November 2021 Vol. 6, No. 7 FREE
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Avoid these activities or wear noise-reducing devices to protect your hearing… • Attending concerts, auto races and sporting events • Listening to loud music through earbuds or headphones • Using vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, power tools or lawn mowers
Did you know that noise is a major cause of hearing loss—even in young people?
• Riding in a power boat or on a motorcycle, ATV or tractor • Shooting guns: A single gunshot can damage your hearing (or your child’s hearing) permanently
If you’re concerned about your hearing, contact us for an appointment to get it checked! (434) 395-2972 | shls@longwood.edu | longwood.edu/shls 315 W. Third Street, Farmville, VA 23901
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Publisher — Betty J. Ramsey Betty.Ramsey@FarmvilletheMag.com Designer — Troy Cooper Troy.Cooper@FarmvilletheMag.com
EDITORIAL Crystal Vandegrift Crystal.Vandegrift@FarmvilletheMag.com Alexa Massey Alexa.Massey@FarmvilletheMag.com Shannon Watkins Shannon.Watkins@FarmvilletheMag.com
ADVERTISING Director — Jackie Newman Jackie.Newman@FarmvilletheMag.com Debbie Evans Debbie.Evans@FarmvilletheMag.com
CONTRIBUTORS
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Wilkerson's green thumb
Moton Museum
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On the cover: Jay Wilkerson, horticulturalist for the Town of Farmville, explains one of the many planters in town.
Dr. Cynthia Wood Cover photo by Shannon Watkins 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.
Patrick Wade
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Lindsay Worrell
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green thumb
WILKERSON’S
Farmville the Magazine
Story by Shannon Watkins
If you’ve ever enjoyed the beauty of the plaza in downtown Farmville or felt your heart give a little extra beat of pride when passing the “Welcome to Farmville” sign at Centra Southside Community Hospital, you can probably thank Jay Wilkerson. As the Town of Farmville’s horticulturist, Wilkerson is the one who keeps the town’s flowers in bloom and creates visually exciting presentations in its planters, around its signs and in all sorts of places you might not even have noticed. “I’m responsible for anything like that in town,” Wilkerson said. “That’s trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, anything on town property, anything that’s not grass. I try to make sure there’s color in town year-round.” The term he likes to use to describe this is “green infrastructure.” He took an hour around a weekday noon to give a little tour of a few places his work is most visible. Affable, calm and measured in his words, he seemed like the exact sort of person you’d want looking after anything that requires steady, patient tending. “I think at last count I had 38 different areas that had plants that had to be maintained,” Wilkerson said. “I’m the entire Horticulture Department. The most visible parts of my job are the planters and the annual beds, and I think I’ve got about 32 planters in town. It’s 20, maybe 22 that need to be replanted and changed annually.” He takes it seriously: if you climbed into his
truck to get a look at these sites around town, you saw a tiny, errant flower bulb on the passenger side floor. Wilkerson often spoke with deference towards his predecessor, David Fowlkes, whom he took over from in 2017. “A lot of the credit for things goes to him. He’s the one that really accelerated the horticulture program in Farmville. He retired, which is why I got the job.” One of the things you might not know, that Wilkerson points out, is that some plants are propagation protected, which is the plant version of being copyright protected. This is supervised by inspectors who come around to greenhouses and other places where plants are sold and make sure all the proprietary greenery that falls under this rule is tagged to show it’s legitimate and paid for. “It would be easy for me to take 100 cuttings off this plant and have 100 of this plant next year,” he said, touching a coleus plant. It’s also specifically like burning a copyrighted CD: if you buy a propagation-protected plant as a home gardener and give a single cutting to a friend, you’re probably not going to get into a lot of trouble. But if you sell 100 illegal burned CDs, or 100 unregistered plants... well, that’s something else again. Meeting at the Farmers Market, Wilkerson immediately climbed the steps next to the market building and pointed out
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something that’s free and open to everyone: the community herb garden, which was started with grant money. He inherited its care and has been keeping it up ever since. “People are welcome to come up here and they can harvest whatever they want,” Wilkerson said. “This is a fully interactive garden, and I encourage people to come through, and smell it, and that kind of thing.” He stepped carefully around the plants, pointing and listing them off. “Rosemary sage, basil, there’s a few different types of mint...things are a little bit past their peak, but they’re still good.” Wilkerson continued, “Chives, we’ve got oregano there, columnar and pesto basil…” He held up a delicate, green sprig. “This would be really good in chicken, this is lemon thyme, there’s regular thyme back there.” Fragrant, it did indeed smell of citrus, clean and bright. He plucked something from another plant. “This is a favorite, especially with the kids,” he said. “This is chocolate mint. If you’re making peppermint patties or anything like that, mint chocolate chip ice cream…” And, improbably, it smelled exactly like that, redolent of candy, yet gently herbal. What if the garden gets stripped after everyone is reminded of it? “That’s what it’s here for!” he
Jay Wilkerson, horticulturalist for the Town of Farmville, worked for 11 years at Farmville’s B&M Greenhouse after graduating from Longwood with a degree in environmental biology.
