Farmville the Magazine — December 2020 by The Farmville Herald

December 2020 Vol. 5, No. 8 FREE

Family Farm

Four generations share holiday spirit at Prospect Christmas tree farm

www.FarmvilletheMag.com

Life is better when you’re

Hearing Speaking Reading and

Learning better Longwood Speech, Hearing and Learning Services offers a wide variety of programs and services for infants through senior adults • Hearing evaluations and hearing aid fittings by a certified doctor of audiology • Speech-language and feeding/swallowing evaluations and therapy • Project JumpStart to promote early reading skills in preschoolers • Early intervention for infants, toddlers and their families • Mentoring for early childhood programs Services available in person in a Covid-19 safe environment or remotely through telepractice DR. CHRISTINE EUBANKS, AUDIOLOGIST

longwood.edu/shls

Editor’s Notebook

Farmville the Magazine

Keep the spirit of Christmas all year round

hen my kids were younger, one of their favorite holiday videos was “Elmo Saves Christmas.” In the 1996 movie, which should have been in serious consideration for an Oscar for Best Picture, Elmo wonders why it can’t be Christmas every day. He makes a wish and voilà — Christmas comes every day of the year. At first everything is great, then things quickly begin to go wrong. The enthusiastic carolers got sore throats and couldn’t sing, Santa got a bit cranky, the Easter Bunny felt greatly impugned upon, and the elves started making sub-standard toys. Roger Watson, Elmo learned that he couldn’t have Christmas Editor every day but could keep the spirit of Christmas alive every day in his heart. In this edition of Farmville The Magazine, we looked for those in our community who have learned that lesson already and have demonstrated the spirit of giving all through the year. There are people in our community who contribute their time, energy and talents all year round no matter what the season.

We tried to highlight a few of these people. I’m sure we missed many, but Farmville has many more kind people who regularly give of themselves than any single magazine issue can hold. Inside you will find stories about Steve and Mary Smelcer, who help with fundraisers for the SPCA, Sarah Dunn, who regularly advocates for veterans, and Ann Simpson, who set up a clothing closet in her church to help victims of domestic abuse. While we celebrate Christmas once a year, it is those who keep the spirit of giving the entire year who make our community a special place. Also in this edition, Marge Swayne takes a look at the Christmas tree business with John Young’s J & J Treeland in Prospect. It has certainly been a busy holiday season for them. Jim Jordan takes us back in time to revisit Farmville’s Great Blizzard of 1940, and Michelle Hertzler shows us how she makes a scrumptious Flourless Pumpkin Cake. Thank you for reading this edition. From all of us here at Farmville the Magazine, we hope you have a safe and joyous holiday season. Merry Christmas!!!! Roger Watson is editor of Farmville the Magazine. His email address is Roger.Watson@FarmvilletheMag.com.

Farmville the Magazine

Feature Finding just the right tree is easy at John Young’s J & J Treeland in Prospect. Young, who’s been growing trees for over four decades, obviously enjoys the job. “It keeps me occupied,” he said. “And I’ve met a lot of great people over the years.” Lester Williams, John Young’s righthand man at J & J Treeland, demonstrates treeshearing process in the photo at left. On the cover: Audrey and Charlotte Kott, Young’s great-grandaughters, are the youngest helpers on the farm.

Publisher — Betty J. Ramsey Betty.Ramsey@FarmvilletheMag.com Designer — Troy Cooper Troy.Cooper@FarmvilletheMag.com

EDITORIAL Roger Watson Roger.Watson@FarmvilletheMag.com

Marge Swayne Marge.Swayne@FarmvilletheMag.com Titus Mohler Titus.Mohler@FarmvilletheMag.com Crystal Vandegrift Crystal.Vandegrift@FarmvilletheMag.com Alexa Massey Alexa.Massey@FarmvilletheMag.com

ADVERTISING Director — Jackie Newman Jackie.Newman@FarmvilletheMag.com Debbie Evans Debbie.Evans@FarmvilletheMag.com

CONTRIBUTORS: Dr. Cynthia Wood, Michelle Meadows and Dr. Jim Jordan 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.

Giving All Year Round Also... Editor’s Notebook Serving it Up Catching Up With… Artist in Residence From the Ground Up

3 6 9 16 20

Town and Gown A Look into the Past Where Am I? Why I Love Farmville

35 36 38 39

Farmville the Magazine

Serving it Up

A healthful Hertzler favorite

Michelle Hertzler applies the icing to the individual pieces of the Flourless Pumpkin Cake as she serves it to her family.

Story and photos by Titus Mohler

ichelle Hertzler grew up learning a skill that would allow her to shape something that affects all of her life — what she and her family eat. She got her start in the kitchen under the tutelage of her mother, Helen Hertzler. “I was the oldest of six children, so I did a

lot of things in the kitchen,” Michelle said. “My next younger sister loved to do things outside. I preferred inside chores, so I got a lot more of that, although all of my siblings love to cook. “So that was something that definitely my mother gave us — lots of good food and lots of time in the kitchen helping her and then the abil-

Farmville the Magazine

Michelle Hertzler adds honey to the bowl of ingredients as she prepares the Flourless Pumpkin Cake. ity to cook (by) ourselves as we went to our own homes and things.” There were about six years that Michelle worked outside the home between high school and getting married, and during this time, she noted she did not cook as consistently. However, to her surprise, her skills were called upon at work in her role as housekeeper at the Longwood University president’s house. The president at the time was Patrick Finnegan. “I cooked for the president and Mrs. Finnegan when they were at Longwood,” she said. “They asked me in the interview for working there if I was comfortable cooking at all.” Later after Michelle got married and started a family, it again became clear her mother had set her up for success by teaching her how to cook. “I had my basics,” she said. “I knew what to do. I could find my way around the kitchen, and the longer I was a mother and a wife, I realized how much I just need to make my own food to, a lot of

times, get the result that I want. So it’s been good.” Michelle did not necessarily learn how to make every single dish imaginable while growing up, but she was put in a good position to be a versatile cook. “There’s definitely things I haven’t tried that you would know how to do going through a culinary school or something, probably, but I was definitely exposed to the appreciation for a lot of different kinds of foods and maybe even the basic idea of how to make them,” she said. While cooking has been a practical activity for Michelle — the work of feeding her family — it is also something that, in general, she enjoys doing. That enjoyment comes particularly when she is able to dedicate focus to the activity instead of doing it while juggling a host of other responsibilities. The ability to be creative with something important — to improvise and to adjust recipes to produce something even more palatable — is

part of why Michelle enjoys the work she does in the kitchen. “I make a lot of soup, and I don’t usually follow a recipe,” she said. “So that is a nice thing and the fact that it’s something that really affects all of life — it seems like a very small thing, but what you eat really does matter. And if someone is hungry, they don’t work as well.” She points to soup as one of her favorite things to make, highlighting cream of tomato soup as an example. “I really do like making soup, and I love eating soup,” she said, noting it’s a budget-friendly menu item too. “If you look into eating traditionally for health reasons, soups are really nourishing.” Michelle said another thing her mother introduced her to was the idea of trying to make foods that were healthy. “The idea of cooking from scratch, of knowing exactly what’s in your food, I feel like she gave me that appreciation, originally, for sure,” Michelle

Farmville the Magazine

said of her mother. “And then it was a lot easier for me to take that further with my own family and even my own health and things like that.” Health considerations helped lead Michelle to Megan Gilmore’s Grain-Free Pumpkin Bars recipe, also known as Flourless Pumpkin Bars, at www.Detoxinista.com. “I came across it because I was on a specific diet that I couldn’t have any kind of grains,” Michelle said. She Googled flourless pumpkin cake about two years ago, and Gilmore’s recipe is one of the ones that came up. The bars, which Michelle makes as a cake, have since become a big hit with her family — a triumph of flavor and healthiness. “We like it,” she said.

