Evince Magazine February 2016 by Andrew Brooks Media Group

Evince Magazine Page 1

Food for Thought Get Your Main Meal at Main Street Coffee Page 12

Wes Spivey

Teaching Power & Endurance at SPEC Page 3

February 2016

Photo by Michelle Dalton Photography

Page 2

Editor’s Note

It’s time for a heart-to-heart talk. Are you listening to what your heart is telling you to do? Wes Spivey did and now he runs a new ﬁtness and training center. His picture is on the cover and his story is on page 3. In a similar vein, Ciji Moore paid attention with all her heart to what she wanted to do in life and she’s bringing the gym to you! It will do your heart good to follow her advice on page 5. Evince contributors always put heart and soul into every word that is written and they tell about people whose hearts are in the right places. Read Trena Taylor’s Big Hearts Make Little Hats on page 23. Maybe you’d like to join them? Telisha Moore Leigg writes ﬁction about giving love away in Heart on page 10. Yesterday’s Love, a heart-warming poem by Stephen Staats, is on page 8 and Linda Lemery’s Straight from the Heart is on page 26. On a much lighter note, read Romancing the Dog by Dena Hill and Larry Oldham on page 4. Speaking of hearts and love, actress and humanitarian, Ashley Judd, was in Chatham recently and brought the message to “love yourself.” See page 14. Carollyn Peerman has the same theme in her article, What I’ve Got Is Hot on page 21 and so does Casey Molloy in Meditation Moment – Accept Yourself on page 11. Just a reminder that the day of love, St. Valentine’s Day, is February 14. See the calendar for ways to celebrate. Dave Slayton encourages you to Celebrate...with a Power Couple. For a full explanation, read page 27. I know you will enjoy all the news and pictures in these 32 pages. This is the best issue ever! Cross my heart. (Sorry, I had to sneak in one more heart expression.) 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.

February Contents Editor’s Note

Wes Spivey / Teaching Power & Endurance at SPEC by Joyce Wilburn

She Said He Said / Romancing the Dog by Dena Hill & Larry Oldham

Say Good-Bye to Get Fit Dan River Region by Ciji Moore & Stephanie Ferrugia

Free Admission Free Parking Free Thinking by Joyce Wilburn

Spotting Exceptional Customer Service Yesterday’s Love / Poem by Stephen Staats

Second Thoughts / Coat Tales by Kim Clifton

10 Heart / Fiction by Telisha Moore Leigg 11 Meditation Moment / Accept Yourself by Casey Molloy 12 Food for Thought Get Your Main Meal at Main Street Coffee by Stephanie Ferrugia 14 Ashley Judd / Inspiring Others to Love by Schuyler Mitchell 16 Calendar Clips 20 Laura Beth Williams & Jewel Dale Creating a Culture of Service by Alexis Ehrhardt

CEO / Publisher Andrew Scott Brooks President Director of Sales & Marketing Larry Oldham (434.728.3713) larry@evincemagazine.com Editor Joyce Wilburn (434.799.3160) joycewilburn@gmail.com Associate Editors Larry G. Aaron (434.792.8695) larry.aaron@gmail.com Jeanette Taylor Contributing Writers

Diane Adkins, Kim Clifton, Ina Dixon, Alexis Ehrhardt, Stephanie Ferrugia, Adam Goebel, Karen Harris, Dena Hill, Carol Henderson, Ann Kirby, Telisha Moore Leigg, Linda Lemery, Schuyler Mitchell, Casey Molloy, Ciji Moore, Fred Motley, Larry Oldham, Carollyn Lee Peerman, Alice Saunders, Dave Slayton, Libby Spainhour, Stephen Staats, Trena Taylor, Melanie Vaughan, Joyce Wilburn, Annelle Williams, Mack Williams

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

Lee Vogler (434.548.5335) lee@showcasemagazine.com Misty Brooks (434.728.2905) misty@showcasemagazine.com

21 What I’ve Got Is Hot by Carollyn Peerman 23 Big Hearts Make Little Hats by Trena Taylor Where Can I Find an Evince? 24 Book Clubbing Better Than Before; Mastering the Habits of Everyday Lives a review by Diane Adkins 25 What’s Happening in the Pittsylvania Co. Libraries 26 Reﬂecting Forward / Straight from the Heart by Linda Lemery 27 Wine Spot / Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Power Couple by Dave Slayton 28 Star Wars Memories Awaken by Mack Williams 29 Around the Table / From the Heart by Annelle Williams 30 Photo Finish Photo of Wes Spivey by Michelle Dalton Photography

OICE OF THE HEART

Marketing Consultants Kim Demont (434.792.0612) demontdesign@verizon.net

18 Calendar

On the Cover:

THE

Don’t Forget to Pick Up the February Edition of Showcase Magazine

Meet Some of Our Contributors

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 Deadline for submission Editorial Policies: of March stories, articles, and ads is Friday, February 19, at 5:00 p.m. Submit stories and articles to: joycewilburn@gmail.com. Submit calendar items by Monday, February 15, at 5 p.m. For ad information contact a marketing consultant or the Director of Sales & Marketing listed above. 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.

EVINCE MAGAZINE 753 Main St. Suite 3, Danville, VA 24541 www.evincemagazine.com © 2016 All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part in any medium without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Carol Henderson is the Director of Music and the organist at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Halifax.

Schuyler Mitchell is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, and a senior at Chatham Hall

Stephen Staats is a developer who completed the Smith Seeds Lofts; he is currently commencing his next project located at 442 Main Street.

Fred Motley is the organizer of the 15th Annual Storytelling Festival. See page 16.

We now accept Visa, MC, and Discover for ad payments

For subscriptions to Evince, email cindy@showcasemagazine.com

Evince Magazine Page 3

es Spivey sits in an oversized chair behind a makeshift desk and surveys the 30,000-square foot former tobacco warehouse on Wilson Street that is now home to Southside Power & Endurance Company (SPEC). He is proud of the growth of his four-year-old ﬁtness and training center for men and women, but wants to tell the story of the chair’s origin instead. “This was the lifeguard chair from the old YMCA,” he says, with a smile, aware of how out of place it is and then explains, “They weren’t going to take it with them when they moved, so I asked if I could have it.” The tall, wooden piece of furniture is a reminder of his years from 2009 to 2011 when the Danville resident served as the Y’s Senior Program Director. That changed on January 18, 2012 when Wes became his own boss as owner/operator of SPEC. Explaining the career change, the former soccer player and coach exclaims, “You can’t beat working for yourself and being your own boss.” Being an entrepreneur wasn’t always one of Wes’ goals. He continues, “I majored in criminal justice at Georgia Southern University and played soccer there. When my eligibility to play was up, I went to the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and graduated with a degree in biology in 2004.” The Eden, North Carolina native decided chiropractic school in Connecticut might be a good career path, but that had its drawbacks. “I was accumulating debt and the market for chiropractors was becoming saturated,” he remembers. At the same time, he was trying to stay physically ﬁt and teach swimming to earn a little extra money. After class one day, a student’s parent asked for advice on staying in shape. “I started training her and then her friends and their husbands. Slowly, being a personal trainer became a lucrative job. When I had to turn down clients to stay in school, I decided to do what I enjoyed instead of accumulating more debt,” he says, as if stating the obvious. “Helping people be healthy and stay healthy is an awesome job,” he adds. “I also like working with people from different backgrounds and ages and with different needs.” Current clients number around

keep the sessions small so no one becomes lost in the shufﬂe,” he says. Thirty-minute sessions are held every weekday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.; 11:00 a.m. to noon; and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday’s sessions are from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Wes tells how the classes work, “Our programs last between 16 to 20 weeks. At the beginning of the program we test to see where you are. We test at the end to see the measured results.” Clients check the whiteboard upon arrival to learn the workout for that day. There is an acclimation period for newcomers—anywhere from a week to a month. “You can join the sessions at any time. It might take two weeks or more to teach you how to do the workout properly.” There is a one-week free trial and no initiation fee. “I want to help everyone create more power and increase their endurance,” he says as a client politely interrupts to give a report before leaving.

Wes Spivey

Teaching Power & Endurance at SPEC by Joyce Wilburn Photos by Michelle Dalton Photography.

100, ranging in age from ﬁve to 65, and women out-number the men. “I help people achieve what they can’t do on their own. When I worked at the Y, I watched

people come in and do just what they were good at. They didn’t leave their comfort zone. Here, you have a coach who shows you what to do and how to do it. We

Locating SPEC can be a challenge because it’s in the historic tobacco warehouse district with its block-long buildings. Wes jokes, “Finding us is part of the workout.” He then adds, “Seriously, SPEC is about teaching people how to exercise correctly, lift weights, and achieve results.” With that, he prepares to return to the large open workout space flooded with natural light and his next group of clients. • SPEC is located in the former Virginia Carolina Tobacco Sales Warehouse, 402 Wilson Street, at the corner of Wilson and Lynn Streets. The present building was constructed in 1947 after a fire destroyed the earlier warehouse built in 1937. The structure is one and two stories along Lynn, Wilson, and Loyal Streets. At one time, commercial businesses utilized space in the lower story while the floor above (SPEC’s space) was used for selling tobacco. In the late 1970s, it was the only auction warehouse in the district still in operation. • The grand opening of SPEC’s new location is on Saturday, February 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Free 30-45 minute classes will be offered: boot camp at 9:00 a.m.; kid’s class at 10:00 a.m.; and open class at 11:00 a.m. and noon. • For more information, visit www.southsidepecompany.com or call 434.770.7461.

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February 2016

SHE SAID by Dena Hill

Romancing the Dog Guilty. I admit it. I came home yesterday, walked in the house, kissed and patted Sophie on the head, and then walked past you to put my things down. I don’t suppose you would believe me if I said I had to get rid of my purse, lunchbox, and coat before I threw my arms lovingly around your neck to give you a proper hello. No, I didn’t think so. But how about this? We know two older dogs that are ill and probably won’t live much longer so I have to shower our Standard Poodle with affection while we still have her. Will that work?

gives both of us plenty of attention and dedication. We can be taught love and loyalty from our pets. Not growing up with a pet and never being around one, I have learned a lot in the past few years about love from your dogs. I know I shouldn’t call them dogs, because in your world, they are our children. That helps me understand your affection and your attention to the needs of Sophie.

