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Announcing an exhilarating new season!
Subscriptions on sale now; single tickets available Aug. 1.
An Evening With Renée Elise Goldsberry Fri., Sept.13, 7:30 pm 24/25 Season Opener
Renée Elise Goldsberry — best known for her role as the original Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton and as a current star in Tina Fey’s Girls5Eva — brings a memorable evening of Broadway hits and American songbook classics.
NEW RIVER VALLEY
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PUBLISHER
Country Media, Inc.
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MANAGING EDITOR
Joanne Anderson
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
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DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
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WRITERS
Joanne Anderson
Emily Alberts
Jo Clark
Becky Hepler
Nancy Moseley
Caitlyn Koser
Evan Hull
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Tom Wallace
Christy Wallace
Kristie Lea Photography
Kevin Riley
Madison Underwood
Jon Fleming
Cover Photo by:
Jon Fleming
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My dad was a big-time reader, and our favorite books as children – or perhaps they were his favorites – were “When We Were Very Young” by A.A. Milne and “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson. We still recite many of the poems, not by intentional memorizing, but by having them read to us over and over and over and over.
Pasture Talk
We learned to love reading (article on page 34) and go to the library at a young age. I turned the pages of magazines before I could read. Issues of Family Circle and Good Housekeeping kept company with National Geographic and Reader’s Digest. I went to college with the lofty goal of working for and/or translating Reader’s Digest Disillusioned after graduation with the job market (some things never change or history repeats itself?), I put a few things and my cousin Carol in Sylvia, my 1967 bronze Ford Fairlane. We left my parents’ house in Connecticut one late summer morning heading to California to wear flowers in our hair. My parents reaction: Go while you’re young! Sylvia broke down in Colorado, so I got a job to pay the repair bill and hung out in Boulder for the next 12 years. There was much discussion - and some consternation - when I completed an application to join the allvolunteer Boulder Emergency Squad. They never had a girl apply. I got in, worked hard on skills and certifications and rose to be an officer and paramedic. I have written here before that I can pull your steering wheel through your windshield with a baling hook, chain and come-along. I can do it with the “jaws of life”, too, but we didn’t have that tool until the late ‘70s. It took a serious, multi-year fundraising effort to afford one.
Excitement, sorrow and satisfaction flood me when I read the
annual fundraising letter from the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad. More than 170 volunteers, 3,743 emergency calls, 89,492 hours. They suggest you make certain your house number is visible, and you have a current, written, medical history and list of medications.
I suggest you make a donation to the rescue squad which serves your New River Valley address. The equipment, vehicles and supplies cost real money, yet you will not receive a bill for services rendered ~ from a BAND-AID® and well wishes to a splint and trip to an ER or to a helipad for air transport. These volunteers are some of the finest, most dedicated, highly trained, compassionate, selfless folks you’ll ever (or hopefully never) meet. Same goes for our [mostly] volunteer fire departments. $10, $25, $100, $1,000, $5,000. Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need. [Khalil Gibran]
When you are not in need of EMS, and you don’t happen to be reading, fix a fire, make s’mores and enjoy one of nature’s most magical summer shows – lightning bugs! Recipes and firefly info in these pages. Embrace a sense of discovery this summer, and embark on interesting outdoor experiences that the season offers in the New River Valley.
Joanne Anderson ManagingEditor jmawriter@aol.com
Hot, Cold, Shake, Bounce & Roll
PPeople will try anything to improve their health. In fact, 2024 lifestyle trends are marked by an increased interest in everyday practicality and outdoor adventure.
Start Simple
For many, practicality and the outdoors go hand-in-hand when you take a daily walk. It is fun, provides socialization, a glimpse of nature, fresh air, and no gym membership required. One of the most-searched questions on Google is, “What happens when I walk every day?”
Dr. Dalia McCoy, Cleveland Clinic family medicine specialist, answers: “Walking every morning reduces the risk of heart disease,
Text by Jo Clark
lowers blood pressure and LDL (the “bad” cholesterol), and strengthens the heart. Walking helps the heart be more efficient. As your fitness improves, your heart becomes more effective.”
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America and is blamed for nearly 860,000 deaths each year. To combat that danger, people attempt to improve their fitness in a number of ways. McCoy says walking not only supports heart health but also reduces stress, aids in weight loss and improves the immune system. That sounds good.
What’s Hot?
Spending 15–25 minutes in a hot sauna, either wet or infrared,
at least three times weekly may assist in numerous health issues. The heat from a sauna increases the heart rate. It expands your vessels, improving circulation and reducing the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Sweating flushes toxins and impurities from the skin. Heat can also help with pain in arthritis, fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.
Daily time in a hot tub provides many of the same benefits. A bonus is that the buoyancy of the water can take weight off painful joints. Floating in a tub of hot water is said to help your mental state. Length of recommended time depends on the temperature of the water.
Hot stone massage has similar benefits with the advantage
that comes from touch. The stones’ warmth, combined with the therapist’s massage, can create a sensory experience and encourage your body to release endorphins, improving mood. Another lesser-known benefit of hot stone massage is that it can help reduce anxiety in cancer patients, making them feel more comfortable during treatment, relieve depression and promote sleep.
For the more energetic, hot yoga might be the ticket. Hot yoga burns calories, builds bone density, and improves cardiovascular fitness and flexibility. It also helps ease depression and reduce stress. Doing Yoga in a studio at 95-100 degrees and 40% humidity, however, may be uncomfortable for some.
