Western Tidewater Living Summer 2015 by The Tidewater News

Western Tidewater

Living

Tomorrow is another day

Franklin High School formed band builds bonds through music

Don Pancho’s Cantina

Local restaurant owner has vision of perfecting restaurant and taking concept regional

Hometown Histories: Newsoms

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Cover photograph by Cain Madden ON THE COVER: Kali Fillhart, singer for Same Time Tomorrow, at band practice.

Western Tidewater

Living

Tony Clark Publisher Cain Madden Managing Editor Stephen Cowles Staff Writer Andrew Lind Staff Writer Ryan Outlaw Designer Loretta Lomax Editorial Assistant Mitzi Lusk Advertising Director Michelle Gray Office Manager Western Tidewater Living is published four times a year by Tidewater Publications, LLC P.O. Box 497, Franklin, VA 23851 757-562-3187 Advertising rates and information available upon request to ads@tidewaternews.com. Subscriptions are $20 annually in-state, $24 annually out of state and $30 annually overseas.

Authentic Mexican

Hometown Histories: Newsoms

Don Panchoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prides itself on atmosphere, cuisine

Spared by one of its most famous residents during the Civil war, Newsoms retains much of its old-time charm

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summer

2015 contents

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Daniel Belcher story by Stephen Cowles

Daniel Belcher holds up the Horace Moody Award, which was presented to him at the 2015 NIRSA Annual Conference and Recreational Sports Expo in Grapevine, Texas. This honor is presented to one professional member of National IntramuralRecreational Sports Association in each of its six zones. Belcher received the award for having made a lasting difference in mentoring students and guiding students in their professional development. Photo submitted by Jeanette Belcher

Same Time Tomorrow

Local band battles through moving members and high school to stay active

aniel Belcher's job title belies his broad range of responsibilities and doesn't begin to describe his motivation for the work he does. The 2006 graduate of Southampton Academy is the assistant director for Facility-Operations at The Marshall Recreation Center ("The Rec") on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. There. That's not really saying a lot, is it? Better that he explain. "I don't work for the university," Belcher said. "I work for a management company that manages different rec centers on campuses. They have about eight different sites on different campuses." The company to which he refers is Centers LLC, which hires students to work in a variety of roles. According to the website, www.centersusa.com, these can be building managers, facility assistants, fitness instructors and specialists, intramural sports officials and supervisors, lifeguards, outdoor pursuits assistants, personal trainers and trip leaders. Though he himself has taught some exercise classes and one-credit P.E. classes, Belcher stressed that a good part of his duties is in training students who work parttime in campus recreation. Belcher laughed when asked if there was ever a typical day for him. "No, when I come in to work I don't know what's going to happen. Anything that could possibly happen normally comes to me. I'm automatically tasked with something to do." His work will generally begin around 9:30 to 10 a.m. and last to around 6 or 7 p.m., with administrative duties closing the day. "I'm constantly on the go." All this has not gone unnoticed. In spring, Belcher was presented the Horace Moody Award at the 2015 NIRSA Annual Conference and Recreational Sports Expo in Grapevine, Texas. This is given to a professional member from each of the six

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where am I?

In each edition, our magazine staff provides a challenge of sorts for readers, testing how much of Western Tidewater they really know. We photograph a scene in Western Tidewater that is visible to motorists or pedestrians. Whoever can identify the location pictured above will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers. So, if you know where this issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photo was taken, let us know. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, you For the winter edition, the photo was taken of a propeller at Barrettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Landing in Franklin. Photo by Cain Madden.

could be a winner. E-mail your answers to magazine@tidewaternews.com Go out and enjoy Western Tidewater!

Catching up with Daniel Belcher

Tell us where our photographer took this photo and get a chance to win a gift certificate.

