Evince October 06 by Andrew Brooks Media Group

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What’s Inside:

Preview of Theatre and Concert Season Halloween for the Arts Averett Teaches Success Voices from Danville’s Past Chatham Books: A Real Bookstore

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Table of Contents 2

Looking at the Big Picture by Kathryn Davis

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Downtown With Liz Sater

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Chatham Books: A Real Bookstore by Larry G. Aaron Second Thoughts by Kim Clifton Around the Table Destination: Paris by Annelle Williams War Bonds by Larry Aaron Amazing Feats of Aging & Eyes on Earth by Joyce Wilburn Lunch With a Good Book by Joyce Wilburn Camelot! A&H Opens Its New Season by Russell Carter Halloween for the Arts 2006 by Kirk Compton

Sharon Baldacci’s Sundog Moment: A Profile in Courage by Emyl Jenkins

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Calendar of EVINCE

Danville Symphony Begins Season with “The Three Bs” by Jerry Franklin

A Sneak Preview of Jamestown’s 400th Anniversary Celebration by Joyce Wilburn Voices from Danville’s Past: A Historical Halloween Tour

Averett Teaches Success by Emily Cropp

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Does God ever speak to you? I’ve often thought that life would be a lot easier if God would just write whatever He wants us to know on the wall, like He did for that king in the Old Testament. Or maybe He could just speak to us in a nice loud and clear voice like He did in the story of Jesus’ baptism in the New Testament. I’d be happy to do whatever God asks of me, if I only knew for sure what that was. But as I reflect on that thought, it occurs to me that God really HAS spoken to me before—not in that loud, thunderous voice— but in that “still, small voice” the Bible talks about. The most recent incident happened just a year or two ago. I had run an errand on North Main Street and was headed back home, where my teenaged daughter was waiting impatiently for me. I noticed an elderly woman walking along the sidewalk in the opposite direction. She was using a cane and carrying several plastic bags full of groceries, plus a 24-pack of soft drinks. It seemed to be all she could do to keep her balance. And to make matters worse, a light rain had begun to fall. I couldn’t help but feel compassion for the woman and

October 2006

by Kathryn Davis wish she had someone to help her. I even sent up one of those quick prayers and asked God to send her someone to drive her home. I barely had time to feel good about my own piety when God sent back His reply. He said to me, in a voice that was as clear inside my head as if He had actually spoken audibly, “I did send someone. I sent you!” I had to smile. I knew the voice was right. I was the only one who had seen the problem, and I had the means to do something about it. It might be a long time before someone else even noticed the woman, and she could have gotten very wet by then, even caught a cold. So I turned my car around and headed back to her. She had stopped in a parking lot, not far from where I had first seen her, to wait for a bus. I

Deadline for submission of November stories, articles, ads, and calendar items is 5pm on Wednesday, Oct. 20th.

Mutt Strut 2006 by Paulette Dean

Outside the Box by Kathleen O’Hare

Be An Institute Ambassador by Curtis Callaway Lights On After School by Jo Verostko

Lasting Thoughts by Larry Aaron

On The Cover:

The people pictured on the front cover represent a small fraction of EVINCE’s faithful advertisers. As EVINCE celebrates its 10th anniversary and looks forward to a bright future, we thank those who have made this free monthly publication possible. Working together, we will continue to bring all the positive news to the people. Thank you! Top row: Carol & Charles Ellis (Danville Symphony), Sammy Saunders (Harris, Harvey, Neal)Jimmy Bolton (Simpson Realty) 2nd row: Shannon Harvey (Compson Studios), John Gardner (VIR), Jerry Amburn (Amburn & Co.) Stacey Tuggle (Nails by Stacey) Clint Stringer (Belmont) 3rd row: John Holt (John Holt & Co. Chimney Sweeps,) Shawn Jones (Danville Museum), Sammy Thomas (Superior Heating and Cooling), Charlie Adams (Belmont) 4th row: Donna Helton, DDS, Pat Jarrett (Danville IHOP), Karen Gasser (Tank Museum) Lynn Bjarnesen (Danville Museum) Banner row: Sandy Marshall (VIR), Sarah Graves(Halifax Little Theatre), Arlene McDowell (Arts & Humanities), Kenneth Bond (Averett U)

Photo was taken on the steps of the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History by Bobby Carlsen. Visit www.bobbycarlsen.com.

pulled up beside her and asked if she’d like a ride home. Her expression showed surprise, relief, and gratitude as she accepted my offer. It turned out that the woman only lived about ten blocks away from the bus stop, and in the same direction I had been traveling earlier. I not only made it home to my daughter on time, but I had the rare pleasure of actually doing what I knew God was asking of me. Has God ever spoken to you? I’ll bet if you keep your eyes and ears open to His opportunities, it won’t be long before you too hear that “still, small voice.”

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, Curtis Callaway, Kim Clifton, Kirk Compton, Emily Cropp, Kathryn Davis, Paulette Dean, Jerry Franklin, Emyl Jenkins, Kathleen O’Hare, Liz Sater, Jo Verostko, Joyce Wilburn, Annelle Williams,

Averett Intern Russell Carter

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

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.

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Journey of Love

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While helping his father to manage the business, he also went back to school to get a master’s degree from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. There is statistically only a 13% chance that a third generation will continue a family business successfully, so Ben wanted to have every tool available to ensure the continued progress of Rippe’s. By the 1980s, the business was being recruited by several new shopping venues in the community, but again Rippe’s chose to remain downtown. In spite of the fact that many of the larger downtown businesses were relocating, Rippe’s would continue to concentrate on marketing their store as a destination with unique, quality merchandise and excellent customer service. While Rippe’s continued to thrive, the downtown district was still in a downward spiral. In1999 Ben joined some other concerned businessmen and became a charter member of Downtown Danville Association. They petitioned for Virginia Main Street status and won that designation in June 2000, hoping to use the Four Point program to turn the urban economy around. Since that time, there has been remarkable progress in downtown revitalization. Ben has rotated off the board of directors of DDA, but his commitment to downtown is clear. He recently bought the building adjacent to his current location and is expanding his shoe department into its own location. Renovations are almost complete and Rippe’s Shoes is scheduled to open in November. It is with a great deal of admiration and respect that we honor the Rippe family this October for the remarkable achievement of 100 years of fashion in downtown Danville. We owe a debt of gratitude to entrepreneurs like the Rippes, who have taken risks and made the investment in downtown throughout the years. Those like the Rippes who believed in the heart of the city and recognized the value of that authentic community, and who dedicated their careers to providing the people of Danville and the surrounding market area with quality, service, and integrity, deserve our accolades. Clearly, it has not been an easy road. No business can last as long as Rippe’s without constant attention to trends in the industry and viable adjustments to accommodate those changes. Benjamin and Annie would be proud that what started as their dream in 1907 has become a respected and venerated institution in our community. All the Rippes should take pride in that.

A Sundog Moment ��

Visit a Real Bookstore!

Chatham Books 10 North Main St. • Chatham, VA 24531

Executive Director of Downtown Danville Association Like so many newlyweds, Benjamin and Annie Rippe had a dream. They wanted to open a women’s clothing business. He was a native New Yorker and she was the daughter of a merchant from Hillsborough, North Carolina. They recognized that Danville, as the home of the largest tobacco market in the world and a growing textile industry, was a thriving prosperous community. So, in 1907, Benjamin and Annie opened their lady’s shop in the bustling tobacco warehouse district. Business was brisk from the start with sales of shirtwaists, floor-length skirts, button-up shoes, petticoats, corsets and the all important fashion accessory, “The Hat”, which sold for up to $200 even then. They also sold piece goods, lace, buttons, and trim for home sewing. Before long, many of the successful retail businesses in the warehouse district began to migrate to “Uptown” Main Street and Rippe’s relocated. With their move to Main Street, there also ensued an adjustment to their inventory to accommodate a more affluent customer. The piece goods division was dropped and more emphasis was put on ready-to-wear. Over the years, as Rippe’s passed into the hands of a second generation, the business continued to adjust to the changes in the community. After World War II, when young Murray took over the business for his mother, Annie, the styles and economic conditions of the day were changing. The local economy was still vibrant as the tobacco and textile industries flourished, but downtown Danville was changing. The population was becoming more mobile. No longer confined to the central business district, the boys coming home from the war were buying automobiles and moving their families to modern new homes in the suburbs. The most vibrant downtown businesses followed their customers and relocated to suburban strip centers throughout town. Downtown was beginning to decline. Rippe’s, however, by continuing to adjust their inventory and upgrade their customer services, maintained their status as a destination establishment and stayed downtown. They bought their own building in 1947 and then enlarged the store in 1965 when an adjacent property became available. In the late 1970s, Murray brought his son Ben into the business. An outdoorsman with a degree in agronomy, Ben had envisioned a career managing farms in northern Virginia. But, when his father asked him to join the business, Ben felt it was what he was supposed to do.

