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CONTENTS
Showcase Magazine
NOVEMBER 2019
THE 80 S ISSUE Showcase Magazine
@showcaseDVA
showcasemagazineva @ info@showcasemagazine.com
FEATURES It’s Friday night. It’s time to party.
80’s Scrapbook 14
8
Drive-In to the Past
Events Calendar
Eden Drive-In
Dan River November
12
17
Heres to A Tasty Thanksgiving
Martinsville – Henry County
PG.
8
18
It’s Friday night. It’s time to party. An 80’s favorite pastime. ALSO INSIDE Editor’s Letter
Reliving the 80s 6
Games
Crossword & Wordsearch 22
Paws for a Cause The Gratitude of Animals 25
From the Kitchen of
Big Bear’s Wife
Bacon Ranch Macaroni and Cheese 20 4 SHOWCASE Magazine |
Confessions of a 30 Something A Lifetime of Thanks 23 NOVEMBER 2019
Nine Grams
Instagrams From Our Area 26
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PG.
12
Optima Medicare HMO
New To Your Area!
|
More Benefits
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$0 Premium
Explore plans at optimahealth.com/medicare or call toll-free: 1-800-668-1334 TTY: 711 | 8 am – 8 pm | Daily
Optima Medicare is an HMO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Optima Medicare depends on contract renewal. Optima Medicare complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, existen servicios de asistencia de idiomas disponibles para usted sin cargo. Llame al 1-855-687-6260. 주의: 한국어를 사용하시는 경우, 언어 지원 서비스를 무료로 이용하실 수 있습니다. 1-855-687-6260 (TTY: 711) 번으로 전화해 주십시오. H2563_SEN_2020_PNT3_M
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EDITOR’S LETTER
Reliving the 80s Throw on your high tops, leg warmers, spandex and find your favorite mixed tape. We are going back to the 80s! This issue we take a look back at the Dan River area in the 80s. Piedmont Mall just opened, movies such as Ghostbusters and The Breakfast Club hit the screens, everyone was listening to Journey and The Cure. The 80s was an iconic era, that is when “I am your father,” became a forever spoken quote, we all wanted to be in, The Goonies, who wouldn’t want to play a skeleton piano, and we all wanted a hoverboard. We can’t go totally back in time, but maybe this issue will let you relive the 80s for just a few moments. Right on! Enjoy the issue.
showcase NOVEMBER 2019
CEO Andrew Scott Brooks scott@showcasemagazine.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Paul Seiple | paul@showcasemagazine.com A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R Ashley Rosson | ashley@showcasemagazine.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kim Demont | demontdesign@verizon.net FINANCE MANAGER Cindy Astin | cindy@showcasemagazine.com ADVERTISING Lee Vogler | Director of Sales and Marketing lee@showcasemagazine.com | 434.548.5335 Ashley Rosson | Marketing Consultant 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 Angie Barrett | Paulette Dean | Ashley Rosson Lee Vogler | Visit Martinsville CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Angie Barrett | Captured Portraiture | Lee Vogler Eden Drive-In | Visit Martinsville COVER Janessa Reid Photographed by Captured Portraiture
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FEATURE IT’S FRIDAY NIGHT. IT’S TIME TO PARTY.
It’s Friday night
It’s time to party BY ASHLEY ROSSON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE DANVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
T
he year… 1985. You’re a teenager. It’s Friday afternoon, and you’re eyeing the clock waiting for six o’clock to arrive. The time is nearly here. You’ve been waiting for it all week. The time has come to walk around the mall for three hours. The 80’s favorite pastime has recently been brought back to life in Netflix’s Stranger Things. For those who lived it, the nostalgia makes us long for the evenings our parents dropped us off at the main entrance of the mall. It was long before cell phones, so we had to have a meet-up place set with our friends before heading out. Usually, it was near the fountain. That was the starting point of the routine. First, you make a few laps around to warm up. Next, it is on to Camelot Music, Peaches, Record Bar, or
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Sound Shop (remember that annoying warranty sticker Sound Shop slapped on all purchases) to check out the latest music. In the 80s, the record store ruled the mall. All that music makes you hungry. The next stop is the food court for a slice of pizza or a “hot dog on a stick.” If you are lucky, the food court is on an upper level in the mall, and there is an opening that allows you to peoplewatch lower levels while you eat. The rest of the evening is spent making laps, flirting, and catching up with people you haven’t seen since school let out a few hours earlier. At ten minutes to nine, the dreaded announcement, “The mall will be closing in ten minutes” cuts off the music reverberating through the speaker system, so you make your way to exit and catch a ride home with your parents. But fear not.
