March 2017 Vol. 2, No. 1 FREE
Distance Learning Longwood students take to the field
A mutual relationship Community shines through Joshua Bolt www.FarmvilletheMagazine.com
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Helping the Community Thrive Meet Sheri McGuire
Associate VP for Community and Economic Development and Executive Director, Small Business Development Center, at Longwood University
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WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY JOB:
REACHING OUT TO AREA BUSINESSES. Sheri McGuire is living proof that Longwood University takes seriously its role as an economic driver in the region. Helping to build and sustain a strong community is a priority in Longwood’s strategic plan, and working with regional partners to attract, nurture and grow area businesses is McGuire’s focus every day.
My calling, and my passion, is positively impacting our community by identifying possible connections among people, projects and resources and then making those connections happen.”
IN THE COMMUNITY • A Focus on Prosperity: McGuire and her team work to facilitate new partnerships and projects focused on regional prosperity through economic development. • Small Business Resource: Longwood’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has field offices and local partnerships throughout the 25 localities in its service area. Services provided include free consulting on business planning, market research and analysis, and workshops on starting a small business, bookkeeping and payroll.
mcguires@longwood.edu | 434.395.2360
• A True Priority: Longwood recognizes the value of having dedicated resources to help small businesses grow which positively impacts the local economy and the tax base.
CITIZEN LEADERS: Longwood People Contributing to a Great Community
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Local Advice Personalized Service
For more than 20 years, Brad and Cannon Watson have been delivering sound investment solutions to clients. Backed by the considerable resources of Davenport & Company – a 150 year employee owned firm – Brad and Cannon offer comprehensive financial and investment planning, retirement plan analysis, and professional portfolio management solutions. Their objective is simple: to help clients achieve their individual goals. Call today for a complimentary portfolio review. (434) 392-9813 • (800) 431-3670 101 North Main Street • Farmville, VA 23901 www.investdavenport.com
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Feature Longwood University knows the value of learning in the field. Since Hull Springs Farm was bequeathed to the university in 1999, many students have traded textbooks for tools to pursue their fields of study at the 630-acre property on Virginia’s Northern Neck. The Big House, a modern two-story home with stunning views of the water, is also available for receptions, seminars and meetings and other social gatherings (contact Sherry Swinson at swinsonsd@longwood.edu for information).
Publisher — Betty Ramsey Betty.Ramsey@FarmvilletheMag.com Editor — Thomas Jordan Miles III Jordan.Miles@FarmvilletheMag.com Designer — Troy Cooper Troy.Cooper@FarmvilletheMag.com
Editorial
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Carson Reeher Carson.Reeher@FarmvilletheMag.com Marge Swayne Marge.Swayne@FarmvilletheMag.com Brian Klingenfus Brian.Klingenfus@FarmvilletheMag.com Titus Mohler Titus.Mohler@FarmvilletheMag.com
Advertising Director — Jackie Newman Jackie.Newman@FarmvilletheMag.com Steve Wallace Steve.Wallace@FarmvilletheMag.com
Contributors: John Burton, Jimmy Hurt, Dr. Ray Gaskins, David Fowlkes, Robin Sapp Cover photo by Marge Swayne On the web: www.FarmvilletheMag.com To subscribe, contact Circulation@ FarmvilletheMag.com Farmville the Magazine P.O. Box 307 Farmville, Va. 23901 434-392-4151 Farmville the Magazine is published eight times annually by Farmville Newsmedia LLC. Copies are available free at businesses throughout the Heart of Virginia. For convenient mail delivery of each issue, cost is $30 per year.
A look into the past
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Bolt inspires others
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Also... Miles To The Gallon Good Reads Artist in Residence From the Ground Up Serving it Up
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Catching Up With ... Party Pix Town and Gown Where Am I? Why I Love Farmville
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Miles To The Gallon
The hands of the community T
his community is filled with the most generous, hard-working, salt-of-the-earth people in the state. We do for each other. We care for each other. We come to each other’s aid in times of need and sorrow, and celebrate together when success dawns on the horizon. Jordan Miles, Editor The good people across Farmville, Buckingham, Cumberland, and Prince Edward love helping each other. You’ll see evidence of this in this month’s edition of Farmville the Magazine. That’s why we have organizations, such as the Buckingham County Lions Club, the Farmville Jaycees, the Cartersville Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Farmville Area Emergency Services (FACES) Food Pantry, that have members who want to do good for people. “Many hands makes light work,” the old adage goes. It’s vital that we, as members of our communities, no matter if we live in the suburbs of Farmville or under oak trees in Buckingham, become involved in one of the many community service organizations the Heart of Virginia offers. As you’ll see in our “Party Pix” section, the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts held an exhibit opening in January, the Buckingham County
Chamber of Commerce handed out its annual awards and the Farmville Rotary Club held its annual Taste of Farmville event recently. These projects and events — which benefit many in the community — aren’t organized by themselves. It takes work and dedication of volunteers and those, like you reading this magazine, to step up and help in an organized fashion. This could mean volunteering at the YMCA in Farmville, helping collect and deliver books for the Virginia Children’s Book Festival or volunteering for a volunteer board or commission position with local government. When many hands are involved in improving our communities, it doesn’t take heavy lifting to help great amounts of people. In this edition, you’ll see the great work of many in the community, from David Fowlkes’ gardening in Farmville to the great work Longwood University is doing at Hull Springs Farm. I hope you’ll be inspired by them and their passions and consider becoming a member of a volunteer organization, bringing more prosperity to your friends, colleagues and neighbors. Jordan Miles is editor of Farmville the Magazine. His email address is Jordan.Miles@FarmvilletheMag.com.