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St. Baldrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Left: Naomi Koontz and Tony Clark at the St. Baldrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charity event in Franklin. Clark was able to raise more than $2,000 that evening. Below: Left to right is Dan Kriseler, Gail Kriseler, Naomi Koontz, Lori Cary and Taylor Vick. Team Naomi raised more than $18,000 for the childhood cancer research charity. PHOTOS BY CAIN MADDEN

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First PDCCC Alumni and Friends Reception Below left: Suffolk residents Heather Miles, from left, Brandi Owens, (both of the Class of 2015) and student Aaron Mitchell enjoy connecting during the reception held at the workforce center in Franklin. Below right: Class of 2007 Alum Rebecca Wyche won a raffle prize, presented by Interim President Dr. Bill Aiken and donated by Johnson’s Flower and Garden Center. Other prizes were donated by Keurig Green Mountain and Norfolk Tides. Bottom: William Corbitt, left (Class of 1975), Herman Williams (Class of 1972), Charles White (Class of 1976) and Barbara Butler (Class of 1973) pose as the proud “70s group” who graduated from PDCCC. PHOTOS SUBMITTED

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PDCCC Graduation Top right: Pamela Reid of Suffolk in front. In back: Ellis “Trey” Cofield of Franklin, Edwin Delgado of Suffolk, Miranda Prentice of Suffolk, Courtney Wright (student speaker at graduation) of Suffolk. Middle right: Taylor Vick of Franklin, right, adjusts mortarboard for fellow nursing student Teresa Lowe of Courtland. Bottom right: front to back: Charlene Walker-Briggs of Suffolk, Leighland Stone of Surry, Michael Smith of Franklin, Tisha Warren of Suffolk, Olivia Walker of Sedley, Whitney Searcy of Carrsville and Kari Van Wassen of Suffolk. Bottom left: Shannon Wolfe of Suffolk checks her messages one more time before getting dressed for the ceremony. PHOTOS SUBMITTED

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PDCCC Graduation Top: Jaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Lisa Hicks and Rebecca Ballance, both of Franklin, and Olivia Walker of Sedley talk before the ceremony. Middle: Deshon Saunders of Franklin, Charles Whitfield, Blake Lester and Brandi Owens, all of Suffolk, don their robes before the ceremony. Bottom: Stephanie Whitley of Windsor, Victoria Marks of Ivor, Charlene Walker-Briggs of Suffolk and Jessica Haydu of Courtland. PHOTOS SUBMITTED

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Partners in Progress Left: Alex Hasty, left, and Scott Wasdin, Southampton Academy Headmaster, were at the event representing for the Raiders. Below: Members of the Franklin Chamber of Commerceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young leadership group, FUEL, at Partners in Progress. From left, John Rabil, Christy Rabil, Crystal Butler, Meghan Councill and Craig Face. PHOTOS BY CAIN MADDEN

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Partners in Progress Left: Franklin City Public School Division Superintendent Dr. Willie J. Bell Jr., Franklin Mayor Raystine Johnson-Ashburn and Paul D. Camp Community College Interim President Dr. Bill Aiken were at the Partners in Progress event. Below: Franklin High School students, staff and volunteers. From left, Kelley Connaway, Rosemary Idisi, Shamar Ballard, Chaquita Seaborne and Shelly Boose. PHOTOS BY CAIN MADDEN

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Southview Cemetery Memorial Day Right: Retired U.S. Army Col. Regina HaleyGrant was the keynote speaker for the Southview Cemetery Memorial Day. The former Franklin resident spoke about the importance of remembering those who had served to maintain the American way of life. Below: From left to right, Almeta Davis, Bertha Butts, Councilwomen Mary Hillard, Regina HaleyGrant, her mother Fannie Haley, Devon Murphy and Franklin Councilwoman Mona Murphy. PHOTOS BY FRANK DAVIS

