Evince Magazine April 2024

Autism and the Arts

5

Autism and the Arts

by

Jessica BrammerOwens, EdD, MS/CCC-SLP, CYMHS, ASD-CS

Collage Inside OWE Arts & Culture

Exhibit: Clevester Terrell Woods by Val-Rae Lindenau

April Calender

by

Wilkerson

Williams

Evince Magazine Page 3

Presented by Showcase Magazine

CEO / Publisher / Andrew Scott Brooks

Editorial Director / Paul Seiple editor@evincemagazine.com

Contributing Writers

Jessica Brammer-Owens, Barry Koplen, Linda Lemery, Val-Rae Lindenau, Josh Lucia, Mack Williams, Emily Wilkerson

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Deadline for this and all other stories, articles, and calendar items is Monday, April 15 at 5:00pm for the June issue. Please send calendar info to demontdesign@verizon.net.

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On the Cover: Space artwork by Isabella Toledo, 11th Grade.

STEVE

Autism is a somewhat new diagnosis. It first appeared in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) in 1980. However, it is widely accepted that autism existed long before that. It’s thought that many famous historical figures were probably autistic. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, van Gogh, Beethoven, Mozart, and Emily Dickenson (amongst others) are thought to have been autistic based on stories of their “quirky” behavior.

These “quirks” are traits we now consider to be part of an autism diagnosis. According to the DSM, autistic people have trouble with social communication and interaction. People with autism also have restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. Mozart is a good example. In the movie Amadeus, Mozart displays several behavioral characteristics of autism. He used repetitive hand movements, had trouble sitting still if bored, and couldn’t communicate clearly. Many consider his talent to be linked to autism, too. Mozart was gifted in musical memory. He could remember any song that he heard. He also was able to focus on music for very long periods of time.

Autism is a condition that is caused by differences in brain development. Autism diagnoses are split into three levels. People diagnosed with level 1 autism will need the least amount of support, whereas people diagnosed with level 3 autism will need very substantial

support because they might be nonverbal and have an intellectual disability. This is why we use the term autism spectrum, because there is a range of how autism affects each person.

People on the autism spectrum have many strengths that are often overlooked. Superior memory skills and hyperlexia are just two examples of strengths. Hyperlexia is the ability to read words or sheet music at a very young age without being taught. People with autism often have sensory differences, like being sensitive to loud sounds. However, sensory sensitivity isn’t always a problem because it can lead to enhanced attention to detail, color perception, sound discrimination, and sense of smell. According to Embrace Autism, autistic individuals across the spectrum are more than ten times as likely to be savants than people without autism. A savant is someone who has a specific exceptional talent. Savants often are highly gifted in art or music.

Special interests are a part of autistic people’s lives. Special interests are topics that the autistic person loves to learn and talk about. For many people, their special interest is some form of the arts. Temple Grandin, a famous autistic person, encourages other autistic people to develop their special interests into job skills. Most individuals with autism struggle to find jobs. It is often even harder for individuals with level 1 autism to find a job because they need to compete with neurotypical people and

do not have the help of job placement services. Grandin figured out that it is easier to find and keep a job if it’s related to a special interest.

Not only are there jobs in the arts, but the arts also provide social connections and community. Theatres are known as a home for people who feel like they don’t fit in elsewhere. Many neurodiverse people feel like they belong at a theatre. Autistic individuals don’t

Autism and the Arts

by Jessica Brammer-Owens, EdD, MS/CCC-SLP, CYMHS, ASD-CS

just find friends in the theatre; they can also learn about perspective taking and social interaction through acting.

The arts provide many opportunities for autistic individuals across the spectrum to shine and find their passion. The arts are a uniquely inclusive space. Inclusion is one more reason to preserve the arts in our community.