Farmville the Magazine
laughed, then kept indicating their herbs. “We’ve got lavender...this is garlic chives,” Wilkerson said of plants with stalks like green onions and dandelion-ish puffs on top. “This is great, some people call it ‘society garlic’ because it has the garlic flavor but it doesn’t tend to linger on your breath like regular garlic.” He looked around at the garden. “This was something I definitely wanted to see continued and maintained.” Across the way is the plaza, planters full of summery flowers that will soon be replaced for the coming cold seasons. When selecting plants for them, Wilkerson said, “I’ve got to look at exposure, I’ve got to look at how much sun it’s going to get, I’ve got to look at where it’s going to be viewed from — is it going to be viewed from 360 degrees, is it going to be up against a wall? — what kind of symmetry do I want, if I want it all, what type of plants will do well there, is it going to dry down quickly, should I choose plants that are going to be more drought tolerant, or deer resistant?”
That’s just for starters. Wilkerson said, “As far as the design goes, you’re looking for multiple points of contrast. That can be in height, growth habit, contrasting colors, textures…” They don’t look lush and inviting by accident; they’re planted and kept according to a visual design principle that Wilkerson explained thusly: “You need a thriller, a filler and a spiller.” A thriller is a tall plant that offers the most visual drama. A filler is a less-dramatic but pretty and serviceable plant that fluffs out the main and middle part of the planter, giving the design body. The spiller is something that trails or drapes over the sides towards the ground, adding an extra bit of eye-catching beauty. The whole aesthetic pleases the viewer who looks at it purposefully and creates a lovely background for those just passing by. “This is definitely a focal point of town as far as my work is concerned,” Wilkerson said. He gestured to slender trees near some of the planters, which he said are lacebark elms. “These get decorated for the holiday season. These are some
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of the bigger planters in town. They get changed out twice a year. We get a lot of comments from visitors about them. I try to do something different in every planter and not to repeat from year to year. It can be a little bit of a challenge to do something new.” For the non-gardener, keeping up with the plant names listed as you go around town looking is sometimes difficult, but the names alone are appealing: coleus (there are several varieties in his work), lantana, helichrysum, mandevilla, vinca, banana plant, impatiens, sunpatiens, cordyline, cosmos, red spider lily, crepe myrtle, ivy, black gum, coxcomb, paperbush, salvia, Japanese maple, diamond frost and sweet potato vine. All of these appear, some in multiple types, as Wilkerson’s handiwork. Showing them each off, Wilkerson had a sure and careful touch, very much at home in his element. The ivy and sweet potato vine can be found, along with many of the above, next to the police station in a cool, half-shaded spot complete with benches.
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Wilkerson strives to make sure there’s color in the town year-round, although some forces of nature are out of his control, such as the dogs who like to relieve themselves in the flowerbeds next to the LOVE sign on Main Street. It’s a secluded little place; people walked through, but their passage was muffled and they seemed to unconsciously slow down a bit. It’s a good place to stop and steady your nerves, breathe in the cool, verdant air and pause for a moment before getting back to the business of your day. Partly this is due to its location; but a lot of it is the result of Wilkerson’s patience and care. This care is a result of working for 11 years at Farmville’s B&M Greenhouse, a job he took after graduating from Longwood with a degree in environmental biology. “My dad’s a gardener; I worked in the garden with him, but I think my affinity for plants really started at B&M,” Wilkerson said. “I kind of got a full spectrum of skills there.” That same care, however, can’t prevent outside forces from having an effect. Next to the “Love” sign, at the very opening of the trail, there’s boxwoods with yellowed leaves and hollowedout spaces near the bottoms where vegetation should be. That’s indicative of dogs that, walking with their owners to and from the trail, stopped
to relieve themselves. The cumulative effect was to deaden that part of the bushes. Wilkerson was pretty good-natured about it, though. “My preference would be that they take their dogs a little further down the trail,” he said with a rueful smile. “Hopefully, there are so many beautiful things to see that folks won’t even notice it. I’d rather they enjoy the trail.” This also dovetails into what can make the job challenging, as much as he enjoys it. “It’s a lot to manage. I’m really fortunate in that I truly love what I do and I really love where I work, so that’s a benefit,” Wilkerson said. “The hardest part is probably working in the public domain where you don’t have complete control over your environment. If you’re landscaping your house, you can safely assume somebody’s not going to stomp through your landscaping in the middle of the night, or drive a car through it, but that’s just what you have to deal with working in the town.” The best part is that he has autonomy. “I pretty much get free rein to do the plantings,” he said.
