Evince4 15 4web

Adam Goebel

Karen Johnston: Growing Personally & Professionally Page 6

Connecting People with the World at the Danville Science Center Page 3

April 2015

Photo by Michelle Dalton Photography

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Editor’s Note

Amazing things are happening at the Danville Science Center—like super-strong Adam Goebel, pictured on the cover, holding the world in one hand! The DSC’s executive director tells why he loves his new job in Connecting People with the World on page 3.

Someone else who knows How to Connect with People is Carollyn Peerman. Read her tips on making and keeping friends on page 15. Mack Williams bonded with the King of Rock & Roll when he was just a tiny tot. Read My Life-Long Connection with Elvis on page 24. Steve Lemery created a word ladder on page 26 to illustrate the connection between words and to accompany the secret message embedded in Linda Lemery’s Reflecting Forward on page 26. Stephanie Ferrugia makes a connection between, food, good health, and fun. She illustrates with lots of great pictures on page 22. In Diane Adkins’ review of Mink River on page 20, she speculates that staying connected can be transformative.

One of the goals at Evince is to connect people to each other and to special events in the area. We hope this “Voice of Connections” is helpful in making that happen in your life. Please email me with your suggestions, ideas and news.

That will make our connections even stronger.

Sincerely,

April Contents

2

Editor’s Note

3

Adam Goebel / Connecting People with the World at the Danville Science Center

by Joyce Wilburn

4

She Said He Said Spring is in the Air - the Easter Bunny is Coming.

by Dena Hill & Larry Oldham

THE

OICE OF CONNECTIONS

CEO / Publisher Andrew Scott Brooks President Director of Sales & Marketing Larry Oldham (434.728.3713) larry@evincemagazine.com

5

The Voice of Readers

Editor Joyce Wilburn (434.799.3160) joycewilburn@gmail.com

6

Karen Johnston Growing Personally & Professionally

by Joyce Wilburn

Associate Editors Larry G. Aaron (434.792.8695) larry.aaron@gmail.com

8

Spotting Exceptional Customer Service

by Annelle Williams

9

Jeanette Taylor Contributing Writers

Diane Adkins, Kim Baldridge, Mary Lee Black, Glenda Clark-Motley, Kim Clifton, Cathy Cole, Patsi Compton, Ina Dixon, Stephanie Ferrugia, Angela Fowler, Lee Fowlkes, Adam Goebel, Bonnie Greenwalt, Dena Hill, Sarah Latham, Telisha Moore Leigg, Linda Lemery, Steve Lemery, Lauren Mathena, Jerry Meadors, Larry Oldham, Carollyn Lee Peerman, Tracey Smith, Melanie Vaughan, Dianne Whittle, Joyce Wilburn, Annelle Williams, Mack Williams

Second Thoughts Kim Has a Potty Mouth

by Kim Clifton

10 The Payphone / Fiction

by Telisha Moore Leigg 13 Where Can I Find an Evince?

Business Manager Paul Seiple(1.877.638.8685) paul@evincemagazine.com

15 How to Connect with People

by Carollyn Peerman 18 Calendar

Marketing Consultants Kim Demont (434.792.0612) demontdesign@verizon.net

20 Book Clubbing / Mink River a review by Diane Adkins

Lee Vogler (434.548.5335) lee@showcasemagazine.com

22 Who Says Healthy Food Can’t Be Fun?

by Stephanie Ferrugia

Art & Production Director Demont Design (Kim Demont)

16 Calendar Clips

evince\i-’vin(t)s\ 1: to constitute outward evidence of 2: to display clearly: reveal syn see SHOW

24 My Life-Long Connection with Elvis

by Mack Williams 25 What’s Happening in the PCP Libraries 26 Reflecting Forward / The Voice of Connections

by Linda Lemery Word ladder by Steve Lemery 29 Around the Table / Fresh Strawberry Pudding

by Annelle Williams 30 Photo Finish

Deadline for submission of May stories, articles, and ads is 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 19.

Submit stories and articles to: joycewilburn@gmail.com.

Submit calendar items by Monday, April 13, at 5 p.m. to www.showcasemagazine.com for Evince and Showcase.

For ad information contact a sales associate or sales manager above.

Editorial Policies:

On the Cover:

Photos by Michelle Dalton Photography

Don’t Forget to Pick Up the April Edition of Showcase Magazine

Meet Some of Our Contributors

eVince is a monthly news magazine covering the arts, entertainment, education, economic development, and lifestyle in Danville and the surrounding areas. We print and distribute eVince free of charge due entirely to the generosity of our advertisers. In our pages appear views from across the social spectrum.

They do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. We reserve the right to accept, reject, and edit all submissions and advertisements.

EVINCE MAGAZINE 753 Main St. Suite 3, Danville, VA 24541 www.evincemagazine.com PS: In case you hadn’t guessed, Adam is in the Digital Dome at the Danville Science Center and Earth is projected onto the 40foot screen behind him.

Credits: Hair: Amber Wilson; Skin Care & Makeup: Catherine Saunders; Nails: Janelle Gammon; Genesis Day Spa & Salon, 695 Park Avenue, Danville

© 2015 All rights reserved.

Reproduction or use in whole or in part in any medium without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Ina Dixon is a Fellow at the Danville Regional Foundation, where she works to develop community history programs through History United.

Bonnie Greenwalt chairs this year’s Historic Garden Week tour in Martinsville.

She is currently a Realtor and formerly a teacher, lobbyist, art center curator, tourism director and puppeteer.

Glenda ClarkMotley is a member of Danville Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. See page 17.

Dianne Whittle is the Marketing & Communications Coordinator for the Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia located at 103 South Main St. See page 16.

We now accept Visa, MC, and Discover for ad payments

For Subscriptions, call 1.877.638.8685 ext. 6.

Evince Magazine

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the right career, when you wake up in the morning and don’t mind going to work.” Not only did Adam love the work he was doing, he met the love of his life, Megan O’Callaghan, when she was the DSC Guest Services Specialist from 2006-2008.

Marriage followed in 2011 and daughter Lorelei was born a year later.

Lorelei Goebel learns about balancing blocks on a tippy table while Dad watches. Sproutsville at the DSC features building blocks, puppets, a loft, magnetic shapes, science books and more for the budding scientist. It has become a popular venue for toddler play dates. Photo by Michelle Dalton Photography.

Adam Goebel

Connecting People with the World at the Danville Science Center

by Joyce Wilburn

A

t the age of eight, Adam Goebel had started on the path to being the Director of the Danville Science Center, he just didn’t know it. “I’ve always been interested in knowing how and why things work. Of course, that falls right in line with science,” says the Averett University graduate who majored in biology and ecology.

Sitting in his office on the top floor of the DSC on Craghead Street, he recalls that day several decades ago when his youthful, scientific mind encouraged him to dismantle his mother’s Electrolux vacuum cleaner to answer questions like What makes it suck? Where does the air come from and where does it go? After his dad saw the

parts of a once-functional piece of equipment scattered on the floor, he gave Adam a stern warning, “Stay out of my tool box,” and he might have added, “and away from your mother’s vacuum cleaner!”

That intellectual curiosity that began as a child was nurtured throughout his scholastic career.

After graduating from AU in 2000, the Martinsville native received a six-month internship with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the Eastern Shore of Virginia Wildlife Refuge and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge where he helped create environmental and STEM related programming for schools and public events.

“That’s where my love of science education developed,” he says, adding, “Finding unique ways

to relate science to people in an informal setting and helping them understand why and how things happen is a way for me to share something I love.”

When the internship ended, Adam returned to Danville for a parttime position at the DSC as the Outreach Educator—a job that became full time in 2002. Two years later, he was named the Education Coordinator and in February of this year, he assumed the title of Director. “It’s all worked out. It’s my calling,” he says, mentally reviewing his past. “If you’d told me when I’d graduated from Averett that I’d been doing this today, I would have said you were crazy, but I love what I do and I wouldn’t want to do anything else. I’ve heard that you know it’s

Reflecting on DSC’s 20-year history, Adam comments, “In the past 14 years, we have more than tripled our public space and increased our educational offerings tremendously.” The staff of four full-time employees and six part-timers keeps things running smoothly because, “We are cross-trained in all aspects of the operation,” he comments.

Of course, that means Adam frequently leaves his office and interacts with visitors in the exhibit areas or at the front desk. “I like to show them how science is relevant to their lives,” he says, mentioning that the exhibit arriving at the end of May from the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is How People Make Things. Remembering the eightyear-old Adam and the Electrolux incident, it’s a safe assumption that this exhibit will have a special attraction for him.

• The Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead Street, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.dsc. smv.org or call 434.791.5160.

Admission fees range from $5 to $10 depending on age and activity.

• The Butterfly Garden will open on Saturday, April 18. See page 17 for more information.

• The current traveling exhibit is Identity: An Exhibition of You. There are four permanent exhibits: Science on a Sphere; the Estelle H. Womack Natural History Collection; The Fundamentals of Science; Sproutsville & Oh! Zone.

• The DSC Digital Dome illuminates the universe in stunning clarity. Also, several films are shown daily on the gigantic 40-foot screen. Shows range from 30 to 45 minutes.

• Birthday parties can be scheduled on the weekends for a fee that includes the room rental, an educator-led activity, exhibits and more.

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April 2015

That’s a good answer!

Do you remember watching the game show “Family Feud”? Whenever a family member gave an answer, no matter how ridiculous, the rest of the family would clap and cheer: “Good answer! Good answer!”

Did you know there’s actually a recipe for a “good answer”? Just remember “ABC”! I teach this “ABC” technique to speakers and presenters for use during Q&A, but it can be used by most of us every day! Do this when asked a question: A - Answer the question! That sounds simple, but it means give the direct answer without hedging, sidestepping or adding any preliminary background first. The questioner is listening for the answer, not for background information, so give the answer first.

B - Background can be provided to support the answer. This may be in the form of reasons, examples, and explanations, if necessary.

C - Connect to a key idea you want to get across or the topic in general.

Here’s an example: Question: “Should a speaker close every professional presentation with Q&A?”

Answer: “No, he or she should not.”

Background: “Q&A can be difficult to manage and might actually end your presentation on a flat note, especially if the questions being asked aren’t of interest to the entire group. It’s better to weave question and answer opportunities into the presentation, ending with an offer to entertain additional questions after dismissal by standing near the front of the room for those with “bonus questions”. If it is important to open the floor for questions, do so BEFORE your closing remarks!”

Connect: A question can be a good opportunity to delve into your topic more deeply or gain more insight by connecting to a key idea about the topic.

You may not always hear cheers and clapping following your answers, but your answers will have more impact by employing the ABCs of question answering. Any questions?

Kristina R. Barkhouser, CPLP Direct: 434.797.6770 Mobile: 434.489.1309 kbarkhouser@ExcelenPerformance.com Kristina R. Barkhouser is the founder and President of Excelen Performance, Inc. She has over 20 years of experience in technical and interpersonal skills development.

SHE SAID

HE SAID

by Dena Hill

by Larry Oldham

Spring is in the Airthe Easter Bunny is Coming.

