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September October 2026
contents 9
Past u re Ta l k
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Fab r i c of V T Fo ot b a l l
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Crazy Co lo r Co m b o
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HokieVisio n
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Th e U lt im a te D r i v i n g Ma c h i n e
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Fo ot b all S c h e d u l e
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Th e Fr ig h ts i n Lo c a l Lo re
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NRV M u s i c
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A Hom e I n H a r m o n y w i t h H i stor y
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A Rec ip e fo r Co m m un i ty
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Wor l d of W h ea t Wea v i n g
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Ad ver t i sin g I n d ex
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PERFORMANCES | EXHIBITIONS | EXPERIENCES
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“They fly. They spin. They change how you see the amazing!” — The New York Times
COMPAGNIE HERVÉ KOUBI | Sol Invictus Thurs., Oct. 22, 7:30 PM Absolutely unique and utterly original, Compagnie Hervé Koubi presents a universal declaration of love of movement, featuring contemporary and urban dance, capoeira, and martial arts. This luminous performance pulses with physical daring and collective energy, celebrating dance as a powerful act of gathering that brings people together across cultures and histories.
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Pasture Talk
NEW RIVER VALLEY M
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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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I hired a homeschool kid on my street as a farm hand when he was 13. I assured Grant’s mother that we would not let him handle serious equipment, just a hand-pulled dump wagon and manure rake to clean pastures. The 3rd week he worked, I came home and visited with my [late] husband, John, in the driveway. In the pasture, the Explorer with a red wagon connected to it started moving. He said: “I taught Grant to drive. He can teach himself how to back up the trailer.” Wait. I told his mother we wouldn’t let him do anything dangerous! “Driving isn’t dangerous. We had motorcycles and drove tractors when we were 11,” explained the man who grew up on a 3,000-acre potato farm in central Wisconsin and went half days to a one-room schoolhouse until high school. The motorcycles replaced a horse. “They didn’t always start, but they were always there!” Their horse, Beauty, untied herself and walked home in zero-degree weather, leaving the twins to hoof it. Thus, the motorcycles. Three years later, Grant’s family moved to Tennessee. I did not know his parents and never kept in touch. Recently, I received an email from him. Excerpts: “…hard to believe how much time has passed … my senior year at
the University of Tennessee studying data science and applied AI … remote data science internship with a farm-tech start-up … enjoyed feeling like my boots were in the field while my hands were on the keyboard … farm experience on my resume alongside my technical qualifications … CEO particularly interested in someone who had worn both a white collar and boots … a career in agricultural technology.“ Farm work on a resume is impressive, and the work offers life skills. A couple other farm hands believe they have secured an interview and job for that. They have all taught themselves to back up the trailer. Grant also wrote: “The days on your farm helped shape my work ethic.” Two more young adults [and there are many] are Madi Mann and Logan Smith. Madi is a Virginia Tech junior who wrote two articles for this issue. She did a fantastic job, surprised me(!), and I’ve asked her to join our freelance writer staff following her first independent, paid assignments. Logan Smith’s 10th and final “cruise-in” is Oct. 24, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Dublin Church of God. He marks 10 years now as a quadriplegic in a wheelchair. He completed his dual major at Virginia Tech, remains a competitive athlete and is getting married! His accomplishments, faith and perseverance are beyond inspiring. [walkwithlogan.com] With young friends in the New River Valley and around the country, I am comforted to report that these youthful generations may not be going downhill in a handbasket, but instead shaping a new generation of bright, authentic, intelligent, resourceful, positive contributors to society. Like autumn, football, apple pie and pumpkin anything, that’s worth celebrating. Go Hokies!
Joanne Anderson ManagingEditor
jmawriter@aol.com
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The Fabric of Virginia Tech Football
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Text by Madi Mann | Photos by Jon Fleming
On a football game day in Blacksburg, the scene is unmistakable. A sea of fans descends on Lane Stadium, maroon and orange making up the waves. The atmosphere vibrates with anticipation. The crowd reaches earthquake levels jumping in unison to “Enter Sandman”. And our players put it all out on the line. These sports events draw spectators from all over the world to Virginia Tech every fall, but there is another silent story being told on the field -- one woven into the very fabric of the program. From the iconic Hokie Stone pattern on the jersey numbers to the specific hierarchy of colors on the practice field, the Hokie uniform is a blend of tradition, style and branding. 10
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Virginia Tech’s aesthetic is one of the most recognizable in college football. While the program’s identity is anchored in its primary colors of maroon, orange, white and the distinctive Hokie Stone gray, the uniform itself is a constant evolution; one that deserves more attention. Walk through the Merryman Center, and you’ll see different uniforms displayed on mannequins. The home jersey is almost always a deep, memorable maroon. For years, variations have cycled through, sometimes opting for a clean, minimalist look and other times embracing shoulder striping that pops with orange and white.
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Perhaps the most unique element in the Hokie design depository is the Hokie Stone pattern, often highlighted in the numbers. It’s a literal nod to the architecture of the campus, a way to ensure that every player wearing the uniform carries a piece of Blacksburg with them. And then there are the gray jerseys that pay homage to that same limestone masonry, serving as a reminder that this program is built on a foundation as solid as the buildings on campus.
The Lowdown on Jerseys When you see a player on the field, that jersey isn't just a shirt; it is a piece of high-performance engineering NRVMAGAZINE.com
by Nike. Contrary to the myth that players get a fresh jersey every single game, the reality is a massive logistical operation. These jerseys are durable, high-tech garments designed to withstand the tugging and tackling of Division I football. They are laundered, mended and re-used throughout the season. The sizing is as much about function as it is about aesthetics. A jersey must be large enough to accommodate the massive bulk of modern protective shoulder pads, yet tailored to stay tucked in during the rigors of a four-quarter game. It has become a common trend for some players to opt for shorter, "cropped" looks or tighter fits; often a personal preference that, while may garner some criticism, benefits mobility, cooling and style. S ept/Oct
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The gear isn’t just for game day. Step onto the practice field at the end of the week, and you’ll see a visual hierarchy in motion -- the offense in clean white, defense in familiar maroon, and quarterbacks standing out in distinctive orange "no contact" jerseys. It is a system that allows coaches to instantly identify players, ensuring that the chaos of practice is controlled and organized.
