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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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WRITERS

Joanne Anderson

Emily Alberts

Jo Clark

Becky Hepler

Nancy Moseley

Kameron Bryant

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tom Wallace

Christy Wallace

Kristie Lea Photography

Kevin Riley

Madison Underwood

Jon Fleming

Pasture Talk

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WWhen I was in 4th grade, a classmate named Stevie Quist broke his arm. It had a big impact on my life which continues to this day. Thinking “what if I broke my arm?” propelled me to learn to write and eat with my left hand, just in case. It also prompted me to study and do book reports, science fair projects, etc., early, just in case. Moving through high school and college, I could always do something fun on the spur of the moment a day before finals or a presentation because I had done everything early.

This came home to me once again when my triple-checked saddle slipped off Remington in early August, and me with it. It hurt, no lie. The ground does not budge. I knew my right arm and side were damaged. My riding buddy, Lori Miller (who happens to be the best horse trainer this side of the Mississippi should you need her; she also transports horses at Horse Transportation Virginia on Facebook) noted: “Remington is up for sainthood, standing still next to you, unconcerned, with a saddle nearly under his belly.” She placed the saddle back on, and I chose to ride another three miles.

There was no way I could drive home. My truck has the modern anti-theft device called a stick shift. Lori managed the tack, horses and me, and brought us safely home. I drove my car to the ER to discover one broken rib and uncertainty on the severe upper arm pain. A soon-swollen, black-and-blue knee was not too serious.

The keyboard is easy for writing, and I did not go hungry, since I can eat left-handed. By week’s end I

could marginally curl my hair, brush my teeth and move the horses with a rope single-handedly. Clumsy but effective. The SeptOct issue you are holding was closing in on deadline, and I did not work the entire week after the incident. I had more than half my work done three weeks in advance … because … Stevie Quist broke his arm in 4th grade!

That first week of ice and Tylenol offered me time to catch up on reading, and the editor’s letter in the June 2023 issue of Good Housekeeping got my attention. Jane Francisco wrote about growing up in a DIY household, and by the time she went out into the world, she could “frame a wall, knit, crochet, sew, bake bread, navigate a boat, hang wallpaper, countersink a screw, drill a hole in most materials, jump-start a car, disconnect a toilet, hang a door and solder a pipe.” I can match her on most of those [albeit later in life] and add cane a chair, wrap a hoof abscess, paint a ceiling and install an underground driveway alarm system.

And, seriously, I can saddle and cinch a horse correctly, too.

As my least favorite season moves out and my favorite season ushers itself in, I find myself enamored anew with the people, places, scenes, communities, events and natural beauty of the New River Valley. It’s possible I’m back in the saddle as you are reading this. I surely hope so! And Go Hokies!

Joanne Anderson ManagingEditor

COVER PHOTO: Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics by Jon Fleming

Lane Stadium Entrance

Even though the Hokies used to enter the field after the theme from 2001: Space Odyssey was played, their new walk-out ritual is right up there with putting a man on the moon in terms of sheer awesomeness.

“I’ve been all over the world and seen a lot of things, but nothing tops being in that stadium when Enter Sandman comes on the speakers,” says a former Virginia Tech cadet, now Sergeant in the United States Army. “It’s truly a bucket-list experience. There’s nothing else like it.”

Blacksburg might not bring the biggest musical acts or the biggest entertainers – because for the Hokies, the game is THE big event, and fans travel far and wide to be a part of that. But something larger than life must have happened at the turn of the millennium. No, not the Mayan calendar and end of the world jibber jabber – but that fateful day when "Enter Sandman" was first used by Virgina Tech on Aug. 27, 2000. It was the season opener, and the Hokies

were slated to face Georgia Tech, but as fate would have it, a lightning storm – so powerful that it struck ESPN announcer Lee Corso’s car in the Lane Stadium parking lot - wound up causing the game to be cancelled. It was the only game cancelled for weather in VT football history, and fans surmised lightning struck Corso’s car because he’d predicted the Yellow Jackets to win!

It’s no coincidence that the Metallica band logo has lightning bolts

Text by Emily K. Alberts

Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics by Jon Fleming

Extravaganza

on both sides…this was the start of something BIG.

Now the Hokies had the giant Jumbotron and the big, high-energy entrance to match. While nearby colleges were moseying out to the field to the mellow classics of John Denver (think Tennessee’s “Ol’ Rocky Top” and West Virginia’s “Take Me Home Country Roads”), or de facto fight songs such as UVA’s “The Good Old Song”, Virginia Tech had injected new electricity into Lane Stadium that would keep everyone buzzing all the

way through an 11-1 season. Now the crowd sings in unison, “Sleep with one eye oooopen…” which is much more fun than the Space Odyssey song, which had no words, or the Old Hokie song, with words like “Sola-Rex, Sola-Rah, PolytechsVir-gin-ia!” I remember putting those lyrics into the AOL search engine back in 1999 so I’d know what to chant in the stadium, and scratching my head thinking who comes up with this stuff?

We sure have come a long way from the days when Floyd “Hardtimes” Meade would take the field with his trained turkey back in the 1920s (hence the team nickname, The Fighting Gobblers). And to think, some teams are still using stunts like mascot ducks riding motorcycles (Oregon State) while the Hokies are rocking the stadium so hard we’re over here causing earthquakes! “Technically, if tectonic plates aren’t involved, it is not classified as an earthquake,” says Martin

Chapman, director of the Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory (VTSO). Chapman has been measuring the seismic waves for decades and has paid attention to the consistent patterns they follow on game day. Did you know? They actually follow along with the music!

While our “Earthquake Game” wasn’t the first sporting event to register seismic activity, Lane Stadium has seen the most seismic action. Even Cassell Coliseum registered a “quake” back in 2018, when men’s basketball had a huge upset over Duke, with an NCAA Tournament bid on the line.

Let’s face it, Hokies know how to get fired up!

Matter of fact, Virginia Tech's “Enter Sandman” has become one of the loudest moments in college football history, with a reading of 126.2 decibels, topping the loudest rock

concert ever held on American soil. Bear in mind the pain threshold for human hearing is 120-130 decibels, so Hokie Fans may need to start wearing earmuffs to be safe. I can hear the stadium noise all the way from my house, and at 126 decibels, the roar of the Hokies can be heard up to 10 miles away, in the right conditions.

