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| March 2019 | Showcase Magazine 3
CONTENTS
Showcase Magazine
March 2019
Let’ s Connec t @showcaseDVA
Showcase Magazine
showcasedanville @ info@showcasemagazine.com
Features Bridge to Bridge
Running for a Cure 12
Also Inside Confessions of a 30 Something Life Unfiltered 20
PG.
Bridge to Bridge
Running for a Cure
12
Double the Drama MartinsvilleHenry County 22
Nine Grams
Instagrams From Our Area 26
Also Inside Editor’s Letter
Making Better Choices 6 From the Kitchen of
Big Bear’s Wife
Healthy Low-Carb Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Facts on the Sly By Sly Strader Milam
18
Paws for a Cause Meet Lilly
By Paulette Dean
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22
By Angie Barrett
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showcase
Editor’s Letter
March 2019
Making Better Choices Is it March already? It seems like yesterday I was putting the Christmas decorations away. In the case of the office Christmas tree, this may be true. When I was younger, it felt like time moved painfully slow. I remember getting the Sears Christmas catalog, making my list for Santa, and then waiting another two years for Christmas to arrive. So much has changed over the years. Now, time flies, and something that gets lost in its wind is awareness—self-awareness, awareness for others, and awareness for our surroundings. The underlying theme for March is Awareness. March is recognized as colorectal cancer awareness month. Awareness months are a wonderful way to bring attention to causes and diseases, but we shouldn’t reserve a month in our mind for awareness. We should always be aware of these highlighted things. Cancer affects everyone in some capacity at some point. In this issue, we talk to Karen Johnston, Nora McFadden, and Wendy Hermann about the history of the 10th Annual Bridge2Bridge race in Danville. The race, a partnership of The Danville-Pittsylvania Cancer Association, The Danville Running and Fitness Club, and Danville Parks & Recreation, serves as a benefit to help cancer patients in our area. It’s a great event, and there are many ways you can help even if you’re not a runner. There is an anonymous quote that says, “The better awareness, the better your choices. As you make better choices, you will see better results.” The year is moving fast, but there is still plenty of time to make better choices.
CEO Andrew Scott Brooks scott@showcasemagazine.com E d i t o r i al D i r e c t o r Paul Seiple | paul@showcasemagazine.com G r ap h i c D e s i g n e r Kim Demont | demontdesign@verizon.net F i n a n c e M a n ag e r Cindy Astin | cindy@showcasemagazine.com Advertising Lee Vogler | Director of Sales lee@showcasemagazine.com | 434.548.5335 Ashley Schultz | Sales ashley@showcasemagazine.com Customer Service Subscribe to Home Delivery for $24 per year 753 Main Street #3, Danville, VA 24541 Phone 434.709.7349 info@showcasemagazine.com www.showcasemagazine.com contriButinG Writers Paulette Dean | Heather Hoffman Sly Strader Milam | Lee Vogler contriButinG PhotoGraPherS Brooke Krause | Sentara Health Martinsville-Henry County Tourism Cover Karen Johnston - Bridge2Bridge Founder photographed by Brooke Krause
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Sponsored Content Sentara Health: Occupational Medicine
Sentara Halifax Occupational Medicine Opens New Practice and Unveils State-of-the-Art Mobile Unit Image Provided by Sentara Halifax
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n employee’s health, wellness and ability to perform assigned tasks is the top priority for employers in our region. Sentara Halifax Occupational Medicine, a dedicated brick-and-mortar practice that runs in conjunction with a state-of-the-art mobile unit, is making this priority a reality by bringing the best in employee health, right to the door step of employers across the southern Virginia region. “Sentara has recognized the need for exceptional employee healthcare in our area,” said Joni Henderson, director of business development for Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital. “To better serve our region as the premier healthcare provider in southern Virginia, we are pleased to be able to offer employee health services and provide a dedicated office and staff in Halifax County. In addition, we will offer on-site employee health services to employers across our region with the addition of our brand new occupational medicine mobile unit.” The mobile unit, a 38-ft cutting edge suite complete with exam room, hearing booth, lab station, and more, will provide a wide array of employee health services on-site at any business campus.
