Evince August 06 by Andrew Brooks Media Group

August 2006

•

evince •

Page 1

Page 2

•

evince •

August 2006

Table of Contents Editorial 2

Editor’s Note by Emyl Jenkins

Downtown With Liz Sater Summer in the City Contest

True Southern Hospitality – Plantation Style with a Twist by Steve Hecox

Second Thoughts by Kim Clifton

Cool Fun in the Dog Days of Summer by Lynne Bjarnesen Teachers, Masters, Mentors by Lynne Bjarnesen

Books Reveal the Playful Side of Lady Astor by Joyce Wilburn

Peter Browns’s The Fugitive Wife by Larry Aaron

Looking at the Big Picture by Kathryn Davis

10 12

Calendar of EVINCE

On the Midnight Train to Georgia by Joyce Wilburn

Around the Table Great Picnic Foods by Annelle Williams

Explore Your Creative Side by Nancy Tait

The Riverwalk: Just Another Day in Paradise by Larry G. Aaron

Every year August rolls around only to be met with the same old, same old—Where has the summer gone?—followed by a shrug and a resolve that begins, next year…. The trip you meant to take has been put on hold—again. The picnic everyone talked about in May is on the back burner. And you still haven’t gotten out to the ballpark, or over to the lake, or whatever fun occasion you keep putting off. Why not make this year different? Just a glance at the pages of this month’s EVINCE will show you how to turn these last sultry summer days into adventures you will remember for months to come, even if you can’t take a trip like Joyce Wilburn’s Amtrak sojourn on page 14. You’ve been wanting to pack a picnic and make a day of it, haven’t you? Check out Annelle Williams’ “Great Picnic Foods” (page 15), or grab up a can of potted meat—that’s what John Barber recommends in “Lasting Thoughts” (page 19). Then head for the river. Along the way… who knows? On Danville’s Main Street, you might see Wes Hardin, pictured on this month’s cover, painting the mural that will bring the city’s past into the present—Liz Sater gives us that backstory in her monthly column (page 3). To learn

Award-Winning Pianist to Play at Prizery

18 19

Band from Music City to Visit River City You’re Invited: AAPPI Grand Opening by Curtis W. Callaway Lasting Thoughts Priceless Potted Meat by John Barbour

On the Cover:

Wes Hardin works on the mural at the corner of Spring and North Union Streets. This second mural in a series of ten will be a tribute to Danville’s trolley system of the early 1900s. Cover photo by Dan Vaden Deadline for submission of September stories, articles, ads, and calendar items is Monday, August 21, at 5pm.

And another new entity in our area you need to explore is The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. See page 18 for “You’re Invited,” then put the date on your calendar. Winding down a day, or even weekend, often calls for a different kind of entertainment—a good book, play, a concert. For a new take on local history, check out Lady Astor’s “Playful Side,” (page 7), and for a wider world view try reading The Fugitive Wife (page 8). As far as plays, concerts, and activities go, our pages are full of these events, and of course, there’s always our Calendar of EVINCE (p.10) All in all, there’s so much to do, or as Kathryn Davis writes in “Looking at the Big Picture” (page 9), “If you think about it, the list of blessings can be endless."

Welcome to the Studio

more about the area’s rich cultural history, visit Danville’s Museum of Fine Arts and History where there are always interesting activities and exhibits (page 6). Then venture on to the Danville Science Center to "Explore Your Creative Side" (page 16). And along the way, be sure to look for the answer to EVINCE’s Summer in the City Contest (page 3). For the outdoor lover, Nature holds beauty aplenty. That’s what Larry Aaron finds every time he meanders over to the Riverwalk for “Another Day in Paradise” (page 12.) When you go, do what Larry does. Stop and talk to some fellow hikers and bikers. You may run into a new neighbor or bump into a long-lost friend. You might even meet an out-of-town visitor or tourist who’s come to enjoy what we take for granted. Speaking of the outdoors— there’s no better way to spend an August day than to visit beautiful VIR, another gem right in our own backyard. In 2000 when VIR reopened, a local newspaper announced the event with the comment—”if anyone cares.” Want to know just how much people care? Read Steve Hecox’s “True Southern Hospitality - Plantation Style with a Twist" on page 4, pick up a copy of EVINCE RACING, then go see for yourself. It’s the best.

Publisher

Sales Manager Cathy Farley (434.793.7767) Sales@starmark.net

Contributing Writers

Sales Associate Christi Ingram (434.836.1319) ChristiIngram@starmark.net

Robert M. Sexton Publisher@starmark.net (804.285.0645) Larry Aaron, John Barbour, Lynne Bjarnesen, Curtis Callaway, Kim Clifton, Kathryn Davis, Steve Hecox, Liz Sater, Nancy Tait, Joyce Wilburn, Annelle Williams

Editor Emyl Jenkins Editor@starmark.net (804.285.0644) Managing Editor Joyce Wilburn ManagingEditor@starmark.net (434.799.3160) Associate Editor Larry G. Aaron Art & Production Director Vaden & Associates (Dan Vaden) Graphic Designer Kim Demont Distribution Kim Demont (434.836.1247)

Printer McCain Printing Company, Inc. EVINCE is a member of the Virginia Press Association, first place winner of the prestiguous PIVA award in its category for five straight years, and winner of Virginia Press Association awards for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and Virginia Press Women’s Competition Awards for 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.

Editorial Policies:

EVINCE is a monthly news magazine covering the arts, entertainment, education, economic development, and lifestyle in Danville and the surrounding areas. We print and distribute EVINCE free of charge due entirely to the generosity of our advertisers. In our pages appear views from across the social spectrum. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. We reserve the right to accept, reject, and edit all submissions and advertisements.

evince\i-’vin(t)s\ 1: to constitute outward evidence of 2: to display clearly: reveal syn see SHOW MISSION STATEMENT EVINCE is a monthly publication, which focuses on arts & entertainment in the surrounding area through an array of features, articles, columns, and photographic essays. Its primary objective is to inform and educate the community of opportunities, organizations, and events in all areas of the arts. In addition, it is the vision of EVINCE to enrich the cultural awareness and develop support for the arts in the entire community.

How to submit information to EVINCE:

Please send all information in electronic form to e-mail address evince@starmark.net. For calendar information, please submit e-mail to evinceda tes@starmark.net. To submit information, please copy and paste the text information into the body of the e-mail. We do not accept any e-mail attachments due to the very real danger of Microsoft-supported computer viruses.

August 2006

•

evince •

Page 3

Executive Director of Downtown Danville Accociation It’s not hard to envision a conventional artist at his easel, perhaps on a Paris sidewalk or in a brightly lit studio loft. We can imagine the talent it takes to be able to look at a landmark or a seascape, even a person, and then reproduce it on a canvas. But a mural is a much different form of artwork. Maybe that is why muralist Wes Hardin refers to himself as an illustrator and not an artist. He takes a scene from his informed imagination and creates a biggerthan-life snapshot to show that vision to the community. When muralist Wes Hardin is given a commission, he starts from scratch. After he has mulled over grainy photographs, yellowed newspaper clippings and dusty tomes, he conceptualizes a moment in time at a location that has evolved over decades. Now steeped in local folklore, Hardin sees a picture that illustrates the historic event or era he has been commissioned to capture. When the vision is clear, he begins to put it on paper. Next, he steps up to his easel. Before him, though, is not a canvas or paper, but rather dusty antique brick and crumbling mortar joints. Having executed many of the twenty panoramic works of art throughout his own hometown of Dothan, Alabama, as well as other locations, Wes has become an expert at stabilizing the walls of historic buildings. His murals not only beautify an area, they leave the property in better condition than when he started. A sample of Hardin’s fine work can be seen on the side of The Atrium Furniture and Design, 310 Main Street. It is the first of two murals depicting historic events in our area that the Historic Murals of Danville Committee has commissioned him to create. Completed in December of 2005, it is a dynamic view of the “Old 97” train engine just before the crash that ended its service and sparked the ballad that has made that accident famous. The second mural is scheduled to be completed this month and will be a tribute to Danville’s trolley system of the early 1900s. It is located at the corner of Spring and North Union Streets at the city’s public transportation hub. When you see this second mural, you will feel as if you are

