Around HARRISONBURG Sep + Oct 2010
The Reward is WorthThingsthe R isk to Do...
Reader Contests & Community Events
Weekend Getaways & Restaurant Reviews
Meet Local People who make a difference
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contents Sept & Oct 2010
Π38
33
FEATURES
19 COVER STORY The Reward is Worth the Risk
33 JMU’s Patience Pays Off
( On The Cover dG n u o r A UR HARRISONB June + July 2010
The Forbes Center for Performing Arts
38 The Stonewall Jackson Inn
A Night’s Delight - A Breakfast to Remember
ewaRd is The RŸ Risk Th Ÿ woR ThingsThe to Do... Reader Contests & Community Events
Places to Go... nd Getaways &
$3.99
Weeke Restaurant Reviews
Meet L who make a difference
.. People to Know. ocal People
MEET CURTIS From Teacher to TV Personality
[4]
Around The Panhandle | Sept/Oct 2009
13 The Whole Game is Changing 23 The Mimslyn Inn 27 The Mountains are Calling 30 OUR TOP TEN - Brain Foods 43 FEATURED EATS - L’Italia 50 NOW IT’S YOUR TURN - Recipes THE UNKNOWN EATER Dines Downtown at Pennybackers
52 INSIDE OUT WITH ELI ANDERSEN
47
54 MONEY MATTERS - Financial Advice
From Tony Price
56 An Adventure We Didn’t See Coming 60 APPLES & ORANGES Product Review 62 REALTY ADVICE from Kline May 65 Dr VerNooy brings unique talent &
6 INBOX MAILBOX/LETTERS 8 PHOTO CONTEST 9 CAPTION CONTEST 10 Rockingham Word Search 11 Kids Crossword
outlook to RMH
ŸŸ Ÿ
69 CLIP & SAVE
You Can’t Afford to Miss
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Great Savings at Local Businesses
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{ x Around o b l i {Ma HARRISONBURG SEP/OCT ‘10 | VOL 1 | NO 1
PUBLISHER
Dear Readers: Welcome to the first issue of Around Harrisonburg Magazine. We certainly hope that this is the start of a long, rewarding relationship. What we want to do is offer you interesting stories and articles on the things that are happening right in your community (or awfully close by). We’ll probably surprise you, intrigue you, or even inspire you to go find out more about a particular place, person, or event right here in your city. And that’s just the start of things. Around Harrisonburg will cover a wide range of newsworthy topics—things to do, places to go, and people to know—and whatever else strikes our fancy. If it’s interesting, and you want to know about it, we’ll do our best to bring it to you. We’re also going to include you, the reader, in our experience, with reader-submitted stories, photo and caption contests, idea suggestions, and community events. In addition to informing you on the faces and places in your town, we look forward to an interactive relationship with the entire Harrisonburg community, and beyond. Our debut issue hits the ground running, with local stories on where to eat, what to visit, a little “who’s who,” and even some social commentary.
Mike Hornby
EDITOR
Mike Chalmers
EDITORIAL DESIGN
Christie Hyre Mike Hornby
PRODUCTION
Mike Hornby
WEBSITE
Hornby Publishing
ADVISORS
Kresha Hornby Stewart Hornby Fred Hollida John Swift
WRITERS
Mike Chalmers Eli Andersen The Unknown Eater Claire Gibson Jodi Clark Debra Cornwell
PHOTOGRAPHY
Eric Fargo Fargofotos.com
ADVERTISING DESIGN
Christie Hyre Marketing, Etc.
Kristen Lemaster Orchistrated Design
PRINTER
Panhandle Printing
Find out what gives a local Italian restaurant such big time flavor. We’ll reveal some lovely little “get-away” spots, and some fantastic views. Did you know there’s a TV celebrity living just slightly north of Harrisonburg? And while you’re sifting through, catch up on some of the most “braininspiring” foods. We’ve got a reader-submittal story that will leave you shaking your head, and a couple of other pieces that will likely have you scratching it. Perhaps best of all, you’ll get an intimate look at JMU’s new Forbes Performing Arts Center.
& Design
BUSINESS PARTNERS
Cox/Hollida/Price Marketing, Etc. John Swift
We want you to enjoy our magazine—your magazine! After all, this is for everyone. We’re grateful you have allowed us to become a part of your city, and we’re going to do our best to bring it to you in the most interesting ways possible.
SEND MAIL TO
PO Box 1284 Harrisonburg, VA 22803
CONTACT US
AroundHarrisonburg.com [540] 251-2180
We hope you’ve had a wonderful summer, and look forward to the coming months together! Sincerely,
Michael Chalmers Editor
Hornby Publishing, LLC | PO Box 1284 | Harrisonburg, VA 22803 | 540.251.2180
BUSINESS & CIRCULATION Kresha Hornby
Around Harrisonburg is a bimonthly publication of Hornby Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photos. Distributed through subscriptions, advertisers and online. Subscription price is $18.99 per year. Single issues $3.99. Price does not include 5% Virginia state sales tax. To subscribe, send check or money order for $18.99 payable to Around Harrisonburg; PO Box 1284, Harrisonburg, VA 22803 or subscribe online and pay by credit card at www.AroundHarrisonburg.com.
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photography? Now’s your chance to show off your photo skills to the world! Best of all, one lucky winner (per issue) will receive $50. Submit your photos today at www.AroundHarrisonburg. com or email to photos@aroundharrisonburg.com [Don’t forget to read the important stuff] All photo submissions must include name and contact information and must be the original work of the submitter. Photos must be at least 300dpi and in .jpg or .pdf format. All pictures will become property of Hornby Publishing LLC.
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Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
Caption Contest Show us your funny side! Submit your caption and you could win!
Are You The Next Lucky Winner? Smoking can be hazardous to your ..... home.
#1001
Our most popular caption contest yet... Thanks to everyone who is participating! Don’t stop now! It was a really tough decision because we had so many entries this issue, but... Congratulations to our lucky winner: Check out other great captions that were submitted online at: www.AroundThePanhandle.com
. . . e r e H s e o G n o i t p a C r u . . . Yo
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Three easy ways to enter! Submit your caption online at: www.AroundHarrisonburg.com
Email your caption to: Mike@AroundHarrisonburg.com Subject: Caption #1001
Mail your caption to: Around Harrisonburg- Caption #1001 PO Box 1284, Harrisonburg, VA 22803
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Rockingham Wordsearch Send your completed puzzle to: Hornby Publishing C/O Puzzle 1001 P.O. Box 1284 Harrisonburg, VA 22803 for your chance to win $50
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Kids
Crossword
Send your completed puzzle to: Hornby Publishing C/O Puzzle 1002 P.O. Box 1284 Harrisonburg, VA 22803 for your chance to win $50 ALL PUZZLES AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AT WWW.AROUNDHARRISONBURG.COM
Across: 1. Ghostly Talk 2. Human that transforms into a wolf 5. Orange and black triangle candy 6. Web creator 7. A pot that witches use 9. ____ or Treat! 10. Disguise 13. Night flying mammals 17. Dance called monster ______ See More at www.AroundHarrisonburg.com
Down: 2. Spiders weave 3. Dracula is one of these 4. Halloween month 5. Beverage made from apples 6. Lots of bones 8. Stirs potions in a cauldron 11. Placed over your face 12. Carved pumpkin 14. Scary creatures, or_______, Inc. 15. A house where ghosts live is 16. Bobbing for ______
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The Whole Game is Changing by Mike Chalmers
Death and taxes—the two certainties that many of us could stand to see less of. The phrase was uttered by more than a few people in the 1700s, most notably, Ben Franklin. Daniel Dafoe, history tells us, likely led the initial thought in his work: The Political History of the Devil, in 1726. Franklin wrote of the two certainties in a letter to JeanBaptiste Leroy, in 1789. That was a long time ago. At the time when these men entertained this notion, as did others, they weren’t thinking of how simple their lives would look to us—though Franklin might have been—just as we don’t spend a whole lot of time pondering what dinosaurs we will appear to have been to the people of 2110. Just imagine, if humanity manages to keep itself upright for another 100 years, how agonizingly slow and predictable our lives will look to generations in the next century. That thought in and of itself is quite the wrestling match, given the state of the world. I hesitate to envision the stuffed and helpless inhabitants of utopian space ships from Wall-E—or the movie in general. But beyond present reality, imagine what possibilities could take shape—what a normal, boring day will look like to someone a hundred [ 12 ]
years from now. Who can know? We can’t, and for a number of reasons, though two stand out. For starters, technology is evolving at a rate that is simply hard to comprehend. You read these numbers sometimes, in relation to what a computer will be able to do, etc., in 20 years—it’s dizzying. The complete bulk of our daily operations will rely primarily on something handheld (which is already happening), and then likely something implanted. And that’s the obvious stuff. I can’t say with certainty what things will look like, or how they will change along the way, and I doubt too many of us can. We draw our own conclusions, create our own hypotheses—as it all relates to what we experience here and now. Obviously, we know that the devices we use today will be vastly improved upon or extinct in the near future but beyond that, what do we know? Though many of us thought we had a grasp on what the future might hold, and a handful of programmer types certainly had a rough idea of things to come, how many of us knew what texting was in 1999? Ten years later, who among us could live without it (with almost all of us who text averaging over 400 a month, and around 4.5 trillion texts sent globally in
2008 alone)? That’s just 10 years. Go back 10 years before that; who knew what a cell phone was (Sonny Crocket aside)? Even during most of the last 50 years, technological modifications were pretty much that—just modifications. But in the last 10 years, the whole game has changed—the digital theater that we live in is wide open—the future is flying around us as if looking for a place to land, on a constant and ever-upgraded basis. The world we live in is literally being invented as we travel through it—almost like a dream. Which leads to the other reason I don’t think we can hone in on what the future will bring— the certainties have changed. The same certainties that Ben Franklin spoke of obviously apply (in abundance), but the list has grown along with the times. Two certainties in life anymore? I don’t think so. You will never be able to lick your elbow (stop trying), and next year, though you won’t really think about it, there will be between 70- and 100-million more people on this planet, counting births and deaths. Though the net growth for global population is actually decreasing, estimates for 2050 all point towards over 9-billion people on Earth. Like a lot of things, it’s easy to overlook numbers that rise slowly, in the background. We’re actually quite conditioned, at least in this country, to ignore such statistics—due to living within a credit-based culture. Even our health is often put in terms of “what will happen over time” if we don’t change this or that. But as most of us know, at some point, even the most subtle of increases inevitably reach points of crisis. Will 9-billion people on Earth, and the power struggles, political positioning, food and water dynamics, pollution, religious clashing, socioeconomic disparities, and all of the seemingly endless details that emerge when a room gets more crowded (as we’re beginning to see now), be the ultimate undoing for us? It’s a question that will have to be addressed many times along the way, I would imagine. Though it’s not a certainty, the numbers are quite real, and if the present is an indication of how we handle ourselves in a shrinking environment, the
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
speculation towards such future realities only getting more delicate, sensitive, and explosive definitely stands on firm ground. Then again, as long as we’re speculating, who’s to say in 40 years we don’t have a better idea of where the next step for humanity might exist? The High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) is, essentially, a technological adaptation that allows a telescope to see much deeper into space and within much more exquisite layers/light patterns, and wave lengths—to detect planets where none can be seen. The topic is mildly interesting to most, until you realize that in recent years, the project has begun to discover sun-orbiting planets at an impressive pace (over 30 in 2009 alone). About 400 extrasolar planets (those that orbit a star other than our own) have been discovered since 1995, and over 70 can be linked to HARPS—which only recently started picking up steam. The various international teams affiliated with the project are very confident that the discovery of earth-like planets orbiting their own suns, within sustainable environments, will be a reality in this next decade. Of course, the question remains: if we found an inhabitable planet, what are we supposed to do about it? How could we ever address a plan or a strategy towards visiting that planet if we weren’t working together, pulling together untold amounts of
international resources, funding, and cooperation at levels that we simply haven’t shown, as a species, that we’re capable of achieving at this point in human history? And what do we do if we get there? What if it’s already inhabited—and by a species that is doing just fine without us (AVATAR— and wear the glasses). From what I’ve read or watched, it seems that the most realistic efforts toward any type of space travel, at this point, as it pertains to our immediate needs, would be to figure out a way to ship our trash and/ or much of the physical pollution on the earth to another celestial body (preferably a near-dead one)—the moon. If ever there was a place that we could justify dumping our trash upon, the moon looks just fine (ironically the same place we may have to get our fresh water one day). It would probably take an enormous effort, and again, international cooperation, but the trash on this earth will soon become one of life’s most disturbing certainties. You will probably sleep at least a third of your life away—somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 years for a lot of us. Google is set to become way more than just a search engine in the coming decades. Light speed is around 671-million miles per hour, or 186,000 miles per second. A light year is approximately 5.9-trillion miles. If I live to be 85, and my car insurance stays the same (yeah right), I’ll end
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up paying Geico about $60K. In that same time frame, if gas remains the primary fuel for our vehicles, and gas prices magically stay about where they are, a $40 fill up once per week for the next 50 years of your life will alleviate your bank account of about $100K, depending on what you drive and how you drive (well aware that forty bucks a week is on the low side and gas prices will only go up and up). If you like sushi, your dietary routine is going to absorb a significant change within the next three to five years, as the global tuna population is set to be near-extinct or extinct by then, if present overfishing and poaching efforts persist. By age 25, between 35% and 50% of sexually-active adults will have an STD. And in 2029, the asteroid Apophis will pass a little too close to earth. In fact, it will pass so close (in the neighborhood of three to four earth widths) that scientists hope to attach a number of devices to it in addition to a ton of mathematical predictions. We know enough about its trajectory now to claim that if it passes through a certain gravitational “keyhole,” which isn’t very large, thankfully, it will come back around and hit us in 2037. Apophis is roughly the size of three football fields and wouldn’t necessarily be a global killer but would definitely be a game changer. The giant rock is one of 600 near-earth asteroids being observed that could potentially wreak havoc one day. But that’s 19 years from now, so it might as well be forever, at least to the general public. By the time that thing tumbles past us at blinding speed, either hitting the keyhole or missing it, we could all be living under any one of dozens of circumstances. Perhaps we won’t even look up, or can’t look up, into a sky devoid of any light or scenery—the earth having succumbed to a nuclear winter of sorts—a landscape akin to one Cormac McCarthy would devise—as a result of the super volcano sitting beneath Yellowstone having finally blown its volatile lid. Obviously, such a world could also be created by myriad man-made nuclear holocaust type scenarios—the scope, source, and justifications, at this point, being anyone’s guess. Or nothing of the sort transpires, and life moves along as it has
[ 13 ]
for decades, centuries. Maybe in 2029, Apophis flies over the night sky, and the media is ablaze with activity and the popular culture at large becomes so inundated with over-information concerning the topic that, by the time it passes, half of us are mesmerized (wearing t-shirts, arguing over the religion vs. science implications of it all, and playing asteroid games digitally implanted into our frontal lobes) and the other half couldn’t care less. Probably not all of this was considered by Ben Franklin, but we’ll cut him some slack since he hasn’t been around for a while—a victim of the ultimate certainty—time passing. And what about more hypothetical certainties, like relationships? In the coming years, how many of us will think we’ve found the perfect friend or the perfect mate, only to have it unravel? And how many times will we soldier through such folly? How many of us will say or do something we regret later? How many of us will not take advantage of an opportunity that we should have, out of fear? How many of us will realize something extremely important, but only when it’s too late? Certainties of the spirit, of the heart, are as limitless in number as any other, perhaps more so. A simple truth about humans is that we gravitate and we collide. That fact has facilitated cultures, formed governments, and caused wars. Within the layers, it has supplemented love stories, heartache, personal discovery, and relentless change. The Dubai Tower, or Burj Khalifa, opened earlier this year to international acclaim as the world’s tallest building. Something about tall buildings gets us all crazy, tall buildings and speed—we’ll sit through the whole Olympics just to see the sprints. At 2,717 feet, it’s over a half-mile tall, and is almost two Sears Towers (now the Willis Tower) stacked on top of one another. It takes all but a minute on YouTube to stumble across the video of tall buildings projected for this decade. Dubai, of course, seeming to know no bounds in the world of architecture and development, regardless of how much it owes its oilrich neighbors, plans a tower that will laugh at even the Burj Khalifa—the [ 14 ]
Nakheel Harbour Tower—with early estimates reaching almost 4,000 feet. That’s a few football fields short of a mile—in the air, mind you. Chicago will get in on the mix with the Spire, at 2,000 feet, if the economy picks up. For now, it’s just a nice size hole in the ground with great views of the highway beside the lake. The Shanghai Tower will eclipse the 2,000-foot mark at some point as well. What fuels such projects? Do we really need to go vertical with an intensity that necessitates such enormous undertakings? Are such projects not going to immediately become targets of terrorism? Will they ever pay for themselves? In the Windy City’s case, the foundation hasn’t even paid for itself, so it sits. In the arena of anomalies, it’s often about the human ability to outdo itself, and in essence, to outdo each other. We will compete, incessantly—yet another certainty. Early on, it might have been more organic in nature—our need to eat and not get killed was pretty important—but we compete on so many levels now, that it defines our species. It conditions us as we grow, it tells a lot of us who we are, what we are, and why we are. Competition not only fuels the engines inside many of us, personally, but stimulates the growth of ideas, of movements, of legacies. Will you be a part of a competition in your lifetime? That is a certainty. Whether you take ownership of it, or enjoy it, or seek to thrive within it, is up to you. But it will find you as long as there is at least one other human on this planet in close proximity. And here’s the beauty of it; if there isn’t another person to compete with, you’ll likely compete with yourself, or your surroundings. It’s who we are. It’s in our genetics to push forward, to evolve, to control. Has this trait been good for us or bad, ultimately? Well, I guess it depends on who you talk to. We’re still here, and that says a lot, considering the volatility of nature. How much longer we’re here is, at this point, pretty much on us, and our ability to adapt to the many certainties that confront us in the future. Hopefully we can stay awake for at least two-thirds of it.