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Franklin High School Senior Breakfast Franklin High School and the Franklin City Public School District hosted a Senior Breakfast at the school on June 10. Below left: Head custodian Veronica Knight and cafeteria staff Heidi Vinson celebrate the seniors. Below right: Franklin High School senior Shamar Ballard. Bottom left: Seniors Karissa Schuermann, Tanisha Myrick and Elexus Fenner pose. Bottom right: Principal Travis Felts and Transition Coach Chiquita Seaborne getting ready for the party. PHOTOS BY SUZANNE BLYTHE

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Hunterdale Ruritan Beef BBQ Left: Keaton White of Sedley, left, with Kasey Winslow of Suffolk, Ashley Rawls of Franklin, and Steffini Cull of Zuni enjoy beverages and fellowship at the Hunterdale Ruritan Beef BBQ. Below: Going around the table from left are Len and Ashly Turner of Sedley; Dustin Sykes of Franklin; Clay Blythe of Franklin; and Mike and Karen Sprinkel of Sedley. PHOTOS BY STEPHEN H. COWLES

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m o c t o d s w s e w n e r N e t t s a e t w a e L e h tid t o t Yo

y e K ur

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Hunterdale Ruritan Beef BBQ Left: Will Melbye with his daughters, Isabelle, 7, and Madelynn, 3. They opted for take-out meals from the Hunterdale Ruritan Beef BBQ. Below: Edward Gurganus, left, watches as Chris Howell and Wayne Ferguson reach for the hunks of meat to be sliced. PHOTOS BY STEPHEN H. COWLES

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Looking to get some Summertime Highlights?

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Authentic Mexican:

lf e s it s e d ri p ’s o h c n a P n Do

on atmosphere, cuisine

f Frank Padilla had his way, the building located at 1200 Armory Drive would still be known as Overtime Sports Grill. The California native had already turned Don Pancho's Cantina into a Franklin favorite, so he figured he might as well give the sports bar scene a try. “I was going to give it a year and run it simultaneously with the Mexican restaurant,” Padilla said. “If it picked up and it seemed like the community was supporting it, we'd keep both of them running as they were.” In the beginning, Padilla said, everything went off without a hitch. People enjoyed the food, drink specials and pool tournaments. But like so many other businesses without something special to keep customers coming back, Overtime Sports Grill fell by the wayside. Even Padilla found himself favoring one over the other. “The sports bar wasn't really doing it for me, and I was spreading myself too thin to where I

story by Andrew Lind photos by Cain Madden

wasn't able to handle both at the same time,” he said, “so I just decided to merge both of them at this location.” With Don Pancho's established at its location in the Walmart Plaza, Padilla was faced with a decision. “I still had six months left on my lease over there,” he said. “I decided to let it go but still retain the building to avoid someone going in there, and to let my patrons realize where we're at.” Within a week, the restaurant that Padilla renamed for his father, Francisco, was operating its new, larger location. Padilla had long known that owning a restaurant was in his cards. After managing for two years, he was more than willing to take ownership of Los Amigos — the former name — in 2007. “I knew with some good shaping and good employees that it would be a good business to have,” he said. “I've always been in the restaurant business, working myself through college [Kennesaw State in Georgia] as a waiter, busser, dishwasher. I went through all the phases in the restaurant, and it was just something that clicked in me. I tried other avenues, but the restaurant one always seemed to be

26 western tidewater living the one grabbing my attention.” And that's why owning multiple restaurants was so enticing to Padilla, who now says that his sole focus is Don Pancho's. The desire is still there, though, as he often contemplates turning the cantina into a string of restaurants across Hampton Roads. “I have thoughts to the extent that I already have locations selected, but then I stop myself because I feel that this [location] is not at its capacity,” he said, noting that he learned his lesson from trying to manage beyond his means. “I want to make sure that I leave this one with everything done … Once this is done, I'm ready to move on. That way we have something to replicate so that everyone feels the same way, no matter if it's Don Pancho's here, Virginia Beach or Norfolk. It's going to be the same atmosphere, same food, same style.”

