May 2020 Vol. 5, No. 3 FREE
Farmville Cares Nonprofits join forces to meet COVID-19 crisis
Heroes of the Pandemic
Grocery store worker, delivery workers and others talk about life during COVID-19 crisis www.FarmvilletheMag.com
LONGWOOD CENTER FOR THE VISUAL ARTS
Your Friendly Neighborhood Museum Art Studio Learning Space Gathering Place We hope to see you soon at our place for Films Exhibitions Wine & Brew Art After Dark Free Family Workshops
Exhibitions and events are free and open to the public. The Longwood Center for Visual Arts is located at 129 North Main Street in Farmville. Check the LCVA website for events and exhibitions throughout the year: lcva.longwood.edu.
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Editor’s Notebook
What a difference a month can make T
his edition of Farmville the Magazine comes in the middle of one of the greatest challenges our town has faced. The coronavirus pandemic has thrown the world for a loop, and our country has been turned upside down both from a health crisis and the resulting financial downturn. As we wake up today in the Heart of Virginia, more than 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment. Almost 47,000 people have died as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, 372 of those deaths are Virginians, two are from Prince Edward County. Our lovely two-college town is a no-college town as even the resumption of in-person classes next fall is beginning to be called into question. Restaurants are open Roger Watson, only for takeout, festivals have all be canceled, Editor playgrounds have been deemed dangerous territory and there are no sports to be found. It is a strange and different time. In this edition of the magazine, we take the advice of the great Fred Rogers. Known to most of us as Mr. Rogers, he provided the following words to children who watched his program after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” — Fred Rogers
We are featuring the people who are working hard to keep our lives in order. Many of them had jobs considered mundane or ordinary before the pandemic struck. Now, they are our Pandemic Heroes. This edition of the magazine features photos of the health care workers who are working so hard to keep us safe. We also feature a postal carrier, a group making masks, food delivery workers, a grocery store worker and a newspaper carrier. These workers are out there every day making sure we have the things we need in these uncertain times. The magazine also features a group of nonprofits that have come together to build a website guiding those who need resources to the places where they can find help. For some necessary diversion, there is a chance to build Nash Osborn’s Big Bang Fried Chicken Sandwich, and Alexa Massey provides a guide to some of the most interesting channels on YouTube. It’s a full magazine to entertain for some time while we wait for life to return to some semblance of normalcy. I hope you enjoy. As always, if you have any suggestions about stories you would like to see in the magazine, feel free to shoot me an email at Roger.Watson@FarmvilletheMag.com Stay safe everyone. Roger Watson is editor of Farmville the Magazine. His email address is Roger.Watson@FarmvilletheMag.com.
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Feature Spring is typically a busy time in Farmville, but not this year. Stores are shuttered, restaurants closed, and residents are staying home to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As in other times of crisis, Farmville has responded. A team of community organizations and nonprofits met mid-March to launch Farmville Cares, a web site listing COVID-19 resources for those in need of help. Check out farmvillecares.org for a directory of local resources. Photo at left: Uptown Coffee Café offers a COVID-19 special advice of the day. On the cover: Pictured in this photo taken before social distancing was mandated are STEPS President Ellery Sedgwick, FACES Vice President of Operations Bobby Eiban, Piedmont Senior Resources (PSR) Executive Director Justine Young and PSR Nutrition Coordinator Nikki Dean.
Publisher — Betty J. Ramsey Betty.Ramsey@FarmvilletheMag.com Designer — Troy Cooper Troy.Cooper@FarmvilletheMag.com
EDITORIAL Roger Watson Roger.Watson@FarmvilletheMag.com
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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, 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.
Daffodils
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Heroes of the Pandemic
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Health Care Heroes Town and Gown Where Am I? Catching Up With A Look into the Past
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Also... Editor’s Notebook Staying in Serving it Up From the Ground Up Artist in Residence
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Staying in
Farmville the Magazine
Falling down the rabbit hole If I’m not working, sleeping, cooking or dancing, chances are I’m watching videos on YouTube. The video-sharing platform is home to millions of unique content creators, and almost 5 billion videos are watched on the website every day, at least 4 billion of those views coming from me. There is nothing I enjoy more than going down the “YouTube rabbit hole” as I like to call it. There’s something for everybody on the website, whether it’s cooking videos, makeup tutorials, music videos, what have you. And one of the best parts of YouTube is that there are countless videos on the site that help you learn something new. Since many people have nothing but free time right now, I thought I would compile a list of just a few things you can learn how to do for free by watching a YouTube video. • Learn to cook dishes from your favorite books, movies and TV shows The YouTube channel “Binging with Babish” follows American filmmaker Andrew Rea (alias Oliver Babish) as he teaches you how to make hundreds of famous recipes from popular entertainment. Babish will teach you how to cook the Big Kahuna Burger from Pulp Fiction, Turkish Delight from The Chronicles of Narnia and, if you’re brave enough to make it, Rachel’s English Trifle
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from Friends. Some of Babish’s recipes border on the ridiculous, but others will leave your entire family wondering where in the world of fiction their delightful dinner came from. • Learn how to make the world’s prettiest soap bars “Royalty Soaps” is a YouTube channel created by Katie Carson. Carson, self-proclaimed the Duchess of Soaps, runs an extraordinarily successful soap making business by crafting one of a kind, gorgeous soap “loaves” which she then cuts into individual bars. Carson explains her process from start to finish, including scent oils, dyes, and how to make soap that can only be described as a work of art. Carson also goes into the necessary safety precautions for handling the chemicals involved in soap making. Give her channel a look, as I’ve spent hours watching the Duchess at work. • Learn about abandoned places YouTuber Dan Bell has essentially made an online career exploring abandoned buildings across the country, and several of his episodes
have taken place right here in Virginia. Bell’s videos document his walks through the nation’s abandoned and decaying buildings, many of which have grim backstories. His extremely popular “Dead Mall” series is a great chance to learn about the decline in America’s shopping malls as Bell wanders among the ruins of 80s-style shopping centers. Beware that some of Bell’s videos are not suitable for younger viewers. Watch Bell’s videos on his channel, “This is Dan Bell.” • Learn about the depths of the ocean “EVNautilus” is a YouTube Channel that will eat up all of your attention. Watch as a deep sea exploration vessel traverses the bottom of the ocean conducting research for the Ocean Exploration Trust. The channel showcases amazing clips as researchers use the exploration vessel to explore the undersea, meet amazing ocean creatures and better understand our blue planet. From the cutest looking cuttlefish to the freakiest sharks, this channel provides entertainment that’s both educational and captivating. • Learn how to build and survive in the wild
If you’re an outdoorsy person that every now and again briefly considers wandering into the wilderness and building a hut out of mud and sticks to leave modern society behind then “Primitive Technology” is the YouTube channel for you. Created by Australian John Plant, the immensely popular series teaches how to build everything from scratch with no tools or modern conveniences. Plant will teach you how to grind snail shells into a primitive limestone, hunt with a spear and, yes, even build an entire home out of mud and sticks. There’s millions and millions of YouTube videos to discover, with endless opportunities to learn something new. The platform also has a kids app that helps you filter age appropriate clips for younger children. I hope you enjoy falling down the YouTube rabbit hole. I’m going to go build a house out of dirt for fun. Alexa Massey is a staff reporter for The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. Her email address is Alexa.Massey@FarmvilleHerald. com.
Draw Your Mom
Shianne Schaeffer, Age 8
Farmville the Magazine
Mason Fitzgerald, Age 7
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Serving it Up
The Big Bang Fried Chicken Sandwich is based on a sandwich Nash Osborn had in Washington, D.C., and decided to improve.
