Images Danville-Pittsylvania County, VA: 2008-09 by Journal Communications

2008-09 | DANVILLEPITTSYLVANIACO.COM | VIDEO VIGNETTES TM

OF DANVILLE AND PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA

RESIDENTIAL RENAISSANCE Improvements bring new life to historic districts

SPECTACULAR METAMORPHOSIS Science center thrives within former train station

Fountain of Youth Up-and-coming business leaders energize community SPONSORED BY THE DANVILLE PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ACTION! ADVENTURE! “IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!”

“DANVILLE AND PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY LIKE THEY’VE NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”

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2008-09 EDITION | VOLUME 2 TM

OF DANVILLE AND PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, VIRGINIA CO NTE NT S F E AT U R E S 10

RESIDENTIAL RENAISSANCE Unprecedented revitalization brightens up downtown neighborhoods.

SPECTACULAR METAMORPHOSIS At the Danville Science Center, learning about the world is interesting and fun.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH Young professionals are discovering that Danville is a great place to live and work.

40 INSPIRING TURNAROUND Woodrow Wilson Magnet Elementary earns state and national honors.

42 PAINTING A COLORFUL HISTORY

BUSINESS 28 International Inﬂux Manufacturers from around the world are lining up to do business here.

32 Biz Briefs 35 Chamber Report 37 Economic Proﬁle

D E PA R TM E NT S 6 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Danville and Pittsylvania County culture

22 Portfolio: people, places and events that deﬁne Danville and Pittsylvania County

45 Sports & Recreation 49 Health & Wellness 5 1 Image Gallery 57 Community Proﬁle: facts, stats and important numbers to know

The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History showcases the area’s rich culture. This magazine is printed entirely or in part on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

ON THE COVER Photo by Todd Bennett Danville Science Center’s Butterﬂy Station and Garden

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PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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Wilkins & Co. Realtors More Than a Real Estate Company ...

Growing the Dan River Region, one family at a time

“We are committed to our region’s future.” – Hampton Wilkins, President, Wilkins & Co. Realtors

The people at Wilkins & Co. devote much of their time and energy to charities and organizations, giving new meaning to the word “commitment”. The Dan River Region is not just where they do business, but where they live. You will not find anyone at Wilkins & Co. that is just a “realtor”. Their lives are woven into the fabric of the community, lending strength and adding touches of color, just where it’s needed most. As anyone at the firm will tell you, this is the good stuff. This is what really counts.

Danville: 428 Piney Forest Road • Danville, VA 24540 • (434) 797-4007 Chatham: 13924 US Highway 29 • Chatham, VA 24531 • (434) 432-3009 wilkinsandco@comcast.net • www.wilkinsandco.com

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A Hit for 15 Years

Walk This Way Feel like exercising? Try the 7.5-mile paved Riverwalk Trail that winds along the Dan River. The pathway is designed for walkers, joggers and rollerbladers, and is handicap accessible. There are several entry points to the trail, including Dan Daniel Memorial Park, Anglers Park and the Crossing at the Dan. In addition, path connections can be made to sites such as the Carrington Pavilion, Danvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Science Center and downtown Danville. Riverwalk Trail is maintained by the Danville Parks, Recreation & Tourism department.

Jeff Francoeur played here at American Legion Post 325 Field, and so did Chuck James. These current baseball players for the Atlanta Braves got their minor league starts here playing for the Danville Braves. The 2008 season marks the 15th anniversary for this Appalachian League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The Danville squad is the four-time defending Eastern Division champion in the league and plays home games at their field in Dan Daniel Park. The natural grass stadium was constructed in 1992 and has seating for 2,588. A total of 39,063 fans attended home games in 2007. Other big-name Major Leaguers who have played for the team include Andruw Jones and Rafael Furcal.

Building a Tradition of Innovation Old architecture fans, rejoice. The historic Tobacco Warehouse District in downtown Danville has several buildings that were constructed in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Those were the early years of what became a thriving tobacco industry; Danville had billed itself by the mid-1800s as the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Tobacco Market. It was here that the widely adopted Danville System of offering tobacco for inspection at auction was developed. The entire lot of loose tobacco leaves would be placed in huge stacks so that it could be examined in its entirety. Before, it was examined by potential buyers in small samples. Also of interest to sightseers is an exploration of the nearby Crossing at the Dan, a complex of buildings at the Dan River. The site includes three restored Southern Railway buildings, as well as a renovated 1885 bottling plant that is now known as the Pepsi Building.

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Almanac

Meet Us in Chatham This is quite a site: The brand new Chatham Community Center opened in the summer of 2008. Thanks in large part to a $3 million grant from the Danville Regional Foundation, the 16,000-square-foot center is equipped with a gymnasium, meeting rooms and a commercial kitchen. An organization called Chatham Cares Inc. oversaw construction of the project. The facility is open to all Pittsylvania County residents, and has space set aside for the Chatham chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of the Danville Area.

Fast Facts Q Danville served as the last capital of the Confederacy, from April 3-10, 1865. President Jefferson Davis made his final proclamation to the Confederate nation there. Q Danville has been nicknamed “the city of churches” because it has more churches per square mile than any other city in Virginia. Q The Dan River Silverbacks is a rugby team that was formed in 1975, and today the Silverbacks play on rugby fields at Anglers Park and hold a popular annual tournament. Q The Amtrak train in Danville can take passengers to New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. Q More than 2,500 people a month buy books at Goodwill Industries on Westover Drive in Danville. About 4,000 books a week are donated to the store, occasionally including rare volumes.

Saluting the Soldiers Atten-hut. The Danville-Pittsylvania County Veterans Memorial is now open. It took 2 1/2 years of fundraising and work to establish the tribute at Dan Daniel Memorial Park, as a salute to all local veterans from the Revolutionary War to the present. The center of the memorial reads in large letters, “Freedom Is Not Free,” and a seven-foot-high by 156-foot-long black granite wall bears the names of more than 1,000 war casualties from this area. The memorial also includes three flags – the U.S. flag, the Commonwealth of Virginia flag and the POW/MIA flag. There is also a 10-foot-wide circular brick walkway consisting of engraved memorial bricks.

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SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Danville and Pittsylvania County, visit danvillepittsylvaniaco.com.

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Almanac

At A Glance POPULATION (2006 ESTIMATE) Danville: 45,586 Pittsylvania County: 60,826 LOCATION Danville and Pittsylvania County are in south-central Virginia on the Virginia-North Carolina border. BEGINNINGS The first white settlement occurred in 1792 and was named Wynne’s Falls, after the first settler. The village was renamed Danville by act of the Virginia Legislature in 1793, and a charter was enacted in 1833.

A Plan That Works Need good workers? How about a new job? Check out the Workforce Career Center in the Piney Forest Shopping Center in Danville or its satellite centers on Goode Street or in Chatham. The centers help those looking to sharpen career skills or for employment and also assist companies seeking qualified workers. The centers make connections between workers, educational institutions and potential employers, serving as coordinators for all workforce resources in the region.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce 8653 U.S. Highway 29 P.O. Box 99 Blairs, VA 24527 Phone: (434) 836-6990 Fax: (434) 836-6955 www.dpchamber.org

Danville 43

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Generous James Thanks, J.T. ... for the $50 million. Danville resident James Thomas “J.T.” Emerson passed away in June 2005 and left $50 million to the community. The money will be used to fund educational scholarships and charitable grants to students who demonstrate need. One of the first recipients is Tina Francisco, who is studying business management at National College in Danville. An interesting point about Emerson is that very few people in the community knew him because of the low-profile, modest life he chose to live. The $50 million has been placed in the J.T.-Minnie Maude [his mother] Charitable Trust that will live on forever. Emerson was an Air Force veteran and a graduate of Danville Community College and the University of Alabama.

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PITTSYLVANIA Danville

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Danville and Pittsylvania County at danvillepittsylvaniaco.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

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Residential

Renaissance

RENOVATIONS AND PRESERVATION BRING NEW LIFE TO DANVILLE’S HISTORIC DISTRICTS

STORY BY JOE MORRIS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

he past is far from forgotten in Danville, which is seeing unprecedented downtown revitalization not only in its business district but also in longstanding residential areas such as the landmark Millionaires’ Row area on Main Street and its surrounding neighborhoods. People are lining up to live in the city’s historic areas, and those properties are becoming tourist attractions in and of themselves. “The Tobacco Warehouse District is seeing huge success, with its residential component as the main driver,” says Gerald Fischer, community development director for the city. “We’ve got four residential projects in that district, adaptive reuse

that’s turning former commercial space into residential. We have 160 units online: subsidized housing, market-rate condos and working-family units, which are for rent.” Having a mix of renters and owners in the area will further boost downtown’s new life as a residential area, and is bringing a good variety of retail residents as well, Fischer says. “We’ve seen people start to take ownership of downtown,” adds Anne Moore-Sparks, community development coordinator. “Retailers that already were there are sprucing up their buildings and doing

The Lawson-Overbey Inn Bed and Breakfast on Danville’s Millionaires Row now occupies the former home of tobacco clerk R.W. Lawson. Built by architect T.B. Fitzgerald in 1881, the house underwent renovations 30 years later.

