Evince Magazine December 2011 by Andrew Brooks Media Group

A Stroll Down Memory Lane Leads to a Walking Tour Page 5

Eudo The Christmas Mouse

Review of Roland Heonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book Page 12

Santa & Mrs. Claus Come to Town Calendar Clips Page 26

Ginger Holbrook: Brady Bunch Mom

December 2011

Photo by Lona Kokinda.

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Editor’s Note

All is calm. All is bright. Sleep in heavenly peace.

Those familiar lines from Silent Night should be your mantra and set the theme for December. Are you thinking that peace and calm are not possible in the frenzy that sometimes surrounds holiday celebrations? Think again. Even when your plans are disrupted and nothing is going right, unexpected and better outcomes might emerge. The fact that Silent Night exists 193 years after it was written proves my point. According to popular legend, on Christmas Eve in 1818, Father Joseph Mohr had scheduled appropriate music for Midnight Mass at the Church of St. Nicholas in Austria. His plans changed, however, when hungry mice destroyed the bellows in the church’s organ. Instead of becoming stressed and angry, Fr. Mohr remembered a poem he had written and asked his friend, Franz Gruber, to create a guitar melody for it. That evening Silent Night was sung for the ﬁrst time accompanied by a lone guitar. Now its powerful message crosses all borders and is sung by millions around the world. So how does one remain calm, bright, and peaceful when everything goes wrong? Look at the serene, happy, face of Ginger Holbrook on the cover and read her story on page 3 for some ideas. My facebook friends decided to help answer that question, too. Their responses are on page 3. Linda Lemery has more suggestions in Reﬂecting Forward on page 16. Take a break from your work and enjoy the free community events offered in Calendar Clips on page 26. Then read Eudo The Christmas Mouse by local author, Roland Heon. Linda Hawker read it to her grandchildren and they loved it. See her review and picture on page 12. There is a lot to do and enjoy, but it doesn’t all have to be done in the 31 days of December. Family dinners can be shared in July; cards can be sent on St. Valentine’s Day in February; gifts can be given on Friendship Day in August. Celebrate the joy of life every month. Then December can be calm and you can sleep in heavenly peace. Sincerely,

Credits: Hair & Makeup: Katie Mosher; Skin Care: Catherine Adkins; Nails: Janelle Gammon; Genesis Day Spa & Salon

December Contents

Editor’s Note

Ginger Holbrook / Brady Bunch Mom by Joyce Wilburn

Editor Joyce Wilburn joycewilburn@gmail.com (434.799.3160)

She Said He Said / Christmas Forgiveness by Dena Hill & Larry Oldham Where Can I Find an Evince?

A Stroll Down Memory Lane Leads to a Walking Tour by Joyce Wilburn

Looking for Madonna and Child by Mack Williams

Second Thoughts / Joy to the World by Kim Clifton

OICE OF HASSLE-FREE HOLIDAYS

Publisher Andrew Scott Brooks

Ideas for Hassle-Free Holidays by facebook friends 4

THE

Associate Editor Larry G. Aaron larry.aaron@gmail.com (434.792.8695) Contributing Writers

James Barkhouser, Lynne Bjarnesen, Mrs. Santa Claus, Kim Clifton, Patsi Compton, Debra Dodson, facebook friends, Debbie Flinn, Mary Franklin, Dave Gluhareff, Linda Hawker, Dena Hill, Telisha Moore Leigg, Linda Lemery, Larry Oldham, Kim Proctor, Ben Rippe, Joyce Wilburn, Annelle Williams, Mack Williams

11 The Christmas Postcard by Telisha Moore Leigg 12 Eudo The Christmas Mouse / A Book Review by Linda Hawker

Business Manager Paul Seiple paul@evincemagazine.com (1.877.638.8685)

14 Calendar

Sales Manager Larry Oldham larry@evincemagazine.com (434.728.3713)

16 Reﬂecting Forward / Key to Hassle-Free Holidays by Linda Lemery

Sales Associates Kim Demont (434.792.0612) demontdesign@verizon.net

13 Spotting Exceptional Customer Service by Ben Rippe

19 What You Auto Know / Dealer Processing Fees by James Barkhouser 21 Around the Table / Planning a Wonderful Holiday by Annelle Williams 23 Holiday Fitness Tips / Eat What You Want by Dave Gluhareff

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 publisher. We reserve the right to accept, reject, and edit all submissions and advertisements.

24 Wright Tavern / The Past Still Lives by Kim Proctor 26 Calendar Clips

On the Cover:

Photo of Ginger Holbrook by Michelle Dalton. See story on page 3.

EVINCE MAGAZINE 753 Main Street Suite 3 Danville, VA 24541 www.evincemagazine.com

See the December Issue of Showcase Magazine Featuring Holiday Bikes For Kids.

Meet Some of Our Writers

Ben Rippe is president of Rippe’s Apparel, Rippe’s Furs and Rippe’s Shoes. He is the third generation to manage the 105year old purveyor of better women’s wear located at 559 Main Street. Contact: 434-792-6822 or rippes@rippes.com. www.rippes.com

Mrs. Claus has been married to Santa for 50+ years. She has a degree in Clausology from the International University of Santa Claus and is a member of seven other Santa-related organizations. She sometimes uses the pseudonym Anne Burke.

Mary Franklin is the Legislative Aide for Danny Marshall in the Virginia House of Delegates. She chairs the Public Relations Committee and the Ushers Guild for Danville Symphony Orchestra.

Art & Production Director Demont Design (Kim Demont) evince\i-’vin(t)s\ 1: to constitute outward evidence of 2: to display clearly: reveal syn see SHOW

Debbie Flinn, a native of Canada, is the Director of Development at Averett University. She is currently completing an MBA at AU.

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For Subscriptions, call 1.877.638.8685 ext. 6. Deadline for submission of January stories, articles, ads, and calendar items is on Thursday, December 15, at 5 p.m. Submit stories and articles to: joyce@evincemagazine.com. Submit calendar items to: calendar@evincemagazine.com. For ad information contact a sales associate or sales manager above.

Evince Magazine

hile talking to Ginger Holbrook on the phone, she describes her family as a modern- day Brady Bunch—a blended family of three girls and three boys ranging in ages from six to 17. That’s why when she opens the front door and welcomes me into her home on Danville’s Millionaires’ Row early one November evening, I expect to see lots of youngsters and their belongings, a fair amount of chaos, and a frazzled mom who is struggling to fix dinner before dad arrives home from work. Not so. Here is a house that is full, yet quiet and uncluttered, a relaxed matriarch who has everything under control and a dinner of homemade chili simmering on the stove. “I never knew I wanted this many kids, until I had them,” Ginger laughingly admits and then adds a bit sheepishly, “That sounds terrible. I did want a big family. I just didn’t know it would be this big.” She offers a quick explanation, “Jonathan had two children, I had three, and together we had one.” Ginger, a Martinsville-Henry County native, and Jonathan, who grew up in Florida, have been married almost a decade and started searching five years ago for an old house that would fulfill three requirements: it could be restored; it would be near his job, and it would accommodate their brood. Two years ago they found their diamond in the rough when they purchased a 150-year-old, 16-room mansion on Danville’s Main Street and started a renovation that is now nearly complete. “Everything we do is a family affair. Constant teamwork is a must—cooking, cleaning, yard work,” says Ginger listing a few of the household jobs, but admits she does all the Christmas decorating and gift wrapping because she loves it. Her plans for a hassle-free holiday begin early. “I start a notebook in October that goes with me everywhere. I have a page for each kid with his/her wish list, a page for meal plans, a page of pictures from magazines and websites for each room that I want to decorate, and a calendar marked with events for each day. My lists and notebooks keep it all organized,” she confides, “and I have also learned not to sweat the small stuff. The details would be too overwhelming.”

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restaurants in North Carolina to her own kitchen. “If we eat out and like a dish, I can usually ﬁgure out how to make it better at home. It’s easier and cheaper to eat here,” says the business graduate of Lipscomb University in Tennessee.