“I do have a budget I have to stick with, but other than that, my bosses are pretty good at just letting me do my thing.” Most people interested in gardening can’t work on such a broad canvas, but we can certainly do our own thing in our own gardens (or potted plants if you don’t have a yard), and Wilkerson has words of wisdom for novice and home gardeners. “Probably one of my favorite quotes is by H. Fred Dale,” Wilkerson said, “and it says, ‘My green thumb came as a result of the mistakes I made by trying to see things from the plant’s point of view.’ So my version of that is, ‘Don’t get frustrated when things die or don’t grow as well as you would want them to.’ Learn from it, try to figure out what you did wrong, what you need to do differently, and try it again. Not everything I plant lives. Not everything is your fault, either. Sometimes things just die. Have fun and enjoy it.” If you’d like to be responsible for helping green things grow but don’t have the time or skills to make it happen, Wilkerson pointed out the
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Branch Out Program of Farmville, which takes donations to have trees planted around town. Is there value in municipal horticulture? It’s not necessary in the way keeping up roads or bridges is, so why engage in it? “You could probably compare it to art?” Wilkerson said. “It’s subjective. Obviously, it’s environmentally beneficial. And it makes you happy, hopefully, whether consciously or unconsciously.” Wilkerson clearly demonstrated he had the skills to do his job anywhere green things could grow; but, he said, there’s only one place he really wants to do it. “The more I travel, the more Farmville is home, and I appreciate it, and I’m just really grateful to be able to contribute to the community in a very visible way,” he said. If you would like to donate to Branch Out Farmville, visit online at farmvilleva.com/branch-out-infarmville/.
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Wilkerson’s plantings follow a visual design principle of thrillers, fillers and spillers. A thriller is a tall plant that offers the most visual drama. A filler is a less-dramatic but pretty and serviceable plant that fluffs out the main and middle part of the planter, giving the design body. The spiller is something that trails or drapes over the sides towards the ground, adding an extra bit of eye-catching beauty.
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Moton Museum
Local history inspires change for the future
Farmville the Magazine
Story and photos by Victoria Thompson
The Robert Russa Moton Museum, located in Farmville, serves not only as a historical landmark for the nation but for the community as well. The building, built in 1939 as a school for Black children, saw students and teachers endure cruel hardships and ignite change that affects lives generations later. For a first-time visitor, the museum tour provides context and awareness of how yesterday’s young students struggled, a concept that students today may not automatically realize. The tour begins with a short film about the life-changing event when Barbara Johns led the strike on April 23, 1951, to encourage her peers to fight against the poor conditions they were being educated in. Before the museum was a historic landmark, it was known as Robert Russa Moton High School, the first African American high school in Prince Edward County. Over the course of a decade, the
student population grew from around 160 to 450 students. One section set up for the tour presents the severity of said conditions with old-fashioned wooden desks placed on both sides of a heater, signifying that Moton students sat in overcrowded classrooms with uncomfortable temperature settings. An emphasis is placed, in addition, on the fact that Johns was just 16 years old at the time she chose to stand up for social justice. In a world where the voices of youth are often ignored, sometimes more when it comes to young ladies, the story of Johns reminds tourists and members of the Farmville community that power and courage are not bound by age restrictions. Cainan Townsend, the associate director and director of education and outreach at the Moton Museum, explained that the 1951 strike was a unique form of activism because it was led by students; this event served as a precursor to other famous Civil Rights ad-
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This section of the gallery presents the new era for former Moton High School students. vocates like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. who were both adults when promoting social justice in the later 1950s and 1960s. With the upkeep of specific historic details, such as the original flooring and color scheme, the Moton Museum seeks to acknowledge the history in every possible light, from injustice to achievement. Leah Brown, the assistant director for education at Moton, discussed how it is an honor to be able to tell the story of how the museum came to be. Several of the museum displays show how government officials were slow and hesitant to recognize the need for educational change. The black and white photos in the displays work to present the urgency of those learning and working in Moton, which contrasts with the lack of concern shown in the faces of government officials. Another historical moment cemented within the museum includes the infamous decision that Prince Edward County made to close down schools in 1959 rather than participate in integration. Like the rest of the museum, the section dedicated to the closing of local schools captures
A black and white image shows Farmville's past in a different light.
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A crowd of students gathers on the day schools reopened after the Brown vs. Board of Education case in 1963.