Tomorrow is Saturday, and you can do it all over again. If you were lucky enough to be a kid in the 80s, the “mall experience” and its memories are something you will always treasure. Let’s go back in time and visit the mall culture in Danville. The Piedmont Mall (Now, Danville Mall) opened in 1984 and was managed by Hull Property Group. The original anchor stores included, J.C Penney, Hills, Belk-Leggett, and Globman’s. Brad Tate remembers the mall opening, “When Piedmont Mall came to town, it was like Elvis came to town, everyone and everything was there.” This was also a time where popular movies were taking place in malls, such as the cult classic, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Commando. So, Piedmont Mall certainly brought a sense of pop culture to Danville. Several Danville residents remember their first jobs being at the mall. Melissa Layne’s first job was working at Hills Department store in 1984. “I had only worked as a babysitter prior to the big mall announcement. Hills had what I would consider a cattle call, where we all went to
the Squire Armory to apply for jobs. I told the interviewer I had no experience other than babysitting, he told me that was great, because I was a blank slate. I’m not even sure how many years I worked at Hill’s, but I loved it. We were all like a family. The management always had the best parties for the holidays and we all just enjoyed working, even in the busy Halloween and Christmas seasons.” Although Hill’s is no longer with us, the snack bar made a lasting impression. The sweet aroma wafted through the store as you shopped tempting you to come buy some popcorn. Here’s a fun fact, you can buy Hill’s snack barscented candles today. Grab one, light the wick, close your eyes, and go back to 1985 as your house fills with the smell of popcorn, slushies, and pretzels. With Danville already being a small community, those who worked at the mall in the 80s sort of became celebrities. Layne remembers, “After Hills, I worked at Globman’s in the office, I was wrapping a gift when a guy walked up sporting a Mohawk haircut. I saw the face first and registered it was my brother, but then I noticed the Continued to Page 10 www.showcasemagazine.com
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FEATURE IT’S FRIDAY NIGHT. IT’S TIME TO PARTY.
Continued from Page 9
hair. He worked at Sound Shop, and being he had the first Mohawk in Danville, people would come to Sound Shop just to see his hair. His musical knowledge and his friendly demeanor then charmed them and they usually made a purchase. His name was Shaun Murray, and he has since passed away.” Layne says, “In that first year the mall was open, it seemed like everyone was family. I have lasting memories of going to the food court with friends from work for lunch, going out for Thanksgiving dinner after working on Thanksgiving Day, meeting with our managers for a drink after work at Charlie’s, which is now Santana’s. My brother and his friend once went into all the shops in the mall, using an old-fashioned video camera, asking silly questions of the employees. The food court folks got to know the employees from various stores, Belk’s had their yummy restaurant, and the employees got to know us, and what we liked to eat there. Karen Johnston from Karen’s Hallmark would know us by sight. We all had our own little mall community.” Cindi Fisher went to the mall in the 80s and worked at Paul Harris in the 90s. “I was in the fourth grade when Piedmont Mall opened. Belk-Leggett and Globman’s department stores were my favorite shops. I also liked
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going to the music stores a lot. I would save my allowance to buy tapes at the Sound Shop. I went with friends and watched them get their ears pierced at Claire’s. As I got older, it was popular to go to the mall on the weekends and play games at the arcade, hang out in the music stores, and look at the animals at Pet-Go-Round. One of the best things about going to the mall in the 80s and working at the mall in the 90s was meeting people. Social media links peers now, but we all bonded over music and other commonalities in person at the mall. It was often how I would meet people from different schools.” Mall culture has changed through the years along with life and technology. In the 80s, social media wasn’t a term. But, weekend evenings at the mall was without a doubt the most popular social network of the 80s. Those fortunate enough to have been around to social network at the mall have an abundance of good memories and friends they met through mall walks on Friday and Saturday nights. A few of us still have cassette tapes from Sound Shop with the warranty sticker. The warranty has long expired. The memories never will.