But what about the jumping?

The tradition of the students jumping up and down has a weatherrelated start as well. One particularly cold night in December of 2001, a band member of the Marching Virginians started jumping up and down to keep himself warm. Of course, with marching band kids, it’s monkey-seemonkey-do, so his colleagues joined in on the jumping. It spread like wildfire, and soon enough, even the students and the rest of the spectators were

“Enter Sandman” was the first song written by the heavy metal band Metallica for its 1991 album. It is the opening track and lead single, reaching 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving platinum certification. The song runs 5 minutes, 32 seconds, moving at a tempo of 123 beats per minutes, about the same as the Hokie fans jumping on their feet. Normal resting heart beat is between 60 and 100 beats per minute, but VT football fans are nowhere near resting when the team runs on the field with “Enter Sandman” cranked up louder than any rock concert.

bouncing up and down in unison. It’s a phenomenon affectionately known as “The Blacksburg Bounce”.

Metallica is grateful to be such a big part of VT history and created a video in 2011 to be featured on the Jumbotron. “Hey, Hokie Nation, time to kick some butt! This is Metallica. Start jumping!” yells lead singer and guitarist, James Hetfield, as the song kicks up a notch.

Tim East was the assistant athletic director of marketing and promotions back when the video was created, and when asked if he could have ever envisioned the song's popularity, replied: "Not in my wildest imagination."

Emily K. Alberts [VT class of 2003] enthusiastically started jumping in August! She thinks it’s kind of cool how Enter Sandman sounds similar to Enter Stadium. Go Hokies!

Going Home Again the history and gala of Homecoming traditions

Every fall, without fail, there is Homecoming to look forward to. Homecoming that is not just a return to one's place of origin - though this is a given - but Homecoming that's characterized by a weeklong schedule of events, festivities and traditions that magically transforms homecoming to Homecoming, capital "H".

Homecoming has permanent real estate on most school calendars and is a party generally thrown by current students and administration, targeting and enticing former students to return to their alma maters. It's a much-celebrated tradition that dates back to the early 1900s with origins centered around, none other than, football.

Homecoming History and Traditions

Several major universities claim to be the one school to inaugurate today's concept of capital "H" Homecoming. But to remain fair, let's call it a group effort. Baylor University in Texas documented the first alumni football game in 1909. The University of Illinois dates their first celebration to 1910. And in 1911, Chester Brewer, athletic director at the University of Missouri, publicly invited all alumni to attend the raucous rival game, Missouri vs. University of Kansas. Brewer also purportedly had a spirit rally and parade, which is perhaps where the pomp got added to the circumstance.

Back even further, the University of Michigan held an actual alumni football game in 1875 where former players returned to face-off against current players. Go same team!

Popular traditions include themed dressup days, decorated residence halls, a nominated Homecoming court followed by a halftime crowned king and queen. A parade down some main street features the marching band, cheer squads, class floats, mascots and hand-painted poster boards and tapestries advertising "beat rival." But perhaps the most beloved is the cornerstone football game, followed by a romantic

Text

by Nancy S. Moseley

Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics by Jon Fleming

dance to seal the week with a kiss.

High schools and colleges have unique, sometimes curious, customs. An article on vice.com regarding Homecoming traditions specifically, states: "Tradition is only as absurd as your distance from it."

For example, the University of Arizona engages in an annual lantern walk. Students and alumni tote lanterns up to "A" mountain used by the school's mascot to illuminate the "A." During spirit splash at the University of Central Florida, students run into the university’s reflecting pool in a grand show of school pride. South Dakota State University hosts a 100-year-old "hobo day" that started when students and alumni marched toward the town's train station dressed as hobos to welcome the opposing team. Still going strong today, they now have a Bum-A-Meal program, a month-long no shaving pledge, a BumFire, and a creative build-your-own shanty event.

And in Texas, where all things are larger than life, watch out for the ostentatious Homecoming mums. They are worth a Google image search.

Homecoming in the New River Valley

Here, at our own hometown university, select members of Virginia Tech's Army ROTC run the

Homecoming game ball 100 miles around campus letting spectators and town folk touch the ball for good luck. On game day, they take the now-lucky pigskin a few final steps into the stadium for kick-off.

Despite having no football game on which to anchor events, Radford University does not let that stop them from throwing the annual sentimental soirée. The entire fall Homecoming weekend is centered around an alumni village that hosts a live band and an "Under the Kilt" beverage tent. Both the women's and men's soccer teams have games, the rugby team hosts an alumni game, and there is an athletics hall of fame induction ceremony. Every year the Golden Reunion welcomes those celebrating their 50th graduation anniversary.

Director of Alumni Relations Sandra Bond offers:

"Homecoming is a family reunion of alumni coming back, to see friends, to see the campus, to reconnect and reminisce. It's a time to reflect about your time at Radford and feel proud of your alma mater."

Barry Hollandsworth has the benefit of being both alumni of and current principal at Floyd County High School [FCHS]. "My favorite part when I was a student was the week-long spirit activities, including dress up days the students vote on. Spirit week is the oldest longstanding tradition."

One of FCHS's most cherished traditions is the current Homecoming king and queen are always crowned by the previous year's recipients. Still, and perhaps a bit unfortunately, Hollandsworth's administrative perspective allows him to see the bigger picture and the difficulties associated with keeping old things alive. "Like so many traditional things, they are fading away. It is just the fact that students have so many options for entertainment."

Yet, no matter how weird the rituals, or how many distractions, it's still a wonderful excuse to hold heritage steadfast. Home is the fulcrum from which to look back, and also propel forward. Homecoming, capital "H," celebrates nostalgia, it celebrates academic culture, and it celebrates friendships that become family. And bonus points if you gain a little knowledge alongside the party, even if it's how to decorate the best-looking shack.

Nancy S. Moseley is a freelance writer who calls Blacksburg home. Her fondest memory is going frenetically from marching in the parade to cheering at the game to dancing at the dance, all in the same night. Three different outfit requirements within hours. She wouldn't want the memory any other way.