riding in a trolley looking up Main Street at the Broadway Theater and the Burton Hotel. You will be reminded of the days when Danville was a very prominent community, flush with the riches garnered from vibrant tobacco and textile industries, but still humble with a population of hard-working citizens. There will even be familiar faces in the picture, as local contributors who made significant donations have had a likeness of themselves or their loved ones inserted in the artwork. Wes Hardin has done an excellent job of painting our town. In the process of getting to know about Danville and some of its people, through his insight by way of his beautiful illustrations, he has given back to us our history and our stories. You won’t want to miss “Summer in the City” on Saturday, August 19, from 10am-2pm in Downtown Danville. During this street-wide sidewalk sale, merchants will have bargains galore and restaurants will feature specials. There will be an interactive exhibit from the Danville Science Center and free Dino-walk for the kids plus much, much more. Call Downtown Danville Association at 434.791.4470 for more information.

Summer in the City Contest Congratulations! The winner of the July Summer in the City Contest is Susan Hoskins, whose name was chosen from all the correct entries. Last month’s picture showed a lion above the doorway on the Danville House. If you can name the location of this month’s picture shown above, email your answer to downtowndan@gamewood.net or mail to Downtown Danville Association, 635 Main Street, Danville VA 24541. All correct entries will be eligible to win two tickets to Jazz on the Patio on Friday, September 22. Winners will be selected in a random drawing and announced in EVINCE. Deadline for the August contest is 5pm on Monday, August 21.

With the completion of the second mural this summer, and plans for the third already in the works, the Historic Murals of Danville Committee is right on track to achieving “Mural City” status by 2010. But this cannot be accomplished without the help of the citizens of Danville. Applications for funding will be sent to several local organizations and foundations as well as state and federal grant makers to help with this project. Individuals are also being asked to make donations. This program, if managed properly and marketed well, could mean a great deal to Danville. Tourism is growing rapidly and was a $16 billion business for Virginia last year. The murals could become a tourist attraction drawing people from across the region into our city. Murals have become welcome additions of public art as well as panoramic history lessons for generations to come. Danville’s murals can become a source of pride for her citizens. If you can help with this project, please send a check to Historic Murals of Danville, c/o Downtown Danville Association, 635 Main Street, Danville, VA 24541. Donations of $1,000 or more will be permanently acknowledged, if desired, on a brass plaque at the mural site.

Page 4

•

evince •

August 2006

��

DCA

True Southern Hospitality—Plantation Style with a Twist by Steve Hecox

Who would think that you can go to a race track in rural Virginia and find a gourmet restaurant run by a chef trained in haute-couture who also provides great burgers and sandwiches to race fans through the concession window? I wouldn’t have a year ago, but now I know such a place exists at VIRginia International Raceway. An affable man in his 50s with a willing smile, Tony Muncey was born in England, but made it to Massachusetts via Canada before he met his teens. When he did, he discovered food service through a summer job with Howard Johnson’s restaurants. Soon he had talked his way into their management training program. Evidently, he did well there—well enough to qualify for a spot in the CIA. The CIA I’m referring to, of course, has nothing to do with the spooks in Langley. It’s the Culinary Institute of America, probably the most prestigious school of its kind in the United States. After graduating from their training program, Tony began working at the Park Lane Hotel in New York City. From there, he took a position with the Nestle Company, which brought him to Virginia. He now manages two distinct facilities at VIR, where he wants to provide the finest hospitality imaginable to his customers—The Pagoda and the Plantation House. The Pagoda feeds all who come through the facility on an everyday basis and VIR is booked almost daily. It’s the home for racing teams from NASCAR to Daytona Prototypes and beyond, who want to test their new designs or setups. It also hosts training

for law enforcement officers and others needing to enhance their driving skills. Tony feeds them all. Knowing how much to cook and serve in the Pagoda on any given day, though, is a bit iffy. But he seems to get it done. His pork chops, I can testify, are excellent and his potato soup is the best I have ever tasted. It’s natural for good food to be the norm on this property that was a former plantation. And it’s Tony Muncey who also oversees hospitality service at the newly refurbished Plantation House which comprises three distinct areas. Connie’s Pub, named after VIR’s co-owner Connie Nyholm, consists of a few tables and is dominated by a beautiful hardwood bar brought down by the other co-owner Harvey Seigel from New Jersey. The Billiard Room is just that. It has a lovely old billiard table with mesh pockets where it‘s possible to play without putting coins on the rail ahead of time. Then, of course, there is the Oak Tree Tavern, where, with only 12 tables in its two rooms, everything is cozy and intimate, and diners are cared for by the friendly staff who delivers delicious cuisine. The Plantation House is filled with the atmosphere of racing. There are photographs of famous racers, and on the walls of the

two dining rooms are lovely impressionistic paintings by Alfredo de la Maria depicting classic old cars coming into tight corners with others in hot pursuit. It‘s almost like dining in a racing art gallery. It’s a little different part of the world, inhabited mainly by racers, but open to everyone, auto aficionado or not. To Tony Muncey, hospitality is more than just food—it’s about the experience. To him, an evening out is more than just dinner; it’s the entire evening, and his job is to make your visit a memorable experience. And he does—from the outstanding food (I particularly like the mozzarella cheese sticks, the tortellini, and the homemade herb cheese bread,) to the servers who make sure your meal is a special event, all served in a setting replete with local character and unique to the area. In a word, VIR’s a getaway destination for anyone wanting great food and great atmosphere in a quiet, country setting. The Pub is open to the public Thursday through Saturday from 5pm-10pm and dinner is served from 6pm-9 pm. On Sundays, the Pub is open from 4pm9pm and dinner is served from 5pm-8 pm. Reservations are recommended, but not required. Call 434.822.7700 ext 117.

August 2006

•

evince •

This article was first run in July 2002 and is being repeated for your enjoyment. Kim thanks her readers for each expression of kindness and sympathy shown during the recent death of her mother-in-law, Mary Jo Clifton.

Never Let Them See You Sweat. It was a big night. Make that a VERY big night. A night where failure was not an option. There were two things I knew for certain: (1) I’d be showing a multimedia presentation to over 600 people and (2) I’d be sweating like a pig in a bacon factory. Which meant I was doomed if my deodorant stopped working. Total dryness under duress is a lot to ask, so I should have known better than to think it could stay invisible, too. Clogging pores down through three layers of skin didn’t seem good enough. For good measure, I topped it off with a tad of dusting powder.

It was more than a tad; it was more like a ton. I had enough paste and flour to roll out a fairly decent-sized pan of biscuits. On this night of nights, I needed to feel calm, cool and collected. There was no way I could pull off calm or collected, but I was at least hoping for cool. Which brings me to my second mistake. My outfit. Nylon, regardless how thin, is as gauzy as a garbage bag. And while it doesn’t vent worth a toot, it does sift to beat the band. It was in my bathroom, as I gave my hair a final brush, that I saw the first appearance of the white stuff. I took a damp towel and wiped away as much as I could.

Running into the living room, I checked myself out in a bigger mirror. As if a change of venue would make a difference. It didn’t. Powder kept popping up in wrong places like surprise visits from unwanted relatives. I looked down at my watch in horror knowing I was losing this round of beat the clock. Tearing out of the house, I wiped as I drove. It wasn’t getting better. In fact, it was getting worse. Seems every pat on my blouse caused a white poof. I halfway expected a genie to appear and grant me three wishes. You can’t do a full body check in a rearview mirror, even if you raise your arms and twist side-to-side. It also

General Assembly Chorus

Great Reading All Summer Long Visit a Real Bookstore!

