Smith Mountain Laker - January/February 2023

Margaret Crayé www.lifestyleandlake.com margaretcraye@lifestyleandlake.com

Steeling the Show

PROFILE | Steel drum players bring sounds from the Caribbean to the lake.

By Jason Dunovant

Saving Our Shores

ON THE WATER | A years-long project to stop erosion at SML Community Park will wrap up this spring. By Molly Hunter

PROFILE | An influx of Lakers has pushed local storage facilities to their max.

By Molly Hunter

Big Year

Best of s mith mountain Lake

Cat-tastrophe

ESSAY | Catherine Schlesser explains how her daughter’s sweet rescue kitten became a growing meance.

Editor Creative Designer

Patricia Carr, Kimberly Dalferes, Jason Dunovant, Catherine Schlesser, Chad Gilmore, Molly Hunter

Jason Dunovant, Molly Hunter, Scott P. Yates

Marketing Consultant

540-981-3262, office 540-797-4444, mobile barry.wright@roanoke.com

Laker Magazine welcomes story ideas, photos for our Travels and Lake Views sections, calendar items and creative works (essays, poems, paintings and photography) by local artists. Submissions must include your name and telephone number. Contact tad.dickens@roanoke.com for more information.

Free copies of Laker Magazine and Laker Weekly are available at dozens of locations around the lake region, including Kroger, Food Lion and the SML Visitor Center at Bridgewater Plaza.

Address: Westlake Professional Park, 272 Westlake Road, Suite 1, Hardy Online: smithmountainlake.com Facebook & Twitter: Laker365

©2022 The Roanoke Times. Smith Mountain Laker Magazine is a community publication solely owned by The Roanoke Times. It is published for the residents of Smith Mountain Lake and is subject to The Roanoke Times’ editorial policies. The views and opinions are those of the authors. The opinions expressed, unless otherwise noted, should not be construed to be those of The Roanoke Times or its affiliates. Lists are for reference only and do not necessarily imply approbation. Paid advertising does not represent an endorsement by this publication. Content cannot be reproduced without written consent from The Roanoke Times. All rights reserved. Real estate advertised in this publication is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968.

PHOTO: JEN CHACONAS, JOLLY JEN PHOTOGRAPHY Laker Paul Waro’s black bear pelt was featured in our July/ August 2021 issue.

Reflecting on Our Best Stuff

sT u FF, ST u FF, ST u FF. W E ’ RE ALL GATHERI n G IT

Some of us are hoarding it. For decades, the word “stuff” evoked the George Carlin routine, “A Place for My Stuff.” These days, however, it evokes a different phrase — storage space.

Just like the late Carlin did, we’re all looking for a place for our stuff. Increasingly, we’re renting space and offloading it there. The ever-growing hoard of rental spaces dots landscapes everywhere, and Smith Mountain Lake is no different.

Reporter Molly Hunter made her way around multiple locations to find out about rental spot dimensions and expansions, and she checked zoning codes to find out what lake residents can do to store their stuff at their own places.

As we find out in this issue of Laker magazine, readers like a lot of stuff. You voted on it recently, and we’re telling you what you liked in our annual Best of the Lake edition. I’m not going to spoil it here, but if you’re reading, you have already reckoned that napoli Cowboy did pretty well — after all, we’re featuring one of that Moneta restaurant’s popular dishes on the cover.

There’s foundational stuff, and then there is erosion (and yes, I am going to overuse this transition). At Smith Mountain Lake Community Park, folks noticed plenty of the latter over the years. Hunter visited with Franklin County officials to talk about their work with Appalachian Power Co. and the u.S. Army Corps of Engineers to shore up that bit of the lake’s coastline. The process

is called riprapping, and it’s almost finished. It has already helped to preserve much of the park, where boat wakes had knocked down banks.

Longtime Smith Mountain Lake promoter and leader Vicki Gardner has shown the right stuff over decades spent innovating both official (SML Chili Festival, SML Business Expo) and unofficial (Pirate Days) events that make the lake a livelier place. After years of running the SML Regional Chamber of Commerce, and later, the SML Center Inc., she has stepped back into a quieter but still important role while making time for herself. If anyone deserves that break, it’s Gardner, who was the only survivor of a horrific shooting at Bridgewater Plaza, which killed two WDBJ journalists. Jason Dunovant visited with Gardner to talk about her career at the lake.

We have a lot more stuff in this issue, including: Dunovant’s visit with the lake’s steel drum band; columnist Chad Gilmore’s look at a year of the Smith Mountain Lake Striper Club’s productive and fun doings; and a new contributor, Catherine Schlesser, wrote about a gluttonous and destructive cat at her house.

To close, we’d like to ask for you to share something for the next Laker edition. March/April is our Home and Garden issue — do you have unusual home decor or design that you’d like to share with your fellow readers? Please let me know through an email to tad.dickens@roanoke.com . Let us see your stuff.

tAD D ick EN s Editor

A deer stands alert on a frosty day at the lake.

Views Lake

Our Pot of Gold

I n H u DDLE s TO n

j E nn IFER HI n TO n captured this rainbow arcing into the lake over Huddleston, writing “SML is our pot of gold!” We couldn’t agree more, Jennifer.

Mishelle

with Color

bRE n DA cARPE n TER captured this sunrise lighting up the lake behind her home.

O n c RADDO c K c REEK

SHOW US YOUR LAKE VIEWS! h ave a photo of our stunning scenery that you’d like to share? We’d love to showcase your landscape and wildlife photos in our m arch/April issue. Photos can be of anywhere around the lake (not just the water) and must include your name, the location of the photo and a short description. Email them to tad.dickens@roanoke.com

Travelers

READER s ’ V o YAGE s BEY o ND sml  nOEL A n D bO b T HOMA s of Lynchburg and SML and cO nn IE A n D bO b L E M A s TER s from Mountain View Shores traveled together to the Westman Islands and Iceland this past September. Here they pose with Laker Magazine at Barnafoss Waterfalls.

 wALT A n D jO Ann D RO g E of Hardy celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary this past September on the Caribbean island.

 D OLLIE A n D R I c HARD K I n KEAD brought the Laker with them on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, the lowest freshwater lake in the world.

ICELAND

Iceland & Westman Islands

Curaçao Israel

SHOW US YOUR TRAVELS!

take Laker Magazine with you on your next adventure! Email your photo with a famous landmark or stunning scenery to tad.dickens@ roanoke.com s ubmissions must include where you went on your trip, the names of everyone in the photo and where you live.

Steel

Winter Flies in

g eese take a rest on a frozen patch of the lake. The lake doesn’t freeze over in the main channel, but it can happen in smaller coves.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF GRANT WELLS

Steeling the Show

steel drum players bring the music of the c arribbean to s mith m ountain l ake.

story by JA so N DUN oVAN t

tHE S oun D o F STEEL DRu MS has become a common occurrence at Smith Mountain Lake over the last decade. A dedicated group of local residents has taken up learning to play island melodies and showcasing them at events and fundraisers held around the community.

The leader of this spirited group of performers is Richard Rudolph, commonly referred to as the “Pandaddy” by the group. He introduced the steel drum sounds to the lake community and keeps coming back week after week to teach more than 30 musicians who are interested in playing the music of the Caribbean.

