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CONTENTS
September / October
10
2016
Wel co m e Co ach F u e n te 10 R e f e re e s 12 H i gh S ch o o l F ootb a l l 14 Tai l gat i n g R e c i p e s 18 Wi n dy H i l l Gu i t a r Wor k s 2 0 Fo o t bal l S c h e d u l e 2 4 Cl ear i n g Cu st o m s - A l a s k a 2 6 N ew s y Rel ev an t Va l u a b l e 2 8
20 40 32
N RV Food Fa re 3 0 A r t i s t - Geo rg e W i l l s 3 2 A gen cy o n A g i n g 3 6 P ro j ect M ov e Up 3 8 N RV Ri des - BT Bu s 4 0 N RV H o mes - Fam i l y T i e s 4 2
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Pasture Talk
NEW RIVER VALLEY M
A
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P. O. Box 11816 Blacksburg, VA 24062 o: 540-961-2015 nrvmagazine@msn.com www.nrvmagazine.com
PUBLISHER Country Media, Inc. Phillip Vaught MANAGING EDITOR Joanne Anderson ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Sabrina Sexton DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Dennis Shelor WRITERS Joanne Anderson Karl Kazaks Krisha Chachra Kelsey Foster Sheila Nelson Emily Alberts Jennifer Cooper Mike Wade PHOTOGRAPHERS Natalie Gibbs Photography Amodeo Photography Always and Forever Photography Tom Wallace Kristie Lea Photography Nathan Cooke Photography SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Justin Ashwell Cover photo by Kristie Lea Photography © 2016 Country Media, Inc. Country Media, Inc. will not knowingly publish any advertisement that is illegal or misleading to its readers. Neither the advertiser nor Country Media, Inc. will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, or typographical errors. The publisher assumes no financial liability for copy omissions by Country Media, Inc. other than the cost of the space occupied by the error. Corrections or cancellations to be made by an advertiser shall be received no later than 5 p.m. the 20th of each publishing month. No claim shall be allowed for errors not affecting the value of the advertisement. Paid advertising does not represent an endorsement by this publication. Content cannot be reproduced without written consent from Country Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Real Estate advertised in this publication is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968.
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A zillion years ago, I wrote user’s manuals for IBM, mostly for mag card products which were just a whisker ahead of word processing with internal memory. Most of you won’t know what it was, as technology was advancing so fast that few mag card products made it to market. I signed NDAs, so I can’t talk about it. Ha! Even after they’re obsolete, technologies that once had a significant market share can take a long time to fully die out. It was just in 2011 that the last typewriter factory shut down. Funai Electric, the only company known to make VCRs, is ceasing production. Fast fading are PDAs, film cameras, paper maps, landline telephones, cassette tapes and floppy disks (which weren’t floppy at all; I never got that). “PC World” cites even more with the “blind” first date non-existent because of social networks and digital pics. It has fuzzy TV reception, running out of hard drive space and phone booths on its nearly obsolete list. Every generation can come up with such lists, but some of the real fun is in embracing technical novelties that come on the horizon. With this issue, New River Valley Magazine is introducing its first ‘Interactive Print’ publication. First, you have to install the free Layar app on a smartphone or tablet, and you can find
it at Google Play Store or App Store; see top of page 8, then scan that page for the digital content. The real fun comes on p. 20. where you’ll see and hear Mike Mears strum one of his handcrafted guitars and talk about making it. How cool is that?? Seriously. This is like magic and creates an interactive feature in our [not at all obsolete] paper pages. Also in this issue is the second 2-page spread of easy recipes and awesomely staged photos by Kelsey Foster. She is an ace in the kitchen and with her camera, so NRV Magazine has offered her this new “NRV Food Fare” gig in every issue. You can reach her via her blog at aslolife.com, and she is profiled on the back page. We are in exciting times technology-wise as well as in education, healthcare, transportation and myriad segments of life. Leaving technology behind, food, fall and football are indelibly intertwined. Tailgating is a social and epicurean adventure; see Roya’s special recipes on p. 18. Thanks for reading and scanning NRV Magazine! Happy autumn! Welcome Coach Fuente! Go Hokies!
Joanne Anderson ManagingEditor jmawriter@aol.com
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V T Foo t bal l
WELCOME HOKIE COACH FUENTE! an outdoorsy, football, family man Text by Krisha Chachra Photos courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics
There is no question that Justin Fuente feels right at home coaching a winning college football team. As a kid growing up in Tulsa, Okla., he dreamed of being a National Football League quarterback. After playing football himself – first in college and then for the Arena Football League – his dreams morphed into coaching players who might one day be in the NFL themselves. After 29 seasons of 10
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Virginia Tech football under Frank Beamer, Hokies all over the nation are waiting to see how Fuente will fare leading the team to victory. Many people are interested in what Fuente will do, but we wanted to spend a few moments learning a little about who he is. Very direct and to the point, Coach Fuente’s demeanor will tell you he doesn’t really have a minute to spare. His scheduler makes it clear
that he has another appointment immediately after this interview. I asked him to describe three of the most important things on his desk: “My laptop, note cards that I use to write to-do lists or ideas and the binder with all the pertinent information about the players, including academic profiles,” responds the new coach, who puts a lot of emphasis on players having good academic standing.
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When asked about photos of his wife and kids, he confesses that pictures of Jenny and the girls are still in University of Memphis blue frames – he hasn’t had time to get Virginia Tech orange and maroon replacements. The coach is a busy man, and when not focused on football, he loves to golf and fish. Already he’s turned down several invitations to fish at the New River, but maybe next year after this first season is under his belt. He tries to involve his girls in golfing; he’s taken them to the Blacksburg Country Club so they can spend time together. “I really love being outdoors. Back in Oklahoma, my little sister and I grew up playing around in the yard, and that’s what we want for our girls.” What about inspiration? Coach explains that when he comes to a roadblock or he’s faced with a hard decision, he normally would speak to his dad to bounce things off. “But
if I could meet anyone, it would be Stephen Hawking. I don’t know if I’ll be able to understand [the content of] what he is saying, but I’d love to listen.” Coach Fuente is incredibly impressed with the pride he’s seen in Hokie students. “It’s remarkable and something I haven’t seen before. I like that in Blacksburg you are never very far from anything – and I mean it as a compliment. It doesn’t take any time getting from one place to another, and I love the way people have welcomed us.”
NRVHBA Builder of the Year 2014
He’s explored the local scene a little because he knows about the Tijuana Toss on Thursdays at PK’s and likes to grab a bite at Lefty’s. He prefers his food spicy – jalapenos on his pizza, hot sauce on his wings. I told him about the spicy curries of the Indian and Thai restaurants in Blacksburg, and he’s looking forward to trying new cuisine in town. But there’s also a sense that Fuente prefers to stay in sometimes. “I like to spend time with my family and our dogs, Petey and Bear.” He is slowly getting comfortable in his new residence in Blacksburg. When asked about his favorite vacation spot, the answer summed up what this new coach really values. Where would he like to go if he could go anywhere? Tulsa, Okla. – back with family at home.