Is early retirement for you? Life 2.0

It's hard to say the two words together and not feel like they're an oxymoron. "Old news," "organized chaos," "civil war," "early retirement" ... it sounds about the same. Perhaps the thought of "early retirement" incites a bit of manic laughter, followed by a self-loathing tear or two. It's not unlike a desert mirage, something you always aim for, something that beckons, teases, yet the closer you get the more it fades into more of the same sand as far as the eye can see.

For many, the traditional idea of retirement, not working for living wages, won't ever happen. Still for others, it's simply game to play. A game of what you need, what you have and what they [employers] will give you.

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, early retirement - any time before age 67 - is within one's grasp if you serve in the public sector. According to varetire.org, the Virginia Retirement System or VRS is, “an

independent state agency based in Richmond, delivering retirement and other benefits to covered Virginia public sector employees." This includes public school teachers, political subdivision employees, state agency employees, public college and university personnel, state police, Virginia law officers the judiciary.

But for one retired Montgomery County law enforcement officer, who just turned 55, the idea of hanging up his punch card was not a goal. For now,

Text by Nancy S. Moseley

Anne Wheeler at Pearis Mercantile

Sean Rayne works part time at Power Zone in Christiansburg. He loves the people, the energy of a busy retail business and the ability to take off for local adventures with his wife at a moment's notice.

"I wanted to do something I like when I left. Something when I wake up, I think, 'oh this is cool to go to’. I can't sit. I have to do something because generally I'm very active." After some thought he adds, "Everyone I know who just retires and stops, dies within a year or two." A humbling thought, but something to consider, nevertheless.

However, he still believes a temporary stop is important. "When you retire from a job you are burnedout from, you need a little down time to think 'OK, I want to do something else, but what?' Save a check or two to afford this."

Early retirement means having the freedom to choose something you enjoy while you are still at an age to enjoy it. Anne Wheeler was a science teacher and cross-country track coach at Giles County High School for 32 years, loving it so much she went for that extra two years.

"Retirement was not even on my mind. I loved the kids. I probably flunked retirement,“ she laughs. Wheeler was not yet 54 years old when she stepped away, a bit

reluctantly, from teaching. When she was 12, she worked in the family's hardware store and recalled the times fondly. While she was still teaching, she started having conversations with her husband about opening a small-town mercantile shop. "I always wanted to have a little shop like this," she gestures from behind the register at Pearis Mercantile in Pearisburg, a life-long passion now going on 10 years.

The shop is housed in an old Esso station her family also owned. It is filled with unique wares and consignment arts that you won't find in any neighboring town. Offering something different to the area was very important to Wheeler. Adjacent to the main store is an outfitter section she stocks to resupply Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. "Everything but shoes," she says.

If VRS is not something you can rely on (or even if it is), still do your homework, which should include a good bit of math to calculate whether you can afford early retirement. According to the Social Security Administration's website, most financial advisers say you need approximately 70% of your income to live out your gainfully unemployed days comfortably. The accrual of funds can come from 401(k) plans, pensions, investments - both personal and those offered by employers - and, of course, any personal savings or forthcoming

inheritance. So be nice to Aunt May.

It is excellent practice to check annually on whatever "system" you are relying on to fund Life 2.0. Also, strongly consider starting a relationship, if you don’t have one already, with a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®).

Larry Price, a 1998 Virginia Tech graduate, started doing his math homework and focusing on early retirement when he turned 40. To him the equation added up to: "Work hard now. I just wanted to work really hard so I could start the longest vacation of my life," Price candidly states. He and his wife, who both work for private companies, plan to retire at age 58. With the safety net of a wellfunded retirement, the freedom to pursue a second career or embark on that really [really] long vacation - and to achieve either one within a timeline considered "early" - is to be celebrated. Besides, people would probably stare if you started a vacation with crazy-eyes laughter. And if you calculate all things correctly, you might even get to forgo the "self-loathing tear" part altogether.

Nancy S. Moseley is definitely maniclaughing her days away. Such is the life of a freelance writer. Her mirage looks like traveling the states in a reasonably-sized camper trailer. Naturally, ample time in the desert is planned.

"Retirement was not even on my mind. I loved the kids. I probably flunked retirement,“ she laughs. Wheeler was not yet 54 years old when she stepped away, a bit reluctantly, from teaching.

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A Home with Character and Warm Hospitality ~ and lots

of work!

BBlood, sweat and tears + blueprints, tools and templates + babies, kids and teens + a bold, spiritual tenacity have propelled the Kimzey family to grow while renovating and expanding their unusual house. Across the past two decades, Trevor and Tracy faced many obstacles in crafting a home with the vision of warm hospitality.

In 2000, the young family of four (2 adults + 2 small children) lived in a 1,000-square-foot home daydreaming of a larger family and a bigger house. On a whim, they looked at an old, former church building. “It was not exactly what we were dreaming about, but all that changed when we saw the inside and learned that the house was on a full acre with a large, open backyard,” Trevor relates.

The couple had to have a vision of what could be to see beyond what was - live wires hanging out of the walls, baseboard heaters piled in corners, tools strewn about in sawdust and hardwood floors which had not been refinished since installation in the 1930s.

The Church

Rutherford B. Hayes was U.S. President in 1877 when a postage stamp was 3 cents. The country was on the cusp of shifting from agriculture to a more industrialbased economy when St. Mark’s Lutheran Church was constructed in Prices Fork to serve the Lutheran heritage of

Text by Joanne M. Anderson | Photos by Tom and Christy Wallace

German settlers. It was moved back from the road 33 years later, and again in 1948 when a basement was finally added, providing space for the expanding congregation.

Just shy of 100 years, in 1974, the church body moved to a new building, and this church was converted to apartments. “These were the dark ages for the former church,” Tracy says. “It was filled with wood paneling, cheap interior construction, and it weathered hard use from tenants.” A rebirth was initiated in 1995 when a couple purchased it and began renovating for a single family home.

“They made significant progress, but left abruptly for new career opportunities,” Trevor explains, “leaving behind an unfinished, and for the moment, uninhabitable house.”