Rudolph can be found every Monday evening leading a group of steel drum performers at what they refer to as the “Panyard.” It is a small retail space on the back of Bridgewater Plaza the band has used as a practice location for several years.

o n a platform in the middle of the room, Rudolph keeps a beat on a standard drum kit while

PHOTOS : COURTESY OF Ski P L ARR i NGTON

Steel drum players perform at an S m L g ood Neighbors concert in 2018.

LEFT: Richard Rudolph, known by his players as the “Pandaddy,” holds classes each week at the lake.

leading performers playing five different “voicings” of steel drums he provides. The lowest is the bass, a set made from six 55-gallon oil drums. The highest are the “leads,” which often play the melodies. The “double tenors,” “guitars” and “double seconds” fill in the rhythms and harmonies.

Most members are lake residents, retired and well beyond the age they thought they would be able to learn a new instrument.

Rudolph leads two practices every Monday evening: one for the Toucan Pan band; and one for the Parrot Pan group. The Toucan Pans are players in their early learning phase. The Parrot Pan members are more advanced.

Rudolph, who owns Quest School of Music, in Roanoke, has had a lifelong

love of music. His appreciation for the steel drums came in 2000, when he and his wife attended a week-long course on the instruments at West Virginia university.

After experiencing the instrument and the music during the course, Rudolph said he and his wife decided to introduce it at their school. “We felt this would be something that would take off,” he recalled.

Rudolph played steel drums for a variety of groups, including local schools, churches and other organizations, and he provided workshops at his school. He eventually decided to bring a workshop to Trinity Ecumenical Parish, at the behest

of Jerry and Ferne Hale, on behalf of the Smith Mountain Arts Council.

Ferne Hale had heard about the steel drum band that Rudolph led in Roanoke, and the couple decided to go and watch one of the practices. “We were just blown away,” she said of attending the rehearsal.

TOp LEFT: The indentations inside a steel drum are labeled with the notes they produce.

The Hales asked Rudolph to perform at the lake. At the performance, Rudolph announced a workshop for the lake community, at Trinity Ecumenical Parish. That workshop sparked the steel drum performances at Smith Mountain Lake.

ABOVE RIGHT: Band members practice every m onday at the “panyard” at Bridgewater Plaza.

Rudolph said there is a joy in playing steel drums. Anyone who attends a workshop, which the band hosts twice a

Most of the band members are retired and well beyond the age they thought they would be able to learn a new instrument.

year in the spring and summer, are able to leave having learned to play one or more songs.

“It gives people a chance to be musical when they no longer thought they had the opportunity,” Rudolph said. “Many of our members have never played an instrument before, but they can have satisfying success as steel drum players.”

In addition to the weekly practices at Bridgewater Plaza, the Toucan Pan and Parrot Pan steel drum bands have played several events and fundraisers around the lake and beyond over the years. Rudolph said they aren’t quite sure how much money they have helped raise for various groups over the years.

“We lost count after reaching $100,000,” Rudolph said. They also refuse to take any of the donations for themselves. Each member of the steel drum bands pays an annual fee that helps them to keep their practice space and instrument upkeep.

CoVID-19 took its toll on the band, slightly reducing its membership, but a lively regular group still comes out every Monday to participate, Rudolph said. He continually adds new music to perform so practices never become stale, and he keeps things light and fun by joking with band members.

“He makes it fun,” Jerry Hale said about Rudolph. “His energy is amazing.”

Rudolph and his steel drum bands are also still attracting new members. new lake resident Mike Mahoney joined the band in August. Mahoney, a former college music major, saw it as a fun pasttime.

“It has been a blast,” Mahoney said.

In addition to learning a new instrument, he has enjoyed getting to know new people around the lake. “It never occurred to me that something like this existed here,” he said.

Mahoney praised Rudolph and the work he does teaching the steel drum bands: “Richard is amazing. He really makes it fun.”

Rudolph has spent more than 20 years teaching steel drums, with half of that at Smith Mountain Lake. He said he has no plans of calling it quits anytime soon.

At 72, Rudolph is at an age most would consider retiring. He said it is something he doesn’t even consider. He still has more to teach, from the growing number of songs in the steel drum band’s catalog.

“We’ll keep going until the engine gives out,” Rudolph said.

Steel drum players have helped raise more than $100K for various local charities.

Saving Our Shores

A years-long effort to stop shoreline erosion at sml community Park will wrap up this spring.

aYEARS - L on G PRo JECT To ADDRESS THE ERo DI n G shoreline at Smith Mountain Lake Community Park should come to a close by March.

Boat wakes have caused erosion along the park’s shoreline since it opened in 2007, particularly along the lake’s S-curves near channel marker R19, a high traffic area.

SML shoreline stabilization, or some variation thereof, has appeared on Franklin County budgets since 2008, but it wasn’t until much later that Franklin County, the Appalachian Power Company and the u.S. Army Corps of Engineers launched a truly concerted effort to remedy the problem, zeroing in on the goal of riprapping the park’s entire strand.

Riprapping, or placing rocks, is an erosion control method. The riprap covers looser sand and dirt, protecting it from water and wind that would otherwise carry it away.

Before the riprap, the shore looked ragged, erosion having undercut the banks to reveal tangled root systems on top of soil and sand cliffs. Sediment muddied the waters and the lake’s edge was creeping up on the park’s perimeter trail.

story by mollY h UN t ER | photos courtesy of F RAN kli N c o UN t Y PAR ks AND R E c REAtio N

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Large rocks, called riprap, help control erosion along the shoreline.

losing land the longer this was delayed. If this wasn’t done, eventually acres could be lost,” Chapman said.

Starting in 2016, the riprapping effort focused on the section of the park hit hardest by wakes and with the worst erosion. Crews built riprap as high as 17 feet along the strand near the park’s pier, covering about 500 linear feet of shoreline.

“The shoreline we did there was the most severely eroded section. It was tons [of material] per linear foot,” Chapman said.

In 2018, the county knocked out another 1,000 linear feet.

Then, in April 2021, the Franklin County Board of Supervisors awarded Lakeside Marina a contract to riprap the remaining 5,800 linear feet. Much of that stretch is already complete and only required riprap 2 to 3 feet high, but some parts of the final 1,300 linear feet may require riprap as tall as 10 feet.

“It’s probably the most hidden section of the park but it’s not going to be easy where it’s only a couple feet high.

“If it’s essentially a cliff, they can’t just put two feet [of rock] at the bottom,” Franklin County Director of Parks and Recreation Paul Chapman said. “The cliff will just fall down and it’ll be dangerous. So they build a … slope.”

In riprapped areas, those sloping rock piles now brace the bank and bear the brunt of the waves caused by watercraft. In areas where the natural slope is sustainable, the county leaves the shoreline alone to preserve natural points of water access.

“The water is clear and more accessible. … If you’re a resident that lives nearby, you’re not looking at some undermined stream banks. on top of that, this is public property that was literally eroding away. We were literally

LEFT: Workers place large rocks riprap along the shore at Smith m ountain Lake Community Park in 2021. BELOW: Shoreline before and after riprapping in 2016.