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www.ChathamBooks.us

434•432•2488

Books • Journals • Stationery Store Hours: M-F 10-5 • Sat 10-3

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100th Anniversary Sale Now

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100 years of fashion

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October 2006

Chatham Books:

A Real Bookstore

DCA

There are bookstores and then there are bookstores. Just as you can’t judge a book by its cover, you can’t judge a bookstore by its bookshelves. Places like Borders and Barnes and Noble are cavernous book warehouses, overwhelming with choices, and dotted with clerks whose book knowledge is often limited to the scan tag on the cover. Those bookstores have their place, but Chatham Books---now there’s a real bookstore. Sandwiched between other stores in downtown Chatham, Virginia, the building is taller than it is wide, with its arching brick columns and sculpted look, a reminder of the 1878 bank that started there. The huge walkin vault inside once housed many valuables. Not much has changed---for Chatham Books is a treasure chest, not only of classic books, but those that are unusual or extraordinarily interesting--including a host of books by local and regional authors. The décor is inviting, with a couch and coffee table, or a table and chair for reading. Buddy, the resident but aged German Shepherd, may lie at your feet in silent repose, harmless and as much a part of the bookstore as his owner Bill Hewitt. Behind the counter or out in the bookviewing area, Bill is at home with his customers, greeting them with a smile that would make a Happy Face envious. His unhurried conversation coupled with his patiently helpful nature make you feel right at home. It’s like your good karma has kicked in when you meet Bill. And if you can’t find a copy of something and you wonder where in the universe it is, Bill gets on the computer and locates one. Besides being the Sherlock Holmes of hard-to-find books, Bill works with owner Rick Dixon like a hand-and-glove team. Rick selects many of the more esoteric books while Bill keeps up with best sellers. Having a great variety of books is key in a small bookstore and they make it happen. But that’s only part of the story. From the start, Rick Dixon’s goal was to “offer true readers what they are looking for: a small intimate bookstore in which to browse, pause and refresh, and occasionally buy

photo by Larry G. Aaron

by Larry G. Aaron

Rick Dixon a book." His accomplishment now complements his vision for Chatham Books to be “the literary capital of Pittsylvania County--not necessarily to make money, but to serve a need---to bring authors to the community and give local writers opportunity." Rick’s congenial and spoton insightful way comes naturally. He’s a teacher, formerly at Chatham Hall and now at Episcopal High School in Alexandria. His own love affair with books began in childhood. "I always had books and enjoyed them. I also spent lots of time in bookstores when I was a kid." To Rick, books are primarily what Chatham Books is about— not CDs and DVD movies—and it makes no pretense about being a glorified magazine store. Reflecting on why people still prefer books with so much information available on Internet and television, he responds, "Because you can take books anywhere. Reading a book is a quiet, meditative process where you can relax and pull yourself back. It’s more than just reading; it’s a recreating activity. There’s just something about a book that refreshes you." Now in its fourth year, Chatham Books is gaining in popularity. State Senator Charles Hawkins, Delegate Robert Hurt, 22nd General District Court Judge George Jones, and a host of other local officials, townspeople and folks from around the area drop in on a regular basis. Even U.S. Senator George Allen stopped by once. And recently Chatham Books

was featured on the national CBS evening news. When a rare1812 Bible was found at a dumpster site in the county, Rick Dixon was interviewed about it. A woman in Florida heard it on TV and called the bookstore to inquire. There has been an array of wellknown writers who have come for book signings at Chatham Books with collaborative book readings and discussions in the evening at Shadetree Rare Books down the street, owned by Henry Hurt, Chatham native and former Reader’s Digest editor. Among the guests: Dean King, author of Skeletons in the Zahara; Charles Pickering, a Bush nominee for the federal appeals court, whose book Supreme Chaos: The Politics of Judicial Confirmation and the Culture War examines the heated battle in the U.S. Senate where a Democratic filibuster denied his appointment; Kelly Cherry, a nationally known writer who has garnered numerous writing awards; Evans Hopkins, local writer and former Black Panther sentenced to death but later pardoned, who wrote Life After Life; and who else but Claudia Emerson, a Chatham native awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in poetry for her book Late Wife. And the list goes on. Rick stresses that the authors are not disappointed even if a smaller than expected crowd shows up at the evening readings and discussion. The level of interaction and questions to the authors are on a level higher than they expect from a small community. So, you see, Chatham Books is more than a bookstore. Maybe a book oasis in a media jungle, or better yet, a cozy place to find a good book to curl up with on a lazy autumn afternoon or on a frosty winter morn when a host of clouds keeps the covers on the daylight. It’s a great place to be...even if you don’t buy a book. But with so many treasures at hand, chances are, you will. Author book signings and readings/ discussion occur on the same day at Chatham Books from 4:30pm-6 pm and Shadetree Rare Books from 7pm-8 pm. On Saturday, October 7, 11 am-1 pm at Chatham Books only, Anita Coles discusses her first novel Journey of Love. On Thursday, October 19, Susan Baldacci, sister of bestselling writer David Baldacci, discusses her first novel about a woman’s journey with multiple sclerosis in A Sundog Moment. For more information, visit www.ChathamBooks.us or call 434.432.2488.

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Calgon Take Me Away Last month I wrote about pedicures. But when it comes to real soaking, I was only getting my feet wet. It takes more than rubber ducks to make bath time fun these days. Relax…this isn’t what you think. The only man with me is Mr. Bubble. In the olden days, bathing was only about hygiene. Not anymore. Ma and Pa Kettle would never understand a tub with jets. And a quick visit to Bath and Body Works proves we’re long past Granny’s Clampett’s lye soap. Scented oils and wicks don’t hold a candle to my latest scheme to save my sanity…although most agree that only a crazy woman would have such a notion. I’ve installed cable TV in my bathroom. Let’s face it…when a day stinks more than I do… nothing beats a long, hot bath. Johnny Carson wasn’t intended to be watched in a Johnny house, so redesigning this room was tricky. It wasn’t drilling holes in the floor that upset me. It wasn’t running cables along the baseboard that bothered me. It

wasn’t finding a TV to fit on the let Robert recklessly wash a load vanity that concerned me. of clothes or a sink full of dishes It was worrying that the set, not and I’m left to teeter in a tepid the shows, would shock me. The tub…deciding whether to wait for last thing I wanted was to power things to heat up or just throw in myself off when I turned the the towel. machine on. So, in the absence Only Goldilocks would of safety scuffs, I searched for a understand my search for the shield to place under the TV. perfect TV. The first one was too I thought about mats. I thought small and I couldn’t see the screen. about towels. I thought about The second one was too big and I trays. I thought I hit the jackpot couldn’t change the channel. when I read that Teflon was the The third one was actually a greatest insulator. My husband little small but I still declared disagreed and insisted I put the it just right…mainly because frying pan back on the stove where it had a working remote and it belongs. a wider range of stations. I Making a stand for my TV had learned my lesson after was only part of the challenge. the second set stuck me with a Climate control was the other. show called Celebrity Duets. Also While I have no problem with known as an hour of my life I sitcom relationships running can never get back. hot and cold, I don’t want my Celebrity Duets features water tank to do the same. But contestants like the Waffle General Assembly Chorus

House waitress who teamed up with Michael Bolton. Primetime has never missed a greater opportunity. I didn’t want to hear her sing. I’d rather have seen him serve flapjacks to truckers. Of course, having a channel flipper comes with baggage. Mine does anyway. When I realized these things don’t float, I discovered that Ziploc baggies aren’t just for sandwiches. Sure wish I could afford one of those waterproof deals that Aquavision is selling. Those people sell shower TVs and splash-proof remotes…the epitome of mixing soap with your soaps. Friends can’t decide if I’m the cleanest person they know, or the dirtiest. It makes no difference, really. I just know that if I get in hot water at work, I’ll need to get in some at home.

