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Cover Page: Ms. Exquisite Full-Figured Virginia 2023 Anne e Slappy took away the most awards during the 4th annual Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Pageant held in Danville on June 24. In addition to being named Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Cover Girl 2023, she received a total of nine distinctions and at least three crowns.

Contents Page: The contestants in the 4th annual Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Pageant electrify the stage in a choreographed dance at the beginning of the event in Danville this summer. Photos by Bobby Allen Roach.

2023BEST OF SOUTHSIDE WINNERS

YOUR GUIDE TO SOUTHSIDE’S FAVORITES IN FOOD, SERVICE, REALTORS, SHOPPING AND MORE!

ANTIQUE SHOP

B&H Market on the Dan (Page 8)

APPETIZER

Me’s Burger and Brews

APPLIANCE STORE

DanvilleAppliance (Page 10)

AUTO BODY SHOP

AdkinsBrothers

AUTO SERVICE

WoodsonMarathon (Page 27)

BAKERY

Ma’s Cakes

BANK

First Citizens (Page 11)

BARBER

Three Monkeys Barbershop (Page 16)

BBQ

Checkered Pig

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AGENCY

EPIC Health Partners LLC

BISCUIT

Biscuitville

BOOK STORE

DogEaredPage

BOUTIQUE

MainStreetArtCollective (Page 25)

BREAKFAST

Rubens (Page 49)

BRUNCH

GoldenLeafBistro (Page 46)

BUFFET

WesternSizzlin

BUTCHERY

MountHermonMeatMarket

CAFE

LinksCoffeeHouseCafe

CHICKEN

Chick-fil-A

CHICKEN SALAD

MidtownMarket (Page 17)

CHILI

Wendys

CHINESE RESTAURANT

LongRiver

CHURCH

New LifeCommunityChurch (Page 25)

CLOTHING STORE

MossMountainOutfitters (Page 61)

COCKTAILS & MIXED DRINKS

KingCroppKitchen

COFFEE

CallandsCoffee

COMPUTER REPAIR

Marlow Services LLC (Page 46)

CREDIT UNION

URW Federal Credit Union

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

BrittanyCody

DANCE STUDIO

MeredithGravely School of Dance

DAY CARE

PlayN’ Pretend

DESSERT

Hall’sPastry

DOCTORS OFFICE

GoDocs (Inside Back Cover)

DOG TRAINING

EnlightenedK9Perspective (Page 62)

DONUTS

DeliteDonuts

DRIVING SCHOOL

GottaPassDriversEducation (Page 24)

DRY CLEANER

MillsCleaners (Page 48)

ESTHETICIAN

RhondaJohnson - RhondaJohnson

Esthetics (Page 61)

EVENT VENUE

AtkinsonFarms

EYE DOCTOR

ChathamEyeCareCenter

FAMILY RESTAURANT

Mary’sDiner

FARM EQUIPMENT SALES

JamesRiverEquipment (Inside & Back Cover)

FAST FOOD

Chick-fil-A

FEED & TACK

SouthernStates

FLORIST

M&WFlowerShop(Page 9)

FOOD TRUCK

SunsetSlushCool Bus (Page 8)

FRIES

McDonalds

FUNERAL HOME

ColbertMoranFuneralHome (Page 9)

FURNITURE STORE

FurnitureDepot (Page 4)

GARDEN CENTER

HaymoreGardenCenter

GIFTSHOP

Karen’sHallmark (Page 37)

GUN STORE

GunsGearandAmmo

GYM

SillyFitness

HAIR SALON

Studio29 (Page 31)

HAMBURGER

Ruben’sToo (Page 17)

HARDWARE/BUILDING SUPPLY

TightsqueezeHardware (Page 27)

HEATING/AC SERVICE

XtremeHeating&Air (Page 26)

HOLISTIC WELLNESS

LarimarLotus

HOME BUILDER

DanielBuildersLLC (Page 16)

HOME HEALTH CARE

CommonwealthHomeHealthCare (Page 10)

HOSPITAL

SOVAH (Page 26)

HOT DOG

MamaPossums

ICECREAM

Bubba’s

INSURANCE CO.

State Farm, David Satterfield (Page 24)

INVESTMENT CO.

GoldLeafInvestments (Page 48)

ITALIAN RESTAURANT

VillagePizza

JAPANESE RESTAURANT

TokyoGrill (Page 16)

JEWELER

BenDavidJewelers

LANDSCAPING

HeathLandscaping (page 36)

LAW FIRM

Fisk&Gregory,PLC (Page 11)

LOCAL BREWERY

BalladBrewing

LOCALLY OWNED GROCERY

MountHermonMeatMarket

LONG TERM CARE FACILITY

RomanEagle

LUXURY PICNICS

LushandLoungeEvents

MASSAGE THERAPIST

StacyReynolds (ArborVitaeNaturalTherapy)

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

ElCazador (Page 17)

MORTGAGE CO.

MovementMortgage (Page 46)

MOTORCYCLES

ThunderRoadHarleyDavidson

MUFFLER SERVICE

ScarceMuffler

MUSICIANS Slaughter Ave

NAIL SALON

PolishedNailBar

NEW BUSINESS

JammedHomeSolutions (Page 47)

NEW CAR DEALER

BisbeeHonda

NEW RESTAURANT

Cheyna’sWaffleSpot

NUTRITION STORE

RevitalizationStation

OFFICE SUPPLY

OfficePlus

PAINT STORE

DanvillePaintSupply (Page 30)

PEST CONTROL

FourSeasonsPestControl (Page 3)

PHARMACY

CommonwealthPharmacy (Page 10)

PHOTOGRAPHY

HannahKingPhotography

PHYSICAL THERAPY

MountainRiverPhysicalTherapy

PIZZA

LaNostraCucina

POOL SUPPLY

SummertimePool&Spa (Page 37)

PRE SCHOOL

The Learning Tree Daycare (Page 27)

PRINTING CO.

KG Graphics

PROPANE HEATING & OIL

DavenportEnergy (Page 36)

REAL ESTATE CO.

Elizabeth Ware Realtors

SALAD

Kickback Jacks

SANDWICH

NanaKaren’sonMain

SEAFOOD

CaptainCooks

SHOE STORE

The Brick

STEAKS

J&Tsonthe Main

SUBS

VillagePizza

SUMMER CAMP

Owen’sFarmCamp

SUPER GROCERY STORE

Walmart

TANNING

RiverCityTans

TATTOOS AND BODY PIERCING

BlueMoonTattoo and Body Piercing

TAX SERVICE

HarrisHarveyNeal&Co. (Page 49)

THAI FOOD

MoonRiverThai

TIRE SALES

Smith-DavisTirePros

TOWING/RECOVERY SERVICE

JJHogan (Page 60)

USED CAR DEALER

BlackwellAuto

VET/GROOMING/PET BOARDING

Cherrystone Veterinary Hospital (Page 8)

VETERINARIAN

Kay Geyer, Cherrystone (Page 8)

WEDDING VENUE

Motley’sMill WaterfallEstate

WELDING

EliteFabrication

WINERY

HomeplaceVineyard (Page 25)

WINGS

BuffaloWild Wings

MS. FULL-FIGURED VIRGINIA PAGEANT

The air was electrified as the contestants in the 4th annual Miss Full-Figured Virginia pageant took the stage in matching yellow shirts and black pants to begin an afternoon that celebrated beauty without barriers. Seven contestants showcased their style, talents, and the issues they represented on their platforms at Averett University’s Frith Auditorium on Sat., June 24, in an event co-hosted by Purusha Jones-Shearin, co-founder and pageant director, of North Carolina, Queen Shelly Scott, and Queen Phinon Hayes-Hurt.

The Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Pageant was formed in 2018 as part of the Ms. Full-Figured USA brand, founded by Chief Executive O cer Theresa Randolph and Jackie Epps.

“The Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Pageant was created to be an organization that empowers women through pageantry and inspires others while serving the community,” JonesShearin explained. “The pageant also aims to help the women that enter our pageant by providing them a platform to let their voices be heard, with a focus on building selfconfidence through our pageant competition. We emphasize

Story & Photos by Bobby Allen Roach

The 4th annual Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Pageant, shown above, was held at Averett University’s Frith Auditorium on Saturday, June 24. The contestants, from left, are Cassandra Alston Townsley, Diiva Johnson, Stephannie Malone, Jenise Hall, Annette Slappy, Camille Daniel-Mitchell, and Kiana Dillard.

building strong relationships and empowering women to discover and embrace the beauty within. We cater to women ages 18 through 60 and 61 plus, sizes 12 and above, and are inclusive of all races and ethnicities. We o er a unique blend of glamour and elegance for full-figured women in Virginia.”