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SEE MORE ONLINE | Get a glimpse of homes on Millionaires Row at danvillepittsylvaniaco.com.

This High Victorian Gothic mansion on Millionaires Row was built in 1874 by Charles M. Sublett. Left: Fred Meder is on the Danville Commission of Architectural Review and has been restoring historical homes here for nearly two decades.

their own landscaping. It’s a matter of pride. They now see that downtown is a success, and that’s been very important.” Fischer and Moore-Sparks both point to the city’s early1990s investment in The Crossing at the Dan as a key catalyst for the district’s redevelopment. The former train station and Southern Railway yard now is a multi-use complex that draws people downtown. “We took a chance on the area, and ended up with an entertainment and educational campus that we’re very proud of,” Fischer says. “We thought our investment would produce and encourage private investment in the adjacent area; it took a few years to get to that point, but we’re seeing it now.” On the home front, the ongoing restoration of historic homes in downtown’s neighborhoods and high-profile challenges such as saving the old “Home of Dan River Fabrics” sign are keeping the Danville Historical Society humming. “We are seeing a lot of outsiders come in, and they’re finding that we have something unique to offer in addition to our architecture,” says Rose Shields, owner of Rose Shields Interiors and the society’s current president. “We DA N V I L L E

really are more of a destination point now – we have the old mill buildings, lots of Victorian architecture, the Tobacco Warehouse District, all [serving as] attractions for people.” The homes were the draw for Fred Meder, who sits on the Danville Commission of Architectural Review and began restoring his first Danville historical home almost two decades ago. Now, with several under his belt, Meder says that the older neighborhoods may be seeing a permanent renaissance. “People like to walk through the neighborhoods and look at the homes,” Meder says. “I pinch myself every morning. I have a castle. And anybody who watches HGTV knows that we have a wealth of housing stock in Danville that’s still underutilized and underpriced.” The goal now will be to tie all these pockets of activity into an integrated whole, notes Shields. “It all connects together, and we’re going in the direction of having everything be walkable,” she says. “People in the various districts are starting their own associations, so we’re making good strides in the right direction.” DA N V I L L E P I T T S Y LVA N I AC O . C O M

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STORY BY ANNE GILLEM

utterflies, trains, science and history – oh my! At the Danville Science Center, partially housed in the 1899 Southern Railway Passenger Station at the Crossing at the Dan, learning about the world is interesting and fun. Since it opened in December 1995, giving new life to the abandoned, cityowned historic train depot, DSC has been a major draw for visitors throughout the region. The spectacular Butterfly Station and Garden, added in 1999, is a seasonal highlight from April to October for people of all ages. “Every day is something new,” says Jeff Liverman, executive director of the DSC for the past five years. “It’s exciting to be part of an organization where you

After 10 years, the Butterfly Station and Garden at the Danville Science Center remains a top draw. PHOTO BY TODD BENNETT

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The Butterfly Station and Garden at the Danville Science Center changes week to week. Below: Hunters and the Hunted is a permanent exhibit at the science center. Far Right: The Danville Science Center is a focal point of the Crossing at the Dan.

TODD BENNETT

week,” Bellamy says. “There is almost always something in bloom. It evolves all during the season, and the type of butterflies we have changes. “It’s a life cycle you can watch,” she adds. “Butterflies are so beautiful. I think of them as an ambassador into the insect world. If you were ever there, you wouldn’t have to ask why I enjoy it. It’s a wonderful, peaceful place to be.”

TODD BENNETT

can really see the impact you have on a community. The presence of the science center has changed the immediate area where we are – the tobacco warehouse area of Danville. But it’s been a sign of change for the whole region as well. “The economy in this area is somewhat challenged in that some of the major industries, such as tobacco and textiles, have left for one reason or another,” Liverman says. “This community and the people here just pitched in and said ‘we’re going to change our economy and we’re going to look to a new way of doing things.’ And I think science and technology education is a signal that they really are looking to change.” DSC, which welcomes as many as 27,000 visitors annually, has exhibits and programs for children as young as age 1 to adults. Partnering with teachers to enhance classroom instruction is also a priority. The center offers teacher workshops and even takes programs to schools. “Our mission is science education for all Virginians,” Liverman says. The center’s 120 volunteers are key to its success, as is community support, Liverman adds. Forty percent of DSC’s operating money comes from the state, 10 percent is from admissions and fees and a full 50 percent comes from the community. “Our community is not just behind DSC, it provides an enormous amount of support – whether it’s volunteer time, contributions or pitching in,” Liverman says. Forest Hills Elementary School teacher Katri Pavord says she takes her fourthand fifth-graders to experience DSC each year. “I’ve had fantastic experiences there year after year,” Pavord says. “By taking students to a place where they can do things themselves and actually see [science concepts] in an environment other than school helps them internalize information.” One of the most special weekends during the year is the spring opening of the Butterfly Station and Garden, overseen by gardener Allison Bellamy. The butterflies are in a screened-in greenhouse area surrounded by a garden. “The garden changes from week to

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Fountain of

Youth

UP-AND-COMING BUSINESS LEADERS ENERGIZE DANVILLE AND PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY

STORY BY VALERIE PASCOE

PHOTOS BY TODD BENNETT

riving around Danville after one of her first job interviews out of law school, Rachael Sanford was amazed. “I didn’t know Danville even existed, but after I did some research and finally visited the town, I was so surprised. When I saw everything that the city was doing to revitalize downtown, I could really see myself living here,” says Sanford, a Baltimore-area native who moved to Danville from Denver in September of 2006. As soon as Sanford got the job offer she was hoping for with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, she accepted. A year later she made the transition to a local law firm and found the home of her dreams at the Burton Condominium complex, a fully renovated tobacco warehouse in downtown’s historic district that features 29 modern units. “The first day I was in town driving around after my job interview I ended up on a cobblestone street and looked up to see the Burton. I fell in love with it as soon as I laid eyes on it. Living there has opened up a world of possibilities for me,” says Sanford, who, in her spare time, often enjoys Danville’s scenic Riverwalk Trail and the local farmer’s market, both of which are located just minutes from her front door. Another young attorney, Trevor Moe, was also surprised by the livability of Danville and Pittsylvania County and the

The North Theatre in Danville, on the opposite page, is benefiting from the youthful energy of community leaders such as Rachael Sanford, a Danville attorney who proudly serves on the facility’s Action Board.

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TODD BENNETT

Young leaders in Danville and Pittsylvania County prove that community engagement can always be fun through events such as the Second Chance Prom, a fundraiser created by the North Theatre Action Board. Left: Recreational amenities, such as the River Walk Trail, are among factors drawing people of all ages to the area. PHOTO BY IAN CURCIO

area’s broadening appeal for young professionals. Moe first arrived in Danville in 2002 for a summer associate position with a local law firm after living abroad and then attending law school in the Washington area. “What I saw when I was here that summer was an economy that was reinventing itself. As just one example, today I can look down at the tobacco district, and it’s no longer completely empty; there are condos and stores being developed. The city is turning a corner,” says Moe, a commercial transaction attorney who works with new companies locating to the area. “Another thing I like about living here is being able to see the tangible effects on the community of what I do both professionally and civically. That’s not always possible in a larger market,” he says. Moe also helped found a local rugby team, the Dan River Silverbacks, which competes across the region. Both Sanford and Moe are among the growing number of young professionals participating in community programs to help attract and retain the critical 22-to 35-year-old demographic to the area. They are active in the North Theatre Action Board, a group that was formed in fall 2007 to draw more live music acts and other performances to the historic North Theatre, a renovated 1940s-era venue located on North Main Street that hosts art exhibits, movies and plays. Both are also involved in the Danville Pittsylvania County DA N V I L L E

Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals initiative, a group that provides opportunities for up-and-coming businesspeople to connect through events and projects in the community. According to the group’s chairman, Shannon Hair, the coordinated effort by city and county officials to transition the economy by attracting new business sectors, such as nanotechnology and bioengineering, is helping draw a new crop of young professionals back into the local workforce. “There’s an added value in our community with the quality of life and new crop of jobs. As a result, we’re seeing more young professionals who are originally from here returning to work and live,” says Hair. Amanda Wilson, who grew up in the area and chose to move back here from Dallas, Texas, in 2007, was pleasantly surprised by the evolution of Danville and Pittsylvania County upon her return. She is now the academic outreach program coordinator for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, a facility that attracts graduate students from across the globe each year. “I have a huge appreciation for all of the things Danville has to offer today. When I look out from the patio of my apartment up Main Street toward West Main, I can see the mansions being restored. The homes and businesses are coming back to life again, and that brings a definite optimism about the community being on an upswing,” Wilson says. DA N V I L L E P I T T S Y LVA N I AC O . C O M

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Find Fuel for Your Mornings FRESH-ROASTED BEANS KEEP CUSTOMERS COMING BACK TO COFFEE EMPORIUM

along with all-day breakfast offerings, sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts. The “world-famous” walnut chicken salad sandwich is a popular lunch menu item, Royster says. “We roast our own [coffee] beans – we get them from all over the world,” Royster says. “We roast them right here on the spot. We do deli sandwiches, and we carry Boar’s Head meat. We do all of the espresso-based specialty drinks, as well as regular coffee. “Coffee is what we started with – and we’ve added these other things on,” he says. “It would be tough to make it

without the addition of food.” Main Street Coffee Emporium, which seats 50, is a popular gathering spot for locals, Royster says. “We’ve grown every year since we opened,” Royster says. “We’re growing this year [2008], even with the economy like it is. It is a hangout for people who come in for coffee. I get to meet all kinds of interesting folks. We’ve been fortunate we’ve been able to stay open and grow.” For those who just can’t get away from the office, Royster also offers light catering and delivers box lunches to area businesses and schools.