Included in those plans are an inside remodel and outdoor patio, which Padilla hopes to have installed sometime this summer. The business also started a delivery service last month, charging customers based solely on distance. Padilla even joked that he'll deliver as far as Virginia Beach, saying, “As long as the delivery charge pays for it, why not?” You'd be hard pressed to find Mexican food in the region as authentic as that at Don Pancho's, he added, represented by those who frequent the restaurant from as far as Richmond and/or Virginia Beach. “I have a contractor that comes out from Virginia Beach and brings a cooler and takes like 10 or 15 Burrito San Diegos for all of his employees back with him because they've tried them out that way and don't like them,” he said. “They were out here for a job site, and ever since then, he's been driving out once or twice

Don Pancho's is working on a special menu for the five most requested Polla con Crema variations. “People are getting playful and adding peppers, mushrooms, half chicken-half steak,” said owner Frank Padilla. “It'll allow them to pick and choose.” Lori White and her daughter, Samantha, look over the menu.

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Owner Frank Padillaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s younger brother, Angel, is a waiter in the restaurant. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s processing a ticket for a customer.

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Miguel Flores takes an order for Stephen West, Abigail Barnes and Amber Ballance.

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a month just for that.” Padilla said that he also receives compliments from those who aren't based locally. “I have people come from out of state who are here because they have someone they know in town, and they have such an experience that they let me or my staff know where they're from. They tell me, 'We're from Texas,' for example. ‘There's a ton of Mexican restaurants there, but y'all have them beat in this little town in Virginia,'” he said glowingly. “It fills me with pride to know that we're doing something right. I just feel joyful that I can provide this experience to someone who has other options to go to and still chooses us. We try to give the best service with qual-

“I want to make sure that I leave this one with everything done” ity, homemade food that's always made from scratch every morning, and I think that's what sets us apart from other restaurants.” Maybe it’s better that Overtime Sports Grill doesn't exist anymore. If it did, Padilla himself admits that Don Pancho's might not be what it is today. “It's just a great experience all around, from the food to the services to the atmosphere. We're trying to wrap it all in one so that [customers] don't have to go elsewhere. They have their own little place in Franklin that they can be proud of and brag about.” 

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Karla Rueda presents some guacamole, which she makes for customers tableside.

RECIPES

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PIÑA RELLENA 1/2 pineapple stuffed with grilled shrimp, chicken and veggies topped with cheese. Served with guacamole salad and Mexican rice.

Ingredients · 1/4 pound of white chicken breast strips · 1/4 pound of shrimp · 1/2 pineapple · Salt and freshly ground black pepper · 1 tablespoon olive oil · 1/2 onion · 1 green pepper · 1/2 tomato

Directions In a large saute pan, heat the vegetable oil over high heat. Once the chicken is cut, and shrimp is cleaned carefully place it in the pan. Add the vegetables and the pineapple half way before the meat is cooked. Season to taste. Then place everything in the half pineapple shell top with shredded cheese and serve.

FAJITAS TEXANAS Tender steak, juicy chicken breast, sweet shrimp, all grilled with onions and peppers and a side of Mexican rice, refried beans, sour cream salad and tortillas.

Ingredients · 1/4 pound of your choice of steak cut into strips · 1/4 pound of white chicken breast strips · 1/4 pound of shrimp · Salt and freshly ground black pepper · 1 tablespoon olive oil · 1/2 onion · 1 green pepper · 1/2 tomato

Directions In a large saute pan, heat the vegetable oil over high heat. Once the meat is cut and shrimp is cleaned carefully place it in the pan. Add the vegetables half way before the meat is cooked. Season to taste. Serve.

CARNITAS Melt-in-your-mouth pork chunks with a side of Mexican rice, refried beans, pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa and tortillas.