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“We can come on-site and provide any combination of services that are selected by the employer,” says Henderson. “We provide common services like immunizations and wellness screenings, as well as more complex offerings like OSHA physicals, certified audiology testing, as well as spirometry testing. Our team has taken great care to ensure that we are able to provide anything that an employer might need for their team, all without any travel and only minimal time lost on the job.” The mobile unit is wheelchair accessible and will travel fully-staffed with a highly-trained occupational medicine team. Henderson also plans to expand the operations of the mobile unit to provide community health screenings to underserved populations. “One of the most exciting parts of this enhanced service and ability to travel is the flexibility of the unit itself,” says Henderson. “We will be able to meet the needs of employers around our region while seizing the opportunity to give back to the communities we serve.” For more information about Sentara Halifax Occupational Medicine, or to inquire about employee health packages and mobile unit opportunities, please call 434.517.3136.
Sponsored Content Sentara Health: Cutting-edge Telehealth Services
Cutting-edge Telehealth Services Come to Sentara Halifax Home Health
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entara Halifax Home Health is deploying cuttingedge telehealth technology to improve the lives of the home-based patients that they serve.
Telehealth for home health patients will consist of a smart tablet which the patient uses to interact with Sentara Halifax Home Health staff, as well as transmit health data and manage medication. The goal of telehealth services is to support and assist patients who have been diagnosed with conditions like congestive heart failure, COPD and diabetes. This technology allows them to remain at home, avoiding costly emergency room visits and readmissions to the hospital. “We are thrilled to be able to offer telehealth services to our patients,” said Wendy Fisher, BSN, administrator of Halifax Home Health and Hospice. “Not only will we be able to reduce unnecessary readmissions to the hospital, but also help eliminate costly emergency room visits by being able to provide care and monitoring directly to the patient, right where they are.”
In addition to medication management, patients will receive biometric monitoring, which includes heart rate and blood pressure observation. Health Recovery Solutions (HRS), the telehealth company that Sentara Halifax Home Health will be working with to provide telehealth services, also offers educational videos, interactive quizzes, and video calling. These facets will help patients better understand their condition and learn how to better manage it.
ultimately augment the collaboration of care between home health nurses and the patient’s physician. Home health nurses continuously monitor the patient’s use of telehealth services to ensure that the patient is functioning well with the services. “Each plan of care is very specific to the unique patient that we are caring for,” says Fisher. “We know that everything won’t always work for everyone, so we carefully observe our patients to ensure that they are receiving the highest quality of care that is appropriate for them as an individual.” For more information about the telehealth services provided by Sentara Halifax Home Health, call 434.517.3339. Sentara Healthcare, based in Norfolk, VA, celebrates more than 125 years in pursuit of its mission to improve health every day. Sentara is an integrated not-for-profit system of 12 hospitals in Virginia and North Carolina, including a Level I trauma center with Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance. The Sentara family also includes four medical groups, ambulatory campuses, post-acute care services, the physician-led Sentara Quality Care Network, the Sentara College of Health Sciences, Optima Health Plan members in Virginia, Alabama and Ohio, and a team of professionals 28,000 strong. Sentara is strategically focused on continuous improvement in quality, safety, and the patient experience.
“There are so many wonderful pieces of the HRS telehealth software,” said Fisher. “We are looking forward to implementing all of them with our patients. We feel that these added services will improve the quality of life of those we serve.” Patients can be placed on telehealth services by the referral of a physician or by an internal assessment conducted by Sentara Halifax Home Health nurses. This program is for patients who meet a certain set criterion and will www.showcasemagazine.com
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Sponsored Content Sentara Health: A Heartfelt Testimonial
A Heartfelt Testimonial Photo Provided by Sentara Halifax
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hen Terri Francisco began having abnormal sensations in her chest, she looked to the cardiologists of Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital for help. “I was having strange feelings in my chest,” said Terri. “I couldn’t even explain it to the doctors. It felt like my heart was skipping a beat. There was no pain, but I knew something wasn’t right.” Terri knew she needed to get to the root cause of the issue because her daily life was being heavily impacted.
Now, Terri is back to her daily life. She is feeling energetic, strong, and happy to be able to do the things that she loves. “I can do a lot more now,” said Terri. “I can do anything I want to do around the house, and I don’t feel the fatigue and the need to lay down. There is a world of difference for me and I am so happy that they found the issue and were able to prevent me from having a heart attack.”
