Cooperative Living May 2010

may cover:Layout 1

4/15/10

6:01 PM

Page 1

. lp ‘a s.’ . 16 He id es pg o M e Av ious ! Se

t lor ion ha G act C ith ke w Ta

Cooperative living May 2010

VIR: America’s Motorsport Resort pg. 18 Win a Weekend Getaway! pg. 30 At Crozet Monastery, It’s All About Prayer, Work and ... Cheese pg. 34 Down Home in Buckingham pg. 36 For changes of address, please contact your local electric cooperative.

C2Mitchell:Layout 1

4/16/10

10:39 AM

Page 1

NO CONSTRUCTION LOAN REQUIRED! N O D O W N PAY M E N T A N D N O C L O S I N G C O S T S !

WE B BUILD UILD ON O Y YOUR OU UR LAND LAND

Belmont

ͻ Choose ͻ Choose from more than 30 3 fully fully customizable customizab ble home designs designs your own custom plans ur o wn cus tom pla ans or bring us yo ͻ WƌŝĐĞƐ ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ΨϴϬ͕ϬϬϬ͛Ɛ ͻ WƌŝĐĞƐ ƐƚĂƌƟ ƟŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ΨϴϬ͕ϬϬϬ Ϭ͛​͛Ɛ ͻ ^ĞƌǀŝŶŐ ϳϬ sŝƌŐŝŶŝĂ ĐŽƵŶƟĞƐ͕ ĐŝƟĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŽǁŶƐ ĨŽƌ ϭϴ LJĞĂƌƐ ͻ ^ĞƌǀŝŶŐ Ő ϳϬ sŝƌŐŝŶŝĂ ĐŽƵŶƟĞƐ͕ ĐŝƟĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŽǁŶƐ Ĩ ǁ ĨŽƌ ϭϴ LJĞĂƌƐ Ž

NOW NO W IS A GREAT G AT TIME TO GRE TO BUILD BUILD Y YOUR OUR R DRE DREAM AM HOME HOM ME C CALL TODAY TO TO GET SSTARTED! TARTED! US TODAY Richmond R ic hm ond

8 0 0 .2 . 2 6 1 .0 .0287

FFredericksburg r e de r ic k sburg

8 0 0 ..6 6 5 4 ..3 3222

WWW W.M . M I TTCH CH E L L H O OME M ESS I N C.COM C .C O M

may toc:Layout 1

4/16/10

2:57 PM

Page 1

Winchester Loudoun

Clarke

10 Warren

Falls C A Fairfax City Ale Fairfax Manassas Park City Fauquier Manassas City Rappahannock Prince William

Shenandoah

16

THE INSIDE STORY

11

81 Page

Rockingham Harrisonburg

Without fanfare, Cooperative Living crossed a significant line with the March/April issue, when our circulation exBill Sherrod ceeded 400,000 copies for the first time.

What this means is that, assuming an average of 2.5 readers per copy (a figure based on regularly conducted readership surveys), the magazine is now being read by about a million people.

That’s quite an audience, and it gives Virginia’s 13 electric cooperatives, serving mostly rural and suburban communities, a powerful voice across the Old Dominion.

As your co-op membership magazine, Cooperative Living is ideally positioned to accommodate two of the seven principles on which cooperative businesses operate: the fifth principle (education, training and information), and the seventh principle (concern for community).

Richard Johnstone’s editorial on page 2 discusses the prospect of the Environmental Protection Agency using the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. The editorial describes why this would, in the words of Rep. John Dingell, result in “a glorious mess.”

The postcards inserted between pages 16 and 17 offer you, as a co-op member, one way to make your voice heard on this issue.

We hope you’ll read the editorial, consider the facts and, if you agree, fill out the postage-paid cards and drop them in the mail.

It’s all part of the democratic process, part of what makes ours the greatest nation in the world.

And, it’s a big part of the cooperative way: accomplishing things together that we couldn’t accomplish alone.

All 400,000 of us!

Stafford

Culpeper Madison

95

Greene

Spotsylvania

Staunton

6

Fredericksburg King G

Orange

Augusta

7

Charlottesville

Waynesboro

Albemarle

kbridge

Fluvanna

gton ena Vista

Caroline

Louisa

64

Nelson

Hanover

Goochland

King W

Buckingham Amherst

5 Lynchburg City

Powhatan

Henrico Richmond City

Cumberland

Appomattox

3

Amelia

Chesterfield

Nottoway

Dinwiddie Charlotte ylvania

Lunenburg

Sussex

95 Halifax

Brunswick Mecklenburg

To inform you about your cooperative and its efforts to serve your energy needs; how to use electricity safely and efficiently; and the people who define and enhance the quality of life in communities served by electric co-ops.

Ch

ColonialHopewell Heights Petersburg Prince G

Prince Edward

Campbell

Our Mission

Southa

Contents

18

MAY 2010 Help Avoid ‘a Glorious Mess’ Here’s a chance to let your federal representatives know that you’re opposed to the EPA using the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.

16

VIR: America’s Motorsport Resort Southside Virginia’s storied road-course racetrack has hosted motorsports stars from Paul Newman to Richard Petty, and VIR’s star is still rising.

18

On the cover: VIR is a beehive of activity on race day.

Photo by Blakely Swanson.

34

Crafting Cheese in Crozet Crozet’s pastoral Our Lady of the Angels Monastery is a place where prayer, work and Gouda are hallmarks of the Sisters’ lives.

34

Down Home in Buckingham Located in the geographic center of the Old Dominion, Buckingham is a rural community with a golden past and a bright future.

36

DEPARTMENTS

36

Editorial Mailbag Whatzit?

History Mystery Say Cheese!

The Green Scene Co-op Currents Happenings Reader Recipes Local Co-op News

2 4 4 5 8 10 10 12 14 22

Healthy Take* 24 Caught in the Web* 25 It’s Your Business* 26 Feathered Friends* 28 Travel Guide 30 Wise Energy Use 42 Food For Thought 44 Classifieds 46 Rural Living 48 * not in all editions

— Bill Sherrod, Editor Please recycle this magazine.

Visit us online at: www.co-opliving.com 1

may editorial:Layout 1

4/16/10

3:02 PM

Page 1

EDITORIAL

by Richard G. Johnstone Jr., Executive Editor

Vol. 64, No. 5 ISSN 1529-4579 RICHARD G. JOHNSTONE JR. Executive Editor BILL SHERROD Editor

‘A GLORIOUS MESS’

LAURA J. EMERY Field Editor JANET ROGERS BAILEY Production Manager BECKY WISE POTTER Graphic Designer AMANDA S. CUNNINGHAM Graphic Designer/Ad Sales SUSAN C. GLISSON Advertising Assistant BEA CATLETT Secretary

To contact magazine: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F Phone: (804) 346-3344 Or at any time: Fax: (804) 346-3448 E-mail: bsherrod@odec.com Web: www.co-opliving.com Published by the VA, MD & DE Association of Electric Cooperatives JEANNETTE S. EVERETT Chairman R. WAYNE BROWNING Vice Chairman K.M. BEASLEY Secretary OLIN S. DAVIS , III Treasurer JACKSON E. REASOR President RICHARD G. JOHNSTONE JR. Executive Vice President Board of Directors: R. Wayne Browning, Vernon N. Brinkley, A&N; James C. Tennant, Bruce M. King, BARC; K.M. Beasley, Jr., Gary E. Wood, Central Virginia; Olin Davis III, Frederick L. Hubbard, Choptank; Jeannette S. Everett, James M. Reynolds, Community; James E. Huffman, Shawn C. Hildebrand, Craig-Botetourt; Patricia S. Dorey, J. William Andrew, Delaware; Robert W. Conner, John C. Lee, Jr., Mecklenburg; J. Steve Thomas, Sr., Greg W. White, Northern Neck; J. Manley Garber, Stan C. Feuerberg, Northern Virginia; Dale McNiel, Randell W. Meyers, Powell Valley; Herbert R. Patrick, M Dale Bradshaw, Prince George; Richard C. Oliver, Kent D. Farmer, Rappahannock; Larry C. Howdyshell, Myron D. Rummel, Shenandoah Valley; Daniel W. Dyer, A. Joseph Slater, Southern Maryland; Frank W. Bacon, Jeffrey S. Edwards, Southside.

To advertise in Cooperative Living, contact: Amanda Cunningham (804) 346-3344 National Advertising Representative: NCM 611 South Congress Ave., Suite 504 Austin, Texas 78704 • 800-626-1181 Member of the NCM network of publications, reaching more than 8 million homes and businesses.

PRESSRUN . . . . . . 402,271 COOPERATIVE LIVING (USPS 473300) is published 10 times a year, monthly except for combined March/April and November/December issues, by the Va., Md. & Del. Association of Electric Cooperatives.

POSTMASTER, address changes should be sent to: Cooperative Living, 4201 Dominion Boulevard, Suite 101, Glen Allen, VA 23060, (804) 346-3344. Periodicals Postage paid at Glen Allen, VA, and additional mailing offices.

Subscription: $4.90 per year for members of subscribing co-ops; $10 per year for all others.

ADVERTISING published is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to customers at the advertised price. Neither this magazine nor the electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware endorses any products or services advertised herein. If any readers encounter non-compliance with these standards, they are asked to inform the Editor.

C

ongressman John Dingell of Michigan knows a thing or two about the legislative process. First elected in 1955, today this Democratic marvel reigns as the dean of the House of Representatives, having served longer than any other member in the 221-year history of the lower chamber. So when he speaks, folks from all points on the political spectrum generally listen. And when he speaks about laws that he helped write, such as the Clean Air Act, then interested parties are, or should be, riveted to his words, and with good reason.

Congressman Dingell has said that using this very same Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases would result in “a glorious mess.” And yet just such regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act is precisely what the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seems intent on pursuing. If the EPA continues on this path, your electric rates will almost certainly go up, unnecessarily, by an unknown amount, and with little recourse for average citizens like you and me.

What, then, is the answer?

Simply, having Congress do the job its members are elected to do, which is to set policies that federal agencies then carry out. Members of Congress are directly accountable to the people for their actions; regulators at federal agencies are not. And this is why Congress should take responsibility for dealing with the issue of greenhouse gases and their impact on climate, and do so in a way that protects both the environment and, just as importantly, the pocketbooks of American citizens.

Members of Congress should establish the policies — the “rules of the road” if you will — as to whether, how, when, and by how much to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, like carbon dioxide, from sources such as power plants. Federal agencies like the EPA are then supposed to implement those policies. But that’s not what’s happening here, which is not

only wrong on principle, but will also be expensive for electric ratepayers.

All of which is why we’re asking you to please fill out and mail in the three postcards included between pages 16 and 17 of this month’s issue. Postage is prepaid. It will take you only a minute or two to fill out your name and address, and sign each card. The cards for Virginia’s U.S. senators, Jim Webb and Mark Warner, already contain the salutation line. For the third postcard, please use the state map behind the postcards to identify — or confirm — who serves as your House of Representatives member, and then please write his name in the “Dear Representative” line near the top of this third postcard.

We greatly respect your time, and we’ve tried hard to make your participation in this effort as easy as possible. The three enclosed postcards are pre-addressed to your national electric cooperative association in Arlington; once there, they will then be hand-delivered to Senators Webb and Warner, and to your House member. By taking part, you’ll send a strong message to stop the EPA from using the Clean Air Act in a way that Congress never intended, and in a way that increases your electric rates.

If you’d like more information on this issue, be sure to visit the Web site for this campaign that’s being carried out by electric cooperatives across the country, called “Our Energy, Our Future”; the address is www.ourenergy.coop. Remember, as utilities owned by our consumers, electric cooperatives want to make sure that any climate-change legislation that Congress passes is FAIR, AFFORDABLE and ACHIEVABLE. And, now, back to Congressman Dingell’s quote at the outset. While he’s famous for being quite a political prognosticator, in this case we believe that he’s only half-right. Having the EPA use the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases would absolutely be a mess.

But glorious? Anything but.

Please fill out and mail in the three postcards included between pages 16 and 17 of this month’s issue. Postage is prepaid.

ABC AUDITED

2

Cooperative Living/May 2010

War Memorial ad:Layout 1

4/16/10

2:44 PM

Page 1

They Gave Everything For Your Freedom. Will You Give Something In Their Honor?

Leave a Legacy by purchasing an engraved brick paver at the Virginia War Memorial’s Walkway of Honor as part of the Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center, now under construction.

CDR Paul Galanti USN (Ret.), Former Vietnam P.O.W.

Dear Fellow Virginians, I write to you with a solemn heart.

Today, I ask you to join me in honoring our Virginia military heroes.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you to leave a permanent tribute with an engraved brick on the Virginia War Memorial’s Walkway of Honor.

Our Armed Forces deserve our respect and support. We cannot allow the sacrifices of our active duty, National Guard, Reserves, and military veterans of past service, be forgotten.

Never. Not ever.

That’s why I am so proud to be a part of the Virginia War Memorial, whose mission is to honor those who have sacrificed selflessly for our freedoms.

During the Vietnam War, I endured 6 1⁄2 years in North Vietnamese prison camps.

I consider myself one of the lucky ones ...

I came home.

While I was a prisoner, my wife Phyllis became chairman of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. In her role she tirelessly worked for the release of all 591 POWs. Phyllis and I reluctantly accepted the honor that the soon-to-be-completed Virginia War Memorial Education Center be named for us.

We accepted because the Center will forever educate more citizens about sacrifice.

About those who sacrifice serving abroad while their families remain behind. About the prisoners of war who sacrifice, while maintaining loyalty to their country and keeping hope alive. About the men and women who sacrifice their lives on the field of battle at the hands of the enemy.

They are all my heroes.

The Walkway of Honor will provide a unique and lasting way to honor a loved one, a military unit, a veteran service organization, or just to show your support of the Virginia War Memorial. If you cannot afford a gift of $250, please give whatever you can to help us build our educational programs.

Thank you for your support. God Bless our Military Forces and God Bless America.

Bricks are available in either a 4''x8'' for $250 or an 8''x8'' for $500. In keeping with site aesthetics, each brick will be a grey-tone in color. All engraving will be epoxy filled with a lifetime warranty from the engraver.

Each purchaser will receive a mini-brick replica, either a 2''x4'' or 4''x4'', depending on the size brick ordered, that is engraved exactly as the purchased brick.

a character. Logos can be included on the 8''x8'' for an additional $75 with camera-ready artwork.

EXAMPLES ONLY

How To Order • Online at: www.vawarmemorial.org

Or ...

• Check the brick size on the order form below and complete the information in the gridlines exactly how you would like your brick to appear.

• Send the completed form with a check or credit card information to the Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation; the address is on the form.

• Your message must fit within the spaces provided for each brick size — three lines of 14 characters each for the 4''x 8'' or six lines of 14 characters each for the 8''x8''. Spaces and punctuation marks count as

• Messages will be centered automatically. Use capital letters at the beginning of words only.

• No phone numbers, addresses or inappropriate messages. The Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation retains final approval for all messages and to edit any text.

• If you wish to order multiple bricks to be placed together, please complete a separate form for each brick and submit them together. Every effort will be made to accommodate your request.

• Orders will be accepted as long as available. Bricks will be placed after enough orders are received.

• A mini-brick replica — either a 2''x4'' or 4''x4'', depending on the brick size purchased — will be sent to you once an order is filled with the manufacturer.

• Your payment, less $14.65 for the 4''x8'' or $21.65 for the 8''x8'', is fully tax-deductible as a charitable donation.

Walkway Of Honor Brick Order Form

Sincerely, CDR Paul E. Galanti, USN (Ret.) CL5/2010

may mailbag

4/16/10

12:57 PM

Page 1

MAILBAG

IS IT REALLY SCIENCE? It must be that the letterwriters who continue to supWEBB’S THEMES ARE REVEALING port the “man-caused global As I read the article, “A Conversation with warming/climate change” We want to hear from you — comments, opinions, suggestions.

Jim Webb” in the March/April issue, I was Your letter must be signed and legible. We reserve misinformation only receive about to come to the conclusion that I was the right to edit for grammar, style and length, with a their news from the MSM not going to find out much about him until I 300-word maximum for acceptance. Write: MAILBAG, (main stream media), NPR, read what he said about his themes. One was P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340; or e-mail to or other government-supportto address economic fairness and social jusbsherrod@odec.com. Please include your name and city or ed information sources. tice. This goes along with the White House’s town of residence, with MAILBAG in the subject line.

Some people may agenda to socialize this country. want to discount The president has already the “Climategate” , said “we need to spread b b We h Jim r it w deleted e-mails information n only awarded to those institutions/scientists (I tio Senato the wealth” in an interr versa A Con ia’s Senio that the media have (just in use that term loosely) who support the manview with “Joe the Virg barely) mentioned.

B caused climate-change theory; that individuPlumber.” Jim Webb voted Perhaps I’ve missed some als, and companies that promote this theory for every spending bill this previous issues of Cooperative stand to become VERY rich. year that has come up in Living, but I do not recall any I may not be the smartest kid on the Congress, including the masletters that have mentioned block, but this seems like a no-brainer to me. sive bill designed to take over the 31,000-plus scientists Just follow the money for the real basis for our health care. who have signed a petition this “science.”

He also wants to restore govrejecting this hypothesis ernment accountability and balRuth J. Mills (www.petitionproject.org). Nor have I ance between executive and legislaChesterfield seen mentioned any of the following: that tive branches, which can’t be done scientists with differing opinions are barred with the current bunch in control now. What READER HAS SPECIAL HISTORY from being published in “conventional” he and the ones in power want is more conMYSTERY CONNECTION periodicals; that one pro-global-warming trol of every one of us, along with our bank The February HISTORY MYSTERY subject theorist and Wikipedia administrator creataccounts. What will they want after they take is Meem’s Bottom Covered Bridge. It is located, rewrote, and/or blocked entries, over health care? Control over the power ed south of Mt. Jackson, Va., on Wissler Road attempting to obliterate any information on companies through Cap and Trade. Look out, and west of U.S. 11. the Medieval Warm Period that shows this electric cooperatives, you are on the list.

I have a special interest in this bridge. The happened 1,000-plus years ago BEFORE Donny Mason bridge was destroyed by fire on Halloween man could have affected climate; that bilSuffolk evening in 1976. The Virginia Highway lions of dollars in government grants are Department did not want to restore the bridge. The town of Mt. Jackson and the county of Shenandoah wanted it restored, but there was no money available.

WHATZIT? On a trip to Richmond, I decided to make a call on my friend, Gov. Mills Godwin. On Each issue, we will pubmy visit in the governor’s office, I explained lish a photo of a familiar but to the governor the problem of no funds to unidentified object. You are restore this historical structure, and that it invited to make your best was the last covered bridge in the state highguess and send it in writing way system. Money was short that year, and with your name, address, the governor was having his problems finding and phone number to funds for needed government operations.

WHATZIT?, c/o Cooperative He suggested (I cannot remember his Living, P.O. Box 2340, exact words) that I have a resolution introGlen Allen, VA 23058 DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS? duced in the General Assembly that this his2340; or guess online at torical covered bridge should be replaced, www.co-opliving.com using whatever funds available.

The Feb. under “Contests.” Deadline WHATZIT? I came home, and trying to remember the for entries is June 1. All photo (r) was governor’s words, wrote a resolution. I gave it correct entries will be put a recycled tire to Sen. Bill Truban and Del. Clint Miller, both into a drawing and a doormat. from Shenandoah, and asked them to introwinner announced in the Reader duce the resolution in the Virginia Senate and July issue. The winner will Deborah Bailey (l) of Swoope was our House of Delegates. They did, and the resolureceive a check for $25. ■ $25 winner. Congratulations, Deborah! tion passed.

The highway department then realized that this put the burden on them to restore

WRITE US!

ILES PROF

by Bill

Editor Sherrod,

“reb, are nd to Web rding policy arou been es, acco them onal security that I’ve es of Those nati ething ressing issu g g our is som udin roach orientin ld, which was 18; add ice, incl govse app just oring I the wor in since and social mon-sen emissions. rest a com gas ininvolved c fairness system; and ht for nhousehim to ice omi foug ent led gree just He’s econ ernm has inal bility.” g gov pocket- to ing with thought the crim accounta e, restorin g a balance ches plan sumers’ to deal pendent never ent ng con rity in any inde ernm third them udes restorin lative bran ns had ecti His inia prot legis Virg incl The top prio ssions. ted senmany bility, utive and sist thatmust be a s. a devo ts gas emi senior 2006, Webb. accounta the exec Webb add inia’s ating efore books greenhouse-ht guess fromfor the righ een of Jim 64, is Virg te by defe ent, d , betw hear reduce as you mig also fought Last June governm Webb, U.S. Sena ticians, ING s. b on Now And FISH of the poli to the ine, he’s Allen, in arm by Web ITING, do to ed he got most popular . George possiThe er Mar comrades WR duc law.