What’s Not Hot?
Some people swear by the cold plunge! One man near the ocean started doing it in March when ocean temperatures average 55°—that’ll make your teeth chatter! He claims immediate elevation in his depression with a daily run, then a five-minute cold dip. You can create the same conditions at home by adding ice to the tub or taking a cold shower.
Benefits touted include:
• Reduced inflammation; help with swelling and muscle soreness
• Improved mood; temporary mood boost and long-term reduction of
anxiety and depression by increasing dopamine and endorphin levels.
• Improved sleep and increased focus
• Restored balance to nervous system
• Improved cognitive function
• Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes
These are all researched by the Mayo Clinic, Dartmouth Health, and Healthline. There are cautionary notes, such as cold plunging is likely safe if you’re reasonably fit and have no history of heart issues, arrhythmias, diabetes or high blood pressure. Doctors warn you to stay in the water no more than three minutes and not to plunge alone.
What’s Shakin’ in the Name of Health
You can shimmy and shake a LOT of things while you work up a sweat in Zumba. Founded in 2001, Zumba combines cardio workouts with Latin dance moves and quietly flies under the radar. Still, it has more than 15 million people taking classes in 200,000 locations in 180 countries every week. All that shakin’ going on can boost metabolism and burn up to 700 calories in an hour.
Vibration wave machines, also called vibration plates, claim to provide benefits that include weight loss, increased muscle strength, blood flow and lymphatic drainage, and increased bone mineral density. It can also relieve lower back pain while improving balance and coordination. However, Dr. Edward Laskowski with the Mayo Clinic states: “Whole-body vibration can offer some fitness and health benefits, but it’s not clear if it’s as good for you as regular exercise. Comprehensive research about wholebody vibration is lacking. And because whole-body vibration can be harmful
in some situations, check with your doctor before using it.”
Bounce Your Way to Health
There is a reason children jump on beds. Instinctively, they know it is good for them! You can rebound in the comfort of your home on a mini-trampoline. Someone with poor mobility can place their feet on the trampoline’s edge, and another person can bounce, achieving two-for-one benefits.
Even though rebounding is low-impact, as you bounce, your body works hard to push down onto the mat and then jump up off the mat. That means you burn some calories. Rebounding forces the one-way valves of the lymphatic system to open and close during each bounce, removing toxins and bacteria. Bouncing reduces impact shock by 87% compared to a hard surface.
Another way to bounce is Bokwa. Yoga instructor Hope Bray is certified in this and says it is often called the Bokwa Bounce. Bokwa is a fitness program based on South
African music and dance that follows no structured choreography. Instead, the instructor gives hand signals to keep participants moving by drawing letters and numbers with their feet.
Rolling, Rolling, Rolling
Ooh, there are so many possibilities. There are bicycles, trigger point balls to roll out muscles, bouncing on exercise balls, and even roller skating—all ways to roll your way to a healthier body.
As with any advice, you must remember (1) you need to do your research and talk with a doctor you trust, and (2) you get what you pay for. Then there’s the Italian concept of Dolce Far Niente, “the sweetness of doing nothing” -- embracing leisure time without guilt or productivity pressure. It sounds like the Italian version of the Scarlett O’Hara philosophy, “I’ll think about that tomorrow.”
Freelance writer, photographer and podcaster Jo Clark enjoys guzzling down her ice water while walking and doing yoga on a hot beach. Instagram handle @JoGoesEverywhere and www. haveglasswilltravel.com
A Perfect Match the benefits of starting (and keeping!) a relationship with tennis
Text by Nancy S. Moseley | Photos by Dave Knachel
When it comes to curious tennis scoring rules, it's an odd fact that "love" equals zero. While so many funny analogies can be made from this (it's also played on a court!), tennis is a sport that provides not only physical, but also mental and social benefits, that will likely precede, and surprisingly outlast, the many, or one true, loves of our lives.
Physical Benefits
For youth sports, soccer arguably wins the popularity contest, followed closely by Little League and maybe even flag football. But here's a public service announcement for parents of the New River Valley: Don't dismiss tennis.
Exposure to tennis at an early age instills skills in little ones like coordination, agility and balance, all fantastic
foundations on which to develop a successful run at any sport. Due to the quick stops, sprinting, twisting and turning that tennis requires, large muscle groups will activate and stay activated, and bone mass will strengthen, keeping latent osteoporosis at bay. Compare this to say, a child manning 3rd base in Little League. He is unlikely to see much action and just might become better versed at using his cleat to rearrange the dirt to reveal his initials instead; not a terrible thing (aspiring creative type?), but young kids usually need to move, move and then move some more.
Budding outfield artists aside, any sport - team or individual - stands to reap many physical and mental benefits in malleable young ones.
Chip Webb, assistant tennis coach at Virginia Tech says of sports during childhood: "It's important for kids to have a sport that's individual and one that's a team. Because
"It's important for kids to have a sport that's individual and one that's a team. Because some are better in each environment." - Chip Webb
some are better in each environment."
Webb found himself a tennis phenomenon at a young age, attending a tennis academy for his junior and senior years of high school and topping out at top 5 in the country. He has coached privately and now enjoys the rigor and excitement of coaching at a D1 collegiate level.
For adults and seniors, never fear, it's not too late! It is a special treat that tennis is not dependent on being young, being strong, or even, being tall. It is a sport to pick up at any age, at any size, at any skill level. Added bonus: It is graciously no-impact, certainly a "pro" on the decision scale for those who may be on the denouement of physical prowess.