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Foo tbal l Fe at u r e
THE TEAM IN BLACK ‘N WHITE STRIPES ACC refs walk, run, jog 5 miles in one game
Photo courtesy of David Epperley
By Mike Wade
David Epperley They are the Rodney Dangerfields of the sports world, constantly criticized and scorned by coaches, spectators and broadcasters alike - even when they’re right. Yet, it would be difficult to imagine a sport like college football without trained officials to regulate the games we love to watch. 12
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While almost all football fans have been guilty of directing their ire toward an official at some point, very few of us truly know the amount of work that goes into officiating. As a matter of fact, the time that we see them on the field is just a fraction of the hours that collegiate officials spend on each game. The level of
dedication is even more impressive when you consider that many officials – like David Epperley of Newport – also have full-time jobs. “Once the start of the season approaches, it’s really seven days a week,” explains Epperley. “The three hours we spend between the white lines each week are a blast, but we spend another three days answering questions about what we did and didn’t do.” Epperley, an official with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), has been working Division I college football games for 25 years. He owns a successful property management and appraisal business. “For me, it comes down to a love for the game and the profession of officiating,” declares Epperley. “It gets in your blood. The first time I stepped on the field 37 years ago for a scrimmage, I was hooked.” ACC officials are considered independent contractors, and their performances are closely evaluated. They must attend regional and national clinics and meetings throughout the year and pass annual written rules examinations and physical tests. The day before each game, ACC officials are expected to attend a 6 p.m. meeting at the game site where they review films and discuss rules and mechanics of the game. Officials arrive at the stadium three hours before kick-off. Games are monitored by the ACC’s Game Day Operations Center. Each penalty is recorded, in addition to a selection of plays throughout the game, to ensure the integrity of the game. Epperley notes that video reviews are made available to officials after the game for weekly reviews and grades. “I’ll start
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reviewing film on my I-pad on the flight home,” he says. “All in all, I spend about 12 hours a week watching game films and doing prep work.” To get to Division I, most officials start working recreation league and high school games. That experience and training from peers are key to an official’s development. “We’re doing pre-season clinics and study groups as early as April,” Epperley continues. “It requires a lot of self-study, and you can’t survive at this level unless you put a significant amount of effort into it. With all the years I’ve been doing this, I still see things I could do better.” Although he only lives 20 minutes from Lane Stadium, you won’t see Epperley at any Virginia Tech games. In order to prevent potential issues of “home cooking,” Epperley says the ACC purposely avoids scheduling officials for games in their own backyards. “Nothing good could come of me working a Tech game,” he says with a chuckle. “This is too small an area; an official in Miami might be able to get by doing a Miami game, but that wouldn’t work here.” While he’s done his fair share of big games, Epperley admits that it’s hard to single out which moments are the most special for him. “I remember the first time I did a game at Notre Dame. I was standing on the sideline thinking how surreal that was because when I was a kid, Notre Dame football was the only college football we could get on TV. Three years ago when I did the Notre Dame vs. Michigan game, that was pretty neat. It was a night game – and the biggest crowd to ever see a college football game. My son got to come on the field; it was quite a night. Those experiences and the memories you make are the special moments that stand out.” Some refs have tracked their activity using FitBits and estimate somewhere around five miles per contest. To keep up with the physical demands of officiating, Epperley makes working out a priority and hits the gym three or four times per week, year-round. “It’s been a good, long run, but as you get older, you begin to wear down quicker,” he explains. “Plus, the stress level of officiating has increased significantly because of the money involved. Accountability is very high now, and everything is under a bigger microscope. “There was a time when I might be doing a televised game maybe two or three times a season,” he says. “Now, every single game is being broadcast – even if it’s ESPN3, online, or whatever - and social media has only increased that exposure.” Now that his son, Hunter, is beginning his collegiate playing career at Emory & Henry this season, Epperley says his days in stripes could be numbered. “You know, you can’t get those days back. It might be time for me to start watching games from the stands again.” Mike Wade is a lifelong resident of the New River Valley. He has worked as both a journalist and public relations professional for more than 20 years. He freelances as a writer, graphic designer, and portrait artist.
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Kick-Off for NRV High Schools Written by Mike Wade
There are four seasons in southwest Virginia: winter, spring, summer and football. And, after what has seemed like a rather abbreviated summer for many, action on the gridiron is back in full swing throughout the New River Valley. Here’s a quick guide to the 2016 season for the nine varsity programs in our area:
Auburn High School
Christiansburg High School
brought to you by:
brought to you by:
The Eagles have a new head coach in Cam Akers, who takes over the program after his mentor, Jack Turner, stepped down at the end of last season. Fortunately for Akers, he has a solid nucleus of experienced players he can turn to. Auburn finished 6-5 last season after falling to Rural Retreat in the opening round of the Group 1A playoffs. Anchoring the offense for the Eagles this year will be right guard Hunter Perkins and tight end Adam Otey, both seniors. Tailbacks Triston Perry and Cameron Chestnut will help control the ground game for Auburn and junior place-kicker Richie Romo gives Akers’ team a proven, reliable source for points in close games. Defensively, the Eagles will rely on the leadership Otey and fellow seniors Chase Cockhran, Aaric Huff and Logan Phillips.
Last year’s 2-8 record was obviously not the kind of season Blue Demons head coach Tim Cromer had hoped for. In fact, it was the first time since 2008 that Christiansburg had not played in the postseason. That’s not to say that the Blue Demons weren’t competitive. Three of the team’s losses were by less than seven points, and there were multiple instances throughout the season where Christiansburg simply failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Now in his 15th season as head coach, Cromer’s biggest challenge in 2016 will be to stabilize the Blue Demons’ defense. However, Christiansburg does have the advantage of returning an experienced offensive line and backfield on offense. Senior guard Dylan Moore will anchor the front line and fellow senior Alex Perkins, a wide receiver, will be a crucial component to the passing game.
Blacksburg High School
Eastern Montgomery High School
brought to you by:
brought to you by:
The Bruins finished 6-5 last season under first-year head coach Thad Wells and made the playoffs before falling to Staunton River in the opening round. That same Blacksburg team featured 19 seniors – including starting quarterback Isaac Johnston and All-State corner Jake Verniel. Wells says he will continue to emphasize an up-tempo style of play, taking advantage of his team’s athleticism and speed on both sides of the ball. Johnston’s younger brother, Grant, will step into the quarterback position. He’ll be joined in the backfield by Colton Beck, Will Justus, and All-State performer Tiquest Terry. Senior lineman Brad Shelton, at 6’4”, 375 pounds, gives Blacksburg a formidable front on the defensive side of the ball.
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Things can only get better for the Mustangs and head coach Jordan Stewart hopes last year’s 0-10 mark is a distant memory. Just about everything went wrong for Eastern Montgomery in 2015. Injuries, turnovers and a lack of skilled players were a recipe for disaster. Stewart, now in his third year as head coach at Eastern Montgomery, admits that he’ll have to rely on a number of younger, less-experienced players this season – the Mustangs’ final as a member of the Three Rivers District. (They’ll play in the Pioneer District beginning in 2017.) Sophomore quarterback Wyatt Freeman will look to receivers Cameron Ford and Nick Bahnken to get the ball downfield. While Stewart feels good about his secondary and linebacker corps on defense, he does have concerns about the front line.
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Floyd County High School
gets out to a strong start early in the season. The eyes of Green Wave fans will be focused on senior quarterback Cole Blaker. At 6’4”, 205 pounds, Blaker is a three-year starter and well-versed in Narrows’ offensive scheme. It’s no secret that a number of Blaker’s passes will be thrown in the direction of wideout Landon Neal, who hauled in more than 500 receiving yards last season. Cam Honaker and Austin Evans join Blaker in the backfield. Mikey McKinney, the Green Wave’s leading tackler in 2015, returns for his junior season.
Winfred Beale, entering his 36th campaign as head coach of the Buffaloes, looks to get his team back on track after struggling through a 2-8 finish last season. With only three seniors on this year’s squad, the veteran coach will rely on a roster that features a number of sophomores and juniors. Ian Bary, the team’s leading receiver last season, is moving to quarterback this year. Bary will look to connect often with older brother, Josh, a 6’3” junior wide receiver. The team’s leading rusher from last season – Jaret Agee – returns to the backfield and will be joined by senior running back Jack March. Agee and Austin Gallimore, Floyd’s top two tacklers from last season, will help shore up the Buffaloes defense. Junior Perez-Carrillo, a senior, will once again handle place-kicking for Floyd County.
