to experience often,” he says noting that the audience becomes fully involved as they witness the creation of art in these two forms coming together to make a beautiful, lasting image. New York jazz pianist Frank Kimbrough and his trio will join talents with artist and muralist Michael Brown from Carrboro, North Carolina. Kimbrough is a professor at The Julliard School of Music, dynamic pianist, composer and recording artist. Brown has created notable murals throughout Chapel Hill and North Carolina, as well as the two colorful murals enhancing the Kirby Stage. The two will be inspired by each other’s energy to create a unique artistic experience of Sound and Sight. Also featured on the program will be Merilyn Newell, singer/actor and Kimbrough’s friend for over 45 years. The two will team up to present “a sweet moment” as Frank says.
• Epilepsy • Back Pain • Dizziness • Tremors
Dr. Juan E. Cuebas Board Certified in Neurology & Sleep Medicine
Dr. Rafael V. Hurtado Board Certified in Neurology
Call us (434) 792-3232 • www.neurologist.medem.com
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March 2009
Middlesex A Story of Walls Tumbling Down by Jane Govoni
To encourage exceptional customer service, the Dan River Hospitality and Travel Committee of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce and EVINCE would like to recognize those who give it. When you experience exceptional customer service, tell us about it in 300 words or less. Include your name and phone number. Email your story to joyce@ evincemagazine.com. A mystery customer will visit your nominee’s place of business for verification. We’ll publish the best entry received. The chosen honoree will receive a small gift and a framed copy of the published story citing his/her exceptional service.
March Nomination by Rosalee Maxwell You’ve probably heard all the jokes about car salesmen, but I can honestly tell you that Tommy Taylor of Barkhouser Ford on Riverside Drive gives new meaning to the word salesman. When my younger daughter wanted to buy her first car, Tommy outdid himself finding the perfect, sweet-sixteen car of her dreams. Soon after the purchase, she locked the keys inside, and he came to her rescue. The next time she locked the keys inside the car, once again, Tommy came to the rescue. When I locked my keys in my car, he even helped me! In December, my daughter decided to purchase a newer car, which would be the first large purchase of her life complete with financing and monthly payments. Before selling her the ideal auto, Tommy talked to her about safety, gas mileage, insurance, and resale value. After the purchase, he even called to remind her to change the oil. Mindful of past events, Tommy offered to keep an extra set of keys for her so it would be easier to retrieve them, when (not if) they are locked inside the car. Just last week, my older daughter had a major car snafu in Washington, DC and of course, I turned to Tommy for help. Now mind you, we didn’t buy this car from Barkhouser, but Tommy took care of us again. He asked about 50 questions, conferred with the mechanics, and called me with their advice. Tommy is the kind of man with whom you want to deal – honest, trustworthy, and dependable. He goes beyond the call of duty. This single mom with two daughters whose only knowledge of cars is how to fill it with gas and turn it on appreciates that. Hats off to Tommy and to Barkhouser Ford for excellent customer service.
Middlesex, the novel by Jeffrey Eugenides that won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1993, is the story of Callie/ Cal Stephanides, a little girl who grows up to become a man. She (actually, he) has a big problem—he’s a male misclassified at birth as female. In adolescence, Callie’s body shockingly, painfully demonstrates the truth. The story takes place as Cal, now in his 40s, looks back on his life and his struggles with sexual identity. Far from a cold clinical case study, Middlesex explores how it feels to be a person trapped in a fluid and difficult situation outside your control; how it feels when everyone else seems to knows who they are but you’re not sure. The book’s title refers to the Stephanides family’s upscale Grosse Pointe street address, but of course it is a wonderful play on words. Yet the scope of the book extends far beyond sexual and gender politics. For Middlesex is also a novel of the immigrant experience. As a GreekAmerican, Cal/Callie knows what it’s like to stand between worlds. Her OldWorld grandparents and their heritage shape him/her, but so does the American experience—becoming part of the massive “white flight” to the suburbs after the Detroit race riots of the 60s, for example. Detroit as border town figures intriguingly into the plot. So do the boundaries the family faces as hyphenated Americans, not fully welcome in their fancy new suburb. The novel explores all sorts of boundaries--between brother and sister, husband and wife, parent and child, warring ethnic groups—the black and white citizens rioting in the streets of Detroit; the violence between Greek and Turk in the burning city of Smyrna. These impenetrable walls between or even inside people are not as solid as they seem. Middlesex is the riveting tale of what happens when the walls come tumbling down.
