Showcase Magazine April 2020

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CONTENTS

Showcase Magazine

APRIL 2020

STAY AT HOME HANDBOOK ISSUE Showcase Magazine

@showcaseDVA

showcasemagazineva @ info@showcasemagazine.com

FEATURES Stay At Home Handbook

8

Rooster Walk

in Martinsville – Henry County 16

ALSO INSIDE

PG.

8

Games

Crossword & Wordsearch 12

Stay At Home Handbook ALSO INSIDE Editor’s Letter Well, this is different.

6

From the Kitchen of

Big Bear’s Wife

M&M Marshmallow Cheesecake Apple Dip 14

Paws for a Cause Animals and Easter 13 4 SHOWCASE Magazine |

Nine Grams

Instagrams From Our Area 18 APRIL 2020

PG.

Bluegrass band Big Fat Gap performs at Rooster Walk 2

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16

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Well, this is different.

At the beginning of March, we were working on the April issue that was added to our editorial calendar at the end of 2019. We finished that issue, but we’re holding it back for the time being as we feel it will have a greater impact when we come out of the stay-at-home period. And we will come out of this. But it is incredibly important that everyone does his or her part to lessen the toll of this already destructive (on many levels) pandemic. And the most important thing you can do is stay at home. I know it’s difficult. I’m the walking definition of an introvert, and I’m even starting to miss social interaction. But this is what we have to do to beat this.

So, we shelved our original April issue to create a Stay-At-Home Handbook to help through this crazy time. There are simple things to pass the time, and there are things that can help us learn new skills during this difficult time.

A few years ago, I wasn’t happy with certain aspects of my life. I researched ways to feel better.

Stoicism was the one thing that stuck with me. I’ve mentioned it before, probably many times, but one of the key points the stoics believed was you have no control over events, others, etc., but you have complete control over how you react to things. That changed my life.

Related to our current situation, ask yourself what are the things you can control? You can follow the guidelines to avoid getting (or spreading) COVID-19. You can not overreact to the person at the grocery store who isn’t the nicest because they are afraid. But the most important things you can do is to be kind and be helpful.

This is a very difficult time for everyone but try to find positives in the negatives. In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius said, “Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it — turns it to its purposes, incorporates it into itself — so, too, a rational being can turn each setback into raw material and use it to achieve its goal.” Use this time to learn something new or to prepare to have an easier life when this order is lifted. In Letters From a Stoic, Seneca shared a similar view. “A setback has often cleared the way for greater prosperity.

Many things have fallen only to rise to more exalted heights.” We will get through this, and we will be a stronger community.

showcase APRIL 2020 CEO Andrew Scott Brooks scott@showcasemagazine.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Paul Seiple | paul@showcasemagazine.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kim Demont | demontdesign@verizon.net FINANCE MANAGER Cindy Astin | cindy@showcasemagazine.com ADVERTISING Lee Vogler | Director of Sales and Marketing lee@showcasemagazine.com | 434.548.5335 Sam Jackson | Marketing Consultant sam@showcasmagazine.com | 434.709.3528 CUSTOMER SERVICE 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 Angie Barrett | Paulette Dean Sam Jackson | Paul Seiple CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Angie Barrett | Kim Barto

Social distancing is crucial during a pandemic, but let’s not lose touch with ourselves or each other. There are many ways to stay in contact while sheltering at home. Showcase created a Facebook group called SEO: Dan River Region (Support Each Other) for the purpose of passing important information, supporting each other, and supporting our local businesses as we ride this thing out. Feel free to join and share your information.

Lastly, keep your distance, wash your hands, and don’t touch your face.

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FEATURE STAY AT HOME HANDBOOK

The Stay-At-Home Handbook

BY PAUL SEIPLE AND SAM JACKSON

S

ocial distancing is the new norm for the foreseeable

future. It disrupts every aspect of our lives. This

period presents us with opportunities we normally fly right by as we live our busy, daily lives. Make the most of the time and come out of it in a better place.

We’ve compiled a handbook of things to keep you occupied while staying at home.

Get creative.

This is a good opportunity to unleash your creative side.

Do you have a story that’s been freeloading in your head for a while? Now is the time to write it. The Internet has a wealth of information to help you turn your tale into

a book. There are support sites like NaNoWriMo and Youtubers like Chris Fox offering valuable lessons for free.

Paint. It doesn’t matter if you can paint. Just paint something. Art is a wonderful way to relieve stress and to take your mind off the current situation. A good place to start is free-online-art-classes.com.

Build something. Unleash your inner carpenter.

Instructables.com is an amazing community of people who teach you step-by-step how to build anything. Sign up for the newsletter and you’ll get weekly ideas in your inbox.

