Showcase Magazine September 2017

DOING IT THE HARD WAY WITH AMERICAN AQUARIUM’S BJ BARHAM PAGE 12

The Mix Tape Issue

www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 1

HELLO, HEALTH.

Danville Regional Medical Center and Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County are now Sovah Health.

It’s time to welcome health in new ways. Your local hospitals are now Sovah Health. Together we are stronger.

We’re more than two hospitals—we’re your neighbors, friends and family. We understand this region because we live here, and we’re uniting to serve your needs and nurture the health of our communities for generations to come.

From preventative care and specialty care to convenient walk-in clinics and emergency room visits, Sovah Health cares for you during every stage of life. Say hello to caring. Say hello to a healthier you. Say hello to Sovah Health.

Learn more at SovahHealth.com.

www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 3

CONTENTS PG.

Showcase Magazine

September 2017

12

The Mix Tape Issu e @showcaseDVA

showcasedanville @ info@showcasemagazine.com

Features

Features

The Hard Way

The Best Tech Secret in Martinsville

Jason Springs picks the brain of American Aquarium’s BJ Barham 12

Bo knows wireless, and he knows how to fix most phone accidents.

Superfan

By Paul Seiple

By Jason Springs

A love for music has taken Barry Shelton on a memorable journey.

By Paul Seiple

18

The Metamorphosis of Dustin Turner

From 310 pound lost soul to fitness, health, and bodybuilding fanatic.

By Paul Seiple

The Mix Tape Issue

Showcase Magazine

20

22

Big Bear’s Wife

How a virtual recipe box turned into a popular food blog.

By Paul Seiple

24

The Craft Beer Revolution Just what exactly is craft beer?

By Scott Buckner

28

mix tape: a compilation of favorite songs by a variety of artists, recorded on cassette tapes or CDs. Made popular in the eighties.

Also Inside Publisher’s Letter The Discovery of New Things 8

He Said...

She Said...

Fall Treks

Teacher of the Year

Bike the trails this fall.

By Larry Oldham & Dena Hill

By Beth Stinnett

30

11

Not So Common – Common Sense!

Accreditation Results - What is being measured?

By Stan Jones

33 4 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

PG.

18

6 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

“My father worked hard.

He started dieting and losing some weight.

One day it clicked for me. I was sick of being overweight.�

PG.

09.17

CONTENTS

20

www.showcasemagazine.com Magazine 7 www.showcasemagazine.com || September september2017 2017| | Showcase Showcase Magazine

Publisher’s Letter

The Discovery of New Things My first boombox had one speaker. Radio reception was hit and miss. The antenna had to be positioned just right to get any music through the static. And I loved it.

I remember spending hours listening to songs I really didn’t like just to get to one I wanted to hear, and then I’d hit record on the cassette player and add a song to my mix tape. That was the eighties.

I had a case of mix tapes, labeled by moods and genre.

Many of them had such a diverse collection of songs that it was nearly impossible to categorize. Those were my “discovery” tapes. I liked to loan them out to my friends in hopes a song or two by an artist they weren’t familiar with would pique their interest. Music has always been important to me, and I’ve tried to find ways to incorporate it into all aspects of my life. Today, I still have mix tapes, they’re just called playlists. Granted, they’re not as fun to compile. I mean, it only takes one fingertip tap to add a song to a playlist whereas the mix tapes of the eighties required a great deal of work to create, and you couldn’t “delete” a song from a cassette.

So, you had to be sure you really wanted that song representing you because fast forwarding wasn’t as easy as hitting Next. Technology is great, but there is a lot to be said about the effort that went into creating the perfect mix tape.

This issue of Showcase was created on the basic principles of a “discovery” mix tape — gathering a collection of diverse content with the hope readers would find something that “piques their interest.” Whether it be a song or artist, or maybe finding inspiration through the positive stories, the goal is to discover something new, or to view something you may have previous notions about in a different light. French novelist, Marcel Proust said, “The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Now, I’m not asking you to give Florida Georgia Line a second listen. Some things aren’t worth it. I kid. Maybe.

You’ll notice throughout the issue, the features have “mix tapes.” I’ve included mine here to highlight five songs I listened to while putting this magazine together. A Spotify playlist of all the songs mentioned in this issue, as well as a few that aren’t, will be linked on showcasemagazine.com.

Speaking of our site, have you seen it lately? We’ve worked hard to notch out our place in cyberspace to provide you with positive local stories and events as well as some national coverage.

You’ll find the site is its own entity along with being an extension of the print edition. Each month, we will expand on some of the content featured in print online. We will also have content exclusive to our website. If you haven’t already, give us a like or a follow on social media. If you have liked us or followed us, thank you. We are planning some neat things for social media.

I’ve rambled enough, so I’ll just say, let’s give three cheers to the fall, and here’s to discovering something new.

Enjoy the issue.

8 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

showcase September 2017

STAFF PICKS : What would be the first song on your mix tape?

CEO Andrew Scott Brooks scott@showcasemagazine.com Publisher Paul Seiple paul@showcasemagazine.com President Larry Oldham larry@showcasemagazine.com Graphic Designer Kim Demont demontdesign@verizon.net Finance Manager Cindy Astin cindy@showcasemagazine.com

Soma by Smashing Pumpkins

Let It Be

by The Beatles

Brick House by the Commodores

C h i e f P h otog r a p h e r Mariah Blankenship Springs

Cover Me Up

by Jason Isbell

Advertising Larry Oldham Director of Sales and Marketing larry@showcasemagazine.com | 434.728.3713

Roll Me Away Lee Vogler

by Bob Seger Marketing Consultant lee@showcasemagazine.com | 434.548.5335 C u stom e r S e r v i c e Subscribe to Home Delivery for $24 per year 753 Main Street #3, Danville, VA 24541 Phone 434.709.7349 info@showcasemagazine.com www.showcasemagazine.com contriButinG Writers Scott Buckner | Dena Hill | Stan Jones Larry Oldham | Paul Seiple Jason Springs | Beth Stinnett c o n t r i B u t i n G P h oto G r a P h e r S Angie Barrett | Scott Buckner | Jillian Clark Michelle Dalton Photography Miguel Emmanuelli | Bo Gravely | Paul Seiple Martinsville Henry County Department of Tourism Co v e r BJ Barham, photo by Miguel Emmanuelli Showcase Magazine reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing that does not meet Showcase Magazine standards. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned.

