Showcase 3 15 4web

I Met An See page 16

Vascular & Lung Screening

Leg Cramping? Cold Feet? Tingling? Heavy Smoker?

Physicians will be onsite to discuss results

Saturday, March 14 9am until 1pm

at Danville Diagnostic Imaging Center Vascular Screening Includes: Carotid Artery (Blockage) Abdominal Aorta (Aneurysm) PAD (Arterial Leg Disease) *Cost is $30.00 for all 3 Vascular Tests

Lung Screening for Lung Cancer Includes: Low-Dose Computed Tomography (CT) *Cost is $25.00 for CT Lung Screening

Bundle All Four Screening Exams for $50.00 Plus Free Diabetes, Cholesterol & Lipid Screenings for participants *Vascular and Lung Screening is not covered by insurance and is paid in full at time of exam

Registration Required - Call 434.799.3730 What are the risk factors for Vascular Disease?

Age 55 or older with any of the following: history of smoking, overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and family history of stroke, heart disease, abdominal aneurysm or peripheral vascular disease (PAD).

Who Should Have Lung Screening?

The American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, recommend lung screening for individuals that have the following risk factors: between age 55 and 77, and are either current smokers or have quit within the last 15 years; and have a smoking history equivalent to 30 packs per year (1 pack per day for 30 years or 2 packs per day for 15 years).

125 Executive Drive, Suite D | 434.799.9729 www.DanvilleRegional.com Physician Referral Line: 1-800-424-DOCS (3627) www.DanvillePhysicians.com

Vascular Screening Program What Is Vascular Screening?

A series of 3 painless ultrasound procedures that can provide a snapshot of the major arteries, using no radiation.

What are the risk factors for Vascular Disease?

Age 55 or older with history of smoking, overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and family history of stroke, heart disease, abdominal aneurysm or peripheral vascular disease (PAD).

What is Carotid Artery Disease?

The carotid arteries provide the main blood supply to your brain. Carotid artery disease occurs when sticky substances called “plaque”, build up in the arteries causing a blockage, which can lead to stroke.

Symptoms include: weakness/numbness in face, arm and leg-often on one side, confusion or trouble speaking, decreased vision, difficulty with walking, balance and sudden severe headache.

What is Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)?

AAA is a bulging weak spot in the body’s largest artery, the abdominal aorta. Once detected, the AAA can be monitored or surgically repaired. An undetected ruptured AAA, has a fatality rate of 75%. Many people do not experience symptoms, but warning signs can be intense back or abdomen pain. Males are at higher risk.

What Is PAD?

PAD is peripheral arterial disease, a condition from narrowed or obstructed arteries in the legs, which can pose a threat to the health of your legs. It can often be a sign of heart disease. Symptoms include cold feeling in lower leg or foot, discoloration of foot, pain/cramping in hips, thighs & calves when walking or exercising, which is relieved with rest, or when activity is stopped.

Lung Screening Low-Dose CT Program What is Low-Dose CT Lung Screening?

CT lung screening is a painless procedure that uses low-dose x-rays to screen the lungs for cancer or other diseases in just 30 seconds. Using Computed Tomography (CT), multiple pictures are taken that can detect small nodules or cancer tumors as small as 2-3 millimeters. These are not seen by standard chest x-rays.

How is Low-Dose CT Lung Screening Performed?

During the exam the patient is lying on their back with their arms above their head, and must hold their breath briefly as the picture is being taken. The CT scanner is a “doughnut” shaped machine which the patient can see out at all times. The technologist is always able to see and hear the patient during this brief exam. No special preparation is required and no intravenous fluids or dyes will be injected.

Why is Low-Dose CT Lung Screening Important?

By detecting cancerous tumors in their early stages when it is localized to the lungs, it is estimated that over 80% can be cured.

By catching these cancerous tumors when they are small, they can be surgically removed before spreading to other areas of the body. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. It is responsible for more deaths annually than breast, prostate and colorectal cancer combined.

Who Should Have Lung Screening?

The American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, recommend lung screening for individuals that have the following risk factors: between age 55 and 77, and are either current smokers or have quit within the last 15 years; and have a smoking history equivalent to 30 packs per year (1 pack per day for 30 years or 2 packs per day for 15 years).

According to the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST-2013), results from Low-Dose CT Lung Screening demonstrated a statically relative reduction of 20% in lung cancer deaths

Does the Procedure Involve Radiation?

Low-Dose CT Lung Screening does involve radiation in the form of x-rays, but the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the risk. The effective radiation dose is less than the average person receives from background environmental radiation in a six month period.

Accredited by American College of Radiology & Intersocietal Accreditation Commission for Vascular Testing

On the Cover Judith F. Williams Photo credit: I Me

Contents

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{ M A R C H 2 0 1 5 } S H O W C A S E M AG A Z I N E

FEATURES

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DOES ANYBODY CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE ANYMORE?

By Seth Bradley

I MET AN ANGEL

By Judith F. Williams

SECTIONS

9 HE SAID SHE SAID

To Live to One Hundred, Smell the Roses

ALSO INSIDE THE 6 FROM EDITOR 26

By Larry Oldham and Dena Hill

12 A BETTER YOU

Three Ways to Begin Losing Winter Weight

29 33

by Dave Gluhareff

34 MYSTIFIED

Guilty Pleasures

INSIDE THE ARTISAN CENTER

PAWS FOR THE CAUSE

By Paulette Dean

like us Showcase Magazine

@ | MARCH 2015 | www.showcasemagazine.com

AREA EVENTS GUIDE

by Misty Brooks

By Kimberly Buck

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FUN AND GAMES

Crossword, Word Seach, & Sudoku

we’d love to hear from you! info@showcasemagazine.com

Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail Winston Churchill said, “He who fails to plan is planning to fail.” The starting point for achieving greater levels of performance is planning. Don’t mistake “planning” for lack of action. Planning is the first step to taking action in the right direction.

You’ve probably heard the term “strategic planning”. Even though big companies spend a lot of money getting consultants to help them create these elaborate tomes, it’s actually very simple ... a strategic plan is a clear, written account of your vision for success. This can be personal or professional.

Generally, strategic planning starts with a defined vision, mission and values. I know what you’re probably thinking ... here she goes with the business consultant mumbo jumbo.

Don’t blame me for the poor reputation of those terms! Unfortunately, for a lot of companies, those are just words on a plaque in the lobby.

But when thoughtfully developed and INTEGRATED into your daily behaviors, decisions and attitudes, they become a roadmap to success.

Don’t be intimidated by the words.

Start with a piece of paper, some peace and quiet, and then answer these questions ... either personally or professionally: • Mission -- Why do you exist / What’s your “purpose”?

• Vision -- Where do you want to go / Where do you want to be in five or more years?

• Values -- How do you need to behave to get there / What are your guiding principles?

It doesn’t matter how good the map is if you never leave the house, and it doesn’t matter how good the plan is if it isn’t executed. Define some critical actions or “baby steps” that align with and advance the “plan”.

I like quotes. And I learn a lot from the wisdom, and even the mistakes, of others. I leave you with this one by Karen Lamb: “A year from now you may wish you had started today.” Go ahead and take that first step!

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

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| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 5

FRO M T H E E D I TO R Inspiration is something that plays a part in our daily lives even if we don’t always recognize it. Of all the seasons, spring may be the most inspirational. After months inside, avoiding the cold weather, you’re ready to tackle the world. Maybe you’ve strapped on your cleaning supplies and you’re going to rid the house of winter’s blues with a little dose of spring cleaning. Or, maybe you’ve watched enough home and garden shows to prepare yourself to landscape your lawn.

And then, there are those people striving to get into beach shape.

There’s no denying that spring inspires.

So, for the first spring issue of 2015, the theme of Showcase is inspiration. In this month’s A Better You, Dave outlines what it takes to jumpstart your health routine after

a lazy winter. In He Said, She Said, Larry tries to “inspire” Dena to stop and smell the roses.

One thing that causes its fair share of inspiration is art. In our feature “Inside the Artisan Center,” art, in many forms, is on display. Our cover feature, “I Met an Angel” is a story of spiritual inspiration told through the eyes of Judith Williams.

Before I go, Showcase Magazine would like to send our condolences to Golden Leaf Bistro, the friends, and family of Chad Smith. Through his enthusiasm, Chad inspired many to pursue their dreams. But most of all, he inspired them to be good people.

