Showcase Magazine December 2016 by Andrew Brooks Media Group

COMMUNITY 2016 People of the Year RICK BARKER THERESA CARTER LEANNE HARDY TELLY TUCKER VON WELLINGTON HAMPTON WILKINS TERESA WISEMAN See page 13

better

stays close to home

Get in. Get out. Get better. e care you need every day is now available in one ultra-convenient location in Chatham. From primary care, to wellness, and to imaging services, we’re here to help you get better faster.

Walk-ins welcome! Schedule an appointment at (434) 799-3800. Open Monday–Friday 8:00am–5:00pm

19144 US-29 | Chatham, VA 24531

FEATURES HOLIDAY MEALS

Photo of Von Wellington

at Monticello

Page 13

by Stuart Sutphin, Extension Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Community STRONG 2016 People of the Year by Paul Seiple

DEPARTMENTS HE SAID SHE SAID

Help us Celebrate “Thanksmas” By Larry Oldham and Dena Hill

NOT SO COMMON – COMMON SENSE! A Perspective on Public Schools by Stan Jones

ALSO INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR FUN AND GAMES

Crossword, Word Seach, & Sudoku

PAWS FOR THE CAUSE By Paulette Dean

AREA EVENTS GUIDE COM

MUNITY

2016 Peo ple of RICK the Y BAR ear KER THER ESA CAR LEAN TER NE H ARD Y TELL Y TU CKE VON R WEL LING HAM TON PT TERES ON WILKI NS A WIS EMAN See page

ON THE

Lauren Mathena

Photos by Mariah Blankenship Springs 4 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

we’d love to hear from you! info@showcasemagazine.com

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 5

Vince Lombardi said, “Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Teamwork is incredibly important in accomplishing goals. Even things that seem like individual awards such as Pharrell Williams winning a Grammy for Best Solo Pop Performance for the song “Happy” was a collaborative effort. Behind every great success is a strong team. The communities we live in are our teams. Being part of a community comes with responsibility. Without individuals coming together to nurture a community, it becomes that house plant you forgot to water… again and again. Getting involved in the growth of a community should be high on everyone’s to-do list. In our communities, teamwork equals community involvement. One definition of Community Involvement is “the process of engaging in dialogue and collaboration with community members.” But that doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of the many ways getting involved can strengthen community bonds and enrich personal growth. So much can be learned from getting active in the community. A common ingredient in all communities is diversity. It’s this difference that can be monumental in building a healthy

Showcase

community and growing personally. We can all learn something from each other. We must learn to listen to each other and accept our differences. And most importantly, for positive change to occur, we must participate. It takes effort and hard work to build a better tomorrow.

DECEMBER 2016

STAFF

CEO / Publisher Andrew Scott Brooks, scott@showcasemagazine.com President Larry Oldham, larry@showcasemagazine.com Editorial Director Paul Seiple, paul@showcasemagazine.com

This issue of Showcase introduces the first annual Showcase Magazine Community Strong People of the Year. Community Strong defines the sturdy foundation healthy communities a built on. The editorial board at Showcase chose eight people in our community to receive the award in 2016. These individuals have dedicated time, energy, and ideas to the evolution of Danville into a better place to work, live, and play. As I said early though, individual awards are really collaborative efforts. Our community is loaded with individuals coming together to share their time, efforts, and ideas to build a strong team.

Graphic Designer Kim Demont, demontdesign@verizon.net Finance Manager Cindy Astin, cindy@showcasemagazine.com Chief Photographer Mariah Blankenship Springs ADVERTISING 1.877.638.8685 Larry Oldham, Director of Sales and Marketing larry@showcasemagazine.com, 434.728.3713 Lee Vogler, Marketing Consultant lee@showcasemagazine.com, 434.548.5335

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Subscribe to Home Delivery for $24 per year 753 Main Street #3 | Danville, VA 24541 Phone 1.877.638.8685 | Fax 925.380.5404 info@showcasemagazine.com www.showcasemagazine.com

I’ll leave you this month with the words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

DECEMBER 2016 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Paulette Dean | Dena Hill | Stan Jones Larry Oldham | Paul Seiple | Stuart Sutphin DECEMBER 2016 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Danville Master Gardeners’ Association

Have a Happy Holiday and enjoy the issue. Enjoy the issue.

Paul Seiple

Evince

EDITOR

to the ADVERTISERS who make this publication possible. Please be generous in supporting our local businesses. 39 16 5 43 8 40 11 37 5 30 2 44 17

Barkhouser Ford Lincoln Beacon Credit Union Brooke Vassar-Fusion Salon Centra Medical Group Commonwealth Home Health Care, Inc. Danville Community College Danville Gastroenterology Center, PC Danville Historical Society Danville Master Gardeners Association Danville Regional Foundation Danville Regional Medical Center Danville Toyota DCC Educational Foundation

6 SHOWCASE Magazine

11 39 8 9 37 31 39 31 8 23 5 11 23 12

Demont Design Excelen Performance Tricia Gammon-State Farm Goodwill Industries of South Central Virginia, Inc. Jarrod Brown, DDS DWS Jason Springs KARE Pharmacy & Compounding KG Graphics Larry Oldham Lavinder Group & Associates Martinsville Henry County Michelle Dalton Photography PATHS Photography by Mariah

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

11 Piedmont Regional Feeding & Oral Motor Clinic, LLC 8 Piney Forest Health & Rehabilitation Center 16 Reid St. Gallery 7 Riverside Hardware 31 Kaylie Rejino 39 Shh... Intimacy on a New Level 7 Southside Urology & Nephrology 7 URW Community Federal Credit Union 38 Virginia Department of Health 31 River District Auto Spa 41 Wilkins & Co. Realtors

Stephen Sta

ats

Wearing His Heart on His Sle eve

Institut

Trees for a

e for Ad

vanced

Cause

Learning

& Resea

rch

Don’t miss the December 2016 issue of eVince

Magazin

e Page 1

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 7

Your therapy shouldn’t take the day off.

Call us for a tour and to discuss a plan of care to fit your individual needs.

We Offer 7 Days a Week of Rehab! Piney Forest Health & Rehabilitation Center 450 Piney Forest Road • Danville, VA 24540 • 434-799-1565 PineyForestRehab.com

Piney Forest HRC Seven Day Rehab_quarter page ad.indd 1

10/11/2016 10:33:44 AM

The winning team. Combine Home & Auto. Tricia W Gammon, Agent 413 Mount Cross Road Suite 204 Danville, VA 24540 Bus: 434-797-1121 tricia.gammon.eiur@statefarm.com 8:30AM-5:30PM Monday- Friday 9AM- 12 noon Saturday

1601988

8 SHOWCASE Magazine

When home and auto work as a team, you score time and money. It’s just another way I’m here to help life go right. Call me today.

