Spotting Exceptional Customer Service Page 6
Meditation Moment Page 7
How to Find Serenity in a Hectic World Crescent Crossing Page 20
Photo Finish See Pages 4 & 5
Page 2 August 2019
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7/1/19 10:24 AM
Photo by Michelle Dalton Photography
Editor’s Note
We are given the high temperatures of August as a daily reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment. Friends Taylor Sanom and Susie Wilkinson pictured on the cover found the hammocks near the Danville Farmers’ Market the perfect spot to stop and do just that. Check out page 4 “Photo Finish” to see how others in the area are finding a peaceful, easy feeling in the middle of a noisy city. A few steps away from the hammocks, go inside the train station. You won’t believe the beautiful, functional, entertaining area for young children that opened recently. Read the story and see the pictures on page 20. When the kids are happy, their caretakers can enjoy a moment of serenity because “Cultivating Serenity” can happen anywhere at any time according to Linda Lemery (page 26). Casey Molloy agrees in “Meditation Moment” on page 7. In the early evening hours, Dave Slayton suggests that pairing wine with beautiful scenery (page 24) can result in serenity. Whatever you do, don’t miss Serenity’s visit. She can be found in the most unusual places. For an example, read “The Serendipity of Serenity” by Mack Williams on page 30. The winners of the annual Spirit Awards are also featured this month. Please congratulate them on a job well done. Finally, enjoy every hot minute of August. You might be sweating, but with the right attitude, you can also experience serenity.
August Contents
3 Editor’s Note 4 Photo Finish
Contributing Writers
11 2019 Spirit Awards 20 Creating a New Destination for Children at Crescent Crossing by Joyce Wilburn
Art & Production Director Demont Design (Kim Demont) Finance Manager Cindy Yeatts (1.434.709.7349) Marketing Consultants For ad information contact a marketing consultant listed below.
22 Renovation Reality / Part 35 by Carla Minosh 23 Book Clubbing / Clock Dance by Anne Tyler review by Diane Adkins
Lee Vogler Director of Sales and Marketing (434.548.5335) lee@evince magazine.com
24 The Wine Spot / Pair Wine with Serenity by Dave Slayton Wrecks by Joyce Wilburn
Kim Demont (434.792.0612) demontdesign @verizon.net
26 My Mother Keisha Fiction by Telisha Moore Leigg Reflecting Forward / Cultivating Serenity by Linda Lemery
evince\i-’vin(t)s\ 1: to constitute outward evidence of 2: to display clearly: reveal syn see SHOW
29 Where Can I Find Evince?
Around the Table / Simple Is Best by Annelle Williams
30 Throw Out The Mess and Organize the Rest The 360 De-Cluttering Project by Missy Messy
Deadline for submission of September stories, articles, and ads is Monday, August 19, at 5:00 p.m. Submit stories, articles, and calendar items to joycewilburn@gmail.com.
Editorial Policies:
Evince is a free monthly magazine with news about entertainment and lifestyle in Danville and the surrounding area. We reserve the right to accept, reject, and edit all submissions and advertisements.
The Serendipity of Serenity by Mack Williams
EVINCE MAGAZINE 753 Main St. Suite 3, Danville, VA 24541 www.evincemagazine.com
Halifax Restaurant Week
Spotting Exceptional Customer Service
For subscriptions to Evince, email info@evincemagazine.com. Cost is $24 a year.
Page 6
© 2019 All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part in any medium without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.
Meditation Moment Page 7
Local
joycewilburn@gmail.com Credits: Amber Wilson: hair; Catherine Saunders: skin care and makeup; Genesis Day Spa & Salon, 695 Park Avenue, Danville. Janelle Gammon: nails; Salon One 11, 111 Sandy Court, Danville.
CEO / Publisher Andrew Scott Brooks
Diane Adkins, Judith Holt-Tillman, Telisha Moore Leigg, Linda Lemery, CB Maddox, Missy Messy, Carla Minosh, Casey Molloy, Bernadette Moore, Donna & John David Parris, Shelley Paschal, Jeannette Ross, Dave Slayton, Joyce Wilburn, Annelle Williams, Mack Williams
8 Calendar
OICE OF SERENITY
Associate Editors Jeanette Taylor • Larry Wilburn
7 Meditation Moment by Casey Molloy
THE
Editor Joyce Wilburn (434.799.3160) joycewilburn@gmail.com
6 Spotting Exceptional Customer Service by Donna & John David Parris
Evince Magazine Page 3
How to Find Serenity in a Hectic World Crescent Crossing Page 20
Photo Finish
Socials
How social media is making dreams come true
See Pages 4 & 5
On the Cover:
Photo of Taylor Sanom and Susie Wilkinson by Michelle Dalton Photography.
Don’t Forget to Pick Up the August edition of
Showcase Magazine
Page 4 August 2019
Photo Finish
Len Foyle from Yanceyville, North Carolina, swings in the hammock while Rebecca Page stands nearby enjoying the moment vicariously.
On a Saturday morning in July, Von Wellington picked up his camera and went on a search in Danville’s River District, looking for people who were experiencing serenity—a calm, peaceful feeling in the midst of the noisy bustle of life. He found a butcher playing the piano, a runner receiving therapy, two friends visiting and sharing a bite to eat, a few people exercising, one swinging in a hammock, and a multi-generational fishing expedition. What are you going to do today to bring serenity into your day?
Robert Fulk takes time from his job as an Old Dutch Food Market butcher to play the piano near Lou’s Antiques in the Danville Plaza.
Photos by Von Wellington (unless otherwise indicated). For more info visit www.vonwellington photography.com or call 434.770.3553. See more pictures on Facebook.
Shopping and visiting with friends on a Saturday morning at the Farmers Market on Craghead Street is a popular weekend event.