Showcase Magazine assumes no responsibility for information, products, services, or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. c 2017 Showcase Magazine Inc.

www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 9

Your therapy shouldn’t take the day off.

Call us for a tour and to discuss a plan of care to fit your individual needs.

®

We Offer 7 Days a Week of Rehab!

Piney Forest Health & Rehabilitation Center 450 Piney Forest Road • Danville, VA 24540 • 434-799-1565 PineyForestRehab.com

Piney Forest HRC Seven Day Rehab_quarter page ad.indd 1

10 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

10/11/2016 10:33:44 AM

He Said She Said

He Said... She Said...

Teacher of the Year

He Said...

It is that dreaded time of the year for me — the end of summer. Yes, I am talking about “back to school” time. When our kids graduated, my assumption was that all of my spare time getting my kids ready for the new school year would be a thing of the past. I didn’t know marrying a teacher would constitute those same old routines over and over again.

We have shopped for supplies for you. We have gone to all the dress shops in Danville, Greensboro, Charlotte, and even Myrtle Beach looking for the perfect outfits to impress the kids. You have acquired a new calendar to keep up with meetings and other special events to keep you on track. You have pored over paper after paper of introductions for your students. You have shopped for books on how to organize your classrooms. You have shopped for bulletin board materials to ensure that you pass inspection just in case those twins come by from HGTV. I am going through more excruciating pain getting you ready for school than I remember going through with my own kids. I’m happy that you have a job you truly enjoy. I am glad you love your school, your principal, and all your fellow teachers you will consort with this year. It’s good to see you enjoying your kids and teaching them to learn. I know how important that is to you. That’s what makes

Written by Larry Oldham & Dena Hill Photo by Michelle Dalton Photography

you an exceptional teacher. I would promote the idea of submitting your name as “Teacher of the Year” but I’m afraid if you won, you would want to continue teaching a few more years and to be honest with you, I’m tired of buying more pencils.

She Said...

Being married to you is probably more trouble than teaching a room full of thirty kids. At least they go home at night, and with you it is a steady diatribe of not this and not that, and you are tired, or hungry or even worse, bored.

For your information, I loved getting my own kids ready for school all those years. I loved buying back packs, pencils, picking out cool erasers, getting the best deal on notebook

paper, and finding just the right pencil sharpener to fit in the school box. I loved leaving notes in my children’s lunchbox to surprise them at lunch. They would run home after school excited about a poem, or a saying, or just an “I love you.”

My daughter and sons are all grown now and have their own children to get ready for school and, yes, you’re right, I sort of miss those days. I do prepare myself for school, and I do enjoy buying supplies for the children who have less than we do. It makes me feel good to supply them with the tools they need to learn and participate the way they should. If I can’t prepare myself for school, how can I expect for my kids to be prepared for school? I miss those days but I get to relive them every year when I am preparing for the new students.

This is a vast, exciting world to them. I love the wonder in their eyes, and I love the end of the year when I acknowledge their growth, and how I, as one teacher, hopefully made a little difference in their lives.

It is not like you say, just buying pencils and just doing the same thing over and over each year. It is my life as a teacher, and I would not trade anything for all the memories and happiness these children have brought into my life. I would say the same thing about you but my teacher certificate doesn’t allow me to lie. Ha ha!

www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 11

Feature The Hard Way

The Hard Way Jason Springs Picks the Brain of American Aquarium’s BJ Barham Written by Jason Springs Photos by Jillian Clark & Miguel Emmanuelli

I

n the midst of his “Great 48” tour, where he set out

to play 53 shows in 59 days through 48 states,

I caught up with American Aquarium front man and Reidsville, NC native, BJ Barham, touching on all things music, touring, growing up in the South, and a little bit of politics. At the time we talked, he was somewhere between Ohio and Pittsburgh, with wife, Rachael, and dog, Bueller, in tow. Being a songwriter and musician myself, I’ve followed Barham’s music for the last eight years, watching and studying in admiration one of the very few artists from my area to have continued success on a large scale. Not one to subscribe to the idea of “write a hit song and get signed to some big Nashville label to try to get famous,” he’s spent his songwriting career simply putting in the work as an independent artist, through

12 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

extensive touring, continually releasing records, and constantly pushing himself to better his craft. He’s been hailed as one of the top artists in his genre, and on this rainy afternoon, decided to let Showcase Magazine into his world a bit. Enjoy.

JS: You’re in the middle of the ‘Great 48’ tour, where you set out to play shows in all 48 contiguous states.

It’s probably one of, if not THE most ambitious rounds

anyone’s tried to make. How’s that been going so far?

BJ: It’s going really well, we’ve got a week and a half left.

It’s been intense, but a good kind of intense. It’s me, my wife, and my dog, and we’re getting to see the whole country. I’m very fortunate to get to do something like this.

JS: I keep up with you on social media, and you really seem to take advantage of that outlet to connect with your fans. I’ve gotten to see a lot of the pictures of you guys hitting all the state parks along the way. As an independent musician, you’re kind of the king of social media these days.

BJ: I like to keep people up to date with what’s going on.

I’ve found it’s a useful way of getting my music in people’s hands. A good picture might get shared with somebody who’s never heard of our band, they might go check out the picture, and then the band, and become a fan. All because of some crazy picture of some state park. A lot of negative things have changed in the music industry since the 90s, but I think the invention of social media has allowed folks like to me keep up.

sheer necessity. I sat down every day for seven or eight hours and forced myself to play chords just so I could get through a show. From there, I continued to play guitar, and then I realized I was only going to be pretty good at the chords for so long, and then I needed a lead guitar player. So, I started putting together a band. For the last twelve years, it seems I’m continually trying to put together a band.

JS: You’ve had quite a few lineup changes, most recently a full turnover of new members.

BJ: Yeah, I’ve never made a record with the same band that was on the previous record. We’ve always either lost somebody or gained somebody. The lineup’s consistently changed, I’ve never had a complete turnover before, but Continued to Page 14

JS: You grew up in Reidsville, NC. Can you tell us a bit of how that small life affects your writing and inspires you as an artist?

BJ: I think to be a good writer you have to be from the darker side of things. There’s not too many good writers I enjoy who came with a silver spoon in their mouth.