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From crêpes and pain au chocolat to haute cuisine comprised of mysterious animal parts paired with delicate sauces, it’s hard to find delicious French fare in southwest Virginia. It’s even difficult in Paris. France doesn’t easily reveal her famous cuisine to the traveling tourist. When my sister decided to celebrate her half-century mark in Paris, it gave us an opportunity to perfect the search. Our quest began with a current copy of Paris Zagat which reviews hundreds of possible food destinations. There are brasseries, bistros, rôtisseries, and cafés to explore, not to mention all the elite restaurants vying for culinary notoriety. We hoped to dine with a few stars—Michelin stars that is. So the next obstacle after making our restaurant choices was to navigate the language barrier and secure reservations. My best high school French worked just well enough for the multilingual French reservationist to ask if I possibly spoke English. Language isn’t much of a barrier anymore. Our birthday celebration began with a luncheon at the Ladurée Tea Salon on rue Royale. This is one of the oldest tearooms in Paris and specializes in beautiful pastries and savory delights along with a lovely tea service and luncheon menu. The evening meal was perhaps the most exquisite of the week if you consider both the location and the cuisine. Le Jules Verne is located on the second level of the Eiffel Tower. Our meal was spectacular and by the time dessert arrived, we had a breathtaking view of the lights of Paris. After several days of delving into the most exciting French cuisine we could find, we took a break and went to Fellini’s, an Italian restaurant about a block from the Louvre. It turned out to be one of our best choices, with excellent food and a friendly and relaxed, but still chic atmosphere. And even though Fellini’s doesn’t sport a Michelin star, Don Johnson and friends sat at the table next to us. What better way to enjoy a little wonderful Italian ambiance right in the middle of Paris. I have three tips to ensure delicious dining while visiting Paris: use Zagat or a similar dining guide to help you make your choices; make reservations well in advance; and take along plenty of Euros. Meanwhile, here is a recipe I have recreated since our recent trip. Bon Appétit!

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War Bonds: The Songs and Letters ofby Larry World War II G. Aaron

Around the table

Destination: Paris by Annelle Williams

Salade niçoise à la mode parisienne

(We had this salad at two small cafés for lunch, and they both served the salad with rice rather than the sliced potatoes, but I really prefer the potatoes.) 4 cups mixed baby salad greens 2 handfuls of whole fresh green beans, parboiled in salted water for 10 minutes 6 red potatoes, washed and boiled in salted water until fork tender about 12 minutes 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 T fresh lemon thyme, minced 2 (6 oz.) cans tuna in olive oil, drained 1 (2 oz.) can of rolled anchovies in olive oil 1 cup olives niçoise 1 cup sweet cherry tomatoes, halved 12 rings of thinly sliced and separated red onion 1 T fresh lemon thyme, minced 6 lemon wedges Whisk the olive oil, salt, pepper, minced garlic and one tablespoon of minced lemon thyme together into a dressing. After beans are parboiled and drained, add half the dressing and the beans to a zip-lock bag and toss to coat. Set aside while making the remainder of the salad. Peel the boiled cooled potatoes, slice into 1/4 inch rounds and place into another zip- lock bag with the remainder of the dressing. Toss to coat potatoes and set aside. (You can prepare the beans and potatoes in the dressing several hours before serving and store in the refrigerator.) Arrange the greens around the outside of a large serving platter. Cut the boiled eggs into quarter wedges and arrange evenly on the greens. Top evenly with anchovies, olives, tomatoes, and onion. Then evenly distribute the beans and potatoes over the salad, including any dressing remaining in the bags. Fill the center of the platter with the drained tuna. Sprinkle the remaining thyme over the salad and serve with lemon wedges.

Some musicals are pure entertainment, others may have a political message, but War Bonds, to be performed October 19 and 20 at The Prizery in South Boston, Virginia, is something entirely different. While entertaining, it is also fond memories, a sentimental journey, and a reminder of how individuals and a nation faced the incredible difficulties and challenges of World War II. Serena Ebhardt with her husband, David Brunnen, both accomplished theatrical performers, formed a production company to develop such works that promote integrity, self-discovery, and positive transformation of individuals. David relates that War Bonds, while not politically oriented, if it makes any statement at all, serves to show how "war affects relationships—personal and political—no matter what the outcome. What we’re trying to say is that the beauty of the human spirit always prevails." To which Serena adds, "War Bonds is a cabaret performance arranged out of letters and interviews with World War II veterans, with the letters interspersed with popular music from the period. It’s a historical and musical journey through a war that redefined the world." The audience reaction to War Bonds has been phenomenal. "The wonderful stories we hear from audience members after a performance equal the performance itself. We are humbled to be conduits for such an outpouring of memories, reflection and acknowledgment,” continues Serena. “People have submitted their parents’ letters to be used in the production and related their own individual stories. People tell us that they remember the events that we talk about---they knew where they were and who was with them." Music Director Julie Florin has recreated a nostalgic score of familiar tunes. Twenty-two songs of the period lift the mood---even as the atrocities of war are described. Oldtimers will sing along and shed a few tears as time goes by. Younger audience members will enjoy a lesson in history. War Bonds is a journey into a time when blackouts and rationing were a small sacrifice in order to obtain freedom. It was a time when Rosie the Riveter discovered she could take care of herself, a time when AfricanAmericans who were held down at home by Jim Crow became war heroes overseas, and when a man’s only wish was to be home for Christmas. Both performances at The Prizery are at 8 pm on October 19 and 20. All seats are $20. Tickets may be obtained at Triangle Florist in Halifax and The Prizery. Phone 434.572.8339, email prizery@pure.net, or visit www.prizery.com for more information. All proceeds will benefit the Crossing of the Dan Exhibit currently being developed at The Prizery by the Halifax County Historical Society.

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Amazing Feats of Aging and Eyes on Earth by Joyce Wilburn

Depending on your generation, the Danville Science Center has an exhibit that will either amuse, scare, or send you running to the store for some anti-aging cream. The current exhibit, Amazing Feats of Aging, uses computer wizardry to record your face, age, and gender and then add 25 years to your features—right before your very eyes. Once visitors are over the shock of a new temporary appearance, they can participate in multiple activities to learn more about the aging process, such as: playing a foosball-type game that simulates activity inside a cell; stretching and comparing collagen fibers to discover the connection between collagen cross-linking and aging; and watching Nickelodeon-style movies to learn the secrets of how to lessen the affects of aging. There is even an opportunity to design a stimulating, brainhealthy home for a rat by filling it with things that enhance the rat’s brain function. Young participants

can match different animals to information about what makes their aging unusual, watch a story about how young banded mongooses take care of the older ones, stage a puppet show, and create a longevity parade based on life expectancy. Fortunately, learning doesn’t stop at a magic age. In fact, the brain has four times more information at age 60 than it does at 20. All ages can discover how exercise, novel challenges and social experiences enrich the brain and then scan brain images to see how a healthy brain changes over time.

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Danville Science Center Director Jeff Liverman thinks this exhibit joined with another current display, Eyes on Earth, work handin-hand: “It’s enlightening and a little frightening to see what your face might look like in 25 years,” he admits. “This fall we combine the opportunity to learn about aging with the big picture of Earth as seen by satellites in orbit. These two exhibitions challenge your brain - which is good for healthy aging.” The Eyes on Earth exhibit allows viewers to see the planet from a satellite. They can also design a satellite and learn how imaging cameras, solar panels, infrared heat sensors, communications transmitters, magnetometers, and radar distancing sensors work. At the mission kiosk, visitors can watch videos from the Earth

Page 7 Observing System satellites, see holes in Earth’s ozone layer, and examine images of urban growth. Or if weather is of interest, the curious can learn how an extensive system of satellites helps track and predict weather. These two exhibits provide generous portions of food for thought—an important anti-aging ploy for all generations. Amazing Feats of Aging and Eyes on Earth runs through January 2. Both exhibits are included with Danville Science Center admission. Tickets are $4 for children ages 4-12 and seniors over age 60. Adults are $5. The Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead Street, is open Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5 pm and Sunday1pm-5 pm. For more information, call 434. 791.5160, or visit www.dsc.smv.org.