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Farmville The Magazine
Good Reads
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Sapp offers eclectic titles The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer Alex is an ex-government agent with a special set of skills. She has no friends and trusts no one and has survived by living according to a strict set of rules and regimens, but she is growing tired of this existence. She is contacted by her former employer who gives her an opportunity to erase the slate and start over new as well as save the country from a biological epidemic. Can she trust the very people who have been trying to kill her? The stakes get even higher when she falls in love with the man she is contracted to kill. The Other Einstein, a novel by Marie Benedict “Behind every great man is a great woman,” so the saying goes. Albert Einstein and his wife Mileva “Mitza” Maric meet while they are both attending the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich. Notably, she is the only woman studying at the elite school. They fall in love, marry and Albert tells Mitza that he will support her as a wife, mother and a scientist. However, as her husband’s notoriety grows, her abilities are obscured. Will Albert acknowledge the contributions that his wife has made to the discoveries he is credited for or allow her to remain in his shadow? All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda Nicolette Farrell has come a long way since leaving her small home town of Cooley Ridge in North Carolina. Now living in a big city with a promising career and a successful fiancé, she is not looking forward to returning to Cooley Ridge. However, she must go home to take care of her father and discover why he is obsessed with the disappearance of Nicolette’s friend 10 years ago. A few days after her return, another girl disappears without a trace. The story unfolds in reverse, revealing lies, alibis and cover-ups that tell what really happened to all the missing girls. Sing for Your Life: A Story of Race, Music, and Family by Daniel Bergner Way too often we hear about stories of young black men who end up in juvenile detention. This is exactly what happened to Ryan Speedo Green after he threatened to kill his mother and brother with a knife. Growing up in a trailer park and low-income housing in Suffolk, Green would become just another statistic of the streets. Fortunately, this is not how the story ends. Green overcomes his circumstances with the help of others who believe in him and his talent and goes on to win a nationwide competition hosted by New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Real Food Fake Food: Why You Don’t Know What You’re Eating & What You Can Do About It by Larry Olmsted Fake foods are everywhere! The foods we buy at the grocery store, eat in restaurants and house in our cabinets contain misleading and counterfeit ingredients. Your Parmesan cheese may contain wood pulp, lobster rolls may be without lobster and olive oil is not always extra virgin. Olmsted exposes some truths about the food industry that consumers may not know. He also provides information on what food is real and how to enjoy it.
Robin Sapp Librarian at Cumberland County Public Library
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Farmville The Magazine
Artist in Residence
Rockin’ and wheeling Eppes’ pottery Story and photos by Carson Reeher
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ome say musicians should be on the road, but Benjamin “Tray” Eppes III isn’t like other musicians. Tray is enjoying “a simple life” with his wife, Jo Ann, their one-year-old yellow lab, Ellie, and several cats. The family lives in Darlington Heights where Tray has established recording and ceramics studios, in addition to his pottery showroom and well-tended garden. He first moved to Darlington Heights in 1975 to live on the dairy farm owned by his grandparents. Prior to that, he had lived in Tidewater and attended college in North Carolina. The dairy farm is no more, but “Cowpalace Pottery” exists in its place. Nowadays, Tray and Jo Ann are semi-retired, though to hear them talk, it may seem otherwise. “All of our venues are chosen to visit and stay with friends,” Tray explained, mentioning, “you can make friends playing music.” It wasn’t till the early 70s when he started to work with clay. Though he has not always considered himself an artist, he said, “I have always liked creating things.” Tray balances the solitary hours required for creating pottery by playing music in front of people. “I don’t think about pottery while playing music, but it is a pleasure to think about music while making pottery,” he said. “I can imagine lyrics or chord progressions while working with clay
Artist Tray Eppes poses in his Darlington Heights ceramics gallery space.
Farmville The Magazine
and then carry those ideas on into my music.” Tray said his songs, which he both writes and performs, reflect optimism and humor. With his pottery, he attempts to create works which enhance the experience of daily life. Through the years, he said, he feels he has gotten better at both forms of art and expression. “It is gratifying to know that songs I have written and recorded have been meaningful to people as well as entertaining,” he shared. Similarly, he said he has, on occasion, created pottery which exceeded his expectations. “Some of it I sold. Some of it I still have,” he said. Tray referred to himself as a “pottery machine,” describing not a physical piece of machinery, but the tendency for pottery projects to take priority over all other projects once he starts them. Need is a great inspiration for Tray. “When I need to create something, I can usually look inside and find it,” he explained. “People are inspirational, with ideas and their support.” Tray, along with Jo Ann, create expectations and finds ways to make them realities. His daily motivations come from what needs to be done. “Everything around us is a means for
A vase in Tray’s home gallery. building what we can imagine.” Recently, Tray explained, Jo Ann has become his music partner, something neither of them expected to happen. “Playing music is great, playing with your friends is better, playing with the person you love
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is so totally awesome,” he said. Jo Ann and Tray now perform together regularly, with Jo Ann on bass and Tray playing guitar and harmonica. “I’ve always considered myself less than employed,” Tray said. As he sings in his song “Long Long Time,” “Words ring true every day. What some call work, some call play.” Various businesses in downtown Farmville seem to benefit from Tray’s “work and play.” Jo Ann and Tray perform every Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. at Charleys Waterfront Café in Farmville. Every performance is different, he said. They have two recordings available of their original music, including the 2005 release, “It’s No Act,” and the 2015 album, “Doing What We Can.” The pair is also available for private bookings. When not making pottery, performing music or working elsewhere, Tray teaches potter’s wheel classes at Mainly Clay on Tuesday nights and sells artwork there as well as the j fergeson gallery and in his home studio. To learn more about Tray, visit www. TrayEppes.com.
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From the Ground Up
Camellias: Elegant, Evergreen, Easy
By David Fowlkes Town of Farmville Horticulturalist
F
Farmville The Magazine
ew plants have given me as much joy and satisfaction over the years as have camellias. Once established in a location to their liking, they are long lasting and mostly carefree. The shrub is evergreen and attractive year ‘round, even when not blooming. And when in bloom, camellias are the crown jewels of early spring and even winter if the weather is mild. A few even start blooming in the fall. My favorite way to enjoy them is to cut the blooms and bring them inside. Because of their short stems, camellias are often displayed by floating the blooms in a bowl or plate of water. They also look nice in a small vase. In most years, there are very few weeks from December through March that I am unable to find at least one or two blooms to bring inside. The blooms appear in varying tints and shades of pink, red or white, and even in combinations of these colors. The form of the flower also varies from one variety to another. Some camellias have a single layer of petals. Others have multiple layers, and still others have completely double blooms with no stamens visible in the center. Camellias are relatively easy to grow. The main requirement for success is to provide
them some degree of protection from the elements. This could mean planting them close to the house or under the canopy of pines or other trees. This gives the buds and blooms some degree of protection from cold and frost. Although the plant itself may be very winter hardy, the opening buds and flowers can only tolerate a few degrees of below-freezing temperatures. Thankfully, if some of the flowers freeze, others will open later. That same protected site also meets another requirement for growing camellias — shade, but not too much. Deep, heavy shade makes for weak, scraggly growth with few flower buds. All day sun can lead to foliage that is yellowed, bleached and unattractive. When it comes to soil, camellias are very adaptable. They will grow in just about any soil so long as it is not waterlogged for extended periods of time. I’ve seen them growing well in both clay soils and sandy soils. Usually no fertilizer is required, however, small amounts are fine, especially on sandy soils with root competition from nearby shrubs or trees. I don’t water my camellias except during the first year or two when they are getting established. Camellias are tough plants that don’t need to be coddled or fussed over.