The categories featured in the event were daywear, talent, fashionista, swimwear, international, and evening wear.

Camille Daniel-Mitchell, 30, from Martinsville, represented her platform “Survival After Domestic Abuse: Picking Up the Pieces.” She is a wife, mother, and businesswoman. She is a master braider, master braid instructor, event planner and coordinator, and an independent Paparazzi consultant.

Kiana Dillard, 28, of Martinsville, is an entrepreneur. Her platform was “Generational Wealth-Building through Entrepreneurship in the Black Community.” She is also the new work-based learning program coordinator at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, in addition to being a makeup artist, graphic designer, and scholarship sponsor.

Jenise Hall, 29, of Norfolk, is an early preschool teacher originally from Moultrie/Savannah, Georgia. Her platform was “Homelessness” Linking Those Who are in Need.” She is a recent graduate of Norfolk State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work. With this degree and platform, she plans to implement more resources that can help individuals who are homeless and struggling in lowincome communities. She is a volunteer with Sisters in Services Inc., with middle and high school girls. Her dream is to one day open a homeless shelter.

Diiva Johnson, styled as the “all-American girl,” is from Portsmouth. Her platform was “Self-Love: You are Worthy!” She is an entrepreneur, owner of KustomMade Brands LLC, and the proprietor of several local businesses dedicated to fashion and art. She has an associate’s degree in art and science from Tidewater Community College, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in urban a airs at Norfolk State University. She dedicates her time to her children and volunteering for the

Fabulous Fashionistas: Annette Slappy, above left, Kiana Dillard, above center, and Cassandra Alston Townsley, above right, showcase their style in the Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Pageant fashionista category.

Medical Reserve Corps and PBIS for Portsmouth Public Schools. She loves to read, paint, learn, and teach to better her society and culture. Her motto is “You have to love yourself before you can love others!”

Stephannie Malone, 28, of Brunswick County, is a mental health advocate. Her platform was “Mental Health: Serving the Underserved.” She is a care coordinator for a health insurance company and a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. She is also a trauma therapist and intern trained in eye movement desensitization processing (EMDR) and serves as vice chair and co-creator of a community organization based out of Brunswick County, called The Community Revitalization Coalition, LLC. Malone is the rechartering president and life member of the Eta Psi Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Inc., which was previously inactive for decades.

Annette Slappy, 51, from Halifax, represented her platform, “Autoimmune Awareness: The Invisible Disease,” during the

pageant. She said she wants to bring awareness to these diseases so that people can get the proper treatment to have a better quality of life. Slappy is an ambassador for Steps to Destiny, a nonprofit organization that supports those who are a ected by autoimmune diseases. She is also a care coordinator for Optima Health where she assists Medicare and Medicaid members. Annette is a wife and a mother to one son and said her new motto is “Thick crayons color, too!”

Cassandra Alston Townsley, also known as SummahLuv, represented full-figured women aged 61 and older. She placed first runner-up for Africa Fashion for Peace-America in Nigeria. She is a mother and a retired United States Postal Worker with a strong passion for family and community. Townsley is a chaplain, alopecia model, community outreach coordinator and activist, and personality host. She co-authored her first book, “My Bald is Beautiful: I am Not My Hair,” chapter, “Now You Can See My Face.” She has received numerous community awards, including proclamations, citations, and congressional recognition for

Sunny Swimwear: Diiva Johnson, above left, and Jenise Hall, above center, display their beach-ready fits during the swimwear competition of the Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Pageant held in Danville recently. Queen Phinon Hayes-Hurt, Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Plus 2021/2022, above right, introduced the contestants participating in the swimwear category this year.

her work throughout Brooklyn, New York, and Hampton. She also serves on several community boards, including Hampton NAACP Executive Board and Hampton Senior Citizens Advisory Committee as hospitality chair. Townsley’s platform was Alopecia Awareness and stated that she “aspires to inspire!”

An eighth contestant, Nijeria Jones, was also slated to appear, but had to withdraw from the pageant the day before due to her mother becoming sick.

Jones, 28, from Martinsville, is a licensed professional counselor. Her platform was “Bridging the Gap between Mental Health and Body Positivity.” She is a registered clinical supervisor for counselors in training, an advanced reiki practitioner, a two-time business owner, and possesses several educational certifications. In the coming year, Jones hopes to expand her knowledge even further by pursuing a doctoral degree in human sexuality.

The winners in each category are listed below.

Ms. Full-Figured Virginia 2023

Kiana Dillard

Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Plus 2023

Stephannie Malone

Ms. Exquisite Full-Figured Virginia 2023

Annette Slappy

Ms. Elite Full-Figured Virginia 2023

(Inaugural Queen)

Cassandra Alston Townsley

1st runner-up: Ms. Full-Figured Virginia 2023

Diiva Johnson

2nd runner-up: Ms. Full-Figured Virginia 2023

Camille Daniel-Mitchell

1st runner-up: Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Plus 2023

Jenise Hall

Johnson also received awards for Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Swimwear 2023 and Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Social Media 2023.

Jones received awards for Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Social Media 2023 and Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Congeniality 2023.

Malone received awards for Ms. Full-Figured Photogenic 2023, Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Academia 2023, and Ms. Full-Figured Social Media 2023.

Slappy received awards for Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Fashionista 2023, Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Talent 2023, Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Cover Girl 2023, Ms. Full-Figured Virginia International 2023, Ms. Full-Figured Virginia People’s Choice 2023, Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Congeniality 2023, Ms. FullFigured Virginia Social Media 2023, and Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Resilience 2023.

Townsley received awards for Ms. Full-Figured Resilience 2023, Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Community Service 2023, Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Excellence in Marketing 2023, and Ms. FullFigured Virginia Social Media 2023.

Some of the contestants, along with Purusha and Marsha Jones-Shearin, paid a visit to Jones and her mother, Cathy Martin, at the hospital after the Queens/Royal Court Brunch at Golden Leaf Bistro on Sunday, June 25.

“I figured it would be a good opportunity to make sure she didn’t miss out on everything and still bring her the gifts and awards and, of course, to see how her mom was doing,” JonesShearin explained. “We pride ourselves on being a sisterhood like no other.”

This group of talented, accomplished women are changing the world and changing plus-sized perceptions, proving that, true to the pageant’s motto, “Size has no barrier on beauty.” •

Kiana Dillard is crowned during the Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Pageant in Danville.

Diiva Johnson accepts one of her awards during the Ms. Full-Figured Virginia Pageant.

HONORING COMMUNITY

Through bull riding & barrel racing

For 25 years, True Grit Rodeo has hosted bull riders and barrel racers at their “Lucky L Arena” in Grit. Now, its second generation of owners is looking to expand their brand and awareness of the sport.

“We are looking to grow our home events in Hurt, in Grit — that’s one of our goals: get more awareness that we are here,” said Daniel Lanier, who owns and operates True Grit with his wife Erin. “We’re not on the side of a major highway, so people outside the area don’t realize we’re only 20 minutes from the Lynchburg airport. We’re not just up in the country playing rodeo — we are rodeo. This is a professional sport to us.”

There are two sides to the rodeo coin: bull riding and barrel racing. In bull riding, contestants have to stay on a

bull for eight seconds using only their legs and one arm and receive a score for their form and poise. Falling o before eight seconds results in no score.

Whenever a rider does fall, protection bullfighters like Cleive “the Wolfpack” Adams step in to guide the animal back to the exit chute and keep everyone in the arena safe.

“It’s the most intense thing I’ve ever experienced, just because they’re so powerful and they’re athletes in themselves,” Adams said. “They’re able to do things that people come to the show to see, and the wow factor of seeing that 1,600-pound animal just jump three and a half, four feet o the ground right in front of me, six feet away. I say I have the best seat in the house.”

The easiest way to think about it?

Story & Photos by Sami Mirza

“It’s kind of like you’re Russell Crowe in ‘Gladiator’ and you’re in person down there in the Coliseum, ready to square o with some beast,” Adams said.

On the other side of bull riding’s physicality is barrel racing’s fitness. In barrel racing, riders compete in turn to be the fastest in riding a horse in a cloverleaf pattern around three empty barrels.

“When they come in, they’re coming in running,” Lanier said. “They have to take three hairpin turns, and make zero mistakes, and then race out, and then get stopped, is the other thing. They’ve got to get stopped by the time they get to the back of the alley. So it’s ‘go-go-go-stop,’ and it is intense.”