SHOWCASE – M A G A Z I N E – MARCH 2015 STAFF

CEO / Publisher Andrew Scott Brooks, scott@showcasemagazine.com President Larry Oldham, larry@showcasemagazine.com Editor Paul Seiple, paul@showcasemagazine.com Graphic Designer Kim Demont, demontdesign@verizon.net Finance Manager Cindy Astin, cindy@showcasemagazine.com ADVERTISING 1.877.638.8685 Larry Oldham, Director of Sales and Marketing larry@showcasemagazine.com, 434.728.3713 Lee Vogler, Marketing Consultant lee@showcasemagazine.com, 434.548.5335

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Subscribe to Home Delivery for $24 per year 753 Main Street #3 | Danville, VA 24541 Phone 1.877.638.8685 | Fax 925.380.5404 info@showcasemagazine.com www.showcasemagazine.com MARCH 2015 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Misty Brooks | Kimberly Buck | Paulette Dean Dave Gluharef | Dena Hill | Larry Oldham Paul Seiple | Judith Francis Williams MARCH 2015 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Charlotte F. Adkins | Kimberly Buck | Karen Despot Photography by Lisa

Enjoy the issue.

Paul Seiple EDITOR

THANK YOU to the ADVERTISERS who make this publication possible.

Please be generous in supporting our local businesses.

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Barkhouser Ford Lincoln Beacon Credit Union Centra Medical Group Cloverdale Quarters Danville Community College Educational Foundation Danville Dental Associates Danville ENT Associates, Inc. Danville Historical Society Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History Danville Parks & Recreation Danville Regional Foundation Danville Regional Medical Center Danville Toyota Scion Dell’Anno’s Demont Deisgn

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Excelen Performance Genesis Day Spa and Salon Golden Leaf Bistro Goodwill Industries of South Central Virginia, Inc. M&M Furniture Martin Plaza Martinsville Henry County Mary Baldwin College Meado’s II Pizzeria Michelle Dalton Photography North Star Theatre Project & Historic North Theatre Dr. Jessica Owens Family Dentistry Photography by Lisa Piedmont Arts Piedmont Arts

| MARCH 2015 | www.showcasemagazine.com

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Riverside Health & Rehab Center Sacred Heart School Shh... Intimacy on a New Level ShoLogo Southside Urology & Nephrology Southside Virginia Wildlife Center State Farm Jimmy Russell Stratford House University of Richmond URW Community Federal Credit Union Westover Christian Academy Yates Home Sales

Don’t miss the March 2015 issue of eVince

Saturday, March 21 7:30 pm • Martinsville HS Auditorium

276.632.3221 • piedmontarts.org

www.showcasemagazine.com

| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 7

434-793-1100

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Open 7 Days Serving: Pizza, Pastas, Salads,

Subs, Burgers and More!

434-685-2220

Special Offer

Large 3 Topping Pizza For only $11.99 8 SHOWCASE Magazine

| MARCH 2015 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Good at Both Locations

Exp.03/31/15

Now Serving: Pastas Dishes, Wings, Cheese Fries, Burgers, Gluten Free Choices and More!

Includes Drink

New Menu

Lunch Specials 11-3

316 Main Street•Downtown

SHE SAID...

At the end of March, do you realize that we will have used up one fourth of the year already?

It’s funny that you use golf as an analogy to enjoy life when you have three sets of clubs in the basement that are rusting.

My life is starting to take off like a You might not believe this, but rocket headed to the moon. How I am enjoying my life.You never can three months have gone by so hear me complaining about quickly? Before you know it we will doing my projects do you? I be celebrating July 4th and before enjoy the fast pace of life and all you know it I will be writing out my the ideas and projects that I get Christmas list for your perusal. The PHOTO BY MICHELLE DALTON PHOTOGRAPHY accomplished. Every night when reason I am telling you this is to my head (finally) hits the pillow, remind you that our time together I ask myself if I’ve completed my goals for the day. When is getting shorter, and that we need to stop more often I’m in a nursing home rocking chair, I’ll be able to look and smell the roses. I know your response is going to be back with joy in my heart and say, “I did that and I did it that I am parked and resting by the roses more than I am my way”. tilling the garden. That’s okay because I believe in some work, some play, and a ton of rest. I am not saying that I This is foreign to you, I guess, because your idea of a am on the right track, but you know my dad lived to be great day is to get up, eat breakfast, sit down, read a book, ninety-three and he never did anything except rest. I’m just say hello to all your friends on facebook, and plan the following in his footsteps. next meal since eating is about the highlight of your day.

When I ask you at night, “what you accomplished today,” your answer is always, “I ate three squares today and I I didn’t mean to deviate from my original intention, which didn’t exert myself doing it.” People live to the ripe old was to suggest to you that we rest more often so that we age of one hundred because they think with their brains, can meet your objective of living to be a hundred. Perhaps I they work hard all of their lives, and they have an inherent took it wrong in thinking that you meant both of us. Maybe, desire to live past an average life span. Can you really say just maybe, you meant that you wanted to live to be a that about yourself? I have never heard you say you ever hundred, figuring that my hard-driven life would only let wanted to live to be a hundred; you just always say you me grow to be about seventy or eighty. With this new plan want to enjoy the life that you’re living right now. I don’t I’m giving you, we can both slow down, sniff the roses, take begrudge you any of this, but you are never going to see it easy, bide our time, and lie around waiting to expire. me stopped beside the roses and sniffing them. I might be planting some roses or picking some roses to put on the I know that doesn’t sound appealing and I say it with dining room table.You know the dining room table well, the utmost reverence. I don’t mean literally to wait because that is where you sit waiting for your dinner each around; I mean just chill out more often, and let up on the night while I’m slaving over a hot stove. demanding schedule that we share. We need to enjoy each month instead of looking up one day realizing that we are So as you sit waiting for your dinner, you should take the on the back nine and we have missed a lot of opportunities time to stop and smell those roses, after all, I did plant to at least shoot par. them, water them, cut them, and arrange them on the dining room table just for your enjoyment.

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he said...she said...

HE SAID...

by Larry Oldham and Dena Hill

TO LIVE TO ONE HUNDRED, SMELL THE ROSES

| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 9

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| MARCH 2015 | www.showcasemagazine.com

Save the Date and leave the rest up to us

Formal Styles and Updos • Airbrush Makeup • Traditional Makeup Lash Extensions • Airbrush Tanning • Gel and Shellac Manicures Pedicures • Tattoo Coverup • On-Site Services

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| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 11

A Better You

health

Three Ways to Begin Losing Winter Weight!

By Fitness Professional and Healthy Writer Dave Gluhareff

Pete Jones Photography

Dave Gluhareff Suzanne Stowe

In the late 1990s David Gluhareff lost over 100 pounds. Dave then became a certified personal trainer with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) and began his career as a personal trainer. In June of 2009 David earned the elite status of Master of Fitness Sciences (MFS) by the ISSA, their highest level of personal training qualifications. As a personal trainer, Dave has been helping people take charge of their physiques to help them feel, look, and move better through life. Visit www.

VirginiaBootcamp. com for more information.

12 SHOWCASE Magazine

During the winter holidays it’s hard to resist all of the good food, parties, and extra snacks being tossed our way. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, the temptation makes it easier to fall of the wagon with our healthy eating. No matter how much attention we pay to food choices we still end up splurging a bit too much.

The cold weather makes it even more difficult, (but not impossible), to stay active. It’s natural to want to hibernate during the winter, but this only helps to pack on the pounds. If you belong to the group that takes the winter off, you may find yourself looking at a steep uphill climb when spring rolls around.

If you’ve gotten off track a little, or a lot, there are a few things that will kick-start body-fat loss and help to tighten waistlines and tone up. The following things help to boost metabolism, burn fat, combat stress, and get things back on track: Clean Up Dinner! For many, the major area that derails fitness and weight-loss goals is dinnertime.

Poor decisions, unhealthy choices, and lack of portion control hamper success. Since dinner is usually the last meal of the day, (a sensible snack after dinner is OK, if you’re up late), it needs to be the healthiest — free of saturated fats, starchy carbs, hydrogenated or trans fatty fats, and low in sodium. This is IMPORTANT because people slow down around dinnertime and after dinner they settle down prior to getting ready for bed.

A healthy dinner consists of lean protein, veggies, and water. Eat until you’re satisfied, not full. I struggle with this meal just like everyone else.

After a long and busy day, we are tempted to enjoy a big meal of anything we want to help us forget the stress of the day. That thinking can be the path to unhealthiness. And don’t think that just because you had a great day of healthy eating, splurging at dinner won’t be that bad. Unhealthy choices and huge portions lead to expanding waistlines.