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Lunch With a Good Book

Halloween for the Arts 2006 by Kirk Compton

by Joyce Wilburn

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Pack a bag lunch on Tuesdays in October and join others at the Danville Public Library for a quick book review sponsored by the YWCA and the Library. Arrive by noon in the upstairs room at the Library and enjoy the drink and dessert they provide to accompany your mid-day meal. After 30 minutes of eating and socializing, sit back and listen to knowledgeable, entertaining presenters. October 3: The Late Wife by Claudia Emerson: This book of poetry by a native of Chatham, Virginia, won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize. In The Late Wife Emerson addresses her former husband and her new husband in a series of epistolary wherein she explores her disappearance from one life and her reappearance into another. Reviewed by Dr. Betty Steele, retired Averett University professor. October 10: Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City by Jed Horne: The Pulitzer-Prize-winning editor of The Times Picayune has a front row seat to the unfolding drama of the city’s collapse and struggle. Reviewed by Bruce Wilson, Pastor of West Main Baptist Church October 17: The Places In Between by Rory Stewart: The author’s first book recounts his journey on foot across Afghanistan in January 2002 through territory held by the Taliban. Reviewed by Bonnie Ross Cooper, former editor of the Danville Register & Bee. October 24: Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War by Nathaniel Philbrick: This National Book Award author presents "history as it should be written" (Richmond Times Dispatch). Reviewed by Gary Grant, historian and author of Victorian Danville. October 31: Black Swan Green by David Mitchell: The author depicts a single year in the life of a 13-year-old boy. This semiautobiographical coming-ofage story is told in a brilliant, authentic, adolescent voice. Reviewed by Dr. Ann Garbett, Averett University English professor. The Danville Public Library is located at 511 Patton Street. A $5 donation is suggested. Call 434.792.1522 for reservations by noon on Monday before the review.

October 2006

Camelot! A & H Opens Its New Season by Russell Carter

Danville may not have a Central Park, a Times Square, or a Tiffany’s, but on October 5th Danville will have a Broadway play when the Danville Area Association for the Arts and Humanities presents Camelot, the popular Lerner and Loewe Broadway musical. "This is what we call a busand-truck tour," says Perry Hanson, company manager for the tour. "The cast leaves after a performance on a bus to another city where they find a hotel and sleep for the night. The crew takes down the set, loads it onto a truck, and heads out to another location." The cast and crew work together for nine months each time in a different city. The flavor of New York taken from town to town on the wheels of a bus presents a rare opportunity to experience what Broadway regulars experience quite easily. The evening will be filled with an array of lavish costumes, exquisite scenery, and memorable songs. Based on T.H. White’s Once and Future King, Camelot focuses on the later years of King Arthur’s life, and the love triangle between Arthur, Lancelot, and Guenevere. Camelot begins as King Arthur is preparing to meet Guenevere for their arranged marriage. Although Guenevere protests to such an arrangement, they soon fall in love and wed. From there, the familiar story of the two lovers, a round table, a best friend, and unbridled, but forbidden love is told. "This is a very well known story," said Hanson. "We tell it through singing, dancing, and acting." The 2 1⁄2 hour performance with a cast of 21 is produced by two theatrical companies, Mainstage and Candlewood. Camelot will be presented in the George Washington High School auditorium on Thursday, October 5th, at 7:30 pm. For more information call 434.792.6965, visit the A & H office at 435 Main Street in Danville, or www.mainstage-mgmt.com.

Leaves crunching underfoot sound like brittle bones rubbing together. Could those naked branches swaying in the night be hands reaching towards the sky for help? And on the wind blowing past your ear, you almost hear the cries of a spirit trapped between this world and the next. Did a shiver run up your spine? Did you look over your shoulder to make sure no one is there? Well you should have.... Scary things from all over Halifax County are convening for a fright-filled night on Sunday, October 29. The Second Annual Halloween for the Arts, a fundraiser to benefit Halifax County Little Theatre, will be hosted by award-winning restaurant Bistro 1888 and creepily performed by Halifax County Little Theatre actors. The fiendish festivities will commence at 4 pm at Bob Cage’s spooky sculpture farm located just off Route 360 in South Boston. After enjoying eye-popping cuisine prepared lakeside by Margaret Moorefield, Bistro 1888’s renowned chef, attendees will enjoy a trip along an unforgettable haunted trail. Several cash bars will be available. Those truly in the spirit can compete in the costume contest. Now’s the time to assemble your most impressive Halloween ensemble, unlock your favorite monsters to mash with, and bring them all to this charitable event. Tickets are $45 per person, which includes dozens of tasty treats , a hair-raising walking trail complete with everything ghoulish from A to Z, and more than a few things that go bump in the night-plus music, dancing, and surprise performances. If that weren’t enough, a raffle offering out-ofthis-world prizes will send your spirits soaring. Make plans to while away the witching hour with demons, goblins, and warlocks by participating in this benefit for Halifax County Little Theatre. For more information call Bistro1888 at 434.572.1888.

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Sharon Baldacci’s Sundog Moment: A Profile in Courage by Emyl Jenkins

Only by chance did I notice the cane propped beside Sharon Baldacci’s chair, and when I did, I assumed it had been left behind by someone sitting there before her. I had been busy admiring Sharon Baldacci—her sparkling eyes, her effervescent smile, her lovely voice. I had heard that she was wonderful; now, I was going to meet her. But someone, obviously an old friend, rushed up before me. When Sharon saw her, her face lit up even more. She threw her hands up in the air and rose to hug her. Sharon also reached for her cane to steady herself. You see, Sharon Baldacci has MS. Rather than being defeated by this crippling disease though, Sharon Baldacci has used her experiences to showcase her talents and in doing so we are the richer for it. In the early 1980s when the doctors hinted at what might be Sharon Baldacci’s future, she didn’t believe them. But knowing she was facing a life battling a disease that could have unexpected twists and turns—it could go into remission, perhaps forever, or it could reappear— Sharon became fascinated with how ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances. How did they keep from becoming beaten down? How did they rise above life-changing circumstances? How could they keep smiling? Some seemed to even find greater enjoyment in life than they had had before their own personal disasters struck. How was that possible? Sharon learned the answer on a day when she met a woman she describes as “a beautiful, older woman with MS who used two canes and walked like a queen.” That very same day Sharon, who has once entertained the notion of going into the theater as a profession, went to a Barksdale Theater production of Red, Hot and Cole. Sitting in the audience, watching the performance, Sharon was hit with the realization that she could no longer mount the steps to the stage. But rather than feel sorry for herself, Sharon “…went home and wrote a fiftypage play that eventually would become my novel, A Sundog Moment, A Novel of Hope.”

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In this inspired and inspiring book which has won her untold numbers of fans and admirers, Sharon Baldacci writes from her heart and from her experiences. Like Sharon, the book’s protagonist Elizabeth (who also has MS) never shies away from the struggles that come her way as a result of her illness. She has struggles with her faith. She struggles over making the right medical decisions. And she faces, head-on, struggles that come when other people, including family members and friends, learn about her illness. Running throughout A Sundog Moment is the same nagging question Sharon herself had to face: How do you handle life when you have been forever changed. The answer? You find a sundog moment. Science has named that moment when cirrus clouds are close to the sun and beautiful bright lights—even small rainbows—magically appear, a “sundog.” And, science tells us, when a sundog moment occurs, it’s a sure thing the weather will change within 48 hours. To Sharon Baldacci, a sundog moment is “a tangible moment of hope, where circumstances you have no control over suddenly tie together with precision, creating a moment of such clarity that it gives you chills.” It is those sundog moments that Sharon Baldacci will discuss when she comes to Chatham Books on October 19 from 4:30-6:00 pm and at Shadetree Rare Books from 7-8 pm. Her event is not to be missed, for through adversity Sharon Baldacci brings poignance to the expression, grace under fire. We can all learn from this lady who uses a cane and walks like a queen. For more information see p. 4 or visit http://www.hachettebookgroup usa.com/authors/58/2929/critical_ praise.html

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

October Through October 5

No Boundaries: Contemporary Basketry Exhibit. Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History - 434.793.5644.

Through October 27

What’s THAT? Thinking in 3D Exhibit. Hooker Garrett Gallery. Piedmont Arts Association - 276.632.3221.

Through January 1

Danville Science Center Exhibits - Koplen’s View - Experience a dozen radiant photographs by local artist and businessman Barry Koplen. Amazing Feats of Aging Danville Science Center – See page 7.

October 1

Bailey’s 300 NASCAR Late Model Stock Race. Martinsville Speedway - 1.877.722.3849. Sunday Sampler - QiGong, Tai Chi Yin (animal characters), yoga, meditation. Beginner friendly. 2-4 pm. Danville Yoga and Meditation Center - 434.822.0007. Averett Women’s Soccer vs. Shenandoah. 3 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600.

October 1 (thru 31)

SBHCM Exhibit - Communications. South Boston-Halifax County Museum - 434.572.9200. Kirby Gallery Exhibit - William Moseley - Realistic, impressionist style inspired by landscape scenery of VA, NC and Fl. Kirby Gallery. Person County Arts Council, Roxboro, NC - 336.597.1709.

October 2 (thru 4)

Hunter Safety Education Class. Age 12+. 6:30-10 pm. Outdoor Rec - 434.799.5215.