About Those Numbers One of the most frequent questions from fans involves the numbers themselves. Does the team retire a number when a legend leaves? In years past, collegiate programs often retired numbers, taking them out of circulation entirely. Virginia Tech’s approach has evolved with the times. The athletics department moved away from permanently retiring numbers to avoid running out of available digits for a roster of 100-plus players. Instead, the focus shifted to retiring the player's actual jersey; honoring their legacy while keeping the number available for future generations. It is a balance between honoring history and respecting the practical needs of the current team. 12
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As for the sideline attire, you won’t see the coaching staff wearing game jerseys at games. While they are decked out in branded Hokie gear such as polos, pullovers and jackets, the game jersey is an exclusive honor reserved strictly for the players who strap on the pads. As Nike continues to push the boundaries of fabric technology by making uniforms lighter, more breathable and more tear-resistant, the Hokie team look will continue to adapt. Whether it’s a return to a classic, clean design or a Hokie Stone-infused experiment, the goal remains the same -- to look like a Hokie. For the players, putting on that maroon jersey is a rite of passage. For the fans in the stands, it’s a symbol of belonging. And for the equipment managers working behind the scenes at the Merryman Center, it’s a full-time job of maintaining a legacy of a program through the fabric of Viriginia Tech football. Madi Mann is a freelance writer and junior at Virginia Tech majoring in Multimedia Journalism.
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THE CRAZY COLOR COMBO
Text by Caitlyn Koser Photos courtesy of Jon Fleming Virginia Tech’s storied history as a land-grant university involves many quirky legends and lore – the mascot, for one, a large turkey that pulled a cart during gobbler games, and the university’s colors of maroon and orange, a beloved combo ever-present in the New River Valley. However, it was more than two decades after Tech welcomed its first student that the famed color couple made its debut. The vibrant energy they bring have had its maroon and orange effect on the hearts of Hokies ever since. 14
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In the Beginning In 1896, 24 years after Virginia Tech’s founding, a committee was formed to discuss new university colors. Black and gray, it seemed, didn’t have the most attractive appearance for students and fans – prison garb was more like it. Maroon and orange were selected, and the colors were off to a good start, brightening the field as Virginia Tech secured a 12-0 win against Roanoke College on October 20, 1896.
One reason that the dynamic duo of maroon and orange was selected? As is true to this day, no other university in the nation uses these two colors. The uniqueness of the pair was an allure to the still fledgling institution. The official names of the colors are Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange, with “Hokie Stone” and “Yardline White” as official supporting neutrals.
Team Spirit University colors do more than provide an eye-catching look to
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official merchandise (merch). They’re an easily recognizable, cohesive element of team spirit. Merch is the leading representative of the colors, but another much beloved symbol is, of course, the Hokie bird with its vibrant plumage. A few popular theories lead up to the catchy nickname that the future Hokies earned, but irrespective of origin, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute “Gobblers” were first coined circa 1908. “In 1913, [a Blacksburg youth] began taking to games a huge turkey gobbler that he trained to pull a 2-wheel cart and to flap its wings and gobble when prompted.” NRVMAGAZINE.com
[hokiesports.com] Despite the VPI president censuring this activity, the turkey’s irresistible charm lasted, enduring some obstacles, and leading to the enigmatic “Hokie Bird.” The official mascot in its present day look first appeared at a Tech football game against Clemson in 1987.
Vast Assortment of Merch From “Saturdays are for The Sandman” onesies to maroon and orange color-blocked umbrellas and items more off the beaten path,
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Virginia Tech merchandise, like the merch of any adoring team, can be found in a wide variety of clothing and accessories. Of course, a Saturday in Lane Stadium requires its own set of accessories – tee shirts, striped overalls, hats, lanyards, bandanas and earrings. Shirts offer humorous or catchy sayings fit to the personality of the fan, as well as a plethora of Metallica references. Tailgating in style opens up a whole new world of possibilities. A quick Google search for “Virginia Tech party supplies” brings up eyecatching napkins, pennants, paper
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plates, balloons, cornhole, flags and folding chairs. Cups and thermoses keep beverages hot during chilly fall football tailgate parties. Speaking of fall, what better colors than matching with Blacksburg’s bedecked leaves come autumn? Getting into the food realm, adorable Tech-themed cupcake toppers, cutting boards, oven mitts, charcuterie boards, aprons, salt and pepper shakers, grill accessories and more make even a home-based watch party a festive and spirited event. 16
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That, of course, barely scratches the iceberg of possibilities for the dedicated fan. Have a man cave that needs decorating? A neonlighted silhouette of an approving Hokie bird can grace an interior wall. Metal signs, panoramas of Lane Stadium and framed pictures of the legends of the field round out the interior decorating collection. Hitch covers and license plate frames help you ride in style. And for the dedicated fan looking for even more, an embroidered Tech
steering wheel cover is just under $30. Logo floor mats and car seat covers complete the vehicular collection. Courtney Bremner, a local Hokies fan since her undergrad degree, comments on her favorite maroon and orange item. “I bought a maroon Toyota Corolla in broad daylight in Annapolis, Md.” It wasn’t until after dark, though, that she realized the car’s secret. “Driving down Interstate 81, I realized that the lights on the dashboard glow orange.” Bremner was thrilled to have her own maroon and orange car, and she completed it with a Hokie-themed “Gobbler” plate. From black-and-gray “prison garb” uniforms to the bright, popular colors of today’s Hokie events, it seems that the maroon and orange pair will be sticking around for more of Virginia Tech’s longevity. Most modern fans couldn’t imagine Blacksburg without its team colors and its offbeat team-spirited merch, found in a variety of snazzy accoutrements for every type of fan. Maroon effect, indeed! Go Hokies.