And G, form . senator -Sen ator Virginia’s n intro red a fellow ed into with .

READIN TIMES inia’s senior and then conside . of his k legislatio e was sign b says PAS one of governor veterans inee ARE at does Virg ” Web had been s landmar day in offic post-9/11 efits compaformer er in ’06 idential nom Wh writing, he add ind? his first n provides cational ben s.

Webb and unwreading and ch writer,” who earliublican pres b? drelax resume, y spee legislatio ensive edu prior war hectic sche , ble Rep o is Jim Web its of his a man of let“I enjo ’t have a g mer to hike b er, comprehveterans fromk from his tive Livin Wh don I like on the a lawy to pera , has er. y “I still grin. ,” Web ine , and rable b took a breawith Coo Strictly a teacher, e all, a lead Academ -spoken a to fish my son b, a Mar a ine, Web to speak with Naval abov very wellwith. also like doing with like Web ongoing le, is a Mar perhaps of the U.S. Law Center, fall “I y y, is, ed in the to son ule last e. He is affabeasy to talk I enjo ters, and a graduate University combat vet- he is things His son, Jimm ing serv addition , magazin smile and He’s hav rgetown Vietnam ald Reagan, s. h, Julia . In k very ran, Geo note Sara East and quic of a vete dle t Ron Amy, and the d Marine wife, SERVE experience ’s senior combat in the Mid ghters y.

Presiden ly. His Webb dau inia RED TO ribe the decorate , under of the Nav d, lifelong r Emi and conflict Webb has of Virg that it feels ge y and HONO ed to desc tage, the level y, -daughte eran, as Secretar accomplisheat the colle Ask Jimm and step namese heri k with 0s. to the “I can’t say or senator t wor rising served b is also an ht the craf ything from d, ’s seni Georgia is of Viet pro bono the late 197 lyquickly Webb note g Virginia tor. As (reever taug Web e Le, to Hol on say, since Hong e extensiv . who has has authored -fiction senator, rent bein junior sena used to munity test influence non writer enplays diffe ner the has don ese com can and who novels to wood scre ked as a much did being John War But I Webb. the grea level it Vietnamo has had ,” says coffee.’ to serve the Sen.) He’s wordcast jourthan of dad inia II, cup my Wh Virg broa honor to be you a ld War graduand tired s life? tor.” endous for ht get nalist, covWebb’ at would haveB-29s in Wor 26 and ‘It mig it is a trem senior sena respect school.

“Th and as he was deep his PBS the B-17s ol when year in high me a John say that of Virginia has a of ht erage ocrat, or known “He flewnight scho ines people b, a Dem “I’ve staff and my seni and he taug ty good U.S. Mar Web Republican. was on his started y. I folcollege ut h guy, was a pret a s. I in Beir an the Nav him ated froma pretty toug Plus, he Warner, for 25 year etary of t the ip. earned followed k abou He was t leadersh Warner him as Secr then I y b thin Virginia’s dabou Emm and Web wed e, lot frien follo t does which buddy.” based? him ther award. he -lasting of fishing finally, wha model on ives are allowed Senate.” a long me one erat It And And share ethe gave business tric coop s model. own Secr men ate into ive “He his me elec is, by on, a The two continues. n I beca busines to participefits cooperat r-owned fond great whe been very each ose, ben Webb descripti ter. links consume k it’s a so cho e in the ship, figh av cuff I’ve always t up with “I thin if they to shar born kep his SecNthe Navy. and ’s senwe’ve people, lows r business, VirginiaYou to actary of Warner, ands.” about ld like don’t ” ov. in thei year tion ess. wou of John ate.g the “I he rma 4. succ t over said, of its further info w.Webb.Sen ) 224-402 other en asked wha Webb en I decided ww tor, For at (202 Wh Wh tor, visit b’s office as a sena that way. themes.” sena for this ior complishthis job in tact Web site. major rmation three at can con ical info Webb’s Web look I laid out Jim Biograph to run, Note: n from Sen. Editor’s was take 0 profile ril 201 -Ap arch Living/M ative Cooper

12

4

Cooperative Living/May 2010

may mailbag

4/16/10

12:58 PM

Page 2

the bridge, but no money was provided.

They went to the Appropriations Committee and had their budget for the highway maintenance fund modified so that first priority for the use of the maintenance funds was to restore covered bridges that had been destroyed by fire. The bridge was restored in 1979.

The Mt. Jackson Chamber recognized my efforts and presented me with a painting of the bridge.

Warren French Edinburg BOOKER T. WASHINGTON OVERCAME THE ODDS I read with interest the article on Booker T. Washington in the February edition of Cooperative Living. I grew up just minutes away from the Booker T. Washington National Monument, and Washington was a larger-than-life figure even in my childhood days. Because of the local connection, teachers put extra emphasis on this amazing man and his accomplishments.

We learned about how he longed for an education and how, through his determination, he was able to overcome the odds and achieve his dreams and go on to become a renowned educator and role model.

Much later, as an adult, I became aware of the controversy surrounding Washington’s views and philosophies.

While those views have no place in today’s society, I feel his cautious approach was wise at the time.

The Civil Rights Movement that began in the late 1950s and continued into the turbulent 1960s was met initial-

HISTORY MYSTERY Each issue, we will publish a photo of some person, place or thing (or a portion thereof) of historical significance in Virginia, and readers will be invited to submit their best guess as to the identity of the photo. Send it in writing with your name, address, and phone number to HISTORY MYSTERY, c/o Cooperative Living, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 230582340; or guess online at www.co-opliving.com under “Contests.” Deadline for entries is June 1. All correct entries will be put into a drawing and a winner announced in the July issue. The winner will receive a check for $25. ■

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS? The Feb. HISTORY MYSTERY was Meems Bottom bridge in Shenandoah County, the longest covered bridge in Virginia. Originally built in 1894, the bridge was reconstructed after it burned in 1976. Reader Debra Matthews of The Plains was our $25 winner. Congratulations, Debra!

Why didn’t it include what Republican ly with opposition, hostility, and violence. ex-presidents cost us? We are currently While it was ultimately successful in supporting two ex-Bushes. If the point is bringing about positive change for our what we pay to support seated and exnation and its people, one must ask if that presidents, then it should have been a success would have been possible in the politically neutral letter, not a sounding late 1800s or early 1900s. board for an obvious ultra-conservative Our country was still strugObama-and-Clinton hater. gling to recover from the devastaPlease make an attempt to tion of the Civil War. ‘Educ ati print only letters that are Unfortunately, the Civil Rights — Ju on Is Failin st Loo k at th g Our Chil T d e Dro not political in nature.

Act of 1866 failed to protect pout R ren ate’ former slaves and secure for Nancy Treusch them the rights guaranteed Warrenton to the citizens of our nation.

It is appalling to think that BONFADINI’S it was another 100 years ASSESSMENT WAS before these ideas finally CORRECT began to be realized.

Dr. Bonfadini’s article, However, could the “Education Is Failing Our Children Civil Rights movement have — Just Look at the Dropout Rate,” been effective during Washington’s lifewas correct in his assessment of the time, or would it have been met with even problem in today’s public schools. more violence, hostility, and oppression?

I taught for nine years in public Sue Frazier schools. Then later I taught for three years King George in a Christian school (just opening), where we did not have extra teachers for P.E., music, art, library, etc. Even with those disPARTISAN LETTER WAS OFFENSIVE advantages, the children seemed to be The March/April issue of Cooperative happy, and to my utter amazement they Living contains a letter, “How Much Money passed their tests at the end of the year.

Is Enough?” I find the letter offensive and I also noticed that each morning the wonder why you chose to print it. It makes children took praying very seriously and pejorative references and implications about then happily settled down to do their work our current president, as well as to former for the school day — not always the case President Clinton.

FOOD FOR THOU GHT

by Dr.

John E.

Bonfadin i, Ed.D ., Prof essor Emeritus , George

What’ s YOUR

Cooper ative Living/F ebruar y

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

Mason Universit y

he title

statemenof this colu can alwa t by a U.S. mn is from Every senator. a recent ys find elec criticism tion cycl fault with Politicia to talk ns establish . It’s fash e brings a educatio honestyabout resp n. ionable new onsi and alm ment to for the wave of students and dedicati bility, effor poin to fix ost all poli t out perc political t, team on. He shou other the prob ticia eive work, neve intellect ld all have seem lems. ns say they d failures, s that advancedr said that ual cou Our courses are goin The scho few prob Yet as the alge caused current econ rses. He’s year g lems ol drop The ultimor improvi right bra and ever get s pass, it How out of our by the mos omic prob on ng stan ate a job. t high society. is to blamcould anyo rate is one “fixed.” lems target.

There goal of atten dardized in the ly were exam ne test scor e for even is no financia They imp educated look ple. the scho think edu if dignity ding colle whe at the lemente mem es. l mar re we ge liberal-aryou have a ol drop cation alon city scho demogra d prac bers also con are. Our kets that doctoratin unempl is to get ts app brought tices think Seventee ols the grad phics. In out rate? Just e roac e. The oyment, of workers tributed to highly edu the larg us to uati n school all the cou h is no long tradition cate of graduati est 50 the larg on rate ing curr probably our dilemm d politicia al is 58 significaor college. rses you tooker valid. Just e city had urban on rates of percent. they too ent economi little to a. Factory ns scho com ntly to Which do with graduati munitiesless than 50 ols hav ones in high c shou you Scho con buil con e ld alwa ditions, crea perc on rate d the have physica ols are dele r overall grow tributed have significa ent. Sub s, but services best prod ys have the althoug tapp even dents l educatio ting art, mus th? h ntly fails to roximat can take n, and my dad . We shou ucts and prov desire to ic, tech receive ely one the best schobetter mat othe ld in five more nical, h, fore a dipl Nat at less (who wor respect thos ide the best college-pr courses students ols ign In my ked in glam fails to ionally, one oma. so sturep As a soci orous opinion language, who a coal e who, like meet and crea courses but programgraduate. of every thre min this the tion for ety we mus vitally To tive writ like imp e), wor ate will goal of haviis a major ferings matic chan think that e students tributes all workers t recaptur ortant jobsk ng mor mistake. ing. that centrequire a is naiv will totally ges in the simply mak , for ever e an app .

To to e stud mor edu e. solve ing reciaI kno our prog ents yon rather ers on indi e flexible requiring I do belie the drop cational can answ w that our ress and well e who con than curricul graduve ofout students college-evidual stud can con more so-c that the um as thos er a pho public scho -being. current problem ntrance ent need ne work, do drop e our edu tribute to alled acad trend s, requ foreign of foreign with the ol graduate program out and the prob emi of catio them s countrie same prof enter irements. s shou lem; c courses To corr n system con has nothcountries s. iciency tion does tinue thei ld be avai the world If identifie ect a prob is pretty but in gene ing to are providin The reason of thing lable r ral, goo form n’ do d. lem t that g high-sch to do First begi to help d. with be able al , a caus and educatio these serv with ool grad n in kindergaeducation.

The cost ices just don to complet foremost, e must be EducaI just uation. rten educatio current tren of labor. n and ever a e criticize listened It’s a lifelo or end with yown, ’t have it. the work. student mus to wrong. n more prepd of making they don Throug Some could students a radio com ng proc a trad students t beca goal of What if we aration for public-scho calculat itional ’t have the h no fault mentato ess. that’s of thei made academi e the use only ability ol r a necessarhaving ever were able college is r great to just schools math skill amount of 50 percent progress c environm to succeed y these quired y courses student gradachieve the stud stud , grad math should spen ents needa meal tip. cracks. ents, but in meeting ent. We’ve in es, and uate with instead have for college?

If , perh d to test scor are not The studentssome still the needs the The mes of requ time teaching aps teria, select stud The colleges fall thro of es whi alike sage edu iring theo ents acco basic abilities the ones who who are would reshou tive, like ch prob really ugh the then rdin ably you are ld be send cators and retical mat negl average or are gifte have maj h. similar personality, would be g to other poli sure ing kids are d and talen or learn ected ticians criyou have is, stay The One the everyon traits. As a enthusia more qua ted. Ofte ing disthe skill in school litasm, litical n, let’s hop students challenge ones who e to have society n, the unti lead e are is we just desire and The a develop ers have that our busito get a job. l homes. who com finding way neglecte If jobs recession college edu don’t need the d. e ment an economy skill and ness and has cation. aren’t nurturedUltimately, from disa s to assis opportu pohave available taught us t dvan inte a tant than at home. a child’s desi taged nity. that produces grity to unempldegree or you , it does many lesso re teachers Parents n’t employns. of all are mor to learn is schools oyment has are a scho matter if the . you schools skills needThey are the e imporreflect offer a wid the same ol dropout effect.

— e vari the need process. only assis ed to succ true teac dence Wh ety of hers t eed in s of program en to because If educatio in this deve life. opportu all occupatiall society, There s the pare n has faile lopment The are at nities ons. The they add that eve New nts tors d, ry for stud creleas issue. need y said on York City have also it’s usually view?

Do you t two side 12 year to rethink ents to also offer mor failed.

May succ key to Meet the Pres or Mic voke This column have a diffe s to everyon s of college-p the current eed. Edu e hael Bloo the thou is mea carent petitive United s that edu ments. ght, so mberg leaving e. Some stud rep educatiotrend. May Stat nt to catio edge kee in a glob es maintai n is the utmost Each one p sending proment; school and ents may n isn’t for be 36 al econ ning its be bett but bsherro interest. is read withcomcom jobs and for this entering a omy. er off He wen the parallel to happen work envi “Foo d@odec Send e-m t on .com d Edu ail to: ronther learn (please or send for Though band-ai cation need ing opp e must be t” in ortu s d app erative written resp subject enter roach major surg nities. line), Livin ons requiring ery, not Attn.

Bill She g, Food es to Coo just more pfor Tho Glen tradition a rrod Allen, , al VA 230P.O. Box ught, 234 58-2 340. 0,

View?

2010

5

may mailbag

4/16/10

12:59 PM

Page 3

Amish-built pole-barn buildings your plans or ours

1.800.893.1242 Lot clearing and concrete pads available

www.vacarolinabuildings.com

VA. CARO L I NA B U I L D I N G S, I N C.

in public schools. God’s protective covering was very evident.

Children are different in their abilities. As I used to tell the children, “God made us all different and gave all of us different gifts and abilities — thank goodness.” This helped them to feel good about themselves.

Lastly, Dr. Bonfadini was right. As a society not everyone needs to study foreign language and calculus. Let’s pray for our nation!

Mary Botello Ruther Glen

Register for FREE building on Web site!

RED-HERRING RESENTMENT I must comment on Peter Paul’s letter on global warming in the February issue. Mr. Paul resorts to ad hominine attacks, the use of red herrings, and finally, blatant falsehoods (99.999 percent of all the world’s scientists) to make his questionable points. Does Mr. Paul remember 30 years ago we were warned by scientists of an oncoming Ice Age? And what about the current “Climategate” scandal, where dissenting voices have been silenced and unfavorable data rejected or hidden?

Take a good look in the mirror, Mr. Paul, before you pick up stones to cast at others.

Tim Reed Greenbackville

LOOKING TO DOWNSIZE TO THE PERFECT SIZE?

LOOKING TO UPGRADE TO THE PERFECT SIZE?

Assist U 2 Build

a division of Sunnybrook Homes Inc.

SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OR WE CAN BUILD FOR YOU “Assist U 2 Build” will provide the plans, building permits & all the purchase orders for labor & materials & you coordinate the job!

nnybrook Homes,Inc. 2 Build Assist U

Call us to see how this will save you thousands. We will work from your plans or ours.

We will help you procure financing at the best available rates.

OR LET SUNNYBROOK DO IT ALL - CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION TODAY:

1-800-296-9868 6

www.sunnybrookhomesinc.com Cooperative Living/March-April 2010

adpages:Layout 1

4/21/10

11:36 AM

Page 2

StoneTree™

Precast Concrete Fence Decorative Stone Pattern on Both Sides

z Residential and Commercial Uses z Decorative Privacy Fence Walls z Estate Perimeter Walls z Noise Walls z Buffer Between Mixed Use Developments

z Provides Safety and Security z Virtually Maintenance Free z Three Heights: 3’, 6’ and 8’ z Panel Length: 15’ z Custom Color Available

East Coast Precast, LLC z Amelia, VA 1-866-524-3820 z www.eastcoastprecast.com

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

SUPERIOR WALLS The Ultimate In Basement & Crawlspace Foundation Technology

Build Green With Superior Walls - Always Plumb Level Square - Meets IRC Building Codes - Insulated - Warm & Dry - 15 Year Warranty - Residential or Commercial - Fast Installation

1-866-350-9255 10101 Superior Way z Amelia, VA 23002 www.superiorwallsva.com

7

may say cheese:Layout 1

4/15/10

6:26 PM

Page 1

SAY CHEESE We welcome your wacky, endearing or unusual photos. Send to: Say Cheese!, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340. Please do not send originals, as photos cannot be returned. Digital photos must be high resolution and printed on photo paper, or high-resolution .jpg files may be e-mailed to saycheese@co-opliving.com with SAY CHEESE! in the subject line. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS with information about the photo.

Have a COW! 1

“MOO”NSTRUCK Caroline Gilman of South Riding sent in this shot of two cows “cud”dling at the Shenandoah County Fair.

2 WET BEHIND THE EARS Spring brings the taste of new motherhood to farm fields. From Karen Beal of Aldie.

3 4

COMFY COWCH Allen Davidson snapped this shot of his nephew Wyatt as he body-hugged a heifer at the Field Day of the Past in Centerville. Sent in

by Alison Hawthorne of Rockville.

UDDERLY ADORABLE Natalie and Lacie fawn over the new baby while he suckles their Granny’s disappointingly dry digits. From Shawn and Tammy Smith of Holly Grove.

5 WAITING FOR THE COWS TO COME HOME Klink happily greets his bovine buddies as they come in from the pasture. From Ellis and Janet Irvine of Lexington.

6 CATTLE DRIVER Looks like reader Ricky Thompson of Staunton has steered his bull to the end of the rainbow!

8

8

MORE THAN ONE WAY TO MILK A COW Discovered alone, near-frozen and starving, sweet baby Valentino was bottlefed back to health by milkmaid Jan Hundley of Boydton.

7 RARE BEEF Having raised black and white Belted Galloway “Oreo cookie” cows for years, contributor J.D. Satterwhite of Spotsylvania was surprised and delighted to get a rare red one!

Cooperative Living/May 2010

pg9:Layout 1

4/16/10

10:42 AM

Page 1

LOCK IN YOUR SAVINGS FOR 12 MONTHS

19

99 a month

$

regular price

34 X

$

99

for 12 months

OVER 120 CHANNELS

FOR A LIMITED TIME RECEIVE: FREE

FREE

FREE

FREE

& Activation ($99 Value)

18 channels for 3 months

2 Room

HD-DVR Upgrade 1 HD-DVR + 1 SD-DVR

Up to 6 Room Installation

CALL TODAY

1•877•316•6742

WE ARE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 8 AM – MIDNIGHT EST • SUNDAY 9 AM – MIDNIGHT EST • OFFER ONLY GOOD TO NEW DISH SUBSCRIBERS • SE HABLA ESPAÑOL

WWW.INFINITYDISH.COM Digital Home Advantage offer requires 24-month commitment and credit qualification. If service is terminated before the end of commitment, a cancellation fee of $17.50/month remaining will apply. Programming credits will apply during the first 12 months. All equipment is leased and must be returned to DISH Network® upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Limit 6 leased tuners per account; lease upgrade fees will apply for select receivers; monthly fees may apply based on type and number of receivers. To qualify for a DVR upgrade, a $6 monthly service fee applies to DVR service. HD programming requires HD television. All prices, packages and programming subject to change without notice. Local channels only available in certain areas. Offer is subject to the terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer Agreements. Additional restrictions and fees may apply. First-time DISH Network® customers only. Offer ends 5/31/10. HBO/Showtime: Programming credits will apply during the first 3 months. Customer must downgrade or then-current price will apply. HBO® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. SHOWTIME and related marks are trademarks of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS company. InfinityDISH charges a one-time $49.95 non-refundable processing fee.

9

may currents:Layout 1

4/16/10

9:31 AM

Page 1

THE GREEN SCENE MAKE SURE YOU USE YOUR HOME GENERATOR SAFELY Despite the best efforts of your electric cooperative to prevent outages, severe weather can often wreak havoc with power lines, resulting in your home losing electric service. So, many homeowners rely on generators as a back-up resource to provide electricity until power can be restored. Your electric cooperative reminds you that generators can be extremely dangerous when used improperly and offers these safety tips: • Installing a stationary generator is not a do-it-yourself weekend job. Have it installed by a contractor and wired by a certified electrician, and follow instructions regarding its use and maintenance. Check your local building codes as they may require an inspection and permit for generator installation.