Knowing that spring is here, I thought I could take it easy because I’ve had such a hard winter. I saw the flowers blooming and it reminded me that I should remind you to have the lawn mower serviced. I do not want it breaking down in the middle of the backyard while you are mowing this summer. I also noticed that it was almost time to have the oil changed in your car and pretty soon it will be time to have the oil changed in my car also. I don’t want you to forget that. I don’t think you finished all of the basement walls that you started on last spring so that also needs attention and springtime is the best time to paint and spruce up.

Have you noticed that the flowers are beginning to bloom, the days are getting longer, the blue sky is bluer than blue, and you are not going anywhere that I had planned for you to go?

I had great dreams for you and to save my life I cannot get you motivated. I know you think I harp on this all the time and I do, but it is for your own good. You have so many fine qualities and so much talent and here you are, day after day, wasting them. I wish I had the talent that God gave you to paint, draw, write and (so I have heard) act on stage. Because I’ve never seen you act, I just assume that when you take to the stage, it is sort of like the life you live every day on center stage.

She said He Said

Last month you sold some of your art prints to different art lovers, some even in New York. Two of your short stories were accepted in a national book and still you languish daily in your ho-hum world of stagnation.

To define that for you in your own terminology--you are lazy. I am not scolding you, but encouraging you to share and continue to produce some of these art pieces. Many of our friends and a lot of your relatives do not even know you draw, paint or write. As your wife I just want you to reach for the stars and put your Godgiven talent to work so others can see the beauty of the work that you create. Is that asking too much of a husband? You can say no if you wish, but I am telling you right now that the Easter Bunny is probably not going to visit you anytime soon, if you don’t start putting out..more work.

The garden hose burst over the winter because you forgot to bring it in, so you need to buy a new one Photo by to wash the Michelle Dalton Photography. cars. I don’t think you are capable of putting on a new roof, but I noticed some of the shingles on the roof were looking ragged. The least you can do is call a roofer and get some estimates.

I am not trying to tell you what to do; I just wanted to remind you that we both have God-given talents and that I have to keep reminding you of what yours are. I don’t think there is a thing in our house that you haven’t attempted to change. I say more power to you and I think you should appreciate the fact that I recognize your talents. That is why I encourage you year after year to spruce up the yard and the house. As you can see, the world of encouragement works both ways. I await the return of Ms. Bunny Rabbit to see the good deeds I have done today.

He Said / She Said can be found in Showcase Magazine.

Evince Magazine

The Voice of Readers To the editor: On March 13-14, eleven Wayside Garden Club members joined Dr. Larry Wilburn on the Averett Alumni and Friends trip to Asheville, North Carolina, promoted in Evince (March 2015, page 14). We went to Biltmore House for “Dressing Downton” an exhibition of exquisite costumes from the popular Downton Abbey TV series. The costumes were showcased in the grand rooms of America’s largest home, the home of the George Vanderbilt and his family.

What a wonderful trip we had from start to finish. The trip was great and every detail had been very carefully worked out to perfection for our enjoyment. We had a little rain but that in no way dampened our spirits or fun.

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feature in which two woman visited local restaurants and shared their experiences with the food, service and atmosphere at each venue.

It was a wonderful column and since that time, there have been many changes in Danville in the restaurant industry. Any chance of resurrecting that feature?

Thanks!

Pat Hubbard

On behalf of the Wayside Garden Club members in attendance, we want to thank Dr. Larry Wilburn for his hard work behind the scenes in putting this wonderful trip together for Averett Alumni and Friends. We appreciated all the effort and hard work you put into this trip making it a perfect trip for everyone. It was a difficult task because everything had to be cancelled and rescheduled when the original date

was changed due to cold weather here and in Asheville.

If you have never traveled with Larry on an Averett Alumni and Friends trip, do it! It will be a trip to remember and you will be ready to go again. I know we are.

Thank you, Evince and Larry.

Marilyn Eanes, President Wayside Garden Club, and Club members on the trip: Marie-Louise Crane, Krista Crouch, Donna Eades, Norma Gray, Libby Jones, Donna Pleasants, Vickie Robinson, Sandra Short, Cookie Sinclair, Hilda Welch, Cindy Zook What a nice letter! There were a total of 40+ people who took the trip. Maybe you can see someone you know in the picture. This is a nice AU outreach to the entire community and we always hear good comments about the trips.

The next trip is French Waterways in June (February 2015 page 5).

AU Alumni & Friends stop for a break after visiting the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

Front Row: Joyce & Larry Wilburn, Vickie Robinson, Bob & Linda Weir, Donna Eades, Maggie Motley, Wanda Hollie, Sandra Short, Hilda Welch, Catherine Bendall, Joyce Underwood Second Row: Ann Sylves, Gail Davis, Patsi Compton, Liz Goodman, Frances McMilliam, Dave & Cindy Zook, Donna Parris, Norma Gray, Marilyn Eanes, Libby Jones, Cookie Sinclair, Judith Hodnett, Ann Williamson, Donna Pleasants, Third Row: Kay Trakas (partially hidden), Corlis Williams (hidden), Susan Harris (partially hidden), Virginia Wiles, Brian Hamlett, Bob Wiles, Marie Louise Crane, Cliff Hodnett Back Row: Bev Stone, Barry Brown, Corey Williams, John Parris Absent from picture: Christine Baggerly & Christie Dawson

Thanks for your letter. You are correct about the restaurant review column a few years back. It was called “Smile, Stare, Smirk.” It won’t return while I’m editor because I don’t want any negative news in Evince even if it’s justified.

However, the “Spotting Exceptional Customer Service” column could spotlight the good service at a restaurant and/or the good food prepared by an outstanding chef.

Both are in the customer service category. If you’d like to submit a nomination for the customer service award to be given to an employee at a restaurant, please do. I look forward to reading it.

See page 8.

To the editor: Thank you for the latest Evince that looked at food from many different perspectives (March 2015).

I’m not certain if my memory serves me correctly, but it seems that several years ago you had a regular

To the Editor: Thanks to you and your staff for the publicity and effective ads for “Spring to Green” (January, page 12 and 23). Over 200 garden-loving individuals attended our event on January 31. The success of “Spring to Green” is due in part to the role Evince played in getting our message to the public. On behalf of the Danville Master Gardeners and Virginia Cooperative Extension, thanks again.

Janet Aponte Danville Master Gardeners Spring to Green Committee Thank you for taking the time to write. It’s always nice to hear success stories.

Letters must contain the writer’s name, address and phone number.

Letters may be edited for space or style. Submission constitutes permission to use.

Tell us what you think.

Email your comments to joycewilburn@gmail.com or send mail to Evince Editor, 753 Main Sreet, Suite 3, Danville, VA 24541.

If you missed any of the stories mentioned above, they are still available at www.evincemagazine.com.

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April 2015

I

t’s 11 o’clock on a March morning in Danville Mall and Karen Johnston is sitting on a bench outside Karen’s Hallmark Shop looking at the construction site that had been her merchandise-and-customerfilled store a few weeks earlier.

A large sign on the store window announces in big letters the good news behind the empty store: “Exciting Expansion Ahead.” Less industrious entrepreneurs might consider this an ideal time to take a vacation, but that thought never entered Karen’s mind.

Explaining her dedication, the Danville native says with sincerity, “I love my community and my job.

This store is my second home.”

Karen’s career with the Hallmark company began in the late 1970s at Dee’s Hallmark in North Carolina’s Eden Mall. Always multi-tasking, she worked full time as the manager, earned a degree in business and marketing at Rockingham Community College, and in her spare time, planned a 1978 wedding to David Johnston.

Reflecting on that life-defining day almost four decades ago, her face glows and she comments, “When we married, I gained a husband and a five-year-old daughter.

Caroline was truly a blessing—a bright, energetic child who taught me about love and parenting. I went from being single to having a family and learning how to balance family life.”

The balancing act continued in Danville when Karen opened the Hallmark store at Nor Dan Shopping Center in 1981. Three years later when Piedmont Mall (now Danville Mall) became a reality, Karen’s Hallmark Shop was one of its first tenants. “I enjoy staying busy,” says the energetic woman. As an example, she tells what happened when their daughter was born in 1984.

“Sarah arrived four months before I opened the store in the Mall. I continued to work at the Nor Dan store (while managing the Mall store) and brought her to work with me almost every day where I had an office and a nursery.”

When business increased at the Mall, the Nor Dan store closed.

In 1990, daughter Katie was born and a nursery was added to the Mall store. Almost through osmosis, the girls learned the retail business. “They developed a great appreciation for the Hallmark Gold Crown Store,” she says with a smile.

“Gold Crown means we are the benchmark of excellence of card

Karen Johnston stands outside Karen’s Hallmark Shop in Danville Mall. Despite a busy schedule, she follows the advice in her favorite quotation (author unknown): “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot pay you back.”

Photo by Michelle Dalton Photography.

Karen Johnston

Growing Personally & Professionally

by Annelle Williams stores,” explains Karen. “We have the highest standards of policy to abide by. You’ll see a lot of Hallmark stores, but not all are Gold Crown.” This is good news for customers. Karen continues, “We have exclusive merchandise and programs only Gold Crown stores can offer. Customers will find the highest quality and best selection of greeting cards, Keepsake Ornaments, gift wrap, and other Hallmark gifts here.”

Despite the prevalence of email cards, Karen sees a growth in sales of paper cards. “When you want to send the very best...” she says, her voice trailing off for the listener to fill-in the gap.

horses, or cycling. I know that if I don’t take care of myself, I can’t take care of anyone else,” says Karen, the first place winner in her age group in the recent Green Legs & Hamstrings 5K race. That’s remarkable considering the fact that five years ago she was battling cancer. With that in mind, she continues, “I begin and end my days by thanking God for giving me another day to live. I count my blessings. I know there is a reason I’m still here.” When asked about her current health, she responds, “I’m not doing great,” and after a dramatic pause, adds, “I’m doing fantastic! I’m the luckiest person on earth.”

Despite the heavy workload, Karen always seems upbeat and happy. “My day begins at 5:00 a.m. when I take care of my family and animals. One of my goals is to exercise daily. I enjoy walking, running, practicing yoga, riding

Thinking about past challenges, Karen remembers the family and friends (including the 10-member staff at the store) who helped and supported her in her private life and in the business. “They have been the wind beneath my wings;

they lifted me up when I needed it,” she says, and then adds, “We all need to reach out and help each other to grow.”

Anyone who walks past Karen’s Hallmark Shop or briefly talks with its owner will notice that growing personally and professionally is a hallmark of Karen’s life.

• Karen’s Hallmark Shop, 325 Piedmont Drive, Danville Mall, upper level, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 6:00 p.m. They sell a large selection of gifts, balloons, gift wrap and products made by local artists and books by local authors.

• The anticipated re-opening is in April. The official grand reopening of the expanded store is scheduled for the weekend of May 2-3. Check www.facebook. com for opening updates.

• For more information, call 434.791.3737 or visit www.karenshallmark.com.

• As part of Karen’s desire to give back to the community, she has helped organize the Bridge to Bridge 5K 10K Walk/Run since its inception five years ago. For information about the 2015 event, see page 16.

Evince Magazine

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April 2015 Evince and the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce want to encourage and recognize exception customer service.