She said He Said

Seriously, you know you’re number one, but maybe I don’t say it often enough. February is all about hearts, flowers and sentimentality so it’s a good time to say how much you mean to me. You definitely make life interesting and comical. I’ve always heard that laughter is the best medicine and we certainly do a lot of laughing both at and with each other. It isn’t too late to add to our New Year’s resolutions, however, and kiss each other first and Sophie second.

HE SAID

The problem as I see it is me. Yes, as a man I know I don’t admit to being wrong as much as I should or could. I shouldn’t have chided you about showering all of your attention on the dog before hugging or kissing me. It was just my ﬁrst reaction and although I was being facetious about it, my intent wasn’t to make you feel guilty. Okay, maybe a little-let’s say ten percent or so.

The good thing about our relationship is we say every day how much we love each other and we kiss every day. We both know deep in our hearts the mutual love that we share and not just on Valentine’s Day. Isn’t that what being in love and being married should be like? It sure feels good to me. Thank you for being you and Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you... and Sophie, of course.

by Larry Oldham You should never feel guilty about showering love and attention on our 11-year-old Sophie. She

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

Evince Magazine Page 5

Say Good-Bye to Get Fit Dan River Region Say Hello to...... C Your Body Fit by Ciji Moore

What’s the saying? Choose a career you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. I’ve always loved fitness and wanted to make a career of it one day. That day came five years ago when I had the opportunity to work as the Program Specialist of Healthy Eating and Active Living for Get Fit. To see people respond to exercise with laughter and smiles -- I knew I could make a positive impact on how they viewed getting fit. It’s exciting to announce that I’ve started C FIT to see more smiling faces of those who work hard to reach their goals of becoming healthier through physical activity. If you’re a stay-at-home parent who doesn’t have time to make it to the gym or maybe you don’t feel comfortable in a gym

environment or you want to squeeze in a workout during your lunch break with a group of co-workers--I will come to you! Yes, I’m coming to you. We can workout in the comfort of wherever you are. Don’t worry about equipment. I’ll bring that to you, too! Just know, you’re going to get in a great workout using body weight, dumbbells, resistance bands, medicine balls, and more. I look forward to working with you. For more information about C FIT and how to schedule sessions email cyourbodyﬁt@gmail.com or call 434.203.1714

Ring the Southern Dinner Belle by Stephanie Ferrugia

Perhaps the most important lesson I learned as Program Director at Get Fit was that folks want to cook and eat

healthy, but time, budget and other commitments get in the way. It seems that good nutrition has become synonymous with frustration, complicated recipes and expensive ingredients. Let’s dial it back a minute. Our stomping grounds across the South are home to the ﬁnest, most soul-stirring foods in the world. Before the drive-thru and TV dinners became popular, generations consumed fresh, locally grown, home-cooked meals. Portions were balanced and dishes were an experience to share with family and friends. While many bygone traditions are no longer practical for our convenience-driven lifestyles, the tried-and-true recipes of our ancestors were always meant to be versatile and never go out of style. Indeed, we can still make our culinary forebears proud by keeping classic family recipes in circulation with a dash of timesaving techniques and a pinch of health in mind. Thus, the

Southern Dinner Belle was born and my passion for healthy Southern fare took center stage in my heart and kitchen. There’s no better time to live and eat well in the South. Not surprisingly, it all begins around our tables. Rekindle a love of Southern cooking and traditions with me at www.southerndinnerbelle. com and connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Looking to take it a step further and share the Southern Dinner Belle experience at your own table? You are in luck! Beginning this spring, I will share Southern food legacies with you in the privacy of your own homes and teach interactive cooking classes for you and your guests. Holler at me on my website for more information. See you real soon!

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February 2016

aithful readers will remember I received a brochure from the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History with my membership card that promised free admission to over 800 arts, cultural, and historical institutions. Always skeptical that nothing is really free, I decided to test that pledge by visiting a few of the museums listed in the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) brochure. The first stop was the George C. Marshall Museum in Lexington, Virginia (May 2015, page 6); next was Wilton House Museum in Richmond (November 2015, page 6); then the Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach (January 2016, page 6). The most recent trip was to the Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Here is what happened: Before I opened the door to the Weatherspoon Art Museum (WAM) in Greensboro, North Carolina, I had to open my mind to a new, dynamic way of painting—using fireworks! Yes, artist Rosemarie Fiore uses a technique that might seem to border on chaos but she has it totally under control. Her large works on paper are made by exploding and containing colored, smoke fireworks, resulting in bursts of saturated color that are overlapped and collaged into abstract compositions in Fireworks Drawings. The next exhibit that I viewed was Reclaiming Nature: Art and Sustainability organized

Free Admission Free Parking Free Thinking by Joyce Wilburn by Elaine D. Gustafson, Curator of Collections. It illustrates how nature endures over time in spite of the destructive forces of air pollution, global warming, deforestation, industrialization, and vandalism. The beauty of nature is still present, however, acting as a reminder of what was and what can be. WAM has six galleries on two levels with interesting sculptures in the hallways. Be sure to look for the reclining woman with crazy hair made of bottles and the mannequin wearing a sound suit of birds. When you leave, look up in the lobby to view The Frieze that encircles the atrium. It tells a satirical story of events in human civilization. Begin by searching for a female and a male ﬁgure atop an inverted cone. The narrative then divides into two gender-based paths: clockwise for the female version and counterclockwise for the male. Artist Tom Otterness’ plump ﬁgures work, play, battle, and revel in their achievements. For increased understanding, ask for

an explanation card at the Visitor Desk. WAM was founded in 1941 and has grown from a university teaching gallery to a fully professional museum that is nationally recognized for its excellent collections and exhibition program. The Museum welcomes over 32,000 visitors annually. I suggest you add to that number by visiting soon. The admission is free; the parking is free; the thinking is free.

the sculpture garden to the entrance. • WAM is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. • From more information, call 336.334.5770 or visit weatherspoon.uncg.edu • Noon @ the ‘Spoon, a 20minute, docent-led tour, is offered the second Tuesday of each month. No reservations needed.

• WAM, 500 Tate Street, is located at the corner of Spring Garden and Tate Streets in Greensboro, North Carolina. The parking lot is behind the Museum, accessed by Tate Street. Walk through

Nick Cave, “Sound Suit”, 2011, fabric, sequins, beads, ceramic bird ﬁgurines, ceramic ﬂowers, metal foliage, metal armature and mannequin, 98 x 34 x 26 in.

Rosemarie Fiore, “Firework Drawing #26”, 2009, lit ﬁrework residue on Fabriano paper, 41 x 48 in.

Henry Schnakenberg, “Edgewater, NJ”, 1938, oil on canvas, in the exhibit, Reclaiming Nature: Art and Sustainability.

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February 2016

Spotting Exceptional Customer Service

Yesterday’s Love Stephen Staats When you smiled at me yesterday, I realized Just how much I miss that smile; the smile that Once I saw it in the morning, it lit up my day like a sunrise over the mountains. It is a smile so beautiful and bright, that Like a lighthouse, it draws me clear of danger and Rests me safely on the shore.

Since August 2007 when this column began, 93 people have been recognized as being outstanding in their service to customers. Have you received exceptional customer service recently? If so, give that person a pat on the back by nominating him/her for this award. In 300 words or less, tell us what happened. Evince and the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce want to publicly acknowledge a job well done and encourage others to take pride in their work. Email your story to joycewilburn@gmail.com or chamber@dpchamber.org or mail to Spotting Exceptional Customer Service, DP Chamber, P.O. Box 99, Blairs, VA 24527.

Paula Deen’s

DOGWOOD C

OLLECTION

When you looked at me yesterday, I realized Just how much I missed those loving looks. I ﬁnd myself staring at you, for you are so beautiful it pains me to look away. And I know, if I stare too long, I will get caught And the look you then give me is as painful as one experiences Staring too long into the sun. But yet I cannot help myself, Because your beauty is as addicting to me as drugs to an addict. When we touched yesterday, it made me white hot with desire And all the memories of being together as one came ﬂooding back Like a broken dam. Your gentle, loving touch is as important and necessary to me as breath to my lungs. I cannot breathe without you in my life nor live without your touch. My memories of us together are plentiful and glorious. You are the love of my life and to take that love from me Is tantamount to taking the sun away from the earth. All life would cease to exist as will I without you. Your love, like a beacon, has saved me from a sad, lonely life and Brought joy and wonderment into it. The very thought of you makes me feel alive As my love for you is so strong that it cannot be extinguished. For without your love I would be like a ship in a fog Drifting aimlessly about until I crashed into the rocks and perished. But my love for you lifts the fog, leading me to your loving embrace Like a sailor who fell from grace only to be rescued by his life’s love. I pray that you are not enticed by promises of a better life Like the song of the sirens luring sailors to their untimely demise, For our love can see us through the sad times, And will wipe away the painful memories and replace them with new, Exciting, loving memories that will surely keep us together For all eternity.

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I love you and I know that yesterday you loved me. Our love is deep and strong and the ﬁre in our hearts Can never be made cold but will burn hot forever. No one can replace you in my heart or in my soul. I pray to the God that I believe in To bring you home to me; and if that does not happen Then I pray that he is a benevolent God Who can take away the pain and suffering that I feel without you. And all I would then request, is that He takes me to his home For without you in my life It is not worth living.

Evince Magazine Page 9 I wanted somebody to bring it to my street. If not for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any at all. The three times my order was received, I’d chosen the wrong size. The fourth time it was delivered, the shippers chose the wrong address. Maybe karma was getting back at me for not shopping locally. Maybe fate was having fun at my impatience. Whatever the reason, conveniently shopping from home meant waiting five months to get the same jacket probably hanging in the physical store less than 45 minutes away. Even dumber, I paid over $80 in restocking and return fees for a wrap that only cost $60. With all the boxes coming and going, it will take forever to get my account straight. Right now my poor bank statement has more checks and balances in it than the Constitution. Even so, it was worth it to finally get the coat I loved at first sight. It does keep me warm when it’s cold, dry when it’s wet. Best of all, it’s one that I can button, even if it pushed all of mine to get it here.