• Never connect a stationary or portable generator directly to your home wiring system unless you install a transfer or “doublethrow” switch. If a generator is not properly installed or is connected directly to your wiring, it can create a backfeed along power lines and electrocute a line crew that is restoring power.

• Consult your electric co-op if you plan to install or use a generator. Your co-op can give advice on the proper installation and use of your generator. Your co-op may also install transfer switches or other safety devices to avoid backfeed, or it can recommend a certified contractor to do the job.

• Never operate a generator in enclosed or even partially enclosed spaces, such as a porch or garage. Generators can produce high levels of deadly carbon monoxide very quickly.

• Make sure any generator is properly grounded.

• If you use extension cords directly from the generator to power selected appliances, make sure the cords are rated for the load, are free of cuts and worn insulation, and have threepronged plugs.

• Never try to refuel a generator while it is running, and avoid spilling fuel on hot components.

For more information on generator installation, safety and use, contact your local cooperative or check its Web site or go to:

www.electrical-safety.org.

10

CO-OP CURRENTS

Electrical Fires Can Be Prevented. Give Your Home a Check-up.

It may surprise you to learn that, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), over 55,000 homes are damaged or destroyed every year due to fires caused by electrical problems. These fires cause more than 500 deaths, injure more than 1,400 people and result in nearly $1.5 billion in property damage.

May is National Electrical Safety Month — a great time to remind all of us to treat electricity with respect and to help protect our families and our homes from the danger of electrical fires and accidents.

“As each year goes by, Americans are using more energy in their homes,” says Brent Brenner, ESFI president. “Many homes and electrical systems in the U.S. are simply being overburdened, leading to fires, deaths and injuries.”

Brenner points out that over half of the homes in America were built before 1973 — before many of the appliances and electronics commonly used now were even invented. From electric can-openers to George Foreman grills, from dishwashers to microwaves, our kitchens are filled with a myriad of new gadgets. There are portable hair dryers and electric toothbrushes in the bathrooms and computers, printers, digital TVs, video game consoles, DVRs, cell phone and iPod chargers throughout the house. Unfortunately, all these wonderful devices together are too often more than home circuits were designed to handle.

During May, ESFI recommends that every homeowner perform a basic electric-safety check.

Here are some symptoms that could mean you need to upgrade your electrical system: • Lights that dim or flicker or a TV picture that shrinks in size.

• Evidence of arcs, sparks or flashes of bright light around outlets and switches.

• Discolored switch and outlet plates or plates that feel warm or hot.

• Sizzling or buzzing sounds emanating from the walls.

• Damaged, cut, or cracked wire insulation.

• Frequent blown fuses or circuit breakers that trip frequently.

Cooperative Living/May 2010

may currents:Layout 1

4/16/10

9:44 AM

Page 2

For older homes, ESFI recommends installing Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) — specially advanced electronic circuit breakers that detect dangerous wiring conditions and cut off power before a fire develops. ESFI also encourages replacing old outlets with tamperresistant receptacles that prevent children from inserting foreign objects into the slots.

While these devices are available at hardware stores and home centers, it is always a good idea to consider using a professional and certified electrician for installation. In fact, if your home is experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, ESFI recommends having your wiring checked by an electrician who can recommend and perform repairs and upgrades where needed.

Even if you own a newer home with no wiring problems, here is a list of more electrical safety tips to follow this spring and all year long: INDOORS • Inspect all electrical cords. Replace any that are in poor condition.

• Make sure all plugs around your home fit snugly in their sockets.

• Never force three-pronged plugs into two-slot outlets. If necessary, use a three-pronged extension cord or adaptor.

• Don’t overload any circuit with more electrical devices or appliances than it is meant to handle.

OUTDOORS • Inspect hedge clippers and other electric tools for damage to cords and plugs before using.

• Never leave electric tools unattended around children.

• Store electric tools indoors away from damaging moisture and excessive heat.

• Keep dry leaves and other debris away from outdoor lighting, outlets and power cords.

• Only use weather-resistant, heavy-gauge extension cords marked for outdoor use.

• Be aware of and avoid overhead power lines when cleaning gutters, trimming trees or repairing roofs.

• Use only wooden or fiberglass ladders when working near electrical wiring. Metal ladders conduct electricity.

• Before digging, remember that there are underground power lines, too. Always call Miss Utility to check for underground lines before you dig.

For more information on electrical safety, check out the ESFI Web site at: www.electrical-safety.org.

—Jeb Hockman

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

HYDRO 2.1%

®

NUCLEAR 17.6%

2009 POWER SUPPLY MIX

COAL 27.8%

The following Virginia electric cooperatives — A&N, BARC, Community, MecklenPURCHASED burg, Northern Neck, ENERGY Prince George, RappahanCOMBUSTION 50.3% nock, Shenandoah Valley TURBINES 2.2% and Southside — purchased their electricity from Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) in 2009. In addition, all of these cooperatives except A&N purchased a small amount of hydro power from the Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA). ODEC also provided power to Choptank Electric Cooperative in Maryland, and Delaware Electric Cooperative. In 2009, ODEC generated or purchased approximately 9.8 million megawatt-hours of electricity for resale to its member distribution cooperatives and to non-members. Emissions from all of ODEC’s owned generating facilities averaged approximately 0.000940 tons per megawatt-hour for nitrogen oxide, and approximately 0.000196 tons per megawatt-hour for sulfur dioxide. SEPA supplied approximately 207,000 megawatt-hours of electricity to the eight Virginia cooperatives indicated above. The chart displays the percentages of total energy supplied by ODEC and SEPA to all ODEC members in 2009. For questions related to the graphic, please call Lynn Maloney at (804) 968-4065.

The DR® FIELD and BRUSH MOWER

1-YEAR HANDS–ON TRIAL! Now, for a limited time, we’re extending our 6-Month Trial to a Full Year. There’s never been a better time to put a DR® FIELD and BRUSH MOWER to work on your own property.

Put one to the test on your own property – CLEAR & MAINTAIN meadows, pastures, roadsides, fencelines, walking paths with ease!

FREE

DEPOT SHIPPING for a Limited Time.

CUT tall grass, weeds, brush, brambles – even saplings!

CHOP/MULCH most of what you cut!

44" Cut Tow-Behind models also available!

CALL TODAY! Get a FREE DVD & Catalog TOLL FREE

1-888-212-1193

www.DRfieldbrush.com

68942X © 2010

11

pg12:Layout 1

4/20/10

4:00 PM

HAPPENINGS

MAY 8-23 CALLAO Inherit the Wind.

(804) 529-9345. www.westmorelandplayers.org.

15 CRAIG COUNTY Farm Expo & Crafter’s Fair.

Craig County Fairgrounds.

(540) 864-6428. www.ccfarmexpo.com.

15 NOKESVILLE Nokesville Day Festival & Parade.

9 a.m.-4 p.m. (703) 801-8703.

15 WARRENTON 32nd Annual Old Town Spring Festival.

Main Street. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

(540) 347-4414. www.fauquierchamber.org.

15 SPOTSYLVANIA The Sky’s Gospel Singers.

Wilderness Baptist Church.

(540) 972-7491.

15 TAPPAHANNOCK Annual Croaker Fishing Tournament. www.bigcroaker.com.

15 FAIRFAX Antique Car Show.

Old Town Fairfax. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. www.visitfairfax.com.

15, 22, 29 & JUNE 5, 12 CULPEPER Downtown Farmer’s Market.

Page 1

15-16 SPOTSYLVANIA Annual Spotsylvanians’ Spring Concert.

Spotsylvania Middle School.

(540) 786-9643. www.spotsylvanians.com.

20 MADISON Business Expo.

Madison Vol. Fire Dept.

(540) 948-4455.

22 ROCKINGHAM COUNTY Massanetta Springs Centennial Celebration.

3 p.m. (540) 434-3829. www.massanettasprings.org.

22 FREDERICKSBURG King of Wings Festival.

Fredericksburg Fairgrounds.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. www.kingofwingsva.com.

22 KING GEORGE Celebrate America – An Evening of Dance, Music & Art.

King George High School.

4:30 p.m. (540) 625-2011.

3-6 HERNDON 30th Annual Herndon Festival.

(703) 787-7300.

Abby.kimble@herndon-va.gov.

11-13 SHENANDOAH COUNTY 21st Massanutten Antique Tractor & Gasoline Engine Club Show.

Shenandoah Co. Fairgrounds.

9 a.m.-9 p.m. (540) 333-6834. www.massanuttenantiquetractor.com.

12 SOUTH BOSTON 3rd Annual Ducks on the Dan. Downtown. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

4 GAINESVILLE 3rd Annual Prince William County VT Alumni Golf Tournament.

(434) 575-6246.

(703) 754-4650.

www.ducksonthedan.com.

www.pwcvtaagolf.weebly.com.

4-6 MIDLAND Old-Fashioned Tent Revival.

13 CHANTILLY Charity Car Show – proceeds to Children’s Hospital.

22-23 SPOTSYLVANIA 2010 Civil War Reenactment & Bluegrass for Battlefields.

5 BUMPASS Lake Anna Community Church Community Day.

Spotsylvania Courthouse Village.

(540) 507-7090.

Bumpass/Buckner Park.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. (540) 872-2484.

www.spotsylvania.org/2010.htm.

www.lakeannachurch.com.

To be considered for inclusion, please submit events in the format as listed.

23 RAPIDAN Rikki’s Refuge Open House.

5-6 SURRY 20th Annual Chippokes Steam & Gas Engine Farm Festival.

DEADLINES: May 15 for Jul. 15-Aug. 15; June 15 for Aug. 15-Sep. 15

Rikki’s Refuge Animal Sanctuary.

Noon-4 p.m. (540) 854-0870, ext. 2. www.rikkisrefuge.org.

Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. www.emstat.net.

12

JUNE

Fauquier Christian Church.

(540) 229-6288.

www.culpeperdowntown.com.

www.center-for-the-arts.org.

Upper Mattaponi Tribal Grounds. 10 a.m.

(804) 769-3854. www.uppermattaponi.org.

www.thestudiokg.com.

Downtown Culpeper. 7:30 a.m.noon. (540) 825-4416.

Osburn High School.

(703) 330-2787.

MAY 29-30 King William County

www.madison-va.com.

28-29 FREDERICKSBURG Lee/Jackson Civil War Relic Show.

15-16 MANASSAS Beauty & the Beast.

23RD UPPER MATTAPONI TRIBAL POW-WOW

30 POWHATAN COUNTY Musical Memorial Show.

Powhatan High School.

3:30 p.m. (804) 598-3074.

Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum. (757) 294-3439.

11-12 ORANGE COUNTY Mine Run Fireman’s Fair.

Mine Run Vol. Fire Dept.

6-11 p.m. (540) 854-5751. www.minerunfire.com.

11-13 WARM SPRINGS VA Blues & Jazz Festival.

Garth Newel Music Center.

(877) 558-1689. www.garthnewel.org.

Dulles Expo Center.

10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. www.customcruisers.com.

Preference given to events sponsored by not-for-profit entities. Events subject to change; please contact event sponsor for confirmation.

Send to: Happenings, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340 E-mail: happenings@odec.com Online: www.co-opliving.com/ contact_happenings.htm Fax: (804) 346-3448 Submitting an event notice does not guarantee publication. To guarantee publication and delivery to more than 400,000 homes and businesses, place a display ad or a classified.

Contact above for details.

Cooperative Living/May 2010

adpages:Layout 1

4/21/10

11:37 AM

Page 4

Strange’s has a passion for plants and we have been growing local beauty in Virginia for over 75 years. Locally owned and operated means fresher owers and healthier plants for your home or to share with someone special. And when you order online, you TBWF XJUI OP XJSF TFSWJDFT GFFT (up to a $13.95 value) for owers sent anywhere in the US and Canada.

New Limited Lifetime Warranty

7 Models 22

Richmond, Virginia

t XXX TUSBOHFT DPN

We’re just down the road‌ even if it happens to be a dirt road.

No matter what road you want to be on, let Farm Credit help you get there. We’re the Experts in Rural Finance and have been providing financing to folks living and working in the country for over 90 years.

Custom Tailored Financing Available. . .

Homes and Estates Large and Small Acreage Construction and Remodeling We can also refinance your existing mortgage

Financing Rural America For Over 90 Years.

3

2

7

6

800-919-FARM

FarmCredit.com May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

13

may reader recipes final:Layout 1

READER RECIPES

4/16/10

12:40 PM

Page 1

COOKING TIP | HOW TO STORE A CAKE Whether you’re simply saving your cake to serve later in the day or you’re saving the leftovers for tomorrow, storing it right will keep it fresh, tasty, and looking good. Store one-layer cakes in their baking pans, tightly covered. Store multilayer cakes in a cake-saver or under a large inverted bowl.

If the cake has a fluffy or cooked frosting, insert a teaspoon handle under the edge of the cover to prevent an airtight seal and moisture buildup. Cakes with whipped cream frostings should be stored in the refrigerator. Unfrosted cakes can be frozen for up to 4 months if well wrapped in plastic.

Thaw in their wrappers at room temperature. Frosted cakes should be frozen unwrapped until the frosting hardens, and then wrapped and sealed; freeze for up to 2 months. To thaw, remove the wrapping and thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Cakes with fruit or custard fillings do not freeze well because they become soggy when thawed. For tips on frosting like a pro, visit www.familytime.com/Showarticle.aspx?Articleid=505&Ci=0. For tips on baking with sugar substitutes, check out www.wilton.com/blog/index.php/baking-alternatives-sugar-substitutes.

Have a favorite recipe or a cooking tip to share? E-mail recipes and tips with your name and address to: ReaderRecipes@co-opliving.com or mail to Reader Recipes, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058. Readers are awarded a $10 gift card for each published submission.

LEMON POPPY-SEED CAKE From A.S. Anderson of Beaverdam INGREDIENTS: 1 box lemon cake mix 1 box lemon instant pudding mix 1 ⁄2 cup oil 4 eggs 1 ⁄4 cup poppy seeds 1 cup water 1 t lemon extract DIRECTIONS: Mix together the first 2 ingredients. Add the remaining ingredients. Pour mixture into a sprayed Bundt pan. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until done.

IRISH CREAM CHEESECAKE From Mary Jane Knight of Arlington INGREDIENTS: Crust: 1 cup graham cracker crumbs 1 cup finely chopped pecans 1 ⁄4 cup sugar 1 ⁄4 cup butter or Parkay margarine (melted) DIRECTIONS: Combine crust ingredients; press mixture onto bottom and 2 inches up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Chill.

Filling: 3 (8-oz). pkgs. Philadelphia brand cream cheese (softened) 3 ⁄4 cup sugar 3 eggs 1 ⁄3 cup Irish cream liqueur

14

3 oz. Baker’s white chocolate squares (melted) DIRECTIONS: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cheese and sugar until very smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until just blended. Beat in liqueur and white chocolate.

Pour into 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until the center sets. Remove from oven and run knife around sides of pan to prevent cracking. Cool.

Topping: 1 cup sour cream 3 T confectioner’s sugar 1 T Irish cream liqueur DIRECTIONS: Combine topping ingredients and spread over cheesecake, just before serving. Garnish as desired.

tom. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pineapple; dot with butter. Sprinkle cinnamon and nuts over mixture. Bake for 40 or 45 minutes until fruit is bubbly. Good with ice cream or whipped cream.

KENTUCKY RAISIN CAKE From Andrena Seawood of Heathsville INGREDIENTS: 1 cup raisins 1 T orange zest 1 ⁄2 cup bourbon 18.25-oz. box yellow cake mix 3.4-oz. box vanilla instant pudding 1 cup evaporated milk 4 large eggs 1 stick melted butter 1 t McCormick Vanilla Butter & Nut flavoring Glaze: ⁄2 stick of butter 1 ⁄2 cup brown sugar 1 ⁄2 cup bourbon 1

PINEAPPLE DUMP CAKE From Ronnie Lewis of Spotsylvania INGREDIENTS: 2 (20-oz.) cans crushed pineapple (drain one of them) 1 box yellow or white cake mix 1 stick butter, cut in small pieces 1 ⁄2 t cinnamon 1 cup of any kind of nuts DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven at 350°. Spray a 13x9-inch dish.

Spread pineapple on the bot-

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan. In a pan, heat raisins, orange zest and bourbon until warm — do not boil — and set aside. Mix all cake ingredients together until thick and smooth.

Spoon in raisin mixture; fold into batter. Pour mixture into Bundt pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden and springs back. For the glaze, combine all ingredients

in a saucepan and boil for 3 minutes over medium heat. Spoon the glaze over the cake and down the sides. Cool completely before slicing.

EASY CARROT CAKE From Carolyn Clark of Waynesboro INGREDIENTS: 2 cups sugar 11⁄2 cups oil 4 eggs 21⁄4 cups flour, sifted 2 t baking soda 1 t salt 1 ⁄4 t nutmeg 2 t cinnamon 2 (7.5-oz.) jars junior baby food carrots 1 cup raisins or nuts, or a combination of both Cream Cheese Frosting: 4 T margarine, softened 3 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 t vanilla 1 ⁄2 t salt 2 ⁄3 lb. confectioner’s sugar (enough to make frosting firm) DIRECTIONS: Blend sugar and oil; add eggs. Sift dry ingredients.

Blend together and add carrots and raisins. Grease a 9x13-inch pan and dust with confectioner’s sugar. Pour batter into pan.

Bake at 325° for 1 hour. Cool completely. For the frosting, blend all ingredients together.

Cooperative Living/May 2010

pg15:Layout 1

4/16/10

10:43 AM

Page 1

GET AN EXTRA $50 OFF That’s $25 off your first order and $25 off your second order when you select a 28-Day Auto-Delivery Program! †

“When I started Nutrisystem® Silver® my weight was 160 pounds, and I had little to no energy. I had tried all the different diets before, and nothing had worked for me. My goal on Nutrisystem was to get to 120 pounds. With Nutrisystem, I was able to learn about portion control, and I never felt like I was on a diet.

I surpassed my initial goal, and now I’m at the same weight I was in college. Honestly, I feel like I am in my 20s again.”

before

— Martha

Support at your fingertips: • Over 150 delicious foods to choose from • Created with “good carbs” and high fiber • No counting calories, carbs or points • FREE delivery straight to your door† • FREE online membership and weight loss counseling

MARTHA

All for as low as $3 a meal!† before

after

before

55

LOST

after

lbs.*

after

BRIAN LOST

93 LBS.*

ANNETTE LOST

50 LBS.*

EXTRA $50 OFF

That’s $25 off your first order and $25 off your second order!†

C A L L 1-877-908-THIN (8446) O R C L I C K nutrisystem.com/vir110 †Offer good on new 28-Day Auto-Delivery programs. Offer not valid on Flex and Select (fresh-frozen) programs. Free shipping to Continental U.S. only. $25 discount will be applied to your first and second consecutive deliveries. With Auto-Delivery, you are automatically charged and shipped your 28-Day program once every 4 weeks unless you cancel. You can cancel Auto-Delivery at any time by calling 1-800-727-8046. However for this offer you must stay on Auto-Delivery for at least two consecutive 28-Day program deliveries to receive the second $25 discount. Other restrictions apply. Call or see website for details. Cannot be combined with any prior or current discount or offer. Limit one offer per customer. ©2010 Nutrisystem, Inc. All rights reserved.

MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!

Try our food! If you don’t like it, call within 7 days of receipt of your first order and return the remaining three weeks of food for a FULL REFUND of the purchase price, less shipping. Call or see website for details.

*Results not typical. On Nutrisystem, you can expect to lose at least 1-2 lbs. per week. Individuals are remunerated.

On Nutrisystem you add in fresh grocery items.

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

15

may our energy our future:Layout 1

4/16/10

11:46 AM

Page 1

Help Avoid ‘a Glorious Mess’ Your electric co-op needs your help. Use this map to determine who represents you in the House of Representatives. Write his name in the blank on the bottom card at right. Mail it and the other two cards, addressed to Senators Webb and Warner (no postage necessary), so that your federal legislators will know that you oppose the EPA using the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide.

(Read more about this on page 2.)

Stafford

Culpeper ison

95 Fredericksburg King George

Orange

Spotsylvania

7

Caroline

Louisa anna

Northumberland

Powhatan berland

Hanover King William King and Queen Lancaster Middlesex RichmondHenrico City New Kent

3

Accomack

2

Mathews Gloucester

Charles City Amelia Chesterfield Northampton James City Hopewell Williamsburg Colonial Heights York Petersburg Prince George Nottoway Poquoson City Surry Dinwiddie Newport News Hampton

nburg

Sussex

95 Brunswick rg

Richmond Essex

64 Goochland

d

1

Westmoreland

Isle of WightPortsmouth Norfolk

Southampton

Emporia Greensville

85

4

Virginia Beach

Suffolk

Franklin City

Chesapeake

Highland

Virginia 2010 Congressional Districts

Bath

Alleghany

Roc

Covington

Lexin Bu

VA Congressional Districts Botetourt

VA Counties

Craig

VA Interstate Hwy

9

Wise Norton

Russell

Salem Roanoke City Montgomery Radford

Bland

Tazewell

Dickenson

NRECA Strategic Analysis Unit March 2010.

