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May 5, 2021

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Page 7A

Reach out for help when in need of support

By Laura McFarland

Editor

POWHATAN – Back in March, I had a bad day.

My head hurt, I couldn’t concentrate, and nothing seemed right. Now, I don’t usually put all of my business out on Facebook, but, on this particular day, I felt so alone as I sat at my desk trying to get some work done. So, I posted a simple message asking friends for prayers and some words of encouragement.

I cried (in a good way this time) as I read through the remarks and well wishes left by family and friends. They helped – every single one of them. Even after I had moved past that bad day, friends continued to send me love and encouragement.

In retrospect, and knowing what some of my loved ones are facing right now, it seems like such a trivial problem. But when your emotions are high, even small things can seem huge and overwhelming.

I thought about that moment today (April 28) after a few things happened in the normal course of the day. And it was not because having a bad day was such a momentous problem, but because having that love and support, even it was only through some comments online and a few concerned phone calls, had a huge impact on helping me realize that there were people there for me as I went through that bad day.

First, I visited the Free Clinic of Powhatan that morning to do a Facebook Live tour of the new clinic. We have already highlighted the clinic in a few recent stories, but there is nothing like following executive director Connie Moslow around as she gives you a tour. There is such love and pride in her voice when she talks about the clinic, which is largely made possible because of individual donors, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to let her show off the great new space.

We made a special point of highlighting the clinic’s efforts to help those having mental health issues, especially local students in need. The clinic is working with the public school system to offer children and teens trying to cope with the COVID crisis. Their counselor is currently seeing students at Powhatan High School and is accepting referrals for Powhatan Middle School.

If your child is struggling with depression, academic or social anxiety, anger management, substance abuse or ADHD, the Free Clinic may be able to help. School counselors can provide an immediate referral or call 804-598-5637 for an appointment.

Then, on the way home I had a (hands-free) phone conversation with someone who is very special to me and is going through a rough time because of personal relationships. This person feels constantly attacked and criticized by people who should be offering love and support, and that kind of dejection can build up over time.

The person is one of several friends and family members I know going through rough times right now as they struggle with some truly horrible issues – infi delity, divorce, death of a loved one, children acting out, suicidal thoughts, COVID-related pressures, illness, extreme money problems, and so much more. I try to provide a listening ear when I can, and when I do sometimes I feel so inadequate to be of any use in the face of such pain and grief.

And in some cases, maybe I am not enough. I can be a listening ear and will continue to offer that to people I love, but, sometimes, people need more than that, and it is OK.

When I was looking for resources to refer people to for this column and thinking about May being Mental Health Awareness Month – whose purpose is to remove the stigma surrounding mental illness – I came across the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s focus for the month: “You Are Not Alone.” It makes me so sad to think about how many more people we might have had in our lives longer if we could truly make them believe that they weren’t alone in the problems they faced.

Even if it seems like no one around can help or will understand, there are so many resources out there that are just a click or a phone call away. I am going to list a few, but I urge readers who may be going through a tough time and need someone to talk with to reach out and seek help.

Just a few of the MANY resources available are: National Alliance on Mental Health (1-800-950-NAMI); Anxiety and Depression Association of America (240485-1001); American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (1-800-273-TALK), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (1-800-662HELP).

Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@ powhatantoday.com.

Hidden gem now available everywhere

By Jim Ridolphi

Contributing Columnist

I pass by the refrigerated section near the deli most days without noticing the seemingly unending selection of prepared side dishes. Rarely do I even notice the familiar logo that sits atop neatly packed containers of Mrs. Marshall’s Potato Salad.

I thought back to the fi rst time I tasted what some consider the South’s fi nest potato salad rivaled only by its closest competitor, Sally Bell.

I was fortunate to have my fi rst helping served up by Mrs. Marshall herself. But, she wasn’t the one responsible for the well-guarded recipe. For that story, you have to go back an additional generation.

In recent years, the iconic potato salad has become synonymous with all things Richmond, and the tasty treat is available at markets throughout the area.

Back in the early 1980s, the only way to obtain Mrs. Marshall’s potato salad was to go see Mrs. Marshall.

She ran a small shop on Strawberry Street and served the best ham biscuits that were lovingly heated and dabbed with homemade mayonnaise.

Coupled with a scoop of her freshly made potato salad, it was Southern cuisine at its fi nest.

I became an instant regular and visited the small shop several times a week, always seeing Mrs. Marshall, and, in the early days, Mr. Marshall greeted customers in the small lobby.

Robinson Street still maintained a sense of neighborhood in those days complete with small family-owned businesses. Before supermarkets beckoned shoppers to the edges of the city, small neighborhood centers provided goods and services to all within walking distance.

The area was enjoying a revitalization in the 1980s, and a new group of Richmonders discovered the hidden gems of Robinson Street, including Buddy’s, a favorite Richmond gathering spot for decades.

And Mr. and Mrs. Marshall still served up their delicious potato salad from the small storefront until they fi nally took a much-deserved retirement.

Donnie Marshall represented the third generation to produce and serve the famous treat, often aided by his wife Mary Anna.

Since Donnie was a well-known fi xture in the Richmond area, the devoted fans continued to make the trek to Robinson to enjoy the homemade delight.

The small storefront became a gathering spot for many of Donnie’s old Freeman High School buddies, and the unique fl avor of Mrs. Marshall’s recipe was enjoyed by a new generation of Richmonders.