Photo by Michelle Dalton

Ginger Holbrook

Brady Bunch Mom by Joyce Wilburn It’s the small stuff, however, that makes the Holbrook house a happy home, like when husband Jonathan wakes Ginger with a cup of hot steaming coffee every morning. After he leaves for work, Ginger rouses the rest of the

house, ﬁxes a quick breakfast and drives the kids to Galileo, George Washington, and Forest Hills Schools. Later in the day, dinner is a family event. “I cook healthy food in quantity,” she notes bringing her 10+ years of experience managing

Looking around at the house that the couple has made into a comfortable home, Ginger comments, “This is not a Martha Stewart house. It is for living.” At least four previous owners each had families of six children. “If these walls could talk...,” she says, her voice trailing off at the thought and then continues, “We hope to add more memories for the house to hold on to.” With ﬁve teenagers, a six-year old, two parents, a dog and numerous cats, there’s almost a 100% guarantee that will happen. • The Holbrook House, 904 Main Street, will be one of 15 stops on Danville Historical Society’s Holiday Tour, Saturday and Sunday, December 10-11, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance at Genesis Day Spa on Park Avenue, Ginger Bread House on Memorial Drive, and Rippe’s on Main Street. • For more information, visit www.danvillehistoricalsociety.org

Ideas for a Hassle-Free Holiday from facebook friends

• Leave town and go on vacation. Fred Meder • I wish I knew! Sharon Kirstein • Charles and I agree that online shopping has really helped with the stress levels in December. Angie Crumpler • Shopping at a store with outstanding services to accommodate the customer’s busy schedule...like business or personal gift lists, gift wrapping, multiple delivery destinations, quality products, no-hassle return/exchange. Ben Rippe • Gift cards and online shopping. Virginia Williams • Have a cookie swap so you don’t have to bake 5 different varieties yourself. They make great little gift boxes for neighbors and friends. More at www.marthastewart.com. View 8 Steps to Hosting a Cookie Swap. Emilie Wolff Young • I have always exchanged gifts with about 10 friends. This year, I am hosting a brunch and an ornament party in lieu of exchanging gifts. Everyone will be able to get together for fun

and fellowship and I will only be buying one gift instead of 10. I think it will be a lot of fun too! Rose Shields • Buy your presents before December (July-August). Wrap them in November. Address cards in November. In December just party and have fun. My gifts are wrapped and ready to go. Arlene Creasy • I don’t buy presents at Christmas....a few gift certificates and some money to the kids. I buy presents during the year when I see something that someone should have. Holidays should be about spending time with loved ones....good food and drink and laughter are the best presents in life. Susan Stilwell • An online charitable gift can be one of the simplest and most meaningful gifts to give. The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region has just unveiled a new web site, www. cfdrr.org with online donations available for the first time. I personally made the first gift

through our secure online form and instantly received an email receipt at my home email and a notiﬁcation of the gift at the foundation. Maximum tax beneﬁts depend on timing. Deciding between giving cash, charging, mailing, or making an online donation is easy. If you donate cash, you must keep a bank record or written communication from a charity including the charity’s name, along with the date and amount of your contribution in order to deduct a cash contribution. If you charge, your credit card gift is effective for tax purposes on the date the card is charged. If you mail it, your gift will be mixed in with 19 billion other cards, letters, and packages in the postal system. An online charitable gift is immediately processed and receipted. Recognize friends, neighbors, and family members with a gift in their honor to their favorite charitable cause. Debra Dodson

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December 2011

SHE SAID

HE SAID

Christmas Forgiveness

Christmas is a time for forgiveness. We should all learn to love one another, especially at this time of year. We should work harder to please each other because we are in love. You and I, still being on our honeymoon, should work harder to make each other happy. For this reason I’m going to forgive you for being so negative during the holidays.

by Larry Oldham

by Dena Hill

December is here and the house is ﬁlled with laughter, Christmas music, a beautiful tree, and decorations inside and outside. I would like to say that there was joy in putting all of this together and that we shared those special moments of bliss. I would like to say that, but I can’t. The priority scale in your life and the priority scale in my life are miles apart. I love you and all that mushy stuff, but what does it take to get a man to help around the house? Who said it was the woman’s responsibility to keep the house in order or, in this case, do all of the decorating? I don’t have the space here to name all of the things that I do and all of the things that you don’t do. Is this just a man thing? I would think that at Christmas time you would want to put forth a little extra effort to impress me so that just maybe you would ﬁnd a little something extra under the tree.

This is a time of reflection about all of the good in our lives and how we should be helping others less fortunate. This is a time to look upon each other as soul mates and true friends forevermore. Why you want to dwell on the negative aspects of life and bring us down into this dreary pit escapes me at this moment. You don’t hear me picking on all your bad traits. I am trying to bring harmony and peace into the home. You are trying to bring fireworks and the idea that I would stoop so low as to try and earn your love and affection with fake cleaning and pretending to put decorations on the tree, or scooping up the garbage cans to prove some type of point. Why would I want to win favors with you only to receive presents? That just isn’t me. I will continue to live my life making you happy and filling your days with pleasure all year long. I want you to know that I forgive you for trying to make me feel bad, especially during this holiday season.

She said He Said

When I can’t get a string of lights to work, I change the fuses, while you drink eggnog and eat cookies. When I connect the “runway” lights in the front yard, instead of your helping me, your back conveniently aches. When I begin wrapping gifts for your family, all I see of you is your backside running out the door. I am not asking you to prepare a meal or make the bed, but I’ve told you before that picking up your socks won’t give you a hernia. Once when I asked you to empty the garbage, you said you didn’t know it was garbage day. Here’s a news ﬂash: garbage pickup is on Thursdays... every Thursday not just once a year. An added note: if you’ll be a good little boy, you might just ﬁnd a little something special under the tree this year...the tree you once again did not help decorate.

I hope everyone has seen the follies of your suggestions and will disregard and forgive you of your shortcomings. I want you to know that I will buy you a present this year without any strings attached, because that’s just the kind of man I am. Merry Christmas, darling, I forgive you.

He Said / She Said can be seen in Showcase Magazine.

Where Can I Find an Evince? Ten thousand copies of Evince are distributed each month at over 100 locations. Find your copy at: Danville Short Sugar’s BBQ 2215 Riverside Drive Danview Restaurant • 116 Danview Drive Danville Public Library • 511 Patton Street

South Boston Area Ernie’s Restaurant 1010 Randolph Boulevard Halifax County Public Library 177 South Main Street, Halifax

Chatham Area Pino’s Pizza Italian Restaurant 14 S Main Street El Cazador • 15 S Main Street

Yanceyville, NC Gunn Memorial Public Library 161 Main Street East The Drug Store • 106 Court Street

Evince Magazine

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ASK DR. JUDITH

��

Q: Dr. Judith, What is presbycusis?

is age-related hearing loss. A: Presbycusis Not everyone develops presbycusis. Only

30 to 35 percent of people between 65 and 75 years old have hearing loss. For people over 75 40 to 50 percent have hearing loss. Some hearing loss is expected as we age because sensory cells die. Noise exposure accelerates this cell death. As the number show, not everyone develops hearing loss. There are, indeed, families who are “genetically hardwired” to develop hearing loss as they age. It is so varied from family to family that all causes of familial age-related hearing loss has not been discovered. But, in many cases the hearing loss that occurs as we age is due to other health problems. High blood pressure, diabetes and certain medications that are prescribed to address age-related health problems contribute to decreased hearing. Research has shown that if a person has diabetes AND high blood pressure their risk of developing hearing loss is even greater. Some common medications that can contribute to hearing loss are loop diuretics for congestive heart failure and NSAIDS , only when taken in high dosage.

Paula Smith celebrates Christmas with Ragg Mopp and Count in 1954.

A Stroll down Memory Lane Leads to a Walking Tour by Joyce Wilburn When Paula Smith tells anecdotes of her childhood, it’s easy to imagine a happy little girl learning to ride a bike, playing dress-up or skating on the sidewalks of Holbrook Street. Her life was full, but as a perceptive child, she slowly became aware that her life experiences were different from other segments of society. “Sometimes daddy would take us out to dinner and the only place we went was to Pringle’s Blue Room,” she fondly remembers, referring to one of the few public locations where African Americans could eat during the years of segregation. The basement of the George and Ruth Pringle house at 358 Holbrook was a restaurant where Ruth served turnip greens, roast beef sandwiches, and other home-cooked goodies on small tables topped with red-checkered tablecloths. Out-of-town visitors probably ate at Pringle’s too, especially if they stayed at 320 Holbrook Street. The wellmaintained house a few doors up from Pringle’s was listed in The Negro Motorist Green Book as a tourist home for traveling African Americans who couldn’t stay in white hotels. Scattered elsewhere on Holbrook Street are two Baptist churches and a Presbyterian church. Paula recalls her Sunday mornings during the 1960s at Calvary Baptist. “I remember hearing Camilla Williams sing those beautiful hymns and thinking that was the neatest thing

in the world,” she says about the first African American to receive a contract with a major American opera company. Although Paula didn’t live on Holbrook Street, she attended Westmoreland Elementary School, the first dedicated school for African Americans near the intersection of Holbrook and Gay Streets. Her mother, Hortense Person Martin, taught business education at John M. Langston High School at the corner of Gay and Holbrook Streets from the early 1950s until 1969. After each school day ended, Paula played with neighborhood children until her mother was ready to leave for home. “I wasn’t supposed to go to a city school. We lived in the county, but my parents paid tuition for me to attend Westmoreland because it was convenient,” says the 1965 Langston High School and 1968 Bennett College graduate. Paula’s dad, M.C. Martin, played an important role in her life. “After the Civil Rights Act was passed, my daddy had an idea that I should see if it was being enforced. So, he told me to board the bus on Main Street and sit near the front,” she says and then tells what happened next, ”The driver asked me to move to the back. I told him I was comfortable, repeating the words I had rehearsed.” The police were called and10-year-old Paula was escorted off the bus. Her dad subsequently filed a lawsuit against the city. Martin was the longest serving president of First State Bank, the first African-

American owned and operated state-regulated bank in Virginia. These stories are part of a personal history, but Paula realizes that they are also a crucial piece of Danville’s history. With that in mind, she and her friends have worked with the Danville Historical Society to create a self-guided walking tour of the Holbrook-Ross Historic District, the ﬁrst neighborhood for professional African Americans at the turn of the century, and a guidebook, There’s a Story Here. Now, local residents and out-of-town visitors can learn more about Danville’s AfricanAmerican history from 27 tour stops on Holbrook Street and other sites throughout the city. They will discover what Paula and her friends have already learned—that a journey into history starts with a stroll down memory lane. A free full-color self-guided tour booklet will be available during Danville Historical Society’s 2011 Holiday Tour on Saturday and Sunday, December 10-11, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Booklets can be picked up at Holbrook Street Presbyterian Church, 353 Holbrook Street, where the Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta will be hosting a reception and serving refreshments or at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority House, 320 Holbrook Street, where refreshments will also be served. For more information about the rest of the Holiday Tour, call 434.770.1974, or visit www.danvillehistoricalsociety.org.