Lynn Hodges from Yanceyville, North Carolina, walks her dog, Chloe, on Main Street after attending a Pilates class nearby.
Friends of runner Emily Wallace watch as she receives a cupping therapy treatment on the sidewalk near the Community Market.
Evince Magazine Page  5 Kimberley Wray shows her piano playing skills to husband Joey Mitchell at Crema & Vine. They were visiting from Eden, North Carolina.
Three generations of the Buckner family from Eden, North Carolina, fish on the Dan River near the YMCA: Papa Jody, Daddy Brandon, and son Colton. Photo by Joyce Wilburn. Samuel Thomas uses the YMCA treadmill. The machines face the Dan River.
Cacti
by Judith Holt-Tillman
Independent Stand alone Require little care But thrive on TLC. Ugly in sight of some Beautiful to others Prickly, stern on the outside Soft and mushy on inside. Know any cacti? Judith Holt-Tillman finds serenity in writing poetry. This poem is perfect for the hot days of August when it might feel like we’re living in a desert.
Willie Osborne works out at the Danville Family YMCA.
Seventh graders, Taylor Sanom and Susie Wilkinson, grab a morning snack and talk about plans for the day. Photo by Joyce Wilburn.
Page 6 August 2019
Spotting Exceptional Customer Service
by Donna & John David Parris
When we learned that we were going to have a wedding in our backyard in four weeks, we created a long list of things that needed to be done before the event. One of the key things was to clean the windows. After all the 2018 storms, they were a big mess. We called Les Burnett with Crystal Clear Window Treatment because we had heard that he did an outstanding job for a fair price. We told Les that the job had to be completed by July 6th and he scheduled us for Sunday, June 30th. We were happy that he could work us in because he is normally booked six weeks out. On the designated Sunday, he called to say that his home air conditioner wasn’t working and he needed to wait for the repairman. We were concerned, but Les said he would work on July 4th. Not many people will schedule a job on a Sunday and then on a major holiday, but Les was happy to do it. As promised, Les came on July 4th. He cleaned both sides of the windows with a glass cleaner and polished them with a paste polish that dried and was wiped off. This left a Crystal Clear window that beaded water and helped prevent water spots after a rain. He also cleaned and vacuumed the window sills and sashes. Our windows are cleaner now than they’ve ever been, thanks to Les. The customer service that Les practices is outstanding. He does everything possible to meet the customer’s time requirement while being very pleasant and polite. We highly recommend Les and plan to use his professional window polishing services in the future.
Evince and the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce want to encourage and recognize exceptional customer service. When someone gives you exceptional service, please let us know. In 300 words or less, tell us what happened. Email your story to joycewilburn@gmail.com or chamber@dpchamber.org.
Evince Magazine Page 7 while walking with my dog, practicing yoga or enjoying a beautiful sunset on the water with my fiancé.
The poses and breathing practiced in yoga are intended to prepare the body to sit comfortably for extended periods of time in meditation. Photo by Clark Davis.
Meditation Moment by Casey Molloy, RYT There are so many synonyms for serenity. In Sanskrit, it is called ananda, santosha, or moksha. In English, it might be bliss, freedom, or contentment. The imagery that comes to my mind differs depending upon my current mental state and physical location. My version of serenity may be visualizing a hike in the mountains
with lush greenery and cascading water along the trail, or perhaps the smell of the ocean air as the breeze runs its fingers through my hair on a warm summery day at the beach. Sometimes I am fortunate enough to live in the moment at those imaginary locations. Daydreams and vacations are obvious serenitymakers, but in my everyday life, moments of contentment are found
We all have unique ways in which we define, describe, or seek serenity. The trick is to take time for yourself and to honor the aspects of your environment, society, or simple existence on this Earth that give you a feeling of freedom or bliss. It is easy for our minds to become caught up in productivity, accomplishment, and success. Typically, these facets of our mind lead to an abundance of stress, worry and pressure, pushing out any room for mindfulness or serenity. It is incredibly essential for our wellbeing that we realize the mental and physical benefits of slowing down, calming the mind, and accommodating moments of peace, however brief. All too often, the time we have allotted for meditation, yoga, or prayer is the first item to be eliminated from our daily to-do lists. It just seems as though there aren’t enough hours in the day, or if we spend that time on ourselves, then we are being selfish. I’ll let you in on a little secret: we can’t work on anything well, if we haven’t done any work on ourselves first.
Creating space in your heart and mind daily for serenity will enhance your inner dialogue and external interactions. There’s a good chance it will also heighten your creativity and improve productivity. I encourage you to set aside at least fifteen minutes a day to indulge in daydreams, recite your own prayer, or enjoy whatever it is that brings you to a serene state. Do so without guilt. You may begin to notice a shift in your mood, perspective, and relationships. It will be worth it.