BEFORE AFTER

It’s going to be pretty substantial,” Chapman said.

normally, the county would complete the remaining 1,300 feet gradually, dedicating several thousand dollars to it annually and spreading the cost over several years. There’s a sense of urgency, though, because the county’s permit from the u.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expiring soon.

“As the board knows, several years ago the county of course developed the Smith Mountain Lake Community Park,” Franklin County Administrator Chris

Whitlow said nov. 22 during a Franklin County Board of Supervisors meeting. “That park has a lot of shoreline in it. … Previous boards have invested a lot of funds there to stabilize that shoreline, because from the wakes in Smith Mountain Lake that shoreline was continually eroding. … The catch here is we have secured, through March 2023, a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. In March 2023, that permit expires.”

Without a permit, the riprapping cannot continue.

“I am told by parks and recreation

staff … that it could take two or three years to re-secure a permit and cost us thousands of dollars in engineering costs,” Whitlow said nov. 22.

To avoid the extra cost of prolonging the project, the supervisors at that meeting approved spending $250,000 to riprap the rest of the park coast before the permit expires.

“If we lose that Army Corps of Engineers [permit] and it’s going to turn around and cost us X amount of dollars, we’ve just thrown that money out the window,” Board Chairman and Boone District Supervisor Ronnie Thompson said.

The $250,000 was funded from the county’s unassigned fund balance reserve. Including that amount, the county has spent about $1 million to stabilize the park’s shoreline — and that’s not counting engineering and design costs.

“And [the shoreline] will change,” Chapman said. “Almost a year later we’ll have a number of large trees fall in and not only do you have to pay for the trees to be removed, but then these trees create these big cavities that have to be filled, so it’s a double whammy.”

$1 million seems like a big number, but it has been spread out over nearly a decade, and the county’s approach has been relatively frugal.

“Estimating a shoreline job like this is so difficult. … We had some initial estimates ... and people were talking about it being $2 to $3 million. … We’ve done this for less than half of that,” Chapman said.

Chapman said the project has also been rewarding because of the immediate positive impact.

“People who walk the … perimeter trail that goes around the whole park, or people who like to fish or go look at the water … would see this job being done and go, ‘oh my gosh, this looks amazing,’ just raving about it,” Chapman said. “It’s kind of hard to get excited — at first glance you’re just putting rocks on the shoreline — but when you go there and see you it, it’s completely changed the character of that park. … It’s one of those projects that’ll be here forever.”

The sloping rock piles brace the bank and bear the brunt of the waves caused by watercraft.

More to Store

i n influx of new lakers are packing self-storage facilities to the max.

wo R k SH o P, H o ME

garage, she-shed, storage building — Smith Mountain Lake residents may have a lot of uses for a private garage or accessory building.

Prefabricated storage buildings are one solution, but they may require more space than lake residents have, especially after allowing for the required setbacks and buffers. With that in mind, more residents may be turning to self-service storage facilities to meet their needs.

A number of self-storage facilities around the lake offer various amenities and sizes, among them Lakewood MiniStorage, All Size Storage, SML Mini Warehouse, Bolt Storage, Gretna Self-Storage and Storage City Self Storage in Penhook.

Many such facilities may not have openings, though. The demand for units

has been so great that locally owned and operated Lakewood Mini-Storage is planning to expand.

Richard Farris helps his mother, Shirley Farris, run Lakewood Mini-Storage, which is located in Franklin County near the intersection of Lakwood Forest Road and Palm Drive.

“She takes pride in the fact that a lot of her customers know her by name and they will brag on how much she makes she sure that, if someone moves in, everything is clean,” Richard Farris said. “If it’s not clean, they’re not moving in.”

Right now, Lakewood Mini-Storage boasts roughly 160 units, with about 15 of them are climate-controlled. They range in size from 5-by-10-foot to 10-by30 foot, with a handful of outside parking spaces for vehicles.

“Summertime is usually the busier

time. … We have numerous people who will come in to build a house and they have to have a place to store their stuff for a short period of time while they’re building a house,” Richard Farris said.

Even in late november, they only had two units available, he added: “That’s why we’ve decided to expand onto the land available adjacent to us.”

He said his mother plans to add 30 more units — some climate-controlled, some not — on a lot directly east of Lakewood Mini-Storage. The new units will range from 10-by-10-foot to 10-by30-foot.

Meanwhile, lake area property owners still interested in adding a storage shed or garage to their property should become familiar with Franklin County’s zoning code.

The code considers prefabricated storage buildings, or pre-built storage sheds, to be accessory structures, which are allowed in most zoning districts. According to the code, an accessory structure is “a subordinate structure located on the same lot as the principal use, and the use of which is customarily associated with and incidental to the principal use.”

story and photos by mollY h UN t ER

AROUND THE LAKE

Lakewood m ini Storage in m oneta is planning to expand amid a rise in demand for extra space.

Most zoning districts also allow private garages — which can only store personal vehicles — by right. Franklin County’s zoning code defines a private garage as an accessory building “designed or used for the storage of automobiles owned and used by the occupants of the building to which it is accessory.”

Importantly, there’s a distinction between a private garage and what the county considers a “principle” garage.

“[The principle garage zoning ordinance] was written for people that had large lots that wanted a place to be able to store personal items, whether it was for … their crafts and woodwork or they had cars they wanted to work on or they had lawn equipment they wanted to store, or tractors and stuff, to maintain the large lot,” Franklin County Planning Director Lisa Cooper said. “We found out a lot of people wanted this type of structure until they built the house so that’s why the board of supervisors decided to do the garage, principle and put some limitations on it.”

The code states that “a future detached residential use on the lot shall designate the garage, principle, as a garage, private.” As that implies, the code generally allows private garages and accessory structures in most zoning districts, but in residential areas they must be located on the same lot as a home. The county’s zoning ordinances outline other restrictions — including maximum structure size and the minimum required distance around them — which vary depending on how a piece of property is zoned.

Figuring out how their property is zoned is any resident’s first step in determining what they can build and the restrictions that apply to them. They can get an idea by searching a property address or owner’s name at gis. franklincountyva.gov/compviewer and checking the lot’s property card.

Property owners in the non-zoned portion of Franklin County don’t need to worry about zoning-based restrictions, but projects in all parts of the county require the necessary land use and building permits. Some properties may also be subject to deed restrictions, which vary on a case-by-case basis.

One Big Year

t he s mith m ountain striper c lub worked to improve the angler experience through innovations and outreach in 2022.

tHE SMITH MounTAIn STRIPER CLuB (SMSC) IS ALIVE AnD WELL.

After about a year-and-a-half CoVID pause, the club resumed in-person meetings in September 2021. When the calendar turned to 2022, the SMSC began to evolve into a community outreach group with a special focus on providing the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources with more data for better management of the lake’s striped bass fishery.

The striper club had meetings in January, February and March that focused on fishing and lake-specific information. The January meeting was a special presentation on boat electronics and how to use the technology to find fish.

Capt. Weston Hartman was the keynote presenter and offered ideas and tips on how to get the most from your electronics.

February and March were both presentations by the wildlife resources department. The February presentation focused on the hatchery in Brookneal and the process of collecting fish for spawning, hatching the eggs and growing the hatch into fingerlings that will eventually be stocked in the lake in June. Mike Gafford oversees the hatchery operation in Brookneal.

