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New River Valley MAGAZINE

nrvmagazine.com November/December 2026

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ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER Tues., Feb. 23, and Wed., Feb. 24, 7:30 PM When Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater takes the stage, the air changes. See two nights of intimate contemporary works and sweeping ensemble pieces, each night ending with masterwork Revelations. J. Harris, H. Richardson, I. Day, A. Green. Photo by Andrew Eccles.

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contents

November-December 2026

Past u re Ta l k

C h r i st m a s a t Mo u n ta i n La ke

G ifts fro m A to Z

Co okie Exc h a n g e

Yu l et id e O ve r l o a d

Porsc h e B oxste r

NRV Ho m e

Fran ces A . Mi l l e r

40 C h r i st m a s L i g h ts 42

S am m y 's Uph o l ste r y

S h elter Al te r n a t i ve s

Fo o d Fa re

Ad ver t i s i n g I n d ex

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Pasture Talk

NEW RIVER VALLEY M

P. O. Box 11816 Blacksburg, VA 24062 o: 540-961-2015 nrvmagazine@msn.com www.nrvmagazine.com

PUBLISHER Country Media, Inc. Phillip Vaught MANAGING EDITOR Joanne Anderson WRITERS Joanne Anderson Emily Alberts Madi Mann Becky Hepler Nancy Moseley Caitlyn Koser Emily Meade

PHOTOGRAPHERS Jon Fleming Tom & Christy Wallace Emily Alberts Emily Heskett Kaytlin McCoy Madison Underwood Meredith White Photography Chelsea Hartman Photography

© 2026 Country Media, Inc. Country Media, Inc. will not knowingly publish any advertisement that is illegal or misleading to its readers. Neither the advertiser nor Country Media, Inc. will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, or typographical errors. The publisher assumes no financial liability for copy omissions by Country Media, Inc. other than the cost of the space occupied by the error. Corrections or cancellations to be made by an advertiser shall be received no later than 5 p.m. the 20th of each publishing month. No claim shall be allowed for errors not affecting the value of the advertisement. Paid advertising does not represent an endorsement by this publication. Content cannot be reproduced without written consent from Country Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Real Estate advertised in this publication is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968.

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U.S. farms peaked around 1935 at 6.8 million. Fifty years later, the number was about a third at 2.3 million. And now, 40 years hence, the number runs around 1.8 million. Of course, the variables are abundant for acreage, production, revenue and so on. But, ‘tis the season that I especially long for farm life. I didn’t grow up on a farm, but had plenty of experiences via summers, friends and family in southern Vermont and just across the New York State line. The animals I know best are sheep, dairy cows and beef cows, rabbits, ducks and chickens, horses and beagles. You’ll never need a driveway alarm if you have a beagle. In the early years of living next to the cattle operation where I currently reside, inside the Blacksburg town limits, the owner Dee Whittier would apologize for the 72 hours of bawling when the calves were weaned. I assured him it was not any imposition. In fact, it presented me with the ideal cattle drive experience. I could hear them, day and night, imagine I was riding on a cattle drive somewhere in the Wild West, and I didn’t have to sleep on the ground with my saddle for a pillow. I still love it. The youngsters bawl from the northwest side of their property, and the mom cows bawl on the opposite

side of a large pasture. This column was named 20 years ago for those pastures and mine. While I write, I overlook grazing land with cows and horses, and I might hear chickens clucking, a rooster crowing, their turkey gobbling, ducks quacking and guinea hens squawking. Some days it can be quite the fowl cacophony, along with cows mooing and horses nickering and whinnying. When I read Nancy Moseley’s introvert’s guide to surviving the holidays on page 22, it got me to thinking. I have stood in a noisy room with many merry semi-strangers, smiling hard, feeling my shoulders climb toward my ears. Within 30 minutes, I can be standing in the same outfit, now under my barn coat and Muck boots, in the pasture, frost underfoot, animals breathing steam in the dark, and feeling my shoulders drop. Same night. Different population count. Different breeds of animals. Different sounds, comforting sounds. This is my brand of a holiday group. Eye contact with a horse that wants a reassuring rub vs. eye contact with 80 people I half-know at a whiteelephant party? No contest. So if you find me missing from the biggest holiday social events on the New River Valley calendar, check my barn and pastures. I am not being a grinch. I am choosing the gathering where I can actually hear and see Christmas: hay, an imaginary manger, cold air, a horse’s snort, winter’s starry night and enough stillness to mean the season instead of surviving the season. I could show up for occasions that matter because, in the end, the pastures and my little kaleidoscope of an animal crowd will be here when I get home. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Joanne Anderson ManagingEditor

jmawriter@aol.com

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Where Christmas feels like Christmas again a growing holiday village brings old-fashioned traditions, mountain magic and a little North Pole nostalgia to the New River Valley Text by Emily K. Alberts Photos courtesy of Mountain Lake Lodge

First, you hear the music. Then comes the cold mountain air, the anticipation of what lies around the corner and the first glimmers of Christmas lights through the trees. Suddenly, there it is! More than 200,000 lights illuminate historic Mountain Lake Lodge, transforming its grounds into a Christmas village where horse-drawn carriages pass beneath twinkling lights, chestnuts roast over open fires and the sounds of carolers drift across the lawn. “It feels like stepping right into a Hallmark card,” says Lyndsi Hale, assistant hotel manager at Mountain Lake Lodge. NRVMAGAZINE.com

A Mountain Made for Christmas Perched high above the New River Valley in Giles County, Mountain Lake Lodge has long possessed the ingredients of a storybook winter retreat: A historic stone hotel, rustic cabins, wooded trails and an elevation that can bring snowfall even when the valley below remains bare. Yet the Magical Christmas Village and Marketplace, now entering its fourth season, began with a practical question: How could the mountain resort sustain its employees through the slower winter months while offering something meaningful to the surrounding community? Nov/Dec

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Hale, who helped conceptualize the event in 2023, found inspiration in the holiday traditions of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, where families travel for elaborate light displays and seasonal entertainment. But rather than replicate those destinations, she wanted to capture something distinctly Mountain Lake. “We want to go back to what Mountain Lake is all about, and it's families,” Hale explains. That vision echoes the wishes of Mary Moody Northen, who inherited the resort and sought to preserve it for generations to enjoy. “The movie made us famous,” Hale recalls, referring to Dirty Dancing. “The mountain is what's keeping the legacy alive.”