Pulaski County High School
brought to you by:
Giles High School brought to you by:
Since winning the state title in 2013, the Giles Spartans have continued to rack up an impressive number of wins. Were it not for their Three Rivers District, Glenvar, one could argue that the Spartans have all the makings of a high school football dynasty. The most recent showdown between the two teams ended the 2015 campaign for the Spartans when Glenvar got the upper-hand in a 19-7 win during the second round of the Group 2A playoffs. Giles head coach Jeff Williams has proven over his career that he doesn’t spend much time looking back on what was or what could have been. So, despite losing standouts like Brian Mann and Patrick Biedleman to graduation last year, the Spartans’ patented single-wing offense will still cause plenty of problems for opposing defenses this season.
Narrows High School brought to you by:
The Green Wave made significant progress in 2015, ending the season with a 5-6 mark and their first playoff appearance since 2009. Veteran head coach Kelly Lowe, now in his 15th season at the helm of the Narrows program, hopes his team will continue to build upon last year’s success. The key, according to Lowe, is that his team 16
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brought to you by:
The Cougars roared through the 2015 season on their way to a 9-2 finish. After suffering a heart-breaking loss in the playoffs to Amherst, head coach Stephen James says his team is hungry to make another run at the post-season. Pulaski County returns six starters on offense, including quarterback Brian Grubb and tailback Hunter Thomas. James, in his third year with the Cougars, has some concerns on defense but hopes a few tweaks will help that unit adapt and minimize the amount of points their opponents can put on the board. Sophomore Ryan Castle will handle field goals and extra points for Pulaski County.
Radford High School brought to you by:
The Bobcats went 9-4 in 2015 after an impressive run through the regular season and playoffs. Radford’s bid for a state championship came up short, however, with a 35-28 loss to George Wythe in the Group 1A quarterfinals. Head coach Matthew Saunders also lost offensive standouts Marcus Finley and Heth Grant to graduation last year, but the veteran coach will no doubt have his team well-prepared for another run through the Three Rivers District this season.
Mike Wade is a lifelong resident of the New River Valley. He has worked as both a journalist and public relations professional for more than 20 years. He freelances as a writer, graphic designer and portrait artist.
S eptemb er/Octob er 2016
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Roya Gharavi is the founder and proprietor of Gourmet Pantry & Cooking School in Blacksburg.
Roya’s Recipes
Tailgating Recipes
Hokie Ball
Raw Sweet Potato Hummus
Brussels Sprout Sliders
Ingredients: • 3 cups sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes) • 4 garlic cloves, peeled • ¼ cup tahini • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice • 1 tablespoon Tamari • ¼ cup water • 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1 table spoon of Pimentos for garnish
Ingredients: • 4 tablespoons olive oil • 3 garlic cloves, minced • Salt, to taste • 20 large brussels sprouts • 5 teaspoons horseradish aioli • 1 package prosciutto or ¼ lb. of your favorite ham, thinly sliced • Toothpicks
1. Mix all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. 2. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. 3. Garnish with pimentos. Serve with toasted pita chips, crackers, or raw veggies such as celery or carrot
1. Preheat oven to 375°. Cut the brussels sprouts in half from top to bottom. 2. Combine olive oil and garlic in a small bowl then add brussels sprouts and stir to coat. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, or until sprouts soften and edges are crisp. 3. Take one half of a sprout and top with prosciutto or ham and a dab of aioli then place another sprout on top, cut sides facing each other and secure with a toothpick.
Ingredients: • 1 ½ lb. bacon • 16 ounces of cream cheese • 1 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded • 2 tablespoons chopped scallions • Black pepper, to taste • Mozzarella cheese cut into long strips for decorating 1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Lay the bacon in a single layer on two baking sheets and cook until crisp, 15-20 minutes. Drain on paper towels and once cooled, coarsely chop and set aside. 2. Using a stand mixer or a bowl and spatula, mix together cream cheese, pepper jack cheese, 1 cup of bacon, pepper, and scallions until combined. Form the mixture into a ball and cover. Refrigerate for at least two hours to overnight. 3. Before serving, form the ball into an oblong football shape and roll in the remaining bacon to coat. Decorate the top of the ball with the strips of mozzarella to simulate football stitching. Serve with crackers.
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M ade i n t h e N R V
Life’s Too Short to Play a Bad Guitar
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Text by Jennifer Poff Cooper | Photos by Kristie Lea Photography Windy Hill GuitarWorks began in 1992 after Mike Mears took a trip on a whim to the Martin Guitar factory in Nazareth, Penn. It dawned on him there that guitar making was not as difficult as he thought, and it was being done by all sorts of people – not only very old men with long beards, but also young factory workers wearing Harley jackets and earrings. “I asked if they sold any parts that I could experiment with and was sent to the old factory where they sold off parts they could not use on the factory floor,” Mike relates. “I bought a pile of parts, some partially assembled and some not. My first guitar did not look great but sounded good.” He subsequently bought several how-to books and joined a luthier group, The Acoustic Stringed Instrument Artisans (ASIA). “The guitar builder world is very ‘sharing,’ and there 20
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are lots of folks willing to help you get started,” he adds. Growing up, Mike’s dreams were to play music and fly, and he has done both. He is a graduate of Purdue University with a master’s degree from George Washington University, both in the engineering field. “I joined the Navy out of college and went to flight training. I was fortunate to remain in flying jobs for 15 years, which is almost unheard of in the current Navy,” he says. He finished his military career teaching program management for the Department of Defense. Mike has been playing music for 60 years, purchasing his first guitar for $8 when he was about 10 years old. “The action was so bad it was almost unplayable, but I played it anyway with very sore fingers,” he recalls. Next he bought an old Silvertone arch top guitar
at a garage sale and learned to play on it. Finally, he says: “I saved enough to buy a Gibson 12-string from Manny’s in New York when I was in college.” He started a campus folk song club and coffee house on Friday nights at the student union. Later, he and several friends began a folk song venue in the back room of a deli in Plainfield, N.J., that became a huge success. Over the years, Mike has taken a few music lessons but nothing serious. He plays all the bluegrass instruments except Dobro, with the banjo being his favorite. A Floyd resident, he likes participating in weekly jams at The Floyd Country Store. It was not until Mears was looking for a retirement hobby that he started building instruments. He has built about 325 guitars, and while they are his main focus, he has also created some banjos and ukuleles just for fun. Fiddle maker Arthur Conner in Copper Hill bought one of Mike’s
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guitars and wanted to meet him. The two have become friends, and Conner showed him how he makes fiddles. “It is a totally different thought process from guitars and is more difficult with the carved back and top. I’ve made about 15 fiddles so far, and I think they are sounding pretty good. Fiddle techniques are similar to mandolin making, so I started making mandolins as well. I particularly enjoy fiddle making because it is more challenging, and there is no way to tell what a fiddle will sound like until you string it up.” At one time, Mike taught guitar building: “I asked the Woodcraft store owner in Springfield, Va., if he would consider hosting a guitar building class once a year and he agreed to give it a try. I really wanted to see how much I actually 22
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knew by trying to teach others.” That continued for about 15 years until Mears and his wife, Liz, bought a house in Floyd. With no convenient place to teach in the New River Valley, plus his desire to focus on creativity, Mike concentrates on the building and repair of instruments. He is a Martin accessory dealer, as well as a Black Diamond and D’addario / Planet Waves dealer. “These are the top brands for musical instrument accessories. I do not plan to ever sell inexpensive, low quality instruments or supplies.” Windy Hill GuitarWorks is a one person show with only word of mouth marketing. Rather than open a storefront, he sells through existing stores to support local businesses and avoid the bookkeeping involved with selling instruments himself. Still, people
are welcome to drive out to see him or call or email to order supplies and accessories. Mike and his wife, Liz, chose the New River Valley for retirement. “We really like Floyd and being part of the community. We have met many wonderful people and love our place on the Little River – except when it floods,” he says. Mike enthuses about his favorite parts of the job: working in his studio; looking for ways to improve his instruments; and interacting with new folks, whether customers, other musicians to jam with and or other builders who share techniques. “It is very difficult to make a living building and repairing instruments. I do this because I enjoy it, and my motto is: ‘Life’s too short to play a bad guitar’.”