When someone gives you exceptional service, please let us know. In 300 words or less, tell us what happened. Email your story to joycewilburn@gmail.com or visit www.dpchamber.org.

Under Business Development, click Customer Service Nomination. It’s a nice way to show appreciation for a job well done. We look forward to hearing from you.

Spotting Exceptional Customer Service

by Annelle Williams

Customer service is not a thing of the past—it is alive and well in Danville, Virginia, at the International Food Market, 130 South Ridge Street.

I encourage everyone to visit the International Food Market and meet the owner/ operator Sarwat Ata. Just walk in and introduce yourself. Ask a question or do what I did, tell him you don’t even know where to begin. His friendliness went far beyond customer service. By the time I left I not only had enough groceries to make two Indian dinners, but Sarwat had walked me through each recipe, and asked that I repeat them to be certain I understood. Then he invited me to return and talk about how the meals went. This happened while his regular customers were coming and going, waving greetings. Obviously, I’m not the only person he’s given condensed cooking classes to while they’re shopping.

Since that first trip, I’ve been back and taken friends. We all find the International Food Market to be one of the friendliest places we’ve ever shopped. Sarwat told me how much he loves Danville, how beautiful he thinks it is, and how after seeing it for the very first time he knew this was where he wanted to raise his family. He’s been here for 15 years with his wife and children. Go meet your neighbor and enjoy the wonderful collection of herbs, spices, spice mixes, and fresh meats. All the ingredients you need for a Pakistani/Indian meal are at the International Food Market.

Evince Magazine did when I stood in front of the multifauceted basin for the first time.

I’d set my purse on the ledge to my left while unsuccessfully trying to pump soap out of an empty dispenser on the right. Switching to the one beside me was a mistake.

Not only did I get enough goop to wash a load of clothes, I bumped my pocketbook down into the wet drain.

Since my hands were too slimy to rescue it, I lunged back to the right to rinse. Regrettably, my movements turned on more than one spigot. I could only wring my hands while my purse filled like a canoe with a shoulder strap and my billfold lay victim to this money-laundering scheme.

Second Thoughts

by Kim Clifton ©2015

Kim Has a Potty Mouth Note from Kim: Last month’s column on my germaphobia and its effect on my dining anxieties prompted me to revisit a piece written over ten years ago. I hope you enjoy it and you’ll forgive me for crossing over to toilet humor.

Employees must wash hands before returning to work, the sign read on the bathroom mirror. It seemed the employees of this restaurant had to be instructed to wash their hands before leaving the restroom. Without being indelicate, it’s hard to imagine a time when their hands could have needed washing more.

Reminders for the obvious are surprising, but mandates for them are unsettling. I wondered if other hygiene-themed notices were necessary that we didn’t see. I envisioned posters in the kitchen that read, Lick the competition, not your fingers or Tongs are for cooking the goose, not goosing the cook.

Unless your underwear is decorated with cartoon characters, I can’t believe anyone requires directives about washing up, but some do. I’m ashamed to disclose I’ve witnessed professional women exiting the stall and skipping the sink. These are the very women I avoid shaking hands

with and are the ones I encourage to bring soft drinks for covered-dish luncheons.

Employees must wash hands, the sign had clearly demanded. It wasn’t as if the place stocked lye soap or that the water had to be pumped outside from a well. Cleanliness was effortless, thanks to the sensors. If those workers could wave, they could wash.

Sign or no sign, there are only two reasons you go into this special room. One is to wash your hands.

The other means you’ll need to.

Either way, you should end up at the sink. Without being told.

I wasn’t the manager of the restaurant, so maybe this business wasn’t my business. Maybe I should stay out of it. Maybe I should just wash my hands of the whole thing.

�����

Perhaps the fear of motion-activated plumbing was the culprit. The place was full of it, beginning with what happened behind closed doors.

Sometimes technology and nature don’t mix such as when toilet seat covers are used. While they are intended to provide valuable customer service, the covers are little more than tissue paper with a fundamental flaw in the design...the flappy piece in the middle.

������������ ������ ����� ������ � ������ ����� �����

The piece that falls into the water.

The piece that sends the whole plan down the drain every time you turn your back on the situation. The piece that forces you to repeatedly spread out replacements and risk touching the very surface you’re trying to avoid.

���������������

Which brings me back to rethinking the sink. I also wondered if some of the personnel had experienced what I

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�������������������������� WE’RE SELLING HOUSESSM

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April 2015

The Payphone fiction by Telisha Moore Leigg

I

t’s raining by the payphone in the front of the women’s shelter behind an old, torndown sawmill, and Mandy Blue Eyes is still out there by that payphone, sucking nicotine in deep, despite the patch she wears on her arm to stop. Mrs. Crandle says that’s not good for her, the rain or the smoking, but Mandy Blue Eyes pulls up her sleeve, rubs her shaking hands down rain-spotted pants, and says, “But isn’t this a better poison?” She says things like that, always in a sweet and irreverent voice, nothing to challenge too directly. Mrs. Crandle leaves her alone and tells her to come in from the payphone and the rain.

The other women have told her over and over that the payphone across the street was not safe ‘cause the cars come by too fast, that there is no protection outside of the shelter walls; according to the older ones anything not inside the shelter is not safe. Mandy Blue Eyes doesn’t listen. She’s on the payphone again now, weeping and whispering into it,

chain smoking, violin-strung tight, rubbing her arms to keep warm in a still chilly March going on April. I watch Mandy Blue Eyes.

Mama says not to get too attached to anyone here; they go and come, here for a week or a month, and then the next week they’re gone; all that’s left are the crisp sheets and a plastic-wrapped toothbrush for the next woman.

We thought she would be a “return,” Mandy Blue Eyes. Some of them are, at least the kind like we thought Mandy Blue Eyes was: white girl, a little too crisp in words, a little too wilted in will. Like a stray cat, I thought, Mandy Blue Eyes belonged to somebody and they’ll claim her, is what I thought.

Some of the women go back... where they come from. They can’t handle the loneliness of broken, all the hope they left behind that they could have made it if they had stayed, loved harder, took more, made better with what they were given. Most times they are wrong, and I don’t have to be grown to know that their thinking is crap. This world is all fairyland,

but for most of us you can’t come back from places you were never allowed to go. And for the rare ones who have seen that land of pretty dreams, you can’t go again.

I think, watching Mandy Blue Eyes, standing by the payphone... I think she is one of those who’s been there and she’s one of those...who can’t go again.

Why she won’t buy a cheap cell phone I don’t know. Maybe she’s like Old Woman Peters who sometimes sleeps here when it’s too cold on the street. She’s afraid of aliens and brain waves “getting her” if she uses one. Why won’t Mandy Blue Eyes use the warm and dry phone in Mrs. Crandle’s office?

But when I ask this standing in the common room with Mrs. Crandle waiting with a towel beside me, Mrs. Crandle says, “Shhhhh.” But ‘cause me and Mrs. Crandle go back, I say in a whisper, “What the hell is she doing out there?” Mrs. Crandle don’t say anything to me for saying hell. In fact, she doesn’t say nothing to me anymore, and I get quiet although I don’t know why except to say I feel like we are watching a prayer being denied.

And we both watch Mandy Blue

Eyes putting quarter after quarter in the payphone, calling someone again, hanging up, calling again. “...Shhhh, go on back now, Fallon,” Mrs. Crandle says again.

But I with the steadfastness of youth keep looking. I fix my eyes on the frail-looking woman who has now hung up the phone but can’t let go of the receiver; she rests her head on the booth.

Like it’s a practiced signal, Mrs. Crandle goes into the rain to get her.

A few weeks later, a few more times of Mandy Blue Eyes at the payphone and I knew; I overheard Miz Ramonda talking while folding sheets in the hallway. “Jesus, how long....what she think calling ‘round will do...Lord, her exhusband been done took them babies...they long gone...”

I thought she would be a “return,” Mandy Blue Eyes, but I know that won’t be. Mandy Blue Eyes, the quarters she hoards; the old, almost defunct payphone; why she calls; how she cries in rain. All hope is a grave of memories.

Evince Magazine

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April 2015

Evince Magazine

Where Can I Find an Evince?

Ten thousand copies of Evince are distributed each month at over 100 locations. Find your copy at:

Riverside Drive/Piedmont Drive/Marketplace Area: Buffalo Wild Wings Checkered Pig Danview Restaurant on Danview Drive El Vallarta on Westover Drive Goodwill on Westover Drive Hibachi Grill on Executive Court IHOP on Piedmont Drive Joe & Mimma’s Karen’s Hallmark @ Piedmont Mall Los Tres Magueyes Ruben’s The Highlander URW Credit Union Western Sizzlin

Main & West Main Street/Downtown/ River District Area

American National Bank Comcast on Patton Street Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History Danville Public Library on Patton Street Danville Regional Medical Center on South Main Street Danville Science Center on Craghead Street Dell’ Anno’s Pizza Kitchen on Main Street Food Lion @ Ballou Park H. W. Brown Florist (they deliver an Evince with your order) Jake’s on Main Main Street Coffee Emporium Midtown Market on Chambers Street Rippe’s YMCA

Franklin Turnpike Area Food Lion Medo’s PCP Library @ Mt. Hermon Ruben’s Too Village’s Pizza

Piney Forest Road Area

ERA Holley & Gibson Realty Co. Mary’s Diner Piedmont Credit Union

Memorial Drive

Frank’s Pizza Ginger Bread House

Other

Danville Welcome Center at River Park Drive

In Chatham Area

Community Center Chatham Health Center ChathaMooCa Frank’s Pizza PCP Library on Military Drive

In South Boston, VA

Ernie’s Restaurant O Sol Mio on Bill Tuck Hwy. The Prizery 3 Women No Truck Bistro 1888 Southern Virginia Higher Education Halifax County Public Library Toots Creek Antiques Mall

In Gretna

American National Bank Carter Bank & Trust Crossroads Family Restaurant

In Martinsville

Elizabeth Pizza Checkered Pig China Buffett Walsh Chicken Martinsville Visitor Center The Pacifica Bay Restaurant El Ranchito

In Yanceyville, NC

Caswell County Civic Center Gunn Memorial Public Library The Drug Store

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April 2015

Evince Magazine

How to Connect with People

by Carollyn Lee Peerman

D

o you know how to make other people feel important, how to create an aura of fellowship, how to listen and how to be frank and straightforward about your wishes in a way that puts people at ease? According to The Carnegie Institute of Technology, the reason 90% of people fail in life is because they have not developed a personality for successfully dealing with other people. Failure in life is not for you. The people who enjoy life the most have a way with other people. Be one of them.

“Form the habit of paying at least five sincere compliments each day and watch how much smoother your relations with others become,” says Les Giblin in his book How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People. By feeding the hungry ego of other people, they will like you better. This is because people act or fail to act largely to enhance their own egos.

People want to feel important and to amount to something. They hunger for approval. They want to be confirmed by others, to be appreciated, and to be noticed.

Therefore, determine that you will cash in on the power within you to make people like themselves better and to feel recognized, accepted, and appreciated.

Let the person you want to impress know how much he or she impresses you and you will be judged one of the smartest, most personable individuals he or she ever met. For example, by the small courtesy of being on time for an appointment you acknowledge the

importance of the other person.