Ingredients · 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder (or 2-1/2 pounds bone-in) · Salt and freshly ground black pepper · 2 teaspoons dried oregano · 1 teaspoon ground cumin · 1 tablespoon olive oil · 1 onion, coarsely chopped · 4 cloves garlic, minced · 1 jalapeno, seeded and ribs removed, chopped · 1 orange, cut in half · 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (or lard)

Directions Rinse and dry the pork shoulder. Salt and pepper liberally. Mix the oregano and the cumin with olive oil and rub all over pork. Place the pork in a slow cooker and top with the onion, garlic and jalapeno. Squeeze over the juice of the orange and add the two halves. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 hours. Once the meat is tender, remove from slow cooker and let cool slightly before pulling apart with a fork. In a large saute pan, heat the vegetable oil (or lard) over high heat. Press the carnitas into the oil and fry until crusty on one side. Serve.

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Daniel Belcher story by Stephen Cowles

Photos submitted by Jeanette Belcher

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regions of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association — he's in the second zone — to recognize personal contributions to student development. "I was not aware of the award. You have to be nominated by some students and peers," Belcher said. Indeed, the organization's website, www. nirsa.net, describes the honor as "...a means for students to recognize and applaud professional members who have made contributions to student development by their encouragement, support and performance." In addition to being an active member of NIRSA, Belcher's also a graduate of the National School of Recreational Sports Management-Level 1. He added that hearing his name being called for the award came "as a complete shock ... It's very humbling. Having these students realize what I do ... it's nice to be recognized." Both the honor and Belcher's work are the result of his strong interest in sports and other recreational activities, which in turn goes back to his time growing up in Franklin. "I was very involved in the YMCA and Leaders Club. I loved recreation and what I did at the Y," he said warmly, adding that these duties included serving as a lifeguard and officiating different youth sports. The Leaders Club, he explained, is for middle and high school students. "You volunteer a certain number of hours to the Y, whether childcare, community service or officiating youth sports. Whatever hours you give is to the community and Y," Belcher said. He also got to attend the Blue Ridge Leader School, which develops leadership abilities. When Belcher wasn't at the Y — his

Daniel Belcher, shown here when he 16, served as a lifeguard at the YMCA in Franklin. The place became his home away from home, and

home away from home — he played basketball and golf at Southampton Academy. "I was really big into golf. My whole family is. We lived across the street from the country club." His family consists of his parents, Sanford and Jeanette Belcher of Franklin, and his brother, J.T., who is the director of golf operations at Sleepy Hole Golf Course in Suffolk. Asked about his own handicap, Belcher said with another laugh, "The last I checked it was an 18. I don't play as often as I'd like." Following high school, he went on to James Madison University and earned a bachelor of science degree in Sport and Recreation Management.

“It’s very humbling. Having these students realize what I do ... it’s nice to be recognized.”

fostered his interest in sports and recreation as a career.

"When I went to JMU, I immediately applied for a job at the rec center and that drove what I wanted to do," Belcher said. Afterward, he went on to Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. There he studied and earned a master of science degree in Kinesiology, which is the study of the muscles and how they relate to the mechanics of body movement. Belcher was also a graduate assistant for Facilities and Member Services before coming to "The Rec" in July 2012. "You could work in rec in a number of different settings. But working with students is why I'm doing what I'm doing. Some of these students haven't had a job before," he said. "Student training is a passion of mine — to give these students the skills and resources they need when they go to apply for a full-time job." 

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Tomorrow is Another Day story and photos by Cain Madden