Everyone deserves a relaxing dinner, but just be aware of what you’re putting in your body. One dinner can cancel out an entire day of healthy choices. Food is energy. There is no need to fill up our tanks right before bed, especially with high-fat, high-sodium, and high-carb foods.

Exercise is Key! It’s not possible to get a proper nutrition plan unless there is an accurate daily activity and exercise plan as well. Being active is important. Exercise is important. Resistance training, at least three times a week for a minimum of thirty minutes each workout coupled with cardiovascular training, at least three times a week for a minimum of thirty minutes each workout, leads to terrific results.

Adding an exercise plan, for as little as three times per week, immediately begins to burn a ton of fat, builds energy, lowers stress, and makes you feel better.

Get Plenty of Sleep! Not having a set sleep schedule can wreak havoc on our health.

Developing a specific pattern — limiting caffeine at night, knowing when to shut off the television and tune out the Internet and wind down— is crucial to healthy sleep. I always recommend taking a nap during the day, if possible, but it is not as important as a good night’s sleep. The added benefits of sleep include lower stress levels and regulation of bodyfat levels.

Aim for eight hours of sleep each night and try to get in a habit of going to be at the same time and getting up at the same time to develop a healthy sleep routine.

Follow these steps and winter weight will begin to melt away. If you want a more in-depth nutrition plan (meals, snacks, & food choices) for free visit my website www.TrainWithDave.com and click on Nutrition. I also have my free fitness blueprint on there too. I guarantee you will see immediate healthy results helping you feel, look, and move better. Do this for You. SM

Visit www.TrainWithDave.com

and click on Nutrition Plan for Dave’s FREE nutrition plan!

| MARCH 2015 | www.showcasemagazine.com

A Seth Bradley Rant

Does Anybody Care About Customer Service Anymore?

Have you been to the local big box stores lately and tried to buy anything?

When I started telling my friends at work about my experiences in customer service, they started loading me up with stories about their own problems with customer service. This bad service must be the new epidemic.

Years ago, I worked in retail. No one came into my store without being spoken to and/or waited on. Today, you have to hunt for a clerk for service and then they have a bad attitude. Even worse is being waited on and all during your transaction the employee is complaining about the job, the working conditions, or the boss.

Last week I went to the mall to buy a suit.You would have thought I set out to discover America.

My first problem was no one to wait on me. Being a grown man I do not have a problem finding and fitting my own clothes. Sometimes it is nice to have someone help you find the sizes or suggest an addition, like a tie or shirt to match the suit.

It wasn’t like they had cut back or anything in customer service, although I have seen that in other stores. No, they had people working but most of them were working in pairs, pricing things, or just standing around talking about how they disliked work (I didn’t hear the conversations, I just assumed it). I did ask if they worked there, even though I knew the answer because of their name tags. But I wanted them to either feel bad or at least understand that I needed someone to help me and I had chosen them. With some hesitation, one of them volunteered to go look for someone because the suit department was not her assigned area. I guess her assigned area was standing over in the corner talking to a fellow employee as the customers looked around for some help.

With business being as slow as it is you would think that the employees would have some training from management about customer service. If they do, they need some method of making sure it is working. In my case, I am not finding that to be true. I see other customers struggling to find someone to wait on them and sometimes we just look at each other and laugh because of the lack of attention to the buying public.

In another store, I finally found a clerk and I asked her why the products did not have prices. Her answer to me was that some people change the tickets and try to get them

14 SHOWCASE Magazine

| MARCH 2015 | www.showcasemagazine.com

cheaper so it is better to leave the prices off. I asked if this happens on a daily basis. She said, “No, just occasionally.” I asked if she knew how many people look at a product, can’t find the price, assume it is too high, and end up purchasing from stores that use price tags. She acted as if that was a management decision not hers. They did not have what I came to buy, so I asked if the item was possibly in the back? She said, “I don’t think so, why don’t you go online and see if you can find it?”

What????

Why don’t I just stay home, shop online, and don’t waste my time coming into your store, I thought.

In yet another store, I asked the clerk to help me find a certain item advertised on the front page of their flyer. The flyer was in the morning paper, so I knew they must have it in stock to advertise it. She went and found a supervisor who proceeded to tell me that they did not have a flyer in the newspaper this week. I thought to myself, Am I getting senile or are these people living in a paradoxical world?

The first clerk finally went to the back room and found a copy of a copy of something from the home office stating the items and prices for the sales flyer in this week’s paper.

Do these stores still have real managers or are these clerks managing themselves? Do they ever have a sales training session, describing what a potential customer might look like? Do they ever wonder why their hours have been cut because of slow sales? Is it a perception on the part of the customer service rep that they don’t feel the need to wait on customers or that they are afraid the customers will ask them something they don’t know? I don’t really know myself, but I can tell you that if I owned a retail store I would know the answers.

Maybe the store clerks are punishing the managers because they cut their hours or they didn’t want to work that night or weekend. If that is the case then they are cutting off their nose to spite their face.

I for one will go to another store that offers me customer service with a smile and a cheerful attitude.

Do the stores want to stay in business and increase their revenues each month? Look into this new thing called customer service.You might be surprised the amount of customers you get and who also are willing to come back and buy again.

What a concept...

Customer Satisfaction.

www.showcasemagazine.com

| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 15

I Met An Angel

feature

Angel

I Met An

The girl who woke that morning was not the same girl who laid her head on the pillow that evening. The events of the past few months were about to lead her to a moment so beautiful and so life-changing!

The alarm sounded bright and early — we had a busy day ahead of us. Never one who is quick to rise, I lay in bed, immediately aware of the nerves already forming in my stomach. It was a big day.

I was anxious to get it started, anxious for it to end, and anxious for all the answers we’d hopefully get in between.

by Judith F. Williams Photos by Charlotte F. Adkins & Photography by Lisa

We were headed to another follow-up appointment with my hematologist. It had been six months since my most recent blood clot diagnosis. I was scheduled to have all new blood work done. If all went well, I would then have a repeat ultrasound on my leg to determine if the clot had completely dissolved and to check for any possible scar tissue left behind.

One big needle stick and countless lab results later, we were headed to the Radiology Department.

Now, with one hurdle behind us, and only one left ahead, my spirits were lifted!

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The walk from Point A to Point B was long and winding. The hospital could almost be described as a mini city within itself. For the most part, the main hallways and corridors were bright and cheery. Beautifully potted plants and several one-of-a-kind sculptures were situated along the way. Smartly dressed men and women hurried in this direction or that direction.

Physicians, interns, medical students, and hospital staff — each there for an individual purpose.

We passed other patients, who just like us, were trying to find their way through all the hustle and bustle. You could practically feel the worry and

sadness coming off of some of their faces while happiness and joy radiated off of others.

The waiting room was crowded. So much so that the only seats available were located nowhere near each other. Girard and I glanced at each other and then went our separate ways. Surprisingly, I didn’t sit long before my name was called.

I looked back at Girard one last time before following the nurse down another busy and congested hall.

“Well, here we are,” he said, smiling and opening the door to the exam room.

“You can put your things here. Just remove your jeans and boots.You’ll find a gown right over there on the bed. The technician will be in shortly. Do you have any questions?”

I responded that I understood and thanked him for his help.

I undressed, wrapped the obnoxiously large robe around me and crawled under the blanket on top of the bed, which was really just a fancy stretcher that had wheels at the bottom. With butterflies in my stomach and all kinds of thoughts running through my head, I sat there examining my surroundings. The room was spacious, the lighting was dim, and the walls were a beige-cream color.

I noticed that the paint had been bumped and scratched in places leaving the drywall to show through

like white scars.

A privacy curtain hung to my left and the ultrasound machine was to my right. I could hear faint voices out in the hallway and I wondered how bored Girard was since he had been left behind in the waiting room. I wondered about what would happen if the clot was still there. What if there was leftover scar tissue? Would they need to go in and remove it to prevent future clotting in the same area? My mind was going around and around in circles.

Finally, the door opened and in walked a middle-aged woman who was about my height. She had chocolate-colored skin and was wearing a pair of blue scrubs. Her eyes were skimming the paperwork that she held in her hands. She glanced up and I couldn’t help but notice her pearly white teeth as she grinned my way.

“Hi Judith, my name is Elizabeth, and I’m going to be performing the ultrasound today,” looking back down at her paperwork, she then continued, “on your lower left extremity. Is this correct?”

She had a quiet, humble demeanor, and at the same time she displayed a confidence and compassion that immediately put me at ease.