Michelle Hertzler presents the Flourless Pumpkin Cake, with icing in a separate bowl that is applied when the cake is served. The cake is derived from Megan Gilmore’s Flourless Pumpkin Bars, or Grain-Free Pumpkin Bars, a recipe that can be found at www. Detoxinista.com.

GRAIN-FREE PUMPKIN BARS BY MEGAN GILMORE WWW.DETOXINISTA.COM INGREDIENTS • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree • 1/2 cup almond butter • 1/3 cup honey • 2 eggs • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice* • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda INSTRUCTIONS • Preheat oven to 350 F and grease an 8-by-8-inch pan generously with coconut oil or butter. • Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl, and mix well until a smooth batter forms. • Transfer the batter to the greased pan, and bake at 350 F for about 30 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the center is firm. • Allow to cool completely in the pan, then cut and serve. • These bars are delicious on their own, but if you're aiming to impress, glaze these bars with my Maple Pecan Glaze. (recipe posted separately)

trying to replace eggs in flourless baked goods. I’d recommend trying my GlutenFree Vegan Pumpkin Bread or Vegan Pumpkin Donuts baked in a square pan if you need a vegan pumpkin bar. • For a nut-free bar, try using sunflower seed buttersunflower seed butter or tahini instead of the almond butter. (Sunflower butter does turn baked goods green, due to a reaction with baking soda, but it’s safe to eat.) • If you’d prefer to not use honey, I’ve made these bars with 2/3 cup coconut sugar with excellent results. I imagine that 1/2 cup of maple syrup could also be used instead.

Hertzler adds some ginger to the bowl. GILMORE’S RECIPE NOTES • I have tested this recipe with flax eggs and aquafaba as an egg substitute, and both results were terrible. It’s tricky

*Note: I like to use pumpkin pie spice to make preparation as quick and simple as possible. This spice blend is widely available in most grocery stores, but you can also find it available online. If you'd prefer to use individual spices, I'd recommend using 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves to replace the 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice.

Farmville the Magazine

Catching Up With... Story by Crystal Vandegrift

Lauren Irby

ongwood University graduate Lauren Irby now makes her home in Seaford, Delaware, but says the “heart of Virginia will always hold a special place in mine.” Irby, who found her way to Farmville by way of Longwood University, currently serves as manager of public relations and community outreach at Delaware Electric Cooperative. Irby grew up in Hurt, in Pittsylvania County, and moved to Farmville for undergrad work in 2010. After graduation in 2012, she moved back to Farmville to work at Longwood in 2014 after working jobs based out of Indianapolis and later Richmond. “I loved coming back to Farmville and ended up living there a total of seven years,” Irby said. “I love the community as a whole, really — the people, the restaurants, the downtown area, the LCVA, the history, the…well, the list goes on.” While living in Farmville, Irby worked as the communications specialist for Southside Electric Cooperative in Crewe. “I certainly miss the outstanding folks that live in and around the Town of Farmville. For a small town, it really has so much to offer; there is never a lack of fun things to do,” Irby said. Irby said she always enjoyed attending Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) events, Stars Under the Stars outdoor movies, the Summer Garden Opera, the educational events and speakers hosted by Longwood University, Hampden-Sydney College, and the Moton Museum…and certainly the brewery and wine cellar. “Also, I find myself craving The Fishin’ Pig barbeque quite often,” she said. Irby says she owes her success to many people. “It truly has taken a village to help set me in the right direction,” she said. “My parents, sister, and of course, former professors and friends have helped me along the way. I have a group of friends that I refer to as my ‘tribe,’ and they have always supported me and pushed me to pursue my dreams. I’d like to thank the Farmville community for being my home for nearly a decade and for being great supportive friends, even after moving to pursue new adventures.” While the pandemic has affected her life quite a bit, Irby says she has still been able to volunteer in her new community and is enjoying spending time in nature and visiting historical places. “I try to ‘seize the day’ as much as I can, for tomorrow is never promised, and there is so much to do and experience,” Irby said.

Lauren Irby currently serves as manager of public relations and community outreach at Delaware Electric Cooperative.

10 Farmville the Magazine

J & J Treeland bringing the holidays home

Story and photos by Marge Swayne

& J Treeland isn’t near the North Pole, but Santa would feel right at home there. At John Young’s tree farm in Prospect, every day of the year is a preparation for Christmas. Young knows the business well — he’s been growing trees for almost half a century. “It started with my brother Freddie and his friend, Jim Bowen, who was a forester,” Young recalled. “They got me involved because I had the land.” The fledgling tree business started small, and like the trees, it grew. Young took control of the business after his brother Freddie

passed away and Bowen took a position with the Department of Forestry in Charlottesville. Over time the business expanded, and so did the workload. “It got to where weekends weren’t cutting it,” Young related. “During our heyday we had 5,000 white pines cut and waiting to be shipped out by tractor trailer. Somebody had to be looking after the trees all the time.” Like Santa, the local tree farmer decided it was time to find some “elves.” His current staff of farm workers carry out a variety of yearround tasks, from maintaining fields and planting seedlings to

Farmville the Magazine

Row after row of trees wait for the holidays at John Young’s J & J Treeland in Prospect. This year the local tree farm offers another plus — socially distanced shopping. “It’s going to be a huge year for decorating since people can’t really go anywhere,” Young said.