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The Fuel That Creates the Hokie Nation Fire
Text by Madi Mann | Photos by Jon Fleming On a Virginia Tech football game day, the biggest moments can last only a few seconds. A song begins, a video fills the board or screen or jumbotron above Lane Stadium, 66,000 fans ignite in celebration. For the people of HokieVision – the video and in-game entertainment production department for Virginia Tech Athletics -- those few seconds are far from spontaneous. Months of planning, hours of editing, rehearsals, testing and coordination go into creating the experience fans see on the big screen, little screens and the jumbotron. Behind Virginia Tech's video boards is a production operation that has grown alongside the 18
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technology, and a group of students who help make it possible. Associate athletics director for productions and multimedia Jed Castro has been here for much of that evolution. After working at Virginia Tech from 1999 to 2002, he returned in 2005. He was present for the creation of the first video board in 2000, with its first real production the next year. The department's current production studio was built in 2018-19, and its first linear show for the ACC Network aired in spring 2019. VT Sports Video Production
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The department produces video board shows across Virginia Tech athletics while also supporting ACC Network broadcasts. Its work includes football at Lane Stadium, basketball and other sports at Cassell Coliseum, soccer and lacrosse at Thompson Field and baseball and softball. During a tour of HokieVision offices, the scale of that operation became visible in the control rooms inside Lane Stadium. Rows of computers and monitors fill the space, with different stations dedicated to specific tasks. Equipment connects the control rooms to Virginia Tech's athletic venues, allowing productions to be run from behind the scenes.
VT Students Contribute Technology is only part of the story. “There's nothing that we get done without our students,” Castro explains. On a football Saturday, roughly 25 to 30 students can work across the broadcast and in-venue shows. They serve as production specialists, camera operators and editors, among other roles. Many fulltime staff members are former students who began their careers inside the department. Maddy McVey, director for in-venue experience, is one of them. McVey grew up attending games and later interned with HokieVision as an undergraduate. The experience showed her that what looked like “magic” on the video board was actually a complicated series of tasks and could be a career. McVey oversees the video board shows for 10 of Virginia Tech's 22 sports. Game day is the final step of a process that begins long before fans enter the stadium.
Advance Planning For football, preparations can begin at the start of the summer. Staff members meet weekly, develop scripts and videos, assign projects, load and test content and run through game scenarios. The department conducts six run-throughs before a football show each week. “One of our philosophies is to build the bottle so that you're ready to catch the lightning when it strikes,” McVey relates. Not every video or graphic they create will be used. But having those pieces ready means the department can respond when an unexpected moment becomes the noteworthy moment. Kathryn Dillin, assistant athletics director for marketing and fan development, coordinates another part of the experience. Her work involves marketing, advertising, partnerships and the details that determine what an event feels like in person. For Dillin, relationships,
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communication and attention to detail are essential. Then comes the payoff. “Oh, it's electric,” Dillin declares of watching fans experience the content that’s been created. “You live for the highs in the stadiums, right? And you live for the moments that you'll never forget.” McVey knows that feeling, too. Sometimes it comes from an act as simple as putting a child on the screen and watching their face light up. Other times, the impact is much bigger. One professor started a tradition with Virginia Tech's student section. After he died, the department continued the tradition by putting a video of him on the board. His widow contacted the department to say that the moment made her feel as though she had experienced it with him one more time. “One of many reasons we do this is to offer memories to Hokies and everyone else,” McVey adds. The fans never see the people who spend weeks preparing for a moment that lasts seconds. When something appears on the board, it can become an experience someone remembers for years. “If the fans are the fire,” Castro points out, “hopefully, HokieVision is the fuel.” On game day, the fire belongs to Hokie Nation. But behind the fire is a large, spectacular production team -- staff and students alike – who work hard to make sure there is something worth cheering for. Madi Mann is a freelance writer and junior at Virginia Tech majoring in Multimedia Journalism.
Production Preparation 1. CREATE Staff members and students produce videos and other content before game day. 2. LOAD Finished content is loaded into the production systems and organized for use during the game. 3. BUILD The content is built into the show's systems so videos, graphics and other elements can function when needed. 4. TEST Staff members test the content and equipment to make sure everything works correctly. 5. REHEARSE The team runs through game scenarios before kickoff, practicing how the show will unfold. 6. EXECUTE On game day, students and other staff members work together in real time. S eptemb er/Octob er
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The Ultimate Driving Machine Porsche 911 Carrera – a very sexy car
Text by Joanne M. Anderson | Photos by Jon Fleming After putting in his time behind the wheel of what Markus Breitschmid dubs “the ugliest car in the world”, a Ford Mercury with chipped paint and erratically non-functioning air conditioning, he moved on to a Ford Explorer, Volkswagen Jetta and a VW Golf. “I am an architect and value objects that are well made,” he declares. ”Many car experts argue that Porsche Carrera 911s are the best made cars ever. I could not afford a Porsche with my salary, so, I started saving for it.” He knew it probably would be onetime splurge. “The plan is to keep the Porsche for as long as I drive. However, my mom makes fun of me saying that at some point I will not be able to get 22
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in and out of such a low-lying car. We will see,” he muses, citing a statistic that 70% of Porsches manufactured since 1948, when the first Porsche car was built, are still in use. “Nobody in a right mind would discard a Porsche.”