Page 8 August 2019
August Calendar Abbreviation Key
• AU=Averett University, 434.791.5600 www.averett.edu • DMFAH=Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History, 975 Main St. 434.793.5644 www.danvillemuseum.org • DSC=Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead St. 434.791.5160 www.dsc.smv.org • HNT=Historic North Theatre, 629 North Main St. Danville 434.793.7469 www.TheNorthTheatre.com • PA=Piedmont Arts, 215 Starling Ave, Martinsville 276.632.3221 www.PiedmontArts.org • The Prizery=700 Bruce St., South Boston, 434.572.8339, www.prizery.com
Ongoing
Guided Walking Tours: Millionaires Row, Holbrook Street and Tobacco Warehouse District. Danville Historical Society. www. danvillehistory.org. 434.770.1974. DMFAH: self-guided audio-visual tours. Brosville Library: 11948 Martinsville Highway www.pcplib.org 434.685.1285 Danville Public Library: 511 Patton St. readdanvilleva.org 434.799.5195 DPL Westover Branch: 94 Clifton St. www.readdanvilleva.org 434.799.5152 Gretna Library: 207 A Coffey Street, www.pcplib.org 434.656.2579 Gunn Memorial, Caswell County Public Library: 118 Main St, Yanceyville, NC www.caswellcounty.gov/library 336.694.6241 Halifax County Public Library: 177 South Main St. www.halifaxcountylibrary.org 434.476.3357 History Research Center and Library: 340 Whitehead Street, Chatham www.pcplib.org 434.432.8931 Mt. Hermon Library: 4058 Franklin Turnpike www.pcplib.org 434.835.0326 Pittsylvania County Public Main Library: 24 Military Drive, Chatham www.pcplib.org 434.432.3271 South Boston Public Library: 509 Broad St. 434.5575.4228 www.halifaxcountylibrary.org
Crescent Crossing: This exhibit helps build confidence in young learners as they develop new skills and empowers caregivers to engage curious children. It encourages children ages five and under to learn through play. $7 DSC. See page 20. Zula Patrol: Under the Weather: Learn about weather on Earth and other planets. DSC The Children of Langhorne House: 117 Broad St. Danville; a retrospective exhibit; free Saturdays 2-5pm Disc Golf: 9-hole course starts at the water tower; 18-hole course starts below Shelter 6 Ballou Park West Main St. Danville free 434.429.5291.
Caswell County Historic Courthouse, 144 Court Square, Yanceyville, NC 3pm & 7pm free 336.459.0756
August 11
DMFAH: free admission 2-5pm
August 13
National Night Out: Averett U students/Westmoreland neighborhood Danville
August 7 (through 28)
Danville Farmers Market: Wednesdays Craghead St. 3-6pm
August 2, 3 & 4
James & the Giant Peach: Smokestack Theatre Co. youth production with local children 7pm Friday & Saturday; 2:30pm Sunday $15/12 DMFAH www.TheSmokestack.org
August 2019
S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
August 8
Music on Main: Define Jazz Band 111 Main Street Danville free 6:30pm
Living Well @ the Y The Fountain of YOUth series, Part I of 3: The Power of Exercise & Community: Exercise is the gift you give yourself–one that keeps on giving. Program will be presented by Ashley Forbis of River City Belles and Danielle Montague of Danville Parks & Recreation. Light, healthy lunch provided to those who register by 5pm August 9. 12:30pm - 1:45pm Danville Family YMCA, second floor. 215 Riverside Dr. Walk on the Riverwalk Trail after the program. free open to the public. Y membership not required. Register. 434.421.3060 Artspiration Senior Studio: selfguided art studio time PA 10am-noon free to members $5 for non-members
August 15
Mix & Mingle: AKA Sorority House, 320 Holbrook St. Danville conversations about Camilla Williams, opera singer, free to the public; 6-7:30pm sponsored by DMFAH
August 3
Chaotic Art & Music Pop Up: Crema & Vine, 1009 Main Street, Danville free 2-6pm
August 3 (through 31)
Danville Farmers Market: Saturdays Craghead St. 7:30am-noon
August 6
Welcome to Medicare Educational Seminar: Learn about Medicare and coverage options available including: Supplements, Advantage Plans and Part D prescription drug coverage. Make smarter choices about the most cost effective and best Medicare health plan for you. 5:30pm Register at Ballou Park Rec Center 434.799.5216.
August 10
Wagfest: Whether you’re a dog lover or you just enjoy a great family day filled with fun activities and amazing animals join the Pittsylvania Pet Center for food trucks, beer garden, vendors, adoptable dogs, peopleand-pet activities, raffles & more. Live music by Bearded Whisky. Team Zoom will perform incredible dog frisbee and pet tricks. 10am-2pm. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex. 19783 US Highway 29, Chatham. DMFAH: free admission 10am-5pm Civil Rights Exhibit: opening DMFAH 2-5pm Caswell History Speaks: a history vignette presented by Fred Motley & Karen Williamson; stories about Thomas Day, Maud Gatewood, Hennriette Jeffries, Nicholas Dillard;
August 17
Danville Harvest Jubilee Fundraiser: Justin Moore concert Carrington Pavilion Craghead St. DanvilleHarvestJubilee.org
Encaustic Art Family Day: PA 11am-1pm free Inspired by the Museum’s current exhibit, Flashpoints, kids can create an encaustic (hot wax) painting with special guest instructors. complimentary snacks provided. All ages are welcome.
The deadline for submitting information for the September calendar is Monday, August 19, at 5:00 p.m. Please send just the basic information following the format on these pages to joycewilburn@gmail.com.
Evince Magazine Page 9 free to the public; 11am-2pm on Saturday; 1:30-3:30pm on Sunday sponsored by DMFAH
August 24 (through Oct 13)
String Theory Project: a display of rare and unique musical instruments DMFAH
August 25 August 18
Jane Carter’s Students Exhibition Opening: DMFAH
August 22
Music on Main: Rivermist Band 111 Main Street free 6:30pm Sally Mann’s Photographs: VMFA Speakers on the Arts; PA; reception 5:30pm/talk 6pm free
August 23 & 24
Like Never Before: Adoration Praise Dance Academy recital. APDA’s praise dance routines consist of many types of dance such as jazz, funk/ hip-hop, lyrical and contemporary,. It includes dancers age 4 to adult. 7:00pm. Tickets $10. HNT
August 24 & 25
Danville Diva Camilla Williams, History & Art Pop-Up: Calvary Baptist Church, 218 Holbrook St.