ain can be the world’s most destructive force. It’s not always easy, but perhaps with a little help from your friends that same force can be channeled toward something great. “I don’t care what you think about as long as it’s about me. The best of us can find happiness in misery,” sang lead vocalist Kali Fillhart at a recent event the band played. She, Timothy Kreider and Chance McCoy, three of the members of the Franklin band Same Time Tomorrow, were performing an acoustic version of Fall Out Boy’s “I Don’t Care.” At this event — Relay For Life — they were getting a pretty good response from the younger members gathered. Kali by herself received multiple declarations of love from the Southampton High School students. Particularly as the band continued to work through the set list, playing another Fall Out Boy song, as well as Paramore, Nirvana, original songs and for fun, even Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse.” People were certainly receptive to it, calling for an encore and wanting to hear Fillhart and Kreider sing some more Paramore. That kind of music wasn’t exactly the music the in-crowd listened to at J.P. King Jr. Middle School, where all four bandmates attended, including Auston Reichert, who wasn’t able to make the Relay show. Back then, they all knew each other, with Fillhart and McCoy making the rounds between Kreider and Reichert, who were not yet as close as they would become. While middle school in itself wasn’t all that bad, Kreider’s parents divorced, leaving him with something of a void. But there was a place to turn to: music. It was the therapy to help him get through. “I taught myself how to play guitar, along with many other instruments,” he said. “Having no life in middle school, I kind of just threw everything into learn-

western tidewater living

Timothy Kreider

Kali Fillhart

Auston Reichert

Chance McCoy

36 western tidewater living ing music. I really enjoyed learning about it and would read music theory for fun.” It wasn’t until high school — ninth grade to be exact — when it became more than an escape. Kreider knew Reichert had learned how to play drums as part of the Franklin High School marching band. He wanted a band. If movement was ever going to be made toward developing that goal, an anchor would be needed. He knew how to play drums, but his passion was really with the guitar. So, Kreider thought he’d see what it sounded like to play with Reichert. “The first time we practiced, Auston had never played on a kit before,” Kreider said. “He still managed to do great, it just took him a little to adjust.” About that adjustment, McCoy added, a heavy emphasis should be on a little because Reichert’s the one who music comes most natural, which will come in handy for him later on. “You could say drumming is my passion,” Reichert said. “I’ve always had a thing for drums. Ever since I was 3, I was always beating on stuff, trying to play some music.” The next band member to join was Fillhart, the lead vocalist. At first, she wasn’t sure about her fit, sound-wise, with the boys. But after accepting, being kicked out, and then being begged to join them again, it’s become a great fit for both her voice and creative mind. Fillhart’s artistic expression isn’t going to waste, as she and Kreider write the songs. “Sometimes, I will come up with some chords and he’ll expand on it,” she said. “Then he’ll play it. I’ll hum along and come up with some vocals from there.” Fillhart, who now lives in Suffolk, attends Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts. She’s there for creative writing. “I’ve always been a writer,” she said. “That and singing are the only things I’d say I’m super good at. Getting to spend

time with them, plus writing and singing? It’s definitely fun.” Kreider said it’s a lot about asking questions. They’ll usually lay the music down first to get a vibe for the song. Next, one of the two will start with some lyrics and see where it goes. “We think, ‘OK what is this song about? What is the theme? Is there a story we are telling? What kind of message do we want to get across?’” he said. “When writing lyrics we like to use metaphors because they can be taken in many different ways, certain metaphors can mean different things to different people, and so our lyrics are definitely in the... well, ear of the beholder.” After the first bassist moved out of the state, McCoy joined. At first, it was going to be a temporary thing, but he kept up with them. He continued to learn the songs and found his way as a permanent member of the band. “I always wanted to be a musician,” he said. “When Timothy taught me how to play the bass, I got decent enough at it. “Now they put up with me when I mess up when we are playing shows. I love these guys. I never want to be in a band with anyone else.” They’ve played several local shows, including Fred’s Restaurant, the Chesapeake Relay For Life and they were able to make it to the second round of the Virginia Beach Battle of the Bands at Shaka’s Live. One of the biggest shows for them was almost a year ago in August, which was around a couple years after the band started to come together. It was a big moment for the band, said Reichert with a smile. “I’d say the fair was probably when I started to really take the band seriously.” They were playing the Franklin-Southampton County Fair Talent Show, and they won the duo/group contest. “We won!” McCoy said. “We were like, ‘Wow, other people think we have talent.’”