Claire the Wolf artwork by Claire Starling, 10th Grade

Cat artwork by Amber Koch, 10th Grade

Anative of Danville, Clevester Terrell Woods was introduced to art as a child in Pittsylvania county schools. Terrell first realized his gift when, as a first grade student, he was given the assignment to draw one of his favorite cartoon characters. Terrell drew Mickey Mouse from memory. Upon doing so, his teacher was so impressed, she bragged about it to the other teachers and further encouraged Terrell to develop his artistic talents. In high school, his art teacher, Mrs. Janet Robertson, took the time to teach him the fundamentals of art, an education he will forever be grateful for.

Life took a sharp turn, however, upon graduation. Despite his dreams of going on to Art School, Terrell instead married and dedicated himself to life as a husband. When that marriage ended, and for the twenty-seven

years that followed, Terrell didn’t create at all. “It was a very dark time for me,” he told us. Those close to him would encourage him to create, but he couldn’t. “There was no drive, no desire.”

And then, in 2016, Terrell saw a movie that resonated with him. The protagonist of the film had been an aspiring artist who had allowed life’s difficulties to interfere with her creativity. She felt a void. And then she discovered painting, and she was reborn. Terrell realized he was an artist in his very soul, and he needed to create to feel alive.

For Terrell, being an artist means using his talent to connect with people. “I meet no strangers,” he says of himself. “I thrive off the emotions my art invokes in people. Seeing the emotions on a person’s face as they stand before his work—the sorrow, the joy, the wonder—inspires him to

keep pushing the limits of what he can do. My goal is to light up the world one painting at a time.”

Though he paints many subjects, even abstract, he is mainly a painter of people. “I am in love with the human form,” he says. “Most animals, fish, birds, and plants look alike. A human, on the other hand … the slightest turn of a cheek, and the person looks entirely different from anyone or anything else—even from themselves in another pose.” At the same time, Terrell explained to us, we are all so very alike. “The color palette uses the same colors and not many of them to paint all the shades that make us.” It’s a challenge to paint people and to paint them well. Whole lifetimes are spent mastering the skill, and it is that challenge that drives Terrell.

Upon finding a subject, Terrell takes a moment to envision what

Exhibit: Clevester Terrell Woods

by Val-Rae Lindenau

photos courtesy of Clevester Terrell Woods

the painting will look like, and then what that subject on the canvas might be feeling. He paints from that emotive place, and it is more often than not a happy place. “I cannot paint in chaos,” he told us. “I am a happy painter, and I have to be in a happy place.” His studio is a large part of that, a place that is set up to promote happiness and calm. Painting is a sort of meditation for Terrell, a place where his mind is made clear for the work ahead of him.

For Clevester Terrell Wood, the artistic flame burns bright. After years of darkness, he has promised himself never to extinguish it again. He further hopes to share that light with people all around the world. To that end, he has started teaching classes online. If you’d like to know more about Terrell’s classes, find him on Facebook at Clevester Terrell Woods.

OWE Arts & Culture exists to highlight the diverse range of talent among Danville’s creative community and to provide opportunities for that community to come together.

Ongoing

April Calendar of Evince

Danville Science Center. Exhibits - Stream Into The V.O.I.D, Butterfly Station & Garden, Go!, Water, Various Dome Shows, Creativity Labs. www. dsc.smv.org.

Ruby B. Archie Public Library Programs - Don’t miss the programs offered at the Library. Adult & Tween Arts & Crafts, The Write Stuff, Pop Culture Geek Out Hour, Dig Into Your Device, De-Stress Night, Computers for Beginners, Just Write, Get More from Google, Unrequired Reading –Classics Book Club, Youth Dungeons and Dragons, Storytellers: Creative Writing 101, Total Eclipse of the Sun, Knitters Unravelled, LEGO Brick Engineers, Little Explorers Storytime, Mad Scientists, Little Learning Lab, Book Babies, Random Fandom, Enchanted Houses, Maker Mondays, Code Challengers, Fairy Tale Bash. Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails! Exhibit. Danville Science Center. www. dsc.smv.org.

DSC Dome: Dinosaurs. Come join Celeste on a time-traveling adventure to unveil the colossal creatures of yesteryears and witness the incredible transformations they experienced over millions of years. Danville Science Center Dome. www.dsc.smv.org. Danville Farmers Market. Sat 7:30am-12pm. Community Market. 434.797.8961.