Magic Show: See Celebrity Magician Wayne Alan and his award-winning sleight of hand magic in the Gallery Mini-Theatre. Magic and illusions themed around the 72nd Anniversary of the original opening of the North and the 7th Anniversary of Wayne Alan’s ownership. 2:00pm. Tickets $15 adults & $10 12 & under. HNT
August 27
Artspiration Senior Studio: self-guided art studio time PA 10am-noon free to members $5 for non-members
August 28
Picnic on the Plaza: 111 Main Street Danville 11:45am-1:45pm $4 United Way social
Page  10 August 2019
Evince Magazine Page 11
Exceptional Community Involvement
Exceptional Customer Service
American National Bank Averett University Curves Danviile Pittsylvania Community Services Danville Family YMCA Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History Danville Regional Foundation Danville Toyota PATHS Piedmont Regional Feeding & Oral-Motor Clinic SOVAH Health The Arc of Southside The Launch Place URW Federal Community Credit Union Wilkins Realty Co.
Allocca Law Animal Medical Center Bankers Insurance Cherrystone Veterinary Hospital Computer Bookkeeping and Tax Service Danville Family Vet Harris, Harvey, Neal & Co. Haymore & Holland, P.C. Attorneys at Law OB-GYN & Associates Satterfield Insurance Agency Schoonover Insurance Agency Spectrum Medical Velocity Urgent Care Womack Electric Wrenn-Yeatts Funeral Home
Exceptional Products A-1 Custom Windows Service Callands Coffee Chuck’s Danville Women’s Care/Bellezza Dipper’s/Lickin Lizard Dominion Eye Center Family Eye Care Four Seasons Pest Control J.W. Squire Karen’s Hallmark Midtown Market Old Oak Wood & Stone Revitalization Station Spurrier Orthodontics The Brick
WINNERS Well Done
Danville!
Exceptional Community Spirit Beacon Credit Union Benchmark Community Bank Blush and Bashful Danville Community College Danville Parks & Rec First Citizens Bank Holley & Gibson Realty Co. Middle Border Forward Nature’s Essentials Office Plus Reid Street Gallery River District Association Uptown Pinball W&W Luxury Limo Woodall Auto
Page  12 August 2019
Evince Magazine Page 13
DID YOU KNOW? Through our YMCA's Scholarship Program, over 60% of the youth that participate in our programs have been able to experience Afterschool, Summer Camp, Youth Sports, Swim Lessons, and more in a fun and safe environment. For more information or to register for any of our Youth Programs, call 434.792.0621.
JOIN US AS WE GROW INTO OFF-SITE AFTERSCHOOL Current Afterschool Locations Include: Danville Family YMCA (Pick Up Available)
Kentuck Elementary
Twin Springs Elementary
Stony Mill Elementary
Chatham Elementary
For more information on how to register for Afterschool Care, please call 434.792.0621
DANVILLE FAMILY YMCA • 215 Riverside Drive, Danville, VA 434.792.0621 • www.ymcadanville.org
Page  14 August 2019
Evince Magazine Page  15
Experience The Woodall Way!
Best Prices - Selection - Service * - Guaranteed Financing
*
With an Income
Danville, VA 24540 (434) 766-0027
Page  16 August 2019
Evince Magazine Page  17
Page  18 August 2019
Evince Magazine Page  19
Congratulations to all the
2019
e ince V Magazine Spirit Award Winners And Thank You to all those who showed your support by voting!
Page 20 August 2019
A
n evolution is taking place at the Danville Science Center (DSC) making it one of the most exciting, educational, and fun places to be in the area, especially if you’re five years old and younger. Adam Goebel, DSC Executive Director, explains, “We took a 120 year old building and made it look less than 120 days old. It underwent a complete, historic restoration.” Standing outside the Victorian train station, he tells visitors to notice the distinctive architecture of the 1899 building because it will be seen again in the new children’s educational play area named Crescent Crossing. He enthusiastically issues an invitation, “Come on in, I’ll show you.” Passing through the active Amtrak station lobby, Adam guides visitors around excited children waiting to enter Crescent Crossing. He points out the original red oak floor in one room and the white pine floor in another, the terrazzo tile, shiny wainscoting, the former train station ticket office, and polished, antique light fixtures that Amtrak passengers enjoy as they wait for the twice daily Crescent on its route between New York City and New Orleans. A few steps to the right of the lobby is the large, light-filled room which formerly housed the Estelle Womack Natural History Collection. He exclaims with obvious pride and joy, “Here it is!” and immediately walks toward the wooden structure, The Station, a new educational interactive structure that resembles the current train station’s exterior. Looking at the large play area, Adam uncovers layers of information at every experience exhibit in the Young Learners Gallery that the casual observer might miss. All have been customized with embedded connections to the Dan River region. “This space was the result of an extensive community engagement effort that identified the need to have an age and developmentally
appropriate space for everyone to enjoy,” he explains. Adam is even proud of the family restroom tucked into a far corner, because its restoration included renovating original granite partitions, honeycomb tile floor, iron radiator, and the coin lock on the stalls—a reminder of when visitors had to pay to use it. There is also a lock on the entry door to the room. “It locks on both sides. If a child accidently locks himself inside, we can unlock it,” says this father of two children, who understands the need for immediate access.
HMF Express
Creating a New Destination for Young Children at
Crescent Crossing by Joyce Wilburn
Education Coordinator Brian Buchannan joins the conversation, highlighting other features of the new space. “Someone from the Danville Public Library comes every first and third Wednesday for story time in an adjacent quiet room,” he says. Hearing the joyful noise of children, Brian continues, “This is a great place for them to interact. Children love it. Some days when I get home from work, my kids will ask, ‘Dad, can we go to the Science Center?’” He laughs at the thought that the place where he works has become one of his children’s favorite places to play. Its popularity is backed by concrete evidence. Adam cites the numbers, “This past May and June were the busiest months in our twenty-four year history. Last fiscal year ending June 30th we exceeded 52,000 visitors!” Pictured here is just a sampling of what young guests and their caretakers are enjoying. A visit is mandatory. There is much more to see and do at the evolving Danville Science Center especially if you are a youngster. HMF Express: Kids can climb inside the engine and drive the train. They push buttons, pull levers, and flip switches triggering lights and sounds on the busy board themed as a conductor’s dash board.