PHOTOS BY TODD BENNETT

att Royster knows about energy, having worked for 19 years as a mechanic for a natural gas pipeline. But six years ago, he made a career switch that changed his focus to a different type of fuel – one that starts the day off right for a growing number of residents. At Royster’s Main Street Coffee Emporium at 547 Main St. in downtown Danville, customers can greet the morning with a cup of freshly roasted coffee and a New York bagel or other breakfast treat. As the name of the business suggests, coffee is the main draw here,

Coffee is the star, but Main Street Coffee Emporium also pleases palates with a variety of breakfast and lunch offerings. Right: The walnut chicken salad sandwich is a favorite with the downtown Danville lunch crowd.

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Home of All-Around Athletes A

verett University Director of Athletics Sam Ferguson is helping students achieve success both on the playing field and in the community, as they reach out to lend a hand in service. “I’m real proud of our student athletes for their involvement in the community,” says Ferguson, in his current post since January 2008. “They’ve really taken a large role in that, and it’s something they’ve actually pursued.” Ferguson played golf and basketball while he was an Averett student, and earned his undergraduate degree in physical education in Danville. He returned to Averett as sports information director in 2004 and became assistant athletic director in 2005. He earned a master’s degree in sports management and was named interim athletic director in July 2007. Ferguson is passionate about Averett, and about being able to guide young men and women to become solid contributors to society. At the school of just under 900 students, athletes in 13 sports have the option of taking part in a variety of service projects. Cougars football players have worked on a Habitat for Humanity home, and in 2007, the men’s basketball team received the Community Youth Service Award from Dan River Center for Voluntarism for their work with Danville Big Brothers Big Sisters. Every fall, athletes don Halloween costumes to trick-or-treat for canned goods, and there is an annual blood drive in memory of Ferguson’s late wife, Annette. Giving back “is important,” Ferguson says. “We like to see the community out here supporting our [sports] endeavors, so it’s only fair that we do the same for them. A stronger community means a stronger university.”

Averett University athletic director Sam Ferguson encourages athletes to reach out to the community.

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She’s Simply Not the Retiring Type A

rlene Creasy is officially retired after a decades-long career with the Social Security Administration. But don’t expect to find her sitting in a rocking chair, sipping a cool glass of iced tea. Creasy, 69, of Gretna, pursued volunteer activities throughout her working life. And now that she has more time, she sees it as the perfect chance to do more for her neighbors and friends. “I loved every minute of my job with Social Security,” says Creasy, who was manager for the Danville, Martinsville and South Boston offices. “I love meeting people, helping people. I am very involved in the community. Being in the public work force, I just saw a need to join some organizations to help out in any way I could with the community and the city of Danville.” Organizations Creasy has been or remains involved with include the YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, Gretna Junction Lions Club, Dan-Pitts American Business

Women’s Association, Goodwill Industries, Pittsylvania County Economic Development, Pittsylvania Crimestoppers, Pittsylvania County Social Services, and the Downtown Danville Association. “I like what all these organizations stand for. Keeping so busy is very fulfilling,” Creasy says. How does she keep track of all her commitments? Writing them on a calendar keeps her from double booking. Energy isn’t an issue – “I have no plans whatsoever to slow down,” she says.

Creasy loves to travel, play bridge and clean house during rare leisure time. Her husband, Wayne, is retired from the U.S. Postal Service. Creasy also has beaten back personal challenges. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and had successful surgery and radiation. “I was out of commission about a year,” she says. “All that time, I was thinking ‘how soon can I get back involved?’ Now, I’m 100 percent and going strong.”

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Johnson Realty of Virginia, Inc. Arlene Creasy of Gretna is known throughout the region for her steadfast community dedication and service with many organizations.

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Remembering ‘Female Elvis’

Research

Education Technology

Boasting state-of-the-art technology, world-class research centers, a spectacular conference center and numerous education courses, the IALR is a national model for rural economic transformation.

hen Wayne Whitt saw teenager Janis Martin perform her rockabilly songs on the Old Dominion Barn Dance in Richmond in the mid-1950s, he had no idea that he would not only meet her decades later, but marry her, as well. Martin, dubbed the “Female Elvis Presley” by RCA Records, was a pioneer as one of few female performers in the rockabilly genre. She had a short-lived career in her teens, and then lived a quiet life in Danville before coming out of retirement to make music again in her later years. She died of cancer in September 2007 at 67. “Never did I dream in my wildest imagination that I would ever meet up with her again,” Whitt says. “I wanted to meet her several times, but they wouldn’t let you go backstage to see her.” After a career in the restaurant business, Whitt moved to the Danville area. His father had married Martin’s cousin, and his stepmother introduced Martin and Whitt. “That’s how we met. We hit it off and that was the end of the story,” Whitt says. “We became husband and wife in about three months. I fell in love with her when I walked in the house that night and saw her.” Martin resurrected her career in Europe where she played to packed houses. Whitt was always at her side; they were together for nearly 30 years. “Her voice never broke,” he adds. “She got better and better. She never abused her voice. She could sing rock, she could sing blues, and she could sing country. But her life was into rockabilly – the beginning of rock ‘n’ roll.” Whitt is promoting a collection of unreleased songs Martin recorded not long before her passing. “The most important thing to her was her music and her family,” Whitt says. “She was a wonderful person – a wonderful wife.”

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research 150 Slayton Ave. • Danville, VA 24540 (434) 766-6717 • www.ialr.org Photos of memorabilia from early in the career of pioneering rockabilly musician Janis Martin

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A Foundation With Maximum Impact T

he Danville Regional Foundation is making a difference – investing in the Danville, Pittsylvania County and Caswell County, N.C., area today, and, more importantly, laying groundwork for a productive future. Established in August 2006 to invest and distribute $200 million from the sale of the Danville Regional Medical Center to LifePoint Hospitals Inc., the foundation awards grants based not just on need – but opportunity and impact, says Karl Stauber, foundation president and CEO since August 2007. “Need is certainly important,” Stauber says. “But if you have great need and at the end of the day [grant funds] don’t change anything, then that’s probably not a good investment. “Part of the challenge has been to get people not to just tell us how bad things are,” Stauber says. “We look at our funds as investments in the community designed to produce tangible community benefits. We don’t look at our grants as dollars that we’re giving away. We expect something for the community in return for every dollar that we invest, and that’s community improvement.” Stauber was president and CEO of

the Northwest Area Foundation in St. Paul, Minn., before relocating to Danville to take the reins of the DRF. “I moved here for two reasons,” Stauber says. “One is I think there are great opportunities here and I think it’s a great place to live. Having said all that, there are real challenges here. If the problems of this region are solved, the solutions are going to be led by the people in this region.” Having an available source of funding

for those key solutions certainly helps. In the first part of 2008, DRF awarded $628,275 to the BEST Coalition [Building Economic Success Together], $1.4 million to the Free Clinic of Danville and $2 million to the Industrial Development Authority of the city of Danville. In July 2006, the largest grant to date, $9.7 million, was awarded to Danville Community College to build a Health Sciences Center. – Stories by Anne Gillem

Voted best in 2008 because:

Call or stop by today to find out more!

(434) 791-3180 Danville Regional Foundation President and CEO Karl Stauber

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432 Hermitage Drive Turn by River Oak Church of God off W. Main St./Rt. 29 S.

