SURRY LIVING MAGAZINE
PO Box 125
Low Gap, NC 27024
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Alleghany Chamber of Commerce, Page 30
Anderson Audiology, Page 10
Blue Mountain Herbs & Supplements, Page 29
Camper & Mobile Home Supply, Page 12
Cook Insurance Group, Page 10
Cooke Rentals, Page 29
Countryside RV, Page 7
Creek Bottom Brewing, Page 31
The Derby, Page 15
Farmer's Mulch & Rock, Page 13
Friendly Heating & Cooling, Inc., Page 5
Galax Tourism Office, Page 20
Haymore Construction Swimming Pools, Page 13
Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital, Pages 2, 11
Johnson's Xtreme Softwash, Page 26
Keswick Candle Company, Page 28
Laurel Oak Farm Rentals, Page 23
Main Street Market, Page 25
The Martha Bassett Show, Page 28
Mount Airy Equipment, Page 3
Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, Page 10
Mullins Pawn Shop & Jewelers, Page 13
NC Cooperative Extension, Page 25
Northern Regional Hospital, Pages 17, 32
Ridgecrest Retirement, Page 26
Roy's Diamonds, Page 10
Royster & Royster Attorneys at Law, Page 7
Shelton Vineyards, Page 27
Stuart Beach Music Festival, Page 30
Surry Communications, Page 14
Ted Benbow - Mossy Oak Properties, Page 31
Waterlily Wellness, Page 7
Welcome Home Decor & Gifts, Page 28
22 The Sweet &
24 Carmen Long:
26 Area Events: Note: All events are subject to being canceled or postponed. We recommend visiting visitmayberry.com/ and the other area venue specific websites for the most upto-date and accurate event schedules and ticketing information.
Vie is the Associate Editor of Surry Living Magazine. Her professional affiliations include: Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network. American Christian Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and more. She is a certified member of the Christian Editor’s Connection (CEC).
Vie has been published in magazines, collections, and co-authored or ghosted several nonfiction books.
Martha is a singer/songwriter/guitarist living and working in the Piedmont. She hosts The Martha Bassett Show, a twicemonthly musical variety show at Elkin’s Reeves Theater. Past shows are featured Saturday evenings on NPR station, 88.5 WFDD. On Wednesday nights she leads music at Roots Revival, an Americana worship service at Winston’s Centenary UMC that explores the intersection of faith and secular music. She's also a longtime scholar of the music of the Shakers. Martha has released 11 records and plays throughout the region and nation. Get more info at marthabassettshow.com.
Sheri grew up in Mt. Airy, NC, and lives thereabouts with her husband. Together they run a couple of small businesses and plan their next vacation. A graduate of High Point University, her first job was as a writer at a marketing firm—and she’s been scribbling ever since. Sheri has several suspense novels in publication and Surry Living was proud to include sequential excerpts from one of her books in each issue from spring 2018 thru early 2021.
Rynn is a writer and designer based in the Yadkin Valley region of North Carolina. She loves to share her ideas for adding simple beauty into hectic lifestyles. More than mere recipes, her mission is to offer practical shortcuts for food preparation along with visual tips for presentation. Rynn began her career in Aiken, SC, as a newspaper reporter writing feature articles about food, living, and the arts. For more about Rynn, even more recipes, decorating tips, and much more, visit thehouseofelynryn.com
Carmen is an NC Cooperative Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. Making quick, easy, healthy food that tastes great on a budget is a challenge. Carmen and her husband have two grown children, both of whom were involved in sports from grade school thru college. With busy careers and lots of time at sporting events, coming up with quick, healthy meals was a necessity. Carmen shares ideas and recipes to make this tough job a bit easier.
Joanna is the County Extension Director for NC Cooperative Extension in Surry County as well as the Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent with expertise in entomology, gardening, and pesticide education. Joanna began her career with NC Cooperative Extension in Stokes County in 1995 as a 4-H Agent, later switching to Field Crops and Pesticide Education in Surry County. She lives on a farm with her husband and two teenage daughters.
Sarah grew up at Crooked Oak in the Pine Ridge community of Surry County. Raised in the agriculture world, she went on to earn degrees in animal science and veterinary medicine from North Carolina State University. She and her husband, Adam, currently live in Statesville with Oliver the house rabbit, a few cats, Blossom the donkey, and a flock of Katahdin hair sheep.
Larry is the Executive Editor of Surry Living Magazine and Creative Director at Vivid Graphics in Galax, VA. He has 30+ years experience as a writer, graphic designer, and commercial photographer. Larry and wife, Trina, have four wonderful, grown children, one awesome grandson (so far!), and they reside on a small farm just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Grayson County, VA.
In the beginning it was all good. Very good.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. (Gen. 1:31a NIV)
But I am lost.
Or broken.
Is that the same thing?
I struggle to distinguish between them. Which am I?
I have always felt broken. Then someone said not only broken, lost.
Which is it?
I look around to see where I am. Am I really lost?