Through April 15

DMFAH Exhibit. Guides: Women from the Danville - Pittsylvania County Area History Exhibit. Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. 434.793.5644.

Through May 11

PAA Exhibits. Salvador Dali: Le Chants de Maldoror on loan from Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; Citizens and Soldiers: The Mostly World War II Paintings of Ken Smith; Lintspiration by Meritha Alderman. Piedmont Arts. 276.632.3221.

April 2 (thru 5)

Spring Break at the Library. 4/2-10 Spring Book Sale; 4/2 - Popcorn & a Book, 11am. 4/2 & 3 - Painting on the Patio, 5pm & 1pm, 4/3 Paper Planes Races, 3pm; 4/5 Out of the Shadows: Eclipse Unveiled, 3-4pm. Mt. Hermon Library. 434.835.0326.

April 3

Smokestack Open Improv. Stand-Up Comedy and Improvisational Sketch Comedy. 6:30-8:30pm. www. thesmokestack.org.

April 3 & 26

MSAC Classes. 4/3 Kids Spring Break Class - Birdhouse, 2-4pm; 4/26 Night Paint Class, 6:30pm. $. Main Street Art Collective. See ad page 12.

April 4

VA-NC Piedmont Genealogical Society Presents: Melanie Ide. Learn helpful tips and hear interesting stories related to genealogy topics. Ages 18+. Registration required. 2-3pm. Ruby B. Archie Public Library Auditorium. 434.799.5195.

April 4 & 9

Legal Aid Workshop: Grandparent visitation. Questions and answers workshop. 4/4 5:30-6:30pm; 4/9 1-2pm. Ruby B. Archie Public Library Auditorium. 434.799.5195.

April 5

Racin’ & Tastin’. A night of entertainment with music by Funky Bone, all-you-care-to-eat BBQ, and more. 5:30-10:30pm. Community Market. Eventbrite.

April 5, 6 & 7

Danville Kennel Club Agility Trials 8am-6pm. 434.432.8026. Olde Dominion Agricultural Center. SCCA Super Tour. $. Virginia International Raceway.

April 6

Indoor Yard Sale. 8am-12pm. Pelham Community Center. 434.489.9747.

Goodyear 5K Run/Walk. 9am. Goodyear Golf Course. Danville Running & Fitness Club. FB. National Tartan Day. Learn about Scottish Highland clans, their tartans, crest badges, coats of arms and ancient territories. Craft a Scottish thistle, taste traditional Scottish shortbread and tea, and enjoy music. 10am-1pm. Ruby B. Archie Public Library. 434.793.7432.

Real to Reel Film Series: “Jane.” Movie viewing of popular documentaries and biopics with a discussion after the film. 10:30am- 1:30pm. Ruby B. Archie Public Library Auditorium. 434.799.5195.

River District Black History Tour. Karice Luck-Brimmer, owner of Our History Matters, and local historian and genealogist will bring history to life. 1-2:15pm. 208 N. Union Street.

April 6 & 13

From Resistance to Resilience: Black Virginia’s Path to Freedom. Programs honoring the history of Brookneal’s Black communities from 1794 to 1944. 10am-4pm. Patrick Henry’s Red Hill. www.halifaxchamber.net.

April 6 (thru 27)

Live Music. 4/6 Gave & Vic; 4/12 Cameron Owen; 4/19 Deep South; 4/20 Slaughter Avenue; 4/26 Old 97; 4/27 MaMa BriBri & The Stranger. 7-10pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. 434.549.2739.

April 7 (thru 28)

Live Music. Hosted by Stuart Jennings. Sundays 2-6pm. 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. 434.549.2739.

April 9

The Gifts in Our Genes. Andrew McKnight weaves music about, and by, his ancestors into an interactive, enlightening and highly entertaining program. 7:30pm. Prizery. 434.572.8339.