12 Farmville the Magazine making wreaths. “It’s a seasonal business,” Young commented. Seasonal, in this case, refers to all four seasons. “In the springtime we plant trees,” he explained. “During June, July, and August we shear them. In October and November, we mow fields and tag the trees.” Since he went into business, Young has depended on Lester Williams, his right-hand man. “Lester came to work for me when he was 18,” Young said. A good portion of the tree farm work is done during the hottest time of the year. Nary a snowflake’s in sight when trees are sheared, a process that gives them that traditional Christmas tree shape. It’s normally done with a machetelike knife, but Young prefers a weed eater he converted by attaching a blade. No matter the technique, it’s tedious work. “It’s a lot like working tobacco,” he explained. “It’s hard work, especially after eight or nine hours. And the bigger the tree, the more you have to stretch up to shear it.” By the first week in November, Young’s workers are getting ready for the holiday season. Young’s seasonal workers like the job and tend to come back year after year. “Seven years,” Yesnia Alexandro commented on her tenure as wreath maker. Latonya Ford and Marlie McMahan have each worked on the wreath-making assembly line for two years. Finished wreaths are stored under straw in another outbuilding. “Our wreaths stay green until March,” Young affirmed. “We use a preservative that keeps them fresh.” A recent problem in the tree industry, Young explained, is a shortage of white pine material used for wreaths and garlands. “They used to grow white pines up in the mountains,” he related. “White Pines used to be the most popular, but now it’s Fraser Firs. It’s all about what’s in fashion.” Then there’s Mother Nature to contend with. “People don’t understand the forces of nature,” Young commented. “This year in May my seedlings had just put out their new growth when a late frost hit them. The trees never grew at all. That put us back a whole year. If you have a dry summer, the trees suffer some more. Then there are animals — they can do a lot of damage.” Deer, he added, are the main problem.

Melanie and John Young pose with one of their trees. This one’s destined for wreath making. “They come along and bite the buds off the end of every branch,” he said. The local tree farmer has tried deer repellents but without much success. Fencing is the only solution, and that’s difficult with acres of trees to protect. Young, who’s 82, explained tree farmers like

himself are aging out of the industry. “Many farmers who grow trees are getting too old to do it anymore,” he said. “That’s created a shortage of trees.” He sees finding good workers as another part of the problem. “Young people today don’t know anything

Farmville the Magazine

Farm dog Mazie looks on as Nathan Nance, center, and other workers cut pine branches into wreath-sized lengths. about the outdoors,” he lamented. “Do you see many young people these days walk outside at night, look up at the heavens and say, ‘Isn’t that beautiful?’ I don’t think so.” Young is pleased that the younger members of his family are an exception to the rule. J & J Treeland has always been a family farm. For many years, Young’s daughter, Justine, went to the farmers market in Colonial Williamsburg and later Smithfield to sell trees and wreaths. “For years — probably 20 — we provided all the roping and wreaths at Colonial Williamsburg,” Justine added with a note of pride. Now there are more generations of the Young family helping out with

Wreath making at J & J begins in early November. The finished wreaths, covered with straw, are stored in a nearby outbuilding.

14 Farmville the Magazine

Four generations of John Young’s family will help out with this year’s tree sales. Pictured, from left, are Sarah Kott holding Collins, Nat Kott holding Charlotte, Justine Young, Audrey Kott and John Young. annual Christmas tree sales. John Young’s granddaughter and her husband, Sarah and Nat Kott, work the sales booth, while greatgranddaughter Audrey, age 8, runs errands and helps entertain children while their parents search for the perfect tree. “Audrey’s been clamoring around this tree farm ever since she could get outside,” Young added. “Like me, she enjoys being outdoors.” Young believes visiting a working farm is an educational experience for children. “I think it’s just good for children to get out and see these things,” he said. “Half of them don’t know anything about how things grow.” Young, who lived on a farm in Pennsylvania when he was a boy and spent summers at his uncle’s farm in North Carolina, believes a successful farmer has to be observant. “So much of farming is based on observation and making conclusions,” he added. “To be a good farmer you need to be a good observer of nature.” Observing this year’s trends, Young predicts this holiday season to be a good one for the tree industry. “It’s going to be a huge year for decorating, because people can’t go anywhere,” he said. “Because they’re staying at home, it’s going to be a good year for us.” When it comes to Christmas, Young believes in making it real. “Putting up a real Christmas tree is like watching a ball game,” he said. “You might see the game better on TV, but there’s nothing like being in the ball park yourself. That’s what makes it real.”

John Young offers pointers to two of his helpers, greatgranddaughters Audrey and Charlotte.

Farmville the Magazine

Latonya Ford shapes fresh pine branches into wreaths to decorate local homes during the Christmas holiday season.

16 Farmville the Magazine

Artist in Residence

Pattie Brunette is a textile artist who particularly loves to use her experience and abilities to create artwork with fabric while also teaching quilting at Lib’s Place in Rice.

Comfort through art and fabric Story by Titus Mohler Photos by Pattie Brunette

attie Brunette has become an impactful part of the artistic community in Farmville and Southside Virginia in the medium of quilting. She could be described as a textile artist or a quilter. Since moving across the country to Virginia in 2013, she has lent her significant talents to helping teach and facilitate quilting at Lib’s Place, a business in Rice that sells arts and crafts materials, including sewing machines, and offers classes in quilting, sewing, needlework, drawing/painting, jewelry making, cake decorating and card making. Brunette noted that she moved out to Virginia

after her husband and her mom passed away. She had been their caretaker. Her brother lives in northern Virginia, and her best friend of 52 years lives in Farmville. “So I moved here, and I knew Lib’s was here, and so I came out and volunteered at Lib’s, and it gave me a great opportunity to make a lot of new friends,” Brunette said. “Lib’s is kind of like a home away from home for a lot of people and a lot of the women in the surrounding area. “I volunteer teaching and creating patterns, making store samples,” she continued. “And sometimes I do my own quilts at home, doing

some art quilts and stuff.” For this role she finds herself in now, Brunette was well-prepared by her childhood and her life on the west coast. She grew up in a family that loved to do all kinds of crafts and artistic projects. “So I have a vast knowledge — a little bit of everything,” she said. “Mom and Dad did candle making, woodcraft, carving, Italian tile, painting and jewelry. I know a little bit of each thing, how to do it, but I really concentrate mostly on fabric and art quilts and designing patterns, as well as I love to do silk ribbon embroidery and beading,

Farmville the Magazine

Above, Pattie Brunette made this wall quilt, “Craig's Aquarium,” for a friend using the “High Tuck” three-dimensional technique. Right, this wall quilt, named “Honey I'm Home,” was designed by Pattie Brunette from a photo taken in Deltaville, Virginia, from Frank Lackey's front yard. It was made for Lib's Place. but I don’t have too much time to do that.” Brunette’s family was a military family that moved around a great deal. “I lived in eight states, and a couple of the schools my brother and I went to, we were fortunate, they were experimental schools, and they had some really good, innovative art classes, so that also added to that,” she said. “And so when I graduated high school, my mom wanted to encourage that, so she sent me to commercial art (school).” For two years, Brunette attended Clover Park Vocational School in Lakewood, Washington. She later attended Tacoma Community College, majoring in art and business. She noted there was an overabundance of commercial art students in the late ’60s and ’70s, making that a highly competitive field. “I ended up working at various jobs such as drafting, home interior decorating, as well as other jobs that all used some form of art knowledge,” she said. The year 1997 ended up being a critical year in the history of Brunette’s artistic pursuits. “In 1997, I took a quilting class and I was hooked,” she said. She found that creating with fabric was a great way to use her art knowledge and use her “creative juices.” While living in the Puget Sound area of