Most people come from hard times and small towns, and they’ve seen hard times first hand. I think that’s what makes this style of music, the Americana/Alt-Country stuff, the left-of-center country music, that’s what makes it real. Most of the people writing that stuff lived it. In the genre of music that we’re playing, especially being southern and being from a small town, I think I have a pretty unique perspective on life. A lot of folks from the city, or from the north, or west coast, I don’t think they see life the way we see it. They look at us as a bunch of uneducated hillbillies, and that’s just not true. We just talk funny.

JS: So, how did you get started in music, was it playing in Reidsville or Raleigh or what?

BJ: I never played in Reidsville. I didn’t pick up a guitar until I was in my late teens or early twenties. I started a band in high school, but I was just the singer, I didn’t play guitar because I didn’t know how. Then once I was in college, I started booking some gigs for the band. My guitar player quit, and I already had some shows booked, so I had to learn how to play guitar. I didn’t want to cancel the gigs I had booked. I learned to play guitar out of www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 13

Feature The Hard Way Continued from Page 13

I’ve already got a new band, and I’m excited about the new challenge. We start touring on August 31st, and I’m tickled, man. I can’t wait, I couldn’t be happier with where things are going.

JS: That’s great, man, I’m excited to see what you come up with next. So, Reidsville is very similar to Danville in that both cities kind of depended on that blue collar textile/tobacco income and such. It’s also kind of the same with the music scenes, we have the Carrington Pavilion, Reidsville has Market Square, but was there any other music around the area when you were younger?”

BJ: There really was nowhere to play in Reidsville.

Growing up, I thought you were either a guy who plays covers in a bar, or I thought you were Tim McGraw. I didn’t know there was an in between. Moving to Raleigh allowed me to realize there is this middle ground where you can play original music and get paid for it, and work, and try to make something for yourself. Then I realized most towns had a scene where they supported original music, so I started traveling around the country at 21 trying to figure out where those scenes were. And, I’m still trying to figure them all out.

JS: Did you ever have to deal with The 3-4 hour “cover band” gigs, or did you just jump straight into original music?

BJ: Yeah, I refused to do cover gigs. I came right into Raleigh doing original music and never deterred from that. It was a lot harder, because I had friends who did that to pay the bills, but they never got out of the cover gigs. Those gigs pay pretty good money, but they got used to the money, and didn’t want to sacrifice the money for the artistic merit. And, the artistic merit was the most important thing for me from the beginning. I didn’t want to be known as the guy who did a really great Van Morrison cover, I wanted to be the guy that, “Oh, wow, he’s got a couple songs that are really good that he wrote himself.” And at first, nobody cared, nobody wanted to hear my songs. But, it’s about cultivating a culture for original music. Early on I stubbornly refused to play covers, but if I was the guy who got penned as the “cover guy” and played six nights a week and made a couple thousand bucks a week playing cover gigs, I don’t that I’d be where I am today.

JS: It’s funny, because there’s times when we’ll put together shows we’ll pride ourselves on bringing in another quality artists and promote the shows as, “Hey, man, if you’re 14 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

coming out for this, you’re going to hear mainly original music, and we’re proud of that.” And we sort of get hated on by some other musicians in the area because of it sometimes.

BJ: And there’s nothing to be ashamed of in that, you’re doing it the right way. The right way in most instances tends to be the harder way, but there’s a reason that whatever you build that way sticks around longer than what you build the easy way. I’ve always kind of prided myself on this band being a band that earned it the hard way. It took us twelve years to get where we are today, but I wouldn’t go back and take an easier road. I’ve seen friends who’ve taken the easier road, and don’t get me wrong, the payout is usually pretty instant and quick, but it’s not long lasting. And this is something that I want to do for my entire life, so I’m okay with taking the slow and right way if it means that I get to play music for people for the rest of my life.

JS: Well, and that’s kind of the difference in people going into music trying to land that huge record deal, or going about it the way you guys have and sticking to it as an independent artist, and being proud of that.

BJ: For sure, we built a name on not bending to the conventional. We definitely wanted to do it our way. Like I said, our way was the hard way. It was the stubborn way. But, looking back twelve years later, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. It got me to where I am right now.

JS: So, you went to NC State to study political science and history, and I know that you’re a huge advocate for human rights in general. What are your thoughts on crossing that political line in music? It seems to be big conversation these days. Is it something that you would aim for simply just to do it, or if there’s a subject you feel that needs to be written about, then that’s simply fair game?

BJ: Most of my writing is pretty autobiographical, and I haven’t gotten too political in records. Rockingham may have been my most political record, a very, very subtle political record. I haven’t come out and written a “White Man’s World” yet. (see Jason Isbell’s 2017 release, The Nashville Sound) But, I applaud folks like that for coming out and saying those things, especially when you have that kind of stage to do it. When you literally have the entire Americana world at your fingertips, coming out and making a statement like that is a really, really great thing.

I’ve never shied away from having conversations with folks. I understand the type of music that I play crosses party lines. I play for just as many Democrats every night

as I do Republicans. I try not judge people based off of their political preference. I like to think that most people are good people at heart until they prove me otherwise.

If someone wants to have an educated talk about politics with me, I’m totally okay with it, but when you start either calling me an idiot for what I believe in, or tell me that what I believe in is wrong, then we have a problem.

Because, usually what people want to tell me I’m wrong about isn’t a right or wrong thing, it’s just basic human decency. Especially being from the South, when it comes to race, when it comes to sexual orientation, I don’t see any of that stuff. We’re all human beings, and I think we need to work pretty hard to be good to each other. I’m pretty vocal about that, just because I don’t believe we should start segregating people because of who they are.

JS: Well, we did that 75 years ago, and it was completely wrong BJ: Yeah, I refuse to let me, or my family, or my friends be on the wrong side of history. I don’t talk about it too much on stage, because people didn’t come to hear me go on a political rant, they came to hear songs. I talk about it as much as I can. I’m very confident in what I believe in. I’m very confident in where I stand on it. I just don’t force it down people’s throats. Because I would hate if someone on the opposite side tried to force it down my throat. There’s a lot of negative things about the South,

but there’s also a lot of positive things. The negative things are what everybody judges us for, and I think that’s just life. Nobody’s going to bring up the good things you did, they’re going to talk about the bad things you did. The South has its fair share of skeletons in the closet, but I think there’s a lot more young, southern men that are going out and getting an education. They’re going out and seeing the world. And kind of learning that different doesn’t mean good and bad, different just means different.