The House

The Kimzeys embraced their vision whole-heartedly, often interrupted with high priority matters like lack of attic insulation, broken water lines, and more. Within five years, their number of children doubled to four, and eventually, that doubled again to eight. It was clear they needed more space.

Trevor explains: “We planned, schemed, and sought input from others. Finally we realized that we had enough volume under our roof. We didn't need to expand but to use more of the existing space. With a steep-pitched church-style roof, our home had an enormous attic above the ceiling. Unlike modern homes with roof trusses every few feet, the church was constructed with a large-timber frame, mortise and tendon construction. There was lots of open space between only five bent-knee timber frame trusses - affording loads of potential. We sketched, measured and eventually created drawings for a new ‘addition’ into half of the existing attic space. In the summer of 2005, we began a 3-month renovation project.”

Three months cruised into six months – dealing with snakes, bats, change orders and seemingly endless onthe-fly adjustments to accommodate the curious condition of the old building. “On Christmas Eve, 2005, our contractor, who was practically a member of the family by now, rolled out just hours before our holiday guests were to arrive,” states Tracy. The home now embraced 3,100 square feet of living space.

The Family

The whole house radiates joy, fun, family, energy and efficiency. The kitchen is more of an L-shaped galley than a substantial space. The dining room table seats all 10 of them, and they willingly squish up for more. A generous 460-square-foot deck can seat another 10 or more, and the 2-story treehouse has certainly had many a lunch or snack consumed inside. The family planned and built both the deck and treehouse.

There are work spaces on every floor, with the very large homeschool classroom in the basement. Three girls share an unusual room in the former attic with three lofts accessed by charming oak built-in staircases, with desks and dressers underneath. The master bedroom is behind the great room, with a step up to the master bathroom on the space once occupied by the sanctuary’s altar.

The backyard is every child’s dream of a place to run and play. An old outhouse has been converted to a playhouse. There’s a trampoline, and the family has backyard chickens and fresh eggs.

For sure, the Kimzey family dream of having a house with character and a large family to fill it have come true. Like many New River Valley residents, Trevor came here to attend Virginia Tech some 30 years ago and never left. Tracy married him here in 1996, and respectively, they left behind their home cities of Pittsburgh and Houston. “Beautiful mountain scenery, vibrant communities, and wonderful churches and career opportunities drew us to start and keep our family right here,” Trevor concludes.

The book nook, a favorite spot tucked under the stairs. “We transformed this small 'leftover space' with built-in bookshelves and cushions so that kids could curl up with a book and escape in their own little nook,” Tracy explains.

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In Good Spirits with J.H. BARDS

J.H. BARDS is a name with great significance. J and H are the initials of the founders and proprietors, Jason Hardy and Jayson Hudson. “BARDS” came about as these Blacksburg natives returned to the New River Valley, renewed their high school acquaintance, and through spirited conversations, decided a local whiskey club was required. The Bourbon And Rye Drinking Society—BARDS was born. Conversations between a banker and bartender (with 30 years in hospitality) turned to starting a distillery to create a good whiskey in the New River Valley.

The timing of their LLC in 2020 was no coincidence; it was in response to covid and subsequent shutdowns. Jason states: “We thought something good needed to

come out of such a hard year. Our tasting room opened March 27, 2021.”

The Hunt for Spirits

J.H. BARDS is in the Pulaski County Innovation Center in Fairlawn. They found this was the perfect spot to incubate and hatch their business, but now think the time is right to move into their own space, hopefully in Blacksburg. Inside the nondescript metal building, a “barn” transports you to the Appalachian Mountain backwoods. The tasting room along the back of their space actually is a barn! Jason and Jayson dismantled an old Blacksburg barn board by board, using those to construct the tasting room they envisioned.

Text and Photos by Jo Clark

According to regulations, only three ounces of spirit samples or cocktails can be served to individuals. After all, this is a tasting room, not a bar! Cocktails include all-natural syrups that are created in-house. The Ginger Lime and Blackstrap Old Fashioned syrups sound yummy! They are bottled and sold under the J. Hudson & Company label in the tasting room.

How Local Is the Whiskey?

The company sources 90% of its ingredients in Southwest Virginia. “We use local ingredients, right down to the water naturally filtered through Southwestern Virginia limestone.” Malted barley is the only ingredient that is not

from Virginia. A small quantity of barley is present in most of the spirits.

The guys get spirited when talking about what they do. “BARDS creates fine whiskeys and vodka (we called it VAdka because it is distilled in Virginia).” The barrels for aging are Virginian. “We happily get our barrels from Speyside Cooperage in Atkins, Va., just an hour down I-81,” Jason boasts.

By definition, to be called bourbon, a whiskey must be made in brand new barrels. Barrels can be reused to age other spirits, and when used barrels are ready to be shared, local breweries use them to age beer. They also make great furniture and bar decorations.

Jason Hardy

A few noteworthy observations:

• People are comfortable sitting with friends (and strangers) in public settings

• American Single Malt has been accepted as a separate whiskey category

• Young people (22-26) are learning to enjoy bourbons and whiskeys

Crazy for Spirits

“Distilleries are becoming the next big thing,” Jason claims, “because whiskey, especially bourbon, was always intended to be a social experience.” People are encouraged to sip whiskey with friends and savor the journey. There are flavor profile similarities between whiskey and wine, so there is also a new appreciation among wine drinkers.

People love the Virginia Straight Bourbon, Maple Whiskey, and limited releases like Toasted Barrel High Rye and Port Barrel Bourbon. There is some seasonality with whiskey drinkers. Business increases during football season through New Year’s. Also, the in-house cocktail menu changes seasonally, with refreshing whiskey and vodka (oops, VAdka) drinks in late spring and summer.

J.H. BARDS has established five spirits and creates single-run limited releases. The company logo is a stylized 5-string banjo—five strings for their five spirits!

• Bourbon Whiskey—their flagship spirit

• Rye Whiskey—as old as the Commonwealth! Virginia’s Berkley Plantation is the birthplace of Rye Whiskey

• American Single Malt Whiskey— if distilled in

Scotland this would be called Scotch; with Virginia’s history and immigrants, it is an appropriate spirit to celebrate the area’s heritage

• Maple Whiskey—bourbon blended with Bland County’s maple syrup; that’s it—no chemicals, no coloring, just two delicious tastes

• Vodka, err, VAdka—made from Virginia corn and naturally gluten-free

Award-Winning Spirits

In 2022, J.H. BARDS’ Virginia Single Malt received Denver International Spirit Awards’ gold medal. Quite an accomplishment their first year!