Bedford C

Giles

Buchanan

Pulaski

Lee

Scott

81 Bristol

Smyth

Franklin Floyd

Wythe Washington

Pitts

77 Carroll Grayson

Bedford

Roanoke

Galax

Patrick

Henry Martinsville Da

16

Cooperative Living/May 2010

may our energy our future:Layout 1

4/16/10

11:47 AM

District Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Page 2

Party R D D R D R R D D R D

Rob Wittman Glenn Nye Robert C. Scott J. Randy Forbes Thomas Perriello Bob Goodlatte Eric Cantor James P. Moran Rick Boucher Frank R. Wolf Gerry Connolly

Frederick Winchester Loudoun

Clarke

10

8

Falls Arlington Church Fairfax City Alexandria Fairfax Manassas Park City Fauquier Manassas City Rappahannock Prince William Warren

ndoah

11

Page

Stafford

Culpeper Madison Greene

95 Fredericksburg King George

Orange

Spotsylvania

7

harlottesville Frederick

1

Westmoreland

Winchester Loudoun

Clarke

10 8

Warren

Falls Church Arlington Fairfax City Alexandria Fairfax Manassas Park City Fauquier Manassas City Rappahannock Prince William

Shenandoah

11

81 Page Rockingham

Stafford

Culpeper Harrisonburg

Madison

95

hland Greene

Spotsylvania

Staunton

6

Fredericksburg King George

Orange

Augusta

Albemarle

Rockbridge

1

Caroline

EssexRichmond

Louisa Fluvanna

Lexington Buena Vista

Westmoreland

7

Charlottesville

Waynesboro

Northumberland

64

Nelson

Hanover

Goochland

King William King and Queen

Buckingham

Lynchburg dford City edford

Powhatan

Henrico Richmond City

Cumberland

Appomattox

New Kent

3

Amelia

Chesterfield

Mathews Gloucester

Charles City James City Williamsburg York

ColonialHopewell Heights Petersburg Prince George

Prince Edward

Campbell

Nottoway

Pittsylvania

Lunenburg

Sussex

95 Halifax

Brunswick Mecklenburg

85

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

NewportHampton News

Isle of Wight Portsmouth Norfolk

Southampton Emporia Greensville

Danville

4

Northampton

Poquoson City Surry

Dinwiddie Charlotte

2

Middlesex

Amherst

5

Accomack

Lancaster

Franklin City

Suffolk

Virginia Beach Chesapeake

17

may cover story:Layout 1

4/15/10

COVER STORY

5:39 PM

Page 1

by Tucker McLaughlin, Jr., Contributing Writer

VIR

AMERICA’S MOTORSPORT RESORT

18

BLAKELY SWANSON PHOTO • INSET PHOTO OF THE LODGE AT VIR BY VICTOR NEWMAN

may cover story:Layout 1

4/19/10

9:58 AM

P

aul Newman loved the place.

Richard Petty got stuck in the mud on a July Sunday afternoon in a Trans-Am race, helping augment the legend of NASCAR Bend.

Car & Driver magazine raved about VIR’s Grand Course West, drawing comparisons to the famed German Nurburgring.

Oak Tree Turn lives on.

Virginia International Raceway, celebrating its tenth anniversary since its rebirth in 2000, has earned international acclaim. The facility is located at Alton, near Danville in Southside Virginia.

FROM CATTLE TO SPORTS CARS Connie Nyholm and Harvey Siegel had the vision to reclaim VIR from its sad state as a cow pasture 10 years ago.

Nyholm, a managing partner of VIR, and general manager Josh Lief have watched the motorsports country club gain traction in the past decade as a major factor promoting tourism and innovative industry across Southside Virginia.

Nyholm says, “When we first started the project, Harvey’s vision was to be a club track — rent all the weekends to Ferrari Club, Audi Club, Mazda Club, BMW Club — and if we picked up a few weekdays, we would be doing better than expected.”

Now, factoring in the math of using two tracks at once, VIR has 480 rental days a year. The facility is rented part of January, most of February, and then daily to Christmas.

VIR hosts several professional events, including the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series (held April 23-25); the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro Superbike Nationals (Aug. 13-15);

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

Page 2

and the Bosch Engineering NASA Octoberfast (Oct. 8-10). The weekend of Sept. 10-12 will bring the SCCA Pro Sport Car Wars, with the World Challenge GT and Touring Car circuit, combined with Trans-Am and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup. NASCAR Sprint Cup teams test here.

VIR hosts extensive karting activity, including myriad group events, the very popular Camp Motorsports, drifting competitions on the Patriot course, and much more.

VIR has two upscale hotels, villas for sale, a growing industrial park, and a burgeoning research and development facility.

“VIR is seen as one of the elite tracks in the country. People travel from all over the world to come drive at VIR,” says Lief.

The weekend of June 4-6 features the Heacock Classic SVRA Gold Cup Historic Races. The event showcases a revival — from the sports-car era of the 1950s and ’60s — of the competition between the Lotus and Elva marquees.

VIR has six different racetrack configurations, two of which can be run simultaneously. Those include the full course, run with events on the Patriot course, or north and south, or the Grand Course East and Grand Course West.

Car & Driver has recently released its fourth edition reviewing the “lightning lap of Grand Course West.” The mag-

azine gushed that in North America, there’s a track — VIR’s Grand Course West — worthy of comparison to the storied German Nurburgring.

A TRACK WITH HISTORY The Web site, virhistory.com, contains much of the story of the old VIR — from 1957 to the untimely closure of the racetrack in 1974.

From the August 1957 VIR race program: “The rolling Virginia hills have been painstakingly clad with an ultra-smooth skin of macadam to provide a course of great natural beauty. The superb spectator visibility is nicely equated to a road layout that will test the best in racing machines and men.”

From Carroll Shelby in 1957: “One lap here is like 100 at Watkins Glen.”

“Virtually all the big names of the golden era of road racing, which was the late ’50s to mid ’60s, raced at VIR,” says Lief.

Petty, A.J. Foyt, Dan Gurney, Peter Revson, and Carroll Shelby raced here.

Many of these drivers returned to VIR after its reopening.

VIR showcases dizzying speeds, pastoral beauty and highly technical professional racing challenges.

VIR was a relatively new concept a decade ago, the motorsports-country club, and its success has sparked a successful national trend in that direction.

Want character lacking at so many cookie-cutter raceday facilities? How about the famed Oak Tree Turn? Insurers demanded that the giant oak tree that gives the turn its name be cut down, but the developers — at considerable extra expense — saved the oak to preserve a distinctive slice of raceday history.

VIR has its own unique history, starting with the famed NASCAR Bend.

Here’s that story, courtesy of virhistory.com: “Four NASCAR stars drove but didn’t have much luck — David Pearson blew the engine in his Dodge Dart during practice. Curtis Turner blew an engine in his Mustang but taped over the hole and was the last car running at the finish. Richard Petty went off twice and got permanently stuck in mud. Wendell Scott spun and then broke his Mustang’s suspension crossing a drainage ditch trying to return to the pits. Turn 3 got re-named NASCAR Bend as a result of the difficulties encountered there by Pearson, Petty, and Scott.”

19

4/16/10

3:20 PM

Page 3

BLAKELY SWANSON PHOTO

BLAKELY SWANSON PHOTO

BLAKELY SWANSON PHOTO

may cover story:Layout 1

1

BLAKELY SWANSON PHOTO

2

3

VIR also paid homage to Carroll Shelby, one of the leading figures in the automotive and sports car arenas in this country in the past half-century.

The track recognized Hurley Haywood, the Chicago native who went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1977, 1983 and 1994.

He’s also had major success at the 24 Hours of Daytona and drove in the 1980 Indy 500 and IMSA, representing that circuit four times in the International Race of Champions.

VIR has attracted racers of all stripes and professions. Motorsports luminaries who have been connected with VIR include IndyCar, NASCAR and Indy Rolex GrandAm team owner Roger Penske, one of the most prominent motorsports and business figures in the USA; Marco Andretti, a leading performer on the IndyCar circuit; Patrick Dempsey, road-racing enthusiast and a Hollywood movie and television star; and Chris Economaki, one of the nation’s leading motorsports journalists.

The list of VIR luminaries also includes Boris Said, one of the leading drivers for hire when NASCAR goes road racing; former Sprint Cup regular and Grand-Am champion Scott Pruett; Rolex DP veteran David Donohue and his dad, the late Mark Donohue, members of an American racing family with its own slice of VIR history; Mat Mladin, arguably the best ever in the highest level of 20

4

TUCKER MCLAUGHLIN JR. PHOTO

1. AMA Pro Superbike action returns to VIR in mid-August for the Suzuki White Lightning weekend. 2. Spectators at one of several seating areas around the track. 3. Formula cars are one of many diverse racing series at the motorsports country club. 4. VIR hosted the return of the very popular Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series in April. 5. VIR managing partner Connie Nyholm (left) and general manager Josh Lief inside ‘Connie's Pub,’ located in the Oak Tree Tavern.

5

professional motorbike racing in the land, the AMA Pro Superbike circuit; Ben Spies, now blasting through the Moto GP in Europe; and Nicky Hayden, another past winner at VIR in Superbikes and now in Moto GP and more.

Halifax County’s Ward Burton, the only Virginian to win the Daytona 500, practiced here during his Sprint Cup career. Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya, and other NASCAR notables have turned laps at VIR, honing their road-course prowess and exploring various technical issues.

Lief points out that VIR has hosted an off-

road motorcycle race, and there are more efforts underway to promote off-road racing.

Kevin Harvick Racing loves the karting facilities, and other NASCAR figures blow off steam here in their rare off-days, competing on the karting track. Camp Motorsports USA has also proven very popular. Drifting, another racing style, has found a new home with seven open drifting events, with the finals set for the Patriot course.

VIR has featured race-day variety: AMA Pro Superbike, Grand-Am, Trans-Am, Skip Barber Racing, the ARCA truck series, IMSA, the North Carolina Region, SCCA Charge of the Headlight Brigade, 13-hour enduro (Oct. Cooperative Living/May 2010

4/20/10

5:28 PM

Page 4

VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTO

VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTO

may cover story:Layout 1

VICTOR NEWMAN PHOTO

Overlooking the renowned VIRginia International Raceway, rounding the famed Oak Tree Turn, the Villas at South Bend provide an unparalleled, exciting escape from the ordinary. A historic, fast-paced track framed by acres of lush green rolling hills caters to both motorsport enthusiasts and guests as an adventure destination and vacation retreat. Rent a villa and the Amazing Trackside Experience is yours. Each two-story villa includes 2,200 square feet of total space. The flexible lock-out floor plans allow you to rent a single floor or the entire villa. Villa guests enjoy the Oak Tree Tavern — set in an 1840s plantation home, swimming pool, the Oak Tree Spa, recreational shooting, Plantation Valley Kart Track and other resort activities.

For information on lodging and more, visit VIR online at:

www.virnow.com

30), other versions of SCCA pro and amateur racing, and WERA motorcycle racing, to name several.

And one cannot minimize the impact of club racing — with considerable interest from regional Porsche and BMW groups — at VIR. A STUNNING VARIETY To grasp a sense of the rush at VIR, you have to pay homage to a stunning variety of sports cars wheeling around VIR any given weekend.

As VIR notes, the “Cars are the Stars” here.

That’s only a start. It’s no stretch to suggest on any given Vintage motorsports weekend here, VIR’s paddock gleams with some of the most expensive and treasured automotive masterpieces in America.

VIR’s South Bend features the Oak Tree Tavern, including Connie’s Pub, a full-service restaurant and pub serving the region. And, regardless of its “Clubhouse” standing, the Tavern is open to the public for dinner, with reservations suggested.

When the weather is most cooperative, VIR can hold its own with its own distinctive tailgating-party style.

Nyholm says, “I think we’ll see our events grow larger and larger. Each year we’ll see more spectators come. And if we can get them through the gates once, then we’ll get them again, and they’ll bring their friends.

“We’d like to see our spectator events grow and bring more and more people to the area, which of course brings more new money into the area.”

DRIVING MORE THAN CARS: THE ECONOMIC IMPACT

V

irginia International Raceway also has its companion Raceplex, featuring innovative automotive research and development.

VIR is the home and partner for the premiere vehicle test facility known as VIPER Service (www.viperservice.com). Leveraging its partnership with Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, VIPER is inventing the future of the high-performance vehicle.

In May 2009, the Danville Register & Bee explored VIR’s impact.

In a piece titled, “VIR Means Jobs and Real Opportunity,” the paper noted, “In the decade since Virginia International Raceway reopened, May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

it has lived up to its enormous potential. VIR’s constant growth, new facilities and strong ties to the local research economy have made it one of the Dan River Region’s shining gems.

“Recently, the community learned just how much that shining gem contributes to the local economy — a staggering $77.5 million a year. VIR supports 1,542 jobs and pays $1 million in taxes.

“VIR’s economic impact includes $44.9 million in visitor spending,” the newspaper noted.

And its impact is growing, month by month.

21

pgs23-24:Layout 1

4/16/10

11:10 AM

Page 1

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THESE EVENTS A&N Electric Cooperative AEO Contracting

ElecTel Cooperative Federal Credit Union

ODEC Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.

Aircraft Dynamics

Ensales, Inc.

Pike Energy Solutions

Altec Industries, Inc.

French Broad EMC

PowerServices, Inc.

Altec Industries, Inc. – Sentry Division

H. D. Supply

Promotional Considerations

Americap Company, Inc.

Hi-line Engineering/GDS

RR Donnelley

Asplundh Tree Expert Company

ILRA

R. W. Chapman Company

BARC Electric Cooperative

Jackson Energy Cooperative

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

Bashlin Industries, Inc.

Klein Tools, Inc.

Reliable Equipment & Service Co., Inc.

Bellwether Management Solutions

Langdale Forest Products Company

Rumsey Electric Company

Berkeley Electric Cooperative

LeClair Ryan

Solomon Corporation

Blue Grass Energy Cooperative

Lee Electrical Construction, Inc.

Southern Maryland Electric

Bradley Electro Sales Group

Lekson Associates, Inc.

Burndy Products

Lewis Tree Service

Southside Electric Cooperative

C. W. Wright Construction Company

Liberty University

Special Fleet Service, inc.

Cembre, Inc.

Lug-All Corporation

Stuart C. Irby Company

Central Virginia Electric Cooperative

Map Enterprises, Inc.

Summit Business Associates, Inc.

Choptank Electric Cooperative

Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative

The Meadow Event Park

City of Salem

Milsoft Utility Solutions, Inc.

The Okonite Company

Coastal Electric Cooperative

National Rural

Touchstone Energy

Colonial Farm Credit Community Electric Cooperative Cox Industries, Inc.

Telecommunications Cooperative National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation

Cooperative

Tri-State Group Utility Sales Associates, Inc. Utility Service Agency

Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative

NaturChem, Inc.

VA-Carolina Buildings, Inc.

Delta Star, Inc.

Nevada Energy

Virginia Farm Bureau

Dominion Virginia Power

Northern Neck Electric Cooperative

WESCO

Dominion Signs Company

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR JUDGES – without you, this event would not have been possible

GOLF WINNERS 1st Place Kent Farmer Bruce Barnett Robert Ellis Thomas Grady

22

2nd Place Jerry Lee Jim Reynolds Dale King Scott Dig

3rd Place Ralph Bradshaw Scott Wallace Pat McCann Malcolm Adams

Cooperative Living/May 2010

pgs23-24:Layout 1

4/16/10

11:10 AM

Page 2

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE LINEMEN: YOU ARE THE REASON FOR THE RODEO 2010 GAFF•N•GO JOURNEYMEN & EQUIPMENT OPERATORS A&N ELECTRIC CO-OP Tasley, VA Bryan Evans, Matthew Jones, Bernard Hastings AEO CONTRACTING Asheville, NC Jay Tipton, Keith Griffin, Marty Rodgers, George West, Rodney Rice, Lanny Smith BERKELEY ELECTRIC CO-OP Moncks Corner, SC Ricky Driggers, Matt Oliver, Mike Peterson, Caleb Crews, Pat Mitchum, Chadd Buenting BLUE GRASS ENERGY CO-OP Nicholasville, KY Miles Shumaker, Brad Wiglesworth, Eugene Neeley, Dathan Lane, Thomas Walton, Gary Allen,Ben Coffey, Shawn Sowder, Jamie Conn CHOPTANK ELECTRIC CO-OP Denton, MD John Shermer, Mark Nicolle, Andy Kauffman, David Brown (Alternate) COASTAL ELECTRIC CO-OP Walterboro, SC Richard Massey, Tommy Blauser, John Banis DOMINION VA POWER Richmond, VA Greg Boutchyard, Bill Suttle, Norman Williams, Ben Warren, Billy Nahrebecki, David Johnson FRENCH BROAD EMC Marshall, NC Jason Worley, Toby Griffin, Lee Ball JACKSON ENERGY CO-OP McKee, KY Marty York, Brian Turner, Garry Creech, Shane Vickers, Brandon Long, Jason Isaacs MECKLENBURG ELECTRIC CO-OP Chase City, VA Jason McKinney, Joe Hostetter, Clint Card, Nelson Smith, Mark Bandy, Coleman Shelton, Randy Whirley May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Culpeper, VA Chuck Tippett, Shawn Dixon, Wesley Gallahan, Chris McGowan, Reagan Cruey, Art Baum, Kevin Houston, Travis Heffler, Daniel Dewey, Bradley Sylvia, Patrick Ambrose, Donnie Brooks, K. Tories, B. Rutherford

COASTAL ELECTRIC CO-OP Walterboro, SC Seth Mixson DAVIS H. ELLIOT Roanoke, VA Joshua Higginbotham, Mathew DeBord, Thomas McLain, James Radford

SOUTHERN MARYLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE White Plains, MD Will Robertson, Jeremy Green, Brian Rawlings

DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER Richmond, VA Gordy Villa-Maltais, Jay Fasenmyer, Nick Hartig, Jared Seeloff, Tyler Graff, Kenny Whitehead, Brett Tiller, Doug Houff, Jason Burnette

SOUTHERN MARYLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Prince Frederick, MD Scott Gagliardi, Jason Atherton, Brian Thomas

MECKLENBURG ELECTRIC CO-OP Chase City, VA Paul Underwood, Matthew Doss, Aaron Crouch, Andy Epperson

SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC CO-OP Crewe, VA Gary Bolling, Brad Ashwell, Steve Carson, Travis Layne, Greg Ayers, Troy Burgess

NEVADA ENERGY Las Vegas, NV Jasen Hudgens

OTHER Troy Wile, Scott Graff, John Finchan

NO. VIRGINIA ELECTRIC CO-OP Gainesville, VA Anthony Franchinim, Chris Bastien, Justin Bettis, Frank Gold, Dan Hampton, David Palacios, Jesse Taylor

2010 GAFF•N•GO APPRENTICES

RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC CO-OP Culpeper, VA Brandon Weaver, Tony Brill, Bryan Coffey

A&N ELECTRIC CO-OP Tasley, VA Virgil Wessells BERKELEY ELECTRIC CO-OP Moncks Corner, SC Kyle Gawloski, Lee Hill BLUE GRASS ENERGY CO-OP Nicholasville, KY Chris Johnson CENTRAL VIRGINIA ELECTRIC CO-OP Lovingston, VA David Noble CITY OF SALEM Salem, VA Jordan Armentrout

RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC CO-OP Bowling Green, VA Thomas Bailey, Josh Bonner, Chris Farmer, Jason Morris, Terry Gillooly, Chris Hancock, Richard Jones, Mike Luck SOUTHERN MARYLAND ELECTRIC CO-OP Hughesville, MD Brent Hancock, Sean Butler, Doug Hancock, Daniel Hutchinson, Wyatt Herriman, Robert Hamilton SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC CO-OP Crewe, VA Tommy Byrd, Ashley Tuck OTHER Tommy Suttle

23

may healthy take:Layout 1

4/15/10

6:18 PM

Page 1

A HEALTHY TAKE PRACTICE DEFENSIVE EATING EN ROUTE Vacation time puts a lot of us on the highway.

We know we should practice defensive driving on the road — trying to foresee trouble so we can act to avoid it.

Maybe we can extend that idea when we pull off the road, and practice defensive eating — trying to foresee where extra calories may come, so we can avoid them.

For instance, it may not be the food you think that causes the trouble.

It could be the extras. According to the Food and Drug Administration’s Anne Crawford: “You can ask for sauces and condiments on the side, so that you control how much goes on your salad or on your burger.”