Within the rodeo sphere, the animals in the arena are treated as athletes themselves. Bulls are scored for their e orts to buck o their rider — a more docile animal that’s easier to ride will net a lower score for the competitor, while more aggressive bulls score higher.

And barrel racer Jordan Lacks credits her mount as part of the reason she can round barrels so quickly.

“Some horses can be hard to control, but the horse I have, she knows every part about the barrel patterns,” Lack said.

Rodeo clown Keegan Mayo (left) faces o against the fictional “Ms. Motley” during an intermission act on Saturday, July 1. The show saw Mayo struggle to take a photo of the supposed beauty through a number of sight gags and jokes, culminating in the entertainer “shooting” Motley and triggering the pictured fisticu s.

Shown on opposite page, Jacob Pickford falls from a bull during a ride on Saturday, July 1. Pictured above, rodeo clown Keegan Mayo hands out drink warmers among the crowd in between rides. Clowns serve a number of roles in the arena, from color commentary and variety performer to keeping the crowd engaged.

“She knows exactly what to do. So to be able to have that connection with the horse and the way that your horse knows how to run — it’s just so crazy to me.”

That bond was the result of two or three years of practice, she said.

“One thing about rodeo that I think is really cool is it’s an animal and a human partnership,” Lacks said.

The sport is equal parts athletics, entertainment, and community, combining to create a continuous show from the moment things kick o . In between the lighting-quick bull rides and white-knuckle barrel racing, a rodeo clown cracks jokes and launches giveaways into the crowd, music echoes o the sides of the arena, and the announcer provides commentary and narration.

“It is action-packed, live, and constant engagement,” Lanier said. “We like to keep our momentum going. The energy, the electricity, all plays into our events.”

This collaboration is about more than just putting on a good show; within the Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association — of which True Grit is a part — the announcer, clown, and overall production are also competing for awards in their respective fields. At last year’s SEBRA finals, Lanier won Announcer of the Year, and True Grit as a whole won Producer of the Year.

“We’ve got a good reputation,” Lanier said. “We are two-

time Producer of the Year in the association, I have won Announcer of the Year three times.”

Proof of this reputation can be found in the lineup for True Grit’s Ellie-Buck Memorial Bull Bash — held on June 30 and July 1 of this year. The event attracted competitors from six states, including Michigan’s Matt Allgood.

“He rode one of our bulls that hadn’t been ridden in two years, and we were pumped,” Lanier said of Allgood. “We refer to it as ‘Rodeo Family,’ that’s what we are. We couldn’t do it without each other — yes, it is an individual sport, the bull rider is competing for himself. But the di erence is, we all want to see everyone succeed. Naturally, it’s not going to happen, but we’re cheering on every single person there.

The event is named after two members of the True Grit family that passed away just months apart seven years ago.

Daniel’s father, Herbert Lanier — known as “Buck” to his friends — first founded True Grit in 1998 with a partner and 18 rodeo bulls. He passed away in March 2016, after an eightyear battle with cancer.

“Then in June 2016, I got the worst phone call,” Daniel Lanier said. “My wife (Erin), one-week-old baby girl Oakley, and my mother-in-law Ellie Coyne, had been in an accident.”

Coyne passed away at the scene of the crash.

“She was one of our biggest fans,” he said. “It didn’t matter what you were doing, she was cheering you on — that’s just

Cheridan Pasour turns the first barrel on her blistering 13.505 second run. Pasour was the opening rider of the barrel-racing segment, which sees riders and mounts compete to circle three barrels in the fastest time, without knocking any of them over.

who she was. And so Erin and I decided to memorialize both of them by hosting this event.”

The Ellie-Buck Memorial Bull Bash was first held in 2017, the same year that Daniel and Erin took over as sole proprietors of the business.

“One thing that I’ve noticed is pretty amazing to me: this is our sixth annual Ellie-Buck Memorial Bull Bash, and all the way to this year so far, the bull rider that has won the average, my dad knew them and thought something of them,” Daniel Lanier said. “He was one of their fans.”

“Winning the average” means earning the highest average score over the two days of competition.

The community connections of rodeo run deep; Adams first got into the bull riding scene in his first year of high school and got to know the Lanier family through mutual friends.

“I tried bulls first because everyone wants to be a bull rider — they’re the superstars, us bullfighters are kind of like the backup dancers,” he said. “It just didn’t work out for me.”

After shattering a bone in his shoulder, Daniel Lanier pointed out that Adams had the right statute to be a bullfighter.

“I caught on quick, and I already had that — inner monster is what I call it — from football,” Adams said.

That was 13 years ago, and today Adams is well-versed in guarding fallen contestants, to the point that he can add flourish and flair to his work.

“Once you learn how to survive, then you put some flash on it, then you start selling tickets for your producers,” Adams said. “Daniel loves it when Ben (Walton), and Jonatan (Rodriguez) and myself, after the bull rider’s clear we’ll go out there and we’ll just play with that animal, just because we can and people like to see it.”

Lacks, who’s just 15, has been in the arena almost as long; she first got in the saddle almost a decade ago, and has built relationships with her peers on the SEBRA circuit.

“The ladies I rodeo with, I’ve known them my whole life,” she said. “They’re kind of like sisters or mothers to me.”

In looking to the future, Daniel Lanier is looking to tap into national identity in expanding True Grit’s audience — something that he says separates rodeo from other sporting events.

“We do represent God and our country,” he said. We are proud Americans, and we will represent that … A lot of sporting events, they don’t do it, won’t do it, and truthfully, we don’t care what they do. It’s what we do.”

And for people still on the fence about visiting the Lucky L Arena?

“Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it,” Lanier said. “If you’ll come one time, we will turn you into a rodeo fan — I guarantee it.”

A full schedule of True Grit’s events can be found at their website, truegritrodeo.com •

Brooks Robinson holds on during a ride on Saturday, July 1. Robinson entered the evening as Friday’s co-champion but did not stay on for the eight seconds needed to earn a score for the ride.

BOHEMIAN BEAT Keeping a pulse on the Arts Jus’ Cauz Bluegrass Band

Story

(Shown on opposite page)

Top left: The Jus’ Cauz Bluegrass Band performs one of their iconic sets in Southern Virginia.

Bottom right: A quick glimpse behind the scenes shows how casual and friendly the band members are.

& Photos by Kelly Hofmann

“If I wasn’t up here I’d be down there dancing!” says Mark Hudson, front man and one of the founding members of Jus’ Cauz Bluegrass Band. I first experienced these captivating and seasoned musician’s artistic flair at a fundraiser in Gretna, Virginia. I remember being thoroughly impressed with their magnetism and ability to draw in the audience despite a much smaller turnout due to various coinciding events in town. And that’s what struck me the most about these fellas- they put on a great show no matter if it’s 2 people or 200.

I was recently able to catch up again with Mark Hudson and the Jus’ Cauz Bluegrass Band for their performance at the Spencer-Penn Center in Spencer, Virginia. The house was packed with about 180 people in attendance filling nearly every seat, along with the center’s crew of hardworking and hospitable family and friends who were enjoying the performance as well. Susan Sabin, the center’s director said it was the largest crowd the venue has had since the COVID epidemic. Happy patrons young and old, enjoyed good food and two-stepping to the upbeat country and gospel sounds. As the lively and charismatic Hudson and his band spun their original songs along with covers of songs by Hank Williams, Merl Haggard and other greats, the crowd cheered them on and exchanged energy through requests and hearty applause. The band launched into numbers such as “California Cotton Fields”, Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line”, and even “Let’s Do the Twist” (with a unique country spin), members of the crowd’s older generations became increasingly comfortable with the band, as if they were hanging out with good friends. As the show progressed, it was apparent that JUS’ CAUZ are as humorously entertaining as they are musically talented. Hudson would often quip between numbers saying things like: “Don’t mind us. We’re just yammerin’ on, talking about nothing.” as they tuned up for the next song and “The B-side of an album sells for just as much as the A-side. We’re hoping our album will go aluminum.”. It was lovely to see them casually communicate with their adoring fans with the endearing charm of Freddie Mercury.

This tight-knit band is manned by front man Mark Hudson on acoustic guitar and vocals, David Lewis on mandolin and vocals, Dylan Burgess on banjo and vocals, “Uncle Charlie” Moore (special guest to the band) on Dobro, Charlie’s nephew Darren Moore on upright bass and vocals and Darren’s talented son Bailey Moore on guitar.