AU Sponsors Community Read by Emily Cropp
Averett University invites participation in a community read prior to the April 20th visit of Jeffrey Eugenides, the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Middlesex. Eugenides’ presentation is part of AU’s Authors on Campus Series. “The series seeks to involve students and the greater Danville community in discussions of important topics through reading. An added benefit is the opportunity to hear the authors tell of their craft,” explains Dr. Larry Wilburn, Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences and organizer of the event. In addition to winning the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Middlesex received the Ambassador Book Award and was an Oprah Book Club Selection. Copies can be purchased in the Averett bookstore. Eugenides will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 20, in Pritchett Auditorium on Mountain View Avenue. The event is free and open to the public. For more information call 434.791.4993.
Coming Home with the Bootlegger’s Daughter by Jeanne R. Nostrandt
Coming Home with the Bootlegger’s Daughter is the catchy title of Margaret Maron’s talk at The Wednesday Club’s Book and Author Luncheon on March 25. Maron will discuss the evolution of the most famous character in her mystery novels, Judge Deborah Knott, the daughter of a noted ex-bootlegger. Knott is a character straight out of Maron’s North Carolina roots and is the primary focus of 14 crime novels. The first novel in the series, Bootlegger’s Daughter, is numbered among the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century as selected by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. Though a native Tar Heel, Maron (rhymes with baron) lived for many years in Brooklyn, New York, but returned with her artist husband to settle on her family’s century-old farm just south of Raleigh, North
Carolina, which is the setting for Bootlegger’s Daughter. The public is invited to attend the luncheon and find out why the Associated Press says, “The considerable strength of Maron’s writing lies in giving her sleuth a life . . . Maron does it superbly.” The Wednesday Club Book and Author Luncheon will begin at noon on Wednesday, March 25, at the Danville Golf Club, 2725 West Main Street. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling 434.793.1997. For more information, visit www.MargaretMaron.com.
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E-Banking Second T houghts A Common Thread by Kim Clifton ©2009
When our 44th President was sworn in, the news media couldn’t say enough about the progress our nation had shown in electing Barack Obama to its highest office, in spite of the debates about his family’s race, creed, color and national origin. The focus on the First Lady was much different, however. Even though she had actually mentored her husband when he was a young intern at the law firm where she worked, the broadcasters weren’t drawn to her skills with legal torts. Instead they were more intrigued if her Inaugural ensemble was the color of lemon tarts. So, despite the apparent progress on some fronts, I’m not completely convinced we’ve really come a long way, baby. You may have noticed eVince has evolved from The Voice for Women to The Voice of Change, but not to worry. I’m not going to get all Gloria Steinem on you either way. However, it bothers me when I hear virtually all women discussed on television as though it’s only their designer clothes that are worthy of mention. It seems that most reporters don’t know the difference between news and Project Runway. Of course, like most women I know, I am interested in fashion. And I confess that on my initial visit to the Smithsonian in Washington, I raced straight to the First Ladies’ gowns exhibit at the American History Museum, bypassing all significant contributions made to our country. So it’s not surprising that when I watched the Inaugural events, I was impressed with both of the wives from the Executive Branch. Michelle Obama, in her pumps, was always in step with her husband. And Jill Biden’s boots proved that they were certainly made for walking. That stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House would probably be discontinued if a woman ever got elected as president. You can’t wave up to adoring fans in balconies and keep an eye peeled for manhole covers. In all fairness, the bi-partisan media gave Sarah Palin a tough time about her wardrobe, too. They were totally preoccupied with where she got her clothes and how much she paid for them. Those reporters needed to lighten up because with all of the crazy styles out there, she was lucky to find anything in the first place. So, when she did, it’s no wonder that money was no object. I know what she’s going through. It’s gotten to where I can’t even buy a pair of slacks anymore; most times I don’t bother to try them on. My rule of thumb is this: If the zipper is less than four inches, leave the pants on the rack. But whether you live in the White House or just in a white house, all women want the same thing: clothes that make us look good. We instinctively know when they don’t, no matter what a saleslady insists. Here’s the deal: Clerks will lie. The mirror won’t. Women may have to give in to designer schemes, but at least they don’t fall prey to them like the king in the Emperor’s New Clothes. I never quite understood in the first place why we read a fairytale to little kids about a naked man parading around in front of God and everybody. Unless the story just proves that guys have so few fashion choices, they are desperate for a change. All that men need to know is that if the event is sporty, the trousers and jacket are different colors. If the event is dressy, they match. What’s more unfair is how they can wear the same size in any brand. Not so with women. I’d be embarrassed to tell you the range of sizes I have in my closet. Some digits are higher than I’ll ever admit and some are smaller than I deserve. There’s a reason for this insanity. Expensive clothes run big, while cheaper ones seem to scrimp on the fabric. I’ve decided I’m not fat. I’m just broke. Like it or not, in our society, men are judged by the company they keep and women by the outfits they wear. And as unfair as the TV coverage is, reporters are just giving the people what they want. Too bad designers don’t feel the same way. It’s funny, though, when you think about all of the media buzz surrounding the Inauguration. Journalists worked hard that day to reveal two mysteries. The significant one, of course was, who the President would name to his cabinet. But what really intrigued people most was what the First Lady would wear to the Inaugural balls. And all this time I thought it was the clothes that made the man.
