WTL Summer 2021 by The Tidewater News

Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr.

Serving the community

Goat yoga

Relaxation and laughter

Changing the Narrative

Improving race relations

Summer 2021 • vol. 12, no. 2

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contents summer 2021

Cover photograph submitted

ON THE COVER: Southampton County Sheriff Josh Wyche.

INSIDE THIS EDITION

EVENTS Lots of fun things are coming up.

Betty J. Ramsey Publisher Stephen Faleski Staff Writer Titus Mohler Contributing Writer Clyde Parker Contributing Writer Troy Cooper Designer Loretta Lomax Designer Mitzi Lusk Advertising Director

WORKING HIS WAY TO THE TOP Southampton County Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr. believes you have to get to know your community.

GOAT YOGA Fun, relaxing activity helps people unwind with exercise and, yes, goats.

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@thetidewaternews.com. Subscriptions are $20 annually in-state, $24 annually out of state and $30 annually overseas.

CHANGING THE NARRATIVE A group of locals is working hard to fix race relations in Franklin.

10 23

FRANKLIN INSTITUTIONS A history of institutions from the past.

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publisher's notebook WELCOME SUMMER! After a very long year it is with much joy we welcome summer and all the traditional joys that come along with it. Time again for backyard barbeques, car shows, county fairs, lazy days paddling, fishing or floating on the river, or just chilling with a cold beverage and good food at a local restaurant with friends and family. It’s also a great time to kick back and relax with a good book or may we suggest the latest edition of Western Tidewater Living. On the cover of the summer edition is Southampton County Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr., who works faithfully to serve our community. Turn to Page 10 for more about the sheriff and how he worked his way to the top. If it’s a good laugh combined with exercise you seek, we have got you covered! Ever heard of goat yoga? It’s a real thing and available right here in our area. Turn to page 16

for an inside look at what and how this came to be right here at home. There are many more stories within these pages, and we hope you will enjoy them. As this is a magazine about and for you, we welcome your ideas and invite you to share with us what you would like to hear more about by sending us a note at P.O. Box 497, Franklin, VA 23851, giving us a call at 757-562-3187 or sending us an email at Magazine@ TheTidewaterNews.com. We publish Western Tidewater Living each season — summer, fall, winter and spring. We invite you to pick up a copy of the latest issue as there is sure to be someone you know inside — a neighbor, a family member, a friend or perhaps even you! If you want Western Tidewater Living delivered to your home or office, we offer subscriptions and gift subscriptions for $20 per year (in state), just enough to cover the postage. To subscribe call us at 757-562-3187. Betty J. Ramsey is publisher of Western Tidewater Living.

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western tidewater living Grace Doyle, left, with Madelynn Melbye go up and down and around and around on one of the rides at the Midway in the Franklin-Southampton County Fair.

upcoming events FRANKLIN-SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FAIR

The much loved and anticipated FranklinSouthampton County Fair is back! The 40th annual fair starts on Wednesday, Aug. 11 and continues through Saturday, Aug. 14. Come on out and enjoy talent shows, live entertainment and much more. For the latest updates visit www.FranklinSouthamptonCountyFair.org or the Facebook page.

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upcoming events WE BE JAMMIN

Time to get your groove on at We Be Jammin, a free summer concert series at Barrett’s Landing in Downtown Franklin on Thursdays from the end of May through August. Visit www.facebook.com/ DowntownFranklinVA for schedule and updates.

FRANKLIN’S MARKET ON MAIN

Franklin’s Market on Main in downtown Franklin at 210 S. Main St. has something for everyone. The Market summer season hours are Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The Market runs through Sept. 8. For more information visit www. downtownfranklin.org.

DOWNTOWN FRANKLIN'S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

entertainment and fireworks in downtown Franklin. The evening's lineup includes The Franklin Cruise In and Franklin Market on Main at 4 p.m.; a live band at Barrett’s Landing from 6-9 p.m., free hotdogs and watermelon while supplies last are courtesy of Franklin Experience; and the fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. This event is co-sponsored by The City of Franklin and Blackwater Community Events. For more details visit www.downtownfranklin.org.

SEDLEY INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Celebrate Independence Day in Sedley, Saturday, July 3. Enjoy a parade, car and truck show with a motorcycle class, up to 100 vendors, bounce house, kids' water contest, live music by Eric Dunlow and others. Visit the Sedley Facebook page for more information and updates.