I responded, “Hi, Elizabeth!

It’s nice to meet you and yes, you are correct.”

She grabbed some gloves from a box on the countertop and snapped them on before taking a seat on the stool beside me.

“So, what exactly brings you here today?” she asked.

“Well, I had two blood clots, one in each lung, back in 2010...and then most recently, this past July, had one to form in my left calf.” I paused for a moment. “So, here I am today, hoping you’re going to tell me that the hateful little thing is gone for good.”

She shot another grin my way and said, “Well, let’s take a look and see.”

I lay back and moved into the position Elizabeth had instructed as she typed in a password that made the ultrasound machine’s monitor come to life. I felt a sense of Deja vu as I had a mini flashback from doing all of this once before.

She took the machine’s probe, which oddly looked a lot like an electric razor, Continued to Page 18

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| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 17

I Met An Angel away from a blood clot. She told me that his death is what pushed her to choose a career in the medical field.”

Elizabeth glanced over at me for a second and said, “My father died from a blood clot, too.”

I felt a lump in my throat. “I’m very sorry...”

“It’s okay now,” she said in an almost whisper. “There was a time in my life when it wasn’t okay though. His death was really difficult for me to deal with. I loved that man so much...and I was so angry that he’d been taken so soon...” She paused for a moment and then said, “Life’s hard, huh?”

I nodded in agreement.

“Life is hard...but it is beautiful, too.” in my opinion, and began working her way down my upper thigh. My eyes were fixed to the screen. Although, I really had no idea what I was looking at.

All I saw were different shades of gray, and then, red and blue. I had seen this before. I just couldn’t remember what it all meant... Elizabeth noticed my interest and promptly gave me a quick and simple explanation on what the screen was showing.

“Oxygenated blood is pumped out of the heart and travels through your arteries.

That’s what you see here highlighted in red. The blue, those are your veins. They are carrying the blood back to your heart to get reoxygenated.”

“Thank you!” I said graciously. “Now it makes sense!”

“I’m not allowed to tell you what I see,” she said with slightly raised eyebrows.

“But, if you watch close enough you’ll catch on a little bit!”

“I understand completely. I appreciate you taking your time to refresh my memory. The technician that performed my ultrasound back in my hometown gave me the same lesson you just did. I wish I could remember her name. She was great...and I could tell that she took a lot of pride in her job. Her father had passed

18 SHOWCASE Magazine

A broad smile crossed her face. “Yes. Yes, it is!”

“Was losing your father what persuaded you to choose this career path, too?”

She shook her head. “No. I had already been working in the medical field for several years before he passed. I originally wanted to go to medical school, but I didn’t get in. Then I decided to try and get a nursing degree, but the program was full. The radiology program had one spot left, so I applied, and the rest is history.”

Elizabeth paused to reflect back. “I just knew that I wanted to help people. It’s an honor to do my job. Take you for example, you just met me, but you trust me to do my job...and to do my job correctly. You’re depending on me. I take great pride in that and I don’t take it lightly. I think that’s a big problem with a lot of people working in the medical field these days. They take themselves too seriously and let their egos get in the way.

They forget that it’s a privilege to do what they do.”

Continued from page 17

compressing on the screen. I watched with fascination. My eyes darted back and forth between her face and the monitor searching for any sign of worry.

She began to speak again...and little did I know just how much her next few sentences were about to impact me.

“I know you’ve been through a lot, Judith.

We don’t have to go into specifics...but I know you’ve overcome your fair share of grief and heartache.”

My mind was racing...and I thought to myself, how did she know this about me?

My eyes were beginning to tingle and burn.

I tried so hard to blink back the tears.

“Sometimes when we suffer a great loss we lose ourselves in our emotions. We get angry, bitter, and full of resentment, and sometimes make bad choices because of that. We push people away. We push God away.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Was this really happening? A tear streamed down my face.

“I know you have been let down and deeply hurt by some of the people closest to you. I know it’s hard...but you have to forgive them. I’m sure that if everyone could go back in time, you’d all do things differently. That’s the beauty in it though.

You live and learn. They live and learn.

Judith, the only real sign of life is growth.

And growth sometimes requires pain. It took me a long time to learn that. God works in mysterious ways. If we never fall down, we’d never learn how to get back up. And in spite of what happens to us, ultimately we each decide whether our lives are good, bad, ugly, or beautiful.”

She looked me straight in the eyes and ended by saying, “You should be proud of yourself. Life is hard sometimes, remember? We just have to live day by day and trust God every step of the way.

He loves you.”

“No honey, that’s just the Jesus in me!” she said softly.

And just as her speech was over...so was the ultrasound. The tears wouldn’t stop.

I was speechless. I wished that Girard could have been in the room with me to hear all of this. I would have asked him to pinch me and to tell me this was real. She handed me a tissue and smiled.

She gently pressed the probe down on my outer calf. I could see my veins and arteries

Continued to Page 20

Her words moved me to my core. I could feel the tears building in my eyes. “You’re a good person and you’ve got a good heart.”

| MARCH 2015 | www.showcasemagazine.com

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| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 19

I Met An Angel

Continued from page 17

“Thank you......so much,” I said. “I don’t really know what to say other than..... thank you!”

Still smiling, she bent over and gave me a big momma bear kind of hug. “You get yourself together and I’ll be right back.

I just need to take these results to the radiologist.” She spun around and left the room.

I redressed and threw away my snotty tissue. My head was still swimming with her words. This had been more than just doing her job. It was a demonstration of her spirit. A spirit that I was so grateful for.

A few minutes later the door opened, and Elizabeth returned.

“You’re good to go!”

“I’m good?” I asked surprisingly.

“God has healed you, sweetie.”

“And there was no scar tissue?”

“Not a trace,” she said.

I grabbed my purse, she opened the door, and we both walked out into the hall. It was if we had stepped into another universe.

The once busy atmosphere was now so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. There wasn’t another soul in sight.

“Good luck, Judith,” Elizabeth said. “Now get on out of here and enjoy the rest of your day. And always remember what I told you.”

I smiled big and thanked her again. Once more, I looked down at her hospital badge and read her full name out loud. “I just don’t ever want to forget your name... You have been so wonderful!”

And then, her final remark chilled me to the bone.

“Honey, you don’t need to remember my name.” Pointing upwards, she continued, “You just have to remember His name. I’m just the messenger.”

And with that, she smiled one last big happy grin, gave me a little wink, and disappeared back into the exam room.

Creative Flow Judy Bates Tracy Budd Vera Dickerson Michael Farrar Jane Winders Frank Gina Louthian-Stanley Robin Poteet MON – FR I : 10 A M – 5 PM | S AT : 10 A M – 3 PM | A DMISSION FR EE

215 Starling Ave, Martinsville • PiedmontArts.org 20 SHOWCASE Magazine

| MARCH 2015 | www.showcasemagazine.com

I didn’t move a muscle. I just continued to stand there for a few seconds. My mind was in overload. Everything felt so surreal.

And then the sound of approaching footsteps drew my attention. My heart leapt. I couldn’t wait to tell Girard.

•••••••••• They say that angels appear in our lives at pivotal moments. They may come to us during a stressful or fearful situation. They may come when we’re feeling lost and need help finding our way. Or perhaps, they may come when we just need a little bit of encouragement.

Maybe angels don’t always show up with magnificent wings, wearing a long white robe, and a halo above their head. Maybe they sometimes appear in a more subtle manner, leaving signs of hope — as in finding a lone feather on the ground or seeing a brilliant rainbow in the sky. Maybe they come disguised as a furry four-legged friend, or as a mysterious stranger.

And maybe, just maybe...they appear as an everyday person wearing a pair of light blue scrubs!

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| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 21

Inside the Artisan Center

feature

by Kimberly Buck Photos provided by Kimberly Buck & Karen Despot

AC Herb class: Herbs teacher Kris Landrum leads a workshop on cooking with organic herbs in Fall 2014. She continues her series at The Artisan Center this spring with “Herbs for Spring Cleaning” and “Herbal Syrups, Salves, and Honeys.”

Why buy a souvenir when you can make your own?

At the Artisan Center in uptown Martinsville, you can take home a memory, a new artistic skill, or some fun dance moves.

16 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Learn about the astringent and antibacterial properties of some herbs and make your own cleaning products to take home! Tuition is $25 plus a $10 supply fee payable to the instructor.

The center, which is part of Patrick Henry Community College, specializes in helping people of all ages and abilities get in touch with their creative side. It is a stop on the exciting new Smith River Artisan Trail, a collection of local arts and cultural attractions.