I’m a firm believer that hate is taught, and the more we can reduce kids being taught to think that way, the better the world’s going to be.

JS: I agree completely. Speaking of kids, I saw before you started the “Great 48” tour that this was kind of a big hurrah before you and Rachael jump into that next step of family planning. So, when can we expect a little Barham?

BJ: That’s definitely the next logical step. My wife and I are getting ready to start our third year of marriage in a couple of months. We bought a house, we’ve seen the entire country, we’ve seen a lot of the world. We were very careful in planning our future, we wanted to kind of take it one step at a time and sort of methodically check off the checklist. I think we’re prepared. I think we’re at the point where we could bring a child into the world and Continued to Page 16 www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 15

Feature Superfan Continued from Page 15

songwriting, that goes to shows, not for entertainment, but to be enriched. To feel something, to hear stories.

That’s a cool thing about Texas. They still appreciate the storytelling aspect of songwriting, and that’s why we go there a lot. They treat us better than anywhere else in the country, and as long as they keep treating us with the love they have, and they keep supporting the songs the way they have, we’ll continue to go back there a lot. I love it out there, if I didn’t live in North Carolina, I would live in the hill country of Texas. I’d live in New Braunfels, Texas, right there on the river, if my heart wasn’t so deeply rooted in North Carolina.

give it a good life. Teach it things, and it be something to enrich our life. That’s what I’m excited about. So, the easiest answer there is “yes.”

JS: Well, I did see that you got Yard of the Month, so you’re pretty much ready to roll, huh?

BJ: Exactly, we’re the pride and envy of every 65-year-old person in Wendell, NC right now.

JS: Back to music. So, your last record, Rockingham, was a solo record. And I’ve heard that you’ve already got the next American Aquarium record written and ready to go?

BJ: Yeah, man, I’ve got a lot of it done.

Still have a little tinkering to do, but it’s called Things Change. It’s definitely an American Aquarium record, and I’m really excited about it.

SM: You guys tour Texas a lot with a great following, how’s that reception compared to the other places you get to play?

BJ: Before Burn. Flicker. Die. came out, we toured Texas how most bands tour Texas. We’d hit Houston, Austin, Dallas, and then we’d move west. Turnpike Troubadours and Jason Boland are the two bands I credit for all of our success in Texas because they put us in front of the right people. They put us in front of a music-loving crowd that still appreciates songs, that still appreciates the craft of 16 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

JS: A lot of artists get caught up in the party lifestyle of music. I know you’ve been on both sides of that. Now, you’re completely sober, you take great pride in that. Have you seen your audience change at all since that happened?

BJ: Well, I got most of my audience when I was in college in my early twenties, and they’re growing up with me.

So, I think that at the same time I’m making these big life decisions; getting married, buying a house, trying to get sober, trying to get my life straight, I think they’re going through the same thing. And, I think that’s why these songs relate to so many people. I’m the same age as most of the people who are really into our band. We’ve just grown up together. I’ve taken them through the party and now is the coming down. Realizing that life’s not a giant party. That if you go out five or six nights a week in your 40s and get messed up every night that you might have a problem. It got bad for me, it just got embarrassing because I had a problem. And I wasn’t willing to admit that I had a problem. Once I got the drinking under control, the band started being successful. I don’t think that’s just chance. I think that it’s because when I got sober I also started taking my shows way more seriously. I started taking music way more seriously.

JS: One last question. Is there anything you wish you would have known before you started writing and playing music for a living?

BJ: It’s not easy. There’s no such thing as a quick fix, as you’ll learn in most situations in life. The quick fix is usually the start of the next problem. If you want to make it in this business, it’s a real screwed up industry to try to make it in. But, if you keep your head down, and you keep your mouth shut, it eventually pays off. I’m a big believer in that. *Editor’s Note: American Aquarium will play the Blind Tiger in Greensboro, NC on September 15 with special, opening guest Jason Springs. Tickets can be purchased at theblindtiger.com.

DANVILLE

Science

Cen t er SATURDAY ONLY!

50% Off GALLERY ADMISSION

Old 97 Rail Days

September 23rd & 24th

Saturday 10-5pm & Sunday 11-2pm Enjoy Operating N-scale layouts, From Here to There exhibit and the Estlow’s Train exhibit

THE DANVILLE SCIENCE CENTER dsc.smv.org •

(434) 791-5160

• facebook.com/DanvilleScienceCenter

www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 17

Feature Superfan

Superfan Written by Paul Seiple Photos by Mariah Springs

B

arry “Beesty” Shelton developed an ear for music

at an early age. “One of my first, of many

memories was listening to whatever my parents were playing on the radio, their vinyl or 8-track tapes,” Shelton says. In the beginning, it was mostly the songs of the seventies when storytelling was king. Shelton fondly

remembers soaking up the sounds of artists such as Eric Clapton, The Eagles, and Bob Seger, but it was four guys in greasepaint that changed his life. “In middle school, someone brought KISS Alive II to music appreciation class on “listen and tell” day. The album which was gatefold, opened to scene from a KISS show complete with flames, elevated platforms, and Peter Criss’s drum riser. That day, I discovered the magic, mystery, and majesty of KISS. I lured my parents to a store that evening to get my own copy of Alive II. The rest is KISSstory,” Shelton says.

The Healing Sound Music has always been there for Shelton, helping him through troubled times and health issues. “It is my escape. Over the years, music has remained a constant and a lifesaver for me,” Shelton adds.

Shelton’s favorite band is KISS. “They were my heroes.”

Shelton loves the sonic sound of KISS—the way Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons blend rock and melody. But the appreciation goes much deeper than the music. “I, like most of the KISS ARMY fan club, admired the four individuals who donned the greasepaint and ‘seven-inch heels’ to morph into a rock-and-roll phenomenon.”

Shelton has amassed a vast collection of KISS keepsakes.

“I own every KISS record in just about every format, including 8-track tapes.” Shelton isn’t just a fan, he’s also a musician. He owns and plays signature series Gene Simmons basses and Paul Stanley acoustic and electric guitars. His KISS shrine includes posters, magazines, guitar picks, drumsticks, and “tons of signed memorabilia.” Shelton has a KISS tattoo on his right leg.