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December 2011

Caring for our community. The holidays are about family. They’re about giving, sharing and showing you care. At Danville Regional, the holidays are also about reaching out and helping those we love. Those in our community; those in our family circles. You are part of our family. Danville Regional and its associates are proud to support the following local charities and projects this holiday season: ADOPT-AFAMILY

ANGEL TREE

GOD’S STOREHOUSE

UNITED WAY

HOMELESS SHELTER

SOUTHSIDE ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND

SHOP WITH A COP

CARE PACKAGES TO SOLDIERS

TOY DRIVES

In today’s world, it can be a challenge to ﬁnd time to volunteer and support the many worthy organizations in our community. However, volunteering provides an opportunity for each of us to connect with our neighbors and create a better place for all of us to live.

patients during registration so we want them to be heard right from the beginning of their DRMC experience. We have so many things to be thankful for ourselves, and this opportunity gives us great pleasure to share this time with others.”

The associates of Danville Regional Medical Center (DRMC) understand that volunteering and community involvement is important, even more so during the holidays. That’s why this holiday season Danville Regional is involved with assisting and supporting many local charities.

Another hospital department that has devoted time and effort to helping the community is the Radiologic Technology Program. Director Kevin Murray noticed the playground at his children’s school was in bad shape. He decided to get his students involved and raise money to help rebuild the playground area.

One very special charity that the hospital is involved with is God’s Storehouse. In April, Danville Regional collected more than 2,000 pounds of food, which was donated to help families in our community. The hospital recently sponsored a Thanksgiving Food Drive, collecting non-perishable food items from Oct. 26 – Nov. 15. The coordinator of the food drive was DRMC’s Nutritional Services Department. As compared to last year, DRMC associates doubled the amount of perishable items during this year’s Thanksgiving Food Drive, donating 4,213.5 pounds of food to God’s Storehouse. DRMC’s Environmental Services Department donated the single most pounds of food, collecting 1,568.5 pounds. “The staff is always willing to give to others and is very supportive of our Medical Center’s Thanksgiving food drive,” said Joan Yeatts, Director of DRMC’s Environmental Services. “There are so many families in need in our community and support of this food drive is vital for these families.” The Environmental Services Department has also organized the Salvation Army Angel Tree fundraiser for the last four years. Associates have provided many gifts for a total of more than 100 Angels annually. Individuals can donate gifts until December 9 at 2 p.m. After December 9, gifts will be delivered to the Salvation Army at 123 Henry St. Another organization that Danville Regional is deeply involved with is the United Way. DRMC’s committee for the United Way ﬁnds opportunities to get involved and impact the community as much as possible. “United Way touches so many lives that it goes hand in hand with our commitment to helping others at Danville Regional Medical Center,” said committee member Angela Atkins. “We are spreading the United Way message to all staff and educating them on the community organizations United Way impacts. Serving others is our passion and the commitment we live by.” The Human Resources Department recently organized a celebration that included a silent auction bake sale with all proceeds donated to the United Way. Joy Stone, United Way representative, was present at the event, answering questions and participating in the festivities.

142 South Main Street Danville, VA 24541 (434)799-2100 www.danvilleregional.com

“The department directors have set goals for their staff and hope to increase giving back to our community through the United Way,” said Peggy Simpson, a DRMC United Way committee member. “Our employees realize the impact that the United Way can have in our community and are excited about helping through these agencies.” Carol Kallenberger of the Patient Access team understands community involvement is always important, but her team has to be especially attentive at the hospital when dealing with patients during the holidays. “We know how stressful the holidays can be so we make sure we listen to our patients and are there for them,” said Kallenberger. “We see the

Murray and his Radiologic Technology class of 2012 spent numerous hours cleaning, tearing down and rebuilding the activity area. They raised a little more than $14,500 of private donations to pay for this project. “We received a great deal of support from our contributors and our volunteers who spent countless hours trying to give back to our community,” said Murray. “It has been a very rewarding experience and it seems that the children and teachers love it. We hope that we can do more in the future.” Besides the associates at the hospital, Michelle Hand, director of the Child Development Center, found it important to also get the children involved during the holidays by showing support for families in need. The Center is currently collecting children’s toys and miscellaneous items for infants through school-aged children in the community through Salvation Army. Last year, Hand and her team collected coats and donated used cell phones to support soldiers. “We are enjoying the opportunity to share the joy of giving back with the children at the Center,” said Hand. “There are children in the community who are less fortunate, so it’s a teachable moment for us to show our children the importance of and impact that giving can have.” The collection will continue until December 9, when all gifts will be given to the Salvation Army. Several associates in the In-Patient Rehabilitation unit decided that, instead of signing up with an organized program, they would host a rafﬂe for Christmas wreaths. Associates gave money to purchase the wreaths and decorations, while Administrative Secretary Nancy Slayton took the time to decorate the wreaths. The money raised went to the Alzheimer’s Association because of the hospital’s previous partnership with the organization. DRMC’s Radiology Department is giving holiday stuffed animals to children using imaging services at DRMC this holiday season. Along with this project, DRMC’s Radiology Department is also supporting the Humane Society. “We have a C.A.R.E. Values statement at the hospital, and our associates take that statement to heart and live by it every day,” explained Karen Stadler, Director of DRMC’s Radiology Services. “We are very aware of the hardships of this economy. We want the community to know that we care about them and want to make a difference in their lives, whether we are donating to a fundraiser to help them or taking care of them at our hospital.” The Board of Trustees, senior leadership, associates and physicians of Danville Regional Medical Center wish you and your family a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.

Danville Regional Medical Center Gives Back During the Holiday Season

Evince Magazine

Looking for Madonna and Child by Mack Williams Just the other day I was driving on Central Boulevard and noticed the Madonna and Child transcribed in lights on the gym roof of Sacred Heart Catholic School. I remember seeing those figures the last couple of years in that location, but long before then I had seen them when looking toward the water tank at Schoolfield Mill. As I recently passed by the figures of the Madonna and Child with their unlit bulbs, I could still make out their visage, but had to look more closely to discern them, with the contrasting white clouds beyond the “black dots” being of great help in seeing those figures again. I thought that perhaps the image of the Madonna and Child is present in other places, to be brought into view with similar concentration as I had done while passing Sacred Heart that day. With this thought still on my mind, my surmise was later confirmed, when a similar image appeared again, but this time, much closer

to my home on Grove Street and without the accompanying eye strain. I passed by a “madonna” who was carefully exiting her car and carrying a juvenile-themed birthday cake to her waiting child. In addition to the cake-carrying madonna, I saw another madonna and child during a service at Danville’s First Presbyterian Church reinforcing the point in my mind that such sightings are not limited to the Christmas season. This madonna and child, instead of their usual depiction in stained glass, were three-dimensional and sitting about four rows back. Note: The Madonna and Child display was created by Dan River Mills employees and donated to Sacred Heart Church. Through a community effort and ﬁnancial support of the local Knights of Columbus Council, it has been at the current location since December 7, 2008. It will be lit every evening until the Feast of the Epiphany in January.