April 9 (thru 25)

Parks & Rec Children & Teens Programs: Families Unplugged, Homeschool Physical Education, S.T.E.A.M. Night, Crafty Creations,

Homeschool Youth & Teen Archery, Lego Lab. Coates Community Center. playdanvilleva.com. 434.799.5150.

April 9 (thru 30)

Let’s Dance. Learn to dance the ChaCha. Tuesdays, 7:15-8:45pm. Ballou Rec. Center. 434.799.5216.

April 12, 13 & 14

High School Rodeo. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex. 434.432.8026. www.theodac.com.

April 13

Bridge2Bridge Race. Run, walk, bike, and kid-friendly options including 5K, 10K, Kids Fun Run, and a half marathon. Prices and registration at bridge2bridgedanville.com. 7:30am12pm. Danville Community Market. Car Show. Fundraiser to support the GES Beta Club. Spectators vote and kids choice. A spaghetti dinner follows for $12pp. 1-4pm. Gretna Elementary School Bus Parking Lot.

Time Machines Car Club Cruise-In 4-8pm. 3938 S. Boston Rd., Ringgold. 434.250.1405 or 434.728.0617.

April 18

P&R Resource Fair. Get to know what resources are available for low-income seniors related to mental health, wellness, financial and legal assistance, insurance, and more. Vendors, informational sessions, on-site document shredding, and resource bags. 10am-1pm. Danville Community Market. 434.799.5216.

April 18 (thru 21)

Tobacco Road Futurity Cutting Horse Show. 8am-6pm. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex. 434.432.8026. www.theodac.com.

April 19

Triumphant Quartet. A quintessential act in the gospel music industry. 7:30pm. Prizery. 434.572.8339.

April 20

Town of Chatham Yard Sale 8am-12pm. 434.441.1877 or 434.713.5054.

Butterfly Hello! family friendly butterfly activities and experience the delight of seeing lepidoptera from across North America. 10am-3pm. Danville Science Center. www.dsc.smv.org. Earth Day Extravaganza - Food trucks, vendors, activities for kids of all ages, and lots of information on how you can love Mother Earth. 10am2pm. Halifax Farmers Market. www. halifaxchamber.net.

Spring Fling. Enjoy a fantastic day on the sidewalks downtown with local vendors, artists and shops. Food and beverages available. 10am-3pm. Downtown South Boston.

Ridin Dirty V Rock the Hollow. Enjoy live music and miles of trails to ride while helping out a good cause. 10am-8pm. Red Oak Hollow ATV Trails. Youth Theatre Workshop. Current 5th2th grader. www.thesmokestack.org. (See ad page 4.)

Art Crawl in the OWE. Community gathering showcasing local and traveling artists. Featuring works for sale and for appreciation in a variety of mediums. 1pm. Old West End Historic District.

April 23

JeopardBee Spelling Competition Fundraiser for Project Literacy. Teams compete for titles of Spelling Bee Winner, Most Creative Spellers, and Most Enthusiastic Team. Food truck on site. 2 Witches Winery and Brewing Co. 6-8:30pm. Spelling Competition starts at 6pm. 434.483.7994.

April 23 & 30

Page and Screen: “The Martian” Book

discussion, 11am- 12pm (4/23). Movie viewing 11am- 2pm (4/30). Ruby B. Archie Public Library Auditorium. 434.799.5195.

April 24

Sensory-Friendly Night. Guests with disabilities can enjoy a less crowded environment as they explore exhibitions, experience a show in The Dome and get hands-on with sensoryfriendly activities. 5-7pm. Danville Science Center. www.dsc.smv.org.

April 25

Historic VA Garden Week - DanvilleChatham. 10am-5pm. DanvilleChatham@VAGardenWeek.org.

The Atlanta Pops Orchestra Ensemble with Griogair. Griogair sang the theme song in season six of Outlander. 7pm. Carrington Pavilion. Danville Concert Association. eventbrite.com.

April 26

Movies at the Crossing - Gnomeo and Juliet. Gates 7pm; Movie 8pm. Community Market. 434.857.3384.