Chatham Books

10 North Main St. • Chatham, VA 24531 www.ChathamBooks.us

434•432•2488

Books • Journals • Stationery M-F 10-5 • Sat 10-3

Page 5

seems to cause attention. I’m sure the car behind me thought I was being robbed. Minutes before curtain, I grabbed one of my buddies and pulled her backstage to check me over. Please know that it takes a trusted friend to wipe powder from your underarms. But it takes a true friend to wipe a smile from her face while doing it. It was a night to remember. So much so that I’ve made up a reminder rhyme to chant while dressing…when you wear black or blue, the talc shines through. Then again…maybe I should just stick to only powdering my nose.

evince •

August 2006

Emmet Gowin

•

Cool Fun In The Dog Days Of Summer by Lynne Bjarnesen

Davenport was Chairman of Averett College Art Department (now Averett University) from 1943-1969. He also directed an art school as part of the Public Works Art Project during the Great Depression and founded a summer art school in Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Maud Gatewood taught at Averett College. Emmet Gowen teaches at Princeton where he

5644.This is the kick-off event for the Museum’s Annual Appeal. Monies raised from this fundraiser will be used toward a dollar-fordollar match for a state grant of $75,000. Your participation will help the Museum continue to bring outstanding exhibitions and educational programs to all citizens of the Dan River Region! Maud Gatewood

Danville might be in the middle of the dog days of summer but there is cool fun to be had at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History’s annual family event, Mandolins and Magnolias. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and join their friends for great barbeque with all the fixings, fried chicken, strawberry shortcake, banana pudding, and cool summertime beverages! An extra-cool treat of snow cones will also be served. While enjoying food and fellowship, celebrants will hear the music of Andy Martin and the Carolina Roustabouts who play mostly instrumental, upbeat traditional bluegrass music. The band has played at the Charlie Poole Festival and has been featured on PBS’ “Down from the Mountain”. Also, a local favorite, Andy Martin, will play fiddle and mandolin and will be joined by Earl Hammock on banjo, George Underwood on guitar, and Tommy Wagner on bass. To work off all the consumed calories, adults and children can play Victorian games such as hoops, sack races, badminton and croquet. Bridget Hyler will once again bring her face-painting magic. (Doesn’t just have to be for the kids.) There will be an art activity for kids and Jonathan Scollo will demonstrate his pottery skills on the wheel. Make plans now to have cool fun with Mandolins and (under the shade of the) Magnolias. Mandolins and Magnolias will be held on Saturday, August 12, from 4pm-8p on the museum’s lawn at 975 Main Street. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 7 to 12. There is no charge for children ages 6 and under. For more information call 434-793-

Teachers, Masters, Mentors

Carson Davenport, Maud Gatewood, Emmet Gowin, Robert Marsh by Lynne Bjarnesen A small exhibit by Danville’s most distinguished and acclaimed visual artists can be viewed in the Danville Museum’s Boatwright Gallery near the gift shop. Three works by each exhibitor show their range of skill and mediums. Colorful paintings, small intimate photographs, drawings, and etchings are included. The works are taken from the Museum’s collection or are on loan from the artist or Caswell Council for the Arts. Each artist has a national or international reputation and is recognized as a current or former teacher and mentor of great skill and devotion. Carson

received the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching at Princeton University in 1997. Robert Marsh is a Professor of Art at Averett University. The Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History, 975 Main Street, is open Tuesday-Friday 10am5pm, Saturday and Sunday 2pm5pm. For more information visit www.danvillemuseum.org or call434-793-5644.

Robert Marsh

Page 6

August 2006

•

evince •

Page 7

Books Reveal the Playful Side of Lady Astor By Joyce Wilburn

So I prayed long and earnestly - “O God, please burn down the school house. Please burn down the schoolhouse entirely, Save Miss Jenny and Miss Jenny’s Mother, please God, but let the school house go. Burn down that house! Fortunately, the prayer of a 10year-old who didn’t want to study her multiplication tables wasn’t answered, or maybe God said, “No,” because 117 years later the building still stands and has been transformed into Linden Row Inn, an historic hotel on Franklin Street in downtown Richmond. Although that is an interesting piece of trivia, what makes it remarkable is that the prayer was offered by Danville’s most well-known international celebrity—Lady Nancy Langhorne Astor, the first woman to sit in the British Parliament! I stumbled across this story in a charming little book of memoirs, A Lightning Sketch by Nancy Astor. “We are thrilled to have received the U.S. publication rights to this book and two others,” says Wayne Oakes, treasurer of the Langhorne House Board of Directors referring to Childhood Reminiscences of Mirador and Nancy Astor by Nancy Lancaster and Nancy Lancaster & Her Gardens compiled by Elizabeth Winn. In the trio of books, other family “secrets” are revealed—some humorous, others sad. For example, Astor reminisces about a visit to Danville to see her mother’s old home on Stony Mill School Road: The (Civil) war had swept through Virginia leaving desolation everywhere. The house was in ruins, the once beautiful gardens overgrown. Mother hunted for the graves of the children that had been buried there and she could not find them. She sat on the steps and cried, and Phyllis and I who were running about enjoying ourselves, could not imagine why she was crying. But now I know. Lady Astor’s joyful memories outnumber the gloomy ones at least in these books. The feminist warrior was known worldwide for her wicked wit. She’s the one who told Prime Minister Winston Churchill, “If you were my husband, I’d poison your tea.” To which Churchill

responded, “If you were my wife, I’d drink it!” There were probably other people, including family members, who had the same thought after becoming victims of her or her family’s jokes. She admits in her book that the Langhornes were all terrific teases. My own brother…swallowed his chewing gum one day and they all said he must be treated with great care as he would have a baby. Believing this, he was miserable for some time. These three thin books with a cumulative total of 157 pages make for light summer reading. Even better, they give a glimpse into the late 19th century lives of the first residents of 117 Broad Street, Danville. Visits to the Langhorne House are by appointment only. To schedule a visit contact Pat Maurakis, President of the Langhorne House Board of Directors, at 434-791-2256. The books are available at the Danville Museum Shop, 975 Main Street.

��

� ��

��

Page 8

•

evince •

August 2006

Peter Brown’s

The Fugitive Wife by Larry G. Aaron

I read a lot, but usually not fiction—unless of course, I find a compelling book. Peter Brown’s first novel, The Fugitive Wife, is such a book. I probably read it in less time than it took to research and write this article. Brown, whose wife Ellen, is a Danville native and a 1962 George Washington High School graduate, is a retired business consultant from St. Paul, Minnesota. His bachelor’s degree in English literature didn’t immediately transform him into a writer, but writing was always an important part of his life and his work in marketing communications. Despite that, Peter Brown will be the first to tell you that writing The Fugitive Wife did not happen by magic. In the 1980s, when a business associate who was teaching writing encouraged Peter to write fiction, his response was simple: “Well, I don’t know much about it.” But he enrolled in a writing course, learned something of the craft, read books about writing, and finally succeeded in selling a short story to the famed New Yorker magazine. After a couple false starts at writing non-fiction books he told himself, “Peter, if you’re going to write a novel you better get started.” Peter commenced by drawing on the background of his grandfather, an engineer for a gold-prospecting company in Alaska around 1900. “Although I never knew him, his diaries and scrapbooks fired my imagination,” Peter relates. The result is a riveting tale with powerful characters, heartbreaking scenes, and heart-stopping moments. In short, it is a page turner. Although his grandfather, Edwin H. Brown, served as a model for a major character, Nate, The Fugitive Wife revolves around Essie Crummy, a hardworking Minnesota farm girl with a “flinty

practical iron backbone”—a survivor who, according to Brown, “can work through loss.” In the book, Peter Brown immerses the reader in historical detail that gives believability to every page. He studied the vernacular of the prospectors through diaries and letters like those of his grandfather, used photos to study what the clothes

Peter Brown

were like, what tools were used, and how men worked and moved about on the ships that figured prominently in the gold rush days of Alaska. He even used the Internet to access a maritime transportation newsgroup to locate ship plans, and visited Nome, Alaska, to see abandoned road houses. In short, Brown used every means possible to invoke the reader’s five senses to bring the reader to the places he describes. Although research is important, Peter Brown says that even a writer doesn’t always know what’s going to happen in the next chapter until he gets there. Yet, he advises aspiring and apprentice writers to learn the craft of writing—the conventions and rules. He believes, too, in reading great writing and then asking, “What was it about that book that captivated me? Every time I read a book,” he says, “I learn

August 2006

•

evince •

The principals of the Cape Nome Hydraulic Mining Company in their oilskins and campaign hats before sailing for Nome, June, 1900. Edwin H. Brown is the young buck (age 25) on the right who has yet to grow his moustache.