Enjoy an evening of good food,

BANANA PUDDING CHEESECAKE BARS NO-BAKE DESSERT IS IDEAL FOR WARM WEATHER ENTERTAINING Backyard barbecues beckon and poolside entertaining reigns supreme every summer. After guests have had their fill of fire-licked grilled burgers, chicken and shrimp, a refreshing dessert that won’t have summertime hosts sweating preparation can make for the perfect culinary capper. “Banana Pudding Cheesecake Bars” marry tangy cream cheese with sweet and velvety banana pudding atop a cookie crust. They’re easy to prepare ahead of time and easily sliced when the dessert bell beckons. Double up the recipe if you’re expecting a crowd or want to have a few leftovers — they’re that delicious.

5 tablespoons butter, melted 2 tablespoons sugar Pinch sea salt

BANANA PUDDING CHEESECAKE BARS Yields: 9 servings

1. Line an 8-inch by 8-inch pan with parchment paper. 2. Make crust: In a medium bowl, combine crushed wafer cookies with butter, sugar and salt. Press in an even layer into the prepared

For crust 11⁄2 cup crushed vanilla wafer cookies

For filling 11⁄2 8 ounces) blocks cream cheese, softened 1⁄2 cup sugar 11⁄2 cup whipped topping 1 3.4-ounce package instant banana pudding mix 13⁄4 cup whole milk For topping Whipped topping 1⁄2 banana, sliced 9 vanilla wafer cookies

For more area events visit www. TheTidewaterNews.com. To have your area event included in Western Tidewater Living email Editor@TheTidewaterNews.com and include Western Tidewater Living events in the subject line.

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY FAIR

From Ferris wheels to tractor wheels the Isle of Wight County Fair is one not to be missed. The 2021 fair will be held at the Joel C. Bradshaw Fairgrounds in Windsor, Sept. 16-19. Entertainment includes Johnny Rockett’s Cycle Circus Live, Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean, live music by The Deloreans, Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience, Chase Payne, Tyler Farr, an antique tractor pull, Championship Rodeo presented by True Grit Rodeo Company and much more. For more information visit www. co.isle-of-wight.va.us/our_community/county_fair.

recipes pan. Place in freezer while making filling. 3. Make cheesecake filling: In a large bowl using a hand mixer (or in a stand mixer), beat cream cheese until fluffy and no clumps remain. Add sugar and beat until combined. Fold in whipped topping and set aside. 4. In a medium bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk. Let pudding stand for 3 minutes in the refrigerator, until thickened. Fold into cheesecake mixture until well combined. 5. Pour filling into prepared crust and smooth into an even layer. Freeze until bars are firm, at least 6 hours and up to overnight. 6. When firm, remove from freezer and slice into nine bars. Top each bar with a dollop of whipped topping, a slice of banana and a vanilla cookie before serving. Note: If banana isn’t your favorite flavor, replace banana pudding with lemon pudding and use a thin lemon slice in the whipped topping dollop as a garnish when serving.

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recipes

GRILLED GARLIC SHRIMP The popularity of cooking-based television shows has led many people to look at food through a new lens. Experiencing food in new ways may involve trying certain types of cuisine for the first time or even preparing beloved foods in new ways. Shrimp lovers accustomed to shrimp cocktail or other popular shrimp dishes may find that few ways to prepare shrimp can be as flavorful as grilling. Cooking meals over an open flame imparts a unique flavor to various foods, and shrimp is no exception. Grilled seafood can be a perfect light alternative to grilled meats, which can be filling, something many people prefer to avoid when the weather is especially warm.

12 6-inch wooden skewers

GRILLED GARLIC SHRIMP with a Fresh Heirloom Tomato Sauce Serves 6

1. To marinate the shrimp, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar and garlic in a large bowl. Stir to combine. Add the shrimp and allow to sit, covered, for 1 hour. Stir occasionally. 2. Prepare a medium fire in a charcoal or gas grill. Soak the skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent them from burning. 3. To make the tomato sauce, bring a medium

For the marinated shrimp 1⁄2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar 2 garlic cloves, minced 36 large shrimp, peeled and deveined

For the tomato sauce 3 pounds assorted large heirloom tomatoes 1 small sweet onion, minced 1 garlic clove, minced 1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt 1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon honey, preferably sourwood honey 1⁄4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips (chiffonade is the formal name for this cut), plus more for garnish ea salt Freshly ground black pepper

pot of water to a boil. Place one or two tomatoes at a time into the boiling water. Watch them and, as you see the skin split, remove with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl of cool water. At this point, it will be very easy to slip off the skins. 4. Cut the peeled tomatoes into a small dice. Put the cut tomatoes into a large bowl. Add the onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and honey. Stir gently to combine. 5. Skewer the shrimp, 3 per skewer. Grill the skewered shrimp for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until they are pink. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and a couple grinds of fresh pepper. 6. Just before serving, add the basil leaves to the tomato sauce. Taste and add more salt if necessary. 7. Ladle the tomato sauce onto a serving platter and arrange the skewers on top of the sauce. Garnish with more basil leaves and enjoy!