Purchase Process While he could have gone to a dealership to buy a Porsche on display, Breitschmid is quick to say: “That is not really the proven way to purchase a Porsche.” So he visited the company’s headquarters in Weissach, Germany in May of 2008 and ordered a basic Porsche 911 Carrera, minus most of the hundreds of options available. Essentially, a Porsche is a driving machine and not a fluffy
carriage, he’ll say, querying who really needs accoutrements like rear window wipers? “When one drives a Porsche, the rear window rarely gets wet. In my view, the best Porsches are those with minimum equipment.” His basic – like whatever is “basic” about a Porsche? – white sports car with gray leather and Alcantara® interior was delivered to him in the U.S. seven months after he ordered it. Alcantara® is a luxury suede-like microfiber product often used in car interiors.
Porsche 911 Carrera – a very sexy car Breitschmid’s Porsche has a manual transmission. “It offers the
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Ferdinand (Ferry) Porsche [1875-1951] Austrian-German automotive engineer In the beginning, I looked around, but couldn't find the car I dreamt of, so I decided to build it myself. I wanted to build cars that were not something to everyone, but meant everything to some.
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maximum driving experience, much more exciting,” he offers, “even though the newest gear shifting technology adopted from Formula 1 is faster than a human being ever could shift gears.” The trunk is in front, and the engine is in the back. It is a hallmark of Porsche Carrera 911s that their engines are in the back. It is a socalled Boxer (Flat) Engine which differs fundamentally in cylinder arrangement from other types of engines such as V-8 engines or inline engines. “The advantage of Porsche’s flat, 6-cylinder engine is an extremely low profile providing a low vehicle center of gravity for better handling and balance and limiting vibration,” he explains. “The cylinder arrangement requires a significantly wider layout. This is the reason Porsche 911 has 24
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that fantastic, curvy-looking ‘behind’. Porsche 911s are very sexy cars. My version of the Porsche is equipped with a 3.6 liter, water-cooled, flat6 naturally aspired induction with direct fuel injection. It produces 345 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and a torque of 287-288lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm. Because the car is built out of aluminum, it is very light in weight.
Design and Speed With regard to ergonomics and overall design, Breitschmid states: “I have never seen a better designed air-conditioning system anywhere. These German engineers figured out the airflow so perfectly that the car has the perfect cabin temperature, yet one does not feel any draft whatsoever.”
This Porsche could go up to 200 miles per hour and, of course, anyone who buys a Porsche is unconcerned with miles per gallon. “It would be a bad idea for me to try to drive that fast for various reasons lacking the driving skills and a racetrack notwithstanding.” Perhaps a small downside could be the $800 oil and filter change and $750 per tire cost. But hey, the superior quality things of life come with a price tag and deliver in spades on wonder, satisfaction, pleasure and treasure. Breitschmid revels in pure joy and a most magical experience driving his Porsche 911 Carrera (which means racing in Spanish). “What I like about it most is that it is a fantastically well-constructed car and a beautifullydesigned object,” he concludes.
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New River Valley FLOYD COUNTY High School
Football Football Schedules Schedule
@ NARROWS @ BLACKSBURG GRAYSON COUNTY FORT CHISWELL PATRICK COUNTY MARTINSVILLE @ CARROLL COUNTY JAMES RIVER-BUCHANAN @ RADFORD @ GLENVAR
BLACKSBURG High School 8/28 9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/1 10/9 10/16 10/23 11/6
GILES @ JAMES RIVER-BUCHANAN FLOYD COUNTY @ ALTAVISTA SALEM CAVE SPRING @ HIDDEN VALLEY PULASKI COUNTY @ CHRISTIANSBURG @ PATRICK HENRY-ROANOKE
8/28 9/4 9/11 9/18 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/30 11/6
@ CARROLL COUNTY ABINGDON @ WILLIAM BYRD LORD BOTETOURT @ PULASKI COUNTY PATRICK HENRY-ROANOKE HIDDEN VALLEY BLACKSBURG @ CAVE SPRING @ SALEM
Pull Out Here
8/28 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/30 11/6
CHRISTIANSBURG High School
EASTERN MONTGOMERY High School 8/28 9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23 11/6
HOLSTON @ RURAL RETREAT @ NORTHWOOD MONTCALM (W.VA.) AUBURN @ BLAND COUNTY CRAIG COUNTY @ BATH COUNTY NARROWS @ PARRY MCCLUER
The 2026 Football Schedule brought to you by Blue Ridge Heating & Air
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Football Schedule 2026 NARROWS High School
GILES High School 8/28 9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/1 10/16 10/23 10/30 11/6
@ BLACKSBURG RADFORD SOUTHERN GAP @ NARROWS TAZEWELL @ AUBURN FORT CHISWELL GRAYSON COUNTY @ GALAX @ GEORGE WYTHE
RADFORD High School 8/28 9/4 9/18 9/25 10/1 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/30 11/6
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
Football Schedule Football Schedules 8/28 9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/30 11/6
FLOYD COUNTY HOLSTON @ CHILHOWIE GILES @ JAMES MONROE (W.VA.) @ PARRY MCCLUER @ HONAKER @ EASTERN MONTGOMERY CRAIG COUNTY BATH COUNTY
PULASKI COUNTY High School
@ GEORGE WYTHE @ GILES @ GALAX @ JAMES RIVER-BUCHANAN WILLIAM BYRD @ PATRICK COUNTY GLENVAR @ CARROLL COUNTY FLOYD COUNTY MARTINSVILLE
8/28 9/4 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/10 10/16 10/23 10/30 11/6
NORTHSIDE TAZEWELL @ STAUNTON RIVER CAVE SPRING CHRISTIANSBURG @ GRAHAM @ BLACKSBURG SALEM PATRICK HENRY-ROANOKE @ HIDDEN VALLEY
9/5
VMI
9/12
OLD DOMINION
9/19
@ MARYLAND
9/26
@ BOSTON COLLEGE
10/2
PITTSBURGH
10/10 @ CALIFORNIA 10/17 GEORGIA TECH 10/24 @ CLEMSON 11/6
@ SMU
11/14 STANFORD 11/21 @ MIAMI 11/28 VIRGINIA
The 2026 Football Schedule brought to you by Crab Creek Country Store
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Boo! The Frights in Local Lore What lurks in the woods and halls of the New River Valley? Text by Nancy S. Moseley
You know what goes well with
a seasonally-trendy, steamy, pumpkin
latte? A chilling tale of untimely death! Just what makes a good ghost story
stick? Jimmy Smith, host of the Spooky Appalachia podcast and YouTube
channel, says, "I honestly think it's the stories that are passed down from generation to generation." 28
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The Lyric Theater
getting ready to clean when the film
was the third in the Commonwealth to
watching the credits. She decided to
it's one of a few historic theaters that
she did, nobody was there."