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Little Things Make Christmas Magical What began with a synthetic ice-skating rink and a handful of lights has grown into a 6-week celebration, running Nov. 21 through Jan. 3. This year, the lodge is doubling its light display and adding an illuminated tunnel designed to accommodate horse-drawn carriages. Behind much of that magic are the lodge's own employees: Maintenance crews, naturalists, recreation staff and retail workers who spend weeks transforming the property, stringing lights from dawn until dusk. "They are our Christmas elves!" Hale exclaims, laughing. The celebration begins Nov. 21 with the Grand Illumination, featuring a communal countdown, strolling carolers and two performances by Westover Ballet before and after the lights come alive at 6 p.m. Novemb er/Decemb er

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H A N D - C U R E D CO U N T RY H A MS AG E D 1 2 + M O N T HS A F A M I LY T R A D I T I O N F O R O V E R 1 0 0 Y E A R S C R A F T E D I N V I R G I N I A' S S H E N A N D O A H VA L L E Y

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On select weekends, local artisans and small businesses fill the marketplace, while carriage rides and holiday performances add to the festive atmosphere. The lodge provides vendor space at no charge, asking only that participants contribute 10 percent of their sales to the Mountain Lake Conservancy. Throughout the season, families can skate beneath the lights, sip hot cocoa and settle in for holiday movies in the grand ballroom. Children can make Christmas crafts, decorate gingerbread houses, play games and visit Santa in a cozy fireside cabin. “We have kids sledding on the front lawn, running around and going to the ice-skating rink while their parents are at the fire pit roasting marshmallows,” Hale states. Santa's cabin returns with a charitable purpose. “Visitors can bring a toy donation for local children in exchange for time with Santa, a candy cane and a keepsake gold coin.” Among this year's additions is Mary's Holiday High Tea, Dec. 12 and 13, a ticketed afternoon of seasonal teas, finger sandwiches and festive finery. Proceeds will benefit the conservancy, making the celebration a tribute to the family's enduring connection to the mountain.

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One Last Bit of Holiday Magic Christmas isn't the end of the celebration. On New Year's Eve, the lodge will host two events: An early familyfriendly party with a children's confetti countdown, music and balloons, followed by an adults-only Dancing Through the Decades celebration featuring a live band with a full horn section. And they are going out "with a bang." Fireworks will illuminate the mountain sky at midnight, welcoming 2027 with a dazzling display. A Fresh Start Brunch, outdoor activities and spa specials are planned for New Year’s Day. For Hale, the greatest reward isn't the growing number of lights or the expanding events calendar. It's watching families make memories together. “My own nieces and nephews have taken to calling Mountain Lake the North Pole!” Written by Emily Kathleen Alberts, who is beginning to understand why retailers start decking the halls before the Halloween candy is gone. Admission to the light display and parking are free, though some activities and special events require tickets. Overnight accommodations and holiday packages offer the opportunity to turn an evening visit into a mountain getaway. Novemb er/Decemb er

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GIFTS FROM A TO Z Text by Caitlyn Koser

Statistics show that many Christmas shoppers get a head start on their shopping in October or even earlier. Perhaps some do so to avoid the panic for those impossible-to-buy for folks on the list. Fear not: With this variety of gifts, you’ll be prepared to delight even the most head-scratching giftees. Airbnb gift certificate. Looking to give an anniversary getaway, a girls’ weekend or a just-because trip? Tiny high-rise urban apartment, beach cottage, rustic cabin, treehouse, 16

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caboose, farm stay, big city, a veritable something-for-everyone.

of a home, immortalized on the walls in watercolor, oil or acrylic.

Blueberry bushes. Relatively affordable and delicious, even a couple blueberry bushes can produce enough for significant enjoyment once mature. A little learning curve is needed for pruning and keeping away deer, but the fruit of the labor is worth it.

Deck of cards. Often, memorable vacation spots offer decks of cards featuring pictures of the destination for a unique collection that won’t sit on a shelf. The versatility of cards is a plus; they’re so small that pulling a stack out when stuck in a waiting room or in an unexpected power outage is a breeze.

Custom house portrait. Sites like Etsy offer whimsical, custom paintings

Essential oil diffuser. Perfect for any room, a soothing scent can enhance the atmosphere for working, relaxing

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Marble chaser. For the kiddos and the young at heart, marble chasers can be as complex or as simple as you want to handle. More sophisticated ones work well for tweens or adults looking to rediscover a childhood favorite.

or sleeping. Diffusers are relatively inexpensive and freshen up a space minus headaches or side effects from more mainstream scents. Freeze-dried meals. As versatile as they are quick, freeze-dried meals come in handy in a variety of situations from a classic NRV ice storm power outage to a backcountry trip around the campfire. They don’t all taste like cardboard; research yummy, nutritious options in myriad meal choices, budget, calorie-dense or gourmet.

Jigsaw puzzle. Whether the giftee is the 3,000-piece, noggin-scratching, snowy landscape type or the shorter accomplishment of a mosaic of lovable pups – or even a mail-in picture of your choice – jigsaw puzzles are a time-honored year-round tradition. Karaoke machine. Know someone who loves jamming out? Gift a karaoke machine – the classic crowdpleaser and delight for those who love singing out loud.

Greenhouse. Coming in all shapes and sizes, a greenhouse is the perfect gift for a friend with a green thumb. From high-end to simple, a greenhouse insulates and extends the growing season for plants and magnifies even a limited amount of sunshine. Hot sauce. A perfect gift to satisfy the spice-lover’s palate is a hot sauce set with samples from a variety of countries in different flavors at various spice levels. Ice hockey tickets. Local teams in Wytheville and Roanoke pack a punch of action on the ice, offering fastpaced entertainment for the hockey lover on your list. NRVMAGAZINE.com

Nature guides. For the mushroom, butterfly, tree, rock or flower aficionado, a specific nature guide is personalized and shows support for your loved one’s interest. Orb boomerang ball. Throw this small, unassuming-looking ball in the air at the right angle, and it’ll float right back to you. It’s alluring for kids and adults alike. Pinball museum tickets. Tucked inside the heart of downtown Roanoke is a museum bursting with light and the nostalgic noise of pinball machines. [roanokepinball.com] For fun entertainment, get a gift certificate to one of many pinball arcades.