Edwin H. Brown, on left, and Major L.H. French displaying nuggets from Anvil Creek at Nome, August, 1900.

something from it. I am always influenced by good writers.” Brown’s advice is worth heeding because the reviews of his book would make any writer envious. The New York Times Book Review rates it “Enormously satisfying.” The Publishers Weekly comments: “This is an eloquent, memorable first novel, with high-powered characters whose prickly exteriors,

created out of the need to survive, hide affectingly yearning and haunting souls.” Let’s hope this is just the first novel from Peter Brown and not the last. The Fugitive Wife by Peter Brown is available through local bookstores. For more information visit www.thefugitivewife.com.

Page 9

��

�� N'tended - .25 page Evince Ad 1

7/26/06 9:19:05 AM

by Kathryn Davis How often do you count your blessings? Do you take the time to thank God for good health? A good job? A nice home? Family and friends who love you? Most of us do indeed feel blessed that our lives include such things. But should we take it a step further? Do you think God wants us to count all those happy little coincidences that pop up almost daily as blessings? I like to thank God for the fun things I experience through my job. For example, as a radio news reporter for WBTM/ WAKG, can it possibly get any better than the assignment I had a few weeks ago? I was sent to report on a daylong workshop for veterans who want to start or upgrade a small business. And who was there looking for franchisees but representatives from the Fudgy Wudgy Fudge and Chocolate Factory! For someone like me with a sweet tooth as big as my whole body, I was in heaven! After

sampling several of their meltin-your-mouth flavors, I left there with my news story AND a poundand-a-half of my favorite comfort food. Yes, I felt truly blessed. Okay, so maybe the most fattening treat on earth doesn’t do it for you. Maybe you’d prefer taking a walk on a beautiful, sunshiny day with a cool breeze and temperatures in the low 70s. Or how about when you meet someone unexpectedly with whom you have so much in common that you become instant friends? Or when you finally receive that bill you’ve been dreading and it turns out to be for a whole lot less than you dared hope? If you think about it, the list of blessings can be endless, if we just learn to recognize these every-day happenings for what they are and stop to thank The One who makes them possible.

��

99 years of fashion ��

Page 10

•

evince •

• calendar of evince • Support the Tank Museum 434.836.5323 • www.aaftankmuseum.com

August Through August 20

Number Please: A History of the Telephone. Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History 434.793.5644.

Through August 31

SBHCM Exhibits - Burial Traditions of Halifax County and So, You Wanna Be a Cowboy?. South BostonHalifax County Museum of Fine Arts & History - 434.572.9200

Through September 4

Enchanted Museum - (See article p.16.) 9:30 am Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

Through September 22

Teachers, Masters, Mentors Exhibit – (See article p.6.) Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History - 434.793.5644

August 1

National Night Out. 5-7:30 pm. Carrington Pavilion. 434.797.8898 Braves Baseball - Danville vs Johnson City. 7 pm. Dan Daniel Memorial Park. 434.797.3792.

August 2

Club Zoom - Design and build hot air balloons. Ages 7-11. 3:454:45 pm Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

August 2 (thru Sept. 7)

Art With Flo – wet-on-wet technique;new students welcome. Times/locations vary. 434.799.6469.

August 3

Terra Cotta Painting Class. 1-2:30 or 7-8:30 pm. Ballou Recreation Center - 434.799.5216. Communication and Presentation Series - Listening to Your Audience Public speaking and lecturing for mildly experienced. 6:30–8 pm Pepsi Building. 434.797.8848.

August 3 (thru 5)

Braves Baseball - Danville vs Pulaski. 7 pm. Dan Daniel Memorial Park. 434.797.3792.

August 3 (thru 31)

Jammers - Acoustical musicians are invited to perform at this weekly informal jamming session. Thursdays 4-6 pm Ballou Recreation Center - 434.799.5216.

August 4

Michael Leonhardt , an accomplished pianist/keyboardist who plays all genres of music. 8 pm. The Muse - 434.792.3403. Fridays at the Crossing - Distant Kin & Bike Night. 6:30 pm. Crossing at the Dan. 434.793.4636.

August 4 & 5

Moonshiners’ Jamboree. 434.432.5018.

August 5

Dan River Boat Race. danriverboatrace.org. 336.548.9572. Bob Ross Painting Class - Hazy Day. Complete a painting in one day. 10:30 am–3:30 pm Ballou Park Annex Building - 434.797.8848. USAR Hooter’s Pro Cup - 250/ Late Model 110. South Boston Speedway - 434.572.4947. Radio-Controlled Car Race inside. open 12 pm; race 4 pm. Cooper’s Race Center 434.724.4182. ArtsNova - An evening of food, music, magic and an exhibit to announce the upcoming concert series. 7-9 pm. Kirby Theater, Roxboro, NC. 336.597.1709.

Arts Alive - Students explore a wide range of media with arts and crafts, and see demonstrations. 9:30 am-12 pm. Piedmont Arts Association - 276.632.3221.

August 7 (thru 12)

Virginia Peach Festival - Blue grass music from the Crooked Road Heritage Trail, crafts, food, pageant and more. Patrick County - 276.694.6012.

August 7 (thru 28)

Boogie Mondays! - Learn to rumba. Mondays 7-8:30 pm Ballou Recreation Center - 434.799.5216.

August 8

August 5 & 6

Journey of Hope Bicyclists Stop - Cross-country bicycle trek, beginning in California and ending in Washington, D.C. makes a stop in Danville. 11 am. Ballou Center. 434.799.5199. www.pushamerica.org.

August 6

Evening Yoga -. 5:30–7 pm Pepsi Building. 434.797.8848.

August 2006 AUGUST 2006 S M 6 7 13 14 20 21 27 28

T 1 8 15 22 29

W 2 9 16 23 30

T F S 3 4 5 10 11 12 17 18 19 24 25 26 31

Life Along the Banister Imagine life in the past as you hike along the river. 10 am. 437.799.5215. Mandolins & Magnolias - Old fashioned Southern barbeque, bluegrass music, a raffle, family and children’s activities featuring face painting and Victorian games - hoops, sack races, badminton and croquet. 4-8 pm. Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History - 434.793.5644. (See article p.6.) Saturday Night at The Movies Bring your blankets, chairs and snacks and enjoy a family movie outdoors. 9 pm. Ballou Park. 437.799.5215.

August 12 & 13

NCR SCCA Oak Tree Nationals Racers competing for valuable national points in the hopes of an invitation to the national championship races. VIR 434.822.7700.

Great Smokey Mountain Train Ride Excursion - 437.799.5215.

August 8 (thru 29)

Konstantin Soukhovetski Concert – (See article p.16.)