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FEATURE DRIVE-IN TO THE PAST
Drive-In to the Past BY ASHLEY ROSSON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY EDEN DRIVE-IN
D
oes anyone remember Saturday nights at the drive-in? Packing the car with blankets? Stocking up on candy that you didn’t have to sneak into the movie? Maybe you took an afternoon nap to prepare for a double feature. And most of all, the clunky speaker clipped to your car door providing sound and a bit of static. Drive-ins had a trick. Maybe it was innocent, but in order to clip the speaker to a car, the window needed to be down. That allowed the smells from the concession stand to seep in making it nearly impossible to grab a hot dog and some popcorn. It was hard to beat a Saturday night at the drive-in with friends and family. The concept of the drive-in began popping up in the early 1900s. The first patented drive-in opened in 1933 in New Jersey. The original drive-in was marketed with the slogan, “The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are.” Teenagers had more privacy at a drive-in, while families could load up a car and treat the family for one low price without having to buy individual tickets like at a regular movie theater.
Popularity of the drive-in theater peaked in the 50s and 60s with over 4,000 operating in the United States. Films such as Around the World Under the Sea and Beach Party were weekend favorites while movies like Billy the Kid Versus Dracula gained a cult-like following. As years passed, technology became a problem for driveins. Sound issues and Hollywood’s move away from 35-millimeter films to a digital format led to the closing of many drive-ins. Another issue plaguing drive-ins was the oil crisis in the 70s. Consumers turned to smaller cars to save money from the skyrocketing price of gasoline. A major allure of the drive-in was piling the entire family in the car for movie night. Smaller vehicles made this concept less desirable and more drive-ins disappeared. The emergence of the VCR made staying at home and piling up on the couch to watch movies more appealing. Today, there are less than 350 drive-ins left in the United States and only five in North Carolina. We are fortunate enough to have one in our area—the Eden Drive-In. The Eden Drive-In originally opened in 1949. After several ownership changes and closures, The Robertson family invested in the concept and the area nearly 30 years ago. They purchased the updated technology needed to show current films, and the drive-in is flourishing today. The Eden Drive-In meshes nostalgia with present day by offering a family event for movie goers. For children, there is a playground. The concession stand offers all the favorites like hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, and for the adventurous, there are “pickle-sickles” made from frozen pickle juice. Keeping with the family affair, some movie watchers bring small grills and cookout beside their cars. The drive-in is loaded with fun and easy on the wallet. Double features make the trip more worth it. You can drive into the past on weekend nights and experience the heyday of the drive-in craze. What can beat a double feature with your closest friends and family? And a hot dog… don’t forget the hot dog.