Read a good book.

If you’re anything like me, you have a list of books that you want to read. Being stuck at home is the perfect time to make your way through the list. Maybe you’ve plowed through your reading list, and you’re looking for your next favorite author. If so, and you have a kindle or the kindle app, check out Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited. New subscribers can sign up for a 30-day trial for free. The service is $9.99 a month if you choose to keep it. Most traditionally published books aren’t available in Kindle Unlimited, but there are over one-million books available.

You can also browse popular magazines, and there is a selection of audiobooks as well.

Speaking of audiobooks, Audible offers two free titles for new subscribers. The service is $14.95 a month after the trial, but if listening to books is your thing, Audible can help you pass the time. Another audiobook service worth noting is Chirp. It’s a free newsletter that sends daily audiobook deals to your inbox. Prices vary from .99 and up.

Even though you can’t visit your book-loving friends during this time, you can virtually hang out with them.

Start an online book club. Choose a book. Meet up through one of the many conferencing sites like Zoom, Skype, or Google Hangouts and discuss the book.

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Stay entertained (and fit).

Many of our local musicians and fitness instructors are offering online shows and online classes during this time.

You can support them by participating in watch parties and classes as well as sharing the upcoming events on social media. If you’re uneasy about taking your first yoga class, this is your time to erase the fear and get to practicing.

Also, there are sites like stageit.com where national artists perform online concerts. Last month, Reidsville-born, BJ Barham performed a five-night event showcasing five different American Aquarium albums from his living room.

Learn a new skill.

Youtube is a goldmine for free tutorials for anything from meal prepping to self-publishing the book you wrote during the stay at home period and everything in between.

If you want more structured learning Coursera offers many free courses including subjects such as app building and machine learning or one of my personal

favorites, social psychology. Skillshare is another site that offers classes in photography and illustration, as well as many other outlets of creativity. There are also classes in business, technology, and lifestyle. At the time of this, Skillshare is offering two months free of its premium service when you join. If you keep the subscription, it’s typically $19 a month. Skillpop Online is another service offering online classes a la carte with classes starting at $20. If you ever wanted to learn how to navigate LinkedIn, Skillpop Online has you covered.

Get organized.

Financially, these are scary times for many. Use this time to assess your finances and set a plan to come out of this stay-at-home period financially healthier. Do you have a lot of subscriptions services dipping into your checking account every month? Take inventory of your subscriptions and cancel the ones you’re not using. The savings will add up.

Sites such as The Penny Hoarder offer daily articles on ways to put money back into your pocket. If you’re not already subscribed to a credit monitoring site, it’s a god Continued to Page 10 www.showcasemagazine.com

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FEATURE STAY AT HOME HANDBOOK

Continued from Page 9

time to sign up. Sites such as Credit Karma and Credit Genie give you an accurate snapshot of your current financial health as well as ways to improve it.

Spring cleaning season is here, and you have no excuse to put it off. It’s time to go through pantry, cabinet, and closets to eliminate the clutter. If you’re looking for inspiration, pick a copy of Marie Kondo’s The LifeChanging Art of Tidying Up. For those wanting to organize (and simplify) more than a cluttered utensil drawer, check out Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown.

Take in some natural Vitamin D. Being cooped inside for long periods of times takes its

By now, you’ve likely gotten over the initial “break” caused by the onset of COVID-19 that forced most workplaces and all school shut down. For those who are working from home, no amount of time spent in your pajamas can make up for the distraction that can come from a houseful of bored kids.

The American Health Association recommends a maximum of two hours of screen time per day, so there’s only so much help TV and other devices can provide. So, what else to do? Here are a few smart ways to battle boredom.

1. Maintain order: Create a routine and schedule blocks of time. Just like with school, kids should be up and dressed by the same time every day, with blocks laid out for play, TV or Internet, meals and, now that they’re home all day, chores.

2. Get outside. The need for playtime is the same as it ever was. While it’s true that playgrounds and public areas are off-limits, getting kids into open areas and letting them run around is best, although even games such as tag should be avoided due to social distancing. Family walks and bike rides are your best bet. Area trails are still available; some even have encouraging messages written on the blacktop.

3. Keep learning: Many schools have sent home home-learning packets already, but another way to expand kids’ minds while having fun are taking advantage of the wealth of literature sources available.

All area libraries have online services available. Danville, Pittsylvania and Henry County libraries all have access to sources for kids such as Tumblebooks, RB Digital and Hoopla, All of which have e-books, comics and audio books for free. Other sites such as Loyal Books, Scribl and kidslisten.org can provide hours of entertainment, audio stories and podcasts to engage young minds.