S eptemb er/Octob er 2016
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New River Valley Football Schedules
8/26 NARROWS 9/2 CRAIG COUNTY 9/16 ROANOKE CATHOLIC 9/23 BATH COUNTY 9/30 @ MCCLUER 10/7 EASTERN MONTGOMERY 10/14 @ GLENVAR 10/21 @ RADFORD 10/28 FLOYD COUNTY 11/4 @ GILES
BLACKSBURG High School 8/26 9/2 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/22 10/28 11/4
GILES @ BASSETT ABINGDON CARROLL COUNTY @ HIDDEN VALLEY @ SALEM PULASKI COUNTY @ CAVE SPRING HENRY CHRISTIANSBURG
CHRISTIANSBURG High School 8/25 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4
@ BASSETT @ GILES @ ABINGDON FRANKLIN COUNTY HENRY CAVE SPRING @ PULASKI COUNTY SALEM @ HIDDEN VALLEY CARROLL COUNTY @ BLACKSBURG
EASTERN MONTGOMERY High School 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4
@ BATH COUNTY NARROWS CRAIG COUNTY @ COVINGTON @ BLAND-ROCKY GAP @ AUBURN FLOYD COUNTY GLENVAR @ GILES RADFORD
The 2016 Football Schedule brought to you by Blue Ridge Heating & Air
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Pull Out Here
AUBURN High School
Football Schedule 2016 FLOYD COUNTY High School 8/26 @ CARROLL COUNTY 9/2 PATRICK COUNTY 9/9 @ MARTINSVILLE 9/16 @ JAMES RIVER 9/23 GRAYSON COUNTY 10/7 RADFORD 10/14 @ EASTERN MONTGOMERY 10/21 GILES 10/28 @ AUBURN 11/4 GLENVAR
NARROWS High School 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4
@ AUBURN @ EASTERN MONTGOMERY MONTCALM GILES CRAIG COUNTY @ BLAND-ROCKY GAP @ FORT CHISWELL GALAX GRAYSON @ GRAHAM
Football Schedules
GILES High School 8/26 9/2 9/16 9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/28 11/4
@ BLACKSBURG CHRISTIANSBURG @ NARROWS GRAHAM @ GALAX GLENVAR @ RADFORD @ FLOYD COUNTY EASTERN MONTGOMERY AUBURN
PULASK COUNTY High School 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21 10/29 11/4
NORTHSIDE CAVE SPRING @ FRANKLIN COUNTY @ BASSETT @ HENRY CHRISTIANSBURG @ BLACKSBURG CARROLL COUNTY @ HIDDEN VALLEY SALEM
RADFORD High School 8/26 WYTHE 8/26 KAISER 9/2 @ GALAX 9/9 FORT CHISWELL 9/16 @ CRAIG COUNTY 9/23 JAMES RIVER 10/7 @ FLOYD COUNTY 10/14 GILES 10/21 AUBURN 10/28 @ GLENVAR 11/4 @ EASTERN MONTGOMERY
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES 9/3 LIBERTY 9/10 @ TENNESSEE 9/17 BOSTON COLLEGE 9/24 EAST CAROLINA 10/8 @ NORTH CAROLINA 10/15 @ SYRACUSE 10/20 MIAMI 10/27 @ PITTSBURGH 11/5 @ DUKE 11/12 GEORGIA TECH 11/19 @ NOTRE DAME 11/26 VIRGINIA
The 2016 Football Schedule brought to you by Crab Creek County Store
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CLEAR I N G C US T OM S
The Pure Magic of Alaska
Story and photos by Krisha Chachra I have never met anyone who isn’t completely blown away by Alaska. There is no competing with the majesty of those ice blue glaciers, how close you get to wildlife and how strange and remote it feels touring the 49th state to join the Union. Alaska feels like its own country, so wild and untouched. We promised ourselves when we became parents we would find a way to continue seeing the world and share it with our baby daughter. We wanted to knock Alaska off the list but how would we cruise toward the Arctic, keep her comfortable and still have an adventure? The solution was clear with the aptly named Disney Wonder cruise – a fantasy for children and a dream come true for adults. Traveling with a baby can be tricky, but if you leave it up to Disney, it’s smooth sailing. So smooth, in fact, that we met several couples traveling without kids because the ship boasts the cleanest, most organized and best executed experience to Alaska. The company is a master of logistics. From the moment you set foot at the Vancouver dock, you don’t stand in any long line anywhere. Despite children of all ages, multi-generation families and the 26
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cast of Disney characters sharing the ship, you don’t feel crowded. When you want to explore on land, you scan your Disney card on the way out and off you go. No fuss, no problem, just as Disney wants you to believe – pure magic. Besides constant activities, themed evening shows, 24-hour gourmet food service and a variety of restaurants, Disney has an adult day spa on board with tranquil zen rooms, private whirlpool tubs and massage tables overlooking glaciers, lush tree lines and chunks of icebergs floating by. The latest Disney movies play continuously in two large theaters, but the real selling point was Flounders nursery, staffed with experienced au pairs from Europe who keep your infants safe while you explore Alaska. Without question, Skagway, the northernmost point on the Inside Passage, has the most character. Founded by those seeking fortune during the Gold Rush, Skagway’s charming downtown (no more than five blocks long) has been restored to its roots with wooden sidewalks and old western saloon facades. Population is 862, and it has infamous history peppered with outlaws, crooks, cons.