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The Reward is Worth the Risk
How TV personality, Curtis Fleming, found reality within his dreams. Patterns are a part of life. We often use the phrase “full-circle” to represent an array of circumstances that come back around in our lives, with the results often remaining as unpredictable as the timing. Attached to this idea is also a revolving list of opinions
concerning how you inevitably make your own luck, and that you reap what you sow. There’s an element of truth to all of it, just as there is an argument for the belief that everything is “meant to be.” Everyone’s life has a unique course, with some heading one
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way, some another, and some finding a place between both philosophies. Curtis Fleming’s life would likely be found here. Fleming, 43, is the host of The Sportsman Channel’s wildly popular show: Fly Rod
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Chronicles with Curtis Fleming. Now in its fifth season, the cable program is not even three years old, though the story behind it exhibits a rich depth. He and his wife, Shelly, along with their daughters, Laken and Autumn, make their home in Winchester, Virginia, which is certainly a change from the central West Virginia youth that Curtis remembers. “I grew up in Bridgeport. My father was a coal miner and worked hard his whole life, but he would take me on outdoor trips, fishing, camping. He showed me the outdoors, and I loved those times,” Fleming recollects. Such excursions often shape a young boy—help him to become a man in a sense—especially when the boy’s father is the architect and mentor. In Fleming’s case, the outings were so rewarding that he often found himself daydreaming through school. In fact, all he could think about most of the time was fishing. “I don’t know what you would have labeled me back then. They didn’t have all the designations: ADD, ADHD, LD. I had to focus and concentrate on something to get it. I really had to work to maintain my grades, so it was easy to stare out the window and dream about fishing.” Fortunately for young Curtis, his father wasn’t the only male figure who would impact him in a way that shaped his life. A seventhgrade teacher and coach, Joe Leonette, started an “Outdoor Club” within Curtis’s junior high. The club allowed the kids to explore the finer details of a world that Curtis was already quite fond of. But it didn’t stop there. In addition to Leonette’s positive influence on the members of the club, he also maintained his authority as a teacher and stressed not just a love of the outdoors, but an appreciation for exploring one’s own potential. In those parts, coal mining was not just a job, but a way of life, and with Curtis, Loenette wanted to make sure he explored more than one possibility. “Joe was a truly great man; he passed away in the mid-nineties. He stressed the importance of my education. He was very concerned that I complete my education,” Fleming recalls. “I listened to him because I respected him. All it took was one trip into the coal mine with my father to get me to go to college.” Fairmont State became Fleming’s post-high school destination, rather than the mines, and a degree in psychology would soon follow. He also met Shelly, who was pursuing a degree in education. But Bridgeport didn’t exactly offer a wide range of employment opportunities for college grads, so after twenty-five years in central West Virginia, Curtis and Shelly headed east on Rt. 50 and landed in Winchester. While Shelly found work in local education, Curtis found that his degree, combined with his unique disposition, was best served working with and influencing young men, much in the fashion that Joe Leonette had once influenced him. He found work as a Case Manager, a Teacher, and a Team Leader at Timber Ridge School, tucked in the hills of the Shenandoah Valley, on the outskirts of Winchester. The job became a part of his life, and as the years progressed, Curtis discovered that he, like the two men who had guided him most, had a talent for shaping young minds and steering lives in the right direction. He worked at Timber Ridge for fifteen years and would plan two big trips each year. Based on an essay assignment, six students were chosen for each trip, and Curtis would take them on a fly fishing adventure to Beverly, West Virginia. The symbolism and [ 18 ]
analogy that can be drawn from these trips didn’t just have an impact on the boys. Curtis was giving back, yes, coming full-circle, but he was also stoking a fire within himself that would soon lead to a very new and dynamic chapter. “You know, at some point it hit me, I didn’t want to be like all these people you see—just going through the motions—with that look on their face. I liked working at the school but my dream has always been fishing. It never stopped being my dream. I started wondering how I could make it a reality.” You have to remember, this transition has taken place in a span of less than four years. In that time, Fleming rounded up the proper resources, a few proper people, a great idea, and a whole lot of hope. And it all came together with the very first shoot in May of 2007. That date may seem rather random or even insignificant until you think about what was starting to go wrong with the economy, and what type of industry Curtis was attempting to attach himself to. “Of course, this is a sponsor-driven industry, and in 2007, sponsors were starting to disappear. We pitched at a tough time. I had a great idea for the show. I wanted to be hands-on, almost like ‘reality fly fishing.’ I didn’t just want to be some expert who told you how to do it, I wanted to show you,” he describes. At that point, the major “outdoor” network, Men’s Outdoors & Recreation, went under, and there was a scramble for sports channels to clean up and absorb the run-off. It wasn’t exactly an encouraging moment for Curtis and his crew. “I had no experience in television, no resume whatsoever. I had an idea for a show that I didn’t think anyone else was doing and I really felt that it would take. I pitched it around and then the Sportsman Channel looked at it. They came back and asked me, ‘How long have you been doing this?’ I told them, ‘Never.’ We signed a contract with them shortly after that.” At this point, one could say that the rest is history, which is only true in theory. The history is with Fleming every time he casts, in every new location he visits, in every shoot he takes. After The Sportsman Channel picked it up, he and his producer, Steve Hasty, set about creating a show that not only captivated the audience, but resonated with them. Curtis didn’t just become a familiar face on a niche channel, he is rapidly becoming the face of fly fishing, and for good reason—it’s all he ever wanted to do. “I always had a dream to do a show, but I didn’t want it to be like any other program. I’m as enthusiastic about it as anyone you’ll ever see. I’m out there screaming and coming up with stuff that everyone can relate to. People always come up to me and say, ‘After we watch your show, we feel like we were right there in the stream with you.’ You ask me if I’m living the dream, my office is out there in the stream, it could be anywhere. I’m doing what I love.” The success of Fly Rod Chronicles is a full-circle story in and of itself— one that even Fleming sometimes has to pinch himself over. “We did this at the worst time to ever try and build a business based on sponsorships, but it has just taken off. We went from ‘who are you’ to people seeking us out. We’ve really been getting a lot of support and with fly fishing, it’s a sport that a very diverse group can relate to. You see it in a lot of commercials, it’s very popular with the CEO set who live stressful lives—it ranges from high-end to bluecollar, and we go everywhere in order to build on that. Honestly, I didn’t think it would happen this quick. I get embarrassed when I have to sign autographs. I’m as humble as it gets.”
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Success has been both quick and steady for Fly Rod Chronicles. Partnerships with valued organizations like Project Healing Waters and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians only build the foundation and future of the young show. Project Healing Waters is a charity that introduces therapy to wounded veterans through fly fishing and tying. The project is in all fifty states and will soon be international. Curtis will do four shows with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to raise support for the continuing efforts to sustain and protect the heritage of the Cherokee Nation as well as their headquarters in Cherokee, North Carolina. And as full circles go, Cherokee was where Curtis first learned to fish as a boy. June 3rd, 4th, and 5th will find the crew at the site of another valued partner in Harman, West Virginia, for the 1st National Invitational Fly Fishing Tournament. Though the tournament is national, Fleming expects to see many great fishermen from around the world, including world fishing champion, Rick Hartman. In addition to a growing list of over a dozen partners, Fleming and his show have gained such notoriety that his name is sought after by sponsors, in order to attach their products and services to his website and program. Of particular pride to Curtis is his signature rod, the Curtis Fleming Fly Rod, which Lefty Kreh (the Grandfather of fly fishing) helped design. Among a host of other locations, the signature series is found in Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops. Even local businesses have gotten in on the craze. Winchester Harley Davidson recently finished building the 2010 Fly Rod Chronicles Street Glide. The bike sits in their showroom off of Rt. 50. Within the hectic pace of hosting a national show that is seen five nights a week all over the country, in just about any location the crew of Fly Rod Chronicles can think of, Fleming found himself in Las Vegas in January for The Sportsman Choice Awards— where he was up for “Best Fishing Show of the Year,” and finished second. The awards ceremony is largely fan based and vote related, so it carries a special meaning to the recipients, both nominated and winning. Curtis was also nominated for “Best Fishing Clip of the Year,” and “Best Episode of the Year.” Still, Fleming remains true to his dream and its symbolism. “Most people say they’re going to retire and then travel the world, do all of this stuff. The only problem is, by that time, you’re almost too old or tired to do most of it. I feel like I’m already doing it, I’m
[ 20 ]
retired in a sense. I always told my dad, the worst case scenario is that it all falls apart and I go back to living a normal life with a normal job. He said, ‘Son, you keep thinking like that, and you’ll always have success.’” Among the many experiences now adding up over the years, a special show celebrating his father’s 70th birthday in September of last year ranks as one of Fleming’s favorites. Ironically, it was his father’s first time fly fishing. Including his family and friends in his experiences and success has become second nature for the man who knew it wouldn’t be easy, but hoped it would be worth it. “As kids, we’re taught to follow. It starts in school with waiting in line at the water fountain, going to the bathroom, lunch. This is the formula that takes us through college and into the job world. With me, to live my dream, I had to step out of line and take a risk. I knew if I wanted to fulfill that dream, no one was going to do it for me. I wanted to do it my way and with the commitment and support of my family every day, I’m out standing in water or on a boat. I feel blessed that I took the risk,” he explains. “Catching fish is the highlight of most fishing shows. Fly Rod Chronicles is about my travels, the people we meet along the way, and learning the art of fly fishing. I wish I had a dime for how many times a viewer has told me, ‘After watching your show, I felt like I went on a fishing trip with you.’ We have traveled all over the world and folks associated with the shoot always ask, ‘Do you guys always have this much fun?’ I usually look at my producer and camera staff and laugh. No one trip sticks out more than any other, we just have fun.” Such a life certainly has its rewards, but even “living the dream” might require a vacation from time to time. Fleming assures me that he and the family make a point of having fun away from the cameras too. “The girls like to fish, but they’re girls too. We go up to Harman’s (Cottage Resort in West Virginia), beach week, hiking; we do normal vacations,” he laughs. “Ten percent of the job is actually fishing, ninety percent is the business end. I always tell people that fishing is my Prozac, so I like to get out and do some fishing on my own. You can’t be stressed out when you’re fishing. As the saying goes, a trout never lives in an ugly place. My enthusiasm and excitement for it is one hundred percent real, and it makes the show.” Thriving within an economic maelstrom,
finding serenity within one of life’s great goals, sharing the resulting success with the ones around you—these are a few of the realities for Curtis Fleming as a result of following dreams, taking risks and, in many ways, creating his own luck. Much of his life has come full-circle, and for the better. There are many lessons to be gained from a story like this. Perhaps the last words should be his. “I had a supervisor once tell me that I should ‘be more serious and not joke as much as I do.’ I can’t tell you how wrong he was and how short life is. I knew I wanted to make Fly Rod Chronicles the best fishing show on cable TV, but I also knew I had to laugh and joke through it all—I had to enjoy it— through tough times and good. I thank God I am doing what I love.” Catch Curtis and his Fly Rod Chronicles weeknights on the Sportsman Channel and Sundays on Winchester TV3. Also, visit the website – flyrodchronicles.tv – for the full experience.
Southern Hospitality Vintage
Nestled in the countryside of Luray, Virginia, a handsome estate sits gracefully atop a manicured knoll. It is appropriately named the Mimslyn Inn and to those who have had the pleasure to visit, it is â&#x20AC;&#x153;vintage Southern hospitality.â&#x20AC;? Spread gently between the extraordinary caverns and revered Shenandoah National Park,
impressions of contemporary elegance emerge from stunning terraces and pastel gardens. A colossal, white-pillared portico of brick spans the face as the inn greets visitors with a breathtaking array of Southern luxury.