Maybe lost is not just being in an unknown location, but a state of being. Like the empty cistern that can no longer hold water, I am unable to fulfill my purpose. Broken and poured out. Purpose lost. Position lost. Usefulness lost. Wholeness lost. Confidence lost. Broken.
I appear to be whole, yet there is an unseen “hole” in me. A deep wound.
I think I have been broken for a long, long time. Sometime in my youth maybe, when the world was still full of promise and hope. It was sometime then that I awoke broken.
What broke me? I do not remember. Like the man who while working, discovered he had a bleeding wound with no idea of the cause. Broken, poured out.
I tried and tried to fix myself, but I remained broken, all hope lost.
Then a friend told me that Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, to save the lost.
by Larry VanHooseThe Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 NIV)
They said he came to find the lost, to heal the broken, and to give prisoners freedom.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners , to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
Isaiah 61: 1-2a (NIV)
It is not just me; everything is broken. The whole world is broken. Look and see. A broken cistern. A hole in the heart. The lifeblood of this world rushes out while its inhabitants ignore or numb themselves to their broken condition. There is a temptation to lose all hope and fall into despair.
But despair not – there is good news!
Because of God’s love for his creation, his children, Jesus came to save it – me – you.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10 NIV)
And,
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18 NIV)
Don’t stay broken.
The Lord is near to all who call on him…
It's true — Surry Living magazine is for sale! After five plus years of pouring their hearts into this fun and rewarding adventure, several significant changes have occurred in the current owners' other professional endeavors. Because of these new demands on that ever-so-limited supply called time, the owners of SLM have had to make the difficult, even heartbreaking decision to put their "labor of love" on the market.
If you have interest in magazine publishing or maybe just thought of having an outlet for your own creative juices, this might be just the opportunity you have been dreaming about! For more information, contact co-owner Larry VanHoose at larry@surryliving.com or message him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SurryLiving.
At SLM, we look forward to helping the new owners to grow and flourish while hopefully continuing to bring this fun and inspiring regional lifestyle publication to the Surry County area for years to come!
by Joanna Radford
Soon the notorious “hanging bag” will be seen on Leyland cypress trees. These bagworms are found throughout North Carolina and have a very wide host range of our most common ornamental plant species but are usually associated with arborvitae (evergreen from the cypress family) or juniper. A single bagworm does relatively little harm as it feeds on leaves, but we seldom see a single bagworm. Excessive defoliation is possible with numerous worms and could result in death of the tree within one or two seasons.
Damage is most noticeable in landscapes rather than woodlands. Prior to pupating, bagworms attach their bag to a twig with a silk band. Occasionally this band girdles the twig as the twig enlarges.
The larvae are expected to hatch in May and June. The young then spin down on silken threads that are blown about by early spring breezes. Most of the larvae land on the original host plant, but some small worms may be "ballooned" for some distance on the silk thread. Once they reach a suitable host, the worm begins to spin its bag and as it grows, it incorporates some of the host plant foliage into the bag for camouflage. Because of this, the bagworms may go unnoticed for quite some time.
As the bagworms grows, it enlarges the bag and adds fresh plant material to the outside. In August, the worms mature and molt into the pupal stage. During August and September, male moths
emerge from their bags to mate. After mating, females have been known to lay up to 1,000 eggs inside their bag before they die.
When the newly hatched larvae reach a plant which is different from its parents' host plant, these insects often have difficulty in adapting to it and may die or may produce only a few offspring. After several years of struggling to keep from going extinct, the population may hit on the right combination of genes for the new plant and suddenly that plant is covered with bagworms.
Homeowners can integrate various pest management techniques to help control bagworms in their landscape. Plant less susceptible plant species if bagworms are common. Bags can be removed by hand or by pruning off branches. This can be done any time a bag is visible. However, the biggest impact is in the fall and winter since each bag could contain 1,000 eggs at that time of year. Parasitic wasps could be purchased and released in the landscape. This natural parasitism and predation may help to keep populations low. Lastly, chemical control may be an option. Insecticides labeled for caterpillar management may be used. They will not be effective if the worms are in the bags. Each bag acts as a protector and is waterproof against chemicals applied to the bag itself. However, control can be seen with insecticides that kill when ingested by the bagworm.
The best time for chemical bagworm control is late May or early June. The caterpillars are very small and susceptible to insecticides. For specific control recommendations contact your local North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
by Sarah Southard, DVM
Last November, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Division reported that a horse in Surry County had tested positive for equine infectious anemia. This was the first confirmed case of EIA in North Carolina since 2017. At that time, a second horse in Henderson County was awaiting confirmatory testing results. As of the first week of February 2023, a total of 19 horses in 9 different counties across North Carolina have tested positive. Seventeen of those have been euthanized. The majority of positive cases in this outbreak have been associated with unsanctioned horse racing.
Equine infectious anemia is a blood-borne viral disease that affects horses, donkeys, and mules. It is spread from animal to animal by biting and bloodsucking insects such as horse flies and deer flies. Transmission can also happen via reusing any blood-contaminated needles, surgical instruments, dental floats, bridle bits, or other tools. There is no treatment or cure for EIA and no preventative vaccine is available.