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recipes GET FIRED UP ABOUT CAMPFIRE COOKING Camping season revs up when the temperature warms. In a recent survey by Kampgrounds of America, Inc., the main reasons people say they go camping are to reconnect with nature, spend time with family and friends and reduce stress and relax. The roughly 40 million people who go camping in the United States each year also may have food on their minds. Campfire cooking — which involves cooking over an open fire and eating outdoors — makes camping that much more enjoyable for many people. Campfire cooking is about simplicity of ingredients and ease of cooking. Chances are campers do not want to lug too many cooking instruments to the campsite, so ingredients that are portable and can cook quickly over an open fire are attractive. Cast iron skillets, grills and Dutch ovens often are the gear of choice. Here are some delicious campfire meals to try on your next camping trip. CAMPFIRE CASSEROLE Mix your favorite ground meat (beef, chicken or pork) with kidney beans and cubed bacon (leftover from breakfast works well). Add barbecue sauce or diced tomatoes, depending on your preference. Allow to simmer in a Dutch oven on low for 45 minutes to an hour. Season to taste. During the last 10 minutes of cooking, place refrigerated biscuits over the top of the casserole, cover and cook until the biscuits are done. SEAFOOD NO-BOIL Cut foil sheets about 12 inches long. Add 5 to 6 shrimp, one quarter of an ear of corn, a few slices of smoked andouille sausage, a lemon slice, and seasonings to taste. Fold the foil packets carefully to seal in the ingredients. Place the packets on a grill over the campfire and allow to cook for around 10 to 15 minutes. SKILLET PIZZA Place a little cornmeal and oil on the bottom of a cast iron skillet. Spread refrigerated pizza dough out on the skillet. Cover with pizza sauce, cheese and favorite toppings and cook over the fire until the cheese boils and the crust browns.

CAMPSITE COBBLER Line a Dutch oven with aluminum foil. Mix together a yellow cake mix, 11⁄4 cups water and 1⁄2 cup canola oil and pour over two cans of a favorite pie filling flavor in the pot. Prepare the campfire for low heat. Put the

Dutch oven in the ashes and cover with remaining ash or charcoal briquettes. Cook until bubbly, around 30 to 40 minutes. Campfire cooking is delicious, and few things can beat eating tasty foods under an open sky.

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10 western tidewater living Southampton County Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr. poses for a portrait commemorating his election while at his desk in the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office.

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Working his way to the top Wyche has been there for the community STORY BY TITUS MOHLER PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY JOSH A. WYCHE SR. Josh A. Wyche Sr. won the election to become sheriff of Southampton County in November 2019 in large part because he has been applying the knowledge learned from important life lessons taught to him during his 36 preceding years with the agency. “The biggest life lesson that I learned is, if you’re a good communicator, you can really get some things done,” he said. “But not only that, you have to get out in your community to know your community.” In addition to being born and raised in Southampton County, Wyche has been out in his community for the last 37-and-a-half years as a member of the Southampton County Sheriff ’s Office, communicating well with the people of the county and the City of Franklin. “I’ve always been a people person, and I love associating with people,” he said. This has led to Wyche becoming a trusted friend for many in the area, both young and old. His law enforcement career began in the mid-1980s, but it was actually not his original plan. “I was in the U.S. Marine Corps, and I was due to reenlist October the 16th, 1984,” he said. Skip Wilson, a deputy at the time with the Southampton County Sheriff ’s

Office, had reached out to Wyche about a job in the department since he knew Wyche was nearing the end of his enlistment. “I was like, ‘No, I’m going to stay in the Marines. I’m looking forward to going to the Pentagon,’” Wyche recalled. However, a new lieutenant who was in charge of Wyche’s assignments wanted to put him on mess duty. “He found out that I was at the end of my enlistment, so he figured I was the easy guy to put on mess duty, I guess,” Wyche said. Wyche was familiar with this duty, as he had been on it before, but he was not in favor of the lieutenant’s decision given the timing. “That’s something that you don’t do to any military person right there at the end unless they’re, what I call, a person that’s not doing good in the military,” he said. But Wyche had performed well, advancing to the rank of sergeant by that point, and he indicated he would rather leave active duty than return to mess duty. Wyche recalled that once his first sergeant in the Marine Corps found out about the lieutenant’s decision and how it had led Wyche to leave, the first sergeant was quite upset, and he and the lieutenant “had their rounds.” See WYCHE, page 12