INSPIRATION born out of adventure
Farmville the Magazine
Story and photos by Titus Mohler
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ash Osborn was well prepared for the life he leads now as coowner of both the North Street Press Club and The Fishin’ Pig. “Everybody in my family has cooked all my life, so I grew up around my dad formulating different recipes in the kitchen,” he said. “I grew up around a lot of good cooks.” The 42-year-old Osborn started working at restaurants around the age of 18, but he admitted he is not much of “a kitchen guy.” “I do a little bit,” he said. “I come up with a lot of the recipes and stuff like that, so I do what I can.” He affirmed the fun found in culinary creativity, particularly in the context of a small town like Farmville. “You want to offer, I think, some familiar, comforting items on your menu, especially in a small town like this, and then you want to get really adventuresome in (other items),” he said. “And so I think that that’s sort of the inspiration all the time.” Having worked in a variety of places, including Washington, D.C., and New York City, Osborn also draws inspiration from memorable dishes he has enjoyed before. He noted the Big Bang Fried Chicken Sandwich he created, available on the North Street Press Club menu, was based on a similar chicken sandwich he had once in Washington, D.C. a few years ago. “I thought that I could make a better version of it and so that was my inspiration,” he said. The only difference between the Big Bang Fried Chicken Sandwich recipe included here and the version of the sandwich Press Club customers will receive is found in the toppings. “The one thing I didn’t put in there is the kimchi slaw that we use, and that’s because I don’t have any right now, and it’s kind of a pain to make, so I figured that that would be a step that I could leave out, but it’s just as good without it, in my opinion,” Osborn said. “Everything else is the same.”
North Street Press Club Co-Owner Nash Osborn presents the Big Bang Fried Chicken Sandwich he created. It is available on the Press Club’s menu.
While the North Street Press Club has been open only to delivery and carry out since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Osborn and his staff have been working on something special for customers for when the dining room reopens.
“We’re in the midst right now of doing a new menu for when we open back up,” he said. “We’ll have probably, I’d say, 10-15 new items on there. You’re always looking for creative, fun dishes that sort of fit our global grub menu.”
BIG BANG FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH INGREDIENTS: 4 - 5-ounce chicken breasts 1 - bag Shorty's Medium Breading (buy locally at The Fishin' Pig) 1 - medium red onion 1 - jar pickles (sweet or dill slices) 1 - red pepper Mayonnaise Sriracha Mae Ploy Chili Sauce Honey Pineapple juice Favorite hamburger buns SAUCE - (the secret weapon in any good dish) 1 cup - Mae Ploy Chili Sauce 1 cup - honey 1/2 cup sriracha hot sauce (more or less for desired heat) 1/4 cup pineapple juice 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- Thoroughly mix all ingredients. This will be enough sauce to save for later as well. Refrigerate after using. - Cut red onion and red pepper into thin slices for toppings. - Mix 1/2 cup mayo with 2 tablespoons sriracha hot sauce. - Pound chicken breasts flat with a meat tenderizer. - Bread chicken with Shorty's Breading (can use grilled chicken if desired). - In a frying pan, heat vegetable oil to 350 degrees, and fry chicken until golden brown and crispy (or you can use an air fryer or Fry Daddy). - Butter and toast your buns. NOW THE BUILD: Toss the cooked chicken breast in your honey sriracha sauce (thoroughly coat), and put on the bottom half of the toasted bun. Next top your chicken with red onion, red peppers and pickles. On the top half of the bun, add your desired amount of sriracha mayo. Enjoy.
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From the Ground Up
Daffodils Split corona daffodils have cups that are split into segments and pressed back against the petals.
Farmville the Magazine Story and photos by Dr. Cynthia Wood
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was recently scolded for growing daffodils, which aren’t a high-value plant for pollinators. Nevertheless, for many people, daffodils mean spring. There is just something about those perky yellow blooms swaying in a breeze that makes people happy. Perhaps the poet Wordsworth said it best: …all at once I saw a crowd, A host of golden daffodils. Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze…
Daffodils have been cultivated in gardens since about 300 BC. They’re native to western Europe —Spain and Portugal — and also Morocco. The Greek botanist Theophrastus listed and described many kinds. The Romans carried daffodil bulbs with them to England because they thought the sap in the stems had healing properties. Unfortunately, the sap is an irritant, and all parts of the plant are poisonous. European gardeners subsequently grew daffodils in their gardens, but they were never considered trendy. Perhaps as a reminder of home, American colonists included the common yellow daffodil in their gardens. Thomas Jefferson and other Virginians imported more exotic ones. The poet’s daffodil or Narcissus poeticus, which was named by Linnaeus in the 1750s, was especially popular. It’s a white species with a flattened, bright orange cup. It’s not unusual to hear this cheery harbinger of spring referred to as daffodil, narcissus, and even jonquil. Why? Narcissus is the genus name, while daffodil is a common name for a variety or species within the genus Narcissus. Jonquil is another species name within the genus Narcissus. Whatever you call them and whether you plant species or hybrids, they’re all beautiful and easy to grow. Daffodils can be used as accents or planted in large drifts across a meadow or large perennial bed. In both cases, they can be counted on to last for many years. Peruse bulb catalogs and make your selections in late winter. If you order before July, there is often a discount. In the fall, select a sunny, well-drained location. Both hillsides and raised beds work well. Dig the soil at least 12 inches down and add a quarter cup of low nitrogen fertilizer (3-6-6 or 5-10). Place the bulbs in the soil with the pointed
Daffodils are available in a variety of color combinations, including pink and cream. ends up and cover them so that they’re buried to a depth of about twice their height. Water well. When leaf tips begin to emerge in early spring, top dress the plants with a 5-10-10 fertilizer and then fertilize them again with 0-0-50 when they begin to bloom. After the flowers are spent, resist the urge to remove the foliage or to tie it into bundles. The
leaves need to remain on the plants until they yellow so that the bulbs can store energy for the next year’s blooms. About every three to five years, daffodils may need to be divided and replanted. Late spring and early summer are the best times for this job. No matter which daffodils you decide to plant, they’ll make you smile.
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Trumpet daffodils have prominent cups that are as long or longer that the petals. They are excellent for naturalizing.
Cyclamen-type daffodils have reflexed petals and narrow cups.
Bouquets of spring flowers bring cheer on even the gloomiest day.
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Jonquilla-type daffodils have two to six small, intensely fragrant flowers per stem. At Cumberland Schools, you matter.
FARMVILLE, WE’RE COVERING THINGS BIG AND SMALL
Cumberland Public Schools is a dual enrollment college and career preparatory school system enrolling students preschool through 12th grade. Our mission is to inspire and prepare all students with the confidence, courage, and competence to achieve their dreams; contribute to the community; and engage in a lifetime of learning.
Come find out more about Cumberland Schools! 804.492.4212 www.cucps.k12.va.us 1541 Anderson Highway Cumberland, VA 23040
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Cumberland Schools does not discriminate on the basis of color, creed, sex, or national and ethnic origin in school administered programs.
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Artist in Residence
Artfully furnished
Red Door 104 Owner Audrey Sullivan is hoping to keep her business alive during this time of quarantine by selling pieces of furniture she has painted, a talent she has honed for 30 years.
Farmville the Magazine Story by Titus Mohler Photos courtesy Audrey Sullivan
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ed Door 104 Owner Audrey Sullivan has had to temporarily close the red doors to her art studio due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but she is hoping to keep her business alive during this time of quarantine by relying upon an ability she has honed for the last 30 years — furniture painting. She has a gallery of pieces available for purchase, but she is also available for hire if someone has something they want painted. “I don’t just do furniture, but I also design rooms,” she said, “I do color consulting. I help people pick colors for their houses.” Beneficiaries of Sullivan’s painting talents are known by many on an international level. She painted a piece of furniture for President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton when they were in the White House. “Besides the Clintons, I’ve painted furniture for Elton John, I’ve painted furniture for Rod Stewart, I’ve painted a mirror for Ringo Starr,” she said. “Yeah, I can drop some names, man.” Since she could pick up a pencil, Sullivan has been an artist. “I can never remember not being one,” she said. “So I think when I was 4, I thought I was one.” Her tools as a 4-year-old were crayons. “I would finish a coloring book in an afternoon,” she said. “Other kids just picked a few pictures they liked and colored them and moved on. No, I did the book.” Later in life, she became an art teacher, which allowed her to dabble in basically every artistic medium imaginable. “It doesn’t mean I excel at all of them, but I am curious,” she said. “I’m a curious artist, and I’m curious about new techniques that I see either in a book or online, and I’ll try anything once.” Sullivan has been a staple of the artistic community in Farmville since buying the building for Red Door 104 in 2013.