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December 2011

Evince Magazine

Joy to the World Note from Kim: A reader asked me about a piece that I first published in December, 2003. I am flattered to repeat it (and thrilled that in doing so, it also makes my holidays a little more hassle-free.) Thank you for reading and may your days ahead be filled with love and laughter. Good luck with that. Joy to the world, I mean. Universal happiness is about as realistic as oil and vinegar actually staying mixed or Congress balancing the budget. The sentiment makes for a great Christmas carol but is so unrealistic for me, since I can’t even manage a nice day. Well-meaning clerks are always telling me to have one when I leave their shops, but too much can happen from sun-up to sundown to blow it. That’s why my happiness doesn’t come in days. It comes in pockets, little pockets of joy: sunset walks on the beach...laughing with a friend or the first taste of hot apple cobbler out of the oven. I have simple needs when it comes to making a day nicer, especially in the morning. I’m thrilled when I find two socks that match or my keys where I left them. Hitting the lottery doesn’t hold a candle to finding pants that fit and don’t need ironing. I already know my husband loves me, so Robert scores more points if he says these three words before he leaves: Cat’s been fed. That means more to me than flowers or candy. It means more to me than whispered

sweet nothings. It means I stand a decent chance of getting to work on time. People ﬁnd pleasure in so many different ways, but I’ve never understood the folks who delight in hurting others. Once I told off someone who richly deserved it, but the satisfaction lasted about as long as a good sneeze...and I quickly regretted having done it at all. It’s easier to be contented during the holidays. There’s so much goodwill toward men you’d swear that someone had sprinkled pixie dust in our drinking water. This year I decided to do some soul-searching to see what makes my heart lighter long after the sleigh bells stop ringing. I hate to admit what I found out because it is so painfully corny, but it is the truth. I’m the happiest when I feel like I’ve lifted someone’s burden or made someone smile. There, I said it, in front of God and everybody..., which brings me to the little Baby born in Bethlehem. The One who spent His life teaching about kindness and forgiveness. The One who ﬁrst showed us how to have a nice day. The One who did bring joy to an entire world, even if it sometimes only comes in little pockets. So, let there be peace on earth... and let it begin with me.

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December 2011

Evince Magazine

week and a half before Christmas, Mama passed in our arms like some offering sweetly accepted, while it snowed outside her pale blue and sterile nursing room window. Dr. Hanson called and told us it could be any time, so we had been here for the last three or four days intermittently staying late into the night. We did not want her to go alone. On Mama’s last night, I remember my daughter Karen pulled up a goldishtan blanket to Mama’s chin and Mama’s hands curled in like talons; her closed eyes could not reach for us. Instead, we held hands round her bed, a wreath in our last hold on her. The nursing home played unfamiliar instrumental Christmas music, maybe Pie Jesu, and Maria, mama’s former nurse, kissed her rosary before leaving, softly closing the door behind her. The hands of my younger sister, Clarisse, trembled in mine, and Mike, my husband, comforted me. The other grandchildren, solemn in the face of death, looked on in silence. Even Tim, Clarisse’s ex, head bowed and tears falling, was there, twisting his gloves in his hands until Clarisse reached out her palm to him. Around us, the nurses walked in soft-soled shoes, spoke in whispers and touched our shoulders lightly when they needed to take vitals. Their eyes, sparse with hope, told us the checks were just a formality. Still we stayed. Mama could not go alone. Mama had the last room on the corner, near an exit door and the entrance to a small chapel-like area. There they had a Christmas tree and its white bulbs twinkled with a dull syncopated calm. We could say Mama knew us, but that would not be true. We could say other things that could make you sad, but her passing wasn’t one of them. She was loved. I think she knew just that at the end. Around 11:30 that night, Mama left us. The doctors making rounds came and listened to her heart as one song ended over the loud speakers and before another began. I heard Clarisse weeping softly in the background and saw the goldish-tan blanket before the doctors drew the curtain. Then we could leave; I found no peace. The funeral had been mostly just us attending. Mama had been sick a long time; funerals are hard around

The Christmas Postcard

Page 11

looked like a child’s script in red crayon, “Merry Christmas.” We are all together. Tonight, I am wrapping the last of our presents. We will open them tomorrow whether we want to or not. My ﬁnger holding down the tape, I look at the mantle and see the postcard. Almost everyone has stopped and read it at least once or twice, a sweet pulling of lips from pain. All except me. There is no correlation between Mama’s going and that card. I know that; my head knows this. But in my heart there is no reasoning. I go to the postcard and touch the front, and notice how the snow on it is slightly raised. I read the back. “Safe. Thank you.” That “Merry Christmas” with its straight lines uncontrolled. I put the postcard back on the mantle. I send a prayer for Abbie; think of Mama with a little peace as it snows outside.

ﬁction by Telisha Moore Leigg

the holidays and it had snowed. We understood when not many could attend. During Mama’s funeral, we sat in the funeral-home chapel and listened to the solo, When You Hear of My Homegoing by a lady from Mama’s church. The funeral was beautiful in the quiet hurting way things are better when they are over. So, two days before Christmas and no one felt like opening the presents, cooking or eating dishes; we felt like pulling inside ourselves like snails on the bottom of a log. Until the postcard came. Karen, my daughter, found it on our doorstep a day after the funeral, when we had a rest from making those last and seemingly endless decisions about Mama’s funeral. The postcard was not in the mailbox attached to the side of our house, but kind of wedged between the storm door and the wooden one, not hidden but not advertising either. On the front was a wintry background with one Christmas tree. The card was blue, a snowy scene, saying O Silent Night. There was no postmark on the back; it had no return address. Karen, touching the swell of her belly, read the back, and for the ﬁrst time in four or ﬁve months broke out into a smile even though she had tears in her eyes.

We all remembered her, that tragic, young girl we had taken into our home, who smoked cigarettes on the side of the house, hunched her shoulders over when Mike, or any man spoke to her, who softly asked to sleep with the light on. She was maybe 21 at most 24. I am guessing now but I would bet it would be almost a year and a half ago if remembered correctly when Karen brought her in though the domestic abuse program, made our house a temporary safe haven for her. Her name had been Abbie. That was pretty much all we knew and she had been passing through. The story was her abusive ex-husband was chasing her, beating her when he caught her, and she would be on the run again. I remember Karen telling me she had to leave her child behind and ﬂee for her life to get away from him. Amid the turkey, ham, and sweet potato pie no one wanted, the garlands and lights we obligatorily put up, Karen put the postcard on the mantle with all the other Christmas cards, well, mostly bereavement cards, condolence cards. Each glance at the mantle was the funeral all over again next to our Christmas tree. And nestled there in all that pain was Abbie and her scrawling sometimes print, sometimes crooked cursive, “Safe. Thank you.” And what

��

�� WE’RE SELLING HOUSESSM

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December 2011

Linda with her granchildren, Jadon & Isabella Hawker, Mia & Jordan Reynolds.

Eudo The Christmas Mouse A Review

by Linda Hawkers I have known author, Roland Heon, since the 1980s when he was in the retail business and I have always enjoyed talking with him. When I learned that he was writing an English/French children’s book, I couldn’t wait to read it to my grandchildren. Eudo The Christmas Mouse is about a mischievous French-Canadian mouse who lives in the United States. Eudo is very eager to share his French-Canadian Christmas traditions of pork pies and other family festivities with his new friend, Jules, and the Papillon family. The Christmas Eve festivities in the story are still traditions that continue in the author’s life. The text is in two languages, English and French, and is very entertaining. It is intended as a teaching aid for children and done intentionally at a child’s comprehension level, not to be translated literally. The illustrations are colorful and fun. I loved that the English and French are both on each page. My grandchildren and I enjoyed the story and it is well on its way to becoming a Christmas Eve story tradition in our family. Roland Heon is the retired manager/owner of Value City Department Store in Danville. For more information and to order a book, visit www.xlibris.com or call 888.795.4274 ext 7879.

Evince Magazine

To encourage exceptional customer service, the Business Development Committee of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce and Evince will recognize those who give it. When you experience exceptional customer service, tell us about it in 300 words or less. Include your name and phone number. Email your story to joycewilburn@gmail.com or visit www.dpchamber.org; click What’s New - Customer Service Award Nomination.

Spotting Exceptional Customer Service by Ben Rippe, Rippe’s President

There are many Danville restaurants where I enjoy dining; all serve their niche and me very well. However, there is one restaurant where the server has standards that are professional and almost perfect. The restaurant is Fenders Wine Bar & Bistro, 1050 Riverside Drive, and the server is Chris Woods. Chris knows his customers. He recommends menu items he has tried that day or week. He serves the dishes smoothly and checks to see that the customers like them. He never hovers, but is there when you need him. His beverage recommendations are also spot-on because he knows his inventory and interviews his guests to ﬁnd their likes and dislikes. Another great thing about Chris’s service is that when one person has completed a dish, he does not whisk it away in order to “turn the table over” more quickly. This is a pet peeve of mine in many eateries. Because of my work, I travel to fashion capitals and enjoy dining in those cities. Chris Woods equals or betters the best professional servers I have encountered. It is obvious that he prides himself on doing an exceptional job in his chosen profession. For these reasons, I recommend Chris Woods to be honored as an Exceptional Customer Service Winner.

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December 2011

December Calendar Ongoing

Guided Walking Tour – Millionaires Row, The Secrets Inside. www.danvillehistoricalsociety.org. 434.770.1974.

Through December 12

Open Registration for Youth Basketball League. YMCA – 434.792.0621.