Then, if seasonal allergies are making you miserable, sign up for Landrum’s next workshop, Herbal Syrups, Salves and Honeys, on Monday, April 20. Herbs have been used for their healing properties for centuries.

Make and take some herbal preparations for minor ailments and overall well-being.

In addition to existing classes in visual arts and traditional crafts, The Artisan Center has recently added a smorgasbord of new topics – from calligraphy to cooking to the performing arts.

Whether you want to learn photography, pottery, beaded jewelry, woodworking, or herbs, there’s a weekly class or one-time workshop where you can create your very own work of art.

Meanwhile, a variety of new dance programs have proved to be a popular way to get active in the new year. A tap dance class taught by a former Rockette, Jane Leizer, drew more than 25 people when it was offered for the first time starting in January 2015.

Many of the students signed up to learn moves they can use onstage with the college’s performing arts troupe, the Patriot Players, which holds several variety shows, plays, and musicals throughout the year. With such a positive response, more opportunities to learn tap and other dances will continue to be offered.

Many art lovers have admired the work of woodturner Terry Mitchell, who creates beautiful pieces in his workshop at Studio 107 on Church Street in uptown Martinsville. His creations, made out of woods from around the world, have been given as awards, exhibited in museums, and are part of the private collection of Grammy winner Darrell Scott. This master artist will share his secrets in an introductory Woodturning class starting in March at The Artisan Center. Learn to turn wooden forms using a lathe and create several projects to take home and enjoy! Classes are $89, including supplies, and will be held 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, March 12-April 9. An intermediate class will follow for those who wish to take their skills to the next level.

Wood isn’t the only natural product being used at The Artisan Center. With spring cleaning season just around the corner, learn to make your own organic, natural cleansers without harsh chemicals from Kris Landrum of The Herbitage. Her hands-on workshop, Herbs for Spring Cleaning, will be held Monday, March

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AC Quilt class: Vernie Lewis, a longtime student in Karen Despot’s Advanced Quilting class, poses with the “Blessed Home” quilt she made over the course of a year.

| MARCH 2015 | www.showcasemagazine.com

So you think you can’t dance? Dance coach and choreographer Sue Ann Ehmann has never met a pair of two left feet she couldn’t teach. Her Tuesday night Line Dance classes have attracted a loyal following of beginners and experienced dancers alike, and they return week after week for fun, fellowship, and fitness.

The biggest correction Ehmann would like to make about line dancing is that, “It isn’t all country!” She teaches dances to a wide variety of music genres, including Top 40 Pop, Country, Oldies, Show Tunes, etc. No partner is necessary. Beginner Line Dance classes are held every Tuesday at 6 p.m., while intermediate classes start at 7. Each is $25 for five weeks. The next session will be held March 17 through April 28 (no class on March 24 or 31).

AC Line Dance: Line Dance teacher and choreographer Sue Ann Ehmann, front, leads a beginning line dance class at The Artisan Center.

By popular demand, Ehmann and her dance students have started holding Line Dance parties on the last Friday of every month as a way to practice what they’ve learned and reunite with old friends. The next dance will be 6-9 p.m. on Friday, March 27. Admission is $5.

For a mix of dance and aerobics, Lisa Lyle is teaching a Wednesday night Zumba class on the main campus of Patrick Henry Community College. Zumba incorporates easy-to-follow cardio steps and resistance training, with choreography to hip-hop, salsa, merengue, mambo, and reggaeton. Classes will be held 6-7 p.m. from March 25-May 13 for only $30.

Want to do something new for Date Night?

Sign up for Intro to Swing Dancing (East Coast) on Wednesday nights from 6-7:30, and learn to “jump, jive, and wail!” Listen to classic tunes as instructor Mark Setliff teaches proper frame, leading and following, loop turns, arch turns, and much more. The next session will be March 25 to April 22 and is $25 for five weeks.

The Artisan Center tries to keep other traditional art forms alive, as well. Several classes build on the area’s deep roots in furniture and textiles.

The work of master woodworker Burr Fox can be seen in fashionable homes throughout the region, from custom furniture to fine cabinetry. In his spare time, he shares his love of the craft by volunteering with the local Boy Scouts and by teaching Artisan Center classes to a devoted following of adult students. Fox will offer one-on-one help making the project of your dreams in the Woodworking Open

AC Woodworking: Master woodworker Burr Fox, right, advises Will Pearson on the construction of a jewelry box in the Woodworking Open Studio.The class will be offered again in April 2015.

Studio class, held 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 7-May 5. The open studio offers students of any ability level the opportunity to use the woodworking equipment and get expert guidance as they work independently to create a piece of their choosing. Students bring their own supplies and ideas. Cost is $89 for the five weeks.

On any given Wednesday night, The Artisan Center is humming with sewing machines in Karen Despot’s Quilting class. A multitalented artist in a variety of media, including painting, graphic design, fiber arts, and more, Despot works out of a studio inside The Artisan Center that is also a site on the local Artisan Trail. Her Wednesday evening class is a mix of beginners, who practice new techniques on a sampler quilt, to longtime quilters who come for the fellowship and some extra guidance as they work on larger projects. Quilting is offered almost continuously throughout the year. The next five-week session is held 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 8-May 6. Cost is $89 for beginners and $49 for advanced, who may take the higher level after four sessions of the introductory class or permission of the instructor. Students purchase their own supplies.

Many jewelry classes are taught by multimedia artist Susan Weeks, who got her start studying glass and jewelry at The Artisan Center several years ago. These experiences reignited an early passion for the arts that inspired her to continue honing her skills, attending the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina and earning certification as a Precious Metal Clay instructor from Rio Grande Jewelry.

A nurse practitioner by day, Weeks spends her free time creating beautiful jewelry in

AC Swing Dance 1 and 2: Chris Bruner, left, and Nicole Held learn to swing dance in a new class at The Artisan Center.

fused glass, metal, silver clay, and beads. She sells her work around the region and shares her skills through teaching at The Artisan Center. Weeks’s next class will be an Intro to Wire-Wrapped Jewelry, held Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:30 p.m., April 14-May 19. Cost is $89 including supplies.

Everyone takes digital photos nowadays, but do you know what all those buttons on your camera really do? Back by popular demand, Certified Professional Photographer Ricky Dawson will teach additional sessions of photography and Photoshop in April. Learn to improve the quality of your pictures in Nuts and Bolts of Digital Photography from 6-8 p.m. on Thursdays, April 9-May 7. Cost is $60. Bring your camera and instruction manual, and get ready to capture your summer vacation with fantastic photos!

So you’ve taken a bunch of photos; now, how do you make them look better?

Learn lots of easy tricks to spruce up your pictures on the computer in Intro to Adobe Photoshop, 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays, April 14May 12. Bring a thumb drive of images you’d like to enhance. Cost is $60.

These are just some examples of the skills you can learn and memories you can create with a trip to The Artisan Center, located at 54 West Church Street in historic uptown Martinsville. Pre-registration is required for most classes by calling 276-656-5461 or emailing kbuck@patrickhenry.edu. Check out www.theartisancenter.org or The Artisan Center Facebook page for new events being added throughout the year!

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| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 23

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games Fun &

ACROSS 1 Type of watch 7 Flukey 11 Fast plane 14 Nightmare 15 Roman emperor 16 Respect 17 Fewer 18 Wood 19 Least amount 20 Mary __ Moore 22 Singing voices 24 Abdominal muscles (abbr.)

27 Second to last mo.

29 Harvard’s rival 30 Dozes 32 Stupid 35 Most correct 37 Treat with contempt 38 Hallucinogen 41 Prisoner 42 Libel 44 Compass point 45 Convex shape 48 Large S.A. river 49 Set up for use 51 Earns 52 Wise Man

55 North American Indian 56 Encounter 57 Elevate 60 Coffee 64 Beverage 65 Unrefined 67 Bought alternative 71 Stray 72 Gas burner 73 Evoke 74 Tinct 75 Two 76 Cheat

21 Tip 23 Big Apple (abbr.)

24 Those who are opposed 25 Farm buildings 26 Froth 28 Swear 31 Ocean 32 Objects 33 Large wave 34 Object 36 Surprise

38 Mopes about 39 Struck 40 Solid 43 Winnow 46 Energy unit 47 Whole-grain cereal 49 Roman three 50 MGM’s Lion 52 Silenced 53 Mimicry 54 Reflection

58 Wilma Flintstones’ husband 59 Skirt 61 Animal stomach 62 Goddess 63 Soon 66 Cell stuff 68 Pull 69 American sign language 70 Downwind

DOWN 1 Cause of sickness 2 Compass point 3 American Cancer Society (abbr.)