Camellias are relatively easy to grow. The main requirement for success is to provide them some degree of protection from the elements. Here is a short list of camellias (Camellia japonica, not the Sasanquas that bloom exclusively in the fall) that usually do well in Central Virginia: Spring’s Promise (pink, single) Berenice Boddy (pink, semi-double) Daikagura (red/white, double) Governor Mouton (red/white, double) Kumasaka (pink, semi-double) Rev. John G. Drayton (pink, double) Jacks (pink, formal double) Leucantha (white, semi-double) Tricolor Pink (pink with darker stripes, semidouble) Greensboro Red (red, semi-double) Mathotiana (red, formal double) Pink Perfection (pink, formal double) Red Jade (red, semi-double) Yours Truly (red, white, pink, semi-double) Lady Clare (pink, semi-double)
The blooms appear in varying tints and shades of pink, red or white.
Few plants have given David Fowlkes as much joy and satisfaction over the years as have camellias.
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There are many more besides these to choose from, so feel free to try others. Some of these listed are older varieties that might be hard to find now. If you are interested in purchasing a camellia, first check with local garden centers. For hard-to-find ones, search on the internet for mail order sources. Every home should have at least one camellia.
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The
world’s
biggest
man visits
Farmville
As one can see, the top of an automobile was only waist-high on Robert, so traveling by car was a bit cramped. Robert used this sevenpassenger touring car for his travels.
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Robert Pershing Wadlow was the ‘Giant of Illinois’ By Dr. Ray A. Gaskins Professor Emeritus, Hampden-Sydney College Photos courtesy of Jimmy Hurt
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publicity man all addressed the crowd through loudspeakers. Traffic came e was bigger than Goliath, the Philistine leviathan of biblical fame. He to a total standstill in downtown Farmville as people, unable to find a legal was taller than Bill Walton (who was 7 feet, 2 inches tall, weighing 235 parking place, abandoned their cars and ran to catch a glimpse of the giant. pounds), who made it his mission to find out how many living people in the When at home in Alton, Robert slept on a custom-made 10-foot bed and world were over seven feet tall, and that number turned out to be 30. sat in a custom-made giant chair. On the road, he traveled in a seven-passenHe was both taller and heavier than Shaquille O’Neal and Yao Ming. When he arrived in Farmville on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 1939, Robert Pershing ger touring car and slept on two double beds pushed together in hotels. In those days, hotel rooms had transoms over the doors, and Wadlow got a kick Wadlow was 8 feet, 9 inches, tall and weighed 475 pounds. He was only 21 out of walking down the halls and looking through years old and doctors projected that he would soon the transoms. He had to wear ankle braces and used reach the nine-foot mark, growing at the rate of more a five-foot cane to help support his great weight than an inch a year. when he walked. Born Feb. 22, 1918, in Alton, Ill., Robert was While in Farmville, he ate a normal-sized lunch the best-documented giant in history. During his of ham and eggs at the Continental Coffee Shop lifetime, the “Giant of Illinois” was measured twice on Main Street. He used ordinary tableware, which annually by medical doctors. When he was last mealooked like doll house toys in his huge hands. sured on June 27, 1940, he was 8 feet 11 inches tall, He said that, contrary to popular belief, he “selweighted 491 pounds, had a 48 inch waist, a 19 inch dom ate much more than the average person,” howneck, a 9 inch 6 foot wing-span and wore pants with ever, doctors said that 8,000 calories per day were an out seam of 5 feet. required to maintain his great weight. (A coffee shop Robert was born during World War I, which exopened in the Continental Hotel in 1926, about 10 plains why he was named after “Black Jack” Pershing, years after the hotel first opened, and continued until the American General of the armies. Robert’s father the hotel was destroyed by fire on Oct. 22, 1957.) was of average height (5 feet, 11 inches tall) as were Another stop in Farmville was the Masonic Lodge his mother, two brothers and two sisters. Doctors at the corner of Main and Second Streets. Robert thought that Robert’s size was caused by an overLife-sized statues of Robert Pershing was a Master Mason and the Farmville Masons active pituitary gland. Wadlow exist at the Alton Museum of History and Art in Illinois, at Marvin’s wanted to see his Freemason ring — the largest ever Robert came to Farmville as a guest of Emanuel Marvelous Mechanical Museum in made. Weinberg to advertise a brand of shoes sold at The Farmington Hills, Michigan, and After Robert graduated from Alton High School in Hub, and he was a natural for the job. at several Guinness Museums and Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museums. 1936, he entered Shurtleff College with the intention Not only was he the biggest man in the world, he of studying law. But after his 1936 U.S. tour with the wore the biggest shoes in the world — size 37AA. Ringling Brothers Circus, he became such a celebrity He was accompanied by his father, Harold, and his publicity man. (The Hub Department Store opened in Farmville in 1921 and that he dropped out of college and went to work for the International Shoe Company, promoting their line of shoes. lasted until after 2005.) According to his father, Robert neither drank nor smoked and was thus From noon-1 p.m. the threesome, together with Farmville Mayor W.C. the ideal All-American boy. Fitzpatrick, all stood on the flatbed of a truck on Main street, between Robert developed a septic blister on his right ankle from a poorly fitted Second and Third streets and addressed one of the largest crowds to ever brace and, in spite of a massive blood transfusion, died at 1:30 a.m. in a hotel assemble here. in Manistee, Mi., on July 15, 1940. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery Surrounding communities as far away as Crewe became ghost towns on in Alton in a coffin measuring 10 feet, 9 inches long, 32 inches wide and 30 this day as everyone flocked to Farmville to see the giant. inches deep. After a brief introduction by Fitzpatrick, the giant, his father and his
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You’ll love the view inside our magazine
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Above, Robert Pershing Wadlow, known as The Giant of Illinois, stands with his father, Harold F. Wadlow. Right, Robert pictured with his mother, father and siblings.