The March meeting drew the largest turnout of the year. Dan Wilson, fish biologist with Virginia DWR, compiles the data from the previous year and presents to the SMSC. This presentation is very informative and gives anglers an opportunity to ask questions about the

by guest columnist ch AD G ilmo RE

REEL ADVENTURES

Reel Connections for Kids, held in June, paired children from underserved backgrounds with professional fishing guides.

state of the fishery. Club members gave other presentations throughout the year, offering their tips and tricks for successful striped bass outings.

Improved data collection

The data that the DWR uses in its assessment of the lake’s striped bass fishery comes from two major sources.

The first source: angler journals kept by striped bass anglers each time they go out on the water. Anglers are asked to log the date, the number of hours fished, the number of anglers, the number of fish harvested, the lengths of fish harvested, the number of fish released and the sizes of the fish released.

Previously, the only way to submit an angler journal was with a handwritten log book turned in at year’s end. In an effort to make the process easier and to encourage more data collection, SMSC created a digital Striped Bass Angler Journal that can be completed on any computer or smartphone. The digital form takes less than a minute to complete and is already making an impact.

The second data source comes from examining striped bass bones. The fish’s length and age (determined by rings on the otolith bone, located directly behind the brain) help biologists determine if the fish are growing

at their expected rate.

Fish heads are gathered by individual anglers and by DWR during their gill net surveys in the fall. overall, the SMSC helped DWR process more than 225 fish heads during the 2022 calendar year. The SMSC purchased a freezer and placed it at Indian Pointe Marina for fish head collection. SMSC member Gary Harrison was instrumental in this project.

Volunteer work

Club members volunteered their time and expertise at several community events in 2022.

For the first time the SMSC hosted a month-long fishing contest among its members. The contest was held in April and the goal was to encourage members to get out and fish while also making it a habit to complete Striped Bass Angler Journal entries. The contest was hosted by smlfishfinder.com, and the SMSC would like to thank nathan Carroll for his efforts.

In June, members provided food at the SML Youth Day at SML State Park. Also in june, the SMSC held its own community outreach event, Reel Connections for kids. This event paired children from underserved backgrounds with professional striped bass guides here on the lake. The kids were treated to a beautiful morning catching fish with

an experienced guide, snacks on the boat and breakfast when they returned from fishing. Each child left with their own fishing rod and tackle box equipped with gear. ken Britske and kevin Bugg were the main organizers, and many club members volunteered their time to ensure this event was a huge success.

The SMSC also assisted DWR with striped bass fingerling stocking in late May/early June and at the gill net surveys conducted in october and november. The club also hosted an in-water boat and tackle show in october at the Bridgewater Condo docks. Members and community residents were able to talk fishing and see how others fish.

If you would like to be involved with Reel Connections for kids and the Smith Mountain Striper Club please email smsc@smithmountainstriperclub.com or chad.gilmore72@gmail.com.

c had g ilmore is the president of t he s mith m ountain s triper c lub.

For More on Striper Fishing

 t he s mith m ountain s triper c lub holds regular meetings featuring guest speakers who explore fishing strategies, equipment, conservation, biology and more. m ore information can be found at smithmountainstriperclub.com or by joining the club. m embership information is available on the website.

Cat-tastrophe

A daughter’s sweet rescue kitten has become a growing menace.

pH o EBE … A FAT CAT. FATTY k I n S , Bilbo Swaggins, Phoebe the Hut. All disparaging names my husband and I have given Phoebe while housing, feeding and, yes, loving her.

My daughter, a true fan of the ever-popular “Friends” sitcom, was in graduate school last fall in Charlottesville when she rescued the kitten off the streets. She was about 6 weeks old and was an adorable kitten, as they all are. Phoebe, her toys, her litter box, her blanket and her carrier all came to our Smith Mountain Lake home last Thanksgiving for a ‘visit’. My son was the first to see real-

ity. He warned us as soon as my daughter showed up with Phoebe in tow. “She’ll never leave,” he said. “Welcome to your new pet,” he said. ours is an old tale and one that I never imagined would happen to us. other people’s children adopted animals and then pawned them off on their parents. I am ready as a repository for clothes and furniture; but our daughter is responsible and an animal lover … she would never just get tired of a cat once the kitten stage was over.

This isn’t Phoebe, but the antagonistic energy is spot on.

Essay by cAth ER i NE s chl E ss ER

I understand that the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are short for a college student. Sure, we’ll keep her until January. oh, you haven’t had her spayed yet? ok, we’ll take care of it. But when my daughter went back to school for the new semester, there was some lame excuse about the roommate’s dog and Phoebe not getting along, exactly. What?! ok, I had to admit that the situation was looking grim. Maybe my son was right.

Gradually, as Phoebe grew, her once-cute kitten ways began to terrorize our once-content household. She stalked and mauled with frequency our fragile, 14-year-old Siamese cat while commandeering the cat food. our beloved, elderly, 70-pound bird dog — whom we had ever-so-lovingly persuaded to not to chase this newcomer — got too close to Fatty and spent six weeks in a cone of shame after sweety kitty tore into his ear. I’m still cleaning the blood from crevices in our kitchen. Two vet visits and $400 later, this temporary situation was quickly becoming unacceptable. She ruined our new couch with her insatiable desire to claw everything in sight. She knocked over plants on a daily basis. She broke one of my great grandmother’s vases.

As the list of transgressions grows (along with the scratches on our hands and arms), so has Phoebe’s stomach. She eats so much more than our petite Siamese. In less than a year, Phoebe became undeniably fat. Her head and limbs are all of normal size, but her stomach hangs from her as if she had two dozen kittens in there. Spoiler alert: she is not pregnant, just fleshy. We tried to keep her from the food, but anyone with more than one pet knows that this is all but impossible. And as her weight increases, so does the activity in the litter box. Hence, my husband purchased an additional one, and we’ve had to up our game, resolving to clean the box-of-stench with much more regularity. I’m not sure if our house smells the same anymore. Is the cat box odor pervasive?

In a vain attempt to address Phoebe’s girth, we acquiesced and ordered an automatic feeder and began feeding Blanche, the Siamese, up on the counter. now we’re those people who let their cats on the same surface where food is prepared. This is insane. When Fatso realized she couldn’t coax anymore food out of us, she began eating the dog food. There really

is no stopping her. While we love this interloper, we do not relish her games of hide-and-swat everytime we attempt to climb the stairs. While Blanche positions herself respectfully at the foot of our bed at night as a gentle companion, Phoebe bounds onto the bed quite demonstratively and then rudely climbs up one of us demanding to be petted while licking and biting us weirdly at the same time.

one chilly fall morning, heavy with reverie, I was busily resenting her previous owner — that’s what I now call my daughter — watching this teenage cat become enamored with the falling leaves outside. She waddled up and down the bed, ‘chasing’ the leaves through the window. Her still beautiful markings were striking next to the red and orange autumn colors outside. I turned on my phone and recorded her, then sent the video to my husband, son and daughter. “Just watching the leaves,” I captioned. This is not the turning point where I realize I cannot part from this animal. Sure, she had some redeeming qualities. nevertheless, she has to go.