16 Farmville the Magazine the determination of Black children and adults in the area to protest for the right for the quality education that white schools already gave as well as the impact of young children. In one display, white and burgundy outlines of people are placed behind quotes of those who were in favor of the county’s decision of schools closing instead of desegregating. Brown pointed out one quote that she seemed disgusted with in particular, where a man preferred his child to be ‘ignorant’ rather than go to school with other Black students. Brown also mentioned how desperate people were to have the students catch up in their studies once schools finally reopened in 1963. For today’s students, the concept of catching up in class brings up thoughts of returning from being sick at home for a few days. Meanwhile, the former Moton students experienced adjustment for both racial and educational matters. Now, the Moton Museum functions as a piece of education and history by the tours offered to the public. Even though the number of groups visiting has fluctuated due to the pandemic, the museum currently provides digital tours that some schools can take as a field trip opportunity in addition to virtual reality tours. Although in-person numbers have not been the same as before the pandemic, there are inperson guided tours available as well with masks being required when indoors at all times. Ever since the museum partnered with Longwood University in 2015, the combined knowledge of college students and museum staff has increased the scale of the community awareness of Farmville history. Looking back on Black students having to fight to be considered educationally equal to white students in the eyes of state law opens modern eyes of all ages. The museum itself serves as a reminder that gaining progress for social justice is a continuous journey. Yesterday’s students fought for the right to be educated, and today’s students pay their respects to their elders by visiting and interacting with staff, seeing a common goal in preserving the history of the community where change was made. When it comes to the effect that the Robert Russa Moton Museum has on its community and surrounding nation, there will always be something new for people to learn about the past in Farmville.
Above, an old-fashioned heater between desks represents poor classroom conditions. Below, this sign, written by a protester from the 1951 strike, shows courage to fight for a better school.
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A chalkboard quote by Rev. L. Francis Griffin explains the sacrifice made for educational rights.
Eighth and ninth grade students stand together.
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Artist in Residence
Patrick Wade Farmville gets inked Story by Alexa Massey
Farmville is rich in artistic talent, from potters and painters to musicians and crocheters. Amid the many creators who reside in town are a special breed of artists who create a permanent work of art of which residents proudly display on their skin. You may not find a tattoo artist opening up a booth at the local farmers market or displaying their work in a nearby gallery, but these artists create intricate, beautiful and often meaningful works of art which people wear on their body for the rest of their life. It’s a craft which requires an innate talent and years to master, and one young, local artist has spent the last several years making a name for himself in the area. Patrick Wade, age 31, is originally from Charlotte Courthouse. Today, he lives in Farmville and spends his time working as a tattoo artist at Jokers Wild located at 815 East Third St. Although young, Wade has quickly established himself as a talented artist in the community. You can find his work all over town — sticking out of sleeves, wrapped around ankles, even on fingers and toes — his canvases are living, breathing people, and his artwork walks out the door as soon as he’s finished.
Wade has been working on this scary movie-themed sleeve for horror movie fan and fiancée Mikaela Nelson for some time now. Wade made his most recent addition to the piece at the beginning of October when he tattooed Chucky and his bride onto Nelson’s thigh just under Michael Myers of the hit movie Halloween.
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Left, living in a rural community means Wade gets to do a lot of unique tattoos such as this adorably cute squash done for Holly Bobb. Middle, compasses and outer space are both popular choices for tattoos. This piece combines both for a galaxy/ compass tattoo done for Anna Caddell. Right, Wade does tattoos in color or in black and white. This monochromatic piece was done for Julie Williams. It says, “Seize the moment, all or nothing.” Like most tattoo artists, Wade’s passion for the craft can be traced back to an early love of all things art. “When I was a kid, I used to doodle and draw on everything all the time,” he said. Growing up, Wade spent countless hours sketching on anything he could find. He even occasionally got in trouble for doodling on his schoolwork. In middle and high school, Wade took many art classes where teachers helped his passion for art to flourish. However, his artwork was temporarily placed onto the backburner after he began to gain an interest in music. He learned to play a variety of instruments and even joined a band in his senior year at Randolph-Henry High School. Wade played in a metal band for several years, and during this time he traveled and performed in many shows while also working at restaurants to pay the bills. It was around this time that he met Jason Ownby, owner of Jokers Wild. Ownby opened the shop in 2010, and today, four talented artists call the business home. “He tattooed all my friends, and so he knew me. He did my first tattoo. He’s done a lot of