August 9

Braves Baseball - Danville vs Princeton. 7 pm. Dan Daniel Memorial Park. 434.797.3792.

August 10

Crime Science - From analyzing fingerprints to tire tracks, learn about techniques and technology law enforcement uses to catch criminals. 7 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

August 7

Mariachi Band. 6:30-9:30 pm Los Tres Magueyes Mexican Restaurant - 434.792.0601. Junior Miss, Little Miss Va. Peach Contest. 6:30 pm. Patrick Co. Community Bldg. www.martinsville.com. Modern Composing - Fusion of sound and images into a musical experience. 7 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

August 7 (thru 9)

Hunter Safety Education. 6:30-10 pm. Ballou Park. Outdoor Recreation - 437.799.5215.

August 7 (thru 11)

CSI Camp - Learn the secrets to crime scene investigation. Age 9-15. Outdoor Recreation - 437.799.5215.

Polliwogs & Science Stars Experiment with flying objects and design your own boomerang to take home. Ages 3-4 1-2 pm; Ages 5-6. 3:45-4:45 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160. Sunset or Full Moon Canoe Ride. 7-9 pm. 437.799.5215.

August 12

NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series - Late Model/Limited/Pure Stock/ Southern Vintage. South Boston Speedway - 434.572.4947. Radio Controlled Car Race - Outside race on asphalt. 2 pm Cooper’s Radio Controlled Race Center - 434. 724.4182. Instant Piano For Hopelessly Busy People 9 am–12 pm Ballou Park Annex Building. 434.797.8848.

August 12 (thru 14)

August 14

August 15 (thru 17)

Braves Baseball - Danville vs Kingsport. 7 pm. Dan Daniel Memorial Park. 434.797.3792.

August 16

Bob Ross Technique Workshop Create a masterpiece of hydrangeas in a day. 10:30 am3:30 pm. Piedmont Arts Association - 276.632.3221. Club Zoom - Experiment with materials, discover what works best to clean dirty water and invent a water filter and put it to the test. Ages 7-11. 3:45-4:45 pm Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

August 17

Stepping Stones Class. 1-2:30 or 7-8:30 pm. Ballou Recreation Center - 434.799.5216.

August 18

Cool Jazz on a Warm Night Enjoy music and dinner. Performance by the Neil Davenport Trio. 6:30 pm Pavilion at Yancey House - 336.694.4225. Trace Adkins Concert - w/Chris Cagle. 6 pm Carrington Pavilion. 434.793.4636. Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals The fastest and most exotic road racing motorcycles in America. VIR - 434.822.7700. Women of Faith Conference - Walking by Faith. Reservations by 8/11. 11 am-1 pm. The Colonnade

August 2006

•

Room, Piney Forest Rd. Jennie - 434.793.8140 or Catherine 434.836.2660.

vendor, beverages available. 7-10:30 pm Uptown Martinsville. 276.632.5688.

Rodeo - Enjoy a wild ride as the cowboys put on a riding, roping, and wrestling clinic. Danville Pittsylvania County Fairgrounds - 434.822.6850.

Braves Baseball - Danville vs Elizabethton. 7 pm. Dan Daniel Memorial Park. 434.797.3792.

August 18 & 19

August 19

Get Your Feet Wet Hike - 6 mile hike on the St. Mary Trail. 8 am6 pm. 437.799.5215. Jingle the Chains Disc Golf Tournament - 9 am registration. 10 am play begins. Ballou Park. 437.799.5215. Kids’ Fun Fest - Activities, chalk art, face painting, ID fingerprinting, food, fresh- water animal exhibit, Ollie the Ostrich, entertainment, more! 9 am-12 pm. Uptown Martinsville Farmers’ Market. 276.638.4221. Summer in the City – (See article p.3. ) Memory Walk. 10 am-12 p.m. Pepsi Building. 434.792.3700. Radio Controlled Car Race (see 8/5) NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series - Late Model/Limited/Pure Stock/ Allison Legacy. South Boston Speedway - 434.572.4947. Rock & Roll at the North - The Glass Plastiks. 7:30 pm. The North Theatre - 434.792.2700. Ross and Friends - A wonderful night of jazz standards. 8 pm. The Prizery, South Boston 434.572.8339.

August 22 (thru 24)

Braves Baseball - Danville vs Bristol. 7 pm. Dan Daniel Memorial Park. 434.797.3792.

August 23

Polliwogs & Science Stars - Discover what objects sink and which ones float. Launch a boat, and try to figure out where it might go. Ages 3-4 1-2 pm; Ages 5-6. 3:45-4:45 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

August 24

Fall Fantasy Wreath Class. 1-2:30 or 7-8:30 pm. Ballou Recreation Center - 434.799.5216. August 25 Uptown TGIF Outdoor Concert! - Enjoy beach music of the Band of Oz, dancing and fun! Food

evince •

August 25 (thru 27)

August 26

Southside Scramble Mountain Bike Race 10 am. (See article p.13) Radio Controlled Car Race (See 8/12)

August 28 (thru Sept. 26)

Art with Judie - Oil and watercolor instruction. Times vary. Ballou Park Annex Building. 434.797.8848.

August 31

Gardening Series - Wintering Your Landscape. 6:30-8 pm Coates Recreation Center. 434.797.8848.

Where Can I Find An EVINCE?

It’s easier than ever to find a current issue of EVINCE. There are over 100 distribution points and here are a few:

In Danville,VA

Danville Community Market Craghead St. Masonic Temple Main Street Arts & Humanities Office 435 Main Street Danville Paint & Supply 532 Monroe Street Office Plus 840 Memorial Drive Yene Fusion Café 1050 Main Street

In North Carolina

Visitors’ Center Route 29 Pelham, NC

In South Boston, VA

Berry Hill Plantation Resort 3105 River Rd. Bistro 1888 221 Main Street

In Chatham, VA

Library 24 Military Drive If the rack is empty, email managingeditor@ starmark.net or call 434-836-1247 and it will be refilled immediately. Thanks!

Pick Up your Evince Racing in Danville, VA at: Burners 2238 South Boston Road El Vallarta 418 Westover Drive Los Tres Maguyas 2818 Riverside Drive Rock Ola 140 Crown Drive Short Sugar’s 2215 Riverside Drive

In South Boston, VA at:

Berry Hill Plantation Resort 3105 River Rd. The Prizery 700 Bruce Street

Page 11

Page 12

•

evince •

August 2006

photos by Larry G. Aaron

hile growing up in Pittsylvania County I enjoyed a lot of trails through the woods—trails we boys romped along, sometimes to escape the mundane world of school, and sometimes just because they were there. That was a long time ago. Today I walk and ride my bicycle along the Riverwalk in Danville. Of course, it’s a little better than my old footpaths, being paved and with parking lots nearby. Now when I go there I almost feel civilized, in contrast to the bushes and briars I waded through in the forest in Ringgold. Today the Riverwalk is several miles of pure enchantment as it follows the Dan River, which serenades me with its easy flow and rippling water, and sometimes resembles a smile in the making as it spreads out between the banks. Squirrels gambol about, birds lift their chorus through the trees, and once in a while a fish will break the surface of the river to provide an exclamation mark to a Kodak moment. In the distance, a soccer, softball, or baseball game echoes in my ears and children’s voices on the playground mingle together in a cacophony of sound that radiates with joy. In the river a boat trolls the waters, while on the bank a solitary fisherman watches his fishing pole bend when a catfish straightens out the line. Ducks congregate in the shallows making me smile when I see them waddle ashore searching for bread crumbs thrown aground. As I walk, the scenery changes often. I first notice it when I leave the Community Market parking lot and cross the converted 1856 Southern Railway train bridge, its wooden planks groaning softly with each step. As I descend toward the river, flowers and foliage do a slow dance in the gentle breeze. A canopy of trees shelters me from the burning sun, and on I go along the curving path, finally sauntering under the Danville Expressway toward Angler’s Park. But the trail by the river isn’t the only trail out there. There’s the adjacent woodland walking trails in Dan Daniel Memorial Park: Hidden Hollow Trail, Doe Run Trail, Turkey Trot Trail, and a one-mile paved Cane Creek Trail accessed from Airside Industrial Park. If mountain biking is your thing, you can enjoy the 1.5 mile Grassy Knoll Mountain Bike Trail and also the 6- mile Angler’s Ridge Mountain Bike Trail. Over the years the mighty Dan River has served many purposes—

Stacie, Michael, Ken, and Sarah Grammer enjoy walking their dogs on the Riverwalk.

