NRV Magazine Sept-Oct 2018

NRV’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine

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M A G A Z I N E

BUD FOSTER RUPERT COX HEALING HARP ENGLISH COTTAGE

Football

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RETIREMENT September/October 2018

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S eptemb er/Octob er 2018

CONTENTS

September / October

Past u re Ta l k

2018

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B u d F os te r 10

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H i gh S ch o o l Fo otb a l l 14 Tae Kwon Do 1 8 N RV RI des : La S a l l e 2 0 H eal i n g H a r p 2 2 Fo o t bal l S ch e d u l e 2 4 E n gl i sh Co tta g e 2 6

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P rev en t Fa l l i n g 3 2 Retirement: Dinner Time 36 Jo rdi Ca l v e r a 3 8 S t at e Pa r k s 4 0 Fo o d Fa re 4 2 S carecro w Fe s ti v a l 4 4

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A ro u n d t h e N R V 4 6

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It just felt right Virginia Tech retirees Jim and Janet Johnson are two of Brandon Oaks’ residents. “After looking at other retirement communities, Brandon Oaks just felt so right for us. The combination of welcoming residents, a caring staff, a great location, outstanding services and a beautiful campus sent a very clear “This is the place” message to us.

We’re very active in the community and really enjoy the maintenance-free lifestyle. This allows us to spend more time on activities and causes that matter to us. If you’re considering a retirement community, consider this one—as far as we’re concerned, it’s everything to us.”

To learn more about us, and to see if Brandon Oaks is right for you, plan a visit and meet some of our residents by calling us at (540) 777-5602.

3804 Brandon Avenue, SW | Roanoke, VA 24018 (540) 777-5602 | BrandonOaks.net

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Pasture Talk

NEW RIVER VALLEY M

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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 Emily Alberts Jennifer Cooper Mike Wade Becky Helper Astleigh Hill Nancy Moseley PHOTOGRAPHERS Kristie Lea Photography Michael Speed Always and Forever Photography Tom Wallace Silver Pebble Photography Nathan Cooke Photography COVER IMAGE:

Photos by Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics Dave Knachel, photographer © 2018 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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Don't tell the guy who signs my check, but I have a lot of fun doing this. You know the cliché: "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." So, the first thing which came to my mind when writing the retirement piece on fall prevention was Queen Elizabeth II's sensible shoes.

Of course, after learning about those, I got sidetracked with her horses and the fact that she's still riding - and walking unassisted - at age 92.

She went horseback riding at Windsor Castle on her black Fell pony, Carltonlima Emma, shortly after her great-grandson, Prince Louis Arthur Charles, was born on April 23. I have no doubt that she was wearing sensible boots. Imagine ~ 89 years of horseback riding! I am only at 11 years and get excited for every ride with my own sensible boots (Ariat Terrain) and leather hat. The queen wore a scarf, pointing out that she pays big bucks to have her hair done. I had my hair done once for a prom and managed to chisel it apart before my date arrived.

That wasn't hair spray; it had to be shellac.

It was like old home week chatting with Ellen Hall, whose house is profiled in this issue. She and her husband, Philo, moved here after 25 years in Vermont, and, just like me and my relatives, encountered a little challenge Sept/Oct

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adjusting to VT (postal abbreviation for the Green Mountain State) in maroon and orange instead of green and gold.

And like me, they are very happy in the New River Valley. "The landforms are so similar," she points out, "after all, it’s the Appalachians either place."

I say often the two prettiest states east of the Mississippi begin with the letter V. C'est vrai, French for "that's true". There are many road signs in French in northern Vermont because it borders Quebec. Unbeknown to many, I have a bachelor's degree in French. I figured I was so good in English, it did not make sense to major in it.

Fall is my favorite season for football, changing leaves, pumpkins, cooler temps, apple cider, sweatshirts 'n scarecrows. The Pearisburg Merchant's Association is holding its 4th Annual Scarecrow Festival, which promises to be a very fun place to be on Sat., Oct. 13. Save the date. Look for photographer Madison Miller at Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival to document family fun for a scrapbook, Facebook and family archives. Take a fall hike. Make a caramel apple. Enjoy fondue [recipes on page 42]. Go Hokies!

Joanne Anderson ManagingEditor jmawriter@aol.com

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Bud Foster

His Work, Outlook, Life and Lunch Pail

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Text by Krisha Chachra Photos by Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics. Dave Knachel, photographer

It’s his 32nd season coaching Virginia Tech football, and Bud Foster says there is only one thing missing from his storybook career: A “three-finger” national championship ring. “I want that gaudy piece of jewelry after everything we built here. I’ve wanted that for a long time." In fact, he wanted it for Frank [Beamer], his long-time coaching mentor and friend. "I coached with Frank his 29 years at Virginia Tech, plus six years at Murray State. He had the most impact on me outside of my family," Foster relates.

When Beamer retired in 2015, Foster wanted the job.

“I did want to be Head Coach, but [VT Athletic Director] Whitt [Babcock] was transparent in the direction he wanted to go. I was disappointed, but I’m not naïve. I saw that people wanted a change, and although I’m a proactive guy, some may have thought I was part of the status quo.”

If discipline, hard work, focus and repetition is a formula for building a program ready to win a national title, then Coach Foster has laid that groundwork. He is the longest 10

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tenured coach in the country who has stayed in one program.

Remaining committed to the Hokies in spite of not getting his dream job is a testament to this man's character. And he is arguably the best defensive coach in all of college football with the wins, bowl rings, accolades and awards to prove it.

Foster's legacy is equally impressive off the field, which starts with his outlook in life and what he wants to be remembered for. “My dad taught me to treat people the way I want to be treated and commit my life to something. I am fortunate to have a great family and friends who let me live my dreams,” he says. “I want people to think: ‘We saw what he was like on the field, and off the field he was a genuine guy -- a caring, approachable guy who had other people’s best interests at heart.’"

Foster describes himself as approachable but guarded. “You’re in the people business in athletics. I have a core that I keep close, but I also have a lot of acquaintances,” he says. “This town is so tight-knit that people can put S eptemb er/Octob er 2018

coaches on pedestals. In other towns, you can go out and people won’t know who you are.” But everyone knows Bud Foster. When he goes into Texas Roadhouse on Thursday nights with his family, a table is waiting. In the Hyatt Place lobby area, the bartender pours the “Bud Foster” concoction of a double shot of Tito’s vodka, a splash of cranberry juice, apple juice and club soda served in a pint when he walks through the door.

His schedule is grueling – most days he works from 7 a.m. to midnight or later, six days a week.

“Everyone sees what we do on the field on a Saturday, but people don’t see what we do Sunday through Friday to get there,” he says. But everyone needs a break. Besides relaxing at his Claytor Lake home, one of Foster’s favorite NRVMAGAZINE.com

getaways is Costa Rica. He knows the locals in Tamarindo, a popular beach town on the west coast. He even has a tattoo of Costa Rica’s slogan, “Pura Vida” – the pure life – on his right forearm.

Foster is not only working hard to build a winning football program, but also he is shaping men’s lives.

“There is nothing more gratifying than a former player telling me that I helped him be the man he is today. I love these players. I really care about them."

And what does he think it’ll take to get a national title? He smiles and relates that some of the concepts he teaches on the field that also apply in life. “The biggest skill set that one can develop is to have the focus, concentration and discipline to perform at the highest level at every

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play, one play at a time. It’s all about the journey. And we are going to get there.”

Krisha Chachra served eight years on the Blacksburg Town Council and has written for NRV Magazine for a decade. Krisha is a community advocate & connector and runs an event production organization that hosts Up on the Roof.