“I couldn’t clean my house or do anything active,” said Terri. “I was afraid to do much at all, because I would become so fatigued. I would have to lay down and take a nap after the smallest physical activity.”
Terri cannot say enough about the team that assisted during her heart catheterization.
Ultimately, after several office visits and a cardiac catheterization, Terri was told that she had 11 blockages in her heart.
“I cannot thank the cardiac team enough,” said Terri. “They listened to me, they found the blockages, and thanks to them, I am still here. I will never forget when Dr. Iskandar told me that I was hanging on by a thread. They saved my life.”
“Dr. Said Iskandar and Tony Wilkerson, P.A. were absolutely wonderful,” said Terri. “They recommended the cardiac catheterization, even though I was not 10 Showcase Magazine |
experiencing any chest pain. I knew something wasn’t right, but I never imagined that I would need stents for blockages in my heart arteries. I was a ticking time bomb and I am so grateful for the providers who listened to my concerns.”
March 2019
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For more information about Sentara Halifax Cardiovascular Services, visit Sentara.com/Heart.
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Featire Running for a Cure
Running for a Cure Photos by Brooke Klauss
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he Danville-Pittsylvania Cancer Association, The Danville Running and Fitness, and Danville Parks & Recreation are partnering to bring the 10th Annual Bridge2Bridge 5K, 10Km Bike Ride, and Kids’ Fun Ride to Danville on April 13, 2019. Over 700 people attended the 2018 event that raised 58,000 dollars to help aid the Danville-Pittsylvania Cancer Association’s mission to serve cancer patients in the area. We asked Bridge2Bridge (B2B) founder and director Karen Johnston, Danville Pittsylvania Cancer Association Executive Director, Nora McFadden, and Wendy Hermann to give us the history and the importance of the event to the community. SC: How does your personal story play into the creation of B2B? Karen Johnston: I have always been a strong supporter of charities that help those afflicted with various diseases and disorders, and those that seek a cure. After losing a number of friends and my beautiful sister Phyllis to cancer, I began making contributions to various cancer research groups and charities. I also decided to grow my hair longer and donate it to Locks of Love; an organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss. It seemed like a way to give from the heart and I took comfort in knowing that I would be helping someone in a difficult situation. In 2009, I donated an 11-inch ponytail.
I also resolved to take care of myself and stay healthy and strong: bike riding, running, horseback riding, walking, reading, and spending time with family. These seemed like good ways to enjoy life. Many of these activities I undertook with friends, none of us knowing what was ahead in my journey. In 2008, I was diagnosed with cancer and my own life’s course was changed forever. I was no longer on the sidelines witnessing the battle. I was on the battlefield. A cancer patient spends a great deal of time in doctors’ offices and labs, and that was true for me. At each visit, I noticed and appreciated the care and love from our local oncologists and their staff. Without fail, they treated me as if I were the only patient ever to be diagnosed, as if I were the most important person in the world. Over time, I came to see that they treated every patient this way. The doctors, 12 Showcase Magazine |
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nurses, technicians, and receptionists were all incredibly wonderful people. In the chemo lab especially as I sat for hours connected to intravenous therapy. I watched and listened and felt awed at the kindness of the staff—their words of wisdom, their compassion, their gentleness. They even inspired me to consider becoming an oncology nurse, so great was my desire to help people suffering with this illness and so remarkable were the men and women committed to healing me. During my treatments, I met some of the finest people I have ever encountered, including other patients. We were a team; we were there for the same purpose—trying to stay alive and I noticed that some patients never had family or friends visit like I did. I listened as patients tried to figure out how they were going to return for the next doctor or chemotherapy appointment or how they were going to pay for their medications or their utilities. It was obvious that some patients didn’t have insurance, jobs, transportation, family, or the energy to get through the next day. Even as cancer medicine dripped into my veins, I felt I had to count my blessings and giving thanks to God for sparing my life. I realized I needed to do something to help those less fortunate. Then, the light bulb came on while I was talking to a physician’s assistant at my doctor’s office. A 5K Run/Walk would be