Showcase Magazine April 2021

www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 1

2 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 3

CONTENTS

Showcase Magazine

APRIL 2021

THE F IF TEEN YEAR ANNIVESARY ISSUE Showcase Magazine

@showcaseDVA

showcasemagazineva @ info@showcasemagazine.com

FEATURES Lakeside: What a Ride Lakeside Amusement Park 8 The Man Behind the Movie Soundtrack:

Matt Compton Talks Shop 11

Lakeside: What a Ride Lakeside Amusement Park

PG.

8

From the Hill City to the International Space Station 14

ALSO INSIDE Editor’s Letter Fifteen years and counting

Confessions of a 30 Something

6

Happy Anniversary, Showcase 17

Games

From the Kitchen of

Crossword & Wordsearch 16

4 SHOWCASE Magazine |

Paws for a Cause Minnie 19 Blueways and the Blue Ridge:

Confetti Birthday Cake Mix Cookies

Why a Visit to Philpott Lake is a Must

18

20

Big Bear’s Wife

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

PG.

20

www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 5

EDITOR’S LETTER

Fifteen years and counting A little over 15 years ago, I was sitting in a local restaurant having lunch with Scott when he sprang the news on me he was starting a magazine. “It’s going to be called Showcase, and we’re going to focus on the positive things in our area. Do you want to be a part of it?” he asked.

Fifteen years later, I’m proud to say Showcase continues to strive to maintain the vision Scott had. We’ve incorporated the RAVE Awards and Community Strong People of the Year to highlight businesses and people who make our community a better place to live. Each month, we hope to shed more light on the positive happenings in the area, which solidifies Danville as being a true comeback city.

showcase APRIL 2021

CEO Andrew Scott Brooks scott@showcasemagazine.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Paul Seiple | paul@showcasemagazine.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kim Demont | demontdesign@verizon.net FINANCE MANAGER Cindy Astin | cindy@showcasemagazine.com

In the beginning, I wrote several columns and put together a list of upcoming releases for the next month. There was a period where Scott and I exchanged barbs in a column on an array of topics from pop culture to current events. Honestly, I can’t remember the name of the column without looking back, but I’ll never forget the laughs we had sitting in a small office at the business incubator coming up with those jokes.

ADVERTISING Lee Vogler | Director of Sales and Marketing lee@showcasemagazine.com | 434.548.5335

Showcase is fun, and it’s been a pleasure to bring positive stories to the readers for all these years.

It’s impossible to thank everyone who has been a part of the magazine. Many fantastic writers and unbelievably talented photographers have contributed their art to Showcase. Our loyal advertisers and steadfast sales team allow us to continue to provide a free publication to readers each month.

Without these people, we couldn’t do it.

CUSTOMER SERVICE Subscribe to Home Delivery for $24 per year

For this month, we dug through the archives and brought back a few of our favorite stories through the years. We hope you enjoy revisiting these pieces of Showcase history. And here’s to many more years of sharing positivity with you.

Enjoy the issue.

Kenny Thornton Jr | Account Executive kenny@showcasemagazine.com

753 Main Street #3, Danville, VA 24541 Phone 434.709.7349 info@showcasemagazine.com www.showcasemagazine.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Angie Barrett | Matt Charles | Paulette Dean Malee Baker Oot | Drew Scott | Gary Takacs Lee Vogler CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Angie Barrett | Captured Portraiture VisitMartinsville | Lee Vogler | Davin Wilson National Aeronautics and Space Administration COVER 15 years of Showcase Magazine Scan with your smart phone for

EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENT at showcasemagazine.com

6 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

Your health means everything.

And now is the time to address those concerns you’ve been putting off. We’re here to help, with services ranging from routine screenings, to surgeries, to emergency care.

Don’t make your health wait. Get the care you need now.

To find a healthcare provider, call 844.GO.SOVAH To learn more, visit SovahHealth.com

It takes a local business owner to protect one.

Satterfield Insurance Agcy Inc David Satterfield, Agent 534 Westover Drive Danville, VA 24541 Bus: 434-835-1300

Earn more than just a degree

As a small business owner in our community, I understand what it takes to protect your small business. Let me help you get insurance for your business at a great value.

Stop in or give me a call.