According to USTA.com (United States Tennis Association), playing tennis three hours a week reduces
heart disease by 56%. The hand-eye coordination required to play keeps reaction times swift and agility keen. Tennis consummately promotes stronger bones, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility and, like most exercise, reduces stress.
Mental Benefits
Tennis requires quick thinking and quicker reactions; both requiring instantaneous problem-solving to keep executions sharp. And accurate.
Because it's an individual effort, the cognitive side effects help develop those often pesky, but no less crucial, soft skills. Self-confidence, a sense of accomplishment, poise under pressure, gracious losing, humble winning all toughens the mental muscle. An early understanding of
carrying something entirely on your shoulders is invaluable, after all that's what life will hand you as a grown-up.
In tennis, there isn't an entire team to lean on and, likewise, there is no bench or subbing out. If things get challenging, the player must double down on determination and focus, while harnessing a confident independence to go forward. These are values that can, and should, be applied to all corners of life.
"Golf and tennis are the most mentally demanding sports from my point of view because you're out there by yourself for up to 3 hours. There are so many different highs and lows, so being mentally solid is the most important thing," Webb adds.
As we age, it’s that same mental agility that rules the roost. While we can't protect everything from the theft of time, we can certainly strive to keep our thinker ticking as acutely as possible. And the best way to do that? Regularly introduce new challenges, for both the brain and the body.
Social Benefits
Lastly, the social perks of tennis probably seem a bit obvious. For the young, old and everyone in between, getting involved and staying involved in the community
equates to sustainable health and happiness. Fostering friendships and camaraderie that playing a sport affords is a reason to play all by itself. And tennis, specifically, is an easy grasp. It doesn't require the organization of a team and, again, is agnostic of age and ability.
Certainly, when it comes to the social life of tennis buffs, it would be a gross oversight not to drop the term "pickleball" in here somewhere. Having begun in the mid60s in Washington State, it has, without question, been enjoying an extreme popular resurgence of late. Evident by the bite-sized courts taking over real estate in towns across America, pickleball is on trend everywhere and stealing hearts with each serve.
So, you might as well try one -- pickleball or tennis. It's hard to argue the comprehensive benefits, the wellbeing of your body, mind and social life. Afterall, rackets swipe both left and right.
"If I had time right now, I would see how good I could get at pickleball," Webb laughs, "but it's a really stupid name."
Nancy S. Moseley is freelance writer born and raised in Blacksburg. She really wants to find an adult pickleball league to join. Maybe even fall in love with; however, expectations remain reasonable.
Austin DeVincent
austin.devincent@nestrealty.com ph: 765.490.0905
nestrealtynrv.com
118 Country Club Dr. SW, Blacksburg, VA 24060
I was told I had the personality for real estate for many years, but I resisted simply because I knew there was more than what met the eye in this profession. After years of various jobs during and after college, it was clear that the breadcrumbs were laying a path. The heart of it was always people. To help others. To find a way to be resourceful. After leaving a technical job where I learned about homes and problem-solving, I went to college! I earned a degree
in management (and airplanes!) all while working as a leasing agent for a property management company. Experience isn’t something that can be skipped. It’s what helps a professional be of value. It’s imperative that we as agents be professionals and seek out knowledge both through law and in practice. We are the voices for clients, and that cannot be missed even though we are here to have a great time working together. If you want a hands-on real estate professional who will have fun with you but not forget the main assignment of achieving your goals, give me a call. I’d love the opportunity to learn about you and your next steps!
Becky
Brawley
118 Country Club Dr. SW, Blacksburg, VA 24060 becky.brawley@nestrealty.com ph: 540.831.0292
As a local of the New River Valley I am excited to connect with you and show you all of the reasons this area is a wonderful place to call home.
I am passionate about helping you find a home in the place I have loved and been proud to call home for more than 30 years. Raised in the New River Valley
I stayed local to attend Virginia Tech, moved briefly to Roanoke and Bedford County during my career in banking and moved back to the New River Valley with my husband in 2010 to raise our family. I am excited to connect with you and show you all of the reasons this area is a wonderful place to call home. I recognize the value and trust you will put into who you choose to guide you through the home buying process and I will strive every day to exceed these expectations.
Patriotism in Wood
Text by Joanne M. Anderson
Photos by Jon Fleming
David Boyd works as a Registered Nurse, but it was an earlier job stocking shelves at Food Lion that proved pivotal on the family front. “I met Heather one day on the Jell-o aisle,” he recalls. He graduated from Eastern Montgomery High School, and she from Christiansburg High School. They talked a bit and exchanged telephone numbers in the grocery store. Their dating culminated in getting married in August of 2010.
That same year he took his first job in healthcare as a Certified Nursing Assistant, which provided the pivotal point for him to want to advance his career. He attended Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke, which is now Radford University Carilion. He graduated in 2015 and began working
as an R.N. at LewisGale Medical Center in Salem.
It was his late pawpaw (his mother’s father Robert Mundy) who played a pivotal role in his love of woodworking, now a hobby-turned-business which had been shelved for more than 10 years. “I loved being in his shop, cleaning the sawdust, learning how to use simple woodworking tools. He made end tables, picture frames and home décor items of wood. I made a little bird house that looked like a cabin,” Boyd relates. “That would have been my first real wood piece. I remember helping him assemble his new table saw, which I use now.”