State Farm, Bloomington, IL

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

™

HE SAID... Christmas comes later and later every year. Don’t get me wrong most of the department stores have had some type of Christmas display up since July. They had full-blown Christmas aisles before Halloween. My problem, and I’ll only admit this once, is I think we are waiting too long before we put up the tree. I mean, we have all the decorations, and we have the space. We do need to make some time, but don’t you think waiting until after Thanksgiving is just a little too late? Look at all the many days we could be delighted by the lights and the beauty of the tree. You do an exceptionally good job of decorating the tree, and the house feels so festive all during the month of December. I just want you to realize it is a mistake to only share that beauty for thirty days when we could be enjoying it longer. I know you don’t agree because you are one of those people who believe in the sanctity of preserving and getting as much mileage as you can out of Halloween and Thanksgiving. But come on, it is just one day of trick-or-treating and one day of gaining 14 pounds, eating too much food, and inhaling too many desserts. You have to admit that the celebration of Christmas is a joyous occasion, and everyone is in a lighter mood. There is also the anticipation of presents and gift giving and making other people happy. You don’t really feel that way just by eating turkey. I know you were surprised when I bought that extra Christmas tree and had it all set up in the dog’s room in October. I think she and I agree we are happier when we have a little Christmas spirit in our lives on a daily basis.

SHE SAID... If I were you, I would probably feel the same way. But I am not you and so I see this early Christmas

decorating in a different light than you do. I agree with all you said, but you always leave out some little detail when you go on one of your rants. This one is typical, and I hear it every year during the holidays. The problem is certainly time, but also effort. First of all, I do like to decorate for Halloween. I also like to decorate with a fall theme each year. That’s why the basement looks like a Cracker Barrel every holiday season. I like a festive looking environment. If I start decorating for the Christmas holiday any earlier, I’ll miss out on decorating for the other holidays. I got your hint when you brought in the new tree in October, but I thought that would placate you for a while. I guess I anticipated the whining about the early decorating, since I hear this every year. The only thing to do is just leave one of the trees up all year long, maybe in the basement, so people won’t laugh at us. You can go down there every day and gaze at the lights. But I know you. Having that tree in place is going to encourage you to go shopping every day at Goodwill or out to yard sales every weekend looking for new and exciting Christmas decorations to adorn your yearlong tree. I think we are just about at the limit for your collections of trivial whatnots, so maybe I’ll scrap the all-year-long tree idea and make you special offer. Next year, I promise to put up the tree in November before Thanksgiving, and we can celebrate turkey day and the Christmas season together as one big holiday. We could call it THANKSMAS. Would that help you?

by Larry Oldham and Dena Hill PHOTO BY MICHELLE DALTON PHOTOGRAPHY

We would like to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy 2017. If you see Larry somewhere, tell him that I want a chocolate diamond for Christmas!

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 9

Feature by Stuart Sutphin, Extension Agent, Virginia Cooperative Extension photos by Danville Master Gardeners’ Association

Thomas Jefferson was well known as a genteel host famous for the meals he served his guests. Sometimes we wonder just what those meals included. What was the typical menu for a December meal at Monticello? There is not very much information on the foods served by Thomas Jefferson, and the holidays were not celebrated as they are today. He kept nearly flawless records on his gardens and farming operations but very little on how he entertained his guests. We know that even though he was physically involved in most of the farm work and gardening chores he very seldom, if ever, actually cooked any meals. He did write down his favorite recipes and maybe ten of those survive today. Two things are clear about Mr. Jefferson’s meals: The table was heavily influenced by French cuisine and there was little meat. He like French cooking so much that his two cooks were trained by a French chef from Annapolis and, when he served as an Ambassador to France, he took those cooks with him for additional training. He regarded meat as nothing more than “a condiment for vegetables, which constitute my principal diet.” A holiday meal table was likely loaded with a lot of plant products from the Monticello gardens and from other gardens where he bought vegetables. This can be deduced from the fact he grew over 250 types of vegetables and herbs at Monticello. Jefferson brought tomatoes home from France but, if they were offered, they had been preserved by being pickled in a brine solution, or perhaps dried. He also brought home potatoes from Europe, and these were very likely to be on the table since root crops would keep for months in root cellars. Bean soups were known to be one of Jefferson’s favorites. His favorite vegetable by far was the English or garden pea. He left records to show that he grew twenty-seven varieties of peas at Monticello.

10 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

As an appetizer, Jefferson would often serve deviled eggs with anchovies, and perhaps an array of fruits, vegetables, and olives. Macaroni and cheese was probably on the table as well – he brought a pasta making machine back from France and left a recipe for this dish. The meats would be either farm-raised beef or poultry, or wild-caught fish or game. To finish the meal there would be desserts such as fruit cobblers and, his very favorite, vanilla ice cream. We have his ice cream recipe today. It is very similar to the recipe many of us use when we make homemade vanilla ice cream. It is a simple mixture of egg yolks, sugar, “good” cream, and a stick of vanilla. And don’t forget the beverages. Jefferson was known to have one of the finest wine cellars in the country, even though he was only marginally successful in making his own wines. We don’t know for certain what the former president served, but we have enough comments from the visitors of those days that there were very fine meals. You can learn much more about Thomas Jefferson’s gardens at Spring to Green where Pat Brodowski, Monticello’s Vegetable Gardener, and Peggy Cornett, Monticello’s Curator of Plants, will speak. Presented by Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and Danville Master Gardeners, Spring to Green will be a day of outstanding horticultural presentations and practical learning opportunities on February 4, 2017, at The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. Spring to Green registration forms and information are available at www.danvillemastergardeners.org or call the Danville VCE office at 434-799-6558. Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital, family, or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 11

12 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Showcase by Paul Seiple photos by Mariah Blankenship-Springs

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 13

volunteer, and go to work. My experience is that if you volunteer to work, no one will stop you.

