Admission Is Free Page 8
Spotting Exceptional Customer Service Brandi Parker Page 9
Church Sisters in Concert
January Calendar Page 10
Bringing Ten Thousand Villages to Danville See Page 5
Page 2 January 2020
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Photo by Michelle Dalton Photography
Editor’s Note
Happy New Year!
2020 is the year for perfect vision—not the vision that concerns your optometrist but the image you have in your mind’s eye of the next twelve months. The Indian woman on the cover had a vision of earning enough money to support her family. That dream came true with the help of Cheryl Sutherland and her customers in the Danville area. Read page 5 “Bringing 10,000 Villages to Danville.” Do you aspire to have an uncluttered, well-organized home? For tips on how to make that happen, read “Throw Out the Mess and Organize the Rest” on page 15. Maybe you have a green thumb or a thumb that wants to be green. Develop these skills and become a visionary of spring with other gardeners. See page 11. To be a person of vision requires special resources. For inspiration, read page 8 “Never Abandon Imagination” and “Nearsightedness vs. Vision” on page 13. Then end the day under a warm blanket with a sip of winter wine (page 14) or a mocktail (page 13). We at Evince wish you good health and happiness and hope your mind’s eye has 20/20 vision in 2020! Sincerely,
January Contents
3 Editor’s Note
5 Cheryl Sutherland Bringing 10,000 Villages to Danville by Joyce Wilburn 6 Renovation Reality by Carla Minosh 7 Ghost of My Father Fiction by Telisha Moore Leigg 8 Admission Is Free / Never Abandon Imagination by Joyce Wilburn 9 Spotting Exceptional Customer Service by Ann Sylves 10 Calendar 11 Gardeners Recognized As Visionaries by Isla Wiles 12 Book Clubbing Going Over Home: A Search for Rural Justice in an Unsettled Land by Charles D. Thompson, Jr. / review by Diane Adkins 13 Reflecting Forward / Nearsightedness vs. Vision by Linda Lemery Around the Table / New Year, New Decade, New You? by Annelle Williams 14 The Wine Spot by Dave Slayton
Throw Out the Mess & Organize the Rest by Cathy K. Ahs
On the Cover:
Photo provided by Ten Thousand Villages.com (© Habibul Haque/Drik/Ten Thousand Villages) See page 5.
Evince Magazine Page 3
THE
OICE OF VISION
CEO / Publisher Andrew Scott Brooks Editor Joyce Wilburn (434.799.3160) joycewilburn@gmail.com Associate Editors Jeanette Taylor • Larry Wilburn Contributing Writers
Diane Adkins, Moriah Davis, Lewis Dumont, Barbara Hopkins, Telisha Moore Leigg, Linda Lemery, C.B. Maddox, Carla Minosh, Bernadette Moore, Dave Slayton, Ann Sylves, Joyce Wilburn, Isla Wiles, Annelle Williams
Art & Production Director Demont Design (Kim Demont) Finance Manager Cindy Yeatts (1.434.709.7349) Marketing Consultants For ad information contact a marketing consultant listed below.
Lee Vogler Director of Sales and Marketing (434.548.5335) lee@evince magazine.com Sam Jackson Marketing Consultant sam@showcasemagazine.com
Kim Demont (434.792.0612) demontdesign @verizon.net evince\i-’vin(t)s\ 1: to constitute outward evidence of 2: to display clearly: reveal syn see SHOW Deadline for submission of February stories, articles, and ads is Monday, January 20, at 5:00 p.m. Submit stories, articles, and calendar items to joycewilburn@gmail.com.
Editorial Policies:
Evince is a free monthly magazine with news about entertainment and lifestyle in Danville and the surrounding area. We reserve the right to accept, reject and edit all submissions and advertisements.
EVINCE MAGAZINE 753 Main St. Suite 3, Danville, VA 24541 www.evincemagazine.com For subscriptions to Evince, email info@evincemagazine.com. Cost is $24 a year.
joycewilburn@gmail.com Credits: Amber Wilson: hair; Catherine Saunders: skin care and makeup; Genesis Day Spa & Salon, 695 Park Avenue, Danville. Janelle Gammon: nails; Salon One 11, 111 Sandy Court, Danville.
© 2020 All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part in any medium without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.
Page 4 January 2020
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Evince Magazine Page 5
Scarves: Environmentally friendly methods and materials were used to create these scarves in India.
I
f a picture is worth a thousand words, then the ten pictures on this page would equal 10,000 words about Ten Thousand Villages. Even that large number of hypothetical words isn’t enough to tell the whole story.
Baskets: In India, recycled saris are used to make these baskets. The storage hamper and lid are handwoven by women in Bangladesh using kaisa grass.