The Riverwalk: Just Another Day in Paradise by Larry G. Aaron from transportation to a ready supply of drinking water for the city of Danville. These days the Riverwalk makes the Dan an asset for tourists and local citizens alike. Walk, bike, even rollerblade if you’re game, take in a concert at Carrington Pavilion, view the Danville Science Center exhibits, watch the Danville Braves play, enjoy a picnic, go skateboarding at the Philip Wyatt Memorial Skate Park, visit the Veterans Memorial—or just sit on the lawn and wile away the afternoon. It’s amazing what’s available right off the trail within…you guessed it…walking distance. Which is why, quite frankly, when I’m down there in the park I wonder why more people aren’t down there—walking, riding, strolling, biking, running. So I caught up with a few folks who couldn’t say enough about the Riverwalk. Pam Bucchi, a Danville native, just started using the trail. She was strolling her twin daughters, while her son and his friend were biking elsewhere. “What I like best about the Riverwalk is that it

is a good place for family time. Danville has needed something like this,” she said. Ken and Stacie Grammer, their two children Michael and Sarah, along with two Siberian Huskies, have just started using the Riverwalk. They have been in the Danville area a little over a year and give several reasons why

they love the trail: “It’s well-taken care of and it’s great the way it goes down by the river. And the serenity and the wildlife—there’s a lot more wildlife down here than we thought there would be.” Jay and Jana Baker, along with their daughter Alana and sonin-law Michael Adkins, enjoy a leisure bike ride on the Riverwalk

Jay and Jana Baker travel from Caswell County to ride their bikes on the Riverwalk.

August 2006

•

evince •

Page 13

Dave Slayton and Janet Holley enjoy "just another day in paradise."

every Sunday afternoon. “The Riverwalk is closer and it’s a nicer trail than those near where we live. It parallels the river, has a whole lot of wildlife, and is cool most of the time,” the Pelham, North Carolina residents comment. “It’s the most beautiful place in Danville,” Jana adds. “It’s well-maintained and accessible,” continues her husband Jay, “and it’s one of Danville’s best kept secrets.” After a quick glance around Michael says, “It’s not that crowded either and you can pretty much see the whole river from riding the trail.” His wife Alana likes to come to the Riverwalk because, “It’s very comfortable. Even if I were by myself, I would feel safe here.” Those sentiments are echoed by local realtor Janet Holley and her husband Dave Slayton, who were just completing a walk along the entire length of the trail. Janet likes it because, she says, “The trail is flat. When you walk along you get the breeze off the river and the beauty of the river.” Dave commented that the Riverwalk is well maintained and safe too. Janet agreed, saying, “I came here last year on Thanksgiving Day and there were only a couple

other people. I did not feel uncomfortable by myself.” Before I left them, Dave summed up the Riverwalk Trail as well as anyone by just pointing to his orange tee shirt, which read: “Just another day in paradise.” Without a doubt, if there is a paradise close by, it’s the Riverwalk. And it’s such a friendly place too where most everyone says “Hi!” or at least waves. And it’s a bargain. The price for enjoying the Riverwalk—no charge. A great place to exercise, or for chilling and grilling. It’s the best deal in town.

For more information and a map visit http://www.danville-va.gov/home.asp or call Danville Parks and Recreation at 434.799.5215.

On Saturday, August 26, at 11am the Southside Scramble Mountain Bike Race will rock through 8 miles of IMBA-inspired single track beginning at Anglers Park. Riders of all skill levels will be challenged by this course. Kids race at 10am. For more information visit www.vaderailerseries.com or phone 434.799.5212. photo by Victor Newman

Page 14

•

evince •

August 2006

What can you give your children for their 40th Birthday? Give them the gift of

Music...

the gift that lasts a lifetime Danville Community School of Music

�� A Music and Movement Program for Children ages Birth to 7 years photo by Dan Vaden

• Play Musical Instruments • Singing • Movement & Dance • Musical Games • Listening • Creative Storytelling • Children’s Literature

“Music Makers: At the Keyboard” (a “Musikgarten” beginning piano course for children ages 7-9 yrs.)

Call now to register for Fall Classes. Lynn Dinkle 791-3868 email: lynndinkle@yahoo.com Classes held in Danville at West Main Baptist Church

��

On The Midnight Train to Georgia by Joyce Wilburn

Sometimes I live a song instead of singing it. Sometimes I step out of my comfort zone to be more comfortable. In the darkness of Sunday night, I did both. I took the Midnight Train to Georgia. My yearly springtime pilgrimage to beautiful Atlanta usually means a 90-minute ride to the RDU Airport and lots of waiting…at the checkin counter, at security, at boarding, at take-off, at baggage claim, and then a scary ride through speeding traffic to my sister’s home. Though I enjoy flying, I’m tired of the hassle. This year I wanted to go back “to a simpler place and time,” so I took the train from Danville to Atlanta. My only other experience in riding a train in the United States was decades ago. On that trip, my mama held my hand. No one held my hand on this solo trip, and I was a little apprehensive about the unknown. My worries dissipated a little, however, when I entered the Danville Science Center/Amtrak Train Station and saw my fellow passengers and the security guard. They looked like nice, everyday people. But that only took care of part of my worries. What would await me once I boarded? I stood in the darkness outside the station for about 30 minutes until I heard a lonesome whistle in the distance announce the impending arrival of Crescent #19 from New York City. Any worries I had been hoarding melted away when the security guard escorted us to the

train. I knew for sure that I’d made the right decision when a friendly female conductor welcomed me aboard, showed me how to adjust my seats, and whispered pertinent information for a pleasant trip so not to disturb other passengers who were sleeping. Soon I joined them. For the next nine hours, the rhythmic sound of turning wheels became my lullaby during a slumber that was broken only when the train stopped and travelers came and went. On those occasions, I’d take a peek out into the night and see my only companion, the Man in the Moon, shedding light on small snoozing towns. At daybreak, a new show of waking-up communities appeared outside the window and inside the train. With conversation at a minimum in the early morning hours, it was a good time for people-watching—a mother talking with her daughter about going back to college, a dad pulling a blanket over his sleeping children, a young woman carrying a boxed breakfast back to her seat, and always people gazing out the windows looking forward to seeing what was around the next curve. I enjoyed the ever-changing ground-level view of Georgia, and I ate breakfast while riding over the hills, through the woods, and across the rivers. In seemingly no time, the train began to approach Atlanta. A cell-phone call to my sister/chauffeur ensured I’d be met in a timely fashion. It had been the easiest trip to Atlanta I’d ever experienced. My thanks to Grammy-winner Gladys Knight for being the inspiration behind this venture. Ironically, though, her song, Midnight Train to Georgia, has its roots in

Midnight Plane to Houston. I can only surmise that Gladys didn’t like the hassle of flying either.