She writes the travel column for the magazine and occasional human-interest pieces. Email her at kchachra@aol.com

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Lunch Pail

Besides his consistency, Foster has also built a brand: The Lunch Pail Defense. When was around 12, his dad moved the family about 40 minutes outside St. Louis. “It was like moving back in time,” he remembers. “It was a farming and coal mining community – blue collar, hardworking area. That’s where the push of the lunch pail came in. I would see people showing up to their jobs, ready to work every day. And that is the concept I wanted to build in our football program – to be known for outworking our opponent, out-preparing and being the best we can be.”

• On one side, painted in black, is the word WIN - an acronym for “What’s Important Now” • In the huddle, the football players break on the declaration: “WIN” • The other side has the word TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More • The original lunch pail was a gift from Rod Sharpless’ mother-in-law from New Jersey and now is in the memorabilia room in Lane Stadium • A replica is in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta • Bud Foster has WIN tattooed across his back

Lunch Pail Defense Foundation

Foster's care for the community is evident in his founding the Lunch Pail Defense (LPD) Foundation. It provides scholarships to high school students in the New River and Roanoke region who want to pursue higher education. “There are some shining stars who just need some help; kids who work hard and need a break. I really hoped the business community would get involved,” Foster explains. “Blacksburg’s Campus Emporium was the first to jump on board, selling trademarked lunch pail tee shirts. We got off the ground with those proceeds.”

The non-profit has awarded more than 25 scholarships totaling $110,000. Local business sponsors include Farm Bureau Insurance and the Hyatt Place. Foster’s all volunteer team coordinates fundraising dinners and events with private donors who help to make these scholarships possible.

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The LPD Foundation also gives money to the Organ Transplant Support program in conjunction with Duke University Medical Center to provide financial assistance for lodging, transportation and child care to families of those undergoing organ transplants. www.lunchpaildefense.com

S eptemb er/Octob er 2018

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NRV Fo o t bal l

2018 High School Football around the New River Valley

Auburn High School brought to you by:

Christiansburg High School

Auburn High School sports blue and white school colors for its 415 students. The once-rural area is evolving with neighborhood developments and professionals embracing the pastoral region of Montgomery County for raising families and enjoying life. Cam Akers is in his third year coaching football as well as indoor and outdoor track. "It's a young squad," he relates. "We had injuries and adversity early in our last season, and advanced to the playoffs in spite of it.

The players have another year of experience now, and the Eagles are going to do very well."

In navy blue and vegas gold, the Blue Demons take the field on new turf at their home stadium, which has had a massive overhaul. Christiansburg High School has 1,050 students, and 2nd year Coach Alex Wilkens says they expect an upward trend even with a relatively inexperienced football team on both sides of the ball. "Only 6 full-time starters from last year are returning," he explains, "but many young players got playing time last year and contributed on the varsity team. We are very optimistic for a winning season."

Blacksburg High School

Eastern Montgomery High School

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Coach Eddie Sloss is very excited about this year's Blacksburg High School team that plays for the Bruins in classic blue and gold. With enrollment topping 1,210 students, BHS has a lot of skilled players returning from last year's District Championship team. "We're green at the offensive and defensive line positions. We are taking it one day at a time and getting better in every practice and every game," states Sloss who also teaches Health and PE, Strength and Conditioning.

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Eastern Montgomery High School is home to the Mustangs and around 300 students. Wearing burgundy, white and black, the team under Coach Jordan Stewart has some young guys to fill in big cleat shoes for those who graduated last spring. "The Mustangs were only 3 or 4 plays away from winning 2 or 3 more games and making the playoffs for the first time in several years," Stewart states. "We are entering year two of solid offensive and defensive systems. Consistency in the pre-season will pay off nicely."

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Floyd County High School brought to you by:

extremely hard in the off season, getting stronger and faster.

Everyone is enthusiastic and inspired to improve over last year. The goal is to get better each day, and the wins will take care of themselves."

Pulaski County High School

It is from the highest point in the county, Buffalo Mountain, that Floyd County High School takes its mascot, the Buffalo. The black and gold football team plays for the school with enrollment just shy of 800. "We are excited about the 2018 season," says Coach Winfred Beale, who's been coaching here for a stunning 38 years. "It's a cohesive group.

We lost 3 starting linemen and tight end, but our top rusher and wideout are back. We hope to be a physical, blue collar football team that plays hard and fast."

Giles High School brought to you by:

Sporting red and columbia blue, the Spartans of Giles County High School represent some 630 students and finished 8-4 last year, winning their 5th Three Rivers District Championship. "The Spartans will be bigger up front than they have ever been," relates Jeff Williams, Head Football Coach. "We rely on the offensive front and blocking out of their single wing offense, which is now in its 40th year on the offensive side of the ball. The Spartans are already working hard to improve defensively for the 2018 season."

Narrows High School brought to you by:

brought to you by:

The Pulaski County High School Cougars number 1,244 students and wear cardinal and gold colors. "We came off a disappointing 6-4 season last year, and have a winning combination this year of both youth and seniors," Coach Stephen James explains. "We still have top receiver EJ Horton who accounted for 800 yards receiving, along with Noah O'Dell, and Jaxson Callahan to lead the team. If they can get quality game experience early, we fully expect to be in the mix for a playoff berth."

Radford High School brought to you by:

The Bobcats of Radford High School have a new look and a new outlook for this year's football program. The school numbers right around 500 students. The team sports black and old gold colors and will wear white helmets for the first time since 1966. "We needed a new start after last year," Coach Matthew Saunders declares. "The team's players have worked hard in the off season, and they are super charged to have fun and put a great product on the field. If we can stay healthy and injury-free, look for the Radford Bobcats in the playoffs."

The Green Wave of Narrows High School proudly displays green and gold among an approximate 335 students near the western edge of the New River Valley. "We lost last year in the state quarter finals by one point," laments Coach Kelly Lowe, "finishing the season 11-2. This year sees the return of many excellent players. The team has worked 16

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Courtesy ~ Integrity ~ Perseverance Self control ~ Indomitable spirit

the five tenets posted at Pil Seung Tae Kwon Do

Text by Joanne M. Anderson

Photos by Kristie Lea Photography

He's a farmer, a friend, a teacher, a dad, entrepreneur, husband, son and more. For Rupert Cox, the lines blur between his jobs and responsibilities. He takes martial arts and agricultural angles into the school classroom, and brings math into farming, problem solving into business and creative thinking to 8th grade students at Blacksburg Middle School and kids and adults alike at his business, Pil Seung Tae Kwon Do. Born in El Paso, Texas, Cox came to southwest Virginia when he was 8 and to Virginia Tech about a decade later.

"When I was a junior at Grayson County High School, my dad became the auto mechanics teacher. Seeing him work and connect with the kids, some of them kind of rough and tough, may have driven me to consider teaching," he says. He enrolled, however, first in engineering. "I found out quickly that I much preferred 18

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math, so I majored in that with a minor in education." Cox was hired right out of college by Blacksburg Middle School, where he has worked for 13 years. He's seen a lot of changes. "The kids' focus has declined because of the increasing use of technology and video games." He observes students looking down at their phones, despite the school rule that cell phones be left in lockers unless a teacher gives permission to bring them to class.

"When I ask them to bring out their cell phones and put them face down in front of them, I get more of their attention."

Teaching presents a different problem every day, and Cox embraces that.

"With engineering, I saw a predictability in the same kind of problems cropping up on a regular basis. In teaching, there's no lesson plan that works the same way twice. I can't present the same problem solving methods to every kid. I love

encountering problems and thinking through the best approach, especially for kids who hate math." In his challenges to reach 8th graders who don't find math especially interesting or easy, Cox brings fun stuff into the classroom. "It's not too far to jump from martial arts to math." He's introduced 3D printing, drones, precision and discipline of tae kwon do and aspects of farming life.