them,” Wade noted. Ownby, who was looking for another employee at the time, learned of Wade’s artistic talents and inquired if he would ever consider becoming a tattoo artist. “At the time, I wanted something better,” Wade said. “The music thing wasn’t really working out. I decided to give it a try.” Around 2014, Wade began an apprenticeship at Jokers Wild under the supervision of Ownby, a licensed instructor. There, he learned the ins and outs of how a tattoo parlor is operated, from bookkeeping to cleaning. Gradually, Wade learned more and more about the business. Under Ownby’s instruction, he completed the state requirements for tattoo apprenticeships, logging tattoos done and hours performed. He studied up and took the state board exam to officially become a licensed tattoo artist. Wade has since remained with Jokers Wild, and for nearly seven years he’s been inking locals and creating breathtaking works of art. “I never left,” he said. “I just kept going.” Tuesday through Saturday, 1-9 p.m., Wade can
be found in his workspace at the tattoo parlor, and no days are the same. In Wade’s line of work, an artist can spend their entire shift doing one large tattoo or several smaller ones. Although Wade works in a variety of styles when it comes to his tattoos, he is known for his excellent linework — what many would consider to be the foundation of a tattoo artist’s skill set. Creating clear, smooth lines is a must. Although very different from the well-defined lines that make up his other work, Wade has in recent years developed a love for realism — some of his tattoos look as if they might jump right off the page, or rather, the person. And though he looks up to a variety of tattoo artists and their signature styles, Wade finds inspiration in many other mediums. “I just love art in general,” he highlighted. When locals are looking to get a piece done at the shop, Wade said, customers will either message the business on Facebook, call or come in person (the preferred method) to inquire about getting a tattoo. Step one in the process includes coming in for a consultation where Wade will ask about
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This spooky Halloween tattoo was done by Wade for Brooke Key. what type of tattoo the customer is considering getting. He works with them to determine size, placement and other details of the design. He also discusses a rough estimate for the piece and how much time might be needed in order to complete it. From there, customers can schedule an appointment. Wade will prepare for the tattoo by sketching up a design, often scouring the web for reference photos and other inspiration. When customers come in for their appointment, they complete some paperwork and provide their ID. After the location of the tattoo is cleaned and shaved, a stencil is placed on the skin using transfer paper which leaves thin, purple lines behind as a guide for the piece. Once the stencil is dry, it's time to get inked. Wade’s highest priority when working with a client is to make sure that person is comfortable. Naturally friendly and easy to talk to, he prides himself in making sure every person who sits down in his chair feels welcomed and accepted. “I want people to know they can be comfortable with me,” he said. “I am never going to judge you. I am going to treat you the exact same way I treat everyone else. It’s all about kindness and respect.”
While some customers get tattoos just for the fun of it, others have meaningful stories behind their pieces. Wade enjoys having conversations with his customers as he creates their one-ofa-kind piece. Talking also helps customers deal with the pain of the tattoo, and sometimes, of the complex memories associated with the artwork. “We’ll usually talk,” he said. “If it’s a memorial piece, there’s usually a lot of emotions they have to sort through.” Over the years, Wade has done hundreds of tattoos, each with its own unique story and meaning. While he has certain pieces he’s particularly proud of, he likened picking a favorite tattoo to picking a favorite kid. He’s also not one to judge when it comes to what somebody’s looking to get or where they want to get it, and there’s not too many places on the human body Wade hasn’t done a tattoo. “People ask me all the time about what’s the weirdest tattoo I’ve done,” he said. “I don’t think any of them are weird. I think that you as a person should get whatever you want to get. I don’t think any placement’s weird. Wherever you want to put it doesn’t matter to me.” Wade enjoys his work immensely, and while he has no problem with performing some sillier
tattoo work, like the stereotypical fraternity letters on a frat brother’s backside, his favorite pieces are often the ones with a lot of meaning behind them. He added he’s tattooed people of all ages, including a woman in her mid-70s. Wade recalled giving the woman her first ink. “You could just tell she’d been wanting to do that for decades,” he said. Outside of work, Wade enjoys playing music and video games. He also has a large number of tattoos on his own body — sharks, krakens and mermaids, some self-tattooed pieces like roses and scripts, doodles drawn by friends, video game and movie characters, band logos, a tattoo dedicated to his mom, the Jokers Wild logo and a portrait of actress Betty White — just to name a few. For those interested in viewing some of his work, Wade treats instagram as his virtual portfolio. His pieces can be viewed at https://www. instagram.com/vanhelsingle/. When asked if he had any advice for those considering getting a tattoo, Wade was quick to respond. “Do what you want,” he said. “Life is far too short.”
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In the top left corner, Austin Jones came into Jokers Wild for this tattoo of a skull wearing a tiger headdress. At bottom left, Wade also did this skull wearing a bear headdress for Seth Morris. Top right, skeletons are a popular tattoo theme, but they don’t always have to be scary. In this piece done by Wade for Chris Johnson, the grim reaper enjoys his vacation while sporting a Hawaiin shirt and a cup of joe. At bottom right, many people like to get tattoos of their favorite movies or TV shows, including this tattoo which Wade created for Brandon Blalock of the two main characters of the hit TV series Rick and Morty.
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From the Ground Up
In some countries, the sauteed leaves and shoots are more popular than the sweet potatoes.