Coat Tales Ask any woman. There are no sweeter words ever uttered than these: “And...I can button it.” Finding a coat that fits is hard. Finding a coat that fits and looks great is harder. Finding a coat that fits, looks great and I can button is hardest. That’s such a fashion trifecta I’d have better luck holding a winning ticket at Belmont than at Belk. Which brings me to my quest for the perfect all-weather coat. One that would keep me warm and dry. One that would stay crisp and not wrinkle. One that would cover my arms and legs without costing me both. The good news is I found it. The bad news is they lost it. Turns out shipping and delivery

aren’t the same thing. Back in the day, the guys in brown were in competition with the ones in blue, but not so anymore. The Hatﬁelds have seemingly married the McCoys. This means that rather than the delivery man dropping my package at my doorstep, he takes it to the post ofﬁce for a carrier to stuff it in my mailbox. Some refer to this delay as the “last mile.” I call it the last straw. When I order something, I want it sooner not later. Guys have it easy. They can order anything quickly and effortlessly. My husband is such a fan that he spends more time in the Amazon than the indigenous peoples do. He thinks buying online is

perfect because the shopping cart remembers the numbers for his VISA and his address. I think it’s flawed. Online shopping needs more than a PIN number to make a transaction complete. It needs a dressing room. Life is so unfair. Robert can walk past a display table, pick up a pair of jeans and head to the checkout with no more thought to the purchase than he would give to grabbing a pack of gum. I can’t even buy identical slacks off the same rack and have both fit, so I knew I had no chance of a getting my raincoat on first try. Unfortunately, I was right. I struck out three times before I figured out the size I needed although it wasn’t entirely my fault. The website would only reveal the brand as Famous Maker. Everyone knows that expensive clothes run big. It’s nice to think that I’m not fat. I’m just broke. At any rate, having the designer’s name could have helped. Ralph Lauren is a famous maker, but so is OshKosh B’gosh. I couldn’t tell if I was buying something to wear on Wall Street or on Sesame Street. Either way,

��

�� WE’RE SELLING HOUSESSM

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February 2016

Week 4:

Heart

“Anything there?” Mandy Blue Eyes asked, pulling back the front screen door. I don’t say nothing, because there is nothing to see and so nothing to say. How do you wish away the heart? For a while we kept finding these gifts on the front porch: a bag of self-rising flour, a half packet of Pampers pullups, some packs of Juicy Fruit gum, and that brown paper bag with a crumpled twenty and some change inside, the bag weighted down with a dirty rock. We knew where these “gifts” came from, although we never saw her leave them, Mean Keisha. And despite her just being 18 or 19, she’s just a girl like me at my 15. I bet she thinks we think she’s bad for running off without her baby, leaving him with us, but we don’t. Living on grace and good luck, we’re hanging on the verge of vagrancy ourselves, and we know the truth of her. She’s a good mama, out there, alone or not, safe or not. I bet Mean Keisha’s scared and brave both, ‘cause she got heart. How do you wish away the heart when it bleeds pain and love alike? “Come on in,” Mandy Blue Eyes spoke, her fingers shaking a little, but she’s not drunk and she’s not drinking. Came right out and said she can’t do nothing like that with a baby in the house. She holds Kwon now in her lap like he’s glass and gold both, and he’s sleepy and pulling his brown fingers through her blond ponytail in one hand and haphazardly eating my cinnamon applesauce with the other. Mandy Blue Eyes never stops holding him now. Mean Keisha left Kwon about a month ago. She didn’t tell anyone she was going, and me and Mama and Mandy Blue Eyes, we haven’t told anyone. She’ll be back we say. I know they say God is a father, but I think sometimes He’s a mama, like Mean Keisha, and He had to leave His baby and hope humanity took good care of it. And I think when it rains, He sad ‘cause He know and we know we didn’t do so good. I think God loves like a good mother who can’t hold you any longer. He’s galaxies away and His worldwide cries are in

ﬁction by Telisha Moore Leigg

tongues we can’t speak or hear. And all that love is a hurting hate, holding heart like a bluebird’s ﬁght to break free of the ﬁst no matter how kind the hand. I’m not trying to tell you no fate or faith, just giving it to you like I can understand it. How much does all your love weigh? I mean if you had to parcel it out?

Week 7:

‘Cause the “gifts” have stopped. ‘Cause it snowed in February two days ago; the world was white with cold grey smoke coming from the chimneys like the grey plumes from a lady’s hat. And I saw Mandy Blue Eyes on the porch sweeping the steps, sweeping the porch, sweeping shoe prints away. And there are no bluebirds in our winter. And Kwon sleeps in Mandy Blue Eyes’ room now. Could you weigh it on a scale, if you had to price it? Listen, I’m talking about your heart! ‘Cause we still haven’t told Children’s Services anything, and the phone in the living room is an unspoken tension that makes us ﬂinch when it rings a wrong number. Time...is just a deep beat in a good song that’s not going to end well. We don’t look for the “gifts” anymore. We don’t look for girls in grocery stores, or corners, or in parking lots; we don’t post ﬂiers or say she’s about 20, tall, with long legs, skin

dark like ink, last seen in a purple parka and some Keds. We wait. The other day, I passed a patrol car sitting in our neighborhood, and I wanted to tell the policeman and his partner that there’s a baby without a mother over here, that sometimes life is one rocky waterfall of loss. I’m talking about how could you give your love away? If you had to leave love like a blue bird? “Anything there?” Mandy Blue Eyes said today, as she petted Kwon and played peek-a-boo and Kwon smiled. He used to cry and look at the front door when it opened and now...he doesn’t. Kwon, at two, just says everything like a question. “Mama?” he says and “Apple?” and “Peek-boo?” just innocence and youth asking for care and a home. Today, I look out the screen door as it is cold and as it rains, and I think of gods, not one, but ancient Greek ones, and then of all the stories of other gods that I never even heard of. I think of a god’s heart in those stories, how it came to be, how it faded away when the human wouldn’t believe. You never did that, never wished it away. Look, I know a heart is just a hunk of meat; your love doesn’t truly come from there, but no matter where it’s from, once your love is given away, it can’t come back the same. So even when you

pull back the skin and bone and sinew and tendons straining and beg, it won’t matter. You’ll perish then, without your love, without your heart. I mean you can’t keep a dead bird in a cage. You never meant to anyway. Mean Keisha will come back if she can. And she will want her baby. And Mandy Blue Eyes’ babies, her babies, are gone and ain’t coming back. And here is Mean Keisha’s child. How do you wish away the heart when it bleeds pain and love alike? And I know they say God is a father, but I think He’s like a mama, like my dying mama in that front bedroom who croons to me when the pain and morphine release her to sing. I think God’s love is like my mama’s love, which I know will feel like all the loss in the world when she goes. I know I will give...take anything to bring that love back to me. And here, for Mandy Blue Eyes, is a child that she can hold when hers were taken. I don’t think I can blame her. And yes, Mean Keisha will ﬁght, and yes, Mandy Blue Eyes will be wrong. But, in the end Mean Keisha will know only sad-bone and rage. And I don’t think all the hearts and all the love will console her.

Evince Magazine Page 11

Photo by Clark Davis

Meditation Moment Accept Yourself by Casey Molloy, RYT Love. Such a beautiful word with endless interpretations. For each of us, love holds a different meaning and we express it in many different ways. February is certainly a popular month for identifying the love that surrounds us but it also may magnify the love we lack. This month, I invite you to first cultivate a pure, loving appreciation for yourself. It is only after we have accepted ourselves fully, that we can extend pure love to others. Often, we are our own biggest critic and can get caught in a cycle of negative self-talk. In a popular quote by author James Redfield, he says, “Where our attention goes, our energy flows.” If we dwell on the negative, or continually feel as though we are inadequate, the cycle will continue. We truly have

to believe in our own potential for others to also believe in us. Without faith in ourselves, how will we have the confidence or motivation to move forward? Acknowledging that you are enough will open a gateway to honoring the completeness that resides at your core. Moving from the essence of the heart becomes contagious. Pursuing your passions, cultivating meaningful relationships, and being a part of your community are all ways in which we can spread the love. Think about your interests, hobbies, and profession. Take pride in who you are and what you do. Ignite the internal fire within, stoke that fire, and “be vigilant that your thoughts, actions, and speech are rooted in love.” From there, you will be unstoppable

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February 2016

Evince wants you to think about whether or not what you eat when you dine out is healthy. Each month, Stephanie is going to report on local menu selections that are delicious and good for you. Strolling into Main Street Coffee Emporium, 547 Main Street, is practically like coming home. No matter your dining preference, breakfast, lunch or coffee (let’s face it, coffee is its own food group to jumpstart some of our days), you can always expect an espressostrength jolt of consistency, hospitality and familiarity. Main Street Coffee owner, Leisa Royster, and her welcoming barista team, ensure a double shot of their best, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. As if that is not enough, Main Street is the hub for networking in downtown Danville. You are bound to run into someone you know and as a starving new business owner, my time at Main Street Coffee has proven more than fruitful. In other words, Main Street Coffee Emporium starts my day off right in more ways than one! Speaking of beginning the day optimally, Main Street offers one of my favorite breakfasts of all time: nova lox on a wheat bagel ($6.15). Not only is this meal absolutely mouthwatering, but it also does a body good. The whole-wheat bagel is full of energy-ﬁlling ﬁber, the smoked salmon is packed with protein and omega-3 and the slice of tomato and onion paired with a smear of cream cheese will put an extra spring in your step all morning long. Add a side of fresh fruit ($1.45) and wash it all down with some coffee or tea (antioxidant packed green tea is the healthiest, by far)

Food for Thought Get Your Main Meal at Main Street Coffee by Stephanie Ferrugia and you can feel great about the additional intake of nutrients and

water. Want more good news? Coffee and tea count toward those daily recommended 64 ounces of water. In other words, Evince friends, this is power on a plate and in your cup! Did I mention Leisa and her team deliver? And, for our Halifax and Martinsville friends, Main Street takes its catering show on the road and offers out-of-town delivery for all of you too. Be sure to throw in the infamous brownie and share it with your favorite Valentine. The salmon is hearthealthy, the in-house roasted coffee is heartwarming, and the

splurge-worthy brownie will make you fall in love with all your heart. Main Street Coffee Emporium is always a crowdpleaser and will awaken your senses with every sip and bite!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day that boosts metabolism and ensures proper take-off to maintain energy levels from morning until night. Skipping your morning meal is a big no-no and will leave you feeling ﬂat all day.

Evince Magazine Page 13

Joan Turby��ll��

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Joan got the care she needed, close to home. “They assured me every step of the way that I was going to be ok and that I could do this.� �� Danville Regional Medical Center—The Right Care, Right Here.