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toll on us physically, emotionally, and mentally. The cure is fresh air and sunshine. Embrace these rare moments where you can sit back on your porch or in your yard and enjoy all the beauty nature gives the world. Also, it’s a great time to plant that container gardener that’s been on your to-do list for the past few springs. Need inspiration?

Hit up Youtube for ideas.

Support each other.

It’s called social distancing, but it’s actually physical distancing. Don’t forget to stay in touch with those you care about. Technology makes it possible to “visit” with friends and family through this difficult time. Check on each other. Make sure everyone has what they need.

Support each other.

MARKETPLACE

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EXTRA GAMES

Games

Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 One-celled animal 6 Lover 10 Leave now!

14 Mythical deity 15 Capital of Norway 16 Otherwise 17 Become active 18 Eye 19 Sensitivity 20 East 21 Supply oxygen 23 Mr. 24 Back talk 26 Ideal place 28 Trite artwork 31 Fasten 32 Snacked 33 Fool’s gold 36 U.S. Department of Agriculture 40 Lanky 42 Bullfight cheer 43 Priggish 44 Austin novel 45 Cromlech 48 Poem of praise

49 Where children can play 51 Dragged 53 Muddy 56 Satiate 57 The other half of Jima 58 Arouse from sleep 61 Shopping center 65 Medicine amount 67 Copied 68 Brand of paper cups 69 Skier’s need 70 Italian currency 71 Makes a sweater 72 Cabana 73 Set down 74 Gets up DOWN 1 At sea 2 Red planet 3 Decorative needle case 4 Keep off 5 Creative work 6 Tree trunks

7 Exploiter 8 Animal insect 9 Fluke 10 Put 11 Grasp 12 Computer characters 13 Neon fish 21 Pallid 22 Terminal abbr.

25 American College of Physicians (abbr.)

27 Sonata 28 Vegetable 29 Detail 30 Group 31 Tuber 34 Chessman 35 Ailing 37 Haze 38 Ranch hand 39 Mature 41 Dozes 45 House construction material 46 Ardor 47 Crank

50 Expression of surprise 52 Sign 53 In the middle of 54 Woke up

5 5 Brittle resin 56 Litter 59 Capital of Western Samoa 60 Lotion brand

6 2 Center of rotation 63 Diet 64 Fewer 66 Eastern Time 68 Danish krone (abbr.)

Word Search DEVELOPMENT

MARKETING

ANALYSIS

INSPIRE

MOTIVATION

SUCCESS

BRAND

LEADER

RISK

TECHNOLOGY

ADVERTISING

STRATEGY

COMMERCE

VISION

This month’s Games Page is sponsored by

The Wine Spot Page 9

Admission Is Free

Evince Magazine is a montlhly publication covering and distributed throughout the Dan River Region.

Sleeping in a Painting Page 11

Annelle Williams Book Clubbing

Making a $20,000 Burger See Page 5

Page 12

www.evincemagazine.com Answers on Page 14 12 SHOWCASE Magazine |

APRIL 2020

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PAWS FOR A CAUSE

Paws for a Cause In April of last year, I wrote about Harvey, my delightfully wonderful rabbit that I had years ago. I cautioned, as we also do at this time of year, against people buying or acquiring baby rabbits to give as Easter gifts.

WRITTEN BY PAULETTE DEAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY

The poor animal was being kept outside in the hot June sun with no shelter to provide relief from the direct sunlight.

She was seized and is still at the shelter, looking for her perfect home.

Little could I know that within three months we would have more tragic examples of why putting live animals in an Easter basket is not wise and can even lead to cruel consequences.

One late evening in June, I received a call from the police asking for our help in a cruelty case. Two employees and I went to the address to assist them.

The shocking view of a dead dog in a crate was compounded by the sight of a barely-living rabbit in a cage.

The rabbit was emaciated and

dehydrated. The owner did not give any information beyond the fact that a friend of hers had acquired the rabbit around Easter and did not want her.

MEET CHEWIE This beautiful girl has medium-length hair. She is about six years old and was brought to us by her owner. She will be a wonderful addition to a loving family.

The memory of that rabbit joins with the memories of other abandoned rabbits and ducklings that were given as cute Easter gifts. The memories serve as reminders that the best animal to put in an Easter basket is a chocolate one or a toy one.

DANVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY

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| APRIL 2020 | SHOWCASE Magazine 13

FEATURE BIG BEAR’S WIFE

From the Kitchen of

Big Bear’s Wife

M&M Marshmallow Cheesecake Apple Dip WRITTEN BY ANGIE BARRETT OF BIGBEARSWIFE.COM PHOTO BY ANGIE BARRETT

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Total Time: 5 minutes INGREDIENTS • 7 ounces marshmallow fluff • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract • 1/4 cup powdered sugar • 1 cup M&M candies • Apples for dipping INSTRUCTIONS • Using an electric mixer, mix together the marshmallow fluff and cream cheese until smooth.