As the new year has come and gone with its ephemeral resolutions, our daughter has graduated and is searching for an apartment in Roanoke. She has assured us Phoebe and her growing amount of toys and scratching posts will soon make the exit trip we are hoping for. In the meantime, the cat remains a menace. There is a small light at the end of this tunnel; we just hope that the light isn’t a pair of green eyes staring at us for the next 10 to 15 years.

She stalked and mauled our fragile, 14-year-old Siamese. She tore the ear of our beloved, elderly bird dog. After we bought an automatic feeder, she just ate the dog food.

Catherine Schlesser is a high school English teacher in Roanoke and has taught language Arts for twenty years. catherine and her husband, scott — the manager of crystal shores marina — have been smith mountain lake residents since 2015. she has one son at James madison University and a daughter, a graduate of UVa catherine enjoys boating, all lake and water activities, writing and spending time with her pets.

Mountain Muse

PAINTIN g S

Making Art ‘a Part of every Day’

by PAt R ici A c ARR

Editor’s note: Patricia Carr won the 2022 Smith Mountain Arts Council Annual Art Show. Here, she tells her story.

i’VE BEEn MAkInG ART ALL MY life: from elementary school art with my itinerate art/music teacher through high school and private art classes. I’ve shown my work at Lynchburg College, Hollins university and university of Virginia; the Sidewalk Art Show, the Bower Center, Floyd Center for the Arts and Alleghany Highlands Art Center; national and international exhibitions; local and regional art shows; and the Market Gallery in downtown Roanoke.

I taught elementary and high school art for Roanoke County Schools for 43 years, concluding with five years at the Burton Center for the Arts. These Advanced Placement art students inspired me to learn along with them, explore new media and techniques, and open my eyes to all the possibilities for self expression. My career in watercolor painting began with a uVA course with international artist katherine Chang Liu, so I could better teach that medium. It has since grown into my own personal style.

over the years, the challenge of entering juried competitions and themed exhibitions has provided stimuli for working in different formats, media and compositions. Journaling and writing about experiences and my observations is an important part of my creative process. I constantly add to my long list of themes and phrases that spark visual images and challenge me to “make art a part of every day!” often, I begin with

a broad concept, leading to a series of many pieces in various solutions to that concept. For example, in my last Two-Person Exhibit, “EARTHSCAPE,” at the Alleghany Highlands Arts Center, I explored my respect and reverence for nature through several media and subjects. I keep photographic files of many subjects — manmade and natural objects — and then search for the best medium and expressive way to present my ideas. In this one exhibit, I used watercolor on paper and on ges-

soed panels, ink and pencil drawing on wood, rusted paper cut-outs, twigs and embroidery thread, calligraphy, recycled metals and bookmaking.

The watercolor painting “Hopechest” was created from an archived photograph taken at a flea market 30-plus years ago. The original scene included people in the background and stacks of items on tables with the hanging fabric only a small part of the overall clutter. Focusing just on the simplicity of the linens made a more dramatic composition.

The painting challenge was in creating the “aged antique white fabrics” without using white paint — relying on the white of the Arches paper and painting the illusion of lace and folded fabric using tints and subtle hues. Being aware of details and observing the relationship of one part to another, I then decided to contrast the linens with a dark background without using black paint.

I live on the side of a mountain in Southwest Roanoke County, where I’m grateful for and inspired by my love for the natural world we share. A walk in the woods sparks my passion for collecting nature’s wondrous creations. I observe the distinct marking of a feather; look at the amazing textures on a piece of lichen; marvel at the changing colors of a fallen leaf; study the pattern of a turtle’s abandoned shell; understand the intricacies of a bird’s nest. The harmony and beauty of our environment is forever evolving and should be treasured and preserved. Making art has become my venue for environmental advocacy.

I continue to exhibit my art in local and regional exhibits and shows, where I have been honored with more than 70 awards. My works are in many public and private collections including the Roanoke City Permanent Art Collection at Virginia Western Community College, opole Poland Town Center, Roanoke Gas Company and Tetra Inc.

Patricia c arr’s current artwork can be viewed at the m arket Gallery, 22 c ampbell Ave. s .E., in downtown Roanoke, Wednesday through s unday and on the gallery’s website.

SHARE YOUR MOUNTAIN MUSE! Are you a literary or visual artist or know someone who is? We’d love to feature your writing, photography, sculptures or paintings in Laker Magazine . Email tad.dickens@roanoke.com with your original artwork and a short description of yourself.

A selection of Patricia Carr’s works (clockwise from opposite page): Tangled, Colors of White and Touched by Time.

Best of Smith Mountain Lake

Smith Mountain Lake has seen a big influx of new residents and vacationers during the last few years, and as the lake's popularity grows, local businesses have kept the jewel of the Blue Ridge shining. Ahead are your favorite places to eat, shop, work and play at the lake.

Thank you to all who voted, and Congratulations to the Winners!

YOUR FAVES

Best Electrician

Best

Best Financial Planner

Best Hearing Center

Best Heating and A/C

Best Home Builder

Best Insurance Agent

Best Interior Design

Best

Best Place to Work

Best Place to Work Out

Best Real Estate Agent

Best Real Estate Company

Best Real Estate Team

Best Skin Care or Day Spa

Best Sandwich/Burger

Best Seafood

Best Steak

Best Winery

Best Wings

Best Local Music Act

W: Christian Q & The Groove

F: Mended Fences

F: Tate Tuck

Best Place for a Kid/ Family Outing

W: Bridgewater Plaza

F: Smith Mountain Lake State Park

F: Booker T. Washington National Monument

Best Place to Hear Live Music

W: Mango’s Bar & Grill

F: Mitchell’s Restaurant and Pizzeria

F: The Coves at Smith Mountain Lake

Best Place to Meet New People

W: Bridgewater Plaza

F: Mango’s Bar & Grill

F: Hot Shots Bar and Grill

Best Place to Play Golf

W: Mariners Landing Country Club

F: The Waterfront Country Club

F: Copper Cove Golf Club

Best Place to Take a Vistor

W: Bridgewater Plaza

F: Smith Mountain Lake State Park

F: Booker T. Washington National Monument

Best Place to Watch a Sunset

W: Mitchells’s Point Marina

F: The Copper Kettle Co.

F: The Pointe at Mariners Landing

Best Vacation Retreat (Hotels, Resorts, Rental Properties)

W: Lake Retreat Rental Properties

F: Bernard’s Landing Resort

F: Mariners Landing

Vicki g ardner stands behind the bar on her dock in g oodview earlier this year. She painted the mural behind her.

RIGHT : g ardner talks with Lakers at a holiday open house in m oneta in 2016.

Spl sh still making a a

written by JA so N DUN oVAN t

For nearly two decades at the helm of the chamber of commerce, Vicki Gardner led a time of major growth at the lake, and she remains one of its biggest advocates.

VICkI GARDnER HAS WoRkED DILIGEnTLY FoR THE PAST

20 years to showcase what is great about Smith Mountain Lake and is likely due some credit for its massive growth during that time.

Gardner became executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2002. It was a job she only expected to take for a few months, but those months would stretch into a couple of decades — years filled with several triumphs as well as hardships.

Gardner, from Cayuga Lake in new York, started her career as a cosmetologist. By 18, she had purchased a beauty salon, and for years after she successfully ran

the business.