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Serving it Up
Sandra’s taste from the sea Story and photos by Carson Reeher
Plated crab balls and lemon raspberry sauce prepared by Sandra Brown.
Farmville The Magazine
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andra Brown loves to serve and entertain people. When she does, this crab ball recipe is a favorite appetizer. Brown, who lives in Farmville, is no novice to the world of cooking. For eight-and-a-half years she owned and operated Depot Dinner Bar and Grill, a restaurant in Buckingham. Now she works as a private cook and runs her own business, Heart and Soul Catering, in her free time. “Cooking has always been my passion,” said Brown. Her favorite types of event to cater are intimate dinner parties. She loves to provide dinner and entertainment for three or four couples, from start to finish. Though Brown has had ample success in the cooking world, she is self taught and never went to school for cooking. The crab balls and dipping sauce recipes are ones she developed herself. She’s been making them for about 12 years. “They are a great start for any dinner party,” Brown said. Often, Brown said, she will have the mixture prepared up to four hours prior to the party and will fry the crab balls just before she’s ready for them to be served, so they’re hot and fresh for the dinner guests. These are a favorite when relatives come to visit, Brown said. They’re even good as leftovers, though usually there isn’t any left of this crowd pleaser.
Brown makes crab balls from mixture.
Crab balls with Lemon Raspberry Dipping Sauce Recipe: 9 ounces of raspberry jam (no seeds) 1 whole lemon ⅓ cup sweet red bell pepper ⅓ cup onion ⅓ cup celery 2 tbsp. Old Bay Seasoning 1 lb. lump crab meat 1 egg Half a pack of saltine crackers ⅓ cup mayonnaise Panko Preparation: Lemon Raspberry Dipping Sauce: Squeeze and zest an entire lemon over the jam in a stove top pot. Place on range over low heat until it starts to bubble, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and allow it to thicken.
Crab Balls: Finely dice the pepper, onion and celery. Add the Old Bay Seasoning and egg. Finely crush saltines using a food processor and add to the mix. Push all the water out of the crab meat, and add to the mix. Add mayonnaise. With your hands (using gloves if you prefer), mix all the ingredients together, and form balls out of the mixture (don’t pack them too tightly. Allow them to still be airy). Fry them in a pan of oil, heated to about 335-350 degrees. They should be cooked for two minutes on each side. Drain them using paper towels. Plate the completed crab balls.
Brown stirs the sauce.
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Learning goes the distance at Hull Springs Farm
It’s easy to see why “Morning Has Broken” is a favorite reveille at Hull Springs Farm. The property, bequeathed to Longwood University in 1999, includes 630 acres with more than a mile of shoreline views.
Farmville The Magazine
Story and photos by Marge Swayne
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he Longwood University bus is packed, and Dr. Jim Jordan, professor of anthropology, is at the wheel. We’re ready to depart on a three-day field excursion to study “Prehistoric Indians and the Colonial Period.” It promises to be a trip back in time — distance learning on more than one level. The destination is Longwood’s Hull Springs Farm, 143 miles from the campus on Virginia’s Northern Neck. The farm, bequeathed to Longwood 18 years ago by 1938 graduate Mary Farley Ames Lee, includes over a mile of shoreline on Aimes Creek near the Chesapeake Bay. “I look forward to this all year,” Jordan tells six students from his Honors Anthropology 101 class. The group includes five freshmen: Peyton Steele, Liz Bradley, Morgan Peroulas, Jessica Moore and Hailey Joseph, and sophomore Maeve Losen. On this trip, “distance learning” begins before the bus leaves the parking lot. “Does anyone know why this area is called Southside Virginia?” Jordan asks. “We’ll talk about that — and you might want to note the 11 counties we’ll be going through.” As the miles pass, Jordan relates the history of Hull Springs Farm. “When Mary Farley Lee came to Longwood’s 150th birthday celebration in 1989, she was asked to ring a bell she recalled from her school days,” Jordan says. “The archeology field school found that bell in 1987.” In 1994, Lee invited the Archeology Field School to spend two weeks at the farm. “We’ve been back every year since,” Jordan says. After Longwood acquired the farm, other departments — biology, ornithology, history and environmental science — started fieldwork there as well.