State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL State Farm Florida Insurance Company, Winter Haven, Florida State Farm Lloyds, Richardson, TX 1706444

800-AVERETT • averett.edu www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 7

FEATURE LAKESIDE: WHAT A RIDE • MAY/JUNE 2006

Lakeside: What a Ride Lakeside Amusement Park

BY DREW SCOTT

I

miss Lakeside. There you go; it’s out there. I miss

the Shooting Star rollercoaster and Marvelo setting

himself on fire. I miss The Osmonds imitating The Jackson 5 in concert. Well, actually I really missed the Osmonds’ concert there and only remember their name on the marquee coming the next day. Although I became a lifelong fan of Porter Wagoner after seeing him perform at Lakeside in his Liberace outfits. I even miss the color-coded strings that faded on your wrist. It was the summer of my youth, and Lakeside gave it a backdrop.

The Roanoke Valley enjoyed Lakeside for 66 years until it closed in 1986.

Before there were rides there was an enormous pool; perhaps even the world’s largest swimming pool, as Lakeside billed itself, with two million gallons of filtered water creating a cement lake. With a sandy beach and thousands of electric lights, Lakeside was an instant marvel. It was the beginning of the roaring twenties and a group of investors led by Robert Lee Lyn and H.E. Hogan purchased John Bower’s orchard. It was the start of a dream of a “general pleasure resort.”

The Salem Times Register described the lake soon after it opened. “The lake is 300 feet in length and 125 feet wide, with a maximum depth of 8 feet. A space of 40 by 125 feet has been provided for children and ranges in depth from 2 to 4 feet. The Lake is surrounded by a sand beach along with numerous benches... and thousands of electric lights illuminate the entire grounds. The pump used in furnishing the lake with water has a capacity of 20,000 gallons per hour... In the pavilion will be found cloak rooms for both men and women, a soda fountain, a newsstand, and also restaurant service. The bath houses are equipped with individual dressing rooms fitted with lockers and shower baths.”

Originally Lakeside was designed with the pool, athletic fields, and a hotel. The hotel was never built and within a few years Lakeside added a Ferris wheel called the Twirl-around, pony rides and “Lindy Planes” which were named after American hero Charles Lindbergh who in 1927 was the first man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

But the most popular attraction was the rollercoaster.

Originally known as The Thriller and later renamed Mountain Speedway and The Wildcat, it was a legendary ride.

Prohibition started the same year Lakeside opened and just as the morally superior teetotalers had banned alcohol, a local Judge named W.W. Moffet decreed that a pool catering to “half naked” swimmers on Sunday was harmful to public morals. The local sheriff refused to enforce the decree stating that Lakeside was helping prevent skinny dipping in the Roanoke River and along the local creeks. Ultimately, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled Lakeside could remain open on Sundays. But park manager Robert Lynn who also was the president of Heironimus closed the park on Sundays anyway, claiming that he had proven his point but didn’t want to offend anyone.

Prohibition ended in 1933 but in an ironic twist, H.L. Roberts purchased the park in 1936 and promptly

8 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

banished alcohol in the park. His plan was to foster a family image, and he even attempted to convince a movie company to burn down the rollercoaster for a movie.

No motion picture company accepted his offer, and the Mountain Speedway lived on. Roberts and his family own and operated Lakeside for the next 45 years, closely protecting Lakeside’s reputation as a family destination.

They even allowed cheap no-ride tickets to parents who only wanted to accompany their children.

The Roanoke Times printed an epitaph for Lakeside on Oct. 22, 1986: “Just as children won’t part with toys they’ve outgrown, the Roanoke Valley didn’t want to lose Lakeside... An amusement park is one of the few places where children and adults can relate on the same level.

Kids are free to act like kids, and so are adults. Without Lakeside, there will be a long drive to put a child on a merry-go-round for the first time... The valley now has one less place where people of any age can be young.”

In 1967, the Roberts Family began an extensive renovation program which replaced nearly everything in the park. Racial tensions seemed to help the original pool become unprofitable, which ultimately led to it being unceremoniously filled in to make way for more carnival rides. The centerpiece of the $1 million renovation was a gigantic new $225,000 rollercoaster named “The Shooting Star” designed by the legendary John Allen of the Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Company. Eightyfour feet tall and 4,120 feet long, Lakeside claimed to have the world’s fastest rollercoaster when it first opened in 1968.

“The Shooting Star” almost found a new home at Emerald Pointe in Greensboro, North Carolina, before Bankruptcy handcuffed Emerald Pointe. Much of the framework of “The Shooting Star” still sits along Mason’s Creek. The red train was scrapped, but the blue cars still run at Sea Mist Park in Myrtle Beach. The Frontier Railroad train is still in use at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. Many other rides are dispersed around the world, never to be seen again.