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Business

International DANVILLE AND PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY DRAW FIRMS FROM AROUND GLOBE

STORY BY JOE MORRIS

hile many other parts of the country are fighting to keep jobs from going overseas, Danville and Pittsylvania County are enjoying a role reversal of that scenario as international manufacturers line up to get in. Recent years have seen an influx of businesses based overseas, all of which have successfully tapped into the mix of state and local incentives to get their operations up and

running. With a well-trained and qualified workforce on hand, the newcomers have seen steady growth since setting up shop and moving into production. “Recently we’ve gotten Com.40 Ltd. and Swedwood to come here, but we’ve always had a good international presence,” says Jeff Reed, assistant director for Danville’s Office of Economic Development. “We’ve got other international companies that have been here quite a while. In the last three or four years our announcements have become more international, though.” The diversity of products manufactured by these companies is as high-profile as the locales from which they come. Com.40 Ltd., a Poland-based firm, makes mattresses and upholstered furniture for the IKEA home furnishing chain. The company is expected to open its Danville plant in the near future, creating more than 800 jobs. Com.40 followed suit after another IKEA-related venture, Swedwood North America, set up shop in Cane Creek Centre

IKEA furniture manufacturing subsidiary Swedwood set up its first U.S. facility here. Right: Swedwood North America President Bengt Danielsson PHOTO BY TODD BENNETT

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Essel Propack is an India-based company that produces laminated and plastic tubes for the oral, cosmetic and health-care industries. A subsidiary, the British concern Arista Tubes, also has a site here. PHOTO BY TODD BENNETT

and began production in 2007. The furniture maker operates an 810,000-square-foot facility with approximately 150 workers and is expanding steadily, says Jorgen Lindquist, vice president. “We’re into production, and are recruiting around 10 people a month,” Lindquist says. “We had a strong commitment from the city, county and state, and knew that we could come into the site and be up and running quickly. We are following our plan.” More relatively new industrial residents include Britain’s Arista Tubes, a manufacturer of extruded plastic tubes, and its India-based parent company Essel Propack America, which produces laminated and plastic tubes for the oral, cosmetic and health-care industries. In addition to bringing Arista to the region, Essel Propack has expanded three times in the six years its plant has been operating. The most recent, a $14 million expansion, was completed in late 2007 and added a printing center that will serve both operations, says Bob Craig, regional human resources manager. “With the addition of Arista we’ve also expanded from two to three shifts, and it looks like we have enough sustainable business to keep it that way,” Craig says. The companies now have 293 employees in Danville, and 30

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there’s no problem finding new workers when jobs open up. “We’re growing and busy, but we did our workforce development here,” Craig says. “The resources that the state and federal governments have provided in that area have really made a big difference for us.” Japan also has a strong presence here, as Techma U.S.A. continues its growth in Gretna. The maker of electrical components and cable harness assemblies for the automotive industry has a 90,000-square-foot facility and approximately 200 employees. With just about every continent represented in the area, the region’s economic development leaders could be forgiven if they feel a bit like the United Nations these days. But they wouldn’t have it any other way. “We’re trying to have as much diversity as we possibly can,” Reed says. “And our new companies are telling people that they’re thrilled with the support from the city and county, that we work really hard to exceed expectations. “The workforce is here; the training support is here; the amenities they’re looking for are here,” Reed continues. “They’re pretty impressed with the whole package, and we don’t have any intention of slowing down anytime soon.” DA N V I L L E

Redefining Retail NEW COLEMAN MARKETPLACE TO MAKE DANVILLE A TRUE SHOPPING DESTINATION

here’s a new place to shop in Danville, and it’s unlike anything the city has ever seen. In fact, it’s the largest retail project in the area since the 1980s. Coleman MarketPlace, a 465,000-sqare-foot shopping center situated on 67 acres, is being developed by North American Properties of Atlanta. The development is located opposite Piedmont Mall, and key retailers include Target, Ross Dress for Less, The Home Depot, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Marshalls, Old Navy and PETCO. “Many of the retailers we’ve housed in this project had been seeking locations in Danville, but there was never a project that could congregate them like this,” says Mark Toro, a partner in North American Properties. “They saw the synergy created by a large half-million square foot development as an advantage for their shoppers.” Coleman MarketPlace is made up of about 30 stores with an additional 74,000 square feet of space that will be leased to service providers such as Verizon; restaurants, including a Mexican and a Chinese restaurant; and smaller stores. Retailers began opening for business in June 2008 and will continue to open into the fall, when a grand opening for the entire development will be held. “This is unique for Danville because it’s the first powercenter being built there,” Toro says. “We call it a powercenter because it’s congregating several big-box retailers.” When fully operational, Coleman MarketPlace is expected to generate $140 million in sales and bring an estimated 1,350 to 1,650 jobs to the city. Retail is also on the rise in other areas of Danville. A new Sam’s Club opened in March near the intersection of Westover Drive and Piedmont Drive. The store created more than 150 new jobs and occupies approximately 130,000 square feet. – Jessica Mozo

Retailers began opening for business in summer 2008 at the new Coleman Marketplace in Danville. PHOTO BY TODD BENNETT

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Business | Biz Briefs pimento cheese, boxed lunches and fruit and hors d'oeuvre trays. However, it’s Midtown’s chicken salad that has earned the shop fame. Following a recipe created by Grant’s father more than 40 years ago, the Market prepares and sells 300 pounds of chicken salad each day. Tourism officials joke that they receive enough phone calls about where to find the Midtown Market’s chicken salad to justify designating it as an official attraction.

The Midtown Market opened in 1921 and has been in the family of current owner and manager Jan Grant Harris since 1952. Besides its meat and produce departments, the market is renowned for its chicken salad.

A BUYER’S MARKET Few Danville businesses have earned the degree of customer loyalty given to Midtown Market. The quaint shop has served up some of the freshest meat, produce and specialty items since opening its doors on 7 Chamber Street Dec. 21, 1921. The market has been in the family of owner/manager Jan Grant Harris since 32

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1952. Brother Gary Grant says the shop’s longevity can be attributed to excellent customer service and a reputation for providing high-quality products. “We’re always on the lookout for the freshest and the best,” Grant says. Customers to the Midtown Market find a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables, a full-service meat department and specialty items like

ENSURING A BRIGHT FUTURE Southern Virginia is brighter than ever these days, thanks to Northern Lites in Gretna. Owned and operated by master electrician Ross Johnson, the store contains more than 75,000 fixtures and displays more than $50,000 worth of lighting in its South Main Street showroom. Staffed by American Lighting Association-trained experts, Northern Lites provides in-home design consultation at no charge, as well as lighting repair and “create your own light” services. “You bring us what you want made into a lamp, we design it and, if you like it, we build it,” Johnson says. As a division of Ross Electric Co., the store also provides the full range of electrical services. Johnson says customers appreciate the store’s warm, welcoming atmosphere. “Everybody is family here,” he says. “Come to the showroom one time and, whether you buy anything or not, we will have a nice visit and make a new friend, guaranteed.” YOU CAN BANK ON IT Long before the days of ATMs and online banking, American National Bank and Trust Company was serving the financial needs of the Danville community. Founded on Main Street in 1909, the full-service bank is the oldest independent, locally owned community bank in the market, employing more than 250 people in its 21 area offices. “We have tried to build relationships with customers and the community,” says Charles Majors, president and chief executive officer. “Customers know us and are able to get a response to their requests very quickly. We try to find ways to meet their needs and work hard DA N V I L L E

to make sure we offer the types of services customers want, primarily in technology.” It’s not only the customers who benefit from the bank’s commitment to the community. Throughout the century, American National Bank and Trust Company has significantly supported local civic efforts and charities and encourages its employees to do the same.

IN THE BAG Danville’s Gary and Michelle Bender have an impressive history together. As parents of five, the husband-wife team of 28 years works side-by-side as owners of Dixie Bags and More Gift Shop. The popular South Ridge Street shop opened in 2007 to accommodate their 11-year custom handbag business, which now

produces thousands of bags annually. “Our quality and uniqueness set us apart,” says Michelle Bender. “We don’t have what everyone else has.” Bags are available in 20 different styles from coin purses to garment bags, and come in more than 150 fabrics. Bender says cat and dog prints are customer favorites. The store also carries a variety of local and regional artwork, including pieces from Danville Art League members. In addition, customers find a wide selection of handmade gifts, from jewelry and baby bibs to candles and soaps. “If you want that special gift everyone will notice, come see us,” Bender says. – Melanie Hill

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Learn more about Dixie Bags and More at danvillepittsylvaniaco.com.

PHOTOS BY TODD BENNETT

42 GOOD YEARS, AND COUNTING Business is rolling along smoothly at Danville’s Goodyear plant. Since 1966, the facility has operated as the world’s largest and most modern plant for manufacturing truck and aircraft tires. The plant’s future seems as promising as its past, with a June 2007 announcement that the company will invest $200 million here for facility expansion and equipment upgrades over the next several years. Plant manager Terry Tennyson over-

sees the facility’s 2,400 employees and attributes Goodyear’s 40-plus years of success to the product as well as the people behind it. “The Goodyear name and its reputation for superior quality is a definite start,” Tennyson says. “The GoodyearDanville product line and the strength of the industries those products serve would be another reason for our success. To me, the most important things are the outstanding employees we have had and continue to attract as one of the largest employers in the entire Southside Virginia area.”

Dixie Bags and More meets the needs of shoppers seeking truly unique items, as no two bags are exactly alike.

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A healthy business,

A healthier planet • Janitorial services • Green cleaning • Commercial carpet care • Hard-surface floor care • Call for a free estimate ServiceMaster Commercial Cleaning Danville, VA • (434) 835-0212 www.gogreenwithclean.com ©2007 ServiceMaster Clean. All rights reserved.

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Business | Chamber Report

TODD BENNETT

Linda Lawrence Dalton, co-owner of Lawrence Distributing Co., speaks at a legislative reception hosted by the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce. Government relations was one of the core areas of accreditation.