a great way to involve the community and raise money for the Danville- Pittsylvania Cancer Association (DPC) while simultaneously promoting good health habits for participants. What better way for our community to support the DPC, a local organization, in which receives no funding from the American Cancer Society. Danville-Pittsylvania Cancer focuses on patient-aid and helps pay for cancer-related prescriptions, travel assistance, medical supplies and equipment, wigs, prosthesis and other special needs. They also do provide some educational materials and present educational programs. DPC also has a support group: COPING, which meets on the last Tuesday of every month (except for June and December). That is held at 223 Riverview Dr, Suite H Danville, VA 24541 for any who are interested. DPC also is the host for Throw Paint at Cancer, a peer-to-peer art support group sponsored by SOVAH Health. They have 8-week sessions, instructed by a local cancer survivor. For Continued to Page 14
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Featire Running for a Cure
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more information on that support program, please call the office of DPC at 434.791.3227. Nearly everyone’s life has been affected by cancer, either personally or through a family member or friend. Until there is a cure, there is no escaping it. I have witnessed and felt firsthand the warmth and caring of the people of Danville and Pittsylvania County. I work at Karen’s Hallmark Shop in Danville Mall and over the years; I have met some of my best friends there. Such loving and giving people: parents, family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and customers. I am truly blessed to live in this wonderful community of such solid, good-natured people. Southside Virginia is truly a place where people care about each other. We each have talents or gifts that we’ve been given, and we must use them in positive ways. When we all join together like my friends and family have done, there is nothing we can’t accomplish. SC: How does B2B help cancer treatment in our area? Nora McFadden: Cancer is everywhere. It does not discriminate and everyone in some way, shape, or form, has been affected by cancer, whether that is oneself, a family member, or friend. Bridge 2 Bridge is the biggest contributor for the Danville-Pittsylvania Cancer Association (DPC). DPC is a local, nonprofit organization serving cancer patients in the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County. Established in 1950, DanvillePittsylvania Cancer, formally Danville Cancer Association, became a 501 (c)(3) in 1960, and an incorporation in 1976. The mission of DPC is to Unravel the Effects of Cancer. With the efforts of all B2B participants, sponsors, and volunteers, DPC is able to assist financially with the costs of cancer-related prescriptions, travel reimbursement/assistance, medical supplies and equipment, nutritional supplements, prothesis, wigs, and other special needs relating to cancer and/or treatments. B2B is vital to the efforts of DPC in serving the cancer patients in our community. Since the 1st annual race in 2009, B2B has contributed over $400,000 to DPC! Just in the last year, DPC provided over $65,000 in cancer-related
prescriptions, $97,000 in patient travel, and $20,000 in supplies, such as nutritional supplements and wigs. The assistance that they provide can overall help with one’s cancer marathon in itself. A growing organization, the proceeds of B2B help DPC in continuing the assistance to the Danville/Pittsylvania County community. SC: What has led to B2B becoming an important event for the community? Wendy Hermann: Bridge2Bridge is an important event in our community for many reasons, but two specific things stand out to me when answering this question. They are the financial support we provide to DPC and the sense of community that this event holds. The money we raise is BY our community, FOR our community. It is integral to the lives of those facing the challenges of fighting cancer in the Dan River Region. All proceeds that we raise by hosting this event are used to assist patients with the costs of prescriptions, supplies, transportation, and various other things. Every year the need for assistance from the Danville Pittsylvania Cancer Association grows, as does our commitment to helping them and in effect, helping others. As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary in 2019, we are humbled, amazed and so very grateful for the community’s unwavering support of this annual tradition. This event brings smiles to the faces of patients fighting this disease, gives hope to their loved ones, and gives a sense of community to all those participating. People tell us all the time how they look forward to this event every year, they proudly wear their shirts from years past, they gather their friends in support of friends and loved ones and consider this a day of celebration. This event is welcoming to all and helps bring us closer as a community. Bridge2Bridge