In 2023, J.H. BARDS received second place in Virginia Living Magazine’s Best of SW Virginia, and received a Silver Medal at the Virginia Spirits Expo in Charlottesville. Those awards mean even more because the votes are cast by customers and peers.

When asked about their favorite recipes using the spirits: “We make the BEST Old Fashioned!!”

Jo Clark is likely in the kitchen, experimenting with some new recipe for creating a tasty beverage. See what she’s up to on Facebook at Have Glass, Will Travel, and on Instagram, JoGoesEverywhere J.H.

Pulaski County Innovation Center 6580 Valley Center Dr., Bay 175, Fairlawn

www.jhbards.com

BARDS Spirit Company

Jayson Hudson

How Deep is Your Love?

And … Tailgating in Style!

iImagine buying most of a car. You get the wheels and axles, seats, steering wheel, engine, transmission, a frame, maybe a radio, kind of everything except the body. All the car parts, no body. Amazingly, this is how it was done by Rolls-Royce in the early years.

“One took his or her ‘RR’ to a ‘coachworks company’, and unique bodies were designed, created and installed,” explains Mickey Hayes, owner of this stunning pale yellow 1928 Rolls-Royce – originally with its 20 horsepower. For comparison sake, my 1998 Chevy 2500 truck boasts 255 horsepower, and the Toyota Corolla, the best-selling automobile in 2022, offers 139 horsepower.

“Some coachworks companies had a catalog of

body styles, and some offered ‘one-off’ designs working with the owner’s vision,” he continues. “Our car [owned with wife Sarah] was re-bodied in 1934 by Southern Motors in London from its original squarish limousine-looking body to this ‘three position convertible coupe’ style.”

In the 1970s, when “How Deep is Your Love?” by the Bee Gees was the number one song of the decade, Hayes began owning classic Rolls-Royce and MercedesBenz automobiles. But it would be 1997 before he found this gem. “It was fun to own, very special and beautiful, but operationally it was a driving challenge with just 20 horsepower, a 6-cylinder engine and balky transmission needing to be double-clutched between each of the three

Text by Joanne M. Anderson Photos by Tom and Christy Wallace

gears.” There were some oil drips and mechanical irregularities, not to mention top speed was 40 miles per hour. Hayes sold the vehicle in 2005 when he moved to a home with a smaller garage.

But, hey, Hayes’ love for this exquisite RollsRoyce ran deep. In early 2022, he confirmed with a company in Port Richey, Fla., that they could convert an old Rolls-Royce to modern systems and drive lines. Problem was: He no longer owned the car. “Sarah and I decided to find it, and the same family to whom I sold it still had it! Remarkable! They only put around 200 miles on it in 17 years.”

The ’28 Forge Yellow Rolls-Royce changed hands again and was shipped directly to the Florida company for a total modernization overhaul. “It took just over a year, and they did a fabulous job,” Hayes is thrilled to report. “Every mechanical and electrical system is brand new – 350 ci, V8 engine, transmission, wheels, suspension, brakes, wiring. The new 350-cubicinch General Motors V8 engine develops right at 300 horsepower and is mated to a new GM automatic transmission. It even has air conditioning!”

The car can now go much more than 40 miles per hour, but Mickey and Sarah plan to park it all football season for tailgating. That, Hokie fans, is tailgating in Style with a capital S.

Rolls-Royce spends years and engages numerous colour (British spelling) experts to formulate its signature colors. Forge Yellow was developed across four years of studying colours in fire, lava and sparks generated when forging precious metals. It is described as both daring and invigorating with subtle yet fiery undertones of orange and red. It was analyzed for durability, as well as its appeal with leather, thread and fabric colours inside a Rolls-Royce. Only then could it be proficiently blended and professionally applied to the exterior body where the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot graces every bonnet (hood).

At Home with the Cows

Cattle came to our Commonwealth with settlers in the 1500s, and according to the Virginia Beef Council website vabeef.org:

Cattle now exist in every county of Virginia, and beef cattle numbers are estimated at 675,000. That makes it the 2nd largest commodity in Virginia, bringing in $8 billion for 2014. But don’t let that fool you … 97% of all beef operations nationwide are family owned. The average herd size in Virginia is just 30! That’s a lot of small business providing big economic impact and job opportunity to Virginia.

Raising cattle in the New River Valley can be appealing for the lush pastures, requiring fewer acres per cow compared with arid western grazing land. But in reality, cattle farming is a personal bent ingrained into one’s soul and spirit. Most cattle operations in Virginia are breeding operations or “cow-calf” units where new cattle are created and grown for a while.

In the Beginning

Michael Schmolitz lives on Gallion Ridge Farms outside Blacksburg which his grandparents started in the 1950s. What began as hobbies for him – raising cattle and pigs – have become small businesses, along with his sawmill and hay production.

It only took one semester of college engineering to convince Troy Whittier that he could never spend his life behind a desk. “The only career that seemed like it would allow me to play with animals and live outside was farming.” He grew up with a few cows for 4-H projects, and when he graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Animal Science, his dad was retiring. “We joined forces and used his small herd to build what we have today” [in Pulaski County].”

Three generations ago, the Bunn family began farming, and Brandon Bunn, 41, has lived on the family farm

Text by Joanne M. Anderson

Photo by David Lundgren

in Dublin all his life. “I owned a sandblasting business for a while, but I found I enjoyed farming more.” He is on the farm daily with his father, son and future son-in-law. “Most days don't go as planned, but our determination to survive is strong.” Brandon is unusual because his operation is large enough to make his entire living. He takes either his own produced animals or ones he buys from others and grows them big enough to be harvested for meat.

“My brother, Justin, and I started Dubb Contracting and do remodels, barns, fences, and I also do seasonal artificial insemination (AI) breeding across the state,” says Whittier.