Celebrating the Past, Living our Present, Preparing for the Future.
www.amnb.com
434.792.5111
MEMBER FDIC
Page 12
March 2009
March Calendar
Through March 8
Art Exhibits – One Eared Cow Glass & Who Am I?-Discovering Harriet Fitzgerald. Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History – 434.793.5644.
Through April 23
Darwin Exhibits – Evidence & Evolution/ Darwin’s Enchanted Islands. Virginia Museum of Natural History –276.634.4185.
Through May 25
Butterflies Exhibits – Shrink to the size of a butterfly and explore the relationships between caterpillars, butterflies and their natural surroundings. Danville Science Center – 434.791.5160.
March 2
Photography Club – Novice to expert photographers are welcome. 7 pm. Henry County Photo Club – 276.634.4640.
March 2 (thru 30)
Youth Swim Lessons. Mon/Wed 6:307:15 pm & 7:20-8:05 pm. YMCA– 434.792.0621. Boogie Monday – Shag II. Mondays 7:008:30 pm. Ballou Center – 434.799.5216.
March 3
The Commedia Aladdin – Grades K-5. 10 am & 12:30 pm. Caswell County Civic Center – 336.694.4591. Averett Baseball vs. Roanoke College. 1 pm. AU – 434.791.5621.
March 3 (thru 24)
Sewing w/Kitty – Suitable for beginners and experienced students. Tues 6:308:30pm. Coates Center. 434.797.8848.
March 3 (thru 26)
Fitness For Older Adults, Ladies & ABSolute Fitness. Tues/Thur, 9–11 am; Ladies 10 am–12 pm; ABSolute Fitness 10:30-11:30 am. City Armory. 434.797.8848. Chicks w/ Sticks - knitting & crocheting. Tues/Thur, 11:30 am–1 pm. City Armory. 434.797.8848.
March 3 (thru 31)
Koates Kids Pre-School Program. Ages 3-5. Tues/Weds 9:30 am–12 pm. Coates Center. 434.797.8848. African Dance Ensemble – Learn the art of African dance. Tues 6-7:30 pm. Pepsi Building. 434.797.8848. Parent/Tot Swim Lessons. Tues/Thurs 6:15-6:45 pm. YMCA–434.792.0621.
March 4
Senior Bowling Tournament. 10 am– 12 pm. Riverside Lanes – 434.791.2695. Fetch! Lab - Build a house of cards strong enough to support one of Ruff’s favorite treats, a dog bone! Ages 8–12. 3:45–4:45 pm. Danville Science Center 434.791.5160. Book Signing: – A people’s history of Virginia written in poetry by Tim Lewis. 5:30 pm. Pepsi Building. 434.797.8848. Averett Softball vs. Lycoming. 2 pm. AU – 434.791.5621.
March 4 (thru 25)
Toddler Storytime. 3/4-Cats; 3/11-Green; 3/18-Wind and Kites; 3/25Welcome Spring. Ages 18 mo. – 3 years. Weds 10:15 am. Mt. Hermon Library – 434.835.0326. Guitar for Youth & Teens Class – Ages 5-17. Wed 5 pm. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848.
March 5
Thumbelina – Grades K-5. 10 am & 12:30 pm. Caswell County Civic Center – 336.694.4591.
Leahy – Eight brothers & sisters blend fierce fiddling, harmonies and stepdancing. 8 pm. Caswell County Civic Center – 336.694.4591.
March 5 (thru 26)
Guitar for Adults Class – Thurs 5 pm. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848. Advanced Archery Class –Age 7-14. 6-7:30 pm. Coates Center. 434.799.5215. European Pastries & Desserts Class – Thurs. 6-9 pm. Southern Virginia Artisan Center, Martinsville – 276.632.0066.