I learned that the original core group of JUS’ CAUZ grew up together, and youngest member Bailey Moore has been learning music since he was three years old. Some of the member’s grandparents were a big influence on them, so their music is more than just good tunes, but a legacy of sorts. The band-who all identify as Christians-are regularly “Searching out songs for the soul”. JUS’ CAUZ have been performing together at church functions, festivals and other events since 2010. At

RenoFest in 2014, the band was named “South Carolina State Band Champion”, followed by the title of “Best Bluegrass Band in Virginia” for 2012 and 2018. One of the largest crowds they have played for was for the Bluegrass Festival at the A.G. Center in Chatham to about 600 people. In fact, JUS’ CAUZ have performed all over the Eastern United States and have no intention of stopping anytime soon. They recently renovated a basement area into a studio and are hoping to release an album in the near future.

I was scheduled to conduct a brief interview with Hudson and the band during the break between the two-part show. And while I immensely enjoyed my conversation with these seasoned musicians, I wasn’t able to speak much with Hudson. That was beCauze while on break, Hudson sat at the edge of the stage and attentively conversed with several of the seniors in the crowd, reminiscing with them about their favorite musical memories, wedding day songs and other nostalgic details in their lives. Following the show, Hudson did the same. This personal touch showed the connection between the band and their admirers and will no doubt leave a lasting impression on them, and me as well. In this age of selfish, pampered performers in the music industry, Hudson and Jus’ Cauz are a rare breath of fresh air. They seem to get as much from their fans as they give them, and it was heartwarming to witness.

Speaking later on with Hudson, I asked him if he ever had aspirations of performing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville or on a program like “A Prairie Home Companion” on NPR. He conveyed that while he may have liked to have done that as a youth, as an adult he would rather have that unique experience that comes with more intimate audiences. In fact, Hudson and the others work regular jobs during the day, which allows them to do what they love in their free time. He stated that some of his personal inspirations come from artists such as Merle Haggard, Hank Williams Sr., The Stanley brothers and Reno and Smiley.

As the show neared it’s end, the band asked if there were any requests from the crowd. An attendee called for the 1968 Osborne Brothers classic “Rocky Top”, to which Hudson responded: “OK, we’re gonna’ do the best with what we’ve got.” After the song the man shouted out with the exuberance of an 18-year-old at a rock concert: “Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about!”. A second gentleman-on break from dancing with his wife-called for “Waltz Across Texas”, the elderly couple’s wedding song. The band responded with a spot-on cover of the Ernest Tubb classic: “Like a storybook ending, I’m lost in your charms. . . and I could waltz across Texas with you. “

And that’s where I’ll leave it-with the crowd lost in the charms of Jus’ Cauz Bluegrass band.

*Jus’ Cauz Bluegrass Band are based in Danville, Virginia and will be performing November 18th at the Dominion Agricultural Center Bluegrass Festival in Chatham, Virginia. Check out their Facebook page for more details and upcoming shows.•

W&W Luxury Limousine Service LLC is distinguishing itself from the rest of the Limousine Industry as a locally respected, customerdriven company. We provide private limo service to the airport, corporate and sporting events, weddings, conventions, nightclubs, or where ever your needs take you. W&W Luxury Limousine Service strives to exceed your expectations in all aspects.

W&W Luxury Limousine Service LLC is distinguishing itself from the rest of the Limousine Industry as a locally respected, customerdriven company. We provide private limo service to the airport, corporate and sporting events, weddings, conventions, nightclubs, or where ever your needs take you. W&W Luxury Limousine Service strives to exceed your expectations in all aspects.

W&W Luxury Limousine Service LLC is distinguishing itself from the rest of the Limousine Industry as a locally respected, customerdriven company. We provide private limo service to the airport, corporate and sporting events, weddings, conventions, nightclubs, or where ever your needs take you. W&W Luxury Limousine Service strives to exceed your expectations in all aspects.

Kirby Wright

Kirby Wright

Kirby Wright

Kirby Wright

Craig Warren

Craig Warren

Craig Warren Tammy Wright-Warren

Craig Warren Tammy Wright-Warren

Tammy Wright-Warren

Amy Pierce

262-4138

WALK. TALK. DANCE. SING.

Eli Lev’s New Project is inspired by the Pandemic

Eli Lev is a popular indie folk singer/songwriter who released his latest project, an EP called Walk.Talk.Dance.Sing, inspired by the events of the pandemic. Walk.Talk.Dance. Sing explores the range of emotions that we all went through as a society in an instant. Eli realized how much music truly meant and how powerful it really is to keep us going.

The EP consists of 5 singles, “Be Your Someone,” kicking everything o with an indie pop sound similar to that of Ben Harper or Bon Iver and takes a deep dive into the forced isolation and connection we all had to go through. For Eli, he and his partner were figuring out how to live and coexist with each other. “There were a lot of tears and confusion as we tried to figure out how to live with each other in our new reality, but in the end we knew that we were each other’s someone - and it was ok to love and hate and have all those mixed emotions play out in order for us to better understand each other, and better understand our relationship together,” shares Eli.

“Dancin’ on the Lawn” takes on a Jason Mraz meets Bon Iver vibe, with an upbeat melody and whistling throughout. It’s hopeful that we will all be able to have fun again and enjoy live music together. We will one day connect through music. Eli says, “My entire 2020 tour was canceled because of the pandemic and I truly missed being able to share my songs with folks face-to-face so I wrote this song about the day in the future where we’d all be dancing together again.”

Story by Ar el Hyatt

Shown on opposite page, Eli Lev stands with his acoustic guitar.

“Move As You Do” still has a pop feeling, but has more of an acoustic sound to it. It starts a little slower while Eli sings about the future and how we are told there’s a “right way” to go through life. But, it happens slowly, one step at a time; everything happens for a reason, and not necessarily in the order you want it to happen. It’s a reminder that there’s no “right way” to do life.

The fourth single, “Vacation,” is bubbly and harbors a pop beat. After 2 years of being stuck and isolated, “Vacation” reminds us that we need a physical and mental vacation from everything that’s happened, that we need a break and movement. “I wrote this song turning all the mundane tasks of everyday living during the pandemic into something exotic and special and interesting - kind of like an extremely long vacation!” Eli says.

Walk.Talk.Dance.Sing wraps up with “Singing Along for the First Time,” released in conjunction with the EP. It takes on a folk style, purely a Jason Mraz sound with a hint of Ed Sheeran. It’s upbeat, quick, and utilizes the violin. “Singing Along for the First Time” is about hope and joy, finding the joy and majesty in music and the power it has over us. It’s a celebration of music. Eli shares, “When we realize what music can do to our hearts and souls and bodies, there’s this new yet ancient reckoning of us re-becoming our human selves and what it means to be part of the larger community of humanity.”

Listen to Walk.Talk.Dance.Sing: https://soundcloud.com/elilevmusic/sets/walk-talk-dance-sing/s-

jKPrXSCFlhZ?utm_source=clip board&utm_medium=text&utm_ campaign=social_sharing

More About Eli Lev

Rising singer-songwriter and global citizen Eli Lev is making the world a smaller place, one song at a time. Eli pens lyrics and melodies for everyday enlightenment—songs that resonate because they’re heartfelt, earthy, and o er the wisdom he’s gained through lifelong travel and self-discovery.

Prior to becoming a full time musician, the Silver Spring, MD native spent three years as an 8th grade English teacher on the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona. The indigenous traditions he learned during this time are the inspiration for his Four Directions project. Just as each cardinal direction holds unique characteristics in the Navajo tradition, so do each of the albums in Eli’s ‘Four Directions Project.’ Together, the series imaginatively and intrepidly connects spheres and generations within a body of work that is irresistibly uplifting, emotionally resonant, and downto-earth authentic.

Eli explains, “We are surrounded by four directions, and each has distinctive attributes, powers, and teachings according to Navajo traditions. For example, because the sun rises in the east, it is the first direction and source of new ideas and inspiration. With that in mind, I started my EP series in 2017 with All Roads East, echoing the sounds of my youth and upbringing (Alt-Country/ Americana). I released Way Out West the following year, where I experimented with the frontiers of folk tropes and melodies (Indie Folk). For 2019’s Deep South, I went back to my southern roots

with a truly modern and powerful sound (Folk Rock/Pop). The final piece in 2021 is the more introspective True North (Acoustic/ Singer-Songwriter).