For example, he'll break a board in a martial arts move, then talk about the particulars of force, and the students get excited. He might introduce the mathematical factors in designing a chicken coop. Real life scenarios that use math principles give the kids a more tangible view of the value of math and a more intriguing way of learning. Besides graduating from Virginia Tech, Cox holds special certification to teach algebra.

In his second semester in

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Summer camp days were filled with workouts building strength and endurance, practicing forms and kicks, and a lunch time of enrichment with chess games, a 3D plastic printer and sheer fun.

There were visits to the aquatic center and a local trampoline park. I came home tired in mind and body proudly wearing my camp tee shirt which reads: "It doesn't get easier, you just get stronger!" ~ Student Amber Fleming, 11 college, Cox's best friend, Billy Turner, got involved in martial arts and invited him along. "Billy and I wrestled in high school, so I started and never stopped.

I did not plan to have a business, but when my original master left the area and Billy joined the U.S. Army, I was the highest ranking student. Everyone turned to me to teach, so I carried on."

Cox beams with pride that during these past dozen years his good buddy Billy served in the Army's esteemed Special Forces and just graduated from Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM).

From 2006 to 2013, Pil Seung rented gym space from Blacksburg Parks and Rec. "When I faced 45 students in 2013, I knew we needed a larger space."

The Town was responsible for collecting the class fees, and Cox received a percentage. All those years, he put his share into buying equipment. "We NRVMAGAZINE.com

started with two kicking pads and a few worn out mats," he recalls. By the time he was ready to rent his own place, he had adequate gear to set up everything and never has had any business loan or debt. Credit his math acumen - and a boatload of common sense.

Cox resides in Giles County for its reasonable cost of living, and he and his wife, Jessica Midkiff, strive to raise most all of their food. "None of what I do would be possible without my wife," he emphasizes. They have two children and manage cows, pigs, horses, chickens and gardens. The farm and home life keep him in chores and family fun when he's not teaching, rebuilding his dump truck, fixing fences or running the martial arts business. In every endeavor, Rupert Cox strives to live out the five tenets he posts, as he encourages others to do the same.

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In a rare moment, I watched 12 children, ages 5 to 9, sit crisscross applesauce, silent and still for 3 minutes. No entertainment, no screens, no wiggles, no giggling.

What a reflection of the respect they have for their Taekwondo instructor, Master Rupert. His direct and personal style of teaching builds respect and trust.

He knows his students' names, strengths and struggles, and he encourages each one to persevere in class and outside.

~ Parent Kristie Fleming

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The LaSalle Automobile never a Cadillac

Text by Karl H. Kazaks | Photos by Tom Wallace

In Pulaski, faraway times are not forgotten at the Raymond F. Ratcliffe Transportation Museum. The museum’s artifacts are small and large – ranging in size from a curio in a cabinet to a train diorama encompassing more than 2,000 square feet – and they all embody the town’s past, its memories. There, in the line of soapbox derby cars – marked and unmarked but maintained – reside the dreams of middle 20th century boys.

In the corner, the antique railroad inspection car speaks to the grit which built the town, as coal from nearby deposits fired foundries and smelters and attracted railroads in the late 1800s. The black-and-white photo of women sitting in front of their sewing machines making Virginia Maid nylon hosiery is a snapshot of post-war Pulaski.

On a wall hangs a reminder of the last day passenger rail service visited 20

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Pulaski: April 30, 1971, written in chalk on the departure board which once hung in the railway station. Flanking the sides of the main hall, the gems of the collection: Vintage vehicles in the automotive gallery, including a 1940 LaSalle Series 50 four-door sedan and an 80-foot long by 26-foot wide train diorama built by Dr. Milton Brockmeyer as an exact scale representation of central Pulaski in the mid-1950s.

The museum has been in its current location, a stand-alone metal building adjacent to the Maple Shade Plaza in downtown Pulaski, for five years.

It opened in 1986 in the basement of the town’s municipal building and was named for Ratcliffe, the recently deceased town mayor. Eight years later, the museum moved to the town’s restored train depot, where it remained until fire damage in 2008.

The oldest vehicle in the automotive gallery is the town’s first fire truck, a 1909 International Harvester, complete with an axe strapped to the side, wooden spoke wheels and an open carriage. The second oldest vehicle also comes from the fire department: a 1917 LaFrance pumper, the town’s first pumper truck. Chain-driven, the truck is almost entirely original. Designed for a team of four men, the LaFrance is much more elaborate than the 1909 International Harvester, but it still has an open carriage.

The 1940 LaSalle has been in Pulaski since it was brand new, when it was bought by Pulaski resident Hensel Eckman. He drove the car until 1966. That year – you can still see the car’s 1966 inspection sticker – the car was gifted to Pulaski’s Gem City Museum, which donated it to the Ratcliffe Museum just last year.

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LaSalle, named for a French explorer, was General Motors' response to what it saw as a gap in pricing between the Cadillac and less expensive car models. It was designed as a luxury automobile and priced under the Cadillac for those who couldn't quite justify the top brand's sticker cost. The LaSalle was a trend-setting vehicle when manufactured between 1927 and 1940. As competition increased within and outside of GM, the LaSalle was dropped, in part for never having quite earned the prestige factor that Cadillac continued to exude.

The 1940 LaSalle has been in Pulaski since it was brand new, when it was bought by Pulaski resident Hensel Eckman. He drove the car until 1966.

The two-tone, green-on-green LaSalle has an eye-catching design, with a pointed, narrow grill, a long swooping nose, and an elegant body, accented with sidewall spares and a wide running board.

The car has a 123-inch wheelbase and a 130hp V-8 engine.

The interior features a higharching ceiling, creating an airy cabin for passengers. The interior is still original, down to the wide, spindly steering wheel, ashtrays in the arm rests of the back seats, and the simple interior door panels. The driver’s door, for example, is adorned with barely more than a simple, short armrest and a door pull.

The LaSalle also smells like an old NRVMAGAZINE.com

car: a relic, dusty and musty, a preserved emblem of the New River Valley in the mid-20th century. The same could be said of Dr. Brockmeyer's train diorama.

A Pulaski dentist, Dr. Brockmeyer worked with Willie Ryan, an artist employed at Pulaski’s Dalton Theater, to create a miniature image of their hometown. It is vast in scale, with scores of buildings and hundreds of features, including a replica of the signal tower now kept in the museum.

“They would go out and measure buildings at night,” in order to build replicas to exact scale, relates Jay Turner, a member of the museum’s board and the chairman of its Collection Committee.

They also took photos of the surrounding

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hills and landscape, then projected those photos to paint the backdrops to the diorama to scale.

“There weren’t any hobby shops,” Turner explains, “so they made everything themselves by hand,” utilizing as building material objects as diverse as cereal boxes and beer cans. Running through the model town is an O-gauge model railroad track with operating train. Some of the town features in the diorama are no longer found outside the doors of the museum on the streets of Pulaski – buildings have been torn down, railroad tracks have been torn up.

But thanks to the efforts of the curators of today and the collectors of times past, inside the Ratcliffe Museum, Pulaski’s past lives on.

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Tuning in to People local musician uses harp music to heal

Text by Nancy S. Moseley Photos by Silver Pebble Photography

Pop-culturally, harp music tends to cue up an upcoming dream sequence.

The lights soften, the visuals swirl, and we’re transported to fantasyland. When Kirsti Kaldro of Bridge Kaldro Music in Christiansburg first encountered a harp, it was, actually, pretty dreamy.

“While I was waiting for my sisterin-law to meet with an instrument maker in Bedford, I stepped into an adjoining room and saw all the harps. It was one of those moments when time stops. I was transfixed. They were all so beautiful,” Kaldro remembers.

She grew up in Maine singing folk songs around campfires and landing lead roles in high school musicals. She studied music performance at Berkeley College of Music in Boston, then at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College. Music was omnipresent. “After graduation, I started teaching voice and 22

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piano lessons. My husband taught guitar lessons, and that’s what Bridge Kaldro Music was in the beginning.”