Lantern. Useful for a power outage, tent camping or a cozy glow on a living room table, the lantern’s versatility and practicality make it an enduring gift.

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Quote. Frame a catchy, sage or plain funny quote from a kid’s hilarious mispronunciation, a patriotic Virginia statesman or a faithful Scripture reference.

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Rechargeable hand warmer. No more cold fingers on frosty New River Valley nights! For the one on your list who is perpetually experiencing freezing fingers, a hand warmer offers a toasty and inexpensive solution. Sparkling water maker. If you have an affectation for soda or sparkling water but dislike the price and the environmental cost of bottles and cans, a carbonated soda or sparkling water maker might be a perfect antidote. These handy machines infuse carbon dioxide from a refillable cartridge into water or other beverages. Tabletop spiralizer. Spiralizers make thin, funky ribbons out of vegetables or fruit. Think zoodles – gluten-free zucchini noodles with the bouncy texture of real pasta. Utensil set. Everyone has a practical, perpetually-prepared friend in their life who doesn’t travel without the essentials. Gift a portable, travelfriendly and eco-friendly utensil set (think bamboo or stainless steel) for those messy car meals.

Find out your loved one’s favorite, and shop around for the best price. Bonus: Cozy background music during the holidays? Wind chimes. The classic sound brings nostalgia and calm, hung on a back deck or front porch. Some play tunes. This author’s favorite is a chime on the back deck that claims to play Amazing Grace, but has since devolved into a beautiful but tuneless sound. Xocolatl (Mexican hot chocolate). What’s cozier than whipping up a batch of hot chocolate on Christmas morning? Xocolatl is a Mexican hot chocolate made with chili peppers, resulting in a more bitter, earthy taste than regular hot cocoa and a delightful texture to match.

Yahtzee. Yahtzee is a classic dice game that is brilliantly simple in its design but highly strategic in its playing. Created in 1956, the game has been around for decades and provides high-quality, classic family fun. Zipline. Ziplines are classic and thrilling, but they don’t have to break the bank. Even a small one between two trees in a backyard is an exhilarating experience. Caitlyn Koser is a homeschool student and writer who -- with many ideas from her family that ran the spectrum from sensible to absurd -- compiled this list and may have snuck in a few of her own wish list ideas.

Vinyl. Talk about nostalgia – bring out the vinyl! Online stores offer classics or unique, limited-edition records. 18

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Happy Holidays to you from

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Hosting a

Cookie Exchange

The cookie exchange is some kind of wonderful because it’s ageless … great for kids, tweens, teens, young professionals and all the rest of us! It is also appealing because you make one kind of cookie, go to the cookie exchange and come home with many different kinds of cookies. And, while it’s perhaps most often a holiday event, there are no rules against holding a cookie exchange any time of year. Date, time, location. Any day. Any time. Usually at someone’s house, though it can be held at a community center, church or elsewhere that’s convenient for everyone. Establishing an end time, like two hours from start time, is helpful. How many cookies. This is adjustable depending on number of people, but several dozen, let’s say nine dozen for this example. And nine participants. 20

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Cookie information. Wrap or baggie one dozen cookies together with a label with name of cookie and ingredients (full recipe or just a list), your name and anything special like “sugar-free” or “gluten-free” or other details. Cookie display. On a table, group each person’s dozens of cookies together, taking one dozen to open and serve with one dozen from everyone. Drinks, snacks and activities. This can be as simple as water, soda, coffee, tea or punch, coffee and tea flavors, wine, beer, martinis. For activities, one can simply mix and mingle and enjoy socializing. If children or teens participate, perhaps have a decorating station with basic sugar cookies. Older kids can help with snacks and drinks, take photos, decorate cookies and socialize as well. The host[ess] can have organized games, too. Novemb er/Decemb er

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Going home. When things wrap up, each cookie participant can go to the display table and pick up one dozen of each of the cookies others brought. No rules. You can host a granola or brownie, trail mix or something else exchange. If you get recipes in advance, assemble and print them so everyone goes home with samples and the recipes. For the ultra-harried individual or couple, nothing wrong with popping into a bakery or the cookie aisle for your contribution. We all know that no one can home bake an Oreo, for example! Ghirardelli and others have wonderful box mixes to simplify the process. The important part is showing up, enjoying cookies and drink and schmoozing with others, unless you are the introvert who needs to carefully manage your holiday outings. See page 22. Written by Joanne M. Anderson

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Yuletide Overload An Introvert’s Guide to Surviving the Holidays Text by Nancy S. Moseley

It's a lot. The holidays. Autumn can seem quite peaceful, with the slow temperature turn, the drizzle of dead leaves, when coffee goes from iced ridiculousness back to its natural state. But let's be honest. We all know, when dawn cracks the day after Halloween, while the candy is still corroding our teeth, the Polar Express pulls up out front signifying GO time. Except instead of a choo-choo train, it's one of those roller coasters that shoots forward from stop to "where's my stomach" in three seconds. If there 22

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is any doubt in my declaration, turn on the radio that day. Or go to Hobby Lobby, like, a month previously. Then the invites start coming in. The single friend invites everyone to Friendsgiving, the office party gets scheduled at a [hopefully] decent restaurant, there are boozy treetrimmings every weekend, freezing extra-long parades, white elephant parties, school pageants with "singing" children maniacally shaking bells, caroling (awkward for singers and listeners), drive-through nativities,

drive-by lighting tours, cookie exchanges. Ten Lords a-leaping, it must be the holidays! For card-carrying introverts, it's tough to find the balance of being the group Grinch and skipping it all or saying "yes" to everything to avoid negative chatter and nagging guilt. Let's take comfort in the fact that Krampus may have taken away our children, but he did not take away our ability to choose. Choose By Population. When evaluating outing options, take time

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to figure out the potential number of attendees. If "the girls" are going out for frosty martinis or gingerbread lattes in settings considered intimate, that's an easy win. You get festive facetime with a small group of friends, and you get unspoken credit for showing up. But if the gathering is scheduled to be in a large space, with a fire code of several hundred, it's a skip. Save your social battery for folks who will directly benefit from it, where eye contact might lead to a conversation you don't mind having, versus one you would stumble through. Similarly, if your book club randomly decides to host all the other local book clubs for one giant party (+ spouses!), that wouldn't be any fun for you. Or the spouses. Stick to smaller gatherings where you will know most, if not all, of the people present.