April 26 & 27

Pittsylvania-Caswell Youth Livestock Show. 4/26 9am, 4/27 8am. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex. 434.432.8026. www.theodac.com.

April 27

Spring Vendor & Plant Sale. 8am4pm. Bartlett Yancey High School. FB. Spring River Cleanup. Enhance the beauty of the Dan River and keep our area clean and green. 9am12pm. Danville Science Center. 434.791.5160. www.dsc.smv.org. Knights of Columbus Wine Festival Music by Chocolate Chip Company Band. 11am-6pm. Community Market.

Parent/Caregiver Support Group. For parents or caregivers of individuals with a rare diagnosis, special needs, or physically challenged to help connect, share and empower one another. 1:30-2:30pm. Danville YMCA. 276.249.9592.

Chatham Cruise-In. Enjoy an evening with cars of all kinds. New entry from North. 4-8pm. Main Street, Chatham.

Upcoming

May 4

Run for the Roses. Food, live music, outrageous hats and outfits, premium bourbon, and wine & truffles.

Chatham Rotary Club fundraiser gala. 5:30-8pm. Motley Mill Waterfall Estate.

May 5

Spring at the Tavern. Living History with 18th Century reenactors, food, period music, event for all the family. Childrens 18th century games. 10am4pm. Yates Tavern, Gretna.

May 10

Flip Flop Friday. Music by Boule. 6-10pm. Homeplace Vineyard. 434.432.9463.

Writing is a Crime. Featuring Diane Fanning who will journey through her inspiration, breakthrough and process of researching and writing true crime. $. 7:30pm. Prizery. 434.572.8339.

May 11

Run for Rotary 5K. A fundraiser hosted by Danville Riverview Rotary. Packet Pickup May 5, 2-6pm, The Brick. 8:30AM-11AM. Woodall Nissan. 434.334.6699.

ODAC Spring Fling. Featuring local crafters, bakers and the kick off of the Farmers Market. 9am-4pm. Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex. 434.432.8026. www.theodac.com.

Like many other children of the 90s, Robbie Hendrix-Wirt grew up watching Shari Lewis and Lambchop on the television. Watching Lewis be a ventriloquist for three different puppets, sing songs, and dance around was very exciting for Hendrix-Wirt as a child. It made him wish he was there too, and it was what would later inspire his love of performing. At five, he started performing in church Christmas plays. His first role was a little snowman. Years later, his high school drama teacher, Mrs. Grant, taught him what it really meant to be an actor, and that was when he “fell head over heels in love with it.”

Besides Lewis, there are many other icons who have been role models for Hendrix-Wirt. He shared, “I’ve always loved Kristin Chenoweth. She’s a little firecracker with a big ole voice. I guess it’s true what they say… big things can come in small

packages. Another role model for me would be Dolly Parton. She oozes southern hospitality and charm. Seeing all that she’s done and continues to do in her career and for her community is just amazing. For comedic purposes, my role model would be Lucille Ball. Watching I Love Lucy growing up always made me laugh. I would even try some of her stunts out at home. Some didn’t turn out so well or would cause arguments between me and my siblings, but it was totally worth it.”

One thing all actors must endure — even stars like Kristen Chenoweth — is the ever so nerve-wracking audition. The first thing Hendrix-Wirt likes to do when preparing for an audition is research the show to get a sense of what characters he would be interested in playing. He then finds a monologue and song when auditioning for a musical, that both show off his strengths, and fit the personality

traits of the role(s) he has his eye on. Once materials have been picked, it is time to practice, practice, practice! He joked, “This was painful for family members growing up, and for my husband now, as they have to hear it repeatedly for days on end.”

All that hard work pays off, though, as Hendrix-Wirt has had the honor of playing many roles over the years. He has performed with Averett University, Theatre Guild of Rockingham County, Patrick & Henry Community College, and TheatreWorks Community Players. His favorite role of all time was the Emcee in Cabaret. He shared, “This one was special to me, because it was one I had on my list of many to get to portray. I will say it was one of the hardest roles I have ever had. I put myself in their shoes every night, and something happened each night on stage that would leave me breathless. I would literally drag myself

Action!