Last year, the woodworking bug stirred, and the 38-year-old father of three girls decided to build a workshop.
“I loved being in his shop, cleaning the sawdust, learning how to use simple woodworking tools.
“Some of my current goals are getting my workshop set up more completely, creating new designs and pieces, and inviting my daughters to become involved in the building phases.”
“My new garage is a 30 x 40-foot building split in half for woodworking on one side and mechanical work on the other. I do all of my own mechanic work. Both my father and father-in-law were mechanics.”
He loves the process of transforming a plain piece of wood, step by step, to a finished product. One of his favorite pieces so far is an early tattered flag. “It was my first project like that, and I really enjoyed the finished look,” he offers. It sold quickly, and Boyd went on to craft many more flags, some flat, some wavy, some tattered and others stenciled with God Bless America or We The People.
An American patriot to the core, one of Boyd’s biggest disappointments was not being accepted into the U.S. Marine Corps due to his asthma condition. Both his grandfathers, two uncles and a brother-in-law have served in the military. He still thinks of signing up with the Reserves, weighing the trade-offs with family life and a full-time job. Thus, his big attraction with handcrafting Old Glory in wood.
“I also do all the staining and painting myself, which has been a learning curve in itself,” he states. “Some of my current goals are getting my workshop set up more completely, creating new designs and pieces, and inviting my daughters to become involved in the building phases.”
The Boyd family loves the natural beauty and outdoor recreation that living in the New River Valley offers. Craft fair appearances are new and exciting for everyone. Heather and the girls help load, unload, arrange things and sell. While Boyd does not have another craft fair appearance scheduled at the moment, some of his wood flags are for sale at True Value hardware store at First & Main in Blacksburg.
Anyone can send a message on Facebook.
Search “db woodworks”
Email: DBWoodworksVA@gmail.com
Instagram: @db.woodworks.2023
A Mustang through the Ages
Text by Joanne M. Anderson
Photos by Tom and Christy Wallace
Youth is impressionable.
At the age of 6, David Reynolds attended the New York World’s Fair, which covered 646 acres at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. More than 51 million people turned out during its two 6-month runs, in 1964 and 1965. New technology included a picture telephone, roadbuilding robots, main frame computers, Belgian waffles, color television, and the Ford Mustang. Young David fell in love with the Mustang, a passion which has never left.
At the age of 12, his focus narrowed when a metallic blue, Mustang BOSS 302 arrived in 1970 at his father’s dealership in New Castle in Craig County. He got to sit in it before its new owner, Gary Wright, picked it up.
At the age of 18, Reynolds entered Virginia Tech (class of ’80), majoring in marketing management. Among several job offers, he accepted one with a tire store chain
because he knew a lot about cars, trucks and tires from his dad’s 30-year car dealership career.
At the age of 30, David Reynolds shifted into entrepreneur gear, opening South Main Auto Service, which has been on South Main Street in Blacksburg for 36 years.
The Mustang BOSS 302
“The Mustang BOSS, especially in metallic blue, was my all-time favorite car growing up,” Reynolds relates. “I drew pictures of it in my notebooks during school and dreamed of owning one. My teacher would hit me in the head with a ruler and tell me to get back to work.” Gary Wright’s wife drove the 1970 Mustang BOSS between Salem and New Castle to her job until 1979. Mr. Wright sold it with 65,600 miles to Dale Vest of Floyd. He only added 4,400 miles across the next 24 years.
“Fast forward to 2003 when a friend told me about this model vehicle for sale nearby. I went to look at it, and when I sat inside, well, it felt like I’d been there before.”
After returning home and checking the VIN number, this Mustang BOSS 302 devotee discovered it was the same car! He struck a deal and drove it home with its original motor
and manual transmission. Though he merely intended to clean it up a bit, he ended up stripping it down for a complete restoration. Reynolds completed the car the day before leaving for the 40th celebration of the Mustang in Nashville. There, Carroll Shelby and Steve Lyons selected his car for the Ford’s Choice Award. [Shelby was an automotive designer, race car driver and entrepreneur, best known for his involvement with modifying the Mustang for racing for Ford Motor Company. Lyons was the president of Ford Automotive Division at the time.]
“The BOSS 302 was built and sold to homologate the car to race the Trans American race series. The ‘70 BOSS 302 won the series in 1970,” Reynolds says. This high performance 302 cu in (4.9 L) H.O. V8 powered variant
of the Mustang was produced in 1969, 1970, 2012 and 2013. Though launched to counter the success of Chevrolet’s Camaro on the track, many street-legal Mustang BOSS vehicles were sold to the public in ’69 and ’70 with a sticker price of $3,720. Reynolds’ car has a 302 290 horse power engine, 4-speed Hurst shifter, 9” Ford rear end with a 3.91 gear ratio.
At the age of retirement
David Reynolds continues to work in South Main Auto Service. “My sons Allen and Josh work with me, and I can retire any time I want,” he explains, “but I enjoy the people and staying busy. It keeps the mind sharp. I love the generation angle here. We are fixing cars for Virginia Tech students who are sons and daughters of people whose vehicles we worked on when they were attending college!”
Reynolds also owns (and restores as time permits) several other cars, including a 1969 BOSS 429 Mustang, 1970 Dodge Challenger, several Shelby models, 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner, 1964 Polara 500 convertible and the 1951 Ford Victoria that his dad sold to his grandmother. But it’s the ’70 Mustang BOSS that owns his heart. He was the first person to sit in it, and he intends to be the last ~ until his family inherits it. Reynolds considers it a family heirloom, so stand aside diamond rings, antique furniture, gold watches and memorabilia. This man’s legacy is one very special, metallic blue, Mustang BOSS 302, along with a thriving business for his sons to pass along.