Cheryl Sutherland Bringing Ten Thousand Villages to Danville by Joyce Wilburn
Ten Thousand Villages is a global maker-to–market movement that Cheryl Sutherland has brought to Danville’s Main Street and placed inside the front doors of Main Street Art Collective. Standing in the sunshine near the display shelves, Cheryl tells the story of how this international enterprise came to be: “When I met with Kelvin Perry in Danville’s Office of Economic Development, I told him I wanted my store to be about community, repurposing things, and giving more people opportunities.” He told her about Ten Thousand Villages.
a safe way to make products and be paid for them.” She picks up a basket made in India with discarded saris to illustrate her point. “Two hundred women in one village make these baskets. Buyers
Cheryl explains the concept behind the oldest and one of the world’s largest non-profit fair trade organizations: “It’s helping others fend for themselves. Instead of putting money on a problem, it’s teaching people (60% women)
Tagua Jungle Necklace: In Ecuador, slivers of tagua nuts are dyed in vibrant shades of exotic jungle flowers. Also known as vegetable ivory, tagua is produced by a palm-like tree in South America. The nut’s grain is very hard, resembling the finest ivory. The nuts fall to the ground when mature, thus harvesting does not damage the trees.
Daisies Dipping Dish: This versatile hand-painted dish is made of Hebron Glass from the historic West Bank city of Hebron.
Sunny Garden Birdhouse: Using wire and recycled snack wrappers, this bright eco-friendly birdhouse was handcrafted in India.
Guiding Star Necklace & Earrings: Brass from bomb casings is collected from the fields of Cambodia to fashion classic pendants and earrings.
can feel good about purchasing this because they know they are helping to feed two hundred families,” says the Williamsburg native, adding, “Customers love hearing the story behind each item.”
Coiled Paper Heart Boxes & Cat Boxes: Recycled magazines and posters discarded from a printing company are used to produce these cute items. Artisans in Viet Nam form the paper into flat strips, dip them in a glue mixture and hang them to dry. Then they re-wet the strips and coil them into various shapes.
Jute Rug: The women in rural Bangladesh made this to be either a wall hanging or a rug.
Blooming Bright Sari Flowers: Using saris, these eco-friendly flowers are handcrafted by artisans working in Bangladesh.
Main Street Art Collective is an alliance store. Cheryl tells a customer what that means: “I buy the Ten Thousand Villages products wholesale and sell them here along with other local, handmade items. This is not an exclusively Ten Thousand Villages store.” In fact, eighty-five craftspeople within a two-hour drive of Danville have filled the shelves, racks, and tables in the front of the small shop. In the back room, there is space for weekly craft classes. “I focus on a variety of artists; some have just started creating. I want to give them encouragement and a place to show their work.” That statement accurately and succinctly summarizes Cheryl Sutherland’s philosophy of business, whether the creators live a mile away or halfway around the world. • For more information, visit Main Street Art Collective, 326 Main Street, in Danville or MainStreetArtCollective.com, tenthousandvillages.com, or call 434.602.2017.
Cheryl Sutherland. All photos by Michelle Dalton Photography.
Page 6 January 2020
The doors to the former servants’ entrance have been sealed. The former entry room is now a bathroom. Photo by Carla Minosh.
Unlike HGTV shows where home renovations are completed within thirty to sixty minutes, the Victorian house at the corner of Chestnut Place and Main Street in Danville has been under a transformation for nineteen years. This series explores the truth of home renewal from someone who has been there and done that. If you missed any of the articles, visit www.evincemagazine.com.
Jennie Miller poses on the front porch in this 1880’s photo.
Renovation Reality by Carla Minosh
I
n addition to bringing the original look of the house back, the paint removal uncovered an important piece of evidence about its overall appearance. The front of the
tower on the right side had the ghost of a porch and a brickedup entry that was hidden by the white paint. That entry room was now a bathroom, no longer a servants’ entrance, but a yucky old pink 1950’s bathroom halfrenovated in the 1970s. We yearned to bring back the lost entry. However, when receiving a tax credit as we were, we could not put back what we envisioned had been there, thus creating a false sense of history. We could only put back exactly what was lost. Because we had no way of knowing what was there, we simply yearned. Less than a year later a granddaughter of the previous owners gave me two 1880’s photos of the house taken directly from the front. They showed exactly what had been lost. We were so excited! I scanned it at a high resolution and proceeded to magnify the image so all the details could be seen. In one of the magnified photos, I was taking stock of other architectural details and was stunned to see the face of Jennie Miller looking back at me from her front porch. With one hand on her hip and the other on the rail, Jennie’s pose was one of proud ownership. I laughed, delighted at the unexpected glimpse of my predecessor and assured her image that we were doing our best to make it right again.
Taking the photo details to local salvage yards, we saw that the exact iron was not uncommon, and it actually would be possible to re-create the small porch as it stood. We proceeded to put together a proposal for the Department of Historic Resources and after a couple of hiccups, received the green light to proceed. The construction of this small front porch went forward without a hitch. We had plenty of leftover roof slate from the large front porch. We also had enough encaustic tile left from the floor of the large front porch due to an error. When we laid the tile for the large front porch, we discovered that the dimensions were wrong. The tile company informed us that the pattern we wanted didn’t fit the dimensions of the porch. The pattern was too big, so they changed the dimensions of the porch to fit the pattern. In theory, this was great. However, our porch was already constructed. Tom worked on graph paper and re-configured the design so that it would work, and we were left with an extra medallion, border, and fill pieces. We stuck the tiles in a box for future use. They were exactly what we needed for the small front porch. It was as though karma was giving us a break on this little porch, to repay us for what we had gone through on the big one. It was either that or the house had decided that it really liked us and was now fully cooperating.