Page 14

February 2016

am sitting in a room with the other two senior editors of the Chatham Hall newspaper, my prepared interview questions running through my mind as I wait with overwhelming anticipation for Ashley Judd to walk through the door. Neither my peers nor I have the slightest idea of what to expect from our Leader in Residence and interviewee and for a moment I wonder how I, a mere high school student, could possibly have the qualiﬁcations necessary for interviewing such an acclaimed actress and humanitarian. However, the moment Ms. Judd walks into the room, her casual elegance and wholehearted authenticity overwhelm me and her presence is transformative. We quickly discover that her words are profoundly inspirational as well. Ms. Judd takes a seat on the couch across from us, her faithful canine companion, Shug, nestling into the cushions beside her. We begin the interview by asking what her most rewarding humanitarian effort has been thus far, expecting her to tell us about working with YouthAIDS or speaking before the General Assembly of the United Nations about sex and labor slavery. Instead, without a moment’s hesitation, Ms. Judd responds, “Learning to love myself.” I am blown away by these four simple words and

remember their names,” Ms. Judd says. I reply, “Well, they all know yours.”

Ashley Judd

Inspiring Others to Love by Schuyler Mitchell, Chatham Hall Student the honesty with which they are spoken. Ms. Judd smiles, scratches Shug’s head, and tells us that her humanitarianism starts with embracing her own humanity. Over the next half hour, Ashley Judd talks about trauma and grief, her personal healing process, online gender violence, the economy, and what she hopes to see in our next president (hint: it’s ovaries). Ms. Judd answers every question with complete honesty and quickly begins to feel more like an old

friend than a celebrity. For example, while discussing a speech she gave at The Hague about intimate partner shelter violence, Ms. Judd pauses and exclaims something along the lines of, “Oh-h yes! My people!” as a large plate of avocados is placed before her. She then tells us a story that perfectly embodies her ﬁery spirit. While at a party, she heard someone make a derogatory comment about women, so she stood up on a chair and made a speech. “Of course I wasn’t invited back and I don’t even

That evening, Ms. Judd begins her speech to the Chatham Hall community with a moment of guided meditation. Then, with the same authenticity she exempliﬁed in our earlier interview, she weaves together personal narratives with empowering messages about social activism. I ﬁnd myself remembering what she said to me earlier that day, “Hopefully if I get out of the way tonight and God gives a decent talk through me...if there’s one person in the audience who hears what she needs to hear...then I came for her.” After listening to the awestruck reactions of the Chatham Hall community, I think it’s safe to say that Ashley Judd came for all of us.

Evince Magazine Page 15

Page 16

February 2016

Calendar Clips Clip it. Post it. Do it.

For more activities, see the calendar on page 18.

February

Design Zone

Step into a DJ recording studio at the Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead Street, and discover how many beats per second it takes to get bodies moving on the dance ﬂoor. Go behind the scenes at a bike race where you can test gear combinations, then pedal to victory as you compete against other riders. Enter a video game design studio, ﬁgure out the formulas you need to create the on-screen action and leap through to the next level of the game. Design Zone is a nontraditional, experiential approach to math, focusing on math concepts as a tool to create and invent everything from hiphop to skate parks. The exhibition encourages creative problem solving using algebraic thinking in a context that is relevant and fun. Visit www.dsc.smv.org or call 434.791.5160 for more information. (submitted by Adam Goebel)

Thursday, February 4 Chicken Dance

Artspower’s newest musical tells the colorful story of Marge and Lola, two chickens on a mission to win the barnyard talent contest and its ﬁrst prize of two tickets to see the great Elvis Poultry in concert. First, they must present a performance that will score higher than a ﬂock of talented ducks who seem to have the contest locked up. This show is recommended for grades K-2 and is presented by the Caswell Council for the Arts at the Caswell County Civic Center, 536 Main Street East, Yanceyville, North Carolina. Show times are 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 for students, $10 for adults. For more info, call 336.694.4474, email caswellarts@gmail.com, or visit www.artspowr,org or www.ccfta.org. (submitted by Ann Kirby)

Saturday, February 6

Hometown Tour of Gretna From 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., History United and Danville Parks and Recreation invite you to hear stories about Gretna and explore Yates Tavern, a fully restored 18th century building. Hometown Tours highlight the unique historical character of small towns in the Danville area. Advance registration is required. Call 434.799.5216 to reserve an $8 spot. To see

pictures of the most recent hometown tour of Milton, North Carolina, visit www.evincemagazine.com Photo Finish, January 2016, page 30-31. Visit www.historyunited.org for more on local history. (submitted by Ina Dixon)

Tuesday, February 9

Are E-cigarettes a Safe Way to Quit Smoking?

Smoking can cause cancer and many other illnesses. If you are a smoker and want to quit, or live and/or work around people who smoke, you should attend this program. Gina Roberts, Tobacco Use Control Project Regional Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health will present Part 1 of Quitting Tobacco Use! Behind the Vapor: Are Ecigarettes a Safe Way to Quit Smoking? She will also discuss the Quit NOW program. Join us for this free program from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ballou Recreation Center, lower level. Part 2, on March 8, presented by Eletta Hanson, is The Addictive Nature of Tobacco, Living with Lung Cancer and Why People Should Quit Smoking. This two-part program is brought to the Dan River Region by the Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia/Danville in partnership with Danville Parks & Recreation. Bring a lunch. Drinks and dessert are provided. Boxed lunches can be ordered in advance for $6.50. Call the Resource Center 434.421.3060, or email cllitzenberg@vcu.edu. The Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia is funded by VCU Massey Cancer Center and the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. (submitted by Melanie Vaughan)

Saturday, February 13

15th Annual Danville Storytelling Festival

From 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, 975 Main Street, this free event will entertain and keep alive oral tradition through songs, rhymes and tales rich in humor. For centuries, people have come together to tell and listen to stories as a form of entertainment that celebrates families and community and to pass along wisdom. The 2016 festival features Logie Meachum, Barbara Martin, Fred Motley, Tammy Tillotson, Dr. Arlene A.Carter, LaTanya Pattillo, Gary Nichols, Angela Harris and the Kummba Dance Company. For more information, call 434.793.5644 or visit www.danvillemuseum.org. (submitted by Fred Motley)

Saturday, February 13

Love on the Homefront

The Little Theatre of Danville will present this Valentine cabaret, featuring some of Danville’s top vocalists and special guest tenor, Federico Cardella, singing love songs from the WWll, Korean and Vietnam eras at 7:00pm in the Schoolﬁeld Museum and Cultural Center, 917 West Main St. The evening includes the cabaret show, heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverages, a cash wine/beer bar and a red rose for the lady. Admission is $25 in advance. Tickets must be purchased by February 11 and are available at Rippe’s on Main Street

Evince Magazine Page 17 in Danville or online at www.danvillelittletheatre.org. Call 434.792.5796 for more information. (submitted by Alice Saunders)

Sunday, February 14

Come to the Cabaret!

“Come taste the wine. Come hear the band. Come blow your horn. Start celebrating. Right this way your table’s waiting.” Bring your sweetheart to the cabaret for A Little Love Music on Valentine’s Day, starting at 2:30 p.m. at St. John’s Church, 197 Mountain Road, Halifax. Listen to America’s love songs by America’s greatest composers and lyricists Henderson, Smith, Sullivan, Timm that have endured over the years. Songs by Greshwin, Kern, Warren, Kander & Ebb, Rogers & Hammerstein, Jerry Herman, Lerner & Loewe, Berlin, Rogers & Hart, David Gates, Marvin Hamlisch and more. Gary Sullivan, Carolyn Smith, and Rachel Timm will sing solos, duets, and trios accompanied by Carol Henderson on the keyboard. The show will be performed in a cabaret setting, with wine, punch, coffee and a selection of desserts, cheeses and fruits. This very special afternoon of entertainment is a beneﬁt for the Pipe Organ Fund at St. John ‘s Episcopal Church in Halifax. Call the 434.476.6696 to reserve a $25 seat. (submitted by Carol Henderson)

Coordinator at Hope Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and performs with the Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra in Hickory, North Carolina, and the Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Roanoke Symphonies. (submitted by Libby Spainhour)

Thursday, February 25

Throw Paint at Cancer

This free, peer-to-peer support program helps cancer patients and survivors express themselves through art and is brought to the community by The Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia. The 8-week session is held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History Swanson Studio, 975 Main Street. No previous art experience is required. There is no cost and all supplies are provided. Artist and cancer survivor Cynthia Hubbard, MFA, is the instructor. Space is limited. Register at 434.421.3060 or email cllitzenberg@vcu.edu. Pictured are participants, Carol Lollis, (top photo) and Sandy Williams (bottom photo) each holding one of their paintings. (submitted by Melanie Vaughan)

Thursday, February 18

Friday, February 26

A program about human papillomavirus (HPV) and its relationship to oral and other cancers and its vaccine will be presented from 6:45 p.m. to 8:00p.m. with registration and light refreshments at 6:00 p.m. in Foundation Hall, Danville Community College, 1008 South Main Street. The speaker for this free presentation is Dr. Iain Morgan, an expert on HPV life cycle studies and Director of VCU Philips Institute for Oral Health & Research and Chair, Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, VCU School of Dentistry. If you have questions, call the Cancer Resource Center, 434.421.3060. Continuing Education credit is provided by Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. (submitted by Melanie Vaughan)

Empty Bowls, an international grassroots effort to ﬁght hunger, will be held at God’s Storehouse, 750 Memorial Drive from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at God’s Storehouse, Karen’s Hallmark, Woodforest Bank (inside Walmart), and from board members. Ticketholders will be served a simple meal of soup, bread and water and will select a handcrafted bowl made by students from George Washington High School, Averett University, or Westover Elementary School, or artisans at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. They keep the bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in our community. For more information, visit www.godsstorehouse.org, God’s Storehouse Facebook page or call 434.493.3663. (submitted by Karen Harris)

HPV: A Growing Public Health Concern

Wednesday, February 24 Harpist Concert

The public is invited to hear Julie Miller Money perform at The Wednesday Club, 1002 Main Street, beginning at 3:45 p.m. Coffee is served at 3:15. p.m. Harpist, teacher, administrator and church musician, Julie was raised in northern Minnesota where she began music studies at a young age. She studied in the graduate program at the New England Conservatory and recorded with the Bel Canto Company of Greensboro. In 2005, she recorded Britten’s Ceremony of Carols with the Winston-Salem Children’s Chorus. Julie is the Worship and Arts

Empty Bowls

Upcoming March 12

Kickin’ Chicken Wing-Ding! 6 - 9 p.m. Danville Community Market, 629 Craghead St., featuring chicken wings and a variety of special sauces catered by Golden Leaf Bistro. Live music by Bounce! party band. Ticket info at River District Association (downtown-danville. com) and Facebook page (DowntownDanville).