March 5 (thru April 2)
Intermediate Woodturning – Thurs. 6-9 pm. SVAC, Martinsville - 276.632.0066.
March 5 (thru April 16)
Sculptural Ceramics – Thurs. 6-9 pm. SVAC, Martinsville – 276.632.0066.
March 6
Choral & Choir Pre-Festival Concert – Featuring the GWHS Concert Choir and Westwood Middle School 8th Grade Chorus. 7:30 pm. GWHS Auditorium. 434.799.6410.
March 6 (thru April 18)
Theatre of the Sky Exhibit –Kites inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e prints. Opening Reception 3/6-5:30 pm: Piedmont Arts, Martinsville – 276.632.3221.
March 7
Pancake Breakfast - 7:30-11 am. Christ Episcopal Church. Pilot International – 434.799.9029. Kite Day – Kite flying, face painting, rides, Frisbees, kite-making workshops and door prize. 1-3 pm. Anglers Park. 434.799.6564. Winter DSO Classical Concert See page 9. Regional History Symposium – 9:30 am– 4 pm. Bassett HS Auditorium. 276.629.9191. Dan River Basin Association’s First Saturday – annual membership celebration. 10 am. City Hall, Eden, NC. 434.349.5727. Bob Ross Painting Class – Soft Light. 10:30 am–3:30 pm. Ballou Annex. 434.797.8848. Flint Knapping – Demonstration of how the Native Americans produced their projectile points. 2-2:30 pm. Danville Science Center – 434.791.5160
March 7 & 8
Averett Baseball vs. Ferrum College. 1 pm. AU– 434.791.5621.
March 7 & 14
Create a Bird Watering Can – 10 am12 pm. SVAC, Martinsville – 276.632.0066. Make Your Own Teapot – 1-4 pm. SVAC, Martinsville – 276.632.0066.
March 7 (thru 28)
West African Dance & Drumming Class. Sat 10:30 am-12 pm. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848.
March 9
Mariachi Band. 6:30-9:30 pm. Los Tres Magueyes Mexican Restaurant 434.792.0601. An Evening With Charles Shields – Harper Lee biographer talks about the elusive woman who created the American classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. 7-9 pm. Piedmont Arts – 276.632.3221.
March 9 & 23
Danville Chess Club – 6-7:30 pm. Ballou Center – 434.799.5216.
March 10
Kites & Kids – Build a kite to soar in the air. Ages 2-4. 9:30-10:45 am. Glenwood
Community Center. 434.797.8848. Polliwogs & Science Stars - Polliwogs learn about volcanoes. Stars celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Ages 3–4 1–2 pm; Ages 5–7 3:45–4:45 pm. Danville Science Center 434.791.5160. Photography Club. 6:30-7:45 pm. Ballou Annex. 434.797.8848.
March 10 & 11
Averett Baseball vs. 3/10-Guilford College, 1 pm. vs. 3/11 Penn State Fayette, 12:30 pm. AU – 434.791.5621.
March 10 & 17
Collage Glass Pendant – 6–8:30 pm. SVAC, Martinsville – 276.632.0066.
March 10 & 24
Tuesday Teasers: – Disc golf competitions. Prizes for the top three finishers. 5:30-7 pm. Ballou Park. 434.799.5215.
March 11
Wednesday Club Guest Speaker See page 14. Yappy Hour. Pet education class – spay/ neuter benefits. 6-7 pm. Pepsi Building. 434.797.8848.
March 11 (thru 25)
Lighten Up for Live V. 2nd, 3rd & 4th Wednesdays, 9-11 am. Ballou Center. 434.799.5216.
March 12
Bob Ross Technique Workshop – Soft Light. 10 am-3:30 pm. Piedmont Arts – 276.632.3221. Alzheimer’s Presentation – Partner with Your Doctor. 12–1 pm. 434.792.3700 x30. Darwin & the Galapagos – Lecture on Darwin’s Galapagos findings that contributed to his natural selection theories. 6-7 pm. Virginia Museum of Natural History – 276.634.4185. Japanese Art & Aesthetics Lecture – In conjunction with the exhibit, Theatre of the Sky. 6:30 pm: Piedmont Arts, Martinsville – 276.632.3221.