Within the double-entrance doors, an oversized fireplace embraces
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the scarlet sofas and tropical greenery beautifully situated on ornamental rugs that blend into the hardwood floor. The classic oils that adorn the walls are magnetic and the lobbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s immaculate blend of 1930s Colonial charm, with the heartening feeling of home, is an alluring masterpiece. Possibly the most fascinating of all is the circu-
Around The Panhandle | May/June[2009 21 ]
The Mimslyn Inn welcomes you graciously, from the architecture and decor to the hospitable, caring staff.
lar “Flying Staircase” that ascends to the second-floor guest rooms. The staircase is the only one of its kind, as the design plans were burned following its construction. Even more extraordinary to me is the gracious welcome from the Mimslyn’s staff and general manager, who ascends from his desk in the lobby for a hospitable greeting. The staff’s personal care for guests, coupled with a unique hands-on management approach, only adds to the inn’s refinement. I am greeted by Danny Guethner, [ 22 ]
the assistant manager, who graciously presents me with an informative tour of the facility while also educating me on the town. Contrasting the typical inn or hotel, the Mimslyn features 45 individually-themed guest suites, each perfectly emphasized with rich hues and luminous floor-toceiling windows that grasp the beauty of the grounds. Though half of the historical-themed rooms cater to couples with queen or king beds, suites for the entire family, and accommodations offering
the quaint comforts of a fireplace, sitting and work areas, jetted tubs, and marble-topped vanities are also available. I am impressed to even find each bathroom outfitted stylishly with robes that compliment the linens and pillow-topped bedding—perfect when snuggling in to watch the LCD television. Danny kindly exhibits the graceful Blue Ridge Ballroom that hosts events such as business conferences and the Inn’s frequent weddings of up to 250 guests. The third-floor sunroom is home to an array of Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
occasions such as birthday and anniversary parties. He explains that, contrary to what one might think, a spectacular event can be had at a very reasonable cost, allowing for nearly any budget. With a plethora of amenities—a stroll through the stunning floral gardens, or sunning on a chaise lounge by the refreshing pool— guests at the Mimslyn are assured the finest treatment. Additionally, the Seasons Day Spa offers supreme pampering by an elite assembly of professional therapists, prepared to rejuvenate you with premier oils and the massage of your choice. The ultimate fine dining experience is always achieved in the esteemed Circa ‘31, where the classic Victorian essence astounds even the most seasoned of connoisseurs with its Old World chandeliered eloquence and enormous windows. Among the tables of fine linen and candlelight, a magnificent mural from the era graces the wall. Chef Chris Harris delivers his unsurpassed excellence in each savory dish, prepared personally with the most superb local ingredients. Though some of his artistic
creations remain throughout the year, most dishes on the menu change with the seasons, promising a new taste with each meal. I found a more casual dining option at the Speakeasy Bar and Restaurant—a stroll through history with its Chicago-style essence of prohibition. Posters of Al Capone and Marilyn Monroe garnish its 1930s Hollywood-themed wallpaper amidst wrought iron stools, leather-covered booths, and period music. Unique accents of stained glass windows and brownstone add to its appeal. The esteemed Mimslyn Inn is satiated with historical allure in addition to its elegance. Once the grounds for both an army encampment and a hospital amid the Civil War, Henry and Elizabeth Mims developed a vision of a majestic inn, constructed of specialized building materials from around the state. The Mimslyn would eventually cater to more than 700 privileged guests who dined and danced in wonderment at the facility’s splendor during its grand opening in 1931. Danny informs me that even Eleanor Roosevelt
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opted to stay at the Mimslyn during the dedication of the esteemed Skyline Drive. The winter of 2005 welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Asam and their sons, Christian and David, as the inn’s proud new proprietors. Having owned and operated the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, for more than 30 years, the Asams are seasoned professionals and visionaries in the business, delicately preserving the Mimslyn’s history while maintaining its lavish Southern style. A multi-million dollar renovation added a subtle modern touch to the inn’s historic character—enhancing the exclusive restaurant, bar, and spa and fitness facilities. Each month, a local winery is featured for the Inn’s wine tasting events and dinners, and May holds the famed Springfest at the facility. And not to be overlooked is the annual Heritage Festival, held at Luray’s fairgrounds nearby. My relaxing stay at the Inn is followed by a tour of Luray Caverns, the fourth largest in the country and among the world’s top-12, due to its enormous chambers. Direc-
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Each year, the caverns welcome thousands from all over the world who come to witness its magnificence – thus the one-hour tour is now given in six different languages. Still, Shaffer explains, of the 64 acres above ground, only one-third is actually seen underground. This year, Luray Caverns hosted their annual Discovery Day in August, entertaining their visi-
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tors with a unique reenactment of its birth in 1878. A phenomenal demonstration of candles and historically-clad performers, this anniversary event promises to engage all who attend. Less than an hours drive from Rockingham County, the Mimslyn Inn is the ideal setting, whether for a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a wedding celebration. It is a hidden treasure of serenity that sits within the natural beauty of southern Virginia, awaiting your arrival. To capture the experience of the Inn as well as Luray, visit: www.mimslyninn.com and www.luraycaverns.com - AH
If time permits while visiting the Mimslyn Inn, a visit to the majestic Luray Caverns is highly recommended. Beauty and history collide among the natural formations.
tor of marketing, John Shaffer, tells a story of founders Andrew Campbell, William Campbell, and Benton Stebbins, who purchased the 64 acres at an auction and created one of the most regarded landmarks in the nation. The caverns are a spectacular vision of natural splendor, with impeccable lighting, and water so pristine, it’s safe to drink.
The Speakeasy Bar & Restaurant offers a casual dining option full of nostalgic charm.
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
eople are p d e iz il iv c ver: shaken, o oing home e g v r is e s n , in d a e t ir oun “ Thousands of t arks and g to the m p in o in g a t t a n h u t o d at m to find f timber an sity and th o s beginning s e n c e io t n a is d foun rness ” ot only as n that wilde l u f e s u e s of life. s ar n n io io t t a a d 1914 v r n e u res l parks – but as fo , of nationa s r r e te o iv r m ro g and p irrigatin rvationist se
, early con
John Muir
...the mountains are
Recently I was given the opportunity to spend three relaxing “back-to-nature” days in the Shenandoah National Park. I chose to drive the extra distance to Harrisonburg and enter the Park at the Swift Run Gap Entrance via U.S. 33. The entrance fee to the park is a very reasonable $15 per vehicle and $8 per person, and is valid for six days. An Annual Shenandoah Pass is available at only $30, and on the third Saturday and Sunday during the months of June, July, and August, the park offers free entry. Being a lover of the mountains, breathtaking views, the woods, and wildlife, I was immediately taken with the sheer beauty of the park. Navigating the gentle curves of Skyline Drive forces one to slow down, but this is not difficult, as the awesome views compel you to take it all in regardless. My traveling companion and I had decided to
familiarize ourselves with the park and make our first stop the Byrd Visitor Center, around mile - 51. Little did we anticipate the many overlooks on the way—tempting us to pull off and get out of the car to try and capture with our lenses the loveliness of it all. I doubt an amateur photographer, as I am, could ever capture the images my eyes were seeing, though each view brought another sigh and another “wow.” Eventually we found our way to the recently renovated Byrd Visitor Center. Before spending time at the interactive exhibits, I was drawn to the huge picture-windows overlooking Big Meadows, an open area of grass and shrubs vastly different from the wooded, mountainous vistas we had enjoyed on the drive up. At an elevation of approximately 3,500 feet, it is possible that the meadow was kept “open” by American
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Indians to encourage the growth of wild berries and to attract deer, elk, and bison to graze. Looking out across the Meadows, one witnesses an abundance of wildlife in just a few minutes. I reminded myself to explore this landscape at the very next opportunity. Our time at the Byrd Center was well spent. The highly interactive exhibit—“Within a Day’s Drive of Millions”—tells the story of Shenandoah’s establishment and development, including the controversial acquisition of privately owned land, the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the little known story of desegregation in the 1930s and ‘40s. Maps highlight the locations of former home sites and hundreds of photographs and documents take visitors through decades of the park’s development. I was amazed at the age of these boys in the CCC. Between 1933 and 1942, more
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than 10,000 of these youngsters, ages 13 – 18, created the form and fabric of the new park, so that future generations could find recreation here. I wonder how many young people of that age would be willing to endure such hard work and dedication in modern times? Although our lodging reservations were at Skyland Lodge, we decided to make a detour to Big Meadows Lodge—a route well worth the effort. We were greeted by general manager Nick Smith, who was more than willing to show us around. It is evident when speaking to Nick, how much he loves his vocation. He is passionate about the history of the Lodge and has personally collected many artifacts, which are proudly displayed within the main Lodge building. Additionally, the personal interest each and every employee displays in the park is equally impressive. For me, it certainly encouraged more questions and a fascination about the history of this magical place. The original lodge was built in 1939 by CCC and mountain laborers, with stones cut from Massanutten Mountain. The entire interior structure of the lodge, including the paneling, is made of native chestnut trees (the newly renovated dining room is gorgeous). Accommodations at Big Meadows include 25 rooms in the main lodge and 72 additional rooms in rustic cabins and traditional-style buildings with modern suites. After the informative conversation, we were ready to put our feet up, get some nourishment in our stomachs, and relax with a cold drink. But we still had to travel a little further to our destination—Skyland. We managed to drag ourselves away from Nick Smith, his interesting stories, and this beautiful historical lodge. For someone who does not enjoy driving in low visibility and low light, the rest of our journey on day one was quite an experience! Of course we were compelled once again to pull into one of the many overlooks, this time to witness an amazing sight. A storm was brewing; in the distance the rumbles of thunder could be heard. We quickly learned the meaning of the phrase: “the clouds rolling in.” We were suddenly engulfed by a damp, cool air. A final clap of thunder and the skies opened above us. Quickly drenched, we returned to the car and made our way slowly, very slowly, another nine miles to [ 26 ]
Skyland. After what seemed an eternity sitting in the parking lot waiting for the rain and hail to subside, we made our way to the registration office to check in. Once again we were greeted by staff that clearly wanted to be there and immediately made us feel like we wanted to as well. Skyland Resort, first called Stony Man Camp, was made popular in the late 1800s by George Freeman Pollock. Pollock had the perfect summer retreat at nearly 3,700 feet—the highest point on Skyline Drive. The resort offers modern accommodations with the ambience of the past century reflected in its quaint, rustic cabins and guest rooms. Our rooms were in a secluded location on the edge of the mountainside, with beautiful views of the valley below. After a quick look around and a walk out onto the private balconies to breathe in the fresh mountain air, we readied ourselves for a much anticipated dinner. We headed back up to the Pollock Dining Room at Skyland and enjoyed more of the views from our private window seats. There was so much to choose from, I would have liked to have tried everything on the menu. I eventually settled for the House Salad and, although I’m a self-defined animal lover, I’m also guilty of being a total carnivore, and ordered the Rib Eye Steak, which was delicious and cooked to perfection. As had now become the trend, the staff was charming and the service was excellent. Our server tried to persuade us to test the wonderful desserts but, sadly, the eyes were now bigger than the belly and it was time to head out once again for an evening stroll on the Limberlost.
our vision is marred by artificial lights, and the only sounds we hear are those of traffic and distant voices. It was quite an experience to REALLY listen to the sounds of nature, and amazing at how much you can actually see once your eyes become accustomed to the dark. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable on the night critters and recognized and pointed out to the group the different bird sounds, the frogs, the trees, and the various plants of the forest. She made us aware of our three senses—testing our vision, our hearing, and our sense of smell. This nighttime experience is one I would definitely repeat; there is so much more to learn from the creatures that surround us.
A Park ranger awaited us at the start of Limberlost Trail where we began a very educational hike as the daylight faded. The trail passes through a glorious tunnel of pink and white mountain laurels. So many times we are outdoors at night, but
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
Shenandoah is bear country! Bears are common place and it would be unfortunate not to see one or two during a day’s outing in the woods. Bear-proof garbage containers are placed throughout the park so it surprised me to find how many sloppy, inconsiderate hikers had visited the trails. Although warning signs are visible everywhere, I was amazed on our second day of hiking to see soda cans and chip packets, along with other discarded food packaging. During another educational lesson by Park Rangers—“Wild About Bears”—I was saddened to learn how much humans can impact the well-being of the wildlife. Although there has never been any human/bear conflict in the park, visitors still ignore warnings at camp sites and on trails—leaving out coolers and food items that attract these large opportunists. The age-old saying—“A fed bear is a dead bear”—is unfortunately often the case. The Rangers, for the safety of the visitors, are forced to remove any bear that becomes too accustomed to human leftovers. The Rangers first try aversive means, like sling shot, to stop the bad bear behavior, but should this not work, the bears are relocated away from these “learned” human attractants. The need to be “bear aware” became obvious in more ways than one during our hike.
natural instincts—or farm-raised trout, are just some of the sustainable menu items offered by both full-service restaurants. Our last morning dawned and the thought of leaving this peaceful place was not a happy one. After another scrumptious breakfast, my friend decided to partake in the one-hour guided horseback ride. I chose not to join her as I have to admit, my skills on horseback are somewhat lacking. On her return, and hearing the fun she had and how wellbehaved and gentle the horses were, I was a little sorry I had not taken the opportunity,
but perhaps next time. Yes, there definitely will be a next time. To have a treasure like the Shenandoah National Park right in my back yard and not take advantage of it would be foolish. After one visit to this scenic place, I can only urge everyone to pack the kids and even the family dog in the car and head to Skyline Drive. The welcome that awaits you should not be missed! - K. G.
Perhaps the thing that impressed me most at the Lodge and around the park was the total commitment to running an eco-friendly operation. Every effort is made to protect landscapes, views, and night skies. They design and construct to maximize their guest’s interpretative opportunities and minimize utility consumption, maintenance, and cleaning requirements. Furniture was purchased from recycled lumber which originated from an old barn. Rooms were renovated utilizing all beetle-kill lumber. No new-growth harvest trees were used. Sustainable materials (bamboo flooring) are being phased into all facilities. Recyclable containers have been placed in all guest rooms and the recycling of paper, glass, plastic, and metals is an obvious initiative. The park utilizes the services of Aramark—a national food, facilities, and clothing provider—in offering sustainable choices as part of their goal to provide guests with the highest quality food products that are healthy yet least harmful to the environment. Items such as organic field greens, Vanderose natural pork products—which are allowed to run, root and roam according to their See More at www.AroundHarrisonburg.com
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newall Jackson Inn-rack card 2010.indd 1
TH OF
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• 126 South Main Street • Petersburg, West Virginia The”HeartBeat” of the Potomac Highlands
• VI
• SCHEDULED TRAIN E
An atmosphere of history and heritage awaits... Arts & Crafts | Specialty Foods | Gift Baskets | Visitor Info
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Civil War Train Rides FortCitymulligan Day100th - Civil Julymay 2 of Petersburg YearWar Celebration Romance Rail Dinner JulyJune 3 Fourth ofon Julythe Celebration Festival Train November Fourth of July Festival JulyJuly 17 Wildernest Inn Celebration BeerFest withTriCounty Fireworks Aug 2-7 Fair and Parade December Tri-County Fair Bulls & Barrels SeptAugust 4 Mountain Magic Nov 5-6 Nov 19
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Our TOP
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Top Ten
Top 10 Brain Foods
We’ve all heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.” While a nutritious and well-balanced diet is, of course, great for our bodies, there are some foods that are more beneficial and more nutritious than others. We all know about the foods that we should eat - deemed healthy - but what about foods that are especially good for one very important part…the brain. Here is some food for thought, literally. Below is a list of 10 foods proven to enhance the brain’s overall health as well as ensure it is functioning properly on a daily basis. So, sit back, enjoy, and put those chips away!