The two also spent time volunteering at a local hospital. “Ed would play the guitar and I sang,” Kaldro reminisces. It was the first time she engaged with music in a medical setting.

“It led me to a different experience of the function of music. I was performing music to its fullest purpose for me.”

Ten years and four children later, the Kaldros “spun the globe” and relocated to Blacksburg as a familyfriendly place to grow their business.

Shortly thereafter, she had that kismet harp encounter in Bedford. In 2008, she attended a church music conference and signed up for the Introduction to Harp course. She continued lessons from local harpists, and a year later crossed the milestone of commitment and purchased

her own instrument.

“At first I was very reclusive, playing for my own enjoyment in my room. But it became stagnant, and I wanted to do outreach with it.” Through the harpist community she heard about Christina Tourin, founder and director of the International Harp Therapy Program. It is conducted virtually through instructional videos and Skype lessons.

Kaldro has a mentor with whom she can discuss ideas about music technique and therapy at any time. Tourin operates on a 5-point star of education: repertoire, improvisation, composition, arranging and technique.

Upon graduation, Kaldro will be a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner and can play in hospitals, assisted living facilities and hospice environments. The Continued on Page 34

S eptemb er/Octob er 2018

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New River Valley AUBURN High School

CHRISTIANSBURG High School

BLACKSBURG High School 8/24 @ GILES 8/31 @ LORD BOTETOURT 9/7 @ AMHERST COUNTY 9/14 RICHLANDS 9/21 @ SALEM 9/28 PATRICK HENRY 10/5 @ CAVE SPRING 10/12 @ PULASKI COUNTY 10/19 HIDDEN VALLEY 11/2 CHRISTIANSBURG

8/24 FLOYD COUNTY 8/31 @ GILES 9/7 LIBERTY 9/14 @ ABINGDON 9/28 SALEM 10/5 PULASKI COUNTY 10/12 @ HIDDEN VALLEY 10/19 @ PATRICK HENRY 10/26 CAVE SPRING 11/2 @ BLACKSBURG

EASTERN MONTGOMERY High School 8/24 HOLSTON 8/31 HURLEY 9/7 ROANOKE CATHOLIC 9/14 AUBURN 9/21 @ BLAND-ROCKY GAP 10/5 @ BATH COUNTY 10/12 NARROW 10/19 @ COVINGTON 10/26 @ MCCLUER 11/2 CRAIG COUNTY

The 2018 Football Schedule brought to you by Blue Ridge Heating & Air

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Pull Out Here

Football Football Schedules Schedule

8/24 @ NARROWS 8/31 @ CRAIG COUNTY 9/7 FLOYD COUNTY 9/14 EASTERN MONTGOMERY 9/21 WYTHE 9/28 @ FORT CHISWELL 10/5 GRAYSON COUNTY 10/12 @ BLAND-ROCKY GAP 10/19 @ GALAX 10/26 RURAL RETREAT

Football Schedule 2018 NARROWS High School

FLOYD COUNTY High School

Football Schedule Football Schedules

8/24 @ CHRISTIANSBURG 8/31 PATRICK COUNTY 9/7 AUBURN 9/14 @ FORT CHISWELL 9/21 @ GILES 9/28 CARROLL COUNTY 10/5 @ RADFORD 10/12 GLENVAR 10/26 @ JAMES RIVER 11/2 ALLEGHANY

GILES High School 8/24 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19 10/26

8/24 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19 10/26 11/2

@ AUBURN @ BLAND-ROCKY GAP MONTCALM GILES HOLSTON @ COVINGTON @ EASTERN MONTGOMERY CRAIG COUNTY @ BATH COUNTY @ MCCLUER

PULASK COUNTY High School

@ BLACKSBURG CHRISTIANSBURG GRAHAM @ NARROWS FLOYD COUNTY @ RADFORD JAMES RIVER @ CARROLL COUNTY GLENVAR @ ALLEGHANY

8/24 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/26 11/2

@ NORTHSIDE @ FLEMING ABINGDON CARROLL COUNTY @ CAVE SPRING HIDDEN VALLEY @ CHRISTIANSBURG BLACKSBURG PATRICK HENRY @ SALEM

RADFORD High School 8/24 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/19 10/26 11/2

@ WYTHE GALAX FORT CHISWELL @ GRETNA @ ALLEGHANY GILES FLOYD COUNTY JAMES RIVER @ CARROLL COUNTY @ GLENVAR

VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES 9/3 @ FLORIDA STATE 9/8 WILLIAM & MARY 9/15 EAST CAROLINA 9/22 @ OLD DOMINION 9/29 @ DUKE 10/6 NOTRE DAME 10/13 UNC 10/25 GEORGIA TECH 11/3 BOSTON COLLEGE 11/10 @ ITT 11/17 MIAMI 11/23 VIRGINIA

The 2018 Football Schedule brought to you by Crab Creek County Store

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The Snugly Proportional English Cottage Text by Joanne M. Anderson | Photos by Kristie Lea Photography

When thinking about retirement, many folks have the "some day" approach, knowing that "some day" they'll move - maybe to a warmer climate, closer to family, into a smaller space, all of the above. Philo and Ellen Hall entertained those thoughts from their large Queen Anne historic home in Vermont. For more than two decades, they raised their family and worked - he as a hospital administrator and she as director of a university library.

Their three adult kids settled

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in Blacksburg and Washington, D.C. They enjoy visiting them, along with four grandchildren, but they were not enamored with the 14-hour drive. On a 2012 trip to Blacksburg, the Halls contacted real estate agent Tim Hudson

"We didn't look at any houses," Philo continues, "and . . . these seldom come on the market, being sold often from friend to friend."

just to look. "He was wonderful," Ellen recalls. "He drove us all over, talked about the history and answered all our questions." Near the end of the day, he took them through the Miller-Southside neighborhood in downtown Blacksburg, and they liked it best of all.

"We didn't look at any houses," Philo continues, "and Tim said these seldom come on the market, being sold often from friend to friend." But, a couple weeks later, Tim called. He figured that they might not want to make the long

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drive again to look at a house, but it was right where they wanted to be.

However, the Halls were in D.C. for their son's law school graduation, so they rolled into town the next morning and had a contract by the end of the day.

"Our son, Nathan [Hall], and his wife Monena were contemplating moving from their rental into a home of their own, and we were far from ready to relocate," Ellen explains.

"They moved into our house here while we planned the move." The upside of the arrangement was that the Halls measured all the rooms, then measured all their furniture and created templates in which to position each piece. Whatever not being moved was donated to and picked up by a local Methodist church for its annual yard sale.

Their enchanting home was

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designed by Clinton Harriman Cowgill, founder of architecture studies at Virginia Tech. He served as head of the Department of Architectural Engineering from 1928 to 1956. It has evolved into today's College of Architecture and Urban Studies. While he designed several Georgian and Federal style houses, this was his personal residence, built in 1936.

In the book A Special Place for 200 Years: a History of Blacksburg, Virginia, Daniel Pezzoni, one of the authors, wrote of it that Cowgill's own house was "inspired by the more informal massing and snug proportions of the English cottage genre."

It is cozy with charm to spare.

The living room is a step down from the front door entry way with an efficient gas fireplace and outside door to the screened porch. The dining room

features corner cabinets, a graceful floral wall covering, lace curtains and Philo's family cuckoo clock, ticking away and cuckoo-ing on the hour. "It has been in my family since 1907, and we discovered from a clockmaker in Staunton that it was built in 1880 in

"It [Philo's family cuckoo clock] has been in my family since 1907, and we discovered from a clockmaker in Staunton that it was built in 1880 in Germany," Germany," he explains.