Eli’s releases have earned critical praise from Paste Magazine, Buzzfeed, CBS Radio, AXS, and The Bluegrass Situation, and have received national folk radio support and placement on prominent Spotify playlists. In 2019, Eli Lev won multiple industry awards for his work: his second album Way Out West won a Washington Area Music Award (WAMMIE) for best Country/Americana album, while his single “Chasing Daylight” won a grand prize in the SAW Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Competition.•

Dr. Albert L. Payne, DDS

Dr. Jeffrey A. Clifton, DDS

Dr. Christopher A. Payne, DDS MAGD

Dr. Thomas J. White, DDS

Dr. Austin L. Moon, DDS

Dr. Andrew J. Hessler, DDS

Dr. Nicole M. DeShon, DMD

Dr. Nikki L. Hartline, DDS

Dr. Afnan Yousef, MS

Dr. Giuliana A. Silva, DDS

Business Spotlight

A Firearms Store, A Lavender Farm, A Mexican Eatery, & Something Sweet:

Stor es by e l h H s Sam M r a & Bobby Allen oa h

Over the past month, the Chatham Star-Tribune has highlighted four new and budding businesses in the area:

HOMETOWN LAVENDER

In 2007, Terri Dalton, of Gretna, began studying the health benefits and properties that lavender possesses, such as natural calming and healing of rashes or bug bites.

Twelve years later, in 2019, Dalton and her husband, James, started a lavender farm with 20 plants, which have now grown to approximately 300. Hometown Lavender is a small-town lavender agribusiness, growing, harvesting, and making seasonal care products using all-natural ingredients.

Dalton talked with a very close friend, Janice Brown, of Vinton, and asked her to join her on this journey of creating lavender-based personal care products.

Together they now create products such as soap, body butter, essential oils, bouquets, wreaths, and many other items. Located at 1434 Ben Annie Road in Gretna, they also welcome residents most Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the blooming season.

“My dream of opening the farm for visitors to come and enjoy the peace, tranquility, and beauty of the lavender haze has started this year,” Dalton said. “I want folks to see and experience the simple farm life down a long dirt road. We hope that people can enjoy the beauty that God provides to us in plant forms.”

JALICIENSE RESTAURANT

Jaliciense Restaurant sets itself apart from competitors in the industry by delivering an unparalleled dining experience centered around “authentic” Mexican cuisine. With a strong emphasis on homemade Mexican-style food, the restaurant prides itself on o ering dishes that are deeply rooted in tradition and prepared with the utmost care.

Located in the Ballou Park Shopping Center in Danville, Jaliciense Restaurant captures the essence of Mexican flavors by using fresh, high-quality ingredients and time-honored recipes passed down through generations. Their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the cuisine sets them apart, making them a standout choice for those seeking a true taste of Mexico.

Stepping inside Jaliciense Restaurant, customers are transported to the vibrant streets of Jalisco, Mexico, with an ambiance that reflects the rich cultural heritage of the region. Whether indulging in their mouthwatering street tacos, savoring their famous Burrito Jali, or quenching their thirst with refreshing Aguas Frescas, patrons can be assured of an authentic dining experience that is unparalleled in the industry.

Jaliciense Restaurant’s dedication to providing genuine Mexican

cuisine, combined with a warm and inviting atmosphere, has already earned them a loyal following of customers who keep coming back for more. For those in search of an unforgettable culinary journey through the flavors of Mexico, Jaliciense Restaurant is the destination of choice.

RIFLEMAN’S OUTFITTER

Gretna’s firearms and sporting goods store has a new owner, who’s looking to combine a brick-and-mortar store with long-range training and expertise.

Rifleman’s Outfitter, located just north of Gretna on the southbound side of U.S 29, is now owned by Andy Slade, and his wife Tammy, who was ready to re-enter the workforce.

“This gave her a place to be able to have the kids at work with her,” he said.

Until May, the shop was known as PointBlank Sporting Goods and owned by Michael Burnette. As Burnette was ready to retire, the Slades stepped into to take on the shop.

“A lot of people, when they saw the sign change out front, they were curious and wanted to come in and see what we had going on,” Andy Slade said. “We obviously want to continue the same relationship with the local community that the previous owners were known for.”

Originally from Climax, Slade served 12 years as a Marine, spending time as a shooting instructor in the Corps. For the past few years he’s worked as an instructor teaching long-range shooting.

In addition to training hunters and competitive shooters to shoot at ranges up to 1,000 yards, he also competes as a professional shooter in the Precision Rifle Series and is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation in the PRS’s Pro Bolt Gun Series.

It is this experience that Slade says elevates Rifleman’s to more than just a firearms dealer.

“There’s a lot of places you can go to buy guns, but there’s very few places you can go to buy from somebody that is very knowledgeable about what you’re interested in and a place you can come to ask questions,” he said.

On the retail side, Slade said Rifleman’s products are intended to be higher-quality than what a customer finds in big-box retailers like Walmart or Bass Pro Shops, without being too expensive.

“We tend to shoot, and sell what we shoot,” he said. “We want to make sure that when people buy something, it’s quality, and that they’re getting what they need.”

TEMPTATIONS GOURMET

Temptations was founded by Carnesha Fuller in 2020 and opened o cially in March of this year. She became involved with the Dream Launch program, where she learned fundamental skills to stay active in building and implementing a brick-and-mortar business. The program awarded her $26,000 to help her realize her vision. Carnesha is the owner and operator, with her husband acting as the front-house manager.

One day, her pastor, Charles Walker, asked her to make a salad for him and he enjoyed its presentation and taste. He enjoyed it so much that he posted a picture of it online which sparked many questions from the public asking where they could go to purchase a salad as such. She started selling handmade salads as a fundraiser for her church, which quickly sprouted into a business.

Carnesha is always thinking of what she can create next. Temptations o ers unique handcrafted salads, lemonade, and cheesecake parfaits, partnered with Sweetcakes. They also o er a potato salad which is a family recipe created by Carnesha’s mother. Her family often stops by the restaurant to pick up some potato salad for Sunday dinners. All ingredients come from local farmers in the Pittsylvania County area.

The restaurant is unique because customers are able to come in and create a personalized salad with a variety of toppings, which will grow over time.

“Being in the River District is a major accomplishment in itself,” said Fuller. “This was actually a Godsend, a smooth transition.”

Temptations welcomes everyone and provides an endearing experience and environment to its customers. They have many supporters, including Goodyear and the City of Danville. They collaborate with Sweetcakes Bakery in Martinsville, Ma’s Cakes in the River District, and are in the process of partnering with other organizations as well.

After the first week of being open, Carnesha began to foresee another location opening, she said, “Hopefully by December, if not the beginning of next year.”

She plans on implementing a delivery service.

“Right now I don’t have a mission statement or core value etched in stone, however, I try to follow the principles of my spiritual walk and of the Bible,” she explained.

Carnesha often gives back to her community and treats people with the same kindness she would want to receive.

“My major contribution to the community is to our homeless shelter. Every Saturday evening, I don’t care if it’s one hundred salads or whatever I have left, if it’s there, they’re getting it,” stated Fuller.

Temptations is located at 610 Craghead Street in Danville. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. •

DANVILLE CHILDREN’S Brings family fun to the River District

CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

See more photos from the event at chathamstartribune.com

Shown at left, festivalgoers enjoy all the fun activities at the Danville Parks and Recreation Children’s Festival on Saturday, June 17. The event featured games, craft vendors, and community information booths for children and parents to learn more about the services available in and around the city. Pictured above, Arabella Pedro, daughter of Martin and Ti any Pedro of Pittsylvania County, prepares to test her strength at the high striker game.

Photos by Bobby Allen Roach

Bicycle motocross (BMX) riders from Chain Reaction Action Sports performed stunts during the Children’s Festival on Saturday. The riders used this ramp to gain speed before launching into their high-flying feats.

A BMX performer flies high over attendees at Danville’s Children’s Festival at the Crossing at the Dan. In the background, one of the city’s iconic water towers can be seen in the skyline above the River District, which is home to historic warehouse lofts, restaurants, and other commercial spaces, and is ordained with the district’s logo that reads, “Danville River District: Reimagine That.”

Pictured at left, a group of children play putt-putt golf on one of the many inflatable activities at the Children’s Festival. Shown above, Devenia Thorpe of Danville helps her son Messiah Martin and daughter Charlotte Thorpe play the Backyard Bass game.