10. Oysters
If you’re into seafood, then today just might be your lucky day. Experiments have shown that oysters are great for your brain, no matter your age. Because they are rich in zinc as well as iron, eating this under-the-sea-delight will help keep your mind sharp and increase your ability to recall information easily. Zinc and iron have been linked to better focus and memory, while the lack thereof could cause memory lapse and poor concentration.
9. Whole Grains
If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you know just how healthy whole grains are for your body; however, they are also great for your brain. Whole wheat, bran, and wheat germ have high contents of folate, as do brown rice, oatmeal, whole-grain breads, barley, and others. All of these foods work to increase blood flow to the brain which means a higher quality and quantity of brain function. Also, these whole grain foods contain a lot of vitamin B6, which is full of thiamine – great for improving memory.
8. Tea
Forget your coffee in the morning and have a cup of tea! Freshly brewed green or black tea is extremely beneficial to your brain because it is full of catechins, which contribute to keeping your mind sharp, fresh, and functioning properly. Catechins also allow your brain to relax and help to fight against mental fatigue. Tea is a great choice in the morning to ensure you’re starting your brain off right.
7. Eggs
When we get older, our brains begin to shrink (yikes) due to brain atrophy. We can fight against this natural process by eating eggs, which are full of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 helps to fight against brain shrinkage, which is often seen in Alzheimer’s cases. Eggs are also full of essential fatty acids, which aid in cell repair and regeneration - among a host of benefits.
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Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
6. Curry
Spice up your brain and keep it fresh with curry. A main ingredient in curry powder, curcumin, is full of antioxidants that help fight against brain aging and maintain cognitive function as you get older. These antioxidants also fight against free radicals – which occur in the brain and body and can cause a list of ailments, including unwanted inflammation. Just a small amount of curry per month can also help prevent diabetes and heart disease.
5. Berries
If you’re not a vegetable person, you can rely on fruit, especially berries, to improve your brain health. For example, blueberries are well known for their role in improving motor skills as well as your overall learning capacity. They are often called the best berry for your brain. Most berries, including blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and others, are full of antioxidants that are great for boosting overall brain health.
4. Nuts and Seeds
Looking for a snack that has everything good for the brain in it? Look no further than nuts and seeds. This means peanuts, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and any other type of nut or seed you can think of. Full of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, as well as folate, vitamin E, and vitamin B6, nuts and seeds possess the nutrients that allow you to think more clearly. They also help you think more positively, because Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids work as natural antidepressants.
3. Leafy Green Vegetables
Leafy green vegetables such as cabbage, kale, spinach, and others, while not well-liked by children, are excellent for the brains of children and adults alike. Leafy Greens are full of vitamin B6, B12, and folate, which are great memory boosters. These vegetables are often very high in iron content as well. When we lack enough iron, cognitive activity slows down considerably. So, kids big and small, eat your greens!
2. Fish
Eating fish is great for your overall health, especially your brain. Fish is full of Omega-3, which is a fatty acid known to be highly beneficial to the body. Eating one serving of fish a week can highly decrease one’s chances of acquiring Alzheimer’s disease. These fatty acids help with brain function because they coat the neurons that, at times, have a fatty acid layer that becomes stiff due to a high content of cholesterol and saturated fat in the body. Omega-3s will coat the neurons with good fat, allowing them to move easily throughout the brain. Omega-3s also provide more oxygen to the brain, as well as allow for the retention of new information while holding on to old information. The most brain-friendly fish are salmon, tuna, and herring.
1. Chocolate
While eating hundreds of Hershey bars or drinking gallons of hot cocoa probably isn’t going to benefit your health, the essential ingredient in these delights, cocoa, is said to be very nutritious for the brain. Scientists have proven that the antioxidant content found in just two or three tablespoons of cocoa powder is much stronger than those antioxidants found in other foods, such as green tea or red wine. The main antioxidant found in cocoa, known as flavonols, is said to help increase blood flow to the brain. While normal milk chocolate lacks flavonols, you will find plenty of it in dark chocolate.
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Club Seating #of Seats Per Seat Cost** Required Annual Gift 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000 (Director’s Level) 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,500 (Crown Level) 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,500 (Royal Level) 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $11,000 (Scholar–Athlete Level) **Now through December 31, 2010, with a four-year signed agreement, club seats can be purchased at a discounted price of $500 per seat . A $100 deposit per club seat will be required at the time the agreement is signed . The Club Seat Priority Points Reward incentive provides a one-time priority point “bump” to club seat contract holders . The reward applies to current contract holders and all those who sign through December 31, 2010 . The Club Seat Priority Points Reward provides a one-time priority point “bump” to club seat contract holders . The additional priority points may significantly improve seat locations and selection opportunities for donors. Duke Club Priority Points rank order as of May 15th, the year of project completion, shall be used to determine the order in which donors will select their club seat location . In the event an individual does not receive club seats, the deposit will be used toward other season tickets or refunded . **If club seats are purchased on a year-to-year basis, the cost per seat will be $625 . With one year agreement, location of seats within the club are not guaranteed . For more information on club seats call 540-JMU-DUKE or visit www .jmusports .com
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Photograph by Diane Elliott, JMU Photography Services
A Long Time Coming University’s patience pays off with new Performing Arts Center Twenty years is a long time to wait, for anything. But if patience is a virtue, and if good things come to those who wait, then consider JMU a living, breathing representation of such notions — and likely a facilitator of many more to come.
Buttressing the western side of the university’s famous “Quad,” the recently completed Forbes Performing Arts Center is set to provide much more than just an aesthetic inspiration to JMU’s already appealing, and historically significant visual layout. Pleasantly merging form, design cohesion, and function, with an intimate subset of the institution’s ninety-seven
other structures that surround the nostalgic “core” of campus, The Forbes Center is a masterpiece in and of itself — effectively “completing” the Quadrangle and existing in representation of the hopes that many more such masterpieces will evolve and realize themselves within its walls. Carefully planned and designed with the utmost consideration for theatre, dance, and music, the facility comprises five performance venues within two sections. Included in the 175,000 square feet are also classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and faculty and staff offices. The first section, The Dorothy
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Thomasson Estes Center for Theatre and Dance, includes three venues: the Mainstage Theatre (450 seats), the Studio Theatre (200 seats), and the Earlynn J. Miller Dance Theatre (200 seats). The remaining two venues — the Concert Hall (600 seats) and the Recital Hall (196 seats) — make up the music building: the Shirley Hanson Roberts Center for Music Performance. The most expensive construction project in JMU’s history is set to open for the benefit of students, staff, and community, this fall, with a grand-opening in early 2011 (Feb. 18-19). Hampered by a few design
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anomalies and the incessant wintery whiteouts this past winter, the Center was originally slated to open its doors this past spring. It instead offered its first public performance this August, with the production of the popular JMU Children’s Playshop — Miss Nelson Is Missing — the company’s fiftieth production. The family-friendly musical opened August 5th and ran through August 15th. Normally a three-show production, the Playshop season only presented a single production this year, allowing for The School of Theatre and Dance to officially move in for the new semester. And what a semester it is set to be. With close to 19,000 students, and a faculty approaching 1,000, the university that calls Harrisonburg home will begin its 102nd year with the unveiling of a facility that will no doubt propel JMU onto an exclusive liberal arts platform.
Dr. George Sparks, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, sees the opportunity provided by the $91.5 million center as a bridge between the performance and education sides of the arts. With so few national institutions offering an educational angle to their performing arts centers, the Forbes Center stands to shine a light on JMU as one of the premier destinations around the country where students, faculty members, and guest artists can share in an opportunity to perform as well as educate.
“One of the many things that the Center represents is the commitment at JMU to a liberal arts education and a liberal arts environment,” Sparks explains. “The liberal arts curriculum has garnered positive national attention and national ranking for the university; the faculty and administration know that the arts are an integral part of that curriculum. There is also the understanding that works
of human creativity are an integral part of daily life and that creative thinking is one of the most valuable assets a student can achieve in higher education.
“I think that the Center tells the world three things about JMU: JMU is committed to its students majoring in, and the curriculum of, the performing arts; it is committed to a core liberal arts experience for all of its students, which includes a vibrant cultural environment; and it is committed to the cultural enrichment of, and outreach into, the community of Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley.” Public Relations and Marketing Specialist for the College of Visual and Performing Arts, Jen Kulju, promotes public programs for the College, including performing arts at the Forbes Center and art exhibitions in the School of Art and Art History galleries—to both the JMU and Harrisonburg communities. Like Sparks, Kulju
Box seating in the Mainstage Theatre.
Concert Hall stage with four Steinway grand pianos. JMU’s School of Music has been designated as an All-Steinway School.
Photograph by Diane Elliott, JMU Photography Services
Photograph courtesy of JMU Photography Services
fully understands and appreciates how the Forbes Center will distinguish JMU as a destination of choice for arts students in search of that delicate balance of creativity and education.
“The Center sets JMU apart from a majority of other universities due to its focus on incorporating curricular and educational components into its arts programming. Master classes, lectures, and pre- and post-performance discussions give students of the arts (and of JMU) opportunities to participate in the arts like never before.” She also understands the influence that such a facility can have on both communities. “The Forbes Center gives the Harrisonburg community an opportunity to engage in the arts by providing world class entertainment in a first-rate facility. It is our hope that the center will become a hub for the Harrisonburg community, and that
local businesses will benefit from its existence.”
Eddie Bumbaugh, Executive Director of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (with the mission of revitalizing downtown Harrisonburg), sees the Forbes Center as a lovely opportunity for both communities to coexist and evolve together.
“The Forbes Center is expected to draw not only on-campus and local people to performances, but people from the surrounding region,” Bumbaugh states. “We hope that many people will want to dine or shop downtown before and after attending events at the Center.” He recognizes the advantages of having such a facility located within several blocks of downtown—within the Arts and Cultural District. “The Center will offer performances that many people will enjoy and provide a significant connection between the university and the community.” Twenty years in the making, Sparks
knows that the completion of the Forbes Center represents much more than a shiny new building on campus. It literally is a longanticipated piece (a very large piece) to an intricate puzzle of sorts.
“In addition to the Forbes Center, we have five beautiful galleries strategically placed throughout campus—from almost as far west to almost as far east as you can go. Another really great strategic placement is that the School of Music and School of Art and Art History are right across from the Forbes Center on Main Street. So, with the completion of the Center, we have a kind of university arts district right on Main Street. That arts district is a part of an official arts district designation in the city of Harrisonburg. “Upon returning to campus, I think that everyone will agree the twenty-year wait was well worth it. The juxtaposition of
The 196 seat Recital Hall where performances will feature student and faculty recitals and concerts by small music ensembles and guest artists.
The Harris Studio Theatre lobby for the experimental 200 seat Studio Theatre, housing Children’s Playshop and a variety of student acted, directed and produced productions.
Photograph by Diane Elliott, JMU Photography Services
Photograph by Diane Elliott, JMU Photography Services.
theatre and dance is going to be a remarkable occasion. Even though the programs are in the same school, they have been working and performing in separate spaces much of the time. There is such a synergy between theatre, musical theatre, and dance. Movement is one of the tools of the trade for actors in both theatre and musical theatre, and dance is certainly an integration of movement and acting. Having all of the arts in proximity should facilitate interdisciplinary projects that exhibit creativity and collaboration. I believe that our students, when juxtaposed, will imagine and bring to fruition projects that will result in positive experiences for both participants and audience members alike.” That juxtaposition will be realized in many ways through the functionality of the facility. In addition to the five performance venues and the breathtaking lobby, the Forbes Center will provide both students and faculty an opportunity to work within their areas of passion and expertise— independently and collectively.
Sparks continues, “The Dorothy Thomasson Estes Center for Theatre and Dance houses faculty offices, classrooms, computer labs, costume and scene shops, as well as dance and acting studios. Much of the School of Music is still housed across the street from the Forbes Center on Main Street. However, the Shirley Hanson Roberts Center for Music Performance is home to thirty-three practice rooms, a large ensemble rehearsal space, a computer lab, and four piano faculty studios. So we anticipate that a lot of classes, practicing, and other creative work will go on in both sides of the building. The five venues serve as a place for soloists and ensembles in the View from the West Plaza. Photograph by Kathy Lam, JMU Photography Services
performing arts to present capstone performances, which result from countless classroom hours of hard work and practice. Venues will also be used for rehearsals and master classes presented by ‘Encore Series’ guest stars, and lectures by visiting artists/scholars.” Kulju elaborates, “For many years, the arts programs at JMU have functioned by and large as separate entities. Collaboration did exist to some degree, but not to the extent that it will here at the Forbes Center. Music and theatre and dance students can work together in harmony. Art students, faculty, and guest artists can display their work. A performing arts center that brought together the various disciplines had been discussed for some time. Fortunately, those discussions progressed, resulting in the beautiful new building we see on campus today.”
“There are a lot of differing final cost numbers out there. The major donations that came in before construction began came from three families,” says Sparks. “Mr. Bruce & Lois J. Cardarella Forbes (’64) named the entire center; Richard D. and Shirley Hanson Roberts (’56) named the building primarily dedicated to music (The Shirley Hanson Roberts Center for Music Performance); and Charles Edwin and Susan E. Estes named the building primarily dedicated to theatre and dance (The Dorothy Thomasson Estes Center for Theatre and Dance). Those donations, and the persistence of JMU’s administration, led to the successful finish of The Forbes Center.” “Private donors made the performing arts center here at JMU a reality,” adds Kulju. “The university is indebted to Bruce and Lois Forbes, Dick and
Shirley Hanson Roberts, Ed and Susan Estes, and others for their overwhelming generosity. The JMU family is strong, believes in education, and is focused on the future.”
Without a doubt, the Forbes Center puts JMU in a very exclusive group, nationally—in relation to music, dance, and theater (facilities, production, performance). Sparks knows that the level of performance in music, dance, and theatre has been high for many years, and that with the move into the Center, there is the expectation that faculty and students will push that level to even greater heights. “Like the university, the arts at JMU are already a part of an exclusive group nationally. The School of Music is the lead School of Music in Virginia and is recognized nationally, and the School of Theatre and Dance is noted in numerous national publications as one of the best undergraduate programs in both disciplines. The
Forbes Center offers our students and faculty the acoustic and technical environment to engage in processes and performances not possible in our former rehearsal or performance venues.”