Tips if you plan to travel from Danville by train: n The Amtrak station is located inside the Danville Science Center at 677 Craghead Street. n Call 1-800-872-7245 and speak to Julie, the automatic agent, or to a live agent. Make reservations at least two weeks in advance. Tickets will be mailed to you. You can also visit www.Amtrak.com for information and reservations. Tickets are not sold at the train station. n Carry a small pillow, a copy of the itinerary from the website, snack food and water. The Crescent has a dining car for full meal service and a lounge car for sandwiches and beverages. n If you don’t plan to sleep, bring something to read or otherwise occupy your mind. n Baggage must be carried on and stored above your seat. There is amble leg room for other items. Don’t take more than you can carry, lift above your head, or tuck under your feet. n If someone is meeting you, take a cell phone to call ahead in case of delays. n Check for delays in arrival and departure times by calling the 800 number. You need to be at the station 30 minutes before scheduled departure. n Prices will vary, but my cost was $136 round-trip. n The Crescent travels north to New York City and south to New Orleans with 31 stops in 1,377 miles. Bon Voyage!

August 2006

•

evince •

Around the Table Great Picnic Foods by Annelle Williams Picnic: 1) an informal meal prepared for eating in the open air; 2) something easy to do or pleasant to experience. Picnic season is upon us. Whether it’s an extravagant spread, a grilling opportunity, or something as simple as your favorite sandwich and snack, picnics are always fun. If you haven’t been on a picnic lately, spend a little time preparing some easy recipes (either ready-to-eat, or ready-to-grill), pack them in a cooler, throw an old blanket in the car, and do a little local exploring. Close by, there’s the Riverwalk Trail and Ballou Park or drive a little to Fairy Stone Park, Staunton River State Park, or Smith Mountain Lake. A little further down the road, there’s hardly a bad spot to picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you happen to be a racing fan, VIR is a great picnic destination. And don’t forget your own back yard. In the mood to try something a little different for your next picnic? There’s a new product on the market that can give you a nice mild “smoked” flavor without the time or trouble of a real smoker. It’s an aluminum foil grilling bag that contains natural smoking chip particles that release smoke into the bag when it’s heated on the grill. All you have to do is prepare your meat or vegetables with seasoning, place them in the bag, seal, and store in your cooler until you’re ready to grill. My only suggestion would be to place the meat directly on the grill after you remove it from the bag, brush it with a sauce, or olive oil, and leave it over the coals just long enough to produce a grill mark or two on each side. Give the smoking bag or some of these easily transportable recipe

suggestions a try on your next picnic adventure. And don’t forget, it’s a picnic—easy, pleasant, outside, and delicious!

Layered Snack Bars

1 stick butter 1 cup Graham cracker crumbs 1 cup dried cranberries 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup peanut butter chips 1 (14oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 1 1/2 cup chopped almonds Melt butter in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Sprinkle Graham cracker crumbs evenly over butter. Layer with cranberries, chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over layers. Top with chopped almonds. Bake at 350º for 30 minutes. Cool and slice into bars.

Red Potato Salad 5 lbs. red potatoes, washed 2 small red onions, chopped 2 green peppers, chopped 6 celery stalks, cleaned and chopped Dressing: 1 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1/2 cup tarragon flavored vinegar 4 tsp. sugar 1 T dried Italian herbs 2 T chopped fresh thyme 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. coarsely ground pepper Boil potatoes in salted water until fork tender, but not falling apart. Drain potatoes, place in cold water to cool, and drain again. When cool, peel and slice into thin slices. Combine all vegetables in large mixing bowl. Whisk dressing ingredients together and pour over vegetables, tossing to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Page 15

Page 16

•

evince •

Explore Your Creative Side by Nancy Tait

Walk through a rainbow. Make your shadow stick to a wall. Carve stone with an air hammer. Use pixels to create your own work of art. Create a mobile. It’s all at the visiting exhibition, Enchanted Museum: Exploring the Science of Art at the Danville Science Center. “Enchanted Museum is your chance to explore your creative side, discover art history, and unlock the science behind art,” says Danville Science Center Director Jeff Liverman. “This exhibition immerses you in a world where technology brings rainbows to life and where you can incorporate your shadow into an ancient work of art. Enchanted Museum is an exhibit of both beauty and science.” Visitors participate in fun interactive exhibits while learning about the science behind them. For example, they use pixels to create a picture in the Painting Gallery, learn how ancient mosaic techniques are used in today’s computer screens and pointillist paintings, combine colored particles to create new colors and discover how cave painters, ancient Egyptians and Aztec Indians, mixed everyday items to create dyes and paints. Both adults and children enjoy

using a rosette kaleidoscope and experimenting with radial symmetry. (That’s when a pattern repeats around a central point.) The endless mirror provides opportunities to experiment with bank symmetry--a pattern that repeats in a straight line. But that’s not all. Guests layer colored shapes to make landscapes using subtractive color mixing. At Making Faces, keen observers learn how cultural differences affect the language of facial expressions. In the Sculpture Garden, wannabe sculptors create works of art using a self-contained air hammer on different kinds of stone. Plastic models are pushed, pulled, or twisted to see structural stress hidden in a work of sculpture. The fun continues as the extroverts in the group mimic the pose of people on ancient sculptural friezes. If moving sculpture is more appealing, there are opportunities to unlock its secrets, and then make a mobile. Exploring the Science of Art has more mind-expanding, creative activities and something called tensegrity, a 20th century invention

that must be investigated. This exhibit is a fun way to escape the August heat outside and nurture the creative scientist inside. Enchanted Museum: Exploring the Science of Art is a Berkshire Museum creation in collaboration with Painted Universe Inc. Enchanted Museum: Exploring the Science of Art is included with Science Center admission. Tickets are $4 for seniors and children ages 4 to12 and $5 for adults. The Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead Street, is open Monday-Saturday, 9:30 am - 5 pm and Sundays 1pm-5pm. For more information call 434.791.5160 or visit www.dsc.smv.org.

August 2006 Founder Scott Foran, who is also the group’s director, wants local writers to come, share their work, and feel free to express themselves and receive encouragement. In order to accomplish this, writers meet on a monthly basis and workshop current projects. A quarterly electronic newsletter dedicated to providing advice on both writing and publishing has been launched. The newsletter also features examples of poetry and fiction written by members. In order to provide a more public arena in which to showcase the talent of local authors, the Writers’ Studio sponsors public readings and is producing an annual anthology that will feature local writers. Foran and Assistant Director Curtis Brauda have created a website for the Writers’ Studio: http://members.gcronline.com/ The site features more detailed information about the group, including the anthology project, and it has a number of useful resources for writers, such as a newsletter archive and links to local and national arts organizations and publications. All aspiring writers are invited to join the group on the second Sunday of each month. The Writers’ Studio meets in the CCI Conference Room at the Prizery, 700 Bruce Street, South Boston, from 4-6pm. If you would like to be put on the emailing list, send a note to inkwrit@yahoo.com.

Award-Winning Pianist to Play Welcome to the Studio at Prizery

The red carpet of welcome has been rolled out for wannabe writers in the South Boston area. Since September 2005, The Writers’ Studio has provided support for authors and facilitated a public venue for celebrating their work. Membership in this volunteer group is comprised of both new and established writers. It is open to all, regardless of age or prior experience. All major forms of writing are produced by members: poetry, short fiction, novels, children’s stories, nonfiction, and drama.