Audrey Sullivan was once part of a company that produced a painted table for President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton. The table upon which Sullivan painted crossed saxophones is pictured on the left next to the Clintons in a photograph President Clinton signed, in thanks to the company.
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From left are before and after photos of a front porch chair that Audrey Sullivan transformed with her artistic painting talents. The piece is for sale and can be customized with a name on the back rung. Plant is not included.
Left, Audrey Sullivan will customize this child’s chair she painted by adding a child’s name on the back rung. The chair is available for purchase. Right, this is a lemon table painted on oak by Sullivan, and it is available for purchase.
Farmville the Magazine
Above, Audrey Sullivan used her painting talents to create what she described as a poppy side table painted on oak in this photo. The table is for sale. Right, pictured and for sale is a Petite Peacock Rocker painted by Audrey Sullivan. Those interested in purchasing it can call (434) 392-1405 or send an email to reddoor104art@ gmail.com. She said she has a rule with her studio that if one of the instructors there teaches a workshop on something she has never done, like needle felting, she signs up for the class. “I will know within five minutes, maybe 10, if it’s something I really want to pursue or if I never want to do this again,” she said. “But I always want to try.” She does have a favorite medium, though. “Acrylic paint, metal leaf, I mostly work with gold, silver, copper leaf — that’s pretty much my go-to medium,” she said. “So I paint all my furniture using acrylic paints and metal leaf.” Sullivan got her start in furniture painting around the time her children reached high school. “When my kids finally got to high school, I was told about a company in Annapolis that painted furniture, and I thought, ‘That’s kind of interesting,’” she said. She called them up and asked if they were hiring.
"They said, ‘Come on in.’ And they were going to interview me. And I brought a portfolio with me of artwork that I had done,” she said. They told her she was the only person who had ever come in with a portfolio. The company would typically hire high school graduates and teach them how to make faux finishes with rags and sponges. “They only had one person who could actually paint things, pictures, on a piece of furniture, so I was hired on the spot, which was awesome,” Sullivan said, noting this began her career of painting good, high-end, antique reproduction furniture. “That was their specialty.” She estimated this was in the late ’80s, early ’90s. It was while Sullivan worked for the Annapolis-based Niermann Weeks company in Maryland that the Clintons’ decorator, Kaki Hockersmith, commissioned the company to paint an end table for the Clintons as a Christmas gift from her.
“I had to paint saxophones, crossed saxophones, on the top of the table because he is a saxophone player,” Sullivan said, referencing President Clinton. “So there were quite a few people in the studio that worked on the piece, I didn’t do the whole thing myself. It was a really specialized piece, but I was the only one in the studio that could paint saxophones, so that’s where I was able to get work.” She left Niermann Weeks after three years, but it was just the beginning of a long career. “There was a designer showhouse happening in D.C., and I was invited to come and do a room in it, and from there on, I stayed busy,” she said. “I could work seven days a week.” She was busy painting walls, murals, rooms, furniture, faux finishing on walls, etc. “For about 30 years, that’s what I did — I painted both walls and furniture,” she said. “They’re not much different. You use a lot of the same techniques.” Sullivan noted it does not matter what surface
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Above, Dr. Mark French, of Ridge Animal Hospital in Farmville, had this piece in his bedroom as a child. He commissioned a makeover, and courtesy of Audrey Sullivan, it now has a beautiful linen finish with black accents. Left, this is an example of Sullivan’s ability to make even light switch plates disappear, matching the tile of the wall around them.
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she is painting on. “I’ll paint on wood, fabric, metal, glass — there’s a primer for everything,” she said. “There’s something to make anything stick, and if it’s out there, I have figured it out.” She has continued her work painting furniture and walls while running Red Door 104. “We have 25 artists in our studio, in our gallery, and my contribution is painted furniture, so that’s what I do,” she said. “And I do a lot of custom pieces for customers. I’m painting this picture frame right now for Brad and Virginia Watson.” Sullivan said she does commissioned pieces, but she does not paint new furniture. “I do a lot of antique pieces, but they have to have good bones to them,” she said. “I don’t like cheap furniture. I don’t waste my time on
Above, Audrey Sullivan said this moon table she painted, available for purchase, is perfect for a foyer. Below, This set that Sullivan painted was purchased from the Fuqua auction from Green Front Furniture. It was done in a crackle finish and was the color of meat — but not anymore. It is available for purchase. Right, in addition to painted furniture, Audrey Sullivan offers in-home decorative painting. This fireplace belongs to Justine Young, executive director of Piedmont Senior Resources Area Agency on Aging Inc. in Farmville. “We added a heavy mantle, and I marbled and gold leafed accents to make this a real statement in her living room,” Sullivan said.
disposable furniture, unless somebody’s paying for it.” She likes good quality furniture, but she said she will not paint certain woods. “I’m really funny about that, a lot of people are,” she said. “So if you have a beautiful mahogany dresser and ask me to paint it, I’m going to say, ‘No. Don’t paint the mahogany.’ But if you’ve got a piece that’s been beat up or it’s old or it’s just seen better days or it’s already been painted or needs patching or something, then I’ll paint it.” For those interested in purchasing a piece from Sullivan’s gallery, some of which is pictured in this feature, or for those interested in having Sullivan paint a piece of their furniture or house, call (434) 392-1405 or send an email to reddoor104art@gmail. com.
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Facing
COVID-19
Farmville Cares offers help and hope
Story and photos by Marge Swayne
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pring arrived in Farmville this year with an unwelcome visitor — COVID-19. Within days Farmville’s downtown district went from bustling streets blooming with the new flowers, to an eerie silence with few vehicles and even fewer passersby on the street. Behind the scenes it was a different story. Local organizations and nonprofits were mobilizing to help the community take on the reality of a pandemic. Farmville Cares, a resource website with numerous COVID-19 resources for residents of Farmville and surrounding communities, was launched at the end of March.
THE 10-PERSON RULE
By mid-March, Sunday afternoon in Farmville had taken on a surreal look. Observing the 10-customer rule, Charley’s Waterfront Café, Hotel Weyanoke and North Street Press Club had either closed or were doing takeout. The only signs of life on Main Street was at Walkers Diner where two Longwood University students and a pit bull puppy waited for lunch. “I’m going to miss the students,” co-owner Steve Graham said. “Students were told to leave campus by tomorrow.” According to Graham, the previous week had been business
Farmville the Magazine
Once a busy thoroughfare, Farmville’s Main Street reflects a new normal in town: social distancing. Most businesses and offices are closed for the duration.