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Preparing to leave the Longwood University campus for a three-day field excursion to Hull Springs Farm are, from left, Maeve Losen, Hailey Joseph, Morgan Peroulas, Dr. Jim Jordan, Jessica Moore, Liz Bradley and Peyton Steele. Fields of corn and soybeans replace suburban streets as the bus passes Richmond and heads toward the coast. Next stop is Food Lion in Montross. Before we reach the store, each student receives a detailed shopping list. Added to the usual student fare are three bouquets of fresh-cut flowers. “Flowers add a homey touch,” Jordan says. Home, for the next three days at least, is located on a road bordered by cornfields. We turn at a familiar Longwood University sign onto a winding gravel road. Along the way to the camp house where we’ll stay, Jordan points out Longwood’s Wetlands Project “for mosquitos, ducks, mice and other natural things.” We arrive, unload our supplies and re-board the bus for a quick tour of the farm. “This is the ‘Big House,’ where Mary Farley and the Rev. Alfred Lee lived,” Jordan says with a nod toward a stately home complete with modern conveniences and breathtaking views of the water. A group of quilters in residence for the weekend wave as we pass. Leaving the bus, we wave back. We’ve seen the big
house; now it’s time for the “big tree.” “Mary Farley loved this tree,” Jordan says of a massive oak. “She asked me to find out how old it was, so I contacted Longwood botanist Dave Breil who took a core sample and counted the rings.” A plaque on the tree details the results: “Southern Red Oak, circa 1595.” The Longwood Soil Erosion Control Project, Jordan notes, is currently working to protect the tree from shoreline erosion. Just past the Big House we encounter a stand of bamboo. “What you’re looking at came from Capt. John Smith’s barge,” Jordan says. “Pieces of bamboo tossed overboard still grow here.” Next, Jordan points out swales, or depressions, colonists used to roll 2,000-pound hogsheads of tobacco to the dock. In this quiet spot, we sense the ghosts of the past that still linger here. The sun dips behind the trees, and we decide it’s time to head back to camp. The camp house, generally reserved for student lodging, is rustic but adequate. Seated in the “great room,” Jordan plans the next day’s schedule
while Morgan and Jess prepare spaghetti for the evening meal, and Liz and Hailey gather kindling for the woodstove. “I’ve learned the value of newspaper in lighting a fire,” Liz observes over dinner. The next day starts early with Jordan’s hearty rendition of “Morning Has Broken” on the stairs to the upper floor dorm room. In short order the girls are up, breakfast is served and we’re on the road again. Today we’ll visit George Washington Birthplace National Park and Cemetery where the first president’s family is interred, and Westmoreland State Park, dedicated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1935. After lunch and kayaking, we’ll travel to the historic Yeocomico Church. Our final day on the farm begins early and bright with another Jordan tradition, ringing the farmhouse bell. After breakfast, Jordan explains the Sacred Pipe Ceremony. “This is my sacred pipe,” Jordan notes as he carefully unwraps the sweet grass covering. “It was given to me in the 1980s, on loan from the Cherokee Indians.”
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Above, Hailey Joseph, Liz Bradley and Morgan Peroulas watch as Dr. Jordan explains the sacred pipe ceremony. At left, Hailey Joseph unloads supplies, including three bouquets of fresh flowers to “add a homey touch.” In the background Jessica Moore places bags into a cart.
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22 Farmville The Magazine The honors anthropology class gets a first-hand look at the past in the cemetery at Yeocomico Church, circa 1655. Dr. Jordan explains an inscription on an aging stone to, from left, Hailey Joseph, Peyton Steele, Jessica Moore, Liz Bradley, Maeve Losen and Morgan Peroulas.
The girls pass the pipe as Jordan tells the story of Black Elk and anthropologist John Neihardt, who studied Indian culture for the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) during the Depression. Neihardt, who lived on a reservation, wrote about taking the aging Black Elk to a mountaintop. “Black Elk took out his sacred pipe and made a last request,” Jordan relates. “Black Elk’s request was, ‘Let my people live once more.’ If you’re majoring in anthropology, that will be your job, too — to make ‘them’ live again.” The mood is reverent as the lecture ends and Jordan goes outside to check the bus before we leave. “Trips like this allow you to see beyond the classroom,” Jess finally says. “If you don’t pass these stories on, history will be lost.” The girls agree as they gather their belongings and board the bus. New perspectives and renewed enthusiasm abound as the girls review their trip. “I’ve learned a lot,” Hailey says as five heads nod in agreement. These students are already carrying on the tradition of Hull Springs Farm — a place where distance learning comes home.
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Aquatic birds abound along the waterways of Virginia’s Northern Neck. Typical of the area is this grey heron resting on a pylon at Westmoreland State Park, right. Swans visit daily along the shore near the camp house, possibly to check out the menu for dinner.
Taking a turn around Aimes Creek after lunch break are, canoe in front, Peyton Steele, Morgan Peroulas, back canoe, Hailey Joseph and Liz Bradley.
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Catching Up With...
W. Scott Johnson By Titus Mohler
W. Scott Johnson is a director in the law firm of Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle, and he works in governmental affairs in Richmond, serving as general or legislative council in the Capitol for a variety of different companies and associations. He commands the respect and has the ear of legislators and statewide office-holders. What helped put him in the position to be an influential presence in the Virginia General Assembly was his upbringing in the Heart of Virginia. Johnson was 22 years old in 1991 when he officially moved away from Buckingham. “But as I tell folks,” he said, “no matter where I go, the red dirt of Buckingham will always be between my toes, because I’ll always consider that home. I’ve got a lot of good memories and a lot of folks who have helped me along the way. For that, I’m most grateful.” In reflecting on his childhood, Johnson recalls places and things, but it is the people that stand out the most — people that guided him, motivated him and that set an example for him that he is seeking to follow to this day. The first people he mentioned were his parents. “My father was Charles Marvin Johnson,” he said. “Everybody knew him as Marvin. Hence, I guess that’s why I’m William Scott, and everybody knows me by Scott. And my mother was Patricia Brown Johnson.” His father, who served as a correctional officer, and his mother, who was a school teacher, established a life that their only child found to be great. “I enjoyed the country life and the farm life and family and friends,” W. Scott Johnson said. Vital to his life and livelihood now is the ability to cultivate trusted relationships, and a small building block to that ability was illustrated for him during his early years — the value of a handshake. “My dad was always one that if he came into a group of people and didn’t know them, he wanted to go
around and shake everybody’s hand, and so that has gone a long way with me,” Johnson said. His education played a huge role in his development. After attending school in Buckingham for two years, he transferred to what was then Prince Edward Academy, where he ended up having a particularly influential teacher. “Nancy Haga was my forensic and debate teacher/coach when I was in high school,” Johnson said. “She introduced me and took me to a lot of different places, a lot of different tournaments, a lot of different schools — sort of exposed a little country guy to what was out there in the big world, and if it wasn’t for her, I would have never gotten in(to) the University of Richmond.” He said she brought him to meet the university’s dean of admissions, who outlined what he had to do to be accepted. “I can never thank her (enough) for that and everything that she instilled,” Johnson said. He recalled getting his first job at the age of 16. He worked in a men’s and women’s clothing store in Farmville called Baldwins. “I’m mighty thankful for the guy who was the manager of that — Monroe Evans,” Johnson said, referring to the man who hired him. “You always look back on somebody who’s willing to take a chance on you.” He also expressed gratitude to Donald Blessing, a University of Richmond graduate who was a practicing attorney in the area and is now the presiding judge for the Prince Edward Circuit Court. Johnson said that when he was working on forensic and debate matters in high school, “Nancy would send me down to get advice from (Blessing) on how to argue stuff and how to look stuff up, and he always just took a keen interest in me and encouraged me to go to law school and pursue that.” While at the University of Richmond, Johnson gained much. While the list of “gains” included