Left to right, Carroll Shelby, David Reynolds, Steve Lyons when Reynolds accepted the Mustang 40th anniversary FORD Choice Award in 2004.
The Jewel Box
Text by Joanne M. Anderson
Creative, forward-thinkers Daniel and Jean Vogler were well aware that later in life they might not be so enamored with their large, private, multi-story home in Giles County up a long, steep driveway. They found their ideal retirement home in Blacksburg in 2007, several years before they were ready to give up the tractor, 40 acres and challenges and joys of rural country living.
The couple purchased this brick, architect-designed, one floor “jewel box” and rented it for seven years before moving into town. “It is on a cul-de-sac with tall trees and a side yard abutting Montgomery County land,” says Daniel. “Our favorite spaces are the kitchen and tiled sun room adjacent to the outdoor deck.”
The architect who designed the house more than
30 years ago was also a creative, forward-thinker, ahead of his time on kitchen accoutrements and contemporary style. The original cherry cabinets feature built-in pantry shelving and numerous pull-out storage drawers. The original SubZero over-sized refrigerator and freezer behind cherry wood doors are still chilling at 33 years old.
The massive 3-foot by 10-foot horizontal window “over the sink” commands attention and frames the natural outdoor scene like a grand reality painting. Two large floor to ceiling windows also in the kitchen have stained glass lower halves, each piece from the church in Illinois Daniel attended as a child.
The home has copious natural daylight streaming in through more expansive windows and skylights, all of
Photos by Tom and Christy Wallace
which are cleaned from the ground three times a year by Daniel. Before settling into their retirement gem of a home, the Voglers installed new oak hardwood floors in the kitchen, dining room and great room, plus carpet in the bedrooms. They added ceiling fans, new appliances, a composite deck, new roof, HVAC and gas furnace, light fixtures with dimmer switches and upgraded electrical receptables. The bathrooms were remodeled, and new coats of paint freshened the walls.
The home itself is captivating and graceful in layout and design, but the eclectic furnishings, many packed with memories, raise the bar on inviting, cozy and warm. Eight of the 18 Sutter handcrafted, solid walnut pieces were purchased 59 years ago
when they got married. Daniel refinished a couple antique trunks and three of his antique oak office pieces, the latter purchased for $15 from a University of Michigan surplus center when he was on the faculty there.
Several attractive family antiques grace the rooms, but it may be Jean’s exquisite fiber art that takes center stage. “Quilts and textile art by Jean and her late mother are regularly rotated throughout the house by the season or holiday,” Daniel relates. “One of our walk-in closets has enough fabric to start a store.” She has designed and handcrafted many unique fabric items across decades for family, friends and charity. And, according to Daniel, her artistic and imaginative hands have green thumbs for indoor plants. Cuttings often turn into new plants for gifts. She’s like a gem residing in a jewel box. [It was a real estate person who likened the house to a jewel box, a befitting simile.]
The house embraces nature and offers privacy, though they miss the friends they made in Giles County. Somehow, it seemed “more fitting” to participate big time (20 or more entries) in the Newport Fair when their mailing address was Newport, though anyone from any county can submit baked goods, home-grown produce, flower arrangements and other things for the coveted blue ribbons. Daniel and Jean met at a county fair in their home state of Illinois when they were 16 and 14 years old, respectively. The “fair bug” has always been an entertaining endeavor. There’s often a question about the little frogs under their wee umbrella all summer in the front yard. What are their names? One is holding a glass of wine and one is reading a book. Turns out one is Jean, and one is Daniel. But which is which?
[Answer on p. 44]
The Value of Reading
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.
-- Charles William Eliot, president of Harvard,
1869-1909
You can “go places” you never dreamed of, “meet people” you never thought about, “learn skills” you never practiced before, reduce your stress level, sleep better, advance your career, grow your imagination, enhance your sense of discovery and build impenetrable bonds with others --- by reading.
It starts young for most, but motivated teens and adults can
Text by Joanne M. Anderson
improve reading skills and come to immensely enjoy books, magazines and newspapers in print. The tangible factor offers additional touch, feel and control sensations, and eliminates negative effects of screen time.
According to one survey, print books outsell e-books by four to one.
A Pew Research Study reports that print books remain the most popular format for reading and other studies show
that comprehension and retention are stronger from print pages.
“Few things are more important for a child than to discover the joy of reading. Parents who make reading attractive contribute immeasurably to their children’s intellectual, emotional and spiritual development,” writes Frank E. Gaebelein, author and founding headmaster of The Stony Brook School
in New York, in his Introduction to the book Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt. The book is an amazing blueprint of reading to and for children at different ages through 14. There is discussion with suggestions for picture books, animal books, classics, poetry, fantasy, historical fiction, adventure and more.
The benefits of reading to babies includes enhancing the parentchild bond. The closeness, cuddling and sound of a parent’s voice offer love, security and a sense of safety. Reader expressions in voice and face can teach emotions like astonishment, joy and concern, along with what will develop into critical thinking skills. Young children learn from repetition, so you don’t even need many books.