(to be continued)
Evince Magazine Page 7
Ghost of My Father fiction by Telisha Moore Leigg I’m in my not-new but new-enough blue Toyota driving down Route 360, and it’s raining like quiet steps to God. I think about my father in moments like these with the windshield wipers swishing away drops and drizzle and the highway open before me. It’s winter break, and I pass through the old neighborhoods where Mean Keisha, Mama Mandy Blue, Aunt Fallon, I used to live in, not like the good section we now live in, in another town, in another state. Mean Keisha, my mother, she says don’t never go back, our old neighborhood she means. Literally, she says what’s past is trash you throw away. Even though she loves me, Mean Keisha is a cold woman to what hurt her and the world has hurt her. But driving home from State college, I do pass through where Mean Keisha says I should not go for memories I don’t really have. Sure, I see the bitter blight trying to claw up. I pass by the old white Methodist church on Rachel Lane bought now by black Baptists. We moved from this area when I was five or six just after my father got killed. I can only pass the grass-bald park where I would have played basketball with boys I would have known if we hadn’t moved. Those boys I do not know, who are now men who watch my car pass. Their faces cloud cold as they face the world from their concrete corners huddled deep. They don’t wave at me or me to them, but we see each other through a tinted window and rain-slick roads before our eyes deflect in different directions, and I’m gone like they will be, gone in the few seconds it takes me to turn the corner, moving on to the street by Parker’s Field. Here I know, even though I don’t remember him--my father. I’m rambling in this rain. I’m rambling, but I know where I am where Mean Keisha says I’m not to go. It was Mandy Blue Eyes that told me he died here, my father. Mean Keisha won’t say anything bad about him, but will cut her teeth only to say his name and that he loved me. She rasps his love out like she’s made to with her bony black fist grabbing hold of my shirt. “You tell him I said that!” (like I can
tell a dead man anything). In those captive moments, I can feel that he really didn’t treat her right, but she still gives up that he loved me. And if you know my mother, Mean Keisha, you know that words like love, let alone sending messages of them, are not her strong suit. But I want more about him. Yet, anything more and she clamps down and says that’s old-gone now and she don’t chew her cabbage twice. And look, it’s been about fifteen years since he’s been gone, and I turned out all right. I got college. College ball paying for that college and a family who loves me. But I don’t know. There’s something gone that I never had but miss. Maybe life is a valley of ghosts. He died alone at Parker’s Field, shot and slumped behind a wheel he couldn’t turn to get away, where some kid, maybe like the ones I passed, shot him for an old Caddie, some kid that was high and never even got the car. I park my car where he was. It’s morbid; I know this, so at dusk, I turn on my lights and keep on to North Carolina, the next state, on to home. I’m late for dinner and Mean Keisha is outside waiting in an apron that says, Kiss the Cook or Else! “I went by,” I say. She doesn’t even ask where. We don’t play games. She opens the storm door to let me by. “Figured,” she says, looking in my eyes hard, deep. She lets me in, makes sure the storm and wooden doors are shut behind me. Her hands tremble as she closes me in. We had ginger ale/orange sherbet punch and chocolate cake for New Year’s that Mama made and only slightly burnt the cake. Mandy Blue sad-smiled like she always does, and we all played charades. I was on her team and she made the word forgiveness. When I finally got it, Mean Keisha looked at her hard, mad. Subtle Mandy Blue is not. At midnight, I pecked the women of this house on their cheeks as we turned out the lights. I get up to go to bed. I’m almost twenty. In the dark corner, I hear, “Don’t go back down there; he wouldna want that,” Mean Keisha says and takes a drag of a cigarette by an open window. “Sit down. I’ll tell you some mo’ ‘bout him, what I know.” We stay in the dark as she starts to do this, sitting by a window, with the leftover Christmas lights from a neighbor’s yard blinking on the left side of her face as the smoke rises. “He won’t no good to no one but you...for sho’ not to me…” On the way back to State, I don’t stop there again... “But he always love you, Kwon,”
Mean Keisha says and I unfurl into her story…even though it’s raining again on the road back, on Route 360. “He probably did enough bad to be the gone he is,” she says. She said more, but all I can remember thinking is of her sorrow and his sorrow married like two oceans crashing, and me adrift. “But of you, he be... so proud.” And Mean Keisha looked at me, hard, deep, trying not to cry. I felt him then just barely. Maybe the whole world is a valley of ghosts rising, speaking through any voice that will let them.