This kitchen is perfectly functional and super efficient with granite countertops, beautiful wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

Its smallness puts everything within

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easy reach, and meal times in both the dining room and the screened porch are delightful.

Ellen found a stained glass tree in every season at Larry Mitchell's booth at Steppin' Out.

A cute home office and master bedroom round out the first floor, while cottage and antique decor reigns in two guest rooms upstairs. Early on, someone discovered that walking out of the 2nd floor hall bath provided a line of sight straight to the sidewalk out front and in reverse. Ellen found a stained glass tree in every season at Larry Mitchell's booth at Steppin' Out. She asked him to make a stand for them which was not permanent, so if she ever did have to move again, she could take them. They are the perfect sight diffuser and touch of artistic beauty in the rectangular window halfway up the stairs.

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Once here, there were a few pieces of furniture which didn't fit in. "I took those to Upscale Attic and found perfect accessories and decorative accents there for our new home.

What a wonderful shop," Ellen says.

Gardening is one of Ellen's passions, and the backyard has no grass with her green thumb mastering the space. From hostas, cone flowers, phlox and ferns to the Japanese maple and heritage river birch tree, she has created a bird and small wildlife refuge. Benches, a koi pond and a covered arbor add to the relaxed outdoor environment, though she is the first one to advise against planting trumpet vines and wisteria for their prolific growth cycles.

From the large Queen Anne Victorian in Vermont to the English cottage-style home in the New River Valley, the Halls' "some day" came five years ago. Philo is just stepping down from serving as president of the Blacksburg Rotary Club.

Ellen is president of the Friends of the Library (Montgomery County). They often attend Moss Arts Center performances, street fairs and community activities, while working in plenty of family and grandchildren time, minus the 14-hour drive.

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BERNADETTE ALFONSO bernadette@nestrealty.com ph: 540.357.3577

STEVE BODTKE + JIM SARVER steveandjim@nestrealty.com ph: 540.239.1657

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Some people simply have music beating within them. Bernadette Alfonso is one of those people. Born into a very musical family, she grew up participating in family jam sessions— her grandfather would play the drums, she would play the piano, her uncle would play the sax, “and those who were less musically inclined would get to play the spoons,” laughs Bernadette. A classically trained pianist, Bernadette has an innate sense of timing and rhythm. Whether she’s hosting a dance party with friends at her house, grooving to a live band at a local venue, or dancing the merengue to the music heard from crackling overhead speakers in the grocery story, Bernadette is always in

motion. She brings that energy and positivity to her real estate clients. A Realtor® for the last 15 years, she is passionate about helping people, “It’s an incredible opportunity to be a part of their journey—helping people in a very important facet of their lives.” When she’s not ballroom dancing or leading a spontaneous hip-hop dance, you’ll find Bernadette rescuing animals. Big, little, young or old, animals seem to find her when they need rescuing, and she’s always happy to help, “I’m forever rescuing an animal...and it’s become my personal passion.” Meet Bernadette and learn more at: NestRealty.com/BernadetteAlfonso

If you aren’t already familiar with the dynamic duo that is Steve Bodtke and Jim Sarver, you’re in for a fun ride. With a combined 31 years in the real estate industry, and more than 20 years in custom-home construction, the knowledge, experience, and skills they bring to their clients is unparalleled. So what are these two up to when they aren’t helping their clients find their dream home? Jim, or “Slim” as his friends call him, can be found cooking for his wife, or hiking, fishing, and singing off-key with his three kids. His biggest accomplishment? “Convincing the most beautiful and perfect woman in the world to marry me.” (Insert collective “awwww” here.) Steve’s a straight shooter with the uncanny

ability to state the obvious. But catch him with doing volunteer therapy work with his massive Newfoundland dogs...and you realize he is just a kindhearted hippy. His U-Pick organic berry farm is a dreamland filled with furry dogs, farm cats, unruly chickens, and burros who are too sweet to guard against anything but a furrowed brow. There is a yin and yang thing happening with these two—they balance each other out and provide their clients with guidance, direction, and a reassuring confidence that comes from experience. Oh, and they both love lobster…a lot. Learn more about Steve and Jim at: NestRealty.com/SteveAndJim

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Sensible Shoes, Good Eyes and More to Prevent Falling

Text by Joanne M. Anderson

While there may be a rush of adrenaline in bungee jumping, sky diving and parachuting, most people do not enjoy the sensation of falling through the air. The other startling sensation is the element of surprise. Falls, like most accidents, happen fast and unexpectedly, and many do not end well. The ground and floors are unforgiving to the human body, whether it is thrown off a ladder or as the result of a clumsy step or tripping over something simple like a dog leash, edge of rug or electric cord.

Men tend to wear fairly practical shoes most of their lives, and women could take a tip from Queen Elizabeth 32

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II on sensible shoes. While

the queen enjoys beautiful clothes in vibrant colors, she has typically worn the same style of low, block heel shoes for more than 50 years. Stability is key, and even at age 92, she walks unassisted and steady on her feet in her trusty Anello & Davide pumps, usually black patent leather, though she owns other colors in the identical style.

Footwear may well be the first

line of defense against falling - at any age - but since falls are the leading cause of injury and death in folks over 65, it's all the more important in the golden years. About 25 percent of people older than 65 fall every year, making it the leading cause of injuries and fatalities in this demographic group. Medicare and Medicaid paid most of the $50 billion in fall-related injuries in 2015.

Stability in the feet contributes to more firm footsteps and good balance.

"We suggest never wearing just socks on hardwood or polished tile floors, as well as hardwood stairs," says Christi Nicely, director of rehabilitation at Brandon

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Oaks in Roanoke. "Furthermore, to keep our residents moving, we encourage the use of walkers, canes and other adaptive pieces of equipment. At the end of day, it's our goal to keep people as active and healthy as long as possible."

Less light reaches the retina as people grow older which can make things harder to distinguish, a floor and similar color rug edge, for example. "Vision is our main navigation sense," says Dr. Steve Jacobs of Drs. Jacobs & Diaz Optometrists in Blacksburg. "It coordinates with balance and body movements to keep us standing up and moving forward instead of falling down. Anything that reduces clarity, field of vision or our sense of where we are in space, can impact how easy and safe it is to get around. Preventive eye care and awareness can go a long way to help you go a long way."

Prescription medications as well as over-thecounter (OTC) products may cause one to be a little (or a lot) dizzy, drowsy, dehydrated or lightly confused. It is wise advice to refrain from hiking, going whitewater rafting, sky diving, getting on a ladder or even driving for a couple days after starting a new medication -- Rx or OTC. Residents at Brandon Oaks are often reminded to "call before you fall". "It's our way of helping people who might feel unsteady getting up in the night for any reason - a little disorientation, even after an afternoon nap, recovering from a recent surgery, starting a new medicine.

We'd rather be there to assist in avoiding any kind of fall," Nicely explains.

Inactivity and depression can impact alertness and caution when walking around, even through a home one has lived in for decades. Grab bars in the bathroom are as sensible as good shoes, and Nicely says with a good architect or designer, it's easy to make handrails in a hallway or length of wall in your home an attractive decor element. "Rails can be about the same height as a chair rail," she relates. "So paint the wall two tone above and below and paint or stain the handrail to match." Think of that as a very attractive safety measure.

Keeping things close to you is another good tip from Nicely. Having a cell phone, medicine, water bottle, books or magazines, cane, slippers - with rubber treads - within reach simplifies life on an hourly basis. The clever designs of walkers include storage options under the seat and in attached bags, so you can move yourself and a bunch of your stuff at the same time.

From good lighting, current glasses and rubber mats to call-before-you-fall, hand rails and sensible shoes, senior citizens can enjoy the twilight years while moving about the cabin, home, grounds and town safely.