Washington state, she joined a quilt guild. “We had over 350 members, and many of those were international quilt teachers,” she said. She noted that being part of the guild was a great experience in which she learned all forms of quilting, from traditional to Victorian to contemporary, and she learned various methods of creating art quilts. “I was fortunate enough to learn all kinds of methods of using fabric by using it as sculpture or thread sketching, painting with dye, all kinds of things,” she said. “Basically I love all forms of quilting, especially the art and landscape quilts, as well as the Victorian Crazy Quilts,” she stated. Brunette said the thing she loves about fabric is that it has practicality and versatility. “It’s something that can be used to comfort somebody,” she said. “(It has) usability as opposed to creating an oil painting that just sits on a wall and gathers dust.” The comfort an art quilt can provide someone can come not only through the warmth of being wrapped up in the fabric but also in the meaning of the art. “I now make memory quilts, which are real popular right now — making quilts out of people’s clothes, like T-shirts or children’s clothes or men’s cotton shirts after they’ve passed away

18 Farmville the Magazine and the family wants something to pass on,” Brunette said. In terms of what inspires the content of a significant amount of her artwork, Brunette pointed to nature. “I love nature,” she said. “We lived on wetlands in Washington out on the peninsula where there was lots of wildlife, and herons were daily visitors, ducks, mallards and things like that.” She said she is not really into high contemporary art, which can focus on concepts, featuring a lot of shapes, such as squares and diamonds. “I like the realistic part of art, which is more nature-themed and flowers,” she said. As for creating art in her free time, the possibilities are there, but the time is short these days. “I have several patterns and designs I’ve done, but I’m usually busy making samples for the shop, or I also take in quilts on consignment, so sometimes that keeps me really busy,” she said. “So I don’t get to do my hand painting and stuff as much as I really like, but I do have several set up for me to do.” She said that down the road, she would like to teach painting on fabric, or dying of fabric, at Lib’s Place.

Above, The sun shines on the horizon as wildlife looks on in this close-up of one of the hand-painted “windows” included in the “Windows of the Northwest” kingsized quilt that Pattie Brunette helped create. At right, whales are at play in this close-up.

Farmville the Magazine

This is Pattie Brunette’s first landscape quilt, and it features a lighthouse on the Oregon coast. It was free-motion quilted, using black thread as if it were black ink. “This was the beginning of my love for quilting and what could be accomplished with fabric,” she said. “(It) got me completely hooked in just taking a sketch or a photo and turning it into a piece of art.”

This king-sized quilt, named “Windows of the Northwest,” was made for the West Sound Quilt Guild by Pattie Brunette and P.J. Walther. “Windows” are hand painted with dye, depicting various Pacific Northwest wildlife from the wetlands to the mountains. All other fabrics used were hand dyed and batiks.

20 Farmville the Magazine

From the Ground Up

There are several types of wreath bases available, including straw and grapevines.

Welcome the season with a wreath

Farmville the Magazine

Story by Dr. Cynthia Wood

We’ve been using wreaths to decorate doors for many years. Victorians loved traditional combinations of holly, ivy and yew, plus bay leaves and fruit. Mistletoe was often used in their decorations too. The evergreens originally had religious significance. Yew branches symbolized everlasting life, while holly referred to the crucifixion of Christ. Walk through any residential neighborhood this month and you’re likely to find festive wreaths on most front doors. Some are traditional combinations of seasonal greens — holly, cedar, pine and yew — while others are fantastical combinations of sparkly baubles, glitter, feathers, bells, birds and just about any other object imaginable. Wreath making is a great seasonal activity in which all family members can participate. Everyone can help with the design and construction of a highly personal family wreath. What to do: Purchase a plain grapevine wreath that’s a suitable size for your door. Use heavy floral wire to create a hanger and the top of the wreath. Think about the color of your door and use it to develop

a color scheme for your wreath — green and red; all silver or gold; or a mix of many colors. Think also about whether the grapevine base should be completely covered with decorations or just partially. To make a simple wreath: Purchase two large premade sprays of greenery from a local craft shop or florist. Both sprays of magnolia leaves and mixed evergreens are easy to work with and very effective. Position them along the side of the grapevine base and wire them in place with floral wire. The two undecorated ends of the sprays should be placed so that they overlap along the side of the wreath base. There will be a bare spot where the ends of the sprays overlap, and that’s the perfect location for a big, magnificent bow. Finish with a bow: Many different types of bows can be used on a wreath. Bows can be made with wired satin ribbon that’s available in a variety of widths, colors, and textures. The size of the bow and choice of pattern determine whether it’s demur, showy, traditional, or modern. There’s nothing more

lovely or traditional than a plain red bow, which is always in style. There is also ribbon decorated with glittery designs, which is very showy and easier for people to see from the street. For the ultimate amount of curb appeal, however, simply make three or four large bows of complementary colors and textures of ribbon, stack them on top of each other, and wire them together. Place the bow on the wreath, and wire it in place. Finishing up: Your wreath is almost finished. Take a close look at it to see if it needs additional items to fill in bare areas or to add more pop. Clusters of berries, pinecones, bells, and shiny baubles all add interest. Cotton bolls and bells are my favorite additions this year. Hang the finished wreath on your front door, adjust it so that it’s at just the right angle, and then walk out to the street to view your work. I bet it’s perfect! No matter whether your wreath is simple or over the top, it sends a message of good cheer to everyone who sees it. Have a great holiday!

Left, bows are often the focal point of a wreath and can help enhance visibility from the street. Right, a wide ribbon embossed with a glittery design is all that’s needed to complete a simple wreath of mixed evergreens and cotton bolls.

22 Farmville the Magazine

Hang your wreath on the door, and then check to make sure there arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t any bare spots. This one needs more cotton bolls below the bow to provide balance.

Farmville the Magazine

FACES RECEIVES DONATION Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) made a contribution of $7,500 to Farmville Area Community Emergency Services (FACES) that was matched by CoBank’s Sharing the Success program, resulting in a $15,000 total donation. CoBank is the national Cooperative’s lender for major improvement projects. Since Sharing the Success was established in 2012, CoBank and its customers, like SEC, have together contributed more than $50 million to non-profits like volunteer fire departments, local schools and hunger relief programs, such as FACES.

SEC President and CEO Jeff Edwards, left, speaks to those in attendance at the FACES donation about SEC’s commitment to the communities the power company serves. With Edwards is FACES Board of Directors President Ellery Sedgwick.

SEC Vice President of Member and Public Relations Ron White, left, takes a moment to fist bump with an old friend, Farmville Town Manager Scott Davis.

Volunteer and FACES Board of Directors member Joanna Baker, right, talks with Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Anne Tyler Paulek.

Before receiving SEC’s and CoBank’s contribution of $15,000, FACES Board of Directors President Ellery Sedgwick took the opportunity to share facts regarding FACES' involvement in the community.