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NOVEMBER 2019 EVENTS CALENDAR
Dan River November 2019
Events Calendar
NOV
01
Halloween Party
6-10pm at Ballad Brewing
NOV
09
Wobble and Gobble Autism Awareness 5K 9am at Danville Science Center
NOV
1-3
2019 Pumpkin Hunt
3-7pm at White Fall Farm
NOV
09
Bright Leaf Brew Fest 3pm-8:30pm at the Community Market
NOV
02
NOV
NOV
02
First Responders Appreciation Day
Bridge Street Food Truck Rodeo
NOV
NOV
12-4pm at Thunder Road Harley Davidson
09
The Virginia Dare Lighted Boat Parade 6pm-8pm at Virginia Dare Cruises and Marina
12-6pm on Bridge Street
Day of the Dead Party
5:30pm- 1am at Mucho Taqueria
NOV
23
Book Talk & Signing
11am-12:30pm at Main Street Art Collective
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02
30
3rd Annual Christmas Bazaar
8am-2pm at Old Dominion Agricultural Complex
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EXPLORE MARTINSVILLE
Heres to A Tasty Thanksgiving WRITTEN BY VISIT MARTINSVILLE PHOTOS PROVIDED BY VISIT MARTINSVILLE
Ahh, November is here and so is the crisp fall air. For many, we already have our minds, and bellies, set on the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Family, friends and food! Our thoughts are filled with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pies, and for many, who’s going to make it all! Hosting family or friends for the holidays but don’t want the stress of cooking for days? No problem! If you need to feed a hungry crew but don’t want to miss out on the fun by spending all your time in the kitchen, grab some fresh & frozen meals to go from Hamlet Kitchen or Rising Sun Breads. These are quick, delicious options for a busy host or hostess that could use a little assistance. Hamlet Kitchen offers a diverse menu with several classic togo meals such as Chicken Tetrazzini, Meatloaf and Italian Sausage Stuffed Shells. Rising Sun Bread will be accepting preorders for keto-friendly and gluten free Thanksgiving options through November 15th at 5 pm. Other classic meals such as Crab Alfredo, Cabernet Beef Tips and Old-World Lasagna are gourmet to go options at Rising Sun Breads. Selections change and are at a high risk of selling out, so be sure to call ahead to see what meals are available, or available to preorder, at either location. For the big day, let Checkered Pig relieve you of your turkey basting duties and prepare the bird for you! That’s right, turkeys are available by preordering from the Food Network award winning restaurant for your Thanksgiving meal. Whole Smoked Turkeys that are ready to pick up, heat and eat! Complete turkey dinners with all the fixings are available as well; so, relax and enjoy the game! A Thanksgiving feast wouldn’t be complete without dessert - we have you covered there as well! Dippers Ice Cream, who is way more than just ice cream, will be busy in their bakery whipping up some delicious cakes, pies and goodies that are a perfect complement to your spread. Get ready to browse through their selection of treats ranging from holiday 18 SHOWCASE Magazine |
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classics such as pecan and pumpkin pies, to traditional cakes, cookies and brownies. Just like their ice cream, everything from their baked line is made from scratch with exceptional detail for quality. Sweet Cakes Bakery also offers a variety of cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pies and other treats that are sure to please. Stop by to see what’s available in the cafe or call and request a custom order. Pumpkin Cakes, Apple Pies, Blueberry Cobbler and Boston Crème Pie are among customer favorites. You can also take advantage of the daily lunch specials available for dine in or take out; another meal option for your hungry house guests. Want to really wow your guests? Pick up a sampler box of truffles or fudge from Cocoa Trails Chocolates. Boasting a selection of truffles that include flavors such as Salted Caramel Brownie, Banana Foster, and Red Velvet, these bites of ooey gooey deliciousness are sure to be a hit. Leading up to the holiday feast, or after the leftovers are gone, don’t forget that you can purchase local products such as Hooper’s Sauce, available at Janice Cain Stationery & Gifts & Nature’s Outlet, to add crowd-pleasing flavor to your favorite dishes. Hooper’s Sauce comes in a variety of BBQ and pasta options including Vodka Cream, Marinara and Tomato Basil. Taste for yourself and see why it’s been featured in Southern Living Magazine. Finally, if you just aren’t in the mood to host, remember that Hugo’s in Uptown Martinsville offers a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal- buffet style, that can be enjoyed by your entire Thanksgiving crew, for a great price. Enjoy all your favorites without all the prep work and clean up! This Thanksgiving, think ahead, and grab all the holiday essentials that will leave your guests impressed. Let the local MHC businesses make you the host with the most! Learn more about all of the dining and shopping options available in Martinsville – Henry County, at www.VisitMartinsville.com.