Schmolitz, 32, started a sawmill operation in 2016 because he needed lumber for fencing and barn siding. He sells lumber as well, cutting costs for other farmers. “When not on the farm or milling logs, I work at PMSI for pest control. I know the importance of keeping mice and rats away from animal feed and stopping ants and termites from damaging farm structures.”

Bunn spends much of his time keeping the equipment in running order, plus planting and harvesting crops. “I am always on the lookout for ways to expand Bunn Farms.” His wife, Sarah, responded to this request for information. “He won’t stop longer than five minutes because the cows are out or something needs his attention, and he wouldn’t have it any other way,” she wrote.

The Lifestyle

Among the challenges, Bunn shares, are weather and equipment failures. Whittier dreams of the day he can reduce his 80-hour weeks and not do farm chores on weekends and after dark. Schmolitz no doubt speaks for all cattlemen in addressing inflation and “increased costs for operating the farm. Prices have jumped for fertilizer, equipment, seed and animal feed.”

These gents raise mostly Angus and SimAngus, a cross of Angus and Simmental. The cows are sold for final weight gains and beef processing elsewhere. Rotational grazing means moving cows frequently. Since Schmolitz operates a full hay production farm, he has multiple tractors and hay implements. “We use side-by-sides (all-terrain vehicles) for feeding, checking fences and doing everyday farm chores,” he explains.

Whittier, 32, buys hay, and has a moderate-size tractor to move it and run a sprayer or bush hog. “We recently bought a side-by-side which makes things easy and lets the kids do chores with me. My favorite way to drive cows is with my dogs. I can move cattle between pastures or catch them in a pen without another person. We have horses once used for cattle, but now it’s just a

treat to ride them.” Down on the Bunn farm, Brandon uses a variety of vehicles. “We have dogs, but they are too spoiled to concern themselves with herding cattle!”

Bunn Farms has around 1,500 head of cattle. Whittier supports more than 100 mana cows with calves when the spring calves come along, and keeps another 35 mama cows which calve in the fall, in addition to leasing land with nearly 100 more. Schmolitz’s farm is closer to the state average with around 20, plus he raises pigs.

It’s a way of life that demands a weighty combination of skills in agriculture, business, problemsolving, mechanics, engineering, accounting, health and wellness – personal and animals, patience, endurance and perseverance. And these guys wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

Michael Schmolitz: “I love walking the land and seeing the cattle graze. I am blessed to be able to continue the legacy of my grandparents providing the family with food and a way of life.” [Photo courtesy of Michael Schmolitz]

Troy Whittier: “I love being able to raise my young family so close to the land, enjoying God’s creation.”

Well, it's a little odd, the path I took, because when I was young, I wanted to be a cattle rancher. That was what I knew and that was what I liked. -Sandra Day O'Connor, former lawyer, judge and Supreme Court associate justice.

Cows are my passion. What I have ever sighed for has been to retreat to a Swiss farm, and live entirely surrounded by cows - and china. -- Charles Dickens, English author.

Brandon Bunn: “This is the life I choose and love. I will pass this down to my children and hopefully to many generations to come.”

Compiled by Joanne M. Anderson

Chips and Dips

According to spoonuniversity.com, the top three tailgate foods as rated by college students are chips and dip in the number 1 spot, followed by mozzarella sticks and burgers. On allrecipes.com, most popular tailgate food for Virginia is ranch dip. Another website, shaneco.com, gives guacamole the headline for Virginia.

Where these people get their info is unknown, but it’s not a great leap to understand the appeal of chips and dip. The earliest dip reported is Greek tzatziki, a blend of yogurt, garlic, salt, olive oil and cucumbers. But maybe the Aztecs squashed some guacamole in the 15th century. In the U.S., Lipton is often cited for advertising its dehydrated onion soup mix in the 1950s as an ingredient to mix with cream cheese or sour cream and serve with potato chips, which were invented about a century earlier. Whatever, right?

Catsup Bite Dip Cloud Puff Dip

16-oz. sour cream

½ cup catsup, more or less

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, more or less

Minced onion, as much as you want

8 oz. cream cheese

8 oz. container Cool Whip™, thawed

2 tsp. vanilla

¾ cup powdered sugar

Garlic Lovers Dip

3 heads unpeeled garlic

1 Tbl. olive oil

¼ cup mayonnaise

½ cup sour cream

Some chopped green onion

1 Tbl. red wine vinegar

½ tsp. salt

¾ Tbl. black pepper

Cut ¼” or so off garlic cloves. Brush with olive oil. Wrap in foil and bake in pre-heated 300°oven about an hour until tender and browned. Cool to room temp. Squeeze out garlic cloves into a bowl and mash well. Add everything else and refrigerator a couple hours before serving for flavors to merge.

Whip cream cheese and powdered sugar, add vanilla and mix again. Fold in Cool Whip™and refrigerate until ready to serve

acksburg Battles Cancer Gol f

Tou rnament

y September 25

Pr esented by

For the past seven years, Blacksburg Battles Cancer, under the banner of the BlacksburgCountryClubCharitableFoundation (BCCCF) has raised more than $300,000 for cancer-focused nonprofit organizations that serve the local community. We invite you to join us for our annual golf tournament as we strive to reach $350,000 in 2023!

SCHEDU LE OF EVENTS

11:00 a m Check-in begins

1 11:00 a m Lunch available

1 11:00 a m Practice facilities available

1 2:00 p.m. Announcements

1 2:30 p.m. Shotgun start

5:30 p.m. Social and awards

PAST BENEFICIARIES

Ameri can Cancer Socie ty Camp Kesum at Virginia Tech

Carilion Clinic NRV Hospic e

Chris tina Phipps Foundation

Communi ty Heal th Center of the N RV Giles County Seni or Check Program

Good Samari tan Hospice

Special Love Students vs. Cancer

Susan G Komen Blue Rid ge

V Virginia Breas t Cancer Foundation

www.blacksburgbattlescancer.org

2023 Blacksburg Battles Cancer Entry Form

($600 per team; $150 per person)

Members may sign up in the Blacksburg CC Golf Shop and have their entry fee charged to their member account. Other payment options include: by PayPal at paypal.me/battlescancer or a check payable to BlacksburgCountryClub CharitableFoundation.