• Mix in vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth.

• Stir in M&Ms. • Serve with apple wedges

Games Solutions Continued from Page 12

Word Search

Crossword Puzzle

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EXPLORE MARTINSVILLE

Turning Sadness Into Celebration That’s What Rooster Walk Is All About PHOTO BY KIM BARTO

*Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, this year’s Rooster Walk was canceled due to COVID-19. We’ve chosen to reprint an article from the May 2011 issue of Showcase on the creation of Rooster Walk.

Rooster Walk will return in 2021

“When we lost Edwin and Walker, we wanted to do something in their memory that they would’ve loved.

Something that brings people together for a good cause and something that can serve as a showcase for the Martinsville area.”

Rooster Walk began two years ago as a small memorial music festival remembering two fallen friends. The event has grown into a significant scholarship fundraiser attracting thousands of people each Memorial Day weekend. Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival, scheduled for May 27-28 at Blue Mountain Festival Grounds near Martinsville will feature more than 20 bands, on-site camping. and a variety of food, arts and crafts vendors.

So far, so good.

“It really has turned into something the community is proud of,” said William Baptist, a co-organizer of Rooster Walk, now entering its third year. “We’ve got a lineup of great bands, a gorgeous outdoor venue, and some incredibly talented arts and crafts vendors from the area. Even better, we’ve already used proceeds from the first two festivals to donate $10,000 to the memorial scholarship fund remembering our late friends. That’s what it’s all about.”

Music lovers enjoying the sounds of Rooster Walk 2

The festival got its name from the young men it remembers: Edwin “The Rooster” Penn and Walker Shank. Both were music lovers and graduates of Martinsville High School’s class of 2000, the same year as Baptist and fellow co-founders Johnny Buck and Kirk Smith.

Despite heading off to college, the extended group of friends, numbering 20 or more, remained close. But in the fall of 2007, Penn died in a dirtbike accident. Then, in December of 2008, Shank passed away from heart trouble while asleep in his apartment.

“We’ve been a really tight-knit group ever since elementary school,” said Buck.

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Preparations for Rooster Walk 3 have been in the works for months. Organizers secured the Infamous Stringdusters – a Grammy nominated progressive bluegrass band – to headline. Other notable acts include festival hosts Folk Soul Revival (roots/rock; Bristol), The Mantras (jamband; Greensboro ) and The Jesse Chong Band (Rock/reggae; Virginia Beach), among others. Tickets are currently just $40 for the weekend or $105 for a VIP weekend pass. The prices will increase at the gate.

“Whether you like rock, funk, folk, jambands, jazz , or reggae, Rooster Walk 3 has got you covered,” said Smith.

Blue Mountain Festival Grounds features two primary stages, meaning there’s almost constant music as the crowd shifts from one stage to another and back again. Primitive camping is available for $20 per vehicle (no limit to the number of occupants per vehicle), and RVs are allowed for an additional fee. Organizers are also planning to add a third stage for instrument workshops and children’s activities.

“Last year we handed out a questionnaire to people as they came through the gate,” said Buck. “One-hundred percent of all parents surveyed said they would bring their children back to Rooster Walk 3. That’s one of the things we’re most proud of.”

“But, just to be clear, we’re still a great party,” added Baptist with a smile. “Especially once the sun goes down.”

Organizers are hoping for 3,000 people or more this spring, a number that would’ve been unimaginable a couple of years ago.

The first Rooster Walk, held in 2009, was a predominantly local event that drew around 1,000 people to Blue Mountain.

“It’s almost a minor miracle that RW1 even happened,” said Baptist. “We didn’t have the idea until late January, didn’t have a name until April. But the out-pouring of support we

received from the community was tremendous. We paid for the first year’s budget with donations from folks here in Martinsville, and most of the bands played for free, or pennies on the dollar.”

Rooster Walk 1 was such a success that organizers were able to donate $5,000 to the Penn-Shank Memorial Scholarship Fund at Martinsville High School.

RW2 was bigger and better than its predecessor, attracting roughly 2,000 people. Organizers also awarded the first Penn-Shank Memorial Scholarship, to MHS senior Sara Kasey, and donated another $5,000 to the scholarship fund at Martinsville High School.

They hope to do the same or better following RW3.

“We just want to keep this thing rolling,” said Baptist. “Make it better every year, remember our friends with the scholarship and show off this part of the state to visitors who might want to come back again sometime.”

Like for Rooster Walk 4, perhaps.

For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit www.roosterwalk.com.

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