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almost as usual. How long that would be the case remained to be seen. Uptown Coffee Café down the block was open but not very busy. On the sidewalk a chalkboard that usually promoted the special of the day offered tips on supporting small businesses: order online, use card or Apple Pay, buy gift cards, support social media, wash hands, be kind. It was that kind of day in Farmville’s new normal — springtime and sunshine overshadowed by the unknown. FARMVILLE CARES
The order to close public and private schools for the remainder of the academic year brought new concerns. How would parents fortunate enough to still have a job find childcare? What about families suddenly without jobs? How would they buy groceries or pay for rent and utilities? To answer those concerns, Farmville’s nonprofit organizations decided to get together by teleconference. Initiated by Letterpress
Communications, the digital meeting was held to find practical ways these agencies could help the community. Attending the teleconference were representatives from Piedmont Senior Resources, FACES, Habitat for Humanity, Prince Edward Social Services, the Interfaith Collective, Southside Family YMCA, Pregnancy Support Center of Southside Virginia, United Way and several Farmville-area churches. Finding ways to connect community members in need with agencies or organizations that could provide help was the immediate concern. An hour-long discussion led to consensus: a webpage was needed to centralize local efforts. Farmville Cares, a COVID-19 recourse website, was launched by the Letterpress Communications team in just 48 hours. The new site would offer hands-on help to community members with specific material needs. “We wanted to use technology and the good work of existing community organizations to create solutions for those who suddenly found
themselves in need,” Letterpress Principal Ilsa Loeser said. “Now more than ever, communication is critical to connect available resources to specific needs.” STEPS HOTLINE
According to STEPS President/CEO Sharon Harrup, a COVID-19 resource and referral hotline has been established. The hotline, manned and active 24 hours a day, will address housing and energy needs. “Those who call will reach a member of the STEPS staff who will guide them to the most accessible resource,” Harrup said. The STEPS hotline is (877) 630-6458. FACES/FACES Backpack program Farmville Area Community Emergency Services (FACES), which provides emergency and supplementary food to qualified residents of Prince Edward County and parts of Cumberland, Nottoway and Charlotte counties, will continue to distribute food on Saturdays at its Commerce Street location. “To keep our volunteers and clients safe
Farmville the Magazine
Left photo, Walkers Diner Co-owners Steve Graham, Rob Chapman and Loretta Graham serve customers at the takeout window. Above, FACES volunteers load staples and produce into a client’s car during a Saturday morning drive-by distribution. during the COVID-19 crisis we have switched to a drive-thru method,” FACES President Ellery Sedgwick explained. “Consequently, we need more volunteers on Thursdays from 3:30-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30-10:30 a.m.” The Backpack Program, also managed by FACES, provides weekend food supplies for elementary and middle school students, a service especially needed now that schools are closed. Backpacks are currently available during FACES regular Saturday distributions and at designated feeding locations established by Prince Edward schools. “Our counselors have been amazing,” FACES board member Joanne Baker said about elementary school counselors assisting with backpack distribution. “They’ve called students at home to make sure they’re getting their backpacks and are even delivering them to students without transportation.” For information on FACES or the Backpack Program call (434) 3923588. FACES AND PSR JOIN FORCES
During the teleconference, FACES President Ellery Sedgwick and Piedmont Senior Resources (PSR) Executive Director Justine Young agreed to coordinate efforts to assist PSR clients. PSR currently delivers five frozen meals each week to homebound seniors in Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties. FACES agreed to provide fresh produce and meat purchased from the food bank in Richmond for PSR deliveries twice a month. PSR clients, Young noted, are among the most vulnerable in the community. “All of PSR’s services are geared toward helping those who’ve worked hard all their lives and now need a little help,” Young explained. “Having this addition to their food supply will make a significant difference.” PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK
The Interfaith Collective, represented by Patsy Watson, set up a net-
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At Longwood University, a student packs up and prepares to return home. The university officially announced that residence halls would close March 25 and students would be required to leave the campus.
Farmville the Magazine
work of volunteers to be matched one-onone — or peer-to-peer — with individuals in need of specific assistance. Aimed at older residents or those unable to leave home, this assistance might include delivering groceries or prescriptions, providing rides to and from a doctor’s appointment, or a daily call or text to the homebound. “Patsy Watson and her group of volunteers launched the Peer-to-Peer Network in less than three days,” Loeser said. By the first week in April, volunteers were working with 95 residents requesting help. A mask-making tutorial was also scheduled to help volunteers provide much-needed face protection in the coming days. Manned by volunteers from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the peer-to-peer hotline number is (434) 414-1188. FARMVILLE AREA MASKS (FAM)
Local efforts to meet a growing need for protective facemasks emerged and has continued to grow. Ginger Davis and Toni Puckett joined forces March 24 to launch the Farmville Area Masks (FAM) Facebook page that serves as a connection point between local seamstresses and healthcare providers or others in the community in need of protective masks. By the first week in April, page membership had grown to 313, and countless masks had been delivered across the Farmville area and beyond.
Combining exercise with social distancing, a trio of cyclists depart from High Bridge Trail Plaza and head down the trail.
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The Interfaith Collective, featured in this mural facing High Bridge Trail, provided a group of volunteers to assist local residents during the COVID-19 crisis. Organized by Patsy Watson, Peer-to-Peer Network offers assistance to the elderly and others advised to stay at home.
“Stop,� indicated by a red hand on the crossing sign at Main and Second streets, reflects the COVID-19 effect. Farmville residents are staying at home.
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COMMUNITY RESPONSE
“Thanks so much to everyone who is making masks!” PSR Executive Director Justine Young commented on the FAM page. “The team at PSR was so thrilled today to receive some. It truly brightened the day. It really does take a village — everyone helping makes things so much better.” Centra Southside Community Hospital Community Engagement and Relations Manager Kerry Mossler echoed that sentiment. “The response from the community has been amazing,” Mossler said. “We will use these masks to keep hospital patients and workers safe.” “Our community is depending on us to work together during this unprecedented time in our history,” STEPS CEO Sharon Harrup added. “We will get through this, and we will help our neighbors get through it as well.” The Farmville community is encouraged to visit farmvillecares. org for a full listing of COVID-19 resources.
Above, Liz Sears models a mask made by Farmville Area Masks volunteers for Centra Southside Community Hospital employees. (submitted photo). Below, the Letterpress Communications team organized a March 17 teleconference that led to the Farmville Cares website. Here members of the Letterpress team lead a Facebook live presentation on working from home. Pictured, top left, clockwise, are Lyndsie Blakely, Letterpress Principal Ilsa Loeser, Jenn Kinne and Julia McCann.
Southside Family YMCA instructor Patsy Watson started a “Sequestercize” Facebook group that offers videos she recorded for home exercisers.
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Photos by Titus Mohler and Alexa Massey
Two parades honoring local healthcare workers at Centra Southside Community Hospital were held Thursday, April 23. Parades were held for the morning shift and evening shifts of workers. Community members expressing support, appreciation and thankfulness for the dedication of the healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Workers at Southside Community Hospital came out to watch and wave as the parade of well-wishers drove past with signs and decorations.
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Farmville the Magazine
Sewn Together:
Community of sewers make handmade masks Story by Crystal Vandegrift
A Facebook group started in late March with only two people grew to more than 100 citizens who came together to make homemade masks for those serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and others who are at risk of contracting the virus. "I saw news articles from other cities around the country of others organizing efforts like this," Town of Farmville resident Ginger Davis said. "Then, I started to see local Facebook posts from individuals seeking masks for their healthcare facilities." According to Davis, the Facebook group Farmville Area Masks is a connecting point for healthcare professionals to make requests and for the community of seamstresses to be aware of and meet those needs. "We live in a compassionate community. I knew people would make masks for them," Davis said. Davis said when she started the Facebook group, she had no idea another citizen, Toni Puckett, was already organizing seamstresses within the community. "When we were on the phone collaborating about how to organize everything, we laughed about how ironic it was that we had found ourselves, two people with little to no sewing skills, helping to organize a local sewing movement." Puckett said. According to Davis, Farmville Mayor David Whitus put her and Puckett in touch with each other because the two of them had reached out to various organizations asking if there was a need for masks. "When I received calls from Toni and Ginger saying they knew people who were willing to sew, I asked them to head the effort," Whitus said. "Both have done a wonderful job of reaching out through their networks to marshal resources and people. It's an act of love. And the entire healthcare community is deeply appreciative. But it's who we are as a community. This community has always risen to meet the needs of people." "God has given us all different skills, gifts, and passions to offer, though, and while some of our offerings in this ministry may seem small, they are all needed," Puckett said. "Ginger and I both feel that we are such a very small part of this ministry, and neither of us wants or seek any attention. The people working countless hours washing, drying, ironing, cutting, and sewing fabric into lifesaving masks are true heroes in our eyes." According to Puckett, she got involved after calling her mother, Rose Marie Howard, to see if she could make masks for Dayton Puckett and his staff at Puckett Funeral Home in Farmville. "Dayton had ordered N95 masks well over a month ago, but they never arrived. We now believe that it could be months before they get here," Puckett said. "Some of my friends on Facebook had been sharing some tutorials, so I emailed them to my mother to review, and she was happy to make the masks for Dayton and his staff, and asked me to call The Woodland Nursing Home to see if they needed masks for their staff or patients." According to Puckett, the group has made and distributed masks to Centra Southside Community Hospital, nursing homes, local rescue
Area citizens have come together to make homemade masks that are being distributed to nursing homes, hospitals and rescue workers. squad workers, etc. Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad Executive Director Deanna Jones said the homemade mask cannot be used for squad members but that the organization still utilized them. "While we are not able to wear them as our primary PPE, we still have a need for these masks and will put them to good use," Jones said. "We were able to utilize these for patient use, family member use, and other times when a mask is helpful but does not require the filtering of an N95." For Davis, she knew she had to do something to help those in need. "I am not a medical professional or scientist, and I don't even know how to sew," Davis said. "But I had to do something to help. This is so small in the big scheme of things, but I pray this effort brings unity to our local area and lets our healthcare workers know that they are all valued and appreciated."