No trip to Alaska is complete without riding a dog sled, Iditarod style. Make sure you book the helicopter ride with Alaska Icefield Expeditions (through your cruise or online) over the majestic Coast Mountains. You land at the dog camp on the stunning Denver Glacier. More than 50 dogs and 15 trainers camp on the glacier from May to the end of summer. Third place Yukon Quest Finisher Matt Hall told us that he runs and breeds the dogs during the summer and trains and races them in winter. Hall has only visited the lower 48 once when he was 12. These mushers are dedicated to the land, their way of life and the dogs. After securing dogs to the sled, Hall instructs us to sit down or stand in the back, like you see in the movies. At his command, you are off. The adrenaline kicks in whooshing through the valley surrounded by ice-capped mountains and an exposed glacier face. It’s thrilling and gives you a real taste of being an Alaskan. You can mush in Juneau, but we opted to tour the Mendenhall Glacier, go whale watching and attend an authentic salmon bake. Mendenhall is the most accessible glacier in Alaska and pulls its ice and snow slowly down 13 miles from
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the Juneau icefield. Visitors can get close by taking a trail to the thundering waterfall. Scan the tree lines for what look like golf balls – they are bald eagles watching you. Juneau is the only capital city that is solely accessible via ship or air; no roads connect Juneau to the rest of the state. So boating and whale watching is plentiful. We must have seen 20 whales twisting and leaping from the water. A different kind of fish landed on our plates at the end of the day; the salmon bake delivered nicely grilled melt-in-your-mouth fresh fish plucked right from the river nearby. You can walk down a trail, pan for gold, admire the waterfall and watch the salmon fight an upstream current. Watch for bears. They are everywhere and not shy when it comes to the stealing the flavorful fish off the grill. Lastly, Ketchikan, the salmon capital of the world, is home to the famous lumberjack show. You might think it’s a little “kitschy” to see big, burly men in plaid shirts swing axes, saw wood and climb tall trees as fast as squirrels, but hey, you’re in Ketchikan and the art of logging is part of the city’s history. After the lumberjack show, book a seaplane to go soaring over the Coast Mountains looking for families of mountain goats skipping over the peaks. If you ask, the pilot will quietly land on an icy sapphire lake – so still it looks like slick glass. You can step out on the rudder and feel the majesty of Alaska around you. Nothing but water, snow, mountains and air – pure nature, pure magic. Krisha Chachra serves on the Town Council of Blacksburg and is a regular columnist and author. She has traveled to over 40 countries in 6 continents and reported and hosted shows for public radio and television. Her columns are taken from her journals and personal insights from traveling nationally and internationally throughout her life. Her book about returning to Blacksburg, Homecoming Journals, may be found online or in local bookstores. Email her at kchachra@aol.com
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Newsy Relevant Valuable A round-up of items of interest across the NRV
6th ANNUAL HOWLS AND MEOWS CHARITY FUNDRAISER IN CONJUNCTION WITH BLACKSBURG BREW DO
Presented by WDBJ7
Sat., Oct. 8, noon - 5 p.m. 1600 Innnovation Drive ~ Blacksburg www.blacksburgbrewdo.com
Muddy ACCE Race
Swimming upstream can be a catch-all phrase for those who march to the beat of a different drummer, many who thrive on a dare to push past their own physical limits. The Muddy ACCE Race is not for the faint of heart but for strong-willed, physically competent, mentally-sharp, think-outside-the-box individuals who embrace outdoor challenges that pit them against demanding military-style training obstacles. This innovative, 5K, 20-obstacle race along the New River includes mud pits, a low crawl and an ice bath, along with scaling a wall and rope swinging into the river. Oh, and seriously, swimming upstream is part of it. It is not a timed race, but a muddy adventure crafted for developing teamwork and conquering physical hurdles which will push you beyond your comfort zone. This thrilling experience is wrapped in a good cause ~ free college tuition for Giles County high school grads at New River Community College. The novel, public/private partnership between NRCC and Giles County covers the cost of tuition for two years for high school graduates with a 2.5 GPA or above. Public, private and home school students are all eligible to apply. Once in the program, students must participate in one community service project each semester, maintain a 2.5 GPA and maintain full enrollment of 12 credits in fall and spring semesters. The exciting Muddy ACCE Race contributes to Giles students graduating from NRCC without college debt, prepared to join the workforce or transfer into a university.
Oct. 1, 2016 ~ 8 a.m. ~ Glen Lyn Town Park muddyACCErace.com Age 13 and up ~ Kid’s Mud Run, ages 6 to 12 28
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Howls and Meows benefits Montgomery County Friends of Animal Care and Control (FACC) which improves the lives of dogs at the animal shelter by providing part time shelter managers and volunteers to help the dogs. The Farmhouse Restaurant For oldster Hokies and residents with good memories and newbies looking for a rustic, fun place to take your parents, a date or yourself, The Farmhouse Restaurant - a food fixture in the NRV for decades since 1963 - is re-opening early in September. Check the website for details: thefarmhousechristiansburg.com.
River Sculpture Walking Trail Well-known artists in and around the New River Valley have permanent sculptures on the newly opened river sculpture walking trail in Giles County. It’s along the paved walking path in the Pearisburg Town Park behind community center on Wenonah Ave. The sculptures were created from things collected from the New River, its boat ramps and road clean-ups in the county. Artists are Robert Tuckwiller, Corbin Vierling, Julie Ferrari, Nikki Pynn and Tacie Jones, and one of the objectives is to encourage artists to incorporate recycled material into art work.
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HeartChase NRV Race / Walk 2016 Oct. 1, 2016 ~ 8:30 a.m. show up ~ 10 a.m. start time HeartChase is a good-cause community game. An adventurous pursuit of hidden rewards around the community blends with fundraising for the American Heart Association which is trying to chase away heart disease. Check out the details at www. HeartChaseBlacksburg.org.
Congratulations are in order for six NRV recent high school graduates who are attending college this fall with a little help from the Virginia Tech New River Valley Alumni Chapter. The majority of the chapter’s activities revolve around developing scholarship money with fundraising events like the June 2016 wine festival. Beneficiaries are: Carrie Otey, Narrow H.S. Michael Harman, Christiansburg H.S. Tanner Dehart, Auburn H.S. Lucas Tuosto, Radford H.S. Jack Verniel, Blacksburg H.S. Emily Llaneras, Pulaski County H.S.
MFRL Foundation’s Bountiful Baskets Auction Fri., Nov. 4, 6 p.m. $20/person Blacksburg Public Library Silent and live auction baskets include wonderful stuff like wine, soaps, lotions, children’s toys and goodies, luxury suite seats for a Salem Red Sox game, Grayson County cabin getaway, art, fall things and more than 100 baskets! A something for everyone kind of event while fundraising for a wonderful library system! www.mfrl.org
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NRV Fo o d Far e
An Apple a Day ... Text, recipes and photos by Kelsey Foster Apples may or may not “keep the doctor away” as the jingle goes, but they are low in sodium and calories, while high in fiber (eat the peel) and vitamin C. Apples are rich in flavonoids which are revered for antioxidant effects, and in phenols which can increase the good cholesterol and reduce the bad cholesterol. Apples are have been reported to protect against brain disease and promote healthy lungs.
Possibly the best attribute of apples is that they really taste good. You can eat them raw, spread them in apple butter, eat them inside turnovers and drink them in apple cider. These fall recipes permeate the house while being made and beckon sharing at tailgate parties, in the neighborhood or among family and friends. Enjoy!
Mulled Apple Cider
(Yield: ~ 6 cups)
Ingredients: 6 cups apple cider 2 cinnamon sticks 6 allspice berries 1/4 tsp. whole cloves 3 strips lemon rind 30
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Optional: 1 cup spiced rum Combine all ingredients in a large cast iron pot. Bring to a simmer and continue cooking, covered, for at least 1 hour before serving. Alternatively, you can place ingredients in a slow cooker for easy tailgating and other fall festivities transport. Adapted from Food Network
Local and Nearby Apple Picking Doe Creek Farm 412 Doe Creek Farm Road, Pembroke Hours: Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun., Mon., Tues. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ikenberry Orchards 2557 Roanoke Road, Daleville Hours: Monday–Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Sun: noon to 5 p.m.
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Rustic Apple Turnovers (Yield: ~ 3 dozen) 4 apples, peeled, cored and diced 1 tsp. lemon juice 1 cup oats 1/2 cup white flour 3/4 cup dark brown sugar 3 Tbl. butter, diced 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/8 tsp. ground cloves 4 sheets (2 17.3 oz. packages) frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed according to directions 1 egg 1 Tbl. milk Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, mix apples and lemon juice then add oats, flour, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, stirring to combine. Create an egg wash by beating egg and milk in a small bowl. Prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper. Sprinkle flour on flat surface and once puff pastry dough is thawed enough to work with, flatten it slightly with a flour-coated rolling pin. Using a pizza cutter, cut each puff pastry dough into 9 equal sections. Place an even amount of filling in the center of each puff pastry. Spread a bit of egg wash on each edge of the dough then fold edges over to meet the other side, forming a triangle. Press edges together to create a seal. Press fork prongs onto edges of each turnover. Transfer the turnovers to baking sheets and bake until pastry is puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes.
