Farmville the Magazine - September 2019 by The Farmville Herald

September 2019 Vol. 4, No. 5 FREE

Farmville Community Marketplace

Homegrown and handmade

Exploring new worlds Accountant goes caving

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Don’t Miss the 2019 Virginia Children’s Book Festival Oct. 16-18 More than 20 authors and illustrators of children’s and young adult literature will be giving workshops and making presentations at what has become the largest children’s book festival on the East Coast. And it all takes place right here on the Longwood Campus! It’s ALL FREE and right here in Farmville! Register FREE: vachildrensbookfestival.org Individuals and groups welcome!

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Publisher’s Notebook

Fall explorations A

s summer season changes to fall, we welcome the cooler weather and invite you to tag along with us as we explore more that our area has to offer and more of what makes Farmville such a special place to work, live and play. The Farmville Community Marketplace is the place to be on a Saturday morning. A selection of locally grown produce, farm-raised beef, pork, poultry and free-range eggs are tempting enough, but add to that a selection of fresh flowers, baked goods and unique handcrafted items, and you have a recipe for a successful farmers market. Turn to page 18 and Betty Ramsey, join Marge Swayne as she explores the Publisher community marketplace. While dark, deep holes under the ground might not be for everybody, we invite you to take a journey underground to the world of “cavers” while in the safety and comfort of your easy chair. On page 26 staff writer Emily Hollingsworth takes you on that journey to explore what lies below

the earth with “caver” Benjamin Johnson, aka Farmville CPA Benjamin Johnson. There are many more stories within these pages, and we hope you will enjoy them. As this is a magazine about and for you, we welcome your ideas and invite you to share with us what you would like to hear more about by sending us a note at P.O. Box 307, Farmville, VA, 23901, giving us a call at (434) 392-4151 or sending me an email at Betty.Ramsey@ FarmvilletheMag.com. We publish Farmville the Magazine in the months of March, April, May, summer, September, October, November and December. We invite you to pick up a copy of the latest issue as there is sure to be someone you know inside — a neighbor, a family member, a friend or perhaps even you! If you want Farmville the Magazine delivered to your home or office, we offer subscriptions and gift subscriptions for $30 per year, just enough to cover the postage. To subscribe call us at (434) 392-4151. Betty Ramsey is publisher of Farmville the Magazine. Her email address is Betty.Ramsey@FarmvilletheMag.com.

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Feature If you’ve ever tasted sweet corn hours from the field or a vine-ripened tomato still warm from the sun, you know the difference between produce and “mass produced.” At Farmville’s Community Marketplace what you buy is fresh and local. “We’re homegrown, handmade and handcrafted,” Market Manager Bob Stratton says. Eight years ago the Town of Farmville purchased the old tobacco warehouse on North Street and converted it into today’s attractive marketplace. “It’s a nice facility — good for downtown,” Town Manager Gerry Spates comments. You don’t have to take his word for it — come to the market on Saturday morning and see for yourself. On the cover: Market Manager Bob Stratton assists young shoppers Sofia and Remilia Hankins.

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

EDITORIAL

Marge Swayne Marge.Swayne@FarmvilletheMag.com Titus Mohler Titus.Mohler@FarmvilletheMag.com Crystal Vandegrift Cyrstal.Vandegrift@FarmvilleHerald.com

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

CONTRIBUTORS: Cynthia Wood, Dr. Jim Jordan, and George Waters 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.

Underground adventuring

Mystery of Millbrook

Also... Publisher’s Notebook Events Serving it Up From the Ground Up Where Am I?

3 5 8 10 31

Artist in Residence Party Pix A Look into the Past Town and Gown Why I Love Farmville

14 32 44 50 51

Events

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R. R. Moton Museum

Located at 900 Griffin Blvd., Farmville, the former Robert Russa Moton High School is now a National Historical Landmark. The student birthplace of America’s Civil Rights Revolution, the museum is open for visitors from noon-4 p.m., Monday – Saturday and by appointment. For more information about the museum visit www. motonmuseum.org. Community Prayer Breakfast

Sponsored by Centra Southside Community Hospital, the Community Prayer Breakfast is held the first Tuesday of every month at the Robert Russa Moton Museum from 7:30-8:30 a.m. The community is invited for a gathering of shared hope and active community building while enjoying a free hot breakfast. For more information visit www.motonmuseum.org. Live at Riverside

A 2015 photo shows Annie Brown, left, and Alex Brown reading books received during the annual Virginia Children’s Book Festival.

A free community concert series sponsored by the Farmville Jaycees. Bring your blankets, chairs, a couple of friends and prepare to have a good time down by the river. Wrapping up the summer concert

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Dwayne Shores, left, and Brian Kelehar dress and serve a 110-pound hog during a previous Habitat for Humanity Pig Roast. series is Soul Expressions on Sept. 13. Live at Riverside happens at Riverside Park, 517 North Main St., in downtown Farmville from 6-9 p.m. Food, beer and wine are sold at the event. For more information visit www.facebook.com/ FarmvilleJaycees/. Habitat for Humanity Pig Roast

A night of fun, food and friends all for a good cause. Delicious homemade food from The Fishin’ Pig. Vegetarian dishes will be available. Craft beer provided by Third Street Brewing and live music with local favorite Class Act. Saturday, Sept. 14, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Farmville Community Marketplace located at 213 North St, Farmville. For more information or to purchase tickets visit piedmonthabitat.org.

Five County Fair

Fun-filled days of traditional county fair food, rides and more await you at the Five County Fair. Exhibits, food, beauty pageants, bingo, pro-wrestling, livestock shows, petting zoo and bluegrass music. Sept. 24-28 at the Farmville Fairgrounds, 209 Fairgrounds Road, Farmville. Visit their website at fivecountyfair.com. Art Exhibition: Pinkalicious: The Colorlicious World of Victoria Kann

The Longwood Center for Visual Arts in partnership with the Virginia Children’s Book Festival presents Pinkalicious: The Exhibition — The Colorlicious World of Victoria Kann is a rainbowtastic exhibition of color, adventure and discovery. Victoria Kann is the award-winning illustrator and author of the picture book series

featuring the whimsical and effervescent character, Pinkalicious that is currently fretured on PBS Kids. The exhibit will be on view through Nov. 3 at the Longwood Center for Visual Arts, 129 N. Main St., Farmville. For more information visit lcva.longwood.edu. Virginia Children’s Book Festival

Save the date for the fifth annual Virginia Children’s Book Festival held at Longwood University. This free three-day event brings together authors and illustrators with the public to show appreciation for children’s literature. Oct. 16-18. For more information or to support this organization visit their website at vachildrensbookfestival.org. For more Farmville area events visit www. FarmvilleHerald.com.

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Serving it Up

Mary E. Scott presents her chicken salad, a dish that she has adjusted over the years and serves at home and for events in connection to church, family and Habitat for Humanity.

MARYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHICKEN SALAD

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Story and photos by Titus Mohler

orking in the kitchen has been the perfect marriage of love and necessity for Mary E. Scott, and her culinary education started early. “I was younger,” she said, later estimating she gained her first experience in the kitchen as a 10-year-old. “I always just was interested in doing stuff, fixing in the kitchen and all, and I just did it from my youth on up.” She learned from her mother and her sisters. In a family of eight children, she is the next-toyoungest child. “I have older sisters, and I would see them fixing stuff, and then at school, you taste stuff, and I just did it,” she said. Reasons related to both passion and practicality have helped make cooking a regular part of her life. “I love doing it, but I had children at a young age, and I had to feed my children, so cooking was one of my things I had to do, but I love doing it,” she said. “So, that’s what I do. And nowadays, I love when people eat. I love to see people eat, and I don’t like throwing away food. If it’s good food, I don’t throw it away. If I can’t use it or I have too much, I like to share with my neighbors or anybody who doesn’t mind taking leftovers or whatever.” One of Scott’s signature dishes has become her take on chicken salad. “I always make it because I love chicken salad, but my family likes it, my church family likes it, just about anybody I come in contact

Sweet relish tumbles into the bowl as Mary E. Scott adds it to her chicken salad dish. with where I have it at, they love it,” she said. She has done work in connection with Habitat for Humanity, and “when we are doing functions for Habitat, I bring it,” she said. As she goes about putting it together on a day in early August, she offered tips and insights into her process and how the recipe can be adjusted. She said the type of mayonnaise can be

left to the chef’s preference. She likes to use Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Dressing with Olive Oil because it is what her husband should be eating, but she added that he likes the regular Hellmann’s Mayonnaise. “You can use either/or,” she said. “You can even use salad dressing, whatever you prefer.” She noted that if the amount of mayo she lists on the recipe isn’t enough to the chef’s tastes, “you always can add to it.” She said either the relish or the mayo can be added to the chicken first, but she does have a preference. “I prefer adding the relish first because the relish has some juice in it, and you don’t want all of it real mushy,” she said. If you are running low on relish, including the Food Lion-brand sweet salad cubes, Scott said another option is Mt. Olive’s Sweet Mixed jar, which includes a sweet blend of pickles, cauliflower, red bell peppers and onions. “I love sweet stuff, and you can chop some of that up in it,” she said. “I do just the pickles. I guess the cauliflower would go alright, but I haven’t used the cauliflower in it.” The subjects of relish and sweetness led her to reveal another part of her recipe. “The relish itself is sweet, but it may not be sweet enough,” she said. “Some people like sweet. Some don’t. But I like sweet. So that’s why I add a little bit of sugar. So what I did, before I put the relish in, I added a little bit of sugar in it, and I stirred it up.”

MARY’S CHICKEN SALAD Ingredients 1 12 1/2-ounce can chicken breast approximately 5-6 tablespoons mayonnaise (I use olive oil mayonnaise dressing; your preference) 2 tablespoons sweet relish or salad cubes chopped onions (to your desire) 1-2 teaspoons sugar (optional, to your taste) Chop the chicken breast up. You may mix sweet salad cubes or sweet relish with mayonnaise, then mix with chicken breast. Add onions to your choice. Then enjoy.

Another key ingredient to Mary’s E. Scott’s Chicken Salad is mayonnaise. Pictured here, she adds Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Dressing with Olive Oil to the salad. She said she uses this kind of mayo because of its health benefits but noted that it is up to the preference of the chef.

10 Farmville the Magazine

From the Ground Up

THE BOTTLE TREE: A Traditional Garden Ornament Story and photos by Cynthia Wood

saw my first bottle tree somewhere in rural Tidewater years ago. I didn’t think it was particularly attractive, just random bottles stuck on the remains of a dead tree. In fact, it was a scene straight out of Eudora Welty’s short story “Livvie.” “… coming around up the path from the deep cut of the Natchez Trace below was a line of bare crape myrtle trees with every branch of them ending in a colored bottle, green or blue. There was no word that fell from Solomon’s lips to say what they were for, but Livvie knew that there could be a spell put in trees, and she was familiar from the time she was born with the way bottle trees kept evil spirits from coming into the house — by luring them inside the colored bottles, where they cannot get out again.” Some years later, a friend in England texted me to say that she had found a bottle tree in Bratton Clovelly in Dartmoor. So, of course, when I went to visit, we had to make a pilgrimage to see this cultural mashup of a bottle tree. It was small, made of iron rods, had beer bottles on it and was stuck in the midst of a tiny cement patio. Oh, and the owner was Mexican.

Bottle trees are especially pretty when there is snow.

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This bottle tree is part of a secluded garden in Richmond. When I got home to Virginia, I still had bottle trees on my mind and began to see them everywhere — suburban areas, deep countryside, wherever. A friend reported that her son had made one for his garden in Richmond. Imagine! A bottle tree in a quiet, tree-lined city neighborhood. Eventually I added one to my garden. Amazingly, the neighbors didn’t complain, and the neighborhood kids didn’t break the bottles. Bottle trees have been around for centuries. They were originally made to trap and kill evil spirits. According to legend, spirits would enter the glass bottles at night, become trapped and then would be killed by sunlight the next day. Blue bottles were considered the most effective as “haints” don’t like blue glass or blue porch ceilings either, but any kind of bottle is fine. Nowadays, bottle trees are just colorful garden ornaments involving dead tree limbs stuck into the ground, custom-made metal sculptures or even bottles stuck on the tines of an upturned pitchfork. There are small bottle tree saplings, ones shaped like bottle brushes and even some that are said to resemble corn stalks. No matter the shape, the fun is in collecting the bottles — blue, green and clear wine bottles, amber beer bottles, even old Milk of Magnesia bottles, which were a deep cobalt blue. If you decide that you want lots of blue bottles, just be aware that not all wine in blue bottles is tasty.

Many different shapes and sizes of bottles can be combined on one tree.

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At left, A rebar frame is sturdy and allows branches to be adjusted. Above, Bottles placed on short supports form saplings.

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14 Farmville the Magazine

Artist in Residence

The imagery that Adam Paulek applies to his pottery is prominently featured on these pieces on display at Longwood.