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on Danville! Janet Donna • Holley Gibson Owner Owner
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339 Piney Forest Rd., Danville, VA 24540
Office: (434) 791-2400 Fax: (434) 791-2122 Visit our website at
www.holleyandgibsonrealty.com
Page 8 January 2020
Faithful readers will remember I received a brochure from the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History (DMFAH) with my membership card that promised free admission to over 1,000 arts, cultural, and historical institutions in North America. Always skeptical that nothing is really free, I decided to test that pledge by visiting a few of the museums listed on the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) website. Here is what happened in Charlotte, North Carolina. I presented my NARM card to the smiling woman behind the reception desk at the Mint Museum Randolph in Charlotte, North Carolina, and within minutes entered the Heritage Gallery. I wanted to know why this museum was named Mint. The display of old coins presented an obvious clue followed by an explanation: the oldest section of the museum was built in 1836 and served as the home of the first branch of the U.S. Mint, but it was at a different location. The historic building was scheduled for demolition in 1931. That’s when a group of preservationists raised $950 to dismantle and move it to the present park setting on Randolph Road. It became North Carolina’s first art museum in 1936.
Admission Is Free Never Abandon Imagination by Joyce Wilburn Walking up the steps of the Mint to level two, we were greeted by a well-trained docent who enthusiastically guided us through the temporary exhibit, Never Abandon Imagination, The Fantastical Art of Tony DiTerlizzi. You might know him as the author and illustrator of The Spiderwick Chronicles, a favorite series among middle-schoolers. The Mint’s permanent exhibits include two floors of American and European art, pottery, historic costume and fashionable dress, African art, Asian art, historic maps and photography. With only one afternoon for exploration, it was time to take a short ride to Mint Museum Uptown where my NARM card gave me another immediate entry. The Uptown Mint spreads over five floors and houses collections of glass, ceramics, wood and other materials. Riding the escalator to the first level, I had a perfect view of the grand multi-storied atrium with a 60 x 60 foot glass wall. The magnificent space was being beautifully prepared for a wedding reception that evening. My imagination added what would be included later at the venue: candlelight, gourmet food, stylishly-dressed adults, and live background music. I was witnessing functional art at its best. After visiting the galleries, I returned to the ground level. No visit to Mint Museum Uptown is complete without a walk through their gift shop. It offers exhibition-specific merchandise and collection-inspired books and products. The sun was setting as I scurried outside to sit for a spell in The Green, a 1 1/2 acre world literature-themed park across the street. I loved the large bronze sculptures of books and was amused by whimsical direction signs pointing to real places but combined to form the names of well-known authors--for example, signs pointing to Edgar (Wisconsin), Allan, Saskatchewan” Allan (Canada), and Poe (South Carolina). How clever!
This visit to the two locations of the Mint Museum confirmed my impression that the residents of the Queen City have been a creative lot since its beginning. I’m now convinced that Never Abandon Imagination could be their motto. Once again my NARM card was the ticket to a delightful day of exploration. The best part? Admission was free! • To join the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History, 975 Main Street, and have free access to NARM museums, visit www. danvillemuseum.org or call 434.793.5644. • Other museums that I have visited and written about in “Admission Is Free” are: George C. Marshall Museum in Lexington, Virginia (May 2015); Wilton House Museum in Richmond (November 2015); Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach (January 2016); Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina (February 2016); Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art in Greensboro (May 2016); the Andrew Low House in Savannah, Georgia (August 2017) and the McCord Museum in Montreal, Canada (November 2017). To read these stories, visit www.evincemagazine.com.
Evince Magazine Page  9
Spotting Exceptional Customer Service
by Ann Sylves
The Danville area has someone who is very knowledgeable and helpful in the blinds and window treatment department at Lowes Home Improvement store, 280 Lowes Drive in Danville. Wanting an affordable custom window treatment, my husband and I stumbled upon sales associate Brandi Parker. We had general ideas about what we wanted and some experience with do-it-yourself projects. Brandi helped by showing us many options, colors, styles, and functioning systems. She knew how to measure, and she knew how the companies involved measured the final product. She triple-checked all the details, before she entered the order into the computer. What made her service outstanding was her ability to help other customers while my husband and I thought things through. Some people asked for her by name, and she offered to help others who looked like they needed help. We met with her twice, and her friendly demeanor and her knowledge of the materials were wonderful. I am writing this in my den with the newly installed blinds perfectly fitted and giving me the exact effect for which I was hoping. Thank you, Brandi Parker! You deserve the Spotting Exceptional Customer Service Award. Evince and the Danville Pittsylvania Co. Chamber of Commerce want to encourage and recognize exceptional customer service. When someone gives you exceptional service, please let us know. In 300 words or less, tell us what happened. Email your story to joycewilburn@gmail.com or chamber@dpchamber.org.