“A parent should not panic or be discouraged if their children do
not display a love of reading at an early age,” explains Blacksburg resident and former librarian Lynnette Conder. “Sometimes it takes the right genre to spark an interest. For me, it was the discovery of Louis L’Amour westerns at age 13. I couldn’t get enough of them. That developed into a love for adventure classics like The Three Musketeers. Soon I was reading books like Rebecca and Watership Down. I’ve loved reading ever since.”
One study found that the presence of a home library “increases children’s academic success, vocabulary development, attention and job attainment.” According to Joanna Sikora, the lead researcher: “Adolescent exposure to books is an integral part of social practices that foster long-term cognitive competencies.” Understand that a “home library” can consist of a
dozen books checked out from the public library with a sprinkling of free and used books. Basically, reading is free.
Baby to ‘Tween
Most all children love to have books read to them, in part for the attention. Time is one of life’s greatest gifts, and adults who read to children are gifting the young ones socially and intellectually. Children’s books are loaded with pictures, color and texture. Board books are great for small hands. Turning pages strengthens arm, hand and finger manipulation and hand-eye coordination.
“Public libraries have story times and summer reading programs for kids of all ages,” Conder relates. “Apps like Readeo help grandparents
WHERE LOVE gathers
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and other loved ones read remotely with children and close the gap that long distance separations create.”
When youngsters begin to read, they often want to change places and, with great pride and selfsatisfaction, read to the parent or adult. Lessons here in sounding out words, learning new words and following a story line are valuable in developing a comprehensive approach to moving through a book (or a class or project or challenge later) from beginning to end. Perseverance, endurance and patience are mixed in with curiosity and imagination.
Teen and Young Adult
There are many attractions at this stage of life that vie for attention, but reading can sweep youth away in a healthy diversion or serve to teach new skills, new recipes, new interests. If they no longer want to be read to, and they don’t embrace reading to someone else, a little home book club might be the answer. They read the same book(s) as a parent, friend and/or family member and hold discussions around the kitchen table.
"Joining teenagers in reading
The cool thing about reading is that when you read a short story or you read something that takes your mind and expands where your thoughts can go, that's powerful. --
Taylor Swift
books on a required summer reading list or during school is a great way to connect with them,” Conder states.
“It also keeps parents informed about what their children are reading about and learning in school. It could lead parents who don’t often read to develop their own love of reading!” Print magazine and trade newspaper subscriptions offer the gift that keeps on giving all year. It’s exciting to get snail mail, and with topics from tennis, photography, travel and cooking to animals, sports, fashion, adventure, hobbies, home style and more, it’s easy to find the perfect match to someone’s interests.
The Reading Life for Grown-ups
News flash: There are many more enjoyable things to read than the warnings and instructions to a new gadget or pages of assembly directions for your kid’s longed-for birthday or Christmas gift.
Like walking is one of the best things you can do for your body, reading might well be one of the best things you can do for your mind. And both are free. Public libraries are
constantly adding to their collections, bringing in current best sellers, permitting magazines to be checked out and increasing the children’s selections. There are many Little Free Libraries with the take a book, leave a book intention. However, you can just leave a book or just take a book.
The horse and buggy, cassette tapes, telephone booths and typewriters may have been replaced across the decades, but books are here to stay. As Walt Disney phrased it: There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.
If you or someone you know is challenged by reading, contact Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley (literacynrv. org) in Christiansburg. With a slogan of “Empowering Lives Through Literacy in the New River Valley”, the organization’s mission statement is “to foster, support, advocate for, and instruct adults in the New River Valley who seek opportunities to achieve greater independence through literacy. We believe that literacy is the foundation for success in all areas of life, and we strive to provide our students with the tools and resources they need to succeed.” Dedicated volunteer tutors stand ready to assist anyone of any age to improve reading and writing skills.
Glowing in the Dark
fireflies source their light from a chemical reaction that takes place in their abdomen, fittingly known as their “lantern”
Text
Summer dusk in southwest Virginia brings tiny, flickering insects, their yellow bulbs brightening scrubby fields and brushy meadows. Many of us reminisce about childhood evenings spent catching these ~ to many the hallmark of summer, childhood and long evenings spent with mason jars in hand and the thrill of the chase.
With more than 2,000 species of fireflies found on every continent except Antarctica, the bugs fascinate amateurs and researchers alike, who have yet to solve every mystery concerning the fireflies’ light.
Bioluminescence 101. Famous for their emitted light, fireflies source their light from a chemical reaction that takes place in their abdomen, fittingly known as their “lantern.” The reaction takes place between luciferin, oxygen and the enzyme luciferase.
Their light is one of the most efficient lights in the world, as almost 100% of the energy the reaction produces is given off as light. In comparison, an incandescent bulb only emits 10% of its energy as light. Because of the little heat that these beetles’ light gives off, their bioluminescence is known as “cold light.”
The purpose of the bioluminescence is mostly to attract mates, although other purposes include warning predators and defending territories.
Bioluminescence isn’t the bugs’ only superpower. They also deter predators by releasing drops of foul-tasting blood when threatened. Their light can also glow green or orange, and in some cases, firefly larvae glow as well.
Firefly Flash Patterns. Each firefly species has a different, unique light pattern used to attract mates or to complete some devious imposter work. Some genera (plural of genus) mimic the flashes of other genera to lure males and eat them.
Synchronized fireflies are a seemingly magical species that can only be found in a few places, especially in select pockets across the Appalachian Mountains. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular, accessible place for tourists to see their synchronized displays. Scientists have determined that the synchronization is to make a female certain she responds to one of her same species (avoiding the firefly imposter).