USEFUL AND LASTING Story and photos by Titus Mohler

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dam Paulek offers help through his work that will extend well beyond his own lifetime. This is true twice over, in his case, because he works two jobs, each of which carries a similar kind of impact. He has served as an associate professor of art at Longwood University for seven years, focusing primarily on ceramics. He also stays busy outside of the classroom in an important way that is symbiotic with his role as a teacher. “I’m a practitioner, so I make work,” he said. “It’s really important to me that I’m a practicing ceramic artist, and I wouldn’t teach if I wasn’t. And so I try to do both and so let the students know and get the sense pretty quickly that I take the art-making part of my job really seriously so that they take the art-making part of their learning very seriously.” He acknowledged that this is kind of an intense approach. “But the idea is that you know those professors that you had that were just really engaged and still practicing?” he said. “You know. There’s a difference. And that’s what I try to make sure is really clear — that I’m somebody that’s still making, always making, thinking about making and executing, and then people will hopefully catch on to it and get excited about it too.” Paulek noted that the fact that his college professors were all really active artists had a big effect on him. The artistic path he has followed actually began in college in Iowa, largely in his senior year. “I was an art education major,” he said. “... I was into it, but I wasn’t taking it very seriously.” He wanted to wrestle in college. “So I wrestled there,” he said. “I was in sports, and that didn’t go great, but I kept doing it. … And then we had these great art professors. It was pretty personality based. They were just engaging and cool, and they were really making a lot of stuff. And I liked working with my hands. And I didn’t want to do clay — that just looked like not something I’d be interested in at all. So I put it off and took it as a senior and took it around the time I was getting into observation, interaction or student teaching …” He said he did not know why he picked

Adam Paulek is a practicing artist who also serves as an associate professor of art at Longwood University. His concentration, as an artist and as a teacher, is in ceramics. In this photo, he is seated in front of a pottery wheel in a workshop at Longwood holding a teapot he created that illustrates his signature approach and versatility as an artist. The teapot is primarily a work of pottery, both throwing and handbuilding, but the images on it feature Paulek’s freehand drawing and his photography.

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art education as a major, but he did have a general goal that corresponded with it, a goal that suddenly felt specific and real when the time came for student teaching. “You’re like, ‘Oh man, I guess I’m really going to try to be a teacher here and go teach at an elementary school in Iowa,’ that’s where I’m from,” he said. “That was my goal — do that and be like a wrestling coach or something. And that seemed like a pretty straightforward track, and (then) I do that student teaching, and then I was like, ‘Well, how about that clay?’ Student teaching scared me.” He described the experience as rough, but it came around the same time that he was cultivating a strong interest in pottery that would lead to other opportunities. “I’m not sure which one exactly came first, but I remember I was really into the clay class,” he said. “I was like, ‘That is way cooler than I thought,’ and working on the (pottery) wheel was absolutely addictive. And it allowed me to make things that were useful.” Prior to this, he had been making sculptural objects that did not necessarily have any practical applications beyond what they offered aesthetically. “It’s just tough,” he said. “I’m from a farm, I grew up in Iowa, and it’s like, ‘Well, what do you do with (the sculpture)? … I guess you look at it.’” But working with clay proved to be a key turning point in his focus as an artist. “If I can make something useful, that became really, really important to me, if I can make something useful and then you can make something that really enriches somebody else’s life, and it has a potential to last forever,” Paulek said, finishing his thought by referring to a ceramic teapot he created when he added, “of all the things I make, that will be around a lot longer than I will. If you don’t break it, it could be around for thousands of years, and that’s a big responsibility, and that’s a really cool thing. And nothing else I had done had that sort of resonance. And so you make these little objects that are kind of eternal, little eternal objects — oh, man, that’s worth it.” He noted that one of his professors told him he could make a living doing this sort of thing. “So I thought, ‘Oh, that’s cool,’” Paulek said. “So I can make stuff and be my own boss — that was my idea. I didn’t know how hard that was going to be, but that was my idea. And I went

Adam Paulek created this teacup and plate through pottery, and the photorealistic imagery on the cup and plate are actual photographs that he took and turned into decals that he could apply to the pottery. and did an apprenticeship in Asheville, North Carolina, with Hank Goodman.” This apprenticeship lasted for almost three years. Then Paulek went to graduate school at the University of Tennessee and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree. “And then I ran a place in Knoxville called Mighty Mud,” he said. “Mighty Mud is this big warehouse that I broke (up) into 10-by-10 studios so I could afford to rent the warehouse and then rented studios to people, just little squares, like almost cubicles. And people would come, and they could do whatever art they wanted to do.” He noted that Mighty Mud is still in business today. “I started that business there and ran a little clay supply place too, which is kind of cool,” he said. He worked as a studio artist before coming to Longwood. In the studio arts program at Longwood, there is a design and craft area, and that is where Paulek teaches. “So anything that’s design- and craft-based is what I focus on, primarily ceramics, but the students get a concentration in lots of different craft mediums,” he said. Aside from teaching in grad school, his other teaching experiences prior to Longwood came through clay-specific workshops held in places like Maine, Virginia and North Carolina. “I’ll teach workshops, but it’ll be at other uni-

versities, and so I’ll do usually about a workshop a year,” he said. He noted appreciating the fact that his job at Longwood allows for travel and rich experiences in the ceramics medium. These experiences have aided him both as a teacher and as an artist. He said that sometimes he will do art shows. “Every once in a while, I’ll do a show in Maine at Watershed (Center for the Ceramic Arts),” he said, noting there was a sale and demonstration he held up there. “Watershed’s like a ceramic residency program, so they have people come from all over the world and work there for a couple weeks, and they give you time and space to work.” He mentioned that in his travels, which have included a residency in Denmark, he has had the opportunity to meet people from elsewhere in the world, learn techniques from them and then bring this knowledge back to Farmville, benefiting himself and his students. As he continues to practice art, Paulek shared some details about his approach. He likes to create pieces of pottery and place narrative-based imagery on them. Highlighting a teapot he made, he noted how it was created through both the handbuilding and throwing methods of pottery, and the imagery on it is derived from his own freehand drawing and photography. “All of the things that look photorealistic are from photographs that I’ve taken,” he said. “... I try to blend decals with drawings.”

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Some of the photos are of road signs. “So I’ll take a photograph of it, and I’ll cut it out, and I’ll create a whole sheet of signs, right?” he said. With the use of a special printer, he translates these photographs into decals that he applies to the pottery. “And then I’ll do some drawings around it after I’ve applied it,” he said. “And the images are permanent, and they’ll last as long as the pot.” He said one of the things he likes about ceramic pieces is that they are meant to be held by a hand. “That’s a big part of it is that you hold it by a hand, and you end up with an odd relationship with it,” he said. “So if you get a cup and you drink a gin and tonic out of this cup every day, your relationship with that’s going to change over the years, and the imagery that I put on there may change for you too.” He later added that how the piece of pottery “feels in your hand, how it feels when you put it in your mouth, all of those things are really important to the actual pot, the actual artform, and that’s why I don’t get overly instructive about the sort of imagery that I use, other than to say it’s going to be a little weird and surreal, but I’m trying to find images that are kind of universal.” Ever wanting his art to be of practical benefit, Paulek noted that he does not have much of his own finished work. “If I make it, I make sure it moves through my studio and out into the world just as quickly as possible,” he said. A primary place he sells his work is Mainly Clay in Farmville. Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, is where he earned his undergraduate degree in art education. “And that degree, turns out, it’s been a good thing for me …,” he said. “I’m an art teacher.” It has been useful and lasting in impact, just like Paulek’s work.

Highlighted on this Adam Paulek ceramic piece is his style of blending his own freehand drawing with decals derived from photographs that he took.

These flower vases made by Adam Paulek are examples of wood-fired porcelain.

These Adam Paulek pieces on display at Longwood feature particularly striking imagery.