The Live Experience One criterion for being a music superfan is catching your favorite artists on tour. When asked how many shows he’s seen, Shelton’s response is “a lot.” His list spans just about every genre from Gordon Lightfoot to Morris Day and the Time, and he vividly remembers all 18 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

of them. “A T-shirt I own says it all, ‘I may be old, but I got to see all the cool bands.’ I remember going with the folks back in ’78 to see the Doobie Brothers. I believe UFO opened. I saw the Eagles on ‘The Long Run’ tour in ’79.” It was around 1984 that Shelton started attending concerts regularly. “I was good friends with a local record store manager. He got my buddies and me tickets to Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Bark At The Moon’ tour with Accept opening in Greensboro. Tickets were much cheaper back then. I think I paid $12.50 to see Iron Maiden and Twister Sister in 1985. I saw a bit of everyone because I love good music regardless of the genre. But, rock-and-roll has always been my favorite,” Shelton says.

Meeting The Heroes Not surprisingly, Shelton has many memorable concert experiences. One of his favorites is seeing KISS on the reunion tour in 1996. “It was the first time I got to see the original line-up with all the glory of the seventies shows.”

Through the years, Shelton has met many of his heroes and shared his own music with them. “Bret Michaels of Poison comes to mind. Most every show I see whether he is solo or with Poison, Bret points out that he can see the hunger of me chasing the rock-and-roll dream. That makes me feel good,” Shelton adds. “I’ve had artists put the microphone out there, and I’d sing the next line.

There’s magic in that too. I’ve been onstage dancing and singing along with Salt ’N Pepa and Vanilla Ice.” While the list is small, there are a few of Shelton’s favorite artists he has yet to see live. “As far as bucket list artists go, I’d still like to see Jimmy Buffett or the Dead & Company, mainly for the experience. I hate that I never had the chance to see Nirvana, but I plan on catching Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters in October.

For Barry Shelton, music and the live show that comes with it are lifeblood. He is the ultimate superfan. “Every concert experience, all live music, is memorable. I cherish ever moment of every show.” www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 19

Feature Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis of Dustin Turner From 300-Pound Lost Soul To Fitness, Health, and Bodybuilding Fanatic Written by Paul Seiple Photos by Mariah Springs

R

ollercoasters are one of the world’s ultimate thrill

rides. People wait in lines, for hours at a time,

just to experience the sudden drops, winding curves, and speeds that peel your face back. After the ride, you’re thankful to put your feet on solid ground. Fifteen minutes later, you jump in line for the next ride.

In many ways, life is like a rollercoaster. Life has its ups and downs. From a physics standpoint, rollercoasters work based off the law of conservation of energy. The coaster only goes as fast as the potential (stored) energy grants. Life goes in the direction our feelings and surroundings take us. The law states energy cannot be created or destroyed. It transforms from one form to another. It’s easy to stay on a life path even if it’s not the direction you want to take. Sometimes you have to you have to find your stored energy and transform yourself into the person you know you are destined to be.

In the Beginning Throughout his life, Dustin Turner has been on his share

of rides. “As a youth, I was very lost and always turned to food when hard times hit,” Turner says. When boredom or loneliness struck, food was Turner’s crutch. “Home life wasn’t always good. My parents were on drugs when I was younger. Depression was bad. I fell behind in school.

Anxiety ate me alive,” Turner adds. One constant positive in his life was the respect Turner had for his heroes on television and the big screen. “I loved wrestling, and I loved Arnold Schwarzenegger. The physiques those guys had were amazing. Watching Arnold as the Terminator, the Commando, and Dutch from Predator made me dream of having a body like that.”

Poor food choices and insufficient knowledge of a healthy diet held Turner back. He clung to the hope that once life stabilized, he would be able to get more active, lose weight, and gain muscle. By the age of 18, Turner lived with his father, who was a few years drug free. “My father worked hard. He started dieting and losing some weight.

One day it clicked for me. I was sick of being overweight,” Turner says.

Time For A Change At his heaviest, Turner tipped the scales at 310 pounds.

“I couldn’t fit into my car,” he adds. One evening, his father asked him if he wanted to make a trip to the store.

Turner continues, “I said, ‘No.’ I broke down in tears.

I was ashamed of the way I looked.” He reflected on his size 4XL sweatshirt and size 46 pants. It was a defining moment for Turner. He forced himself to go to the store.

“I didn’t know much about dieting, but I knew what not to eat. I stayed away from chips, candy, frozen and processed foods.” Trips to the grocery store consisted of fresh chicken, lean turkey, and plenty of greens. “Before I knew it, my shorts were falling off. I lost 17 pounds from eating healthy and walking up and down hills.” The excitement from losing weight fueled Turner. He ramped up his diet and exercise and the weight continued to drop—145 pounds in nine months.

20 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

The Gift That Changed His Life “For my birthday, I got a Weider Pro 290 weight bench,” Turner says. He turned to social media for knowledge and inspiration. “I looked up workout videos, started following fitness gurus, bodybuilders, basically anyone on YouTube who could add anything to my routine.” Turner moved on to researching muscle bulking diets and clean bulk diets. “The best advice I found was to keep it simple and figure out what I could take in and out to help me reach my goals. Fad diets, trick diets, commercial stuff weren’t for me. I wanted something that was going to stick.”

This Ride Is Just Beginning Turner journals his story to continue to help himself as well as others. “I eat nutrient dense foods and take nutritious supplements. What I eat feeds my muscle building goals. My proteins, carbs, and fats come from good places.” During this transformation, Turner has learned not to fear food like in the past. “I refuse to eat something and regret it.” He documents his food intake to ensure he stays on track.

Earlier this year, Turner competed in his first physique bodybuilding competition. “It was absolutely amazing.

I loved every minute of it,” Turner says. Hard work and a controlled diet paid off for Turner. He won his class and finished second in the overalls. Turner is in an offseason bulk. “I eat roughly 3,500 calories a day consisting of 300 grams of protein and 300 grams of carbs with low fats all coming from omega3 supplements, avocados, natural peanut butter, and what little I get from meat.”

The important thing for Turner is that it’s all clean, healthy food.

The temptation of bad food is something that is not going away, but Turner’s drive to compete is stronger. “It happens now and then, but if I feel like cheating, I’ll check the food out and ask myself how it’s going to benefit me in a workout or cardio. If there is no benefit, I will try to come up with a healthier substitute to satisfy the craving.”