With such growth and change in the air, it might be easy to get a little lost in the historical significance of a project that has finally come to fruition after twenty years. Not so, for Kulju and Sparks. “It is both an honor and a privilege to be working at the Forbes Center,” Kulju declares. “I am excited to have the opportunity to market such a magnificent facility and all the talent it attracts.”
Sparks concurs, “I’ve been associated with three universities as a student and five as a faculty member and administrator. A description of JMU as dynamic, innovative and historic is right on the mark. After my first visit to JMU, I knew that I had come in contact with a very distinctive organization and knew it was where I wanted
to be. As my understanding of the university has grown, so has my admiration and my thankfulness of the opportunities available to everyone on this campus. All of that, with the addition of a world class performing arts center, adds up to faculty, students, and an administration with limitless potential and an awesome responsibility to realize that potential. Simply put, to be in the arts and at JMU at this time is just the best!”
And it appears as if the best is yet to come for JMU and its brand new Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.
For more information on the Forbes Center at JMU, visit: www.jmu.edu/JMUarts -MC
View of the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts from the Quad. Photograph by Diane Elliott, JMU Photography Services.
Stonewall Jackson Inn Wanted: People to Make Happy If a brand is a promise, and the positive realization of a sales pitch, then “A Night’s Delight – A Breakfast to Remember” embodies the very essence of the Stonewall Jackson Inn. Owner/ innkeeper, Dr. Wayne Engle, a professor emeritus of psychology at James Madison University, has put to use his skills as a clinical psychologist to get to the heart of the matter—delivering a memorable experience to his guests. Guest, Ed Warfield, of Sykesville, Maryland, observes, “Sincere, welcoming hospitality is the name of the game, and Wayne and his team have that in abundance.” When Dr. Wayne, as he is affectionately called by many, arrived in Harrisonburg [ 40 ]
in the early 1970s, his aim was to launch the clinical psychology program at JMU, not open a bed and breakfast in a mansion. He also had a private practice in town, a few doors down from the B&B, which was a private residence at that time. His practice was downstairs, and he lived upstairs. Eventually, he bought other property on the block, and by 1988, Dr. Wayne owned the mansion property that is now the Stonewall Jackson Inn.
“When I bought this place, it was in shambles; the two-acre lawn was a jungle, and it was vacant, with squatters conducting various activities,” he remembers. “We had to jack up the house eight inches, dig out the
| By Debra Cornwell
basement and put a foundation under the limestone. We worked on the place for several years.” Dr. Wayne’s efforts in restoring the home have succeeded. He took a derelict mansion and made it a welcoming, comfortable home-awayfrom-home for guests. Guest, Rachel Goodman, whose artwork graces the walls of the inn, says visiting the inn is like “coming home after a long trip.” Reminiscent of a New England “cottage” stone and shingle style, the circa 1885 manse is unique to Shenandoah Valley architecture and building materials of that era. Boston architects Richardson and Emerson are credited with transforming the mansion from the Queen Anne-style,
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
hence its Richardsonian stonework. The grand old home was built to accommodate hoop skirts and largescale entertaining. One can imagine the home breathing a sigh of relief when its doors were reopened after years of decay. The lowest level of the home was utilized for food and fuel storage. Public rooms on the main level, or piano nobile, were used as a reception, entertainment and formal dining area for family guests, with servants’ quarters and a hotel-style kitchen in the rear of the level. Private quarters for the family were located on the next floor up.
At the turn of the twentieth century, Audrey Long occupied the mansion with her servants. She studied art in Paris and was a prolific painter. Audrey died in 1988 and is buried in Historic Woodbine Cemetery, adjacent to the inn. Her will stated that all of her paintings, with the exception of her self-portrait, should be destroyed upon her death. Her estate’s executor, the same executor who approached Wayne about buying the property, found 88 paintings in the attic. Wayne displays her portrait over the mantle in the Queen Anne-style entrance foyer along with other art on the walls throughout the house. Local lore says Audrey still occupies her attic art studio! Wayne credits his son, Roger, for conceiving the B&B idea. He and Roger
have worn and traded many hats while serving guests at the inn, which they first opened as a guest house. The professor reveals, “To be a good innkeeper, you need both the ability to entertain the governor and unstop toilets. You also need to be a renaissance person, with the ability to converse with diverse people and subjects. It’s good to embody all the qualities you want in a friend—honesty, sincerity, and a love of people.” No surprise that Dr. Wayne is a people person. Guest, Jan Solow, claims, “His twinkling-eyed interest in his guests is just one reason people come back.”
“Being an innkeeper is a rewarding second career, rich with experience, but you won’t get rich doing it,” Wayne laughs. Working weekends, holidays and long hours are a given. His team includes his son, part-time help, student interns and, occasionally, a livein innkeeping couple. “The position holds a good deal of respect and stature in the community, and my guests benefit from my networking. I know places to go and where to dine. When I refer a guest to a restaurant, I’ve eaten there and know the owner. I will often make my guests reservations, and ask the restaurateur to take care of my guests. In my networking, I say to other businesses, ‘Here’s how I want you to take care of my guests.’ If I get a negative comment from my guests, which is rare, I will follow up. Innkeepers have the ability to refer and steer customers to businesses. I want my guests to have the best experiences and have a good time,” Wayne insists. “This is B&B country, and I network and cooperate with several other fine lodging establishments—the Joshua Wilton House, By the Side of the Road, and Grandma’s Cottages. We co-op on several issues and we refer business to each other.” Wayne explains further,
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“The inn is inspected and approved by the Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia and AAA.”
Typical guests, according to Wayne, are over 45 years old, with an individual annual income over $50K. Their reasons for coming to the Stonewall Jackson Inn are as many as their numbers—visiting parents and professors at the local universities, lawyers with cases at the local federal court, guests on heritage tourism itineraries and interstate travelers, to name a few. Marlene Kelly, a guest from Buffalo, New York, says, “I was passing by and decided to stop in. I went on to dinner and decided not to get back on the road because I couldn’t resist staying at the inn. After a wonderful rest, I had a magnificent breakfast the next morning.” More than 35% of guests at the inn have returned at least once. Mark Searle of Chantilly, Virginia, and his friends have rented the inn going on eight years in a row, for an annual reunion. Dr. Wayne has one guest who has visited 40 times!
This was my first visit to the Stonewall Jackson Inn. Inn employee, Ashley, gave me a warm welcome, helped carry my bags and gave me a tour. Wrapped candy pieces and snack crackers were in a basket in my large guest room. Fresh towels adorned my bathroom, soft sheets hugged my bed and a flat screen television was perched on the desk. I agree with guest Carla Ferrell, who describes the rooms as “clean, well-appointed, very comfortable and a pleasure to stay in.” There are sodas and bottled water in a drinks refrigerator in the kitchen, plus a coffee station for guests to help themselves. The living room is a congenial place for guests to gather, as are the spacious side deck and chairs in a gazebo by the porte-cochere. No B&B is complete without a signature breakfast, and the Stonewall Jackson Inn is no exception—allowing for the fact that the breakfast is, well, exceptional. Juice, coffee, tea and milk are offered. My first course was sliced
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banana drizzled with The Stonewall Jackson “Breakfast to Remember” Fruit Topping. Wayne’s Egg’s Benedict, Stonewall Style, with local, thin-sliced Virginia ham, plus bacon, was the entree. The recipe for the yummy side dish—Stonewall Jackson’s Shenandoah Hash—is semi-secret but contains fresh, local sausage, Russet potatoes and Queso Fresco cheese. For a sweet finish, I sampled a taste of a delicious breakfast cake. Served outside on the deck, it was truly an unforgettable breakfast. A healthy options breakfast is available, too. Dr. Wayne also takes pictures of his
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guests at breakfast and sends the image to them about a month after their stay. It’s a nice thank you and a valued memento from the Inn.
everything.’ We try to exercise the power of anticipation—providing for someone before they even realize they need it.”
“If a guest has to ask for something, then I’m not doing my job. The best compliment is, ‘You’ve thought of
See www.stonewalljacksoninn.com for reservations, recipes and more, or “like” the inn on Facebook as Stonewall Jackson Inn Bed & Breakfast. - DC
“Guests remember me like they remember a favorite teacher,” says Wayne. “People want experiential travel, and these experiences are emotional, so the experience becomes unforgettable. We make memories here, and the memories are ‘It was wonderful,’ and ‘I felt good there.’”
The inn, with its informal, comfortable ambiance, is not filled with Jacuzzis and spa candles, but it has a hospitality team that provides the Stonewall Jackson experience: “A Night’s Delight – a Breakfast to Remember.” It’s a worthy check-in, and a likely return!
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
The
Featured Eats L’Italia
The Oldest Restaurant in Harrisonburg Real Italian food—served by Italians in the same restaurant for the last 25 years. That is a claim few eating establishments in the Valley can make. L’Italia was the first Italian restaurant in Harrisonburg, and is the oldest restaurant in the city. To be successful for so long, owner/chef Gervasio Amato must be doing something right. There is no secret or magic behind Gervasio’s success— that “something” is consistently turning out great meals, plus long hours and hard work. At age 16, Gervasio arrived in Florida in 1982 with his older brother, Emilio. Emilio stayed on in Florida while Gervasio went back and forth between Italy and the Sunshine State. By September 1985, the brothers had made their way to Harrisonburg and leased a vacant building that had formerly housed a flower shop. Gervasio remembers, “We fixed the building, painted it, cleaned it and set up the kitchen
| by Debra Cornwell
quickly. My brother worked the dining room and I cooked.” Ten years later, Emilio, who is 16 years older than Gervasio, opened an Italian restaurant in Staunton. “I bought my brother’s share of L’Italia in 1995,” laughs Gervasio, “and I immediately started changing everything. I have also opened and sold three other restaurants over the years. Once my wife, Veronica, and I had our daughters—Annika, age three, and Alexa, age one—I had to slow down a bit.”
palette. Also new is the lovely bar, which showcases the 60 wines and seven grappas offered at the eatery. Gervasio notes that martini’s are popular—particularly the limoncello martini, the tiramisu martini and the chocolate martini. And yes, L’Italia makes their own sangria. Gervasio says the menu is about to be updated, as well. Since L’Italia has been in business for so long, the
At L’Italia, change is still afoot. A little over a year ago, the restaurant’s interior was redecorated with sage-colored fabrics, a soft palette of murals, forest-colored carpeting and honey-colored wood—the look of a classic Italian restaurant with a fresh, modern
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restaurant has developed a large and loyal following. Gervasio says a particular family drives from Washington, D.C., almost monthly to eat at his place. “Although some items may disappear from the menu, we will make a diner’s favorite dinner if the ingredients are available,” he explains. “We also encourage our patrons, our friends, to ask questions about the food or wine. Certain ingredients or preparations in Italian cooking may be unfamiliar to some.”
In addition to his childhood experiences with food, Gervasio is also influenced by Mario Batali and Giada de Laurentis. “They both get it right,” he conveys, “the ingredients, the innovation and the simplicity.” Before the children came along, Gervasio and Veronica traveled frequently to sample cuisines across the country, citing Chicago and New York City as favorites. He also goes to food shows, which are like conferences for restaurateurs.
The cuisine at L’Italia is influenced by Gervasio’s childhood along the Mediterranean and in Sicily, specifically Carini, Palermo. Thinking back, Gervasio remembers, “We grew twenty-nine fruits and thirty-two vegetables in our backyard garden. When it was time to make dinner, we would go out and get a chicken or a rabbit, or go to the sea. Here, our cuisine blends Cucina Povera, peasant fare, with Cucina Altoborghese, food of the elite.”
“Batali’s Babbo restaurant in New York is good for new Italian and high-end influences, while his Lupa restaurant is good for new twists on traditional Roman food,” according to Gervasio. “Fifteen years ago, I could not replicate Batali’s recipes in Harrisonburg, but with online shopping and fast delivery from Italy, there is not so much difference in taste anymore. Locally, diners’ tastes are not so much Babbo, but my customers appreciate the new along with
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the standby favorites.” Some out-of-the-ordinary offerings at L’Italia have included Lamb Osso Buca, as well as conch shells. On this visit to L’Italia, we selected Chicken Rollatini and Chicken Cacciatora. The Rollatini is both rich and delicate—in a word, fantastico. The chicken breast is stuffed with ham and cheeses, lightly battered and then simmered in a marsala wine and cream mixture with sauteed cremini mushrooms. The vegetable medley that accompanied the Rollatini tasted like it came from Gervasio’s local backyard garden— sautéed fresh and delicious. Cacciatora is something that you hear about, but maybe never order. At L’Italia, it is a must-order. The chicken breast is cooked with black olives, mushrooms and marinara, and comes with a side of pasta or vegetables. In this instance, we chose pasta. The
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
cheesecake and lemon sorbetto, which is served ripino—stuffed into the lemon rind. Tiramisu was the choice.
dish was earthy and fresh—really good food. With our dinner, we enjoyed the warm (made fresh daily) breadsticks with their crunchy, salty tops. When the dessert tray was shown, there was a tempting display of chocolate marchese—layers of chocolate mousse and nuts— cannoli, tiramisu, New York
Tiramisu means “pick me up” and another usage is “throw me up.” Until I ate L’Italia’s Tiramisu, I had not found a version that tickled my taste buds. In fact, I basically hated it, leaning toward the latter definition. This was different. Instead of a soppy cake, it was a custard of marscapone and marsala served in a parfait glass with espressosoaked ladyfingers at the bottom. This version of Tiramisu was created by Veronica, and to her, I say, “Delizioso, squisito, grazie!” “We want L’Italia to feel like home, like family. Here, you are surrounded by people who care for you, the food and the
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service,” Gervasio smiles. “We employ fifteen servers, four in the kitchen and three managers. Some employees have been here fifteen to seventeen years. My wife has helped me, big time, influencing decor, pitching in where needed and directing customer and employee relations. She helps keep my Italian in check.” I smile, too, when I think of planning my next visit to L’Italia. In addition to a private dining room for small gatherings, meetings or parties, L’Italia will open its doors to large events and even offers offsite catering and carryout trays. The restaurant seats about 100 and has al fresco (outdoor seating), too. L’Italia is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. See www.litalia-restaurant.com or “like” the L’Italia Facebook page to learn about events like wine tastings, Date Nights and specials. Diners can also “subscribe” to a free email newsletter.
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The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce
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The
unKnown Eater Exploring Things to Do & Places to Go Around Harrisonburg
Pennybackers Eating is not The Unknown Eater’s only occupation! On occasion the need arises for a business meeting. Why not tackle dinner, a meeting and a food review in one fell swoop? But where to go that is local, casual and can accommodate my guest’s child? Based on a recommendation, we selected a relative newcomer to the downtown Harrisonburg restaurant scene: Pennybackers. The establishment opened this past January just before the blizzard. In spite of the slow start due to the weather, the restaurant has built a steady following. Pennybackers has already earned accolades. The readers of the Daily News Record and Rocktown Weekly vote the restaurant as “Best of the Valley” for Best Sandwiches—no small feat for restaurant owners who are also new to the business. The name, Pennybackers, is derived from an early owner of the building, Derrick Pennybacker. The building has been a carriage house or pub, and its previous names include the George Washington Inn and the Blue Swan Tavern.