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MARKET VALUE straight from the farm

Story and photos by Marge Swayne

ob Stratton’s a manager who knows his field. Every Saturday morning from April to mid-October that’s where you’ll find him, picking produce for the Farmville Community Marketplace. Stratton took over the market manager’s position last year. Picking produce isn’t part of the job, but he’s also a vendor. Stratmoore Farms offers chicken, pork, eggs and produce. Everything’s grown on the farm in Appomattox. Picking is only the prelude to a busy Saturday for Stratton. By 7:30 a.m. he’s at the market, and it’s already a beehive of activity as vendors unload heaping boxes and bags of produce. As Stratton places industri-

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Farmville’s Community Marketplace is all about community. Like old country stores that preceded it, this market offers pleasant conversation with each purchase. Open from April to mid-October, market offerings span the seasons with a tasty parade of locally produced meat, produce, baked goods, baskets and crafts — Farmville’s finest!

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This is the third year at the market for John and Beth Price, of Charlotte Court House.

al-size fans around the roomy open-air space that once housed a tobacco warehouse, he comments on this market’s reputation. “We’re homegrown, handmade and handcrafted,” he says with a note of pride. Most vendors, Stratton notes, come from Prince Edward and Charlotte counties, but Buckingham, Cumberland and several other locations are also represented. On average, 10 to 12 vendors set up to sell their wares each week. Sharing space with produce and meat products are everything from fresh flowers and handcrafted baskets to baked goods and custom-made pendants. It’s an hour away from the 9 a.m. opening time, but vendors are still rolling in. So are the customers. “The word gets out that we have farm-fresh produce here, so folks show up early,” Stratton says with a smile. Early-bird customers are eyeing John and Beth Price’s booth, a cornucopiain-progress with its display of tomatoes, yellow squash and shiny green cukes. Today Town Manager Gerry Spates is

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Hope Patterson and daughter Kennedy Barbour share the story of LilyKen Scrubs with market customers.

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22 Farmville the Magazine one of the first in line. “I go to the market quite a bit,” he comments as he fills his bag with corn and tomatoes. “They always have a big variety — baked goods, too!” Setting up next door is newcomer Bernard Banton from Buckingham. He’s proud of the free-range eggs and cucumbers he’s put out for sale. “This is our first year,” his wife says. “We enjoy coming — we always see a lot of people we know here.” At the other side of the market, Hope Patterson and daughter Kennedy Barbour arrange rainbowcolored jars filled with sugar scrub, a gentle cleansing treatment that exfoliates and hydrates. LilyKen Scrubs, named for Hope’s mother Lillian and daughter Kennedy, has already caught the eye of several shoppers. “We’re known for our scrubs,” Patterson tells a potential customer as she offers a sample. “It feels really good on your skin.” Marketing techniques vary at the market, but most yield results. Patterson makes the sale, and a satisfied customer moves on to peruse Katie’s Baskets. “I enjoy making baskets,” Katie Stoltzfus, of Farmville, says of her intricate and time-consuming craft. On the table next door, Ruth and Annie Beiler arrange free pretzel samples next to rows of genuine shoofly pie — regular or chocolate. On the North Street side, more baked goods share table space with bouquets of cut flowers and baskets of new potatoes, blueberries and cucumbers. It’s a typical Saturday at the market — and Farmville shoppers are loving it. On her way to the sweet corn display, a woman in a “Virginia is for Lovers” T-shirt comments, “I come every week — and I want to buy everything I see!” Adding to today’s mix is a demonstration by Pauline Stokes, who heads the Prince Edward County SNAP-Ed Family Nutrition Program. The Prince Edward Extension Service agent’s aim is to show shoppers how to eat nutritionally on a budget. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was formerly known as the food stamp program. Farmville’s market is pleased to participate in the USDA’s Farmers Market Coalition program. “We pass out SNAP dollars that folks can use at the market,” Stratton explains. As an added bonus, Centra Southside matches every dollar spent on produce by SNAP participants. “With the match from Centra, it’s a double your money deal!” Stratton adds. Deals abound at this market — to the benefit of all. Today’s market, in fact, resulted from a deal made

Glenn Alan displays his custom stone and gem pendants handcrafted in Buckingham.

Katie Stoltzfus arranges a display of her handcrafted baskets.

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During a daily walk around town, Kent Wilhelmi and Lago stop to check out the baked goods. by the Town of Farmville eight years ago. “The town bought the building in 2011 for the purpose of converting it into a farmers market,” Farmville’s town manager comments. “We took twothirds of it down and converted that into parking space.” Town workers undertook the demolition project in January 2011, preserving three sides of the old warehouse to create an open-air market. As part of the deal, the Town of Farmville agreed to oversee market operations and pay the manager’s salary. “The town lets community organizations use the space when the market’s not open,” Spates adds. “It’s a nice facility — good for downtown.” Past residents of the town also liked the idea of a downtown farmers market. A 1915-1975 history of Prince Edward Home Demonstration Clubs describes the Farmville Curb Market that was established by local homemakers in the 1920s. "During the Depression years of 1930-32, home demonstration clubs helped women bring in much-needed

A new vendor at the market, Bernard Banton offers free-range eggs and cucumbers grown in Buckingham.

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The Prince Edward Extension Service adds an educational component to the market with regular displays and cooking demonstrations. Pictured, from left, are Prince Edward Agents Pauline Stokes, Nicole Shuman, Katy Overby and Jake Morgan. income for their families through Home Demonstration Club Markets established across the state. Farmville’s Curb Market, which operated from 1929-32, featured surplus fruit grown by local farm women as well as butter, eggs, and baked goods. During the Depression years the market provided women with extra income as well as a sense of self-esteem. Many women bartered produce for medical services, music lessons, and even beauty parlor services. Some women used their sales money to send children to college or to keep them in school. Through the markets these women learned about salesmanship and how to produce more and better food." Apparently times haven’t changed that much. “Today we’re seeing people of all ages who are concerned about what’s in the food they buy,” Stratton concludes. “They want to know how their food’s grown and where it comes from.” The “how and where” are easy to see at Farmville’s Community Marketplace where it’s fresh and local.

Included in a collection of historical items from Prince Edward County Home Demonstration Clubs is a 1932 photo of the Homemaker’s Roadside Market, one of Farmville’s first farmers market.

Farmville the Magazine

Farmville Town Manager Gerry Spates purchases farm-fresh produce from Beth Price.

The transformation of an old tobacco warehouse on North Street into todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attractive openair market began when the Town of Farmville purchased it in 2011.

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Pictured is the top of Pig Hole Cave. Reaching the caveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s depth requires rappelling a 60-foot drop.