24 Farmville the Magazine

Farmville the Magazine

A serving heart Story by Crystal Vandegrift

nyone who knows Sarah Maddox Dunn knows the serving heart she has, but she is also very humble. In fact, getting Dunn to talk about herself is no easy task. Dunn, a native of Farmville, co-founded the Piedmont Area Veterans Council and Community Resources (PAVC) four years ago after having co-founded the Lynchburg Area Veterans Council (LAVC) in 2013 with Otto Davis, who also served on the PAVC's board of directors. The PAVC helps veterans and their family members/caregivers and those affiliated with the military connect with local and national nonprofits to fill a wide range of needs. "Our primary focus is on veterans," Dunn said. "There are a lot of organizations with a lot of benefits available, but veterans don't know they have access to them. There are so many local organizations with good intentions, but there are

so (many) more out there we can complement." Dunn is a veteran herself, having served in the Army; her husband, Ed, is a Navy veteran. Dunn lived and worked in North Carolina for many years, having served as a recovery care coordinator for the Wounded Warrior Battalion-East at Camp LeJeune from 2008-2013. Before that, she was employed with the Military Order of the Purple Heart as an Accredited veteran service officer, also at Camp LeJeune. When she returned to the area, Dunn recognized there were needs for programs/services in the area and surrounding counties for veterans and their families/caregivers. "We have amazing veteran organizations, so it made sense to complement what was already in place so we could offer a comprehensive approach to helping veterans, their family members and caregivers," Dunn said.

On any given week, you can find Dunn volunteering her time, spending upwards of 12 hours a day helping veterans, never seeking credit. "I give all the credit to my team of volunteers," Dunn said. "This is not about me. My passion is knowing that my work can make a difference in some small way. I am blessed that I have worked in a lifelong career that has allowed me to do this for many, many years." Dunn added that the PAVC might have a small office, but it has a very effective volunteer staff. "I am blessed to work every day with some great volunteers who believe in the mission of our organization and helping our military families." The PAVC serves veterans in Appomattox, Amelia, Buckingham, Cumberland, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties.

26 Farmville the Magazine

Coach Edgar Jones gives instructions to his Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association soccer players.

CREATING COMMUNITY ACROSS GENERATIONS Story by Titus Mohler Photos submitted

dgar Jones is a two-generation participant in the Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association (PEFYA). He has four boys, all of them have played PEFYA sports, and he has coached PEFYA baseball, soccer and basketball across the last 13 years. “PEFYA and local sports have been just such a big part of my life, not only as an adult, but I grew up here,” he said. “And so I played in PEFYA ... Dixie Youth and baseball and basketball and all as a kid, so it’s special in that regard.” The experience of returning to PEFYA as an adult has resulted in a parade of nostalgic moments for Jones. “For example, I guess playing Minor League PEFYA as a kid, I remember specifically playing in an all-star tournament in Crewe-Burkeville,” he said. “And then to come back around with a couple of my boys and play in tournaments that have been hosted at Crewe-Burkeville has been really special in that regard.” Traditions like going to the Tastee Freez there after the game to get a snack also endured from one genera-

Edgar Jones smiles amid his coaching duties during the Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association baseball season.

Farmville the Magazine

tion to the next. “I remember doing that as a kid, so it’s very nostalgic to be able to make that same memory with my family now,” he said. Describing himself as a coach, Jones said he is neither the best nor the most knowledgeable. “But I love being around the kids and watching them grow and develop,” he said. He noted that he tends to serve as head coach of younger age groups, like those including 6-, 7-, 8- and 9-year-olds. As his own boys get older, he has always let other coaches take over. Time constraints have also played a role in this transition. Jones is a business owner in the community, serving as a State Farm insurance agent, meaning demands on his time can already be significant at work. “I have definitely been a head coach, but as my boys have gotten older, it’s been a little bit hard to juggle the schedule, so I’ve moved to more of an assistant role,” he said. His overall coaching experience, however, has been more than substantive enough to give

him added perspective as he thinks back to his PEFYA playing days. “It definitely makes me appreciate all the coaches that coached me along the way, who gave and volunteered their hours probably a lot more than I’m able to do, so I admire those coaches who give so much,” he said. “And again, (in) my role (in) what I feel like is more of an assistant role on a lot of teams, I know how much the head coach puts into it, and we have so many great volunteers in our local league that give so much.” Jones shared what he thinks is the great value of PEFYA, both for the kids playing sports and the parents coaching and cheering them on. “I would say that for one, as a parent it’s just such a great opportunity to watch your kid play a game that you all love, both as a parent and a kid,” he said. “So that’s a blessing for the parents, to be able to watch your kids do something that they enjoy.” Next, he highlighted the power youth sports have to unify and create community.

Coach Edgar Jones, right of center, watches the game unfold from the dugout with his young PEFYA baseball players. Jones recalls how growing up, he was one of those young PEFYA players, enjoying the opportunity to play a game he loved.

“It brings the community together in a way that very few other activities do, and that’s been a lot of fun to watch families come together and communities come together to cheer the teams as they progress through different tournaments, and not just big tournaments,” he said. “Just the local games that are played create such a great sense of community, and that’s probably what I love most about it.” And he said the bonds and relationships formed on the teams are special. “I know that my youth league coaches growing up, I look back on those relationships fondly and still communicate with some of those coaches,” he said. He said he values PEFYA so much from a community standpoint that he tries to do everything he can to support it in any way possible. “PEFYA means so much to me and to my family and to the community, and I love that I’ve been able to stay connected with it and watch that organization thrive as it did when I was a kid,” he said.

28 Farmville the Magazine

Keeping the meals rolling along Story by Roger Watson

hen Meal on Wheels Director Frank Lacey needs someone to fill in on a route, all he has to do is tell his phone, “Hey,” and Patsy Pelland is typically good to go. “I type in ‘Hey’, and then automatically at the top it goes, ‘Hey Patsy, can you drive today?’” Lacey said. The automatic phone response comes from the frequency Lacey has called on Pelland to fill in since the pandemic began in March. “Our texting is pretty direct,” Pelland said. “We don’t have to say a lot, just yes or no.” Pelland has been doing Meal on Wheels since she retired from the Virginia Cooperative Extension 10 years ago. “I started just as a sub and was actually a sub for a huge amount of the time because I traveled, and so I didn’t want to take a regular route and then once a month them having to find a sub for me,” Pelland said. The Richmond native has been in Farmville since 1982. She worked with the Cooperative Extension service for 30 years. She currently works what she calls “very, very, very part time” with Longwood University in the Speech, Hearing and Learning Services building. She said the good thing about being a regular sub was the ability to take routes when people were out for long periods of time. Then came the pandemic. “Since the pandemic started and her and her husband can’t travel the way they usually do, she has been doing two routes regularly, and she helps me other days in case I need help,” Lacey said. Pelland didn’t just travel to New York or Florida before the pandemic. She went on big trips. Her two favorite destinations have been New Zealand and Ireland. “I love to travel. I try to go as many places as I can,” she said. “New Zealand is the most beautiful place you can ever imagine.”