Start this day to notice other people more. Make a child and/or an adult feel important.

Developing a first rate intuition about people is like looking into a mirror. You see your own attitude towards them reflected back in their behavior towards you. For instance, you can control the other person’s tone of voice by controlling your own tone of voice. A soft answer literally turns away wrath.

Act enthusiastically and the other person will be enthusiastic; act confidently and the other person will have confidence in you. Give a good first impression and that is the way you will be remembered for the rest of your life.

Accept people as they are without constantly trying to improve them.

You are not perfect so why expect other people to be? Don’t give people advice unless they ask for it. Look for something to like and approve of in the other person. By winning your approval in some things, he or she will be more willing to win your approval in other areas.

Cultivate conversation skills by asking questions that bring out interesting talk from others.

Encourage others to talk about themselves and their interests.

Finally, keep your troubles, aches and pains to yourself.

Connecting with others doesn’t have to be difficult; it just takes practice.

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April 2015

Calendar Clips Clip it. Post it. Do it.

For more activities, see the calendar on page 18.

Wednesday, April 1 – Wednesday, April 22

Colorful People Exhibit

An exhibition of paintings by Caswell resident Jane Carter will be featured in the Lobby-Gallery of the Caswell County Civic Center in Yanceyville, North Carolina. An award-winning artist, with over 30 years experience and eight one-woman shows, Carter is a Signature Member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina, the South Carolina Watercolor Society, the Georgia Watercolor Society, and The Southern Watercolor Society. The LobbyGallery is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on those evenings and weekends when the facility is booked for use. The CCC is located at 536 Main Street East in Yanceyville. For more information, call 336.694.4591, email caswellarts@caswell.k12.nc.us or visit www.ccfta.org. (submitted by Lee Fowlkes)

Thursday, April 2 Go Blue on 4/2 Autism Awareness

The Dan River Autism Awareness planning team invites you to attend the celebration of World Autism Awareness Day from 4:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m.

Go Blue on 4/2 will include free, family-friendly fun at the JTI Fountain and trolley rides with stops at Ballou Park Shopping Center, Averett University and the fountain. AU will be hosting the annual Autism Services Expo. Local restaurants, including Jake’s on Main, have agreed to donate a portion of proceeds from meals towards the 5K’s fundraising efforts. For details, email rachael@danriverautism5k.org. (submitted by Lauren Mathena)

Tuesday, April 7 – Saturday, April 11 DHS Historical Housekeeping

While you are spring cleaning, look for items that help tell the story of Danville and surrounding area. The Danville Historical Society is looking for letters, diaries, ledgers, and artifacts that highlight personal and business history, especially African-American. The DHS is also interested in historical church documents and issues of Danville’s Telegraph newspaper, plus other items that can enlighten the community through research and exhibition.

Bring items to 767 Main Street, ground floor level (downstairs at the former Main Street Methodist Church) Tuesday 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Thursday 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Friday 10:00 a.m. to noon; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (submitted by Sarah Latham)

Thursday, April 9

Throw Paint at Cancer

This support program for cancer patients and survivors allows participants to express themselves through art and is brought to the community

by The Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia. The eight-week sessions are from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History, 975 Main Street. No previous art experience is required. There is no cost and all supplies are provided. The instructor is artist, preservationist and cancer survivor, Cynthia Hubbard, MFA. This is made possible with the generous support of Danville Regional Medical Center partnering with the Cancer Research & Resource Center of Southern Virginia/Danville and the DMFAH. To register, call 434.421.3060 or email cllitzenberg@vcu.edu. (submitted by Melanie Vaughan)

Saturday, April 11 – Sunday, April 12 Caswell Spring Market

This giant rummage sale at the Caswell County Civic Center in Yanceyville, North Carolina, features new and used items. Sale is from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday; 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. There is a $1 per person admission fee on Saturday, but admission is free on Sunday afternoon and all remaining items are half-price. Proceeds go towards the many programs and services of the non-profit Caswell Council for the Arts,

which sponsors the Caswell Youth Series of live, professional performances for young people and the Caswell Gallery Program of art exhibitions by local, state, and regional artists. Donations of clean, serviceable items are taxdeductible and will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9.

Call 336.694.4591 for pick up of items too large to transport by car, or full pick-up loads. The CCCC is located at 536 Main Street East in Yanceyville.

For more information, call 336.694.4591 email ccarts@caswell.k12.nc.us, or visit www.ccfta.org. (submitted by Lee Fowlkes)

Saturday, April 11 Bridge to Bridge 5K/10K Walk/Run

Danville’s Riverwalk Trail and the River City District is the route for this sixth annual event. Proceeds will be used to support the efforts of the Danville Cancer Association (DCA), a local, United Way organization that provides financial aid to cancer patients in the Danville/Pittsylvania area, as well as educational information and a monthly support group. Entry fee is $25.00 ($30.00 on race day). There will also be a one-mile Fun Run for children 10 and under. The registration fee is $12.00 ($17.00 on race day). Danville’s YMCA will waive their $50.00 membership registration fee for race participants. Register online at danvillerunner.org or contact DCA office at 434.791.3227 or Karen’s Hallmark 434.791.3737 for an entry form. (submitted by Kim Baldridge)

Monday, April 13

Step by Step through Life Open House

This new club offers fitness, fellowship and fun for anyone touched by cancer.

Survivors, those undergoing treatment, family members, friends and caregivers are welcome. The open house at the Cancer Resource Center, 103 South Main Street, lower level, begins at 4:00 p.m.

Dave Gluhareff, a certified fitness trainer, lifestyle speaker and writer will share his personal story. This club is appropriate for men and women of all fitness levels. Light refreshments will be served. Parking: from Rison Street enter Stratford House parking and follow signs. For more information, call 434.421.3060 or email dwhittle @vcu.edu. (submitted by Dianne Whittle))

Tuesday, April 14 Clinical Trials 101

What are clinical trials? What are the phases of a clinical trial? How are clinical trials improving people’s lives? Mary Beth Tombes, Assistant Director, Early Phase Clinical Research Nursing, VCU Massey Cancer Center, will address these questions and more. This free program from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. will take place at Ballou Recreation Center, lower level. This program is brought to the Dan River Region by the Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia/Danville in partnership with Danville Parks & Recreation.

Bring a lunch and a friend! Drinks and dessert are provided. Boxed lunches can be ordered in advance for $6.50. Call for a reservation, 434.421.3060, or email cllitzenberg@vcu.edu. (submitted by Melanie Vaughan)

Friday, April 17 Saturday, April 18 Civil War Reenactors & More

Join the 18th Virginia Infantry Reenactors as they set up camp on the grounds of the historic Sutherlin Mansion, 975 Main Street. Discover what the life of a soldier was like and learn about the horrors of Civil War medical practices. Guided student tours are available on Friday from 9 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Reservations are required and a small fee will be charged.

Contact Education Coordinator Cynthia Hubbard at learn@danvillemuseum.org.

Evince Magazine Saturday’s event is free and will include a re-creation of the April 3, 1865, procession of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from the train station to the Sutherlin Mansion. Trolley tours of Danville’s Civil War sites will be available on Saturday, April 4 and Saturday, April 18, at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Tours are approximately 1 1⁄2 hours and will start at the DMFAH. Reservations are required, but tours are free. Call 434.793.5644.

Visit the Schoolfield Gallery to view Civil War Redux, a collection of pinhole photographs by Willie Anne Wright. On loan from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, the exhibition runs through May 15.

Collected Drawings and Paintings by Fritz Janschka, works spanning 50 years of the internationally celebrated artist’s career, are featured in the Jennings Gallery through May 17. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. A small admission fee is charged most days for non-members. For more information, visit www.danvillemuseum.org. (submitted by Patsi Compson)

Saturday, April 18

DSC Butterfly Station & Garden Opening

Welcome our winged friends back to the Danville Science Center, 677 Craghead Street. In celebration of the re-opening, the garden will open at 9:30 a.m. with butterfly crafts and life cycle activities from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and a special noon release.

There will be vendors on site with a variety of herbs and flowering plants for sale. The Butterfly Station & Garden is free and open during DSC hours. For more information, visit.www.dsc.smv.org or call.434.791.5160. (submitted by Adam Goebel)

Saturday, April 18

Youth Day Festivities

URW Community Federal Credit Union and the Top Dawg Kidz Club will be celebrating this annual event for children of all ages from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at URW, 314 Lowes Drive, to encourage youngsters to be wild about saving.

Enjoy the rides, crafts, food and extra surprises including the Flying Trapeze Artists. (submitted by Angela Fowler)

Wednesday, April 22

Historic Garden Week MartinsvilleTour

Hosted by Martinsville Garden Club and the Garden Study Club, this tour from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. showcases four houses that have had makeovers, hence the theme, Everything Old Is New Again.

Highlights include a two-story deck that provides outdoor living space, also art and furnishings by local artists and artisans, at the Grayson/ McGovern home, 902 Mulberry Road; a handmade hammered copper front door with zodiac signs at the Mann home, 97 Hickory Ridge Road; and a regulation size basketball court that converts to a tennis court at the Mahoney home, 121 Deer Creek Run. Visitors will see the newly restored grounds of the Historic Henry County Courthouse funded in part by proceeds from the Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week tours. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.vagardenweek.org or at any tour site on tour day. Make Chatmoss Country Club lunch reservations before April 16 by contacting Lynne Beeler at ldcb@comcast.net, 276.638.1030 or Eliza Severt at ehsevert@aol.com, 276.632.2447.

For more information, contact Susan Morten at smpugh1@gmail.com. (submitted by Bonnie Greenwalt)

Thursday, April 23 Historic Garden Week – Danville Tour

Four private homes will be open for this tour between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 pm: 161 Holbrook Avenue, 125 Holbrook Avenue, 349 West Main Street, and 926 Main Street. Also included in the $20 advance ticket ($25 on day of tour):

Page 17

Supply Resources at 554 Craghead Street, the Langhorne House, the Sutherlin Mansion, the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research, and the Danville Science Center.

Light refreshments will be served from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Supply Resources. Historian Gary Grant will present A Glimpse of Danville’s Past at 10:30 a.m. at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History, 975 Main Street. Limited trolley transportation will be available between the four homes. Advance tickets are available at the DMFAH; Foxglove, 1011 West Main Street; Golden Leaf Bistro, 215 Craghead Street; Karen’s Hallmark Shop in Danville Mall; Ginger Bread House, 1799 Memorial Drive; Rippe’s, 559 Main Street; and Raywood Landscape Center, 165 James Road. For more information, visit www.vagardenweek.org or call 434.797.4503. (submitted by Tracey Smith)

Friday, April 24

Historic Garden Week Chatham Tour

From 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., three homes and gardens located in The Water’s Edge at Smith Mountain Lake in Penhook, Virginia, will be open for tours: Mr. & Mrs. Ben Davenport, Jr’s old world farmhouse built in 2010 at 240 Island View Drive; Mr. and Mrs. John Ferguson’s home at 5 Lands End Road; Mr. and Mrs. William Lee’s residence at 15 Lands End Road. The Ferguson house, built in 1996, is reminiscent of a James River plantation; the Lee house was built in the style of a French country house in 1994. All three houses offer magnificent views of the lake and are surrounded by gardens, beach areas, and docks.