Slow Cooker Apple Butter (Yield: ~ 4 cups)
2 1/2 pounds red apples, peeled, cored and rough chopped 1 cup dark brown sugar 1/2 cup honey 1/4 cup apple cider (can substitute with water) 1 Tbl. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp. ground cloves Place apples in an electric slow cooker and top with remaining ingredients. Secure lid and program for 10 hours on low heat. When finished, remove lid and using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. Alternatively, carefully transfer mixture to glass blender to mix and return to slow cooker. Program slow cooker to high and let the mixture reduce and thicken, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Transfer apple butter into glass canning jars and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Adapted from Hello Glow Kelsey Foster is a freelance writer, blogger and California transplant to the New River Valley who writes a clever food and lifestyle blog, aslolife.com, with tips on food, fashion and home decor. For her excellence in recipes, creativity and photography, this column, titled NRV Food Fare, will appear in every issue. NRVMAGAZINE.com
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NRV A r t s
Look What George Drew! local color by local artist
Text by Joanne M. Anderson | Photos by Kristie Lea Photography
The average dorm room at Virginia Tech is 168 square feet, which is about the same size as George Wills’ art studio downtown, which doubles as his living room. In a slightly smaller, adjacent room, he makes prints, then mats and wraps them. Antiquated pine wainscoting more than three-quarters of the way up the walls edges up to a rich medium aquamarine blue, which covers the walls in the next room. Old hardwood floors, lots of books in piles and bookcases and an eclectic mix of odd furniture lend an old-time charm to the space. The computers and printer look slightly out of place in this small, rustic apartment in a little house in the historic district.
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But it isn’t the computers anyway that capture George’s attention ~ it’s the easel, drawing paper, bins of brushes and tubes of paint, coupled with whimsical critters in his imagination, often perched atop one another. However, he does use the computer in a unique way. “My Blacksburg town pieces are digitally drawn in Photoshop. Photoshop is not a drawing program, but using my ability with perspective and the program’s tools, I can create colorful, modernist prints,” he explains. The 56-year-old artist, who attended most of elementary and all of middle and high school in Blacksburg, never considered any other career path than art. “Given my meandering grades, it was a wise
choice,” he quips. He majored in fine art at Virginia Tech with a focus on comic strip writing and drawing, and still he most enjoys sketching with a black pen. But, he’s not the first artist to embrace a favorite medium which is not always the one that sells the most. “What sells the best pays the bills.” His first memory of knowing he had some art talent came around half a decade in age. “I was attending a Christmas party for children when I was 5 or 6, and we were instructed to draw Christmas trees. Someone’s parent held up my drawing and said: ‘Look what George drew.’” Wills placed high once in a national collegiate comic strip contest while a student at VT. “The recognition helped me
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His first memory of knowing he had some art talent came around half a decade in age. “I was attending a Christmas party for children when I was 5 or 6, and we were instructed to draw Christmas trees. Someone’s parent held up my drawing and said: ‘Look what George drew.’”
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land a stint writing gags and drawing for Jeff MacNelly’s “SHOE,” a nationally syndicated comic strip. He didn’t need the assistance. Jeff was just congenial, mentoring and nearby in Richmond,” he recalls. He also placed second in an earlier national contest. “Of interest,” he notes, “Berkeley Breathed was third. But,
of course, his cartoonist career went much, much better with Bloom County than mine.” His creative talent does not reside solely on paper or canvas. He was one of three first place winners 12 years ago in the Virginia Governor’s Screenwriting competition. “I also completed a stage play titled ‘Marooned in Blacksburg,’ which tells the story of a beleaguered wife who hates maroon and orange and her battle with her husband who intends to paint their garage maroon with orange gutters. My humor writing is under the radar to those who know me, and I’ve enjoyed writing humorous pieces about the Town of Blacksburg for 16 Blocks Magazine.”
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Wills finds Winslow Homer’s watercolors stunning, and it is his Adirondack works that inspired Wills’ interest in watercolors. He also admires English illustrator Ralph Stedman’s chaotic, original watercolors. “He created a style unique to him,” Wills concedes, “and that is an
impressive accomplishment.” George Wills paintings grace walls not only locally, like in Town vice-mayor Krisha Chachra’s living room, but also in Hokie homes all over the world. “I’ve shipped to Australia, Germany, Switzerland and England. Matrix Gallery sells the occasional piece to departing foreign students taking back a memory that packs flat and easy in a suitcase.” He doesn’t keep pets, because they can be problematic in a tiny studio space, and he doesn’t do plein air, painting outside. “I never paint outdoors. I prefer to walk and observe when in nature, to keep moving forward. I will sketch in a pad for
reference, but not paint. I’m lazy that way.” But there’s nothing lazy about the innovative, digital paintings depicting local color all over town -- Gillie’s, the Lyric, the Cellar and many other downtown establishments.
Wills makes up for being a man of
few words by being an artist with beaucoup talent. Buyers are charmed by his fanciful, whimsical, amusing depictions of birds and animals, sometimes stacked up and other times simply happy in their enchanting little worlds. Even though he’s passed through a few decades since being 5 or 6, Wills’ paintings still evoke that astonishing observation: Look what George drew! George Wills art is found at:
Matrix Gallery Bollo’s Café and Bakery Eucalyptus Massage and Art Gallery www.BlacksburgArt.etsy.com
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Re tire me n t
New River Valley Agency on Aging
Text by Joanne M. Anderson The first Baby Boomers reluctantly experienced their 65th birthdays five years ago, and this large generation is expected to live longer than any other. Longevity can be partially attributed to improved medical care, drugs, fitness and nutrition. Average life expectancy is close to 80, which is half a century more than life at the founding of our country. Average life in the U.S. in 1776 was just 30. My, we have come a long way. Among the medical challenges of this aging population are heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, hearing and sight issues, cancer, senility, obesity and chronic illness. Other issues include housing, finances, caregiving, transportation and healthy lifestyles, the latter receiving more attention than in days of yore. Prevention and wellness have become center stage topics at middle age, in an effort to experience senior years which are not so fraught with illness and disease. Not only was there no Internet for information back in 1776, but also here in our region, there was no New River Valley Agency on Aging to turn to for help, resources and referrals. Established in 1975, this organization offers a plethora of programs and services which help oldsters throughout the NRV. Its mission is: to support and enhance the lives of older adults, their families and caregivers through advocacy, information and services.
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www.nrvaoa.org Most of the funding comes from the federal government’s Older Americans Act, and contributions from individuals, grants, fees and the Virginia General Assembly assist in supporting its efforts. On the up side, many seniors do enjoy good health and now have the time and inclination to volunteer. “Older adults are contributing more than ever to their communities,” states executive director Tina King. “Because of this, there is a growth in the need to find volunteer opportunities.” The senior population over 65 in Virginia is projected to rise to 25 percent in less than 10 years. Some 2 million men and women will fall into this age group state-wide, and several will need assistance. According to program director Cassie Mills, the number of NRV residents age 65 and older is expected to double by the year 2030, with nearly one in four older persons above 65 in Giles and Pulaski counties. “The percentage of adult children providing personal care and/or financial assistance to a parent has more than tripled over the past 15 years,” she adds. Among the most common needs in the NRV are transportation, food services, home modification and repair and housing. “We have very limited family help. Before receiving services from the Agency on Aging, we depended on my husband’s elderly mother (who is in her late 90s) to walk to a grocery store. We did not see a
doctor regularly. Now we use the agency for transportation to doctor appointments, and home delivered meals provide our main source of nutrition as well as a safety check from the driver,” relates Mr. and Mrs. T. of Giles County. Margaret cares for her husband in Pulaski County. He has Alzheimer’s disease, and she writes: “Not knowing what help is out there or how to go about getting it was a big concern until I talked to your staff. It’s nice to know there is help in my time of need.” It seems like in an age of cell phones and the Internet that the senior population might not be isolated, but it is not always the case. “The rural nature of the New River Valley can be a barrier,” Mills explains. “There are still some pockets in the NRV where cell service and WiFi are not available, and affordability can be an issue.” The Agency on Aging can help with legal services, care coordination including respite care, homemaker services, congregate and home-delivered meals and more. It has information on Medicare, aging in place, volunteer opportunities, counseling, advocacy and elder abuse concerns. Its services and resource referrals are wide-reaching, and there’s a measure of comfort in the interest, dedication and commitment of the staff to the senior population throughout the NRV.