Two minutes from loading to unloading, the coaster was built with 320,000 board feet or lumber, 19,000 pounds of steel, 14,000 pounds of bolts, 7,000 pounds of nails, 1,600 gallons of paint and 600 feet of lift chain powered by a 100-horsepower motor.

Although, reminiscing about Lakeside can bring back to life the joyous sounds of a clicking wooden rollercoaster, the tastes of cotton candy, and the feeling of circulation being cut off in your hand by the entrance string. And of course, there are still a few people who can tell you stories about the shenanigans that happened around the world’s largest pool.

1981 marked the end of the Roberts Family legacy.

Lakeside was sold to F.S. Management Company for $3 million. Many renovations including several new rides and activities were met by a dispute with the city of Salem over admission taxes. In 1984, Lakeside was sold to Mountain Park Inc. which too began to remodel highlighted by the reemergence of an artificial pond that was used for paddle boating and named Lake Roberts in honor of the family who had filled in the original pond and created the Lakeside that we remember.

Lakeside was waning even before the memorable flood of 1985. The emergence and domination of the corporately owned theme parks in Virginia was hampering Lakeside’s success, but the flood of 1985 devastated the park doing immense damage. Still the park lived on, but only temporarily. During a test run of “The Shooting Star” in 1986, a maintenance worker was killed, and Lakeside’s demise was permanent. Mountain Park Inc. closed Lakeside’s doors for good on October 19, 1986. www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 9

Looking for something?

Download our River District App: Distrx Explore the new River District digital visitors guide in the palm of your hand!

Business directory and promotions, walking tours, interactive activities, events...and more!

www.riverdistrictassociation.com 208 N. Union St. #101, Danville VA 24541~ 434-791-0210

10 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

FEATURE MAY 2010 • THE MAN BEHIND THE MOVIE SOUNDTRACK: MATT COMPTON TALKS SHOP

The Man Behind The Movie Soundtrack

Matt Compton Talks Shop

BY MATT CHARLES

M

att Compton took a rare time out from his increasingly busy work schedule. Walking the streets of sunny Los Angeles after a twomonth rainy season notorious for causing catastrophic mudslides, the Danville native soaked in the rays.

“I love Los Angeles,” smiled Matt. “I mean, you know what it’s like out here, [Matt referred to the almost half decade my wife Melissa Charles, and I lived in the San Fernando Valley area of La La Land]. It just rocks.”

Destination California Even though Compton only moved to California a couple of years ago, every aspect of his life has prepared him for his career as a composer for films.

“I guess it all really started when I was running around Mt. Vernon Avenue with Katie and Mike Meadows or when they were at my house in Grove Park,” remembered Compton, who then immediately took a second obviously to reflect upon this statement. “That was like 20 to 25 years ago growing up in Danville. Man, that’s just crazy to think about!”

design. Compton ultimately majored in graphic arts, and chose a minor in music industry, which emphasizes the business side of music.

“At JMU, I joined another band called Engine Down, playing drums,” recalled Compton. “It was probably my first really serious band. After graduation and basing ourselves out of Richmond, we actually did quite a bit of touring. We started off doing weekend dates in Boston and New York, but eventually turned it into a national and then international deal. Once we decided to tour worldwide, we played in Europe and Japan.”

Engine Down was courted by Atlantic Records to sign a record deal. “We had signed with Atlantic, but ended up canceling the deal as it just didn’t feel right,” said Compton. “We were not a singles hit type of band, so we knew that Atlantic would not be putting all of their resources behind us.”

It turns out that Engine Down made the right decision, at least according to Compton. “We put out a CD on a Continued to Page 12

Compton credits the pair of siblings for garnering his musical interest and spearing its growth - Mike, an accomplished musician who currently tours with country music’s “It Girl,” Taylor Swift, and Mike’s sister, master concert pianist, Katie.

“Well, as we all know very well, Mike was playing the guitar and Katie, the piano, from a very early age,” said Compton. “If I wanted to hang out with them, being that Mike was my best friend, I had to learn an instrument.

To make music, it just made sense that I pick up the drums so we could form a little band of sorts. We were always playing. Their intense desire to become musicians rubbed off on me. It all took off from there.”

Compton played in a few bands, primarily with Pollyanna, while a teenager at George Washington High School. From there it was off to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to study graphic www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 11

FEATURE THE MAN BEHIND THE MOVIE SOUNDTRACK: MATT COMPTON TALKS SHOP • MAY 2010

Continued from Page 11

label called Look Out Records,” he said. “A lot of very successful bands like Green Day came out of that label.