Executive director Seth Davis told Smith
haunter is a construction worker
of our front-of-house managers was
the theater. Visitors have reported a
Blacksburg's downtown theater
show "talkies" (movies with sound), and still has a balcony. It also has ghosts!
in a Spooky Appalachia interview: "One
had ended and saw an older couple
come back in a few minutes, and when Perhaps the most well-known
who fell to his death while building
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strange male voice coming from the
balcony and accounts of a ghost figure brushing up against movie-goers and employees.
But the best, most enduring
questionably sound institution for
learning, St. Albans Preparatory School. Disciplinary tactics were particularly
harsh, and the overall environment was severe and menacing.
In 1916, St. Albans reopened
as a sanatorium with no healthier a vibe. Treating the mentally ill at the
time was violent. The facility closed building faced demolition around 2010,
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Martin and Mary Snead, to join the
The Black Sisters
refuge for the mentally ill, it was a
groups insisted on its preservation.
hear agonizing screams, see empty
(some by flashlight), so the public can
hands of invisible children.
Before it was a questionable
but local historians and paranormal
Academy in Christiansburg. When
wheelchairs moving, and feel small
St. Albans Sanatorium
in the 1990s. The ominously dreary
Now it's available for private tours
she summoned her sisters, Caroline faculty, the halls darkened. An article
on montgomerymuseum.org includes: "Described by family as 'insane for
years,' Caroline dressed in black with veils and isolated the family. She
cream of the creepy crop? "Without
disrupted operations by changing
declares. "That whole story, with or
students."
is terrifying! You've got three sisters
John Wardlaw Snead to join the staff.
going to Sunset Cemetery, performing
survived. He was found nearly drowned
mayhem."
perished when his clothing was doused
Wardlaw took over the faltering
uncommon-at-the-time, life insurance
a doubt it is The Black Sisters," Smith
classes, padlocking doors, frightening
without the alleged haunting stories,
Caroline coerced her nephew,
strolling around town in all black,
John Snead "fell" off a moving train and
rituals at night, and all the murders and
in the school's well and survived. He
In the early 1900s, Virginia
but once well-respected elite
Montgomery County Female
in lamp oil, and he caught fire. A large, policy had been taken out, benefiting his Aunt Virginia. Local suspicion and associated headlines were aflame.
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After the sisters left Virginia in 1908 and in 1909 for New Jersey, a niece was found drugged and dead in a bathtub, with a life insurance policy benefiting her aunts. The sisters were arrested for murder. Virginia starved herself to death awaiting trial. Mary was acquitted on technicalities. Caroline was committed to an insane asylum and died there in 1913. The sisters in black haunt the halls of the Montgomery County Public Schools building on the site of the old female academy. People have shared disturbing stories of encountering them. Dark figures darting away at the end of empty hallways, a lady's voice whispering and chanting at people outside to come in and find them, sinks coming on in the bathrooms spontaneously, three black-clad women floating along the adjacent sidewalk. Boo!! Nancy S. Moseley is a writer from Blacksburg. She only agrees to attending haunted houses when peer pressured. And only then when she's promised a seasonally-trendy nerve-calming pumpkin beer afterward.
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National Fame: The Headless Horseman.
From the pages of Washington Irving's 1820 short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," schoolmaster Ichabod Crane was simply out to court the lovely Katrina van Tassel. Ultimately, she turns him down, and Crane is run out town when a headless man on a horse either a [living] rival suitor in disguise or a [dead] Hessian soldier missing his head due to a cannonball - hurls a jack-o-lantern, often depicted on fire, at Crane. The rejected teacher is never heard from again. In a 2025 article on history. com, historian Elizabeth Bradley states that America's first renowned ghost story endures with readers because “it reminds them that there are still some American mysteries, some half-truths that may never be fully known - and that’s the whole point. The ‘Legend’ lends itself to any interpretation, and it continues to fascinate and terrify us in the best possible way.” But what about the headless horseman's horse? Why do Crane and the beheaded equestrian get all the fame and glory? If the headless horseman is, in fact, the winning suitor, the horse's name is Daredevil and likely
lived a full, normal life. Alternately, if the dead soldier's spirit is riding the chasing steed, the nameless horse is said to be forever searching the night for his owner's missing head. Doomed for eternity. The Local Angle. The next time you are out strolling the trails at Pandapas Pond, and the sun sets before you get to the parking lot, keep a keen eye out. New York's most infamous, devout, four-legged detective may approach to inquire about a spare head. Maybe consider having one at-the-ready. Mwah ah ah!!
New River Valley Haunted Experiences Hexed Haunted Attraction deathtofalseterror.com The Dark Woods fithianfarms.com Nightmare on Main nightmareonmainstreet.org St. Albans Sanatorium stalbansvirginia.com
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Music washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life.