October 2 (thru 30)

Boogie Mondays - Learn samba each Monday night. 7-8:30 pm. Ballou Center. 434.799.5216.

October 3 (thru 24)

Meditation/Relaxation Series - Gentle stretching, meditation, and relaxation. Tuesdays, 7:15-8:15 pm. Danville Yoga and Meditation Center - 434.822.0007.

October 3 (thru 26)

Beginning Swimming I. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:30-4:30 pm. YMCA. 434.799.5215.

October 3

Averett Men’s Soccer vs. N.C. Wesleyan 4 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600.

October 5

Educator Open House - Check out the latest offerings and exhibits and enjoy light refreshments. 3:30 - 5:30 pm Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160. Camelot – See p 8.

October 5 (thru 26)

Calligraphy Class. Thursdays 1-2:30 or 7-8:30 pm. Ballou Center. 434.799.5216.

October 6

Cajun Ocktober Fest - Cajun dinner and show w/ Mel Melton and his zydeco band. Yancey House Restaurant - 336.694.4225. An Evening of Broadway See p.17. The Dan River Follies - A musical comedy extravaganza. 7:30 pm. Mt Hermon Courtyard. 434.432.2124.

October 6 & 7

Averett Volleyball - 10/6 vs. Queens College 5:30 pm and Washington & Lee 7:30 pm. 10/7 vs. RandolphMacon 12 pm, and Meredith College 2 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600.

October 6 (thru 8)

Grand-Am Cup 12-Hour Enduro. 8:30 am. VIR - 434.822.7700.

October 7

Callands Autumn Potpourri Festival - A glimpse into the past. Crafts and working craftsmen dressed in period attire, country music, hand-made fried pies and longhunters with their black powder rifles camped under great oak trees. Pre-Revolutionary buildings bustle with activity. 10 am-4 pm. Callands, VA. 434.836.6990. Discover Averett Day - Open House 9 am. Averett University 434.791.5600. Harvest Day - Live music, chef of the month, artist demonstration, shopping, more! 9 am. Uptown Martinsville Farmers’ Market. 276.632.5688. Master Voice Class. See p.17. Book Signing by Anita Coles. See p.3.

October 2006 OCTOBER 2006 S 1 8 15 22 29

M 2 9 16 23 30

T 3 10 17 24 31

Master Voice Class. See p.17. Water, Water Everywhere - Explore life on the Dan River, make a “water snooper” to see under water and find out if there is a difference between salt and fresh water. 10 am-12 pm. Danville Science Center 434.791.5160. Vegas Night - Games (6:30 pm) & dancing (7:30-10:30 pm). Door prizes. Ballou Center. 434.799.5216.

& Traveler’s Tavern, Clarksville 434.374.2866. Pirates of Penzance. See p.17. Man of Constant Sorrow: The Story of the Stanley Brothers - bluegrass musical. Caswell County Civic Center - 336.694.4591. Barbecue Dinner. Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary Dan River Post 1097. Robert Rossman egor1@adelphia.net.

The Sam Bush Band - Acoustic music. 7:30 pm. Martinsville Auditorium. Piedmont Arts Association - 276.632.3221.

Sterling Classic Car Auction - Classics, muscle cars, exotics & antiques. VIR. Sterling 1.800.666.8086. Voices from Danville’s Past: A Historical Halloween Tour See p.15.

October 8

October 9

Mariachi Band. 6:30-9:30 pm. Los Tres Magueyes 434.792.0601. Mushroom Musings - Learn about and see images of local mushrooms and fungi. 7 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

October 10

Lunch w/a Good Book – See p.8. October 11Health Fair. 10 am-2 pm. Ballou Center. 434.799.5216. Polliwogs & Science Stars Experience the changing of the seasons with a fall story, a hike to collect signs of fall, and by making a colorful leaf craft. Ages 3-4 1-2 pm; Ages 5-6 3:45-4:45 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

October 12

Southside Show-Biz - A trade show for businesses serving the Danville and Pittsylvania County area. Open to the public. 11 am–4 pm. Institute for Advanced Learning & Research. DPCCC - 434.836.6990. Lights on After School. See page 18. Averett Men’s Soccer vs. LaGrange. 4 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600.

October 13

Fridays at the Crossing - featuring Souled Out. 6-9 pm. Crossing at the Dan - 434.793.4636. The Dan River Follies (See 10/6) Octoberfest - Featuring music by Alpenlander. Cooper’s Landing Inn

October 13 & 14

October 14

Tour de Habitat - Charity Bike Ride. 7:30 am. Pepsi Building. Outdoor Rec & Habitat for Humanity. 434.793.3630. Wintergreen Fall Foliage Festival - Guided hikes, family activities, food and hand-made crafts. 8 am-6:30 pm. Outdoor Rec - 434.799.5215. Lake Hyco Cyclysm - 25, 50 & 75K. Huck Sansbury Park, Roxboro, NC. www.pcunitedway.org. Mutt Strut See p.16. What’s That? Sculpture Family Day - Food, crafts and fun for the whole family! 2-4 pm. Piedmont Arts Association - 276.632.3221.

October 15

Butterfly Goodbye - It is time to bid farewell to our fluttering friends. Decorate a bag for collecting garden seeds, explore the beauty and the science of butterflies and create a paper butterfly and caterpillar to take home. 1-4 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160. Averett Men’s Soccer vs. WarrenWilson. 2 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600. From Baroque to Broadway. 3 pm. Chastain Theatre, The Prizery, South Boston - 434.572.8339.

October 17

Lunch w/a Good Book – See p.8. Lobster Fest. 5:30 pm. Martinsville Armory. Martinsville Rotary Club - 276.403.5435.

October 17 (thru 26)

Watercolor Basics Workshop. 4 day workshop continues 10/19, 24 & 26. 6-8:30 p.m. Piedmont Arts Association - 276.632.3221.

Lunch w/a Good Book – See p.8. Ethos Percussion Group - Discover the incredibly diverse world of percussion music. 8 pm. Chastain Theatre, The Prizery, South Boston - 434.572.8339.

October 18

Club Zoom - Study shapes and patterns to solve problems. Ages 7-11. 3:45-4:45 pm Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

October 19

October 4

W T F S 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 28

Club Zoom - Explore weird science with a series of “Zoom Phenomena” activities. Ages 7-11. 3:45-4:45 pm Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160. Averett Volleyball vs. Methodist. 7 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600. Information Security 101 - Common sense computer security strategies. 10 am. Institute for Advanced

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Learning & Research. Kitty Heffington - 757.594.7092. Senior Citizen Lunch & Learn - Why EIT and TWM Cabling chose to locate in the Cyber Park. Open forum. Institute for Advanced Learning & Research. 434.766.6745. Book Signing by Susan Baldacci – See p.9. Sky Watchers. Begins at dark, weather permitting. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

Averett Volleyball vs. Ferrum. 7 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600.

War Bonds – See p.6.

Outdoor Photography Hike - Hanging Rock State Park in NC. 8 am-5 pm. Outdoor Rec - 434.799.5215. NC Rugby Association State Tournament. 9 am. Anglers Park. www.visitdanville.com. Fall Fest - Come see the many exhibits and activities. 10 am-4 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160. Averett’s Men Soccer vs. Shenandoah. 12 pm. Women’s Soccer vs. Hood. 2 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600. NASCAR Late Model Stock 300 - Sprint-race format. South Boston Speedway - 434.572.4947. Soundcheck - Open Mic Night for Teens (grades 9-12). 7-9 pm, Chatham. frhughes@gamewood.net.

October 19 & 20 October 20

Qualifying for Kroger 200 and Subway 500. Martinsville Speedway - 1.877.722.3849.

October 20 & 21

Averett Volleyball - 10/20 vs. Shenandoah, 1:30 pm and N.C. Wesleyan, 7:30 pm. 10/21 vs. Greensboro, 1 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600. Driving Miss Daisy - Heart warming Pulitzer prize winning comedy. 7:30 pm. The Kirby Theater. Person County Arts Council, Roxboro, NC - 336.597.1709.

October 21

Pancake Breakfast - Benefits the Danville Speech & Hearing Center. Danville Elks Lodge, Main Street. SBHCM Exhibit - Ocean in Motion. South Boston-Halifax County Museum - 434.572.9200. Kroger 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Martinsville Speedway - 1.877.722.3849. Grand Championship Series. 12 pm. Birch Creek Motorsports - 434.836.7629. Fall Classical Concert - Danville Symphony Orchestra. See p.13.