More recently, researchers discovered a synchronous species in Watoga State Park in West Virginia (about three hours from Blacksburg). In 2019, the park decided to create a dark-sky haven. By doing so, a retired biologist discovered the rare synchronous firefly species. According to an article by National Geographic’s Lynn Faust, a researcher who discovered synchronous fireflies in the
by Caitlyn Koser
Smokies, they’ve probably been there all along, yet because of decreased light pollution, we can only now see nature’s light show.
The peak for synchronous fireflies in the Smokies is past, but next year offers a new chance to see the synchronous fireflies at work.
Catching Fireflies. Easy to spot, fireflies abound on summer nights in brushy or marshy areas. Flashlights can disturb the fireflies, so if you do bring one, point it at the ground or cover it in cellophane.
Some people recommend imitating the fireflies’ flash patterns with your flashlight, if you’ve taken the opportunity to cover your light in cellophane. Some prefer the classic method of waiting to see a light and catching them in their bare hands. Whichever method you use to catch them, take a peek and let them go.
Firefly Conservation. Over recent years, fewer fireflies have been seen, concerning people that the everpresent lightning bug is disappearing.
Not yet, but fireflies have been on the decline for years. Reasons include light pollution, destroyed habitat and companies harvesting fireflies. That’s right – some companies
pay money for people to capture and send in fireflies, which is a danger to the populations, as harvesting the chemicals requires killing the fireflies. Don’t give in to the temptation to be paid $12 for 600 fireflies.
Fireflies' prime habitat is in meadows or fields and in places with large plant diversity, so commercial development destroying these habitats is a major factor contributing to their decline. Human traffic is also believed to contribute to their reduced numbers. Anecdotal evidence suggests places that once had so many fireflies, even profiting from giving firefly tours, now see much less than previous generations.
Observing the beetles in your backyard can help scientists study them better, not to mention the nostalgia of the fireflies dazzling a summer evening. And while it’s not likely that these mysterious creatures will disappear anytime soon, preserving them – and the memories they give to future generations – starts today.
Caitlyn Koser is a freelance writer and homeschool student who will attend her first writer conference this summer. Her excellence in research and crafting well-written magazine articles surely will serve her well in her dream to make a living as a published Christian novelist.
The Fun of
Compiled by Joanne M. Anderson
S’mores. Camp fires. Summer nights. Long sticks. Red coals. The unusual contraction of “some more”. Sure, let’s eat another one!
They are so delicious that most everyone naturally wants “s’more” … another one, or two, or three, of the traditional graham cracker sandwich with a personally-roasted marshmallow and half a Hershey’s chocolate bar in the middle.
Over the years, variations have been implemented to offer a variety of s’mores, and clever companies got into the game with all kinds of s’more roasting sticks and tabletop equipment for seasons not especially amenable to campfires, like winter and rainy days. S’mores year ‘round is fine, but next to a summer campfire is the very best scenario.
Skillet S’mores
Preheat oven to 450°.
½ Tbl. butter
1 ¾ cup milk chocolate chips
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Mini-marshmallows
Heat a 10-inch cast iron skillet on low. Melt and spread ½ Tbl. butter, then add all the chocolate chips, spreading evenly. Top with a single layer of mini-marshmallows or large ones cut in half. Slide the skillet into the oven for 5 or 6 minutes, until the tops turn golden. Remove from oven and dip in with graham crackers! Oh, yum.
S mores
S'More Campfire Cone
Frozen S’More Pops
(photo courtesy of The Hershey Company)
HERSHEY’S milk chocolate bar, chopped
Heavy whipping cream
7-oz jar marshmallow cream
¼ cup milk
Graham crackers coarsely crushed
Mini-marshmallows
Beat whipping cream into soft peaks. Add marshmallow cream and beat into stiff peaks. Add milk until blended. Spoon crushed grahams into paper cups. Add 3-4 mini-marshmallows, then 2 tsp. melted chocolate, then 3 Tbls. whipped cream mixture. Repeat layers and top with chopped chocolate. Poke in wooden pop stick and freeze 4 hours until firm. Remove paper to enjoy!
(photo courtesy of The Hershey Company)
Mix mini marshmallows, pieces of HERSHEY’S chocolate bar and broken graham cracker. Fill a waffle cone(s) with the mix. Wrap tightly in heavy duty foil to prevent insides from spilling out. Warm over a fire, grill or in the oven for several minutes, depending how hot the fire. Let rest a couple minutes before unwrapping very carefully; steam might come out, and they could be hot.
Variations:
Smear peanut butter on inside of cone first. Try different flavors of chips. Add small fruit chunks.
Include mini peanut butter cups in the cone. Drizzle with chocolate or butterscotch sauce. Add chopped nuts inside.
Many more creative recipes at hersheyland.com/recipes/smores-desserts
Retired from Work
~ Not from Life
Text by Jo Clark | Photos courtesy of AARP Blacksburg
Who hasn’t heard of AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons, founded in 1958? The organization has 38 million members age 50 and up nationwide with many local AARP chapters. Most operate with a charter and bylaws in addition to the national organization.
Local AARP Chapter Improves Senior Lives
AARP chapters exist in all states. Recently, their numbers have dwindled as the national organization continues to grow. Today, only about 25 chapters remain in Virginia, and with 200 members, the Blacksburg chapter may be one of the largest and most active. Though named AARP Blacksburg at its inception in 1978, it welcomes and serves the entire New River Valley.