PEOP L E O F T H E Y E A R 2 0 1 6

Rick Barker, an area native, is the founder and president of Supply Resources, with its affiliated companies, SRI Global, Virginia Public Warehouse, and Rick Barker Properties. The flagship brand, Supply Resources, is a packaging design, sourcing and distribution company, headquartered in Danville’s River District. Among Rick’s varied interest in design, art and architecture, he is a long-time disciple of the historic preservation movement. He sees his preservation efforts as a way to improve one’s quality of life by promoting a sense of place and community. Rick was a recent guest speaker for the National Parks Service regarding the benefits of the state and federal historic tax credit program to small businesses. As to Rick’s community activities, after serving on multiple non-profit boards over the years, he currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Danville Regional Foundation. He, along with his wife Kristen, are passionate advocates for the arts. Why is community involvement so important to you? My motivation might be more selfish than you think. This is my community. If I, along with others, can pitch in to make it a better place to live, work and play, I am a front-row beneficiary. I am mindful that my Danville experience growing up here was enhanced by countless volunteers from church, to Boy Scouts, to baseball coaches, to arts leaders and more. Community involvement is less of a charitable conscious decision, but rather a desire to be engaged. What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? “Get out of your comfort zone.” What inspires you to volunteer? As a business guy, I am generally focused on results. I like positive measurable outcomes, without excuses for failure. Danville is still of the size, with sufficient needs, that one person can make a difference. So, if you see something with which you are unhappy, raise your hand,

14 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Who are your real-life heroes and why? Without embarrassing them by name, I look up to many leaders in our region. There are heroes among us. Those who give selflessly their time, resources and most importantly, their talent. I love working with those, who beyond their personal goals, want to see this region prosper. So, hold on to your hat, because this region is about to rock. To all those critics who wrote off this sleepy little mill town as dead, there is nothing better than a good comeback story, and Danville is it. What is it about Danville that makes it special to you? My work has always provided the opportunity to travel, to see other cities, and understand what makes some great. This, I believe, makes me more objective when thinking of Danville. Gradually, years ago, I came to realize that Danville is not so bad. In fact, just the opposite. I noticed that the cities which I enjoy the most, often have less with which to work than does Danville. Where I saw other cities excel was with their appreciation and eagerness to celebrate their local culture. Danville, as it emerges from its economic and physiological depression, has plenty of assets. The challenge, that many have accepted, is to better promote our assets to locals throughout our region. Knowing that if we do, those from outside will take notice and join the bandwagon. Great momentum has been established to “Reimage Danville” as a regional destination. I am excited for our future! What are you most looking forward to in 2017? I’m looking forward to continued development in Danville’s River District. Each new announcement adds to Danville’s vitality. What are your visions for the future of Danville? I believe that Danville will become the best micropolitan community in the United States, in which to live. I believe that we will take a leadership role in creating a regional destination right here; taking advantage of our location, climate, natural beauty, our river, proximity to the coast and mountains, access to major airports, great industrial and residential architecture, a booming River District, not to mention all our smart people with great work ethics. As we retool our economy, we will create meaningful jobs to give opportunity to our brightest. We will realize that we can compete and win. We will decide that “world class” is not out of reach. We will demand it and settle for nothing less.

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 15

24 Reid Street Chatham, VA 434.203.8062

reidstreetgallery.com FB Reid Street Gallery

DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WEEKLY IN DECEMBER Mondays Gentle Yoga with Lorrie Laming 4:30

Begin your week with a gentle yoga practice designed to relax and restore.

Tuesday Tai Chi with Wynona Witcher 10:00 $10 per person Tuesdays Urban Line Dancing with Bryan Price 6:00 Super fun dance moves will give you a fun workout! Thursdays Multi-Level Yoga with Lorrie Laming - 5:30-6:30 Build your yoga practice and learn variations of each pose (for all levels). Bring your own mat. $10 per session

Art After School will resume in January- call now to register!

Please stop by and take and angel from our tree. Reid Street Gallery and Chatham Rotary Club are sponsoring teenagers, who are often overlooked at Christmas time.

DECEMBER December 1 Chatham First Day of Christmas 6:00-9:00 Community Reception

Join us to kick oﬀ Chatham First’s Christmas in Historic Chatham. . Refreshments will be served! Free and open to the public.

December 3 Holiday Open House and Art Fair 2:00-4:00 Get a handle on your Christmas giving with beautiful and aﬀordable handmade pottery, jewelry, stationery and more! Live music by Jim Canody, free refreshments, and a small craft project for the kids. December 15 Roanoke Children’s Theater presents 6:30 “Seussical, the Musical” We will have a reception prior to the performance, with a special mailbox kids can use to send their letters to Santa!! And, stay after the show for photos with the performers, including The Cat in the Hat!! Tickets just $10 for all ages, Fun for the whole family!! Limited seating, order your tickets early. The gallery will be closed from Thursday, December 22 through January 2, with the exception of the New Year’s Winter White Party. We will reopen January 3, with normal operating hours.

Enjoy and evening of music and dancing with DJ Barry Shelton, unlimited appetizers and a champagne toast... ...and just for fun dress in winter white!

Saturday, December 31

7:00 - 10:00 pm Tickets $40 per person

Ball Drops at 10:00 pm Purchase tickets online or call 434.203.8062.

16 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 17

18 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Theresa Carter graduated from Columbia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. In May 2016, she received a Master of Arts in Human Service Counseling. Theresa urges people to never give up on their goals. She accomplished her degrees as a senior. Theresa has been a part of the neighborhood watch in White Rock Hill for 35 years. She is helping to spearhead an effort to make White Rock Park a state-of-the-art wildlife sanctuary park on the north side of Danville. Theresa is an advocate against domestic violence. She was in the first class of the IALR’s leadership program. Theresa is a trained EMT-A. Along with her efforts to revitalize White Rock Park, she is part of two fundraising projects—a neighborhood sign for White Rock and 501-C status. Theresa is also pushing for curbing for the neighborhood. She feels “curbing is an asset that can improve White Rock phenomenally.” Why is community involvement so important to you? Community involvement is important to me because we must thrive where we are planted. What inspires you to volunteer? I am inspired to volunteer because I see something that needs my help and it cannot wait for someone to employ me to get it done. How do you balance life, work, and community involvement? I find balance by getting plenty of rest. Also, simplifying and striving helps to keep peace around me. What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? To receive salvation through Yeshua, and not to stop there, but to ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2016

Do you have a favorite quote, and if so what is it? “When they go low, we go high.”—Michelle Obama. What is your favorite thing to do in Danville? My favorite thing to do in Danville is tracing our history. Sharing it with people who sometimes don’t know who they are and their positive place in history. I talk with historians like my cousin “Biscuit.” He can tell you all about the civil rights with Dr. King in the sixties. He and his sisters marched and were imprisoned. What is your idea of happiness? My spirituality leads me to happiness. My children and grandchildren give me the greatest joy. Family is so important. America needs to come back to family. What are your visions for the future of Danville? To get our history registered with the historical society. To take back our neighborhoods and invest in them. I’d like White Rock Neighborhood Park to become the north side equivalent of downtown’s Riverwalk (Dan Daniel Park). I hope people strive to be of a good character. I want our city to set the standard for excellence. When asked how we did it, our response would be — love did it, caring for others did it, respect did it, and being honorable did it.