October 22

Nascar Nextel Series - Subway 500. Martinsville Speedway 1.877.722.3849.

October 23

Indoor Wall Climbing for Ladies Only -. Glenwood Recreation Center. 434.799.5215.

October 24

Lunch w/a Good Book – See p.8.

October 25

Polliwogs & Science Stars - Learn about animals that roam at night. Make an owl mask to wear home! Ages 3-4 1-2 pm; Ages 5-6. 3:454:45 pm. Danville Science Center - 434.791.5160.

October 26

Averett’s Men Soccer vs. Chowan. 3 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600.

October 27

Averett Women’s Soccer vs. N.C. Wesleyan. 3 pm. Averett University - 434.791.5600. Longwood University Vocal Recital - 7 pm. Chastain Theatre, The Prizery, South Boston - 434.572.8339.

October 28

October 28 & 29

NCR SCCA Goblins Go. 8:30 am. VIR - 434.822.7700. VCHSS Cross Country - Hare Scramble Event. Birch Creek Motorsports - 434.836.7629.

October 28 (thru May 28)

Chinasaurs: The Great Dinosaurs of China Exhibit. Virginia Museum of Natural History - 276.666.8659.

October 29

Halloween for the Arts – See p. 8.

October 30

Indoor Wall Climbing for Ladies Only (see 10/23)

October 31

Lunch w/a Good Book – See p.8. Fall Classic Pool Tournament. 2-4:30 pm. Pre-register by 10/17. Ballou Center. 434799.5216.

October 31 (thru Nov. 30)

Beginning Swimming II. Tuesdays & Thursdays,3:30-4:30 pm. YMCA. Outdoor Rec - 434.799.5215.

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October 2006

Averett Teaches Success

by Emily Cropp Averett Public Relations Assistant

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It’s easy to spot people who love what they do—their faces beam like light bulbs and they bubble over with enthusiasm when they talk about their jobs. Jane Clardy and Vivian Hale, graduates of Averett University’s education program, are two such people. Both women love their jobs and were named 2006 Educators of the Year by the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce. Clardy and Hale join a distinguished group of more than 50 Averett University alumni who have received the award in the past 3 years. "I thought it was a great honor to be recognized, especially when I looked at the others [honored] from the high school," said Clardy, Class of 1976. "I was very proud. It’s the support system, the people you work with, that allow you to branch out and be your best and do your best," she added. Clardy, who has taught career and life skills and GED classes at W.W. Moore for 9 years, also started a horticulture program. Hale, a member of the Averett Class of 1975 and a second-grade teacher at Sacred Heart School, remembers the rigorous preparation for being a teacher. "I worked hard in the education classes,” she says. “I enjoyed the interaction that we had and applying what we learned in class. I had a lot of classes that really pinpointed some unique things I could use in the classroom. It’s a good solid program." Dr. Sue Davis, Averett Class of 1975 and 1981 and Superintendent of Danville Public Schools, also sings the praises of the graduates of Averett’s program. "They have exceptional training in the foundation of learning, reading and human development. Their professors care about the quality of teaching not just covering material." It almost seems like an Averett education degree comes with a

Vivian Hale guarantee for a job. Averett has a nearly 100 percent placement rate, with approximately 200 Averett graduates teaching in the Pittsylvania County School System and more than 100 teachers employed by Danville Public Schools. Pittsylvania County Schools Superintendent James McDaniel remembers, when he was a principal, “When teachers came to interview with me, the fact they were Averett graduates carried a lot of weight. Averett graduates were well-prepared, knowledgeable, professional and welltrained. They were insightful as to the challenges before them. I was impressed with them and the caliber of teachers they were. They had a passion for education and for teaching." Particularly glad to see the teachers recognized is Dr. Lynn Wolf, Assistant Professor in Averett’s Education Department. "They never get enough recognition. It’s not an easy job. It’s fun to have them come back and be honored...for their hard work." Averett offers teaching certification in: art (PreK-12), biology (6-12), chemistry (6-12), computer science (PreK-12), English (6-12), health and physical education (PreK-12), history and social science (6-12), mathematics (6-12), theatre arts (PreK-12), journalism (addon endorsement), speech communication (add-on endorsement) and special education (minor only). The University also offers a master of education degree in its traditional program and through the University’s Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Program. For more information visit www.averett.edu.

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Lynn Gardner, harpsicord soloist

Danville Symphony Begins Season with the “Three Bs” On Saturday, October 21, The Three Bs: Bach, Beethoven and Brahms will open the 15th season of the Danville Symphony Orchestra and the 7th season for musical director, Charles Ellis. Presenting The Three Bs in a single evening brings one representative major work of the baroque, classical and romantic periods to the concert stage. Each work has unique characteristics that make it a worthy addition to the collection. The first “B” will be Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto #5." It is exceptional in its format because it is the only one of the collection that features the harpsichord as the solo instrument. In the remainder of these concertos, the harpsichord only supports the work as a continuo instrument. Lynn Gardner, pianist for the symphony, will be the harpsichord soloist performing Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto #5” joined by Leigh Latchum, concertmaster, and Janet Phillips, principal flutist in this trio formatted work. Gardner received a bachelor’s degree in music, cum laude, from the University of Richmond. She began her graduate work in music at Carnegie-Mellon University, received her master’s degree in music (harpsichord) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and did postgraduate work at North Carolina School of the Arts.

The second “B” of the evening will be Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 1 in C Major" written in 1800. With an obvious nod to his predecessors Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven was quite adventuresome in this first work. The third movement of the work is a minuet, yet no longer than the typical court dance. The Viennese audience of the day was astounded to hear the opening of the work in the key of F and evolving through two additional keys before arriving at the intended key. The third “B” concluding the concert will be Brahms’ “Academic Festival Overture.” This work was composed as an obligatory acknowledgement of the honorary doctorate bestowed upon the composer by the University of Breslau. With academic life in his thoughts as he composed this work, the audience at the premier, including government and university officials, was shocked to hear the presentation and development of student songs. A stalwart work, the “Academic Festival Overture” has pleased audiences for over two centuries with this collection of familiar melodies. The Three Bs will be presented at 8pm on Saturday, October 21, in the George Washington High School auditorium. Admission is free. For more information call 434.797.2666 or visit www.danville symphony.net

photos by Larry G. Aaron

By Jerry Franklin, DSO President

photo by Victor Newman

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October 2006

A Sneak Preview of Jamestown’s th 400 Anniversary �� Celebration

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by Joyce Wilburn

"I’m such a wimp!" I told myself wiping the sweat from my brow and squirming on the hard deerskin-covered sleeping bench in the Indian village at Jamestown. "If I had been the decision-maker, no one would have left England," the voice in my head continued as I thought about the necessary unpleasantness in traveling across the Atlantic Ocean 400 years ago and living in a place without the luxury of modern conveniences. Thirty minutes earlier, we had parked our comfortable airconditioned vehicle in front of the new education building at Jamestown Settlement just five short miles from Williamsburg. We wanted to scope out the site before the international crowds arrived the weekend of May 11-13, 2007 for the 400th Anniversary Celebration commemorating the founding of American’s first permanent English colony. The huge parking lot gave an indication of the numbers expected next spring, and the variety of out-of-state license plates I noticed told me that interest in this event was already building momentum. My group of four adults chose to view the 15-minute introductory film, which provided an excellent overview of the colony’s first years, and then meet James, our costumed historical interpreter and guide. Not only did he delight us with facts, stories, questions, and answers, he was knowledgeable and entertaining. But equally enjoyable was listening to the comments and questions from others in my group and watching the children on our tour learn about American history. Parents laughed aloud and children were silent in disbelief when James explained how the Powhatan Indians decided the "what-shall-Iwear-today" question. "Until you learned to make clothes, you didn’t wear them," our guide said. "Kids, your heads would be shaved and you’d be covered in bear fat to ward off mosquitoes," he added with a chuckle. The “what-to-eat” question was answered just as simply. "At age four, your mother would throw a dead bird in the air. If the child could hit the target with his arrow, he’d eat. If not, he didn’t," James explained matter-of-factly. Fortunately, we were all invited to

enjoy easier colonial experiences like feeling the different furs lining the sleeping benches, grinding some corn, or sitting in a hollowed-out log canoe. After leaving the Powhatan Indian Village, we followed a chubby ground hog down a short path to James Fort, a triangularshaped palisade near the river with three bulwarks at the corners. James explained that the British didn’t understand the Virginia climate and built inappropriate clay houses. "Not a smart idea for this part of the world. The buildings become very hot inside during the summer like an oven," he added, comparing them unfavorably with the woven bamboo-like walls that allowed air to circulate, which the Native Americans built. The next and most exciting destination of our three-hour tour was seeing replicas of the three ships that transported the colonists on the 4 1⁄2 month, 6,000 mile voyage from England to America: the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. It was here that all my thoughts of being a princess wimp were confirmed. Shipboard living conditions were boring, uncomfortable, and confining. Although the crew lived