Choose by Obligation. Save some personal space for the holiday festivities you really shouldn't miss. This includes the office party. No one wants to be that employee who has a reputation for never showing up, it's bad career

karma. Events hosted by the in-laws are also obligatory. Unfortunate, but true. And if you signed up to bring Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes to the school play, you probably should stay and watch the play. If your neighborhood has a New Year’s Eve block party, it's simply bad form to be the house with all the lights off. Sure, it reeks a little of

"keeping up with the Joneses," but it's important to be a cul-de-sac team player. You never know when you'll need to call on a neighbor for quick and nearby assistance. Choose by Good ol' Fashioned Interest. If the event takes place at a new bar/restaurant/ neighborhood you haven't previously experienced, if that friend you haven't seen outside Facebook in a decade is promising to make an appearance, if it's something your kids would love and you would thusly enjoy it through them, (if a crush is going), if you really do want to come home from a paint party with a one-of-a-kind "Sweater Weather" wall hanging – these are all solid reasons to respond affirmative. Bonus: Paint parties can feel singularly Zen.

Magical Christmas Village at Mountain Lake Lodge Nov 21- Jan 3

Christmas with the Johnstons | December 4-5

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By mid-party, if you realize you've depleted your inner extroversion, deploy drastic tactics. Go to the bathroom. Hang out there for a bit. Run outside to answer a call that didn't ring or feign a text message that needs your immediate attention. Take up chain smoking right away! Most importantly, go home before your Bruce "bah humbug" Banner pops out. Then give yourself grace. Your friends invited you because they enjoy you. Leaving early won't make them enjoy you less. At least long term. Choose to Recoup. Even if you're the host house for traveling family, keep one room (likely your bedroom) an altar for alone time.

Pro Tip: If the washer and dryer are separate from common spaces, launder all the things. No one ever questions the whereabouts of the person responsible for clean clothes and linens. 24

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Pro Tip B: Acting as chef doesn't work as well because the kitchen is a magnet for social traffic.

Spend a doubledigit number of evenings on your couch in fuzzy slippers, with a good book and a peppermint hot chocolate. Put your Hallmark

movie watching shirt on, then watch Krampus instead (circa 2015). Eat all the cookies. Spike an eggnog. Don't listen to Christmas music. Before you know it, you'll be ready for holiday outing #8, the town's tree lighting. Five, four, three, two, one ... all aboard! Nancy S. Moseley is a local freelance writer and a card-carrying introvert. She finds herself "spilling" peppermint hot chocolate on the throw blankets all the time. They aren't gonna wash themselves, people!

Krampus is a pagan tradition

originating in Germany and other Alpine areas of Central Europe. He is a horned, beastlike, anthropomorphic figure who accompanies Saint Nicolas on his rounds. But while St. Nick awards the nice children with gifts, Krampus punishes the naughty ones with birch sticks, then kidnaps them in a basket he wears against his hairy back. Yet another consideration for holiday overscheduling: You can attend any number of Krampus festivals that happen early December in many cities across the U.S. and Central Europe. It's fair to say Krampus makes the Grinch look like a delightful fellow.

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Porsche There is No Substitute Ferdinand Porsche [1875-1951] Austrian-German automotive engineer

[part 2 of a 2-part series on Porsches] Text by Joanne M. Anderson Photos by Jon Fleming Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarships are awarded via a highly competitive national selection process. Relatively few of the applicants win one straight out of high school. “My parents and I agreed that if I got a full 4-year scholarship to a university, they would buy me the car of my choice up to a certain dollar limit,” relates Blacksburg resident 26

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Michael Kneuer. “I received a full 4-year NROTC scholarship to attend the University of Rochester, and I began my search for the ultimate sports car. As soon as I saw the Porsche, I fell in love with it. That was the car not only for my college days, but also throughout my duty stations while in the Navy.” That model was a 1977 Porsche 924, spawning a love affair with the Porsche which has never ended. “It

was virtually identical to the Porsche 944 without the wheel well flares,” he explains. “And it was Guards Red like my 2016 Boxster photographed here. Introduced in 1974, the color is the most iconic, non-metallic paint on Porsches, red with a hint of orange.” The color is named for the bright red tunics worn by ceremonial guards at British royal places like Buckingham Palace.

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Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary knows a thing or two about luxury cars. With this quote, he pinpoints the exceptionally unique driving experience of a Porsche. "There are a lot of impractical things about owning a Porsche. But they're all offset by the driving experience. It really is unique. Lamborghinis and Ferraris come close. And they are more powerful, but they don't handle like a Porsche." Another quote from Ferdinand Porsche that captures the foundation of his intentions when first designing Porsche: "If you can create something time cannot erode, something which ignores the eccentricities of particular eras or moments, something truly timeless... This is the ultimate victory."

The Boxster Kneuer purchased this 2-seater, luxury roadster Porsche two years ago from a car brokerage in Chicago which specializes in European sports cars. “You could say ‘it had me at hello,’” he states. It has a mid-mount engine design which places the engine right behind the seats, giving it near-perfect weight distribution, sharp steering precision, and dual front and rear NRVMAGAZINE.com

You could say it had me at hello -- Michael Kneuer

trunks totaling nearly 10 cubic feet of cargo space. The 2.7 liter flat six engine delivers 265 hp at 6700 RPM and an impressive 0 to 60 mph of 5.5 seconds. The trunk space won’t accommodate Kneuer’s golf clubs, however. His daily drive is a 2025 Ford Explorer, “more appropriate for business and genuine practicality,” he declares. “And it serves as my golf bags vehicle.” The Porsche Boxster was created as an accessible, mid-engine

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roadster that saved the brand from financial collapse in the 1990s by offering pure handling balance and the Porsche driving experience at a lower price point than the 911. Its concept resulted from a change in strategy, and 25 years later, it remains one of the company's biggest success stories. According to the Porsche Club of America, it has “a wonderful reputation for durability and reliability with a simpler, port-injection system.” His take on comfort in the

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Porsche? “The seats are built to hold you in place as you fly effortlessly through turns, as well as accelerating and braking. It should never be expected to be the most comfortable and luxurious car you ever own. The design of a Porsche is to perform.” His fastest drive topped out at 110 mph with the first Porsche in upstate New York.