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Harp music Continued from page 22 unofficial motto of Tourin’s program is “a harpist in every hospital by 2020.”

But why is the harp, specifically, so unique when it comes to music therapy? “When you play a harp string, it vibrates as a whole to give you the base, or fundamental, tone.

It also vibrates in parts at the same time, creating different overtones, which is what gives the sound its character," Kaldro explains.

This is significant for healing because the fundamental tone will vibrate and act on the physical body while the overtones work on an aura. Patients hear sympathetic vibrations from other strings at the same time. The resulting sound produces its own kind of energy. In the program, students are trained to put their own issues aside and be hyper-observant of their surroundings. They are taught how to be on a constant feedback loop with the patient and make adjustments in the music accordingly.

“We play prescriptively, trying to tune in to where the person is in the moment. It's very centered on the patient. We try to feel their mood and use our skills and intuition to figure out what music or tone is going to help them,” Kaldro says.

Music in major keys has been shown to increase immunoglobulin levels (antibodies), though any key that is favorable to the listener will increase immunity because of music's ability to mitigate stress by lowering cortisol. When people listen to music they like, it can increase biochemicals that trigger feelings of euphoria. And in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, monitors reveal increased oxygen levels in babies while harp music plays.

“It can also change heart rate and blood pressure,” Kaldro adds. “For someone with fast, struggled breathing, I might start playing at a tempo that matches the breath, then play slower to bring it back down.”

Therapy harps have 24 to 27 strings, compared to pedal harps with 40 to 47 strings. This contributes to portability and being less intrusive in hospital spaces. A smaller harp also lets a patient interact by strumming the strings (officially called a glissando), which can be as effective as simply listening.

Ultimately, Kaldro concludes, moving through illness and healing is a process. Human beings are ever-changing works-in-progress, and music can be the ideal companion on that journey. For something that is cliché’d as inciting fantasy, the harp can be surprisingly quite the opposite. Its ability to keep people grounded, peaceful and feeling at home in their own bodies is perhaps the best medicine available.

Nancy S. Moseley is a freelance writer from Blacksburg who was delighted at the opportunity to hear Kirsti play her harp during the interview.

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Dinner Time

at the Retirement Home

this is not your granny’s cafeteria

Text by Becky Hepler Photos courtesy of Brandon Oaks

Baby boomers have always been the pig in the python, refashioning the culture and environment around them. In the early '60s, it was an increase in building elementary schools for them; in the '70s, it was the uptick in college admissions. Now it’s adapting retirement homes to their tastes and passions, especially in regards to their stomachs.

According to the Population Reference Bureau, there were approximately 76 million births between 1946 and 1964. Around 65.2 million are still alive, making up 24 percent of the population. That’s a number worth addressing. Today’s senior citizens are living longer, in part for eating healthy, fresh, organic and local foods coupled 36

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with less fat and sodium. Many are choosing retirement communities at an earlier age, and management is incorporating healthy changes into their dining options.

Many of the retirement communities in the New River Valley and Roanoke region are responding with more choice, adopting healthier recipes and using local foods in season.

Some, like Brandon Oaks of Roanoke and Warm Hearth Village in Blacksburg, even sponsor farmers markets on site, so not only residents and staff can buy locally and fresh, but chefs as well. Brandon Oaks has Homestead Creamery visit once a week so residents can stock up on good, local, dairy products.

One notable trend is moving from cafeteria style to restaurant dining. At Commonwealth Living in Christiansburg, the residents have a choice between two meals, and their choices are plated in the kitchen and served at their table. Some chefs create activity stations where residents can choose the combination of ingredients for their dish and watch a chef prepare it. “Stir fry night is a big favorite,” says Brandon Oaks chef Warren Jones. “It’s fun to watch, and it smells great.”

Sometimes there's a restaurant on site like the Fireside Grill and Huckleberry Cafe at Warm Hearth Village. Brandon Oaks has The Grille. You can also find Grab-and-Go stations with

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packaged sandwiches, fruit, pudding, snacks and treats.

Tobie Bowe, director of dining services at Brandon Oaks, says: “It’s important to keep it fresh and interesting.” There are fall-winter and spring-summer menu cycles, and dishes rotate every five weeks. Holidays generate special menus. There are Friday night cookouts and barbeques in warm months, and one Sunday a month brings a champagne brunch, a big favorite with

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waffle and omelet stations.

It wouldn’t be the 21st century without some technology, and residents have apps to use in the dining room.

Bowe introduced The Bite System, which works with the kitchen’s online menu to calculate various factors, such as calorie count, fat and sodium content and vitamin percentages for each food item being served that day. Residents bring the app up on their phone or tablet, plug in the amounts they ate and find out exactly what nutritional needs were met.

Feedback is crucial to the process.

Residents are encouraged to talk to the chefs or staff members or fill out comment cards found on every table. T. Michael Smith, president of the Brandon Oaks Resident Council, says every monthly meeting involves going through the comment cards. “As you get older, food becomes very important, and it needs to be good to promote sociability,” he relates. “Our people do a great job in listening to the residents and trying to

Sept/Oct

accommodate the wide range of tastes.”

Andrew Fillers, director of dining services at Warm Hearth Village, concurs about the importance of food for seniors.

“Food should always be an experience,” he believes. “And for seniors, it is one of the few things they can control, so it’s important that we listen and try to accommodate them.”

The result of all this listening is a pretty satisfied clientele. As Smith points out, the majority of the comment cards are positive, complimenting the chefs for a dish, or a staff member for the help he or she gave to the resident. Smith’s favorite meal is prime rib night, but he can always find something good to eat.

“Besides,” he quips, “what’s not to like?

I get a good meal that I don’t have to cook or clean up.”

Roberta McGuire, another Brandon Oaks resident, also has kind words for the dining staff. The stir fry is her favorite, and she loves the flexibility for meal times as well as the wide variety of food choices. “Meal time is an occasion for me to enjoy getting to know people and appreciate the freedom from meal planning, shopping, preparing and cleaning up,” she states. “I don’t miss cooking, and I can say with pride that I have had my oven on only one time in the three months I have been here.”

Becky Hepler is a retired high school

librarian and freelance writer who lives in Giles County.

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Jordi Calvera

A lifetime of art comes on the market

Text by Gerri Young

The road from Jordi Calvera’s birthplace in Barcelona, Spain, to Blacksburg was filled with chance and challenges. He was a child in war-torn Spain, worked in a textile factory at age 12, and started painting using a cheap box of paints. Jordi moved to Venezuela in 1955 at age 27 for a better life, working as a floor sweeper, lamp designer and graphic designer.

He met his future wife, Elizabeth, in 1964. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, she was on an 18-month assignment to do community development work in the Venezuelan slums. By chance, they lived in the same boarding house. They married and moved to Blacksburg in 1979. “I spoke fluent Spanish and liked big city living in South America,” recalls Elizabeth, known as Libby among her friends. “A friend doing graduate work at Virginia Tech told me about Blacksburg. I knew Jordi wanted some place small and peaceful to live, so we came to visit. Driving down I-81, Jordi declared: ‘This is where I want to die!’

He had not even seen Blacksburg yet!”

Thirty-nine years later, on Oct. 24, 2016, he got his wish.

During their years together, Jordi and Libby enjoyed small-town life. She 38

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worked at Virginia Tech for 33 years as a Spanish instructor, and Jordi painted landscapes, most of them in Virginia. His serious painting career had begun years before. “During a down time in Venezuela, I challenged Jordi to stay home and paint for a year,” says Libby. “I thought he needed to find his style, to prove he could really be a painter. He was in his mid-40s and, in one year, had several shows and sold many paintings.” For Jordi, “painting was like breathing. It is necessary for my life,” he once said.