New River Valley Agency on Aging 141 East Main Street, Suite 500, Pulaski (540) 980-7720 | 1-866-260-4417
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Re tire me n t
Moving a Specialist into your Moving Plan By Joanne M. Anderson
It’s a project that involves a move,
with sorting, packing, donating, recycling,
Everyone has stories to tell, and they warm
and the direction is up. Thus, the business
moving and setting up in a different living
my heart.” What begins as a business
name “project move UP” connotes a
space or reorganized home. “In some
commitment often concludes with an
positive experience for relocation or
cases where a widow or widower needs
ongoing friendship.
streamlining
current space. Its founder
to move to a smaller place,” she explains,
and president, Lesa Wynn, is a moving and
“we acknowledge the grief and sorrow
UP was a valuable component in moving
organization specialist who can facilitate
at the outset, then focus on making it
from her 5,000-square-foot mountain
everything one needs for a comfortable
a positive adventure.” One of the most
home to an in-town townhouse. “With my
move.
rewarding parts of working with seniors for
own kids and grandchildren out of state
As a member of the National
her is the stories. “Their experiences, their
and limited mobility, project move UP
Association of Senior Move Managers,
knowledge, their wisdom ~ it all nurtures
was precisely what I needed,” she relates.
Lesa is especially drawn to helping seniors
my soul as we move through the process.
“Lesa not only packed, unpacked and put
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For Irene Jacobs, project move
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away everything I moved, but also set up
Tasks which take days and create undue
my computer, arranged for movers and
stress can often be done by professionals
program with the New River Valley
getting furniture and things to charity or
in half the time or less.”
Association of REALTORS for connections
Upscale Attic. She lined up a contractor
Lesa has cultivated excellent
to myriad families and individuals moving
for a bathroom remodel. Once settled, I
relationships with many specialists in the
to or away from the New River Valley. She
called on her to remove and replace all my
New River Valley who complement her
can craft a timely plan of action for handling
screens when the townhouse association
skills. She often brings in Natalie of Upscale
home furnishings, packing and managing
had the buildings power-washed.”
Attic, Brian at Clinton’s Moving and Storage
loading up, offloading and functional and
and Larry at Linkous Auctioneers.
aesthetic placement in the home.
on involvement in managing people
and projects in a corporate environment
Corporate Research Center, Lesa is often
work, stress, phone calls, e-mails and all the
across a couple decades, Lesa developed
the moving and organizing professional
cumbersome details that go into moving
her vision for a company which brings
needed to coordinate a move -- from office
with project move UP. Despite the situation,
specialists into the picture at every step
chairs and coffee stations to computer and
moving can be an “up” experience and
along the way. “Home and office transitions
IT equipment and everything else. She
proceed smoothly from beginning to end.
can be stressful, even when the purpose
develops a comprehensive, achievable
promises a better and more appropriate
plan based on her expert evaluation of
www.projectmoveup.com
end result,” she states. “When someone
office circumstances, objectives and timing
(540) 808-4263
asks me to name one thing which can
with as little disruption to business activities
simplify the process, I say use a specialist.
as possible.
Drawing from real life and hands-
As an affiliate with the Virginia Tech
Lesa participates in the partnership
You can save yourself tons of
Whether you are in need of easier retirement living, assisted living care, full nursing care, or short-term rehabilitation following a hospital stay, we can accommodate your needs. ( 540) 380-6511 • RichfieldLiving.com • Salem, VA NRVMAGAZINE.com
S e p t / O c t 2 0 1 6
39
NRV R i de s
The 50 Cent Ride Text and photos by Nathan Cooke
acquired in 2010, and there is specialized
stop time, time between stops and other
training for driving them.
Buses are
statistical information.” Seat belts are not
orange outfits, gray limestone aka Hokie
equipped with 6-liter diesel engines that
installed due to low speed, short distances
stone and city-style buses. Blacksburg
get a thirsty three miles per gallon. Luckily,
and federal regulations not requiring them.
Transit (BT) is responsible for most of
distances between stops and trips across
A/C and heat provide comfort inside.
the public transportation in town and
town are short.
operates under the auspices of the Town
Price,
riding the buses at all times of the day,
of Blacksburg. More than two-thirds of
maintenance manager for 23 years, the
the most busy use times are during the
the 189 full and part-time employees are
buses are completely serviced every 6,000
academic year at Virginia Tech around class
bus operators, who each complete three
miles.
Servicing takes two days, and a
changes Monday through Friday. The most
months of training. Some 20,500 passenger
94,000-square-foot, heated garage has
busy route in town is the Progress Street
trips occur per day when classes are in full
several back up buses to ensure that routes
route, which is almost all student housing
swing at Virginia Tech, with an astonishing
are covered every day. After each service
along the section between N. Main St., and
3.5 million passengers moving about the
check-up, buses are washed and cleaned
Patrick Henry Drive.
town and Virginia Tech campus last year.
completely. The garage has a state-of-the-
art automated washing bay in frequent
providing safe, clean and well-maintained
steadily grown by adding buses, routes
use.
public transportation with well-maintained
and stops to meet needs in the community.
“All of the buses are equipped
buses and on time routes. It is an amazing,
Currently, BT has 48 large buses, including
with GPS tracking,” states Fiona Rhodes,
beneficial service that is backed up by an
seven very long, accordion-like, bendy
communications and customer support
amazing, competent staff.
ones which each have a capacity of 107
specialist. “This ensures that safety is
people to their futures, jobs, shopping
passengers. The first bendy bus was
maintained by monitoring bus speed,
and classes for only 50 cents a ride is an
When exploring Blacksburg, you
often notice three things:
maroon and
Service began in 1983 and has
According
to
Mike
While there tends to be someone
Blacksburg Transit takes pride in
Connecting
unbelievable bargain. 40
NRV MAGAZINE
S eptemb er/Octob er 2016
Spelling Sidebar
The word bus is short for omnibus and came into
popular use in the 19th century. An early spelling included two s’s at the end, but the single s has won for acceptability today. The preferred plural of bus is buses, and the word busses with a double s in the middle refers to the verb “bus”, as in bussing tables in a restaurant. BT Access
This arm of Blacksburg Transit provides door-to-door
transport for people who meet requirements established by the USDOT under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Amended Act of 2008 to travel within the Blacksburg town limits. The airport shuttle-style buses have fully accessible low floors, and drivers are permitted to assist passengers from their pickup door to the exterior door of the destination. It is a wonderful service for disabled, elderly and folks with limitations who might not otherwise be able to go shopping or travel to a doctor appointment.
Our excellent downtown location allows our guests to enjoy dining, music, theater and shopping... all a short stroll away
For schedules, routes, passes and more information: www.transit.org
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S e p t / O c t 2 0 1 6
Park your car at Main Street Inn and walk to Virginia Tech and Athletic Facilites.