Who are your real-life heroes and why? My real-life heroes are my children, Martina & her sister Ebony. They endure everything with me and yet, love me unconditionally. What is it about Danville that makes it special to you? My family and friends make Danville special to me. I’ve interacted with loving people in many places. I have relationships that span decades. It’s important to sit on the porch with someone and talk about shared experiences. Memories are the best gift and especially with someone. What are you most looking forward to in 2017? I’m looking forward to living life and dancing like no one’s watching. www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 19

PEOP L E O F T H E Y E A R 2 0 1 6

LeAnne Hardy is the daughter of Robert & “Woodie” Hardy of the Brosville community and the proud mother of James Hunt III and “Aunt-Mom” to Jacob Hardy. She received her MBA from Averett University and currently works as a manufacturing accountant. Her passion for suicide awareness and prevention stems from losing her brother, “Slick” to suicide in 2013. After hearing of the death of her brother, God placed on her heart the desire to do something in her brother’s memory to prevent future loss of life to suicide. She partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in 2015 to host the First Annual Danville-Pittsylvania County Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk. Since then, she has surrounded herself with those who share the same passion, and together they have become the “VOICE” of suicide in the Danville/Pittsylvania County area. Why is community involvement so important to you? I became the local Suicide Prevention Advocate after losing my brother to suicide in 2013 and wanting to prevent another sister from feeling the pain of losing a sibling to suicide. Since then, it has become so much more! Bringing change to our community and helping others fulfill their potential feels AMAZING and it also helps bring hope to those in need. There is nothing that can replace the feeling of doing good work...it’s a WIN-WIN situation! What inspires you to volunteer? I believe whatever we set our minds to is possible. And, I believe that if we work hard enough, we can do anything. It is this philosophy that has carried DanvillePittsylvania County Out of the Darkness through the past two years. Upon starting this event in the Danville area, I had no idea what type of support it would receive. Since then, I have met so many wonderful people with lived experience, and I have watched as they started along their own personal healing journey and have taken the steps necessary to move forward. To see their hearts so full of love to give, their desire to do something good, and their determination to MAKE IT HAPPEN is what inspires me the most. 20 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

How do you balance life, work, and community involvement? I stay balanced by those I surround myself with. My son, James Hunt, keeps me grounded. He keeps me on track, and when I am feeling down, he knows how to lift me up. My nephew-son, Jacob Hardy, is the reason for my passion. His dad was my brother who we lost to suicide and every time I think about quitting, I just think of Jacob. His kind, loving spirit, his strength, his wisdom, his chocolate-drop eyes (just like his dad) and his infectious smile, ALWAYS fill my heart with pride and keeps me motivated. With these two young men by my side, I CAN DO ANYTHING! Everything I am and all I do would be nothing without the support of my family, friends, and the dedicated Out of the Darkness volunteers. Their love and support is what fuels my passion, and they always have my back. Where I am weak, they are strong. Throughout it all, they have never let me down. Without them by my side along this journey, I would surely fail. Who are your real-life heroes and why? My real-life heroes are those people who have gone through a tragedy and emerged on the other side stronger and better. These people are never the same as they were before their trauma, but they get up every day and keep on fighting to survive. And trust me, it’s a struggle sometimes just to get out of bed, but they never give up. What is it about Danville that makes it special to you? I grew up in Danville and have always been firmly rooted here. When I brought the Out of the Darkness Walk to our area, I had my heart set on basing it in Danville/Pittsylvania County area, even though our area under the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also covers Martinsville, Henry County, South Boston, and Halifax County. Danville is home What are you most looking forward to in 2017? As our special project for 2016, we have been focusing on Veteran Suicide Awareness, and how we can help support this at-risk population. Throughout my research, I found two subjects that kept reoccurring in conversation; therapy dogs and caregiver support. Seeing the need for resources in these areas, Danville-Pittsylvania County Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention introduced “Stars, Stripes & Paws,” a monthly program that brings together local veterans and Hearts of Gold Therapy Dogs, and “I LOVE A Continued to Page 22

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 21

VET” Caregivers Group, which is a monthly program for loved ones and caregivers of local veterans to work together to learn how to better care for our veterans. Both programs are offered free of charge to veterans and their loved ones and offer a safe environment for those in attendance to spend time with their peers, learn from one another, and grow together. I anticipate further growth in both these programs that will eventually help place companion animals in the homes of our local veterans and offer weekly meetings for veterans and their loved ones to further support these at-risk groups. Do you have a favorite quote, and if so what is it? The founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley, was known to say, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” This quote has become my life motto and is the guiding factor in all that I do.

22 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

What do you like to do outside of work and volunteerism? I love to surround myself with those I love the most and cook, craft, laugh and just be together. Spending time with those who strengthen me and lift me up is what keeps my mind in a positive light and helps anchor my foundation on the good works to be done. I also love to lose myself on a mountain bike or hiking trail or on a back road with the music up loud. What is your idea of happiness? Being able to feel good about what you do, that’s happiness. When you see others doing good work and leaving a positive impact in our community and wanting to do more, that’s true happiness! What are your favorite things to do in Danville? Angler’s Park is one of my favorite places to go in Danville. It has something for everyone and every time I visit there, I find another treasure I hadn’t seen before. The weight of the world falls off my shoulders just entering the park.

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 23

24 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Lauren Michelle Mathena is the Marketing Director at All Care Home Health, the Center for Pediatric Therapies and Danville Orthopedic & Athletic Rehab. Lauren holds a Master of Health Administration from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is an honors graduate of the University of Virginia and Danville Public Schools. Lauren returned to Danville in 2010 after completing the Administrative Fellowship in Operations at Wake Forest Baptist Health. Through networking, Lauren has enjoyed many opportunities to develop leadership skills and experience through community involvement. Lauren currently serves as President of the Danville Science Center Foundation, Project Manager for the IdeaFest Business Pitch Competition, and Race Director for the Dan River Autism Awareness 5k. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the UVA Club of Southern Virginia and Danville After Hours Rotary. Lauren is the daughter of Tommy and Susan Mathena of Pittsylvania County. Why is community involvement so important to you? Community involvement is the opportunity to engage in dialogue and collaboration with local leaders and community members around issues important to you... Most important to me is improving quality of life. I am inspired by the positive energy driving the collective vision for a brighter future for this community. Offering my time and talents to build community capacity, increase non-profit impact and enact change is challenging, rewarding, and fun. How do you balance life, work, and community involvement? Work-life balance is the concept of separating out “between ‘work’ (career and ambition) and ‘lifestyle’ (health, pleasure, leisure, family and spiritual development/meditation). That doesn’t often work in today’s connected world or in this small community. Life is a beautiful blend. My dad is my boss. My mom is a colleague in the medical community. My friends are my partners in planning Rotary fundraisers, hosting the IdeaFest business pitch competition, and reimagining the Danville Science Center. My mentors are personal and professional role models... I still need balance. To find it, I just breathe. I take time to appreciate coffee in the morning, yoga after work, and free time on the weekends. And I always eat lunch.