has helped create a strong sense of community with people from all walks of life and when you build a strong sense of community, amazing and powerful transformations begin to happen. If you’re interested in helping out, but not participating in the races, volunteers are the lifeblood of B2B. It takes about 150 volunteers to make the race run smoothly. There are many opportunities to help: setting up on Friday before the race, cleaning up on Saturday after the race, helping to hand out registration packets, standing along the race route and providing directional assistance, manning a water stop, leading or following a race on a bicycle, helping with the 39-mile bike ride and many other tasks. With the exception of the lead bicycle riders, these jobs do not require any particular skill set. Volunteering is easy, just go to the race website and select VOLUNTEER from the menu on the left-hand side of the page. For more information about B2B visit https://runsignup.com/ Race/VA/Danville/Bridge2BridgeDanville
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Feature Big Bear’s Wife
From the Kitchen of
Big Bear’s Wife
Healthy Low-Carb Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets Written by Angie Barrett of BigBearsWife.com Photo by Angie Barrett
These tasty and Healthy Low-Carb Air-Fryer Chicken Nuggets are made with almond flour and seasonings to create an easy low carb lunch or dinner that’s done cooking in about 8 minutes. Great on their own or paired with your favorite dipping sauce. Prep Time: 5M; Cook Time: 8M; Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts 2 cups blanched almond flour 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning pink of salt (optional) 2 whole eggs Ketchup, Mustard, BBQ or Ranch for dipping
into the whisked egg. Make sure each piece is coated. • Then roll the egg coated chicken nuggets into the almond flour mixture until coated. • Add a few pieces of the coated chicken to the basket of the air fryer. Just a single layer will work, don’t over pack it. • Cook at 390 for 8 minutes. • Remove from air fryer and pour onto clean plate. • Cut one of the thicken nuggets in half and make sure it’s done to your liking. • Continue cooking nuggets in batches until all are done. • Cover cooked nuggets with a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel to keep them warm while cooking the others. • Serve with your choice of dipping sauce.
INSTRUCTIONS • Slice chicken breast into bite size pieces. I try to cut them into 1 inch - 2-inch pieces. • Set up the breading station: • In one bowl crack and whisk together the eggs. • In another bowl whisk together the almond flour, pepper, Italian seasoning and salt if using salt. • Also sit out one plate for the breaded chicken nuggets and one plate for the cooked chicken nuggets. • Start by dipping a few pieces of the chicken breast
on the Sly
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March 2019
by Sly Strader Milam
Facts
•
St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish national holiday with banks, stores, and businesses closing for the day.
• The color of St. Patrick’s Day was originally blue. • Slugs have four noses. • Elephants are the only animal that can’t jump. • March was the first month of the year until the Gregorian calendar began to be used in 1752.
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Paws for a Cause
Paws for a Cause Many dogs come to us with matted hair. Some come from the owners and some come as strays. One that I vividly remember came to us a few years ago.
Written by Paulette Dean Executive Director Danville Humane Society
The relief on his face when he was free of all the mats and thorns was evident. We recognized that look because we see it hundreds of times throughout the year when dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, rabbits, ferrets, (the list goes on) are rescued from dangerous, scary, and painful circumstances. The hungry and thirsty ones ravenously eat and drink; they then usually settle down with a sigh. The little puppies and kittens curl up and go to sleep.
He was a poodle that was so matted, we could not even tell if he was a boy or a girl until he was shaved. He was obviously very uncomfortable, and so our groomer immediately started the process of clipping and shaving. It took quite a while, and she found leaves, twigs, and lots of dirt in the middle of the mats. What really got our attention, though, was the stem from a rose bush with the thorns still attached. The thorns were completely entwined by the hair, and went from his bottom area, across his stomach, and were stuck underneath his arm pit. Every time he moved, the thorns would stick him.
It is amazing enough when we see what happens when basic physical needs are met. However, when the animals receive kindness and attention from shelter workers, the relief turns to joy.
Meet Lilly This sweet little girl came to us as a stray with two littermates. She is playful, sweet, and pretty!
Tender, loving care really can work miracles.