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“What’s even bigger was that people who did not know us came up after the show and were telling us that we played good,” said Fillhart, who admitted a lot of their success before then was just with family. “They really liked us.” For Same Time Tomorrow, it hasn’t come easy. Their first show was a disaster, and then came the moves. Fillhart was the most recent move, but perhaps the more impactful one has been Reichert, whose family moved to Chesapeake. With fall coming up, it’ll be senior year for the foursome and he’ll be on the Western Branch High School football team. He’ll be practicing constantly, but it won’t just be with Same Time Tomorrow. For Kreider, the band’s leader, replacing Reichert isn’t an option. “We have tried adding members and we tried removing members,” Kreider said, but he added that none of that seems to work. “Just us four have this certain chemistry that really works.” And Reichert is certainly still into it. “I love drumming,” he said. “I love being in the band. Drumming’s just a good way to relax. It’s like a medication for me — it gets the stress out.” Thankfully, as McCoy mentioned earlier, Reichert rarely misses a beat. It’s still going to be tough for the foursome to plan shows. Sometimes, they’ll play as a trio acoustically, like they did at the

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Franklin Relay For Life and at Fred’s. They are fully into the digital era, too, and YouTube provides another outlet. They can do music videos, acoustic covers and also funny band skits when the are unable to get together for a show. Looking beyond senior year, well, that’s even more terrifying. Reichert, whose father served in the Navy, plans to join the Marines. That could take him anywhere. The others are starting to look at colleges. “We hope college doesn’t end up getting in the way,” Fillhart said. “College is scary.” If graduating from high school does end up splitting them up across the country, it’ll be hard on them. Right now, they aren’t thinking too much about it. There’s still plenty of music to play. And tomorrow is another day. “It’s just what we love to do,” Kreider said. “There is a lot of energy, we kind of all reflect off of each other when it comes to that kind of stuff. So if we aren’t feeling it, we kind of all die down, but once we all get in the mood and really feel like playing, we tend to have a lot of energy. We jump around and just overall have a lot of fun playing together. “Sometimes we can get on each other’s nerves — I’m looking at you Auston — but other than that we truly are much better friends because of being in this band. There isn’t anybody else I would rather make music with.” 

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HOMETOWN HISTORIES:

NEWSOMS Spared by one of its most famous residents during the Civil war, Newsoms retains much of its charm

ne of the oldest towns in Southampton County, Newsoms is another locality within its limits that exists solely because of the railroad. Its origins trace back to the establishment of the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad, as it was one of the various stopping points across the county that provided cotton, peanuts and soybeans to the outside market. Although the town began to take shape when the tracks were laid, the Cedar View Plantation was the area’s crown jewel long before. Granted to John Edwards by the King of England and bequeathed to his son, Macajah, upon his death in 1789, Cedar View was once among the county’s leading producers in the aforementioned crops. Sold to Thomas Newsome in 1798 and then again to Harrison Pope in 1810, the

story by Andrew Lind photos by Cain Madden

settlement was known as Newsome’s Depot at the installation of the railroad in 1835. Newsome’s Depot was not the only town to materialize as a result of the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad, as Branchville, Boykin’s Depot, Franklin and Murfee’s Depot became the hubs of business in the region. The economic life of Southampton County essentially shifted toward the railroads and away from the old post routes that dotted the county. It was noted for some time after how critical the new railroad could have been in stopping the Nat Turner-led slave rebellion of 1831. It took more than 24 hours for word of the attack to reach Norfolk, but historians claim it could have been delivered in less than three hours by locomotive. The railway has always been vital to the success of Newsome’s Depot, which

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is why it suffered considerably when the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad filed bankruptcy in 1842 after a number of deadly accidents occurred along its routes. Having spent a majority of its money installing new tracks, replacing heavy engines with lighter locomotives and linking itself to the Weldon and Wilmington Railroad, the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad auctioned off its assets and

closed down. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until the 1850s that the line would return as the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad, but the decade-plus of floundering hurt the small towns of the county that relied upon it to bring business to the region. Not 10 years would pass before Newsomeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Depot native Gen. George Henry Thomas found himself torn between loyalty to his state and loyalty to his country. He had fought gallantly for the United

The people of Newsoms put out flags for both sides of the war on Memorial Day at Hollywood Cemetery.