Meals on Wheels Director Frank Lacey hands off some of the day's deliveries to Patsy Pelland.

Farmville the Magazine

Pictured is Meals on Wheels super sub Patsy Pelland. But since the pandemic hit, Pelland has been grounded and looking for things to fill her time. That’s when the Meals on Wheels super sub became an almost daily fixture on the meal routes. “Frank was calling me almost every day,” Pelland said. “After about two weeks of that, I said, ‘Frank, why don’t you tell me where you really need me, and I’ll just do that.’” Pelland drives a route in Meherrin on Tuesdays and then delivers in the Green Bay area on Fridays while still filling in from time to time on other days. She said she never thought about not delivering meals during the pandemic. “I’m healthy, and I have the time. Actually, it was a bright spot in the week to be able to get in the car and go do something,” she said. “At the beginning (of the pandemic) when people were really just sort of staying home and not doing anything, I would be like, ‘Woo-hoo! It’s Tuesday. I get to go and do meals.’” Pelland said she sometimes chats with some clients through the door and others want her to just leave the meals outside. She said the daily deliveries help provide a check on the area’s seniors, and meal delivery drivers can sometimes tell when things don’t seem right. The routes take Pelland about two hours per day. She delivers around 10 meals per day. “ I think a lot of people, unfortunately, don’t realize that it’s available to them,” Pelland said. “It’s a really good service. “It’s good for me. I enjoy it. I like getting out and seeing the people and meeting them and checking in on them, and I think it’s good for them to have somebody come to the door and talk to them every day.” Pelland said the group of volunteers who deliver meals on a daily basis are part of what keeps her going. “Meals has a great group of volunteers,” she said. “It restores your faith in people that there are a lot of good people out there doing this.”

30 Farmville the Magazine

Hope Closet brings joy throughout the year Story by Roger Watson

he Hope Clothes Closet has been providing a little bit of Christmas all year round. The mission project of Heritage Baptist Church has been providing gifts of clothing, household necessities and personal care products to families in need the past two years. “It’s all about helping bring a little bit of joy,” church member and Hope Closet organizer Ann Simpson said of the mission project. “If you dress well, you feel good. So, I think that’s bringing a little bit of joy to people when they look good, or have something new. It’s to bring a little spark of joy that we can have in their lives.” Since beginning in October of 2018, Hope Closet has provided clothes to 378 area families and given out 69 Bibles as part of the ministry.

The mission began primarily to provide clothes to abused women who come to Madeline’s House in Farmville. Simpson said many of the women and children arrive at the center for abused spouses with only the clothes on their backs. “We usually say a prayer with them before they leave. We try to lift their spiritual needs up too,” Simpson said of the families the closet has helped. The closet is set up like a small boutique. Guests visit by appointment only and shop for items they need. The closet began with only women’s items but quickly expanded to men’s and children’s items. “People started giving men’s clothes and children’s clothes, so it has just boomed,” Simpson said. “It’s good, because there are a lot of needs

out there.” The clothes come from a variety of donors from within the church and outside the area as well. “Word is getting out more, and we’re getting more things,” Simpson said. The closet has also had free giveaways at area subsidized housing complexes, and just recently, a Saturday giveaway in the church parking lot provided clothes to 94 families. Simpson brought the idea of the Hope Clothes Closet to church leaders after she said she was called to begin the project. “It was a nudge, like, ‘You need to do this,’” Simpson said of her calling to start the ministry. “The idea wouldn’t get out of my head until I

Farmville the Magazine

pursued it.” Simpson said the ministry is not just about her. She has gotten help from lots of people to make the closet a reality. “The Lord has called me to do this. I have gotten lots and lots of support in this church that has helped us do that,” Simpson said. “I’m not alone in this. It’s just been a blessing to the church and brought us all together.” The church came on board quickly, providing space for the project, building racks and donating clothes to get the project off the ground. “We touch a lot of lives,” she said. “We never know what seeds we are planting.” Simpson said Hope Closet is in good shape with clothes now but will begin soliciting clothes and other items again in the spring. A bin for donations to the closet is outside the church fellowship hall.

Above, personal care products are available for those who need them at the Hope Closet. Below, Ann Simpson said the church has gotten behind the Hope Closet ministry.

Following is a prayer given to those who receive help from the Hope Clothes Closet at Heritage Baptist Church. “Dear Friend: We pray that these garments will encourage you and be a blessing to your life; and the Lord will direct your paths, meet your needs, give us wisdom, answer your prayers. Amen.”

32 Farmville the Magazine As the Piedmont Habitat for Humanity volunteer coordinator and office manager, Mary Shepherd enjoys constantly meeting new people, learning about their lives and hearing their stories.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A multiplier of goodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Story by Alexa Massey

Farmville the Magazine

Mary Shepherd, volunteer coordinator and office manager at Piedmont Habitat for Humanity, has turned a passion for community service into a career of helping others, allowing her to give back all year round. Shepherd, 29, grew up in Lynchburg before coming to Farmville to attend Longwood University, where she studied liberal studies with a minor in children’s literature. Although she now calls Farmville home, she originally didn’t picture herself staying in the area for long. Shepherd, who is now married and expecting her first child in January of 2021, had her first interaction with Habitat during a build her senior year in college when she volunteered with a group to do some landscaping for a project. Back then, she wasn’t very familiar with the organization, but she tremendously enjoyed the connections made during the project and learning more about Habitat’s mission and the people the organization serves. A little over a year ago, Shepherd was contacted by Habitat’s Director of Resource, Sam Rabon. She had previously volunteered with the youth at Rabon’s church. He reached out to her to discuss an opening at the organization. For a people person like Shepherd, it was a perfect fit.

As volunteer coordinator and office manager, Shepherd described her role at Habitat as very systematic before the COVID-19 pandemic. Her days primarily consisted of meeting with leaders from various organizations, scheduling times for volunteers to come out and work on sites or at the ReStore in Farmville, and visiting projects to document work and thank volunteers. She especially enjoys arranging for groups to come in and volunteer so that individuals feel they are making connections within their organization while also having an impact on the community. Because of the pandemic, Shepherd has had to adjust many aspects of her work life. Habitat is now restricted in terms of what kind of volunteers it can utilize, so she has been spending more time helping out at the ReStore. The organization now works on only one home at a time and one repair at a time due to a limited access of volunteers and social distancing precautions. Shepherd gets a front row seat to watch all the good work unfold. For Shepherd, Habitat doesn’t just build houses. The organization builds lasting relationships strengthened by volunteerism and giving back to the community, paving the way for a better future for all. “It starts with one person inspiring another person, and it’s just being a multiplier of good,” she said.