Danville Humane Society
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| March 2019 | Showcase Magazine 19
Confessions of a 30 something
Life Unf iltered Written by Lee Vogler Photo By Lee Vogler
What in the world am I writing about? It’s a question I’ve asked myself while trying to decide what direction this column should go in. It’s a question you may ask yourself sometimes when reading this column. I want to be clear: I’m not a fitness guru or parenting expert. I’m a 31-year-old husband and parent of two young children who works a full-time job and also happens to be the Vice Mayor of the City of Danville. That can be an interesting combination of ingredients. We live in an age where it seems everyone is expected to be perfect. Social media has done this to us. Don’t get me wrong, I love social media. It can be a great tool. I use it extensively. The problem, however, is that it causes people to believe they have to project this perfect image of themselves, or else face the consequences of an unforgiving audience. Every hair out of place is analyzed. Every word misspelled is ridiculed. Is Kim Kardashian’s life as perfect as her Instagram account makes it seem? Of course, it’s not, and you shouldn’t expect yours to be either. I share pictures and videos regularly on my social media channels, many of them featuring my children, Kingston and Ava. Rarely a day passes without someone mentioning to me how much they 20 Showcase Magazine |
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love seeing pictures of Kingston, what a sweet boy he is and how lucky I am to have such a well-behaved son. All of those things are true, but what they don’t see is that five minutes after that sweet, smiling photo was taken, Kingston is probably storming through the house making a mess of biblical proportions. Those of you who follow me on social media have probably seen a lot of photos of me with the kids on some adventure, as Kingston calls them, at a nearby walking trail or park. It’s something we like to do on days when my wife, Blair, is working and I’m off work. It’s fun for the kids, and me, and keeps them active until mommy gets home. Often times, we’ll be able to snap that perfect family photo of us out in the wild, smiling with hardly a hair out of place. It’s a perfect day, right? Of course not. Like every parent with young children knows, the time in between the photos is filled with small temper tantrums and trying to figure out how such a small baby can have that much poop! My point is this: life isn’t perfect. It never will be. The sooner we realize that, and learn to embrace our imperfections, the happier we will be. Life can’t be captured in a single photo, as great as they can be. Life is what happens in between the photos.
Sponsored Content The ARc of Southside
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What does community mean to you? Most of us would say that it is much more than just a group of people living in a particular place working towards a common goal. Community is about being included and feeling a sense of belonging. We can all be present in a community but being included is not always a reality for some. Everyone wants to experience a sense of belonging, be accepted for who they are within their communities, be valued, actively participate in their community, have friendships and relationships with others whom have shared interests, and have friends. Many of us do not even think twice about these things but for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, it is often not present in their lives. When people are not included in their communities, it can be cause for loneliness and isolation. Many people with developmental and intellectual disabilities experience life in their communities differently. They may not have a sense of being present and may not have access to activities that they prefer or desire. Many people with developmental and intellectual disabilities lack opportunities to live, work, interact, and build relationships with others (especially with those who do not have a disability). So, how can we address this? It can be addressed by opening up opportunities for people to be involved. This can be in schools, through employment, recreational activities, and volunteer opportunities. At The Arc of Southside, we advocate every day for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities to be included and educate the community on the contributions that people with disabilities can make. The people we support have the same interests and desires we all do. They want a home they can call their own, a job, and friends. They want A Life Like Yours.
Community is at the center of everything we do. When we began our journey to inclusive community supports and services, The Arc of Southside looked to the community for support and in turn, the community could rely on our organization and the people we support to be good neighbors, citizens, employees, and friends. We need each other! We could not have made the progress we have made without the support of the Danville and Pittsylvania County communities. There are many people who have made a difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We want to take an opportunity to thank the employers, volunteer locations, and internship sites in our area for realizing that every person has inherent talents and that every person in our community should have the same opportunities to live A Life Like Yours. Old Navy Food Lion (Ballou Park) Service Master Citi Trends Essel Propack Wendy’s Red Lobster DellAnno’s Pizzeria Me’s Burgers Outback Steakhouse River District Artisans Marshall’s Chick Fil-A Bojangles
Mt. Herman Courtyard Stratford Conference Center Taco Bell Sleep Inn Piedmont Regional Feeding Clinic Team Nurse Unique Industries Danville Science Center Bon Appetite @ Averett University Piedmont Regional Feeding Clinic Brightleaf Assisted Living Brookdale Assisted Living God’s Storehouse Goodwill
For More Information on The Arc of Southside call 434.836.3272.