In praise of sweet potatoes Photos and story by Cynthia Wood
It’s been a good year for sweet potatoes. In early summer, we feasted on sauteed shoots and leaves seasoned with a dash of sesame oil and a liberal amount of garlic. In early fall, we dug a bountiful crop of beautiful, blemish-free sweet potatoes, both the deep orange Beauregard variety and the pale yellow Nancy Halls, an old type that my grandparents grew. The Beauregards are the ones found in most grocery stores; they have a smooth texture and are very moist when cooked. The Nancy Halls, however, have a dry, stringy texture. They’re prime candidates for smothering in a heavy sugar syrup for candied sweet potatoes. Now that we’ve had our first frost and put the garden to bed for the winter, it’s time to feast.
Sweet potatoes lend themselves to so many different preparations. They can be simply roasted until the sugars in the potatoes caramelize and served with a sprinkling of salt and lots of butter. They can also be topped with black beans, cheese and cilantro, a combination that would have horrified my ancestors. Throughout this area and much of the South, sweet potato pies reigned supreme for church socials and just about any other gathering during fall and winter. They were made in the same way as pumpkin pies – eggs, sugar, milk, mashed sweet potatoes, a dash of mace, and vanilla or brandy. Women were proud of their homemade pie crust and the silky texture of their pies. Another favorite
was the sweet potato pone, basically a crustless sweet potato pie baked in a deep dish and served as a side rather than dessert. The texture of the pone could be either smooth or coarse, and families never agreed which was better. Should the potatoes be pureed or coarsely grated? A huge decision. Sweet potato pound cakes were also popular items at cake walks and for Sunday dinner at home. Sweet potatoes added moisture, flavor and a golden color to a favorite treat that was often served alongside fruitcakes and even at breakfast. Sweet potato biscuits were also popular. They were either made with extra sugar and topped with a swirl of icing for a sweet treat, or they were
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With its cheesecake filling and caramel glaze, this sweet potato pound cake is the ultimate indulgence.
made into dainty savory versions that were filled with thin slices of ham and butter. And then there were candied sweet potatoes – thick slices of sweet potatoes drenched in a dense sugar syrup and baked until the potatoes had absorbed most of the syrup. No winter meal was complete without this dish. Even though the way we cook sweet potatoes has changed somewhat, southerners are still eating them. Simply baked ones are considered a nutritionally sound treat and the basis for many simple meals. Sweet potato fries are the “healthier” choice for eating with burgers and sandwiches. As for pies, they’re making a comeback, but often gussied up with
coconut, nuts, and even meringue toppings. Sweet potato pound cakes are also popular once again; they’re easy to make and offer a “new” twist on a classic dessert. As for the biscuits, there are super-sized ones stuffed with eggs, cheese and bacon on the menus of many breakfast restaurants. Sweet potato pone, however, isn’t likely to make a comeback. There’s just something about the name that isn’t appealing. And then there is the texture. So, here’s to sweet potatoes. King Henry VIII ate them in pies and valued them as an aphrodisiac. Shakespeare mentioned them in one of his plays. Roasted sweet potatoes are sold on street corners in Asia, and we’re still eating them too. Sweet potatoes: they’re tasty and good for you too!
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Above, Traditional sweet potato pies were plain and not too sweet, but the trend today is to enhance them with streusel, nuts or even cookies. Left, dogs love sweet potatoes, too. They’re the perfect sweet addition to a canine birthday cake.
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Fundraiser for Lindsay Worrell When 29-year-old Lindsay Worrell learned she had terminal breast cancer and that the insurance company was refusing to cover her treatment costs, a band of ten supporters formed Team Lindsay to help raise much-needed funds. In just a few weeks, but with many hours, Team Lindsay organized an Oct. 10 fundraiser. “The community, friends, businesses, organizations and even strangers contributed generously and we are beyond grateful as well as
humbled,” said Team Lindsay Chair Angie Hall-Clements – Lindsay’s mother-in-law. “To date, we have raised close to $100,000 to help with Lindsay’s medical expenses.” To donate to Lindsay Worrell’s medical expenses, please do so by mailing checks to: Team Lindsay, c/o The Outer You, 1811 W Third Street, Farmville, VA 23901. For more information, please telephone (434) 392-6343. (Photos By Jennifer Wall)
From left are Lindsay Worrell and volunteer Emily Gantt.
Lindsay Worrell’s husband Clayton and their son Atlee at the event.
Above, from left, are event volunteers Sheila Copley, Penelope Southall, Tammy Southall and Tracey Ellington.
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Town of Farmville Police Chief A. Q. “Andy” Ellington who served as the event MC poses with Lindsay Worrell.
Above are Prince Edward County Sheriff L. A. “Tony” Epps and Alisa Banton.
From left, Junior Girl Scouts from Troop 5200 Martha Lucy Vincent, Leah Hatcher, Megan Allen and Megan Fowlkes sell lemonade for Lindsay’s benefit at the event.