Have you ever heard a musician for the first time and thought to yourself, “Wow, he was incredible!! I cannot believe I have not heard of him”? In the classical music circle, that’s what people are saying about prodigy Russian-American pianist, Konstantin Soukhovetski. In case you are unfamiliar with Konstantin and are not up for traveling to Lincoln Center in New York City to hear him, The Prizery Arts Center has got you covered. On Friday, August 6, at 8:00 pm the Prizery Artist Series presents Konstantin Soukhovetski for a

August 2006

benefit concert to raise money for a Steinway Concert Grand Piano. Hailed by critics as a pianist with “virtuosity, expressive vibrancy and infectious spirit” (Cleveland Plain Dealer) and having “explosive energy and a strong romantic streak” (New York Times), Konstantin Soukhovetski is one of the most exciting and versatile emerging pianists in the country. He was recently awarded the 2006 William Petchek Award, the highest honor given by The

•

evince •

Page 17

Juilliard School to its pianists, leading to a highly acclaimed Alice Tully Hall debut in April. Konstantin is also a laureate of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, Arthur Rubinstein Prize, Naumburg International Piano Competition, Hilton Head International Piano Competition and UNISA International Piano Competition among others. “I was there at Konstantin’s Alice Tully performance and was completely mesmerized by his passion and concentration,” says Reggie Bahl, the New York based classical music manager. “I know music lovers in South Boston will share my enthusiasm for his concert.” Konstantin’s program will feature a variety of works by Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, in addition to musical selections from the motion picture soundtrack “The Hours” by Phillip Glass. Chastain Theatre is located in the Prizery at 700 Bruce Street, South Boston. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Reception will follow the concert. For more information call 434.572.8339

��

Band from Music City to Visit River City

��

Labeling Deloris, a Nashvillebased rock band and an international finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, will play at the North Theatre as part of its national tour to promote their new album, “For the Sake of Deloris.” The four-person band includes Danville natives and brothers Jason and Brad Rigney, Andrew Boudoluris from Waynesboro, Virginia, and Jennifer Reiff from Wilmington, North Carolina. Jason describes their music as an “alternative-to-alternative rock. It blends modern and alternative rock with jazz and truthful songwriting that brings to mind Matchbox Twenty, Goo Goo Dolls, and Pat Benatar." Labeling Deloris will perform at 7:30pm on Saturday, August 12th. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at The Music Post, 1085 Piney Forest Road, or by calling 434.836.5380. For more information visit www.labelingdeloris.com. Their album is distributed through www.awarestore.com.

��

� ��

��

Page 18

•

evince •

August 2006

You’re Invited: AAPPI Grand Opening by Curtis W. Callaway On Monday, August 28, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research will hold a grand opening for one of its four research centers, the Advanced and Applied Polymer Processing Institute, or AAPPI. This event will be the first time the public has been invited into AAPPI’s labs to see the work they do and services they offer to other polymer and plastics-based companies in Southside. AAPPI is a research and engineering center that provides research and development services on a contract basis to companies in Southside. It also engages in basic research with federal, state, and education institutional partners. A primary focus of the center is to strengthen polymerbased companies by increasing their production efficiency, profitability, product quality, and global competitiveness. Three of IALR’s four research centers were established because of their connection to traditional employment business in Southside. For example, the agricultural heritage of the region created the need for a center focused on horticulture and forestry, the Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources (ISRR).

Rippes

With the racing infrastructure that exists in the region (Virginia International Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, South Boston Speedway), as well as the public’s general interest in racing, a motorsports research initiative was developed called the Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research (VIPER). Southside also boasts a wealth of companies that manufacture or use polymers or plastics. Therefore, AAPPI was established to be a commercial testing and research resource for regional companies and small to medium companies from outside the region. The fourth center, the Joint Unmanned Systems Test, Experimentation, and Research (JOUSTER) site is working with robotic vehicles. The grand opening for AAPPI is being held at the Dan River Business Development Center located at 300 Ringgold Industrial Avenue at 8:30 am. Although AAPPI has labs at the IALR facility, its large equipment is located at the DRBDC. In addition to local dignitaries and Virginia Tech officials, U.S. Senator George Allen will also speak. AAPPI Director Ron Moffitt and his staff will demonstrate for guests many of the center’s capabilities. RSVP by calling 434.766.6700 or emailing specialevents@ialr.org.

��

�

��

August 2006

•

evince •

Lasting Thoughts… Priceless Potted Meat By John Barbour I once asked my mom why my fried bologna sandwich only had one piece of meat when my dad’s had two. From what my sixyear-old mind could decipher of the resulting words that angrily volleyed back and forth between my parents, it was because we didn’t have a lot of money and my dad wanted his bread covered, no matter what. Another one of my family’s costcutting sandwich recipes involved using some sort of canned meat in place of bacon on tomato sandwiches. I think my dad was partially to blame for using the pull-tab-sealed, jellified “food product” known as potted meat. He had grown up poor himself and had acquired a taste for low-cost, high-cholesterol, food. In fact, despite his recent foray into healthier eating, I could visit his house right now and not be surprised to find him on a chicken livers binger. I think the only way he manages to avoid brains and eggs and pickled pigs' feet on a regular basis is by avoiding those grocery store aisles altogether. Dad’s propensity for potted meat explains how I grew quite fond of it. Unlike bacon, you can crack open a can and spackle it on crackers without so much as warming it in the microwave. But I learned to use it sparingly. While it spreads like fine caviar, it tastes like Fancy Feast. The trick is to use just enough to identify the taste of meat without pinpointing its origin. In recent years though, I lost touch with this Southern delicacy. I had moved out on my own, started eating healthy, and avoided pre-packaged processed foods. Then a few nights ago I got a craving. The hereditary hankerin’ for potted meat I thought was gone was only in remission. But how to buy it? I couldn’t just walk into the grocery store, grab a can of potted meat, and take it to the counter. That’s disgusting. The cashier would

know I was planning on eating the stuff. With my luck, I’d get the cutest cashier in the place, and she wouldn’t smile at me any more. Plus she’d tell her friends. No, buying the stuff would require the poise and preparation usually reserved for buying contraceptives and pregnancy tests. I would load my basket with other items, the potted meat hidden somewhere in the middle. Cute Cashier would scan it without thinking. If she asked, I’d say it was for a gag gift. “You don’t mean people actually eat this?” I’d say. In total, I spent fifteen dollars at Food Lion, forty-five cents of which went to the purchase of my can of potted meat. The cashier smiled and asked no questions. Maybe she too relished the forbidden taste of shredded and processed meat leftovers. Was she in the Secret Society of Potted Meat Eaters? I’ll never find out. That’s not something you can bring up in grocery-store-line small talk. As soon as I got home I grabbed the can and stared at the label. Memories of my youth came rushing over me. “Mechanically separated chicken.” Family picnics. “Beef tripe.” Lovingly packed elementary school lunches. “Tripe?” What exactly is tripe? The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as “The rubbery lining of the stomach of cattle or other ruminants, used as food.” I think I’ll stick to calling it tripe. I toasted two pieces of bread, spread mayonnaise on one slice, then yanked the pull-tab on the potted meat. The smell was unique and overwhelming, like mustard and vinegar and anything but meat. I spread a thin layer of the stuff on the other slice of toast. Then I licked the knife. And just like that, I was hooked again. I sliced a tomato and put the sandwich together. The first bite melted in my mouth—the

sodium-heavy potted meat drying out my tongue, the tomato juice replenishing the moisture. I wanted to savor each bite slowly, but it was no use. The sandwich was gone in seconds, which meant there was nothing left to do but to make another. And another. With the sandwiches gone and the can of potted meat empty, I settled down on the sofa, my stomach full and my body unwilling to move. I had overindulged. The ensuing food coma was a sad reminder of the dangers of too much of a good thing, but tomorrow I would be up, moving, and possibly ready for another trip to the grocery store. This time, however, I wouldn’t care who knew. I’d cheerfully bring a can of potted meat to the register without as much as an orange to offset the potential emotional (and nutritional) damage. Yes, I was ready to let the world know about my love of cheap, processed, animal parts. The American Heritage Dictionary offers another definition of “tripe” that I think better sums up its importance in potted meat: “Something of no value.” I suppose there are two ways to read that definition. Me? I prefer to think of potted meat as an indulgence so fine as to even attempt to place a monetary value on the culinary satisfaction it offers is blasphemous. Potted meat. It’s priceless.

Page 19

Page 20

•

evince •

August 2006

��