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Farmville the Magazine
Story by Roger Watson
Donna Golden
said. “But I do everything I can to protect myself from getting it. I “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays wash my hands. I use hand sanitizer, and I wipe my case down. I these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed wipe my scanner, anything that could possibly allow to be given to rounds,” is the unofficial motto of the U.S. Postal Service. me. I make sure that it’s sanitized.” Now, nor global pandemic can be added to those words chisGolden is right to be concerned. According to a recent article eled above the entrance of the New York City post office on 8th in the Washington Post, nearly 500 postal workers have tested Avenue. positive for the coronavirus and 462 have presumptive positives. While many of us work from home in sweat pants and T-shirts Nineteen postal workers have died due to COVID-19 and more catching reruns of “Seinfeld” between conference calls and work than 6,000 are self-quarantine due to exposure to the virus. assignments, Donna Golden is an essential worker, very essential. She said she has also changed her habits at home to keep the As a mail carrier for the Farmville Post Office, Golden is still makvirus away. ing her appointed rounds with a “We are more precautious few modifications. She wears gloves while han“I am concerned with COVID-19 now with sanitizing everything,” she said. “When my dling the mail and has stopped very much because of getting husband (Joseph Golden) seeing her customers, and the virus and taking it home to gets home he makes sure that handing off the mail personally. my husband. He has asthma. But anything he wears he takes off Golden says she misses seeing her customers who have been I do everything I can to protect before it comes in the house,” she said. a part of her life since she began myself from getting it. I wash She said she also washes her delivering mail along Route 1 my hands. I use hand sanitizer hands more and generally pracin 2006. “I really don’t see my custom- and I wipe my case down. I wipe tices the guidelines to thwart ers, and that’s really bad because my scanner, anything that could the spread of the coronavirus. In a world where we have disI’m really attached to most of possibly allow to be given to me. connected from each other for my customers,” she said. I make sure that it’s sanitized.” a time, the daily delivery from She said the postal service the postal carrier helps provide has had safety talks establishing a bit of normalcy to a time that new rules. is anything but. “Customers do not touch the scanner, they do not come near A second description of the relationship between postal us.” Golden said. “I really miss seeing them. I see them at their carriers like Golden and us can be found on the Smithsonian’s Nahouse, but that is about it.” tional Postal Museum in Washington. It’s called, “The Letter” and Golden said she waves from a distance, but that is as much was written by Charles W. Elliot, a former president of Harvard interaction as she has had since the social distancing guidelines University. began. Messenger of Sympathy and Love She said customers who typically pick up their mail from her Servant of Parted Friends at the box have been asked to stand back six feet and get the mail Consoler of the Lonely Bond of the Scattered Family after it has been placed in the mailbox. Enlarger of the Common Life Carrier of News and Knowledge Golden said she is taking precautions to stay safe while on her Instrument of Trade and Industry job in order not to bring the virus home to her family. Promoter of Mutual Acquaintance Of Peace and of Goodwill “I am concerned with COVID-19 very much because of getting Among Men and Nations. the virus and taking it home to my husband. He has asthma,” she
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Angle prepares a fresh pizza to be boxed and delivered to a customer in Farmville.
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‘Hope to see you soon’ Story by Alexa Massey
Although delivery orders have decreased, Angle said he has With restaurant dining rooms closed and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s advice to only venture to the grocery store when noticed that customers are tipping more. “Customers have been more generous with tips since the panabsolutely necessary, people both in Farmville and around the demic outbreak, which is most appreciated for us in the service country have had limited dining options during the COVID-19 industry.” pandemic. He added that Pizza World is following all recommendations Although most restaurants still offer carryout services, many from the local health department and appropriate governmental locals are utilizing the comfort of an old friend, pizza delivery, agencies. The restaurant’s delivery drivers keep sanitizing wipes in order to satisfy cravings and keep the family happy without in their vehicles and have been instructed on how to sanitize having to leave the house. For a pizza deliverer, this means added themselves and vehicle touch points after pressure unlike ever before. each delivery. Parrish Angle, a delivery driver and Angle added the owners of Pizza World, employee of the Pizza World restaurant Danny and Avery Teachey, also own in Farmville, does not let that pressure get several ServiceMaster Clean franchises to him. throughout North Carolina and Virginia, Angle, age 19, of Farmville, is currently which has served as a great additional enrolled at Hampden-Sydney College. resource for employee and customer safety. He’s been working at Pizza World as a Angle said he does not feel scared when delivery specialist since August of 2019. going out on deliveries. The difficulties of Angle said on an average day before the the pandemic have bled into his personal pandemic occurred his schedule usually life, though. Hampden-Sydney College consisted of going to classes, studying and announced late March it would be making preparing for his shift at the restaurant. the move toward remote instruction for “ I really enjoy being a delivery driver for the rest of the spring. Pizza World,” he said. “Each day is different Angle was also saddened by the travel and I enjoy meeting all the customers.” restrictions brought on by the virus. While Angle had to witness the distressing efhe misses going to the beach, he looks forfects of the COVID-19 outbreak firsthand ward to a trip to the coast once restrictions at the restaurant. Pizza World had to temare lifted and the world is recovering. porarily close down its newly constructed In the meantime, Angle continues to buffet room and children’s projection game deliver pizza to hungry customers and wait room in order to comply with new safety for the light at the end of the tunnel. orders. Angle’s favorite Pizza World pizza is “Understandably, we are not as busy as Angle gets ready to head out for a pizza delivery in town. the Classic Supreme, although he also feels we were pre-pandemic,” he noted. pretty strongly about the Chicken Bacon Pizza World, like many restaurants, has Ranch Pizza. experienced less customer traffic and an overall decrease in busi“I love being part of the team at Pizza World,” he said. “We have ness due to the novel coronavirus. However, he added that despite the governor’s Stay-at-Home Order, the pandemic has also caused a close group, and we all help out any way we can. I’d just like to thank our loyal customers, and invite those of you that may not a decrease in delivery orders. have experienced the best pizza in town to give us a call. HopeWhen Angle does go out for deliveries, he can sometimes see fully I'll be lucky enough to deliver to you. the weariness and concern on the faces of those he encounters. “Stay safe and well. Hope to see you soon.” “People have been nice. Some are afraid of the unknown.”