Through December 19

Toy Drive for Boys & Girls Club. Carter Bank & Trust - Any Branch. 434.793.3321. See ad page 22.

Through December 21

Nine Visions Exhibit. Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History (DMFA&H) - 434.793.5644.

Through December 22

Decorating the Trees for a Cause – Come see the beautiful trees representing local businesses and non-proﬁts. Vote with pennies, dimes or dollars - the tree with the most money by noon 12/22 wins and the sponsor will donate the proceeds to a favorite charity. 8am-5pm. Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR). 434.766.6717.

Through December 30

PAA Exhibits – Civil War Redux: Pinhole Photographs of Reenactments, The Fleeting Glimpse: Selections in Modern and Contemporary Photography from the VMFA, Wet Plate Collodion Photography by Robert Szabo. Piedmont Arts Association (PAA), Martinsville – 276.632.3221.

Through January 2

Science Exhibits – Conservation Quest & Tree Houses. M-S 9:30am– 5pm, Sun 1–5pm. Danville Science Center (DSC) – 434.791.5160.

Through January 14

Living Off the Land Exhibit – Highlights the many ways in which humans depend on nature for a wealth of resources, as well as economic, recreational, and aesthetic beneﬁts. Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH) – 276.634.4185.

Through March 4

Damsels, Dragons and Ladies Exhibit – Pictures of damselﬂies, dragonﬂies and ladybugs along the Riverwalk trail. M-S 9:30am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm. DSC – 434.791.5160.

December 1

Bob Ross Painting Class – Cypress Creek. 10am–3:30pm. PAA – 276.632.3221. Family Discovery Night – Members experience the museum after hours with behind-the-scenes access to scientiﬁc collections areas while

enjoying samples & holiday specials. 5:30-8pm. VMNH – 276.634.4162. Hanging of the Ornaments – Veterans’ Christmas Tree. 6pm. The Senior Center, Roxboro. 336.599.7484. One Night in Bethlehem Performed by K-6 students. 7pm. Sacred Heart School - 434.793.2656. Pasos Bascios Para el Control de su Dinero – Learn the steps to improve your ﬁnancial management and tools you can use to manage your money. Taught in Spanish. 6:30-8pm. Ballou Center. 434.797.8848. Santa & Me Photo Shoot. 7-8pm. Kirby Theater, Roxboro. 336.597.1755.

December 1 & 2

Festival of Trees – Beautifully decorated holiday trees, wreaths and gift baskets donated by local organizations. 5:30-3:30pm. PAA – 276.632.3221.

December 1 (thru 4)

A Christmas Pudding – A Christmas celebration told in songs, stories, poems, and tales by Dickens, Twain, Shakespeare, and others with a host of traditional carols and holiday songs. 7pm. The Black Box Theatre, Martinsville. 276.632.2800.

December 1 (thru 15)

Bikes and Trikes – Ride around the gym or try the obstacle course. TU/TH 9-9:45am. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848.

December 1 (thru 17)

Santa Claus House Open. Th/Fri 5-8pm, Sat. 12-4pm. Person Plaza Shopping Center, Roxboro. www.visitroxboronc.com.

December 1 (thru 22)

Family Night Adventures – Activities such as corn-hole, climbing wall, basketball and archery with light refreshments. 6-8pm. Coates Rec. 434.797.8848. Chicks w/ Sticks – knitting & crocheting class. T/Th 11:30am-1pm. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848.

December 1 (thru 29)

Free Exam & X-Rays – Don’t live with pain; enjoy your family, friends, and life. TU/TH. HealthSource of Danville. 434.799.2444.

December 1 (thru Feb. 23)

Curiosity Corner – Make crafts, play games, have fun. Ages 3-5. Th 9:30am-12:30pm. Coates Rec. 434.797.8848.

December 2

Story time – Share stories and songs with a set theme. Ages birth-5. 10-11am. Danville Public Library (DPL) – 434.799.5195.

Holiday Open House. 4-8pm. Southern Virginia Artisan Center (SVAC) – 276.632.0066. First Friday Art Walk Holiday Open House – Visit art studios; meet the artists; browse original works of art and participate in arts–related activities. 5-7pm. Studio 107, Martinsville – 276.638.2107. Chest & Shoulder Hooping - Learn more about chest and shoulder hoop moves. 5:30-6:30pm. Ballou Center – 434.799.5216. Candlelight Tour – Tour the mansion, see its holiday ﬁnery and enjoy punch, hot mulled cider and Christmas cookies. 5:30-7:30pm. DMFA&H - 434.793.5644. Christmas Tree Lighting – Church choirs will sing, Santa Claus will be present and Uptown shops will be open. 5:30-6:30pm. Uptown Courthouse, Martinsville. 276.632.5688. Luminary Trail Walk – Enjoy a night stroll along the candlelit Riverwalk, listen to caroling, roast marshmallows and sip hot chocolate. 6-8pm. Riverwalk Trail. 434.799.5215. Danville Destruction II – Live professional mixed martial arts. 6pm. Averett North Campus. 434.429.7442. Jingle Bell Jamboree – Featuring Doug and Telisha Williams. 8 pm. Rives Theatre, Martinsville. 276.632.3221.

December 2 (thru 24)

Visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus. See story page 26.

December 3

Holiday Market – Handmade crafts, jewelry, artwork, wreaths, centerpieces, and unique gifts, delicious baked and homemade goods and locally grown Christmas trees. Have breakfast with Santa Claus. 8am-3pm. Danville Community Market. 434.797.8961. Pet Pictures with Santa - Bring the family, pets. 9am-2pm. Martinsville Henry County SPCA - 276.638.7297. Candle & Tea Bazaar. 9:30am3pm. Leaksville Moravian Church. www.exploreedennc.com. Story Lab – Listen to stories while doing something creative with a special theme and art medium. Ages 5-9. 10-11am. DPL – 434.799.5195. Caswell County Christmas Parade. 10am. Downtown Yanceyville. 336.694.6106. DRBA’s First Saturday Outing – Mayo River to Byrd’s Ledge hike. 10am. 336.547.1903. Bob Ross Painting Class – Cypress Creek. 10:30am–3:30pm. Ballou Park. 434.797.8848. Chatham Christmas Parade. 11am. Main Street. Draper Children’s Christmas Parade. 11am. Fieldcrest Road,

December 2011 S

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 7 13 14 20 21 27 28

T 1 8 15 22 29

F 2 9 16 23 30

S 3 10 17 24 31

Eden. www.exploreedennc.com. Flag Dedication Ceremony. 11:30am. Pavilion, Yanceyville. 336.694.6106. Ballou Tree Lighting – Listen to songs of the season and enjoy punch and cookies from Santa (for the little ones) 4:30-5:30 pm. Ballou Park. 434.799.5215. South Boston Christmas Parade. 5 pm. Downtown South Boston. 434.575.4208. Children’s Victorian Holiday Celebration. DMFA&H. See story page 26.

December 3 & 4

Pet Photos with Santa – Pet parents and pets can pose for holiday photo with Santa Claws. 11am-4pm. PetSmart. 434.799.0843. Piedmont Shootout Youth Soccer Tournament – Girls Weekend. Smith River Sports Complex – 276.638.1387.

December 4

Eden Christmas Tour. 2-5pm. Locations vary. www.exploreedennc.com. Church Sisters Concert. Prizery. See ad page 21. DACAS, Handels Messiah. See ad page 12.

December 6

Eden Tree of Life Lighting Ceremony & Reception. 5:30pm. Morehead Memorial Hospital. www.exploreedennc.com. 1859 Coffeehouse Lecture Series - Christmas Storytelling. Averett. See story page 26.

December 6 (thru 27)

African Dance Ensemble – Learn the art of African dance. Tues 6pm. Coates Center. 434.797.8848.

December 6 (thru Feb. 29)

Koates Kids Pre-School Program – Different themed activities introduced each week through various events, games, arts, and crafts. Ages 3-5. T/W 9:30am–12pm. Coates Rec. 434.797.8848.

December 7

Creative Christmas Gifts – Make a Christmas card and a tree pin to attach to it. 12:30-1:30pm. Ballou Center – 434.799.5216.

December 8

Twinkle Trees – Children ages 2-5 make ornaments for the family tree or to give as a gift. 9-10:30am. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848. Tastefully Simple for the Holidays – Gala fundraising event for Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood. RSVP by 12/2. 5-7pm. Temple Beth Sholom. 434.713.1027. Jingle on Main – Christmas Tree

Evince Magazine

Kuumba-West African Dance – Live drumming and energetic dancing. TH 6:30-8pm. City Armory. 434.797.8848.

an elaborate egg ornament to take home. 3 & 6pm. SVAC – 276.632.0066. Winter Wonderland – Food, games and a visit from Santa. 4-6pm. DPL – 434.799.5195. Christmas Open House. 4-7pm. IALR. 434.766.6717. Candlelight Downtown. 6-8pm. Historic Olde Leaksville Shopping District. www.exploreedennc.com.