Cyndi Reames www.showcasemagazine.com
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Explore Martinsville
Double the Drama
PHCC Patriot Players and TheatreWorks Community Players offer year round entertainment in Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia Written by Heather Hoffman Photos Provided By VisitMartinsville
No other art form can bring stories to life the way that live theatre can. There is something magical about a group of people banding together, interpreting a script and presenting the author’s words for the audience to experience in person. Martinsville-Henry County is honored to have two theatre groups offering year round entertainment to both residents and visitors to our great community. The Two Companies TheatreWorks Community Players was founded in 2004 and has been active for fourteen seasons. It is estimated
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that more than 600 individuals have participated in TheatreWorks productions from their first show, Little Shop of Horrors, to their most recent show, Don’t Drink the Water. Founded in the 2012-2013 academic year, the Patriot Players call Patrick Henry Community College home. The company is in their sixth season and more than 500 volunteers have worked with the company since its first production, Find the Magic in You, in April 2013. A History of Amazing Shows Over the years, big named productions have made their
way to Martinsville-Henry County. For the Patriot Players, their six seasons have included well-known titles such as Shrek, Legally Blonde, The Color Purple, Dreamgirls, CATS, Into the Woods, and many other beloved musicals. TheatreWorks has also had a wide variety of fantastic productions including: Chicago, A Streetcar Named Desire, Les Misérables, Hairspray, A Raisin in the Sun, and A Few Good Men. Both companies have been working tirelessly to bring great productions to our area. The Heart of the Show When asked about what makes a show successful, both groups emphatically responded with volunteers. As Barbara Parker, TheatreWorks Board Member, states, “All the actors are volunteers as are the people working the bar, the ushers, and others who help build the sets, do the marketing, etc. For everyone involved, there is nothing more exciting than to see the Black Box (Theatre) fill up for a performance.”
Devin Pendleton, Producing Artistic Director for PHCC Patriot Players states, “Our volunteers change from show to show. Some volunteers act while some only work backstage. Some prefer winter months, some summer. It takes a large group of people to produce each show and their availability is always changing. Our team works tirelessly to ensure that we deliver engaging excellence for all ages, through the talent we present, the services we offer and the experiences we create.” The Power of the Stage No one can say it better than the companies themselves: “The arts are powerful - a catalyst for bringing together communities of people, providing educational opportunities and transforming lives through meaningful arts experiences. The Patriot Players has played a small but important role in the growth and revitalization of the arts in Martinsville-Henry County, VA. Being a Patriot Player is like having a ‘second family’ or a ‘chosen family,’ and you Continued to Page 24
Patriot Players Little Mermaid www.showcasemagazine.com
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Explore Martinsville
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must experience it to understand it. ‘Once a Patriot Player, always a Patriot Player.’” – Devin Pendleton (PHCC Patriot Players) “Community theatre flourishes all over the country because we all have a little bit of actor in us. Not everyone can be on Broadway, but the talent even in a small town is amazing. You don’t have to be a professional to be on the TheatreWorks stage—it’s all about the experience and even if being on the stage is not your thing there’s a place for you. That’s what keeps people coming back and auditioning, and audiences coming back for more. It’s an escape, a passion, a lot of work and time commitment, and worth every second.” – Barbara Parker (TheatreWorks Community Players) The Show Must Go On Local theatre troupes rely heavily on volunteers, advertising, sponsorships and more to keep the art of the stage alive in our community. Get involved in upcoming shows in any way you can. Volunteers are needed on the stage, as technical and backstage crews, in the lobbies, as
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ushers and many other roles. If you can’t donate your time, considering advertising in show programs or sponsoring productions. Full information on ways to get involved can be found on both groups websites: twcp.net and phccpatriotplayers.com. Don’t miss these upcoming performances: PHCC Patriot Players: Mamma Mia! April 25-28 & May 2-5 Mamma Mia! tells the story of Sophie, a twenty-year-old bride-to-be who longs to have her father walk her down the aisle, but she has no idea who he is. With nonstop laughs and exhilarating dance numbers set to the iconic music of ABBA, Mamma Mia! has been a global smash hit since its premiere on Broadway in 2002. TheatreWorks Community Players: Moon Over Buffalo May 9-11 & 17-19 In the madcap comedy tradition of Lend Me a Tenor, the hilarious Moon Over Buffalo centers on George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s. Have fun as their story is unveiled and literally everything that could go wrong does go wrong.
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| March 2019 | Showcase Magazine 25
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