12 western tidewater living WYCHE, from page 10

Though his active-duty service was concluding, Wyche, at that time, was not sure if it was over for good. He reached out to the Southampton County Sheriff ’s Office to see if the job Wilson had told him about was still available, and it was. “It was something I figured I would check into and see if I liked it,” Wyche said. “I had time where I could come and work the job a little bit, and then if I didn’t like it, I could always go back to the military. But then again, once I got into it, I really enjoyed it.” As a member of the reserves, he continued on in the Marine Corps for two more years before being honorably discharged in 1986. He served a total of six years in the military, including his four years on active duty. “I really enjoyed the Marine Corps, and if I had my way, every young person would do some type of military, any branch of service, more or less, to help them grow up, because it really helped me grow up,” he said. Wyche began his career with the sheriff ’s office Nov. 1, 1984, working under now-retired Sheriff Vernie Francis Jr. Starting as a jailer, Wyche worked his way through to become court security and server of civil process. In 1989, he attended the 33rd Crater Criminal Justice Basic Police Academy in Petersburg. He has also pursued additional training during his career. In 2009, he completed the FBI National Academy in Quantico, and in 2013, he graduated from Paul D. Camp Community College with an Associate of Applied Science degree in police science. During his time with the Southampton County Sheriff ’s Office, he has climbed the ranks, earning many promotions. Under Sheriff Francis, he was named corporal, master deputy and sergeant. Under now-retired Sheriff John B. “Jack” Stutts, he was named lieutenant and captain, supervising the patrol division. Wyche affirmed those 36 years of experience working with the sheriff ’s office really helped prepare him to be sheriff. “It helped me even more when I was out there on traffic duty, writing tickets, because I love writing tickets, and I just love interacting with people,” he said. He indicated that one really gains an education on how to interact with people when people start out with elevated tension levels. He said one learns to control oneself and “not go as high as they go.” “In other words, I learned how to bring people back down to the level in which I wanted to communicate with them,” he said. He especially learned about working with people while working in the jail. “I tell people if you can’t deal with the people in the jail, you definitely can’t deal with the people in the street, to be honest with you, because at least you’re in a controlled environment back there,” he said.

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Southampton County Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr. pauses for photos with the Southampton Academy cheerleaders, above, and the Southampton High School cheerleaders, at right.

When Wyche decided to run for sheriff, it was a crowded field, but Wyche drew the most votes from a community he had been serving for more than three-and-a-half decades. “To me, it was a great achievement,” he said. “Being there for the people for the number of years that I have been there for them, that time, the people were there for me when I was elected sheriff. So, it was a great honor to know that I would be protecting and serving our citizens in the county as well as in the City of Franklin for the next four years and looking forward to going even more.” With his election, Wyche became the firstever African American sheriff in Southampton County. “I look at it from the point of view of it’s a great historical moment, no doubt about that, but on the same token, we can’t dwell upon that,” he said. “We have to move forward. Change comes. Some people like change, some don’t, but at the end of the day, change is going

14 western tidewater living to come, or change did come, and the historical moment, yes, it was important.” But he noted that when he ran for sheriff, he did not run on history. “I ran because I wanted to be there for our citizens, so therefore, I’m there for the citizens just like the citizens are there for me,” he said. He took office Jan. 1, 2020, and had about three-and-a-half months before the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down. “The thing about it is, when you become sheriff, you can’t pick and choose what’s going to come at you, so yes, it’s been a taxing year, but hey, it’s a challenge,” he said. “When I took this office, I took the challenge on as whatever’s coming to me.” The trust that Wyche has built with the community has helped him tackle those challenges. That trust has been particularly evident through his interactions with the community’s young people. “These kids, I know them, they know me, they feel comfortable with me, and then a lot of them feel that they can come and talk to me,” he said. “I’ve always felt that we are here to look after our kids to make sure they succeed, and that’s one thing I’ve always done.” Adding to his connection with many of them is the fact that he once walked in their school-related footsteps, having been a student in Southampton County Public Schools and also, following a transfer, in Franklin City Public Schools. Wyche also knows the duties of a sheriff do not just involve headline-grabbing responsibilities in law enforcement but also relatively low-profile acts of public service. “This year has been taxing with corona, and our kids have missed out on a lot, and I was contacted about them having a little prom for the kids at the fairground,” he said. He noted that while he is the sheriff, he is not above doing simple guard work to keep the kids in the community safe while they enjoy a prom. “So Saturday night, the sheriff was at the fairground with the kids,” he said. “We had a good time and even to the point where I saw a young lady out there, and I said, ‘Where’s your date?’ She says she didn’t have a date. So I said, ‘Well, I’m your date. I’ll escort you.’” And he did. “I really enjoyed knowing that those kids are happy and knowing that corona might have stopped a lot of things, but we were able to pull that off,” he said. Wyche said his favorite things about being sheriff are meeting people and taking care of the community’s kids. Part of what has prepared him to do those and the rest of his duties well is his family. “I have a family of my own, and my wife, she has been there