Happy Holidays from

Providing a safe, secure

Providing a safe, environment for secure your environment forour your loved one on memory loved onecare onunit, our The Cottage memory care unit, The Cottage 900 S. Main St. · Blackstone, VA 23824 434.292.5301 · www.heritage-hall.org

900 S. Main St. · Blackstone, VA 23824 434.292.5301 · www.heritage-hall.org

34 Farmville the Magazine

A love for animals Story by Alexa Massey

onded by a mutual passion for animals and their community, Steve and Mary Smelcer happily dedicate much of their time and energy to the Southside Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Steve, 45, works for the Commonwealth of Virginia and volunteers with the SPCA on the side. He’s also a member of the organization’s Board of Directors and runs the COOLE (committee on outreach and local events) group. Mary, 43, owns the Hair by Mary salon in Farmville. She’s also a registered nurse. The Smelcers both share a common interest and love for creatures big and small. They themselves own five dogs and even a couple of goldfish. But the Smelcers also recognized years ago those creatures need a voice. Nine years ago, the Smelcers decided to hold a small holiday drive for the Southside SPCA at Mary’s hair salon. At the time neither were volunteers with the group. The event was very successful and caught the attention of the SPCA, which contacted Steve about the COOLE group and asked if he’d be interested in being a part of the new community outreach program. Steve jumped on board, but the group, he said, got off to a bit of a slow start. He found many residents didn’t know the Southside SPCA was in the area. In the beginning, there was a lot of work to be done by the group in the way of education and community outreach. Slowly but surely, the group found its way. Now, COOLE has approximately 15 active members and puts on around one event each month, most of which occur in Farmville. And although the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way some events can be run, Steve and the group have been able to work around most difficulties.

This year will mark the ninth year of the Smelcers’ annual fundraiser for the SPCA, and the couple has never stopped volunteering with the organization. For them, it’s a way to give back to the community and change the lives of both animals and humans. “I just feel like animals do not have a voice for themselves,” Steve said, “and they basically depend on people like us to be the voice for them. I know now sitting on the Board of Directors that in order to operate a non-profit shelter that is totally donor driven, you’ve really got to get out here and work hard, because it’s quite expensive to operate a shelter.” One of Steve’s favorite parts of working with SPCA has been the ability to meet many great people from the local community as well as those from across the country. Some notable guests at events have included Captain Tami Gray from “Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks” and Shelby, the star canine from “A Dog’s Way Home.” Some upcoming guests at Southside SPCA events include Shorty Rossi from “Pit Boss” and Miss Virginia. For Mary, who can often be found attending monthly meetings and helping out where possible, some of the best memories from her years of working with the group include the SPCA’s annual Holiday Donation Drive. “That is always such a great time.” In looking to the future, the duo have many hopes for the organization. Steve hopes to see the continued success of SPCA’s spay/neuter program and hopes to educate more people on the benefits of rescuing animals rather than going to a pet store and paying large amounts of money for designer breeds of dogs. Mary would love to see more volunteers from the community come out to help at the SPCA. And of course, she dreams of seeing all the pets get adopted. “Wouldn’t that be a fabulous thing?”

Steve and Mary Smelcer both believe in standing up and being the voice for animals. Their passion for furry friends led them to become involved with the Southside SPCA.

Farmville the Magazine

Town and Gown

Michelle Meadows Story by Michelle Meadows

hen I arrived on Longwood’s campus in July of 2005 for an interview to be the assistant athletic director for compliance, Farmville and Longwood immediately felt like home. As a native of Powhatan, I have always treasured a small-town vibe and sense of community it often affords. In addition to the camaraderie that was so evident that day, I was struck by the passion of those I met who truly aspired to make a difference, whether in the lives of students (and more specifically for my role, studentathletes) or within the greater community as a whole. This was the place I wanted to be part of, and 15 years later through growing personally and professionally, building authentic relationships, and even fighting through breast cancer with the help of my Farmville family, I continue to feel blessed every day to call this community my home. My passion is sports and always has been, and it’s through athletics that I have experienced most of my life, including my time in Farmville.

Michelle Meadows serves as the athletic director at Longwood University. Her email is meadowsme@longwood.edu From lifelong friendships to life-changing lessons in character, humility and teamwork, it has offered me my greatest joys and my greatest challenges. After graduating from Virginia Tech and concluding my career as a softball student-athlete, I quickly realized that passion was to become my calling, and I began pursuing a master’s degree and subsequently a career in intercollegiate athletics. Throughout my time with the Longwood Athletics Department, I have been so fortunate to work alongside many wonderful people throughout the Farmville community. I am inspired every day by colleagues and members of our community that go above and beyond, pouring into the lives of students and creating a vibrant and inclusive two-college town. I’ve

formed many bonds with members of our community through our athletic events, cheering on our Lancers and sharing in the thrills of victory and sometimes the pangs of defeat. I have greatly missed those opportunities due to COVID-19 and can’t wait to share in those moments again. The richness of our community became even more personal for me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. The outpouring of love, support and prayers were overwhelming and gave me incredible encouragement throughout that journey. I’m forever grateful to Katherine and Lacey Mylum, who provided meals while I was in treatment so I could continue to work, along with the Stokes and Marston families, who took care of things around my home that I couldn’t tend to. That’s what’s so special about our community, we show up for one another. It’s that spirit of camaraderie that drew me to Longwood and Farmville, and my love for this place and our community grows deeper each year.

36 Farmville the Magazine

A Look into the Past

Five-foot snowdrifts and subzero temperatures made roads impassible during the blizzard of 1940.

The Great Blizzard of 1940 —

stranded by snow and saved by a mule Story by Dr. Jim Jordan Photos courtesy of Bob Flippen

armville had a dark and stormy night like no other January 23, 1940. The next morning, Farmville residents made a startling discovery. They couldn’t open their front doors — the snow outside had drifted to a height of four feet. No one bought a newspaper that day, although a copy of The Farmville Herald cost only 3 cents. There was no way to get to town to buy one. Townsfolk didn’t really need to read this headline anyway: “Farmville is center of blizzard.” Farmville folks had watched the snow pile up for the last three days. On that 1940 morning in Farmville, traffic offi-

cer J.W. Harper received a telegram from the state highway department in Richmond that reported weather bulletins from across the state. Farmville had received 24 inches of snow, the highest on official record anywhere or anytime in the state. That day’s issue of The Herald reported: “All traffic is stopped! Automobiles are buried in snow above their tops — only huge white mounds on streets and highways. Sidewalks, streets, fences — all are disappeared under the deep white covering. Schools are closed, and people who attempt to step from their porches find themselves in waistdeep snow.” Farmville folks in those days were accustomed

to daily home deliveries of milk, ice for the icebox, newspapers, mail, meat and other needs. For the next four days, none of the above would appear on their doorsteps and porches. The people in town were obliged to do without, but there was more trouble in the air, specifically the temperature. According to the U.S. Weather Bureau, Farmville was the coldest place in the country that week with a reading of 16 degrees below zero on Jan. 26; minus 15 on Jan. 27; and minus 16 on Jan. 28. One home delivery — an item few need in 2020 — was coal. Nearly every structure in Prince Edward County was heated with coal in