Diagnosis is made by a blood test that looks for antibodies specific to the disease. The test was developed in the early 1970s by veterinarian Dr. Leroy Coggins, hence the “Coggins test,” as it is most commonly known. Written proof of a recent (usually defined as within one year) negative Coggins test is required by all properly operating equine sales, shows, and sporting events in the state. Folks who are purchasing horses, donkeys, or mules via private treaty rather than public sale should also require written proof of the same prior to transfer of the animal. Equines should not cross state lines for any reason without a negative Coggins test result prior to transport. The USDA requires that an official Coggins form accompany every blood sample submitted; a copy of this form should also accompany any equine for intra- or interstate travel.
North Carolina’s equine infectious anemia control program allows for one of three options for equines that are confirmed to be infected: immediate euthanasia; permanent identification by freeze-branding or lip tattoo and isolation to the home farm for the remainder of the animal’s life; or transportation under written permit directly to slaughter. Any equine that has been exposed to EIA is tested immediately, quarantined for 60 days, and retested. Upon a second negative result, the quarantine is lifted.
Spring is a great time to get outside with your horse for some camping, trail riding, or other eventing! Do it as safely as possible. Strengthen your farm’s fly control program. Be certain not to use any tools or instruments that are contaminated with blood from other equines. Contact your primary care veterinarian to have your animal’s Coggins updated, and be sure that any equine facilities or events you are attending with your animal require a negative Coggins result for all equines prior to admission.
I’d like to tell you about a big adventure that I had last fall going to a music festival. To give context, early in the Covid pandemic, I decided to spend my quarantine time learning Bossa Nova guitar and Brazilian Portuguese. I put together a Bossa band and worked up a couple of hours of music, and these songs have become a big part of what I do. I’ve always loved Brazilian music, and now it’s mostly what I listen to. I’m not as knowledgeable as a native, but I have my favorites. One of them is Chico César.
I waited impatiently for international travel restrictions to be lifted, and finally booked a trip to Rio de Janeiro in November of 2022. Before the trip, I watched Chico’s website to see if he’d be performing in Rio. To my delight, he was scheduled at a festival two hours outside of the city in the rural town of Itaipava. I booked a hotel room for the weekend and a bus ticket out of Rio.
Three days after arriving in Rio, I caught an Uber to the bus station. My language skills were pretty basic, and folks down there don’t generally speak English. Everything I attempted was a challenge, from buying groceries to switching the SIM card in my cell phone to navigating the metro system. I wasn’t prepared for the enormity of the bus station, and it took me a long time to find the line for my bus. When I did, I learned that I had misread the ticket (still not fluent!) and had missed my bus. A good Samaritan named Wagner (who didn’t speak English) helped me navigate getting on another bus and even changing buses halfway there. Using Google Translate, he told me to walk to a nearby restaurant, owned by his brother-in-law, to call an Uber to get me to my hotel. So I got off the bus on the side of the highway after dark and walked across a field past a police station until I found the restaurant. I did what I was told, and wondered how I ever would have figured that out on my own.
The next morning, I caught an Uber with two other women at the hotel who were also going to Rock the Mountain, a festival that happens every spring and fall (November being spring in Brazil). Marina and Mariana adopted me for the
weekend and made sure I heard all the best music. They spoke a little English, and I spoke a little Portuguese, and we bonded over music and beer. When Chico César performed, I was right up front singing along. During the evening hours, the crowds were so dense that I couldn’t even raise my arms. To dance, you had to stay so far back that it was difficult to see the stage, but the stages had video monitors on each side showing the concert and a person doing sign language of the songs. There were no chairs. If you wanted to sit, you put a blanket on the ground.
In many ways, Rock the Mountain was just like any American music festival: great people-watching, multiple stages, a variety of music, food tents, zip lines, even a Ferris wheel. But the main difference was how the audiences sang along and knew the words to all the songs of every artist. Whether the music was new or old, the crowd sang, sometimes so loudly that I couldn’t hear the artist!
When I got back to the city, I went out to hear music almost every night, mostly samba and jazz. The audiences always sang. People were friendly, and when they found out I was American, they’d invite me to other concerts and follow me on Instagram. Many still keep in touch. I can’t wait to go back! So, Americans, when you find yourself at your favorite music festival this year, don’t be afraid to sing out loud. The artists will be honored that you know the words!
a department of Northern Regional Hospital
Ashley M. Bryant, FNP-C, has joined the clinical provider team of Northern Family Medicine, the rapidly growing division of Northern Regional Hospital where specialty physicians and nurse practitioners diagnose and treat patients of all ages, from newborns to seniors.
“Becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner permits me to offer patients a seamless continuum of care throughout their lifespan,” said Bryant, whose clinical experience includes 16 years of critical-care nursing -- with most of those years at Northern Regional Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “Compassion, effective listening, and communication are of utmost importance in my care of patients,” she emphasized.
“We welcome the addition of Ashley Bryant to our topnotch clinical team,” said Richard Herber, MD, in announcing her appointment to Northern Family Medicine. “Ashley’s demonstrated patient-care expertise and her familiarity with the Northern Regional Hospital family make her an effective and committed member of our provider team.”