March 13
Averett Baseball vs. Stevenson University. 2 pm. AU – 434.791.5621. Swim Lessons. 2:30-3:15 pm. YMCA– 434.792.0621. Pork Dinner Fundraiser. 5:30-8 pm. American Legion Post 1097. egor1@ comcast.net. Scrapbooking – Trade materials and work on your own book. 6–8 pm. Glenwood Community Center – 434.799.6469.
March 14
Green Legs & Hamstrings Trail Run – Whether you run the 5K or the 16k race, the trails will have you guessing what’s around each turn. 10 am-1 pm. Anglers Park. 434.799.5215. Super Heroes Program – Save the world, have a snack and do a super hero craft. Ages 3-5. 10:30 am. Pepsi Building. 434.797.8848. Pi Day - For 3 hours & 14 minutes break down the irrational number of Pi with hands-on measurements and a little light physics to honor Einstein’s birthday. 12-3:14 pm. Danville Science Center 434.791.5160. Auto Racing – Late Model / Limited / Pure Stock / SV Modifieds. 2 pm. South Boston Speedway – 434.572.2695. Dinner With the Mockingbird. 6-9 pm. Rives Theatre, Martinsville. 276.632.3221.
March 2009 S 1 8 15 22 29
M 2 9 16 23 30
T 3 10 17 24 31
W 4 11 18 25
T 5 12 19 26
F S 6 7 13 14 20 21 27 28
Sight & Sound Jazz Concert See page 9.
March 14 & 15
Line Dance Workshop & Dance – workshops 10 am; dance 3/14, 7-10 pm. Ballou Center – 434.799.5216. Averett Baseball vs. Christopher Newport. 1 pm. AU – 434.791.5621.
March 14 & 28
Fun with Folktales – Family storytime activities. 11 am. Mt. Hermon Library – 434.835.0326.
March 14 (thru 28)
Basic Drawing Class –Sat 9 am-12 pm. SVAC, Martinsville – 276.632.0066.
March 16 (thru April 6)
Belly Dance Class –Mon 5:30 or 6:45 pm. Pepsi Building. 434.797.8848.
March 16 (thru April 7)
Painting w/Judie – Learn how to paint with oil or watercolor. Mon or Tues 6-8 pm or 10 am-12 pm. Ballou Annex. 434.797.8848.
March 16 (thru April 20)
Olympic Tae Kwon Do Program – Ages 8-14. 4:30 pm. City Armory. 434.797.8848. Women’s Self-Defense Program – 5:30 pm. City Armory. 434.797.8848. Getting Organized Class – 6-7 pm. City Armory. 434.797.8848.
March 17
Averett Softball vs. Peace College. 2 pm. AU– 434.791.5621.
March 17 & 18
Averett Baseball vs. 3/17-Tufts University, 1:30 pm. vs. 3/18 Montclair State, 3 pm. AU – 434.791.5621.
March 17 & 24
Majolica Tile Workshop – 6–8:30 pm. SVAC, Martinsville – 276.632.0066.
March 18
Alzheimer’s Presentation – What is Hospice and Palliative Care? 12–1 pm. 434.792.3700 x30. Fetch! Lab - Fetch Lab kids create a large picture by drawing parts of the image on small squares and matching them up. Ages 8–12. 3:45–4:45 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.
March 18 (thru April 22)
Basic Bookkeeping – 5:30-6:30 pm. 434.797.8848.
March 18 (thru April 23)
Ballroom Dancing – waltz, swing, twostep, rumba and cha-cha. beginningWeds; intermediate-Thurs. 5-9 pm. Pepsi Building. 434.797.8848.
March 19
Art Exhibit – Local artists Kenneth Bond & Jeremy Lea. 5-7:30 pm. Greensboro College – www.greensborocollege.edu. Sky Watchers – View the double stars Mizar and Alcor; look for the stars of the constellation Draco the Dragon and find the North Star. nightfall. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160. Minds in Motion – Teaches discipline, dedication, and self–awareness through movement. 7-9 pm. Martinsville HS Auditorium. Piedmont Arts – 276.632.3221. Caswell Co. Chamber Banquet. 7 pm. Caswell Pines Golf Course, Yanceyville, NC. 336.694.6106.
March 20
Just Everyday Women, Walking by Faith Luncheon. 11 am - 1 pm. Mary’s Diner.
Evince Magazine Jennie - 434.793.8140 or Catherine 434.836.2660.
March 20 (thru 22)
Alice in Wonderland Jr. Broadway Adventure See page 14.