The Team Lindsay committee includes, back row, Town of Farmville Police Chief A. Q. “Andy” Ellington, Tammy Southall, Tracey Ellington, Angie Clements, Madison Glover, Amy Helton, and Wade Clements, front row, Jennifer Wall, Lisa Tharpe, and Casey Worrell.
Farmville the Magazine
THE TOP 10 Thanksgiving foods, ranked
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Story by Alexa Massey
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. While nothing makes me happier than getting to spend time with family and express gratitude for all of life’s blessings, I look forward all year to that giant, heaping plate overflowing with tasty, holiday goodness. There is something so pleasant about working up a sweat for hours in the kitchen, cooking and baking and sneaking sips of the holiday punch until dinner is finally served and all that hard work
culminates in a feast fit for royalty. I like to get a little bit of everything when stacking my plate high with Thanksgiving comfort food, but even a lover of all cuisine like myself has a favorite. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that everyone has a favorite Thanksgiving dish — that one food that takes up half of your plate every year. But I also have a personal theory that not all Thanksgiving dishes are created equal, and your favorite dish can say a lot about who you are as a person. In celebration of another year gone by and the one day a year where calories do not exist, I have taken it upon myself to rank the top 10 most popular Thanksgiving dishes from worst to
best. I’ve also included a little note on what your favorite dish says about you. Hey, don’t be offended. This is just my opinion, and of course, it’s all in good fun. Anyways, here we go! 10. TURKEY Woah! I know what you’re thinking: Turkey is number 10 on this list? I have a very controversial opinion about turkey. If my dinner plate was a sinking raft and I had to push one dish off in order to save the rest, turkey would get the boot every time. While I can’t imagine a Thanksgiving dinner without it, I find most turkey to be dry and, frankly, a little bland no matter how much basting and seasoning has been done.
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If turkey is your favorite Thanksgiving food, you’re probably the first to fall asleep after dinner, and I bet you snore loudly too! 9. CRANBERRY SAUCE A lot of people would consider cranberry sauce to be the most controversial Thanksgiving side dish. In some families, this festive food, whether jellied or “relished,” goes untouched throughout dinner. It’s sour. It’s sweet. It’s just confusing enough that it scares away the unadventurous. I actually like this stuff, but it’s not good enough to make it any further on this list. If your favorite Thanksgiving food is cranberry sauce, you’re the kookiest member of your family and others should fear you. 8. SWEET POTATOES When seasoned with brown sugar and butter or topped with toasted marshmallows, these fall veggies can be quite delicious. When seasoned incorrectly or cooked poorly, they’re a stringy, mushy mess that looks like baby food. Of the top five worst things I’ve ever eaten, spot number three belongs to a store bought sweet potato patty
somebody once tried to feed me for Thanksgiving. If your favorite Thanksgiving food is a sweet potato, you’re probably a sweetie-pie who loves to give out hugs and smiles. You’re likely a great cook, and I’d wager you insist on being the person who brings the sweet potatoes to dinner to avoid any of the mishaps mentioned above. 7. GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE Almost every green bean casserole recipe out there calls for a very short list of ingredients — green beans, cream of mushroom soup, french fried onions and, occasionally, a sprinkling of cheese. This is an award-winning combo, but it’s also easy to mess up. Just like McDonald’s french fries, green bean casserole is pretty offputting when reheated (and that can’t do in a world where leftovers are perhaps the greatest part of Thanksgiving). Do yourself a favor and serve the crispy onions on the side of this dish to avoid a mushy topping disaster. If green bean casserole is your favorite Thanksgiving food, you’re probably the type of person who’s afraid of vegetables unless they come in a
casserole. 6. PUMPKIN PIE Pumpkin pie is a great dish, but there are many pies that it pales in comparison to: pecan pie, apple pie, chocolate chess pie, chicken pot pie. However, pumpkin pie reigns supreme as a sweet, but not too sweet, seasonal treat enjoyed by people all around the country, and that’s why it gets number six on this list. If pumpkin pie is your favorite Thanksgiving food, you’ve probably never tried sweet potato pie, because if you did, you’d be eating that instead. 5. ROLLS Having Thanksgiving dinner without bread rolls is like having a birthday party but forgetting to invite the person whose birthday it is. You can still have fun, but something feels very off. If you’re smart, you’ll use a roll to sop up all of the gravy and other morsels left on your plate at the end of dinner. If rolls are your favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner, you’re probably a small child. I’d bet
Farmville the Magazine