Born and raised in Mount Airy, NC, 37-year-old Bryant launched her nursing career by graduating in 2006 with an Associate Degree in Nursing from Surry Community College. She subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 2011 from Winston-Salem State University. Bryant’s decision to pursue nursing was inspired, in part, by the healthcare-career choices of her maternal grandmother and mother – who chose to work as a nurse and medical technologist, respectively. “I was raised in the Northern family, as my mom has worked here for over 40 years.” Bryant’s mother, Kim Cheek, currently serves as Director of Laboratory Services at Northern Regional Hospital.
Bryant’s extensive work experience as a critical-care nurse began when she was assigned to the ICU at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Two years later, she joined Northern’s ICU – where, for the past 14 years, she cared for very ill patients.
Bryant’s desire to transition from inpatient critical-care nursing to the outpatient nature of family medicine was fueled by her observation of the progression of her father’s own chronic illness. “My dad was a diabetic who, very sadly, passed away from complications of the disease,” she says. “It was during that time I realized I wanted to make a difference in patients’ lives before they required hospitalization.” To that end, Bryant enrolled in Western Carolina University and graduated with honors in 2022 from the Master of Science in Nursing – Family Medicine Practitioner program.
Bryant is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau honor society of nurses. She is certified in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Advanced Stroke Life Support, and Management of Aggressive Behavior Training.
Bryant is grateful for the support provided by Northern Regional Hospital during her specialty transition. “I’ve been at Northern for 15 years, and the Hospital’s leadership team and my own colleagues have always been encouraging as far as advancing my education and even changing career paths,” she said. “The Hospital offers many professional development programs and wants to see their employees succeed.”
To make an appointment call Northern Family Medicine at 336-786-4133 or visit choosenorthern.org/family-medicine
Let me confess here: attending a music festival had not been a priority for most of my life. Last year, however, when MerleFest rolled around, my favorite band was performing, my husband was fishing, good friends from Tennessee would be there, and so it seemed the perfect time for me to scoot over to Wilkesboro and see what the fuss was all about. Here’s what I learned—
By the time you read this, the four-day pass for MerleFest may very well be sold out. You should still be able to purchase a day pass for Thursday and/or Friday, which was what I did. The event was extremely well organized, and I found free parking and shuttle to and from the gate to be a breeze on those less crowded days. While I dressed comfortably and was prepared for a lot of walking, you can arrange for a lift on a golf cart around the campus if needed. Instead of opting for reserved seating at the Watson stage, I arrived early on Thursday and planted my lightweight chair underneath a shade tree, with a festival blanket beside me to hold space for my friends who arrived later. Even though I was far from the Watson stage, the exceptional sound system and large screens provided an excellent experience. On Friday, again, I arrived early, found a shade tree near the Americana stage for home base, and ventured from there to a few of the other stages throughout the day. My chair and cooler remained unmolested all day. Yes, there were many more people in attendance on Friday, but because we were scattered among twelve stages on the large campus, it never felt crowded. By the time I left before sunset, the crowds were flocking in for the night’s headliners, so do keep that in mind when you attend MerleFest.
Before I list upcoming festivals in our region and beyond, let me tell you a trick. I happened to notice that Nickel Creek, a band that has recently returned to the scene after several years’ hiatus, will be at both MerleFest and Bristol Rhythm and Roots. For the fun of it, I went to Nickel Creek’s website and behold, I discovered
a festival in Chattanooga, a reasonably short journey away. You might try this trick with a band that you follow to find festivals. Here we go; by no means a comprehensive list, but I think it’s pretty cool to see so many music festivals only a short drive away—
April 27-30 MerleFest On the campus of Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, NC. Headliners include The Avett Brothers, Maren Morris, and Little Feat.
April 28-30 Bear Shadow Americana music at Winfield Farm, Highlands, NC. Musicians include The Head and the Heart, Jason Isbell, and Amythyst Kiah.
May 5-6 Breakaway Spring Carolina at the Z-Max Dragway, Charlotte Motor Speedway. Headliners include Illenium and Zedd.
May 19-20 Beaufort Music Festival Gallants Channel Waterfront Venue, Beaufort, NC. Musicians include Grace Potter and Andy Frasco & the U.N.
June 2-3 Mt. Airy Blue Grass and Old-Time Fiddlers
Convention Veterans Memorial Park, Mt. Airy. Competitions, jam sessions, and family entertainment.
June 23-25 Red Wing Roots Music Festival Natural Chimneys State Park, Mt. Solon, VA. My favorite band, The Steel Wheels, presents this annual, well-organized event. Performers include Old Crow Medicine Show, Sierra Ferrell, and Watchhouse.
July 26-30 FloydFest No longer held on the Parkway, now at their new site in Check, VA. Musicians include The Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow, and My Morning Jacket.
August 4-5 Reevestock Hidden Amphitheater, Elkin. The lineup has not yet been published. Past performers include Time Sawyer and Stillhouse Junkies.
August 7-12 Old Fiddlers Convention Felts Park, Galax, VA. Competitions and family fun.