Chamber Celebrates Star-Studded Event TOP ACCREDITATION BOOSTS CHAMBER’S PROFILE LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY

hen officials with the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce decided to begin the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s accreditation process, they knew they had a pretty good shot at achieving that goal. What they didn’t expect was to snag the organization’s top honor, which is Five-Star Accreditation. “I was extremely surprised that we got the five stars,” says Laurie Moran, president. “I fully anticipated that we would become accredited, which is a huge distinction in and of itself. But there are four different levels of that, from accreditation through three to five stars. I knew we had a strong application, but still was very pleasantly surprised.” Following the merger of the Danville and Pittsylvania County chambers in July 2001, the new organization had to wait for a set period of time before pursuing accreditation. The staff was working on the various components of the accreditation criteria during those years, but Moran says she thought the DA N V I L L E

725-member chamber’s size might keep it from scoring top honors. “This was our first time going through the process, and in looking at the larger chambers who had five stars, I didn’t think we had the resources or the capacity to match what they were doing,” she says. “But I knew we were doing a great job with our programs, so we went for it.” The accreditation process is lengthy, involving documentation detailing everything from the chamber’s internal organizational procedures and policies to its roster of programs and their impact on the community. “You have to provide up to four years of supporting data for some parts of the application,” Moran says. “We had been building toward the components that we think an outstanding chamber should have, and worked on the accreditation documents for about a year before we submitted them.” Scoring all five stars puts the Danville Pittsylvania County chamber in an elite group. Of the 6,936 chambers in the

country which are recognized by the U.S. Chamber, only 41, or less than one percent, achieve this distinction. The benefits of the recognition are immediate, as the chamber now will be able to enhance its membership recruitment efforts and develop new programs and services. “It’s a wonderful marketing tool for the chamber, but we see it in an even bigger picture in that it’s a huge marketing tool for our economic development offices,” Moran says. “As new businesses and companies look to locate in our area, the message is that not only are we able to attract businesses, but once they get here we have an organization in place with national recognition. And that organization is here to work with and assist those companies. We think it’s a huge benefit. It’s always nice to be courted by an area, but the proof is whether or not you’ll be able to succeed, not just sustain, once you’ve located in a community.” – Joe Morris DA N V I L L E P I T T S Y LVA N I AC O . C O M

Virginia Uranium

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Securing Energy for Our Future

Providing New Jobs for Southside

Maintaining Agricultural Traditions

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Eight Offices in Danville & Pittsylvania County 124 Offices across Virginia & North Carolina Headquarters Bank Services of Virginia, Inc. Locations Existing Locations Future Locations

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Carter Bank & Trust 141 Westover Dr. • Danville, VA 24541 • (434) 793-3321

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515 Memorial Dr. • Danville, VA 24541 (434) 793-8322 • (800) 437-3885 • Fax (434) 797-2253

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Business | Economic Profile

DANVILLE AND PITTSYLVANIA CO. BUSINESS CLIMATE Danville and Pittsylvania County have some of the most innovative incentives and business development programs in the nation. These programs encourage growth and prosperity within the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existing economy and bring new business investment to the area.

TRANSPORTATION Airport Danville Regional Airport, 799-5110 Highways An excellent highway system coupled with easy access to Interstates 40 and 85 make Danville extremely well suited to reach mid-Atlantic markets and international shipping facilities.

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME Danville $26,900 Pittsylvania County $46,600

HOUSING COSTS Median Home Value (Owner-occupied) Danville $71,900 Pittsylvania County $80,300

MEDIAN RENT Danville $404 Pittsylvania County $398

DANVILLE MSA LABOR FORCE

Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, 793-0884

Danville Welcome Center, 793-4636

Dan River Business Development Center, 793-9100

Downtown Danville Association, 791-4470

Danville Community Market, 797-8961

Longwood University SBDC: Dan River, 791-7321

Danville Economic Development Office, 793-1753

Pittsylvania County Economic Development, 432-1669

Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce 836-6990

Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213

MAJOR INDUSTRIES Industry Group

Estab.

Employees

Accommodation and Food Services

177

3,217

Admin., Support, Waste Mgmt., Remediation

109

2,812

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

226

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

343

287

2,061

4,539

Finance and Insurance

138

1,047

Health Care and Social Assistance

213

5,542

Information

375

332

102

6,783

Mining

N/A

Other Services (except Public Admin.)

244

981

138

625

Construction Education Services

Management of Companies and Enterprises Manufacturing

Professional, Scientific and Technical Svc

May 2007 Civilian Labor Force 51,596

Public Administration

1,490

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

405

Employed 48,560

Retail Trade

442

6,627

749

226

108

1,354

2,344

39,735

Unemployed 3,036 Unemployment Rate 5.9%

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Transportation and Warehousing Utilities Wholesale Trade TOTAL

Better Business Bureau (540) 342-3455

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Fueling Fast Friendships in the Southside for Over 50 Years

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New bath amenities: Kohler shower head, curved rod & plush 100% cotton towels Business center with free WHSI Walking/bike trail

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Business | Economic Profile MAJOR EMPLOYERS Company

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES No. of Employees

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

2,447

Danville Regional Medical Center

1,636

Pittsylvania County School System

1,515

Danville Public Schools

1,251

City of Danville

Greensboro, N.C.

53 miles

Lynchburg

50 miles

Richmond

140 miles

Roanoke Washington, D.C.

68 miles 279 miles

1,203

Telvista

700

Nestle USA Inc.

567

Wal-Mart

450

Unique Industries

425

Danville Community College

356

CIT

350

Roman Eagle Memorial Home

350

Intertape Polymer Group

285

A.C. Furniture Inc.

275

Columbia Forest Products

248

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Columbia Forest Products, Flooring Division

232

Yorktowne Cabinetry

230

Pittsylvania County Economic Development 34 N. Main St., P.O.Box 1122 Chatham, VA 24531 Phone: 432-1669 Fax: 432-1709 www.pittced.com

LOCAL TAXES Property Real Estate (Market Value)

Tax Rate $100

City of Danville

.73

Pittsylvania County

.53

Town of Chatham

.22

Town of Gretna

.21

Town of Hurt

.14

Machinery & Tools (Original Cost) City of Danville Pittsylvania County at 10%

$1.50 $4.50

Automobiles (Market Value) City of Danville Pittsylvania County at 30%

$3.00

City of Danville Office of Economic Development 427 Patton St., P.O. Box 3300 Danville, VA 24543-3300 Phone: 793-1753 Fax: 797-9606 www.discoverdanville.com E-mail: econdev@ DiscoverDanville.com Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce 8653 U.S. Highway 29 P.O. Box 99 Blairs, VA 24527 Phone: (434) 836-6990 Fax: (434) 836-6955 www.dpchamber.org E-mail: chamber@ dpchamber.org

$7.75

Town of Chatham

$4.50

Sources:

Town of Gretna

$2.00

Town of Hurt

$2.50

www.discoverdanville.com, www.dpchamber.org, www.pittced.com, www.vaworkconnect.com

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PHOTOS BY TODD BENNETT

Inspiring Turnaround WOODROW WILSON MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHINES, EARNING STATE AND NATIONAL HONORS

“I

nspirational” is the only way to accurately describe the story of Woodrow Wilson Magnet Elementary School. In 2008, the K-5 elementary, which was once considered to be an underperforming institution, became one of only 89 schools statewide – and three locally – to receive the prestigious Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence. Also making the list were Danville’s Forest Hills Elementary and Pittsylvania County’s John L. Hurt Jr. Elementary School. The recognition came as welcome, but not necessarily surprising, news to Woodrow Wilson Magnet Elementary School’s dedicated faculty and approximately 180 students. “We were thrilled,” says Dr. Sue Davis, superintendent of Danville Public Schools. “The schools are very different in demographics but children are achieving at the same high levels. Woodrow teachers have surrounded students with support and assistance and have high expectations for the children. They don’t consider failure an

option, from the moment students walk into kindergarten.” The school also was selected as one of 25 national recipients of the Reading Is Fundamental Program Excellence Honors for 2008. The program recognizes schools and other groups that have successfully partnered with outside organizations to advance children’s literacy in their communities. Woodrow Wilson’s story seemed unimaginable a decade ago, before former principal Judy Williams joined the economically disadvantaged school. Williams, who Davis calls a “turnaround specialist,” looked past the school’s poor scores and inability to receive state accreditation and saw a school with potential. Today, Jocelyn Fitzgerald is principal and continues the mission established by the now-retired Williams. “Our motto is, ‘We build relationships,’ and we’re trying to echo this throughout the community because that’s more important than anything else,” says Fitzgerald, a former guidance

counselor at the school. “Team effort has been a No. 1 priority.” Through partnerships with parents, staff and the community, the school now focuses on targeted intervention, small group instruction, developing community relationships and realigning curricula to meet state standards. Students also benefit from reading and dance clubs, morning reading and math tutorial programs and a mentoring program with students from Averett University. Fitzgerald says the mentoring program has had a tremendous impact on students’ science and history scores. “At one time, we were labeled a little school that could, and now we’re the school that’s seen as a trailblazer for educational excellence in the community,” Fitzgerald says. “We’ve turned this negative into a positive through team buy-in and promoting goodness in things that are happening in our school.” Davis says the school’s story has sent a real message about the caliber of students at Woodrow Wilson Magnet Elementary, which has set the bar for other schools throughout the district. “Woodrow Wilson is a shining star,” Davis says. “Parents, teachers and children are all so proud of their school.” – Melanie Hill

Claudia Easley leads her first-grade class through an exercise at the Woodrow Wilson Magnet School in Danville.