We ended up getting more exposure than we think we would have gotten with Atlantic.”

Like most bands, Engine Down ran its course.

Afterwards, Compton didn’t really want to stick around Richmond. He had been to California and loved the state and people there. Making the move, Compton quickly landed a gig filling in on drums with the band, HEAVENS. The group was headed by former Alkaline Trio front man, Matt Skiba, and toured the United Kingdom.

To make ends meet, Compton found a day job at Los Angeles comic institution, The Laugh Factory. “I was doing web design, but didn’t really…,” Compton paused.

“Let’s just say it didn’t work out.”

It was around this time that Matt Compton forayed into the realm of musical composition and scoring for commercial projects. “I was really lucky when the Black Iris, which is a musical composition and scoring production company based out of Richmond, came along,” Compton stated. “I think my first extensive project for Black Iris was scoring a commercial for a French detergent by the name of Ariel. As I can do jobs for them from Los Angeles, thing went really well. I was initially freelancing with Black Iris, but quickly went on salary. I was able to quit all of my other day jobs, so to speak, and able to focus on music and composition. That was a pretty sweet day.”

Hollywood Beckons “Things kind of snowballed, but a lot of it happened because of the great people I was around,” Compton remarked. I’m not a huge hyperbole fan, but for Matt, snowballing was a huge understatement.

Compton was introduced to the Taccone brothers, Asa and Jorma. Asa is best known for his recent Saturday Night Live digital shorts, including Mother Lover, performed by SNL cast member, Andy Samberg and the multi-talented Justin Timberlake. Asa is currently working on some pretty sizable record productions, while Jorma directed a feature film debuting later this month titled, MacGruber.

“The whole deal is still pretty surreal,” said Compton.

Trying to explain the Taccone and SNL relationship reminds one of an incestuously gnarled backwoods family tree. “Jorma is writing partners with Andy 12 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

Samberg. Jorma, Akiva (Schaffer), and Andy were part of the Lonely Island comedy group out of UC-Berkley and independent California comedy station Channel 101 that was recruited by SNL execs with Andy being the performer, and the other two writers. Then Asa wrote those shorts for Andy,” Compton thought in a drawn out response and laughed. “You get the picture, man.” For what it’s worth, Matt thought the readers would most likely enjoy his description of this relationship, while confusing them at the same time.

Compton composed a High School Musical parody for a 2008 episode of SNL hosted by Ben Affleck. “I’ll definitely say that it was pretty cool to see that on TV,” said Compton.

After working on the show, Compton kept in touch with Jorma. Taccone mentioned that he was directing the MacGyver-inspired parody, MacGruber, who is played by and is the brainchild of SNL cast member, Will Forte.

“I decided to write a piece of music for the movie,” Compton explained. “I thought it would work really well, so I sent it over to Jorma. Obviously they liked it, too. Jorma told me that Will and writer John Solomon would play the music and get really excited. Some of what I do for MacGruber is action-oriented, while a lot of it is 1980s cheese music. I tell you, have you noticed how the ‘80s are totally back right now? With movies like MacGruber, the A-Team, and The Losers all coming out this year, it’s weird how it all happens at once.”

Compton became an official member of the MacGruber team after he was invited to a table read. This process is where actors read the script aloud to feel out scenes and see if they work. Afterwards, Jorma asked Compton if he wanted to take a crack at composing and scoring the entire film.

“I scored the dailies [footage shuttled over the day, shot for studio executives to examine] and they loved it,” said Compton. “I signed on to do it and immediately started working furious hours. There was a pretty significant period of time where I was working for Black Iris during the day and staying up until 3 AM every night working on MacGruber.”

Matt was quick to point out that while this was his first feature film, it was the same for director Jorma Taccone, as well as film editor Jamie Gross, who had worked as an assistant film editor on the Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott movie, Role Models.

“It’s pretty abnormal for the powers that be to allow that many first-timers to work together on a film,” Compton remarked. “Most composers come in at the last minute to work on music after test music has been inserted. In my case, I did it all, which was great training. If the studio executives liked or didn’t like something, I knew about it.”

The first-time composer admitted that he needed time to wrap his head around the tone of MacGruber and develop a process to churn out the work. “I quickly learned that it takes absolutely forever to orchestrate a sound that is good, effective, and most importantly, right.” Compton continued, “I feel a lot better about everything now going into future projects. I need an experience like this to get my chops.”