For those inspired by Turner’s story he advises, “If you’re looking to drop a lot of weight and change your lifestyle, consistency is key. Patience is necessary. It’s not going to happen overnight. Put in the work, do your own research, study nutrition, and stay as active as possible.”

Turner is looking forward to putting on “good size” during the offseason.

“I plan on crushing a year of training and competing in classic physique bodybuilding and possibly open bodybuilding. We’ll see. My journey is never over. I’m always on my game and always moving on to what’s best for me.” www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 21

Feature The Best Tech Secret in Martinsville

The Best Tech Secret In Martinsville Written by Paul Seiple Photos by Paul Seiple and Bo Gravely

I

met Bo Gravely almost twenty years ago when I

worked in the cellular industry. He was managing

Tilt (an arcade in Liberty Fair Mall in Martinsville).

Soon after, I hired him to work with me. I have many great memories of the time we spent explaining coverage areas and roaming charges. But, one sticks out — it was the Saturday morning when Bo and I activated 26 phones in the span of three hours. We didn’t have time to catch our breath between activations. Deep down, I don’t think we wanted to. Our goal was to set a record, and we did.

The point of that is… no one can ever deny that Bo knows wireless.

September marks the three-year anniversary for Bo Know Wireless in Martinsville. “The shop is a repair center for phones and tablets. Any cell phone,” Gravely says. There

22 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

isn’t much he can’t fix when it comes to “phone accidents” included the dreaded cracked screens and faulty charging ports. And he can complete most repairs at a lightning pace. Many within an hour. Gravely attributes the fast service to keeping high quality parts in stock. Repair prices vary depending on the phone or tablet, but on average they range between 70 to 160 dollars, and walk-ins are welcomed. There is no need to set up an appointment. He also replaces iPhone batteries. “It’s easy to forget that an iPhone has a battery since it’s not easy to access, but it’s there,” he adds with a laugh. A replacement iPhone battery will run you about 30 dollars.

Gravely opened the shop about a year after his father passed away. “I had so many years of experience in the cellular business, I figured why not work for myself,” Gravely says. He used his broad knowledge to secure a variety of pre-pay options, including Boost Mobile, Verizon, Page Plus, and Net 10, for those not looking to be tied to a cellular contract. “There’s many benefits to going with a pre-pay plan besides the no contract feature,” Gravely says. “If your budget takes a hit, you can skip a month, and pay the next month to have the phone turned

back on without having to pay for the skipped month.”

Usually, a carrier will hold the number for 90 days. The coverage is more blanketed for pre-pay than in the past.

“Prepaid phones utilize post-pay towers. For the most part, you get the same coverage,” Gravely adds.

At Bo Knows Wireless, customers can get a full customization experience for their phones. Gravely offers a wide assortment of tempered glass choices to transform phones with specific colors or scenes like outer space.

“Tempered glass is added protection for the phone’s screen. I can customize the whole phone. Let’s say you want a red iPhone, come see Bo,” Gravely says.

The absolute best thing at Bo Know Wireless is the customer service.

Gravely has a contagious smile that helps ease the emotions of a cracked screen. “I’ve been in the industry so long, I’ve seen it all,” he says. With Gravely, you get the personal customer service experience that is sometimes lacking at big box stores. He goes the extra mile to make sure his customers understand how their phones work and is always available to answer any questions. “Even if you see me in the grocery store,” he adds with a smile. www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 23

Feature Big Bear’s Wife

Big Bear’s Wife Written by Paul Seiple Photos by Angie Barrett & Mariah Springs

I

t started as a modest little blog

in 2009, and now Angie

Barrett’s BigBearsWife.com boasts nearly 35,000 likes on Facebook. Barrett describes her site as being “full of southern recipes from my grandmother’s recipe box,

recipes that I’ve developed for myself, and recipes I’ve developed for brands like Dixie Crystals, Lipton Tea, Sabra, Hunts, and Coco-Cola.”

Barrett juggles many duties at BigBearsWife.com. Along with

developing recipes, she’s a food blogger and photographer for the site. Her obsession for cooking began after marrying her sweetheart in 2007. “I taught myself to cook because I didn’t want to live off boxed food, take-out, and frozen pizza,” Barrett says. “I also wanted my husband to eat something other than ‘steak and potatoes’ because that’s all he ever wanted to eat.

I’m proud to say that he now eats broccoli and steamed spinach. I never thought that would happen.”

Today, Barrett runs her site from her home in downtown historic Danville, but things were different when she created BigBearsWife.com. “I started my blog as a way to save the recipes that I loved,” she says. In January 2009, Barrett and her husband, Thomas, moved back to Virginia after Thomas’s military career ended.

“I had recipes written down in a notebook and had dozens that were printed out and stuffed in a folder.

Needless to say, they were a mess, and every time I packed up boxes to move houses, I seemed to lose half of them. While watching The Food Network I learned of a blog called ‘Peanut Butter and Julie’,” Barrett says. She looked up the site and fell in love with the blog that gave her the idea of keeping all her recipes in one place. “Originally, I thought I’d use it just as an online ‘searchable’ place to keep them, but it has turned

24 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

into so much more.”

BigBearsWife.com has amassed an impressive social following. Over the major social media outlets, the site has around 75,000 fans.

Barrett attributes the following to networking.

“I just kind of threw myself out there and started to share things I thought people would like. I interact a lot with fans of the blog and treat them like friends who have come to visit. I also promote a lot of other bloggers on my social media accounts as well,” Barrett says.

Looking to the future, Barrett wants to keep doing what she’s doing. The blog affords her the opportunity to travel, which is something she loves.

There is a travel section on the site that gives valuable advice including “Fives Items That You’re Going To Forget When You Pack For The Beach.” The blog gives Barrett the freedom to work from home which will become more beneficial in October when she and her husband welcome their first child. “It’s a true blessing that I will be able to stay home with our newborn and still contribute financially to the family.”

Barrett has her sights on writing cookbooks sometime down the road.

Make a cyber stop at BigBearsWife.com and check out all the tasty recipes and helpful advice Barrett has to offer.