Evince Magazine Page 21
The Station
A crawl tube is built into the front of the train. Above is a mobile that looks like steam coming from the engine. The Station: This miniature play station mimics the exterior of the current train station built in 1899. Inside the miniature play station are finger mazes that allow little ones to play traffic manager, tracing train routes. A miniature crossing signal uses a seismic sensor to alert everyone of a real train rolling down the tracks outside. There are twenty-eight caretaker tips posted throughout the gallery.
Infant Zone
Freight Packing Station: Young learners utilize upholstered forms that look like freight or passengers’ luggage. The goal is to puzzle together and stack all of the freight and luggage into their designated space. Departure Board: Near the pretend train station is a large magnetic board that allows kids to plan trips along the Crescent Line. Names of key destinations and numbers for setting the departure times are available for choosing. Infant Zone: This is a protective play area within the gallery for guests two years and younger to learn and play safely. Cutouts resembling train windows in the low wall surrounding the zone allow little ones to peer
Departure Board
Crossing Signal
out and watch the activity of the older children. A large butterfly mobile rotates overhead. A mural anchors the back wall and creates a whimsical backdrop. It depicts the journey of Byron Bear as he travels along Amtrak’s Crescent Line from New York City to New Orleans with a stop in Danville.
from 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Admission is free for DSC members. Membership information is available by calling 434.791.5160 or visiting www.dsc.smv.org or 677 Craghead Street. • Read another train story on page 24.
• Story time will be held on Wednesdays, August 7 and 21,
Freight Packing Station
Page 22 August 2019 Unlike HGTV shows where home renovations are completed within thirty to sixty minutes, the Victorian house at the corner of Chestnut Place and Main Street in Danville has been under a transformation for nineteen years. This series explores the truth of home renewal from someone who has been there and done that. If you missed any of the articles, visit www.evincemagazine.com.
A
fter rebuilding the two fireboxes in the double parlors, we proudly re-installed the cast iron firebacks. In the late 1800s, there were several reasons for using these decorative architectural features. First, they protected the wall in the back of the fireplace. Second, they radiated heat back into the room. Third, they absorbed heat so that long after a fire died, there was still some degree of warmth emanating from the fireplace. The Victorians took this concept of simple slabs of stone or iron and created beauty. Each fireplace on the first floor had its own unique
We’re
on Danville! Janet Donna Holley • Gibson Owner Owner
HOLLEY & GibsOn REALTY COMPANY
339 Piney Forest Rd., Danville, VA 24540
Office: (434) 791-2400 Fax: (434) 791-2122 Visit our website at
www.holleyandgibsonrealty.com
Renovation Reality Part 35
by Carla Minosh
fireback, and we were fortunate to still retain them intact. The fireback in the front parlor depicts a dancing domestic scene with family members sitting in a small parlor while a young couple dances beneath the simple chandelier against a backdrop of Gothic windowpanes. A putto playing a musical instrument is on each side of the fireback. The rear parlor fireback portrays domestic bliss: a family scene with an older child poking at the fire. His seated mother holds two younger siblings and his father stands proudly over the family, his arm on his wife’s shoulder. This decorative piece of art also shows an elaborate piece of furniture and has Gothic detailing. Both signify the family’s status and wealth. See picture. Next on the to-do list was the demolition of a storage closet built when Dr. E. Howe Miller used this area for his medical practice. The destruction was accomplished with only one visit to the emergency room and a better understanding of body mechanics and physical forces. The removal of the closet, however, left us with a new problem. It revealed the unfortunate placement of the drainpipe from the upstairs bathroom on the outside of the interior wall. Hidden inside the closet it wasn’t an issue, but, with the closet gone, the board hiding the sewer pipe was now an intrusion into the symmetry of the room. The one gift that we received upon pulling off the corner board hiding the drainpipe was an entire intact corner of the 1880s wallpaper pictured in an old photograph. Our biggest surprise was that the material was three-dimensional with applied gilded highlights. It was sooty, dusty, stained, and fragile, but it had survived the test of time to travel to our future and allow us to see what we could only glimpse in an old photo. The house was now shouting to us loud and clear about what to do next, and we were listening. Embossed 3-D wallpapers with metallic highlights would reign again in this room! Oh, and we’d put that sewer line inside a wall.
(to be continued)
Evince Magazine Page 23
Book Clubbing a review by Diane Adkins
Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
Since 1964, Anne Tyler’s novels have opened a window into quiet sometimes hidden lives, especially those of American women. This, her twenty-second novel, does not depart from that body of work. It establishes her as one of our very finest literary novelists. Clock Dance opens in 1967 when Willa Drake is in elementary school. Her mother’s mercurial moods contrast with her preternaturally calm and centered father, a saint of a man. Willa starts filling the role of mother for her younger sister, Elaine, and thus begins a pattern of putting her own wishes and desires on hold in the interests of family stability. Ten years later, Willa is in college dating Derek. He wants to marry her, and she agrees but wants to finish college. However, he prevails and by 1997 they are married with two sons. After Derek dies, Willa has difficulty making even the most minor decisions regarding his funeral, having deferred to him for so long. Part two leaps ahead to 2017. Willa has remarried a well-todo lawyer who provides an upper-class life but treats her as an appendage, a child, even calling her little one. By now, her parents are dead; her children do not live nearby and she has almost no contact with her sister. Then, out of the blue, she receives a phone call from a neighbor of her son’s ex-girlfriend, Denise. By accident, Denise has been shot in the leg. Willa’s phone number was on Denise’s emergency contacts list. Denise’s daughter Cheryl needs someone to care for her, and Willa is asked. With no forethought, and despite this tenuous connection, Willa agrees to do it, saying she “hasn’t felt useful in…forever.” Her quiet, circumscribed life becomes a part of an unpredictable drama. And she likes it! She has skills and abilities that are valued. She makes decisions, even life-altering ones. Suddenly, a woman who has spent her life considering the opinions and comfort of others becomes a person in her own right. “Figuring out what to live for. That’s the great problem at my age,” says one of her elderly neighbors. Of course, that is the problem for all of us—determining what gives our lives meaning. Willa, perhaps for the first time, creates a true family of her own, a community where she belongs. In the process she finally finds a voice, a direction, and a will. Diane S. Adkins is the retired director of Pittsylvania County Libraries.
