March 25, 2022 Vol. 67, Issue 4
Editorial
Body Shaming
Taxing Endeavor
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Please see Bowls, Page 8
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For the first time in two years, Ferrum College’s annual event, Empty Bowls, was brought back to the community on March 13 in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room on campus. Prior to that, the most recent Empty Bowls took place Nov. 2020, but due to COVID-19 protocols, the community could only come in by appointment. This year, however, the room was packed with people, bowls, and appreciative patrons. “It was something that I had hoped to be a part of while I was at Ferrum to give back to the community here that I fell in love with, and the event completely exceeded my expectations,” Madison Cogle, senior, said. This was one of the first events that has taken place on
Panther Packs Program. The Panther Packs Program helps students at Ferrum Elementary School who live with food insecurity. The schools are able to help during the week, but the weekend is where Panther Packs come into play. In the program, backpacks are filled with food that should last throughout the weekend and are given to students who inform the school that they need it. “There is no application process, and the backpacks are generic, so no one knows who is taking advantage of the program. It’s important to ensure that our children are getting enough to eat, but their dignity is equally important,” Franklin County Public School’s School Board Chair Julie Nix said. The Panther Packs Program was founded in 2009 by former Ferrum Elementary School Principal Marcie Altice. Fredericksen was the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) President at the time, and the two worked together during the program’s inception. Since Altice’s passing, the program has been run by Martha Puckett, who is the branch manager of Tri-Area Community Health. For its part, Empty Bowls has been an annual event at the college since 2010 and was originated by (at the time) Ceramics Professor Jeff Dalton, Environmental Science Professor Glen Stevens, and Fredericksen. Throughout the years, David Eichelberger joined the team as the new ceramics professor when Dalton left, along with Jacob Smith, head of the Art Department, joining. This then led to Josh Manning coming in as the new ceramics professor after Eichelberger left. During production, Dalton and Stevens contacted Fredericksen, wondering to whom they were going to donate the funds. Fredericksen then informed them of the
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By Lindsey M. Foster Editor
campus since the mask mandate was changed to optional as of Fri., Mar. 11. With officials estimating more than 300 attendees, the Village of Ferrum was able to come together and socialize in a community setting. “I’ve gone to the event for many years. I love pottery and enjoy the creativity of the bowls at the event. The bonus is it is a great cause!” Franklin County Public School’s Social Studies Teacher Mark Hatcher said. At Empty Bowls, everyone who attended purchased a handmade ceramic bowl for $10, 15 for Ferrum students, and received a bowl of soup, bread, dessert, and drink. Attendees also had an opportunity to participate in a silent auction. Throughout the year, it was a team effort to compile the event. It was a joint collaboration between Professor Nell Fredericksen’s ceramics courses, community groups, professional potters, and the Blue Ridge Potters Guild. When all of them came together, they created about 200 bowls a day with the help of professional potters, and they turned out about 50 bowls a day with the help of community groups. The goal each year is to have a minimum of 400 bowls. This year, the total was 491. Bowl donations, items for the silent auction, and money are provided by different people and groups throughout the region, including church groups, families, honor society students, and potters. Fredericksen donated pieces of her own pottery for the silent auction, which were all created at Sugar Grove Studio. The main display of the silent auction was a large bowl created by Fredericksen and Jennifer Mulligan, which was won for a bid of $225. Upon conclusion, Empty Bowls accumulated for the first time ever more than $10,000 that will go toward the
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At left, Ceramics Professor and local artisan Nell Fredericksen addresses the crowd at Empty Bowls on March 13 in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room. Above left and right, community members line the tables looking for the perfect piece to add to their collections. This was the first Empty Bowls since November of 2020. (Photos by Lindsey M. Foster)
215 Ferrum Mountain Rd., Ferrum, VA 24088
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Ferrum College
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