Inside the Method of Acting Robbie Hendrix-Wirt

by Emily Wilkerson photo

courtesy of Theatreworks Community Players

onto the stage. Coming home at the end of each rehearsal or production for this show, I would be so utterly drained and would have to reset my mind. Would I ever do this role again? Absolutely!”

In Hendrix-Wirt’s mind, one of the most important qualities an actor should possess is the ability to take criticism. “Some actors have in their minds that what they think and do is golden and shouldn’t be changed. However, a director has a very clear idea of how they want their production to be, and actors have to be able to put their thoughts aside and respect that.” He also advises any aspiring actor that “when a director says, ‘Can we try it a different way?’ to always go big or go home. They can always say no, but they’ll never forget you were willing to completely let loose and show them. Bigger is better. Never give up.”

THE POET’S CORNER My promise

by Barry Koplen photo by Barry Koplen

I will not harm you, will not, won’t knock on your door to unravel your well-woven cocoon, its layers so tightly wrapped I know they’re not mine to unwind, only yours for undoing reluctantly until you trust my love, then welcome my caring, embrace our connection.

About Barry’s Writing:

I spent years finding my style and improving it. That will always remain a challenge. Language must be pertinent, cohesive, and energetic in order to captivate readers. Simple sentences are just as important as longer complex sentences. A well-functioning

vocabulary is essential. So is honesty.

As for poetry, that will always be one of the most challenging of the verbal arts. Poetry writing can humble any writer; knowing that has made me measure myself as a poet by this thought: a poet is only as good as the next poem he or she writes.

Thanks to Eric Chou, an amazing Chinese author (and ‘second’ father to me), I learned the most important lesson about becoming a bona fide writer: writing has to be done every day That has been my golden rule.

Send Barry a note at barry@ evincemagazine.com

“

There you are, husband mine,” said Mamie, entering the living room while running one hand through her salt-and-pepper hair. She had just picked up an apron from the kitchen and was spinning it in the air with her other hand like a majorette twirling her baton.

“What are you doing?”

“Reading a physics article,” said Solly, his feet propped up on the coffee table, his graying hair a nice contrast to the chocolatebrown couch. “Trying to stay sharp. Join me. What’s for dinner?”

“Don’t know yet. Lots of choices. I’ll sit a minute. What’s the article about?”

“Quantum theory. I’ve never understood it.”

“Maybe soup and salad for dinner. Physics? I had a physics course at community college, but it was decades ago. Tell me about quantum theory.”

“It relates to particles, but I suppose it could relate to events, too. Quantum theory states that particles exist as possibilities in a bunch of different places simultaneously.* A quantum wave form describes all the possibilities mathematically.*”

“Like soup,” said Mamie, stretching.

“What?” asked Solly, his eyebrows raised.

“We’re having soup for dinner, but we don’t know what kind yet.”

“I don’t think the author meant

soup when he wrote the article.”

“But you love my soup.”

Solly put the article on his lap, folded his hands on top of it, and sighed. “Yes, I do,” he said.

“And I have recipes,” said Mamie.

“You do,” said Solly.

“We can pick one that uses up stuff in the refrigerator,” said Mamie.

Solly frowned. “That’s true,” he said, fingering the magazine.

“What?” asked Mamie.

“Well, it’s when the quantum wave form collapses* that the possibilities become a single definite particle or event or whatever that somebody detects.”

“Right. That’s when we choose the recipe.”

“What?”

“The recipe. That tells us what specific stuff is going into the soup. The recipe is a guide. Like the quantum wave form is a guide.”

“Something has to cause the possibilities to collapse into a definite state.”

“Like what?”

Solly paused, organizing his thoughts. “Gravity. The wave form may collapse from the effects of gravity on the system*.”

“That works for soup, too.” Mamie waved her apron.

“It does?”

“Sure. We pick a recipe like that yummy parsnip-and-apple soup recipe we got out of the newspaper.”

“We do?”