Page 18

February 2016

February Calendar Ongoing

Guided Walking Tour – Millionaires Row & Holbrook Street. $8; free for children 12 & younger. www.danvillehistory.org. 434.770.1974. See page 24. Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History (DMFAH) self-guided audio-visual tours. Pittsylvania Co. Public Library Events. Page 25. Danville Science Center Exhibit – Design Zone. See page 16. Tai-Chi Day Classes - Increase strength, balance, ﬂexibility and progress at your own pace. M 11:15am-12:15pm or 5:456:45pm; W 3:30-4:30pm. Ballou Rec. Center. 434.799.5216. Let’s Dance – Learn new dances, make new friends and have loads of fun. Veteran dance instructor, Donna Robbins, teaches a variety of dances in a fun atmosphere. A partner is not necessary.Adults 18+. Tues. 7-8:30pm. Ballou Rec. Center. 434.799.5216. Art with Judie – Learn how to paint with acrylic, oil or watercolor. M/TU - Times vary. Ballou Annex. 434.799.5216. Ladies, It’s Time to Work It Out. MW 8:30-10am. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848. Kuumba African Dance – Providing a great workout and cultural awareness with live drumming and energetic dancing. Kids M/TH 5:30pm; Adults M 67:30pm. 434.797.8848. Prime Time Fitness - Low-impact aerobics workout with a mix of various fun dance steps. Tu/Th 9:30-11am. Coates Rec. Center. 434.797.8848. Zumba Classes - Hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves create a one-of-a-kind interval training ﬁtness program with fun routines that tone and sculpt the body while burning fat. 434.797.8848. Art with Flo – Wet on wet technique of oil painting. Ages 18+. W 9:30-11:30am, Glenwood Community Center; 6-8pm, Ballou Annex. 434.799.5216. African Cardio Blast - A unique workout that includes dance movements from various regions of the African continent. W 6-7pm. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848. African Rhythms by Nguzo Saba – Learn West African dance to live drumming. W 6-7pm. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848. Cardio Step Class – Uptempo, high energy class. M/W

8:15-9:15am. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848. Baby Boomer Style Work Out – Walking, cardio activity & weight training designed for older adults. Tu/Th 9-10:30am. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848. Ballou Jammers - Acoustic musical jamboree. Bring a stringed instrument or just listen. TH 3-5pm. Ballou Rec. Center. 434.799.5216. Friday Night Fun and Dance – Live music provided by the City Limits Band on the ﬁrst, third and ﬁfth Friday. The Country Pride Band plays on the second and fourth Friday of the month. Ages 50+. F 7:30-10:30pm. Ballou Rec. Center. 434.799.5216.

Through March 13

Inspiration & Intuition – An exhibition of art works by Robert York and Nancy Diciolla. Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History – 434.793.5644.

February 1 (thru March 5)

Fortune, Courage, Love: Arts of Africa’s Akan and Kuba Kingdoms - See African objects from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts collection. Included are elements of royal regalia, dozens of gold weights – small ﬁgures and objects that often communicate proverbs and are used to weigh out gold dust – masks and other ceremonial objects, sculptures, and three spectacular Kente cloths. Piedmont Arts. Martinsville 276.632.3221.

February 1

DBC Quizzo - Monthly trivia competition. Teams may have up to 4 people. Brought to you by Meet Up Monday and Danville By Choice. 5:30pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. 209 Trade Street

February 2

What’s Up, Doc? - Have you had a burning question to ask your physician, but did not get the opportunity? Join Danville Regional Medical Center and Danville Parks and Recreation during the 40-minute walk and a medical professional from DRMC will answer your questions. Bring water and a towel. Pre-registration required. 12-1pm. Danville City Auditorium. 434.799.5150. Averett’s 1859-Coffeehouse Lecture Series - Brad Bass and Ann Pﬂughaupt present Theater and Dance: Storytelling Through Movement. Free. Open to the public. 7pm. Student Center.

Domestic & International Terrorism – Special Agent Matt Marlowe of the FBI will make a presentation. Free. Open to the public. 3:45pm. Wednesday Club, 1002 Main St.

February 4

Chicken Dance. See page 16.

February 6

Hometown Tour of Gretna. See page 16. Open House at SPEC. See page 3. Angela Harris Book Signing. 1-3pm. Kids Stuff Consignment Boutique. Zip Line-Winter Blizzard Test your stamina while riding through the cold air on Danville’s zip line. Wear plenty of layers and bring something warm to drink. Ages 8+. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 11am-12:30pm. Skate Park at Dan Daniel Memorial Park. 434.799.5150. $12 Artfelt Expressions of Bob Ross – Complete a painting in one day. Ages 18+ $70 434.799.5216 Ballou Annex.

February 9

Are E-cigarettes a Safe Way to Quit Smoking? See page 16.

February 10

LuLu for You: Wearable Art of Repurposed Vintage Jewelry – Presented by Linda Lumsden. Free. Open to the public. 3:45pm. Wednesday Club,1002 Main St.

February 11

Archaeology: Virginia’s Past Cultures - Join Dr. Elizabeth Moore, Curator of Archaeology at VMNH as she discusses adapting to Virginia’s changing environments and developing and adopting new plants and animals. 6-7pm. Virginia Museum of Natural History. Martinsville 276.634.4141. Valentine’s with Elvis: Enjoy lunch and a show of Elvis’ biggest hits. Noon-1:30pm $12 434.799.5216 Ballou Rec Center

February 12

Danville by Choice Meet and Greet – Open to all. 6-8pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co., 209 Trade St. www.facebook.com. COAY Valentine’s Dance Bring your sweetheart to Ballou Recreation Center for an evening

February 2016 S

M 1 7 8 14 15 21 22 28 29

T 2 9 16 23

W 3 10 17 24

T 4 11 18 25

F 5 12 19 26

S 6 13 20 27

of dancing. Music provided by the Country Pride Band. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Ages 50+. 7:30-10:30pm. Ballou Recreation Center. 434.799.5216. Comedy Show – Clean, professional comedy headliner is Mark Matusof and feature Jimmy Merritt. 7:30pm. Historic North Theatre – 434.793.7469. Cabin Fever Music Series – 80’s Night featuring Little Johnny Trailer Trash. 7:30pm. Community Market. 434.793.4636. Riverview Rotary Valentine Dance. See ad page 11.

February 12, 13 & 14

Little Theater: Broadway Revue – Directed by Connie Mundy. Enjoy an evening of Broadway show tunes featuring local talent. Feb. 12 & 13, 7:30pm. Feb. 14, 3pm. Kirby Theater. Roxboro, NC 336.597.1709.

February 13

Storytelling Festival. See page 16. Love on the Homefront. See page 16. Magic of Love Magic Show – See Celebrity Magician Wayne Alan and his award winning slight of hand magic. 7:30pm. Balcony Mini-Theatre. Historic North Theatre – 434.793.7469.

February 14

Come to the Cabaret. See page 17. Danny Crouse as Elvis – One of the top Elvis Tribute Shows in the region. 2:30pm (7:30pm if matinee sells out). Historic North Theatre – 434.793.7469.

February 16 (thru March 10)

Beginning Swimming – Ages 612 Register by February 5. YMCA

February 17

What’s Up, Doc - Have you had a burning question to ask your physician, but did not get the opportunity? Join Danville Regional Medical Center and Danville Parks and Recreation during the 40-minute walk. A medical professional from DRMC will answer your questions and provide information. Bring water and a towel. Pre-registration required. 9-10am. Danville Mall. 434.799.5150.

The deadline for the March issue is Monday, February 15, at 5:00 p.m. Please send just the basic information following the format on these pages to joycewilburn@gmail.com.

Evince Magazine Page 19

Wednesday Club Speaker – Tanya Lovern, wildlife rehabilitator and founder of Southside Virginia Wildlife Center, will speak. Free. Open to the public. 3:45pm. The Wednesday Club, 1002 Main St.

February 18

For the Love of Science – Film Night at Danville Science Center. Bring your sweetheart for an evening of science and romance. Light refreshments will be served prior to the showing of The Fifth Element, which marries both love and science ﬁction. 7-9pm. Event cosponsored by the DSC and Danville Parks and Recreation. 434.799.5150. Gardening Basics Composting to Improve Garden Soil – Do you have questions about your plants, ﬂowers or how to design your yard? Join Stuart Sutphin, Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent, as he shares information and answers questions. Preregistration required. 12-1:30pm. Pepsi Building. 434.799.5150. Nourishing a Healthy Family – Plan healthier meals and snacks. Pre-registration required. 5:307:00pm. Coates Rec Center. 434.799.5150. HPV: A Growing Public Health Concern. See page 17. Band of Oz Concert – Rescheduled from January.This amazing show band will knock your socks off with their high energy performance and music. See them like you’ve never seen them before in a theatrical setting and enjoy their wonderful music with great acoustics and lighting. Cash bar sponsored by Danville Shag Club. 7:30pm. Historic North Theatre – 434.793.7469.

church bombing which occurred in Alabama in the midst of the civil rights movement. Times vary. The Prizery. 434.572.8339.

February 20

North Star Theatre Project Auditions – Next production will be The Little Mermaid Jr. Historic North Theatre – 434.203.2870 or 434.793.7469.

February 21

Metropolitan Opera Rising Stars. Danville Concert Assoc. 3pm AU Frith Fine Arts Center. www.DanvilleConcert.org.

February 22

Averett University’s Art Series Presents Step Afrika! - Stepping is a dance that uses the body as an instrument. It combines footsteps, claps, and spoken words to produce complex rhythms, and has roots in African dance and military marching. 7:30pm. Pritchett Auditorium. Mt. View Avenue 434.791.5681. Averett University’s Art Series Presents Gospel Choir - The Ramp Church International started in April 2005 in Altavista. 7:30pm. Pritchett Auditorium Mt. View Ave. 434.791.5681.

February 24

Julie Miller Money Harpist Concert. See page 17. February 25 Throw Paint at Cancer. See page 17.

February 26

February 18, 19 & 20

February 19

Black History Revue – A variety show starring singer Angela Fowler featuring other area professional African American entertainers. Song, dance, comedy and magic for the whole family. 7:30pm. Historic North Theatre – 434.793.7469.