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$65,000 in debt, it also included the life-changing positives of a wife and multiple degrees. With a dual major, he earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and communication in 1988, and he earned a law degree in 1991 from the University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law. “I didn’t have the cashflow that I could come back (to the Heart of Virginia) and hang out my shingle and start a new practice, and so I went where I had a guaranteed job and stayed here in Richmond, but immediately moved out to Hanover,” Johnson said. “So, I’m able to live in the country but work in town.” He also gets a taste of the country with occasional visits back to Buckingham, where his mother still lives. “I still come back to hunt and obviously come back when she needs any projects done and give her a call every morning to check on her,” he said. “And (I’ve) still got other distant cousins and family there to go to family events.” But in a key way, Johnson brings Buckingham with him to Richmond by holding fast to a fundamental principle that he learned there during his upbringing — treat people how you want to be treated. He said it was a precept modeled well at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where he attended while growing up. “Down here in my business, your word is your bond, and you only have one reputation, and you guard it cautiously,” he said, now serving in his 26th General Assembly session. “You go in and you tell a legislator, ‘Here’s who I represent, here’s why I want you to vote this way, and here’s what the opposition is going to tell you.’ And that’s how you build a trust and a credibility. And I look back at Mt. Zion Baptist, and that was the way the people were when I was coming along and the way they are now, and my family echoed that, as well, so I’m fortunate to have grown up in that environment.” And Johnson is eager to sustain that goldenrule environment for the next generation by offering young people guidance, motivation and an example to follow. “I’m a firm believer in ‘pave the road,’ and Nancy paved it for me, as did Monroe and Don Blessing and my parents and others, and I want to make sure I continue that tradition,” he said.
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‘A blessing’ to the ‘whole community’ Bolt inspires others Story and photos by Carson Reeher
Joshua performs exercises in the pool with his mother to help strengthen his muscles.
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J
oshua Bolt has made a profound impact on the Heart of Virginia. Though the 15-year-old was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder which presents certain physical limitations, his neighbors, friends and family have worked to make sure his opportunities for success are limitless. “Without the support we have gotten, I feel like Joshua would have languished, as I have
seen other people as severely affected by neurological conditions as he is ... I believe that I, too, would have languished, emotionally,” said his mother, Jennifer Lynn Eikmeier Bolt. Though the list of volunteers and community assistance in Joshua’s life is vast, Jennifer said their faith community has been particularly essential, including St. Theresa Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Appomattox-Prince
Joshua Bolt and his mother, Jennifer Lynn Eikmeier Bolt, walk down the ramp into The Woodland’s pool where he participates in physical therapy.
Edward Presbyterian Church and the Wesleyan Foundation. Tanya Stinson, a church acquaintanceturned-volunteer, and now friend, convinced Jennifer to research home-based methods and home schooling for Joshua. “She told me about the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential, whose intensive treatment program we enrolled Joshua in
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A calendar on the Bolts’ refrigerator shows the family’s schedule for February, detailing when volunteers will help with Joshua’s exercises.
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and implemented here at home since 2005,” said Jennifer. Stinson “especially convinced me to ask for help from the community,” Jennifer said. Before the church asked what it could do to help, “I was worn to a frazzle and had Joshua in public school at three years old, and they really could not do much with him at all,” said Jennifer. “Truthfully, I couldn’t do much with him either, at that point.” Since then, much has changed for Joshua and his family. Now Joshua has a set schedule for each day, including physical, intellectual and social developmental programs. The schedule, Jennifer said, is both structured but also flexible and open for the unexpected. “Flexibility is the key to our schedule,” Jennifer said, noting change is especially frequent in regards to Joshua’s younger brother, Jacob. His portion of the schedule changes with the weather, with volunteer availability and as it needs to otherwise. Patricia F. Jones, who lives in Pamplin, has been working as a volunteer since 2005. “During that time, I have felt that Joshua was a blessing to myself, my family, my parish and the whole community,” she said. Jones’ youngest child, Naomi, is seven months younger than Joshua. “When I began volunteering, I brought her with me. During Joshua’s resting periods, she would play with him,” Jones said. “Often there were other young children there. It was wonderful to see the children accepting him in their play despite his physical
Joshua’s mother helps him write his name and answer math problems during study period at the library.
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Joshua lays on a table as his mother, left, and two volunteers, Michael Campion and Justin Repoli, right, stretch his legs.
limitations.� As Joshua has grown intellectually, Patricia said, his friends have taken to sharing books, poems and news articles with him. Nowadays, Joshua is particularly interested in math. Though when he was younger he would learn the subject by watching videos on the televi-
sion, now he is able to work through the problems with pencil on paper, with the help of his mother to stabilize his hand while writing. Some math problems, in particular, bring Joshua to a full-bodied laugh. Most days, Joshua and his mother have academic lessons in the Farmville-Prince Edward
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Community Library. The two also spend time doing physical training at the YMCA and swimming therapy at The Woodland. Joshua is an avid participant in the Heartland Horse Heroes program hosted by Sprouse’s Corner Ranch in Buckingham County.
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From left, Michael Campion, Justin Repoli and Bolt, help Joshua, center, practice his crawling during exercise.
“The community … (has) all been wonderful in sending volunteers, raising funds and even doing building and maintenance projects to help us,” Jennifer said, mentioning Holistic Mom’s Network and Natural pHuel as “amazing support.” Another source of volunteers and friendship for Joshua has been Longwood University. The Phi Mu Delta Fraternity recently initiated Joshua as a brother. They, as well as other student organizations, often volunteer to help the family. “Because of the support our community has given him, after I was convinced that I needed to ask, he has thrived,” said Jennifer. “During the 12 years that I’ve worked with Joshua, he has brought so many people together,” said Jones. “Through my work with Josh, I have come to know many other people in the Farmville area.” “When both Kyle and I became
Joshua uses a reflex mask to increase the oxygen to his brain.