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FEATURE BIG BEAR’S WIFE
From the Kitchen of
Big Bear’s Wife Bacon Ranch Macaroni and Cheese WRITTEN BY ANGIE BARRETT OF BIGBEARSWIFE.COM PHOTO BY ANGIE BARRETT
A side dish with a bacon ranch kick! Make this Bacon Ranch Macaroni and Cheese tonight with dinner or add in some rotisserie chicken to make it a full meal!
Prep Time: 15M; Cook Time: 15M INGREDIENTS • 16 ounces penne pasta, uncooked • 1 teaspoon white pepper • 1/2 teaspoon ground dry mustard • 10 -12 pieces bacon • 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated • 8 ounces white American cheese slices, cut into small pieces • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and diced • 8 ounces extra sharp white cheddar cheese, grated • 1 ounce ranch seasoning mix • 2 cups whole milk • 2 tablespoons flour • 2 tablespoons butter • *fresh parsley optional for garnish* INSTRUCTIONS • Cook bacon in a medium skillet until crispy, lay on a paper towel to drain. • Pour out bacon grease. • Let bacon cool and then chop into bits. • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta and cook for 10 minutes. • Drain and set aside. • In a the same pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour. • Whisk flour and butter together for 1-2 minutes. • Whisk in the ranch seasoning. • Pour in milk and whisk until smooth. • Whisk in dry mustard and white pepper. • Heat milk until hot and then add in cream cheese. • Whisk until melted and smooth. • Add in all cheese and whisk until melted. • Mix in the chopped bacon. (reserve some for the top if desired) • Pour pasta into cheese sauce and mix well. • Stir well and heat for 2-3 minutes. • *optional - top with freshly chopped parsley and a few bacon bits* • serve warm
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EXTRA GAMES
Games
Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 Chess piece 5 Careen 9 Cuff 13 Repeat 14 English sailor 15 Tilt 16 Rift 17 Propel 18 Has 19 Fates 21 Merited 23 Reduce (abbr.) 24 Nip off 25 Female child 28 Separate into atoms 31 Edge 32 Pull on loose thread 34 Not ins 36 Stamping tool 37 Soda 38 Almond 39 Male children 41 Seasoner 43 Spruce 44 Bothered
46 Tenant 48 Manner 49 Market 50 Walk quietly 53 Irresponsible 57 Chimney dirt 58 Separate 60 Heroic 61 Truant 62 Metes 63 Sego lily’s bulb 64 Seldom 65 52 weeks 66 Teepee DOWN 1 Shekel 2 Organization concerned with civil liberties (abbr.) 3 Bit 4 Check (2 wds.) 5 Timepiece 6 Pixies 7 Downwind 8 Headache medicine
9 Arachnid constellation 10 Grass 11 Green Gables dweller 12 Posttraumatic stress disorder 14 Bendable 20 Kimono sash 22 Aspire 24 Terraced walkway 25 Caps 26 Negatively charged particle 27 Vista 28 Stay away from 29 Arizona Indian tribe 30 Composition 33 Sleep disorder 35 Eye infection 40 Large WA city 41 Even now 42 Chooses 43 Least short 45 Duet 47 Antlered animal
49 Withered 50 Despot 51 Hawkeye State 52 Shoddy
53 Syllables used in songs (2 wds.) 54 Fencing sword
55 Libra 56 Scotsman 59 Poet Edgar Allen
Word Search COWABUNGA
AIRHEAD
PSYCH
TUBULAR
BAD TO THE BONE
DWEEB
RADICAL
WANNABE
BOMBDIGGITY
GNARLY
RIGHTEOUS
WICKED
CHILL PILL
HEADBANGER
STOKED
This month’s Games Page is sponsored by Jessica Testerman Page 3
Evince Magazine is a montlhly publication covering and distributed throughout the Dan River Region.