Page 10 January 2020
January Calendar Abbreviation Key
• AU=Averett University, 434.791.5600 www.averett.edu • DMFAH=Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History, 975 Main St. 434.793.5644 www.danvillemuseum.org • DSC=Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead St. 434.791.5160 www.dsc.smv.org • HNT=Historic North Theatre, 629 North Main St. Danville 434.793.7469 www.TheNorthTheatre.com • PA=Piedmont Arts, 215 Starling Ave, Martinsville 276.632.3221 www.PiedmontArts.org • The Prizery=700 Bruce St., South Boston, 434.572.8339, www.prizery.com
Ongoing
Guided Walking Tours: Millionaires Row, Holbrook Street and Tobacco Warehouse District. Danville Historical Society. www.danvillehistory. org. 434.770.1974. DMFAH: self-guided audio tours. Brosville Library: 11948 Martinsville Highway www.pcplib.org 434.685.1285 Danville Public Library: 511 Patton St. readdanvilleva.org 434.799.5195 DPL Westover Branch: 94 Clifton St. www.readdanvilleva.org 434.799.5152 Gretna Library: 207 A Coffey Street, www.pcplib.org 434.656.2579 Gunn Memorial, Caswell County Public Library: 118 Main St, Yanceyville, NC www.caswellcounty. gov/library 336.694.6241 Halifax County Public Library: 177 South Main St. halifaxcountylibrary.org 434.476.3357 History Research Center and Library: 340 Whitehead St,, Chatham www.pcplib.org 434.432.8931 Mt. Hermon Library: 4058 Franklin Turnpike www.pcplib.org 434.835.0326 Pittsylvania County Public Main Library: 24 Military Drive, Chatham www.pcplib.org 434.432.3271 South Boston Public Library: 509 Broad St. 434.5575.4228 www.halifaxcountylibrary.org
January 4 (thru 25)
Children of the Langhorne House Exhibit: photos and commentary; also the newly released book, Nancy Astor, A Life in Photographs by Emily Astor is for sale in the gift shop. Langhorne House Museum, 117 Broad St. 2-5pm free Saturdays 434.793.6472
January 6 (thru Feb. 10)
Forms in Clay: pottery class on Mondays 6:30-9pm $95 for DMFAH members $105 for others. Call 434.792-5355 to register.
January 8
DCC Classes Begin: 434.797.8467 www.danville.edu
January 9
Painting with Ed Gowen: Learn to paint an original oil painting. PA All supplies provided. 9am-3pm $75/85 Advanced registration required. Registration closes at noon on January 8. Piedmont Arts Bus Trip to NCMA: 8am-3:30pm PA $70 per person Ride a bus from Piedmont Arts (PA) to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh to view the exhibits Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection and Scott Avett: I N V I S I B L E.
January 10
Game Night: Main Street Art Collective, 326 Main St. Danville; 5-8pm free 434.602.2017
feature her opera costumes including Madame Butterfly. DMFAH Opening reception on Sunday, January 12 from 2-4:30pm. free and open to the public
January 13 & 14
Virtual Tour Training Workshop: for non-profits and business partners of the DMFAH Call to register. 10am3pm or 5pm-10pm on Monday; open workshop day with Google Tour Creator Elise Shaffer $25; suggested donation includes meal
January 14 & 28
Artspiration-Senior Studio: A space is provided for seniors to socialize while creating. PA 10amnoon free self-guided Bring supplies.
January 16
Artspiration: Spend studio time working in acrylic, oil or colored pencil with artist Karen Despot and fellow students. 1:30-4:30pm PA $30 member/$35 non-member Bring supplies. Register at PiedmontArts. org or call 276.632.3221. Advanced registration required. Registration closes at noon on January 15.
January 17
Opening Reception: Tawny Chatmon: 5:30-7:30 pm PA free; open to the public; Complimentary wine and light refreshments served. RSVP at PiedmontArts.org or call 276.632.3221.
January 18 (Thru May 16) Corks & Forks: 14 wines from around the world, hors d’oeuvres, live music Proceeds benefit DSC educational opportunities. 6:309:30pm $50 tickets at DSC
January 11
Cat5 Band: Cabin Fever series sponsored by Danville Harvest Jubilee $8 Danville Community Market, 629 Craghead St. 7pm 434.799.5200
Sportsology: an interactive, bilingual exhibition that explores the science behind sports through handson challenges; test your athletic abilities while learning how your body works DSC
Jauary 2020
S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Artspiration-Family: Create an original acrylic painting with instructor Michele Minich. All supplies provided. Bring snacks to enjoy during class. 1-2:30pm $20/25 PA Register at PiedmontArts.org or call 276.632.3221. Advanced registration required. Registration closes at noon on January 17. Artspiration: Hope + Healing: SOVAH Health and Piedmont Arts are partnering to provide free art classes for cancer survivors and caregivers led by artist Genie Elgin. No artistic experience is necessary. 10amnoon Pre-registration required. Visit PiedmontArts.org.
January 19
America’s Sunday Supper: Economic Opportunity- Help Make Our Community THRIVE 3-5pm Salvation Army, 123 Henry St., Danville RSVP www.serve365.org.