March 21
Open House. 8:45 am. Averett University – 434.791.4996. Instant Piano For Hopelessly Busy People - $65. 9 am-12 pm. Ballou Annex. 434.797.8848. Special Saturday - Animal extremes with games, crafts, and fun-filled activities.10 am-12 pm. Virginia Museum of Natural History – 276.634.4185. Shamrock 5K Run/Walk – 10:30 am. Riverwalk Trail. Downtown Danville Assoc. 434.791.6813. Kids’ Art Class. Age 5-12. South BostonHalifax Co. Museum – 434.572.9200. Skate Tournament – Enjoy kick flips, ollies, front and backside tailslides, heelflips, nollie nose slides, front side 5-0 stall and maybe even a backside air for those who dare. 11 am–2 pm. Phillip Wyatt Memorial Skate Park. 434.799.5215. Averett Softball vs. Methodist University. 1 pm. AU– 434.791.5621. Auto Racing – 2 pm. South Boston Speedway – 434.572.2695. Why Civil War Came Lecture See page 3. Lawson Creek Grass Concert. 7:30 pm. The Prizery, South Boston – 434.572.8339.
March 21 & 22
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing: VIR 434.822.7700. Home Expo – See new products and ideas for your home improvements or ideas on building a new home. 1-5 pm. Institute for Advanced Learning & Research. Builders & Associates of Southern Va. – 434.791.3244.
March 22
Cinemagic – Favorite movie themes come to life. 2:30 pm. Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Danville Area Choral Arts Society – 434.822.0977. The Cashore Marionettes. 3 pm. The Prizery, South Boston – 434.572.8339.
March 23
Averett Baseball vs. Hampden-Sydney. 3 pm. AU – 434.791.5621.
March 23 (thru April 13)
Cake Decorating Made Easy. 6-8 pm. Glenwood Community Center. 434.797.8848.
March 24
Career & Networking Fair. 11 am2 pm. Danville Community Market. 434.791.5621. Polliwogs & Science Stars - Polliwogs investigate magnets. Stars explore the animal habitats. Ages 3–4 1–2 pm; Ages 5–7 3:45–4:45 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160. Understanding GPS –6:30-8 pm. Ballou Center. 434.799.5215. Boost Your Curb Appeal & Outdoor Living Area – 7 pm. Pepsi Building. 434.797.8848.
March 24 (thru April 14)
How to Improve Your Financial Health – Learn about market cycles, inflation, long-term investment opportunities. 6-7 pm. Ballou Annex. 434.797.8848.
March 25
Doodle Bugs! - Rumbling Rainforest. Imaginative stories, fun activities, games, and crafts. Ages 3-5. 10 am & 3 pm. Virginia Museum of Natural History – 276.634.4185. Wednesday Club Book and Author Luncheon See page 10. Yappy Hour. Pet education class – Boarding vs. Pet Sitter. 6-7 pm. Pepsi Building. 434.797.8848.
March 26
Tween Night – Make a Decorative Pen. Age 10-12. 6 pm. Mt. Hermon Library – 434.835.0326.
March 26 (thru April 16)
Intermediate Oil Painting – Thurs 10 am–12 pm. SVAC , Martinsville – 276.632.0066.
March 27
NASCAR Pole/Qualifying Day. Martinsville Speedway – 877.722.3849. Alzheimer’s Presentation – Ask the Neurologist. 12–1 pm. 434.792.3700 x30. Friday Night Youth Swim Lesson. 6:30-7:15 pm & 7:20-8:05 pm. YMCA– 434.792.0621. Chatham Concert Series See page 14. Friday Night Campfire – Enjoy s’mores, marshmallows, hot chocolate, and fireside stories. 7-8:30 pm. Ballou Park. 434.799.5215.
March 27 & 28
Nano Days Festival – Lecture on nanotechnology and a special training session for teachers (3/27). Fun for the whole family (3/28) with nano demonstrations and activities. 10:30 am2:30 pm. Danville Science Center 434.791.5160.
March 28
Bird Watching – 8 am-12 pm. Anglers Park. 434.799.5215. Kroger 250 NASCAR Truck Race. Martinsville Speedway – 877.722.3849. Geocache Danville – An evening of caching and treasure hunting. 1-5 pm. Ballou Park. 434.799.5215. Langhorne House Benefit - See pg. 15. Spring Carnival – A variety of games, crafts, face painting, and prizes. 3-8 pm. Glenwood Community Center. 434.799.6469. SoundCheck – Open mic night. 7-10 pm. Chatham Community Center – 434.432.3115 x1. NC Dance Theatre. Caswell County Civic Center. See ad page 11.