Painting with Pepper – Create an acrylic painting in 3 hours. 1-4pm. Ballou Annex. 434.799.5216. Zip Line-Winter Twilight - Zip from sunset to twilight on the last zip ride of winter. Challenge your friends to glide through the night with you. Ages 8+. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 6-7:30pm. Skate Park at Dan Daniel Memorial Park. 434.799.5150. Men’s Corn Hole Tournament. 10am-3pm. Ballou Rec Center. 434.799.5216.

February 19 (thru 28)

Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963 - This powerful play focuses on the young victims of the

Piedmont Credit Union’s Mobile App!

February 23

Empty Bowls. See page 17. February 27 Africa Family Day - Learn about African culture and art from the ancient land of Mali to modern day. All ages. Fun crafts and snacks provided. 1-3pm. Piedmont Arts. 276.632.3221.

12 Angry Jurors - Presented by Averett University’s Theatre Department. Written by Reginald Rose, this is a drama that depicts a jury forced to consider a homicide trial.7:30pm. Pritchett Auditorium, Mt. View Avenue. 434.791.5867.

A �� Friend to Fetch��

February 27

Upcoming March 2

Save Me a Place at Forest Lawn – Short play at The Wednesday Club, 1002 Main St. Free. Open to the public.

March 12

Kickin’ Chicken Wing-Ding! – Featuring chicken wings and a variety of special sauces catered by Golden Leaf Bistro. Live music by Bounce! party band. Ticket info at River District Association (downtown-danville. com) and Facebook page (DowntownDanville). 6-9 pm. Danville Community Market.

We’re Your�� Credit Union www.piedmontcu.org | (434) 797-1954

Page 20

February 2016

Laura Beth Williams & Jewel Dale

Creating a Culture of Service

by Alexis Ehrhardt Averett University Center for Community Engagement Laura Beth Williams, a Danville native and graduate of Danville Community College and Virginia Tech, did not expect to be living in the region after graduation. Having spent a year working for the Department of Defense in Washington, DC, Laura Beth was excited at the opportunity to return home and serve her community as an AmeriCorps member. At Averett’s Center for Community Engagement and Career Competitiveness (CCECC), Laura Beth is focused on Teach It Forward, a tutoring initiative that began as a challenge for students, faculty and staff at Averett. Because of broader interest in the community, teams from AU and across the region will tutor at

after-school sites on a regular basis during the spring semester. “While at Virginia Tech, I decided to join a movement called Actively Caring, which inspired the way I want to live my life and why I decided to leave my highpaying and secure job to serve others,” Laura Beth explains. “I believe it is our responsibility to make this world a better place and it must be a collective effort from everyone. Our region suffers from an unsettling amount of violence and a lack of educational opportunities for all youth. I believe that by providing youth in our area with consistent tutors and mentors, we can start addressing those issues on a grassroots level. I hope my

Laura Beth & Jewel

service with AmeriCorps and at Averett plays a role in making this region a better place to live.” Hailing from Palo Alto, California, Jewel Dale is an AU graduate who wanted to stay in Danville and serve the region for her ﬁrst year after graduation. Jewel recruits students for all kinds of service opportunities, from AU’s Angel Tree event at Christmas to a range of projects during Week to Engage. “As an undergraduate at Averett University, I enjoyed every minute of volunteering during Day or Week to Engage,” Jewel says. “Volunteering helped me to see our community’s needs, and I decided that I wanted to change how our students perceive volunteerism. Volunteering is not a just a one-day event; it is about continually engaging in the community to build meaningful relationships and collaborate to address our community needs. As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, I would love to see these relationships grow among our students, faculty, staff, and community members.” According to the AmeriCorps alumni website (americorp

salums.org), almost one million individuals have participated in a year of national service through AmeriCorps, contributing 1.2 billion hours of service since it was founded in 1994. AmeriCorps members are diverse in age, race, education level, and socioeconomic status. What they all share, however, is a passion for service. Thanks to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and The Advancement Foundation, there is a thriving AmeriCorps program in the Dan River Region. More than 30 AmeriCorps members are serving at area nonproﬁts, in the public schools, and at higher education institutions across the region. The CCECC at AU is fortunate to have two AmeriCorps members, Laura Beth Williams and Jewel Dale, focused on creating a culture of service at Averett and across the region. Do you have a passion for service? Do you want to form or join a team to “Teach It Forward?” If so, visit engage. averett.edu or contact the CCECC at 434.791.7214.

Evince Magazine Page 21

What I’ve Got Is Hot! by Carollyn Peerman If you’re single and would like a partner, you’ll only attract one when you’ve mastered the lessons of singleness. Don’t ask how you can ‘get’ a man/woman. Ask how you can be the coolest person in the world--and when that happens, you’ll enjoy the experience so much it won’t even matter whether someone notices you or not. Which means, of course, that they will. The New York Times best-selling author Marianne Williamson wrote this to women but it also applies to men. Marianne is so perceptive. Grasp her insights! Don’t you know that the most important thing to always work on is the nature of your thoughts? In other words, when you believe that your situation is lacking, you create more lack. Lack creates lack. Thinking about the lack in your life does not attract a partner to you. Think “What I’ve got is hot.” This life-afﬁrming positive thought will

attract others to you. Don’t you know that your state of being, not doing, is what magnetizes love? There is no more powerful state of being than a deep acceptance of the state that you are already in. Why repeatedly ask, “How can I change this?” Ask, “How can I dwell within this circumstance in the highest possible way?” What are you doing in your life that keeps true love at bay? Take a good look at yourself, your attitude and your actions. Then take full responsibility for your own experience. Recognize that this is your time to get ready. Seize the time as an opportunity to do all the work, internally and externally, that goes along with preparing yourself as the gift you really are. Your thoughts create your experiences. Arrive at love’s door conﬁdent and supportive. Remember that love is attracted to the master of love. You be the master. Well, are you?

Page 22

February 2016

Evince Magazine Page 23

Big Hearts Make Little Hats

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Mauretta Link displays hats made by Danville Public Library’s Crafter’s Corner for American Heart Association’s Little Hats, Big Hearts project.

It’s not a typical scene one expects at a public library. On a cold Tuesday afternoon in January, Teresa Williams Megginson arrives at Danville Public Library’s genealogy room to deliver cute, red, crocheted, baby caps she has made. Teresa can’t stay but she wants to make sure that the crafting group, Crafters Corner, makes the deadline and delivers their hats on time. Other members appear and start weaving loose ends of yarn to ﬁnish the hats. The room takes on a party-like atmosphere as Smoky Robinson’s “Really Got a Hold on Me” plays softly in the background while Danielle Pritchett and Mauretta Link begin laying out the completed hats on an empty worktable. With the coffeemaker ready to brew up hot mugs of java to be enjoyed with minicupcakes and spiced cookies, it’s easy to forget the temperature is below freezing just outside the library walls. Over several months, members of DPL’s Crafters Corner created 90 hats that were packaged and mailed to the American Heart Association’s Little Hats Big Hearts project in January. This year Danville Regional Medical Center (DRMC) will receive 70 hats says Ashley Ege, Director of Development, Heartchase at AHA. In 2014, the AHA launched the Little Hats Big Hearts initiative in Chicago, Illinois, where crafters crocheted and knitted red hats for newborn and premature babies born in February. That year 300 hats were made and distributed to babies in participating hospitals. Last

year, the program expanded to 29 states. Danielle Pritchett, DPL Genealogy Information Specialist, heads Crafters Corner in Danville. She saw an advertisement for Little Hats Big Hearts on Facebook and found all the information on the AHA website. Danielle says, “It was easy. All the information was right there; even the patterns.” The group often contributes their work to charitable causes, donating items to DRMC, to Michigan for Parental Rights, and for a cause close to group member Valerie Basile’s heart--crocheting and sewing gowns for families who have had stillborn babies. It warms the heart to know that some of the red hats crocheted at the DPL over cups of hot coffee and tasty gingersnap cookies might warm the tiny heads of babies born at DRMC this February. • The ﬁrst American Heart Month in 1964 was proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. President Barack Obama continued the tradition, noting that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of American women and men. Congenital heart defects, or problems with the structure of the heart that are present at birth, are the most common type of birth defect in the United States. • To join DPL’s Crafters Corner, bring your hook and learn different crochet techniques and designs or share your skills on Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. All ages are invited and there is no fee. Call 434.799.5195 for more information.

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Where Can I Find an Evince? Ten thousand copies of Evince are distributed each month at over 100 locations. Find your copy at:

Riverside Drive/Piedmont Drive/Marketplace Area: Buffalo Wild Wings Checkered Pig Danview Restaurant on Danview Drive El Vallarta on Westover Drive Goodwill on Westover Drive Hibachi Grill on Executive Court IHOP on Piedmont Drive Joe & Mimma’s Karen’s Hallmark @ Danville Mall Los Tres Magueyes Ruben’s URW Credit Union Western Sizzlin YMCA

Main & West Main Street/Downtown/ River District Area

American National Bank Brewed Awakening on Craghead Street Comcast on Patton Street Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History Danville Public Library on Patton Street Danville Regional Medical Center on South Main Street Danville Science Center on Craghead Street Dell’ Anno’s Pizza Kitchen on Main Street Food Lion @ Ballou Park H. W. Brown Florist (they deliver an Evince with your order) Main Street Coffee Emporium Midtown Market on Chambers Street Rippe’s

Piney Forest Road Area

ERA Holley & Gibson Realty Co. Mary’s Diner Piedmont Credit Union

Franklin Turnpike Area Food Lion PCP Library @ Mt. Hermon Ruben’s Too Village Pizza Medo’s

Memorial Drive

Frank’s Pizza Ginger Bread House

Other

Danville Welcome Center at River Park Drive

In Chatham Area

Community Center Chatham Health Center ChathaMooCa Frank’s Pizza PCP Library on Military Drive

In South Boston

3 Women Consignment Bistro 1888 Halifax County Public Library O’ Sole Mio on Bill Tuck Hwy. South Boston Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts & History Southern Virginia Higher Education The Prizery Toots Creek Antiques Mall

In Gretna

American National Bank Carter Bank & Trust Crossroads Family Restaurant

In Martinsville

Checkered Pig China Buffett El Ranchito Elizabeth Pizza Martinsville Visitor Center The Paciﬁca Bay Restaurant Walsh Chicken