January 20, 21 & 22
AIR Shift Workshop: Creative people learn business skills and business people become more creative. The AIR Shift Workshop uses hands-on collaboration, design thinking and business planning to help grow creative communities and economies. Pre-registration required, visit PiedmontArts.org. $50
January 22
A Winesof-Winter Tasting: presented by Dave Slayton, a member of the Master Court of Sommeliers; See page 14. The Wednesday Club, 1002 Main Street, Danville; Coffee served at 3:15pm; program at 3:45pm. free and open to the public www.TheWedClubDanvilleVa.org
January 11 & 12
DMFAH Free Admission Weekend
January 12 (thru May 24)
Camilla Williams Exhibit: Williams was born in Danville and became the first African American to sing in a major American opera company in NYC. Exhibit will
January 18
Cars & Coffee: Old Dominion Classics Sports Car Club 9-10:30am Crema & Vine, 1009 Main St, Danville 434.548.9862
January 23
Church Sisters in Concert: Their music chronicles their childhood in Virginia with a haunting sound and blue-
The deadline for submitting information for the February calendar is Monday, January 20, at 5:00 p.m. Please send just the basic information following the format on these pages to joycewilburn@gmail.com.
Evince Magazine Page 11 grass twist. 7pm free AU Pritchett Aud., 150 Mountain View Ave. Danville
January 25
Biography and Legacy Writers’ Workshop: presented by writer Karen Williamson 10am-3pm DMFAH workshop and lunch $25/free for members
January 26 Classical Pianist Concert: presented by Thomas Pandolfi The Prizery 3pm
January 29
Let’s Learn About Vascular Surgery: presented by Dr. William Sweezer, Jr. The Wednesday Club, 1002 Main Street Danville free and open to the public 3:15pm coffee/3:45pm program www. TheWedClubDanvilleVa.org
January 30
Artspiration: Studio with Karen Despot: 1:30-4:30 pm PA $30 member/$35 non-member
Moffett Memorial Baptist Church. 7:30pm. Danville Concert Association $25 www.danvilleconcert.org 434.792.9242 or Eventbrite.com
Plan Ahead February 1
19th Annual Storytelling Festival: DMFAH 10am-2pm 10th Annual Spring to Green: a gardening event; Danville Master Gardeners & the local Va. Cooperative Extension Office See article page 11. 336.340.1981 or 434.799.6558 Matt Boswell and the Hillbilly Blues Band: Cabin Fever series sponsored by Danville Harvest Jubilee $8 Danville Community Market, 629 Craghead St. 7pm 434.799.5200 Can I Get a Praise On It Gospel Fest: Gospel groups from Halifax Co., Mecklenburg Co., and North Carolina $10/$5 The Prizery 5:30pm
February 4
Travis Williams Presentation: Chief Flight Instructor at AU; free and open to the public AU multipurpose room in the Student Center 204 Woodland Dr. second floor
February 5
American Spiritual Ensemble: spirituals, jazz, Broadway tunes;
Healthy Eating for Healthy Living: presented by Registered Dietitian & Certified Diabetes Educator Jennifer Dietz The Wednesday Club, 1002 Main St. Danville free and open to the public TheWedClubDanvilleVa.org
Gardeners Recognized As Visionaries by Isla M. Wiles, Master Gardener Although the season in which “visions of sugarplums dance in children’s heads” has passed, the season of visions is always current. Gardeners are visionaries. If they were not, how could they plant a seed and expect it to grow into a plant with blooms and vegetables or fruit? This month gardeners become serious about their visions of what they want their yards and gardens to be in spring. Using catalogs, gardeners think of past seasons and visualize what their gardens will look like and produce. Did the tomatoes experience blight and wilt? Maybe try other varieties which are more resistant. Did a flower grow foliage but not produce many blooms? Check its light requirements; it may need more sun. Is more privacy in a yard desired? Check out trees, shrubs, and vines that grow quickly and provide a screen. Although it is a distant memory in January, what about all of the extra flowers and fruits and vegetables that are produced? Flower gardeners have long been generous about sharing flowers with friends and neighbors. If one has extra, how about sharing with local nursing homes and care centers? Vegetable gardeners also share their bounty; the joke about putting zucchini on a neighbor’s porch under the cover of darkness is well known. Canning and freezing?
Of course, but one’s vision may not include those fairly labor intensive methods. One might consider giving excess produce to local food banks and pantries or ask if local churches are interested in giving to people they serve. Gardeners also visualize themselves as becoming better gardeners and gardening “smarter, not harder.” Doing so could involve using no-till methods, raised beds, and composting more. This vision can also involve using adaptive devices to make planting and weeding less strenuous and more enjoyable. Becoming a better gardener also involves taking more breaks, drinking more fluids, and stopping to smell the roses. Placing a chair or bench in the gardening environment encourages resting, and yes, visions of what could grow better in another area, what needs pruning or other attention, where to plant specialty areas such as butterfly gardens, or enjoying what nature and work have provided. Now, that’s a vision! • Need help with your gardening vision? Plan to attend the Tenth Annual Spring to Green event sponsored by the Danville Master Gardeners and the Virginia Cooperative Extension on Saturday, February 1. For information call 336.340.1981 or 434.799.6558.
Page 12 January 2020
Book Clubbing a review by Diane Adkins
Going Over Home: A Search for Rural Justice in an Unsettled Land by Charles D. Thompson, Jr.