Name:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Team Members (name and email - please print) #1 (Captain) #2 #3 #4

OPTIONALHole Sponsor: ($125 per hole)

Please make your hole sponsorship check payable to the BlacksburgCountryClub CharitableFoundation.(100% tax deductible)

Sponsor Name or Corporate Name:

In Honor Of or In Memory Of:

Please contact info@blacksburgbattlescancer.orgif you have specific wording or logos for your hole sponsor sign.

Ma il your entry to: Blacksburg Battles Cancer 1064 Clubhouse Road, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060

Lamour’s Boutique ~ one determined entrepreneur still lives her dream

Laura Lamoureux dropped the “eux” in her last name to christen her store “The Love” in French – L’amour

Laura Lamoureux grew up in Blacksburg, the daughter of two teachers. She was always determined, with a job and her own money from the time she was 12. Laura’s paper route funded shopping trips to the hippie stores in town, where her dream to “grow up and own a boutique” began.

The Plan

Laura’s mother insisted that she go to college and learn how to run a business before diving into shop ownership, so off she went to Texas. Two years later, she returned

to the mountains she loved with an associate’s degree in fashion merchandising from Bauder Fashion College.

While working as a waitress she heard about Snoopers, a new antique mall in Wytheville. To have a booth, Snoopers required you to sell antiques or handmade goods. Laura secured a $1,000 bank loan and went to Mexico on her first buying trip. Eight friends accompanied her, offering moral support. She returned with handmade jewelry, clothing, rugs and other items to fill her first “store,” a little 10’ x 12’ booth. Laura set her goal to work for three

years and then rent a larger booth or move into her own store. Her determination never diminished. Opening near a college would provide a consistent customer base, so Laura investigated Blacksburg and Radford. Radford had two things going for it—there was no hippie store, and the rent was less expensive.

Two of the original Mexican distributors still provide merchandise to Laura. She no longer makes buying trips to Mexico, instead relying on trade shows to meet new suppliers. Now, Lamour’s depends upon six primary connections for products.

Text and Photos by Jo Clark

Laura has been living her dream for 35 years, selling hippie wares to locals and college kids. She has raised two sons in the business— literally—Joey started going to work with his mom when he was 10 days old! When he was seven, younger brother Jeremy came along. Born with incense in his blood, Jeremy has always wanted to run the store. Eventually, he pursued an associate’s degree in business at New River Community College and now works full-time at the shop.

After high school, Joey spread his wings, attending college at NRCC, George Mason, and Radford University. He works with State Farm in Powhatan and returns when his help is needed.

Lamour’s Yesterday

In the early days, Radford had lots of foot traffic. Students walked to shop, eat and drink. When RU added food vendors on campus, foot traffic declined.

In the ‘90s, students hung tapestries on every wall in their dorm rooms and burned incense and candles. A new fire marshal limited tapestry coverings to 25%. Eventually, the rule changed to 10% and incense and candles were banned. Around 2008, a student caused a fire by placing a tapestry on top of a halogen lamp, so now only small tapestries are allowed. Thus, most of her sales in those areas now are customers other than college students. Laura saw this change

coming by listening to her faithful patrons.

There have been times when she was the only business open in her block. With local support – and more determination, Lamour’s has survived and thrived.

Lamour’s Today

The Bohemian store has an eclectic inventory, including 100% hemp backpacks. Laura not only follows trends, but she also talks and listens to her customers. She learns from students who shop in the store. “I am still learning every day. It is an honor to live my dream and serve the public in the New River Valley,” she states.

When asked how the business had changed since opening,

Laura confides: “The best thing to come along is Square!” Square, Inc. [now Block, Inc.], founded in 2009, is a payment processing platform designed for small and medium businesses. Since Laura occasionally sets up off-site, processing charges remotely is a huge benefit.

Among Lamour’s most popular items are jewelry, crystals, oils and incense. Merchandise is imported from co-ops in Nepal, Peru, India and China, as well as American-made. She also markets high-quality items created by RU art students and the local artisan community. Lamour’s carries an inclusive selection of religious trinkets and artifacts, like crosses, Buddhas and Celtic crosses.

Laura regularly updates her Google listing. When she learned how to check the monthly analytics and compare the traffic from the first month, she relates: “I was in shock! I keep it updated because it is so important.”

Lamour’s Tomorrow

The boutique has an everchanging inventory. Their website is up, and Lamour’s continues adding to the selections. Social media posts often feature the mascot, Roy B. Hound. And why not? Roy is quite photogenic! Laura enjoyed having her first intern last year, and she has another one this year. They bring

a fresh perspective and tech-savvy ideas to the store.

Talking about tomorrow, Laura dreams aloud about the day Joey moves closer to Radford and joins Jeremy in the store. Dreams are being sent out there into the universe. One day…

Jo Clark was a flower child, back in the day, so she felt right at home in Lamour’s Boutique. Follow her adventures on Instagram @ JoGoesEverywhere or on Facebook at Have Glass, Will Travel.

Lamour’s Boutique

1023 East Main Street, Radford

(540) 577 – 0571

See & Do NEW RIVER VALLEY

which is September + October

Classic wardrobe: A.n.y.t.h.i.n.g. orange and/or maroon! Light sweatshirts, v-neck and cardigan sweaters, blazers, slacks, parkas, long sleeve tee shirts, layers of all kinds for 44-degree mornings which warm up to 72-degree afternoons.

Trendy wardrobe: Wide leg pants, sweaters with decorative buttons, more blazers, bomber jackets and cowboy boots. Retro style hats, sweater vests and hybrid shoes. Hokie stripe bib overalls.

Eats and drinks: Turkey legs! Buffalo wings! Chips and dips! Apple crisp, zucchini bread, more cucumbers, pumpkin muffins, chef’s salad, warm apple cider, cool cranberryorange drinks, cinnamon mocha coffee.

Tailgate essentials: Table, chairs, portable canopy, cooler with ice and drinks, can insulators, table top grill, grill tools, portable corn hole or bean bag game, pop-up mesh food covers, waterproof blanket, friends.

Things to do: Pick apples. Go to and watch football games and fall movies like “October Sky” and “Dead Poets Society”. Make Macado’s your lunch, supper and bar headquarters. The atmosphere is hip and funky, the food is flavorful, and the drink choices are as abundant - or moreso - as all those versions of sandwiches. Short story: It’s a happy place.