September 1-3 Earl Scruggs Music Festival Mill Spring, NC. Past musicians include Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Molly Tuttle.
September 2-3 John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival High Point, NC. A festival spokesperson told me that the lineup is being finalized. Past performers include Patti LaBelle and Christian McBride.
September 7-9 Hopscotch Festival downtown Raleigh. As many as 450 bands may participate. Past musicians include Amythyst Kiah and Charley Crockett.
September 8-10 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival downtown Bristol TN/VA. Headliners include Nickel Creek, Margo Price, and The Mavericks.
September 9-10 Moon River Coolidge Park, Chattanooga, TN. Presented by Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors. Musicians include Caamp, Houndmouth, Hozier, and Larkin Poe.
October 19-21 Bluegrass Island Manteo, NC. Lineup includes Sam Bush, The Steeldrivers, and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage.
While sitting under the shade tree at MerleFest, I eavesdropped on nearby conversations. I discovered that people had come from all over the country – most had attended in previous years, and I witnessed mini reunions all around me. I found nearly every person to be friendly, in good humor, and ready with directions or advice. So go ahead! Choose a festival, listen to good music, find a new favorite band, and who knows? You may meet a new best friend!
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The following is the festival event information that we have as of press time. Be sure to check each event's website for up-to-the-minute information on postponements, cancellations, restrictions, and entry requirements. While this list may not include all the music events for 2023, we believe it does include the larger festival and events in the area. We hope you find it helpful!
APRIL
BIG LICK BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
April 20 – 22
Big Lick Festival Park
640 South Oak Ridge Rd. (Hwy 205)
Oakboro, NC – www.biglickbluegrass.com
BEAR SHADOW AMERICANA
April 28 – 30
Winfield Farm
250 Winfield Farm Road
Scaly Mountain, NC – www.bearshadownc.com/
MERLEFEST 2022
Thu, Apr 27 – 30
Wilkes Community College, 1328 S Collegiate Dr
Wilkesboro, NC – www.merlefest.org
MAY
BREAKAWAY SPRING CAROLINA
May 5–6
Zmax Dragway At Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte, NC – breakawayfestival.com/spring-carolina
BUDBREAK WINE & CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL
May 6, Noon till 5:00 PM
Downtown Mount Airy
Mt. Airy, NC – www.budbreakfestival.com
THE CHEERWINE FESTIVAL
May 20, Noon to 10:00 PM
Downtown Salisbury, NC – cheerwine.com/festival/
CAROLINA BLUES FESTIVAL
May 20
Lebauer Park
Downtown Greensboro, NC – www.piedmontblues.org
ROOSTERWALK
May 25 – 28
Pop’s Farm
Martinsville, VA – www.roosterwalk.com
JUNE
MOUNT AIRY BLUEGRASS AND OLD-TIME
FIDDLERS’ CONVENTION
June 2-3
Veterans Memorial Park, 691 W Lebanon St
Mt Airy, NC – www.mountairyfiddlersconvention.com/
BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL - STUART VIRGINIA
June 8 – 10 (see ad page 30)
332 Wayside Park Rd
Stuart, VA. – www.beachfestival.com
WAYNE C. HENDERSON MUSIC FESTIVAL AND GUITAR COMPETITION
June 17
Grayson Highlands State Park
Mouth of Wilson, VA – www.waynehenderson.org
RED WING ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL
June 23 – 25
94 Natural Chimney Lane
Mt. Solon, VA – www.redwingroots.com
GO WITH THE FLOW MUSIC AND BREW FEST
June 24, 12 noon till 8:00 PM (see ad page 31)
Fries Park
Anderson Street
Fries, VA – www.flowbrewfest.com
JULY
SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN
July 21-22
Downtown Galax
Galax, VA – smokeonthemountainva.com
FLOYDFEST
July 26-30
5826 Floyd Highway North
Check, VA – www.floydfest.com
AUGUST ♬ ♭ ♫ W
REEVESTOCK
August 4-5
Elkin's Hidden Amphitheatre and The Reeves Theater
Elkin, NC – www.reevestock.com
THE 87TH OLD FIDDLER’S CONVENTION
August 7-12 (see ad page 20)
Felts Park
Galax, VA – www.oldfiddlersconvention.com
FRONT PORCH FEST
August 31–Sept. 3
677 Spirithaven Lane
Stuart, VA – www.frontporchfest.com/
EARL SCRUGGS MUSIC FESTIVAL
September 1–3
Tryon International Equestrian Center
25 International Boulevard
Mill Spring, NC – www.earlscruggsmusicfest.com
HAPPY VALLEY FIDDLERS CONVENTION
September 1–3
3590 NC-268 (Jones Farm)
Lenoir, NC – www.happyvalleyfiddlers.org
JOHN COLTRANE INTL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL
September 2–3
High Point, NC – coltranejazzfest.com
BRISTOL RHYTHM & ROOTS REUNION
September 8–10
416 State Street
Bristol, TN – www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org
NC FOLK FESTIVAL
September 8–10
200 N. Davie Street
Greensboro, NC – www.ncfolkfestival.com
When you add the dry ingredients to the batter – one of the last steps in this recipe – be sure not to over-stir it. Overstirring causes gluten to develop, making bread dense and chewy. And while that is desirable in some things like a pizza crust, it is not something you want in this bread. The texture of black cherry almond bread should be soft and tender. When you add the dry ingredients, stir to moisten the batter–and no more.