Also, fruits and vegetables should be plentiful — and fairly cheap at this time of year. From a calorie point of view, they’re low octane.

TIPS FOR TRAVELERS BEFORE LEAVING

• Consider traveler’s insurance if you are going abroad.

• If you are leaving your children, leave a signed consent-to-treat form with your children’s caretaker.

• If you are planning a long flight, minimize jet lag by scheduling your arrival at your destination as close to your usual bedtime as possible, according to the time zone to which you are flying.

• If you are taking medications, talk to your health-care provider before leaving.

Carry any medications with you — not in your luggage.

• If you are traveling to another country, research the accessibility and quality of health care there.

• If you have an important event at your long-distance destination, plan to arrive two or three days in advance, if possible, so you will be rested.

• Take insurance ID cards, immunization records, and any other important medical records, especially when traveling to another country.

• Take a medical first-aid kit.

• Take the names and phone numbers of your doctor and pharmacist.

ON THE ROAD

• Avoid mosquito bites, which can spread infections, by wearing proper clothing and using insect repellant.

• Cooked foods are usually safe, but raw foods and salads (lettuce, raw vegetables, fruit with peel, unpasteurized milk, milk products, undercooked seafood or meat) may lead to gastrointestinal problems. Eat in restaurants that have a reputation for safe cooking.

• If you are visiting an area where diarrheal illnesses are common (Mexico, for example), speak with your health-care provider about getting a prescription for antibiotics. Fill the prescription and take it with you in case you fall ill.

• If you come down with diarrhea, drink plenty of bottled liquids. Broths and carbonated beverages are good for maintaining your strength.

• Prevent infections with hand washing.

• Upon arrival, check the local emergency number. Not all communities use 911.

• When traveling long distances, expect your body to adjust to a new time zone at the rate of about one hour per day.

• When traveling to less economically developed countries, don’t drink the water if you want to avoid the risk of diarrhea. Remember the ice may also be contaminated if there is concern about the water quality. Bottled water may be safe, as long as it is factory bottled. Traveler’s diarrhea can also result from drinking beverages that contain ice. Bottled carbonated sodas, beer, and wine (without ice) are safe.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services 24

Cooperative Living/May 2010

may caught in the web

4/15/10

7:49 PM

CAUGHT IN THE WEB

Page 1

by Laura Emery, Field Editor

FOR DIRECT LINKS TO SUGGESTED WEB SITES, VISIT

www.co-opliving.com

acation Planning

V

WITH THE WORLD WIDE WEB

We all love vacation, but most of us wish we could skip the headaches, hassles and hindrances often encountered en route to that picture-perfect getaway. You can reduce pre-vacation headaches by using the World Wide Web to help you plan a trip filled with “Kodak moments.”

For starters, you need to find the ideal vacation destination. For the best beaches, surf on over to Surf-sun.com (www.surf-sun.com). Check out Getaways and Great Vacation Destinations (www.virtualcities.com/ons/getaways.htm) for dude and guest ranches, places to ski or fish, country inns and small hotels, or historic villages and towns.

If you can close your eyes and imagine a snowy-white-sand, coconut-palm-fringed beach stretching as far as the eye can see, then visit Tropical-Island-Vacation.Net’s featured island getaways (www.tropical-island-vacation.net/exotic-beach.html) without further ado.

One of the best vacation-oriented attributes of the Web is comparison shopping among airlines to find the fairest of fares. Microsoft’s Expedia Travel (www.expedia.com), Travelocity (www.travelocity.com), and Orbitz (www.orbitz.com) are the “big three” of online travel agents.

Compare fares, schedules and availability, and book hotel rooms and rental cars — all with a few clicks of the mouse. Or, there are smaller travel Web sites like www.BookIt.com, www.VRBO.com (for vacation rentals), www.cheapoair.com, www.travelguide.com and www.travelbyjen.com.

At www.tripadvisor.com, you can read reviews about hotels, restaurants, and specific locales.

Cruise Lines International Association’s Web site (www.cruising.org) applies the deep-database concept to the world of big-boat fun with ship profiles, worldwide destinations, a cruise finder, and vacation planner.

AmusementPark.com is sure to make you dizzy from delight at the never-ending collection of links to Amusement and Theme Parks with stomach-sinking, pocket-emptying, lip-flapping, hair-raising rides fit for a wild vacation experience.

Want to learn the inns and outs of the greatest places to stay during your vacation? Somewhere out there is a cute inn cradled in a meadow, nestled between towering peaks or surrounded by burbling brooks, forests, and lakes — just waiting for you. Visit Inn Finder (www.innfinder.com) or go to www.bedandbreakfast.com, which lists more than 11,000 B&Bs and inns across North America and around the world.

“Mi casa es su casa” is the concept behind the International Home Exchange Network (www.homexchange.com) Web site. Cut lodging costs by swapping your residence with a traveler who wants to take a trip at the same time as you and visit your town. For a small fee, you can be eligible to trade lodging with other members of the network. For the skinny on street fairs, carnivals, and circuses, stop by Festivals.com (www.festivals.com).

Not only is it the Boy Scout’s mantra, it’s the difference between sitting on the beach during a torrential downpour and getting a sheltered tour through an indoor attraction. You guessed it — always be prepared. For travel tips about everything from bracing for unexpected weather to flying FYIs, visit Weather.Com’s section on travel tips. Also, toss those crumpled road maps and get step-by-step directions from MapBlast (www.mapblast.com).

If you need to stay in a hotel during your trip, get a lower rate by visiting Priceline.com (www.priceline.com) or the Hotel Planner.com (www.hotelplanner.com), which has access to blocks of rooms purchased in bulk.

Quelle heune est-il? If you don’t know what this says and you’re planning a trip to France, then you’re in big trouble — but there’s no need to worry because you can take a crash course in French, along with roughly 70 other different languages, at Travlang (www.travlang.com) by listening to the pronunciation of exotic words in RealAudio, or looking up words in the translating dictionary.

Regardless of where your vacation destination happens to be, make sure to stop by these recommended Web sites. When the luggage is unpacked and the miles are traveled, you’ll appreciate the convenience and ease of having planned your postcard-perfect vacation online.

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

25

may it's your business:Layout 1

4/16/10

11:03 AM

Shenandoah Valley farmer Chuck Horn is reaping the savings generated by replacing the bulbs in his poultry houses with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps.

26

Page 1

may it's your business:Layout 1

4/16/10

11:30 AM

Page 2

IT’S YOUR BUSINESS

by Megan McKoy, Contributing Writer

ENERGY EFFICIENCY OFFERS NEW HARVEST FOR FARMERS o get the biggest bang for their electricity dollar, more and more farmers are turning to energy efficiency to boost their bottom line and productivity.

Electricity on the farm powers heating (water, space, heat lamps), pumping (irrigation, water wells, manure lagoons), refrigeration, ventilation, lighting, fans (drying grains, aeration), and materials handling — feed augers, manure conveyors, milking, and egg conveyors. In the area of motors and lighting alone, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) estimates farmers could save $88 million annually by implementing cuttingedge efficiency measures using available technology.

EnSave, a Vermont-based farm energy audit group, has created a pyramid revealing steps agricultural operations can take to cut down on energy use, arranged by cost and benefits of improvements.

First, farmers should analyze energy use. This may reveal opportunities to save on electric use and in some cases could lead to increased productivity. Next, farmers should try energy conservation — changing behaviors and simply using less energy daily.

After this, the greatest savings may be achieved through energy efficiency — working smarter and saving money by using more efficient equipment.

T

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

Each farm — from dairy and poultry to general agriculture — provides different opportunities for efficiency upgrades, varying by region and crop.

However, regular equipment maintenance provides universal benefits.

For example: • Clean equipment: Removing dust, soot, and debris from equipment will allow it to do more work with less effort, extending its life and reducing energy use.

• Inspect regularly: Equipment should be checked regularly. Replace parts that are showing excessive wear before they break and cause irreparable damage.

• Plug leaks: Be it a pinprick hole in a hose or a drafty barn, leaks waste money, fuel, and electricity. By plugging the leaks, savings can be considerable.

• Remove clutter: Hoses should be regularly flushed to clear them of debris. Ensure fan and motor intakes and exhausts remain clutter-free for maximum circulation and efficiency.

Lighting presents another efficiency touchpoint. Light work areas, not entire buildings, and use daylight when possible. Installing dimmable ballasts can also help control light levels.

Types of lights used make a difference. Incandescent lightbulbs typically convert only 10 percent of the energy used into light. There are many other options available: • Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) deliver the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs, but use only a quarter of the electricity. Installing CFLs may cost a little more initially, but they can last up to 10 times longer.

• Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) can last up to 25 times longer and have around the same efficiency as CFLs. • T-8 and T-5 lights with electronic ballasts generate less noise, produce more light per watt, offer better color rendering, minimal flickering, and cooler operation, and provide electric cost savings.

For more regional and crop-specific options, the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service provides farm energy calculators. From animal housing to irrigation estimates, the calculators assess how much energy your farm currently uses and provide insights on how to cut your costs. Learn more at www.energytools.sc.egov.usda.gov.

Sources: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, EnSave, U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

27

may feathered friends:Layout 1

4/15/10

FEATHERED FRIENDS

28

8:00 PM

Page 1

by Spike Knuth, Contributing Columnist

Cooperative Living/May 2010

may feathered friends:Layout 1

4/15/10

8:01 PM

Page 2

THE HOUSE WREN Y

ou may have seen them around your neighborhood and not known what they were; or perhaps you simply didn’t pay attention to them — those little brown birds with slightly downcurved bills, and stubby tails held in an odd, upright position.

Little balls of feathered energy, these birds move quickly and constantly through dense, low-growing shrubs, almost impossible to follow. While secretive in one sense, they readily reveal themselves with a loud, bubbling song.

They’re house wrens.

The house wren is common in residential areas, parks and gardens, farms and orchards, and woodlands. Among its common names are Jenny wren, brown wren, stump wren, common wren, and wood wren. Its scientific name is Troglodytes aedon; Troglodytes meaning “cave-dweller,” in reference to the shapes and locations of its nest, and aedon meaning “nightingale,” referring to its singing ability.

The house wren has the typical wren shape and characteristics; a rotund little body with short, rounded wings, and a tail which is often held in a cocked-upward position. Its drab plumage shows a lack of distinctive markings with no pronounced eye line. Its upper parts are brown, and its underparts white to grayish-brown. The wings and tail are finely barred and there are faint brownish bars on its flanks.

Male house wrens arrive about a week or so before the females in late April from their wintering grounds along the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. They may first show up in the woodlands and brushy hedgerows where some will stay to nest, but many will move into city or suburban backyard gardens and parks. Males immediately go about the business of claiming a

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

territory. They will sing incessantly (almost to the point of being a nuisance); a song that is often described as being mechanical as if on a loop recording. However, the male is singing not only to claim a territory, but to attract a mate. When a female enters his domain he becomes more excited and animated and moves about frequently with wings quivering.

string, and vegetable fibers, all lined with down. The male will often continue to build dummy nests and may even attract a second female, all the while singing constantly. The female lays an average of six to eight eggs.

The eggs have a dull-white base color, but are heavily marked with reddish- or pinkishbrown. The young hatch in about 12-13 days.

The male will assist in feeding the young, and if he has two nesting mates, he’ll assist with feeding both broods.

The young fledge in about another two weeks and a second brood will be started in late June.

The young of the year stay together for a time, flitting about and feeding in dense shrubbery.

Here they noisily search for food uttering scratchy, chattering, and scolding calls. House wrens feed on grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, crickets, caterpillars, flies, moths, ants, and insect eggs.

When alarmed or disturbed they utter loud, harsh, challenging, scolding calls.

While tiny and seemingly insignificant, house wrens and all their cousins have a habit of sneaking around and pecking holes in the eggs of other bird species nesting close by. Apparently, this is to reduce competition for food resources and to protect their own eggs and young from depredation. At one time they were so villified in the 1920s that one naturalist wrote a paper preaching that housing for wrens should not be erected because of their “evil” habits. But wrens are merely following their instincts.

Toward the end of July and into early August, the male finally ceases his singing.

House wrens will start to disappear from residential areas, retreating to the woodland edges and brushy hedgerows for a time.

Then, by the end of September, migrants will begin moving south, although some may winter as far north as Virginia’s coasts.

Little balls of feathered energy, these birds move quickly and constantly through dense, low-growing shrubs, almost impossible to follow.

To interest the female, he’ll start filling two or three potential nesting sites with sticks and other nesting material. House wrens will nest in almost any type of cavity, nook, cranny, or shelf. They’ll use old woodpecker holes, natural tree cavities or hollow limbs, spaces beneath eaves, in old outbuildings, or in manmade items such as flowerpots and planters, cans, old boots, gloves, pans; almost anything lying around. They also take readily to manmade nest boxes or houses. A good wren house will have a small hole of 1 to 11⁄4 inches in diameter so it will accommodate only small birds.

If a wren house is chosen by the female, she’ll generally rearrange all the materials and even throw out some of the male’s efforts. To this she’ll add and build her nest of grasses, animal hair, feathers, spider silk,

29

Page 1

LI

VI

S GREA N G’ T

..

D

..

.

1 .. .. 0 ..

.

ATIONS T

20

..

..

T IN

..

ES RA

Great Destinations

OPERATI VE CO

11:59 AM

LG

4/16/10

VE

Ads:Layout 1

UIDE

2010 TRAVEL GUIDE

A

fter the winter we’ve just had,

it’s about time for a little fun.

And what better place for fun than

The next three pages include a variety of ideas to help plan your trip. And be sure to fill out the reader response

right here, in our very own state?

card on page 33 or enter online at

From the City of Fairfax to the

www.co-opliving.com for a chance

Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum,

to win a free getaway in historic,

from Smithfield to Appomattox, from

picturesque Smithfield.

the Northern Neck to Shenandoah

Enjoy your travel, and enjoy the season!

Valley’s Green Valley Book Fair, Virginia is practically bursting with places to go and things to do as we move into travel weather.

30

A CHANCE TO WIN A GETAWAY INSIDE!

Cooperative Living/May 2009

Ads:Layout 1

4/16/10

12:01 PM

Page 2

Great Destinations BARGAIN

BOOKS Save 60% to 90% off retail

2010 Schedule

•

March 13 thru 28 May 15 thru 31 July 3 thru 18 Aug. 21 thru Sept. 6 Oct. 9 thru 24 Nov. 26 thru Dec. 18

• •

2010 TRAVEL GUIDE

500,000

Green Valley

BOOKFAIR led dates ring schedu Open only du to 7PM daily AM 9 from

2192 Green Valley Ln., Mt. Crawford, VA 22841

800-385-0099

gobookfair.com Located between Staunton & Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Take I-81 to Exit 240; go east 1.5 miles & watch for signs.

May 2009/www.co-opliving.com

We accept school & library purchase orders.

Call for details.

31

Ads:Layout 1

4/16/10

12:19 PM

Page 3

2010 TRAVEL GUIDE

Great Destinations

32

COME & ENJOY SMITHFIELD ...

Nestled on the banks of the Pagan River, just off the James River, is the beautiful and historic waterfront town of Smithfield, Va. Perhaps best known for its namesake hams, Smithfield today is a community steeped in tradition, yet catering to contemporary tourism trade.

Smithfield’s history and well-preserved historic homes are beacons to visitors, and the community’s hospitality has turned many visitors into residents.

Unlike some historic towns, Smithfield has known repeated periods of prosperity, resulting in a charmingly eclectic mix of handsome Colonial, stately Federal and elaborate Victorian homes and buildings. The Smithfield historic district is both a Virginia Historic Landmark and listed on the National Historic Register.

Perhaps nothing in the community illustrates its devotion to the tourist trade as well as Smithfield Station with its restaurant, hotel, marina and conference center. Boasting a 44-room boutique hotel and 100-slip marina as well as a white cedar-paneled dining room (where every table offers a panoramic view of the river), Smithfield Station is a traveler’s retreat.

In 1994, the Light at Smithfield was built as a romantic honeymoon suite. The lighthouse is a

reproduction of the lighthouse from Hooper’s Strait in Maryland that is now a part of the Maritime Museum in St. Michael's, Md. The Light it is the only lighthouse in Virginia where you can spend the night. There were once several lighthouses similar to this one in the James River, but they have all since been destroyed.

The Lodge at Smithfield Station was completed and opened in September of 2007. The new hotel added many amenities lacking in the original building, including an elevator, centralized check-in and 22 additional hotel rooms, doubling the number of available rooms to 44. Also, 36 new marina slips were added to help accommodate the needs of an expanding marine business.

On the first floor of the new buildings are retail shops – everything from a marine store to shops offering that perfect little gift to take home to a loved one.

We hope you enjoy your visit to Smithfield.

ROMANTIC WEEKEND GIVEAWAY PACKAGE INCLUDES: A two-night stay for 2 at Smithfield Station, including dinner Fri. or Sat. night, lunch on Sat., breakfast on Sun., a fantastic Historic Smithfield goodie basket, 2 tickets to Smithfield Little Theater (based on performance availability), and a private showing of St. Luke’s Church. To be eligible to win these grand prizes, simply fill out the reader response on page 33.

Cooperative Living/May 2009

Ads:Layout 1

4/16/10

12:36 PM

Page 4

Great Destinations Where Our Nation Reunited

The final days of the American Civil War come to life in Historic Appomattox Virginia.

2010 TRAVEL GUIDE

Historic

GET MORE INFORMATION ON THESE GREAT DESTINATIONS AND ENTER TO WIN A ROMANTIC GETAWAY PACKAGE TO SMITHFIELD STATION IN HISTORIC SMITHFIELD!

434-352-8999 ^ www.tourappomattox.com www.tourappom mattox.com

For free information on the destinations listed below and to qualify for the Getaway Package to Smithfield Station in Historic Smithfield, check the places you’re interested in and mail the coupon below to: Great Destinations, Cooperative Living, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340 or enter online at www.co-opliving.com Contest Rules: Must be 18 or older to enter contest. Employees of the VA, MD & DE Association of Electric Cooperatives, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative or their member electric cooperatives are not eligible to enter. All entries become property of Cooperative Living magazine. Entries must be received by mail or online by 5 p.m., June 15, 2010.

NAME: ________________________ ADDRESS: ______________________ CITY: __________________________ STATE:_________ ZIP: ___________ TELEPHONE: ____________________ E-MAIL: _________________________ ___ Appomattox ___ Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum ___ City of Fairfax ___ Green Valley Book Fair ___ Kings Dominion ___ Northern Neck Tourism ___ Smithfield Station ___ Smithfield & Isle of Wight ___ Virginia State Parks ___ Your Man Tours 33

4/16/10

12:04 PM

Page 1

ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH

Entries from a Traveler’s Notebook

CRAFTING CHEESE IN CROZET

At Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, it’s about prayer, work and ... Gouda.

The monastery is located in Virginia’s Piedmont, near Charlottesville.

by Rosemary Dietrick, Contributing Writer

T

he rushing waters of the Moormans River burble alongside roads that wind gently up toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. Woodlands frame pastures that curve around every bend. The last turn reveals, high on a hillside, the redbrick Monastery of Our Lady of the Angels, its clock tower soaring skyward, a sanctuary for prayer and meditation.

Although the Trappistine nuns who live in this peaceful setting follow the contemplative life of silence, solitude and service, they are also involved in a very down-to-earth process of food production — making Gouda cheese. “As do all monastic Orders, we combine prayer with work,” says Sister Barbara Smickel, one of the monastery’s 11 Sisters of the Cistercian Order. “Our cottage industry helps to support our community. This November we will celebrate our 20th year of cheese-making; in all that time we’ve never had a bad batch.”

Through the ages, nuns and monks have been “living by the work of their hands” according to the 6th-century Rule

34

Sister Barbara displays the highly acclaimed finished product. of St. Benedict, generating income for their monasteries. Consumers who seek handmade foods like fruitcakes, candy, preserves,

mustards, and other commodities are quick to recognize the quality of a monastery label. In 1987, Sister Barbara was one of a group of nuns who came from Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, Mass., to establish Our Lady of the Angels in Crozet. When the Roman Catholic religious community purchased the 507-acre property, much of it deeply wooded, its only buildings were two log cabins and a barn. During the monastery’s construction, the Sisters lived in the rustic cabins.

The barn offered a surprise. Thanks to the business of a previous owner, it housed an array of cheese-making equipment. It was serendipity. Gouda was meant to be.

“We were naive about the cheesemaking process,” says Sister Barbara, “but with the help of knowledgeable neighbors, we became successful; now we’re producing about 21,000 pounds of cheese a year.”

Such numbers were achieved soon after their artisanal cheese was “discov-

Cooperative Living/May 2010

ROXANNE DIETRICK PHOTOS

may across the commonwealth:Layout 1

may across the commonwealth:Layout 1

4/16/10

ered” by a food editor at The Washington Post.