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During a balancing exercise, Joshua practices falling and catching himself.
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Joshua’s parents, the world changed for us,” said Jennifer. “Despite the shock and dismay I originally felt over the brain injury we learned he had shortly after birth and the subsequent realizations of how long-term the effects would be during the next few years, God has improved me through Joshua’s challenges.” She said both she and her husband, Kyle Bolt, have a deeper faith and greater relationship with God. Kyle enjoys taking both Joshua and his brother on hikes, watching movies, playing games and messaging with Joshua on Facebook. “People should know that there is more to Joshua than meets the eye. He has a tremendous amount of intelligence, insight, strength and humor that are often hidden behind his physical impairments,” said Jennifer. “For those who have the patience to get to know him, the rewards can be great.”
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PartyPix
Buckingham Chamber holds annual banquet In early January, the Buckingham County Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet, recognizing the success of its members and announcing winners of its awards. Bob Murphy won the Lifetime Achievement Award, Nancy Owen won the Volunteer of the Year Award and Pino’s Italian Grille won the Business of the Year Award. PHOTOS BY Jordan Miles
Dana, Jenna and Kayla Taylor
Margaret Stout and Jessica Myers Julia Toombs, Mary Coleman and Allison Dalton
Alex and Joe Lentini
Meade and M.J. Garrett
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PartyPix
Petrina and Katie Tyree
Terri and Rick Ewing
Betty Shapiro and Faye Shumaker
Cheryl White and Robert Hicks
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Farmville Chamber hands out top honors The Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce held it New Years Eve Eve Celebration at the Fireman’s Sports Arena in late December, celebrating its accomplishments, handing out top awards to members of the community and businesses. Nancy Anderson Haga won the Lifetime Achievement Award, Kerry Mossler won the Member of the Year Award, Virginia Tasting Cellar won New Business of the Year and Audrey Sullivan won the Citizen of the Year Award. PHOTOS BY Jordan Miles
Joyce and Melissa Ward
Carlos and Mel Holland
Steve and Lisa Wallace
Linda Hogan and Cheryl Gee
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PartyPix
Lori Blackwood and Louise Waller
Brad Watson, Peyton Anderson and John Gantt
Joy Stump and Jennifer Kinne
Sandra Raymond, Colin Green and Katie Raymond
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LCVA’s Seasonal Wine and Brew The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) hosted its Seasonal Wine and Brew on Jan. 27, drawing a gathering of people for food, beverages and fellowship. PHOTOS BY TITUS MOHLER
Barbara Morris, Virginia Watson and Brad Watson
Helen Warriner-Burke and John Miller
Jen Fraley, Jenny Bates, Ebie Baker and Mackenzie Lenhart
Rev. William Thompson and Shirley Blackwell
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PartyPix
Justine Young, Naomi Tsigaridas and Liz Weidinger John Burton and Sheri McGuire
Rucker Snead and Rachel Goodman
Chuck and Julie Ross
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Mergen’s photography exhibited at LCVA In mid-January, “Memory and the Politics of Place: Michael Mergen” opened at the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, drawing a robust crowd. In his photography, Mergen, a Longwood University professor, investigates the spaces where the ideals of the United States political system meet the mundane realities of participatory democracy. Photos By Jordan Miles
Matt McWilliams and Juanita Giles
Angie and Wade Clements
Helen Warriner-Burke and Chuck and Candy Dowdy
Sandy Willcox and Deborah McWee
Lonnie Calhoun, Shirley Blackwell, Deborah McClintock
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PartyPix
Wayne McWee, Rob Rostel, Ellen Masters and Chris and Jennifer Conkwright
Morgan Oresty and Kyle Colgate
Bailey Talley and Amelia Smith
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Good tastes draw hundreds Hundreds of people attended the Farmville Rotary Club’s 13th annual Taste of Farmville Jan. 26. Members of the community event tried food from about 30 different vendors, including The Fishin’ Pig, Bojangles and Granny B’s. The money raised by the event will go to back to the community to help non-profit organizations. Photos by Carson Reeher
Michael Wilson, Whian McCann, Gail Delaporte and Kim Butler
Ken Stenback and Nikki Kain
Ashla Davis, Linda Perna and Angie Davis
Teresa Stewart, Kerby Moore and Sue Carter
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PartyPix
Sarah and Ted Hodges and Emily Gantt
Christmas Mother Nancy Haga at Carter’s Flower Shop
Lewis Anderson and Ashley Campbell
Sarah Simmons, Cole Campbell and Barbara Maltais
May Reed, Pat Payne, Colleen Hoffman and Susan Parks
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Longwood men’s basketball’s Salute to Service night Lancer fans gathered to take in a Longwood University men’s basketball game against Radford University on Salute to Service night Jan. 19 in Willett Hall. The evening featured presentations by Theta Chi Fraternity and Cumberland High School’s JROTC, as well as fun events, including a Diaper Derby, in which toddlers were tasked with crawling across part of Jerome Kersey Court. Photos by TITUS MOHLER
Emma Willis, Hannah Johnson, Casey Bainbridge and Taylor Nelson
Todd Jennings and Jessica Pressley
Katherine Austin and Bill Schall
Katy Martin, Travis Wood, Kurt Martin and Kenneth Martin
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Bradley Phelps, Nicholas Thames, Dakota Pagerie and Evan Box
Brenell Banks and Briana Cary
Beth and Earl Carter
Bruce Davis and Susan Sullivan
Caitlyn Graves and Deborah Headen
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Open Mic Night at Uptown No one can resist open mic nights in Farmville. Musicians, music lovers and food lovers alike love coming out to Buffalo Creek Guitar Co.’s weekly open mic night at Uptown Coffee Café on Thursdays. Photos by BRIAN KLINGENFUS
Buck Custer, Regine Preciado and Robert “Bobby D” Draft
Alsace Dickerson and Chad Oxendine
Savannah Banton, Michala Banton and Miriam Foster
Kyri Washington, Colton Konvicka, Travis Biddix, Assistant Baseball Coach Chad Oxendine and C.J. Roth
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PartyPix
Hunter Worsham, Jordan Ruffner and Abigail Montague
Cody Schmidt and Caitlin Childs
Billy McKay and Maureen Walls-McKay
Joel Worford, Ryan Neurauter and Richard Graham
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Town and Gown Downtown, Longwood share a common future
I