As he courts future projects that cannot be disclosed as of yet, Matt will be the first one to tell you he is living the good life. “A lot of fun can come in 2 hours or 2 days depending upon the amount of time you are allotted to complete a project or portion of one,” said Compton. “It provides you the opportunity to

constantly development your skills. Working for Black Iris 100% helped me develop my talents.”

These talents are important for any film composer worth his salt. John Williams, who scored Raiders of the Lost Ark and Superman, was able to make a film part of the audience’s conscious because he matched the feeling of the actor to a musical vision. From there, he was able to pace the movie to make it hit home.

Whether it’s scoring video games or a foundation benefit marketing material for Black Iris or his dream of orchestrating a 1960s style Italian film—I can’t do this justice, but Matt Compton absolutely raves about them whether they are spaghetti Westerns or crime capers— Compton is having a blast.

“Believe me, I know how lucky I am and fortunate I am to be in my position,” smiled Compton. “Everybody around me has been incredible and given me the space, time, and support to help me along my way on this awesome journey.”

KNEE PA I N ?

Sports Injuries Cartilage Restoration Ligament Reconstruction Outpatient Joint Replacement Partial & Total Knee Replacements

200 W. Wendover Avenue • Greensboro, NC 223 W. Ward St. • Suite B • Asheboro, NC 336.333.6443 • www.SMJRortho.com

STEVE LUCEY, M.D. www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 13

FEATURE FROM THE HILL CITY TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION • JULY 2009

From the Hill City to the International Space Station

BY GARY TAKACS PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

N

Everyone has their own childhood dream of

becoming someone great. Some dream of

becoming a great explorer, some dream of traveling the world, and some dream of blasting off into outer space and becoming an astronaut. In October 2008, a Central Virginia native did just that. Leland Melvin, a 1982 graduate of Lynchburg City’s Heritage High School, went on NASA space mission STS-122 to the International Space Station. During the mission, Melvin worked primarily with robotics and is preparing to do it again.

But where do astronauts come from? This one comes from good ole’ fashioned roots where hanging out with friends on a Friday night at the local Pizza Hut and playing football are part of the everyday curriculum.

Melvin has said that he comes from a “solid foundation with a good education.” Although he misses his friends and family back in his hometown, his time away from home hasn’t been wasted.

Since his high school graduation, Melvin earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Richmond in 1986. He continued his education at the University of Virginia where he received a master’s degree in Materials Science Engineering in 1991 and

after working for six years at NASA, Melvin applied to become an astronaut. “Flying jets and space shuttles just sounded really interesting to me!” Melvin said. “It was a shot... a long shot.” In 1997, his ambition paid off, and he was accepted into the class of 1998. He trained as a mission specialist working with robotics, leading to his first mission into space in 2008.

After returning from the 2008 mission, Melvin has spoken about his experiences to crowds in Puerto Rico, the Belgium Senate and Moscow as well as students at Dunbar and Perrymont Elementary Schools, his alma mater Heritage High, and Liberty University, all residing in his hometown of Lynchburg.

In addition to his public appearances around the world, Melvin has continued training for his next mission slated to launch in November of this year, where he will again work with flight deck robotics on the STS-129 mission to the International Space Station.

Currently residing in Houston, Texas, his schedule generally starts around 8:00 a.m. where he will work in a simulator inspecting port tiles of the shuttle wing for damage before he heads off to lunch. Afterwards, in order to mimic zero gravity, Melvin works on robotic exercises in an underwater simulator. He will be in the control room simulating different projects with the robotic arms.

Currently in space, Leland has to use television monitors as his guide to operate the robotic arm in order to move objects outside the shuttle and the international space station. Part of the agenda for the STS-129 mission is to replace the TV monitors with windows to alleviate any visual obstacles during the loading and unloading process on future missions.

Besides rigorous training and practice, the crew is also responsible for more personal touches to their space mission. The crew will get fitted in their “pumpkin suits” as Melvin calls them and even organize their music selections for their iPods. To name a few of his favorites,

14 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

Melvin’s collection includes Quincy Jones, Seal, Sting, Sheryl Crow, and Yolanda Adams, as well as some of his own personal recordings. The crew also attend a food lab where they sample different dehydrated space food, rate their favorites and tailor their menu to their individual tastes. Melvin’s favorites include beef stroganoff, sausage patties, barbeque beef, corn, mango punch, chocolate cake pudding and Mexican eggs. “In space, you lose a bit of your sense of taste so spicy food tastes much better (thus the Mexican eggs),” Melvin told us.