Reach out to her on social media as well. She would love to hear from you. www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 25

26 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 27

Feature Craft Beer

The Craft Beer Revolution Written By Scott Buckner Photos by Scott Buckner

I

s it a revolution or is it re-evolution? I prefer to think

it’s the latter. For most, the history of craft beer in

America only goes back a few decades, but that is not the case my fellow foam followers. Would you believe me if I told you that before prohibition there were over 4,000 breweries in this country? Probably not. It wasn’t until after prohibition that some entrepreneurial German settlers decided to corner the market and keep a stronghold on it for a good number of years. Enter rice

28 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

and corn and the beginning of a long span of bland, adjunct beer. It wasn’t until 1965 that a man by the name of Fritz Maytag bought Anchor Brewing in California and by some accounts gave birth to the craft beer movement in America. But enough with the history lesson. Let’s move on to a more flavorful topic.

So, What Exactly is Craft Beer?

So, what exactly is craft beer? Siri’s definition is “a

beer made in a traditional or nonmechanized way by a small brewery.”

Well, my digital princess, there is more to it than just that. The Brewers Association defines a craft brewery as “small, independent and traditional.”

Small—as in annually brews 6 million barrels or less. Independent—as in less than 25 percent of the brewery is owned by an alcohol industry that is not itself a craft brewer. And lastly, traditional—as in a brewer whose total alcohol beverage production is in beers that use traditional and innovative ingredients and methods in fermentation.

So, what does all this mean to the domestic beer drinker who is curious about craft beer? Well, it means you have options at your disposal. A LOT of options. In 2016, there were well over 5,000 American craft breweries and over 1200 in the works.

This means that when you walk into your favorite supermarket, restaurant, bar, or bottle shop there will typically be a good selection of craft beer to choose from.

Not to mention the local breweries. You would be hard pressed not to find a local craft brewery in just about any town or city in America in your travels these days. We have two fine examples right here in Southside in Ballad Brewing and Two Witches. Both with their own unique styles of beer and atmosphere. Breweries have become a fun and relaxing place to socialize, listen to live music, and of course enjoy good tasting beer. And last but not least there is the Brightleaf Brewfest. Which in its 10th year has become one of Danville’s finest events. Plenty of great craft beers to sample from all the local distributors as well as small independent breweries right down to the local home brewers. There is certainly something for everyone to try and enjoy.

Taste Such an interesting notion with regards to new craft beer explorers. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard, “That’s too bitter!” Or, “That’s too fruity!” Or here’s my favorite, “That sure is a dark beer, I doubt I will like it.”

Well, life is about progression. Do you eat the same foods you ate when you went to college or when you moved out of your parents’ house?

Probably not. Do you read the same kinds of books that you read when you were in high school? Doubtful.

Why would beer be any different?

I will admit that I myself was somewhat skeptical the very first time I tried a pale ale and probably made some of these same comments. But, I knew there was something there that was different. Something unique and satisfying even if my taste buds at the time didn’t agree. I decided to give craft beer a second chance and a third chance and so on until my palate was acclimated to the point of enjoyment.

These days, I consider a good craft beer a part of my life like good BBQ, a strong cup of coffee, or listening to a great album.

Take the Plunge My advice to the beer drinker who is interested in venturing into the craft world is to try different styles.

Utilize the beer stores that offer a “mix and match” sixpack, so you can try the many brands and styles. A lager, pilsner, or wheat beer is a nice start. “Not too polarizing,” as my friend Uncle Rod at Vintages by the Dan would say.

There are many lighter options that would accommodate what you are used to in a beer. Then boldly move on to an amber ale, pale ale, or even an IPA (India pale ale). As time goes by, you may find yourself pouring a solid black Porter or stout and enjoying it by a campfire with a group of friends while the kids are roasting marshmallows. Or who knows, maybe someday you will find yourself at a bottle sharing party enjoying a barrel-aged sour with the members of Train Wreck Brewers Club. The possibilities are endless.

Regardless of what you try, or what styles you may or may not like, just enjoy the experience of having some variety in your life and don’t be afraid to explore the unknown!

Cheers, and tables too... www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 29

Explore Martinsville

Fall Treks

Written by Beth Stinnett Photos courtesy of Martinsville Henry County Tourism

Any time is a great time to venture through MartinsvilleHenry County, VA, but the fall adds a little something extra.

Breathe in the fresh air and unwind while you take in the scenery and the fun. From our award-wining trails to our high-octane events, make this season your season to have fun in record time in MHC. Take a hike. Or a run, or a walk. Or whatever you would like. Martinsville-Henry County is home to the Smith River Trail System which includes a scenic blueway with ten river access points and more than twenty miles of greenway and to the Mountain Laurel Trails Biking Complex, which has been named among the top mountain bike trails in the state of Virginia by SingleTrack.com. MLT received a 4.94 star rating (out of 5). Hikers and runners are also encouraged to come out and hit the trails.

Trails: 1. Philpott Lake Fitness Interpretive Trail (1.5 miles) 2. Collinsville Jaycee Park (1.25 mile) 3. Jack Dalton Park (0.6 mile) 4. Rock Ridge Trail at Beaver Creek Reservoir (1.2 miles) 5. Patrick Henry Community College Trail Loop (0.75 mile) 6. Fieldale Trail (2.4 miles) 7. Textile Heritage Trail (0.3 mile) 8. Dick & Willie Passage (4.5 miles) - Virginia Ave. 9. Dick & Willie - Liberty St. Uptown Connection Trail (0.8 mile) 10. Dick & Willie - Doyle St. Silverbell Trail (0.25 mile) 11. J. Frank Wilson Park (1 mile) 12. Dick & Willie - Fishel St. 13. Doe Run Park (1.5 miles) 14. Spencer-Penn Centre (0.5 mile) 15. Smith River Sports Complex (1.3 miles) 16. Richard P. Gravely Jr. Nature Preserve (2.5 miles) Additional Hiking & Biking Options (not shown on map): • Mountain Laurel Trails (Mountain Bike Complex) (Near #14) • Jamison Mill Trail System (Northeast of #1) • Lauren Mountain Preserve (Northwest of #6) If you are interested in riding the trails with a group, the Henry County Bike Club hosts several weekly bike rides (throughout the year) that you are welcome to join.

Weather permitting.

Enjoy the fall foliage. Many people agree that seeing “the colors change” during the fall, is their favorite part of the season. If you have ever driven through Bassett, VA this time of year, then you probably agree that the beauty of the Philpott Lake Overlook is even more dazzling in fall. See for yourself why the view is a local and regional favorite.