Gardner admits that she didn’t even question if she would succeed. “When I was young, it never occurred to me that I could fail,” she said.

A few years later she married Tim Gardner and the two moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and later to Houston, Texas. one of her jobs during that time was as an employment counselor.

PHOTOS b Y THE ROANO k E T im ES, F LE

After g ardner and her husband, Tim (right) settled at Smith m ountain Lake, she took a significant pay cut to help out the then-struggling chamber for six months. She stayed on for nearly 17 years. “Once I was there, I just loved it,” she said.

After the oil market collapsed in the 1980s, jobs in Houston started drying up, and they began looking elsewhere for opportunities. Gardner recalled going to a library and researching places with a lake like where she grew up, along with mountains and a good education system for their children.

“Smith Mountain Lake made the list,” Gardner said. “Then we got here and just fell in love.”

Gardner’s career in marketing blossomed when she arrived at Smith Mountain Lake. She was first hired as marketing director for Stone Manor Golf Course. She later took a job as marketing director for Williams Supply in Roanoke before eventually taking a position as national marketing director for a steakhouse chain.

The steakhouse job involved a lot of traveling, Gardner said. Some mornings she would have to wake up as early as 3 a.m. to make a flight for work. The long hours led her to look at other options that would keep her closer to home.

It was around that time that Gardner heard of an opening at the SML Regional Chamber of Commerce. She didn’t even consider taking the job at first. It was a significant pay cut from the six-figure

salary of her previous job.

Despite her apprehension, Gardner said she looked into the chamber and saw it was struggling and in need of help. She decided to take on the job for six months to help get it back on track.

“once I was there, I just loved it,” she said.

gARD n ER ’ S FIRST DAY AS executive director was Aug. 26, 2002. The date has a coincidental significance with other major milestones in her life. It was also the same date in 2015 when she was seriously injured in a shooting at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta that took the lives of WDBJ (Channel 7) journalists Adam Ward and Alison Parker. In 2019, it marked her final day as the chamber’s executive director.

During her time at the chamber, Gardner worked to bring in more events to showcase Smith Mountain Lake. She started the lake’s popular chili festival, which helped to extend the tourist season into november. She also created the annual business expo that showcased lake businesses just before the start of the tourist season in early May.

In her first three years, Gardner

increased chamber membership from 200 to 625. That number increased to more than 800 members in the following years, until the recession hit following the 2008 housing market crash.

Smith Mountain Lake took a significant hit during the recession with several local businesses closing their doors. During that time, Gardner continued to move the chamber and the community forward.

As the lake community was climbing out of the recession in 2012, Gardner started one of the lake’s most popular events. Pirate Days was an idea Gardner originally brought to local businesses after hosting pirate-themed weekends at her own home for several years.

Pirate Days started on the dock of Gardner’s home in Goodview. It began as a fun weekend Gardner and her husband planned with their grandchildren.

While it was never a chamber-sponsored event, Gardner took the idea to several businesses as something to bring in visitors in late July, following the Independence Day rush. It took some time for the new event to take hold, but in recent years it has become one of the lake’s most popular events, spreading to businesses as well as family docks.

“It just hasn’t stopped growing,” Gardner said. Several area businesses recently reported that they now see the most traffic on the third weekend of July, when Pirate Days is typically scheduled.

Another project for Gardner was to literally put Smith Mountain Lake on

g ardner was recognized by the g eneral Assembly in January, 2016, after she was wounded in a shooting at Bridgewater Plaza that took the lives of WDBJ (Channel 7) journalists Adam Ward and Alison Parker.

the map at the Virginia Tourism Council. The council had the lake divided into three regions. Gardner said in maps of each of the regions, the lake looked like a small river since only a partial section was shown.

After years of pushing in Richmond, in 2015 Gardner finally was able to move Smith Mountain Lake into one region. The Virginia Tourism Council’s new region was named Virginia Mountains, which fully showcased the lake.

It was also in 2015 that Gardner began her involvement with the long-proposed Smith Mountain Lake Center — a community space for education, arts, entertainment, private events, business and tourism. Her first meeting about the center was that Aug. 25, just a day before the tragic shooting that delayed plans, but became a point of support during her recovery.

Supporters donated thousands of dollars to help Gardner during her grueling recovery. She created the Vicki’s Vision fund, using the donations to work toward creating the SML Center.

gARD n ER RET u R n ED to the chamber in February of 2016, but she said her injuries prevented her from working with her previous intensity. She admitted that she likely returned too early, hiding an ostomy bag, back brace, bone growth simulator and several bandages under her clothing during that time as her body recovered.

In the years following the shooting, Gardner started writing a book documenting her experiences. She wants to use her experience to help others see the positive side of a tragedy.

“While there is nothing humorous in the shooting, there is a good deal of humor in the book,” she said.

Gardner admitted she also had to face some of the darker parts of that day as well to accurately describe everything that happened. That included learning more about the shooter himself.

“At first I felt the less I knew about him, the better,” Gardner said. She considered not including anything about him before later deciding it was neces-

sary to provide a fuller picture of what happened.

She learned about his hatred and rage against WDBJ and journalists Ward and Parker. She happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time when he finally decided to act on his anger that day.

Gardner recalled a portion of the shooter’s manifesto that stated: “I am a powder keg ready to go boom.”

“It changed my life,” Gardner said of the shooting.

gG ARD n ER C on TI nu ED working for a few more years, but doctors ordered her to step down after they scheduled a second major back surgery scheduled. Her retirement began on Aug. 26, 2019. The date marked exactly 17 years as executive director.

She has not stopped promoting Smith Mountain Lake, even in retirement. She became president of the

Pirate Days, a beloved annual tradition, started on Gardner’s dock in Goodview.

Gardner said.

While work will continue, Gardner said she will be stepping down from her role as president of the organization. She plans to take a smaller role that will allow her time to continue such hobbies as gardening, painting and completing her book. She put the book on hold for the past year while she was president of SML Center Inc.

SML Center Inc. for more than a year, working toward the organization’s goal to create a multipurpose center for the lake community.

The organization identified the Grand Home Furnishings building in Westlake as a possible site for the center, but retailer Rock outdoors bought the building in november.

Gardner said SML Center Inc. is undeterred and will soon begin searching for a new location

“We are just going to have to find the next opportunity that makes sense,”

Gardner has written shorter articles in recent months. She is a regular contributor to Laker Magazine and had a piece in the December issue.

In addition to her work with SML Center Inc., Gardner will also continue as vice chair for the Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, and as a Bedford County Economic Development Authority board member.

Through it all, Gardner plans to continue her support of economic development in the Smith Mountain Lake region.

media

JAN. 1

The First Day hike at Smith m ountain Lake State Park is a great way to get your new year started off on the right foot.

Fresh start

s hake off your cabin fever with a cool New Year’s Day hike and hot music acts coming to the h arvester.

compiled by ch R isti NA koom EN

January

1 | Sunday

First Day Hike and Open House: Do you have a bad case of “cabin fever?” m eet at the s mith m ountain l ake state Park Visitor center parking lot to get the new year off on the right foot. the Discovery center will be open after our First Day h ike. s mith m ountain l ake state Park. 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. hike; 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. open house. Free . 540-297-6066

4 | Wednesday

wonderful wednesdays: All are welcome to join us for these weekly fellowship evenings, which start with dinner at 5:50 p.m. followed by music and group discussions. Nursery care provided. Registration requested: bethlehemunitedmethodist.org.