In space, their daily routine can change as quickly as they orbit the Earth, which turns out to be approximately every 90 minutes. Up there they execute a scheduled timeline; at night (on their sleep schedule of course) they plan the next day’s workload, mealtimes, routine fitness exercise and personal time where they can email or call friends and family, and shoot for 8 hours of sleep.

One may not realize it but in space physical fitness plays a crucial role in astronauts’ health

and well-being just like it does here on the ground.

Since there is no gravity in space where weights become weightless and useless, astronauts have to come up with substitutions on weight training to keep in shape.

“In space we use resistance bands and a treadmill where you’re actually bunged down,” Melvin said. “It’s important to exercise the larger bones (hips/pelvis) and muscle groups (thighs/upper body) because if they don’t carry the average load (like on Earth), calcium will leech out and you’ll lose bone density.”

Leland Melvin has unintentionally inspired Central Virginia and the world by pursuing his dream to become successful not only as an American but as a global citizen. Leland has also shown us that even though the road to reaching our goals may be full of twists and turns, sometimes you have to leave the pavement behind and just leap. When asked about his experience in space, Melvin said it changed his life.

“After the Challenger and Columbia accidents, you appreciate the relationships you have even more.” Melvin also spoke about how he gained a new perspective of the wonders of the Earth while in orbit. “From up there you can see man’s impact of deforestation, burning forest fires and silt flowing from the mouths of the Mississippi and the Nile rivers; but you also get to see the natural beauty of the Earth too; like how blue the oceans truly are, the tops of snow capped mountains and how far the deserts spread, it’s an amazing feeling. In space, if there were an ‘aha moment’ as to why I wanted to become an astronaut it would be when I looked out the window.” www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 15

EXTRA GAMES

Games

Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 Sever 4 Tap in lightly 8 Bluff (2 wds.)

14 Environmental protection agency (abbr) 15 France & Germany river 16 Middle eastern peninsula 17 Pristine 18 Green Gables dweller 19 Quiet, plodding horse 20 Entrails 22 Flightless bird 23 Penury 24 Cried 27 “Remember the __” 31 Hindu goddess, consort of Siva 33 Bolus 35 Dawdle 36 Wrath 38 Tiny 39 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 40 Nocturnal marsupial 44 Political speech type 46 Clean

47 Grain 49 Part of a min.

50 Bard’s before 51 Less than two 52 Skidded 55 Be annoyed 58 Water (Sp.) 61 Whim 63 French “yes” 65 Inclining 67 Ghost 70 Skit 71 Cooking fat 72 Genus Alauda 73 Pennsylvania (abbr.)

74 Ball holder 75 Where pigs live 76 Greek god of war 77 Supersonic transport DOWN 1 Former Russian ruler 2 Unsealed 3 American Indian tribe member 4 Despot 5 Root beer brand (3 wds.)

6 Parsonage

7 Before (prefix) 8 Vanish 9 Odor 10 Capital of Afghanistan 11 Move away 12 Caesar’s three 13 Change color 21 Inform 25 Captured soldier 26 Journey 28 In addition 29 Spar 30 Giant 32 Internal Revenue Service 34 Honey makers 37 European monetary unit 39 Remove the clip from 40 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries 41 Happy cat sound 42 Dunking cookies 43 Asian bird 45 Okay 48 Electroencephalograph (abbr.)

53 Fools 54 Refuses to grant 56 Blot (2 wds.)

57 Shoe leather 59 Direct

60 Isolated 62 Metal tip on the end of a ance 64 Asian nation 66 Has

67 Hat 68 Boxer Muhammad 69 Droop 70 Hotel

Word Search CLIMATE

GREEN

POLLUTION

CONSERVE

OCEANS

PROTECT

TREES

EARTH

OZONE

RECYCLE

VOLUNTEER

ENERGY

16 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

REDUCE

WATER

Answers on Page 22

CONFESSIONS OF A 30 SOMETHING

Confessions of a 30 Something

Happy Anniversary

BY LEE VOGLER PHOTO BY LEE VOGLER

Happy Anniversary, Showcase. As we celebrate fifteen years of Showcase Magazine with this issue, I thought it might be a good time to think of my own history with this company and this magazine.

I started with Showcase in the spring of 2013, just a few years out of college and not quite a year into my first term on City Council. My areas of study in college were political science and mass communications/media studies, so to be able to work in the two fields that I studied for was a welcome opportunity.

past year especially, I’ve learned to appreciate them even more. So please support these local businesses that you see in the pages of this magazine. They not only make the magazine possible, but they also make our local economy possible.