A buffet lunch will be offered between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at The Water’s Edge Country Club, named one of Golf Digest’s five best golf courses in the country. Cost is $16. Tour tickets are $20 and are available at each house or in advance in Chatham at M&W Flower Shop, 20 North Main Street; ChathaMooca, 33 North Main Street; in Danville at The Ginger Bread House, 1799 Memorial Drive; Haymore Landscaping & Garden Center, 2720 Franklin Turnpike; in Gretna at Arlene’s Closet, 114 South Main Street; in Martinsville at Piedmont Arts Association, 215 Starling Avenue. For more information, visit www.vagardenweek.org or call 434.432.7721. (submitted by Mary Lee Black)

Friday, April 24 – Saturday, April 25

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority State Meeting

The Danville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host the 2015 Virginia State Meeting at the Institute for Advance Learning. Approximately 390 Deltas will gather to prepare for the July 2015 National Convention in Houston, Texas. The public service initiative for this meeting is to support Haven House, a shelter for women who are victims of domestic violence. To fund this initiative, all alumnae chapters are asked to contribute $100 and collegiate chapters are asked to contribute $50. Donations from the public will also be accepted. Checks are to be written to Haven House and mailed by April 17 to Danville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, P. O. Box 621, Danville, VA 24543.

The sorority is a Greek-lettered organization of college educated women dedicated to public service with an emphasis on programs that promote academic excellence and provide assistance to persons in need. They are committed to enriching and engaging the Danville community based upon five points: economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement. For more information, call 434.793.1734. (submitted by Glenda Clark-Motley))

Continued to page 21

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April 2015

April Calendar Ongoing

Guided Walking Tour – Millionaires Row & Holbrook Street. $8; free for children 12 & younger. 434.770.1974. www.danvillehistory.org. See ad page 28.

Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History (DMFAH) self-guided audio-visual tours.

Danville Science Center Digital Dome Theater. See page 3.

Estlow’s Trains Exhibit - John “Jack” Estlow, Jr. originally constructed this “N” Scale Train layout which was donated by his daughters and grandson so visitors can enjoy trains running in the train station. DSC. 434.791.5160.

Bingo – Bring a gift to exchange and have blood pressure and body index checked. Location/times vary. 434.799.5216.

Pittsylvania County Public Library Events. See page 25.

Tai-Chi Day Classes - Increase strength, balance, flexibility and progress at your own pace.

M 11:15am-12:15pm; W 3:304:30pm. Ballou Rec. Center.

434.799.5216.

Let’s Dance – Formerly Boogie Mondays. Learn new dances, make new friends and have loads of fun.

7-8:30pm. Ballou Rec. Center.

434.799.5216.

Art with Judie – Learn how to paint with acrylic, oil or watercolor.

M/TU - Times vary. Ballou Annex.

434.799.5216.

Ladies, It’s Time to Work It Out. MW 8:30-10am. City Auditorium.

434.797.8848.

Kuumba African Dance – Live drumming and energetic dancing that helps raise cultural awareness, uplift and provides a great workout. Kids M 6-6:30pm; Adults M 6-7:30pm. Stonewall Youth Center. 434.797.8848.

Prime Time Fitness - Low-impact aerobics workout with a mix of various fun dance steps. TUTH 9:30-11am or 5:30-7pm. Coates Rec. Center. 434.797.8848.

Get Moving with Chair Exercises – Low-impact class ideal for adults 50+. TUTH 11:30am-12:30pm.

Coates Rec. Center. 434.797.8848.

Zumba Classes - Hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves create a one-of-a-kind interval training fitness program with fun routines that tone and sculpt the body while burning fat. W 5:15-6pm/TH 5:30-6:30pm Pepsi

April 2015 S

M

T

W 1 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 22 26 27 28 29

T 2 9 16 23 30

F 3 10 17 24

S 4 11 18 25

Trail. Ages 10+ Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.8:30am-5pm. Ballou Nature Center. 434.799.5215.

Building. TH 7-8pm. Coates Rec. Center. 434.797.8848.

Art with Flo – Wet on wet technique of oil painting. Ages 18+. W 9:30-11:30am, Glenwood Community Center; 6-8pm, Ballou Annex. 434.799.5216.

African Cardio Blast - A unique workout that includes dance movements from various regions of the African continent. W 6-7pm.

City Auditorium. 434.797.8848.

African Rhythms by Nguzo Saba – Learn West African dance to live drumming. W 6-7pm. City Auditorium. 434.797.8848.

Cardio Step Class – Uptempo, high energy class. TTH 8:30-9:30am. City Auditorium.

434.797.8848.

Baby Boomer Style Work Out – Walking, cardio activity & weight training designed for older adults.

TTH 9-10:30am. City Auditorium.

434.797.8848.

Ballou Jammers - Acoustic musical jamboree. Bring a stringed instrument or just listen.

TH 3-5pm. Ballou Rec. Center.

434.799.5216.

Ballou Book Swap - Take a book or two to read and leave a book or two to share. F 9am-5pm. Ballou Rec. Center. 434.799.5216.

Friday Night Fun and Dance – Enjoy a night of dancing with live music by City Limits Band or Country Pride Band. Ages 50+. F 7:30-10:30pm. Ballou Rec. Center.

434.799.5216.

and being on the river. Ages 10+. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 6-8pm.

Abreu-Grogan Park. 434.799.5215.

Job Corps Information Session Job Corps helps young adults learn a career, earn a high school diploma, and gain the real world skills needed to succeed.10:30am12:30pm. Workforce Development Center. 434.455.2521.

Godspell - The Historic North Theatre and the North Star Theatre Project present this famous Broadway show based on the Gospel of Matthew. 4/3 and 4/4 8pm, 4/5 2:30pm.The North Theatre. 434.857.6257.

Baltimore and Annapolis Trip includes: motor coach transportation, 2 nights lodging, 4 meals and fully-escorted tours of Baltimore, Annapolis, US Naval Academy, Harbor Place, Annapolis Harbor and plenty of time for shopping. Ballou Recreation Center. 434.799.5216.

Through April 25

April 4

April 9

Langhorne Exhibit. The story of the house that once was on Main St. and now is on Broad St. A main feature is a model of the house built by Patrick Woodard. Also included are recently discovered photographs, an early map showing the Main St. location, and various memorabilia to illuminate the theme. Saturdays 1-5pm.

Langhorne House. 434.791.2256.

Through May 15

Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. See Page 17.

April 1 (thru 22)

Colorful People Exhibit.

See page 16.

April 2

Autism Awareness. See page 16.

Kayak - Beginners - Learn basic kayaking skills and enjoy the healthy benefits of paddling

April 3

First Friday Art Walk - Visit Uptown Martinsville. Enjoy art, food, music and fun along Martinsville’s historic streets. Over 20 galleries, restaurants and shops are open with live music and other events. 5-7pm

April 3 & 4

Artfelt Expressions of Bob Ross - Paint the Bob Ross way.

Ed Gowen, certified Bob Ross instructor, will help you complete a beautiful painting in one day.

Bring a roll of paper towels and a 16x20 canvas. All other supplies are included. Adults 18+. 4/3 10:30am, 4/4 - 3:30pm. Ballou Annex Building. 434.799.5216.

April 3 (thru 5)

The Life of Jefferson Davis from a Descendant’s Viewpoint.

The great-great grandson of President Jefferson Davis, Bertram Hayes-Davis, will be speaking.

2pm. AU Pritchett Auditorium.

Dinner with Mr. Hayes-Davis will be a museum fundraising event from 5-8pm. Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. 434.793.5644.

Sesquicentennial Old South Ball - The event will feature Victorian ball room dancing and more. 7-11pm. Danville Community Market. 877.733.3130.

Hiking for Fun - This moderate to strenuous hike will take you to beautiful vistas and chance encounters with the wildlife on Flat Top National Recreation

April 6 (thru 27)

Piney Forest Ravens Drum Corp – Learn to play drums and percussion instruments. Ages 9 -16. Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1543 Piney Forest Road. Mondays 5pm-7pm 434.429.6796

April 7 (thru 11)

DHS Historical Housekeeping.

See page 16.

April 7 (thru 28)

Toastmasters - Improve communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. 6-7:15 pm.

National University. 434.793.1431.

Let’s Dance - Veteran dance instructor, Donna Robbins, teaches a variety of dances in a fun atmosphere. April and May will feature Swing. A partner is not necessary. Adults 18+. 78:30pm. Ballou Recreation Center.

434.799.5216.

April 8

Bicycling after Dark - RiverwalkExperienced staff will provide riding tips and equipment suggestions.

Helmets, headlamps or bike lamps are required. Ages 12+ 8-9:30pm.

Danville Community Market.

434.799.5215.

Teen Movie Night - Dracula Untold (PG-13) Popcorn and lemonade will be served. Ages 1318. 4-6pm. Danville Public Library Auditorium. 434.799.5195 x4.

Throw Paint at Cancer.

See page 16.

April 9 (thru 18)

Legally Blonde. Presented

by PHCC Patriot Players. Show times & dates vary. Walker Fine Arts/ Student Center Theater.

276.638.8777 x0460.

If you’d like to submit an item for the Evince calendar, visit www.showcasemagazine.com. The deadline for the May issue is Monday, April 13, at 5:00 p.m. Please send just the basic information following the format on these pages.

Evince Magazine April 10

Flip Flop Friday. Homeplace Vineyard. 434.432.WINE (9463).

Comedy Club – Husband and wife team - Blayr Nias is not your average female comic. When she hits the stage it’s with manic energy, high octane humor, and her trademark mega-watt smile giving her the nickname “GummyBlayr”. Ryan Van Genderen is patiently waiting to get famous so other people can write his bio but until then... His unorthodox style will sneak up on you with a laugh you never see coming. 8 pm.

North Theatre. 434.793.7469.

April 10 & 11

Night at the Museum ( A Civil War Sesquicentennial Event) - Avoca Museum’s lantern tour will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the mansion and outbuildings and on the grounds. Tours leave every 15 minutes. The event will feature a Civil War theme, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the war’s end which will be recognized at many historic sites. Altavista. www.avocamuseum.org.

April 11

Bridge to Bridge Run. See page 16.

Pig Cookin’ Contest - The only BBQ cook off in Martinsville/Henry County. 11am-4pm. Spencer-Penn Centre, 276.957.5757.

HAVEN of the Dan River Region (Walk to End Domestic Violence) 9am-12pm. Danville Courthouse.

434.797.9889.

Rock Climbing - Hanging Rock State Park- The hike to the climbing site is moderate to difficult and the climbing site offers different levels of difficulty.

Transportation, equipment and instructors are included in the cost.

Ages 12+. 8:30am-6pm. Ballou Nature Center. 434.799.5215.

Spring Vendor Blender - Over 30 local vendors with crafts, food, and more. 10am-2pm. Central Blvd.

Church of God. 434.770.5406.

Halicraft Art Festival - The streets will be lined with craft vendors, food, and other regional art and tourism booths. The Farmer’s Market will host their annual Spring Bazaar of crafters and product vendors. Food vendors and a wine tasting garden will entice guests to stay and enjoy the art. Children will enjoy hands on art activities.10am. Main Street, Halifax.