December 9

December 14

lighting, movie at The Kirby. Bring a canned food for admittance to the movie. Bring a coat for a coupon for a free popcorn. 6pm/7:30pm. Roxboro. www.visitroxboronc.com.

December 8 (thru 29)

‘Tis the Season-A Day of Celebration – Enjoy hot chocolate and a light lunch as the “Carolers from Christmas Past” sing favorite holiday tunes. 11:30am-1pm. Ballou Rec Center – 434.799.5216. Holiday Youth Dance – Dazzle up, grab your friends, and come dance the night away. Ages 6-12. 6-9pm. Glenwood Community Center. 434.799.6469. Christmas Concert – Person County Community Chorus. 7:30pm. Roxboro Baptist Church. www.visitroxboronc.com.

Homeschool Wednesdays – Up, Up, and Away. Ages 6-10 & 11-18. 1011:15am. VMNH – 276.634.4185. Doodle Bugs – What’s Up? Ages 3-5. 10am & 3pm. VMNH – 276.634.4185. Polliwogs & Science Stars – Learn about the many uses of electricity, experiment with circuits, and make an ornament to take home. Ages 3–4, 1–2pm. Ages 5–7, 3:30–4:30pm. DSC - 434.791.5160. Christmas Craft Day – Fun afternoon of Christmas crafts, activities and food. Ages 6-10. 3:30-4:30pm. DPL-Westover. 434.799.5195.

December 9 (thru 18)

December 14 (thru 18)

December 9 & 10

Cinderella Kids. See ad page 4.

December 10

Snow Tubing Trip – Wintergreen Ski Resort. 8:30am-4:30pm. 434.799.5215. Handmade Holiday Market – Meet artists and purchase handmade crafts. 9am-3pm. SVAC – 276.632.0066. Santa’s Workshop – Santa will take requests for all the latest toys of the season and Santa’s helpers will assist kids ages 3-10 in making various gifts for mom and dad. 10am-12pm. Coates Center. 434.797.8848. Riverview Rotary Christmas Parade. See ad page 16. All Genre Talent Show – With cash prizes. 7pm. Gretna Movie Theatre. 434.228.1778. Dailey & Vincent – A thrilling blend of holiday favorites, original songs and bluegrass classics. 8pm. Caswell County Civic Center – 336.694.4591.

December 10 & 11

Danville Historical Society Holiday Tour. See info page 3, ad page 17 and story page 26. Civil War Historical Archiving Project – A project to identify and locate original source materials in Virginia that are related to the Civil War and emancipation. Materials may include letters, memoirs, pension materials, military passes, discharge papers, diaries, hand-drawn maps, and Civil War memorabilia. 10am4pm. South Boston/Halifax County Museum – 434.572.9200.

December 11

Roanoke Symphony Holiday Pops. 7-9pm. Martinsville HS Auditorium. PAA, Martinsville – 276.632.3221.

December 12 & 13

Boating Safety Education – Must attend both classes to complete course. 6-9:30pm. Ballou Nature Center. 866.721.6911.

December 13

Sassy Senior Egg Art – Learn the art of Faberge and complete

Holiday Memories. The Prizery. See ad page 21.

December 15

A Crafty Christmas – Enjoy crafts, carols and cookies. Ages 3-5. 9-10:30am. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848. Holiday Bingo – Play holidaythemed bingo and win cool seasonal prizes. 4-6pm. DPL – 434.799.5195. Sky Watchers – Observe the constellations Perseus and Taurus, observe the Pleiades star cluster, the red giant star Aldebaran in Taurus, the Double Cluster in Perseus, and the planets Venus and Jupiter. 68pm. DSC – 434.791.5160. An Evening of Music & Dance – An enchanted evening of music, dance and fellowship. Celebrate the diverse talents of the belly dancers, Ballou Choir, African dancers and drummers and more. 6-8pm. Ballou Center. 434.797.8848. Organize Your Financial Records – Develop an efﬁcient bill-pay system, learn what records to keep, where and how long. 6:30-8pm. Ballou Center. 434.797.8848.

December 15 & 22

Music on the Courthouse Square – Uptown shops open. 6-6:30pm. Roxboro. www.visitroxboronc.com.

December 16

Just Everyday Women Walking by Faith. 11am-1pm. Mary’s Diner. Tanglewood Festival of Lights Tour Trip – Tanglewood’s rolling countryside will be transformed into a winter wonderland of giant snowﬂakes and whimsical scenes. 5-11pm. Ballou Center – 434.799.5215.

December 17

Roxboro Christmas Parade. 2pm. Uptown Roxboro. www.visitroxboronc.com. Bluegrass Concert Series - Mark Templeton and Pocket Change. 7-9pm. Rives Theatre, Martinsville. 276.632.3221. DSO Christmas Concert. See story page 26.

December 18

Christmas Cantata – The Incarnation. 10:30am. Moffett Memorial Baptist Church – 434.799.5402. Sunday at the Kirby Gallery – Reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. 3-5pm. The Kirby Gallery – 336.597.1709.

December 19

Christmas Ball – Get dressed up for an evening of live music and dancing. For ages 50+. 7:30-10:30pm. Ballou Center – 434.799.5216.

December 20

Santa Calling – Register your child to receive a call from Santa at the North Pole. Ages 3-8. 5:30-8pm. 434.797.8848.

December 24

Christmas Eve Service. See ad page 12

December 27

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December 31

New Year’s Eve Gala. See ad page 10.

Upcoming Events January 4 (thru 25)

Art with Flo – Wet on wet technique. Weds. Location/times vary. 434.797.8848.

January 7

Bob Ross Painting Class – Cypress Creek. 10:30am–3:30pm. Ballou Park. 434.797.8848.

January 9 (thru 31)

Art with Judie – Learn how to paint with oil or watercolor. Times/days vary. Ballou Annex. 434.797.8848.

January 13

Corks & Forks. See ad page 25.

January 14

Cartoon Crazy Celebration – Wear PJs, watch cartoons and eat cereal. 10am-8pm. DPL – 434.799.5195. Kwanzaa Celebration – Bringing generations and cultures together. 6-7:30pm. Squire Center. 434.797.8848.

The Virginia Repertory Dance Co. The Prizery. See ad page 21. Special Concert – Featuring The Golden Triad Show Chorus of Sweet Adelines International & The Sapphire Quartet. 7:30pm. The Kirby Theater – 336.597.1709. Blast. CCCC. See ad page 13.

December 27 (thru 30)

January 19

Outdoor Winter Break Camp – Hiking, team building, games, camping essentials, outdoor cooking, nature crafts, GPS, indoor archery, indoor rock climbing and more. 7:30am-5:30pm. Ballou Nature Center. 434.799.5215.

Spring to Green Symposium – Sexy trees, roses, small fruits, landscape design, invasive plants, and garden photography. Registration deadline 1/9/12. 8:30am-4:30pm. Stratford Courtyard Conference Center. 434.799.6558.

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December 2011

Reﬂecting Forward The Key to HassleFree Holidays

Female readers, stands for Enlist do you subscribe Help. It was a sign to the “We Are of what I needed Woman” syndrome? to do. So, here it The one where we is: I’m going to expect ourselves to enlist everybody leap tall buildings who comes to a in a single bound? holiday dinner to To work full-time either bring a dish and contribute to a or they can make by Linda Lemery professional body of it in my kitchen. knowledge and pay But how will I get all the bills and do all the cleaning these independent thinkers to and cooking and raise perfect make what I want them to make children and make perfect holiday for a holiday dinner? The only meals in our spare time? answer is that I have to give I used to expect all this of up control. I have to let them myself and it drove me crazy. make what they want to make I spent decades deluded by and that’s what we’ll have on this Superwoman fairy tale the table. But, I’m the planner, until I threw up my hands and so we’ll eat on my china. And, acknowledged that I can’t do as the planner, I’ll have first anything perfectly. What I like to choice at deciding what food I’ll cook, they don’t like to eat. My provide. house is a wreck. I didn’t raise I love after-the-holiday turkey perfect children. However, I pay carcass soup and to make it, I a mean bill and I balance a mean have to have a turkey carcass, checkbook. Is that what I want so I’ll cook a small turkey and on my epitaph? Nope. What make cranberry sauce. There’ll I do want is holiday time with probably be 6 to 8 of us for my family and friends instead dinner, so that leaves 4 to 6 of slaving away making food I unidentified dishes that the like that not everybody wants. rest of them will bring. The So, here’s what I’m going to do. only excuse for not providing Listen up, ladies, to these two very something is if the attendee is in important words, if you are trying a wheelchair. Then, it’s optional. to wean yourself away from the I’m excited about having Superwoman mentality: Enlist everybody cook in a happy Help. hodge-podge in our kitchen Here’s how I came up with and having everybody’s culture this. I had a conversation with an represented in some kind of elderly woman who was going holiday food. Maybe I won’t eat to have 16 relatives over for all my traditional foods, but I’ll Thanksgiving dinner. She was be trading holiday exhaustion dreading preparing all that food for quality time with family and for people who she didn’t think friends. This whole participative appreciated it. I asked her, “Why approach might freak out my don’t you just make the turkey mom, because it’s not the way and have everybody bring a dish she would have done it, but to pass?” She responded that everybody will get some of nobody wanted to cook, that what they like to eat, we’ll all everybody was tired and too busy participate together, and I won’t working; they wanted to come, eat be in a coma at the end of the and leave, and that she wouldn’t meal (except from overeating). get the food she liked or get to Too bad I can’t figure out a see her relatives if she didn’t cooperative cleaning scheme to make all the food herself (which get our house cleaned up before also meant absorbing the whole the holidays ... maybe next cost of the food herself). Did I year? Have a wonderful holiday mention that she also still works season! nearly full-time? About the Author: When she’s “...Eh?” I responded. I was not puzzling over how to apply floored. “Eh” was all the response workplace theory and practice I could manage. (such as teamwork, strength That conversation whirled in diversity, and organizational around in my brain until I realized planning) at home, Linda Lemery, llemery@averett.edu works as why I was so floored (because it was a wake-up call) and why I had Circulation Manager at Mary B. Blount Library at Averett University said what I said. When you think in Danville. She welcomes your about it, “Eh” serendipitously comments.