Farmville the Magazine

EXPLORING WHAT’S BENEATH Story by Emily Hollingsworth

reen fields in Giles County aren’t exactly a rare sight. What is more unusual is what’s beneath one particular field. Pig Hole Cave sounds like a funny name to give a cave so expansive it can only be reached through a 60-foot drop. The cave is a site for exploration among many, including Farmville accountant Benjamin Johnson. Johnson said his love for caves came from his father, Edgar Johnson, who in his college days at the University of Virginia frequently explored caves with other students in a school group dedicated to caving. After college, his father completely stopped caving, but he kept all of his equipment. Johnson discovered his father’s equipment in the attic at 14. He asked his father about the equipment and learned about caving. Johnson’s life wouldn’t be the same afterward. Father and son went cave exploring soon after. Johnson, like his father, also joined a caving exploration group in Roanoke, the Blue Ridge Grotto. He learned about geology, speleology (the study of caves), and went on monthly cave exploration trips. “Virginia’s got hundreds of caves,” Johnson said. He said this is due to the high volume of limestone in Virginia, the core material in cave formation. Like his father, Johnson also joined a caving group in college, this time at Virginia Tech. “When I was in graduate school, I majored in rock climbing and caving and minored in accounting,” he joked. He estimated he would go cave exploring with the college group every week. Also like his father, Johnson became an accountant. After school and after establishing his career in accounting, first as a Longwood University Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for 17 years and then through his own practice starting in 2001, he doesn’t get to go caving weekly. Instead, he tries to go once a month. Throughout his life, he has been able to go from attending cave exploration trips to leading them. In addition, he has been able to do what’s called mapping caves. Cave mapping is mapping out the dimensions and pathway through caves. Johnson has gone caving with each of his three sons, who also cave regularly. Johnson has been a member of the National Speleological Society (the national society for caving) since 1974. The opportunity to spend time outdoors, or adventure underground

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At left, Benjamin Johnson, a Farmville accountant, makes his way through a cave in Giles County. Below, Benjamin Johnson and his son Clay Johnson are two of three generations of cavers in the family. Benjamin first learned about caving from his father.

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is a nice contrast to the hours he spends inside at the office, particularly during tax season. “Quite frankly, after the type of work that I do here, I’m indoors all of the time and am dealing with long hours during tax season, this is a major therapy, stress relief therapy for me,” he said. “I enjoy it. I think that if I didn’t have this, that I would not be in as good a mental shape as I am.” “Everyone has something,” Johnson said. “This has been mine.” INSIDE A CAVE

Caves are structures that have formed over millions of years, Johnson said. Limestone, a sedimentary rock, is often formed from the bottom of an ocean from shell and coral. Over years and years of the materials compacting together, it forms stones. Once sea levels went down and land rose, beds of limestone remained. Rain has low levels of acid. When it would rain, rain would flow through cracks in the limestone and dissolve it, creating underground systems known as caves. It’s that dissolving process that creates many of the fascinating formations inside of the cave, the stalagmites that rise as columns from the bottom of the cave and stalactites that hang from the ceiling. It’s also not uncommon for there to be pools within a cave, some with crystal-clear water. Moisture on rocks is also common. In areas of the cave where the sun hits moist rocks, moss can grow. Salamanders can be found in caves. Snakes aren’t, Johnson said, because the temperature inside a cave is too cold. Most fishes in caves have no pigment or color, and are blind. They are able to sense food, Johnson said. Caves, at all times of the year, are 52 degrees Fahrenheit, Johnson said. This means that when caving during the summer, caves are refreshingly cool compared with the heat above ground. When it’s wintertime, caves feel much warmer. Either way, Johnson said, you have to dress for 52 degrees. He wears a long-sleeved body suit. Also, he usually wears a wet suit as bodies of water are often found inside caves. To reach some caves, it often requires some sort of drop. To travel downward safely, Johnson rappels down the walls, using rope and other safety gear to release the rope slowly. Some caves have narrow entrances that reach

Pictured is an entrance to the Pig Hole cave located in Giles County. The narrow entrance may be slightly deceiving, as the cave below is much larger.

30 Farmville the Magazine rooms the size of football fields. Johnson said he has squeezed through entrances small enough where he could feel rock on his back and stomach. Caving, like any outdoor activity, can come with its set of dangers and threats. Johnson remembers caving with a group in 1975. Cavers, particularly before exploring caves with bodies of water, check the weather for any signs of rain. An unexpected flash flood caused the cave Johnson and his group were in to flood. They had to get to a high point in the cave, use their emergency equipment (such as extra food, space blankets and carbide light used to emit heat) for 12 hours until the flooding subsided. A rescue team was ready to retrieve them due to their group’s long absence. A skill one wouldn’t initially think is important in caving, Johnson said, is being a people person. The caves that Johnson explore are wild caves, meaning that they are privately owned by individuals. Establishing strong relationships with

the landowners is a crucial part of caving, Johnson said. Caving also requires an immense respect for the world and the environment. “We practice conservation in all facets, and our motto is to take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints,” he said about cavers. ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Caving as a passion has spanned three generations for Johnson’s family. It offers an escape from conventional life as well as a way to appreciate the outdoors. But caving isn’t Johnson’s only outdoor hobby. He’s also hiked portions of the Appalachian Trail, stretching from Maine to Georgia. Johnson mainly sticks with the Virginia portions of the trail, having 10-mile hiking stretches he prefers in Nelson County and Amherst, as they are among the more scenic parts of the trail. He’s recently bought a cabin that is near a part of the trail. Every year on April 16, the day after taxes are due, Johnson closes the office and goes hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

Clay Johnson inspects something inside the Pig Hole cave, located in Giles County.

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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 As of press time no one correctly identified the “Where Am I?” photo from the Summer 2019 edition. The photo is of the sidewalk leading to Prince Edward County Elementary School.

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RELIVING HISTORY The 34th annual James River Batteau Festival, held in June, brings friends and family together from all over Virginia. For one week each year, participants travel through the James River using wooden vessels designed after 18th century transports for goods such as tobacco. PHOTOS BY EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH

Dr. Bill Trout

Neil Rowland

Buddy Bishop, “Big Wave” Dave, Rosalee Captain Byrne Nelson, Ken O’Hara, Mark McKissick and Roger Nelson

Lee Samuel, Sydney Samuel, Wendy Wadsworth and Jackson Samuel

Lauren Paullin, Misty, and Mark Paullin

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Betty Newland, Tina Bujno, Karen Murphy, Kate Marion, Dot Samuel, Rhonda Baker, Barbara Myers, Wendy Wadsworth and Bob Baker

John Pearman and his dog, Holly

Ned and Cheyanne Nelson are pictured on the Fine Creek Mill batteau.