My Baby He calls the Porsche My Baby, and his personalized license plate speaks to who he is, a fiercely competitive person. “There are two types of people in the world,” he states, 28

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referring to those who Love to Win and those that Hate to Lose. “They are virtually identical in meaning, but which one represents you best? Your significant other the best? Children the best? Your boss the best? It provides for some great conversation as there is no right answer, yet very different perspectives.”

My Baby provides the escape to simply relax and appreciate the many blessings in his life. “There is nothing like the feeling of driving effortlessly with the wind in

your hair, sun on your face and the nature’s beauty all around.” Formally retired, Kneuer now supports his wife, Lilly, in her businesses: Lilly Valley Inn in Pearisburg and Rustic Roots – olive oils and spice blends – in Blacksburg.

And Kneuer’s final observation: “Distilling it all down, I defer to a line from the 1983 movie “Risky Business” in which Tom Cruise proclaimed: ‘Porsche… there is no substitute.’ I couldn’t agree more!”

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Seeking – and Finding – a Sense of Place

Text by Joanne M. Anderson Photos by Jon Fleming Life in the fast lane can be exciting for the thrill of striving to

reach lofty financial and family goals, enjoying an active career path, honing and/or gaining skills and focusing on achievement. Milestones may be reached, with new ones always cropping up on the horizon. There’s

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nothing wrong with a strong desire for success. Unless … or until … one becomes cognizant of a diminished quality of life across the board. “We raised two kids, and one day, we simply wished for a change in lifestyle that would permit more time together,” states Paula Golden. “I was working full-time, writing a master’s

degree thesis. [Husband] Terry worked 120 hours a week, or so it seemed, as a doctor in family practice. We didn’t see our neighbors unless it was a snow day. We didn’t see each other much. Traffic is abominable in northern Virginia. It looked to me like everyone, including us, was exhausted.” They longed for a sense of place.

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Compare that with living in

The Perfect Big House

Giles County where life in the slow lane is commonplace. Paula had a

friend who moved to Giles County and suggested she and Terry visit. “She

view across Ellett Valley. It had been

the New River Valley, and it was just

what we were looking for,” she exclaims. They went house hunting

custom-built just four years earlier. “We especially appreciate the Frank Lloyd Wright influence, where the house

and prepared to make an offer on a

works with the land, instead of merely

house one afternoon, when another

house went up for sale by owner that

morning. They decided to take a look. It was much larger than Paula wanted

few times. Terry’s viewpoint was simple:

“Just say yes.” They made an offer within

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renovation. “It is a fabulous home

with a welcoming layout,” Paula says. The two main efforts over the past 18 years have been with the lower

level and developing the gardens and landscaping.

The lower level with its walk-

designed for aging in place with single

with a storage section. They removed a

It is creatively situated on a hillside and

It took them a while to get

used to the largess. “It is so much of

floor space and was about 25% finished wall, opened it up and added a 3-sided gas fireplace which helps with defining spaces without walls.

Paula is an extraordinary,

what I wished for in an old farmhouse

nationally-known, textile fiber artist,

as many useful large spaces as small

restores old quilts and creates fabric.

that had additions over the years with ones,” Paula relates.

of the main level has not needed any

out patio consumes nearly half the

for an elevator and a live-in caregiver.

was too big,” she recalls repeating a

large appliances, the kitchen and most

sitting on top of the land,” says Terry.

floor living, wide doorways and space

or needed. “It was perfect, except it

couple months later in 2008.

brick house has three bedrooms,

five bathrooms and a spectacular

showed me the highlights of living in

the hour and moved to Blacksburg a

The 4,500-square-foot

Aside from replacing some

quilter and quilt instructor. She also

Her studio space occupies both sides of the brick wall on the lower level. When

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not working or creating something

thoughtfully developed across the years

the birds and wildlife visitors, except the

inside or outside around the firepit in

bottle trees (plural), shrubs and real

cluster of pretty flowers.

beautiful, she and Terry can relax

with water features, flowers, cobalt blue

Adirondack chairs.

trees. The Goldens have generously

The Ideal Outdoor Gardens “We refinished the wood

volunteered twice to be on the New River Valley Garden Tour.

The couple is continuously

planning and researching the best

deck,” Terry relates, “and we are

plants and how to manage the hillside

color, where the deer cannot get to

place, indoors and outside, they now

conscientious of filling that with

without terracing. Considering aging in

anything.” The landscaping has been

look for dwarf varieties, evergreens and

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minimal maintenance plants. They love

ones who want to make a meal out of a The big house is beautiful, and

their lives in the New River Valley are

wonderful. “When you live in a big city,

you can forget you are a human being,” Paula says. She revels in knowing the

neighbors, stopping at a car pulled off

the road to see if someone needs help, having a sense of place and embracing life in the slow lane.

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Finger Painting and More, Much More

Frances A. Miller, the awardwinning Christiansburg artist who signs her work simply Francesa, picked up a side gig once as a delivery person. “Many of my routes were along the New River and on back roads, and I saw so much of nature in these Appalachian Mountains that inspired me to paint it,” she relates. “I love wood, trees, rocks, water, mountains, all of it.” The Backstory Miller’s art experiences began in kindergarten. “I became an artist the 36

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Text by Joanne M. Anderson Photos courtesy of Francesa

day I was introduced to finger painting.” Growing up and moving frequently in a military family, she drew pictures of something she saw in every state on cross country road trips. “Everywhere we moved in the U.S. and in Europe, my parents sought out the local hikes and natural attractions for us [six] kids,” she recalls. Miller attended college intent on majoring in music, particularly voice. “You had to be one of the best, and I wasn’t, so I switched to art education, even though I did not want to teach.” As the years rolled along, she thought she

might end up in the Washington, D.C., area, though readily says “too many people”. After her dad died, her mother, then in Florida, asked her to come live with her. She did that, all the while longing for a place with mountains, waterfalls and four seasons. The New River Valley met her simple, all-natural requirements, and when she was in a position to go anywhere, she moved to Christiansburg, knowing no one, in 2021.