In Yanceyville, NC

Gunn Memorial Public Library The Drug Store The Venice Restaurant

Page 24

February 2016

Book Clubbing A Review by Diane Adkins

Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin wants you to be happy. Her first popular book in 2009, The Happiness Project, was followed in 2012 by Happier at Home. Now with this latest volume, Better Than Before, Rubin shows that our habits provide the architecture for achieving the goals that can lead to happiness. According to Rubin, about 40% of what we do each day is shaped by habit. If your habits make you happy, then you are a long way toward having a happy life. Some people would define habit in a negative way, as repetition, but for Rubin, habit is the lack of decision-making. If we decide we want to do something a certain way all the time, we can put it on autopilot from that point on. Whether it’s flossing after dinner, or choosing to walk up a flight of stairs each day rather than take the elevator, if we make that choice, we can set it and forget it. Our life becomes easier—we don’t have to rely on self-control, making a decision every time we are faced with the choice. The trick, of course, is committing to the new habit. So how do we do that? Rubin divides people into four different types based on how they react to external expectations. There are the Upholders, who meet both their own expectations as well as those that others have of them. On the other end of the spectrum are the Rebels, who resist all expectations and follow their own drumbeat. Most people fall in one of the middle two categories, Questioners or Obligers. This insight is really the key to the rest of her book. Know how you react to expectations and you will know how to form habits you will keep. More than any other of her works, she acknowledges that different people have different approaches to making the choices that will improve their lives. That gives this book added strength. To turn what we want to do and be into a habit, we have to think about what is true about us. What works for an Upholder may not work for a Rebel. Rubin conveniently includes a short quiz that helps the reader decide which type they are and strategies to work with that type. There’s much more. Rubin is a fan of lists and strategies. If you love things like “The Essential Seven,” “Secrets of Adulthood,” and “The Four Tendencies,” then you’ll probably like Rubin’s approach. She’ll inspire you. And if you’re having trouble with those resolutions you made on January 1, if you think it’s time to get a grip, then this may be the book for you. Diane S. Adkins is the Director of the Pittsylvania County Public Library System, with branches in Chatham, Brosville, Gretna, and Mt. Hermon, as well as a bookmobile and the History Research Center and Library in the renovated Chatham Train Depot.

Evince Magazine Page 25 Special Events:

• Winter Reading Program: All ages can read to win prizes. See any branch for details. • National Chocolate Month: A chocolate treat will be given to every patron who checks out 5 or more books. Chatham location only. • Groundhog Day Winter Reading Kickoff - story and craft - Tuesday, February 2, 4:00 - 5:00 pm, Gretna. Chinese New Year: February 8. Chatham. Enjoy our dragon and special celebrations all day. • Anti-Valentine’s Day No-mance Party: February 13, 2:30-4:00 pm, Mt. Hermon. An after-hours gathering for teens who wish to celebrate their singledom with games, music, snacks, and more Ages 13-17.

Reading/Writing/ Learning:

• Wednesdays for Wees: February 3, 10, 17 and 24, 10:00 am, Chatham, Brosville, Gretna, Mt. Hermon. Children ages newborn to 5. • Mother Goose on the Loose: February 5, 12, 19, and 26 at 10:30 am , Mt. Hermon. February 1, 8, 22 and 29, 11:00 am, Chatham. An award-winning early literacy class for children from birth to age three with parents or caregivers. • Hermon’s Stories: February 18, 6:30 pm, Mt. Hermon. Our lovable mascot Hermon will be sharing some of his favorite stories. • Homeschool Connection: February. 2 and 16, 2:00 pm, Gretna. Learn what the library has to offer homeschoolers and network with other parents while children enjoy crafts, activities, and special presentations. Register at 434.656.2579. • STEAM: February 6, 11:00-1:00 pm, Chatham. Art and science meet as we explore color, osmosis, and wicking to make some psychedelic Sharpie art. Ages 8-14. February 12, 10:00 am, Brosville. Come learn all about Squishy Circuits. All ages • Computer Classes: Tutorials are offered every Tuesday from 11:00 am-noon, and every Thursday from 2:00-3:00 pm, Chatham. Register. Walk-in oneon-one sessions are available every Wednesday evening from 6:00-7:00 pm., Chatham. • Computer Class: February 16, 4:00 – 5:30 pm, Brosville. Learn basics of using a computer and how to search for information online. Space is limited. Please sign up in advance • What is Hoopla? February 4, 5:30 -7:30 pm; or February 17, 3:00 – 5:00 pm, Brosville. Borrow movies, television shows, music, eBooks, audiobooks, and comics on your mobile device or computer.

Book Discussions & Writing:

• Brown Bag Book Reviews: February 3, 10, 17 and 24, noon1:00 pm, Chatham. Reviewers are: Barbara Wilson, Mark

What’s Happening in the Pittsylvania County Libraries dePaulo, and Bill Guerrant. • Second Thursday Discussion Group: February 11, 4:00 – 5:30 pm., Chatham. Adults. • Book Talk: February 12, noon, Brosville. Read a romance book. Bring your favorite cherries or red food. Adults.

Food, Nutrition, Fitness and Health Programs: • Group Fitness: February 1, 8, 22, and 29, 10:00 am, Gretna; February 4, 11, 18, and 25, 10:00 am, Gretna. Exercise and get ﬁt together. We use exercise/ walking DVDs from our library’s collection. ages 18+. • Second Tuesday Recipe Club: February 9, 5:30 pm, Gretna. Theme is Desserts.

Art & Craft Programs:

• Crochet Instruction: February 1, 6:00 pm or February 2, 10:00 am, Brosville. Learn to crochet the Tunisian stitch or bring your difﬁcult questions to be answered. Don’t have crochet materials? We’ll provide materials to get you started. • Knitting Group: February 1 and 15, 6:30 pm, Mt. Hermon. All skill levels are welcome. • Valentine Craft: February 2, 5:00 pm, Gretna. Tissue Paper Lollipop Roses • Monday Make & Take: February 8, 3:30 – 5:30 pm, Brosville. Stop in and make a Valentine’s Day card. • Loom Knitting: February 3, 10, 17, 24, 11:30 am, Brosville. Learn how to knit cables on looms. • Open Needlework: February 9 and 23, 10:00 am; February 16, 1:00 pm, Brosville. Knitting, embroidery, crochet—come and work on your projects. • Make & Take Craft: February 16, 3:00-4:45 pm, Chatham. Make it here or take it home. • Art Class: February 16 and 23, 4:00-4:45 pm, Chatham. Ages 816. Register. • Keep Calm and Color: February 17, 2:00 pm, Brosville. Relax your mind with soft music, crayons, markers, and coloring sheets, or bring your own. • Soda Bottle Bird Feeder: February 18, 5:00-6:00 pm, Chatham. All supplies provided. • Craft Night: February 25, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, Brosville. Jewelry making, or bring your own craft project to

work on or get help with. • Teacup Bookmarks: February 23, 6:30 pm, Mt. Hermon. Open to ages 12+.

Game Programs & Activities:

• Coffee and Cards: February 2, 9, 16, and 23, 10:00 am until noon, Chatham. • Bridge, anyone? Back to Basics (board games & coloring): February 13, 10:00am-1:30 pm, Mt. Hermon. Playing board games can enhance concentration and lower blood pressure. Coloring is relaxing

way to reduce stress. All ages. • Minecraft @ Mt Hermon: February 13, 11:00 am-1:00pm, Mt. Hermon. Ages 8-14. • Book Bingo: February 18, 6:007:30 pm and February 23, 1:002:00 pm, Brosville. All ages. • Bingo for Books: February 23, 5:00 pm, Gretna. • LEGO Play: February 15, 4:004:45 pm, Chatham.

Movies:

• Saturday Morning Movie: February 6, 10:30 am, Mt. Hermon. Goosebumps. • Movie Matinee: February 19, 2:00 pm, Chatham. Inside Out. Movie Matinee: February 19, 2:30 pm, Brosville. Hotel Transylvania 2. Libraries will be closed on Monday, February 15 in observance of Presidents Day. Unless otherwise noted, all programs are free. For more information, contact Gretna Library, 207 A Coffey Street, 434.656.2579; Mt. Hermon Library, 2725 Franklin Turnpike, 434.835.0326; History Research Center and Library, 340 Whitehead Street, Chatham; 434.432.8931; PCP Main Library, 24 Military Drive, Chatham, 434.432.3271; Brosville Library, 11948 Martinsville Highway 434.685.1285 or visit www.pcplib.org.

Page 26

February 2016

Reﬂecting Forward Straight from the Heart

eis presenting ince Magazine V the 2nd Annual Spirit Awards.

These awards recognize exceptional businesses and individuals in our region. Nominate your favorites in the following categories: • Exceptional Customer Service • Exceptional Products • Exceptional Service • Exceptional Community Spirit • Exceptional Community Involvement To vote for your favorite, go online to evincemagazine.com /2016-spirit-awards Voting Runs February 15 thru March 4

by Linda Lemery

recently carried out what felt like a sacred duty. My mother, Gladys, lived in Florida for nearly 30 years before she moved to Danville to be closer to my husband and me. By doing so, she made it possible for us to help her as she aged. Help her we did, but in the time since she moved here, we hadn’t been back to Florida. Over Christmas break, Steve and I finally had a window of opportunity to take Mom to Florida. We set off in the pouring rain: Mom in back, Steve driving, me in the passenger seat. There is a change that comes over people when they’re looking forward to a trip, to a task, to an event, and that change came over us. The trip down there was great and once we arrived, the trip was all about Mom. It had been 10 years since we’d been to Florida. Some things had changed a lot, but others were still the same. “Look, Steve, there’s the McDonald’s where Mom used to go to watch the Elvis impersonators perform... there’s that huge flea market where she loved to wander ... there’s that gyro place we tried together ...” We drove through the condominium complex where Mom and Dad, and then just Mom, used to live. Across the canal where Mom used to fish was a park, so we went there. Steve and I rented a kayak, sunk down up to our knees in muddy water trying to climb into it, and paddled around a tiny lake where Mom would watch the turtles sunbathe. Mom loved ice cream and the Intracoastal Waterway at John’s Pass, so we rented a jet ski for the first time and then ate rum raisin ice cream on the boardwalk afterward. Mom loved Chinese food, so we spent Christmas eating Chinese food on a Passagrille beach after sunset. Mom took me many times to Ft. DeSoto Park, a lovely beach and camping area, so we spent an afternoon there watching people fish and enjoying the slow sunset as the sun fell into the sea. Mom loved holiday lights, so we went to the Florida Botanical Garden for the gorgeous display and the bonus folksinger Anji Kat. Mom had talked about Pinellas Trail, a long bike path threading through lovely residential landscapes and over shining blue waterways, so we rented electric bikes, pedaled the trail, and enjoyed using the

Gladys Dethlefsen

pedal-assist feature to conquer the steep bridges that raised the trail over the highways. We visited the Seabird Sanctuary, a habitat for injured pelicans and other water birds where Mom had taken me many times. We laughed as a pelican paced us, on the alert for a handout. And where Mom had enjoyed years of Sunday breakfasts, we ate an omelet for dinner, pointing at “her” chair and smiling. We even tracked down one of Mom’s dear friends, Evelyn, who’d moved so many times she’d lost touch with old friends. Now 90, Evelyn lives in an independent living center. Her dementia made her do what Steve calls time-traveling, which means that her remarks made perfect sense if we ﬁgured out in what past period of her life Evelyn thought she was currently living. We shared with Evelyn some of Mom’s last challenges, how she’d gone from house to independent living to assisted living to nursing home with humor, grace, and humility. I also recounted how Mom had always said that after her death, she’d want her cremains scattered in the warm waters of the Florida she’d loved, and how after 100 years of vibrant life, that last wish had ﬁnally been honored. With deepest gratitude for the place of honor my step-mother—who for 46 years I was proud to call my mom—held in my life, this column comes straight from the heart. I’ll always love you, Mom. About the Author: When she’s not revisiting with gratitude fond memories of people no longer on this earth, Linda Lemery llemery@gmail.com works as Circulation Manager of Averett University’s Mary B. Blount Library in Danville. She welcomes your comments.