River City Mustang Club Meet & Greet – For anyone interested in finding out more about the club or you just like to look at beautiful cars, come out for the day. 11am-3pm. Barkhouser Ford.

434.770.3716.

Magic of the Mind - Celebrity Magician Wayne Alan-mentalism, mind reading and psychic

magic. 8pm. North Theatre.

434.793.7469.

April 11 & 12

Caswell Spring Market.

See page 16.

April 13

DRF Speaker Series – DuBois, Author of the bestselling book The President’s Devotional: The Daily Readings that Inspired President Obama, and one of the country’s leading voices on community partnerships will speak. 6:30-8pm.

Averett University North Campus.

434.799.2176.

Step by Step through Life.

See page 16.

April 14

Clinical Trials. See page 16.

April 16

Music on Main Concert Series Jus’ Cauz Bluegrass Band presented by Danville Regional Medical Center. Bring a chair, blanket and picnic basket for a relaxing evening. In the event of rain, concerts will be held indoors at the Community Market.

6:30-8:30pm. Main Street Plaza.

434.793.4636.

Antique Appraiser Roadshow Have you ever wondered what that priceless family heirloom is really worth? Celebrate “National Cherish an Antique Day” with B & H Auctions to learn more about your favorite items and have them appraised. Limit of two items per person. 9:30-11am. Ballou Recreation Center. 434.799.5216.

Garden Basics - Vegetable Gardens - Do you have questions about your plants, flowers or how to design your yard? Join Stuart Sutphin, Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent, as he shares information and answers questions about landscape design. There is no fee, but registration is required.

12-1:30pm. Pepsi Building.

434.797.8848.

Welcome to Medicare Seminar This seminar explains Medicare and the coverage options available including: Supplements, Advantage Plans and Part D Prescription Drug Coverage. The information provided can help you make smarter choices as to the most cost effective and best Medicare health plan and options for you. 5:307pm. Ballou Recreation Center.

434.799.5216.

April 16, 17 & 18

Sweet Charity. The Averett Theatre & Music Departments.

See ad page 11.

April 17

Seniors Got Talent - showcases performers in our community.

Judges will evaluate showmanship, crowd involvement and pure talent. Everything from singing, poetry reading and instrument

Page 19

performances are welcome. Prizes for the winners. 2-4pm. Ballou Recreation Center. 434.799.5216.

Civil War Re-enactors.

See page 16.

April 17

Racin’ & Tastin’ - Start your taste buds for a roaring good time at this annual event featuring all you care to eat BBQ, open bar and entertainment provided by Funky Bone. 5:30-10:30pm. Danville Community Market. 434.793.4636.

April 17 (thru 19)

SCCA U.S. Majors Tour. VIR. www.virnow.com

April 18

DSC Butterfly Station & Garden Opening – See page 17.

Comfort Foods Made Light Learn to make your favorite comfort foods with less than half the fat and calories, but all the flavor. Join Janet Darby, of Wild Thyme Herbs Catering, as she prepares your favorite dishes with a healthy and natural touch.

10am-12pm. Stonewall Recreation Center. 434.797.8848.

Martinsville Mini Maker Faire Family-friendly outdoor festival.

10am-3pm. The Artisan Center.

276.656.5461.

URW Credit Union Youth Day Festivities. See story page 17 and ad page 28.

Ladies Day. Homeplace Vineyard. 434.432.WINE (9463).

April 21

Elder Law Series - Join Robert Haley for this informational presentation. Free seminar and lunch provided by the Stratford House.12-1:30pm.434.799.5216.

April 21 & 30

Stratford House Speaker Series.

4/21 - Dementia & Families; 4/30 Senior Living Expert. See page 8.

April 22

Historic Garden Week Martinsville Tour. See page 17.

April 23

Historic Garden Week Danville Tour. See page 17.

Kayaking Night Paddle - Kayak four miles of the Dan River at night.

Each boat will be illuminated and paddlers will be provided with a headlamp. Ages 12+. 7-9:30pm.

Abreu-Grogan Park. 434.799.5215.

April 24

Zombie Prom - Can’t or don’t want to go to prom? Do you like to dress up in blood and guts?

Join us after hours for the Zombie Prom featuring gruesome snacks, zombie dancing and a costume contest. All ages. 5-7pm. Danville Public Library Children’s Area.

434.799.5195 x4.

Historic Garden Week Chatham Tour. See page 17.

April 24 & 25

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority State Meeting. See page 17.

April 24 (thru 26)

Godspell - Directed by Ray Pearce. Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, a small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques, and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs ranging in style from pop to vaudeville is employed as the story of Jesus’s life dances across the stage. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus’s messages of kindness, tolerance, and love come vibrantly to life. Show times vary.

The Kirby Theater. Roxboro. See ad page 29.

April 25

The Royal Tea & Encounters with Royalty. See page 21 and ad page 24.

Pickle Ball Tournament - Danville Parks and Recreation Ages 40+.

8am. Bonner Tennis Courts.

434.799.5216.

Earth Day Festival - Games, crafts, and activities. 10am-3pm.

J. Frank Wilson Memorial Park.

Martinsville, VA. Earth Day Extravaganza Displays and activities for the entire family. Learn what you can do to protect our earth. 10am. Town of Halifax Farmer’s Market. Halifax. www.halifax-events.com

April 30

Civil War Letters – DHS presentation. See page 21.

Upcoming May 2

Dan River History Harvest: Find Your Roots. See page 21 and ad page 7.

Halifax Co. Heritage & Antique Machinery Festival. See page 21.

Encounters with Royalty Exhibit. See page 21 and ad page 24.

Page 20

April 2015

Book Clubbing A review by Diane Adkins

Mink River

by Brian Dole

What does a healthy human community look like? Often, after we have read sociological analysis and seen what Big Data can tell us about our dysfunctional and violent world, it is fiction that provides us the best vision of what it would mean for us to care about our neighbors, fight against the brokenness and the darkness, and shape a new way.

This novel is one of those visions of healing and hope that stays with you long after you read the last page. The setting is the fictional town of Neawanaka on the Pacific coast of Oregon. Though the story is contemporary, it has a mythic feel to it, with elements that qualify as magical realism—a talking crow, for example, and a bear that reads The New York Times. The story is told in vignettes from the characters’ lives. There are traumatic situations that could be torn from the pages of any newspaper today—a terrifying, nearly fatal bike accident, the shooting of a policeman, child abuse, alcoholism and promiscuity.

People in Neawanka mess up their lives in ways that are all too familiar.

But the main characters are about the hard work of staying connected to the pain of others and trying to transform that pain into health and wholeness.

Central to the story are the two older men who make up the Department of Public Works, a governmental agency with the wildly expanded mission to use “brains against pains.” They don’t just take care of roads and the water supply, they also record oral histories of people and of animals, and look for ways to relieve the pain of others wherever they find it. Often, that method of healing involves storytelling. It’s almost as if Doyle is telling us that stories—our stories-matter more than anything else in this world.

The style of writing varies from terse to Faulknerian. There are long, humorous passages, such as the funeral eulogy for a man no one liked, delivered in Gaelic but translated for the benefit of the reader.

Throughout the narrative, Doyle’s overarching view could be summed up in Julian of Norwich’s famous statement, quoted, in various ways, four times in the book, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” The Great Mystery undergirds all things in Neawanaka. And by the end of the book, you think you might want to visit, or maybe even live there.

Diane S. Adkins is the Director of the Pittsylvania County Public Library System, with branches in Brosville, Chatham, Gretna, and Mt. Hermon, as well as a bookmobile and a History Research Center and Library located in the Chatham Train Depot.

Send information about what you or your book club is reading to joycewilburn@gmail.com.

Evince Magazine

Calendar Clips Continued from page 17

Saturday, April 25

The Royal Tea and Encounters with Royalty

What would you wear if you were invited to the coronation of King George VI in 1937 or the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, both held in Westminster Abbey? If you were Nancy Langhorne, Lady Astor, who was born on Broad Street in Danville, Virginia, and became the first woman to be seated in the British Parliament, you would need to answer that question because she was there. A fashion show of vintage clothing by Sara Spisu will be presented at The Royal Tea from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, 975 Main Street. See what might be just the thing to wear when meeting royalty. Tickets for the tea and fashion show are $20 and can be purchased by calling 336.592.0222. All proceeds support Langhorne House.

When Lady Astor attended the coronations of both King George VI and later Queen Elizabeth II, she wore a spectacular creation that included a red velvet floor length ermine fur edged cape that made her look like one of the royals.

Having appeared twice in two decades in this ensemble, Lady Astor donated the clothing to the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia, and now it is on exhibit at the birthplace of Lady Astor, Langhorne House, 117 Broad Street, Danville.

The exhibit, “Encounters With Royalty” opens to the public with a reception on Tuesday, May 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission to the exhibition is free. For more information call 434.791.2256. (submitted by Jerry Meadors)

Thursday, April 30 The Civil War Letters of Joseph & Delphia Payne

The Danville Historical Society will share information about the donation of these letters written by a Pittsylvania County couple during the Civil War. Hear dramatic readings of some of the letters exchanged by husband and wife during his time in service to the Confederacy.

The letters recount the day-to-day realities for Pvt. Joseph Payne and his wife, Delphia Jane, along with the heartbreak and loneliness that inevitably come during a time of war.

The program begins at 6:30 p.m.at the Danville Public Library, 511 Patton Street. (submitted by Sarah Latham)

Upcoming

Saturday, May 2 Dan River History Harvest: Find Your Roots

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Caswell County Civic Center, 536 Main Street East, Yanceyville, NC, professional and local genealogists will guide attendees who are beginning the process of finding their family histories. The event also includes a raffle of Ancestry.com DNA kits, a taste-of-the-region lunch featuring dishes provided by Chathamooca, Golden Leaf Bistro and others. After lunch, historian Henry Wiencek, who researched and wrote the nationally acclaimed book about a local family: The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White, will present the keynote address. History United and the regional libraries of Gunn Memorial Public Library, Danville Public Library and the Pittsylvania County Public Library System are hosting this free event that is open to the public. Regional storytellers will be featured, sharing their stories of this area.

Historical and genealogical societies and regional libraries will be available at information booths for participants interested in finding out more about their history. For more information, call 434.799.2176. (submitted by Ina Dixon)

Saturday, May 2

Halifax County Heritage & Antique Machinery Festival

Vintage race car owners, drivers, crew members, and friends are invited to attend this 12th annual event at the Halifax County Fairgrounds in South Boston, Virginia. In addition to the static display during the festival, the historic South Boston Speedway, adjacent to the fairgrounds, will open the track for vintage race car owners and drivers to run laps as a part of the festival attractions. The event will also offer the opportunity for a fan/driver reunion and other related activities throughout the weekend of May 1-3.

Vintage race car owners, pit crew members, and anyone associated with South Boston Speedway since 1957 should email ovaleng@ntelos.net or call 434.572.7825 for more information about participating in the Historic Racing Celebration. For more information visit www.halifaxcountyheritagefestival.org and www.southbostonspeedway.com. (submitted by Cathy Cole)

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Page 22

April 2015

B

looming flowers, butterflies, chirping birds, sunshine...why, hello there, April! While nature celebrates spring, it’s only fitting that we follow suit with our own soirees and outdoor activities.