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HEART OF VIRGINIA CLASSIC AUTO CLUB CRUISE-IN The Heart of Virginia Classic Auto Club held a Cruise-In on June 15 in Farmville, drawing vehicles of many different makes and models, along with many people who have an interest in classic vehicles. The club holds a Cruise-In from 4-8 p.m. on the third Saturday of every month from April-September in the Tractor Supply Company parking lot on South Main Street in Farmville. PHOTOS BY TITUS MOHLER

Nancy Pempel, Dan Pempel and Nancyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1967 Ford Mustang 289 convertible, of which she is the original owner

Mike Duker and his 1971 Chevrolet Camaro SS that he has owned for about 12 years

Danny Dunn, Ron Dunn and the 1956 Ford Fairlane Customline hardtop that they have worked to restore for the last two-and-a-half years

Rita Ashton, Tom Ashton and their 1965 Plymouth Belvedere II that they have had for 15 years

Lisa Burns, Robert Mottley, Janice Mottley, Robert Burns and the 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport that Robert and Janice Mottley bought brand new and plan to gift to Robert Burns

Lee Harrison and his 1960 Studebaker Lark VIII convertible that he has owned for about five years

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Joanne Wcislo, Ron Wcislo and the 1931 Ford Model A pickup that they built

The late Ray Carlson and his 1972 Chevrolet Impala that he had owned since 1980

Rebecca Maxwell, Maurice Maxwell and their 1960 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite that they have owned since 2005

Raymond Van Lenten and his 1967 Ford Mustang that he worked on every day for two-and-a-half years to bring to its present state

Mary Morton, Junious Morton and their 1976 Chevrolet Caprice Classic that they have owned since 1978

Bill Stell and his 1985 Chevrolet El Camino SS that he has owned for eight months

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NATIONAL NIGHT OUT 2019 Farmville celebrated National Night Out on Aug. 6 with block parties that brought citizens and law enforcement together. A Farmville Police Department press release noted that National Night Out â&#x20AC;&#x153;enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.

Mary Dunn, Viola Hines and Alpha Johnson

Reid Nichols and Dana Nichols

Sherrita Singleton, Shaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Kyla Holman, Janiyah Singleton

Melvin Nunnally and Kimberly Jones

Natalie Mosby and Natilea Mosby

In front, Makiya Hawkins, Shalea Braxton; in back, Patricia Hawkins, Khyla Jones, Christine Hawkins and Shyiera Booker

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National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug-prevention awareness, develop and strengthen partnerships between police and residents and generate support for anti-crime programs such as Neighborhood Watch, Crime Solvers and Business Watch.â&#x20AC;? PHOTOS BY

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TITUS MOHLER

Nakiah Wiley and Quincy Scott

Shannon Gilliam and Lanita Herndon

Alexandrea Taylor and April Hurley

David Reinhardt, Peggy Garrett and Andre Harper

Rachel Williams and Sadie Jones-Watkins

Will Monroe, Shanyveah Brown and Judy Booker

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SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE HELD Families and children throughout the area attended a school supply drive held July 29. The event took place at the Prince Edward Elks Lodge and was organized by the Carl U. Eggleston Foundation. During the event, children received backpacks and other supplies, enjoyed hot dogs and snacks, and heard three motivational speakers: Prince Edward Sheriff Wesley Reed, Prince Edward Commonwealthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Ida Miley aand Eva Bland

Velma Jennings, Jennifer Taylor and Betty Baskin

Lucy Smith and Amaia Thomas

Keshawn Jackson Jr. and Tanya Johnson

Michael Booker, Kaliyah Gray, Keshawn Jackson Jr. and Damari Booker

Alani Walton, Sharna Foster and Kenzie Fulcher

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Attorney Megan Clark and Prince Edward County Public Schools’ Director of Support Services Richard Goode. PHOTOS BY EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH

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Aladria Davis and Bre’Nesha Mosby

Rayburt Whitehead and John Francis

Brenda Lee, Wesley Reed and Jean Busby

Bre’Nesha Mosby and Kha’lei Brown Lambert

Damari Simmons, D’Aeri Simmons, Germany Middleton and Madison Little

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CATFISH FRY FOR A CAUSE What do firefighters, a pumper truck and catfish all have in common? Why a southern fish fry fundraiser for the Darlington Heights Volunteer Fire Department â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of course. The department is raising funds to outfit the new Wildland Urban Interface Pumper truck they are set to receive in the spring. According to Assistant Fire Chief Henry

Mary Bonney cooks up some catfish with an expert hand.

Henry Womack, Tony Martin and Morgan Lacks take a break from their cooking duties to smile for the camera.

Margaret Pfaff and Debbie Chaconas were all smiles as they greeted and welcomed community members to the fish fry.

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Womack the funds raised will help pay for new equipment to outfit the pumper such as hoses, nozzles and forcible entry tools. If you werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to attend the fish fry you can still show your support by making a donation to these area heroes. Contact Treasurer Betty Tinsley at (434)248-6771 or mail checks to Darlington Heights Volunteer Fire Department, 3448 Morris Creek Road, Pamplin, VA 23958.

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PHOTOS BY BETTY J. RAMSEY

Pictured are, from left, Linda Timmons and Karen Holten serving up coleslaw and hushpuppies at the fish fry.

Tony Epps and Jason Tinsley came out in support Saturday.

Volunteer Megan Lacks takes a break from her cooking duties to snuggle six-month-old granddaughter Everlee Vassar and pose for the camera.

Enjoying a good laugh and the spirit of the evening were Gary Ramsey along with Ricky and Regina Hux.

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NORTH STREET PRESS CLUB A good time was had by all as they got to take a sneak peek at the new North Street Press Club in downtown Farmville. Great food and live entertainment creates a vibe that is sure to be an area favorite. Now open and serving lunch and dinner at 127 North St., Farmville. PHOTOS BY GEORGE WATERS

Ellen Allen, Claressa Townsend, Jessica Hunsucker, Doug Hunsucker and Steve Allen

Brandon Clark and Dustin Black

Olivia Guill, Jess Faus and Nikki Cane

Summer Woten, Jamie Overton and Ford Gearheart

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Cody Anderson, Megan Miller, Carly Adams, and Trent Eggleston

Carol Baldwin, Sheryl Adkins and Trisha Lough

Nash Osborn and Lauren Walls-Mckay

J.T.

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A Look into the Past

This field in Buckingham County marks the site of Millbrook, the home Thomas Jefferson designed and had built for his daughter, Maria, who married Farmville attorney John Wayles Eppes in 1797. The spindly trees, called Paradise trees, were imported from China by Thomas Jefferson to use as decorative shrubs.