Small local chapters provide a personal connection with local support, which is hard for a national organization to do. Typically, people maintain membership in both. The Blacksburg group holds monthly meetings on the third Tuesday, with interesting speakers like Roanoke Times columnist Dan Casey, experts on the life of birds and pollinators, or how to protect yourself from scams. Special meetings like the June Picnic and the December Awards Luncheon are popular yearly program highlights.
The group works to develop and maintain partnerships with local agencies and organizations concerned with the well-being of seniors. They were instrumental in supporting the organization of the TimeBank [www.nrv. timebanks.org], which allows volunteers to receive “credits” for performing activities and then use those credits to “pay” for their needs, like plumbing repairs. They also hold activities like appliance repair workshops.
Retired from Working but Actively Living
The local chapter is closely affiliated with the Lifelong Learning Institute at Virginia Tech, and many hold membership in both groups. LLI offers numerous classes at minimal cost throughout the year.
The New River Valley’s AARP Blacksburg chapter produces a quarterly online newsletter that lists upcoming events in the chapter and community. Through technology, chapter administrators have an immediate connection to everyone, so if an opportunity arises, it can be announced immediately.
According to Jerry Niles and Don Creamer, the most significant benefit to membership is the social connection and interactions it provides. “One of the greatest challenges faced in aging is social isolation, and this group offers a space and activities to bring people together,” explains Don Creamer. This provides people a way to age in the way they want to age— successfully. Jerry Niles adds: “People need to have a purpose in their life larger than themselves. Service activities provide this outlet, and good things happen for everyone. You can still accomplish wonderful things at our age.”
A Healthy Community
In a unique collaboration with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) and the Christiansburg
Recreation Center, the AARP Blacksburg organizes a biennial Health and Wellness Fair. This collective effort provides New River Valley residents a one-stop-shop health service, offering a variety of shots (flu, tetanus, shingles, pneumonia, and COVID-19—if there is a new updated version). Health screenings include blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, vision and hearing.
You’d be right if you think this sounds like a huge undertaking— between 300 and 400 “patients” in four hours. The Christiansburg Recreation Center handles the logistics of moving people through the fair. VCOM medical students and faculty volunteer their time. Radford University and New River Valley nursing students and faculty are on hand, and the Christiansburg Pharmacy handles vaccines. The Community Transit GO program provides free transport for seniors in the four counties, and it is available for taking seniors to the fair.
Participants receive test results immediately if possible, or results are mailed later. If health issues are found during screenings, people are encouraged to return to their regular doctor or given a list of suggested local clinics and physicians.
About 100 local vendors provide exhibits on health issues, home improvements that create a safer environment for seniors to age in place, fitness, wellness activities, hospice, dermatology, physical therapy, financial planning, insurance, chiropractic help, caregivers, and job opportunities for seniors. Volunteer Montgomery and New River Valley Agency on Aging will be on-site to sign up volunteers and those needing assistance.
Keep the Shine on the Golden Years
You should arrive before 11:30 a.m. to hear the scheduled speaker, Dr. Michael Friedlander, Virginia Tech
vice president for health sciences and technology and executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. He will discuss current research into diseases affecting seniors. The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments are available, making it an excellent opportunity to prioritize your health.
Sponsorships that make this event possible include National Bank of Blacksburg, New River Valley Community Services, Warm Hearth Village, Carilion Clinic, OrthoVirginia, Light Counseling, and the Engagement Center for Creative Aging.
With a track record of 20 successful fairs, this event is a testament to the New River Valley’s commitment to health. While the focus is on the over50 population, everyone in the family is welcome to attend. It’s never too early to start focusing on your health.
Benefits of National AARP Membership (aarp.org)
Discounts in many places:
• 7,000 nationwide restaurants
• Shopping and grocery stores
• Wireless phone services
• New car purchase
• Travel (British Air, hotels and resorts, car rental, Expedia bookings)
• Health and fitness
• Resume advisor
• Bi-monthly lifestyle magazine
• Online games
www.blacksburgaarp.org
2024 Health and Wellness Fair
Wed., Sept. 18
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Christiansburg Recreation Center 1600 N. Franklin Street
www.blacksburgaarp.org/2024health-and-wellness-fair
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Blacksburg Battles Cancer olf Tournament
y, September 23
Presented
For the past ten years, Blacksburg Battles Cancer, under the banner of the BlacksburgCountryClubCharitable Foundation(BCCCF) has raised more than $350,000 for cancer-focused non-profit organizations that serve the local community. We invite you to join us for our annual golf tournament as we strive to reach $400,000 in 2024!
SCHEDULE OF E VENTS
2024 Blacksburg Battles Cancer Entry Form ($600 per team; $150 per person)
Make a check payable to the Blacksburg CountryClubCharitableFoundation.You may also register online and pay via Paypal at www.blacksburgbattlescancer.org. Member charge for BCC members is no longer available.
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Team Members (name and email - please print)
(Captain)
PAST BENEFICIARIES
OPTIONAL Hole Sponsor: ($125 per hole)
Please make your hole sponsorship check payable to the BlacksburgCountryClub CharitableFoundation). We are a 501(c)(3) organization.
Sponsor Name or Corporate Name:
Battles Cancer
Virginia 24060
Please contact info@blacksburgbattlescancer.orgif you have specific wording or logos for your hole sponsor sign.