Page 24 August 2019
I
f you are interested in wine and watch YouTube, you may have seen a series of videos produced by Burgess Cellars on Howell Mountain in Napa, California. They feature winemaker, Kelly Woods. When asked what she liked best about working in the vineyards, she responded, “One of my favorite things…is the early morning vineyard walks during harvest just as the sun is rising. The peacefulness of being in the vines at that time of day is something special.” I hope everyone has experienced that kind of serenity. For many of us it seems to be in short supply, not because it isn’t around us, it is. The demands of modern life crowd out those opportunities or at least make them seem few and far between. The online publication Vinepair included an article in 2017 written by Kari (first name only). She had just read a book that strongly urged readers to put down electronic devices, disconnect from the internet, and have uninterrupted time to think and
maybe even be bored. Kari says it is an interesting concept, but it probably wasn’t written for parents, especially mothers of young children. She writes: “While I’m typing these words I’m listening to Daniel Tiger that one child is watching, fielding questions from the other child about why dinosaurs are extinct, and thinking about what I’m going to cook for dinner.” Serenity washes over her, however, during a late-night routine that includes sipping a glass of riesling while being alone with her thoughts.
Find serenity while enjoying a glass of your favorite beverage and watching the waters of the Dan River flow past. Photo by Dave Slayton.
The Wine Spot
T
he sign in the National Postal Museum in Washington, DC shouted disaster. Walking closer to the large informational display, I was surprised to see a very familiar picture— one that is well-known to all Danvillians and lovers of railroad history. It was the photograph of the wreck of a fast mail train, the Old 97, taken in Danville on September 27, 1903, and memorialized in the mural on the side of Lizzy Lou Boutique at the corner of Main Street and Memorial Drive. The train wreck in Danville that happened near today’s Riverwalk between the YMCA and the Union Street Bridge became famous because someone wrote a ballad about it and radio listeners loved it. It eventually became the first country song to sell a million copies. A verse of “The Wreck of the Old 97” is included on the Postal Museum panel along with an explanation of why 141 postal employees died and 3,887 were injured in collisions, fires, and derailments between 1890 and 1905. Two main reasons: speed and the placement of the wooden mail car directly behind the steam engine. After an accident, the mail cars often became death traps. Scalding water from the engine would drench the workers and/or the car was set ablaze when oil lamps or wood stoves tipped over. Eleven died in the Danville wreck. Seven were injured.
Pair Wine with Serenity by Dave Slayton
a member of the Master Court of Sommeliers
WRECKS! by Joyce Wilburn
To find a little tranquility in your life, do as I did recently and visit a winery such as Jefferson Vineyards in Charlottesville or 2 Witches Winery & Brewery in Danville. You can enjoy a glass of good wine, sit, think, and gaze upon beautiful scenery and (I hope) experience serenity. Just remember to turn off your cell phone. Cheers! • Meet Dave at free wine tastings on most Saturday afternoons at Vintages by the Dan, 312 Main Street, Danville.
It was inspiring to see a spotlight shine on Danville’s history in the world-famous Smithsonian Museum. If your vacation plans include visiting our nation’s capital, put this museum, across the street from Union Station, on your itinerary. Then send someone a postcard or letter postmarked from the Postal Museum station. The poem engraved on the outside of the building gives eight excellent reasons to pick up a pen and start writing. See below.
The Letter by Eliot
Messenger of Sympathy and Love Servant of Parted Friends Consoler of the Lonely Bond of the Scattered Family Enlarger of the Common Life Carrier of News and Knowledge Instrument of Trade and Industry Promoter of Mutual Acquaintance Of Peace and of Goodwill Among Men and Nations
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Page 26 August 2019
Reflecting Forward
My Mother Keisha
Cultivating Serenity by Linda Lemery
fiction by Telisha Moore Leigg Keisha, my mother, put the plaid sheets on my single dorm room mattress and kept smoothing them. She took the new, Dollar General, greyand-blue comforter from the plastic casing, but didn’t put it on the fresh sheets. She looked to Mandy and then looked at her own dark knuckles holding the cotton-polyester blend. She didn’t know where to put her hands. She kept her head down and looked to Mandy for guidance. Keisha, my mother, had her fears and a thimbleful of hope. She had given me life. I love her. Keisha, my mother, she hides and is shy, although you wouldn’t know it for all the cussing she still does when she thinks she is provoked. But she won’t curse now, won’t mess anything up for me because it’s freshman movein day. I see her slowly backing almost into the one window near my bed trying to disappear, embarrassed by all the white, educated people in this state college dorm room: John, my roommate, Mrs. Pointer, John’s mother; his father, Ralph, who keeps bringing in boxes and storing them everywhere about the room. John has so many things. John tosses a football and rumpling the sheets on his bed, smiles, and rolls his eyes at the cookies his mother insists everyone take. Keisha’s even embarrassed by Mandy, also white--her best friend for over fifteen years--talking to my roommate’s family. Mandy is confident, speaks with her hands, and not so much with her sad blue eyes. Her father was a classics professor and she’s in her element. Keisha not so much. Keisha has faded farther behind her despite Mandy’s grip on her arm trying to keep her forward, pulling her toward me. I’m black. Keisha’s the only other black person in the room. Everybody is expecting her to be my mother and she is, even though she can’t act like it.