• Use fresh or thawed black cherries.
• Toss the sliced cherries in flour.
• The flour helps to keep the cherries from sinking to the bottom of the loaf.
• Mix the batter, but don’t overmix.
• Add the almonds and cherries to the batter.
• Stir the batter as little as possible to mix it.
This recipe uses sour cream to help keep the bread moist after baking. It is one of my favorite ingredients for cake mixes, sweet bread, and cornbread. However, always bring it to room temperature before adding it to baked goods because cold ingredients can affect the baking time.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Passive Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 9 one-inch slices
Black cherry almond bread, with fresh black cherries and almond glaze, is perfect for breakfast, snack time, or as dessert, and it would be a delicious addition to your picnic basket when attending music festivals.
The cherries add pops of color to the sliced bread, while sour cream and buttermilk provide a tender texture, and almond extract provides a sweet almond flavor. It also has crunchy almond pieces and is topped with a buttery sweet glaze poured on the finished loaf. Enjoy this bread either warm or at room temperature.
You can use fresh or frozen, plain black cherries for this recipe. If using frozen cherries, let them thaw before adding them to the batter. Also, rough chop the cherries to make smaller pieces for eating. Fruit added to batters will sometimes sink to the bottom. You can help prevent this by tossing the cut fruit into flour. This coating helps keep the fruit afloat so that the cooked bread will have cherries from the top to the bottom of the loaf.
Ingredients
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup salted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
• 1/2 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 1 heaping cup fresh black cherries, pitted (or frozen, thaw before using)
• 1/2 cup almonds, sliced or slivered
• 1 9x5-inch loaf pan
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon cream
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the pan with butter.
2. Mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and soda in a mediumsized bowl.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugars, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth and creamy. Blend in the eggs, one at a time. Stir in the sour cream. Add the flour mixture and buttermilk, alternating between them, ending with the flour.
4. Rough chop the cherries. Place them into a small bowl; sprinkle 1 tablespoon of flour over them and stir to coat all the cherries.
5. Stir the cherries and almonds into the batter. Stir just until they are incorporated. Do not overmix the batter.
6. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the bread is brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean or with crumbs. Check the bread after 35 minutes. If it is brown enough, place a
sheet of aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray over the top to prevent further browning. After baking, cool the bread in the pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife between the sides of the bread and the pan. Turn out on a cooling rack.
Directions for Almond Glaze
1. Place all of the ingredients into a bowl. Stir until smooth. If too thick, add more cream.
2. Drizzle over the cooled bread.
Dusting the chopped cherries with flour will keep them from sinking to the bottom of this sweet bread. For more great recipes and tips for entertaining, visit https:// www.thehouseofelynryn.com/
Do you know the muffin man, The muffin man, the muffin man? Do you know the muffin man, Who lives on Drury Lane?
This catchy tune was one of my favorite songs as a child. The muffin man and I had some things in common. Not only did I enjoy eating muffins, but my family lived on Drury Lane. It is always fun to have something personal in a song, and I loved living on Drury Lane like the muffin man.
The earliest known copy of this children’s rhyme was in a British manuscript published around 1820. Households at that time had many of their fresh foods, such as muffins, delivered door-to-door. How nice that would be! “Muffin men” sold muffins for tea from special carts on the street or balanced trays of English muffins on their heads while ringing bells to let customers know they were ready for business. People would often rush outside to meet the muffin man when they heard the bells ringing similar to what we do when we hear the music from an ice cream truck. Muffins popular then were more like today’s English muffins, not the much sweeter cupcake-shaped muffins we now enjoy.
The New Food Lover’s Companion (comprehensive definitions of nearly 6000 food, drink, and culinary terms – and one of my favorite resources) defines muffins as a small, cake-like bread that can be made with a variety of flours and often contains fruits or nuts. Most American-style muffins fall into the quick bread category using baking powder or baking soda to help them rise instead of yeast. Because muffins are made from a soft batter, they require a muffin pan to hold the shape before baking. Muffins can be sweet or savory and, though they were once used for breakfast or tea, are now also served with lunch and dinner.
I always enjoyed helping my mom in our Drury Lane kitchen, and muffins were some of the first things I made by myself. I still enjoy making muffins and they provide the perfect sweet treat after a meal. Without the extra sugar and calories from icing, muffins tend to be a healthier choice than most cakes or cupcakes.
Muffins freeze well so they are a good option for those cooking for one or two. Place the cooled muffins in a freezer bag or container and freeze until needed, or more often in my case, till you need a bite of something sweet. Making
the batter into mini muffins is another option. Most regular muffin recipes will make double or sometimes close to triple the number of mini muffins. If you have a hard time stopping with one, mini muffins allow you to have two or three for the same nutritional value found in one regular size muffin. Often, store purchased muffins are so large, they really are more than one serving. Read the labels on store-bought items to know how many servings and the nutritional value you are actually consuming.