HISTORY, from page 12

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and supported me,” he said. “To have her there and the support, it makes me the person that I am. So without that, then who knows what life would be like.” He and his wife, Lorraine Wyche, have two children, Josh A. Wyche Jr. and Brittany R. Wyche. The sheriff also credited his staff for helping the Southampton County Sheriff ’s Office succeed. “I have to say I have good staff here, good people working here, and those guys, they are really doing a great job,” he said. He also highlighted his gratitude for a particularly key member of his staff, Maj. Camden Cobb. “I was really fortunate to get Major Cobb, because he and I, we work very close together, and there’s not anything that’s going on that I don’t run past him or he runs past me, and we’re a great team together, we really are, and he makes my life very easy,” Wyche said. Wyche has also enjoyed the great team-

work that exists between his office, the Franklin Police Department and the Virginia State Police. “It makes me feel good to know that when I pick that phone up, that those guys are coming running,” he said, adding that it also works the other way around. “If they pick the phone up, we’re going running.” A year-and-a-half into his first four-

year term as sheriff, Wyche said he is looking forward and geared up to run again. But he knows the key to continuing in this public service role is faithfully applying the life lessons he has learned along the way. “One thing I learned — campaigning never stops,” he said. “When you win an election, really, your campaign is just beginning, to be honest with you.”

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GOAT YOGA V’s Goat Yoga Founder Vickie Spivey, in foreground, warms up her participants before the goats are released. Participants pictured are, from left, Kathy Fields, Amanda Fields, Addison Fields, Deborah Spivey, April Fields, Shannon Springer and Caris Springer.

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A ticket to relaxation and good humor STORY AND PHOTOS BY TITUS MOHLER

ickie Spivey, the founder of V’s Goat Yoga in Courtland, was in a Tractor Supply store one time with some of her goats, and she was wearing a V’s Goat Yoga T-shirt. She recalled a lady passerby who stopped to check out the goats and then saw the T-shirt. Spivey remembered the lady said, “Oh, goat yoga — we come watch the goats do yoga?” The name “goat yoga” does elicit funny ideas and images in the mind, but the activity, which originated on the West Coast, is actually simpler than it may sound. The first hint of this came in Spivey’s reply to the lady. “I’m like, ‘No… you do the yoga,’” Spivey said. Goat yoga includes the physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation of traditional yoga and blends these elements with pet therapy. The combination is meant to foster relaxation and good humor. Spivey, who first started offering classes in August 2020, described how sessions are designed to work at V’s Goat Yoga, which is principally located in the barnyard at 21172 Ivor Road in Courtland. “We do 15 to 20 minutes of warm up without the goats,” Spivey said, “and then we turn the goats loose when we’re kind of doing groundwork on the ground. And everybody has their little free cup of treats for the goats. The goats are very familiar with the rattle of that cup, so that will let everybody interact with the goats for a while, practice the poses they just learned and stretched and we got used to and give some pictures.” A distinct feature that is typical of goats is a desire to be “king of the mountain” — they enjoy climbing or jumping to stand on top of things. This list of things even includes people, which is what leads to a key and common feature of goat yoga. See YOGA, page 18

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YOGA, from page 16

“Once people are either in Child’s Pose or Table Top or basically somebody that is elevated to the point (goats) can get on top, then they’re there,” Spivey said. “They’re very entertaining to watch.” A goat standing on a person’s back is not an unusual sight in a V’s Goat Yoga session after the goats are released and participants continue with their poses. Then Spivey and her goat handlers put the goats back into their own barnyard before she leads participants in some leg and abdominal work. “Once you’re laying on your back, you don’t want the goats stepping on your stomach and your face,” she said. “So we do our leg and ab work and some total relaxation without the goats.