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Education

Follow This Guiding Principal FORMER PRO ATHLETE KENNY LEWIS INSPIRES STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE FULL POTENTIAL

enny Lewis is a role model in every sense. From pro football star to principal, the George Washington High alumnus has continually found new ways to reinvent himself, inspiring generations of Danville youth in the process. As a star athlete at GW, young Lewis soon gained the attention of coaches at Virginia Tech. One year before his Tech graduation, Lewis was drafted by the New York Jets, kicking off a four-year NFL career. Despite his success in the pros, Danville’s star athlete left the NFL spotlight to complete his academic career at Tech. Today, Lewis has dedicated his career to inspiring a new generation of students as principal and director of alternative education at the George Washington-Langston Campus. “I returned to Danville because I felt like it was destiny for me to come back,” Lewis says. “I was supported by the Danville community and especially the education system as I grew up, and I felt compelled to come back and support this community.” Since joining Danville Public Schools in 1985, Lewis has served as teacher, coach, principal and director in the district’s elementary, middle and high schools. Lewis currently is preparing the Langston Campus for its transition to a comprehensive alternative education program in 2010. “No one has the same academic needs, so we look at a variety of ways to make sure students receive some sort of credential,” Lewis says. Today, the highly respected administrator uses his life story and achievements as an example to his students that they too can achieve their dreams with enough determination and discipline. Lewis cofounded the Boys & Girls Club of Danville, started the city’s churchbased tutorial program and has served on numerous nonprofit boards. “I use my stature as a drawing card to tell teenagers, ‘If you can put your mind to it and use the gifts God’s given you, you can achieve your goals,’” Lewis says. – Melanie Hill DA N V I L L E

Former New York Jets player Kenny Lewis returned home to Danville after completing his studies at Virginia Tech. He is the principal and director of alternative education at the George Washington-Langston Campus.

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Arts & Culture

Painting a Colorful History DANVILLE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS AND HISTORY SHOWCASES AREA’S CULTURE

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also can be found outdoors at Sutherlin Mansion, where events such as Art on the Lawn, History on the Lawn, Civil War Encampments and Mandolins & Magnolias take place. “Visitors leave with a good feeling and hopefully have a better understanding and an added dimension to the Civil War and Danville’s role,” Bjarnesen says. – Melanie Hill

PHOTOS BY TODD BENNETT

ew places paint Danville’s colorful history like the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. Located in the Sutherlin Mansion on Main Street’s Millionaires Row, the antebellum home originally served as the residence of tobacco entrepreneur and former Danville mayor Major William T. Sutherlin. In 1865, the house became the temporary residence of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. It was in this home that Davis would pen his last official proclamation as president of the Confederacy, shaping Danville’s legacy as the Last Capital of the Confederacy. In 1928, Sutherlin Mansion was transformed into Danville’s public library and, for nearly 50 years, welcomed the county’s literary-minded men, women and children. Today the Italian Villa style structure greets a new generation of curious guests as the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. As a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, the museum offers a wide variety of exhibitions, classes, workshops, camps and educational programs for the entire family. “We’re the area’s only art and history museum and bring in exhibits that most people just wouldn’t have the opportunity to see otherwise,” says executive director Lynne Bjarnesen. The museum houses many permanent exhibits, including “Between the Lines: Danville 1861-1865.” The collection offers a glimpse into the city’s historic past and is a popular draw for local and out-of-town Civil War enthusiasts. Visitors also find an eclectic mix of traveling exhibits featuring local, regional and national artists. Scheduled presentations for late 2008 and 2009 include colorful works by Virginia illustrator Adjoa Burrowes, as well as artifacts and images from The Wreck of the Old 97 – one of the most historic train tragedies in history, which occurred in Danville. The museum also will host the 13th annual juried art show by Danville’s Art League, as well as student shows by young artists from Averett University and Danville and Pittsylvania County Public Schools. Additional exhibits include glass art from South Carolina’s One Eared Cow Studios, the Modern Masters collection, pieces from Dallas-based painter Ron Clark and more. Visitors also can take advantage of the museum’s numerous tours, art classes and educational programs for adults and kids. Educators provide in-school tours and also teach kids about local history through the museum’s annual Sutherlin Guard Civil War Camps. The five-day program features a Civil War reenactment and helps children ages 8 to 12 understand what life was like during Danville’s earliest days. Family fun

Visitors enjoy the Arts on the Lawn event at the Danville Museum of Art and History. Left: The museum is within the beautifully appointed and historic Sutherlin Mansion, also known as the Last Capitol of the Confederacy.

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Save Money. Smell the Flowers.

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539 Arnett Blvd. 364 Lowes Dr., Suite H Danville, VA 24540

(434) 793-1278 Fax: (434) 799-0949 urwfcu@urwfcu.org

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Looking for ways to save money on gas and help the environment? The EPA wants to share some smart driving tips that could give you more miles per gallon of gas and reduce air pollution. Tips like making sure your tires are properly inflated and replacing your air filter regularly. And where possible, accelerate and brake slowly. Be aware of your speed ... did you know that for every 5 miles you go over 65 mph, you’re spending about 20 cents more per gallon of gas? If you’re shopping for a new car, choose the cleanest, most efficient vehicle that meets your needs. If we each adopt just one of these tips, we’d get more miles for our money and it would be a little easier to smell the flowers. For more tips and to compare cleaner, more efficient vehicles, visit

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Sports & Recreation

Camp Motorsport at VIRginia International Raceway combines traditional and non-traditional camping experiences.

For Youth Driven To Succeed VIR PROGRAMS PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND MOTOR SPORTS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

here are plenty of underage drivers at the VIRginia International Raceway these days, but nobody’s very worried about that fact. The raceway now hosts two youth-oriented programs, Camp Motorsport and the Academy of Motorsports. The camp, which began in summer 2007, gives students ages 10-16 the chance to spend a week at the track, sleeping in a converted garage. While there, they get involved in every aspect of the track’s operations. The Academy, which launches during fall 2008, is a lengthier affair, covering an entire school year. Both join existing programs for students at the university level, and are key to the track’s goal of promoting youth activities and education, says Connie Nyholm, managing partner and member of the VIR ownership team. “We promote education heavily, so we started from the top down,” Nyholm says. “We’ve got two initiatives already with Virginia Tech and Old Dominion University, working with doctorate and master’s students. Now we’re going down the ladder into the schools with the academy and camp. We hope that this experience will be great for them, and that they’ll grow up into young racers.” Camp Motorsport’s pilot season was successful enough to earn it accreditation from the American Camp Association, and the feedback was great, says Diane Tyrrell, camp director.

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“The universal response is that this is the coolest thing anyone’s ever heard of,” Tyrrell says. “All we got was encouragement, so we’re going to continue to grow it.” In 2008 the camp will run for four weeks, expanding eventually to eight sessions. It can accommodate 80 campers at a time, who live in garages that have been converted to airconditioned dorms for the duration. The activities will be a blend of track-specific events and traditional camp staples. “One of the track’s owners, Harvey Siegel, had attended summer camp as a child, and this was a dream of his,” Tyrrell says. “This really is his Disneyland.” The Academy of Motorsports is like a ramped-up version of Camp Motorsport. Students will spend the mornings attending classes at the Carlisle School, where they will live, and then spend the remainder of the day at the raceway, says Ken Martin, project manager. “They’ll be attending an outstanding private school, and then have motor sports as their athletics selection, much like the way a golf or tennis academy operates,” Martin says. “There’s a wide assortment of things they’ll be doing: driving, simulator activities, going to race shops, seeing how cars are actually built and pit-crew type work.” Students also will delve into the off-track side of the business, exploring everything from marketing to advertising and securing sponsorships. – Joe Morris DA N V I L L E P I T T S Y LVA N I AC O . C O M

Health & Wellness

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Health & Wellness Danville Regional Medical Center recently opened its state-of-the-art cardiac-care unit on the sixth floor of its Landon R. Wyatt Jr. Tower. PHOTO BY TODD BENNETT

Experiencing Healthy Growth DANVILLE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER EXPANDS AND RENOVATES TO MEET EVOLVING NEEDS

f you bump into Danville Regional Medical Center CEO Jerel Humphrey and ask “What’s new?” be prepared for a lengthy chat. He has good reason. Not only is Humphrey himself new to Danville Regional, the hospital itself has been rolling out renovations and additional services at a dizzying pace. A renovated emergency department is just part of the $25 million the hospital has spent on improvements in the last couple of years, while at the same time expanding cutting-edge treatments and renewing relationships such as its cardiac surgery services agreement with