The ruby-red, waxed cheese wheels, sporting the black-and-gold labels with the monastery’s bell tower, began to fly off the shelves. Their mail-order list grew. Monastery Country Cheese became a popular gift item, keeping the Sisters busy shipping the semi-soft, Dutchstyle cheese to holiday shoppers.

Thirty-four times a year the nuns head to the “cheese barn” to craft their creamy product. On a special tour, Sister Barbara explains the process to visitors. It all begins with the delivery of whole milk, fresh from a Mennonite farm in the Shenandoah Valley.

(Their brochure notes “these grass-fed cows have the good fortune of pasture-living.”)

Inside, the barn resembles a spic-and-span science laboratory, sparkling with shiny steel apparatus. Most awesome is the enormous cheese vat, which, after the pasteurization operation, holds 700 gallons of milk. On cheese-making days, the Sisters exchange their veils and the black-and-white habits of the Cistercian Order for flowered smocks and head scarves. Because of the constant regimen of cleaning and sterilization of the barn and equipment, practicality trumps traditional attire.

In the next step, a cheese culture is added to the heated milk to produce curds that are cut by hand, packed in forms, and pressed.

The finished cheeses are immersed in salt brine, then cured in a refrigeration room and inspected daily by the Sisters.

Finally, a special rind is hand-painted on each cheese, allowing it to breathe as it ages.

Before shipping, each is dipped in the protective red-wax coating. People often ask, “How long can we keep it in the refrigerator?” Sister Barbara, an expert in marketing, always replies, “Keep it in there just as long as you can resist it.”

Although the chores are demanding, requiring patience and rigorous physical effort, the nuns embrace the enterprise. Sister Barbara says, “Manual labor is essential to our lives; hard work provides balance.”

The Sisters, summoned by the tower’s bells, come together throughout the day for scheduled periods of prayer, called the Liturgy of the Hours. Sister Barbara says with a smile, “Out of consideration for the neighbors, we don’t ring the bells at 3 a.m., which is when our day begins.”

A visitor from the Netherlands gave Monastery Country Cheese a bona fide seal of approval. He pronounced it “better than Dutch Gouda!”

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

3:43 PM

Page 2

DETAILS Our Lady of Angels Monastery 3365 Monastery Drive • Crozet, VA 22932-2116 E-mail: cheese@olamonastery.org • Web site: www.olamonastery.org Visitors are welcome either to purchase cheese or to visit the monastery chapel. Cheese-making facilities are not open to the public. Cheese sales from 9-11 a.m and 2-4 p.m. daily except Sundays and Thursdays.

AGRITOURISM The consumer visiting a farm in Galax in southwest Virginia and the shopper at a farmer’s market in Arlington, next to Washington, D.C., share a common goal. Both are looking for fresh food and the opportunity to meet the farmer or artisan who produced it.

As an “agritourist,” checking out your food source can be fun for the whole family. A trip to the Virginia countryside gives you new insight into the locavore mantra of “eating fresh and buying locally.” You can pick berries or apples, get lost in a corn maze, choose a pumpkin, attend a food festival or even arrange a farm stay.

Look for those products that have received the prestigious designation “Virginia’s Finest.”

(Monastery Country Cheese is a regular on the list.) The Virginia Department of Agriculture provides information and a calendar of events. www.vdacs.virginia.gov/news/c-tourism.shtml www.virginiagrown.com www.shopvafinest.com

The most awesome apparatus in the kitchen, this enormous vat holds 700 gallons of milk.

35

may down home:Layout 1

4/16/10

3:59 PM

Page 1

DOWN HOME SERIES

WINCHESTER WOODSTOCK

AGAIN IN THE YEAR 2010, WE’RE MAKING OUR WAY 81 AROUND THE REGION, EACH ISSUE VISITING A SMALL TOWN AND MEETING SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO MAKE UP THE HEART OF 64 HOUSE BUCKINGHAM COURT ELECTRIC CO-OP COUNTRY. ON THIS YEAR’S FOURTH STOP, Roanoke WE’LL BE ...

BERRYVILLE 66

DALE CITY KING GEORGE PUNGOTEAGUE

Richmond

64

AMELIA COURT HOUSE 460 85

MEHERRIN

81

95

Charlottesville

95

77

VALENTINES

DOWN HOME IN

BUCKINGHAM Story and photos by Tana Lane Knott, Contributing Writer

G

ot a few minutes? Great. Come ride with me. I want to take you to Buckingham Court House. We’ll turn off the GPS and I’ll be your guide, with or without a fake British accent.

Why go? Well, because — because Buckingham rests comfortably in the geographical center of Virginia, where country living reigns and history comes alive.

Moreover, the quaint, unincorporated village district of Buckingham Court House has it all — historic homes,

On clear days, the Blue Ridge Mountains can be seen from Sprouses Corner, the intersection of U.S. Routes 15 and 60. Buckingham Court House is right up the road, where the courthouse building (right) is steeped in Jeffersonian architecture and history.

36

churches, shops, and museums. And, there’s a courthouse that’s steeped in Jeffersonian architecture and history.

Need more? Well, Buckingham is the twelfth largest county in the state yet it only has two stoplights. How rural is that?

Headed west on U.S. Route 60 from Richmond, Sprouses Corner offers the first sighting of the Blue Ridge. Those familiar with this exquisite view know the welcome mat is out and Buckingham Court House is right up the road.

Just past the intersection of Routes 60 and 15, which longago served as a major crossroads, is one of Buckingham’s newest enterprises, Sprouses Corner Ranch.

Managed by LaRue Sprouse Dowd, the ranch offers a symbolic representa-

tion of Buckingham’s rural nature while reinforcing that agriculture is alive and well.

After working the horse-racing circuit as a physical therapist, Dowd, with degrees in equine therapy and veterinarian technology, returned home in hopes of owning her own horse farm where she could raise, train, and board horses, offer riding lessons, and provide programs for youngsters.

Her hopes were fulfilled when her grandmother suggested, “Why don’t you start it over in the pasture?”

Gazing across the gently rolling land that has been in her family for generations, she says, “I want to see this farm flourish. I’ve always dreamed of this.”

And, see that gigantic water tower bearing a huge, red heart? That reiterates the county’s location in the heart of Virginia while subtly marketing its capability to provide water utilities for new homes and businesses.

EMBRACING ALL AGES Farther west we pass Buckingham Middle School, which opened in 2003 and offers a concrete statement about this community’s commitment to its youth and public education.

Not far from the middle school is Buckingham County High School, bordered by the Vo-Tech Center and a recently revitalized athletic field.

Plans are currently underway to renovate and expand two schools on Route 20. Once completed, the facility will include lower and upper elementary schools that share a media center and cafeteria.

All six of the county’s schools are accredited and provide a nurturing environment for their students.

Cooperative Living/May 2010

mar./apr. down home:Layout 1

4/16/10

3:50 PM

1

Page 2

AT A GLANCE...

POPULATION: 16,152 (Buckingham County estimate, 2008) LAND AREA: 582 square miles (Buckingham County) FOUNDED: 1761 (Buckingham County) FACTOID: Buckingham was the most notable goldmining region in the country before the California Gold Rush in 1849.

3

2

1. Maysville Manor, built circa 1815, now serves as a bed and breakfast. 2. On the fourth Saturday in July, Lee Wayside hosts Cowboy Day, in celebration of the National Day of the American Cowboy.

Buckingham’s “Tom Mix Rangers ” and cowboys from across the country, including silver screen lookalikes, offer a fun-filled day for kids of all ages. 3. Katie and Bryan Davis enjoy a buggy ride at the Historic Village at Lee Wayside.

Linda V. Paige, a retired educator and administrator, says, “Buckingham is a rural area with people who really do care about the children and the county.” She continues, “If you would like for your child to be in a small community school with personalized attention and instruction, Buckingham County is the answer.”

Paige is an unofficial ambassador for retirees and loves to point out that Buckingham offers an abundance of volunteer opportunities.

Describing Buckingham as a community where people take time to speak to one another, Paige says, “It’s so nice when you are out and about and are greeted by people who are smiling and so friendly.”

Buckingham is also attracting young professionals looking for a rural setting within commuting distance of Charlottesville, Richmond and Lynchburg.

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

One such couple is Katie and Bryan Davis. Although each is from neighboring states, they relocated in Buckingham and have purchased a home in the courthouse area.

“We love living in Buckingham because of the people and good oldfashioned values,” notes Bryan. Buckingham is a supportive community where everyone knows everyone.”

Agreeing, Katie adds, “It’s a perfect place to raise a family if you like a little slower pace of life and rural living.”

LIVING HISTORY Our next stop is Lee Wayside. For years, this wayside has offered travelers — including its namesake, Gen. Robert E. Lee — respite. A monument marks the area where Lee’s tent was

pitched on April 12, 1865, following the surrender in nearby Appomattox.

Accounts of what is called Lee’s “most painful journey” contend that the general was invited to stay at Rose Cottage, a nearby tavern, but he chose to camp with his troops.

Rose Cottage was destroyed by fire in the late 1980s; and, the United Daughters of the Confederacy donated the property to Historic Buckingham, Incorporated (HBI), the county’s equivalent of a historical society.

The donation included 40 acres that comprise the Historic Village at Lee Wayside, a unique living-history project of HBI. Thus far this extraordinary grassroots effort has yielded a park that contains eight relocated buildings, including a post office, an office from the slate quarry, a tobacco barn, corn crib, privy, smokehouse, general store, and a one-room schoolhouse, which is on 37

mar./apr. down home:Layout 1

4/15/10

7:02 PM

1

Page 3

2

4 3

5

6

7

1. Gwynn Tyler (right) of the Virginia Dept. of Forestry recognizes Buckingham’s Allen Gooden as one of a select group of Virginia forest landowners nominated and certified as a Forest Steward. 2. Rebecca Carter has worked for the county since 1986 and was appointed county administrator in 1995. 3. Buckingham supervisor Dr. Brian Bates (right) tours the Bear Garden Power Station with Dominion’s Stu Gitchell. 4. Always offering a smile and a hug, Linda Paige is vice mayor of Dillwyn, the county’s only incorporated town with a population of 447.

5. While working to restore the family farm, LaRue S. Dowd (kneeling) found the gravesite of her great-great-grandfather. With LaRue are her father E. B. Sprouse and her grandmother Ruth.

6. Martha Louis is often out in the community promoting Historic Buckingham, Inc., and the Historic Village at Lee Wayside. 7. During a meeting of the newly formed tourism committee, (from left) Sandra Moss, Janet Miller, and Marty S. Martin map out local attractions.

38

the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail. A blacksmith shop and carpentry shop are currently under construction.

Open every weekend, the park also hosts special events such as Civil War and frontier encampments, and Cowboy Day. Martha Louis, a local historian and preservationist, presides over and energizes HBI. “The purpose of Historic Buckingham, Incorporated is to foster and create an interest in historical and literary events — past, present, and future of Buckingham; and to promote and preserve all historical aspects of the county,” says Louis.

Along with the Historic Village, HBI operates the Housewright Museum located across from the courthouse.

COUNTY SEAT Slowing to the posted 35-mph speed limit, we enter the one-mile stretch of Buckingham Courthouse.

We’ll stop at the county administration complex where County Administrator Rebecca Carter has been at the helm since 1995.

“Our county offers the best of both worlds,” she says with pride, “an easy-going lifestyle with convenient access to Virginia’s leading cities, the nation’s capital, and other major markets on the East Coast.”

Offering that Buckingham is rich in natural resources — land, minerals, timber, and water — Carter stresses that the county’s most important resource is its people, “people with integrity and an old-fashioned work ethic.”

“Easy living and opportunity are traditions we like to share,” says Carter, noting that the county’s wealth of outdoor recreational activities complements that lifestyle.

Carter’s administrative skills and budgetary vigilance, along with those of the board of supervisors, were recently revalidated during the annual audit report that demonstrated the county’s sound financial standing, even in this difficult economy.

Moreover, the county anticipates a boost in revenue with the construction of Dominion Resources’ new 580-megawatt, natural-gaspowered facility, Bear Garden Power Station.

According to Dominion, which purchased the site from Tenaska in 2008, the $619 million project should be completed by the summer of 2011. Dominion anticipates the facility will generate approximately $1 million annually in property taxes.

The construction is creating approximately 500 temporary jobs. When the power station begins operation, it will provide about 25 full-time positions.

Dr. Brian Bates, a member of the board of supervisors who initiated talks with Cooperative Living/May 2010

mar./apr. down home:Layout 1

4/15/10

7:02 PM

Tenaska, says, “This is the biggest investment anybody’s ever made in Buckingham — nobody’s come close.”

He adds, “I am proud of the way the community embraced this project. And, because of this project we are able to move forward with the school renovations.”

Our next stop is Buckingham Courthouse.

Flanked by the Housewright Museum and Maysville Manor, two buildings that are part of the Courthouse Historic District, the courthouse is indeed a jewel.

Finding something lost, especially if it’s revered, is exciting and rewarding. And, sometimes the story of that find turns into a treasure in its own right. Such is the case with the revelation that Thomas Jefferson did indeed design a truly spectacular courthouse for Buckingham.

The discovery, a result of an archeological dig in 2003, uncovered the footprint of the original courthouse. That evidence has yielded an interpretive landscape of the actual layout of one of Jefferson’s architectural masterpieces.

Now, with the aid of colored bricks and pavers along with some of the original column bases, visitors are offered a sign-guided walk into an illustrious era of Buckingham’s past.

Built circa 1824, the Jeffersonian courthouse obviously laid the groundwork for its replacement that was completed several years after a fire gutted the original in 1869.

However, for decades some experts contended that the replacement did not match the description of the design found in letters written by Jefferson.

Others pointed out that the existing courthouse did not bear the distinctive characteristics seen in buildings designed by Jefferson.

Dr. Brian Bates, director of the Longwood University Archeology Field School (and, yes, he’s also on the board of supervisors), oversaw the dig that confirmed oral history was correct.

Bates and his students dug for the truth and found it when they uncovered some of the foundation from the original structures.

“What we found in the ground is now represented in the interpretive landscaping,” says Bates. “And we can see that the front portico of the Jefferson courthouse would have been a much more substantial structure than what we see today both in terms of its depth and its width.”

PROMOTING BUCKINGHAM Working hand-in-hand with HBI and other organizations to promote Buckingham are the newly formed Tourism Commission and its sponsor, the Chamber of Commerce.

Janet Miller, president of the chamber and a member of the commission, explained, “The May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

Page 4

IF YOU GO ...

Historic Village at Lee Wayside — Located off Routes 60 and 690 at Lee Wayside, this living history park is open every weekend from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free with the exception of a limited number of events.

Volunteers in period costume serve as guides.

Annual events include Civil War and Frontier Encampments; Native American Relics Show; Antique Gun Show; and Cowboy Day, which is held on the fourth Saturday in July. www.leewaysidevillage.com.

Buckingham County Arts and Community Center — An old schoolhouse, built circa 1916, serves as the Arts Center and home for the Arts Council. Located on Rt. 60, the center hosts exhibits; classes; meetings; social events; and an art camp for area youth. It also houses the Court House Café, open weekdays for breakfast and lunch.

Housewright Museum — Built circa 1840, this home is headquarters for Historic Buckingham, Inc., and includes a museum and repository for historical books and records.

Open April through the first week in December on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m., the museum is on Rt. 60 across from the courthouse. Free admission; visit Historic Buckingham at www.historicbuckingham.org.

Buckingham Courthouse — Enjoy a selfguided walking tour of Thomas Jefferson’s Lost Courthouse. Also on the courthouse green is a war memorial honoring county residents who made the ultimate sacrifice in WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Across the road is a monument erected in 1908 to honor Confederate soldiers from Buckingham.

Maysville Manor — Built circa 1815, this unique H-shaped Federal structure, located adjacent to the courthouse, was primarily used as a hotel and a residence, but has recently evolved into a bed & breakfast and events center. Call (434) 969-2162; (434) 2218942; or www.maysvillemanor.com.

Horsepen Lake Wildlife Management Area — Just west of Buckingham Courthouse on Route 638, this WMA offers hiking trails, fishing, and hunting on 2,910 acres surrounding Horsepen Lake.

Railroad Excursions — The Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical So-

The Historic Village at Lee Wayside offers free carriage rides during some special events. ciety offers spring and fall excursions along the Buckingham Branch Railroad from its Depot in Dillwyn to the James River. There’s also a Santa Train in December and an Old West-themed excursion on Cowboy Day. For more information and tickets, visit www.odcnrhs.org .

James River State Park — With three miles of river frontage, three fishing ponds, and 15 miles of hiking trails, the park offers campgrounds, cabins, picnic shelters, a canoe launch, and a trailer boat launch. Visitors may bring their own horses and stay at a primitive group horse campsite for up to 20 horses.

Yogaville — Situated on the banks of the James River, this spiritual center/Yoga community encompasses over 600 acres and includes the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine, LOTUS, an interfaith shrine celebrating the unity behind the diversity of the world religions. For reservations and info, call 800-858-9642; www.yogaville.org.

Ellis Acres Memorial Park — A multi-use nineacre community park is currently under construction at the site of Buckingham Training School in Dillwyn. Built in 1923, BTS was the county’s first secondary school for African-Americans. Use of the park and its picnic area is encouraged. Check it out at www.dillwynva.org.

Hatton Ferry — The nation’s only poled ferry still in operation, Hatton Ferry crosses the James River from its landing on Rt. 625, Hatton Ferry Road, to a landing in southern Albemarle a few miles from Scottsville. The ferry operates on a weekend schedule from April to October.

James River Batteau Festival — This eight-day event features authentic replicas of the shallowdraft merchant boats that carried tobacco and other products downriver to market. Beginning in Lynchburg, the boats float to Maidens Landing, camping each night along the way. Several stops are made in Buckingham during the journey. See www.batteau.org for details.

39

mar./apr. down home:Layout 1

4/15/10

7:03 PM

Page 5

tourism industry could be one of our most lucrative and attractive industries. We see our work with the commission making it easier for businesses here to survive.”

Sandra Moss, one of the founders of the chamber, says, “One of the main goals of the chamber is to make people aware of all county businesses, not just the 95 businesses and professional offices in Dillwyn and immediately south of the town.” She adds that the chamber felt funding the creation of the commission would, in turn, expand and strengthen the county’s business hub.

Miller concludes, “Buckingham has a lot to offer — there are many multi-generational, family-oriented kinds of things to do here.”

Do You Need More Storage?

Now Available, Rent To Own No Credit Check!

8x10’s starting at $73 per month.

A Gazebo Will Make a Great Addition to Your Yard

5 Reasons Why Capitol Sheds is the Largest Independent Storage Shed Dealer in Virginia 1. The Best Customer Service 2. 10 Year Warranty on Storage Sheds 3. Free Delivery and Set-Up (Most Cases) 4. New State-Of-The-Art Moisture Resistant Flooring 5. Largest Inventory Anywhere For Fast Delivery

Now Selling Double Car Two Story Garages. 24x24 Starting at 19,500!

Financing

apitol available heds .Com Buildings for Every Season Solutions That Meet Your Needs

Culpeper: 540-399-9001 Danville: 434-836-2020 Fredericksburg: 540-891-8589 Lynchburg: 434-821-1591 Ruckersville: 434-964-1901 Warrenton: 540-341-8427 Visit a location Near You Or visit us at www.CapitolSheds.com.

You Won’t Find a Better Built Building at a Lower Price!

40

ONE MORE INTRODUCTION At 95, Allen Gooden, Jr., continues to manage his cattle operation and tree farm.

After serving in WWII, Gooden came to Buckingham with his bride Christine to visit her parents.

“I came for two days,” notes Gooden. He stayed a lifetime.

Focusing on the width of his driveway, Gooden talks about his native Alabama and noted, “I never lived on a place any bigger than this. And I wanted to do whatever I could so this would be at least an acceptable place.”

Looking at the home he designed, the fields he plowed, and the forest he continues to manage, it is far more than “acceptable”: picturesque and pastoral easily come to mind.

He and Christine taught school. He became an administrator and, after retiring, served on the school board. They raised seven children. All earned college degrees and most achieved advanced degrees.

“Whatever I’ve accomplished I’ve done with the help of people in Buckingham County,” notes Gooden. In turn, he felt it was imperative that he help others. And, he has.

Gooden served on the board of the Central Virginia Health Center during its formative years; he received national recognition for his work with Boy Scouts; and he was appointed by three governors to serve on the Virginia Board of Social Services. Moreover, he is credited for his role in the school division’s smooth transition during integration.

And, this is just one paragraph from his goodworks file.

Truly personifying the spirit of this community, Gooden says, “Life has been good and the people here in Buckingham County have been very, very good to me.”

Okay, so there you have it — friendly, caring people living easy is what we’re all about down home in Buckingham Court House.