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THE MYSTERY OF MILLBROOK: HIDDEN HISTORY IN BUCKINGHAM COUNTY

By Dr. Jim Jordan

he year is 1800, two years after the founding of Farmville. In nearby Charlottesville roughly 60 miles to the north, Thomas Jefferson sets up his telescope at Monticello and searches the horizon in the direction of Farmville. The focus of his interest is Millbrook, the stately home he designed and had built in Buckingham County for his youngest daughter Maria and husband John Wayles Eppes. Jefferson could not actually see Millbrook because a mountain was in the way — Willis Mountain. In “Notes on the State of Virginia,” the one book Jefferson wrote in his lifetime, he tells about his sky watching: “There is a solitary mountain about 40 miles off in the south, whose natural shape is a regular cone; but, by the effect of what sailors call ‘looming,’ it sometimes sinks almost totally into the horizon, sometimes it rises, sometimes its top flattens. In short it assumes at times the most

whimsical shapes and successively in the same morning.” Also living at Millbrook was Betsy Hemings, who Jefferson sent to Millbrook to help care for Francis, born in 1801. Jefferson liked to suggest projects for his son-in-law John Eppes and visited often to see Maria and Francis — and also to see if Eppes had carried out his suggestions. Father and daughter frequently kept in touch by letters and packages posted and received at the post office in the nearby village of Ca Ira on the Willis River, the waters of which powered Millbrook’s mill. Millbrook was located on a high knoll with striking views. A historical marker just north of Sheppards on Route 15 notes the spot. On the night of Sept. 20, 1866, a suspicious fire consumed not only the main house but also the dependencies including the dairy springhouse, icehouse and greenhouse. Today, sadly, the only remains of the house are huge stones that once formed

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Top, Longwood’s Archeology Field School conducted the excavation at Millbrook during the spring and summer in 1990-91. Here two students carry foundation stones. Above, sisters Margaret and Mae Banton were landowners of the Millbrook property during the 1900s when the Longwood Archeology Field School conducted its excavation.

its foundation. Finding the hidden history beneath these stones would be a challenge, but the Longwood University Archaeology Field School was up to it. When the Longwood students and I began our excavations in the early 1990s, two sisters, Margaret and Mae Banton, were landowners. They confirmed the suspicious nature of the fire that destroyed Millbrook with the following tale: “Our Pappy told us that sometime in the early 1900s two former workers at the plantation told him they saw the men set the fires that night, but they never told anyone.” Fortunately for our project, the foundations of the house and outbuildings were all clearly marked by thick groves of tall spindly trees. These trees were called Paradise Trees, also known as “Trees of Heaven,” that Jefferson had imported from China to use as decorative shrubs at Monticello. While a wonderful guide for archaeologists on the trail of Jefferson’s structures, these trees also made it hard to dig. Left untended Paradise Trees can grow tall and unsightly and develop very thick undergrowth. One successful excavation project was the greenhouse where Jefferson spent much time on his visits to Millbrook. We uncovered the stone steps leading down into the greenhouse — where Jefferson surely walked numerous times — as well as shards of window glass and broken pots. Although the main house is long gone, the foundation still blazes forth in the spring with daffodils, jonquils and yucca — visible links to Jefferson. The profusion of flowering plants, trees and shrubs planted by Jefferson remain a part of the landscape some 220 years later. Six magnificent English boxwoods that once bracketed the house are still growing there, and in three large flat-topped mounds where the formal garden once stood we discovered buttercups, butter ’n eggs, and lilac. We also found several dozen wild rose bushes, genetic descendants of the Rosa centifolia bulbs Jefferson imported from France in 1785. As Jefferson planned, it was the perfect place for Maria’s family. Sadly, Maria did not live to enjoy it; she died following a difficult childbirth in 1804. John Eppes remarried five years later to Martha “Patsy” Jones. The new Mrs. Eppes and her husband settled at Millbrook where Francis became a big brother to his half brothers and sisters. Betsy Hemings continued her role as housekeeper and nurse to a second Eppes household; her loyalty to the Eppes children was often mentioned. Unfortunately, this happy domestic scene did not last either. John Eppes died in 1823 at the age of 50, reportedly from complications of severe arthritis. According to a Dec. 8, 1976, article in The Farmville Herald, Patsy and her six children remained at Millbrook where she opened a private school. She remained there until her death during the early years of the Civil War. All of this brings us to the mystery of Millbrook — the Millbrook graveyard. The family cemetery lies quite near the site of the house that burned in 1866. There are approxi-

Farmville the Magazine

Thomas Jefferson frequently sent letters, wine and even a harpsichord to his daughter Maria in Buckingham. These packages would have passed through this door in the post office at nearby Ca Ira.

mately 20 unmarked subsided areas that are probably graves, but only two gravestones remaining on their burials. One marble tablet that has slid off its brick base marks the final resting place of John Eppes; the other marks the grave of Betsy Hemings. Maria Jefferson Eppes is buried on the grounds of Monticello, but where is Patsy Eppes? John Hendricks, who wrote the 1976 Herald article, reported that she might be buried at Millbrook. If so, where is she, and why did Millbrook burn to the ground shortly after her death? The Millbrook cemetery is a peaceful spot today, but questions remain. Upon visiting Millbrook in the 1970s, Hendricks had a similar impression. “As one walks around the ruins of Millbrook, especially in early evening, an eerie feeling seems to linger,” he wrote. “Gone are the house and outbuildings, but the ghosts of dead inhabitants seem to dwell here.” Only those who once lived in the stately home Jefferson designed have the answers — and none of them care to share what they know. Dr. Jim Jordan taught at Longwood University for almost 40 years before retiring as the Board of Visitors Distinguished Professor of Anthropology.

Longwood Archeology students unearthed these stone steps that lead to Millbrook’s greenhouse, which was located below ground.

Keys discovered on the Millbrook property once unlocked the door to the main house (top key) and were possibly used to safeguard other valuables.

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Catching Up With...

Henry Lutz Story by Crystal Vandegrift

enry Lutz, a Farmville native, graduated from Prince Edward County High School in 2017. Today he is living in Troy, New York, continuing his education that he says is rigorous but enjoyable. "I am currently studying chemical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)," he said. "I have completed two years of college. I really enjoy the level of rigor in all my courses especially in my engineering classes. With my classes at RPI, I am challenged to solve problems through creative means." Lutz says his love for learning just may have come from his parents. Both of his parents are educators. Henry's mom Consuelo is a professor at Longwood University and his dad Gary is a high school chemistry teacher. "Their positions as educators has influenced me and the way I approach my education. I value schoolwork for the opportunity it provides to learn something new, and I really enjoy learning new things," Lutz said. "With this approach, I have found myself liking the challenge that college and my research opportunities have offered me so far." This summer he was able to take part in a research Program on Engineered Bioactive Interfaces and Devices at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Lutz said he was one of 13 students out of 200 that was selected to attend the undergraduate research program and in addition to expanding his learning during the 10 weeklong event it included a $5,000 stipend funded through the National Science Foundation and an invitation to present the research at either a Regional or National Scientific Meeting. He credits his acceptance into the program in large part to his experience performing research with Dr. Nicholas Deifel at Hampden-Sydney College last summer. He also gives lots of credit to his parents. "I

credit my success to the way my parents raised me always to put forth my best effort even when a small amount of effort would have allowed me to succeed," he said. With two years of college under his belt, Lutz is already looking toward the future and what they may entail. "At this point, I am thinking of going to graduate school, which will provide options to pursue academic research or working in industrial research & development," he said. He says he plans to pursue chemical engineering in the future and is so involved in the subject that he currently tutors other in the field. "I take great satisfaction in the responsibility associated with being a tutor in chemistry and a teaching assistant in physics," Lutz said. "If you are in a position to help someone, you should do it." In addition to helping others at RPI, he is a member of the Archimedean Society, an honor society for RPI students with 4.0 GPAs; a member of Omega Chi Epsilon for Chemical

Engineering, an honor society for upperclassmen chemical engineers in the top fourth of their class; and a member of the American Institute for Chemical Engineering. Coming from a small town, Lutz says being in New York for college has made him miss the rural lifestyle and the lack of traffic one must deal with in Farmville. "With most of my year in Troy, New York, I get tired of dealing with the near-constant traffic and rush hour when the highways become parking lots," he explained. When it comes to his love of his hometown, he says the small-town feel is the best along with having nearby attractions such as High Bridge Trail and the Manor Golf Club. When he is not busy with college classes, tutoring and research, Lutz finds joy in golfing, hiking, reading and playing video games. "I feel that these activities allow me to take my mind off my work and relax for a while." said Lutz.