“Then we bring the goats back in and everybody gets a little bucket of hay to sit at their mat, because that is one of the most relaxing sounds — those goats munching on their hay,” she continued. “Then they get more time with the goats for more photo ops, more practice yoga with your goats or just goat hugs.” Then Spivey offers participants free, healthy refreshments so they can continue on with their relaxation. “I may not have any way of helping them from their hectic life to get to their mats, but I hope to ease them back to their hectic life with some more relaxation off their mats with some refreshments,” she said, “and I have horses and mini horses and the goats, and I’ve got chairs set up

all around, and they can just sit and relax until I ring the bell that they have to go because I’ve got to get ready for my next session. But they get about two hours of relaxation.” Spivey’s words, describing how she hopes to help people, speak to the heart of what she is ultimately trying to accomplish through V’s Goat Yoga. She is a paramedic who has been teaching basic and advanced life support for more than 30 years in the area. The name of her limited liability company that offers the goat yoga is V’s Wellness & Emergency Training. She said that for the last couple years, a lot of the lectures at emergency medical services expos or symposiums focus on

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Shortly after the goats are released into the yoga session, participants draw them with treats they are quite familiar with. In this photo, Kathy Fields is swarmed by Vickie Spivey’s older goats. Oreo is up on her, Snickers stands on the Kathy’s mat, Beau is in the foreground, and behind Kathy is Issy on the left and Bella on the right. Right, Vickie Spivey, the founder of V’s Goat Yoga, leads a class in warmups before releasing the goats.

how the suicide rate among first responders is rising significantly. “I’ve taught a whole lot of people around here to run in and take care of other people,” Spivey said. “So now I feel like I should help them take care of themselves, and I think this is a fun, relaxing, reset-before-you-resume-type of activity, and it’s good for you.” She noted her first thought was aimed in the direction of serving specifically emergency responders with her goat yoga offering. “But the last couple years we’ve all had, you realize right quick — everybody’s stressed,” she said. See YOGA, page 20

20 western tidewater living YOGA, from page 19

“So I thought, ‘Well, no need to narrow the field down to just my first responder people. Everybody needs it now.’” Spivey took a few moments to correct some notions of what yoga seems to be in some people’s minds. “For some reason the word ‘yoga’ seems to scare people,” she said. “I guess they kind of think of the pretzel or contortion. It’s mainly just good stretching exercises. So what you’re doing is improving your flexibility and building your balance. And none of us want to be that emergency call of, ‘She’s fallen and can’t get up.’ So we’re up and down and up and down a lot. “So like the saying goes, ‘Laughter’s the best medicine,’ and ‘If you don’t use it, you’re going to lose it,’ so you’ve got to keep moving,” she said. For Spivey, a significant part of the appeal of yoga has come through its goat yoga offshoot. She said that at a fitness center near to where she lives, some women taught yoga and went through a certain company to do it, and that is why she started researching a little about the activity. “Once I heard about the goats and the goat yoga, then I was done — that was for me,” she said. “I don’t even do just yoga classes. I have only done the goat yoga classes for my folks.” She said what made this activity the one for her was the way the exercises incorporated with the pet therapy, producing relaxation and laughter together. “It worked for me, so I’m hoping it works for a lot of other people,” she said. Spivey noted goat yoga was developed by a lady on the West Coast in 2016. It has since caught on at different locations on the East Coast, including Little Goat Farm at the Lake, in Nokesville, Virginia, and Hux Family Farm, in Durham, North Carolina. Those farms are at least between two and three hours away from Spivey’s barnyard in Courtland, so the goat yoga offerings were not really in competition with each other, and Spivey learned some im-

April Fields, left, and 6-year-old Addison Fields aim for a mother-daughter goat yoga moment, as Bella stands on April’s back and Vickie Spivey places Gabby on Addison’s back.

portant insights about the endeavor from organizers at those other farms. “They were very willing to give me all the information that they had learned along the way, which was wonderful, because obviously I didn’t talk to the people out on the West Coast who were doing it,” she said. “It was very nice to have people that have already been doing it for a few years to be able to talk to about it all.” After deciding goat yoga was for her, Spivey began her search to obtain the perfect goats for it. She has learned that it is best to get the goats when they are bottle babies. “We bottle feed them, and then they love to be around people,” she said. For three of her goats that were pretrained for goat yoga, she was on a twoyear waiting list. While she was waiting for them, she bought some local goats and found that they do well too. As of early May 2021, she had eight goats, including three that were each 10 weeks old. The more seasoned goats included Beau, Bella, Issy, Oreo and Snickers, and the younger ones were Gabby, Vanna and Vinny. Keith Desbois is a friend of Spivey with a background in public affairs who has been helping her promote the venture by shooting video and still photos at her ses-