Farmville the Magazine

1940, but, of course, a coal wagon could not get through those 5-foot drifts. Nevertheless, heroic efforts were made to return life to normal. The town’s one snowplow, a blade attached to the bumper of a pickup truck, labored mightily for 20 hours, but at 2 a.m. on Thursday morning, it broke an axle. Mules and horses were enlisted from nearby farms to pull the plow. Carlton Wayne, a young man living in Pamplin at the time, recalled his experience with a snowplow a half century later. “During the big snow I wanted to see my girl in Farmville. I got halfway there in my Model A Ford roadster and had to stop. Then I walked behind a snowplow. It was the only way. It was bad, but when you’re in love, you know, you’ll do anything.” That was not the only travel disrupted by the storm, The Herald reported. “The snow stopped all bus service . . . the last bus to enter or leave Farmville was the one bound for Richmond that left here about 10 p.m. Tuesday — it is not known if the bus reached its destination.” Due to the combination of 5-foot snow drifts and subzero temperatures, Farmville Mayor W.C. Fitzpatrick declared an “extremely dangerous situation.” With the town’s only fire truck and ambulance immobilized by deep snow, the mayor asked that 700 cadets from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), camp building Twin Lakes and Holliday Lake state parks be transported to Farmville in U. S. Army vehicles. The CCC boys reached Farmville through various means. They arrived by truck, road grader, mule and horse to dig out Main Street, Third Street, the hospital, fire station, and Norfolk and Western Depot. Later that day Farmville traffic officer J.W. Harper received another telegram from the Virginia Highway Department stating, “6,000 men and all available road-cleaning machinery are hard at work trying to open the highway from Richmond west to Farmville.” In the meantime, Farmville youngsters were engaged in some business of their own, The Herald reported. Main Street was the scene of a great snowball battle on Friday morning. After a window was broken at the firehouse and a neon sign cracked on High Street, the police put a stop to the snowball fight. Later Charlie Zimmerman

Waist-deep snow greeted residents of Farmville during the historic blizzard of 1940. Cadets from the Civilian Conservation Corps were enlisted to help dig out the town.

and his horse-drawn sleigh took couples for rides up and down Main Street. From his bed at Southside Community Hospital, George Richardson, 84, apparently the only casualty of the storm, recalled a February 1899 snow of 16 inches. The Herald reporter observed, “For many years Mr. Richardson had been the proprietor of Geo. Richardson & Co. Grocery Store at 235 North Main Street. While attempting to reach his store Saturday morning, he slipped in front of a car at the intersection of Third and Main and broke his ankle.” Another blizzard experience involving a Hampden-Sydney student and reported on page one in The Herald was probably a source of embarrassment for that student later in life. The headline read, “Pajama-clad HSC boy in blizzard in car all night! Mule comes to the rescue.” The Herald related the following: “To Joe Manson of Blackstone, Hampden-Sydney

College boy, it seemed a good idea at the height of the howling blizzard while snow was falling thicker than snow ever fell here before, to drive to Farmville in pajamas, dressing gown and slippers to get something to eat. On the Back Hampden-Sydney Road his automobile stalled in a snowdrift, and here Joe spent the night in his car. At 9 a.m. the next morning, Capt. D.W. Paulette, mounted on a mule, rescued the boy who was quite cold but otherwise in good condition.” Without a doubt the Great Blizzard of 1940 was a rough time, but Farmville got through it. Could it happen again? With weather as changeable as it is today, anything is possible. So, the next time you see the snow starting to fall, it’s best to think twice before going out. Unless you have a friend with a mule, it might not be a good idea. Dr. Jim Jordan taught at Longwood University for almost 40 years before retiring as the Board of Visitors Distinguished Professor of Anthropology.

38 Farmville the Magazine

Where Am I? LAST ISSUE’S WINNER Congratulations to Nancy Phaup, who knew that last month’s “Where Am I?” is located on South Street. The painting is on a wall behind Green Front Accessories. For getting the correct answer, Nancy will receive a free subscription to Farmville the Magazine.

The Heart of Virginia offers beautiful scenery and architecture throughout downtown Farmville. “Where Am I?” offers residents a chance to identify one of our hidden gems across town. 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.

Why I Love Farmville

Farmville the Magazine

Caryn Kayton

of Caryn’s Bridals right on North Main Street in downtown Farmville HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN FARMVILLE, AND WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU REMEMBER NOTICING ABOUT THE AREA?

A: I came to Farmville in 1975 as the last class of all girls at Longwood College, now Longwood University. The friendliness of all the merchants is what I remember noticing, and, also, the size of the phone book! I have always been a lover of Main Street and knew every store and its entire inventory. What I found to be most interesting was that the town shut down on Wednesday afternoon to play golf and, also, that WFLO was aired in every store. I was so naive, I was sure it was a requirement for business. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FARMVILLE MEMORY?

A: After graduating from Longwood and before opening my store, I was able to get a taste for business in Farmville by participating in the Heart of Virginia Festival. I had the best time and such a successful show, and I was hooked. WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST?

A: I would miss knowing so many people and the connections. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FARMVILLE GROW OR CHANGE IN THE FUTURE?

A: I have been an active member of every downtown initiative for almost 40 years, and my dream has been to see our Main Street alive every day of the week — the stores full and the merchants thriving with well-trained, helpful and happy staff. IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A PICTURE TO REPRESENT FARMVILLE TO THOSE OUTSIDE OUR AREA, WHAT WOULD THAT PICTURE BE?

A: To me, the most representable picture of

Farmville would be taken at the intersection of Third Street and North Main Street, looking north. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT LIVING IN THE FARMVILLE

AREA?

A: I feel safe, and it was an easy place to raise my children. The people connections in the Farmville area make doing business in a small town not only possible, but enjoyable.

Centra Southside Pediatrics offers endocrinology services Centra Southside Pediatrics offers endocrinology services as part of its medical care for children under the age of 18. Luis Siliezar, MD, pediatric endocrinologist, completed medical school at the University of El Salvador and residency training in pediatrics in Nassau University Medical Center, after which he served a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology. Dr. Siliezar performed his pediatric endocrinology training at NYU Winthrop Hospital. Centra Southside Pediatrics is open Monday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.

OUR PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGIST

To schedule an appointment, call 434.315.5377

SERVICES/PROCEDURES Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, such as diabetes mellitus, impaired glucose tolerance, and hypoglycemia Growth and puberty problems, including short stature, precocious, or delayed puberty Underactive or overactive thyroid gland Pituitary deficiencies or excessive function Adrenal disorders such as premature adrenarche, congenital defects of steroidogenesis, or excess (Cushing syndrome, low-renin hypertension)

Luis Siliezar, MD

Congenital or acquired gonadal dysfunction Obesity Disorders of calcium metabolism, including vitamin D deficiency, low or high calcium level

CentraSouthside.com | 935 S. Main Street | Farmville

Farmville the Magazine — December 2020

Articles inside

Why I Love Farmville

Town and Gown

A Look into the Past