Katherine McDaniel, CPA - Danville

George Brooks, CPA Danville

Stephen Gay, CPA Danville

Jonathan Wright, CPA South Boston

Mark Foster, CPA Danville Kimberly Skinner, CPA Martinsville

Vaden Wright, CPA Chatham

Michael Mayhew, CPA Danville

Katherine McDaniel, CPA - Danville

George Brooks, CPA Danville

Stephen Gay, CPA Danville

Jonathan Wright, CPA South Boston

Danville

Kimberly Skinner, CPA Martinsville

Chatham

Michael Mayhew, CPA Danville

CPA - Danville

Brooks, CPA Danville

Stephen Gay, CPA Danville Jonathan Wright, CPA South Boston

Mark Foster, CPA Danville

Skinner, CPA Martinsville

Vaden Wright, CPA Chatham Michael Mayhew, CPA Danville

LOCAL A RACTIONS

Danville Art Trail

111 Main Street, Danville

Danville Concert Association

P.O. Box 11284, Danville 434-770-8400

danvilleconcert.org

danvilleconcert@gmail.com

Danville Li le Theatre

P.O. Box 3523, Danville stagemanager@danvilleli letheatre.org

Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History

975 Main St., Danville 434-793-5644

www.danvillemuseum.org

Danville Symphony Orchestra

P.O. Box 11491, Danville 434-797-2666

macnet@wildblue.net

Downtown Danville Murals 434-791-0210

riverdistrictassociation@gmail.com

Main Street Art Collective

326 Main St., Unit 100, Danville 434-602-2017

www.mainstreetartcollective.com

The North Theatre

629 North Main St., Danville 434-793-SHOW (7469) wayne@waynealanmagic.com

River District Artisans

411 Main St., Danville 434-228-4125

sgusler@thearcofsouthside.org

River District Golf & Social

680 Lynn Street Suite C, Danville 434-228-4155

www.riverdistrictgolf.com

HISTORY

18th century Callands Clerk’s Office Sago Rd., Callands

American Armored Foundation Tank Museum  3401 U.S. Highway 29, Danville 434-836-5323

tankmuseum@gamewood.net

aaftankmuseum.com

Birthplace of Lady Astor

117 Broad St., Danville 434-793-6472

langhornehouse.org

Cedar Forest Grist Mill

7929 Straightstone Rd., Long Island 434-432-2172

pco1767@gmail.com

Chatham Hall

800 Chatham Hall Cir., Chatham 434-432-2941

admission@chathamhall.org

Danville Welcome Center 434-793-4636

Crossing at the Dan 434-793-4636

Danville Historical Society

P.O. Box 6, Danville danvillehistorical@gmail.com

www.danvillehistory.org

Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History

975 Main St., Danville 434-793-5644

info@danvillemuseum.org

Danville Science Center

677 Craghead St., Danville 434-791-5160

dscgs@smv.org

Downtown Danville Murals 434-791-0210

riverdistrictassociation@gmail.com

Green Hill Cemetery 434-793-5644

info@danvillemuseum.org

Grove Street Cemetery 940 Grove St., Danville 434-793-5644

info@danvillemuseum.org

Hargrave Military Academy Historic Marker 200 Military Dr., Chatham 434-432-2481

admissions@hargrave.edu

Langhorne House 117 Broad St., Danville 434-793-6472

langhornehouse.org

Chair of the Board Wyona Witcher mountcrosslodge@gmail.com

Millionaires Row 434-770-1974

joycewilburn@gmail.com

Mount Airy Roller Mill

4425 Johnson Mill Rd., Gretna 434-432-2172

pco1767@gmail.com

The National Cemetery

721 Lee St., Danville 704-636-2661

info@danvillemuseum.org

The National Tobacco-Textile Museum

19783 U.S. Hwy. 29 S, Chatham 434-432-8026

Pi sylvania Court House Historic Marker

11 Bank St., Chatham 434-432-2041

pco1767@gmail.com

Pi sylvania County Historical Society 434-770-3258

pco1767@gmail.com

Pi sylvania County History Research Center & Library

340 Whitehead St., Chatham 434-432-8931

info@pcplib.org

The Secrets Inside - Guided Walking Tour 434-770-1974

joycewilburn@gmail.com

Simpson Funeral Museum

16 South Main St., Danville

Tales of Tobacco, Textiles & TrainsGuided Walking Tour 434-770-1974

joycewilburn@gmail.com

There’s A Story Here - Guided Walking Tour 434-770-1974

joycewilburn@gmail.com

Town of Chatham Walking Tour

16A Court Pl., Chatham

Veterans Memorial - Danville

302 River Park Dr., Danville

Yates Tavern

US-29 BUS, Gretna

INDOOR RECREATION

Ballou Park Senior Center

760 West Main St., Danville 434-799-5216

bynumem@danvilleva.gov

Danville Stadium Cinemas 12

3601 Riverside Dr., Danville 434-792-9885

Danville Science Center & Virtual Dome

677 Craghead St., Danville 434-791-5160

dscgs@smv.org

Main Street Art Collective

326 Main St., Unit 100, Danville 434-602-2017 mainstreetartcollective.com

The North Theatre

629 North Main St., Danville 434-793-SHOW (7469) wayne@waynealanmagic.com

Skatetown of Danville

1049 Piney Forest Rd., Danville 434-835-0011

skatetown@verizon.net

Danville Family YMCA

215 Riverside Dr., Danville 434-792-0621

Impo ers

406 Lynn St., Danville 434-448-4677

impo ersclayworx@gmail.com

Grizzly’s Hatchet House

680 Lynn St., Suite J, Danville 434-425-1470

w@grizzlyshatchet.com

River City Escapes

680 Lynn St., Suite I, Danville 434-425-1467

hello@rivercityescapes.com

Funky’s Arcade Bar

315 Lynn St., Suite B, Danville 434-483-2511

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Abreu-Grogan Park

2020 Memorial Dr., Danville 434-799-5215

Anglers Park

350 Northside Dr., Danville 434-799-5215

Anglers Ridge and Dan Daniel

Mountain Bike System

350 Northside Dr., Danville 302 River Park Dr., Danville 434-799-5215

Ballou Park

760 West Main St., Danville 434-799-5215

OUTDOOR RECREATION (CONTINUED)