Evince Magazine

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December 2011

If you’re over 50 or have osteoporosis, it’s important that you don’t ignore your back pain. It may signal a spinal fracture. See your doctor right away if you think you may have one.

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Spine specialists actively offering KYPHON® Balloon Kyphoplasty in your local area:

Danville Regional Medical Center Leon J. Abram, MD Eduardo Fraifeld, MD

434-791-4445 For more information on balloon kyphoplasty call 800-652-2221 or visit www.kyphon.com Medtronic maintains a list of physicians who have been trained to use, and are believed to be both active and proﬁcient users of, Medtronic’s products and who are willing to accept patient referrals. Physician participation on this list is voluntary and free. All referrals are identiﬁed based upon geographic criteria only. Medtronic does not guarantee the accuracy of the listings or the capabilities of the physicians listed. The physicians referenced may be paid consultants of, and research cited may have been funded partially or in whole by, Medtronic. Although the complication rate with KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with most surgical procedures, there are risks associated with the procedure, including serious complications. This procedure is not for everyone. A prescription is required. Please consult your physician for a full discussion of risks and whether this procedure is right for you. © 2008 Medtronic Spine LLC. All Rights Reserved. ®

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Evince Magazine

DEALER PROCESSING FEES ... To auto buyers, dirty words for sure. A.k.a. doc or documentary fee, the processing fee is routinely charged by most car dealers. But what exactly is this fee, and why do dealers charge it? Virginia law allows a dealer to charge for processing a vehicle transaction, as long as the fee is clearly posted to the public, disclosed in advertising, itemized on the Buyer’s Order, and charged consistently to all retail new and used customers. This transactional fee is also subject to the 3% VA sales and use tax, so the fee’s net effect is to raise the vehicle’s effective purchase price by the amount of the fee. Therefore, I strongly advise all potential buyers to determine a dealer’s processing fee before negotiating purchase price, because the true price is the negotiated price plus the processing fee. Processing fees are not required by the DMV or the state, so the dealer retains 100%. For this reason, some consider the processing fee to be a consumer “rip-off”.

Although Barkhouser Ford Lincoln does not charge a processing fee, I personally reject the idea of the fee being a “rip off”. A vehicle transaction is complex, and dealers routinely provide services for the benefit of our customers for which we are not compensated. Examples include tracking/replacing lost or faulty titles, obtaining out-of-state or bankheld titles, verifying and processing loan pay-offs, processing customer refunds and rebates, verifying insurance coverages, processing power of attorney authorizations, providing notary services, verifying customer identifications through federal databases, and obtaining vehicle history reports. So, buyer beware. Determine the dealer processing fee ... as high as $385 in our area ... before negotiating price. Or find a dealer like Barkhouser that charges no processing fee. Safe motoring!

James Barkhouser Barkhouser Ford Lincoln Precision Collision Center

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Evince Magazine

Planning a Wonderful Holiday by Annelle Williams

Careful planning (and I don’t mean worry) will help make the holidays more enjoyable for everyone. As much as I like my computer, I love using a big calendar that is posted and available to the entire family. If all important commitments and parties are written on the same calendar, it’s easy to see busy times, possible conﬂicts and the best time for a family/friends gettogether. I also love lists and I use them for everything from cards and gifts to meals and grocery shopping. I begin planning my meals very early. I gather the recipes, print them and keep them handy in a folder along with the shopping lists that begin to evolve. I even assign serving pieces to speciﬁc dishes on the list. Then it’s easy for others to help since it’s all right there in black and white. I also specify an area to keep extra pantry items (a box in the laundry room, for example). This keeps them from disappearing into the back of my twirling corner cabinet. No need to waste time looking for things at the last minute. One of my favorite holiday traditions on Christmas morning is sipping coffee while sharing gifts and then meeting at the table for breakfast and holiday stories. Prepare dishes in advance, refrigerate and bake them during the early morning festivities. Don’t miss the joy of the season by being too busy. Slow down, plan a little better, and really savor the blessing of the holidays. Have a very Merry Christmas!

POTATO & ONION BRUNCH CASSEROLE (adapted from a Better Homes and Gardens recipe)

4 cups thinly sliced Yukon Gold Potatoes 1 tsp. olive oil 8 oz. thick peppered bacon, diced 2 sweet onions thinly sliced 1 tsp. butter

6 large eggs 1/2 cup half and half 1 T Dijon mustard 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper 1 T minced fresh thyme 2 cups shredded Swiss Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook sliced potatoes in salted water for about 5 minutes until potatoes are just becoming tender. Drain potatoes and reserve. Add olive oil to large skillet over medium heat. When pan is hot, add bacon and cook until browned and crisp. Remove bacon and reserve. Set aside 2 T of crisp bacon to use on top of casserole. Add sliced onions to hot pan with bacon drippings, toss to combine, reduce heat and continue to cook 10 to 15 minutes until onions are very tender. Carefully add potatoes and bacon to onions and gently toss to keep from breaking the potatoes. Butter a 9x13 casserole dish. Whisk together eggs, half and half, mustard, salt, pepper and thyme. Add 1/4 of the potato mixture to casserole; sprinkle with1/4 of the cheese. Repeat. Pour 1⁄2 the egg mixture over potato mixture and cheese. Continue with two more layers of potatoes and cheese and then add the remainder of the egg mixture. Sprinkle with reserved bacon. The casserole can be covered and refrigerated at this point for baking within 24 hours. Bake roomtemperature casserole for 45 to 50 minutes, until a knife inserted into center comes out clean.

HOT FRUIT COMPOTE 1 package fresh cranberries 1 cup orange juice 2 (15oz.) cans apricot halves, well-drained 2 (15oz.) cans pitted cherries, well-drained

1 ﬁrm Asian pear, peeled and thickly diced 4 T butter, melted 1⁄2 cup brown sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 2 T orange marmalade

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add cranberries to medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Add one cup orange juice to pan and simmer, stirring, until cranberries pop open. Drain cranberries and combine with apricots, cherries and pears. Pour fruit into oven-proof casserole dish. Combine melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and orange marmalade. Spread evenly over the top of the fruit. Bake for 45 minutes. Cool, cover and refrigerate. May be refrigerated for several days. Reheat before serving. Find more recipes, on my blog: http://aroundannellestable.blogspot.com/

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Evince Magazine

Holiday Fitness Tips Eat What You Want by Dave Gluhareff MFS,CFT-ISSA

Many of us spend the days leading up to the winter holidays being inactive, eating junk food and needing sleep. We are already stressed-out and become more stressed with holiday planning and celebrating. Then we eat large quantities of highcalorie foods that lead to guilt and more stress. Most of the holiday health and ﬁtness articles tell you what to eat or not eat. I am telling you to let loose and splurge at the proper times to reward yourself for sticking with your healthy lifestyle most of the time. You can splurge at a Christmas Eve Party or Christmas Day meal or New Year’s Eve event, if you have been on track with your exercise, nutrition, and rest. You can be pro-active and prepare for these holidays and enjoy them like they were meant to be enjoyed. Exercise regularly before, during and after the holidays and your body will be on a normal schedule of healthy calorie burning. After any meal or party where you splurge a bit, do extra cardiovascular exercise. Walk, bike ride, roller blade, jog, hike. Nutrition: Eat healthy prior to the holidays. Don’t worry about what to choose at parties and meals. Relax and enjoy a few high-calorie meals and snacks. Use moderation and self control. Eat some fun foods without going overboard. Rest: You can combat negative feelings the right way, by getting enough sleep regularly. It’s important to stay on schedule and go to bed and rise at the same time. Stay structured. The holidays are a time for family, peace and giving thanks, not a time for stress, guilt and frustration. If you practice proper exercise, nutrition and rest then splurging on a few meals or at a few parties is a reward to yourself for being good.