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the Duke Private Diagnostic Clinic at Danville Regional. All in all, it’s an exciting time at the hospital, Humphrey says. “There are many positive accomplishments taking place now, and I believe the improvements will continue,” he says. “The continuation of our cardiac surgery services agreement with Duke Private Diagnostic Clinic following a stringent quality assessment by Duke is a very important accomplishment. Dr. Richard Embrey’s arrival as the new Duke cardiac surgeon for our program is a true blessing for anyone who needs

open-heart surgery. His skills and talent are unprecedented in this region. And over the past year we’ve added several highly skilled physicians to our medical staff, as physician recruitment continues to be a major priority for us.” The Duke agreement, which now will run through June 2010, was announced only after Duke Heart Center staff did a full assessment of the operation, including a review of medical records, charts and clinical processes, as well as meeting with cardiologists and others to evaluate how well the partnership between the two entities was working. Danville Regional’s cardiac patients will also benefit from a new location on the sixth floor of the Landon R. Wyatt Jr. Tower. The 17,500-square-foot facility can serve 46 patients. The state-of-theart cardiac operation is just the latest in technology improvements, which include the addition of a new linear accelerator, 64-slice and 4-slice CT scanning equipment and updated anesthesia machines. The hospital also has added a new acute-care nursing unit, an addition to the Center for Radiation Oncology to make room for the new accelerator and new rooms for the scanners. It’s a long and comprehensive list, but the hospital is not done yet, or even close. For Humphrey, it’s about finding the right mix of services that will best suit the area’s needs, then making those happen. “We’re always looking for ways to improve our services,” he says. “That’s what we are here for – to provide the best health care in the region. With the help of our dedicated physicians, nurses and health-care professionals, along with the community’s continued support and encouragement, Danville Regional will continue to provide the Dan River Region with exceptional health-care services and programs.” – Joe Morris DA N V I L L E P I T T S Y LVA N I AC O . C O M

Health & Wellness

Take This Call! REVERSE 911 KEEPS RESIDENTS IN LOOP

hether it’s locating a missing person or evacuating a portion of the city, Danville’s new Reverse 911 system can be a vital tool. Purchased with Department of Homeland Security grant money, the system can be used to dial every registered telephone number within city limits, giving the callers information regarding any public-safety issue. Calls may also be placed to specific neighborhoods. Since becoming fully operational, the system already has been used to successfully find a missing man, but it won’t be put into service too frequently, says Doug Young, emergency services director. “We will be using it for emergencies, not general notifications, because we want to be selective,” Young says. “We’ll probably use it mostly in isolated areas, where you highlight the area you want to call. If we need to evacuate an area we can record a message, have those numbers called and when they pick up, they’ll hear what they need to do. If they have voice mail, a message will be left.” In addition, the system also can provide a number for residents to call and receive updates on whatever may be happening, and if evacuated, when they might expect to return home. Other applications include programming in targeted businesses or groups, such as pharmacies, if law enforcement requests aid in getting information out about counterfeit prescriptions or other citywide issues. – Joe Morris

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Image Gallery |

PHOTO BY IAN CURCIO

Main Street Bridge in Danville

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Image Gallery

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PHOTO BY TODD BENNETT

Danvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic Tobacco Warehouse District

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Image Gallery

The Perkinson Rose Garden at the Danville Museum of Art and History

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

Wrought-iron fence along Millionaires Row

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DA N V I L L E P I T T S Y LVA N I AC O . C O M

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Community Profile

DANVILLE AND PITTSYLVANIA CO. SNAPSHOT Danville and Pittsylvania County offer a host of simple pleasures and cultural opportunities. Danville is a place where the city’s “past decorates its neighborhoods and whose Main Street mansions are a spectacular display of Victorian architecture.”

CLIMATE Average January High Temperature, 45.4 F Average January Low Temperature, 23.2 F

Chatham Hall www.chathamhall.org 432-2941

National College www.national-college.edu 793-6822

Faith Christian Academy www.fcavirginia.com 324-8276

UTILITIES

Hargrave Military Academy www.hargrave.edu 432-2481

Average July High Temperature, 89.2 F

Sacred Heart School www.sheartschool.com 793-2656

Average July Low Temperature, 65.7 F

Seventh Day Adventist Elementary, 822-0356

Mean Annual Temperature, 52.0 F

Sylvan Learning Center www.educate.com/ centers/24540, 799-6900

Average Annual Rainfall, 34.7 inches Average Annual Snowfall, 3.30 inches

Westover Christian Academy www.westoverministries.org 822-0800

EDUCATION

Woodlawn Academy www.woodlawnacademy.net 432-9244

Public Schools Danville Public Schools http//:web.dps.k12.va.us 799-6400

Higher Education Averett University www.averett.edu 791-5600

Pittsylvania County Schools www.pcs.k12.va.us/public/ 793-1624, 432-2761, 656-6248

Danville Community College www.dcc.vccs.edu 797-2222

Private Schools Abundant Life Academy www.alwoc.org, 799-8542

DRMC School of Nursing www.danvilleregional.org 799-4510

Carlisle School www.carlisleschool.org (276) 632-7288

Institute for Advanced Learning & Research ww.ialr.org, 766-6700

Cable Comcast, (888) 266-2278 Chatmoss Cablevision 685-1521 Electricity American Electric Power (800) 956-4237 City of Danville, 799-5155 Dominion Virginia Power (888) 667-3000 Mecklenburg Electric 656-1288 Southside Electric (800) 552-2118 Natural Gas City of Danville, 799-5280 Columbia Gas of Virginia (800) 543-8911 Telephone EMBARQ, (276) 666-1200 Peoples Mutual Telephone 656-2291 Verizon, 954-6222 Water City of Danville, 799-5280 Pittsylvania County Service Authority, 836-7135 Town of Chatham, 432-8153

Industry Week magazine named Danville one of its Top 25 World-Class Communities out of 310 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas based on its recent manufacturing prowess.

The area code for Danville and Pit t sylvania Count y is 43 4 .

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WEDDINGS • BANQUETS • SPECIAL EVENTS WE CATER ANYWHERE

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Community Profile Town of Gretna, 656-6572 Town of Hurt, 324-4411

WILA Radio 792-2133

MEDICAL FACILITY

WDVA – Great Gospel 797-1250

Danville Regional Medical Center www.danvilleregional.org 799-2100

WKBY 432-8108 WMNA 432-4730

GOLF LIBRARIES Danville Public Library 799-5195 Danville Law Library, 799-5118 Danville Library-Westover 799-5152 Pittsylvania County Library 432-3271 Pittsylvania Library – Gretna 656-2579 Pittsylvania Library – Brosville-Cascade 685-1285

Ringgold Golf Club State Road 734 off U. S. 58 East, 822-8728 Caswell Pines Golf Club County Home Road off U.S. 86 South in Yanceyville, N.C., (910) 694-2255 Cedars Country Club Anderson Mill Road, Chatham 656-9909, open to the public on weekends

ATTRACTIONS

Pittsylvania Library – Mount Hermon, 835-0326

American Armoured Foundation Tank Museum 836-5323

MEDIA

Carrington Pavilion 797-8961

Newspapers Danville Register & Bee (daily) www.registerbee.com 793-2311

Cooper’s R/C Racecenter 724-7342

The Star-Tribune (weekly) www.chathamstartribune.com 432-2791 Television Stations WDBJ 7 www.wdbj7.com 799-1700 WGSR – Star 39 791-3440 WSET-TV Virginia’s 13, ABC www.wset.com, 797-9713 WSLS 10 www.wsls.com (540) 981-9126 Radio Stations News Radio 1330 WBTM www.wbtm1330.com 793-4411 WAKG FM 103.3 www.wakg.com 797-4290

Danville Association of Arts & Humanities 792-6965 Danville Braves 797-3792 Danville Concert Association, 792-9242 Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History, 793-5644 Danville Parks, Recreation & Tourism, 799-5200 Danville Pittsylvania County Fair Association, 822-6850 Danville Science Center 791-5160 Danville Symphony Orchestra, 799-0494 Danville Welcome Center 793-4636 Estelle H. Womack Museum of Natural History, 791-5160 Gretna Theatre, 656-3377

The area code for Danville and Pit t sylvania Count y is 43 4 .