Birch Creek Motor Sports

12725 Kentuck Rd., Sutherlin

434-836-7629

carlsmail1@comcast.net

Brosville Walking Track

195 Bulldog Ln., Danville

434-432-7736

recreation@pi gov.org

Cedar’s Country Club

1029 Anderson Mill Rd., Chatham 434-656-8036

Coates Bark Park

1727 Westover Dr., Danville

434-799-5150

Camilla Williams Park

700 Memorial Dr., Danville

434-799-5215

Cavalier Park

11650 US Hwy 29 North, Chatham 434-432-7736

recreation@pi gov.org

Dan Daniel Park

302 River Park Dr., Danville

434-799-5215

Danville Boat Rental

2020 Memorial Dr., Danville

434-799-5150

Danville Parks & Recreation

125 N Floyd St., Danville

434-799-5200

sgrinwo@danvilleva.gov

Danville Pi sylvania County Fairgrounds

2400 Cavalier Rd., Ringgold

434-822-6850

info@dpcfairgrounds.com

Doyle Thomas Park

827 Green St., Danville

434-799-5215

Elba Park

434-656-6572

townhall@townofgretna.org

Elkhorn Lake & Camp Grounds

2500 Elkhorn Rd., Java

434-432-9203

kennytinaelkhorn@yahoo.com

Franklin Junction Historic Railroad Park

Across from 105 Main St., Gretna 434-656-6572

townhall@townofgretna.org

Gretna Town Trail

Whitehorn Trail

Trailhead at the Centra Medical Building in Gretna Grove Park

100 Southland Dr., Danville

434-799-5215

H.B. Moorefield Park

Riverside Dr., Danville 434-799-5215

Hawk Park

201 Coffey St., Gretna 434-432-7736

recreation@pi gov.org

JTI Fountain

215 Main St., Danville

M.C. Martin Park

Memorial Dr., Danville 434-799-5215

Martinsville Speedway

340 Speedway Rd., Ridgeway 276-956-7225

Paradise Lake & Campground

434-836-2620 | 1-866-836-2126

campinparadise.com

paradiselakecg@gmail.com

Phillip Wya Skate Park 302 River Park Dr., Danville 434-799-5215

Pi sylvania County Parks & Recreation

18 Depot St., St. 508, Chatham 434-432-7736

recreation@pi gov.org

Pumpkin Creek Park

315 Taylor Dr., Danville 434-799-5215

Richmond and Danville Rail Trail/ Ringgold Rail Trail

155 Ringgold Depot Rd., Ringgold 434-432-7736

Riverwalk Trail

111 Main St., Danville 434-799-5215

Smith Mountain Dock & Lodge 188 Locust Ln., Penhook 540-565-0222

Smith Mountain Farm & Stables

7661 Grassland Dr., Sandy Level 434-927-5199

steve@smithmountainstables.com

Smith Mountain Lake & Dam Visitor’s Center

2072 Ford Rd., Sandy Level

540-985-2587

South Boston Speedway

1188 James D. Hagood Hwy, South Boston

434-572-4947

info@southbostonspeedway.com

Southern Hills Golf Course

188 Stokesland Ave., Danville 434-793-2582

golfsouthernhills@gmail.com

Tiny Town Golf

643 Arne Blvd., Danville 434-799-0142

Titan Park

1160 Tunstall High Rd., Dry Fork 434-432-7736

recreation@pi gov.org

Virginia International Raceway

1245 Pine Tree Rd., Alton 434-822-7700

info@VIRnow.com

White Oak Mountain

Wildlife Management Area

Chatham, VA 24531

804-367-1000

Wildcat Park

5875 Kentuck Rd., Ringgold

434-432-7736

recreation@pi gov.org

Zipline

302 River Park Dr., Danville

PI SYLVANIA COUNTY WWW.PCS.K12.VA.US

Alternative School

434-432-8185

Brosville Elementary School

434-685-7787

Chatham Elementary School

434-432-5441

Chatham Middle School

434-432-2169

Chatham High School

434-432-8305

Dan River Middle School

434-822-6027

Dan River High School

434-822-7081

Gretna Elementary School

434-630-1808

Gretna Middle School

434-656-2217

Gretna High School

434-656-2246

John L. Hurt Elementary School

434-324-7231

Kentuck Elementary School

434-822-5944

Mt. Airy Elementary School

434-630-1816

Pi sylvania Career & Technical Cntr

434-432-9416

Southside Elementary School

434-836-0006

Stony Mill Elementary School

434-685-7545

Tunstall Middle School

434-724-7086

Tunstall High School

434-724-7111

Twin Springs Elementary School

434-724-2666

Union Hall Elementary School

434-724-7010

PI SYLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

Pi sylvania County Schools

P.O. Box 232, Chatham

*School Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the School Board

office.

434-432-2761

888-440-6520

pcs.k12.va.us

Superintendent: Dr. Mark R. Jones

P.O. Box 232, Chatham

434-432-2761

Banister District: Willie Fitzgerald, Interim

473 Mill Creek Rd., Chatham

434-432-9418

Callands-Gretna District: Calvin D. Doss

P.O. Box 100, Gretna

434-656-3206

cdoss@pcs.k12.va.us

Chatham-Blairs District: Sam Burton

492 Tobacco Road, Dry Fork

434-724-4245

sburton@pcs.k12.va.us

SYLVANIA

Dan River District: Kelly H. Merricks

2795 Loop Rd., Keeling

434-793-0072

Staunton River District: Don C. Moon

3605 Level Run Rd., Hurt

434-324-4115

dmoon@pcs.k12.va.us

Tunstall District: George Henderson

568 F. C. Beverly Rd., Dry Fork

434-770-8933

ghenderson@pcs.k12.va.us

Westover District: Kevin Mills

2514 Franklin trnpk, Danville

434-836-6742

kmills@pcs.k12.va.us

DANVILLE

WWW.DANVILLEPUBLICSCHOOLS.ORG

Northside Preschool

434-773-8301

Forest Hills Elementary School

434-799-6430

G.L.H. Johnson Elementary School

434-799-6433

Park Avenue Elementary School

434-799-6452

Schoolfield Elementary School

434-799-6455

Woodberry Hills Elementary School

434-799-6466

Woodrow Wilson Intermediate School

434-773-8204

E.A. Gibson Elementary School

434-799-6426

O.T. Bonner Middle School

434-799-6446

Westwood Middle School

434-797-8860

Galileo High School

434-773-8186

George Washington High School

434-799-6410

Danville Alternative Program at

J.M. Langston Campus

434-799-5249

Adult & Continuing Education Center

434-799-6471

W.W. Moore Jr. Education Program

434-773-8170

*School Board meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM in the Danville Room of the School Board Office, 341 Main Street, Danville, VA

Superintendent: Dr. Angela Hairston ahairston@mail.dps.k12.va.us

School Board: Keisha Avere kavere @mail.dps.k12.va.us

Dr. Philip Campbell pcampbell@mail.dps.k12.va.us

Tyrell Payne

tpayne1@mail.dps.k12.va.us

Charles McWilliams

cmcwilliams@mail.dps.k12.va.us

TaKessa (Keisha) Walker twalker@mail.dps.k12.va.us

Ty’Quan Graves tgraves@mail.dps.k12.va.us

Dr. Keith Silverman ksilverman@mail.dps.k12.va.us

Crystal Cobbs ccobbs@@mail.dps.k12.va.us

PI SYLVANIA COUNTY

BOARD OF SUPERVISERS

*Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Chatham Community Center art room (may change soon).

Banister District: Robert M. Tucker Jr. 434-306-2099

robert.tucker@pi gov.org

Chatham-Blairs District: Robert “Bob” Warren 434-770-7607

robert.warren@pi gov.org

Callands-Gretna District: Darrell Dalton 921 Terry Rd., Gretna 434-334-6377

darrell.dalton@pi gov.org

Dan River District: Nancy Eanes

8785 Kentuck Road, Ringgold 434-343-9599

nancy.eanes@pi gov.org

Staunton River District: Tim W. Dudley 434-770-3692

Tim.Dudley@pi gov.org

Tunstall District: William “Vic” Ingram

1301 Deercrest Ln., Danville 434-770-3921

Vic.Ingram@pi gov.org

PI

COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD (CONTINUED)

DANVILLE SCHOOL BOARD

Westover District: Ronald Scearce 434-685-1843

ronald.scearce@pi gov.org

County Administrator: Stuart Turille

County A orney: J. Vaden Hunt, Esq. 434-432-7720

vaden.hunt@pi gov.org

PI SYLVANIA COUNTY

WWW.PI GOV.ORG

Circuit Court Clerk: Hon. Mark W. Scarce

P.O. Drawer 31, Chatham 434-432-7887

Commissioner of Revenue: Robin Coles-Gourd

P.O. Box 272, Chatham 434-432-7940

Sheriff: Michael W. Taylor

P.O. Box 407, Chatham 434-432-7800

Treasurer: Vincent Shorter

P.O. Box 230, Chatham 434-432-7960

Commonwealth’s Attorney: Robert “Bryan” Haskins

P.O. Box 1068, Chatham 434-432-7900

CHATHAM TOWN COUNCIL

Mayor: Alisa Davis

P.O. Box 432, Chatham 434-203-8062

alisabdavis@gmail.com

Town Council Members:

Janet B. Bishop

610 South Main St., Chatham 434-432-2714

jbishop@chatham-va.gov

William B. Black

338 North Main St., Chatham 434-432-7721

wblack@chatham-va.gov

Robert B. Thompson

P.O. Box 231, Chatham, VA 434-432-8763 - Home 434-432-6211 – Work

rthompson@chatham-va.gov

Town Council Members (continued):

Andrew D. Wall

P.O. Box 1127, Chatham 434-432-6122

awall@chatham-va.gov

Irvin W. Perry 348 S. Main St., Chatham 941-740-0268

Interim Treasurer/Clerk: Kelly Hawker

Town A orney: Adams & Fisk PLC 434-432-2531

Assistant Town Manager: Nick Morris

CITYOFDANVILLE

WWW.DANVILLE-VA.GOV

Circuit Court Clerk: Gerald A. Gibson

401 Patton St., Danville 434-799-5168

Commissioner of Revenue: James M. Gillie

311 Memorial Dr., Danville 434-799-5145

Sheriff: Michael Mondul

401 Pa on St., Danville 434-799-5135

Treasurer: Sheila Williamson-Branch 311 Memorial Dr., Danville 434-799-5140

Commonwealth’s A orney: Michael Newman 341 Main St., St. 200, Danville 434-797-1635

City Manager: Ken Larking 427 Pa on St. 4th flr, Danville 434-799-5100

klarking@danvilleva.org

DANVILLE CITY COUNCIL

*Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the fourth floor of City Hall located at 427 Pa on Street.

Mayor: Alonzo Jones 218 Rockford Plc., Danville 434-250-3231

alonzo.jones@danvilleva.gov

Danville City Council Members: James Buckner

125 Eden Plc., Danville 434-688-1589

james.buckner@danvilleva.gov

Danville City Council Members (continued):

L.G. Campbell, Jr.