sions. “Shooting these things every time, it’s always something different,” he said. “It’s great stuff, because the goats got their own little unique personalities and the way they interact with people.” These qualities were on display during a session at the barnyard the morning of May 8. It was the first class Spivey had ever held that had human kids to go with the goat kids, in addition to some adults. Once the goats arrived, the children largely lost interest in the yoga, making Spivey think children having their own session separate from the adults might be a better strategy moving forward. Nevertheless, the participants unanimously announced they enjoyed the class. “You can still relax but then laugh through it, so my mind was nowhere else,” Amanda Fields said. April Fields added, “And they’re so cute, the little goats.” “I liked the whole experience,” Amanda said. “It just made me very happy, because I didn’t want to wake up this morning.” “I was OK to skip the yoga and just pet the goats,” April said. Six-year-old Caris Springer said, “I thought it was awesome. I really liked it.” Caris’ mother, Shannon Springer’s initial word to describe the class was “inSee YOGA, page 21

western tidewater living

YOGA, from page 20

pt i o n teresting, ” and she quickly followed this with a strong laugh and the declaration, “It was fun. “It was very interesting and relaxing and different and just a change of pace, so it was nice,” she said. “It was nice to have (the goats) kind of walking on you and having this whole deep tissue/yoga all at the same time.” She confirmed she was able to get some good photos of her daughter with the goats. “She likes anything that’s fluffy and cute and can play with her,” Shannon said. V’s Goat Yoga has now held a handful of sessions, and Spivey is hoping it will be able to pick up momentum now with the COVID-19 pandemic beginning to dissipate. She expressed gratitude to her team of supporters that have helped make V’s Goat Yoga a reality. Her husband, Danny Spivey, preps the farm, which they both own, and he helps with the goats.

Yoga refers primarily to herself, it could also be attributed to her daughter-in-law, Virginia “Gin” Spivey, who owned goats and loved them prior to Vickie’s foray into goat yoga. Virginia is an active help to Vickie in the endeavor. Vickie’s son, James Spivey, set up the V’s Goat Yoga Facebook page and works to promote the business, along with Desbois. Desbois’s wife, Lisa Desbois, serves as a goat handler along with Vickie’s grandson, Tyler Spivey, and Hannah Hasty. Vickie now has her website up where those interested can go to for more information on what she does — www. VsWellnessandEmergencyTraining.com. Summing up what a successful goat yoga session is like, Vickie said, “I know I’ve done my job if I hear that belly laugh from my folks that are enjoying the goats. I enjoy (people’s) smiles — (then) I know we’re doing good, but when I get that fullfledged laughter, I know I’ve really done my job.”

opti on

ti on t i o n Her sister-in-law, Deborah Spivey, ors can stay at home when a Nursing Home is not an option functions as hospitality coordinator and ptio n goat handler.

Amanda Fields provides a plateau for Gabby to occupy.

Seniors can stay at home when a Nursing Home is not an option Seniors can stay at homeWE whenPROVIDE a Nursing Home is not an option Vickie said though the “V” in V’s Goat

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western tidewater living

Changing the Narrative

Back row, from left, Alayna Carter, Lylah Rowland, Amirah Adams and Aubrey Boone. Middle row: Makenna Bolton, Saniya Faltz, Trinity Griffith, Maddyson Dunlow and Kalani Artist. Front row: Malaya Porter, Kara Johnson, Emma Cox and Veronica Griffith. Not pictured with group: Amori and Jewel Stephenson

Local group works to improve race relations STORY BY STEPHEN FALESKI SUBMITTED PHOTOGRAPHY

or Kashif Carter, the murder of George Floyd was the tipping point. Last year on May 25, four now-fired Minneapolis police officers had pinned Floyd to the ground after arresting him for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. Ex-officer Derek Chauvin, who in April was convicted of

Floyd's murder, was recorded on video pressing his knee against the 46-yearold Black man's neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd gasped for air. Among Floyd's last words were, “I can't breathe!” which became a rallying cry for numerous Black Lives Matter protests throughout the nation, including ones in Franklin. It was at that point Carter became of the opinion that race relations, both na-

tionally and locally, had deteriorated from when he had grown up in the city of roughly 8,000 in the 1990s. “There's too much division,” Carter said. “It's no secret on a Sunday is one of the biggest days when we're most divided,” referring to the numerous churches in and around Franklin that have majority-Black or majority-white congregations. He admits it might be one of those See NARRATIVE, page 24