Bethlehem United m ethodist church, 13586 s o ld m oneta Road, m oneta. 5:50 p.m. Free. 540-297-7957

Texas Hold’em Poker n ights: Join us every Wednesday night for two games of texas h old’em. the restaurant and bar will remain open for general customers on poker nights.

n ote: t he events listed here were scheduled when this issue went to press. h owever, it is best to confirm the date and time of these events with the specific venues before venturing out.

Beacon s eafood Pub, 3619 Airport Road, m oneta. 6 and 8 p.m. Free to play. stacy Bresson, 540-297-7399, Vadaremarina@gmail.com

5 | Thursday

computer 101 class: s martphone Basics. learn common terminology, the basic functions of a smartphone (Android and Apple), and resources for further instruction. m oneta library, 13641 m oneta Road, m oneta. 1 to 2 p.m. Free. 540-425-7004

Al-anon Meeting: We meet every thursday to share experience, strength and hope for families and friends of those struggling with alcohol use. Bethlehem United m ethodist church, 13586 s o ld m oneta Road, m oneta . 7 to 8 p.m. Free. 540-4843929

Thursday n ight Texas Hold’em Poker: Fun, easy, no-threat poker games every thursday. All skill levels

welcome — we will help you learn. two games per night. Please arrive early. h ot s hots Family Restaurant, 13360 Booker t. Washington h ighway, m oneta. 6 and 8 p.m. Free. Richard m illar, rhmillar@gmail.com, text 703819-0157

11 | Wednesday

V i R t UA l

Franklin county connects: Each month a guest speaker presents vital info regarding the Franklin county business community. Receive sml chamber of commerce updates, meet and network with other members and have an opportunity to share information about your business. o nline. 9 to 10 a.m. No cost specified. business.visitsmithmountainlake.com/ events

14 | Saturday

Homegrown Music s eries: twin creeks stringband brings a compelling combination of spirited string band dance numbers with classic song repertoire. All-ages show. Doors open at 6 p.m. h arvester Performance center, 450 Franklin st., Rocky m ount. 7 p.m. $10 general admission. harvester-music.com

23 | Monday

b lue Ridge s oil and water conservation District b oard Meeting: o ur mission is coordinating the region’s natural resource interests by educating and providing technical assistance to the citizens within. the 10-member Board of Directors meets on the fourth m onday of each month. m eetings are open to the public. i ppy’s Restaurant, 1760 N. m ain st., Rocky m ount. 5 p.m. Free. Renee Fulcher, rfulcher@brswcd.org, 540-352-3322

26 | Saturday

b edford Area chamber of commerce 2023 n ew Member s howcase: celebrate a new year and our new members at this mini-expo! s ee products and services available from our newest members while networking with area business professionals. the Bower center, 305 N. Bridge st., Bedford. 5 to 7 p.m. No cost specified. kayla Walker, marketing@baccva.org

Plenty to Do: Find more events in Laker Weekly and online at smithmountainlake.com

Ace Frehley from KIss

FEB. 3

26 | Saturday

s ML connects Roadshow: Join us for coffee and refreshments courtesy of our host, s mith m ountain l ake Association. this event provides a structured and supportive networking environment for chamber members. sml A, 400 s cruggs Road, s uite 2100, m oneta. 9 to 10 a.m. No cost specified. info@visitsmithmountainlake.com

27 | Friday

c ash u nchained: this band has toured all over the United states bringing the sights and sounds of “the m an in Black,” Johnny c ash. Doors open at 7 p.m. h arvester Performance center, 450 Franklin st., Rocky m ount. 8 p.m. $27 to $37. harvester-music.com

31 | Tuesday

Lucero: s ince forming in m emphis in the late 1990s, lucero has evolved and embraced everything from s outhern rock to m emphis soul. Doors open at 7 p.m. h arvester Performance center, 450 Franklin st., Rocky m ount. 8 p.m. $47 to $67. harvester-music.com

Ongoing

storywalk: the Franklin county Public library’s storyWalk at s ummit View is an outdoor trail open every day. stories change seasonally. Pleasant Breeze Drive, off U. s . 220 s outh, Rocky m ount. Available daily, weather permitting. Free. 540-483-3098, opt. 1

February 1 | Wednesday

wonderful wednesdays: All are welcome to join us for these weekly fellowship evenings, which start with dinner at 5:50 p.m. followed by music and group discussions. Nursery care provided. Registration requested: bethlehemunitedmethodist.org. Bethlehem United m ethodist church, 13586 s . o ld m oneta Road, m oneta. 5:50 p.m. Free. 540-297-7957

Texas Hold’em Poker n ights: Join

us every Wednesday night for two games of texas h old’em. the restaurant and bar will remain open for general customers on poker nights. Beacon s eafood Pub, 3619 Airport Road, m oneta. 6 and 8 p.m. Free to play. stacy Bresson, 540-297-7399, vadaremarina@gmail.com

2 | Thursday

computer 101 class: Digital Photos 101. Get tips for organizing, backing up and editing photos, including taking them from your phone or camera to your computer. m oneta library, 13641 m oneta Road, m oneta. 1 to 2 p.m. Free. 540-425-7004

Al-anon Meeting: We meet every thursday to share experience, strength and hope for families and friends of those struggling with alcohol use. Bethlehem United m ethodist church, 13586 s o ld m oneta Road, m oneta. 7 to 8 p.m. Free. 540-4843929

Thursday n ight Texas Hold’em

Poker: Fun, easy, no-threat poker games every thursday. All skill levels welcome — we will help you learn. two games per night. Please arrive early. h ot s hots Family Restaurant, 13360 Booker t. Washington hwy., m oneta. 6 and 8 p.m. Free. Richard m illar, rhmillar@gmail.com, text 703-819-0157

3 | Friday

Ace Frehley: classic rock hits from the original kiss guitarist and Rock & Roll h all of Fame inductee. Doors open at 7 p.m. h arvester Performance center, 450 Franklin st., Rocky m ount. 8 p.m. $67 general reserved. harvestermusic.com

8 | Wednesday

V i R t UA l

Franklin county connects: Each month a guest speaker presents vital info regarding the Franklin county business community. Receive sml chamber of commerce updates, meet and network with other members and have an opportunity to share information about your business. o nline. 9 to 10 a.m. No cost specified. business.visitsmithmountainlake.com/ events

11 | Saturday

Homegrown Music s eries: o pen jam from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; intermission 6:30 to 7 p.m. (food truck available; this is a no-alcohol event); band 7 to 9 p.m. Rocky m ount Depot. Free for jam; $5 for band (children 12 and under free). 540-489-0948

23 | Thursday

b ig Head Todd and The Monsters: Glide m agazine says the band’s music “radiate[s] a sense of optimism and purpose.” Fixtures on the bar circuit, the band cites the friendships with and among its audiences as one of their proudest accomplishments. Doors open at 7 p.m. h arvester Performance center, 450 Franklin st., Rocky m ount. 8 p.m. $57 to $77. harvester-music.com

s ML connects Roadshow: Join us for coffee and refreshments courtesy of our host, s mith m ountain l ake Association. this event provides a structured and supportive networking environment for chamber members. sml A, 400 s cruggs Road, s uite 2100, m oneta. 9 to 10 a.m. No cost specified. info@visitsmithmountainlake.com