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Miller’s Country Store Assistant Manager Amy Miller conducts bookwork in the store’s side office. Ordering from suppliers to keep the shelves stocked is one of the vital roles she plays in helping the store continue its service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Farmville the Magazine
‘Be the calm in the storm’
Story and photos by Titus Mohler
Miller’s Country Store is a Farmville-based establishment at 2737 W. 3rd St. that people in the community count on for its services as a specialty grocery store and deli. It has carried on through the COVID-19 pandemic as an essential business. Assistant Manager Amy Miller described the approach she and the store’s staff have taken to the highly unusual situation imposed upon the store by the novel coronavirus. “We’re just trying to stay calm and help out people how we can,” she said. “But yeah, it’s definitely a different world than a few weeks ago.” The daughter of store operators Albert and Anna Miller, Amy Miller has been the store’s assistant manager since 2012. “I have worked here probably 20 years,” she said. “In August it’ll be 20 years. I was pretty young when we started, but we would work after school and stuff like that.” One of her key responsibilities as assistant manager is doing ordering for the store from suppliers, which is what allows Miller’s Country Store to keep its shelves stocked. “I sell the barns outside,” she said. “I do all the bookwork, and then I help out in the (store) deli and (at the) register, wherever they need me in here.” She noted she works in the deli quite a bit over lunchtime. “I help out, but I don’t do much of the baking unless there’s no one else to do that,” she said. In some ways, the pandemic has made her and the store staff quite a bit busier than normal. “Keeping the store cleaned has become almost a full-time (job),” she said. “We just try to wipe stuff down a lot more.” Everyone has been doing their part to try to keep the shelves stocked, she said. “They were super empty, and keeping those stocked — the girls have been doing very well with that,” she said. Miller noted ordering has changed as a result of the pandemic. “Our bulk items, the sales have increased quite a bit,” she said. “People are buying 50 pounds of rice and flour and baking products. Our sales have really gone up in that area.” Another thing that has kept her busy is simply trying to keep up with the new regulations being put in place by the state to limit the spread of COVID-19. As for her feelings in connection to the pandemic, Miller indicated things are kind of up and down but she and the staff are aiming for stability. “We’re just trying to help out the community how we can and
On the list of different responsibilities for Miller’s Country Store Assistant Manager Amy Miller is working in the deli when help is needed there. She works there quite a bit over lunchtime, helping feed customers during the pandemic. be here for people and try to be the calm in the storm,” she said. She noted that Miller’s Country Store being classified as an essential business amid the pandemic has changed her perspective on her job, underscoring the importance, to her, of providing a valuable service without interruption. “From the financial perspective, we’re very blessed to still be open and have a job and help the community in that way,” she said. “ But it’s also like, for us we have to be more careful, as in health-wise, that we stay healthy so we can still be open for the public.” Many Miller’s Country Store customers have been taking precautions as they shop, she observed in early April. “The past week, I’d say probably 60% of our customers would wear masks, maybe even 75% when they come in,” she said. She noted customers have expressed significant gratitude to her and the store staff for what they do. “Almost every day, we have customers that ask, ‘So, are y’all staying open?’” she said. “They’re concerned that we would have to shut down, so yes, they’re very thankful that we are here.”
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The Farmville Herald paper boy Eli Timma finishes rolling his newspapers before setting out on his three routes. Timma makes his two-hour trip on both Tuesdays and Thursdays to deliver the twice-weekly newspaper.
Farmville the Magazine
Story by Alexa Massey
Life is full of lessons, many of which are learned at a young age. Delivering the local newspaper twice a week has certainly taught 14-year-old Eli Timma a lot, and delivering those papers in the age of COVID-19 has supplied some exceptionally important lessons. Timma lives right in the center of the Town of Farmville and enjoys playing video games and participating in sports such as baseball and basketball. One of his favorite activities includes being a part of the Farmville Area Boy Scouts Troop 6516, where he developed an interest in competitive target shooting. Timma is homeschooled. He’s in the eighth grade, and his favorite subject is writing. Being homeschooled means Timma has not had to experience too many changes in his academic life since Governor Northam closed all K-12 Virginia schools in March, but he’s seen the impact of the pandemic in other ways, particularly as a “paper boy,” as he refers to himself, for The Farmville Herald. According to Timma, two years ago he expressed interest to his mom in being able to earn his own money. After deciding he wanted to find a job, Timma started delivering the twice-weekly newspaper, and has done so ever since. “Normally I’ll come in around 1-1:30 p.m. (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and I’ll finish rolling the papers by 1:45 or 2 p.m. My mom will help drive me around town and I’ll walk the other half of the route,” Timma explained. Timma has three routes across Farmville, delivering to most Main Street businesses, Longwood buildings, and residences across the town. He also delivers the paper to Town Hall. The pandemic has made Timma very conscious about both his health and the health of those he delivers to, especially his older customers. Timma wears a mask during his work hours and disinfects his hands between every single delivery. Businesses have been quick to acclimate to his new routine. Although Timma normally walks into many of the buildings to personally deliver the paper, he maintains his distance and now usually hands the paper over through a crack in the door. Timma used to deliver the paper to the individual Longwood buildings but now delivers them wrapped in plastic to a centralized location to avoid making trips across the campus. Timma has also altered his protocol from coming home after delivering the paper. At the end of each shift he disinfects items like his shoes. Items that were on Timma during his routes don’t come back inside the house. Having a job at 14 means Timma experiences different con-
Eli Timma
Timma leads the Court of Honor during a recent Boy Scout meeting. cerns than other kids his age. He was initially worried when the pandemic occurred that the effects of the crisis would affect his job and ability to save money, a thought prevalent in many adults but not many kids. The worry gives Timma some perspective on what troubles the adults around him are facing. Timma’s mom, Diane, said the family always seeks to have open discussions regarding the virus at home. “We have a few elderly neighbors on Eli’s route, and it’s given us a chance to just check in and see what they need and minimize their trips to the store,” she added. Timma’s life has changed in other ways, as well. His extracurricular activities are no longer meeting, including sports and the Boy Scouts. However, his family focuses on finding other creative outlets to maintain energy levels. As of lately, Timma is spending his days doing his schoolwork and playing around his yard with his brother and two cats. Family game time has increased, as have walks and secluded sports activities with his family. However, Timma said he can’t wait to go back to Boy Scouts and continue having fun playing sports with his friends. “I’m extremely proud of him,” Diane said. “I think he handles things very practically, and I think he’s very thoughtful and conscious. He’s never hesitant to ask questions and try to figure something out.”
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Blake Tharpe, who manages and helps direct orders for Wayfast delivery, says the company has seen a significant increase in sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Delivering local food Story by Alexa Massey
Heavy government restrictions caused all local restaurants to close their dining rooms late March. Although many eateries still offer carryout, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s Stay-at-Home Order means many Farmville residents are hoping to avoid making trips outside of the house as much as possible. Additionally, restaurants that don’t typically offer delivery have had to look into new ways of bringing their cuisine to customers. One company that has provided solutions for these problems and encountered a bright side to the COVID-19 pandemic is Farmville’s own Wayfast Delivery. Wayfast partners with local restaurants to deliver food all over town. Customers can order from the menus of a variety of businesses listed on Wayfast’s website. Wayfast then picks up the order and delivers to the address provided at checkout. The service has helped to keep local restaurants open during the outbreak. The company’s standard delivery fee is $3, although the price may vary between restaurants, and this fee does not include a tip. A $15 order minimum is required. Right on the frontlines of Wayfast’s mission to keep eateries open is employee Blake Tharpe. Tharpe, age 23, has been working at Wayfast for more than a year and now serves as a manager. He can usually be found working the front desk to direct orders and assign deliveries but often heads out to deliver orders when the day is especially busy. Tharpe grew up in the Charlotte Court House area and graduated from Randolph Henry High School in 2014. He now lives in Farmville with his family. His hobbies include spending time with his children, skateboarding and raising pet ducks. Tharpe said the company saw an increase in restaurants interested in working with the delivery service once government restrictions surrounding the pandemic began to be put in place. Wayfast has since added several businesses to its delivery options. Additionally, the company has actually hired three new delivery drivers as a result of the increase in sales. Tharpe noted that Wayfast averaged around 70-75 orders on a
typical weekday before the pandemic occurred. That number has increased to an average of 90 orders on weekdays and 100 orders each day of the weekend, with two to three drivers on duty during regular business hours. “Things have been really busy,” he remarked. Wayfast has been working to ensure food is delivered both quickly and safely. “One of the big things we’ve been doing is a bunch of the restaurants have been trying to make the pickup contactless,” Tharpe explained. “There’s some where we’ll call them when we get there, and they come outside and we make limited contact to grab the order. Most of the time we don’t even get out of our car for that.” The food delivery service workers make sure to sanitize their hands and workspaces properly, and the company’s headquarters are cleaned thoroughly each night. Tharpe added Wayfast offers contactless delivery options. Customers can enter special delivery notes at the bottom of their order and specify details like wanting their meals left on the doorstep. Wayfast includes an option to tip its drivers via credit card online as well, eliminating the hassle of worrying about leaving a cash tip. Tharpe said he was impressed with local restaurants’ ability to adapt during the crisis. He finds joy in his work, knowing that he is helping local businesses to move product and aiding citizens in staying home while still enjoying local cuisine. He added that in the face of such trying times, customers have been exceptionally generous, and drivers are seeing an overall increase in tips for their service. Reflecting upon his fellow Wayfast team members, Tharpe emphasized the hard work of all of his fellow employees. “I’m proud of all of them. They’re doing a great job. I love them all.” Although he keeps his spirits high, Tharpe looks forward to a time in the future when things return to normal and he can enjoy outings with his family. He hopes to still be able to hold a family beach trip in July, and misses sitting down in a restaurant to eat. For now, he will continue to work hard and keep Farmville residents eating delicious, local food.