Keeping with the penny theme, the tables are designed with pennies, tails up, under glass. Each table design is different, but they all have 10 pennies, with heads up, hidden in the design. The privilege to design a table was auctioned off at the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum annual fundraiser. Pictures of turn-of-the-century Harrisonburg adorn the walls. Dining is offered on three levels, and we selected the rooftop. The mid-19th century building is only 13 feet wide, but the restaurant has made optimum use of space. I’m a big fan of al fresco dining, and rooftop dining just kicks it up a notch. It looked like the first floor seats about 20, the second floor seats over 60 and the rooftop seats over 40. Several times a month, there is live entertainment. On the night we dined at Pennybackers, Jessica Crawford, a singer/guitarist, performed a delightful acoustic set. The location, near Court Square, struck me as a great place to watch Fridays on the Square. Fridays on the Square features live music or movies on
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Friday evenings. Attendees are encouraged to picnic on the square before the show. Pennybackers makes the picnicking a breeze with three carry-out picnic packages. The first package is a meal for two adults and two children; the second one is called The Vegetarian and the Carnivore; and the third one is just appetizers. Our server was friendly and welcoming, and the orders and drinks were dispatched efficiently. We ordered an assortment of appetizers—original wings, soft pretzels and fried queso sticks. We enjoyed all three. The warm, soft pretzels were served with a choice of dipping sauce. We opted for no salt on the pretzels, which was a successful gamble. The pretzels were flavorful on their own, and with the dipping sauce, salt would have been too much. We all wanted
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different sauce so we tasted honey mustard, coarse mustard and Pennybacker Sauce.
sauce provided the flavor and heat. Wings come in two other versions: hot or barbeque.
Since I’m not a fan of mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce, I was a bit skeptical about the fried queso sticks. Fried queso in stick form is a consistency more like queso dip than its stringy mozzarella cousin. The queso is coated in a light, herb-filled crust, which is probably panko. The fried queso sticks are also served with Pennybacker Sauce—a proprietary sauce that likely contains horseradish and mayonnaise among other tasty companions, which makes it a perfect compliment to sandwiches and a variety of appetizers.
My guest chose the restaurant’s signature sandwich—The Pennybacker—and she graciously shared a slice of the generous sandwich with me. Her comment was, “Oh, this is a great sandwich!” I’m inclined to agree. Served hot on soft, crusty, French bread, the sandwich is piled high with Angus roast beef, honey turkey breast, hickory-smoked ham, hickorysmoked bacon, Swiss cheese, mixed greens, tomato, onion and Pennybacker Sauce. The sandwich was served with Ott Tots— Pennybackers’ perfectly cooked tater tots—a nice alternative to chips or fries.
Because I didn’t want to share the wings, the plentiful, meaty chicken was really my entree. I loved the original sauce—sweet and tangy. The server said sweet Thai chile sauce and sirachi hot
The kids meals, cleverly called Little Lincolns, are a great value at $3.49. Each meal comes with the entree, Ott Tots, applesauce,
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
At a
Glance
a pickle and a fountain drink. The server mentioned that it’s expensive enough to go out and eat, why make meals for the 10-and-under crowd overpriced? Our little eater chose chicken strips, which were gone in short order. The little eater ordered the gummy worm sundae for dessert. It was an extra cost, but it was a huge bowl of vanilla ice cream covered in gummy worms. Not my thing, but it delighted our young diner.
Pennybackers
14 E. Water Street Harrisonburg, VA 540-432-3360 www.pennybackers.com
The owners, Tim and Tammy Brown, and Tim’s brother, Chris, have a great idea: great sandwiches, good prices, downtown location. There seems to be a great staff in place, too. Pennybackers is perfect for the downtown lunch crowd, for a casual date night, for a family night and more. With carryout and the debut of their catering menu, Pennybackers appears to have the recipe for success.
First Impression
Service
Food Quality/Taste
Value for Money
See www.pennybackers.com or “like” on Facebook to see specials, read reviews and more. - UE/ATP
Overall Atmosphere
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[ 49 ]
Now Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your Turn Recipes to Spice Up Your Life | Kids are back in school... Time to break out the Slow Cookers!
ken
Slow Cooker Curry Chic
Ingredients
Directions
illet over butter in a sk 1. Heat the d stir the an , and cook at he m iu er ed minutes. tt m 1 tbsp bu ned, 5 to 10 n until brow io on d pe n aside. 1 onion, chop mushroom Set the onio d cream of ther se en nd co n wl, stir toge 1 ca In a large bo eam of 2. cr , up so soup mushroom icken of ch m of y soup ea dr m cr , ea ilk ensed cr , coconut m 1 can cond chicken soup pper, and pe lt, sa r, wde soup mix, curry po mixture milk er until the can coconut yenne pepp ca ace the 1 (14 ounce) Pl d. ne bi ix m ion soup m oroughly co on th y is the slow dr of et ck om tt 1 pa into the bo taste n ke to ic or ch re over r, tu de pow pour the mix 3 tbsp curry cooker, and peas and n, io on in Stir the chicken. 1/2 tsp salt s. m oo hr us er m 1 1/2 1/2 tsp pepp er, or to h setting for cayenne pepp Cook on Hig w and nd Lo 3. ou to gr at p ts 1 en reduce he th s, ur hours. 2 ho to e tast cut nal 1 1/2 icken breast ok an additio ch co , ss le in sk 3 large pieces into 1-inch beans n 1 cup gree ooms fresh mushr 2 cups sliced
Slow Cooker Italian Beef
Ingredients
3 cups water 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon dried parsley 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 bay leaf 1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italianstyle salad dressing mix 1 (5 pound) rump roast 2 green peppers 1 onion 1 package of Italian Sub Rolls
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Directions
1.Combine water with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, onion powder, parsley, garlic powder, bay leaf, and salad dressing mix in a saucepan. Stir well, and bring to a boil. 2.Place roast in slow cooker, and pour mixture over the meat. 3.Cover, and cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours, or on High for 4 to 5 hours. When done, remove bay leaf, and shred meat with a fork serve on rolls with sautĂŠed onions and peppers
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
Slow Cooker Pot R
oast
Ingredients
4 pound s chuck roast salt and pepper to taste 1 packet dry onio n soup m ix 1 packag e of Mon treal seasonin g 1 cup be ef broth 3 carrots , choppe d 1 onion, chopped 3 potato es, peele d and cu bed 2 cloves of garlic
Directions
1. Rub th e roast wit h Montrea seasoning l and brow n on all sid a large sk es in illet over h igh heat. 2. Place in the slow cooker an the soup d add mix, broth , carrots, potatoes, o n ion, salt, pepp er and ga rlic. 3. Cover and cook on low se 8 to 10 ho tting for urs.
cken i h C n o m e L r e k Slow Coo Ingredients
eless ss, bon s skinle d n u o p 1 1/4 alves breast h chicken ice lemon ju 1/3 cup broth chicken 2 cups inced garlic, m 2 clove me ried thy spoon d a te 2 / 1 leaves lack round b spoon g a te 2 / 1 pepper alt spoon s 1/2 tea utter poons b 2 tables t rice d instan uncooke 2 cups
Directeiothnse chicken breastsoinn tojuicae
the lem 1. Plac r; pour in e k garlic, o o c slow . Add the r. k c to s n e ke and butt and chic pepper, , lt a s , e ntil the thym on Low u ours. k o o c d n r, a 10 h 2. Cove nder, 8 to 15 te ry e v is the last chicken ce during . ri e th in Stir g time of cookin minutes
Slow Cooker Cla m C
howder
Ingredients
4 (6 1/2 o z.) cans m inced clams with juice 1 bottle cl am juice 1/2 lb. ba con, diced 1 cup cho pped onio n 6 to 8 med ium potato es, peeled and cubed 3 c. water 3 1/2 tsp.
salt 1/4 tsp. p epper 4 c. half a nd half crea m 3 to 4 tbsp . cornstarc h chopped fr esh parsle y, for garnish
Directions
In skillet, saut e bacon and onion until golden brown; drain. Put into slow cooker with cl ams. Add all re maining ingredients, ex cept milk, corn starch, and parsley. Cover and cook on hi gh 3 to 4 hours or un til vegetables are tender. During the last hour of cookin g, combine 1 cup of milk with the cornst arch. Add cornstarch m ixture and the remaining milk and stir w ell; heat throug h. Top each serv ing with a little chopped parsley and se rve with cracke rs or crusty French bread.
inside out with
ELI
Careful, that thing's loaded by Eli Andersen Things that have bothered me since this summer • Oil execs who go to yacht races while the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history spews into the Gulf like toxic vomit—and the millions of migratory birds that will innocently land in said vomit, and feed on plants and critters that have been sitting in it for months (said exec., naturally, resigning shortly thereafter). • A national study that revealed one in four girls in America are sexually abused by the age of eighteen. •In a word: WikiLeaks (the inevitable Jekyll- and Hyde-worthy underhandedness of modern information exchange—beware one and all—there are no more secrets). • The uber-heralded Chevy Volt that costs $41K and still runs on gas—40 miles on an electric charge and 300 miles on a gas “generator”…wow. Way to go GM—genius!—you’ve managed to make a car that most people can’t afford, that still runs on gas…thus guaranteeing more Gulf or Gulf-like disasters…while our bail-out tax dollars ooze down the drain all the same (though I guess I should be happy, ultimately, that the push towards alternative methods is finally gaining ground—however frustrating such continued “feet dragging” ends up being). • The 1,000 U.S. casualties mark,
[ 52 ]
reached in Afghanistan in July—who knows what it’ll be when this article goes to print. • The KFC Double Down sandwich—enough said—where America’s priorities truly lie. •Seventeen-million barrels of oil used per year to create the plastic water bottles we purchase (and don’t recycle 80% of the time). Things that have caused me to stop and think • The Islamic mega-mosque being built in the shadow of ground zero in NYC—scheduled to open (to celebrate its opening) on September 11, 2011. This issue is all kinds of hot, and it should be—with a little more depth to it than just the run-ofthe-mill arguments for or against all things freedom-related in America. • Chris Jordan Photography. • Mr. T is 58. Angelina Jolie is 35 (she seems older—must be all the kids or something). Carrot Top, just wait… Carrot Top is 45. Dag, some age-reminders are just rough—Carrot Top closing in on 50 is definitely one of them. • Costofwar. com ─seriously, you need to check out this site, dig around on it. • Synthetic Life—researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute have created an organism by injecting artificial genetic material into the empty body of a cell. You may have just skimmed this one—just like everyone else in the world did, outside of the scientific and religious communities—a short time ago. Think about it: we created life. Think about it. • San Francisco recently passed the nation’s first law that requires cell phone retailers to post radiation-emission data on their products—just like cigarettes, essentially. Best keep that thing away from your cranium, or else. • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially announced that 2010 was the hottest
year on record (newsflash—the blizzards happened because of all the moisture in the air because of the increasing heat). The atmosphere holds more water as it warms. Droughts, heavy flooding, heavy snowstorms, and heat waves are all symptoms of the ever-increasing global temperature. Sound familiar? It’s called Global Warming—Climate Change—and it’s very real. • So real, in fact, that Russia planted a flag at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean a few years ago—a not-so-subtle attempt to lay claim to the entire region, and its potentially vast amounts of oil and natural gas. As you can imagine, that went over like a lead balloon with America, and quite a few other nations, whose nuclear subs are patrolling those parts regularly. The irony, of course, is that the only reason anyone would be able to drill there in the near future is because all of the ice is dissipating—a direct result of Climate Change—supplemented by the burning of the exact coveted resources resting innocently beneath the Arctic. • Obama’s 2011 NASA budget will pretty much terminate Americans in space— leaving manned space exploration to the Chinese and Russians. This topic needs more commentary, much more. • Disaster Porn—how our infatuation with one national or international disaster has a definite shelf-life (an immunity), directly related to the emergence of the next disaster. Example: how many people died in Haiti? What was the name of the musical tribute for Haiti that was supposed to replace “We Are the World?” Exactly—how many of you just went, “Oh yeah, Haiti.” And what about the Volcanic Ash! My God, the ash! And now, as the credits run on the Gusher in the Gulf, and we languidly file out of our various conceptual theatres, the question remains: what’s next? • Physicist Nikodem Poplawski has written a paper postulating at the possibility that our universe may be the
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
interior of a black hole existing in another universe. Whoa. I suddenly need a nap. • A Pakistani proverb: “You can’t use blood to clean blood.”
Things that I was glad to find out •
The new Ford Explorer is 85% recyclable and 30% more fuel efficient. It uses recycled parts from other vehicles, which cuts pollution and energy use during its production (alas, it starts at $28K and quickly rises with options). The new Ford Fusion Hybrid has some pretty innovative features. It’s still around $25K, but that’s a lot less than the Volt. Of course the new Taurus is what everyone’s clamoring to buy. Why? Because it looks cool, and has cool stuff in it. Oh, and it gets between 17 and 23 mpgs, and creeps up to around $40K, depending on what you want. Ford is putting its hopes for a comeback on the shoulders of the Taurus, naturally. Got off track, imagine that—let’s get back to the good stuff. •E-cycling day in Inwood, this past June, brought in more than 41 tons of e-waste. The one just before that brought in nearly 17 tons. Bravo! Keep it up, Panhandle! • The Cape Wind Project—the near-decade long wind farm project damned by conservatives for nine years but finally approved for development off the coast of Cap Cod, Massachusetts. When operational, it stands to offset close to a million tons of carbon dioxide every year, 113-million gallons of oil, and provide energy needs to over 400,000 homes.
Things that disgusted me (or continued to disgust me) this summer • TMZ,
Jersey Shore, US Magazine (This section could also be called “Things that are leading to the demise of intelligent life on earth—if there is such a thing”). • The Louisiana Dead Zone—look into it. You think the Gulf Spill is devastating? Get a load of what’s really going on downriver along the Mississippi. Check out this article: www.msnbc.msn. com/id/38482149/ns/us_news-the_new_ york_times (those gaps are underscores). An eye-opener—certainly along the lines of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. • Hydraulic Fracturing—ever heard of it? Well, it’s happening right here in West-by-God, and it’s a ghastly and altogether shameless procedure. Check out the show “Gasland”— however you come across it (it originally aired on HBO in June)—or just look into Hydraulic Fracturing. • Conflict diamonds. People, there’s got to be an end to our apathy—we should start here. • Horse-drawn carriage rides in the city. Is there anything more selfish and disturbing than this filthy practice? I privately imagine a scenario where a young couple takes a romantic ride through the city, pulled along by an old, tortured horse that has to stand all day long on pavement and breathe in exhaust fumes, only to then have to drag this couple
through the chaotic traffic. At some point, under the moonlight, the man gently slides in and places a beautiful diamond ring on his lover’s finger—and she is brought to tears, though not for the thousands of enslaved and drug-addicted teenage “soldiers” who murdered millions of their own countrymen and women in order for that ring to be placed on her finger. It’s more than worth the effort to find out where your jewels are coming from. If you’re going to spend that much money, then at least do the research.