You can also explore the Philpott Lake Trail System while you are there and challenge yourself along the F.I.T. Trail.

30 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

Dick & Willie Trail

Philpott Lake

And more to explore! www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 31

32 Showcase Magazine |

September 2017

| www.showcasemagazine.com

Not So Common - Common Sense

The VDOE publicly released overall statewide school division and school pass rates for 2016-2017 state assessments on August 15. State accreditation ratings will be released to the news media and general public on September 13.

As superintendent, I am the first to acknowledge that the accreditation process is only “one” measure of school performance. The challenge with the accreditation process is that many people do not truly under-stand what it means.

Does it mean that a student who attends a school that is Not Fully Accredited is not learning? Is it a measure of teacher quality or performance? Does it mean that schools that are Fully Accredited are “better” schools? Or, does it reveal how factors outside of school impact student academic performance and the schools ability to negate those factors based on Standards of Learning tests (SOLs)?

Not So Common Common Sense!

Accreditation Results – What is being measured?

Technically speaking, the ratings are Virginia’s accountability system for established rigorous academic standards

by Stan Jones, Superintendent known as the Standards of Learning (SOL), of Danville Public Schools and thus are “one” important measure of how a school is performing. Student achievement on SOL assessments in English, history/social science, mathematics and science are used to determine a school’s accreditation rating. Elementary and middle schools are Fully Accredited if students they meet or exceed the state targets for student pass rates on state SOL assessments in English, Mathematics, Science, and History/ Social Science. High schools must meet the state graduation target in order to be accredited. Schools demonstrating adequate progress towards accreditation goals may be awarded the Partially Accredited status.

Unfortunately, Virginia does not differentiate school accreditation based on the percentage of under-resourced students making up the school population. Stated differently, when comparing these factors across schools, Danville Public Schools’ performance is consistent with other school divisions in Virginia, when you compare its subgroups of students to the same subgroups in other school divisions in the state. Given this fact, is Danville Public Schools a failing school system or are we facing greater challenges than other schools? The bigger question is: what are we doing to ensure that all students are successful?

The past two years have been spent preparing our classrooms to meet the challenge of ensuring the success of all students. I am confident that, we will meet the challenges before us, especially with your continued trust, resources (funding) and patience. It is our greatest opportunity and our moral duty to improve learning for all students. Please join us as we transform lives, nurture hearts and invest in our future through serving children.

A STRONG EDUCATION BUILDS A STRONGER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Practically speaking, accreditation ratings, by default, unintentionally measure the extent to which factors outside of school’s control impact the challenges teachers face in improving student. For example, the extent to which a student has been exposed to early literacy (from birth to kindergarten) may significantly impact how that same student performs in school, which in turn impacts accreditation. This is a difficult subject to discuss tactfully as it is not a condemnation of these students or their teachers. It is nonetheless, an opportunity we cannot ignore.

An unintended consequence of Virginia’s accountability model is that it compares all schools (those with a large population of underresourced students to schools with large populations of students that are well-resourced.) Under-resourced students have limited access to external resources, such as support systems, mentors, and money. The lack of these kinds of resources often creates formidable challenges like childcare, transportation, and affordable housing.

According to a report by the United Way, 42 percent of households in Danville and Pittsylvania County have incomes that are too low to afford basics needs.

Wilkins & CO. supports education Danville Office • 428 Piney Forest Rd. • 434.797.4007 Chatham Office • 12413 US HWY 29 • 434.432.3009 Property Management • 434.797.4009 www.WilkinsAndCo.com

www.showcasemagazine.com

| september 2017 | Showcase Magazine 33

Lisa is someone who lights up a room with her smile. Lisa lives with a friend, sharing a house in a quiet neighborhood in Danville. She has limited control of her body, and does not speak to communicate, so in order for her to live in her own home, and not in an institution, nursing home or group home, Lisa needs help with her daily life, which she gets from her support team at The Arc of Southside’s Residential Program.

Over the last five years, The Arc of Southside has been transitioning its services from traditional programs, to supporting people with disabilities in their communities, wherever they need them. In the past, disability services often resulted in people being isolated and marginalized. They were sent to segregated schools or classrooms, to work programs only for people with disabilities, and to live in institutions or group homes, rather than being supported to live life alongside their classmates, neighbors, and friends.

In 2015, The Arc closed its group home and helped each person moving to build a life around their own hopes, desires, and dreams. No longer required to choose from a limited list of disability-specific options, people now had true choice. The same choice as anyone . . . where and how to live. The Arc sat with each person to discover what they wanted in a home; did they want an apartment or a house, to live in the city or the county, did they want a roommate or to live alone, etc. These conversations were then paired with each person’s financial resources, in order to find the home they wanted and could afford.

Now, back to Lisa. Lisa came to The Arc over a year ago, seeking more control over living the life she chose.

She spends her days doing things she enjoys and has spent this past year experiencing many new things. In June, she traveled to Washington, D.C., joining fellow advocates on Capitol Hill, to rally and share personal stories, on behalf of Medicaid, and in August, she was a presenter on the topic of Independent Living for People with Disabilities at The Arc of Virginia’s State Convention, in Norfolk.

Since closing its group home, people have begun reaching out to The Arc to see how they too can get services to support them living on their own terms. One such person is Alan.

Alan is 42, and for years he lived with a sponsor family and attended the Hatcher Employment Program. One day, Alan asked for more, expressing a desire to live on his own, and work a “real” job in the community. In June, Alan moved into his own apartment and a few weeks later, with the help of his job coach, interviewed for a job at Chick-fil-A, where he was immediately offered a job. Alan was also a presenter at The Arc of Virginia’s State Convention, where he engaged the audience with his joyous enthusiasm, telling the story of his first night in his apartment, “Around 9 o’clock on my first night in my new apartment, I told Emily (residential coordinator) to leave.

She left, I locked the door, and I said to myself, I am home!”

Both Alan and Lisa receive services from The Arc, but their services look very different because The Arc’s programs are supports created around each person’s specific needs, allowing them to live life on their own terms, the life they want to have.

Supporting people with disabilities to live their lives in the world that already exists, rather than creating alternate environments for them, is not only a more cost effective way to provide services, but is the moral imperative to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights as people without disabilities, giving them A Life Like Yours.

For more information about the Residential Program contact Monica Karavanic at The Arc of Southside 434.836.3272