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HEALTH CARE HEROES
The COVID-19 unit at Centra Southside Community Hospital. The neurology and pulmonology team at Centra Southside Community Hospital.
The endoscopy team at Centra Southside Community Hospital.
The team at the CMG Farmville Medical Clinic.
The lab team at Centra Southside Community Hospital.
Farmville the Magazine
HEALTH CARE HEROES
The ortho and nephro clinics at Centra Southside Community Hospital.
The radiology and imaging team at Centra Southside Community Hospital.
The PACE team at Centra Southside Community Hospital.
The Women’s Center at Centra Southside Community Hospital.
The urology team at Centra Southside Community Hospital.
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Town and Gown
An incredible feeling The day I learned I was moving to Farmville was the day I literally wished out loud for it to happen. Interview season was over and I was weighing offers. I was also waiting to hear from the job I wanted most—Longwood, my last and favorite interview. But we were moving regardless, so Erik and I were packing. It was a typical sticky St. Louis summer. Flopped on the couch, exhausted from packing and the looming deadline for choosing our future, I said what we both were thinking, “I just wish Longwood would call.” In the shower later, I hoped that maybe my answer would fall from the showerhead. I was washing my hair when Erik started knocking on the door with uncharacteristic insistence. “Your phone’s ringing! It’s Virginia!” I was sure it couldn’t be that call, but I nearly broke my neck scrambling to answer it anyway. With a soapy head I received the offer I’d been hoping for so much. I tried to play it cool, but Wade Edwards can probably confirm I didn’t succeed. Farmville was a dream. Our arrival was greeted by a vaseful of Baxter Carter famous zinnias, friendly neighbors, fun colleagues, and a beautiful campus. I thought I must be in “The Firm.” “It can’t be this good, can it?” I asked Erik, half-joking. “I mean, I even get a name tag!” That was just a sprinkle on the perfect sundae that was my new job and town. Coming from big cities, we were stunned by how kind and caring everyone was. Colleagues unloaded our truck on what ended up being the hottest day that summer but refused to take anything in return. Others showed us around town, with visits to Cub Creek, antique shops and sporting events. We continue to meet new friends. When we
bought our house, we came home to pies and wine. But maybe a story will show best what it means to be a part of Farmville. One rainy summer, my husband, Erik knocked his only pair of glasses over the railing of the deck at Charley’s while swatting a gnat. I climbed (dress and all) through the muddy foliage to retrieve them. A laughing Jes Simmons took pictures while helping direct me to them from above. After climbing back up through the not-yetopened Virginia Tasting Cellar, Charley’s staff helped me wash up. When I shared this adventure on Facebook, wondering about the poison ivy Joe Kocevar assured me was on the banks of the Appomattox, my neighbor Leigh Lunsford left some Technu on her porch before going to bed so I could ward it off that night. (It worked!) That’s the community of Farmville. Here we’ve met some of the best friends of our lives, on campus and off. Here Erik found his own career in the Center for Global Engagement. He rediscovered his love and talent for acting through the supportive folks at Waterworks. We fell in love with the Heart of Virginia Festival and town parades. We treasure our annual trip to Carter Mountain to pick apples with friends and fireworks and music at the airport. Audrey Sullivan at Red Door 104 showed us we love to paint together with members of our community. New haunts and hangouts are never short of talent and culture. Longwood has given me more than an awesome job and awesome students. It’s brought me home. Watching Farmville grow and shine with new businesses and community groups is an incredible feeling. I’ve lived in many places, but few have felt like “home.” Farmville has become the one I hope I never leave.
DR. SARAH HILLENBRAND VARELA (Dr. V.) is Assistant Professor of German in the Department of English and Modern Languages at Longwood University. Her email address is varelash@longwood.edu
Farmville the Magazine
Where Am I?
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.
LAST ISSUE’S WINNER The “Where Am I” photo in the April edition of Farmville – The Magazine was the butterfly mural painted on a wall near the Farmville Baptist Church on Main Street. Jeffree Hudson correctly guessed the Where Am I last month. Congratulations Jeffree! Good luck with this month’s photo.
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Catching Up With
Madelyn Bickford Story by Titus Mohler Photos by Mary Baldwin University Athletics and Titus Mohler
M
adelyn Bickford, of Buckingham, began leaving her imprint on the collegiate softball world as a freshman during the 201920 school year at Mary Baldwin University (MBU) in Staunton. She had already made her impact in Farmville, earning state championships in high school and in Dixie Softball as a member of Fuqua School’s varsity squad and Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association’s Debs All-Star squad, respectively. Last fall and this spring, she was part of a turning of the tide for the Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrels. Bickford said Mary Baldwin Head Coach Christy Shelton made a comment that the squad did not really play as a team during the 2019 season. “But throughout practices during the fall and then in the spring when we started playing games, she said she noticed a big difference from last year to this year in how we really started to mesh as a team,” Bickford said. “And we were really turning the program around and we were improving our stats and our wins and all that by a lot this year. And then we were on our way back from Ferrum and got the news that we were done.” The Fighting Squirrels (3-9) had just finished a doubleheader against Ferrum College March 11 when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and ultimately ended their 2020 season. Twenty-eight games remained on Mary Baldwin’s regular-season schedule. “We were on the way to Ferrum when we started hearing about all the schools closing, and I got a text from my mom saying that (James Madison University) and (University of Virginia) were waiting to make their decisions,” Bickford said. “And those being the two biggest schools that are really close to us, I figured once they closed that it wouldn’t be soon after that
Former Fuqua School and Prince Edward-Farmville Youth Association softball standout Madelyn Bickford exemplified what a Mary Baldwin University softball player is all about during her freshman season this spring, according to MBU Head Coach Christy Shelton. The hallmarks of a MBU player are passion, hard work, respect and commitment.