March 29
Goody’s Fast Relief 500. Martinsville Speedway – 877.722.3849. Averett Singers Spring Concert. 4 pm. West Main Baptist Church. AU – 434.791.5712.
March 29 (thru April 26)
Art Exhibits: Impending PresenceRecent Works of Ron Clark, Averett alumni/student exhibit & Gretha “Mike” Blake-sculptor. Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History – 434.793.5644.
March 31
Averett Softball vs. Ferrum College. 3:30 pm. AU– 434.791.5621. Turkey Talk – Hunters will learn the science behind the day-to-day activities of a wild turkey. 6-7:30 pm. Ballou Center. 434.799.5215. To Kill a Mockingbird – Stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic. 7:308:30 pm. Martinsville HS Auditorium. Piedmont Arts – 276.632.3221.
Upcoming Events April 2
Alzheimer’s Presentation – Ask the Elder Law Attorney. 12–1 pm. 434.792.3700 x30.
April 3
Awadaign Pratt & Zuill Bailey Concert. 7:30 pm. AU Pritchett Auditorium. Danville Concert Association – 434.792.9242.
April 4
Main Street Cruise-In. 6-9 pm. Downtown Danville Assoc. 434.791.6813.
Pre-Season Sale to
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March 2009
Pulitzer Prize Winner and Poet Laureate to Speak by Androniki Fallis
Claudia Emerson, the 2006 Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry, who was named the Poet Laureate of Virginia by Governor Tim Kaine last August, will speak at the Wednesday Club on March 11th. A Chatham native, Emerson is well-known in the Danville area from decades ago when she managed First Edition used book store after graduating from the University of Virginia in 1979. While at work, she found time to explore, reflect on her readings, and write poetry. In 1991, Emerson earned a master’s degree in poetry from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and has been a Professor of English and an Arrington Distinguished Chair in Poetry at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg
since 1998. She has received many awards, prizes and fellowships for her poetry and the Pulitzer Prize for Late Wife. In the 54 pages of Late Wife, Emerson divides her reflections into three parts: the end of her own 19-year marriage, the bittersweet freedom that followed, and her remarriage to a kindred spirit who had just lost his wife to lung cancer, the “late wife” of the title. Emerson’s other poetry collections include: Pharaoh, Pharaoh, a meditation on time, memory, inheritance, and the irony of loss; Pinion: An Elegy, which uses alternate narrators focusing on the burden of inheriting a family homestead in the American South of the 1920s; and Figure Studies, a collection
Janet Phillips Featured in Spring Concert by Joyce Wilburn Lovers of classical music take note. The Chatham Concert Series, founded by new Chatham Hall choirmaster Kevin Zakresky, is in its inaugural year and will offer two evenings of entertaining and uplifting music this spring. The March 27th concert, The Magic Flute, will feature flautist Janet Phillips, principal flute of the Danville Symphony Orchestra and flute teacher at Chatham Hall. Janet graduated from Florida State University with a degree in music therapy. Prior to that, she studied with flute professors from Virginia Commonwealth University, Arizona State University, and University of North Carolina – Greensboro and spent two summers immersed in studies at Brevard Music Center. The concert will include a variety from the solo flute repertoire with many recognizable favorites. J.S. Bach’s second sonata will brush up against Carl Reinecke’s Undine and Claude Debussy’s Syrinx, an incredible work for solo flute full of soaring melodies and unexpected twists. Janet will also perform Gary Schocker’s Native American Suite, a rare piece that incorporates many Native American tunes and exciting rhythms. The Magic Flute will also feature promising Chatham Hall students, oboist Bell Johnson and flautist Libby Goldstein. The concert will start at 7:00 pm on Friday, March 27, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 66 North Main Street in Chatham. Admission is by donation. For more information, email kzakresky@chathamhall.org.
inspired by her experiences growing up in Chatham and attending Chatham Hall. The March 11th program at The Wednesday Club, 1002 Main Street, begins at 3:45 p.m. is free and open to the public. Coffee will precede the program at 3:15 p.m. For more information, visit www.claudiaemerson.org or call 434.793.2035.