4 Desire 5 Do what you’re told 6 Boy’s friend 7 Opening hymn 8 Toll 9 Club 10 Harness 11 Island country 12 Twist around 13 Strain

Name the

ARCH WORD SE E THEM

&

WIN!

o’s II $25 Medificate t r gift ce

HOW TO ENTER

Email paul@showcasemagazine.com with the theme of this Word Search (March 2015) for a chance to win a $25 Medo’s II gift certificate. Winner will be announced on Facebook (Showcase Magazine) on March 31, 2015.

RATING: EASY

AWAKE BREATHING CYCLE DEEPEST

26 SHOWCASE Magazine

DREAM

INSOMNIA

ENERGY

NAP

GROUCHY

QUIET

RELAX REM SNORING STAGES

| MARCH March 2015 2015| | www.showcasemagazine.com www.showcasemagazine.com

ANSWERS ON PAGE 32

EARN YOUR DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND IN DANVILLE. Our Weekend College program at Danville Community College works with your busy personal and professional life. And your budget.

Attend class Friday evenings and Saturdays at DCC. Enjoy classes with real-world applications.

Take one highly- concentrated course at a time.

And pay just $430 per semester hour.

New cohorts start each August. Attend an upcoming information session to learn more.

spcs.richmond.edu/weekend

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| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 27

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| MARCH 2015 | www.showcasemagazine.com

S M T W T F S

DANVILLE

DON’T

MISS!

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

MARCH ‘15

| HELPING HANDS | H O B B I E S / S P O RT S | KIDS | LIFESTYLE/LECTURE

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15 16 17 18 19 20 21

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

6-31 – Friday Night Fun and Dance - Join over 100 dancers

9 10 11 12 13 14

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Arts/Exhibits/ Entertainment

8

MARCH 2015

Ongoing – Digital Dome Theater – Open for guests to fully explore the known universe as well as some fascinating phenomena right here on Earth.

The immersive dome setting showcases the scientific wonders of space, engages visitors with live astronomers, and offers large format films. Danville Science Center. 434.791.5160.

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

434.791.5160.

Ongoing – Magic Tree House Space Mission – Now showing in the Digital Dome Theater at the Danville Science Center, this presentation was developed by UNC Morehead Planetarium and based on Mary Pope Osborne’s popular book series. It begins when a mysterious character known only as “M” sends the intrepid Jack and Annie on a funfilled journey to discover the secrets of the sun, moon, planets, space travel and more. Danville Science Center. 434.791.5160.

Thru March 31 – Essel Propack Scholarship Program - Local packaging manufacturer, Essel Propack, has launched the Manufacturing Excellence Scholarship program to recognize Danville and Pittsylvania County high school seniors. Eligible students will be selected in the spring semester and awarded

for a night of dancing, having fun and meeting new friends. Ages 50 and over. FRI 7:30-10:30pm. Ballou Recreation Center. 434.799.5216.

7 – Artfelt Expressions of Bob Ross - Here is your opportunity to learn to paint the Bob Ross way. Ed Gowen, certified Bob Ross instructor, will help you complete a beautiful painting in just one day.

Please bring a roll of paper towels and a 16x20 canvas. All other supplies are included. Adults 18 and up. 10:30am-3:30pm. Ballou Annex Building. 434.799.5216.

7 – American Chamber Players - This group remain among today’s most exciting and innovative chamber musicians. The ensemble runs the gamut, with repertoire ranging from familiar masterpieces to neglected gems to newly-commissioned American works. 7:30pm. Danville Concert Association.Averett’s Frith Fine Arts Center. 434.792.9242.

13 – Flip Flop Friday - Homeplace Vineyard.

434.432.WINE (9463). www. thehomeplacevineyard.com.

13 – Danville Comedy Club - Dionne Alexander, headliner, has been seen on HBO Comedy.

Irwin Loring has been on Comcast on Demand, Local Point TV and in NYC and Atlantic City. 8 pm.

North Theatre. 434.793.7469.

14 – “Bids, Brew, BBQ & Shamrocks too” St. Patrick’s Day Celebration - Live and silent auctions, BBQ, beverages and live music. 6-10pm. Sacred Heart School. 434.793.2656.

14 – Magic of the Mind Celebrity Magician Wayne Alanmentalism, mind reading and psychic magic. 8pm. North Theatre.

434.793.7469.

2 3 4 5 6 7

A RT S

Kids/Family

up to $5,000 based on their outstanding community service, academic performance and leadership skills. More information is available through guidance counselors at Chatham, Dan River, Galileo, George Washington, Gretna and Tunstall High Schools.

For more information, contact Wendi Caraballo at 434.822.8007 ext. 356 or wendi.caraballo@ ep.esselgroup.com.

28 – Eggcellent Adventures at Danville Museum - The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History invites children ages 4 to 10 to “Eggcellent Adventures” on Saturday, March 28 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. This spring event with crafts and games is free and open to the public. Children should bring their own basket for the egg hunt and must be accompanied by an adult. 1-3pm. Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History.

434.793.5644.

Thru April 25 – Through the Years:The Biography of a House - The current exhibit tells the story of the Langhorne House that once was on Main Street and now is on Broad Street.

A main feature of the exhibit is a model of the house built by Patrick Woodard. Also included are recently discovered photographs, an early map showing the Main Street location, and various memorabilia to illuminate the theme. The exhibit can be viewed on Saturdays from 2-5pm. No admission charge. 434.791.2256.

Langhorne House.

1

AREAEventsGuide

DANVILLE

What Does Research Really Mean? - Breakthroughs in cancer prevention, treatment and many other issues, medical and nonmedical, occur daily because of research. There are thousands of research studies currently being undertaken on a wide variety of topics. What does that mean? How does that affect you and your family? Join us on March 10, from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm at Ballou Recreation Center, lower level for What Does Research Really Mean: How could it affect you. This program is part of the popular free Keeping Well in Mind, Body & Spirit Series for those concerned with cancer prevention and survivorship, open to the entire community. It will be presented by two dynamic speakers. Andrew Barnes, PhD, Department of Healthcare Policy & Research,Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Barnes will report on his research study recently completed in Danville and the surrounding areas: The Health Insurance Choice Project. Amma Agyemang, MS, MPH, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student, VCU. Ms. Agyemang will present her current research project: Sleep in Cancer Patients.

Everyone can benefit from their interesting and educational presentations. The program is brought to the Dan River Region by the Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia/Danville in partnership with Danville Parks & Recreation. Please being your lunch and a friend! Drinks and dessert are provided. Boxed lunches can be ordered in advance for $6.50. Call the Resource Center to make a reservation, 434421-3060, or email cllitzenberg@vcu.edu. The Cancer Resource Center is located in Kennedy Hall, 103 S. Main Street, Danville. We encourage the community to stop by and see what we have to offer. The Cancer Research and Resource Center of Southern Virginia is funded by VCU Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.

| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 29

Continued from Page 29

AREAEventsGuide

15 – Chatham Concert Series - Chamber music for flute, harp and strings with Roanoke Symphony Flutist Julee Hickcox, Greensboro Symphony Harpist Helen Rifas, and the Classic Strings Duo of Kevin & Bryan Matheson on violin and viola. 3pm. Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Chatham. kstrings1@ hotmail.com.

20-April 5 – Godspell - This famous Broadway show, based on the Gospel of Matthew. It is a cherished reflection on the teachings of Jesus, with a message of kindness, tolerance, and love. 3/20, 21, 27, 28, 4/3 & 4 - 8pm. 3/22 & 29, and 4/5 - 2:30pm. North Theatre. 434.793.7469.

20-May 15 – DMFAH Exhibits - Works of Fritz Janschka, an internationally celebrated painter, sculptor and graphic artist and Civil War Redux Exhibit - Photographs by Richmond photographer Willie Anne Wright of re-enactments on or near original Civil War sites using a pinhole camera. 3/20 - Receptions 5:30-7pm.

Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History. www.danvillemuseum.org. 434.793.5644.

21 – Sing a Little Song - A tribute to Camilla Williams. The origins and legacy of Gospel music through song, poetry, and skits in a performance. The program presents biographies with songs previously done by featured African American icons of Gospel music. 2-4pm.

DMFAH. 434.793.5644.