The North Theatre, 792-2700 South Boston Speedway 572-4947 Tomahawk Mill Winery, 432-1063 Veteran’s Memorial Wall & Walkway, 793-0884 VIRginia International Raceway, (888) RACE-099 Virginia Museum of Natural History, (276) 634-4141

NUMBERS TO KNOW City of Danville, 799-5100 Pittsylvania Co., 432-7700 Town of Chatham, 432-9515 Town of Gretna, 656-6572 Town of Hurt, 324-4411 Animal Information Animal Control – Pittsylvania County, 432-7937 Dog Licenses – Danville 799-5140 Humane Society, 799-0843 Building Codes/Permits City of Danville, 799-5261 Pittsylvania County, 432-7755 Garbage Collection City of Danville, 799-5245 First Piedmont Corp. 432-0211 Police (Non-Emergencies) Chatham Police Department 432-9515 Danville Police Department 799-5111 Danville Sheriff’s Office 799-5135 Gretna Police Department 656-6123 Hurt Police Department 324-8511 Pittsylvania County Sheriff 432-7800 Virginia State Police (800) 553-3144 Voter Registration Danville, 799-6560 Pittsylvania County 432-7971

DA N V I L L E P I T T S Y LVA N I AC O . C O M

Community Profile

September

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

August 1

FRIDAY AT THE CROSSING Carrington Pavilion at the Crossing at the Dan, 793-4636 www.visitdanville.com 8, 9

SHRIMP FEST Danville Community Market 836-6990 5

FRIDAY AT THE CROSSING Carrington Pavilion at the Crossing at the Dan, 793-4636 www.visitdanville.com

RODEO AT DANVILLEPITTSYLVANIA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

19-27

DANVILLE HALF MARATHON & RIVER CITY 5K RUN/WALK

822-6850 www.dpcfairgrounds.com

797-8470 www.danvillehalfmarathon.com

FAIR AT DANVILLE PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 822-6850 www.dpcfairgrounds.com 27

SORGHUM FESTIVAL AT CLIMAX 432-9679

October 3

FRIDAY AT THE CROSSING Carrington Pavilion at the Crossing at the Dan 793-4636 www.visitdanville.com 4

CALLANDS AUTUMN POTPOURRI FESTIVAL

GRETNA OLD TIMERS’ JUBILEE 18

DANVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA George Washington High School Auditorium www.danvillesymphony.net

DA N V I L L E P I T T S Y LVA N I AC O . C O M

DA N V I L L E

BRIGHT LEAF BREW FEST Danville Community Market 793-4636 www.visitdanville.com

November 1

AAF TANK MUSEUM CAR SHOW 836-5323 www.aaftankmuseum.com

December

5-6

CHRISTMAS IN HISTORIC CHATHAM 432-7721 6

CHATHAM CHRISTMAS PARADE 432-4221 13

RIVERVIEW ROTARY’S CHRISTMAS PARADE 793-4636 www.visitdanville.com 13

DANVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA George Washington High School Auditorium www.danvillesymphony.net

Can you imagine … a world without children?

We Can’t. Call 1-800-996-4100 to help. www.stjude.org

GRETNA CHRISTMAS PARADE The area code for Danville and Pit t sylvania Count y is 43 4 .

DA N V I L L E P I T T S Y LVA N I AC O . C O M

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June 5

Visit Our Advertisers

FRIDAY AT THE CROSSING

Abercrombie Oil Company Inc. www.abercrombieoil.com

Johnson CPA PLLC

Allstate – R. David Wrenn www.allstate.com/davidwrenn

Loyalton of Danville

Carrington Pavilion at the Crossing at the Dan 793-4636 www.visitdanville.com

July 3

FRIDAY AT THE CROSSING

communities/default.aspx/loyalton

New College Institute

Bankers Insurance

Ofﬁce Plus Business Centre

Ben David Jewelers www.bendavidjewelers.com

Coldwell Banker – Johnson Realty of Virginia www.cbjrealty.net

Anglers’ Ridge 793-4636 www.visitdanville.com

Carrington Pavilion The Crossing at the Dan 793-4636 www.visitdanville.com

www.newcollegeinstitute.org

www.opbizz.com

Piedmont Health & Wellness

Pittsylvania County Economic Development www.pittced.com

Daly Seven www.dalysevenhotels.com

Prudential Manasco Realty

Danville Community College www.dcc.vccs.edu

ServiceMaster

4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

www.emeritus.com/locations/

American National Bank & Trust Company www.amnb.com

Carrington Pavilion at the Crossing at the Dan 793-4636 www.visitdanville.com

PATRIOT CHALLENGE 5K, 10K, WALK, KIDS FUN RUN

www.cpa-johnson.com

www.manasco.com

Commercial Cleaning www.4servicemaster.com/va/5325

Danville Economic Development www.discoverdanville.com SIPS of America Inc. www.sipsofamerica.com Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce www.dpchamber.org

State Farm – Terry Blakely www.terryblakely.net

Danville Regional Medical Center www.danvilleregional.com

Stratford Courtyard Conference Centers www.courtyardconference

Danville Surgical Center Inc. Dewberry www.dewberry.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce 8653 U.S. Highway 29 P.O. Box 99 Blairs, VA 24527 Phone: (434) 836-6990 Fax: (434) 836-6955

Eagle Pointe Shores www.eaglepointeshores.com

Stratford House www.stratfordhouse.com

URW Community Federal Credit Union www.urwfcu.org

EV Enterprises www.eve-inc.com

Virginia International Raceway www.virclub.com

First State Bank www.eﬁrststatebank.com

Virginia Museum of Natural History www.vmnh.net

www.dpchamber.org chamber@dpchamber.org

Goodyear www.goodyear.com

Sources:

Institute for Advanced Learning & Research www.ialr.org

www.dpchamber.org, www.visitdanville.com

centers.com

Virginia Uranium Inc. www.virginiauranium.com

The area code for Danville and Pit t sylvania Count y is 43 4 .

Wilkins & Company Realtors www.wilkinsandco.com

DA N V I L L E P I T T S Y LVA N I AC O . C O M

In Danville, Virginia We Have A Place For You â&#x20AC;Ś

… To Work: Attracting over $800 million in investment from both foreign and domestic companies over the past four years, Danville, VA has announced 7,000 new jobs to the area. With a diverse economy that includes career opportunities in research, technology, advanced manufacturing, retail, health care and education, we have a place for you to work. In addition, for those who may be considering a new career path, there are numerous programs available for industry speciﬁc job training such as: • Customized Pre-Employment Job Training through Danville Community College • Screening and placement services through the Virginia Employment Commission Job Service Program • On-the-job training/youth summer employment

… To Play: Danville is a great place to play and have fun getting away from the everyday hustle and bustle. Maybe you want to relax by fishing in the Dan River or strolling down the Riverwalk Trail. If biking is your forte, we have seven and a half miles of multiuse trail and 15 miles of dirt, mountain bike trails that will surely impress you. Danville has a place for you to play including 10 recreation centers totaling 120,710 square feet, 24 playgrounds, 26 athletic fields and 475 park acres, and five rugby fields, all beautifully maintained. Danville Parks, Recreation and Tourism offers diverse programs for all ages from preschoolers to senior citizens, from basket weaving to belly dancing. Children of all ages will find a summer camp designed especially for them. Everyone will enjoy our special events such as the Festival in the Park, the Summer Movies in the Park series and many more. However you like to play, you will find it in Danville, VA.

The people whose job it is to know, know Danville, Virginia: “Top ﬁve micro cities.” -fDi Magazine “Top 10 metros

… To Learn: Danville Public Schools is preparing the youth of today for their entry into society. With a new emphasis on technology, we have a place for you to learn to be competitive in this new future, to develop and master literacy and numeracy skills, and become a life-long learner. Danville Public Schools is preparing future generations by focusing more on skill development and less on memorization of rote facts and by integrating technology and project-based learning into daily classroom instruction. Activities such as robotics, theater arts, chorus, band, athletics and ﬁne arts contribute to student’s abilities to integrate knowledge. Community-based learning offers students the opportunity to grow into individuals who can work together for the greater good. You can even get an International Baccalaureate Degree at Galileo Magnet High School, voted among the top 5% of America’s public high schools by U.S. News & World Report.

… To Visit: Danville is known for its hospitality. In Danville, VA we have a place for you to visit, and you may ﬁnd you want to stay forever. The southern hospitality will capture your attention, but what will keep you wanting more is the vast history, beautiful architecture and variety of entertainment. Danville is the home of the last capitol of the Confederacy, the wreck of the Old 97 and many museums and attractions. You will always discover something to do in Danville. Visit the Crossing at the Dan that encompasses the Carrington Pavilion, Farmers Market and Danville Science Museum. The Carrington Pavilion hosts nationally known artists for the Harvest Jubilee Concert Series and local bands at Fridays at the Crossing. The Farmers Market is open every Saturday morning from May through October to offer you the best and freshest local produce, as well as baked goods and unique gift items. Also, you will want to catch a Danville Braves game for great rookie league baseball action. Danville is sure to capture your attention from the beginning to the end, making you a fan for life. We have a place for you to visit – often!

… To Live: Nestled along the banks of the Dan River, the term “southern hospitality” has real meaning here. In Danville, VA you will discover a relaxed pace and very comfortable cost of living. Danville’s rich cultural heritage has fostered several museums, a symphony orchestra, and various performing and visual arts series, providing ample opportunities for cultural activities. The moderate climate with four distinct seasonal changes makes it easy to enjoy the many outdoor activities and venues. We have a place for you to live, whether you prefer a downtown loft apartment, a Guilded Age mansion, a home in the suburbs, on a golf course or an elegant retirement village.

Discover your place in Danville, Virginia!

under 200,000.” -Site Selection “Top 15 for corporate investment.” -Trade & Industry Development “Top 25 worldclass communities.” -Industry Week “Best state for business” -www.Forbes.com “National ﬁnalist Excellence in Innovation Award” -US Dept. of Commerce Economic Development Administration “Top 10 Comeback Kids” -Southern Business Development