Banana muffins are a great way to use over-ripe bananas. This recipe includes a magic ingredient, mayonnaise. Mayonnaise replaces the milk, eggs, and oil called for in a traditional muffin recipe. With the recent egg shortage and increase in egg costs, this option leaves more eggs to be colored and enjoyed for your annual Easter egg hunt and festivities.
Ingredients
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar (or a little less)
• ½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup nuts (optional)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup regular mayonnaise – not reduced fat
• 3 medium, ripe bananas, mashed
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, chocolate chips, nuts, baking soda, and salt.
3. Mix until well blended.
4. In another bowl, combine bananas and mayonnaise.
5. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients just until moistened.
6. Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups ¾ full.
7. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until a wooden toothpick inserted into the muffin comes out clean.
8. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool.
Tips: The mini chocolate chips disperse throughout the batter more evenly than regular size chips, ensuring chocolate in almost every bite.
N.C. Department of Insurance
Mike Causey, Commissioner 855-408-1212 (toll free) • www.ncdoi.com
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Alcohol addiction and excessive alcohol misuse affects people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities.
If you or someone you know and love is a Medicare beneficiary, help is available.
Medicare covers an annual screening for all beneficiaries.
For those that screen positive, Medicare covers up to four counseling interventions per year.
Ask your SHIIP counselor for more information.
For more information, visit www. yadkinvalleync.com/mount-airy
SATURDAYS IN APRIL: WPAQ MERRYGO-ROUND at the Historic Earle Theatre, 142 N Main St, Mt Airy. 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM; Admission $8 (includes admission to Andy Griffith Museum) or Surry Arts Council Annual Pass. Call 336.786.7998 for details.
APRIL 1&2: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA 7:00 PM (April 1) and 3:00 PM (April 2) at the Andy Griffith Playhouse, 218 Rockford St., Mount Airy, NC. Reserved Seat Tickets $20. The new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical that tells the heartfelt tale of the girl from the cinders who connects with her prince. For tickets, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ rodgers-hammersteins-cinderellaSaturday-tickets-432855862537
APRIL 21: MOUNT AIRY FARMERS MARKET OPENS FOR THE SEASON!
Fridays 9:00 – 1:00 PM; 111 South Main Street, Mount Airy
APRIL 29: JUKEBOX REHAB 7:30 PM, part of the 2023 Summer Series at the Blackmon Amphitheatre, 231 Spring St, Mt Airy; Tickets $15* or Annual Pass
A WORLD TO EXPLORE, a vibrant community to come home to. A lifestyle that embraces true independence, friendships, culinary celebrations, and the safety of community. It’s time to enjoy retirement the way it’s meant to be.
DOBSON EVENTS For more information on Dobson, NC, visit yadkinvalleync.com/dobson
APRIL 1: VITTLES & VINES 11:00 AM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Are you looking to take your wine knowledge to the next level?? Then join us in the NEW event series we’re calling “Follow the Vintage.” This 4-class series offers a deep dive into the art and science of winemaking, from the beginning of the vintage to the end. Each class includes a delicious food and wine pairing, as well as an interactive wine experience that relates to the topic of the class. For more information, visit https://www.sheltonvineyards.com/event/follow-the-vintage-viniculture-and-vittles
APRIL 14-15: DOBSON SPRING FOLLY This family-friendly festival features carnival rides, inflatables, and of course, vendors! This 2-day festival takes place every April; this year’s dates are April 14th and April 15th. For more information, visit https://dobson-nc.com/185/Spring-Folly
APRIL 1: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - TYLER MILLARD 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.
APRIL 2: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - BROWN MOUNTAIN LIGHTNING BUGS 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.
APRIL 9: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - SCARLETT LEMONADE 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.
APRIL 15: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - REGGIE JOHNSON 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.
APRIL 15: BRITISH CAR SHOW 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. The Southeast's largest display of vintage British cars returns to our vineyards! Admission is FREE to the public! 286 Cabernet Lane, Dobson, NC
APRIL 16: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - ROB MCHALE 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.
APRIL 22: SURRY COUNTY FOOD TRUCK RODEO 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Join us for the inaugural Surry County Food Truck Rodeo! Located at Surry County Farmers Market, 903 Atkins Street, Dobson. Tables and chairs will be provided under the Farmers Market for folks that would like to eat at the event. Also be sure to stick around, from 5 PM until 7 PM, we will have live Rock & Roll music provided by local favorite, Runaway Train!
APRIL 22: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - CRAIG VAUGHN 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.
APRIL 22: SPRING FLING AT SHELTON VINEYARDS 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Get ready for the ultimate spring celebration! Join us for Spring Fling, a lively event featuring local craft vendors, delicious food trucks, and a full day of music on the terrace. We’re also bringing out the yard games, so get ready to challenge your friends to some friendly competition. Visit www.sheltonvineyards.com/event/spring-fling for more information.