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December 2011

right Tavern is located in the historic village center of the Town of Wentworth, the county seat of Rockingham County government since 1787. A visit to Wright Tavern is a visit to another era and the perfect place to imagine business, politics, and family life as it was in the 19th century.

Register designation. Furnishings include original pieces from the Tavern and family; furniture attributed to Thomas Day, the noted African American craftsman from Caswell County; and typical Rockingham County articles. In 1967, the Rockingham County Historical Society purchased Wright Tavern and restored it to its 19th century glory. In the 1980s, several donated structures replaced missing outbuildings. These additions were refurbished by the Historical Society with the assistance of community volunteers and donors.

In the late 18th century, William Wright, son of a tavern proprietor himself, established a large plantation and a store at Wright’s Crossroad, a community on Troublesome Creek in Rockingham County. In 1816, he built Wright Tavern, ideally situated for business across the stage road from the county courthouse. William Wright was a planter, an innkeeper, a public official, and a family man. For over one hundred years, Wright and his descendants ran the Tavern. In 1823, Wright turned the Tavern over to his son James who ran the business for over fifty years. He was followed by his grandson James W. Reid, his daughter Nannie Wright, and his great-grandson, Numa R. Reid, each of whom made improvements to the property and furthered the family business. In addition, they served their community: James Wright held several county offices, Numa Reid became Wentworth postmaster, and James W. Reid was a U. S. Congressman. The Tavern (also known as the Reid Hotel and the Reid Boarding House after James W. Reid became proprietor) hosted judges, attorneys, jury members, and litigants involved in court cases across the street. The Tavern also provided accommodations for other travelers and permanent boarders and was home to the Wright and Reid families. In addition to providing room and board, Wright Tavern offered a place for lively discussion and debate, and the best fifty-cent dinner around. Guests included such well-known North Carolinians

That tradition continues today. In 2011, elements of the historic landscape were restored and an authentic kitchen garden was added at the site. An interior stairway and the servants’ quarters above have been restored to integrate the African American story of the site.

Wright Tavern The Past Still Lives by Kim Proctor as Thomas Rufﬁn, Thomas Settle, James Turner Morehead, Steven A. Douglas, and Governor and Mrs. David S. Reid. Today, visitors to Wright Tavern tour the lobby, dining room and bedrooms; the family and servants’ quarters; and the detached antebellum kitchen, smokehouse, and grain crib. Outdoors, they enjoy the historic gardens and landscaping and walk the stone sidewalks laid in the 1870s as part of the ﬁrst civic improvement project in Wentworth. The changes to the building

over time are highlighted on the tour and exemplify 19th century practices of adaptive reuse and 20th century practices of historic preservation. The interior and exterior architectural details represent excellent craftsmanship and an eye for detail and reﬂect the social standing of the owners. Included among these features are hand-carved mantels and trim, ﬁne wainscoting, beautiful wood graining, and a rare example of a frame dog-run passage, which earned Wright Tavern its National

Recently, the Rockingham County Commissioners leased the historic courthouse to the Rockingham County Historical Society Museum & Archives (an expansion of the Historical Society) for the purpose of creating the Museum & Archives of Rockingham County (MARC), a historic complex that will include the Wright Tavern historic site, a county museum, and a central repository for archival materials and research. MARC will open in August 2012 showcasing the Smithsonian Travelling Exhibit, Journey Stories, from August 11September 22. MARC was chosen by the North Carolina Humanities Council as one of only six locations in North Carolina to earn the privilege. The Tavern is open to the public for guided tours every Thursday and Friday from 10am to 4pm, and by appointment. The Tavern is open for special Saturday events throughout the year. For more information visit www. rockinghamcountyhistory.com or contact the Tavern ofﬁce at 336.394.4965

Evince Magazine

Congratulations Gretna Health & Rehab! Distinguished as a Five-Star Quality of Care Center!

 

Five-Star Quality of Care Rating Designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services* ®

Call us for a tour and to discuss a plan of care to ﬁt your individual needs. *For more information visit medicare.gov

Gretna Health & Rehabilitation Center 595 Vaden Drive • Gretna, VA 24557 • 434-656-1206 Gretna HRC Evince Survey ad_10_11.indd 1

10/7/2011 1:13:11 PM

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December 2011

Calendar Clips Clip it. Post it. Do it.

For more activities, see the calendar on page 14-15.

December Visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus

From 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, December 2, take the children to Chathamooca, 33 North Main Street in Chatham, for photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Proceeds will beneﬁt the Heritage Academy. On Saturday, December 3, the couple will appear in the Chatham Christmas Parade starting at 11 a.m. on Main Street. Later that day, they will be at Lou’s Antique Mall, 231 Main Street in Danville, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. On Saturday, December 10, from noon until 4:30 p.m., Santa’s Workshop at 105 South Union Street will be open and the couple will welcome all. Their visit is sponsored by Virginia Rideout of River City Towers. At 6 p.m. that evening, they will be the highlight of Danville’s Riverview Rotary Christmas Parade on Main Street. On Christmas Eve, December 24, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at River City Towers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a ﬁnal visit. (submitted by Mrs. Claus)

Saturday, December 3 Victorian Holiday

Children ages four to eight and their accompanying adults are invited to join the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, 975 Main Street, from 10 a.m. until noon to see the Sutherlin Mansion in all its seasonal ﬁnery, make Victorian-style keepsakes, listen to storyteller Rebecca Dellinger and enjoy holiday refreshments. Admission is $5 per child; accompanying adults are free. For reservations, call 434.793.5644. (submitted by Patsi Compton)

Tuesday, December 6

Christmas Storytelling @ Averett

At 7 p.m., Dr. Betty Heard will read Christmas stories to children in Jut’s Café on the bottom ﬂoor of the Averett Student Center, corner of Townes and Woodland Drive. Following that, Dr. Ann Garbett will tell the history of Christmas. Gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate will be served. Free and open to the public. AU encourages lifelong learning by offering continuing education interest courses. Visit www. averett.edu/continued to see a full schedule of continuing education classes and upcoming coffeehouse topics. There’s something for everyone – from historic preservation to tax preparation and even ballroom dancing. (submitted by Debbie Flinn)

Top: Dr. Betty Heard Bottom: Dr. Ann Garbett

Saturday & Sunday, December 10-11 39th Annual Holiday Tour

From 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. each day, experience Miles of Makeovers and see how historic buildings are being reused for modern purposes and how historic homes are decorated for the holidays. A highlight of this Danville Historical Society Tour is the commencement of a self-guided walking tour of the Holbrook-Ross Historic District. This district was the ﬁrst neighborhood in Danville for African-American professionals at the turn of the century and where prominent African Americans lived until the late 1960s. A free full-color 12-page booklet, There’s a Story Here, will be given to each tour-taker to use immediately or in the future. Private residences on tour are: the Conway House at 161 Mt. View Avenue, currently a guest house for Averett University; Jonathan and Ginger Holbrook’s home at 904 Main Street; the studio apartment of Sally Popu and Wayne Kumpitsch in the back of the Danvillian Gallery at 210 North Union Street and the Ferrell Building at 533-535 Main Street where ﬂats and townhouse apartments will soon be available for lease. There will be a reception at Holbrook Street Presbyterian Church (353 Holbrook) and at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority House, 320 Holbrook Street. Refreshments will also be served at Rippe’s Shoes, a former ABC Store at 563 Main Street. Tour-takers can register for door prizes at all sites. For a full listing of sites, see the DHS ad in this issue. Advance tickets are $20 and are available at Genesis Day Spa, 695 Park Avenue, the Ginger Bread House on Memorial Drive, and Rippe’s on Main Street. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the tour at the private residences listed above. Every tour- taker receives a souvenir booklet explaining the history of the sites on tour. For more information, call 434.770.1974, visit www.danvillehistoricalsociety.org. (submitted by DHS)

Saturday, December 17

DSO Holiday Beneﬁt Concert

The Danville Symphony Orchestra, directed by Peter Perret, will present their holiday concert Happy Holidays starting at 8:00 p.m. in the GWHS Auditorium, 701 Broad Street. The performance will feature a range of selections from classical to contemporary and inspirational to playful. Included are classic selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and contemporary compositions such as Leroy Anderson’s exciting Bugler’s Holiday that highlights a trumpet trio. Members of the Danville Area Choral Arts Society will join the orchestra for choral presentations, including the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. During a contemporary music segment there will be an audience sing-a-long. There is no admission charge. Attendees are asked to Peter Perret bring at least two non-perishable food items or cash donations for God’s Store House. Anyone who plays cello, violin, viola, string bass or French horn and is interested in auditioning for the DSO should call 434-251-0843. Visit www.danvillesymphony.net for more information. (submitted by Mary Franklin)

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