Text by Caitlyn Koser What can reduce anxiety, high blood pressure and physical pain, and give boosters to sleep, memory, alertness, mood and immunity? What tickles complex brain systems, releases endorphins and soothes stress? Music. Music is an inherently healing tool, with research pointing to huge benefits as a way to relieve and soothe, inferring the pros of making music a part of daily life. Music therapy has shown that music as medicine is a field brimming with potential for healing in a variety of patient populations. In addition to its physical benefits, music is an ancient form of expression for the trials and triumphs of human nature, like heartache, hope, love and lost love, found family, brokenness and newness of life. Music has played an integral part in cultural expressions and in community, bringing people together in candid and unique ways. Two New River Valley organizations emphasize music’s role in community, knitting people together 34
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through the power of communallyshared experiences.
The New River Blues Society Created by African Americans in the Deep South, the blues is an often misunderstood genre whose influences have trickled into modern day music, lending an undertone to many other music genres. Famous blues singers include B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Bessie Smith. Influences of blues music can be found in jazz, rhythm and blues, hip hop, rock and more. Characteristics include a melancholic tone, a lyrical instead of a narrative style, and varied musical, instrumental and rhythmic techniques culminating in a visceral expression of heart and heartache through its varied forms. The New River Blues Society (NRBS) educates people in the New River Valley about the blues and hosts performances. The local organization
is part of a national movement called the Blues Foundation, which focuses on enhancing the distinctive genre, considering it an indispensable art form of American culture. Past performances of the NRBS have included Kurt Crandall, Billy Crawford and Big Al and the Heavyweights. In connection with the Blues Society is the Blues Initiative, a youth program whose mission is to “[instill] in each individual an appreciation for the rich tapestry of music, traditions and history that define the blues genre.” The New River Blues Society pulls back the curtain on a misunderstood, soulful genre of music, crafting along the way deep and lasting connections between its members.
Blue Ridge Vocal Connection The Blue Ridge Vocal Connection emphasizes the power of music by welcoming members from young adults to octogenarians across the New River Valley.
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Thomas DeBusk is the director of the vocal connection, which helps those of all ages to delight in the art of singing. The organization started in 2021. “It got to be successful,” DeBusk comments, “and people want to keep going, and so we do.” Now, five years later, the Blue Ridge Vocal Connection is a lowcommitment, fun-for-all-ages way to exercise voice and enjoy fellowship in a group of singers with a diverse range of experiences. Meeting weekly year round, the connection offers concerts in a variety of genres. On October 18, the Blue Ridge Choir Festival is being hosted by Grove Methodist Church in Radford. The festival routinely sees other choirs participating, culminating in a big outreach designed for prospective singers to get a feel for local choirs. On New Year’s Day, the choir is traveling to Asheville to perform at
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the Biltmore Estate for a Candlelight Christmas Tour. It’s the fourth consecutive year the group has been invited, offering a captivating holiday performance by a group filled with heart and a passion for voice. DeBusk’s advice for someone considering singing? “Just show up,” he states. “Many people carry a curse in their memory like someone told them to sing quietly, or that they don’t sound good, or not to sing.” He emphasizes the inaccuracy of these statements. “If you can speak, you can sing. If you try to improve, many people find they can do better than they ever thought they could.” Weaving in his own story, DeBusk relates how he was a monotone singer as a teenager with little inherent skill. However, the desire was there, and matched with determination and a conscious effort, a passion for singing emerged. “I always liked singing, and
I felt like it had an impact on me. I got serious about voice lessons, and that’s when I realized that I could do this better.” Indeed, music has been shown to have these very benefits, not the least of which is bringing together community in a unique, uplifting way– and reaping the benefits of such a powerful tool has never been easier. newriverbluessociety.com. blueridgevocalconnection.com. We want to encourage healthy singing and craft transcendent performances … invigorate weakened souls with uplifting melodies, and strengthen community bonds with shared musical experiences. blueridgevocalconnection.com
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A Home In Harmony with History Text by Joanne M. Anderson | Photos by Jon Fleming
Clinton Cowgill established the School of Architectural Engineering (now the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design) at Virginia Tech in 1928. Seven years later, he designed this Colonial Revival house, among others, near campus. The homeowners have photos of the construction, including the final grading being done with horse-drawn equipment. The original house contained around 2,000 square feet on two floors. The home today embraces 3,000 square feet with a contemporary kitchen, expansive master suite, three bedrooms, 3 ½ bathrooms and very cozy living spaces. Laurie Coble was undaunted by the interior needing some serious updates. “I was charmed by the original character, overall good bones of the structure and landscaping
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potential,” she recalls. “I knew it needed renovation, expansion and TLC, so what better than to fall in love with and marry an architect?” Van and Laurie Coble exchanged vows in 1997 right on the front steps.
Comfy Living Outside Laurie started her landscaping ambitions with dogwood trees and a holly hedge near the stone retaining wall at the front of the property. Over the decades, these and hundreds more shrubs, flowers and trees have enhanced the natural beauty and privacy factor of living in town. “We love being outside, developing and tending to something which will be around for a long time,” Van states. “We look forward to trips to Crow's Nest and out to Slaughters'
Garden Center in Floyd, as well as the annual Hahn Horticulture Garden sale. We have brought home many special varieties of trees and shrubs over the years.” The Cobles have added an outdoor pavilion, a timber frame carport, swimming pool and several improvements with concrete and brick pavers. A recent garage renovation included the addition of Van’s design studio, Laurie’s art studio space and an outdoor patio on the second floor. Still, they have more to do, planning to enlarge the original well house next year for storing lawn care tools and equipment. The exterior masonry here is
noteworthy for being Flemish bond brickwork. Where the name originated no one knows, as it has nothing to do with Flanders or nearby regions of
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France and Holland. The earliest known example in America happens to be in Virginia, and it is common on some buildings in Williamsburg. Basically, two bricks are used, a header of normal size and a stretcher which is longer. The headers are turned perpendicular to the stretchers with only one end exposed. They rest above the middle of the stretchers in the rows below and above them. The two masons who worked on this addition are to be commended for matching the original Flemish bond brickwork and mortar color.