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beckon the viewer to tiptoe into the tranquility. Additionally, Miller received a coveted Honorable Mention for “The Last of Winter”, a creative collage of natural twigs and bark. It is the keen eye of an artist who sees a twig and imagines an art piece. And it is Miller whom you might see strolling through a woodland after a storm seeking pieces of downed wood. “It’s art material,” she’ll tell you. Where some sigh at the presence of a knot in an otherwise perfectly good piece of wood, Miller celebrates it. “I can bleach it out and make it the moon, shimmering on a body of water [“Night Lake”]. Or use it for the backdrop of an art piece named “Autumn Panel” with more twigs and wee individual hydrangea petals for leaves.” Finger Painting Still

Recent Awards The State Fair of Virginia was launched in 1854 by the Virginia State Agricultural Society and has evolved into an exciting 10-day event in Doswell, about 30 minutes north of Richmond. From the entertainment and agricultural exhibits to the artisan market and a plethora of fair-style food and drinks, the event attracts between 210,000 and 38

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250,000 fair goers. There are more than two dozen categories in the Culinary & Creative Arts competition, and Frances Miller most recently – a couple months ago – was awarded First Place and Best of Section for her painting “Appalachian Lakeside”. It embodies all of nature that she loves for its wood, trees, rocks, water and mountains. A campfire and two lipstick red Adirondack chairs

When a poor college student, Miller could not afford oil, so she painted with acrylics, a favorite medium. “It washes off better than oil,” she offers. She dabbles in AI and digital art and was commissioned last year to paint the stream and 3-dimensional waterfall on Draper Street in Blacksburg. The signal box in front of National Bank of Blacksburg on Main Street is her work. She especially enjoys creating distinctive visual features that bring art and the natural world together in a public setting. And while Miller is very comfortable with brushes in hand, she is still finger painting. “There are many things a finger can do in smearing, swirling and moving paint for just the right effect in a scene that a brush simply cannot accomplish.” francesa-miller.pixels.com Francesami14@gmail.com

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Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Text by Joanne M. Anderson Photos courtesy of Blue Ridge Lights

The National Enquirer was launched in 1926 as the New York Enquirer primarily covering crime stories. When the publication changed hands in 1952, the new owner transformed content to a weekly tabloid of sensationalized (but verified?) stories, vastly increasing its appeal. The phrase “enquiring minds want to know” became so popular that the National Enquirer copyrighted its slogan. It’s a meaningful phrase others like to use. The solution? Changing the more British spelling to “inquiring minds want to know”, avoiding any copyright infringement. Launching a Small Business And what does this have to do with a trio of Virginia Tech students, now graduates, who started Blue Ridge Lights? For starters, they are all engineers. This writer has an inside scoop on the engineering mind, being the daughter of one, and married four decades to another. They have “inquiring minds” and they “want to know” … how to do this, how to fix that, how to use their hands to improve life, build things, re-wire half the house, move doors, level things, run a small business and much more. They are a creative lot. The best way to learn about business? Start one, 40

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ideally one that fills a need so there will be customers. Two of the three, twins Matthew and Thomas Callari, remember driving around as kids looking at Christmas lights and loving the sparkles and glimmers in their hometown of Chesapeake. They grew up working with their hands, figuring things out and building swimming pools for summer jobs. Along with their pal Jacob Williams, who brings along his own hands-on experience in electrical work and problemsolving, they decided on a seasonal enterprise lighting up houses and businesses for the holidays. This would work well given that they each have day jobs in engineering fields. Defining Services They brainstormed everything from the business name, services, equipment they’d need, supplies and marketing angles. “We figured that offering an all-inclusive service -- providing decoration plans, leasing out the lights, installing them, and then taking them down and storing them after the season is over -- we would take away the homeowner’s hassle and provide an easy way for people to bring some extra magic to their homes and businesses during the holiday season,” Matthew relates. Novemb er/Decemb er

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Expanding from Seasonal Blue Ridge Lights started as a seasonal business.

“The majority of our work

is Christmas lighting,” Jacob

declares, “but we also are doing

more permanent light installations

throughout the rest of the year, such as

“Plus,” adds Jacob, “we knew we could do things on a professional level that most people aren't able to do for their house or business. We learned some good lessons early on and, by trying to go above and beyond, we have kept our customers happy.” They tossed around ideas for getting customers on a slim sales budget. “We thought of door hangers, flyers and a digital video on Facebook before landing on the sign idea,” Thomas explains. “We checked out sign rules, ordered some signs, and strategically placed them at stop signs [ah, where this writer saw one!].” Like any industry, lighting for buildings has niche markets for specific tools and supplies. “We need the correct clips, for example, to match gutters and attachment places,” Matthew explains. “We wear specialized roofing shoes, and have ladders, ladder hooks and, of course, a wide variety of lights, wire and other gear.”

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Govee or Eufy branded products.” Govee and Eufy lights are smart technology lighting products which can be controlled remotely via Bluetooth or WiFi. You put them up once and use them year-round for holiday or everyday lighting. It is not likely that the Blue Ridge Lights engineers will find themselves in some sensationalized story on the cover of National Enquirer. However, they are dedicated to sensationalized lighting for the holidays or year-round, the latter especially to emit a wonderful glow to your business after dark or simply to creatively enhance the home lighting scene. No doubt, their inquiring minds, wanting to know [fill-in-the-blank], could lead them into improving the lighting décor industry with inventions of their own. Remember, engineers are a creative lot. Blue Ridge Lights Blueridgelightingllc.com blueridgelightsllc@gmail.com 540-251-4947 Nov/Dec

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Heavy Lifting in a Small Business Text by Joanne M. Anderson Photos by Jon Fleming Of all the oxymorons out there, “high quality, low cost” strikes a chord. When it comes to furniture, high quality with a price offers much more than aesthetics. Durability and comfort are important, along with longevity and function. There is even a connection between your home environment and mental, emotional and physical well-being. High quality furniture can play a part in one’s attitude, health, happiness and productivity. Sammy Juarez understands 42

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this well. In the early years learning and advancing his upholstery skills, he relates: “That is when I realized how much love and sentimental value people have for their furniture. These pieces often hold special memories, and I became committed to giving every project the care, attention and quality it deserves.” The upholstery business blends high quality craftsmanship, precision skills and vast experience and competence with entrepreneurial proficiency and physical labor. Heavy

lifting, though often metaphorical, is serious in the furniture business. Sammy enjoys picking up and delivering furniture. He often estimates a project from photos, then discovers the piece is much larger than he thought. “Getting furniture out of certain spaces can be a real puzzle. Many pickup and delivery excursions bring new challenges, an unexpected situation or a funny story to tell afterward. It keeps things interesting.”