For fifteen years, Showcase has shone a light on all the great things happening in our region. I’ve had the pleasure of being on board for roughly half of those fifteen years, and I’m looking forward to many more years ahead. We’re just getting started.

The cover of Showcase is something we take a lot of pride in, and I’ve been able to be there for most of them over the last several years. Whether it was walking on the runway at the Danville airport, or standing in the middle of what was once Dan River Mills and will soon be Caesars Virginia, I’ve had the opportunity to work with our photographers on some amazing shoots.

In my eight years with Showcase, I’ve been able to meet, and work with, some amazing people, and companies.

You’ll see many of them in this very magazine. I’ve also learned a lot along the way. For the past eight years, I’ve worked for a small business and worked with hundreds more. They truly are the backbone of our economy. In the

www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 17

FEATURE BIG BEAR’S WIFE

From the Kitchen of

Big Bear’s Wife Confetti Birthday Cake Mix Cookies WRITTEN BY ANGIE BARRETT OF BIGBEARSWIFE.COM PHOTO BY ANGIE BARRETT

These fantastic Confetti Birthday Cake Mix Cookies are make using white cake mix, extra vanilla and confetti chips plus there are sprinkles mixed in. They taste just like a cookie version of funfetti icing.

PREP TIME: 10m; COOK TIME: 10m; COOL TIME: 10m; TOTAL TIME: 30m; YIELD: SERVES: 22 Cookies INGREDIENTS • 1 box white cake mix (about 18 oz) • 2 eggs • 1/2 cup vegetable oil • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1 cup confetti baking chips • 1/2 cup rainbow sprinkles INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. 2. In a bowl, mix together cake mix, eggs, oil and vanilla extract. Stir slightly.

3. Stir in 3/4 cup confetti baking chips.

4. Stir in rainbow sprinkles.

5. Mix until fully combined and thick like dough.

6. Drop 2 tablespoon sized cookie dough balls onto a prepared baking sheet. Space each cookie about 2 inches apart.

7. Press the rest of the confetti baking chips into the tops of the cookie dough balls.

8. Bake in a preheated oven for 10 minutes.

9. Remove cookies from the oven and let cool on a wire cooling rack.

18 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

PAWS FOR A CAUSE

Paws for a Cause There is a cycle of violence that involves both humans and animals. The problem of cruelty to animals is not just a problem for people who respect and care for animals.

People learn how to abuse, torture, and then ultimately kill humans by practicing on animals.

WRITTEN BY PAULETTE DEAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY

Victims of domestic violence can be reluctant to leave an abusive situation because they do not want to put a pet at the mercy of the one who abused them. Many years ago, I met a woman on an airplane that was leaving an abusive situation. She told me about her fears that her friends would not be able to save her little dog before her husband came home. Because of that experience, the City animal shelter is pleased to offer a safe haven for pets at risk when the owners leave home to enter a protection program. It is entirely confidential and free.

We received a telephone call several years ago from a woman who had witnessed a man harshly beat two puppies. When we went to his house to speak with him about it, his response was an arrogant and chilling, “I don’t beat my puppies any harder than I beat my children.”

Research and data support what is actually a matter of common sense; that is, if someone hurts an animal, they will also hurt a human.

In one case, we took two dogs from a man because he had just cut off their ears with box cutters. His girlfriend came to court and testified about how he was such a kind pet owner. Within a month, he had stabbed her to death.

In another case, a young man was accused of putting a small kitten in a mail drop box.

His mother defended him and told us what a sweet, gentle person he was. Several months later, the son killed his mother.

MEET MINNIE This young Australian cattle dog mix is about two years old. She is high energy and needs a lot of exercise.

If you know of an animal or a human at risk of domestic violence, please let them know we will help relieve their worry for the animals. There is a very real cycle of violence that affects humans and animals.

DANVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY

Demont Design www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 19

EXPLORE BLUEWAYS AND THE BLUE RIDGE: WHY A VISIT TO PHILPOTT LAKE IS A MUST

Blueways and the Blue Ridge Why a Visit to Philpott Lake is a Must

BY MALEE BAKER OOT

Cradled by the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge, Philpott Lake might just be the most spectacular body of water in Virginia. Located just northwest of the town of Martinsville, the 3,000-acre lake spreads into Franklin, Henry, and Patrick counties, framed by 7,000 acres of mixed hardwood forest.