21 – Danville Symphony Orchestra’s Winter Classic Concert - Spring in the New World 8-10pm. GWHS Auditorium.

23-26 – DCC’s Celebration of the Arts - 3/23 - Glenwood Smith Band - A local rock/ jazz group. 12:30pm.

3/24 – Shakespearean Comedy Act with Chris Pantazis, 11am.; Wake and District Public Safety Pipes and Drums, 4pm. 3/25 – Dan River Review Student Showcase, 1pm; Art Judging and Reception, 5:30pm; The Brass Knights - Jazz quartet, 7pm. 3/26 - Anndrena Belcher - Renowned storyteller, 11am; PoetShe - Spoken Word Performances, 3pm.

26 – Blue Jeans Gala - This isn’t your average black tie gala. Leave the black tie at home and pull on those blue jeans.

Enjoy appetizers, dancing corn home, music by DJ Larry Stamps, photo booth and more. Fundraiser for Boys & Girls Club. 7-10 pm. Gentry Farm. www. bgcdanville.org.

27 – Cabin Fever Music Series - The Cabin Fever Music Series, sponsored

by Danville Harvest Jubilee, City of Danville, Bud Light, URW Credit Union and Big Sky Rents and Events will feature Americana, Blues and progressive bluegrass. Entertainment provided

by Big Ron Hunter (Blues). 7:3010:30pm. Danville Community Market.

434.799.5200.

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28 – Casino Auction - Annual fundraiser that includes great food, open bar, live and silent auctions, a fun interactive photo booth, and $5,000 in Casino Cash! Attire is black tie optional. 6pm. Chatham Rotary Club. 434.688.1400. Olde Dominion Agricultural Center. www. chathamrotaryclub.com.

Lifestyle/Lectures

3 – Frontier Living Skills - Step back in time to the 18th century and watch as a character from the frontier days of Danville and Pittsylvania County demonstrates how hides were turned into useable leather, fires were started using flint and steel, ropes were made from twisted fiber and flintlock rifles were used for harvesting game. Ages 10 and up. 7-8:30pm.Ballou Nature Center.434.799.5215.

3,17,31 – Toastmasters Toastmasters members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. 6-7pm. National University. 434.793.1431.

4 – Ellen Glasgow in Virginia – Dr. Martha E. Cook will present this program on the life of the Virginia Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Ellen Glasgow. 3:45 pm. The Wednesday Club. 434.792.7921.

5 – Job Corps Information Session - Job Corps helps young adults learn a career, earn a high school diploma, and gain the real world skills needed to succeed.Vocational training is available in rapidly growing career areas, such as certified nursing, carpentry, culinary arts, auto repair, electrical, welding and many more. 10:30am-12:30pm. Workforce Development Center. 434.455.2521.

10 – Keeping Well in Mind, Body & Spirit - For those concerned with cancer survival and prevention, Cancer Research & Resource Center of Southern Virginia presents “Keeping Well in Mind, Body & Spirit.” Open to the entire community. A variety of professional speakers will answer your questions. 11:30am-1pm. Ballou Recreation Center. 434.421.3060.

19 – Garden Basics - Roots, Soils, and Fertilizers - Do you have questions about your plants, flowers or how to design your yard? Join Stuart Sutphin,Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent, as he shares information and answers questions about landscape design. There is no fee, but registration is required. 12-1:30pm. Pepsi Building.

434.797.8848.

28 – Adoption Fair - Reduced adoption fees for dogs and cats -$40; rabies vaccination and microchip clinic; pet photos with Easter Bunny- $10; dog and cat Easter baskets - $10; and much more! 11am-3pm Danville Area Humane Society Animal Shelter. 434.799.0843.

Hobbies/Sports

2 - Deco Mesh Wreath Making – Deco mesh can be used indoors or out. It is perfect for celebrating the seasons and holidays, as well as life’s special events. In these classes, you will learn how to make a seasonal wreath.

Materials included. 3-5pm and 6-8pm.

Ballou Recreation Center. 434.799.5216.

3 - Pickle Ball Basics – Learn the basics of Pickle Ball, which is a fast-paced game that is sweeping the nation. Pickle Ball is fun for all ages and combines the games of badminton, tennis, and ping pong. The size of the court and the paddle makes the game ideal for the baby boomer crowd.5-8pm. Gleenwood Community Center. 434.799.5216.

6 - Pickle Ball Basics – Learn the basics of Pickle Ball, which is a fast-paced game that is sweeping the nation. Pickle Ball is fun for all ages and combines the games of badminton, tennis, and ping pong. The size of the court and the paddle makes the game ideal for the baby boomer crowd. 8-11am. Coates Recreation Center. 434.799.5216.

7 - Running 4 A Reason 5k/10k and Kids Fun Run - 9am-1pm. Angler’s Park.

14 - Green Legs and Hamstrings Trail Run - This seventh annual trail race will feature new race routes on the beautiful Anglers Ridge Mountain Bike Trails. Choose from a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. Run as an individual or as a team. Prizes will be awarded in age and gender categories in each race. Overall winners are eligible for additional age group awards. Shirts are guaranteed to participants who register by February 16. Ages 10 and up. 10am-1pm. Angler’s Park. 434.799.5215.

17,24 - Archery -Power Pull Learn to shoot a bow employing proper techniques and build muscle strength through exercises designed to improve your overall performance during this two session program.6:308:30pm. Coates Recreation Center.

434.799.5215.

21 - Zip Line - Spring Lift Off Experience a thrilling ride as you ride the zip line. Enjoy the view of the newly budding trees from on top of the launch platform as you breathe in the invigorating spring air. Ages 8 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.1-2:30pm.

Skate Park/Dan Daniel Memorial Park.

434.799.5215.

21 - Learn to Play Bridge Today – Have you always wanted to learn how to play Bridge, but did not know where to start? Look no further than this fivehour seminar taught by ACBL certified teacher, Skip Wilson, who teaches locally and on many cruise ships. Because his love of Bridge is contagious, you are guaranteed to have a fun and informative day. 10am-3pm. Ballou Nature Center.

434.799.5216.

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Continued from Page 30

AREAEventsGuide

26 - Zip Line - Night Flight - Zip lining in the dark creates an exciting ride through the shadows in the twilight.

Bring a brave friend and ride together.

Ages 8 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 8-9:30pm.

Skate Park. 434.799.5215.

of Music at Duke University, and he has served on the faculties of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University and Guilford College. 7:30pm. Kirby Theater.

336.597.1709. Roxboro, NC.

ROXBORO

CASWELL CO.

15 - The Second City Happily Ever Laughter – Chicago landmark and National Treasure, legendary comedy theatre SECOND CITY launched the careers of Tina Fey, John Belushi, Dan Akroyd, Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert among others. Now comes the next generation of comedy’s best and brightest, delivering an evening of hilarious comedy sketches and trademark improvisations. Whether ripped from today’s headlines, or a classic gem from the archives of their 53 year history, THE SECOND CITY is always a laugh-out-loud hit!

8pm. Caswell County Civic Center.

336.694.4591.Yanceyville, NC. 20 - Craig Wayne Boyd Concert – 2014 winner of the Voice. With guest Ray Scott. 7pm. Bar 119, Semora. www. bar119.com.

21 - March Bass Tournament – 7am-3pm. Mayo Park. Roxboro, NC. 28 - 5k Race to Benefit Special Olympics – 10am-12pm. Merrit Commons, Uptown Roxboro, NC. 28 - John Brown Quintet – Bassist, composer, educator and actor John Brown is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and currently resides in Durham, NC. John currently serves as Director of the Jazz Program and Associate Professor of the Practice

1-18 - On the Edge of Obsessive Compulsiveness Exhibit – An exhibition of original mixed-media collages by Sam Lasris will be featured in the Lobby-Gallery of the Caswell County Civic Center, 536 Main Street East, in Yanceyville, North Carolina.

Lasris is a life-long art aficionado and student who cites Seurat, Mondrian, Matisse, the cubists, and the modernists as artistic influences. He says, “My work starts with items that most people discard with little consideration for the energies expended in their creation and the fact that every object is the result of many hours of thought, design, and engineering.” The CCC is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and on evenings and weekends when the facility is in use. For more information call 336.694.4591, email ccarts@caswell.k12. nc.us or visit www.ccfta.org.

Lifestyle/Lectures

Arts/Exhibits

MARTINSVILLE Lifestyle/Lectures

1-31 – Living on the Water Special Exhibit - Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH). 276.634.4141 6 – First Friday Art Walk - Enjoy art, food, music and fun along Martinsville’s historic streets. Over 20 galleries, restaurants and shops are open with

live music and other events happening on select First Fridays. 5-7pm. Uptown Martinsville.