Lately, Get Fit has focused on serving healthy options at church, work and community events and gatherings. Even your own table at home applies.

But does that mean passing the tofu and gluten free crackers?

Of course not! Often, fruits and veggies add colorful flair to your menu and serve as ideal complements of flavor to other richer offerings. At Get Fit, we highly recommend slicing those apples or peeling those oranges so your guests will be more apt to reach for the healthy option.

And it’s even better if those guests have little hands!

Children are much more inclined to enjoy fruits and veggies when they’re accessible and appear inviting. Case in point: While on a Disney cruise with my daughter last month, I observed children carrying plates piled high with fresh mango and pineapple.

Who Says Healthy Food Can’t Be Fun?

by Stephanie Ferrugia Program Director, Get Fit Dan River Region

After exploring a few minutes, I found the mother lode. A gentleman was standing behind an inviting fruit stand slicing beautiful fresh fruit and he couldn’t get it out

fast enough. Folks were lined up ready to enjoy the succulent tropical treats and, believe it or not, they were bypassing the ice cream bar! The takeaway here is that if you display the healthy option in an attractive and fun way, folks--especially kids--will eat it. Check out these photos for ideas and remember to be creative in making the connection between food and better health. These local families show how it can also be fun. Hungry for recipes and more ideas?

Check out the Danville Public Schools Pinterest page: www.pinterest.com/nutritiondps/ kid-friendly-recipes/ Top Left: Danville mom and First Presbyterian Dayschool Director, Erin Parris, knows that simplicity works best with her daughter, Madeline. It doesn’t get better than juicy watermelon on summer days.

Top Right: Southern Virginia native, Becky Gordon, made JAWS drop with this artistic shark fruit-filled tray.

Middle Right: Need an idea for Easter parties? Try this bountiful bunny fruit medley!

Bottom Right: Southern Virginia mom, Alana Mitchell, recently served this adorable and nutritious Elmo fruit tray at her daughter’s birthday party.

Evince Magazine

Page 23

You can spend hours online searching for the right hotel or reviews of a great vacation spot – But how do you choose your doctor?

Finally a tool that guides you in finding the right doctor . Routine mammograms, controlling seasonal allergies, the risk of heart disease… when you need a doctor, where do you start? Finding the right doctor is one of the most important things you will do for yourself and your family. Don’t leave such an important decision to chance or a random GoogleTM search. Call today and our our experts will help you find the right services to fit your needs perfectly.

When an apple a day isn’t enough!

Call 1-800-424-DOCS (3627) today for a personal consultation.

For additional information, please visit our website:

www.DanvilleRegional.com

Page 24

M

April 2015 Sensurround, sobs emanated not from a mournful part of the movie’s soundtrack, but from one small spot in that theater’s seating. My family consoled and explained and I finally understood their point: reality. In 1977, I was in my parents-in-law’s den when reality interrupted television’s programming with the news of Elvis’ for real death.

y Elvis connections are not genetic. They exist only in my memory.

In February, Ballou Senior Center hosted an Elvis impersonator.

After the performance, one senior in attendance told the story about touring England in 1993. A youth asked her if Elvis was really still alive! (Of course, he had died 16 years earlier.) Later that day, I walked in Danville Mall, listening to background music consisting of 1950s rock and roll. When passing Foot Locker, “Blue Suede Shoes” played. I saw blue there, but none of it suede.

My earliest memory of Elvis was his debut on the Ed Sullivan Show, watched on a neighbor’s TV, a fairly common occurrence in those mid-50s days. I saw his first movie, “Love Me Tender” in 1956. Its similar black-andwhiteness evidently made me think it was as real as the Ed Sullivan Show, because when Elvis’ character died in the movie, I was inconsolable. Years before

A week later, I was at Annie Penn Hospital, where my wife, Diane, had given birth to our daughter, Rachel. Back home, in the wee morning hours, I fell asleep to a 24-hour Elvis radio tribute. The next morning, I awoke to him singing, “A poor little baby child is born in the ghetto.”

My Life-Long Connection with Elvis

by Mack Williams Danville Science Center Education Coordinator

Novelist Shelby Foote said all Southern boys are affected by the Civil War. The same goes for Elvis’ influence on Southern boys of a certain age. Looking back, I handled myself much better at Elvis’ actual passing than I did his fictitious theater death, but I was still just as sad.

Evince Magazine

What’s Happening in the Pittsylvania County Public Libraries Special Event:

D.E.A.R. [Drop Everything And Read] Month • National Poetry Month: Poetry Poster Contest in Chatham.

Participants will submit posters illustrating favorite lines of poetry.

Awards given in four age group categories. On April 16, patrons can make Blackout Poetry all day at Chatham. Poetry Voices: A Teen Celebration of Poetry, April 20, 4:00-5:00 p.m., Gretna. Enjoy an hour of poetry reading. Share your favorite poem or your original poetry with the group. Open to teens age 12-18.

• National Library Week April 12-18: Brosville and Chatham: Stop by the library for special activities.

Mt. Hermon: Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale, April 13-18; Crafter’s Corner: Painted Vases, Tuesday, April 14, 6:00 p.m., open to adults. Art Party, Thursday, April 16, 4:00-6:00 p.m. Hangout @ Your Library, Saturday, April 18, movie at 10:00 a.m., arm knitting at 11:00 a.m.

Gretna: Friends of the library Spring Book Sale, April 13-17.

• Money Smart Week, April 19-25: Brosville: Pick up information to help with budgeting and the rest of your financial life. Chatham: Display of books associated with financial literacy and money management, as well as handouts from Money Smart Week and various governmental agencies on money management.

• National Preservation Week, April 26-May 2: History Harvest Kick-Off Event at History Research Center and Library, Chatham.

Email HYPERLINK “mailto:info@pcplib.org” info@pcplib.org for more information.

• Friends of the Library meeting: Mondays, April 6, 13, 20 and 27, 11:00-11:30 a.m. at Chatham; Fridays, April 3, 10, 17 and 24, 10:30 a.m., Mt. Hermon. Monday, April 13, 10:00 a.m., Brosville.

Books, music, poems, nursery rhymes, and rhythm instruments.

Open to children ages birth to 3 with their parents or caregivers.

Reading/Learning Programs :

• Preschool Early Literacy Programs: Mother Goose on the Loose: Mondays, April 6, 13, 20 and 27, 11:00-11:30 a.m. at Chatham; Fridays, April 3, 10, 17 and 24, 10:30 a.m., Mt. Hermon. Monday, April 13, 10:00 a.m., Brosville. Books, music, poems, nursery rhymes, and rhythm instruments. Open to children ages birth to 3 with their parents or caregivers.

• Wednesdays for Wees: All branches except History Center, 10:00 a.m. Wednesday mornings April 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, for ages 0-5. Presented in partnership with Smart Beginnings Danville Pittsylvania County.

School-Aged Children:

• Read with Maggie: Wednesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 4:00 p.m., Chatham. Come and practice your reading skills by reading to Maggie, our favorite service dog.

• Afternoon R-n-R: Thursdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 4:30 p.m., Mt. Hermon. Families are invited. Stories and crafts. Special themes: April 2: International Children’s Book Day; April 23: Earth Day; April 30: Poem in Your Pocket.

• Homeschoolers: Friday, April 3, 1:00 p.m., Brosville. Join the fun with Ms. Rachel and the STEM Hub kits as we “Blow It Up!” • Homeschool Connection: Tuesdays, April 7 and 21, 11:00 a.m., Gretna. Please register.

• Writers Group: Thursday, April 9, 6:00-7:00 p.m. Chatham. Open to teens and adults.

Book Discussions for Adults:

• Second Thursday Discussion Group: Thursday, April 9, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Chatham. Discussing the film Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring.

• Book Talk: Friday, April 10, noon, Brosville. Read a book by your favorite author. Bring your lunch.

• Teen Book Club: Thursday, April 16, 4:00-5:00 p.m., Chatham.

Celebrating Teen Literature Day, and making Blackout Poetry in honor of National Poetry Month.

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STEM Programs for Students:

• STEM Saturday: Saturday, April 4, 11:00-1:00 p.m., Chatham.

Science, technology, engineering, and math challenges for 9-14 year olds. Potions Class: The Magic of Chemistry. Play with color-changing solutions, changing liquids from sweet to salty or bitter, and color blending and mixing.

Job Search Tips:

Wednesdays, noon until 2:00 p.m., Brosville. Resumé, email, job search, basic Internet. Registration required.

Food, Nutrition, Fitness, Health:

• Group Fitness: Mondays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Gretna. Thirty minutes for a better life!

• Abs with Angie: Every Tuesday, 5:00-5:30 p.m., Chatham. Open to adults.

• Health Care Series: Mondays, April 6. 13. 20, and 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Chatham. Healthcare, insurance, and what the Affordable Care Act means for everyone. Enroll VA will offer these informational sessions with Q&A each week.

• Second Tuesday Recipe Club: Tuesday, April 14, 5:00 p.m., Gretna.

Call for information and to register, 656-2579.

• Aromatherapy: Thursday, April 9, 5:30 p.m., Brosville. Learn about essential oils.

Computer Classes:

• One-on-One Tutorials with Luther: Wednesdays, April 1, 9, 15, 22, and 29, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Chatham. Low stress, lots of friendly help.

• Internet and Job Skills Help: Wednesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 12:00 noon-2:00 p.m., Brosville. Resume, email, job search, and basic Internet help. Space is limited, so please sign up at the front desk.

• Digital Downloads Demystified: Wednesday, April 1, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Brosville. Learn about ebooks, magazines, and audio, how to download them, and how to get them for free from the library.

Art & Craft:

• Knitting & Amigurumi Crochet Groups: Mondays April 6 and 20, 6:30 p.m., Mt. Hermon. All skill levels are welcome.

• Quilting: Tuesday, April 7, 10:00 a.m., Brosville. Bring sewing machines and materials and learn basic quilting techniques.

• Re-Use It Tuesday Craft Night: Tuesday, April 7, 5:00 p.m., Gretna.

Upcycled Sweater Totes. Registration is required.

• Needlework: Tuesdays, April 7, 14, 21, 28, 10:00 a.m., Brosville.

Knitting, embroidery, crochet.

• Make and Take Craft: Tuesday, April 7, 3:00-4:45 p.m. Chatham.

• Second Saturday Quilt Club: Saturday, April 11, 10:00 a.m. until noon, Chatham.

• Art Class: Tuesdays, April 21 and 28, 4:00 p.m., Chatham.

• Art and Drawing Club: Tuesday, April 21, 4:00 p.m., Gretna. All skill levels. Bring your own artwork in progress or use one of our step-bystep worksheets for inspiration. No registration necessary.

• Special Craft: Thursday, April 23, 5:00 p.m., Chatham. Make coffee filter peonies for spring.

Movies:

• Afternoon Toons: Fridays, April 3, 10, 17, and 24, 4:00 p.m., Mt. Hermon.

• Family Movie: Saturday, April 18, 10:00 a.m., Mt. Hermon.

Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast.

Game Programs & Activities:

• Bingo: Thursday, April 2, 4:00-4:45 p.m., Chatham. Ages 7-15.