Things that intrigued and/or inspired me • ted.com—if for every
break the speed of sound as well—690 mph—because of the lack of air pressure. Worthwhile quote of the summer • “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.” –Abe Lincoln. Biggest case of “I pray it isn’t true..” • Lance, I hope you’re not lying, bro, I really hope. - P.S.—Brett Favre, please, for the love of God, go AWAY.
hour people spent on Facebook, they spent two hours on TED, the world would be an amazing cascade of creativity and innovation…instead of what it is. • GOOD Magazine should be read and collected by everyone. THE WEEK magazine should at least be read, every week. • Yumuniverse.com—what happens when passion and potential doesn’t sit around watching TV three hours a night. • Mike Tyson has been a vegan for almost a year, and has lost around 50 lbs. • Another Tyson—Tyson Gay—finally outran his nemesis, Usain Bolt, in the 100 meters (in Stockholm early last month)—Bolt’s first loss in two years. • William Trubride, from New Zealand, dove 380 feet into the Atlantic Ocean (the Bahamas)— yeah, he held his breath—for over four minutes (without fins!). It was a world record, needless to say—one of ten records he holds. • Jessica Watson, the 16-year-old Australian girl who set out to sail around the world unassisted, finally set her feet on land again after 210 days— acquiring the world record…for now. This particular feat seems to be all the rage with pre-driving-age teens everywhere. I wonder if they’re ready to face what Jessica did: multiple violent storms, 40-foot waves, seven knockdowns, and 23,000 miles by yourself—around the world. • Joan Ginther has hit the Texas lottery four times, for a total of almost $21 million. Her odds of doing that? As slim as 1 in 18 septillion. Huh? Write the number 18 and follow it with 24 zeros. • And what’s with the folks from Down Under? Australian BASE jumper Felix Baumgartner will jump out of a specialized balloon later this year from a height of 120,000 feet. Now, if you’re familiar with Baumgartner, this isn’t a total shock, but the jump itself is nothing short of astounding— physically, mentally, and scientifically. If he doesn’t die from any number of horrible causes, he’ll obliterate the previous high-altitude jump record by nearly four miles. Oh yeah, he’ll likely
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[ 53 ]
Your Money Matters... Financial Advice from Tony Price
Why am I in business? Have you asked yourself this question lately? If you are a small business owner and you haven’t, then you need to stop what you are doing and ask the question! Most will say I’m crazy because the immediate obvious answer is “to make money.” While I would agree that “making money” or “providing for my family” is important, it is by no means an all-encompassing answer. If you open your doors every day with no other goals in sight but to “make money,” I promise you that you are on a path that will end abruptly! There are numerous reasons why people own their own business. For some, they stepped into the family business; others figured out a way to make a living from doing something they love; and many started their business out of financial necessity. Regardless of the reason, the decision was made and you are now a business owner. As with most small businesses, the initial reason for why you started falls by the wayside early on because you are so caught up with the demands of starting and running a business. If you managed to make it past the initial year, you survived! Then your world is slowly consumed by your new enterprise, and it is very likely that you have given little thought as to why you continue to grow the business, where you want the business to go, how the business affects your quality of life, and lastly, what you are going to do with the business when you no longer want to show up every day. One day, Alice came to a fork in the road [ 54 ]
and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. “Which road do I take?” she asked. His response was a question: “Where do you want to go?” “I don’t know,” Alice answered. “Then,” said the cat, “it doesn’t matter!”—Lewis Carroll. Studies have shown that over 70% of small businesses do not have established goals or business plans. Furthermore, a similar percentage of small business owners have not set any personal goals or established an exit strategy from their business. If you don’t know what path you are on, how will you know when you get there? If you don’t have any goals, how will you know if you succeed? One of the primary benefits of owning your own business is being in control. So why not take advantage of this opportunity? Whether we realize it or not, we all have personal goals, we just fail to document them, measure them, and keep them in sight. Let’s face it, this is not a personal trait or skill that most of us possess. But you don’t have too! Contact your financial advisor(s) and get their guidance. This is what they love to do and is an area where they truly can provide value. You first need to begin with your personal goals—financial and quality of life for both current and for the long term. Yes, your goals should include “having enough at retirement to generate $100,000 annually from investments.” Quality of life concerns should also be included, such as “reduce stress—lower blood pressure” and “get my golf handicap under 20.” It is important not to just think financially! Once your personal goals are established, you need to develop
your business goals, and these business goals need to be strategically aligned with your personal goals. Once both personal and business goals are established, an action plan can be developed and implemented. From there, it’s just a matter of managing and monitoring the plan to make sure those goals are being achieved. One of those goals should be an exit strategy, which is something that is overlooked in almost 90% of small businesses. If you think about it, when you are finished working, one of three things can happen: 1. You pass the business to the next generation. 2. You sell the company to existing employees or a third party. 3. You lock the doors and walk away. Number three is a bad option because you get no financial compensation for all your years of hard work. Unfortunately, option number three is very prevalent, along with selling the company on short notice, thereby receiving only pennies on the dollar. Option number one is only successful 30% of the time to a second generation, and only 12% successful to the third generation. Why such failure with all these options? NO PLANNING! Assuming you don’t want option three, the success of options one or two are drastically dependant on proper planning. No matter which option you choose, a good plan takes time, so start the process early.
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
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In an
An Adventure
We Didn’t See Coming... Submitted By Reader Jared Funderbunk
It was around three p.m. when my aunt dropped us off at the south entrance to North Fork Mountain Trail. Along with my brother Shane, and our lifelong friend Chris, I was excited to hit the trail—wondering what was in store for us during our week-anda-half long adventure around the Panhandle. We all grew up in Fort Mill, S.C., but my mother is from Petersburg, so we’ve spent lots of time in the area. I would spend summers there growing up and over the years we’ve knocked down a lot of the trails in the area. Our original plan was just two nights and three days to reach the north end of the trail at Smoke Hole road, with a nice break in between at Seneca Rocks, and lunch at the Front Porch. The trail was beautiful from the very beginning with scenic [ 56 ]
vistas overlooking Germany Valley and the Harman Hills. We camped the first night just a few miles in, enjoying the nearly perfect weather and reminiscing about past campsites we had shared in places like Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Dolly Sods, and even New Zealand. Our plan for the second day was to shoot west of the trail to Seneca Rocks, spend a few minutes enjoying the view, take a cool dip in our favorite swimming hole below, and move on. Little did we know we would soon have a new friend. As we walked along, a few miles from camp, Chris and I noticed something up along the trail ahead. Chris said, “It’s a horse, but it looks small.” As we got closer we all could see that it was a little pony, and as soon as we were spotted, she came running straight to
us. Confused at first as to what she was doing all alone up on top of North Fork Mt., we talked for a few minutes, throwing out possible scenarios as to how she got there. She was covered in flies and the way she stayed close to us made it pretty clear that she was lost and probably hungry. There was no sign of anyone being in the area with her so we concluded that she had wandered up the mountain from a farm down in the Harman Hills area. Shane hit her with a shot of (Deet) to knock down the flies and I gave her my last apple, which I knew she needed more than me. There were still many questions unanswered though. How long had she been up there? Was she able to find any water, because it hadn’t rained in several days and there weren’t any puddles or streams nearby since we
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
and headed for the two benches in front of the store—definitely a great place to people watch during the summer. Meanwhile, Shane headed into the store and we heard him call our names from around the corner.
were on top of the ridge. Was someone looking for her, or even worse, was some poor little kid at home crying because his pony had up and run off? All of these things we contemplated as we tried to decide what we should do. We didn’t want to just leave her there to potentially starve and I felt sure she had to be dehydrated. All the same, we didn’t want to take off with someone else’s pony. Besides, what would we do with her when we got back, become cowboys with just one miniature pony? Eventually, we decided to keep walking and see if she followed us out. If so, we would ask around and see if anyone had heard of someone missing a pony. So we took off, and right behind us she came. At first we thought, yeah she’s hungry and probably thinks she can follow us back to some type of food source, because she was right on our heels for a mile or so. But eventually, she walked off the trail to investigate a campsite. Maybe she had been “kickin’ it” there the night before. After calling her a few times we figured we would have to move on and just hope that we either ran into someone that
knew of her dilemma, or trust that she knew how to find her way home. We had given her a name by then—Lucy. Yes, Lucy the lost pony it was. It just seemed to fit. So, off we went, hoping that Lucy’s fate would include some hay, water, and a pasture, rather than starvation, dehydration, and a carcass only to be found by hikers months later on top of the mountain. In the back of my mind I was thinking that ultimately, we couldn’t just leave her up there because we would always wonder what happened to her. I’m no expert on equine survival but I’m not sure I wanted to chance leaving her, seeing as she had a halter on and obviously wasn’t some wild pony “roaming the prairie.” For now, we had to roll on though and just see what happened. There was a gas line which had been cleared running east to west, so we decided to take that route out to Seneca Rocks. As always, it was a beautiful view. We took a nice long break and enjoyed good conversation with some folks from Pennsylvania at around mile15 or so. After taking in the view, we headed down to Yokum’s store to grab a drink, and then hit the Front Porch for a decent meal. You can always find a good homemade pizza there. Chris and I finished our meal
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“Come over here, you gotta see this!” he demanded. We rounded the corner and wouldn’t you know there was a poster on the wall with “LOST PONY” as the headline in bold print. There was even a pretty little picture of our Lucy right under it. Imagine our excitement now. We had even mentioned the possibility of such a discovery during that long and steep descent off the mountain. There was a phone number on the poster so we quickly asked the clerk inside the store if we could use the telephone. It wasn’t long after that when the owner pulled into the parking lot and her two kids came running. They were excited to hear the news and told us how “Mae Mae” had been lost for two weeks and they had even been searching for her. She explained that her husband worked out of town in the coal mines all week and she just didn’t have the means to search that far up the mountain, so we told her we would be glad to go back up and try to find her again. We had the spot marked on our GPS so it wouldn’t be any problem to return. After all, it’s not like we had any previous engagements and we were all down for a good rescue mission (five hours back up the mountain or not). We all loaded up into her two-door hatchback: Shane, Chris, and I, along with the owner and her two kids. She took us up a long dirt road to the farm where Mae Mae had escaped through a hole in the fence—the car nearly bottoming out the entire way. By this time, it was around five or six o’clock in the evening and we knew if we were going to bushwhack back up the mountain and have any time to look for the pony before nightfall, we had to get moving. So, we struck out and followed several old logging road beds up the mountain the best we could. On the way up we talked about how great it would be if we could find
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her again and be able to return her to those kids. As we neared the top of the ridge, just as dusk settled in, we started to call her name hoping that she may come to us if she was still in the area. Finally, we reached the trail again and started walking south. By this time there was only enough light to see a few yards up the trail so we walked on toward a campsite we had spotted earlier and decided that we would continue our search in the morning. Still calling her name, we walked on and soon something caught my eye along the trail ahead. All I could see was a dark figure, so we gave out another shout. “Mae Mae!” Immediately we heard a prolonged neigh, and out she came, running straight to us! There is really no way to put into words our excitement at this point. We found her quicker than we had imagined, and now we knew for sure that those kids would have their pony back. Shane pulled some rope out of his pack and we lead her to the campsite where we would spend the night, before taking her back down the next morning. After we checked her hooves, made sure
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she had plenty of water, and finally got her tied off safely to a tree, we sat around the campfire talking about our experience. You can bet we all had a smile on our faces. It was good to know that Mae Mae was back with us and we would be able to uphold our promise. The next morning, we got moving pretty early and started back down the mountain. Eventually we made it to the farm, got her set up in a stable with food and water, and then nearly fell over laughing at the crazy sheep running around in the pasture. This was no ordinary sheep! It had never been sheared and looked like a bale of wool running around wildly, bucking like some bronco in a rodeo. There were two other horses in the pasture as well and the sheep was constantly circling them as if attempting to round them up. We had heard of a sheep-dog before, but this was definitely the first dog-sheep we’d ever seen. Perhaps it was just one of those things you just have to see for yourself. I reckon the poor thing was just a bit confused, but it sure seemed
happy. I guess that’s all that matters, right? So, there we were, having accomplished our mission, and it was a great feeling on such a beautiful day in the Harman Hills. Now the only thing left to do was to hitchhike back to Yokum’s Store, let the owner know that Mae Mae was safe at home, and call Earl (my dad) to set up a rendezvous point and time where he would pick us up. As we made our way back toward Route 33, the owner, who had apparently taken off of work to come and see if we had returned, pulled up and offered to give us a lift back to Seneca Rocks. We all jumped into the back of the truck. With a sigh of relief, and the wind in our hair, we looked back toward the horse trailer being pulled behind. On the front was a sticker reading “Get ‘er Done!” We all just looked at each other and I said, “Well, I reckon we got ‘er done, boys!”
Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
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2011 ATV’s It’s never a bad time to get off-road in these parts—and fortunately it’s not too difficult either. Whether your need for an ATV is fueled by adrenaline or driven by necessity, we’ve got some comparisons here that will likely have you itching to get out on your all-terrain chariot and kick up some dust, or mud...or just drive around on the farm and look at stuff. 1. Honda FourTrax Rancher – $4,999
This family of full-sized utility ATVs is assembled at Honda’s plant in Timmonsville, S.C. At the heart of each Rancher beats a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 420cc engine with electric starting. From there, it’s a matter of choosing the features that best fit your riding needs. The base model two-wheeldrive FourTrax Rancher comes with an automatic clutch and manual-shift five-speed transmission with reverse. The addition of the four-wheel-drive option is found in the manual-shift FourTrax Rancher 4x4 and the ESP-equipped FourTrax Rancher 4x4 ES.
2. 2011 Suzuki KingQuad – starting at $8,199
Suzuki’s 2011 offerings now include the KingQuad 400 ASi, KingQuad 400 FSi, KingQuad 500 AXi, KingQuad 500 AXi Power Steering, KingQuad 750 AXi, and KingQuad 750 AXI Power Steering. Most notable so far is that the KingQuad 400 models have been given an electronic fuel injection system and a digital speedometer.
3. Kawasaki Brute Force – $7,599 - $8,849
Anchoring Kawasaki’s ATV lineup is the always impressive Brute Force 750 4x4i, but this unit features one of our favorite ATV powerplants—Kawasaki’s liquid-cooled, 90-degree, fuel-injected, 749cc V-Twin. Other highlights include dual A-arm front suspension, fully independent dual A-arm rear suspension, and an impressive 1,250 pounds of towing capacity. Also returning for 2011 are the Brute Force 650 4x4i, and its price-conscious sibling—the Brute Force 650 4x4.