A native of Franklin County, Thompson grew up wanting to be like his grandfather, Clifford Thompson, a farmer in the Calloway area near Rocky Mount. He pursued that dream throughout most of his adult life. Going Over Home is partly an ode to the beauty of hard work on the land and partly a clear-eyed look at the policies that have made such a life nearly impossible in present-day America. I met Thompson at a photo exhibit of tobacco farming by Jesse Andrews in the county’s main library in Chatham. Thompson is on the faculty of the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke. It was clear that he was deeply interested in farmers, the rural way of life and the pressures that our nation has put on small family farms by offering generous subsidies to corporate farming. What I didn’t know was that he had been a farmer. Thompson started by rehabilitating an old cabin on his grandfather’s property with the help of a cousin while he was still in high school. Then he lived with his grandparents while attending Ferrum College. An interview project he did as an assignment put him in the home of an elderly farm couple who lived nearby, and that experience, coupled with his family’s loss of their own farm, changed his life. He states: “I had seen the fabric of rural life tearing apart….Without community support, economic development, and health care for the needy, life in the mountains, or any other place for that matter, simply cannot sustain itself.” He changed his educational focus, transferred to Emory and Henry College to major in religion, anthropology, and sociology, and continued his lifelong work with rural people. He and his wife eventually bought land despite the steep obstacles to obtain a farm loan and established Whippoorwill Farm outside Carrboro, North Carolina. When Thompson talks about the challenges of farming, USDA policy, or land ownership and economic justice, his words come straight from his life, not simply from his research. Many of us, myself included, grew up on a farm or had grandparents who were farmers. Fewer young people today can say that. Thompson’s book tells the story of his family lovingly and with deep admiration for his grandparents. It is in honor of their lives and their work that he digs deeper to unmask the forces that made it impossible for them—and so many others--to continue. Diane S. Adkins is a retired library director.
Evince Magazine Page 13
Reflecting Forward Nearsightedness vs. Vision by Linda Lemery
I
have always been nearsighted. My myopia means I cannot see far away. I wear eyeglasses to see the things around me more clearly, but that’s not enough. I must also work hard at enhancing my vision, though my use of these terms probably varies from the norm. While an eye doctor would likely disagree with my personal definition, I think of vision as the ability to see beyond what’s in front of me to future possibilities. It’s important not to have “possibility myopia” in addition to nearsightedness. Here are some personal examples of the difference between the two. Working with students keeps me young. Students who come to me during their freshman year tend to be tentative in their work. With my nearsighted eyes, I see them master the job details, how fast they work, their work ethic, and the level of the care they bring to the tasks. As I get to know them, I begin to sense where they could go and how they could apply their skills in service to the library, the school and especially themselves. I move from nearsightedness toward visions of who these students are becoming and their potential. At a recent graduation, the commencement speaker said that if every day we find something to be grateful for and give something of ourselves in service of others, we establish goals for ourselves and we move forward. Those goals seem to be related to the vision mentioned previously. Sometimes my vision sparks a sense of possibility that relates to me rather than
to the person or object I am observing. At that same graduation, I saw a woman with a bird clip in her hair. Though the photo doesn’t show detail, I was inspired by this bird form that seemed so real and full of energy that it was poised to fly out of that woman’s hair any second and sail up into the air and morph into … what? Maybe someday I’ll know what that might be. A last example: many of you know I’ve never met a thrift store that I didn’t like. The thrill of the chase drives me to look not for things but for treasures, whether real property or metaphor. Things equate to everyday existence, but treasures make me think beyond the items themselves to what they might mean. One day I was at Durham Rescue Mission and found a fascinating little dish with a bird at the bottom and a slogan about possibilities at the top. I was so impressed that I keep the slogan in both my house and my head. Googling the term revealed a famous quote by Norman Vincent Peale: “Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities – always see them, for they’re always there.” As I step out of the old year and into this new one, I will strive to be a possibilitarian: to see beyond my nearsightedness to the possibilities that, as Peale said, are always there. The idea has so much apPeale. About the Author: When she’s not trying to see beyond her nearsightedness, Linda Lemery llemery@ averett.edu serves as Circulation Manager of Averett University’s Mary B. Blount Library in Danville. She welcomes reader comments.
New Year, New Decade, New You? by Annelle Williams
Are you planning to begin 2020 with a Dry January? You won’t be alone. Taking the month off from alcoholic beverages has become almost as popular as beginning the new year with a diet and exercise program and probably equally as successful. The main reason people take the hiatus is to let their bodies have a break after a month of partying and imbibing, giving their livers a rest. I think subconsciously there is also a nagging concern about whether consumption has turned into a habit that could be hard to break. Medical evidence shows that one month off alcohol can lower blood pressure, improve sleep and reduce weight. The most interesting outcome is that those who take a Dry January drink less during the rest of the year. You find that you don’t need alcohol to have a good time and socialize. If you’re considering trying a Dry January, here are recipes for mocktails that will give you something fun to drink while others are imbibing. Use your imagination and you’ll find there are delicious ways to replace alcohol.