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The Learning Curve Samuel “Sammy” Juarez grew up Toluca, Mexico, known for its cool, temperate climate. “I began my journey in Roanoke, where I spent four years discovering and developing my passion for upholstery.” Sammy would go on to work in upholstery companies in Christiansburg, Charlottesville and Ruckersville where he was entrusted with large commercial projects. “Those experiences helped develop my skills, gain valuable knowledge, and build the confidence to eventually open my own business.” Maria Santay came to the U.S. with her family from her home department of Suchitepéquez in Guatemala, a warm coastal region with beautiful beaches. She met Sammy when she got a job at the same upholstery business. “We started as co-workers, became friends and gradually grew closer until we fell in love,” Sammy relates. “We decided to share life's adventures and build a future together.” The Business Plunge In mid-2023, Sammy felt ready to open his own upholstery shop in the New River Valley, looking for space in Christiansburg. “Finding a space with the right size and layout turned out to be much more difficult than I expected,” he explains. “And communicating with property owners was also a challenge.” He was discouraged. On his way home one day, Sammy talked to God, asking Him to provide the right space for his business. “Then, almost unexpectedly, the perfect opportunity appeared before my eyes. I rushed to find Maria so we could go see the space together. I truly believe that when something is meant for you, NRVMAGAZINE.com

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God knows when and how to bring it into your life.” Looking back, Sammy says “choosing Blacksburg was one of the best things that could have happened. I love this town. I enjoy its streets, its people, its peaceful atmosphere, and the sense of calm I have felt since moving here three years ago. Blacksburg has become much more than the place where I run my business; it is a place I am proud to call home.” Another major challenge has been finding reliable support to bridge the communication gap between English and Spanish. “Clear communication is such an important part of serving customers well, and navigating that has been an important part of growing the business,” he states. “I have also been deeply touched by the number of customers who, when they discover that Spanish is my first language, make an effort to speak Spanish and help me feel comfortable and included. Those small gestures mean more than they may realize.” Sammy and Maria were active participants in a Literacy NRV program to acquire basic English skills. A Literacy NRV newsletter article 44

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more than a year ago by writer Blake Hritz notes: “Their dedication to both craft and communication shines through in the quality of their work, the loyalty of their customers, and their determination to keep learning.” [literacynrv.org] New River Valley native MaKayla Conner grew up in Shawsville and joined Sammy’s last spring. She came into the shop with her mother and some office chairs. “We learned that she spoke a little Spanish, so we asked if she would be interested in working here and practicing Spanish,” Maria recalls. “A month later, she showed up, ready to work and advance her Spanish while we are doing the same with English. We are very happy to have her sharing our work, learning from one another and growing together.” The Future for Sammy’s “We hope to expand our services, invest in better tools and equipment, improve our workspace and reach more customers throughout the New River Valley,” Maria says in English, always improving her language skills. And Sammy adds: “Our goal is to continue providing high-quality craftsmanship and personalized service while making sure every

customer feels confident and happy with the results. We want to grow Sammy’s sustainably while staying true to what matters most to us: Treating every piece of furniture with care and helping our customers give their beloved pieces a new life.” At Sammy’s Upholstery, heavy lifting is as real as it is metaphorical for all the details of paperwork, taxes and running a small business. Factor in improving language skills, stocking hundreds of fabric samples, offering estimates, and maintaining a vehicle for pick-up and delivery, and you know their work days are jam-packed. But it is customer satisfaction that tops the list of everything at Sammy’s. Sidebar: Every customer who welcomes me into their home and trusts me with their furniture gives me the opportunity to become part of the story behind those pieces. That is something I never take for granted. – Sammy Juarez Sammy’s Upholstery 1531 N. Main St., Blacksburg 540-831-0125 sammyupholstery@gmail.com Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sundays

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Wrap Up the Holidays for Less at

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Shelter Alternatives

New Leadership, Same Service Q&A with new owners of local design-build company Text by Nancy Moseley

Chris Nicholson, Leah Simmerman, Justin Buehler, Ed Tuchler.

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In January 2026, Leah Simmerman (Design Team Lead), Chris Nicholson (Director of Energy Check) and Justin Buehler (Director of Construction) took over Shelter Alternatives from Ed Tuchler. He purchased the business in 2005 after working several years as a supervisor and carpenter. What prompted the purchase of Shelter Alternatives?

Ed Tuchler was approaching retirement and looking for a smooth transition to an ownership team that is aligned with his values of dedication to the environment, exceptional

quality, trust, teamwork, client advocacy and community involvement. The three of us were drawn to Shelter by those values and, as long-time employees, we are best-positioned to continue upholding them and carrying on that legacy. Why were you interested taking ownership? We love what Shelter Alternatives, founded in 1988, stands for, and we are driven to its success. Taking ownership was a way to ensure the business would continue to provide service and support to our community and employees. It also gives us the ability to make something great even better through continued refinement and the benefit of a teambased approach to management and ownership.

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What do you have plan to keep the same? What do you plan to change? We are committed to maintaining the strong foundation Shelter Alternatives has created. Just like a home, continuing advancements in technology and processes can take a solid existing structure and improve its performance, comfort and efficiency. Today, that looks like embracing new technologies when they will improve our process and the return on investment for our

We also hope to invest more in expanding the Energy Check segment of our business which uses building science to assess and improve energy use, comfort and efficiency of existing homes. clients and workforce.