24 western tidewater living NARRATIVE, from page 23

things where “as a kid, you don't really see what's going on,” but that didn't change his resolve to try and do something about it. That effort took the form of Changing the Narrative, an informal group Carter founded last year with representation from several local congregations and businesses. Among them are Ellis Cofield Sr. and Jr., a father-son duo who run a locksmith business on Pretlow Road; Diane Zeigler of Kingdom Impact Church; Kenny Bergin, Lamont Hill and Candace Hagen, all of the Rock Church of Franklin; and others. “A lot of times, in the community from what we see, churches don't work together, businesses don't work together; our goal is for them to work together … regardless of whether they're Black or white,” Carter said. But Changing the Narrative isn't an exclusively religious organization, nor a business-focused one like the FranklinSouthampton Area Chamber of Commerce. Its membership has grown to include former teacher Howie Soucek and some city employees. See NARRATIVE, page 25

Left, Changing the Narrative member and hair stylist Kris Carrington Whitley curls Makenna Bolton’s hair. Right, makeup artist Carrie Smith applies finishing touches.

western tidewater living

Kara Johnson receives a manicure from nail technician Kimberly Evans.

NARRATIVE, from page 24

The group began meeting in March 2020 just as COVID-19 was beginning to surge in Virginia, initially with the goal of organizing activities for children other than sports. While the pandemic proved somewhat of a setback to the group's

event-planning efforts, Carter said it's actually brought members closer together. Not only did it give the group as a whole more time to plan events, but its members began having the one-on-one, hardto-have conversations about race and

preconceptions Carter says are needed for Franklin to move forward. “The kind of conversations you don't have because your boss is sitting in the room, those are the conversations we need to have,” Carter said. “What we talk See NARRATIVE, page 26

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Photographer Brittney Vandiford stages the shot.

NARRATIVE, from page 25

about here stays here; we're trying to build trust.” And it's working. “We had people say, 'Before this meeting, I was afraid of darkskinned people,” Carter said. “That particular person isn't afraid anymore.” Others, prior to attending a Changing the Narrative meeting, had expressed a dislike of police officers. “They came to the meeting … things have changed,” Carter said. It's a lot easier to crucify something or someone on social media when you don't get to hear another person's perspective, Carter added. Word of the group and its mission is now spreading. “Last meeting, [City Councilman] Mark Kitchen showed up,” Carter said. He's since spoken with Mayor Frank Rabil, all the other City Council members and the seven-member race relations committee the council formed last June following Floyd's death to recommend ways of improving community-police relations See NARRATIVE, page 27

western tidewater living

Participants of the festivities enjoy a lunch together.

NARRATIVE, from page 26

In March of this year, Virginia's pandemic-related restrictions had loosened to permit the group's hosting a “princess makeover” event at the city's Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center with the help of area cosmetology and photog-

and other aspects of life in Franklin. “It's coming together,” Carter said. “The whole purpose of the group was to be diverse. It wasn't going to be about any one earrange”ing. particular church or religion or color or social status … I love where we're at.”

raphy professionals. There, 14 Franklin and Southampton County girls received professional hair, mail and makeup services by Kimberly Evans of Prezzon Nails, Avon representatives April Blythe and Carrie Smith — followed by a proSee NARRATIVE, page 28

Keep Your Brain Healthy & Active! Keep a journal of your summer fun • Listen to music & dance Eat lots of fresh fruits & vegetables • Drink plenty of water • Make up an adventure story • Ride your bike • Play hopscotch • Get some art supplies & draw • Perform a random act of kindness!

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One of the founding members of Changing the Narrative, Kashif Carter.

fessional photoshoot with photographer Brittney Vandiford, all for free. “We normally try for the 7-11 age range; there's a lot of other organizations that already have the 12-year-olds, the 15-yearolds,” Carter said. “Seven years old, they're really trying to figure out what they want to do.” So far, the group has funded its events entirely out of the pockets of its members. “We pull together as a group and say, 'Hey, who can do this?' … One lady from Emporia reached out to us and said, 'Hey, I love what y'all are doing,'” Carter said. “She gave us a heck of a discount and we pulled together and just paid for [the rest of] it out of pocket.” The group is now planning a future event called “Bowling with a Cop” for July. The idea is exactly what it sounds like. The group has partnered with Chief Steve Patterson of the Franklin Police Department to organize a bowling event with some of his officers at the Franklin Bowling Center on Armory Drive. But Carter has no plans to formalize the group by applying for nonprofit status. “A lot of times when you make things too formalized you lose sight of the goal … the more authentic we keep it, the more authentic it feels to the community,” he said. “Once you put in presidents and vice presidents and treasurers you're limited as to what you can and can't say.” The group meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the Franklin Business Center, located at 601 N. Mechanic St.

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WTL Summer 2021

Articles inside

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