6 – Friday Night Swing Dance!

- 7-10pm. The Artisan Center.

276.632.0066.

12 – 2nd Thrusday Science Talks Dr. Kaloyan Ivanov,VMNH Assistant Curator of Recent Invertebrates. 6-7pm.

VMNH. 276.634.4141.

21 – Swingtime! - Direct from London,The Jive Aces are internationally renowned for their superior musicianship and spectacular stage show, not to mention their energetic renditions of Swing/Jive/R&B classics by greats like Cab Calloway, Bobby Darin, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. 7:30pm. Martinsville HS Auditorium. 276.632.3221.

25 – Doodle Bugs! - Physical Sciences: Energy. 3-4pm.VMNH. 276.634.4141..

SOUTH BOSTON Arts/Exhibits/ Entertainment

8 – American Chamber Players “An extraordinarily talented group who play beautifully together… They have established standards of chamber music performance equal to any in the world.”

- The Washington Post. 3pm. Chastain Theatre. 434.572.2543. South Boston.

19-22 – Staunton River Spring Party - Join members of the Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society for the spring Star Party.

Astronomers from across the country converge on the park each spring and fall to peruse vendors’ offerings, learn from guest speakers and presentations, and take advantage of the area’s exceptionally dark night skies.12pm.

434.572.2543.

fun & games solutions Continued from Page 26

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by Paulette Dean Executive Director, Danville Humane Society

It really is hard to believe that spring is upon us. It seems as if we were just planning for Thanksgiving, we blinked, and it is now time to plan for Easter (or even summer).

The coming of warm weather is usually a difficult time for openadmission shelters. Most litters of puppies and kittens are born during warm temperatures, and we brace for the onslaught of the unwanted, abandoned, and unloved ones.

We receive many, many calls about animals left out in freezing, wet weather, but it has been our experience that heat is just as, or even more, dangerous than cold temperatures. In the spring and summer, though, we hear of more animals being abandoned at dumpsters and on the side of the road. That is probably due in part to the vast number of unwanted litters.

There really is a special solution to the difficult problem — spaying and neutering dogs and cats will reduce the number of unwanted and neglected animals.

Since one unspayed female dog and one unspayed female cat can be responsible for about 500,000 births in seven years as their litters grow and breed, it is not hard to see why the overpopulation of dogs and cats continues to be such a huge problem. For every one human born, there are 15 dogs and 45 cats born, according to some estimates. There are not enough homes available for all these animals.

The best time to spay female dogs and cats is before their first heat.

It is not true that they should have at least one litter.

Behavior is only positively affected by the sterilization surgery. A neutered male cat’s territorial spraying is decreased. And spayed or neutered dogs and cats fight less and wander less.

The medical benefits to dogs and cats are numerous; in fact, there really are no negatives to spaying and neutering.

We have financial assistance for the spay/neuter surgeries for residents of Danville or Pittsylvania County.

Finally, we say goodbye to winter. Let us make spring a busy time for all the veterinary clinics by scheduling lots and lots of sterilization surgeries. When fall arrives again, maybe we will have received far fewer animals. SM

Benjamin

This little male kitten is about six weeks old and came to us as a stray. He has three littermates.

Danville Humane Society,

434.799.0843

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| MARCH 2015 | SHOWCASE Magazine 33

Guilty Pleasures

mystified Misty Brooks

Welcome to my world. Maybe you’ll find something entertaining, or maybe you’ll find something to relate to.

Maybe you’ll find both.

Sometimes this page won’t even make sense to you.

Sometimes it won’t apply to you. And sometimes you’ll think I stalked you and wrote a story about what I saw.

My world consists of five children, two dogs, two cats, and a husband. Jason is 22, Corey is 14, Spencer is 13, Tucker is 12, and Kendall is 11. Scott, my husband of four years, is still trying to figure us all out. Every day is a winding road.

The first snow of 2015 was exciting. The children

were looking forward to a snow day right after a Monday holiday, and I was looking forward to another day that I didn’t have to wake them up early. We were glued to TWC and the window.

Hours later, our snow day arrived.

As the week went on, there wasn’t a hope of returning to school in sight.

I used several hours of my days at home studying for a math quiz I would surely fail because I couldn’t get to my tutor at DCC because they, too, were closed. And when the weekend came, Mama had to break free.

The children ate everything in the house. One of them even knowingly ate something that had expired. I was able to get out, so I stocked back up. But they just ate it all, again…and again.

By the time Sunday rolled around I was in the home stretch, but I needed a break. After nine days straight, I was about to go off the deep end. I texted my friend Donna about a trip to Greensboro to scour every Goodwill we could find, but she didn’t answer. Soon after, and in a split second decision, I decided to go by myself. Here’s how it all went down: It was nearly 1 o’clock on a Sunday afternoon, so if I was going, I needed to go. I started feeling a little guilty about taking off for the day all by myself, so I asked each child separately if they wanted to go with me. None did.

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Fine then. I changed my clothes, grabbed my purse, and away I went. On the way out of the neighborhood I thought about turning back. Was I being selfish? I should have just made the best of the last day at home with them. But I didn’t, I just kept going.

As I made it onto 29S I realized I hadn’t fixed anyone lunch. I was officially the worst mom ever. I felt nauseous. I knew Scott would jump in and handle lunch, but I still hated to leave it for him to do. Had I been there and needed Scott to fix lunch, I wouldn’t have hesitated to ask.

But since I already felt guilty about leaving, I felt bad about leaving lunch for him too. Ugh. Almost everything in me wanted to turn around. I had laundry to do, if nothing else. But a little part of me also wanted to put the pedal to the metal and go Goodwill shopping.

Riding along and feeling good, I remembered that my phone battery was low. I glanced down to plug it in. I didn’t know where all the Greensboro Goodwills were so I expected to use Google Maps all day. But, my charger wasn’t there. Great. I pulled over to find it. I sprawled out through the car, looking under the front seats and in the back. I checked door panels, the console, and the backseat again.

I found the cord, and found an AC charger. But I was in the car...

I felt sick again. It was a sign to go back. What to do? You know that feeling when you feel bad about something, you start thinking of all the other things you can feel bad about, too? Well, I suddenly felt guilty for only waking Kendall up for church that morning. I felt guilty for the hours I spent on math homework all week. I wanted to just go back again.

But I didn’t.

With eleven percent battery life I wasn’t sure what to do. But if I was to find my way around town, I needed a plan. I came up with a pretty good one. My only option was to find an outlet at my first Goodwill and get a little juice. The trick was to find one out of sight so I could leave my phone unattended while I shopped. I was a little excited and forgot how guilty I was about leaving my family behind. I’d even forgotten that I didn’t bother to feed anyone before I left home.

At the first stop I went straight to a wall of dresses. Bam — an outlet.

And it was out of sight. I watched it like a mother hen from all over the store, never turning my back on it. It became a game in each store.

But in my third stop, I noticed two boys running through the store having a grand ole time playing a far better game than I was. They were sort of out of control. It was a little annoying and reminded me of home. I felt sick again.

These boys were at the next three Goodwills I went to and I never even saw who they were with!

They were like little will-o-wisps appearing everywhere I went. They even made me forget the hunger pangs...because I didn’t eat until I got home.

At the end of the day —thirty dollars spent, four big bags of treasures, and an empty stomach pushed me back home.

I’m glad I got over myself and went.

No one even greeted me when I got home. And they probably didn’t even need lunch because they were so full from binging out all week.

P.S. I passed my math quiz!. SM

For The Warrior In All Of Us You’re proud of your active lifestyle. Don’t let injuries hold you back.

Saturday morning we head out for a run and some friendly family

LYNCHBURG

competition. Three miles before breakfast and the loser has to do the dishes.

LOCATIONS:

An injury isn’t in the plan.

Fortunately, if it happens you have a training partner who cares — someone to help you get back on your feet and back to peak performance.

Now thanks to Centra Rehabilitation, you’re back in the race and those dishes are his responsibility.

There’s a little warrior in all of us. Call Centra Rehabilitation today.

Jamerson Family YMCA 434.237.8160 Neuroscience Center 434.200.2900 Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital 434.200.4668

SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES: Bedford 540.587.3246 Gretna 434.656.4607 Danville 434.797.1384 Farmville 434.315.2920 Keysville 434.736.8801

Rehab.CentraHealth.com

Facebook.com/CentraRehabilitation

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