Libby had no intention of moving to the U.S., so she challenged Jordi once again - to live in Blacksburg for one year alone to see if he could make it. Jordi succeeded despite speaking no English and having never seen snow. In 1980, Libby joined him in the townhouse she still calls home. Nearly every room was soon filled with his masterpieces. His love for the area showed through places like the Cascades, Riner buffalo farm, New River and many of the charming farms.

While landscapes of Virginia dominate his collection, other paintings feature Venezuela, Spain and New Mexico.

Abstracts, still life and mystical scenes fill out the space.

When the walls were full, the

paintings were cataloged and stored.

Boxes and boxes of them. Meticulously, Jordi wrote the particulars of each painting on the back of each canvas. He framed many and did occasional shows, but was easily discouraged when it came to the business of selling them. He just wanted to paint.

After his unexpected death in 2016, Libby was faced with what to do with more than 200 signed oil paintings.

First, she had to deal with the personal loss. She gave Jordi’s hand-built easel to a good artist friend, asking her for guidance.

Jordi was a member of the Blacksburg Regional Art Association (BRAA) for years.

Libby continued the membership and will donate part of the proceeds to BRAA. Fellow artists and friends who knew Jordi will work the sale from beginning to end.

Art pieces run between $40 and $600 with the most plentiful size in the $140 range.

Jordi Calvera Art Sale Oct. 23 and 24 ~ 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

German Club Ballroom 711 Southgate Drive ~ Blacksburg 50 cents per square inch [framed or unframed]

www.blacksburgart.org/jordi-art-sale

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Greenbacks for Green Space

Three nearby state parks worth an overnight adventure

Hungry Mother State Park Molly's Knob

Photo by Billy Bowling

Text by Nancy S. Moseley

There are well over 10,000 state parks across the United States. With that number in mind, it’s hard to imagine not bumping into one on any given road trip.

In fact, it’s an excellent way to get to a genuine feel for areas you may otherwise pass by. When traveling, seek out the characteristic brown signs and explore local landscapes. Take a break and get a feel for variant geography.

In 2016, visitors to Virginia State Parks spent an estimated $224 million.

Approximately 44% of that money came from out-of-state visitors. These funds are tagged as “new money,” money that would not normally exist in the absence of a park system. Visiting state parks, in any state, is a simple, feel-good experience that brings revenue to the very land we’re standing on.

As with anything when the dollar sign comes into play, the challenge 40

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becomes what sounds like an ugly custody lawsuit: green vs. green. How best to grow revenue while protecting natural resources and keeping the elemental outdoor experience intact is a challenge.

It all starts with patronage. Choosing to visit a park helps both sides of the green battle. Take time to bump into these state parks, all within an hour-and-a-half drive from the New River Valley. All three were part of the original six parks that opened in the 1930s.

Fairy Stone State Park

Located in Patrick County, Fairy Stone State Park is perhaps best known for its natural-wonder namesake, the fairy stone. It is said that fairies once inhabited the peaceful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. When they learned of Christ’s death, they cried tears that crystallized

into little stone crosses as they fell to the earth: fairy stones. In reality, they are staurolite crystals that formed out of a precise combination of pressure and heat when the earth’s crust was shaping the Appalachian Mountains. If you look very closely, you can still find fairy stones.

The park offers 25 cabins - nine from the original Civilian Conservation Corps days, four newly constructed yurts and a lodge that sleeps 16. There is a campground suitable for tents, RVs and even those traveling with horses. There is a 168-acre lake for fishing, boating and swimming. Ten miles of the park’s Little Mountain Trail System are multi-use, open to hikers, cyclists and equestrians. Visitors can also enjoy the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway and Philpott Lake.

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Hungry Mother State Park

Located south along I-81 in Smyth County, Hungry Mother State Park bears a curious name. Legend has it that when Native Americans destroyed several settlements along the New River, Molly Marley and her child were among the survivors who were captured and brought back to the raiders’ base camp.

They would eventually escape, only to spend time hiding in the woods eating only berries for survival. Molly eventually collapsed leaving her child to wander down a creek to find help. When the search party arrived, the only words the child could utter were, “hungry mother.”

Today, Molly’s Knob is a popular 1.9-mile hike to a stunning summit that overlooks the surrounding mountains.

Hungry Mother has a 108-acre lake for swimming, boating and fishing.

The Hemlock Haven Conference Center offers both meeting and lodging facilities and various sports fields and courts. More than 17 miles of trails are open year-round, and there is ample geocaching for curious folks. Overnight accommodations include 20 cabins (3 are original CCC cabins), two yurts and several campgrounds. Located on an island accessible by a bucolic footbridge, there is an amphitheater available for rent, perfect for nature nuptials.

It was John Muir, the famous naturalist, who once said, “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life. “

Mr. Muir proclaimed the importance of “mountain parks” well over 100 years ago, yet the entirety of the quote is strikingly relevant today. The degree to which we are over-civilized only stands to increase.

Readied access to wilderness (vs. WiFi) will become even more important.

Though the parks were created in the spirit of economic stimulation, how wonderful that they stimulate our senses as well. Craig Seaver aptly sends us off with marching orders that are as obvious as they are eye opening: “We need to really take care of what we’ve got. After all, we’re not making any new land.”

Nancy Moseley is a freelance writer who makes a point to swing in state parks when traveling. She recently spent time at Watoga State Park in West Virginia, camping, hiking and canoeing.

Fairy Stone State Park

Douthat State Park

Canoe by PH Photo Club

Douthat State Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for being a role model in the development of park systems nationwide. Named after Robert Douthat, one of the original landowners, the park offers four miles of stream fishing, a lake for swimming, boating and fishing and over 43 miles of multi-use trails for hikers, cyclists and equestrians. There are several campgrounds, over 30 cabins and three lodges for overnight accommodations.

Douthat Lakeview Restaurant is an original CCC facility that has been upgraded to modern standards. Blue Suck Falls is a popular three-mile hike featuring a waterfall along the way. For something a little different, every spring the park hosts the Douthat Lake Run Car Show, which has been going strong for 20 years.

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Douthat State Park

Photo by Bill Crabtree, Jr Sept/Oct

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NR V F o o d F a re

Fondue Compiled by Joanne M. Anderson

Fondue is a fun, fall food, and with fondue mixed in advance and all the dipping foods cut up prior to arrival, it can be an elegant tailgate event as well. The word "fondue" comes from "fonder" which is the French verb for "to melt," and it is a melting pot with an interesting history.

During long winters in Switzerland when fresh food was in short supply, some brilliant villagers decided to melt cheese and dip in stale bread. The cheese tasted better, and the bread was rendered more soft. In time, seasonings were added. The French started heating oil to cook meat for vineyard workers who were in the fields all day long. The name, Fondue Bourguignonne, comes from the vineyard workers in Burgundy.

Chocolate fondue was invented and served at the long-gone Chalet Suisse restaurant in New York City in 1966. The Swiss National Tourist Office, near the restaurant, was trying to find a way to launch a new Swiss chocolate, and the restaurant owner melted it with heavy cream and Swiss firewater known as kirsch or kirschwasser. It is reported to have been an instant hit, and if you make the chocolate fondue recipe below, you will know why -- instantly.

Cheese Fondue 1 cup dry white wine 1/2 pound shredded Swiss cheese 1/2 pound shredded Gruyere cheese 2 Tbls. all-purpose flour 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. nutmeg Simmer wine in fondue pot. Add cheeses, 1/4 pound at a time, stirring well after each addition until melted.

Add flour. When all cheese is melted, stir in salt and nutmeg. Dip cut French bread, ham chunks, apple pieces and veggies.

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Chocolate Fondue

6 1-oz. squares unsweetened chocolate 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 cup light cream 1/2 cup butter dash of salt 3 Tbls. crème de cocoa

Melt chocolate over low heat. Add sugar, cream, butter, salt. Stir constantly until thick. Stir in liqueur.