368 Mowbray Arch, Danville 434-793-9493

larry.campbell@danvilleva.gov

Gary P. Miller, MD

209 Updike Plc., Danville 434-799-0908

gary.miller@danvilleva.gov

Sherman Saunders

115 Druid Ln., Danville 434-799-8737

sherman.saunders@danvilleva.gov

Barry Mayo

1100 N. Main St., Apt. B, Danville 434-792-1041

barry.mayo@danvilleva.gov

J. Lee Vogler

118 Grove Park Cir., Danville 434-792-0937

lee.vogler@danvilleva.gov

Madison Whi le

143 Marshall Terr., Apt 6, Danville 434-251-0926

madison.whi le@danvilleva.gov

Bryant Hood

876 Stokes St., Danville (336) 933-1480

byrant.hood@danvilleva.gov

GRETNA TOWN COUNCIL

P.O. BOX 602, GRETNA • (434) 656-6572

Mayor: R. Keith Motley

P.O. Box 472, Gretna 434-656-6406

keith.motley@townofgretna.org

Vice Mayor: Dianne Jennings

P.O. Box 762, Gretna 434-656-6582

dianne.jennings@townofgretna.org

Town Council Members:

Michael L. Bond

P.O. Box 558, Gretna 434-656-3573

michael.bond@townofgretna.org

Mike Burne e

P.O. Box 1227, Gretna 434-656-8061

mike.burne e@townofgretna.org

Deborah Moran

P.O. Box 630, Gretna 434-656-6079

deborah.moran@townofgretna.org

|

Town Council Members:

James Gilbert P.O. Box 781, Gretna james.gilbert@townofgretna.org

Barbara Hubbard

212 Huffmond St., Gretna 434-238-1096

Interim Town Manager: Bill Gillespie 434-656-3989

Town Clerk/Treasurer: Crystal Grubbs Crystal.Grubbs@townofgretna.org

Town A orney: Michael Turner

434-656-3989

HURT TOWN COUNCIL

P.O. BOX 760, HURT •(434) 608-0554

*Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Hurt Town Hall.

Mayor: Gary K. Hodne gary.hodne @townofhurtva.gov

Vice Mayor: Bob Majure bob.majure@townofhurtva.gov

Town Council Members: Jeremiah Knowles jeremiah.knowles@townofhurtva.gov

Kathy Haymore-Keesee kathy.keesee@townofhurtva.gov Gary Poindexter gary.poindexter@townofhurtva.gov

Glen Mitchell glen.mitchell@townofhurt.gov

Clerk: Kelsie Sligh

Treasurer: Ellen Brumfield

Public Works Coordinator: Joseph Smith

UNITED STATES CONGRESS

Senators: The Honorable Mark R. Warner

459-A Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 202-224-2023

The Honorable Tim Kaine

388 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 202-224-4024

308 Craghead St., Ste. 102A, Danville 434-792-0976

House of Representatives: The Honorable Bob Good 1213 Longworth HOB, Washington, D.C. 202-225-4711

20436 Lynchburg Hwy, Suite F, Lynchburg, VA 434-791-2596

STATE SENATE

Frank M. Ruff

Pocahontas Bldg., Room #E505, Senate of Virginia, P.O. Box 396, Richmond 804-698-7515

P.O. Box 332, Clarksville 434-374-5129

William M. Stanley

district20@senate.virginia.gov

Pocahontas Bldg., Room #E504, Senate of Virginia, P.O. Box 396, Richmond 804-698-7520

P.O. Box 96, Glade Hill 540-721-6028

VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Les Adams

Member Since: 2014

R - Counties of Henry (part) and Pi sylvania (part), City of Martinsville

16th District

Capital Office - General Assembly Bldg

P.O. Box 406, Richmond 804-698-1016

delladams@house.virginia.gov

Room Number: 719

Legislative Assistant: Shani Shorter

Secretary During Session: Julia Bouck

District Office

P.O. Box K, Chatham 434-432-1600

W. Daniel Marshall III

Preferred Name: Danny

Member Since: 2002

R - Counties of Henry (part) and Pi sylvania (part); City of Danville

14th District

Capitol Office - General Assembly Bldg

P.O. Box 406, Richmond 804-698-1014

deldmarshall@house.virginia.gov

Room Number: 702

Legislative Assistant: Mary K. Franklin

Secretary During Session: Jackie Price

District Office

P.O. Box 439, Danville

434-797-5861

434-797-2642 (Fax)

CITY INFORMATION

Budget Department

434-733-8105

City A orney

434-799-5122

City Manager

434-799-5100

Clerk of Circuit Court

434-799-5168

Commissioner of Revenue

434-799-5145

Community Development

434-799-5260

Danville Regional Airport

434-799-5110

Danville Public Schools

434-799-6400

Danville Utilities

434-799-5155

Economic Development

434-793-1753

Emergency Preparedness

434-799-6535

Finance Department

434-799-5185

Fire Department

434-799-5226

Health Department

434-766-9828

Human Resources

434-799-5241

Jail

434-799-5130

Parks and Recreation

434-799-5200

Public Works

434-799-5245

Registrar

434-799-6560

Social Services

434-799-6537

Transit System

434-799-5144

Treasurer’s Office

434-799-5140

POLICE

NON-EMEGENCY NUMBERS

Danville Police Department

434-799-5111

Danville Sheriff’s Office

434-799-5135

Pi sylvania County Sheriff

434-432-7800

Chatham Police Department

Mon-Fri 9a-5p

434-432-9515

24 Hours

434-432-2222

Gretna Police Department

434-656-6123

Hurt Police Department

434-608-0554

Virginia State Police

800-553-3144

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

Community Center at Chatham

434-432-3115

Community Foundation of the Dan River Region

434-793-0884

Dan River Business Development Center

434-793-9100

Danville Community Market

434-797-8961

Danville Economic Development Office

434-793-1753

Danville Museum Fine Arts & History

434-793-5644

Danville Parks, Recreation & Tourism

434-799-5200

Danville Pi sylvania County Chamber of Commerce

434-836-6990

Danville Science Center

434-799-5160

Danville Welcome Center

434-793-4636

Downtown Danville Association

434-791-4470

Olde Dominion Agricultural Center

434-432-8026

Pi sylvania County Recreation Dept.

434-432-7736

Social Security Administration

800-772-1213

Veterans Affairs

800-827-1000

Voter Registration Danville

434-799-6560

Voter Registration Pi sylvania County

434-432-7971

Libraries

Pittsylvania County Library

434-432-3271

Pittsylvania Library - Gretna

434-656-2579

Pittsylvania Library - Brosville-Cascade

434-685-1285

Pittsylvania Library – Mount Hermon

434-835-0326

Pittsylvania History Center & Library

434-432-8931

Danville Public Library

434-799-5195

Danville Library - Westover

434-799-5152

PI SYLVANIA COUNTY

GOVERNMENT TELEPHONE LISTINGS

Pi sylvania County All Departments

434-432-7700

Agricultural Development

434-432-7993

Animal Control

434-432-7937

Assistant County Administrator

434-432-7720

Building Inspections

434-432-7755

Central Accounting

434-432-7743

Commissioner of Revenue

434-432-7940

Community Policy/Management

434-432-8371

County Administrator

434-432-7710

Crime Stoppers

800-791-0044

Dispatch

434-432-7931

Electoral Board

434-432-7798

Jail

434-432-7831

Landfill

434-432-7980

Purchasing

434-432-7744

Recreation Dept

434-432-7736

Registrar

434-432-7971

School Board

434-432-2761

Soil Conservation

434-432-7768

Treasurer’s Office

434-432-7960

Victim/Witness Program

434-432-7854

Virginia Cooperative Extension

434-432-7770

Zoning Code Compliance

434-432-7750

Courts:

Adult Probation

434-432-7853

Circuit Court Clerk

434-432-7887

Commonwealth A orney

434-432-7900

General District Court Clerk

434-432-7879

J & D Court Clerk

434-432-7861

J & D Court Services Unit

434-432-7864

Magistrate’s Office

434-432-7910

Emergency Management & Communications: Communications/Dispatchers

434-432-7931

Director

434-432-7920

Fire Marshall

434-432-7936

Farm Services Agency

434-432-7765

Health Department

Pi ./Danville Health District

434-799-5190

Child Development Clinic

434-797-1040

Environmental Health

434-432-7758

Water Programs

434-836-8416

Clinic-Chatham

434-432-7232

Clinic-Danville

434-799-5190

Clinic-Gretna

434-656-1266

Sheriff’s Office

From Chatham/Danville

434-432-7800

From Gretna/Hurt

434-656-6211

From Whitmell

434-797-9550

Dispatch

434-432-7931

Social Services

Chatham

434-432-7281

Danville

434-799-6543

Gretna

434-656-8407