can still remember the first time I drove down Main Street in downtown Farmville. It was the spring of 2002. I was a high school senior and I had travelled with my best friend over the weekend to scope out our prospective schools, Hampden-Sydney for him and Longwood for me. Even after such a short trip, Longwood and Farmville had captured a piece of my heart. I knew I wanted John Burton is the Farmville to spend the next four years Downtown Partnership program here. manager. His email address is manager@farmvilledowntown.com. I loved my time at Longwood, and I became the person I am today because of my time there. I can personally attest to Longwood’s mission of creating citizen leaders. During my time at Longwood, there were very few reasons for college students to go downtown: to get a T-shirt printed at Pairet’s, to rummage for good deals at the Goodwill (where Mainly Clay now stands) or to celebrate a friend turning 21 at Macado’s. Now that I work for Farmville Downtown Partnership, I look at downtown Farmville more than 10 years later with different eyes. I am amazed that Main Street still looks and feels the same, even after some wonderful additions downtown. Where there was once a set of old train tracks is now the High Bridge Trail, a recreational attraction that draws thousands of visitors each year and connects Farmville physically to surrounding towns and connects Farmville symbolically to our place in Civil War history and our heritage importing and exporting goods through Central Virginia. Now there is a locally-owned coffee shop that not only provides delicious food and drinks, but also has created a space to meet with colleagues, to listen to the latest in local music and to run into friends and acquaintances. Where there was once an old bank building falling into disrepair is now the future home of the Longwood Bookstore, which will draw current, future and previous Longwood students. Farmville deserves a vibrant and thriving downtown, and the development of this mission is achievable. The ability to continue to attract new retail shops and restaurants relies on local residents to patron those establishments. Fortunately, the number of residents living in and around downtown continues to grow. During my time at Longwood, off-campus housing was limited and usually required a daily commute. Now, Walk2Campus Properties, in addition to many private landlords, have provided many options for students to live in housing that is not only walkable to campus, but to downtown as well. And the High Bridge Lofts opening later this year will add even more downtown residents. One thing that has not changed about Farmville is its small-town charm
and welcoming nature. These values are what draw visitors to experience what our special community has to offer and entice so many to put down roots and settle here. The students and faculty of Longwood provide a constant influx of energy, passion and perspectives, while Farmville and the surrounding community provide a stable, safe and pastoral environment to properly harness it. The history of Longwood University, founded only 41 years after the town itself was formed, is the history of Farmville and vice versa. The relationship is symbiotic. Neither would exist in their current form without the other. With an institution of higher learning located so close to downtown, the relationship between Farmville and Longwood (often referred to as “townand-gown”) is more important than ever. The sole U.S. Vice-Presidential debate in October showed the entire world the great things that this area can offer, and it represented a sturdy foundation for future collaborations between the Town of Farmville, Prince Edward County and Longwood University. The future of downtown Farmville is bright indeed, and it is a future that will be shared with Longwood University and Prince Edward County. After “taking off” last October, we are a town on the rise. When you shop at a store downtown, enjoy a local restaurant or attend a play or sporting event on campus, you are helping to bring about that bright future. The goal of bringing more amenities and prosperity to the area while maintaining all our small-town benefits is a task we can all join in on.
Farmville The Magazine Last issue’s winner Congratulations to Bill Hogan, of Pamplin, who correctly identified the December edition of “Where Am I?” as the part of “David,” the robot-looking sculpture on Main Street.
Where Am I? The Heart of Virginia offers beautiful scenery and architecture, from the gently rolling hills of Buckingham to the colorful storefronts of Farmville. “Where Am I?” offers residents a chance to identify one of our hidden gems across the region. If you think you know where this photo was taken, email your answer to WhereAmI@ FarmvilletheMag.com. We’ll draw one lucky name from among the correct answers for an annual subscription to Farmville the Magazine.
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Why I Love Farmville
Alejia Rae Carrington Q: What did you enjoy most about growing up in the Pride family?
A: My most enjoyable times growing up in the Pride family (were) sharing day-to-day life with BOTH parents and six siblings. Sometimes it was hard to get my turn with mom and dad. Q: What do you find most rewarding about working with the Robert Russa Moton/Prince Edward County School Alumni Association?
A: Working with Moton/Prince Edward Alumni Association affords me the opportunity to serve on the Association Committee and Reunion Committee. The most rewarding is being able to stay in touch with former schoolmates. We are working now on our next reunion which will take place April 21-23. Q: How would you describe the changes that Farmville has undergone during your time living here, and what is your perspective on them?
A: I would describe the changes Farmville has undergone as good and needed. I believe these changes (have) aided in growth for the town, businesses and the residents. Having lived here 26 years, I have seen and been a part of many changes. Q: What is your favorite thing about Farmville?
A: I would say my favorite thing(s) about Farmville (are) the small-town setting and friendliness of the residents. I’m a country girl but enjoy the conveniences of living in town. … I am in walking distance of banks, markets, restaurants and more. Q: What are some of your favorite things to do in Farmville on the weekends?
A: Weekends are spent with my husband, Perry, of 44 years, and/
or friends. On Saturdays, we usually gather at one of our favorite restaurants (i.e. Riverside Café, KFC, Applebee’s or Ruby Tuesday). Sundays we attend church, take in an occasional movie and once again and dine at one of our favorite eateries with friends. Q: Describe one of the best times from your childhood.
A: I don’t remember a lot about my childhood, but I believe it would be having a cousin who lived in Maryland visit each summer. She and I were more like sisters than cousins. And of course, I loved having siblings, younger and older, with me at all times. Our favorite game was Jack Rocks. We did not have a ball and jacks as kids know them today. We actually had rocks! Q: Describe the Farmville community.
A: Farmville is a quiet, friendly, growing town where the residents are also growing physically, mentally and spiritually. My husband and I are retired, homeowners, proud residents and plan to spend the rest of our life here.
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