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Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
4. Arctic Cat TRV 550 GT (EPS) – $9,549
For 2011, Arctic Cat has expanded its TRV lineup with two new GT models that feature its new Electronic Power Steering system. An all-encompassed electronic 2WD/4WD/Differential Lock switch on the right hand control makes going in/out of 4WD or Diff Lock an easier process. Other premium features include zero-maintenance suspension bushings, sealed drive shafts, 11 inches of ground clearance, and 100 pounds of rack capacity.
5. 2011 Yamaha Rhino – $11,299
The 700-class powerplant is optimized for the Rhino with a liquid-cooled, four-valve SOHC engine. Helping manage that power is the Yamaha Fuel Injection system, which enhances its performance at high elevation and in cooler conditions. Adding to the Rhino’s rough terrain handling is the OnCommand 2WD/4WD system with differential lock that gives the driver options with the push of a button. The Rhino 700 FI has an impressive 12.1 inches of ground clearance, and its fully adjustable and fully independent front and rear dual A-arm suspension offers more than 7.3 inches of travel. Additionally, the Rhino is capable of towing up to 1,212 lbs. while the cargo bed can carry 400 lbs.
6. 2011 Can-Am Commander – $11,699
For model year 2011, BRP has come to market with a sporty new side-by-side that is sure to be the talk of the industry for quite some time. To appeal to as many consumers as possible, the Can-Am Commander is available with two different V-Twin engines. The Commander 800 (available in two different packages) features a 71-horsepower Rotax 800 EFI, while an 83-horsepower Rotax 1000 EFI powers the Commander 1000 (available in three different packages).
7. Can-Am Outlander 800R X mr – $13,099 With the Can-Am Outlander 800R X mr, BRP is offering a mud-specific ATV. Boasting Gorilla Axle mud performance development, The X mr starts with the longer wheelbase of the Outlander 800R MAX platform to offer improved performance in the deep stuff. Additionally, the radiator has been relocated to the front rack, keeping it high up on the ATV and out of the mud and water. Also, the CVT intake, CVT exhaust, and engine air intake were placed as high in the machine as possible to keep mud and water out of important components. Completing this mud machine are 14-inch ITP cast-aluminum wheels and massive 30-inch Gorilla Axle Silverback tires.
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Welcome Home
Answers All Your Real Estate Questions
by Karl Waizecker
The World Wide (Real Estate) Web For a great many Americans, the Internet has become an integral part of daily life. From communicating by email (sometimes with the person at the desk right next to yours!) to looking up phone numbers and driving directions, keeping in touch with friends on social networking sites, listening to music, and just playing games, we turn to the Internet for all sorts of things. Well, guess what? Real estate is no different. When homes for sale began appearing on the Internet 15 years ago or so, some folks predicted disaster for real estate agents and the industry as a whole. After all, they said, if buyers and sellers can use the Internet as an inexpensive (or free) way to exchange information about homes for sale, why would anyone need an agent? Of course, those doom and gloom predictions were wrong and the Internet has not replaced the real estate agent, but has become one of the most important tools in the real estate agent’s arsenal of services they can offer clients. Every year, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) conducts a very extensive survey of home buyers and sellers, asking a series of questions related to their buying or selling experience. The survey shows a clear trend of increased reliance on the Internet as a primary tool in searching for homes—with 90% of respondents indicating they did some searching on the Web.
Clearly, if you are selling your home and don’t have a strong internet presence, you are missing the boat! So, where are these homebuyers looking? There are several types of websites that attract potential homebuyers: sites maintained by real estate firms and agents, sites maintained by local Associations of Realtors, public sites provided by multiple listing services (the databases agents use), and a plethora of robust real estate-specific websites (Realtor.com, Zillow, and Trulia). Locally, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Association of Realtors maintains a website, www.HRAR. com, through which buyers may search all properties listed with a local realtor. In addition, all listings in the local realtor’s database are automatically “syndicated” (with the owner’s permission) to several of the most popular public websites, including the three listed above, as well as others like Yahoo Real Estate, HomeFinder, Hotpads, and several others. What this means for local sellers is that by listing a home for sale with a local realtor, the home will definitely appear on many of the most heavily viewed public websites. Easy, right? So, we understand buyers go the Internet to look for homes and we know what types of sites are out there for viewing. The next questions is just what, exactly, do potential buyers want to see? Many of the public websites try to add feature after feature to entice buyers into using their site over a competing one. Interactive mapping, community information, and video tours of homes and communities are just a few of the services these sites offer. The 2009 NAR survey gives us some insight into what website features buyers find the most useful, and it’s simpler than some of the web wizards think—buyers want pictures and a detailed description of the home! The folks who run the granddaddy of public real estate sites, Realtor.com, understand this very well and have structured their site to cater to what the buyer wants. As I mentioned
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earlier, all listings in the HRAR database are uploaded to Realtor.com (with the owner’s permission) for display as a “basic” listing. This includes up to four photos of the home and a copy of the comments that have been entered into the HRAR multiple listing service. Agents or firms then have the option (at a significant cost) to “enhance” their listings with a total of 25 photos and a lengthy description of the property, community, etc.—giving buyers what they want. An example of an “enhanced” listing appears below.
The message, at least according to the respondents to the NAR survey, is clear. If your home is for sale and you want buyers to find it, get it on a variety of popular websites and include a good description of the property and photos—lots of them! The good news for local sellers is that this can be accomplished easily by listing with a member of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Association of Realtors—especially an agent or firm who will “enhance” the listing information. Easy, right? Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
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t r a e The award-winning RMH Heart and Vascular Center provides a full spectrum of heart services, making it possible for our loved ones to receive outstanding care close to home. Cardiothoracic Surgery Electrophysiology Interventional Cardiology Diagnositic Services Vascular Surgery Cardiac Rehab Heart Disease Screenings Vascular Disease Screenings To learn more about the RMH Heart and Vascular Center, go to RMHOnline.com.
H E A RT A N D VA S C U L A R CENTER
Get well, Live well
Photo by Tommy Thompson
Dr VerNooy brings his unique talent & outlook to RMH
By Holly Martin
Robert VerNooy, MD, knew medical school would bring intensive years of study. So in undergrad, he took the path less traveled—Asian Studies. His junior year, he spent a semester in Japan and became fluent in Japanese. “Even though I was interested in sciences, I did not want (in medical school) to repeat all the classes I took in college,” he says. “Why study it twice?” He minored in biology, and took the necessary prerequisites for medical school, but also got a nontraditional educational experience.
The son of an English teacher, he remembers interacting with his mother’s students, many of whom were learning English as a second language. He had a few friends who were Japanese, so he decided to pick that language and go with it. “It seemed pretty exotic,” he says, laughing. Returning from his time abroad, he brought a more global perspective back with him. “It (was) a completely different way of life,” he says. “It’s amazing how diverse the different cultures of the world are, but then there are also a lot of common themes in how people live and interact with their
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families, and what’s important in life.” While VerNooy had a distinct interest in cultural study, his true love was science. As a college student, he participated in an internship program at a community hospital to get a stronger feel for what it meant to be a doctor. He returned from the experience surer than ever that he was headed in the right direction. “I think what attracted me was being able to help people—the gratification of that,” he says. “I also love the science and art of medicine.”
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He graduated from Colgate University, went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, both in New York state. After he completed a three-year internal medicine residency, he pursued additional fellowships in cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology over the next four years at the University of Virginia. There, he developed experience in the complete medical care and follow-up of heart rhythm disorders.
(above) Dr. Robert VerNooy (below) Dr. VerNooy inserts one of four catheters equipped with electrodes to monitor heart rhythm during a procedure.
At UVA, Dr. VerNooy also was involved in clinical research, published articles, and presented at national meetings in the field. Dr. VerNooy is triple board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. After five years of medical practice in the southeast United States, Dr. VerNooy recently joined Harrisonburg Medical Associates as the area’s first cardiac electrophysiologist (heart rhythm specialist) to practice at RMH Healthcare. He performed the first electrophysiology (EP) procedure at RMH in July. The move brings him and his wife, Velleda, closer to her family in Lewisburg, W.Va. Dr. VerNooy says he is happy to return to the Shenandoah Valley. The couple met when he was in residency and she was an ultrasound technician at UVA. “We just love the mountains and the people around here,” he adds. Dr. VerNooy treats the full spectrum of heart rhythm disorders. He has extensive training and expertise in treating arrhythmias (irregular heart
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Photo by Tommy Thompson
rhythms) through cardiac ablation. He also implants and manages the spectrum of cardiac devices, including pacemakers, defibrillators and implantable loop recorders (a device used to monitor heart rhythm). When it comes to the heart, electrophysiology helps track and locate abnormalities in the electrical impulses of the heart’s rhythm. An arrhythmia occurs when the heart’s rhythm becomes abnormal. Symptoms of arrhythmia may include heart palpitations, irregular pulse, shortness of breath—especially during physical activity or stress, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, lightheadedness, fainting or chest pain. These conditions can be congenital, or the result of a scar from heart attack, explains Dr. VerNooy. Sometimes an implantable device can correct the problem. Other times, this can be corrected through ablation, in which radiofrequency energy is used to destroy abnormal electrical pathways in heart tissue that are contributing to a cardiac arrhythmia. Finding that one tiny cluster of rogue cells that’s causing an electrical disruption in the heart can, of course, pose a challenge. “You never know what you’re going to find,” Dr. VerNooy says. “It’s like being a detective. There is a lot of deducing and using different techniques and knowledge to work through what’s going on. Every problem can be a unique challenge. That’s what’s kind of neat.” The first noninvasive cardiac electrophysiology procedure was Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
performed in 1995, so the field is newly emerging and rapidly changing, he explains. Previously, doctors did some procedures through opening the chest wall and performing open heart surgery. Now, physicians can achieve the same effect with minimal invasion to the body—it’s all done through 3D mapping of the heart and catheters inserted through the groin. Patients are generally awake, under moderate sedation, with local anesthetics, he says.
“A major benefit of the new RMH is how integrated it is,” says Linwood Williams, cardiology operations manager, RMH Heart and Vascular Center. “We have noninvasive and invasive testing all on the same floor, and it helps with convenience for patients and physicians.
(above and middle) The cardiac intervention suite control room is just as important as the operating room. This is where 3D imaging of the heart’s chambers is generated.
Photo by Tommy Thompson
The new RMH hospital and health campus, which opened in June, offers a state-of-the-art environment to practice cardiac care. The Heart and Vascular Center, rated No. 1 in the state of Virginia for four years running for coronary intervention by Healthgrades, the leading independent healthcare rating company, boasts three cardiac interventional suites. Two are primarily used to perform coronary intervention, and a third is used primarily for electrophysiology procedures. State-of-the-art imaging equipment in these suites allows the Heart and Vascular team to create real-time 3-D images of the heart.
Photo by Tommy Thompson
(below) Dr. VerNooy monitors a patient’s heart rhythm during a procedure.
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Photo by Tommy Thompson
“We’re very proud to be bringing a program of this quality to the Harrisonburg community,” he added. “We’re now able to do procedures here that hospitals in larger, urban areas are performing. We have very experienced staff and
they’re able to provide a breadth of experience, in addition to being very dedicated and patient safetyfocused. Our Heart and Vascular Center staff are both technologically capable and extremely caring.” Dr. VerNooy says he chose a career in electrophysiology because it not only allows him to see the immediate benefits of surgical procedures, it also allows him to follow patients’ progress over time. “We see all ages of patients, from teens to the elderly,” he explained. “Some of the treatments we do are potentially curative. That’s gratifying. Not a lot of things in medicine that offer a permanent cure.” When Dr. VerNooy is not performing surgery at RMH, he sees patients in his office at Harrisonburg Medical Associates. He says this part of his job is one
he truly enjoys. “I enjoy talking to patients and teaching them about their illness and treatment options,” he says. “There are a lot of teaching opportunities in medicine, both with patients and clinical staff. As a physician, not only do you have to be a learner, but you have to be a teacher. Doctor comes from Latin root word docer, meaning to teach.” Adding the unique, leading-edge service of electrophysiology was the final piece in creating a comprehensive heart and vascular program at RMH, says Dave Grembi, director, RMH Heart and Vascular Center. “A major goal of the RMH Heart and Vascular Center is to provide the very best, and most comprehensive, heart program that will meet the clinical needs of our local and outlying communities,” noted Dave Grembi, director, RMH Heart and Vascular Center.
“In 2003, a large component of that goal was achieved when RMH introduced its the coronary intervention program, now rated No. 1 in Virginia for the past four years by leading independent healthcare ratings company Healthgrades. “RMH reached another milestone in 2008 when we launched our cardiothoracic surgery program, and to date, our team has performed more than 250 cardiothoracic procedures with superior clinical results,” he continued. “We are delighted to announce the arrival of Dr. VerNooy and the addition of the highly specialized practice of electrophysiology medicine to our Heart and Vascular Center,” Grembi added. “With Dr. VerNooy’s arrival, we now have all the components necessary to provide a comprehensive heart program to our patients.”
Dr. VerNooy and John Hobby, registered cardiac invasive specialist, watch intrictate graphs of a patient’s heart rhythm to spot where the abnormality, or arrhythmia, is originating.
Photo by Tommy Thompson
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Around Harrisonburg | Sept/Oct 2010
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Full color glossy double sided $199 per issue
Around Harrisonburg is a bi-monthly
publication of Hornby Publishing LLC, published February, April, June, August, October and December. AH is printed on 70# gloss text paper. Size is 8 3/8 by 10 7/8 inches based on a 3 column page. Covers are 80# gloss cover with film lamination on the outside. Advertising positions are available on a first come first served basis.
One issue $1399 per issue 1 Year commitment $1099 per issue
RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY! Call Mike at 540-251-2180 or email mike@AroundHarrisonburg.com
BONUS!!!
All advertisers receive 2 months of premium membership online at www.InThePanhandle.com
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The All New 2011 Kia Sorento
The 2011 Sorento is Full of High-Tech Conveniences: • Bluetooth • Push Button Start • MP3/USB Input • Rear Entertainment System • Voice Command Navigation System • Sirius Satellite Radio • Panoramic Sunroof
The totally re-desinged 2011 Kia Sorento was built for the family on the go. With plenty of interior space, numerous safety features and a long list of standard factory equipment, the Sorento offers more value than many other sport utility vehicles in it’s class. And, now at Steven Kia the 2011 Kia Sorento is
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Automotive Named One of the “Best New Cars for 2011”
3340 S. Main Street • Harrisonburg, VA
540-437-9908 • 1-877-KIA-RULES
OPEN 7 DAYS! Mon.-Fri. 8:30-8pm, Sat 8:30-6pm, Sunday 12-5pm
www.steven-kia.com