“I put on Ye Olde Apron. We get out parsnips, onion, apple, potato, garlic, other stuff, and the four spices -- three C’s and a G.”

“Three C’s and a G? It sounds like a musical group.”

“Not the Spice Girls. Anyway, then you and I peel, chop, measure,” said Mamie. “That changes the form of things and partly commits us.”

“To what?” Solly eyed her like she had turned into a harpsichord. He could hear the melodramatic music in his head.

“To that particular kind of soup. Similar to quantum theory.”

“Quantum theory?”

“Sure.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“It’s not?”

“Making soup is not quantum theory.”

“It is like quantum theory,” said Mamie. “We move from an indefinite, imaginative world with many possibilities to a definite

Quantum Soup

(A Mamie and Solly Story)

by Linda Lemery

world with a definite outcome we can see. The parts become the soup.”

Solly goggled at her. “What about gravitational effects,” he said at last.

“When you make soup, you have to drop vegetables into the boiling pot,” said Mamie. “If not for gravity, the vegetables would just be drifting around in the air. To avoid that, we’d have to eat everything like astronauts: all mushed up out of a toothpaste tube.”

“I’d rather avoid the vegetables altogether,” said Solly.

“Gravity commits us, makes us pick a path,” Mamie continued. “Plus, vegetables change when heat is applied. They get softer, which is the beginning of collapse. Doesn’t that article show that quantum wave form thingie collapsing to make a definite choice?”

“You surprise me, Mamie. There’s an unexpected logic here,” said Solly. He took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.

“Physics seemed harder in community college,” said Mamie reflectively. “Maybe I would do better now.”

“Maybe you would,” said Solly, wondering what had just happened.

About the author: Linda Lemery llemery@gmail.com wishes readers Happy Easter and welcomes reader comments. Reference* available on request.

Movies You Missed from 20 years ago

by Josh Lucia

Mean Girls

(6/10 Rating)

Released July 25, 2004 Stream on Fubo, Paramount+, and Showtime. For rent/purchase on all major platforms.

Genre: Comedy

PG-13: Sexual content, language, and some teen partying 1h 37m

“Get in loser, we’re going shopping.” A couple years ago, I noticed my now fifteen-year-old son, Jude, checking out a Mean

Girls game while shopping. It took me by surprise because I had not shared this movie with him, but found out it is one of his favorite films. This just goes to show that this movie still holds up. It has spawned a sequel TV movie, that I can only assume is terrible, a broadway musical, and most recently a film adaptation of that musical. The musical was nominated for twelve awards at the 72nd Tony Awards, including Best Musical. However, the film adaptation of the musical is quite terrible and pointless. My son agrees. The original Mean Girls has become a classic, though. Written by Tina Fey and featuring many of her SNL costars, this movie is full of great comedic one-liners and started the careers of multiple actors, including Oscar nominated Amanda Seyfried (Mank) and Rachel McAdams (Spotlight). Lindsay Lohan was probably at the peak of her career, playing Cady, the formerly homeschooled new girl navigating her way through the cliques of high school. She befriends two outcasts who guide her through sabotaging

“The Plastics,” the popular girls worshiped by the rest of the school…the Mean Girls, led by Regina George (McAdams). Eventually, Cady finds herself becoming a mean girl herself as their plan to sabotage falls apart and chaos engulfs the school. The movie dances between realism and satire, but it is all relatable to anyone that survived through the cliques of high school. Skip the newest iteration. It is almost the same script with a far less talented cast and Tina Fey and company phoning it in with much safer jokes. The only big difference is they add some forgettable musical numbers. Stick to your couch and enjoy this 2004 version. It’s no masterpiece, but it’s funny and…it’s pretty “fetch.”