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2016

who continue to teach me the value of sweat equity. My friends, who are living their dreams as successful professionals and new parents. I look around and see so many amazing people. I am humbled to be recognized as a community leader when my efforts are miniscule compared to so many others around me. What is your idea of happiness? Happiness is what we choose every day. It is being grateful for being alive, for being loved, and for the opportunity to chase dreams. It is enjoying the present and believing in the future. What are your favorite things to do in Danville? Yoga at Hot Asana, dinner at Me’s Burger’s and Brews, biking on the Riverwalk Trail, spending quality time with family and friends... These are a few of my favorite things! What are your visions for the future of Danville? Competitive education, excellent health outcomes, improved quality of life for all. What are you most looking forward to in 2017? I always look forward to the New Year as a fresh start and a time for visioning and goal setting. In 2016, I focused on simplifying, and it has helped me to appreciate the gifts I have been given. In 2017, I look forward to refining my focus and reaching new heights. It is going to be the best year yet.

Who are your real-life heroes and why? My co-workers and colleagues in the medical community: nurses, therapists, doctors, first responders... Healthcare providers, along with educators, are the professionals who dedicate themselves to making our community better by personally and positively impacting the lives of other people every day. Also, my parents, www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 25

26 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Telly D. Tucker is a 2004 graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in International Businesses with a minor in Spanish. Since 2014, Telly has served as Director of Economic Development for the City of Danville. Prior to his arrival in Danville, he served James City County as the Assistant Director of Economic Development, Program Administrator for the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development, Economic Development Specialist for the City of Lynchburg, and three years as a secondary education teacher in Lynchburg City Schools. Telly serves on the Danville Community College Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors for the Virginia Economic Developer’s Association (VEDA), Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, and the Dan River Business Development Center. A few of Telly’s professional achievements include obtaining the Certified Economic Developer Designation (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council in Washington D.C. (2014), Virginia Economic Development Association’s Community Economic Development Award (CEDA), the Southern Economic Development Council’s (SEDC) Community Economic Development Award, and the Virginia Municipal League 2008 Achievement Award. Why is community involvement so important to you? Community involvement is important because it promotes personal growth and self-esteem. It also brings people together, often from diverse backgrounds, to work toward a common goal for the good of the community where we all have chosen to live, work, play, and worship. What inspires you to volunteer? I chose a public service career because it is intrinsically rewarding for me to help others. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always tried to help people and doing so gives me a feeling of self-worth. I firmly believe God has blessed me with certain gifts to be able to share with others.

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2016

What is it about Danville that makes it special to you? Danville feels special to me because in many ways it’s a close-knit community which feels like an extended family. The support that so many people in the community have shown me since my arrival has been overwhelming in many ways particularly when I think about the fact that I had no ties to the area and really knew no one when I arrived in Danville. What are you most looking forward to in 2017? I’m looking forward to continued economic growth for the citizens by way of recruiting new employment opportunities and helping the City grow. I’m particularly interested in partnering more closely with Danville Public Schools to help improve the relationship between the education system and local industry. What are your visions for the future of Danville? My vision for the future of Danville is that the community would become more unified and inviting for diverse populations. I see an opportunity for Danville to leverage relationships with its international industries to make the City a melting pot of culture and experiences welcoming others from all walks of life. I also want to see this community be more purposeful about promoting the importance of education while creating a culture of lifelong learning and learning new skills that make its citizens more employable and marketable. I believe this would raise the overall economic well-being for its citizens and make it more attractive for foreign direct investment.

How do you balance life, work, and community involvement? Work-life balance has become increasingly difficult in recent years because I want to do the best job possible for the City of Danville. I try to leave work at work and when I come home; I try to spend time with family and friends. I attend church regularly which gives me opportunities to volunteer my time and resources to helping others. Who are your real-life heroes and why? My real-life heroes are my parents. They were raised with very humble beginnings and have worked so hard to become college graduates, have successful careers, and see four children through college into successful careers. They’ve always treated others with respect and helped those less fortunate with volunteering their time and resources. www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 27

PEOP L E O F T H E Y E A R 2 0 1 6

Von Wellington is a graduate of Liberty University with a bachelor’s degree in Christian Leadership and has received a certification in Science and Technology of Visual Arts. Von also holds an Associate of Applied Science (Digital Film & Video Technology/ Animation) degree from Piedmont Community College in Yanceyville. Von organized Wellington Film Group LLC in 2012 and Von Wellington Photography LLC in 2013. In 2014, Von created Well Works Visual Arts, Inc. in an effort to engage communities in the Dan River Region and youth in digital technology and photography. His passion in media arts and digital photography is expressed through his talented work and creative products as seen throughout community-based programs and past and present multimedia events. Well Works Visual Arts, Inc. was designed to provide resources and a course curriculum to expose participants to media content careers in the digital arts industry. Von has worked with numerous community leaders on special projects and small ventures in support of community and economic development. Why is community involvement so important to you? Community Involvement is close to my heart. It should be a lifetime obligation for all because it’s a great importance to commit to the improvement of our Dan River Region community. Each Danvillian should be dedicated in the help of increasing the education, art, and living experience in the Dan River Region. It’s a joy to help my community’s organizations and businesses. I encourage all to get involved in and help make a difference in the lives of others living here. As part of community involvement, we have to listen to what the needs are of the citizens of the region so that decision makers can execute the best and correct decisions as possibly needed. What inspires you to volunteer? Volunteering is a call of duty for each and every person. Having a lot of love and compassion for others is the “key” to living a long happy life, and it makes you feel great inside to help others. The inspiration comes from being aware of various social issues in my community and jumping right in to be a catalyst to help shift the mindsets of the youth. Seeing them smile knowing now they can “re-imagine” too… and by starting young to make their lives better is being an asset to their parents and community. That makes a huge difference.

28 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

How do you balance life, work, and community involvement? Balancing life for me is a daily fun-loving nonstop task. Master your time. Always realize and understand that one must utilize their time every second of each hour. Life for me is constant work. God first, family, health and education second, and work is last. Work is my passion, make it yours, and you will find balance within something you love doing. In Danville, there’s always something to do or attend, and someone, some organization, or some company is always planning an event. Who are your real life heroes and why? My heroes are local and visible. One is Mr. William Gentry (Golden Leaf Bistro, Piedmont Lands of Virginia LLC.), a local businessman who wanted a way out and has created an opportunity for himself and others. He would always say, “Von, no one will tell you anything, you must learn it all on your own”. Mr. Rick Barker (Supply Resources, Inc.) is another one of my heroes. He is a great developer who is an entrepreneur such as myself. Mr. Barker is transforming an entire block on Craghead Street. When you have guys like this working in your community, it ensures that our community will be safe and full of positivity. Next are Mr. Steven (Byrnes Gould Law) and Mrs. Missy Gould (The Nature Conservancy). A power couple! In their presence, you feel the importance of professionalism. From healthy outdoor expeditions to politics they have it intact. Saving the best for last I would say, Ms. Lori Merricks (Danville Regional Foundation). Ms. Lori is awesome, and she raises the bar with each and every new challenging project she accomplishes making others whom work alongside her better. Much respect! What is it about Danville that makes it special to you? Danville is magical! We have great leaders, heroes, and business owners who care about the livelihood of the people who live here. They are out in the community and are very approachable like our awesome Sheriff Mike Mondul. By having strong relationships with the people in the community, it’s very clear we are one big tight-knit family. In many cities when you see the mayor it’s unbelievable. Our wonderful Mayor Mr. John Gilstrap is always present in our community, communicating with the youth, supporting events, and shaking hands. What are you most looking forward to in 2017? I look forward to more economic development and revitalizations happening in the Dan River region. Danville is a great city and we can make it even greater by working together. There is no limit to what we can do when great minds come together.