Cozy Living Inside The couple tossed around ideas, plans and drawings for years, Laurie rejecting the first four of Van’s designs. Then, bingo, they agreed on an addition with a new kitchen, den and full bath on the main level, and a master bath and walk-in closet upstairs. The renovation by Shelter Alternatives also included a new HVAC system, window replacements, plaster repair, painting, new roof, masonry and exterior trim repair. The spacious kitchen is strategically angled to accommodate the driveway outside. Its cream upper cupboards with wavy glass and soft moss green cabinets below the counters are popular Colonial period colors and connect visually to the wallpaper on the opposite wall, as well as original walls in the hall and dining room. A wood table, designed and built by Van, serves as an island. The formal dining room table 40
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matches its contemporary style. Beyond the kitchen, the new den exudes warmth from its wood ceiling and floors to leather furniture, floral drapes in earth tones and a Persian rug.
Small Town Life Laurie moved to Blacksburg in the ‘70s and Van in the ‘80s. They raised two boys and love small town living and Virginia Tech. “We follow lots of sports and appreciate the hiking, fishing and hunting opportunities afforded by proximity to the Jefferson National Forest,” Van declares. Two deer trophies in the den attest to his hunting adventures. The vision initially in Laurie’s mind’s eye for what could be, coupled with Van’s professional perception of how to facilitate everything, has been accomplished. Their plans evolved into a delightful home that preserves the past in the original front door, trims, period wallpapers and wood floors while evolving enough into the present to offer an inspiring interior -- refined, rustic and relaxing – and all in harmony with history. 42
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101 South Main Street Downtown Blacksburg, VA www.newriverartandfiber.com
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A Recipe for Community English Meadows serves food, fun and friendship
Text by Nancy S. Moseley Photos courtesy of English Meadows At the beginning of 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inverted the food pyramid. The once bottom-heavy section of carbs and grains (all the yummy stuff) became the teeny tiny tip instead. Protein, dairy, healthy fats, vegetables and fruit now command the widest portion. The pyramid is a consideration for food planning at English Meadows assisted living facility in Blacksburg, but not a mandate. After a life of following rules, seniors 44
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have certainly earned the right to indulge a little. "A lot of the folks here want simple foods, what we call 'comfort foods' like spaghetti and meatballs, hot dogs, hamburgers, cornbread, lasagna," says executive director Paul Englehart. He has worked in the senior living industry for 15 years. Still, indulgence aside, Englehart has many special diets to consider, such as no salt, no high fat or no sugar, so meals are labeled accordingly on the menu:
"heart healthy," "diabetic" or "gluten free." "We get a history from a resident’s physician, which tells us what we need to know about diets,” he explains. “However, they are allowed to have whatever they want, we just make sure they understand the ramifications, and then we exercise moderation." The dining room at English Meadows operates like a restaurant with items that are always available
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plus rotating specials. There is a summer menu, with cooler items like sandwiches and salads, and a winter menu, with cozier choices like chili bowls. Allen Conner, English Meadows' restaurant manager, is hoping to diversify to all four seasons soon. Conner came to the retirement community after a stint as operations manager at Virginia Tech's Owens Dining Hall.
"I want to use my skills for something much more personal. Here, I get to know the residents, and it's a loving community,"
Conner relates. "It's nice to be able to change the menus, talk to the residents, be creative. It's a lot more hands on." He plans menus about a month in advance and manages a staff of three cooks and approximately 10 servers. What Residents Think Residents have a refrigerator and a microwave in their rooms, but all the cooking is done for them. There is a hydration station with 24/7 snacks on both floors. And room service! "The most important part is involving the residents as much as possible. We do anything and everything to get them interested in meals," Conner states. At regular resident council meetings, Englehart and Conner meet with the people to get feedback on the food. In a casual, roundtable 46
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setting, folks are encouraged to share likes and dislikes openly and candidly, what they might want more of, or less. During mealtimes, Conner often wanders around the dining room to chat with folks about their thoughts on the meal in front of them. And they are not shy. Foodie Novelties In addition to three meals a day there are many planned special food events. Movie nights, ice cream socials, pizza parties, visiting food trucks are all well attended. Every quarter English Meadows hosts family night, welcoming all residents and their families for a meal and fellowship. Food flash stations are planned a couple times a week, like an omelet bar or taco bar or potato bar. Every Wednesday is waffle Wednesday and every Tuesday and Friday at 3 o'clock is happy hour. Conner serves finger foods during happy hours and uses the opportunity to throw in some food "curve balls," something a bit different to see what sticks. “One time we made duck wings. I like to try something that might be a conversation piece, get them talking. We have a lot of fun with it." He's considered adding a bagel bar and a coffee bar. Who doesn't look forward to a something sweet (chocolate!) and caffeinated and topped off with whipped cream? Perhaps the most special opportunity is the use of family recipes. Conner recently sent a call out for folks to share their mom's cornbread recipe, or their aunt's butter beans. They can even help prepare it. Even the community dog, Addie, gets homemade organic doggy treats,
made by the residents. Conner is always thinking and cares about the daily food experience. "I have a purpose when I come here," Conner observes. "This is a workplace for a lot of us, but this is their home." Nancy S. Moseley is a freelance writer from Blacksburg. When she started talking to the residents during lunch, one of them asked if she was a doctor. She explained that she doesn't make nearly that much as a writer. This is part of what residents told her during her lunch visit.