Ms. Rachel Pointer (she has asked me to call her Rachel, but I won’t ever do it) smiles uncertainly at Keisha. Keisha looks like a rough woman, exactly the type of po’ uncouthness white women would pity and avoid. It shows even though Keisha wore a dress because she thought she ought to, even though she sat like a man in it. All are aware of her discomfort, even though she wore makeup-some purple lipstick she keeps forgetting and chewing off. When Keisha meets my eyes, I see the anguish of her ill-fitting. I see that today she wanted to be a woman I could be proud of, although, she never lets me call her Mama. “Keisha’ll do,” she says. I could tell also she would like to have had one of the homemade cookies, but she just side-eyes them. Mrs. Pointer offers tentatively again, but Keisha won’t take one, and it disturbs Mrs. Pointer, so she moves closer to Keisha, who cringes back. Mandy takes another one, holds out the next-to-thelast-one to Keisha who takes it. Mrs. Pointer’s eyes get large, and it’s like I know she thinks Keisha and Mandy are a couple even though they aren’t. She tries to smile through it. Keisha chews but doesn’t swallow the bite she took letting the rest crumble in her hand. Mandy pushes a little forward toward Mrs. Pointer, and I ache and move forward myself. My name is Kwon. I’m eighteen, going to be an English major, going to play a little football too and make proud the three women who have loved me, who made me good or at least want to be. But first, I’m going to turn to Mrs. Pointer even though Keisha shakes her head and won’t come forward. All I say is “This is my mother, Keisha,” but my eyes say here is my mother and her fragile heart, the shame of her poor and beaten past like the spittle softening the cookie she can barely push down. My mother, I love her. Mandy smiles. The room is silent. Keisha nods once and swallows.
W
ith my sound-reduction headphones clamped over my ears, I was in the zone on a machine at the YMCA when Joyce Wilburn came by to chat. I pulled a headphone off one ear in time to hear her say, “Where do you find your serenity?” I was surprised to hear myself respond with, “I find it right here.” At that point, my “right here, right now” was the Y, exercising and investing in my health. However, after giving this some thought, I realized that where I find serenity is not about place, because I find serenity in many locations. It is about being in the zone while my body is on automatic, leaving my mind free to reflect on life, find meaning, and better understand the world. This means building, as in bringing things together to make something new or better. There’s a sense of satisfaction derived from having invested the time to build something. Maybe that’s part of where serenity comes from. For me, a sense of serenity also comes from having prepared for something. Examples? Many of you know I struggle with organizing. We had a Danish cousin coming to visit. After preparing her room, beating back the entropy in other rooms, and putting away or reducing the clutter, the act of preparation helped me feel more serene. As a result, I was strangely unbothered by our dryer’s very recent, inexplicable death and the fact that we have to weigh down the washer lid with a large liquid detergent container for the washer
latch to engage so that it could complete a cycle. I’ve accepted that appliance illness and death are out of my control. So, in addition to preparation, maybe acceptance contributes to serenity. There are other contributors. Seeing vibrant pink and yellow blooms and various birds splashing around in the birdbaths as I wash dishes is an investment in peace and meditation. Indulging my unashamed love of plastic flamingo statuary makes me feel that all is well with my soul. Maybe peaceful surroundings, a meditative state, and the chance to help others contribute to my serenity. Feeding my mind also helps: my most recent reading is young adult fiction to feed my inner child. Thought-provoking quotations from experts and experienced adults help me to learn. Other activities such as reconnecting with friends and colleagues and having meaningful work with a mentoring component also encourage serenity. It appears that I find serenity independent of place but in the reflective thinking that accompanies selected activities-along with accepting and making the best of what I cannot change. These activities and the headphones seem to move me toward, rather than away from, serenity. About the Author: When she’s not stressing over what moves her toward serenity, Linda Lemery llemery@averett.edu) works as Circulation Manager at Averett University’s Mary B. Blount Library in Danville.
Evince Magazine Page 27
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Page  28 August 2019
Evince Magazine Page 29
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
Checkered Pig Chuck’s Meats & Deli Danview Restaurant El Vallarta Goodwill on Westover Drive Joe & Mimma’s Karen’s Hallmark Los Tres Magueyes Ruben’s 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. URW Community Credit Union Western Sizzlin YMCA
Main & West Main Street River District Area American National Bank Commonwealth Pharmacy Crema & Vine Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History Danville Public Library Danville Science Center Dell’ Anno’s Pizza Kitchen Links Main Street Coffee Emporium Midtown Market Rippe’s SOVAH
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In Tightsqueeze
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Simple Is Best by Annelle Williams
Spotting Exception Customer Service al
Page 6
Meditation Moment
Page 7
Crescent Crossing
Page 20
How to Find Serenity
in a Hectic World
Photo Finish See Pages
4&5
In Chatham Area
Community Center Carter Bank & Trust Chatham Health Center El Cazador Grill & Pizza PCP Library on Military Drive Reid Street Gallery
In Gretna
American National Bank Carter Bank & Trust Family Healthcare JT’s The Lavette House Mama Rosa
In South Boston
I’m always surprised when dinner guests say, “Please don’t go to any trouble.” Cooking never seems like trouble to me. It’s fun and challenging but not trouble. Sometimes I simplify the meal because it cuts preparation time and makes having friends over for dinner easier and more fun. This past week, we had a full house with old friends from college. I didn’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen, so I pulled out one of our favorite summer meals: grilled tuna with wasabi and pickled ginger, cilantro-lime rice, and honeydew salad. Tuna probably takes less time than anything else cooked on the grill. That’s especially nice when the thermometer is reaching into the triple digits. I give the tuna a coating of soy sauce, a little olive oil and a sprinkling of chili-lime seasoning, then place it on a very hot grill for three or four minutes depending on thickness just to sear the outside. It’s ready to serve. The rice is equally easy to prepare. Using the recipe on a rice bag, I substitute lite coconut milk for water and add a little salt. When the cooking is complete, I squeeze a little lime juice on it and some chopped fresh cilantro I usually make a melon salad, either watermelon cubes and feta with a few drops of balsamic vinegar over a mix of arugula and spinach or honeydew salad that takes just a few more minutes but is so good and refreshing. Go simple for hot August. It turns entertaining into a serene experience and more fun for everyone.