Pour in fondue pot. Dip fruit pieces, pound cake and marshmallows.

Meat Fondue Canola or other oil Heat oil to 375º and transfer to fondue pot. Cook marinated meat, chicken or pork until desired doneness. Serve with Béarnaise, teriyaki, horseradish or other sauce.

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4th Annual

Scarecrow Festival

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It was in Cairo, Egypt, a whopping 6,032 miles from Pearisburg in Giles County, that scarecrows were first recorded for protecting wheat fields along the banks of the Nile River from quail. Scarecrows dressed in old clothes to scare crows have adorned many gardens and fields. While not as popular for deterring winged creatures, scarecrows have become endeared in the hearts of people as fun and funky 44

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autumn decorations.

And it has been four applebutter and autumn leaf-filled years since Pearisburg rallied around the idea of a unique, family-oriented fun day: The Pearisburg Scarecrow Festival.

Businesses, county offices, civic groups, school children and others create scarecrows and place them around town. Crafters, music, food, wrestling, contests, cruise-in cars and

motorcycles, live entertainers and a living history event by the Giles County Historical Society Museum offer something for everyone.

Downtown Pearisburg Sat., Oct. 13 9 a.m. -- 8 p.m.

Contact Hope Harrell at 540-921-1222 112 Tazewell St. Pearisburg 24134 Photos coutesy of Virginian Leader

S eptemb er/Octob er 2018

Our excellent downtown location allows our guests to enjoy dining, music, theater and shopping... all a short stroll away 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

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Sept/Oct

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Flat Screen Cable TV Refrigerator Coffee Maker Hair Dryer Iron & Ironing Board

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Newsy Relevant Valuable A round-up of items of interest across the NRV

Bike sharing has launched in the New River Valley with 12 hubs and 75 orange bicycles. Named "Roam NRV" for the ability it provides locals to, uh, roam around on two wheels, the project is a collaborative effort of Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Montgomery County, Virginia Tech, Gotcha and Bike Barn.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to offer another option for alternative transportation,” says Tom Fox, director of Blacksburg Transit which administers the program.

“Not only is a bike share program an environmentally sound solution, but it speaks to the quality of life in our communities."

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation provided start-up funding of $200,000, plus $50,000 in matching funds from local participating partners.

15 minutes $1 60 minutes $4 24 hours $10

monthly and annual memberships

bicycle reservations and rentals www.gotchabike.com/roamnrv www.facebook.com/roamNRV

Taking "dinner out" literally is the message of the

2018 Chow Down Downtown Food Truck Rodeo Fri., Sept. 21 ~ 5 - 10 p.m.

Muddy ACCE Race

downtown Christiansburg no entry fee food, craft beer, wine from the NRV plus Roanoke, Charlottesville, Lynchburg + more

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a fun, mud-friendly event challenge yourself, your agility, speed and athletic ability.

The proceeds from this event support the Access to Community College program.

Sat., Sept. 15, Glen Lyn www.muddyaccerace.com

S eptemb er/Octob er 2018

Newsy Relevant Valuable A round-up of items of interest across the NRV

Fall FEST Highland Ridge Rehab Center Fall FEST Sat., Oct. 6, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. free pony rides, cotton candy, petting zoo music, hay rides, moon bounce & more 5872 Hanks Ave, Dublin 540-674-4193

20th Anniversary Celebration

Glencoe Mansion, in the former residence of Gen. Gabriel C. and Nannie Radford Wharton, is marking a milestone 20th Anniversary with a fun celebration. Living history interpreters, special presentations and children's activities will enthrall people of all ages. Among the presenters are Robert C. Whisonant; Paul Quigley, Director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Civil War Studies; and history professors Dan Thorp and Mary Ferrari. Acclaimed Civil War Historian William C. Davis will present “Love Among the Ruins,” a talk based on his upcoming publication of more than 500 Wharton Civil War letters.

Glencoe Mansion opened in October 1998. The Wharton residence was donated by Kollmorgen Corporation and is operated by the Radford Heritage Foundation.

Sat., Oct. 13 ~ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Glencoe Mansion ~ 600 Unruh Drive ~ Radford

Up On The Roof

premier NRV creative professionals mixer and happy hour networking event

Thurs., Sept. 27 ~ 5:30 - 8 p.m.

Top of Kent Square, downtown Blacksburg [take the elevator to the top floor] $5 - 10 / age 21+

4th Annual Scarecrow Festival Downtown Pearisburg Sat., Oct. 13 9 a.m. -- 8 p.m.

vendors ~ live music ~ contests ~ car and motorcycle cruise-in ~ food ~ wrestling ~ lots more NRVMAGAZINE.com

Sept/Oct

Tours led by a professional local historian and recipient of the National Historic Preservation Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution for her years of dedication to New River Valley history and preservation.

Tours offer visits to and details about various historical sites and their significance in history.

You will learn, too, about Fort Hope

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Friday, September 14, 2018, 7:30 PM SEASON OPENER PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY PABLO ZIEGLER ENSEMBLE Piazzolla Caldera and other repertory Sunday, September 30, 2018, 4 PM ITZHAK PERLMAN, violin ROHAN DE SILVA, piano Friday, October 5, 2018, 7:30 PM EL SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO Friday, October 12, 2018, 7:30 PM AMBIENT ORCHESTRA MAYA BEISER, cello David Bowie’s Blackstar Friday, October 19, 2018, 7:30 PM LES VIOLONS DU ROY ANTHONY ROTH COSTANZO, countertenor Handel/Glass Vocal Program Friday, October 26, 2018, 7:30 PM NW DANCE PROJECT Woolf Papers and other repertory Friday, November 2, 2018 6 PM Reception, 7:30 PM Concert 5TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CALLAS IN CONCERT Thursday, November 8, 2018, 7:30 PM AN EVENING WITH BÉLA FLECK, banjo ZAKIR HUSSAIN, tabla EDGAR MEYER, bass

Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 7:30 PM THEATRE RE The Nature of Forgetting

Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 7:30 PM Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA On sale January 22, 2019

Friday, November 30, 2018, 7:30 PM MARTHA REDBONE Roots Project

Saturday, March 16, 2019, 7:30 PM DANÚ St. Patrick’s Celebration

Saturday, December 8, 2018, 4 PM ROANOKE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Holiday Pops Concert

Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 7:30 PM ZADIE SMITH, author

Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 7:30 PM EVITA

Saturday, March 23, 2019, 7:30 PM POSTCLASSICAL ENSEMBLE Deep River: The Art of the Spiritual

Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 7:30 PM CIRQUE ÉLOIZE Saloon

Saturday, March 30, 2019, 7:30 PM DAVID ROUSSÈVE/REALITY Halfway to Dawn

Saturday, February 2, 2019, 7:30 PM SOUNDS OF CHINA

Monday, April 1, 2019, 7:30 PM TERRY TEMPEST WILLIAMS, author, environmentalist, and activist

Sunday, February 10, 2019, 7 PM JOHN HOLLENBECK LARGE ENSEMBLE Friday, February 15, 2019, 7:30 PM BERLIN PHILHARMONIC WIND QUINTET Friday, February 22, 2019, 7:30 PM CZECH NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Bernstein Centennial Celebration Tour Friday, March 1, 2019, 7:30 PM Saturday, March 2, 2019, 7:30 PM THE TEAM NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND Anything That Gives Off Light

Sunday, April 7, 2019, 4 PM AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Friday, April 12, 2019, 7:30 PM TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET CYRUS CHESTNUT, piano Carry Me Home Friday, April 26, 2019, 7:30 PM FRED HERSCH, piano KURT ELLING, vocals KATE MCGARRY, vocals Leaves of Grass Saturday, May 11, 2019, 7:30 PM PILOBOLUS Shadowland 2: The New Adventure