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States in both the war against the Seminole Indian tribe and in the Mexican War, and ultimately opted to remain with the Union during the American Civil War. It is said that his wife, a native New Yorker, likely helped influence the decision. Thomas was credited with one of the first Union victories in the war at Mill Springs, Kentucky, and as well as the battles at Perryville, Kentucky, and Stones River, Tennessee. Thomas’ stout defense

at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863 allowed the Union Army to withdraw from the Georgia-Tennessee border after a gap in their line was exploited, thus earning him the nickname, “The Rock of Chickamuaga.” To the surprise of many, including Lynda Updike of the Southampton Historical Society, Newsome’s Depot — and most of Southampton County, for that matter — was shown mercy and avoided the devas-

tation of the war. “I’m a hopeless romantic, so I like to think that Thomas spared Southampton County,” Updike said. “Others don’t believe that, and intentional or not, he sent his army the long way to avoid Southampton County.” Some, such as historian and author Benson Bobrick, believe that Thomas was the best Union General and that Gens. William Tecumseh Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant went out of their way to deny him the recognition in Civil War history that he deserved. Meanwhile, Gen. William Mahone, also of Newsome’s Depot — more specifically Drake’s Conner — cast his allegiance with the Confederate cause. He took part in the Peninsula and Rappahonnock campaigns, but is best known for the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, where Union soldiers tunneled under the Confederate line and blew it up. Although many Rebel soldiers were killed in the explosion, Mahone rallied the troops and repelled the Union attack, to which he was promoted to major general as a result. At the end of the war, Mahone was with Gen. Robert E. Lee in his surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House in 1865. With the rail lines back open following the end of the war, Newsome’s Depot began to see an agricultural and financial boom once again. These gains were made largely on the strength of the demand for two products that the county produced in vast abundance: lumber and peanuts. Inventors and entrepreneurs from around the county, such as Caleb “Chick” R. Evertett, created an array of machines to speed up the process. Everett patented and marketed a planter for field peas, a guano sower, lime drill, peanut cleaner and several other inventions. By the 1930s, Newsome’s Depot had eight grocery stores, four churches, three schools, two garages, a drug store, a bank,

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a hotel, a sawmill and a cotton gin. The schools, which were segregated, included a white elementary and high school and an elementary for black students. The church buildings, also separated by color, were Baptist and Methodist. The town was incorporated by act of the legislature, and E. Beale Carter was named its first mayor in 1946. It was at this time that the town was officially named Newsoms, as it had already been shorthanded to Newsome’s some years prior. By the 1970s, huge machines were roaming the farms in Southampton County where farmers were growing well over 3,000 pounds of peanuts per acre. Newsoms even gained a reputation for its jumbo peanuts. Seeing the profitability, those same farmers began growing watermelons. Because of this, Newsoms was named the “Watermelon Capital of the South.” Although many of the mom-and-pop businesses have since closed and some people and businesses choose to take up residence in the nearby city of Franklin, Newsoms still maintains the charm it had when it was only a bustling depot stop along the Portsmouth and Roanoke. “It’s a nice place to live with friendly people, active churches, a nice school right outside of town, gas station and restaurant,” Updike said. “All the things that make for a good little town.” 

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The Newsoms United Methodist Church on Main Street.

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where am I?

For the winter edition, the photo was taken of a propeller at Barrett’s Landing in Franklin. Dan Fowler of Franklin collected guessed where the photo was taken and has won a $25 gift card. Photo by Cain Madden.

So, if you know where this issue’s photo was taken, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. E-mail your answers to magazine@tidewaternews.com Go out and enjoy Western Tidewater!