Spotting Exceptional Customer Service Bryan Andrade Page 8
Photo Finish
Phillip Gardner & Blooper
Creating a Home Away From Home on the DCC Campus See Page 5
Page 15
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CONFESSIONS OF A 30 SOMETHING
Confessions of a 30 Something
A Lifetime of Thanks WRITTEN BY LEE VOGLER PHOTO BY LEE VOGLER
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Oprah Winfrey I really struggled with what to write about this month. My first thought was to try and tie in to the 1980s theme of this issue, but considering I was only alive for the last 3 years of the eighties, that didn’t work too well. Then I began to think of November and it being the month of Thanksgiving. As a kid, I wasn’t overly fond of Thanksgiving. It fell in between my two favorite holidays: Halloween and Christmas. It didn’t have the immediate allure that those two days had. There was no dressing up and getting tons of candy, or waking up in the morning to see what presents Santa had left. It was just a day of getting together with family members, sitting in some uncomfortable chairs and eating lots of food, much of which I wasn’t crazy about. Granted, my idea of a good meal at the time was probably a Happy Meal at McDonald’s.
the best family anyone could ever ask for. I can only hope to be half as good for my kids, as my family has been for me. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, and yet, I have more things to be thankful for than any one person probably deserves. I can’t quite explain why that is, but it makes me think of a lyric from the song Butterfly Kisses: Oh, with all that I’ve done wrong I must have done something right. And for that, I’m thankful.
As I began to get older, I started to understand what the day is really about. Today, I categorize Thanksgiving as the day of 3 F’s: Food, Family and Football. And I love it. But even that doesn’t really get to the core of what Thanksgiving is about. It’s about taking the time, even if it’s just for that one day, to press pause on all the hectic things in your life, and appreciating all you have to be thankful for. All the good things that surround you. For me, I have more to be thankful for than I could ever write in this column. In fact, one of the ideas I considered for this month was listing 80 things (get the reference?) that I’m thankful for. But I soon realized that limiting it to 80 just couldn’t do the list justice. I have a lifetime of things to be thankful for. From winning sports championships to working for Governors. From playing in a rock and roll band to being the youngest Vice Mayor in Danville’s history, and so many other things in between. The thing I’m most thankful for, without question, is the abundance of great friends and family I’ve had in my life. From the time I was a baby to the moment I’m writing this sentence, I’ve been blessed with www.showcasemagazine.com
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PAWS FOR A CAUSE
Paws for a Cause A few years ago, I saw a mug that had a saying I loved: “Gratitude turns what you have into enough.” In this day of instant gratification for the latest in phones, larger televisions, and the best of everything, that saying could seem obsolete.
WRITTEN BY PAULETTE DEAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY
Animals, however, can teach us that truth about gratitude. Through the past 27 years, I have seen tens of thousands of animals who have either come to the shelter after living lives of neglect or who are still in homes where scraps of food are thrown out to them. Sometimes, they come to us barely alive. One dog was picked up as a stray many years ago. I will never forget her. She was a skeleton with skin. She was so weak that she could not even sit up. Death was near; she knew it and we knew it, although we took her to a veterinary clinic for help. How desperately we wanted her to survive. It was not to be, however, and in her final moments of life, she taught me about gratitude.
been abandoned or had she become lost from a wonderful home? We could not know. We put her on a soft blanket to make the trip to the veterinary clinic. As she was put in the van, she could not lift her head, but she licked the hand closest to her and her tail gave the weakest of wags. Over and over again, we have witnessed animals rescued from dumpsters, from the sides of highways, and from a myriad of sad, awful situations. And over and over again, we have been thanked through gentle licks and wagging tails and soft purrs. They have had so little, but are grateful for a bite of food, clean water, and gentle hands.
MEET PARKER
During this month of giving thanks, perhaps you will be happier if you are grateful for what you have, rather than what you do not have. Maybe your thankfulness will turn it enough.
This little guy is only a few weeks old. He is eating moist food, after employees bottle fed him for a while.He was found as a stray, but is ready now to have a wonderful rest-of-his-life.
We had no idea what she had gone through or what kind of life she had had. Had she
DANVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY
Games Solutions Continued from Page 22
Crossword Puzzle
Word Search
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INSTAGRAMS FROM OUR AREA
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