Chet: "Great shrimp. This is the first time we've had it." Joe (two-weeks new): "I haven't had the same meal twice. I think that's pretty impressive." Tripp: "You can order something different if you don't like what's on the menu. They'll fix it for you." Nedra: "I like breakfast. As long as I get coffee and eggs." Jen: "A little too much chicken." Sue: "There was a meal not too long ago I really loved. He served a meatball sub that was to die for and I told him! I also told him my other favorite is spaghetti and meatballs." Rosie: "Most of the time I fall asleep in my room and then happy hour is over." Corky: "Ice cream."
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WWW World of Wheat Weaving
Text and photos by Emily K. Alberts A golden barrette made from wheat adorns Debbie Warren’s silver hair. Her earrings are wheat, too, as is the delicate necklace resting below them. Across the room, the same humble material has taken considerably different forms - flowers and baskets, angels and animals, a graceful seahorse and even a miniature penny-farthing bicycle. For Warren, a retired nurse living with her husband at Warm Hearth Village in Blacksburg, the possibilities contained within a stalk of wheat seem nearly endless. And she has spent decades exploring them. “It’s really braiding, not weaving,” she explains, turning 48
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through one of many books that fill her workspace. The distinction is perhaps fitting for a craft that has itself braided together generations and cultures. Long before wheat weaving became decorative folk art, straw was a useful material. In agricultural communities, what remained after the grain was harvested could become rope, baskets, hats, thatched roofs and other necessities. Over centuries, practicality and artistry intertwined, and distinctive traditions emerged across Europe and Asia. Warren delights in their differences. She turns pages of her books like a traveler moving from country to country. Delicate split-straw flowers
and elaborate dolls from Ukraine and neighboring Eastern European traditions; intricate Swiss straw work; Japanese creations made from rice straw; English designs such as the traditional Mordiford Heart; and extraordinary geometric Lithuanian hanging structures, similar to mobiles, assembled from hollow pieces of straw threaded together. The latter particularly fascinates Warren. “There’s a lot of engineering there,” she says, studying one of the structures. “They’ve worked it out. Just fabulous stuff.” Warren has tried her hand at that, too.
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The Rhode Island Connection Her own journey into this ancient world began in a place where wheat was hardly plentiful. Rhode Island. In the 1980s, Warren worked as a nurse while she and her husband tended a rocky hillside they purchased there. They began planting tiny Christmas trees, which were just “a penny a pop”, simply as a way to make use of the land. The trees grew. People would buy them. Each year the Warrens planted more. Her husband, a woodworker, began making wooden toys that sold to families visiting the NRVMAGAZINE.com
farm during the holidays. Warren, who already sewed and knitted, wanted to contribute something of her own. “I wanted to learn how to make ornaments.” The answer appeared at a convention for New England Christmas tree growers, where Warren encountered a woman teaching straw ornament-making. She left with information about supplies and kits and began experimenting. Never mind that Rhode Island wasn't exactly wheat country. From those first Christmas ornaments grew a craft Warren would practice — and teach — for decades.
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Preparing Wheat The raw material remains remarkably simple. Warren harvests wheat in June, when it has matured but the seed heads remain tight. She dries it in the sun until the stalks are stable, then “cleans” each piece by removing its leaves and trimming away the nodes. When she is ready to work, she reverses part of the process, soaking the dried stalks in hot water for about 30 minutes to make them pliable again. Her tools can be equally unassuming - heavyduty carpet thread, scissors, water and, depending on the project, pins, cardboard, wire or a wooden form. With a clove hitch knot
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Adver tisers Index
securing several stalks together, the transformation begins. Three straws can become an elegant flat braid. Five can spiral into a 3-dimensional basket, ornament or hat. The braid, also known as “plait”, can expand or contract depending on how Warren manipulates the stalks. Wire wrapped in straw allows her to coax the material into sculptural forms — including that tiny seahorse. “You have to learn how to use the material itself,” Warren points out, placing uniform head lengths, colors and stem widths into piles. Advancing Skills Warren eventually became a regular at craft shows and attended gatherings of the National Wheat Weavers Association. She studied with accomplished artists from England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Australia and Belarus. Those lessons expanded Warren’s repertoire considerably. Wheat can be split into impossibly fine pieces, spun, braided, coiled around forms or even dyed — 50
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although the latter requires boiling it much like an Easter egg. “It’s a pain,” Warren reveals with a laugh. Over decades of teaching, she noticed that students accustomed to working with plants — gardeners and flower arrangers, in particular — often understood wheat intuitively. “They take to it much quicker.” Today, near Warren’s work table, a photograph of her grandmother — a quilter still piecing fabric by hand late in life — watches over a room filled with Warren’s own handiwork. Warren calls the images around her workspace her “talismans.” There is something fitting, too, about where all those threads have led. Her grandmother worked in fabric. Her daughter studied horticulture at Virginia Tech. Warren found her medium somewhere between the two -- a plant transformed by practiced hands. These days, she has largely retired from the craft-show circuit and formal teaching, although she still shows the occasional curious visitor how it is done and participates in lower-key shows at Warm Hearth. Her studio, however, suggests little retirement from wheat weaving. Freelance writer Emily K. Alberts loved this assignment and continues to admire the stunning wheat-woven Mordiford heart that now hangs above her doorway, a gift from Debbie Warren.
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Building Relationships One House at a Time Local Expertise. “If you are looking for a realtor who is dialed in to the local market, is responsive, kind and professional, look no further than Anne Collins”
Proven Experience. “Rayne has helped us purchase a home several times and each time gets even easier. She is professional, responsive and has a knack for finding just the right place for you!”
Lasting Relationships. “The whole of the New River Valley seems to know and love Anne-Collins, and we are so fortunate that we can say we also know and love her now.” “Furthermore, Rayne is willing to continue to help us after the transactions. In fact, she is our go-to person whenever we have questions related to houses.”
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Anne Collins Albimino, Realtor® | 540.239.3246 | ac.albimino@nestrealty.com Rayne Stenger, Realtor® | 540.641.4006 | rayne.stenger@nestrealty.com