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 29

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 31

32 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Hampton Wilkins was born and raised in the Dan River Region. A realtor since 1975, he has been a major player in Danville’s transformation into a thriving, growing city. He is a local past president of the Dan River Region Association of Realtors and is well-known throughout Virginia, serving on the state level on numerous Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR) committees throughout his career. Hampton earned his master’s in Business Administration from Averett University in 1987 and proudly serves on Averett’s Board of Trustees. He also serves on Danville Development Council, Danville Airport Commission, and the Fair Housing Board. Hampton is a charter member of Riverview Rotary and is a recipient of the prestigious Paul Harris award. He has also served on the Boards of Goodwill Industries, Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, Danville Life Saving Crew, and Danville Regional Health Foundation. Hampton is a member and supporter of the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, Danville Historical Society, and First Presbyterian Church. Why is community involvement so important to you? I feel it is both my privilege and my responsibility to give back to a community that has given so much to me. I am proud to be a third generation Danvillian, and my daughter and grandchildren make five generations. Hopefully, my involvement in the community has in some small way helped improve the quality of life for future generations. How do you balance life, work, and community involvement? It is often said when you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life. I am blessed daily to combine life, work, and community involvement. The mission statement for Wilkins & Co. Realtors is “To provide the best possible service to our clients, customers and community”. We live that out every day.

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2016

What is it about Danville that makes it special to you? I am asked that question weekly as I bring newcomers to Danville. My answer is always the same: the people…they are our Region’s greatest asset. Do you have a favorite quote, and if so what is it? “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” –Winston Churchill What do you like to do outside of work and volunteerism? Spending time with my family is number one. Also, taking walks, golf, yoga, travel. I enjoy spending time anywhere near the water…any beach I can reach is a good destination. What are your favorite things to do in Danville? There are so many, but I would have to say, that biking or walking the River Trail; spending time with my grandchildren at Dan Daniel Park and enjoying the YMCA are at the top of my list. What are your visions for the future of Danville? A community that is united, working to achieve a crime-free Danville; economic growth that creates good paying jobs for all our citizens. Prosperity for all!

What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? My father, who I loved and respected dearly, always told me, “Whatever career you choose in life… strive to be the best.” I have never forgotten those words and have always tried to live up to them. Who are your real-life heroes and why? My mother, who dealt with adversity her entire life but remained strong and true to her beliefs. She taught me the value of an honest day’s work and instilled in me the work ethic which I live by today. Also, Ronald Reagan because of his love for our country. He believed in the values our great nation was founded upon. www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 33

PEOP L E O F T H E Y E A R 2 0 1 6

Teresa Wiseman serves on the United Way Board of Directors, the Danville Museum of Fine Arts Board of Directors, and the Danville – Pittsylvania County Schools Career and Technical Education Advisory Council. In the past, she served on the Haven of the Dan River Region Board of Directors. Teresa is part of the Danville Toyota family which sponsors numerous events and organizations. On top of the sponsorships, Danville Toyota offers Drive2Give which is a monthly program where someone who test drives a vehicle will have a chance to win $1000, and a local charity receives $1000. Teresa personally works most of the events Danville Toyota sponsors. She believes if one ever truly wants to make a difference, they must be willing to put in the work and effort to make things happen. Why is community involvement so important to you? Community involvement is important to me for multiple reasons. First, I love Danville, I love the people of Danville, and I really want to see Danville thrive. Second, I am a type 1 diabetic, and have been for 35 years. I feel battling the disease almost my entire life drives me to help others in whatever battles they may face. Being involved in the community is an avenue to offer that help. How do you balance life, work, and community involvement? I schedule everything! I have to in order to balance it all. The trick with scheduling is trying not to over schedule free time. I like to be spontaneous sometimes, so it is important to make sure I have time open for that.

What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? The only limitations that we have are the limitations we set deep within ourselves. If you are never afraid to fail, then you will always succeed. Who are your real-life heroes and why? I have a lot of heroes. First, our military and first responders are heroes. These are men and women who risk their lives every day to keep us safe. In addition, both of my parents are heroes. My father for not only serving in the USAF, but also for everything he has accomplished. People always walk away after meeting him feeling they truly met someone amazing and special. My mother is a cancer survivor, and she battles with a trial fibrillation. She is the strongest woman I know. She always has a smile on her face. My mom is the one I call immediately whenever I need that piece of advice that I know can only come from her. She is a true inspiration. Last, I have always considered Gabrielle Coco Chanel to be a hero. After growing up in an orphanage in France, she completely redesigned the entire fashion industry for women. Basically, she had a dream, and she made it real, all while liberating women all over the world with fashion. She epitomizes the idea that you can make anything happen by starting with only a dream. What is it about Danville that makes it special to you? The people, hands down. Danville has some of the most amazing people I have ever met who are passionate about the community. They put in all the effort to make this place wonderful. They are truly inspiring. Some of the locals have contributed countless hours on various projects, all to see this area grow and flourish. Do you have a favorite quote, and if so what is it? “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” –Dr. Martin Luther King. What is your idea of happiness? Happiness to me is a state of mind you choose to be in. Things that help me get in that state would be being able to do what I love. I am typically a happy person. Life is too short to not be happy. Even if I wake up in a grouchy mood, I will still make a good attempt to smile at the first person I see… then poof! I’m happy! What are your favorite things to do in Danville? I love the Riverwalk, restaurants, I love the various events to be able to see my colleagues and peers, and I also love to sit on my back porch and listen to the great outdoors. What are your visions for the future of Danville? I see Danville continuing to grow at a good pace while keeping our small-town togetherness. I think if there was ever a city that has so much potential, it is Danville. We have passionate people in the right positions who will make things happen here. It is an exciting time to be a Danvillian.