Evince Magazine Page 27 Upon hearing the phrase power couple what comes to mind? JFK and Jackie or Jennifer Lopez and Ben Afﬂeck or Brad Pit and Angelina Jolie? My vote for best power couple is dark chocolate and red wine! Each is wonderful in its own right, but together, irresistible. This couple may not have fortune or fame, but they have resveratrol--a compound that is found in some plants, fruits, and seeds and especially in the skin of grapes and certain grape-derived products like red wine. It may help reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and cancer. Even if that is the case, you would probably have to drink an impossible number of bottles to get a positive effect. There is also research to suggest that alcohol has some heart beneﬁts, because it may help raise a person’s HDL (good cholesterol). A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that the amount of resveratrol consumed in the average diet is not enough to have any affect on longevity, cardiovascular

disease, or cancer. More studies about resveratrol are likely forthcoming. Another antioxidant, quercetin, is found in red grapes and is also anti-inﬂammatory. It too is found in fruits, ﬂowers, and vegetables. Antioxidants scavenge particles in the body known as free radicals which damage cell membranes. They may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage free radicals cause.

The Wine Spot

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Power Couple by Dave Slayton

a member of the Master Court of Sommeliers

Dark chocolate contains at least 70% cocoa and is not as sweet as sugary milk chocolate. Some studies claim there are beneficial bacteria that reside toward the end of the digestive tract that ferment antioxidants and fiber to create anti-inflammatory compounds. Red wine and dark chocolate may help lower health risks, though I doubt it’s that simple. In any case, I have resolved to follow my power couple in blissful moderation. Cheers!

Page 28

February 2016

Star Wars Memories Awaken by Mack Williams

finally saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens with son Jeremy and daughter-inlaw Rose at Danville Stadium Cinemas. The movie is set 30 years after the Empire’s defeat, and coincidentally, 38 years after the first Star Wars movie in 1977. The biggest coincidence is personal, however. My daughter, Rachel, was born in 1977, that year of death for Elvis and Bing Crosby and the birth of Star Wars. The Danville theater where my late wife, Diane, and I saw the first Star Wars movie has become a church. Star Wars is like religion to some people, with not-thinly veiled allusion to the all-pervading “Force” of the Holy Ghost. In October 1977, I was on the board of Caswell Parish, an organization of churches, when we decided to have a Halloween haunted house in the old Caswell County Jail. Influenced by Star Wars, I decided to be Darth Vader. I don’t recall any professional costumes yet on the market, but there were size-D battery flashlight sabers. Diane’s

Aunt Joan made a cape and I used brother-in-law Wayne’s U.S. Army helmet for Vader’s helmet, extending it with foil. I made Vader’s mask/breath screen with foil too, spraying all with black paint on the back porch. Soon, the paint smell ﬁlled the small house, including infant Rachel’s room, where she slept in her crib. As we threw open every window, Diane said my Darth Vader costume would asphyxiate all three of us! We survived; the haunted house was a success and my picture wound up in the Caswell Messenger. Packing to move in 1988, my wife told me to throw away my “brother-in-law’s-U.S. Army-Darth Vader helmet”; so now it’s in the Caswell County landﬁll, probably in as bad a shape as Kylo Ren’s partially-melted memento of his grandfather, Darth Vader. My daughter, Rachel, has seen the new movie, but wants to see it again when she’s back in town. Sitting there watching, we won’t just be experiencing the latest mega-hit from Hollywood, but instead, a life-related event.

Evince Magazine Page 29

From the Heart by Annelle Williams February is the month that honors love. What better way to celebrate than with a gift from the heart, which means straight from the kitchen at my house! Spending time with my grandmother when she worked in the kitchen was one of my favorite things as a little girl. Now I realize that when she made our favorite meals it was a labor of love. She was never in a hurry and I was never in the way. On a stool, wrapped in a feedsack apron and up to my elbows in ﬂour, I was right there in the middle of everything. My best memories with her are kitchen memories, coupled with the sleepovers when I would fall asleep as she told stories about Henny Penny and Billy Goats Gruff. I learned at an early age to associate the things that happened in her kitchen with the unconditional love she had for her family. That feeling has stuck with me all these years. When I spend hours working on a meal, or ten minutes making a sandwich, I’m hoping the recipient knows I’m doing it with love. Give your sweetheart a gift from the heart this year, stirred up in the kitchen and served with lots of love!

Valentine Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies (adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction) 1 1⁄2 cups plus 1 Tablespoon all-purpose ﬂour 1/4 cup sweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1⁄4 teaspoon salt 1 stick butter, room temperature 3⁄4 cup light brown sugar 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar 1 egg, room temperature

1 tablespoon milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 Tablespoon red food coloring, optional 1 cup 60% cacao dark chocolate chips (plus a few extra for after baking) confectioners’ sugar, optional packaged cookie icing, optional

Toss the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside. In another bowl, beat the butter on high speed until creamy, about one minute. On medium speed, beat in the brown sugar and granulated sugar until combined. Beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract. Once mixed, add the food coloring and beat until combined. Turn the mixer off and add all the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Slowly beat on low until a very soft dough is formed. Beat in more food coloring if you want the dough to be redder. Beat in the chocolate chips on low speed. The dough will be sticky. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour. You must chill the dough or your cookies will spread quickly and be thin. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside. Scoop 1 1⁄2 tablespoons of dough into hand and roll into a ball. Push chocolate chips to inside of cookies. Place nine balls on each baking sheet. Bake each batch for 10-11 minutes. The cookies will have only spread slightly. Press down with end of spoon or fingers to form crinkles. Add extra chocolate chips to crinkled areas. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar if desired. Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet five minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cookies are completely cooled, use packaged cookie icing to decorate if desired. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to seven days. Questions or comments? Email me: AnnelleWilliams@comcast.net I look forward to hearing from you!

Page 30

February 2016

Photo Finish The annual membership meeting of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce in January started early with breakfast at the Institute of Advanced Learning & Research. The Chamber offers its 700 members exposure in the community, a strong networking base and opportunities for professional development. To learn more, visit www.dpchamber.org or call 434.836.6990.

Hampton Wilkins, Broker/Owner of Wilkins & Company Realtors; Marilyn Hanover, Operational Excellence and Technical Team Leader at Arkema Inc., Sartomer Business Unit; and Helm Dobbins, VP American National Bank, start the morning off right with a walk through the buffet line.

Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisor, Chairman Jessie Barksdale; John Daniel, President/ Owner of Daniel Builders and Chair of the C of C Board; Mark Custer, Plant Manager of Blue Ridge Fiberboard; and Kim Custer, Special Projects Assistant with the Ofﬁce of Economic Development, meet over fresh fruit and other goodies.

Steve Kaylor, Danville Register & Bee publisher and past-chair of the C of C board, addresses the audience of business people following breakfast.

The Virginia Bank & Trust men enjoy a few minutes of conversation before work: Roger Gillispie, President & CEO, Jerry Hankins, Vice President, Eddie Hite, Assistant Vice President.

Laurie Moran, President & CEO of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber, greets Cam Stele, HR Manager at Elkay; and Bert Eades, plant manager.

Checking in at the Institute of Advanced Learning & Research are: (L to R) Earl Reynolds, Director of Community Development with the City of Danville; Randy McDaniel, VP at American National Bank; and Brooks Powell, Employee Beneﬁts Advisor/VP at Designed Beneﬁts.

All photos were taken by Von Wellington. For more info about Von Wellington Photography, visit www.vonwellingtonphotography.com or call 434.770.3553. See more pictures on Facebook.

Juliet Jennings, Chief Human Resources Ofﬁcer with Danville Public Schools, and Michael Duncan, Member Manager at Donnachaidh Associates chat over coffee.

Evince Magazine Page 31 Barbara and Mark Hopkins share a table with David Holshouser, Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors and Brian Finney, President of Retail Merchants Association.

Launch Place Marketing Manager, Kelly Fitzgerald, laughs at the comments of Averett University VP Buddy Rawley.

Representatives from Clement Wheatley wait for the program to begin: Ted Hodges, Shareholder; Rachael Sanford, Shareholder; Julia Gravely, Associate; Joyce Tate, Ofﬁce Manager and husband Jesse Tate.

The URW Community Federal Credit Union is well represented by Eric Hancock, Sherry Smith, Angela Fowler, Chris Simmons, and Garry Martin.

River District Association Executive Director, Ernecia Coles; Sandie Currie, VIR Chief Operating Ofﬁcer; and Dale Hutchens talk about the newest developments in the area.

Joining in at the Clement Wheatley table are: Cabell Barrow, Associate; Michael Guanzon, Shareholder; Harry Sakellaris, Shareholder; Ted Hodges, Shareholder.

Large screens help everyone in the audience to enjoy the program

All eyes and ears are focused on the speaker: Corrie Teague, Project Manager with the Ofﬁce of Economic Development in Danville, is in the foreground.

Page 32

February 2016