Berry Hill Resort Bistro 1888 Goodwill Halifax County Public Library Mi Caretta O’ Sole Mio Sentara Medical Center South Boston Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts & History Southern Gastroenterology Southern Plenty Southern Virginia Higher Education Springfield Distillery The Prizery Toots Creek Antiques Mall Town of South Boston
Honeydew Salad
In Martinsville
Chopstix Restaurant El Ranchito Elizabeth’s Pizza Frith’s Barbeque Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce Martinsville Visitor Center Piedmont Arts The Pacifica Bay Restaurant Virginia Museum of Natural History YMCA
In Yanceyville, NC
American National Bank Caswell Chamber of Commerce Busy Bee Cafe Goodwill Gunn Memorial Public Library Pizza My Heart
(Serves 6-8)
Dressing (or use a store bought sesame ginger dressing) 6 T white wine vinegar 1 tsp. fish sauce
2 tsp. grated ginger 2 tsp. brown sugar
3 cups arugula, packed loosely 1/2 honeydew melon, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes
1 English cucumber, 1/3 cup mint leaves halved and thinly 1/3 cup honey-roasted sliced peanuts, coarsely 2 avocados, peeled chopped and cut into medium- 1/2 tsp. sea salt sized pieces
1 jalapeno chili, seeds removed, and thinly sliced
Salad
Mix vinegar, fish sauce, ginger, brown sugar and jalapeno chili in large bowl, or use 4 oz. of a pre-made sesame ginger dressing. When ready to serve, cover platter with arugula. Add honeydew, cucumber and avocado to bowl with dressing and toss to coat. Remove with slotted spoon and arrange on top of arugula. Top with mint leaves, peanuts and sea salt. Questions or comments? Email me: AnnelleWilliams@comcast.net I look forward to hearing from you!
Page 30 August 2019
Throw Out the Mess & Organize the Rest
The 360 De-Cluttering Project by Missy Messy
The Goal: Every day for 360 days, spend fifteen minutes organizing one small space.
I
decided to try the 360 Project for one reason: I wanted my house to look pretty. I was pleasantly surprise when other benefits popped up. If you are still unmotivated to declutter and organize think about the following: Organizing your things will save you money! When you can see what you have and know its location, you won’t buy duplicates. The first step to organizing is putting all of the same items together. Example: If you have pens, pencils, markers scattered all over the house, put them in a container on a desk, in a drawer, or near pads of paper. It’s obvious that you have more than you’ll ever need and there is no temptation to purchase more. Now that my bills are organized by payment date, I can see what is due and when. No more late fees for me! Tax-related records are kept in a folder as they arrive during the year and I’ll be ready to file when the time comes. The refrigerator has been decluttered and organized with like items together. I can see the expiration date on food
and use it before it goes bad. Example: I know there are three bottles of ketchup in there and won’t buy a fourth bottle. My grocery bills are less. We don’t eat out as often because leftovers are fresh and available. We were thinking about renting a small storage unit for all the extra stuff. After giving away, throwing away, and recycling, more space appeared and there isn’t a need for more storage space. That is a huge savings. One of the kids told me, “The house looks bigger now.” That’s a real bonus. After clearing away all the unwanted stuff, I could see the dust bunnies, cobwebs, and dead bugs. Yikes! Cleaning that out has probably saved me a trip to the doctor. After only a few months of working on the 360 Project, I am a strong proponent. It works. Send Evince your organizing success story. Email 300350 words and a picture to joycewilburn@gmail.com. Include your name. It you want to remain anonymous because everyone thinks your house is perfect and it’s not, your name will not be published.
Photo by Lee Vogler.
The Serendipity of Serenity by Mack Williams
O
ften I’ve looked for serenity without finding it; sometimes, Serendipity has allowed Serenity to drop upon me or maybe ease down, since that would be Serenity’s nature. Serenity doesn’t shout like the clashing orchestral cymbal or the thumping and jingling of the Old Testament timbrel but comes like a misty cloud rising from an asphalt road following a summer thunderstorm. After one fast walk on the Riverwalk, I rested on a bench overlooking the water. Although walking two or three miles per hour hadn’t made the scenery pass as fast as in a car, when I paused to relax, all apparent motion around me stopped; a feeling of serenity serendipitously happened as I watched the motion of the water and ducks. A place that seemed very unlikely for serenity to be
ushered in by serendipity was at Spectrum Medical Physical Therapy & Rehab on Bridge Street. In the recent past, I was there on a stationary bike pedaling rapidly while looking out the massive third-story windows. It was a sunny day and I had an elevated view of Danville with people walking and cars passing against the backdrop of buildings repurposed for loft-living. Of course, I wasn’t high enough to see the Earth’s curvature, but high enough to have a better view of Danville’s true hilly topography. Within this sunlit area, I heard a therapy patient briefly moan, then laugh heartily followed by therapists kidding with patients and each other. These professionals were dedicated to their work and their patients were appreciative, resulting in a very serene feeling. Serendipity sometimes strews the seeds of serenity. Serenity’s growth depends upon the soil where it lands--a soil called self.
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Page Page 32 32August August 2019 2019