Hope you’ll come back real soon.

Cooperative Living/May 2010

pg41:Layout 1

4/16/10

12:37 PM

Page 1

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

41

may wise energy use:CL_june07_p

4/16/10

WI$E ENERGY U$E

4:13 PM

Page 1

by James Dulley, Contributing Columnist

CLEANER PLATES, LOWER BILLS Dishwashers of today typically exceed the ENERGY STAR efficiency standards and over their life, will pay for themselves in energy and water savings.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIELE

Q.

My 12-yearold dishwasher is noisy and does not have many cycle options. I think it’s time to replace it. What are the important efficiency features when I compare models? Is hand-washing dishes more efficient?

— Sandi T.

42

The good news is, using an automatic dishwasher is typically more efficient than hand-washing dishes (although if you take your time and are very miserly with water usage, hand washing can be more efficient).

But your old dishwasher probably does need to be replaced because it has already survived longer than most typical dishwashers. No matter which new dishwasher you select, you can be certain it will use less electricity and hot water than your old one. The vast majority of dishwashers made today exceed the ENERGY STAR efficiency standards. Over the life of the new dishwasher, the energy and water savings as compared to your old one can pay back its initial cost.

The majority of the cost of using a dishwasher is for the energy to heat the water. A portion of this energy is used by the home’s primary water heater, the rest by an internal heater in the dishwasher. With this in mind, if a dishwasher design consumes less water, less energy is needed to wash a load of dishes. Always compare the overall waterconsumption specifications for an average load cycle among the models.

A.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DACOR

Of course the most important feature is how well a washer cleans dishes. If it does not clean well, people tend to run it on the heavy cycle when normal will do, or they hand-rinse the dishes first. Rinsing can use more than 10 extra gallons of water, and if hot water is used, more energy is being consumed. With a good dishwasher, a simple hand-scraping of dirty dishes should be adequate.

Top-of-the-line dishwashers offer many cycle settings to fine tune the process to the cleaning needs of the specific load. This is a nice feature, but most families can get by with three basic cycles: light, medium, and heavy (for pots and pans).

Some dishwashers also sport a two-pump design in the bottom of the tank: one small pump is used for spraying the dishes and another is used to drain the unit. Many models still use a single reversing pump that sprays in one rotation and drains in the other. Two smaller pumps require a smaller water reservoir, but the efficiency difference between one- and two-pump models has narrowed considerably.

Newer electronic controls offer greater convenience and efficiency. Hidden digital controls — which typically run along the top Cooperative Living/May 2010

4/16/10

edge of the door — look good when the door is closed, but you cannot watch the progress of the cycle and see the time left. Partially hidden controls are another option. A dishwasher I recently selected has exposed controls, which I find easier to see and use.

Newer dishwashers are also much quieter than older ones, accomplished by better motor/pump design and higher levels of insulation — both for noise reduction and for better efficiency. Layers of insulation are placed around the pump assembly and the walls of the cabinet and door. The stainless steel dishwasher I recently installed in my own home is significantly quieter and has shorter cycles.

Automatic dirt sensors measure the turbidity (cloudiness) of the water to determine when the dishes are clean and how long to run the cycles. There are several technologies to accomplish this, and they function pretty well. A filter option strains the water inside the dishwasher to remove food particles. Selfcleaning models use a grinder, but this may increase the noise level. A rinse-hold feature uses only two gallons of water to rinse the dishes if you do not plan to run the dishwasher for a long while.

And as for efficient washing by hand? I’ve tested it in my own home using a Delta spray kitchen faucet with touch control, which allows me to minimize water usage when rinsing the washed dishes.

The overall energy savings when handwashing is really only realized during winter. I leave the warm sudsy water in the sink until it cools off. This heat is given off to the kitchen air, so the heating system has to run less (the same applies when taking a hot bath during cold winters). During summer, I do not handwash dishes to reduce the heat and humidity buildup indoors. It can actually be a double loss during summer because your air conditioner has to run longer to remove the excess heat and humidity.

The following companies offer efficient dishwashers:

4:11 PM

Page 2

THE RESPONSIBLE & Beautiful SOLUTION

En Engineered for maximum efďŹ ciency – Long Windows, S iding aand nd A ttic M irror w ill h elp yyou ou bburn urn lless ess ffuel, uel, rreduce educe Siding Attic Mirror will help more ccarbon arbon ddioxide ioxide eemissions missions aand nd bbecome ecome m ore eearth-friendly arth-friendly money all while you save mo oney and beautify yourr home! tt C lear Heat MirrorTM Technology gy dramatically reduces solar heat gain in summer and allows solar heatt gain in winter t t 6Q UP MBZFST PG Low E Coating oating SFøFDUT EBNBHJOH 67 SBZT BOE T BOE increases R-value t t 1BUFOUFE Q Foam insulation sulationn TUPQT BJS DPOWFDUJPO NBLJOH O NBLLJOH J H GSBNF TBTI BO JODSFEJCMF SFEJCMF R-13!

1

DAAY LL IINST

L Ž Windows Long Windows i d Outper O Outperform f m All Major for M j BBrands rands d Full-frame R-value windows fro from om R1.2 - R 6.25 25 Long Windows Long Windows Quantum2 with “Super Pack� Power P Q R 10 Glass R 6.25 (U 0.16) R 4.55 (U 0.22)

Andersen* Pella*

R 3.5 (U 0.28) R 3.3 (U U 0.3)

Milgard** Double Pane Single Pane

R 2.0 (U 0.49) R 1.2 (U 0.84)

Dacor, (800) 793-0093 www.dacor.com Kitchenaid, (800) 422-1230 www.kitchenaid.com Miele Appliances, (800) 843-7231 www.mieleusa.com Send questions to James Dulley, Cooperative Living inquiry, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

TAX X 1500 1 5 TA 500

$

CREDIT

3x

The per performance formance of Double Pane!

Our eenergy nergy uusese dr dropped roppped so m much uc h aafter fter installing innstalling your yoour u windows wiindows o — Dominion Domi o inniion Virginia Virginia n Power owe wer thought thoought u our ouur meter meter was broken! brroken! n We We look look forward forwa o ard to to using usising Lo Long ng Fence FFeeennce n and and Home H e for Hom foor many maany years yeearrs to to com come! mee!

* Data gathered from respectivee websites, websites as of July 2009 ** September 2008

365

'HUHN DQG -HQQLIHU + 6SULQJÂżHOG 9$ ' HUHN D N DQG -H G -HHQQQLIIHU + 6SU U + 6SUULULQJÂż JÂżH JÂżHOGG 9$ 9$

DAYS DA AYS Y OF

Asko, (800) 898-1879 www.askousa.com Bosch Appliances, (800) 944-2904 www.boschappliances.com

Over

WARRANTY W A ARRANT Y AMAZING AM A ING RRESULTS! AZ ESULTS!

R 3.

3.85 85 (U 0.26)

Marvin** Mar vin**

LIFETIME E UP TO

may wise energy use:CL_june07_p

!

NEYW V A S ING

RG ENER PRODUCT FFOR 2001100

ENERGY ENER GY SAVINGS S AV VINGS

A TRUSTED NAME SINCE 1945

-JDFOTFE t #POEFE t **OTVSFE -JDFOTFE t #POEFE t *OTVSFE .)*$ t %$ t 7" " .)*$ t %$ t 7"" " OOne ne day day installation installation on most homes. homes. See See representative representative for details details..

FREE E EST ESTIMATES IMA AT TES

CALL CAL LL NOW!

1-888-535-8140 1-888 8-535-8140 longfenceandhome.com lo ngffence n andhome.com

Improve yo your ur home. Improve your life.

43

may food for thought:Layout 1

4/16/10

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

10:54 AM

Page 1

by Dr. John E. Bonfadini, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus, George Mason University

Who’s Your Role Model ? very time I hear about another professional athlete getting into legal trouble, I want to scream.

It’s not so much the law-breaking that bothers me — it’s the follow-up statements by analysts who claim that these individuals shouldn’t have done the illegal or immoral act because they are “role models for our youth.”

Professional athletics, like movies and other high-visibility entertainment occupations, will have their share of individuals who do things unacceptable to society.

These folks break laws just like ordinary people. They have personal problems like ordinary people, and they live and die like the rest of us. They belong to the human race and, before we start referring to them as role models, let’s make sure they have earned the moniker by doing something really worthwhile. Making a lot of money or displaying great athletic skills are not reasons for a person to be considered a role model.

I would hope that every child’s role models would be mom and dad; but in the real world, that’s probably a bit naive. Kids look at what’s popular in society and naturally want to be part of that. I have a sweatshirt with words written on the front proclaiming I’m the world’s greatest grandfather. I know that’s not true, but my grandkids gave it to me so I wear it. I, like millions of other fans, also wear shirts that have the colors of my favorite sports teams and usually the number of some star player.

I’m a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan and wear Steelers apparel a lot, especially since they have become winners. As a kid growing up in western Pennsylvania, I went to Steelers games when they seldom won. They even practiced at the college where I got my undergraduate degree, and a former Steelers’ tight end named Val Jansentte was my high school football coach.

Two years ago I read an article in a sports magazine about the Steelers’ Super Bowl MVP, Hines Ward, which included information about his ethnic background. He is both African-American and Asian. My adopted grandson Brandon is Asian, so I decided to make a collage of pictures that included

E

44

Brandon, his grandmother, and Hines Ward making a Super Bowl catch.

Ward’s ability to overcome some of the problems associated with a multi-ethnic background, along with his work in helping Asian children, are traits I admire. I also like his work ethic. I sent the picture to the Steelers’ front office and asked if they could forward it to Hines for a signature. I told him about my grandson and other family history that led to Brandon’s adoption, hoping that Ward would sign the picture. I’m pleased to say he did and it now hangs on a wall in Brandon’s home. I also have a copy hanging in my house. I thought about doing the same thing with Tiger Woods because of his ethnic background. But I just never sent the collage to Woods — somehow, I had the feeling he wouldn’t sign it. Now I’m glad I didn’t. Athletes, like movie stars, provide us with entertainment — period. Seldom do they earn the status of role model. Mr. Woods will realize it’s much easier to accumulate and keep money than it is to be a genuine role model.

Hanging on the wall next to me are pictures of myself and several politicians. I’m trying to figure out why I have their pictures on the wall. I guess I wanted to show others that I have a connection to the political community. I know it’s not because I think they are role models. Politicians seldom rise to the level of role model, although they should.

The failure of a politician to reach role-model status is as much a reflection on the voter as the politician. There just aren’t many Honest Abes around. Our political system centers on money, and when money is involved, there is increased potential for mischief. You don’t have to look hard to find the bad in politics, so maybe it’s best to move in another direction when seeking role models.

Older people should be role models for our youth. Aging implies a certain level of maturity and by extension, respect; but age alone doesn’t automatically warrant rolemodel status. I’ve always told my children that just because someone is a senior citizen doesn’t mean you must respect them. Respect should be earned. I’ve also emphasized to my children that you shouldn’t show disrespect — offer common courtesy to seniors when-

ever you can. When each of us reaches senior status, let’s hope we will have gained the respect of our immediate family. Maybe then we can eliminate the need for some athlete to serve as a role model.

When I think of “role model,” a few individuals stand out: Martin Luther King, Jr., Billy Graham, Mother Theresa, and Pope John Paul II. Some in the sports community, like Arnold Palmer and Tony Dungy, also stand out. These individuals exhibited traits espoused in the Ten Commandments and, really, those 10 rules are all you need. All kids need to do is be able to recognize those good traits. Role models are individuals who live in various environments displaying those traits over an extended period of time.

As a society we expect people in some professions — such as teachers, doctors, lawenforcement officers, clergy and nurses, to name a few — to display those valued traits.

Politicians and lawyers should be in that category but ... I’ll let you finish the sentence.

As for entertainers and athletes, enjoy what they do and admire the money they make, just don’t elevate them as role models.

The description “role model” should require the individual to exhibit the highest standards of human behavior.

It would be a much better world if all moms and dads met these “role model” standards. This grandpap still needs a little fine tuning.

What’s YOUR View?

There are at least two sides to every issue. Do you have a different view? This column is meant to provoke thought, so keep sending comments. Each one is read with the utmost interest. Send e-mail to: bsherrod@odec.com (please enter “Food for Thought” in subject line), or send written responses to Cooperative Living, Food for Thought, Attn. Bill Sherrod, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340.

Cooperative Living/May 2010

HomeShopper

4/15/10

2:06 PM

Page 1

HOMESHOPPER &REE #OLOR #ATALOG

-URRAY -C-URRAY

(ATCHERY /VER VARIETIES OF "ABY # 7EBSTER #ITY )OWA #HICKS "ANTAMS 4URKEYS

'AME "IRDS 0EACOCKS 7ATERFOWL

'UINEAS "OOKS %QUIPMENT

#!,, %GGS )NCUBATORS &EED (OURS ! $AY AND -EDICATIONS KWWS ZZZ PFPXUUD\KDWFKHU\ FRP

www.hardyheater.com

•

•

•

•

• •

• ! • " # $ %

Hardy Manufacturing Co., Inc. 12345 Road 505 * Philadelphia, MS 39350 First on the Market

New Re-sealable Bag!

KILL LAKE WEEDS

Before

HOMESHOPPER

!MERICA S /LDEST ,ARGEST 2ARE "REED (ATCHERY

After

10 lb. bag treats up to 4,000 4 000 sq. sq ft. ft $ $77.50.

50 lb. container treats up to 20,000 sq. ft. $299.00. FREE SHIPPING! Certified and approved for use by state agencies. State permit may be required. Registered with the Federal E.P.A.

“Since 1976� www.KillLakeWeeds.com/582

Write for FREE information:

AQUACIDE CO. Our 55th year PO Box 10748, DEPT 582 White Bear Lake, MN 55110-0748

Springdale Water Gardens

Add sound . . . motion . . .

ahhhh . . . www.springdalewatergardens.com (800) 420-5459 • Greenville VA

Would you send $1 to save my life?

Just $1 will help save the lives of dogs like this one while they wait for forever homes.

Won’t you help us help them? Send your tax deductible contribution with this ad to: ADRATI K9 Rescue P.O. Box 17173 Richmond,VA 23226 or donate online at adrati.com

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

5

:H DUH WKH 0DQXIDFWXUHU )DFWRU\ 'LUHFW 'LVFRXQWV ZZZ N\EXLOGLQJV QHW

9EAR !LL 3TEEL 9EAR $ELUXE #OLOR 2OOF 4RIMS -ODELS &ARM #HURCH 3PORTS (ORSE #AR 0LANE (OME

45

Pg46-47(Classifieds):Classifieds

4/16/10

CLASSIFIEDS RATES: Non-business: $50 per 25-word block + $2/word over 25 OR “Mini” ad – $4/word (maximum of 10 words) Business, agent, and broker ads: $100 per 25-word block + $4/word over 25

DEADLINE:

May 10 at 3 p.m. for June issue Prepayment required for publication.

We accept checks payable to Cooperative Living magazine, or credit card info may be filled out below. Publisher reserves the right to designate classification or reject any ad.

No personals, please.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT

Please attach a separate sheet with the following information: Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Phone, and Wording For Publication.

Please fill in payment information: Check or money order enclosed ____ For a credit card, fill out the following: ___VISA ___MasterCard ___AMEX Total amount to be charged to credit card (VMD Association) $ ___________ Card # ___________________________ Exp. Date ________________________ Signature (Req.) ____________________ V Code______Last 3- or 4-digit # on signature strip Check, money order or credit card information for correct amount must accompany ads. Incomplete forms and incorrect amounts will be returned to sender. We accept classifieds by telephone (804-9684021), fax (804-346-3448), e-mail (sglisson@odec.com), or mail to: Classifieds, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340.

46

9:58 AM

Page 1

BUSINESS MARKETPLACE LAYMAN WATER SOLUTIONS – Micro Rain portable irrigation products for Virginia equine, ag & sports industry. We come to you. www.laymanwatersolutions.com, 804-794-4109, info@laymanwatersolutions.com.

MARY KAY – Skin care packed with multiple benefits.

Free samples so you can try before you buy. Shop at my personal Web site: www.marykay.com/tfrost. Tamara Frost, 571-235-5416.

MORTGAGES – HOMEOWNERS IN VIRGINIA. FHA, VA, USDA – 100%. Fast service – any purpose. Call 24/7.

Home Equity Mortgage, Inc., 1-800-884-4365. Virginia State Corporation Commission License No. MC-511.

WORK CLOTHES – Good, clean, rental-type uniforms.

6 pants & 6 shirts to match, $44.95. Men’s jeans, 5 pair/$25. Lined work jackets, $10.95. Walt’s Wholesale Co., 1-800-233-1853, www.usedworkclothing.com.

CONCRETE CATTLE GUARDS. Also PORTABLE CONCRETE PLATFORMS for watering fountains that comply with USDA conservation cost-share programs.

Wright’s Ready-Mix, Amelia, Va. 804-561-2721 or info@wrightsreadymix.com. Delivery available in Central Virginia.

RENTALS OUTER BANKS – KDH, MP 91⁄2, cheerful, well-maintained cottage, 4 bedrooms, 21⁄2 baths, accommodates 8, families only, no pets, private beach access, $950 weekly, 757-481-3341.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, CHERRY GROVE, oceanfront condo, sleeps 8, 3 BR, 3 BA, 2 pools, lazy river, discounts available, weekly rentals, family groups only. 804-5806922.

SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, GATLINBURG, TN. Love and memories begin here in our chalet. Close to the park, wedding chapel, and all attractions. Call toll-free 1-866316-3255 or www.hillshideaway.com.

NAGS HEAD COTTAGE RENTAL, milepost 51⁄2, between highways, near Avalon Pier, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, A/C, CATV, sleeps 8-10, leave message, address, phone. Spring, summer, fall rates. 804-288-6874.

BATH COUNTY CABIN, sleeps 6-8+, furnished, fishing nearby, 2 bedrooms, $300/week. Reference “Cabin” at airbornemom@yahoo.com or call 540-269-4595.

ENJOY LADIES’ MANTEO GETAWAY! Excellent shopping/dining. Discover downtown. Relax in large, wellappointed condo in adult community. On-site amenities include restaurants, pool, marina, gym. 434-665-6699.

COTTAGE, SMITH ISLAND, CHESAPEAKE BAY. Lovely 2-BR, memorable sunset views of the Chesapeake Bay, boat tours available – herons, egrets, bald eagles, pelicans; smithislandbaysidecottage.com; marciaupdike@yahoo.com; 410-905-6041.

REAL ESTATE CENTRAL VA: Appomattox: 5-acre lot, nicely wooded, frontage, perked, ready to build on with permits, $25k.

Appomattox:12 acres, tall canopy hardwoods, driveway in place, perk approved, great building site, $59k. Buckingham: 54 acres, wooded, large creek, good building site, or recreational use, $110k. Additional land available. Owner financing available. Call Jeremy Coleman at 434-665-0688.

MURPHY, NC, CHEROKEE MOUNTAINS – 2007 custom log home, 1.3 acres. Two bedrooms/1.5 baths.

Artesian well, 1,000 gallon in-ground LP gas tank, paved driveway, wood cathedral ceilings, four 4’ skylights, custom-built kitchen cabinets, dual-feed 12 SEER heat pump/humidifier, on-demand hot water, rock fireplace/gas logs, wood/ceramic tile floors, 40’ covered porch overlooking valley. Architectural shingles. $164,950. 804-201-5470.

DUNNSVILLE, VA – RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER. Completely remodeled waterview home, .89 acres.

New 200-amp service. Large living/kitchen, den/brick fireplace/gas logs. One bedroom, 8’ x 12’ closet, 1.5 baths. Trane heat pump/humidifier. Large deck overlooking river. 12’ x 24’ electric shed. One block from private beach/pier/boat ramp. $199,900. 804-201-5470.

BUCKINGHAM COUNTY – 164 wooded acres with roadways, river/creek frontage, 400’ cleared frontage on Hwy. 24, 75 miles Richmond/60 miles Charlottesville. $2,500/acre as total package. 434-352-7267, 434610-3059.

45-ACRE FARM with 3-bedroom, 2-bath home, outbuildings/pasture/open fields/stream. Charlotte County. $249,900. Vaughan Realty, Keysville, Va 434-7368400. www.vaughanrealty.com.

112 ACRES, 2-bedroom house, pastures, woods, pond, and two trout streams. Joins National Forest. Great hunting/fishing. A beautiful place! One hour from Roanoke. $482,000. 540-309-5721.

15.93 WOODED ACRES IN VIRGINIA with 1,100 s.f. garage, 1 bedroom, 1 bath near Buggs Island Lake. $175,000, call 570-322-7591 or 570-220-3077.