• Learning with LEGOs: Saturday, April 11, 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., Mt. Hermon.

• Scrabble Day: Monday, April 13, all day, Brosville.

• Book Bingo: Tuesday, April 28, 5:00 p.m., Gretna. Family fun and prizes.

• LEGO Play Day: Thursday, April 23, 4:00-4:45 p.m., Chatham.

Unless otherwise noted, all programs are free. For more information, contact Gretna Library, 207 A Coffey Street, 434.656.2579; Mt. Hermon Library, 2725 Franklin Turnpike, 434.835.0326; History Research Center and Library, 340 Whitehead Street, Chatham; 434.432.8931; PCP Main Library, 24 Military Drive, Chatham, 434.432.3271or visit www.pcplib.org.

April 2015

(or Mired in Minutiae: How I Spend My Days)

by Linda Lemery Vowing not to go back to the grocery store until this freezer’s half-empty, I cram the still-frozen food back into the freezer. Emptying the vacuum bag is next; I grab the vacuum cleaner, hear a snap, turn it over, and see a broken belt. Really? Yup. Off I go to the grocery store to get a replacement belt and figure I might as well buy groceries and then the freezer is full again, but the grocery store didn’t have any of those replacement belts in stock.

Never own less than two of anything,

I think as I trot down the stairs and edge into the basement to retrieve one of those spare vacuum cleaners that came from our deceased mothers. Excellent value of the redundant back-up proven yet again, I think. I drag it onto the kitchen landing and in the process, it thumps against me in just the wrong way. “Ssshhh,” whispers the bag compartment, accompanied by a little poof of dust, like a dainty appliance sneeze that travels outward in all directions. Concerned, I open the vacuum cleaner and

Write the embedded message here:

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

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__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

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Directions: Fill in the empty boxes with a new syllable to make a new word. Each step in the “word ladder” must share a common syllable with the word below it.

Word Ladder

by Steve Lemery

Evince

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____ vent

Not to be left out, the dog pokes her head into the kitchen. “No,” I scream, but in she comes and in a fit of spite, she bites the bag.

Emanating outward is an even bigger whoosh of dust. Covered in it, the dog withdraws with her tail between her legs, leaving me holding the bag. There we are.

Exceptional day. Dusting, that’s next on this random agenda.

This story illustrates that everything is connected. Really, every single thing, from a mental ramble through a possible murder mystery plot to a replacement bag deficit in an otherwise overly well-stocked house. Understand the importance that lies in the story of the minutiae that spells out how we spend our time, especially when we look back on it.

Love and hugs to my writer friends and my patient readers with this last suggestion: write the leading capital letter of every sentence on the lines below to read the not-so-hidden message. Yet another small mental safari is in store, but as we finish this journey, here’s a wish-- that may we all continue to enjoy our unique connectedness in its many and varied forms, and a happy April (flowers and showers) to us all.

When she’s not searching for connection using the mental equivalent of a meandering aboriginal walkabout, Linda Lemery, llemery@averett.edu, is Circulation Manager at Averett University’s Mary B. Blount Library in Danville. Everyone’s comments are welcome.

(create something)

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Evince

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(verb theme of this magazine issue)

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Eventually, while I’m still mulling over the problem of dog hair, I open the door to the over-full refrigerator freezer. Cramming more in, I feel the back freezer wall and it’s warm. That means the five years of missing my yearly appointment to vacuum the refrigerator coils has taken its toll (the coils reside in the bowels of the refrigerator, the suctioning of which pulls all the dust and hair out of there so that the refrigerator and freezer can resume freely drawing in air and cooling at peak efficiency).

Everything I jerk out of the freezer (still frozen, thank goodness) comes out with a mumble, and then I retrieve the vacuum cleaner. Dirt, dust, and dog hair are sucked out of the coils. Enter a streaming sense of relief, because soon the freezer wall is cold again and I have avoided having to buy a new refrigerator when they’re not on sale.

The Voice of Connections

i

I like chicken, I think, and on we go to meal planning. Now, some of my favorite meals are the ones we eat out with friends, like the chicken with special sauce at the American Legion. Going out with couples is fun, especially when one of us proclaims, “This is the best meal I’ve ever had” with such gusto and verve that we all have to agree that it really is. I think the thing about eating out is that you’re not eating in. So that means you’re not cleaning up before and after.

Cleaning up is a major theme in my life. On reflection, I’m always thinking about it and putting it off until tomorrow because I’m too busy today with working and classes and homework and reviewing for the comprehensive exam and dealing with dog hair. Nowadays, the dog creates part of the problem in our house since she sheds in miniscule but cumulative amounts.

Non-attached hair that’s freely floating and randomly distributing causes problems as time goes on.

Reflecting Forward

remove the bag. Oh, no, there’s a big hole, and no replacement bag for this vacuum relic anywhere in the house.

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Everyone connects at different levels when they share information.

Virtually everyone connects as readers read writers’ works. Every time I think of my writer friends, I remember that many of them love literary fiction. Really, we’re alike in that we write, but not in what we write. Yes, I lean toward odd and not literary fiction. Take, for example, a lap swimmer who spies a dead body weighted and swaying at the bottom of the pool and there’s a guy swimming in the next lane. He’s a homicide detective who takes charge, but the rest of the swimmers flock to the showers and out to a chicken dinner.

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April 2015

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Fresh Strawberry Pudding

by Annelle Williams We sprang forward a few weeks ago and Mother Nature took the hint. What a winter! I’m thankful for these warm beautiful days with daffodils poking their heads up through layers of leaves and pine needles and our favorite Lenten Roses showing their stamina and determination, proclaiming the Easter Season.

I’m thankful to be living where four seasons pay us a visit giving a good taste of their best, without the extremes. I guess our job is to be connected to the moment we’re experiencing. It’s easy to miss some spectacular things if we’re more focused on what might be coming down the road. So stay connected—to the moment, to the time of year, and to the local sources of your food.

Strawberry shortcake has always been a favorite using locally grown strawberries and who doesn’t love banana pudding? Why not merge the two and try Strawberry Pudding? A chef in Beaufort, North Carolina, offered us a tasting and now I’m a big fan. Strawberries will be in season soon and you’ll have a brand new recipe to try.

Fresh Strawberry Pudding Adapted from an Epicurious Banana Pudding Recipe. (6 servings)

Strawberries 16 oz. container of fresh strawberries, capped and diced

2 T sugar

Pudding 5 large egg yolks 1⁄2 cup sugar

1⁄4 cup cornstarch 1⁄4 tsp. salt

2 cups whole milk 2 tsp. almond extract

2 T butter

Cookie Crumble 2 cups roughly crumbled pretzels

4 T melted butter

Whipped Cream 2 cups whipping cream

1⁄2 cup sugar

Combine one cup of diced strawberries and two tablespoons sugar in small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring until sugar dissolves and strawberries give off juice. Continue cooking over low heat until strawberries cook down and thicken.

Whisk the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside. Bring the milk to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and whisk a little at a time into the egg mixture. Once the bottom of the bowl is warm, slowly whisk in the remaining hot milk. Pour the mixture back into a clean medium saucepan (cleaning the saucepan prevents the pudding from scorching). Add the thickened strawberries and whisk about two minutes over medium-low heat until it thickens. Cook while constantly whisking until the pudding is glossy and thick, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes longer. Transfer the pudding to a clean bowl.

Add the almond extract and butter and gently whisk until the butter is completely melted and incorporated. Press a piece of plastic wrap onto the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for 4 hours.

To make the crumble: While the pudding sets, heat the oven to 325°F. Place the pretzels in a re-sealable plastic bag and seal (make sure there is no air in the bag prior to sealing). Using a rolling pin or a flat-bottomed saucepan or pot, crush the pretzels until they’re coarsely ground. Transfer them into a small bowl and stir in the melted butter; transfer to baking sheet and toast in the oven until brown and fragrant, 12-15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. When ready to serve, whip cream, adding sugar a little at a time until incorporated and cream holds its shape.

In clear glasses (so you can see the layers), add pudding, crumbles, berries, cream, and then finish with a repeat of the layers making the layers thinner the second time.

Questions or comments?

Email me: AnnelleWilliams@comcast.net I look forward to hearing from you!

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April 2015

Photo Finish Photos by Von Wellington Photography.

On March 18, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) sponsored by the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the conclusion of a nine-month program that guides middleschool and high-school students through the process of starting a business. The students presented their business ideas to a panel of investors who awarded cash to the winners to launch the business in Danville or Pittsylvania County.

Faith Doss waits with mom Leigh Doss to present B-You-T-Ful, her line of skin care products.

Kimberly Brooks, Amani West, and Tommy West arrive early to cheer on the Tutu & Things by Twins team. Amani is their mascot.

Joey White introduces himself to Pittsylvania County Schools Division Superintendent James McDaniel during the social before the competition.

For more info about Von Wellington Photography, visit www.vonwellingtonphotography.com or call 434.770.3553. See more pictures on Facebook.

Nancy Combs, who works in the Danville Community College vice-president’s ofďŹ ce, and Michael Duncan, a member of the Investor Panel and Member Manager of Donnachaidh Associates, wait for the competition to begin.

Dan River Middle School students, Kiasia and Tiasia Saunders, chat with Antonio Logan.

YEA! Program Director at the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce.

George Grubb and Tara Clayton from the Lawson-Overbey Inn serve goodies to the crowd at the welcome reception.

Seventh grader, Colby Campbell, patiently allows his mom, Tammy Campbell, to straighten his name tag.

Gabriel Shelhorse loves producing music for his business, Wonderland Sound Company. Vinita Cunningham has dreams of making Nina Roze Makeup Artistry a reality.

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Andy King and Zyccheaus Motley team up to market their customized clothing, DIY Customizations VA.

The Investor Panel prepares to listen to the presentations: Michelle Eakin, Danville Sam’s Club; Philip Wright, Ecomnets; Shannon Hair, VP DCC Educational Foundation.

Penny Hudson accompanied Chuck Hudson from Gretna High School.

DCC President Bruce Scism greets Styphenia Reliford from the DCC public relations office.

Jadyn Nuckles makes cake pops at POParatzi. Riley Nuckles developed Stand It, an invention that will revolutionize the way beach items are stored.

Eva Doss, President and CEO of The Launch Place, and Bebe Janish, Director of Physician Services at Danville Regional Medical Center, enjoy listening to the presentations.

Everyone who participated in the Investor Panel Event was a winner. Over $30,000 in scholarships and investments was awarded. Students who made presentations were: Front row: Colby Campbell, Drake Cassidy; Second row: Riley Nuckles, Kiasia Saunders, Tiasia Saunders. Third row: Jadyn Nuckles, Morgan Cook, Faith Doss, Andy Kong, Zyccheaus Motley. Back row: Gabriel Shelhorse, Vinita Cunningham.

Riley Nuckles poses for the camera after being named the winner. The Dan River Middle School sixth grader received $1,000 from the investors’ panel to start her business. She will also advance to the YEA! Saunders Scholars National College Scholarship regional competition in Florida in late May, where she will compete for college scholarships and an all-expenses paid trip courtesy of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. and an opportunity to be on Shark Tank.