34 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 35

3 5 Jailer 37 Herself opposite 41 Frost 42 Natural fiber 43 Thai 44 Protective garment 47 Ancien German character 48 Whirr 49 Male parent 50 Northwest by north 51 Glided 52 Physics motion tendency 54 Ammunition 56 Family 57 Teen disease 59 Metal fasteners 63 Building addition 64 Yield 65 Music player 66 24 hours 67 Spoken 68 Goofed

ACROSS 1 Hawaiian ‘hello’ 6 Engrave 10 American Cancer Society (abbr.) 13 W. Cameroon seaport 15 South American nation 16 Drink slowly 17 Sour herb 18 Billions of years 19 __ Lanka 20 Electric light 22 St. ___’s Day 24 Ride horseback 26 Scallion 28 Island 29 Exploiter 30 Build 31 Polls 32 Fuming 33 Tactic 34 Make lace

DOWN 1 Advertisements 2 Water closet 3 Possessive pronoun 4 Shelter 5 Aleutian 6 Environmental protection agency (abbr) 7 Indian tent 8 Frog sound 9 Track 10 Help 11 Cycle 12 Hits the ball hard 14 Both 21 Bomb 23 What a mob does 24 Tyrant 25 Make over 27 Stretch to make do 29 Sports official 30 Ponder 31 Invent

33 Move back and forth 34 What a clock tells 36 Priest 37 Reddish dye 38 Decorative needle case 39 Fat 40 Evergreen tree

42 Middle 44 Put alcohol in the punch 45 National capital 46 Publicly 47 African nation 48 Sandpiper’s cousin

50 Kinder 51 Strike hard 53 Mexican sandwich 55 Mr..’s wife 58 Elver 60 Goof 61 Ball holder 62 Sward

NAME

WORTHDE SEARC H THEM E&

HOW TO ENTER Email paul@showcasemagazine.com with the theme of this Word Search (DECEMBER 2016) for a chance to win a $25 Medo’s II gift certificate. Winner will be announced on Facebook (Showcase Magazine) on January 1, 2017.

X W C

M N

X M S

O C

H G

T W R

W W R

Q G

P W K

E W

C W A

C M

M C

CHICAGO CHRISTMAS CLARK EDDIE

$25 M gift ce edo’s II rtifica te

HOLIDAY

ROCKY

JELLY

RUBY SUE

KANSAS

RUSTY

36 SHOWCASE Magazine

RATING: EASY

SANTA STAPLES SWAT VACATION

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

ANSWERS ON PAGE 38

by Paulette Dean Executive Director Danville Humane Society

This pretty, little 10-week-old girl suddenly appeared on someone’s porch one morning. She was cold, scared, hungry, and thirsty.We are grateful that we were called to help her, and now Nicky is ready for a home.

The Christmases of my youth have given me such wonderful memories. I do not even know what year it was, but one of the perfect moments in my life happened on a Christmas Eve. Daddy was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas, and attended a church in Manhattan. However, on Christmas Eve, my sister and I had been asked to sing “Away in a Manger” in the post chapel. My perfect moment happened on the way home. It was cold, there was snow on the ground, and the stars shone brilliantly. Christmas carols were playing on the radio, and we enjoyed a nice family ride, looking at the decorated homes. I remember so clearly looking at the sky, being excited about Santa’s visit, and feeling so happy and content in that car with my beloved father, mother, and sister. It was a little moment of perfection.

Our family has always had happy, merry Christmases. For the past 24 years, though, my happiness has been tempered with what I know will come several weeks after Christmas. All the decorations will be down, bills will arrive, and animal shelters will be receiving discarded pets that were given as gifts. In fact, in 1994, I adopted a dachshund mix that had been given as a gift the year before. By the time she came through our shelter doors, she had been physically and emotionally abused. She was an emotional mess and she never quite recovered. Katey, though, was one of the lucky ones because she did find a home with a human who absolutely adored her. The rest of her days were spent as my almost-constant companion. Many discarded pet gifts do not have such happy endings. Most animal welfare organizations urge people to not give an animal as a gift. You may give a gift certificate, promising a pet, but the recipient has the right to choose which animal they want. A boyfriend may think his girlfriend needs a dog, but she may be more inclined to want a cat. Grown children may think that a cat is just the companion for their elderly parent, but the parents may not want to be “tied down” to having a pet. The list goes on and on. Some shelters do allow holiday gift adoptions. We do only if parents want to surprise their children with a family pet, but we do not let the animal be presented on the noisiest, most confusing morning of the year. (Santa Claus sometimes bring pets the day before or the day after Christmas, just so they don’t have to endure a long sleigh ride completely around the world.) Companion animals require a commitment of time, money, and, yes, even sacrifice. Our goal is to make sure they do not get discarded as easily as torn wrapping paper and trees. Companion animals can give us many perfect moments, but we have to make sure they also have perfect moments! SM DANVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 37

of the season with a community choir and guests. Dec. 10 – 7:30pm, Dec. 11 – 3pm. The Prizery. South Boston. 434.572.8339. Riverview Rotary Christmas Parade - The theme this year is “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The parade route will begin at Rison and Broad Streets and continue downtown ending at Main and Craghead Streets. 3-5pm. Roanoke Symphony Holiday Pops - Celebrating 11 years of holiday magic with special guest soprano Joy Lynn Jacobs. Piedmont Arts will be collecting canned goods for Grace Network. Doors will open at 6 pm for donations. 7pm. Martinsville HS Auditorium.

44th Annual Danville Historical Society Holiday Tour - Four homes, the Dudley Building, St. Peter’s Greek Orthodox Church and the city’s three history museums will open their doors to visitors. At various sites enjoy refreshments and music, and at one site a mini-exhibit about the history of Danville’s streetcars. The Danvillian Gallery on North Union will be open to see the exhibit entitled, “1963 Danville Civil Rights Movement: The Protests, the People, the Stories.” 1-5pm.

Voices of Christmas - Enjoy the music

First Annual Holiday Gala Scholarship Fundraiser - or the Danville Branch of the NAACP to raise funds for scholarships of entering freshman of a four-year institution. Wine, Cheese, and other Hor d’oeuvres will be served. 8pm12am. Stratford Conference Center. 434.879.6227. New Year’s Ever Party with the Mason Via Band and Lizzy Ross - Tickets available locally at Woodall’s Music, Daily Grind and online. Sorry, no season passes accepted. 8pm. Rives Theatre. 276.403.0872.

Continued from Page 36

38 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 39

40 SHOWCASE Magazine

| DECEMBER 2016 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Not So Common – Common Sense!