Join Alice on Her Adventures in Wonderland by Joyce Wilburn
Join Alice on her madcap adventures in Wonderland as she follows the White Rabbit, gets tied up with the Tweedles, raps with a caterpillar, and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game. Twenty-five Danville area students, ages eight to fourteen, who participated in a musical theatre class, The Junior Broadway Adventure, will have a chance to shine onstage at The North Theatre the weekend of March 20-22. Director Melissa Charles says this 75-minute, family-friendly theatrical version of Alice in Wonderland, Jr. is based on the 1951 Disney film and the novels The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Show times are: Friday and Saturday at 8pm and matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Welcome Center, 645 River Park Road, or The Invitation Destination, 411 Main Street. For more information, call 434.791.4091. This event is being produced by the North Theatre in cooperation with Danville Parks, Recreation & Tourism.
Evince Magazine
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Spruce Up Your Relationships by Dr. Joey Faucette, Marriage Coach
When I speak to couples, a great deal of interest revolves around balancing family life. Questions like, “How do we make time for our marriage when we have children?” or “What can we do about our kids taking up all of our time and energy?” Spring is a great time to fix up and spruce up your home (the physical dwelling) and your home (the relationships). Your child watches and listens to you even when it’s not obvious. Your child picks up your habits, words, mannerisms, voice tone, accent, and other traits. That means if you are trapped in any kind of negative snare in your marriage, your child observes that also and probably thinks that all moms and dads relate this way and work that way. The following four rules might help you renovate the relationships in your home and restore the balance between adults and children: 1.Talk with your child and let him/her know that you and your spouse are changing how some things are done. Be very specific. Say, “Daddy will be home more often” or “Mommy won’t go out-oftown so much.” Connect these changes to being with your child more. 2. Look at your child’s schedule. How many activities are planned? Many children have an extracurricular activity planned every day of the week. This frenetic, hyperactive scheduling lays the groundwork for your child to believe that this is preferred over the supreme value of building relationships at home. If your child has more than two extracurricular activities, ask her/him to designate which are most important
and which are least preferred. Say something like, “We want to spend more time together as a family.” Then eliminate the least preferred as soon as possible. 3. Look at your family calendar and discover the first available time all of you can be together. Save it in ink, or pixels on your PDA, and short of death, make it happen. 4. Facilitate a family discussion about how to spend that time together. It doesn’t have to be anything grandiose like going to Orlando. Go fishing or shopping or to a water park or a local museum. Make sure your kids feel a part of the planning process. How does this home renovation help you as a couple Stay Married Forever? By balancing your family’s activities, you create more time, energy, and attention for you and your spouse to share with one another. You’re no longer playing taxi or cheerleader to every activity offered. This kind of focus helps you Stay Married Forever! For more information, visit www.StayMarriedForever.org.
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Come see all the new products to improve and help showcase your home
Paintings by Pig-casso Please by Jim Harper
A Vietnamese pot-bellied painting pig named Smithfield (a.k.a. Pig-casso) is coming to Danville for a performance to benefit the Langhorne House. The painting, dancing, drumming, smiling, bowing Pig-casso has been the subject of a number of newspaper articles and a featured guest on several television shows including America’s Got Talent. Pig-casso’s owners, Fran Martin of Richmond and son Richard of Danville, are donating proceeds from ticket sales and auctioned paintings to benefit The Langhorne House. The museum at 117 Broad Street was built in 1874 and became the birthplace of Nancy Langhorne Astor Viscountess , the first woman to serve in the British House of Commons, and her sister, Irene Gibson, the famed Gibson Girl, an iconic representation of the beautiful American woman at the turn of the 20th century. Smithfield will showcase his talents in the North Theatre, 629 North Main Street, at 3:00 pm on Saturday, March 28, along with magic by Jim Mullins, songs by The Heart Strings, and an auction of Smithfield’s works. Tickets are $10 for adults $3 for children 12 and under. For more information, call 434.791.2256.
March 21 • 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 22 • 1-5 p.m. Institute for Advanced Learning & Research 150 Slayton Avenue • Danville, Virginia 24540
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March 2009
Averett University: Celebrating 150 Years Join us for these and other celebration events www.averett.edu/AU150
March 16 “War, Peace and Leadership” (Distinguished Alumnus Lecture) Featuring former columnist Ernest B. “Pat” Furgurson 7:30 pm, Blount Chapel, FREE
March 28 Equine Education Day
9 am - 4 pm Averett Equestrian Center, Gammon Rd. (Providence, NC) Admission $5 For Directions & Information: (336) 388-5950, vhenders@averett.edu, or visit http://www.averett.edu/visit-campus/directions.html
March 29 Worship Service with the Averett Singers
Guest Speaker: Dr. Craven Williams, president, Greensboro College 4 pm, West Main Baptist Church, FREE
For information visit: www.averett.edu/aucalendar