and worked on the main deck, passengers remained below deck with the cargo. "Each person had about 3 feet of living space," James remarked, "along with the dogs, pigs, rats, and chamber pots!" "Ooo-o-o," moaned the children and adults in a universal expression of disgust. We were then invited to explore the ships, climb into a sailor’s bunk, examine a "see" chest, and walk the decks for a better idea of what life was like before cruise ships splashed onto the scene. It was almost lunch time when we walked back to the educational center for a quick look at the indoor gallery exhibits. These displays detail the motivating conditions in Europe for exploration and settlement of the New World; describe the land and lifestyle of the Powhatan Indians; and explore the origins of Africans who were brought to Virginia. By now nearly exhausted and very hungry, I listened to the animated voices of passersby while waiting for the rest of my group. "Dad, come here and look at this," said one small tyke pulling his father’s hand to an interactive exhibit. "Let me show you something sweet," said a teenager to his younger brother pointing to a different display. "Now that’s good thinking," remarked one middle-age woman to another after reading about the division of household chores by the colonists. Every visitor—regardless of age—left Jamestown Settlement with a better knowledge of America’s history and of themselves. Even a wimpy princess can learn a thing or two. Jamestown Settlement is a fun and educational destination 4-hours from Danville. All areas except the ships are wheelchair accessible. There is a café on site and picnic tables if you bring your own food. For more information visit www.historyisfun.org or call 1.888.593.4682.

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photo by Dan Vaden

October 2006

Voices from Danville’s Past: A Historical Halloween Tour What better time for a nocturnal visit to a cemetery than during the ghosty, ghoulish month of October? The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History wants you to do just that on a guided tour of the city’s oldest burial ground, the Grove Street Cemetery. In preparation for this popular excursion, Sharon Hughes, Education Coordinator for the Museum, has gathered information from History of Old Grove Street Cemetery, The Roman Eagle Lodge: No. 122 (1820-1938) and other sources to learn about the people buried in this graveyard. Jason Kilgore, a native Danvillian now living in Pennsylvania, took these facts and legends and created a script for the production of Voices from Danville’s Past: A Historical Halloween Tour. Starting in mid-October, tours begin at the Sutherlin Mansion (Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History) where a special guest will tell of his visit to Danville in 1865. Following this introduction, groups led by Hughes and museum volunteer Rachel Schoonover will walk the short distance to the gates of the Grove Street Cemetery. Upon entering the cemetery, tour goers will eavesdrop on dialogues between the costumed guides and the dead to learn about Danville’s early history. Visitors will meet several of Danville’s first leaders including James Lanier, the city’s first mayor.

Many of the spirits awakened from the dead will be those who lived during the Civil War. For example, Mrs. Cabell will share her story of losing three sons to the War; John Bryan will tell of his short-lived enlistment with the 18th Virginia Infantry; and ten-yearold William Dooley will recount his disastrous death in an explosion at the city’s arsenal. Other portrayals include a young female student, a prominent doctor, two young sisters, and a bank robber. Numerous volunteers have offered their time and talents to help with this historical production. Students from Bonner, Galileo, Sacred Heart and Danville Community College, as well as teachers, homemakers, retirees, and businessmen/women have come together to make this production possible. Marquita Sndyer, Robert Brooks, Laura Hughes, and Bobbi Jo Brown are seasoned veterans, having performed in three previous Historical Halloween Tours. This year’s tour also includes several portrayals never before presented. Tickets usually sell quickly for this night of visiting and learning from the dead. Make plans to attend now, because no one wants to be left out in the cold during the Halloween season. Four tours a night are offered on Friday, October 13, and Saturday, October 14. Groups are limited to 25 people. Tickets are available at the Danville Museum Shop, 975 Main Street, on Tuesdays-Fridays from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm and on Saturdays from 2pm to 5pm. Tickets are $10 each. This tour is recommended for adults and mature children only. For more information call 434.793.5644 or visit www.danvillemuseum.org.

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Mutt Strut 2006 By Paulette Dean

A mid-October event is guaranteed to have tongues and tails wagging. It’s the annual Mutt Strut to benefit the Danville Area Humane Society. Executive Director Paulette Dean tells how this popular event evolved. “In early 2000, Board President Lynn Shelton and I were sitting in the General District courtroom waiting for a neglect trial to begin. The clerk of court, Karen Wells, came up to us and asked if she could speak with us for a few minutes. In court, of course, you are always on ‘high alert,’ so we immediately wondered if all of our papers were in order, or if a witness was not going to show, or if in some way, we had offended court protocol. It seems that some of the people who work in the court system had become very upset about the number and nature of animal cruelty trials, and they wanted to do something about it. They wanted to help us raise money to help the animals, and Karen approached us with the idea of having a walk-a-dogathon. We had held these events in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but for various reasons, the event had not been continued. We thought it was a fine idea, and Karen helped us form an

ad hoc committee that would join forces with our regular fund-raising committee. Karen and her husband, Phillip Wells, served on the committee, along with others from the court system, and Steve Anderson of the Danville Police Department. Step by step, we learned together how to organize what was soon named the Mutt Strut. Sadly, Karen did not live to see the success of the first Mutt Strut in 2001. But, the Karen Wells Memorial Award is given each year to the walker who donates the most money to this event.” After this year’s Strut, there will be contests and games and each dog will walk away with a prize. Both human and canine refreshments will be served. Whether two-legged or four-legged, watching or walking, all are guaranteed to have a good time. Mutt Strut 2006 is scheduled for Saturday, October 14, in Ballou Park. Registration fee is $10 for each human/dog team. The first 75 people registered with paid pledges of $25 or more receive a free Mutt Strut 2006 t-shirt. Registration begins at 9:00am. The walk starts at 9:30am. For more information, call 434.799.0843.

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Outside the Box by Kathleen O’Hare

The Danville Concert Association has delivered more than 200 memorable evenings in its 54-year history and this season is no exception. The DCA will present classical music and classic performance in every shape imaginable— outside the box. To open the 2006-2007 season, on Friday, October 13th, The Pirates of Penzance will take the audience on a rollicking romp over the rocky coast of Cornwall complete with swashbuckling buccaneers, bumbling British bobbies, frolicsome Victorian maidens, the delightfully dotty Major-General Stanley, and a full orchestra. While this enjoyable Gilbert and Sullivan musical has always appealed to children thanks to the spirited behavior of the pirates and their earnest apprentice, historically, the idea of “noblemen who have gone wrong” is close to the truth. Most famous pirates were political or social outcasts from the upper classes. Gilbert’s satiric and deliberately silly ending actually has real historic validity. The Pirates of Penzance will steal your heart away. The second presentation of the season is on Friday, November 3rd. Sheer elegance literally leaps from the box with the sexy athleticism, exuberant personality, and joyous movement that is The Parsons Dance Company. Comprised of 9 full-time dancers, the company’s style is a fusion of the gesture and movement that make up the modern dance vocabulary. For the Danville audience, they will be performing Envelope, Handance, Swing Shift,

�� Caught, and In the End, as well as a new piece yet to be titled. The company, which performed in New York City on New Year’s Eve for Times Square 2000, has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and the Discovery Channel, and has been acclaimed as “one of the hottest tickets in contemporary American dance.” The latter part of DCA’s stellar season will include Awadagin Pratt, pianist, on January 12th, the North Carolina Symphony on March 24th, and QuinTango, a chamber ensemble, on April 21 and 22 as well as the Celtibillies who will perform on February 3rd, apart from the regular season. For more information about tickets and the other events in the season, call Jo Silvers at 434.792.9242 or visit www.DanvilleConcerts.com. Season tickets, providing access to all five performances, are $55/adult, $25/ student or $135/family (two adults and all the children of the household.)

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Sacred Spaces at 200 Jefferson Avenue presents

An Evening of Broadway on Friday, October 6, at 7:00pm. This event will feature Baltimore Peabody Conservatory musicians, soprano Jessica Hanel, and tenor Brent Huse. A donation of $5 per person or $10 per family is requested. Handel and Huse will also conduct a 1-hour master voice class on Saturday, October 7, from 10:00 am to11:00 am. The class is open to all interested singers, high school through adult. Cost is $15. Register online at www.sacredspacesonline.com or call 410.905.5264.