Our amenities include:
Free WiFi internet Wet Bar Microwave In-Room Safe Oversized Showers
Flat Screen Cable TV Refrigerator Coffee Maker Hair Dryer Iron & Ironing Board
41
Family Ties Text by Jennifer Poff Cooper Photos by Always and Forever Photography
The Keith family home place, built circa 1910, sits in a quiet spot a halfmile from cars whooshing by on Route 8 between Christiansburg and Riner. The house was sited here because it was believed the highway would run close to the house, when in fact it ended up far on the other side. It was a blessing in disguise. The idyllic, serene setting now overlooks a sparkling pond with lush, green 42
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surrounding fields. The house exudes the “Southern Living” ideal – the feel of having been added onto over time, layer by layer, as it was in 1981, 1995, 2007 and 2010. My grandfather, Edwin Keith, grew up in this house, which was constructed by his mother’s cousin. The Keiths purchased the home and surrounding farm in 1917, the year of his birth. The family farmed and operated the first Grade-A dairy
barn in Montgomery County, except for Virginia Tech, and they owned the land and house that includes Sinkland Farms. My grandfather sold that house and half of the farm to Henry Sink in 1981. At that time, my grandparents, whom I affectionately called Nanny and Papa, poured their hearts into the home place they had inherited. In this major renovation, the wiring, plumbing, papering and plastering were redone. The original kitchen and dining room were torn away and rebuilt, and downstairs rooms were added. With its new glittery crystal chandelier, eight-person cherry Queen Anne table, and elaborately molded builtin corner china cabinet, the dining room was Nanny’s favorite. She and Papa kept the old stairs with short risers, the high baseboards and original heart pine flooring to evoke a sense of antiquity. So striking was the mix of old and new that the house was once featured on the Montgomery historical homes tour. Nanny only lived in the house about five years before cancer took her life. Soon after, I graduated from high school and college, married and moved to Alabama. In 2006, Papa died, and a turning point came on Easter Sunday the following year. My mother phoned to say that she was going to sell the house and surrounding six acres. I bristled at the idea of letting the property leave the family after three generations. As the only grandchild and heir, I began hatching a scheme. My family would move to Virginia. I longed to stay connected to this house that held so much of my history. The generational home was irreplaceable, and it was built with far more than wood and nails. It had had fallen into disrepair, but after a consultation with a contractor, my husband and I realized it had “good bones.” As we talked about putting our stamp on the property, we
S eptemb er/Octob er 2016
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43
became excited. The bar we had always wanted in the kitchen; a formal living room for the Christmas tree; bookcases galore. The remodeling took six months. When old carpet came out, the musty smell improved. Fresh paint in historical but current colors brightened each room. The downstairs master suite was revamped to accommodate his and hers bathrooms and closets. Upstairs, our teenage son appropriated my uncle’s former living quarters to store his Legos and running trophies in the built-in cabinets. This room had more space than our son had known, since the suite was fashioned by knocking out a wall to join two smaller bedrooms. Our then 8-year-old daughter’s bedroom is in the original section of the house. Previously it housed antiques, including the wash basin and razor strap my greatgrandfather used. Although retaining 44
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those mementoes was important, I boxed them up as the room required adaptation for a modern-day girl. She didn’t love the heart pine floors, but agreed to forgo carpet if she could have fluffy rugs. We created a monster closet out of an old stairway landing. We maintained the parlor, a room original to the house, and much of its furniture. Papa made the drop-leaf cherry table from wood he cut on the farm. A round marble-top table was a gift from a cousin. The couch purchased by my grandparents at the time of their marriage was reupholstered in 1981 to match the new living room décor. Old pieces pepper the rest of the house as well. In the kitchen, the rolling pin and dough board on the wall belonged to Papa’s mother, Mama Keith, a renowned cook in the Riner area. The pressing irons used as kitchen decoration also belonged to
Mama Keith. The rocking chair in the family room came from Nanny’s aunt. Also in the family room is the powder horn carried in the Civil War by Papa’s grandfather Howell. Grandfather Howell was wounded in the Second Battle of Bull Run and retained a bullet in his knee for most of his years. The school bell on a bookshelf was used by Nanny’s mother when she began teaching. Papa’s handmade baskets are showcased throughout the home. The house and property feel comfortably connected to the past and to the generations that came before, even as my family makes new memories. At each stage that the house was refurbished, it perked up from the fresh attention lavished on it while seeming to relish in its history. Jennifer Poff Cooper is maintaining her “family ties” while living in the home place with her husband, Lee, and children, Alex and Inessa. She is a regular writer for New River Valley Magazine and freelances in the region.
S eptemb er/Octob er 2016
this is how we do
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45
KELSEY FOSTER Born and raised in Northern California, I moved to Blacksburg four years ago when my husband entered a doctorate program in chemistry at Virginia Tech. I had never traveled to Virginia, but found an easy connection with the area through my food and lifestyle blog, aslolife. com. My blog was created as a way to chronicle my food adventures during my last year of living in one of California’s richest agricultural areas -- San Luis Obispo, or SLO, where I had also attended college at Cal Poly. The California central coast has an extensive wine country, a host of local breweries and farmer’s markets on every day of the week, so it was really the ideal location to learn to appreciate good food and how to prepare and cook it. When I moved to the New River Valley, I was thrilled to find a similar local food culture to explore and to inspire my own recipe creation and writing. I love creating simple recipes that highlight the featured ingredients and that cooks of all levels can enjoy making, such as the slow cooker apple butter recipe featured in this issue. Since moving to Blacksburg, I have also expanded my blog to include more lifestyle features, such as fashion, another one of my other passions. When I’m not in the kitchen or writing, I can be found hanging out with my two cats, Padfoot and Pippin, exploring new areas and restaurants with my husband, singing with the Blacksburg Master Chorale, and working at my day job as a full time graduate student earning my master’s degree in communication at Virginia Tech. 46
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NATHAN COOKE Nathan Cooke was born and raised in the coal fields of West Virginia. He attended Concord College and West Virginia University with the dream of becoming a therapist, which he is, who helps children and families in the New River Valley. He realizes and embraces the importance of self care and personal reflection, so he has pursued photography to keep him grounded and focused on personal insights. Nathan focuses most of his camera attention on landscape, events and portrait photographs, specializing in developing stories about the progression of life through a camera lens. He has explored several stories throughout the hills of West Virginia and Virginia with a keen eye on emotional connections within an image. With 20 years of therapy experience, Nathan capitalizes on connecting human feelings and emotions through a photograph. Quite often you will see him capturing scenes and moments in time walking around the streets of Blacksburg. His photography instruction to individuals and small groups throughout the NRV is focused on assisting others with connecting their thoughts and feelings with images. Nathan believes that it is never the camera or equipment that gets the image. Its the emotions behind the image. He resides in Pearisburg with his wife Sally and their five children. Browse photos and/or contact Nathan at his websites: ncooke.com and nrvexplorer.com.
S eptemb er/Octob er 2016
WELCOME
ALUMNI HALL EL RODEO ANYTIME FITNESS FRANK THEATRES BLACKSBURG EYE JoS A. BANK BULL & BONES LITTLE LEAPERS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF BLACKSBURG LOFT CHOCOLATE SPIKE MONTESSORI INFANT NIDO ENVIRONMENT
COMING SOON
RUNABOUT SPORTS SAKE HOUSE SAL’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT SPORT CLIPS TALBOTS WIRELESS ZONE - VERIZON ZOE’S KITCHEN
LYNDA BARRY What It Is
Author and cartoonist Friday, October 28, 2016, 7:30 PM For mature audiences $25 general admission, $10 students with ID and youth 18 and under
BE ENGAGED... BE CURIOUS
The Moss Arts Center nourishes your craving for thought, reflection, and deeper understanding. KYLE ABRAHAM/ABRAHAM.IN.MOTION Mixed Repertory
Contemporary dance Thursday, November 17, 2016, 7:30 PM
PERFORMANCES l EXHIBITIONS l EXPERIENCES 190 Alumni Mall, Blacksburg, VA 24061 www.artscenter.vt.edu | 540-231-5300