Besides the beautiful scenery, the lake is studded with nearly a dozen parks and recreation areas, offering an enticing buffet of Blue Ridge adventures.

MILES OF PRISTINE PADDLING Philpott Lake provides paddlers 100 miles of undeveloped shoreline to explore—with the feel of pristine wilderness.

You’ll be treated to tumbling waterfalls, secluded coves, and stunning stretches of shoreline along the Philpott Lake Blueway, a 25-mile water trail linking natural wonders, boat launches, and recreation areas. The bulk of the nine

20 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

recreation areas scattered along the water trail also offer campgrounds, scenic trails, and serene swimming areas.

The Smith River Trail System, which starts just below the Philpott Dam, is also a great option for paddlers. A 44.5-mile section of the Smith River starts at Philpott Lake and travels all the way to the North Carolina border. There are 11 river access points along the scenic byway as it travels through the towns of Bassett, Stanleytown, Fieldale, Martinsville, and Ridgeway. Along the route you’ll see some impressive rock outcroppings, and during peak water generation from Philpott Dam you can enjoy whitewater rapids.

ADVENTURE OFF THE WATER The scenic land around Lake Philpott offers plenty of options for hikers, runners, and cyclists.

While paddling might be the main attraction, Philpott Lake is infused with a host of outdoor adventures. Hikers and runners can cover plenty of terrain on the 10-mile Little Mountain Trail System in the neighboring Fairy Stone State Park. Mountain bikers can head to the Jamison Mill Recreation Area, spread along the northwestern corner of the Philpott Lake. The six miles of forested single-track take off-road riders past century-old historic sites, including the original location of the namesake Jamison Mill. Meanwhile, between Philpott Lake and Martinsville, road cyclists can explore bucolic country roads framed by the peaks of the Blue Ridge, or they can ride the 6.9-mile Dick & Willie Passage, a rail-trail tracing the route of the Danville and Western Railroad. Cyclists looking to get the lay of the land can join the local Henry County Bike Club, which leads several weekly bike rides. Or plan a visit to the county’s award-winning mountain biking complex; Mountain Laurel Trails.

FISHING AND WILDLIFE Beyond the breathtaking backdrop, Philpott Lake is also a hotspot for anglers of all types. While renowned as one of the premier walleye fisheries in Virginia, the lake’s pristine waters also harbor largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, and black crappie. One highlight is trying to hook one of the lake’s legendary walleye in Runnett Bag Creek during the spring spawn. Another is night fishing: After sunset, walleye, and both largemouth and smallmouth bass congregate in the lake’s sheltered, shallow-water coves, giving anglers ample opportunity to hook a trophy fish by moonlight.

In addition to the fish lingering beneath the surface, Philpott Lake is a hotspot for a wide array of wildlife, especially birds. Belted kingfishers and lanky killdeer troll shallow stretches of shoreline, while emeraldheaded mallards are abundant throughout the lake. On dry land, the mixed forests of oak, maple, hickory, cedar, and pine are home to familiar woodland species like pileated woodpeckers, eastern bluebirds, and cedar waxwings. The woodlands surrounding the lake also provide the opportunity to spot scarcer species like ruby-throated hummingbirds, indigo bunting, and American goldfinches. There’s also a good chance you’ll spot a bald eagle, as they are increasingly common on the lake. Don’t forget the binoculars.

CAMP UNDER THE STARS At Philpott Lake, campers have a smorgasbord of options, from rustic waterfront tent sites shaded by leafy hardwoods and fragrant pine trees to family-friendly campgrounds loaded with amenities like hot showers and swimming beaches. Campsites edging Philpott Lake provide stunning views of the Milky Way after dark, and campers seeking seclusion can soak up the scenery at the lake’s Goose Point Recreation Area. For a unique experience, paddle to Deer Island to snag one of waterfront campsites accessible only by boat. Meanwhile, families after kid-friendly facilities can opt for one of the campsites at the Horseshoe Point and Salthouse Branch recreation areas.

Learn more about Philpott Lake at www.VisitMartinsville.com. www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 21

Games Solutions Continued from Page 16

Crossword Puzzle

22 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2021

| www.showcasemagazine.com

Word Search

The Ginger Bread House

“Botanical elements and patterns bring a touch of the garden indoors.”

1799 Memorial Dr., Danville, VA 24541 | 434-791-2700 | thegingerbread.com

www.showcasemagazine.com

| APRIL 2021 | SHOWCASE Magazine 23

URW