Much Ado About School Accreditation—What is Accreditation? by Stan Jones, Superintendent of Danville Public Schools Understanding school accreditation — accountability can be both confusing and daunting to many who are trying to understand how school performance is rated. Most of us simply want to know if our schools are succeeding and how to measure progress. The terms “accreditation” and “accountability” are often used interchangeably to describe school performance, but the truth is that measuring school performance is complicated and complex. Ultimately,Virginia’s accountability, system supports teaching and learning by setting rigorous academic standards known as the Standards of Learning— which are assessed annually to determine student achievement. As a professional educator, I am not opposed to educational standards. Setting standards for what students should know and be able to do is a reasonable practice especially when we are preparing young people to become productive members of their community. The challenge with standards is how to measure school effectiveness in terms of learning when schools are inherently complex organizations that are difficult to measure. My concern is less about setting standards and more about the fact that the current system uses only one measure to determine school performance. This article is intended to help you understand the accreditation process for measuring school performance. Please allow me to indulge you in the historical aspects of school accountability. Efforts to quantify school performance are not new. In fact, initial minimal competency graduation tests began in the late 1970s and 80s with the Literacy Passport Exam or LTP. The LTP was based on minimal standards related to basic elementary literacy and numeracy. The goal of the Literacy Passport Test was to identify students’ weaknesses before they entered high school so that schools may design interventions to help improve learning. In the 1990s efforts to measure educational performance gained significant political attention as a means of “fixing” and improving public education. These efforts continued in the mid -1990s under Governor George Allen. During this era, efforts to revise existing Standards of Learning began. Standards of Learning for Virginia’s public schools were in place for about 20 years as a framework for what students should know and be able to do. Strong bi-partisan support for increased accountability of public schools evolved into more defined measures of accountability and SOL testing became a reality for Virginia’s public schools. Collectively, these efforts centered around four goals of the initial accountability effort. • Minimum Standards based on rigorous curriculum for continuity. • Assessment aimed at validating student and school performance. • A tool for communicating to the public using a school report card system. • Consequences based on outcomes of performance.

the standards were inaccurate based on public perception. These perceptions led to reform, adjustments, better curriculum alignment, and a greater emphasis on testing and the outcomes of test results. Ultimately, it led to policies and practices which have resulted in today’s accountability system which sought to balance incentives with punitive measures. The result has been a system that has resulted in huge disparities in performance between wealthier communities and under-resourced communities plagued by poverty and modest funding for schools. The results are clear across the state when you consider these factors. In Danville, eight of our eleven schools are either Fully or Partially Accredited and three schools have been Denied Accreditation despite having achieved the required pass rates for History/Social Science and Science at some point in the past four years. In closing, please be reminded that school ratings are based on one set of tests given once a year. I will explain the meaning of these terms in the next edition. Please stay tuned.

A STRONG EDUCATION BUILDS A STRONGER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Wilkins & CO. supports education Danville Office • 428 Piney Forest Rd. • 434.797.4007 Chatham Office • 12413 US HWY 29 • 434.432.3009 Property Management • 434.797.4009 www.WilkinsAndCo.com

Initially, more than 98% of Virginia’s schools failed to meet the accreditation standards in the mid-1990s. This finding suggested that www.showcasemagazine.com

| DECEMBER 2016 | SHOWCASE Magazine 41

This is what commitment looks like... This is what commitment looks like... Centra Danville Medical Center is now open! Centra Danville Medical Center is now open!

Healthcare is more accessible and convenient than ever before. With a full range of health Healthcare more accessible and convenient than before. With a full range of health services andismedical and surgical specialties, we areever committed to you – our friends and services and medical and surgical welevel are in committed you – ourCare friends and neighbors – and are eager to show specialties, you the next providingtoExcellent for Life. neighbors – and are eager to show you the next level in providing Excellent Care for Life. PRIMARY & URGENT CARE PRIMARY & URGENT CARE Danville practices* – PrimeCare main clinic on 130 Two of Centra Medical Group’s

Two of Centra Medical Group’s Danville practices*Street – PrimeCare main clinic onDanville 130 Enterprise Drive and Dominion on 110 Exchange – have relocated to the Enterprise Driveand andcome Dominion onto 110 Exchange – have to the Danville Medical Center together form a singleStreet primary andrelocated urgent care practice, Centra Medical Center come together to include: form a single primary and urgent care practice, Centra Group –and Danville. Providers Medical Group – Danville. Providers include:

Gregory Alba, DO Gregory Alba, James Alig, PA DO

Vinit Jalandhara, MD Vinit Jalandhara, MD Rachel McGee, DO

Pradeep Pradhan, MD Pradeep Pradhan, Laurie Taylor, FNP MD

James PA Susan Alig, Dhivianathan, MD Susan Ibarra, Dhivianathan, MD Maria MD

Rachel McGee,MD DO James Milam, James Milam, MD

Laurie Taylor, FNP NP Charlotte Williams, Charlotte Williams, NP

Maria Ibarra, MD *Our PrimeCare east clinic at 404 Airport Road will remain at its current location. *Our PrimeCare east clinic at 404 Airport Road will remain at its current location.

MEDICAL & SURGICAL SPECIALTIES MEDICAL & SURGICAL SPECIALTIES Centra specialists can see patients and provide consultations at the new medical center. Centra specialists Specialties include:can see patients and provide consultations at the new medical center. Specialties include: CARDIOLOGY CARDIOLOGY Brent Carothers, MD

Brent Carothers, MD Stephen Davis, MD Stephen Davis, MD MD Matthew Huffman, Matthew Huffman, MD Sackett, MD Matthew Sackett, Peter O’Brien, MDMD Peter O’Brien,MD MD Evan Ownby, Evan Ownby, David Truitte, MD

MAMMOGRAPHY MAMMOGRAPHY PLASTIC SURGERY PLASTIC Timothy SURGERY Silvester, MD Timothy Silvester, MD SPORTS MEDICINE SPORTS Pieleck, MEDICINE Andrew DO Andrew Pieleck, DO

PHYSICAL THERAPY PHYSICAL THERAPY Kurtise Wilkes, PT, DPT Kurtise Wilkes, PT, DPT Varsha Jalandhara, PT, DPT Varsha Jalandhara, PT, DPT UROLOGY UROLOGY Dean Clower, MD Dean Clower, MD

David Truitte, MD MD Michael Valentine, Michael Valentine, MD

414 Park Avenue | Danville 414 Park Avenue | Danville

Danville Medical Center Danville Medical Center Urgent Care Hours Urgent Care Hours Open seven days a week Open 8 seven am –days 8 pma week 8 am – 8 pm

Primary Care Hours Primary Care8 Hours Monday – Friday, am – 5 pm Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

Physical Therapy Hours Physical Therapy Hours Monday – Thursday, 8 am – 5:30 pm Monday – Thursday, 8 am –pm 5:30 pm Friday, 8 am – 12:30 Friday, 8 am – 12:30 pm

To learn more about Toour learn more about services, call our services, call 434.857.3600 434.857.3600 or visit

or visit CentraHealth.com CentraHealth.com