Moss Arts Center’s exhibits, artists and performances are unsurpassed in the New River Valley. International music, drama, dance and entertainment are complemented with regional talent. The variety is amazing. The acoustics stateof-the-art. And the seats are oh so comfy.

Sinkland Farms has moved on from its stunning summer sunflower fields to autumn pastures generously dotted with pumpkins. The famous Sinkland Pumpkin Festival runs six weekends in this its 32nd year! It is an exceptional experience for all ages with food, pony and horse rides, vendors, live music and tons of country-style excitement.

For 10 years, Stateson Homes has been building houses and developing contemporary neighborhoods which people love to live in. The company thinks beyond sticks and bricks, fixtures and finishes to craft beautiful, functional family dwellings, townhomes and villas.

There are many reasons to head into Christiansburg beyond the shopping, dining and entertainment mecca over where U.S. 460 Business crosses Route 114/Peppers Ferry Road. There are nice parks, a world-class aquatic center, climbing gym, Huckleberry Trail, antique shopping downtown, truck rodeos and the annual Wilderness Festival.

SAVE the DATE: Sat., Oct. 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dublin Church of God, 632 E. Main St., Dublin

Annual Car Show where Logan Smith raises money for his own wheelchair needs and to help OTHERS with wheelchair and special equipment expenses. Logan is an incredible inspiration with public speaking engagements and comforting and teaching people new to wheelchair life. He is a Virginia Tech graduate who drives, swims, cycles, plays a variety of sports and works as a management consultant with the U.S. Department of Defense. WalkWithLogan.com

a simple guide to this “magazine season”

The ABC’s of Restoring Old Schoolhouses Apartments, Breweries, Community!

There is something intrinsically charming about an old schoolhouse. No wonder they are being salvaged and turned into just about everything from retirement homes to fresh markets to breweries. And let’s not forget the trend of renovating old school buses and turning them into modern (mobile!) homes. Everyone wants to preserve the nostalgia of those first formative years … and developers are hopping on board.

Locally, the old Newport High School has been repurposed into the Newport Community Center. It is bustling with activity, most notably the annual Newport Fair, which is the oldest agricultural fair in Virginia. The center also hosts holiday theme events all year – Trunk or Treat, Easter Egg Hunts, the 4th of July Picnic, and the heartwarming Newport Village Christmas Market. Art shows, old time music and bluegrass jam bands fill the former cafeteria, and the Mobile Marketplace brings fresh, affordable food to the local community as part of the Feeding Southwest Virginia initiative.

Possibilities cover everything from A to Z, and thankfully, there is no shortage of old schoolhouses waiting for their chance to breathe new life into a community.

Blacksburg’s own Prices Fork Elementary (PFE) School has seen a tremendous rebirth. Its successful renovation was part of a $7 million project that garnered support from both public and private entities. “Live Work Eat Grow” is the nonprofit organization that was formed to ensure the project achieved its multi-pronged goals: The Prices Fork apartments (Phase I and II), Moon Hollow Brewery, El Ranchero and Millstone Kitchen.

Taylor Hollow Construction, based in Radford, has been the owner/developer for the apartments and has renovated the school as a Historic Tax Credit project, preserving many elements of the former classrooms in each unit such as chalkboards and built-in bookshelves. Some of the apartments are built to Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA] guidelines, and others are easily convertible to ADA standards. The old school hallway is now an interior “street” with benches, plants, skylights and artwork.

Of the 32 total units, 16 apartments were developed solely for the age 55 and up community and are occupied by senior citizens. The project was designed to address the town’s need for affordable housing to support aging in place, which proves you’re never too old to go back to school!

Text by Emily K. Alberts

The other 16 apartments are available for rent to all ages. There are eight 3-bedroom units and eight 2-bedroom units, with a mix of affordable and market rates.

Though Joe and Sam Fortier, owner and project design coordinator, respectively, for Taylor Hollow Construction, have worked on more than 15 historical projects all over the New River Valley, they’ve never before experienced the level of support and excitement that the Price’s Fork Elementary School renovation project brought forth.

The brewery is in the old kindergarten area of the building, with drink specials and beers written up on the original chalkboards. The restaurant is in the former gym space. An outdoor patio adjoins the two. How cool would it be to see an old yellow school bus out there serving up “cafeteria style” food on lunch trays? Maybe someday. Don’t forget the hair nets, of course!

Millstone Kitchen, also housed in the former PFE building, is a commercially-licensed kitchen space that’s available for rent by the hour, and also serves as a commissary space for local food trucks. The kitchen has created 14 jobs, served 58,000 meals to neighbors in need, and developed 118 community garden plots. It even serves as a support system for people who decide to start a new food business. The “From Scratch Foodpreneur Series” teaches up-and-coming restaurateurs everything they need to have their business up and running in six weeks, from developing a business plan, establishing effective marketing tools, meeting food safety regulations and sourcing ingredients.

With the flourishing success of PFE, it will be interesting to see what the next chapter of the long-debated Blacksburg High School (BHS) rezoning and revitalization holds. Apparently not all brick buildings of the past were created equal, as the BHS gymnasium roof collapsed suddenly under the weight of snow back in February of 2010, thus the building was demolished.

But for the most part, barring unforeseen climate challenges, there are more sustainable and responsible ways to deal with old school buildings besides demolition. Securing the funds for repurposing historic buildings and schoolhouses is no easy feat, but the public has a fervent passion for these projects and wants to preserve these endearing pieces of the past.

Freelance writer Emily K. Alberts did the opposite and turned her modern playroom into a charming little schoolhouse back in the ‘80’s when she used to teach her stuffed animals. She and her mother would go around at the end of the school year dumpsterdiving for old books (teacher’s editions were highly desirable) and even found an old school desk once!

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Virginia

"Anne-Collins has been a pleasure to work with since we first met her. She listened carefully to our needs, found us plenty of suitable homes to view, and then came through by finding us our dream home! When it came time to sell, Anne-Collins was the first call we made... We'll miss working with her, but cannot recommend her highly enough!"

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