Also released in April 2004: The Punisher, Hellboy, Home on the Range, Walking Tall, The Girl Next Door, The Whole Ten Yards, Kill Bill: Volume 2, Man on Fire, Laws of Attraction, 13 Going On 30 (follow @jlucia85 for these reviews and more)

ACROSS

1 Nation

6 __-a-sketch (child’s toy)

10 Gadfly

14 Aleutian

15 Mislead lead on

16 Make over

17 Step

18 Take

19 Baker’s need

20 Scorching

21 Bode

23 Moving the boat

25 Type of missile

26 Finish

27 Flying insect

30 Thus (3 wds.)

34 Crow

35 Swine

36 Surface to air missile

38 Lame

39 Wing

40 Railway

42 Compass point

Games Crossword Puzzle

63 Cur

64 Christmas song

65 Rock and Roll “King”

66 Famous cookies

67 Pig food

68 Learns

DOWN

1 Ribbon tie

2 Singing voice

3 Hamburger, for example

4 French “yes”

5 Cruelty

6 Inched forward

7 Rotate

8 Accountant

9 Jewish people

10 Masses

11 Jacob’s son

12 Adam’s garden

13 Chinese chime

22 Rob

24 Only

25 Trade

27 Omelette need

28 List of highly desired guests

29 Juliet’s boyfriend

30 Congealed

31 Eye

32 Sugar-free brand

33 Merits

35 Greek goddess of youth

37 Max

40 Furthermore

41 Poetic “evening”

43 Decrees

46 Arm parts

47 Moray

48 Friday (abbr.)

50 Puppy

51 Momma

52 Short for aluminum

53 World organization

54 Margarine

55 Singer

56 Harmful rain

57 Loch __ monster

60 Sun’s name

62 Roberto’s yes

In Plain Sight

by Mack Williams

On a recent Sunday, I parked next to the grounds of the Danville Museum, as I usually do, and walked along the white picket fence surrounding that museum to a point where I crossed the road and entered Danville’s First Presbyterian Church, to which I belong, and sing in the choir.

Standing out against the row of white slats of the picket fence was a black glove atop one of those slats. It had been pulled down onto the pointed tip of the slat in much the same fashion as a glove is pulled over human fingers and wrist.

I believe I could tell, just from looking at it, that none of the glove’s formerly absorbed human warmth remained, unlike the often-encountered lingering warmth in the handle of a freshly re-used grocery basket.

With its fingers pointed skyward, the glove resembled some sort of modern art on display in a public place where a passerby would notice. Even just a simple finger (real or glove) can resemble a work of modern art (not so for just the forearm or the elbow).

And just so you’ll know, the phrases: “Just a helping hand along the way” and “A friendly hi” occurred to me.

And speaking of artwork, one of

my first astronomy books as a youth was the New Handbook of the Heavens. On its cover was a pallid hand holding a cube upwards in the same manner as the genteel person holds a cup of tea. Upon that cube were inscribed several constellations, their member stars connected by lines. The background of the cover artwork depicted “the blackness of space.”

But of course, I realized that the glove’s placement on that white fence slat was more of a utilitarian than artistic nature.

Someone had found a lost glove of an exerciser, dog walker, or church goer; and that finder, instead of deciding to leave the glove with the office staff of First Presbyterian or the Danville Museum, had been “more to the point,” affixing it to something in

the immediate vicinity where it had been lost and could be seen in plain sight by the one who had lost it.

But, to have every-other-severalfeet-or-so of public space set aside as a possible “lost and found” receptacle would probably be breaking some city law (at least, the garbage man wouldn’t like it).

I thought about the instant I looked up and first saw that glove. If I hadn’t looked up then, I wouldn’t have seen it! Being an old man “goin’ on 73” with replaced hips, a fraction of my walking time is spent in looking foot-ward; and a fraction of my walking time is spent looking forward.

Some other old men just look straight down all the time they are walking; so, they would probably

have missed the glove (but not in the same way the glove’s owner had “missed” it).

The same goes for a lot of young people whose downward glance leads, not to the sidewalk or to their feet, but to a hard plastic (destruction proof) “communication rectangle” ranging from 5-plus inches in length by 3-plus inches in width (mine is smaller; it “flips”).

So, maybe it’s not so simple in the placing something lost, in order for it be found again.

Perhaps certain qualifiers are involved.

Leading to the asking of an elusively simple question:

Just in what direction is “in plain sight?”