Mocktails Cold Mocha Latte
brewed coffee, cooled (I use caramel flavored coffee, and sweeten if you like a sweeter drink)
cream
chocolate syrup
Drizzle chocolate syrup around inside of glass. Fill with ice cubes. Add two ounces of cream to the bottom of glass. Fill glass with cooled coffee and swirl. Serve with a sprig of rosemary to use as stirrer.
Grape Apple Cider Sangria sparkling grape juice apple cider cinnamon sticks
apples, cut in cubes green grapes, frozen
Pour 4 oz. sparkling grape juice in a glass filled with ice. Add 2 oz. of apple cider. Stir. Add 1/4 cup apple pieces and an orange slice to glass. Top with frozen grapes.
Tonic Spritzer diet tonic
orange slice
lime slice
Pour diet tonic in glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange slice and lime slice. Questions or comments? Email me: AnnelleWilliams@comcast.net I look forward to hearing from you!
Page 14 January 2020 “All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray I’ve been for a walk on a winter’s day I’d be safe and warm if I was in LA California dreamin’ on such a winter’s day”
“By late January, you’re probably going to need springtime in a glass.” When oak aged, it has a rich creamy taste. Try some White Knight Viognier from the inland valleys region of California. It is not oak-barrel aged, but it has a full-bodied nature and a fruity character making viognier a contender for cold weather white wine.
California Dreamin by the Mamas and Papas
W
hat is your choice of wine in the winter? Let’s explore some possibilities. We start with the obvious cabernet sauvignon. But which style? Perhaps an old-world variety that is subtle and savory or maybe a new world selection that is plush and fruity like The Fableist 373. It’s from the Central Coast California and as stated at their website: “Vibrant black currant, cedar and vanilla hit your tongue, as you’re warmed by the comforts of blackberries and cherries.” Sounds like a good wine for a cold winter night. How about a classic white wine for the winter months? I’m not always a fan of oak-barrel aged, buttery chardonnays but in the cold winters I like this style.
E
ach day I take one more step to declutter my house. At times it’s easy; other days it’s difficult to even accomplish a single task. That’s when I can hear my friends say words of encouragement such as: “How do you declutter and organize a mess? Like you eat an elephant—one bite at a time!” There’s no waving of a magic wand and everything looks terrific. You must pick up one piece of clutter and either throw it away, donate it, recycle it, or put it in its place. Pick up. Place. Repeat. Pick up. Place. Repeat. Just like you do when there’s a fork full of food in your hand. “Clutter is like the ocean waves. It just keeps coming in.” Even when you sleep, stuff multiples. Two dirty dishes in the sink become four, then eight, then a dozen dirty plates and glasses. A pile of junk mail starts with one innocuous envelope that grows as high as the beanstalk at Jack’s house. Unwashed clothes breed in a
Snowmen and polar bears enjoy the wines of winter. Photo by Dave Slayton
The Wine Spot by Dave Slayton
a member of the Master Court of Sommeliers
Another Californian is the Central Coast oaked chardonnay, Mer Soleil. It is full-bodied with flavors of vanilla, butter, caramel and a touch of citrus.
Next, the white wine viognier. It’s full-bodied with aromas of peach, tangerine and honeysuckle. As stated by Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly,
Throw Out the Mess & Organize the Rest The 360 Decluttering Project by Cathy K. Ahs
The Goal: Every day for 360 days, spend fifteen minutes organizing one small space. matter of hours if left unattended. That’s why the OHIO Rule is followed: “Only Handle It Once.” When you are finished using something, put it away. Soiled clothes and towels go in the hamper. Dirty dishes are put into the dishwasher or are washed by hand immediately following a meal. Toys are returned to their storage area.
You get the idea—once and done. “When something new comes into the house, something old must leave.” For example, you buy a new outfit and squeeze it into a full closet. Now look for that one piece of clothing that is never worn because it’s the wrong size or you don’t like it. Donate it. Think before you buy. A purchase is
A red to consider is red zinfandel. Zinfandel wines are bold, jammy and sometimes spicy in flavor. Wine experts usually don’t care for the term jammy; it describes a cooked berry sweetness that has a thick feeling on the palate. Consider yet another Californian from the North Coast region, beran zinfandel. I hope these suggestions didn’t make you say, “Shiver me timbers!” Just keep an open mind when you open a bottle. Cheers! • To learn more, attend the Wines of-Winter tasting on January 22. See page 10.
a commitment—either for your lifetime or the life of the item. “Spread the joy.” At some point in history, every item in your house brought you joy or it wouldn’t be there, but now it’s time to minimize your possessions by giving them away. You will bring happiness to a friend or a stranger, and you will spread the joy. Finally, the one saying that makes me laugh each time I think about it came from a friend who was helping someone declutter and organize decades of clothing, furniture, household items, and junk. After one particular difficult day, her mother-in-law said in exasperation, “Put it all in the yard and burn it!” That isn’t recommended, but it’s a reminder to take care of things sooner rather than later so you never reach that point. Send Evince your organizing success story. Email 300350 words and a picture to joycewilburn@gmail.com. Include your name. It you want to remain anonymous because everyone thinks your house is perfect and it’s not, your name will not be published.
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