Farmville the Magazine

March 2019 Vol. 4, No. 1 FREE

October 2018 Vol. 3, No. 6 FREE

Management style Gerry Spates recalls 40 years on the job

Sharing a journey

CSCH volunteers

Two people speak about immigrating to America

A tradition of service and smiles

Living well

Health store offers resources, education

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April 2018 Vol. 3, No. 2 FREE

December 2018 Vol. 3, No. 8 FREE

Piedmont Senior Resources

A year-round gift for area seniors

Holiday Showing

First class in Farmville Historic hotel goes boutique

Training Tigers

Leonard leads on the trail, in the pool www.FarmvilletheMag.com

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50 Farmville the Magazine

Town and Gown

Learning through service As told by Emily Hollingsworth

Mary Carroll-Hackett, 16-year creative writing program founder and professor at Longwood University; has what may seem like an odd requirement for the underclassmen students in her classes. She allocates a certain number of community service hours for her students. The students are then required to perform the hours. But there’s a twist: they can’t be within the walls of the university; they have to be out in the Prince Edward and Farmville community. She sees service to the community as a necessary component of being a student, of living in the county. “This is your home now,” Carroll-Hackett said, relaying what she tells students. While they may not have grown up in Farmville, they will spend the majority of their colleges years in the Farmville area rather than their home towns, she said. She’s had a number of students who, through this program, have made profound impacts through their service. Thanks to the efforts of four students in Hackett’s program, Madeline’s House received approximately $40,000 in donations, enough to keep the domestic violence shelter open. The shelter had lost half of its funding due to the Great Recession. “Within 24 hours, [the students] had developed a campaign, they had opened a Facebook group to save Madeline’s House and within 24 hours had 1,200-1,300 people,” CarrollHackett said. She said the students went from business to business in downtown Farmville to raise funds. “I think it’s not only beneficial for the students, it’s wildly beneficial for the town,” Carroll-Hackett said. “These kids have energy, and they have enthusiasm … they have access

to resources on campus and can bring a lot to the community. They’re young. Sometimes you’ve just to point them in the right direction.” She encourages students to serve in areas that they are passionate about and can make the most impact. Carroll-Hackett, in a lot of ways, was able to do the same as a professor at Longwood. She came from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, to Longwood University in 2003. Carroll-Hackett built the university’s creative writing program. Carroll-Hackett said she is impressed by Longwood’s focus as a teaching-centered college and by its focus on the individual student. She spoke about how her own professors’ influences continue to shape her work. She continues to keep in touch with her undergraduate professor who suggested the idea for her latest project. Carroll-Hackett teaches everything from senior-level creative writing and teaching

courses to freshman-level composition classes, meaning that she can teach many of their students as they rise from freshmen to seniors. She leads her classes by example, encouraging all of her students to write from their hearts. Carroll-Hackett has published 10 books over the course of 10 years. “Writing is central to everything I do,” Carroll-Hackett said. The most important aspect of teaching writing to students, Carroll-Hackett believes, is giving them the space and environment to break out of self-doubt or fear. “I always learn as much from the kids as they learn from me,” Carroll-Hackett said. “For me, there’s no bigger high then when the lights go on, you know what I mean, when they get something.” “A lot of kids, especially younger students, come in and they’re actually kind of afraid of writing,” she said. “My favorite thing is to undo that fear and to see them recognize and kind of take control of the power of language, whether they’re using that to write a freshman comp. paper, or whether they’re writing a proposal to make some social change in the world, or whether they’re writing a poem or short story … when they realize they do have that power is my single favorite thing.” She said the students are much funnier and wiser than they are given credit for. One of Carroll-Hackett’s favorite places to visit at Longwood is the fountain behind Grainger Hall. She goes there before teaching classes, she said. Some of her favorite places to visit in the community, Carroll-Hackett said, relate to water. She enjoys visiting Sandy Creek Reservoir and the patio at Charley’s Waterfront Café.

Farmville the Magazine

Why I Love Farmville By George Waters

Ricky Hux Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AROUND FARMVILLE? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES FARMVILLE HAS UNDERGONE DURING YOUR TIME HERE? A: In 31 years, I have seen Main Street get updated and South Main Street grow with all the restaurants, motels and the Walmart Shopping Center. I saw Longwood College change to Longwood University and all the renovations and construction of buildings and facilities on campus. Q: IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FARMVILLE CHANGE/ GROW IN THE FUTURE? A: Increased parking access downtown. Q: WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR BEST FARMVILLE MEMORIES? A: An elderly lady got lost in the woods nearby many years ago. They had helicopters,

trained dogs, and search teams looking all afternoon and evening with no luck. Around midnight when they were shutting down the search, about eight people volunteered to make one last search. The temperature was dropping to freezing. We were calling her name and around two in the morning she answered. She was rescued safely with no injuries. I have always remembered how the area people worked together â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were not going to give up until she was found. Q: WHAT, IN YOUR EYES, MAKES FARMVILLE SPECIAL? A: Small town living and within an hour drive (means) you have so many opportunities. The area universities and colleges offer activities and sporting events, access to Virginia State Parks, hiking trails, lakes and ponds, hunting and fishing, and shopping. If you want to go to a bigger city, Richmond and Lynchburg are a short drive away. Q: IN YOUR INTERACTIONS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PEOPLE OF FARMVILLE? A: Friendly, nice and willing to help. Q: WHAT IS ONE SMALL THING ABOUT FARMVILLE THAT YOU LOVE OR THINK TRULY REPRESENTS THE COMMUNITY? A: I had a high school friend visit a couple of years ago. As we were driving through town, he commented about how clean, neat and beautiful it is in the town of Farmville. I have always taken it for granted, but now I am more observant. Many thanks to the town of Farmville employees and the community. Q: IF YOU HAD TO DESCRIBE FARMVILLE IN JUST A FEW WORDS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? A: Friendly, small, thriving and accessible to many opportunities.

Centra Southside Pediatrics now open! Centra Southside Pediatrics is a medical center for children patients, as well as immunizations, allergy shots, school and sports physicals, and pediatric endocrinology. Accepting new patients for: • •

Well child visits Sports physicals

• •

Immunizations Sick visits

Open Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

To schedule an appointment, call 434.315.5377 Fax: 434.315.2747

Walk-ins Welcome!

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