27 | Saturday

b lue Ridge s oil and water conservation District b oard Meeting: o ur mission is coordinating the region’s natural resource interests by educating and providing technical assistance to the citizens within. the 10-member Board of Directors meets on the fourth m onday of each month. m eetings are open to the public. i ppy’s Restaurant, 1760 N. m ain st., Rocky m ount. 5 p.m. Free. Renee Fulcher, rfulcher@brswcd.org, 540-352-3322

Ongoing

storywalk: the Franklin county Public library’s storyWalk at s ummit View is an outdoor trail open every day. stories change seasonally. Pleasant Breeze Drive, off U. s . 220 s outh, Rocky m ount. Available daily, weather

SEND US YOUR EVENTS! Email the date, location and a brief description including admission cost and contact information to christina.koomen@roanoke.com

Personal Bests

iT ’ S H u MA n n AT u RE T o celebrate what we deem “the best.” First-place o lympians receive their prestigious gold medals as their homes’ national anthems play and their flags go up. Gifted actors sashay along red carpets, vying to carry home gold oscar statues and titles such as best actor, actress, director and writer. We applaud accomplished scientists’ brilliance when they receive nobel Prizes. We cheer on these champions,

virtuosos and brilliant minds, and we hold them up as the very best of the best.

The lofty and worldly winners aren’t the only ones that capture our imagination and attention. I notice each day the ways that I’m pulled into the “what’s best” discussion. I’m a sucker for headlines that read: the ten best face creams for mature skin; the best way to clean your washing machine in seven simple steps; or how to assemble the best charcuterie board. not coincidentally, my

skin looks great, my clothes have never smelled so fresh, and I’m starting to ace the whole cheese/meat/olives presentation.

Perusing these lists has me contemplating: is there anything that I do best? I do possess some oddball talents — for example, my go-to party trick is tying a maraschino cherry stem in a knot with my tongue. However, I don’t know how I could claim to be the best at such a feat. Perhaps there’s a contest? I make excellent kahlua pecans (and I’ll happily share the recipe). I can spot a piece of vintage Pyrex in a thrift store at thirty paces. I make lovely flower arrangements using the pewter Jefferson cups I collect. I’m also a fairly good conversationalist in general, though this gift of gab is less about aptitude and more about genetic predisposition of the Irish persuasion. But none of these so-called talents rises to the level of best-in-category status.

over these past holidays, I asked my dear, sweet, mother: “Hey Mom, is there anything you would say I’m best at?”

Without hesitation she deadpanned back: “You’re pretty brilliant at being bossy.”

Well, I did ask.

Perhaps I’m asking the wrong question. Maybe the question for this next year should be: what do I want to do best?

I would like to be an excellent bestie. For all my gal pals near and far, I want to be the one you call for bail, who makes you laugh until you pee and who hugs you tight when the world seems mean. I always want to be the best mom (and mother-in-law!), wife and daughter. I want to be the best listener — someone who doesn’t interrupt or judge. More than anything, I want to be the best version of myself: healthy, happy and grateful. Let’s see what 2023 brings. I wish you all the best for this upcoming year.

Kimberly Dalferes is the author of I Was In Love With a Short Man Once and Magic Fishing Panties h er humor blog, “the m iddle-Aged cheap seats,” is online at kimdalferes.com

Now that you’ve nailed that charcuterie board, the new year is a great time to look inward for improvement.

by columnist kim BER lY DA l FERE s

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Published each Wednesday, Laker Weekly is free and includes news on area people, businesses, recreation and real estate, as well as an extensive calendar of events. Readers are invited to share information, story ideas, photos and calendar items by emailing news@ lakerweekly.com

Laker Guide is a handy guide to shopping, dining, lodging and recreation at Smith Mountain Lake. Organized by category, the publication is essential for SML residents and tourists looking for a comprehensive guide to all the area has to offer. Also included in this annual publication is a map, calendar of events and newcomer information.

Access current and back issues of Smith Mountain Laker Magazine on your tablet by visiting issuu.com/smithmountainlaker4 It’s free and available on desktop devices, too.

Easily navigate Smith Mountain Lake on the water and off with the annual Laker Map. The print map designates channel markers, marinas, restaurants, communities, shopping centers and more. On the reverse side is information on the lake-area’s largest retail destinations along with detailed inset maps.

Laker Media can be found online at smithmountainlake.com. Log on to find content from all of our print products, plus recent headlines, photo galleries, weather, real estate listings and a business directory, as well as detailed information on lakearea shopping, dining, recreation, accommodations, events and more.

Smith Mountain Laker Magazine is produced six times per year by Laker Media, the premier publisher of print and digital products at SML. All Laker Media publications are free and available at business locations around the SML area and at our offices ( Page 13 ). In addition, Laker Media products are available online by visiting smithmountainlake.com.

Find links to digital versions of all Laker Media products by visiting smithmountainlake.com. For even more, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/Laker365 or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Laker365

Advertiser Index

b erkshire Hathaway HomeServices Smith m ountain Lake Real Estate 68 E7

m argaret Craye Lifestyle & Lake Real Estate Group 4

Horne, Jane Sullivan b erkshire Hathaway HomeServices Smith m ountain Lake Real Estate

3 E7

Lake Retreat Properties 64 C11 m c d aniel, Glenda Long & Foster Realtors 8 C8 m c d onald, m ary Lou m L Realty 23 d11

6667 E7 Turner, Jada b erkshire Hathaway HomeServices Smith m ountain Lake Real Estate A Level Above Construction 59 Atlantic b ay m ortgage 33 E7 b artlett Tree Experts 59 b randon Oaks 2 Carilion Clinic 61 E7 Construction m arketing 25 Envisions 13 F&S b uilding and Remodeling 18 J. m b lair Co. 59 C11 Little Pet Ponderosa 24 m ember One Credit Union 29 m itchell’s Point m arina 31 National Pools 27 Smith m ountain Lake d ental 7 Smith m ountain Lake Hearing Center 9 Southern Landscape Group 31 T b S Construction 27 F9

* m ap i D corresponds to the map on the following pages, as well as the larger, more detailed l aker m ap produced each year by l aker m edia. Laker Map is available in racks around the region, including the offices of l aker m edia, 272 Westlake Rd., h ardy (behind k roger).

m arch/April 2022

Home & Garden

 m arch/April is our annual h ome and Garden issue, featuring a look inside beautiful lake homes, the latest design trends, contractor listings and more!

Plus: Profiles, l ake h istory, m ountain m use, community c alendar and more!

11 E7 BUSIN e SS e S PAG e / MAP ID* R e AL e STAT e PAG e / MAP ID* Advertise with Us:  c all or email for rates, circulation and distribution information: Barry Wright m arketing consultant 540-981-3262, 540-797-4444 barry.wright@roanoke.com Calendar Submissions:  c alendar of events submissions deadline: Feb. 1 Email the date, location and a brief description including admission cost and contact information to christina.koomen@roanoke.com .