The Marshalls sold their business in 1996, but it wasn’t the end for the famous potato salad. New owners opened Mrs. Marshall’s on Cary Street and more Richmonders were introduced to one of Richmond’s best kept secrets.

Today, the Marshall’s namesake is available throughout the Richmond area. Devotees can pick up a pound to go at a number of locations.

The familiar colors on the packaging are an immediate reminder of one of those city institutions that stood the test of time and still offers an experience that seems particularly Richmond.

It never fails to bring back memories of Robinson Street and those warmed ham rolls prepared by Mrs Robinson and later Donnie and his wife.

The Marshalls made their famous potato salad in a small kitchen behind the counter, and the hospitality was served by a family devoted to the product.

Donnie and his parents are long deceased, but the dedication and hard work of a family are still providing Richmonders with a culinary treat as unique as Robinson Street itself.

And that makes us lucky.

VPA

Continued from pg. 1 at Hanover County Municipal Airport.

“I really enjoy the variety of photos taken of the planes and the research that [went] into producing this story,” one judge said about the package.

Lawrence claimed another second place award in the Sports Column Writing category for his commentaries about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports.

“Writing about the crazy world of sports during the pandemic is a real challenge, and one you met for sure,” a judge said.

Vandeloecht won third place in the Sports Writing Portfolio category for a trio of stories he wrote for Powhatan Today. The judges singled out one of his stories, a remembrance of former Powhatan High School football coach Ernie Henderson, who died in November.

“The story on the coach stands out from the crowd,” one judge wrote.

Lawrence also earned an award for another re-

CALENDAR

Continued from pg. 2 Agent Cathy Howland at chowland@vt.edu or call the Powhatan Extension Office at 804-598-5640.

There are two Powhatan

County 4-H clubs with a focus on equine projects now enrolling new members. Both are small but looking to grow! The emphasis of Virginia’s 4-H

Horse and Pony program is on equine selection, nutrition, management, riding, recreation, fun, and horsemanship. 4-H Clubs are open to all boys and girls ages 9 to 18. For more information on these and other 4-H opportunities, contact Cathy Howland, 4-H Extension Agent, chowland@ vt.edu, or contact the Powhatan Extension Office at 804-598-5640.

Registration is now open for the Home Food Preservation

Virtual Program. The registration deadline is Oct. 15. Fee $15. More people than ever are growing their own food at home. This self-paced virtual course will teach you how to safely preserve your fresh foods for year-round enjoyment using techniques such as canning, freezing, dehydration and fermentation. You'll learn the science behind these techniques and receive step by step guidance on how to do them at home. After registering, you can complete the course at your own pace until Dec. 31. The cost for the course is $15. For more info and to register, go to: tinyurl.com/VCE- HomeFoodPreservation.

FLAT ROCK

Continued from pg. 4 Graham Lyons, Audrey Mapes, Olivia Matthews, Lucas McCord, Harper McCormick, Rylee McDaniel, Rylan Mead, Chase Mesco, Chase Meyer, Charlie Miles, Coen Moore, Peyton Mungo, Charlie Murray, Ava Muse, Addison Nelms, Ellie Nelson, Declan O'Leary, Wyatt Pallett, Marina Pantelejeva, Lucia Ann Pasi, Tristan Ramsey, Ava Reynolds, Madeline Ringstaff, Gio Rivera, Lucas Roudabush, Michael Schwartz, Louis Seivard, Seth Silliman, Sloane Stigall, Sam Thomas, Sonya Tye, Nolan Urban.

Fifth Grade All A/B:

Riley Averette, Breon Barnwell, Sophia Benton, Chase Blankenship, Ana Blevins, Nolan Blisick, Alexis Boggs, Adelynn Bowles, Mackenzie Brock, Makinley Call, Charlotte Campbell, Dairen Cotton, Shyla Dunbar, Emilee Duttweiler, Luke Estep, Rylan Fox, Stephen Garrett, Logan Hoppin, Gabriella Humphrey, Blake Johnson, Henry Latimer, Caleb Lewis, Isiah Lombard, Layna Marsh, Alexa MatkoCook, Polina Pantelejeva, Madelynn Perkins, Kara Posey, Miller Redlich, Dylan Reid, Charlotte Rittner, William Smith, Yasmine Smith, Josie Strickland, Brooke Thacker, Tucker Utley, Andrew Watts, Jesse Young.

membrance of a life lost last year. His story, “Remembering the Yellow Jackets’ No. 1 fan: Tommy Inge died after a brief illness,” won third in the Feature Writing Portfolio for a remembrance of Inge, a long-time fi xture at Randolph-Macon College, who died of complications of COVID-19 in March.

Dave Lawrence can be reached at dlawrence@ mechlocal.com. He would like to add that he has no problem being “fi rst loser” to Klein’s excellent photo.

8460 Times Dispatch Blvd., Mechanicsville, Va 23116 Phone: 804-746-1235 Toll Free: 877-888-0449 Fax:804-344-8746

Publisher Joy Monopoli jmonopoli@rsnva.com Managing Editor Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com Production Manager Denine D’Angelo ddangelo@mechlocal.com Editor Laura McFarland lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com Sports Editor Nick Vandeloecht nvandeloecht@powhatantoday.com Sales Representative Tom Haynie thaynie@mechlocal.com Classifieds Cindy Adams cadams@mechlocal.com

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