APRIL 23: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - SCARLETT LEMONADE 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.
APRIL 29: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - DOUG ALT 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.
APRIL 30: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE - TYLER MILLARD 1:00 – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Music may be moved into Tasting Room based on the weather.
ELKIN EVENTS For more area info, visit https://www.exploreelkin.com/events
APRIL WEDNESDAYS: OPEN MIC NIGHT AT REEVES THEATER
Sign-up: 6:30 PM, Show: 7:00 PM.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THE REEVES THEATER & CAFE 129 West Main Street, Elkin. Call (336) 258-8240 or visit https://www.reevestheater.com/ for more Information
• SATURDAY, APRIL 1: LONEHOLLOW
• THURSDAY, APRIL 6: THE MARTHA BASSETT SHOW WITH HEATHER MALONEY / BRUCE PIEPHOFF / DRAKE DUFFER
• FRIDAY, APRIL 7: FINE TUNED: A BLUE RIDGE MUSIC TRAILS INITIATIVE
• THURSDAY, APRIL 13: COUNTRY / BLUES / BLUEGRASS JAM
• SATURDAY, APRIL 15: THE REEVES HOUSE BAND 70S SOUL PARTY
• THURSDAY, APRIL 20: THE MARTHA BASSETT SHOW WITH CARRIE MARSHALL / GOLDEN SHOALS / NICHOLAS EDWARD WILLIAMS
• FRIDAY, APRIL 21: TAB BENOIT
Note: Visit www.reevestheater.com for the latest updates, additions, show-times, etc.
APRIL 22: ELKIN FARMERS MARKET OPENS FOR THE SEASON! Saturdays 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM; 226 North Bridge Street, Elkin
Pilot Mountain Tourism, 124 West Main Street, Pilot Mountain For more area info, visit www.pilotmountainnc.org
APRIL 21-23: PILOT MOUNTAIN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FESTIVAL & EXPO
Mark your calendars! On April 21-23, 2023, the inaugural Pilot Mountain Outdoor Adventure Festival & Expo is coming! This fun-filled weekend will be a celebration of all the wonderful outdoor activities available in the Yadkin Valley town of Pilot Mountain and at nearby Pilot Mountain State Park!
Friday: Pilot Mountain Outdoor Adventure Bike Criterium cycles through the downtown, followed by a block party from 6-10 PM.
Saturday: At 9 AM is the Pilot Mountain Outdoor Adventure 5K run. Attendees can visit the outdoor expo and interact with hiking, biking, climbing, camping, kayaking, fishing and disc golf vendors.
Later that evening will be a concert by Old Crow Medicine Show at the Armfield Civic Center. Tickets for the concert are $30-$55 and available for purchase online.
Sunday: At 2 PM a disc golf tournament will occur. Visit https://www.pilotmountainnc.org/vist/page/ pilot-mountain-outdoor-adventure-festival-expo
APRIL (GALAX, VA): LIVE MUSIC ON TUESDAY (BLUEGRASS NIGHT), WEDNESDAY (JAKE COX), FRIDAY & SATURDAYS AT CREEK BOTTOM BREWING
Bottom Brewing, 307 N Meadow Street, Galax, VA. Free unless noted.
APRIL 1 – UNHINGED (7-10 PM) - $5 COVER
APRIL 7 – JONAH CARDEN (7-10 PM)
APRIL 8 – ELECTRIC DYNAMITE (7-10 PM)
APRIL 14 – JOSH MCBRIDE (7-10 PM)
APRIL 15 – PHILLIP CAUDLE (7-10 PM)
APRIL 21 – MARIE ANDERSON (7-10 PM)
APRIL 22 – REGGIE JOHNSON (7-10 PM)
APRIL 28 – RAY MARTIN (7-10 PM)
APRIL 29 – RYAN GREER TRIO (7-10 PM)
APRIL 7 -8 (HAMPTONVILLE): ALPHA & OMEGA
HELICOPTER EGG DROP
will host their 8th annual Helicopter Easter Egg Drop. More than 30,000 plastic eggs will fall out of the sky. A fun family event, helicopters will be offering rides between drop times at an additional fee. Explore this 20-acre agritourism complex with the farm consisting of: Helicopter Egg Hunt, Corn Cob Express, Corn Box, Farmer 500, Animal Acres, Pipe World, Bounce Pillow, Horse Drawn Wagon Ride, Hayride, Local Vendors, Photo Opportunities & much more. Visit
Saturdays in the Park
Crouse Park
4th Saturday June – September
Music on Main
Main Street
1st Saturdays June – October
27th Alleghany VFD Fiddlers Convention
Alleghany County Fairgrounds
July 18-22
28th Mountain Heritage Festival
Main Street
September 16
Hillbilly Comedy & Variety Show
Alleghany Community Auditorium
October 21
Crouse House Pickers
Crouse Park
June 8-10 2023
Every Monday Night
Alleghany Jubilee
Main Street
Tuesday and Saturday Nights
Bands, Karaoke, and Open-mic Nights
Wednesday-Sunday in Local Restaurants