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Pictured here playing second base for Fuqua School in 2019, Madelyn Bickford also played at second base this spring as a Mary Baldwin University freshman before moving to the outfield. we would close.” She said the entire team was together on the bus when Shelton delivered the news that its season had been suspended. “It was really sad, especially for the two seniors we have on the team,” Bickford said, recalling the moment. “Nobody said anything. It was quiet.” Then some of the older members of the team started playing some music, helping lighten the mood, she noted. “We just kind of sang and spent time with each other, because we knew that was going to be one of the last times we were together with our seniors,” she said. Bickford noted that personally, she was really sad about the season being cut short because she did not end up getting to spend much time with those two senior captains, Sam Breeden and Jordan Miller, with whom she had started to bond. “I was really upset just because it’s my freshman year, and it got cut short, but I felt more sad for the seniors, because even though the NCAA is giving them a year of eligibility back, with grad school and stuff, they don’t think they’re going to be able to do it,” Bickford said. She confirmed that everyone on the team was redshirted, meaning they will still be eligible to
play four full collegiate seasons after this year. Bickford said she played at least a little bit in all 12 of Mary Baldwin’s games this season, logging time at second base and in the outfield. She started at second in the team’s season opener against Covenant College. “I feel like I contributed a lot to the team as a freshman and with being able to play multiple positions and also being a lefty batter,” she said. “I can bunt or I can hit, and so I just felt like I brought a lot of ability to the team to help them out.” Shelton spoke highly of Bickford, noting that, like all freshmen, she had to make a lot of quick adjustments to college life, as well as college softball. “Madelyn is very coachable and open-minded to embrace new challenges that are put before her as she competes for playing time,” the coach said. “Madelyn played second base for us during fall and at the beginning of our spring season. We moved her to outfield because of her speed.” Shelton said she and her staff look for Bickford to keep improving next season, whether it is at second or in the outfield. “Offensively, she is learning the college pitching but is a tough out as she will battle in the batter's box to get on base,” the coach said. “This
year has helped Madelyn get stronger and (gain) more confidence in herself, and that will help her going into next season.” The coach added that Bickford is fun to be around, and the staff enjoys having her on the team. “We are excited to see how she develops in the next few years,” Shelton said. “Madelyn exemplifies what a MBU softball player is all about: passion, hard work, respect and commitment.” Reflecting on the 2020 season, Bickford said her best individual performance came March 8 in a game against Franklin & Marshall College. “I came into the game and laid down a really good bunt and also had a couple good plays in the outfield,” she said. She already has preliminary goals for next season. “Well, I would say, ‘Get through the whole season,” she said with a laugh. Bickford also noted wanting to improve her skills as an outfielder. Before this spring, outfielder was a position she had not played since her freshman year of high school. “It took a little bit of re-teaching myself some stuff, but I’d really like to improve in the outfield so I can be a bigger help to the team,” she said.
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48 Farmville the Magazine
A Look into the Past
Memorial Day in Westview Cemetery a walk through Farmville’s past
Beverly Randolph, eighth governor of Virginia, was elected in 1788 and served until 1791. He died at the age of 42 at his farm in Cumberland County and is one of two former governors buried in Westview Cemetery.
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By Dr. Jim Jordan
T
his year Memorial Day comes at an unprecedented time in our history. While our world is facing a pandemic, it’s more important than ever for us to look to the past. Archeologists understand the importance of remembering those who lived before us — their lives provide valuable lessons for us today. A visit to Farmville’s Westview Cemetery brings us closer to understanding the people who once lived and worked in our town. Some survived a similar flu epidemic in 1918, and some did not. The funerary art in this cemetery reflects something about each person who was buried here. If they could only talk, these former residents of Farmville could undoubtedly tell us how they survived another epidemic that hit our town so long ago. When Farmville was founded in 1798, the necessity of providing a place for the dead was considered a family obligation. Burials were primarily in family graveyards. Later, churchyards with burial plots for members began to appear. These churchyard sites evolved into town cemeteries available to all local residents. We have examples of all three of them in our area today. The observance of Memorial Day began after the Civil War ended in 1866. Originally called Decoration Day, the occasion was established in Columbus, Mississippi, “to strew flowers among the graves of those who died in the late rebellion.” Two years later on May 30, 1868, the federal government declared a national holiday and renamed it Memorial Day. About that time a set of symbols that conveyed something
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50 Farmville the Magazine about departed members of the community evolved. This pictorial “shorthand,” called funerary art, was useful for those who could not read and write. Although we often don’t realize it, this funerary art remains in use today. Cemeteries around Farmville have fascinating examples of funerary art on grave markers or tombstones, headstones, footstones, monuments, grave markers and gravestones. Most markers in our area are made of natural stone material such as granite, marble, limestone or sandstone. Some are made of concrete or brick and occasionally iron, copper, bronze or zinc. SYMBOLS SET IN STONE
Listed here is a brief explanation of common funerary art: • “Open Gates” indicates leaving the land of the living; • “Shrouded Urn” gives protection on the way to Heaven; • “Flying Hourglass” represents the quickness of the days of life; • “Broken Rose” signifies the death of a young female; • “Tree Stump with Cut Limbs” the death of a young male; • “Harvested Wheat” symbolizes a long and useful life; • “Lamb, Dove and Angel” marks the grave of a child or infant; • “Open Book:” represents the Book of Life interrupted in the midst; • “Clasping Hands” depicts a married couple in final farewell (shirt cuffs indicate male or female); • “Skull” symbolizes the stamp of death; • “Anchor” represents a safe harbor; • “Pointing Finger” indicates the direction to Heaven. Cemetery customs also carry meanings that were understood by people of the past. While these patterns are still observed today, we often don’t know the stories behind them. Here are several funerary customs from the past that are still in use today. PEEBLES, PIECES OF GLASS AND BEADS
People of the past believed evil spirits or witches haunted graveyards and disturbed the rest of the departed. These mischievous beings, thought to be childlike and curious, needed distraction, so graves were often covered with tiny items like pebbles or beads. The idea was to keep the pesky spirits busy counting until morning when the
Eliza C. Scott is the sole resident of a family cemetery behind Longwood House. The other graves were moved to Westview Cemetery in the 1920s, but Eliza was left behind. Records indicate that she died of consumption, and since no one at the time knew what caused the disease, Eliza’s final resting place remains in a plot behind Longwood House. sun would chase them away. For the same reason, yucca with its numerous spear-shaped leaves, was planted around graves. PERIWINKLE AND WOLFBANE
Periwinkle, the flowering perennial that farmers call dogbane or wolfbane, is frequently found
on cemetery grounds. The custom of planting wolfbane began 1,000 years ago in England when the country was plagued by roaming bands of wolves. In those days the dead were wrapped in shrouds and buried in shallow graves, which made it easy for wolves to dig them up. Farmers had learned that wild animals wouldn’t dig up
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Phillip McKinney served as Virginia’s 41st governor from 1890-94. He was born in Buckingham and attended HampdenSydney College. McKinney died in Farmville in 1899 at the age of 66. wolfbane — and today we know why. The leaves contain an oily sap bitter to the mouth, nose and eyes. Thus, the custom of planting periwinkle on graves began. Today, even with deeper graves, concrete vaults and embalming — not to mention a lack of roaming wolves — the tradition continues. GRAVES FACING EAST
Sometimes archaeologists discover shallow depressions in the ground without a tombstone. Wooden slabs that once marked these graves have rotted away over time. Since the body was in a shroud, the surface would subside as remains deteriorated. In order to determine if these depressions were actually graves, archeologists would note the orientation of the depressions. Graves were customarily oriented east to west, as they often are today. That orientation follows a tradition of burying the dead facing east. That was done so they could sit up on judgment day and face the rising sun— not to
mention a new life. Headstones with inscriptions face east as well. THE CEMETERY THAT MOVED, MINUS ONE
One local cemetery has a fascinating tale to tell. The single remaining resident in this graveyard could tell the strange tale if she were alive — but she died in 1859 and cannot speak. This is the story of Eliza C. Scott, the only remaining resident in the cemetery behind Peter Johnstone’s Longwood House built in 1765. According to the mortality schedule for the 1850 U.S. census, Eliza died of “consumption,” a disease we now know as tuberculosis. No one knew what caused the highly contagious disease, so when it was decided to move the 28 graves behind Longwood House to Westview Cemetery in the 1920s, Eliza was left behind — where she remains today. No one really knew what caused consumption, so poor Eliza was never allowed to join her friends at Westview.
“GO ON AHEAD.”
A tale from the 1800s about an American Indian on the Great Plains in the 1800s gives us a good perspective on death. When told he was dying the Indian told his companions, “It is good — you all stay here while I go on ahead.” Similar insights can be found on many epithets, including those at Westview. Many years ago I saw a headstone inscribed with the “Pointing Finger” that was aimed directly at the viewer. It bore the following message: “Remember as you pass by, as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you must be, prepare yourself and follow me.” If you visit Westview Cemetery this Memorial Day, take some time to read the monuments and tombstones. These residents of Farmville’s past may be gone, but their words remain to guide us. Dr. Jim Jordan taught at Longwood University for almost 40 years before retiring as the Board of Visitors Distinguished Professor of Anthropology.
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