you’re a picky eater and won’t touch half the foods on this list. Good for you! 4. GRAVY On a regular day, it is appropriate to pour melted cheese on top of most any food, but on Thanksgiving, gravy is the preferred topping of many. Put it on your mashed potatoes. Put it on your dressing. Pour it directly in your mouth if you don’t have blood pressure issues. Gravy is a Thanksgiving staple, and it’s been scientifically proven that gravy tastes better poured out of a cute, little gravy boat your grandma only uses twice a year. [citation needed] If gravy is your favorite Thanksgiving food, you probably have high blood pressure. Don’t get too angry when watching football on Thanksgiving afternoon. 3. MASHED POTATOES We’re getting down to the best of the best here. Mashed potatoes are a favorite year-round. The best friend of fried chicken and meatloaf, this mouthwatering mush is great served plain or with special add-ins like bacon or cheddar. It’s far up on this list because without it, Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same. If mashed potatoes are your favorite Thanksgiving food, you’re likely a dependable person that people rely on, maybe a bit too much. 2. MAC N’ CHEESE Macaroni and cheese is one of the finest foods to ever grace the dinner plate. If you have any sense at all, you skip the boxed stuff on this special day and serve up an ooey-gooey, melty casserole dish of goodness that is sure to be a hit with all of your lactose-tolerant dinner guests. The best parts of mac n’ cheese are always the slightly-burnt corners and the melty pockets of cheese. If mac n’ cheese is your favorite Thanksgiving food, it’s probably also your favorite food in general. You don’t like to branch out a lot, but who needs to when you know exactly what it is that you like? 1. DRESSING The number one spot on this list goes to a dish like no other. Dressing, particularly of the cornbread variety, takes the crown when it comes to which dish reigns supreme on the Thanksgiving plate. Dressing is not only delicious, but it’s a dish so special that many only eat it for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This stuff is a 10/10 whether homemade or straight from the box, but do yourself a favor and avoid “stuffing,” or dressing that’s been cooked in the bird. Uncooked turkey juice soaked into stuffing mix is an awesome way to get food poisoning. If dressing is your favorite Thanksgiving food, congratulations, you’re perfect.
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Catching Up With...
Taylor Newton By Crystal Vandegrift
T
aylor Newton says she lives by Babe Ruth’s famous quote, “Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” “This motto has always been one of my favorites,” Newton said. “Just because you fail or could fail at one task does not mean you should give up. It means that you keep going so you can do your best and learn from your past mistakes.” The Victoria native and Longwood University alumnus spent six years living and working in Farmville with the town as a parttime 911 dispatcher/telecommunications officer and working as probation officer for Piedmont Court Services. Today, Newton has changed positions and returned home to Victoria, where she is director of planning and economic development for Lunenburg County. “One of the things that I love most about Farmville is North Main Street,” Newton said. “The ability to walk the streets and shop the various shops while seeing the enjoyment of others as they are doing the same. “The High Bridge Trail was one of my favorite places to run because it provided gorgeous views while also learning the history of High Bridge.” Newton said that while she loves living and working back in her hometown, she does miss the people she worked with within the court system. “I also miss the close proximity to Walmart and various types of restaurants, especially Charley’s Waterfront Café and North Street Press Club,” Newton said. Newton credits her success to her family, boyfriend and friends. “They have been very instrumental and supportive of the opportunities that I have had,” she said. “They have been extremely supportive of both my academic and my
career paths. My boyfriend, David King, has been very instrumental and supportive of the decision to change career paths to my current position as director of planning and economic development for the County of Lunenburg as well as the furthering of my education for my doctorate of business administration.” As for her new role with Lunenburg County, Newton said she is striving to give back to the community. “I am thrilled to be back in my hometown,” she added. “When I took the position as director of planning and economic development for the County of Lunenburg,
my greatest desire was and is to give back to the county/community that raised me, molded me and made me who I am today. I want to do the best at my job so I can aid the citizens to the best of my ability, protect them and provide opportunities that they have not had previously or have not been able to take advantage of.” In her free time, Newton enjoys spending time with her family and two fur babies, volunteering with Victoria Fire and Rescue as an emergency medical technician, volunteering and being actively involved in the community and painting/crafting.
Farmville the Magazine
Where Am I?
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LAST ISSUE’S WINNER Betty Eike is the winner for the October edition of Where Am I? She knew that the last photo showed part of the Joan of Arc Statue on Brock Commons at Longwood University. For finding it, Eike wins 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.
Expert Orthopedics in Farmville
Marcy Cole, PA-C, ATC | John Kona, MD William Andrews, MD, FCCP | William Fluker, PA-C Centra Centra Medical Group Orthpedics welcomes William Andrews, MD, FCCP, and William Fluker, PA-C. They join John Kona, MD, and Marcy Cole, PA-C, ATC, in the practice located at Centra Southside Medical Center. Dr. Andrews earned his medical degree from Duke University. He completed his internship and surgery residency at University of Virginia Hospital and served his orthopedic residency at Duke University. William Fluker, holds bachelor of science degrees in biology from the University of Kentucky and from the physician assistant program at James Madison University.
Accepting New Patients To make an appointment, please call 434.315.5360
935 South Main Street, Farmville, Virginia | CentraSouthside.com | 434.315.5360