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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 • 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

Be An Institute Ambassador by Curtis W. Callaway

Are you interested in the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s plan for economic transformation? Would you like to help spread the word about the many great things that are happening at the Institute? Would you like to help their programs develop and expand? As the IALR continues to expand its research capabilities, offer more advanced learning and outreach programs, and recruit research faculty to Southside, it is also creating ways for the community to become personally involved with the Institute and its mission. We are currently seeking enthusiastic citizens from Southside who are willing to volunteer to serve as Institute Ambassadors. The Institute needs a core group of volunteers who are passionate about Southside and who want to see this region succeed in the 21st century. A variety of volunteer opportunities exist: • Tour Guides: Groups and individuals continue to request tours of the IALR facility to learn about the research activities, programs, and technology initiatives underway in the building. Ambassador tour guides will lead weekly tours for small and large groups. • Sponsor Families/Individuals: Researchers represent a nucleus of scientific thinking and will be IALR’s true magnet for economic opportunity. When IALR recruits research faculty and technicians

Lights On After School by Jo Verostko

When young people complain that there’s nothing to do, do you have a response? In an effort to promote after-school activities and opportunities available to local youth and their parents, the Danville Science Center is hosting Lights On After School on Thursday, October 12, from 3 to 5 pm. During the open house, parents and their children will learn about programs available in Danville as they enjoy light refreshments. Representatives from Danville

October 2006 and graduate students from distant locations including foreign countries to live and work in Southside, they need to become acclimated to the area. Ambassadors can help by spending time with new IALR personnel and introducing them to the community. • Public Relations: Ambassadors can promote IALR by assisting in special events and other efforts to promote the Institute, including organizing activities for specific audiences. • Hospitality: Ambassadors can welcome guests to Southside by organizing small receptions for visitors to the Institute. • Horticulture: If you have a green thumb, you can put your gardening skills to work enhancing the Institute’s grounds in the Cyber Park. • Helpmates: If you prefer to work in an office environment, we could use your help with mailings, phone calls, and other support projects. Enthusiasm is the most important qualification for an Institute Ambassador. The Institute is seeking volunteers who love Southside, are excited about the Institute’s goals and vision for future economic development of the region, and have a passion and zeal for the Institute. Institute Ambassadors will also serve as unofficial spokespeople within the community. They can initiate dialogue and help spread the word about the Institute’s upcoming programs and initiatives as the community continues to embrace the Institute and its programs as it has over the past two years. Anne Geyer, Coordinator for Volunteer Programs, puts it this way: "People frequently ask questions like: What is the Institute? What can the Institute do for me? and What do they do in that glass building on the hill? With the help of dedicated volunteers, the Institute can help answer those questions on a much broader basis. Our Ambassadors are integral as we continue to spread IALR’s vision for Southside." If you are interested in learning more about being an Institute Ambassador, contact Anne Geyer at 434.766.6714.

Science Center, Boys and Girls Club of Danville, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Danville Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, Girl Scouts, YWCA, Danville Church-Based Tutorial Program, IALR Outreach Division, VT Stars, United Way Center for Volunteerism and others will be present. Lights on After School was founded in October 2000 as a project by the After School Alliance. This year over 7,500 communities nationwide will participate in this effort to provide safe and stimulating activities for children. For more information, call 434.791.5160.

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Lasting Thoughts… With Pen in Hand, or, Oh, the Places I Have Been… by Larry Aaron Larry Aaron has been with EVINCE since its inception—almost. He didn’t begin writing for EVINCE until its second issue. Since then Larry has introduced us to a fascinating array of people, from Gordon Lightfoot to our very own neighbors. And over the years Larry has taken us with him on his adventures from NASA’s Langley Research Center to hiking with bears on the Appalachian Trail. Along the way Larry has brought great pride to EVINCE and the region through the numerous awards and honors he has received from the Virginia Press Association for his articles and photographs. So it seemed only fitting to ask Larry to share some of his memories with us in this, EVINCE’s 10th anniversary year. In so doing, Larry’s overview gives us a greater insight into just how many riches are right in our own Southside backyard. —Emyl Jenkins I remember the first time I saw EVINCE. I was coming out of a local restaurant and Whitt Clement’s face on the cover caught my attention. I picked up a copy and thumbed through it, impressed with the articles about local events and people. I also noticed this was the first issue of the first volume and it would come out bi-monthly, At the time I was writing for the Star-Tribune in Chatham, whose editor Tim Davis gave me some of the best advice about writing I’ve ever had. “Details,” he said, “are what people look for.” Getting my feet wet as a local writer for the Star-Tribune and publishing some freelance articles in various magazines was my start as a professional writer. I had written an article for the Star-Tribune about the Shallow Creek Bluegrass Band, and also had one about them published in Blue Ridge Country magazine, an article that got the boys a gig on ABC’s Good Morning America. I thought EVINCE might also be interested in publishing an article about this local group of professionally sounding boys, so I called up one of the publishers, Larry Oldham. Larry said he would really like it, if I could write an article about precocious kids. He knew of one such boy, Christopher Wright. I told him I thought one of the boys in the band, Jeremy Stephens, also seemed to fit the definition, so I went to work writing the story.

“Danville’s Own Budding Artists” was published in the second issue and 10 years later, I’m still writing for EVINCE. Both of those precocious kids are grown now. Time passes fast when you’re having fun. I think the reason people have responded so positively to EVINCE is because from the start it has portrayed Danville and Southside Virginia in a positive, upbeat way. EVINCE prides itself on interesting stories about people, especially artists, writers, musicians, merchants, and business people who enrich our lives. The old cliché, “There’s nothing to do in Danville,” is not something you hear often these days, because EVINCE has helped point out there are a lot of things going on that people don’t always know about. EVINCE has told them, and in doing so EVINCE has given artists and the community a voice. We’ve pointed out what’s great about Danville, Pittsylvania County, Caswell County, Halifax County, and South Boston and I have always been glad to be part of that. You see, I’ve got it in my blood—my family has been here for 8 generations, and I was raised in Ringgold, Glenwood, and Danville. I know the region well, and I want others to love it as much as I do. EVINCE has given me a chance to share the riches of our region, not just with my friends and neighbors, but with the people across the Commonwealth. When I was a freshman in high school I aspired to be a writer. But I never dreamed that one day I’d receive a first-place award for feature writing from the Virginia Press Association. Sure, I’m proud that they liked my writing, but it was the subject of that article that made me shine. It was about a man who loved this land as much as he loved life, the law, and Washington and Lee University— Judge Ryland Dodson. I have interviewed some other mighty interesting people, people we can all claim as Southside’s own. Congressman Virgil Goode discussed with me where he was on 9/11 and what went on that day. Judge Martin Clarke from Stuart, the subject of 3 articles, had a best-selling novel, The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living. In the article “The Michelangelo

of Motorcycles” I wrote about local legend Rick Doss, who has become a motorcycle industry icon and one of the most influential custom bike builders in the world. The list goes on and on. There’s the renowned novelist and poet Darnell Arnoult and Chesapeake artist John Barber whose paintings have hung in the White House. There’s Gary Hill, a top artist for NASCAR, widely known comedian Mike Cross, and Grammy winner and musician Norman Blake, known for his contribution to the I Am A Man of Many Sorrows CD from the movie by that name with George Clooney. And over the years I’ve written about down-home people and places. After all EVINCE has never been about investigative reporting, but rather attempts to entertain and inform. So I’ve written about hiking the Appalachian Trail and my cousin Harry’s Tattoo Shop (although I still don’t have one myself). Writing about the D-Day Memorial in Bedford became painful as I relived many difficult and disturbing memories of the Normandy invasion with men who had been there. On the lighter side, I’ve written about VIR and Bertil-Roos Racing after taking a racing course myself. But when all is said and done, my favorite article was about my dad, “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” about how love is expressed more by actions than empty phrases so common to many relationships. So what have I not written about? My dream assignment would be to interview my high school literature teacher, wherever she is. She inspired me to write, and I have been writing ever since. And writing for EVINCE has been this writer’s dream job.

Editor’s p.s. When Larry Aaron isn’t chasing down a story, he is teaching at Chatham High School and working on his next book. Last year, Keppy’s War, written with Captain John Kepchar, was published. Barefoot Boy, a book of poetry is coming out this winter, and The Race to the Dan will soon be published by Halifax County Historical Society.

Halloween in the Haunted Grist Mill ��

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October 2006

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