LAKE MATTAMUSKEET, NC: Beautiful one-acre lakefront lots offer natural splendor/spectacular views of abundant waterfowl/wildlife. Ownership includes boat access area and common interest in 14.24 acres of Lake Bottom. $79,000. Lake Landing Realty 1-866-3805253/www.lakelandingrealty.com.

APPOMATTOX COUNTY – NEAR HOLIDAY LAKE. 20-50 acres of beautiful pasture, hardwoods bordering state forest, two county roads. Perfect for horses and retirement home. $5,000/acre. 703-631-2040.

WANTED. LAND. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. SEASIDE. 5/75 acres. Quick settlement. 703-758-4896.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER LOT, LEEDSTOWN. Expansive views. 1.47 wooded acres, 406' waterfront, deep water. E-mail for pictures: buymylot@live.com.

Mapquest: Drakes Marsh Drive, Colonial Beach, Va $350,000. 804-514-7248. No agents.

WINCHESTER AREA – 74-acre farm, custom-built 4-bedroom, 3-bath brick house, paved driveway, panoramic mountain view, 30’ x 40’ two-level bank barn. Stocked pond. Land good for cattle, horses, your own landing strip, or development. $845,000. 540-662-7040.

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS – Beautifully wooded 4.62 acres with stream near Parkway, National Forest and trout streams. Driveway to ridge crest home site with views and camping shed. $79,500. RARE OPPORTUNITY! James Wm. Moore Real Estate Co., 540-463-7080, www.jwmre.com.

QUIET & BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY LOCATION – 25 acres south of Lynchburg, cozy remodeled farmhouse, 3 BRs, 2 BAs, heat pump w/ac, appliances. Stocked pond, large creek, woods, pasture w/natural spring, 4-stall barn, other outbuildings. Motivated sellers! $189,900.

434-841-0890. moonrunner@hughes.net.

Cooperative Living/May 2010

Pg46-47(Classifieds):Classifieds

4/16/10

CLASSIFIEDS RATES: Non-business: $50 per 25-word block + $2/word over 25 OR “Mini” ad – $4/word (maximum of 10 words) Business, agent, and broker ads: $100 per 25-word block + $4/word over 25

DEADLINE:

May 10 at 3 p.m. for June issue Prepayment required for publication.

We accept checks payable to Cooperative Living magazine, or credit card info may be filled out below. Publisher reserves the right to designate classification or reject any ad.

No personals, please.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT

Please attach a separate sheet with the following information: Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Phone, and Wording For Publication.

Please fill in payment information: Check or money order enclosed ____ For a credit card, fill out the following: ___VISA ___MasterCard ___AMEX Total amount to be charged to credit card (VMD Association) $ ___________ Card # ___________________________ Exp. Date ________________________ Signature (Req.) ____________________ V Code______Last 3- or 4-digit # on signature strip Check, money order or credit card information for correct amount must accompany ads. Incomplete forms and incorrect amounts will be returned to sender. We accept classifieds by telephone (804-9684021), fax (804-346-3448), e-mail (sglisson@odec.com), or mail to: Classifieds, P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340.

46

9:59 AM

Page 1

BUSINESS MARKETPLACE LAYMAN WATER SOLUTIONS – Micro Rain portable irrigation products for Virginia equine, ag & sports industry. We come to you. www.laymanwatersolutions.com, 804-794-4109, info@laymanwatersolutions.com.

MARY KAY – Skin care packed with multiple benefits.

Free samples so you can try before you buy. Shop at my personal Web site: www.marykay.com/tfrost. Tamara Frost, 571-235-5416.

MORTGAGES – HOMEOWNERS IN VIRGINIA. FHA, VA, USDA – 100%. Fast service – any purpose. Call 24/7.

Home Equity Mortgage, Inc., 1-800-884-4365. Virginia State Corporation Commission License No. MC-511.

WORK CLOTHES – Good, clean, rental-type uniforms.

6 pants & 6 shirts to match, $44.95. Men’s jeans, 5 pair/$25. Lined work jackets, $10.95. Walt’s Wholesale Co., 1-800-233-1853, www.usedworkclothing.com.

CONCRETE CATTLE GUARDS. Also PORTABLE CONCRETE PLATFORMS for watering fountains that comply with USDA conservation cost-share programs.

Wright’s Ready-Mix, Amelia, Va. 804-561-2721 or info@wrightsreadymix.com. Delivery available in Central Virginia.

RENTALS OUTER BANKS – KDH, MP 91⁄2, cheerful, well-maintained cottage, 4 bedrooms, 21⁄2 baths, accommodates 8, families only, no pets, private beach access, $950 weekly, 757-481-3341.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, CHERRY GROVE, oceanfront condo, sleeps 8, 3 BR, 3 BA, 2 pools, lazy river, discounts available, weekly rentals, family groups only. 804-5806922.

SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, GATLINBURG, TN. Love and memories begin here in our chalet. Close to the park, wedding chapel, and all attractions. Call toll-free 1-866316-3255 or www.hillshideaway.com.

NAGS HEAD COTTAGE RENTAL, milepost 51⁄2, between highways, near Avalon Pier, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, A/C, CATV, sleeps 8-10, leave message, address, phone. Spring, summer, fall rates. 804-288-6874.

BATH COUNTY CABIN, sleeps 6-8+, furnished, fishing nearby, 2 bedrooms, $300/week. Reference “Cabin” at airbornemom@yahoo.com or call 540-269-4595.

ENJOY LADIES’ MANTEO GETAWAY! Excellent shopping/dining. Discover downtown. Relax in large, wellappointed condo in adult community. On-site amenities include restaurants, pool, marina, gym. 434-665-6699.

COTTAGE, SMITH ISLAND, CHESAPEAKE BAY. Lovely 2-BR, memorable sunset views of the Chesapeake Bay, boat tours available – herons, egrets, bald eagles, pelicans; smithislandbaysidecottage.com; marciaupdike@yahoo.com; 410-905-6041.

REAL ESTATE CENTRAL VA: Appomattox: 5-acre lot, nicely wooded, frontage, perked, ready to build on with permits, $25k.

Appomattox:12 acres, tall canopy hardwoods, driveway in place, perk approved, great building site, $59k. Buckingham: 54 acres, wooded, large creek, good building site, or recreational use, $110k. Additional land available. Owner financing available. Call Jeremy Coleman at 434-665-0688.

MURPHY, NC, CHEROKEE MOUNTAINS – 2007 custom log home, 1.3 acres. Two bedrooms/1.5 baths.

Artesian well, 1,000 gallon in-ground LP gas tank, paved driveway, wood cathedral ceilings, four 4’ skylights, custom-built kitchen cabinets, dual-feed 12 SEER heat pump/humidifier, on-demand hot water, rock fireplace/gas logs, wood/ceramic tile floors, 40’ covered porch overlooking valley. Architectural shingles. $164,950. 804-201-5470.

DUNNSVILLE, VA – RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER. Completely remodeled waterview home, .89 acres.

New 200-amp service. Large living/kitchen, den/brick fireplace/gas logs. One bedroom, 8’ x 12’ closet, 1.5 baths. Trane heat pump/humidifier. Large deck overlooking river. 12’ x 24’ electric shed. One block from private beach/pier/boat ramp. $199,900. 804-201-5470.

BUCKINGHAM COUNTY – 164 wooded acres with roadways, river/creek frontage, 400’ cleared frontage on Hwy. 24, 75 miles Richmond/60 miles Charlottesville. $2,500/acre as total package. 434-352-7267, 434610-3059.

45-ACRE FARM with 3-bedroom, 2-bath home, outbuildings/pasture/open fields/stream. Charlotte County. $249,900. Vaughan Realty, Keysville, Va 434-7368400. www.vaughanrealty.com.

112 ACRES, 2-bedroom house, pastures, woods, pond, and two trout streams. Joins National Forest. Great hunting/fishing. A beautiful place! One hour from Roanoke. $482,000. 540-309-5721.

15.93 WOODED ACRES IN VIRGINIA with 1,100 s.f. garage, 1 bedroom, 1 bath near Buggs Island Lake. $175,000, call 570-322-7591 or 570-220-3077.

LAKE MATTAMUSKEET, NC: Beautiful one-acre lakefront lots offer natural splendor/spectacular views of abundant waterfowl/wildlife. Ownership includes boat access area and common interest in 14.24 acres of Lake Bottom. $79,000. Lake Landing Realty 1-866-3805253/www.lakelandingrealty.com.

APPOMATTOX COUNTY – NEAR HOLIDAY LAKE. 20-50 acres of beautiful pasture, hardwoods bordering state forest, two county roads. Perfect for horses and retirement home. $5,000/acre. 703-631-2040.

WANTED. LAND. NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. SEASIDE. 5/75 acres. Quick settlement. 703-758-4896.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER LOT, LEEDSTOWN. Expansive views. 1.47 wooded acres, 406' waterfront, deep water. E-mail for pictures: buymylot@live.com.

Mapquest: Drakes Marsh Drive, Colonial Beach, Va $350,000. 804-514-7248. No agents.

WINCHESTER AREA – 74-acre farm, custom-built 4-bedroom, 3-bath brick house, paved driveway, panoramic mountain view, 30’ x 40’ two-level bank barn. Stocked pond. Land good for cattle, horses, your own landing strip, or development. $845,000. 540-662-7040.

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS – Beautifully wooded 4.62 acres with stream near Parkway, National Forest and trout streams. Driveway to ridge crest home site with views and camping shed. $79,500. RARE OPPORTUNITY! James Wm. Moore Real Estate Co., 540-463-7080, www.jwmre.com.

QUIET & BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY LOCATION – 25 acres south of Lynchburg, cozy remodeled farmhouse, 3 BRs, 2 BAs, heat pump w/ac, appliances. Stocked pond, large creek, woods, pasture w/natural spring, 4-stall barn, other outbuildings. Motivated sellers! $189,900.

434-841-0890. moonrunner@hughes.net.

Cooperative Living/May 2010

Pg46-47(Classifieds):Classifieds

4/16/10

PETERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA. 17.84 acres, spectacular mountain views, improvements, septic system, access to 50-acre lake. $85,000. 304-257-6433.

AUCTIONS REAL ESTATE/ANTIQUES/COUNTRY STORE – Green Bay, May 8; Cullen, May 15; Amelia, May 22.

Carwile Auctions, Inc., www.carwileauctions.com, 434-547-9100. VAAR 392.

BUILDINGS AMISH-BUILT POLE-BARN BUILDINGS. Your plans or ours. Local Virginia contractor specializing in post & frame. 434-645-7411.

OPPORTUNITIES/SERVICES PART- OR FULL-TIME HOME-BASED BUSINESS. Free training and Web site. Established 140-year-old company. No selling required. www.spiceline.biz.

BECOME AN ORDAINED MINISTER, correspondence study. Founded in 1988. Free info. Ministers for Christ Outreach, 7549 West Cactus Rd., #104-207, Peoria, AZ 85381. www.ordination.org.

PUT YOUR OLD HOME MOVIES, PHOTOS OR SLIDES ON DVD. Call 888-609-9778 for details or visit my Web site www.transferguy.com.

COLEMAN EXCAVATING: Land & lot clearing, grading, roads, and basements, licensed and insured, free estimates, 434-665-0688.

FOR SALE OLIVER 550 FARM TRACTOR, manufactured 8-1854, original owner’s and shop service manuals, runs good, some spare parts, 5’ scraper blade. Shenandoah County. $1,500 OBO. 757-285-0422, 757397-5444.

ANTIQUE DRESSING SCREEN, iron with “fleur-de-lis” crowning each panel. Also, HAND-PAINTED RIVER SCENE with waterfowl and animals on single 80-inch cut of cedar. Each $400. 540-412-2343.

COLLECTOR SELLING ALL OLD AND SOME NEW ALADDIN OIL LAMPS & PARTS. Several Lincoln Drape plus train (caboose lamps). Other hanging lamps and Gone with the Wind lamps and parts.

434-348-7380. Emporia area.

FOUR REDSKINS TICKETS AND PARKING – e-mail can@firstva.com for information.

9:59 AM

Page 2

PETS AND LIVESTOCK ANATOLIAN SHEPHERDS – www.skyviewanatolians.com, 804-263-6270.

MINIATURE SHEEP – Southdown Babydolls, Barbado Dolls, Cheviot Dolls and Miniature Cheviots. Taking reservations for 2010 lambs. Several 2009 lambs still available. Follow Your Dream Farm – Virgilina, Va. 434-572-9876. Web site: www.followyour dreamfarm.net, E-mail: Info@Followyour dreamfarm.net.

ANIMALS, HOUSING AND PLANTS: Baby rabbits, ferrets, cages, hutches, accessories. Young chickens and safe housing. Edible landscaping, perennial flowers, herbs: $1-$8; will ship. www.edenfarmsonline.com. 804-556-3377.

LIVE FISH FOR PONDS – LAKES. Plants, lilies, 32 species available. Delivery or pick-up. Free catalogue.

Zetts Fish Hatchery, 878 Hatchery Road, Inwood, WV 25428. 304-229-3654.

WANTED BUYING OLD TOYS – Pre 1980 Matchbox, Corgi, Dinky, Hot Wheels. Also collecting pre 1970s hippie and anti-war stuff. 703-869-9431.

CEDAR CREEK HUNT CLUB LOOKING TO LEASE HUNTING RIGHTS. Small, responsible club, 11 members/children. Will respect your property, maintain roads, post property lines, respect fields. Have liability insurance. Want to build long-lasting, equitable relationship. Michael Carroll, 804-539-2176.

SNOW BLOWER that will fit the PTO of a TORO Wheel Horse 312-8 Classic Garden Tractor. May be able to retrofit. SuzWinter@aol.com or 540-5473390.

WATCHMAKER DESIRES TO BUY ANTIQUE/ VINTAGE POCKET WATCHES/WRISTWATCHES. Working or needing repair. Also movements, cases, dials, parts, crystals, fobs, repair manuals, tools, anything related. Buying one piece or entire inventory.

540-656-8762.

EVENTS 20TH REUNION, “35-70 MARY N. SMITH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION,” ACCOMAC, VA. July 16-18, 2010. Honoring graduates of Mary N. Smith High School classes 1954, 1955, 1956. Other graduates/ guests welcome. Marcie White, 757-787-2107; Berran Rogers, 757-442-9332.

FARMER’S & MERCHANTS BANK STOCK – $175/share. 540-309-5727.

FREE

AZALEA SPECIAL, 1 GAL. – $2, YELLOW RHODODENDRON, SPRING AND FALL CAMELLIAS, BALED PINE STRAW/TAGS, ACRES OF DAYLILIES, wholesale – retail. “The Gardens at Sugar Pond,” 804-561-3822.

FREE BOOKS/DVDs – In light of our economic situation, events both great and decisive are ahead!

Prepare yourself/family now! The Bible Says, POB 99, Lenoir City, TN 37771, thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com. 1-888-211-1715.

Advertising

INDEX

Capitol Sheds ..................................40 Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum.......................31 Conestoga Buildings.........................7 Dish Network....................................9 DR Field and Brush Mower............11 Farm Bureau.....................Back Cover Farm Credit ....................................13 Green Energy Solutions .................43 Kayak South East Pools ...................... ...............................Inside Back Cover King’s Dominion.............................33 Lockridge Homes............................41 Mitchell Homes................................... ..............................Inside Front Cover Nutrisystem.....................................15 Perma-Roof /Southern Builders......40 Strange’s Florist...............................13 Sunnybrook Homes..........................6 Superior Walls ..................................7 Virginia State Parks.........................32 Virginia War Memorial ....................3

RESTORED American Antique Clocks with guarantee.

Keys, hands, and parts for sale. Clock repairs and movement-restoration available. Cell: 703-447-7261, E-mail: rparkercbmove@hotmail.com.

May 2010/www.co-opliving.com

47

may rural living:Layout 1

4/16/10

RURAL LIVING

4:24 PM

by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Columnist

THAT OLD, FAMILIAL ITCH W

ho do you think you are?

I’m not trying to pick a fight. I’m just naming my new favorite TV show.

I can’t believe it took so long for TV Land to tap into the genealogy craze. I know all about this, from my time at the Bath County Historical Society. Believe me, it’s a wonderful, warm feeling when you can place in someone’s hands the very leads that will unlock the secrets of their ancestors.

Throughout the spring, summer and fall, in they would stream — their eyes hopeful, lugging bags loaded with notebooks and scraps of yellowed paper.

The “spirits” were always busy at work in our research library and museum. Once, they managed to lure two sets of relatives, who’d never heard of each other, into the building at the same time. I could write a whole column about the spirits at the historical society.

Maybe I will one day, since many of you may already think I’m loony.

“Who Do You Think You Are?” — the TV show — chose celebrities we’ve all heard of to kick off their first series of shows. Sarah Jessica Parker discovered a link to the California Gold Rush, and

48

Page 1

then to the Salem witch trials. Emmitt Smith ran up against the traditional wall that African-Americans encounter while looking for their roots, and then barged through it like the football hero he is.

Lisa Kudrow found herself thrust into a haunted concentration camp in Europe.

The truth is, they didn’t need celebrities to capture the attention of much of America. How many of you are looking for your ancestors? How many of you have discovered fascinating stories, or links to historic events? I’d venture to guess that most of you have.

Here’s my own story. I love tramping through cemeteries. One early spring day, I was hunting around one, looking for some info for a feature article I was writing. I couldn’t quite read what was etched in one tombstone, so I lay flat on the ground and rubbed my fingers over it, to figure it out.

While doing this, I bemoaned the fact that I knew more about many people’s ancestors than I did about my own. I knew who my grandparents were, and that was that. It made me sad.

Later that night, I was overcome with a sort of madness. My mother and I were driving to Maryland to see my great aunt and suddenly, my arms and abdomen began to itch in an allencompassing way. I scratched and dug at myself. Red bumps were everywhere.

“What in the world is the matter with me?” I wailed.

Mom asked what I’d been doing, and when I told her, she said, matter-offactly, “You’ve got chiggers.”

Ick. We spent the night at Aunt Margaret’s. I was sleeping in the attic bedroom, thinking about the cemetery.

Suddenly, my eyes fell upon a pile of boxes under the eaves. One was labeled “Margaret’s family.”

I crept over and opened up a treasure trove. Inside were lots of old photographs of relatives who hadn’t lived long enough for me to know them. I finally got a gander at my great-great-grandfather, Aloysius Dent Jarboe. He looked like a fun guy.

Also there, neatly delineated, was a list of 14 generations of my mother’s family. In about an hour, I went from knowing nothing about my heritage, to learning I was descended from Col. John Jarboe, born in Dijon, France, in 1619.

He came to Virginia in 1642 and hiked his way through the new world to St. Mary’s County, Md., where he settled, became the sheriff, and raised a family. My family. They lived at Long Lane Farm, overlooking the Patuxent River.

There’s a naval air station on the old place now.

I was elated! I learned the story of Joseph Jarboe, a Catholic priest during the Civil War. He was captured by Yankees, giving Last Rites to dying soldiers on a battlefield. He was sentenced to be hanged.

Just as Joseph was heading to the gallows, who should ride up but Gen. Phil Sheridan. The general, one of Father Jarboe’s former altar boys, ordered him released and then embraced him. Surely the spirits were at work that day.

I was scratching absent-mindedly while I pored through the papers.

“Darn those chiggers!” I muttered.

And then it hit me. The spirits in that cemetery were listening. They knew I was itching to find my past, and they kindly obliged.

How many of you are looking for

your ancestors?

How many of you have discovered

fascinating stories, or links to

historic events?

Cooperative Living/May 2010

C3Kayak:Kayak

4/16/10

10:40 AM

Page 1

Save your Health, Money and Valuable Family Vacation Time with an AFFORDABLE VACATION in your own backyard ...

Day After Day, Month After Month, Summer After Summer ...

ALL 2009 STOCK MUST GO HUGE SAVINGS!!!

0DLQWHQDQFH )rHH

6HOI &OHDQLQJ 3RRO /LIHWLPH WDUUDQW\ 0DQ\ 3RROV WR &KRRVH )rRP

HOMEOWNERS WANTED TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF $$$ – BE A DEMO HOMESITE FOR OUR MAINTENANCE FREE KAYAK POOL

1-877-377-7665 Mention Discount Code COL1

Kayak South East Pools America’s Choice for Quality Swimming Pools www.kayakpoolsoutheast.com

Catalina

$4,995 Installed

C4VAFB:Layout 1

4/20/10

11:24 AM

Page 1

the runaround

Jane, get me off this thing

are you sure?

still don’t know the runaround your policy number?

frustrated?

why?

hear more options

want a hug?

Hitting a phone tree can cause even more damage.

A damaged car is easy to repair. But damaged trust is almost impossible. Switch to Farm Bureau Insurance and you’ll get a real response, really fast. Unless you really like pushing a lot of buttons.

Get the Membership Advantage. > FarmBureauAdvantage.com

VAMLPR40562