Energy Check performs home performance assessments and recommends repairs that will improve comfort, reduce energy use, and improve indoor air quality. Energy Check then performs the repairs and upgrades with its in-house team. In a sense, they are the design-build team of home performance and efficiency. The goals of Energy Check deeply align with our own objectives of reducing impact and providing value to our clients.

Getting the message out there about the work Energy Check is doing improving attics, basements and

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crawlspaces will help our business grow and achieve these broader goals. What do you foresee being the biggest challenge? There is some irony in that our biggest challenge may be the strength of our existing systems and processes. We use custom software packages which provide a level of detail that surpasses more widely available software on the market. The challenge is that these programs were developed in a time that pre-dates the recent and rapid acceleration of technology we are all experiencing. This puts us at an inflection point, do we scale back our existing systems so they can integrate better with this developing ecosystem and accept that loss of detail, or do we sharpen our existing tools by developing our own native programs to serve as a thread to connect these programs that we feel bring great benefit to us and our clients? We don’t have an answer to that question while we thoroughly investigate all options. What are you most excited about with this new endeavor? We are excited about the people we serve! As a residential Design-Build-Remodel firm, people are at the core of everything we do. Our clients are wonderful, interesting and unique. Our trade contractors hold the same care for their teams as we do for our own. Our employees work tirelessly to provide successful outcomes on our projects. Those people and the relationships and the community they create drive us forward as owners and leaders.

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N RV Fo o d Far e

Warming Up Hands . . Despite the drought in the New River Valley, leaves turned colorful, crispy mornings set in, and any time of day this time of year, there’s a measure of comfort wrapping your hands around a warm mug of something. Seasonal flavors such as cinnamon, pumpkin, apple and ginger go well with the ubiquitous vanilla, peppermint and chocolate. Consider the hot drink station for a crowd, and whatever you plan to have on hand over the holidays, plan for a lot of whipped cream! Warm drinks topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of something rivals coffee shops for presentation, transforming the home barista into a pro. We not only eat with eyes, we drink with them, too! - Compiled by Joanne Anderson

Hot Apple Cider is an autumn

essential, warmed with cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange slices and a dash of nutmeg. Simmer 20-30 minutes and serve.

The caffeine-free Cinnamon Vanilla

Steamer pairs warm milk with pure vanilla

extract, cinnamon and a touch of honey or maple syrup.

Gingerbread Latte is the liquid form

of delicious gingerbread. Though espresso

is recommended, regular strong coffee goes

well with steamed milk, molasses, brown sugar, nutmeg cinnamon and ginger. Topped with

whipped cream and a dash of one of the spice makes this coffee shop worthy at home.

The tea drinkers will adore Chai Tea

Latte for its black tea, cinnamon, cardamom,

ginger, cloves and even a quick sprinkle of black pepper. After brewing the tea with spices, add

warm milk and sweeten as desired with honey or brown sugar.

White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha mixes up kind of the best of

everything. Espresso and melted white

chocolate form the base with steamed milk and a spot of peppermint extract. Dark chocolate shavings and crushed peppermint candy

sprinkled on the whipped cream makes this drink photo-worthy.

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. . . . and Bellies Hot Cranberry Orange Punch

On the spicy side of hot drinks is the

goes caffeine-free and is a favorite among

Mexican-style Hot Chocolate

blended then cinnamon sticks, cloves and a

pepper in the milk, dark chocolate, cinnamon

children. Cranberry juice and orange juice are little honey added in a pan on the stovetop.

Simmer gently until it is fragrant and serve with

with, you guessed it, chili powder or cayenne and vanilla mug.

fresh cranberries and orange slices.

Whoever thought of pairing caramel with sea

salt deserves a medal. Salted Caramel

Hot Chocolate takes basic hot chocolate

with milk and dark chocolate to a new level with stirring in caramel sauce and a pinch of sea salt. Drizzle that sauce over the whipped cream.

Caramel apples in a mug can be created in a

Caramel Apple Steamer with warm

apple cider, caramel sauce, cinnamon and a

little pure vanilla. Heat up, pour in mugs, top with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

Pumpkin Spice Latte blends strong

There cannot be a holiday without eggnog

puree, vanilla, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon.

and the Nutmeg Eggnog Latte

consists of strong coffee, eggnog, a little milk and a touch of nutmeg – in the mug and on

coffee or espresso with steamed milk, pumpkin Serve with whipped cream and a sprinkling of

pumpkin spice for the elegant coffee shop look.

top of the whipped cream.

Hot Toddy

History of the Hot Toddy runs through India and Great Britain, always with some spirits in it. It is a warm cocktail blend of a spirit (usually whiskey, bourbon or brandy), hot water or tea, honey or sugar and fresh lemon juice. In Scotland, people began pouring hot water and spices into local Scotch whisky to better endure the cold, damp weather. It also has been used as a cure-all for colds, coughs and sore throats. NRVMAGAZINE.com

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Advertisers Index 35 13 19 15 31 4 29 3 8 15 35 21 37 35 45 51 2 23

50 45 39 33 5 6 37 52 25 23 19 33 19 37 45 37 13 45

A1 Heating & Cooling Anne Collins Albimino Beliveau Farm Winery/Brewery Blue Ridge Heating & Air Bonomo's Plaza Brown Insurance Celco Community Credit Union Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech Corner Market Country Store Crab Creek Country Store Crockett Home Improvement Dehart Tile & Flooring Center Downtown Blacksburg Inc. Dwight Atkinson Energy Check First & Main Lifestyle Center Freedom First Giles County Tourism

Joba Studio Kesler Contracting Mitchell Kilgore Mutt's Primitives Nest Realty New River Dermatology NRV IP Law P.R. Sturgill Fine Jewelry Page & Associates Real Estate The Palisades Restaurant Pearis Mercantile Progress Street Builders River Ridge Dermatology Sapphire Ballroom & Dance Center Shelter Alternatives Star City Greyhounds Turner Hams YMCA at Virginia Tech

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Got an idea for an impactful design, or a dream of 540.553.8143 compelling communications for your brand? Let’s connect to see o &oba can elp

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